Sheng Li after inquiring from a few people in the market reached outside the Entrance of the Merchants' Market. The moving carts were taking goods there towards that market. Sheng Li walked in and after walking a few meters, he met Wang Hao.
"Don't use the title for me," Sheng Li in a low voice told Wang Hao.
"Brother, the information given by Governor Tzu was correct. The group is known as 'Lǎohǔ Group' which means 'Tiger Group'. They have control over the Merchants group here who are affecting the economy of the Southern Province.
In short, this group handles the market prices and they are the ones who want to get separated from the Han Empire. They are recruiting the men from the village through a dangerous game called Hand Knife game and a sword fight. I could not get further information on this," Wang Hao asserted.
Sheng Li hummed. "Let's go to the place where they play this game," Sheng Li told Wang Hao who showed the way towards the game place. Many people were standing there; some were talking with each other, some were drinking, while some had weapons in their hands as if they were guarding the place.
Sheng Li stepped up on the wooden stair when one man pointed a sword at his neck. Sheng Li moved the conical hat up and glared at him. "Who are you? You do not seem to have belonged to this place," proclaimed the man. He had worn a black Hanfu Dress.
"Brother, we have shifted here and found that this place is famous for easy money. I want to make that easy money for survival," Sheng Li replied to the man with a smile. The man nodded and moved his sword away from the neck of Sheng Li and let him in.
Sheng Li and Wang Hao walked in. They saw how the men were enjoying the dance performance on the stage. Sheng Li ignored that and went upstairs with Wang Hao where the real game was going on. They saw around 4-5 people were seated around each round table.
Many people had surrounded a huge table, and they were cheering for the people who were competing with each other. Sheng Li and Wang Hao got in between them and moved forward. The Hand Knife game was being played between the two. Sheng Li found out how proficient they were while playing that game and unlike Jingguo, they were using a very complex method to play that game which he could not understand.
Sheng Li looked at the man standing beside him. "Brother, they are so good at this game. But why use such a complex method when you can stab between the fingers with a simple move?" Sheng Li queried and waited for the desired response. "Winning prize is 200 gold cents. That's why they are using this complex method," the man replied and smiled. Sheng Li nodded and wondered how they got so much money.
Suddenly the knife was stabbed in the index finger of one of them and he cried out in pain while the other threw his knife on the table because he had won the game. He laughed after winning the game while the other was crying as the knife pierced through his finger. Sheng Li snickered and walked out from there.
Sheng Li could not believe that the leader of the group had created such a deadly game to recruit in his group. He descended the stairs and turned left towards the exit when a dancer came in front of him, which startled Sheng Li and Wang Hao.
"Move aside." Sheng Li's bitter voice was enough to threaten her, and she walked away from there. Sheng Li and Wang Hao left the place as soon as possible.
"Your highness, that place is dangerous. We need a solid plan before doing anything," Wang Hao asserted.
"We need to get into that group and for that, we have to pass those two games," Sheng Li pronounced and hastened his steps towards the Residence of Governor Tzu.
"But, your highness, it is difficult to learn that game. This is the first time we are seeing this game. Sword fighting we two can do easily, but this Hand Knife game is difficult for us," Wang Hao expressed his worries.
"Hu Jingguo knows the game but I do not know if he is good at sword fighting," Sheng Li stated.
Wang Hao was astonished to learn that Hu Jingguo knew the Hand Knife game. "I will learn from him. The sooner the better because the leader is recruiting the people alluringly. He wants to rule independently over this Province but the biggest problem is that people do not talk about the leader as if they are threatened by him," Sheng Li asserted.
"Your highness, yesterday a case was reported where the Leader of Lǎohǔ Group, killed a man in the middle of the market by cutting both his arms. Even the police did not report this incident," Wang Hao informed.
Sheng Li clenched his fist. "How could someone be crueler than me? I have found an interesting opponent this time," Sheng Li murmured and grinned.
By late noon, Sheng Li and Wang Hao reached the Tzu Residence. Sheng Li asked about the Crown Princess and went straight to his chamber.
Maidservants bowed their heads as Sheng Li walked past them. He heard the laughs and asked, "Who is inside with the Crown Princess?"
"Your highness, Master Hu and the daughter of the Governor are inside with the Crown Princess."
Sheng Li walked in and saw the three were playing a board game. Ying Lili saw him and quickly stood up from the ground. "Sheng Li," she called out his name. Hu Jingguo and the daughter of the Governor also stood up. They bowed their heads. Miss Tzu took her to leave from there while Hu Jingguo was still there.
"Leave," Sheng Li said, looking at Hu Jingguo who bowed his head and left the chamber.
Sheng Li removed the hat from his head, followed by the fake mustache and beard. Ying Lili came towards him and helped him in removing the overcoat. "You are feeling hot, right?" Ying Lili asked and picked the fan from the table. She started fanning him when Sheng Li told her that he would like to freshen up first and then would talk to her.
Ying Lili stepped back while Sheng Li went to the washroom, which was near the bathhouse.
"His mood is off. Is he angry with me? Because I was playing with them?" Ying Lili mumbled and pouted.
