Chapter Fifty-two: A Turn for the Better

  The road winds its way up the mountain peak

  The strong wind rolled up the accumulated snow, and the dancing snowflakes shone brightly under the scorching sun. After crossing the mountain in front, it was the defense zone of the Qilin Mountain Anti-Japanese Brigade. The foolish monk looked back, and under the thick white snow, the mountains seemed to be dancing like silver snakes. He didn't intend to stop; he had important information about that place in his mind and must see the leader of the Anti-Japanese Brigade as soon as possible. Still in enemy-occupied territory, he dared not relax at all and could only drag his tired body up the mountain. After a day and night of climbing mountains and rivers without food or water, he was exhausted. He lay on the thick snow, panting heavily, grabbed a handful of snow and put it in his mouth, rested for a moment, gritted his teeth, and used his last strength to climb to the top of the mountain. There, two shiny black gun muzzles were waiting for him, held by two militiamen dressed as civilians. His heart warmed up, thinking: "I'm home." He fainted.

  When he woke up, he was tied to a pillar in the house. The house had charcoal fire burning, warm and cozy. Next to the charcoal fire was a kang (a type of bed), on which sat an old man and a child. When the child saw the monk wake up, he shouted: "Grandpa, the bald guy is awake."

  The monk was taken aback at first, then thought to himself that he was a monk and had no hair on his head, which must have led the child to mistake him for a bald man. He opened his mouth wide with joy and said: "I'm a monk, not a bald man! Come quickly and untie my rope, I have urgent business and need to leave here immediately."

  The old man slowly turned around and said, "A monk? A murderous monk, perhaps? With a ferocious expression and carrying a deadly weapon, he doesn't look like a good person. Tell the village chief that the captured dog spy has woken up."

  The foolish monk with a belly full of grievances said: "Sir, I'm not a spy. I'm a good person."

  The old man said, "Are you a good person? The captured spy at first all said they were good people, not one said they were spies. Wait and see, the village chief will be here soon, whether or not you are a good person is not up to you to say."

  Before long, Huwa brought two young men. The two people looked very different, one was big and tall, with a rough face, like a fierce god. The other was thin and weak, with a gentle appearance. They sat on the kang, warming their hands by the charcoal fire. Their eyes stared at the foolish monk. The old man said: "This guy has been shouting that he is a good person, saying he has an urgent matter, asking me to let him go. You two ask him carefully, what's his origin?"

  The foolish monk shouted: "Go and bring your village chief here, I have something to say to him. Don't delay, I really have an urgent matter."

  The fierce-looking man said, "How dare you look down on us?" He pointed at the weak and feeble person: "He's called Hongzhi, the village head. I'm Song Tao, the militia battalion commander. What do you want to say?"

  The foolish and confused monk asked, "Is he the village head?" In the eyes of many people, the village head should be a virtuous and respected elder, not a weak and feeble young man.

  Hong Zhi's eyes shot out two sharp glances, and he sternly asked: "What, don't I look like the village chief? Speak, what's your name, and what brings you to Baidu Ridge?"

  The foolish monk stared with his big eyes for a while and said, "It's like, the tone of speaking is like, oh dear village chief, quickly get some food for me, I've been traveling for a day and night without eating a single grain of rice, I'm so hungry that I'm about to die. If I don't eat something soon, I won't even have the energy to speak."

  The old man brought sweet potatoes and steamed buns, as well as some salted vegetables. Song Tao untied the rope binding the crazy monk. The crazy monk knocked over the rice bowl before him, and with a sweep of his arm, he devoured all the food in an instant. After finishing, he patted his belly and said: "I've finally eaten my fill, I'm home, it's worth dying for."

  Hong Zhi coldly looked at the re-tied Chi Tuan and Shang, saying: "Going home? If you don't honestly confess your problems, I'll really send you back to your hometown. Say, what's your name? Why did you come to Bai Hua Ling?"

  The foolish monk let out a loud belch and said: "I, the foolish monk, am going to Mount Qilin to see a friend."

  Hong Zhi's expression changed slightly as he said, "What a big tone. Going to Qilin Mountain to see a friend? You don't take the official road when visiting relatives and friends, but instead risk climbing mountains and crossing ridges from the occupied area of the little devils. Who are you trying to fool?"

  The monk was getting a bit anxious, he said: "It's true, the little devils have blocked the road, I'm afraid of an accident, delaying our journey, so I took the risk to cross the mountain. I really do have urgent business with Director Liu, take me there, and you'll all know everything once we arrive."

  Song Tao, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and said: "Who else do you know besides Liu Zheng?"

  The monk was furious, he shouted: "Damn it, afraid I'll run away, tied me up all the time. When we get to Qilin Mountain, won't everything be clear? You've ruined everything, I'll have Liu Zhengwei shoot you."

  His excitement really worked. Hongzhi and Songtao whispered to each other, and Songtao said: "Alright, I'll take you to Qilin Mountain right now. If what you're saying is fake, I'll make you useless!"

  The old man suddenly said: "Are you the crazy monk? The crazy monk of Fengling Mountain's Anmin Village? Known in Jianghu as Ghost Hand Ruthless?"

  The foolish monk said without thinking: "Is it me, Master? Do you know old monk?"

  The old man pulled over the tiger cub and said: "Quickly, quickly, give the Living Buddha a kowtow?"

  "Foolish and confused, I am not worthy, I have no virtue or ability, how dare I receive such a great honor? I fear I will be unable to bear the weight of being called a living Buddha. Amida Buddha, good, good."

  The old man said excitedly, "Does the Living Buddha not recognize Little Old Man? Little Old Man is originally from Lingfeng City in the south." Seeing that the foolish monk had no reaction, the old man's eyebrows danced with excitement as he said, "It's no wonder that the Living Buddha doesn't recognize Little Old Man, after all it's been seventeen years. The Living Buddha is compassionate and wouldn't keep Little Old Man in mind every day. However, the kindness the Living Buddha showed to Little Old Man's family is etched in his heart, and he dare not forget."

  He confused the monk with his nonsense. Hongzhi also asked: "Uncle, who is he?"

  The old man was busy untying the rope while excitedly saying: "Do you still remember that great hero I told you about who saved me?"

  Song Tao was taken aback and said: "The hero you mentioned who saved you and gave you money, is it him? Then why don't you recognize him?"

  The old man's face turned red and said: "I was knocked unconscious at the time, so I couldn't recognize the Living Buddha. Tiger cub, quickly call your mother over to meet the Living Buddha."

  The old man's daughter stared at the monk for a long time, her mouth constantly saying: "That's right, it's him. Although he shaved his head and passed seventeen years, I can still recognize him. He is indeed my benefactor." She burst into tears, "Plop" sound knelt on the ground.

  The monk dodged and shouted: "Get up, get up! Who are you? How did I, a monk, become your benefactor? Isn't this a mistake?"

  The old man pulled up his daughter, with tears in his eyes and said: "That's right, it can't be wrong. The Living Buddha remembers that seven years ago, in Lingfeng City, he killed a rascal to save a girl, and that girl is now the mother of Hu Bao, Xinghua."

  The foolish monk suddenly enlightened, rubbed his head and said: "So it's your family. Since the old man recognized me, can you let me go? I really have an urgent matter to attend to on Qilin Mountain. I must leave immediately."

  The old man asked Hongzhi: "Can you let the Living Buddha go? He will never be a spy for the little devils, I can guarantee it with my head."

  Song Tao said, "Uncle, you can rest assured and keep your head on. The people on Fengling Mountain are all heroes. Not long ago, they did a few earth-shaking things on Lingfeng. The military district chief gave high praise to their deeds."

  Hongzhi grasped the hands of Chi Yun and Shang, saying: "Comrade Shang, I'm really sorry. If there's anything that has offended you, please forgive me. I'll arrange for someone to escort you to Qilin Mountain immediately."

  Chen Yun and Shang Yuanyan thanked the old man for his repeated invitations to stay, but they had to leave. Under the escort of the Bahe Ridge militia, they hurried towards Qilin Mountain through thick snow. He had to deliver this intelligence, which concerned the lives of countless Chinese people, into the hands of the leader of the Anti-Japanese Vanguard in time.

  The sky has slowly darkened. A bright moon climbs up into the sky, illuminating the path to the Qilin.