Chapter 17: The Dark Eight Sects

In a restaurant south of the city, in a third-floor private room.

Li Rui sat upright on a wooden chair, glancing at the surrounding environment.

This yellow pear wood was a fine material transported from Cliff Prefecture, ten thousand miles away; he had only ever seen it in Master Zhu's room. This set of furniture before him was worth a full thousand taels.

"I'd long heard that this Wine Fragrance Restaurant had a powerful backer. So, it's actually the territory of Boss Wu."

Sitting before him was a burly man with a face full of stubble and a fierce, menacing look.

This person was none other than Wu Tu, the boss of the Rong Sect, one of the Dark Eight Sects of Qinghe.

'Tu' (Slaughter) is a baleful character; decent people never use it in their names.

It was said that Wu Tu changed his name later on; he didn't go by this name before.

"Old brother, you are a straightforward person. My subordinate here didn't know any better; he deserves to be taught a lesson."

Wu Tu laughed heartily, his voice echoing several times in the room; he was very forthright.

Ding Liang, standing to the side, had eyes swollen like copper bells, wanting to cry but having no tears.

This old man didn't follow the code of Wu Gong!

He had wanted to speak up earlier, but Li Rui hadn't given him the chance at all.

Wu Tu: "Old brother, rest assured, we are all our own people here. I just don't know how you learned such fine martial arts after being a coachman at the Zhu household for so many years."

Li Rui's eyes narrowed slightly.

This Wu Tu was secretly investigating his identity!

Wu Tu looked boorish, but his mind was not simple.

He sighed inwardly.

The Rong Sect had over a hundred people under its command in Qinghe, and he had lived in Qinghe for decades; too many people knew him. It wasn't difficult for the other party to find him.

"Does Boss Wu have business with this old man?"

Li Rui didn't feel much panic in his heart.

Although Wu Tu's reputation was loud, he was only a Ninth-Rank Stone Skin Realm martial artist; Li Rui did not fear him.

Wu Tu: "What's the point of being a coachman at the Zhu household, old brother? Why not conspire to do great things with us?"

Li Rui understood immediately.

Wu Tu wanted to recruit him.

That made sense.

His martial arts were not rare in Qinghe, but they weren't common either, and there were even fewer who understood the rules of the Jianghu.

Those who dabbled in the fringe sects were not like the great Jianghu sects; they never cared about potential. Immediate utility was the hard truth, and he was indeed a perfect fit.

The Dark Eight Sects: "Bee, Hemp, Swallow, Sparrow, Horizontal, Orchid, Ge, Rong." Among them, the Hemp, Orchid, and Ge sects had no organization, while the other five sects all had so-called bosses, meaning leaders.

These few leaders each had their own abilities and were all figures capable of stirring up trouble in Qinghe City.

Those who mix in the Jianghu, unless they are mentally ill.

Otherwise, they all know the more friends, the better. The Dark Eight Sects were the same; everyone understood the principle that there is strength in numbers.

"Boss Wu, this old man is someone with half a foot in the grave; I can't handle such work."

Li Rui shook his head.

Wu Tu felt some regret: "Old brother, will you really not reconsider?"

Li Rui refused again: "I am at this age; Boss Wu should look for someone more capable."

He was short on money, but he didn't earn just any kind of money.

At the very least, he couldn't touch the Dark Eight Sects' money casually; otherwise, he might earn it but not live to spend it.

Seeing Li Rui's firm attitude, Wu Tu didn't try to persuade him further.

Just as he said, although Li Rui had some skills, he was too old; he was just trying his luck, and it didn't matter if he didn't join.

"If you ever change your mind, old brother, the doors of the Rong Sect are always open."

Wu Tu was indeed a forthright person.

He didn't force Li Rui, drank a cup of tea, and then left with Ding Liang.

Li Rui sat alone in the private room.

Only after the two of them had completely left did he go downstairs.

"Boss, are we really just letting that old brat leave?"

Ding Liang asked, holding his pig-like face.

He looked back at the Wine Fragrance Restaurant from time to time; he had been tricked by that old man twice, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't angry.

"Since he doesn't give us face, why not..."

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Ding Liang's eyes.

In the eyes of underworld people, there are only two types of people in the world: friends and enemies, nothing else.

Friends drink wine from big bowls and eat meat in big mouthfuls.

Enemies...

Since that old man wasn't willing to join the Rong Sect, he was an enemy. Moreover, they had already investigated clearly: Li Rui was not a member of the Ge Sect at all, just an old coachman, very easy to handle.

Wu Tu glanced at Ding Liang.

"Put away those little thoughts of yours; they only make you look stupid."

"You're so good at fighting, can you beat a Rank-Entered martial artist?"

Ding Liang was shocked: "That old man is a Rank-Entered martial artist?!!"

All along, he had only thought Li Rui was an old man with a sturdy frame; he never expected him to be a martial artist.

A chill ran down his back.

He felt lucky that he had always been the one beaten and hadn't actually fought Li Rui; otherwise, he would be a corpse by now.

Wu Tu's eyes flickered.

"A coachman... a Ninth-Rank martial artist, interesting."

"Tell the brothers to keep their eyes peeled in the future and not to clash with that person."

"Understood."

Ding Liang nodded obediently.

Wu Tu practiced the Eagle Claw Art, which wasn't just about hand techniques but also required training one's eyesight, so he was certain the other party was a Rank-Entered martial artist the moment he saw Li Rui.

Did he really think he was such an easygoing person?

Why would he go through so much trouble if he was going to let Li Rui leave so easily?

It was simply because he wasn't sure of himself.

"Being targeted by the Rong Sect is not a good thing."

Li Rui walked on the street, his eyes cold.

Don't look at Wu Tu as someone who acts boorish and forthright; don't forget, this person was once a bandit of the Heng Sect and is now the leader of the Rong Sect.

The number of people who died at his hands was at least in the double digits.

Since the other party spent so much effort to find his identity, they would definitely not let it go.

"Forget it."

"I'll take it one step at a time."

Although he didn't fear Wu Tu, the people of the Rong Sect knew he worked at the Zhu household; it would be easy for them to deal with him.

At this moment—

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Bunches of fireworks shot into the high sky, leaving trails of white smoke in the air.

"The end of the year is almost here."

Li Rui looked up.

The New Year was the most important day of the year for most ordinary families; at the Zhu household, only at this time of year were the servants certain to eat meat.

However, this year had a different meaning for Li Rui.

He could redeem his freedom.

According to the laws of the Yu Kingdom, once one reaches the age of seventy, one can be removed from the register. Generally speaking, for the sake of face, the master will voluntarily bestow grace during the New Year to show generosity.

He had already offended Zhu Lie; staying on would only make every step difficult.

And as long as he was removed from the lowly register, even if the Rong Sect knew his identity, they would be unable to do anything to him.

Many martial artists do not marry or have children for their entire lives, but instead take on disciples.

There is no other reason.

The more ties one has, the more weaknesses one has. Those who walk the Jianghu inevitably make enemies; no one wants to see their family killed. Therefore, most of the time, they treat their disciples like sons, who will provide for them in their old age and perform the funeral rites.

He had spent most of his life at the Zhu household.

Those with close relationships had almost all died of old age; the only ones left were Yang Yong and Wang Zhao.

As long as he left the Zhu household.

In the eyes of outsiders, he would be all alone, and no longer easily manipulated.

From now on, the sea is wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to fly!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 18 =====