Chapter 7, On the Road

He lowered his head and glanced at Zhang Chengling, who was still silently shedding tears. Feeling somewhat annoyed, he thought to himself, how long is this brat going to go on like this? He then gently kicked him with his toe and cleared his throat, saying: "Young Master Zhang, if you have rested enough, please get up and tidy yourself. It is not suitable to stay here for long; who knows how many pursuers are waiting to eliminate you. I, Zhou, have been entrusted with a task, and at the very least, I must ensure that I deliver you to Taihu in one piece."

If it cannot be changed, then it cannot be changed, Zhou Zishu thought to himself. After all, if he were to be thrown to the Zhao family in Taihu, he could just leave and go wherever he pleased. He had planned it all out well, with still the Three Mountains and Five Mountains and several major lakes to see. He would not go north, but there was an old friend in the southern border whom he had not had the chance to visit. He must pay a visit to him before heading to the underworld, to share a cup of wine.

Gu Xiang immediately lowered her head and said softly, "Yes, the servant spoke out of turn"

Wen Kexing slightly widened his eyes, his expression serious as he pondered for a moment, then said to Gu Xiang: "He must be a beauty, there is no doubt about it; only a beauty could be this foolish."

Only listening to Wen Kexing's own words: "We are following that person with the surname Zhou, I am sure I am not mistaken, he must be a beautiful person. If we continue on this path, we will surely be able to uncover his hidden agenda. Ah Xiang, if you don't believe it, we can make a bet."

Zhang Chengling shouted and sat up, his gaze blank and dazed. After a while, he finally reacted, turned to Zhou Zishu, and said softly: "Uncle Zhou... I didn't mean to."

While Wen Kexing and Gu Xiang were watching with great interest, Gu Xiang quietly commented, "Oh, just yesterday he was a foolish and silly little boy, how has he become so clever now?"

Only Wen Kexing asked Gu Xiang: "Who is that little thing?"

He still has fifty percent of his strength left, and all his skills and abilities remain intact. These people are unable to do anything to him. However, with the seven orifices and three autumn nails embedded in his body, his energy occasionally falters, making him impatient with their relentless shifts day and night. While dealing with the pursuing insects, he must also be wary of the two master and servant who inexplicably follow him at a leisurely pace.

Zhou Zishu pressed the sleeping acupoint of the young man Zhang Chengling, but fearing that he might not be able to come to terms with it immediately, he did not apply much force, allowing him to calm down. Therefore, after the peculiar Wen Kexing entered, it was not long before Zhang Chengling woke up.

Gu Xiang wiped the playful smile off her face, pondered for a moment, and then said softly: "Master, according to that Cheng Ling, the massacre of the Zhang family yesterday was carried out by the evil spirits of Qingzhuling, and the hanged ghost Xue Fang was also present."

After speaking, he stretched lazily as if no one was around, smiled at Gu Xiang, ignored Wen Kexing, and turned to walk outside, not caring whether Zhang Chengling followed or not

He then went on to scrutinize Zhou Zishu and asked Gu Xiang: "What does he do?"

Zhou Zishu, too lazy to listen to his grandiose words any longer, grabbed his shoulder and lifted him up like a chick, pulling him off the ground. He self-deprecatingly said: "I am a useless person on the verge of the grave, living one more day is just one more day for me. What can I teach you? I have heard that the great hero Zhao Jing of Taihu is an old friend of your father. I will take you there; you need not plead, as there will naturally be a line of people ready to teach you martial arts and help you seek revenge"

At that moment, it seemed that someone nearby plucked a string, producing a sharp sound like "zheng". Zhang Chengling felt as if that sound erupted like thunder in his ears, causing his internal organs to tremble, followed by a sudden, intense pain. He let out a muffled groan and desperately clutched his chest.

Zhang Chengling said cautiously: "Uncle Zhou, I didn't mean to wake you up, I just dreamed about my father..." His lips trembled, pale and ashen, "How about... how about I just don't sleep anymore?"

Wen Kexing rubbed his chin with his fingers, gazing with considerable interest at the backs of the two individuals for a moment. Suddenly, he slapped his thigh, stood up, and said to Gu Xiang: "Let’s go to Taihu and follow them"

Zhang Chengling responded softly and burrowed back into the quilt, his fingers still instinctively tugging at Zhou Zishu's sleeve

Zhang Chengling stubbornly declared: "If the master does not agree, I will not get up! The great enmity of my family must be avenged; if I cannot take revenge, how can I, Zhang Chengling, face the world? Master..."

Gu Xiang habitually pretended not to hear, while Zhou Zishu was unable to gauge the depth of this person, thus he imitated her behavior

In the blink of an eye, everything was gone

Zhang Chengling was momentarily taken aback, but suddenly an idea struck him. He vigorously wiped his face, smearing his snot and tears onto his sleeve, and said: "To pay respect to heaven, earth, the sovereign, parents, and teachers is a natural duty. Uncle Zhou is a great benefactor; let Chengling pay his respects to you as a teacher!"

could not help but be stunned

He opened his eyes and stared blankly at the roof of the dilapidated temple for a while, as if his soul had left his body. Until yesterday, he was still the beloved young master of the Zhang family, adored by thousands. Even though his teacher, who taught him to read, shook his head and said that this child was unruly, like a wall of dung that could not be sullied, and even though his martial arts master nodded insincerely in front of him, secretly feeling that he was like mud that could not stick to the wall, his life was still very happy.

He was at an age of innocence, and although his eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, his gaze remained pure, a purity that felt inexplicably familiar, causing Zhou Zishu to suddenly recall a person buried deep within his memories

His appearance, sobbing and sniffling, was utterly pitiful. Although he had met Zhou Zishu by chance, at this moment he had no one else to rely on besides this person, practically treating Zhou Zishu as a lifesaving Buddha.

Wen Kexing thought for a moment, found it reasonable, and then nodded: "No wonder there are so many dead people."

Gu Xiang scoffed, saying: "That beggar claims to be named Zhou Xu. Yesterday, he received two coins from someone and sold himself to that young man, intending to take him to Taihu."

Having Zhang Chengling with him was akin to carrying an invincible nuisance, attracting countless flies along the way. That night, he had sent away a group of pursuers, while he fiddled with the two qian of broken silver in his hand, filled with regret.

Zhang Chengling stood there feeling wronged for a while, and upon realizing that the person had truly left, he hurriedly chased after them

Wen Kexing glanced at her lightly and said, "Hmm, so what?"

Regardless of how slow the journey is, he never utters a word more. Whatever Zhou Zishu says is what it is; he is very honest, yet he cannot change his habit of addressing everyone as "Master".

Once that person who longed to wander the world with him

Suddenly, the boy on the bed began to struggle, drenched in sweat. Every night, he almost went through this ordeal. On the surface, he seemed fine, wholeheartedly focused on seeking revenge, and had rallied himself. However, the memories of that night lingered like a nightmare, ever-present. Zhou Zishu sighed and pushed him awake

Zhou Zishu quietly dragged the body of the black-clad assailant out, then returned to the room and sat down again in the dark to regulate his breathing. Zhang Chengling remained oblivious, still sound asleep, dreaming contentedly. During these past few days of being with him, he had not found any undesirable traits in this young master. The child who once cried loudly as if made of water seemed to have suddenly been forced to grow up after this incident.

Home is gone, parents are gone, relatives and friends are gone, his world has suddenly turned upside down, leaving him in a state of confusion and helplessness

Zhang Chengling's eyes slowly turned around in a circle, then fixed in place. He covered his face with both hands, curling himself into a large shrimp, and began to cry loudly. As soon as he cried, Zhou Zishu felt a headache, thinking he should scold him a bit, but he always felt reluctant to do so. He thought about comforting him like a child, but he didn't know how, so he sat in silence for a while. Then, he suddenly stood up and walked towards the door.

His original intention was to go and take a look at the Buddha statue that he had sent flying with a single palm strike. He felt that he should accumulate virtue, and it was not good to have desecrated the Buddha. He was thinking of some way to return the Buddha to its place. Unexpectedly, Zhang Chengling thought he was about to leave, and he rolled over, quickly got up, and lunged forward, grabbing Zhou Zishu's leg, urgently saying: "Uncle Zhou, Uncle Zhou, please don't... don't go, I... I..."

At that moment, the girl, who seemed fearless of both heaven and earth, suddenly turned pale, her expression clearly one of fear. Wen Kexing took a deep look at her, and only then did he turn his gaze away with satisfaction, continuing to walk forward, while Gu Xiang silently followed closely behind him.

Wen Kexing nodded slightly, his expression very calm, as if the name Zhang Yusen was merely a floating cloud in his heart. After a while, he asked: "I heard that the Zhang family is so poor that they have nothing left but money. How did Zhang Yusen's son end up in this state? Did he run away from home without enough silver, or is he lost and unable to find his way back?"

Zhou Zishu patted his shoulder and instinctively said softly: "It doesn't matter, you sleep on, if you have another nightmare, I will wake you up"

He then turned around, exerting his strength in his palms, lifted the large Buddha statue, walked to the incense table, and with a strong push, returned it to its original position. He muttered, "Sin upon sin," joined his hands in prayer, and casually bowed twice. Turning back to the stunned Zhang Chengling, he said, "If you can get up, then let's go. Aren't you seeking revenge? You need to hurry and find Hero Zhao. I'll take you out to find something to eat"

If it were only Zhou Zishu himself, it would be easy to shake them off, but he always had a little burden to carry. Moreover, that Wen Kexing, whose origins were unknown, actually had some skills. Time and again, he managed to get rid of them, yet within less than half a day, he would see Wen Kexing's face again, a face that made him want to punch it.

Gu Xiang was momentarily taken aback, and seeing Wen Kexing already walking outside, she hurriedly followed and said earnestly: "That hanging ghost is clearly a counterfeit; I killed it yesterday. Master... did you know something?"

Zhou Zishu could only say: "You get up first"

Zhou Zishu cast a meaningful glance at the sleeve that had been pulled, while Zhang Chengling smiled awkwardly and retracted his fingers, curling them back in.

With clothes coming when one stretches out a hand and food arriving when one opens the mouth, a house full of women and servants follows behind to attend to him. Although his studies are not particularly impressive, he has never lacked for the company of a night visitor or a red sleeve. From morning till night, there are young attendants flattering him. Zhang Chengling, although aware of his own situation, still does not mind occasionally indulging in the feeling of being on cloud nine amidst such flattery. Thus, he grew up in this honey pot until the age of fourteen or fifteen

Gu Xiang said: "I heard it is Zhang Yusen's son"

"Ah Xiang." Wen Kexing glanced at her, his eyes seeming to draw one in as if they could swallow a person whole

Gu Xiang said softly: "I heard that the Zhang family was ambushed the night before, their entire household was wiped out. Right now, the city is probably in an uproar. Master, you were too engrossed in your revelry last night, you must not have heard about it."

Zhou Zishu glanced at him expressionlessly and said淡淡地道: "A man's knees are worth gold; didn't your father teach you that?"

Zhou Zishu was grinding his teeth and farting, yet he was not very good at comforting others, so he silently sat to one side. Zhang Chengling was in a daze for a moment, and then two lines of tears silently flowed from his eyes.

Thus, Zhou Zishu's journey is bound to be fraught with unrest