184 Compel

Chu Li smiled. He pulled out a small cloth bag and handed it to Hu Guanghui. "Chief Hu Guanghui, can you please give this to High Duke Song or the heir to the High Duke? However, I'm afraid that the heir to the High Duke cannot make this decision."

"What's inside it?" Hu Guanghui looked at the small cloth bag cautiously and did not reach out his hand.

Chu Li said, "A few pieces of jade, for the heir to the High Duke to play with."

Hu Guanghui reached out his hand and took the bag. He opened the small cloth bag and looked into it. There were indeed a few pieces of jade. They were of different sizes but of good quality.

"What's this exactly?" Hu Guanghui asked in puzzlement.

Chu Li said, "Present them to High Duke Song and High Duke Song will know what they are."

"...Very well, I'll go report first. Scribe Chu Li, please wait for a moment!" Hu Guanghui gave a fist salute and turned around to enter the Public House.

The eight Protectors stared at Chu Li coldly. Looking at their mannerisms, they would attack immediately if he were to step forward.

Chu Li stood with his hand behind his back at one side.

Lu Yushu was dressed in a blue robe and looked high-spirited as well as handsome. He swaggered out of the Public House accompanied by Xi Wu. When he saw Chu Li, he suddenly smiled and sped up his pace.

Lu Yushu walked through the door frame of the Public House and came before Chu Li. He frowned at Chu Li. "Surnamed Chu, how come you're here again!"

"Whether I come here or not, does Master Lu Yushu make the decision?" Chu Li smiled and said. "This isn't the Ren Public House, right? Can Master Lu Yushu make decisions for the Huay Public House? Could it be that the Ren Public House wants to control the Huay Public House through marriage?"

"Nonsense!" Lu Yushu cut him off with a shout. He stared at Chu Li with a solemn face. "Surnamed Chu, don't talk nonsense. You're really shameless. You have the guts to come back after being driven out?"

Chu Li smiled and said, "Master Lu Yushu doesn't know the reason why I was cast out?"

"What is there for me to know?" Lu Yushu's handsome face was gloomy. He stared at Chu Li hard. He was so angered by Chu Li that his killing intent was raging. He itched to kill Chu Li with a stab in the heart.

Chu Li said, "Wasn't it in order to protect your little life?"

"Arrogant!" Lu Yushu sneered. "You really think that you can kill me?"

Chu Li smiled. "Whether I can or not, why don't you ask High Official Xi Wu?"

"Chu Li, if you dare touch my Master, don't blame our Public House for getting back at you a thousand and hundredfold!" Xi Wu said coldly. "It is said that Second Lady Xiao is the greatest beauty of Great Ji, it would be really nice if she were to become my Master's wife!"

Chu Li smiled and said, "Then your courage isn't so small. Our Second Lady engaged with King An. I don't know if His Highness King An will agree to it or not!"

Both Xi Wu's and Lu Yushu's expressions changed.

The Public Houses' relationship with the Imperial Household was subtle, but they would not betray the Imperial Household because this was where they drew the line.

The power of the Imperial Household was far higher than the Public Houses. Usually, they could go against the Imperial Household for some matters. However, when such things happened, they would be at a disadvantage as keeping a good relationship with the Imperial Household was more important.

Chu Li said, "Master Lu Yushu, I'm back so you better be careful!"

Lu Yushu sneered. "I don't believe that you dare to break into the Huay Public House!"

Chu Li smiled and did not say a word.

Xi Wu tugged and winked at Lu Yushu. They turned around and returned to Huay Public House.

The world was really small. Two days ago, it was Master who deliberately went and humiliated Chu Li. However, this time it was a pure coincidence.

The act of Master looking for trouble repeatedly was really dangerous. If he were to anger Chu Li, Chu Li would most likely ignore the Huay Public House and assassinate Master.

This time, he came alone with Master out of fear that they would attract attention and in turn, complicate the issue. He initially planned to get things done quietly so it would be a foregone conclusion and they would no longer have to fear any disruption towards the marriage.

However, of all people, they had to meet Chu Li!

Hu Guanghui went through the courtyard and walked towards the main hall.

Song Shiling was in a loose gown with a wide girdle, and was reading a book. His round and fat face was solemn. The Song Shiling now was totally different from the Song Shiling who was in front of Chu Li. It was as if it they were two different people.

"Heir to the High Duke." Hu Guanghui entered the hall and then bowed. "That Chu Li came again!"

"Just drive him out!" Song Shiling did not put down the book. His eyes were still glued to the book and he waved his hand casually.

"He said that this should be presented to you, heir to the High Duke." Hu Guanghui presented the small cloth bag.

Song Shiling put down his book and beckoned.

Hu Guanghui went forward and handed it over.

Song Shiling untied it and took a glance at the content. After that, he poured out the few pieces of jade onto the table. He frowned and looked at them.

Hu Guanghui was smiling, he craned his neck and said, "Heir to the High Duke, what are these?"

Song Shiling cast an askance glance at him and then he scoffed. "You can't tell?"

"I really can't tell." Hu Guanghui shook his head. "I'm clueless. Heir to the High Duke, please enlighten me."

"Old man!" Song Shiling scoffed and then he picked up a piece of jade. "This piece is White Horse Town's mayor's… This one is Blue Stone Town's mayors. This piece is Raging Billow Town's mayor's. This one is Sea Guarding Town's mayor's!"

Hu Guanghui frowned. "Heir to the High Duke, could it be that he ran to several towns and asked for them from the mayors?"

"Can't you be a little smarter?" Song Shiling said snappily with a gloomy face. "If someone asked for such a precious thing, would you hand it over? These are things that you keep close to you!"

These jade tags were personal things of important people and were used to ward off evils. They would not even show it to those who were very close to them. How could they give it to Chu Li?

Even if Chu Li used the Huay Public House's identity, they surely would not give the tags to him. In conclusion, he had stolen the jade tags.

However, how Chu Li stole them was not important. He was trying to say that if he was able to steal these, it would not be hard if he wanted to take these people's lives. In fact, it would be very easy for him!

This was clearly a threat!

Hu Guanghui quickly said, "Could it be that he had killed these mayors?"

"He wouldn't dare to!" Song Shiling sneered.

Hu Guanghui said, "Heir to the High Duke, do you want to ask him personally?"

"…Let him come in!" Song Shiling's face became increasingly gloomy. He scoffed. "I'd like to know what he intended to do!"

Hu Guanghui rushed out in a hurry. He was afraid that if he continued to stay there, the heir to the High Duke would vent his anger on him.

Song Shiling played with the few pieces of jade tags. His face was gloomy and his mind was flooded with thoughts.

A few days before, his father was in the Public House but he did not want to see Chu Li. This was because he did not want to go against Yi Public House publically. Moreover, letting Song Shiling face Chu Li could make room for maneuver. After all, he was on good terms with High Duke Xiao.

However, his father was not in the Public House at the present time. Hence, he was in charge of this matter. How to deal with Chu Li's threat was an issue.

Chu Li slowly walked into the main hall. He gave a fist salute and then he laughed. "Heir to the High Duke, how are you?"

Song Shiling said coldly, "Have a seat!"

Chu Li sat down across from him and took the teacup a maid handed to him. He smiled and said, "What would the heir of the High Duke like to enlighten me with?"

"Surnamed Chu, what are you getting at now?" Song Shiling pointed at the jade tags on the table. "Did you kill them?"

Chu Li said while smiling, "Whether they will be alive or dead are all in the hands of the heir to the High Duke!"

Song Shiling squinted his eyes while sneering. "How dare you!"

Chu Li shrugged. "The Wang brothers dared to kill the mayor of the Path of Chong Li Yuning, and they are still fine because they are protected by the Public House. If I kill those mayors as a Scribe, I believe that I'll be fine too."

"You're not afraid of the High Officials from the Imperial House?" Song Shiling scoffed.

Chu Li said, "They don't have any evidence and they won't be able to find witnesses. How can you say that they were killed by me?"

"I'm a witness!" Song Shiling said.

Chu Li smiled and said, "Did heir to the High Duke see with your own eyes that I killed them? ...those who are witnesses can be protected, not to mention those who aren't witnesses, am I right?"

"The Yi Public House is ready to go against us publically?" Song Shiling sneered. "Surnamed Chu, you shouldn't find trouble for your Public House!"

Chu Li said, "Friend or foe. It's all in the hands of High Duke Song!"

"Bullshit!" Song Shiling cut him off with a shout. "Believe it or not I'll kill you now!"

Chu Li shook his head and laughed despite himself. "Heir to the High Duke, those words are so familiar!"

Song Shiling shouted, "Come out!"

Four Grandmasters showed up in a flash and surrounded Chu Li.