Book 13: Chapter 96

Liu Shan Mens interior truly was torn apart as Ouyang Xiong briefly mentioned. Su Xiao checked on everyone from their windows and was relieved to find n.o.body was hurt. The whole point of visiting at night was to avoid detection, but he couldnt help inconspicuously helping them tidy up as he watched everyone trying to clean up the scattered bricks and concrete. It was even harder for him to leave when he saw how badly damaged Ming Feizhens place was.

The cornerstone of qinggong was how one breathed. With Night Steps as his breathing foundation and his recent progress, n.o.body noticed Su Xiaos presence. He spent an hour watching the people around him whilst helping up with the tidying, and then pulled out a big chest from under Ming Feizhens books.

Big Brother Ming reads books now? And this many?

Su Xiao was about to open the heavy chest when he heard arguing in the distance. As he had yet to adapt to his amplified hearing, he was startled when he heard the dialogue as clearly as if they were right next to him.

Due to the ten-odd constables standing around Liu Yuan, he had to keep raising his voice to be heard over them.

You signed the agreement when you joined up. Unless there were problems outside of anyones control, you cant leave until your term of employment is over. How long has it been since you signed the agreement for you to leave?

And when are we going to leave if not now? When were beaten so bad that we need to be taken out in a casket?

Look at the buildings. Does it look like we can be put together like buildings?

Judging from the fact that Su Xiao couldnt recognise some voices, they had to be new recruits who joined Liu Shan Men after the Nanjiang campaign.

Sir Liu, if this is not beyond anyones control, what is? Im so embarra.s.sed now that I dont want to tell anyone I work at Liu Shan Men

Prestige is nothing compared to keeping our lives. We arent strong. Were no match for these bullies.

Sir Liu, please let us leave.

Shut up! thundered Liu Yuan. You cant fight when the enemy attacks, but you run faster than anyone. We protected you precisely because youre not strong. Did any of your seniors push you to the frontlines?

Well said!

Eh? Xiao? Xiao Han?

A brief moment later, Su Xiao was spotted zooming over. Given the chest weighed around thirty kilograms at a glance, the youths were thoroughly impressed Su Xiao could land so softly from a vertical descent with it in his arms.

Xiao Han, how come youre back?

I came back to visit everyone after I heard about what happened at the office. Su Xiao cracked a smile as he scanned the new recruits, unintentionally scaring them. Do you still remember why you joined Liu Shan Men? Have you achieved your initial goals?

One muttered, Not yet but its not worth risking our lives for

And your safety is guaranteed after you quit? At a speed faster than Liu Yuans eyes could track, Su Xiao already had his index finger barely an inch away from the speakers forehead. Someone has died every day for the past month in the capital, some of whom we know and some of whom we dont. You could be strolling along the street, and your head could be rolling across the street before you realise it. Do you think its safe?

Needless to say, the newbie was terrified.

Im not trying to scare you. If youre this scared when you practice martial arts, how do you think those who dont train at all feel? How do you think your relatives at home feel? How would your future wife and children feel? Do you intend to let them suffer the same humiliation? When I first joined, I couldnt do anything right. Ive only started to improve a little thanks to the opportunities Vice-Captain gave me. How can you expect to grow if you never leave your comfort zone?

Liu Yuan flicked up a thumb and whispered, Thats the most effective tactic.

Vice-Captain once said, as long as there is still someone, Liu Shan Men still exists Uh Big Brother Ming also said, as long as pork shoulders are served, hell still be around.

Liu Yuan frowned at the mention of Ming Feizhen. Nevertheless, he couldnt dispute the fact that the last batch of constables Ming Feizhen trained behaved themselves exceptionally well.

We need to retain our members. Sir Liu, please tell our fellows colleagues that we all need to bear with it a little. Once we lose our sense of direction, itll be hard to bring us to together.

Well said!

The person who responded was standing on the opposite end of the area. He had a tobacco pipe in his mouth, a broadsword hanging from his belt, a tiger fur waistcoat over his shoulders and a medical patch on his right foot. Sauntering over, he said, You took the words right out of my mouth.

Su Xiao: Zha Pi?

The new recruits suddenly a.s.sumed disciplined postures youd only find in the disciplined army. Brother Zha!

Zha Pi casually bobbed his head in response. He glanced at one of them through the corner of his eyes, walked over and, as soon as they met eyes, whacked the new recruit over the head. Youre leaving?

N-no?

You?

No

Then who?! Who else?!

N-no one!

No one? Then, what are we all standing here for? Everything done already? Go help civilians on the street, then! Buzz off!

Within a second, they had sped off.

Hahaha, youre like a big boss, Zha Pi, remarked Su Xiao.

You speak in jest. Its all thanks to Master Mings teachings.

What did he teach you?

He said that newbies arent mentally, so he told me to keep an eye on them. If I do well, hell give me thirty silver taels as a reward.

So, the money is the real motivation?

Zha Pi shook his head. Is that the sort of person you see me as? Master Ming also said, if I failed in my duty, he would rip me apart and feed me to the wolves at the back of the mountain

Liu Yuan and Su Xiao: Oh, I get it now.

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