Chapter 23 Who Went Mad

  Early in the morning, Wu Fan hastily went to the Land Temple in Luoyang City, which was famous for its incense and prosperity. This rascal wasn't there to worship or make wishes, but rather to avoid trouble by getting a lucky draw from the temple staff. On second thought, Wu Fan felt quite foolish - why did he spend one or two silver coins yesterday buying that broken wooden bucket from Old Second Huang next door? There were already ones available here at the temple!

  After discovering this matter, Wu was heartbroken for a long time. Probably because he had been with Tong Rui for a long time, he contracted the bad habit of being petty.

  Covering his chest, Wu Fan stumbled all the way to the West City Hundred House, and ran into the new hundred house Zhong Xiu who was drunk again. The son of a bitch looked like he hadn't washed his face, probably having been drinking for a whole night, his whole body reeking of sour smell, really hard to bear. It made people want to cover their noses and leave, it's better to keep a distance.

  After all, it was Bai Hu or his superior, Wu Mouren thought of turning around and leaving him far away, but he couldn't, and had to pay respects: "I've seen Lord Bai Hu!"

  Zhong Xiu is notorious for his explosive temper, like a firework that ignites as soon as it's lit. But yesterday, when dealing with Wu Fan, he wasn't as rough and direct as usual; instead, he used many cunning tactics that didn't suit him at all, making it hard to figure out what was going on. However, it's likely that someone else came up with those moves for him. And now, today, his true nature is revealed once again.

  Staring with a pair of crimson drunken eyes, Zhong Xiu sized up Wu Fan from head to toe. Seeing Wu Fan meet his gaze, a face full of whiskers instantly turned furious, and he bellowed: "Wu Zongqi! What's your attitude? Huh? When you see a superior, you just go through the motions like this? Do you still have any respect for this hundred households in your eyes? Speak! Is there or not?"

  While roaring, he directly tried to use his hand to choke Wu Fan's neck.

  Wu Fan's smile on his face disappeared, he waved his hand to shake off Zhong Xiu's hand and said coldly: "Zhong Baihu! What do you want to do? Was there a problem with my salute just now? If there was a problem, point it out and demonstrate it, let me know where I went wrong, I'll change. But... if you're really looking down on us subordinates..."

  "How about it? Kill me?" Zhong Xiuxiu sneered, looking at Wu Fan with her eyes wide open, pointing to her own neck and saying: "Come on! Aren't you very capable? Chen Yucai and Guo Ye weren't killed by you with one knife each? What's the difference if I'm not killed too? Come on! Give me a knife! Come on!"

  Wu Fan's face was gloomy, his right hand resting on the back of the fourteen-kill knife sheath, his teeth gritting with a cracking sound. He knew that Zhong Xiu was intentionally picking a fight, and once he made a move, he would fall into her trap, so he hesitated to make a move.

  Wu Fan didn't make a sound for a long time, so Zhong Xiu burst out laughing and said: "Come on! Give me a knife! If you don't give me a knife today, you're my grandson! Turtle grandson!"

  "Hmph!"

  "Hahaha!"

  Wu Fan suddenly burst out laughing and then very seriously bowed his head again to pay respects, saying: "Grandfather, hello!"

  Turned around and left.

  Looking at Wu Fan's back, Zhong Xiu's face lost all its arrogance and complacency, becoming very stunned, because he already felt...felt that either he had gone mad or Wu Fan had gone mad! What does this mean? What is the meaning of this? How could he...how could he swallow his pride like this? Shouldn't he be drawing his sword to chop me instead? No, this development isn't right! How can it be like this?!

  If Wu Fan knew what Zhong Xiu was thinking, he would definitely tell Zhong Xiu that this is "intellectual crushing". Zhong Xiu said "You don't give a certain knife, you are a certain grandson, turtle grandson", then Wu Fan called his grandfather. What is the grandfather of the turtle grandson? The answer is obvious - Old Wang Ba.

  But...

  Wu Fan hasn't thought that far ahead, he has already started thinking of ways to get rid of Zhong Xiu. Judging from Zhong Xiu's behavior today, he must have been instructed by Wu Yuanhao to come to the City West Hundred Households Office with the sole purpose of getting rid of or killing Wu Fan by any means necessary. Otherwise, would Zhong Xiu be so foolish as to stand there and provoke Wu Fan into chopping him up just with words? That's just looking for an excuse.

  This is what you've driven me to! Don't think that a single "concentrating energy into the sea" can intimidate me, I have countless ways to take you down!

  Wu Fan's face turned black, his eyes were fierce to the extreme. He really didn't expect Zhong Xiu or Wu Yuanhao to come up with such a thing, it was too ugly! It was so ugly that even Wu Fan, who didn't care about appearances, couldn't bear to look at it! Of course, Zhong Xiu wasn't an opponent that Wu Fan could afford to offend now. The difference in official rank was like a crushing weight, and their martial arts skills weren't on the same level either. If Wu Fan hadn't called out "Grandfather" today, he would have lost even more face. There was no way around it - that violent-tempered dog had actually dared to beat up Wu Fan, then claimed he was drunk, and on top of that, Wu Yuanhao had helped him make excuses. Rather than this, it would be better to just not care about appearances at all! What's the value of face, anyway? It's better to avoid physical suffering!

  Wu Fan shook his head and stopped thinking about Zhong Xiu. Instead, he fetched a basin of water and wiped away the "up" and "down" marks on the bamboo slips, as well as some Buddhist scriptures. He then used a fine brush to carefully write down each name from the register. Finally, he even sent someone outside to buy a thick and sturdy pancake, which he inserted into the bottom of the bamboo tube. After testing it several times and finding it satisfactory, he let out a sigh of relief.

  He raised his head and it was already noon, with the scorching sun overhead.

  Wu Fan walked out of the house and beckoned his Eagle Guards to come over, saying: "I've already thought about how to choose the substitute Eagle Guards. You go gather all the people whose names are on the list." Looking at the crowd with their flattering expressions, Wu Fan suddenly realized something and patted his forehead, saying: "Don't worry, just go! I'll take care of things, you can rest assured!"

  The crowd of people with mixed feelings went out of the city gate in the west and began to walk along the streets, calling out according to the name list.

  Zhong Xiu, who had a conflict with Wu Fan in the morning, estimated that he was sober and knew he might have been a bit reckless... Letting him apologize was definitely not possible, he wasn't that kind of person who could yield to others, let alone he was ordered to give Wu Fan a good show.

  Zhong Xiu was taking a break under the big tree in the courtyard of the West City Temple when Wu Fan walked out of the house, raised an eyebrow and walked over with a pretentious air of dignity. He said slowly: "Director Wu, the matter of filling the quota for the Eagle Guard is not a trivial one! If you don't handle it fairly and people start gossiping, even if you are a hundred households leader, or even Commander-in-Chief, no one will be able to protect you!"

  Wu Fan smiled and looked at Zhong Xiu, staring until Zhong Xiu's hair stood on end. Only then did he reply: "Since the hundred officials have asked me to take charge of this matter, I will definitely do it beautifully. However...it seems that the hundred officials don't want to see me doing well?"

  "How could this be? How could this be?! General Wu, what are you talking about?! ", Zhong Xiu burst out laughing, the more fake the better: "Then I'll wait for your good news, of course, don't blame me if I didn't tell you, if you do a bad job... hehe."

  Wu Fan's expression didn't change, he directly said two words - "Hehe!"

  ……

  P.S: Seeking collection, seeking recommendation votes, seeking likes, seeking everything~~~