Chapter 226: A Splash of Spray

Ruan Fengshan entered the backyard of the Yuanshun Escort Agency through the side gate at the alley entrance, then walked along a pebble path toward the courtyard where he resided.

He knitted his brows, listening to the birdsong, and after rounding a patch of bamboo, he suddenly saw Xiao Yu pacing back and forth anxiously at the entrance of his courtyard...

Ruan Fengshan's gaze flickered, and he walked slowly toward Xiao Yu...

In the Backyard Accounting Office, Xu Shouxian stood at the entrance of the Main Hall, equally anxious...

As Xu Shouxian was deep in thought, he saw Wang Dean and Luan Bao walk in quickly together.

As soon as Wang Dean saw Xu Shouxian, he said, "The Chief Leader, Mr. Luan, is not here, so I have brought Deputy Commander Luan over."

After Luan Bao achieved the Small Success Realm of the Inner Breath Third Layer, he was promoted from captain of the guards of the Yuanshun Escort Agency to Deputy Commander. His compensation was higher than that of an Escort at the same realm, and he did not need to go out on escort missions, sparing him the hardships of sleeping in the open; it could be said he was quite comfortable.

Xu Shouxian looked at Luan Bao and said, "Deputy Commander Luan, someone is blocking the entrance to the Document Repository, not letting us in or out! This is disrupting the normal operations of my Accounting Office."

Xu Shouxian addressed Luan Bao directly by his title, hoping he would exercise his authority.

"Who is so bold? Where is the Document Repository?" Luan Bao asked.

Seeing that Xu Shouxian, who was usually arrogant, was actually quite respectful to him at this moment, Luan Bao felt a bit conceited.

Xu Shouxian pointed to the Corridor on the west, and Luan Bao strode inside.

Luan Bao stepped into the Corridor and immediately saw Duan Rong sitting there with a lantern, legs crossed.

When Luan Bao saw it was Duan Rong, his gaze jumped slightly. Although he had old scores to settle with Duan Rong, he knew that Duan Rong had been personally appointed by the Manager to audit the accounts at the Backyard Accounting Office.

Luan Bao felt something was amiss and did not directly confront Duan Rong; instead, he turned his head to look at Xu Shouxian behind him and asked, "Didn't the Manager appoint him to audit the accounts?"

Xu Shouxian's mind raced, and he said, "The time for auditing was five days, and it ended yesterday."

Luan Bao blinked and calculated the days in his mind. The days for auditing had indeed ended.

Xu Shouxian continued, saying, "Even during the audit, one cannot lock the repository and block the door just because of the audit, preventing our accounting staff from entering and exiting!"

"The Document Repository is a vital place where account books are kept, and all kinds of data are gathered within; our daily accounting work requires the data in the Document Repository."

"Duan Rong, when all is said and done, is just an Escort, yet he is here, locking the repository and blocking the door!"

"Who gave him the authority?" Xu Shouxian said quite indignantly, spraying spit all over Luan Bao's face.

Luan Bao wiped the spit from his face; he felt that what Xu Shouxian said was reasonable.

Luan Bao looked at Duan Rong, who was sitting at the entrance of the Document Repository, and shouted, "Duan Rong, did you hear what Chief Accountant Xu said? Why haven't you moved aside?"

When Duan Rong saw Luan Bao appear, his heart began to pound. He was wondering if Xiao Yu had encountered some trouble; why hadn't he brought the Manager over by now?

When Luan Bao loudly questioned Duan Rong, Duan Rong was lost in his own thoughts and seemed not to have heard Luan Bao's words at all.

Seeing that Duan Rong turned a deaf ear to his words, Luan Bao was suddenly furious. He took a step forward and yelled, "Duan Rong, I am asking you a question!"

Only then did Duan Rong lift his head and cast a glance at Luan Bao with a look of great impatience.

Luan Bao was the son of Luan Jingfu, so he could be said to have a good background, and his own martial arts talent was considered top-tier; those who associated with him often held him in high regard.

Because of this, the look Duan Rong gave him—as if looking at a fool—stung Luan Bao's heart, and he felt quite hurt.

Duan Rong said, "What does the business of the Accounting Office have to do with you?"

Luan Bao said, "I am the Deputy Commander of the Guards, and today is my day on duty. You, a martial artist, are acting like a bully in front of these accountants who have never practiced martial arts, interfering with the normal operations of the Accounting Office; this is exactly my duty to manage!"

Luan Bao thought he had spoken well and felt a bit proud. He glanced at Xu Shouxian beside him. Seeing that Xu Shouxian was looking at him with an appreciative gaze, he felt very satisfied.

Duan Rong sighed; he really had no mood to engage in a war of words with Luan Bao. He was also feeling anxious now; if the Manager didn't come, he might mess up this big performance.

Luan Bao saw that Duan Rong still didn't speak, but clearly had no intention of moving aside.

Luan Bao's brow furrowed; he did not want to fight Duan Rong.

He knew that Duan Rong had also achieved the Small Success Realm of the Inner Breath Third Layer, and last time at the Gathering Justice Hall, although his own realm was far superior to Duan Rong's at that time, Duan Rong had at least relied on his ability to adapt to the situation, and he hadn't gained any advantage.

Today, if they were to fight again, he estimated he had no certainty of a sure victory over Duan Rong.

Luan Bao's gaze moved past Duan Rong to look at the door of the Document Repository behind him; there was a lock hanging on the door.

Luan Bao's gaze jumped, and he raised his finger to point at the lock, looked at Xu Shouxian, and said, "Where is the key to the door lock?"

Xu Shouxian immediately fished out a large ring of keys from his waist, picked out the key to the Document Repository, and handed it to Luan Bao.

Luan Bao took the key, his gaze scanning Duan Rong tentatively, and then he walked slowly to the side of the Document Repository door. He took another diagonal step, and he would be able to touch the lock on the Document Repository.

Luan Bao thought that if Duan Rong didn't stop him, he could open the door to the Document Repository. In this way, the accounting staff could enter from the side, and Duan Rong blocking the door would lose its meaning.

But just as Luan Bao was holding the key and walked to the side of the Document Repository door, Duan Rong suddenly stood up from his seat, took a step, and blocked Luan Bao's path.

The two immediately locked eyes.

Luan Bao saw that after his previous remarks, Duan Rong had stopped speaking, and he thought Duan Rong had realized his own recklessness. Now that he was going to open the door to the Document Repository, if Duan Rong didn't stop him, the matter would be settled.

By doing this, he felt he had used his brain. After all, Duan Rong was the person personally appointed by the Manager to audit the accounts; even if he had some unpleasantness with the Accounting Office, he shouldn't interfere with the normal operations of the Accounting Office. Doing this himself could be considered giving Duan Rong a way to step down gracefully.

Luan Jingfu had often taught him over the past two years that when encountering conflicts within the Escort Agency, one should use as little force as possible and use one's brain to resolve them.

Luan Bao felt he had done quite well today, so when Duan Rong suddenly stood up to block him, he was surprised.

Duan Rong, however, had a cold expression; he reached out and snatched the key from Luan Bao's hand.

Luan Bao was instantly furious. He had tried his best to avoid a conflict with Duan Rong, yet Duan Rong showed no appreciation at all and even snatched his key away.

In his shame and anger, Luan Bao's Inner Breath surged instantly, and he slammed a punch toward Duan Rong's chest.

Luan Bao did not see clearly how Duan Rong moved; he only saw him tilt his body slightly to avoid his fist, and then he was sent flying backward!

While in mid-air, Luan Bao was shocked, because he discovered that most of his Inner Breath had been shattered!

However, the Inner Breath that Duan Rong had struck into his body, while powerful, had also dissipated completely after shattering his own Inner Breath; only the aftermath of the collision of their two Inner Breaths was shaking his internal organs!

Luan Bao lost his balance, and with his internal organs shaking, he vomited out the breakfast he had eaten while still in mid-air!

Instantly, the vomited filth sprayed out in a splash as his body flew backward!

Luan Bao's body flew back to the entrance of the Corridor, and he suddenly felt a large hand press against his back; then his body landed steadily. Luan Bao turned his head in surprise and saw the gloomy face of Ruan Fengshan standing behind him.

(End of chapter)