Chapter 135 Setting the Mountain Ablaze

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There were tables laden with fine dishes and generous portions of meat, giving the place an almost New Year’s atmosphere. I did not eat poultry, so I took a bowl of plain rice and sat inside the house to eat. I felt strangely abandoned.

After the meal, Old Ma began organizing everyone for work. They rolled up their trouser legs, each taking either a sickle or a saw. Then they caught a black dog, preparing to bleed it and smear the blood over their bodies.

“No burning the mountain!”

Just as everything was ready and all that remained was to set things in motion, a voice suddenly rang out.

I followed the voice and saw a group of strangers entering the village. At their head was a young man dressed in a fine suit, handsome and upright. He was the one who had spoken. Close behind him came an old man and a young man. The elder looked to be in his seventies or eighties, with a straight back and a vigorous bearing. The younger one seemed about my age, around twenty. He was not tall, but there was a sly glint in his eyes.

I paid particular attention to those two because they gave me an extraordinary feeling. Each carried a backpack, making them look rather like Old Ma. They were very likely in the same line of work!

“Guangyu, what brings you back?” one of the villagers asked.

Guangyu? So this well-dressed fellow was Yang Guangyu? He had gotten into university five years ago, and had graduated only a year earlier. How had he managed to rise so far? He had the unmistakable air of a rich man! Even with everything going smoothly, with constant promotions and raises, one could hardly reach this level so quickly. He was handsome, too. Had he done something that had saved him twenty years of struggle?

Yang Guangyu and the others came over. He glanced at the villagers, who had everything prepared, and said coldly, “Have you forgotten what you promised me? You’ve taken plenty of my money over the years! And now you’re planning to burn the mountain behind my back!”

Now I understood why the villagers had been both frightened and evasive, their behavior so contradictory. They had been taking Yang Guangyu’s money all these years! They said that whoever took payment must do the job. For money, these people could even tolerate reanimated corpses. They truly wanted money more than life itself!

The villagers had taken his money and were in no position to speak. The outsiders who had come to help knew nothing of the situation and were even less able to intervene.

Yang Guangyu swept his gaze around and finally let it fall on Old Ma, his eyes filled with unmistakable contempt.

Although Old Ma’s appearance was undeniably shabby, he was my master now. There was an old saying: when striking someone, do not strike the face; when cursing someone, do not curse his mother. Seeing him look down on my master angered me even more than being looked down on myself! This brat had done nothing more than dress himself up and bring a few people along, yet he thought that made him superior to everyone else!

A timid voice said, “B-but something in there came out and started hurting people…”

Yang Guangyu gave a cold laugh. “Hurting people? Did any of you see my mother come out and hurt anyone with your own eyes?”

No one dared to speak. The thing that had come out to harm people was indeed not his mother, but the two-headed snake. As I watched him, my displeasure grew. He had not experienced what happened last night and had no idea how dangerous it was. All he could do was stand here and make glib remarks!

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For him to return at such a timely moment, knowing every detail so clearly, someone must have told him! Things had already reached this point, yet there were still people willing to sacrifice their lives for money!

Three Monkeys’ father could hold back no longer. In grief and fury, he said, “My wife and son were both killed! Can you bring them back to life? I don’t want your money anymore! I’ll never take another penny! I can return everything I took before, at worst! I’m going to avenge my wife and child! I’m burning the mountain!”

Yang Guangyu’s expression softened somewhat. “Of course the snake that killed people must be dealt with, but this has nothing to do with my mother. And do you really think setting this mountain on fire would be simple? These trees grow in one continuous stretch. Once the fire starts, the whole place will become a sea of flames!”

“Then tell me what we’re supposed to do! I have to avenge my wife and child!” Three Monkeys’ father said angrily, no longer bothering to be polite.

Yang Guangyu gestured toward the old man and the young man behind him. “These are the masters I brought back. They’ll take care of this matter. I guarantee they won’t let a single snake escape.”

The villagers eyed the old man and the young man suspiciously, then looked toward Old Ma, uncertain what to do.

The sly young man smiled. “Mr. Yang, don’t make promises on our behalf. We never guaranteed that.”

Yang Guangyu frowned. The young man continued, “For something this minor, there’s no need for guarantees. It’ll be easy to deal with. Isn’t that right, Master?”

The old man did not answer. Instead, he looked toward Old Ma and gave a cold laugh. “Old Ma, it’s been a long time. I never thought you would hide away here.”

This old man knew Old Ma! I looked at my master. He was staring at the elder with a cold expression. There was usually only one kind of person who could provoke such a reaction from Old Ma: someone from the dark arts.

“To think this boy actually managed to bring you here. He does have some connections,” Old Ma said coldly.

“Heh heh. A man has to eat, after all. Since Mr. Yang can afford my price, naturally I came. The people outside have been searching for you nearly to the point of madness. Who would have thought you had hidden yourself here?”

“I came here for some peace and quiet. I didn’t want to quarrel with the younger generation,” Old Ma replied coldly.

The old man laughed and said, “I hear you’ve taken on a disciple. Is it him?”

As he spoke, he looked at Tu’e, who was standing beside Old Ma. After examining him for a moment, he nodded approvingly. “Not bad, not bad. He’s a fine young talent.”

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The young man also looked Tu’e up and down, a trace of excitement in his eyes, as though he had acknowledged a worthy opponent. He raised a hand and said, “My name is Yun Mutian, and I’m Third Lord Guo’s disciple. Remember that. From now on, we’re rivals!”

I lowered my head slightly in embarrassment, thinking that perhaps it was better for them to have mistaken someone else for me. My current appearance was truly less than presentable, and I was afraid I would make Old Ma lose face.

“Since he’s already given his name, we should return the courtesy. Go on, my good disciple!” Old Ma called out.

Everyone nearby turned to look in my direction. I raised my head and discovered that Old Ma was looking back at me.

“What? He’s your disciple? Ha ha ha! Look at him! A cripple? A crippled wreck? And he’s even leaning on a broken wooden stick! With a body like that, I wouldn’t need to lift a finger. Anyone could knock him flat! How could you choose such a useless fellow as your disciple?” The young man called Yun Mutian laughed loudly.

Third Lord Guo also gave a disdainful snort.

I looked at Old Ma and thought that if he simply let the misunderstanding continue, he would not be mocked along with me. Even if my leg had been fine, Tu’e’s appearance was still far better than mine.

Old Ma’s expression was solemn, his manner grave. He showed not the slightest embarrassment. With a dignified and proud bearing, he seemed to be announcing to everyone that I was indeed his disciple.

Since my master was willing to acknowledge me, what did I have to fear?

I lifted my head, took several steps forward, and looked at the boy surnamed Yun. Raising my voice, I said, “I’m Old Ma’s disciple, Wang Luo! Even leaning on this stick, I’m still stronger than a short-legged cripple like you! You’re not worthy of being my opponent!”

“Oh? You look down on me, do you? How about we have a contest right here and find out whether I’m unworthy or you’re simply too arrogant? If you lose, don’t show your face in this line of work again. After all, you won’t merely disgrace yourself—you’ll disgrace your master as well!”

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