Dugong

Chapter 59: Old Age and Frailty

Li Ping'an groped the thief's body and found a book from his arms.

At this time, there was a chaotic sound of footsteps outside the door. Without bothering to continue searching, he circulated his true energy and turned into a phantom, and disappeared without a trace after a few leaps.

There were a few young eunuchs standing outside the door, deliberately stamping their feet to make noise, but they did not dare to go in.

It's just a few taels of silver a month, why risk your life for it?
It was not until the young eunuch who had gone to report the news came back with a few old eunuchs and two teams of imperial guards, and he estimated that the thieves had left, that he dared to push the door open and go in.

The lights came on, revealing a headless corpse and red and white objects splattered all over the ground.

The young eunuch had never seen such a scene before and was so frightened that he retched and his legs went weak. The old eunuch and the leader of the imperial guards remained calm and went forward to take a closer look.

"Look at the tattered clothes and bare feet, it must be the old fellow from Wuyou Cave!"

"There's no doubt about it. This guy is a glutton. He relied on his extraordinary martial arts skills and strong legs to escape the palace twice..."

The identity of the deceased was confirmed in a few words, and the next step was to track down the murderer.

The Lord of Wuyou Cave was a very famous person in the martial arts world. The inexplicable deaths of thousands of Beggar Gang disciples under his command would surely cause a huge uproar.

Of course, the palace is not tracking down the murderer to give an account to the Beggars' Gang.

Instead, they would notify the Pacification Office and conduct a large-scale hunt for the Beggar Gang disciples. There were many charges, such as theft, trafficking, robbery, gathering a crowd, etc.

The punishment can be exile at the lightest and beheading at the worst, to serve as a warning to others!

Li Ping'an didn't know the identity of the thief, nor did he know what consequences it would cause. Even if he was found out, he would not only be innocent but would be credited.

After coming out of the imperial kitchen, he went to the wine and vinegar room and moved a whole jar of wine. Anyway, the thief would take the blame.

Who knows, the eunuchs in the wine and vinegar room might also take this opportunity to settle their accounts.

Before the thief went to the imperial kitchen, he stole and drank eighteen jars of aged wine. It sounds very reasonable!
Return to the cold palace.

Li Ping'an set out the wine and food, and specially reserved a portion for the queen. Even if she didn't know how to eat it, he showed his thoughtfulness.

"Grandpa, my grandson encountered a thief in the imperial kitchen."

After explaining what had happened in detail, he took out the book from his arms and saw three words on the cover in the light: Wuyoupu.

Eunuch Chu frowned slightly, took the book and opened the first page.

— Xuefeng Dragon's Whisker Bamboo Shoots, picked from the thousand-foot cliffs on the day of the Beginning of Spring. The ones with frost on the tips are the best quality, cut into thin pieces like dragon's whiskers...

"It really is that old guy!"

Eunuch Chu recognized his origin and praised him, "Xiao Anzi's skills have improved a lot. This fellow is an old beggar, nicknamed the Worry-Free Cave Master. His strength is top-notch in the martial arts world. If he were in the palace, he would be on par with those old eunuchs."

Li Pingan said happily: "So now we are better than the seniors in the palace?"

Eunuch Chu gave him a deep look and said, "We are talking about old eunuchs with ordinary talents, such as Xiao Sunzi and Xiao Liuzi. We are not like Eunuch Zhou, who is gifted and focused, and has practiced martial arts painstakingly all his life!"

Li Pingan's heart trembled: "Grandpa, you know everything?"

"Xiao Rongzi mentioned it to our family."

Eunuch Chu said, "Eunuch Zhou's habit is no secret. In his early years, he practiced a unique and unorthodox martial art, which led to his becoming possessed. His mind became twisted, sometimes male, sometimes female. Normally, they were both men and women, just comforting each other. If his mind were to change..."

Li Ping'an couldn't help but shudder, recalling what Xiao Rongzi said, that Eunuch Zhou's godchild died in a horrible way, with his intestines pulled out several feet from his back.

"Grandpa, where is Xiao Rongzi working now?"

"The Naodenjian is pouring night incense."

Eunuch Chu sighed and said, "He's our adopted son. We're too close. I spent a lot of effort and barely managed to save his life."

Li Ping'an saw that his grandfather looked gloomy and was obviously worried about Xiao Rongzi's situation. He couldn't help but feel a little envious and changed the subject.

"My grandson is quite interested in the affairs of the martial arts world. Could you tell me about this Worry-Free Cave Master?"

"He was originally a rich young man, but his family fell into poverty and he became a beggar. He relied on his handsome appearance and some talent to marry the daughter of the former gang leader."

Eunuch Chu laughed strangely and asked mischievously, "What do you think the gang leader's daughter looks like?" Li Ping'an was very perceptive and immediately understood, "Grandpa, since you're asking this, she must be ugly."

"She's not just ugly, to call her a dominatrix is ​​an understatement."

Eunuch Chu was quite impressed: "I would rather serve in the palace than bring myself to talk to a woman like that. He can endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens. He is destined to make a name for himself in the martial arts world."

Li Pingan asked curiously, "What happens after you get married?"

Eunuch Chu said, "He has exceptional martial arts talent, and with the Gang Leader's full support, he was promoted to Deputy Gang Leader in just ten years."

From being rich and powerful to being a beggar, and then reversing his fate in desperate situations, the experience of Wuyou Cave Master is an inspirational example, and Li Pingan was filled with admiration after hearing it.

Unexpectedly, Eunuch Chu changed the subject: "After spending several more years and completely controlling the Beggars' Sect, he personally killed the former leader's family, including his wife."

"..."

Li Ping'an's face twitched: "People are all made of flesh and blood. How could he have the heart to kill someone who has been married for more than ten or twenty years?"

Eunuch Chu said sinisterly, "That requires a human being. It's hard to say in the martial arts world, but how many people in this palace can be considered human beings?"

Eunuchs are neither male nor female, neither human nor ghost. They cannot enter the ancestral hall during their lifetime, nor can they be buried in the ancestral tomb after their death.

According to the law, they are not considered ordinary people, but are classified as "yin", on the same level as animals, winged insects, and evil spirits.

Li Pingan asked, "With such evil deeds, this Wuyou Cave Master must be considered an evil heretic in the martial arts world, right?"

Eunuch Chu shook his head and said, "No, he is a hero."

Li Pingan was shocked: "How can such a person be a hero?"

"He wasn't considered a hero at first, but then he broke into the palace twice at night and escaped unscathed both times. The Beggars' Sect spread the word about his deeds, and he instantly became famous."

Eunuch Chu sneered, "This fellow became famous for trespassing into the palace, was flattered by the people in the martial arts world, and finally died in the palace. It can be considered a cycle of karma!"

Li Ping'an gulped down two bowls of wine. After truly understanding the martial arts world and heroes, such as Doctor Lu and now Eunuch Chu, his fantasy was completely shattered.

The grandfather and grandson chatted over cups, talking about everything from the martial arts world to the court, from the royal family to the aristocratic families. In Eunuch Chu's words, all of them were despicable people.

It seems that there is no good person in the world and no clean place.

While Li Ping'an has a broad vision, he is also inevitably influenced by the words of Eunuch Chu. Few people in the world can break free from the shackles of "knowledge". Most people only study Confucianism and Taoism.

When the moon is at its zenith.

The fireworks rising into the sky from Xingqing Palace could be seen from the entire palace.

Eunuch Chu drank half a jar of wine and looked slightly tipsy. When he saw the fireworks text, he instantly slipped off the recliner and naturally kowtowed in the direction of Xingqing Palace.

"Long live my emperor, long live long live..."

Li Ping'an then knelt down and shouted that no matter whether the emperor could hear him or not, he would kowtow, flatter and be loyal to the emperor at any time and in any place.

If you say it too much and it becomes a habit, one day it will reach your Majesty's ears.

After the three kowtows and nine bows, Eunuch Chu returned to his recliner, staring blankly in the direction of Xingqing Palace. Suddenly, he said, "The other day, Imperial Physician Li came to see me and said that His Majesty hasn't been feeling well lately..."

Li Pingan was slightly startled, then quickly realized, "Are you saying that His Majesty is deliberately celebrating so lavishly to show that he's in good health?"

Eunuch Chu said, "It may be that he is old and likes lively and festive occasions."

Li Pingan asked, "Should we do something?"

"You can't do anything right now. Whoever dares to make any move will die the fastest!"

Eunuch Chu said coldly, "As the saying goes, serving a king is like serving a tiger. Do you know when a tiger is most dangerous?"

Li Pingan thought for a moment and answered in a deep voice.

"When you are old and weak."

(End of this chapter)