From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

Zhu Hong frowned almost imperceptibly, uttering only two words:

"Too long."

"...Ten days!"

Li Hang broke out in a cold sweat and quickly changed his words: "Within ten days, even if I have to pawn my personal belongings, I will definitely raise the money."

"Ten days is feasible."

but……

Zhu Hong's lips curled slightly, revealing a gentle smile, though the smile didn't reach his eyes, sending a chill down Li Hang's spine: "Since I've been 'frightened,' I should at least receive some 'comfort money.' According to the rules of the underworld, it's three parts interest, thirty taels of silver in cash." He smiled.

"how?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hang's lips twitched slightly, and his right hand subconsciously reached for the money pouch at his waist. Just as he was about to grit his teeth and agree, he saw Zhu Hong's gaze sweep lightly over him and land on the two people behind him.

"I have said it."

Zhu Hong's flat tone cut off Li Hang's breath: "Is this interest your responsibility?" He slowly turned to the side, his gaze falling squarely on Feng Qi and the trembling horse racing board.

Upon seeing this, Feng Qi frowned and stiffened his neck.

He said, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak:

"Does Your Excellency have any further instructions?"

His tone was harsh, full of barely concealed resentment.

Ma Pan's face was deathly pale, his legs were trembling, and he wished he could bury his head in the ground, not daring to even breathe.

"Guidance? Not at all."

Zhu Hong's smile deepened, but grew even colder: "I'm just reminding you two that you were both involved in the attack on the constables. Is it too much to ask for a small reward for the disturbance?" He paused slightly, glanced at the coin bank, and added, "It's thirty taels per person, a total of sixty taels of silver."

"The constable's plan is truly ingenious."

Feng Qi's face was ashen, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes: "Be careful, don't bite off more than you can chew." With that, he pulled a bag of silver from his pocket, slammed it heavily on the table, and said:

"Sir, hold on tight, don't drop it."

"No need for that," Zhu Hong replied casually, turning his gaze to the horse racing board. "What, do I have to pay you?"

"I heard it..."

Ma Pan trembled in fright and hurriedly pulled out his money pouch from his pocket. "Uncle Feng..." he called out timidly and handed it over. From beginning to end, he dared not look directly at Zhu Hong.

Feng Qi glared fiercely at the pathetic fellow, snatched the money pouch, and threw it along with his own pouch at him.

"Enough already, you heartless bastard!"

Zhu Hong weighed the two money pouches in his palm before slowly slipping them into his sleeve: "I doubt you'd dare to pass off inferior goods as superior ones." Then, he looked up at Li Hang again, his words clear and distinct:

"Li Hang".

These sixty taels were their money to save their lives.

"Your share of one hundred taels," he said, carefully putting away the money, his eyes fixed on Li Hang.

"I will wait for you for ten days."

Li Hang's Adam's apple bobbed. He bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, his voice tight but still steady: "When the ten days are up, I will personally present it." He paused slightly, then lowered his voice to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind for so long:

"Just what is your identity, sir...?"

This statement does not imply that the official certificate is fake, since Pei Xiaojia had already verified his identity; it simply does not explain the reason behind it.

Zhu Hong glanced at him indifferently and said, "Your charity is well-informed, how could you not know about the recent 'selection of martial arts students'?" After saying that, he said in a still indifferent tone, "Alright, the accounts are settled."

"I won't bother you any longer."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and turned to walk towards the exit of the painted boat.

Are martial arts actors selected through a streamlined process?

Li Hang's pupils suddenly contracted, and he murmured, "It's... Jianba, a martial arts student?" A mix of emotions welled up in his heart, and in addition to the realization, a bitter feeling followed.

He then realized that the killing machine before him might have been an imposter just a few days ago, and their investigation hadn't been wrong. But who could have predicted that in just a few days, this man would turn around and apply for the position, and actually succeed in it! This audacity, this stroke of luck, is simply…

It's staggering.

And there was nothing they could do.

When Sai's mother saw Zhu Hong about to leave, she quickly put on a sweet smile, twisted her waist and stuck to him. Her steps were hurried, and as her skirt swayed, a trace of her creamy white skin was inadvertently revealed.

"Sir~"

She seemed oblivious, still smiling with her face upturned: "I'm so sorry for neglecting our distinguished guest today, please forgive me~ When you have free time in the future, you must come and visit often. Our 'Drunken Li Bai' at the White Dragon Boat is plentiful, and there's also..."

A glance swept across Zhu Hong's face, its meaning clear:

"The girls in the boat are all waiting for a distinguished guest like you~"

Zhu Hong, however, continued walking. Seeing his cold attitude, Mama Sai wisely stopped at the top of the stairs, leaned against the vermilion railing, gently waved her handkerchief, and called out, "Take care."

He breathed a long sigh of relief.

"This killing machine has finally been sent away..."

At this moment, the crowd on the pleasure boat, who had been watching the fight with indifference, began to discuss among themselves:

"Hey, this official is quite shrewd."

"More than just skilled, he can kill, sew up corpses, extort money... He does it all with such ease and fluency. His cold-bloodedness and ruthless methods are beyond wildness."

Inside the elegant "Tianzi" room on the second floor, with its beaded curtains hanging down.

"Young in age, but shrewd and experienced, already a government official."

Wearing a brocade robe embroidered with the character "福" (fortune/blessing), and with a slightly protruding belly, Jiang Jingtang gently patted his abdomen and squinted, saying, "Brother Shoutan, look at this young man, could he be a disciple cultivated by your Chi family?"

"Of course not."

Chi Shoutan shook his head, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said with a hint of amusement in his eyes, "I suspect it was the work of your Jiang family."

"No?" Jiang Jingtang raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this, his round face trembling slightly. "Since you are not a member of either our clan, how can you sit in this position at such a young age?" His gaze slowly returned to the downstairs, his double chin slightly tucked in, and his tone carried a hint of approval:

"Indeed, he has some skill."

"Forget it, why bother with him?" Chi Shoutan suddenly grinned, casting those thoughts to the back of his mind.

"Now that the show is over, it's time to enjoy the main course."

After saying that, he stretched out his arm and gave Bai Xiuying's round and perky buttocks, which were standing beside him, a light pinch.

Bai Xiuying's body stiffened abruptly. The well-trained, gentle smile on her face hadn't even faded before despair crept into her eyes. She shrank back slightly, as if trying to avoid it, but her shoulders remained completely still.

How could she dare disobey?

Only when the fingertips dug into her palms from her sleeves, causing excruciating pain, could she barely suppress the instinctive urge to tremble.

"Brother Shoutan is absolutely right."

Seeing this, Jiang Jingtang chuckled softly, leaned closer, and glanced at Chi Shoutan's chest, which was heaving slightly with nervousness. He winked at her and said, "This 'delicious dish' at the end must taste amazing..."

"Incredibly wonderful!"

……

On the other end.

Zhu Hong had already stepped down the stairs and was preparing to leave the White Dragon Boat.

But at this moment:

Behind them, on the second-floor veranda, a call suddenly drifted over.

It was very light, hesitant, and trembling slightly.

"grown ups."