{Cao Peng POV}
Thunder echoed in the sky as I occasionally felt the fall of water droplets hitting my shoulders. From what I could tell, tonight would be a heavy downpour.
As I returned to Skyfall Manor, I stripped off my now wet disguise and handed it to a maid near the entrance. The disguise wasn't to hide my appearance from Matrial Hall but to prevent rumors from spreading. After all, it would look bad if "Assistant Peng" were seen beating a disciple of the martial hall.
My footsteps took me down several hallways before I arrived in front of Lord Meng's office.
*Knock,* *knock*.
I rapped on the door twice and awaited a response.
"Come in," I heard my lord say.
Opening the door revealed Lord Meng working under candlelight. His pen was in motion, and his eyes darted across the paper while a small stack of paper lay on his desk awaiting his signature.
Meng Tao has grown so much in so little time. In less than half a year he has taken a much greater position in management. At one point, I was running the city for the most part, with Lord Meng only interjecting occasionally. However, over time, he has been taking more and more responsibilities upon himself. While some disloyal subjects would be up in arms about the loss in power, all I felt was pride in the man he is slowly becoming.
I remained at my place near the door and waited for him to address me. After a few moments, he set his men down and turned his eyes towards me and greeted me with a smile.
"Grandpa Meng." He gave me a nod before continuing. "Did you manage to do it?" He asked me with a calm tone.
"Of course, Lord Meng. Song Chu won't be making trouble for you any longer." I replied while bringing out the large pouch of copper coins I had confiscated from the charlatan.
"Ahh, perfect. Please deliver that money back to the treasury later, and if you need any of it, just take it." Lord Meng seemed to care little about the money and seemed eager to reward me.
"There is no need, my Lord." I said while softly shaking my head. There might be greedy people in the world, but my loyalty means more to me than mere money. Of course it was also due to the raise that Lord Meng provided after hiring those councilors.
Meng Tao nodded and seemed to want to say something before he yawned and began to rub his eyes. He seemed drowsy, and it took him slapping his cheeks a few times before he regained his alertness.
"Perfect! At least that problem is dealt with." While saying this, he rubbed his eyes more and more frequently. His tiredness was growing more and more apparent by the second. It was obvious he wanted to learn more about the altercation; it was clear that his exhaustion was plaguing him.
"My Lord, why don't you get some rest? The documents will be there for you tomorrow. Besides, at his rate you would likely miss breakfast prepared by Lady Meng tomorrow morning."
"Hmm?" My reply seemed to cut through Lord Meng's drowsiness as he went alert. His face showed traces of surprise before he nodded.
'I might have said too much. Hopefully Lady Meng didn't mind her actions being exposed.'
"Yeah, I guess it might," he said while sighing. "Very well. I shall see you in the morning."
Lord Meng rose up from his place at his desk and walked by me towards his room.
After dropping off the money at the vault. I grabbed a chair and an umbrella from one of the maids and made my way to the front gate. If I knew little Yao as well as I thought I did, then he would be on his way soon.
I sat silently in my chair under the protection of my umbrella for several hours. At some point Maid Shi came out with a cup of tea.
"Assistant Peng, please drink something warm." Her voice was plain and absent of any emotion.
"Thank you, Maid Shi. Would you like to join me while I wait for my acquaintance?" I asked her while I took a sip of tea.
She seemed as if she were going to respond until her eyes snapped into the distance and her body tensed up.
The sound of footsteps was muffled and was almost hidden under the sound of the rain. However, for martial artists that have become masters, the sound was clear and easy to pick out.
After a few seconds, the figure of a bald man wearing a martial artist uniform approached the gate. He ignored the heavy rainfall and walked forward like a man possessed. The aura he gave off was one of constrained hostility.
I saw Maid Shi's eyes narrow and turn cold when she caught sight of the man's posture. She took a step towards the visitor while reaching into her sleeve before my hand landed on her shoulder. She looked back at me with a questioning look before I shook my head.
"I will take care of matters here. Do me a favor and check on the Lord and Lady and ensure their needs are fulfilled for the night." After I spoke, I could see her eyes flicking between the man and me several times before she took a step back and bowed.
"As you say, Assistant Peng." She then entered the manor after sending a sharp, warning glare at the visitor.
By the time Maid Shi had re-entered the building, the man had arrived in front of me.
"Instructor Peng..." Yao's eyes met mine, and his aura of hostility lessened a fraction as he took me in. "I am here looking for an explanation regarding my student Song Chu's injuries."
The heavens must have been feeling particularly dramatic because the sound of thunder emphasized his words.
"That is former Instructor Little Yao. As for your student, I think you should just go back for today." I gave him a bright smile as I advised him.
"Impossible! I won't leave today until I get justice for my student!" The man's voice rose, and his aura started to intensify once more.
I ignored his posturing and continued to speak. "All this talk about explanations and justice. Why don't you tell me what happened, and maybe I can help.
"Song Chu left Skyfall Manor and was beaten within an inch of his life, and his last words before passing out were pointing towards Skyfall Manor! And you ask me why I am here."
'Young men always exaggerate things. How is a dislocated arm the same thing as being beaten within an inch of their life?'
I let out a sigh knowing that this wouldn't end smoothly today. "Little Yao, it seems you are still too thick-headed and stubborn."
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