Chapter 28: Shi Wengong

Jiao Ting finally understood.

Seeing Cai Fu and his men use a calculated trap to ambush Yu Baosi, Jiao Ting had a sudden realization. Cai Fu’s methods were truly breathtaking. He had wandered through countless mountain strongholds across Hebei and Shandong, yet he lacked the foresight to realize that there was no hero in the entire region who could compare to Cai Fu.

Jiao Ting came to a firm conclusion: rather than drifting like a lonely ghost, it would be far better to cling to this powerful patron.

Thus, Jiao Ting had set an ambush on the only path leading to Zengtou City, and as expected, he intercepted Yu Baosi for Cai Fu. Now, Jiao Ting kowtowed deeply, finishing the lines he had rehearsed in one breath, waiting anxiously for Cai Fu’s favor.

Cai Fu remained silent, while Cai Qing, understanding his brother's thoughts, offered a disdainful smile. "Brother, do not be fooled by him again! Do you remember what this scoundrel told you last time? That he would follow you through fire and water, serving you hand and foot? And what came of it?"

"Ah, well..." Jiao Ting broke into a cold sweat. He was never a man of eloquent speech; in his panic, he could not find the right words. It was true that he had gone back on his word the last time he tried to join Cai Fu, mostly because he had grown accustomed to living without shame. But now, he did not want to lose face anymore, nor did he want to drift aimlessly like a phantom. Furthermore, by capturing Yu Baosi, he had already offended the people of Zengtou City; if he did not stay with Cai Fu, he feared he would not even make it out of Shandong alive.

In desperation, Jiao Ting gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve. "I am sincere in my desire to serve the Blade King! I am willing to take the Blade King as my master, to serve as his thrall for the rest of my life, even unto death!"

He had pushed his lack of shame to its limit. If Cai Fu still refused him, he would truly be at a loss. Fortunately, he received his answer. Cai Fu sighed and reached out to help him up. "Very well, I will trust you one more time."

"Thank you, Master, for taking me in!" Jiao Ting rose, his eyes brimming with tears. If only he could go back, he would have chosen to follow Cai Fu into Zengtou City from the start! But there were no "ifs." Still, he had Yan Qing as a role model; hadn't Yan Qing risen to prominence from humble beginnings as a servant?

With Jiao Ting dealt with, it was Yu Baosi’s turn. Yu Baosi knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. "Good sir, I was blind to steal your horses... Please spare my life, I am willing to surrender!" After speaking, he knocked his head against the ground. Cai Fu’s display of force earlier had already set the tone for the day.

Yu Baosi did not know how important he was to Cai Fu; he only knew that too many people had died that day. One more or one less made little difference. "I can spare you," Cai Fu said, a playful smile curling his lips. "You only need to do one thing for me, and you may atone for your crimes."

Yu Baosi agreed immediately. "Don't worry, sir, I will handle it perfectly!"

"Good!" Cai Fu helped him up with satisfaction. "It goes like this, and like that, and so on and so forth..."

Yu Baosi’s eyes widened. "I understand, sir!"

...

Zengtou City.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

A hulking man, eight feet tall with the build of a tiger, was wielding a twelve-foot spear with a red tassel in the courtyard! The red tassel swirled like a blood-colored python, circling the man, dancing up and down! In a burst of excitement, he suddenly thrust the spear toward the closed gate of his residence!

*Clang!*

The spearhead was unstoppable, piercing through the wooden gate with ease, missing the eyes of the man standing just outside by a hair's breadth!

"Good heavens!" the man outside cried out. The spear tip had nearly skewered his eyeball! His face turned deathly pale, his body stiffened, and as he tried to retreat, his legs gave way, causing him to collapse to the ground.

*Creak—*

The wooden gate opened, and the hulking man emerged, holding his twelve-foot spear. His presence was like a mountain, his gaze like lightning, as he looked down coldly at the man outside. "Yu Baosi, what are you doing?"

Yu Baosi was bloodless, shivering like chaff. "The task Master Shi entrusted me with... I have found a lead."

The hulking man was none other than the master of martial arts at Zengtou City, Shi Wengong! Shi Wengong’s expression softened. "Come inside and speak," he said, turning back into the courtyard.

Yu Baosi scrambled up, trembling, clutching his chest as if his heart were about to burst. Although Shi Wengong hadn't killed him, that thrust had truly felt like a brush with the gates of hell. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Yu Baosi forced a smile and stepped into the yard.

This was the small, isolated courtyard where Shi Wengong lived alone; he didn't even have a servant girl. Shi Wengong sat on a folding chair, picked up a cup of cold tea, and took a casual sip.

"Master Shi, didn't you ask me to find you a steed of a thousand miles?" Yu Baosi asked with a fawning smile. "I've found one!"

Shi Wengong sneered. "Is that so?"

"Yes, Master Shi!" Yu Baosi recited the script Cai Fu had provided. "A few days ago, I found a thousand-mile steed outside a village inn in Dongchang Prefecture and brought it to Zengtou City yesterday. Because the horse was unruly, I kept it in my courtyard to train it for a couple of days, intending to surprise you. But today, some con artists came along and used sweet talk to steal the horse! I took a few brothers to pursue them, but the leader was a master of the blade. Not only did I fail to recover the horse, but I also lost several of my men..."

Yu Baosi shook his head bitterly. "I am incompetent, and I have no choice but to ask for your help. Your spear is invincible, Master Shi; if you go, success will surely be yours!"

Shi Wengong studied Yu Baosi with a meaningful look. In truth, he knew a little about what had happened that day—only that Yu Baosi had brought back a fine horse and it had been stolen, and that he had gone after the thieves. It seemed consistent with what Yu Baosi said: not only did he fail to recover the horse, but he had indeed lost men.

Seeing that Shi Wengong remained silent, Yu Baosi quickly added, "The horse will be yours once we reclaim it! I only want to kill those con artists to avenge my brothers and take back the fifty taels of gold they swindled from me!"

"Very well." Shi Wengong did indeed want that horse. Though Yu Baosi’s words were half-truths, the existence of the horse was real. After a moment of contemplation, Shi Wengong picked up his spear. "I will go with you."

"There is no time to lose, they haven't gone far!" Yu Baosi was overjoyed. "Master Shi, I have prepared two fast horses; let us set off at once!"

"Excellent," Shi Wengong replied. He was about to leave, but paused, turned back into his room, and retrieved an object. He tucked it carefully into his robes and mounted the horse Yu Baosi had brought.

The two rode out of the market at a steady pace, and only after crossing the Sancha River port did they spur their horses into a full gallop. Along the way, Yu Baosi made small talk, carefully laying the groundwork before finally asking what he really wanted to know: "Master Shi, hasn't the Commander mentioned twice that he would give you the Night-Illuminating Jade Lion? Since that is already a horse of a thousand miles, why do you seek another?"