White-Robed Chief

Mo Qingyu seemed to be worried that Chu Li would be so bold to head out to enlist in the military for real so she frantically warned him, “Junior Brother, Battle Formations can really inhibit martial arts from functioning properly so it wouldn’t be safe even for Grandmasters in the army. There’s even a risk of them falling. You must never train in the army before you enter the dojo.”

Chu Li laughed. “I know.”

Mo Qingyu glowered at Shen Xu disdainfully. “Master’s Junior, you keep coming up with senseless ideas—Heaven’s Thunder Peak, the military, all of them could kill him anytime!”

Shen Xu dismissed her. “If you want to be an Enlightened Master, then you mustn’t be afraid of battle, you must fight with all your might and conquer death before you can embark on the path of an Enlightened Master, otherwise, no matter how powerful you are, the furthest you can go is Grandmaster.”

Mo Qingyu coaxed. “Take it slow and go step-by-step, you don’t have to rush him.”

Shen Xu shook his head and sighed, “If you want to triumph over Tempest Temple, you must forge ahead.”

Chu Li consoled. “Don’t worry, Master, I will do my best. Actually, the best place to fight is not in the army, but with Asura. The murderous intent of these fellas are a hundred times greater than a normal person, it’ll be even more exciting then.”

“…It’s too dangerous.” Shen Xu sighed.

He had personally experienced the extent of Asura’s prowess and with Chu Li’s cultivation level, he would have a slim chance of surviving a battle with them, it was more dangerous than going to Heaven’s Thunder Peak or being in the military.

Chu Li smiled.

Chu Li knew his Master well, Shen Xu was not well-versed in the ways of the world, he considered only the technical aspects in handling problems and disregarded the emotions of others. It could be just a common failing of cultivating Manifestation of Nature Restoration—to be hundred-percent logical and rational.

Chu Li realized that the martial arts one cultivated could influence the individual’s personality regardless of the skills or technique practiced. Some would be merely slightly affected, while some greatly influenced, it was just like occupational habits in his past life, unavoidable.

…

Shen Xu left after five days.

In the recent period of intense investigation on the three individuals from the Ministry of War, the Secret Guardians Hall was able to show off their true abilities as they had found much evidence on the three of them.

They were the experts in this field because with informants planted everywhere, nothing could stay truly hidden if they did everything they could to look into matters.

The three individuals were found to be problematic and just as Chu Li said, they were moles from the three countries.

When Chu Li returned to the Secret Guardians Hall, many Protectors were all staring at him with looks of admiration and adoration. The fact that he could identify three moles with just a walk around the Ministry of War and so accurately at that, was truly magnificent.

He had a new nickname in Secret Guardians Hall now, God’s Eye because there was not a single traitor who could escape his eyes—one look and everything was clear to him.

When Chu Li arrived at the main hall, there was a man with a bashed-in face sitting with Fu Mengshan and Xu Huande, the man’s face was battered beyond recognition.

As Chu Li entered the room, he kept quiet, hoping that Chu Li would not recognize him.

Chu Li did a fist salute with a light smile on his face as he asked with concern, “Centurion Chen, what happened to you?”

Chen Donghai cursed silently, Chu Li truly was God’s Eye, nothing could escape from his sharp eyes.

He stood up begrudgingly and did a fist salute. He pursed his lips involuntarily as the motions of doing a fist salute tugged at his wounds, causing unbearable pain. “Excuse my pathetic condition, I was blindsided by a few lawless thugs.”

Chu Li shook his head and said, “They must’ve been top-notch masters to be able to beat you up like this, Centurion Chen, who could they be?”

“They had their faces covered, I couldn’t tell!” Chen Donghai harrumphed. “There’s no need to bother with such clandestine actions and lawless thugs.”

With a twinkle in his eye, Chu Li asked, “Do you plan to take your revenge then, Centurion Chen?”

“Hmph!” Chen Donghai scoffed loudly while secretly gritting his teeth in distaste.

Take revenge his *ss, there was no way he could avenge this, he could only swallow his anger over such injustice although he was already about to burst from vexation!

Chu Li turned his gaze towards Fu Mengshan and Xu Huande. “How did Centurion Chen get hurt? Shouldn’t the swelling of the injuries on his face subside with some vulnerary?”

Xu Huande was trying to contain his laughter. “The conditions of his injuries are weird and the fist force is bizarre too, that’s why the vulnerary’s effects were unsatisfactory. The other party probably did this on purpose since our reputation has obviously been dragged through the mud by Centurion Chen this time. I’ve no idea what was he thinking, exposing himself and not lying low temporarily!”

The right way to handle such a situation and save the Secret Guardians Hall from disgrace was to lay low and return only when the injuries on his face were almost fully recovered.

However, with this move, the news would spread not just within the walls of the Secret Guardians Hall, but also throughout Fairy’s Capital and far and wide across the land, now that outsiders had also witnessed his terrible injuries. Everyone in Fairy’s Capital City must be gleefully rejoicing that the Secret Guardians Hall’s prestige has now fallen.

Chen Donghai snorted. “Commander Xu, I know that I should stay hidden too, but these thugs are savages, I’ll just get beaten up again if I continue hiding. My only choice is to return to Fairy’s Capital and rather than hiding out in the city, isn’t it better if I just return to Secret Guardians Hall.”

Chu Li quietly sized up this man and shook his head.

Chu Li immediately saw through Chen Donghai’s plan, this man was literally forcing Secret Guardians Hall to take his revenge for him and reestablish its prestige. He knew that he was not capable of avenging this attack on his own so he came up with a plan where everyone would end up disparaged and trashed his own reputation in exchange for his attackers’ ruin!

“These fellas have seriously gone too far.” Xu Huande sighed and turned to look at Fu Mengshan.

Fu Mengshan said, “Alright, Elder Chen, you go back first, I’ll discuss this with Commander Xu. Your job now is to just recuperate and nothing else.”

“Commander, then the Ji Public House case…” Chen Donghai pursed his lips, trying to hold in his pain as he bit out slowly. “Should I give it to someone else?”

“What do you think?!” Fu Mengshan shot out in anger. “You didn’t even manage to enter the Ji Public House, can you blame this on them? Can you even continue investigating in this state…? If you want to continue doing that, I have no objections!”

Commander Xu nodded. “If you want to investigate it, then go ahead.”

Chen Donghai uttered gravely, “It must’ve been them! Such an act of impertinence mustn’t go unchecked, let alone the fact that they might be problematic. We, the Secret Guardians Hall shouldn’t be resigned to playing second fiddle, or else, the Twelve High Duke’s Public House will never take us seriously!”

“So are you going to continue investigating?” Commander Xu pressed.

Chen Donghai looked at Chu Li. “Initially, I was thinking of getting Centurion Chu to help shoulder some of my burdens, but with his status, it wouldn’t be fitting for him to investigate the High Duke’s Public House. However, look at me now, I’m not physically fit to proceed even if I wanted to.”

Chu Li smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Centurion Chen.”

Chen Donghai shifted his gaze to Fu Mengshan. “Commander, I think this case should still fall into the capable hands of Centurion Chu, there’s no one as competent as he is. Just like how it was as difficult as going to heaven for us to clear the Ministry of War case, it’s as easy as lifting a finger for Centurion Chu.”

Fu Mengshan narrowed his eyes, he could detect the evil intentions behind Chen Donghai’s words as he scoffed, “So what you’re saying is that, you’re a useless piece of trash?”

Chen Donghai shook his head and sighed. “Although we are not at Centurion Chu’s level, we are still capable of handling some minor cases. Centurion Chu might just get worn out otherwise.”

“Hmph, I’m glad you understand!” Fu Mengshan exclaimed stormily. “You can cut your nonsense, this case will remain with you. There so many elite troops in your Mei Yi Courtyard, don’t hesitate to use them well, Little Chu still has other matters to attend to!”

Chen Donghai’s eyes flashed as he smiled faintly. “Yes, we will take our revenge.”

Fu Mengshan harrumphed. “It’s good that you understand! The next time you bring such disgrace upon yourself, I think I’ll just send you to the Imperial Mausoleum!”

“Yes, sir!” Chen Donghai answered quietly.

He had nothing else to say, he could sense the Commanders’ favor towards Chu Li and knew that there was no use in pressing any further. He would wait and see, he did not believe that Chu Li could keep getting his way in everything he did. One day, Chen Donghai would get his chance to strike Chu Li when he was down!