Imperial henchmen? Never been struck by the sword of the Six Doors (a secret police agency).

施府

"Father, I've joined Juyilou... Is there anything I can do for you?" Shi Huai asked, somewhat puzzled.

Shi Huai was the white glove responsible for helping Shi Sheng with some dirty work. Although Shi Huai was not from Juyilou, the managers all knew that Shi Huai was an "unofficial staff member" of Juyilou.

All the bad things happened because Shi Sheng failed to properly "discipline" the young people, who were hot-blooded and impetuous. It had nothing to do with Juyilou.

Just like the three major sword sects smuggling weapons, it was He Chang who "took it upon himself."

Some things are best left unsaid.

Now, Shi Huai was surprised that Shi Sheng was going to bring him out of the shadows and into the light, meaning he could finally see the light of day.

"Well, you've done so much over the years, big and small, it's time... to accept the honor." Shi Sheng's tone was gentle, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Shi Huai's heart also started racing. After all these years, had he finally made it big?

......

Six doors, a large hall.

"A person who doesn't use their brain will remain a person of the martial arts world forever." Li Junsu smiled as he looked at Shi Huai's file.

"Boss, what does this mean?" Su An looked up from Fang Wen's file and asked curiously.

"It's nothing, just thinking about some old things." Li Junsu smiled as he thought about his younger brother's rambling words and incredibly cringeworthy adolescence in his past life.

Before Li Ershao's dream of becoming a gangster could be realized, he spent three months with a cast on his arm under Li Junsu's care.

From then on, Young Master Li went from a dissolute youth to a shut-in.

Meanwhile, Li Ershao's close friends, who were on friendly terms with each other, tragically fell into the Qiantang River while watching it one day and were all killed.

After that, Young Master Li kept saying how lucky he was that he hadn't become a gangster.

"Boss, who will win between Shi Huai and Fang Wen?" Su An sat opposite Li Junsu, looking at the smile on his face, and raised an eyebrow to ask.

"Is the boss thinking about his family again?" Su An became even more interested. He noticed that whenever his boss had a gentle smile on his face, it meant he was thinking about his family.

I really envy the eldest brother's family.

"What do you think?" Li Junsu put down the documents and asked with great interest.

“I think… Shi Huai.” Su pondered for a moment, then pointed to Shi Huai’s information.

"Do you believe me when I say Fang Wen will win?" Li Junsu asked, pointing at Fang Wen's file.

"I believe you, boss?" Su An replied with the air of a die-hard fan, then blinked curiously.

“Because Shi Huai is more suited to be a knife.” Li Junsu looked at Shi Huai’s file, which listed his responsibilities for managing supply chain transportation, intimidating small families, and eliminating traitors, and slowly began to speak.

"Isn't he even more powerful? Boss, tell me quickly." Su An said, urging him on as if to say, "Stop keeping me in suspense."

"The knife is a good knife, but the person wielding it is not a good person," Li Junsu said, shaking his head.

"You can use a knife to cut vegetables, peel skins, or chop people, but can you use a knife as a spatula?"

Just like the Six Doors are also the dynasty's sword, the Six Doors can act as spies on the battlefield and assassinate enemy generals, but they will not go directly to the battlefield.

"The battlefield is like a giant iron pot, but the army has its own special spatula to stir it up," Li Junsu said, handing over Shi Huai's documents.

"Oh, boss, you mean Shi Huai has always worked in the shadows, and he finds it hard to get used to the power struggles on the surface?" Su An exclaimed in surprise, quickly understanding Li Junsu's somewhat quirky analogy.

“Yes, Shi Sheng only uses him as a tool, but he doesn’t even understand him. Even a tool has its limitations. Or perhaps this is the only tool he’s comfortable with, so he just picked it up,” Li Junsu nodded and said.

“Fang Wen was spoiled from a young age and is arrogant and domineering. However, because he has never been involved in the underworld, he is more aware of the rules in the open.” Su An began to speak by analogy, and then looked at Li Junsu as if seeking praise.

"To be precise, Fang Wen is more familiar with... face, and Fang Dayi invited Fang Wen to join Juyi Tower because he needed Fang Wen to help him save face." Li Junsu nodded at the table and slowly spoke.

This is a classic proxy war, with neither side getting involved, maintaining restraint, and letting the younger generation compete.

This is why sometimes not going all out seems foolish to outsiders, because whoever leaves first loses face and is admitting defeat.

Face may seem intangible, but if you replace it with the word "respect," it becomes a truly intangible resource.

It is said that one should cherish one's reputation. Reputation is something that is built up little by little by gaining recognition from others through one's own strength. It is difficult to accumulate reputation, but it is very easy to lose it.

People say that the higher a person is, the more they care about their image, but in reality, once you reach a certain level, image is nothing but a load of rubbish.

These people don't need you to give them much face, because they also climbed up from the bottom, and they've forgotten how many times they've lost face.

What they want is face, which is...respect.

In his previous life, Li Junsu's most common tactic was to acquire the collections that certain people liked and then use his own auctions to pave the way for his targets.

They only need to be slightly inferior to their target; they won't feel offended. On the contrary, in everyone's eyes, the Li family is inferior to them.

The target knew, of course, that the Li family was more powerful than they thought, but the respect they received from the Li family was more valuable than any collection they had acquired.

It's ridiculous to say something like "I'm just trying to save face" in front of outsiders. If you're strong enough, everyone will see it.

"I didn't expect the two of them to be so restrained. No wonder they were among the rebel kings back then." Li Junsu looked at the documents and said with a half-smile.

Even at this point, the two maintained their restraint, truly befitting their status as heroes of their time.

"If your son were to die, I hope you could still be this restrained," Li Junsu said calmly after praising them.

Upon hearing this, Su An straightened his back. He knew that his boss was about to make a move again.

"Come on, I'll take you to Chunfeng Tower." Li Junsu stood up and stretched.

"A honey trap, boss?" Su An's eyes lit up as he asked.

The only possible reason Li Junsu went to Chunfeng Tower was to use a honey trap; there was no other explanation.

This is the trust of Su An, a brainless fan.

“Young men, full of vigor and passion, how can they refuse a beautiful woman?” Li Junsu said meaningfully.

"Have you ever been to a brothel?" Li Junsu then teased Su An, who was full of youthful vigor.

"No," Su An said, scratching his head.

He was so poor he couldn't afford to go to such places. Now that he has money, cultivating his spiritual practice is the priority.

"Let's go, I'll show you something new." Li Junsu invited.

"Boss, have you ever been to Chunfeng Tower?"

"No."

"So you said you'd take me to broaden my horizons?"

Li Junsu remained silent.

Su An looked at the silent Li Junsu and then shifted her gaze.