Chapter 399: with translation of chapter title

Hearing Xiaoyu's words, Chen Wuji let out a sudden sigh of relief.

Fortunately, nothing he had worried about happened.

Zhang Lao is already old; although he looks energetic, people his age can sometimes pass away in an instant.

In Chen Wuji's heart, Zhang Lao has always been his true master.

Although this old master had never taught him anything substantive, and because of his family he never dared accept Zhang Lao's offer to take him as a disciple—he wanted to revive the Chen clan, to wage war, and simply had no time to shoulder the signboard of Ciji Zhai and practice medicine.

But Zhang Lao's help to him has been immense.

Since he came over, this old man has, at every critical juncture of his life, stretched out his rough hand and given him a firm pull, allowing him to handle those bad situations with ease.

To truly be a disciple and show filial piety before Zhang Lao, Chen Wuji now sees no hope; he has more and more to do, but he does not want to miss Zhang Lao's final days.

"Why hit Old Kong?" Chen Wuji asked strangely.

He had never gotten to know Kong Jianshi deeply; his deepest impression was of his sickly, frail appearance.

Xiaoyu grinned, "Master sent Old Kong into the mountains to gather herbs; he was out for several days, and only after returning did they discover he had picked the wrong medicine, whereupon Master flew into a rage."

Chen Wuji laughed and shook his head, "I'll go check!"

Xiaoyu blocked Chen Wuji, "Senior brother, you'd better wait; Master is very violent when he hits people."

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Chen Wuji didn't quite believe it.

That old master hardly looks like a violent person at all.

Xiaoyu nodded firmly, silently adding to herself, "Senior brother, senior brother, Master's brutality is beyond your imagination—it's more than just brutality..."

"Fine, then I'll wait," Chen Wuji said with a helpless smile.

Since he's violent, let's not disturb the old master's refined mood.

Rear courtyard.

Zhang Lao cocked his ear to listen to the commotion up front, then released his grip on Kong Jianshi's ears, wiped his hands on his clothes, and scornfully muttered, "Still pretending to be a judge, huh? You went out to kill a few people and tell me you got the wrong target? My old face has been utterly ruined by you."

Kong Jianshi felt somewhat wronged, "Elder, this matter is indeed due to my inadequacy, but I really didn't expect such a tiny family to be playing the game of false and true heads."

"Haven't I already told you, among these Yunan rustics, the Li family has the deepest scheming and greatest ambition?" Zhang Lao shouted angrily.

"I'll give you one more chance to make amends; if you mess up again, you don't deserve to be that damn judge—just go hang yourself, it's not enough to save my face."

"Yes!" Kong Jianshi replied, lowering his head silently.

Zhang Lao glanced at Kong Jianshi, gave a cold snort, "My eldest disciple has arrived; otherwise I would have surely killed you today—I'm really furious. Even a lion uses full force when catching a rabbit, do you understand that?"

Kong Jianshi twitched the corner of his mouth.

He still felt stifled.

Such a tiny family, and they actually dare to play the false-head game—who would believe it?!

"Li Linguo, you old Bangzi, you'd better wait for me—I'm coming to take your life!" Kong Jianshi thought, grinding his teeth.

"No, just killing Li Linguo isn't enough to prove my ability; I also need to wipe out the Gu family—kill them all, leave none, so this Chen family brat won't look down on me."

……

Zhang Lao strolled out of the rear courtyard with his hands behind his back, "I can smell the wine from afar—hey, you kid, you're being generous today, bringing two jars; hurry up, open one for me to taste."

"Xiaoyu, go prepare a few side dishes; I want to chat with your senior brother for a while."

"Got it, Master!"

Xiaoyu sprang up nimbly and darted out of the medicine shop.

Chen Wuji laughed as he broke the clay seal on the wine jar, "Master, you've wronged me a little—I can't be stingy with anyone, least of all you. This is fine wine privately stored by the Qin County magistrate, which I extorted by force; that kid wouldn't give me more, otherwise I'd have brought you two cartloads—take your time drinking."

"Your master is greedy; no matter how much you bring, I always feel it's too little." Zhang Lao pulled Chen Wuji to sit down, laughing, "Who would ever complain about having too much filial devotion?"

"Next time I'll extort more," Chen Wuji said with a smile, picking up the tea cup on the table and pouring Zhang Lao a cup first.

Zhang Lao gripped the wine cup, lifted it slightly, "Pour you one too; let's have a drink first, just the two of us."

"Okay."

Chen Wuji filled his own cup, "Master, I toast you."

After a few cups, Zhang Lao asked about Chen Wuji's recent experience leading troops in battle; he seemed like a gentle old father, and though he offered few comments, his words were full of concern and praise.

"If our Ciji Zhai could produce a great general, that sign at the gate could easily last another hundred years," Zhang Lao said with a chuckle.

Chen Wuji smiled, "Do you really expect that much of me, old master? I dare not dream of being a great general; as long as I'm not a rebel, being a minor officer is enough."

"Days like this are what put my mind at ease; as for power and status, they're really a burden—I'd rather not shoulder them unless absolutely necessary."

Zhang Lao laughed and scolded, "How old are you, kid? Your outlook is more clear-headed than mine—that's not good; young people should have vigor and ambition."

Chen Wuji merely gave a faint smile.

He does look young now, but he has actually lived two lifetimes.

Some things really ought to be seen more openly.

Xiaoyu came bouncing in with a food box, laid out the dishes one by one on the table, then immediately picked up a wine cup and gazed eagerly at Chen Wuji and Zhang Lao.

"You little monkey!" Zhang Lao laughed helplessly, then told Chen Wuji, "Give him a bowl too—just a little, enough to taste the saltiness."

Chen Wuji nodded with a smile and took the wine jar.

Xiaoyu furtively glanced at Zhang Lao, then gave Chen Wuji a wild eye signal.

So Chen Wuji poured him a cup nine-tenths full.

Xiaoyu grinned satisfied, then immediately bent down and gulped a big mouthful.

Zhang Lao saw it, said nothing, just gave a light chuckle.

"You've been heating things up in Yunan lately—have you been paying attention to outside news?" Zhang Lao shifted the topic.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Our intelligence is limited; even gauging enemy movements is tough, and lately not a word of outside news has reached my ears."

Zhang Lao gestured for Chen Wuji to eat, then said, "These past days, many Qiang merchant caravans have come to Yunan City; some are cautious and secretly gather intel, while others brandish their fangs and claws, acting arrogantly and treating Yunan as Qiang territory."

"The frontier battles are going terribly; Da Yu has suffered successive defeats, and the Lingnan Six Commanderies have already lost two."