Chapter - 7 (7) (2/2)

A majestic voice from the crowd said, ”Two years ago, we all took an oath, if we fail to kill Oboi, then everybody in out Green Wood Hall is the distant grandson of a black bear [i.e. a coward], who won't have any face to walk in the Jianghu. At long last today we wipe away this extraordinary shame and humiliation. For the last two years, I, the one surnamed Fan, cannot eat to the full, cannot have a good sleep; day and night I kept thinking of how can I avenge Yin Xiangzhu, how to expunge the disgrace of Green Wood Hall. Finally, everybody's cherished desire is fulfilled. Ha ha, ha ha …!” Many people were laughing wildly with him.

”Alright,” the tall and slim old man said, ”Our Green Wood Hall has again roused our powerful wind, everybody feels proud and elated, once again we can raise our heads high and behave with integrity. These past two years, the brethrens of Green Wood Hall were like master-less lonely souls, in the Tian Di Hui's meeting, the brethrens of the other halls only had to look at us once, and then they would laugh grimly. I was so ashamed that I was unable to show my face in public, did not dare to interrupt or speak a few words in any meeting discussing either important or trivial businesses. Although our Zongduozhu has several times conveyed messages to enlighten us, saying that the revenge for Yin Xiangzhu is the business of the entire Tian Di Hui, not the responsibility of one hall, the Green Wood Hall, only, the cold words and sarcastic comments of the brothers from other halls cannot be simply dismissed. From now on, it's going to be substantially different.”

”Right, right,” another man replied, ”Li Dage is right, we must take this opportunity to take on the task and complete it with one sustained effort, do a large-scale effort to accomplish several more great undertaking. This evil thief Oboi had a reputation as the 'number one warrior of Manchuria'; today he died under our hands, thus those number two warrior, number three warrior, number four warrior and so on will be scared to death!” As they heard this, the people roared in laughter again.

Wei Xiaobao mused, ”One minute you cried, the next minute you laughed, just like an upside-down child.”

Suddenly there was a cold voice from among the crowd, ”Was it us, the Green Wood Hall, who killed Oboi?”

As soon as the people heard this, silence fell. More than two hundred people assembled in that hall, but in an instant 'the crow and peacock made no sound'. After a long while, someone said, ”Although the one who killed Oboi was someone else, it was because we, the Green Wood Hall who raided Prince Kang's mansion. Only by taking advantage of the confusion was that person able to kill Oboi.”

The person who previously spoke said again in cold voice, ”So that's how it is.”

The man with the coarse and loud voice said, ”Qi Laosan

[80], what is the meaning of your words?”

Still with a cold voice the one called Qi Laosan replied, ”What meaning do I have? I don't have any meaning, not the least bit! It's just that when the brethrens from the other halls say: This achievement of Green Wood Hall is really impressive! But I wonder which brother of your precious hall actually killed Oboi?' If this question is asked, I am afraid it will be somewhat difficult for us to answer. There is no harm in all of us thinking: is it possible that other people will ask this question? I am afraid in one thousand people, there will be nine-hundred and ninety nine people who will ask the question! Now we are blowing our own horns, pasting gold on our own faces, won't it be rather … rather … hey, hey, we all understand it in our hearts!” The crowd fell silent completely. They all felt that his words were sharp and extremely not pleasant to hear, but it was the truth, and it was hard to refute.

After a long while, the tall and slim old man said, ”This is the little eunuch from the Qing Palace who killed Oboi; the result of an accident arising from many causes. It was Yin Xiangzhu's own spirit from heaven who gave his blessing secretly, using the hand of a child to get rid of this big traitor. All of us are upright and honest men, we won't tell any lie contrary to our conscience.” The crowd looked at each other, some people could not help but shaking their heads; at first they were in high spirit, but thinking that the person killing Oboi was not a brother from the Green Wood Hall, immediately their spirit was dampened.

The tall and slim old man said, ”For the last two years, our Hall is without a leader. Everybody pushed Xiongdi to temporarily perform the duty of a Xiangzhu. Now that Yin Xiangzhu's enmity has been avenged, Xiongdi is laying down the authority tablet in front of Yin Xiangzhu's spirit. I am asking all the brothers to elect another capable man.” Finished speaking, he kneeled down in front of the spirit tablet, while lifting high a wooden tablet with both hands. He kowtowed several times before standing up and put down the authority tablet in front of the spirit tablet.

”Li Dage,” a man said, ”In the past two years, you have handled our Society's affairs clearly and orderly. In my opinion, other than you, who else fit to hold the Xiangzhu position? You don't have to be modest, just pick up the authority tablet again!” Everybody was silent for half a day.

Another man said, ”The Xiangzhu position is not for us to decide, we can't simply pick someone and appoint him to be the Xiangzhu. It is for the Zongduozhu to appoint somebody.”

The first man replied, ”Although it is indeed the custom, the usual practice is that after each Hall reach a decision, we will report it to our leader. Our leader has never turned down anybody. The so-called 'appointment' is nothing more than a routine business.”

The other man replied, ”As far as Xiongdi knows, the new Xiangzhu of each Hall has always been recommended by the former Xiangzhu. Either when the old Xiangzhu is old, or sick, or on his deathbed and is leaving his last wish. It has never been our customs for the brothers to elect the Xiangzhu replacement.”

Hearing the name Jia Laoliu, Wei Xiaobao shivered involuntarily, he remembered the person the salt smugglers in Yangzhou was looking for was precisely this man. Turning his head to look at him, he saw that Jia Laoliu was a bald man, the little pigtail on his head barely had any hair left, there was a scar from a knife cut on his face.

Jia Laoliu angrily said, ”What ill-will? What conspiracy? Cui Xiazi [lit. 'Blind Cui'], speak more clearly, but don't make slanderous accusation against others.”

The man surnamed Cui had lost his left eye. ”Humph!” he said loudly, ”Open the skylight and speak frank and straightforward remarks. In the Green Wood Hall, who did not know that you want to support your Jiefu [husband of older sister, brother-in-law] Guan Fuzi [lit. 'Master' Guan, as in 'teacher' or 'scholar'] to be the Xiangzhu. If Guan Fuzi becomes the Xiangzhu, you will become the Lord State Uncle, won't that mean you hold the power in your hands? You want the wind you get the wind, you want the rain you get the rain.”

In loud voice Jia Laoliu said, ”Whether Guan Fuzi is my brother-in-law or not, it is an entirely different matter. This time we are breaking into Prince Kang's mansion, it was under the leadership of Guan Fuzi, and it was a great success, as well as we returned home victorious. Based on my brother-in-law's talent, can't he be the Xiangzhu? Li Dage qualifies as a senior, his interpersonal relationship is good, I have nothing against him. However, in term of ability, Guan Fuzi is much better.”

Cui Xiazi suddenly roared in laughter; a laughter filled with contempt. Jia Laoliu angrily said, ”What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?”

”It's not wrong,” Cui Xiazi said with a laugh, ”How can our Jia Laoliu said anything wrong? I just feel that Guan Fuzi's ability is a bit too formidable. He can go over five mountain passes[81], but he cannot behead six generals. At the last moment, he let an outsider, a child, killed our personal archenemy Oboi with a knife.”

Suddenly a man walked out from among the crowd, with an angry expression he stood in front of the spirit tablet. Wei Xiaobao recognized this man as the long-bearded old man who led the attack to Prince Kang's mansion. He saw his long beard was floating in front of his chest; he looked very imposing. Actually, this man's surname was Guan, given name Anji. Because of his spirited-looking beard and his surname was Guan, everybody called him Guan Fuzi.

Guan Fuzi's eyes glowered at Cui Xiazi, with a gruff voice he said, ”Cui Xiongdi, if you have a disagreement with Jia Laoliu, you may say anything you like; I, the one surnamed Guan, will not blame you. We are all good brothers, in front of Wan Yunlong Dage's spirit tablet we have sworn made a pledge that whatever happens we are going to live and die together. You slandered me like that, what is your intention?”

Cui Xiazi was somewhat afraid, he took a step back and said, ”I ... I do not dare to slander you.” He paused for a moment before continuing, ”Guan Erge [second (older) brother], you ... if you endorse the election of Li Dage to be our Hall's Xiangzhu, then ... then Xiongdi is going to kowtow to you to apologize, just consider me saying wrong words.”

With an ashen face Guan Anji said, ”Kowtow and apology, how can I dare to accept? Whoever will become our Hall's Xiangzhu, it's not for the one surnamed Guan to decide. Cui Xiongdi, you are not Tian Di Hui's Zongduozhu either; who will become the Green Wood Hall's Xiangzhu, it is not for you to say.”

Cui Xiazi took another step backward; in a loud voice he said, ”Guan Erge, by what you said, isn't it obvious that you are slandering me? What kind of man am I, Cui Xiazi? Even in eighteen reincarnations I would still fall short to be Tian Di Hui's Zongduozhu. I was only saying that Li Lishi, Li Dage is a person of good moral standing and reputation; in our Hall, there is none like Li Dage, whom people admire from the bottom of their hearts. If we do not ask Li Dage to be our Hall's Xiangzhu, I am afraid eight or nine out of ten brothers may refuse to accept it.”

From the crowd someone said, ”Cui Xiazi, you are not eight or nine out of ten brothers in our Hall, how do you know eight or nine out of ten brothers may not accept it? In my opinion, Li Dage is indeed a very good man, everybody enjoys having a drink with him, Senior, or having a chat with him under the warm sun; indeed nothing can't be better. However, speaking about being our Hall's Xiangzhu, I am afraid eight or nine out of ten brothers may think otherwise.”

Another man said, ”Indeed, what Zhang Xiongdi said is very true. What if he is a person of good moral standing and reputation? Our Tian Di Hui objective is fighting the Qing and restoring the Ming, not studying Confucius or speaking about compassion, duty, propriety and integrity. Will a person of good moral standing and reputation scare the Tatars that they would run away? If you want to find a person of good moral standing and reputation, you will find a lot of old xiucai at schools, speaking about poetry and Confucius' sayings all day long.” The crowd roared in laughter as they hear this.

A Taoist priest said, ”In your opinion, who should be our Hall's Xiangzhu?”

The man replied, ”First, he must work toward the goal of our Tian Di Hui: fighting the Qing and restoring the Ming. Second, he must strive for our Green Wood Hall so that it will stand out among Tian Di Hui's Halls, managing it 'with sound and color'. Whoever is most capable and most talented among our brethrens, will have our support to be the Xiangzhu.”

The Taoist priest said, ”Most capable and most talented, in this poor Taoist opinion, Li Dage is still the best.”

From the crowd, dozens of people shouted, ”We nominate Guan Fuzi! How can Li Dage's skill be compared to Guan Fuzi?”

The Taoist priest said, ”Guan Fuzi can handle matters powerfully, everybody admires that quality …”

”That's right,” the crowd called out, ”What else do you have to say?”

”Wait a moment, wait a moment, let me finish!” the Taoist priest shook both of his hands, ”Guan Fuzi is hot tempered, he often flares up and curses people in anger. Right now he is no more than an ordinary brother, yet when we look at him, we are 30% afraid of him. If he becomes the Xiangzhu, I am afraid we won't have a day of peace and quite anymore.”

A man said, ”Recently Guan Fuzi's temper has mellowed quite a bit. If he becomes the Xiangzhu, he will be even better.”

The Taoist priest shook his head, ”The rivers and mountains are easy to change, a man's character is much harder to change. Guan Fuzi's temperament is cultivated over several decades. Granted that he was able to repress it for a while, but can he repress it for a year or half a year? Being the Xiangzhu of Green Wood Hall is an important matter of a lifetime. We can't allow just because a man's temperament is not good, the brothers are thrown into disharmony; everybody's heart will be discouraged, unavoidably the important matter will fail.”

Jia Laoliu said, ”Priest Xuanzhen, I think your own temper is not that great either.”

Hearing his words, the Taoist priest, Hao Xuanzhen, laughed aloud and said, ”It's exactly because everybody knows himself best – the poor Taoist's temper is not good, I have offended too many people – that as much as possible, I do not want to open my mouth. It's just that electing our Hall's Xiangzhu is an important matter, the poor Taoist cannot help but must say several sentences. The poor Taoist's temper is not good, I do not have any problem of not becoming the Xiangzhu. I have no problem if there is any brother who thinks I am not pleasing to the eye, and does not want to talk to me. I am fine if any of you want to distance yourself from me. But if the poor Taoist became the Xiangzhu, how can I ignore you or distance myself from you?”

”Nobody nominates you as the Xiangzhu,” Jia Laoliu said, ”Why do you come out and 'pull to the east and push to the west' [i.e. ramble incoherently]?”

Xuanzhen flew into rage. ”Jia Laoliu,” he said in stern voice, ”When friends in Jianghu see the poor Taoist, most of them would address me as Daozhang [Taoist Priest]. Even Zongdouzhu shows respect to me. It's only you who dare to be this rude to me. You … you are a dog threatens relying on your master's power. You want to bully me, Xuanzhen? It's not that easy! Let me tell you clearly: if Guan Fuzi wants to be our Hall's Xiangzhu, I, Xuanzhen, will be the first to disapprove! If he wants to be the Xiangzhu, he must accomplish something first. If this matter is accomplished, it's possible that the poor Taoist will not oppose him!”

At first, when Jia Laoliu heard him saying 'a dog threatens relying on your master's power', he was very angry, but first: he realized that Priest Xuanzhen's martial art skill was superior; even though he was really angry, he did not dare to contradict him openly. Second: this Taoist priest indeed had a resounding reputation in Jianghu; that their Zongdouzhu showed respect was not a false statement. He wanted to support his brother-in-law to become the Xiangzhu, but if this person strongly opposing the nomination, he would indeed be a major obstacle. Hearing that the Taoist priest was willing not to oppose providing his brother-in-law accomplish something, Jia Laoliu was delighted. He asked, ”What matter is that? Let's hear it.”

Priest Xuanzhen said, ”The first matter that Guan Fuzi has to accomplish is that he must divorce the '100% real gold', Golden Saber Jia!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the people in the hall roared in laughter. The '100% real gold', Golden Saber Jia Priest Xuanzhen mentioned was Guan Fuzi's wife, Jia Laoliu's own older sister. Her weapon was a pair of golden sabers, so when people bantered with her, they often asked her, ”Guan Saozi [older sister-in-law/older brother's wife], your two golden sabers, are they real gold or fake[82] gold?” And then with a straight face she would reply, ”They are 100% gold, 100% gold! How can they be fake?” Thereupon she received the nickname '100% real gold'.

By asking Guan Fuzi to divorce his wife, wouldn't that mean Priest Xuanzhen was clearly trying to make Jia Laoliu look bad? Actually, although the '100% real gold', Golden Saber Jia was a frank and outspoken, she was a good woman. Her brother, Jia Laoliu was not a bad man either, it was just that he was trying to raise his brother-in-law too high. Guan Fuzi was short-tempered, he had offended a lot of people; unavoidably, a lot of people were complaining behind his back.

Guan Anji stretched out his hand and 'bang!' he heavily slap the table, while shouting angrily, ”Priest Xuanzhen, what are you talking about? Whether I become the Xiangzhuor not, it doesn't have anything to do with my wife, why did you bring her into this?”

Before Priest Xuanzhen replied, someone in the crowd coldly said, ”Guan Fuzi, Yin Xiangzhu did not offend you, why did you hit his spirit table?”

The table Guan Fuzi struck was indeed the table where the memorial tablet was placed. Guan Anji was startled. Although he was irritable, he was actually very quick-witted. In a loud voice he said, ”Xiongdi has made a mistake!” He kneeled down in front of the memorial tablet and kowtowed several times, saying, ”Yin Dage, in his anger, Xiongdi has slapped your memorial tablet. It is entirely my fault. I am asking your spirit, Senior, in heaven to forgive me.” While saying that, 'bang, bang, bang!' he banged his head against the floor several times. Seeing him doing so, most of the people there no longer hold it against him.

Cui Xiazi said, ”Everybody, look! Guan Fuzi is straightforward and upright, he is a real man, but he is short-tempered and unable to remain calm. When he made a mistake, he would immediately admit it, which is certainly very good. However, if he were the Xiangzhu, making one mistake often carry an enormous responsibility. Even if he readily admit it, what good would it bring?”

Initially, Guan Anji was enjoying a good momentum by asking Priest Xuanzhen why he mentioned his wife, the '100% real gold', Golden Saber Jia; but in his anger, he struck Yin Xiangzhu's memorial tablet, which was offensive to the people. Although he immediately kowtowed in front of Yin Xiangzhu's memorial tablet so that the brothers no longer blame him, his momentum was gone; he felt it was inconvenient to continue arguing with Priest Xuanzhen.

Xuanzhen himself also seized the opportunity to retreat; he said with a laugh, ”Guan Fuzi, you and I are brothers, from the cradle to the grave we go through countless fire and water together. It's not worthwhile that we lose this brotherhood over a battle of the tongues. Just now the poor Taoist was only joking, please forgive me. When you go home, don't tell Golden Saber Jia Saozi about this; otherwise, she would seize the poor Taoist's beard, that won't be fun!” The people broke into laughter again. Guan Anji was 30% afraid of this Taoist priest; without any choice he also laughed.

Afterwards, you said one thing, I said another, some say Li Dage was good, others say Guan Fuzi was better, all along it was difficult to reach the final decision. Suddenly someone was wailing; crying and speaking at the same time, ”Yin Xiangzhu, oh Yin Xiangzhu, when you were alive, our Green Wood Hall was in perfect harmony, the brothers are like true blood brothers, everybody worked together for a common purpose, the important matter of fighting the Qing and restoring the Ming. Unfortunately you were harmed by that traitor Oboi. In our Green Wood Hall, there is no one else with your kind of ability: having both good interpersonal relationship and talent. Yin Xiangzhu, unless you rise again from the dead, I am afraid our Green Wood Hall will have endless argument with each other, we will become like a sheet of loose sand, we won't be as prosperous as when you were still alive.” Hearing this, many people were unable to refrain from shedding some tears.

Someone said, ”Li Dage has Li Dage's advantage, Guan Fuzi has Guan Fuzi's advantage, both are our own good brothers, we can't have all the brothers to be at odds with each other over this Xiangzhu election. In my opinion, it will be best if we ask Yin Xiangzhu's soul in heaven to help us decide. We will write both Li Dage and Guan Fuzi's name, everybody will kowtow in front of Yin Xiangzhu's memorial tablet and then draw the lot. It is the most fair method.” Many people voiced their agreement.

Jia Laoliu loudly said, ”This method is not good.”

”Why is it not good?” someone asked.

”Who will draw the lot?” Jia Laoliu asked.

”We all can select one brother to do it,” the man replied.

Jia Laoliu said, ”I am afraid that man will have selfish desire and may not play fair.”

Cui Xiazi angrily said, ”In front of Yin Xiangzhu's memorial tablet, who has such nerve, dare to deceive Yin Xiangzhu's soul in heaven?”

Jia Laoliu said, ”It's hard to fathom a person's mind, we must guard against it.”

”F*ck your granny,” Cui Xiazi cursed, ”Most likely it's going to be you who cheat.”

Jia Laoliu angrily said, ”Who are you cursing at, kid?”

Cui Xiazi was also angry, ”I am cursing you, kid! So what?”

”I have shown restraint long enough,” Jia Laoliu said, ”You cursed my granny, I can't tolerate it no matter what.” 'Shua!' he drew his steel saber; with his left hand pointed at Cui Xiazi he shouted, ”Cui Xiazi, let us have a duel outside at the courtyard.”

Cui Xiazi slowly pulled his saber out and said, ”You are the one who wanted a fight, I am forced to take up the challenge. Guan Fuzi, you heard it with your own ears.”

Guan Anji said, ”We are all brothers, we must not fight just because of this matter. Cui Xiongdi, you cursed my brother-in-law; you are in the wrong here.”

Cui Xiazi said, ”I knew you would place the blame on me. You have not become the Xiangzhu, you are already like this. If you were the Xiangzhu, what would happen then?”

Guan Anji angrily said, ”Are you saying that you can curse other people's ancestor at will? You f*ucked my wife's younger brother's granny, then what am I to you?” The crowd could not help but laughing heartily. For a moment the hall was in chaos.

Seeing his brother-in-law was standing up for him, Jia Laoliu was even more angry. He was about to dash into the courtyard when someone reached out and blocked him, trying to persuade him, ”Jia Laoliu, if you want your brother-in-law to become the Xiangzhu, you must not offend other people too much. If someone is offending you, you must yield one step to him.”

Cui Xiazi slowly put his saber back into its scabbard, he said, ”I am not afraid of you, it's just that we all take yiqi very seriously. Brothers must not fight using blades, staking our lives. In short, Guan Fuzi wants to become the Xiangzhu, I, the one surnamed Cui, will not approve, no matter what. Guan Fuzi's temper I can tolerate, but Jia Laoliu's temper is unbearable. Yan Wang

[83] is easy to see, little demon is difficult to bear.”

Wei Xiaobao was standing on the side. With the cool eye of a bystander, he found it rather amusing to hear and watch people arguing back and forth endlessly, some used obscenity to curse people, some wanted to fight with weapons. At first he thought these people were Oboi's subordinates who wanted to kill him as a sacrifice to Oboi, but now he knew that they hated Oboi to their bones, it was as if a huge rock had fallen from his heart. But after hearing these people keep saying something like 'fighting the Qing, restoring the Ming', he started to grow anxious. ”They must be thinking that I am a little eunuch of the Qing Palace,” he mused, ”No matter how I plead innocence, they won't believe me. As soon as the Xiangzhu position is decided, their first order of business must be to have me killed. I wonder if they would consider it 'fighting the Qing, restoring the Ming'? In front of them right now, other than laozi, who else is a Qing man? Besides, with me in here, I have heard their secrets; even if they would not kill me to close my mouth, they would definitely lock me up and I won't reincarnate forever. It would be better for laozi to slip away now.” Slowly, step by step, he retreated toward the door. He was hoping the hall would become chaotic again so that he could run away.

He heard someone was saying, ”Drawing a lot is too unreliable, it's a little too much like a child's play. I'll say, let Li Dage and Guan Fuzi have a martial art contest to determine victory or defeat, with fists and kicks is alright, using weapons is also alright, as long as they do not injure each other. Everybody else will stand on the side with eyes open wide, who wins and who loses will be seen clearly, nobody will have dissenting words.”

Jia Laoliu was the first to approve, with a loud voice he said, ”Good! Martial art contest to decide victory or defeat it is. If Li Dage wins, I, Jia Laoliu will support Li Dage as the Xiangzhu.”

As soon as he said that, Wei Xiaobao thought, ”You approve the martial art contest because your brother-in-law's martial art is superior to Li Dage's, what is there to be contested?”

If even Wei Xiaobao could have this thought, naturally others could also think the same. One after another those who supported Li voiced their objection; someone said, ”Being the Xiangzhu, one must make the brothers of the entire Hall work together, it does not have too much to do with martial art.” ”If the Xiangzhu position is decided based on martial art skill, then if someone within out Hall can defeat Guan Fuzi, will we let him to be the Xiangzhu?” ”This is not Xiangzhu election, but a martial art competition stage. Guan Fuzi might as well erect the stage, let the heroes from all over the world come and compete.” ”If that treacherous bandit Oboi did not die, he was the 'number one warrior of Manchuria'; Guan Fuzi may not necessarily win over him. If Oboi had won on the martial art competition stage, could it be that we will invite him to become our Xiangzhu?” As the crowd heard this, they could not bear not to laugh.

In this confusion, suddenly someone said coldly, ”Yin Xiangzhu, oh Yin Xiangzhu, after your death, nobody look up on you anymore. The oath we made in front of your memorial tablet has turned into damn bullsh1t.” Wei Xiaobao recognized the voice, it belonged to Qi Laosan who loved to say cold words and make sarcastic comments.

The crowd immediately quiet down. And then almost together several people asked, ”Qi Laosan, what do you mean by that?”

With a cold laugh Qi Laosan said, ”Many years ago, I, the one surnamed Qi, kowtowed in front of Wan Yunlong Dage and Yin Lizhu's memorial tablets, I pricked my finger and shed some blood and made a heavy oath, vowing to avenge Yin Xiangzhu. With my own mouth I said, 'Whichever brother kill Oboi and avenged Yin Xiangzhu deep enmity, I, Qi Biaoqing, will revere him as our Hall's Xiangzhu, will all my heart I will faithfully obey his commands, and promise never to go against him!' Qi Laosan indeed said those words. The one surnamed Qi intends to keep his words; it is definitely not a dog fart!” In that instant, the hall grew very quiet, not the least bit of noise was heard. Actually, everybody in that hall had made the same vow.

After a while, it was again Jia Laoliu who lost his patient first. He said, ”Qi San'ge [third (older) brother], what you said is not wrong, in fact, everybody had said the same thing, including me, Jia Laoliu. Naturally it was not an empty oath. But ... but ... you know it, I know it, everybody know that the one who killed Oboi was this ... this ...” He turned around looking for Wei Xiaobao, suddenly he saw Wei Xiaobao was at the door with one foot already outside the hall, ready to flee. ”Grab him,” Jia Laoliu shouted, ”Don't let him run away!”

Wei Xiaobao pulled his foot wishing to dash out. In an instant six, seven men pounced on him. About a dozen hands grabbed his body at the same time and forcefully dragged him back into the hall. ”Hey, hey,” Wei Xiaobao screamed, ”Turtle bastards, why are you pulling laozi back?” He presumed that this time he would not live, so he might as well enjoy hurling curses at them.

A man wearing xiucai

[84] attire, including the hat, walked out from among the crowd. ”Xiao Xiongdi,” he said, ”Don't curse people.”

Wei Xiaobao recognized his voice, he said, ”You are Qi Laosan?”

That man was indeed Qi Laosan, Qi Biaoqing. ”You know me?” he asked in surprise.

”I know your Ma!” Wei Xiaobao replied.

Qi Biaoqing had 30% bookworm disposition, he did not realize Wei Xiaobao was cursing at him. He was even more surprised, ”How did you know my Ma?” he asked.

”Your Ma and I are old friends,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”We are old lovers.”

The crowd roared in laugher. ”This little eunuch is a smooth-talker!” they commented.

Qi Biaoqing's entire face turned red. ”Stop laughing!” he said. Immediately his face turned stern as he asked, ”Xiao Xiongdi, why did you kill Oboi?”

Wei Xiaobao got a sudden inspiration. He said in loud voice, ”That traitor Oboi had done not a few of evil deeds, he had killed countless our Han people's heroes and warriors. I, Wei Xiaobao, cannot coexist with him. I ... I was fine until he captured me and put me in the Imperial Palace and made me a eunuch. I wish I could chop his head and made him into minced meat, and throw him into the pond to feed the tortoise.” He knew that the more vehement he was and the more he aroused indignation, the greater his chance of survival would be.

The people in the hall looked at each other in astonishment. Qi Biaoqing asked, ”How long have you become a eunuch?”

”How long? Not even half a year yet,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”I am originally from Yangzhou, he caught me and brought me to Beijing. Hot piece mama, stinky Oboi is dead I still want him to go up the mountain of blades, to go down the deep fryer, to roll over nail board and have that thief Oboi's bones penetrated.” A succession of Yangzhou-style cussing blurted out of his mouth.

A middle-aged man nodded his head and said, ”He is really from Yangzhou.” His own voice carried a Yangzhou accent.

”Uncle,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”We, Yangzhou people, were tragically killed by the Tatars; they killed us for ten days in a row, from morning to night without stopping. My grandpa, my grandma, my first grandma, my second grandma, my third grandma, my fourth grandma, not a single one escaped from the Tatars. The Manchu ghosts went on killing spree from the Eastern Gate all the way to the Western Gate, from the Southerm Gate all the way to the Northern Gate, all under this Oboi's order. I ... I simply cannot live under the same sky as him, that's how deep my enmity is.” He tried to remember what people say about the 'Ten Days of Yangzhou' massacre, the more he said, the more believable he was. Hearing him, the people were emotionally moved, they nodded their heads again and again.

”No wonder, no wonder!” Guan Anji said.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Not only my grandpa, grandma, even my father was also killed by Oboi.”

”Poor child, poor child,” Qi Biaoqing said.

Cui Xiazi asked, ”How old are you this year?”

”Thirteen or fourteen years old,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

Cui Xiazi said, ”The massacre at Yangzhou was more than twenty years ago, how can your father be killed by Oboi?”

Wei Xiaobao thought something was amiss, his lies had been discovered, thereupon he blurted out whatever was in his mind, ”How should I know? I wasn't even born yet, it was what my ma told me.”

Cui Xiazi said, ”Even if you were born after his death, it's still impossible.”

”Cui Xiongdi,” Qi Biaoqing said, ”You are wrong. This Xiao Xiongdi said his father was killed by Oboi, he did not say that he was killed during the 'Ten days of Yangzhou'. Oboi was an arrogant officer, until today, in which year he did not kill anybody? Our Yin Xiangzhu was killed by Oboi; it happened only a little bit more than two years ago.”

”Yes, yes!” Cui Xiazi said.

Jia Laoliu suddenly asked, ”Xiao … Friend, you said that Oboi has killed countless heroes and warriors, what does it have to do with you?”

”Who says it has nothing to do with me?” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”I have a good friend who was arrested by Oboi at the Qing Palace and was killed. He and I were caught together.”

”Who is it, who is it?” the crowd asked together.

”This man has quite a reputation in Jianghu,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”His name is Mao Shiba!”

”Oh!” more than a dozen men exclaimed. ”Mao Shiba is your friend?” Jia Laoliu asked, ”But he did not die.”

Wei Xiaobao was delighted, ”He didn't die?” he said, ”That's wonderful! Jia Laoliu, when you cursed the salt smugglers in Yangzhou, Mao Shiba fought them on your behalf. I was also helping him to fight.”

Jia Laoliu scratched his head, ”Is there really such thing?” he wondered.

”Very good!” Guan Anji said, ”Whether this little friend is indeed a friend or a foe, it is a matter of great importance. Laoliu, take several brothers with you, go get Mao Shiba, invite him to identify him.”

”Yes!” Jia Laoliu complied; he turned around and went out the hall.

Qi Biaoqing pulled a chair. ”Xiao Xiongdi,” he said, ”Please sit down!”

Wei Xiaobao was not bashful at all, he sat down. Someone gave him a bowl of noodles and a cup of tea. Wei Xiaobao was indeed very hungry, he ate the noodles clean. Guan Anji, Qi Biaoqing, and the one they called Li Dage, Li Lishi, sat with him and chatted. Their tone was quite polite, but actually they were interrogating him about his life and what he had been through lately. Wei Xiaobao did not conceal anything, occasionally he would toot his horn, hurl some cuss words to Oboi, and tell them in detail how he helped Kangxi capture Oboi. Only the fact that he learned martial art from Hai Laogong and Kangxi personally stab Oboi on the back, he did not mention at all. Guan Anji and the others had already heard about how Oboi was arrested by the young emperor and a group of little eunuchs. Listening to Wei Xiaobao's vivid narrative, they knew most likely it was not a fabrication.

Guan Anji sighed and said, ”Oboi had a reputation as the Number One Warrior of Manchuria; not only he was killed by you, but he was captured also by you. It must have been the heaven's will.”

They were chatting for about an hour. Guan Anji, Li Lishi, Qi Biaoqing and the others were Jianghu veterans with rich experience; although they felt that Wei Xiaobao's story was somewhat flippant and insincere, the crux of the story was unambiguous. Suddenly they heard footsteps, the door to the hall was pushed open, two men carrying a stretcher walked in. Jia Laoliu followed behind them; he said, ”Brother-in-law, Mao Shiba has been invited here!”

Wei Xiaobao sprang up. He saw Mao Shiba was lying on the stretcher, his cheeks were hollow, his eye sockets sank deep, his countenance was extremely wan and sallow. Wei Xiaobao asked, ”You … you are sick?”

When Jia Laoliu came to get him, Mao Shiba only knew that the Green Wood Hall of Tian Di Hui had an important matter they would like to discuss with him, but he did not know the nature of the matter. Now that he suddenly saw Wei Xiaobao, he was wild with joy. ”Xiaobao,” he called out, ”You … you also ran away; that's wonderful! I … all this time I have been thinking about you. I was hoping that as soon as I recover, I will go back to the Imperial Palace to get you out. This … this is really good!”

At these words, the 30% remaining doubt that was still in everybody's hearts was swept away in an instant. This little eunuch was indeed Mao Shiba's friend, who was captured together with him and was brought into the Qing Palace. Although Mao Shiba was not a member of Tian Di Hui, he was a man with quite a reputation in Jianghu, he always said one as one and two as two. Over the last few years, his arrest by the Qing court was a matter of public knowledge. Since Wei Xiaobao was his friend, naturally he could not be a real eunuch of the Qing Palace. Moreover, when Mao Shiba talked, they saw how he revealed his true feelings, obviously his friendship with the child was extremely good.

”Mao Dage,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Are … are you injured?”

Mao Shiba sighed and said, ”Ay, when I ran away from the Imperial Palace that night, I managed to reach the Palace gate, finally I met some imperial bodyguards. It was one against five. I killed two of them, but I also received two saber chops. I desperately ran out of the Palace gate. More imperial bodyguards from the Palace ran after me. It was actually a dead end for me. Fortunately Tian Di Hui friends lent me their hands, and thus my life was spared. Were you also being rescued by the good friends of Tian Di Hui?”

Immediately the look on Guan Anji and the others' faces turned awkward. They felt that the way they handled this matter was not exactly too pretty. Who would have thought that Wei Xiaobao said, ”Exactly. That old eunuch forced me to become a little eunuch. It was not until today that I finally able to escape. Fortunately I came across these … these gentlemen from Tian Di Hui.”

The Tian Di Hui warriors secretly let out a relieved breath, they knew that by saying that, Wei Xiaobao was giving careful consideration to their face; they were secretly grateful, thinking that although this boy was young, he was a good friend, indeed.

Right away Jia Laoliu invited Mao Shiba and Wei Xiaobao to take a rest in a side room, while the Green Wood Hall warriors continued their conference in the main hall. Mao Shiba's injury was very heavy, although he had been recuperating for several months, his body was still very weak. Just now when he was being brought up on the stretcher, his body was jolted and shaken, his wound was aching. Mentally he was very tired; he wanted to talk some more, but he simply did not have any strength. Wei Xiaobao thought, ”No matter what, they are not going to kill me.” His mood improved tremendously. Curling on a large round-backed wooden armchair, he fell asleep immediately. In his sleep, he felt someone lifted him up, put him on a bed, and covered him with a quilt.

When he woke up the next morning, someone came and brought water with which to wash his face, a cup of green tea, and a large bowl of meat noodles. ”They treat laozi better and better,” he thought, ”Unexpectedly they regard me like a big boss.” But then he saw two men standing outside the side room, and two more men standing outside the window. Although they pretended to be idle and were chatting with each other, it was obvious that they had received order to watch over him, perhaps they were afraid he might escape.

Wei Xiaobao was a bit anxious; he thought, ”If they really treat me as an honored guest, why did they send these four men to guard me?” Suddenly his childish heart rose up. ”Humph, I am afraid guarding Wei Xiaobao is not that easy. I am going to slip out and have a stroll, I want to see how these four idiots will deal with me!” After looking clearly at his surroundings, he hatched a plan. Straight away he reached out and pushed hard the window facing east. At the noise, four men looked to the window. When Wei Xiaobao was sure that these four men's eyes were still looking at the window, he slammed the side room's door to the inside, and quickly rolled underneath the bed.

Hearing the door, the four men turned their heads around and saw the double door was already open; the leaves were swinging continuously. They were shocked. These four men were indeed sent to watch over Wei Xiaobao. When they saw the door open, their first thought was that Wei Xiaobao had already escaped. ”Aiyo!” they all called out together, and rushed into the room. They saw Mao Shiba was still sleeping soundly on the bed, but Wei Xiaobao was nowhere to be seen.

”This child couldn't be too far,” one man said, ”Let's spread out and pursue him, and report this to our superior.”

”Yes!” the other tree complied, and together they rushed out of the room. Two of them leaped up to the roof.

Wei Xiaobao coughed, and then got out from under the bed and haughtily walked toward the main hall. He pushed the door and saw Guan Anji and Li Lishi were sitting side by side, while the men sent to guard him breathlessly reported, ”That … that child suddenly ran … ran away; we don't know … where he is.” Before he finished, he saw Wei Xiaobao suddenly appear. ”Ah!” the man exclaimed, his eyes grew big as he stared at Wei Xiaobao, speechless.

Wei Xiaobao stretched his body and said, ”Li Dage, Guan Fuzi, how are you?”

Guan Anji and Li Lishi looked at each other, and then said to the men, ”Dismissed! You are useless!” Immediately they laughed toward Wei Xiaobao and said, ”Please sit down, did you sleep well last night?”

With a chuckle Wei Xiaobao sat down and said, ”Very well, very well!”

The main hall door suddenly burst open as the other two men rushed in. ”Guan Fuzi,” one of them shouted, that … that child has gone …” Suddenly he saw Wei Xiaobao sitting there. ”Oh!” he cried out in amazement, ”He … he …”

Wei Xiaobao could not help but laughing aloud as he said, ”You four men are really useless, you can't even watch over a child. If I really wanted to run away, I am already gone by now.”

A foolish-looking man asked, ”How did you get out? There must be something in my eyes, I did not see even a shadow, yet you were already gone.”

Wei Xiaobao said with a laugh, ”I know the art of invisibility; I can teach it to you if you like.”

Guan Anji frowned; he waved his hands to the two men and said, ”Dismissed!”

The foolish-looking man was still asking, ”There is really the art of invisibility? No wonder, no wonder.”

Li Lishi said, ”Xiao Xiongdi is young, but smart and sharp, making people quite admire you.”

Suddenly they heard faint hoof beats in the distant, a large number of riders were coming their way. Guan Anji and Li Lishi stood up immediately. ”Tatars' troops?” Li Lishi said in a low voice. Guan Anji nodded. Pointing his finger to the door he let out three shrill whistles. Five men rushed into the hall.

”Tell everybody to get ready!” Guan Anji said, ”Tell Jia Laoliu to lead several brothers to protect Master Mao Shiba. A large number of Tatars' troops have arrived, we can't face them in battle, we must retreat separately per pre-arranged routes.”

The five men complied and went out to transmit the order. Everywhere the Tian Di Hui people were roused. Guan Anji said, ”Xiao Xiongdi, you'd better stay with me.”

Suddenly a man rushed into the hall and said loudly, ”Zongduozhu has arrived!”

”What?” Guan Anji and Li Lishi asked together.

The man said, ”Zongduozhu, accompanied by five Halls' Xiangzhu, are riding toward this place.”

Guan and Li, two people were delighted; they both asked, ”How do you know?”

The man replied, ”Subordinate met Zongduozhu on the way, he personally ordered subordinate to inform his arrival in advance.”

Seeing the man had run and was out of breath, Guan Anji nodded and said, ”Very well, you go and take a rest.” He let out a whistle to summon the guard, and issued his order, ”It's not Tatars' troops, it's Zongduozhu's arrival! Tell everybody to go out and welcome him.”

As soon as the news spread, the building was buzzing with excitement. Holding Wei Xiaobao's hand, Guan Anji said, ”Xiao Xiongdi, our Society's Zongduozhu has arrived. Let us greet him together!”