Chapter 9: Cutting Grass and Eradicating Roots

  Xiangling is the county closest to Pingyang Prefecture, usually departing at 4 am and arriving at Pingyang Prefecture by 2 pm.

  After staying in Xiangling County for a day, Su Tiancheng had been with the old man all along. The old man didn't say much, and by noon, he seemed to have gotten drunk. Su Tiancheng and Su Er Tong together supported the old man back to the inn's room, respectfully serving the old man until the next morning when the old man woke up, before bidding farewell and leaving Xiangling County.

  Su Tiancheng had always been sitting inside the carriage compartment, with the curtains lowered.

  Su Er Tong insisted on sitting outside the carriage, leaning against the driver.

  But in less than half an hour, Su Er's urgent voice came over.

  "Master, master, there's someone up ahead..."

  Su Er Tong hadn't finished speaking when the horse carriage stopped, and Su Tian Cheng quickly got out of the carriage. He didn't forget to wear a bamboo hat and cover his face with a veil. After all, he had fifty taels of gold and over ten taels of silver on him, which was already a huge fortune in the eyes of ordinary people.

  The five steel knives that were seized, Su Tiancheng did not deal with them. He already knew that he had just crossed over and didn't understand many things. The previous Su Tiancheng was a bookworm with no social experience at all. Going to the horse market to trade for Mongolian horses was an extremely risky move, and it's possible that someone had taken notice of him. Fortunately, he wore a bamboo hat to cover his face, so nobody knew who he was.

  In the middle of the official road, three men riding fine horses and wearing conical hats blocked the way.

  The cart driver was a bit strange, this place is not far from the county town, and there are many people on the official road, could it be that someone robbed in broad daylight? The bandits who came to Pingyang Prefecture were wiped out by the imperial army in the first half of the year, what kind of people are these? Could they be remnants of the bandits?

  The coachman often went out, he followed the old rules and handled it. After stopping the carriage, he hurried down and slipped away to one side.

  These people, even if they were bandits, would generally not bother him.

  Su Tiancheng took a closer look at the man riding the horse in the middle and suddenly smiled, clasped his fists and began to speak.

  "Master Qi, it's been a long time, I hope you're doing well."

  Qiu Qingze on horseback was somewhat surprised, did not dismount, and returned a fist salute.

  "Master Su, I've been waiting for you for a long time downstairs. I didn't expect that Master Su would stay in the county town for one day."

  Su Tiancheng's heart began to shrink, what does this mean, isn't Qiu Qingze in a hurry to leave Xiangling County and go home? Why is he still waiting here, could it be that he wants to rob back those gold coins, or even do something more outrageous.

  "I was thinking of going home early, but the old man is in a good mood and I should keep him company. Isn't Master Qi already on his way home? Why is he still lingering here? Is there something urgent?"

  "Heh heh, I've been waiting especially for Young Master Su. If you trust me, follow me to a quiet place and take a look. If not, I won't force it."

  Qing Ze finished speaking, turned over and dismounted his horse, handing the reins to a nearby rider.

  Two horsemen moved aside, and the carriage could now pass through.

  Between the sparks of flint and steel, Su Tiancheng made a decision.

  "Master Qi and the others waited for a whole day, if they just leave like this, wouldn't that be impolite? Never mind, Second Child, you wait here, I have some matters to discuss with Master Qi, I'll be right back."

  Su Tiancheng did not hesitate and took a step forward, walking towards Qu Qingze. He judged by instinct that Qu Qingze was unlikely to be there to rob him, and even if he were, it would be impossible for himself to leave safely at this time.

  Strolling carelessly towards the small woods beside the official road, Su Tiancheng had already highly concentrated his spirit. When coming into contact with people, first the petty man and then the gentleman, he must make all necessary preparations to avoid special situations.

  "Su Gongzi is being very cautious, are you worried that I will do something despicable?"

  "Master Qi smiled and said, 'I am a scholar, I believe that all within the four seas are brothers, but I never had such suspicious thoughts.'"

  Hahaha...

  He laughed loudly towards the sky and walked into a small grove of trees, where he decisively removed his bamboo hat.

  Su Tiancheng was stunned for a moment, and Qu Qingze indeed looked young, but unlike ordinary young people, his face had an air of heroism, with sharp facial features, if it were hundreds of years later, such a face would be the standard military appearance.

  Seeing Qu Qingze doing so, he also took off his bamboo hat and veil.

  Two people smiled at each other.

  Sometimes silence is more powerful than sound.

  After walking for about ten steps, Su Tiancheng suddenly saw that under a big tree, three people were tightly bound together, their heads wrapped in black cloth, and their bodies trembling.

  "Su Gongzi, do you still remember these three people?"

  "Remember, it was right in Horse Market, those three people who threatened me."

  Why did Qiu Qingze know these three people? It's said that only the old man knew, Su Tiancheng felt more and more that the old man's identity was not simple.

  "Su Gongzi must be wondering why I caught these three people."

  Su Tiancheng shook his head, some things are better left unknown, the world is a treacherous place.

  "Haha, these three people, unexpectedly dared to follow me. After a round of interrogation, I finally found out that these three people had been eyeing Su Gongzi since the horse market, and therefore I arrested the three of them, waiting for Su Gongzi."

  This remark was full of loopholes, and Qiu Qingze had bought five Mongolian horses, plus the horses from other transactions, and he didn't know how many followers he had. These three people were only after money and not their lives, so they wouldn't easily attack Qiu Qingze.

  Ke Su Tiancheng would never spell it out.

  "So that's how it is. These three people are too bold, they were thinking of robbing me at the horse market, and now they dare to make a move in front of Tai Sui, they must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gallbladder of a leopard."

  He stared blankly for a moment.

  "Su Gongzi is really good at talking. Alright, I won't say more about this matter. According to Su Gongzi's opinion, how should these three people be dealt with?"

  Su Tiancheng looked at Qu Qingze carefully, and did not speak for the time being. Two days ago, he had already killed five soldiers. Would he have to kill again today? However, Qu Qingze's meaning was already very clear. If he disagreed, what kind of outcome would there be?

  According to these three people, the crime is not punishable by death, but rather a robbery of fine horses in the horse market, and it's estimated that they are about the same as those hoodlums.

  Seeing Su Tiancheng didn't speak up immediately, Qu Qingze spoke again.

  "Master Su probably thinks that these people's crimes are not punishable by death. There is one thing that I need to inform Master Su about: these three men have discussed and planned to follow Master Su along the way, and if they find a suitable opportunity, they will do something - there is no need for me to explain further. These three men themselves confessed that they are not regular customers of the horse market, nor are they local people, but rather came to Xiangling County in the first half of the year."

  "So it was like this after all, in my opinion, since they have such evil thoughts, of course, their crimes are unforgivable."

  "Alright, Sir Su is straightforward, it's just you and me here, are we going to make a move or will Sir Su make the first move?"

  It seemed like a conditioned reflex that Su Tiancheng thought to himself, as a scholar, how could he bear to take someone's life, but he had a faint premonition and forcibly suppressed the words.

  "Gentlemen, this is a difficult situation for me. In my opinion, we should both take action. As a scholar, I am responsible for one person, while you, sir, have to work harder and be responsible for two people."

  "All right, I have no opinion on this matter. However, I think that when doing things, one should be clean and efficient, and not just cut the grass without removing the roots, which would ultimately harm oneself. These few people, who knows how many evil things they've done in the past, today we're getting rid of them for the good of the people, it's a great thing."

  A few meters in front of the three bound men were two steel knives.

  The words had been spoken, and there was no need for hesitation. Su Tiancheng stepped forward quickly and picked up the steel knife from the ground.

  Qiu Qingze picked up his steel knife and spoke again.

  "Su Gongzi, are these three people covering their heads or uncovering the black cloth?"

  "Of course, it's time to lift the black cloth. I'd rather they didn't meet King Yan in a daze."

  His calm and composed expression was somewhat strange, as if he felt surprised that a scholar like Su Tiancheng had never been seen before.

  Su Tiancheng lifted the black cloth off a man's head, and it turned out that this was the very man who had threatened him at the horse market.

  "Brother, when Yan Luo Temple goes to reincarnate, find a good family, and live a peaceful life in the next life."

  The man's face was filled with terror and despair, but his mouth was stuffed with a cloth ball, unable to speak.

  Su Tiancheng cut open the man's neck and watched as fresh blood sprayed out.

  When they left the small woods, the two of them put on their bamboo hats again, covering their faces.

  "Sir Su, there are two more things. Firstly, the steel knife on your carriage, I'd like to buy it from you. Here's 30 taels of silver, please accept it. Secondly, Sir Su will definitely be participating in the imperial examination next year. If there's an opportunity, I'll visit you in Pingyang Prefecture."