White-Robed Chief

As he finished talking, he sent his inner energy into Zhou Yutian where his Cloud Slashing Power within started devouring the Shura Palm’s palm force. He was amazed. “This Asura seems to be a powerful character, his Shura Palm’s level of attainment is really high.”

Zhou Yutian scoffed. “He’s an old one, who knows how many he has killed!”

As the two Asuras came to mind, his blood ran cold and he got goosebumps all over.

Chu Li said, “You’re lucky to be able to return alive, High Duke. There wasn’t just one Asura right?”

“There were two of them.” Zhou Yutian confirmed. “It was unfortunate that both were old ones! Hey… This heart technique of yours is quite strange.”

Chu Li nodded and glanced at Zhou Zifeng. “I’d like to have a few words in private with the High Duke, can I trouble the Eldest Master to…”

“Alright.” Zhou Zifeng got the hint and left his father’s bedchamber.

Zhou Yutian studied Chu Li with a wistful smile. “What would you like to say?”

Chu Li asked, “High Duke, don’t you think it’s weird?”

“What’s weird?”

“Don’t you think that it’s too much of a coincidence? Why did the Asuras choose to come to the Ji Public House’s region? And to carry out an ambush attack on you at that?”

Zhou Yutian frowned and harrumphed. “What are you trying to say? Are you trying to play the Secret Guardians Hall’s tricks on me?”

Chu Li let out an exasperated sigh. “High Duke, do you know about the Divine Church of Asura?”

Zhou Yutian sneered. “Divine Church of Asura? I haven’t heard of it!”

The Secret Guardians Hall might be useless in other aspects, but they were good for having eyes and ears everywhere.

Chu Li explained. “Near Tempest Temple, there’s a Moonfall Peak where Asuras from all over the world gather. It’s the Asuras’ holy land for cultivating and had once gathered over a hundred Asuras where they founded the Divine Church of Asura. After that, the Tempest Temple designed a great formation to suppress them, but that effort was flagrantly interfered by the Holy Church of Light.”

“What a mess!” Zhou Yutian spat.

He did not think well of these people and could not wait for them to tear into each other.

Chu Li continued. “The Holy Church of Light has a secret skill that allows them to tame the Asuras into their Guardian Warriors which is why the Holy Church of Light ended up gaining twenty top-notch Asuras for themselves. Besides them, another twenty Asuras also escaped the formation… Now, High Duke, which Asuras do you think you fought, the Asuras who escaped or the Holy Church of Light’s Asuras?”

Zhou Yutian’s expression darkened as he fell silent.

Chu Li added faintly. “After you left, High Duke, another elder Asura swung by Ji River Valley. Fortunately, a massacre was avoided as he was brought away by a young man named Chu Lingfeng. You should really be grateful to this Chu Lingfeng, god knows if he’s still alive or not.”

Zhou Yutian’s frown deepened.

Chu Li went on. “By the way things are going, it’s clear that they have ulterior motives. Killing isn’t the only thing on their minds and I bet you already figured out the identity of the ones behind this, High Duke.”

“Hmph, so what if I know!” Zhou Yutian muttered lowly.

Now that Chu Li had explained the situation in such a detailed manner, he too felt like something was up.

Chu Li spoke again, “It wasn’t long ago when a Ministry of War’s Minister Counselor rebelled, that man was a disciple of the Holy Church of Light and was involved in two cases of assassination. The murderer of the first case was hidden in Ji River Valley and I was the one who arrested him!”

Zhou Yutian harrumphed.

The act of arresting a person from Ji River Valley was like arresting someone from his own home, it was hopelessly despicable.

“The Secret Guardians Hall is suspecting the Ji Public House of harboring disciples of the Holy Church of Light and being in association with the Holy Church of Light.”

Zhou Yutian laughed coldly. “Lies! Try telling that to the Emperor, we’ll see if he believes those claims!”

Chu Li shook his head. “I won’t even believe it, what more the Emperor. That’s why I’ve requested to investigate this case, but since my identity is sensitive to the case, I was shot down by my Commanders who sent Centurion Chen from Mei Yi Courtyard instead. It was only when he failed that I was sent here.”

He told the whole story from the beginning because he believed that he could only be convinced by sincerity and only by telling the truth could one touch another. When dealing with a wily old bird like High Duke Ji, exaggerated stories would only be counterproductive.

“You trust the Ji Public House?”

“Of course!”

“Since you believe in us, then there’s nothing to be investigated, you can go back right now!”

Chu Li shook his head. “I don’t doubt Ji Public House’s loyalty, but I do suspect that there are problems within the Ji Public House… And with your incident, High Duke, I’m sure that my deduction is correct.”

“What deduction!” Zhou Yutian barked.

Chu Li answered, “There’s an insider from the Holy Church of Light in the Ji Public House!”

“Nonsense!” Zhou Yutian exclaimed, he then shook his head in denial as he repeated faintly. “Impossible!”

Chu Li smiled wryly. “I didn’t just sit around doing nothing during the three days that I’m here, you know. I can already tell who the insider is.”

“Who?”

“The Third Madame, Zhou Mei.”

“Zhou Mei’s family background is clear, and she doesn’t even know martial arts.”

Chu Li retorted, “The Holy Church of Light has a secret skill that can hide one’s martial art cultivation, they could already fool the High Officials of the Imperial Harem, what more a High Duke’s Public House?”

“What proof do you have?”

“It’s easy to get evidence, she’ll reveal her martial arts if you send someone to assassinate her.”

“It’s not that easy!”

“High Duke, you’re afraid of trying it out, aren’t you?”

Zhou Yutian fell silent.

Chu Li piped up again. “Actually, I have an idea, High Duke.”

Zhou Yutian lifted his head. “Speak. But if you’re thinking of using this to blackmail me, then save it, you would be barking up the wrong tree!”

Chu Li withdrew his hand. “All done!”

Zhou Yutian could feel his body relax and loosen. He grunted. “Thanks a lot!”

Chu Li brushed it off. “It’s not a big deal… Why not we turn their tricks to our own use?”

“You’re thinking of manipulating the insider?”

“Why would the Holy Church of Light go through such deliberate schemes to ruin you, High Duke?”

“Who knows!” Zhou Yutian growled.

Chu Li suggested, “Since we know that there’s something they want, it’ll be easy to manipulate them. If you pretend to be fatally injured, I’m sure that the Holy Church of Light would feel confident to attack, especially when they assume that the people are in a state of chaos and confusion. We can ambush them at that exact moment!”

Zhou Yutian shook his head and said, “You let your imagination run too far! It’s easy for you to say but it’ll not be easy when it comes to actually implementing it, not to mention the Ji Public House’s Protectors would not be able to fend off so many Asuras, we can’t overestimate ourselves and play straight into their hands!”

Chu Li smiled. “We can get help from the Yi Public House and I can still find more manpower elsewhere, it’s not difficult to gather twenty Grandmasters.”

Zhou Yutian narrowed his eyes at Chu Li.

Chu Li laughed. “It seems like the High Duke just doesn’t trust me!”

He knew Zhou Yutian’s concerns, having only twenty Grandmasters could very well end the entire Ji Public House because even if it was possible to protect the High Duke’s Public House, it would cause significant damage to their vitality.

“Why should I trust you!” Zhou Yutian scoffed.

Chu Li let out a bitter smile and nodded. “That’s fair… Well, I’ll just go with your decision then.”

He already knew that Zhou Yutian would go with his idea because Zhou Yutian’s personality was always like this, he never changed.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Yutian broke the silence.

“… Alright, we can try it out! However, the Ji Public House will not take any responsibility if there are any casualties among the martial arts masters.” Zhou Yutian warned.

Chu Li nodded. “Of course!”

“How long do you need to get them here?”

“Five days would be enough.” Chu Li replied.

Zhou Yutian huffed. “Then I’ll stall for five days! I must teach them a lesson and show them why they shouldn’t mess with my Ji Public House!”

Chu Li did a fist salute. “I’ll get moving immediately. High Duke, you must put on a realistic performance and keep this a secret from even your closest confidants. This Zhou Mei is a smart person, she’ll be able to detect the slightest change in a situation, she mustn’t see through your act!”

“Don’t worry, go do your thing!” Zhou Yutian waved him away.