Sichuan's Mad Dragon (Novel) - Chapter 28 - Making Snake Chicken for Nothing

Chapter 28 – Making Snake Chicken for Nothing

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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After Red Beggar and Ju-seong stayed one night at the inn, martial artists with swords and sabers came to find them early the next morning.

“I am Jang Dae-ung, an escort from the Holyeon Escort Agency, assisting the Green Wood Lotus. Pleased to meet you, young heroes.”

A man as large as a bear, befitting his name meaning “Great Bear,” stood before them with a fist-to-palm salute. As he was someone showing courtesy first, Ju-seong returned the salute and introduced himself.

“I am Ju-seong from Sichuan, and this is Red Beggar, branch head of the Beggars’ Sect in Nan-go County, Henan Province.”

“Ah… So that is why his attire is such. But why is a branch head dressed so shabbily?”

Ju-seong placed a hand on Red Beggar’s shoulder and replied.

“He has his pride as a beggar, his conviction as a panhandler, so to speak. He is half a madman, so please just think ‘I suppose so,’ normal Escort Jang.”

“Well, if a man of the martial world has skill, what else matters?”

Ju-seong nodded in agreement and said.

“Have you come to borrow our skill?”

Escort Jang nodded.

“The Flying Tiger School ranks among the top martial groups in Southern Commerce Association territory. Having incapacitated its vice chief, you will need the protection of an equivalent force to move freely in Yunnan Province.”

“Is that a threat?”

When Ju-seong asked sharply, Escort Jang calmly denied it.

“No. I am simply saying the Southern Commerce Association is that ruthless and despicable.”

“Frankly speaking, both sides look the same to me.”

“I know that to outsiders, whether Green Wood Lotus or Southern Commerce Association, both look like fools who buy swords they do not need despite having plenty of money. They were idiots causing unnecessary conflict. I will not deny that either. Anyway, Yunnan’s martial world is currently divided between these two spheres of influence, so if you touch one side, it is self-evident you must join the other.”

Ju-seong nodded, then slowly spoke.

“Looking at you, Escort Jang, you seem like a man who acknowledges what should be acknowledged. I have a move that could give the Green Wood Lotus the initiative in this conflict. Would you like to hear it? It would be welcome news from the Green Wood Lotus’s perspective.”

Escort Jang looked at Ju-seong with curiosity, as he suddenly acted like a strategist, then spoke.

“Let me hear it. It will not be nonsense coming from a master like you.”

“Have you heard of the Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer?”

“Is that not the villain who committed atrocities up north? I heard even the Martial Alliance is pursuing him, and the government is watching…”

“He is currently in Yunnan.”

“What? In Yunnan? I have heard nothing of that. The rumors say he slipped into Sichuan and would likely flee to Tibet or Qinghai…”

Red Beggar’s eyes turned cold as he interjected.

“That is the bastard’s deception. Naturally, hiding in a crowded place like Chengdu in Sichuan and sneaking off beyond the frontier would seem plausible. Yunnan, with its large but mostly rural land where locals are sensitive to outsiders and where the government and Martial Alliance have eyes, would not be a good choice.”

“Correct. You are well informed, young Branch Head.”

“But that is exactly the deception. He last committed an atrocity in the northwest of Guizhou Province.”

“So by route, going through Sichuan to Tibet or Qinghai would make sense, would it not?”

Red Beggar shook his head.

“That damned sexual predator has preferences. All the women who were his victims had darker skin and bold features. As you know, that is more Southern Barbarian or Greater Viet than Han Chinese women.”

“Even so, for his preference to bring him to Yunnan…”

The deep mountains might seem good for hiding since they were rugged terrain, but conversely, in places where people have difficulty living, finding traces of people is that much easier.

A sexual predator at the Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer’s level must have elevated his cultivation through dual cultivation, whether yin-supplementing yang or otherwise.

For training, elevation, and personal satisfaction, there would be periodic victims, from which perspective, sparsely populated Yunnan was even more dangerous. The odds of being caught were high.

Ju-seong shook his head repeatedly.

“Listen, Escort Jang. Do not underestimate him. He has earned an alias in the martial world, been designated a public enemy by the Martial Alliance which personally formed pursuit squads, and is being chased by the government. He is no ordinary sexual predator. And a madman who has reached that level has his own pride and stubbornness.”

“Hmm…”

“His preferred type of woman overflows in the Southern Barbarian lands, yet he turned toward Sichuan from Guizhou? Really? I do not think so. I hear this bastard’s killing spree started about a year ago. Perhaps he trained in yin-harvesting techniques and suddenly faced a qi deviation crisis, but that is none of my concern. Anyway, the bastard is half out of his mind. Just look at his actions.”

“So you two concluded the Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer came to Yunnan and came here? While the Martial Alliance and government believe he hid in Chengdu? Is that what you are saying?”

“Exactly, Escort Jang.”

Jang Dae-ung understood quickly despite his appearance. But he seemed somewhat lacking in reading and assessing the situation.

“But why would information about the sexual predator help in the fight between the Southern Commerce Association and the Green Wood Lotus?”

“Goodness, man. Whether Southern Commerce Association or Green Wood Lotus, they are merchant groups, are they not? Who buys the merchants’ goods?”

“…Well, small shopkeepers.”

“And what buys those shopkeepers’ goods is none other than people, people. In the end, money follows people’s likes and dislikes, and right now the people of Yunnan must be absolutely sick of both the Southern Commerce Association and Green Wood Lotus.”

“I will not deny that.”

“Before long, the sexual predator will get antsy and commit another foul deed. We probably cannot stop it right now. But if we identify the culprit as the Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer in advance and catch him with a pre-organized pursuit and strike force?”

Red Beggar chimed in, waving his liquor bottle.

“Oh, the Green Wood Lotus would soar like a dragon! You know who the Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer is? He is the one who wiped out three Martial Alliance strike squads that pursued him, and the one that even Guizhou’s peak-level master, Goodface Righteous Sword Seo Dong-seong, could not stop despite sacrificing his life!”

Ju-seong took over the lines brilliantly.

“If they catch such a man, how will people see it? Ah, all that sword-wearing those fellows did to intimidate us was for this purpose. What parent with a daughter would not feel goodwill toward you?”

Red Beggar jumped back in.

“Escort Jang. The beggars under that bridge say that if it is Holyeon Escort Agency, it has considerable influence within Green Wood Lotus. As an escort there, you have some pull, right? Package what we said nicely and pass it along. The Green Wood Lotus would want to overturn this frustrating standoff too, would they not? Those Southern Commerce Association bastards’ noses need a good flattening.”

Ju-seong took over and continued the cursing.

“Right, those damned Southern Commerce Association bastards. Need to trample them flat, those sons of dogs. If they appeal to righteousness, all of Yunnan Province’s public opinion will support the Green Wood Lotus!”

Red Beggar clapped.

“Ah, honestly, just by financial power alone, the Green Wood Lotus distributing tea throughout the Central Plains is overwhelming. What do those Southern Commerce Association bastards make from trading with Southern Barbarian tribes who cover themselves with leaves? If they competed on money, they would be nothing, but they despicably bribed the Provincial Administration Commissioner.”

“Ah right, the Commissioner, that dog…”

“Pl-please stop, please. I beg you.”

Escort Jang, when the Provincial Administration Commissioner was finally mentioned by those deranged tongues, hurriedly looked around and restrained the demons’ mouths.

Listening to them, one’s soul felt sucked out and one found oneself nodding unconsciously. No wonder he almost let the cursing of the Commissioner slide.

Plus, there was the disparagement of the Southern Barbarians. In Yunnan, martial artists from the Wild Beast Palace occasionally wandered about, so one had to be careful when discussing the Southern Barbarians.

But this too was intentional by Red Beggar and Ju-seong, as they now planned to make Escort Jang uncomfortable.

From the start, they had no intention of settling into either the Green Wood Lotus or the Southern Commerce Association. The reckless tongue-wagging was a disguise as dangerous characters to drive the other away.

Disparaging Southern Barbarians in Yunnan, casually cursing the Provincial Administration Commissioner. Who would readily try to recruit such people?

“Ah, did I say something wrong? Considering the great responsibility His Majesty the Emperor entrusted in overseeing an entire province, this pig-like bastard…”

“Young Hero Ju! Please, please. If you have to, do it after I leave! Are you really trying to get someone killed!”

Red Beggar was giggling and shaking his head.

Ju-seong had strangely keen ears and a sharp nose, and with these senses, he was checking if there were any martial artists nearby who might overhear.

At first glance, he seemed to brandish his tongue sword as fearlessly as a general on the battlefield…

But from the side, his ears kept twitching like a rabbit’s, which was quite a sight.

Escort Jang left at that moment, looking at the two like they were madmen.

The two looked at each other and quietly smiled as if they had never been raving.

“Our chemistry is like a theater troupe, you beggar bastard.”

“Who else could it be but someone from a clown troupe? That was quite the act.”

“Now it is time for the two heroes to take their next step.”

“Oh, what is it now?”

The plan to draw in the Green Wood Lotus to track the sexual predator was also originally conceived by Ju-seong. Red Beggar was quite curious what his next plan would be.

* * *

“Hmm, mm, eating well. Very good. Eat plenty, little ones.”

“…Brother, is this really the conduct of heroes?”

“Huh… When Emperor Gaozu of Han was a ruffian in Peixian, was he not a hero? Even if the work is lowly, if the one doing it is extraordinary, it is the conduct of a hero.”

“Rotting snake corpses to feed maggots?”

Red Beggar complained while pinching his nose. Laid out in a basket before them were snake carcasses that Ju-seong and Red Beggar had diligently caught running around the back hills.

The southern part of Yunnan Province had a hot and humid climate, so countless flies and maggots were already swarming.

Ju-seong scolded Red Beggar.

“You punk, what do you know about medicine, what do you know about pharmacology? A beggar who only likes eating. This is the process of making snake chicken. The yin energy of the snakes is accumulated by the maggots, and then the chicken pecks at them. Chickens are animals with strong yang energy, so the energy they contain increases as if doing yin-supplementing yang dual cultivation.”

“All this trouble to pamper some chickens…”

Ju-seong kicked Red Beggar.

“Ah, why are you hitting me!”

“This snake chicken is really good for men, that is what I am saying. You understand? Strictly speaking, this is also a spiritual medicine, a spiritual medicine.”

“A spiritual medicine?”

“Hmm… If a spiritual medicine were a person, it would have the level of energy of one beaten half to death. Anyway, it is still good for you.”

“Going through all this when I am just a beggar bastard anyway…”

“We are going to meet this county’s Beggars’ Sect branch head, and we cannot go empty-handed. Forget that you are an oddball who wanders around in rags. Normally, a branch head’s position gets some respect in the neighborhood.”

“But still, to a beggar bastard…”

“We are the ones asking for a favor, so we need to show sincerity. That is proper decorum.”

Ju-seong may not have learned the way of a gentleman, but he well understood the principle that when you want something from someone, you should cater to them a bit.

He diligently raised maggots, bought chickens at the market, and fed them.

Seven days later. Ju-seong propped his chin and looked at the plump chickens, then spoke.

“Let us get going. By now, the investigation into the sexual predator should be underway by the Green Wood Lotus.”

Ju-seong tied the wings and legs of two chickens, tucked them under his armpits, and set out.

The chickens clucked and drew attention. The two chicken heads sprouting from under each arm looked around restlessly.

Ju-seong heard snickers around him and composed himself.

‘I am not embarrassed…’

He walked confidently right down the middle of the main road, looking like a three-headed monster, for quite a while.

They finally arrived at the Beggars’ Sect headquarters, whose location they had noted in advance.

The Qingling County Beggars’ Sect headquarters was a fairly large abandoned manor. It was shabby and run-down, but decently equipped. Red Beggar grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“Honestly, if a beggar has a house, is he still a beggar? If you have a house, do not panhandle, work as an honest laborer. Taking the good stuff and throwing away the inconvenience, what is this?”

“Yes, yes. You are the beggar king, the beggar supreme, the very model of beggars and beggar gentleman. We are going in now, so shut your mouth.”

Ju-seong rebuked the pouting Red Beggar, then lightly pushed the unguarded gate with his toe and entered. His hands were holding chickens, so he could not push with his hands.

In the yard, beggars were gathered around in groups, dividing food laid out on a cloth.

The Beggars’ Sect beggars usually received leftover food from inns and taverns to survive.

Some stingy owners would not give leftovers. Then the beggars would swarm in front of the establishment, sing songs, and make a scene to chase customers away.

Of course, if they kept just taking like that, they might get beaten to death someday. Beggars generally maintained a symbiotic relationship with restaurant owners, guiding outsiders to establishments or running small errands for owners. When sudden work needing laborers arose, they would lend a hand.

When martial artists brawled amongst themselves and wrecked an inn before leaving was one representative example.

Ju-seong approached the gathered beggars and asked.

“Excuse me, is the branch head here not in?”

One beggar turned his head and replied. He had a somewhat simple-looking face with snot marks.

“Heh, our branch head is in the back room. He is always too busy doing that with women to come out.”

At his words, another beggar sitting across slapped him hard.

“This fucking half-wit moron, what are you saying? Say that again somewhere and I will rip your mouth.”

He hurled vicious curses, then turned his head to look at Ju-seong with a crooked gaze and scanned him up and down.

Then he asked dismissively, almost throwing the words.

“Why are you looking for the branch head?”

Ju-seong felt his blood pressure rising and quietly closed his eyes and tilted his head back.

A single thought was floating through his mind.

‘Ah, I made the snake chicken for nothing…’

Red Beggar whispered beside him so only Ju-seong could hear.

“Brother. You made that snake chicken thing for nothing, right?”

Ju-seong, not wanting to meet Red Beggar’s gaze looking at him like an idiot, just kept staring at the sky.