Luo Wei wanted to leave. This man reminded him of his previous life, and it made him want to escape.

In his desperation, Wei Lan saw Luo Wei. He didn't know who this person was, or even what he looked like, only reaching out to Luo Wei in his overwhelming terror and said weakly to the person who was about to pass him by, "Help me."

Luo Wei stopped. In his past life, he said these exact words to many, many people, but no one had answered his plea. Now that this man directed these words to him, Luo Wei's emotions were seized with an indescribable feeling.

"Young Master," Luo Ting Chao was a little frazzled now. Luo Wei was a son of an upper class family, he might've been grossed out from just looking at these Qi Ling Shadow Guards.

"Master Luo, do you have no use for this man anymore?" Luo Wei asked him.

"I'm putting this cheap whore to death," Luo Ting Chao said. As he finished, he, along with everyone else was shocked to see Luo Wei taking off his own coat and pulling it over the body of this shadow guard to hide his naked, battered body.

"Then I'll take him," Luo Wei said, then cast a look at Qi Zi, "Carry him to our carriage."

Qi Zi stepped forward, but the villa's servant still refused to let go of Wei Lan's hair.

"Let him go!" Luo Ting Chao commanded, hurriedly.

Qi Zi gathered Wei Lan in his arms, and went ahead to take him back to the carriage.

"What the hell is this?" The big guy was tactless, but even he could see that Luo Wei seemed to be Luo Ting Chao's master.

"Master Luo," Luo Wei said as he walked, "As I said before, I don't want too many people to know that I've been here."

Luo Ting Chao made a gesture at the big guy behind him, telling him to wait, then hurried after Luo Wei, "I understand your meaning."

"His last name is Qian, and he's rather tall and fat," Luo Wei said, "He fits the description of that pirate, Qian Duo Yong, does he not?" This person had used him in his past life, Luo Wei wouldn't forget that.

"This man is Qian Duo Yong," Luo Ting Chao responded, and added an extra degree of wariness towards Luo Wei. Qian Duo Yong's name was famed in the martial arts world, but it's rare to meet someone who'd actually seen his face. The fact that Luo Wei could pick him out meant that this little highborn kid knew a thing or two about the martial arts world.

"Master Luo, from now on, be careful of who you make friends with. You must consider the fact that we need to keep up our appearances," Luo Wei said, "Since Qi Lin Villa is accomplished enough to train these Shadow Guards, then it wouldn't be much of a problem for you to train Greater Zhou's armies, would it?"

"Young master?" Luo Ting Chao felt as if another slice of pie was waving its descent to him.

"Master Luo, you know both of my brothers are generals in the army with a sizable number of soldiers under them, if you were interested, it wouldn't be that big of a problem for us to arrange this job for you," Luo Wei explained on his way to his carriage, "Qi Lin's Shadow Guards are very fearsome, that's true, but the methods of training here are a little too cruel, and the bad reputation Qi Lin's stacked up over the years is hard to dismantle in one day. Master Luo should consider carefully if it's worth it to keep up this trade of Shadow Guards or help out your country."

"Yes, I know what must be done," Luo Ting Chao replied. Who didn't want to become the first in martial artists, and take the throne as the leader of the martial arts world? If Qi Lin Villa managed to establish a relationship with Greater Zhou's military, yet another world of opportunities would open up to them. If that meant he couldn't keep his shadow guards, then he'll just not keep his shadow guards.

Luo Wei emphasized, "I'm not telling you to kill all of them, either. Master Luo, you have to find a good place for them to live out the rest of their lives. If that's not something you can do, I'm more than happy to take on the task, but you can not kill them."

"Understood," Luo Ting Chao agreed.

As their group arrived at the gates, Luo Wei suddenly turned to Luo Ting Chao and spoke softly, "I almost forgot. I heard that Master Luo's mother would be celebrating her birthday in a few days time. I was in such a rush to get on the road that I left no time to prepare a proper present for your honored mother. I only have a small gift, in that wooden box, I hope that Master Luo would humbly accept it."

Luo Ting Chao again made noises of humbleness and gratitude.

"We'll see each other again," Luo Wei chuckled as he mounted his horse, "Master Luo is a smart people, and I love smart people."

Luo Ting Chao waited until he couldn't see Luo Wei's retinue any more before returning to his villa.

"Brother Ting Chao," Qian Duo Yong was still waiting where he'd left him. He was full of curiosity for that beautiful youth who'd just left, it felt like a little kitten claw tickling at his heartstrings.

Luo Ting Chao grinned at his friend, "Let's talk inside."

Qian Duo Yong turned to head in but within a few steps he felt the pressure of an attack at his back. Unable to even react, he could only take the palm strike at the center of his back.

Looking at Qian Duo Yong's corpse, dead from shattered arteries from his own hand, Luo Ting Chao murmured quietly, "Brother, don't blame me for being too cruel, I'm heading to higher places and you happened to displease the young master. There was no way for you to keep living."

TRANSLATOR'S NOTES:

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm glad that Luo Ting Chao at least knows which ass to kiss to keep himself safe xD