Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 56 Secret Passage
"Zhu Wen, you little thief, what a rotten thing you have done!" Tian Jun roared at Zhu Wen, "How could Huang Jutian teach such a stupid disciple like you!"

Zhu Wen had always mocked her stupidity, and now she could finally scold him for once.

At the same time, Tian Jun pulled out the short spear hidden on his body and stabbed a female disciple of Taishan School who was carrying a sword to the ground with one spear.

Her moves were swift, accurate, and ruthless. She quickly determined the murderous aura around her and pierced the throat of an opponent who should have been relatively difficult to deal with with one blow, living up to the reputation of "Qinglong", the leader of the Twenty-Eight Riders of the Nebula.

But there was only one problem. Blood sprayed all over Lan Suting's face. This girl who was not afraid of death suddenly felt dizzy and almost fainted on the spot.

Some people only realize they are afraid of blood when they really need blood to splash on their faces.

Several male guests sighed and exclaimed in surprise at the death of a fairy.

But Cao Zixiu, the leader of the Taishan Sect, did not seem to take the death of this favored female disciple seriously, and his expression remained calm.

Judge Wu and the others drew their swords and knives, just like they did in the casino some time ago.

The difference is that they seem much more confident.

So Cao Zixiu did not intend to take action. He thought that it would be enough to block the side door and prevent Zhu Wen from escaping from this direction.

Compared to handing over Zhu Wen's head, capturing him alive would obviously gain more credit from the court.

Zhu Wen unsheathed his sword.

Lan Suting caught a glimpse of the sharp blade and suddenly felt at ease. She endured the bloody smell and rushed behind Zhu Wen.

Zhu Wen quickly put his left hand around Lan Suting's waist and tacitly protected her by his side.

There was a cold light in his eyes, as if he was determined to break out from the direction where Cao Zixiu was.

The lights of the seven-star lamps in the Moon Palace flickered continuously.

Some guests who had never seen blood screamed, knocking over the low table and spilling wine and food all over the floor.

Cao Zixiu shook the whisk in his hand, and a sword as clear as autumn water popped out from it.

"It's really strange for a man to use a soft sword." Zhu Wen looked at the soft sword that was standing upright like an eel and said lightly.

"If Mr. Zhu had more knowledge, he would know that many men in India use this." Cao Zixiu smiled slightly.

Zhu Wen suddenly remembered that his junior sister Duan Hongyan had mentioned this matter when she tasted the tea he made.

India is very hot, and the Indians don't like to wear armor during battle. Soft swords that can't penetrate armor can be used on the battlefield. Unlike the Tang Dynasty, soft swords were generally used by women.

If used well, a soft sword is faster and more flexible than a steel sword.

Previously, the wrought iron soft sword used by Madam Aqing had made Zhu Wen's confrontation quite dangerous.

Cao Zixiu swung the soft sword in his hand like a whip, observing Zhu Wen's posture and thinking about how to strike next.

"One advantage of a soft sword is that it doesn't kill people so easily."

Cao Zixiu twisted his beardless chin with his left hand and spoke calmly.

It seemed that he was very confident of capturing Zhu Wen alive and handing him over to the court.

"I just think it's unnecessary to hide the soft sword in the tail of the whisk. Ancient knights would have wrapped this thing around their waists and used it as a belt."

Cao Zixiu finally uttered an impatient word: "Are you talking so much nonsense just to distract me so I can take advantage of the opportunity to escape?"

Before he could finish his words, Cao Zixiu saw Zhu Wen kick over a low table and hit him in the face, then he raised his knife and rushed forward.

Of course he would immediately draw his sword to block.

When Zhu Wen attacked, he had to carry Lan Suting in the crook of his left arm, so his speed could not be too fast.

Tian Jun, holding a short spear, was already engaged in a melee with Judge Wu and others. Although she was very angry that the reinforcements Zhu Wen called for had instantly turned into enemy troops, she was still loyal to the gold Zhu Wen gave her.

However, there were still six or seven Taishan Sword Fairies who bypassed the battle group and surrounded Zhu Wen from behind.

Cao Zixiu was quite confident that he could block Zhu Wen's sword.

But he suddenly found that he had no chance to draw his sword.

The sound of the low table being kicked over drowned out the whistling sound of the wind.

A sharp pain spread from Cao Zixiu's fat thigh to his heart.

The pain caused Cao Zixiu's soft sword in his right hand to fall to the ground in an instant.

Due to his long life of luxury, he has not been injured for many years.

Cao Zixiu tried his best to use his left hand to knock away the low table that was coming towards him, but Zhu Wen's sword was already on his thick neck.

At the same time, Cao Zixiu touched his thigh with his right hand and felt blood.

He also felt something hard.

It was a crossbow arrow that was deeply embedded in the flesh. Even the shaft was made of fine steel. No wonder it could easily penetrate his fat.

Cao Zixiu's expression changed instantly: "Lord Zhu, we can talk properly..."

As a businessman, he is quite good at changing his face.

Rather, it is said that the leaders of almost all sects in the world are essentially businessmen. Without business, how can a sect survive?
Zhu Wen ignored him and instead put his left foot on the white stone lotus base of a large pillar next to Cao Zixiu.

He stepped on the left lotus petal four times and on the right lotus petal three times.

Then everyone saw that the pillars supporting the roof of the hall were sucked up by a mysterious force, rising nearly ten feet, revealing a dark hole.

Zhu Wen pushed hard, and Cao Zixiu's fat body fell backwards.

Zhu Wen hugged Lan Suting and jumped in.

The moment he fell in, he heard Tian Jun's angry curse filled with pain: "Zhu Wen, you bastard, I'm going to kill you!"

Her voice was filled with pain because the servant, whose face was as pale as Bai Wuchang, suddenly jumped up, and a pair of steel claws appeared on his palms as if from nothingness, and then he directly grabbed Tian Jun's shoulders and locked her scapula.

But Zhu Wen could no longer care about so many things.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the massive pillars fell back, blocking the exit. The chaos caused by Cao Zixiu's sudden arrest made no one dare to go up. It was not until Zhu Wen, carrying Cao Zixiu, disappeared under the pillars that everyone came to their senses.

"When I triggered the mechanism, my movements were quite fast, so no one should have been able to see it clearly." Zhu Wen turned to Lan Suting and said.

Lan Suting quickly lit the tinder.

In the light of the fire, it could be seen clearly that Zhu Wen's sword was still pressing tightly against Cao Zixiu's neck.

Cao Zixiu suddenly gnashed his teeth: "That little bitch surnamed Liu..."

His fat face, which always had a calm expression, finally showed a ferocious look.

"So Madam Chaoying's surname is Liu." Zhu Wen shook his sleeves, dropping wax scraps and a piece of silk to the floor. "She is indeed not just a pretty face."

There were many small characters on the silk, in raised relief. Zhu Wen crushed the wax ball in his sleeve and could tell what was written on it by just running his fingers through it, without even needing to take it out to look at it.

"Of course she's not a pretty face," Lan Suting sighed softly. "Do you still remember when she said you were 'as lush as bamboo shoots and as luxuriant as pine trees'?"

Zhu Wen nodded: "Yes, I still remember the sentence from the Xiaoya Sigan chapter of the Book of Songs."

At this point, Zhu Wen realized something was wrong.

"The Sikan chapter is about a well-built house. When can it be used to praise someone's talent?" Lan Suting said helplessly, "I can't tell you in front of others."

"Oh no! I even said 'Thank you for the compliment.'" Zhu Wen sighed. "So she meant to separate the two characters '竹瓣'?"

When the bamboo stalks are taken apart, they become straw bags.

If it was Teacher Huang Chao who was being ridiculed in this way, he would definitely be able to hear it immediately.

But Zhu Wen was only considered a book lover among the wanderers. Although he was quick-witted, he was ultimately no match for a real scholar.

Cao Zixiu was obviously quite dissatisfied with the fact that Zhu Wen and Lan Suting were whispering to each other and ignored him completely.

"That little bitch, I underestimated her. If she hadn't secretly helped you, you would have been my chopping block long ago! I saved her from the flames and worked so hard to get her off the slave market, and in return I get such ungrateful treatment!"

Singing girls and dancing girls were all considered lowly people. As the saying goes, the noble and the lowly cannot marry. Even the seemingly noble fairies of Mount Tai, if they marry a noble man, even an oil vendor, they can only be concubines. Otherwise, it would be against the laws of the Tang Dynasty.

However, as the chief disciple of the Taishan Sect, Chaoying was clearly different. Anyone who wished to marry her had to first respectfully prepare the formalities for marrying a principal wife, and then ask her for her consent.

"It seems unreasonable to accuse someone of being ungrateful, considering he betrayed Alliance Leader Wang and even wanted to capture Zhu and offer him to the imperial court as a stepping stone for advancement."

As Zhu Wen spoke, he stroked the steel arrow shaft on Cao Zixiu's leg with his hand. The arrow shaft sank deeper into the flesh, causing Cao Zixiu's face to twist in pain.

"Even if Lady Chaoying hadn't arranged this hidden arrow, I should have been able to subdue him," Zhu Wen said to Lan Suting. "But since Cao Zixiu came in through the side door, he'll definitely be blocking me at the entrance. If we set up an ambush outside the side door, we can easily strike Cao Zixiu from behind. This plan is quite good."

Lan Suting said, "You can't be the only smart guy in the world, General. We have to find a way out quickly. Sister Tian is still in their hands. If we capture Master Cao, they will be afraid to act rashly."

"It's useless." Cao Zixiu suddenly sighed. "I'm afraid I'll become a discarded pawn now that I'm in your hands. It's not just that little bitch Chaoying who wants me dead in the Taishan Sect."

"That's why you prepared a secret passage for yourself to escape at critical moments. If you fall into a crisis of betrayal, you can jump in." Zhu Wen said.

"Even if Chaoying was your trusted disciple, you wouldn't tell her such a secret. So she must have followed you and seen you when you were checking the secret passage."

"I'm afraid so." Cao Zixiu sighed, "And then this little bitch told you the secret, and you used it against me. I really regret not winning her over sooner."

"Look at this." Zhu Wen turned to Lan Suting. "Master Cao has such dirty thoughts. That's why Madam Chaoying thinks that only by becoming the head of the Taishan Sect can she protect herself."

"Master Cao kept Lady Chaoying's red pill because he wanted to sell her for a better price. If you treat people like commodities, how can you expect them to be loyal to you?"

Lan Suting nodded: "The commander is right. This shows that Fairy Chuoying is not someone who betrays her master."

Zhu Wen took out a hemp rope from his pocket, pinned Cao Zixiu down, and tied him up tightly. He thought that Tian Jun was probably in the same situation up there now.

"Let's analyze the current situation," Zhu Wen said. "Initially, Alliance Leader Wang sent word that Master Cao might betray us. He asked Teacher to send a smart person to investigate. If true, Master Cao would be ordered to commit suicide."

"But the imperial court has always been stingy and doesn't accept everyone who comes to surrender. If I, the strategist of the Huang Chao army, were captured, I could fetch a good price."

Lan Suting said, "Suting has always felt that Alliance Leader Wang Xianzhi is a virtuous and upright person, but General you killed Yan Jingming, so it is very likely that Alliance Leader Wang's subordinates came up with this scheme to kill with a borrowed knife..."

"Let's not talk about that for now." Zhu Wen said, "But the actual situation is that Judge Wu also wants to get a piece of the pie and has reached a cooperation with Master Cao."

"Judge Wu previously served as a judge for the Tianping Jiedushi, but was dismissed for a mistake. It's understandable that he wants to get another official position."

Lan Suting said: "But you, General, are definitely not alone."

Zhu Wen said, "Don't we have Madam Chou Ying as our internal support? We are certainly not alone."

"No, Fairy Chuoying's assistance was a sudden change. Furthermore, the commanders I know wouldn't completely entrust their safety to someone like Judge Wu, whom they've never met. Madam Aqing also warned us not to trust anyone easily. Even someone who seems to treat you well could kill you at any time."

Ah Qing's words seemed to have predicted Judge Wu's betrayal in advance.

"Moreover, you only used an ordinary waist knife to deal with Master Cao, and didn't even draw the Dragon Sparrow Sword. This shows that you don't think this is a fatal crisis at all."

Zhu Wen smiled and tickled Lan Suting's delicate nose with his finger: "Zhizhen, you have become smarter."

Lan Suting said lightly: "You asked me to be your military advisor, so I have to learn to be smarter."

Cao Zixiu, who was tied up tightly, said sadly, "Even if you secretly brought people here, you can't defeat Shi Pu. He must have taken full control of the affairs of Baiyun Temple by now."

"Shi Pu?" Zhu Wen asked, "Is he the boy who wiped the table?"

Cao Zixiu said, "He is a general under Zhi Xuan, the governor of Ganhua Army. He is ruthless and extremely cunning. Even your wisdom and strategy, Zhu Wen, will hardly be able to surpass him. If you return with your men, you will surely fall into a trap."

"A young man in his twenties who can serve as a close guard protecting the Jiedushi must have some skills," Zhu Wen commented. "Otherwise, Tian Jun, that silly girl, wouldn't have fallen into his hands."

"Zhi Xiang was a political enemy of Xue Marshal Qi Kerang. Before the Battle of Songzhou, when General Qi passed through Xuzhou, the headquarters of the Ganhua Army, he forcibly opened the treasury and embezzled a large amount of equipment, money and grain."

Lan Suting said, "The defeat of Snow Marshal Qi Kerang in the Battle of Songzhou is not bad news for Zhixiang. The continued activities of the Cao Army will actually benefit Zhixiang's separatist ambitions. Therefore, there is no need for Zhixiang to weaken the Cao Army."

Zhu Wen said, "So Zhi Xian will definitely not get involved in this matter. It must be that Shi Pu got the news from somewhere and wanted to make progress, so he jumped in on his own initiative."

"But I've never heard of the name Shi Pu before. It seems that among the young generation of the Tang Dynasty, he is not as good as Wang Jian."

"Commander...are you underestimating the enemy by thinking this way?" Lan Suting looked cautious.

(End of this chapter)