Just a Guess

The bustling streets teemed with carts and horses.

Pedestrians and merchants streamed back and forth.

Each tried to find a little corner of the city to call their own.

Duha sat in the carriage, gazing at the sky outside, her heart heavy with worry.

Driving the carriage, Liu Er told Duha jokes to help her relax.

They did little good.

Bright Moon House.

Unlike its usual lively bustle, Bright Moon House was quiet and deserted that day.

The carriage stopped at the entrance.

"We're here."

Liu Er offered to help Duha down.

But Duha leaped straight out of the carriage.

The two entered Bright Moon House and headed directly to the top floor.

A table stood laden with delicacies, more than half of which Duha could not name.

"Boss, Miss Duha is here."

Li Zhongchang nodded in satisfaction. "Go collect your reward."

"You got it!"

Liu Er went outside, leaned against the wall, and shook his head with a sigh.

Duha looked so beautiful today. A shame I'd have to call her sister-in-law from now on.

"Do you like it here?" Li Zhongchang asked.

"It's quite pretty."

Li Zhongchang smiled. "I didn't like this place before, but now I do."

"Why?"

"Because of you."

Liu Er secretly mimed throwing up, grumbling inwardly, That's fucking disgusting.

His gaze wandered over the crowd below, then suddenly caught a familiar figure.

Blind Man!?

What was he doing here?

Liu Er's heart clenched as a bad feeling struck him.

This guy wasn't... really going to do something stupid, was he?

He remembered Li Ping'an coming to ask him about Duha that morning. The more he thought about it, the more something seemed wrong.

Shit!!

I had to stop him before he did something stupid.

Liu Er crept downstairs, then hurried outside.

He grabbed Li Ping'an and growled, "Have you lost your fucking mind!"

Li Ping'an froze for a moment. "Huh? What's wrong?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Don't go throwing your life away! Do you know who that man is?

"You're just a blind man missing an arm. Who do you think you can protect?

"She's about to soar to fortune and success. Don't fucking flatter yourself..."

Li Ping'an listened in silence until Liu Er had worn himself out with his scolding.

Only then did he say, unhurriedly, "Brother Er, you've misunderstood. I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here to pick someone up."

"Pick someone up? Who?" Liu Er looked utterly bewildered.

"Duha."

"Pah!!"

Liu Er spat. "Blind Man, oh, Blind Man, I always thought you were smart!

"Who knew you were as stupid as a pig? This isn't how you win someone's favor.

"There's no fucking way Duha's going home tonight!!"

Li Ping'an smiled without arguing. "I have a feeling Duha will be going home tonight."

Liu Er shook his head with a cold laugh. "I don't even know what to say to you! Are you really stupid, or just pretending? Do you think Boss Li will let her go home?"

"Probably," Li Ping'an said calmly.

Liu Er was so angry he could barely speak. "If she gets to go home with you tonight, I'll eat that carriage!!"

"Calm down, Brother Er."

While they were talking, a swift horse galloped up.

A man in blue robes jumped down from its back.

"Who goes there?"

The Venomous Snake Gang members at the entrance stopped him.

"Sorry for the trouble, but please announce that I bring a message from Ma Sanniang of the Spring Beauty Courtyard."

At the name of Ma Sanniang of the Spring Beauty Courtyard, the gang member dared not delay and hurried upstairs.

He soon returned.

"Please come in."

Liu Er frowned in confusion. Ma Sanniang of the Spring Beauty Courtyard?

Why had she sent someone here?

The man in blue robes went to the top floor and briefly cupped his hands. "Boss Li."

Li Zhongchang smiled. "What instructions does Sanniang have?"

Compared with the Spring Beauty Courtyard, small gangs like the Fire Bear Gang and the Venomous Snake Gang were merely playing at petty squabbles.

Throughout the Anbei Four Garrisons, the Spring Beauty Courtyard's name rang loud and clear.

Naturally, Li Zhongchang dared not put on airs.

The man in blue robes said clearly, "Sanniang said to thank Boss Li for treating her younger sister to dinner. She will certainly return the favor another day.

"My message has been delivered. Farewell, Boss Li."

With that, the man in blue robes strode away.

Li Zhongchang stood rooted to the spot, his whole body seemingly frozen.

It felt as though something heavy pressed against his chest, leaving him unable to breathe.

Cold sweat soaked his back.

Younger sister?

Li Zhongchang slowly turned to look at Duha.

To him, that delicate face now seemed like a sharp knife plunged into his heart.

Thank heavens! Thank heavens!

Luckily, I hadn't made my move too quickly.

Otherwise, I'd already be buried in a mass grave.

"Blind Man, I know you care about Duha, but you need to take a good look at the situation."

Liu Er patiently tried to reason with Li Ping'an.

"Don't think Boss Li is easygoing. Who in the underworld isn't a ruthless bastard? Killing you would be as easy as killing a stray dog."

Li Ping'an simply listened quietly.

Before long, Duha walked out of Bright Moon House.

"Uncle, what are you doing here?"

Duha sounded delighted.

At last, she had seen someone familiar, and much of the tension in her heart eased.

"I came to take you home."

"Uncle, how did you know I'd be coming out now?"

Li Ping'an smiled faintly. "Just a guess."

Watching Li Ping'an and Duha disappear into the distance, Liu Er stood dumbfounded.

Uh...

Σ( ° △ °|||)︴

Had the boss... given up meat?

Liu Er rubbed his mouth awkwardly. Blind Man had actually called it.

Looking up, he saw Li Zhongchang storming downstairs.

Liu Er hurried over. "Boss..."

Before he could finish, a slap struck his face.

Li Zhongchang was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with tremendous strength.

That single slap left Liu Er seeing stars, unable to recover for a long while.

"Bastard! That girl has ties to Sanniang of the Spring Beauty Courtyard. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Clutching his cheek, Liu Er slumped to the ground and stared blankly at Li Zhongchang.

What Spring Beauty Courtyard? What Sanniang?

"Boss... I didn't know."

Li Zhongchang calmed himself. He knew the fellow would not dare hide the truth from him.

Most likely, Ma Sanniang had deliberately concealed the relationship.

"Just my fucking luck!"

Li Zhongchang spat out the curse.

Sometimes, the martial world was not about fighting and killing, but about relationships and knowing how to navigate them.

If a fight could be avoided, it was best to avoid it.

Though Li Ping'an sometimes had no choice but to use violence, he preferred to settle disputes without it.

Once blows were exchanged, things would most likely not end until one side was dead.

Rather than sow hatred and grudges, it was better to find an easier way to resolve the conflict.

After this incident, Li Zhongchang indeed no longer dared pester Duha.

He no longer dared collect the monthly interest, either.

Life returned to peace, but that peace would only ever be temporary.