Book 3 Chapter 4 - Fallen Into The Trap and Captured.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, along with Qin Shubao ran to the top of a small hill, behind them was a link of mountain ridges, while ahead of them was a great plain, extending as far as their eyes could see. About five li to their left River Si was flowing into the wilderness; no human footprint was to be seen.
Qin Shubao sat down and said, "Let's take a rest for a while to compose ourselves.”
The two boys followed his lead and sat down on the grassy meadow. "Who is that Lu Miaozi guy?” Kou Zhong asked, "He can make such a formidable net to capture people.”
Qin Shubao shook his head, "I am not too clear myself,” he said, "Ay! How can you still have time to mind other people's business?”
After lost in thought for half a day, he turned to the two boys and said, "Since you two have helped her dealing with out Great Sui Army, it was such a good opportunity, why didn't you join their Wagang Army?”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other; recalling Zu Junyan colluding with foreign power against the Big Boss, Zhai Rang, there was lingering fear in their heart. The latter replied, "We recently saw a little affair concerning Wagang Army, hence we lost interest in joining them.”
Qin Shubao did not question closely, he thought aloud, "Shen Luoyan is the number one tactician under Li Mi's command, her scheming skill excels above others; since she said she is going to capture alive, it must not be an empty word. Let us play along with her, we will go our separate way, so that she cannot attend to us simultaneously, hence we are disrupting her troops disposition.”
Kou Zhong shook his head and said, "Xiao Ling and I are inseparable to the death, we have been like that since we were little.”
Qin Shubao nodded and said, "Let's make two groups then!” Pointing to the plains below, he said, "If she wants to capture us alive, she will have to find our track first. I will run toward the plains first, you two stay here from this high point to observe, see what method that stinky woman will use to follow my trail. If we know her method, we can run away from her.”
Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling asked, "But you will be far away by then, how are we going to notify you?”
Qin Shubao took out a small copper mirror from his pocket; handing it over to the two boys, he said, "This is how we communicate by reflecting sunlight, same as using signal lantern during the night.” And then he taught the two boys how to use it. "Three days later,” he continued, "We'll meet again at Pengcheng's eastern gate. If we really can beat that woman, we, three brothers, will have a big his granny's feast, and won't go home before we get drunk.”
Amidst his loud laughter, he ran down the hill.
The two boys concentrated their attention to watch Qin Shubao as he ran farther and farther away, while also looked around to see if there was any sign of the enemy.
Who would have thought that until Qin Shubao has turned into a small dot at the edge of the plains, they still did not even see half a shadow of other human beings?
Kou Zhong laughed aloud and said, "Turns out that beautiful woman was only letting out an empty tiger roar!”
Xu Ziling also felt relieved, "Don't you need to relay the good news?” he reminded him.
With an air of complacency Kou Zhong aimed the mirror toward the sun and made some signals.
On the other side, Qin Shubao tarried for half a day before continuing his escape, disappearing out of their sight.
"There ought to be three more sichen before dark,” Kou Zhong said, "We'd better to back to the river to find a way to Pengcheng. This move should be outside that Shen woman's expectation.”
"In my opinion,” Xu Ziling said, "We should go to the highest mountain and hide there for his mother's three days and three nights. If we see somebody's coming, we can make out getaway; that will be a better idea.”
Kou Zhong shook his head, "Don't forget that our peerless qinggong has not been trained to perfection,” he said, "I don't think we can outrun that woman. Therefore, we must to go a place like Pengcheng, if that woman came, we'll cry out along the street, ‘Wagang Army attacks!' And then when the officers and men are dealing with her, we could easily get away.”
Xu Ziling thought that what he said was very reasonable; hence he stayed silent and simply followed Kou Zhong running to River Si.
The two boys ran high and crouched low; they picked the less traveled wild, mountainous path, making a wide detour upstream of River Si, about thirty li away from the section of the river where they met Shen Luoyan.
Perhaps it was because of the chaos of war, but a very long time has passed before they saw boats sailing on the river. However, no matter how these two boys ‘threatened and bribed', nobody was willing to stop their boat for them. They were not accustomed to climbing onto boats relying on force; hence they could only watch the river and sigh quietly.
After walking along the river for another sichen or so, ahead they saw a crossing pier, where a small fishing boat was moored, but they did not see anybody. In great delight the two boys rushed toward the boat.
Coming closer to the boat, they heard the sound of snoring coming from inside the boat's canopy. The two boys looked inside and saw an old fisherman was sprawling on the deck, sleeping soundly.
Kou Zhong said, "If this is a trap, we can be considered losing with the most willing heart.”
Xu Ziling drew his long saber and chuckled evilly, "I won't believe that easily. This must be her man.” And then he signaled Kou Zhong with his eyes.
Kou Zhong caught on; he also drew his saber and said with a cold laugh, "This is called I'd rather defeat people than have people defeat me.” He jumped and charged into the shed, thrusting his saber toward the old fisherman's back.
But the saber stopped as soon as it touched the man's back.
Kou Zhong laughed aloud and pulled his saber back; and then he signaled Xu Ziling that all is good.
Right this moment the snoring stopped, the old fisherman woke up with a start; with sleepy eyes he sat up. Before Kou Zhong could say anything to greet him, the old fisherman screamed in terror and scrambled out to the bow from the other end of the shed. "Help! Robbers!” he shouted. And then with trembling hands and shaking legs he crawled to ashore, and ran for his life.
Like a couple of stupid birds the two boys watched him disappearing into the forest by the shore. Kou Zhong said apologetically, "The Senior must have been visited by robbers before, no wonder his reaction was so intense.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Xu Ziling said, "Most probably this fishing boat is his only possession, if he lose it to us, how would he make his living?”
Reluctantly Kou Zhong cast a couple of glances toward the fishing boat, and then he jumped ashore and said with a wry smile, "Then we must rely on our qinggong, which prowess shook the Wulin world.”
Halfheartedly the two boys left and continued their journey along the river. But they had been walking for only ten zhang or so, the old fisherman tiptoed out of the woods, trying to sneak back into the boat.
The two boys were overjoyed at this turn of events. "Laozhang [Sir, polite]!” Kou Zhong called out, "We are not robbers!”
The old fisherman jumped in fright; he dove straight toward the fishing boat, taking the last three steps in only two. Desperately he tried to untie the mooring rope.
By the time the two boys arrived, the old fisherman was still trying to untie the knot with ‘lost soul, dropped spirit'; but the more he pulled, the tighter the knot.
Kou Zhong squatted down at the pier; while helping him untie the knot, he said, "Laozhang! Look closely, do you think we look like robbers?”
Apparently the old fisherman was not as scared as before; still panting, he replied with his hoarse voice, "Daye [big master, see my note on ‘ye' earlier], why are you looking for me?”
Xu Ziling politely said, "Laozhang, where are you heading? If you are going upstream, would it be possible for you to give us a ride?”
The old fisherman's courage was boosted some more; he said, "You want a ride, then you must pay.”
Kou Zhong said awkwardly, "We don't even have half a penny in our pockets. Laozhang, would it be possible for you to give us a favor?”
The old fisherman frowned. "Where are you going anyway?” he asked.
Xu Ziling probed, "It would be best if we can go to Pengcheng. But it depends on whether it is convenient for Laozhang to do so.”
"That won't do!” the old fisherman said, "To go to Pengcheng, we need at least one day. How could I have time to fish then? If there is no money involved, I won't do it.”
And then, squinting his eyes, he sized them up for a while before he said with a laugh, "How about this: those two sabers you have may be sold for a few taels. Just those to Laohan [old man, referring to self] as boat fare!”
Kou Zhong was cross, "What do you mean a few taels? Our sabers are highest quality goods …”
The old fisherman impatiently cut him off, "You don't agree then forget about it. Laohan needs to set sail now.”
Xu Ziling pulled Kou Zhong aside and spoke in low voice, "There is something wrong here. This old man [laotou, slang] could be really Shen Luoyan's man; otherwise, how come he is not afraid that from feeling awkward, we may get angry, and thus resort to violence against him? Also, why would he want to get our weapons?”
Kou Zhong nodded, "We need to test him,” he said, "If there is no problem, we can give the sabers to him; we can always snatch two more in the future, it's not a big deal.”
Finished speaking, he turned toward the old fisherman and waved his hand, "We don't need ride from you. Laozhang, please!”
The old fisherman grumbled a couple sentences, and then, ignoring the two boys, he steered the boat away from the pier.
The two boys' suspicion was gone. Leaping over the water surface, they landed on the fishing boat. The old fisherman was so scared that his face and lips turned pale, and he was unable to even cry.
Kou Zhong laughed and said, "Laozhang, did not misunderstand at all, it's just that we suddenly want to make a deal with you. When we get to Pengcheng, these two sabers will be yours.”
The old fisherman breathed a sigh of relief, "I don't want your sabers anymore,” he said, "When we get to Qinglong Tan [azure dragon beach], you help me throwing the net to catch fish, and then we go to Pengcheng to deliver the goods. Just consider that as your boat ride fare.”