Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 163 - 159: Not seeking to be born on the same year, same month, same day, but hoping not to die in this lifetime!

Chapter 163: Chapter 159: Not seeking to be born on the same year, same month, same day, but hoping not to die in this lifetime!

Zhang San arrived at Third Miss Gan’s door and knocked lightly twice.

"Officer Third Miss Gan, it’s Zhang San. May I come in?"

"In broad daylight, it’s not convenient. Don’t come in, go away!"

Zhang San smiled as he pushed the door open and looked at Third Miss Gan, who was reading a book in the room.

"I didn’t expect that an officer like yourself would also enjoy reading."

Third Miss Gan glared at Zhang San and silently hid "My Father-in-law is Kaihuang" behind her, then coldly asked, "Speak if you have something to say!"

Zhang San, thick-skinned, moved a few steps closer and whispered, "I just made contact with a person from the Heavenly Punishment Sect. The person is Ghostly Calculator Nine. I heard his surname is Cui, and he outwardly poses as a fortune teller."

Third Miss Gan nodded slightly, "If it’s really him, then you truly have connected with the Heavenly Punishment Sect. You don’t know, but this Cui Jiu is a strategist-level figure in the Heavenly Punishment Sect. His mastery in techniques of divination and strategic planning are top-notch."

Hearing this, Zhang San recalled his encounter with Cui Jiu today. To be honest, other than looking quite intelligent, he didn’t seem that impressive in reality.

"Don’t underestimate Cui Jiu. He was once just an accountant, but after the local granary was burned down, the newly ascended Emperor Kaihuang, furious, sent people to investigate the matter. Cui Jiu used a pound of grain and burned it to ash, then calculated the weight of the ash. From the weight of the ash in the granary, he deduced that thirty thousand bushels of grain were burned, yet the granary should have contained four hundred thousand bushels of grain at the time!"

"Because Cui Jiu helped in revealing the truth and was rewarded for it. However, the officials investigated were soon released without charges, and upon learning this, Cui Jiu fled overnight, thus avoiding a vendetta. But in his hasty escape, his wife and children were killed by thugs, engulfed in flames."

Hearing this, Zhang San understood why Cui Jiu joined the Heavenly Punishment Sect.

It’s not just Cui Jiu – anyone would seek revenge in this situation!

"Did they tell you when to act? Do you need any help from my end?"

Third Miss Gan well understood—that if Zhang San wanted to join the Heavenly Punishment Sect, he had to release those four prisoners.

But those four, being minor figures in the sect, didn’t matter much if released.

Zhang San smiled, "Big Head Wang just woke up, so I plan to celebrate the occasion. Then I’ll invite all the Martial Artists in the manor for a drink. During this, those four will have the chance to escape."

Third Miss Gan squinted her eyes, thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"How is your relationship with Wang Ziteng and Big Head Wang?"

Zhang San smiled, "As close as life and death, naturally very good."

"Among Martial Artists, many form a Sworn Brotherhood due to mutual affection. Why don’t you three swear brotherhood? With Wang Ziteng’s status, it may not be convenient to invite other Sects from the martial path, but to invite all the Military Chiefs on the Chuan-Yu Road is perfectly normal."

"At that time, with many people and a lively atmosphere, it naturally becomes easy for accidents to occur. If Han Baiwen and the others escape, someone else can take the blame."

"Besides, although the case with Bai Yucheng has been resolved, many Military Chiefs in Chuan-Yu still have their doubts about it. Now, the three of you survivors swearing brotherhood could solidify the narrative of past events."

Zhang San nodded.

"Of course, there are some other matters involved, but I cannot tell you right now."

Zhang San grinned and said, "I didn’t ask anyway."

"Whether you ask or not, I wouldn’t tell you anyway! Alright, leave now. Have Wang Ziteng make the preparations and ask Lu Qingquan to send out the invitations."

Zhang San immediately went to take care of the matter.

Five days later, all the Military Chiefs from the Town Martial Office on the Chuan-Yu Road, except for one who insisted on not coming, had arrived at Xiongfeng Manor.

After all, the invitation came from that bastard Lu Qingquan, and it felt like if one didn’t attend, he might just stir up some trouble.

Moreover, this matter also involved the Wang Family, as well as Zhang San who was closely related to the Bai Yucheng case.

Many Military Chiefs also wanted to see for themselves what kind of person this Zhang San was.

On the day of the swearing of brotherhood, Xiongfeng Manor was festively decorated, filled with various delicious dishes and fine wines.

The invited Military Chiefs initially thought that upon arriving at Xiongfeng Manor, Third Miss Gan, their new superior, would show them who’s boss.

But she did not.

Third Miss Gan was all smiles in the presence of everyone.

She even showed a pleasant face to Lu Qingquan.

Several Military Chiefs who had come prepared for a big scene were somewhat confused.

Was Third Miss Gan’s temper too good?

Even tolerating someone despicable like Lu Qingquan?

Is it truly her nature?

Still all smiles on the surface, but actually very dark underneath?

None really knew, but they all felt that moving forward, they had to be more cautious.

Especially Ouyang Zhen, who, though he had only lost less than two months of salary, now felt somewhat jittery whenever he saw Zhang San, as if this young man could trick him at any moment.

"Ouyang, what’s wrong with you? You were so bold when you were drinking before, but today you seem to be nurturing fish?"

A female martial artist with two large blades strapped to her back patted Ouyang Zhen’s shoulder and asked.

Ouyang Zhen whispered, "Sister Sun, I sense that something’s off today, let’s drink less."

The female martial artist surnamed Sun laughed heartily for a moment and said, "What are you scared of—just come to drink! How bad could it be! Drink up! Don’t make me and Hua laugh at you."

The Taoist surnamed Hua laughed and waved his hand.

"I’m focusing on my health lately, just drinking goji berry tea is fine."

Military Chief Sun peered inside and asked, "What else is under your cup? It doesn’t look like just goji berries."

"That’s cistanche, ginseng, and a bit of lock yang."

Military Chief Sun ignored him and prepared to continue drinking with Ouyang Zhen.

Just then, Zhang San, Wang Ziteng, and Big Head Wang emerged and positioned themselves in front of the properly arranged altar at the center of the banquet, ready to take the oath of brotherhood.

Everyone set down their utensils since they were there primarily to attend the brotherhood ceremony of the three.

But Military Chief Sun didn’t even glance at the trio and continued drinking alone.

The Wang family members who were there to help glanced at the three as they walked over. Someone asked, "Why isn’t our young master at the center? Shouldn’t the eldest be in the middle?"

"It’s hard to say, it looks like that big dark fellow is older, maybe our young master will end up being the second."

"How absurd, my noble Wang family’s young master being the second!"

"What’s so bad about being the second?"

Just then, Zhang San and his companions began to kneel before the statue of Guan Yu placed on the altar.

Initially, the three of them did not know whom to place on the altar.

Later, Wang Ziteng thought that since Guan Yu was the Martial Saint, martial artists swearing brotherhood in front of Guan Yu wasn’t a problem.

Zhang San also thought that since Guan Yu was also regarded as a god of wealth, swearing oaths in front of him would ensure all three brothers prospered.

As for Big Head Wang, he didn’t seem to know who Guan Yu was.

"Under the vast heavens and the thick earth, today, Lord Guan as my witness, we three brothers, are bound by sworn brotherhood!"

After Zhang San shouted this, Big Head Wang and Wang Ziteng immediately repeated it.

"We three brothers, share weal and woe together!"

"We three brothers, share weal and woe together!"

"We do not seek to be born on the same year, same month, and same day..."

"We do not seek to be born on the same year, same month, and same day..."

"But we ask to never die within this lifetime!"

"But we ask within this lifetime... ah? Ah-- to never die!"

After saying this, the three of them finished the blood wine prepared for them in one gulp.

Then the three of them embraced each other.

"Brother Three!"

"Brother Five!"

"Brother Five!"

"Brother Six!"

The crowd listening to the three men’s brotherly calls fell into contemplation.

Shouldn’t the pledges of brotherhood be in numerical order, one-two-three going down?

Why is there line-cutting in your brotherhood?