"Fourteenth Brother?" Zhou Qi asked.
"'Scholar' Yu. He was also at Iron Gall Manor. You've seen him before."
"Oh, if I had known it was him I would have brought him along with me, then the two of you could have convalesced together."
Xu smiled. "But who could this girl dressed in boy's clothing be?" he wondered, mystified.
That evening, Zhou Qi gave the old woman two of the silver ingots and she accepted them with effusive blessings and thanks. Zhou Qi then pulled Cao up, and with a swish of her blade, cut off his right ear.
"I'm only sparing your worthless life because you cured my brother," she shouted. "If I ever catch you doing evil again,I'll stick my sword straight into your heart."
"We'll visit you again in three months time, to check up," Xu warned.
"You ride his horse and we'll leave," Zhou Qi said to Xu. The two mounted up and galloped off towards Wenguang town.
"Why did you say we would be coming back in three months' time?" Zhou Qi asked.
"I was just deceiving the doctor so that he wouldn't give the old woman any trouble," Xu replied.
Zhou Qi nodded and they continued on for a while.
"Why are you always so crafty with people?" she suddenly asked. "I don't like it."
"You don't realise how many evil people there are in the world," he said after a long silence. "When dealing with friends, love and justice should always come first, of course. But when dealing with bad people, you must be very careful otherwise you will be tricked and will suffer."
"My father say it's better to suffer yourself than to cheat other people," Zhou Qi said.
"That is what makes your father the great man that he is," replied Xu.
"Well, why don't you imitate my father?"
"Lord Zhou is benevolent and generous by nature. I am afraid that such a perverse person as myself would never be able to emulate him."
"That's what I dislike most about you: your perverse temper. My father says that if you treat others well, they will also naturally treat you well in return."
Xu didn't reply.
The two waited until it was dark before entering the town. They found Tang's residence and climbed over the wall toinvestigate. Xu caught a watchman and, threatening him with a knife, asked him about 'Scholar' Yu's whereabouts. The watchman said the two lodgers had left during the confusion after Doctor Cao had killed Master Tang at Little Rose's.
"We'll chase after them," Zhou Qi said.
5
In less than a day, they had passed Lanzhou. Two days further on, Xu discovered markings on the road left by Chen saying that everyone should meet in Kaifeng. Zhou Qi was delighted to hear that the main group was all right. She had been very worried about her father, but she now relaxed and drank some wine to celebrate. The wound on Xu's shoulder had by now closed and he was fully recovered. They chatted as they travelled. Xu told her stories of the fighting community and explained all its taboos and rules. She took it all in eagerly.
"Why didn't you talk about these things before, instead of always quarrelling with me?" she asked.
That day they arrived at Tongguan, a gateway town between central China and the northwest, and searched for lodgings. They heard that the old Yuelai Inn was the best, but when they got there, they were told there was only one room left.
Zhou Qi was impressed with how refined and polite Xu had been towards her, a real gentleman. But now, suddenly faced with the prospect of having to share a room with him, she was both embarrassed and suspicious.
As soon as they were in the room, Xu barred the door. Zhou Qi's face went bright red and she was just about to speak when Xu hurriedly silenced her with a wave of his hand.
"Did you see that Zhen Yuan Bodyguard Agency scoundrel just now?" he whispered.
"What?" said Zhou Qi, startled. "You mean the one who led the others round to capture Master Wen and caused the death of my brother?"
"I only caught a glimpse of him so I can't be absolutely sure. I was afraid he would see us, which is why I rushed us into the room. We'll go and investigate in a while."
The servant came in with some hot tea and asked if they wanted anything to eat. Xu ordered a few dishes, then said:
"Several eminent gentlemen from the Zhen Yuan Bodyguard Agency are also staying here, I think?"
"Yes," replied the servant. "Whenever they pass through Tongguan, they always give us their custom."
Xu waited for the servant to leave. "That Lead Escort Tong is the ringleader and chief troublemaker," he said. "We'll finish him off tonight and properly avenge your brother and Master Wen."
Zhou Qi thought once again of her brother's tragic death and the burning of Iron Gall Manor, and her anger surged.
"Lie down for a while and rest," said Xu, seeing her impatience. "We can wait until nightfall before making our move and still have plenty of time."
He sat down at the table and settled himself for sleep without so much as glancing further in Zhou Qi's direction. Zhou Qi had no option but to suppress her anger. She sat down on the kang and tried to rest. The time dragged by until the second bell struck, one hour to midnight, and she decided she could control herself no longer.
"Let's go," she said, drawing her sword.
"There are many of them, and some may be good fighters," Xu whispered. "Let us investigate first. We'll think of some way to lure Tong out, then deal with him alone."
Zhou Qi nodded.
They went into the courtyard and saw a lamp shining in a room on the eastern side. They walked stealthily over. Zhou Qi found a rip in the window paper and looked through while Xu stood behind her keeping a look out. Suddenly, she stood up and kicked out at the window. Xu started in fright, and shot in front of her, blocking her way. Zhou Qi hurriedly retracted her leg as it was about to strike Xu's chest, and overbalanced. He knelt down close to her.
"What is it?" he whispered.
"Do something, quick," she hissed. "My mother's in there. They've got her tied up."
Xu was startled. "Back to the room quickly and we'll discuss it there," he said.
They returned to the room.
"What is there to discuss?" demanded Zhou Qi desperately. "They've captured my mother."
"Control yourself. I will rescue her for you," Xu replied. "How many people were there in the room?"
"About six or seven."
Xu hung his head, deep in thought.
"What are you afraid of?" Zhou Qi asked. "If you won't do it, I'll go by myself."
"I'm not afraid. I'm thinking of a way to save your mother and kill that fellow at the same time. It would be best if we did the two things together."
Just then, footsteps passed by the door, and they heard a man muttering: "Midnight and these lead escorts are still at it. What are they doing drinking at this time? Damn their mothers! May the blessed Buddha make sure they meet up with robbers on the road."
Suddenly, Xu had an idea. "That Doctor Cao gave you two packets of medicine, didn't he?" he said to Zhou Qi. "Give me the one he said would make you unconscious, quickly."
Zhou Qi gave him the packet. "What are you going to do?" she asked. Xu didn't answer, but opened the window and jumped out with Zhou Qi close behind.
They ran along the corridor. Suddenly Xu whispered: "Get down, don't move."
Zhou Qi wondered what trick he was up to. A moment passed, then suddenly they saw a flicker of light as the servant came back towards them carrying a candlestick and a tray. Xu picked a pebble off the ground and threw it, extinguishing the candle.
The servant started in surprise. "This is damn ridiculous," he cursed. "There's no wind at all, and yet the candle goes out."
He put down the tray and turned to relight the candle. While his back was turned, Xu darted out, and in a flash, he had tipped the medicine into the two pots of wine on the tray and slipped away without the servant noticing.