The Advisor

Li Gou'er touched his bandage-wrapped arm and sucked in air through his teeth from the pain.

As soon as he walked back into the clinic's main hall, he saw the Female Physician blushing as she and Zhao An pored over the same little booklet, looking bashful yet eager, like they wanted to peek but didn't dare.

"Brother Zhao, are you two..." Li Gou'er asked, utterly confused.

Meng Wanyi jolted. "Th-that's all for today's lesson."

With that, the girl dashed off to the clinic's back courtyard. She snatched the fan from her younger sister, who was tending the medicine, and stared blankly at the flames as she fanned them.

"Sister, what are you doing?" Meng Shao asked, bewildered.

"It's too hot. I'm fanning the fire..." Meng Wanyi stammered incoherently, making even less sense.

On the other side, Li Gou'er finally realized that the little book Zhao An had just been reading with the Female Physician was none other than the erotic illustrations they had found on Cao Li.

At last, Li Gou'er understood. A knowing smile spread across his face as he moved closer and repeatedly apologized for ruining his big brother's good time.

Zhao An couldn't be bothered to explain himself to his little brother. He had just been learning to read.

Without Meng Wanyi's translation, he would have had a hard time making sense of this curious book, which contained martial arts knowledge.

"Bring Chunzi. We're heading back."

It was already afternoon by the time they left the clinic. They crossed the streets and alleys, and Zhao An had just approached the small courtyard when—

Zhao Chunzi pointed into the distance. "Brother Zhao, isn't that Master Hao?"

Zhao An looked up. Amid the crowds passing along the street, Hao Wei stood out among the laborers in a fine cotton robe and square scholar's cap, his long hair fastened with a jade pin and a sachet hanging at his waist. He looked every bit the refined man of letters.

Two Tiger Head Gang core members accompanied him as his attendants.

"Master, we've been waiting for an hour. Zhao An isn't important enough to keep you waiting this long," one of the core members grumbled impatiently.

"He's just been through a fight. He's probably gone to the clinic to get his wounds treated. We'll wait," Hao Wei said calmly, in no hurry at all.

"Even if we have to wait, you should go inside and sit down, Master," said the other core member, moving to kick the door open.

"Don't. Don't ruin what I've come here to do today," Hao Wei said, stopping him at once with a displeased rebuke.

If he kicked the door in, what would there be left to discuss when Zhao An returned?

Seeing this, the two gang members had no choice but to back down.

"May I ask what brings Master Hao here?"

Zhao An's voice drifted closer. When Hao Wei saw him return, he folded away his fan and greeted him with a smile and a clasped-fist salute.

"Nothing important. I just wanted to have a cup of tea at your place."

Zhao An nodded and pushed open the courtyard gate. "Please, come in."

The two gang members had meant to follow Hao Wei into the courtyard, but when Zhao An's gaze swept over them, they felt a sudden fear and didn't dare take another step.

Zhao An might have been new to the gang, but his record spoke for itself.

Especially today, when he had cut down a whole group of Python Gang fighters led by Cao Li. His sheer presence was enough to make anyone wary.

"Z-Zhao An, we came with Master Hao..."

Afraid Zhao An might draw his blade on him, the core member had barely begun to explain when Hao Wei turned his head and instructed them, "You two can go back."

"Y-yes, of course." Unable to withstand Zhao An's gaze, the core member hurried away, looking thoroughly cowed.

In the courtyard, two plain cups of hot tea sat on the stone table before Hao Wei and Zhao An.

Naturally, Zhao An had no fine tea leaves at home, but Hao Wei didn't seem to mind the rough brew. He still wore a genial smile as he took a small sip.

"The water's just the right temperature."

Zhao An said nothing. He disliked the roundabout way scholars talked, and simply waited for the gang's advisor to get to the point.

"The gang leader already knows about Cao Li. It's caused quite a stir throughout the gang," Hao Wei said, setting down his teacup. Seeing that Zhao An had no interest in small talk, he spoke plainly.

"So what does Zhou Hu want?" Zhao An asked directly.

He didn't care about the other members of the Tiger Head Gang. To him, they were no more than a pack of straw dogs. The only one who gave him even the slightest pause was the gang leader, Zhou Hu.

He no longer bothered to show Zhou Hu much courtesy, addressing him by name.

Hao Wei only smiled faintly, unbothered. "A Martial Master suddenly appeared in the gang. Naturally, he's suspicious and wants to question you in person."

"But I've managed to hold him off for now."

"..." Zhao An looked the advisor over more closely.

The way Hao Wei spoke made it clear that even his respect for the gang leader had waned. He referred to Zhou Hu rather casually now.

"Master Hao, what do you think of the Tiger Head Gang?"

"I don't have much of an opinion about the Tiger Head Gang. Like you, I have no ambition there," Hao Wei said candidly.

"Are you planning to leave?" Zhao An asked.

Hao Wei shook his head and sighed. "In times like these, where could a scholar like me, who can't even lift a chicken, go? Even the imperial court can't be relied upon."

"In the end, I still have to attach myself to someone powerful and live under their protection if I want to survive."

"Zhou Hu is shortsighted and witless, and the Tiger Head Gang is nothing but a rabble. Its destruction is only a matter of time. If the chance comes, I'll naturally have to consider finding another way out."

As Hao Wei spoke, his eyes returned to Zhao An.

"In my eyes, you have a brighter future than Zhou Hu."

Ever since the day Zhao An had passed the Three Trials and seemed to have been reborn, Hao Wei had realized that perhaps he had never truly understood the young man.

Zhao An was no mere brute with strength to spare.

On the contrary, he was more restrained than Zhou Hu and knew how to bide his time. He had stepped into the Martial Master realm without anyone noticing, which had genuinely shocked Hao Wei.

And if Hao Wei remembered correctly, Zhao An was only a little over twenty.

Even if Zhao An's strength as a Martial Master couldn't yet match Zhou Hu's, his potential for growth far surpassed the Tiger Head Gang leader's.

Hao Wei had already weighed the two options carefully.

"You want to work with me?" Zhao An quickly understood what Hao Wei was getting at.

"That's right. What do you say to replacing Zhou Hu and becoming the Tiger Head Gang's leader? If you agree, I'll do everything I can to help you!" Hao Wei's smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

His face told Zhao An that he wasn't joking.

After hearing him out, Zhao An shook his head without hesitation. "I'm not interested."

"You said yourself they're nothing but a rabble. What good would it do to become their leader?"

"But once you're the leader, you can reform the whole gang however you want. You'd gain power and money. Wouldn't that be a fine deal?" Hao Wei hadn't expected Zhao An to reject him so decisively, without even giving it a second thought.

He had thought he could see through Zhao An's intentions, but apparently he had been wrong again.

Zhao An's patience and hard training weren't aimed at taking the Tiger Head Gang leader's seat!

Zhao An drained his tea, then stood. "There's one thing you got right, Master Hao. The Tiger Head Gang's destruction is only a matter of time. You'd better make other plans while there's still time."

"..."