Chapter 4  A Dumb Man

Kuo Lok carried Bazar Batu on the dirt road towards the town. Kuo Lok originally planned to stop and rest, but he noticed that Bazar Batu was already asleep, so he decided not to take a break and wake up Bazar Batu, instead he continued to walk to town.

Bazar Batu awakened to the voice of people talking. He slowly opened his eyes and found that they were close to the city gate.

Bazar Batu asked sleepily, "Where are we?"

Kuo Lok, "We are in Tianshan."

Bazar Batu, "Tianshan?" He looked at Kuo Lok and asked, "Lok ge ge, where are we going?"

Kuo Lok replied, "We going to one of the inn to rest."

Kuo Lok walked past a small stall. Bazar Batu remembers two years ago, when he met a stranger, he was sitting at a table drinking sadly. He wondered how that stranger doing with his love life and then he suddenly remembered that the stranger told him that his wife was a man. Then he looked at Kuo Lok and he chuckled.

Kuo Lok, "What's wrong?"

Bazar Batu, "Lok ge ge, two years ago, that table." He pointed to the middle table. "I met a stranger sitting there alone drinking. I suggest that drinking alcohol will not solve his problem."

Kuo Lok, "My mother said the same thing."

Bazar Batu, "Do you know why he drinks alone in the middle of the night?"

Kuo Lok, "Why?"

Bazar Batu chuckled, "He is jealous of his wife. He said that since the day they met, his wife has not praised him, but with other people he talk nicely to them." He chuckled some more. "Do you know what he said to me before he left?"

Kuo Lok, "What?"

Bazar Batu, "He told me that his wife has a short temper and is easily embarrassed." He took a deep breath. "Do you know? He said his wife is a man."

Kuo Lok, "A man?"

Bazar Batu, "Yes…" He looked at Kuo Lok then asked, "Lok, ge ge, will you fall in love with a man? Do you think this is weird? I want to ask this stranger more questions, why does he fell in love with a man, but he waved to me to enjoy the food and quickly left."

Kuo Lok, "I don't know."

Bazar Batu, "You don't know what?" He asked too many questions, so he don't know which question Kuo Lok answered.

Kuo Lok, "We are here."

Kuo Lok carried Bazar Batu inside the Inn and one of the waiter came greet them.

Waiter, "How many room?"

Bazar Batu, "One."

Kuo Lok, "We should have two rooms?"

Bazar Batu, "One is enough. I will sleep on the floor."

Waiter, "So, how many room?" The waiter became impatient.

Kuo Lok, "One."

The waiter showed them to their room and they ordered food.

Kuo Lok sat at the table in front of Bazar Batu, "Why not have two room?"

Bazar Batu, "Da ge…you kicked my horse, and my bag is on the horse's back. I have no money."

Kuo Lok, "Oh…"

Bazar Batu, "Oh? Is this all you can said? At least apologize to me for kicking my horse."

Kuo Lok, "I saved you from those three men, did I?"

Bazar Batu smiled and said, "Thank you very much for saving me. Please get out now."

Kuo Lok, "Oh…" He stood up and walked to the door, then turned and stared at Bazar Batu. "Why do I need to get out?"

Bazar Batu smiled impatiently because the orange acid started to irritate his skin. Then he said, "Or you want to watch me take a bath."

Kuo Lok, "Oh."

Bazar Batu, "Ge ge, guard the door for me. Make sure no one peeks at me when I take a bath."

Kuo Lok nodded, he got out of the room and closed the door.

Bazar Batu began to take off his clothes. He complained to himself, "I have never seen anyone as stupid as this one." He soaked into the bath tub fill of warm water. Then, he recalled the temple scene without Kuo Lok, he might have been killed by Miao Mingzhu, or died of a heart attack staring at a snake. "Even if he is a little stupid, and he can only answer one question at a time, but his skills are undeniable." He sprinkled some water on his face and frowned, "Ah...If I want to experience the martial arts world, I must stick to you." He covered his face with the wet hot towel.

After Bazar Batu finished his bath and put on some clothes, he went to open the door. When the door opened, he saw Kuo Lok's big back blocking the door.

Bazar Batu giggled, and lightly patted on Kuo Lok's back, "Lok ge ge, when I jokingly told you to guard the door, you were actually guarding the door."

Kuo Lok, "I don't mind." He looked at Bazar Batu and found that he looked different. He walked into the room and sat at the table. "You…you look different."

Bazar Batu, "Different? How?"

Kuo Lok, "You don't look like this before."

Bazar Batu put one finger on his lips, "Shhh…listen…I will be dressing like a boy from now on. Remember I'm running away, so I must disguise myself. Also, it's easier for traveling."

Kuo Lok, "Oh…" Kuo Lok walked back to the table and sit down.

Bazar Batu poured tea for the two of them, and he smiled while watching Kuo Lok. He said, "Lok ge ge, since you have to pay for the room, you should sleep on the bed, I should sleep on the floor, but because I am a fragile lady, I should sleep on the bed."

Kuo Lok, "You can sleep on the bed. I don't mind."

Bazar Batu, "Alright." He walked to the bed and threw one of the pillow at Kuo Lok. He sat on the bed, looking at the big idiot sitting at the dining table drinking tea. He wanted to know if Kuo Lok is actually this dumb and stupid or was he pretending to be dumb and stupid. He chuckled and teased, "Lok ge ge, this bed is big enough for both of us to sleep. How about we sleep in the bed together."

Kou Lok looked at Bazar Batu and said, "A woman and man should not sleep in the same bed unless they are husband and wife."

Bazar Batu, "But since I am wearing men's clothing, you should treat me as a man, not a woman."

Kuo Lok, "You look too young to be a man."

Bazar Batu, "Lok ge ge, have you always been like this? Or do you pretend to be like this?"

Kuo Lok, "Do you mean stupid?"

Bazar Batu felt bad so he said, "Naive."

Kuo Lok looked at Bazar Batu, "I know I am a dumb man, and you are not the first person to call me stupid or dumb. I don't mind. My mother said, as long as I don't believe it, others people's words will not affect me."

Bazar Batu, "Your mother is absolutely right." He lay in bed and pulled the blanket to over him. He closed his eyes and said, "Lok ge ge, please blew out the candlelight."

Kuo Lok blew the candlelight on the table and walked to the bed. He put the pillow on the floor and lay down. He closed his eyes and felt asleep.

After a while, Bazar Batu's eyes had adjusted to the night. He peaked down on the floor and he saw Kuo Lok sleeping soundly. He noticed that Kuo Lok is a very handsome man. Ku Lok is a big man, his palm is as big as Bar Batu's face. When he looked at Kuo Lok, Kuo Lok body shape reminded him of those Mongol warriors during Naadam festival. He whispered, "Big dummy." He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.