Chapter 6
The Unyielding Pestilence
Big G had already been watching from the street corner for a long time, he had wanted to just charge forward.
But what would he do after charging forward?
He wasn't sure what he wanted to do. If The Rod was catching black-hearted, ruthless criminals, did he really want to help them resist arrest?
After running down the mountain with cold air blowing in his face, his anger had subsided quite a bit.
So he was still watching from the street corner.
The person who had fallen unto the middle of the street was curled up, motionless, like a lump of clay.
The Rod suddenly pulled him up, seizing his jacket with both hands, "Look at me," he said one word at a time.
Although he was standing upright, his head was hanging limply.
The Rod let go with his right hand, and started slapping him repeatedly.
Blood started to flow from the corner of his mouth, but his teeth were clenched tightly, he didn't even make a sound.
"Good, you have some courage," The Rod laughed coldly.
Suddenly his knee came up, hitting him forcefully.
His face cringed in agony, if he wasn't being forced up, he would have bent over in pain. All he could do was curl up his legs, as if his whole body was trying to curl into a ball. He was dangling in The Rod's hand, his whole body was shaking as if his bones were coming loose.
The Rod: "There are many different ways to deal with someone who doesn't listen, this is merely the start. Would you like to keep going?"
The person finally raised his head, staring at him with eyes full of hateful resentment.
The Rod's expression suddenly changed, becoming a little gentler, "Are you not the Phoenix?"
His teeth were trembling audibly, "You know that I'm not the Phoenix, so why are you doing this to me?" he hissed.
The Rod: "Because I can't say for certain yet, unless you tell me who you are, only then can I confirm that you aren't The Phoenix."
The Person: "I'm not anyone, I am just a smalltime businessman from this town, selling general goods."
The Rod looked sullen, "If you aren't anyone, I can only assume that you are The Phoenix," he said with a cold laugh.
His voice was shaking, "You are worried your superiors will blame you for catching the wrong guy, so you won't let me go even though you know that I am not The Phoenix. I always knew people like you would resort to these methods."
The Rod's expression became gentle again, "You are wrong, this time I only want to find The Phoenix. It has nothing to do with anyone else, just tell me your true identity and I will release you immediately."
"Release me? You will release me?"
The Rod actually started laughing, "Why wouldn't I let you go? Even if you committed a crime somewhere else, what does that have to do with me? Why should I be the dog, catching rats and meddling in other people's business?"
The person thought about it for some time, biting his teeth, "My last name is Han, they call me Gust of Wind."
The Rod: "Gust of Wind, that spring, were you the one who killed the Huang family in Zhangjiakou?"
Gust of Wind: "You said as long as I am not The Phoenix you would let me go."
The Rod: "Of course, but how do I know that you are Gust of Wind and not The Phoenix?"
Gust of Wind: "I have a tattoo..."
"Rip," his clothes were torn open, sure enough there was a tornado shaped tattoo on his chest.
This was undoubtedly the mark of the Gust of Wind.
"Gust of Wind wouldn't impersonate The Phoenix, but what if The Phoenix is impersonating Gust of Wind," The Rod said subtly.
Gust of Wind: "What can I do to make you believe me?"
"I heard that Mr. Huang was stabbed to death by a sword," he muttered.
Gust of Wind: "No, I have never used a sword."
The Rod: "Then how did he die?"
Gust of Wind: "I killed him with poison first, and then threw him down a well."
The Rod started laughing again, "It sounds like you certainly are the Gust of Wind."
Gust of Wind: "I always have been."
The Rod: "Good, very good..."
Suddenly, his backhand came chopping down on his neck.
In an instant, the Gust of Wind was as good as clay.
Although he was already dead, his eyes refused to die, staring hatefully at The Rod; slowly bulging out, full of anger and resentment, as if asking: "You promised to let me go, why didn't your murderous hands release me?"
The Rod didn't say a word, but his eyes seemed to answer for him.
His haughty expression seemed to say: "This is my way of doing things, since I would never trust you, why should you trust me?"
× × ×
Big G's eyes were also burning with anger.
But he was still only watching, because the Gust of Wind did deserve to die.
Officials killing murders was the proper order of things.
"When he kills people you just stand there and watch as well," someone said.
Big G didn't need to turn to look, he knew who had just spoken.
He just sighed, "But I want to keep watching."
Swally: "Do you like watching him kill people?"
Big G: "I am waiting for him to kill the wrong person."
Swally: "Why?"
Big G: "Only then will I have a reason to kill him."
Swally: "You want to kill him?"
Big G: "Gust of Wind did deserve to die, but he deserves to die even more."
Swally: "You think he has done something wrong?"
Big G: "Not necessarily wrong, but his methods are despicable."
Swally: "What if he has never killed the wrong person?"
Big G stared blankly.
Swally was smiling, "Some things in this world are beyond our control. The Rod is detestable, but efficient, some people need to be dealt with by someone like him."
Big G suddenly smiled as well, "You don't think there is anyone capable of dealing with someone like him?"
Swally: "Who could handle him? You?"
Big G: "Perhaps me, maybe somebody else, it doesn't matter who. All I know is that there is a natural order to things, justice will have a way of taking care of him sooner or later."
× × ×
This was what made Big G who he was.
He not only loved life to the fullest, he had faith.
He believed that the truth would stand forever, that justice would always prevail.
He believed in righteousness overcoming evil, and nothing could make him lose faith.
× × ×
The Golden Lion was patting The Rod on the shoulder, "Congratulations, you solved another big case. You solved seven cases in one night, I doubt there is anyone who could best you," he said smiling.
The Rod: "You."
The Golden Lion laughed loudly, "Not me, I am not ruthless enough, my stomach can't take it anymore."
The Rod's facial expression changed, but he held back.
The Golden Lion: "Which house is next?"
The Rod raised his head, looking at the shop sign across the street.
A black base with golden characters: "Profiteers."
× × ×
Although the owner of Profiteers would skin you alive, he wouldn't nibble the bones. In fact, he would often leave a little meat on the bones for other people to enjoy.
He had always left Big G with a good impression, seeing The Rod and the Golden Lion walking over to his shop, he could barely stop himself from rushing over.
Dash had been standing behind him the whole time, not saying a word, suddenly he broke the silence, "Don't move."
"Why not, it's not like I am you?" Big G said laughing.
Dash: "If you make a move now there is going to be trouble."
Big G: "Since when have you been afraid of trouble?"
Dash: "Right now, and this is just the kind of trouble that I am scared of."
Big G: "Don't forget, he is our uncle, we can go to his place any time we want."
Dash: "I can live without having an uncle, but not having ancestors would be inconvenient."
"No ancestors?" Big G was confused.
Dash: "If our uncle was involved in some kind of criminal activity, and I were to go help him, then I would have lost face completely, even my ancestors wouldn't want me."
Big G: "You don't have to go, I will!"
Dash sighed, "If I was willing to let you go alone, wouldn't I be in bed sleeping?"
Big G was looking at him, looking at his icy cold face, he suddenly felt warm inside—the warmth of friendship.
If he decided to do something, nobody could stand in his way.
The only thing that could hold him back were his friends.
The Golden Lion and The Rod had already walked to the front of the shop.
The door was shut, but it opened suddenly before they even had a chance to knock.
The boss of flaying his customers poked his head out from behind the door, "I knew the three of you would be coming, please come in."
The Rod and the Golden Lion glanced at each other and then entered.
The person dressed in black was holding the door.
Big G was biting his teeth, "I wonder what The Rod is going to do to him, I should go have a look," he muttered.
He didn't have to move.
Because at that moment the Golden Lion and The Rod were already leaving.
All they could hear was the owner's voice from behind the door, "Leaving so soon, take care, take care."
"My pleasure, no need to send us off," the Golden Lion was smiling with clasped hands.
Big G was just staring blankly, "What is going on? How did these two become so polite all of a sudden," he muttered.
Dash: "When The Rod wants to hit somebody, it's not like he can just hit whoever he wants, otherwise The Rod would have broken by now."
Big G: "Then who is the boss of profiteers? Why were they so polite in front of him?"
"Maybe he is nobody, that's why they were so polite," Dash muttered to himself.
Big G thought about it, he wasn't sure if he understood what Dash just said.
He didn't have time to think, the Golden Lion and The Rod's next target was Old Mr. Barley's BBQ shop.
Big G was frowning, "Never thought that they would suspect someone like Old Mr. Barley as well, they are definitely paranoid."
Swally: "Don't worry, there is no way they will find something on Old Mr. Barley."
Big G: "Of course I'm not worried, but not for the reason that you think."
Swally: "Then why?"
Big G: "Because they are human, they need to eat, if it weren't for Old Mr. Barley, what would they eat tomorrow?"
Dash: "Farts."
Just as Big G started to laugh, his smile disappeared in an instant.
There was a sudden cry from inside the shop, it was coming from Old Mr. Barley.
"Where did this gold ingot come from? Speak!" they could hear The Rod asking.
As soon as he heard the word "gold," Big G had already jumped out, fast as an arrow.
This time, not even Dash tried to stop him.
The Rod was lifting Old Mr. Barley up, the same way Old Mr. Barley normally hung his soy sauce chickens.
Soy sauce chickens were obviously saucy, and Old Mr. Barley's sweat looked just like oil, flashing under the light.
He was shaking nonstop, shaking so much he couldn't even speak.
"Are you going to talk? Where did this gold come from?" The Rod spoke harshly.
It wasn't necessary for Old Mr. Barley to give a reply this time.
Big G had already rushed forward, "I gave it to him, I bought fifteen kilograms of meat, twenty kilograms of alcohol, on top of that there were seven geese and eight chickens, it was a fair deal for everyone," he yelled.
The Rod slowly put Old Mr. Barley down, slowly turned around, and stared at Big G.
Big G was standing there casually, he definitely did not look like someone who would pay their bill with gold.
The Rod: "The gold was yours?"
Big G: "Yes!"
The Rod: "Where did it come from?"
Big G: "If it is a crime to have gold then who on earth isn't a criminal, including the both of you?"
Although The Rod's face was expressionless, his pupils were slowly constricting.
Suddenly, his hands stretched out.
He was not only taller than others, his hands were very long, ten dry and slender fingers, like metal claws attached to the end of a stick.
This was exactly the pair of metal claws that Big G was intending to come against.
He didn't even try to dodge or parry, with a "swoosh" both his fists came out at the exact same time, knuckle on knuckle he punched towards the iron claws.
Not only was The Rod shocked by this move, the Golden Lion couldn't help but turn a little pale.
The Rod practiced a type of kung fu called the Talon of Falcons, even a blind person would have been able to sense that. If his opponent did not possess incredible inner strength, how could they possibly dare to engage him head on?
Big G's inner strength wasn't as frightening as they were all imagining, he was just a naturally gregarious fellow, he had big spending habits, a grand style to how he did things, and his kung fu was no exception.
Would his fists be able to crush his opponent's falcon claws? Would the falcon claws bore a hole through his fists? He didn't even think about it.
He didn't even care.
As long it made him happy, he could use whatever moves he wanted to.
But most people were not as grandiose as Big G, not to mention martial arts was about timing and skill, most people, if they could help it, would avoid such direct, obviously painful blows.
Big G's fists were striking out, but The Rod had already adjusted his position, with a drop of his elbow his claws flipped up, ten hook like fingers came slicing towards the arteries of Big G's wrists.
Big G didn't even take notice, he didn't even flinch.
"Consistency is transformation: overcoming change through consistency."
His move embodied this ingenious martial arts principle.
The Rod was struck back midair, almost hitting the wall.
He had already knocked back one of the top masters from the Six Doors sect, without even fully completing his first series of attacks.
He was quite happy with himself, and he didn't pursue further engagement.
He understood the concept of "pressing the advantage," but since his opponent was already showing weakness, knocked back in defeat, what was the point of further conflict?
Killing without mercy was something Big G would never engage in.
The Golden Lion coughed, coming forward, "Little brother, we can talk this out, no need to get so upset," he said smiling.
Big G: "He is the angry one, trying to hit me, and you are calling me angry?"
Golden Lion: "It's all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding."
Big G: "He asked me all those questions, and now I have a question of my own."
Golden Lion: "Please ask."
Big G: "Is it against the law to buy meat and drink with gold?"
"Of course not, I pay with gold all the time," he replied smiling.
Big G: "Since it's not illegal, then I am asking you to let Old Mr. Barley go, and leave me alone as well."
Golden Lion: "Of course, not a problem."
He glanced sideways at Dash, Swally, and Forest standing outside, "Sorry to have disturbed your afternoon meal, why don't I treat you all this evening, we can have a few drinks?"
Big G was deep in thought, formulating his opinion on the matter.
He wasn't really interested in a free dinner, but he couldn't find the words to turn them down.
Dash: "All I want to do right now is go back to bed."
The Golden Lion laughed: "Excellent then! We have wanted to come pay you all a visit anyway, might as well make it tonight. A long night of drinking shall we, what do the four of you say?"
When he said it like that, it was impossible for Dash to refuse—when members from the Six Doors sect wanted to "pay you a visit," how could you turn them away?
Not to mention, if they went to Prosperity Villa, they wouldn't be able to kill any more people here.
So they went to Prosperity Villa.