WARNING: The Hand Knife game is mentioned for entertainment purposes only. Don't try this at home.
The people in the restaurant turned their gazes towards them. Hu Jingguo came towards Sheng Li and pulled him up. Putting his hand around Sheng Li's shoulder, Hu Jingguo said, "Elder brother, this is the only way we can earn money in these hard times. Let's show them how efficient we are in this game."
Sheng Li did not budge from his place because he did not know what kind of game that was! "You are not allowed to stand this close to me and hold me like this," Sheng Li said in a low voice that was only audible to Hu Jingguo.
"Just bear with this," Hu Jingguo replied and gave a white teeth smile to Sheng Li.
Qi Yun saw that Sheng Li was not moving from his place. "Young man, I think your elder brother is scared. If he does not want to join, then it is okay. You know how to play it so just show me," Qi Yun advised Hu Jingguo.
'What is this man saying? I am scared?' Sheng Li thought and huffed. "Watch your words," Sheng Li warned Qi Yun as if he would punish him right away.
Hu Jingguo chortled and pulled Sheng Li forward towards that table where those five men were seated. "I will start. Give me the knife," Hu Jingguo pulled his arm back and pulled out a chair for him.
The people started surrounding them. Ying Lili and Xiao Zhan too stood up from their seats. They stood close to Sheng Li and confusedly looked at Hu Jingguo. The restaurant owner came there with a knife in his hand. "Master here is the knife," the restaurant owner said, as he kept the knife on the round table.
Sheng Li leaned closer to Ying Lili's ear. "If he did something wrong, I swear, I will not save him," Sheng Li whispered. Ying Lili tilted her head when Sheng Li leaned back.
"Young man, start," Qi Yun said as he pushed the knife lightly towards Hu Jingguo who caught it. "Young man, you don't have to show off if you don't know. This game is dangerous. You need to stab in between the gaps of your fingers and if you miss it then it's the end," said another man who was seated around the table.
Hu Jingguo smiled and placed his left palm on the table such that the fingers were stretched apart. "Hand Knife game is my favorite game since my childhood days," Hu Jingguo stated. The people were curious to know if this young man truly knew the game or was he just fooling around.
Sheng Li had no idea what the game was about. This was his first time seeing such a game. Hu Jingguo started stabbing between the gaps of his fingers, back and forth. Sheng Li had never thought such a dangerous game was also there. Even if he was an efficient swordsman, such an advanced level of motor coordination needed practice, which he never had.
The way Jingguo played the game truly showed how efficient he was in that. Qi Yun and his tablemates were surprised to see how Hu Jingguo played with good speed. "Enough, young man!" Qi Yun happily said. Hu Jingguo stopped and put the knife on the table. Everybody clapped for him.
"You are proficient in this game," Qi Yun said, looking at Hu Jingguo who smiled and stood up from the chair. He stood beside Sheng Li and said, "It is all because my elder brother knows this game and helped me play it." Sheng Li widened his eyes and titled his head to gaze at Hu Jingguo.
"I don't know this game," Sheng Li whispered in Hu Jingguo's ear, who was shocked to learn about that.
"Come here. Show us your skills. I think you can do a complex one easily," Qi Yun stated. Sheng Li is stuck now. He was furious about why Hu Jingguo involved him in such a mess. "Brother knows, but he cannot play today," Hu Jingguo replied.
"What? Why?" Qi Yun asked, and looked skeptically at Sheng Li.
"My brother's hand is injured. Yesterday he carried heavy sacks to get his daily wages and ended up hurting his hand," Hu Jingguo lied to them. "Sir, can we go there? I think it is open for all," Hu Jingguo stated.
"Everyone is allowed there, but the place is not considered good so only those who have a strong heart are recommended to go there," affirmed Qi Yun. The surrounding people went to their respective tables, and the activities resumed.
Hu Jingguo thanked Qi Yun and his friends. Sheng went to his table and sat there followed by the others. The tea was served to them. Ying Lili sipped the tea and looked at Sheng Li. She picked the teacup for Sheng Li and handed it to him. "Drink this. You will feel good," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li took the teacup from her.
Sheng Li was concerned now because he had to learn that game in a day if he wanted to meet the leader of this group. The Ju Family was also associated with that group as Wang Hao had informed the Crown Prince earlier. "This means the leader is directly linked to the Ju family."
Sheng Li put the teacup at the table with such a loud thud sound that it startled the others around the table. "Take her back to the residence. I will come in the evening," Sheng Li ordered General Xiao in a low voice.
"I will come with you," Ying Lili stated.
"No, you are not needed. This is an order so follow it." Sheng Li stood up from his seat, paid the bills at the counter, and left from there. Ying Lili lost sight of Sheng Li and asked General Xiao if they should follow him.
"I cannot defy his orders. Let's go back." General Xiao stood up along with them and then took them back to the residence.
~~~~~~
Nianzu was going to meet the First Prince when he met Lei Wanxi. "Brother, you did not tell me that you brought Miss Chuntao to the Palace," Lei Wanxi stated.
"It was all of a sudden. Her family committed suicide the day she was taken as an Entertainer to Ma Bojing's residence. That's why I brought her to ensure her safety, but that's not the only reason. Miss Chuntao is a great observant so I think she will be useful to me," Nianzu proclaimed.
"But, Brother, you have never taken an interest in a woman. This was shocking," Lei Wanxi skeptically looked at Nianzu.
"You think too much. You shall help Little Yu in his practice. General Xiao had to urgently leave for the Southern Province with the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess so, no one is there to help Prince Yu," Nianzu pronounced.
"Commanders are there, Brother. Moreover, I am not that skilled in warfare," Lei Wanxi asserted.
"Hmm." Nianzu stepped forward when Lei Wanxi said, "I am going to meet Miss Chuntao. See you later, Elder Brother." Lei Wanxi left from there while Nianzu left to meet Prince Guozhi.