Chapter 19
Forest's Secret
(1)
Big G: "What if she really was hiding from someone? Shouldn't she act a little more discreetly, we see her every time we go to Profiteers and she is always walking around and doesn't seem to care if anyone sees her."
Swally: "Did you ever notice anything special about her?"
Big G: "I couldn't tell."
Swally: "Since people couldn't actually tell who she is, then why isn't she willing to reveal who she is to others?"
Big G: "You think she altered her appearance just like The Phoenix?"
Swally: "The Phoenix is certainly not the only one from the world of martial arts who is skilled at adapting their disguise."
Big G: "Then how could the Golden Lion and The Rod figure out who she was so easily?"
Swally: "How do you know that they actually knew who she was?"
Big G: "If they couldn't tell, then how did they go from being that arrogant to that humble?"
Swally blinked, "So what do you think happened?"
Big G: "I think that she must have some kind of special relationship with Skinned Alive, maybe she is an old friend. Do you think that's possible?"
Swally: "Makes sense."
Big G smiled, "I never thought you would ever admit to how reasonable one of my ideas sound."
Swally suddenly smiled, "That's because I was thinking the same thing."
Big G was stunned, "Since you were already thinking that, why were you just arguing with me for no reason?"
Swally: "Because I naturally enjoy arguing with you."
Big G glared at him for a few seconds, "What if I were to say that this snow is white?"
Swally: "Then I would say that it's black."
× × ×
No matter how smart and capable you may be, everyone has their kryptonite; no matter how skilled you are, there will always be certain people capable of making you feel helpless.
Swally appeared to be Big G's kryptonite.
Big G had no way of dealing with him head on.
After a long pause, he suddenly laughed, "There is at least one thing that you have to admit."
Swally: "What's that?"
Big G smiled, "Skinned Alive came away empty handed this time."
Swally: "You're wrong again."
"Wrong again?" Big G smiled bitterly.
Swally: "He at least skinned one person alive."
Big G: "Who?"
Swally: "Himself."
(2)
What was Forest Lin's true identity?
Why were people willing to pay such a high price just to find him?
Why were they looking for him?
Big G: "Why do you think those people were looking for Forest?"
He had learned his lesson this time, he wanted to ask Swally first before sharing his opinion.
Swally thought about it, "If you were willing to pay that much money to find someone, what would be the reason?"
Big G smiled, "I would never do something like that."
Swally gave him a sidelong glance, "What if I suddenly disappeared, would you be willing to spend five thousand pieces of silver to find me?"
Big G didn't even think about it, "Of course, even if I had to pawn my head, I would do it for you," he answered immediately.
There was a sparkle in Swally's eyes.
People's eyes wouldn't normally sparkle, unless they were extremely happy.
Big G: "Because we're good friends, so I would do it for you. But those two fellows were definitely not friends of Forest, he would never make friends with the likes of them."
Swally nodded, "If someone murdered me, would you also be willing to spend that much money to track them down?"
Big G: "Of course, even if I had to dedicate the rest of my life to the cause, I would avenge you."
He suddenly shook his head, "But Forest has never killed anyone before. Did you see how bad he reacted after he thought that he had killed Hideous Nangong, there is no way that he was just putting on an act."
Swally: "What if someone stole five thousand silvers from you, then obviously you would be willing to pay that much to find him."
Big G: "But Forest didn't have any money on him, not to mention he doesn't come across as that kind of person."
Swally smiled, "Now look who is trying to argue with me."
Big G laughed, "Because I know that you wouldn't actually think that."
Swally sighed, "To be honest, I have no idea why those two were looking for Forest," he smiled bitterly.
Big G smiled, "That doesn't mean that we don't know how to ask, don't forget I learned a thing or two about asking questions from The Rod."
There was still light coming from inside the house, and they hadn't seen anyone go in or out.
They were about to go and ask some questions when the window suddenly flew open.
There was someone standing in the windowsill motioning to them.
They were trying to figure out who the person was waving too, when they suddenly cracked a smile, "It must be cold up there, why don't the two of you come and warm yourself by the fire?"
× × ×
The fire was blazing.
Sitting by the fire was definitely more comfortable than sitting in the tree.
The person who had waved to them from the window as already sitting down.
It wasn't the big fellow with the scarred faced, and it wasn't the ferocious looking man with one arm.
This person wasn't even in the room a moment ago.
They had no idea where the people who had been in the room all disappeared to. Big G hadn't noticed anyone leaving, and he never saw how this person had entered.
There was only one thing that put Big G's mind at ease.
From head to toe, no matter how you looked at this person, they looked a lot better than the two that had just been there.
The most important thing was that it was a women.
(3)
Every person has their own special way of categorizing women into different types, and different rankings.
Regardless of what method you use, this women was definitely the kind to be ranked the highest.
Although she wasn't very young, she was exceptionally beautiful, and extremely charming.
Some women have a certain way of making you forget all about how old they are.
She was that type of women.
Most beautiful women have a certain arrogance about them, and are irrational, with very few exceptions.
She was an exception.
The strange thing was, how did it come to pass that such a beautiful women had suddenly appeared inside this room?
What was her connection with the two men who had just been here? How did this matter concern her?
Big G obviously wanted to ask, but he never had the chance.
Every time he was about to ask something, he realized that she had already asked a question—when such a beautiful women asks you a question, you obviously have to respond.
"My family name is Wei," she smiled, "And you two?"
Her smile made it impossible not to answer.
Big G hurried to answer, "My family name is Guo. His name is Swally, like Swallow, the bird."
Swally glared at him, Madame Wei was already laughing, "I know all of Forest's friends, how is it that I have never seen you two before?"
Big G was in a rush to answer again when he suddenly realized that Swally was still staring at him.
All he could do was lower his head and cough.
Only then did Swally turn around and look at Madame Wei, "How do you know that we are friends with Forest?" he asked casually.
Madame Wei: "The two of you came this far in the snow, and then waited a very long time outside, obviously all of that wasn't for the owner of the pawnshop."
Swally: "Why not?"
"Dragons and Phoenixes fly together, and the friends of rats burrow holes. Birds of a feather flock together, I can at least discern that much," she recited beautifully.
Swally blinked, "Sounds like you also know Forest."
Madame Wei nodded.
Swally smiled, "Actually I never should have asked that question, and since you know all of his friends you two must be close."
She smiled, "Indeed, we could be considered close."
Swally: "The next time you see him please send him our regards, tell him that we both miss him a lot."
Madame Wei: "I also really want to see him, so I need to make a special request of you two."
Swally: "What's that?"
Madame Wei: "I want the two of you to tell me where he has been the last couple of days."
Swally seemed shocked, "You are way closer with him than us, why wouldn't you know where he is?"
Madame Wei smiled, "No matter how close your friends are, there will always be times when you haven't seen each other in a long time."
Swally sighed, "I was hoping that you could take us to see him."
Madame Wei: "You guys don't know where he is either?"
Swally: "Since you don't even know, how could we know? We don't know any of his friends."
He suddenly stood up, giving a salute with his hands, "It's getting late, and we should be on our way."
"You two are leaving, see yourselves out then," she said casually.
She didn't even try to stop them, she just watched them walk out.
As soon as they were outside, Big G couldn't help but say, "I'm impressed, you really know what you're doing."
Swally: "With what?"
Big G: "When you make something up it sounds just like the truth."
Swally glared at him, "I was impressed as well."
Big G: "How did I impress you?"
"It sure is hard to find someone like you, a pretty lady could make you forget your date of birth, one question from her and you would tell her everything about your family history," he said sarcastically.
Big G smiled, "That's only because she seemed like a good person."
Swally laughed coldly, "And you think bad people are going to hang a sign on their face?"
Big G: "If she had bad intentions, then why would she let us leave so easily?"
Swally smiled scornfully, "How could she stop us from leaving? Do you think she could actually stop us from leaving?"
Big G sighed, "If you think that she is an ordinary women then you are wrong."
Swally: "Oh?"
Big G: "She knew about everything that we were up to, just this alone is enough to know that she is no ordinary person."
Swally: "What does she know?"
Big G: "She knew we weren't from around here, and she knew that we were hiding in the tree..."
He suddenly stopped talking, "Look at the door of that medicine shop behind us," he said quietly.
Swally: "I don't have to look."
Big G: "You already noticed someone following us?"
Swally smiled coldly while nodding his head.
They had already turned down a remote alley, the stores were closed for business, and there wasn't anyone around.
The medicine shop had been closed for a while, but a short person dressed in black was standing behind the column of the doorframe. They would poke their head out every once in a while to sneak a peek at them.
Big G: "Has this person been following us the whole time?"
Swally: "That person has been following us ever since we left the lodge. So I intentionally turned down this alley." He smiled coldly and kept talking, "Now you should know why Madame Wei let us leave so easily."
Big G: "Did she actually know we were friends with Forest, so she let us go, and then had us followed."
Swally: "Yeah."
Big G sighed, "She really planned things out, but too bad she is underestimating us."
"Did you actually think that she was impressed by you," Swally said sarcastically.
Big G: "Although there isn't anything that impressive about me, if someone is going to try and follow us, then it's not going to be that easy."
Swally: "Oh?"
Big G winked at him with a smile, "If someone is going to try and follow me, they are going to have to start chasing the wind."
There was only one store still open.
No matter what street you were on, there was only one kind of store that would be open late, a restaurant or a drinking establishment.
Swally had to smile, "You don't want people to chase you aimlessly, and all you're thinking about is getting a drink."
Big G smiled, "I will drink, he will waste his time, and we will all have something to do."
Big G had a certain bad habit whenever he drank.
If he didn't get stupid drunk, then he wouldn't leave; if he didn't drink until his pockets were empty, then he wouldn't leave.
If there was anyone in this world that could take care of this problem then it had to be Swally.
He had pawned the gold necklace for fifty silvers, he had given half to Dash, and he hadn't actually drank the other half away yet.
By the time they left the drinking establishment, he was not only sober, but he could still see clearly.
The person dressed in black was still standing behind the column of the medicine shop's door, wasting his time in the cold.
Big G sighed, "I should have kept him waiting, looks like he hasn't had enough."
Swally: "But you certainly had enough. If you had drank anymore, even a three year old child would be able to follow you."
Big G glared at him, "Says who, even if I was running on one leg there is no way he could catch me, what do you think?"
Swally: "I am only thinking about one thing."
Big G: "What's that?"
Swally: "Even if he was fast enough to catch you, you could just blow him away."
Big G: "Blow? How would I do that?"
Swally: "You are the biggest blowhard I know."
Big G had no reply, he suddenly sprang forward.
With one jump he was already more than five meters away.
Swally sighed while shaking his head, "Is this guy ever going to grow up?" he muttered.
× × ×
It was getting dark but the road was bright as the snow was reflecting whatever light remained.
Big G looked at the decaying trees full of snow on both sides of the road, they looked like they were flying past him.
The trees weren't actually running, it was him, running on his two legs. He wasn't worried that he couldn't out run the person dressed in black, but he didn't want to leave Swally too far behind.
Swally looked just like a Swallow when he was running with the full force of his Qinggong behind him.
Big G was already starting to breathe heavily.
Only then did Swally start to gradually slow down, he glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, smiling, "Had enough?"
Big G was exhaling heavily, "I ate more than you, and I'm bigger, obviously I can't out run you," he said with a bitter smile.
Swally: "Horses can eat a lot too, they're also quite big, but they sure can run fast."
Big G: "I'm not a horse, I only have two legs."
Swally smiled, "Didn't you say that you could out run anybody even if you only used one leg."
Big G: "I wasn't talking about you."
There was a flash in Swally's eyes, "So what about other people?"
Big G: "Obviously."
Swally suddenly sighed, "Why don't you turn around and have a look?"
Big G was shocked as soon as he looked back.
The road was bright, but the person standing there was dressed in black.
It was the person who had been standing behind the column at the entrance of the medicine shop. He had actually stayed with them the whole time.
It took some time for Big G to regain his bearing, "I never thought this little guy could run so fast."
Swally: "You said one leg, but it looks like this guy could catch you even if you were running on three legs. Can you believe that?"
Big G: "I think your right."
Swally was watching him with eyes full of playful affection.
He was indeed a very cute person, the cutest thing about him was that he was willing to admit to his own shortcomings.
So no matter how many faults he had, he was still lovable.
Swally: "Since we can't get rid of him there is no way we can go back."
Big G: "You're right."
Swally: "Then where should we go?"
Big G: "There isn't anywhere to go."
He blinked his eyes, "Do you still remember what you just said," a smile suddenly appeared on his face,
Swally: "What did I say?"
Big G: "You said even if he could catch me I could just blow him away."
Swally smiled, "Are you really that talented?"
Big G: "Of course."
Swally stood there blinking, "How are you going to blow him away?"
Big G: "My fist."
He turned around abruptly and walked towards the person dressed in black.
The person dressed in black just stood there in the middle of the road watching him.
"This little fellow sure knows how to stay calm."
Big G also knew how to keep his cool, he slowly walked on over, thinking about his next move, should he start by saying something or just start punching?
Who would have thought that the person dressed in black suddenly turned around and ran away.
Big G instantly gave chase.
He suddenly realized that this person's Qinggong was definitely on par with Swally, even if he had three legs he would never be able to catch him, "Friend, wait a second, I have something to say," he shouted.
The person dressed in black didn't wait, but actually sped up.
Big G started to get angry, "Are you deaf?" he yelled loudly.
The person dressed in black suddenly turned around smiling, "That's right, I am so deaf that I can't hear anything you say."
It appeared that he was intentionally trying to make Big G mad.
Regardless of who was trying to make Big G angry, it wasn't exactly hard, as he got angry pretty easily.
As soon as he was angry, he became absolutely determined to catch him.
It had started with the person in black following him, but now Big G was chasing him.
All Swally could do now was follow behind.
There was a patch of old trees covered in snow to the side of the road, there was a light unexpectedly shining from within the trees.
The person dressed in black dashed among the trees and suddenly disappeared.
The light was still shining.
The light was coming from a house, the person dressed in black must have went inside.
Big G was biting his lip, "Wait outside, I'm going to have a look," he said spitefully.
Swally didn't say anything, and he didn't try to stop him.
If Big G was set on doing something, then nobody would be able to stop him.
Even if he wanted to jump into a river, all Swally could do was jump with him.
The door of the house was surprisingly open, the light was coming from the entrance of the house.
Big G charged inside, he was stunned as soon as he arrived in the doorway.
There was a fire burning inside, and a person sitting beside the fire.
The fire was burning brightly, she was gorgeous.
Madame Wei.
She wasn't surprised in the least to see Big G, she just smiled, "It must be cold outside, why don't the two of you come in and warm yourself by the fire."
It seemed as if she had been waiting for them the whole time.
(4)
There was only one other person in the room.
The person dressed in black.
Big G started getting angry as soon as he saw him standing there, he couldn't stop himself from charging over and yelling, "Why were you following us?"
The person in black blinked, "Was I following you? Or were you following me?"
His seemed to be smiling with his eyes.
Big G: "Of course it was you who was following me."
The person dressed in black just laughed, "Do you know where you are?"
Big G: "I don't know."
"Well let me tell you, this is my home."
Big G: "Your home?"
The person in black smiled, "If it was me following you, then how did you end up in my house?"
Big G was shocked.
He suddenly realized that the person in black wasn't just smiling with his eyes, their whole face was smiling sweetly.
The person in black was actually a women, and she was at most sixteen or seventeen years old.
Even if Big G had a bunch of excuses he suddenly had nothing to say.
Madame Wei smiled, "Since you two have already arrived, please have a seat."
There were two chairs beside the fire.
Swally sat down, smiling abruptly, "It seems like you knew that we would be coming, and that you have been waiting for us."
Madame Wei smiled, "I can't stop you two if you want to leave, and I couldn't stop you from coming either."
Swally: "And if we wanted to leave right now?"
Madame Wei: "I would only have one thing to say."
Swally: "What's that?"
Madame Wei: "See yourselves out."
Swally: "But if we leave you will still have this young women follow us."
The young women dressed in black glared at Swally, "Who was following you, you both walked down that road, why can't I? You two can come charging into my house whenever you want, so why can't I walk down the same road as both of you."
Swally smiled coldly, "So it was just a coincidence that we were all walking down the same road."
"That's right."
Swally: "That truly is a coincidence."
Madame Wei smiled gently, "As you get older you will realize that life is full of coincidences."
Swally: "Looks like you have made up your mind to get to Forest through us."
Madame Wei smiled, "Well that depends on whether or not you two know where he is."
Swally: "What if we did know?"
Madame Wei smiled, "As long as you two know, then I will find out sooner or later."
Swally suddenly blinked in Big G's direction, "If someone's legs are tied up could they still follow you?"
Big G: "Probably not."
Swally: "That's right."
A piece of rope suddenly came flying out of Swally's sleeve, flying towards the legs of the girl in black.
The rope was just like a snake, quick and accurate, it moved as if it had eyes.
It was extremely rare that anyone could dodge Swally's rope.
The girl in black didn't even try to dodge, because the rope was already in Madame Wei's hand.
She had extended her hand slowly, and the rope was moving very fast, but somehow she suddenly managed to catch the rope.
Swally tugged on his end of the rope, trying to pull it back.
He didn't know how, but without seeming to exert any effort, the rope was now in the hands of Madame Wei.
Swally's facial expression went blank, he was the only one who knew what had happened. A strange force had moved through the rope and shaken his whole body to the point of feeling numb.
He would never have believed that anyone in the world could possess such a frighteningly strong inner force.
But he believed it now.
Madame Wei smiled, "Even if you did manage to tie both her legs together it wouldn't do you any good."
Swally was deep in thought, "You're right," he said with a long sigh.
Madame Wei: "You should at least try and tie my legs together first."
Swally: "Good idea."
Madame Wei smiled, "But I guarantee that there isn't a single person on the face of this earth capable of tying me up."
Swally: "I believe you absolutely."
He suddenly smiled, "But, I also have a guarantee for you as well."
Madame Wei: "What's that?"
Swally: "Although I don't have the ability to tie your legs up, there is someone else that will do; all I have to do is tie this person's legs together, and even if you possessed godly powers, you can forget all about finding Forest."
Madame Wei smiled, "Who are you planning to tie up?"
Swally: "Myself."
× × ×
Regardless of how useless somebody is, at the very least they would be able to tie their own legs together, that goes without saying.
Swally tied his legs together.
He certainly did have a lot of rope on him, as if he thoroughly enjoyed using rope as a weapon.
Madame Wei was shocked, it took her a moment to recover, but a smile gradually formed on her face, "You're right, this idea is actually pretty good, even I have to admit that this is a pretty good idea."
Swally: "You flatter me."
Madame Wei: "If you tie yourself up here, I certainly don't know how to find out where Forest is."
Big G: "There isn't any point in tying myself up, his legs are pretty much the same as mine."
Madame Wei: "So you have decided not to leave as well."
Big G: "I guess so."
Madame Wei: "I was already planning on tying the two of you up and forcing you to give up Forest's whereabouts; I won't let you two leave until you have told me."
She sighed unexpectedly, "Who could have known that you actually tied yourselves up," she smiled bitterly.
Big G smiled, "It's called making the first move."
Madame Wei: "Unfortunately, striking second doesn't mean disaster, it will still be the two of you who suffer."
Big G: "Oh?"
Madame Wei: "It's not like you two can stay here forever?"
Big G smiled, "I wouldn't be so certain."
He looked around at his surroundings, smiling again, "It's nice and warm in here, much nicer than that old place we live in."
There was a flash in Madame Wei's eyes, "You all live in an old house?"
Big G: "There is no point in trying to use what I said, how many old houses are there under heaven, if you went searching through every one, you will be looking until you're resting inside of your own coffin."
Madame Wei sighed again, "I just think it's a little strange, that's all."
Big G: "What's strange?"
Madame Wei: "Forest has been pampered from a young age, how could he stand to live in such an old, rundown place?"
Big G: "Because there is something that we have in that old place, which you can't find anywhere else."
Madame Wei: "And what is it that you have there?"
Big G: "Friendship."
× × ×
As long as you have friends, it doesn't matter how poor and dilapidated your place is.
Because all you need is friendship, and you will find happiness and warmth wherever you are.
Even if there was gold all over the ground, if you didn't have any friends, then to them, it was nothing but a prison made of gold.
Madame Wei thought about what he said, finally sighing gently: "Even though you two are a little strange, you sure are good friends."
Big G: "We would at least never sell out our friends."
"You wouldn't sell out your friends under any circumstances?" she asked.
Big G nodded.
Madame Wei laughed again, "Good, I sure want to see how long you two will be able to last," she said casually.
Note:
1. 内功 [nèi gōng] : An internal force/power; the art of building up strength through breathing and/or other exercises.
Translated as: He would never have believed that anyone in the world could possess such a frightening inner force.