Chapter 302: The First Encounter
Chapter 302: The First Encounter
September 25, 2017
In Dingxiang City, Li HaiKong's arrival and his bold gesture of renting out the entire tavern did not go unnoticed by those who were paying attention to his meeting with Zhang He.
The prominent families of Dingxiang were mostly spectators, watching the performance of Li HaiKong and Zhang He on stage. However, not everyone in the audience was in a pleasant mood, let alone the two performers who could influence their annual profits of hundreds of thousands in gold.
It wasn't that no one wanted to step up, but no one dared or had the qualifications to do so.
Everyone was well aware that the two on stage were the protagonists of the moment in Dingxiang, even though they might not be the most powerful or wealthy individuals in the county.
After Li HaiKong set up his display in the tavern, everyone was observing Zhang He's response, which was surprisingly swift.
Soon after Li HaiKong made his move, Zhang He arrived at the tavern under the escort of Li Ke's cavalry. As soon as they reached the tavern, Li Ke's cavalry quickly dispersed, clearing the nearby crowd.
In less than half an hour, the center of the bustling street was emptied due to the consecutive arrivals of Li HaiKong and Zhang He.
In this historical context, no one dared to speak up during Li Ke's clearing of the area, especially those who knew the identities of Li HaiKong and Zhang He.
Standing by the window, looking out at the cleared street, Li HaiKong took a sip of clear liquor, a hint of sentiment in his eyes.
Fate is indeed a peculiar thing. Just a year ago, Li HaiKong was a small-time mountain bandit. He remembered his first visit to Shannu County, when he was no different from the ordinary people being cleared from the streets.
And in less than a year, just because of Li HaiKong's arrival, the most prosperous street was emptied in a matter of hours. The contrasting experiences on his two visits to the city left Li HaiKong with a sense of wonder.
As Li HaiKong was lost in thought, Zhang He entered the tavern with Li Ke.
This was Li HaiKong's first encounter with Zhang He, and his appearance differed slightly from what Li HaiKong had imagined. He wore a kind and sincere smile.
Zhang He's clear and honest demeanor left a positive first impression on Li HaiKong.
Li HaiKong's attitude was not as intense as when he first heard of Zhang He. He downed the clear liquor in his cup and turned to Zhang He, raising his own cup, "Would you like a drink? This tavern seems to have some decent liquor."
"Who are you, and who is your young master?" Zhang He asked, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.
"You're not even worthy of spitting in his direction!" Li Ke interjected before Zhang He could respond, his words laced with contempt for Li HaiKong's group. He believed that keeping them around was a threat and that it would be best to eliminate them as soon as possible.
Li HaiKong's eyebrows furrowed at Li Ke's words, and he turned to Zhang He, noticing a similar crease on his forehead, as if sharing his exasperation with Li Ke.
Seeing this, Li HaiKong waved his cup, and as the Wolf Guard beside him refilled it, he took a sip and said, "Dian Wei, his mouth is quite filthy. Teach him some manners!"
At the mention of 'Dian Wei', Zhang He and Li Ke's expressions changed instantly. Li Ke's face was filled with terror, while Zhang He's was one of surprise, quickly returning to normal.
They were both aware of the burly man by Li HaiKong's side, a powerful warrior who wielded a pair of iron halberds. They couldn't recall any historical martial general of the first or second tier who used such a weapon, assuming he was either an indigenous NPC or a tamed data NPC. Many of these wild NPCs had unexpectedly formidable strength, but they didn't associate Dian Wei with the name.
Hearing the name 'Dian Wei', they were taken aback to see him standing there, approaching Li Ke.
Li Ke was momentarily frozen, his face pale with fear. For a moment, he even considered turning and fleeing.
"Please calm down, Chief Li," Zhang He said, his tone calm and collected.
Of the two, Zhang He had maintained his composure from the start. A simple exchange of glances with Li HaiKong had already earned his goodwill. "You can leave this to me." He turned to Li Ke.
In truth, Zhang He had been reluctant to bring Li Ke along, knowing it would only cause trouble. But with Li Ke's insistence, he had no choice but to comply, only to have him ruin things as soon as he opened his mouth. Zhang He seized the opportunity to send him away.
Li Ke was about to protest, but seeing Dian Wei standing nearby, he held his tongue and left without a word.
Li HaiKong watched this exchange with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "The governor's handling of his subordinates truly broadens my horizons."
Zhang He smiled lightly, unbothered. He walked over to Li HaiKong, took a cup of clear liquor from the Wolf Guard beside him, and took a sip. "Your half-baked, half-literate speech must be exhausting."
This was the first meeting between Zhang He and Li HaiKong, but his relaxed attitude was unexpectedly lighthearted, as if they were old friends bantering.
"A bit," Li HaiKong admitted.
Zhang He and Li Ke's behavior made it clear that they were both outsiders.
Li HaiKong's perception of outsiders, especially male ones, had always been negative. However, his impression of Zhao Yue and Ye Junru, female outsiders, was quite positive.
Surprisingly, his perception of Zhang He was also positive. If he had to pinpoint a reason, it would likely be the resemblance between Zhang He and Xi ZhiCai in terms of their demeanor.
There was a sense of freedom within his refined and elegant demeanor, and Li HaiKong couldn't be certain if this man was truly as he appeared. But from the moment he appeared, he had overturned Li HaiKong's preconceptions, dispelling the underlying hostility Li HaiKong had felt towards him. It was undeniable that Zhang He was a formidable individual.
Li HaiKong and Zhang He, a mountain bandit and a governor, stood in stark contrast, yet they stood together, each holding a cup of clear liquor, gazing at the scenery outside in harmony. This scene, to onlookers, was quite a spectacle.
They stood there, drinking and chatting casually, never once bringing up the topic of the mountain bandit business. Instead, they spoke of another matter, one that Zhang He had brought up.
Chapter end
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