Chapter Seven: Difficult Brothers

Wang Fuxing anxiously exclaimed, "What time is it, and you are still talking about distance? Are you saying we are going to die here in a state of confusion?"

Starting from the thousands of elite soldiers escorting the young king from Tianjing to Huzhou Prefecture, they began to examine the bamboo slips held by the personal guards. Any guard with a black slip would immediately be pulled aside. Zhang Wei observed that the atmosphere surrounding the elite soldiers pulling people was not right; it was only a short distance back to the camp, so there was no need for such a large show of force. Moreover, there was no need for Prince Zhao to lead the return. There must be a trick here.

Zhang Weisi pondered: "In reality, it is all an illusion! I have come to understand that all five hundred brothers on the training ground today are destined to die! What is happening on stage is merely a farce for others to watch"

The old man coldly laughed and said, "Take action!" The elite soldiers guarding the area wielded their swords and daggers against the unarmed personal guards, mercilessly throwing the lifeless bodies of the fallen into the pit. In the back courtyard of the Duke's residence, blood flowed freely, and in less than the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, around four hundred people were tossed haphazardly into the earth.

The old Taoist took out two items from his bosom: one was a purple-gold bell, and the other was a thumb-sized stone pagoda. As the old Taoist shook the bell, the black mist retreated, and the resentment of the corpses in the pit grew stronger, yet they were forced back by the sound of the bell. After several repetitions, the resentment was driven into the stone pagoda by the sound of the bell. Once the black mist was completely absorbed by the pagoda, the old Taoist hurriedly picked up the purple-gold bell and the stone pagoda and left swiftly

Zhang Wei and Wang Fuxing were astonished as they were brought before King Zhao by the elite soldiers. The old Taoist placed the bamboo tube for drawing lots in front of Zhang Wei. Everyone understood that the tales of heroic deeds were mere fabrications; the reality was a matter of life and death. At this point, they could only rely on luck to gamble. Zhang Wei hesitated for a moment, then reached into the tube and pulled out a bamboo stick, secretly glancing at it in his palm to find it was a red stick. Wang Fuxing, in a carefree manner, drew a stick and opened it to reveal a black stick. The meanings represented by the red and black colors were known only to heaven.

"Carpenter! How come you are here too? You couldn't escape either? Didn't I tell you to hurry back home?" Zhang Weihun felt a sudden pain in his chest, bewildered by the fact that even in death, one could still feel pain

King Zhao Huang Wenying, upon hearing the command from the Young King, had no choice but to reluctantly sheathe his sword and kicked at Zhang Wei. ... Zhang Wei, caught off guard, fell awkwardly onto his back, and the various princes on the stage shook their heads in disapproval ...

Zhang Wei looked at the bloodstains soaking his chest, reached out to pull open his collar, and saw the broken jade ruyi rolling out. Man's plans cannot compare to heaven's arrangements; the stolen treasure unexpectedly saved his life.

As Zhang Wei anticipated, once the sacred treasury was transported to Huzhou Prefecture, it became a hot commodity. It is unknown how many people were coveting the treasure; the young king summoned his personal guards to ensure the proper safeguarding of the sacred treasury.

What does it mean? Since everyone is going to die, why bother drawing lots? With a single command, wouldn't it be enough for the elite soldiers of the Young Heavenly King to shoot in all directions?" The Carpenter King asked in disbelief.

The old Taoist and King Zhao left the training ground with the elite soldiers of the young king, escorting the personal guards who had drawn the black lot. Duke Huang Wenjin let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly. The young king instructed the guards beside him to collect the jewels and gold on the platform, while the dozens of people left at the training ground felt an inexplicable sense of fear.

King Zhao Huang Wenying was greatly alarmed and said: "Daoist Qingyang, what do you think we should do about this?"

The old man said calmly: "I want their resentment to reach a boiling point; the anger of these hundreds of people is enough to sweep away a thousand troops. However, resentment can only be unleashed at the moment of death, so I must transfer this resentment elsewhere! King Zhao need not worry, I have my own methods!"

"You can keep arguing! Be careful or your head might get chopped off! Huh? Why is it that eight or nine out of ten people have drawn the black slip? Does that mean those who draw the red slip are destined to die?" Wang Fuxing, the carpenter, said anxiously.

Can you outrun the sharp arrows in the hands of the elite soldiers? Let us first observe the situation; if things go awry, we might truly perish here!" Zhang Wei sighed as he looked around the training ground at the layers of elite soldiers with their swords drawn...

The old man took out a bamboo stick tube from his pocket and said with a smile: "Since you brothers are unwilling to step forward, I can only ask King Zhao to have you draw lots to decide!"

The old priest stood at the edge of the pit, chanting incantations as he drew a talisman in mid-air. The blood on the ground bubbled as if it were boiling. A thick, inky black mist surged up from the pile of corpses in the pit, crashing towards the old priest like a tidal wave. The elite soldiers standing in front of the old priest were torn to shreds by the black mist

The elite soldiers dragged Zhang Wei over with their knives, and nearly four hundred people had drawn the black lots. The old Taoist on the stage glanced at the Young Heavenly King and said: "Your Highness, please wait a moment. Once I retrieve their vengeful souls, we can perform the ritual! At that time, with these vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts guarding the sacred treasury, it will be absolutely secure"

As it was Wang Fuxing's turn for inspection, Zhang Wei abruptly pulled Wang Fuxing aside and said, "Carpenter, I will take my leave first! You must remember to go home and check on your wife right away; if you delay, you might not see her again!" Without further ado, he snatched the bamboo stick from the carpenter's hand and stuffed his own red stick into Wang Fuxing's hand.

Zhang Wei tore open his clothing to bandage his wound and said: "You are not too foolish after all. The guards heading to Taihu are not after treasure at all. The real treasure is still in Huzhou, but we simply do not have the ability to retrieve it. Fortunately, you returned; if you had gone along, you would probably have ended up as food for the turtles in Taihu by now. Alas!"

In the courtyard of the Duke's residence, one could hear a pin drop in the stillness. Faced with the rare and exquisite treasures, no one dared to take a step forward. Everyone understood that with the Qing army pressing in, it was uncertain whether their lives could be preserved; what use were jewels if one were dead? The Duke's personal guards had followed Wang Wenjin in campaigns across the south and north, and they were not entirely at ease with the young Tian Wang Hong Tianfu, who was merely sixteen, still in the tender years of youth.

The old Taoist standing behind the Young King rolled his eyes and said with a laugh: "Hahaha, I, Qingyangzi, greet you all. There is no need for my brothers from the Heavenly Dynasty to be overly formal. The Young King’s successful breakout this time is entirely thanks to everyone’s efforts, and these treasures are a token of the Young King’s gratitude to his brothers. Although Tianjing has been breached by the Qing dogs, we will have our chance to rise again. The Young King has already dispatched elite troops to contact King Yi, Shi Dakai. As long as we can hold out for a few days, King Yi’s forces will arrive." Tianjing has been breached by the Qing dogs, but we will have our chance to rise again. The Young King has already dispatched elite troops to contact King Yi, Shi Dakai. As long as we can hold out for a few days, King Yi’s forces will arrive.

Zhang Wei looked up at the Big Dipper in the sky and exclaimed, "Stop! Running east is tantamount to seeking death, isn't it? The Qing army has long since sealed off the northeast on both sides. We are just rushing to our demise! Let's hide in the woods first. When will your thick-headedness finally clear up?"

The soldiers on the field, upon hearing the old Taoist's words, finally felt a glimmer of hope, imagining that the troops of King Yi would return to Huzhou and drive back the Qing soldiers. However, there was one person who secretly shook his head and sighed, and that person was Zhang Wei, who was being forced to kneel on the general's platform. Wang Fuxing, kneeling beside Zhang Wei, asked in a puzzled whisper: "Brother Zhang, why do you keep sighing? Driving back the Qing dogs is a great thing; you don't truly wish to surrender to the Qing army, do you?"

Zhang Wei, as if nothing had happened, tucked the treasure into his clothing and said: "Carpenter, what are you talking about? One cannot bring personal items into the schoolyard; I am completely empty-handed!"

Zhang Wei snorted and said: "I know I am a thief, but I am certainly not a heartless and unjust person! Carpenter, do you really think these treasures on the table are meant for us? Among the five hundred brothers, you are the only one who can't figure it out. Anyone who desires the things here is bound to meet their end!"

Zhang Wei sneered, "Hmph! It is merely a ruse to deceive others. If the rumor spreads that the Young King’s elite troops have killed the personal guards of King Du, it would cause great turmoil in the army. I suspect tonight's display is meant for the Qing spies to see, allowing them to report back on the whereabouts of Zeng Guofan's treasury. Warfare is a matter of deception. Thus, one can appear incapable while being capable, appear to use while not using, appear near while being far, and appear far while being near..." Thus, one can appear incapable while being capable, appear to use while not using, appear near while being far, and appear far while being near..."

Wang Fuxing truly did not think that much. After hearing Zhang Wei's words, he quickly stopped and slipped into the nearby woods. Wang Fuxing set down Zhang Wei and said: "You little rascal are really something. The Young Heavenly King left us here to go to Taihu to retrieve treasures! I took advantage of the opportunity to carry the treasures onto the boat and swim back. Fortunately, the Qing army came to attack the city, and their elite troops were too late to bury you all!"

As Zhang Wei followed the crowd out of the training ground, the elite soldiers shouted and drove several hundred people into the Duke's residence. Anyone who showed even the slightest doubt was met with a flurry of punches and kicks from the soldiers. In the backyard of the Duke's residence, a large pit had already been dug. Even the several hundred brothers from the personal guard could see that something was amiss; this pit was definitely meant for burying the dead

Wang Fuxing opened his mouth, tongue-tied and perplexed, saying: "You... you are not trying to trick me..."

Wang Fuxing suddenly covered Zhang Wei's mouth and exclaimed: "Listen! Why is there a burnt smell in the forest, as if it is the scent of human flesh being charred?"

Wang Fuxing scolded, "Shut your mouth, you little brat! You have no idea that you crawled out from the King of Hell's domain! Right now, it is crucial to escape this place while the Qing army is attacking; if you wait too long, you won't be so fortunate!"

Young King Hong Tianfu nodded and said: "This matter entirely depends on the supernatural abilities of Daoist Qingyang. As long as we can protect the Sacred Repository, we will have the opportunity to make a comeback in the future"

As the bodyguards went up to draw lots, Wang Fuxing quietly asked, "You little rascal, you really dare to take action despite your unchanging nature!" Zhang Wei lowered his head in silence, covering his mouth with his hand. From his mouth, as if performing a magic trick, he produced seven or eight items such as a jade ruyi, a luminous pearl, and an agate stone, leaving Wang Fuxing utterly astonished.

It was unclear how much time had passed, but Zhang Wei felt as light as a bundle of cotton swaying in the wind. It seemed that he was on the road to the underworld, and he could hear someone calling his name in his ear. Upon closer listening, the voice sounded familiar, as if it belonged to the carpenter Wang Fuxing. Startled, Zhang Wei opened his eyes and saw Wang Fuxing desperately carrying him and running towards the outskirts of the city

Du Wang Huang Wenjin angrily said: "All the embarrassing things, get out of my sight!" Only Wang Fuxing realized that Zhang Wei had pretended to fall just now; the rare treasures on the entire stage were what he truly desired

Wang Fuxing, a carpenter, and Zhang Wei were both close aides to King Du. The two were quite familiar with each other. Wang Fuxing was a rough man, while Zhang Wei came from a scholarly family. However, due to his father's wrongful imprisonment and death, the Zhang family fell into decline. From then on, Zhang Wei, being self-taught, became a gentleman thief, specializing in stealing ill-gotten wealth to distribute to those in suffering

King Zhao Huang Wenying saw that Zhang Wei was unwilling to reveal the lottery results and was about to go forward to check. Zhang Wei, however, held the results tightly in his palm and did not move. Angered, King Zhao drew his sword to execute him, yet Zhang Wei remained completely still. Young King Hong Tianfu Gui, fearing further complications, shouted repeatedly: "Stop! We are all brothers; how can we harm one another? Let the brothers quickly draw their lots; Daoist Qingyang will make the arrangements."

King Zhao Huang Wenying shouted sternly: "The Qing army is coming to seize the sacred treasury, and Huzhou is the last bastion of the Heavenly Kingdom. As brothers of the Celestial Empire, we must vow to defend the sacred treasury to the death. When the Wing King and his troops arrive to assist, we will drive back the Qing army in one fell swoop! Now, the Young Heavenly King has ordered us brothers to select brave warriors to accomplish a monumental feat. Why are you all so cowardly? Come over here to draw lots; life and death are determined by fate! You two, come over here and draw first!"

In the time it takes to have a meal, all 500 soldiers had drawn their lots. The old priest exchanged a glance with King Du. King Du, Huang Wenjin, frowned and said: "All brothers who drew the red lots stay in the training ground, while those who drew the black lots will return to camp with King Zhao!"

The mountain wind blows, clearly carrying a strange sound that seems to be a mix of laughter and weeping, as if it were the cries of ghosts from the underworld