Martial King's Retired Life

Che Gulu was pacing around and sighing at Ironhead Palace early in the morning. Meanwhile, Bai Ju leisurely had a nip of wine, smacked his lips and then reprimanded, “Gulu, if you want to burn the building, it’d be far more efficient to use a fire torch than the friction from your shoes.”

“Uncle, enlighten me: how come Miss Jin hasn’t invited me over yet despite my accomplishments?”

“Your accomplishments? What accomplishments?”

Che Gulu sighed again. “Look at my unmatched good looks. How come Miss Jin isn’t interested?”

Bai Ju, who had a different definition of “good looks” to Che Gulu, replied, “Maybe she doesn’t like good looking men.”

“I’m screwed, then. What else do I have besides good looks?” Che Gulu squatted down and grabbed his head.

Bai Ju had another drink of alcohol. “Win the martial arts contest for a start.”

“That is exactly what I am worried about right now.” Che Gulu sighed yet again.

Concerned that Che Gulu would grow up into a menace to animals (even his own people complained he had too much strength), he was sent to the Central Plain to spend more time with books, so hearing him complain about fighting was a first.

“Are you implying you don’t feel confident you can win?”

“Should I not? I have seen Ling Shaoxuan; he cannot beat me. The Bai girl has skill, but she lacks experience in real combat. The main problem is…”

Bai Ju smiled. “You’re afraid of Cold Mountain Temple’s monk?”

“No way… but he is not easy to beat.”

If he was honest, Che Gulu was worried about Xun Feng. In a contest of martial prowess, Che Gulu had no apprehensions; even losing to Xun Feng wouldn’t be something to be embarrassed about, not to mention you couldn’t win all your fights. What he feared was Xun Feng drugging him or utilising some other dirty trick.

“Gulu, you don’t need to think that hard. You just want me to help, right?”

Che Gulu smiled as he scratched his head. “I would never dare demand that of you. Are you volunteering to help?”

“It seems you’ve learnt to put on facades and go in circles like people in the Central Plain…”

“Fantastic!”

In the event that Bai Ju lost, it’d still have saved Che Gulu one match, and he’d have more energy than his opponent. Moreover, he couldn’t have been interested in a wife, so he had no concerns there.

“But I won’t fight Xun Feng.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I don’t know what stupid ideas you’re having, but it’s because his shifu and I are of the same generation. I can’t pick on someone a generation younger than me. I could ignore that if I wasn’t aware, but I am. I fought him yesterday, but there was no winner, and there’s no reason to rematch.”

That was the first time Che Gulu heard someone survived three whips from Bai Ju. Growing up, he referred to Bai Ju in secret as “Three-whips Uncle” because of that.

“I thought you were going to help me, Uncle.”

“They’re not your only contenders.” Bai Ju grinned. “Isn’t there still Liu Shan Men’s duo? Did you forget about them?”

Che Gulu scratched his cheek. “I saw that Tang Ye guy yesterday spewing blood. Can he even fight still?”

“Spewing blood? I bet it was actually his internal discipline going wrong.”

“Is there a difference? Can he still fight today after suffering qi deviation?”

“Hmph, it he actually suffered qi deviation, he’d have suffered it long ago. You think he could’ve resisted it until the chariotry event? More than likely, he’ll probably level up before the contest starts.”

Che Gulu: He can level up before the contest? We should buy a lottery ticket together; we’d walk away with first prize.

Noticing Che Gulu brush off the proposition, Bai Ju smirked. “Go check if you don’t believe me.”

“I sure will!”

Che Gulu charged the door open and stormed off without even shutting it. Bai Ju watched Che Gulu shrink into the distance, then poured himself another drink, had a drink and remarked, “Finally, some peace and quiet.”

***

The team at Liu Shan Men finally finished up soon after dawn. Despite feeling awfully sleepy, nobody at Liu Shan Men had the luxury of time to get make-up sleep. They were lucky if they could squeeze in an extra two hours somewhere.

Tang Ye regained some degree of conscious when the first rays of sunlight came out to play. Although he spent all night in agony as his true qi went wild him, he now felt invigorated. The chill coming from his stomach balanced out the heat rampaging around him, giving him a chance to finally rest.

Even though Tang Ye was still in a bleary state when he heard someone enter, he surprised himself when he could identify who it was based off the sounds of their footsteps as it was a first for him. “Xiao Han?”

“Sorry. Did I wake you?”

Su Xiao woke up far earlier than anyone expected. Owing to the fact that Yijin Jing had high resistance to Xun Feng’s discipline, Su Xiao’s healing rate was expedited – though he still wasn’t healthy enough to fight.

Su Xiao went to check on Tang Ye after he was filled in.

Che Gulu was standing outside Tang Ye’s room, albeit whilst avoiding a visible spot. Since Liu Shan Men virtually didn’t have security, he decided to sneak in. He inwardly celebrated, calling himself lucky, when he saw Su Xiao check the surroundings before whispering something. In order to hear the secret, he moved closer and crouched under the window.

“Tang Ye, you’re Lord San Shen, aren’t you?”