San Batou’s Heart Set on Destroying the Sect

Throughout history, in palace intrigues, there have always been emperors, concubines, and crown princes who died under mysterious circumstances. The reason lies in these “secret recipes for food poisoning”!

To be precise, these secret recipes were actually meal plans. Each dish, from ingredients to preparation, had no issues when considered individually. But when one dish was eaten together with another, that’s when major problems arose!

All things have yin and yang properties. For example, male is yang, female is yin; daytime is yang, nighttime is yin; the sun is yang, the moon is yin; fire is yang, water is yin; clear skies are yang, rainy days are yin… Food is no exception! The most common example is a saying in Chinese medicine: “Eat radish in the evening and ginger in the morning, no need for a doctor’s prescription.” This speaks to the principle of health maintenance through diet. Why eat radish in the evening? Because night is yin, and in the evening, the body’s yang energy gradually subsides while yin energy returns. Radish happens to be yin in nature, so eating radish aligns with the circulation of yin energy within the body. Similarly, morning is when the body’s yang energy warms up again. Ginger has yang properties, so eating some ginger helps the body’s yang energy circulate—this is all the way of yin and yang! What if you eat them in reverse? Chinese medicine has another saying that answers the consequences of eating them backwards: “Eat ginger in the morning, protect your health; eat ginger in the evening, like arsenic!” This shows how terrifying it is to go against the way of yin and yang!

The meals Fengzi Shou had been eating for the past two months were all combinations of the Five Elements conflicting and counteracting each other. “Primordial Chaos Pork” combined with “Yin-Yang Water Chestnuts”—extreme yin colliding with extreme yang, water flooding and wood drifting, destroying the liver. “Aged Pickle Jar Chicken Shreds and Cucumber” combined with “Nine Yin Drunken Peanuts”—lesser yin clashing with old yang, excessive wood destroying metal, severing the lungs. “Three Yang Auspicious Dog Meat” combined with “Two-Color Secret Bean Dish”—old yang overpowering lesser yin, injuring the kidneys… Every seven days formed one cycle, taking turns ravaging the five viscera and six bowels.

This was using the energy of the Five Elements to kill someone! Killing in a sinister way, killing silently!

The food took effect slowly. At first, nothing seemed wrong. The person eating it would at most experience heartburn or diarrhea. In reality, at that point, the five viscera and six bowels were already being slowly damaged. The person sometimes felt fatigued and unable to cope, but generally attributed it to working hard and didn’t pay much attention. Over time, as the vital energy of the five viscera was completely depleted, the human body would instantly lose its yin-yang balance. Human life exists between yin and yang. When yin and yang are balanced, a person lives; when yin and yang collapse, the mild case is illness, the severe case is death!

Fengzi Shou had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a strong physique. When he first started eating these meals, he felt a bit uncomfortable but didn’t take it seriously, and he even continued practicing martial arts. This made things worse. When practicing boxing, one needs to circulate qi. His blood and qi throughout his body were already in chaos, yet he forced himself to hold his breath and circulate it. This was like hitting hardness with hardness. The tragic thing was that the battlefield was his own body.

Finally, one day while practicing boxing, he suddenly felt chest tightness and actually coughed up blood. Within a few days, he began losing hair and eyebrows. By the time he saw a doctor, he was already terminally ill! That’s why the doctor determined that all his organs had failed, but couldn’t find the cause—because no one would think that eating could kill someone!

Listening to Wang Jiaxian explain this deadly recipe, Zu Ye slapped the table with a bang, stood up, and cursed loudly: “Bastards! Bastards!” I could hear Zu Ye’s voice trembling!

Wang Jiaxian was so frightened that he pressed his head to the ground, pleading bitterly: “Zu Ye, spare my life! Zu Ye, spare my life!”

Zu Ye was quite clever. Ever since Qian Yuelin came to the headquarters, he had been on guard everywhere, but he never expected him to devise such a poisonous scheme! Later, when I accompanied Zu Ye to Liu Batou’s kitchen, Zu Ye sensed that perhaps there was a problem with this menu.

Actually, at that time, Zu Ye wasn’t certain whether it was a problem with the recipe, which is why the next day he invited everyone to dinner in the form of “food salary.” Qian Yuelin, San Batou, and others never dreamed that Zu Ye would take interest in an inconspicuous menu! Because Fengzi Shou changed menus multiple times every season, year after year. He’d been doing this for over ten years. This newly added menu—even Fengzi Shou himself hadn’t noticed it. But Zu Ye noticed it. That’s why he was Zu Ye.

San Batou and the others had guilty consciences. They understood that Fengzi Shou, with such a strong physique, was put in a coffin within two months. With their physiques, they’d probably be done for after eating just a few times. Even if they didn’t die, they’d fall seriously ill. Now that Zu Ye had laid out the dishes, they couldn’t refuse to eat—refusing would expose them. They understood that as long as they didn’t eat the dishes in combination, they’d be fine. So each person ate only one dish, or only ate dishes with consistent yin-yang properties. This detail didn’t escape Zu Ye’s eyes. When he returned, he told me about it, and also told Da Batou, Er Batou, and Si Batou.

San Batou, Qian Yuelin, and others thought they could muddle through after eating the dishes. They didn’t expect that the next day, Zu Ye would demand to continue the “food salary,” and moreover said they would continue the “food salary” for a full month. During the banquet, San Batou, Qian Yuelin, and others discovered that the other Batous besides them were also only eating one dish each. They felt that the matter had already been exposed!

At this critical juncture, Zu Ye used a delaying tactic. He deliberately brought up the topic of supplementing with new Batous. First, to confuse San Batou and others, making them unclear whether Zu Ye truly suspected or was still kept in the dark. Second, to use San Batou’s hand to draw out other unstable elements. Thus “Little Shi Qian” was drawn out.

Wang Jiaxian then revealed another even greater conspiracy. It turned out this group had arranged things this way: After eliminating Fengzi Shou, Qin Baichuan would immediately send a letter to Zu Ye, saying there was big business to be done in Sichuan, requesting Zu Ye’s cooperation in setting up a scheme. They would lure Zu Ye to Sichuan, then create a scheme within a scheme, making Zu Ye die under mysterious circumstances. At the same time, Qian Yuelin and San Batou would lead Wu Batou, Qi Batou, and Little Shi Qian, who had been bought off long ago, to rebel at home. With Fengzi Shou already dead, getting rid of Da Batou, Er Batou, and Si Batou wouldn’t be a problem. Inside and outside cooperation—thoroughly, completely, cleanly wiping out the Eastern Sect!

Zu Ye asked: “Through what means was the menu delivered to Liu Ye’s kitchen?”

Wang Jiaxian said: “We controlled Liu Ye’s cook. If he didn’t cooperate, we’d kill his parents. He was forced to defect.”

Zu Ye shouted loudly: “Da Batou, go immediately and cut down Cook Wang for me!”

Da Batou said: “Yes!” He picked up his gun and was about to leave when Zu Ye said again: “Pass word to Er Batou—he can launch the attack now!” After Da Batou received the order, he left with two Xiao Jiaos. Before long, a muffled gunshot came from the distance, immediately followed by a barrage of gunfire, crackling and popping in a mass.

Shortly after, Da Batou returned and said to Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, Cook Wang committed suicide. He left a letter.”

Zu Ye looked at it. The letter was full of remorseful words, meaning he had been forced into it against his will and had no face to continue living. After reading it, Zu Ye said: “Treat his parents well.”

Wang Jiaxian continued: “Qian Yuelin and San Batou know that Zu Ye has seen through them. They’re going to strike first tomorrow! Fight to mutual destruction! Dozens of brothers at the headquarters have been turned by them! The opera house has already been planted with their ambush! I feel that Zu Ye’s kindness to me is as weighty as a mountain. I couldn’t bear it, so I secretly came to report…”

Before he finished speaking, several Xiao Jiaos carried in a large sack from outside. After entering the room, they shook the sack open, and with a crash, a pile of human heads rolled out.

I was so scared I nearly cried out. More than ten human heads, all bloody, some still with their eyes open.

Zu Ye pointed at the dozen or so heads on the ground and said coldly: “The people who ambushed in the opera house are all here.”

Wang Jiaxian was shocked: “This… Zu Ye, this…”

Zu Ye turned and sat in his chair: “Da Tou, make tea!”

I was stunned. At a time like this, Zu Ye still had the mind to drink tea?

“Are you deaf?” Zu Ye shouted again.

I hurriedly walked around the heads on the ground, went to the tea table, and with trembling hands took out Longjing tea and brewed it for Zu Ye.

Zu Ye drank slowly. As he drank, he squinted his eyes, thinking about something, or perhaps waiting for something. The room was completely silent, with occasional bursts of gunfire in the distance.

After about half an hour, the gunfire gradually subsided. Before long, Er Batou ran in sweating: “Zu Ye, it’s over. Qian Yuelin committed suicide. The others have been captured.”

I looked into the courtyard. Jiang Feiyan was holding a gun, and several A’Baos were pushing San Batou, Wu Batou, and the newly appointed Liu Batou “Little Shi Qian,” all bound tightly, into the room.

“Kneel down!” Er Batou shouted.

San Batou, Wu Batou, and Little Shi Qian all knelt before Zu Ye.

Holding the teapot, I quietly watched them. All three had sweat on their foreheads, and San Batou had blood on his face.

Zu Ye took a sip of tea and said: “Do you have anything else to say?”

San Batou raised his head: “Zu Ye, give me a quick death!”

Zu Ye sighed, slowly stood up, slowly walked to San Batou, stroked his head and said: “Old San, in your next life, don’t be so clever again…” Suddenly, Zu Ye raised his hand and then struck down. With a thud, San Batou’s body stiffened, fell to the ground, and died. Zu Ye had driven a spike into the back of his head.

When Wu Batou and Little Shi Qian saw this, they desperately kowtowed: “Zu Ye, spare our lives!”

Zu Ye raised his head and said with sadness: “You’ve followed me for so many years. If I’ve done anything inappropriate, you can bring it up. Why were you bewitched by San Batou! Brotherhood is like flesh and blood. Cutting you off is equivalent to severing my own arms and also cutting off the headquarters’ source of income! You should behave yourselves from now on!”

When Wu Batou and Little Shi Qian heard these words, tears immediately fell. “Zu Ye! We’re sorry to you!” They kowtowed repeatedly, banging until blood flowed. “Thank you for Zu Ye’s mercy in not killing us!”

How could they know this was Zu Ye’s delaying tactic? Originally, the headquarters was already in turmoil during that period. Having just moved from Jianghuai to Guangdong, and because of this internal war, dozens more brothers had died. To kill so many more Batous would be to damage one’s own vital energy.

Many years later, I asked Wang Jiaxian why he had a change of heart at that time. Wang Jiaxian only said one sentence: “A person who dares to kill even his own boss—how could I have a good ending following him? Old San’s heart was too dark.” Recalling this thrilling past event again, I still had to admire Zu Ye’s wisdom and ruthlessness.

He was actually able to become suspicious of a menu, then through the form of “food salary” test his hypothesis. During the banquet, he kept releasing ambiguous, inscrutable remarks, observing everyone’s reactions. After the truth leaked out, he released smoke screens. First, he satisfied San Batou’s request to promote Little Shi Qian, then deliberately said he was going to the opera house to watch a performance, delaying time. Actually, during this period, he was intensely deploying troops and arranging his forces. To prevent San Batou’s group from desperately rushing into the mansion to kill him, he first armed Da Batou’s most loyal guard closest to him and hid them in the mansion. He also dispatched Er Batou to gather his subordinates and Si Batou’s people to surround the residences of San Batou, Qian Yuelin, and others. More importantly, he gained Jiang Feiyan’s support. Jiang Feiyan had entrenched herself in South Yue for decades and knew all the waterways and land routes in and out of the city like the back of her hand. She helped Zu Ye lay ambushes everywhere. Zu Ye said: “Not a single person can escape!”

As a result, when Qian Yuelin fled with his gun and several Xiao Jiaos, he was blocked at the dock. After a firefight, seeing that the situation was hopeless, Qian Yuelin swallowed his bullet and committed suicide.

More importantly, the Xiao Jiao who was delivering the letter to Qin Baichuan of the Western Sect was also captured alive. Because the situation had changed dramatically in the past few days, completely disrupting San Batou, Qian Yuelin, and Qin Baichuan’s previous schemes. Seeing that he couldn’t proceed according to plan, Qian Yuelin hastily wrote a letter and dispatched someone to tell Qin Baichuan that the plan had been exposed. He planned to escape by sea, detour through Guangxi, then enter Sichuan, and requested Qin Baichuan’s assistance.

Only after Zu Ye read this letter did he understand: San Batou, confident in his own cleverness, had been played by Qian Yuelin. Qian Yuelin had incited San Batou, Wu Batou, and Qi Batou to fight desperately with Zu Ye, but his own plan was to escape in the chaos. He never intended to fight desperately alongside San Batou.

By capturing the messenger, Zu Ye seized control of the entire situation. Zu Ye ordered a complete information blackout! He immediately had Si Batou, who was skilled at imitating handwriting, rewrite a letter in the same handwriting and tone as Qian Yuelin, telling Qin Baichuan: “Everything is going smoothly. Proceed according to plan.”

Zu Ye wanted to continue this scheme until he eliminated Qin Baichuan!

Zu Ye was so clever, so strategic. I often wondered, was Zu Ye satisfied with himself? I don’t think he was. Despite his cleverness, his beloved Little Liu Zi still died right under his nose. Despite his cleverness, San Batou still rebelled, and dozens of brothers from his painstakingly managed headquarters died all at once. Despite his cleverness, when war broke out, he still had to flee with his brothers everywhere. In the dramatic changes of history and the cruel corridor of fate, I discovered for the first time that Zu Ye was also so fragile.

This internal struggle made Zu Ye age considerably all at once. During that period, my heart ached when I saw him. Jiang Feiyan sent people to deliver the finest bird’s nest to him, but he couldn’t eat it. So Jiang Feiyan invited him to watch opera. In short, during that period, Jiang Feiyan often came to Zu Ye’s mansion to chat with him.

Actually, initially, when Jiang Feiyan helped Zu Ye, it was for love. She loved Zu Ye, and also to repay a debt of gratitude—Zu Ye had saved her life twice. When Qi Batou Wang Jiaxian revealed that Qian Yuelin and others wanted to plunder her territory and divide up the sisters in her headquarters, only then did she realize this was also helping herself.

Jiang Feiyan always had a quality that captivated all men. Her icy gaze, far from creating distance between her and men, always aroused in men the desire to melt her.

Everyone in the underworld knew about “South Yue’s Single Flower.” Back in the day it was Qiao Wu Mei; after Qiao Wu Mei’s death it was Jiang Feiyan. People in the underworld joked: “After the Fifth Lady comes Elder Sister Yan. The Lady beats the Sister in looks by three parts, but the Sister surpasses the old Lady with a trace of fragrance.” This meant that in terms of appearance, Qiao Wu Mei was slightly superior to Jiang Feiyan, but Jiang Feiyan had an advantage no other woman could match—she had a natural body fragrance. Even without powder or cosmetics, when she walked past you, she would trail a faint fragrance.

Actually, both Qiao Wu Mei and Jiang Feiyan were beauties among beauties, the finest of the finest. The characteristics of female A’Baos determined that the sect leader had to be beautiful, because they had to set up schemes, conduct public relations, and employ honey traps. Ugly women simply couldn’t get on stage.

When Qiao Wu Mei died that year, hundreds of local gang members surrounded the headquarters. Zu Ye used the “besieging Wei to rescue Zhao” strategy to cleverly resolve the crisis, making Jiang Feiyan fall for Zu Ye at first sight. But Zu Ye never accepted this affection, always treating her with utmost respect. At that time, Jiang Feiyan was 31 years old, Zu Ye was 30. For over ten years, Jiang Feiyan had been pining for Zu Ye, but Zu Ye always kept an elusive distance.

This was all told to me by Er Batou when we were drinking together. Later, even Qi Batou said the same.

Jiang Feiyan set a rule for her headquarters: female A’Baos were absolutely forbidden to marry. Er Batou said this was abnormal. After the founding of New China, when we Batous got out of prison, when Qi Batou and I were drinking and talked about these matters again, Qi Batou said: “The no-marriage rule was said for the A’Baos to hear. It was for the benefit of the headquarters. People aren’t crude wood—who can be without feelings? She secretly loved Zu Ye for so many years, and Zu Ye never reciprocated. She was the most miserable one.”

Female A’Baos were indeed all miserable, especially the sect leader. Though on the surface they wore gold and silver and appeared dignified and noble, all that was earned with their bodies and brains. Jiang Feiyan dedicated her youth to the “Jiang Xiang Sect,” controlling “Yuehai Hall” for twenty years. To outsiders, she seemed glorious and magnificent, but in reality, she swallowed her broken teeth—only she knew the bitterness.

Two months later, she helped Zu Ye eliminate Qin Baichuan. Then she spoke to Zu Ye the words deepest in her heart, words that made Zu Ye shed tears. After speaking, she left, completely and utterly left, leaving the mainland, leaving “Yuehai Hall” for which she had struggled for decades. In the spring of 1987, she died of illness in Taiwan.

Feigning to Fall for the Trap, Heading to Sichuan

Because Zu Ye blocked the information and sent false letters, Qin Baichuan had been kept in the dark the entire time.

More than half a month later, Qin Baichuan sent someone to deliver a letter, inviting Zu Ye to Sichuan to set up a scheme. Of course Zu Ye agreed. Zu Ye had Da Batou, Er Batou, and Si Batou guard the home. He only brought one person—me. This was Zu Ye’s final test of my courage. Since following Zu Ye, he had successively tested my patience, lust, greed for money, kindness, and courage. Perhaps a person who wasn’t greedy for money, wasn’t lustful, and had courage was his final choice for entrusting his affairs.

Zu Ye’s schemes could never be fathomed. On the westward journey to Sichuan, Zu Ye said to me: “Da Tou, this trip will either succeed or we’ll die trying.”

I said to Zu Ye: “Why not bring more brothers?”

Zu Ye said: “The fewer, the safer.”

I didn’t understand what “the fewer, the safer” meant. I stopped talking.

Zu Ye looked at me and said: “Afraid?”

I said: “Not afraid, just uncertain in my heart.”

Zu Ye smiled: “Da Tou, after following me for so long, do you regret it?”

My heart felt a pang of emotion. I said: “Zu Ye, I have no regrets. For all this time, Zu Ye has treated me with kindness as weighty as a mountain. Instead, it’s me who’s been disappointing, coming to the headquarters for so long yet never able to share Zu Ye’s worries and sorrows.”

Zu Ye looked at me, sighed and said: “The one who should feel guilty is me, Zu Ye. I often think, you were doing fine at the teahouse before. Though poor, your days were peaceful. Following me, you inevitably have to live in fear. I don’t know where I’ll lead you. I often think, if I weren’t in this line of business, how wonderful it would be if you followed me.”

Looking at Zu Ye’s graying temples, I felt a sourness in my heart for no reason: “Zu Ye, this is what they call fate.”

Zu Ye pondered for a while and said: “Da Tou, if you had a chance to leave, where would you choose?”

I was startled: “Leave? Go where?”

Zu Ye gave a long sigh: “Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nanyang—all possible. Now many brothers from the underworld are fleeing abroad. After settling down, they’ve all sent letters asking me to leave. I can’t leave. My affairs aren’t finished yet…” Saying this, Zu Ye fell silent for a moment. “If it’s possible… if one day when I leave, would you be willing to go with me?”

When I heard this, tears nearly fell. This wasn’t about whether I was willing—it was that Zu Ye hadn’t abandoned me. Everyone knew that fleeing abroad wasn’t easy. For someone like me, with no money and no skills, with no one to receive me there, even if I fled over, life would be very difficult.

I knew Zu Ye’s heart was very troubled and conflicted. After coming to South Yue, the climate and conditions didn’t suit him, business wasn’t going well, Fengzi Shou had died, San Batou had died, dozens of brothers from the headquarters had died, and now heading west to Sichuan to face Qin Baichuan—victory or defeat was uncertain… In those days of turbulent times and uncertain future, Zu Ye showed his hesitation for the first time.

Actually, that period was also the most hesitant period for all of China. To go or to stay became a great affliction in many people’s hearts. After the People’s Liberation Army crossed the Yangtze River with overwhelming force, Old Chiang’s situation was hopeless. Under the Kuomintang’s negative propaganda, many people wavered. Before and after the founding of New China in 1949, over a million people fled with their entire families.

Among them were remnant Kuomintang soldiers and defeated generals who followed Chiang Kai-shek, wealthy merchants, underworld bosses, bandits from the southwest, and some common people who didn’t understand the truth. Where did they flee? Taiwan, Hong Kong, Nanyang, and places all over the world.

Especially those underworld bosses—they understood that when the Communist Party came, the Communist Party was fighting for the common people. Their days of tyrannizing the common people were gone forever.

Zu Ye was also underworld. His hands were stained with blood, and he had money. So he had the necessity to flee, and also the capital to flee.

On August 2nd, Zu Ye and I arrived in Sichuan. I saw the legendary Qin Baichuan for the first time—tall, with a full beard, very much having the bearing of a grandmaster. Seeing us arrive, he happily extended his hand in welcome: “Zu Ye, my good brother!”

Zu Ye also happily said: “Qin Ye, I trust you’ve been well!”

That evening, Qin Baichuan hosted a banquet. During the meal, he explained to Zu Ye the plan for setting up this scheme.

He said this time they’d set up a big scheme to relieve the current financial shortage of the major headquarters. He said he’d been laying this scheme for five years. The target was a major bandit from western Sichuan.

Bandits were a special group in modern China. After the Xinhai Revolution, when the Qing Dynasty fell and Kuomintang rule was ineffective, China fell into a period of great chaos with warlord separatism. In this environment, bandits occupying mountains and declaring themselves kings appeared everywhere throughout the country.

Bandits generally came from two sources. One type was wealthy landowners who had money, recruited soldiers and horses, pulled together troops—internally for self-protection, externally to oppress the common people. The other type was bullies and desperados from secret societies, including poor people who took desperate risks. These people banded together, putting their heads on the line to do their work. Over time, they gradually gained power.

Bandits were also quite interesting. After pulling together troops, they established their own organization. The bandit chief called himself “Commander,” with “Regiment Commanders” and “Brigade Commanders” and such below him—though actually they didn’t have many people under them.

Worth mentioning is that among bandits were some righteous bandits. Although righteous bandits also engaged in robbery and plunder, they only robbed the wealth of evil people. “Rob the rich to help the poor” was their principle. The Northeast horse bandit Zhang Baima was a famous righteous bandit in modern history. His troops had strict discipline—they weren’t allowed to kill the poor, weren’t allowed to kill revolutionaries, weren’t allowed to rape women, and weren’t allowed to oppress the common people.

This bandit Qin Baichuan spoke of had entrenched himself in western Sichuan for decades and, along with several famous bandit chiefs from western Guizhou and western Yunnan, was called one of the Five Tigers of the Southwest. He was a genuine scoundrel. Qin Baichuan said: “I’ve been watching this bastard for a long time. His family fortune is several million. He now trusts me completely. Recently he wants to relocate his ancestral graves. We’ll set up a feng shui scheme for him together.”

Zu Ye asked: “Why relocate the graves?”

Qin Baichuan said: “To change his fortune and pray for blessings, I suppose. The Liberation Army has already crossed the Yangtze River. Even Old Chiang’s fate is uncertain. After the Communist Party comes, can bandits still have good days?”

Zu Ye smiled and said: “Why doesn’t he flee?”

Qin Baichuan said: “The situation is still undecided. Who can guarantee Old Chiang won’t make a comeback?”

This statement by Qin Baichuan revealed the contradictory mentality of the domestic reactionary clique at that time. To flee—with such a large family and business, moving was equivalent to a disaster, and moreover, one’s homeland is hard to leave, whether you’re a good person or a bad person. Not to flee—having committed so many evil deeds, one would always be held accountable eventually.

At the same time, Old Chiang vigorously promoted “strategic counteroffensive” at the Southeast Military Conference, coming up with the slogan “Six months of reorganization, one year of counteroffensive, three years of success!” The result was that he never succeeded until his death. What he never understood was that he had abandoned the masses and stood in opposition to the people.

Actually, the domestic situation was very unstable at that time. Even after the founding of New China on October 1, 1949, nearly one-third of China’s territory still harbored large numbers of remnant Kuomintang troops. In some coastal areas, such as the Zhoushan Archipelago, Kuomintang air force garrisons remained. Besides these regular troops, many places throughout the country still concealed large numbers of bandits and special agents who sought opportunities to engage in major sabotage and assassinations, vainly attempting to subvert the socialist New China. In February 1950 alone, the Kuomintang air force entrenched in Zhoushan dispatched 17 sorties of aircraft to bomb Shanghai’s urban area, killing and injuring over a thousand citizens and destroying the power plant and numerous residential buildings.

Zu Ye smiled and said to Qin Baichuan: “With Qin Ye’s abilities, you could take down the target yourself.”

Qin Baichuan said: “Not so! No matter how well I do it myself, it’s not as good as Zu Ye appearing in person. Chinese people all believe that ‘monks from afar chant sutras better.’ The less they know, the more mysterious it is. I’ve been in Sichuan for so many years, true and false, false and true—they can no longer tell whether I have real skills or fake skills. If the money goes directly into my pocket, it’s easy to arouse suspicion. Moreover, this bandit and I are sworn brothers. Just as a doctor cannot treat his own family, this major matter of relocating ancestral graves is better handled by an outsider!”

Zu Ye laughed heartily: “Qin Ye, brilliant! I admire you! However, since Qin Ye and the other party are sworn brothers, you’ve taken an oath to heaven together. Setting up this scheme—aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution?”

Qin Baichuan smiled: “When did Zu Ye become so tenderhearted? You and I are the blood brothers who made a pact. Everyone else is just part of the scheme!”

Zu Ye clasped his fists: “Well said!”

The next day, after Zu Ye dressed appropriately, he followed Qin Baichuan to that bandit’s home.

I held the compass, following closely behind Zu Ye. I knew Zu Ye was always prepared for anything, but this time, I couldn’t see where his backup plan was. I had always thought there would be someone here to receive us, but until now, it was still just the two of us. Two people against Qin Baichuan and a gang of bandits—this was like sheep entering a tiger’s den.

Thinking of this, I actually felt more relaxed. Having followed Zu Ye, I had entrusted him with life and death. If he unfortunately met with disaster, I would die with him. A younger brother dying with his boss—there were no regrets in that.

So throughout the journey I remained very calm. After entering the door, I acted very proactively, helping Zu Ye pull out his chair, letting Zu Ye sit down. When the other party’s servants offered tea, like a bodyguard, I kept them three steps away, took the tea, and only after Qin Baichuan and the bandit had both lifted their teacups and drunk did I hand it to Zu Ye. I was afraid the tea might be poisoned.

Later Zu Ye said to me: “Da Tou, at that moment, I felt you had truly grown up.” These words warmed my heart. After following Zu Ye and eating for free for so long, I could finally do something for him.

Actually, all that was unnecessary. Qin Baichuan wouldn’t let Zu Ye die in such a manner. If Zu Ye died like that, Qin Baichuan would be too lacking in sophistication. Qin Baichuan wanted to create a grand spectacle, to make a scheme within a scheme, to make the brothers from the four great headquarters of East, South, West, and North feel that Zu Ye deserved to die, that his death was justified. That way, after Zu Ye’s death, he could appear with an innocent and benevolent face and properly clean up the aftermath.

Qin Baichuan’s Chain of Schemes

What Qin Baichuan was best at was making schemes within schemes, one layer nested in another, true and false, false and true. He hid behind conspiracies, observing everything like watching a fire. When the time was ripe, he would suddenly break the scheme and strike. Those who schemed with him died without knowing how they died.

The scheme within a scheme he was most proud of in his life was taking down his teacher Liu Congyun.

Liu Congyun could also be considered an old fox, but the old fox lost to the young fox, and moreover lost with complete conviction.

What kind of person was Liu Congyun? An extraordinary man! A towering figure in the Western con artist circle! Born in the ninth year of Guangxu’s reign, he called himself “White Crane Master.” At 18, he joined “Dragon’s Whisker Sprout” and created his own “Consistent Primordial Great Way.” After the Western Sect leader Duan Jinshan died, he inherited the position. In 1922, when “Mu Zi Lian” headquarters leader Zhang Dancheng died, he personally led Western Sect disciples to pay their respects. Among them was Qin Baichuan.

In his later years, Zhang Dancheng often told Zu Ye: “Among the four great headquarters of East, South, West, and North, the Western Sect’s Liu Congyun is doing the best now. This man has great ambitions. Being an A’Bao is not his ultimate goal. His aim is military and political power. Just watch—within a few years, he will definitely infiltrate the military.”

“Liu Congyun is someone you should neither get too close to nor stay too far from. There are many things about him worth learning. He’s devious and cunning, extraordinarily clever, versed in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, has a photographic memory, and possesses unobstructed debating talent. You must respect him and guard against him. Never make an enemy of him! At least for now, you’re not his match yet.” Zhang Dancheng said to Zu Ye with concern.

Zhang Dancheng was right. Liu Congyun was indeed a legend. This person had thoroughly read the Four Books and Five Classics, deeply understood the way of yin and yang, had been a private tutor in his early years, and was skilled at capturing people’s psychological weaknesses.

Over the years, he had observed that the “King of Sichuan,” the great warlord Liu Xiang, was someone who deeply believed in ghosts and spirits, so he seized the opportunity to make his move. After several self-recommendations, Liu Xiang didn’t bite. Later, although he adopted some of his suggestions, he never entrusted him with military power.

Liu Xiang could also be considered a legendary figure in modern Chinese history. He had entrenched himself in Sichuan for decades, and his military talents and political skills were quite ruthless. Even Old Chiang gave him some respect. But this person had one weakness—he was too superstitious.

In 1932, the Kuomintang Military Committee appointed Liu Xiang as commander of the 21st Army. At this time, Liu Xiang was fiercely battling with another great Sichuan warlord, Liu Wenhui, and was desperately seeking talented people. Liu Congyun made his move again. This fully demonstrated his extraordinary ability to observe the situation. Because recently, the Sichuan Army’s 29th Army and 28th Army had allied with Liu Xiang’s 21st Army in Tongchuan. Liu Xiang’s strength had suddenly increased. Liu Congyun keenly grasped this political wind direction.

Liu Congyun said to Liu Xiang: “Recently, I have been diligently practicing the art of Qimen Dunjia. I can deploy troops from the nine heavens above and establish camps hidden in the nine depths below. I can train divine soldiers for the General to assist the General in unifying his great enterprise!”

But Liu Xiang was no fool. You say you can train divine soldiers—why not give you an army? Next time in battle with Liu Wenhui, your army will charge at the very front. Let’s see if they’re truly invincible divine soldiers.

Thus, in autumn 1932, Liu Congyun instigated Liu Xiang to launch the “Pacification Campaign” attacking warlord Liu Wenhui.

Liu Congyun volunteered, requesting to lead the 3,000 divine soldiers he had trained as the vanguard. Before the battle erupted, Liu Congyun had every divine soldier drink “Heaven-Bestowed Holy Water” and sewed protective talismans into their clothes. In the chilly autumn wind, Liu Congyun stood before the formation, shouting loudly: “Drink the holy water, and ghosts and demons cannot invade! Divine talismans protect the body, impervious to swords and spears! Even bullets cannot penetrate!”

Under his shouting, several thousand desperados marched mightily toward Chengdu. Later, after tremendous effort, they finally stormed into Chengdu.

Liu Xiang was overjoyed. After entering Chengdu, he spent thirty thousand silver dollars to purchase the large mansion at No. 32 Sanhuaishu Street in Chengdu. After luxurious renovation, as a generous gift, he gave it to Liu Congyun. Liu Congyun truly became a military strategist wielding military power.

Actually, the victory of this battle had nothing to do with divine soldiers. Liu Congyun was versed in military strategy. Before the battle, he conducted detailed analysis and comparison of the various forces on both sides. During combat, he specifically attacked the opponent’s weak points. As for his claim that the divine soldiers were impervious to swords and spears—that was all nonsense. Those 3,000 people had been brainwashed, equivalent to a suicide squad. When the war broke out, they charged forward recklessly. As a result, more than half died in the hail of bullets. Liu Congyun stood on a hill holding his gun, shouting: “Abandon your mortal bodies, let your souls ascend! Good for deploying troops in the nine heavens above!” Meaning, these weren’t dead people—the soldiers were putting down their mortal bodies, their souls leaving to fight in the air. This was land-air amphibious warfare. After the battle ended, he even pretended to summon the souls of the dead.

This battle could achieve a lucky victory because, in the end, Liu Xiang’s forces at that time were stronger than Liu Wenhui’s. In other words, Liu Congyun gambled and won. He had the courage of an A’Bao and the boldness of a politician. For his political dream, he gambled. Therefore, he reached the pinnacle of his career.

Facing Liu Congyun’s steady rise, Qin Baichuan watched anxiously. Logically, Qin Baichuan was personally brought up by Liu Congyun and was his favored disciple. When the master prospered, the disciple should be happy. Not so—there was a contradiction here: a femme fatale.

In the “Dragon’s Whisker Sprout” headquarters, there was a female A’Bao who joined at the same time as Qin Baichuan. She was Qin Baichuan’s junior martial sister.

This female A’Bao was named Jiang Bizhu, a typical Sichuan beauty, delicate skin and tender flesh, her laughter like silver bells. Qin Baichuan was big, had a strong physique, excessive hormone secretion, and had long been drooling over Jiang Bizhu.

Unexpectedly, that old fellow Liu Congyun also took a fancy to Jiang Bizhu. He often used the excuse of teaching the way and exchanging energy to bring Jiang Bizhu into his room to indulge in lust. How could the disciple compete for the person the master had set his sights on? So Qin Baichuan kept waiting, waiting for his master to take a great fall, then he would replace him.

If Jiang Bizhu had wholeheartedly followed Liu Congyun, that would have been one thing. But on one hand, she wanted to win Liu Congyun’s favor to gain her maximum benefits in the headquarters. On the other hand, Liu Congyun was old after all, not as young as Qin Baichuan, not as handsome as Qin Baichuan, and moreover, Qin Baichuan was Liu Congyun’s most favored disciple. After Liu Congyun’s death, Qin Baichuan would after all be the successor. So she didn’t dare offend Qin Baichuan either. Thus she always found opportunities to seduce Qin Baichuan, wiping tears and saying she had no choice—who dared disobey the old man’s orders?

Later, Liu Congyun became aware of this. He felt this woman was a disaster and decided to eliminate her. Liu Congyun was someone who wanted to accomplish great things—how could he let a woman ruin his prospects!

Eliminating Jiang Bizhu also cut Qin Baichuan’s heart. Liu Congyun thought that with the disaster gone, the headquarters should be united. But he didn’t know Qin Baichuan had already developed rebellious intentions! Qin Baichuan finally understood the difference between number one and number two. Number two was below one person, above ten thousand. No matter how strong number two was, he was still the ten-thousand-and-first person under number one. As long as number one existed, number two had to keep his head bowed forever.

Thus, Qin Baichuan waited for the opportunity to scheme against his master.

At that time, it happened to coincide with the Kuomintang’s encirclement and suppression of the Red Army. Due to Wang Ming’s “left” dogmatism, the Red Army’s Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaign failed, and the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was forced to begin the 25,000-li Long March.

Qin Baichuan said to Liu Congyun: “Master, now is the time for you to climb to an even higher level. Old Chiang has set up an inescapable net. After the Communist army broke through four defense lines, they’ve been reduced from the initial 80,000 to 30,000. You must seize this opportunity. Lead our divine soldiers to actively attack. If you can make great contributions in the suppression of the Communists and gain Old Chiang’s appreciation, you can then break free from Liu Xiang’s control. You could establish your own domain, receive promotions and honors—wouldn’t that be better?”

Liu Congyun stroked his beard and smiled: “You are truly my beloved disciple, promising. These years of cultivating you haven’t been in vain. Your master has exactly this intention.”

So Liu Congyun actively applied to participate in Liu Xiang’s suppression of the Red Army and even obtained the title of “Chairman of the Sichuan Bandit Suppression Military Committee.”

Actually, Qin Baichuan understood that the Communist Party was different from the Kuomintang. They weren’t like the Kuomintang who feared death. They had lofty beliefs, powerful cohesion, and super-strong combat ability. Even Old Chiang couldn’t handle them—what was Liu Congyun worth?

How could Liu Congyun not know this reasoning? But once a person becomes intoxicated with success, he easily loses the most basic judgment. If this had been a few years earlier, he definitely would have thought deeply. But in recent years, things had gone too smoothly for him. Success had already gone to his head. He truly thought he was invincible.

As a result, upon engaging with the Red Army, Liu Congyun was thoroughly defeated. Especially after the Zunyi Conference in 1935, when Mao Zedong took military command, with his divine military strategies, he broke through the Kuomintang’s multiple encirclements, marched northward, and victoriously joined forces with Liu Zhidan in northern Shaanxi.

Liu Congyun’s repeated failures caused an uproar in the Sichuan Army.

Qin Baichuan was waiting for exactly this situation. Immediately he employed a sinister move to put Liu Congyun in a deadly position. He said to Liu Congyun: “Master, with the suppression of the Communists going badly, there’s much talk in the army. If Liu Xiang holds people accountable later, I’m afraid it will be bad for you! You must shift the blame, make a golden cicada escape!”

By then Liu Congyun had panicked and hurriedly asked: “What brilliant plan does my beloved disciple have?”

Qin Baichuan said: “You should immediately order the removal of several officials in the army, especially those company commanders who have complaints about you. Say that they didn’t execute your strategy, which led to the battle losses. Replace them with our own people. Then if accountability comes, our own people will speak up for you.”

Liu Congyun hesitated and said: “What if Liu Xiang wants to interrogate those removed company commanders? Then the scheme will still be exposed.”

Qin Baichuan leaned close to Liu Congyun’s ear and said: “Master, how confused you are! After removing those men, confiscate their guns, put them in solitary confinement, then secretly create a scene of suicide out of fear of punishment. Wouldn’t that settle it?”

Liu Congyun’s eyes lit up. He laughed heartily: “My beloved disciple is brilliant! The student truly surpasses the master!”

Qin Baichuan also smiled and said: “It’s all because of Master’s excellent teaching!”

Thus, Liu Congyun removed several company commanders without asking Liu Xiang’s permission. As a result, before he had time to kill those men, Qin Baichuan had already tipped off Liu Xiang, saying Liu Congyun had rebellious intentions. Liu Xiang was already full of rage because of Liu Congyun’s failure in suppressing the Communists. Hearing that Liu Congyun had also arbitrarily mobilized military power, he was even more furious!

As a result, the Xiao Jiaos that Liu Congyun had arranged to assassinate those removed company commanders were caught red-handed by people Liu Xiang had ambushed in advance just as they were about to shoot! Caught with evidence, Liu Xiang was completely enraged. He wanted to kill Liu Congyun!

Liu Congyun was an old fox after all—he actually escaped one step ahead!

He fled from Sichuan all the way to Jianghuai. At the same time, full-scale war of resistance broke out. The “King of Sichuan” Liu Xiang, reflecting on these years of dreamlike living, finally awakened. Facing the Japanese invaders’ steady pressure, he resolutely took up arms and stepped forward to resist Japan!

Fate’s arrangements always seem unsatisfactory. The next year, Liu Xiang suddenly had a relapse of stomach disease, vomiting fresh blood. Within a few days, he died. Before dying, he left his last words: Resist the war to the end, always unwavering. Even if the enemy army doesn’t withdraw from the country for one day, the Sichuan Army vows not to return home for one day! Then he said to his subordinates: “Hunt down Liu Congyun. Don’t let this person continue to bring disaster to the country and harm the people!”

After Liu Xiang’s death, Liu Wenhui, who had previously fought desperately with Liu Xiang, gradually lost faith in the Kuomintang in the face of their passive resistance. Liu Wenhui understood the greater good and resolutely established secret contact with the Communist Party. In 1949, he led his subordinates in a glorious uprising and later became Vice Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Political Consultative Conference.

After Liu Congyun fled to Jianghuai, he came to find Zu Ye. At that time, he still didn’t know it was Qin Baichuan who had betrayed him. Zu Ye had him hide in the headquarters, temporarily avoiding the storm. After Liu Xiang’s death, Liu Congyun returned to Sichuan. Seeing Qin Baichuan had taken over the headquarters and was managing it prosperously, he was very happy and requested to take control again. But Qin Baichuan refused. Only then did Liu Congyun suddenly realize that everything was done by his beloved disciple behind the scenes! But by then, “Dragon’s Whisker Sprout” had been thoroughly reshuffled by Qin Baichuan. Liu Congyun was isolated and powerless, unable to fight Qin Baichuan at all.

Recalling these past scenes, Liu Congyun couldn’t help but smile bitterly. What a fine “the student surpasses the master.” He had set up countless schemes in his life, but in the end was caught in a scheme within a scheme by his own disciple. This was truly “a mute eating bitter herbs—unable to speak of the suffering!”

Zu Ye Personally Sets Up a Feng Shui Scheme

After Liu Congyun retired to Jianghuai, he had requested Zu Ye help him take revenge. Zu Ye didn’t agree. Zu Ye had his own schemes. Through Liu Congyun’s account, he just came to understand Qin Baichuan better as a person.

Now, Zu Ye was about to compete with Qin Baichuan. Had history arranged all these grievances and resentments ultimately for Zu Ye and Qin Baichuan to have their final showdown? Zu Ye was brought up by Zhang Dancheng, Qin Baichuan was brought up by Liu Congyun. Both were cases of “the student surpassing the master.” In this confrontation, who would ultimately prevail?

I was pondering this when the bandit began to speak.

This bandit, surnamed Liu, was called “Commander Liu” by his subordinates. He wasn’t tall, a thin and wiry old man, not at all like the bandit appearance I had imagined.

Commander Liu smiled and said to Zu Ye: “Qin Ye says that Zu Ye is a successor of the Iron Divination Sect, proficient in Iron Plate Divine Numbers and also in feng shui, with considerable research on the ‘Jade Ruler Classic.’ So I’ve troubled Zu Ye to come a thousand miles to Sichuan to help this old man relocate his ancestral graves.”

Zu Ye returned the courtesy: “Commander Liu is too polite. To serve the Commander is this humble person’s great fortune!”

Qin Baichuan said: “Let’s go look at the burial site.”

Thus, the group rose and departed with the feng shui compass.

We first went to the old site of Commander Liu’s ancestral graves. In a mountain hollow, flanked by two mountains, verdant and lush—it was indeed a fine landscape.

After viewing it, Zu Ye said: “Commander Liu, your burial site is located at a triple-harmony prosperity position, storing wind and gathering water—a configuration for prosperous descendants. No wonder the Commander can command heavy troops and govern a region.”

Commander Liu chuckled: “Zu Ye is a superior person. This burial site was specifically examined by a feng shui master when my late father passed away.”

Zu Ye continued: “This burial site is good in every way, except for one thing. Commander, look—on the western mountain peak, there’s a giant rock protruding with an oppressive force. The ancients often said, ‘Left Azure Dragon, right White Tiger. Better to let the Azure Dragon rise ten thousand zhang than let the White Tiger protrude one head.’ Based on the position where your esteemed father was buried, this giant rock is precisely the White Tiger protruding. So in years when the White Tiger protrudes, there must be great disaster. 1921, 1922, 1933, 1934 especially!”

Commander Liu said: “Zu Ye is a divine person! In 1922, I had a conflict with Guangxi warlords and nearly lost my life. In 1933, I had a serious illness and almost went west.”

Actually, this information had all been told to Zu Ye by Qin Baichuan beforehand. Zu Ye understood this clearly in his heart, as did Qin Baichuan. Commander Liu didn’t understand.

Zu Ye continued: “Where is Commander Liu planning to relocate to?”

Commander Liu said: “Within a radius of dozens of li, it’s all this old man’s territory. Let Zu Ye decide. As long as it’s good.”

Zu Ye said, “Let’s look around.” So Commander Liu ordered the sedan bearers to carry everyone along the mountain path inward.

The mountain path was difficult to traverse. The sedan bearers were sweating profusely. After walking about two hours, they finally rounded a hill and came to a place with water.

Zu Ye said: “Stop!”

Zu Ye descended from the sedan, took the compass, stood at the roadside surveying the surrounding mountain hollow, then said: “This place is absolutely superb! Commander, look—backed by mountains and facing water, dragons soaring and tigers leaping. On the left, the Azure Dragon assists; on the right, the Venus auspicious star shines protectively. In front, clear water gathers wealth; behind, green mountains form a screen. This is an excellent realm for abundant wealth and prosperous official fortune. Superb, superb!”

Commander Liu stroked his beard and nodded: “Mm, wonderful!”

Qin Baichuan also said: “Zu Ye is brilliant!”

At this moment, dark clouds gathered in the sky as if it would rain. Commander Liu said: “Let’s call it a day. We should hurry back.”

So the group headed back. Rain began falling on the way. We sat in the sedans with people holding umbrellas beside us. But it was hard on the bearers and umbrella holders—they were drenched like drowned chickens.

Over the following days, we viewed several more feng shui sites for comparison. Finally, we still chose the first marvelous site that Zu Ye had identified.

Thus, Zu Ye selected an auspicious day on the imperial calendar and began relocating the graves.

This was the grandest display I had ever seen in my life! According to Zu Ye’s arrangements, Commander Liu hired over twenty Daoist priests. At the front, a group of people blew suona horns to lead the way. Twenty Daoist priests divided into two rows, chanting scriptures and calling out. Commander Liu led more than ten family members, wearing mourning clothes and hemp, following behind. Further back was a bandit force of nearly a hundred people—mighty and magnificent, quite spectacular.

When opening the graves, paper money flew everywhere. The bandits fired their guns toward the sky together. The banging gunshots echoed through the mountain valley. Commander Liu removed his parents’ bones from the old coffin and carefully placed them in the new coffin. This bandit was truly wealthy. The coffin was lined with mattresses made of finest silk. The topmost covering was burial clothes sewn with gold thread. Gold ingots and bars were piled in the four corners of the coffin. Many exquisite jade artifacts were also placed at the head position. Afterward, his subordinates lifted the new coffin, and over a hundred people walked toward the new burial site.

Upon reaching the new site, Commander Liu led his family in prostrating before the new burial ground. The Daoist priests circled the new grave pit while chanting. Zu Ye stood to one side with hands clasped, eyes half-closed. I didn’t know what he was thinking.

After the prostrations finished, Zu Ye loudly intoned: “Lower—the—coffin—”

Eight people at the front and back lifted the coffin into the large pit. Commander Liu led his family in completing the burial mound while the suona players blew their instruments. Qin Baichuan also knelt on the ground, shouting loudly: “Father, Mother, both elders may rest in peace.” Truly sworn brothers—his cries could move heaven and earth!

The entire process lasted two hours. That evening, returning to Commander Liu’s residence, Commander Liu hosted a grand banquet to entertain Zu Ye and Qin Baichuan.

Seeing this scene of universal happiness, I almost forgot we were setting up a scheme. Everything seemed fine—what problems could there be? Had Qin Baichuan discovered something? Why didn’t he move against Zu Ye but instead helped him succeed?

Zu Ye continued drinking heartily. During the banquet, all his words praised Commander Liu, making the old man very happy.

After eating, the next day, returning to Qin Baichuan’s residence, Qin Baichuan said: “The other party gave a sum of money. We two headquarters will split it.”

Zu Ye said: “For this scheme, Qin Ye deserves the primary credit and should take the larger share. Our Eastern Sect benefited from Qin Ye’s light this time. Thirty percent is enough.”

Qin Baichuan said: “Let’s just split it fifty-fifty! It’s not easy for Zu Ye to come to Sichuan once. The last time was five years ago. Zu Ye, you must stay a few more days. I’ll take Zu Ye around. Zu Ye must give me this small courtesy.”

I looked at Zu Ye. Zu Ye said: “Good. Such leisure is rare, rare indeed.”

Late at night, Zu Ye returned to his room. I quietly asked Zu Ye: “What medicine is this Qin Baichuan selling in his gourd?”

Zu Ye said: “Just wait. The good show is about to begin.”

The next day, Qin Baichuan came early and said: “Zu Ye, I’ll take you to appreciate the various landscapes of western Sichuan.”

Qin Baichuan led us to tour several places. Later, Qin Baichuan said: “Not satisfying enough. Zu Ye, let’s go to even more distant places.”

Thus, for several consecutive days, we wandered outside, finally almost leaving the province.

I didn’t know what ghost Qin Baichuan was up to. At every place, I feared a gang would suddenly rush out and kill Zu Ye. But Zu Ye remained calm and composed throughout, viewing mountains and appreciating waters, discussing past and present, without the slightest appearance of worry.

Later we finally returned to Qin Baichuan’s headquarters. Just as we entered the door, one of Qin Baichuan’s Xiao Jiaos came running over in panic: “Qin Ye, Zu Ye, terrible news! Something’s happened!”

My heart jumped. That Xiao Jiao said trembling: “Commander Liu’s grave has been blown up!”

My ears rang with a buzzing sound. I thought, this is bad. What a feng shui scheme fears most is something happening to the grave site. Once something happens to the grave, the scheme is exposed.

Just as I was thinking this, a loud shout came from outside the door: “Have the two Masters returned?”

I looked—Commander Liu had arrived with dozens of men, all carrying guns, their eyes bloodshot.

Qin Baichuan said to Commander Liu in surprise: “Elder Brother, what’s going on?”

Commander Liu was trembling with rage: “Don’t call me Elder Brother!” Then he pointed his gun at Zu Ye’s head and said: “What kind of thing are you? Didn’t you say that was good feng shui?”

Zu Ye said calmly: “Commander Liu, what happened?”

Commander Liu said viciously: “What happened? My ancestral grave was blown up by tomb raiders! My father and mother’s bones are completely gone!”

When Qin Baichuan heard this, he fell to his knees with a thud, shouting to the heavens: “Father! Mother! Your son is unfilial!” Then he hugged Commander Liu’s leg and said: “Elder Brother, such an accident happened—I bear responsibility. Elder Brother, kill me, kill me to honor our parents’ spirits in heaven!”

Qin Baichuan knew Commander Liu wouldn’t kill him. Because in Commander Liu’s view, Qin Baichuan also had good intentions—it was just that the feng shui master he invited was too terrible.

Commander Liu gave a cold laugh: “This is the master you invited! Now that my parents’ bones are completely gone, how can I face our ancestors!”

Qin Baichuan suddenly turned to Zu Ye: “What’s wrong with you! What kind of place did you choose! How can my Elder Brother and I bear this!”

Commander Liu pressed the gun to Zu Ye’s head: “One shot to kill you would be too easy for you, you bastard! Men, tie up this scoundrel for me!”

Seeing several men rush over, I suddenly dashed forward wanting to protect Zu Ye. Zu Ye forcefully pushed me aside. At the same time, a gunshot rang out. If Zu Ye hadn’t pushed me, Commander Liu would have killed me.

Zu Ye said: “One person does the deed, one person takes responsibility. It has nothing to do with others.”

Several bandits instantly bound Zu Ye tightly.

Commander Liu shouted outside: “Push the cannon in!”

When I heard this, a cannon? What did that mean?

Before long, several bandits from outside squeaked and groaned as they pushed in a fire cannon.

Commander Liu said to Zu Ye: “I don’t care if you have real skills or fake skills, or how great your abilities and reputation are. But you didn’t adjust this feng shui properly. You made my father and mother’s bones completely disappear. I can only use the cannon to blast you to honor the spirits of the two elders in heaven.”

When I heard this, I was terrified. He was going to use the cannon to blast Zu Ye. I cried and threw myself at the bandit’s feet: “Commander Liu, show mercy! The matter hasn’t been clarified yet!”

Commander Liu laughed toward the sky: “Go explain it to my father and mother!”

Zu Ye was tied to a pillar. The bandits turned the cannon mouth, aiming it at Zu Ye.

I knew that once this cannon fired, Zu Ye would be gone. I hugged Zu Ye’s leg, crying and shouting: “Zu Ye! Zu Ye!”

Qin Baichuan also cried hypocritically: “Zu Ye, the evil you created, you must atone for yourself. I can’t help you anymore!”

Suddenly, gunshots rang out from outside the door. Everyone was startled. A voice called out loudly: “Commander Liu, spare this man!”

Qin Baichuan’s Scheme Exposed

I heard—it was Jiang Feiyan’s voice. How did she get here? Looking again, a person followed behind her, wearing a military uniform, about forty years old.

Commander Liu was stunned: “You are?”

Jiang Feiyan smiled: “I am Zu Ye’s disciple, Jiang Feiyan.” Then pointing to the person behind her, said: “This is Major General Feng from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics!”

Commander Liu was stunned again and said angrily: “It doesn’t matter who comes today! This person must be killed!”

Jiang Feiyan continued smiling: “Commander Liu is a great filial son. The common people within dozens of li all know this. Relocating graves for parents is also an expression of filial piety. Now the grave has been blown up, the gold and silver treasures have all been stolen, and the bones of the two elders have been blasted away. No one could bear this. So this person deserves to be killed! Must be killed!”

Commander Liu was confused, not understanding what Jiang Feiyan meant.

Jiang Feiyan continued: “However, doesn’t Commander Liu want to know who blew up your ancestral grave?”

Commander Liu was bewildered: “Who? Wasn’t it tomb raiders?”

Jiang Feiyan gave a cold laugh and shouted loudly toward the door: “Bring them in!”

Two Xiao Jiaos escorted two men beaten bloody all over, walking in. Reaching the middle of the courtyard, the two escorted men’s legs went soft and they knelt on the ground, heads drooping.

Jiang Feiyan turned to Qin Baichuan and said: “Qin Ye, you should recognize these two, right?”

Qin Baichuan suddenly drew his gun from his waist, aiming at those two men about to shoot. Major General Feng of Military Intelligence was quick-eyed and quick-handed, shooting first. With a bang, Qin Baichuan’s hand was shot through and the pistol fell to the ground.

Qin Baichuan covered his hand in fury: “You!”

Jiang Feiyan said to Commander Liu: “Commander, observe carefully! This is all a trick Qin Baichuan alone concocted. He’s just a fraud. He’s always wanted to swindle your money. He doesn’t understand feng shui himself, so he invited Zu Ye over, wanting to use Zu Ye’s hand to defraud your wealth! Zu Ye has been kept in the dark the whole time. Zu Ye is a true I Ching master—the common people of the Jianghuai region all speak highly of him. After Zu Ye adjusted the feng shui, you gave a sum of money. Qin Baichuan deliberately arranged for two men to blow up your ancestral grave at night, creating the illusion of tomb robbery to make you redirect your anger at Zu Ye! During this time, he deliberately took Zu Ye wandering around everywhere to create the situation that he had nothing to do with this matter. After you killed Zu Ye, he would say that the money had already been transferred away by Zu Ye during these days! As for himself, in your view, he’s your sworn brother—at most he’d be guilty of negligence. He’d say a few nice words to you, and you wouldn’t kill him. In the end, you lost money and your parents’ bones, Zu Ye lost his life, and only he, Qin Baichuan, made a fortune! Commander, look clearly—this is your sworn brother!”

Qin Baichuan raged: “You… slandering me!”

At this moment, Major General Feng deliberately clasped his fists toward Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, I trust you’ve been well. The feng shui you adjusted for my late father’s grave the year before last has already taken effect! Thank you, Zu Ye!”

Jiang Feiyan pointed her gun at the two Xiao Jiaos on the ground who had blown up the grave and said: “Tell everyone, who ordered you to do it!”

The two Xiao Jiaos cried: “It was Qin Ye, it was Qin Ye. Auntie, spare our lives!”

After hearing this, Commander Liu raised his gun and aimed it at Qin Baichuan, shouting: “Is this what happened! Speak! Speak!”

Qin Baichuan had already panicked. Holding his breath, he said: “Elder Brother, don’t listen to this woman’s nonsense! You know me. I’m genuine. I, Qin Baichuan, am a true student of the I Ching. This Zu Ye is ruthless and merciless. For many years, he’s been jealous of my abilities and has always wanted to eliminate me. I invited him here precisely to set up a scheme to eliminate this fraud from the I Ching world!”

Zu Ye laughed toward the heavens: “Commander Liu, listen well! Your brother has real skills. But a person with real skills uses his sworn brother’s parents’ bones as the price to kill someone!”

When Qin Baichuan heard this, he had trapped himself. He hurriedly said: “Elder Brother, I’m genuine. I had no choice but to do this!”

Zu Ye smiled and said: “Whether genuine or fake is no longer important. If genuine, you’re a traitor. If fake, you’re utterly conscienceless! Commander Liu, this is your good brother!”

Commander Liu’s rage had already been ignited. He looked viciously at Qin Baichuan.

Qin Baichuan was cornered by Zu Ye and Jiang Feiyan with nowhere to go. He went insane, dragging his bloody hand, saying frantically: “It’s all fake! Since it’s come to this, I can only tell all! If we die, we all die together!”

He pointed at Jiang Feiyan and said to Commander Liu: “She, this woman, is a fraud, a fraud from South Yue!” Then turning his head, pointing at Zu Ye: “And him, also a fraud! All frauds! We’re all in it together! Together, you understand? You idiot!”

Zu Ye continued laughing loudly: “Commander, you see—if we’re in it together, would he want to kill me? Do you believe it?”

By now, whatever Qin Baichuan said, no one would believe him! He had already gone mad!

Commander Liu shouted: “Tie up this idiot for me!” The bandits swarmed up and tied up Qin Baichuan.

“Aim the cannon at this bastard!” At Commander Liu’s command, two bandits turned the cannon, pointing the muzzle at Qin Baichuan’s chest.

Zu Ye glanced at Qin Baichuan: “Qin Ye, time to go. Have a good chat with Qian Ye.”

“Your mother’s…” Qin Baichuan had just begun to speak when Commander Liu gave the order: “Fire!”

“Boom!” The earth shook and mountains trembled. Qin Baichuan was blown to pieces. Only a few chunks of flesh remained on the ground. The entire world also became peaceful. Qin Baichuan had been confident all his life in his true-and-false schemes, using fake to deceive truth. In the end, he died in the web of truth and falsehood he himself had woven.

Jiang Feiyan walked over to help Zu Ye untie the ropes: “Zu Ye, you’ve suffered.”

Zu Ye walked before Commander Liu, his face full of guilt: “Commander Liu, such an accident happened—I feel very guilty. As the saying goes, ‘human calculations cannot match heaven’s calculations.’ I never imagined Qin Baichuan was such a person. I will return all that money to you in full! If you still cannot resolve the hatred in your heart, I submit myself to your disposal!” Saying this, he grabbed Commander Liu’s hand and pressed the gun muzzle to his own head.

Commander Liu was dumbfounded. He stood stunned for a long while before saying: “What kind of talk is this from Zu Ye? This matter has nothing to do with you. It’s because I was careless in choosing friends that I ended up in this situation!”

Jiang Feiyan said softly to Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, let’s go.”

Commander Liu said: “You can’t go!”

Jiang Feiyan was startled: “What’s wrong?”

Commander Liu smiled: “The yin dwelling was blown up, but the yang dwelling is still here. When Zu Ye looked at my grave site before, everything he said about my past disasters was correct. Zu Ye is someone with real skills. So… please, Zu Ye, don’t hold grudges. Help this old man look at the yang dwelling feng shui.”

Zu Ye looked at Jiang Feiyan and smiled: “Thank you for the Commander’s trust.”

After Zu Ye pretended to adjust the yang dwelling feng shui for Commander Liu, he didn’t take his money. Zu Ye said to Jiang Feiyan: “His ancestral grave was blown up after all. We won’t take this money.”

Later, Zu Ye successively incorporated Qin Baichuan’s forces. This scheme within a scheme was hard to distinguish between true and false. The Xiao Jiaos at the headquarters couldn’t figure out what had really happened. But they all had a good impression of Zu Ye. Over the years, Zu Ye had spent large sums of money buying people’s hearts. At this moment, it finally paid off. They were willing to follow Zu Ye.

A month later, Zu Ye and I returned to South Yue. Zu Ye had cancelled Qin Baichuan’s headquarters designation and established a branch in Sichuan. He promoted one of Qin Baichuan’s subordinates to be the branch master, with rank equal to a Batou. After returning to South Yue, he also sent Er Batou to Sichuan as the branch supervisor to assist that branch master in operations—actually to plant one of his own people to prevent further incidents.

By this point, of the four great headquarters of East, South, West, and North, except for the Southern Sect’s “Yuehai Hall,” all had been brought under Zu Ye’s command.

Less than a week later, “Yuehai Hall” headquarters was also brought under Zu Ye’s command. It was Jiang Feiyan’s voluntary decision.

Jiang Feiyan decided to leave. After returning from Sichuan, Jiang Feiyan and Zu Ye talked all night once. In 1952, before Zu Ye died, he told me about this matter.

From the first moment Jiang Feiyan saw Zu Ye, she fell in love with him. Helplessly, the roles fate had arranged for both of them were frauds, and moreover, both were fraud leaders. They had already entered the underworld and could no longer control their own lives. There were too many concerns—concerns about identity, concerns about the headquarters’ future, concerns about their brothers…

In early years, Jiang Feiyan had suggested that she and Zu Ye flee far away together, hand over the headquarters to others, and the two of them go abroad. Zu Ye didn’t agree. At that time, Zu Ye’s mind was full of his so-called “Way.” After he took over the headquarters from Zhang Dancheng, he shouldered the mission of continuing the “Jiang Xiang Sect.” His ideal was to lead the “Jiang Xiang Sect” onto the right path. He couldn’t just leave everything behind.

Even when Jiang Feiyan wanted to seek one night of pleasure with Zu Ye, Zu Ye didn’t agree.

Jiang Feiyan once asked Zu Ye: “Is it because my body is unclean that Zu Ye won’t favor me?”

Zu Ye lowered his head and said: “Sister Yan has sacrificed everything for the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect.’ I should respect you. How could I despise you?” Zu Ye knew this couldn’t be done. Once done, he couldn’t extricate himself.

Later, when Jiang Feiyan agreed to help Zu Ye eliminate Qin Baichuan, it was actually her final farewell to Zu Ye.

Zu Ye wouldn’t marry Jiang Feiyan, but someone would. That was also an unforgettable love. This thing called emotion—it’s hard to explain. That’s why the ancients said: “Ask the world what love is, that it makes one pledge life and death!”

That Major General Feng from Military Intelligence had loved her since being taken down by Jiang Feiyan at age 25. At that time, Jiang Feiyan was 31. To gain greater network resources, she used a honey trap to take down that Major General Feng. Although he wasn’t yet a major general then, when Jiang Feiyan took over Qiao Wu Mei’s network, she had her eye on this person. Jiang Feiyan wasn’t wrong. Over more than twenty years, he smoothed things over for Jiang Feiyan everywhere. Love is like this—clearly knowing the other is a fraud, yet still loving. Perhaps loving someone means loving all of her.

At first, Jiang Feiyan only regarded him as a chess piece. Later she discovered there was a problem—this person had truly fallen in love with her, and his feelings ran deep.

Jiang Feiyan once frankly told him: “Feiyan is just a fraud who mistakenly entered the mortal world. The General shouldn’t be like this.”

Major General Feng said: “In my eyes, you are Jiang Feiyan. I love Jiang Feiyan, regardless of whether she’s a fraud.”

Just like this, through exploitation, entanglement, and true love, Jiang Feiyan spent day after day in contradiction.

Jiang Feiyan said to Zu Ye: “The most painful thing in a person’s life is that the one you love doesn’t love you, and the one who loves you, you don’t love.”

The Kuomintang’s steady defeats made Major General Feng increasingly anxious. Since the beginning of spring in 1949, he had repeatedly asked Jiang Feiyan to leave with him. He said: “We are both people who have done evil. You’ve deceived many people, I’ve killed many people. Isn’t it good for us to leave all these rights and wrongs together?”

At this critical juncture, Zu Ye’s headquarters erupted in major turmoil. Later, Zu Ye used this situation to his advantage, wanting to eliminate Qin Baichuan. Eliminating Qin Baichuan wasn’t easy. Zu Ye wanted Jiang Feiyan to cooperate in setting up the scheme, actually wanting her to activate the military intelligence resources behind her. Zu Ye knew that this time he had to deal with not only Qin Baichuan but also bandits holding guns. If something went wrong, he couldn’t handle it.

So he discussed with Jiang Feiyan about moving some regular troops over. On one hand, they would ambush around the bandits’ perimeter. If the scheme was exposed, the army would rush in so he wouldn’t lose his life. On the other hand, they would ambush near Qin Baichuan’s headquarters. During the scheme process or when reorganizing Qin Baichuan’s headquarters after the scheme ended, if anyone rebelled, they’d be completely wiped out in one net.

Zu Ye analyzed that for Qin Baichuan’s feng shui scheme, the only possibility for a feng shui scheme to put someone to death was if the feng shui site itself had a problem. For example, you just adjusted someone’s yin dwelling feng shui, and the grave was washed away by flood. Or you just adjusted someone’s yang dwelling feng shui, and their house caught fire. These were all fatal exposures of the scheme. Apart from these, nonsense about fortune and prosperity, flourishing descendants—these needed time to verify, perhaps several years, perhaps decades. The parties involved wouldn’t be in a hurry to cash in.

Therefore, Zu Ye had Jiang Feiyan secretly follow him into Sichuan. At the same time, that Major General also cooperated with Jiang Feiyan, deploying several hundred men around as backup.

After Commander Liu’s parents’ bones were buried that day, Jiang Feiyan kept people hiding in the mountain hollow secretly monitoring that grave site. As a result, three days later one night, two black shadows appeared, set explosives, and blasted open the grave. Jiang Feiyan deliberately watched, letting them blow it up. Only after blowing it up could Qin Baichuan be put to death!

After the explosion, those two men had just taken the gold and silver and were about to flee when they were caught by Jiang Feiyan. This led to that thrilling scene that occurred later at Qin Baichuan’s headquarters.

Zu Ye didn’t know that when Jiang Feiyan agreed to help him set up the scheme, it was the final promise Jiang Feiyan made for this love.

When Jiang Feiyan went to find Major General Feng, he said to Jiang Feiyan with tears: “I’ve waited for you for nearly 20 years, from age 25 to 42. I’ll help you with this scheme. I beg you to leave with me.”

Jiang Feiyan had anticipated this scene. She had thought of it before going. She knew she owed Major General Feng too much. Over these years, she had delayed again and again, wanting to delay until her twilight years, her beauty completely lost—perhaps then he wouldn’t love her anymore. What she hadn’t expected was that Major General Feng was too devoted. The passage of time hadn’t diluted his feelings for Jiang Feiyan but rather deepened them. As long as Jiang Feiyan didn’t marry, he would keep waiting.

Jiang Feiyan said to Zu Ye: “Just like me—over these years, I’ve always been devoted to Zu Ye. I also tried to change myself, but still couldn’t do it. This time I finally did it. Twenty years—I can finally be liberated. After I leave, without Feiyan by your side, Zu Ye must take care of yourself.”

Zu Ye shed tears. A woman had always been sacrificing for him. Even marrying someone else was for him. Zu Ye’s heart was full of guilt.

“Sister Yan, if there’s fate in this life, let’s reunite in the next life.” Zu Ye wiped away tears and said.

Fate in this life, reunion in the next—perhaps this was the best release for lovers who couldn’t be together.

When Jiang Feiyan left, she gave Zu Ye the “Yuehai Hall Physiognomy Notes” that had been passed down in the headquarters for three hundred years. This book had a very high reputation in the fraud circle. It had also been much talked about in the underworld, but it had always been passed to women, not men. It was said that this was compiled by the ancestor of “Yuehai Hall,” the chivalrous woman Tang Yonghe. Tang Yonghe was talented and beautiful with superb martial arts skills, and was the branch master of a Tiandihui branch. When Fang Zhaoyu founded the “Jiang Xiang Sect,” there were four great gates under him: Qian, Kun, Kan, and Li. The master of the Li Gate was Tang Yonghe. The Li Gate was what later became “Yuehai Hall.”

The “Yuehai Hall Physiognomy Notes” was actually fraud psychology. Like the A’Baos’ common textbook “Yingyao Chapter,” the difference was that “Yuehai Hall Physiognomy Notes” focused on feng shui scheme fraud, highly integrating feng shui arts and psychology to a divinely skillful degree.

Each of the four great headquarters of East, South, West, and North had its own specialties and treasures. The reason the Southern Sect’s “Yuehai Hall” could develop fraud psychology to the highest realm was inseparable from the headquarters’ characteristics. “Yuehai Hall” was entirely composed of women. Women weren’t as strong as men, not as good at fighting and killing as men. So they generally wouldn’t confront head-on. They excelled at winning through intelligence. They figured out the targets’ mentality, combining feng shui studies with psychology. This formed the unique feng shui fraud psychology—”Yuehai Hall Physiognomy Notes.”

Before Zu Ye died, he told me that in his whole life, the person he was most sorry to was Jiang Feiyan. This debt of love—he couldn’t repay it in this lifetime. He didn’t know if there was a next life, didn’t know if in the next life he could still meet someone called Jiang Feiyan, didn’t know if they could be an ordinary couple together.

When Zu Ye told me these things, I felt so desolate. Many years later, I married a wife and had a father-in-law. My father-in-law often said: “People in this life don’t seek wealth and honor—just peace and safety. Peace is blessing.” Zu Ye had been at war all his life. What he wanted in the end was just an ordinary person’s life. Was Zu Ye wrong, or did fate arrange things wrongly?