Da Ren Wu (celebrity) Translation By Gu Long (Unabridged )

[littleli]

Chapter 12 continues...


Two

When a man or a woman got married, they became great.
The celebration of a man taking a wife and a woman taking a husband was definitely a good deed.
So why wasn't this marriage celebration a good deed?

A red congratulatory banner hung at the front of the hall, a pair of big scarlet wedding candle was burning brightly.
The candle fire reflected Zhang Haoer’s face.
Her red face was as attractive as a new bride.
Seeing the couple finally wanted to bow to Heaven and Earth, she finally relaxed.

At this moment, someone suddenly quickly rushed out of the corner door, and like a swallow swooped in among the bride and the bridegroom. Holding the tea tray unexpectedly, she offered with a sweet smile, “Young lady, please have tea.”

At this time, someone was actually offering the bride something to drink, no one knew whether to laugh or cry.
But this voice was actually extremely familiar, Tian SiSi could not stop herself from raising her veil and saw a smiling girl with big eyes and small mouth.
Tian SiSi could not distinguished clearly whether this girl was Tian Xin or Xiao Lan?

Zhang Haoer’s complexion became very ugly, a pair of charming, enchanting eyes were now staring at this girl like a dagger, wishing to kick her out, dead or alive.
But on this kind of great happiness day, full of congratulating guests, one certainly could not kick out a person.
Therefore Zhang Haoer only could clenched her teeth and said bitterly, “Who asks you to come? Get out!”

This girl grinningly shook her head actually and said, “I cannot go.”

Zhang Haoer angrily said, “Why?”

The girl said, “Because Master Qin told me to be here.”

Zhang Haoer said, “Master Qin? Which Master Qin?”

The girl said, “I do not know him, I only know he is surnamed Qin, called Qin Ge.”
Zhang Haoer’s complexion had changed, with a stern voice she said, “You must be insane, Qin Ge is obviously here.”

The girl said, “I am not insane, indeed there is another Master Qin, not this one.”

The bridegroom’s complexion had also changed, he interrupted, “Where is that person?”

This girl had not spoken when someone said with a laughter, “Here.”

In the laughter, the red wedding candle seemed to diminish like it would be extinguished.
By the time the candlelight shone again, someone was standing in front of the candle.

A very big person, with a pair of long slit eyes.
Yang Fan.

Tian SiSi almost called out.
She really could not think how this big-headed ghost could find her, could not think he also would come here to make a disturbance.

When Zhang Haoer saw him, she looked concerned and not as ominous as a moment ago, she reluctantly smiled unexpectedly and said, “Is it you? Why do you have to destroy other people’s good deed?”

Yang Fan said lightly with a smile, “Because this is not a good deed.”

The bridegroom Qin Ge face reddened, he interrupted, “Who said this is not a good deed?”

Yang Fan said, “I said so.”

Qin Ge, “What thing are you?”

Yang Fan said, “I and you are not the same.”

Tian SiSi wanted to say something, but stopped, because she did not expect that this big-headed ghost unexpectedly dare to be so impolite to Qin Ge.
What was even stranger, she had not become angry, instead she felt this was very interesting.

Qin Ge was angry actually and said, “You know who I am?”

Yang Fan said, “No.”

Qin Ge said loudly, “I am Qin Ge.”

Yang Fan said, “That feels strange.”

Qin Ge, “What was strange?”

Yang Fan said, “Because I am also Qin Ge.”

Zhang Haoer said with a smile reluctantly, “You are playing a joke, just sit quickly and drink the happy celebration, I will accompany you.”

Yang Fan raised his voice, “Who says I am cracking a joke, since he can be called Qin Ge, why can’t I be called Qin Ge? “

He asked that girl suddenly and said, “Who are you called?”

The girl said with a smile, “Qin Ge.”

Yang Fan said, “Right, if this person can be called Qin Ge, everybody can be called Qin Ge.”

Qin Ge’s face was very red, Zhang Haoer’s face was pale, the two people had exchanged a meaningful glance secretly.
Suddenly, a light smoke spouted from Qin Ge’s sleeves, spurting on Yang Fan’s face.

The girl had pinched her nose and withdrew 7-8 feet back.
Yang Fan had not moved actually. Like he did not have any feeling, and blew gently forward.

That smoke suddenly changed direction, and instead had blown to Qin Ge’s face.
Qin Ge started to sneeze suddenly, sneezed 5-6 times one after another, the tears and nasal mucus had flowed down immediately.
Then he softly dropped down, like turning into sand.

Yang Fan smiled to the girl and said, “Do you know what thing this is?”

The girl said, “Sleeping powder.”

Yang Fan said, “Do you know what kind of person would bring sleeping powder with him?”

The girl bitterly said, “Only sexual predators and petty thieves use sleeping powder.”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “You are unexpectedly very sensible.”

The girl said, “But, Qin Ge cannot be a sexual predator or a petty thief.”

Yang Fan said, “Indeed he is not.”

The girl’s eyes blinked and said, “Then this person certainly cannot be Qin Ge.”

Yang Fan said, “The one who says that he is Qin Ge must be a stupid dog.”

The girl said, “Who is he if not Qin Ge?”

Yang Fan said, “A sexual predator and a petty thief.”

The girl said, “There are many petty thieves.”

Yang Fan said, “He is the most obscene petty thief, he uses number nine sleeping powder which can only put himself to sleep.”

The girl said, “However low he is, he must at least have a name.”

Yang Fan said, “The obscene person's name is also obscene.”

The girl said, “What is he called?”

Yang Fan said, “His name is etched on the chest, do you want to have a look?”

The girl said, “Will it dirty my eyes?”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “Just take a quick look.”
He had suddenly ripped open that very attractive bridegroom clothes and revealed this person's chest.
On this person’s chest was tattooed a flower butterfly.

The girl said, “Is it possible that this person is called Hua HuDie (flower butterfly)?”

Yang Fan nodded and sighed, “Good, throughout the ages, a person called flower butterfly cannot be a good thing.”

The girl sweetly said, “You unexpectedly know quite a lot more compared to me.”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “Because my head is bigger than you, naturally more things are contained inside.”

Zhang Haoer was continuously listening at the side, her complexion grew paler the more she listened.

Tian SiSi was also continuously listening at the side, her face became more red the more she listened, suddenly she stepped forward and kicked the back of this Hua HuDie.
She hated him so much she could go crazy.
“Unexpectedly Lady Tian almost becomes a petty, raper thief’s wife.”

Tian SiSi clenched her teeth, stared at Zhang Haoer and said, “You ......What enmity do you have with me? Why do you want to harm me?”
She was so mad that her tears started to fall.

Zhang Haoer with a forced smile said, “This is really unfair to you, but I was also deceived by this person.”
She also walked forward and unexpectedly kicked him, she said bitterly, “You cur, you bring harm and pain to me.”

Tian Sisi said, “You ......You really do not know?”

Zhang Haoer sighed and said, “Why should I deceive you? I also do not have any enmity with you.”

Yang Fan gave a long sigh suddenly and said, “I really admire you.”

Zhang Haoer was stunned and said, “What?”

Yang Fan said, “You really can act.”

The girl blinked and said, “She thinks she can deceive you too?”

Yang Fan smiled and said lightly, “She should know herself that she cannot deceive me.”

The girl said, “Is there anyone in the world that can deceive you?”

Yang Fan said, “Perhaps only a person can deceive me.”

The girl said, “Who?”

Yang Fan said, “I myself.”

There were many other people in the hall, all of them looked stunned.
They came for the celebration drink, but now the celebration drink was still inadequate, and they actually saw a good play instead.

Tian SiSi suddenly had slapped Zhang Haoer.
Zhang Haoer unexpectedly had not moved, the pale face that was hit immediately became red.

The girl clapped and said with a laugh, “Hit well, again hit heavily.”

Yang Fan also said with a smile, “This kind of person’s facial skin is also thicker than the city wall, you hit again heavily, she will not feel hurt.”

The girl said, “Then, how should we treat her?”

Yang Fan said, “Nothing.”

The girl frowned and said, “Nothing? Just let off her like this?”

Yang Fan said, “Mmm.”

The girl said, “Isn’t that letting her get away cheaply?”

Yang Fan said lightly, “This kind of person felt that she must deceive other people since they were born, if they aren’t deceiving people, then that would be strange, therefore…”

The girl said, “Therefore?”

Yang Fan said, “Therefore when you run into this kind of person, you must put up your guard against her, protect yourself the best you can, otherwise you will get swindled and get what you deserve.”

Tian SiSi jumped and said, “You are saying I am getting what I deserve?”

Yang Fan said, “Yes.”

Tian SiSi was staring at him.

Yang Fan said, “Did she force you? Or did you come here willingly?”

Tian SiSi was so angry she could not say anything, yet she indeed could not deny it.
Zhang Haoer indeed had not forced her.

Yang Fan said lightly, “If a person is not too careful with what she is doing, it is better not to blame other people or to complain.”
His voice was light and stable, slowly then said, “Regardless of what happened, everybody should learn how to blame himself first, then she can blame other people. Otherwise, she is just like a child who has not grown up.”

Tian SiSi turned around and ran out suddenly.

Yang Fan looked at that girl once, the girl had ran out too.

Zhang Haoer was actually looking at Yang Fan, as she sighed gently finally and said, “So you knew already how it stands.”

Yang Fan said, “I only know a little, not very clear.”

Zhang Haoer said, “But enough.”

Yang Fan said, “Yes. Enough.”

Zhang Haoer sighed that, “How will you cope with me?”

Yang Fan said, “What do you suggest?”

Zhang Haoer dangled her head and said, “I am not the chief instigator.”

Yang Fan said, “I know that you are not.”

Zhang Haoer said, “Mr. Ge?”

Yang Fan said, “You should better handle your own problem, before worrying about other people’s.”

Zhang Haoer was nipping her lips and said, “If I promise you that I will never ever deceive other people, will you believe me?”

Yang Fan said, “I believe you.”

Immediately Zhang Haoer revealed a smile and sweetly said, “You really are a good person, also really an odd person.”

Actually Yang Fan was not odd, or weird.
He was just a very ordinary person.
But the main difference was that not only he believed in other people, he also believed in himself.

He always liked to work with his own method, but that was also a very ordinary method.
Fair, but actually not very stern.
He would not use any excessive violence, but he also would not allow people to take advantage of him.
He liked to follow Confucianist's doctrine of being balanced and considerate, willing to open a big heart and generosity in facing the life.

[littleli]

Chapter 12 continues ..

Three

Cool night like fresh water.

Tian SiSi flushed to the courtyard, under a tree, when the tears had suddenly dropped.
This was tears of anger.

“The pig, the big-headed ghost ...... I really met this alive big-headed ghost.”

But if she had not met this big-headed ghost, wouldn’t she have already become a sexual predator petty thief’s wife by now?

“A person should better learn to blame himself first, then he can blame others.”

When Tian SiSi became quite calm, she also had no alternative but to acknowledge that what he said had contained the truth.

A pair of hands suddenly extended before her, the hand was carrying the cup of tea.
“Young lady, please drink the tea to calm you down.”

That girl had come, with a sweet and smart-alecky smile.

Tian SiSi could not bear to ask, “Actually are you Xiao Qing? Tian Xin?”

The girl winked and said with a smile, “Even if I turned into ash, the young lady can still recognize me!”

Tian SiSi’s eyes shone and said, “You are Tian Xin.”

Tian Xin smiled sweetly and said, “Who says that I am not Tian Xin, who says …”

Tian SiSi had pinched her face and said, “The little rascal, now that you are familiar with that big-headed ghost, you have picked up his words, what more will happen?”

Tian Xin said with a smile, “Seriously, at the most I will help young lady to make a bed for him.”
“If she stays with the young lady, once she is married, won’t she want need help with making a bed.”

Tian SiSi sunk her face and said bitterly, “You can rest assured that even if all the men in the world have died, I still could not marry him!”
She did not let Tian Xin say anything again and also asked, “You already knew that that Qin Ge was the fake one?”

Tian Xin nodded.

Tian SiSi clenched her teeth and said, “Dead servant girl, since you knew already, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

END OF CHAPTER 12

[littleli]

Chapter 13 – The Place That Men Like


One

Tian Xin sighed and said, “I did not have any opportunity.”

Tian SiSi said, “When you first deliver those clothes to me, why didn't you say it?”

Tian Xin said, “I knew that Mr. Ge was in the room at that time, therefore when young lady asked me whether I was Tian Xin, I did not dare to acknowledge.”
Hearing about “Mr. Ge”, Tian SiSi could not help but shiver.

Tian Xin said, “Afterwards I intentionally sprinkled the tea in the young lady’s clothes to put a bundle of paper inside the young lady's bosom, who knew that you had actually lost it.”

Tian SiSi sighed, “What did I know about it at that time.”
With a forced smile she also said, “Up until now, I still could not figure out why they wanted to harm me?”

Tian Xin pursed her lips and said with a smile, “Others did not really want to harm you, just as long as you marry someone.”

Tian SiSi frowned, “Why do they want to hatch such a complicated plan, actually who is the chief instigator?”

Tian Xin said, “Mr. Ge.”

Tian SiSi could not help shiver some more and said, “He was in cahoots with Zhang Haoer?”

Tian Xin said, “You still do not understand until now?”

Tian SiSi said, “His accupoints had not been sealed by that fake Qin Ge.”

Tian Xin said, “That was certainly an intentional well-staged act in front of you to make you think that that Qin Ge was real.”
She sighed and then said, “Actually even if there had been ten Hua HuDie, Mr. Ge would have been able to kill them all with just two fingers.”

Tian SiSi also sighed, “That person is indeed very fearful.”

Tian Xin said, “As far as I know, his wugong is a lot more fearful than anyone else we have seen.”
She smiled suddenly and said, “But as soon as he saw Master Yang, he seemed to have become a mouse who has met a cat.”

Tian SiSi sank her face and calmly said, “How do you know?”

Tian Xin said, “If not for Master Yang promptly rescuing me, now I am afraid I will not be able to see young lady.”

Tian SiSi said, “That person was trying to kill you?”

Tian Xin nodded and said, “They had already discovered my relation with the young lady.”

Tian SiSi said, “But, how can you arrive here?”

Tian Xin replied, “Madam Wang delivered me here, she had sold me to Zhang Haoer.”

Tian SiSi said, “That day you have not run away?”

Tian Xin shook her head and sighed, “How could I run away from her clutch?”

Immediately Tian SiSi “pfui” smiled and said, “Madam Wang is not Buddha all-knowing, why couldn’t you escape? You are Sun Wukong, aren’t you the always all-resourceful person?”
Having said this, she continued to laugh.

Tian Xin pouted her mouth and said, “What matter has to be so funny?”

Tian SiSi reluctantly smiled and said, “Have you looked who that big-headed ghost looks like?”

Tian Xin was stunned as she said, “Who does he look like? Someone we know?”

Tian SiSi said, “You should know, because you all descended from heaven to earth, one is the marshal, one is the great sage.”

Tian Xin had finally understood, she laughed despite trying not to, “You are saying he looks like the pig (zhubajie)?”

Tian SiSi’s laughed, “Don’t you think so? If you don’t there is something wrong.”

Tian Xin actually shook her head and said, “I don’t see the similarities.”

Tian SiSi said, “He eats and also sleeps a lot, as soon as he saw an attractive woman, the eyes narrowed into a slit immediately, giving a lewd appearance, just like that pig who entered the high village.”

Tian Xin sighed and said, “But if it were not for this pig, the pilgrim monk Tang and Sun Wukong must have died.”

Tian SiSi’s face showed irritation and said, “Why do you always side with him?”

Tian Xin said, “Because I admire him.”

Tian SiSi winked and suddenly said with a smile, “Such being the case, should I marry you to him?”

Tian Xin said, “Fine.”
She showed all happy face without any angst.

Tian SiSi was stunned and said, “You agree?”

Tian Xin said, “Why not?”

Tian SiSi said, “But his head is three times bigger compared to anyone’s, you see that?”

Tian Xin said, “Why should it be a bad thing? A person with a bigger head is certainly more intelligent compared to others.”

Tian SiSi said, “His waist is also thicker than a bucket.”

Tian Xin said, “But his heart is actually thinner than a needle, he is very meticulous and thorough in everything.”

Tian SiSi said, “You do not think he looks like a peculiar clown?”

Tian Xin said, “As long as a man is intelligent and competent, looking like a clown is not a problem, moreover he is not ugly.”

Tian SiSi retorted, “He is not ugly? What kind of person should be called ugly then?”

Tian Xin said, “In my opinion, that Hua HuDie looks worse than a clown, he did not have the spirit of a man.”
She closed her eyes like in a dream, then said, “If you look carefully, his whole body was fine and very pleasing to the eyes, and when he smiles in particular he looks extremely enchanting.”

Tian SiSi stared at her and said bitterly, “Good, since you like him so much, why don’t you just marry him.”

Tian Xin sighed and said, “Unfortunately he doesn’t like me, the person he likes is ......”

She had not completed the sentence when someone interrupted, “The person I like is myself.”

Yang Fan grinningly stood in front of her and while laughing, “Everyone likes himself the most, if he doesn’t do that, he will be condemned by heaven and earth.”

Tian Xin blushed, dangled her head, and did not dare to open her mouth again.

Yang Fan stifled a yawn and said, “We go now.”

Tian SiSi stared at him and said, “Go? Just leave like this?”

Yang Fan said, “Why can’t we just go?”

Tian SiSi said, “Zhang Haoer?”

Yang Fan said, “In her room.”

Tian SiSi said, “Have you really let her go?”

Yang Fan said, “What do you want me to do? Kill her? Hit her butt 300 times?”

Tian SiSi clenched her teeth and said, “You ......You ......You should at least let me vent something!”

Yang Fan said, “What made you angry? Has she ever hit you?”

Tian SiSi said, “No.”

Yang Fan said, “Scolded you?”

Tian SiSi said, “No.”

Yang Fan said, “When you came here, what did she want you to do?”

Tian SiSi said, “She wanted me to take a bath, to change clothes, then ......Then ......”

Yang Fan said, “Then she fed you, introduced you to that ugly man, right?”

Tian SiSi said, “Right, only ......”

Yang Fan said, “Only what? Must vent?”

Tian SiSi said, “Certainly.”

Yang Fan said, “How do you want to vent? Also tell her to take a bath, change clothes, eat, and then introduce an attractive young fellow to her?”

Tian SiSi jumped, stamped the feet and said, “Are you actually helping me? Or helping her?”

Yang Fan smiled and said, “I am not on anyone’s side, I just want someone to be reasonable.”

Tian SiSi said, “You think I am not reasonable? What about her? Why does she want to deceive me? Why does she want me to marry that person?”

Yang Fan said lightly, “Perhaps because you are too attractive, therefore some people want wholeheartedly to marry you. If you had looked like me, no one would have been willing to marry you then.”

Tian SiSi was so angry she screamed, “Who says I am attractive, I am not attractive, can’t you see that they are plotting something?”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “Since when you became so modest? So rare, so rare ......”
He stifled another yawn and said, “I have to go, you want to go with me or not, it is up to you.”

Tian SiSi said loudly, “It is up to me, so why should you bother?”

Yang Fan however walked leisurely forward and said easily, “If you see Mr. Ge, there is really no need to be afraid, at the most he only wants to marry you, he will not eat you.”

He had not completed his words, Tian SiSi had pursued him, breathing heavily she blurted out, “Mr. Ge is also here?”

Yang Fan replied, “How do I know whether he is here or not? Where he is has nothing to do with me.”

Tian SiSi said, “You have just seen him?”

Yang Fan said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why don't you apprehend him?”

Yang Fan said, “You had also seen him very often, why didn't you apprehend him?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because I cannot apprehend him.”

Yang Fan said, “Same with me.”

Tian SiSi said, “You are also the same? Is your wugong also inferior to him?”

Yang Fan sighed and said, “I actually do not have such high skills, why do you consider me so high?”

Tian SiSi said, “Didn’t he immediately run when he saw you?”

Yang Fan thoughtfully said, “Perhaps only because I am an honorable gentleman, the evil cannot vanquish good, you probably know it too.”

[littleli]

Chapter 13 continues ..

Two

The night was quiet.
The star light illuminated the road, while the wind brought the fragrance of flowers.

Yang Fan walked in front, and then Tian SiSi followed.
Although this big-headed ghost was hateful, but he was nothing compared to Mr. Ge.

Tian Xin walked nearby, the big eyes always never stopped darting back and forth on them.

Tian SiSi said suddenly, “You ask him, actually where are we going.”

Tian Xin blinked and said, “Why don't you ask him yourself?”

Tian SiSi gave her a malicious stare, but kept her mouth shut.

Tian Xin said suddenly, “Although Zhang Haoer did not tell the whole truth, but she had not deceived you over one matter.”

Tian SiSi said, “What matter?”

Tian Xin said, “Qin Ge have indeed arrived here, I heard them talk about it several days ago.”

Tian SiSi’s eyes shone and said, “Did you hear where he is at?”

Tian Xin shook her head, Yang Fan suddenly had turned his head and said, “If he had truly arrived here, I know a place where we would find him for sure.”

Tian SiSi gave a forced smile and said, “What place?”

Yang Fan said lightly, “Where a single man would like to go, you should know too.”

Three

What place did men like to go to?
Interesting places.
That place did not necessarily have to be a scenic place or a very majestic house, as long as it provided the liquor, good food, attractive women and fair gambling, nine out of ten men would like that.

Any single man would like this place.

This place did not have beautiful scenery, actually it did not have any at all.
This place was located on a city corner on a dead alley.

This house was also not majestic.
In fact, this house should have been torn down ten years ago, it seemed some casual wind could have blown it apart.
The double doors had peeling paint and shut tight, with some piled trash lying nearby.

Tian SiSi was walking to the door when the smell had permeated her nose, frowning she said, “Why do you bring me here?”

Yang Fan said, “Aren’t you looking for Qin Ge?”

Tian SiSi said, “He would come to this kind of damned place?”

Yang Fan smiled, “He will certainly come, moreover he won’t go from here so easily.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “You will gradually know why.”

Tian SiSi suddenly stopped her footsteps and said, “This place also has a lot ......a lot of people who are fond of philanthropist such as Zhang Haoer?”

Yang Fan shook his head and said, “People who come to this place is not looking for philanthropists.”

Tian SiSi said, “Who then?”

Yang Fan said, “People who come to this place, they all like being the philanthropists themselves.”

Tian SiSi blinked and said, “I do not understand what you are saying.”

Yang Fan said, “I am saying that these people like to deliver their own money to provide relief for other people, moreover they deliver it very quickly.”

Tian SiSi suddenly said, “Quickly?”

Yang Fan said, “If you want to deliver your own money, there is no other place where you can deliver it quicker compared to here.”

Tian SiSi suddenly said, “I understand now, this place must be a very big gambling establishment.”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “Good, you are quite intelligent.”

Tian SiSi pouted her mouth, calmly said, “Looking at this tattered house, the person who comes here must be small fries.”

Yang Fan said, “You don’t understand, a person who truly likes to gamble doesn’t care about anything else as long as the place provides the gambling, even if he were to bet in the sewer it would be no problem.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since they can bet anywhere, why do they have to come here?”

Yang Fan said, “Because this place is secret.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why does it have to be so secret?”

Yang Fan said, “There are many reasons.”

Tian SiSi said, “You name them.”

Yang Fan said, “Some people are afraid of their wifes, so they do not dare to bet openly. Some people have specific positions, they cannot bet otherwise. Also there are questionable people who if they bet openly will cause people to suspect.”

He smiled, “But here, there is no problem to bet, no one is out here to catch you, no one will question where your money comes from.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Yang Fan said, “Because the master here is the golden beard (Jin the bearded person).”

Tian SiSi said, “Who is the golden beard?”

Yang Fan said, “He is a person who is untouchable.”

Tian SiSi said, “Qin Ge does not have a wife to be afraid of, also does not have shameful reasons, why does he still come here to bet?”

Yang Fan said, “Because you can bet a lot in this place, which will satisfy a craving. A small fry won’t be allowed in.”

Tian SiSi cast a glance at him and said, “How about you?......You cannot enter here?”

Yang Fan smiled, “If I cannot enter, why should I bring you here!”

Tian SiSi said, “I did not realize that not only you are a drunkard, but also a compulsive gambler.”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “You should already know that.”

Yang Fan had knocked on the door using the copper collar, the door opened.
A person's face extended from behind the door.
An ominous face who seemed to get angry every three minutes or so.
Not only this person’s appearance was ominous, the voice was also very ominous, staring at Yang Fan he said, “What are you doing?”

Yang Fan said, “You do not know me?”

This person, “Who knows you?”

Yang Fan smiled and said, “The golden beard knows me.”
He put something in the person’s hand and said, “You show this to him, he will know who I am.”

After giving him a malicious stare, he banged the door closed.

Tian SiSi could not bear asking, “The golden beard really knows you?”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “I am not a philanthropist, I cannot deceive you.”

Tian SiSi said, “How do you know this kind of person?”

Yang Fan said lightly, “Because I am a compulsive gambler, and also a drunkard.”

END OF CHAPTER 13

[littleli]

Chapter 14 - Qin Ge, Qin Ge


One

Tian SiSi cast a glance at him and asked suddenly, “Mr. Qin will come here?”

Yang Fan said, “How do I know?”

Tian SiSi said, “You certainly know. I think that you have already known him, and he has already known you.”

Yang Fan sighed and muttered, “Why do women always have many strange ideas?”

The door opened suddenly.
That very ominous person suddenly turned into a very polite person and with a smile he bowed and said, “Please enter.”

Near him there was a very magnificent husky fellow wearing a long robe, with heavy eyebrows, uneven face, and cleaned shaven. As soon as he saw Yang Fan, he loudly said with a smile, “Today which wind is blowing you here?”

Yang Fan said, “An evil influence.”

The guy said with surprise, “Evil influence?”

Yang Fan sighed, “If not for an evil influence, how can I get here?”

The guy said with a smile, “You have not come here for several months to waste your money, aren’t you afraid your money will become moldy?”

Two

Although the smoke-laden house was very big, people fully crammed the place everywhere.
All kinds of person, the majority looking very anxious, some were not looking so anxious, but that was just a façade, their undergarments were already drenched with cold sweat.

The only person who was not anxious was that guy in the robe who had welcomed Yang Fan.
Because he knew who the only winner in the house was.
Himself.

He patted Yang Fan’s shoulder and said with a smile, “You go and play, once you are no longer busy, I will accompany you to drink again.”

Waiting for him to be gone, Tian SiSi sneered suddenly, “It looks like you are not really friendly with the golden beard.”

Yang Fan said, “Oh?”

Tian SiSi said, “If you were his friend, he would certainly come out and greet you personally.”

Yang Fan smiled and said, “Who do you think the person who welcomed us?”

Tian SiSi said, “He cannot be the golden beard.”

Yang Fan said, “He is not the golden beard?”

Tian SiSi lost her voice, “What? He is the golden beard? He did not have any beard.”

Yang Fan said, “The beard can be shaven.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since he is the golden beard, why does he need to shave his beard?”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “Because he recently got married.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why should it matter?”

Yang Fan said, “It matters, and it is actually the main reason.”

Tian SiSi blinked and said, “Does his wife tell him to scrape off his beard?”

Yang Fan said, “You have finally become intelligent.”

Tian SiSi also could not bear smiling and said, “I did not expect such a person like him can also fear his wife.”

Yang Fan said, “Anyone can fear his wife, regardless of race or social class.”

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “So a man who is afraid of his wife is a very fair occurrence.”

Yang Fan also sighed and said, “Such fair occurence indeed are luckily not that many.”

Many kinds of people were gambling in different ways, using dice, the sign nine (pai-jiu), odds and evens, big and small ...... All kinds that you would expect to find here.

A notice was pasted on the wall:
“Gambling limits: Highest 1000 taels, lowest 10 taels.”

Tian SiSi looked all around for a while before sighing and said, “Qin Ge is not here.”

Yang Fan said, “I guarantee you that he will certainly come here.”

Tian SiSi said, “You are not deceiving me?”

Yang Fan said, “Why do I want to deceive you?”

Tian SiSi thought that indeed Yang Fan should not have any reason to deceive her, she also asked, “When will he come?”

Yang Fan said, “That is difficult to say, anyway we will just wait here until he comes in.”

Tian SiSi said, “If this place closes up?”

Yang Fan said, “This place never closes.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Yang Fan said, “Because nobody knows when the gambling addiction will manifest, therefore in this place people can come in 24 hours as necessary.”

Tian SiSi cast a glance at him and said with a smile, “Now your betting addiction can manifest suddenly?”

Yang Fan gave a forced smile and said, “Having arrived here, if that thinking doesn’t cross my mind that is impossible.”

Tian SiSi said suddenly, “You looked at the woman on that side.”
There was nothing strange to find a woman in a gambling establishment, but that woman was really too young and too attractive.

She was playing the sign nine (pai-jiu), moreover she was the dealer.
She wore dresses that was very magnificent and expensive, but now her neck opening was wide open, the sleeves were all rolled up and had revealed the snow white milk-white bosom and a pair of tender white arm.

She was losing money fast.
She got “the turtle ten”, so she had to pay up all around.
Her pile of money in front of her quickly disappeared.
A person with a pockmarked face who stood beside her squinted at her with an evil-looking smile and said easily, “Young madam, I think you ought to let others be the dealer.”

This young madam’s face had reddened and said loudly, “Not good, I must get back my money.”

The big person with the pockmarked face said, “If you want to get back your money I am afraid you will have to wait till tomorrow, today the jewelry you are wearing has all been ransomed, our custom here is not to give credit to anyone.”

The young madam was nipping her lips, after some momentary indecision she said suddenly, “I have another thing to ransom.”

The big person with a pockmarked face said, “What thing?”

The young madam stuck out her chest and said, “Myself.”

The face of that big person with the pockmarked face had brightened visibly, the faint smile took a measuring look at her and said, “How much do you want to ransom?”
He kept staring at the open neck of her dress and said, “Is 3000 taels good enough?”

Immediately that young madam patted the table and said, “Good, bring out the money, I am ransomed to you.”

Tian SiSi looked with straight eyes, she could not bear sighing and said, “Wonder where this young madam comes from, she is losing so miserably.”

Someone besides her sneered and suddenly said, “Darn me if that woman is a young honorable madam, how would an honorable young madam come to this kind of place?”

This person had a long face, wearing all black, his attire was completely similar to the guard of the door, so he must also be working under the golden beard.

Tian SiSi could not bear asking, “What type of person comes here then?”

This person, “A woman who bets in this place is either sold here, or someone’s secondary wife.”
He pointed out to that young madam and said, “She is the thirteenth wife of the Datong government office Wang BaiWan. Although she may appear well-mannered, as soon as she has lost her bets, immediately she would revert back to her original disposition.”

Tian SiSi sneeringly said, “As soon as a man bets, doesn’t he also revert back to his original disposition?”

This person smiled and said, “But it is a pity that even if the man wants to sell himself, he can’t.”
He walked away with a grin, before leaving he cast a glance back at Tian SiSi twice.

Tian SiSi became so mad that her face became pale when she retorted, “Why does a woman’s luck seems to be worse than man’s since she was born? A man can bet, why can’t a woman bet?”

Yang Fan said lightly, “Because a woman is not born as a man..”

Tian SiSi stared back at him, “What are you saying?”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “This sentence is very simple, but it is a pity that some women in the world cannot understand this.”

So, Yang Fan started to bet.
He bet on the pai-jiu.
Since the gambling limit was 10 taels, whether he lost or won, he kept betting only 10 taels, no more no less.
Although the people beside him did not say anything, their vision seemed to show their disdain at him.
Regardless of how others viewed him and judged him, Yang Fan did not care.

But Lady Tian actually could not bear it.
Since she sat near Yang Fan, when Yang Fan got disgraced, wasn’t that also causing her to lose face?
She could not bear saying quietly, “Can you increase your bet?”

Yang Fan said, “Cannot.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why can’t you?”

Yang Fan smiled, “Because I do not want to lose too quickly, and also because I do not want to win other people’s money.”

Tian SiSi said bitterly, “What kind of compulsive gambler are you?”

Yang Fan said, “I did not say that I am a compulsive gambler, you are the one who said it.”

Tian SiSi stared at him before she laughed and sweetly said, “You are a compulsive gambler, it is just that you are an eighth-class compulsive gambler.”

Yang Fan had not spoken back, nor did he increase his gambling stake.
He won once or twice, but he did not lose that many either.

Tian SiSi sighed, “Looks like if you set a limited gambling stake, you will not be able to double it.”

Yang Fan said with a smile, “That is right.”

The room suddenly became noisy with cheering noises, “Hero Qin has come ......when Hero Qin comes, the mood will certainly lighten up…”

Hearing about Hero Qin coming, Tian SiSi knew that they were talking about Qin Ge.
Qin Ge had really come.

Tian SiSi felt her mouth become dry, the hands and feet felt cold, and she had difficulty breathing in and out.
Although she had widened her eyes, she still could not see clearly which one was Qin Ge.
She was really too anxious, so anxious that everything seemed a little blurry.
Luckily she finally saw a red silk handkerchief.
It was like a red sun which had just risen.

Qin Ge indeed was a favorite, people everywhere would cheer him on.
All the people in this room have nearly encircled him.

Tian SiSi could no longer see the red silk handkerchief, she became so anxious that she simply could only stamp her own feet.
Yang Fan sat as stable as the rock of Gibraltar there, concentrating completely on his gambling stake.
10 taels, never changed.
Tian SiSi really wished to stuff the 10 taels inside his mouth.

“Such a great person like Qin Ge has come, and yet this pig has just ignored him, it seems that to him, Qin Ge cannot be compared with his 10 taels.”

Tian SiSi hated him until her teeth itched so instead she went to Tian Xin and asked, “Have you seen him?”

Tian Xin blinked and said, “Him? How do I know who do you mean as ‘him’?”

Tian SiSi stamped her feet and said, “Certainly Qin Ge, who else besides him?”

Tian Xin said with a smile, “I actually saw him, but ......”

Tian SiSi did not wait for her to complete her sentence and just interrupted her, “Actually how does he look?”

Tian Xin said easily, “His look? Not any different than other people, two eyes and two legs.”

Tian SiSi was so anxious and angry that she wished she could stuff 10 taels inside her pouty mouth as well.

By now she had finally heard Qin Ge’s voice!
The voice was loud and strong, precisely like a man's voice!
“When you bet, you must bet happily, otherwise, just go home and hug your wife.”
Everybody laughed together.
“Right, Hero Qin is really a happy person.”
“Playing odd and even is the happiest, Hero Qin how about you becoming the dealer?”

Qin Ge’s voice was happy, “Good, becoming a dealer is fine, but I have one condition.”

“Hero Qin just say it.”

“I have no problem following the golden beard’s rule, however if I become the dealer, you must bet at least 100 taels, the more the better, that way I can become looser and happier.”

The crowd had finally dispersed.

Tian SiSi finally saw Qin Ge, finally saw the great person in her mind.
What she saw first was naturally that bright red silk handkerchief.
The same red color as her complexion now.
The red silk handkerchief hung loosely on his neck.
The neck was very thick, but since Qin Ge was so tall, she did not consider that as thick.
A great person might not necessarily look very handsome, but he would certainly have certain extraordinary style.
Qin Ge’s style was indeed not small, he pulled out his hand out of his pocket and a big thick bunch of paper money was thrown casually on the table.

“Bet, bet freely.”
Thereupon everybody made his bet, several put 100 taels, some 1000 taels.
It seemed that the people who came got their money easily, either from stealing or from snatching other people’s money.

Everybody cheered
The banker compensated many, but only swallowed a few.
After compensating several 1000 taels, instantly, the ten thousand taels no longer belonged to the surnamed Qin.
Qin Ge actually did not turn a hair, his eyes were still luminous, although he was not very handsome, but by his style, any woman would readily swoon and prostrate themselves under his black satin pants.

Tian SiSi simply looked at him in awe, she could not bear gently sighing and said, “He is really a man, really a big hero.”

Tian Xin smiled suddenly and said, “How do you know?”

Tian SiSi said, “Just looking at how he gambles, that’s enough.”

Tian Xin said, “If a person loses money while making large bets, that doesn’t prove he is a man or a hero.” She smiled and said, “Perhaps it can only prove one thing.”

Tian SiSi said, “What?”

Tian Xin said easily, “It can only prove that he is a compulsive gambler, a first-class compulsive gambler.”

Tian SiSi was so mad she just ignored her.

Yang Fan? He was still concentrating completely on his gambling stake. 10 taels bets.

Tian SiSi could not help giving him a shove and said quietly, “Do you know Qin Ge?”

Yang Fan said, “No.”

Tian SiSi sneeringly said, “You have mixed with many people in jiang-hu, and yet you don’t know the great people.”

Yang Fan smiled and said, “Because I was not born a great person, moreover as soon as I see a great person I become anxious.”

Tian SiSi said bitterly that, “Why don't you think of a way to get to know him?”

Yang Fan said, “Why do I want to think of a way to get to know him?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because......Because I want to get to know him.”

Yang Fan said, “That is your matter, I have already said, I can only bring you here to find him, I am not doing anything else.”

Tian SiSi said, “But ......But you should at least give me an opportunity.”

Yang Fan said, “What kind of opportunity?”

Tian SiSi said, “If you go there to gamble, you might get to know him.”

Yang Fan said, “I cannot go.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why can’t you go?”

Yang Fan said, “The gambling stake on that side is too high.”

Tian SiSi stamped her feet and said, “Why don't you go home and hug your wife?”

Yang Fan said lightly, “Because I do not have a wife.”
His replies were always simple, nobody could say he did not tell the truth, but some might say that although he was still alive, his spirit had already died.

Tian SiSi walked closer towards Qin Ge and saw that big person with a pockmarked face.
Rotating her eyes, she asked suddenly, “Do you know that big person with a pockmarked face?”

Yang Fan smiled, “I do know him actually, but he is not a great person.”

Tian SiSi said, “What does he do?”

Yang Fan said, “He is a bloodsucker in this gambling establishment.”

Tian SiSi frowned, “Bloodsucker?”

Yang Fan said, “He specially waits for someone to lose his bets and then consider his possessions, he would offer money for further bets at very low nominal value. If the original value is 300 taels he would only offer 150.”

Tian SiSi’s eyes kept rotating, she suddenly smiled and said, “You are a good person, right. Just help me a little?”

Yang Fan said, “What little help?”

Tian SiSi said, “Ransom me with that man with a pockmarked face.”

Yang Fan looked at her up and down twice and said, “You have a problem?”

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “No, no problem at all.”

Yang Fan said, “You still want to ransom yourself to make large bets?”

Tian SiSi said, “No, I am not a compulsive gambler.”

Yang Fan said, “So you are saying you don’t have a problem, you are not a compulsive gambler, and yet you still want me to ransom you with that man?”
He sighed and gave a forced smile, “Why do women have strange ideas?”

Tian SiSi said, “You do not need to worry about me, as long as you help me over this, I will no longer make any trouble for you.”

Yang Fan gave it a thought and finally said, “This is your last request?”

Tian SiSi said, “Absolutely last.”

Yang Fan sighed, “Fine, the long pain is inferior to the short pain, I will accept this fate.”
He finally beckoned to that big person with a pockmarked face and said loudly, “Zhao Gang, could you come here?”
That big person Zhao Gang looked at him, also looked at Tian SiSi beside him, however he finally walked leisurely with a faint smile and said easily, “What? Betting small, and yet you still lose everything?”

Yang Fan said, “Even betting a tael, sooner or later you can lose everything.”

Zhao Gang said, “What do you want to ransom?”

Yang Fan referred to Tian SiSi and said, “How much can you give for her?”

Zhao Gang took a look around Tian SiSi several times, his face brightened and said, “How much do you want to ransom?”

Yang Fan said, “Such a young and attractive girl must at least worth 3000 taels.”

Zhao Gang stared at Tian SiSi several times while muttering, “She actually looks like an original goods … Fine, I will give you 3000 taels, as long as you can guarantee that she will not run away.”

Yang Fan said, “Aren’t you afraid other people will not pay their debts?”

Zhao Gang laughed and said, “The one who dares to cross me, I really must admire him.”
He counted 3000 taels in paper money, but before handing it to Yang Fan…

Tian SiSi suddenly screamed, “Save me, save me!”
Her call seemed to be more scared than a person twisting a chicken neck.

Yang Fan did not even blinked, like he had expected this to occur.
Only Zhao Gang was scared, everyone else did not seem to hear anything.
The most exasperating thing, Qin Ge had not heard her either.
When a man gambled, besides the sound of the dice, very few could hear any other sound.

Tian SiSi clenched her teeth, flushed to Qin Ge’s side and screamed, “Save me, save me.”
She basically just screamed into Qin Ge’s ears.

At last Qin Ge seemed to have heard her, but not that clearly, so he turned around with a frown and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Tian SiSi was pointing at Yang Fan and said, “He ......He ......He is trying to sell me to others.”

Qin Ge sized her up several times and still frowning he asked, “How is he related to you?”

END OF CHAPTER 14

[littleli]

Chapter 15 - True Qualities of a Big Hero


One

Tian SiSi lowered her head like she must cry very soon, saying, “He is not related to me at all, I was only coming here with him. He…”

Immediately Qin Ge struck the table and said, “What is this? Where is the law in this world?”
His strode in front of Yang Fan and stared at him, “Why do you have to sell this girl to others?”

Yang Fan sighed, “Because I am a compulsive gambler, moreover I have just lost big.”
Saying this reason was like asking to be hit on the butt 300 times.

Who knew that suddenly Qin Ge seemed to sympathize with him very much and said, “That is no wonder with you. How much money do you have to get back?”

Yang Fan smiled suddenly and said, “Since Big Hero Qin had noticed me, I don’t need even 10 taels,”
He stood up, patted his clothes and left the place.

Looking at him leaving, Tian SiSi felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.
“In any event, this big-headed ghost is not a dishonest person, I will certainly have to find an opportunity to repay him later.”

Suddenly she had remembered Tian Xin.
“Since he has no wife yet and Tian Xin likes him, why don’t I simply give tacit permission to yield her to him?”

It was only a pity that by now Tian Xin had disappeared again.
When did Tian Xin go, where did she go? Tian SiSi unexpectedly did not know.
A few moments ago, she had only seemed to notice that Yang Fan person, in her heart there was also only Yang Fan.
How was this matter?
Lady Tian did not know, and she did not even dare to acknowledge it.
She sighed gently, when she turned around, she found that Qin Ge had stood beside her with a faint smile looking at her.

She had gone through so much trouble to find him, and had finally gotten to know this great person with difficulty, and yet she seemed to have forgotten about him a moment ago.
This great person did not seem to be no longer as important in her heart as that pig?

Qin Gehuan was staring at her, as if waiting for her to speak. His eyes were certainly very bright, exhibiting great strength and yet his eyes were also somewhat red.
“It looks like a person with such great courage and great bearings will not be able to sleep a lot.”

Tian SiSi finally smiled and said, “Many thanks to Big Hero for rescuing me, otherwise I ......I really did not know what to do.”

Qin Ge said, “You know me?”

Tian SiSi cast a glance at the red silk handkerchief on his neck and smiles, “Who in jiang-hu doesn’t know Hero Qin?”

Qin Ge said, “You knew that I would rescue you?”

Tian SiSi said, “Hero Qin behaves righteously, also everybody in the jiang-hu knows that.”

Qin Ge slowly said, “Because you knew that I would rescue you, therefore you arranged for that person to sell you to that Zhao Gang, right?”

Tian SiSi was stunned.
She did not expect Qin Ge to know her ruse so well that she was at lost for words.
“You ......How can you know?”
When she said this, she immediately regretted it, it was like admitting to Qin Ge that what she did just now was completely acting.

Qin Ge laughed and said, “Why shouldn’t I know it? You think this is a wonderful method, but to me this is not a peculiar method because at least 7 or 8 girls have also tried a similar method to me.”

Tian SiSi’s face reddened from ear to ear, she really wished she could dig a tunnel to hide herself in.

Qin Ge also suddenly said, “But you actually differ from these other girls!”

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips, raising enough courage she asked, “How ......how?”

Qin Ge was smiling and said, “You are much more attractive compared to these girls and you smile a lot sweeter than them. With such a sweet smile, my luck in the future cannot be too bad, therefore …”
He pulled Tian SiSi with him and said, “Come on, accompany me to bet, with you looking on, you will really give me good luck.”

Therefore Lady Tian had become to know Qin Ge, moreover she had begun to understand him.
She had discovered that Qin Ge was a person who dared to say what he said and dared to do what he did. When he held her hand, regardless of how many people were looking on, he would still dare to pull her hand.
If he spoke about something, regardless of how many ears were listening, he also dared to set his own rules. He did not worry about what other people thought, he just disregarded them completely.

“If it were that big-headed ghost, perhaps he would not have revealed my secret in front of so many people just to save my face.”

Lady Tian had decided earlier that she would no longer think about that big-headed ghost, but she did not know why, whenever she saw anyone, she could not help comparing that person to him.

“In any event, Qin Ge was at least more open minded compared to him.”
Lady Tian had finally drawn a conclusion for herself.
But was this conclusion correct?
She did not know — — well she knew, but she could not get herself to acknowledge it.
When Lady Tian was willing to acknowledge that she was making a mistake, the sun would have certainly set in the west.

Two

Intimate friends were not necessarily good friends.
For example, “wine” and “gambling” were very intimate, so intimate that very few people could separate them apart, and yet they were really friends who ruined each other.

Therefore a compulsive gambler was also usually a drunkard.
As soon as some people drank, he would want to bet; Some people who bet from the very beginning, would want to drink later.
And the result?
The result was, “The more you lose, the more you drink. And when you drink some more, the more you lose. And when you get really drunk, you have probably lost everything.”

Therefore in a gambling establishment they always provided the liquor, moreover they would just give it for free, they would just let you drink as much as you want.
Because when you were so far into your drinking, that meant that you were so far into losing in your betting.

Qin Ge was very, very far in his drinking.
If you were not willing to acknowledge his heroic spirit before, when you saw him drink you would have no alternative but to acknowledge it.
The way he drank his liquor seemed to resemble how he viewed a hated enemy, as soon as the cup was filled with the wine, immediately the wine got deposited into his belly, no matter how many cups, no matter how big was the cup size.

“When a man drinks like this, that is truly a true quality of a hero.”
But Tian Xin would have also said, “This also cannot prove that he is a hero, it just proves that he is a drunkard.”
This pouty mouth really had not spoken that many good sayings.
“Where has this dead servant girl gone to? Could she have run away with that big-headed ghost?”

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips, she decided to no longer think about anything else and just concentrated completely on Qin Ge.
Then she discovered immediately that Qin Ge had lost everything.
A person’s appearance who had lost everything was usually not very attractive, but unexpectedly Qin Ge did not even turn a hair.

That golden beard suddenly appeared at his side. He showed a sympathetic face and said, “Hero Qin, your wind is not blowing great today and you have really lost a lot.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “I was prepared to lose money. As long as I can bet happily, losing 18000 taels is not a problem for me.”

The golden beard raised his thumb and said loudly, “Good! That is the spirit of a real man, not only betting well, but also losing well.”
He waved his hand to beckon his people and said, “Bring here 50,000 taels, we have to let Big Hero Qin regain his money.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “I knew from early on that you are also a good person, you don’t even wait for me to open my mouth.”

The golden beard suddenly seemed embarrassed and hesitatingly said, “Only our custom here, Hero Qin must know about it.”

Qin Ge said, “You must have a ransom?”

The golden beard said with a smile, “A friend is a friend, but a custom is a custom, Hero Qin’s heroic spirit soars like cloud, this institutional rule is really awkward for a friend.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “You have no need to beat around the bushes with me, when you pile up that money in front of me, I, surnamed Qin, will not take your money in vain.”
He had patted his own chest and said, “You can look at my whole body, if you find something worthy of 50,000 taels, you just need to open your mouth and say it!”

The golden beard’s face brightened and said, “Really?”

Qin Ge had shown a serious face and said, “What is real or false? When you open your mouth, I will let you see what I can do!”

The golden beard’s eyes flashed, he lowered his voice suddenly, “Hero Qin, do you see the three people sitting in that corner?”

He had no need to point them out, others would also know.
Because these three people were indeed very distinct.
These three people were a taoist priest, a monk, and a poor scholar.
In the gambling establishment all sorts of people played there, even if some monks and taoist priests came here, that was not so strange.
What was strange was that these three people were not betting at all.
The monk held a string of buddha beads, his mouth was mumbling as if he were chanting.
The taoist priest closed his eyes one's eyes, both palms were clasped together, giving the impression that he was meditating here.
The poor scholar held a cup of wine on the left hand and a book on the right, as if he were looking at personal redemption with avarice.

The monk was chanting, the taoist priest was sitting in meditation, the scholar was reading they are all performing their mundane tasks, and yet performing these in a gambling establishment was really strange and not fitting the profile.
These three people were occupying a gambling table, other people who wanted to bet did not have enough room to sit there.

Tian SiSi saw that these three people were intentionally looking for trouble.
She felt that these three people were using not only an extraordinary method, but also an interesting one.

Qin Ge frowned, “You want me to drive them out?”

The golden beard said, “That is my intention.”

Qin Ge said, “Why don’t you do it?”

The golden beard sighed, with a forced smile he said, “Because they have not broken the rule here.” He continued, “There is really no stipulation here that would prevent a scholar from reading, a taoist priest to meditate and a monk to chant, right?”

Tian SiSi almost laughed.

Although everyone knew that these three were intentionally looking for trouble, but no one could point out that they had made a mistake.

Qin Ge said, “When did they come?”

The golden beard said, “Several days ago. But sometimes they come, sometimes they leave, nobody knows when they will appear.”

Qin Ge said, “Why did you allow them to come in?”

The golden beard also sighed and said, “The question here is that nobody knew how they managed to get in.”

Qin Ge’s eyes had shone as he lowered his voice, “So, these three people actually have some skills.”

The golden beard said, “It looks like they are indeed a little pricky, therefore if Hero Qin is not willing to deal with this issue, please do not feel forced.”

Qin Ge sneered, “I am a person who likes to make trouble since I was born.”

The golden beard revealed a delighted smile, “Therefore, this 50,000 taels will be waiting for Hero Qin for you to regain your money.”

Qin Ge laughed and tossed down the wine before he strode forward.
Qin Ge always did things very simply and straightforward.

But by becoming a bodyguard for this gambling establishment for 50,000 taels, wouldn’t this caused him to lose his chivalrous person identity?
Tian SiSi continuously looked from his side, her heart unavoidably felt a little disappointed.
“But what should a chivalrous person do?”
“Behaves righteously, helps the weak , upholds justice, settles a dispute ......These matters not only would not earn money, sometimes, they would require some additional money too.

“A chivalrous person is also a normal person, who must eat meal, must spend like any other people, maybe even more than normal people, so if they just do things that require money, won’t they starve to death in the end?”

END OF CHAPTER 15

[littleli]

Chapter 16 - Unexpected Visitors

“A chivalrous person cannot live on a golden goose, nor does he have a place where silver pieces would rain everyday, so how do you want them to pull a cart with a nonexistent donkey? Then how do you lose face in this situation?”

Thinking it over, Tian SiSi felt he did nothing wrong doing this.
As long as Lady Tian thought about something, she always found a way to explain it.
As long as Lady Tian liked the person, she would always consider him a good person.

The taoist priest was still meditating, the monk was chanting the scripture and the scholar was deep in reading looking lost in his thought.

Qin Ge walked slowly.
He intentionally walked very slowly, very calmly, not because he had drunk five big catty of wine, that he could not walk steadily, but the way he walked he expected the other people to notice him.
He appreciated how others would look at him with meaningful glances that were three parts awe and seven parts envy.
This point he indeed did very successfully.
Everyone was paying attention to him so the sound in the hall suddenly quieted down, even the sound of the dices had all stopped.

Qin Ge’s smile became freer and easier as he arrived slowly in front of that scholar and then he said easily, “What book are you reading?”

The scholar had not heard him.

In a jiang-hu person’s mind, a scholar would equate to being poor and pedantic, and this scholar was not an exception. He wore a blue rough shirt that had become whitish from too many washings, his face was yellowish as if he did not had enough nutrition.

And now his face suddenly showed a delightful smile and he approved loudly, “Good Zi Fang, good Zhu Hai, although indescribably tragic but enough to startle the world......Happy, happy, deliriously happy.”
At the end of this speech, he had downed a cup of wine that he carried with him.

Qin Ge could not bear asking, “Who is this Zi Fang? Who is also Zhu Hai? Is it possible that they are the the martial arts world masters?”

The scholar finally turned to look at him, but his glance was like looking at an arriving camel, he did not seemed to be in awe at the very least.
He blinked at him and then frowned, “Zhang ZiFang is Zhang Liang, haven’t you heard of him?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “I have not heard of him, I only know that the world number one in the martial arts world is Gentleman Lan, he is also my good friend.”
He smiled unexpectedly as he said, “The next time I have the opportunity to see him, I might as well ask for his advice for a few kung-fu moves.”

The scholar listened to what he said like a person being slapped, even his nose became crooked. He poured some more wine into his cup and drank some, before giving a sigh and muttered, “A stupid child cannot be taught, a rotten wood cannot be carved, you better walk as far as you can, do not make me consider you as uncouth.”

Qin Ge suddenly became very stern as he said, “You want me to leave?”

The scholar said, “That’s what I want.”

Qin Ge said, “You know what I want?”

The scholar said, “I am not a worm in your belly, how would I know what you want to do?”

Qin Ge said, “Right, I will tell you then, I want you to leave.”

The scholar seemed to be very startled and said, “You want me to leave? Why?”

Qin Ge said, “You know what place is this?”

Scholar said, “A gambling establishment.”

Qin Ge said, “Since you know, you should not have come.”

Scholar said, “Even a prostitute can come here, why can’s a scholar come here?”

Qin Ge said, “What are you doing here?”

The scholar said, “Certainly studying, if a scholar does not study then the whole body and thinking will become uncouth.”
He was staring at Qin Ge said, “Can’t a scholar study?”

Qin Ge said, “He can.”

The scholar said, “Since a scholar can come here and can study, why do you want the scholar to leave, am I right?”

Qin Ge said, “Yes.”

Scholar said, “Since I am right, then you should leave.”

Qin Ge said, “I will not leave, you should leave!”

Scholar said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because I never reason with a scholar.”

The scholar jumped suddenly and said, “You never reason with anyone?”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

The scholar has pulled up his sleeves and said, “You want to fight?”

Qin Ge had smiled and said, “You are finally right.”

The scholar was staring him and said, “You do not reason with a scholar, then why does a scholar want to fight with you?”
He pulled down his sleeves again slowly and said, “I think you should leave quickly, if you do not leave, I will ......”

Qin Ge said, “What?”

The scholar said, “Leave. If you do not leave I will leave, ......Are you really not going to leave?”

Qin Ge said, “Really!”

The scholar said, “Fine, if you don’t leave, I will leave.”
He actually really meant what he said, and he left.

Qin Ge laughed as he finished the scholar's wine in the pot, then he stood in front of that taoist priest and said, “That scholar is also the taoist priest’s friend?”

The taoist priest put his palms together, “The red flowers, the green leaves and the blue lotus root are like Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, everything is in one harmony, so who is not a friend of mine?”

Qin Ge said, “Since the scholar can come here, a taoist priest certainly can also come.”

The taoist priest said, “Precisely.”

Qin Ge said, “Since a scholar can study here, the taoist priest certainly can also sit in meditation here.”

The taoist priest said with a smile, “The benefactor is really a sensible person.”

Qin Ge said, “I also understand one thing.”

The taoist priest said, “Let me know about it.”

Qin Ge said, “Since the scholar can leave this place, the taoist priest should also leave.”

The taoist priest thought and said, “If the taoist priest can leave, the monk also should leave.”

Qin Ge had also smiled and said, “The taoist priest is also a sensible person.”

The taoist priest said, “I actually do not know whether this monk is a sensible person?”

The monk said, “No.”

The taoist priest said, “Are you a muddled monk?”

The monk said, “If I do not enter hell, who will? If this monk is not muddled, who is?”

The taoist priest said, “If the monk really wants to enter hell, that is actually easy, hell is not that far from here.”

The monk said softly said with a smile, “Such being the case, I will let brother guide me.”

The taoist priest also said softly with a smile, “In front of the master, how dare I be the one in front?”

The monk said, “Brother, please.”

The taoist priest said, “Master, please.”

The monk looked at Qin Ge and said, “This benefactor? Do you intend to go with this poor monk?”

The taoist priest put his palms together and said with a smile, “Master and myself should leave first, this benefactor will surely come after us quickly!”

The monk said, “Such being the case, this poor monk will wait in hell then ......Amida Buddha.”

The taoist priest said, “Immeasurable long-lived Buddha.”

The monk said, “Virtuous, virtuous.”

The two people put their palms together while their mouths proclaimed their chanting praise, after bowing to Qin Ge, they left while smiling.
When they got to the entrance, the monk suddenly turned his head to Qin Ge and said, “But the benefactor must not forget about today.”

The taoist priest said, “He cannot forget.”

The monk said, “How does the taoist priest know so much about another person?”

The taoist priest said softly with a smile, “The road to the hell is always easier to take.”

The monk said softly said with a smile, “Right, going down the road is much easier than coming up the road.”

The taoist priest said, “Also much quicker.”

At the same time the two people laughed three times and left without looking behind them.
Qin Ge also wanted to laugh, but he could not muster even a little smile.
Other people also could not really smile, because they were all a little disappointed.
Everyone thought that this monk, the taoist priest and the scholar all had their own intention therefore they would produce interesting interaction with Qin Ge. But instead, they had left obediently without any fight.

Some people were discussing secretly in a low voice, “Actually what are these three people doing?”
They certainly was not planning to be here just to chant the scripture or to sit in meditation.
“But if they were looking for trouble, why did they leave so obediently?”

Certainly because they saw the red silk handkerchief on Qin Ge’s neck.
“If not for Hero Qin's great reputation engulfing them, how could they have been so honest?”
Qin Ge was really great.
“A person who tries to reason with a scholar is a simpleton and a person who tries to fight with Hero Qin fights is not just a simpleton, he must be an idiot.”

Tian SiSi originally also felt a little lump in her heart, but as soon as she heard these words she suddenly became happy. When others commended Qin Ge, she was simply even happier than Qin Ge.

But what was strange was that Qin Ge did not look very happy. Suddenly Qin Ge laughed as if he just found something that was very funny, as if the wine in his belly started to function.
He laughed continuously as if he gradually lost his chivalrous person’s appearance. Tian SiSi could not bear it anymore, and pulled his lower hem discreetly and said quietly, “Hey, others are all looking at you.”

Qin Ge nodded while laughing, while continuing to nod he said, “I know that others are all looking at me.”

Tian SiSi said, “Can you laugh a little more quietly?”

Qin Ge said, “No.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because I was thinking something that was extremely funny, therefore I must laugh.”

Tian SiSi said, “What is so funny?”

Qin Ge said, “The monk ......”

Tian SiSi said, “What about the monk?”

Qin Ge said, “He said he wanted to wait for me in hell.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why is it so funny?”

Qin Ge said, “Just because.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “He did not know that I was running away from hell.” He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “ Do you know why I was running away from that place?”

Tian SiSi only shook her head.

Qin Ge said, “Because there is a monk there.”

He had not finished his sentence, before he burst into another long laughter.

Tian SiSi looked at him and wondered a little, “Is this person really Qin Ge?”
She had made one mistake, she could not afford to make another.
But it was only a pity that she did not know the face of the real Qin Ge.

By now luckily the golden beard had stepped in, he was carrying the thick bundle of money, a thick wad of paper money.
The golden beard said with a smile, “Here is a small gift, I ask Big Hero Qin to accept.”

Qin Ge said, “Fine.”
He was indeed a very frank person, very impolite.

The golden beard said, “In addition, we also have something else to offer to Hero Qin.”

Qin Ge said, “What else are you offering?”

The golden beard said, “An opportunity.”

Qin Ge said, “What opportunity?”

The golden beard said, “An opportunity to let Hero Qin get back your money.”

Qin Ge laughed, “Fine, I can only be happy like this.”

The golden beard was also smiling, “But how does Hero Qin want to bet?”

Qin Ge said, “Any method of betting is fine.”

The golden beard clapped his hands and said, “Good, any type of betting is fine, only the person who should win, will win.”
He was smiling as he also said, “But a person who should lose, won’t win regardless of the betting method.”

Therefore Qin Ge lost again as he should lose anyway.
Because when a drunken master got drunk, even if he should win instead he would lose without anything remaining, moreover he would lose it very quickly.

“The opportunity to regain the money”, should have been said as, “The opportunity to lose everything.” Wherever was the gambling establishment, the kind of opportunity would always exist.

Everybody who watched this gave a sigh for him, whether it was genuine sympathy or not, a sigh was a sigh. “45 big” met “the leopard” did not happen very often. Some people were discussing secretly in a low voice, “I am afraid only such a talented person like Hero Qin ever find this kind of rare event.” What was this saying?

“Right, it must have been his luck.”
Unexpectedly losing everything could also depend on luck? This was simply unreasonable.

“Although Hero Qin has lost this time, but his luck will certainly be much better at other matters. Gambler’s luck should not affect other things, but when the gambler is a good person, his luck in other matters will be affected and become better.”

Mmm, this might have some truth in it, at least Qin Ge felt so, because he had filled 4-5 catties of wine into his stomach. If a person’s belly could carry ten catty of wine, that would really be a lie. And as the wine filled the stomach, the pocket would certainly become very empty.

Everybody else was watching the next table and looked on at the three dices in the bowl. Three sixes. The golden beard had unexpectedly produced three sixes just like that, everyone really admired him.

Qin Ge suddenly felt that the golden beard could also be considered a great person just like him. Only a money winner in a gambling establishment could be called a true hero.

Therefore Qin Ge started to leave.
He was walking shakily as he bumped into a person.
A monk.

Qin Ge frowned and muttered, “ Why do I always meet with monks today? No wonder I keep losing.”

That monk was actually smiling and said, “The benefactor has met several monks today?”

Qin Ge said, “Including you, twice.”

The monk said with a smile, “Including me, only once.”

Qin Ge walked closer to him and looked at him carefully. He suddenly discovered that this monk with a round smiling face, was the monk he had met just a moment ago.

END OF CHAPTER 16

[littleli]

Chapter 17 - Heroes and Drunkards


One

Not only was the monk here, but the taoist priest and the scholar had also came back.

Qin Ge rubbed his eyes and said, “How did I get here?”

The monk said, “You are originally here.”

Qin Ge looked around, but he needed to turn his head around too for that.

The monk said with a smile, “This place is not hell, but it isn’t that far away from it.”
Sometimes the gambling establishment and hell were really not that far apart.

Qin Ge rubbed his eyes again and said, “Didn’t you leave not a moment ago?”

The monk nodded and said, “Since we can come, we can also leave.”

Qin Ge said, “Why have you come now?”

The monk said, “Since we can leave, we can also come.”

Qin Ge thought about it and muttered, “It makes sense. What the monk is saying really makes a lot of sense.”

The monk said, “Because the monk is a monk.”

Qin Ge thought about that and laughed suddenly, “Makes sense, you make sense again.”

The monk said, “You know why we left a moment ago?”

Qin Ge shook his head.

The monk said, “So you could gain 50,000 taels.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “I have already said, you are a sensible person.”

The monk said, “Do you know now why we have come again?”

Qin Ge said, “In order to let me gain 50,000 taels again?”

The monk said, “No.”

Qin Ge said, “As soon as you leave, I gain 50,000 taels, as soon as I lose everything, you come back again, why shouldn’t it be good?”

The monk said, “That is why it is not good.”

Qin Ge said, “Why not?”

The monk said, “Because you lose it too quickly.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “Therefore you would not leave this time?”

The monk said, “Right.”

Qin Ge stared at him and suddenly said loudly, “You really will not leave?”

The monk said, “A monk does not lie.”

Qin Ge said, “Fine, if you really will not leave, I will leave then.” He laughed while walking outside. At the entrance, suddenly he turned his head and said, “I will leave first, where should I wait for you?”

The monk pointed at above and said, “Up there!”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “You think I can return there now?”

The monk smiled.

A person who fell from above would not find it easy to climb back up.
Even if you had climbed back up, if you were not careful, you could fall down again.
And fell down much quicker too.

[littleli]

Chapter 17 - Heroes and Drunkards

Two

Qin Ge’s body kept falling down and should have stayed down.
But luckily Tian SiSi was there to prop him up.
Unexpectedly when such a character like Qin Ge left that gambling establishment, no one else had come out.

Tian SiSi felt uncertain about him, but she had also felt very angry for him.
Even if Qin Ge had not been a great person, at least he had been a big customer there, moreover he had lost so much, the golden beard ought to have taken care of him.

In fact, she was so enraged a moment ago that she had called the golden beard to account for him, “Couldn't you see that he was drunk already?”

The golden beard smiled and said, “The wine here is free.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since you knew that he was drunk, why did you allow him to leave?”

The golden beard said, “This place is not a jail, regardless of who wants to leave, we cannot prevent them.”

Tian SiSi said, “You should have at least looked after him.”

The golden beard said, “How do you want me to look after him?”

Tian SiSi said, “At least find him a place to sleep, you shouldn’t let him keel over dead drunk on the road.”

The golden beard coldly said, “This place is not an inn.”

Tian SiSi said, “But you are actually his friend.”

The golden beard said, “A person who opens a gambling establishment does not have any friend.”

Tian SiSi said, “Do you think he will come again next time?”

The golden beard said, “As long as he has money, he will come again next time. This time he goes away crawling, but he will come again the same way next time.” He smiled and then said, “When he comes here again, that is not to become friends with anyone.”

Tian SiSi said, “You cannot make him an exception?”

The golden beard said, “Why should he be an exception?”

Tian SiSi said, “He is ultimately a famous hero.”

The golden beard coldly said, “This place has no provision for friends or heroes.”
This was the golden beard’s final answer.
In their eyes, there were only two kinds of people in world: winners and losers.
They should never sympathized with losers.
And there was probably one kind of people that was worst than losers, losers who were dead drunk.

Qin Ge was not completely dead drunk, he had some awareness at least.
He finally found out that someone was holding him, after a very long time he still could not quite see who was holding him.
He narrowed his eyes to focus on the person, and after a very long time he suddenly said, “You are drunk too.”

Tian SiSi said, “I haven’t drunk any wine, how can I be drunk?”

Qin Ge said, “If you are not drunk yet, why do you want me to hold you?”

Tian SiSi said, “You are not holding me, I am holding you.”

Qin Ge laughed and pointed at Tian SiSi’s nose and said, “You are really not drunk yet? Your nose is so crooked that it splits into the two ears.”

Tian SiSi wished she could shove him into the sewer, as she clenched her teeth, “Can you stand straight?”

Qin Ge said, “Cannot.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because I must get down.”
He lowered his voice and mysteriously said, “Do you know why I have to get down?”

Tian SiSi said bitterly, “Because there is no monk there?”

Qin Ge laughed, “Right, that monk is already inside that gambling establishment, chanting the scripture.” He laughed so hilariously such that he had trouble breathing.

Tian SiSi looked at him with exasperation, she really did not know where she should take him. Qin Ge suddenly flushed forward to the corner and vomited non stop.
He vomited many, many times, Tian SiSi also hoped that he did that.

“Once a person vomits, perhaps he can become sober then.”
She thought so because she had never really been truly drunk.
A truly drunk person would never become sober like that, after he vomited, the tipsy feeling welled up and he became even more drunk.
After Qin Ge vomited, he had lain down immediately, and within a very short period, he had already thunderously snored.

Tian SiSi became really anxious and said loudly, “Hey, quick, how can you sleep here?”
Qin Ge could no longer hear anything.
Tian SiSi then shook him really hard, after a very long time, finally Qin Ge narrowed his eyes.
His eyes were only a third of the usual size, but his tongue was twice as big.

Tian SiSi worriedly said, “If you sleep here, how would others see you? Don’t forget that you are a true man, a big hero.”

Qin Ge replied with a smile, “Hero ......how much does a heroic value worth? Can I get something in the gambling establishment if I sell it?”
He lowered his voice, “Can I tell you a secret?”

Tian SiSi gave a forced smile and said, “Go ahead.”

Qin Ge said, “In reality, I do not really want to be a hero, it just doesn’t feel any better.”
Once he said it, he began to snore sonorously again.

Tian SiSi did not know what else to do.
This person could not be shaken awake, propping him up was also useless.
When a person got drunk, he would become much heavier to prop up.

Tian SiSi really wanted to just abandon him, but it was a pity that she was not that kind of person, moreover she was still thinking of Qin Ge as her hero, a great person.
Many girls would faint because of the excitement just by hearing of Qin Ge’s name.
If they saw Qin Ge like this, how would their hearts feel now?
Because they could not see this, therefore they were all much luckier than Tian SiSi.

Tian SiSi sighed and saw that bright red silk handkerchief on Qin Ge’s neck.
The red silk handkerchief that symbolized the chivalry, the bravery and the warm feeling.
The red silk handkerchief was like the red sun which just arose.
But what did this red silk handkerchief represent now?
Like a cleaning rag.
A rag that had cleaned 7 or 8 tables, a rag that had also a mix of sweat, wine, and some other things that were vomited by Qin Ge,
How would those sentimental young girls feel now if they saw this red silk handkerchief on his neck? Tian SiSi did not dare to think.

“In any event, he is only like this when he gets drunk. Everyone can get drunk, doing evil is the one that cannot be forgiven.”

Tian SiSi sighed gently, squatted and wiped Qin Ge’s face with her own silk handkerchief.
Her silk handkerchief was certainly also red, red like the warm blood of a sweetheart.
But her blood was not as warm as when she started in this morning.

Not because she was disappointed with Qin Ge, but mainly because she did not feel well. She tried to vomit to feel better, but nothing came out. So the person with an empty belly, standing in the windy evening in a dark small lane, was accompanying a thunderously snoring drunkard. How could her blood feel warm up in this situation?

[littleli]

Chapter 17 - Heroes and Drunkards


Three

Dawn.

The sun seemed to suddenly shine brightly, when Tian SiSi realized that she had fallen asleep a while ago. She did not know how she could fall asleep. Qin Ge still lied down besides the sewer. His snoring sound had finally become softer.

Tian SiSi had finally stood up in that corner of a wall, some pain shot up her neck so she had to rotate her neck a couple of times, before she suddenly realized something strange.

There was a blanket on her body.
Yesterday evening she certainly did not have this blanket, because she was feeling at that time very cold, very hungry, sitting worriedly in this corner of a wall, and not really knowing how this night should pass.
She was thinking about that big-headed ghost, eating to the fullest, and probably lying down on a soft bed maybe with a woman like Zhang Haoer besides him. That was the last thing she remembered. Then she suddenly fell asleep.

“Where did this blanket come from?”
This blanket was just like a meat pie, it could not have just fallen from the sky.

Did Qin Ge wake suddenly in the midnight, and found a piece of blanket to cover her? Qin Ge seemed to have slept where he dropped down, his posture did not even seemed to change at all.

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips, thinking furiously while standing still.
Thinking it over, there could only be someone who would cover her with this blanket.
But she did not believe that this person would do that.
Or she would rather not believe it.

When Qin Ge was awake, he stood very, very straight, but when he was sleeping, he did not look very good. He just looked like a sun-dried shelled shrimp.

This place was luckily a dead-end lane, only several houses' back doors were in this lane. Last night, she was so confused that she did not know how they got to this lane, but she began to think that they had been really lucky. If some people saw Lady Tian sleeping in this lane, that might have brought disgrace to the family.

But presently, the day had become brighter, at any time, there might some people walking through those back doors. Tian SiSi set a firm resolution that she would wake up Qin Ge without fail. So she really shook him hard to wake him up.

Finally Qin Ge shouted out after he opened his eyes, “What are you doing? My head is splitting apart being shaken by you.”

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips and said, “If it split apart that would be best, that would be the best opportunity to wash the inside of your head.”

At last Qin Ge began to recognize his surrounding and herself, he smiled suddenly, “It is you, how can you get here?”

Tian SiSi said bitterly, “Because I met a drunkard.”
She was determined originally to appear before Qin Ge as a gentle, sympathetic, and a very attractive woman who certainly could become a good wife. But her temperament soon got the better of her, and she had completely forgotten her intention.

Qin Ge’s hands were holding his head while he did not stop sighing.

Tian SiSi looked as his distressed appearance and could not help asking, “Are you very uncomfortable?”

Qin Ge bitterly said, “Not only uncomfortable, even more uncomfortable than after a heavy illness.”

Tian SiSi said, “How can you be so uncomfortable?”

Qin Ge said, “When someone become drunk on the evening, the next day he will feel very uncomfortable.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since you know that, why did you get drunk?”

Qin Ge sternly said, “When a man drinks, he must appear like a real man.”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “When you drink like that can you called a hero? That only says that you are a drunkard.”

Qin Ge said, “A hero is good, a drunkard is also good, in short, I am a man, much better than being like a woman.”

Tian SiSi said, “An effeminate person at least would feel much more comfortable than you.”

Qin Ge shook his head and said, “This is a man’s problem, you a woman, should not ask too much about it.” He finally stood up and patted Tian SiSi’s shoulder, “Let’s leave, I must find something to drink.”

Tian SiSi widened her eyes and said, “You want to drink?”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly.”

Tian SiSi said, “You are not afraid of being uncomfortable?”

Qin Ge said, “Being uncomfortable is one thing, while drinking is another thing. You a woman will not understand that.” He continued, “Moreover when I drink this time, this wine is to bring me back to life, I won’t feel uncomfortable then.”

Tian SiSi said, “If you get drunk today, won’t you feel uncomfortable tomorrow?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Tomorrow is another day. Moreover, if I am feeling uncomfortable tomorrow, I can drink again to relieve it.”

Tian SiSi sighed and muttered, “Now I know how one can become a drunkard.”

Qin Ge simply had not listened to her, after brushing his clothes quickly to clean up, he arranged the red silk handkerchief around his neck, stood up straight, stuck out the chest, and walked towards the other end of the lane.

A person who had lied down near the sewer should really stuck out his chest when going outside. Even if the whole body felt awful, the face could not reveal even a little bit of uncomfortable appearance. Although he did not necessarily looked glowing with health, he still retained his heroic spirit, and that bright red silk handkerchief was tidily arranged, fluttering in the wind.

Tian SiSi also had no alternative but to acknowledge that the silk material that made his clothing was really good.

Qin Ge was waiting for her at the end of the lane and smiled, “How is my appearance now?”

Tian SiSi could not help but smile sweetly, “At least you do not look like a drunken cat.”
She continued, “Where are you going to drink?”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly the biggest teahouse.”

Tian SiSi said, “Teahouse?”

Qin Ge said, “At this time, only the teahouse is open.”

Tian SiSi said, “Do they sell wine in the teahouse?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “In the teahouse, besides the tea, almost anything is available.”

Tian SiSi was unable to restrain her smile, but immediately frowned and said, “Do you have money?”

Qin Ge said, “No.” He replied very simply.

Tian SiSi’s eyebrows wrinkled even more and said, “If you don't have money, how will you buy the wine?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “When I drink why do I need money?”

Tian SiSi said, “What will you use then?”

Qin Ge stuck out his chest and said, “As soon as so I goes in, a lot of people will offer me to drink with them.”

Tian SiSi said, “You feel all right if others treat you to drink?”

Qin Ge said, “Why should I be embarrassed? When they treat me, they shine brighter; I drink their wine, they get to lift up their faces.” He smiled and also said, “A famous hero has his own advantages.”

Tian SiSi also smiled.
Although she discovered that this person was not as great as her imagination, but he had exposed a lot of himself to her. After all he was also young. He had a lot of shortcomings, but he also had his own superiority. He was a hero, and yet a unique person. A living, vibrant man.

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “If the others had seen your drunk appearance last night, they certainly would not offer you drink.”

Qin Ge said, “No one will see that appearance. When I gamble, I am very straightforward, also when I drink. When I am drunk and have lost everything, I will not let anyone else see my miserable appearance.” He smiled, then said, “You have also heard how I have suffered hundreds of knife cuts?”

Tian SiSi nodded and said with a smile, “I have listened to that story at least a hundred times.”

Qin Ge said, “Did you hear that after I was stabbed, I crawled out of that place, and that night I was hurting everywhere that I had to sway back and forth non stop crying out for help to save me?”

Tian SiSi said, “No.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “So now you should get what I mean?”

Tian SiSi indeed had understood.
In jiang-hu, people would see and hear about one side of the magnificent deeds.
But actually forgot that behind the bright lights was the gloomy side of things.

Not just about Qin Ge, but throughout the ages, the big heroes were no exception to these tales.
Just like when people upheld a great general with power, honor, and prestige, they had actually forgotten the ten thousands of people who had died in the battlefield, scattered as mere white bones.

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “I did not realize you really understood many things.”

Qin Ge said, “When a person is mixed up for many years in jiang-hu, you get to learn many things.”

Tian SiSi blinked and said, “Do you know how I regarded you last night?”

Qin Ge shook his head.

Tian SiSi smilingly said, “I regarded as you as a boorish fellow, a country bumpkin.”

Qin Ge said, “A country bumpkin?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because who in the world had never heard of Zhang ZiFang.”

Qin Ge suddenly winked and said, “You thought I really did not know him?”

END OF CHAPTER 17

[littleli]

Chapter 18 – The taste of a big hero


One

Tian SiSi said, “You knew him?”

Qin Ge said, “Zhang ZiFang was Zhang Liang, one of the three outstanding heroes in the Han dynasty. In the history book, although his appearance was like a maiden, but his heart was like a soaring eagle. Relying on his single hammer in bo-lang-sha (abundant wave of sands), he had stamped his feet forever in famous biographies.”

Tian SiSi widened her eyes in shock as she blurted out, “You really know?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “That’s right.”

Tian SiSi said, “Then why did you say those things last night?”

Qin Ge said, “I did that intentionally.”

Tian SiSi said, “Intentionally? Why did you intentionally play the fool?”

Qin Ge said, “Because I knew that everybody worshipped me, because I am the type of person who did not understand anything but was just supposed to fight all out, to gamble all out, and to drink all out.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why do others want to worship this kind of person?”

Qin Ge, “Because they themselves could not become like this person.”
He smiled, “Regardless of what we are doing, going all out in anything is not an easy matter.”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “I understand now because I have seen your uncomfortable aftermath.”

Qin Ge said, “That is right, going all out requires also that you might have to endure hardship afterwards.”

Tian SiSi said, “But instead of going all out on many things why don’t you become an intelligent hero? Wouldn’t others admire such an appearance as well?”

Qin Ge said, “Others won’t admire such person.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because there are many people who are like that, not just myself.”

Tian SiSi said, “If you were also such a person, others would not think that is strange, right?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “That is right, because they find me strange, only then can I be so famous today, only then can I become the idols in the minds of young fellows.”
He thought carefully and sighed, “If I turned into another person, others certainly will be disappointed in me.”

Tian SiSi said, “Therefore, after you were drunk you could acknowledge that being a hero did not taste all that good.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “But there are many different kinds of heroes, why did you choose this kind?”

Qin Ge said, “Because others already regarded me as this kind of hero, then it was no longer possible to change it.”

Tian SiSi said, “You do want to change now?”

Qin Ge said, “Not really.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because I have gradually become accustomed to it, sometimes even I felt that this type of hero was really me.”

Tian SiSi said, “Really?”

Qin Ge sighed, “Whether it is the truth or not, no one could distinguish it clearly, not even myself.”

Tian SiSi was silent for a very long time, she suddenly gave a long sigh, “I do not understand.”

Qin Ge said, “You do not need to understand, because this is life.”

Tian SiSi pondered this matter for a very long time before she slowly nodded and sighed, “If I had not met you, I would never have thought that you could be such a person.”

Qin Ge said, “What did you think I was?”

Tian SiSi rotated her eyes and said, “What do you think?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “I think you considered me a great idol, therefore I would ask you to drink with me.”

[littleli]

Chapter 18 – The taste of a big hero

Two

Perhaps Qin Ge was not a genuinely great person, nor was he a god, but in the minds of people in jiang-hu, he was indeed a hero who received open-armed welcome everywhere.

So then Tian SiSi also drank.

Now they were walking on a very lonesome and quiet alley, both sides of the walls were very high, the branches of the trees extended from beyond the wall and blocked the extremely scorching heat of the high noon sun.

Tian SiSi suddenly said with a smile, “I did not expect that there were really so many people who offered you to drink with them.”

Qin Ge’s eyed had become very bright, because he was half tipsy although he was not fully drunk. He looked at the branches above the wall and said slowly, “Do you know why they welcomed me like that?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because you were a hero?”

Qin Ge smiled and said, “That was certainly one of the reasons, but not the most important one.”

Tian SiSi said, “What was the most important then?”

Qin Ge said, “The most important was because they knew that I would not be a threat to them, now or ever. Because I am a rough, impulsive, senseless fellow, who will not implicate them in a complex relationship.” He smiled a little miserably and then said, “They like me, welcome me, sometimes like theater fans idolizing the famous actors, but they cannot have any conflict between me and their interests.”

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “You seem to look down on yourself.”

Qin Ge said, “I do not despise myself, I know that I have my success, as far as I know, throughout the ages among the famous heroes in jiang-hu, I might be the one who gets the best reception.”

Tian SiSi asked, “Don’t you think there are some sincere worshippers among them?”

Qin Ge said with a forced smile, “Certainly there are, but maybe a youth who are not yet an adult, for example…”

Tian SiSi said, “For example myself?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Maybe before you know me, at present you are already different.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because you have seen matters which many others will never see.”

Tian SiSi pondered that point and said slowly, “Right, indeed I saw some shortcomings which others will not see about you. But I have also seen some of your merits, which others will also never see.”

Qin Ge said, “Oh?”

Tian SiSi said, “You undoubtedly have a lot of weaknesses, but you also have a lot of attractive qualities. Really, you even have much more attractive qualities than the majority of people.” She smiled, also said, “But a man like you can only be a good friend, not a good husband.”

Qin Ge said, “Before you wanted to marry me?”

Tian SiSi dangled her head, blushed and said with a smile, “Indeed I meant to.”

Qin Ge said, “Now? You are already very disappointed in me?”

Tian SiSi said, “No, only ......”

Qin Ge said, “Only you are not fully satisfied.”

Tian SiSi said, “No.”

Qin Ge said, “Then what?”

Tian SiSi sighed gently and said, “Perhaps because I considered you too high before, whereas now I can understand you more profoundly.”

Qin Ge said, “Because you have understood me, therefore you are no longer willing to marry me? Why does a girl always like to marry a person who they do not understand?”

Tian SiSi had not replied, she did not know how she should reply.
She had not been disappointed in Qin Ge, because Qin Ge was indeed a big hero.
The kind of hero that she could not really understood.
But regardless of which kind of heroes a person was, he was not a god, even a god may have his own shortcomings, moreover a mere human?

Now she felt she could not marry Qin Ge, because the Qin Ge that she saw was not the same Qin Ge that she fantasized.
She was not disappointed, she only felt a little disconsolate.
The disconsolate feeling of an adult.
She detected suddenly that she seemed to have grown up a lot.

Qin Ge was staring at her.

She had pulled up Qin Ge’s hand gently, with a reluctant smile she smiled, “Although I cannot marry you, but we may forever be very good friends.”

Qin Ge had not spoken — — he seemed to want to say something, but he had not said anything.

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips and said gently, “You ......Are you very disappointed?”

Qin Ge stared at her and suddenly laughed, “How can I be disappointed when many women in the world can be my wife, but where else can I find several women who can understand me and be a friend of mine?”

Tian SiSi glanced over and sighed suddenly, “But why did you have to let me understand you so well? “

Qin Ge’s eyes flashed and he said softly with a smile, “Perhaps because my luck is not very good.”

Tian SiSi blinked and sweetly said, “Perhaps because your luck is actually good.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “In the future, the man that can marry you, he is the lucky one.”

Tian SiSi lowered her head and suddenly did not speak.
Without any particular reason she unexpectedly had remembered that big-headed person.
Where was he?
Was he with Tian Xin?

After a very long time, she looked up and said, “I seem to recognize this road.”

Qin Ge nodded.

Tian SiSi said, “After a while, we will get to the golden beard’s gambling establishment.”

Qin Ge again nodded.

Tian SiSi frowned, “Why do you want to go there?”

Qin Ge had smiled and said, “I want to see that monk again, don't you think he is very strange?”

Tian SiSi said, “He is indeed a little strange, but maybe you are not really that eager to see him.”

Qin Ge said, “Oh?”

Tian SiSi pursed her lips and said with a smile, “Perhaps it is your hands that itch.”

Qin Ge blinked and said, “Even if I want to bet, what do I bet with? With my fingers?”

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “If you don’t have any money to bet, you still can watch others play.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “You are mistaken.”

Tian SiSi said, “Then why do you want to go there? Do you really want to meet that monk?”

Qin Ge smiled very mysteriously as he slowly said, “Right, because I find that this monk is a lot more interesting than other monks. “

A monk should not be interesting. When a monk became interesting, others were probably losing their senses.

END OF CHAPTER 18

[littleli]

Chapter 19 – A Gambling Establishment or a Temple

The monk would chant the scripture in the temple. The compulsive gambler would gamble in the gambling establishment. That would be the normal case.

But when a monk chanted the scripture in a gambling establishment, or when a compulsive gambler gambled in a temple, that was not only abnormal, moreover it would be very absurd, very strange.

Strange matters were always caused by strange reasons.
Strange matters would also caused other strange matters.

One

“Why do you always say that the gambling establishment is not that far from hell?”

“Because a person who frequently goes to the gambling establishment, very often ends up perishing in hell.”

“The gambling establishment is really that fearful?”

“Indeed, if there is someone in your family who is a compulsive gamblers, you should be fearful.”

“Oh?”

“If the head of the family is a compulsive gambler, this family can be in hell already.”

“I heard that when a person has lost everything, he could resort easily to selling his own wife and children.”

“Sometimes he would bet on his own life.”

“Oh, that is indeed fearful.”

“If the closest place to hell is the gambling establishment, then what is the closest place to heaven?”

“A temple?”

“Good, but have you ever thought the similarity between gambling establishments and temples?”

“No, these two kind of places are simply not related at all.”

“Do you notice that gambling establishments and temples are usually located in a quite desolate place?”

“I just realize that now, but then I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“I know why a gambling establishment would be located in a quite desolate place, but why would a temple be similar? A person who burns incense at the temple will not lose his face nor violate the law.”

“Because when the temple is located afar, the more desolate it is, the more mysterious it feels.”

“Mysterious?”

“Mysterious feel causes people to feel curious and therefore worship.”

“Right, sometimes when people do not understand about things, then they start to fear.”

“Because when they are afraid then they need to worship.”

“Moreover when the people need to travel so far to burn the incense, they can appear to be honest.”

“What you said were almost right, only almost.”

“Almost?”

“After someone goes so far away to burn the incense, then he will certainly feel very hungry, and when he eats while very hungry, then he will always feel that the taste of the food is special.”

“Therefore people always feel that the food in the temple is specially delicious.”

“You have finally understood, the element room is very often the biggest attraction for people to go to the temple.”

“I know that when a lot of people burn the incense, they also go for a walk around the countryside at Qingming festival.”

“Therefore the smart monks will certainly locate the temple in a very far away, very remote place.”

“I also think that what you have just said are very sensible, but if a monk hears what you said he might feel irritated.”

“A monk cannot feel irritated.”

“Why?”

“The addictions to wine, beauty, wealth, and anger , the four elements are mere illusions, you have forgotten this too?”

“Right, since anger is also empty, a monk certainly cannot get irritated.”

“The one who gets irritated is not a real monk.”

“Therefore being irritated is not a problem.”

“No problem at all.”

Two

A remote lane.
The end of the lane was the golden beard’s gambling establishment.

Qin Ge and Tian SiSi entered this lane.

By now the dark cloud had suddenly covered up the moonlight and a faint thunderclap like a rolling drum could be heard from that dark cloud.
The strong wind rolled up and pushed along, the weather was gloomy.

Tian SiSi watched the weather and said, “It looks like a rainstorm will come soon.”

Qin Ge said, “Rainy weather is the perfect weather to gamble.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since you already know that gambling is very fearful, why do you still bet?”

Qin Ge smiled and said, “Because I am not a good person and also not intelligent.”

Tian SiSi’s sweet voice, “You are only a hero.”

Qin Ge said, “A good smart person usually cannot be a good hero.”

He suddenly shut his mouth, because he suddenly discovered that the courtyard of that gambling establishment seemed to be filled with swirls of black little pieces creating a trace of black fog whipped around by the strong winds, everything danced in the air.

This fog which did not look like the fog brought a sense of surreptitious terror in this kind of cloudy weather.

Tian SiSi changed countenance said, “What is that?”

Qin Ge shook his head, and sped up his walk.

The gambling establishment’s worn-out front door continuously swayed in the wind, continuously making rattling noise.

The door unexpectedly was wide open without anyone guarding the door. Did this heavily guarded entrance to the gambling establishment change suddenly into an open door policy?

The black fog became thicker in the courtyard.
Qin Ge stepped forward and fished one piece.
Tian SiSi who followed, asked immediately, “Actually what is that?”

Qin Ge had not replied, but instead had given the thing in his hand to Tian SiSi.
This thing was soft, gentle, supple like silk.

Tian SiSi blurted out, “It is hair.”

Qin Ge calmly said, “It is hair.”

Tian SiSi said, “Where do these many hairs come from?”

The abundant hairs in that courtyard danced in the air in the strong winds, bringing an unspeakable surreptitious terror.

Qin Ge hesitatingly said, “I wonder whether that monk is also inside?”

Tian SiSi said, “Why are you looking for that monk?”

Qin Ge said, “Perhaps because your question can only be answered by him.”
He opened the door and walked in.
He was stunned.

Tian SiSi was walking with him.
Tian SiSi was also stunned.
Everyone who walked in would all be stunned.

The monk was in this house.
Not just a monk, but a houseful of monk!

If you were in a temple, no matter how many monks you saw, you would not feel strange, you would not be stunned.
But this place was a gambling establishment.
There was no gambling tables, gambling paraphernalia, nor gamblers.
Now in this gambling establishment there were only monks.

Several dozens big and small, old and young monks, with downcast eyes, the nose pointed downward, the palms gathered together, sitting cross-legged. Every single one of them was bald. So bald, that the light was perfectly reflected off it.

Tian SiSi now suddenly understood where those hairs in the courtyard had come from.
But she had not understood actually why these people had suddenly shaved their head clean to become monks.

It was very quiet in the house.
There was no sound of dice, of card, of eating and drinking, and of chanting.
Although there were monks, they actually did not chant the scripture.
Maybe because they have not learned how to chant?

Qin Ge was looking for the monk who yesterday could chant the scripture.
He walked slowly, looking at each one before he stopped suddenly in front of a monk.
Tian SiSi saw surprise on his face, and immediately saw past him at this monk and felt like seeing a ghost.

This monk cast down his eyes, the nose pointed downward, sitting cross-legged, not only clean-shaven, but also totally bald. This monk's face was very familiar.

Tian SiSi looked for a while before she suddenly shouted, “The golden beard!”
This monk was unexpectedly the golden beard.

Nearby him was another monk, a face that seemed to have been hit by the raindrop of sand beach. “Zhao Gang with a pockmarked face!”
This bloodsucker could really turn into a monk?

Qin Ge stared at the golden beard, after a very long time, then he patted his shoulder and said, “Are you sick?”

The golden beard at last looked up and put his palms together, “Who is the benefactor speaking to?”

Qin Ge said, “With you, the golden beard.”

The golden beard said, “Amida Buddha, the golden beard has died, how can the benefactor speak to him?”

Qin Ge said, “You are not the golden beard?”

The golden beard said, “The monk’s name is Ming Gang.” (bright light)

Qin Ge stared at him for a while and said, “How could the golden beard die suddenly?”

The golden beard said, “When a person should die he would die.”

Qin Ge said, “But when he should not have died?”

The golden beard said, “When he should not have died sooner or later he also must die.”
He sat cross-legged continuously without any expression. If anyone saw him now, he would not believe that yesterday he was the boss of a gambling establishment.
Right now he just looked like a rigorous eminent monk.

Tian SiSi’s eyeball rotated and said suddenly, “The golden beard has already died, how about his newly married wife?”
A newly married person who is afraid of his wife, so afraid that he would shave all his beard, could only have one reason. Because he really, really loved his wife. Because when he really loved her that was when he became really afraid of her. Although the golden beard was trying hard to control himself, but some perspiration had dropped from his head.

Tian SiSi secretly took a meaningful glance at Qin Ge and said, “What do you think will happen to a newly married wife whose husband has died?”

Qin Ge smiled and said easily, “Naturally his wife will remarry!”

Tian SiSi said, “Remarry? So quick?”

Qin Ge said, “She would remarry, sooner or later.”

Tian SiSi said, “Marry whom?”

Qin Ge said, “Perhaps a taoist priest, perhaps a scholar, the red flowers, green leaves and blue lotus root are just parts of a big family. “

He had not finished his sentence, the golden beard had roared suddenly and threw himself at him. A person who could become a gambling establishment’s boss would certainly have some real skills. His fingers spread out like an eagle’s claw, seemingly wishing to cut off Qin Ge’s neck.

Immediately Qin Ge’s neck shrank backward, but a wooden drumbeater also flew in the midair and “whack” had knocked on the bald head of the golden beard.
This knock was really heavy.

Although the golden beard’s head had not been broken, but he had been knocked dizzy. He stepped back and with a “thud” had sat back on the cushion.

“Amida Buddha, virtuous, virtuous.”

A monk’s mouth proclaimed the blessing and walked slowly forward, his hand was holding the drum without the wooden beater.
The monk who could chant the scripture had finally appeared.

He arrived slowly in front of the golden beard and sighed, “All things of visible form and substance are empty, beauty is also empty, if you cannot control this thought, how can you become a monk?”

The golden beard shook violently and with a hissing voice he gritted, “I never really want to be a monk, it is you who force me ......”
He had not finished his sentence when ‘whack”, the hand had knocked again on his head.
This monk's hand seemed to be harder than the wooden beater.

The golden beard was unexpectedly knocked back hard, the bald head immediately produced a big bump.

This monk said, “Who compels you to be a monk?”

The golden beard said, “No one… nobody.”

The monk said, “Do you want to be a monk?”

The golden beard said, “Yes ......yes ......”

The monk put his palms together and said, “Amida Buddha, the sea of bitterness knows no bounds, repent and be saved, lay down the butcher knife, stand up for Buddha...... virtuous, virtuous, salute Amida Buddha, there is no other Amida Buddha ......”
He unexpectedly started to chant scripture.

The golden beard crawled and sobbed loudly.

Tian SiSi looked stunned, before finally turning her head to Qin Ge and gave a forced smile, “This monk really can chant the scripture. “

Qin Ge said, “Not only he can chant the scripture, but he can also knock the person’s head.”

Tian SiSi said, “Knocks even better than chanting the scripture.”

Qin Ge said, “Although he is not chanting the scripture in the wrong place, but he had actually knocked the wrong head.”

Tian SiSi said, “Whose head should he knock then?”

Qin Ge said, “His own.”

The monk suddenly stopped his chanting and turned to look at him before sighing, “It is you.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

The monk said, “How did you get here?”

Qin Ge said, “Since I can leave, why can’t I come?”

The monk said, “You have already left, you should not have come.”

Qin Ge said, “Who says so?”

The monk said, “The monk.”

Qin Ge said, “Why does the monk say so?”

The monk said, “The monk can brush off someone, can knock the person’s head. “

Qin Ge sighed and said, “It seems that this monk wants me to leave.”

The monk said, “Yesterday you forced me to leave, today I am forcing you to leave, that is justice.”

Qin Ge said, “If I leave, will there be someone who will give the monk 50,000 taels?”

The monk said, “No.”

Qin Ge said, “Then I will not leave.”

The monk lowered his face and said, “You know what place is this?”

Qin Ge said, “This seems like a gambling establishment, but also like a temple.”

The monk said, “Yesterday it was a gambling establishment, today it is a temple.”

Qin Ge smiled and said, “All people may come to the temple to burn incense including the prostitutes, why can’t I come?”


END OF CHAPTER 19

[littleli]

Chapter 20 - Haunted House

The monk said, “What will you do?”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly gamble, a compulsive gambler if he does not gamble for one day, the whole body will all itch.”

The monk said, “The temple is not a place to gamble.”

Qin Ge said, “Since a monk can come to the gambling establishment to chant, why can’t a compulsive gambler come to the temple to gamble?”

The monk continued to stare at him before smiling and said, “There are only monks here, who will bet with you?”

Qin Ge said, “The monk.”

The monk said, “The monk does not bet.”

Qin Ge said, “Buddha Tathagata also bet, why doesn't the monk bet?”

The monk knitted his brows, “Buddha Tathagata also bet? Bet with who?”

Qin Ge said, “The heavenly great sage Sun Wukong.”

The monk said, “What did he bet on?”

Qin Ge said, “He bet that Sun Wukong would not be able to come out of his palms.”

The monk also said with a smile, “Even if what you say is true, the monk also does not have the money to gamble.”

Qin Ge said, “The monk can solicit money, how can he not have the money?”

The monk said, “Solicits money from where?”

Qin Ge said, “As far as I know these monks yesterday were all benefactors.”

The monk said, “Oh?”

Qin Ge said, “The golden beard already has become a monk, the wealth is empty, therefore his mountain of money naturally has been all granted to the monk.”
He smiled and said, “I heard that when the monk solicits money sometimes he can be much more menacing than a robber amassing money.”

The monk was staring at him, the round face suddenly became very cloudy as he coldly said, “You can amass money?”

Qin Ge said, “Cannot.”

The monk said, “You can solicit money?”

Qin Ge said, “Cannot.”

The monk said, “What do you use to bet?”

Qin Ge said, “Myself.”

The monk said, “How can a person bet with himself?”

Qin Ge said, “If I lose, I will become a monk with you. If you lose, you turn over this eon to me, also all the monks here.”

The monk said, “How do you want to bet?”

Qin Ge said, “Since you can knock heads, let us gamble on knocking heads.”

The monk said, “Knock whose heads?”

Qin Ge said, “You knock me, I knock you, who can knock the first is the winner.. “

The monk coldly said, “The head is not a drum, it can be knocked open.”

Qin Ge said, “Do you know which kind of head is the easiest to knock open?”

The monk laughed.

In his laughter, he suddenly disappeared.

The floor was made of blocks of stone. The block stone underneath the monk suddenly split open, and the monk had fallen down. Then the stone immediately closed again.

This place was originally a secret gambling establishment, that underneath the gambling establishment was a secret tunnel, that was not really a strange matter.

Only Tian SiSi was stunned and after a long time, she said, “It seems like he does not want to bet with you.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “He also knows that it is easiest to knock open one kind of a head, the bald one.”

Tian SiSi said, “You really want to knock open his head?”

Qin Ge said, “Only knock it open a little.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why? He does not look like a bad person.”

Qin Ge said, “But he should not compel others to be monks.”

Tian SiSi said, “If all the people who opened gambling establishments in the world could become monks, wouldn’t the world be a lot more peaceful?”

Qin Ge said, “All these monks, did they all open gambling establishments?”

Tian SiSi said, “Perhaps they themselves want to ......”

She had not finished her sentence when all the monks in there had called out suddenly, “We do not want to be monks!”

“A fine and healthy person, who wants to be a monk?”

“I have my family, a wife and children, we enjoy life from day to day, why do we have to be monks?”

The golden beard called out the loudest, he had knelt down unexpectedly and said, “We are all compelled, so we can only asked Hero Qin to uphold justice for us.”

Qin Ge sighed and said, “I thought you were a real man, how come you can be compelled by this person to be monks? “

The golden beard said, “Because if we did not become monks, he wanted our lives!”

Qin Ge said, “You are 20-30 people, why do you still fear the monk?”

The golden beard said aggrieved, “Because that monk was really too ominous, too formidable, moreover he also had the scholar and the taoist priest to help him!”

Qin Ge said, “All of you were not their match?”

The golden beard sighed, “If not so, how could we all be monks?”

Tian SiSi could not bear asking, “If you all become monks, what is the advantage to him?”

The golden beard said, “Certainly he benefits.”

Tian SiSi said, “What advantage?”

The golden beard said painstakingly, “He said to become monks, the four elements were merely illusions, therefore when we became monks, all the family property should also be turned over to him.”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “If that is so, everyone including myself would want to knock open his head.”

Qin Ge said, “Not just to knock it open a little, but rather knock a big hole on it.”

The golden beard rub his own head and said, “But these three people’s wugong are not weak at all, that monk, he is really too formidable.”

Qin Ge sneered, “I have seen a lot more formidable opponents.”

The golden beard’s face become clear and he said, “Certainly, as long as Hero Qin is willing to take responsibility for us, we will have the way out.”

Qin Ge stepped on the stone that split open with his foot and said, “What place is under this?”

The golden beard said, “I am not too clear.”

Qin Ge said, “You are this gambling establishment’s boss, how can you not be clear about it?”

The golden beard gave a forced smile and said, “This house was not originally mine.”

Qin Ge said, “Whose then?”

The golden beard said, “I do not know.”

Qin Ge frowned, “What do you know?”

The golden beard said, “I only know that the master of this house had died many years ago, the whole family had died with him.”

Qin Ge said, “Afterwards nobody moved in?”

The golden beard said, “Oh yes, but whoever moved in, moved out again in three days.”

Qin Ge said, “Why?”

The golden beard said, “Because this house is haunted.”

Tian SiSi blurted out, “Haunted?”

The golden beard said, “This house was originally famous for its ominous nature, so nobody dared to ask about it, therefore we had bought this place really cheaply.”

Tian SiSi said, “Did something smell really fishy here?”

The golden beard said, “Sometimes we indeed thought something is wrong with this place, but we are brave people, so we just ignore them.”

Tian SiSi said, “Something is wrong?”

The golden beard hesitatingly said, “Sometimes there were sudden strange noises heard underground, sometimes things that were obviously on the table could disappear suddenly.”

Tian SiSi looked at Qin Ge.

Qin Ge said, “Now how do you plan to manage this?”

The golden beard said, “As long as we don’t have to be monks, you can ask anything from us.”

Qin Ge thought for some time and then said, “Good, you leave first, I will clarify the matters here.”

The golden beard’s face revealed an awkward fear and said, “That monk will not let us leave.”

Qin Ge sneered, “You have no need to be afraid, I will take care of it.”

The golden beard smiled, “Then we are very relieved that Hero Qin can act on our behalf.”

He had not completed his sentence, when all the monks in this house have clambered one after another to escape from the place. Some went through the door, some jumped through the windows. In the blink of an eye, everyone had left, none had remained.

Nobody came out to pursue.
That monk, the taoist priest and scholar had not appearead at all.

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “It looks like your power and prestige was not really small, they did not dare to cross you.”

Qin Ge had not smiled.

Tian SiSi also said, “Where do you think that monk has gone to?”

Qin Ge said, “I hope he did not really get seized by the ghosts.”

He lowered his voice, “I think this is the time for you to leave quickly.”

Tian SiSi stared at him with big eyes and said, “Why do you want me to leave?”

Qin Ge smiled reluctantly, “Perhaps this place is really fishy.”

Although Tian SiSi’s complexion had somewhat changed, she shook her head and said, “I will not leave.”

Qin Ge said, “Why?”

Tian SiSi said, “Don’t forget that I am your friend.”

Qin Ge said, “But ......”

Tian SiSi did not let him speak, but continued, “Since I am your friend, I cannot abandon you to cope with the three of them here, even if you really have to go to hell, I am also with you.”

She had not finished her sentence when Qin Ge himself had really fallen down.
“Thud”, the opened stone had shut again.

Tian SiSi was really startled as she tried to kick open the stone.
No matter how hard she kick, nothing seemed to move.
The stone was very thick, the blocks fit each other perfectly without any seams, no one could see where the secret mechanisms.

The rainstorm had not come, the strong winds were blowing through the window.
There were noises from the windows, and from the door.

Tian SiSi could not bear calling out in alarm and said, “Qin Ge, where are you? Do you hear me?” No response.
Tian SiSi was nipping her lips, suddenly she turned around to run outside.

Outside a very big wind blew in.

Tian SiSi just ran out the door when a strong wind crashed in, bringing the silky little things everywhere. Suddenly a great amount of hairs curled around her, in her face, surrounding her neck. Gently, softly, coldly, like a clammy ghost that touched around her face and blocked her throat.

She nearly stopped breathing, immediately she jumped backward through the door. “Bang” she closed the door and held it close with her body. Only after a very long time, she could breath a sigh of relief.

The wind blew hard outside.
She was the only person in the empty house.
She discovered suddenly that this house was very big.
The house was so big that she felt very tiny and lonely.

Her palms were already clammy with cold sweat as she made an effort to tear off the hairs from her body, her face and her neck.
The hairs actually stuck in her hands, covering her hands with gentleness, softness, calmness.
She wanted to get rid of them but she could not.

“Crack”, the window pane was struck by the wind, the sound of a thunderclap, and continuous clatters of raindrops hitting on every part of the house.

She could not help but shiver as she put up her courage and said loudly, “Anybody in this house? Are all the people here dead already?”

Nobody responded.
She shuddered again.
“Is everyone in this house dead, have they all changed into ghosts?”
But how about that taoist priest and the scholar?

The opposite site of the room also featured a big leafed door, the door was closed. Could they hid inside there?

Tian SiSi clenched her teeth and ran over there as quickly as possible, as if there was something fishy pursuing her from behind.
Luckily, that leafed door was not barred from inside.
Tian SiSi had rushed in.

Inside was a very elegant small living room which would make one feel warm and comfortable.
Tian SiSi just relaxed, when suddenly “crack”, the door had closed behind her.
She was startled and turned around to push the door open, but she could not push it open.
This leafed door had been barred from outside!
Who barred the door?
There was obviously no one outside a moment ago.

Tian SiSi only sensed crawling goosebumps as the cold sweat had soaked her clothes.
She stepped backward one by one, retreated to a table, only then she discovered that the table held three cups of tea, a book, a string of buddha beads, and a whisk.
The book was the one that the scholar read.
The tea was warm.
Before Tian SiSi came with Qin Ge, that monk, the taoist priest, and the scholar were obviously drinking tea here.
Where were they now?

Tian SiSi sneered and said, “I know where you are, you should just give up any idea of frightening me!”
Actually she did not know anything, she just wanted to raise her own courage.
When she said that, she had been frightened.

The sky was filled with dark cloud, and it was even darker inside the room. In the room nothing looked very clear.

Tian SiSi stood there looking at all direction while seizing up the room. This room was actually arranged very elegantly, moreover there was another leafed door which was covered by a mottled bamboo curtain. The bamboo curtain was let down.

At the opposite wall of this leafed door, a very big landscape painting hung on it depicting a very hazy misty rain scenery, the quality was very excellent, obviously made by a famous painter. At both sides of this picture, there were two lines of couplets.

Tian SiSi had not read clearly what these couplets were saying when she suddenly heard a very strange sound behind, as if the bamboo curtain was rolled up and pushed aside. She turned around in surprise as she could not help letting out a small scream.

The bamboo curtain which was let down, now had suddenly curled up, and the door behind it was now ajar. Nobody could be seen by the door, as if an invisible ghost had slowly curled up the bamboo curtain.

Tian SiSi gathered her courage again and said in a terrified voice, “Who is it? Come out quickly!”

Nobody came out. Not even a shadow.

Tian SiSi clenched her fists, clenched her teeth and walked forward step by step.
At the same time, she could feel cold sweat continuously flowing down.
She walked very slowly because her legs seemed to give way under her, but she had finally reached and entered this leafed door.

Behind the door was a secret room which did not have any window so it was darker.
In the pitch black room, there was nothing but a person sitting cross-legged at the place.

A monk.

This monk had a round face with hanging eyebrows, and a drum suspended in front of him. He was unexpectedly the same chanting monk that fell downward a moment ago.

Tian SiSi gave a long sigh, in any event, she felt some relief at the sight.
But since the monk was here, how about Qin Ge?

Tian SiSi could not bear saying, “Hey, how did you get here? How about Qin Ge?”

The monk did not say anything and did not move.

Tian SiSi said loudly, “Hey, why don't you speak?”

The monk kept silent, not even opening his eyes, as if he suddenly turned deaf.

Tian SiSi sneeringly said, “You do not need to feign ignorance, if you still do not open your mouth, I will knock open your head.”

The monk still feigned ignorance.

Tian SiSi angrily said, “You think I do not dare?”

As soon as Lady Tian's temperament flared up, there was nothing in the world that she would not dare to do. She rushed forward and knocked on this monk’s bald head.

The monk body swayed slowly.

Tian SiSi could not help but put out a hand to hold up his clothes and said loudly, “What are you doing, do you want to pretend to be dead?”

The monk could not pretend that he was dead.
The monk had really died!

The monk's face that was originally shiny red had already turned into dead gray•
On the dead gray face, a wisp of blood flowed slowly down. It flowed down from his broad forehead, along the face and the nose, down to the corner of his mouth.

Immediately Tian SiSi’s body seemed to shiver continuously, her hands and feet became ice-cold, as she could not help stepping back slowly.

When she drew back, the monk’s body slumped forward and his face fell to the floor.
Tian SiSi discovered that the top of his head had a small hole, the blood was flowing from this hole.

“Is this hole caused by my knock?”
No.

She did not knock that heavily, moreover this monk’s whole body was stiff as the wood, he must have died for a while.

Who had killed this monk?
Was it Qin Ge? But where was he?

Tian SiSi stood there motionless.
It was as if since the moment she entered this gambling establishment, she had fallen into a sequence of nightmare. From the start it had become more and more mysterious. Where else could you find so many strange things, except in nightmares?

Could she wake up from this nightmare?
Tian SiSi clenched her teeth and resolved to abandon everything and left this haunted house. Maybe she could determine better then what to do.

She could not leave.
There was only the leafed door in this room, but it had been locked from outside.
No matter how hard she had tried to push it open or kick it open.

This leafed door was not an iron door, but this preposterous wood was actually harder than the iron, she held a knife in her hand, but with her family’s chopping moves, she could not even make a crack on it.
The wall surrounding her was even thicker.

She felt like a wild animal who got trapped by a hunter, not only was she angry and afraid, but she also felt indescribably sorrowful. The biggest sorrow was that nobody had seen the hunter who had set this trap. Like this nightmare would never ever ended. Tian SiSi wished she could cry and wail loudly, but bitterly she could not.

The blood had gradually congealed on the shaved head.
Perhaps only he knew all these secrets, or perhaps he did not.
Who knew?

Tian SiSi gritted her teeth, as long as she had not known how the matter stood, she was not willing to die!

This place was almost like a grave, a grave that would bury her.
So it would bury that monk too?
In any event, she was now in this grave with the monk.
She could have never expected to share this same big grave with a monk.

Now she felt she would not be afraid of any ghosts, she would even welcome them. Thinking of ghosts, she was reminded of that big-headed ghost.

“Where is he? Is he secretly observing me?”
“Did he cover me with that blanket?”
“Does he know now that he will not be able to see me ever again?”
“Would he be sad if he knew?”

END OF CHAPTER 20

[littleli]

Chapter 21 – Heart of a Young Girl

Thinking up to this point, she suddenly felt that she must have become very bored.
There were many thousands, ten thousands of other people to think of, why did she have to think of him!

“I am thinking of him here, but who knows who he is thinking of!”

Thereupon she started to think of her father, of Tian Xin, these were originally the people whom she was the most intimate with, but for some reason, whenever she thought of these people, they seemed to always be inferior to when she thought of “him”.

“This is perhaps because we have always been together recently.”

She also had no alternative but to acknowledge that he was indeed a very difficult person to forget. Perhaps all the monsters in the world were also like that.

Tian SiSi sighed, she felt like she was extremely mentally confused within.
During this moment, indeed she had remembered a lot of matters, had been reminded of a lot of strange questions.

She thought of things east and west, of everything, but she had not thought about one thing- how to leave this room?

A young girl's heart was really very wonderful.
Sometimes she felt sorrowful, sometimes she liked something, sometimes she endured pain, sometimes she became angry, but she seldom felt really afraid.
Being afraid was originally the most primitive, the sincerest sentiment of someone.
But in a young girl’s mind, it seemed that not being afraid was also a kind of emotion.
Because they seldom had to think earnestly about it.

Why did you bother to ask a young girl what was she thinking of in front of her enemy? Her reply might surprise you beyond your imagination.

A very intelligent person could asked a a lot of young girls a not very intelligent question:
“What do you think is the most frightful matter in the world?”

He would obtain a lot of different replies.
“Afraid of being rejected by the person whom I loved.”
“Afraid of being peeped upon by someone when taking a bath.”
“Afraid of the mice — especially when the mice sneak in inside the bedding.”
“Afraid of eating meal surrounded by bugs.”
“Afraid of someone appearing when walking in a dark road.”
“Afraid of being fat.”

Some of these replies, not even a smart person could imagine it, making people wince, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

But a girl would never reply like this:
“Afraid to die.”

The room became hotter and hotter, more and more stuffy.
Tian SiSi suddenly had the urge to have a bowl of husked lotus iced drink.
As soon as she felt the urge, she could no longer feel comfortable. As if she would go crazy at any moment.

Luckily, at this moment she suddenly heard a very strange sound.
The sound was coming from underneath.
She had not guessed what that sound was when she suddenly saw a block of stone being lifted up.
She immediately jumped back into the corner.
From that big hole, a person extended slowly his head.

Qin Ge!

Tian SiSi was so pleasantly surprised, she immediately called his name.

Qin Ge saw her with surprise and then bended down to examine that monk, as he also blurted out, “Did you really knock open his head?”

Tian SiSi also called out, “I want to ask you, even if you knock open his head, there is no need to take his life as well.”

Qin Ge said, “Why should you think I am the one who broke his head? I don’t know anything about it.”

Tian SiSi said, “If you do not know, who knows then?”

Qin Ge said, “You! Aren’t you in this room with him all the time?”

Tian SiSi retorted back, “Who was with him all the time, didn’t you fall down after him at that same place?”

Qin Ge said, “But after I fell down, I did not even see a shadow.”

Tian SiSi was stunned and said, “What did you see?”

Qin Ge said, “I did not see anything, even if there was something, I still could not see it.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because there was no light at all, the place was as dark as the night, even if I were a bat, I probably still could not see a thing.”

Tian SiSi said, “How did you come here?”

Qin Ge said, “Because there were some stone steps under my feet. After trying for half a day, I finally managed to follow the path to this place. When I stepped on the stone stairs, immediately the block of stone opened. I thought it was you who were rescuing me from above.”

Tian SiSi gave a forced smile and said, “I am not that good.”

Qin Ge said, “Then how did you get here? This monk ......”

Tian SiSi had interrupted him, “Do not make a blind judgement, when I came here, he was already like this.”

Qin Ge frowned, “Who had killed him?”

Tian SiSi said, “Only the ghost knows.”

Hearing about “the ghost”, Qin Ge’s face also changed color, “It looks like this place is really fishy, I am wondering why do you continue to stay here?”

Tian SiSi said, “You think I did not want to leave?”

Qin Ge said, “I thought you were waiting for me.”

Tian SiSi’s face blushed a little and said, “How would I know that you would spring up here.”

Qin Ge said, “Since you were not waiting for me, why didn’t you leave?”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “Because I could not get away.”

Qin Ge said, “Why?”

Tian SiSi said, “Upon entering this room, the door closed from outside.”

Qin Ge lost his temper and said, “Who closed the door?”

Tian SiSi said, “Only the ghost knows.”

When she spoke about “the ghost”, her complextion seemed to change – although she might not be afraid of death, ghosts could be really fearful.

Qin Ge said, “You ......You cannot push open this leafed door?”

Tian SiSi said, “It was locked from outside, how could I push it open?”

Qin Ge said, “Perhaps you did not try hard enough.”

Tian SiSi pouted her mouth and said, “You think I am really that useless? Why don't you try it yourself!”

Qin Ge must certainly try it himself!
As soon as he just pushed gently, the door opened.

Tian SiSi nearly could not believe her own eyes. After standing stunned for half a day, she could not bear screaming, “This leafed door was obviously locked from outside a moment ago, I am sure.”

The door was already opened, she could now get out, so she should be very happy. Instead she felt so angry. Like she was being treated unjustly. Lady Tian would rather die than being treated unjustly.

Qin Ge sighed and said, “This leafed door was locked from outside a moment ago, but now we can go!”

Lady Tian said, “I will not leave.”

Qin Ge was stunned and said, “Why won’t you leave?”

Tian SiSi said bitterly, “You treated me unjustly, you thought I had deceived you.”

Qin Ge blinked and said, “Who said you had deceived me? Why did you want to deceive me?”

Tian SiSi said, “Although you said so, but in your heart you are thinking that I have deceived you.”

Qin Ge smiled, “I had not thought that you had deceived me, never cross my mind.“

Tian SiSi said, “But this leafed door ......”

Qin Ge said, “This leafed door was certainly locked from outside a moment ago, since that suspicious party could lock it, of course he could unlock it too.”

Finally, Tian SiSi had revealed a smile, but she frowned again, “But who is that person? Why did he do this stealthy matters?”

Qin Ge said, “When we find him, we can certainly ask him that.”

Tian SiSi said, “Right, we must certainly find that person, we certainly must find him to clarify this.”

This time, she did not wait for Qin Ge and had rushed outside.

The room outside was much cooler.
The three cups of tea were still on the table, had not been touched.
But they had certainly cooled down.

Tian SiSi certainly felt she needed to drink iced cold tea.
If it had been several days ago, she would have no hesitation to drink this tea, but she finally had become more cautious, and wondered if the tea had been poisoned.
She could not see whether or not the tea was poisoned, but a world-wise person should always be more cautious.

Qin Ge was precisely a world-wise person.
She wanted to call Qin Ge to have a look, but then she noticed that Qin Ge were just standing there staring blankly ahead.

Tian SiSi said, “Hey, why are you just standing there, what are you thinking?”

Qin Ge was finally aware of her, looked at her and smiled suddenly, “I was thinking, if this leafed door really could not be opened, that would also be interesting.”

Tian SiSi said, “Interesting, why?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “If the door really could not be opened, then we should be trapped inside, trapped together for a lifetime.”

Tian SiSi’s face reddened, blushingly she said, “You are not a good thing.”

Qin Ge said, “There are really men who are good things?”

Tian SiSi came up suddenly and said, “You know that I originally wanted to marry you?”

Qin Ge said, “Yes.”

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips and said, “But even if we were trapped together in a house, trapped for a lifetime, I still definitely would not have married you.”

Qin Ge said, “Why?”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “Because although you are very good, but you are actually not the kind of person whom I want to marry.”

Qin Ge blinked and said, “What kind of person do you want to marry?”

Tian SiSi was stunned for half a day before she said, “Wait until I find him, I will certainly tell you first.”

Qin Ge sighed and said, “You say these things, aren’t you afraid that I would feel bad listening to you?”

Tian SiSi said, “I know that you will not feel uncomfortable, because I am not the kind of woman you want to marry, too.”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “Such being the case, it looks like we can only be good friends.”

Tian SiSi sweetly said, “Good friends forever.”
She suddenly felt at ease with herself because she had said what she wanted to say.

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Such being the case, I do not want to be trapped inside with you, so please leave first!”

Tian SiSi said, “Right, let us find that person.”
She suddenly remembered that this door was also locked from outside just a moment ago, she could not open this door. But this time, she did not dare to let Qin Ge try it. This time, she tried it herself.

The door was really unlocked, it opened immediately when she pushed it gently.
as soon as she put out a hand to push gently opens.

“Since someone could lock this door, someone could also open it.”

But as soon as she opened the door, she felt that this was not the most important thing, because she found out something more surprising.

When the door was opened, there were some strange noises outside.
What kind of noise?
The noise that she could not imagine she would hear in this place.

***

When the door opened a little, there were all kind of noises that were heard, at least 7 or 8 different kinds, the sound of card shoveled, the shouts to get the right number, the winning coins, the laughter, the sound of despair all mingled together.

This place was originally a gambling establishment, so this kind of noises were originally a perfectly justified matter.

But didn’t the gambling establishment get erased a moment ago? Didn’t this place changed into a temple of monks? Moreover, there was no furniture at all in this place just a moment ago, a vacant room, so where could these noises have come from?

Tian SiSi nearly could not stop herself from screaming, instead she pushed the door open wide.
But when the door was open, she really could not stop herself from screaming.

Who said that this place was a temple? Who said that this place was a vacant room?
This place was obviously a gambling establishment, brilliantly illuminated, all kinds of person were gambling jubilantly.
All kinds of people except monks.
None.

The gambling established miraculously disappeard a moment ago, and now it miraculously reappeared.
How could it be?
Who could explain this?

END OF CHAPTER 21

[littleli]

Chapter 22 – Seemingly Real, Seemingly Imaginary


One

This gambling establishment was brilliantly illuminated, each gambling table was fully crammed. This was the gambling establishment’s liveliest time. Every gambling establishment in the world was like this.

But when Tian SiSi saw this situation, she was ten times more startled than when she saw this room full of monks just a moment ago.
She was stunned for a very long time before she turned around.

Qin Ge stood behind her with open mouth, big staring eyes, and the face expression of someone who had just been kicked in he stomach.

Tian SiSi licked her dry lips and said, “What do you see?”

Qin Ge said, “One ......crowded gambling establishment.”

Tian SiSi said, “You really see that?”

Qin Ge show a forced smile and said, “Who knows whether it is real or not? Maybe only the ghost knows.”

Tian SiSi wanted to speak further when she saw a person walked to them with a grin.
The person who put on a very elegant air carried a snuffbox. His stature was big, with heavy beard, when you saw how he walk, his wugong was not weak.

Tian SiSi did not wait for him to arrive, she first greeted him and said, “How long has this gambling establishment opened?”

This person seemed to regard her question as strange, after looking at her several times he said with a smile, “This gambling establishment was opened for business maybe since you were still a child.”

Tian SiSi felt alarm in her heart and said with trepidation, “Ever since this gambling establishment was open for business, you have been here?”

This person said with a smile, “I welcomed the first visitor of this gambling establishment.”

Tian SiSi said, “You were here all the time?”

This person, “Except when I slept.”

Tian SiSi said, “This afternoon?”

This person, “I had planned on having a nap in the afternoon, but there were several friends coming today, so I was with them today.”

Tian SiSi clenched both of her fists and suddenly turned around, “You ......You ......Did you hear him?”

Qin Ge’s complexion had also turned white, saying sternly, “You better say the truth!”

This person’s complexion changed color and said, “Why wouldn’t I say the truth?”

Tian SiSi said, “Actually who are you?”

This person, “I am surnamed Jin (gold) ......”

Tian SiSi said, “Surnamed Jin? How are you related to the golden beard?”

This person traced his beard and said with a smile, “I am precisely the golden beard.”

Tian SiSi really could not bear this and screamed, “You are not the golden beard, no!”

This person appeared startled and said, “Who am I if I am not the golden beard?”

Tian SiSi said, “No matter who you are, you are not the golden beard!”

By this time, there were some people who had circled them.
Tian SiSi had not looked clearly who they were, she only saw grinning faces, ugly smiles, and strange feelings.

This person was also smiling and said suddenly, “How does the girl know that I am not the golden beard?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because I recognize the golden beard, he does not have any beard at all.”

This person suddenly laughed loudly and pointed at her, “This girl said that the golden beard does not have any beard. “

All the people surrounding them laughed loudly, as if they had just heard some good jokes.
“How can the golden beard not have any beard?”
“If he does not have any beard, how can he be called the golden beard?”
The laughter was coarse and grating.

Tian SiSi were so anxious that she felt she was going insane with rage very soon. Exhausting her whole body strength, she called out loudly, “Not only the golden beard does not have any beard, but he has also become a monk.”

When she said this, everybody laughed aloud, laughed so hard that they had to bend their waists to gasp for breath. If the golden beard had become a monk, probably everybody had also become a monk.

“If this girl has not mistakenly identify a person, maybe she must have suffered a heat-stroke that caused her head to be dizzy!”

Tian SiSi jumped and said, “I am not confused nor have I made a mistake, I saw that with my own eyes.”

That person with a beard said with a smile, “What did you see?”

Tian SiSi said, “I saw the golden beard became a monk.”

Someone said, “Why did he want to become a monk?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because someone compelled him.”

The person with a beard said, “Who was compelling him?”

Tian SiSi said, “......A monk.”

The laughter grew louder and louder, this grating sound caused her headache to grow too. The strange matters that she encountered today seemed to be a bunch of lies too, that she could no longer distinguish clearly.

Suddenly someone said, “You were saying a monk?”

This voice was slow and calm. It was loud but not yelled, even among the boisterous laughters everyone could hear his words clearly, like he was speaking directly to their ears. Even a simple person could see that this person surely had strong internal cultivation.

The people surrounding them immediately dispersed very quickly as if they had prior agreement. Then they could see that the speaker was unexpectedly also a monk.

[littleli]

Chapter 22 – Seemingly Real, Seemingly Imaginary


Two

This monk was withered, diminutive, emaciated, looking like he had just recovered from a major illness, he was almost shorter than other people by a head.
But whoever saw him would not have shown even the slightest contempt of him.

This was not because his eyes were particularly sharp, nor because of two dignified, calm middle-aged monks standing behind him. Also not because these monks were wearing very magnificent and expensive robes, or that the string of rosary in his hand was dazzling with golden light.

Not for any particular reason, whoever had seen him would give him respect.
Tian SiSi was not an exception.
Although she had not met this monk, nor did she know who this monk was, but she felt that he must surely be an eminent enlightened monk.
An eminent monk was like a famour writer, you paid attention to him wherever you were.

What was strange was that nobody saw them a moment ago, this room did not have any monk before. Nobody saw where they had come from.

Tian SiSi blinked and said, “You were asking me a moment ago?”

The senior monk nodded and said, “Female benefactor has mentioned about a monk a moment ago?”

Tian SiSi said, “Yes.”

The senior monk said, “What type of monk was that?”

Tian SiSi hesitatingly said, “That monk had a round face, maybe with a dimple.”

The senior monk said, “He was old?”

Tian SiSi said, “Not very old, but he looked very important.”

The senior monk said, “A taoist priest was also with him?”

Tian SiSi said, “Not only a taoist priest, but also a scholar.”

The senior monk said, “Where are they now?”

Tian SiSi said, “I have not seen the scholar and the taoist priest, but that monk ......”
She gave a long sigh and then said, “That monk has died!”

That senior monk did not show any change in his expression, but suddenly “crack”, the chair he was sitting unexpectedly disintegrated!
This senior monk actually still showed the same sitting posture without moving.
Everyone gulped secretly, no one dared to laugh.

After a very long time, this senior monk slowly said, “Where did he die?”

Tian SiSi pointed toward the leafed door behind her.
As quickly as her finger pointed it out, the two middle-aged monks behind the senior monk had rushed across quickly. With a whooshing sound, the clothes of many people were blown away, some hats actually flew away.

Tian SiSi stole a secret look at Qin Ge.
Qin Ge’s complexion was also very serious, the red silk handkerchief seemed to be drenched in sweat.

That two middle-aged monks walked in from the door while carrying that monk's corpse.
Although they tried to stay calm, but their faces were filled with anger.

The senior monk only took a look once, dangled his head, put both palms together, and chanted a low voice of prayer. When the eyes opened again, Tian SiSi suddenly felt as if they flashed outward with piercing glances.

The senior monk suddenly arrived in front of her, and said, “What is the female benefactor’s name?”

Tian SiSi gently coughed twice and said, “I am surnamed Tian, called Tian SiSi.”

The senior monk calmly looked over her before shifting his vision at Qin Ge and said, “This benefactor?”

Qin Ge said, “The lowly one is Qin Ge.”

The senior monk said, “Qin for dynasty? Ge for that generous sorrowful song?”

Qin Ge said, “Precisely.”

The senior monk nodded gently, suddenly his blue veins sticked out on his sickly face.
But his voice was very calm as he said, “Good, good wugong, fine skills, you really live up to your reputation.”

Tian SiSi could not bear calling out, “He did not kill this monk, you must not make that mistake.”

The senior monk said, “If he did not commit murder, would it be you?”

Tian SiSi said, “How could it be me, when I went in, he had already died.”

The senior monk said, “Going in where?”

Tian SiSi said, “Inside that room.”

The senior monk said, “At that time benefactor Qin was already in room?”

Tian SiSi said, “When I went in, he was not there. He went in later.”

That bearded man suddenly said, “That is my private room, there is no other way of entry, how did Hero Qin went inside since none of us knew?”

Tian SiSi said, “He did not go in from here.”

The senior monk said, “This benefactor just said a moment ago that the room had no other entrance.”

Tian SiSi said, “He ......He was underground.”
She felt that people would not believe this answer, therefore she immediately explained, “This afternoon when we came, this monk had not died, but while speaking with us, he suddenly fell into a tunnel below.”

The senior monk said, “Then?”

Tian SiSi said, “Later Qin Ge had fallen as well. There was no one else in this room, all the monks had left, therefore I went in to find them, only to find that this monk had died inside. But when I went to get back outside, this door had been locked from outside.”

She spoke in one breath quickly, only to find these other people were staring with big eyes at her.
Everyone seemed to be unable to smile.

Only that senior monk did not show any mirth and said with a lower voice, “Miss came here this afternoon?”

Tian SiSi said, “At that time it was just about noon, maybe one and a half hour ago.”

The senior monk said, “There were people in this room?”

Tian SiSi said, “Right.”

The senior monk said, “These people?”

Tian SiSi said, “No. It was a houseful of monks, including the golden beard.”

That bearded man could not bear to smile and interrupted, “I am never a monk, everybody here can attest to that.”

The senior monk said, “Can anyone provide the proof for Miss? That houseful of monks?”

Tian SiSi said, “All ......All had left.”

The senior monk said, “Gone where?”

Tian SiSi said, “I do not know.”

The senior monk said, “After they left, was there anyone here?”

Tian SiSi said, “No, no one!”
Before saying this, she found that some people were smiling secretly.
After saying this, some people was smiling and laughing.

The senior monk’s vision flashed, looking around he said, “Where were you all this afternoon?”

Several dozens of people cried together, “Here!”

The senior monk said, “When did you come?”

Some people said, “In the afternoon.”
Also someone said, “Yesterday evening.”

The senior monk said, “Did anyone leave?”

Everybody said, “No one, absolutely no one did.”
When the gamblers were betting happily, even if you were using the whip to chase him away, you still would not be able to get him to leave.

Tian SiSi was so mad she felt she would go crazy, she screamed, “They are talking nonsense! There was no one here this afternoon— these persons were not here.”

The senior monk looked at her coldly and said, “There are 70-80 benefactors here, and they are all talking nonsense, only you have not talked nonsense.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why do I want to talk nonsense?”

The senior monk said, “Do you know the monk who is dead?”

Tian SiSi said, “I do not know.”

The senior monk’s eyes were filled with grief and indignation and said, “His religious name is Wu Ming (nameless), he is my younger brother.”

That bearded man suddenly blurted out, “Is it possible that he is the hero monk, meddlesome monk, Shao Lin’s Master Wu Ming?”

The senior monk nodded, “Since he is a monk, why also be a hero? Since nameless, why also be meddlesome? If he does not enter hell, who will enter it?”

The heavily bearded man changed countenance and said, “Then, master you ......”

The senior monk said, “I am Master Wu Se, from Shao Lin.”

When he said his name, suddenly nobody spoke or smiled.
Any people in jiang-hu knew the names of Shaolin Temple’s two protectors.

Tian SiSi was getting very angry, was flying into rage just now. But at present, she could not help but stay quiet.

Because she suddenly felt an ice-cold chill in the air, as if she was engulfed in freezing water which were turning into ice.

Whether this place was a gambling establishment or a temple was fine. Whether that person was the golden beard or not was also fine. It was not a big problem.
But if someone had killed a Shaolin Temple's disciple, had killed the famous hero monk in jiang-hu, that was a totally different proposition.

At that moment, Tian SiSi suddenly realized that this strange matter was a carefully well-laid evil plot. This plot was not only fearful, it could yield really awful conclusion.
She was thrust into this obviously awful plot with Qin Ge, it would not be easy to extract themselves out of this mess.
She now truly understood how fearful it was to be treated unjustly by other people.

Everyone was all starting at her, their glances were completely different from a moment ago.
A moment ago, everyone was treating her as a girl who acted and lied like a madman, that was humorous. But presently, they were looking at her like she was a dead person.

“Why did I want to lie?”

“You must certainly have lied, because you could not admit guilt to the killing of Master Wu Ming.”

Tian SiSi said in a trembling voice, “I have no hatred or enmity with you all. Why do you keep accusing me?”

The heavily bearded man cast a cold sidelong glance at her, slowly receeding from her. Other people also went backward, as if she were the plague, they could not afford to be stained by her.

Tian SiSi rushed forward and seized a person’s front clothes and said, “I know that you are an honest and good person, why don't you tell them, that you were simply not here this afternoon, that no one was here at that time!”

All of her life she had never asked anything from anyone, but in this moment she had entreated earnestly.

Although this person’s face had turned white, he actually stuck to what he said and coldly said, “If I were not here this afternoon, how could I have lost 500 taels?”

Tian SiSi’s eyes became clearly red, she could not resist slapping his face.
This person traced his face, but did not show anger or retaliation.
Nobody could retaliate against a dead person.

That senior monk might have become enlivened at that time, but instead he closed his eyes and chanted the prayer for Master Wu Ming.
He certainly did not need to worry.
These two persons could not escape anywhere.

Tian SiSi ran to him and said loudly, “Fine, let me ask you one thing then, if I have no enmity with him, I do not even know his name, why should I kill him?”

Master Wu Se was silent for a very long time and said slowly, “It is said that he had entered Shan Liu (mountain flow).”

Shan Liu?

Tian SiSi said, “If he had entered Shan Liu, therefore I must have killed him?”

Master Wu Se sighed, “People who wanted to kill him are not just you, as soon as one enters Shan Liu, that is no different than giving up himself into hell.”

Tian SiSi jumped and said loudly, “There goes your imagination, I do not even know what Shan Lu is all about.“

Master Wu Se sank his face and said, “In front of old monk, nobody dares to be so impolite.”

Tian SiSi said, “It is you who is unreasonable, not me. If I had wanted to kill him, I still would not have had the capability.“

Qin Ge had just stood there like a statue, but at this moment he heaved a heavy sigh and suddenly said, “It is useless.”

Tian SiSi said, “What is useless?”

Qin Ge said, “Whatever you say is useless.”

Tian SiSi said, “But I ......”

Qin Ge said, “Although you do not have the capability to kill him, I have.”

Tian SiSi said, “But you have not killed him.”

Qin Ge said, “Besides you, who can prove that I have not killed him?”

Tian SiSi was stunned.

Qin Ge laughed wildly suddenly and said, “I have about 500 knife cuts big and small, why should I care about this additional stab in the back.”

Master Wu Se lowered his voice, “The old monk has long heard that benefactor Qin is a dauntless man ......”

Qin Ge laughed, “Right, the real man should show why he is a real man, if you insist that I must have killed him, why not act as if I had killed him.”

Master Wu Se said, “Good, such being the case, I am asking the benefactor to return to Shao Lin with me.”

Qin Ge said, “If we are going, let us go, to Shaolin Temple no matter how difficult and dangerous is the situation, I am surnamed Qin will also go with you.”

Tian SiSi held back his sleeves and said, “You ......Why should you return to Shaolin Temple with him?”

Qin Ge smiled, “To do what they want.”

Tian SiSi clenched her teeth and said, “They want your life.”

Qin Ge said, “They can pluck my life.”

Tian SiSi said, “You should not give up your life so easily, why should you yield to the person in this unclear manner?”

That dignified middle age monk suddenly injected, “Miss must not forget, revenge for a murdered person is not only a natural justice, it is also the law of the land.”

Tian SiSi said, “Have you forgotten that you are a Buddhist, how can you keep on proclaiming anger and revenge, in Buddhism a person should not take someone’s life recklessly, haven’t your master taught you this?”

The middle-aged monk coldly said, “Miss, you have formidable tongue.”

Tian SiSi said, “This strange monk's eyes are too flawed, they cannot distinguish clearly between the good person and dishonest people.”

The middle-aged monk lowered his face and said sternly, “Although the Buddhist's tongue is flawed, but ......”

Master Wu Se roared suddenly, “Stop talking! You have led a pious life of many years, how can you still enter into a useless argument?”

The middle-aged monk put together his palms, bowed and said, “The disciple admits guilt.”

By now, everyone had drawn two conclusions.
Shaolin Temple’s discipline was really stern, but it would not tolerate anybody committing crime against them.
Qin Ge was really a dauntless man.
But how would this matter be concluded? Nobody knew.

Master Wu Se lowered his voice, “Because the old monk does not want to take life recklessly like in the buddhist commandment, therefore this time I must bring back benefactor Qin.”

Tian SiSi said, “What will you do after bringing him back?”

Master Wu Se said, “To present him to the legal official trial.”

Tian SiSi said, “He is not a Shao Lin’s disciple, how can you punish him by legal official trial?”

Master Wu Se said, “The disciple is murdered, this authorizes the use of the legal official trial.”

Tian SiSi said, “Who saw him murder your Shaolin Temple monk?”

Master Wu Se said, “The fact is very clear, why should we need a personal witness.”

Tian SiSi coldly said, “What is called the clear fact? Did someone see him murder the meddlesome monk, who could prove that he was the instigator?”

Master Wu Se said, “Only both of you have the time and the opportunity.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Master Wu Se said, “At that time only both of you were with him.”

Tian SiSi said, “Where were you at that time?”

Master Wu Se said, “I was on the way.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since you were on the way, how would you know what happened here? How did you know that no one else had gone in into that room?”

Master Wu Se’s face showed anger and said, “How can Miss quibble about this?”

Tian SiSi coldly said, “It is the senior monk who quibbles, not me.”

Master Wu Se scolded, “You have a very sharp tongue, little woman. My arguments are not as good, but I can still conquer the evil.”

He seemed to have forgotten the words he said to his apprentice a moment ago.
That middle-aged monk casts down his eyes, not even daring to look toward him.

Tian SiSi sneered, “So only the senior monk can act rashly and become angry, the lesser monk cannot ......”

Master Wu Se said sternly, “Stop talking! If some people dare again to be unreasonable, do not blame the old monk if he becomes heartless.”

Tian SiSi said, “You want to resort to violence? Good!”
She turned around to pat Qin Ge’s shoulder and said, “He wants to resort to violence, you have heard him?”

Qin Ge said, “Yes.”

Tian SiSi said, “Are you afraid?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “I can only fight originally, I cannot debate.”

Tian SiSi clapped and said with a smile, “This is right, a dauntless man would rather have his head broken rather than being treated unjustly, otherwise he cannot be called a dauntless man, he can only be called the bean curd.”

Qin Ge said, “I am listening to you.”

Qin Ge had not finished the words before he attacked. He hit the face of that middle-aged monk on the left. He attacked very quickly, but that middle-aged monk was actually not a weak one, he lowered his body like sitting on a horse, raised his left hand to block and then swung an upper-cut with his right fist.

Shaolin Temple became the world-famous place for the fist styles, this style was precisely the essence of Shao Lin’s “fu-hou-luo-han-quan (crouching tiger Luo Han fists)”.

Who knew that Qin Ge would not evade or dodge this fist and met this tough fist head-on.
“Thud”, that middle-aged monk's fist had hit his stomach.
People watching this called out in alarm, as they were in dismay that such a bright powerful person like Qin Ge could be hit so easily by that person.
Although some people called out in alarm, the person under the attack never made any noise.
When that middle-aged monk hit with his fists on his stomach, it was as if he had hit a big stone, he was just stunned ......

Master Wu Se yelled, “Careful.”
Even before that yell this middle-aged monk's fist was already covered by Qin Ge.
Then, Qin Ge’s fist had also landed on his stomach.

This middle-aged monk did not suffer this as well as Qin Ge, he staggered backward, both of his hands covered his stomach, sweat beads as large as soybeans flowed down his face as he could no longer stand up straight.

Tian SiSi relaxed at last and said with a smile, “What did you use that time?”

Qin Ge said, “This is called letting oneself be attacked.”

Tian SiSi said, “Letting oneself be attacked is also a skill?”

Qin Ge said, “You may not understand this, but you should not learn how to hit a person first, instead you should learn how to be attacked, that way I can suffer not only the fist attacks but also the knife stabs.”

He indeed had been stabbed, no one could deny that.
He had endured 472 knive stabs at least.

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “Right, you hit him with a fist, he has also hit you with a fist, both sides did not get any advantage, but it is only a pity that he did not come up as well as you under the attack.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “You have finally understood this truth.”

Master Wu Se with a pale face had walked slowly forward, he sneered, “Good, the old monk wants to see how much you can suffer.”

Qin Ge replied, “You also want to try?”

Master Wu Se said, “Please!”

Qin Ge said, “Good!”

His fist went into attack immediately, with the same style as in a moment ago.
Master Wu Se lowered his body as if sitting on a horse, the left hand went up to block, the right hand made the counter-attack.
This move was entirely alike to the one used by the middle-aged monk a moment ago.

But when the expert showed his hand, the quality of the goods looked entirely different.
Although Master Wu Se's stature and fist were all much smaller than the middle-aged monk, but this heavenly feet movement and strong embodiment, was strong enough to blast even a big chunk of wood into a pulp.

Who knew that unexpectedly Qin Ge decided not to be attacked this time.
He leapt up high over the head of Master Wu Se gently and swiftly, and pointed a couple of finger like a sword at the accupoint of Master Wu Se’s head “the protrusion of the occipital bone accupoint”.
Not only this move was steep and superb, the way he attacked was also very quick and quite different from the style he used a moment ago.

Master Wu Se gave a low exclamation, “Good!”
As he exclaimed, he laid back his body and with a “ding dong” sound, the iron rosary had swung into Qin Ge.

Immediately Qin Ge’s legs kicked backward and his body suddenly slid sideways three feet, and using a person’s shoulder had flown again into the sky.

Who knew that Master Wu Se's iron rosary had also followed him, swirling menacingly like the wind of a golden sabre.

Even if Qin Ge could fly quickly, he would still be slower than the wind of the flying iron rosary. Even if he could really suffer the stings of this iron rosary on his body – wherever it hit him on the body would not feel any good.

Tian SiSi had called out in alarm, but who knew that at this moment, suddenly “crack” the roof had opened up a big hole. A hand had extended from the hole and grabbed suddenly that string of rosary.

Master Wu Se shouted angrily, “Who is it?”

Someone on the roof said with a smile, “A person who must knock on the monk’s head, in particular a meddlesome monk.”

Tian SiSi called out loudly, “Do not let him leave, perhaps he is the killer of Master Wu Ming.”

She really did not need to call out, because immediately Master Wu Se shed his robe and soared with “a solitary crane to the heaven” move, with hands extended like pulling up the onions, he had flown like a crane to the big hole on the roof.

In that same instant, several cold stars flew in from the roof, “ding! dang! dong!” A succession of menacing sounds ensued and all the lights in the room had been extinguished.

In the darkness the crowd grew loud and confused.

Tian SiSi luckily had already estimated where Qin Ge would land, she ran over immediately and said in a low voice, “Where are you?”

A hand extended and gripped her hand.

Tian SiSi said, “We should not wait for them to settle this muddled accusation, let us leave.”

Qin Ge said, “If we leave now, wouldn’t it be like admitting to the murder?”

Tian SiSi said, “If you do not leave, others will still accuse you of murder.”

Qin Ge sighed and said, “Fine, let us go.”

The door was open.
Outside the door the stars lighted up the sky.

Tian SiSi pulled Qin Ge to run, suddenly someone ahead of them blocked the entrance, his hand held a sharp sabre, this heavily bearded face shouted out, “These two people wanted to escape, block them quickly!”

While shouting, his sabre moved toward Qin Ge.
Qin Ge sneered and quickly ran to him, welcoming the swinging sabre.

If anything, he did not fear the sabre.
No matter how quick was the sabre.

Instead that person was completely flustered, the sabre had not chopped down, this sabre in his hand had been deprived of by Qin Ge.

END OF CHAPTER 22

[littleli]

Chapter 23 - Masters

One

Immediately only the sabre’s flash was seen.
The bright sabre flashed forward toward that heavily bearded man’s face.

The heavily bearded man could only feel that his face was cool, as afraid as he was he could not help putting out his hand to trace his face, the chin was already smoothly shaven.
Goodbye to the black silk things dancing in the air at present, which was originally his beard.
Very quick sabre, very wonderful sabre.

The heavily bearded man leg’s went soft all of a sudden and he dropped down to the ground.

Tian SiSi’s laughter was heard outside the door saying, “Didn’t I say that the golden beard actually did not have any beard? Right?”

Qin Ge laughed and said, “He did not have any beard at all.”

Two

Now there was finally no question about the beard’s existence.
But what about the monk?
Actually who killed the monk?

Was it the person that extended his hand from the roof?
If he had killed the monk, why did he have to rescue Qin Ge?
Who was he?

It looked like these questions would not be solved very quickly nor very easily.

***

Star lights all over the sky.

Tian SiSi stopped, gasping for breath.
Here they finally could no longer see the monk or the bearded person.

Tian SiSi looked at Qin Ge’s face and said with a smile, “You have not kept the beard luckily, your luck is really good.”

Qin Ge gave a forced smile, “My luck is also good?”

Tian SiSi said, “If you have kept the beard, I will extract them one by one down to their roots.”
She frowned suddenly and said, “Did you recognize that bearded person?”

Qin Ge said, “Not only have I not recognize him, I have never seen him before in my life.”

Tian SiSi said, “I have never seen him either, the people I have seen before, probably at the most only have half of his beard.”

Qin Ge looked at the sabre in his hand and said with a smile, “This is luckily a very quick sabre, otherwise it was really not easy to shave all of his beard.”

Tian SiSi had also smiled and said, “I did not expect your sabre skill to be that good.”

Qin Ge said, “If a person had suffered 472 sabre cuts, his sabre skill should not be too bad.”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “But that senior monk was really so formidable, his skin was wrinkled like a monkey, but he was unexpectedly so difficult to cope with.”

Qin Ge said, “In Shaolin Temple, there are several thousand monks that are none so easy to cope with, moreover among these thousand monks, he was the most difficult to cope with.”

Tian SiSi said, “He is really the Shao Lin’s number one master?”

Qin Ge said, “If not the number one, he is not far from it.”

Tian SiSi sighed, “No wonder you were not his match.”

Qin Ge stared, “Who said I was not his match?”

Tian SiSi curled her lips and said, “If it had not been for someone who had rescued you, you would have been already ......”

Qin Ge said sharply, “That did not count.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because he had his weapon, I was actually empty-handed, I was already at a disadvantaged position.”

Tian SiSi said, “He was just using his string of rosary.”

Qin Ge said, “That rosary is his weapon, when a Buddhist monk walk outside, he would feel embarrassed carrying a sword around. Especially with his status, he could only take this kind of weapon with him.”

Tian SiSi blinked and said, “If he had been also empty-handed? Could you have defeated him?”

Qin Ge smiled and said, “At least I would not have been defeated.”

Tian SiSi said, “Shao Lin Pai has been the fundamental school in the martial arts world for several hundred years, and no other school has the same kind of reputation. Since your wugong is at the same level as the Shao Lin’s number one master, wouldn’t your skill be already unmatched in this world?”

Qin Ge said, “Heh heh! Ha ha!”

Tian SiSi said, “What is the meaning of heh heh ha ha?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Meaning, I am not unmatched in the world.”

Tian SiSi had also smiled and said, “Finally you are very honest.”

Qin Ge sighed, “A chivalrous person has no alternative but to be honest.”

Tian SiSi said, “According to you, there are several people in the world whose wugong is higher than you?”

Qin Ge thought and said, “Not too many.”

Tian SiSi said, “What do you mean?”

Qin Ge said, “There are not that many people.”

Tian SiSi said, “Actually there are several?”

Qin Ge thought and said, “I heard that in the East Sea’s Bi Luo Dao (blue spiral island), the city leader of Ruo Cui Cheng (light green jade city), has quick sword moves, unparalleled in the world.”

Tian SiSi said, “Is he the first under heaven?”

Qin Ge said, “No.”

Tian SiSi said, “Who is the first under heaven then?”

Qin Ge said, “Little Li’s flying dagger.”

Saying these four words, his face showed all the respect and admiration of him.
Anyone who mentioned “Little Li’s flying dagger” had no alternative but to admire him.
Anyone who did not admire him already had their last words.

Tian SiSi was also unable to restrain her admiration and said, “Are you saying Li XunHoan, Little Li Tanhua?”

Qin Ge sighed, “Who else?”

Tian SiSi asked, “I heard that he had live secluded for a long time already, is he still in this world?”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly, this kind of person will live forever.”
He said it correctly.
A person could live forever, because their lives had been planted in the people’s hearts forever.

Tian SiSi said, “Let us not consider the people who have lived secluded, but only the people who are still active in jiang-hu.”

Qin Ge said, “That would not be that many.”
He thought and then said, “Shao Lin’s leader Master Wu Gen has deep internal cultivation, nobody knows how deep.”

Tian SiSi said, “You have fought with him?”

Qin Ge said, “No, I do not dare to.”

Tian SiSi sweetly said, “Fine, he is one.”

Qin Ge said, “There are also Wudang’s Taoist Fei, Bashan’s swordsman Taoist Gu, Da-mo-shen-long (the desert’s divine dragon) ......I don’t want to fight with them.”

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “Only them?”

Qin Ge said, “In addition, at least one more.”

Tian SiSi said, “Who?”

Qin Ge said, “The person who rescued me a moment ago.”

Tian SiSi said, “You have not even seen that person, how should you know how high is his wugong?”

Qin Ge said, “When he was on the roof, he could extend his hand through the roof and caught Wu Se’s rosary just at the right time, I cannot do that.”

Tian SiSi also had no alternative but to acknowledge, “That was really great.”

Qin Ge said, “One more thing.”

Tian SiSi said, “Extinguishing the lights?”

Qin Ge said, “Right, such hidden weapon expertise was really excellent.”

Tian SiSi said, “You think he is the murderer of Wu Ming?”

Qin Ge said, “I only know that I did not kill that monk.”

Tian SiSi said, “These people have no hatred nor enmity with us, we have never seen them before, why should they treat us unjustly like that?”

Qin Ge coldly said, “Perhaps they just want to divert the blame onto others.”

Tian SiSi frowned and said, “Diverting the blame onto others?”

Qin Ge said, “You don’t get that?”

Tian SiSi said, “I certainly do, you are saying that they wanted Master Wu Ming dead, but they were afraid that Shao Lin Pai would take revenge, therefore they had devised this method to divert the blame to you.”

Qin Ge said, “Exactly.”

Tian SiSi said, “'But who are they? Why did they want Master Wu Ming dead?”

Qin Ge said, “Do you know the meaning of Shao Lin Pai?”

Tian SiSi said, “I know!”
She should know.
For several hundred years, the three words “Shao Lin faction” had embedded into people’s minds as the true fundamental faction of martial arts world.
Therefore, unless you were not normal, nobody would be willing to affront them.

Qin Ge said, “Do you know the status of Master Wu Ming in Shaolin Temple?”

Tian SiSi said, “His status cannot be a low one.”

Qin Ge sighed and said, “Not low?”

Tian SiSi said, “I heard besides the abbot leader, who hold the highest status in Shaolin Temple, there are also the two law protectors.”

Qin Ge said, “Strictly speaking, there are not just two law protectors, but four.”

Tian SiSi said, “Actually is it two or four?”

Qin Ge said, “The most correct view is two big protectors and two small ones.”

Tian SiSi had smiled and said, “I did not expect that monks are just like officials, they are divided into many social classes.”

Qin Ge said, “But people should have different social classes.”

Tian SiSi said, “But I thought that everyone should all be equal, otherwise it is unfair.”

Qin Ge said, “Fine, let me ask you, if a person is stupid or lazy, who does nothing except eat during the day and sleep at night, what will he turn out to be?”

Tian SiSi said, “A beggar.”

Qin Ge said, “Also if another person, diligent and thrifty, also intelligent, who is willing to progress, will he beg for food?”

Tian SiSi said, “Certainly not.”

Qin Ge said, “Why do some people beg for food then? Or that some people live very comfortably?”

Tian SiSi said, “Because some people are stupid, some people are intelligent, diligent, some people are lazy.”

Qin Ge said, “Is this very fair?”

Tian SiSi felt relaxed and said, “Very fair.”

Qin Ge said, “So, should people have different social classes?”

Tian SiSi said, “Yes.”

Qin Ge said, “When all people are standing at one place, they are all equal. Then, it depends on whether you are willing to crawl upward or you just stand there coolly enjoying the wind. Whether some people crawl and sweat profusely or just waiting there, that would bring inequality, if that is called unfair, then the truth is unfair.”

He then slowly said, “If all the people can understand this truth, there will be less hatred and pain in the world.”

Tian SiSi was staring at him, sighed gently, “I am suddenly discovering that the way you speak feels more and more like someone I know.”

Qin Ge said, “Who?”

Tian SiSi shook her head, sighed and said, “You do not know him, he ......”
She bit her lips, not saying anything except to herself, “Where has that big-headed ghost disappeared? Will I be able to see him again?”

Qin Ge suddenly said, “Where were we a moment ago?”

Tian SiSi reddened and said with a smile, “We were discussing the two big and two small of Shaolin Temple’s law protectors.”

Qin Ge said, “Two big law protectors means that these two people are older, with very profound skills, therefore unless there was an emergency, they would not tackle the matters in the world.”

Tian SiSi said, “Two small law protectors?”

Qin Ge said, “These two law protectors are not so old but they are already mature, they are really the Shaolin Temple’s real stewards. Therefore these two people are not only extremely astute, their wugong skills are certainly also very high.”

Tian SiSi said, “That means the two small law protectors are actually not small at all.”

Qin Ge nodded and said, “That monk Wu Ming was originally one of the Shaolin Temple's law protectors, he was also the current abbot leader’s younger fellow.”

Tian SiSi said, “He did not seem to have such a decorated background.”

Qin Ge said, “For several hundred years, there is only one kind of people who dares to kill Shao Lin’s law protectors.”

Tian SiSi said, “What kind of people?”

Qin Ge said, “Insane ones.”

Tian SiSi laughed inevitably, “Do you think these people were all insane?”

Qin Ge said, “There two kinds of insane people actually.”

Tian SiSi said, “What two kinds?”

Qin Ge said, “One kind is the one that has gone crazy because of himself, the other kind is the one that has gone crazy because he was compelled by others.”

Tian SiSi’s eyes rotated and said, “You think that they have been compelled to insanity by Wu Ming.”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why did the monk Wu Ming have to compel them?”

Qin Ge said, “Because this monk liked to be meddlesome.”

Tian SiSi said, “Since he was the Shaolin Temple's law protector, why did he have to be meddlesome?”

END OF CHAPTER 23

[littleli]

Chapter 24 - Who are the Masters?


One

Qin Ge said, “I only said that he was originally the Shaolin Temple's law protector.”

Tian SiSi said, “Originally, but not now?”

Qin Ge said, “Not since 6-7 years ago.”

Tian SiSi said, “Was he forced to resign?”

Qin Ge said, “No, he just resigned.”

Tian SiSi said, “After climbing up with great difficulty to reach that high status, why did he have to leave?°

Qin Ge said, “Because Shaolin Temple was too cold, whereas his heart was actually too hot.”

Tian SiSi said, “The Buddhist cannot be too warm-hearted?”

Qin Ge said, “Therefore he would rather go to hell.”

Tian SiSi also sighed and said, “I only understand now what that meant.”

Qin Ge said, “Oh?”

Tian SiSi said, “A person that goes to hell is not being forced by others, he goes willingly there to save other people.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “You can understand that, you have already grown up a lot.”

Tian SiSi pouted her mouth and said, “I am already a grown-up.”

Qin Ge said, “You were originally a young lady, but now you are a grown-up.”

Tian SiSi had not said anything else.
Because she had realized that after these days, she had really grown up a lot— at least several years older.

She understood the difference between “a young lady” and “a grown-up”.
This was something that a young lady would have never understood.

After a very long time, she also asked suddenly, “That monk said something really strange a moment ago, did you understand him?”

Qin Ge said, “The senior monk said many strange things, 7-8 out of 10 were strange.”

Tian SiSi said, “But this was something really different.”

Qin Ge said, “Which sentence?”

Tian SiSi said, “It was actually just two words.”

Qin Ge said, “Two words?”

Tian SiSi said, “Shan Liu.”

As soon as he heard these two words, Qin Ge’s expression really became a little different.

Tian SiSi said, “That senior monk said the monk Wu Mink should go to hell, because he entered Shan Liu, did you hear that?”

Qin Ge nodded.

Tian SiSi said, “What is the meaning of Shan Liu?”

Qin Ge was silent for a very long time and then slowly said, “Shan Liu is a group of people.”

Tian SiSi said, “A group of people?”

Qin Ge said, “A group of friends, their interest is the same, therefore they unify together, these two words make up for their code name 'Shan Liu.’“

Tian SiSi said, “What is their interest?”

Qin Ge said, “Going to hell.”

Tian SiSi, “They don’t want people to go to hell?”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “So to them, the gambling establishment is like hell, they must rescue these people who were perishing inside, therefore they must alter the gambling establishment into a temple?”

Qin Ge said, “At least the temple is not hell, it does not have burning places to burn the dead people.”

Tian SiSi said, “But to the people who open the gambling establishment, they would certainly hate him to the bone so much that they want the bones of a monk instead.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “Therefore these talented people wanted his life.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “I have heard of many things in jiang-hu, why have I never heard of ‘Shan Liu’?”

Qin Ge said, “Because that is originally a very secret organization.”

Tian SiSi said, “What they are doing are not shameful matters, why do they need the secrecy?”

Qin Ge said, “After they did something good, they are not willing to let others know, only then they are doing something truly good.”

Tian SiSi said, “But to do truly good, that is not too easy.”

Qin Ge said, “It is indeed not easy.”

Tian SiSi said, “If you must do good, you will offend a lot of dishonest people.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “The dishonest people are not easy to cope with.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Therefore regardless of what they are trying to do, they must brave many dangers, and when they are not cautious enough, they can be like the monk Wu Ming, who died inexplicably on someone else’s hands.”

Tian SiSi said, “But they clearly know the dangers, right?”

Qin Ge said, “Regardless of the difficulty and many dangers, they do not care about them at all, not even dying.”

Tian SiSi sighed, her eyes shone and said, “I do not know whether I will have the opportunity later to get to know them.“

Qin Ge said, “I am afraid the opportunity will be very limited.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because they are doing this not to make themselves famous or to publicize themselves, even people around them might not know them, so how would you get to know them.”

Tian SiSi said, “You do not know who they are?”

Qin Ge said, “Up until now, I only know Master Wu Ming, if he were not dead already, I think Master Wu Se would not have revealed his identity.”

Tian SiSi said, “Besides him, there would be at least a scholar and a taoist priest.”

Qin Ge nodded and said, “They could certainly be Shan Liu people, but possibly they were not either. If they did not say it themselves, nobody could determine that.”

Tian SiSi hesitatingly said, “Inside this group of people, since it already has the monk, the taoist priest, and a scholar, it possibly has many kinds of strange people.”

Qin Ge said, “Right, I heard that inside Shan Liu, they have many complex people, nothing else in the world is as complex as this organization.”

Tian SiSi said, “How can these people get organized?”

Qin Ge said, “Because they share the same interest, same belief.”

Tian SiSi said, “There is no other reason?”

Qin Ge said, “There is also a person who can organize them.”

Tian SiSi said, “This person must be very great.”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly.”

Tian SiSi eyes flashed and said, “I must find a way to get to know him.”

Qin Ge said, “You can’t.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because nobody knows who he is.”

Tian SiSi glanced at him and said, “Therefore, anybody is possibly him..”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi was staring at him and said, “You can also possibly be him.”

Qin Ge had smiled and said, “If I were him, I would certainly tell you.”

Tian SiSi said, “Really?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “You should not forget, we are good friends.”

Tian SiSi sighed and said, “It is a pity that you are not.”

Qin Ge said, “I am not a Shan Liu person, because I am not qualified.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why are you not qualified?”

Qin Ge said, “To enter Shan Liu, one must have complete self-devotion, must have the spirit to go to hell, and willing to go through the fire or water and not even balk at ten thousand deaths!”

Tian SiSi said, “You?”

Qin Ge sighed, “I am no good, I enjoy life too much.”

Tian SiSi sweetly said, “Moreover you are also too famous, wherever you go, people will pay attention to you.”

Qin Ge gave a forced smile and said, “This is precisely my biggest problem.”

Tian SiSi sighed, “They elected you to be the scapegoat, I think because you are just too famous. Wherever you go people will recognize you, Even if you want to run, you still cannot escape.”

Qin Ge sighed, “Fame portends trouble, a mother should teach this to her kids.”

Tian SiSi said, “Now not only the Shao Lin Pai people will look for you, Shan Liu people will try to find you too.”

Qin Ge said, “Shan Liu people are even more fearful than Shao Lin Pai people.”

Tian SiSi said, “As soon as you walk somewhere, they will recognize you as the murderer.”

Qin Ge gave a forced smile.

Tian SiSi looked at him, after a long sigh she dangled her head and said, “I knew that I had made a mistake.”

Qin Ge said, “What mistake?”

Tian SiSi said, “I should not have told you to run a moment ago.”

Qin Ge said, “Indeed I should not.”

Tian SiSi was nipping her lips and said, “But why did you leave with me then?”

Qin Ge smiled and said, “Perhaps I did not leave for you?”

Tian SiSi said, “If not for me, then for who?”

Qin Ge said, “The person who rescued me a moment ago.”

Tian SiSi said, “You know who he is?”

Qin Ge nodded and said, “Besides him, even if all the people in the world asked me, I would not have left.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because I truly admire him in my heart.”

Tian SiSi widened her eyes and said, “I did not know that you have someone you admire.”

Qin Ge said, “Such a person like him, you will admire regardless.”

Tian SiSi said, “What kind of person is he?”

Qin Ge said, “The person who you have no alternative but to admire.”

Tian SiSi said, “Actually who is he?”

Qin Ge smiled, smiled very mysteriously.

Tian SiSi’s eyes flashed and said, “Is it Liu FengGu?”

Qin Ge stayed quiet.

Tian SiSi said, “Is it Yue HuanShan?”

Qin Ge stayed quiet.

Tian SiSi said, “Why didn’t you say something?”

Qin Ge had smiled and said, “Do you know them?”

Tian SiSi said, “I don’t know them now.”

Qin Ge said, “I do not know them too.”

Tian SiSi seemed bewildered and said, “Why don’t you know them?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Maybe because I am very lucky.”

Tian SiSi had stared at him for a while before turning aside, curled her lips and sneered, “I know now the kind of person that you admire.”

Qin Ge said, “Oh?”

Tian SiSi said, “He is someone who is inferior to you, then you can admire him.”
She did not let Qin Ge speak up, instead she injected, “When a man praises another man in front of a woman, that person is actually inferior to him, like ......”

Qin Ge said sharply, “Like when a woman praises another woman in front of a man, that other woman was actually a clown compared to her, right?”

Tian SiSi could not bear smiling, “That is right.”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “If it is like that, you are calling the soul of men by the heart of the concubines.”

Tian SiSi replied quickly, “What is so great about men?”

Qin Ge said, “Men are not so great, but he is willing to sincerely praise another man in front of a woman, to praise a truly great person.”

[littleli]

Chapter 24 - Who are the Masters?

Two

The men were different in a lot of ways than women. But regardless, both men and women were doing fine. Because little differences could actually be a wonderful thing.

If you were a man, it would be best to understand one thing:

If another man praised you in front of you, he did not really admire you fully, but considered you a fool who could be easily deceived, he must have a hidden agenda.
But if he praised you behind your back, then he was really praising you.

The women were actually different.
If you were a woman, you should best understood one thing:

If another woman praised you in front of you or behind your back, that could only mean that she was looking down on you.
Instead if she were scolding you behind your back, you should feel happy.

Some other matters were also equally wonderful.

When a man and a woman were alone together, the one who asked questions was usually the woman. If that happened, men should be happy. Because if a woman was willing to ask men questions, even strange or stupid questions, that meant that at least she did not dislike you. The more trivial was the question, the more she liked you.

But if she never asked you anything, and you had to be the one who entertained her, that meant that you liked her very much, but she did not really have a great interest in you.

If in your company, a woman did not even feel interested in asking you anything, what other interest she would have in you?

This situation happened in nearly every cases without an exception.
Except now.

Tian SiSi was a woman, she did not dislike Qin Ge.
Therefore she was also asking:
“Who do you really admire?”

This question was originally very simple, very easy to reply.
But Qin Ge still would not answer.

Three

Men and women could be found in different places, either in a town or a village.

For a roaming man, the town would have certain advantages: when you had to stay for many evenings, you could go to different places to eat.
That would be something good to have.

But to find a lonely woman late at night at those places, for sure, she could not be a good woman.

But “having something” would always be much better compared to “having nothing”.

Four

Even in the most prosperous town, you could still see many open areas, for some unknown reason, people just did not occupy them.

These places might be prepared for a house, a business place, or something that could thrive well and then afterwards people would wonder why that place had not been occupied before.

Everybody only knew that wherever there was some open spaces, people could go there to herd cows, to raise pigs, to fight, to kill people or even to urinate.

Only when someone’s brain got excited, would he be moved to try to use this open area to make money. To get the place ready to make money was not an easy matter. Not only you had to use your brain, you also had to work really hard to achieve your goal.

This outdoor stall was on a very big open area.

Tian SiSi had asked Qin Ge, “Where are you bringing me to eat?”

Qin Ge said, “To Seven and a half.”

Tian SiSi said, “Seven and a half?”

Qin Ge said, “Seven and a half cents is to pay for the food.”

Tian SiSi said, “That place is called Seven and a half?”

Qin Ge nodded and said with a smile, “That place’s boss is also called seven and a half.”

Tian SiSi said, “How can this person have such a strange name?”

Qin Ge said, “Because when others have a haircut it costs 15 cents, but he only has to pay seven and a half cents.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because he is a bald person.”

Tian SiSi also smiled.

Qin Ge said, “When he was selling in the marketplace, he was already very famous. Afterwards he has opened a beef food stall here, and everything is good. The beef noodles is good, the pig’s feet noodle is also good, they are only sold seven and a half cents per bowl. Afterwards, this business has becomed really famous, the owner also has becomed really famous. So, many people who has come to this place also know this seven and a half person.”

Tian SiSi said, “His business is very good?”

Qin Ge said, “Very good.”

This outdoor food stall business was indeed very good.

Tian SiSi had never seen so many people in one place outside this late at night, and so many different kinds of people.
Several dozens of tables were all occupied by all kinds of people.
Some people rode horses, some people went by carriages to this place, so besides this open area, there were also a lot of stationary carriages and horses.
All different kinds of carriages and horses. Some carriage drivers were waiting, some were wearing very nice clothes.

Tian SiSi really could not understand, since these people had such nice attractive carriages and horses, why should they bother to come to this kind of shoddy outdoor stall, just to eat a great seven and a half cents of beef noodle bowl?

In that big stretch of open area, only a few lanterns hung at the front of the stalls.
The lanterns were already blackened with smoke so they were not very bright, and the place was really too big, so the lighting at most tables were almost non-existent. People’s faces were just too dark to distinguish.

Tian SiSi had waited with Qin Ge at the side for a while, before they had finally found an empty table. Unexpectedly nobody had noticed Qin Ge.

After waiting for some time, a mystifying waiter finally came along and put the cups and chopsticks on the table.

“Want some wine?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Five catties.”

After asking these two questions, this waiter turned around and left, not even bothering to look at their faces.

Tian SiSi was stunned, she could not help saying, “This waiter is very impolite.”

Qin Ge smiled, “We are eating, not looking at the waiter.”

Tian SiSi said, “But he has not asked you what we want to eat?”

Qin Ge said, “He does not need to ask.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because they only provide four side dishes to everyone.”

Tian SiSi knits the brows, “Which four types?”

Qin Ge said, “Beef noodles, salted beef, pig’s feet noodle and red-roasted pig's feet.”

Tian SiSi was stunned and said, “Only these four types?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “These four types are also already enough, if someone does not like the beef, he can eat the pig's feet, if he does not like the pig's feet, he can eat the beef.”

Tian SiSi sighed and smiled reluctantly, “It is really his talent that he can find these four types of dishes to serve.”
Perhaps because this place only served these four dishes, then people thought that this place was something unique.

Qin Ge said, “I know that he is not a talent.”

Tian SiSi said, “Oh?”

Qin Ge said, “But because he is not a talent, he can then get rich.”

Tian SiSi smiled.
She also had no alternative but to acknowledge that this saying made sense.
Actually she was still not too clear about the truth.
Nobody really could make clear of this bewildering truth in this world.

The table and the place grew darker.

Tian SiSi looked around and suddenly found slivers of shadow flitting in the darkness, watching wandering souls coming and going. She could not clearly see their attires but they were like hunters eyeing to seize the rabbits.
That kind of vision really invoked evil intentions.

Tian SiSi could not bear asking, “Who are these people?”

Qin Ge said, “People doing business.”

Tian SiSi said, “What kind of business has to be done here?”

Qin Ge said, “Shameful business.”

Tian SiSi’s thought about something but then nodded, although she was still not that clear about it.

Besides men, there were also women in the darkness.
What were these women waiting to do? At least she seemed to understand about their intention.

Then she had turned to a place brightly lit at one side.
She saw every kind of people, the poor and the wealthy, the inexpensive and the expensive clothings.
Almost everyone was drinking — — although they shared the same place, they were not coming from the same world.

Then finally she saw that waiter bringing their wooden plates.
The noodle and the meat were all hot.
So long as they were hot, the food could not be too unpalatable.

Tian SiSi had eaten several mouthfuls before laying down the chopsticks, she looked at Qin Ge and said, “You said this place has become really famous?”

Qin Ge said, “Mmm.”

Tian SiSi said, “Famous because it sells two kinds of noodles?”

Qin Ge said, “Mmm.”

Tian SiSi looked around, sighed suddenly and said, “I think all these people must be sick.”

Qin Ge said, “Which people?”

Tian SiSi said, “These people who come here especially to eat the noodle!”

Qin Ge waited until he had finished his beef noodle bowl, before giving a long sigh, “They are not sick.”

Tian SiSi said, “That person?”
She said this as her eyes were staring at a person.

This person sat under the bright light, wearing a very soft, very comfortable light blue gown, not only was it very luxurious, the fitting was tailor-perfect.
He was not too old, his face expressed natural dignity, even while sitting on this broken table, rotten stool, nobody could despise him.

Tian SiSi said, “This person certainly has very high status.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “He must have servant girls in his house.”

Qin Ge said, “Not just one, but many of them.”

Tian SiSi said, “He can certainly eat anything at home if he wants to.”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “Then, if he is not sick, why does he bother to come to this kind of place to eat late at night?”

Qin Ge drank the cup of wine slowly, then he put down the wine cup slowly, he look far ahead at a distant place in the darkness. After a very long time, then he gave a low sigh and said, “Do you know what is called loneliness?”

Tian SiSi said, “Certainly, I was frequently very lonely before.”

Qin Ge said, “What were you thinking at that time?”

Tian SiSi said, “My thought wandered everywhere, if I strolled out somewhere, I would ask anyone to chat with me.”

Qin Ge had smiled suddenly and said, “You think that is loneliness?”

Tian SiSi said, “What is it if it isn't loneliness?”

Qin Ge said, “That is called boredom, the true loneliness is not like that.”

He smiled very miserably before adding, “What is the appearance of true loneliness? Perhaps nobody could say clearly, because you would not know what you were thinking at that time.”

Tian SiSi was listening.

Qin Ge said, “If you have experienced many things, but it suddenly does not matter to you at all. Or if you have obtained many things, but you suddenly felt all empty inside you. Or when you arrived somewhere at the dead of the night and you found yourself all alone…”

His voice grew softer, then he said slowly, “Only at that time, you can understand what loneliness really means.”

Tian SiSi blinked her eyes and said, “You understand then?”

Qin Ge did not seem to have heard her, after a very long silence, he said, “Perhaps you did not think like that at the time, but that person sitting there all alone, perhaps he could feel emptiness in his heart, not knowing where to go, sometimes he wants to scream or something else to release that feeling…”

Tian SiSi said, “You should be thinking of something interesting at that time.”

Qin Ge said, “Perhaps the person’s biggest pain was that he could not control his own thought. Even if you tried your hardest to recollect the past happy thoughts but the ones that came up was only bitterness and pain, your heart just felt that it had been pierced by a needle.”

Tian SiSi said with a smile, “Pierced by a needle? That is only what the writers describe ......”

Qin Ge drank the cup of wine and said, “Before I did not believe that a person's heart could really suffer so much pain, I also thought that what the writers described were in excess, but afterwards I only knew that even the most extreme rhetoric that a writer used still could not describe what you feel at the time.”

He smiled miserably, then said, “If you have had that kind of feeling, only then you can understand why these people want to come here very late at night, running personally to this tattered outdoor stall to get drunk.”

Tian SiSi was silent for a while before saying, “If he is afraid of loneliness, he does not need to come here.”

Qin Ge said, “No?”

Tian SiSi said, “Why doesn't he look for his friend?”

Qin Ge said, “Fine, you may ask a friend to accompany you, for ten days, for half a month. But you cannot expect your friends to accompany you for a lifetime.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “Because your friends certainly also have their own problems to solve, their own family members to comfort, they could not accompany you forever.”

He smiled and said, “Moreover you do not really want to have your friends share your pain forever.”

Tian SiSi said, “You may at least hire a person to accompany you.”

Qin Ge said, “That kind of person is not your friend, if you were really lonely, that person will not relieve it.”

Tian SiSi rotated her eyes and said, “I knew someone who might bring relieve …”

Qin Ge said, “What kind of person?”

Tian SiSi said, “A person like Zhang Haoer might be more comfortable here than anyone else.”

She pointed to a fat person with a youth-looking pattern clothes and said, “He looks like a person who can have the strength to enjoy a girl.”

Qin Ge said, “Right, he can go there. But if you go too often to that kind of place, you can become very, very weary.”

Tian SiSi said, “Therefore, he would rather run here and drown his own sorrow?”

Qin Ge said, “Right.”

Tian SiSi said, “But the person who comes here still has no friend, no one to understand his pain, wouldn’t it be the same if he has just stayed all by himself.”

Qin Ge said, “That is completely different.”

Tian SiSi said, “What is so different?”

Qin Ge said, “Because here you can feel other people’s existence, feel his own pulse of life, or he may see some other people in more pain than him…”

Tian SiSi said, “If a person saw someone suffering more pain than him, his own pain could be lessened?”

Qin Ge said, “Sometimes yes.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why? How can a person be so selfish?”

Qin Ge smiled forcedly and said, “Because a person is basically a selfish person.”

Tian SiSi said, “I am not selfish, I only hope that everyone in the world can have joy.”

Qin Ge gave a long sigh and said, “When you grow up, you will understand that this idea is impossible to realize!”

Tian SiSi said, “Why can’t people be joyful?”

Qin Ge said, “Because if you want to be joyful, you must often pay the painful price. If you obtain something, at the same time you often lose something else ......”

Tian SiSi said, “Why do people think like that? Why don't they think in another way?”
Her eyes glittered, “If you suffer pain, just think of wonderful things. When you lose something, think about something else that you have gotten, wouldn’t that feel more joyful then?”

Qin Ge was staring at her, before smiling and tossing down his drink. He said, “Because not many people in the world could think like you, otherwise this world would be a lot more lovable.”

People who came here were not just lonely people.

Qin Ge said, “There are some people who come here only in the evening, because it is shameful to come here in the daytime. There are some people too who really like this place.”

Tian SiSi said, “Some people really like this place?”

Qin Ge said, “Certainly, I like this place.”

Tian SiSi said, “Why do you like this place?”

Qin Ge said, “This place is not that clean or comfortable, the beef and the pig’s feet are not that special, but it certainly has a distinctive ambience.”

Tian SiSi sweetly said, “What ambience? Fetid odor?”

Qin Ge said, “If you come to a big restaurant every day, sometimes if you do not go there for a few times, you feel something fresh and exciting.

Tian SiSi said, “So this place is good for people that are not in a good mood?”

Qin Ge said, “No, it is like ......”
He smiled, then said, “Like you are with your wife every day, but sometimes you look at other women, and although her face was like a clown compared to your wife, you still feel something fresh and stimulating.”

Tian SiSi’s face stiffened and said, “How can you say something like that in front of a lady?”

Qin Ge said with a smile, “Because I know that you will not marry me, sometimes when a man treats a woman as a friend, he forgets that she is a woman.”

Tian SiSi smiled.
She smiled very sweetly, very happily.
But suddenly her heart felt indescribable disconsolate feeling, as if it was searching for something to cover the emptiness inside.

In her mind before, Qin Ge was the man, but now she had even forgotten that he was a man.
Because he was already her friend.
Her true need was not for a friend, but for someone who could accompany her forever, comfort her, let her lie down on his bosom.

Would she find this kind of a man later?
She did not know.

Actually what should this kind of a man look like?
She did not know.

Perhaps only because she never stopped looking that she could never find him.
Because perhaps she might have found him, but she had just let him go.
Didn’t people always let go of things that they needed the most? Only after they lost the things, then they understood how important were the lost ones.

“In any event, I should never try to look for that big-headed ghost.”
Tian SiSi clenched her teeth.
“I should not even care if he never comes to see me again or even if he dies.”

She told her heart again and again, like forcing herself to accept this truth.
But in the end, she realized that only when with Yang Fan her heart did not feel this terrible empty feeling. Perhaps she could get angry or get upset, but never get lonely.

Qin Ge was looking at her and said suddenly, “What are you thinking?”

Tian SiSi suddenly lifted up the wine cup and drank. She reluctantly smiled, “I was wondering whether that person will come or not.”

Qin Ge said, “Who?”

Tian SiSi said, “Your most admired person.”

Qin Ge was smiling, smiling very mysteriously and said, “That person has already come now.”

Tian SiSi said, “Where?”

Qin Ge said, “You just need to turn around.”

END OF CHAPTER 24