Chapter 156: Three Meetings with Lao Chaofeng

Deep lessons require irrigation with alcohol.

Chen Guanlou called Lu Datou to drink at Zui Xiang Lou, where the courtesans were still the most gentle and most perceptive, with clear prices and no deception for young or old.

He held his wine cup and hummed a little tune.

Lu Datou shoved away the girl beside him and waved his hand for the others to leave—no service was needed here.

"Chen Tou, Lao Ge, you're acting strange! What happened?"

"What if I told you I was tricked by a young widow? Would you believe me?"

"That widow across from your house? Did she swindle your money?"

Chen Guanlou shook his head.

Lu Datou looked confused. "Did she trick you… personally?"

Chen Guanlou shook his head again.

Lu Datou grew even more puzzled. "If she didn't steal your money or seduce you, then why are you so angry? I thought your silver had all been swindled away, and I worried for nothing."

Lu Datou looked down on Chen Guanlou's melancholy—what a ridiculous habit!

Chen Guanlou opened his mouth but had no reply.

Indeed, he seemed to have lost nothing—so why did his heart feel so unsettled, why had he sulked for days? Because he had been tricked. He, who prided himself on his wit, had been fooled twice in a row.

The most venomous thing is a woman's heart!

But this matter couldn't be spoken of. He could only lift his cup and drink in silence.

"If you ask me, as long as your silver remains, it's no big deal—even ten young widows, I could find you. Do you want one just like the one across from your house? I'll go find one for you—not identical, but at least just as good."

"Don't bother yourself on my account. I'm not thinking of that widow. Today, I just want to drink."

"Really not thinking of her?" Lu Datou didn't believe him.

Chen Guanlou insisted, "No!"

"Well, anyway, Lao Chaofeng said you should drop by for tea when you have time. I saw him recently—he asked about you. I got busy and forgot."

"Lao Chaofeng wants to see me?" Chen Guanlou was puzzled. The first time he met Lao Chaofeng, he saw his true face. The second time, he wore a different face. Could Lao Chaofeng have seen through him?

"Lao Chaofeng just said you should drop by for tea when you have time."

"Better to go now than wait. I've got nothing to do tonight. Come on, I'll accompany you to the gambling den."

Saying this, Chen Guanlou stood and walked out.

"You're really going?" Lu Datou quickly drained his cup, unwilling to waste the money he'd already paid, so he grabbed the wine pot too. "Wait up! Don't walk so fast!"

The streets were quiet, but inside the gambling den, it was a frenzy—voices roaring, the roof about to fly off. In the dead of winter, a crowd of gamblers had stripped to their waists, sweating from tension. The scene was so intense, an outsider might think they were on a battlefield.

After being announced, they easily ascended to the second floor and met Lao Chaofeng.

Lao Chaofeng sat as always in his usual spot, a blanket draped over his legs.

Compared to their first meeting, Chen Guanlou was now more composed—not just because he'd met him three times and grown familiar, but more importantly, because he had grown stronger.

Stronger than at their first meeting, he was even more calm and collected. After facing a third-rank peak martial artist, confronting a fourth-rank martial artist no longer unsettled him.

This calm confidence came from his increased strength.

Though he had never fought a fourth-rank martial artist, he felt a deep inner certainty—he could try. Even if he lost, he was confident he could escape unharmed.

This calm confidence made Lao Chaofeng glance at him several times, curious.

"We meet again. Young friend, please sit."

"Greetings, Old Master. May you be well!"

"Well, well, may everyone be well. Your Chen family is about to rise!"

"Old Master, don't joke. I'm a distant relative, outside the five degrees of kinship. Whether I rise or fall, I'm still just a jailer."

"Young friend, don't be modest."

They chatted casually, and Chen Guanlou smoothly steered the conversation to his purpose: "I heard from Brother Datou that Old Master wished to see me. I've come today—please grant me your guidance."

"Guidance? No need." Lao Chaofeng waved his hand. "Lately, there's been more movement in the streets, more rumors. When you searched for your child before, an unnamed hero appeared—vanished without a trace, accomplished great deeds, and left no trace for anyone to investigate. But it was because of your search that this hero emerged. I'm a kind old man, so I just want to warn you: be careful when you go out. Someone is determined to find this unnamed hero—and might target you."

Chen Guanlou's expression darkened. "These kidnappers are bold indeed. They steal children and now want revenge? Don't they fear the unnamed hero will storm their lair?"

"Hahahaha… Where there are people, there are kidnappers. In thousands of years, has anyone ever stormed a kidnapper's lair? A clever rabbit has three burrows. As long as one kidnapper survives, the trade continues."

Chen Guanlou grunted. "Thank you for the warning, Old Master. I'll be careful. I only hope kidnappers vanish from the world."

"Young friend, remember: don't crack an egg against a stone. If you ever have the chance to meet the unnamed hero, tell him for me: personal strength is limited—learn to use others' strength. As a martial artist, joining the court or a sect isn't shameful. That's the act of a wise man."

Chen Guanlou rose and bowed deeply, solemnly saying: "I will remember your teachings, Old Master. If I ever meet the unnamed hero, I will deliver your message exactly as you said."

"Go." Lao Chaofeng lifted his tea cup as a dismissal.

Chen Guanlou bowed and stepped out, descending the second floor.

Lu Datou was already locked in battle at a gambling table. Chen Guanlou grabbed his collar and dragged him out of the den.

Lu Datou was reluctant. "Chen Tou, you've finished your business—just leave. Why bother with me?"

"You're on duty tomorrow morning. Are you planning to stay up all night? Don't you fear Xu Fugui will get his chance to punish you? And last week, I saw your wife—your child's tuition for next year's private school is still unpaid. You spend money gambling but won't pay for your child's education? What a real man you are."

Lu Datou was embarrassed—being scolded by a junior by over a decade was humiliating.

"Alright, alright, I'll pay my child's tuition first. Is that enough?"

"Don't just talk—hand over the money."

"What are you doing?" Lu Datou clutched his money pouch, wary.

Chen Guanlou silently rolled his eyes. "I'll take the money to your wife myself—so you don't sneak back and lose it all again."

"Hehehe…" Lu Datou couldn't admit it—he'd planned exactly that. He hadn't expected to be seen through.

Reluctantly, he pulled out his money pouch, still calculating.

Chen Guanlou didn't indulge him—he snatched the pouch and emptied it: only three taels and one qian of silver. A jailer of the Tianlao, in charge of the large B-ward prison, holding a pack of helpless Jianghu scoundrels and heroes, carried so little?

Sigh. Income has plummeted!

Gamblers are beyond saving!