Chapter 48 – The District Magistrate Returns the Kindness (2/2)

Li Qingshan drew back his hand uncomfortably. “Sir, is there a reason why you’re looking for me?”

“My little saviour, have you forgotten about me? In the mountains that day! The tiger!”

Li Qingshan suddenly remembered. “So that was you!”

“I’m Ye Dachuan. I’ve searched for you for a very long time. Please come in!” Ye Dachuan led Li Qingshan to the guest hall behind the government’s office, and his expression changed. “Why are you still strolling through the city?! Run quickly!”

Li Qingshan asked, “Why do I have to run?”

The advisor said, “Do you really not know what’s best for you? The people of the Black Wind mountain are searching for you everywhere. Not only do you not hide your tracks, but you’ve even appeared in Qingyang city. Someone will come knocking tomorrow to take your life.”

As he said that, he shoved a bundle of money and items into his hands. “We’ve already prepared a horse for you outside. You are welcome to rush to the Clear River prefecture. Don’t stop at all along the way. Here’s a letter. Take it to the prefect’s office and just hand it to the district magistrate’s… Ouch!”

Ye Dachuan stepped on the advisor’s foot. “That’s what I was going to say. I’ve already gotten my younger sister to put in a few words to the prefect, so you’ll be guaranteed a wealthy future. No matter how powerful the people of the Black Wind mountain are, they won’t be able to chase you there.” Then he sighed. “Originally, I wanted to keep you around as a sheriff so that you could assist me and quash out some more bandits. Cough cough, the reinforcements that I’ve requested for never arrived. They’ve probably been delayed on the way. It’s just too remote here.”

The advisor thought, The prefect probably wants you dead for good, so why would he send you anyone?

Originally, Li Qingshan found this funny. Ye Dachuan was short and fat, and he wore a large set of official’s robes. He was extremely similar to one of those wretched officials portrayed in novels and operas. Out of all of these characters, the better ones would just be mediocre people, while the worse ones would harass the kind-hearted.

However, seeing how he eagerly paved a path for him, he was touched. No matter how many crafty crooks there were in the world, there were still people who knew to return the favour.

When he came down from the mountains, all he thought of was how to uproot the Black Wind stronghold and slaughter them all before settling the debt of insult with the young master from the Dragon’s Gate sect. The face reflected the mind, so he was teeming with a murderous aura. If this went on, his cruel, murderous side would definitely possess him completely.

However, Li Long constantly assisted him due to being from the same village, while Ye Dachuan earnestly tried to return the kindness of saving his life. Whilst these two people were not particularly good or righteous, both just the most ordinary people among the crowd, it was exactly them that allowed him to see that human nature was not all evil.

Li Qingshan clasped his hands. “Thank you for your kindness, sir Ye. There’s no need for you to refer to me as saviour. You can just call me Qingshan. However, I haven’t come this time to run away!”

“You’re not running?” Ye Dachuan was furious. “Kid, you have no idea how anything works. Do you know how much risk I took on for you to get a government position?”

The advisor tried to persuade him as well. “Yeah, you’d better run quickly!”

Li Qingshan laughed. “I can run, but the Crouching Ox village can’t. And sir Ye, you can’t run either, can you? Since I’m brave enough to remain here, I have some confidence in myself.” He opened the bundle and saw some silver pieces inside. He picked them up and crushed them leisurely.

The eyes of Ye Dachuan and the advisor widened as they watched the silver ooze out from Li Qingshan’s hand like mud. They were not people of the jianghu, so how could they have seen martial arts before? Their evaluation of Li Qingshan immediately climbed even higher. Ye Dachuan hesitated. “With your skills, perhaps you really might be safe as long as you remain in the city. I’ll go see a few other people for your sake. Let’s hope the Black Wind bandits won’t attack the city.” He wanted Li Qingshan to stay very much. Once that happened, if any aristocrat dared to look down on him, he could send Li Qingshan to beat them up. By then, he could ask for whatever amounts of silver he wanted.

Li Qingshan said, “Sir, you said you want me to be the sheriff?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Ye Dachuan smiled from ear to ear. He had already begun imagining the power and prestige he would possess in the future when he ran about freely with Li Qingshan.