Ji Bu had Lu Xin watch the horses while he left the inn alone to look for his friends in the east of the city.
He had just reached the courtyard gate when he heard a burst of noise inside. Ji Bu smiled and pushed the door open. Everyone in the room froze and turned to look. When they saw it was Ji Bu, all dozen or so men rose to their feet.
"Ah, Brother Ji Bu! It's been over a year since we last saw you. I've missed you to death," one of the men said happily as he stood.
"Your brother has business with you," Ji Bu said.
Several earthenware basins sat on the wooden table, filled with cooked mutton. Ji Bu sat down without ceremony, grabbed a chunk of lamb ribs, and began gnawing on it. After two bites, he picked up someone's bowl from beside him and drained the wine in one long gulp.
Setting down the bowl, Ji Bu said, "I have fifteen fine horses. I need to turn them all into money tonight. Can you handle them?"
The men in the room were startled. The first man immediately said, "Fifteen horses are no problem. But since when did Brother Ji Bu start dealing horses? Why didn't you tell us in advance? We've been in this trade for years. We could have looked out for you."
Ji Bu gnawed down a few more pieces of meat. Only after his stomach had something in it did he slowly say, "What horse dealing? I won't hide it from you. I got these horses by killing Black Crow Mountain bandits. Do you still dare take them?"
The men in the room were shocked. "Brother Ji Bu, you really fought those bandits? And killed so many of them?"
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