Chapter 27: Gu Armor

Chapter 27 Gu Jia

Nine Dragons Street, the Pao Ge Association Main Hall.

In the center of the hall stood a spirit altar, within its shrine enshrined a statue of Guan Gong in a cyan robe, brandishing a blade and stroking his beard, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, exuding an overbearing aura.

At this moment, a stout, short figure stood devoutly worshipping before the shrine.

As he pressed his palms together and bowed, a row of holographic text suddenly materialized before the statue of Lord Guan:

"Thank you, Mr. Gu Jia, Head of Security of the Shu Dao Logistics Group, for your donation of 50,000 Great Ming Treasure Notes — The Committee for the Propagation of the Martial Sage Lord Guan's Deeds."

A hoarse, aged voice immediately rang out: "Among the Martial Sage's faithful, few are as generous as you, Director."

Gu Jia bowed once more, then turned around with a smile: "I only get the chance to pay my respects when I come to your Pao Ge Main Hall, so naturally I must show my sincerity. But compared to your years of offerings, Master Ding, mine amounts to nothing."

Zhao Ding still lay swathed in that black greatcoat upon the sofa, his frame appearing even more withered than when he had appeared at the Nine Dragons Boxing Ring a few days prior.

"After offering for so long, doubts sometimes creep in. All these years of offerings — was I honoring a true god, or feeding a pack of shameless scribes?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Jia's thick, short eyebrows furrowed slightly, a half-smile on his face: "Master Ding can grumble all he likes, but he must never harbor thoughts of sacrilege; the divine watches from three feet above your head."

"A man near death carries too much resentment; Director Gu, you mustn't take offense."

Zhao Ding laughed heartily, waved a hand inviting Gu Jia to sit, then tilted his chin toward Kuang Qingyun, who stood attending at his side.

The latter stepped forward, placing a pure silver combination lockbox on the tea table between the two men.

The box opened, revealing none other than the five Six Arts Chips Li Jun had seized back from Zhao Qingxia.

With that done, Kuang Qingyun withdrew, not having uttered a single word from start to finish.

"This is your chosen successor?"

Gu Jia merely glanced at the recovered Six Arts Chips before looking away, instead watching Kuang Qingyun's retreating back with great interest.

Zhao Ding nodded, chuckling: "This kid is just a loyal fool; he's bound to stir up trouble in the future. I'll have to ask you, Director, to look after him from now on."

"Look after him? Hardly. Master Ding, you've seen it yourself — the Security Department is a paper tiger these days; a mere brat like Mo Jiu could turn things upside down, and even Gu Ding got killed."

Gu Jia sighed with a melancholy expression, then straightened up and cupped his fists toward Zhao Ding in thanks:

"If your men hadn't helped me snatch back this shipment this time, I'd have been in for a tongue-lashing from Young Master Yong. No wonder Young Master Yong trusts you so implicitly."

Zhao Ding raised a hand that was nearly skin and bone, waving it to indicate there was no need for such formality.

"The thousands of brothers in the Pao Ge Association, from top to bottom, have clothes on their backs and rice in their bowls only thanks to Young Master Yong's patronage. Having received such grace, one naturally repays it; if Shu Dao Logistics' goods were robbed on Nine Dragons Street, this old man would die with his eyes open in grievance."

Gu Jia said sincerely: "Master Ding, you're too polite. Your gene collapse has always been a heartache for Young Master Yong. He often says that if he had detected it sooner, he would surely have saved you."

"I realized it too late; I blame no one. Let's not speak of this."

Zhao Ding's tone grew grave: "The Mohist Heaven's Will Society hasn't shown its face in Chengdu Prefecture for years; why would a junior suddenly jump out to strike at Shu Dao Logistics?"

"What else? They're broke."

Gu Jia let out a cold snort: "You know what they're like — they call themselves knights-errant, but they're just a gang of petty thieves. 'Bandits in prosperous times, rebels in chaos' — that describes them perfectly."

He slammed a fist onto the sofa armrest, raging: "In my view, those Confucian elders back then shouldn't have shown mercy; they should have uprooted the lot, a clean sweep would have been far better."

"Cough, cough..."

Zhao Ding coughed lightly twice, lowering his brows: "Director, you can't let those old masters at the Ministry of Works hear that. I've heard many Ministry projects employ Mohist personnel; if they were truly wiped out, the Ministry's masters would have no one to command."

Gu Jia realized his slip and hurriedly laughed: "Hahaha, madmen like the Heaven's Will Society are a minority after all; most Mohist sequence members are good people, good people!"

Seeing Zhao Ding smile without speaking, Gu Jia hastily changed the subject: "I have another question I'd like to ask you, Master Ding."

"Director, please speak freely."

Gu Jia's expression turned serious: "Li Jun won against the Sacrificial Blade Society at the Nine Dragons Boxing Ring, and now he's snatched the goods back from the Heaven's Will Society. With such meritorious service, why did you choose Kuang Qingyun as successor? Aren't you afraid Li Jun won't accept it, leading to fratricidal strife?"

Zhao Ding seemed to have anticipated Gu Jia's meaning and answered directly: "Director, you want Li Jun to join Shu Dao Logistics' Security Department?"

"Only you understand me, Master Ding." Gu Jia sat up even straighter, his expression eager:

"One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Since you've chosen Kuang Qingyun as heir, why not let Li Jun come with me? That way, Nine Dragons Street has someone to hold the fort, and Gu Ding's position has a replacement. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Gu Jia's words were blunt, but they made sense.

Currently within the Muddy Water Pao Ge, Kuang Qingyun held the rank of Sage Virtue Second Brother, his status far above Li Jun, who served as Red Flag Fifth Brother.

But both had entered the Sequence; with their strength laid bare, status mattered little.

Yet the Pao Ge Association's helmsman's chair was singular; whoever sat in it, the other would harbor resentment.

Moreover, now that Zhao Ding had resolved to elevate Kuang Qingyun, sending Li Jun into Shu Dao Logistics was the optimal choice.

Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix — each taking one role would resolve the conflict to the greatest extent.

"As expected, Director, your foresight is thorough. But regarding the matter of Zhao Dou, I owe Li Jun a debt; if I force him down with the helmsman's authority, it will likely backfire."

Zhao Ding paused, his face showing helplessness: "You know the temperament of those on the Martial Path Sequence — they take softness, not hardness; so this matter depends on his own willingness."

Gu Jia said confidently: "Rest assured on this, Master Ding. As long as you're willing to let him go, I'll handle the rest. Martial artists are gold-devouring pixius; with the chance to cling to the great tree that is Shu Dao Logistics, I refuse to believe he won't be tempted."

Zhao Ding smiled: "Since Director, you've taken a liking to his talent, I won't play the villain. But one condition: he can only go with you after he helps me resolve the trouble with Luo Zhen."

"Understood. I also need to use this to gauge Li Jun's character. If he flees before the battle, I naturally won't recruit him into the Security Department."

At this, Gu Jia's expression grew solemn, his voice deep: "Speaking of which, Young Master Yong sent me with a message: the power behind Luo Zhen has been identified."

"Who?"

Murderous intent flooded Gu Jia's eyes as he gritted his teeth: "Tianfu Heavy Industry, Wu Jinfeng!"

Zhao Ding smiled coldly: "So our Inspector here has hitched his wagon to the Yan Zhou Wu Clan?"

"To treat court officials like oxen and horses, to brazenly meddle in local business — in all of Chengdu Prefecture, only that mad dog Wu Jinfeng would dare."

Zhao Ding pondered a moment, then asked: "What does Young Master Yong mean?"

Gu Jia grinned savagely: "Young Master's meaning is clear. The Chicken and Goose District's business may be small, but it concerns the Gu Family's face. Whoever reaches out gets their hand chopped; whoever steps in gets their foot chopped. Even the Wu Clan is no exception."

Zhao Ding beamed: "With those words, I'm at ease."

"Right, business is done. I'll take my leave then."

Gu Jia rose, picking up the combination lockbox from the table, but as he reached Zhao Ding's side, his steps suddenly halted.

He narrowed his eyes at the dimming twilight retreating beyond the door, raising a hand to rest it lightly on the old man's withered, emaciated shoulder.

"So many years of old friends — give me the straight truth. How much time left?"

"A few days at most."

"Then I'll wait to watch Master Ding's final curtain call, this farewell performance."

Gu Jia strode off with great strides, his back to Zhao Ding's face, a trace of an inscrutable, dark smile flickering in his eyes.

The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it is only near dusk.

At this moment, only Zhao Ding remained in the vast Pao Ge Association Main Hall.

The old man pulled his black greatcoat tighter, raised his eyes to gaze at that incomparably majestic statue of Lord Guan, suddenly sneering as he muttered to himself: "A reckless Zhang Fei, trying to emulate Lord Guan? Fool."