Xiangzi’s Record of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 48: Entering the City

On the slope,
Harmony Rickshaw Yard’s men, seeing Xiangzi gone so long, were frantic as ants on a hot pan.
Uncle Jie nearly charged down with men!
Suddenly, a clear gong rang across the yellow earth.
Amid thundering hooves, the bandits encircling the slope retreated!
On the vast plain, the cavalry vanished like the wind,
leaving only a dozen bandits to retrieve their men.
The pullers’ hearts settled, and even Uncle Jie sighed in relief.
That Xiangzi actually talked down these head-on-the-line bandits.
When they saw the big man climbing the slope, cheers erupted.
Only Jin Fugui lowered his head, gripping his knife tightly.
“
Aiyo, Brother Xiangzi, as they say, no fight, no friendship. Pity I can’t share my name, or I’d swear brotherhood with you over blood wine!
” Zhang Dachui hugged Xiangzi, grinning broadly.
Xiangzi played along. “A hero like you, Big Boss? I wouldn’t dare climb that high!”
“Nonsense,” Zhang Dachui’s face bloomed like a chrysanthemum. “With your skills, Brother Xiangzi, in a few years, I’ll be no match!”
Escorting Xiangzi to the slope’s edge, Zhang Dachui looked reluctant to part.
The sight stunned the pullers—
Xiangzi walking arm-in-arm with that bearded bandit leader?
The bandits nearby even smiled at Xiangzi.
No trace of hostility—it looked like old friends reuniting.
Amid galloping hooves,
Zhang Dachui, one hand on the reins, swayed with his horse, still wielding a single-lens telescope—a rare gift from Marshal Cao years ago.
Its five-colored ore lenses could see figures clearly dozens of li away.
In the circular view, the pullers descended the slope in orderly fashion.
On a bare tree stump, a tightly bound scarred man cursed feebly—
who else but Luo Er?
“Boss, that kid didn’t back out?” Triangular Eyes asked urgently.
Zhang Dachui grinned ear to ear. “No, no. Our men are fetching Second Boss now.”
Triangular Eyes stroked his sparse beard, smug. “Big Boss is mighty! This trip wasn’t for nothing!”
The bandits, hearing Second Boss was saved, perked up!
Big Boss had said, despite the hiccups, the thousand silver dollars from the client would be split evenly!
After pensions for the dead and wounded, each man would get several silver dollars!
Riches come from risk—worth the trip.
In truth, today’s clash was loud but no bloodbath. Many just rode out, shot a few arrows.
“Big Boss is mighty! Following him means good days!”
“I always said Big Boss is a true hero!”
The flattery never stopped!
Zhang Dachui’s smile was strained, his lips trembling, heart aching—
Ma Liu only gave a thousand silver dollars, and I didn’t keep a cent, all split!
The men are happy, but I worked for nothing!
Thinking of the young man who faced him calmly alone, the bearded bandit marveled:
Such a figure in a mere rickshaw yard?
Oh well, none of my business.
“Go fetch Second Boss, head back to the stronghold quick—don’t let that she-devil catch wind.”
Muttering
“spend to avoid disaster,”
Zhang Dachui put on a bold front.
But in the spring breeze, his heart’s chill was known only to him.
The north wind eased,
the yellow dust settling.
Only near Yongchang Gate did Xiangzi’s group meet the tardy reinforcements.
The promised one-hour wait stretched to nearly two.
Had Xiangzi planned to hold out, the pullers would be bones by now.
Whistles blared as a hundred panting officers jogged up in formation.
The lead officer, spotting Xiangzi’s group, gaped. “Xiangzi, Ajie, you’re back?”
It was Master Liu, Uncle Jie’s hometown friend, the veteran chief guarding Yongchang Gate.
Uncle Jie approached, frowning at the big-hatted officers. “Master Liu, just you police?”
“Don’t ask!” Master Liu, panting, hat askew, said, “Ajie, you don’t know. I saw your flare and ed it, but the higher-ups dragged their feet, only mustering this lot now.”
“Marshal Zhang’s side didn’t budge. If I didn’t know you were out here, I wouldn’t have come!”
Uncle Jie clasped his fists, voice sincere. “Master Liu, no words for this debt—I won’t forget it!”
His gratitude was heartfelt—
who dares mess with an ore route?
By custom, such matters called for Marshal Zhang’s troops.
These big-hatted police were for keeping order, not fighting to the death.
Master Liu’s risking his neck was a bond of life and death!
But
Xiangzi and Uncle Jie exchanged glances, both seeing fear in the other’s eyes.
The ore route’s a big deal, yet the police delayed?
And Marshal Zhang sent no one?
With today’s sudden bandits…
This isn’t something a small Ma Liu Rickshaw Yard could stir up!
The sunset bled red in the dusk.
Escorted by the officers, the convoy entered Yongchang Gate smoothly.
Yet, even in the city, Xiangzi’s unease lingered.
After unloading at the embassy district, Xiangzi didn’t dismiss the team as usual but led them back to the South District.
Then, Wen San shouted, “Where’s Jin Fugui? Can’t find him! He was unloading just now!”
Xiangzi’s eyelids twitched.
In the bustling convoy returning to South City,
at Harmony Rickshaw Yard’s gate,
Fourth Master Liu, over seventy, stood with his adopted sons, Liu Hu and Liu Tang, waiting.
Unlike his usual hunched posture, the old man stood ramrod straight, his tiger eyes sharp, like a beast ready to pounce.
“Everyone, I know what happened today. You did well—
very well!
”
“Especially Xiangzi. Harmony Rickshaw Yard is lucky to have a leader like you!”
“Tonight, everyone to Bianyi Tavern—eat all the duck, drink all the wine!”
“Eat and drink your fill, then tomorrow, collect ten silver dollars each at the counter!”
Master Liu’s words were steady, but the pullers boiled with excitement.
Wen San shouted “
Fourth Master’s mighty!
” until his voice cracked.
Amid the fervor, Master Liu patted Xiangzi’s shoulder, whispering, “Xiangzi, come with me.”