Calling for One Last Wave

Midnight already passed, but everyone still awakes. They are gathering in the main hall, waiting for the results of Zhen Hao and Bai Qianshu meeting. Uneasiness filled the room, especially for Li Han and Fat Hao in one corner of it. They are sitting at a corner of the room, dressed as one of Zhen Hao's men.

Bai Qianshu gets out the room with four of his men. A small party for a Marquis, but all four certainly are martial arts experts. Bai Qianshu himself doesn't look like Liu Kaxing thought before. He is a skinny and pale man, with a smile that never leaves his face. Dressed in blue and white garments that fit his body perfectly. Neat and friendly are the first impressions the marquis exudes. If not for Li Han's accusation before, Liu Kaxing will never have a second thought about his personality.

Bai Qianshu kept his pace alongside Zhen Hao, unlike most superior who supposed to walk at the front. He is throwing a couple of jokes, while maintaining his conversation with him. Surprisingly, Zhen Hao escorts him to where Li Han is sitting.

Li Han realizes it early, stands up and steps forward to meet them on the way. For some people it is the customary for someone with a lower rank to receive those with a higher rank. It is strange enough that Marquis Bai chooses to come to Li Han instead of calling him over, but Li Han's true intention is so that Bai Qianshu and Fat Hao not going to see each other.

"Excellent! Younger than I expected, yet brave and talented. You don't know how important these documents for me. To think that a subordinate that I trust a lot, did all of those evil acts. It seems that my ability to judge people is not as good as I thought of." Bai Qianshu sighing hard and looks really disappointed.

Li Han carefully plays along, there is not a slightest contempt shown in his face, as he looks proud to be praised. Along with Zhen Hao, the three of them talk like they are old friends.

Liu Kaxing keeps wondering, what is in Bai Qianshu's mind at the moment? As for the other two, he can feel how hard they try to cover up their true feelings. Even though it not looks like that, every word they said are thought carefully. Both of them acted like professionals, smiling, laughing, throwing praises and jokes to each other.

"Let me make it right for you. Come to my place, I will make sure your efforts be rewarded. Sure, gold will be involved, but it is only for temporary. Work for me and you will have a bright future in front of you. For such a talented young man like you, it is not impossible to see you one day become the mayor of that city. Replacing that good for nothing of a man, and together we can heal the city back."

Bai Qianshu giving a sweet offer, but empty promise. Becoming a mayor is in distant future, what kind of works he has for him right now was never mentioned. Li Han certainly will refuse this offer, if he is right then his life will be in danger, the closer he gets to Bai Qianshu.

"I'm sorry Lord Bai, but I really admire Captain Zhen here. Since I encountered him here, I already decided to applied as a soldier in his army." Even Zhen Hao is surprise by that notion, but he is fast to adapt.

More pleasantries exchanges between the three of them. Bai Qianshu still hoping for Li Han to changes his mind, or Zhen Hao to gives Li Han away. Of course, that idea is rejected by both.

"Ha Ha Ha, I understand, gold it is then! I will send this young man reward to your place later. Please take care of him, I am sure he is talented." Bai Qianshu still throwing a playful banter, while admitting his defeat.

"Please, remember our conversation earlier. Keep these waves as small as ripples, our country deserves some peace." He then switches his tone into a serious one, before taking his leave

"Are you still going to after him?" Zhen Hao asks Li Han after they are sure Bai Qianshu is gone.

"Of course! However, I realize I am still inadequate to challenge someone as powerful as he is. My miscalculation has made both of my brothers suffer. He is smarter than I thought, all of my hard works turns obsolete with merely his presence here."

Zhen Hao has a hard time understanding Li Han. So young, but so mature at the same time. This is a man that just been in the verge of death. With his injuries, it was only a matter of luck whether he is live or death, yet his spirit never diminished.

He keeps his calm in his decision, keeping up with the tricky conversation in perfectly. Moreover, he realizes his shortcomings and prepares to learn more to be better. Something that even a lot of adults failed to admit. Zhen Hao's biggest concern however, is Li Han's ability to adapt with the discipline of a soldier.

Later Liu Kaxing learns that Zhen Hao introduced Li Han to Bai Qianshu because he considered he is a threat, so he put him to a tight spot. There are three scenarios, the best one which just happened. The second one is that he just lying about Marquis Bai's evil acts. The worst is that he was right and get killed by Bai Qianshu. Without beggar sect or his own protection, Li Han is a sitting duck for a marquis.

Liu Kaxing tired just listening them out. He is able to understand the hidden meaning of their actions and words, but has no intention at all to get involved at such pretentious conversation.

The next day, Liu Ka Xing doesn't feel he wants to wake at all. He is beaten up and tired all over. His dream to sleep all day just then stopped when Hai Zhen breaks into his room.

"Have you heard? Lu Lin and her father has decided to join Hen Feng's mercenaries."

Zhen Hao is not the only person recruiting. Instead of making a sect of his own, Hen Feng decided to creates a mercenary army. Consisting of many renowned names in the martial world, making people turn their head, even though their number are small. Last night he even tried to recruit Liu Kaxing and Hai Zhen along with Lu Lin.

Liu Kaxing knew that she and her father will accept considering the relationship of Lu Shen with Hen Feng, and Lu Lin admiration at him. Liu Kaxing himself was tempted, but immediately shunned his intention off after both Zhen Hao and Hai Zhen rebuked him harshly.

He can join a sect, but not an army, except if he is appointed by the emperor himself. His surname still is "Liu", and royal blood running in his vein. Any sorts of army that he joined, will be considered a threat in the future.

With Lu Lin gone to Hen Feng's side, Liu Kaxing's initial intention is a failure, but he can't say that he gained nothing from this little adventure. The experience from being with the Crimson Tiger Sect and dealing with Li Han are priceless. Even if he doesn't want to admit it, he knows how much this adventure has improves him as a man.

Before going back Liu Kaxing and Hai Zhen decided to talk with Hu Gang once more. They owe an explanation to him. It was at that moment Li Han comes to see them.

Hu Gang immediately scolds him full with anger, calling him liar and such. It he is not injured as badly; he certainly has already jumped to attacks Li Han. Despite all that Li Han is still indifferent, he kept his smile and claimed himself to be an honest person.

"All the information I sold to your sect are valid, with the price agreed before. I never gave less than promised, even threw some bonuses in between. In fact, I just heard your sect had taken the White Crane's main base, which I believe thanks to me. Tell me which lie I ever told you?"

Hu Gang goes into frenzy hearing that, but arguing with Li Han gets him nowhere. Every reason he has, gets thrown out right away. Even this mission of escorting Lu Lin cannot be considered a lie. Sure, he didn't tell them the reason, but they never asked anyway, they just assumed.

It was supposed to be a simple escorting job, which gets complicated because of Hu Fei. A member of his own sect. Once Li Han mentioned this, Hu Gang just gone speechless. Everything he said is the truth. Their fight might not go that long, but the injury it caused slowing them a lot. There is no question they will reach this inn, if Hu Fei just let them go.

"It supposed to be simple and easy, if only members of your sect know how to respect their seniors." The way Li Han mentions this only add salt to the wound.

Obeying the seniors are basic rules in every sect. To have his juniors against him over a mission sanctioned by the sect, is the greatest humiliation Hu Gang ever had.

"I'm not here to fight. On the contrary, I'm here to offer you one more deal. One more mission for an important information." Again, Li Han speaks shamelessly, disregarding other people feelings.

Even if Hu Gang cannot blame him anymore, there is no way he wants to work for him again. He knows he will refuse, but still ask for the details out of curiosity.

"I want you to topple down Mayor Fu from his title. We are unable to connect his action to Marquis Bai, but he is proven guilty. Since Marquis Bai will let him go with a slap to his hand, we must to make sure justice is served" Li Han talks as if he is asking of something small.

"You are out of your mind! Even if we wanted to there is no way we can pick a fight against a mayor"

Hu Gang thinks that Li Han must be insane, as he just asks for the impossible.

"I know direct attack is suicide, since Marquis Bai will get involved when that happen. However, my ex-master, Qiu Mu will help you, if you tell him about this. He will be back soon, and he has been promoted as the West Leader of the beggar sect. With that power and his wit, he can think something to make this work. More importantly he is a rightful person, that will not just stand still in front of injustice." Li Han giving explanation as if Hu Gang already accept to help him.

"Not interested! There is no information worth that much risk. How you are to going to pay anyway? You will be going to join military soon. The thing you ask will take a long time to do, if it can be done at all." Hu Gang just playing it down, there is no way he is going to accept such ridiculous offer.

"Of course, I understand your concern. That is why I will get the payment in advance. I will give you the information now, and you can do the job after. I will not even push you to finish it right away, you can take it slow and do it whenever you have the time. How about it? I am just that generous."

Everyone now getting curious, Li Han is anything but generous. There is got to be something else in his sleeve, for him to gives the payment first. Some might say he is desperate, but the tone of his voice only sounded confidence.

Li Han takes a bundle of papers and books from Fat Hao, and giving it to Hu Gang. Hu Gang start to open the documents uninterested, but getting more and more pumped up for each page.

"I've told you that they are abusing their power to silence those try to oppose them, and there is no bigger threat for them other than the Crimson Tiger. Those documents are letters, plans, and orders given to diminish your sect's power, including kidnappings and assassinations." Li Han turned serious as he explains it.

Crimson Tiger was the biggest sect in town, before the White Crane began to usurp them. The initial thought was The White Crane borrowing the Fu family's power to cover up their responsibility at many of the mysterious "accidents" that happened to the Crimson Tiger Sect.

However, if the documents are true. It was Mayor Fu who instigated all those evil things, while the White Crane served as tools to suppress other powers that threat their authority. The Crimson Tiger was so vocal on many of dubious rules made by the authority, and actually able to put enough pressure at them. However, after their dispute with the White Crane, they no longer able to oppose the mayor

The more Hu Gang sees the documents, the more it makes sense. The dates on those documents matched with "accidents" happened to their members.

"All these years… women and children too. They are just too cruel."

Hu Gang's hands trembled and his eyes starts to get into tears. There are his family members in that list. He never thought before that he will agree with Li Han's terms, but now everything has change. He is not the one helping Li Han seeks for justice, but instead it was Li Han that helping him to seeks for revenge.

His anger has turned into gratitude in just a moment, but he doesn't have the chance to said it. When he done reading all of those documents, Li Han has gone. He leaves, knowing that the Meifong city will once again be in a turmoil.