The General’s Manor gatehouse.

A burly man was peeling off a straw raincoat that dripped water continuously, revealing a coarse earth-yellow sleeveless tunic underneath and a small hemp rope tied around his waist. The raincoat was badly torn, nearly useless. His clothes and pants beneath were soaked through, and the straw sandals on his feet were so worn they could barely be called shoes anymore.

“Eighth Young Master will be right out. Please wait a moment.” Old Li Si, having called for Ye Kong, hurried over with his response.

In the past, if someone had come looking for Chen Jiuniang and her son in the middle of the night, Li Si would never have reported it. Even if this person died from the rain, he wouldn’t have let them inside the gatehouse.

But things were different now. He knew full well how formidable Ye Kong was. He didn’t want to provoke him. On Cangnan Continent, the strong were revered – this thinking was deeply ingrained. After getting beaten by Ye Kong, Li Si had actually started to admire and curry favor with him instead.

“Oh, no problem, brother. Thanks.” The visitor, self-conscious about being drenched, didn’t feel comfortable sitting down and just stood there waiting.

Before long, Ye Kong pushed through the door holding his black oiled-paper umbrella. He looked at the visitor and froze for a moment. “Lu Jun? What are you doing here?”

All along the way, Ye Kong had been puzzling over who would brave heavy rain to visit in the dead of night. He’d thought it over and over without coming up with anyone, but upon seeing who it was, he discovered it was actually Lu Jun, the older Lu brother he’d helped financially that afternoon.

“Eighth Young Master, I…” Lu Jun’s expression was urgent, but he glanced at Li Si.

“Quick, sit. Brother Li, help us out and pour some hot tea.” Seeing that Lu Jun had something to say, Ye Kong quickly sent Li Si away.

Li Si tactfully went to pour tea. Ye Kong pulled Lu Jun down to sit, muttering to himself: Could this kid need money again? Coming to borrow money from me in the middle of the night? Screw his immortal ancestors, guess you really can’t be a good person anymore.

But Ye Kong had guessed wrong. Lu Jun wasn’t here Read on Jormuntl to borrow money – he was here to return it.

As soon as he sat down, Lu Jun took out the nine scattered taels of silver Ye Kong had given him earlier, placed them on the table, and pushed them toward Ye Kong.

Ye Kong froze again. “This is…?”

Lu Jun said, “Divine Physician Kan examined her. This humble one’s mother’s eyes have already been sealed by the cataracts. No medicine will work anymore, so he didn’t accept the silver. Since it can’t be used, this humble one cannot keep Eighth Young Master’s silver.”

Ye Kong nodded, thinking Lu Jun really was a man with backbone. But then another thought occurred to him – could it be that he didn’t want to let Ye Kong see his family treasure anymore?

Ye Kong quickly pushed the silver back. “Brother Lu, don’t be so polite. This silver is me paying to see the Lu family treasure. It’s not a gift. You should still take it.”

Lu Jun’s expression turned serious. He used the back of his hand to block the silver. “Eighth Young Master, this humble one knows you have a kind heart. This silver was to help me get through a difficult time. I don’t need it anymore now, so I absolutely cannot accept it. As for my family’s jade, if Eighth Young Master doesn’t mind, you can view it anytime!”

Actually, Ye Kong’s initial purpose really hadn’t been charitable. Hearing Lu Jun say this, he felt his face flush with embarrassment. He quickly pushed the silver back again. “How can that work? I won’t look if it’s free.”

Just as Lu Jun was about to push it back, Ye Kong pretended to get angry. “Brother Lu, do you look down on me, Ye Kong? Am I the kind of person who looks without paying? If you insist on not taking it, then you don’t want to show me!”

Truth be told, he actually was the kind of person who looked without paying. He’d watch girls bathing without paying, so what about a piece of jade? He was only being modest because he felt Lu Jun was a real man, loyal and worth befriending.

Hearing Ye Kong put it this way, Lu Jun couldn’t refuse anymore. After expressing his thanks, he carefully tucked the silver away on his person.

Only then did Ye Kong smile. “Brother Lu, now can you tell me your real reason for coming?”

Obviously, returning the silver wasn’t Lu Jun’s main purpose. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have come this afternoon? With such heavy rain, he could have come tomorrow noodlesmorning. To brave the rain so late at night, there must be something major.

“Eighth Young Master truly has keen insight. You knew there was something before I even said anything. This humble one is impressed.” Lu Jun flattered him.

Ye Kong smiled disdainfully and continued, “I also know that you came to find me because it must be related to the people who followed me this afternoon. Did your gang find you and ask about my identity?”

This time Lu Jun was genuinely shocked.

His earlier words had just been flattery, but who knew the other party would guess things almost exactly right? “Eighth Young Master truly has divine foresight and extraordinary wisdom. This humble one is impressed!” Lu Jun clasped his hands together formally and said.

Ye Kong didn’t act modest. He nodded and continued analyzing out loud, “Brother Lu visiting late at night must be to inform me of something major. But logically, Brother Lu would certainly tell them my identity, and they wouldn’t dare do anything to me, right? So what urgent matter could there be?”

Lu Jun was already completely in awe. “Everything Eighth Young Master says is exactly right. This afternoon, our gang’s Enforcement Hall came to inquire about Eighth Young Master’s identity. I didn’t hide anything and told them straight. When the Enforcement Hall people heard you were the General Manor’s Eighth Young Master, they naturally didn’t dare say much and left hastily. But who knew…”

Ye Kong’s eyes sharpened as he waited for him to continue.

Lu Jun looked around before saying quietly, “Who knew that at dusk, the Enforcement Hall Master personally brought over ten experts to my house and set up an ambush. They were waiting for when Eighth Young Master came to view the jade to suddenly attack. Fortunately it started raining today, otherwise Eighth Young Master would have walked right into the trap.”

Hearing this, Ye Kong’s heart jumped. Obviously these people knew his identity and had initially decided to let it go, but then something suddenly changed. What reason made them dare to change their minds and assassinate him, the Ye family’s Eighth Young Master?

“What did they say to you?” Ye Kong asked again.

“They… said some very unpleasant things…”

“Speak freely.”

“They said you’re an idiot, haven’t practiced martial arts, are worthless in the Ye family, and even if you died, absolutely no one would care…”

Ye Kong immediately understood. They had an informant. Initially they’d been ready to drop it, but after hearing what their informant said, their desire for revenge was rekindled.

But no matter what, he was still a Ye family member, right? The authorities would definitely get involved. These guys really had some nerve!

Lu Jun continued, “At first it was just light rain. Hall Master Li and the others were still hoping the rain would stop, but later it got heavier and heavier. Only then did they leave, saying they’d come again tomorrow. I waited until I was certain no one was watching, then rushed here to inform Eighth Young Master.”

Ye Kong nodded, looking at this man who’d been soaked through by the rain. For the first time on this cruel continent, he felt that good deeds brought good returns. It seemed that anywhere there were people, there would be seeds of kindness and justice.

Suddenly, Ye Kong thought of how someone had followed him earlier and Lu Jun hadn’t warned him, yet this time he could risk his life to warn him. Obviously it wasn’t just out of kindness.

Ye Kong smiled and looked up at Lu Jun’s eyes. “Brother Lu came through the rain to inform me because you figured they definitely wouldn’t be a match for me, right?”

Lu Jun quickly knelt down, though his expression wasn’t panicked. He clasped his hands together. “Eighth Young Master, this humble one is very grateful that you helped us and generously gave us silver. However, it’s just gratitude. If Eighth Young Master truly didn’t even have the ability to protect himself, I wouldn’t have risked my life to warn you!”

Ye Kong stared at Lu Jun. “When others help you righteously, yet you know the truth but don’t tell them, watching your benefactor walk toward death – where is your conscience!”

A flash of guilt crossed Lu Jun’s eyes, but he immediately raised his head again. “I also have a conscience! I know right from wrong! And I feel guilty! But I also have an elderly mother and young sister. If my benefactor met with disaster, I could only blame him for not understanding – not everyone can afford to do good deeds!”

On this cruel continent, kindness, justice, great mercy, helping others for joy – all these things required capital! If you were rich enough and strong enough, then fine, do good. But if you lacked strength yet still tried to help others, you’d invite endless trouble. This was the basic principle of Cangnan Continent.

However, Ye Kong didn’t blame Lu Jun. The man had done well. On the contrary, he had a new view of Lu Jun. This kid understood reason, had his priorities straight, wasn’t bad in character, and was careful beneath his Read on Jormuntlrough exterior. Most importantly, his insight was sharp and far-reaching. He was talent.

“So how did you figure out that I’d definitely be the victorious side?” Ye Kong asked with interest.

Lu Jun said, “According to what they said, Eighth Young Master is an idiot, but from what I see, Eighth Young Master’s thinking is meticulous and thorough. Also, they said you haven’t practiced martial arts, but then how could you strike down and kill six opponents? They also said that in the Ye family you’re even lower than the servants, but I personally saw the servants’ respect toward you. Clearly, their information sources were mistaken, so they’re bound to fail!”

“Good!” Ye Kong couldn’t help but praise. He helped Lu Jun up and smiled. “Follow me from now on. Want to become a gang leader yourself?”

“Become… a gang leader?” Lu Jun thought he’d heard wrong.

Actually, Ye Kong had thought about returning to his old trade – organizing a group in this other world, gathering intelligence. Plus he’d have income and a backup plan. Even if he wasn’t around, his mother would have support.

But constrained by being busy with cultivation, it had only stayed in his mind. Now seeing that Lu Jun was promising material, he naturally couldn’t help bringing it up.

Lu Jun listened to Ye Kong finish, thought it over, then shook his head. “Although the gang members are restless, no one would dare truly rebel against Gang Leader Fan Jiulong.”

Ye Kong scoffed. “Fan Jiulong? I’ll make him a dead dragon!”

“The really formidable one is his younger brother. His martial arts are even higher.”

“Higher martial arts?” Ye Kong snorted. Now that he had talismans backing him up, he didn’t care about any level of martial arts.

“If we can really take down the Fan brothers, this thing could work!” Lu Jun thought for a moment before speaking.

“Good. Then starting tomorrow, you keep track of Fan Jiulong’s movements for me.”

“Yes.” Lu Jun responded loudly, then asked, “Eighth Young Master, are you still coming tomorrow night?”

“Go? Why wouldn’t I go?” Ye Kong smiled coldly. “They’ve been preparing for two days. Can’t let them wait for nothing, right? The Enforcement Hall, is it? Tell me – how many people do they have, how high is their martial arts, and where exactly are they lying in ambush?”

Another half-shichen later, Ye Kong sent Lu Jun out and stuffed his own umbrella into his hands.

Watching Lu Jun’s burly figure disappear into the boundless curtain of rain, Ye Kong turned back and looked coldly at Li Si. His voice was grave. “If you leak anything about this person coming to find me… I’ll immediately kill your entire family!”

“Yes, yes, yes, I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!” Li Si, who had once strutted arrogantly in front of Chen Jiuniang and her son, could now only tremble.