Chapter 15: Humble Butler Li One Second, Chest Puffed Out The Next
The night grew deeper.
Street.
Three figures walked side by side, but there were far more than just these three; eight others lay on the ground being dragged along, linked together like a human centipede.
But upon closer inspection, one would realize they weren’t sewn together, but rather their hands and feet were tied together with rope.
“Song Ban Tou, have you offended someone recently?”
Lin Fan knew this was asking despite knowing the answer; if he hadn’t offended anyone, who would bother trying to take his life for no reason.
Song Ban Tou remained silent. He was also wondering which matter had offended someone, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out—not because he hadn’t reflected on where he went wrong.
It was because he had offended too many people.
Seeing Song Ban Tou not speak, Lin Fan sighed lightly, “It seems Song Ban Tou is upright and unbending, offending too many people.”
Song Ban Tou nodded.
It was indeed the case.
He had offended quite a few, but there was no way around it; he shared an irreconcilable enmity with criminals. As long as they fell into his hands, no one pleading for them would make a difference.
“Brother, you were so awesome just now.”
Yang Ming finally got a chance to speak, his mind filled with the scene from earlier.
And his address had changed from Brother Lin to brother.
This was a mindset shift of admiring the strong.
“Staff technique, just rudimentary martial way.”
“Martial way? What is the martial way?”
Yang Ming didn’t understand; he had never heard of such a thing as the martial way.
“The so-called martial way is being very good at fighting, taking on ten with one, a hundred with one, shattering mountains and severing rivers—anyone with such ability possesses the martial way.”
Lin Fan felt helpless. He could now take on ten with one, but he didn’t want that kind of taking on ten; bullying ordinary thugs gave no sense of achievement. What he wanted was the thrill of casually suppressing martial way masters.
Yang Ming was stunned.
Taking on ten with one was acceptable.
Taking on a hundred with one was barely acceptable.
As for shattering mountains and severing rivers, that was just bragging.
“Brother, shattering mountains and severing rivers—who could possibly do that?” Yang Ming shook his head; it was absolutely impossible.
Lin Fan didn’t answer, instead looking at Song Qing, “Song Ban Tou, have you really never heard of the martial way?”
Song Ban Tou had been in the Public Security Bureau for so long, he was an old hand in the trade. Even if he couldn’t do it himself, he must have heard of martial way masters.
“No.”
Song Qing didn’t know where Lin Fan had heard about the martial way; in any case, he had never seen anyone as formidable as Lin Fan.
Of course, if being strong counted as a martial way master, then there were some, but those relied on regular exercise to build up their bodies.
He remembered when he was young, following colleagues to catch a criminal who was very strong; three or four people couldn’t hold him down, but it was just brute strength—nothing else special.
Before long, they arrived at the Public Security Bureau.
Lin Fan chatted briefly, then bid them farewell and turned to leave.
Song Qing watched Lin Fan’s departing back.
Yang Ming couldn’t wait to speak up.
“Master, you must help out.”
“Help with what?”
“He’s going to take the Public Security Bureau exam, right? When the time comes, Master, you must pull some strings to get him in.”
“What, did you take a bribe?”
“No, it’s just that this disciple feels so safe around him.”
“Safer than with Master?”
“Of course not… no, not as safe as with Master.”
Coming back to his senses, Yang Ming immediately shook his head; he had let it slip.
Song Qing did indeed have such thoughts, but Lin Fan’s identity was a bit sensitive—he was a gang member. However, during this time, he had inquired about the man’s character.
The common people at Jili Wharf spoke well of Lin Fan.
Especially one old man who praised Lin Fan to the skies, as if there had never been such a good person in the world. If he hadn’t confirmed it was just an ordinary commoner, he would have thought it was a plant sent by Lin Fan.
There weren’t many in the current Public Security Bureau willing to get things done.
And even if willing, it wasn’t something you could just do as you pleased.
If they hadn’t run into him tonight.
He and his disciple probably would have died there.
……
At this time, Lin Fan, back home, didn’t rush to sleep. Instead, he took out his book to review, consolidating what he had learned. Once he felt he had fully grasped it, he picked up his club and went outside to begin cultivation.
Hard work doesn’t guarantee rewards, but with a cheat, rewards are guaranteed.
The earlier fight had given him a few points of proficiency.
Beginner staff technique was not far from perfection.
He didn’t know what would happen after reaching perfection.
Beginner turning into intermediate?
That probably wasn’t possible.
The next day, noon, wharf warehouse.
“Brother Lin, that sucker you mentioned has shown up.”
Wu Yong ran in excitedly, shouting loudly. Though he didn’t know what “sucker” meant, from Brother Lin’s implication, the sucker was here, and their good days were coming again.
Sure enough, the brothers in the warehouse had green glints in their eyes.
Even now, they were still savoring yesterday’s delicacies; it was truly unforgettable for a lifetime. As low-level thugs, how could they qualify to go to Xianwei Tower? Even if they sold their asses raw, it wouldn’t be enough.
They looked at Lin Fan with growing respect; it was Brother Lin, only Brother Lin could let them experience such a life.
“He’s here, excellent. Brothers, you haven’t even had breakfast, right?”
Lin Fan waved his hand, stopped cultivating, and picked up a towel to wipe himself.
“Forget breakfast; I didn’t even have dinner last night.”
“Me too.”
“I not only skipped dinner and breakfast, but last night my wife said I was as strong as an ox—that’s the confidence the delicacies gave me.”
The low-level thugs without wives glared at him resentfully.
Showing off what? Just a wife—we act like we don’t have one, but our five-finger wives are way more obedient than yours, and with more variety.
Outside, Butler Li looked toward the warehouse. That’s right, he had come again, to press the advantage and take Lin Fan down with thunderous speed before he could react.
As the saying goes, familiarity breeds affection.
He just didn’t believe that with his decades of experience in social dealings, he couldn’t handle this novice kid.
As he approached the warehouse and was about to step in, he saw a dense crowd appear, led unmistakably by Lin Fan. This scene made Butler Li’s heart tremble slightly inside.
“Oh, Butler Li, what brings you here?”
Lin Fan acted perfectly, showing no sign it was intentional.
Butler Li put on a professional smile, “I wonder if Brother Lin is available now? I’d like to invite Brother Lin to a nearby restaurant for a few drinks and a chat.”
“No problem. Since Butler Li asks, how could I not give face?” Lin Fan said, then turned dissatisfied to the brothers behind him, frowning unhappily, “What’s wrong with you all? Seeing Lord Li and not greeting him? Forgotten how Lord Li treated you yesterday? Eat and then pretend not to know him?”
“No need, no need.” Butler Li waved his hands repeatedly.
“Absolutely necessary.”
The low-level thugs behind immediately shouted loudly and respectfully.
“Lord Li, hello.”
“Lord Li, hello.”
Facing this chorus of increasingly loud flattery, Butler Li felt as sweet as if coated in honey, utterly delighted. He smiled, raised his hand, and greeted them.
“Brother Lin, let’s all go together.”
“How could we? You already footed the bill yesterday; this… this.”
“Come on, we’re all brothers; no need to be a stranger. Unless Brother Lin and the brothers look down on me.”
“How could that be? Then we won’t stand on ceremony.”
“Hahaha, that’s the spirit.”
Butler Li’s heroic generosity was practically overflowing.
Soon, the large group set off, heading to Xianwei Tower—that high-end luxury restaurant the common people could only gaze at longingly. But now, it was the cafeteria for the Jili Wharf brothers.
During this meal, Lin Fan chatted enthusiastically with Butler Li. As the wine flowed and they grew tipsy, Butler Li was overjoyed, smiling nonstop. Lin Fan’s words made him feel on cloud nine. As they drank on, he got drunk, face flushed, full of intoxication.
In Lin Fan’s view, to keep this sucker hooked, he had to ramp up the enthusiasm.
First time awkward, second time familiar, third time arm-in-arm like lifelong brothers, talking about everything.
Several days later.
During this time, the Jili Wharf brothers had eaten too well; they had all gained weight, even their mouths had become picky. When their families occasionally had a good meal, they found it bland, critiquing the meat in the bowl.
Like commenting on the texture of this meat at length, finally concluding it wasn’t as good as Xianwei Tower.
Family: You’re crazy.
Sun Mansion.
Butler Li kept his head down like a child who had done wrong, not daring to look straight at Sun Xiao.
Sun Xiao, seated in the grand tutor chair, looked at the expense list in his hand, his face calm and unruffled, but the figure of three hundred seventy taels kept his gaze fixed for a long time.
Three hundred seventy taels—what did that mean?
Silver an ordinary commoner couldn’t earn in a lifetime.
Enough to hire professional killers to take out over ten people.
Enough to buy a three-courtyard mansion in the center of Yong’an City.
Sun Xiao didn’t speak, but Sun Yaozu couldn’t hold back, “Butler Li, how exactly have you been spending these days? Eating dragon meat or drinking phoenix blood?”
“Young Master, I…”
Butler Li was speechless for a moment; he didn’t know how to explain. Reflecting carefully, these days of drinking had left him in a drunken haze; whenever he woke, it was night, with a splitting headache and listless spirit.
He had drunk himself sick.
Sun Xiao waved his hand, “Silver means nothing to me, but now I want to know Lin Fan’s exact attitude.”
He thought even more highly of Lin Fan, because of the Song Qing incident a few days ago. Though not publicized, he knew Lin Fan had taken down eight armed thugs with just a casually picked-up club.
This strength was unimaginable.
If he could really bring him to his side.
It would be like adding wings to a tiger.
“I…”
Before Butler Li could argue, a servant hurried in, bowed respectfully to Sun Xiao and Sun Yaozu, then said to Butler Li, “Butler, there’s someone at the door claiming to be from Jili Wharf asking me to notify you. He says Lin Fan invites you to Xianwei Tower for a banquet and insists you must come, or you’ll hurt your brother’s feelings.”
Hearing this.
Butler Li, who had been hanging his head in shame, suddenly looked up, his vigor restored. He coughed a few times and said, “Master, this servant has made progress, infiltrating their inner circle. Not only am I brothers with Lin Fan, but even his underlings treat me with utmost respect. This servant guarantees that in just a few days, I’ll take him down and even get a group of underlings for free.”
Sun Xiao nodded in satisfaction, “Good, worthy of Butler Li—steady as always. Go, continue your work. As for expenses, feel no pressure; as long as you pull him over, Master will reward you handsomely.”
“Yes, Master.”
Butler Li responded and left, glancing at the young master on his way out. Though he said nothing, his meaning was clear.
Young Master?
Hah!
Too green!
Too naive!
Too eager for quick success!
That was his evaluation of the young master.
To learn the gang leader’s composure and poise, he still had much to learn and practice.
Kid, you’ve got a lot to learn from me.
