Green Mountain
Chapter 396 - 319. Standing Stick

Chapter 396: 319. Standing Stick

The spring wind, laced with the setting sun at 5 p.m., brushed against the face. Chen Ji leaned against the railing on the second floor of the tavern, quietly watching Brother Pao raise his fists high among the crowd, without breaking a sweat.

For some reason, Chen Ji felt a sense of joy in his heart. When he saw Brother Pao, the spring breeze carried a hint of hometown, and it always felt better for an old acquaintance to win than a stranger.

Outside the wrestling arena, the ruffians of Heji were at a loss.

They couldn’t understand how their own man was effortlessly choked and rendered unconscious within a few breaths.

Furui Xiang’s side pointed at the wrestler on the ground, loudly mocking Heji: "Your Li Bapi of Heji even gave himself the nickname ’General of Conquest,’ but we’ve never seen a general lying on the ground!"

"General, the ground is cold, don’t sleep! It’s three rounds, two wins, you have to get up for another match!"

"Hahahahaha, what a load of nonsense, General! There’s no need for the rest of the matches!"

The ruffians of Heji glared angrily, suddenly drawing axes and iron rulers from their waists: "What the hell are you talking about? Have you forgotten how we’ve been suppressing you all these years?"

Furui Xiang wouldn’t back down either, pulling out daggers and moving forward: "Heroes don’t talk about past glories, you Heji have too many underhanded moves. Those in the trade should unite and abandon you!"

The tension between the two sides was palpable, their insults bringing them closer, almost colliding, saliva flying.

Not far away, patrons of Shi Ji’s tripe shop came out with bowls, eating while watching the commotion; a steamed cake vendor hurried over with a shoulder pole, losing a shoe in the process.

Even the street performers, who didn’t fear trouble, stopped their own businesses and started drumming from afar, as if two armies were facing off.

...

...

In the tavern, a waiter approached Chen Ji and asked, "Guest, what kind of tea would you like?"

Chen Ji politely declined without turning his head: "I’m not having tea, just watching the excitement."

The waiter smiled kindly: "Guest, you’re standing at the best spot in our tavern for watching wrestling. If you’re not having tea, please make way for others."

Chen Ji turned to look at him: "How much is a pot of tea and a plate of sunflower seeds?"

The waiter, with a white towel draped over his shoulder, replied with a smile: "Six hundred wen."

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow: "Why don’t you just rob? Six hundred wen can buy a dozen chickens!"

The waiter also raised an eyebrow: "Guest, that’s quite petty of you. This spot is specifically for watching wrestling; what’s the point if you watch without having tea?"

Before he could finish, someone not far away chuckled and asked, "Young brother, which side are you supporting?"

Chen Ji looked over and saw a young man around twenty-eight or twenty-nine sitting by a square table, with a sturdy man holding a sword standing beside him, giving the young man an air of nobility.

He thought for a moment and answered, "Furui Xiang."

The young man laughed: "Then we are friends. Waiter, bring this young brother a pot of Dragon Well tea and four types of pastries and preserves, put it on my tab."

Chen Ji didn’t refuse, nodding in thanks over two tables: "Thank you."

The young man paid him no further mind, turning his gaze back downstairs: "Furui Xiang has been suppressed by Heji for years, but finally turned the tables. However, just from ’Li Shamao Alley,’ Heji collects over a thousand taels of Silver every month. Although they lost the wrestling, I doubt they’ll give up easily."

Chen Ji felt a stir in his heart, business outside the city... makes money like this?

He turned to look again. Brother Pao, ever alert, had already withdrawn from the arena. The short and sturdy Er Dao was draping a black short coat over him.

The two of them, one tall and one short, huddled outside the circle watching the spectacle.

Chen Ji thought silently. Last time, he only got close and they ran immediately. If he showed up recklessly again, they might flee once more.

What to do?

Amidst his thoughts, the argument at the Tianqiao wrestling arena intensified, with hundreds of ’ruffians’ crowding together, on the verge of battle.

The old man who had been hosting the wrestling cleared his throat, and the two groups of Heji and Furui Xiang abruptly split apart.

A man from Furui Xiang clasped his fists and said, "Qigong, as previously agreed, the ’Peace Money’ from Li Shamao Alley will belong to Furui Xiang from now on."

Qigong nodded and grunted: "That’s what was said."

Someone from Heji said coldly: "Did you bring in an Executive Officer? There are no Executive Officers allowed in our wrestling grounds. If anyone brings one, it means three knives, six holes. Qigong, please identify if he’s an Executive Officer."

Qigong shook his head: "Whether someone is an Executive Officer can be seen from their moves. This Brother Pao, who came from outside to the Imperial Capital and runs Jianghu, has truly mastered wrestling skills and won by skill."

He continued, with his frail voice ringing out: "Today, the Three Mountains Association has been invited by Furui Xiang’s ’Zhu Guan’ and Heji’s ’Wang Huan’ to maintain justice here. As Furui Xiang has won, starting tonight, Li Shamao Alley’s Peace Money will be collected by Furui Xiang."

Furui Xiang erupted in cheers, as the middle-aged leader named Zhu Guan searched for Brother Pao among the crowd: "Chongzi, come over!"

Brother Pao had put on his coat and buttoned it, clasping his fists: "Boss."

Zhu Guan said with a smile: "As promised, if you can take Li Shamao Alley, the Peace Money from the alley is yours to collect, seventy percent handed back to the hall, with the remaining thirty percent as a reward for your brothers."

Brother Pao replied steadily: "Thank you, Boss."

Zhu Guan laughed heartily: "Today you’ve established your name in Li Shamao Alley, from now on you’ll be a figure under the foot of the Imperial City!"

The young man on the tavern sighed regretfully: "This Brother Pao is as steady as an experienced Jianghu veteran; still, he’s an outsider."

The guard beside the young man commented casually: "Sir, the money from Li Shamao Alley is quite a hot potato."