Chapter 150: Clue (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The sky gradually darkened.
The atmosphere in Blue Lotus Villa near River Shore Wharf was grim.
Amidst the white walls and blue tiles, dozens of gangsters of the Blue Lotus Gang stood silently and listened to the sorrowful voice from inside the wall.
“I swear 1 have nothing to do with Young Master Ye of Heavenly Water Bridge. He stabbed both my arms. Sect Master Cheng, even if you beat me to death, he won’t come. Why are you doing this…”
There were no lights in the main hall, so the lighting was slightly dim.
Yang Guan, whose arms were hanging in a sling from his neck, was sitting obediently on the chair at the side. The grievance and grief on his face could probably fill several pages.
His shelf, which Ye Jingtang’s saber had been destroyed last month, had just been repaired, and lying on it was a long-handled bronze hammer.
The bronze hammer had a head like a golden melon, was as tall as a human, and had a pitch-black and shiny long handle.
On the mahogany armchair beside him sat a burly man. He was wearing a brocade robe, but he didn’t look elegant or business-like at all. With his broad shoulders, he looked like a tiger or bear was sitting on the chair.
The man’s name was Cheng Shilu, and he was the founding sect master of the Iron Buddha Ridge in Yun Province. Like his brother, he was bald, but his body was much larger. He looked on par with Tu Jiuji of the Ox-Head and Horse-Face. He was holding a teacup with two fingers and blowing slowly.
“Phew-”
The sound was like the panting of an ox or horse.
In Jianghu, a big physique didn’t necessarily mean being strong. But with such a large body, one didn’t need to think to know how much hard work was hidden under the muscles.
Yang Guan was sitting not far away. His originally strong figure looked like a malnourished dwarf compared to Cheng Shilu. He explained, “Sect Master Cheng, you should have heard of my master, the Three Absolutes Elderly Immortal, Guanghan Lin…”
Cheng Shilu raised his tiger-like eyes. Although his tone was calm, his voice sounded like roaring thunder. “Your master is from Wu Province. Even if he comes to Yun Province, he has to respect me.”
“Of course. Sect Master Cheng, you and my master are both from Jianghu and follow the rules. If you want to see Young Master Ye, 1’11 invite him. If you want to sell houses and land, I’ll invite Young Master Ye over. If he doesn’t come, you can chop off my legs. If you don’t let me go out, how can 1 invite Young Master Ye here?”
Cheng Shilu put down his teacup. “On the day my brother and nephew were beaten up, you were there and kept putting in a good word for Ye Jingtang…” “Both my arms have been crippled. How could I dare to say anything bad?”
“Then tell me, why did he treat you nicely that day and ask you to wait outside?”
“Because he’s beaten me up, I’ve learned my lesson…”
“In other words, you’re convinced and acknowledge him as your leader.” Cheng Shilu looked straight at Yang Guan. “Even if it’s merely a guard dog, he will come if I kick it a few times. A guard dog isn’t something outsiders can touch casually. This is a rule of Jianghu. I’m going to beat you up today. If he doesn’t do anything, how can he sit firmly in the capital in the future?”
Yang Guan’s expression turned bitter. “Sect Master Cheng, you are flattering me too much. If I were Young Master Ye’s lackey, I deserve to be beaten up today, but I have nothing to do with him. Young Master Ye isn’t from Jianghu. He’s a merchant…”
Cheng Shilu looked like he had a bad temper and a slow brain, but in fact, he was not as rough as he looked.
He knew that he was wronging Yang Guan. The reason why he went after Yang Guan was that Ye Jingtang had the Prince of Jing behind him.
Cheng Shilu had Prime Minister Li behind him, so he wasn’t too afraid. But if the trivial matter of a street fight really reached the officialdom, neither side would have a good time.
If he wanted to seek revenge for his younger brother and nephew, he could only use the rules of Jianghu to settle the matters of Jianghu.
Cheng Shilu had rushed over today and asked around. Among the people related to Ye Jingtang, they were either civilians or officials. Only Yang Guan was a Jianghu person and wouldn’t go to the government to cause trouble if he were beaten up.
Besides, Yang Guan was more afraid of Ye Jingtang than the Iron Buddha Ridge. He didn’t know the rules of Jianghu. If Ye Jingtang really didn’t come, he would treat it as teaching Yang Guan the rules.
Seeing that the sky had completely darkened, Cheng Shilu didn’t say anything else. He stood up with his muscular body and grabbed the long-handled bronze hammer. “It’s dark.”
Yang Guan’s face turned pale. He quickly raised his hands. “Sect Master Cheng, it’s not necessary. Hey…”
Seeing the bronze hammer being raised, Yang Guan didn’t dare to resist. He just closed his eyes with a pale face, his facial features almost shrinking together.
But the feeling of his leg being broken didn’t come. Instead, footsteps sounded outside.
Tread… tread…
Yang Guan opened his eyes a crack and looked at the rain outside the main hall. He saw a black-robed man appear at the entrance of the courtyard at a leisurely pace. He was holding a black umbrella in his hand, and a long saber was hanging from his waist. Following him was a blue-robed woman in a veiled hat.
“?!”
Yang Guan was stunned. He didn’t expect Young Master Ye to be so loyal and really treat him as a lackey. He hurriedly stood up and bowed. “Young Master Ye, you really take me seriously?! I can’t repay your great kindness…”
Ye Jingtang ignored Yang Guan, handed the umbrella to Heroine Luo, put his hand on the hilt of his saber, and walked into the rain. “Are you Sect Master Cheng, Cheng Shilu?”
Cheng Shilu’s eyes widened. He twisted his neck and walked toward the door. His long-handled hammer hit the floor with a muffled thud. “A few days ago, you beat my—”
Clang!
The sound of the saber being drawn interrupted him.
After Ye Jingtang confirmed the victim, he didn’t say anything else and rushed toward the door.
Standing at the door, Luo Ning was stunned when she saw this scene. Are you in a hurry to go back and recuperate? At least say a few polite words…!
Cheng Shilu really didn’t expect this hot-headed young man’s temper to be even more explosive than his. Seeing Ye Jingtang draw his saber and coming at him without any hesitation, he was furious. He smashed the long-handled bronze hammer forward..
