Chapter 5: The Con Artist
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The night was dark and stormy, the mountain path rugged. After all, Hao Meili was a girl, and she said to Xiao Bugui, “It’s so dark here.”
“I’m holding your hand. Be careful not to fall.” Xiao Bugui took hold of Hao Meili’s hand and refused to let go. The cold wind brushed across Hao Meili’s flushed cheeks, making them feel warm.
Xiao Bugui asked, “Where is your home? I’ll take you back first, then head to Chang Le Palace for the duel.”
Hao Meili replied, “It’s night; everyone is asleep. You should wait until dawn to duel.”
Xiao Bugui said, “Alright, then I’ll take you home.”
Hao Meili asked, “Where is your home?”
Xiao Bugui smiled, “I told you, I fell from the sky. You don’t believe me.”
Hao Meili said, “I believe you. You can transform—that’s a divine skill, something not found in the mortal world. What is this skill called?”
Xiao Bugui replied, “The Thirty-Six Transformations of Tiangang. There are thirty-six changes. But practicing this divine art, while excellent for escaping by flying or diving into the ground or water, makes fighting others rather difficult.”
Hao Meili said, “Then you could learn weapons.”
Xiao Bugui said, “Carrying weapons around isn’t very convenient. I’m learning pressure point techniques.”
Hao Meili asked, “Is life in the heavens interesting?”
Xiao Bugui said, “Not as lively as the mortal world. Here, there are more people and plenty of delicious food. The mortal world is quite nice.”
Hao Meili asked, “So you fell from the sky to collect the Jianghu Tokens?”
Xiao Bugui answered, “Yes, my master said I need to undergo trials.”
Perhaps because the night was dark and the road treacherous, Hao Meili suddenly exclaimed, “Ouch!” She twisted her ankle, but luckily Xiao Bugui caught her before she fell. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes as she said, “My foot hurts so much; I can’t walk.”
“Don’t cry! I’ll carry you down the mountain and fly into the night sky to pick stars,” Xiao Bugui said as he lifted the surprised Hao Meili into his arms. Suddenly, enormous wings sprouted from his back, and they soared out of the black forest.
Hao Meili was amazed to find herself surrounded by a sky full of stars. The cool night breeze gently eased the pain in her foot.
Passing by the full moon, Xiao Bugui smiled and said, “Reach out and see if you can touch the moon.”
Hao Meili boldly stretched out her hand and said to Xiao Bugui with a hint of irritation, “I can’t reach the moon. Fly a little higher.”
Xiao Bugui said, “Your foot is injured; I should take you home right away. Where is your house?”
Hao Meili pointed, “Look for the brightest, tallest building in the city—that’s my home.”
Xiao Bugui said, “Alright, we’ll land on your rooftop.”
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Hao Meili said, “No, I’m scared.”
Xiao Bugui said, “I’ll take you to your front door.”
From above, he surveyed the radiant glazed roof to confirm the location. Xiao Bugui descended and delivered Hao Meili to the entrance of the Star-Picking Pavilion. Feeling relieved, he waved and said gratefully, “I’ll be going now.”
Hao Meili quickly asked, “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. I have no home here. But don’t worry, I can transform and fly up to a bird’s nest in the trees to sleep,” Xiao Bugui said. With that, he turned into a small bird and flew away. However, instead of heading to a nest, he entered the Dao Xiang Zhai shop, where he ate pastries, drank sweet soup, and settled down for the night.
Hao Meili opened her front door; Hao Jingming was still awake. The Eight Vajra Guardians of the Star-Picking Pavilion, Hao Jingming’s eight personal bodyguards, stood solemnly behind him. Qian’er, having made a mistake, stood aside with her hands tied and head bowed, enduring her punishment.
Hao Jingming glared at his daughter and said, “So late at night, where have you been?”
Hao Meili immediately hugged her father and coquettishly said, “Daddy, I went out to play. It’s late now, you should rest. I’m going to bed too.”
Seeing that his daughter was limping, Hao Jingming asked, “How were you so careless? What happened to your foot?”
“It’s nothing, Daddy.” Hao Meili took Qian’er’s hand and said, “Qian’er, help me back. I’m tired and want to sleep.”
Only when the light in Hao Meili’s chamber went out did Hao Jingming’s tense paternal love relax. He then turned to the eight Vajra Guardians and said, “Tonight is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. I plan to arrange a martial contest to find a suitor for the young lady on the twenty-seventh. You must watch over her closely—do not let her escape.”
The eight Vajra Guardians answered in unison, “Yes, Master.”
Unaware that his daughter already had feelings for a man, Hao Meili returned to her room and said to Qian’er, “That man was incredible—he carried me into the sky and let me touch the moon. And he’s quite nice, a little silly.”
Qian’er said, “Miss, you scared me to death. You just ran off like that! What if he was a fraud?”
Hao Meili calmly said, “I don’t think he’s a bad person; he’s quite adorable.”
Qian’er gasped in disbelief, “Miss, you don’t think you like that fraud, do you?”
Hao Meili said, “He doesn’t seem like a fraud.”
Qian’er said, “I just feel he’s not a good man. You’re beautiful and wealthy. You just made a wish, and then he fell from the sky. There are only two possibilities: coincidence or he’s a fraud.”
Hao Meili said, “Why don’t you say he was sent from heaven to take care of me forever?”
At that moment, Xiao Bugui, unaware that Hao Meili had taken a liking to him, tiredly settled down inside Dao Xiang Zhai to rest, planning to sleep the night before leaving. Suddenly, a hand slapped his shoulder. When Xiao Bugui turned to look, he was punched in the eye.
The attacker was a rosy-nosed old man clutching a gourd, who smiled cheerfully at Xiao Bugui.
Xiao Bugui shielded his injured eye and asked, “Who are you?”
The rosy-nosed old man said, “You must be the fool exiled from heaven to the mortal world, just landed not long ago, right?”
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Xiao Bugui asked, “How do you know?”
The old man said, “Your skill is the Thirty-Six Transformations of Tiangang. Practicing this extends one’s life—it’s a technique from the Immortal Island. Only those from the Immortal Island know it. Some mortals tried to learn it but found it impossible. Immortals and mortals are completely different.”
Xiao Bugui said, “Uncle, sorry—I ate some of your pastries.”
The old man replied, “My name is Ma Zhonghou. Dao Xiang Zhai isn’t mine either. I’m just here stealing food as well.”
Xiao Bugui greeted him, “Hello, Uncle Ma.”
The old man laughed, “I said my name is Ma Zhonghou, but you believed me? What if I said I’m Niu Zhonghou?”
Xiao Bugui then called him, “Hello, Uncle Niu.”
The old man burst into laughter, “You really are a fool. I won’t hide it anymore—I’m Ma Zengsan, the most famous swindler in the martial world.”
Xiao Bugui asked, “Uncle Ma, you say you’re a swindler. What exactly does a swindler do?”
Ma Zengsan rolled his eyes and said, “You don’t even know what a swindler is? Well, I’ll tell you. A swindler is a great hero who kills demons and monsters. But swindlers are more low-key than heroes. I don’t just kill demons; I don’t boast loudly about it. When people ask, I say I’m just a passerby in the mortal world.”
Xiao Bugui said, “Your martial arts must be very strong.”
Ma Zengsan said, “Of course. The martial world is dangerous. You’re new here and probably don’t have any silver, right?”
“Silver? Is this what you mean?” Xiao Bugui remembered the silver coins Xing’er gave him and immediately showed them.
Ma Zengsan snatched the silver and said, “Consider this your tuition. From today on, you’re my disciple. A few days ago, I met some bad people with two disciples. Those two disciples are now missing, dead or alive unknown. I need more help.”
Xiao Bugui said, “No need. I still have to collect the Jianghu Tokens from the seventy-two sects.”
Ma Zengsan said, “I can guide you. Besides, with only this silver, your travel and food will cost a lot.”
Xiao Bugui said, “You accept me as a disciple, provide food and lodging, and accompany me to collect the Jianghu Tokens? You really are a better swindler than a hero.”
Ma Zengsan said, “Don’t call me a swindler anymore—call me Master. Come on, follow me to the inn.”
Xiao Bugui said, “I have a master in heaven. Let me just call you Old Man—it’s more affectionate. How about that?”