Chapter 109: Pei Shaoqing’s Strength is Unknown, Growing Stronger in the Telling

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Pei Shaoqing’s Strength is Unknown, Growing Stronger in the Telling

From that day on, a new beggar appeared in Tongzhou City—blind, deaf, mute, and with crippled legs, forced to crawl through the streets, begging with only his hands.

With no roof over his head, no clothes to ward off the cold, and no food to fill his stomach, Chen Qizhi could only drag his ruined body with his two hands. He moved so slowly that he couldn’t even commit suicide if he wanted to.

Of course, while he thought of suicide, he lacked the courage. He could only force himself to keep living.

"Death is the final punishment, but this... Brother Pei, wasn’t what you did a bit too cruel?" County Magistrate Wang said, expressing his disapproval after learning of Chen Qizhi’s fate.

Pei Shaoqing replied, "I merely did to him what he did to others. Besides, Old Wang, do you know what his most serious crime was, aside from abducting and crippling children?"

"What?" County Magistrate Wang raised an eyebrow. ’Did this man do something else to incur the wrath of both heaven and earth?’

Pei Shaoqing enunciated each word. "He. Made. Me. Work. Overtime! Because his people were causing trouble, I got off work a full two hours late the day before yesterday! Whoever ruins my day, I’ll ruin their entire life!"

’Hasn’t he been late to work and early to leave every single day since taking office?’

To make him work overtime... on this count alone, Chen Qizhi’s crime was truly monstrous!

"..." County Magistrate Wang was speechless. He sighed and said, "A gentleman can be killed, but not humiliated. After today, Brother Pei, you’ve now offended the Beggar Gang, the ’number one gang under heaven’."

Those four words—’number one under heaven’—sounded quite intimidating.

Pei Shaoqing scoffed, "They’re just a bunch of despicable, lowly beggars. How can they be considered ’gentlemen’? They’re not even a match for your Profound Sect. Behind me are the countless legions of the Great Zhou Court. What can they possibly do? From now on, wherever I am, there will be no ground for the Beggar Gang to survive!"

’It’s great to have powerful backing. It feels so damn good.’

"Brother Pei, your heart is in the right place, but your methods are a bit too extreme," County Magistrate Wang urged with weary patience.

Pei Shaoqing retorted with righteous indignation, "If I can’t even do a good deed the way I want to, why not just do bad deeds instead? At least then I could do as I please."

County Magistrate Wang was rendered speechless. ’Forget it,’ he thought. ’It’s not easy to get Pei Shaoqing to do anything good. I guess the methods don’t matter, as long as the outcome is positive.’

"Farewell," he said, clasping his fists.

But Pei Shaoqing stopped him. "Hold on."

County Magistrate Wang paused and turned back in confusion.

"Old Wang, for my ennoblement and this recent promotion... you didn’t send a gift for either, did you?" Pei Shaoqing asked nonchalantly.

’Too many people had sent gifts; he couldn’t remember them all.’

’But he was certain that County Magistrate Wang hadn’t sent anything!’

County Magistrate Wang was stunned for a moment. He stared silently at Pei Shaoqing, then laughed in exasperation. "Your ennoblement and your promotion—when have I not put in effort for you? You don’t count that as a gift?"

’The nerve of him! Trying to solicit a bribe from me!’

"How is that the same thing?" Pei Shaoqing started with a classic line, then said with a serious expression, "Don’t you understand the give-and-take of social etiquette? An official like you... no wonder you were exiled from the capital. Make sure you make it up to me later, alright?"

"A Jill to you!" For a cultured man, Old Wang rarely uttered such profanity. With a snort, he flicked his sleeves and stormed away.

Ye Hanshuang, who was usually as quiet and unnoticeable as a block of wood, suddenly spoke up. "Big Brother, there’s actually a question I’ve been puzzling over for a long time. Was... that place of yours really stitched up? I saw a distinct scar there before."

She had gone back and studied her own body for a long time but hadn’t found a similar scar.

"Alas, I can’t believe that scar is still there after so many years," Pei Shaoqing said, his eyes filled with reminiscence and emotion as he let out a heavy sigh.

Her curiosity immediately piqued, Ye Hanshuang pressed him, "Big Brother, what exactly happened?"

"This was before I met you," Pei Shaoqing said with a profoundly somber expression. "That day, I went out begging as usual when I came across three adult beggars bullying a little girl. I stepped in to stop them, and we fought a bloody battle. In the process, I was slashed... down there. A kind soul later sent me to a doctor to be stitched up, and I barely kept my life."

"I didn’t realize you were so brave even before you were ten, Big Brother!" Ye Hanshuang’s face was filled with adoration.

’Did we meet when I was ten?’

Pei Shaoqing filed that piece of information away. He waved his hand with a wistful sigh and said, "A true hero doesn’t dwell on past glories. Sister Shuang, do you know why I like people to... ’blow’ on it? It’s because of the lingering injury I was left with. Even after all these years, it still aches and swells from time to time. That’s the only thing that brings relief."

"Oh, so that’s why." A look of sudden understanding crossed the naive Ye Hanshuang’s face. Her gaze toward Pei Shaoqing filled with heartache, but she quickly noticed a problem. "But Big Brother, in that book you gave me... all the men seem to like that. Do they all have lingering injuries too?"

"Most men simply enjoy the pleasure it brings and use it to satisfy their desires," Pei Shaoqing explained with a completely straight face. "But I’m different. I use the pleasure to suppress the pain of my old wound."

"Big Brother! From now on, please let me be the one to heal you!" Ye Hanshuang declared in a firm, low voice, clenching her delicate fists.

’She couldn’t bear to imagine how he had endured the agony of his recurring wound all by himself over the years, with no one to help. What incredible willpower he must have!’

’And that scar was so long!’

Pei Shaoqing smiled and beckoned to her.

Ye Hanshuang obediently walked over and sat in his lap.

His lap could barely contain her full, grindstone-like bottom. Wrapping his arms around her waist, which was more toned than that of an ordinary woman, Pei Shaoqing said, "Big Brother never regrets stepping forward that day, because the girl I saved might have been just as cute and considerate as you, Sister Shuang."

"Big Brother..." Ye Hanshuang grew embarrassed at such a direct compliment. She lowered her head shyly, unable to meet his gaze as a crimson blush spread across her cheeks.

Pei Shaoqing said, "Sister Shuang, look up."

Ye Hanshuang obediently raised her head.

Then Pei Shaoqing said, "Kiss me."

He was much shorter than her. If he were to initiate, he’d have to crane his neck, which would be tiring. So he had her take the lead.

Ye Hanshuang closed her eyes and slowly leaned down.

Their lips and tongues met, a lesson passed from mouth to mouth.

They only separated after a long moment, a glistening thread connecting them.

Her eyes misty, Ye Hanshuang said, "Big Brother, I feel... strange."

"Then let Big Brother give you some guidance," Pei Shaoqing said softly, stroking her head affectionately.

Ye Hanshuang looked at him in confusion. "Guidance?"

Soon, she went limp in Pei Shaoqing’s arms, her body trembling faintly.

Though it was hardly the real thing, for a little... ahem, a *big* virgin like Ye Hanshuang, the touch of a seasoned casanova like Pei Shaoqing was enough to give her a completely new experience.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Pei Shaoqing quickly gave her a push. "Sister Shuang, get up, quickly."

Ye Hanshuang got up and stood behind him. She appeared normal on the surface, only her cheeks were an exceptionally radiant, rosy white.

Chen Zhuo walked in, smiling. "The Baron of Pingyang, scattering hundreds of men with a single shout. Truly majestic!"

"Eunuch Chen, you jest. They were merely a disorderly mob. I was only able to do it by relying on His Majesty’s prestige. They weren’t afraid of me; they feared Great Zhou and His Majesty," Pei Shaoqing said, shaking his head humbly. He then stood and asked, "Eunuch Chen, what brings you to the Hundred Households so suddenly today?"

"This one has come to bid farewell to the Baron of Pingyang. I am preparing to return to the capital," Chen Zhuo said with a beaming smile, clasping his fists.

Pei Shaoqing quickly replied, "Why leave after only one day? Was my hospitality lacking in some way?"

"Not at all, not at all! The people arranged by the Baron of Pingyang were most attentive. This one had a very enjoyable and exciting time. I’m just in a hurry to return to the capital and report on my mission. After all, I rode out on a Dragonblood Horse. It wouldn’t look good to be late on my return."

’In the past, when riding an ordinary horse from the capital, if I was late returning, I could always claim there were delays on the road. But riding a prized Dragonblood Horse... I wouldn’t dare try to deceive His Majesty like that!’

"I see. In that case, Eunuch, please wait. Since you came all this way, I’ll have my men prepare some of Tongzhou’s local specialties for you to take back," Pei Shaoqing said with a grin.

’Although he had an acquaintance in the palace, Xiaoliuzi, that guy was just part of the Imperial Stables, not the Ritual Department, which was the true core of power within the palace.’

Eunuch Chen’s face was about to crack from smiling. "Every time I visit the Baron of Pingyang, I leave with armfuls of gifts. It makes this one feel quite embarrassed."

’He secretly hoped Pei Shaoqing would earn more merits. That way, whenever an imperial edict needed to be delivered, there was a high chance they would send him, the ’familiar face’. Every time, he could return fully loaded. Making silver in the palace was quick, but the expenses were also high. The silver one saved might just be what you needed to buy your life one day.’

"Hahahaha, Eunuch Chen, you’re being too modest. These are just some worthless trinkets. Your willingness to accept them is what gives me face."

Chen Zhuo’s status was lower than Xiaoliuzi’s, so Pei Shaoqing didn’t see him off personally, instead arranging for Song Youcai to escort him out.

***

The story of how Pei Shaoqing had turned back hundreds of people on Star-picking Mountain with a single shout spread quickly, growing more and more exaggerated with each telling.

In the rumored version, his Martial Arts were so profound that with a single, casual move, the various heroes of the Martial Arts world gathered on the mountain that day were scared witless, immediately kowtowing before scrambling to flee.

According to reports from Jing’an Guard spies, the rumor originated from the Star-Picking Sect, which was continuing to spread it far and wide.

Pei Shaoqing immediately guessed the intention of the Star-Picking Sect’s elder. By making him sound incredibly powerful, their own act of backing down would seem less cowardly.

’It’s not that we’re cowards; it’s that our opponent was too powerful!’

The others who had been on the mountain that day surely understood this logic as well. When asked, not only would they not deny the rumor, they would likely exaggerate it further.

Thus, the rumors of Pei Shaoqing’s strength were destined to grow, leading those unaware of the truth to believe he really was a Martial Arts master who had intentionally kept a low profile in the past.

After just three short days, rumors were already circulating that Pei Shaoqing had reached the Wandering Dragon Realm.

Pei Shaoqing was exasperated by this. He would have much preferred for people to underestimate his strength, the better to mislead his enemies.

But now, he could imagine that future opponents would vastly overestimate his strength and would surely use their full power against him from the start.

He really wanted to thank the Star-Picking Sect elder and all eighteen generations of his ancestors!

’Why is that old coot always pulling these kinds of stunts?’

"Husband, I want to try refining a Qi Gathering Pill, but I’m missing a key ingredient, Split Sun Grass," Xie Qingwu said one cool evening, emerging from the Alchemy Room.

Upon hearing this, Pei Shaoqing readily agreed. "Leave it to me. Tomorrow’s a rest day, so I’ll head out and get some from that good brother of mine."

The Qi Gathering Pill was a common elixir in the Jianghu, circulating widely. Its main effect was to quickly restore a certain amount of Inner Strength. The higher the pill’s quality, the stronger its effect—and, of course, the higher its price.

"Thank you, Husband." Xie Qingwu smiled, pressing her lips together.

Pei Shaoqing smiled back. "When you refine them, won’t I be the one to benefit? And if there are any extra, I can reward them to my subordinates for their achievements. A good way to win their loyalty."

"In that case, remember to thank that very generous friend of yours for me," Xie Qingwu said, batting her eyelashes.

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand dismissively. "Brother Ouyang is the most generous of men, and we’re the best of friends. If I were to actually thank him, he’d probably get angry at me for being so formal."

At that very moment, deep in a remote mountain forest, Ouyang Rong, who was sitting on a rooftop watching the moon, sneezed violently.

"ACHOO! ACHOO! ACHOO!"

"The nights have been getting colder lately. I keep feeling a chill run down my spine."

He wiped his nose and muttered to himself.