Chapter 109: Killing Slaves and Striking at Hearts

Chapter 109: Slaying Slaves to Strike the Heart

Qian Hai smiled without speaking, holding a piece of brocade with both hands, respectfully presenting it to the master before him.

Gu Xi wiped his hands while raising his eyes to look at Li Jun.

"This Feng Huang, though merely a minor Zhanggu in the Ministry of Personnel's Office of Merit Evaluation, has cultivated a habit of affecting elegance.

All his life he fancied refined pursuits—playing fine chess, drinking fine wine, admiring fine paintings; even an erotic painting had to be a secret from the former dynasty's inner palace."

"That 'Prince Teng's Journey to Concubine Pei' you brought back last time—it greatly pleased him."

Li Jun lowered his eyes, cupped his fists, and said in a deep voice, "To serve the master's house is my honor."

"Good. Gu Yong, that waste, has held the Shu Road Logistics for years with no achievement to speak of, but before his death he did one right thing—making you the Head of Security."

"Young Master Yong is dead?"

Li Jun frowned. The intel he currently held only confirmed Gu Yong had been seized by bandits from the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Convention; life or death was unconfirmed.

"He has only one path: death. If Wu Gong wants to use Gu Yong to threaten me, then he isn't fit to compete with me for the quota to leave Chengdu Prefecture."

A gentle smile graced Gu Xi's handsome face, yet Li Jun felt a sudden chill rise within the room.

"Do you know why I summoned you to the manor this time?"

Gu Xi tossed aside the priceless brocade, sank into an exquisitely carved armchair, and looked at Li Jun with a smile brimming in his eyes.

Li Jun said in a deep voice, "This subordinate knows—it is to strike back at the Wu clan."

"Then do you know why Wu Gong, despite having so many 'clan hounds' at his knees, instead let that pack of wild dogs from Chongqing Prefecture cross the border and run rampage?"

Li Jun shook his head. This, he truly did not know.

Gu Xi flicked out a finger, pointing at Li Jun. "Because of you."

Li Jun was stunned. "Me?"

"Precisely."

Gu Xi smiled with ease. "Speaking of it, our Young Master Wu lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

He thought imprisoning that Legalist Xiezhi for ten years had worn down its edges; he never expected it would still bite back viciously."

"Now he reaps the ruin of his clan's private prison, his elites dead and wounded. All this is your doing, Li Jun."

Le Zhong.

In the depths of Li Jun's eyes emerged that figure standing beneath heavenly light, sternly rebuking the great clans; his heart churned with a hundred mixed feelings.

"That wasn't my doing, it was—"

"The cause matters not; the result is what matters."

Gu Xi cut Li Jun off. "From what I understand, this Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Convention brought a 'Tiao'-system card group. Their targets: Gu Yong and you."

"If you go slap the Wu clan again now, even if the inspection team in a month doesn't care, Jinling will surely make trouble for him."

The hand holding the knife has changed, but the knife remains a knife.

"You want me to blow up Tianfu Heavy Industry? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?"

Gu Xi smiled faintly. "Wu Gong's blunders—if we ape him, wouldn't we be just the same kind of fools?"

"Right now, the Chengdu County Yamen has spoken: any further action in the city, the damages fall on the perpetrator."

"I care little for that petty sum, but this Magistrate Sun is an upright, unbending sort. If he makes a scene before the inspection team, it'll be a nuisance all the same."

Li Jun asked, "Then what is your meaning, sir?"

"Since he slapped my face, I shall strike at his heart."

"Wu Gong keeps two red-robed slaves by his side. By day they grind ink with jade hands, red sleeves adding fragrance; by night they share the great quilt, at his mercy. The subtleties within—immortals themselves could hardly match them."

"A pity—since ancient times, beauties have borne thin fates."

Gu Xi wore a look of regret, turning to Qian Hai. "Say, if someone were to sever those two beauties' heads and hang them before Tianfu Heavy Industry's gates—what expression would our Young Master Wu wear?"

Qian Hai laughed heartily. "He'd likely shed a tear or two?"

"A bit exaggerated. Dead? Just raise new ones. Wu Gong may be useless at everything else, but his skill at raising dogs is passable. Just wonder if his private stash is enough to find two more flower-like concubines to forge into Grand Completion Bingba."

Li Jun watched the two sing in harmony with cold eyes, thinking silently: Truly, what kind of master raises what kind of slave.

Wu Gong and Wu Jinfeng were both arrogant and domineering; Gu Yong's sinister ruthlessness was cut from the same cloth as Gu Xi.

All of them treated Li Jun as a sharp blade, wishing to be the hand that wielded it.

In the past, Li Jun would have had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree. But now...

From the corner of his eye, Li Jun glanced at Qian Hai without a trace, a troubled expression crossing his face.

Qian Hai's mind was exquisitely perceptive; he spoke at once: "Minister Li is silent—do you have some difficulty?"

"Steward Qian truly has eyes like torches. These are two Grand Completion Bingba; the difficulty of moving against them is indeed high."

Li Jun cupped his fists, head bowed. "Right now I have no usable men. Relying on myself alone, my heart is willing but my strength falls short. This lowly one losing his life is a small matter, but ruining the Young Master's plan would be a death beyond redemption."

"What 'willing heart, insufficient strength'? I say you won't lift a finger without profit!"

Qian Hai roared in reprimand: "Do you know the White Dragon Temple's summons and Buddha placard have already been delivered to the manor? Those monks are willing to pay ten million treasure notes for your life!"

"To save you, Young Master Xi tore face with the White Dragon Temple and gave up the Songpan Guard business! The scale of that loss—you, a mere martial brute, cannot imagine!"

Oh, so my price went up?

Qian Hai's curses continued. "And now you actually shrink back in fear of difficulty! Truly an ingrate!"

Li Jun cooperated perfectly, showing a face full of guilt, yet simply cupped his fists, gritted his teeth, and said not a word.

"Enough, Steward Qian. I doubt Li Jun harbors the thoughts you speak of. And even if he does, it's only human nature. Even an emperor doesn't shortchange his starving soldiers—how much less I."

Whoosh!

A card flickering with golden light flicked from Gu Xi's fingertips, landing precisely in the tiger's mouth of Li Jun's cupped fists.

"Five million here. Consider it operating funds for this job. Spend more or less as you see fit. If you can settle this alone with a single stroke per head, you may keep it all."

"Many thanks, Young Master!"

"This pittance doesn't even cover your price—worth a 'thank you'?"

Gu Xi smiled faintly. "You martial men are straightforward. No need for flattery with me. I said—this is just the job money."

"When you finish this, I'll give you two paths."

Li Jun asked in puzzlement, "I wonder what two paths the Young Master speaks of?"

"One path: you choose to defile your physique, switch to another Sequence. The resources needed—the Gu clan will provide. At the same time, I'll bestow the surname Gu upon you, and let you take charge of Shu Road Logistics."

Li Jun glanced at Qian Hai, his expression unchanged.

So this old fox knew Gu Xi's arrangements long ago—that's why he sought to cooperate with me!

Qian Hai observed the proprieties—eyes on nose, nose on heart—hands folded at his abdomen, the picture of transcendent detachment.

"If you're unwilling to walk that path, you may continue your Martial Dao Sequence. Once I'm recommended for office and take post as a Hundred-Mile Marquis, I'll naturally shelter your ascent to Martial Seven."

Gu Xi's tone rose, each word resonant. "Even I can grant you leave to establish a mountain gate in your jurisdiction, and rebuild a Martial Dao sect!"