Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 298 - 286: I Refuse to Believe I Can’t Invite This Deity!_2

Chapter 298: Chapter 286: I Refuse to Believe I Can’t Invite This Deity!_2

Indeed, as they consumed several jars of wine, Shen Zhongdian still maintained some silence and restraint, but Shen Bao completely let loose, exposing his belly and slapping it as he burst into loud laughter.

"Speaking of which, it’s actually quite boring just drinking here. We should head over to Pingkang Fang again, especially some Hu ladies... they really are... hehehe..."

Shen Zhongdian coughed coldly and asked, "Fatty Shen, have you forgotten the last time you went to Pingkang Fang, fought over a girl next door, and then found out next door was your dad’s place?"

Zhang San’s eyes widened, having never expected such an explosive story.

Shen Bao immediately waved his hand and then grabbing Zhang San’s hand, he explained, "Brother Zhang San, don’t listen to Shen Zhongdian; he’s just timid, born timid."

"You’ve just arrived in the Capital, right? Come on, shall we take a stroll in Pingkang Fang?"

Zhang San gave an awkward smile, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I’ve just arrived, and don’t really know much... I’ll just follow your lead."

Upon seeing Zhang San’s expression, indicating he wanted to go but was too embarrassed to admit it, Fatty Shen immediately laughed.

"Brother Zhang San, still a rookie, huh? Come on, today I’ll take you to gain some experience..."

Bang!

Shang Bufa slammed the table, scaring Fatty Shen who was just about to stand up to immediately sit down again.

"Just adjusting my seat, it was uncomfortable... hehe... Shang Bufa, if you don’t want to go, then don’t, but you’re glaring at me like you’re my dad!"

Shang Bufa couldn’t help but glare at Fatty Shen again, and then whispered, "Let’s all behave, the Capital might not be too peaceful lately. I heard that something happened to the Han Family."

Shang Bufa didn’t know Han Yanxia had died, but his father had indeed warned him to stay away from Zhang San because something had happened to the Han Family.

"I’ve heard about it too, apparently someone from the Han Family died. But what does that have to do with us, it’s not like Han Yanqiu died. If that guy was gone, I’d actually be happy."

Zhang San noticed that Fatty Shen really had some nerve, daring to say anything.

"Shen Bao, this Han Yanqiu... who is he? I know there’s a Han Yanxia in the Ministry of Punishment, is Han Yanqiu his younger brother?"

At the mention of Han Yanqiu, Fatty Shen slapped his thigh, gritted his teeth and said, "That Han Yanqiu, he’s a nasty piece of work!"

"Just imagine, it was almost New Year, and I took a few brothers from the Shen Family out to enjoy ourselves, it’s none of your business."

"If you had reported me honestly and straightforwardly, I would have accepted it. But this sneak, he went to my place saying he came to pay back money, taking the twenty gold taels he owed me to give to my dad. My dad then asked what this money was about, and he said he borrowed it from me before, just saw me in Pingkang Fang and wanted to repay me, but there were too many people around and it wasn’t convenient, so he brought it over. Then my dad said never mind! When I got home, my dad beat me up!"

He didn’t have to pay back the money, yet still managed to set Fatty Shen up.

Han Yanqiu really was a ruthless character.

Zhang San seized the opportunity to ask, "I heard that there are only four families in Legalism, so is it that all three of your families have bad relations with the Han Family, or is it just between you and Han Yanqiu?"

"All bad!" Fatty Shen fearlessly told it straight.

"But speaking of which, our three families also have disputes over interests. Shen Zhongdian, stop giving me that look, if you consider Zhang San a brother, tell the truth. Initially, that position as Chief of Staff in the Ministry of Punishment, my uncle wanted it too, and if he hadn’t failed to get it, would he be at home feigning illness for over a month?"

Shen Zhongdian was speechless; Fatty Shen really spared no secrets after a bit of drink.

"But Brother Zhang San, remember, family interests are family interests, but we three brothers, now including you, four brothers, should still get along well. You are at the Town Martial Office, right? Think of your brothers when something good comes up!"

Zhang San immediately raised his glass and said, "Han Yanqiu, huh? Since you guys consider me a brother, I’ll help you get even. Is there a way to find Han Yanqiu so we can secretly beat him up, and just shout my name while doing it! I’ve just arrived in the Capital, unfamiliar with everything, when it happens, he won’t have proof it was me who did it, he’ll be beaten for nothing!"

Fatty Shen heard this and thought it was a great idea!

By this time, Shang Bufa had also had a bit to drink and asked, "Brother San, have you sorted everything out in Fengdu County City? Don’t let the Han Family take the chance to trouble you."

"Don’t worry, I’m not even afraid of ghosts, let alone the Han Family, let’s go!"

After Zhang San had paid the bill, the four of them staggered to a deserted street.

Shen Zhongdian suddenly asked, "Where is Han Yanqiu? We can’t just go to the Han Family to demand him, can we?"

Zhang San smiled and said, "Leave that to me!"

With that, Zhang San immediately cast the Summoning the Gods Method and began to summon the nearby Earth God.

However, as Daxing City was the capital of the Great Sui Country and the foundation of the Imperial Path, how could it allow the power of the Path of Ghosts and Gods such as the Earth God to exist.

Thus, despite Zhang San’s summons for a while, there was no response at all.

Shen Zhongdian frowned slightly and asked Shang Bufa in a low voice, "This new friend of yours, why do I feel he’s a bit unreliable?"

At that moment, the figures of the Door Gods in the paintings on a nearby door could no longer hold back.

One of the Door Gods stepped out from the painting, patted Zhang San on the shoulder, giving him a start.

"Don’t panic! Young man, I am the Door God Tu, and this is the Door God Lei. Stop summoning already; there’s no Earth God in this Daxing City! You keep trying to summon the Earth God and getting no response, yet you make us two Door Gods listen to your summoning all the time. Why don’t you stop? What do you want? Speak up."

Zhang San had not expected that his Summoning the Gods Method could also summon Door Gods, originally thinking that he could only summon the Earth God.

"Two honorable Door Gods, we’re looking for a person named Han Yanqiu, who belongs to the Han Family."

Tu pointed to the distance, "That person is currently in Yongxing Fang, and he seems to have had a lot to drink as well."

On hearing that he too had had a lot to drink, Shen Zhongdian also became a bit excited at that moment.

Since he’s drunk, you can beat him up while he’s unaware of who is hitting him; it’s truly a heaven-sent opportunity.

After thanking the two Door Gods, Zhang San asked Shang Bufa to lead the way, heading straight for Yongxing Fang.

Only then did the Door God Lei poke his head out from the painting, glancing in the direction Zhang San had left.

"It’s been so many years since I’ve seen a cultivator who knows the Summoning the Gods Method."

"After all, that group of cultivators were almost entirely exterminated long ago. It’s surprising that some descendants still remain in this world. Just... why didn’t this child think to leave us some wine?"

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[Note 88] Reference Explanation

Tu and Lei are the earliest personified Door Gods, originally carved from peach wood.

Recorded in "Chronicles of High Immortals" it says: "Nowadays, people place two peach wood figures by the door each morning, with rooster feathers stuck in the middle, to send forth courage," referring to them.

Even in the earliest "Classic of Mountains and Seas", they are mentioned, but as I can’t find my copy of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, I couldn’t quote the original text, hence my regrets.

These two became Door Gods long before the well-known Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong, so there’s no need to wonder why those Door Gods aren’t featured here. Tu and Lei will appear, but not right now.