Chapter 33
“That is the whole story.”
Kongkong’er, Hua Qing and Ming Feizhen didn’t believe Kongcang’s recount covered everything going on behind the scenes.
Rubbing his chin, Ming Feizhen questioned, “In other words, you, a monk, found your way to Shennong whilst investigating a murder case, only for another monk to smash?”
“Simply put, correct.”
“Wow, Buddhism sure is a mess.”
“Amitabha. Though we can’t say our Shaolin Temple in the Central Plain is not united, the majority of us are humble and kind monks. Despite possessing Vajra mental cultivation from Buddhism, however, Shennong’s monk is blinded by evil. This one is not capable enough of enlightening him. This one should’ve perished. Thanks to a fortuitous meeting with Mr. Kong, this one had a chance to survive a trying trial.”
Kongkong’er and Hua Qing kept nodding solemnly, prompting Ming Feizhen to elucidate, “He’s saying, he couldn’t beat the Lord Miguo bugger, but your shifu saved him. Now that he has recovered, he seeks an opportunity to run it back.”
Kongkong’er and Hua Qing: “Oh! Why didn’t you say just that? Understood!”
“Even if you want revenge, you have to pick the day. I can accelerate your recovery, but you will still need a few days to be 100%. Therefore, you will have to join us.”
“This old one has decided to clear Mr. Hua’s name to thank you for your kindness, so, even if you didn’t allow him, this one still would have shamelessly followed you.”
Ming Feizhen flashed a corner of his white pearls. “Your words, not mine.”
“???”
***
By the time they returned to Zhuo Estate, it was already late at night.
“How are we going to explain our party size suddenly growing by two people?” Hua Qing asked.
“Why is that even a concern when we can’t explain why we suddenly went missing for an entire day? Abandon caution and go in reckless. I can’t care less what he thinks. First things first: we need to sneak back in. I’m about to nod off here,” Ming Feizhen responded.
They were almost at the front door when Hua Qing tugged on Ming Feizhen’s sleeve. “Even if you don’t explain to Hero Zhuo, we can explain to Miss Su and Yanran, can’t we? What are you going to tell them?”
“The truth.”
“Everything?”
“Or?”
“Think about it: is it appropriate to tell them about the places we went to today?”
“What’s inappropriate about them?”
“Think carefully again. Is it appropriate to go to those places if they were around?”
“Oh, I catch your drift now. Why didn’t you just say so?”
Only two steps later, Kongkong’er tugged Ming Feizhen’s sleeve.
“Elder Kong, do you have something to say?”
Kongkong’er, rubbing his hands together, implored, “This old one is nobody, but he does want to leave a good impression on his disciple-in-law. Please allow this old one to leave an impressive impression.”
“No problem.”
One step after, Kongcang tugged Ming Feizhen’s sleeve.
“Look, can you all tell me everything you want to say in one go? My clothing is expensive.”
“This one does not have any special requests. Because he is a Shaolin monk, though, he wanted to remind you not to alert the enemy.”
“Why am I speaking on everyone’s behalf when you’re all capable of speaking?”
Kongkong’er, Kongcang and Hua Qing: “Because we trust you.”
“… Fine. Got it. Can I knock now?”
Zhuo Fengru led a group of servants to welcome the group, Su Li and Xu Yanran following at the rear, after Ming Feizhen knocked. Everyone on the inside of the estate looked concerned, albeit for different reasons.
Zhuo Fengru voiced, “This old one is glad to see you to back safe and sound. He heard Liu Shan Men arrested the two of you, while his own people couldn’t find any clues. These two gentlemen are…?”
Hua Qing made eye contact with his shifu prior to introducing, “This is my father!”
Kongkong’er inflated his chest, scanning Su Li and Xu Yanran. “Who is Miss Su? Hoho, my son is always talking about you. Here, please accept this modest gift.” Kongkong’er passed over a big block of gold.
Su Li smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I cannot accept such a big gift when we have just met today.”
“It’s not big at all. Take it. We are family now; why do you need to be so reserved?”
Caught by surprise, Zhuo Fengru scratched his head. “Oh… Mr. Hua, it is an honour to meet you. And that is?”
“Why are you looking at me?” Ming Feizhen asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
Ming Feizhen glanced over to the monk who was as excited as a father waiting for his son’s praise so that he could signal for Kongcang to rest assured. “This is the lecherous monk from Shaolin we met at the brothel when he was trying to dash after enjoying the girls. He calls himself King of Gigolos. It took as ages to save him from his ordeal. That’s why Liu Shan Men took us in.”
Kongkong’er, Kongcang and Hua Qing: “What in the world did you ‘get’?!”
Hands over his ears, Ming Feizhen continued, “They’re all really friendly, so you should hit it off.”
“Oh. Please forgive this old one for the late welcome. Please come in.” Zhuo Fengru stepped aside so that Kongcang could head in first.
Xu Yanran: “Br-Brother Hua, why did you go to that sort of place?”
Su Li: “Young Master Hua… you and your father…”
Kongkong’er: “Young Hero Ming, why did you set this old one up?!”
Ming Feizhen: “Didn’t I promise to make you sound impressive? You’re King-level.”
“The key is King-level what! Miss Su, this old one can promise he is a good man.”
Ming Feizhen eventually lost it with Hua Qing because the latter kept whining and cursing all the way back to their room. “Shut up. It was deliberate; I wanted to see how Zhuo Fengru would react. I don’t care how much he knows. I want to know what he thinks of Kongcang’s monk identity.”
“What did you notice?”
“Malice. Today should’ve been the first time they met, yet Zhuo Fengru lost his composure as soon as he learnt Kongcang is from Shaolin, which is unlike his usual self. Remember why Kongcang approached Xu Clan?”
“Uh… because Shaolin disciples were murdered without rhyme or reason. Are you implying th-”
“A pointless question. Neither of us has proof.”
“Never knew you cared for proof.”
“I don’t need proof to submit to a magistrate. I only need proof to convince myself. My shifu listed him as 90% likely to be bad news, which means that there’s a 10% chance he’s innocent. I’ll feel stupid if I attack him, only to find out later on that I was wrong about him. I’m stupid, so I don’t want to do stupid things. We need to make him show his true colours on his own accord.”
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