Silence had fallen in the main hall.

　　“Everyone speak up! Who wants to go after them?” Fu Mengshan stared at the crowd. He held his teacup up and took a sip from it. His words were utterly leisurely.

　　Everyone looked at each other.

　　An uproar broke out in the hall all at once. Everyone was talking all at once. They were all fighting over the offer.

　　Ma Kunswept his eyes across the faces in the hall. His lips tugged into a sneer. He scoffed, “Hu Laoer, Qi Feng, I think you guys should rest instead!”

　　“Elder Ma, why can’t we do it!” a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and huge eyes protested. “A group of us can go together. I don’t believe that we can’t go defeat these three men!”

　　“It won’t be enough to defeat them even with a hundred of you!” Ma Kun sneered with a wry smile.

　　“Elder Ma, what kind of mentality is that?! Just because you couldn’t do it, it doesn’t mean that no one else can,” Hu Laoer yelled at the top of his lungs and laughed out loud. “We’re going to gain this merit one way or another!”

　　“Humph, don’t lose your heads before you can even fight for that merit!” Ma Kun pursed his lips in disdain.

　　“Alright, alright.” Xu Huande waved his hand and said in a low tone, “Come one by one and have some self-consciousness. Those who had a weaker level of Martial Art don’t force your way into the line, or else you’re just giving your merit away to someone else.”

　　“Commander Xu, how many of us will be picked?” A thin middle-aged man stood up and did a fist salute. “If only ten or eight of us are going, then we should pick those with the best Martial Art. However, if we’re sending more than twenty people over, then all of us can play a part in it.”

　　“I think we better sent more than twenty men over,” someone called out. “It’s much safer!”

　　“Twenty over men,” Xu Huande said coldly. “Why don’t we just send the entire house out then?!”

　　Most of the people in the hall were centurions and had tens or even hundreds of men as their followers. There were really not many Grandmasters out there, though. Aside from the two of them, they each had only one or two men under them.

　　Grandmasters would usually end up in the imperial residence, the residence of a chancellor, or even the imperial house. Not many of them went to the Secret Guardians Hall often. This was because they knew that they would have to stay forever once they entered the hall. They would not be able to get away. This rule seemed to go against the very nature of martial artists.

　　This time, they were definitely going to send Grandmasters out there. Many of them were ready to pick up the task themselves. It was considered to be an extremely honorable merit. Once they had seized the opportunity to carry out the task, good things were bound to come their way. It was like a big fat piece of meat which everyone wanted to take a bite.

　　“Ten will do then.” Xu Huande turned to look at Fu Mengshan. “Commander, what do you think?”

　　“Hmm, ten sounds good too.” Fu Mengshan said softly. “Everyone should know where you stand. Don’t volunteer if you can’t even fight Elder Ma!”

　　Everyone finally shut their mouths. The main hall began to quieten.

　　Although Ma Kun had a terrible temper and a bad mouth, his Martial Art was extraordinary. There were not a lot of people out there who were more powerful than him.

　　Fu Mengshan looked at the crowd. “Everyone, you don’t have to fight anymore. Commander Xu and I will call out the names, and whoever’s called will go! … Boyuan, can you go?”

　　The stout fat man who had been keeping quiet shook his head and said weakly, “Commander, we’ll only be a burden if we tag along. Our injuries are too serious.”

　　“What do we do then?!” Everyone instantly panicked.

　　Beside the small stout man sat a big fat man. He was over twenty years old and had a sallow face. “Commander, I heard that Head Chief Chu masters his own tracking technique as well.”

　　“Yes, Young Chu’s tracking technique is superb.” Fu Mengshan nodded.

　　“Then let Head Chief Chu lead everyone there,” The big man said. “Besides, his Martial Art is very powerful, too. I heard that he has a remarkable Light-body Technique as well.”

　　“Zhongyuan, your thoughts are not very genuine!” Fu Mengshan forced a smile.

　　“Two of a trade can never agree,” Xu Huande scoffed. “Boyuan, the Ning’s Family tracking technique is indeed remarkable, but remember that there’ll always be someone who’s better. Don’t ever think that your skills are unparalleled in the world!”

　　“Yes, Commander. What you said was right.” The big fatty and Ning Zhongyuan quickly did a fist salute with solemn expressions on their faces.

　　Fu Mengshan said, “Young Chu’s Martial Art is powerful and has mastered his tracking technique well. He’s truly a suitable candidate for this mission. Elder Xu, call him over.”

　　“He’s not in the imperial residence.” Xu Huande shook his head and said, “I can’t find him.”

　　“This Young Chu…” Fu Mengshan sighed and said helplessly, “What is he busy with now?”

　　“He’s the head chief of the imperial residence. It makes sense that he’s got a lot of matters to attend to,” Xu Huande said. “He might not agree to go.”

　　Ma Kun chuckled dryly. “Commander Xu, what reason would he give? How could he not agree to go?!”

　　Xu Huande scoffed coldly, “Elder Ma, his identity was specially granted by the Emperor himself. Being a secret guardian in the imperial house is just another identity like another. We don’t really have to do anything. If you think you have the ability to, let the Emperor bestow a special title on you then!”

　　Ma Kun said angrily, “We have to work hard and risk our lives over here while he hides away to relax!”

　　—

　　As the sun sets on the horizon, Chu Li slowly opened his eyes. A bird’s cry rang out from above. Two fruits fell from the sky.

　　It was thrown down by one of the spirit cranes.

　　Chu Li caught them with ease. There were two green apricots.

　　Xiao Shi looked at the fruits curiously. “What are those?”

　　Chu Li handed one over to her. “Try one.”

　　“It’s edible?” Xiao Shi took it and studied it carefully.

　　Chu Li laughed and said, “Since there are given by the spirit cranes, they must be edible. It’s probably a good item.”

　　“… Alright, I’ll give it a try.” Xiao Shi took a bite.

　　Xiao Shi thought that it would be fine if she died because Chu Li could bring her back to life. If he dies though, then she would not able to do anything about it.

　　Chu Li grinned as he stared at her beautiful face. He thought she had a very attractive pair of red lips.

　　Xiao Shi finished it in just a few bites. She then took a silk handkerchief out of her sleeves to wipe the corner of her lips.

　　“How’s it?” said Chu Li with a warm smile.

　　“My stomach feels warm.” Xiao Shi smiled. “It feels great!”

　　Chu Li ate it in a few bites too. It was crunchy but there was no sharp taste to it but only a sweetness that was faintly discernible. Other than that, the apricot was tasteless.

　　After a brief moment, a warm current gushed from his stomach and flowed all over his body. The tiredness and sense of hunger he had felt from before disappeared instantly. His stomach felt full as if his entire body was equipped with endless strength. He wanted to look up to the sky and cry out so badly, just to release all of the pent up anger inside him.

　　“This is some great food!” Chu Li exclaimed.

　　He looked up to look at the spirit crane on the top of the tree and gave it a fist salute.

　　“After eating this, I don’t feel like having dinner,” Xiao Shi said.

　　The evening mist rose gradually in the air. Chu Li said, “Let’s go back.”

　　“Alright.” Xiao Shi nodded.

　　The two of them disappeared from where they stood in a flash and reappeared at the Symphony Island of the High Duke’s Public House.

　　Xue Ling was waiting for the two of them in the gazebo.

　　When she spotted then, Xue Ling took the boiling kettle down and made tea. She brought it over to them. The fragrance of the tea was overwhelming.

　　“Have some tea before you leave.” Xiao Shi pointed at the teacup. “It won’t make a big difference to stay for a while.”

　　Chu Li sat down.

　　Xue Ling said, “Young Master, are we going to start building the New Moon Brothel?”

　　Chu Li frowned and pondered.

　　Xue Ling continued, “If we’re going to start soon, we should look for a location now.”

　　Chu Li shook his head.

　　Initially, he had planned to build another New Moon Brothel in the Fairy’s Capital to gather more intelligence.

　　However, things have changed. He had entered the Secret Guardians Hall. As long as he stood his ground, he could become a centurion. He would not have to worry about gathering intelligence then. The New Moon Brothel would become a burden to him instead as it would limit his freedom of movement. It would not go as smooth as it was at Chong Ming Town.

　　Should the ladies in New Moon Brothel encounter any danger, he would have no one to blame but himself.

　　Xue Ling said, “It’ll have to wait?”

　　Chu Li put his teacup down and said, “For now, we won’t be needing them. We’ll take it slow. There’s no need to rush.”

　　“Yes.” Xue Ling nodded gently.

　　Chu Li smiled and said, “Everyone does not wish to head back to Fairy’s Capital, am I right?”

　　Xue Ling nodded gently.

　　The ladies from New Moon Brothel were very insecure. Chong Ming Town had the High Duke’s Public House’s protection, so nobody dared to stir any trouble there. Once they arrived at the Fairy’s Capital though, there would be countless big figures with powerful authority getting involved in a lot of matters. The High Duke’s Public House would not be able to protect him or anyone else. No one would be in control of their own fate.

　　Chu Li placed his teacup down and smiled. “Forget about this… Lady, I’ll have to leave. I must make a trip to the Secret Guardians Hall.”

　　“Go.” Xiao Shi waved her hand. “I’ll return after two days.”

　　“Alright.” Chu Li disappeared right on the spot.