Chapter 44: Solving the Mystery
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Once Fang Zhengzhi’s question came, Zhang Yangping and the rest of the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad suddenly quietened down. Looking around, their gaze fleeted among one another.
Zhang Yangping looked at Fang Zhengzhi, his mouth moved. A few times, he wanted to speak, but yet swallowed his words.
Fang Zhengzhi knew that this question would be tough to answer, but if he didn’t understand the truth, he would definitely be unsatisfied.
But, he didn’t rush them. Because, he knew that if he forced Zhang Yangping and the hunting squad, the answer he received would probably not be true.
They had to be truly willing to do it.
A few of the Northern Mountain Village, seeing that both Zhang Yangping and Fang Zhengzhi remained silent, began to peel off the Blue Fire Wolf’s skin. Witnessing this scene, Fang Zhengzhi mind wavered, and finally made a firm resolution.
"Little brother, what is your name?"
"Fang Zhengzhi."
"Oh, Fang Zhengzhi, honest and upright in your conduct [1] … a good name indeed! Previously, I only knew little brother Zhengzhi as a sneak attacker, who knew that you would be such a truly brave and intelligent person!" Zhang Yangping praised Fang Zhengzhi. Then, he paused and sighed. "Not only did little brother Zhengzhi save my life, you saved the lives of the entire Northern Mountain Village hunting squad, and even eliminated the Blue Fire Wolf for all the villages within the area. I won’t hide anymore, but I indeed feel rather guilty!"
"The reason is… we had already acquired your Southern Mountain Village pitfall location map." As he spoke, Zhang Yangping retrieved a yellowish hand-drawn illustration from his pocket and passed it over to Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi saw at the yellow illustration Zhang Yangping handed over.
He became really infuriated.
All the effort and time he had spent was actually taken away by other people just like this?
This was an act of piracy!
Shameless!
Who did this?! Only the Southern Mountain Village hunting squad possessed the Rock Formation Illustration, it simply couldn’t have spread!
Was it Wang Anhua?! Fang Zhengzhi thought of a person, but quickly dismissed that thought. As a Sir from the Hall of Dao, receiving the most honourable treatment possible from the Southern Mountain Village, and also having no conflict of interest at all with him, there was simply no need to do such a thing!
Conflict of interest…
Pondering carefully, the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad seemed to have long been hiding in ambush. Furthermore, when they appeared, they evidently didn’t know about the presence of the Blue Fire Wolf.
Else, they couldn’t have run away immediately after seeing the Blue Fire Wolf leap out from the pitfall.
That means, everything that happened was directed at him.
"It’s Li Zhuangshi!" In a flash, Fang Zhengzhi was certain. It was definitely Li Zhuangshi’s doing. Because, only as the previous deputy captain of the hunting squad could he had acquired the Rock Formation Illustration.
"I… I never thought that little brother Zhengzhi actually guessed it so quickly. It is indeed Li Zhuangshi who gave us the illustration!" After hearing Fang Zhengzhi utter the two words Li Zhuangshi, he was instantly taken aback.
He had guessed who the betrayer was based on one sentence. Wasn’t this a little too smart?
A shiver went down Zhang Yangping’s back. He was only seven? Such great wisdom and such great strength, this was simply something that came out of a nightmare!
As the previous deputy captain of the Southern Mountain Village hunting squad, Li Zhuangshi had naturally met with Zhang Yangping before.
Although Zhang Yangping didn’t understand Li Zhuangshi’s intentions, but one thing was for sure. Being in possession of that pitfall location map could only benefit the Northern Mountain Village. There was no harm.
But…
The current circumstances seemed to have went beyond expectations.
After witnessing first-hand Fang Zhengzhi’s intense battle with the Blue Fire Wolf, he had already lost any intention of confronting Fang Zhengzhi. All he wished was for Fang Zhengzhi to spare the lives of the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad, so much so that he was even willing to convince the Northern Mountain Village village chief to give a sum of money every month to the Southern Mountain Village.
There was only one goal.
Peace!
"I need you to do something for me!" Fang Zhengzhi finally confirmed his thoughts after listening to Zhang Yangping’s confession.
"Little brother Zhengzhi, please say!" Zhang Yangping nodded.
"Follow me to the Southern Mountain Village and personally testify that it was Li Zhuangshi who gave the Northern Mountain Village this illustration!" Fang Zhengzhi knew that based on Li Zhuangshi’s position in the Southern Mountain Village, if there was only the illustration as evidence, and not a personal testification, Village Chief Meng Bai would likely not believe this.
"Alright!" At this moment, Zhang Yangping had already decided to make peace with the Southern Mountain Village and hence naturally didn’t dare to offend Fang Zhengzhi. At the same time, he could discuss with the Southern Mountain Village village chief about his future plans of making peace.
...
The Northern Mountain Village hunting squad were indeed proficient. Within a short amount of time, the skin of the Blue Fire Wolf had been completely peeled.
Removing his large basket, Fang Zhengzhi placed the Blue Fire Wolf skin inside it, and walked with Zhang Yangping towards the Southern Mountain Village.
Very quickly, they reached the Southern Mountain Village.
Today, Fang Zhengzhi had secretly went up the mountain, hence there was nobody to welcome him. Hence, he led Zhang Yangping directly to Village Chief Meng Bai’s house.
Village Chief Meng Bai was currently lying on a wooden chair, smoking his cigar. When he suddenly saw Fang Zhengzhi and Zhang Yangping walk in, he was instantly taken aback.
"Oh, isn’t this Yangping from the Northern Mountain Village? Why would you have come to our Southern Mountain Village! Wife… pour a cup of good tea!" Village Chief Meng Bai was rather familiar with this key figure in the Northern Mountain Village.
He was calm, and was able to look at the big picture. If things went smoothly, he would definitely be the next village chief of the Northern Mountain Village. Hence, Village Chief Meng Bai was more courteous towards him.
On the other hand, his treatment of Fang Zhengzhi naturally differed greatly.
Very quickly, a cup of tea was served.
Zhang Yangping didn’t dare to drink, and instead stared strangely at the empty table in front of Fang Zhengzhi. He really couldn’t understand, based on Fang Zhengzhi’s abilities, he should be extremely well respected in the village. Why did it seem that Village Chief Meng Bai treated Fang Zhengzhi as just an ordinary villager?
"Little brother Zhengzhi, please drink!" With two hands, Zhang Yangping brought the cup of tea in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
A hint of suspicion instantly appeared in Village Chief Meng Bai’s eyes. Only at this moment did he realise that Fang Zhengzhi seemed to have arrived with Zhang Yangping.
"Did this child Zhengzhi bring Yangping over? Don’t worry, just ignore him, this tea is for guests!" Village Chief Meng Bai waved, his expression unconcerned.
Zhang Yangping was taken aback once again.
In his heart, he respected people based on their strength, not their positions! If even Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t qualified to drink this cup of tea, then as a "guest", how could he bring himself to drink it?
"Since little brother Zhengzhi didn’t drink, then this tea… I won’t drink it!" When Zhang Yangping finished his sentence, he immediately turned over the cup, and directly poured the tea onto the floor.
Village Chief Meng Bai was now truly somewhat stunned.
He had treated Zhang Yangping well with a good gift, yet he poured this cup of tea away? Don’t tell me he came here today to cause trouble? As he thought, Village Chief Meng Bai sort of understood, he definitely came to fight for territory in the Cang Ling Mountain.
"Since you have already came over, tell me what you want to say!" Village Chief Meng Bai slowly picked up his cigar, pretending to be calm, took a puff, then secretly looked towards Zhang Yangping.
He knew very clearly that based on strength alone, the Northern Mountain Village had an advantage over the Southern Mountain Village. Hence, he had decided, as long as the Northern Mountain Village promised to not cross the line in the future, this problem could be resolved satisfactorily.
"Alright! The main reason I am here in the Southern Mountain Village today is to help little brother Zhengzhi testify the fact that Li Zhuangshi had secretly passed this pitfall location map to us, the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad!" Zhang Yangping didn’t say anything further, handing over the yellowish paper map on his hand to Village Chief Meng Bai.
[1] Zhengzhi in Chinese is 正直, which means upright and honest.