Chapter Forty-Six: Trouble That Won't Go Away

After the entire group from the "Ghost Fang" mercenary company had left, Lu Zhe glanced around and noticed that everyone’s gaze toward Old Ye seemed to have changed—there was a hint of respect mixed with their confusion.

“Eat,” Old Ye’s voice sounded in Lu Zhe’s ear.

He waved his hand, and the same waiter from before hurried over. Old Ye asked, “Who are these ‘Ghost Fang’ mercenaries?”

The waiter glanced at Old Ye with a strange look in his eyes, likely shaken by the events earlier. He whispered, “Sir, do you genuinely not know, or are you pretending?”

Old Ye replied irritably, “What’s with the real or fake? I don’t know.”

The waiter quickly apologized, “Please don’t be angry, sir. I’ll tell you.”

He looked around cautiously, then lowered his voice, “You see, our town has always been the gateway to the mountains. Every day, mercenaries come to gather herbs or hunt. Over time, some mercenary groups settled here, and after a while…”

He paused, scanning the room nervously as if afraid of something. Then he continued, “After a while, three major mercenary companies established themselves here, forming a three-way standoff. One of them is the ‘Ghost Fang’ company—you’ve already seen them.”

Old Ye nodded, “And the other two?”

The waiter hesitated, reluctant to speak, as if something held him back.

Old Ye looked at him, then slapped the table, raising his hand to reveal a shiny silver coin.

The waiter’s eyes widened at the sight. Old Ye placed the coin in his hand. The waiter thanked him profusely, pocketed the coin, looked around again, and whispered, “The other two are the ‘Blood Wolf’ mercenary company and the ‘Viper’ mercenary company.”

“What about the ‘Falcon’ mercenary company?” Lu Zhe asked, puzzled after hearing the explanation.

The waiter was startled, seemingly not expecting the question. After a moment, he replied quietly, “Sir, you may not know. The ‘Falcon’ mercenary company used to be one of the three major companies, but in recent months, rumors say they were sabotaged by unknown enemies. Their leader, Hong Qingcang, disappeared, and his son Hong Lei and daughter Hong Xiu’er are also missing. The ‘Ghost Fang’ company took advantage to seize their position, becoming one of the new three major companies.”

He paused, then added, “Such things are common in Green Forest Town. No one is surprised anymore.”

Old Ye waved his hand to dismiss the waiter, glanced at Lu Zhe, and said, “You heard it. This is the continent, this is the world. If you want to survive, strength is everything.”

Lu Zhe nodded, saying nothing, and lowered his head to eat.

After their meal, Old Ye called the waiter and requested two rooms. He and Lu Zhe retired upstairs to rest.

………………

Late at night, most people at Clear Creek Wharf were already asleep. Walking through the streets, one could occasionally hear men’s panting and women’s moans drifting from the nearby houses. In a large manor on the left side of Clear Creek Town, most rooms were dark—likely their occupants already in bed. A few rooms glowed with faint lights, probably from those who woke in the night and needed some illumination.

In the manor’s rear mountain, a woman in a pale violet robe stood, the night breeze carrying a gentle chill across her skin. The bright moon hung high overhead. She lifted her gaze to the distant moon, her clear eyes reflecting its silver light. Moonlight washed over the cliff, dyeing it silver, making her feel as if she stood upon the moon itself.

A monkey’s chittering made her turn slightly, revealing her breathtaking beauty—it was Xue Ling’er. Yet tonight, her lovely face was tinged with worry.

A white blur darted from the nearby woods, hopped a few times, then leaped into her arms. It was Little White the monkey.

Ignoring the dust on Little White’s fur, Xue Ling’er cradled him against her chest, gently stroking his soft coat while he rested quietly in her embrace.

“How do you think he is now?” she murmured as she stroked Little White’s head, her voice laced with concern.

Little White chittered twice, as if replying to her.

Xue Ling’er smiled faintly, lifted her gaze to the moon, and her voice carried a subtle sadness and longing, “I wonder, is he also admiring this same moon tonight?”

………………

Lu Zhe sat cross-legged on the roof, quietly watching the moon hanging in the sky. His handsome face was shadowed by a gentle sorrow as he gazed at the moon.

After a time, he withdrew his gaze, rubbed his eyes, and began his meditative cultivation.

The night slowly faded as Lu Zhe cultivated and Xue Ling’er worried. With the dawn, a new day arrived—roosters crowed in every household, doors opened, footsteps echoed, and sunlight streamed in from the east.

Lu Zhe exhaled deeply and stood up.

Bathing in the bright morning sun, he stretched and worked his limbs before climbing down from the roof.

Inside the hall, he found Old Ye already waiting for him. Lu Zhe hurried over, and Old Ye opened his eyes, saying, “I have some matters to handle. I’ll be away for two or three days. While I’m gone, be careful—don’t cause trouble.”

Lu Zhe nodded, “Don’t worry, Master. I know my limits.”

Old Ye looked at Lu Zhe’s confident face, sighed, then stood and left.

After breakfast in the inn’s hall, Lu Zhe found himself idle and wandered out alone onto the main street of Green Forest Town.

The main street was bustling, just like any ordinary town. People haggled, bargained, promoted their wares, threatened, fought, and brawled at the slightest disagreement. The sights were dazzling and overwhelming.

Lu Zhe strolled with interest, pausing occasionally at various stalls to inspect the goods, though he never bought anything. The stall owners looked at him like he was a nuisance.

As he wandered, he noticed a crowd gathered up ahead. At first, he wanted to avoid it—this place had all sorts of trouble, and he’d already been approached by several swindlers trying to sell him things, but he ignored them, not out of strength of will but because he had no money.

Still, curiosity got the better of him. Lu Zhe couldn’t resist and made his way toward the crowd—after all, if trouble broke out, he could always use Black Wing to escape. He wasn’t afraid.

He squeezed through the crowd, pushing past burly men reeking of blood, and finally made it to the center. When he saw what was happening, he immediately regretted coming.

In the middle was a man, covered in blood. In any ordinary town, such a scene would have summoned the authorities, but here in lawless Green Forest Town, it was commonplace. This was, after all, a mercenary hub—injuries from beast kings, lost limbs, and broken arms were routine. People had grown used to it.

Normally, Lu Zhe would have ignored it and walked away—except the man in the center was someone he knew: Hong Lei, the brother of the siblings Old Ye had saved yesterday.

Lu Zhe looked at Hong Lei, who was covered in blood with clear knife wounds, the blood already crusted—he must have been wounded some time ago. Yet his chest still rose and fell; he was still alive.

Lu Zhe turned to leave—Old Ye was gone, and he didn’t want to get involved.

But fate rarely cooperates. Just as Lu Zhe tried to slip away, Hong Lei, who had kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and recognized him. Despite his injuries, he crawled over, grabbed Lu Zhe’s leg, and cried, “Benefactor, save me! Help me!”

Lu Zhe wanted to run, but the crowd was so dense he could hardly squeeze through, and now Hong Lei clung to his leg, calling for help. Lu Zhe sighed, raised his brows, turned, crouched, and said, “Why won’t you leave me alone?”

He tried to pull his leg free.

Hong Lei clung to Lu Zhe as if he were his own father, refusing to let go no matter how hard Lu Zhe struggled—like a stubborn child.

Lu Zhe, exasperated, crouched and pleaded, “Brother, I beg you, let go, will you?”

Hong Lei opened his eyes, “Benefactor, please, save my sister!”

Lu Zhe replied coldly, “I’ve already saved her.”

With that, he kicked Hong Lei aside and turned to leave.

Before he could get far, Hong Lei shouted after him, “If you don’t save my sister, they’ll ruin her! Benefactor, if you save her, I’ll agree to anything!”

Lu Zhe stopped in his tracks. Hong Lei’s eyes brightened, sensing hope, but then he saw Lu Zhe staring ahead. Hong Lei followed his gaze—and his body shuddered. The young leader of the "Ghost Fang" mercenary company, Huo Lang, was riding a horse, and on the horse was a girl—Hong Xiu’er.

Lu Zhe looked ahead and sighed, “It seems I can’t avoid this, no matter how I try.”

(The weather has turned cold lately, so the update schedule has shifted: the first chapter is usually posted around two in the afternoon, the second at six, and the third at ten. Readers, please take note.)