A New Guard Mission

“Righteousness? And what is righteousness worth in gold? “Ten times! Stand aside today and do nothing, and I will give you ten times the silver!!” The middle-aged man spoke coldly, with no small air of a rich man throwing his weight around. “Is the silver on you?” Fang Shuwen asked. “Shuwen...” Wang Tao opened his mouth without thinking, but Zhou Feixiong waved a hand to stop him. The middle-aged man had suddenly offered such generous terms plainly because Fang Shuwen's earlier move had been too startling, and he did not care to offend him lightly. Men as formidable as these, and all of them so wary of this young man. How could a handful of men like us have any say in it? If something we said sparked a quarrel, it might well do more harm than good. The middle-aged man frowned slightly: “Out to kill—who carries silver on his person?” Fang Shuwen laughed outright: “So you've been trying to get something for nothing all along? “And besides, it isn't that I look down on you... Compare purses with Master Zhou? I'm afraid you're a bit green for that.” With that, he glanced back at Zhou Feixiong. Zhou Feixiong nodded at once: “Exactly so. If the young hero will lend his righteous hand today, I am willing to gift him a thousand taels of gold in thanks!” “See!” Fang Shuwen clapped his hands at once and said to the middle-aged man: “Ten times that makes ten thousand taels of gold. Do you have it?” The middle-aged man's face had long since gone iron-blue. He narrowed his eyes and spoke coldly: “Good. Good! Good! Spurn the cup offered you, and you shall drink the forfeit! “Do you truly think we are afraid of you?” No sooner had the words left his mouth than Fang Shuwen stepped forward and was before the man, his fist striking out like a dragon, carrying the sound of wind and thunder. Talks had broken down; trading blows was only natural. Fang Shuwen had scrabbled and rolled through the streets for years, and he knew well the wisdom of striking first. He would never give the man the chance to make the first move. The middle-aged man was indeed caught off guard, and then flew into a rage. Unwilling to be outdone, he struck out with both palms, one before the other, overlapping—and within his palms black qi was hidden. Fang Shuwen's knowledge was limited, and he had no idea what this middle-aged man's internal skill was called. He only felt that at the instant his fist met the other's palm, a faint chill came seeping from the man's palm—yet under the internal force of the Yijin Jing it was scattered in an instant. Then came bang-bang-bang, bang-bang-bang!! The middle-aged man's eyes went round as saucers. He had already rated Fang Shuwen as highly as he could. And still he had underestimated him. His internal force collapsed at the first touch, and that dreadful, irresistible strength went on shattering its way up the meridians of both his arms, until his heart meridian burst apart. He did not even have time to spit out a mouthful of blood before his head lolled down. He died where he stood. Suddenly a vicious gust of wind came at him—two black-clad men, one on each side, each launching an attack, their moves exquisite, every one a killing stroke. Wang Tao broke into a cold sweat for him. These two men's moves were too fast, too exquisite; were he in Fang Shuwen's place, he feared he could not have taken a single one. Yet he did not know that to Fang Shuwen these two men's moves were as clear as fire in the dark, as plain as the lines of his own palm. He raised Plum Blossom Scattered Hands with his left, fingers flicking as if plucking a pipa. In an instant he slipped in through the weak point of the man's move and, turning his hand, seized the man's wrist. Pivoting on his left leg, his body whipped around. He swung the man's body with him and hurled it at the other. The second man's move was only half made when Fang Shuwen vanished from before his eyes. Before he could collect himself, his vision went dark and two sounds rang out in succession. One was the two bodies colliding; the other, both men being smashed to the ground. Under the Great Perfection of the Yijin Jing, Plum Blossom Scattered Hands and Four Seas Dragon Fist both burst out with power they should never have had. One of the two scrambled up fast, but before he could strike, a hand seized his head and face—a hand like cast bronze and forged iron, one he could not break free of no matter how he struggled. Holding the man's head, Fang Shuwen came up to the other and lifted his foot, planting it squarely on that man's skull. There came a muffled boom, and the whole head was nearly driven into the ground. He was dead on the spot. Then the five fingers clenched, and with a crack, the whole face and half the skull were crushed to a pulp. Blood dripped from Fang Shuwen's fingertips, drop by drop, to the ground, yet it struck every heart there like a drumbeat. Of the men who had besieged the main courtyard, only two were left now, and they felt their blood run cold. The deed was all but done—so where had this master come from? To sweep all before him like that!? Everywhere he went, no foe lasted a single exchange? Treating every opponent exactly alike, killing almost never needing a second move. Was this a master? No—a monster!! The two exchanged a glance and hesitated no longer. They turned to leap away. Against such a master, they were no match. But in midair, each felt his ankle clamped tight. Looking down, they saw their ankles held, left and right, in Fang Shuwen's grip. “Since you gentlemen came uninvited, why not stay and have a chat?” As the words fell, a dreadful, irresistible force surged through their bodies, so that their inner breath could not even circulate and they had no strength left to break free. They could only watch as Fang Shuwen swung them high and smashed them down onto the ground. Once, twice! In no more than three or five blows, not a bone in their bodies was left whole. Blood gushed from the seven orifices and covered their features; life drained away at a furious pace, and they had reached their end. Fang Shuwen wiped his hands lightly and looked at Zhou Feixiong, long since utterly dumbstruck: “Master Zhou, I have not failed you. “But a great many thieves broke in tonight, and these men were likely the best of them. “Besides them, there are still many scattered about the compound... we must respond quickly.” Zhou Feixiong woke as if from a dream and nodded again and again: “Yes, yes, the young hero speaks sense.” He hurriedly looked to the retainers beside him, his gaze coming to rest on Wang Tao. And found the man also staring blankly... After all, Zhou Feixiong did not know Fang Shuwen, but Wang Tao knew his circumstances. Mo Beidou had said it plainly enough: this junior brother of his was kind and good-natured, diligent in his training, but unfortunately his early years had been too miserable, leaving his foundation damaged, and his martial arts had reached their limit there. He hoped Wang Tao could recommend him to the Zhou household as a guard martial instructor—not seeking wealth or honor, only a steady, secure life with food and clothing assured. But looking at him now, Wang Tao wished he could take up a stick and give Mo Beidou a sound thrashing. This was what he called kind and good-natured? Those men just now had deserved their deaths, true enough, but this kid had not even blinked while chatting and laughing his way through killing them. Foundation damaged? Did that look like a damaged foundation? His martial arts had reached their limit? If this isn't the limit, do you mean to be invincible under heaven? Wang Tao's heart was tossing like a storm at sea, and only after Zhou Feixiong called him several times did he come back to himself. He hastily cupped his hands: “Forgive me. My mind wandered.” Zhou Feixiong understood well enough, but still said quickly: “Retainer Wang, please lead the other experts and organize the household guards to fight off the attackers.” “Right!” Though injured, Wang Tao did not hesitate in the least. All the more so because, thanks to Fang Shuwen's arrival, these retainers had not been wiped out. With them here, there was still a chance to turn things around tonight. Fang Shuwen meant to go with Retainer Wang, but Zhou Feixiong called him back. Together with the two remaining retainers and Madam Zhou, they came to the Zhou family ancestral hall. Behind the hall there was in fact a secret passage, and following it down brought them to a hidden chamber. Plenty of food and water had been laid by here. Plainly a precaution prepared long ago, against just such a day. Zhou Feixiong drew a stack of silver notes from his bosom. A rough glance showed no less than two thousand taels. He stuffed them all into Fang Shuwen's hands. Fang Shuwen blinked: “What is this?” “Your wages.” Zhou Feixiong said earnestly: “This old man does not know why a young hero of such peerless skill would stoop to serve as an unknown guard martial instructor in my household. “But the young hero is righteous, and helped us out of peril. “Zhou Feixiong is not one to forget a kindness. These silver notes are your wages; the rest, let it stand as a small token of this old man's gratitude. Please, young hero, do not refuse. “As for the thousand taels of gold promised you, once the turmoil outside is over, they will be delivered to you with both hands. “Only, this old man has one more matter to ask of the young hero!” Fang Shuwen was not surprised. He only smiled: “Master Zhou, speak freely.” So he said, but whether he agreed would depend on whether the matter was difficult. Zhou Feixiong said: “My daughter, Zhou Qingmei, lives at the Heart-of-the-Lake Cottage three li north of the city. “From what that man said earlier, I fear foes have already gone after her. “I beg the young hero to lend aid. If you agree, whatever request you make, so long as this old man can fulfill it, I will not say a second word!” [Ding! New guard mission detected.] [Protect Zhou Qingmei until the crisis is resolved!] [Accept?]