Chapter - 18 (18) (1/2)

Fat Toutuo grabbed Wei Xiaobao's arm and pulled him out in front of the stone tablet. Wei Xiaobao randomly said that the eight copies of the sutra were separately hidden in some mountain some temple; he also said that the stone tablet also mention the Divine Dragon Cult's Cult Leader's name.

Suddenly a golden ray flashed at the doorway, a large golden pestle came out from the vihara. 'Bonk, bonk' it struck the two lamas' heads. Immediately the golden pestle withdrew. Without making any sound the two lamas fell down, dead, at the doorway, their brains burst.

This unforeseen event was greatly outside everybody's anticipation. Bayan cursed in loud voice. Three more lamas charged toward the door. This time they were prepared, they all brandished their sabers to protect their heads. The first lama had just stepped into the door, the golden pestle struck down, even the saber was knocked down, together the golden pestle and the saber struck the lama's head. With all his might the second lama raised his saber to block, but it was as if the golden pestle went down with a force of thousand catties, unexpectedly the saber failed completely in blocking the golden pestle. 'Bonk!' the lama's skull was crushed. The third lama was so scared that his countenance looked like clay. His saber fell down, he turned around and fled.

Bayan opened his mouth, cursing and swearing, but he did not dare to personally attack the door. Huangfu Ge called out, ”Get on the roof, take off the roof tiles and throw them inside.” Immediately four men jumped onto the roof, took off the tiles, and threw the tiles inside through the hole on the roof. Huangfu Ge called out again, ”Throw sand and stoned into the building.” Following his order, the men under his command picked up sand and stones from the ground and threw it into the vihara through the wooden gate.

Most of the sand and stones going through the door was hit by the man inside the building using the golden pestle so that it flew back outside, but one by one all the tiles from the roof fell down. This way, no matter how high the person inside the building's martial art skill was, he would not be able to protect himself. Suddenly, a bellow like a mad ox was heard, a big and tall monk strode out of the building, carrying another monk in his left hand, and turning the golden pestle in his right hand like a wheel. This huge monk was at least half a head taller than ordinary man. His stature was impressive, just like a deity. Swinging the golden pestle in his hand so that it created flashing yellow light, he roared, ”Are you all bored of being alive?” His face was purplish red, with short beard that looked like a clump of wild grass. His monk robe was tattered, the holes on his robe exposed his sinewy muscles, his arms were bulging and his waist thick, his hands and feet were big. Seeing this kind of awe-inspiring man, Huangfu Ge, Bayan, and the others could not help but retreated a few steps backwards.

Bayan called out, ”This bald thief is only one man, what are you afraid of? Let's attack together!”

Huangfu Ge called out, ”Everybody be careful, don't harm the monk by his side.”

Everybody turned their attention to the monk. He was approximately thirty something, tall and slim, his face looked handsome and elegant. He was looking down, as if he did not consider the situation around him was worthy to be looked at with one eye.Wei Xiaobao's heart jumped, he thought it over, ”This man must be the young emperor's papa, it's just that their appearances are not the same. He is lot more handsome than the young emperor. Turns out he is still this young.”

Right this moment, about a dozen lamas attacked the giant monk together. The giant lama brandished his golden pestle. Endless 'bonk, bonk, bonk!' was heard, each 'bonk' resulted in one lama fell down to the ground, struck dead by the pestle.

Huangfu Ge ran his hand over his waist and pulled out a flexible whip. From the hand of a lama subordinate of his, Bayan snatched a weapon, which was a pair of short iron hammers. The two of them attacked together from left and right. Huangfu Ge's flexible whip trembled, the tip of his whip coiled horizontally, 'shua!' it left a mark on the giant monk's neck.

”Wah, wah!” the monk let out an unintelligible cry, while swinging his pestle to strike Bayan. Bayan raised his pair of hammers to block. There was a loud 'Clang!' Bayan's arms went numb, the pair of hammers fell off his hands. But the monk's shoulder was hit by the flexible whip again. Now everybody could see clearly that the monk only possessed extraordinary strength, but his martial art skill was only mediocre.

One lama sneaked in and grabbed the middle-aged monk's left arm. The monk grunted, but he did not try to struggle at all. In a low voice Wei Xiaobao said ”Protect that monk.”

”Yes,” Shuang'er replied. Her shadow flashed, she stretched out her hand to jab the lama's waist, the lama blocked with his finger. She turned around and stretched out her finger in a feign attack toward Huangfu Ge's face. Huangfu Ge turned to the right to evade, she quickly turned around and pierced the pit of Bayan's stomach with her finger.

”Mother …” Bayan cursed and fell face up.

Shuang'er turned to the east and circled to the west, her tender hands fluttered, more than a dozen men that Bayan and Huangfu Ge's brought along fell down one after another. Xinxi called out, ”Hey, hey, young … young benefactor …”

Shuang'er laughed and said, ”Hey, hey, old monk!” Stretching out her finger, she pierced his waist.

Huangfu Ge flicked his flexible whip to protect his front, back, left and right. 'Whoosh, whoosh!' the whip created whistling wind in a circle about a zhang in diameter; it was so tight that not even water would be able to penetrate. Shuang'er circled around outside the whip's circumference. Huangfu Ge's whip moved faster and faster, several times the whip almost struck Shuang'er's body, but she was always able to evade with her fast and nimble movement.

”Good kid!” Huangfu Ge called out. Sending his power to the whip, the flexible whip turned into a long spear, it went straight toward the pit of Shuang'er's stomach. Shuang'er's feet slipped and she fell forward, her finger extended toward Huangfu Ge's lower abdomen. Huangfu Ge raised his left palm to block her piercing finger, followed by a flick of his flexible whip that the tip of his whip coiled back to strike Shuang'er' back. Shuang'er dropped drown and rolled away; her position was rather awkward.

Seeing Shuang'er was in a disadvantageous situation, Wei Xiaobao was very anxious. He bent down to grab some dirt to be thrown onto Huangfu Ge's eyes, but the ground was swept very clean, he could not even grab a handful of dirt. Shuang'er had not stood up, Huangfu Ge's flexible whip had already shot down toward her. ”Stop fighting!” Wei Xiaobao called out. Brandishing his golden pestle the giant monk rushed forward to help. Suddenly Shuang'er's right hand grabbed the tip of the flexible whip. Huangfu Ge exerted his strength to jerk the whip up, bringing Shuang'er's body along with it, and throwing her into the air.

Wei Xiaobao reached into his bosom, without caring what kind of stuff he got, he simply grabbed it and threw it onto Huangfu Ge's face. Pieces of white paper fluttered in the air, several dozen sheets of paper obstructed Huangfu Ge's vision. Huangfu Ge busily stretched out his hand to brush the paper away, the power in his right hand diminished instantly. Right this moment, the giant monk's golden pestle was also coming down on the top of his head. Huangfu Ge was greatly shocked, hastily he ducked down. Shuang'er's body was still in the air, without waiting her feet to touch the ground, her left foot kicked toward his head and hit the taiyang [sun] acupoint on Huangfu Ge's head.

”Aiyo!” he cried out and fell backward. 'Bang!' sparks flew everywhere as the golden pestle struck the ground, less than half a chi from his head. As soon as Shuang'er's right foot landed on the ground, she snatched the flexible whip from his hand.

”Good skill!” Wei Xiaobao cheered. Pulling his dagger, he rushed forward and held it in front of Huangfu Ge's left eye. ”Tell your men to get out,” he shouted, ”No one is allowed to come in!”

Huangfu Ge was unable to move; feeling the thick cold air of the dagger on his face he was greatly amazed. ”All of you get out,” he called out, ”Tell everybody no one is allowed to come in.” His several dozen men hesitated for half a day. Wei Xiaobao made a move as if he was going to thrust his dagger to kill, the men immediately rushed out of the temple.

The giant monk opened his round eyes wide, he gazed at Shuang'er for half a day. ”Hey,” he said, ”Good child!” Picking up the golden pestle with his left hand and supporting the middle-aged monk, he walked back into the vihara.

Wei Xiaobao rushed two steps forward, he wanted to talk to the middle-aged monk, but he was too late. Shuang'er went toward Cheng Guang and unsealed his acupoints, saying, ”These bad eggs are violent, vicious and overbearing, they offended the Great Monk.”

Cheng Guang stood up, put his palms together and said, ”Young benefactor's body and mind possess supreme feat, you have saved my temple from great catastrophe. Lao Na has the blurred vision of an old person, I did not recognize an expert, and thus has failed miserably to show respect.”

”No, you have not,” Shuang'er replied, ”All along you were very polite toward our young master.”

Only after calming himself down did Wei Xiaobao realize that the paper he tossed onto Huangfu Ge's face and blurred his vision was actually a big wad of banknotes. He laughed aloud and said, ”Those who see banknotes and not surrender, perhaps only a few in this world. I attacked using several tens of thousands taels, you simply can't not cry out 'surrender'.” Giggling, Shuang'er picked up the scattered banknotes and returned them to Wei Xiaobao.

”Wei Gongzi [young master],” Cheng Guang asked, ”How should we deal with the situation here?”

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, ”These three friends, tell your men to disperse!”

Immediately Huangfu Ge raised his voice, ”All of you, go down the mountain and wait for me there.” They heard several hundred men outside complied together, followed by the rustling noise of footsteps, in an instant they have all left.

Cheng Guang was relieved. He reached down to unseal Xinxi's acupoint. ”Abbot, hold on,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”I want to talk to you first.”

”Yes!” Cheng Guang replied, ”But these several Shixiong have had their acupoints sealed for quite a long time, their hands and feet are numb, I must unseal their acupoints first.”

”It won't do any harm to leave them for a while,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Let's go to that hall over there and sit down.”

Cheng Guang nodded. ”Yes,” he said. Turning to Xinxi, he said, ”Shixiong, please don't be impatient, I will be back shortly to unseal your acupoints.” Taking Wei Xiaobao along, he went to the Buddhist hall on the west.

”Abbot,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Are these people really here to look for the young lama?” Cheng Guang was at a loss for words, he was unable to answer. Wei Xiaobao leaned forward and whispered in his ear, ”I know that they are here for that Emperor Monk.”

Cheng Guang's body trembled. He nodded slowly. ”Turns out the young benefactor has already known,” he said.

In a low voice Wei Xiaobao continued, ”I came to your precious monastery, performing repentance ritual and Buddhist ceremony was a fake reason, actually I receive ... receive an order to protect the Emperor Monk.”

Cheng Guang nodded. ”I see,” he said, ”Lao Na has already suspected as much. Young benefactor was rushing to Qing Liang Temple, your manner did not look like someone desiring to perform a Buddhist ceremony.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Although we have captured Huangfu Ge, Bayan, and the other, it's like capturing a tiger is easy, letting the tiger go is difficult. Even if we take the trouble of letting them go, in just a few days they would return to nag at us endlessly; it will be very troublesome!”

”But we must not kill them,” Cheng Guang said, ”There have been quite a number of people losing their lives in this temple today. Ay, Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha.”

”Killing them would be useless,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”How about this: tell your men to tie them up. We will investigate carefully: why did they come to look for the Emperor Monk?”

Cheng Guang was reluctant. ”This is a peaceful Buddhist establishment,” he said, ”We, who have left home, secretly tie up people and interrogate them, it does not seem reasonable.”

”What do you mean unreasonable?” Wei Xiaobao asked, ”They came here and killed the monks in your temple, are you saying they are being reasonable? If we do not investigate clearly and think of a way to deal with them, and then they come back to kill, to set your Qing Liang Temple on fire, what should we do?”

Cheng Guang thought for a while, then he nodded and said, ”That sounds reasonable. Let it be as Benefactor instructed.” He clapped his hands to summon a monk, and ordered him, ”Please invite that Mr. Huangfu here, we have something we'd like to consult with him.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”This Huangfu Ge is very crafty, I am afraid we can't find anything from him. Let us ask that Great Lama first.”

”Right, right,” Cheng Guang said, ”Why didn't I think about it earlier?”

Two monks dragged Bayan into the hall, they were angry at him for killing the monks of their temple, hence they threw him heavily on the floor. ”Ay,” Cheng Guang said, ”How come you do not have any manners toward the Great Lama?”

”Yes!” the two monks replied, and withdrew out of the hall.

Wei Xiaobao lifted a chair with his left hand, and then with the dagger in his right hand, he scraped layer after layer off the chair's leg. The dagger was incomparably sharp, slice by slice the chair's leg was cut away, until it was only about a tenth or a twentieth of its original thickness, just like peeling a fruit. Cheng Guang watched with eyes opened wide, he did not understand Wei Xiaobao's intention.

Wei Xiaobao put down the chair, and walked toward Bayan. He ran his left hand over Bayan's head, and raised the dagger in his right hand, making a scraping motion just like scraping away the chair's leg just a moment ago.

”Don't!” Bayan cried out.

Cheng Guang also shouted, ”You can't do that!”

”What do you mean I can't do that?” Wei Xiaobao said angrily, ”I know all Tibetan Great Lamas are trained in some kind of iron head skill, saber and spear won't penetrate their heads. When I was in Beijing, I have personally used this dagger to scrape a Great Lama's head, I spent half a day and I could not cut him down. Great Lama, are you a genuine goods at fair prices, or are you a fake article? If I do not test you, how am I going to find out?”

Bayan hastily said, ”I have never trained that iron head skill, if you scrape my head, I'll die.”

”Not necessarily,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”If I cut you two or three cun, you might not necessarily die. Let me scrape only a layer of your skull, just until I can see your brains. If you are telling the truth, your brain will be motionless, but if you lie, your brain will boil endlessly, just like vegetable boiled in water. I have something to ask you, if I don't scrape open your brain, how do I know if you are telling the truth or a lie?”

”Don't scrape, don't scrape,” Bayan said, ”I will tell you the truth.”

Wei Xiaobao ran his hand over Bayan's scalp and said, ”The truth or a lie, how do I know?”

”If I don't tell you the truth,” Bayan said, ”It won't be too late for you to scrape my scalp then.”

Wei Xiaobao thought for a moment and said, ”Very well, let me ask you this: who told you to come to Qing Liang Temple?”

”It was the Great Lama Sheng Luo Tuo of Pusa Ding Zhen Rong Yuan [lit. courtyard of the genuine appearance of the crown of Bodhisattva's head] who sent me here,” Bayan replied.

”Amitabha Buddha,” Cheng Guang said, ”The green and yellow temples of Mount Wutai have never had any hatred or desire for revenge, how can the Great Lama of Pusa Ding send you here to create trouble?”

”I did not come to create trouble,” Bayan said, ”Sheng Luo Tuo Shixiong asked me to look for a monk in his thirties; he told me this monk had stolen the treasured scripture of our Living Buddha in Lhasa, and went into hiding in Qing Liang Temple, thus we must find and arrest him.”

”Amitabha Buddha,” Cheng Guang said, ”How can there be such thing?”

Wei Xiaobao raised his dagger and shouted, ”You are lying, I am going to scrape open your scalp and look at your brain.”

Wei Xiaobao saw his expression looked sincere, it did not appear to be fake at all, so he assumed Bayan was also being deceived by others, who did not want him to know the truth about Shunzhi. Thereupon he took out the Tibetan letter he snatched away from the three Tibetan lamas Shuang'er had caught. He opened it up and said, ”Read it for me, tell me what it says.” While saying that, he placed the blade of his dagger flat on the top of Bayan's head.

”Yes, yes!” Bayan said, and then he uttered some gibberish as he read the letter.

Bayan said, ”The letter says, this big … big personality is indeed in the Qing Liang Temple of Mount Wutai. We recently received information that Shen … Shen Long Jiao is going to invite him, we must … must strike first and gain the upper hand.”

Hearing him mentioning 'Shen Long Jiao' three characters, Wei Xiaobao believed he was not lying. ”What else does the letter say?” he asked.

Bayan said, ”The letter says, going to Qing Liang Temple to invite this big personality is not difficult, but perhaps Shen Long Jiao has also received the information and is going to act; therefore, Sheng Luo Tuo Shixiong is asking Da He'er Shixiong of Beijing to hasten in sending a martial art master to come and render his assistance. If … if the Great Lama Sang Jie has arrived in Beijing, the Senior is unequalled in the present age, if he personally take charge of this matter, it will be … will be a 'not one in ten thousand failures' [wan shi wu yi] …”

Wei Xiaobao laughed and cursed, ”Damn it! It's 'not one failure in ten thousand (matters)' [wan wu yi shi – surefire, absolutely safe]. What do you mean 'not one in ten thousand failures'?” That he was able to correct someone else's mistake in Chinese expression, it was a 'hard to meet in a thousand years' opportunity, not one chance in ten thousand matters, thereupon he was very pleased with himself.

”Yes, yes,” Bayan said, ”It's one in ten thousand without failure [wan yi wu shi] …”

Wei Xiaobao laughed, ”Your Lama Granny,” he said, ”You're still saying it wrong. What else?”

”Nothing else,” Bayan said, ”There's nothing else below that.”

”Damn it,” Wei Xiaobao cursed, ”What do you mean there's nothing else below that? Is it I don't have anything else down below, or is it you don't have anything else down below?”

”We all … we all don't have anything else down below,” Bayan replied.

”What do you mean we all don't have anything else down below?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

”There are no more letters below that,” Bayan replied.

Wei Xiaobao burst into loud laughter. He asked, ”What kind of man is that Huangfu Ge?”

”He is the helper that Sheng Luo Tuo Shixiong invited,” Bayan replied, ”He arrived only last night.”

Wei Xiaobao nodded. He turned to Cheng Guang and said, ”Abbot, I want to examine that fat monk from the Fo Guang Temple. If you don't feel comfortable, there is no harm in you listening from outside the window.”

”That would be best, that would best,” Cheng Guang said. He ordered Bayan to be taken out and Xinxi to be brought in, while he himself returned to the meditation room, he was not willing to listen from outside the window.

As he entered the room, Xinxi's face was all smiles as he said, ”Two benefactors are young, yet your martial art skill is superb. Lao Na has neither seen nor heard about it. Young heroes, really amazing, amazing!”

”F*ck your granny,” Wei Xiaobao cursed, ”Who needs your boot-licking?” And he kicked Xinxi's buttocks.

Although Xinxi was in pain, his smile did not diminish; he said, ”Yes, yes, all real heroes and warriors definitely do not like to hear boot-licking. But the old monk is being sincere, it can't be considered as boot-licking.”

”Let me ask you,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”You came to create havoc in Qing Liang Temple, who sent you here?”

”Since benefactor asks, the old monk does not dare to conceal anything from you,” Xinxi replied, ”The Great Lama Sheng Luo Tuo of Pusa Ding Zhen Rong Yuan sent two hundred taels for me, asking me to accompany his Shidi [younger martial brother] Bayan to come to Qing Liang Temple to look for ... look for someone. The old monk cannot receive a reward without deserving it, therefore, I was obliged to accompany him.”

Wei Xiaobao kicked him again. ”Rubbish!” he cursed, ”You still think you can lie to me? Quickly tell me the truth.”

”Yes, yes,” Xinxi said, ”I can't hide it from the benefactor, the Great Lama sent me three hundred taels.”

”Obviously it was a thousand taels,” Wei Xiaobao said.

”To tell you the truth, it was five hundred taels,” Xinxi said, ”If I received one more tael, the old monk is not a human.”

”What kind of 'thing' is that Huangfu ge?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

Xinxi replied, ”That son of a b1tch is not a good thing, it was that crafty lama Bayan who brought him along. As soon as benefactor let me go, the old monk will immediately take him to Wutai County; I will ask the County Head Magistrate to punish him properly. Qing Liang Temple is a peaceful and quiet Buddhist establishment, how can we allow him to commit outrages here? Young benefactor, those several lives, along with several perished lamas, we can push the blame on his head.”

Wei Xiaobao's countenance sank, he said, ”Clearly you killed them all, how can you push the blame on someone else's head?”

Xinxi beseeched him, ”Good Young Master, please spare me.”

Wei Xiaobao had him removed from the room, and had Huangfu Ge in to be interrogated. But this man was very tough, he refused to answer anything. He ignored Wei Xiaobao's intimidation with the dagger. When Shuang'er sealed his 'tian huo' acupoint, the pain was unbearable that he could not help but groaning, but he still refused to answer Wei Xiaobao's question. He simply said, ”If you have guts, just stab your master dead with your dagger; torturing people is not a hero's conduct.”

Wei Xiaobao respected him as a real man. ”Alright,” he said, ”We won't torture you.” He ordered Shuang'er to unseal his 'tian huo' acupoint.

After he had Huangfu Ge taken out of the room, he invited Cheng Guang back and said, ”We must consult that big personality on how to conclude this matter.”

Cheng Guang shook his head, ”He is resolved not to see any outsider.”

Enraged, Wei Xiaobao said, ”What do you mean he does not want to see outsiders? Hasn't he seen outsiders just now? If we washed our hands and did not care, wouldn't he be taken away by outsiders? In just a few days, the Great Lama of Beijing will send someone else here, there will be some unequalled martial art masters, and then there will be some Shen Long [divine dragon] Jiao, Wugui [turtle] Jiao people. Even if we wanted to help, we would still be no match for that many people.”

”You are right,” Cheng Guang said.

”Go talk to him,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”The situation is urgent, we simply must come up with a way to deal with this problem.”

Cheng Guang shook his head and said, ”Lao Na has agreed that everyone in this temple, Lao Na included, will never talk to him.”

”Alright,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”I am not a monk of your temple, I'll go and talk to him.”

”You can't, you can't,” Cheng Guang said, ”As soon as young benefactor enters the vihara, his Shidi, that giant monk Xing Dian, may kill you with his pestle.”

”He won't strike me dead,” Wei Xiaobao said.

Cheng Guang cast a glance toward Shuang'er before saying, ”Even if you send your honorable servant to deal with Monk Xing Dian, Xing Chi will still refuse to talk to you.”

”Xing Chi?” Wei Xiaobao asked, ”Is his Buddhist name Xing Chi?”

”Yes,” Cheng Guang replied, ”Turns out benefactor did not know it.”

Wei Xiaobao sighed and said, ”Since that's the case, there is nothing I can do. Since you don't have any 'not one in ten thousand failures' [wan shi wu yi] good plan, it's a pity that a nice ancient temple like Qing Liang Temple will be destroyed in your hands as the Abbot.”

Cheng Guang frowned and showed deep concern on his face, he rubbed his hands repeatedly. Suddenly he said, ”I'll go and ask Yulin Shixiong, perhaps he has a solution.”

”And who is this Yulin Dashi?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

”He is Xing Chi's religious Shifu[82],” Cheng Guang replied.

”That's great,” Wei Xiaobao delightedly said, ”Take me to see this old monk.”

Immediately Cheng Guang led Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er out from the back door of Qing Liang Temple and walked about a li to a tiny old temple. There was no inscribed board above the temple's door. Cheng Guang walked straight in, and continued toward the meditation room at the back. They saw an old monk, with white hair and white eyebrows, sitting on a putuan [meditation mat]. His eyes were closed in meditation; he seemed to be completely oblivious of the three people who had just walked in.

Cheng Guang signaled them with his hand, and then he quietly sat down on another putuan at the side, lowered his head and closed his eyes, and put his palms together. Wei Xiaobao snickered inwardly; following his example, he also sat down. Shuang'er stood behind him. All around them was very quiet, it seemed that this old monk was the only one in this tiny temple.

After a long time, the old monk still had not moved a single jot, it was as if he was already dead. Unexpectedly, Cheng Guang also did not move at all. Wei Xiaobao's hands were numb and his legs ached, he was greatly impatient, he stood up and sat back down again, he sat down and stood back up again, while in his heart he cursed the old monk's eighteen ancestors several dozen times.

Then, after a long time, the old monk finally let out a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. He was not surprised at all to see people in front of him, he simply nodded his head slightly.

Cheng Guang said, ”Shixiong, Xing Chi's earthly karma has not been broken, some people came to the temple to look for him, I am asking Shixiong to resolve it according to the Dharma.”

The old monk Yulin said, ”All circumstances are born in the heart, the resolution is already inside.”

Cheng Guang said, ”The outside devils are heavy, Qing Liang Temple is in trouble.” Thereupon he narrated how Xinxi, Bayan, Huangfu Ge, and the others had come to kidnap Xing Chi, fortunately Wei Xiaobao, master and servant, had lent their hands to save him. He also told him how several people from both sides had died, and how the enemy did not seem to be willing to let the matter drop. Yulin listened silently without making any sound, and then he closed his eyes again and went into meditation.

Wei Xiaobao was furious; suddenly he sprang up and shouted, ”F*ck ...” But he only managed to utter one word, Cheng Guang repeatedly signaled him, asking him not to be angry, and asking him to sit down and wait. This time Yulin's meditation lasted less than an hour. Wei Xiaobao mused, ”From among the big robbers and strong bandits, vixens and scoundrels of the world, no one is as annoying as this old monk.”

After all the trouble, Yulin finally opened his eyes once again. He asked, ”Benefactor Wei came from Beijing?”

”Yes,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

”Benefactor Wei is working at His Majesty's side?” Yulin asked again.

Wei Xiaobao was shocked; he sprang up and said, ”You ... you ... how did you know?”

”Lao Na is only guessing,” Yulin replied.

Wei Xiaobao thought, ”This old monk is of some demonic school, perhaps he really has some magical power.” Thereupon he did not dare to curse him in his heart anymore; he sat back down obediently.

Yulin said, ”His Majesty sent Benefactor Wei to see Xing Chi, what message do you have?”

Wei Xiaobao thought, ”This old monk knows everything, it will be useless to hide the truth from him.” Thereupon he said, ”His Majesty learned that the Old Emperor is still in the world of the living, he is both delighted and sad, he sent me to kowtow and pay his respect to the Old Emperor. If ... if the Old Emperor is willing to return to the Palace and be his old self, nothing can be better than that.” Actually, Kangxi said that after the truth was ascertained, he himself would go up Mount Wutai to have an audience with his Fu Huang [father emperor], but Wei Xiaobao kept this words and did not say it.

Yulin said, ”His Majesty ordered benefactor to take what kind of token of confidence?”

From his innermost pocket Wei Xiaobao took out the edict Kangxi had written with his own hand, and presented it with both hands, saying, ”Dashi, please look at this.” The imperial edict said, ”The Imperial Bodyguard Deputy Chief Wei Xiaobao, hereby being granted by the Emperor himself to wear Yellow Magua, is being sent to visit the Wutai Mountain region on official business. Various provinces' civil and military officials are ordered to give assistance. By the Emperor himself.”

Yulin took the letter, read it, and returned it to Wei Xiaobao, saying, ”Turns out it is the Imperial Bodyguard Deputy Chief Wei Daren, forgive me for failing to show respect.”

In his heart Wei Xiaobao was very proud of himself, thinking, ”Do you dare to despise me now?” But looking at Yulin's face, he did not see any respectful expression, his conceited heart immediately dissipated.

”Benefactor Wei,” Yulin said, ”In your opinion, how should we handle this matter?”

”I want to kowtow to the Old Emperor,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”And wait for the Old Emperor's instruction.”

Yulin said, ”Formerly, his riches reached the four seas, but after leaving home and become a monk, the earthly karma has already been severed. These three words 'lao huang ye' [Old Emperor] can no longer be mentioned, so as not to shock him and disturb his peaceful cultivation.” Wei Xiaobao was silent without replying anything.

Yulin continued, ”Please go back and report to His Majesty, Xing Chi is not willing to see you, he is also unwilling to see any outsider.”

”His Majesty is his son,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”He is not an outsider.”

”Why is it called 'leave home'?” Yulin said, ”It's because home is no longer home, wife and children are outsiders.”

Wei Xiaobao thought, ”Apparently it is you, the old monk, who is playing trick, always stand on the way. Even if the Old Emperor is unwilling to return to the Palace, he might not necessarily be unwilling to see his own son.” He said, ”Since that's the case, I will dispatch men and horses to go up Mount Wutai to guard and protect, we must not let idle people to enter the temple and create disturbance.”

Yulin showed a faint smile as he said, ”This way, Qing Liang Temple will turn into an inner courtyard of the Palace, or a government office; the Imperial Bodyguard Deputy Chief Wei Daren becomes a messenger at the Qing Liang Temple. To be blunt with you, if that's the case, Xing Chi might as well return to the Palace in Beijing.”

”So Dashi has another great idea to protect the Old ... the Senior,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Zaixia will ... will listen with respectful attention.”

Yulin smiled and said, ”Benefactor Wei is so young, yet has such an awesome background, no wonder that at your teenage year you have already occupied such a high-ranking post.” He paused for a moment, and then continued, ”Great idea, that I do not have, those who have left home stand aloof from worldly affair, we resign ourselves to adversity. Thank you very much for Benefactor Wei's kind intention, if Qing Liang Temple is really facing a misfortune, we'll leave it to fate to escape from calamity.” Finished speaking, he put his palms together to salute, closed his eyes, and went back to meditation.

Cheng Guang stood up, signaled with his hand, and withdrew toward the door, where he bowed with palms together toward Yulin. Wei Xiaobao made faces toward Yulin, stuck out his tongue, put the thumb of his right hand on his own nose, with the other four fingers waving toward Yulin. With this gesture he was saying, ”What a stink, what a stink!” Yulin had his eyes closed, he did not see anything.

When the three of them were outside, Cheng Guang said, ”Yulin Dashi is an eminent senior monk, he has reached the enlightenment level. Lao Na is going to release Abbot Xinxi and the others and let them go. Benefactor Wei, our meeting today is brought together by fate, let us part here.” Finished speaking, he brought his palms together, bowed to salute, and left. Unexpectedly he did not let Wei Xiaobao to re-enter Qing Liang Temple.

Wei Xiaobao's heart was on fire; he said, ”Very well, since you already have a brilliant scheme that is 'not one in ten thousand failures' (wan shi wu yi), it's actually me who was being meddlesome.”

He told Shuang'er to fetch Yu Ba and his retinue, and then without telling anybody else they went down the mountain, back to Ling Jing Temple to spend the night there.

The previous night he had donated seventy taels of silver to the Ling Jing Temple. When the administrator of the monastery saw the big benefactor once again graced their temple with his visit, he eagerly and attentively welcomed them.

In the guestroom, with one hand supporting his cheek, Wei Xiaobao contemplated, ”I have seen the Old Emperor. Turns out he is not that old, but he is in a very dangerous situation; the Tibetan Lamas want to capture him, the Shen Long Jiao also want to get him. That old bald thief Yulin is putting on an act, but does not have the least bit of farting skill; what good is Abbot Cheng Guang one man alone? I am afraid in just a few days the Old Emperor will be captured by those people, and then how am I going to explain to Xiao Xuanzi?”

As he turned his head around, he saw Shuang'er's beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, she looked really upset. ”Shuang'er,” he asked, ”Why are you unhappy?”

”Nothing,” Shuang'er replied.

”I know you have a load on your mind,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Quickly tell me.”

”It's really nothing,” Shuang'er replied.

Suddenly Wei Xiaobao remembered something. ”Ah, I get it,” he said, ”You are blaming me for being an official in the Imperial Court, but all along have never told you.”

Shuang'er's eyes turned red as she said, ”The Tatar Emperor is a big evil man, Xianggong you … how can you be their official? Not only that, you are a high-ranking official.” While saying that, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Wei Xiaobao was taken aback. ”Silly child,” he said, ”Why do you have to cry over that?”

Sobbing and sniffling, Shuang'er said, ”The Third Mistress has given me to Xianggong, she told me to serve you, to obey your commands. But … but you are a … a high-ranking official in the Imperial Court, my papa, mama, and two gege [older brother], were all killed by evil government officials. You … you …” And she burst out crying.

Momentarily Wei Xiaobao was at a loss of what to do. ”Alright, alright!” he hastily said, ”I will tell you everything. Let me tell you the truth, my position as a government official is only a cover, I am the Xiangzhu of Green Wood Hall of Tian Di Hui, the Heaven is my father, the Earth is my mother, we fight the Qing to restore the Ming. Do you understand? My Shifu is Tian Di Hui's Zongduozhu, I have already told your Third Mistress everything. Our Tian Di Hui stand to oppose the Imperial Court. My Shifu sent me to infiltrate the Imperial Palace to become an officer, for the purpose of spying on the Tatars' movement. This is top secret information, if this info leaks out, my life cannot be protected anymore.”

Shuang'er reached out and pressed his hand against Wei Xiaobao's lips. ”Don't say anything anymore,” she said in a low voice, ”It's all my fault, I forced you to tell me.” While saying that, her tears were turned into laughter. She continued, ”Xianggong is a good man, naturally you can't possibly do bad things. I … I really am a silly servant girl.”

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, ”You are a well-behaved girl.” Pulling her hand, he let her sit on the kang, by his side. In a low voice he told her everything about Shunzhi and Kangxi. He said, ”The young emperor is only a teenager, his father has left home to become a Buddhist monk and no longer wants to be with him. Don't you think we should pity him? Those fellows who came to get him today were all very, very bad people, how fortunate it was that you saved him.”

Shuang'er let out a breath and said, ”Finally I did a good thing.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”No more than sending the Buddha onto the Western Paradise. Those people were released by the Abbot. Definitely they are not going to let go, they will come back to get that old emperor, cut the flesh of his body piece by piece, cook it, and eat it; won't that be terrible?” He knew Shuang'er had a good heart, in order to arouse her courage so that she would be willing to save people, he intentionally pictured Shunzhi's plight to be utterly dire.

Shuang'er shivered; ”Why would they want to eat his flesh?” she asked.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Monk Tangseng[83] went to the Western Paradise to fetch the scriptures; have you heard this tale?”

”I have,” Shuang'er replied, ”And there were Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie[84] too.”

”Along the way, they met many demons,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”They all wanted to eat Tangseng's flesh; they said he was a holy monk, if they ate his flesh, they would become Buddhist immortal.”

”Ah, I know,” Shuang'er said, ”These bad people thought that the Old Emperor is also a holy monk.”

”That's right,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”You are really smart. The Old Emperor Monk can be compared to Tangseng, and those bad people are the demons. I am the monkey Sun, Sun Xingzhe [another name for Sun Wukong], and you are … you are …” Speaking to this point, he raised his palms to cover his own ears, because right that moment, a slap was coming to his face.

Shuang'er laughed and said, ”You are saying I am the Zhu Bajie?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Your appearance looks like Guanyin Pusa [Goddess of Mercy], but your action looks like Zhu Bajie.”

Shuang'er quickly waved her hand, ”Don't say anything to offend the Bodhisattva,” she said, ”Xianggong, you may be the Shancai Boy Hong Hai'er[85] by the Guanyin Pusa's side, and I …” Speaking to this point, her face blushed, she did not continue whatever she was going to say next.

”That's right!” Wei Xiaobao said, ”I can be the Shancai Boy, and you are the Long Nu [dragon girl]. The two of us will always be together, and whatever happens we will never part.”

Shuang'er's cheeks blushed even deeper, she said in a low voice, ”Naturally I will serve you forever, unless … unless you don't want me anymore, and drive me away.”

Wei Xiaobao raised his palm to make a cutting gesture across his own neck and said, ”Even if you cut my head, I will never drive you away. Unless you don't want me anymore, and sneak out on your own.”

Shuang'er also raised her palm to make a cutting gesture across her own neck and said, ”Even if you cut my head, I will never leave.” The two of them burst out in loud laughter.

Ever since Shuang'er followed Wei Xiaobao, she had always observed master-servant relationship strictly, very little did she ever chat and laugh with him. This moment, after listening to Wei Xiaobao telling her the truth about him, her heart felt happy and at ease. By laughing together like this, the friendship between them grew several degrees more intimate.

”Alright,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Now that the problem between us is sorted out, we have to think of a way, how are we going to save Tangseng?”

Shuang'er laughed and said, ”To save Monk Tangseng, the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven[86] had always come up with an idea, Zhu Bajie was only a bum beetle.”

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, ”If Zhu Bajie was as good-looking as you are, Tangseng would never leave home to become a Buddhist monk.”

”Why is that?” Shuang'er asked.

Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Naturally Tangseng would take Zhu Bajie as his wife.”

'Pfft,' Shuang'er broke into laughter. ”Zhu Bajie was a pig demon, who would want to take him as a wife?”

Hearing Shuang'er mentioning taking a pig demon as a wife, Wei Xiaobao suddenly remembered the 'huadiao fuling' pig, in which Mu Jianping came to him; he wondered where she and Fang Yi were right this moment, and whether she was safe and sound. Seeing Wei Xiaobao was staring blankly, lost in thought, Shuang'er did not dare to interrupt his train of thought.

A moment later, Wei Xiaobao said, ”I have found a way not to let those bad people catch the Old Emperor. Shuang'er, if, for example, there is a similar treasure, and a lot of thieves and bandits want to steal it, what should we do, so that those thieves and bandits cannot steal it?”

Shuang'er replied, ”When we see thieves and bandits come to steal it, we capture them.”

Wei Xiaobao shook his head, ”The thieves and bandits are too many, we cannot catch them all. We must become thieves and bandits ourselves.”

”We become thieves and bandits?” Shuang'er asked.

”Right!” Wei Xiaobao said, ”We strike first and gain the upper hand. If we steal the treasure first and have it in our hands, then other thieves and bandits cannot steal it.”

Shuang'er clapped her hands and said with a laugh, ”I get it, we catch the Old Emperor Monk first.”

”Exactly,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Without further ado, let's leave now.”

The two of them reached the perimeter of the Qing Liang Temple. Wei Xiaobao said, ”The sky is not dark yet, stealing stuff or stealing a monk, we must wait until the sky is dark.” The two of them hid in the wood, with great difficulty waiting for the whole mountain to be shrouded in darkness, and all noises ceased.

In a low voice Wei Xiaobao said, ”In the temple, only Abbot one person knows martial art, luckily in the fight just now, he suffered an injury, he must be lying down to rest by now. You go seal that big fat monk Xing Dian's acupoint, and then we can steal the Old Emperor monk out. It's just that Xing Dian's strength is enormous, that golden pestle of his is very formidable, you must be very careful.” Shuang'er nodded, indicating that she understood.

After listening attentively and convinced that there was nobody around, the two of them quietly leaped over the enclosure and walked toward the vihara where Shunzhi was meditating. They saw the board gate was already closed, but the damage done on the door by the kick earlier that day had not been repaired, it was put there only as a shield against the wind. Creeping closed to the wall, Shuang'er went in. She pulled the board facing left, and saw a flash or yellow light. 'Whoosh!' the golden pestle struck down from the gap between the door leaves.

Shuang'er waited until the golden pestle swung back up before she swiftly leaped in, while stretching out her finger to seal the two acupoints on Xing Dian's chest one after another. ”Really sorry!” she said in a low voice. Raising both hands, she grabbed the golden pestle in his hands. Xing Dian's acupoints were sealed, his body turned weak and he slowly dropped down. The golden pestle was more than a hundred catties. If Shuang'er did not catch it, it would fell down and crush his toes. Wei Xiaobao followed; he dodged inside and pulled the door leaf.

The vihara was very small; in the darkness, he vaguely saw someone was sitting on a putuan. Wei Xiaobao knew it must be the Emperor Shunzhi whose Buddhist name was Xing Chi. Immediately he kowtowed and said, ”Your servant Wei Xiaobao, who saved your honorable self during the day. Old Emperor, please do not panic.” Xing Chi was silent without making any noise.

Wei Xiaobao continued, ”The Old Emperor is meditating quietly in here, actually, it is very good; however, there are a lot of bad people outside who want to capture the Old Emperor, who want to do you harm. In order to protect the Old Emperor, your servant would like to invite you to another peaceful place, so that the bad people won't be able to get you.”

Xing Chi still did not reply. Wei Xiaobao said, ”Well then, would the Old Emperor please leave together with your servant?”

A long time passed, Wei Xiaobao saw him still sit cross-legged, motionless. By this time Wei Xiaobao had been in the dark for quite a while, he started to be able to see more clearly. He noticed that Xing Chi's posture in meditating was exactly the same as Yulin whom he saw during the day. Wei Xiaobao was not sure if he was really meditating, or he was simply ignoring him. He said, ”The Old Emperor's real identity is already known, there is no one in Qing Liang Temple who can protect you. A group of the enemy has left, another group will come, in the end, the Old Emperor will be captured by them. We'd better find another quiet place where you can meditate in peace.”

Xing Chi still did not reply. Xing Dian suddenly said, ”You, two children are good people, luckily you saved me during the day. When my Shixiong is meditating, he does not talk to anyone. Where do you want him to go?” His voice was originally very loud, but he struggled hard to lower his voice, so that it became very hoarse.

Wei Xiaobao stood up and said, ”Anywhere is alright. Wherever your Shixiong wishes to go, we will accompany him there. So long as those bad people cannot find him, the two of you can meditate and chant the names of Buddha in peace and quiet.”

”We do not chant the names of Buddha,” Xing Dian said.

”Alright,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Do not chant the names of Buddha is also fine. Shuang'er, quickly unseal this Dashi's acupoints.”

Shuang'er stretched out her hand to massage Xing Dian's back and the side of his torso to unseal his acupoints. ”I am really sorry,” she said.

Xing Dian respectfully said to Xing Chi, ”Shixiong, these two children are inviting us to temporarily go out and hide.”

Xing Chi said, ”Shifu has not told us to leave Qing Liang Temple.” His voice was very clear and bright. It was the very first time that Wei Xiaobao heard his voice.

Xing Dian said, ”If the enemies carry out a large scale operation to attack, these two children won't be able to resist.”

”All circumstances are born in the heart,” Xing Chi said, ”When it come to danger, everywhere in the world is dangerous. When the heart is peaceful, everywhere in the world is peaceful. The other day you killed and injured many people, and thus greatly accumulated evil business. Hereafter, no matter what, you must not rush indiscriminately into action without clear understanding.”

Xing Dian stared blankly for half a day before saying, ”Shixiong's direction is true.” Turning his head toward Wei Xiaobao he said, ”Shixiong does not want to leave, you have heard him.”

Wei Xiaobao knitted his brows and said, ”If the enemy came to get your Shixiong, slicing the flesh of his body piece by piece with a knife, what would you do?”

Xing Dian said, ”None among the common people does not die; to live several years longer, or several years shorter, there is not much difference.”

”What do you mean there is not much difference?” Wei Xiaobao asked, ”Then there is no difference between a dead person and a living person, there is no difference between man and woman, there is also no difference between monk and turtle or pig?”

”All living creatures are equal,” Xing Dian said, ”It has always been like that since the beginning.”

Wei Xiaobao thought, ”No wonder one is called Xing Chi, the other is called Xing Dian; they are indeed foolish and inverted[87]. Urging them to leave is unsuccessful. If we seal the Old Emperor's acupoint and carry him out, it is indeed too disrespectful, plus it will be difficult to escape from other people's attention.” In that moment he had his hands bound and was unable to do anything, his heart was angered and he was unable to hold back. ”If there is not much difference between anything, then there is not much difference between the Empress and Empress Duan Jing, why do you have to leave home?” he blurted.

Xing Chi suddenly sprang up. ”You … what did you say?” he asked in trembling voice.

As soon as he blurted out, Wei Xiaobao had already regretted it. Immediately he kowtowed and said, ”Your servant is uttering nonsense, Old Emperor please do not get angry.”

Xing Chi said, ”The matter of the past, I have already forgotten it. Why do you still use that kind of appellation? Please rise quickly, I have something I'd like to ask you.”

”Yes,” Wei Xiaobao replied. He stood up, thinking, ”I have succeeded in arousing your interest to talk, finally there is a little bit of progress.”

”Where did you hear about the two Empresses from?” Xing Chi asked

”I heard it from Hai Dafu when he was talking to the Empress Dowager,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

”You know Hai Dafu?” Xing Chi asked, ”What happened to him?”

”He was killed by the Empress Dowager,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

Xing Chi cried out in alarm. ”He is dead?” he asked.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”The Empress Dowager killed him using the 'Transforming Bones Soft Palm' skill.”

With a trembling voice Xing Chi said, ”How can the Empress Dowager know ... know martial art? How did you know?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Hai Dafu and the Empress Dowager fought in the garden at the Palace of Compassionate and Peace, I saw it with my own eyes.”

”Who are you?” Xing Chi asked.

”Your servant is the Imperial Bodyguard Deputy Chief Wei Xiaobao,” Wei Xiaobao replied, and then he immediately added, ”Currently I am on mission, sent by His Majesty himself. Here is the imperial edict.” While saying that, he presented the imperial note Kangxi wrote.

Xing Chi was staring blankly for a moment, he did not reach out to take the letter. Xing Dian said, ”There has never been any lantern in here.”

Xing Chi sighed. ”Is the young emperor well?” he asked, ”Is he ... is he happy being the emperor?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”As soon as the young emperor found out that the Old Emperor is still alive, he wished to grow wings and fly to Mount Wutai. In the Palace he wept and he cried, he was grieving but was also delighted, he wanted to go up the mountain, no matter what. But then ... but then he was afraid he might neglect the important matters of the imperial court, so he sent your servant to come first and pay his respect to the Old Emperor. As soon as your servant return and present the memorial to him, the young emperor will personally come here.”

With a trembling voice Xing Chi said, ”He ... he does not need to come. He is a good emperor, thinking about the important matters of the imperial court first, not like me ...” Speaking to this point, his voice turned into sobs.

In the darkness they could hear the sound of his tears dripping on the lapel of his outer garment. Hearing him expressing the father-son affection, Shuang'er felt the pit of her stomach ached, tears also streaming down her face.

Wei Xiaobao thought that he should not miss this golden opportunity, right now the Old Emperor's emotion was agitated, he would easily hear what Wei Xiaobao had to say. Thereupon Wei Xiaobao said, ”Hai Dafu has investigated everything clearly. The Empress Dowager murdered Prince Rong first, then she murdered Empress Duan Jing, and Empress Duan Jing's meizi Consort Zhen. Afterwards she also murdered the young emperor's mama. Hai Dafu has investigated everything clearly. When the Empress Dowager knew that the secret has been divulged, she personally killed Hai Dafu. She also dispatched a large number of people to go up Mount Wutai to plot against the Old Emperor's life.”

The fact that Prince Rong, Empress Duan Jing and Consort Zhen, three people were killed by a martial art expert, had been investigated clearly by Hai Dafu, and had been reported to Xing Chi; afterwards he returned to the palace to investigate the murderer. But no matter what, Xing Chi could not believe that it was the Empress Dowager herself who went into action; he sighed and said, ”The Empress Dowager does not know martial art.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”The Old Emperor would understand everything after listening to Empress Dowager and Hai Dafu's exchange that night.” Thereupon he narrated in details the conversation between the two people that night at the garden. He was eloquent [orig. clever tooth sharp tooth]; although he was talking very fast, each word was very clear.

Xing Chi was originally a sentimental person, only because he was devotedly attached to imperial concubine Dong'e that after her death he did not even want to be the Emperor anymore, he willingly abandoned his position of ten-thousand four-horse chariots and shut himself up in a small secluded room. Although he had practiced Zen meditation for several years, the shadow of imperial concubine Dong'e was etched very deep in his heart that as soon as he heard Wei Xiaobao mentioning her name, in an instant all meditation and Buddhism dharma were tossed away to the back of his mind. The exchange between Hai Dafu and the Empress Dowager flowed in his heart, grief and indignation met together, the flow of chi in the pit of his stomach was blocked, he felt as if he was about to explode.

Finished narrating, Wei Xiaobao added, ”Since that old ... the Empress Dowager has started it, she will carry it through whatever happens; after she harms you, the Old Emperor, she will murder the young emperor. She also wants to dig Empress Duan Jing's grave and issue an imperial order throughout the land, to burn down the book 'Empress Duan Jing's Quotation'; she said that all those 'quotations' are a fart. Any family who possess a copy at home will be searched, their belongings confiscated, and they will be beheaded!” This last part was entirely his fabrication, but it just happened to touch the wound in Xing Chi's heart.

Xing Chi flew into rage, he slapped his own thigh forcefully and shouted, ”That s1ut, I ... I should have deposed her early on. With her carry on like this, it just brings disaster!”

In the past, Shunzhi wholeheartedly wanted to depose the Empress and established imperial concubine Dong'e to be the Empress; it was only because the Empress Dowager blocked him that he relented. If the imperial concubine Dong'e did not die, sooner or later the Empress position would be hers.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Old Emperor, you can see through the world's affair, there is no difference between life and death, the young emperor must not be allowed to die, Empress Duan Jing's grave must not be excavated, the 'Empress Duan Jing's Quotations' must not be destroyed.”

”Correct,” Xing Chi said, ”You are absolutely correct.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Therefore, we must go into hiding to avoid falling into the Empress Dowager's evil scheme. The first step in Empress Dowager's strategy is murdering you, the second step is murdering the young emperor, the third step is digging the grave and burn the 'Quotations'. As long as the first step is unsuccessful, she would not dare to execute the second step, the third step.”

Shunzhi ascended the throne when he was seven, and left home to become Buddhist monk when he was twenty-four. By this time he was only in his thirties. His natural disposition was hot-tempered, his character fiery; in term of sensibility, although very young, Kangxi was ten times better than his father, consequently, when the Mu Palace people trying to frame Wu Sangui, Kangxi was able to see through their crafty scheme. Wei Xiaobao was telling him half truth and half lies, with a lot of fabrication in his speech, but Xing Chi accepted everything as the truth. However, although Wei Xiaobao fabricated the story about the Empress Dowager's three steps, he was a disciple of the marketplace, his way of thinking was about the same as that of an insidious woman.