The First Volume: The Female Fowls Chapter 8: Subjugation (Part 2)

  Gao Qiu looked at Lu Zhishen and smiled slightly, then suddenly shouted: "Lu Da!"

  As soon as the voice was heard, Lu Zhishen was stunned and knew that something was wrong. Since this person had called out his secular name, it was clear that he had investigated beforehand and came prepared. However, there was one thing that was suspicious: he had clearly seen this licentious monk just yesterday at the Temple of the Great Compassionate One. If the authorities had already known about his background beforehand, why hadn't they come earlier or later? Why did they have to come now, and only send military officers without any officials?

  If it were the Marshal's Mansion, after yesterday's incident, they checked the military register and found a few suspicious points: Firstly, they may not have thought of themselves immediately; Secondly, their own troubles and exile were all outside the capital, and no matter what, Beijing couldn't have investigated so thoroughly in such a short time. Lu Zhishen, although rough and straightforward in appearance and temperament, was not one to act without thinking, and didn't know what cards his opponent had in hand; at this moment, saying more would be wrong, so he closed his mouth and didn't speak, nor did he glance at Gao Qiang with the corner of his eye.

  If this trick were used on someone else, I'm afraid it would be difficult to deal with him for a while. Unfortunately, Gao Gang was familiar with the Water Margin and had been deeply influenced by Lu Da's brilliant image since childhood, so everything he did was well-rehearsed: "Lu Da, born in the Xining period, later joined the army in Zunzhou and rose through the ranks to become a military officer. Last February, I drank with the rebel Shi Jin and Li Zhong at a wine shop in Zunzhou...". He recited Master Shi's book all the way, including his fights against Town Guardian Xi, his escape to Dai Prefecture and Yanmen, his life as a monk on Mount Wutai, his drunken fight at Shanmen, his battle with Zhou Tong, the Little Tyrant of Peach Blossom Mountain, his duel with Shi Jin against the Iron Buddha Chui Daocheng at Wa Guan Temple, all the way until he came to this Dongjing Da Xiangguo Temple to become a monk and tend to the vegetable garden, where he pulled up a willow tree while drunk.

  Lu Zhishen listened, and every sentence was true and to the point. He couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. The other party didn't know how they did it, but they had investigated everything he had done over the years, even some details that he himself didn't quite remember, were all clearly revealed, as if they had seen them with their own eyes. This was really like seeing a ghost.

  Lin Chong was also stunned by the side, he and Lu Zhishen had not been friends for long, although they were compatible with each other, but they did not know much about this senior brother's past. Now after hearing this introduction, he couldn't help but admire him even more.

  After a long speech, he was already parched and picked up his tea cup to take a big gulp. Just as he was about to continue speaking, Lu Zhishen could no longer hold back, thinking that since everything was under control anyway, it was just a matter of life or death. With a loud shout, he said: "You scoundrel! In my lifetime, I have acted with integrity and have nothing to be ashamed of before heaven or earth. Even if I were to lose my hand and be captured by your treacherous schemes, what's the big deal about dying? What's there to regret about this insignificant body?"

  Gao Jiang put down his teacup and thought to himself that he hadn't wasted his breath. Earlier, he was a scoundrel, but now he had upgraded to a traitor, haha. He smiled and said: "Master Lu, I have carefully investigated your life, not in order to fabricate crimes and sentence you to death. Observing your character, you hate evil like an enemy, laugh at and scold those who deserve it, with one swing of your convenient spade, you right the wrongs on the road, and with two swings of your knife, you kill the treacherous sons and ministers. It's truly a pleasure to see you take revenge, I admire you extremely, and I hope to meet you in person, best if I can listen to your teachings, follow you closely, then it would be enough to fulfill my lifelong wish. But I don't know what you think?"

  Lu Zhishen listened to this nonsense and naturally didn't believe it, but instead became even more vigilant: "You scoundrel, what sinister plot do you have in mind? Don't hesitate to bring it out quickly. If I frown even a little, then I'm not a good man!"

  Gao took a deep breath, it seemed that the historical problem left by his predecessor would not be solved for the time being. He had managed to change from a lustful thief to a treacherous thief, which was already a good performance. It seemed he still had to use the methods of a wicked person: "Hmph, Lu Da Shi, I'm offering you good advice, why do you always have doubts about me?"

  "You scoundrel, your notorious reputation is well-known. You have a lustful heart and use cunning tricks to capture me. With such wickedness, how can I trust you?" Lu Zhishen was already beyond caring, so he simply cursed loudly.

  Gao said with a cold smile: "Lu Daoshi, as the saying goes, 'words can be feared', three people can make a tiger, although I have a bad reputation, there are many hidden reasons behind it. Outsiders speak ignorantly, and Master also believes it without doubt? Yesterday's temple fair incident, I explained multiple times that it was a misunderstanding, Master has wise eyes and knowledge, but is actually so stubborn about appearances? As for today's plan to capture Master, it was out of desperation, otherwise, I couldn't have invited Master. Moreover, Master comes from a military background, you should know that 'a good general never despises deceit'. If we were to fight in the market, with swords and guns clashing, with Master's bravery, I'm afraid more than half would be destroyed, wouldn't this go against my intention of admiring you?"

  "Hmm..." Lu Zhishen was momentarily speechless, but although he didn't say anything, his expression clearly showed that he didn't believe it. He simply turned his head away and ignored Gao Qiang.

  Gao Liang smiled and suddenly stepped forward, untying the bonds of Lin Ru's two men. Lu Qian and Fu An were both shocked, as it is easy to untie a tiger but difficult to tie one up again. These two people are not ordinary, how could they be so easily tied up? It was just that there was no time to stop them, and the bonds had already been untied. Lu Qian, being a martial artist, was braver and jumped to Gao Liang's side to protect him with his knife. But Fu An had already stepped onto the stairs, having made up his mind to flee at the first sign of trouble.

  But Lin Chong stood up and did not pounce on Gao Qiu. Instead, he took a step back to his wife's side, looking her up and down. Seeing that although she was in poor spirits, her clothes were still tidy and clean, not like someone who had been violated, he slightly put his mind at ease. He then proudly said: "Sir, today you have trapped Lin Chong and his wife here, what is your intention? Please explain clearly."

  Gao Qiu had not yet replied when Lu Zhishen coldly sneered, "You treacherous thief, you're really too arrogant. Do you think that by doing this, you can buy people's hearts?"

  After seeing the two escape, neither of them rushed to take action, and they were calm in their hearts. Just as they were about to shake the fan a few times, they discovered that they hadn't brought this prop today. They could only cough dryly and say: "Since I have always admired you two, is it a courtesy to tie you up? Of course, we should invite you to speak nicely, and buying people's hearts is out of the question."

  Lu Zhishen snorted and said, "Today I was captured by you scoundrel, my family is deeply ashamed of this. Farewell!" His monk's robe fluttered as he prepared to jump off the building.

  "Master, you're going to doom Lin's entire family with this move!" Gao exclaimed loudly.

  As soon as this was said, several people in the building were greatly shocked. Lu Zhishen turned around and shouted: "You treacherous thief, what sinister plot do you have now?"

  Lin Chong angrily said: "Courtyard inside, if you intentionally harm me, Lin will vow to die and revolve around you!"

  Two powerful men glared at each other, but Hua Rong was not flustered and smiled: "Lu Zhishen, you colluded with Shi Jin, the bandit of Mount Shaohua, this is a fact, isn't it? Lin Chong, as an official appointed by the imperial court, encountered the bandits but did not report them. Instead, he became sworn brothers with you. At best, he was derelict in his duty; at worst, he colluded with rebels, a crime punishable by the extermination of three generations of his family. Isn't this all because of you, Master?"

  Lu Zhishen's face changed greatly, and before he could respond, Lin Chong shouted loudly: "Brother, you are generous and open-minded, Lin Chong has always admired you, I will not drag you down, Brother please leave quickly, Lin will sacrifice his life to deal with him!"

  Huang Rong almost burst out laughing: Lin Chong, Lu Da! Now you two will never escape my palm again. With Lu Da's sense of justice and urgency, how could he leave you, Lin Chong, to suffer the consequences? And with Lin Chong living a stable life, having a happy family, as long as he isn't pushed to desperation, he can tolerate it, so why would he follow you into exile on the rivers and lakes? It's better for both of you to surrender to me!

  "Brother, you take me for what kind of person? How can I let you live alone? If we go, we'll go together; if we die, we'll die together!"

  Lin Chong was in a hurry, just wanting to say more, when Gao Qiu saw that the fire had almost gone out and hastily smiled: "Headmaster Lin, Master Lu, you two have a deep and profound relationship, I admire it extremely. However, I have always admired you two in my heart, how could I harbor malicious intentions? I only want to invite Master Lu to live in my mansion, where he can teach me Buddhist scriptures every morning and evening, and also ask Headmaster Lin to be my teacher, to learn some real martial arts skills from him. Why must you two view me as a snake or scorpion, avoiding me as if it's not enough?"

  Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen both looked suspicious, but Gao Qiu secretly rejoiced in his heart. Since they didn't get angry after hearing this, the matter was already half settled, so he continued to play along.

  He rushed forward, knelt down on both knees, and said loudly: "Two masters are above, please accept the high-strength bow of the apprentice!" As he spoke, he knocked his head on the ground four times, making the floorboards "thud" with a loud noise.

  He lifted his head and saw that Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen were both looking at each other in dismay. He quickly smiled and said, "Two masters, the disciple's admiration for you is pure and sincere, I hope you will accept me as your disciple. Moreover, since you have already accepted me as your disciple, if I were to surrender now, it would be a betrayal of my masters and ancestors, and I would suffer three knife wounds and six holes, and be spat upon by the crowd. Although I am not talented, this is something I will never do, so please, two masters, put your minds at ease." This act of becoming a disciple also had another advantage - his wife would no longer be able to interfere, and Lin Chong was relieved of one more worry.

  Seeing that the whole day's efforts had been in vain, they only gained a disciple with a bad reputation. Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen, although proud and arrogant, could only swallow their pride and accept this disciple. Gao Qiu hastily came forward to apologize to his two masters, and seeing that Lu Zhishen's monk robe was tattered, he quickly took off his own outer garment to give it to him to wear. He addressed them as "Master" with extreme warmth.

  Just as they had finished, a miserable cry came from the staircase, and several people were shocked to turn their heads. They saw Lu Qian slowly pulling out the steel knife from Fu An's chest, holding his throat with one hand, and slowly putting him on the ground. Fu An's eyes were wide open, staring at yesterday's sworn brother, making "gurgling" sounds, but unable to say a word. Finally, he spat out a mouthful of turbid air, convulsed a few times, and then went limp on the ground.

  Lu Qian turned around, his face calm as water, not a hint of emotion showing that he had just killed his friend. His steel knife and white clothes were spotless, and he slowly knelt down to the ground, saying: "Congratulations, sir, on meeting your master. I am overjoyed for you, and I wish to offer my body in celebration!" After speaking, he raised the knife above his head, closed his eyes, and waited.

  Gao Qiu couldn't help but shiver: what a clever move by Lu Qian! Seeing that Lu Da was guilty of a serious crime and had entered the Temple Commander's headquarters, he knew he had seen something he shouldn't have. He quickly made a decision to kill Fu An, another person who knew about it, so that he himself would also have leverage in his own hands. By doing so, he could control life and death, and still work at the Temple Commander's headquarters. Who wouldn't want such a loyal dog? Moreover, with Lin Chong by his side, this man valued loyalty and would not betray his orders. He would definitely plead for Lu Qian, and since he had just become his master, he would certainly give him face. Thus, Lu Qian became his trusted confidant in one move. What a great plan! What a decisive decision!

  Lin Chong hastily said, "Your Honor, Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen are sworn brothers, I deeply know that he is a loyal and honest man. Today, he killed someone to protect Your Honor, truly a man of unwavering loyalty! I beg you to spare his life!"

  Gao Liang hurriedly laughed and said: "Master, you're wrong. If Master has something to do, his disciple will take care of it. Why mention a single word 'ask'? Lu Yu is loyal to me, and I'm deeply grateful in my heart. Lu Yu, please get up quickly!" As he spoke, he stepped forward and took over Lu Jian's sword, helped him up with one hand, and then put the sword back into its scabbard. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he whispered in his ear: "Lu Jian, you know what to do and what to say."

  Lu Qian's whole body shook, and he immediately knelt down and exclaimed loudly: "Lu Qian is grateful for the official's mercy in not killing him. This kindness is like being reborn. In this life, I will devote myself to serving the official with all my might!"

  Gao Jian nodded heavily, turned around, beamed with a smile, and stood respectfully to invite the two masters and mistress to go downstairs first, without even glancing at Fu An out of the corner of his eye.

  Lu Qian bowed his head to see off the officials and others downstairs, then slowly raised his head, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of his mouth. His gaze turned to those two cringing old women, and his right hand once again moved onto the hilt of his knife...