Chapter 7: Hit the dog without looking at the master

  Gao Xing asked: "Can you read?"

  Zhang Shun nodded, smiling happily: "Very good, wait a moment." After finishing speaking, he got up and entered the house.

  When Gaoxing reappeared in front of Zhang Shun, he had a stack of papers filled with writing in his hand. Gaoxing handed the papers to Zhang Shun and said, "Take a look, ask me if you don't understand anything."

  "Good handwriting, the strokes are smooth and powerful, the structure is solid, it's a rare good handwriting!" Looking at the handwriting on the paper, Zhang Shun couldn't help but praise, and looked up at Gao Xing with surprise.

  "Oh? Do you understand characters?" asked excitedly.

  Zhang Shun nodded and replied, "I have a rough understanding of it. I used to practice with my father for some time in the past." As he spoke, Zhang Shun's face turned pale, his eyes filled with sadness and nostalgia.

  Zhang Shun's father was originally a man of the former Liang State, a poor scholar who lived an extremely bitter life in this era where birth and social status were highly valued. When Zhang Shun was eight years old, his father was conscripted as a civilian laborer and never returned. At eleven years old, his mother also passed away due to exhaustion and longing.

  He patted Zhang Shun's shoulder with a smile and said firmly, "Everything is over, don't be sad anymore. From today on, you will have a new life, and countless people in distress will also gain a new life because of you!"

  Looking at the sincerity and persistence in Gao Xing's eyes, Zhang Shun couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in his heart, and he trusted Gao Xing even more. Without saying a word, he carefully looked at the paper in his hand.

  An hour later, Zhang Shun left the Neishi Mansion with an excited and agitated smile on his face. At the same time, the Beggar Gang was formally established in the joyful courtyard of the Neishi Mansion in Xuyi City, with Gaoxing as the leader. This day is April 21st, 573 AD.

  After Zhang Shun left, he was delighted to see the sky, changed into a white shirt, and walked out of the door with a carefree air, heading straight for Lu Ping's home.

  Just a dozen meters away from Lu Ping's home, he saw the gate of Lu Ping's courtyard open wide, and it was still forced by Giant Strength. There were more than a dozen people standing in the yard, and Gao Xing furrowed his brow, secretly guessing if something bad had happened.

  Just then, a somewhat sharp and fierce voice came: "Lao Lu, killing people to repay debts, paying back money is the heavenly principle. Our Eighth Master is busy with business and has no time to entangle with you here. Either you pay us one hundred taels of silver or we will use those things behind you to offset the debt!"

  With a happy heart, he quickened his pace and stealthily approached Lu Ping's courtyard.

  "These things aren't mine, I'm not in charge! I don't have any money, and I certainly don't owe you any. Leave quickly!" Lu Ping's suppressed angry voice entered Gao Xing's ears.

  Delighted to steal a glance, it's only been a few days since they last saw each other, but Lu Ping looks like he's aged ten years. The wrinkles on his face are deeper, his eyebrows are furrowed more tightly, and his complexion is somewhat dull. His slightly turbid eyes have a very complex gaze, with anger, disappointment, sorrow, and helplessness.

  Behind Lu Ping stood a young man in his early twenties, with his head slightly bowed, his face not clearly visible. But from his figure, he was recognizable at a glance as Lu Ping's son, with whom he had once met briefly.

  Lu Ping and his son stood facing each other, a total of eleven people. The first person was about forty years old, wearing a wide Confucian robe that couldn't hide his bulging muscles. He was not tall, with black hair and a faint smile on his face, looking arrogant but with a hint of ferocity in his eyes. A scar above his eyebrow twisted like a small snake, making him look fierce and powerful, which clashed with the scholarly attire he wore.

  The other ten people were all dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, each exuding a violent aura, no need to say they were all thugs and followers.

  "Old Lu, your son Lu Zhishen has accumulated a debt of 100 taels to me, Eighth Master, over the past month. It's all written clearly here in black and white! The man who spoke first pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve and continued blandly: "Eighth Master is a broad-minded and cultured person, he doesn't even ask for interest, you just need to pay back the 100 taels and that will settle the debt."

  "I'm going, Lu Zhishen? This good-for-nothing is simply ruining such a majestic name. If Hua Hehe knew, he'd probably travel through time and space to deal with this guy!" Gaoxing muttered to himself in the dark.

  Lu Ping glared fiercely at the young man behind him and gritted his teeth, saying: "Injustice has a source, debt has an owner, why did Eighth Master come looking for me?"

  "What's wrong with a son paying off his father's debts?" Ba Ye slightly raised his head and glanced at Lu Ping.

  Lu Ping's breathing stagnated, and a stiff smile appeared on his face: "In the past, there was 'father's debt, son repays', but I've never heard of 'son's debt, father repays'. The old man's family is poor and empty, Eighth Master, just let it go."

  "Hey! You old geezer, hand over the cash quickly, or we'll move your stuff!" someone behind Ba Ye bellowed.

  "Eighteenth Master, even if you take Little Lao's life, I still can't come up with a hundred taels!" Lu Ping wailed in distress.

  "Old Lu, I'm counting to three. You either pay me back or let me move the stuff. One... two... three, let's do this."

  "Yes!" The people behind Ba Ye responded in unison and swung into action.

  "Hey, Eighth Master, these things belong to others, you can't take them! I'm begging you, little old man!" Lu Ping stretched out his hands, blocking the way and pleading.

  "Old man, get out of the way quickly, otherwise don't blame us for using force!"

  "Halt!" A clear and stern voice rang out, causing everyone to pause in their actions and look around.

  A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, with bright eyes and white teeth, had a warm smile on his face, paired with a white outfit, elegant and refined, making people admire him.

  "Brother Gao!" Lu Ping recognized Gao Xing with one glance and called out excitedly.

  "Is Mr. Lu doing well?" He walked up to Lu Ping with a smile and bowed with his fists clasped together.

  Lu Ping sighed and shook his head, saying: "Gao Gongzi has come at a bad time. They..." As he spoke, Lu Ping looked worriedly at Gao Xing, gesturing for him to take a look at the sinister-looking henchmen of Eighth Master.

  Delighted, yet seemingly unaware, he exclaimed: "Mr. Lu is indeed worthy of being the best craftsman in Xuyi County! He completed it in such a short time!" As he spoke, he began to examine the things behind Lu Ping's back.

  Those are three chairs with different styles, one is a recliner, one is a round chair, and the other is a rocking chair, with fine workmanship and glossy paint.

  During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, chairs had not yet appeared, and people generally used the Hu bed of ethnic minorities as a seat. That day, Gao Xing came to find Lu Ping, just to ask him to make these three kinds of chairs.

  "Little brat, who are you to dare obstruct Master Ba's business?" One of Master Ba's men glared menacingly and bellowed loudly.

  "Whose dog is this, yapping nonstop in my ear? How ill-bred!" Gaixing scrunched up his face, digging at his ear with a look of distaste.

  "Ah, you little scamp, looking for death!" The man let out a furious roar, raised his fist and slammed it into the back of Gao Yang's heart.

  "Be careful——" Lu Ping exclaimed, and his voice stopped abruptly the next moment.

  He came quickly and left even quicker. No one saw what happened, only a dull thud accompanied by a pained cry, and the man was thrown backward like a kite with a broken string, while Gao Xing still had his back turned. The man flew five meters away before he fell to the ground, sending dust flying everywhere. His body arched like a shrimp, both hands tightly clutching his chest and abdomen, constantly groaning.

  A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the eighth master, but it was only a fleeting moment. He narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the slightly frail white figure not far in front of him.

  "Golden child!" After a brief astonishment, the people under Eighth Master rushed to the side of the fallen man, helping him up with hands and feet.

  "You dare to lay hands on us, the ten brothers? You're quite bold! Brothers, let's go together and tear this servant apart!" The faces of the brothers turned pale and twisted with rage, their eyes bulging with fury as they charged at Gaoxing.

  Delighted, yet with an air of fearlessness, his mouth curved into an even more pronounced arc, leaving Lu Ping stunned. Just as Lu Ping was wondering why Delight was smiling, his heart filled with worry, Delight made a move. Like a fleeting shadow, he charged into the crowd that had rushed forward, the dull thuds and crashes continued to ring out, punctuated by occasional cries of pain and wails.

  After ten breaths, only four people were standing on the field: Lu Ping and his son, who were staring blankly; Gao Xing, who was smiling with joy; and Ba Ye, whose face was gloomy. The others were all lying on the ground, clutching their wounds and wailing in pain.

  "Good-for-nothings without a decent upbringing, daring to be arrogant in front of me, Ben Shao Ye! Truly, they don't know the character for 'death'!" Gao Xing coldly sneered.

  "Young man, good martial arts skills. In the lower Qin dynasty, everyone calls me Eighth Master, but I haven't asked for your esteemed surname and great name yet!" Eighth Master asked in a deep voice with his fists clasped together.

  He hummed happily and said, "You also know that it's everyone's support? You're not even worthy of knowing my name. Today, I'm in a good mood, so I don't want to bother with you. Scram!" Gao Xing had a mocking smile on his face as he glanced at Qin Bayi with extreme disdain.

  "You dare to humiliate me like this, watch out!" Eighth Master's face turned red with rage, his temples bulging with veins, and his whole body emitted a thick killing aura, just like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain. His momentum was intimidating as he pounced on Gao Xing. When beating a dog, one must consider its master. But Gao Xing had repeatedly humiliated him several times. As a figure in Xuanyang County, Eighth Master couldn't just slink away with his tail between his legs today. How would he be able to stand tall in front of his subordinates afterwards?

  With a joyful and nonchalant hum, a sorrowful smile floated onto her face, and her slender crystal-like palm fluttered about like a butterfly among flowers, its elegant posture lightly dissolving Eighth Master's attack.

  After thirty moves, Gaoxing was still calm and composed, but Eighth Young Master was secretly shocked. This seemingly beautiful young boy, what kind of background did he have? His martial arts skills were actually so impressive. He himself had taken at least eighty lives with his own hands, and in the entire Xuyi County, his name was among the top ten, yet he was blocked by this young boy with such ease.

  Old Eighth was deep in thought when he heard Gao Xing say impatiently, "I'm making tens of millions in a second, I don't have time to play with you!"

  Ba Ye's heart skipped a beat, and his excited fist suddenly enlarged in front of him. He was about to dodge, but the fist had already solidly printed on his chest. Like a giant hammer pounding on his chest, it felt heavy and painful. Ba Ye grunted, stumbling backward seven or eight steps before straightening up. A flush of blood rose to his face, and his chest heaved violently.

  "Take your people and get out of here before Master disappears in a flash!" he said with a faint smile.

  "Alright, Qin Ba acknowledges defeat today. I wonder if you dare to leave your name, so that Qin Ba can visit you tomorrow!"

  "Alright, young master, my name is Gao Xing, remember it well!" Gao Xing said with a smile.

  "Go!" Before leaving, Ba Ye took a deep look at Gao Xing, as if to remember his appearance.

  After the Eighth Master's men slunk away in disarray, Lu Ping had already snapped out of his shock and was looking at Gao Xing with a worried face: "Young Master Gao, disaster is upon us, you must flee for your life!"

  "Mr. Lu needn't worry, I have my own measure."

  "Alas, young master, you don't know that Eighth Master's influence is vast and he's a ruthless character!"

  "Of course, Eighth Master is a ruthless and venomous person who will stop at nothing to get revenge. He is the leader of the dark forces in Xuyi City and has close ties with many officials."