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Anh, HPC, Jaya, Janger, you are welcome. Here is the end of Chapter 7.

Immediately the law-protectors under his command accompanied him in laughter. Another law-protector, the ‘Double Spears Charging Generals' [the original rhymes: shuang qiang chuang jiang] Ling Zhigao said, "I heard You Meizi [younger sister You] said that these two kids know the technique to take a breath underwater; while obviously their martial art skill is lacking. This is extremely strange, there must be a reason.”

The pretty nun laughed tenderly and said, "Men! Give them three lashes; I want to see how profound their internal energy is!”

Amidst the roar of everybody's laughter, immediately the whip rained down on the two boys. They were whipped at least a dozen times; not only the clothes on their back shattered into small pieces, their flesh was badly mangled as well, as they stumbled face down on the deck.

But the two boys did not even let out half a groan.

When they were pulled up, Han Gaitian was emotional as he said, "The two of you indeed have strong backbones. These whips were infused with poison; if it were ordinary people, two, three lashes are all they can take. Considering this fact, if you are willing to tell me the truth, perhaps I, the Clan Leader, will deal with you differently.”

Gnashing his teeth, Kou Zhong's voice was raspy as he spoke through his cracked lips, "Naturally there is a reason why we are so valuable. It is because we know the secret of Duke Yang's treasure-trove.”

Suddenly the deck became very quiet, but everybody's eyes lit up.

Han Gaitian signaled his subordinates not to say anything, he pushed the pretty nun aside and stood up, "Let them stand up, untie them!” he called out.

The two boys were helped up, the ropes binding them were cut. Their clothes had been ripped by the poisonous whips, and there were bloody stripes on their arms. When the two boys saw their own condition, they were horrified; however, the strange thing was that other than the searing pain at the beginning, they felt as if it was not a big deal at all.

Han Gaitian's iron-tower like stature was still two or three cun taller than the two boys. With hands behind his back, he walked over to the two boys and spoke in softer tone, "You really know Duke Yang's treasure-trove location?”

"Our Niang told us,” Xu Ziling answered.

Han Gaitian nodded, "We also know about that,” he said, "It was the female Luocha who rescued you. Why didn't she come with you?”

"Niang was killed by Yuwen Huaji,” Kou Zhong sadly replied, "Therefore, we can't possibly tell him the location of the treasure.”

Swaying her bottom, the pretty nun walked over to the two boys; she reached out to pinch Xu Ziling's cheek as she spoke with coquettish glances, "Bangzhu! Looks like these two handsome Xiao Xiongdi really aren't babbling nonsense. ‘Man Tian Wang' [fill-the-sky king, see Book 1 Chapter 1] has wholeheartedly follow Gaoli's Luocha female's trail. Rumor has it that she pawned a piece of ancient jade. At that time we were still in the dark, but now we ought to know that this piece of jade must be part of Duke Yang's treasure trove.”

The ‘Fat Assassin' You Gui said, "Now that two Xiao Xiongdi are here, this is a proof that the Heaven has chosen Bangzhu to fulfill your destiny.”

Han Gaitian spoke in deep voice, "Where is the treasure trove?”

Kou Zhong stayed calm, but before answering, he exchanged flirting glances with the pretty nun, provoking an enchanting giggle from her, "The treasure trove is somewhere around the Emperor Guan Temple in Yangzhou, but it has to be opened using special technique; otherwise, you will never find the treasure.”

The pretty nun threw her tender body forward, pressing her erect breasts against Kou Zhong's chest; she spoke in intimate manner, "Then why haven't you tell us, Bangzhu will definitely not treat you shabbily.”

Kou Zhong obviously enjoyed this flirtation very much; he closed his eyes and moaned, "If Bangzhu is willing to give us ten taels of gold, we will help Bangzhu find the hidden treasure.”

"Ten taels of gold is a small matter,” Han Gaitian said, "Quickly speak up!”

The pretty nun stretched out her arm to pull Kou Zhong's neck, and planted a fragrant kiss on his face. Her smile was as pretty as the flower, "Listen to Jiejie, quickly speak up.”

Kou Zhong giggled and said, "We are all Jianghu people. As long as Bangzhu take us back to Yangzhou, and swear a heavy oath not to kill us, and give us the gold, we will open the treasure-trove for you. Otherwise, we'd rather die than speak out.”

Xu Ziling added, "The treasure is covered densely with mechanism, it is hidden over twenty zhang deep underground. Unless Bangzhu can obtain Yangzhou Zongguan approval to tear apart the citizens' dwelling within five li radius, and turn the ground upside down, don't ever think of getting into the treasure-trove.”

Kou Zhong interrupted, "If we leave out even half a sentence, Bangzhu will never know. Why don't we become friends and strike a fair dealing by mutual agreement?”

Being barraged with ‘I speak one word, you speak a sentence' from the two boys, Han Gaitian smiled wryly, shook his head, and said with a sigh, "It is really a waste that you, two little demons, did not go into business. Alright! I'll take you back to Yangzhou, but you must not lie to me, or else you won't have a good end.”

And then he barked his order, "Men! Have them locked up in the iron cage in punishment chamber.”

When Kou Zhong heard the two words ‘iron cage', he immediately lowered his head to kiss the pretty nun's lips, while groping her hair at the same time. When his mouth was busy clicking his tongue in admiration, his hand deftly pulled a silver hairpin and hid it in his palm.

The pretty nun angrily said, "Kid with lecherous mouth!” and pushed him away.

In the meantime, her subordinates stepped out to grab the two boys' arms. Han Gaitian did not feel at ease, he personally escorted the two boys into the cabin, down the stairs into the lower deck, and into the punishment chamber filled with all kinds of torture instruments. He watched as his men pushed the two boys into a large iron cage on the corner, checked the lock to make sure it was engaged properly, and only then did he leave.

While Xu Ziling was staring blankly at the iron bars, which were as thick as a child's arm, Kou Zhong stretched out his hand to show him the thin silver wire in his palm, and said, "I think Han Bangzhu is a good man; it would be best if we could work for him!”

Xu Ziling understood his intention; he caught on, "I just hope that when we get to Yangzhou we won't be caught by Yuwen Huagu. Ay! We know exactly where the treasure is, but we don't have the guts to pick it up.”

Both boys were intelligent, seeing Han Gaitian and all his men withdrew completely without a single man remained, which was too unnatural, they knew these men would eavesdrop somewhere nearby; which was precisely the case.

Kou Zhong said, "Can you really remember the key to opening the storehouse that Niang taught us? It's too complicated for me, luckily your memory is always better than mine.”

Xu Ziling replied, "I only remember the second half. Ay! At that time Niang was about to die, I cried so hard that everything was a blur to me.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, "Leave the first half to me. It's something like three left seven right; I guarantee I won't make mistake. People are paying us high price, we have to hand over the goods.”

Xu Ziling lay down on his side, stretched out, and said, "Go sleep!”

Kou Zhong lay down by his side; unexpectedly both of them really fell into deep slumber.

The big ship sailed at full speed in northerly direction toward the mouth of Yangtze River.

From sailing full speed, the ship suddenly slowed down. This change of speed caused the two boys to wake up.

They did not know since when did the wind lanterns on the four corners of the room go out; in this closed room, they could not even see the fingers in front of their nose. But they felt that the walls seemed to radiate some kind of dim light, so that they could faintly see the silhouette of the objects around them.

They felt very strange.

According to reason, Han Gaitian ought to want to arrive at Yangzhou as soon as he could; why did the ship slow down?

They sat up. Kou Zhong reached out to feel his back, and then he touched Xu Ziling's back; he could not help feeling very proud, "We have definitely become internal energy expert. Earlier we were beaten until our skin cracked our flesh lacerated, but now our skin is clear and our flesh smooth.”

Xu Ziling spoke in low voice, "Could there be people out there listening to us still?”

Kou Zhong whispered in his ear, "Supposed someone can make you the emperor, you don't have to suffer any hardship, would you or would you not send people to keep an eye on him?”

Xu Ziling was alarmed, "If we really get to Yangzhou without being able to escape, won't that Han Choutian [gai tian - covering the sky, chou tian - stinky sky] tear our skin and crush our bones?”

Kou Zhong took out the silver hairpin and said in low voice, "Let's see if we can open the lock or not. You see that this punishment chamber is full of sharp tools. With our superb internal energy, drilling a hole on the bottom of the ship should not be too difficult.”

Xu Ziling sighed. "I know that,” he said, "But how can we do it without making any noise?”

Kou Zhong came over to the iron cage door, he bent one end of the silver hairpin into a small hook, and then very carefully inserted it into the keyhole of the padlock. In no time at all there was a soft ‘click'.

Xu Ziling was not surprised; he skillfully opened the lock and put it on the corner. Gently pulling the iron grille, the two boys crawled out like a dog.

By this time the ship was slowing down even more, they heard rapid footsteps going back and forth on the upper deck.

The two boys were greatly delighted; immediately they looked for a tool they could use. Xu Ziling beckoned Kou Zhong to come over, he pointed to a stove on the corner with branding iron in it and said, "If we light the stove and heat the branding iron until red, perhaps we could burn a small hole on the ship's bottom noiselessly. And then when the seawater pours in, we could use the saw to open a big hole from which we could escape.”

Kou Zhong patted his shoulder in praise. While Xu Ziling took a charcoal tinder next to the stove to light the fire, he took off his tattered outer clothes and stuffed it underneath the door to prevent the seawater to seep out prematurely.

In the meantime the ship was going faster again, while apparently also made a sharp turn, as if it was trying to avoid something. Above, the footsteps stopped, but there were footsteps in the corridor outside.

By this time Xu Ziling already dumped more than a dozen branding irons into the stove. Hearing the footsteps outside, he was startled and turned his eyes toward the door. Kou Zhong quickly positioned himself behind the door while signaling Xu Ziling not to show mercy by making a chopping gesture.

Outside, a man's voice was heard, "Any activity?”

And then two other male voices replied, "Nothing!”

The first man said, "The incoming ship belongs to Jukun Bang, perhaps that pretty Bangzhu has eaten some leopard gall that they dare to intercept us. Bangzhu ordered us to keep a close eye on these kids, or else we will be punished according to the gang rules.”

The two guards on duty promptly responded.

Noise of footsteps went away.

Kou Zhong promptly removed the tattered clothes he stuffed under the door.

They heard the sound of lock being opened, the thick wooden door was pulled open, dim lantern light shone in, but it was not bright enough to reach the iron cage on the corner.

The two unsuspecting guards came in; one of them even said, "Light the lantern first!”

But the other man saw the burning stove. While he was wondering about it, Xu Ziling's fist struck his head like a lightning; immediately he slumped down, but Xu Ziling caught him before he reached the floor.

Kou Zhong made his move at the same time; he also knocked the other man down. He still had time to crane his neck outside to look, and saw three men standing at the corridor leading to the stairs. The men were looking at him.

Luckily Kou Zhong was quick-witted; he raised his hand in greeting, and then quickly closed the door again. Luckily the corridor was dimly lit, plus his movement was very quick, so that the men could not see his face clearly. But he was so scared that his heart nearly jumped out of his throat.

The two boys took off the men's clothes and used it to tie them and stuffed their mouths. Only then did they feel a bit better.

The two men's money bags had already entered Kou Zhong's pocket, while Xu Ziling untied the men's short halberd and sword. Although they were not as accustomed in using these weapons as a saber, but it was definitely better than without a cun of iron in their hands and thus making them feel lost.

Xu Ziling picked the smoldering branding iron and placed it on the cabin wall. A ‘chi, chi' sound ensued, followed by smoke rising up from a charred wood. When he removed the branding iron, as expected, a glowing red indentation appeared on the wooden plank.

Kou Zhong plugged the bottom of the door again.

This time Xu Ziling pressed three branding irons to the indentation, creating more smoke, and burning the plank red.

The ship made another sharp turn; it seemed like the Jukun Bang people were getting really close. There were faint shouting from above, coupled with the sound of urgent footsteps. The situation was getting more and more intense.

‘Pop!' The branding iron finally penetrated the wood plank; seawater immediately came gushing in.

The two boys cheered. Using the saw that they prepared in advance, they desperately sawed the wood to make the hole bigger. The seawater continued to pour in; very soon it reached their ankles. Soaked by the cold water, their two prisoners woke up.

‘Crack!' Kou Zhong sawed the plank until only a small section left, which he then pulled and twisted as hard as he could to break it. Immediately a large triangular hole appeared.

The two boys did not have time to hesitate. They cut the knot binding their two captives first to let them untie the rest of their bind, and then they slipped into the sea underneath the ship.

Haisha Bang flagship was moving rapidly forward, the bottom of the boat they stole along with the salt appeared above them. The ocean surface was bright with the yellow glow of the moon; hence the boys knew it was already evening.

Kou Zhong did not care whether Xu Ziling wanted it or not, he simply dragged him up toward the surface.

Who would have thought that the ship was sailing too fast? By the time the two boys reached the surface, the salt boat has just slipped right through them.

As soon as they had their heads above water, they were dumbstruck. Because Haisha Bang's five ships were besieged by more than a dozen smaller sailboats.

Both sides were shooting fire arrows and throwing rocks at each other, the raging battle has reached the state where neither side could extricate themselves. The rockets lit the night sky.

Kou Zhong had his eyes fixed on the stolen boat, which was getting farther and farther away. While he felt like crying, but did not want to shed any tears, as he looked at their fortune turning into water, suddenly the stolen-salt boat separated from Haisha Bang flagship and slowed down. Apparently someone thought that the stolen-salt boat was too cumbersome and had the mooring rope cut off.

The two boys were overjoyed at the turn of events; hastily they swam with everything they had toward their happy future.

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