Chapter 22: Acting

Luan Yi asked Dian Wei, “Brother, for what purpose have you come to Yingchuan this time?”

For reasons unknown, Dian Wei felt a sudden surge of caution at this question. A murderous aura unconsciously emanated from him, his tiger-like eyes sweeping back and forth, sending chills down the spines of Luan Yi and his companions.

Noticing the cold sweat on their foreheads, Dian Wei remembered that he had just saved their lives, and that Luan Yi was an upright gentleman, unlikely to set a trap. He withdrew his murderous intent and spoke candidly, “I am going to Suiyang to kill a man!”

“What?” Luan Yi was shocked beyond measure. He thought to himself that Dian Wei was an honest brute indeed, confessing a crime without the slightest attempt at concealment! Yet, in its own way, this also showed the degree of trust he placed in them.

“Dian—uh, Brother, murder is a grave offense against the laws of the Han. You could be executed for it!” Cheng Yu exclaimed in alarm.

“I know! But that villain deserves to die.” Dian Wei gnashed his teeth in hatred.

“Brother, why not tell us everything in detail? Perhaps there is another way to resolve this matter.” Though Guo Jia was the youngest among them, he was never lacking in composure when it counted.

Dian Wei shook his massive head and sighed, “Ah… Even if I told you, you could not help. Only force can dispel the hatred in my heart!”

Luan Yi continued to persuade him, “Brother, why not let us hear you out? As the saying goes, three men make a tiger—perhaps together we can devise a more thorough solution.”

“Well… Very well!” Dian Wei then briefly recounted the matter’s circumstances to Luan Yi and the others. His storytelling was poor, some parts out of order, others repeated many times, resulting in a muddled account. Still, Luan Yi and his friends were not fools; from the jumbled information, they managed to piece together a coherent narrative.

It turned out that Dian Wei had been close friends with a fellow villager named Liu. Master Liu’s family was quite wealthy; among their holdings, they owned a stretch of prime farmland in Suiyang County, which yielded abundant harvests year after year and aroused much envy. Among the many jealous onlookers was a man named Li Yong. Li Yong had some standing—he had served as the chief of Fuchun and came from a prosperous household, keeping a gang of strongmen at his command. These thugs would daily oppress the townsfolk, bullying both men and women—a villain of the worst sort. Disliking the sight of an outsider like Master Liu possessing Suiyang’s best fields, Li Yong relied on his local influence to repeatedly hinder the production on Liu’s land.

Master Liu was much vexed by these troubles. He brought some men from his hometown to reason with Li Yong. But Li Yong was not one for reason—without a word, he ordered his men to beat Liu and his followers. The strong dragon could not best the local serpent; outnumbered, Liu’s men were thoroughly thrashed. Liu was carried home, and died the very next day. Not long after his death, the treacherous Li Yong seized the Suiyang fields for himself. Liu’s household, now a family of orphans and widows, had lost both their head and their livelihood.

At this point, the towering Dian Wei could not hold back his tears. Thus, he resolved to avenge Liu’s death. On his way to Suiyang, he passed by Mount Qifeng and, seeking a brief rest, heard the roar of a bear and human cries for help. The rest of the events were already known to Luan Yi and his companions.

“That scoundrel Li Yong!” Even the ever-gentle Xun Yu could not refrain from cursing.

Luan Yi said nothing, merely stroking his right forefinger across his brow. Those who knew him well understood—when the prodigy wore this expression, he was scheming. If such a look appeared, it meant he was about to voice a stunning idea, or that someone was about to meet misfortune.

After a moment, he looked up with a smile and asked Dian Wei, “Brother, do you trust me?”

“Why would I not?” Dian Wei’s voice was firm.

“In that case, I have a plan. You need not dirty your own hands; we can take the lives of Li Yong and his entire household.”

Dian Wei’s bull-like eyes widened, and he exclaimed excitedly, “Truly?”

“Absolutely. However…”

“However, what?”

“The plan cannot be carried out alone. I need the help of all my brothers.” Luan Yi cast his gaze around at everyone present: Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai… the features need not be described; it was mainly the uncle and nephew Xun Yu and Xun You, and Cheng Yu, upon whom he focused his questioning look. “Will you all lend your strength to help Brother Dian and me?”

Xun You responded with mild annoyance, “What are you saying, Ziqi! Would you treat us as strangers?”

“Indeed! If Ziqi did not flinch before a bear, what have we to fear?” said Xun Yu.

“We shall follow your plan,” Cheng Yu offered his assurance.

“Excellent! Then let me explain how we shall proceed.” With that, Luan Yi gathered everyone close and whispered, “All we need do is thus and so, so and thus…”

Five days later, a magnificent carriage drew all eyes as it traveled down the main street of Suiyang County. The carriage was draped with smooth Shu brocade, its embroidered flowers exquisite and dazzling. From the front curtain hung a piece of white jade, translucent and as large as a palm—clearly of great value.

Four splendid steeds pulled the carriage, their coats sleek and lustrous, their forms well proportioned—the finest warhorses from the northern regions of Youzhou.

And it was not only the carriage and horses that were remarkable—the young coachman himself was extraordinarily handsome, with almond-shaped eyes and a high-bridged nose, a fine-looking youth whose attire marked him as a page from a noble household.

The carriage rattled along the road to Suiyang, quickly attracting a crowd of curious onlookers, pointing and whispering as it headed northwest toward the Li residence. In a short while, it came to a stop before the Li family’s gate.

“Brother Cheng, we’ve arrived!” The handsome young coachman lifted the curtain and called to the passenger inside.

“Oh…” The person inside poked his head out, glanced at the gate, and asked, “Are you certain this is the place?”

“No mistake! Brother Yi found out all the details—Li Yong’s home is the only one here with two large stone lions at the gate,” the coachman replied.

“Hmm!” The passenger alighted, looked up and down the street, and saw that this was indeed the only house with stone lions. “Very well, let’s go in.” After a few steps, Cheng Yu suddenly paused, drew the coachman close, and whispered, “From now on, I am to be called Luan Xun, and you are my page, Luan Yong. Remember?”

The coachman, barely able to contain his excitement, nodded repeatedly with a grin. “Don’t worry! Jia hasn’t got many lines anyway. Just don’t mix up yours.”

By now, it must be clear to many who the occupants of this grand carriage were. The man in the scholar’s robe of costly fabric—the eldest among them—was none other than Cheng Yu.

The two approached the gates of the Li residence.

The servant at the door, seeing their fine attire, realized they were no ordinary guests. He greeted them with a broad smile, bowing low to Cheng Yu, “May I ask what business brings you here?”

Cheng Yu did not even glance at the servant, merely waving a hand with a slight air of indifference.

Guo Jia, standing by, stepped forward, presented a name tablet, and replied with a haughty air, “My young master has come to pay his respects to Lord Li.”

“Young master?” The servant took the name tablet, turning it over in his hands in amazement. Though he could not read, the quality of the sandalwood alone was enough to show that the visitor was a person of great wealth. Not to mention, the corners of the tablet were inlaid with gold! My goodness… the extravagance of the rich. “Honored sirs, please wait a moment. I will go and announce your arrival.”

With that, he hurried inside and soon came running back. “My lord asks you to come in.”

Cheng Yu, hands clasped behind his back, entered with the ease and grace of a nobleman. Led by the steward, they went straight to the study, where Li Yong was waiting, his excitement showing plainly as he hurried forward to greet them with repeated bows. “Master Luan, your visit brings honor to my humble home!”

“Hmm?” Cheng Yu had expected such a welcome, but affected an air of puzzlement. “Why do you say my visit brings such honor?”

“Why would you feign ignorance, Master Luan?” Li Yong shook the name tablet Guo Jia had given him and smiled, “Sir, your surname is Luan, from Yingchuan, is it not?”

Cheng Yu nodded.

“To my knowledge, there is only one Luan family in Yingchuan. They have a grandson called Luan Yi, styled Ziqi by the scholar Cai. At age seven, he wrote twenty-six tales of ‘Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio’ that spread far and wide. He is known as the prodigy of Yingchuan, a genius of his age—is that not so?”

Cheng Yu blushed, nodding repeatedly. “Indeed! Luan Yi is my younger brother.”

“What?” To call someone ‘younger brother’ is to declare him a full sibling! Li Yong, thrilled, leapt to his feet and bowed to Cheng Yu again and again, his corpulent form bending like a great ball of flesh. Guo Jia nearly burst out laughing at the sight, but managed to restrain himself, though it pained him.

Cheng Yu demurred modestly, helping Li Yong to his feet.

“Master Luan, you may not know—just before you arrived, I was reading the stories from ‘Strange Tales.’ See, the scroll is still on the table. Look, look…” Li Yong signaled the steward, who hurried to bring the bamboo scroll for Cheng Yu’s inspection. Guo Jia craned his neck for a peek—it really was ‘Strange Tales.’ His face betrayed his genuine pride.

“Your brother Ziqi’s stories are truly marvelous! How does he come up with such wonderful tales, what is his process…” Li Yong went on at length, with Cheng Yu humoring him for over an hour before Li Yong finally recalled to ask the purpose of his visit.

Cheng Yu recited the prepared story: some days ago, the Luan family patriarch had heard from a peddler that a qilin had been captured near Suiyang County. He had sent Cheng Yu—under the name Luan Xun—to investigate, with repeated instructions that if he found any trace of the qilin, he was to spare no expense to acquire it. Cheng Yu had thus come on this errand, but after three days in Suiyang had found not the slightest clue. He feared that if he delayed, someone else might seize the prize, and he would face the patriarch’s wrath upon returning home. By chance, he heard that Li Yong, former chief of Fuchun, was a man of great influence and many connections, so he had come to beg Li Yong’s assistance.