561 Hostage (1/2)
Just from a random, whimsical idea of King Dari's, the reputation and status that Senior Shou had spent decades building had suddenly turned to ashes overnight. Even so, he still didn't expect that for only a moment's hesitation, he could be trapped by his former bodyguard and couldn't escape yet again.
In fact, Senior Shou could continue his old businesses. Now that everyone knew that he had joined the fight for the throne on King Dari's side, many speculators and hedgers, came one after the other, begging him to be their referrer, some of whom were even willing to pay a high price. It was Senior Shou himself who had turned down all these businesses and decided to quit.
He had gotten used to conducting business secretly. Once it became public, he felt uncomfortable and uneasy like an underground mole that was suddenly forced into the sun.
King Kuari was that sun. Senior Shou had planned to leave the Royal Court and stay far away from the maelstrom of right and wrong as soon as he doubled his savings through buying and selling cattle and sheep.
But King Dari, as well as his yellow-faced attendant, Fu Yuan, did not feel that they had done anything wrong and still insisted that he should continue to provide them information. And he perfunctorily agreed to do so.
But what was on his mind was, 'It's better to avoid trouble. It'll be perfect if there's no trouble.”
In the end, it turned out that his former bodyguard Bo Sang would cause him big trouble.
The two had gotten into a bit of a heated contention when Bo Sang had resigned. Senior Shou felt that he had treated Bo Sang quite well for the past few years. This saberman had mediocre kung fu skills and wasn't very smart, and it was only with his help that had enabled Bo Sang to gain a foothold in the Royal Court, so he deserved Bo Sang's unconditional allegiance. Bo Sang, however, thought differently. He believed that his allegiance was terminable; he would fight desperately to protect his lord before the contract ended, but once it ended, he was free.
These two free men were no longer lord and bodyguard, but they could still be friends. At least Bo Sang had thought this way. So, the first secret and safe place that crossed his mind after he caught the 'treasure' was Senior Shou's new home in the livestock market.
”What are you doing here? I've got more than enough people.” Senior Shou was telling a dozen or so workers what to do when Bo Sang arrived. In fact, he listened more and said less because he had little experience in raising cattle and sheep. Upon noticing the former bodyguard arrive, he intended to speak in a sharp tone to teach him a lesson before deciding whether to accept an apology or not.
Unaware of the discontent of in his former lord's words, Bo Sang excitedly whispered, ”I have some… private property. I want to leave it with you.”
At that time, it was just after dark. It was not until two hours later that the riots that would envelop more than half of the slums would begin, and Shangguan Fei would kill a 'Khan's grandson' by mistake.
Bo Sang was leading a thin horse with a few tattered bundles on it. He looked like a refugee but his expression was different. It was as if he had dug up a treasure and his eyes were glistening from its shining radiance.
Senior Shou didn't believe that Bo Sang could have any valuable 'private property', and never believed that he would dare to do anything out of the norm. Partly out of curiosity, and partly out of magnanimity, he pointed to an isolated tent in the distance while saying, ”Put it there. I have to be clear that I'm not sure if it'll be safe. I may leave the Royal Court at any time, and you'll have to keep an eye on your own stuff.”
”Got it.” Bo Sang led the lean horse happily to the tent.
The largest bundle on the horse caught Senior Shou's attention because not only was it big but it was also a little odd in shape. It seemed to be a man inside.
Senior Shou's curiosity lasted only a short while. He continued to communicate with the workers focused on breeding and herding. During the riots, he was so busy comforting people and protecting the animals that he nearly left his former bodyguard behind. As the riots gradually spread to the livestock market, he suddenly remembered that Bo Sang was useful right now. It was better to have a saberman guarding the corral than a dozen or so workers who could only add grass and pick up dung.
Bo Sang was shocked by the uninvited 'intruder' and had drawn out half his saber which also startled Senior Shou. ”Are you crazy, you …”
Then he saw the hostage in the corner who was hastily tied with a rope and had bloodstains on his forehead, more dead than alive. It looked as though he had fainted.
The candlelight was dim and Senior Shou only had a quick glance so he hadn't recognized the hostage's identity. ”You're crazy, daring to kidnap a person in the Royal Court. Aren't you afraid to die for money? Take him away, don't get me involved. I don't do this kind of business anymore.”
”It's not a kidnapping. Look at who he is.”
As a middleman who had communicated with many different classes, Senior Shou knew more people than anyone else. He leaned over and looked closely for a moment, then his heart started beating so violently that it nearly jumped out of his mouth. ”This is…”
”Right.” Bo Sang clenched his right fist and waved in the air, obviously thinking that he had done a big deal.
This was indeed a big deal, a deal so big that Senior Shou couldn't bear. With his legs feeling like jelly, he sat by the hostage's side, ”You…”
”I found him in a small tavern. He exchanged clothes sneakily with his entourage. Then everyone else left, leaving him alone.” Bo Sang went to help his former lord up and continued, ”I thought he was useful so I knocked him out and brought him back.”
Senior Shou shook off Bo Sang's hand with great anger and pointed outside, saying, ”What's that noise? Is that the Norland Cavalry looking for him?”
”It can't be, I saw a lot of strangers before I came. Maybe they were fighting.”
Although the two had recently left their old trade, the number of news that reached their ears had already sharply decreased. Neither of them knew that the unrest outside was premeditated.
The reason why Senior Shou had changed his trade at such a time was that he didn't want to take risks, not to even mention getting involved in the kidnapping of the Khan's grandson, especially when this Kuo Zhen was King Kuari's brother. So his first reaction was to take the hostage away to a remote place and release him while the hostage was still unconscious. This way, the problem would be solved without surfacing.
Unfortunately, Kuo Zhen was unlucky enough to wake up at that moment and he happened to be bad-tempered. He had been beaten on the head and tied up, so one could imagine the extent of his rage. The first thing he said after opening his eyes immediately made Senior Shou change his mind. ”So it was you. I knew you son of a bitch was a loyal dog of King Dari's. My brother would have killed you long ago if he'd listened to me.”