The Martial Lord of the Troubled World

Chapter 91 Confession, Formless

"You want to lure it aboard and blow it up with gunpowder?"

Fu Guosheng's brows furrowed, as if he was considering the feasibility of the plan proposed by Fu Juemin.

He wasn't necessarily reluctant to give up the ship he already had; his main consideration was...
Who would be willing to be the bait?

Fu Guosheng pondered and said, "A job that involves risking one's life, I'm afraid even a little money won't be enough."

I need to talk to them individually in private, but I can't guarantee I can persuade them.

"No need to bother."

Fu Juemin shook his head, and then revealed his entire plan.

Halfway through his speech, Fu Guosheng suddenly stood up, nearly overturning the bowls and plates on the table with a flick of his sleeve.

Only after Fu Juemin quickly finished speaking did his emotions gradually calm down, and he sat down again with a changing expression.

"Therefore, it would be best if we could wait until we passed the last waterway checkpoint in Yangping Province before disembarking and switching to land travel."

Whether this plan succeeds or fails, it won't affect the rest of the itinerary...

After listening to Fu Juemin's story, Fu Guosheng frowned and said, "If we can pass Shuika safely all the way to the Minjiang ferry and then switch to land for the last leg of the journey, why take this risk?"
Could that water monster possibly run ashore and chase us?

"Father, you are unaware of this."

Fu Juemin's tone was slightly somber, "These kinds of demons are the most vengeful."

I shot it yesterday, and it's already developed a deep hatred for me. If I don't take this opportunity to get rid of it, I really don't know when or where it will suddenly appear to cause me trouble next time.

Do you still remember that old white ape that my second uncle provoked back then, the one that ripped out his heart and ate his brain?

Fu Juemin couldn't say that it was his own aura, which belonged to the same demonic category, that attracted the water monkey. Given the chance, the water monkey would definitely not give up easily.

Fu Guosheng probably knows what Fu Guoping has been through during his many years in charge of civil affairs in Luanhe.

He was naturally aware of the great commotion caused by the old white ape back then, and immediately fell silent.

"If this time it succeeds, that would be best; if it fails, the only loss will be a ship and some pyrotechnic explosives that can't be moved."

that is"

Fu Juemin paused, then said softly, "This plan requires Uncle Tong's help. If he doesn't step in, it's all just empty talk."

Fu Guosheng sat at the table, his eyes flashing. After weighing his options for a moment, he turned and gave the order.

"Tell the kitchen to bring up a few more dishes, and then go and invite Li Tong over for me."

Fu Juemin wisely left.

Li Tong had already helped Song Lin a lot with his affairs, so he didn't owe Fu Juemin anything and Fu Juemin felt embarrassed to ask him for help again.

But to deal with this water monkey, only Li Tong could do it. After thinking it over, the only option was to ask his father to step in and see if Li Tong could help again.

Over the next two days, everything went much more smoothly than Fu Juemin had anticipated.

He had already prepared to stop the boat and go ashore at any time, but the water monkeys that had been hanging behind him never came to attack.

It had been shot before and knew that bullets were not very harmful to it, so even the loudest gunshots could not scare it away. But it had never seen a diesel engine before.

However, the deterrent effect brought by the diesel engine was also waning. Fu Juemin, who had been using [Listen] to monitor the water monkey, discovered that it was getting closer and closer to the ship.

Perhaps it was because Su Hui and her family had taken good care of things, or perhaps it was because the rebel army in the southwest was launching a major offensive against Yangping and Song Zhenyuan was too busy to help himself, and the news of Song Lin's death had not yet reached the provincial capital. The Fu family's journey across the eight water checkpoints on the Luan River, which took them three days to cross the province, was unimpeded.

They encountered almost no obstacles; any slight difficulties were easily resolved by bribing the person with money.

The small cargo ship worked day and night, and the journey, which was supposed to take more than three full days, arrived at the planned destination at around 2 a.m. on the third day.

The group quickly docked at a nearby abandoned wooden pier that had collapsed, and unloaded all their luggage under the starlight.

The group then split into two, with one group escorting Fu Guosheng and his female relatives and servants to take the land route directly to the Minjiang ferry.

The other group stayed behind to set up the scene and then waited with Fu Juemin for the water monkey to arrive.

3:45 AM.

About two hundred meters away from the river, Fu Juemin and Li Tong sat facing each other on a piece of land that had been temporarily cleared out.

A small table was set up between the two of them, with two sets of bowls and chopsticks, a dish of fried peanuts, and a small stove about the size of a palm on which yellow wine was bubbling.

The night was cold and frosty, and Fu Juemin wore a cloak. Behind him was a grove of trees, the poplars bare of leaves at this time of year. The night wind blew, and the whole grove was filled with the dry, sharp whistling of the wind whistling through the branches. The lamp on the table flickered, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, like a scene from a Republican-era ghost movie.

"Master."

From the direction of the dock, someone shouted to Fu Juemin from afar, "Everything is ready."

Fu Juemin's expression shifted, and he waved his hand to indicate that he understood. Then he picked up the hot wine from the stove on the table and solemnly filled the bowl in front of Li Tong.

"I've always wanted to sit down and have a proper talk with Uncle Tong, but I never expected it to happen on this day."

Fu Juemin picked up his chopsticks, took a peanut and put it in his mouth, then sipped some rice wine.

The wine was heated to just the right temperature. He never drank alcohol, but at this moment he felt it was very good for warming him up.

"What would you like to talk to me about, young master?"

Li Tong picked up the wine bowl in front of him, but didn't drink it. In the dim light of the kerosene lamp, Li Tong's face was as calm as still water.

Fu Juemin thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "Uncle Tong, have you ever heard of a folk saying?"
It is said that some people are born with the ability to see ghosts and spirits, which are invisible to ordinary people.

Li Tong raised his head slightly. "Young Master, are you going to tell me that you also have the ability to see ghosts?"

Fu Juemin shook his head and put down the wine bowl in his hand. "It's not quite the same. I can sense the aura of some evil spirits and demons."

Similarly, those things can also sense me.

This water monkey followed the boat the whole way, but only I knew in my heart that it was coming for me.

Oh, and there's more.

Fu Juemin paused for a moment, then added seriously, "This ability of mine wasn't innate; it suddenly appeared after I was shot in that car accident."

Fu Juemin stared into Li Tong's eyes, trying to find the slightest ripple in them, but he was disappointed; Li Tong seemed completely unmoved.

"Uncle Tong doesn't believe me?"

Fu Juemin sighed softly, picked up the glass of yellow wine in front of him and took a big gulp, then sighed again, "That's right... I didn't even dare to say these things to my father."

"I believe."

Fu Juemin was taken aback, but saw that Li Tong remained calm and said, "Since ancient times, chaotic times have produced many monsters. These monsters can give birth to mountain spirits and wild monsters, and naturally, demons and monsters can also emerge from people."

"Uncle Tong is treating me like a monster."

Fu Juemin chuckled self-deprecatingly, and as he spoke, he picked up the wine pot to refill Li Tong's cup.

Suddenly, Li Tong's words froze his hand in mid-air.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask, young master? Why don't you take this opportunity to ask all of them at once?"

A night breeze carrying moisture swept by, and even though he was wearing a cloak, Fu Juemin felt a chill seeping into his body.

The air seemed to suddenly freeze, and the crackling sound of the lamp wick burning inside the lampshade was exceptionally clear.

But soon, the oppressive atmosphere suddenly relaxed, and Li Tong spoke calmly: "My real name is Ji Shaotong. I was born in Shuanglin County, Shangguang Prefecture in the twelfth year of my life. I was chased all the way to Luanhe River, where I was seriously injured and on the verge of death. Then your father saved me."

"Tat-tat--"

The amber-colored liquor was poured into the bowl, creating a beautiful stream.

Fu Juemin withdrew his hand. In less than a breath, his back was already beaded with cold sweat, but he feigned surprise: "Uncle Tong actually has a real name? This is the first time I've heard of it..."
Why did Uncle Tong suddenly bring this up?

Li Tong ignored him and continued, "The martial arts sect I practice is called the Wuxiang Sect. It might have had some reputation in the past, but by the previous dynasty, it was already in decline, with a severe shortage of skilled practitioners. In today's martial arts world, it can only be considered a third-rate sect."
"I have some talent in martial arts. In my youth, I was hot-tempered and liked to fight, which offended many people."

“Over the years, even though I have been hiding in the Fu family under an assumed name, my old enemies still come knocking on my door from time to time.”

Li Tong paused slightly, his gaze suddenly falling on Fu Juemin's chest, and said calmly, "The bullet that Young Master was shot a few months ago, it's probably because of me."

As Fu Juemin listened to Li Tong's story, he was at a loss for words.

His original intention was to take this opportunity to test Li Tong a little and have a small "frank talk" with Uncle Tong.

Unexpectedly, Li Tong casually revealed all his secrets.

Although it's unclear how much of what he said was true and how much was false, it did make him seem somewhat dishonest.

(End of this chapter)