"Wang Zhengwu, draw a path. I must kill the owner of this Braised Chicken Feet Shop. Or should I have the Third Madam put in a good word for you..."
"A good word to have the First Madam and Second Madam revoke the bounty on me? Zhu Wuhua, do you think I'm a three-year-old child? What makes Liu so capable of making decisions for the two Madams? Is it because of her two incompetent sons fighting for the Vein Opening Pill?"
Wang Zhengwu's sarcasm hit right at what Zhu Wuhua was thinking.
Indeed, Liu's biggest reliance was her two sons, while both Madams only had one son each.
In terms of the probability of seizing the Vein Opening Pill, hers was the greatest.
But Wang Zhengwu seemed to disagree.
"The Third Madam has already hidden both young masters. Before the funeral, no one knows where they are, so they will definitely live to see the immortal master bringing the Vein Opening Pill. In the end, the Third Madam has the highest chance of success! Wang Zhengwu, you might as well curry favor with the Third Madam, so you don't have to live this life of hiding."
Wang Zhengwu sneered:"Zhu Wuhua, are you still fantasizing that Liu's two sons can get the Vein Opening Pill?"
Wang Zhengwu's words were loaded, and his gaze was so flippant that it gave Zhu Wuhua a bad feeling.
"What do you mean?"
"Liu's two sons have long been poisoned by the First Madam and Second Madam. They've been lively all these years just to reassure Liu, making her wholeheartedly help the two Madams eliminate other concubines and children."
Now that Liu is useless, her two sons are probably not far from death.
"This... this can't be!"
"Heh, if you go back to the Zhu family now, you might see two new coffins next to Zhu Fulu's."
With Zhu Wuhua's understanding, Wang Zhengwu's streetwise nature made him disdainful of playing tricks and never say anything without confidence.
Seeing Wang Zhengwu speak so confidently, Zhu Wuhua was half convinced.
"What evidence do you have?"
"Evidence? I personally poisoned them, do you think I'd leave any evidence for someone to point fingers at me?"
Zhu Wuhua's face changed, unsure of what he was thinking.
But he clearly didn't have the momentum he had earlier.
Seeing this, Wang Zhengwu continued: "I offended the First Madam and Second Madam, and I know so many of their secrets. No matter whose son gets the Vein Opening Pill, I'll be on the run for life. So I can only seek out the Zhu family's bloodline left outside, hoping the new master can save me. I've waited two days, and with the old master about to be buried, I thought I had no chance. But unexpectedly, I gambled right at the last moment."
Zhu Wuhua now understood Wang Zhengwu's intention.
Wang Zhengwu wanted to support a new ruler, Xiaosuo, as Wang Zhengwu's lifeline, was someone Wang Zhengwu must protect.
To kill someone under Wang Zhengwu's protection, Zhu Wuhua admitted he didn't have the ability.
Moreover, the main conflict had shifted.
He no longer had the heart to kill.
According to Wang Zhengwu, Liu's two sons were likely poisoned.
Without sons to compete for the Vein Opening Pill, Liu was just a paper tiger, ready to collapse at the slightest breeze.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. As one of the most favored monkeys on this tree, where should he go?
Should he join the First Madam or Second Madam?
Even if he didn't mention the two Madams, their subordinates wouldn't allow a steward under Liu to share the spoils.
Besides, he had many conflicts with the Madams' subordinates. Even if he joined them, becoming a dog for the Madams' dogs, he might not survive.
Putting himself in their shoes, if the two Madams lost power and their stewards came to Liu, Zhu Wuhua would certainly kill them first to protect his position.
Why not join Xiaosuo?
It's not impossible, after all, he currently has no reliable people under him.
Having lived for decades, having seen many ups and downs, there's nothing he wouldn't dare to gamble on for the future.
Moreover, he knew a bit about the selection process for the heir of the Vein Opening Pill, so he couldn't say he had no chance at all.
The more he looked at Xiaosuo, the more Zhu Wuhua felt this move was feasible.
As Zhu Wuhua contemplated his options, Zhu Sangao sensed something was amiss and asked: "Master Hua, listening to Wang Zhengwu, it sounds convincing, like it's true. But I'm not familiar with him, so I don't know if he's a slick talker with unreliable words. But when I think about the Third Madam..."
"Stop, no more nonsense, I'm thinking, and you're muddling my thoughts. Do you want to know if what Wang Zhengwu said is true?"
"Yes, exactly."
Zhu Wuhua sighed: "Nine out of ten."
"Master Hua's answer is concise, now I'm relieved."
Zhu Sangao smiled slightly.
Then, with a "pfft" sound, Zhu Sangao's knife pierced Zhu Wuhua's chest.
Everyone present was bewildered, staring blankly at Zhu Sangao.
Xiaosuo was also full of questions.
Zhu Sangao withdrew the knife and wiped the blood, not looking at Zhu Wuhua's wide-open eyes as he fell, but knelt on one knee before Xiaosuo.
"This Zhu Wuhua didn't know his place, offended the young master, and deserved death! I, Zhu Sangao, am willing to lead my brothers to follow the young master to the death!"
At this moment, Zhu Wuhua, lying on the ground, spat blood, mumbling something unintelligible.
It was unclear if he was cursing Zhu Sangao's treachery or regretting hesitating too long to speak.
Before dying, Zhu Wuhua had only one thought: Fing hell, I was going to surrender too...
At the critical moment, a step too slow, and it was life and death separated.
Wang Zhengwu's words were clear, and Zhu Wuhua had verified their truth.
Liu's great ship was about to sink.
Smart people were scrambling for lifeboats.
Zhu Sangao killed Zhu Wuhua, both as a pledge of allegiance and to remove obstacles.
With Zhu Wuhua around, even if he surrendered, he'd be overshadowed, only a second-class person under Xiaosuo.
Zhu Sangao's brothers were all desperados raised by Liu, naturally not foolish.
They understood Zhu Sangao was paving a way for them.
They specialized in dirty work; no matter who won between the First Madam and Second Madam, they'd still have to do dirty work as outsiders.
No one is born loving to risk their lives doing dirty work.
Joining a new master, with a higher status, meant they were closer to a stable life.
Their leader set an example, and now was the perfect time to pledge allegiance to a new master.
Xiaosuo before them was almost a heaven-sent opportunity.
Zhu Sangao's subordinates followed his lead, kneeling one by one.
The group that was going to kill Xiaosuo surrendered.
Xiaosuo and his two companions watched the sudden change, feeling like they were in a dream.
But he still forced himself to remain calm.
He turned to look meaningfully at Wang Zhengwu.
Wang Zhengwu glanced at Zhu Sangao with displeasure.
His first impression of Zhu Sangao was extremely poor: a small-time character not worth mentioning.
Zhu Sangao's endless chatter made anyone think he was not very bright.
Unexpectedly, it was this "fool" who seized the opportunity first, leaving Wang Zhengwu unsure who the real fool was.
But there was no other choice, so he too knelt on one knee: "My disciples and I are willing to pledge our loyalty to the young master! "
Wang Zhengwu's disciples followed their master's lead, acknowledging Xiaosuo as their master.
Xiaosuo didn't respond immediately, just glanced over the two groups again.
Zhu Sangao and Wang Zhengwu both lowered themselves even more.
But Zhu Sangao, with his height advantage, naturally looked more like a lackey than Wang Zhengwu.
The tall and strong Wang Zhengwu's head was almost touching the ground, yet he still didn't appear as deferential as Zhu Sangao.
The two were competing to be Xiaosuo's top lackey.
Seeing everyone submit, Xiaosuo spoke at the right moment: "Stand up, we need to hurry on our way."
Zhu Sangao quickly agreed: "Yes, yes, getting on the road is important! The young master is of noble status, how can he still ride a donkey cart? Quickly find a horse carriage for the young master!"
"Yes!"
Immediately, two subordinates stepped forward to seize a horse carriage for Xiaosuo.
"No need, I... I happen to have one here!"
Wang Zhengwu had someone bring out a horse carriage from the woods, with embroidered edges on the carriage, unclear which family's lady it was robbed from.
Seeing the opportunity to please Xiaosuo snatched by Wang Zhengwu, Zhu Sangao was frustrated, pounding his chest in anger.
Wang Zhengwu looked provocatively at Zhu Sangao.
Xiaosuo, without hesitation, boarded the carriage with Old Huang and the Shop Assistant.
"You are all practitioners, so bear with it and run with us to Mountain Chicken County."
"Yes."
Xiaosuo was about to arrange for someone to return Aunt Yang's donkey when he saw the donkey already galloping back with the cart.
This donkey was indeed something.
Xiaosuo didn't dwell on it, focusing on the journey ahead.
Since the donkey knew the way, he was happy to save the trouble.
"Let's go!"
***
Taking advantage of the travel time, Xiaosuo wanted to learn more about the two groups he had just recruited.
He first called Wang Zhengwu onto the carriage.
"Young master, do you need something from me?"
Xiaosuo and his companions were surprised.
"You... how did you become like this?"
The once rugged, knife-wielding man had transformed into a refined, serene elder.
"Replying to the young master, I am wanted by the two Madams, with my portrait posted all over Mountain Chicken County, countless people searching for me. If not for my makeup skills, I wouldn't have escaped even with ten lives!"
"I see."
Xiaosuo realized Wang Zhengwu's skill could indeed have unexpected effects.
"I called you up just to have a chat."
"Please, young master."
"Master Wang, why don't you introduce yourself to us first?"
"Alright. My ancestors were all martial artists. In my generation, I trained in childhood skills, proficient in fists, kicks, knives, and swords. The old master saw my skills were decent and promoted me to a regular instructor at the Zhu family's gate, giving me the name Zhu Wude."
"Hold on, why do both you and Zhu Wuhua have 'Wu' in your names?"
"Oh, young master, having left home since childhood, you might not know this is a common rule in most cultivator clans. House servants are given names based on rank, from low to high, with generational names from one to seven. When I first joined the Zhu family, I was just a gate guard slightly above a regular servant, named Zhu Erde. I gradually rose to Zhu Wude. The seventh generational name is reserved for the Zhu family's chief steward."
(In Chinese, "Yi、Er、San、Si、Wu、Liu、Qi" correspond to the numbers "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7".)
"I see. It sounds like you reached the fifth rank, so why did you leave the Zhu family?"
Wang Zhengwu's face was full of helplessness.
"I was heavily in debt from gambling. In a moment of greed, I stole some jewelry from the two Madams. Unexpectedly, among the jewelry were the Madams' family heirlooms. When they found out, they felt humiliated and put a bounty on me throughout the county."
"Do you still gamble now?"
Wang Zhengwu looked desolate.
"Because of gambling, my parents, elder brother, younger sister, wife, and two children were all killed. My entire family died because of my gambling addiction, how could I have the face to gamble again?"
After hearing this, Xiaosuo didn't know whether to scold or sympathize, finally just waving him off the carriage.
Then he called Zhu Sangao up.
Zhu Sangao leaped onto the carriage.
Upon seeing Xiaosuo, he immediately bowed his head.
"Young master, you called for me?"
"Yes, just wanted to chat with you."
"Young master, you're too modest. Even a casual chat from you is enlightening for someone like me. If you're willing to say a few more words, my fortune would be endless, even my children would benefit..."
"Stop, stop."
Listening to Zhu Sangao's endless flattery, Xiaosuo couldn't get a word in.
"Tell me about yourself first."
"Yes. I was an orphan, taken in by a kind steward of the Zhu family, working as a servant, given the name Zhu Yigao, and with the steward's care, I wasn't bullied much. Oh, young master, you might not know, this is a common rule in most cultivator clans. House servants are given names based on rank, from low to high, with generational names from one to seven..."
"I know, continue."
"Oh, young master, you're truly omniscient, knowing everything beforehand! I'm truly in awe. The young master is just..."
"Stop the nonsense, continue about yourself."
"Alright, alright. Not long after, the steward who took care of me passed away. From then on, I was bullied daily, barely getting enough to eat. When I was about to starve, a foreman gave me a bowl of rice. After eating, he asked me to do some killing, saying I'd have no worries about food and drink if I succeeded. At that time, I was desperate, so I agreed. That was my first kill, a baby in swaddling, the master's son. I had no choice, it was to survive. His mother was a farmer's daughter, with no backing. Even if I didn't kill him, someone else would. After that, I specialized in dirty work. After a few jobs, because I was efficient, Zhu Wuhua noticed me, and I began helping him and Liu with unsavory tasks."
Xiaosuo nodded, it was as he expected.
If Zhu Sangao didn't admit to doing dirty work, that would be suspicious.
"Liu must have sent more than just you to intercept the Zhu family's bloodline, right?"
"Yes. There are three routes to Mountain Chicken County, and Liu has people ambushing all three. Liu thinks the route from Yellow Dog County to Mountain Chicken County is the most unpredictable, so she sent the chief steward Zhu Wuhua to oversee it personally."
"Why is this route the most unpredictable?"
"I'm just a third-rank, I don't know much. I heard Zhu Wuhua mention that there might be several Zhu family bloodlines on this route. But after two days, you're the only Zhu family member I've seen."
Xiaosuo crossed his arms, feeling a bit troubled.
Could it be that his information had leaked?
It shouldn't be, according to Old Huang, everyone who knew about it was dead except him.
How did Liu know?
Or is it possible that, like him, another Zhu family bloodline successfully escaped to Yellow Dog County back then?
In any case, it's not something he needs to consider now.
Liu's arrangements have nothing to do with him.
He'll deal with whatever comes his way.
Now that he's on the road, he's going to the Zhu family no matter what.
Xiaosuo thought for a moment, then asked:"By the way, do you know Wang Zhengwu?"
"I only know he was a prominent weapons instructor in the Zhu family, being the only fifth-rank weapons instructor, his status was almost equal to the chief instructor Zhu Wulun."
"Do you know why he was wanted by the First Madam and Second Madam?"
Zhu Sangao thought carefully, then said apologetically:"I really don't know about this, the wanted notice only said he offended the Zhu family gravely. But I have some guesses, though they might be trivial and unworthy of the young master's ears."
Xiaosuo said impatiently:"Spit it out!"
"Since the young master has spoken, I'll be bold.
Zhu Wude, or Wang Zhengwu, fled the Zhu family after the original Third Madam Gu Xiu died. At that time, the First Madam and Second Madam were at each other's throats, opposing each other on everything. Anything the First Madam agreed to, the Second Madam would oppose, and vice versa."
Xiaosuo said, "But the one thing they agreed on was the bounty on Wang Zhengwu."
"Young master, you're insightful! I can't think of anything Wang Zhengwu did to provoke such anger, making the two Madams put aside their differences to unite against him. If he had only offended one Madam, he could have sought refuge with the other to save his life. But he foolishly offended both."
"Oh, so you think his offense to both Madams wasn't accidental?"
"Absolutely not. Young master, you might not know what being fifth-rank means, it requires being appreciated by those above, having solid skills, and a mind as sharp as a needle."
Then Zhu Sangao smiled sheepishly: "Take me for example, I do dirty work and am considered a figure in the Zhu residence, but because I said one extra word in front of the Second Madam, I could only reach third-rank. For Wang Zhengwu to become fifth-rank, offending even one Madam accidentally is impossible."
Zhu Sangao's words gave Xiaosuo a significant insight.
"You mean, if Wang Zhengwu was wanted for offending the Madams..."
"Then it couldn't have been an accident. Moreover, he lost almost his entire family over it, I heard only he and his nephew escaped. If something seems off, there's usually a reason. He must have had some purpose or benefit, even risking extermination, to offend both Madams."
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan