IDWBE -Chapter 396 Someone You Can’t Afford to Provoke

This was clearly killing with a borrowed knife!

And of all knives to borrow, she had to borrow the knives of those two bastards, Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai!

Those two fools never listened to reason—and they weren’t afraid of causing a death.

Even the onlookers found it unbelievable.

All this… over such a trivial matter?

Songyang?

Where was that even supposed to be?

Most people had never even heard of it!

But Cao Xiaohuan—everyone knew her.

She was a notorious she-devil. It was said that a single shout from her could scare the soul out of a person. In Ankang City her name was like thunder in one’s ears—known by all. The number of criminals she had personally arrested was not one thousand, then at least eight hundred.

People hated her; even ghosts would detest her.

And now these two big idiots were connected to Cao Xiaohuan?

Then they weren’t simple characters after all!

Seeing Ge Laoshan beaten until his face was covered in blood, his head smashed so hard against the staircase—and yet he still hadn’t died—everyone felt a surge of admiration.

Worthy of an Eighth-Rank expert! Truly formidable!

If it were an ordinary person, they would already be meeting the King of Hell by now.

“Cao Xiaohuan was right!”

Yu Xiaoshi said smugly. “She said you’d definitely try to argue.”

“Yeah, yeah! You actually dare to argue?”

A-Dai chimed in, smack!—landing another slap on Ge Laoshan. “You’re not a good person!”

“Wait!”

Ge Laoshan covered his face. Before he could even cry, he saw they were about to hit him again and quickly raised his hands.

“Can you at least show me some respect? We’re fellow townsmen!”

Yu Xiaoshi snorted. “Who’s your fellow townsman? Cao Xiaohuan said, ‘When fellow townsmen meet, they stab each other in the back.’”

He raised his fist again.

“Wait! Can we at least change the place where you beat me?”

Ge Laoshan was a man of reputation. With so many people watching, how was he supposed to show his face in the future?

Yu Xiaoshi paused. “That makes sense. The Prince said when beating someone, don’t hit the face. Always hitting your face isn’t good.”

Ge Laoshan had just begun to feel relieved when suddenly his stomach exploded with pain, and he let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Why switch to the stomach now?!

Cold sweat mixed with blood ran from his forehead down his neck and onto his clothes.

Facing the two relentless idiots, he could only force a smile.

“You two are smart men. How could you be misled by a villain?”

He said that against his conscience.

Smart?

Calling them idiots would already be polite.

Yu Xiaoshi shouted, “I’m not older than you. Don’t call me ‘sir.’”

“Yes, yes…”

Ge Laoshan sighed helplessly. “Think about it—we’re all from Nanzhou. If I insult you, wouldn’t that be insulting myself? That stinking woman Cao Xiaohuan is from Sanhe. She’s not one of us. She’s just trying to sow discord. When Nanzhou people are away from home, we should help each other!”

Seeing them hesitate slightly, he tremblingly pulled out a handful of banknotes from his pocket and said with a flattering smile,

“There’s an old saying in Nanzhou: ‘Buddha relies on lifting, a man relies on support.’ This little bit of money is just a token of my sincerity. Please accept it.”

A-Dai swallowed hard at the sight of the notes, then shouted, “You think I’m stupid? My mother said even when eating, you must look at the timing!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Yu Xiaoshi stared at the banknotes while saying, “Cao Xiaohuan said if anyone takes bribes now, they’ll be sent to labor reform. With so many people watching, how can I take it? Fang Pi said you collect money in places where no one can see!”

Ge Laoshan wanted to say, You could take it without anyone knowing, but seeing the bystanders covering their mouths in laughter, sorrow flooded his heart.

Just as he was about to speak again, he suddenly felt his body grow light—

When he looked up again, Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai were already walking away.

“What are you standing around for?”

The half-bare-bosomed woman snapped at the staff. “Help the boss up!”

Supported by two attendants, Ge Laoshan staggered to his feet and barked, “What are you staring at? Haven’t you seen someone get beaten before?”

The crowd dispersed at once.

Upstairs, as the woman cleaned his wounds, he howled in pain.

“My heart aches just looking at this,” she cooed. “Shall I gather some men later and teach those two a lesson somewhere secluded?”

“Shut up!”

Ge Laoshan growled. “If you dare provoke those two living treasures again, I’ll light you up like a sky lantern. Believe it or not?”

“Yes, Chief…”

Unconsciously, she changed how she addressed him.

Ge Laoshan touched his face and sucked in a breath. “Damn those bastards. They didn’t hold back at all.”

After hesitating, she asked, “May I ask… what background do those two have?”

“Background?”

Ge Laoshan was stunned. “They’ve got no damn background! Just two idiots!”

At most they were lackeys around the Prince.

No official posts, no real authority.

Even Wang Xiaoshuan, a mere stable boy, ranked above them!

To put it bluntly—they were nothing.

And be fellow townsmen with them?

Taking two fools out would only be embarrassing!

“Then why…” she couldn’t understand.

“If they’ve got no background, why be so afraid?”

“Why?”

Ge Laoshan snapped, “Why do you pry into everything all day? Pack up. We’re leaving.”

He dared not say more. Women’s mouths had no locks—if word leaked and rumors spread, he’d only get beaten again.

“Leaving? Where to?” she asked in shock.

“Home!”

“Which home?”

He had many businesses—and many concubines. Everywhere was a home.

“Nanzhou,” he sighed. “Where else can I go?”

She protested, “This is the perfect time for us to expand. Leaving now would be such a pity!”

“Pity my ass. Before I came, didn’t you manage fine?”

Ge Laoshan had thought it through.

Cao Xiaohuan, to some extent, represented the Prince’s will. If she dared target him repeatedly, she had backing.

Just because he hadn’t fallen today didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future.

Commoners don’t fight officials. Better leave early.

Most importantly, being beaten by two idiots—he’d lost all face. How could he stay in Ankang City?

After more persuasion, he finally decided to leave alone.

Then she mentioned another matter: “A new gambling house opened near Sanguan Temple. Less than five miles from us. Isn’t that deliberately humiliating you?”

“Who’s behind it?” he frowned.

“From Sanhe. Surname Ye.”

“Ye?”

“Ye Chen.”

Ge Laoshan stared at her. “Are you sure you’ve investigated thoroughly?”

“Of course. They say he has connections in the palace. Recently clashed with Qin Yin, son of Censor Qin Yang, and palace people intervened for him.”

Smack!

She covered her cheek in disbelief. “What did I do wrong?”

“Wrong? You dare say you’ve investigated clearly without knowing their real background? The Ye family of Sanhe—is that someone you can afford to provoke? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!”

Jiang Chou had once said:

If Ye Qiu wanted to wipe out a family, even the Prince might not be able to stop him.

She wiped her tears. “I understand.”

Later, when the monk emerged from a month-long seclusion, Lin Yi smelled a sour stench from afar and covered his nose.

“How long has it been since you bathed?”

“I bathe every day, Your Highness,” the monk said calmly.

“Then what’s that smell?”

“It’s not from me.”

He pointed to Yu Xiaoshi.

Yu Xiaoshi grinned sheepishly. “My kid soiled me. I came in a hurry and forgot to change.”

“Get out!” Lin Yi snapped—though inwardly relieved.

Yu Xiaoshi had recently had a son. Lin Yi had personally held the baby—bright-eyed and lively. Thankfully, no sign of inheriting his father’s foolishness.

After Yu Xiaoshi left, Lin Yi studied the monk again.

“You’ve really become a Grandmaster?”

From Third Rank to Sixth Rank, then straight to Grandmaster?

That didn’t fit scientific development—or even fantasy novel logic.

The monk answered honestly, “If Wang Dong was correct… then yes.”

The blind man nodded. “I dare not deceive Your Highness. He truly is a Grandmaster now. In strength, he surpasses both Ye Qiu and me.”

Lin Yi was shocked. “Did anything strange happen on your journey to Chuan Province?”

The monk thought carefully. “I met an old monk on the road. He carried the corpse of a woman in phoenix robes. In the scorching summer, her body remained lifelike.”

Lin Yi leapt to his feet.

“Why are you only telling me this now? Where are they?”

The old monk—Fa Hui. The corpse—the Empress. Who else could it be?

“The monk is dead. The woman has been buried,” he replied calmly, recounting everything in detail.

After listening, Lin Yi fell silent.

“Your breakthrough… is related to that old monk.”

The blind man agreed. Ye Qiu added, “Aside from that encounter, nothing else unusual happened.”

Ye Qiu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Why couldn’t he run into such fortune?

If he had the monk’s strength, what would he do first?

Challenge the Chief Steward, of course!

Win—keep fighting.

Lose—thank him for the lesson.