Chapter 168: A Deed Done
Chapter 168: A Deed Done
Apart from the reincarnated ones, who else could be so devious, striking at the most painful spot with just a few words?
Hu Ma immediately felt relieved upon hearing this but did not dare to scrutinize Er Guotou closely.
The more they met in reality, the more cautious they had to be. Thus, he simply lowered his head, watching with a curious mind, silently listening to how Chief Zheng would handle the pressure.
"I... I really dare not say that the incense burners made a mistake..."
Chief Zheng was momentarily stunned, taking a long time to think of a response. He hurriedly said, "The Green Stone Town branch had to dismiss a manager earlier, and it was a special period, so things were a bit chaotic."
"Hmph!"
The Er Guotou, wearing a smiling mask, coldly snorted, "Even if things are chaotic, could they be so chaotic that they can't even tell who the manager is?"
His voice then softened as he said to Chief Zheng, "Chief Zheng, you don't need to be afraid. I know you are considering the best for the association. What you said just now was very reasonable. Those incense burners are truly acting irresponsibly. Now, they can't even tell who the manager is. If this continues, won't they eventually be unable to tell who the Lady is?"
Chief Zheng, upon hearing this, felt a cold sweat breaking out.
This is bad; isn't this making me offend the incense burners?
Although I am a respected chief in the Red Lantern Association, offending someone close to the Red Lantern Lady will not end well for me.
He wanted to explain but had no idea how to do so.
"Brother Er Guotou, your performance is quite impressive..."
Hu Ma, who dared not show any signs of suspicion, was still enjoying the show. However, at that moment, a cold and severe gaze suddenly fell on him.
It was Er Guotou, his stern expression behind the smiling mask, who shouted, "And you, this little manager, are truly bold. You eat the money and grain bestowed by the Lady, yet when it comes to important times, you dare to desert your post?"
"..."
"Damn, you scared me..."
Under that gaze, Hu Ma felt a chill run down his spine, as if an evil ghost had leaped onto his face.
If he didn't know it was Er Guotou, his legs would have turned to jelly by now.
He quickly composed himself and used the explanation he had prepared, saying, "Protector, please understand, I did not desert my post. I was unaware that the association would need me for such an important task. I..."
Pausing for a moment, he glanced at Sun Niu Zi, saying, "I did receive word that I was to be promoted to manager, but then, this... this Manager Sun came, saying that Chief Zheng had ordered him to take the position, and I was to learn the rules from him."
Chief Zheng, upon hearing this, his face changed, and the kneeling Sun Niu Zi panicked, saying, "I didn't..."
"I... I was just following what my brother-in-law said..."
"..."
Chief Zheng suddenly turned his head, glaring at him fiercely, which made him stop talking.
At this moment, the protector wearing a crying mask, somewhat impatiently, said, "I've heard about how you usually conduct your business. Don't argue here. Little manager, stop pretending to be wronged. Whether it's a reward or punishment, you can't escape it."
"Yes."
Hu Ma hurriedly said, "I just wanted to say that this time, I was on a mission for the association, and I had reported to the city."
"I was hoping that if I could solve the case of the Shen family's massacre, I could earn some merit and return..."
"..."
He stopped here, knowing everyone understood.
"Really, is a little manager's position worth such a disgraceful fight?"
Er Guotou, seizing the opportunity, said with a mocking tone, looking at Hu Ma, "Did you complete your mission?"
Hu Ma looked ashamed, shaking his head, "No, I was injured and almost lost my life..."
"Who has the patience to listen to this?"
Er Guotou was already impatient, "Do you not see what time it is? To disturb over such a trivial matter, stop your nonsense, take him out and beat him half to death!"
Hearing this, the people around him were about to move.
Chief Zheng and others were also slightly agitated, not afraid that the little manager would be punished or that the protector would be angry. They needed a scapegoat, and the heavier the punishment, the more inescapable it would be for him.
Since he failed the mission outside, coming back now is the perfect opportunity to give him a task.
"How can you beat him half to death..."
Hu Ma was startled, quickly saying, "Protector, please hear me out. I know I failed the mission and shouldn't have returned."
"But I accidentally overheard a group of people planning to challenge our Red Lantern Association, which is why I rushed back to report."
"..."
Hearing this unexpectedly, including Chief Zheng, everyone was surprised.
Before Er Guotou could say anything, the protector wearing the crying mask looked at Hu Ma in surprise, "Who are they?"
Hu Ma took a deep breath and quickly said, "His surname is Lu, and his name is Lu Xiujin."
"He is the young master of the Lu family's rice store in Wutong Town, but he secretly learned a unique skill with Huangguanzhi. His master is an old honorary member of the Blue Robe Gang. Now, he is tricking many martial artists to help him refine treasures..."
"He plans to use this skill to help the Blue Robe Gang challenge us, to gain fame and glory..."
"..."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was instantly shocked.
Hu Ma could feel countless gazes suddenly turn towards him, as if pricked by needles.
He hurriedly said, "This matter is absolutely true. I was injured and almost died, but was hurt by my junior Sister. He... He and I don't have a very good relationship. It was only when we fought that I heard these words."
"..."
Seeing Hu Ma speaking, it seemed he was also a bit confused. The left Guardian with the Crying Face Mask suddenly shouted, "Who cares about you? Speak up!"
"Do you know if they are coming to fight?"
"..."
Hu Ma paused for a moment and said, "Yes."
Upon hearing this single word, the two Guardians became visibly excited, even trembling.
The Guardian with the Crying Face, who had been listening coldly, also became excited but not as much as the Second Pot Elder Brother.
The Old Elder Brother was also very pleased...
"Hurry..."
But before the Second Pot Elder Brother could speak, the Guardian with the Crying Face mask, who was already nervous, said, "What kind of cultivation techniques do they have? What skills? Speak in detail!"
"Yes."
Hu Ma hurriedly said, "I was injured during a mission and was seen by Mr. Sun in the Village. I thought... if I could gather a bit more intelligence, and heard that Man Cang Town was troubled by a Drought Demon, so I went over..."
"...To Gather More Intelligence."
"Coincidentally, I met an Old Beggar with a Monkey, who Guided Me to Wutong Town. He said there was a big Job, and I thought there might be a clue, so I followed Him. But this Beggar wasn't a good Person and Deceived Me..."
"..."
This Story Was Clearly Full of Holes, but It Was Intentional.
As Expected, Chief Zheng Immediately Wanted to Scold,But the Guardian with the Crying Face Mask, AlreadyImpatient, Said, "StopMaking Excuses. How You Handle Things, I'm Very Clear."
"Carrying Around the RedLantern Lady's Wealth, Each of You Greedy, Pretending To Act In The Red Lantern Lady's Name, While Threwing Away The Real Matters..."
"..."
"But I Won't Hold You Accountable. Just Tell Me How You Encountered Them?"
"..."
"Yes, Is..."
Hu Ma Hastily Detailed The Events In Wutong Town, How Young MasterLu Recruited People, Promised Wealth,Used Soul-Calling Techniques, and Lured Them Up The Mountain. He Also Explained How He Suddenly Led Them To The Site of the Fight.
These WereHis Own Experiences, So He Spoke Naturally and Accurately.
This WasA CompletePerformance,All For ThisMoment.
When He Finished,Especially When He Spok About Seeing The Senior and Junior Disciples Fighting OnThe FirstDay, But Then Reconciling OnThe Second Day,The Two Guardians,One WithThe Crying Face Mask,The Other With The Smiling FaceMask,CouldHardlyHideTheir Excitement.
The SecondPot ElderBrother Chuckled and Raised HisHand To Stop Hu Ma, Saying To TheCrying FaceMask, "HowAboutThisIntelligence?"
TheWoman UnderThe CryingFace mask mumbled, "NowWe Have Three Losses and Four Wins. To EnsureAStableVictory,We Must WinThe NextThreeMatches."
"And in The Remaining Three Matches,We HaveOne More Call-to-Arm Opportunity. This Time,We Must Win. The Difficulty LiesIn The Two Rounds Where We WereCalled To The Stage."
"..."
TheSecond Pot ElderBrother Timely Chuckled and Said, "Didn'tWe AlreadyDiscuss AStableVictoryStrategyYesterday?"
"Actually,To Be Strict,We Only LackOneMatch. We Have noGuarantee."
"..."
The Left Guardian with the crying face mask slightly Stunned, somewhat excited, "You Mean..."
"Call to the Stage,call to the stage,ways our most skill poses to to best to are problems..."
The Second PotElderBrother Chuckled and said, "If we knew their cultivation Techniques in Advance and Guessed Their Ultimate Skills..."
The left guardian with the crying Face mask was already somewhat excited, "Wouldn't it be that we take down the three rounds before the match Starts?"
TheSecondPotElderBrother pattedHis Handand Loudly Laughed, "Still, it's Our Lady'sHeavenlyLuck. ThisYoungManagerBroughtBackWhatDecidedTheOutcome..."
TheTwoTalking,TheyWereIncreasinglyDelighted.
ByThisTime,HuMaClosedHis Mouth,KnowingHisContributionWasInHand,ButBesideHim,ChiefZhengHadNohintOfThis Matter and didn't ExpectTheConversationToShiftHere,UnableToInterject.
SeeingTheTwoGuardains Laughing,HeCouldOnlyForceA smile,probing, "ThisMatter..."
"ChiefZheng,Restassured,WeKnowHowToRewardHIm..."
TheSecondPotElderBrotherGlancedAtHuMaAndSmiled, "OfCourse,HisLittleMind,EvenTheRichMerchantofShenFamilyMayNotBeKilledByTheYellowPaper Sect,AtMost,BothSidesUsedTheYellowPaperTechniques.ThatYoungManagerCameBackWithoutEvidence,ButItShowsHisBoldness,ThoughComparedToTheMainEvent,It'sJustAMinorIssue."
"UponHearingSomeoneWasTrougingOurRedLanternAssociation,HeCouldThinkOfComingBackWithAReport,WhichIsWorthPraising."
"AndYou..."
"..."
HeSuddenlyTurnedHisGazeToChiefZhengAndSaid, "ThisYoungManagerHelpedUsEstablishCredit,WhichIsValuable."
"WhatAboutYou?"
"ChiefZheng,CanYouBearToLetUsStablyWinAnotherRound?"
"..."
HearingThis,ChiefZheng'sExpressionWasAlreadyDesperate. AfterAWhile,HeLowlySaid, "I CanBear."
(End of Chapter)
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