Chapter 23 Togetherness
From Fengyang Prefecture to Zhushan, western Hunan, Zhu Chongyang is about to board the boat from Hefei, go upstream, get off the boat from Hankou, go to Changde, and enter western Hunan. He takes a waterway in front and a dry road behind. He can arrive in about twenty days.
Because he cared about his master, he wished he could fly straight to the four-way gate. The waterway was too slow. Zhao Zhuifeng was very generous and gave the three of them a good horse. If he only walked on the dry road, it would only take seven or eight days to arrive. Therefore, he said to Zhu Chongyang: "Although taking a boat is comfortable, Zhu Daxia is still thinking about me being anxious. Let's take the dry road, so that we can get there in just a few days, and we can also get less trouble on the boat and train."
Zhu Chongyang naturally knew his mood at the moment, but he still insisted on going to the water route first. His explanation was: "If you walk too fast, you may not be able to learn the truth as quickly as possible. Instead, you will miss something. If you walk slowly, it may not be a bad thing. I think we are better off going to the water route. Brother Gou, you have been away from the Four-Jiemen Gate for more than a year. If we hadn't told you about this, I'm afraid you wouldn't know that there is a gang like the Disguise Gang in the world. Now let's tell you how many days we'll go, and you'll follow us on the water route."
Seeing that his words were very meaningful, he refused to tell him clearly. Fortunately, he believed that with the temperament of Zhu Chongyang and Fuyin, such a decision would be beneficial to him or not. Therefore, he could only endure his worries about his master and no longer argue with Zhu Chongyang and Fuyin.
When he arrived at the ferry by the Hefei River, most of the ships traveling west were filled with cargo, and could only carry people, not horses. When Zhu Chongyang saw an inn near the ferry, he forced Gouxinchang and Fuyin to stay in the inn for two days. This undoubtedly made Gouxinchang's anxious heart even more like adding fuel to the fire, and he wished he could leave alone in the middle of the night.
On the second day, Fu Yin and Ye Chengfeng went out early in the morning and did not say hello to Guanxin. Guanxin suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart and did not attack.
In the evening, Fu Yin and Ye Chengfeng had not returned yet. The intrigue finally couldn't bear it anymore. He thought that he could not set off tonight, so he rode his horse first and left without saying goodbye.
Zhu Chongyang could naturally see his intrigue intentions. He persuaded: "Everyone of the Disguise Gang's martial arts has been guided by many experts. Even if I am not necessarily their opponent, Brother Gou should be calm. We must go together, otherwise if something happens, you will lose your life in vain, and no problem will be solved. If you cannot avenge your revenge for your master, wouldn't it be a pity and would increase the arrogance of the evil people?"
He said intriguedly with a begging for mercy: "Hello Zhu, you know my concern for the master without saying anything more, but I think the two of you seem to... don't care about the affairs of your master..."
He finished speaking with courage, as if he was not afraid of offending Zhu Chongyang, but he didn't dare to look at Zhu Chongyang with his eyes.
Zhu Chongyang said: "Although I don't care about Master Ling as much as you, Brother Gou, please believe me, Fu Yin and I are even more anxious than you!"
Gouxinchang was a little unbelievable: "If Fuyin was anxious, how could he still feel like he was going to bet on money with people?" It turned out that after noon, Gouxinchang went out and walked around, and actually saw Fuyin betting on money with people in a casino.
Zhu Chongyang smiled bitterly and said, "The purpose of his gamble is not money, and I asked him to gamble. He didn't want to go. I persuaded him to agree to gamble. I was afraid that you would be suspicious, so I didn't tell you, and I didn't expect you to find out."
The careless son was even more confused, and he asked, "Why? Is it because Zhu Daxia is worried that we will not be able to get enough money on the way? That shadowless palm Zhao Zhuifeng has already given me enough money..."
Seeing that his misunderstanding became deeper and deeper, Zhu Chongyang had to say to him: "Of course it's not for the sake of money. Have you forgotten what the nickname of Fu Yin is? He is a thief. Even if he goes to a wealthy family when he has no money, the money he gets is enough for us to go back and forth. He has another purpose to gamble."
The intriguing and breaking the casserole asked: "What's the purpose?"
Zhu Chongyang said: "We entrusted someone to help us investigate the disguise. I was afraid that we would suddenly turn east and west. Those people didn't know where we were, so I asked Fu Yin to show off. The casino was mixed with people from all walks of life and all kinds of people, which was the most suitable for exposing their whereabouts."
The intriguing elder asked again: "Where is Ye Chengfeng, where has he gone?"
Zhu Chongyang said: "Ye Chengfeng went to the dock just to find a boat that can ride both people and horses as soon as possible."
He pondered for a while and said, "Hisan Zhu, I think you never trust me, and you feel like you are taking advantage of me."
Zhu Chongyang said: "What do you say?"
He said intriguingly: "You don't tell me many things, you just tell me how to do it. I have a big question in my heart, but I want to ask, but I feel that you don't want to tell me."
Zhu Chongyang said in surprise: "I didn't expect that we misunderstood to this point, so that Brother Gou would have such an idea. If Brother Gou has anything to ask, you can ask now."
He said intriguedly: "Okay, the first thing I want to ask is how did Zhu Daxia know the existence of the Disguise Gang? At Zhao Zhuifeng's home in the shadowless palm, was your appearance a coincidence or something? What is the origin of the Disguise Gang? Why did you go to him?"
Zhu Chongyang said: "I accidentally heard from someone mention it a few years ago. As for who mentioned it and what occasion it was, so long, I can't remember it. This disguise gang is quite famous. It was originally just to take the crime for others through disguise techniques, but later because the person who was responsible for being punished died, these disguise masters formed the disguise gang themselves. This is a bit of a substitute raised by the princes and nobles back then. When the real body passed away, the substitute was displaced. Why did I go to him? Brother Gou must have heard of the case of the "Mystery Washing Sutra" in Shaolin Temple?"
He was moved by the intrigue: "Is the case in Shaolin Temple done by the people from the Disguise Help?"
Zhu Chongyang shook his head: "We just stopped being suspicious and there was no evidence. If we found them, we would naturally be able to ask clearly. So we found Zhao Zhuifeng's home, but we went southeast from Shaolin Temple and asked whoever we saw. Because the disguise help is really mysterious, we have inquired about so many people, but there is still no clue. It was a coincidence that we met Brother Gou. I wonder if such a frank confession can dispel Brother Gou's doubts?"
Caixin said, "I understand this a little. No wonder Zhu Daxia said that the people of the Disguise Gang are very skilled in martial arts. I thought it was Zhu Daxia's humble words. It turns out that this is true. The people of the Disguise Gang were able to enter Shaolin and go out of Shaolin, kill monks guarding scriptures, and steal the scriptures without disturbing the others in the temple. It is really amazing. I wonder how many people went to Shaolin Temple?" In Caixin's opinion, although the people of the Disguise Gang were powerful, they could enter Shaolin Temple and kill people and seize scriptures without any damage. Naturally, many people cooperated.
Zhu Chongyang said: "As far as we know, the murderer should be alone."
He was so intrigued that he could not speak.
Zhu Chongyang said earnestly: "We just inferred that the Shaolin Temple case and the strange experiences encountered by Master Ling have not supported it. Moreover, the people in the Disguise Gang are so skillful and have such strange whereabouts. We don't know what the reason behind these two things is, so before we know our enemies, I think we should act cautiously, otherwise we should not even find out the truth and even bring ourselves in."
He nodded intriguingly, and his suspicion of Zhu Chongyang and Fu Yin was naturally resolved.
At this moment, Fu Yin came from outside and Zhu Chongyang asked, "How is it, did you win or lose?"
Fu Yin said proudly: "If you lose, how can you attract other people's attention? It's naturally a big win."
As he said that, Fu Yin took out his spoils today, including gold and silver ingots, pearls and jade gems, and a sharp dagger. There were many gems inlaid on the dagger sheath, and it seemed that this dagger was not an ordinary thing.
Zhu Chongyang smiled and said, "You guys are good at gambling skills. I think you don't want to steal from home and rob and steal it anymore. Just find a casino to gamble when you need money. Soon you will have everything?"
Fu Yin shook his head: "I don't feel guilty about stealing money from rich people. After winning the bet, I feel a little sorry for those gambling monsters. Many people have sex with gambling, and even the money for treating their families is used as gambling money. I can't do such a bad thing."
Zhu Chongyang comforted him and said, "These people know that nine out of ten gambling will still gamble. As the saying goes, gambling will lead to stealing, rape will lead to death, and once the gambling money is lost, these people will rob and steal, and gradually become unstoppable. If you can make them understand that they will never win, it will be considered an immeasurable merit."
Fu Yin said, "Forget it, I don't want to make any money on this merit, I'll give it to you." As he said that, he threw the dagger to the bewitching son.
The bewitched and took it over, and he said, "I don't receive any reward without any merits. How could I ask for the things that are about the hero?"
Fu Yin said, "I said you can take it. We don't have weapons, but we just feel it's a burden. Please keep it. This dagger is extremely sharp and may be used when dealing with the people from the Disguise Gang. Now we have to work together and we still need to work together, so we don't know what you and me are."
Seeing that his words were about this, he had to accept them.
During dinner, Ye Chengfeng, who was in charge of watching the boat, came back and said to Zhu Chongyang: "There may not be a big ship heading west today and tomorrow. According to what the coolie on the dock said, I am afraid I will have to wait until the day after tomorrow."
Zhuque nodded, thinking that this Hongmen is probably worthy of its reputation. He agreed to find out the news about the Disguise Gang in a few days, but he didn't know that there was no clue yet.
After two days, I finally waited for a five-masted ship that could take my horse on the boat. Several people got on the boat and went upstream that night.
Chapter completed!