7 Heroes

7. Heroes

By the time Qian San fell into the latrine pit, he had already passed out. His body twitched once or twice after landing in the filth, then sank completely beneath it.

By the moonlight, Li Yuan saw the stone he had fired land in Qian San's crotch and tumble into the latrine with him. That saved him some trouble.

It wasn't as though someone would empty out the latrine, find that stone inside, and stubbornly trace their suspicions back to him. That was hardly realistic.

But Li Yuan did not leave at once. His right hand swiftly drew another slick stone from his quiver, and he stood silently amid the ice and snow.

The deep-winter wind sliced across the backs of his hands and his cheeks like a knife, yet he remained utterly still, quietly watching.

First, to confirm whether Qian San was dead.

Second, to see whether anyone was nearby.

If there was, that person would not discover that Qian San had fallen into the latrine because he had been struck by a stone.

It was so dark, and the wind was howling. How could anyone see clearly?

But after seeing Qian San fall into the latrine, that person would certainly come to rescue him.

Then Li Yuan would know what to make of it.

As for why he had not used an arrow—

An arrow would have been too conspicuous. It would be easy for others to trace matters back from Qian San to him.

Li Yuan waited patiently for nearly half an incense stick's time. Seeing no movement from Qian San in the latrine and no one approaching, he finally hunched over and darted swiftly through the shadows of the woods toward home.

Not long after Li Yuan left, however, a figure appeared outside Qian San's house.

The moonlight revealed the man's appearance.

He was a bald man with a bruised, swollen face. Dressed in rough cloth and gripping an iron rod, he had his sleeves rolled up, his arms mottled blue and purple.

Even so, the bald man's eyes shone brightly, flames burning within them.

He took three steps as two and quickly reached Qian San's door. After drawing several deep breaths, he suddenly lashed out with a savage kick.

Bang!!

The door flew open.

"Qian San, fuck your mother!! Today, I'll uphold justice for Heaven and rid the people of this scourge!" the bald man roared, charging inside with the iron rod in hand.

A woman screamed from within.

"Monk Pan, what are you doing?" Qian San's wife clutched her silk bodice and pulled the quilt around herself as she cried out, "Help! Third Master, save me!! Monk Pan has gone mad!!"

Li Yuan knew nothing of this. At that moment, he felt his way back into the house, climbed over the fence, and carefully pushed open the door.

He quickly stripped off his ice-cold clothes and old trousers, removed his boots, and cautiously climbed into bed.

Perhaps sensing someone getting into bed, Yan Yu called out half-awake, "Yuan Ge'er..."

"Sister Yan," Li Yuan answered.

"How long were you gone?"

"Just a little while."

"Mmm..." Yan Yu was groggy and had no sense of time. She only let out a soft, coquettish moan, extending a small foot to hook around his leg as she tried to nestle into the man's embrace.

But as she brushed against him, Yan Yu could not help letting out a soft cry. "Ow... Yuan Ge'er, why are you so cold?"

Li Yuan said, "It's cold outside."

"Then hurry and hold me. I'm warm." Yan Yu reached out and tugged the quilt over them, covering and wrapping them tightly before pressing her body against the cold parts of Li Yuan to warm him.

Before long, the bedding had warmed up, warmer even than a charcoal brazier.

Li Yuan held the woman in his arms tight. This wife of his truly knew how to cherish a man.

Suddenly, the woman in his arms muttered, "Yuan Ge'er, why don't... why don't you go hunting with Qian San? I've been thinking that Qian San has no good intentions. You and he aren't cut from the same cloth. If you go, there definitely won't be any good fruit to eat."

But after saying that, she recalled the consequences of not going and could not help weeping, "Wah, wah, wah..." Her little mouth kept murmuring, "What should we do, Yuan Ge'er? What should we do..."

Li Yuan gently stroked her hair. "I'll be careful, Sister Yan. It's late. Sleep."

The next day

At the first faint light of dawn, all of Little Ink Village exploded into commotion.

"Monk Pan killed someone!"

"Monk Pan killed someone!"

"How did he dare?"

"He took abuse in the day and went to vent it out at night."

Li Yuan had "stayed up late" the night before. He had rushed back and forth with his nerves strung taut, then made love with Sister Yan beneath the covers. He had not yet risen.

Yan Yu, on the other hand, was in fine spirits. She cautiously pushed open the door and looked outside. Seeing Aunt Wang from next door also outside, she hurried over.

Hearing that Monk Pan had killed someone, she felt rather curious—and faintly expectant for no reason.

"Aunt Wang, what happened?"

Aunt Wang was well informed. Leaning close, she said, "Yan Niangzi, Monk Pan went and beat Qian San to death last night."

"Huh?"

Yan Yu's eyes widened. She could hardly believe it, yet an inexplicable little joy rose in her heart.

But then she furrowed her brow. "That's not right. Qian San was so strong, and Monk Pan got beaten up during the day. How could he have beaten Qian San?"

Aunt Wang said, "I don't know either. Let's ask around later. I'm puzzled too."

"Mhm..." Yan Yu was afraid the news was not certain, and she began worrying again.

She stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance, hesitating over whether to go take a look. But she quickly dismissed the idea.

Her man had told her to stay away from crowded places. She had to be obedient.

So she waited there, hoping.

Only when she saw people returning from the direction of Qian San's house did she run over with Aunt Wang to ask.

Once they asked, the news was confirmed.

Yan Yu's heart blossomed with joy. It felt like New Year's.

She desperately held back her delight, but in her heart she was already singing, Today is a good day.

Suddenly, the man they had questioned said, "Yan Niangzi, didn't Qian San seem to come looking for your Yuan Ge'er yesterday?"

Yan Yu froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh, her face full of sorrow. "Brother Qian asked my Yuan Ge'er to follow him. Brother Qian was such a capable man, so I told Yuan Ge'er that he had to follow Brother Qian properly and learn from him.

"Yuan Ge'er was anxious too.

"Didn't he get chased by a wild boar some time ago? The injury had gone right into his bones. He wished it would heal at once so he could go hunting with Brother Qian.

"How could this have happened? Ai... My Yuan Ge'er is a man with no fortune."

By noon, Li Yuan gave a leisurely yawn and got up to pull on his boots, only to hear Yan Yu humming a cheerful tune in the distance.

"Sister Yan, what's made you so happy?"

Hearing her man's question, Yan Yu tossed aside the firewood in her hand. Her little face was flushed red from the stove fire as she came over to the bedside and said, "Oh, Yuan Ge'er, isn't it a coincidence? Qian San died last night!

"I'd say Monk Pan truly had a chivalrous heart. In the daytime, he stood up for Caihua Sao's family, and at night he carried an iron rod over and beat Qian San into the latrine. He really was a hero."

Li Yuan paused.

That happened too?

He had killed someone, yet Monk Pan had taken the blame.

But it was simply a coincidence, and naturally he could not explain it.

"Sister Yan, don't be so happy. It wouldn't be good if people noticed."

"I know, I know. It's not like I'm stupid."

After explaining in a few words, Yan Yu ran back to the stove to tend the fire.