Chapter 89: A Tall Tree Attracts the Wind

Blood Tiger Gang

Li Rui sighed lightly.

“A tall tree attracts the wind.”

Becoming deputy helmsman means entering Qinghe’s upper echelons—gaining benefits, but also being drawn into corresponding conflicts.

In Qinghe territory.

Aside from the county government office, only the Blood Tiger Gang or the other gang could stand up to the Heaven’s Alliance.

The two sides had never lacked friction or contact.

What you imagine a gang boss to be: smashing venues, armed fights.

What a real gang boss actually does: poaching talent, inviting guests to meals.

Let me say it again.

The Heaven’s Alliance and the Blood Tiger Gang are registered organizations under the imperial court—they’re no longer mere street thugs; they own businesses, land, and enforcers.

No matter how high your martial skill, you still have only one life.

Who in their right mind would enjoy making enemies everywhere?

Someone who casually stabs a stranger on the street isn’t a gang boss—he’s mentally ill.

Don’t be fooled by the fierce fighting below.

At the upper levels, deputy incense masters, deputy helmsmen, even higher-ups, actually get along well.

Drinking and visiting brothels are common; Helmsman Dao Xiong always turns a blind eye to such things, since he himself does the same.

After all, you never know when you might switch sides—imagine arriving to find nothing but enemies. How awkward would that be?

The martial world isn’t just about fighting and killing.

Ma, the deputy incense master of the Blood Tiger Gang, has been probing Li Rui’s movements—two possibilities exist.

One is to make friends—for instance, bumping into him on the street and inviting him for a drink.

The other can only mean ill intent.

The first possibility is far more likely.

“But we must still guard against it.”

Handling such matters, Li Rui found no fatigue, nor boredom.

Hold the position, fulfill the duty.

The moment he decided to reveal his strength, he already knew: he must become someone others see as a benefactor—unless his family background is strong enough, he must endure this.

This is the heart of the strong.

He returned to the Li residence.

As he crossed the threshold, he caught the scent of food.

“Good.”

A look of pleasure flickered in Li Rui’s eyes.

He was getting old.

Qinghe Branch had a mess hall, and deputy helmsmen had private kitchens—but Li Rui could never get used to it; he still preferred old-fashioned cooking.

“Old Li, dinner’s ready.”

Yang Yong and Wang Zhao, seeing Li Rui return, beamed and brought out dish after dish.

Stir-fried greens, braised tofu dumplings, and a small plate of pork.

In the days when he served the Zhu family, this would have been a dream that made him laugh awake—and he’d have talked about it for years.

“Sit down, eat.”

Li Rui sat and picked up his chopsticks to take a bite of greens; only then did Yang Yong and Wang Zhao begin eating.

Since he began martial training,

Li Rui’s eating pace had slowed.

He chewed slowly, swallowed gently, like a hundred-year-old immortal.

“The mouth is the heavenly gate; thirty-six chews, then rinse the sweet spring, swallow thrice—this is called the Heavenly Drum, preserving the myriad spirits within.”

Here, “thirty-six chews” means chewing each bite thirty-six times.

Every sip, every bite, is a lesson.

Wang Zhao and Yang Yong had no such refinements; they ate heartily, and had they not minded Li Rui, they’d have finished long ago.

Li Rui had no habit of being a teacher.

He merely held himself to strict standards.

As he ate,

Yang Yong suddenly spoke: “Old Li, I’ve got something to tell you—this morning, Zhu Chongfu, the Zhu family’s steward, came to me. He said Master Zhu is grateful for your previous gift of pills and wants to thank you in person.”

“Hmm. Turn him down for me.”

Li Rui didn’t look up.

After the Zhu family’s disaster, Master Zhu Ping lost his spirit, and his business had declined sharply.

He probably wanted to use this chance to build ties.

Even if Li Rui’s pill-giving had left them still connected, he’d never accept such an invitation.

One leaf signals autumn.

Ma, the Blood Tiger Gang’s deputy incense master, and Zhu Ping are merely the beginning—more invitations will come.

If not restrained, chaos will follow.

Li Rui had already toasted everyone he needed to placate; drinking further would be excessive.

“Withdraw from the rapids.”

These four words sound simple, but putting them into practice is anything but easy.

Close the door, refuse all visitors.

The lost profits hurt anyone’s heart.

Otherwise, everyone here is smart—why would they do foolish things? It’s always for profit.

But short pain is better than long suffering; if you hesitate to cut, you’ll suffer the chaos.

Li Rui understood this perfectly.

“Old Yang, Little Zhao—if anyone else comes to you from now on, turn them all down.”

“Uh, alright.”

Yang Yong and Wang Zhao nodded.

They thought Li Rui was being unkind, but dared not say so.

And what Li Rui wanted was precisely unkindness.

Otherwise, he’d watch them build their towers high, then watch them collapse.

By then, regret would come too late.

His own elder brother, nearly a god, had done the same at about the same age.

Of course, advancement requires study—but sometimes, stepping back is the true art.

In the following month,

Li Rui did as he said—he stayed in Tianyi Hall every day, seeing no one except those from the branch.

At first, some grumbled.

But when they saw he refused everyone, their resentment faded quickly.

People said this Deputy Helmsman Li was old, past the age for cultivation and tranquility.

Gradually, his prestige rose even higher.

On the other side,

Qinghe Branch,

Qian’s residence.

“This Ma is interesting.”

Qian Cai stared at the gilded invitation, grinning.

The Blood Tiger Gang’s deputy incense master, Ma Chao, had invited him to dinner—and also invited Deputy Alliance Master Tang.

“I’ve heard Ma Chao and Deputy Alliance Master Tang are both from Shihézi Gou in Qinghe—same hometown. Maybe they really are connected.”

Connections were being used.

Qian Cai rubbed his hands.

Staying in this damn Qinghe Branch was pointless.

He was the second oldest, and his martial skill could barely beat a newly promoted Old Li.

He’d long wanted to return to the main branch.

But he’d never found a way.

He loved making friends across the martial world; Ma Chao was one of them. If he could use this connection to reach Deputy Alliance Master Tang, half his transfer would be settled.

More friends, more paths.

That’s the benefit of getting out and moving around.

Meeting Deputy Alliance Master Tang at the Qinghe Branch—he’s your superior. Meeting him at a banquet—he’s your friend, your big brother.

A fundamental difference.

"Bring out the daughter red I've buried for ten years—let's open it first."

This daughter red is not a type of wine.

It merely refers to the custom among wine lovers who bury several jars when their daughter is born, then dig them up to celebrate her wedding.

Hence the name: daughter red.

Serving daughter red to guests shows great sincerity.

Qian Rui has no daughter, only sons—these jars were buried solely to curry favor.

Carrying two jars of wine.

Qian Rui walked out of his house beaming with delight.

Dawn.

After his morning practice, Li Rui came as usual to Tianyi Hall.

As soon as he stepped inside the building,

Yang Deliu rushed over in a panic: "Master Li, something's happened—something big!"

Li Rui frowned:

"What is it?"

"It's Deputy Captain Qian—he—he's dead!"

(End of chapter)