Xiong Tianba and the others soon arrived after hearing the news. He was the sort who feared only that the world was not chaotic enough, and discovering that he had missed a fight left him rubbing his fists in frustration. "Why give them gold for nothing? So he ate without paying-what's the big deal? Just beat them until they submit!"
Hu Xiaotian shot him a glare, and only then did Xiong Tianba obediently shut his mouth.
Seeing the crowd of onlookers in the busy street, Hu Xiaotian feared attracting unnecessary trouble and took Liu Kuohai back to the inn. Once they reached Hu Xiaotian's room, Liu Kuohai dropped to his knees with a thud. "Lord Hu, my father died such a terrible death!"
Hu Xiaotian knew Liu Kuohai quite well. His father, Liu Danggui, had run a small apothecary in Azure Cloud, and the family had been comfortably well-off. Honest, kindhearted, and generous toward those in need, Liu Danggui had enjoyed an excellent reputation locally. How had such a man met with disaster? Hu Xiaotian hurriedly helped Liu Kuohai up and comforted him. "Kuohai, calm down first. Tell me whatever you need to say. If there's anything I can do, I'll spare no effort to help."
Liu Kuohai nodded tearfully. After Hu Xiaotian left Azure Cloud, the situation in Western Sichuan had changed abruptly. Restless by nature, Liu Kuohai had wanted to go to the Kang Capital to rescue Hu Xiaotian when he heard that he was in trouble in the Capital City. He had stayed only because his father threatened to kill himself. Before long, word came that Hu Xiaotian had escaped danger and been entrusted with important duties in the Capital City, so Liu Kuohai again wanted to go to the Kang Capital and join him. Only after