A carefree soldier king in the city

Chapter 191 Tao Te Ching

In fact, Chao Bufan's purpose was to arrange for them to act as protectors in the large entertainment venues he had recently established. Newly built large entertainment venues are bound to have people deliberately causing trouble, and with them there, Chao Bufan could rest assured.

After Bai Shichuan and the others left, Chao Bufan glanced at his relatives over the years. Seeing that they were all full of passion and excitement, he smiled slightly and said, "Everyone, let me introduce you first. These four are my good brothers, and this is Lü Tie."

Lu Tie clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Hello everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you all."

"This is Xu Huaiyuan."

Xu Huaiyuan clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Hello everyone."

"This is Guan Tianwei, nicknamed Guan Gong. This is Li Yong, nicknamed Big Mouth."

Guan Gong and Da Zui also clasped their hands in greeting to everyone. After that, Chao Bufan continued, "We are all young people, and we will have many opportunities to meet in the future, so there is no need to be so formal. From today onwards, we will address each other as brothers and sisters and just call each other by our names."

Everyone tactfully replied, "Yes."

Chao Bufan nodded and said, "I will be holding an auction in a couple of days. You will help me maintain order. Lü Tie and the others will tell you how to do it. As for the women, you don't need to show your faces in public. I will arrange other accommodations for you."

No one objected. The boys all left with Lü Tie and the others. Besides Baihe and her two siblings, there were five women left: Baixue, Baiyunxia, ​​Bairuyu, Bairuyan, and Baiwenjing.

"Brother-in-law, where are we going now?"

Chao Bufan smiled slightly and said, "Of course I followed you."

…………

Jinqiao Villa.

A single, grand official residence, situated in the heart of the city's Bishui Garden, boasts an imperial-like feng shui.

A drunk man stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette burning between his fingers.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he exhaled a puff of white smoke: "Old Chief."

"Kid, you're back?"

The voice rang in his ears. Chao Bufan stood tall and straight. The blue light from the swimming pool outside the window reflected on his face, dappled yet creating a beautiful, cinematic soft light.

After a long silence, he uttered three words, "I'm back."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then someone said, "Let's talk!"

Chao Bufan assumed it was just some rambling, so he casually asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Screw you!"

"Cough...cough cough..." A harsh word caused him to inhale a mouthful of smoke, which choked him and brought tears to his eyes. His consciousness began to clear, and his gaze was no longer as confused as before, but instead he looked clearly out the window.

"Old Chief, when did you start swearing?"

"Kid, don't blame me for not warning you, Fangfang is back in China now. You'd better watch out!"

"Has Fangfang returned to China?" Chao Bufan was slightly taken aback and said, "Didn't you say before that she hadn't graduated yet?"

"Can't she go back to China before graduating? Kid, I'll take her there tomorrow. Whether it works out or not depends on fate. I mentioned you to her, but she didn't approve or object."

"Oh! I'm free tomorrow, so I'll bring her along!"

"Beep beep!"

The old leader hung up the phone, and Chao Bufan chuckled. He turned around and found Baihe Fairy standing behind him. He was startled. "Baihe, you scared me to death!"

The Lily Fairy showed no particular expression, her tone always indifferent, as calm as a gentle breeze: "I have something to discuss with you."

"Then come with me!"

"No need, we can say it here."

"Oh, then go ahead and tell me!"

Lily Fairy hesitated for a moment, biting her fragrant lips gently as if she was having trouble speaking. Chao Bufan frowned slightly, then grabbed her hand and said, "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

Strangely, she, who always forbade men to approach her, inexplicably did not resist, letting him hold her hand and then jump out of the window.

The two stood quietly side by side by the pool. After a long while, Chao Bufan spoke up: "Baihe, didn't you have something to say to me? Why aren't you saying anything now?"

The Lily Fairy's gaze remained fixed on the crystal-clear water. She then looked away and asked, "Young Master, has Sun Village been destroyed?"

Upon hearing this, Chao Bufan looked dejected, nodded, and said, "Yes, it has been razed to the ground."

Fairy Lily fell silent. Chao Bufan couldn't fathom what Fairy Lily was thinking, so he asked a question out of the blue, and then fell silent.

After a long silence, Chao Bufan smiled and said, "Baihe, what do you want to tell me? Speak up!"

Fairy Lily remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Young master, do you like Bai Ling?"

"Uh?"

Chao Bufan was taken aback and asked, "Why do you ask that?"

The fairy lily's fragrant lips moved slightly as she said, "Xiaoyu told me that you like Bailing."

Upon hearing this, Chao Bufan smiled and said playfully, "Baihe, if I said I still like you, would you believe me?"

Fairy Lily frowned slightly and said, "I am single-mindedly pursuing the highest level of martial arts and have never thought about personal feelings. Young master, I..."

Now that Chao Bufan had started the conversation, he walked up to Baihe without any hesitation and said seriously, "Baihe, I know you're a martial arts fanatic, but have you ever thought about it? Over the years, you've focused on practicing martial arts. Besides improving your cultivation, what have you gained? Have you ever truly felt the subtle warmth of family affection?"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Lily frowned, as if Chao Bufan had caught her by the scrutiny. Chao Bufan smiled and continued, "Being too obsessed with martial arts isn't a good thing. Everyone has emotions and desires; no one can live a completely detached life. The *Tao Te Ching* says: 'Abandoning learning brings no worry; how far is the difference between "yes" and "no"? How is the difference between good and evil? What people fear, one cannot but fear.' How vast and boundless it is! The multitude revel in their feasts, as if ascending a spring terrace. I alone am still, without a sign, like an infant who has not yet smiled; listless, as if without a home. All others have abundance, but I alone seem to lack. Am I not a fool? So confused! The common people are bright, but I alone am dull; the common people are discerning, but I alone am dull. All others have something to rely on, but I alone am stubborn and base. I am different from others, and I value nourishing my mother. The Great Tao is all-encompassing; it can be followed to the left and right. All things depend on it for life without refusing it, and it accomplishes its work without claiming credit..."

"The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things. All things carry Yin and embrace Yang, and achieve harmony through the interaction of these two energies. The Tao gives birth to them, Virtue nourishes them, things take shape, and circumstances bring them to fruition. Therefore, all things honor the Tao and value Virtue. The Tao's honor and Virtue's value are not commanded by anyone, but are naturally so. Thus, the Tao gives birth to them, Virtue nourishes them, fosters them, nurtures them, sustains them, protects them, sustains them, and covers them. It gives birth without possessing, acts without relying on its own power, and nurtures without dominating. This is called Profound Virtue..."