Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery
Chapter 37: Like a Fishbone in the Throat

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Like a Fishbone in the Throat

’Recognize me?’

Chen Li couldn’t help but become more cautious, "Misunderstanding? Then tell me, where did this misunderstanding come from?"

"Chen, calm down, please calm down! All of us here are from the Spirit Tiger Gang, we just don’t live on this street and don’t come by often, so that’s why Chen might find us a bit unfamiliar. The reason we’re here is to carry out a task," said the Loose Cultivator, with a forced smile on his face.

"Oh, a task, what task?" Chen Li asked sternly, closely observing his expression.

"This..." The Loose Cultivator’s face showed hesitation, seemingly at a loss for words, but he quickly forced a smile and cupped his hands in apology:

"Technically, since Chen is not a member of our Spirit Tiger Gang, it’s not appropriate for me to disclose anything. However, this matter isn’t exactly a secret, and Chen isn’t an outsider. I trust that Qiao won’t blame us for this, so today I’ll take the liberty to tell you everything. We’re here to keep an eye on Lin Gui, Fellow Daoist Lin."

Chen Li suddenly realized upon hearing this, they were to prevent Lin Gui from fleeing.

It was himself being overly sensitive.

"Ah, it’s all a misunderstanding, my offense, my offense. I hope you Fellow Daoists won’t take it to heart," Chen Li quickly said with a smile, releasing his foot and pulling up the still dizzy Loose Cultivator, returning the Magic Artifact to him, and repeatedly apologizing to everyone.

"It’s fine, it’s fine, as long as it’s been explained, just a misunderstanding. It’s our fault for not notifying Chen in advance."

"Yes, yes indeed!"

Immediately, the atmosphere became friendly, smiles all around. Even the Loose Cultivator who had just taken a beating from Chen Li tried his best to show a smile, his cheek muscles twitching occasionally, as though nothing had happened before.

...

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Li turned to see Zhou Hong leaning against the doorway.

The two entered the house and closed the door behind them.

"What happened?" Zhou Hong asked with concern, her beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Li.

"There was a little misunderstanding, but fortunately, it’s been cleared up," Chen Li said with a smile. His face remained cheerful at first, but as he walked, his smile gradually faded, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed not quite right.

If they weren’t watching me, why were their eyes so panicky when I discovered them?

Was it fear of me?

Or... guilt?

But there was one thing he couldn’t figure out. If indeed Qiao Guanyuan had sent someone to watch him, why would they do that?

He had never been in conflict with Qiao Guanyuan, even if he had declined his invitations a few times at the beginning, he was going along with Qiao’s wishes. Since then, they had no further contact, completely minding their own businesses.

Maybe he was overthinking it?

Chen Li pondered silently, becoming more wary of Qiao Guanyuan in his heart.

Putting those thoughts aside, he smiled again, "Let’s not talk about that now. You’ve often ventured out into the wild before, can you tell me about some of the dangers you’ve encountered?"

...

At Qiao Guanyuan’s estate.

Laughter and jovial conversation filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

"This time we owe a lot to Fellow Daoist Liu. If it wasn’t for his masterful Illusion Array, the battle wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. It’s just a pity Zhao Ding the cur escaped with his life, preventing a total victory," Qiao laughed loudly.

"Not at all, not at all, it’s just a minor skill of mine. The main credit still goes to Qiao for his brilliant strategies and the brothers who fought valiantly without fear," an elderly man around sixty years old said with a laugh, stroking his long beard modestly:

"As for the severe setback the Giant Bear Gang has suffered this time, I think Zhao Ding’s luck has run out. His defeat and downfall are just a matter of time."

"Yes, once we’ve absorbed the Giant Bear Gang, who else in the Loose Cultivator gathering area can compete with our Spirit Tiger Gang? The time when Qiao dominates the market is not far away!" one of the gang members cheered.

"Qiao truly has great wisdom, fortune, and destiny," another gang member exclaimed!

Although he knew that these were all flattering remarks and that the market was a complex place, far beyond the reach of a mere Qi Refinement Realm Loose Cultivator group like the Spirit Tiger Gang.

But upon hearing these words, he still felt a surge of pride and utter satisfaction.

Just as he was about to modestly demur with a few words, a trusted aide hurried over and whispered something in his ear.

...

"Discovered?"

In a side hall, Qiao Guanyuan listened to the report from two of his gang members, speaking with a calm demeanor.

"Yes, Qiao, although we’ve been extremely cautious, we didn’t expect the other party to be so vigilant. Fortunately, I managed to fob them off using the excuse of watching Lin Gui," the leading gang member reported respectfully.

Qiao Guanyuan’s expression was noncommittal as he turned to the other person: "Fugui, what happened to your face?"

"Report... reporting back to Qiao, I was... I was hit by that person!" His speech was impeded, his mouth barely able to open, his face swollen like a towering bun and as red as the purplish hue of bruising.

Qiao Guanyuan felt displeased internally, anger flashing across his face momentarily - the blow was not just to Fugui’s face; it was a slap to his own.

It was a blatant lack of respect.

Who did he think he was?

"Since suspicions haven’t been aroused, continue the surveillance over the next few days, but be more careful this time," Qiao Guanyuan ordered, suppressing his nameless anger.

In recent times, as his power gradually stabilized and his territory continued to expand, his tolerance for uncontrollable factors within his domain had increasingly become like a fishbone stuck in his throat.

"Yes, Qiao."

...

Late at night, in the talisman-making room.

The flame of the oil lamp flickered like a soybean.

"Zzzt!"

Another talisman discarded.

Chen Li put down his brush, feeling somewhat irritable, unable to calm his mind. He had barely managed to draw one useless talisman before he couldn’t continue any longer.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, trying to quiet his mind.

The door opened, and the familiar sound of footsteps accompanied by the scent of perfume wafted in; it was Zhou Hong.

"If you can’t continue drawing, perhaps you should rest early," she suggested kindly.

Chen Li opened his eyes and took the cup of tea Zhou Hong brought him, placing it aside, and held her soft hand: "It’s alright, I’m just a bit troubled. This is going to be our bread and butter in the future; no matter how difficult, I must master it thoroughly."

What actually irked him was the possibility of being monitored, but naturally, he didn’t want Zhou Hong to worry about that.

"There’s really no need to rush; we have plenty of savings at home," Zhou Hong said with a smile.

Ever since they had been together, she had lost the sharp and quarrelsome demeanor of the past. Instead, she now often displayed the gentle and compliant nature of a demure woman.

"Living off our savings will bleed us dry... You still wear this?" Chen Li watched the hairpin in her bun swaying gently; she had worn it ever since he had given it to her shortly after his arrival in this time.

A hairpin worth two low-grade Spirit Stones, which now seemed rather shabby.

"Yes, the jade hairpin I used before looks so old-fashioned; the one you gave me is much prettier."

"Next time, I’ll buy you a better one!" Chen Li said softly.

"Mmm!" Zhou Hong responded with a thick nasal sound, her gaze towards Chen Li filled with fondness.

Their hands intertwined, their feelings conveyed without words.