Chapter 36

Bai Xiaosheng was exhausted, but after resting for only three days at the base, he felt much better. He bid farewell to everyone and hurried to the branch to report to Jiang Yi. Hong Wu's injuries were more severe, and it would take at least a month or two for him to recover, so he stayed behind to recuperate.

At the branch, Bai Xiaosheng returned and recounted the entire incident to Jiang Yi. After listening, Jiang Yi remained silent for a long time before saying, "You said that person severely injured Hong brother with just two moves and made you exhausted in ten moves."

Bai Xiaosheng nodded and said, "That's right. That person's martial arts are too high; we are no match for him."

Jiang Yi nodded, as he already knew this. He was just confirming it. When he first received the news, he was also very surprised. He knew the martial arts of Hong Wu and Bai Xiaosheng. Although they were not as good as his, he admitted that it would not be easy for him to defeat them. However, that person easily defeated both of them, and his skills were probably not inferior to the few elders in the gang.

Thinking about this, Jiang Yi said, "Brother Bai, since this person is causing trouble for our Beggar Gang, we need to be cautious. I need you to make a trip to inform the leaders and the elders to be prepared. Wait a moment, I'll write a letter for you..."

Bai Xiaosheng nodded, agreeing to Jiang Yi's request, and his mind quickly pondered whether this trip would be beneficial.

For some reason, a thought arose in his mind, and he asked Jiang Yi, who was writing the letter, "Leader, may I stay at the main headquarters?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Yi looked up, puzzled, "Why do you have this idea?"

Bai Xiaosheng smiled bitterly and explained, "Leader, you know. When I joined the Beggar Gang, I was just starting out in the world. In these three years, I have always been here and haven't even returned home. I feel very tired. I want to rest and visit my parents. It has been over three years since I last saw them, and I don't know if they are well."

Hearing this, Jiang Yi suppressed his doubts. He had investigated Bai Xiaosheng's background and knew that he had taken him as a confidant and supported him. This request was reasonable, and in ancient times, filial piety was the greatest virtue. Jiang Yi would not refuse. He nodded and said, "Alright, since you say so, take a good rest. I will mention it to the elders and arrange a new position for you."

"Thank you, Leader!" Bai Xiaosheng said with great joy.

He truly wanted to visit his parents, as it had been three years since he last saw them. However, leaving the branch to return to the main headquarters was not just for rest but to further his martial arts.

In the past, Bai Xiaosheng thought he was very powerful because few of the beggars here were his match, and even the Khitan warriors were no match for him. However, after this incident, he realized he was still weak. This realization made him think of returning to the main headquarters when Jiang Yi mentioned it.

At the main headquarters, there were many experts with diverse martial arts, which would greatly benefit Bai Xiaosheng's understanding of martial arts. The main headquarters was the heart of the gang, and the number of martial arts experts was far greater than here.

Combat experience indeed improved one's skills, but there was a limit. After three years here, he had almost reached that limit. Now was the perfect time to return.

With the letter from Jiang Yi, Bai Xiaosheng quickly packed and left the place where he had stayed for three years, heading back to the heart of the Central Plains. On the way, he did not walk quickly, sometimes even stopping to admire the beautiful scenery, lingering for half a day like a tourist.

After three days, Bai Xiaosheng finally left the border between Song and Liao and entered the first large city.

Years of battlefield experience had given him a stern and deadly aura. Even in his beggar's attire, the guards at the city gate did not dare to look at him directly.

These guards were very perceptive, especially in a world where martial arts experts were common. Without such perception, they would easily lose their lives. The experience of life and death had given them the ability to read people. They could tell that Bai Xiaosheng had killed many people, and they did not dare to provoke him.

"Zuixian Tower..."

Standing outside a tavern, Bai Xiaosheng smiled at the three large characters on the sign. The name was so common! He shook his head and slowly walked in. The waiter, seeing his beggar's attire and the foul smell, immediately came forward with a look of disgust, making a shooing motion, "Go, go, go. This is not a place for your kind..."

Bai Xiaosheng's face darkened, and he let out a cold snort. He used his internal energy, and though the sound was not loud, it directly hit the waiter's eardrums, making his ears hurt and his head spin. He fell to the ground.

The waiter shook his head and, after a while, regained his composure. He looked up and saw a large gold ingot in front of him, his face lighting up with joy. The disgust from before was completely gone. He quickly got up and said with a smile, "Sir, what would you like to eat? We have all kinds of delicious food. If you want to drink, our Zuixian brew is famous for miles..."

"Enough, no need for that nonsense," Bai Xiaosheng frowned, and with a flick of his hand, the gold ingot flew up. The waiter quickly caught it, his face even more joyful. Bai Xiaosheng said, "Prepare a room for me, I want to take a bath. Also, buy me a set of clean but tattered clothes."

"Sure, sure, sure... Sir, please wait, it will be ready soon!"

The waiter, holding the gold ingot, quickly prepared everything for Bai Xiaosheng. When he entered the room, he saw a steaming bathtub. The speed of service made Bai Xiaosheng very satisfied.

He then instructed, "Prepare a table of food for me, and two jars of the best wine. The remaining money will be your tip."

"Thank you, thank you, sir, I will prepare it right away," the waiter was overjoyed. The gold ingot weighed five taels, and the items Bai Xiaosheng requested would cost at least three taels, leaving two taels as a tip, which was equivalent to several years of his salary.

Today, he had encountered a generous customer, and he was elated!

Indeed, Bai Xiaosheng was a generous customer. Over the years, he had seen countless things and treasures in the battles between Song and Liao. Although the Beggar Gang required all major treasures to be handed over, everyone would take some for themselves. In three years, Bai Xiaosheng had handled a vast amount of wealth, and he now had over a hundred taels of gold.

Such a large amount of gold was enough to make him a wealthy landowner in the countryside.

In the bathtub, Bai Xiaosheng soaked for an hour before leisurely getting out. He put on the tattered clothes the waiter had bought, and smiled. The clothes had five patches, symbolizing his status as a five-bag disciple in the Beggar Gang. The waiter, to please Bai Xiaosheng, also provided a worn-out backpack, which was made of leather and looked different from the outside.

Wearing this outfit, Bai Xiaosheng nodded in satisfaction and slowly walked down. The waiter welcomed him with a smile, and he sat at an empty table. The waiter loudly announced the dishes, and soon five dishes and two jars of fragrant Zuixian brew were placed on the table. Looking at the food, Bai Xiaosheng's appetite was greatly stimulated.

In the branch for so many years, Bai Xiaosheng had not lacked for good food. He had eaten many exotic dishes, such as the centipede dish invented by Hong Qigong in "The Return of the Condor Heroes," and the beggar's chicken, snakes, tigers, leopards, and other rare delicacies. However, to be honest, the food there did not taste particularly delicious.

In modern terms, eating also depends on one's mood!

Now, Bai Xiaosheng was relaxed and happy, and the colorful dishes naturally made his appetite soar.

"Delicious, delicious!" He quickly stuffed food into his mouth, mumbling. At this moment, Bai Xiaosheng looked truly ridiculous, like a country bumpkin. Many of the other diners pointed and whispered, but he had developed a thick skin over the past three years and did not care.

As he was enjoying his meal, a commotion outside made everyone frown. Bai Xiaosheng put down his chopsticks and looked up. Outside, two large dogs were barking and chasing a man dressed as a scholar, who stumbled and fell to the ground. The dogs were about to pounce.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Bai Xiaosheng flicked his chopsticks, which flew out and hit the heads of the two dogs. The force made the dogs stagger and fall to the ground.

The scholar seemed to be scared stiff, and seeing the dogs fall, he forgot to run. The dogs, however, whined and quickly ran away with their tails between their legs.

"Who? Who dares to hit my dogs? Are you tired of living?"

A loud, arrogant voice echoed in the street. A young man with a pale face and unsteady steps, accompanied by two servants, came out. He had a haughty and arrogant look, and his eyes flashed with malice as he looked around for the person who had thrown the chopsticks.

Seeing his appearance, Bai Xiaosheng's face flashed with anger. He picked up his wine bowl, drank it in one gulp, and with a flick of his hand, the bowl flew out and hit the young man's head, making him stagger and his forehead quickly swell.

"Ouch!" The young man clutched his forehead, shouting in pain. He glared at Bai Xiaosheng and yelled at his two servants, "What are you waiting for? Go and teach him a lesson. I want to break his hands..."

The two servants, though used to being arrogant, had good judgment. Bai Xiaosheng's two moves were enough to make them wary. They were just ordinary servants, not bodyguards, and they would not be foolish enough to seek death. However, doing nothing was also not an option, as they would be beaten by their master when they returned.

Unfortunately, they had chosen the wrong person. If it were in the past, Bai Xiaosheng might not have been provoked by their words, but the years of combat had changed his personality, making him more ruthless.

As the servant opened his mouth to curse, Bai Xiaosheng flicked his hand, and a plate from the table flew out, hitting the servant in the face and knocking him to the ground. His left cheek quickly swelled, looking like a pig's head.

The other servant, seeing this, immediately covered his mouth and pulled his young master away, leaving his companion behind.

"Hmph!"

Bai Xiaosheng secretly snorted and turned back, his appetite for the meal gone.