The Road to Glory

Chapter 18: "Time to Settle the Score Between Us..."

In the deep winter's heavy frost, withered grass slumped along the riverbank was coated in a layer of icy crystals.

Though the river hadn't frozen over, on such days its waters still carried a bone-chilling cold.

A basket of freshly washed bedding and quilt covers sat by the riverbank. The previously calm river surface suddenly rippled as Xiao Li emerged from the depths, holding two fish strung together with water weeds. The splashing water momentarily drowned out the sound of the two fish thrashing their tails in his grasp.

On such a frosty, windy day, he was actually bare-chested. His hair tips and his entire robust chest were dripping with water. Without clothing to cover him, the coiled muscles of his shoulders and back revealed smooth, beautiful lines that subtly bulged with his movements, as if brimming with power. However, there was a scar on his shoulder blade, likely from a burn.

He shook his head roughly, sending droplets flying from his jet-black hair. Gazing at the two fish in his hand, he laughed heartily, "Consider yourselves lucky! Tonight, you'll be sacrificed to the temple of this Xiao's family's five organs!"

The two fish thrashed their tails again, splashing him in the face with fishy water.

Xiao Li spat and flung the fish onto the bank with a swing of his arm. He scooped up some water to wash his face, then slicked back his soaked bangs before stepping ashore.

Water still dripped from his hair roots. As he moved closer to the bank and the water grew shallower, the well-defined muscles of his waist and abdomen became clearly visible.

The sun peeked out halfway. A droplet of water clung precariously to the strands of hair near his ear, and when the sunlight hit it, it looked like an earring worn by men of foreign tribes, inexplicably adding a touch of sinister allure.

At this hour, no one had come to the riverbank to do laundry yet.

Xiao Li reached the shore, sat on the riverbank, and wrung out his wet trousers. He casually squeezed the water from his dripping hair and tied it up with a hairband.

After practicing a set of fist techniques by the riverbank, the heat from his body had half-dried his soaked trousers.

This set of fist techniques was taught to him by a mad old man back when he was in prison.

That mad old man would either beat or scold him, forcing him to learn many strange things. Xiao Li was only about eight or nine years old at the time. Realizing that practicing this fist technique could strengthen his body and help him earn his meals with his fists in prison, he studied diligently, even though he had no idea what the other things the mad old man taught him were.

But even after he was released from prison, he still hadn't figured out the purpose of the diagrams and texts the mad old man had made him memorize.

It wasn't until he accidentally heard a storytelling session by Old Man Ge, who recounted the tale of a former dynasty's great martial general using the Heng E Formation to defeat the enemy, that he suddenly jolted with realization.

Among the things the mad old man had made him memorize was the Heng E Formation.

Illiterate and initially clueless about what it was, he had memorized it purely out of fear of the mad old man's harsh beatings during his seven years in prison, until it was ingrained in his mind.

After learning from Old Man Ge that the Heng E Formation was a military deployment tactic, he began frequenting storytelling sessions. Whenever Old Man Ge recounted stories of past dynasties' martial generals, a few terms he'd heard from the mad old man would inevitably pop up.

Through this method, he gradually matched the things he had memorized by rote with the actual historical examples of famous generals from various dynasties, slowly pondering the strategies in each battle.

Though it might seem like idle curiosity, whenever he delved into these matters, his entire mind would become exceptionally calm.Hou Xiao'an assumed he enjoyed listening to stories of princes, generals, and ministers from various dynasties. After frequently attending Old Ge's storytelling sessions, he would return and recount them to him. Having no way to explain himself, he never offered any further clarification.

Once the heat had mostly dissipated from his body, Xiao Li put on the brown robe he had discarded nearby, picked up the fish and the bamboo creel, and headed back.

On the way, he encountered several women heading to the river to do laundry.

He fixed his gaze on one of them and frowned. "Aunt Fang? Didn't you say you were ill and wouldn't be taking on any laundry work until the end of the year?"

The woman Xiao Li had called out to seemed somewhat afraid of him. Clutching her wooden basin, she avoided his gaze and stammered, too timid to respond.

Another woman nearby spoke up on her behalf. "Young brother Xiao, the matter concerning your family has already spread throughout South Third Alley. Aunt Fang doesn't only take on work from your household. Other families say... they're afraid it's unclean to wash their clothes together with yours. Aunt Fang relies on laundry work to make a living—she can't afford to lose other customers just for your family's sake..."

Xiao Li sensed something amiss and asked, "What matter concerning my family?"

The women exchanged glances. Seeing that he seemed genuinely unaware, the one who had spoken earlier explained, "A few ruffians have taken over Old Ge's storytelling spot. For the past couple of days, they've been spreading rumors everywhere... saying your mother was once the top courtesan at the Drunken Red Chamber..."

Those words seemed to strike a nerve, causing Xiao Li's face to darken instantly.

Wen Yu was unfamiliar with the roads in this area and relied entirely on Hou Xiao'an's directions as she supported him on their way to the clinic.

But Hou Xiao'an had been kicked several times, and it was unclear whether his internal organs had been injured. Even with her support, he struggled to walk.

Wen Yu said with concern, "You won't let me tell your second brother, but with injuries like these, it'll take at least ten days to half a month to recover. How do you plan to keep it hidden?"

Hou Xiao'an covered his mouth and coughed softly. "Let's just hide it for now..."

He lifted one of his swollen eyes to check the way and spotted someone standing at the intersection ahead. His expression shifted several times before he finally managed to mumble, "Second Brother..."

Wen Yu was equally taken aback upon suddenly seeing Xiao Li. She stood still, still supporting Hou Xiao'an.

As Xiao Li approached, Hou Xiao'an tried to force a smile, but his face was bruised purple and green. Even the slightest movement caused him intense pain, resulting in a strained, awkward grin. "Second Brother, I... I fell by accident..."

Xiao Li said nothing. He took Hou Xiao'an from Wen Yu, hoisted him onto his back, and silently carried him toward the clinic.

Wen Yu watched his retreating figure, her brows slightly furrowed. She had a feeling he might already know something.

Hou Xiao'an, lying on Xiao Li's back, grew increasingly anxious at his silence. He wanted to speak several times, but the oppressive atmosphere around Xiao Li was so intimidating that he didn't dare open his mouth.

He knew his lie was flimsy, but in the heat of the moment, he hadn't been able to come up with a better excuse.

At the clinic, Xiao Li didn't press Hou Xiao'an for details. He simply called for the physician to examine his injuries.

When the physician removed Hou Xiao'an's upper garment and saw his thin chest and abdomen covered in bruises from the kicks, he sighed repeatedly. "Such a young lad—how could anyone beat him like this..."Wen Yu, mindful of Hou Xiao'an's earlier plea, found it difficult to interject and silently assisted the physician, handing him a warm cloth to wipe the blood from Hou Xiao'an's face.

Xiao Li seemed highly experienced with injuries from falls and blows, having poured medicinal oil into his palm, warmed it by rubbing, and applied it to Hou Xiao'an's body.

Hou Xiao'an glanced at Xiao Li's expression, his anxiety growing. He forced a smile and said, "Second Brother, I really don't feel any pain at all..."

Xiao Li increased the pressure while rubbing the medicinal oil, causing Hou Xiao'an to gasp involuntarily, his veins bulging as he gripped the edge of the bed tightly.

The physician observed this and said, "Endure it. Your bruises are severe; this is how the medicinal oil works fastest."

Hou Xiao'an gritted his teeth against the pain, cold sweat beading on his temples. He noticed Xiao Li's uncharacteristic silence and grew increasingly uneasy. Several times he tried to speak, but all his strength was spent clenching his jaw, leaving him unable to utter a word.

Wen Yu, seeing him endure such pain, couldn't bear to watch and lowered her eyes.

By the time the medicinal oil had been fully applied, Hou Xiao'an's hair roots were soaked with sweat. He lay on his back, panting heavily.

The physician still needed to prescribe internal medicine. Wen Yu noticed that Xiao Li had washed his hands and sat aside, remaining silent the entire time. Sensing that the brothers might have matters to discuss privately, she followed the physician to the outer room to get the prescription.

Only then did Xiao Li speak: "Xiao'an, do you think your Second Brother is particularly useless?"

Hou Xiao'an panicked and hurriedly said, "No, I've never thought that, Second Brother..."

"Then why did you hide it from me when you were beaten by those scum?" Xiao Li suddenly looked up, a complex mix of emotions swirling in his eyes, tinged with a ferocity that turned them crimson.

Hou Xiao'an fell silent. He had hidden it from Xiao Li because he didn't want him to know that Xiao Huiniang had been so slandered and humiliated by those ruffians.

But Xiao Li stared at him, his dark eyes fierce: "Who are the scum who beat you and slandered my mother?"

Hou Xiao'an's lips trembled slightly. Seeing that Xiao Li already knew about the matter, he no longer concealed it and truthfully replied, "It was Chen Si, Wang Wu, and Feng Laoqi—under Wang Qing's command."

Xiao Li stood up and strode out.

Hou Xiao'an, seeing this, tried to stop him but was too severely injured to get out of bed. He could only shout, "Second Brother! Don't go alone! Third Brother and the other brothers were punished yesterday and are still bedridden. Wait until we've all recovered, then we'll seek revenge together!"

Wen Yu, hearing the shouts from the inner room while at the counter, turned around and saw Xiao Li push aside the curtain, his face dark.

Hou Xiao'an, spotting her, urgently called out, "Sister A Yu, stop Second Brother! Stop him! Don't let him go!"

Wen Yu, seeing the overwhelming ferocity radiating from Xiao Li, knew he was determined to seek revenge on those hooligans and whoever was behind them. Meeting his gaze, she said, "A gentleman seeks revenge even ten years later; do not act on impulse..."

Xiao Li brushed past her, leaving only the words, "Watch over Xiao'an for me.Wen Yu frowned, intending to persuade him further, but he had already stepped forward into the wind and snow.

Only Hou Xiao'an's sobs remained in the inner room: "Second Brother, you mustn't go..."Wen Yu did not know if today's events were related to Chen Lai Zi pawning her to the Xiao family, but since Xiao Huiniang had already been implicated, she could no longer stand by and do nothing. Lifting the inner room's door curtain, she said to Hou Xiao'an, who was crying with a runny nose and tears, "Do you know what exactly is going on? Tell me about the grudge between that gang and your second brother."

Outside, the weather was freezing cold, but inside the Cosmos Gambling House, it was warm and cozy.

A charcoal brazier was placed under each gambling table, and the gamblers crowded together, their shouts of "Big!" or "Small!" loud enough to lift the roof. The heat flushed the faces of the gamblers in thick coats, making them sweat.

Wang Qing had won several rounds in a row at the gambling table and was in high spirits. Pushing all the silver in front of him forward, he shouted, "Next round, I'm betting big!"

The ruffians who often followed him exchanged glances and immediately took out their silver, placing their bets on the same side: "We're following Brother Qing!"

The uninformed gamblers, seeing his winning streak, assumed he was on a lucky streak and followed suit.

A gambling house employee disguised as a gambler took out a silver ingot and placed it on the "Small" side, shouting, "I don't believe in this nonsense—I'm betting small!"

The gamblers laughed at his stubbornness, while only those in on the scheme wore knowing smiles.

The dealer shook the dice cup with a clattering sound, and the gamblers' eyes followed his hands as if their eyeballs might roll out of their sockets. When the dice cup was slammed onto the table, the gamblers grew excited, chanting rhythmically in unison, "Open! Open!"

Just as the dealer was about to reveal the dice, a loud crash was heard from outside.

Everyone turned to look and saw two figures kicked flying into the room, shattering the carved wooden door and crashing onto a gambling table, sending gambling tools flying and scattering across the floor.

The gamblers, who had never seen such a scene, screamed and crouched to dodge and flee.

Only Wang Qing remained seated calmly at the center of the gambling table, slowly raising his eyes to the cold, fierce young man walking into the gambling house.

Xiao Li stepped into the hall empty-handed. The gangsters under Wang Qing's command quickly surrounded him in a semicircle, but knowing his prowess and intimidated by his imposing presence, none dared to step forward and pick a fight.

Ignoring them completely, Xiao Li strode directly toward Wang Qing, the joints in his hands cracking audibly.

Wang Qing raised an eyebrow and made a show of standing up, taunting, "Well, if it isn't our—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Li kicked over the gambling table.

Wang Qing quickly turned sideways, using his elbow and back to block, but the heavy table crashed to the ground with a thud. He was then dragged by the collar and pulled forward, receiving a brutal punch to the jaw.

Wang Qing flew backward uncontrollably, spitting out food debris. He thought he heard the sound of bones cracking, and then his entire jaw and head went numb. He landed, crushing a row of tables and chairs behind him.

All of this happened in an instant.

The ruffians below stood frozen in place as if spellbound.

Xiao Li stared at Wang Qing, who writhed on the ground like a dying dog, trying to get up. He walked over and stepped on his back, pressing his face into the filthy floor until blood trickled from his nose and mouth. Only then did he speak coldly, "It's time to settle the score between you and me."

Author's note:Whoa, just noticed someone mentioned the male lead's nickname is "Cha" hahahaha, successfully claimed my daily dose of laughter.

But originally, the male lead's nickname was meant to correspond to "wolverine" lol.

The early bonding arc is almost complete, and we're about to dive into the major plotline.

Red envelopes for everyone in this chapter too~