Chapter 138: Old Brother Li

"Chief Peng, you've come all this way, yet still brought gifts—so formal, really."

Wang Zhao heard the commotion and rushed to open the door.

Li Rui gave Wang Zhao a meaningful glance.

Accepting this gift feels perfectly justified.

Wang Zhao, growing ever sharper, immediately bowed: "Chief Peng, let me take it for you."

Peng Hu glanced at him and handed over the heavy wooden box.

Li Rui extended his right hand: "Chief Peng, please come in."

Though Peng Hu felt something was off, he still stepped into Li's main reception hall.

Both sat down.

Li Rui calmly brewed a pot of tea.

Peng Hu, clearly agitated, lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.

He blurted out: "Lord Li, my men—"

Before he could finish.

Li Rui raised his hand to interrupt: "Chief Peng, today is private. Let's not speak of official matters."

He knew full well what Peng Hu wanted—apologies.

This scene had been foreseen.

Tan Hu had previously provoked universal outrage.

What is universal outrage?

It's when even an old man seventy years old mutters curses, and no one comes knocking.

Yet now, he went to Qingfeng Manor.

He stayed for a full hour, and left smiling.

What does that signify?

It means Qingfeng Manor and Anning Guard have mended fences—something everyone in Qinghe will know soon enough.

One of the most aggressive leaders has now made peace.

What will the others do?

Wait for Li Rui to apologize.

But Li Rui refuses to do so.

Thus, it's not him who's panicked—it's the other factions Tan Hu offended.

They're merely signaling their stance, seeking maximum advantage from Anning Guard, not trying to destroy it outright.

No sect, no matter how powerful, dares break ties with the Annan Army.

That's Li Rui's confidence.

The major powers still hold back, but smaller ones like the Blood Tiger Gang can't wait—that's why Peng Hu came knocking.

Today it's Peng Hu; tomorrow it'll be another gang chief, sect master, or gate head.

It's all calculations.

Li Rui won not because he's brilliant or exceptionally strong.

But because his backing is solid.

When dealing with martial world folk, the first rule is to make them fear you—otherwise, no amount of charm is useful.

"Chief Peng, it's been over a year since we last met. Why are you in Qinghe?"

Li Rui sipped his tea.

Peng Hu had to swallow his impatience.

He felt inwardly awkward—he genuinely didn't remember Li Rui.

Had his men not reminded him, he'd have forgotten entirely.

He was a seventh-rank vice-chief—why would he care about some old man who was merely deputy head of a Tian Di Alliance branch in Qinghe?

Now, roles had reversed—he was the one begging.

Peng Hu was secretly startled.

"I never imagined the old man I once saw, hidden in the crowd, has become Anning Guard's patrol commander."

The title of patrol commander itself isn't fearsome.

In raw strength, he was confident he could easily kill this old man.

But a patrol commander, like an imperial envoy, represents Ning Zhongtian, Jiang Lin, even General Xue's will—that's formidable.

One dare not offend.

"Lord Li has a good memory. Qinghe's new city needs much coordination, so I came over."

Li Rui nodded.

He hadn't read all those books in the Armory for nothing.

He knew the status of every seventh-rank or higher figure in Anning Prefecture and Yunzhou, let alone Qinghe's people.

He was asking knowingly.

"Chief Peng, I've often heard your boss's Blood Tiger Blade is famed throughout Anning Prefecture—I've long admired it."

Peng Hu chuckled: "Our boss's Blood Tiger Blade is indeed powerful, but still falls short of Lord Ning's."

He swiftly took up the role of flatterer.

His goal today was simply to please Li Rui.

That way, things wouldn't escalate to Ning Zhongtian or Jiang Lin.

Mingguang Sect and Qingfeng Manor could withstand it—but his Blood Tiger Gang dared not.

One spoke, the other replied.

They chatted for a long while.

Seeing Peng Hu truly strained, Li Rui finally showed "kindness."

"Chief Peng, our Tian Di Alliance and Blood Tiger Gang have been neighbors for years. Minor clashes are inevitable—don't dwell on them."

With those words from Li Rui.

Peng Hu felt his shoulders lighten, and his spirits rose.

They chatted until dusk.

Only then did Li Rui see Peng Hu off.

A vice-chief called this old man "Old Brother Li" countless times—so warm, so familiar.

Li Rui watched Peng Hu's retreating figure.

His heart remained utterly still.

All the praise he received today rested solely on the title of patrol commander.

Strip him of this robe, and he'd still be just Old Li.

"Train."

Li Rui's life remained unchanged—he ate when he ate, trained when he trained.

In the days that followed.

One after another, Qinghe's factions came to visit Li Rui.

The first always received special treatment.

Later visitors got no such luxury—they were often received in groups of two, three, or more.

Li Rui's stance was clear.

Forgiveness.

Of course, they never discussed real matters—only gossip or martial insights. Yet even so.

It reassured these old foxes.

Each left satisfied.

Half a month passed before Li's residence finally grew quiet.

One day.

Li Rui specially chose his most formal attire, dressing as he called out to Wang Zhao outside: "Little Zhao, I won't be back for dinner today—you and Old Yang eat without me."

With that, he strode out the door.

He didn't head to the Benhuqi barracks as usual—instead, he turned toward a large mansion.

Thud. Thud. Thud!

The vermilion gate echoed with a deep, resonant knock.

Soon.

The gate cracked open a sliver, and a pretty young maid peeked out.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

"Grandpa, what brings you here?"

Li Rui couldn't help smiling.

Ning's change of maids was faster than his change of clothes.

This maid was new—he'd never seen her before.

He studied the maid's age.

Calling him "Grandpa" isn't even an exaggeration.

"I'm here to see Lord Ning."

"Lord Ning?"

The young maid blinked her eyes, a blush rising on her face, as if recalling something.

Just as she was about to ask again, a soft cry sounded.

She was lifted from behind by Ning Zhongtian.

"Old Brother Li, this new girl doesn't know any better—come inside."

Li Rui bowed his fists: "Chief Ning."

Ning Zhongtian set the maid down and led Li Rui into the main hall.

The two had just sat down.

Ning Zhongtian gazed at Li Rui with a half-smile: "Old Brother Li, you've done well these past days—Jiang my lord truly didn't misjudge you."

Of course, it was he who chose Li Rui, not Jiang Lin.

But this credit still belonged to Jiang Lin—that was the duty of a subordinate.

Li Rui smiled faintly.

Ning Zhongtian's words were exactly what he had expected.

He said nothing in reply, but instead pulled a delicate little booklet from a hidden pocket in his sleeve.

"Chief Ning, these are the gifts sent by those people over the past days—I've compiled them into this record. Should I deliver it straight to your residence, or—"

Ning Zhongtian stared at the booklet in Li Rui's hand, his brow lifting slightly.

"No wonder you're an elder—you truly know how to handle things."

He silently praised him.

These past days, Li Rui's door had nearly been worn down by the many powerful factions of Qinghe City—such a commotion couldn't possibly go unnoticed.

Li Rui had neatly resolved the trouble Tanhu had caused—a major achievement.

But if Li Rui had kept all the gifts for himself, it would have stirred resentment—even from Ning Zhongtian himself and Jiang Lin.

He had been wondering how Li Rui would decide.

He never expected Li Rui would so gracefully hand over this vast wealth so quickly.

And the fact that he'd compiled it into a record showed he'd planned this from the start.

"What an extraordinary composure!"

The gifts from these martial sects, summed together, were no small fortune.

Yet Li Rui remained utterly calm, never entertaining the thought of keeping any for himself.

That was true boldness.

Ning Zhongtian couldn't help but admire him.

"Very good—I'll take the booklet for now. The items can stay with you for the time being; I'll handle them myself."

Just like Li Rui.

He too had a superior—Jiang Lin.

How to handle these items wasn't his to decide; he'd still have to consult Jiang Lin in the end.

Those vice sect masters, vice clan heads, vice guild leaders—they were really trying to please Jiang Lin.

Li Rui smiled faintly: "Understood."

The more Ning Zhongtian looked at Li Rui, the more he liked him.

In just half a month, he'd fixed most of the mess Tanhu had made, and remained unruffled before such immense wealth.

"Truly, the old are treasures—everything he does is flawless."

Ning Zhongtian raised his estimation of Li Rui even higher, feeling as if he'd just tossed a die with no real hope—and somehow won.

"Old Brother Li, you can't be left empty-handed in this. How about this—I hear you still owe Wei Ming a major favor? I'll count this toward it."

Li Rui's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Chief Ning."

He owed Wei Ming a major favor for buying the dragon blood—and he'd never forgotten it.

He'd planned to slowly repay it over time, never expecting Ning Zhongtian to wave his hand and erase it all.

A pleasant surprise!

Ning Zhongtian waved his hand: "Old Brother Li, you've done me a great favor."

As Garrison Commander,

his duties were heavy, and he had to deal with big figures like guild masters and sect leaders—he couldn't handle every detail himself, nor could he lower himself to chat with them.

Now, with Li Rui's help, many matters could be left in peace.

A steady, reliable subordinate was a rare find.

Ning Zhongtian chuckled: "Old Brother Li, if Feng Yu and the others come to you, don't you dare agree to them."

No need to think.

Li Rui's actions would soon be known to the other Garrison Commanders.

As he'd just thought, talents like Li Rui were hard to find—even with a lantern.

Only rich life experience could handle things so skillfully.

In the military camps, most seventh-rank martial artists were obsessed with training and neglected worldly affairs—so such people were rare indeed.

Li Rui understood: "I'm still the Deputy Chief of the Heaven and Earth Alliance. Rest assured, Chief Ning."

Ning Zhongtian grinned even wider.

Having a subordinate like this was truly satisfying—he'd hit the nail on the head.

"Deputy Chief doesn't suit you, Old Brother Li. How about… Deputy Alliance Leader?"

(End of Chapter)