Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 61: The Way of the World

"And you are?"

Guo Wei feigned ignorance.

"I am Gao Qingxiong, leader of the Big Saber Gang. I’ve long heard of your reputation, Master Guo."

Gao Qingxiong said with a cupped-fist salute.

"Ah, so it’s you, Gao. A few days ago, my old injuries flared up, so I was unable to attend your gang’s assembly. Please forgive my absence."

Guo Wei returned the salute.

"It’s of no concern. I came to see you today, Master Guo, to share some good news."

Gao Qingxiong said with a nonchalant smile.

"Oh? What good news?"

Guo Wei looked curious.

"I happened to learn that back when you passed the Provincial Examination, you clearly qualified as a Martial Arts Scholar. But because you were implicated by Big Saber Hong, you were denied the full honors of the title.

I imagine you must feel quite resentful. If not for Big Saber Hong, an outstanding Martial Artist like yourself would never have been denied the rank of Martial Arts Scholar.

However, evil is always repaid in kind. Big Saber Hong’s crimes were heinous. Last night, my men happened upon him on Wine Street. I pursued him for an entire day and finally finished him off on Cyan Cloud Mountain. This box contains his head. I brought it especially for you, Master Guo, hoping it might help you find some closure."

Gao Qingxiong spoke slowly, and as he finished, he opened the wooden box.

Inside was a bloody head: that of Big Saber Hong, the Cyan Cloud Mountain Stronghold Chief.

"From the moment he killed Lord Wang’s family, I knew he would meet such an end. I made my peace with it long ago, but I appreciate the thought, Gao."

Guo Wei looked surprised at first, then sighed.

"Oh, you’re a magnanimous man, Master Guo. It seems I was mistaken. My apologies."

Looking quite surprised, Gao Qingxiong slowly put the lid back on the box.

"I must return to training my disciples, so forgive me for not seeing you out."

Guo Wei said apologetically.

"My apologies for the intrusion."

Gao Qingxiong took the wooden box, gave a slight nod, then turned and left the Martial Arts Hall, swaggering away with the personnel from the Government Office.

"Master."

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu’s faces were tense.

Even a fool could see that Gao Qingxiong had come to provoke and humiliate Guo Wei.

"Keep training. Don’t just stand there gawking."

But Guo Wei acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to guide Chu Lingguang in sensing his Qi Blood and helping Hei Hu’s Spear Technique reach the Form Realm.

But the calmer he appeared, the more worried Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu became.

That evening, after the two had finished their training, the master and his two disciples sat down for dinner with Guo Fang. Guo Wei was the one to break the silence. "Are you two curious why I’m so indifferent to Big Saber Hong’s death?"

"Yes."

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu both nodded.

"Master, weren’t you two kindred spirits?"

Chu Lingguang added.

"His readiness to settle scores, his decisiveness in killing, his fearlessness... those qualities of his were indeed admirable.

But it’s a pity this world is so cruel; there’s no such thing as fairness. The day he killed Lord Wang’s entire family, I knew he was doomed. I just assumed he would storm the Government Office to kill Young Master Yan, but I never expected him to hide in Baiyang County.

Knowing his temperament, however, he must have snuck into the Government Office. He probably couldn’t find an opportunity to strike, so he returned to Baiyang County to wait for his chance.

Young Master Yan wanted revenge but also feared retaliation, so he had Gao Qingxiong gather Big Saber Hong’s former men, establish the Big Saber Gang on Wine Street, and use a gang dispute to lure him into a trap.

He was aggressive and ruthless and killed countless people with that great saber of his. To meet such an end today... you could say it was a fitting death," Guo Wei said slowly.

He looked melancholic. He’d known for a long time that Big Saber Hong was doomed, and he was sure Big Saber Hong himself knew he would not die a peaceful death. Perhaps he had even seen right through Young Master Yan’s scheme and only appeared because he was seeking a quick and clean end.

Therefore, Guo Wei’s feelings about Big Saber Hong’s death were less about the man and more a lament for the injustice of a world that would corner a passionate young man and leave him with no way out.

"So you knew all along, Master, that what was happening on Wine Street was related to Big Saber Hong."

Chu Lingguang shot Hei Hu a smug look.

"I only learned of Gao Qingxiong’s true identity through a letter your Senior Brother Wang sent."

Guo Wei took out the letter and handed it to Hei Hu and Chu Lingguang for them to read.

"You two must remember this: the world is a cruel place. It’s not enough to master the Martial Arts. You must also have official rank and titles to your name. Only then can you secure your place in this world."

Guo Wei admonished.

"We will remember your teachings, Master."

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu rose and bowed in unison.

"Sit down. Eat."

Guo Wei offered a small smile.

On the way home after dinner, Chu Lingguang mulled over what Guo Wei had said before the meal.

He also thought about the contents of Wang Chao’s letter.

And the scene of Gao Qingxiong posturing in the Martial Arts Hall.

After a long while, Chu Lingguang sighed to himself. ’Master has really gone to great lengths. He wants Hei Hu and me to remember that no matter how powerful your Martial Arts, they mean nothing compared to the Noble Families and the Court. Only by securing an official rank, like Senior Brother Yang, can you bless your descendants and live without restraint.’

’The main reason he was able to stay out of this affair, besides being shrewd and knowing how to protect himself, was his reliance on his connection to Senior Brother Yang.’

’Sigh... no matter what, I have to become a Military Scholar like Senior Brother Yang. It will allow me to establish a firm footing and use my status to earn more Favor Points.’

Chu Lingguang made a firm resolution.

He hadn’t forgotten that his greatest asset was his ability to increase his strength using Favor Points.

Unfortunately, Favors weren’t something you could just make people owe you at will. People rarely even registered small, everyday acts of kindness.

Besides, the only status he could rely on at the moment was that of being Guo Wei’s disciple.

This identity was enough to ensure he didn’t have to worry about food or clothing, but if he wanted people to take him seriously, he had to become a Martial Scholar. Only then would the villagers support him and see him as a person of importance. Only then would they come to him seeking help, and only then would they truly feel indebted to him for his Favors.

’Otherwise, if I fail the Daoist Examination, forget the common folk—I’m afraid even Guo Wei, my own master, would be disappointed in me!’

’And if I shamelessly go out of my way to help everyone, they’ll just look down on me. Not only would I fail to earn any Favor Points, but they’d start taking any future help for granted.’

’It was just like that time on Wine Street, when I helped the shop owners reduce their monthly stipend. If Liu Quan hadn’t bungled things at the start and dashed everyone’s hopes, the shop owners wouldn’t have supported me so fervently afterward.’

’Otherwise, even if I had agreed to Butcher Hu’s request to lower the monthly stipend from the start, before Liu Quan had even appeared, their gratitude wouldn’t have been nearly as intense.’

’And the Favor Points I would have received would have been paltry.’

With these realizations, Chu Lingguang now understood that earning Favors was a slow process that couldn’t be rushed.

A short while later, Chu Lingguang arrived back at Liu Family Gully.

He saw a figure inside his house.

At first, he thought it was a petty thief.

He was about to grab a handful of dirt to throw in the person’s face and subdue them in one move when he suddenly realized who it was: Li Yishan.

’Li Yishan is a Hall Master of the Big Saber Gang. Why would he be waiting all alone inside my house?’

’And from the looks of it, he’s been waiting a long time, as if he’s afraid of being discovered.’

"Hall Master Li, why are you hiding in my house?"

Chu Lingguang asked as he entered and closed the door.

"Chu, I need to ask you for a favor."

Li Yishan pleaded.

Chu Lingguang now got a clear look at him. Li Yishan’s arm was in a sling at his chest, as if the bone had been broken.