Book 41 - Chapter 11 – Unexpected Gain
Zhou Laofang appeared at the Jingpo Pavilion. With wooden expression he sat down dejectedly on a stone bench inside the pavilion, fixing his gaze on the gleaming reflection of the rippling big lake under the moonlight.
Kou Zhong whispered in Xu Ziling’s ear, “This guy really knows how to play god and pretend to be a ghost.”
The alarm suddenly went off in the two boys’ heart, they looked back.
Shi Feixuan came under the tree, and then silently, as if she was treading on a cloud, she floated up the branch and sat cross-legged by Xu Ziling’s side. Her fragrant shoulder was less than a cun away from touching Xu Ziling’s upper arm.
This was the first time that Xu Ziling was in such a close proximity to Shi Feixuan; an unbounded tenderness welled up in his heart.
Watching Zhou Laofang’s back attentively, she spoke gently, “How come his expression is so strange?”
Exhaling slowly, Xu Ziling said, “He had just killed his own twin brother, probably why his demeanor is very unusual.”
“What?” Shi Feixuan blurted, her voice trembled lightly.
Xu Ziling turned his head to look at her. Entering his eyes was her silhouette, spirited, pretty, and elegant beyond compare; her beautiful fair half covering her small, sparkling and translucent, and spotlessly white – ear. She even emitted healthy fragrance. Momentarily he felt as if he suddenly entered the fairyland. Naturally he leaned over and explained everything briefly in her ear in soft voice.
Shi Feixuan’s pretty eyebrows were knitted lightly; it seemed like she was a bit uncomfortable of such close contact, yet she did not show any reaction to pull back.
On the other side, Kou Zhong spoke in astonishment, “Isn’t Feixuan going to go down to see him? It would be very interesting to hear what treacherous scheme he is playing.”
Xu Ziling was sandwiched between Kou Zhong and Shi Feixuan; to his left was Kou Zhong’s voice, to his right was Shi Feixuan’s fresh and clean, and brimming with vitality fragrant breath. A fantastic feeling grew in his heart, thinking that it was only after experiencing many things together that the three of them could perch together on a tree branch like this, ready to fight side by side.
His exchanges with Shi Feixuan were by no means smooth sailing. At the beginning they even stood on the-two-cannot-exist-together opposite sides. The most amazing thing was that until this moment the situation has not changed.
The Jade Annulus of He Clan was the prologue of their first encounter, and then the matter grew to be so complicated that even he felt that it was difficult to tell. In short, just like the real situation right now, he, Xu Ziling, has always been sandwiched between the two; it has always been difficult for him to conduct himself left and right.
One was his brother.
The other was the fairy setting foot on the mundane world worthy of his admiration and respect.
My Niang!
This account was definitely very difficult to settle.
Shi Feixuan finally spoke. “This is the real Zhou Laotan,” she said softly.
Severely shaken, Kou Zhong said, “Then the dead one is Zhou Laofang? That’s impossible; when Ling Shao saw him, how come you did not seem to react the slightest bit?”
Xu Ziling’s pair of eyes lit up with refined light, he fixed his gaze on sitting-expressionless-inside-the-pavilion Zhou Laotan’s back. Smiling, he said, “How could Feixuan be wrong? The things that we, mortals cannot see, naturally cannot be hidden from her.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong said, “This is the first time I hear you call a girl by name. The feeling is very weird.”
Pretending to be annoyed, Shi Feixuan spoke with a slight displeasure in her voice, “I want to warn you, two brothers, please restrain your mouth a bit more.”
Kou Zhong protested, “I want to come to the aid of my good brother who is suffering an injustice, because it is too unfair; how come I can call you Feixuan, while my brother Ling Shao cannot?”
They were all using their qigong to condense their voice and focus it into a thread, hence they were not worried that Zhou Laotan would hear them.
Shi Feixuan’s pretty eyebrows lightly knitted, she glowered at him in displeasure, which nearly made him turn over and fall to the ground. “I wasn’t talking about that,” she said, “But the vile way he called himself a mortal. Got it? Kou Daxia [great hero] who’s coming to the aid of someone suffering an injustice?”
This was the first opportunity Kou Zhong had to chat with Shi Feixuan in such a friendly manner; he knew perfectly well that this fairy was broad-minded, knew how to distinguish right from wrong, and would never really blame him for his unruly remarks. Immediately he felt his soul was melting; he really wanted to enjoy her feminine charm one step further, so quietly he patted Xu Ziling’s shoulder and spoke cheerfully, “You can enjoy equal privilege as mine later!”
Shi Feixuan spoke indifferently, “I am going down to talk to him.”
Kou Zhong pretended that his heart turned cold, “Could it be that this is Zhou Laotan’s ghost?” he said, “Because he died without closing his eyes, hence he came here to seek us to avenge him. Ay! He is indeed an expressionless suffering-faced ghost.”
Shi Feixuan could not help smiling sweetly. With a flawless, extremely touching somersault she flew toward the Jingpo Pavilion.
Zhou Laotan remained absolutely still, he spoke in heavy voice, “Is it Shi Guniang of Jingzhai?”
Hearing his voice, Kou Zhong quietly said, “It is indeed the real Laotan. My Niang! What’s going on here?”
Shi Feixuan landed outside the pavilion; she stood gracefully, and then unhurriedly and calmly she said, “It is indeed Shi Feixuan. Is it possible for Zhou Qianbei to explain why from Laofang you changed back to Laotan?”
Severely shaken, Zhou Laotan turned around; greatly astonished, he said, “Turns out Guniang already saw through that beast was an impersonator.”
Kou Zhong, on the distant tree branch, whispered in Xu Ziling’s ear, “Very disappointing! If he were a real ghost of one who died unjustly, a malicious spirit who cannot find rest, it would be so much more interesting.”
Xu Ziling put his anger in check.
Shi Feixuan spoke calmly, “Qianbei still owe me an explanation.”
The vicious light in Zhou Laotan’s pair of eyes flaring greatly, he hatefully said, “I killed that beast, I personally slaughter that brute. Whatever he did, I, Zhou Laotan would not blame him, but he had the impertinence to seduce his own sister-in-law, I definitely cannot let him get away with it, an abominable [email protected]”
Listening to that, Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong looked at each other in shock. Listening to the tone of Zhou Laotan’s voice, apparently he and Jin Huanzhen were not Da Ming Zun Jiao’s prisoners anymore.
Obviously Shi Feixuan had similar thought, “Are you trying to fool me from the start?” she asked.
The ominous glint in Zhou Laotan’s eyes turned into a blank expression, he sighed and said, “We had no choice but to cooperate with Sha Fang. They are the only one with enough power to resist Zhu Yuyan. Huanzhen and I are the last two persons of Tian Xie Zong [heavenly demonic school]. Without drawing support from other power, how could we snatch the Sheng Sheli back from Shi Zhixuan’s hands? Only Sheng Sheli can revive the Tian Xie Zong.”
Shi Feixuan did not understand, “Didn’t Da Ming Zun Jiao want to harm you, husband and wife? Why do you still want to cooperate with them?” she asked.
Zhou Laotan fiercely said, “That is entirely Pi Chen playing ghost in the dark. Ay! No matter how hopeless, as long as there is a shred of hope, I, Zhou Laotan, am definitely not willing to let it slip by.”
Calmly and indifferently Shi Feixuan said, “I am leaving.”
Stunned, Zhou Laotan said, “Guniang is leaving? I still have a lot to tell you.”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were puzzled as well; Shi Feixuan ought to continue her questioning to find out the whole thing, such as why Zhou Laotan suddenly looked for two corpses to pass off fish eyes for pearls? Why did for no reason at all Zhou Laofang take Zhou Laotan’s place? Who exactly were Da Zun and Yuanzi? And so on.
Playing it down, Shi Feixuan said, “Because I don’t believe anything you say anymore.”
Finished speaking, she simply left.
From being puzzled, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling cried, ‘Wonderful!’ inwardly. Shi Feixuan avoided the problem by walking away from it, it was akin to handing Zhou Laotan, this hot sweet potato scalding her hand – to the two boys’ hands.
Inside the pavilion, Zhou Laotan stared blankly. His eyes were rolling continuously, as if he was pondering Shi Feixuan’s remarks and actions, his mind was in a big mess.
Watching this, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling shook their heads. Natural instinct cannot be changed. Zhou Laotan, husband and wife, were the best example.
A good while later, there was a gust of wind. Jin Huanzhen, whom they had not seen for a long time, appeared in the pavilion. “She really went back into the city,” she said.
Letting out a cold snort, Zhou Laotan said, “This lass is too formidable; she could see through that we are using her.”
Laughing tenderly, Jin Huanzhen said, “Fu Jun Daren [lit. husband lord, big man (title of respect toward superiors]! I already told you we can’t fool her, but you were naïve enough to believe that you can do it.”
Finished speaking, she took out a rocket and lighted it, and then she released it to send out a signal.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling’s spirit was greatly aroused; they looked toward the hazy, indistinct depth of Jingpo Lake.
Kou Zhong whispered in Xu Ziling’s ear, “No matter who’s coming, his granny’s bear, we’ll go down to have fun a little bit, to stretch out muscles and bones.”
Xu Ziling nodded in agreement. Zhou Laotan wanted to deal with Shi Feixuan, but because Shi Feixuan did not fall into the trap, naturally they need not be polite toward this kind of people who bit the hand that feeds them.
A two-mast sailing boat sailed out from a bay on the lake to their left, and slowly came over. On board, the lantern was black the fire dark. Under the moonlight, they saw faint shadows flickering on the bow.
Kou Zhong spoke again, “If you see that kid Liexia, get rid of him first before dealing with other people.”
The large-scale sailboat arrived; it slowly pulled toward the shore, and four shadows leaped down from the boat and landed in front of Zhou Laotan and Jin Huanzhen.
Immediately Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, who were secretly watching in the dark, had their eyes and mouths wide open. The newcomers were not Da Ming Zun Jiao people at all, but the ‘Demonic Commander’ Zhao Deyan, Tonyukuk, Kang Qiaoli, and Xiang Yushan, four men.
They had never thought that these men had already reached Longquan; furthermore, that they were conspiring with Zhou Laotan, husband and wife, as villains collude together.
From this, the two boys inferred that Zhao Deyan and Tian Xie Zong’s relationship must be very close; otherwise, he could not have cooperated with You Niaojuan in the past, and now Zhou Laotan, husband and wife, also joined hands with him, forming a gang.
His eyebrows furrowed, Zhao Deyan said, “What the hell is going on, that little b1tch was not fooled?”
Zhou Laotan dejectedly said, “She said she did not believe me and just like that, she returned to the city. Ay!”
Laughing coldly, Tonyukuk said, “As long as she is still in Longquan, she can forget about returning to the Central Plains. Did those two kids fall into the trap?”
“That is very difficult to say,” Zhou Laotan replied, “Because Shi Feixuan unexpectedly knew about Zhou Laofang. If she told the two kids about this matter, I am afraid they won’t fall into the trap.”
Xiang Yushan nodded and said, “We can consider this plain failed.”
In the dark, Kou Zhong felt so much hatred that his teeth itched; leaning toward Xu Ziling’s ear, he said, “I am going to kill him.”
Xu Ziling shook his head and said, “The future is long, this risk is not worth taking.”
Merely Zhao Deyan and Tonyukuk, two martial art masters were enough to make them struggle to cope, to say nothing of the addition of Kang Qiaoli, Jin Huanzhen and Zhou Laotan, three people who were not easy to deal with.
Zhao Deyan swept his gaze around, as if to see whether anyone was hiding nearby. He made his decision, “Let’s talk about it on board,” he said.
When the sailboat was far from the shore, Kou Zhong grabbed his head and said, “This matter is getting more and more complicated; what’s going on here?”
Xu Ziling spoke heavily, “I had never understood why Da Ming Zun Jiao people dared to lure Feixuan to the grassland, because if something bad happened to Feixuan, they would provoke Ning Daoqi and Ci Hang Jing Zhai people. But now I do! The one Xieli wants to deal with is Li Shimin. Once Li Shimin lose Feixuan’s support, it would be very difficult for him to fight Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, who receive Xieli’s support.”
Frowning, Kou Zhong said, “But were it not for Jin Huanzhen’s help, how could Sha Fang find Shi Zhixuan?”
Xu Ziling said, “That is perhaps just a misunderstanding. Maybe because Da Ming Zun Jiao people were chasing behind Zhu Yuyan that they accidentally came across Shi Zhixuan.”
Smiling bitterly, Kou Zhong said, “Thinking about it is giving me headache; how about we go home and sleep?”
Xu Ziling said, “I’m sorry! Most likely you won’t have time to sleep tonight, look!”
Kou Zhong looked. He saw one of the boat docking by Ma Ji’s camp was setting sail, but they did not light any lantern; it appeared to be very mysterious.
Kou Zhong sighed and said, “I hope moving bows and arrows is a bit easier than supervising moving the ocean!”
The two boys dared to say that their underwater skill was unmatched in the world. They met the boat from Ma Ji’s side that was sailing near, and attached themselves to the hull, with their head out of the water. By using their keen senses to detect if anybody saw them, it would still be very easy to pull back into the water.
Kou Zhong spoke in low voice, “Chances are they are not meeting the ship carrying the bows and the arrows, otherwise they shouldn’t use this kind of low speed boat; they only raised half his mother’s sail.”
The sailboat slowly cut through the lake in the direction of the southern bank of Jingpo Lake.
Xu Ziling said, “I don’t care where she’s going, I’ll just hitch a ride.”
Kou Zhong sighed and said, “This kind of ride, I’d rather not take, because later on we still need to rely on our two legs to bring us back to Longquan, this ride cannot make up for that. Ha! Love indeed has unbounded magical power; it pushes all your, this kid’s passion and holy nature out, and the power to please the fairy is deeper than mine. I wonder if Xiaodi can learn a bit of skill from you to depend on.”
Xu Ziling responded in displeasure, “Close your bird mouth. You keep saying one lifetime two brothers, unexpectedly you come to make fun of me.”
Assuming a righteous appearance, Kou Zhong said, “I am serious. Just because I am so happy for you that I get too excited and made a bit offensive remark. Ling Shao, please be magnanimous, please don’t haggle over every ounce with a junior scholar. Ha! I have never thought that Shi Feixuan could be that captivating. Huh?”
Zhao Deyan’s sailboat appeared from the dark shadow of the dense forest ahead, and Ma Ji’s boat sailed straight toward it.
The two boys hastily pulled back underwater, converting their outer breathing to the inner breathing, and stuck themselves to the bottom of the boat. Unless someone dived into the water, otherwise, even if Bi Xuan was on board, it would still be difficult to detect their presence.
Ma Ji’s boat slowly pulled toward the shore and moored behind Zhao Deyan’s sailboat.
The two boys emerged out of the water and focused their whole attention to eavesdrop.
Ma Ji’s voice was heard; he spoke in Tujue language, greeting Zhao Deyan, Tonyukuk and Kang Qiaoli one by one, and then he said, “Finally gentlemen are here! You don’t know how agitated those three kids made me.”
Tonyukuk said, “Let’s get inside the cabin and talk.”
The two boys quickly dove underwater and swam away to attach themselves onto Zhao Deyan’s boat.
The two boys’ hearing ability was so effective and acute, they followed the enemy’s footsteps into the cabin, and were rejoicing inwardly; what could be more precious than this unexpected gain of being able to personally eavesdrop the enemy’s commander-in-chief discussion?
After Zhao Deyan and the others sat down, Kang Qiaoli said with a laugh, “How did those three kids agitate you?”
Ma Ji sighed and said, “I don’t know where they get the information, unexpectedly they knew that I have a batch of bows and arrows to sell to Bai Ziting. I exhausted everything to conceal it from them, but these three kids are well-known for possessing great magical power. I am most afraid that we might ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful, and in the end they still intercept the bows and arrows shipment.”
“Did you notify Bai Ziting about this matter?” Zhao Deyan asked in heavy voice.
“Ma Ji does not dare to take this risk,” Ma Ji replied.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling eavesdropping in secret were stunned, they were confused even more, why would notifying Bai Ziting about this matter be considered taking a risk?
Kang Qiaoli spoke indifferently, “Ma Ji, no need to worry yourself about this. Great Khan already ordered to cancel this bows and arrows transaction immediately.”
Stunned, Ma Ji said, “How am I going to explain to Bai Ziting then?”
Tonyukuk sneered and said, “What is there to explain? You drag him for three more days, and then secretly withdraw. No need to worry about everything else.”
Zhao Deyan continued, “If those three kids come to force you again, just find a way to return the eighty-thousand sheets of sheepskin that they wanted, we will pay the gold.”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling’s hearts were shaken at the same time. They were guessing that Tuli and Xieli have reached an agreement, one of the conditions was naturally Tuli demanded Xieli to return the eighty-thousand sheets of sheepskin to them.
“What?” Ma Ji blurted out.
A bit impatient, Zhao Deyan said, “Don’t ask what. Just do what Great Khan tells you to do and nothing can go wrong; it’s not difficult, is it?”
“There’s a slight problem,” Ma Ji said, “First of all, the eighty-thousand sheets of sheepskin are currently in Bai Ziting’s hands and not in my, Ma Ji’s hands at all. Secondly, not only they want the sheepskin, they also want the batch of goods that Bai Ziting embezzled from the Pingyao merchants back. Finally, apparently, not only they want the goods, they also want me to hand over the men who robbed the goods. Ay! These three kids really take advantage of other people too much.”
Zhao Deyan spoke grimly, “There will come a day I am going to make them regret of being alive, but not today. If they have the ability, let them come to Bai Ziting and Funantuo to settle the account. Humph! You just try to get the eighty-thousand sheets of sheepskin; everything else has nothing to do with you.”
“Very well!” Ma Ji replied in distress, “Based on Bai Ziting’s style of work, this could be a shocking amount of money, perhaps he would want his bows and arrows first. Ay!”
Tonyukuk laughed and said, “Ma Ji, you shouldn’t be that easy to be blatantly eaten by other people. The bows and arrows must not be handed over to Bai Ziting’s hands; otherwise, you will have no choice but to present your head to the Great Khan, to let him use it as the target of arrow shooting practice. Understand?”
“Understand!” Ma Ji hurriedly replied.
“Where is the shipment now?” Zhao Deyan asked.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling hastily pricked up their ears; they did not dare to miss even half a sentence.
Ma Ji replied, “Tomorrow night it should arrive at the confluence point of Xiaoque [little sparrow] River and Jingpo Stream, and the night after tomorrow will reach this place.”
Tonyukuk said, “Immediately send someone to Xiaoque River to intercept them, then transport the goods by land route. There must be no mistake.”
Underwater, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling struck their palms together and quietly sneaked away. They must immediately rush to ask Bielegunatai brothers to act, to grab the bows and arrows one step ahead. And then they would be able to meet wind with wind, rain with rain; they would be able to play Bai Ziting and Ma Ji in their palms, life would become even more fun.