Chapter - 50 Two Killers In the Tempest (6) (2/2)
”Very good.” Nan Xiren replied.
”What's very good?” Zhu Cong inquired.
”The kid's very good,” he added.
”Fourth Brother always acts as if speaking costs him money.” Han Xiaoying said, letting the frustration get to her. ”He will never say a word more than he has to.”
”I was also very dumb as a kid.” Nan Xiren gently smiled. He was always very quiet and every word that he spoke had already been carefully thought over, meaning that he was rarely wrong.
Hearing him, the other six Freaks found a glimmer of hope and instantly became more confident.
”Right…that's right! Since when have I been smart?” Zhang Ahsheng agreed, looking in Han Xiaoying's direction.
”Let's wait and see if he's got the guts to come tonight.” Zhu Cong suggested.
”I say most likely not.” Quan Jinfa replied. ”I'm going to go find where he lives first.”
He jumped off of his horse and trailed far behind Tolui and Guo Jing until he saw them walking into their own gers.
That night, the Seven Freaks waited on the deserted mountain top. It was fifteen minutes to ten and the Big Dipper had noticeably changed its position, but Guo Jing was nowhere to be seen.
Han Baoju sighed, ”The Seven Freaks of the South never lost to anyone in our lives. But in the end, we lose to that Taoist priest.”
Zhu Cong said, ”The Quanzhen Sect is fighting the Jurchens in the north and helping the poor Chinese citizens there. Everything the sect does is chivalrous and admirable. The Seven Masters of Quanzhen are great martial arts experts and honorable individuals, Qiu Chuji is even said to be the most exceptional one of the Seven Masters. Losing to him won't damage our good name. Furthermore, we are trying to save the lives of survivors of an honorable man, which is a good deed. When people in Wulin learn of this, they can only praise us and say: ”Well done!””
The other six Freaks agreed and felt better.
Looking to the west, dark clouds were gathering on top of each other off on the horizon. But above their heads not a cloud could be seen in the dark blue sky. The winds were swirling around them from the northwest; sometimes it would gust, other times it would be still. In the middle of the sky hung the bright moon, but a faint yellow ring could be discerned around it.
”Looks like there's going to be a storm tonight.” Han Xiaoying observed. ”The kid is not going to come.”
”Then let's go to him tomorrow morning.” Zhang Ahsheng replied.
”Being a little slow is not a big problem. But if this kid is afraid of the dark… Ay!” Ke Zhen'E sighed and shook his head.
The seven of them were just wandering around when Han Baoju suddenly spotted something in a bush. ”Hey what's that?” He pointed at three piles of white objects that looked awfully strange in the moon light.
Quan Jinfa walked over to investigate only to discover that they were human skulls placed neatly in three piles.
”It must have been those little kids that piled up the skulls like that.” He laughed before suddenly noticing something else. ”What…Second brother, come quickly!”
The sudden change in the tone of his voice was easily noticeable and unsettling for everyone. Other than Ke Zhen'E, the other Freaks made their way over to him.