Chapter 21: Bullying Others by Borrowing Power

Five Lakes and Four Seas Inn.

Chen Tiansheng returned to the inn with injuries on his face, and Li Dongshan was instantly delighted.

Li Dongshan approached Chen Tiansheng, eyeing him with disdain, and said in a mocking tone, "Kid, I told you that the assessment for the Mortal Dao Society initiates isn't easy. It’s only been half a day, and you've come back looking like this. Those bronze statues don't show any mercy, especially to such a young lad."

Previously, when Chen Tiansheng had shattered a stone block with a single punch in the inn, Li Dongshan figured he had reached a certain level in street arts. Combined with these injuries, he assumed Chen Tiansheng had passed the street arts test but had been humbled in the Bronze Statue Room.

To be beaten like this, he certainly hadn't passed the final assessment.

His earlier foul mood vanished, replaced by wild glee.

"Little Chen is a member of your inn, after all. As the manager, how can you be so mean to him!" Feng Siniang stepped forward, pushed Li Dongshan aside, helped Chen Tiansheng into a seat, and poured him a bowl of wine. She comforted him, "The Bronze Statue Room assessment is strict. Even experienced travelers can't guarantee a pass. You’ve mastered your arts at such a young age; you will surely pass in the future. Don't be discouraged!"

"Thank you, Fourth Sister."

Chen Tiansheng picked up the wine bowl and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing Chen Tiansheng’s composed expression, Feng Siniang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "I didn't expect you to have such a high tolerance for liquor! Even I can't finish this thirty-year-old 'Burning Knife' in one go, yet you downed it without batting an eye. Impressive, ha!"

Li Dongshan couldn't afford to offend Feng Siniang, as the Five Lakes and Four Seas Inn relied on the business of travelers, and if he failed, he could be dismissed at any time or replaced by another inn. However, since Chen Tiansheng was his subordinate, he said unceremoniously, "With such a tolerance for drink, I suspect you've been stealing my stock from the kitchen!"

With that, Li Dongshan barked, "Since you're back, don't just sit there. There are so many guests in the inn; do you need me to invite you to work?"

Feng Siniang said coldly, "Li Dongshan, don't slander people without proof!"

Knowing he had no evidence, Li Dongshan kept quiet, glaring at Chen Tiansheng to signal him to get to work. Secretly, he cursed Feng Siniang for repeatedly standing up for the brat and disrespecting him in public; one day, he would make sure someone taught that woman a lesson.

Feng Siniang whispered to Chen Tiansheng, "Go on and get busy. This is the territory of the Mortal Dao Society; it’s not for Li Dongshan to decide everything. If he dares to bully you, just let me know."

Li Dongshan sneered inwardly, thinking there were plenty of ways to deal with a lowly subordinate. In his own inn, who could protect him?

Chen Tiansheng thanked Feng Siniang for her help and was about to reveal that he had already been accepted as an initiate of the Mortal Dao Society when three men dressed in embroidered wolf-pattern robes, with white swords at their waists, appeared at the door.

Seeing them, Li Dongshan’s expression shifted. He hurried over, bowing his head subserviently. "Welcome, Envoys. Please, come inside. Someone, bring our best 'Spring Brew' and our signature dishes for the Envoys!" He didn't forget to glance back at Chen Tiansheng, mouthing silently, "Get to work!"

The Envoys were the messengers of the Mortal Dao Society, usually announcing major news and being the closest associates of the administrators. They were similar to the imperial secret police, and their rank was higher than Li Dongshan's; he dared not offend them.

The lead Envoy raised a hand and said, "We are not here to eat. We have an announcement to make. Are you the manager of this inn?"

Li Dongshan felt a surge of joy and nodded repeatedly.

He had been the manager of this inn for twenty years, and his performance had been good in recent years. He had even pulled some strings recently—could it be that his promotion order had arrived?

The head Envoy gestured, "Bring them in."

At his command, three attendants entered, carrying wooden trays filled with neat silver ingots—fifty in total!

Seeing this, the people in the inn gasped.

Clearly, this was a reward.

Each ingot was worth fifty taels; fifty of them amounted to two thousand five hundred taels!

The Mortal Dao Society had a strict reward system, only honoring those who made significant contributions. The minimum reward was one hundred taels, and a sum of two thousand five hundred taels, delivered personally by the Envoys, was rarely seen—fewer than five people in the entire Qingzhou Prefecture had received such an honor.

The crowd looked at Li Dongshan with envy. With this reward, his future was bright!

Li Dongshan had spent many years in the underworld and naturally assumed the silver was for him. He was both surprised and puzzled. He had been a manager for twenty years, and his hard work being recognized was reasonable, but a reward of this magnitude was extreme. Even with his connections, it shouldn't be this high.

But since it had been delivered, it couldn't be fake. The organization must have seen his potential!

Thinking this, Li Dongshan feigned ignorance. "My lords, may I ask, what is this silver for?"

The Envoy replied, "This silver is a reward for you."

With a wave of his hand, the three attendants placed the trays on the counter and exited the inn.

Looking at the silver, Li Dongshan swallowed hard. Glancing at the travelers in the inn, he stood a little straighter. With the organization’s high regard, these travelers would have to watch their tone from now on; they wouldn't dare boss him around anymore.

Collecting himself, Li Dongshan took three ingots from the tray and approached the Envoys. "Thank you for the organization's recognition. Thank you for your trouble, sirs. Just a small token of my appreciation."

The lead Envoy glanced at the silver in Li Dongshan's hand and said coldly, "We have clear regulations against accepting private gifts. Are you trying to get us into trouble?"

Li Dongshan stiffened, hurriedly putting the silver away and laughing awkwardly. "You jest, Envoy. It is my mistake. Well, since you’ve traveled so far, please sit and have some tea."

Seeing that the three Envoys didn't outright refuse, Li Dongshan barked at Chen Tiansheng, who was still sitting there, "Why are you still sitting? Go and pour tea for the Envoys!"

Faced with Li Dongshan’s scolding, even Feng Siniang couldn't help, as Chen Tiansheng was still just a lowly subordinate.

However, Chen Tiansheng didn't stand up. In front of everyone, he said, "I'm sorry, but I have returned to tender my resignation. Therefore, I cannot pour the tea."

Resignation?

Li Dongshan narrowed his eyes and sneered. "When you joined the Five Lakes and Four Seas Inn, I clearly stated the rules. Resigning requires one month's notice; you cannot leave without cause. Otherwise, your qualification to enter the Mortal Dao Society will be revoked. Are you sure you want to do this?"

With the Envoys present, Li Dongshan didn't want to make a scene, but he had a valid reason for this, and if he couldn't handle a low-level subordinate, the Envoys might think he lacked management capability. He decided to make an example of Chen Tiansheng, never expecting the boy to walk right into the trap.

Feng Siniang urged from the side, "Little Chen, don't be stubborn with Li Dongshan. You have mastered street arts; you will have the strength to pass the assessment in the future. He won't be able to stop you then."

Chen Tiansheng nodded, thanking her. "Thank you for your concern, Fourth Sister, but my mind is made up. I came here today to resign, and I have a perfectly valid reason. It will not affect my ability to join the Mortal Dao Society."

Hearing this, Li Dongshan grew even more aggressive. "The Envoys are right here, and you still dare to spout such nonsense! Do you think that because you have someone backing you, you can ignore the organization's rules?"

Feng Siniang retorted, "Li Dongshan, don't use the Envoys to bully others! That’s not what he meant. He’s just a child who doesn't know better—are you just as ignorant?"

Li Dongshan sneered. "A child? He's nearly fourteen; is that still a child? And having little experience doesn't mean he can talk nonsense. He should be responsible for what he says!"

"Fourth Sister, let it be."

Feng Siniang was about to say more, but Chen Tiansheng stopped her.

Seeing Chen Tiansheng’s attitude, Feng Siniang shook her head helplessly. She had done what she could. If he remained obsessed, there was nothing she could do. She had misjudged him; she hadn't expected this young man to be so stubborn.

If he couldn't join the Mortal Dao Society in the future, even the highest talent in street arts would be useless!

Watching Feng Siniang, Li Dongshan couldn't help but let out a mocking smile. He turned to Chen Tiansheng and said, "I'll ask you one more time: are you resigning by force?"

Chen Tiansheng stood up and nodded without hesitation in front of everyone.

Feng Siniang and the others sighed with regret. Forcing a resignation meant he would never be able to join the Mortal Dao Society.

Li Dongshan smiled in triumph, thinking Chen Tiansheng was a fool for falling for such a simple provocation. *That's what you get for crossing me!*

With that thought, Li Dongshan said loudly, "If you want to resign, I cannot stop you. With so many witnesses here, I will grant your wish. I will report your information to the organization. You may leave now; we do not welcome those who do not follow the rules."

Chen Tiansheng nodded but did not move.

Li Dongshan sneered, waved his hand, and commanded the inn's staff, "Someone, throw Chen Tiansheng out!"

However, just as his hand fell, it was caught by someone.

Li Dongshan was about to explode, but when he turned to look, he saw it was the lead Envoy. He instantly lost his temper and said cautiously, "I apologize. My staff doesn't know the rules and has ruined your mood. I will handle it immediately."

"Handle it?"

The lead Envoy rubbed his chin, puzzled, and asked in front of everyone, "The organization gave you this reward because your inn cultivated Chen Tiansheng, a genius who has been admitted to the Mortal Martial Pavilion. Now you want to 'handle' this genius? Judging by your attitude just now, it seems you haven't contributed to his growth at all."

Genius? Mortal Martial Pavilion? Chen Tiansheng!