Chapter - 146 Meeting the Zhongshan Wolf While Blocking the Way (4)

Wuji shouted loudly, "Thank heaven and earth!" He rolled over to the knife and grasped the knife, cutting Yang Buhui's ropes. Yang Buhui's trembling hands also managed to cut Zhang Wuji's ropes after wounding his palms a few times. Having just escaped from death, the two of them were exceedingly happy and hugging each other. When Zhang Wuji went to see the four other people, he just saw that every person's face had turned black and that their muscles were warped. Their bodies were really scary and he thought, "That Wang Nangu's poison manual really is valuable, I'll keep it with me and resolve to really study it carefully."

Zhang Wuji carried Yang Buhui's hand and left the forest. They traveled along Yaomi road, when suddenly from the east they saw light from a torch. There were seven or eight people grasping their weapons and running quickly towards them. Zhang Wuji and Yang Buhui hid in the underbrush.

Xuda was very happy and hugged him, saying, "Brother Zhang, you have such a chivalrous character, not to mention among children, even among adults it's hard to find such a person. I was scared that you'd be harmed by those evil thieves, fortunately there's good news and the evil receive their punishment, this is a good judgment.

When they asked how Jian Jie and Xue Gongyuan were poisoned, Zhang Wuji told them the story of cooking the mushrooms in the soup. Everyone praised him as clever. Xuda said, "These are all my good friends, they slaughtered a bull. A large fire is at Huang Jue Si Temple where the meat is being cooked. I went to find them and they all came. But if it weren't for Brother Zhang's cleverness, we still would've come too late." He introduced everyone to Zhang Wuji. One one side, a big eared guy was named Tang He, another heroic, exuberant one was named Deng Yu, a black faced, tall one was named Hua Yun; of two fair skinned brothers, the older one was named Wu Liang, and the younger was named Wu Zhen. The last one was a monk; his appearance was very ugly, with a protruding chin, resembling an iron shovel. Many scars and moles were on his face, and he had two sunken in eyes that were bright and unusually. Xuda said, "This person is Brother Zhu, his given name is Yuanzhang. He became a monk in Huang Juesi temple.

Hua Yun laughed and said, "He is an unconventional, happy monk, not one of those who loves to read Buddhist scriptures and worship Buddha, drinking wine and eating meat all day. When Yang Buhui saw Zhu Yuanzhang's ugly appearance, she felt afraid in her heart and hid behind Zhang Wuji. Zhu Yuangzhang laughed and said, "Even though this Buddhist monk eats meat, I don't eat people, so little sister doesn't need to be afraid." Tang He said, "The beef we've been cooking in that pot should be ready now." Hua Yun said, "Let's go! Little sister, I'll carry you." He carried Yang Buhui on his back, walking with big steps. When Zhang Wuji saw this capable man was so happy and outgoing, he was also happy in his heart.

When they had walked around two and a half kilometers, they arrived at a temple. They walked inside the main hall and noticed the fragrant aroma of the roasting meet. Wu Liang said, "It's done, it's cooked!" Xuda said, "Brother Zhang, rest here, we'll get the meat ready.

Deng Yu clapped his hands and said, "Brother Xu's words are insightful, eat! Eat!"

When they were eating and drinking, all of a sudden there was the sound of footsteps outside the door. Soon after, someone knocked on the door. Tang He jumped up and shouted, "Aiya! Zhang's household is outside searching for this cow!" The door was opened, and in came two servants, heroic looking with protruding chests and bellies. One person shouted, "Alright! Our house's big cow was actually stolen by you guys and eaten!" When he said this, he grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang. The other one said, "You lowly monk, today your entire club is here sharing the spoils, where can you run to? Tomorrow we'll send you to the mansion, and kill you by hitting you to death with a wooden board."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "You're really speaking rubbish, how would you dare blame us for stealing that cow? Monks eat vegetables and pray to Buddha. If you're accusing me of eating meat, isn't this committing a great sin?" The heroic servant pointed to the meat inside of the plate, saying, "This isn't beef?"

Zhu Yuanzhang gave a signal with his eyes and laughed, "Who says this is beef?" The Wu Liang and Wu Zhen brothers walked up to the two servants and with a shout, grabbed the two men's arms. Zhu Yuanzhang took out a short dagger from his pocket and laughed, "Two brothers, I don't want to hide this from you, what we're eating isn't beef, but human meat. Today you've seen this, so we'll just have to eat you so you won't talk and leak this out. With a "chi" sound, one of the servant's clothes was torn and the knife produced a line of blood on his chest. The heroic servant was really startled, even begging, "Spare us, spare our lives!" Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed a piece of beef and stuffed into the two servant's mouths, saying, "Swallow it!"

The two of them even didn't dare to chew it and swallowed it into their stomachs. Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "You can go out and tell your master we've stolen your cow, we can then cut open your stomachs and say, who're the ones that have eaten the beef, not even cleaning off the hair?" He flipped over the knife, dragging a line along their bellies. That person just felt a cold, icy knife on his stomach and was scared out of wits, screaming. The Wu brothers laughed, lifted up their legs and kicked the two out of the palace hall. Everyone was relieved and started eating quickly, laughing and insulting the two servants who had asked for their miserable experience. On normal days, the Zhang household would bully around the villagers. This time, they were so scared about their bellies being cut open, they surely wouldn't go out and tell them about everyone stealing the cow.

Zhang Wuji thought his actions were funny and admirable and pondered, "Despite this monk's ungly appearance, his behavior is upright and refreshing. His methods are really formidable." Zhu Yuanzhang had heard Xuda tell the story of how Zhang Wuji was willing to sacrifice himself to save Yang Buhui's life and was really fond of this chivalrous youth. He didn't treat him as a normal child, instead proposing a toast to him and treating him like a good friend. They drank until they were intoxicated, when Deng Yu said, "Us Han people have really endured the oppression of these barbarians, receiving an era of their dirty farts. Until today we haven't been able to have a good meal. If these days go on, how can we take it?" Hua Yun clapped his leg and said, "Half of the common people in Fengyang prefecture have died, really half of all the people under heaven have died of starvation, why don't we stake all of it and fight those Tartars?"

Xuda said with a clear voice, "Today people's lives have been put on the same level as dogs and goats. This good little brother and sister nearly went into people's stomachs. Under the sky, who knows how many common people have become like cows and sheep? If upright men can't help all these people, living is really living in vain." Tang He also said, "Not bad, our luck was good today, we managed to find a cow to slaughter and eat, tomorrow we may not necessarily find one to steal. Everyone doesn't have enough clothes and food, do even upright men and heroes have to become thieves?"