I Say You Are, So You Are

"Ruining my plans and still trying to run?"

Chen Zhuo had already been keeping part of his attention on Fat Old Man ever since the latter warned the knife-wielding men.

He had originally wanted to gain a little more proficiency, but Fat Old Man had ruined things with a single sentence.

What villain got away after doing something wicked?

Fat Old Man had barely run a few steps when Chen Zhuo hurled the long knife in his hand with all his strength.

Fat Old Man was naturally afraid and could only dodge to the side.

The knife missed, but Chen Zhuo seized the opportunity to rush forward and capture Fat Old Man.

Fat Old Man was no pushover, either.

The moment Chen Zhuo grabbed his shoulder, he realized the man was also a martial artist who had begun training in the martial way.

His skin was tough, and his strength was not much less than Chen Zhuo's.

It was just that Chen Zhuo's strike had been so astonishing that Fat Old Man had fled in panic.

Seizing the moment while his opponent was down, Chen Zhuo used his palm like a blade and slashed down.

It was as if that previous strike had been repeated. Fat Old Man had already been afraid, and now he seemed to give up struggling altogether.

With a sharp smack, Chen Zhuo's palm crashed into his chest.

Fat Old Man spat out a large mouthful of blood, stumbled back several steps, and collapsed onto the ground.

"Go ahead and try running again."

Chen Zhuo gave Fat Old Man a cold glance, then turned and walked a short distance to retrieve the saber stuck in the ground.

"I won't run, I won't run. I absolutely won't run. I can't believe my third brother's gotten this capable in just over a month. You've truly made your big brother's jaw drop."

Hearing Chen the Second's voice, Chen Zhuo didn't even turn his head.

He simply ignored him.

That guy had run far away right from the start. Now that the fight was over, he had crawled out from some nook or cranny.

Chen Zhuo paid him no mind, but Chen the Second stuck to him like a dog-skin plaster.

"My dear little brother, look at all these injuries you've got. Your big brother's heart is breaking."

Chen Zhuo stared at Chen the Second, stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

In his memories, Chen the Second had always had a terrible temper. When they were children, if the food wasn't cooked to his liking, he would beat and curse someone without fail.

This attitude of his now felt utterly unfamiliar.

"You haven't been home in ages. You must miss it, right? We'll go back in a bit. I'll have your sister-in-law clean you up properly, put on some medicine, and let you sleep like a baby."

Seeing Chen Zhuo smile, Chen the Second tried to press his advantage.

Chen Zhuo only gave a cold laugh. "Go back with you and sleep? Sure. Then, while I'm asleep, you can get someone to butcher me again?"

Chen the Second's expression froze, and he hurried to explain, "Little brother, what are you talking about..."

"Shut up!"

Chen Zhuo was annoyed and couldn't be bothered to deal with the beast any longer. He pointed straight at the gambling house's entrance. "I'm guessing there's no one inside, am I right?"

Chen the Second looked as if he'd been struck by lightning. He stammered, unable to speak.

"You're truly a good big brother. You even joined up with outsiders to set me up."

Chen Zhuo lifted one foot and kicked Chen the Second hard in the chest.

Chen the Second flew into the gambling house like a dead dog.

"With that kick, our family ties and grievances are settled. Whether you live or die now is up to fate."

After dealing with Chen the Second,

Chen Zhuo held his saber with its tip pointed down and slowly walked up to Fat Old Man. "Tell me. Who was it?"

He hadn't finished the question, but Fat Old Man understood what he meant.

"The person behind me? I can tell you, but do you really dare to hear it?"

Fat Old Man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Even if you don't tell me, I already know. The Long River Gang, right?"

Chen Zhuo smiled.

Fat Old Man lowered his eyes and said nothing.

"You've got some integrity, I'll give you that."

Chen Zhuo pointed the tip of his blade at Fat Old Man's throat. His face darkened as he said icily, "I had only just put up Qiu Laojiu's portrait, and you brought people to surround and kill me."

"With all that commotion, could it be you lot have some connection to Qiu Laojiu?"

"Bullshit! I was outmatched, and I lost to a little brat like you today. I admit it. But don't you dare pin some crime on me. I'll never admit to that."

Fat Old Man's expression changed completely, and even his voice grew a little frantic.

But Chen Zhuo's next words were what truly made him panic.

"Look at you. You're getting worked up."

Chen Zhuo narrowed his eyes. "You get worked up as soon as I mention Qiu Laojiu, and you still say you have nothing to do with him? Who'd believe that?"

"That's you pinning something on me..."

Fat Old Man was about to defend himself, but Chen Zhuo waved his saber, immediately stuffing the words back into his mouth.

Chen Zhuo said solemnly, "Based on your actions today, I have reason to suspect you have an undeniable connection to the murderous fiend Qiu Laojiu."

Fat Old Man's face turned livid, but he still refused to give up. "What makes you think I'm Qiu Laojiu's accomplice?"

Chen Zhuo grinned. "I say you are, so you are."

With that, Chen Zhuo tore two bloodstained strips of cloth from his clothes and tossed them in front of Fat Old Man.

"You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used as evidence in court."

"Bind your hands and feet yourself, and come with me to the Yamen."

"Don't make me kill you right now."

"Thank you."

Under Chen Zhuo's pressure, Fat Old Man had no choice but to comply.

But when Chen Zhuo looked at his bulky frame, he was stumped.

He was built like a pig. Was Chen Zhuo supposed to carry him all the way back?

Just then, an empty donkey cart came slowly down the road.

Chen Zhuo locked eyes with the black donkey and nearly burst out laughing.

The sun sank toward the mountainside.

The sunset blazed like fire, flowing over everyone in Baiyun County.

Chen Zhuo sat in the donkey cart, his shadow stretched long by the sunset.

Only after he led several members of the Long River Gang away from the north side of the outer city did people begin to emerge from their homes in ones and twos.

The bloodstains on the ground were ghastly, but they didn't horrify anyone for long. Before long, people had washed them away with clean water.

Everyone went back to their day's final tasks.

Only one old man was anxiously searching for his donkey.

"The sun's almost set, and people still haven't all come back?"

Inside the Yamen, Fifth Master sat in a grand armchair, a cup of tea in hand, and leisurely questioned the White-Uniform Runner beside him.

"Twenty-nine people in total. Twenty-eight have returned, and one is still missing."

Fifth Master was clearly dissatisfied with the answer. He glared at the man. "Who hasn't come back?"

"Chen Zhuo."

"Oh."

Fifth Master said coldly, "I vaguely remember him."

"He can't even handle his first assignment. Useless trash."

"If he comes back later, tell him he can go wherever he likes tomorrow, but he shouldn't come back here. If he doesn't return, then he can die out there."

"People die every day these days."

The White-Uniform Runner beside him shivered at these merciless words. As if remembering something, he leaned in and whispered, "I heard Lord Dianshi Sun personally approved transferring that kid over from the Black-Uniform Squad."

"If he died out there, that wouldn't be a problem. But if he came back alive and you transferred him away, then Lord Sun..."

Fifth Master sneered. "Lord Sun personally approved it? So what?"

"He couldn't even handle putting up a portrait. What use is a useless man like that?"

"I'd say the same thing to Lord Sun's face."

As he spoke, he stroked his little mustache, his face full of disdain.

There was something he didn't say.

Connections like that were the most irritating.

"Lord Sun? What did Fifth Master just say? Why bring up Lord Sun?"

Sun Fei hurried in, first snatched the tea from Fifth Master's hand and gulped it down, then asked with a puzzled look.

Fifth Master sprang to his feet and said with a beaming smile, "Nothing, nothing. Lord Sun is wise and mighty, and Young Master Sun is every bit his equal."

"Oh."

Sun Fei wiped the tea from the corner of his mouth and asked out of the blue, "Has Chen Zhuo still not returned from his assignment?"

"No, Young Master Sun. Today's assignment was demanding, and it was Chen Zhuo's first day, so naturally he wasn't familiar with the work. He'll get the hang of it in a few days."

Fifth Master's words nearly made the White-Uniform Runner beside him roll his eyes.

"Once I teach him properly..."

Fifth Master was still trying to make a good impression on Sun Fei when a White-Uniform Runner rushed in, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"He's back, he's back! Blood... so much blood..."