Chapter 37: Shi Xiu: Song Jiang is despicable, and Wu Yong is shameless!

"Brother, I shall forever cherish this debt of gratitude for saving my life!"

After hesitating for a long moment, Dai Zong finally knelt down and bowed to Cai Fu.

"I have official orders to fulfill and cannot afford to delay any longer. If you have no further commands for me, I must take my leave and return to Liangshan Marsh to report back to Brother Song Gongming."

Cai Fu chuckled. "Please, do as you wish."

Sand that cannot be held is better left to the wind. In truth, Cai Fu had never pinned any real hopes on Dai Zong, for he was one of Song Jiang's "four loyalists." These four were men who would willingly die for Song Jiang; how could they be easily swayed? Regardless, Cai Fu’s objective did not involve him, so let him go. Even if he did report back to Song Jiang, what of it? Cai Fu had already finished what he set out to do, and as for what remained... Dai Zong knew nothing of it anyway.

Shi Xiu’s expression shifted, and he was about to step forward, but Yang Xiong grabbed his wrist. Shi Xiu glared back at Yang Xiong, who merely frowned and shook his head. Shi Xiu gritted his teeth and said nothing more.

Dai Zong stood up and looked toward Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, but both turned their heads away. With no other choice, Dai Zong departed alone. Having been thrown into the death row of Daming Prefecture, he had been thoroughly searched by the jailers, inside and out. He rummaged around behind his back and managed to pull out a single *jiamar*—a paper horse talisman—with a sharp *pop*, but he could not produce a second one. Forced to settle, he tied the talisman to his right leg and began chanting the incantation for the Divine Speed technique:

"Bala-bala-bala..."

*Swish—swish—swish—*

Cai Fu and the others watched, dumbstruck, as Dai Zong hopped away on one leg like a giant grasshopper, vanishing into the distance at great speed.

Looking around with a bewildered expression, Cai Fu asked in astonishment, "Did any of you see where he pulled that from?"

The brothers looked at each other, all shaking their heads. At that moment, Cai Fu noticed that Shi Xiu’s expression was off. His thick brows were knitted together, his eyes flickering, and his face shifted with signs of an intense internal struggle. Cai Fu mused for a moment, then chose to ignore it and turned his attention to checking the wounds of his brothers one by one.

When Elder Zhiming had departed, he had left a formula for a potent golden sore ointment with Zhou Tong because the camp at Liquan Mountain was filled with wounded men. The ointment was highly effective, and Zhou Tong had prepared plenty of it, naturally ensuring that Cai Fu and Lu Junyi were well-supplied. As Lu Junyi and Yan Qing attended to the injured, Cai Fu joined them as a matter of course. After cleaning the wound of a horse bandit, Cai Fu took out the golden ointment and applied it generously without a hint of stinginess. The bandit accepted the treatment calmly, clearly accustomed to such kindness from Cai Fu.

*Rip.*

Cai Fu tore a strip of clean cloth from his own garments and bandaged the bandit's arm. Just then, a heavy thud sounded behind him.

Cai Fu turned to see that Shi Xiu had dropped to his knees.

"Brother!"

Shi Xiu had finally made a decision that went against Song Jiang. With tears in his eyes, he bowed his head to Cai Fu. "I have failed you all!"

*Thud!*

Yang Xiong knelt down as well. He had been wavering, but since Shi Xiu had made his choice, he had to stand by his sworn brother.

"Since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness have been hard to reconcile. But the debt of a life saved is greater than the heavens themselves; I cannot be ungrateful to you, Brother!"

Shi Xiu gritted his teeth and stared ahead, ready to reveal how Song Jiang and Wu Yong had conspired to frame Lu Junyi. Cai Fu reached out and covered Shi Xiu’s mouth.

"Brother, say no more. I know you are a man of loyalty and honor. Do not let your principles be ruined on my account."

"No!" Shi Xiu pulled away from Cai Fu’s hand, speaking with firm resolve. "The truth is that Song Jiang is despicable and Wu Yong is shameless! They plotted to frame Master Lu, and then used both soft and hard tactics on you, all just to force you up to Liangshan! My sworn brother Yang Xiong and I had no other path but to go to Liangshan, but you and Master Lu are innocent! If I do not tell you this, I would be ungrateful and unworthy of being called a man! Yet, when I had no way to turn, it was Liangshan that took me in, so I must return there. Brother, you must flee to safety! I will repay what I owe Song Jiang, and then come to serve you!"

Yang Xiong cupped his hands and added, "Song Jiang and Wu Yong framed Master Lu just to have the strength to attack Zengtou Market! Zengtou is well-defended, and Shi Wengong possesses the strength of ten thousand men; even the Heavenly King Chao Gai died by his arrows! Why should you and Master Lu sacrifice your lives for them? Flee! We two brothers will repay our debt to Song Jiang, and then we will come to find you!"

"I thank you both for your good intentions," Cai Fu said, feeling deeply moved. He took Shi Xiu by one hand and Yang Xiong by the other. "But it is exactly to Liangshan that I intend to go!"

"Brother, you cannot!" Shi Xiu misunderstood, becoming frantic. "Brother, Song Jiang has many elite soldiers and brilliant generals under his command! Men like 'Leopard Head' Lin Chong, 'Thunderous Fire' Qin Ming, 'Twin Whips' Huyan Zhuo, 'Flower Monk' Lu Zhishen, and 'The Traveler' Wu Song all possess the strength of ten thousand men! 'Cloud-Dwelling Dragon' Gongsun Sheng and 'Demon King of Chaos' Fan Rui can summon wind and rain with boundless magic! Plus, 'Star of Wisdom' Wu Yong and 'Divine Strategist' Zhu Wu provide their counsel! You are outnumbered; even with the two of us, you cannot stand against Song Jiang at Liangshan!"

"That’s right, Brother!" Yang Xiong urged. "Song Jiang and Wu Yong are powerful. Wouldn't going to Liangshan to confront them be walking right into a trap?"

Cai Fu asked with a smile, "Who said I was going to Liangshan to confront Song Jiang?"

Yang Xiong’s face turned grim. "If it’s a fight you want, two fists cannot beat four hands! Brother, please listen to my sincere advice! A moment of patience brings peace, and a step back opens the horizon..."

"Who said I was going to Liangshan to fight Song Jiang?"

Cai Fu smiled, opening his arms to pull both Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu into a tight embrace. He spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "Song Jiang and Wu Yong have caused our brothers so much suffering; naturally, we will not let them off! But we are neither going there to debate them, nor to fight them—we are going there to join them!"

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu were both stunned. "Ah... this..."

"I thank you both for your concern, but rest assured, I have my own plans." Cai Fu walked them over to Lu Junyi. "If you two brothers are willing to lend me a hand..."

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu exchanged a glance and spoke in unison: "Through fire and water, we shall not refuse!"

"Excellent!" Cai Fu looked at Lu Junyi. "In that case, focus on recovering from your wounds first, and we shall discuss the rest later."

Shi Xiu, having a fiery temperament, was impatient. "My wounds are but minor flesh injuries! If you have any orders for me, Brother, just say the word!"

"A true hero!" Lu Junyi stepped forward and squeezed Shi Xiu’s bicep. "Do you have the courage to join us in fighting the Golden Dogs?"

"It is my duty!" Shi Xiu accepted without a moment's hesitation. "Brother, where are we going to fight the Golden Dogs?"

Cai Fu chuckled. "Zengtou Market!"