Chapter 4: Threats and Bribes
Part 1
Even ghosts are afraid of those more evil than them, the little guy had gotten a taste of his own medicine.
With his tendon pinched, half his body when numb and soft, it was really hard to bear.
The little guy shook his numb right hand, said bewildered, Youyoure much stronger than the instructor at the military academy.
You praise me too highly. Yiping smiled. Are you ready to be reasonable? Speak up! Im listening.
You
You dont like me around your sister, right? Dont worry! Im just about to take a shipment of products to Dongting, I wont be back for probably two or three years.
YouYoure going off with Brother Gongsuns enemies, you
Oh! So youre here about that matter, Yiping suddenly realized. Youre like a dog biting L Dongbin, you dont recognize a kind-hearted person. Youre after the wrong person. Little Tyrant, I have a message for you to relay to your father when you go back, tell him those guys original motive was to stop your father from leaving the mountain, if they could have killed you all it would have been even better. They will return as long as they still live, unless your dad stays home and shuts hit doors to visitors.
If your dad doesnt leave the mountain then they will have achieved their goal, accordingly they wouldnt come back and start trouble, the problem is they havent yet received a guarantee from your dad that he wont leave the mountain, so they will definitely come back, and whoever they send next time probably wont be so easy to handle.
If your dad wont give them that guarantee, then the only way to avoid implicating his whole family in this is to actively go after them and settle the score. This way all their attention will be focused on your father and they will use all their energy to deal with him, and they wont come back here and cause trouble.
YouYou seem to know a lot of things
I dont really know that much, Yiping said politely. As long as you understand this, its all right. Dont forget to tell your dad, he must make a stand and call on the heroes of Hunan to help defend himself.
People of questionable origin will have a very difficult time getting a footing in Hunan, hiding in your home will only invite disaster, and these disasters will keep coming one after another. Also, I dont like you Wei family, youd do well to not come to my home and cause trouble.
You
You dont like me, I avoid you, isnt that enough? Yiping resumed his earlier coldness and walked away with big strides.
The little guy was left standing there blankly, finally he hung his head, dejected, and went back home. He shouldnt have been moving around with his back injury, plus now his elbow had been pinched, he finally realized Yiping wasnt as trivial as he had imagined, acting against him was definitely not easy.
Two hours later, Wei Yunyi brought his little sister Chunchun to call on Uncle Zhuang.
Uncle Zhuang was vexed to have to tell them that Yiping had already left, heading down the Yangzi River on business to set up his own base, the boat by now was probable thirty li away!
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Yiping had went by boat, but it wasnt to the lower reaches of the Yangzi. He had taken three hundred taels of silver with him for traveling expenses and had hired a boat to Mount Heng.
He had just returned from the jianghu and now he was going back, knowledgeable and widely-experienced, sharp in the ways of the jianghu. A day later he was in the mountain city ferreting out the whereabouts of Nine Extremes Deity.
His shifu Mystical Goblin had told him not to concern himself with Nine Extremes Deity Yu Hualongs surprise attack on Zhurong Peak, but he wasnt happy about it.
In any case he had no fixed motive this time roaming the jianghu all by himself, what was the difference, why not track those guys movements? If he had got the opportunity he could vent his spleen on them on behalf of his shifu, wouldnt that be good either way?
Those people had already been gone several days, he had to pick up the pace to hurry after them.
At Mt. Heng City he had half-new little fishing boat, he handled both the oars himself, paddling day and night downstream.
The little fishing boat was much faster than a passenger boat, and he didnt have to stop at every wharf and take on passengers or unload cargo, and he could transfer to other levels at night, it was much faster on the expanse of river than larger boats.
Yuezhou prefecture controlled the mouth of the waterway to Dongting, it was the most prosperous business ports, a famous historical city.
Passenger boats from Changsha prefecture were anchored around the west gate wharf. From over ten li away boats could see the three-storey 十-shaped Yueyang Tower over the west gate.[1] This famous tower had already been repaired many times, the last overhaul had taken place three years before.
The wharf was divided into two parts. The southern berths housed vessels from the nine tributaries of the Huguang area, while the northern berths received long-distance passenger ships from the Great River (Yangzi). Along Yan Hong embankment were moored wooden rafts.
The river berths and the civil and military water transport tax offices were at the northern wharf, friends of the jianghu all knew to avoid making trouble there, no good would come from it.
Passengers disembarked one after another. Although it was still early, everyone still vied to be first off.
Nine Extremes Deity carried a large bundle in his left hand, in his right he held his famous bamboo folding fan. Pressed among the throng of people he made his way lightly and quickly across the gangplank and onto the wharf where he let out a breath, then said to Evil Spirit Hu Tai who was with him, Its still early, do you want to go ahead and reserve a berth? Tomorrow we can leave earlier, we wont have to linger at Yuezhou.
Evil Spirit Hu Tai twitched his beard, said as he was walking, Whats the hurry, being on a boat for several days is boring. Anyway that old Qiu didnt die at my hand, but hell be laid up for a year or so, not able to use his martial arts. Hes a recluse, freak among freaks, has only enemies and no friends, he rarely accompanies anyone, so we neednt worry that hed send someone after us to get revenge. We could stay here two or three days and see if we cant find some means to accumulate some wealth.
All right, Nine Extremes Deity nodded. Three Evils of the Mortal World are headed here by boat, they should be here tomorrow, they know Yuezhou well, we can talk it over with them when they arrive.
As they talked they joined up with the mass of people headed toward the west gate.
A tall and strong man wearing dark blue stood not far off, standing with his hands behind his back looking dignified, all smiles, his tiger eyes fixed on them.
The two didnt pay him any attention, assuming he was just waiting for someone. Actually, there were a lot of people waiting for someone else, people old and young, male and female called out to each other, who would pay any notice to some stranger?
They got close and the man suddenly roared with laughter, saying to Nine Extremes Deity, You two just now getting here?
Nine Extremes Deity was taken aback, reflexively turning his head back to check if the man might be addressing someone behind him.
The people behind him werent paying any attention, he wasnt calling on any of them.
Nine Extremes Deity looked back at the man and humphed unhappily, Are your eyes bad? Who are you talking to?
Talking to you, the man said smilingly.
Do we know each other?
Dont we?
Lunatic! Idiot! Nine Extremes Deity cursed. You big-headed ghost, what nonsense are you spouting.
Im not a lunatic, not am I an idiot, the man said, still smiling. My surname is Zhuang, given name Yiping, my nickname isEh! What was it?
Wandering Soul Wild Ghost, Evil Spirit interjected sarcastically.[2]
Right, youre really smart, Yiping said with pleasure. My nickname is Wandering Soul Wild Ghost, thanks for reminding me.
This guy is really a mentally damaged idiot, Nine Extremes Deity said. Lets go, this guys bad luck.
Ha ha ha ha Yiping roared with laughter, holding his stomach.
The two sped off, not paying any attention to the self-proclaimed Wandering Soul Wild Ghost idiot.
The main west road heading south forked down another street, to the famous Bixiang Inn of Bixiang Lane, patronized by many friends of the jianghu, a place where people of all walks of life, good and evil, mingled.
Bixiang Inns proprietor was the renowned Flood Dragon of Dongting Zeng Ding[3], a dominate figure who was good friends with the Dongting Water Bandits chief Prince of Dongting Wang Haihua. The government was a bit at a loss at how to deal with such an influential figure, so anyone who ran afoul of the government could find safe haven at this inn.
The Dongting Water Bandits had had a prince for a long time and were well-established. This generations Prince of Dongting, Wang Haihua it was said was the most law-abiding.
Nine Extremes Deity and Evil Spirit Hu Tai got a room at Bixiang Inn.
Bixiang Inn not only offered food, but also had a tavern, which was situated in the very front of the inn and also did business with the outside.
Not long after noon the next day the Three Evils of the Mortal World arrived. Hundred Prohibitions Monk and Secluded Void Daoist shared a room, who says Buddhists and Daoists are incompatible?
The pretty-as-a-flower Cloud Skirt Immortal had her own room adjacent to Nine Extremes Deity and Evil Spirit.
After they had settled in, the five of them all met in the inns guest hall.
Nine Extremes Deity waved his folding fan lightly, and said serenely to the head of the Three Evils of the Mortal Word, Hundred Prohibitions Monk Wu Fei, Master Wu Fei, are you all really planning to go to Sichuan?
Hundred Prohibitions Monk exhaled a long breath and forced a smile, Yes, Mystical Goblin may be dead of alive. If hes not dead then Ill have to lie low, even though Im not really afraid of him.
Are you two headed to Nanjing? Cloud Skirt Immortal asked. Brother Yu, youre the main one, if Mystical Goblin comes looking for revenge youre probably the first one he will look for, I advise you to also go to a secluded, unfrequented place and lie low, what do you think?
The problem is my traveling expenses are low, Nine Extremes Deity said. Without enough money, isnt lying low easier said than done? You three know Yuezhou like the back of your hand, can you help Brother Hu and I with some connections?
No problem, Secluded Void Daoist clapped his chest. This inns owner, Flood Dragon of Dongting has gone to Junshan to call on friends, when he gets back Ill introduce you to him. If youre talking about money, who knows better than Boss Zeng?
Then allow me to trouble you.
A man suddenly strode into the hall, roaring with laughter. If youre looking for a way to make money, why not ask me, Wandering Soul Wild Ghost? It would be my pleasure.
to be continued...
Notes:
[1] Yueyang Tower
[2] The phrase wandering soul, wild ghost refers to someone without friends or family to depend on. Evil Spirit was being sarcastic, he didnt actually know that was Yipings nickname.
[3] Flood Dragon, 蛟 or 蛟龍, is a mythical aquatic dragon-like creature.