Chapter Six: The Young Scholar's Courtyard

  The east sends forth its white light, and the sky and earth are filled with a refreshing air. The Lu Village, which had been in an uproar all night, has returned to calmness. The police withdrew from the Lu Village before 10 o'clock last night, and Liu Baishu's body was packed up and taken directly back to the Provincial Police Department. Bei Ruyan also left by taking the Bei family helicopter, and everything seems as if nothing had happened.

  The police also took a statement from Zhao Heng and Lu Meng last night, wanting to thoroughly conclude the case. However, those testimonies were simply inadmissible as evidence and utterly absurd. One claimed he had taken a liking to Bei Ruyan and risked his life to rescue her; the other said he wanted one million yuan to buy cars, guns, and women.

  These two are the infamous demons of the mortal world!

  Simaqing concluded: Still two idiots!

  In the end, under Bei Ruyan's mediation, they got two nice confessions, and it was also after she communicated with the two brothers that the matter of their involvement was completely erased from the police records, so as not to bring them inconvenience in life and revenge from Guandawang, let alone that the killing by the two young men is not worth encouraging.

  So last night's matter has nothing to do with Zhao Heng and Lu Meng, of course, one million will not be less.

  The sun had not yet shone brightly on the land, and Lu Meng and Zhao Heng were already carrying a big bag of hot buns and fragrant soy milk, walking towards a secluded house at the top of the Lu Village. Along the way, they were still discussing Liu Bai's tragic death, Bei Ruyan's beauty, and the delicious and sweet snake soup that Feng Shu had cooked last night.

  "Brother, did Uncle Feng get out of bed?"

  Lu Meng took out two hot buns from the paper bag and handed one to Zhao Heng before taking a big bite: "He drank so much wine last night, I'm afraid he's still sleeping in the hall right now. If only I had moved him to the empty courtyard, let him enjoy the cool mist, he would have sobered up faster."

  Zhao Heng also bit off half a bun and walked back in big strides, responding: "After drinking wine and being hit by the fog, wouldn't he die quickly? If he dies, where will we go to drink delicious snake soup in the future? That guy is indeed a bit despicable, but his cooking skills are not sloppy at all, the snake soup is really delicious."

  "Me too!"

  He took a glance at the courtyard they were about to arrive at and wolfed down the bun in his hand: "Moreover, we haven't even gotten our hands on the million-dollar reward yet, and he kicks the bucket at this time. What are we supposed to use to send him off? We can't even afford a coffin, so when the time comes, we'll have no choice but to abandon him in the mountains to feed the wolves. But I'm too lazy to carry him."

  "So later we'll ask him for some money for a farewell gift."

  Lu Meng burst out laughing: "That makes sense!"

  Feng Shu is an outsider, but no one knows where he comes from. His name is Feng Wutian, and he calls himself a drunkard, swordsman, and bookworm. Twenty years ago, he bought a dilapidated house from the Lu family with his own money, did some minor repairs, and moved in. Every day, he doesn't need to work but lives a dissolute life. He has wine, books, swords, and constantly changing computers.

  He also gave himself a name: Shusheng Xiaoyuan.

  Zhao Heng and Lu Meng boarded his pirate ship at the age of five. Several books and movies tied them up, making the two willingly worship Feng Shu as their master. However, they did not live a comfortable life like Uncle Wind, nor did they satisfy their curiosity every day like in the movies. They only had reading, martial arts, and hunting.

  By the time they were ten years old, their days became even more miserable. Every day, they started running one kilometer, all of which was uphill through the grasslands set by Feng Bo. Many times, there wasn't even a road, but they still had to run with backpacks on, and inside the backpacks were two-inch thick bricks! Four bricks on each shoulder, rain or shine.

  One day, they lifted their legs over the threshold, and their legs were shaking so hard that they couldn't get through, but Uncle Feng didn't care how tired they were. The next day, he still made them crawl and roll for a kilometer. What's more, this long run has been increasing every year. By now, Zhao Heng and Lu Meng are running all the way to the county town to attend school, exactly twenty kilometers away.

  Only by meeting Uncle Feng's requirements can they barely indulge in a life of drunkenness and dreams.

  It wasn't until five or six years had passed that they were finally on an equal footing with Uncle Feng, able to play with the no longer novel computer, read not too bitter books, drink his expensive red wine, white wine and yellow wine, and even touch the long sword that Uncle Feng boasted was very powerful.

  Of course, the promotion of the two did not change their master-apprentice relationship. Zhao Heng and Lu Meng still trained hard for five hours every day, but their relationship was as harmonious as brothers. The three had nothing to do with each other, gathering in Shu Sheng's small courtyard to discuss life, ideals, martial arts, occasionally drinking a little wine and fighting a battle.

  Last night three people had a snake dinner.

  When Zhao Heng and Lu Meng were killing people for women and money, Feng Shu took away two big snakes and two wild chickens from the Lu family to make a sumptuous dinner waiting for his apprentices. That's why there was a kid running to the scene calling for help, letting Zhao Heng and Lu Meng, who had exhausted their physical and mental strength, enjoy a hearty dragon and phoenix feast.

  Feng Shu knew that the two had killed Liu Baishu and was even more excited, bringing out the fine wine he had treasured for many years to drink a big drunk. So Zhao Heng and Lu Meng got up early today, borrowed two pots of soy milk and buns from the villa, and went to visit Feng Da Shu to see if the drunken guy had woken up, and also conducted a strong training session.

  "Uncle Feng!"

  Their carefree conversation made them forget the time and the potential danger, they soon stepped into the small courtyard of the book house. As soon as they pushed open the door and walked into the yard, the originally gentle white mist in the air suddenly became like a raging torrent, waves crashing and breaking, followed by a sharp knife light flashing out.

  With a tearing sound that ripped through the air, he struck down at the land in front of him with lightning speed.

  Like lightning flashing across the sky, like the sun rising over the Eastern Sea, light spreading out for thousands of miles, a delicate and beautiful face, snow-white clothes fluttering, hair dancing wildly, eyes as cold as frost suddenly appearing from the mist, like the god of death descending upon the world. Two figures flew backward, then almost simultaneously shouted:

  "Feng Shu, sneaking up on me again?"

  Suddenly shouting, footsteps retreating, various sounds of bodies colliding with each other, chaotic and confusing, the scene instantly became extremely chaotic. Zhao Heng and Lu Meng rolled up from the ground, and when they threw the soy milk and buns onto the table in the courtyard, they also grabbed a handful of wooden knives, then stared towards the place where Wugu was.

  "Hey kid, aren't you guys awesome?"

  A very vicissitudinous and arrogant voice floated out, followed by a white-clothed man who appeared in the vision of the two, with a slender figure, holding a wooden knife tightly in his hand. From a distance, he had a few points of elegance and composure, but his overly handsome face ruined his majesty and killing intent.

  "Are you still excited about killing? Come on! Let's have a good fight with Uncle Feng."

  Lu Meng brandished his wooden sword and charged forward: "Damn! You really think I'm Ah Mon?"

  "Haha! Well done!"

  The laughter was faint, but in the midst of these chaotic sounds, it was surprisingly clear, as if the temple bell had rung out. The white-robed middle-aged man's figure flashed like lightning, his expression frenzied and crazy. He casually swung out a knife, directly striking the back of Lu Meng's knife with a loud "Dang!" The wooden knives clashed and sent Lu Meng stumbling backward.

  "Hmm, great! Lu Meng, your skills have improved compared to before."

  The man in white clothes flashed a smile on his face, and then held the wooden knife in one hand, with a fierce look: "It seems that this summer vacation is still useful, it can let you put your energy on practicing martial arts, rather than those school uniform girls' chests, come! Let Wind Uncle try you a few moves, hoping you can hold on hehe."

  "Damn it! I'm a gun expert!"

  "But playing with knives will still get you flattened! Take this!"

  Lu Meng rushed forward, shouting loudly, his footsteps swift and precise. The white-clothed man sneered as he approached, the two wooden knives clashing continuously in mid-air, producing a dull thudding sound. As Lu Meng kicked out with one foot, aiming straight for the white-clothed man's groin, the latter hastily withdrew his strength and retreated, not forgetting to shout: "You little scoundrel, you're too vicious!"

  "Awesome! You taught me all this!"

  Lu Mang gasped slightly: "I'm not ruthless, how can I be worthy of you as a master?"

  The man in white clothes glared: "You're really a rebellious kid! Look at the knife!"

  One sword swept out, causing Lu Meng to retreat two steps back.

  Then he continuously chopped out, each knife with a cold calmness like frost, the angle was sharp and overbearing, sneaking and secretly calculating, how treacherous it was, without any restraint, not having the demeanor of a master swordsman at all. In the blink of an eye, Lu Meng who rushed up was flurried and hit by more than ten wooden knives.

  Then he was cut in the chest by a middle-aged man with one knife, and Lu Mengzhi kept retreating.

  "Come on, Old Feng, give it your all?"

  Lu Meng was in severe pain, and just when he had managed to stabilize his body, he was shocked to discover that the 500-yuan shirt on his chest had a huge tear. He was also skilled in combat, but in this sudden attack by the middle-aged man, he was completely unable to fight back, and even ruined a piece of clothing.

  The man in white clothes held a wooden sword on one side: "Are you afraid?"

  "Lu Meng, fall back! I'll take over!"

  After finishing two buns and drinking half a cup of soy milk, Zhao Heng wiped the corner of his mouth, grasped the wooden knife that had been used for over a decade, and leaped in front of Lu Meng. His neck twisted, emitting a battle intent, and the white-clothed man's gaze became more serious. He saw that Zhao Heng's right hand was slightly trembling, apparently gathering that terrifying power slowly.

  After a moment's thought, the man in white robes chuckled and said:

  "Zhao Heng, you're no match for me either, this battle is over."

  "Leave some faith for you young people, and also so that it can't be said that I'm bullying the younger generation."

  In the midst of a middle-aged man's playful smile, Zhao Heng suddenly struck with his knife, showing no mercy. The middle-aged man quickly countered with his own knife, and the two blades clashed in mid-air. Both men retreated three or four steps back, the middle-aged man's wrist slightly sore. He then called out: "Let's not play anymore, let's eat baozi first."

  Zhao Heng smiled slightly and stepped forward again.

  Middle-aged man slightly reveals bitterness: "Still coming?"