Chapter 102: First Meeting
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Is it too little?” Su Ru asked while staring at Chu Li.
“The Ren Public House has been very powerful over the past few years. They have ten Grandmasters while our Public House only has eight! I’m worried that the other Public Houses have less than ten as well,” explained Chu Li with a frown on his face.
“How about the martial art world’s sects?”
“The Four main sects have one or two Grandmasters every century. If it were any other sectors, they would probably not even have a single Grandmaster, not even in a hundred years,” said Chu Li.
Su Ru shook her head.
“Do you really think that the Grandmaster’s boundary is easy to achieve? Even Lady Xiao who was born with such great gifts and status is still stuck there.”
“Is it really that hard to achieve the Grandmaster’s boundary?” asked Chu Li.
“Of course it is!” Su Ru replied with a smile on her face.
“You can stop dreaming. Your martial art skills are already adequate enough for you to use. You’re not even a Protector, there is no need for you to be so skillful in martial arts,” she continued.
Chu Li shook his head.
“The main key to achieving the Grandmaster’s boundary will always be based on someone’s opportunity or destiny. Reaching this boundary requires strong comprehension and a small flash of intuition. When you have achieved both of that, then your chance has come,” explained Su Ru.
Chu Li furrowed his brows and kept quiet.
Su Ru shook her delicate hand and said, “We’re going off topic. Let’s get back on track and discuss the Second Lady. The main purpose of this trip you’re going to take is to gain experience. Do not go and create a stir because that would offend the Second Lady greatly, and that would only cause unnecessary trouble that you would not want to deal with.”
“I’ve already offended Master Xiao, the last thing I want to do is offend the Second Lady too. This may lower my chances of being successful,” said Chu Li with a sigh.
“You still have Lady Xiao, of course, you can still be successful. However, you will not be able to achieve success without first gaining enough experience through roughly twenty years of hard work.” Su Ru responded with rolled eyes.
Chu Li slowly nodded as he realized that he really ought to focus on being stable and pa.s.sive.
Su Ru picked up a crystal-like rib with the pair of chopsticks and put it in her mouth elegantly. She slowly chewed and swallowed it as she continued.
“The Second Lady has six Grandmasters protecting her. If Lu Yurong had really lost her mind and took the initiative, she would have already sent out at least seven Grandmasters. You will not be able to defeat all the Grandmasters no matter how skillful you are. So, be smart and do not give yourself a death sentence.”
Chu Li blankly stared at her.
Su Ru looked around and rolled her eyes while reminding Chu Li, “Prioritize safety first! You as an Innate Master tackling Grandmasters is suicide!”
“Thank you, Chief!” Chu Li said while smiling.
Chu Li felt mildly touched because of the relations.h.i.+p he felt he had with Su Ru. If not for this relations.h.i.+p, she would not have bothered telling him all the information she did because it would have violated a taboo.
Su Ru put down her silver chopsticks, picked up her white jade cup, and finished the wine in a single gulp.
“I’m already full. You can slowly enjoy the food that has been prepared, I will leave now,” said Su Ru to Chu Li.
After she finished, she waved her hand and left the paG.o.da. And just like how Su Ru usually came, she left like a gust of wind.
Chu Li hurriedly chased after her.
Before Su Ru left the courtyard, she reminded him of something:
“I’m coming over tomorrow morning to bring you to meet with the Second Lady. Remember to wake up early!”
—
The sun started to rise, Chu Li and Xue Ling were cultivating. Su Ru who was wearing a green gown pushed the door open and entered.
Chu Li immediately ended his forms while Xue Ling went into the room to grab his bundle.
“Let’s go,” said Su Ru, she turned around and started to walk away.
Xue Ling sent them away at the gates of the courtyard. She stood outside the gate and did not leave to go in until she lost sight of them as they disappeared into the woods.
Su Ru turned to look at him and with gentle, light steps, asked, “So, how’s Xue Ling? Is she serving you well?”
“It’s much better now,” Chu Li answered.
“She’s proud and obstinate but you’re good with training people. She’s finally gotten better, hasn’t she?”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to replace her, Chief?” Chu Li asked as he turned his head to look at Su Ru.
“Well, do you want to?” replied Su Ru with a spurious smile.
“I’ve just gotten used to her! Why would I want to replace her? Plus, Xue Ling’s cooking is delicious and suits my taste,” said Chu Li.
“This young girl is short tempered. If I really replaced her, she’d definitely create more trouble than it’s worth!” Su Ru sighed and shook her head.
Chu Li smiled and remained silent.
The two of them got into a small boat and sailed through a lake. After about fifteen minutes, they faintly spotted a Gaily-Painted Pleasure-Boat in the distance. It looked like as though it was moving slowly but in fact, was actually traveling rather quickly and after another fifteen minutes, they had reached their destination.
A good looking teenage boy stood at the prow of the boat in a blur rode. He looked handsome and his face was like jade.
“Chief Su Ru!” he said with a salute and a faint laugh.
“Hai Qingshan, is Second Lady onboard the boat?” Su Ru asked.
“Yes, the Second Lady is resting on the boat.” Hai Qingshan replied with a nod of his head.
“Chu Li, get onboard,” Su Ru said while turning to him.
“This is Protector Hai Qingshan, please follow him.”
Chu Li nodded, went on to the boat gently and fist saluted Hai Qingshan.
Hai Qingshan had a large frame and was also tall. He looked das.h.i.+ng. He fist saluted and smiled again.
“I’m Hai Qingshan! Your reputation precedes you, it is my pleasure to finally be able to meet you today, Chu Li.”
Chu Li fist saluted and said with a smile, “I’m not that great. I’m still expecting you to help me out a little.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll be working together now, for better or for worse.”
Hai Qingshan smiled.
“I’ll bring you up to meet the Second Lady!”
Chu Li nodded.
Su Ru’s boat had already departed.
Chu Li followed Hai Qingshan to the cabin of the boat where he stood in front of the cabin as he saluted and reported.
“Second Lady, Chu Li has arrived,” he said softly as to not disturb the people sleeping inside.
“Okay, increase the speed,” said a smooth and rich gentle voice.
“Understood,” Hai Qingshan politely replied.
Chu Li activated the Omniscient Mirror.
The cabin of the Gaily-Painted Pleasure-Boat had two entrances. At the first entrance sat seven elders who had hair as white as a crane’s feather and their faces were as red as a baby’s. Chu LI could tell from their appearances that the six of them were Grandmasters and that the other was an Innate Master.
The second entrance was delicately and elegantly decorated. There was a beautiful lady lying on the couch with sleek eyebrows and almost gla.s.s-like eyes. She was so incredibly gorgeous to the point where it felt as if her beauty could knock down cities and conquer entire states. She supported her head with one of her hands while she read a scroll of a book with the other. Her alluring eyebrows showed a hint of tiredness and she looked lazy.
She replied Hai Qingshan very briefly and then proceeded to let out a yawn. The lady put down the book and got off the couch. She opened the window, taking a deep breath of fresh air which caused her proud standing chest to rise.
Chu Li secretly sighed to himself as he thought about how the first beauty of the Great Ji Dynasty definitely deserved her glowing reputation. Every move she made was one of grace and beauty.
She must have known that the trip was dangerous because she did not bring along with her any maids.
Chu Li s.h.i.+fted his attention very quickly towards the Elder Innate Master. He was the one who Su Ru had mentioned, Guo Mulin.
The six Grandmasters were playing chess while Mulin was sitting far aside, meditating. He hated the feeling of annoyance surrounding him and could not cope with the six Grandmasters.
“Brother Chu, you need to be prepared. We will be working as guards the entire trip and we need to serve the people,” said Hai Qingshan.
“I am a guard myself,” replied Chu Li while he smiled and nodded.
“You are indeed the youngest top master of our Public House!” said Hai Qingshan with a little laugh.
Chu Li waved his hand.
“Those are just baseless rumors. Me? A Top Master? That has got to be a joke!”
“I must admit that Zhuo Feiyang Zhao is amazing though. I have fought him before,” claimed Hai Qingshan.
Chu Li activated the Omniscient Mirror to find out what Hai Qingshan was really thinking and saw that everything he was saying was actually sincere and not out of pure courtesy.
“I’d like to practice with you if we have the time,” suggested Hai Qingshan
“Alright,” Chu Li agreed.
Hai Qingshan was not a crooked or dishonest person. His main concentration was on his cultivations. External trivialities did not matter to him because he was only interested in his books. Hai Qingshan could even have been considered a genius because he had achieved the innate mastery boundary with such ease. The Second Lady thought very highly of him and he had never gotten himself involved in any treachery or despicable tricks. The good-looking teenage boy had a very innocent mind and was open and frank about his thoughts.