Shang Xingyan looked at me for a long time before saying, "Young Master, you truly are the son of Guan Zhu. I am waiting for the day you take over as the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Secret Commander!"

I laughed heartily, "Uncle Shang, you're thinking too much."

"What's so good about being a Secret Commander? Isn't it great that I'm free and happy now, wandering the martial world?"

"Don't even mention that I don't have any plans to build my own power. Even if I did, I wouldn't take over as Secret Commander."

"My master told me: a hero doesn't want to be called 'young,' if you're going to be something, be a 'lord.'"

"The difference between 'Young Master Li' and 'Lord Li' is huge."

"Alright, let's go our separate ways, back to our own homes! Until we meet again..."

I paused here, "Next time, who knows when we'll meet. Let's chat when we have time."

I waved my hand and walked forward, without even looking at Shang Xingyan.

At that time, I didn't know that my unintentional action had actually subdued Shang Xingyan.

I only found out later that after I left, Shang Xingyan stood there without moving until an Embroidered Uniform Guard appeared beside him, and he said, "Did you see that? That is our Young Master."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard said, "Sir, this subordinate is ignorant, didn't the Young Master say he didn't want to take over the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Shang Xingyan smiled, "Young Master is very smart, and he also takes fame and fortune lightly. A person like that is not suitable to take over the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but is also the most suitable to take over the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Shang Xingyan said with a hint of pride, "Before Guan Zhu left, he instructed me to manage the Embroidered Uniform Guard well, not to track down the Young Marshal, and even more so not to contact the Young Master."

"This official couldn't resist the curiosity, changed my identity, and met the Young Master once. Although the Young Master was still immature at that time, he still made me feel amazed!"

"Like father, like son, the ancients did not deceive me!"

Shang Xingyan paused, "After that, every time I met the Young Master, I would feel amazed again."

"Young Master is fierce, cunning. However, he has a kind of righteousness and even tenderness that doesn't match him."

"When the Young Master didn't know my identity, I was just a pawn in his hand. A superior person wouldn't care about the feelings of a pawn, or even his life or death."

"Sometimes, for the sake of victory, they would even use the pawn as bait."

"This is the fate of a pawn, and also an unchangeable sorrow."

"However, the Young Master actually gave up the *Renpi Jing* (Human Skin Scripture) that he had desperately obtained for the sake of a pawn. This is something I never expected."

"That was the first time I looked at the Young Master squarely. The second time, he handed me over to Hei Bai Wuchang (Black and White Impermanence), which was another kind of protection."

"The Young Master didn't see me, but arranged a way out for me."

"This is not something a superior person should do, but it is a reason to be willing to die for him."

Shang Xingyan smiled slightly, "Meeting the Young Master this time made me even more amazed."

"Young Master has the bearing of a枭雄 (xiao xiong, ambitious and ruthless leader)! It's just that he doesn't want to be one. Young Master understands the ways of the martial world, but he doesn't want to enter another martial world. Tell me, shouldn't I give him a push?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was confused, "This subordinate doesn't understand your meaning!"

If it were normal times, Shang Xingyan would have lost interest in talking, but this time Shang Xingyan said with great interest, "Listen, I'll tell you slowly!"

"Guan Zhu has long wanted to resign and retire, but he has always been worried about the old brothers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he has not left this place of right and wrong."

"Only if the Young Master takes over can Guan Zhu rest assured!"

"The Young Master seems cynical and unrestrained. In fact, he sees many things more clearly. He is pretending to be confused."

"Now is not the time for the Young Master to take over the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"If he is dragged into it at this time, the enemies he has to deal with will be even more unimaginable. Pass down the order to strictly block the news of my meeting with the Young Master. Everyone evacuate Ban Xian Village, and leave everything here to the Young Master to deal with, even if the Young Master dies in battle, do not reach out."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly looked up and said, "Sir, what if the Young Master..."

Shang Xingyan smiled, "Guan Zhu has been raising the Young Master for so many years, when have you seen him intervene in the Young Master's life or death?"

"Guan Zhu is not that he doesn't feel sorry for his son, but he understands that the Young Master can't stand firm without experiencing bloodshed and life and death. The more he protects the Young Master, the more dangerous the Young Master will be."

"Moreover, you don't understand how powerful the Young Master is yet."

"As long as the civil officials don't take action, the power around him is enough for him to deal with Ban Xian Village. It's enough for us to keep an eye on the people from the underworld."

Speaking of this, Shang Xingyan suddenly thought of something, "Don't we have a batch of old brothers who are about to retire and don't know where to go? Pick out twenty... no, pick out thirty people and let them go to Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall)."

"Don't let these people contact the Young Master, let them directly contact the Two Realms Hall's advisor and listen to his dispatch. Moreover, only listen to his dispatch. Do you understand?"

"This subordinate understands!" The Embroidered Uniform Guard disappeared, and Shang Xingyan also strode across Yin and Yang.

I didn't know that I had been valued by Shang Xingyan, and I was still walking forward slowly.

Lin Zhao whispered behind me, "Li Po, shouldn't we go and reinforce Lao Liu now?"