This Silver Gong who unexpectedly came to request personnel was called Tao Man. He didn’t have a deep relationship with Li Yuchun, but they worked in the same office and saw each other often, so they were somewhat familiar.
Of course, Li Yuchun refused. What a joke – blatantly snatching away my treasure boy, how could I agree?
But Tao Man seemed unconcerned with Li Yuchun’s attitude. He brought people in, informed them, and then turned to take Xu Qi An away.
Bang!
Li Yuchun waved his sleeve, and the door of Spring Wind Hall slammed shut.
“What does Master Li mean by this?” Silver Gong Tao was startled by his reaction.
“And what does Master Tao mean?” Li Yuchun stood up expressionlessly, pointing to the corner, indicating Xu Qi An to go there.
After the young brother obediently did so, he looked at Silver Gong Tao and continued: “You and I don’t serve under the same Gold Gong. There’s no such rule.”
If they were under the same Gold Gong, personnel transfers wouldn’t even need to modify records in the administrative office – they could just report directly.
But for subordinates of different Gold Gongs, personnel transfers required going through a lot of procedures.
Li Yuchun and Tao Man’s superiors were not the same Gold Gong, so their Bronze Gongs could not be transferred at will.
“It’s like this,” Tao Man slapped his forehead, pointing at Xu Qi An in the corner: “Master Jiang asked me to come fetch him. He’s taken a liking to this lad. Hey, who knows where his luck came from… What are you standing there for? Come here, don’t just stick to the corner. From now on you’re my man.”
“Master Jiang has taken a fancy to you. This is your good fortune.”
Why does that sound so strange… Is Master Jiang going to carry me off in a bridal sedan chair? By the way, I don’t even know him… Xu Qi An inwardly complained, casting a questioning look at Li Yuchun.
Li Yuchun said: “Then go back and tell Master Jiang, I don’t agree.”
“What?” Tao Man doubted his ears. This Li Yuchun, he dares to refuse Master Jiang? Did he drink fake alcohol today? Has his brain stopped working?
“I don’t want to waste words with you. Master Jiang is still waiting. I’m taking the person now. If you have any objections, go talk to Master Jiang yourself.”
“Tao, just try touching my man. If I let you step out of this doorway today, my name isn’t Li Yuchun.”
“Li, you’ve lost it today. Do you know what you’re saying?”
The argument between the two Silver Gongs alarmed the Bronze Gongs and clerks in the side hall. Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao, as well as the Bronze Gongs Tao Man brought, squatted in the courtyard eating fried beans and listening to the cursing inside.
“Hey, what’s the background of that colleague of yours?” A Bronze Gong tapped Song Tingfeng’s thigh with his scabbard.
Song Tingfeng said: “No special background.”
“Then why would Gold Gong Jiang specifically ask for him by name?” The Bronze Gongs didn’t believe it. Such a person must have some extraordinary talent.
Song Tingfeng thought for a moment and gave a reasonable explanation: “He sleeps with courtesans at the teaching house for free.”
The crowd didn’t believe it and looked at Zhu Guangxiao, who nodded.
Now they believed it.
“How come he doesn’t have to pay?” The Bronze Gongs were shocked and earnestly sought advice. Freeloading has been humanity’s unchanging joy since ancient times.
“Can’t say, I promised to keep it secret for him,” Song Tingfeng shook his head, then added after a pause: “He gave us one tael of silver as hush money.”
“One tael of silver, right? Here.”
Song Tingfeng took it and put it in his pocket, then shook his head again: “One tael isn’t enough, need to add more.”
They gave another tael.
“Okay, spill it.” The Bronze Gongs looked at him expectantly.
“Because we treated him,” Song Tingfeng laughed loudly.
“Beat him up.”
Song Tingfeng was pinned to the ground and pummeled by several Bronze Gongs. The silver was snatched back.
Regarding the alias Yang Ling, Xu Qi An had treated his two colleagues to a meal at Osmanthus Moon Pavilion as hush money.
Actually, in Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao’s eyes, sleeping with Fu Xiang was what made people envious. As for poetic talent, who gives a damn about poetry? What use is it?
Crude martial artists don’t care how well you write poetry.
…
Jiang Lüzhong sat in the hall, having called for Xu Qi An’s household registration and files. Only then did he learn that this was the Changle County petty constable who had performed outstandingly in the tax silver case?
“I’m in charge of the Marquis Pingyuan murder case. Although Lord Wei has shielded me from the pressure of various court factions, I can’t slack off because of this. That would make Lord Wei doubt my abilities.” Jiang Lüzhong unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table, pondering:
“This person is skilled in investigating and solving cases, exactly the talent I need. Moreover, he has close contacts with the Court of Astrology mystic arts practitioners. I can use him to purchase magical artifacts from the Court of Astrology to arm my subordinates.”
Marquis Pingyuan’s death was no great loss, but the case still needed to be solved. Solving it would be an achievement. Xu Qi An had cracked the tax silver case just by looking at the files, showing outstanding ability. This was Xu Qi An’s first advantage.
The second advantage was that the white-robed mystic arts practitioners of the Court of Astrology looked down on martial artists. Apart from regularly supplying Bronze Gongs with magical artifacts, they were reluctant to sell other artifacts. That day, when he saw the white-robed mystic arts practitioner being so respectful to Xu Qi An and learned that Xu Qi An was on close terms with sixth-rank alchemists, he had the idea of recruiting him.
An artifact of superb quality not only required an array master’s finishing touch but also the forging of an alchemist.
At this moment, Silver Gong Tao strode in with an angry face. He saluted and said: “Boss, Li Yuchun drove me back.”
“Drove you back?” Jiang Lüzhong’s eagle eyes instantly sharpened, his imposing aura making Tao Man unable to look directly at him, slightly lowering his head.
“What happened?” Gold Gong Jiang asked in a deep voice.
“He just wouldn’t hand over the person. He even said that if you want the person, you can go to him yourself.” Tao Man reported truthfully.
He was furious with Li Yuchun. If not for the office rules prohibiting private fights between night watchmen except in the training ground, Tao Man would have long since let Li Yuchun know how hard and big his fists were.
“Fine, I’ll go myself,” Gold Gong Jiang said without emotion.
Meanwhile, Li Yuchun had run to Yang Yan’s Divine Spear Hall but didn’t find him. He went to the side hall to ask a clerk and learned that Gold Gong Yang was having tea with Lord Wei at the Tower of Righteous Qi.
Wei Yuan had two adopted sons. One was South Palace Qianrou, recognized by everyone in the office as more delicate than a woman. The other was the “impenetrable” Yang Yan.
Li Yuchun ran to the Tower of Righteous Qi, saying he had important matters to report. The guard on duty reported upstairs as usual. After receiving permission, Spring Brother ran up seven floors in one breath.
Seeing Yang Yan sitting in his unchanging posture for ten thousand years, as rigid and solemn as a stone man, Spring Brother breathed a sigh of relief and said loudly: “Gold Gong Yang, this humble officer has matters to report.”
Yang Yan nodded slightly, his gaze calm as he looked over: “Speak.”
Spring Brother said with some emotion: “Gold Gong Jiang is trying to snatch people.”
Wei Yuan and South Palace Qianrou looked over.
Yang Yan said: “Snatch people?”
“Yes,” Li Yuchun said: “Snatching Bronze Gong Xu Qi An.”
Yang Yan raised his thick eyebrows and looked at Wei Yuan: “Adoptive Father.”
Wei Yuan smiled and said: “That’s between you two.”
Yang Yan immediately stood up and quickly left the Tower of Righteous Qi.
Li Yuchun saluted Wei Yuan and South Palace Qianrou, then turned to follow.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into that Jiang fellow. Today he suddenly sent someone to my Spring Wind Hall to take people, very overbearing.” Li Yuchun briefly explained what had happened.
He added: “Xu Qi An has top-grade aptitude. We can’t just hand him over.”
Yang Yan didn’t say a word.
His footsteps quickened a bit. His attitude was very firm – a Bronze Gong with top-grade aptitude must be kept in hand.
Whoever dares to snatch people, he’ll beat their brains out.
The two Gold Gongs met head-on at the door of Spring Wind Hall. Jiang Lüzhong was startled at first, then narrowed his eyes, making the crow’s feet at the corners more prominent.
“Gold Gong Yang, can you transfer Xu Qi An to my command?”
Yang Yan didn’t speak, just shook his head.
Disagree… for the sake of a Bronze Gong… Jiang Lüzhong’s gaze flickered slightly. He gave a “heh” and smiled without mirth: “What if I insist?”
Yang Yan said in a deep voice: “Follow the rules.”
“Fine!”
What rules? Of course, fighting.
This was the rule set by Wei Yuan. Whether Gold Gong, Silver Gong, or Bronze Gong, if there were conflicts, they would be resolved by force. But it must be in the office’s training ground, not in private fights.
Rather than scheming and fighting to the death in private, it’s better to put it out in the open and have a real fight.
Martial artists should be pure, their spirit indomitable.
The news spread like wildfire that two Gold Gongs were going to fight it out in the training ground over a small Bronze Gong.
Oh my, how annoying. I just want to be a quiet pretty boy… Xu Qi An, hearing the news, followed his colleagues to watch the excitement at the training ground.