Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Hu, the Prefectural Magistrate
 

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Two Shichen later, Qi Yue appeared at the entrance of the valley where Huang Zai’an had brought her last time.

Looking at the grass and plants on the ground that had been trampled into mud, she cautiously stopped in her tracks.

Based on her observation from the previous visit, Huang Zai’an’s place seldom had visitors, but the trampling before her eyes must have been the work of at least a hundred people.

“Big Sister,”

A crisp voice interrupted her thoughts, and Qi Yue looked up to see Little Shanzi walking out of the valley, smiling at her.

“I’m not your big sister, stop calling me that.”

Little Shanzi continued to chuckle as if he didn’t take her words to heart.

Qi Yue rolled her eyes at him and walked into the valley.

“Are there people in the valley? Are they reinforcements?”

“Yes,” Little Shanzi nodded, “Master instructed me to tell Sister not to mention the matter of you taking the dragon in front of these people.”

Qi Yue raised an eyebrow, “Oh? And why is that?”

Little Shanzi looked around before he explained the situation.

It turned out that the people who had come today were also here to treat a leg injury.

The Panax Notoginseng they were after had been reserved by them a year ago, specifically for treating the leg.

A few days ago, they had traveled a long distance to arrive, only to discover that the item was gone, and they were so enraged that they were close to committing murder.

Luckily, Huang Zai’an had the gift of gab, insisting that they had missed the optimum time, and that the Panax Notoginseng was no longer suitable; they needed to look for a White Rhino instead.

Thinking of the hundred or so messy footprints at the entrance of the valley, Qi Yue began to feel somewhat grateful to Huang Zai’an.

No matter why the old man insisted on acknowledging her as his disciple, she decided to remember this favor!

“If he was injured a year ago, why didn’t this person seek treatment at the time?”

Little Shanzi’s sly eyes spun before he spoke in a hushed tone, “Master disdained their posturing and refused to treat them, deliberately stringing them along.”

Qi Yue was greatly surprised; she hadn’t expected the old man to hold grudges like that.

“So what about this time? Why is he stringing them along again? I bet that person’s leg doesn’t need a White Rhino at all.”

Little Shanzi pursed his lips and smiled.

“Master said this is a welcoming gift for Sister.”

“Heh, the old man really knows how to be amusing.”

She suddenly felt that Huang Zai’an’s way of dealing with people matched her own tastes quite well; having such a master seemed pretty good.

As the two of them chatted along the way, passing through the narrow valley path, when it suddenly opened up, Qi Yue was startled by the scene before her.

More than a hundred people stood erect in various places in the valley, their posture protective of the two people in the center.

One of those two was sitting in a wheelchair, while the other stood beside it.

On closer inspection of the wheelchair, it was clearly identical to Zhao Xiyan’s, and the standing person also seemed familiar.

She suddenly remembered Little Shanzi saying that the person here for the leg treatment was Mr. Hu…

This individual before her was clearly the very same Prefectural Magistrate Hu that she had toyed with in the Longnan County Government…

The world is indeed small!

With a sigh in her heart, Qi Yue maintained a calm exterior as she walked towards Huang Zai’an and called out “Master.”

Huang Zai’an did not expect Qi Yue to call him ‘Master’ so easily and he was so pleased that he actually jumped up.

“Ah, good disciple, come here, let me introduce you to our two esteemed guests!”

“Yes, Master.”

At that moment, Qi Yue was feigning obedience more than ever, hoping that the Prefectural Magistrate’s sight had dulled.

After the incident that day, she had also inquired about Mr. Hu, learning that his name was Hu Chengxuan, known for his vindictiveness and ruthless methods. To cross him was no laughing matter.

Although she was about to leave this place and need not fear him, if Mr. Hu found out about the Zhao Family through her, that would be quite problematic.

“Disciple, this is our guardian deity of Longnan Ridge—Prefectural Magistrate Hu, Mr. Hu, and this is his only son, Hu Keqing.”

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Qi Yue gave a respectful greeting by lifting her hand.

“I’ve met Master Hu and Young Master Hu.”

“Indeed, we have met,” Hu Chengxuan let out a somewhat unfriendly snort of laughter, “in the wooden furniture store at the County Government.”

That statement dashed Qi Yue’s hope of bluffing her way through.

She was puzzled, how could the Prefectural Magistrate, with his myriad affairs, remember her so clearly?

But even if she adamantly denied having tricked him, what could he do?

“Master, you toil over state affairs; to think you still remember such a trivial matter as buying a wheelchair, that is indeed rare.”

As she spoke, she glanced at the wheelchair, “It seems the Master has gotten a fine wheelchair indeed, unlike mine, which fell apart halfway down the road.”

Hu Chengxuan was just about to speak when Hu Keqing suddenly interjected.

“Father, when did you get to know this young lady? Why not introduce your son and let us also become acquainted?”

His words instantly defused the confrontation and shifted Qi Yue’s attention to the son of the Prefectural Magistrate.

Hu Keqing appeared to be about twenty-four or twenty-five, with high nose and broad brows, displaying a grand and imposing air, and the quiet smile on his face made his bright eyes even more spirited.

In the brief exchange of looks between the two, a glint of shrewdness flashed across Hu Chengxuan’s eyes.

Ever since his son’s leg had been injured, it was the first time he saw him looking so intently at a girl!

Moreover, during this time, more than once had he thought about the woman who easily cracked the back of a wheelchair and regretted not having recruited her for his own use!

If his son succeeded, wouldn’t it be killing two birds with one stone!

With that thought, Hu Chengxuan immediately decided not to mention the past incident anymore. He chuckled and said, “She’s right in front of you, you can get to know her yourself!”

And so, Qi Yue found herself entangled with Hu Keqing.

He kept asking her what her name was, how old she was, how she got there, when she became a disciple of Huang Zai’an, and so on.

In the end, it was Huang Zai’an who stepped in and got Qi Yue out of the situation.

“Master Hu, I have already taught my disciple how to extract rhinoceros horns. She will go with the team this time, and we hope for your special attention,” he said.

Hearing this, Hu Keqing expressed his desire to go as well.

Seeing that Hu Chengxuan seemed to be actually considering his approval, Qi Yue immediately voiced her objection, as she did not want to associate daily with Master Hu’s son.

“Master, didn’t you say that the area where the White Rhino is found is extremely dangerous? It might not be convenient for Master Hu’s son to go there!”

Huang Zai’an had already seen through Qi Yue’s intentions and quickly stroked his beard, “That’s right, it is not suitable for Young Master Hu to go on this trip. You should stay in this valley, as I have some preliminary treatments to perform on you. Once the White Rhino Horn arrives, you will be able to stand up in no time!”

After some earnest persuasion, they managed to convince Hu Keqing to agree to wait in the valley for their return.

While the Hu family father and son began picking out members for the expedition, Qi Yue finally got a chance to talk alone with Huang Zai’an.

“Old man, why are you helping me?” Qi Yue glared, “Don’t use that script about gifts for becoming a disciple or meeting for the first time. Unless you explain yourself clearly, I’d rather go get it on my own.”

Seeing that Qi Yue was serious, Huang Zai’an quickly pulled her aside.

“You little lass, why be so guarded? Do I look like a bad person? Just follow your master’s arrangements this time, and after you return, I’ll naturally tell you all about it.”

Qi Yue rolled her eyes, “You’re not my master.”

“Hey, you little girl, you’ve already called me that earlier, how can you go back on your word!”

“…”

After a verbal spar with Huang Zai’an, Qi Yue finally felt a lot more at ease, and calling him ‘Master’ felt justified.

“Master, before we leave, your disciple wants to entrust you with something…”

She hadn’t yet finished when Huang Zai’an interrupted her.

“Don’t worry. That lad ate my gift for becoming a disciple, he is now my disciple too, so he’s my responsibility.”

“Master, your disciple has another matter…”

“Why do you have so many concerns? Your master is already at a loss…”

“Master…”

“Speak…”