Human Connections

"Are you talking about Kong Xiannian of the Huaqing Sect?"

Wu Tu was first stunned when he heard the name, then hurriedly asked, "He made a move against you?"

Li Rui shook his head. "He just asked me a few things."

He kept Kong Xiannian's use of a bewildering technique on him to himself.

Only then did Wu Tu let out a breath of relief. "I've heard of this man. This time, the Huaqing Sect sent two agents to Clear River, and Kong Xiannian is one of them."

"Agents?"

Wu Tu explained, "Those like Zhu Yue who enter the Huaqing Sect are outer disciples. The Huaqing Sect has an extremely strict assessment system—an examination every three years. If one fails, one must leave the Huaqing Sect. But there is another path: doing work for the Huaqing Sect. Outside, such people are called agents."

"If an agent performs well, they may have a chance to become disciples again."

Li Rui nodded.

Put into modern terms, they were temporary workers with a chance of being made permanent someday.

Wu Tu continued:

"This time, Kong Xiannian is responsible for apprehending Huaqing Sect disciples who have defected. The other is responsible for searching for evidence of the Ghost Underworld Sect."

"I work for Agent Liu."

Li Rui understood at once.

Wu Tu said, "Old Brother Li, as long as we stand straight, we need not fear crooked shadows. There's no need to fear Zhao Wei or that Kong fellow. If anything happens, you can go find Vice Branch Master Zhang."

"Thanks for the reminder, brother."

Wu Tu went on to tell him quite a bit about the Heaven and Earth Alliance, talking for a full hour without seeming remotely satisfied.

Li Rui left the gambling house under Wu Tu's watch.

He headed straight back to Heaven One Hall.

Heaven One Hall was as deserted as ever.

Every now and then, one or two disciples from the Law Transmission Hall came to collect copied versions of Cultivation Methods. Zhou Shulin and Liang He were more than capable of handling such matters.

"Hall Master."

When Zhou Shulin saw Li Rui appear, he rose and bowed.

Li Rui waved a hand.

"Carry on."

There were only three people in Heaven One Hall, and one of them was an exceptionally well-connected hire. If Zhou Shulin and Liang He left, he, the hall master, would have to personally handle registrations.

Thus, Li Rui had shown them no small amount of concern.

The two youngsters, still inexperienced in the ways of the world, were deeply moved.

They had drunk together several times already.

Zhou Shulin and Liang He both felt that their current hall master was an understanding, considerate elder brother. After getting drunk, they had poured out their hearts and said many things.

Li Rui remembered every last word.

They might come in handy someday.

Of course, it would be best if that day never came.

The greatest taboo in the martial world was speaking too deeply to shallow acquaintances. He did this, naturally, so that he could better keep a grip on Heaven One Hall's only two laborers.

Li Rui would not take the initiative to harm others, but he also understood the value of keeping something in reserve.

A person's heart was hidden behind their belly. Who could say for sure?

Li Rui returned to his private "office" in Heaven One Hall.

Just as he picked up the Supreme Goodness Dao Scripture that he had not finished reading yesterday, Liu Tong knocked on his door for the first time in ages.

"Liu Tong, is something the matter?"

Li Rui looked at Liu Tong with concern.

When it came to well-connected hires, the best approach was to form as many good ties as possible. One never knew when unexpected benefits might come.

Whether he checked in or not was completely unimportant.

This was merely an uncle's concern for his nephew.

After a month apart, Liu Tong still looked like a young master drained by excessive indulgence. He chuckled. "Hall Master, my brother-in-law has asked me to work at the Civil and Martial Hall. The transfer order should arrive in a few days. I was thinking of inviting Hall Master Li and the two brothers for a gathering."

Li Rui was not particularly surprised.

Anyone with eyes could see that it was only a matter of time before Liu Tong left Heaven One Hall.

"Good. Better to strike while the iron is hot—how about tonight?"

"Deal."

Liu Tong agreed at once.

Evening.

Flower Night House.

"Old Li has really made something of himself—coming to Flower Night House twice in a row."

Looking at the familiar room and the familiar curvaceous girls, Li Rui could not help feeling emotional.

It seemed his understanding of decadent feudal culture was still lacking. One was never too old to learn.

A beautiful woman sat beside Zhou Shulin. His face was bright red, and he covered his crotch with one hand.

As for Liang He—

He had to stand watch, so he could only regretfully miss out on tonight's free feast.

Liu Tong was a veteran of the pleasure quarters. He was more at ease in Flower Night House than in his own home. Most of the women in the building knew him. As he went upstairs, no fewer than ten courtesans greeted him familiarly.

It made Zhou Shulin green with envy.

They were both well-connected hires, yet the difference in treatment was as vast as heaven and earth.

Liu Tong raised his cup. "Thank you, Hall Master and Brother Zhou, for looking after me these days. Brother Liang isn't here, so I'll keep a tally for him and repay him another day. Tomorrow, I'll be going to work at the Civil and Martial Hall. It's all my brother-in-law's arrangement, but our friendship remains."

"Sorry, I've said too much. I'll drain this cup first. You may do as you please."

Before he finished speaking,

he tipped back his head and drained the wine in his cup.

Though ancient wine was not very strong, it contained plenty of fusel alcohol. After several cups, Liu Tong and Zhou Shulin were already seven-tenths drunk.

"Brother Zhou, I was in the wrong before. I hope you'll be magnanimous."

Red-faced, Zhou Shulin waved his hand. "They were all trivial matters. Brother Liu, there's no need to take them to heart."

Li Rui quietly listened to the two youngsters' conversation.

He secretly shook his head.

On the surface, Liu Tong seemed to be constantly flattering Zhou Shulin and placing himself in the weaker position. In truth, everything was under Liu Tong's control.

If Liu Tong wanted to go to the Civil and Martial Hall, the rules required someone to come assess him. If Li Rui, Zhou Shulin, or Liang He caused trouble at that point,

he might still get through in the end.

But in his brother-in-law's eyes, he would surely leave behind the impression that he was incapable of getting things done.

Liu Tong truly was skilled at cultivating personal connections.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was deeply calculating.

Li Rui did not find this objectionable. Dealing with a clever person like Liu Tong made things easier for him as well.

Of course, another reason was that Liu Tong's brother-in-law was surnamed Zhang.

The same surname as Wu Tu's patron.

Since Zhao Wei could not be relied upon, he naturally needed to find a new patron within the Heaven and Earth Alliance. Wu Tu's connection alone was far from enough.

He needed more opportunities to establish ties with that Vice Branch Master Zhang.

Over time, without anyone noticing, he would naturally become one of Vice Branch Master Zhang's people. When Zhao Wei truly made trouble for him, someone would be there to lend a hand.

Of course, that did not mean Zhao Wei would definitely move against him.

Li Rui had simply long grown accustomed to preparing for a rainy day.

Liu Tong gradually reached seven-tenths drunkenness.

He waved his hand, and the several courtesans accompanying them in drink tactfully withdrew. Zhou Shulin looked reluctant to see them go.

Liu Tong lowered his voice. "Hall Master Li, Brother Zhou, we're family, so I won't beat around the bush.

I heard our Alliance Leader has already made a breakthrough. The Heaven and Earth Alliance's status is bound to soar like a dragon taking flight, and our own standing will rise with the tide.

The Qinghe Branch has only just been established. Now is the perfect time to claim a position. Once the Alliance Leader truly announces his strength to the world, it will be too late to fight for one.

I'm only telling you this because I truly see you as brothers. Don't tell anyone else."

Zhou Shulin's eyes widened, and he nodded again and again.

Li Rui suddenly saw the light.

He finally understood why Zhu Ping, the head of a great clan, had suddenly shown him favor. So that was why.