Chapter 85: Strength Determines Status

The moon hung over the eastern branch.

Qinghe Branch, Zhang residence.

Several beautiful young girls danced in the center, silk ribbons fluttering, arms bared, as white as lotus roots, their thighs faintly visible at the roots.

“Brother Li, congratulations, congratulations.”

Li Rui had lost count of how many people had toasted him.

“Just lucky.”

He didn’t refuse—everybody who came, he drank with.

With the host and guests so delighted, the atmosphere naturally grew fiery.

When Zhang Yang learned Li Rui had reached the Eighth Rank, he immediately decided to host a banquet and summoned all his faction members.

“Cough, cough, listen to me for a moment, everyone.”

“Old Brother Li achieved greatness late in life—I, his younger brother, am overjoyed. From now on, Old Brother Li is my real elder brother. Treat him exactly as you treat me, or I’ll be the first to object!”

The meaning was clear.

Li Rui was now the number two figure in their faction.

Strength determines status.

Now that Li Rui had broken through, he was on the same Eighth Rank as them. Though currently superior-subordinate, they’d soon be equals—at worst, he’d become a Grand Elder.

Since his relationship with Li Rui had always been good, Zhang Yang was determined to win him over, to strengthen his own faction’s power.

Li Rui bowed: “We’re all brothers. I’m just an old man—if you don’t mind, call me Old Brother Li.”

“Old Brother Li.”

“Old Brother Li.”

Almost everyone present knew Li Rui well, and each one praised him with honeyed words.

“Great talent ripens late!”

“An ancient dragon in old age—Seventy isn’t late at all!”

“Age only adds vigor—white hair, youthful face!”

Li Rui didn’t believe a single word.

“At sixty, one learns to listen.”

It meant that after living long enough, one learns to discern the truth behind others’ words.

He was already seventy—he knew better than anyone what was sincere and what was false.

Just playing along.

After the dance ended, each lovely girl sat gracefully beside or on the lap of a guest.

“So Zhang Yang doesn’t just like music.”

Li Rui held a delicate, pretty girl.

The difference in status was plain to see.

Before, it was him and Wu Tu serving Zhang Yang—Zhang Yang was the superior, and he expected subordinates to provide value, doing as he pleased. Now, everything revolved around Li Rui’s tastes.

Though Li Rui preferred younger aunts.

Deep night.

Li Rui, reeking of wine, staggered out of the Zhang residence.

Several men linked arms.

“Old Brother Li, wherever you point, I’ll strike—no hesitation.”

“That woman from the Liu family in East City—forty but looks eighteen. Next time, I’ll take Old Brother Li to see her.”

“Damn it, what do you take our Brother Li for?”

Li Rui said nothing, just smiled and listened.

They dispersed.

He wandered far away.

His steps grew steadier.

Look at his face—no trace of drunkenness remained.

Playing the part required drinking, but getting drunk and making a fool of oneself? That was worse. Li Rui had long mastered this balance perfectly.

If he truly got drunk and made a spectacle, that would be the lowest form.

“Tomorrow, the Branch Master will surely summon me.”

Revealing his Eighth Rank was, of course, part of his plan.

Now that he had reached Bone of Jade, the next step was Willow Sinew.

Entering the Willow Sinew realm required resources ten times greater than Bone of Copper—his current status alone would bring too many inconveniences.

Besides.

As his realm deepened, certain things could no longer be hidden.

Practicing in secret at night isn’t humility—it’s stupidity.

To reveal oneself willingly is entirely different from being discovered. Everything today had been planned the moment Zhang Yang sent someone to his door.

The next day.

Two distinguished guests arrived at Tianyi Hall.

“Lord Tang, Lord Dao.”

Li Rui looked at Tang Sheng with surprise.

After the Ghost Ming Sect affair, this Vice-Alliance Leader hadn’t hurried to leave Qinghe. Publicly, he claimed he was guarding the branch to prevent Ghost Ming Sect demons from stirring trouble.

Yet Tang Sheng, the Vice-Alliance Leader, had come in person.

“You’re Li Rui, right? I remember you.”

Tang Sheng chuckled.

Because Li Rui was older than him, he didn’t put on airs—quite amiable.

Dao Xiong laughed heartily:

“Vice-Branch Master Zhang has told me all about you. This is a blessing for Qinghe—worthy of celebration.”

Zhou Shulin stared at the two big shots.

He swallowed hard.

Since the Qinghe Branch was founded, had the Branch Master ever visited Tianyi Hall?

Never once.

The Vice-Alliance Leader? Even less likely.

This place was truly honored—honor beyond measure.

He regretted not polishing the Tianyi Hall bookshelves even brighter today.

Tang Sheng studied Li Rui.

Old but not decayed, inner radiance contained—he was truly unusual.

“This is a sign of our Heaven and Earth Alliance’s rising fortune.”

In ancient times, people deeply believed in auspicious omens.

A hunter spotting a white deer? An omen. Seeing auspicious clouds on the road? An omen.

Simply put: anything rare could be counted as an omen.

Li Rui taking up martial arts at seventy and breaking two ranks within a year? That was the ultimate omen.

Reported to the imperial court,

it would prove the people’s peace and the nation’s great order.

Within the Heaven and Earth Alliance,

it was a sign the Alliance was destined to flourish.

Not to mention Alliance Leader Ning had already entered the Sixth Rank—clearly on the rise. The Alliance’s number of experts had more than doubled.

It had long pulled far ahead of the other two gangs and three families.

Dao Xiong wore a beaming smile.

Li Rui’s breakthrough was also a personal achievement for him.

“Brother Li, being head of Tianyi Hall is a waste. Why not become head of the Civil-Martial Hall instead? Your stipend will double, and next year’s imperial exam will surely bring you a top ranking.”

He was genuinely sincere.

The head of the Civil-Martial Hall was the highest-ranking position below the Vice-Branch Master.

The perks were astonishingly rich.

Dao Xiong knew all this—doubling the stipend was the maximum he could offer.

The Heaven and Earth Alliance had its rules.

Regarding a Vice-Branch Master, he couldn’t decide alone.

His sincerity was undeniable.

Li Rui was about to speak.

Tang Sheng spoke first: “Special cases demand special handling. Old Brother Li, at seventy, still strives—this inspires disciples to train harder. He deserves recognition. I’ll speak to the Main Alliance about it—take the Vice-Branch Master position now. Dao Branch Master, make the arrangements.”

An Eighth Rank alone wasn’t worth Tang Sheng going to such lengths.

The key was the perfect timing of Li Rui’s breakthrough.

Now that the Heaven and Earth Alliance has grown larger than ever, it can no longer rely solely on recruiting outsiders—it must cultivate its own talent internally.

Otherwise, everyone is a latecomer with no loyalty to speak of.

That won’t do.

Li Rui can inspire those younglings extremely well—even a seventy-year-old grandpa is striving hard; what excuse do you have for not working harder?

"Thank you, Master Tang."

Li Rui was delighted.

With this, the pace of earning money could increase dramatically.

Time is money.

(End of Chapter)