Forced into It, Hua Manlou; Lu Xiaofeng, Not Worth His Reputation

"This... Brother Lu, I was forced into it too."

"Forced into it? How were you forced?"

"I wanted to see how Brother Lu dug up earthworms. Once that thought arose in my heart, I could no longer suppress it. I truly had no choice!"

"Fine, fine, fine! That was your excuse?" Lu Xiaofeng snapped.

He could not help reflecting on why he had become friends with these two fellows.

One wanted to set him up.

The other happily helped set him up.

Zhou Ming smiled. "In that case, are you taking the bet or not?"

"No!"

Lu Xiaofeng said decisively, "Old Hua might help you set me up, but he would never harm me. The poison you used cannot be some deadly venom! So I won't take the bet."

Zhou Ming smiled. "Correct, it isn't any deadly poison. This poison is called the Red Fur Monster Poison. After being poisoned, you can do anything except drink alcohol!

Once you drink, the poison will flare up and your body will turn red. The more you drink, the farther it spreads. Even your hair will turn red, while all the hair on your body will grow wildly. In the end, you will become a monster covered in red fur!"

Image

"Once afflicted by this poison, without an antidote, it will last for half a year!"

"So what?" Lu Xiaofeng stubbornly retorted. "At worst, I won't drink for half a year!"

Zhou Ming smiled. "Do you know that on the nineteenth day of the fourth month this year, there will be a grand occasion? True Man Zhang of Wudang Mountain will celebrate his hundredth birthday. The Imperial Court has already discussed it with Wudang Mountain and plans to invite heroes from every sect and school under heaven to offer their congratulations. It will be a grand affair!

When the time comes, all the heroes of the realm will raise their cups together, yet one man alone will not even be able to touch a drop of wine. Who do you think that man will be, Lu Xiaofeng?"

Lu Xiaofeng could not help gritting his teeth.

Zhou Ming continued, "Of course, you can choose not to go. But True Man Zhang's hundredth birthday will happen only once; there will never be another such gathering. With True Man Zhang's reputation, every sect from every nation under heaven will send representatives to offer congratulations. When all the heroes gather, only one person will be unable to attend. Who do you think that person will be, Lu Xiaofeng?"

"You! You're vicious!"

Lu Xiaofeng's face twisted. "In all my life, I, Lu Xiaofeng, have never seen anyone as... vicious as you!"

"Hey! Now you have!"

"In that case... I'll take the bet!"

"Good! Once this case is over, regardless of the outcome, the antidote will naturally be delivered to you."

The three of them settled the matter.

Suddenly, a servant came to report that Jiang Long and Luo Ma, Gold-Clad Constables of the Six Doors, had arrived to pay a visit.

Zhou Ming and the other two went to the front hall to meet them.

"Have you two come because the previous case still requires our cooperation?"

"This..."

Jiang Long glanced around, hesitated briefly, then said, "Young Master Zhou, Young Master Hua, to be honest, the only lead in this case is Zhu Ting. But Zhu Ting refuses to say anything unless he sees Lu Xiaofeng. Only then is he willing to reveal the clue.

The two of us heard that Lu Xiaofeng was here, so we came."

"I see."

Zhou Ming said, "It seems we had the same thought. This case has little to do with me, but it is deeply connected to Hua Manlou, so I specially asked Lu Xiaofeng to help find some clues in the martial world. I did not expect this development."

Jiang Long smiled. "What a coincidence. May I ask if Young Master Lu is willing to help?"

Lu Xiaofeng nodded. "This matter is of great importance. I am naturally willing to do my humble part."

"In that case, please accompany us to the Heavenly Prison to meet Zhu Ting."

"Fine." Lu Xiaofeng nodded.

But Zhou Ming said, "Constable Jiang, Constable Luo, Young Master Hua and I would also like to come along. Would that be acceptable?"

"This..." Jiang Long hardly dared refuse. His eyes shifted as he came up with an excuse. "Since you are both connected to this case, naturally you may come. Please!"

The group immediately went to the Six Doors and entered the prison.

Although Zhu Ting was a suspect, with Zhou Ming's word of protection, he had not suffered much in prison.

"Zhu Ting, we have brought the Lu Xiaofeng you wanted to see!"

Jiang Long said, "Whatever clues you have, speak."

"Lu Xiaofeng!"

Zhu Ting said joyfully, "You finally came! This time, you must help me!"

Lu Xiaofeng said, "Don't worry. I'll definitely help you!"

The two had grown up together since childhood and shared a deep friendship; that went without saying.

Zhu Ting greeted Zhou Ming and Hua Manlou as well before beginning, "In truth, although our Luban Divine Axe Sect has few members, aside from me, there is another disciple: my senior brother, Yue Qing!

My senior brother's skills were no less than mine, and he was equally familiar with the sect's secret codes and methods."

Lu Xiaofeng said, "Then your senior brother sounds rather suspicious?"

But Jiang Long turned to Luo Ma. "Yue Qing... I remember..."

Luo Ma nodded. "This man died of plague seven years ago. All those who died of plague had to be cremated. His ashes are now enshrined at Yunjian Temple outside the city. I took part in that case, so I remember him."

A dead man naturally could not have done such a thing.

Was Zhu Ting bringing up this person now to muddy the waters?

But Zhu Ting said, "I know that as well. However, my senior brother had a daughter, and she inherited his craft too."

"What? Where is she?" Jiang Long urgently asked.

"This... please have everyone leave. I will only discuss this with Lu Xiaofeng."

"You!" Luo Ma's face darkened with anger. "What do you mean by this?"

"Hmph!"

Zhu Ting turned away.

Luo Ma grew even angrier, but Jiang Long hurriedly held him back. "Fine. We'll do as you ask."

Everyone left the cell, leaving only the two of them behind.

After waiting a while, Lu Xiaofeng strolled out with a carefree air.

Jiang Long and Luo Ma surrounded him and asked, "What is it? Did Zhu Ting tell you where that woman is?"

Lu Xiaofeng said indifferently, "He had been separated from his senior brother for many years, and Yue Qing died seven years ago. How could he know where Yue Qing's daughter is now? Still, he told me how to find her."

"How?"

"Members of the Luban Divine Axe Sect all bear a Divine Axe tattoo. Yue Qing's daughter has one as well, but it is rather hidden... on her chest."

"On her chest? How are we supposed to find that?"

Jiang Long immediately furrowed his brow.

The boundaries between men and women were no trifling matter. Forget the chest—even an arm could not be seen unless it was in certain special places, or belonged to one's own wife or concubine.

If they could not even see it, how could they find her?

Lu Xiaofeng said frivolously, "Men like you two naturally could never find her. But if someone were as handsome, dashing, and romantic as I, Lu Xiaofeng, finding her would be... heh heh!"

Jiang Long and Luo Ma's faces darkened.

"Oh, right. Do you have any counterfeit banknotes? Give me some. They're needed for the investigation!"

Jiang Long hesitated, but still had his subordinate constables bring over the confiscated counterfeit banknotes.

Lu Xiaofeng casually grabbed a handful and strode away.

Zhou Ming and Hua Manlou left the Six Doors as well.

"This..."

Jiang Long said, "Old friend, did we find the wrong man this time?"

Luo Ma nodded. "Lu Xiaofeng's name is so famous, yet seeing him in person falls far short of his reputation. This Lu Xiaofeng is actually such a frivolous libertine... sigh!"

As he spoke, however, a flash of delight appeared in his eyes.

As the mastermind behind the counterfeit banknotes, he naturally hoped the investigators would be as foolish as possible—better yet, that they would be completely led around by the nose.

Lu Xiaofeng had recently become renowned throughout the realm. Luo Ma had originally been quite unwilling when they proposed asking him to investigate.

But Zhu Ting recognized only Lu Xiaofeng, while the Chief Constable had set a deadline, forcing Jiang Long to grasp at straws.

Under such circumstances, Luo Ma could only agree.

He had not expected Lu Xiaofeng to be unworthy of his reputation, nothing more than this sort of man.

Even so, Luo Ma knew that the banknotes concerned the economic foundation of the nation, and the Imperial Court would never tolerate it.

If they failed to uncover the truth, then Chief Constable Jin Jiuling, the Four Great Constables, the Court of Judicial Review, the Imperial Guards, the Eastern Depot, Dragon Guard Manor... countless experts might be dispatched to investigate.

Therefore, his plan still had to proceed. He had to resolve this matter as quickly as possible, according to his own design!