Chapter 127: Linjiang, Heading South
Chen Shun’an could never forget those various eerie and irrational things under the Sacred Dynasty’s rule.
After the martial artists from the Wuqing Stick Bureau dispersed, bold commoners gradually returned, and the Vegetable Market Intersection slowly regained its usual bustle.
Lu Jing coughed lightly a few times and waved his hand for his attendants on either side to withdraw, then walked slowly alone back under the wooden rack where the corpse had once hung.
His gaze was intense, as if searching for something.
At this moment,
A young man with dark skin, standing ramrod straight, dressed in plain uniform and thin-soled fast boots, walked over lightly.
“Lord Lu, I wonder how your injuries are? I have secret medicine from the army here…”
Lu Jing turned his head and saw it was the visitor; a mild smile appeared on his face,
“Oh, it’s Li Yaozu. Why haven’t you returned to camp?”
“I was worried about you, Lord, so I stayed behind on purpose.”
Lu Jing patted his shoulder and said, “Hahaha, that’s thoughtful of you. You’re now Commander Liu’s messenger soldier; don’t get too close to me, or it will arouse the commander’s suspicions.”
Li Yaozu said calmly, “Lord Lu did not disdain me as the son of a fisherman, taught me martial arts, rescued me from solitary and bitter straits—your kindness is as heavy as a mountain; how could I ever forget it?”
Lu Jing shook his head and said, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s just a minor injury; a few days of recuperation will heal it.”
Hearing this, Li Yaozu breathed a slight sigh of relief, then said with some gravity,
“Lord Lu, today’s events will likely damage your prestige; there are plenty of petty villains who will probably start stirring again.”
Damage his prestige?
Lu Jing smiled indifferently: “I actually hope someone jumps around, blindly testing this disgraced hound whose prestige has been damaged.”
He shook out both arms, sending a gust of wind billowing, which lifted the outer gown nearby; with a whoosh, the gown fell steadily onto his shoulders as if pulled by an invisible hand.
“Just right—use their blood to redye my prestige!”
Hearing this, Li Yaozu’s expression shook, deep admiration and emotion flowing in his eyes.
Moments later, Li Yaozu bowed in salute and left with quick steps.
Lu Jing checked carefully once more, feeling somewhat regretful.
He had long ago secretly embedded a strand of pure intent into this wooden rack.
If anyone rashly approached or even touched the corpse, this intent would quietly attach itself like a maggot in the bones; unless the other’s mental strength far surpassed his own, it would be impossible to detect.
The court was using the Xin Character Hall Master’s corpse as bait.
And Lu Jing was also using the matter of “the court using the Xin Character Hall Master’s corpse as bait” to fish.
Fishing for whatever fish was fine.
Guo Lu Society heroes desperate enough to secretly seize the corpse; forces within Wuqing County who wanted to use this top first-rate martial artist’s corpse for other schemes; those who wanted to do the Guo Lu Society a favor, or even use the corpse to threaten the Guo Lu Society again…
Even that expert who suddenly appeared today, clearly not from the same side as Red Fifth Master or the Guo Lu Society—Slay Four Thieves.
Unfortunately, after a thorough inspection, Lu Jing helplessly discovered that aside from a few executioners responsible for hanging the corpse, no one had touched the wooden rack.
Lu Jing shook his head regretfully and turned to leave with big strides.
He didn’t know if Nie Zheng was alive or dead, but after so long without showing up, it was probably more likely bad than good.
The court had lost another loyal hound.
The corners of Lu Jing’s mouth curved up slightly, revealing a light, cheerful smile.
But it was quickly suppressed, returning to that impassive expression like a still ancient well.
……
In the deep alley, there was dead silence.
The walls were covered in ferocious, terrifying plow marks, as if torn by a giant beast’s claws.
The hard bluestone slab road was pockmarked and uneven, littered with broken stones everywhere.
The air was filled with a faint yet domineering and awe-inspiring mental pressure, weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts, making even breathing exceptionally difficult.
Standing before a deep pit.
Everyone stared down at that familiar yet strange corpse, an unprecedented chill rising from their soles straight to the crown of their heads; boundless fear surged in their hearts all at once, even their breathing becoming rapid.
Nie Zheng, from a hidden martial sect, direct disciple of contemporary Falling Form Eight Extremes Fist, bearing a sea of blood feud, even harboring ambitions of biding his time in hardship—just died like this?
Nie Zheng’s corpse was like a broken sack, his bones almost turned to powder, meridians and flesh and blood like mud; only intact enough to vaguely resemble a human shape.
The horrific state made it impossible to believe this had once been the imposing Nie Zheng.
Even less could they imagine the terrifying torment Nie Zheng had suffered in life, or the crushing, devastating pressure!
Ba Lima’s throat was dry, his voice hoarse and trembling,
“Who killed Lord Nie?”
No one answered; the several martial artists who had tracked here all had pale faces.
One first-rate expert who had once entered the county yamen and “teamed up” with Nie Zheng in combat against Guo Lu Society rebels stared soullessly at the corpse at his feet, only speaking after a long while,
“At least a Slay Four Thieves martial artist, perhaps the one Lord Lu mentioned. Today the Guo Lu Society set fire to the county yamen; he had been lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike.”
At these words, everyone present couldn’t help but break into cold sweat on their backs, secretly crying out in relief.
The gun hits the leader; fortunately, they were weak enough, far inferior to Nie Zheng—otherwise, how could they see tomorrow’s sun?
One by one, gazes involuntarily turned to the two men in the group wearing silver-embroidered constable uniforms.
One of them looked grim and said, “No matter who it is, daring to kill a court martial official means they must pay with blood!”
The other said gravely, “I’ll report to the prefect and request sea arrest warrants be issued and circulated to all prefectures.
Moreover, this matter will probably need the brothers from the Wuqing Stick Bureau to pay extra attention, assist in the investigation, and deploy more manpower to ensure this fiend is dragged out!”
The several martial artists from the Wuqing Stick Bureau exchanged a quick glance upon hearing this and immediately cupped their hands in response,
“It’s our duty; we’ll do our utmost!”
……
By the canal, river wind howled, blowing the reed clumps on the bank and producing a rustling sound like sobbing.
The broad river surface rippled with waves, reflecting the flowing clouds on the horizon; misty waters stretched endlessly, impossible to see the end.
A black-awned sampan was quietly moored at an abandoned simple dock, gently rocking with the waves.
Red Fifth Master, Zhou Yongyi, Money Grabber, and other Guo Lu Society brothers stood silently on the bank, watching Bai Manlou on the boat.
Red Fifth Master spoke gravely, his voice overriding the wind,
“Little Bai, the Xin Character Hall Master’s corpse is entrusted to you. Be sure to safely return him to his homeland in Sichuan and hand him back to his family.”
Bai Manlou, in a blue robe with a long sword on his back, glanced back at the Xin Character Hall Master’s corpse sealed in the ice coffin, then turned and said,
“I’ll take the brothers home.”
At this, Bai Manlou looked at these familiar faces and said gravely,
“And you’re coming home too.”
“We certainly will.”
Red Fifth Master nodded earnestly, deliberately raising his voice with unquestionable resolve: “I’ll bring the brothers home too.”
Bai Manlou said no more, cupping his fists and looking around at everyone: “Everyone, take care! Until we meet again!”
“Until we meet again!”
Under everyone’s gaze, Bai Manlou picked up the long bamboo pole and lightly pushed off the bluestone on the bank.
The sampan rippled lightly and slowly glided into the river heart, heading downstream.
Several people stood tall on the bank, watching the sampan fade into the distance.
Until the boat’s shadow grew smaller and smaller in the vast river waters, finally becoming a black dot merging into the water-sky horizon, indistinguishable.
Money Grabber gazed at the vast river surface and sighed faintly, saying,
“The Jin Family Troupe has completely disbanded. Jin Troupe Leader’s remains have also been handed to his family; I’ve already had them set off early, heading south into Sichuan.”
“As for the rest of the troupe, I’ve given them settlement fees, divided the possessions, and sent them scattering. In the vast sea of people, the court wants to catch them but is powerless.”
From the day the Jin Family Troupe got involved with the Guo Lu Society brothers, the outcome seemed destined.
Red Fifth Master was silent for a moment, about to speak, when he suddenly felt a gaze coming from his side.
He abruptly turned his head, looking toward the willow embankment dyed red by the setting sun, where a faint, slender silhouette was half-hidden behind the drooping willow branches, standing silently.
Red Fifth Master’s eyes lit up suddenly, instantly understanding this person’s identity.
His expression turned solemn; he straightened his clothes and solemnly cupped his fists toward the willow embankment, calling out,
“Many thanks to you, brother, for your righteous aid today!”
Zhou Yongyi, Money Grabber, and the others were stunned at his words, somewhat bewildered and uncomprehending.
“Fifth Master, has someone come after us?”
Red Fifth Master turned back with a smile: “Someone has come after us. But friend, not foe.”
“Friend?”
Zhou Yongyi and the others were somewhat surprised.
They were now in the Capital City, like rats crossing the street—everyone shouting to beat them. Even if there were forces or martial artists sympathetic to the Guo Lu Society, in this time of heightened alert, none would dare openly associate with them.
Could it be…
Several people seemed to think of a certain possibility at the same time, their faces showing shocked uncertainty.
Red Fifth Master turned to look at the willow embankment again, seeing only rippling waves and vast white clouds; under the embankment, where was the figure?
Red Fifth Master smiled lightly,
“A bosom friend I’ve never met.”
……
Wanlong Pounding House, back hall.
Huang Xing, who had just taken over the pounding house not long ago, placed an idol of the Fire God—consecrated by Tian Xuan Saint—into the shrine in the main back room.
Sandalwood smoke curled up; under the flickering candlelight, the Fire God’s face was stern, with faint red glows circulating.
Huang Xing casually instructed the clerk standing respectfully by his side,
“As the saying goes, if the Fire God doesn’t make trouble, the shop and home are safe. We’ll honor him to ward off disaster; from now on, serve the Fire God well—you know? Offerings and incense can’t be interrupted daily.”
“Got it, Landlord. Don’t worry.”
The clerk quickly bowed in response, his attitude deferential.
Huang Xing nodded slightly, personally lit three sticks of incense from the candle flame, and respectfully inserted them into the incense burner, watching the green smoke rise straight up before finally relaxing completely.
The current Wanlong Pounding House had long relocated to Bright Sun Avenue near the county center, with spacious premises.
Directly across the shop was the imposing gate tower of an official residence.
When choosing this shop back then, a feng shui teacher surveyed it, saying the gate tower opposite housed a jade centipede; doing business facing the jade centipede secretly matched the “Heavenly Dragon Ascending Cloud Gate” feng shui pattern, enough to ensure the Wanlong Pounding House was free from disaster.
“It’s just a pity,” Huang Xing paced to the window, gazing at the street, and sighed lightly, as if talking to himself,
“That ‘Golden Scaled Perch’ rumored in the fish market hasn’t been seen for a long time. Otherwise, placing a large water-gathering vat at the shop entrance and inviting it in would form the rare ‘Dragon Entering Treasure Basin’ pattern; our Wanlong Pounding House making a dou of gold daily wouldn’t be a pipe dream.”
