Chapter 4, A Minor Punishment

Someone with sharp eyes noticed that it was a small child pulling the rope, and could not help but feel furious, exclaiming that today was unlucky, as the young master had been kidnapped, and now even a tiny child dared to oppose them. Consequently, everyone began to chase after the small child.

The young scoundrel's leg, which had just been struck, was still in pain, and his throat felt constricted. Now, having wet his pants, he was both angry and frustrated, wanting to cry out, but felt a tightness in his throat that forced the cries back down. Lu Bing growled in the young scoundrel's ear, "Follow me, don't make a fuss, or your worthless life will be over." Saying this, he pulled the young scoundrel and headed south. The young scoundrel dared not resist; his throat was painfully raw, and he lacked the strength to fight back. Outmatched, he could only accept his fate and followed Lu Bing.

The masked Zhu Houcong shouted, "Thank you," and then took off running. The old man, with his arms crossed, looked at the stunned young master’s servant and said loudly, "Don’t chase after him, come towards me instead"

Zhu Houzhong glared and said: "You still bring it up. Usually, when I ask you to teach me a few moves, you refuse, insisting that I must practice the basics well to be effective; otherwise, it could backfire. Damn it, I almost got caught by a constable just now"

Lu Bing nodded, and the two rode towards Anlu. On the way, Lu Bing asked, "Did you encounter any danger just now?"

"Brother, how should we deal with this brat?" He turned to Lu Bing and asked. Lu Bing thought for a moment about what Zhu Houzhong had just said, which made sense. Given the earlier situation, this scoundrel must often bully others. It would be better to give him a small punishment. Thus, he drew a small dagger and, with a cold smile, handed it to Zhu Houzhong, intending for him to carve a mark on the scoundrel.

The common people did not obstruct him; this wicked young man flaunted his power every day, causing considerable suffering to the populace. If it were not for his wealthy family background and the influential uncle who held a high position in the court, he would have been beaten to death countless times by now. The common people made way for him, each wearing a face full of glee at his misfortune.

However, a strange light flickered in Zhu Houzhong's eyes, and then he smiled, returning to the demeanor appropriate for his age. "Let's go, brother."

The young scion, having been thrown down and feeling a sharp pain in his backside, did not cry out but instead wore a grim expression. He pointed at the two brothers, his face filled with fear, and shouted: "I am the young master of the Jiang family, along with *Tu* *Shu*. You must let me go, or I will kill your entire family. Oh my, I was wrong; I will never dare to do this again"

Zhu Houzhong wiped the blood from his hands on the body of the wicked man, then stripped the wicked man of his clothes and carved on his back with a dagger: Do not commit evil, a minor punishment.

A wicked young man's servant recognized him; it was the county office's quick-response head constable, Fan Dahai. He then shouted loudly: "Constable Fan, catch that young man in front!"

Lu Bing waited for a while with the scoundrel in the south of the city, and then Zhu Houzhong arrived. The two of them untied the reins that were securing the horses in front of the inn and mounted their steeds. Lu Bing placed the scoundrel across his horse, fearing that Zhu Houzhong might panic and forget how to ride, so he asked, "Can you still ride?"

"Very good, ah, no, no, I mean very, very good. It's settled then, I'll go to restrain the people, and what will you do?" Lu Bing asked.

What? Lu Bing also covered his face, speaking in a muffled voice

"Who is it!" the ruffian suddenly shouted, "What kind of skill is sneaking around? If you have the guts, come out and face me."

Although the young scoundrel did not see the face of the masked Zhu Houxiong, he caught sight of the cold light in his eyes. Moreover, the contrast between the two—one large and one small—made the smaller one seem even more vicious than the larger. Unable to contain himself, he burst into tears once again, scrambling to flee, completely forgetting the little skills he possessed. Not to mention Lu Bing, in a state of panic, even Zhu Houxiong would likely be unable to defeat him.

The onlookers burst into laughter upon seeing the scoundrel being scolded, which relieved some of their pent-up frustration. The scoundrel, truly enraged and humiliated, commanded his subordinates, "Go and capture that person for me." His servant, tasked with the order, went to apprehend individuals, brandishing his authority in a blustering manner, shouting at the common people. Occasionally, he would seize someone, ask a couple of questions, slap them a few times, and then release them. The commoners lowered their heads, afraid to speak. At that moment, a figure dashed out, extending his hand like a claw towards the scoundrel's throat. This person was none other than Lu Bing.

"It is necessary," Zhu Houzhong replied

Taking advantage of this moment, the old and young vendors hurriedly fled, leaving even their belongings behind. Lu Bing was still fighting, yet they ran away. Although it was ungrateful, it is understandable given human nature.

Lu Bing fell silent for a moment before softly saying, "Isn't that a bit excessive"

The two men galloped into Anlu and arrived in front of a large mansion. After handing their horses to the servants, the two brothers stealthily made their way into the courtyard. Just as they were about to sneak into the backyard, they heard a loud shout from behind: "Lu Bing, stop right there!"

Zhu Houzhong moved through the crowd of common people, who made way for him and cast admiring glances. As he ran, he said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear elders and young ones." It was as if he were performing a street act.

Lu Bingze also had eyes like crescent moons, revealing a proud smile. Neither of the two noticed that an old man in the corner had been watching them. The old man was dressed very ordinarily, but from time to time, a glimmer of brilliance would flash in his eyes, only to quickly return to calm. Seeing the two young men busying themselves, the old man smiled, a smile filled with satisfaction.

The servant of the wicked young master hurried to intervene, but it was already too late. Lu Bing had already grasped the young master's throat, twisting his hand forcefully to pull the young master into his embrace. Then he raised his voice and said: "Don't move, everyone. I am a timid person, and if I get too nervous and apply too much strength, your young master might lose his life."

Before the scoundrel could finish speaking, Zhu Houzhong stepped forward and broke his fingers. Lu Bing was taken aback and said, "Aren't you being too cruel?" Zhu Houzhong smiled and replied, "There is no need to be polite with such people. A dog cannot change its habit of eating excrement; if we don't teach him a lesson this time, how will he ever learn?"

Zhu Houzhong smiled and said: "It is impossible to say that we will not pursue; however, it may be constrained by the safety of the hostages. At that time, would you really dare to kill someone? Of course not, for taking a life requires paying with one's own. I will take responsibility for slowing down the pursuit of these individuals. Additionally, I have another important task."

The phrase "killing the heart" indeed resonates with these servants; they realize that if anything were to happen to the young master, they would be deemed negligent in their duties. This could lead to serious consequences, and if someone in the capital were to become enraged, they might even lose their heads.

The crowd was as silent as a cold cicada, each person afraid to move or make a sound. The young villain turned to glance at his captor, only to see two sharp eyebrows and a pair of starry eyes, while the rest of the face was obscured, making it impossible to discern the features. Could it be a notorious bandit? As this thought crossed his mind, the young villain couldn't help but feel a surge of fear, his legs growing weak and the scent of urine rising.

Do you still remember what that person looked like?" Lu Bing asked. Zhu Houzhong nodded. Lu Bing continued, "Then we must properly thank them if we run into them next time.

Zhu Houzhong and Lu Bing wore very similar clothes, with the colors and patterns being almost identical. However, a connoisseur would certainly be able to discern the significant differences in craftsmanship and quality between the two, as there is a world of difference between them. Nevertheless, at first glance, one would not be able to tell much apart, making them appear almost like companions.

After finishing the engraving, Zhu Houzong removed his mask and smiled at Lu Bing. Lu Bing couldn't help but swallow hard, truly not realizing how ruthless Zhu Houzong was. He was instantly rendered speechless, unsure of what to say.

As Zhu Houzhong was about to run far away, he occasionally turned back and shouted, "Children, come quickly and chase after your young master!" Just as his voice fell, a drunken man staggered towards the young boy from around the corner, blocking Zhu Houzhong's path. Zhu Houzhong did not slow down, as the drunkard meant no harm; he merely stared blankly at Zhu Houzhong, not realizing what was happening.

Zhu Houzhong stated emphatically: "I must also take responsibility for my own safety and not cause you any trouble. To put it plainly, I need to focus on escaping, do you understand?"

The ruffian had also practiced martial arts for a few years and raised his leg to kick at Lu Bing. However, this level of skill was insufficient in front of Lu Bing. Lu Bing transformed his left hand from a fist to a palm and suddenly swung it out, striking the ruffian's leg with force, causing him to cry out in pain. Those who had some knowledge of martial arts could tell that Lu Bing, who had come out to uphold justice, was not using palm techniques but rather sword techniques, merely substituting his palm for a sword. The old man in the corner's eyes lit up at this scene.

Fan Butou turned to look at Zhu Houzhong upon hearing the commotion. Although he had consumed a fair amount of alcohol, he was, after all, a tall and strong man, capable of dealing with the approaching Zhu Houzhong. Zhu Houzhong, being young and frail, had only just begun to learn martial arts, and naturally, he was no match for Fan Dahai and Tushu. Engaging in a direct confrontation was absolutely out of the question.

After running for about half an hour, they arrived at a wasteland on the northwest side of Anlu, where Lu Bing forcefully threw the scoundrel to the ground with one arm.

Zhu Houzhong kicked the scoundrel down, then drew a dagger and aimed for the scoundrel's Achilles tendon. His movements were exceptionally skilled, and the dagger was very sharp, instantly severing the tendon. Blood gushed forth, and the scoundrel let out a couple of agonized cries before losing consciousness.

The two brothers decided to act without hesitation. They adjusted their towels and stealthily made their way over. People were engrossed in the spectacle and hardly noticed these two oddly dressed individuals. Zhu Houzhong ran to the side and got a rope, tying it to a pillar of a nearby shop. He then let the rope hang down to the ground and ran across the street, casting a mischievous grin at Lu Bing.

The household servants, unaware of the old man's prowess, thought that the earlier incident was merely a result of Fan Dahai's drunkenness, and that the meddlesome old man had simply emerged from nowhere. Fueled by anger and resentment, they plotted to capture the old man and beat him up to vent their frustrations, believing it would serve as an explanation to their master. The group of servants pushed their way through the crowd and began to unleash their fists and kicks upon the old man. After a short while, six or seven of the ruffian servants lay on the ground, some with bruised faces and others bleeding from their heads. One of them had an arm twisted into an unimaginable shape, likely rendered useless.

"What the hell, don't you dare urinate here, is it dirty or not? You can be fined for relieving yourself in public. Damn, why is your face still green? Did your gallbladder burst? I'll call 120 for you." Lu Bing didn't care whether the ruffian understood or not; he just spoke freely and teased as he pleased.

An old man came to the rescue, and he appears to be a master.

After speaking, Zhu Houzhong leaned down and whispered softly into the ear of the pained and sweating young scoundrel, "I have always hated it when others point at me." His tone was steady and unhurried, indicating an extremely calm mindset, far from that of a twelve or thirteen-year-old child; he could be described as mature beyond his years and ruthless.

Fan Dahai reached out his hand towards Zhu Houzong's face. Zhu Houzong shouted in alarm and hurriedly tried to dodge, but being still very young, he was no match for Fan Dahai's strength, and it was clear he was about to be caught.

Just as the moment arrived, the old man, who had been crouching in the corner, sprang forward with such speed that no one, including the librarian, noticed. He suddenly placed his hand on Fan Dahai's wrist and said with a smile, "My friend, you have had too much to drink." In an instant, Fan Dahai found himself inexplicably flipping in the air, his back crashing heavily onto the ground, leaving him in a daze.

Lu Bing was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Then how did you escape from danger?"

The young scion was flaunting his power, when suddenly someone in the crowd shouted: "At such a young age, not learning the right ways, and already teasing common women before even reaching maturity; what will become of him when he grows up"

Lu Bing nodded without saying much, and with Zhu Houzong, they spurred their horses, which galloped vigorously southward, leaving behind two trails of dust.

"I have a kind, and that kind is you. You are truly unfilial, not knowing to come over and bow to me, but instead forcing your father to come out." In the crowd, Lu Bing kept moving, searching for the most advantageous position to strike, while using words to mock the ruffian, causing the ruffian to become furious and lose his guard

The masked Lu Bing took the young master from his home and fled. The household servants acted separately; some went to report to the authorities, some informed the family and sought help to surround the area, while others pursued the direction in which the young master had been taken. Coincidentally, they were all on the same path, heading south. Just after running a few steps, a rope suddenly tightened on the ground, catching everyone off guard and causing them to stumble and fall.

When the ruffians' lackeys charged over, the common people stood their ground and did not give way to this group of "lapdogs"; each one seemed to turn a blind eye, deliberately obstructing their advance

"You are quite clever," Lu Bing said, giving Zhu Houzhong a pat on the shoulder, chiding him with a smile. This gesture was common between the two brothers, but they would not dare to act so "disrespectfully" in the royal residence; they had to be discreet, or else Lu Bing would end up receiving another serving of "bamboo stick stir-fried meat".

Zhu Houchong had just finished pulling the rope and had not yet had the chance to laugh heartily when he saw that servant chasing after him. He quickly turned and ran, shouting as he fled: "You can't catch me, so what should I vent my anger on? If you don't hurry to save him, your young master will be in danger."

Zhu Houzhong, after covering his face, said: "Brother, I do not know martial arts. You go first and subdue that wicked young man, then take him to the south of the city. If they dare to pursue us, we will use this wicked young man as a hostage to threaten them. Our horses are to the south of the city; once we are on horseback, we can take this wicked young man outside the city and teach him a good lesson. What do you think?"