White-Robed Chief

Chu Li shook his head helplessly.

These four Protectors seemed very baleful in contrast with those in King An’s Imperial Residence, which seemed tough in appearance but weak in reality. At this time, they should be replaced with more gentle Protectors so that the outside seemed lax but the inside was tight. The death of King An had made everyone alarmed.

“Fu Mengshan came to see you?” Xiao Shi frowned. “He’s a busy man, why did he deign to come here? He must be up to no good!”

Chu Li replied, “I’ll go have a look.”

Xiao Qi asked, “Do you want me to come with you?”

Chu Li shook his head with a smile. “He won’t do anything to me. You two carry on. I’ll go.”

The two women watched him leave.

Xiao Shi sighed. “It’s a good thing you’re back. If I were alone, I wouldn’t have been able to hold it all together. There are so many trivial matters and chores that everyone just keeps asking me about because they don’t dare to make any decisions. King An’s death has destroyed their spirits. They’re all worthless goods!”

“It can’t be helped.” Xiao Qi gently rubbed her chin before she continued the game by grasping a white chess piece.

When Chu Li arrived at the main hall, Fu Mengshan got up with a smile and gave a fist salute. “Chief Chu, congratulations.”

Chu Li smiled and returned the fist salute. He then sat down opposite Fu Mengshan.

He looked at Fu Mengshan whom complexion did not appear well. His eyes were bloodshot and he clearly did not sleep well last night. He also looked wan and sallow, appearing extremely vexed.

“Commander, what happened?” Chu Li asked after putting down the teacup.

Fu Mengshan glanced at the maid outside the main hall.

Chu Li waved his hand.

The maid then quietly withdrew, leaving only two of them in the main hall.

Fu Mengshan sighed. “I’ve been sent to the Imperial Mausoleum. I can become partners with Commander Xu!”

Chu Li was shocked. “How could that be?”

“When the Emperor sent Gu Yu over, I already had this premonition.” Fu Mengshan shook his head with a sigh. “I have to move aside for Gu Yu. The Emperor will only be at ease if the Secret Guardian Hall is in Gu Yu’s hands.”

Chu Li frowned and said, “Commander, you’ve worked so hard for so many years. Even if you didn’t make any contributions, you’ve toiled hard. How can you enter the Imperial Mausoleum?”

“Sigh…” Fu Mengshan shook his head and smiled wryly. “This is the best result. I know too much that I shouldn’t. The Emperor has been very kind not to kill me. I knew that this day would come, but I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.”

Chu Li frowned. “Is there no other way?”

“No.” Fu Mengshan shook his head. “The Emperor has a suspicious nature and will never allow anyone to stay as Commander of the Secret Guardian Hall for too long, lest he loses control of them.”

Chu Li nodded slowly. “Then, what’s the reason this time?”

“It’s because of King An’s death.” Fu Mengshan sighed. “We secret guardians didn’t receive any news about his assassination before King An was directly killed. Because of that, the Emperor is furious. Originally, our Secret Guardian Hall was ordered to catch Du Feng within ten days but we’ve failed that as well, so the Emperor took me down.”

Chu Li sneered. “If an Enlightened Master like him couldn’t catch Du Feng, how can you?”

“Give a dog a bad name, then hang him.” Fu Mengshan smiled bitterly. “However, I’m lucky enough that my life was spared. Going to the Imperial Mausoleum isn’t a sad thing. I’ve already accepted the situation.”

Chu Li frowned silently.

Fu Mengshan smiled. “Chu Li, you’ve just returned from there. How was Commander Xu?”

“He wasn’t good at first.” Chu Li shook his head. “But he’s much better now. If you go there, Commander, you’ll be more at ease.”

“Haha…” Fu Mengshan suddenly laughed. “It seems like the two of us will have to work together in the future.”

Chu Li said, “I’ll arrange for a Public House Protector to escort you over.”

“There’ll be Imperial House Protectors escorting me.” Fu Mengshan shook his head.

“Imperial House Protectors?” Chu Li frowned.

Fu Mengshan sighed. “I know what you’re worried about, but I don’t have a choice. The rest will depend on heaven’s will!”

Chu Li slowly nodded. The idea of him becoming an Enlightened Master was growing stronger.

He thought for a moment before he whispered, “Has the Commander told Gu Yu about our plan?”

Fu Mengshan laughed. “Do you think I would tell him?”

Chu Li sighed. “What a shame! My identity as a secret guardian has been removed, and everything is going to waste. The Emperor doesn’t know?”

“He doesn’t.” Fu Mengshan shook his head. “Only the three of us know about this, and now we’ll all be heading to the Imperial Mausoleum to enjoy our retirement. You don’t have to do anything more. It’ll be fine if nothing happens, but I’m just worried that you’ll end up implicating yourself instead.”

Zhao Dahe was now the branch leader of the Holy Church of Light and he had a bright future. The only thing he was afraid of was that he would provoke assassinations from the Ji Dynasty’s martial arts world. It would be a shame if he died in the hands of someone from the Ji Dynasty.

Besides, since both Xu Huande and Chu Li had lost their positions, they had sunk so low that no one would listen and believe what they say. If Gu Yu deliberately played dirty tricks, it would be too unjust.

Chu Li said, “I was just about to reveal it too but my martial arts is now crippled now. What a shame!”

Fu Mengshan nodded.

He had been paying close attention to the news from Li Dynasty. The Li Dynasty was in such a fierce battle with the Qiu Dynasty, it would most likely attract Zhao Dahe. However, with Chu Li crippled of his martial arts, he could not go as it would arouse the suspicion of others.

Once suspicions arose, even if it could be remedied, he would not have a chance to enter the top ranks again. With that, their plan would fail and it would not be worth wasting any more time.

Chu Li said, “My position as a secret guardian has been taken away, and I was rejected by the Emperor. I can only guard King An’s Imperial Residence, but I reckon that it will be hard as well.”

“You should restore your martial arts as soon as possible.” Fu Mengshan frowned. “We have to find a way to get the Reversing Pill, but unfortunately, only Green Deer Cliff has it. But we can’t get into contact with them as the people of Green Deer Cliff are isolated from the world and they rarely come down the mountain.”

Chu Li shook his head and said, “I can’t count on that. I can only try my best to recover.”

“Just get through this period of time,” said Fu Mengshan.

Chu Li smiled.

“Bang bang bang bang…” The sound of knocking suddenly rang from the outside. “Open up! Open the gate!”

Chu Li frowned and scoffed, “They’re quite fast!”

“What’s going on?” Fu Mengshan asked.

Chu Li said, “The Secret Guardian Hall is here to establish their majesty.”

“Gu Yu’s ambition isn’t small.” Fu Mengshan immediately understood what Gu Yu was doing and shook his head. “What petty methods!”

“Bang bang bang bang! Open the gate! Open up!” The heavy knocks sounded while someone shouted from the outside.

Chu Li could see that the four Protectors outside already had their acupuncture points sealed. He had carelessly let down their guard as they clearly did not expect these secret guardians to attack so suddenly. Seeing this, Chu Li grew even more helpless.

Ten secret guardians from the Secret Guardian Hall surrounded Mei Yi Courtyard, with Centurion Chen Donghai stood below the stairs to the Imperial Residence. Two secret guardians were knocking on the gate.

Chen Donghai stared at the Imperial Residence gate with a sneer.

“They’re here to arrest me.” Chu Li laughed. “Because I hit two secret guardians.”

“Sigh…” Fu Mengshan shook his head. “You should learn some restraint. Why would you lower yourself to their level?”

Chu Li smiled. “I couldn’t bear it any longer… Commander, you should leave now.”

“There’s no need.” Fu Mengshan said. “I can’t hide what I’m here for from them.”

“Very well.” Chu Li stopped pressing and raised his voice. “Elder Zhu!”

Chief Zhu hurried over. “Head Chief?”

“Call Zhu Tianhua and the others here. When these guys come in later, punish them severely!” Chu Li said lowly.

“Understood!” Chief Zhu responded before he left in a hurry.