Chapter 7: Lu Junyi—What Grudge, What Resentment?
“Brother…”
Lu Junyi was deeply grateful, speaking with heartfelt sincerity:
“The debt of saving my life is beyond repayment! I can only…”
“Hiss—”
Cai Fu involuntarily drew a sharp breath:
Such a familiar line!
But still… you’re a man!
“If brother will not abandon me, I am willing to form a sworn brotherhood with you!
“I pledge to regard you as my elder brother and follow you through life and death!”
With that, Lu Junyi prostrated himself so deeply that he bled from his forehead, showing the depth of his resolve.
“Good! Good! Good!”
Cai Fu breathed a sigh of relief, overjoyed. Forming a sworn brotherhood with Lu Junyi was like holding a royal trump card at the start.
It must be understood that this world was not the twenty-first century; sworn brotherhoods here could be stronger than blood ties.
Without any formal rituals involving severed heads or burnt yellow paper, the two bound themselves in this pitch-dark prison…
…
At the city gate of Daming Prefecture.
Cai Fu swaggered out, escorting two young prisoners, and greeted the city gate guards he knew:
“Old Wang, tonight we’re drinking at the Lichun Courtesan House!”
Old Wang was a drinker; though he only knew Cai Fu slightly, the mention of drinking made him readily agree:
“Done, Jieji!”
After Cai Fu and the two prisoners passed through the city gate, one guard turned to Old Wang, surprised:
“Are the prison escorts that tall these days?”
Cai Qing stood seven feet eight inches tall, Cai Fu eight feet three inches!
Lu Junyi was even taller—nine feet exactly!
“Yeah…”
Old Wang glanced at the backs of Cai Fu and the two prisoners, clicking his tongue:
“They must be heavy drinkers…”
Cai Fu, Cai Qing, and Lu Junyi left the city gate and headed east. After walking ten miles, they saw a small pavilion.
Lu Junyi’s qilin steed was tied to a pillar of the pavilion, and Yan Qing stood on the steps, craning his neck to look out.
Upon seeing Lu Junyi, Yan Qing flew out like a swallow and bowed deeply:
“Congratulations to my master for turning misfortune into blessing and overcoming adversity!”
“What misfortune turned into blessing, overcoming adversity?”
Lu Junyi limped as he introduced Cai Fu to Yan Qing:
“I survived all thanks to my big brother’s rescue!
“Xiao Yi, remember this: this Jianghu figure called ‘Sai Xuande’ Cai Fu is my big brother!
“Without my big brother, there would be no me!”
Yan Qing immediately bowed at Cai Fu’s feet, deeply grateful:
“Thank you, brother, for saving my master!
“From this day forth, Xiao Yi’s life belongs to you!”
Cai Fu helped Yan Qing to his feet, a thousand unspoken words between them.
“Brothers, we shouldn’t stay here too long.”
Cai Fu motioned to Cai Qing and Yan Qing to help Lu Junyi onto his horse:
“Let’s move far away before we talk.”
So Lu Junyi lay across the horse’s back while Cai Fu and the others walked, deliberately choosing desolate paths.
As they walked, Cai Fu, Yan Qing, and Lu Junyi pieced together all the information.
The truth gradually emerged.
Lu Junyi’s face turned pale:
“So that means Song JiangI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.