In this critical moment, where one can have his black hair turns white, the village woman suddenly took over the reins, and then with a shout her tiny feet kicked on the horse's belly. The horse neighed wildly and dashed forward like an arrow, carrying the three people on its back.
They saw that very soon they were about to enter a wooded area; who would have thought that there was a dirt path inside the woods? Turning to the left and winding to the right, in a flash they saw the thief soldiers were left far behind on this unfamiliar road.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling cheered in their rather strange voice. The latter suddenly remembered that he was still embracing a stranger's, the unfamiliar woman's fragrant and soft body.
The good-looking, capable woman not only had consummate equestrian skill, she was also familiar with the local terrain like the back of her hand. Going into the woods, passing through the open fields, climbing mounds, going down the hills, wading the creeks, ascending the mountains, the pursuing enemy's voice gradually quieted down.
When the three people were happy, the warhorse suddenly stumbled, throwing them into the underbrush in an unsightly heap. While they were crawling to get up, the village woman suddenly cried out in alarm and covered up her chest in panic. Turned out her clothes caught on something and was ripped, exposing a large part of her snow-white breasts. The two boys were frightened and busily turning their body around.
Noticing that she was about three, four cun [an inch, a thumb] shorter than they were, Kou Zhong tossed his bundle to her and said, "All clothes are clean, pick one and put it on, we won't peek.”
Rustling noise ensued. Soon after the village woman's bashful voice was heard, "I'm done!”
The two boys turned around and were momentarily stunned; both thought that unexpectedly she was so pretty.
The village woman was about twenty, her eyes were deep black, her skin was unusually fair. Wearing men's clothing, she exuded some kind of spirited charm.
The village woman beckoned to them and said in low voice, "Follow me.”
The two boys looked at the foamy-mouth, about-to-die war-horse; they sighed inwardly, and dejectedly followed the village woman. After walking for about half a sichen, the village woman led them into a secluded cave on the mountain.
As the two boys sat down, the village woman said with her head hung low, "Thank you two heroes [the word here is ‘hao han' - strong and courageous man] for offering help from a sense of justice. Xiao Nuzi [little/lowly woman] is extremely grateful.”
Addressed by her as ‘heroes', the two boys were elated that they felt they were high in the clouds; while at the same time they were surprised, because not only this woman did not look like a village woman, from the way she talked, it did not appear like she grew up in some remote and desolate place.
The pretty village woman saw the two boys were staring at her with their big eyes, with a doubtful expression on their faces, and then she realized that although these two look tall and sturdy, they were in fact still big boys who were younger than she was, whose faces still looked naïve and childish. Involuntarily the bashfulness and fear in her heart subsided considerably.
"Nu jia [lit. servant/slave; yet another word for lowly woman, referring to self] is called Susu,” she said softly, "Really isn't a Pujia Village resident, it's just that I got separated from my master that I fled to this place and received Pujia Village people's kindness in offering shelter to me!”
Relieved, Kou Zhong said, "Susu Jiejie [older sister, term of endearment] is so pretty, it doesn't matter whether it was kindness or ill-intention, I am sure a lot of people will scramble to offer you shelter.”
Susu's pretty face blushed as she protested, "It's not like that!”
Seeing Kou Zhong was starting to flirt, Xu Ziling gave him a rebuking stare as he asked, "How long have Jiejie lived there? How did you become so familiar with this area?”
Kou Zhong added with a laugh, "Jiejie's equestrian skill is so formidable.”
The two boys were used to be despised and scorned by others, so if anybody was a bit kind to them, they were easily touched. And now suddenly there was this pretty older sister who regarded them as hero [now the word is ‘ying xiong' - hero], it was obvious that they felt a novel excitement. Yet for some unknown reason, Susu's pretty face blushed even deeper.
"I only lived in Pujia Village for a month,” she whispered, "But I have come with the villagers to go hunting in this area. As for equestrian skill, why, it was my master's Miss who taught me. Don't the two of you know how to ride?”
The two boys were greatly embarrassed. Inwardly they thought how could there be any heroes [this time it's the combination of two: ying xiong hao han, which in English usually is being translated simply as ‘heroes'] who didn't know how to ride?
Kou Zhong cleared his throat, and then, not even dare to look at her he asked, "Jiejie's Miss, where does she live?”
Being called Jiejie this and Jiejie that by these two boys, Susu was also sighing in happiness in her heart. With a tender voice she said, "My Miss is Zhai Rang Laoye's [old master] only daughter, Zhai Wuxia [FYI, her name means ‘without flaw']. That day our troops were under surprise attack, in the confusion we got separated from each other. But my Miss has an outstanding martial art skill, so she should be alright. Now I ought to return to Rongyang.”
The two boys were moved immediately. These past three months when they worked at the restaurant, everyday they heard all kinds of news and rumor from the traveling merchants. One of the often-mentioned information was precisely about Zhai Rang and his top general Li Mi. Zhai Rang was known as ‘Great Dragon Head' [i.e. big boss], the leader of the Wa Gang army. Six years ago, along with his subordinate, another valiant general Xu Shiji, rose up in rebellion at Fort Wa Gang, seizing that territory and proclaimed himself king. Time and again they defeated the Sui army, but was then subdued by Sui general Zhang Xutuo, and since then he was unable to expand his influence anymore.
Last year, Li Mi threw his lot with Zhai Rang, thus doubling Zhai Rang's strength. Li Mi attacked and crushed Sui army at Dahai Temple [lit. big ocean] in Rongyang, in which battle Zhang Xutuo was killed. Since then Wa Gang army's prowess was greatly flourishing, and implicitly became the chief of the world's militias, and thus by ‘men and horses of various paths' he was honored as the ‘big boss'. Indeed he was not a nobody. It had not occurred to the two boys that the beautiful Jiejie was Zhai Rang's daughter's maid.
The astonished Kou Zhong asked, "Isn't Rongyang lies about a hundred li east of the eastern capital Luoyang? It's really far away from here. How did Jiejie end up here?”
Susu replied, "Miss wanted to go to Liyang to listen to the world's number one talented lady Shang Xiufang's singing; who would have thought that our itinerary was leaked out, and before reaching Liyang something bad happened. If not for Jiejie's horse was fast, I would not have the fortune to come across you here.”
Unwittingly she also considered herself to be their Jiejie.
Just then, there was a light cough from the cave mouth.
The three people were greatly startled; they all looked to the cave mouth, and saw a tall, majestic looking, sturdy man of about twenty-three or twenty-four, was coming into the cave.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling sprang up, and both stood in front of Susu to shield her. Kou Zhong took a closer look, and his countenance fell, "Aren't you the one they called Li Jing?”
The newcomer was indeed Li Jing who reprimanded the green-cloth army leader just now. He did not look handsome at all, but his countenance looked forthright, the bridge of his nose was high, his forehead wide, his eyes were sparkling with spirit, giving other people the impression of poise and resourcefulness.
Li Jing smiled, revealing two rows of white teeth, a strong contrast with his dark, rough complexion. He nodded in astonishment and said, "I am indeed Li Jing. This Xiao Xiongdi's vision is really formidable. At that time you and I were separated by at least a distance of 150 steps, unexpectedly you are able to recognize Ol' Li's appearance, so that in just one look you can call out my name correctly. But looking at your skill, you don't look like someone who had trained martial art. This is very strange.”
The two boys trembled with fear inwardly. Just based on one sentence from Kou Zhong, he was able to deduce so many things. It was clear that he had vast knowledge, experience and wisdom.
From behind, Susu's trembling voice spoke up, "At most I'll come with hero [hao han] back, but you must not harm them.”
Li Jing laughed aloud and said, "Just based on Miss' compassionate and righteous sentence, even if I, Li Jing, have to risk my life, I will definitely protect you. The three of you may set your heart at ease. I came here alone. That Qi Laoda has been shot to death by me, the Ol' Li. If that rapist, evil man were allowed to live in this world, he might harm several more people.”
Looking at his posture and bearing, Kou Zhong knew that even he and Xu Ziling fought together, they were still not the opponent's match; much less he was armed with long saber and bow and arrow. But he did say that he shot Qi Laoda to death, and he did say that he was going to protect them, so he had no reason to deceive them. Thereupon he relaxed his guard and said, "Li Dage [big brother], please sit down.”
Li Jing took off the bow and arrows on his back, and put down the saber on his waist before coming over and sat down in front of the three. After everybody was seated, he smiled and said, "I ought to arrive earlier, but because I had to erase your tracks first, I spent quite a bit of time.”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other, they said with regret, "We did not think about that.”
Li Jing happily patted his shoulder, while raising the thumb of his other hand. "To see what is right and act courageously, to defy the strong, is the conduct of a real man,” he said, "Rarer still, you two are not fully grown men, yet you have this kind of guts, wisdom and skill. In the future, you will definitely be outstanding men.” And then turning to Susu he said, "Miss' horsemanship is superb.”
Being praised by him, the three people were blushing, but they also grew favorable impression toward him.
Susu asked, "Could those green-cloth troops take their anger out on Pujia village people?”
Li Jing nonchalantly said, "That's the second reason I was late. I had to set those innocent villagers free. Killing Qi Laoda and those sidekicks and hunting dogs of his only took the time needed to drink several sip of hot tea.”
Although Susu was glad, she was also aghast that he considered killing all those men as not a big deal.
Li Jing indifferently said, "Only by killing them I could seize their horses. But I only brought two horses, because I did not anticipate that Miss is not Pujia Village native. But now that I see Miss, I know that we are still one horse short.”
Listening to him, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's hearts swelled with respect. This Li Jing was definitely a person of wisdom and valor; but they also could not help feeling a bit afraid of him.