Chapter 10

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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Standing at the classroom door, Xiaoming took a deep breath and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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Holding a bowl of zhajiang, Jiege Xie's prospective son-in-law Ji Zixu (10/605)

Ji Zixu

Only after the meaningless, theatrical act ended could the man engage in a normal conversation.

What's the point of an apology with words... It was a culture that was hard to understand.

Well, understanding Chinese kids was a stretch in both his past life and this one.

'Then, thinking about it, I'm Chinese now too? Chinese blood flows through my veins...'

Startled by this sudden realization, I looked down at my body with a bewildered face.

A middle-aged man, maintaining a facade, soon chuckled and spoke as if nothing had happened.

"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Jiege Tian, the head of the Jiege family. Could you tell me the name of the young hero who saved my daughter's life?"

'Head of the family?'

I couldn't help but be shocked to learn that he was the head of the Jiege family.

The head of one of the seven major families is like a top local gangster.

Moreover, the Jiege family is the overlord of Hubei.

If the Wudang Sect, located in Hubei, is a national-level gangster, then the Jiege family is the top local gangster in Hubei.

To humiliate the leader of a local gangster in person!

Cold sweat trickled down my spine. Yesterday's survival was a lucky situation.

They say a one-day puppy doesn't know the fear of a tiger.

It was a clear mistake on my part, being a one-day martial arts world resident.

When you're weak, the best thing to do is to keep your mouth shut.

That's how civilians are in the martial arts world.

They get extorted by the government, have their blood and essence drained by blood demons and perverts, and are treated like trees and crops that give without hesitation.

For a civilian, the best response to any situation is to endure, and I felt a wave of regret.

Fortunately, he was a reputable martial family head and didn't act rashly, but if he were a black path figure, I would have been in real trouble.

*Swallow*

I swallowed hard.

And I felt a bit annoyed.

As a gangster boss, he must have many enemies, so why travel with only his daughter and a maid, causing confusion?

'Wouldn't a typical martial family head usually travel with a retinue of bodyguards?'

But how could I know the circumstances of such high-ranking people?

I was just unlucky.

I vowed to be polite and kind to everyone from now on.

And, aware that he was a local gangster boss, I answered him as respectfully as possible.

"My name is Liu Qingyun. Sir."

"Oh! Qingyun? Does it mean 'blue cloud'? My daughter's name is Jiege Qing. The name suits... No, it's good! So, how old are you?"

As expected, Jiege Tian started with the typical old man questions.

He would surely ask about my parents, origin, and family status next.

I don't know why people of his age, in both my past and present lives, are so obsessed with censuses, but I smiled and answered his questions.

I figured he wouldn't be satisfied until he knew everything about me.

"I am twenty-two this year."

In this world, men are considered adults at 21, and women at 16.

I became an adult last year and was kicked out of my family. I wandered for almost a year, claiming to learn martial arts, and settled here about a month ago, so I am twenty-two this year.

Upon hearing my age, he beamed.

"Oh, so you became an adult last year. My daughter is 18 years old."

He seemed to be trying to get my approval as a doting father, mentioning his daughter at every turn.

'Oh, a doting father, I see.'

I couldn't understand his constant references to his daughter, but trying to understand a doting father is foolish.

I decided to compliment his daughter first.

Too much flattery might backfire with a doting father, making him think, 'You wouldn't dare, would you?' But there's nothing better for making a doting father happy than complimenting his daughter.

It was a delicate balance, but I decided to take the risk.

"Is that so? I thought the young lady was around 16, the age of blossoming beauty. Ha ha... Ha..."

"Ah, my daughter is quite pretty and young-looking, but she looks older than 16, ha ha... My friend!"

'18 years old? I thought she was only 16?'

The head of the Jiege family seemed pleased with my response, his voice excited.

To be honest, her face was like a pancake, and her mouth was like a duck's beak.

I had to perform CPR to save her, but in my right mind, I would never have done it.

She was definitely not pretty.

Though, blue eyes are my type.

But like the saying goes, even a hedgehog thinks its baby is beautiful. He seemed very pleased with my words, smiling for a long time.

He was very satisfied with the lip service.

'Let's think of it as part of the job.'

After all, an inn is a service industry.

He seemed very pleased with my compliments about his daughter and proceeded with the standard census questions.

After asking my name and age, he moved on to my parents and hometown, as if following a manual.

"Do your parents live well? From the looks of it, you seem to have run this inn alone at such a young age. Is your family traditionally in the inn business?"

"No, sir. I come from a humble family in Fujian Province, and I lost my parents some time ago. I started this inn business with the inheritance they left me..."

I put on a sad face, but honestly, I had never seen my parents, so there was no reason to be sad.

They only existed in my memory, like characters in a movie.

But my expression seemed to resonate with the head of the Jiege family.

"Oh... You lost your parents and are all alone? What a sad story."

He looked very sympathetic and seemed to be thinking deeply about something. Then he muttered, "Maybe not bad? No, it's even better!" and said with a determined look.

"So, you must have had a hard time living alone in this harsh world. The things you did were to save my daughter, so I won't blame you. Here's what I'm thinking. How about becoming part of our family? It might seem sudden, but isn't everything fate?"

'Oh... So, because I saved his daughter's life, he wants to take me in and give me a boost, is that it?'

He seemed to be a very straightforward and fiery man, typical of a gangster.

His mood swings were a bit hormonal, but he seemed to be in a good mood now.

He declared that he would give me a big boost.

However, I couldn't accept it right away.

I decided to pretend to refuse out of politeness.

It's a custom here to show modesty.

"It wasn't done for any reward..."

"Tsk! Reward? What nonsense! If you refuse, I'll be angry! I have my pride, you know?"

The head of the family seemed genuinely angry.

He explained that since he was of high status, not repaying a favor would damage his reputation.

In the martial arts world, people value honor and righteousness, and they despise not repaying favors, so it made sense.

And with his intimidating presence, I had no choice but to accept his offer.

"Then, I will trust you, sir."

"Of course! Now you are part of our family!"

I couldn't help but be happy to be considered family for saving his daughter. I thought he would just give me some money or a small favor.

But he's a gangster boss, and that wouldn't be enough for him.

His words made me think my life might finally turn around.

I was truly an orphan, and to be taken in as family...

Especially by the Jiege family, which, in my past life, would be a local gangster.

Gangsters are known for taking care of their own.

And in the martial arts world, being part of a family means...

Family. It means connections.

Connections are like that.

Just knowing someone isn't enough; you need to be able to benefit each other to have connections.

So, the chances of me becoming the head of the Jiege family's connection were almost zero.

But he offered to include me in his connections as a reward for saving his daughter.

'Wow. Connections with the Jiege family, one of the seven major martial arts families!'

How much harsh treatment had I endured for lack of connections?

When I tried to learn martial arts from a sect, I was turned away at the door, or when I tried to find an inn, I had to endure the schemes of brokers.

To survive in China, connections are essential, but as a small inn owner and an outsider, the chances of someone becoming my connection were almost zero.

But to become the connection of a local gangster boss in one go?

Even though I despise connections, being the beneficiary made me feel good.

The Jiege family's base is in Hubei, so it's a bit far from here, but with the presence of Emei, Qingcheng, and Tangmen in Sichuan...

There must be exchanges between gangsters.

If I hint that 'I run an inn...' they might come as customers.

The thought made my heart swell with happiness.

So, even after the census questions, I continued to flatter him, feeling like I was part of the Jiege family.

While listening to his boasts about his daughter.

"– My daughter is so smart."

"Isn't it because she inherited the wise blood of Jiege Wuhou (Zhuge Liang)?"

"Oh. Do you know much about Wuhou?"

'Know much? In this era, no one knows as much as I do.'

In response to his question, I smiled and started talking instead of answering.

"夫君子之行, 靜以修身, 儉以養德."

"A gentleman should have principles in his actions, cultivate his body with a calm and contented mind, and nurture his character and virtue through frugality and simplicity."

The head of the family stared at me with wide eyes, surprised.

"Do you... have you studied the Ji Zixu (Seasonal Letters)?"

"Yes, I admire Wuhou the most..."

"Ha ha ha ha! You are definitely part of our family! To admire Wuhou so much that you can recite the Ji Zixu by heart. Do you know the next verse?"

"非澹泊無以明志, 非寧靜無以致遠."

"Without a simple and calm mind, one cannot clarify their aspirations, and without a peaceful and composed heart, one cannot achieve great goals."

As I recited the next verse and continued to the end of the Ji Zixu, he was overjoyed.

"Our family's children can't even recite it! Ha ha ha!"

As a Three Kingdoms game enthusiast and a fan of Zhuge Liang, I never thought the memorization of the Ji Zixu would come in handy like this.

The martial arts world isn't so bad, after all.