Chapter 21: Cai Fu: Wouldn't that make us the ultimate suckers?

Chasing after them was futile. Yu Baosi’s mount was a qilin beast—a steed ranked among the top ten thousand-mile horses in the Water Margin world! The other three were all inferior horses; how could one possibly catch up?

At this point, there was nothing to do but eat.

Now that they were all comrades in the same boat, Jiao Ting squeezed in at the table with Cai Fu and the others to share a meal and drinks.

Having just endured life’s harsh lessons, Jiao Ting, who had always been blunt and tactless, had learned a thing or two about social graces.

Raising a full bowl of wine, he forced a smile and said, “Brothers, I apologize for my impudence earlier! I will punish myself with three bowls—let us drink to that!”

Clink… clink… clink…

Jiao Ting downed three bowls in one breath to show his sincerity.

Cai Fu chuckled, “Impressive drinking capacity.”

With Cai Fu’s words and laughter, the atmosphere instantly lightened. Jiao Ting then realized who the leaders present were.

“I am your humble Jiao Ting!”

He clasped his fists respectfully, first glancing at Cai Fu, then at Lu Junyi, before turning in a bow:

“May I boldly inquire the honorable names of the heroes present?”

Before Cai Fu or Lu Junyi could speak, Yan Qing took the initiative to introduce himself:

“I am but a nameless soldier, worth little mention.

“This gentleman here is my master, Lu Junyi, known in the martial world as the ‘Jade Qilin of Hebei’!”

“Ah—”

Jiao Ting couldn’t help but gasp and immediately kowtowed:

“So this is Mr. Lu in person!

“I have long heard of Lu’s unparalleled skill in spear and staff, one of the top three in Hebei!

“To see you today confirms you are truly extraordinary!

“My apologies for any earlier disrespect!”

Yan Qing continued, introducing Cai Fu:

“This is my master’s sworn elder brother, Cai Fu!

“In the martial world, he is called ‘Sai Xuande,’ also known as the ‘King of Blades of the Northern Lands’!”

“Ah—”

Jiao Ting was greatly startled and bowed again:

“So this is the great Dao Wang Cai in person!

“When I passed through Daming Prefecture the other day, the whole city was abuzz with tales—

“‘Sai Xuande frees the Jade Qilin,’ ‘Dao Wang Cai burns down Daming Prefecture.’

“Dao Wang Cai’s loyalty reaches the heavens! I have long wished to join you, only regretting that fate had denied me a meeting!

“Heaven has mercy that we meet here today. If Dao Wang Cai will have me, I am willing to follow!

“To serve at your saddle and stirrup, to hold the whip and keep pace!”

Sai Xuande freeing the Jade Qilin and Dao Wang Cai burning down Daming Prefecture?

Cai Fu had been quite pleased—his fame rose quickly after one battle.

Moreover, being allied with Lu Junyi meant standing on the shoulders of giants!

The greater Lu Junyi’s renown, the greater Cai Fu’s would grow.

That was all very good, except the nickname “Vegetable Knife King” grated on him terribly, and he had no way to correct it…

Just thinking that from now on he’d be called “Vegetable Knife King” everywhere made Cai Fu cringe.

Still, Cai Fu understood why Jiao Ting had no face wherever he went—who openly flatters one person while disparaging another?

Fortunately, Lu Junyi shared Cai Fu’s mindset and was magnanimous. Seeing Cai Fu silent, he helped Jiao Ting along:

“Brother, I think Jiao Ting is a sincere man. Why not give him another chance?”

“Very well.”

Only then did Cai Fu speak:

“Find my younger brother’s mount for me, and from now on, we are brothers.”

Jiao Ting was prepared for rejection—he had been refused so often he was used to having no face.

Unexpectedly, when all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope appeared. He bowed again, full of gratitude:

“Thank you, brother. I will surely retrieve Master Lu’s mount!”

Cai Fu and Lu Junyi exchanged smiles. After swearing brotherhood and spending time together, their tacit understanding deepened.

Yan Qing introduced Cai Qing next. After Jiao Ting expressed his long-standing respect, they resumed eating and drinking.

“Brothers, as far as I know, Yu Baosi sold the good horses in Zengtou City.

“I have been there and once met Su Ding, the deputy teacher of Zengtou City.”

Jiao Ting spoke about Zengtou City:

“When we arrive there, I will ask Teacher Su to help us buy back the horses…”

“Wait!”

Cai Fu interrupted him sharply:

“What did you say just now?

“You want us to pay to buy back our own horses?

“Wouldn’t that make us fools?”

“How could I possibly let the brothers pay?” Jiao Ting hurriedly said. “Since I promised to find Master Lu’s mount, I would naturally pay myself…”

“Nonsense!”

Cai Fu slammed the table. “If you go with me, then you paying is the same as me paying!”

Jiao Ting was stunned. “Brother, you mean…”

“If he stole our horses, and we go to demand them back as the rightful owners, he should return them!

“And kneel and apologize to us!”

Cai Fu declared firmly, “Otherwise, don’t blame us for losing our temper!”

Lu Junyi agreed wholeheartedly: “Brother, you speak rightly!”

Are you crazy?

Jiao Ting went pale. “Brother, you don’t know. Zengtou City’s power is vast and not to be trifled with!”

Cai Fu asked knowingly: “How vast?”

Jiao Ting first instructed the innkeeper not to disturb them, then lowered his voice to explain:

“The lord of Zengtou City is Zeng Nong, over fifty years old, originally from the Jin Kingdom.

“In his youth, he came to the Central Plains to trade ginseng, amassing vast wealth.

“Strong and skilled in martial arts, he dominated the villages, renaming the place ‘Zengtou City.’

“Even the government fears to offend him!

“Zeng Nong has five sons: eldest Zeng Tu, second Zeng Mi, third Zeng Suo, fourth Zeng Kui, fifth Zeng Sheng—together called the ‘Five Tigers of the Zeng Family.’

“He also hired two heroes as teachers: Su Ding, the deputy teacher, and Shi Wengong, the principal teacher, commanding five to seven thousand troops…”

“Wait!”

This time Lu Junyi interrupted:

“What did you say the principal teacher’s name was?”

“Shi Wengong!”

Jiao Ting didn’t understand why Lu Junyi was so attentive, so he focused his explanation:

“Though he is obscure in the martial world, I have seen his spear techniques. Truly, he is an invincible marksman!”

“So this villain hides in Zengtou City!”

Lu Junyi’s face darkened at once. Cai Fu feigned ignorance:

“Second brother, do you know this man?”

“More than just knowing him!”

Lu Junyi nearly ground his teeth:

“This man is a traitor to my sect!”

Cai Fu frowned: “Is that so?”

Lu Junyi spoke through clenched teeth:

“Ten years ago, he stole my sect’s secret manuals and wounded my master!

“Alas, I was in Daming Prefecture and my second junior brother was in Tokyo at the time, so we couldn’t punish this traitor on the spot!

“After his escape, my brother and I couldn’t find him, only now discovering he’s hiding in Zengtou City!

“I didn’t know where he was before, but now that I do, how could I not settle this for my master?”

This was a secret Cai Fu did not know.

Although eager to hear more, Cai Fu saw that Lu Junyi did not wish to elaborate publicly, so he did not press further. Instead, he struck the table decisively:

“In that case, our mission is no longer just to reclaim horses!”

Jiao Ting was nearly in tears: “Shi Wengong is the master of the Five Tigers of the Zeng Family!

“Killing him might mean we never leave Zengtou City alive…”

Cai Fu sneered coldly:

“Then we’ll deal with Zengtou City as a whole!”

“Ah—”

Jiao Ting gasped again:

“Brothers, Zengtou City commands five to seven thousand troops…”

“So what?”

Cai Fu was unimpressed:

“If Daming Prefecture couldn’t stop me, how can Zengtou City?

“Besides,” Cai Fu’s lips curled in a teasing smile, “if you’re afraid, lead us there and you can leave on your own!

“All debts and grievances will be wiped clean and done with!”