"You think if I can do it, you could do it yourself—and even better than me. Then why wait until now?"
"You think it's easy, but do you really know how things work?"
"Out in the world, among the many travelers and porters, most things seem simple enough. But here in Black Mountain Prefecture, folks come and go—how many people like you, thinking they're clever, actually succeed?"
"There are plenty who know their way with a bow—some must have had the same idea before. And yet, until now, not a single one has made it work. In all the traveler inns around Black Mountain Prefecture, I, Lu Chang'sheng, am the only one making money!"
Zhao Hu's eyes grew cold and dangerous.
But the urge to kill had faded.
Lu Chang'sheng seemed to sense what he was thinking, and suddenly spoke with solemnity.
"Even if you threaten and bribe us into staying here, with our hearts set against it, all you'll get is a job that brings in a hundred or two copper coins a month!"
"And most of all, you'll have to keep your guard up every hour against us—" Lu Chang'sheng shook his head. "We're probably more like a pack of wolves!"
"But if you work with us, what you'll get will be much more—way more than that!"
"Hurt others for nothing, kill the chicken before it lays, these things wreck someone else's future—and your own, too!"
"You can make your own call! If you've got a good heart, the few of us can walk away and find our own way. We won't compete with you for customers! If you keep us here, well, we're at your mercy—our lives aren't worth a damn anyway!"
Lu Chang'sheng spoke calmly.
A long silence.
"Your last name's Lu, right?"
"Lu Chang'sheng!"
"Old Lu raised a fine son!" Zhao Hu rasped.
Wang Heihou was still shaken and didn't understand, but Lu Chang'sheng did.
This was trust!
Not just praise—he'd let slip his background!
Zhao Hu was from Zhao Family Village!
No wonder!
"Tomorrow, I'll come find you," Zhao Hu said, sounding weary as he looked at Lu Chang'sheng.
"Then I'll be waiting for you over there."
"Call me Mr. Zhao," Zhao Hu waved his hand, saying.
Off to the side, Wang Heihou was completely stunned.
He couldn't understand how two people on the verge of killing each other a moment ago could suddenly act like uncle and nephew now—so friendly.
Is the grownup world really that complicated?
No, wait!
I'm actually a year older than Chang'sheng!
I don't get it! Really can't figure it out!
······
Zhao Hu saw them out, not turning back until the two disappeared around the corner.
"Ah! It's getting late, I'd better head home!" the cleaning woman blurted, taken aback.
She'd been staring at Zhao Hu's back, and never expected him to turn suddenly, startling her.
She quickly moved off, placing her broom aside, then lowered her head and walked out.
Just as she stepped over the threshold, Zhao Hu's voice called from behind.
"Stay with me tonight."
The woman's body stiffened, tears sliding down both cheeks.
Years of pent-up sorrow at last found release. She'd always dreamed of hearing these words, and thought she would throw herself into his arms. Instead, her feet simply moved forward, as if someone else was in control.
Until those familiar but rough hands reached from behind and gripped her tight, and finally she broke down, sobbing into his chest.
"Six years! You've never spoken to me first, just told me to go home early..."
Zhao Hu's eyes reddened, tears gathering but the tiger's grip tight around her.
"It's my fault! It's all my fault!" he kept repeating.
Soon, the two were sitting together outside the side room, talking heart to heart.
When the woman asked curiously why he'd changed his mind today, Zhao Hu's eyes showed a bitter little smile, helplessness, and something hidden—gratitude.
"That Lu Chang'sheng kid talked me into it. I really am useless!"
The woman reached out, covering his mouth so he couldn't go on.
He caught her wrist, quietly moved it aside, saying, "It's fine now, I've come to terms with it. Besides, the kid was right."
"That boy really isn't ordinary. Everything he does is sharp and steady—makes people feel at ease," the woman recalled her two meetings with Lu Chang'sheng and said.
Zhao Hu, a little jealous: "Hmph, no need to go praising him—maybe he's just putting on a show!"
After talking a bit more, Zhao Hu suddenly said, "You don't have to come by tomorrow."
"You..."
"I'm not kicking you out. It's just, if I'm working with that gang of boys, I need to put up something myself, right? Their place is too small, can't do much. I want to clear out the yard and use it for archery practice."
The woman finally relaxed.
"So when will you come see me and Xi'Er?"
"We'll see. Give me two years! Then I'll go there myself and ask for your hand." Zhao Hu said calmly.
The woman didn't argue. She knew his nature—if he'd said it, there was no changing his mind.
······
Leaving Zhao Hu's place, Lu Chang'sheng let out a long breath, feeling suddenly at ease.
"One step closer to raising enough silver to learn martial arts!"
He thought to himself in silence.
After a bit, he noticed Wang Heihou hadn't kept up, so he turned and called out.
Wang Heihou snapped out of it and stared at Lu Chang'sheng's face.
"Why are you looking at me like that—do I have something on my face?" Lu Chang'sheng wiped his face awkwardly.
"You've got a demon living inside you," Wang Heihou said in a low, eerie voice.
Did he figure it out?
Lu Chang'sheng's heart skipped a beat.
The other soul inside him—maybe it was a demon after all.
But then Wang Heihou added, "Otherwise, how could you be so good? Tell me everything—honestly, I didn't understand any of that, my brain's spinning!"
Lu Chang'sheng grinned and explained it all in detail, until Wang Heihou was left gasping at every twist, his head nearly spinning off.
"Chang'sheng! Look!"
Suddenly, Wang Heihou pointed at a beggar not far away.
The pair hurried over. The beggar was already gone, but his cold, stiff face showed he was someone from Zhao Family Village who'd come with them before.
Half a month—some come, some go.
The brutal bottom rung doesn't give anyone pity or a moment to breathe.
When the two got back, Wang Heihou told the other two what had happened, and they grew glum.
Even so, none suggested helping.
After nearly a month in the city, they weren't those naïve village boys any more. They'd learned how to judge the times, know their own limits.
If you tried to help, there were far too many—just these copper coins couldn't feed them all.
Even one copper per person per day, there'd still be dozens—dozens of coins.
So many problems come up, it's just too much!
Staring out at the bitter cold wind, hearts felt just as chilled!
"Nothing harsher than snow and wind."
A silent sigh lingered in the icy air...