Chapter 5: Li Gu: There's Such a Value-Added Service?

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Why?
On what grounds?
Lu Junyi, battered and bloodied, lay face down on a tattered straw mat, tears streaming down his face, utterly bewildered.
He stood nine feet tall, handsome and imposing, commanding respect, wealthy beyond measure, and skilled in martial arts!
Li Gu was merely his household servant, weak as a kitten, a pretty face who could barely read a few words!
Why had Lady Jia chosen Li Gu?
What right did Li Gu have to entangle himself with Lady Jia?
It made no sense!
Beyond that, Lu Junyi was now filled with regret, deep regret.
Even though Yan Qing had revealed the truth to him, he refused to believe it.
Had he trusted Yan Qing, would things have come to this?
“Sigh—”
Lu Junyi’s face turned ashen, tears falling like rain: barring unforeseen circumstances, he would soon be beheaded and displayed for all to see...
He did not want to die, but who could save him?
Yan Qing?
Well-meaning but powerless...
Song Jiang?
Too far to reach...
His master?
Too old and frail...
The more Lu Junyi thought, the deeper his despair grew.
Had he known this would happen, he might as well have fought to the death when he was first captured!
Either way, death was inevitable—perhaps he could have carved a bloody path to freedom!
Anything was better than waiting to die now!
“Clatter, clatter...”
Just then, the iron shackles were unlocked, and a shadow pushed open the heavy prison door and entered.
In the flickering, dim yellow light on the wall, Lu Junyi looked carefully and saw it was “Iron Arm” Cai Fu...
No, it was “Matchless Xuande” Cai Fu!
It was over!
A chill ran down Lu Junyi’s spine. Could it be that his beheading was about to be carried out immediately?
Not even waiting for the third watch of the noon hour?
Who had expedited this?
“Master!”
At the moment of Lu Junyi’s despair, suddenly another shadow flashed out from behind Cai Fu.
Cai Fu was big and burly, while this shadow was slender and small, completely hidden behind Cai Fu’s body.
The shadow fell to his knees before Lu Junyi, tears streaming:
“Master, you have suffered...”
“Xiao Yi?”
Lu Junyi’s eyes widened in disbelief, grasping Yan Qing’s hand, shame overwhelming him, tears flowing before words:
“I only blame myself for ignoring your advice, falling victim to the treachery of an adulterous couple, soon to be executed by the authorities...”
“Master, we have met a benefactor!”
Yan Qing leaned close to Lu Junyi’s ear:

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“Blah blah blah... Master, we are saved!”
“Really?”
Lu Junyi could hardly believe his ears, hurriedly looking at Cai Fu.
Cai Fu unlocked his shackles:
“Master Lu, ‘Matchless Xuande’ lives by righteousness and never hesitates to draw his sword when witnessing injustice!
“Today I will rescue you!”
“Thank you, noble sir, for your righteous rescue!”
Lu Junyi wept tears of joy, bowing deeply, then said with guilt:
“But I fear I have implicated you...”
“The court is corrupt, the emperor foolish!”
Cai Fu declared with righteous indignation:
“Liang Zhongshu is greedy and unjust; Cai Fu refuses to be a part of such villainy!
“Today I abandon my duties to rescue Master. From now on, we roam freely as fish in the sea, birds in the sky!
“With brothers united, we are invincible. In this vast world, why fear lack of a place to stand?”
“Brother, your righteousness moves me!”
Lu Junyi was deeply touched by Cai Fu’s heartfelt words and, overcome with emotion, addressed him as brother.
“Brother, I will rescue you immediately!”
Cai Fu lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously:
“But before we go, I must present you with a gift!
“Blah blah blah...”
Lu Junyi’s eyes shone brightly: “Thank you, brother. If I receive such a gift, I shall die without regret!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Cai Fu shot him a stern look: “Die?
“Your life is as much mine as yours. Live well for me!”
Lu Junyi’s eyes moistened: “Brother speaks wisely...”
...
At the Lu residence.
“Madam, please rest easy.”
Li Gu reassured the plump lady in his arms:
“Cai Fu has accepted the gold and agreed to carry the corpse away early tomorrow.
“As soon as Lu’s dog dies and his body is burned, we can rest easy and live together forever.”
The plump lady was none other than Lady Jia, Lu Junyi’s wife, one of the last surviving “Four Great Harlots of the Water Margin.”
Lady Jia was anxious and worried:
“Though that is so, the night is long and full of dreams; I fear complications might arise...
“Lu’s dog is skilled in martial arts. If he survives this time, we will be doomed...”
Li Gu was already uneasy but tried to remain calm. Lady Jia’s words only made him more fearful.
He well knew Lu Junyi’s martial prowess.
If Lu Junyi escaped alive, they would have no place to hide, no grave to be buried in!
Li Gu’s fear grew until Lady Jia in his arms no longer felt comforting; his mind was filled only with the thought that Lu Junyi must die.
“Knock knock knock!”
Someone knocked at the door. Li Gu startled: “Who is it?”
A maid’s voice came from outside: “Master, Officer Cai has arrived!”

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Why had he come?
Li Gu and Lady Jia exchanged a quick glance, unsure whether it was good or bad news, but it certainly concerned Lu Junyi.
“I’ll go see. You stay here—don’t move.”
Pulling up his trousers, Li Gu rushed out and soon met Officer Cai.
But it was not Cai Fu—it was Cai Qing.
Li Gu had no time for pleasantries with Cai Qing, especially after paying him five hundred taels in bribe gold; besides, Cai Qing was just the younger brother.
After dismissing the bystanders, Li Gu got straight to the point:
“Officer, has something changed?”
Cai Qing chuckled: “Supervisor, nothing has changed.
“My brother just asked me to come and ask you—
“Would you like to witness it with your own eyes?”
Such an added service?
Li Gu was overjoyed; if he could see Lu Junyi’s death with his own eyes, he would feel truly at ease.
“Best of all!”
Li Gu agreed without hesitation: “Officer, when will it happen?”
“Right now.”
Cai Qing patted the package on his back:
“Supervisor, change your clothes. I will escort you into the prison.
“But this must be done discreetly. Don’t let word slip out, or it will cause trouble that can’t be settled.”
“Rest assured, Officer, Li Gu will be careful!”
Li Gu was eager: “Shall we go now?”
“No rush; there is one more thing.”
Cai Qing followed instructions from Cai Fu:
“My brother has been practicing horsemanship lately but lacks a good horse...”
Li Gu understood the hint and quickly said:
“I have a fine horse at my residence called the Qilin Steed!
“Shall I present it to your brother?”
“That would be embarrassing!”
Cai Qing chuckled: “My brother is also learning spear and staff techniques. Though he has a good horse, he still needs a fine spear...”
Li Gu, astute and tactful, said: “I also have a twelve-foot steel-tipped spear at my residence. I will send it to your brother!”
Cai Qing looked hesitant: “That... might not be appropriate?”
“Officer, don’t refuse. As they say, a hero must have a sharp sword, and a beauty deserves fine gifts!”
Li Gu said without hesitation:
“No one in my household practices martial arts, so these items are useless to me. It’s better to gift them to your brother!”
The twelve-foot steel-tipped spear and the Qilin Steed were treasures, but to Li Gu, he never wanted to see them again.
They belonged to Lu Junyi’s weapons and mount.
If Cai Fu accepted them, so be it. As long as he could witness Lu Junyi’s death personally, what value did these treasures hold?
Moreover, Li Gu did not fear Cai Fu taking too much; he only feared Cai Fu refusing them.
If Cai Fu accepted these treasures, Li Gu would feel secure enough to watch how Cai Fu would deal with Lu Junyi’s death firsthand.