Chapter 17: Doing a Favor

Hu San actually had a younger brother; wondering what their story was, Ruan Xing tilted her head and rested her chin on her hand to listen intently as Hu San, emboldened by the alcohol, poured out the worries buried deep in his heart.

"My brother was just like you back then; he was also scouted by Qiye and taken to learn Gambling from Shi Shifu, three years ago."

"His name is Hu Si. He was ten years old that year. He told me he had met a noble person and was going to have a great future. He said once he grew up and learned skills, we would never have to live a hard life again. But after he was sent away by Qiye, I never saw him again. I don't know if he's doing well, and I don't know if he's alive or dead. I just thought, if I joined the Red Head Gang, maybe I'd have a chance to see him again, to see if he's grown taller and if he's learned any skills."

"Even, if he's dead, I could at least bring him home. It's a pity that for these past two years, I haven't had any news of him. Originally, I wanted to wait a few more years and improve my martial arts so I could serve as a guard by Qiye's side; maybe then I'd have a chance to go to the places those big shots go and be able to see him."

Hu San looked at her with sincere eyes, "So Ruan Xing, do me a favor too. After Qiye takes you there, if you see him, help me check if he's doing well. If you can speak to him, just tell him that his brother misses him very much."

Hu San's brother was one of the first two people Shi Shifu said he had taught. Shi Shifu had said that those above were not satisfied with the two of them, so it was highly probable that Hu San's brother did not meet a good end.

Ruan Xing averted her gaze from Hu San and did not meet his eyes. She could lie to Hu San, but doing so would make her feel that the tiny bit of conscience she had left would ache just a little.

"Since you just said you haven't seen him since then, and it's possible I won't be able to come back either, how can you know I'll keep my promise to help you?"

"I have no way of knowing, and you don't need to tell me. If you really see him, it won't be hard to say a word to him. If you don't see him, then all these words were for nothing. I just want to give myself and my brother a thought to hold onto, to let him know someone at home is waiting for him."

His voice was calm, but his emotions were very low. Ruan Xing stood up and patted his shoulder, "Alright, I promise you."

With such a dangerous Dense Forest Labyrinth as a test, the possibility of Hu Si still being alive was very small, but Ruan Xing did not want to strike Hu San now and destroy his hope. Perhaps Hu Si was one of the ten-thousand-to-one lucky ones who passed the test? If so, with the connection to Hu San, she could have a reliable helper over there.

"Hmm, it's very late, and the road isn't safe. Wait for me, I'll let them know and then see you back."

Hu San stood up, went inside, and said a few words to the other gang members guarding the Gambling Den, then came back out.

The two walked along the road one after the other. Their state of mind was different from before; at least Ruan Xing would no longer converse with Hu San with a fawning attitude, but was able to chat easily.

"By the way, someone told me before that it's not safe at night. Why? Isn't this the Inner City?" Ruan Xing asked Hu San. In her understanding, the Inner City was a place where commercial office buildings, large-scale entertainment and consumption venues, and high-income groups gathered. In terms of safety, it should certainly be higher than the Outer City and the villages around the town. Yet, once night fell, there was almost no one on the street, and one could only occasionally see a night watchman or a drunkard sleeping soundly by the side of the road.

Even in ancient times, in such a peaceful and prosperous age, this seemed quite abnormal.

Hu San was unfazed and explained: "The Government has the Three Offices, among which the Patrol Security Division is responsible for city defense, neighborhood mediation, and case investigation. But in reality, it has long existed in name only. The Patrol Security Division is full of vermin who do not perform their duties, eroded by the wine, lust, wealth, and profit of various gangs. As long as their pockets are filled, they can live in peace with the gangs. If it weren't for the Red Head Gang integrating all the gangs and establishing rules, Jiangning City would have been even more chaotic when I was young."

This situation was too unscientific. If feudal forces oppressed the common people too harshly, there would be a backlash of uprisings. Had the people of Jiangning City never rebelled? Could it be because this world allowed for Cultivation? Ruan Xing pondered, "How many years has this situation you mentioned been going on?"

"Many years," Hu San replied. "It's been like this since I can remember. To protect their own interests, the gangs are responsible for maintaining public order, but after all, no gang can survive forever. The ordinary people in Jiangning City fear the gangs, yet they also rely on them."

No wonder those people were so obedient when it came to paying protection fees, and any peripheral member of a gang could ride roughshod over them; it turned out they were already accustomed to it. Wait!

Ruan Xing suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. What was the name of the country she was in?

The common people only knew the gangs and not the Government. This unhealthy social structure had already subconsciously influenced her. She had never cared about what country or dynasty this was, and the people around her had never mentioned it either.

But why could it last so long? Did no one from the Capital come to manage it, and would other countries not want to come and attack?

Ruan Xing did not understand military affairs, but she knew this was not normal. In the Simulator, she had lived to be at most twenty-something, and Jiangning City could still last at least twenty years under these circumstances.

Her mood was somewhat complicated, as if she suddenly understood the embodiment of "mortals are but ants" in some Cultivation novels, and she was currently one of those ants.

This emotion lasted until she returned to the branch hall, where she forced a smile and delivered the pastries to Shi Shifu's room.

Shi Shifu was not yet asleep; he draped his clothes over his shoulders, took the pastries with an irrepressible smile on his face, and praised her a few times with a slightly smug tone.

Afterwards, she drifted off to sleep amidst her wild thoughts.

By the time the sun rose again, it was her fourth day at the branch hall.

After a hurried breakfast, Ruan Xing asked Shi Shifu for advice on the gameplay and techniques of other types of gambling games to provide cover for the Gambling Entry she had already learned. Perhaps because of the tribute from last night, Shi Shifu was very amiable toward her and did not test her results. When she wanted to go out, he let her go quite readily.

Ruan Xing arrived at the agreed-upon Gambling Den entrance to meet up, and Hu San was already waiting for her.

"Did you find the target?"

Hu San nodded and then shook his head, leaving Ruan Xing confused and waiting for him to explain.

"You can't get a pig from someone else's hands, but we can go and snatch one." Hu San signaled for Ruan Xing to follow him. "Remember the Patrol Security Division I told you about yesterday? The Patrol Security Division's Inspecting Assistant, Lord Liu, has a concubine he dotes on very much. That concubine's older brother was playing around in our area before. He is generous and extravagant, so the concubine often uses her own allowance to subsidize him."

"Later, that person was lured away by tricks played by people under the Guan of another area. I think that person fits your requirements well. He is wealthy, loves face, reputation, elegant things, and interesting things. Most importantly, he is easy to fool, doesn't understand any Gambling, and won't get anxious even if he loses heavily. I've already sounded him out; he thinks this is quite novel and has already agreed."

(End of chapter)