Chapter 52: Loyalty!
Zhao Guangxi was somewhat surprised, glancing obliquely at Landlord Zheng, and said,
“But your people reached over the line first, our water station was forced to counterattack, and that’s how we accidentally demolished your pounding house…
You had Primordial Great Umbrella Yue Ting come to support, and I only had Jade Faced Duck Zhou Qing make a move, soldier against soldier, general against general, without breaking the rules!”
The night was cool as water, the railing slippery, stars dotted the sky.
In the distance, the shouts of killing and sounds of smashing gradually ceased.
Pounding House gang members arrived one after another, gathering at the Pounding House Ruins, facing off against the water carriers.
Yue Ting and Zhou Qing stared at each other from afar but did not make another move.
Both were silently waiting for the attitude of these two landlords from Kui Xing Tower.
On Kui Xing Tower.
Upon hearing this, Landlord Zheng’s expression flickered between cloudy and clear.
Although time was short, Landlord Zheng had roughly figured out what Xiang Zhe, Zhuang Kun, and the others were up to.
In order to make up for their mistakes and seek another immortal fate, they got involved with a water carrier named Ah Hua.
But none of that mattered.
As long as they handled things cleanly and neatly, and offered up the immortal fate afterward, Landlord Zheng would turn a blind eye and not interfere.
Whom they secretly harmed or killed didn’t matter.
What water carrier, what Chen Shun’an, mere mud-legged peasants, killing them was nothing.
But now, not only did Zhao Guangxi catch them red-handed, he even came knocking on the door!
This matter was very important.
Zhuang Kun was already dead.
Xiang Zhe had better pray that he had been collateral damage from the shockwave of Zhou Qing and the other’s palm clash, crushed to death in the ruins.
Otherwise, even if he survived, it would be a fate worse than death.
Murderous light gleamed in Landlord Zheng’s eyes, and he said,
“Zhao Guangxi, I told you, the matter of people falling into wells and dying at your water station wasn’t us! I asked upstairs, and there have been no unusual movements lately!
You night raided and burned our granary last time, and we haven’t settled that score with you yet, but now you actually…”
Zhao Guangxi blinked and said,
“What night raid and granary burning, what transporting polished rice, forgive me for not understanding what Brother Zheng is saying.
As for falling into wells, we can only blame our bad luck, but if someone accidentally touches our bad luck, don’t blame us water station for dragging them down into misfortune too.”
Did I say the words ‘transporting polished rice’?
Seeing Zhao Guangxi still playing dumb, Landlord Zheng simply laid his cards on the table and said,
“Where is Sickly Big Bug Yang Lu? Hand him over to me, the others dying doesn’t matter, but you know how important a first-rate martial artist is to us…
Also, taking what you shouldn’t take brings disaster, not fortune! Better return it to me soon, otherwise… the people from Yue Shan Daoist Academy won’t be as reasonable as I am.”
Zhao Guangxi appeared calm and composed, but deep down he was somewhat panicked.
It’s been so long, why hasn’t Yang Lu returned?
Could he have been chased down and killed overnight by that mysterious lightness skill expert?
The item… could it be hibiscus paste fire?
It even has connections to Yue Shan Daoist Academy.
Zhao Guangxi chuckled, his expression meaningful,
“Well… that depends on Brother Zheng’s sincerity.”
Landlord Zheng took a deep breath and said,
“Tonight’s matter ends here. I won’t pursue the previous matters anymore, and from now on, Wanlong Pounding House will absolutely not trouble your water station…”
Had Wanlong Pounding House really decided to let it go?
Hearing this, Zhao Guangxi’s heart stirred.
He recalled the strategy he had discussed with Liu Ru Yue a few days ago about acting according to the situation.
It seemed he could take the opportunity to blackmail Wanlong Pounding House…
But he needed to pull in that little girl Liu Ru Yue; he couldn’t handle Yue Shan Daoist Academy alone…
Zhao Guangxi nodded: “Alright, then we’ll talk about the matters another day.”
Getting Zhao Guangxi’s clear response, Landlord Zheng’s expression eased slightly.
He glanced at the group of water carriers holding torches and suddenly said,
“Hand over that one called Chen Shun’an to me, and I’m willing to exchange it for a ‘year-end grand celebration’ quota from Yue Shan Daoist Academy.”
“Impossible!”
Zhao Guangxi’s expression changed abruptly, the iron beads spinning in his hand suddenly stopped, emitting a piercing screech.
He looked at Landlord Zheng, his fair and fat face twisting, features suddenly scrunching together, fine black hairs sprouting one by one, covering the bridge of his nose, forehead, and temples.
His pupils glowed faintly with amber green light.
Ferocity surged, like a cat ghost god.
“No one can touch my people! If you dare reach out, then tendons will rot, bones will dissolve, no rest until death!”
Zhao Guangxi’s voice was ice-cold, extremely protective.
Landlord Zheng seemed not to notice the abnormality on Zhao Guangxi’s face but was still startled by his ruthless attitude.
Damn it!
These stinking outsiders, my ancestor is Bai Shan Ren!
If not for my ancestor giving these mud-legged peasants a bowl of rice, they would have starved to death by the roadside long ago, how could they bark here like dogs!
Landlord Zheng said nothing, hiked up his robe, and hurried downstairs.
Leaving Kui Xing Tower, he stepped straight into the sedan chair.
“Where is Xiang Zhe?” A voice suppressing anger came from within.
The figure of a burly man immediately flashed out, heading toward the pounding house.
Soon, the man returned, dragging a figure who was barely breathing and unconscious.
“Reporting to the master, Xiang Zhe was pretending to be dead, hiding among the rubble.”
Xiang Zhe suddenly opened his eyes wide, ‘waking up’, and tried to say something.
The burly man only lightly pressed the back of Xiang Zhe’s neck, and Xiang Zhe decisively passed out for real.
“Take him back with me! Go!”
The sedan bearers hurriedly lifted the poles.
The other attendants surrounded left and right, clearing the way and guarding the rear.
Sparse moonlight poured onto the stone slabs.
From the top of the tower, Zhao Guangxi watched the gradually receding sedan chair, eyes full of contempt, and spat,
“What bondservant, slavish thing! Only…”
Zhao Guangxi suddenly thought of something else, eyes showing curiosity, and murmured,
“Who exactly is that mysterious expert? Investigated for so many days, yet no clues at all, as if he appeared out of thin air… Did he kill Yang Lu? Quite bold.”
……
A farce ended without conclusion.
Yue Ting’s ears twitched slightly, hearing the sound of the sedan chair being lifted from the green bricks under his feet.
The breaths of those sedan bearers and attendants were slightly rapid, quickly fading away.
Yue Ting immediately understood, standing silently in place, reaching out a hand to stop the pounding house crowd behind him.
Zhou Qing’s gaze was amused, and he gave Yue Ting a curtsy.
He seemed reluctant to part like a lovestruck girl, and before leaving, he carefully looked at Yue Ting’s throat, chest, intercostal spaces, elbow hollow… and other convenient spots for dismemberment with fervent tenderness.
Only then did he lead the group of water carriers away quickly.
Feeling that eerie gaze, Yue Ting’s mouth twitched, and he cursed under his breath,
“What a freak!”
……
Moments later, the group of water carriers gathered under Kui Xing Tower.
Ah Hua was tossed aside, ignored by all.
Zhao Guangxi stood on a slightly elevated stone seat, squinting with a smile at the crowd.
Zhou Qing stood behind Zhao Guangxi.
Among the group of water carriers, Chen Shun’an looked up and saw this somewhat unfamiliar landlord.
Zhao Guangxi rarely came to Grit Well, after all, he had a hectic schedule with three fresh water wells, twelve turbid water wells, and many subordinates.
However, due to Lin Shou Zhuo and the geographical proximity to Wanlong Pounding House at Grit Well, it held no low status in Zhao Guangxi’s heart.
That’s why he had placed four or five second-rate warriors there.
While the other water carriers were still chattering noisily about the night’s gains, standing and sitting without proper posture.
Chen Shun’an had already stepped out of the crowd and quickly walked to the base of the stone seat.
Zhao Guangxi carefully looked at Chen Shun’an’s features, recognized him, and smiled,
“Oh? It’s Old Chen! We haven’t seen each other for almost a year. I heard you’ve broken through to second-rate? Congratulations, it must have been tough delivering turbid water to those paupers.”
“Not tough at all, no small matter for the landlord!”
Chen Shun’an seemed to have prepared his words in advance and blurted out,
“Chen Mou’s achievements today are all thanks to the landlord’s grace! The water for thousands of households depends on the landlord alone. To handle matters for the landlord and resolve his worries is Chen Mou’s fortune!”
With that, Chen Shun’an stepped forward and handed over Li Tan Banner, Golden Head Overlord, and all the gains with a flip of his hand.
Loyalty!
The scene suddenly fell silent, so quiet a pin drop could be heard.
