Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to Secular Life Chapter Seventy-Four: A Madman

The following morning, every great family kept their gates firmly shut; not a single household opened their doors to distribute porridge. The disaster victims, accustomed to lining up at dawn, clutched their empty stomachs in disappointment, sighed heavily, and departed in dejection.

Murmurs of complaint rippled through the crowd: “It’s all that wretched magistrate’s fault…”

Yet, on this day, something rather curious occurred.

A young monk arrived at the gates of these wealthy clans, pointing up at their signboards and unleashing a torrent of curses. He accused the great families of price-gouging, forcing people to sell their fields and homes yet still leaving them unable to afford a meal, doling out a single bowl of porridge just to keep the starving half-alive.

But an attentive observer might have noticed that, even as the little monk berated them, he was at the same time carefully studying the nearby terrain and surroundings.

“Where did this wild monk come from? Get out of here!” A house servant stepped out to drive him away, and the monk retreated a distance, but not before raising a middle finger and continuing his tirade.

“Don’t run! I’ll beat you to death!” The servant brandished a cudgel and gave chase, but the little monk was even quicker.

The most remarkable part was this: the moment he sensed danger, the monk would dash away, never lingering for conflict. Then he’d appear at another grand estate’s gate and start all over again, his curses growing ever more spirited.

The servants were at their wits’ end.

“Who is this fellow? Has he lost his mind?”

“Yeah, price gouging? Impossible. There’s barely enough grain as it is—he must be sent by the officials!”

“He doesn’t look it. More like a lunatic to me…”

The refugees watched the spectacle, treating it as a bit of entertainment. Still, despite their words, a quiet suspicion lingered that the monk’s accusations might hold some truth—though no one dared voice it aloud. After all, with empty bellies, their greatest wish was simply for the great families to resume their charity.

Eventually, the house servants, fed up with the abuse, conspired to corner the monk. At last, they trapped him in a narrow alley, a dozen strong.

“Had your fun ranting, have you? A monk who won’t chant his sutras comes here courting death—I’ll break your legs!” One servant hefted his club, gauging its weight, careful not to accidentally kill the monk outright.

“I only spoke the truth,” the monk replied with a smile, showing not the slightest hint of fear.

“Heh, but what does that matter? You think those idiot refugees believe you?” Another servant, eager to show off his meager martial arts, lunged forward to strike first.

“They do believe me, actually. Only, they dare not admit it. They can’t take the risk,” the monk continued.

“Enough talk. Let’s just kill him—he’s only a useless little monk…” The others shook their heads and moved in.

“Our master said, if you insult us again, we’ll beat you to death. The officials won’t intervene now, so you’ve only yourself to blame.”

Surrounded and outnumbered, the servants were certain the monk was doomed.

A few refugees on the street, seeing the monk disappear into the alley, began to worry for him—these servants were not known for their mercy. Things could easily turn deadly.

But in the next instant, a calm voice echoed from the alley.

“Hah… It’s been a long time since I’ve stretched my limbs…”

A chorus of agonized screams followed.

To the refugees’ astonishment, the little monk strolled out of the alley and resumed his campaign of invective at the next wealthy household.

Hurrying into the alley, the refugees found the dozen servants battered and bruised, utterly defeated.

They exchanged glances in shock.

Who would have thought—the little monk was a martial arts master?

……

In the government camp, Qin Shirong sat brooding, wrestling with strategies. Magistrate Li Guo hurried in, flustered. “Lord Qin, what are we to do? Only two days remain…”

“Calm yourself, Magistrate Li. With a clear mind, a solution will surely present itself,” Qin Shirong said, sipping his tea.

“In three days’ time, the great families will stir up unrest again… By the way, have you discovered who wrote that pamphlet?” Li Guo asked, frowning as something occurred to him.

“You still care about that now? The author has been identified, but I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed,” Qin Shirong replied, shaking his head. “It’s just a little monk, hardly a figure of consequence.”

“A little monk? That’s impossible—how could someone like that possess such insight?” Li Guo asked, incredulous.

“Yes. I’d planned to summon him for a discussion today, but he wasn’t in camp. Do you know where he’s gone?” Qin Shirong didn’t wait for an answer. “Ha! He’s gone to the mansions to hurl insults… What sort of person does that?”

“Insulting them? What good does that do?” Li Guo sighed.

“No one will believe him. Even if you or I were to speak, it would be the same. The current situation… alas…” Qin Shirong shook his head.

“Still, the monk is clever… It’s a pity…” Li Guo continued, “If only the government’s relief grain would arrive sooner, we might use it to our advantage.”

“If there’s no other way, I’ll swallow my pride and negotiate with the great families myself…” Qin Shirong clenched his fist, as if steeling himself.

“What difficulty troubles you, my lord? Why not confide in me?” A robust male voice rang from the rooftop—the speaker clearly possessed formidable inner strength.

A sword flashed down, embedding itself in the floor, and a figure in white descended lightly to stand atop it—it was none other than the man known as the world’s greatest swordsman, Li Bai.

“How dare you…” Li Guo’s face turned livid. The Li family was not to be trifled with.

The atmosphere grew tense; eavesdropping on state affairs was a grave crime.

“I mean no harm. I only wish to help ease the plight of the refugees.”

“What do you want?” Qin Shirong asked, frowning.

“I have a question for you, Lord Qin.” Li Bai hesitated, then continued, “I know your heart is with the people, yet the refugees curse the officials and revile you… Does it pain you?”

“I…” Qin Shirong shook his head. “I only wish they might have enough to eat…”

“In that case…” On hearing this, Li Bai knelt and bowed deeply. “I am willing to donate all my family’s grain for disaster relief, but on one condition—the other families must not know.”

Qin Shirong and Li Guo exchanged a glance.

Qin Shirong hurried forward to help him up. “Sir Li, rise… You must consider this carefully. If word gets out, your family will be ruined. Are you certain?”

“I have always acted openly and honorably. I will not join them in corruption,” Li Bai replied firmly.

“Good… Very good!” Qin Shirong nodded, though he sighed. “But even now, I fear that not even the Li family alone will suffice…”

At that moment, a voice called from within the house: “Father… Not necessarily… Take a look at this…”

It was Qin Xuanxuan. She produced a sheaf of papers and set them before her father.

The handwriting was rather unsightly, which made Qin Shirong frown slightly.

Qin Xuanxuan pointed to a line: “Eighty-ninth hypothesis: Enrage the ten great clans, using this to suppress Hero Chen Bufan; leave their mansions poorly guarded, and seize the chance to steal grain.

Conclusion: This requires an inside agent; otherwise, even if the mansions are empty, a swift assault is impossible. Hypothesis invalid.”

“This… this is brilliant…” Qin Shirong hesitated, then slapped his forehead in realization.

Li Bai and Li Guo leaned in eagerly.

By flickering candlelight, they immersed themselves in debate over the plan, deep into the night—none of them pausing to wonder why the handwriting was so dreadful.

……

The next morning, Xiao Yan sought out Qin Xuanxuan at the government camp.

“Miss, I’ve come to collect the map…” Xiao Yan said, his gaze drifting toward a particular part of her.

“I’ve told you—it’s impossible. Do you know the strength of those clans? How could a single young monk possibly deal with them?” Qin Xuanxuan shook her head, inwardly worried Xiao Yan might do something rash.

“Why not?” Xiao Yan asked sincerely again.

“Do you know martial arts? Each clan is backed by a powerful sect!” Qin Xuanxuan glanced at the seventeen- or eighteen-year-old monk and sighed. His cleverness was beyond question—she’d seen enough through the pamphlets and deductive notes—but as for martial skill, at his age, she doubted he had anything more than fancy moves. Of course, she hadn’t heard that Xiao Yan had been the one behind Li Bai’s recent humiliation, or she might have thought differently.

“I do know martial arts. I’m an expert!” Xiao Yan straightened up and thumped his chest.

“Ha… Lying comes naturally to you, it seems…” Qin Xuanxuan smiled, neither believing nor denying him.

Given his age, who would believe it?

Xiao Yan didn’t argue, only asked again, “Are you sure you won’t give me the map?”

“I won’t let you go to your death!” Qin Xuanxuan replied through clenched teeth.

“Alright, then I won’t take it. Goodbye…”

Xiao Yan’s calmness caught her off guard. No one noticed the slight curl of his lips as he left.

“Hm?” Qin Xuanxuan stared in confusion at his departing figure.

Was that it? No further argument?

Yet after Xiao Yan left, Qin Xuanxuan felt a sudden chill descend upon the hall…

……

Outside, Xiao Yan reached into his robes and pulled out two objects.

One was the map.

“Ha, Da Vinci’s nimble fingers are quite handy indeed…” he chuckled, but his gaze fixed on the other item—a second thing he’d filched from Qin Xuanxuan, the result of his still-clumsy technique.

He examined it in the sunlight for a long moment.

It appeared to be a pink garment, but there was far too little fabric…

Good heavens!

A sudden realization struck him…

Hurriedly, Xiao Yan tucked the item back inside his robe, glanced around to see if anyone was watching, and only then allowed himself to breathe easy.

……

Meanwhile, after Xiao Yan’s departure, Qin Xuanxuan felt something was missing. Only when she returned to her room did she frown and wonder: Strange… Did I forget to put on my undergarment today? I was sure I wore it…

But by the time she discovered the map was gone, Xiao Yan was already elsewhere.

……

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