Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 178

Chapter 178 Uninvited Guest
In the Qin Clan’s backyard, a dragon-tiger battle was taking place. Xue Rengui and Cheng Zhijie had already been fighting for dozens of rounds on horseback, and both sides seemed to be evenly matched. The more Cheng Zhijie fought, the more courageous he became. Xue Rengui was slightly disadvantaged in the situation of defending more and attacking fewer, but he had always been calm and composed, not showing the slightest sign of defeat.

“Xue Rengui is hiding something.” Qin Shubao said with a smile, “This young man is sincere, honest, and quite powerful. Mubai, your martial arts skills are definitely not his match.”

“I already knew that.” Qin Mubai said, “Father, in my humble opinion, Uncle Cheng may not be able to defeat Xue Rengui.”

“Haha!” Qin Shubao smiled but didn’t say anything. He stroked his long beard and narrowed his eyes as he looked at the servant duel on the field. His gaze became even sharper.

Qin Mubai thought to himself, “Seeing this scene, my blood is boiling with excitement. If I want to compete with one of Xue and Cheng, my father must have been provoked to battle.” However, due to his reserved attitude, it was not good for him to bully Xue Rengui and use chariot warfare. If Cheng Zhijie hadn’t come out to stir up trouble today, it would have been my father, Qin Shubao, who was competing with Xue Rengui!

Although it was a bit regretful that he hadn’t been able to see the duel between these two peak martial artists, a match against Cheng Zhijie was enough to show Xue Rengui’s strength!

Cheng Zhijie is one of the teachers who taught me martial arts. I know his strength very well. I’m afraid that if I practice for another ten years and he grows ten years older, he will probably be able to defeat him. But right now, Xue Rengui was able to draw with him, and the actual victory and defeat were all in his hands. However, Xue Rengui’s temperament was rather modest, and he didn’t have the nerve to defeat Cheng Zhijie in front of everyone!

Cheng Zhijie, who was fighting in the arena, was also an old martial artist who had practiced martial arts for decades. At the same time, he was also an old man with exquisite insights. How could he not understand Xue Rengui’s strength and thoughts?

After another ten rounds of battle, Cheng Zhijie suddenly pulled out his horse and jumped to the side and shouted, “No more fighting, no more fighting! This old man drank too much today, and after a few rounds, his drunkenness broke out. Now, his eyes are a little dazzled!”

“Old General Cheng, this junior has offended me!” Xue Rengui hurriedly jumped off the horse and interrupted Fang Tian’s painting halberd, cupping his hands to apologize.

“Chengyi, Chengyi!” Cheng Zhijie also jumped off his horse and laughed, “Not bad, not bad. Little doll surnamed Xue, it’s already very good that you can walk over a hundred times without losing in this old man’s hands!”

“This fellow’s skin is getting thicker and thicker.” Qin Shubao shook his head and scolded.

Both Qin Mubai and Cheng Huaibi knew that Xue Rengui was letting the water go, so they couldn’t help but laugh a few times when they heard Qin Shubao’s words.

Cheng Zhijie grabbed Xue Rengui’s wrist and dragged him in front of Qin Mubai and the others. “Qin Sanlang, is Xue Rengui your friend?” He said carelessly.

“Exactly.” Qin Mubai replied.

“Alright, we are really gathered by type. You are all ordinary young geniuses!” Cheng Zhijie opened his eyes wide and said, “Mubai, don’t blame your uncle for causing trouble.” Even if he was a friend, he should not refrain from being stabbed in the ribs by the other party. Back then, when I was young with your father, there was a fight where I got beaten up with a knife, where I got drunk and had money to share, so it was almost time for me to split up with your mother-in-law … Uh, cough cough cough cough cough! I mean, you should help Xue Rengui no matter what. Aren’t you the famous person in front of the emperor, Baiji, who has quite a bit of power in his hands? “This new army is definitely going to hire people, and Xue Rengui’s martial arts talent is so outstanding. Why don’t you tell His Majesty to hire Xue Rengui to Baiji?”

Hearing this, Qin Mubai was immediately overjoyed. Only Cheng Zhijie, who dared to think and dare to speak, could speak so straightforwardly and quickly! This sentence had accidentally stabbed into the tacit understanding between Qin Mubai and Xue Rengui!

After hearing this, Xue Rengui hurriedly said, “Thank you, Old General Cheng, for your kindness. However, this junior has risen from his seat and has a shallow moral character. Do you dare to expect to serve in the personal guard of the Son of Heaven? Brother Qin has already taken good care of this junior. This junior really can’t bear to cause him any more trouble.”

Qin Shubao smiled and nodded, “Xue Rengui, I can tell that you are a low-key, calm and honest person.” But when you are born a man, you should serve your country. Even if there was retribution and talent, it would be a pity for him to be older than Lin Quan or to be abandoned in the market place, wouldn’t that be a pity? I really envy you now, young and spirited. When you reach my age of illness, you will regret why you didn’t use your lives to your heart’s content when you were young. “Shao Huayi can’t wait for time. Don’t wait for the white-headed man to regret it.”

Xue Rengui cupped his fists and replied, “This junior will remember the golden and jade words of the two Seniors. However, this junior can’t bear to cause Brother Qin any more trouble. Since we have already arrived in Chang’an, we want to rely on our own fists and feet to make a living.”

“Haha!” Qin Shubao laughed, “Rengui, listen.” Chang’an is indeed a good place, every inch of land, every inch of gold wang hou. At every moment, countless people came to Chang’an with the dream of becoming rich, but the real success was only one in ten thousand. More people were just drowned in the boundless sea of people, drifting along with the waves and doing nothing. It’s not that I look down on you, it’s just that there’s obviously a shortcut and you want to take a detour. Isn’t this the behavior of a fool? There’s no need for heroes to come from nowhere. Back then, I, Qin Qiong, was also a grass-roots citizen. After joining the army, I relied on my accumulated military merits in a bloody battle to gain my current reputation. I am not the one who boasts that most heroes in the world are not in my eyes, but I am very optimistic about you, Xue Rengui. In time, your accomplishments will not be inferior to mine. However, the Hidden Dragon Soaring Abyss still needs to take advantage of the lightning. Now that you are nameless, it is not easy to start from scratch in Chang’an, where dragons are hidden and tigers are crouching. Don’t tell me you want to start as a soldier like I did back then? This will waste at least ten more years of your time! Moreover, there are very few battles in the Great Tang Empire, and it is even harder for you to show your face when the beacons of the former Sui Dynasty are everywhere. “If my life is wasted because of temporary obsession and vanity, or if ten years are wasted, even this old man will regret it for you!”

Qin Shubao rarely spoke in such a lengthy manner. After saying those words, Cheng Zhijie, Qin Mubai, and the others felt that it was true and nodded their heads repeatedly. Everyone was looking forward to seeing Xue Rengui’s reply.

Xue Rengui remained silent for a long time, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing this scene, Qin Mubai came out to help him out and said, “Father, Uncle Cheng, Brother Xue doesn’t disagree either. It’s just that everyone has their own aspirations, and he also has his own difficulties and difficulties. Furthermore, he has just arrived in Chang’an with his family. We should give him more time to adapt and not be too anxious.”

Qin Shubao smiled and nodded, “Sanlang’s words are not without reason. I also cherish that he is a rare talent, so I can’t help but say a few more words.”

“Xue Rengui, Uncle Bao has always been a person who cherishes words like gold and never talks nonsense. You’ve just met him for the first time and received such a good gift from the Golden Language. You’re very lucky!”

Xue Rengui hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed, “Thank you Duke Yi for your kind words. I will never forget them!”

“Alright, there’s no need to be too polite.” Qin Shubao smiled casually and said, “Let’s go back and drink! Sanlang, take Rengui and wash your face. Have the kitchen change the wine and dishes.”

“Yes, father.” Qin Mubai left with Xue Rengui and Cheng Huaibi.

Cheng Zhijie leaned closer to Qin Shubao and smiled, “Old Second Brother, your Sanlang has grown strong!”

“What do you mean?”

“He has only been an official for a year, and he already knows how to tie his brothers to the pole.” Cheng Zhijie laughed.

Qin Shubao smiled and said, “This Xue Rengui is indeed a rare young genius.” I have talked about the military for many years, but now I only have a false reputation. It is difficult for me to really help Sanlang in the official career. He relied on his own ability to run his business. As long as he didn’t commit any crimes and harbor any unusual thoughts, it wouldn’t be bad. After all, officialdom was like a battlefield, so who wouldn’t have many brothers? If we hadn’t advanced and retreated together back then, which one of us would have survived until now? ”

“That’s right.” Cheng Zhijie nodded deeply, “But my stupid son doesn’t seem to have thought of this level. He only knows how to be a salaried official and wait for death to have no ambitions. Ah, if he is half as smart as Mubai, I don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“Not entirely.” Qin Shubao knitted his brows. “Sanlang, there have been great changes in the past few years since he left home and joined the army. It’s so big that I don’t even know him. I often wonder if he will be a blessed star that will glorify our ancestors in the future, or if he will bring disaster to the entire sect.”

“My old second brother, you think too much, don’t you?” Cheng Zhijie grinned and said, “I didn’t see you frown in the rain of sabers, spears, and arrows back then. Why are you so afraid now? Don’t you grow more cowardly the longer you live?”

Qin Shubao glanced sideways at Cheng Zhijie and said, “You’re still the same!”

“Where do I get it?!” Cheng Zhijie hurriedly shouted.

“Then why did you ask to be transferred to another prefecture or county and not continue to wander around in the Chang’an Imperial Court?” Qin Shubao sneered and mocked, “Aren’t you afraid of being excluded by Yuchi Jingde and the others and hiding far away if you can’t afford to provoke them? Why didn’t you follow your temper back then and slim down to give two transparent holes?”

“Ha … haha!” Cheng Zhijie laughed loudly, “Drink, let’s drink!”

Qin Mubai, Cheng Huaibi, and Xue Rengui went to the kitchen together to get some water to wash Xue Rengui’s sweat away. Qin Mubai said, “Brother Xue, you don’t have to take my father and Uncle Cheng’s words seriously. They are used to lecturing like this.”

Qin Mubai just didn’t want Xue Rengui to bear any psychological pressure and be forced to join the Hundred Cavalry. In that case, the twisted melon was not sweet.

Xue Rengui hurriedly said, “No, what the two seniors have said are all good words. It makes me feel like I’m being too stubborn. When I get back, I’ll reflect on myself and bow.”

Just as he was speaking, a servant hurriedly ran over from the front residence and greeted Qin Mubai with a bow, “Third Young Master, please come to the front residence and take a look. Another distinguished guest has arrived at home!”

“Who is your distinguished guest?” Qin Mubai asked in surprise.

“I still don’t know.” The servant hurriedly said, “It’s just that I saw a lot of extravagance. The person just arrived at the entrance of the mansion and is resting his carriage. He must be either a duke or a duke!”

“That’s strange. My Qin Manor has always been very popular. Why is it so lively today?” Qin Mubai smiled and left the servant to serve Xue Rengui and Cheng Huaibi. After saying goodbye, he went to the front residence to welcome the guests.