The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Ling Ling stopped what she had been doing with her hands, also rather curious about those somewhat strange masked men. Tai-shu Ying crooked her head to look at the four of them, really wanting to find out what their goal was.

Sang Hanshui's gaze fell onto Chen Mu since he had no standing there to speak. He also felt rather puzzled. No matter how he looked at him, Qiao Yuan didn't seem like someone who could easily reciprocate someone else's hosting. Wei-ah and Bu Mo didn't even raise their heads, the two of them having always had a strange outlook—that sort of question would always be turned over to Chen Mu.

So, everyone's gazes were once again focused on Chen Mu.

Chen Mu had been wondering how he might respond, but Tai-shu Cheng had asked so directly that he just answered with equal directness. "I came looking for the master of your honorable house, Tai-shu Yong, with some important business."

Tai-shu Cheng's mouth hung open as he stared blankly at Chen Mu. Tai-shu Ying looked foolish, and Ling Ling couldn't hide how strange she found it.

Seeing everyone's expressions, even such a dullard as Chen Mu could tell something was wrong. He really didn't know what he'd said wrong, but he didn't get flustered. He calmly said, "Oh. What's wrong?"

Tai-shu Cheng quickly resumed his normal expression and laughed a bit helplessly. "I don't intend to cause difficulties for you, my brother, but it's been four and a half months since I have even seen my father."

"Why?" Chen Mu didn't quite understand.

Tai-shu Cheng said lightly, "Our Tai-shu household is an ancient dynasty, and we have some rather strange rules. Now that I think about it, this is related to the lineage of the master. The head of the Tai-shu household isn't determined by age. Every one of the sons of the master will be sent out to take over one of the family industries upon coming of age. Whoever performs the best would be the one most likely to be the master for the next generation."

"Oh." Chen Mu nodded, though he still didn't realize how that was related to his own request.

"In order better to train us, the old man not only can't give us any help, but he also prohibits all of our relatives from giving us any kind of help. We can't even return to our beloved manor house except for once every six months. Then, only the one among us who has performed the best would have any chance of seeing the old man. During normal times, we don't have the right to communicate with the clan, and we have to get what we need on our own."

Chen Mu was rather surprised, never having had good feelings toward aristocratic families. He had never thought being the offspring of some dynasty would actually require facing such brutal competition.

Tai-shu Cheng continued to sketch it out for him. "The winner would serve as the master for the next generation. The others who weren't going to serve as the new master would become members of the council and would remain with their respective industries until they were gradually reduced to being offshoots of the Tai-shu family."

After he said that, he said apologetically to Chen Mu, "We are still a month and a half away from the next time we might enter the beloved manor house." He then said with a sneer, "Moreover, even supposing we do return to the manor house, I still can't be sure I'll be able to see the old man, never mind recommending my esteemed brother."

Chen Mu remained silent, not having expected matters to become so troublesome.

Ling Ling also seemed to have something on her mind, and no one could tell what she was thinking as she lowered her head. Tai-shu Ying was pouting. If one listened carefully, one might hear her complaining about something.

Sang Hanshui couldn't help but frown and looked rather unhappy. He was an intelligent person and had a lot of insider information. At that time, though, he only had that one road with Qiao Yuan. To put it another way, his honor was bound up in Chen Mu.

Compared with the prominence of other big families, he really hadn't heard of the Tai-shu family. How could such an obscure little clan dare to be so arrogant? Even if the 50th on the Black-Line Star Listing were to go to Moon Frost Island, he would absolutely be someone to them. That Tai-shu family was rather impudent. Sang Hanshui couldn't repress a cold groan.

Sang Hanshui's groan abruptly turned the atmosphere a little tense. A look of nervousness flashed through Tai-shu Ying's eyes. She'd previously tasted Sang Hanshui's might, and even Angie had secretly praised him as being more awesome than Ma Hu! Ma Hu was the top ace under Tai-shu Cheng, acting as the chief manager of the guards.

Tai-shu Cheng was smiling as though he hadn't heard Sang Hanshui's cold groan.

The stalwart beside Ling Ling looked at Sang Hanshui rather seriously. He couldn't have been some unknown type to show such pride on such an occasion.

Ling Ling then came forward to smooth things over. She said with a crisp and melodious voice, "This gentleman shouldn't be enraged. Uncle Cheng wasn't exaggerating. Not only the Tai-shu household is that way; we in the house of Jiang are the same way. I imagine you all must also come from extraordinary backgrounds, so why don't you first identify yourselves? I believe Uncle Cheng might then be able to come up with something." She had long been curious about their identities.

Chen Mu shook his head, nixing Ling Ling's proposal. "I'll present my credentials after meeting with your honorable master, of course."

He actually wanted to take advantage of his identity as Qiao Yuan since that would make it smoother to see Tai-shu Yong. But if they went on the way they were going, it would undoubtedly expose the existence of Wei-ah and Bu Mo.

Moreover, he was afraid Faya was itching to cut him to pieces just then. It wouldn't matter if Tai-shu Yong were to know his identity. If more people knew and if it were to leak out, that would become a troublesome matter. Even if Faya were fiercely attacked by Moon Frost Island, the hidden powers could still not be underestimated. Given his own refusal to help Moon Frost Island, it would be hard to say whether or not they had their own opinions about him.

Chen Mu couldn't help but sneer about how hard it had been to earn some fame only to find that he might not have any further way to parlay its value. The biggest factor in all of it was because of retaliation against him by the Madam from Faya. But if he were to have to start over, he would likely make the same choice. There were some things he would regret for the rest of his life if he didn't do them.

The situation might have gotten difficult, but he wasn't about to give up; he had gotten to the Tai-shu household. That luxuriant green tattoo on his wrist always reminded him about his predicament.

"What can Mr. Cheng propose?" Chen Mu asked impassively. Chen Mu didn't need to even think about it to guess the gold-mottled liquid-soft fungus would certainly be inside the beloved manor house, where it would be basically impossible to seize it by force. Even if he wanted to infiltrate the beloved manor house, he didn't know where it was.

No one thought Chen Mu would be so unwilling to report his identity at such a time, and they became more deeply suspicious. Even Sang Hanshui didn't understand why Chen Mu would act that way. He believed Chen Mu only needed to report his name for it to be a simple matter to be able to see Tai-shu Yong.

Tai-shu Cheng looked closely at Chen Mu and said ponderously, "I wonder what my esteemed brother is good at."

Chen Mu said calmly, "I'd be considered pretty good at fighting." Hearing that, Sang Hanshui rolled his eyes. What would that mean about himself?

Tai-shu Cheng suddenly asked, "So, how does my esteemed brother think the guards under me are?"

"Terrible." Chen Mu gave his unvarnished assessment, those guards having left him with a bad impression.

Tai-shu Cheng laughed lightly, not minding at all. "Might I ask my esteemed brother for a few comments?"

What he said had the sense of a test, to which Chen Mu calmly responded, "They have no determination nor discipline. They are just a disorganized mob."

Ling Ling covered her mouth and couldn't stop chuckling. The stalwart beside her also couldn't help but show some amusement. To be so impolite as to criticize his counterpart's guards in front of other people, that person had truly spoken rather directly.

"You are right!" Tai-shu Cheng exclaimed, clapping his hands in admiration. "I've spent so much money to raise that bunch of crap. I've really failed. I wonder what my esteemed brother might think about my proposal."

"What's your proposal?"

"That you help me take the Dongrui Playoffs. I don't have high demands. I only need to get into the ranks of the top four. If my esteemed brother can accomplish that, I would be confident I could see my father in another month and a half. At that time, I could present my recommendation of my esteemed brother to the old man. I won't concern myself with why my esteemed brother is looking for the old man. How about it?" Tai-shu Cheng said, smiling.

Chen Mu raised his head. "The Dongrui Playoffs?"

Tai-shu Cheng explained, "There are countless offspring from aristocratic families like ours in Dongrui. We hold one such playoff each year. There are team matches as well as individual fights. Each team is composed of 40 card artisans for the team fights, where the perceptual strength of the card artisans can't go beyond the sixth level. There are no requirements for the individual fights. The final ranking is determined by a combination of the two results."

Chen Mu then understood that the so-called playoffs must have been a way for the aristocratic families to evaluate the martial power in the hands of their offspring. Those so-called aristocratic families put a lot of thought into the raising of their offspring. No wonder the offspring brought up under such a competitive regime would be so singular.

Tai-shu Cheng then added, "There is no requirement to make your identity public for the individual combat." He saw that Chen Mu seemed to not want to publicize his identity.

"Okay." Chen Mu nodded. "But I'll be the one to choose, with no interference."

"No problem!" Tai-shu Cheng smiled happily. "Starting now, you have complete authority to lead the guards, including Ma Hu, who will take orders from you."

Tai-shu Ying and Ling Ling both looked at Uncle Cheng, full of surprise. They didn't understand why he would turn over such an important matter to someone he had just met and whose origins he didn't know.

Chen Mu didn't know what the so-called playoff really was, but those two both knew how important it was. The results of the playoff would directly influence the evaluation of Tai-shu Cheng for the current year, which would also influence his position in the Tai-shu household from then on. How could he turn over such an important matter so easily to someone he had no details about?

"Okay!" Chen Mu got up. "Then, let's get started."

A touch of appreciation flashed past Tai-shu Cheng's eyes. He really liked such a swift and decisive style. From another aspect, it also made clear that his counterpart was a true leader and not timid at all.

"Angie, starting today, you'll be responsible for this gentleman's logistics. Whatever he needs, you provide. Find me if there is some issue you can't resolve." Tai-shu Cheng was also decisive with his instructions. He immediately thought of something. "Little Ying, you go along with Angie to learn something, so you won't be so naughty every day."

Tai-shu Ying stuck out her tongue.

Ling Ling suddenly said, "Uncle Cheng, Ling Ling would also like to come along to watch."

Tai-shu Cheng couldn't help but laugh. "In this regard, you in the Jiang household are a lot stronger than we in the Tai-shu household. Since you're interested, I have nothing against it. But you'll have to help me out to watch over Little Ying and to not let her be naughty." Ling Ling's father was close to Tai-shu Cheng and was his most important ally.

Hearing that, the displeased Tai-shu Ying made a face at her father.

Seeing that he had finished talking, Chen Mu then said, "Let's go." Angie and the rest rushed to follow him.

In an instant, only Tai-shu Cheng remained in the room. He sat there in a daze, his hand holding the empty teacup tightly, and got lost in his secret thoughts.

That year was the most important year in the competition to be master! He remembered the news the elders had secretly sent not long before, which made him feel restless. If he didn't beat them this time, he was afraid he wouldn't have another opportunity!