Chapter 4: Challenges

Qicao Xuan is just a street away from the bustling and vibrant central avenue of Chongming City, where the traffic flows incessantly. Yet, this place, separated by a single street, is quiet and cool, resembling two different worlds

"One thousand and one!" Bai Zhijie coldly glared at Chu Li: "Brother Chu, I advise you to think carefully about whether you really want to oppose Young Master Zhuo!"

Zhuo Feiyang shot him a cold glance, remaining silent.

On Central Avenue, immersed in the bustling crowd, Chu Li felt a surge of anger within, showing no sign of the slightest pleasure in taking advantage of Zhuo Feiyang.

"Speak quickly!" Li Yue asked anxiously

Li Yue widened his eyes and exclaimed: "Xiao Bai?!"

"Senior Brother Chu..." Zhao Ying smiled apologetically, knowing it was not appropriate to let the two come together

Bai Zhijie fixed his gaze on Chu Li and said, "Brother Chu, are you determined to go down this path to the end?"

one thousand

Chu Li smiled and said, "Why not give it a try"

Li Yue asked in confusion, "Why did you invite Miss Zhao here?"

Sigh... your audacity..." Li Yue shook his head helplessly; Chu Li cared for nothing and dared to do anything

Bai Zhijie hesitated for a moment, and finally stamped his foot: "Eleven thousand!"

Upon lifting the door curtain and entering, one is greeted by a sudden expanse; the bright hall is filled with a fragrant ambiance, with pots of exotic flowers and rare plants arranged on the antique shelves

On the morning of the second day, Chu Li was practicing in the Qing Sang flower garden when Li Yue ran over, saying, "Brother, something bad has happened, something bad has happened!"

Zhuo Feiyang let out a cold snort: "What are you doing here?"

Two beautiful young women followed behind, one with delicate features and the other with skin as white as snow, both charming and captivating; they were Zhao Ying.

Chu Li's expression darkened: "Do you want me to?"

Chu Li returned to the courtyard and wrote two posts, a challenge post for Zhuo Feiyang and an invitation post for Zhao Ying

Five hundred taels

The large round mirror activated, and An Song let out a sigh of relief, thankful that Zhao Ying had not been swayed and had specifically brought another female companion over.

It is very beautiful, but too expensive. Zhao Ying gently shook her head, reluctantly withdrawing her gaze from the moonlight orchid.

Chu Li casually brushed against the Moonlight Orchid and said, "Place your bid!"

Zhuo Feiyang, do you really take it seriously when others call you a genius

Li Yue waved his hand and said, "Stop pretending to be poor and pitiful; we are not buying into that!"

Upon seeing two individuals enter, he smiled and stood up, clasping his fists together: "Gentlemen, feel free to take a look."

Eight hundred

Chu Li frowned at him

Li Yue snorted, "Nonsense, who doesn't like it!"

This guy is not as upright as you think, he is quite despicable

"Are you going to challenge Zhuo Feiyang?" Li Yue hesitated and said, "Brother, isn't that too risky?"

Li Yue nodded and struck the ground with his fist, saying, "This is too much!"

Seven hundred

If there is no Chu Li, I won't be able to sleep well again. The flowers and plants in the East Garden are too delicate and often encounter problems

Chu Li and Li Yue stepped into the Qicao Pavilion

"Shopkeeper, how is it?" Bai Zhijie did not even glance at Li Yue, coldly staring at the old man.

The old man leaned over and chuckled, "Do you two young gentlemen like moonlight orchids?"

"Zhuo Shixiong, Chu Shixiong!" Zhao Ying stamped her foot in a playful manner

"... ... Alright." Li Yue responded with a hint of skepticism

Zhuo Feiyang is a genius who excels in all fields; he is destined to become a significant figure in the future. It is best not to provoke him if possible, as the consequences could be endless.

No merchant is without deceit; those who can open shops here are not poor, but rather affluent.

The elder hesitated: "This ... ..."

Zhuo Feiyang snorted: "A lowly servant, unable to afford even a single blade of grass, has come here just to satisfy his curiosity, how pathetic!"

Ten days! Chu Li smiled.

The essence of the Moonlight Orchid surged in an instant, circulating the Minor Washing Meridian Technique for one cycle

Li Yue looked at him with a sullen face and helplessly advised, "Brother, try to be more open-minded. Zhuo Feiyang is wealthy and powerful, and it is indeed impossible to compete with him."

Chu Li frowned in silence, losing all desire to continue the outing, and directly returned to the residence

Li Yue patted his waist and snorted: "Shopkeeper, open your eyes wider!"

He turned and left, while Li Yue glared fiercely at Bai Zhijie and hurried to catch up

Zhuo Feiyang looked down from a high vantage point and said: "Those with the surname Chu, get lost! Good dogs do not block the way!"

Zhuo Feiyang snorted: "Even if I am not of great use, I am still more useful than you"

Chu Li's expression was dark, with anger surging within him

Chu Li looked at Zhao Ying

Moreover, the guards serve in a pleasant capacity. The guards spend ten months a year on missions, while the attendants in the residence have no other duties, enjoying a leisurely and carefree life. The guards receive substantial bonuses for their missions, along with additional income, and even a small leak in their earnings is sufficient for the attendants to live a life of luxury.

Wait! As the curtain was lifted, a young man entered. He was the guard who had just been standing behind Zhuo Feiyang, tall and slender, with handsome features

What should we do?" Li Yue said anxiously

The old man chuckled and said, "Thank you, two hundred taels!"

Li Yue let out a sigh, looking at Li with helplessness: "Brother, you..."

Chu Li's swordsmanship is formidable, but Zhuo Feiyang is not to be underestimated, and victory is not guaranteed.

This guy usually smiles at himself, calling out "Brother Li" with every breath, but now he suddenly changes his expression, as if he has become a different person

Chu Li said: "I will write a challenge letter, Brother Li, please help me deliver it."

Please, Master Zhuo, go ahead first

The second Moonlight Orchid will only bloom after one year. In one year, Gu Litong will likely succeed in cultivation, while Zhuo Feiyang will advance to the seventh rank of guard. As for myself, there is no hope of promotion, nor any hope of establishing a foundation

Li Yue ran over and shouted: "Zhuo Feiyang is too unreasonable!"

Chu Li and Zhuo Feiyang locked eyes, both furrowing their brows

Zhuo Feiyang immediately changed his expression and gently smiled, "Sister Zhao, how do you find this Moonlight Orchid?"

Chu Li snorted: "I can only use my final move now"

Li Yue secretly thought it was not good, as the genius Zhuo Feiyang, if the two truly clashed, would not end well for anyone involved

Zhuo Feiyang is in contact with Baicao Courtyard, and Baicao Courtyard will not offend this genius because of their own actions

To refuse oneself is, in the eyes of others, to be unappreciative of the opportunity

Chu Li, however, would not underestimate this place, as it is said that one can remain closed for three years and then thrive for three years upon reopening

The gazes of Chu Li and Li Yue were instantly drawn to the moonlight orchid, its emerald green leaves curving gracefully, exuding a warm and lustrous sheen, resembling jade carved into shape, so beautiful that it seemed almost lifeless

Bai Zhijie, a Ninth-Rank Imperial Guard, greets everyone with a smile

Chu Li waved his hand to indicate it was nothing, casting a gloomy glance at them before turning to leave

Of course I am a genius! Zhuo Feiyang said with his head held high: What use is your intelligence if you have not even laid a foundation?

"Shopkeeper, how long can this moonlight orchid live?"

Sister Zhao, pleaseーー

The entrance of Qicao Xuan is old and dilapidated, surrounded by several antique shops and jewelry stores, all of which share a similar style, as if they are on the verge of closing down

Zhao Ying, dressed in a lake green silk robe, smiled and returned the greeting: "Senior Brother Li."

Master Zhuo is indeed quite lenient in his management

He exhaled, suppressing his overwhelming joy, the purest essence of spiritual energy! Just one year, only one year is needed to establish a foundation!

A handsome young man strode into the room, his face like a jade crown, with sword-like brows and bright eyes. A long sword hung at his waist, and he exuded an air of vitality, proudly surveying his surroundings. It was Zhuo Feiyang

He clasped his fists and laughed aloud, saying: "Hehe, Brother Zhuo, Miss Zhao, I am Li Yue from the East Flower Garden!"

Zhuo Feiyang glanced at the moonlight orchid and smiled, saying: "Sister Zhao, let us go somewhere else for a stroll. Being with him is too ominous, let’s go!"

What a rogue businessman!" Li Yue shook his head and took out a banknote from his pocket

"It just arrived not long ago," the old man raised two fingers and said, "at least two months!"

As the old man was about to speak, footsteps were heard, and a young man entered the room, respectfully lifting the door curtain and bowing. A voice came from outside the door

Li Yue said resentfully: "Zhuo Feiyang wants to change his guard!"

If Zhao Shimei is not invited, Zhuo Feiyang will play tricks

Chu Li sneered: "This is interesting, why can't I be here?"

At this moment, he stood in front of the old man with a cold expression: "I will offer three hundred taels!"

Chu Li stared at Bai Zhijie and suddenly smiled: "Ten thousand taels!"

What a remarkable Zhuo Feiyang, showing great progress; this move is both ruthless and cunning

He turned his head and apologized to Chu Li with a forced smile

"Hehe, are you from the Duke's residence?" The old man’s expression changed, and he clasped his fists with a smile, saying, "I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon... That old man does not dare to deceive; it has indeed been ten days. However, this year there is only this one plant that has come out of the island, and the next one will not be until next year. This old man has both elderly and young to care for, and I cannot sell it cheaply, even if it costs me my life!"

The rank of a first-class official is overwhelming, and the remuneration for guards and attendants differs, yet their status is quite similar. An eighth-rank guard may be paired with a ninth-rank attendant, and similarly, an eighth-rank attendant may also be paired with a ninth-rank guard

Chu Li smiled

Is it really that serious?

With your intellect, no matter how skilled you are in martial arts, you can only serve to guard the home and cannot be of great use

"Speak quickly!" Chu Li said irritably

In the center, there is an octagonal table, and an elderly man with a white beard is leisurely drinking tea

Zhuo Feiyang gritted his teeth and cast a disdainful sidelong glance at him: "In this world, martial arts are everything! ... You, with the surname Chu, I am currently at the eighth rank, and I will reach the seventh rank this year. What about you, a lowly unranked servant? To think of reaching the eighth rank, you would have to endure for twenty years, and you cannot make any mistakes. With your terrible character, how could you avoid causing trouble?"

He glanced at Chu Li, then at Bai Zhijie. The gentlemen of the Duke's residence are not to be trifled with, yet the prospect of enormous profits is too tempting to resist

six hundred taels

Sigh... No matter how strong the martial arts are, without intelligence, one is still a fool!" Chu Li shook his head

Chu Li waved his hand and said, "Shopkeeper, please make your offer."

Chu Li clasped his fists and smiled: "I admire you, you have won!"