A Prophet - Chapter 4 (Part 2)

Chapter 2 - China's Number One Assassination King

Beginning in September 1948, the Liberation War entered its strategic decisive phase. By the beginning of 1949, with the conclusion of the Pingjin Campaign, the Kuomintang's main military forces had been basically eliminated, and most of the territory north of the Yangtze River was already liberated. Pressed by the increasingly severe situation, Qian Yuelin, the leader of the Northern faction's "Xuemeng Grass," finally deigned to lay down his status as "Grand Master" and come seek refuge under Grandfather.

Two tigers cannot share a single mountain, much like Song Jiang and Chao Gai in the Marsh of Mount Liang—in the end, there had to be one person leading the rest. Although Qian Yuelin was willing to bow in submission and serve as a faction boss under Grandfather, which of Grandfather's existing seven faction bosses could ever stomach him? Qian Yuelin was even older than Grandfather, and his personality was insidious and cunning. He had once harbored lustful intentions toward Jiang Feiyan, the leader of the Southern faction; had Grandfather not personally stepped in to mediate, it was estimated that a bloody battle would have broken out between the two guilds.

According to the Second Boss, Jiang Feiyan was one year older than Grandfather, and Grandfather respectfully referred to her as "Elder Sister Yan." When Qiao Wumei died, local gangsters came to cause trouble, and it was Grandfather who personally led his brothers to put a stop to it. After Qian Yuelin defected to Grandfather, Jiang Feiyan even specially penned a letter, sending it via a woman with bound feet to remind Grandfather to be on guard against this fellow.

Consequently, everyone harbored secret vigilance regarding Qian Yuelin's arrival. All eyes were cast toward Grandfather.

The atmosphere within the guild was already somewhat amiss. On the surface, everyone maintained a harmonious facade, but in reality, crises loomed heavy on all sides. This was especially true after Wang Jiaxian assumed the position of Seventh Boss: the Second Boss felt deeply displeased, his relationship with the Third Boss grew increasingly tense, and to top it all off, Qian Yuelin suddenly arrived at the guild. Although Qian claimed he was willing to serve merely as a faction boss under Grandfather, Grandfather declared that such an arrangement would never do—Old Qian must remain Old Qian, and Grand Master must remain Grand Master; once some time passed and conditions permitted, they would still help Old Qian establish a separate guild of his own. As a result, the guild inexplicably found itself with an extra Grand Master. Every time a guild meeting was held, Qian Yuelin sat right beside Grandfather with an air of absolute authority, occasionally even having his opinions entertained by Grandfather, which left the subordinate faction bosses feeling extremely ill at ease.

During that period, whenever a guild meeting concluded, Grandfather invariably kept me behind to brew tea for him. Nobody had any objections to this because everyone knew I was slow-witted and foolish, and no one guarded against me. Grandfather was genuinely fastidious about his tea; every time he tasted it, he could discern even the slightest nuance. Sometimes, if my mind wandered while steeping the tea, Grandfather would take a sip and remark, "Datou, your heart wasn't in it this time." I felt as though Grandfather was a supernatural being, capable of sensing the dispersion and tranquility of human hearts merely from the taste of tea. During those days, Grandfather and I would drink tea deep into the night; unable to sleep, he kept drinking cup after cup, and I could tell he was deep in thought.

Sometimes, we would also chat about matters concerning the guild. Truth be told, it didn't really matter what I said—to reiterate, everyone knew I was a fool devoid of schemes or cunning, incapable of stirring up any trouble. If this had been anyone else chatting with Grandfather until the dead of night, suspicions would certainly have been aroused, or at the very least, fierce jealousy. Therefore, there are distinct advantages to being a fool; a fool has no desires, and without desires, one stands unshakeable. Foolishness can sometimes serve as a natural barrier of self-protection.

One night, Grandfather asked me, "What are your thoughts on the current state of the guild?"

Unable to fathom what Grandfather was getting at, I stammered and dared not speak.

Grandfather said, "Datou, speak your mind freely! Whatever is said between us remains strictly between the two of us."

I said, "Grandfather, there are some things I don't understand. I don't know why you acted the way you did."

Grandfather smiled slightly and said, "Go on."

I glanced at him and said timidly, "For instance, you shouldn't have taken in Old Qian, and even less should you have allowed him to sit in on the guild meetings. Although we are all brothers, after all, he belongs to a different faction. Now he knows all the major secrets of our guild, and that's no good. Furthermore, you shouldn't have promoted Wang Jiaxian to Seventh Master so hastily, because Immortal Hand just passed away, and the Second Master is still consumed by grief. With moves like this, the guild has lost its harmony..."

When I finished speaking, I didn't dare raise my head, terrified that my words were inappropriate and would anger Grandfather.

Grandfather chuckled and said, "Datou, if you were in my shoes, would you want the brothers of the guild to be completely united as one heart, or would you prefer them to harbor mutual estrangement?"

I said, "Of course united as one heart! Only when everyone shares a single mind can things be done properly!"

Grandfather shook his head, smiled helplessly, and said, "Indeed, sharing a single mind makes things easy to do—and just as easy to ruin."

At the time, I was completely baffled by Grandfather's remark. It wasn't until later, when the four faction bosses jointly conspired to "climb the incense altar" in rebellion, that the truth finally dawned on me: thank goodness it was only four faction bosses staging a revolt; if all seven had been of one mind and revolted together, Grandfather would have been finished.

At that moment, I suddenly recalled a picture-storybook titled The Contention of a Thousand Families that I had read in my childhood. Inside was a line that went: "Since ancient times, if ministers and subjects do not struggle against one another, how can the emperor ever sit in peace and security?" How brilliant Grandfather was! Grandfather did not answer my question regarding Qian Yuelin, which showed that at the time, the timing was simply not ripe.

During that period, the Sixth Boss, "Madman's Hand," also rarely went out and constantly shadowed Grandfather, remaining almost inseparable from him. Everyone in the guild knew that the primary duty of "Madman's Hand" was to handle liaisons with informants and the underworld; if he stopped going out and went into hibernation within the guild, it meant internal trouble was brewing. "Madman's Hand" had cut his teeth and grown up in Wang Yazhi's "Axe Gang," absorbing the ways of the pugilistic world since childhood. He was fiercely loyal, righteous, and possessed an awe-inspiring uprightness. It had taken Grandfather a tremendous amount of effort to bring him under his command. This story dates back to the respected elder Zhang Dancheng. When Zhang Dancheng passed away, Wang Yazhi personally came to offer condolences, bringing a massive monetary gift. Anyone with discerning eyes knew that this was the Ninth Master stepping forward to prop up Grandfather.

Before his death, although Zhang Dancheng had spared no effort in cultivating Grandfather and repeatedly exhorted Zhou Zhenlong and Tu Yiming to assist him wholeheartedly, the martial world was perilous and treacherous. Grandfather was only a little over twenty at the time; to successfully manage a guild, one needed not only to suppress internal dissent but, even more importantly, to smooth over relations with the underworld. Therefore, Zhang Dancheng had previously penned several letters to Wang Yazhi, asking him to help hoist Grandfather up.

In China, whether a person's connections are formidable and their backing powerful depends crucially on who shows up at weddings and funerals. Not only did Wang Yazhi attend, but he brought heavy wealth with him. When people in the underworld caught sight of this spectacle, they understood the implications instantly. Grandfather naturally appreciated the weight of this deep kindness. After Zhang Dancheng's death, Grandfather went to visit Wang Yazhi every single year, and he had told the brothers of the guild countless times, "Ninth Master [referring to Wang Yazhi] is a true hero! If one or two tenths of our countrymen were like the Ninth Master, China would never fall!"

In 1935, Grandfather went to pay a visit to Wang Yazhi and encountered the fourteen-year-old "Madman's Hand" at Wang's stronghold. At that time, he wasn't yet called "Madman's Hand"; Wang Yazhi called him "Little Six." Grandfather noticed that despite the boy's tender age, his gaze was piercingly cold, and his every movement exuded calm and resolute strength. At a single glance, he could tell the boy was a practitioner of martial arts. For years, Grandfather had harbored a knot in his heart: whenever the guild experienced major friction with underworld figures, he was always forced to personally seek help from Wang Yazhi. Bothering the man time and time again made Grandfather feel deeply embarrassed. He wanted to poach someone from Wang Yazhi's side so that the relationship between the two guilds would grow even closer. Once there were underworld affairs to settle, Grandfather wouldn't need to step forward personally; he could just dispatch this person, because handling it would be the person's own duty, an obligation they could not shirk. But there was a catch: if he directly poached Wang Yazhi's trusted confidant, leaving aside whether Wang Yazhi would agree, Grandfather simply couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.

Those confidants who swore allegiance unto death to Wang Yazhi would never follow Grandfather, and perhaps wouldn't even deign to look at Grandfather with respect. Therefore, Grandfather needed to find the right person. This person's seniority didn't need to be terribly deep, but his roots had to be formidable—the mere mention of his paternal elders should be enough to strike fear into the hearts of underworld figures. Once that was achieved, the initial objective would be met. Growing up within the relationship network of his forebears, as time passed and the older generation retired, this person would truly be able to display his formidable talents and serve Grandfather's ends!

That day, Grandfather took one look at Little Six and was instantly captivated. He asked Wang Yazhi, "Ninth Master, who is this person..."

Wang Yazhi smiled and said, "This is the nephew of my sworn brother. Don't let his youth fool you; his abilities are no small matter. He has practiced martial arts since childhood, is proficient in Ancestral Crane, Eight Diagrams, and Flood Fist, and his lightness kung fu is also exceptional."

Grandfather pondered for a moment, finally unable to hold back any longer. He clasped his fists toward Wang Yazhi and said, "Ninth Master, this younger brother has a favor to ask. I wonder if it is appropriate to speak of it?"

Wang Yazhi smiled. "Does my virtuous brother mean Little Six?"

Startled, Grandfather frankly stated, "A gentleman should not seize what another loves, but our guild has recently suffered a dearth of talent, and this younger brother is desperately thirsty for capable people. Seeing that this young brother is of outstanding talent and hails from the Ninth Master's lineage, he must have been deeply imbued with the Ninth Master's long-term influence, valuing affection and righteousness above all else. This younger brother desires nothing more!" Wang Yazhi burst into laughter. "Between us brothers, you don't need to shower me with flattery—just spell it out if you want him!"

In front of Wang Yazhi, Grandfather was indeed a bit green. Teased like this by Wang Yazhi, Grandfather actually blushed, but paradoxically he felt a wave of relief. He blurted out straight away, "I beg the Ninth Master to grant this!" Wang Yazhi said, "I have no objections; it all depends on the boy himself. This kid is extremely stubborn." With that, he beckoned to Little Six. "Little Six, this Grand Master wants to take you in. Are you willing to go with him?"

Grandfather was in his thirties back then. Little Six cast a sideways glance at Grandfather. "What skills do you have?"

Grandfather smiled and countered, "What skills do you have?"

Little Six curled his lip and said, "I can dodge bullets."

His claim of dodging bullets didn't mean he actually ran faster than a projectile; rather, he possessed extreme agility, allowing him to accurately gauge the shooter's line of fire and exert force through his feet to escape a step ahead before the opponent pulled the trigger.

Once, when he went out on an assassination assignment with his uncle, the targets launched a counterattack. The kid leaped up and down, and an entire magazine of bullets failed to hit him.

Grandfather looked around. Coincidentally, a plate of waxberries happened to be sitting on the table at that moment. Grandfather grabbed a few, smiled, and said, "How about this? If you can dodge these waxberries of mine, I won't take you in. If you can't dodge them, you'll obediently come with me."

Hearing this, Little Six's eyes turned red with anger, thinking to himself that this fellow really knew how to brag without flashing his tongue. He immediately rolled up his trouser legs, tucked up his sleeves, and said, "Come on then!" Wang Yazhi sat to the side, narrowing his eyes with a broad smile. Grandfather said, "Wait a moment." Little Six was startled. "What, scared?" Grandfather counted the waxberries in his hand and said, "There are five in total. I'll add one more condition: if even a single one of these five fails to hit you, I'll consider myself the loser!"

Steam was practically venting from Little Six's nose. "Stop chattering, bring it on! Bring it on!" This was Grandfather's tactic of provocation—when people grow anxious, they easily lose their footing. The more anxious Little Six became, the more composed Grandfather grew. Gripping the waxberries tightly, Grandfather waved them before his chest, channeled his internal strength into his hands, suddenly jerked his arm forward, and roared, "Strike!" Little Six kept his eyes locked firmly on Grandfather's wrist. Seeing the arm whip across, he ducked violently, immediately executed a "spin-vault" to the side, and steadied his stance. Finding that nothing had hit him, he was just about to shout in triumph when Grandfather flipped his wrist. A waxberry whizzed through the air and struck him squarely on the forehead. The force was substantial enough that the waxberry burst apart with a pop, instantly leaving a red welt on Little Six's brow. As it turned out, Grandfather's first motion had been a feint; he hadn't fired a waxberry at all. Only after Little Six's spin-vault landed did he truly launch one. Little Six yelled, "You're cheating! Just now you didn't even—" Before his voice trailed off, Grandfather flicked his wrist again. "Here comes another!"

This time it was faster and fiercer. With a shrill whistle, a waxberry struck Little Six directly in the throat. Little Six choked as if blocked by something, letting out a rasping sound from his windpipe, unable to utter another word. Grandfather flicked his hand once more—this time firing three projectiles simultaneously. Although Little Six tried his utmost to dodge, one still struck his chest while the other two hit his abdomen. Wang Yazhi burst into hearty laughter and said to Grandfather, "I never expected my younger brother to possess such skills. If I'm not mistaken, this must be Tu Yiming's technique!" Grandfather cupped his fists in salute. "The Ninth Master flatters me; it was indeed taught by the esteemed senior Tu!" At this moment, Little Six stood resentfully to the side, rubbing his throat with his right hand as if that lingering force had yet to subside.

Wang Yazhi smiled and said to Little Six, "What are you staring at? You lost fair and square! Those waxberries just now each struck your vital points. If those had been flying daggers or iron nails instead, you'd already be a dead man." Little Six pouted and muttered, "He cheated." Wang Yazhi replied, "In pugilistic bloodshed, rules are never played by. The victor becomes the marquis and the loser the thief; a loss is a loss. Once you enter Grandfather's guild, you must be obedient and work hard. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and trust—not a single one can be dropped, or I will not spare you." This warning was spoken to Little Six, but it was equally meant for Grandfather. Although Wang Yazhi had taken to the greenwood as an outlaw, his entire life radiated upright righteousness. Don't look at him helping Grandfather now; the moment Grandfather dared to walk the crooked path, he would undoubtedly be the first to wipe Grandfather out. Upon hearing this, Grandfather hastily stood up and bowed in salute. "Thank you, Ninth Master!" Little Six said, "I can follow you, but I have a condition." Wang Yazhi's face darkened. "A real man's word is as good as a team of four horses; once spoken, it cannot be reneged." Grandfather hastily intervened, "No harm done, no harm done. What condition do you have in mind?" Little Six said, "You have to teach me this set of waxberry-throwing kung fu!"

Grandfather and Wang Yazhi exchanged glances and then burst into hearty laughter.

That was how Little Six came to follow Grandfather. Later on, through Grandfather's careful cultivation within the guild, he finally grew capable of standing on his own. Because of his exceptional martial arts, superb lightness kung fu, and proficiency in underworld public relations and scam-scouting—operating tirelessly like an unflagging horse—Grandfather bestowed upon him an elegant moniker: "Madman's Hand."

In the second year after "Madman's Hand" arrived at the guild, Wang Yazhi was assassinated. "Madman's Hand" wept through an entire night for this, vowing to seek revenge and carry out assassinations, only to be forcefully bellowed down by Grandfather! Grandfather said, "Can you fight against the Military Statistics Bureau? The Ninth Master was China's number one assassination king, and even he ended up dying at their hands. You're just walking to your death! The Ninth Master entrusted you to me, and as your Grand Master, I now forbid you to go!"

Although he verbally forbade it, Grandfather's heart ached terribly. In all his life, the person Grandfather admired most was the Ninth Master Wang Yazhi, and furthermore, the Ninth Master had extended a helping hand to Grandfather multiple times during his moments of peril. Grandfather wanted revenge too, but this time the opponent was the Military Statistics Bureau; Grandfather dared not act rashly.

Right at this juncture, another Grand Master of the Jianghuai region appeared, and thus the two Grand Masters joined forces to orchestrate a scam—staging a life-and-death parting beauty trap.