Chapter 14: Zhou Tong—Who Is the Benefactor?

On the way back to Liquan Mountain, Lu Junyi could not help but ask Cai Fu, "Big Brother, why didn't you kill that corrupt official?"

Cai Fu arched his thick eyebrows. "Keeping him alive is more useful than killing him."

Lu Junyi looked blank, subconsciously glancing at his young junior brother, Yue Fei, only to see a faint smile on the boy's face. Yue Fei was currently reflecting on how he had followed Cai Fu to lure the government forces away, buying precious time for the villagers of Qilin Village to escape to Liquan Mountain, and couldn't help but feel proud of his own contribution.

*Even my twelve-year-old junior brother understands?*

The thirty-year-old Lu Junyi quickly stroked his beard and nodded with a smile, feigning a look of complete understanding.

*And you understand now, too?*

Cai Fu couldn't tell if Lu Junyi actually understood or was just pretending, but it didn't matter. He let it be.

Lu Junyi, still stroking his beard and nodding, couldn't resist asking again, "Big Brother, how should we deal with that woman, Lady Jia?"

Cai Fu chuckled. "Next time. When we return to Daming Prefecture, you can deal with her however you wish."

"It's a deal!"

Lu Junyi felt relieved. He looked up and announced, "Big Brother, we have arrived at Liquan Mountain!"

...

At Liquan Mountain, Zhou Tong stood atop a massive boulder at the mountain pass, wrapped in a kasaya, gazing into the distance like a stone statue.

"Elder Brother, you have suffered heavy injuries, and the mountain wind here is harsh," Elder Zhiming said as he leaped onto the boulder, offering gentle persuasion. "Why not let this old monk wait here on your behalf?"

"It is of no consequence!" Zhou Tong rejected the elder's kindness without hesitation. "Those who practice martial arts inevitably suffer a few bumps and bruises! This minor injury is nothing!"

Seeing Zhou Tong’s resolve, and out of concern for his health, Elder Zhiming felt compelled to reveal a hint of the truth. "Rest assured, Elder Brother, both your disciple and your foster son possess great destiny. This journey will be safe and without peril."

"Truly?" Zhou Tong’s face brightened, though his brows soon furrowed again. "Elder, you once said that my disciple would face a life of hardship in his middle years. Why have you changed your tune today?"

"Amitabha..." Elder Zhiming pressed his palms together, hesitating repeatedly before deciding to reveal a bit more for the sake of his old friend. "The recent trials your disciple faced were originally destined to be a calamity. Fortunately, he received help from a noble soul, and the danger has already been averted."

Zhou Tong’s eyes widened. "Who is this noble soul?"

Elder Zhiming lowered his eyelids. "It cannot be spoken; it cannot be spoken..."

*Indescribably noble?*

Zhou Tong and Elder Zhiming had been intimate friends for decades, so he naturally understood what "cannot be spoken" meant. He couldn't help but think of the two strangers Lu Junyi had brought along, though he didn't know which one it might be. However, judging by the elder's tone, it seemed even Lu Junyi’s fate had been altered by this noble person. It appeared he would have to ask Lu Junyi carefully when he returned.

"They are here!"

Elder Zhiming suddenly pointed down the mountain. Zhou Tong looked and sure enough, several figures were climbing up through the morning mist. He couldn't make out their faces, so he quickly counted heads: one, two, three... eight. Perfect, not a single one missing!

Zhou Tong exhaled a long breath of relief. Only then did he notice the wind and couldn't help but tighten his kasaya. "Elder, the mountain wind here is truly biting!"

Elder Zhiming asked, "Is it?"

Zhou Tong replied, "Biting enough!"

"Whether it is biting or not can wait!" Elder Zhiming said, tapping his left hand with his right. "The only thing on this old monk's mind is how these children managed to stall the Daming Prefecture government troops!"

Cai Fu had only provided the strategy, but Elder Zhiming couldn't guess how they had executed it in detail. The crucial point was that he dared not try to divine the answer...

"Indeed," Zhou Tong said with emotion. "If they hadn't stalled the government troops, the villagers of Qilin Village would never have reached Liquan Mountain safely! They have truly accumulated great merit!"

"Master! Elder!"

As they spoke, Cai Fu and his group arrived. Lu Junyi called out to them from afar, "We have returned!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Tong was so excited he jumped down from the boulder, but due to his injuries, he stumbled upon landing. Lu Junyi and Yue Fei both rushed forward, but it was Lu Junyi who arrived first, catching Zhou Tong. "Master, be careful!"

"I am fine. How are you all?" Zhou Tong asked, clutching his disciple with one hand and his foster son with the other.

"We succeeded!" Lu Junyi said proudly. "Following my big brother's brilliant plan, we successfully held off the government troops!"

Zhou Tong pressed for details, and Lu Junyi excitedly recounted the entire process. "Blah, blah, blah... It was all my big brother's doing!"

"Brilliant! Simply brilliant!"

Zhou Tong was beaming with joy. He couldn't help but give Cai Fu a thumbs up, then quickly bowed low to him. "This hero is worthy of the name 'The Second Xuan-De'; truly, your righteousness is unparalleled! I, Zhou Tong, on behalf of all the villagers of Qilin Village, thank you for your immense kindness and benevolence!"

"You mustn't, you really mustn't!" Cai Fu stepped forward to support Zhou Tong. Zhou Tong was an elder and at his advanced age, receiving such a bow would be an affront. "Elder Zhou, I, Cai Fu, prioritize the word 'righteousness' above all else. When I see injustice on the road, I am bound to draw my sword and help! This is only what is expected!"

Supported by Cai Fu, Zhou Tong tried to bow again. "I must still thank you for saving my disciple's life..."

"That is even more unnecessary!" Cai Fu quickly held him steady. "He and I are sworn brothers. We do not seek to be born on the same day, but we are willing to die on the same day! In saving him, am I not saving myself?"

Zhou Tong was stunned. *That is true...*

Even so, the more he looked at Cai Fu, the more he liked the young man; he only regretted that he had already accepted his final disciple.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

It was Elder Zhiming's turn. His old eyes stared at Cai Fu with burning intensity. "Benefactor, you are truly wise and courageous! This old monk is full of admiration!"

Cai Fu smiled faintly. "Elder, you flatter me. I have only done a small service for the people."

"Good! Truly good!"

Zhou Tong made a decision that defied his ancestors, though it was not convenient to discuss it in front of so many people.

After Cai Fu, Lu Junyi, and the others climbed the mountain, they were greeted by the entire village of Qilin.

"Whoosh—"

All the villagers of Qilin Village knelt before Cai Fu, Lu Junyi, and the others, weeping as they cried out, "Thank you, heroes, for saving our lives!"

Although the government troops had come because of Lu Junyi, one thing was separate from another; Cai Fu and Lu Junyi had saved their lives. These simple villagers were not people who would return kindness with hatred; they reserved all their resentment for the government troops.

After a sleepless night, Cai Fu had been exhausted, but at this moment, he felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring: absolute comfort.

"Lu Junyi is unworthy of such praise..." Lu Junyi knelt down in return, his face flushed. He had not expected the villagers to remember only his kindness...

The most moved among them was Yue Fei. The education he had received since childhood did not support the killing of government troops. Because he had killed them, his entire worldview had collapsed, and at his age, it would have been easy for him to be led astray. But at this moment, looking at these living, breathing faces, Yue Fei's worldview was rebuilt. He realized he had done nothing wrong!

Government troops who slaughter the people deserve to be killed!