Chapter 40. Smile Well When You Can.

Hongshin was unable to move, pinned down by the acupoints that had been struck and bound tightly with ropes all over his body. The place was a dilapidated shed, a sight of utmost squalor. A sigh escaped him more readily than a feeling of fear. If he had gauged his opponent's character earlier, he would have fled long ago. Even amidst this situation, he continuously pondered what words he could use to persuade the mysterious man who was pretending to be the Black Cat Sect's leader, but no good ideas came to mind. This was because when he looked closely at the man’s eyes, he felt something strange.

‘He doesn’t seem like an ordinary madman.’

It was the first time Hongshin felt an unusual madness just by looking at someone’s eyes. It was also strange that this feeling didn’t seem like simple madness. There was a sense of arrogance mixed with confidence and pride. There was also a stubbornness that refused to listen to others. Was that all? There was an ambiguity in his eyes and tone, making it hard to tell if he was joking or serious.

In short, Hongshin concluded that he was not an ordinary madman. This conclusion was not just based on a glance but also from their martial arts confrontation and conversation.

However, a moment later, the person who suddenly appeared in the shed was not the fake Black Cat Sect leader but the Wall Chief, whom he had seen a few times before.

Hongshin, feeling a sense of foreboding, spoke up.

“Wall Chief, why are you here?”

The Wall Chief answered as he entered.

“I came by the order of the Sect Leader. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Knowing it’s rude, wouldn’t it be better to leave immediately?”

“Can someone who receives orders do that? I must do as I am told.”

Then, people entered, placed a small desk and chair, and left. The Wall Chief settled into his seat and took out a thin brush and paper.

Hongshin, startled, asked.

“What are you doing?”

The Wall Chief, holding the brush, smiled slyly.

“The Sect Leader ordered me to draw a detailed portrait of Hongshin’s face. What can an old man like me do? If I’m told to draw, I must. He’s a more terrifying person than you might think. Since I’m following orders, please don’t hate me too much.”

Hongshin shouted.

“Why my face!”

Suddenly, the Wall Chief looked like an old pervert to Hongshin.

The Wall Chief, holding the brush, measured the angles as if gauging the composition and replied.

“The Sect Leader said that if you suddenly run away or refuse to cooperate with the Black Cat Sect, he will hand over the portrait of your disfigured face to the Martial Alliance. Have you heard of the letter submission system in the Martial Alliance? It’s where such letters are sent. You’ve made a name for yourself as a thief, haven’t you? Stay still. I’ll draw you in detail. By the way, I’m not sure if I should say this...”

“What?”

“You have a very fine appearance.”

“Shut up!”

The Wall Chief, holding the brush, laughed like a madman.

“Hehehe, I mean it as an artistic compliment. Don’t misunderstand. I’ll start now.”

“Where are you looking!”

“How can I draw without looking? Just like how I draw a mountain when I see a mountain and water when I see water, I’ll draw you, the Sect Leader.”

Hongshin felt a chill run down his spine at the Wall Chief’s words.

“Wall Chief, call my senior brother.”

“He’ll come when it’s time after a nap. Don’t be impatient.”

“Hey!”

“No matter how high a Sect Leader you are, it’s unpleasant to hear informal speech from someone who is like a granddaughter to me. It’s very uncomfortable.”

“So what if it’s uncomfortable?”

Hongshin spoke out of anger, then regretted it. The Wall Chief, with a look of pity, threatened Hongshin.

“Should I draw your portrait naked?”

“...”

Hongshin finally shut his mouth. The Wall Chief smiled.

“Good. I was joking. I’ll finish it quickly, so don’t hate me too much. I have to do this to survive.”

The Wall Chief, holding the brush, carefully measured the angles and said.

“Let me give you some advice from my long life.”

“I don’t need it.”

Despite Hongshin’s refusal, the Wall Chief smiled and whispered to him in a small voice.

“As you might have noticed, the original Sect Leader is dead.”

Hongshin, swallowing hard, listened to the Wall Chief. The Wall Chief’s voice sounded eerie, like an old man guarding a mortuary hall alone.

“He didn’t even put up a proper resistance, flying into the wall and dying with all his bones shattered. There was no time to mourn. I wasn’t particularly sad. I didn’t like him much. By the way, I saw earlier that you only received a slap... Listen carefully when I talk. I haven’t fully grasped the new Sect Leader’s character yet. To be honest, I thought Hongshin would die with his limbs torn apart. Smile well when you can.”

The Wall Chief, looking away from the drawing, stared at Hongshin.

“Do you understand?”

Hongshin barely nodded. The Wall Chief, measuring the angles again with the brush, spoke in his usual voice.

“Good. The pose is perfect. Stay still.”

* * *

After a brief nap, I woke up to the loud sound of a whistle from the training ground, gave orders to Xiaojunping, and walked to the shed.

Hongshin, wearing the black robe I gave him, was sitting there with a dazed look.

I looked at Hongshin and the Wall Chief and said.

“What’s wrong? Why are you like this? Did you steal something again?”

Hongshin replied.

“No, I didn’t steal. Senior brother, you’re here.”

“Yeah.”

I glanced at the Wall Chief’s drawing, and he asked with a satisfied look.

“Sect Leader, how is it?”

I nodded vigorously.

“You’ve captured Sister Hong perfectly. Hahaha.”

“Thank you.”

“If Sister Hong acts arrogantly, copy this drawing multiple times and send it to the Martial Alliance, as well as to any sect or family that has heard of the thief. A bounty will be placed on her head.”

“Of course. I’ll do it.”

“Good. Go and do your work.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

I squatted down and met Hongshin’s eyes.

“Untie me?”

“Yes.”

“But the acupoints will be unblocked soon, so I can’t do that.”

Hongshin, with a resigned tone, said.

“Who are you? Your martial arts, movements, voice, and personality are different. Especially your eyes, the shape of your pupils, and your gaze are different from Senior Brother Miao.”

“Is it because you’re a thief? Your observational skills are impressive.”

“You can’t hide your identity with just a mask. Who are you to be so rude to the disciples of the Great Temple? Can you bear the wrath of the Master?”

“If I feared the Great Temple, I wouldn’t have done this in the first place. Sister Hong.”

“Don’t call me Sister.”

“Thief.”

“Call me Sister. Anyway, fake senior brother, you must have kept me alive because you need something from me. Money is the most important thing in my life. If the amount is sufficient, I can cooperate with your business.”

Hongshin, with a playful smile, continued. I, not one for beating around the bush, got straight to the point.

“I plan to kill the Great Temple’s Master.”

“...”

Hongshin’s expression suddenly darkened.

“The Great Temple’s Master is strong, stronger than what the martial world knows. He has hidden his true strength well. I think your skills are a bit lacking.”

“Consider that as reference. I’m a straightforward man. I just need to confirm if you have the intention to betray the Great Temple. Even if you say you will betray them here, I won’t believe you.”

“Then what should I do? If you won’t believe me even if I say I’ll betray them, what’s the point?”

“What’s the point? You need to either kill all the Twelve Sect Leaders or lock them in this shed and attack the Great Temple. It’s right to cut off the limbs before the main attack, isn’t it?”

“Like Senior Brother Miao?”

I stood up and replied.

“Do you want me to send you to the rabbit’s side?”

“No. Anyway, how long do you plan to keep me here?”

“Xiaojunping will soon bring a poison. Who do you think will drink it? Of course, it’s you, Sister Hong.”

Hongshin, turning pale, tried to placate me.

“Senior brother, please don’t. Give me an order. I’ll follow it thoroughly without betraying you. After all, you’ve already drawn my portrait.”

“Yeah. I don’t believe you.”

After all, the Twelve Sect Leaders are not to be trusted, and I know that every word a woman like this says is a lie.

At this moment, Xiaojunping entered with a black pill on a white cloth.

“Sect Leader, this is the Zixia Gu Du you mentioned.”

“Make him drink it.”

Xiaojunping, without a word, approached, opened Hongshin’s mouth, and put the Zixia Gu Du in. Xiaojunping, looking at Hongshin, asked me.

“What if he doesn’t swallow it?”

“Hit him until he does.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Hongshin swallowed the Zixia Gu Du. Hongshin, with a resigned look, said to me.

“Tell me. What do you want?”

Based on the content I remembered from the Twelve Sect Leaders’ strategy guide and my knowledge from my previous life, I gave the order.

“I’ll give you ten days. Come back by then to take the antidote. Kill Bai Zi, Huang Wu, and Lu Shu. Why these three?”

Hongshin, knowing the common traits of the three, said.

“They are notorious for their evil deeds, murder, and robbery. But it’s impossible to kill all three within ten days. Kill me now.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. With your skills, one is enough.”

“One?”

“I’ll give you the antidote if you bring me the head of one of the three within ten days. We’ll continue our conversation then. Untie him.”

Xiaojunping approached and untied the ropes. I, seeing Hongshin still stiff from the acupoints, said.

“You know the basics of assassination from your thieving skills. Honestly, if you set your mind to it, ten days is more than enough. After all, the Twelve Sect Leaders can engage in life-or-death battles without incurring the wrath of the Great Temple.”

“Why don’t you kill them yourself if you have the skills?”

“It’s inefficient for the commander to do what a subordinate can. Naturally, it’s up to Sister Hong.”

I finally released Hongshin’s acupoints. Hongshin, moving his neck, replied.

“Anyway, at least tell me who you are. I really can’t figure it out. Did you come from the Martial Alliance?”

“I’m a waiter from the next village.”

Xiaojunping, thinking I revealed my identity too quickly, looked at me in surprise.

“...!”

Hongshin replied.

“You don’t plan to tell me, do you? I understand. I’ll kill at least one of the three and come back, and we’ll talk then.”

Hongshin’s unexpected answer made Xiaojunping look at him in surprise.

“...!”

I stopped Hongshin, who was about to rush out of the shed.

“Sister.”

“Yes.”

“Do you like gambling?”

“Yes, I do.”

“When is the most thrilling moment in gambling?”

“When you win against the odds.”

I tied Hongshin’s interests and life direction to the thrill of gambling against the odds.

“No matter that you’ve taken the Zixia Gu Du, the decision is yours. You can stick with the Great Temple, get the antidote, and expose my identity. Waging war against me and winning won’t bring you much reward.”

Hongshin looked at me.

“What do I gain if the fake senior brother wins?”

“Not much.”

“If there’s not much to gain, why should I side with the fake senior brother?”

“The old Master makes his disciples bring young women, money, and kill or steal. You won’t have to see such ridiculous behavior anymore.”

“It’s hard to kill him because of the Four Guardian Sect Leaders and the guards.”

I poked Hongshin’s forehead with my finger and said.

“That’s why it’s against the odds. Think about it for ten days.”

“I’m going.”

Hongshin took a few steps, then suddenly used his lightness skill, leaped over the wall, and disappeared in an instant.

Xiaojunping, with a dubious look, asked me.

“Is it okay that you made the Zixia Gu Du so casually?”

“What did you make it with?”

“I just mixed some laxatives and digestive aids and kneaded them with my hands. He might have diarrhea while running.”

“Indeed, our Xiaojunping is thorough.”

“What if he realizes it’s not a real Gu Du?”

I lifted my mask and smiled.

“It’s fine. To a gambler, the true Gu Du is the thrill of gambling against the odds.”