“Him? Smart? Learned?”
“I don’t see those descriptions.”
“Wawa, Constable Liu, don’t say that about Big Brother Ming. Although he’s rather stupid, he is literate.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Look closely. He has two crowns on his head just like me!”
“Like you? Doesn’t that make him as stupid as can be?”
“How am I stupid?!”
“What are you two even arguing about? Look at this joke’s crowns. He…”
“You three done yet?!” I ripped Liu Yuan, Mountain Monster and Su Xiao off my head.
The examination of my crowns all started when the trio found out His Majesty conferred me the title of Hanlin Academician. I’d have spanked the three of them if I could beat them!
“Fine.” Mountain Monster shrugged. “It’s not like there’s anything in your head to explore.”
“Wawa!” Su Xiao tugged on Mountain Monster’s collar from behind. “Don’t be rude.”
“Su Xiao, you shut up! Call me that again, and we’re enemies!”
Whether or not it was attributed to their shared dangerous experiences in Nanjiang, Su Xiao and Mountain Monster had grown close enough for Mountain Monster to call him by his full name instead of some derogatory name.
Speaking of which, Mountain Monster was now with me.
Mountain Monster launched a fly kick at me. “I’m not ‘with’ you! Don’t say things that lead to misunderstandings!”
“Yes, yes, yes, you’re with us, okay? Come back.”
I told Liu Yuan Brother Bodhi entrusted Mountain Monster to me. There was no way she could remain with Evil Spirits in consideration of her and Ox Demon’s betrayal. Therefore, she and her squad joined Liu Shan Men as a special unit, which operated under the command of the person most familiar with the pugilistic world – yours truly. It was the best choice since I knew best her personality and history. Plus, nobody could rein her aggression in; it was only a matter of time before she’d butcher someone if I didn’t act as her leash.
Mountain Monster slouched onto a bench. “Your Emperor must have misplaced his eyes if he conferred you the title of Hanlin Academician.”
See what I mean? Despite being at Liu Shan Men’s headquarters, she didn’t hold back whatsoever.
“Mind what you say,” Liu Yuan frowned, “though you aren’t wrong.”
And you call yourself a constable?! As a matter of fact, you’re worse when you’re around me!
“Xiao, you must be tired from training the new recruits all day. Let me give you a shoulder massage.”
I would believe you if you told me all of Liu Yuan’s blood had collected in his head when he met Su Xiao after their six months apart. I probably didn’t notice given Su Xiao was nigh always around me, but, according to Liu Yuan, Su Xiao had grown taller, developed his body ratios and matured into a maid-, man.
“How many times do I have to tell you, ‘No’?!” Su Xiao was still as cold as ever to Liu Yuan, though. “Constable Liu, should you harass me again, I will report you to Big Brother Ming!”
Liu Yuan glared at me.
I really was the kind of guy to get hit with “stray” arrows, huh?
I professionally wagged my hand and said, “Xiao, fetch me my Green Dragon Crescent Blade.”
“Okay.”
Liu Yuan watched Su Xiao run into the training area, carry the Green Dragon Crescent Blade back on his shoulder and smash the base into the ground with only one hand.
“Brother Ming, here you go.”
I recoiled, let alone Liu Yuan.
“… Y-you can put it back.”
“???” Su Xiao carried it back with his head on an angle.
Thanks to his completion of Yijin Jing’s first layer, Su Xiao’s bones, nerves and qi had upgraded to a point where he could sleep six Liu Yuans in the blink of an eye. Well, Liu Yuan wouldn’t hit back, so…
“What are you lot up to?” Who else could be so else beside the overlord of Liu Shan Men, Tang Ye?
“Hohoho, it’s normal to be happy when it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other?” The maid-, boy sitting beside Tang Ye and playing go would be none other than our vice-captain’s spitting image – Shen Kuang! “Constable Ming is now a Hanlin Academician. I… I… feel ashamed of myself. After all this time, I still don’t have an official post.”
When they were reunited a few days ago, the sister’s eyes went red, while the brother cried a river. Had Boss Shen not kept them in the loop from Nanjiang through letters and repeated tirelessly that her brother had a duty to continue their bloodline, he might’ve rode down to Nanjiang. He cried an ocean over the scar on her left wrist.
As for Tang Ye, he started spending more time learning other skills than he spent on martial arts. Back in Nanjiang, he learnt to brew tea, fish, hunt, set traps and then learnt to play go upon returning to the capital. Reportedly, he went to learn Sichuan stage play in Sichuan, too. I didn’t understand where he was going with it. Maybe he went crazy from overtraining? Whatever the case, I was worried.
“Tang Ye, I’m sleeping at your place tomorrow,” I declared.
Tang Ye’s hand froze as he went to place a piece down. “… Why?”
“Because we haven’t had the time to chat in a long time. I’ll keep you company. You just provide me with a place to sleep, alcohol and food.”
“I’m coming, too!”
Sensing Su Xiao leap at me from behind, I moved out of the way.
“Big Brother Ming, what’s the meaning of this?”
“It means… you don’t need to come.”
“I refuse! If you leave me behind, we aren’t brothers anymore!”
“I’m trying to avoid Boss! If you come with us and she needs someone for a job, won’t all three of us be in trouble?!”
“And that makes it okay to sacrifice me?!”
Mountain Monster: “Oho? You’re arguing? I want to join whatever plans you have at night.”
Me: “We’re sleeping and drinking at Tang Ye’s place.”
“Wait…”
Me: “I’m the only one allowed to drink and sleep at Tang Ye’s place, got it?! None of you are coming!”
“I haven’t finished.”
Shen Kuang: “I-I can’t join you, either? I want to hear what happened while you were away.”
Me: “You’re welcome, Young Master Kuang.”
Su Xiao: “Hey, that’s favouritism! You’re playing favourites, Big Brother Ming!”
Tang Ye: “It’s my place…”
“Wait.” This was the word that silenced all of us.
I totally forgot there was one more person nearby.
Leaning on the door, Boss gestured for me to come over with a finger. “Mr. Ming, come to my room.”
