Chapter 240
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
After about half a stick of incense’s time, the deathly silent plaza finally erupted into noise. The crowd, snapping back to their senses, hurriedly dispersed with excitement still lingering on their faces. Of course, now that the great hero had left, the plaza would soon be under the Zhao family’s control again—who would be foolish enough to stay and invite trouble? Hadn’t they just seen how even the young master of the Zhao family had been dealt with? There was no telling whether they’d vent their anger on someone else.
But the Zhao family had no time to concern themselves with such matters. A group of servants, led by the ever-loyal Fugui, immediately gathered around, expressing their concern and unwavering loyalty.
Sun Yiding carefully set the fat young master down and examined his injuries. His feelings were mixed—on one hand, he was relieved that the young master’s life was not in danger, proving that the hero had shown some mercy. But on the other hand, his thigh had been broken by a single kick; if things went poorly, he might have to rely on a cane for the rest of his life. Regardless, as a bodyguard, he had failed in his duty. There would surely be punishment waiting for him upon their return.
Sighing, Sun Yiding ordered Fugui to carry the fat young master on his back, then hurriedly led the way home.
Before they even arrived, Master Zhao had already received the news and had personally come out with a group of men to meet them. When he saw his son’s miserable state, his heart twisted in pain. He shot a vicious glare at Sun Yiding before commanding the servants to place the fat young master into a carriage. Then, he immediately ordered men to summon Hall Master Zhao of the Evil Tiger Gang and the most renowned physician in Lu Town.
It wasn’t long before both the hall master and the physician arrived. The doctor was led into the inner hall to examine the injuries, while Hall Master Zhao was invited to the main hall for tea.
Master Zhao, unable to contain his fury, immediately spoke: “Third Brother Zhao, you must seek justice for me! I, Zhao, have made a name for myself in Lu Town, and though my son may be useless, I have never so much as laid a hand on him since he was a child. But today—if you had seen how pitifully he was beaten, you too would have shed tears.”
Hall Master Zhao took a sip of tea before replying: “Old Zhao, we’re family—there’s no need for formalities between us. Over the years, you have maintained close ties with our Evil Tiger Gang. Even if this matter were beyond my authority, I would still report it to the gang leader and ensure you get justice. However…”
He suddenly furrowed his brows and hesitated.
Master Zhao caught on immediately and said: “Third Brother Zhao, is this about the gift for the gang leader? Rest assured, I’ve already acquired a pair of exquisite jade bracelets. I’ll have them delivered to you shortly—you certainly won’t have made this trip in vain.”
Hall Master Zhao waved his hand and said: “It’s not that, Old Zhao. We’ve known each other for so many years—how could I bring this up at such a crucial moment? The Gang Leader has ordered us to search for ancient artifacts, but that’s not something that can be accomplished in a short time, so there’s no rush. What I wanted to say is that whoever dares to openly oppose you in Lu Town is likely no ordinary figure. If it’s really the Piaomiao Sect that Zhao Quansheng encountered a few years ago, then I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do.”
Master Zhao chuckled and said: “I know, I know, Third Brother Zhao. We must also act within our limits when seeking revenge. If we can’t get what we want and only bring trouble upon ourselves, then what’s the point?”
Hall Master Zhao clasped his hands and said: “Since you’re so understanding, Old Zhao, I’ll thank you in advance. Let me first ask my men for the specifics of the situation.”
He then summoned Sun Yiding to the hall and had him recount the entire incident. After listening, Hall Master Zhao’s expression changed slightly, and he tapped his fingers on the table in deep thought.
After a long moment, he opened his eyes and said: “Old Zhao, I’ll handle this matter for you. Since it wasn’t a disciple from a prestigious sect and they even covered their face, they must be afraid of being recognized. I’ll immediately have our people investigate and find out who has the audacity to challenge you and our Evil Tiger Gang.”
With that, he gave Sun Yiding a few instructions and shot him a meaningful glance before dismissing him.
Master Zhao was delighted that Hall Master Zhao had agreed so readily. However, he still asked with some dissatisfaction: “Third Brother Zhao, this Sun fellow failed to protect my son—shouldn’t he also be punished?”
“Oh?” Hall Master Zhao snapped out of his thoughts and said: “Hmm, you’re right, Old Zhao. I was too focused on the problem earlier. When I return tonight, I’ll be sure to punish him properly. What kind of bodyguard is he if he can’t even protect his charge?”
Master Zhao was overjoyed and said: “That’s good to hear! Third Brother Zhao, come, I’ve already arranged a banquet—let’s drink to our heart’s content.”
Hall Master Zhao waved his hand and said: “No need for formalities, Old Zhao. Let’s check on my nephew’s injuries first.”
The two of them went to the inner hall, where the physician had just finished his examination. He reported: “Master Zhao, I’ve checked your son’s injuries. His life is not in danger, but he has lost several teeth, which will make eating meat difficult in the future—it would be better for him to drink more porridge. The swelling on his face will subside in a few days with some medicinal ointment. There is also bruising on his thigh, but I have an ointment for that as well. Apply it, and the swelling will go down in a few days.”
Master Zhao smiled and said: “Many thanks, doctor. However, my son’s leg seems to be broken. How should we treat it?”
The physician stroked his graying beard and solemnly replied: “Well, I specialize in sexual ailments, but treating fractures falls under internal medicine. You will need to consult another expert for that.”
With a loud thud, Master Zhao collapsed to the ground.
The attendants hurriedly helped him up, and he trembled with rage, stammering: “You… you… get out of my sight!”
The physician, unperturbed, cupped his hands and said: “No rush, no rush. The consultation fee is three qian of silver, and the ointment is another three qian—six qian in total.”
Master Zhao swayed, nearly falling again, but waved his hand for a servant to pay the fee.
The physician took the silver, walked to the door, then turned back and said: “Oh, right, Master Zhao, that sudden fall of yours—it’s an internal medicine issue. You should see a doctor for it soon.”
With that, he strode off without a care.
Master Zhao was livid and demanded: “Who found this doctor?!”
A trembling servant, Fugui, stepped forward and said: “Master, it was me.”
“You—why did you call him?!”
“Well, this doctor treated Young Master’s syphilis and gonorrhea before…”
With a furious kick to Fugui’s face, Master Zhao roared: “Then why haven’t you gone to find a real internal medicine expert yet?!”
Fugui scrambled away in a panic.
Hall Master Zhao, having watched the scene unfold, stepped forward and examined the injury himself. Then, in a matter-of-fact tone, he said: “Old Zhao, it seems your son is rather fortunate. That person didn’t intend to cripple him. I’ve taken a close look—though the injury is severe, they clearly held back. The bone isn’t shattered, just fractured. As long as you find a skilled physician and treat it properly, he’ll recover without lasting harm.”
“Really?” Master Zhao was overjoyed. Based on the servants’ accounts, he had feared his son would be left limping for life. Now, hearing this news, he was naturally relieved.
This was only natural. Had Hall Master Zhao said this from the start, Master Zhao would have still been grief-stricken. However, having first fallen into despair, only to then receive slightly better news, his emotions underwent a subtle shift.
Just then, the fat man on the bed let out a groan and slowly woke up.
Master Zhao, filled with concern for his son, hurried forward. The moment the fat man saw his family, the pain seemed to intensify. Gripping Master Zhao’s hand, he wailed: “Father, you must avenge me!”
Master Zhao patted his son’s hand repeatedly, saying: “I know, I know. I’ve already asked your Uncle Zhao, and he’s agreed to take action for you.”
Hearing this, Hall Master Zhao’s mouth twitched slightly, but he remained silent.
A while later, Fugui returned with another doctor. Master Zhao, still uneasy, asked: “Can this one treat a broken femur?”
Fugui beamed and said: “Rest assured, Master. I already asked—he can even treat a broken third leg.”
Hall Master Zhao saw that the doctor had arrived and prepared to take his leave. Master Zhao quickly said; “Third Brother, wait a moment. I’ll go fetch that jade ring for you.”
Just as Master Zhao was about to leave, a sudden wail erupted from the fat man: “Father!”
Master Zhao rushed back. “Son, what is it? Are you in pain?”
The fat man groaned and muttered: “Father, I… I did something wrong. I want to tell you now, but please don’t be angry.”
A bad feeling crept into Master Zhao’s heart. He asked: “Speak. If it’s not too serious, I’ll let it go.”
The fat man whispered: “Well, Father, the pair of jade bangles you kept in the study, I took them out today to show off, but…”
“But what?” Master Zhao urged, growing anxious.
“But, just now, when I was caught, they were snatched from my robes!”
“You—! You unfilial son!” Master Zhao raised his hand to strike him.
Seeing this, the fat man immediately let out another loud groan. Master Zhao’s hand froze in midair, unable to bring himself to strike his son.
Hall Master Zhao, watching from the side, chuckled and said: “Old Zhao, it’s fine. There’s still time. Even if you keep looking, there’s no guarantee that the jade bangles will catch the Gang Master’s eye.”
Master Zhao forced a bitter smile. “Third Brother, I suppose that’s all I can do. You’ve made this trip for nothing today. How about staying for a feast in the hall before you leave?”
Hall Master Zhao smiled bitterly and said: “No need, Old Zhao. I must hurry back and see to it that justice is done for you.”
With that, he cupped his hands in farewell and strode off briskly.
Master Zhao stood there, utterly bewildered. Something seemed off about Hall Master Zhao today—his mind seemed elsewhere.
Leaving aside Master Zhao’s concern for his son, Hall Master Zhao strode swiftly out of the Zhao residence. Sun Yiding, however, did not return to the gang headquarters but instead waited sensibly outside the gates. The moment he saw Hall Master Zhao emerge, he hurried forward to greet him.
Hall Master Zhao glanced at Sun Yiding and asked in a low voice: “Yiding, did you carry out what I asked you to do?”
Hearing the Hall Master address him as “Yiding,” Sun Yiding felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He quickly stepped closer and whispered: “No, Hall Master. You were already giving me looks—I wouldn’t dare go through with it. Besides, I saw that young man’s skills with my own eyes. How could I not know my place?”
Only then did Hall Master Zhao relax. He chuckled and said: “Yiding, I didn’t expect you to be so sharp. Just now, Old Zhao even wanted me to punish you. Hmm, very good. There’s no need for you to stay on as a bodyguard for the Zhao family anymore. When you return to the gang, I’ll make proper arrangements for you.”
Sun Yiding was overjoyed. “Thank you, Hall Master!”
Hall Master Zhao waved his hand. “No need to be so formal. From now on, you’re one of my men—just be careful in what you do. By the way, though you didn’t fight him, could you tell which sect he belongs to? Our Evil Tiger Gang may not be a major power, but we can’t just suffer losses in silence. We need to figure this out—if necessary, we might have to pay them a visit and demand an explanation.”
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord
