Chapter 25: Victory

Xiao Bugui began to regret listening to the Green Lion. Being tossed around until he was covered in dust and grime was a painful lesson; the Green Lion might be formidable, but its intellect was simple, and he resolved never to follow its lead in a fight again.

The stage was cracking and on the verge of collapse. Xiao Bugui was waiting for an opportunity—a chance to lunge at Ma Yulang the moment he was thrown. But no such opportunity arose.

"It makes me furious! Forcing me to eat noodles!" The Green Lion, humiliated by the mockery, grew enraged. It thrust its head out, opened its blood-red maw, and bit down on the soft sword. To the spectators, it appeared as if a lion’s head had sprouted from Xiao Bugui’s chest. Terrified, Auntie Zhang exclaimed, "Could this young man be a monster?"

Aunt Li replied, "I don’t think he’s a monster. That effeminate one is the real monster."

Auntie Zhang sighed, "It's over. Hao Jingming was shrewd his whole life, but in his old age, his daughter has muddled his wits."

The sword was snapped within the lion's jaws. The soft blade, which had been wrapped around Xiao Bugui’s body, went limp and was swallowed by the Green Lion. Having regained his freedom, Xiao Bugui charged at Ma Yulang.

Ma Yulang had a penchant for rouge, but he possessed great strength. He threw a punch directly at the oncoming Xiao Bugui. Sensing the rushing wind against his face, Xiao Bugui ducked, dodging the fist, and slammed his head into Ma Yulang’s chest.

Struck by a head as hard as diamond, Ma Yulang spat out a mouthful of blood, fell backward, and tumbled off the stage. Xiao Bugui collapsed onto the platform, rolling onto his back to catch his breath before finally sitting up. He sat cross-legged, staring wearily at his own feet. Just like that, the bedraggled and dusty Xiao Bugui had narrowly won. He was now utterly exhausted; if he were to face another master from the Ma family, he would surely lose.

As Ma Yulang was being helped up, another burly man from the Ma family brothers rushed onto the stage. He shouted at Xiao Bugui, "I am Ma Lei. I’ve come to exchange a few pointers with you, little brother."

Fortunately, luck was on his side. The steward, Laifu, stepped onto the stage and announced the good news: "The martial arts tournament ends here for today. The stage will be repaired in three days, and the competition will continue then."

Ma Lei was ignored by Steward Laifu and protested, "I’m already up here; can’t we finish this fight?"

Laifu rolled his eyes and retorted, "Even if you beat this lad, it wouldn't be an honorable victory. We shall fight another day, and you can be the first to go."

Ma Lei was left speechless.

Xiao Bugui laughed, "The old uncle is right. The stage is broken, and I am exhausted. Even if I wanted to fight, I have no strength left. Farewell!"

In the crowd, Ma Zengsan raised his arm and waved at Xiao Bugui, his face beaming with joy. He shouted, "Xiao Bugui, come down quickly! Let’s go get a drink!"

Xiao Bugui was indeed tired and hungry. He stood up, cast a faint smile toward Hao Meili on the balcony, and then ran down from the stage to high-five Ma Zengsan. Like two brothers, they draped their arms over each other’s shoulders and walked down the street under the setting sun as the crowd began to disperse and head home. Amidst the throng, Xiao Bugui could not help but glance back once more at Hao Meili.

Hao Meili was indeed watching him. Seeing the boy she liked about to leave, she said to her father, Hao Jingming, "Father, I won't be eating dinner. I am returning to the Chang Le Palace."

Hao Jingming replied, "Your mother said you should eat before you go." In his heart, he knew that a grown daughter is like water spilled; she didn't even care about her father and just wanted to find that boy. "I won't let you leave," he thought.

Hao Meili was clever. Her eyes darted, and she pouted, "Then I shall go back to my boudoir first."

Xiao Bugui was still glancing back at Hao Meili when Ma Zengsan slapped the back of his head. Xiao Bugui’s skull was so hard that Ma Zengsan felt as if he had struck a stone with an egg. He cursed, "Damn you, do you not want to return to the heavens? Do you want to be a mere mortal? You must know that mortals only live for a few decades. That Miss Hao is beautiful now, but in twenty years, she’ll just be an old hag."

Xiao Bugui said dejectedly, "I know. You don't need to remind me."

Ma Zengsan said, "I also have to remind you to watch your back. Your life may be short. You wounded three of Ma Ruyun’s brothers; he won't let us get away with this."

Xiao Bugui asked, "Are you saying they will come to cause us trouble?"

Ma Zengsan replied decisively, "They certainly will."

Xiao Bugui asked, "Then what should we do?"

Ma Zengsan said, "You have the Green Lion to protect you; what are you afraid of?"

Xiao Bugui said, "You’re right. I’m not afraid."

Ma Zengsan said, "You’re not afraid, but why am I starting to get scared? Who will protect me?"

Xiao Bugui replied, "With me here, don't you worry, old man. What shall we go eat?"

Ma Zengsan said, "Since you said you’d protect me, I’ll treat you to crabs, donkey meat sandwiches, and some sauce-scented sorghum wine. I bet you’ve never eaten a crab before, have you?"

Xiao Bugui asked, "Are crabs delicious?"

Ma Zengsan swayed his body from side to side and said, "Crabs have eight legs and like to walk sideways. That’s why I like eating them—eat enough, and I’ll walk sideways too."

The victors celebrated, while the defeated were filled with fury. Ma Ruyun declined Hao Jingming’s invitation to dinner and returned to the Huiyou Inn. Sitting at a table laden with delicacies, he had no appetite at all. His twenty-some brothers, some sitting around the table and others standing, were all indignant and clamoring to go and kill Xiao Bugui together.

Ma Dadan was the loudest, shouting in the guest room, "Boss, I’ll go kill that Xiao Bugui right now!"

Ma Ruyun angrily downed a cup of wine and scolded, "What are you howling about? Can’t I keep this stubborn donkey of yours in check? I know you have a loud voice, but don't go throwing your life away with your amateur skills."

Rebuked, Ma Dadan wisely shut his mouth and stood quietly in the corner.

Ma Yulang, having suffered only minor injuries, returned and did not rest. He sat beside Ma Ruyun, pouring wine for him and trying to appease the brothers, saying, "Don't be reckless. Listen to the boss."

Ma Ruyun looked at Ma Youcai sitting across from him and asked, "Ma Youcai, do you have any ideas?"

Ma Youcai suggested, "We can spend money here to hire some assassins; why bother doing it ourselves?"

Ma Ruyun countered, "Do you know any capable brothers in this place?"

Ma Youcai said, "I do. His name is Feng Da, a master of poisons from the Hundred Herb Hall."

Ma Ruyun’s appetite returned. He chewed on a piece of beef and said, "Poison is good. That’s a good idea, but I fear he may be outnumbered on his own."

Ma Youcai said, "I will tell him to find a few more formidable friends to ensure everything goes perfectly."

Ma Ruyun said, "There are plenty of fools who aren't afraid of death these days, but very few who can actually get things done. Throwing money away only makes a sound."

Ma Youcai said, "Cangzhou is a home of martial arts; there are certainly formidable figures here. I will reach an agreement with them and give them some drinking money first."

After pondering for a moment, Ma Ruyun downed another cup of wine and said, "Youcai, take the silver and go now. Even if it’s just to intimidate him, that will be enough."