Chapter 98

In the back garden of the Jinghai City Governor's Residence,

the full moon hung in the center of the sky, its clear light spreading everywhere, making the back garden peaceful and serene.

Gu Liting sat in the octagonal pavilion, holding a cup of wine, sipping it slowly, one sip at a time, to wash away the melancholy and despair in his heart.

He stayed here alone, cold and quiet, without friends or enemies, unable to leave the back garden all day.

Even if he went out, there was nothing worth seeing in Jinghai City, which was far inferior to Chongming City, like moving from the city to a poor village in the countryside, making it hard to muster any interest in going out.

Recently, the situation was tense, with people from the Renguogong Mansion running around everywhere. It was dangerous for him to go out, so he had been living in a half-dead state at the Governor's Residence.

Taking care of these flowers and plants was a waste of his talents. He could easily manage the exotic flowers and plants in the Renguogong Mansion, and these ordinary plants were nothing to him.

"Alas..." He sighed deeply.

His life was over. He had offended the eldest son and could never return to the Renguogong Mansion. Being able to stay at the Governor's Residence was already a favor from the third miss. He didn't want to die for nothing, of course, and he didn't want to be used as a pawn against the Renguogong Mansion.

No matter what, he could never return to the Renguogong Mansion!

Thinking about his days in the Renguogong Mansion, with fine clothes and delicious food, and the feeling of pride and confidence, he now had to live in fear and submission, finding life utterly meaningless.

"Mr. Gu, what a good mood!" A green shadow flashed, and Chu Li appeared in the pavilion, wearing a green robe with a long sword at his waist, sitting opposite him.

Gu Liting frowned and stared at him: "Why are you here?"

Chu Li smiled: "Is Mr. Gu well?"

"Do you have such a good heart?" Gu Liting sneered: "Are you here to see if I've run away?"

"Where could you run to?" Chu Li laughed: "Mr. Gu is a smart man, I've always been confident in you."

"No news, no visit!" Gu Liting snorted: "You're now a favorite of the third miss, very busy, how could you have the time to bother with me, a useless man!"

Chu Li smiled: "Feeling disheartened and seeing no hope in life?"

"What do you think?" Gu Liting snorted.

He was resigned to his fate, so he spoke without reservation, coldly: "Enough, stop the nonsense, what do you want?"

Chu Li didn't mind his attitude and smiled: "I have a small favor to ask."

"Speak!" Gu Liting snorted: "Can I refuse?"

Chu Li said: "Help me plant a few types of grass."

"Herbs, right?" Gu Liting frowned at him: "What do you want to do?"

Chu Li took out a plain note from his chest and handed it to him: "I'll talk to the governor."

Gu Liting unfolded the note, looked at it for a moment, and then raised his head: "So many?"

Chu Li said: "Most are common herbs, a few are herbs, can you do it?"

"Who says I can't!" Gu Liting proudly snorted: "No problem!"

"There's no spirit soil here!"

"These few herbs don't need spirit soil!" Gu Liting smirked, looking him up and down: "What are you planting these for?"

Chu Li smiled and shrugged.

Gu Liting snorted: "How much do you want?"

"The more, the better." Chu Li said: "But it must be kept secret, and as fast as possible!"

"What's in it for me?" Gu Liting snorted.

"Ten thousand taels." Chu Li took out ten silver bills from his chest and handed them over: "Enough?"

"That's more like it!" Gu Liting showed a hint of a smile.

No matter how detestable Chu Li was, he couldn't refuse money, and he knew that Chu Li had saved his life.

Even though he had been saved, he didn't feel grateful, and he still found Chu Li detestable, but he wouldn't cut off ties, as he still needed Chu Li's help, otherwise, he would be in a difficult position.

Chu Li looked around: "No women?"

"No interest!" Gu Liting carefully folded the note and put it away, snorting: "Everything here is boring."

"Don't worry, after a while, when the situation calms down, the third miss will try to plead for you, and the eldest son might change his mind."

"Impossible!" Gu Liting shook his head.

He knew the eldest son's character, who couldn't tolerate any flaws. He had already made a mistake, and the eldest son would never use him again.

Chu Li smiled: "You're a genius, the eldest son might value your talent."

"The mansion has plenty of geniuses, one more or less doesn't matter." Gu Liting snorted: "I don't want anything now, I just want to live a peaceful life."

Chu Li looked at him: "With your skills, staying at the Governor's Residence is no problem."

Gu Liting proudly snorted.

Chu Li said: "The Renguogong Mansion is powerful, be careful!"

Gu Liting snorted: "Don't worry, I won't leave the mansion!"

Chu Li smiled: "If you do well, I'll try to transfer you elsewhere, somewhere the Renguogong Mansion can't reach."

"You—?" Gu Liting glanced at him, disdainfully: "You want power, but it's too early!"

He knew the situation in the mansion well. No matter how capable Chu Li was, his age and experience were like two locks, preventing him from becoming a powerful figure.

He had only been in the mansion for two years, young and inexperienced.

How could two years of loyalty compare to ten or twenty years? It was too easy to betray, and young people were unpredictable. Once in power, a single impulse could cost many lives, so caution was necessary.

Chu Li said: "No rush, we're both young."

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of these." Gu Liting patted the spot where he had put the note: "I won't let you down."

Chu Li nodded with a smile, knowing that Gu Liting was a smart man who understood quickly.

---

Chen Jiudeng finished dinner and returned to his study.

Three ox candles were lit in the study, making it as bright as daylight, not hurting the eyes.

Though he was a martial arts expert, he loved reading, broadening his horizons and understanding human nature, which helped him climb the ranks. Although he was now the hall master of Shangyi Hall, he was not satisfied.

Sitting at his desk, he had a square face with a deep vertical line between his eyebrows, sharp eyes, and an occasional fierce gaze, giving him a commanding presence.

He suddenly turned sharply, and behind him stood Chu Li in a green robe.

"Who are you?" Chen Jiudeng slowly stood up, calmly looking at Chu Li.

Chu Li said: "Are you Hall Master Chen Jiudeng?"

"Indeed, I am Chen." Chen Jiudeng nodded: "What brings you here at this late hour?"

Chu Li said: "I am Chen Li from the Jingyun Gang."

Chen Jiudeng's expression didn't change, and he said calmly: "Jingyun Gang, our gang has no connection with Jingyun Gang."

"Chen Xuefeng." Chu Li looked at him.

He was a deep and formidable person, with innate cultivation, neither too high nor too low. Without external help, he would probably remain this way for life, but he was not content with it.

Chen Jiudeng smiled: "Chen Xuefeng?... Who is he?"

Chu Li smiled: "You're his brother-in-law, don't you know who he is?"

Chen Jiudeng shook his head and smiled: "You might have the wrong person. I don't know any Chen Xuefeng, and I'm not his brother-in-law."

Chu Li said: "If that's the case, then I'll have to kill him."

Chen Jiudeng stared at him, trying to read his thoughts, and finally sighed: "Alright, he is my brother-in-law. What do you want?"

"Would you like to make a deal?" Chu Li smiled: "Jingyun Gang will help you become the gang leader."

"What do you want?" Chen Jiudeng snorted.

"Thirty percent of the revenue." Chu Li said.

"Impossible!" Chen Jiudeng firmly rejected.

Chu Li smiled: "Don't rush, you can think about it. Once you become the gang leader, our two gangs can form an alliance, and we can dominate a city, or even more!"