“What are the benefits of a Protector who holds a post?” Jiang Kuai asked.
He believed that most martial artists could not stand being restrained. Taking orders from others would be too indignant so there must have been enormous benefits to make others do it.
Chu Li shook his head and smiled. “There are no other benefits!”
“Ah — ?” Jiang Kuai was surprised.
“Other than being a little more stable, there are no other benefits,” said Chu Li.
“This can’t be true.” Jiang Kuai frowned. “If there was no benefit, who would let others order him around?”
Chu Li smiled. “There may be one benefit: you can be promoted.”
“Promoted… ” Jiang Kuai pondered.
Chu Li said, “Just like my Glory’s Will Courtyard. If you just joined, of course, you would have to start from the lowest level. If you did well, you will be promoted.”
“We don’t practice martial arts to become an official!” Jiang Kuai scoffed.
Chu Li laughed. “Like the Glory’s Will Courtyard, there are Scribe Commanders, Protector Commanders, and Deputy Commanders. If you become the commander, you can order others around… Doing everything on your own, or with just a command, other people would do it for you. Which one is more comfortable?”
Jiang Kuai shook his head.
Authority was truly a great temptation. How many people could refuse it?
“Ok, Brother Jiang Kuai, I’ve spoken until my mouth is dry. Now, give me an answer, are you joining the Public House?” asked Chu Li.
“Can I believe you?” Jiang Kuai said, “Don’t tell me you are deceiving me to get me to join.”
Chu Li laughed despite himself. “To be honest if I wanted to harm you, do I need to waste so much energy in persuading you? There is no need for me to notify you, I can just watch from the side… What’s more, I have treated Brother Jiang Kuai sincerely. Otherwise, I just need to wait until they almost succeeded to come to your aid and by then, wouldn’t Brother Jiang Kuai feel grateful towards me? And by that time, do I still need to earnestly persuade you like this?”
Jiang Kuai revealed a small smile.
This indeed made him trust Chu Li more. If Chu Li wanted to scheme against him, he could just wait until he fell into a difficult situation to reach out and help him. Feeling grateful, Jiang Kuai would agree to join the Public House readily.
“Husband, why not? Let’s join the Public House,” Su Yuting said softly.
Jiang Kuai glanced at her.
Su Yuting could see that her husband was moved, but he could not put aside his pride to admit it. These words could only be said by her. Even if Jiang Kuai complains in the future, she couldn’t care about anything else, this was a rare opportunity!
“Su Yuting, if we really are joining the Public House, our lives may not be as good as it is now!” Jiang Kuai sighed.
Su Yuting smiled. “As long as we are together, anywhere is the same!”
Chu Li laughed. “Brother Jiang Kuai, the danger of living in the Public House is far lesser than how you currently are now!”
“Haih… ” Jiang Kuai breathed out a long sigh and said slowly, “Very well, I’ll join the Public House!”
Chu Li clapped his hands in joy and laughed. “Congratulations Brother Jiang Kuai! You will not regret it!”
Jiang Kuai shook his head. “Who knows.”
“There are numerous people who want to join the Public House, but how many people can really enlist in it?” Chu Li smiled. “Brother Jiang Kuai is oblivious to your good fortune! … Let’s move, return to the Public House straight away!”
“No problem!” Jiang Kuai replied frankly.
In the early hours of the morning, the mist draped over the lake like a veil.
Chu Li breathed in the fresh, moist air and walked into the Stargazing Tower. Su Ru was standing in the main hall, wearing an apricot gown that brought out the features of her white jade face. She was smiling when she looked at him. “Was it successful?”
Chu Li smiled as well. “I was able to accomplish the mission!”
“Good! Good!” Su Ru beckoned at him. “Hurry up and go to see Lady Xiao. She has been waiting for you!”
The two went up to the third floor. Xiao Qi was sitting cross-legged on the bed meditating. Her left arm’s plaster had been removed and one would not be able to see the injury from its surface appearance. She had her eyes closed, solemn and silent, like Guanyin sitting on the lotus.
When Chu Li entered the third floor, her bright eyes opened.
Chu Li took out a jade box and handed it over with both hands. “My Lady, the Longevity Grass!”
Su Ru took it and presented it to Xiao Qi.
“Open it,” said Xiao Qi.
Su Ru opened the box and inside was a green grass. At first glance, it was similar to the usual weed but it was four to five times thicker than weed. Its exuberant green illustrated its abundance of vitality and just by a single look, one could tell that it was not a normal item.
“Now, Second Eldest Sister can be saved!” Xiao Qi sighed softly.
Chu Li shook his head. “It’s useless.”
Xiao Qi gave him a look of askance.
“There’s the Vitality Sealing Finger so even ten Longevity Grass cannot save Second Lady!” said Chu Li.
“Shut up!” Xiao Qi said bluntly, “Big Brother does not want to hear this!”
Chu Li sighed and nodded in resignation.
With his low position, Chu Li’s words carried little weight. He learned medical skills from Mulin for only a month, no matter what, he would not be able to win the trust of others.
“My Lady, I recruited Jiang Kuai into the Public House!” Chu Li said.
“Hmm—?” Xiao Qi’s bright eyes widened slightly.
Su Ru laughed. “Really? Someone like Jiang Kuai can be recruited?”
Chu Li nodded with a smile. “He is different now from when he was in the past. He has a wife, so he wants to live a stable life. Moreover, Jiang Kuai offended Ren Public House and was almost killed by them.”
“Jiang Kuai’s Light-body Technique is peerless. He will be useful.” Xiao Qi nodded subtly. “You managed to recruit him, you did a great job.”
Chu Li smiled. “It would be a pity if I did not enlist a talented guy like him to work for me.”
“Go and get some rest. I will deal with everything else,” Xiao Qi said.
Chu Li gave a fist salute and turned to leave.
Xiao Qi studied the Longevity Grass, feeling the abounding vitality of it. Knowing that it was not fake, she closed the box, got up and went to Iron Eagle Island.
In the early morning hours, the Public House was usually exceptionally lively but this time it was more buoyant than usual. Boats on the lake came and went.
Xiao Qi and Su Ru set foot in the backyard garden of Iron Eagle Island, Xiao Tieying was practicing there. His palm energy diffused into the air and a raging purple gas surrounded his whole body. There was no one serving beside him.
When he saw Xiao Qi approaching him, Xiao Tieying stopped his training in surprise. She must have had something urgent to tell him since she came over during this hour.
“Big Brother, we got back the Longevity Grass,” Xiao Qi said.
Xiao Tieying was stunned momentarily and then, he was overjoyed. “We got it back?!”
Xiao Qi glanced at Su Ru. Su Ru presented the jade box before Xiao Tieying with both her hands.
Xiao Tieying opened the jade box and looked at its contents. He laughed instantly. “It really is the Longevity Grass!”
He could not help but caress the jade box, a warm yet cool feeling was felt from his palm and it made him calm down. He sighed. “Heaven would not fail a man. Second Younger Sister can be saved!
Xiao Qi nodded lightly.
“Chu Li found it?”
“Yes.”
“Bravo, he really is awesome!”
“However, Chu Li insists that Second Eldest Sister is affected by the Vitality Sealing Finger and that the Longevity Grass is useless to cure her!” said Xiao Qi.
“Humph!” Xiao Tieying scoffed coldly, “He is truly stubborn!”
Xiao Qi shook her head. “Never mind, ignore him. Let Second Eldest Sister eat it as soon as possible.”
“You’re right.” Xiao Tieying revealed a smiling face again. “I will give it to Second Younger Sister in the morning!”
He excitedly closed the jade box and mumbled, “This fellow is really capable, I have to reward him… advancing a rank again is a little bit too fast. Third Younger Sister, what do you think we should reward him with?”
“Before this, you promised to raise his rank. How come you’ve changed your mind?” Xiao Qi frowned.
“If it was someone else, advancing a rank is nothing, but Chu Li is currently rank four and it is shocking enough. If we increase his rank again, it will not be good for him too.” Xiao Tieying shook his head.
“I think it’s fine,” Xiao Qi replied coldly.
“Fine, fine. Since you insist, then let’s increase his rank to one higher!” Xiao Tieying said in resignation, “What item should we reward him with?”
“There is a tiger bone in the Public House… ” Xiao Qi said. “Reward him with this!”
“The Spirit Tiger Bone?” Xiao Tieying revealed a pained expression. “This… ”
“If Big Brother is really reluctant, then let him play with it for a while,” Xiao Qi said.
“What is the use of the Spirit Tiger Bone to him?” Xiao Tieying hesitated and asked dubiously, “Could it be that he wants to eat it? But this thing cannot be made into a medicine!”
The Spirit Tiger Bone was extremely toxic. If it was made into a medicine and eaten, Chu Li would die instantly. He would suffer soaring killing intent and he would need to be sealed in a special item. Just a little touch and he would die in a snap. Killing intent can kill people imperceptibly, it was even more terrifying than a sword.