After half an hour, Hai Qingshan returned looking grim.

　　Chu Li stared at him.

　　Hai Qingshan went up to the carriage and whispered into the wagon, “Lady Xiao Shi, the Ren Public House is after us!”

　　“Young Hai, how did you find out?” Mulin asked.

　　“I acted as one from the Ren Public House and tricked them into telling me!” Hai Qingshan said as he smiled.

　　“You may look straightforward and honest but you’re quite witty too!” Mulin scoffed as he complimented him.

　　Hai Qingshan scratched his head and smiled shyly. He found out not because of his wit but because he had learned from others.

　　“Don’t bother with them,” Xiao Shi said with a gentle voice.

　　“They must be here to hurt Lady Xiao Shi!” Hai Qingshan said hurriedly.

　　“I have six elders with me. I’m not afraid of them attacking me.”

　　“I’m afraid that they came fully prepared,” Hai Qingshan said. “What if they also sent their Grandmasters?”

　　“I understand. Let’s continue on our way,” Xiao Shi replied.

　　Her voice was so gentle that Hai Qingshan did not have the heart to push her any further.

　　He shook his head and sighed as he looked at Chu Li.

　　“Can our Public House request for more Grandmasters?” Chu Li asked.

　　“Adding more Grandmasters would be impossible,” Hai Qingshan said while shaking his head.

　　The Public House only had eight Grandmasters. Deploying six of them was already far too many. The other two must not be moved because the Public House was of utmost importance as it represented the foundation and the root. There were also many spirit herbs alongside Master Xiao and the Third Lady. If all eight Grandmasters were deployed, someone could seize the opportunity to attack the Public House which would lead to unimaginable consequences.

　　If the Second Lady’s status was not highly honorable, they would not have deployed six Grandmasters. Even when Master Xiao and the Third Lady left for an outing, there were only four Grandmasters assigned to them.

　　Chu Li furrowed his brows and muttered to himself that leaving only two Grandmasters in the Public House was risky. The people in the martial arts world hated the Public House and would destroy it in a heartbeat if given the chance.

　　The best way to go about the situation was not to add any protection but to surround the enemy to force them to surrender or to force the Ren Public House to recall their Grandmasters. If someone important in the Ren Public House had to head out, they needed the Grandmasters to follow them which would, in turn, be reassigned from the forces that were preparing an ambush around them. While Chu Li deliberated and strategized in his head, he was hesitant to share his thoughts.

　　With the knowledge that the Second Lady hated witty people, he knew that if he spoke up, she would have thought that he was showing off his intelligence. This would cause him to earn her scorn.

　　He took a deep breath and whispered, “Lady Xiao Shi, I’ve something to say”

　　“Say it,” Xiao Shi said in a gentle and delicate voice.

　　“We need to force them to reassign their Grandmasters,” Chu Li said.

　　“What a joke! You think their Grandmasters will listen to what you say?” Mulin scoffed as soon as he heard what Chu Li said.

　　Chu Li seemed like he was not listening to Mulin.

　　“We’ll write a letter. Let Master Xiao find a way to force the Ren Public House’s masters to leave their Public House. The Grandmasters will surely follow them.” Chu Li suggested.

　　“That’s easy for you to say but why would they let others tell them what to do?” Mulin impolitely insulted him.

　　Chu Li did not show any expression.

　　“I think Master Xiao will know what to do,” he said.

　　“Your idea is quite good,” Xiao Shi gently said.

　　“But it’ll be difficult. They aren’t stupid,” Chu Li replied with a smile.

　　There were many ways to have them leave their Public House. If plan A failed, then he would have to improvise. He knew that they would not stay in their Public House forever, but he did not wield the power. He was worried and felt helpless but there was no point repeating it. It would only cause Lady Xiao Shi to hate him.

　　“Just some useless crap. What other ideas do you have?” Mulin scoffed.

　　“If it really doesn’t work, we’ll just have to walk separately from Lady Xiao Shi,” Chu Li said.

　　“Does that imply that you guys will act as a distraction while Lady Xiao Shi and I stealthily escape?” Mulin asked.

　　“You’re correct! If we lose, we’ll just run,” Chu Li said.

　　With Xiao Shi there, they would have been unable to run, even if they wanted to.

　　“If you’re attacked by Grandmasters, you wouldn’t be able to run away even if you wanted to,” Xiao Shi said calmly.

　　“I understand.” Chu Li then tactfully shut his mouth.

　　“This fellow’s idea is quite good. It’d be better for us to walk separate ways,” Mulin softly said.

　　“Elder Guo, we can’t separate,” Xiao Shi said while shaking her head in disagreement.

　　“Once they start fighting, you’ll only be a burden and drag them down and when that happens, you won’t even be able to run away,” said Mulin impolitely.

　　“Why should I be afraid of those deceitful tricks! What do you think our Yi Public House is?” Xiao Shi asked with a strong tone of determination in her voice.

　　“You…” Mulin helplessly muttered.

　　“You’ll be at a disadvantage with your temper. A great man knows when to stand for himself and when to surrender but you don’t have to care as much since you’re a woman. The only thing you need to think about is preserving your own life,” he said.

　　“I’d like to see what the Ren Public House is going to do!” Xiao Shi said.

　　“They’ll have you killed. That’s my guess. Master Xiao will go insane and Yi Public House will also be doomed!” Mulin scoffed.

　　“Elder—Guo—!” Xiao Shi stared at him angrily.

　　Mulin twitched his mouth and scoffed.

　　“You think I’m trying to scare you? Just think about it. If you die, wouldn’t Master Xiao go insane?”

　　“There’s no need to worry. Big brother looks stupid but he’s actually very awake and can calm himself down during crucial times,” Xiao Shi said.

　　“You’re such a stubborn girl. You really know how to get on a person’s nerves.” Mulin scoffed as he stood up, opened the curtain and left.

　　He exited the cabin as the six Grandmasters were looking at him as they helplessly shook their heads.

　　Mulin scoffed and sat down because he could not convince the very stubborn Second Lady. The most fatal mistake was that she was not afraid of death and she found life boring. She had a weak body and spirit since birth and for her, staying alive was like being tortured.

　　However, it would be futile to try to convince her.

　　Chu Li rode the carriage to the left and continued the journey for fifty miles until they arrived at the North Guard Town in the evening. This town may have looked small but it was still a bustling town because it was located beside the main road. Both travelers and pedestrians will visit for a meal or stay for a night which made the town very lively.

　　Hai Qingshan had already prepared a lodging for them as they were not going to stay in an inn.

　　It was a residence with two entrances. After they had settled down, Hai Qingshan began occupying himself. As a Scribe himself, he always had neat and tidy work.

　　Chu Li was unable to help with anything, so he was tasked with purchasing a list of materials that Mulin provided.

　　He went out and quickly came back carrying all the ingredients. Mulin personally cooked and prepared a table full of exquisite dishes which included vegetables, meat and other light dishes.

　　Xiao Shi and Mulin sat in the study room and helped themselves to the light dishes while Chu Li and the others feasted in the main hall.

　　All eight of them were eating cheerfully when one of the elders suddenly frowned. They looked at each other as the elder put down his chopsticks and went outside immediately.

　　“Bang! Bang!”

　　Loud sounds went off continuously.

　　Chu Li activated the Omniscient Mirror and saw the elder, Zhao Qingshan, flew to a wall while pushing his palms. In the blink of an eye, there was a person twenty feet away falling off a tree. He fell and flipped over as he rolled on the ground and stood up and ran away.

　　Zhao Qingshan threw a fist and suddenly, another middle-aged man who was thirty feet away flew out and crashed into a wall and fainted.

　　Zhao Qingshan went over and picked him up and the middle-aged man suddenly opened his eyes. A cold light came out from his sleeve intending to pierce Zhao Qingshan.

　　He laughed and gently shook it off. The blue light from the dagger suddenly dimmed and fell to the ground.

　　After the middle-aged man was stopped by Zhao Qingshan effortlessly, he was no longer able to exert any energy as he was weak and paralyzed.

　　Zhao Qingshan brought him back to the main hall, threw him to the ground and continued eating his meal.

　　Chu Li looked at the man, trying to see what was on his mind.

　　Hai Qingshan put down his chopsticks, moved in front of the man and asked, “Are you from the Ren Public House?”

　　The man shut his eyes which was the only part of his body that wasn’t paralyzed.

　　“Be careful, Hai Qingshan. Don’t be deceived by this cunning fellow,” Zhao Qingshan said.

　　Hai Qingshan nodded and looked at the man’s eyes.

　　“How many are there with you? When are you guys going to strike?” he asked.

　　The man kept quiet and did not open his eyes.

　　“If you intend to stay silent, don’t blame me for not warning you. You’ll have no choice but to undergo cruel torture that will be inflicted upon you,” Hai Qingshan said to the man and then proceeded to pat the man’s body three times.

　　The man trembled again and again, and his face turned red quickly. He looked like he was being electrocuted and could not control his body and his eyes quickly turned bloodshot.