Honey, you didn’t really drugged me, did you?

Chapter 118: Chapter 103: Fishing Guild’s Chen Jiusi, Please Impart Your Knowledge (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe)

Early in the morning, around ten o’clock, the weather was clear and sunny. The area around the ring was filled with townsfolk who had come to watch the excitement.

At this time, a person slowly ascended the platform and said in a clear voice, “Greetings to everyone, welcome to today’s tournament for the position of Village Chief.”

Upon hearing the voice, the spectators’ eyes were all drawn to the speaker, and competitors from both sides also looked over.

On the stage stood an elderly man who had grown old, but his body was still robust, and his eyes were spirited.

Someone recognized him; he was the Old Leader from Shunfeng Escort Agency in town, Mr. Sun Bu’er.

This elder was also a martial arts expert. Although he had not reached the level of Energy Transformation, during his peak, he had reached the Dark Force Peak and was a strong practitioner of the Iron Bone Realm.

Unfortunately, with advancing age, his physical condition had declined compared to the past, and his strength had also slipped.

Nonetheless, his status remained high, especially since his Shunfeng Escort Agency had a good relationship with the number one escort agency in Jiangnan—Dragon Gate Escort Agency.

Or rather, Shunfeng Escort Agency was more like a branch of Dragon Gate Escort Agency. Sometimes, when there were not enough hands for escort tasks on Hubei Road, they would subcontract the task to Shunfeng Escort Agency, and in recent years, they had done quite well off this business.

Moreover, Dragon Gate Escort Agency was a very large escort agency, especially in terms of its background. Its current leader, Du Dajin, was a secular disciple of Shaolin, and with the Shaolin Temple as his backing, people in the martial world had to show him some respect.

Who in the martial world did not know that Shaolin and Wudang were the Taishan Beidou of the contemporary Martial Arts world?

To offend them meant difficulty in navigating the Martial Arts world.

Leveraging his identity, Du Dajin had a strong presence in the martial world, and many people showed him respect; thus, his business was extensive, with many clients seeking his services because of his reputation as a secular disciple of Shaolin.

For these reasons, Dragon Gate Escort Agency never lacked business, and Elder Sun Bu’er had been a runner under the service of Du Dajin’s father in his younger days.

Later, as his martial skills improved and his ailing mother fell ill, he left Jiangnan and came to Hubei. With the silent consent of the Du family, he established Shunfeng Escort Agency.

With unspoken and unclear ties to the Du family.

Because of this relationship, the two major sects of Mianshui County—the Guild Cao and the Fishing Guild—also took good care of Shunfeng Escort Agency, treating it almost as if it were at the level of a Hall Master.

In such competitions between the two guilds, they usually invited a third party to act as the arbitrator, hence Elder Sun Bu’er was invited.

Elder Sun’s voice was loud and resonant, like a booming bell, full of inner strength.

Seeing the crowd below quiet down, Elder Sun raised his tone slightly and said, “The time is about right. Gentlemen, today’s competition between the Guild Cao and Fishing Guild will determine the holder of the Village Chief position for Xiantao Town for the next five years; I needn’t elaborate on the importance of this position.”

“So, I ask that the young fighters demonstrate their family’s unique skills to secure this position for their guild.”

“Good!”

Upon hearing Mr. Sun Bu’er’s words, the crowd below shouted out, with Zhou Chu of the Fishing Guild having the loudest voice.

Chen Jie looked at Zhou Chu and said, “Old Zhou, why are you shouting so loud, as if Elder Sun cannot see you.”

Zhou Chu glanced at Chen Jie and said, “Jiu Si, you don’t understand, just follow me and shout, alright!”

While shouting, he also clapped.

Chen Jie, not understanding, watched as Xiao Hu received a nudge from Zhou Chu’s elbow and also started clapping and cheering.

Elder Sun glanced in their direction but said nothing.

Then, Mr. Sun Bu’er announced, “Good. Now, let’s welcome the seniors from both parties to watch the competition.”

With that, three individuals came up side by side from not too far away, and when the disciples from the guilds saw these three men, they burst into wild cheers and applause.

“They are the Thirteen Grand Protectors, Chief Constable of Mianshui County, Zhang Liye; Hall Master of the Ruijin Hall of Guild Cao, the ‘Ghost Hand’ Gu Qingfeng; and Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall of the Fishing Guild, the ‘Fisherman’ Peng Shizhong!”

Elder Sun seemed to be an experienced host at such contests, managing the event effortlessly.

The three guests then ascended to the high platform, courteously making welcoming gestures to one another.

Zhang Liye ascended first as he was there as a guest and also a representative of the court. Although the martial world did not care much for the court these days, particularly Han officials, it was still necessary to offer some face.

After Zhang Liye, it was Gu Qingfeng’s turn; his seat was slightly further, so he went up first. Finally, Peng Shizhong, whose seat was closer to the stairs on that side, would go last.

Thus, everyone maintained face in this mutual courtesy.

Regardless of how vicious the fights below got, those at the top always had to keep a smile, show restraint, and be friendly.

This was the so-called “cultivation” of society’s elite.

Even if one secretly wished the other dead, they still had to insincerely wish, “May you live a hundred years.”

This is the hypocrisy of high society, where cursing loudly and making a fuss is reserved for the small-time ruffians. Real gang leaders are always polite and gentle, often appearing even more scholarly than scholars themselves.

Like Mr. Du, who was once one of the top three ruffians.

Today, Zhang Liye wore his usual arrest officer’s uniform, while Gu Qingfeng and Peng Shizhong were both dressed in long robes.

In this society, the long robe symbolized status.

It represented the expression of power and wealth through clothing.

The two big shots reached their seats, lifted their robe hems, and sat down gracefully.

The guild members below cheered wildly, rooting for their own Hall Masters!

The two exchanged glances before also turning to Zhang Liye, nodding their heads and lifting the teacups from the table for a sip of tea.