Chapter 18: Shameless

Gao Yuan sent Wang Shuang to fetch the axe from the storehouse. Wang returned beaming, plainly delighted with it. Where Zhou Xing had looted it was unclear; it was too heavy for an ordinary man and had been left in storage. For Wang, its weight was just right.

“Come, I’ll teach you. Practice whenever you have time.”

The technique was simple: three moves used by Cheng Yaojin in the Sui and Tang era. Split the Head, Little Demon Picks His Teeth, and Scoop the Ear. Clear and direct, it seemed made for someone as strong and simple-minded as Wang.

All afternoon, shouts and grunts rang through the hall as the axe left dents in the stone floor. By evening Wang was ravenous. Though extra food had been prepared, he ate four-fifths of it himself.

Gao’s mouth twitched. On his first day as chief, he had not eaten his fill once. For the first time he understood why overeating headed the old list of vices. An ordinary household might be eaten into ruin by Wang; his appetite was enough for ten men.

That night Gao and Shen Shuting retired early. Gao deliberately made enough noise to tease Mu Baizhi in the next room. With Wang guarding the door and Sun Shuanghu patrolling outside, he felt at ease for the first time since arriving in this world. Life at the stronghold was finally settling into order. Next door, Mu was disturbed and silently called Gao shameless for troubling Shuting.

……

The next morning, Gao found Wang swinging the axe in a clearing. Wang stopped when he saw him.

“You didn’t sleep?” Gao asked in surprise.

“I practiced half the night, then fell asleep by accident. When I woke up, I wanted to practice again. Chief, look how I’m doing!”

Wang swung the axe straight at him. The attack came fast and steady, with the force of two flying stones.

Gao’s heart jolted. He sprang back, the blade passing a little over a foot from his head, its wind making his skin flutter. Once steady, he stared at Wang. If it had been anyone else, he might have suspected an attempt at rebellion. Who attacked his chief on sight?

Still, Wang had made remarkable progress. In so little time he had grasped the basics. With more practice, even Wu Xiangbei might be no match for him.

“Not bad,” Gao said. “But don’t overdo it. Take a break between sessions.”

“Break what?” Wang asked blankly.

Gao sighed. “Practice a while, then rest. Don’t wear yourself out.” Talking to the illiterate could be tiring.

Wang understood this time and waved a hand. “I’m not tired! The more I practice, the better I feel. Just a little hungry. Chief, when do we eat? I could eat a whole ox!”

Was Gao going hungry again? As it turned out, yes. Looking at the empty table, he sighed to Shen Shuting. “We need to increase our food portions again.” Few would believe a chief could not get enough to eat.

……

Shen prepared more food. After eating, Gao called Sun Shuanghu, Wang Shuang, and Fourth Ding together. “Guard the stronghold. I’m going to Dangyang.”

Ding stared. “Chief, are you walking into a trap?” The bandits still considered Dangyang an enemy.

Gao slapped the back of his head. “Watch your words! I’m going to win benefits for our brothers.”

The three blinked in confusion.

“Never mind. Just look after the place.”

“Chief, I want to come,” Wang said.

“I’m going alone.” Gao did not expect a fight, and Wang’s simple nature might lead him to say or do the wrong thing. Wang withdrew, looking dejected.

Gao brought out the stronghold’s finest chestnut horse and packed the heads of Zhou Xing and Xu Mazi in a cloth sack on the saddle. Before mounting, he collected a few silver ingots from Shen Shuting, then rode down the mountain alone. It was time to report back.

He had not left the day before because there was business to settle at the stronghold and he needed to recover his strength. Besides, taking the place on the very first night might seem too quick and arouse Wu Xiangbei’s suspicions. In troubled times, careful thinking helped a man live longer.

……

In her room, Feng Lingxue was writing on paper with a brush. Zhou had looted the materials from Dangyang, dumped them in the storehouse, and lost them along with everything else before he could take stock.

Lin Hongxiu entered in red, a short sword at her waist. She bowed. “Your Majesty, Gao Yuan has ridden down the mountain with Zhou Xing’s and Xu Mazi’s heads.”

Without looking up, Feng asked, “How many men did he take?”

“None.”

Her brush paused. Then she smiled. “Going alone takes courage.”

“Should we do anything?”

Feng shook her head. “With events in motion, it’s better to remain still. Let’s see what he makes of it.”

She finished with a flick of her wrist. Two strong, accomplished characters stood on the page: *Calm the mind*.