Chapter 142: Old Classmate, Rickshaw Puller Little Ma

The uproar sparked by the “Five Mines Powder” seemed to end just as suddenly as it had begun.

The chief culprit was an apprentice.

The very words sounded absurd.

Let alone Chen Jiashang, a mud-legged commoner, even the pampered sons of great households rarely encountered such mineral drugs.

After all, anything tied to the five-colored mines was under the strictest control in this world—ever since the dragon banner of the Great Shun Dynasty still flew on its pole, this had been an iron law no one dared violate.

Yet somehow… everyone seemed to accept this explanation—at least on the surface.

And so Chen Jiashang became the scapegoat for this entire chain of events.

Even Lu Qi’s death was pinned on him.

Naturally, none of this had anything further to do with Xiangzi.

—

Several more days passed.

The setting sun slanted across the sky, painting it in crimson clouds.

Xiangzi, clad in a brand-new black robe, stood with hands clasped behind his back at the entrance to the martial hall’s apprentice compound.

His black robes fluttered, naturally drawing envious gazes from countless gray-robed apprentices.

One apprentice suddenly froze, halting in his tracks—wasn’t this the big fellow from the third-class compound back then?

Yet staring at the black-robed figure bathed in sunset glow, he didn’t dare approach lightly.

The difference of a single robe was the gap between heaven and earth.

At the compound gate,

A handsome and refined young man stepped out.

“I hear Brother Qi will challenge the ninth-grade trial next week. Allow me to congratulate you in advance on a triumphant breakthrough.”

Xiangzi smiled and clasped his fists—these were Qi Ruiliang’s own words from days ago, now returned to him.

Qi Ruiliang’s smile was equally warm. “There’s an old saying in Forty-Nine City: strike the body, spare the face.”

“In front of others, I, Qi, might still put on airs for a bit, but hearing ‘congratulations’ from your lips, Brother Li… it truly leaves me ashamed.”

“Besides, the reason I invited you out today is to seek advice on enduring the medicinal power of Bone-Strengthening Broth. Don’t humble me further, Brother Li.”

Both men shared a knowing smile.

As the saying went in their past lives: those who’ve carried guns together, shared windows together…

After days as classmates, the two had long grown close.

Qi Ruiliang had initiated this meeting with some trepidation—after all, in recent days, this big fellow’s name had resounded throughout the apprentice compound. Rumor had it that several purple-robed court masters had taken an interest in this Brother Li.

Naturally, Qi Ruiliang’s invitation wasn’t truly about the “Bone-Strengthening Broth.”

Born into the Qi family of the western city, he knew more than most. Under the constant admonitions of his elders, he had long memorized the ninth-grade protocols that others kept deeply secret.

Yet upon meeting this big fellow, Qi Ruiliang saw not a trace of arrogance on his face and nodded inwardly—

Humble in low station, unarrogant in high place.

With this transcendent bearing alone, he was worth Qi Ruiliang deliberately befriending.

With this in mind, Qi Ruiliang’s smile grew even warmer. “Brother Li… let’s head to the kitchen. I’ve had wine and dishes prepared there in advance.”

—

Qi Ruiliang was thoughtful. This time, he hadn’t just invited Xiangzi but had specially called Jiang Wangshui and Xu Xiaoliu as well.

He hadn’t invited the other classmates from the first-class compound, only his closest friends in the martial hall—Xiangzi naturally understood the intent.

The dining spot was arranged in an elegant private room behind the kitchen.

Even Xu Xiaoliu, who had hauled odd jobs in the kitchen for days, had no idea such a refined space existed here. He glanced left and right in wonder.

The table was laden with dishes, most of them precious entry-level demonic beast meat—even Jiang Wangshui, accustomed to his elder sister’s lavish spending, couldn’t help but click his tongue inwardly.

As expected of the Qi family of the western city!

At this thought, the usually spoiled young master’s face betrayed a hint of unease.

Xu Xiaoliu, by contrast, wielded his chopsticks without pause, eating heartily.

Qi Ruiliang was socially adept. He deliberately brought up amusing anecdotes from the apprentice compound, and soon the atmosphere at the table grew lively.

He proactively toasted Jiang Wangshui several times.

As the wine warmed their cheeks to a flush, even the initially reserved young master of the Jiang family loosened up, calling Qi Ruiliang “brother” with abandon.

Amid clinking cups, host and guests reveled.

Suddenly, Qi Ruiliang set down his cup and spoke softly. “I wonder, Brother Li… have you chosen a place for your assigned trial?”

The room fell abruptly silent.

Even the carefree Xu Xiaoliu realized—this was the true purpose of today’s banquet.

—

Xiangzi set down his chopsticks and raised his cup proactively. “Does Brother Qi have any guidance?”

“Guidance is too strong a word—just a suggestion.” Qi Ruiliang smiled. “If Brother Li doesn’t mind… you could consider serving as a guest elder in the Clear Gang.”

“Throughout the western city, whether it’s the floating docks or hunting demonic beasts outside the city—whatever Brother Li fancies, the Clear Gang will arrange it properly.”

His words were direct. Between the lines, it seemed the Clear Gang’s territory was Xiangzi’s to choose?

Even Jiang Wangshui was stunned—to his knowledge, the Clear Gang’s greatest asset was the floating docks.

That was the most lucrative spot, and now the Clear Gang was willing to offer it?

The sincerity was overwhelming!

Moreover, from Young Master Qi’s words, Jiang Wangshui could sense his standing in the Qi family—such a major offer, spoken with such certainty, could not be a joke.

By comparison, though similar in age, he could only idle as a leisurely young master under his elder sister’s wing.

At this thought, Jiang Wangshui’s eyes dimmed slightly.

—

Xiangzi clasped his hands earnestly. “Many thanks, Brother Qi. These past days, I’ve indeed been pondering this matter but haven’t settled on a decision.”

“I resolved to reach ninth grade because I have a task to accomplish. The location for my assigned trial isn’t fixed, but it should relate to that.”

“Please forgive me, Brother Qi—this matter is somewhat confidential.”

Xiangzi spoke openly, and Qi Ruiliang’s smile grew warmer. “Of course. I merely offered a reminder for Brother Li to consider. As for where you ultimately choose… naturally, it’s up to you.”

“No matter what Brother Li decides, I, Qi Ruiliang, will fully support you!”

With that, enough had been said.

The key to showing goodwill was to avoid pressuring the other party, and Qi Ruiliang naturally understood this.

He raised his cup.

Two cups clinked with a crisp ding.

—

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the hall below.

The group set down their cups and listened for a moment. Xiangzi’s brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong, Brother Li?”

Qi Ruiliang smiled as he walked over, lifted the curtain, and glanced down. His expression paused—

In the hall below, a grotesquely obese gray-robed disciple had somehow clashed with a miscellaneous court servant.

Seeing the servant’s face, Qi Ruiliang frowned and asked softly, “Is Brother Li acquainted with that miscellaneous disciple?”

“Not really. It’s Junior Brother Little Ma who led me into the outer sect. I’ve troubled him these past few days.”

Qi Ruiliang’s eyes flickered, and he smiled again. “I have some old ties with him too. Since I’ve run into this today, I can’t just stand by.”

With that, Qi Ruiliang descended the stairs leisurely.

Xiangzi was taken aback.

—

In the hall,

Little Ma crouched on the ground, his body trembling.

Before him lay half a flatbread.

A freshly baked oven flatbread, stuffed with precious demonic beast meat slices, bitten once and casually discarded on the floor.

Little Ma picked it up, his heart surging with emotion, heedless of the scalding heat.

Head lowered, he had just placed the half flatbread on the table.

Slap.

Another flatbread, bitten only a little, fell to the ground.

A swarthy, bloated face wore a playful grin, but those eyes fixed on Little Ma. “Hey, kid, you’re too careless—knocking over my flatbread again.”

“Fine, fine. I, Master Chen, won’t make it hard for you. Just pick it up for me.”

Little Ma said nothing, lowered his head, and picked up the flatbread again.

“M-Master Chen, is this okay now?”

Chen Jiang didn’t respond. He picked up another oven flatbread.

Slap. With a crisp sound, Little Ma flinched violently.

The fat man frowned. “What’s wrong with you? Knocking over my flatbread time and again—are you deliberately opposing me, Master Chen?”

“Fine. I won’t quibble over this. The beast meat isn’t much anyway.”

“But since you’ve offended me, Master Chen, we can’t just let it go—otherwise, where’s my face?”

“How about this: come find me later and apologize properly!”

Chen Jiang grinned without mirth, licking his thick lips, his mouth twisting into a crooked slit.

At these words, his lackeys behind him burst into laughter.

Two of them, eyeing Little Ma’s delicate, almost wifely appearance, even winked suggestively—Master Chen had changed his tastes!

In the vast kitchen hall, apprentices came and went. Some felt indignant, others hurriedly averted their eyes.

Yet no one dared step forward to intervene.

Even the black-robed outer sect disciple guarding the kitchen entrance kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart—

Chen Jiang’s elder brother was Chen Hai. Who would court trouble over a miscellaneous court servant and offend a ninth-grade accomplished realm senior brother?