Chapter 29 The Guozhao Hunters' Stand

Two weeks later, Deming rested in a small, weathered pavilion on the side of a dusty road, the midday sun beating down. He was quietly eating his vegetarian buns when two old men in their forties and two young teenagers walked in, seeking respite from the heat. The two older men and the two teenagers were dressed beautifully, their robes finely made, suggesting status. He noticed that the two teenagers were dressed exactly the same, with the same faces, clearly twins.

The taller older man in red, his face kind, looked at Deming. "This young hunter of Guzheng Sector," he said, his voice gentle, "if you don't mind, can we rest in here with you? The sun is quite strong."

Deming looked up at the older man, his expression calm. "Go ahead," he replied, moving his bag to the end of the pavilion to make room for the four of them, a gesture of hospitality.

Deming watched the taller older man in red pour some water from his bota canteen onto his white handkerchief. Then, the man carefully squeezed out the excess water and began to gently wipe the other man's face, a tender, intimate gesture.

Lee Dachin, the man whose face was being wiped, sighed contentedly. "Yaoting, I feel much better, thank you." Lee Dachin smiled warmly at Fang Yaoting and took the handkerchief from Fang Yaoting's hand, then, in turn, wiped Fang Yaoting's face, returning the gesture.

Fang Weimin, one of the twins, complained, his voice a whine, "Father, when can we go hunting? We're tired of just sitting around!"

Fang Yaoting, his voice stern, said, "Have you ever asked your grandfather before you left the Fang's house? What did he say?"

Fang Weisheng, the other twin, answered, his voice a reluctant mumble, "We did, Father. He said no, absolutely not."

"Then it's settled," Fang Yaoting stated, his voice firm, ending the discussion.

"Just sitting at home with all those seniors to babysit us, how can we learn anything?" Fang Weisheng grabbed onto Lee Dachin's left sleeve, pleading. "Uncle Dachin, please beg on our behalf! Convince grandfather!"

Lee Dachin smiled gently, shaking his head. "I have promised your grandfather that I will not express any opinion on family matters, Weisheng. My hands are tied." He smiled at Fang Weisheng, a knowing glint in his eye. "Listen to your grandfather, he's older and wiser, so he knows what's best for the two of you. He's protecting you."

"I told you it was a waste of saliva," Fang Weimin whispered to Fang Weisheng, rolling his eyes.

Lee Dachin smiled at the twins, his voice encouraging. "Don't get discouraged, boys. Maybe keep practicing hard. When your grandfather sees progress, when he sees you've truly matured, your grandfather will let you two go out hunting. All you two have to do is show him that you have grown up already and are able to take care of yourself, to be responsible."

Fang Weisheng looked at Deming, his gaze curious, and studied him up and down, openly assessing him. "Uncle Dachin, look over there." He pointed rudely to Deming. "That young man is about our age. He can travel on his own, without supervision!"

Lee Dachin shook his head gently. "Weisheng, it's not nice to point your finger at people. It's impolite." Lee Dachin stood up and walked toward Deming, his face apologetic. "Young hunter," he smiled at Deming, "Please forgive my son for being impolite. He's still learning manners."

Deming stood up, his expression calm. "I don't mind, senior. It's quite alright."

Fang Yaoting looked at his sons, a pointed look on his face. "Now you understand why that young hunter can travel alone, and you cannot. He has maturity you lack."

Lee Dachin looked at Deming, his voice curious. "May I ask where you are going, young hunter? Your journey seems long."

"Oh, senior, I'm going to Cloud City," Deming replied, his voice respectful.

Fang Weisheng jumped up, his eyes wide with surprise, and walked quickly to Lee Dachin and Deming. "Why are you going to Cloud City? What business do you have there? It's far!" he asked, his voice eager.

Deming introduced himself, "I'm Dong Enlai of Guzheng Sector, on a quest for knowledge."

Fang Weisheng interrupted Deming, a smirk on his face. "You don't need to tell us which sector you belong to, we already knew that you are from Guzheng Sector, just by looking at your clothes." He smirked. "So, why are you going to Cloud City? To duel with the famous Black Hunter?"

"I'm going to Cloud City to learn their principles," Deming said, his voice firm, a hint of his true purpose in his tone.

"Really?" Fang Weisheng asked, clearly skeptical.

Fang Weimin, shaking his head, said, "The Guzheng Sector already has very good principles and teaching, why should you study the Guozhao principle? It's unnecessary."

Deming smiled, a knowing glint in his eye. "When it comes to learning, young master, the sky is the limit. There's always more to discover."

Fang Weisheng scratched his head, genuinely confused. "Huh? What does that mean?"

Fang Weimin gave his brother a disappointed glance, a sigh escaping him. He frowned. "You are so stupid, Weisheng. He means he wants to learn more."

Deming walked to his horse and poured water for it, leaving the two older men and the twins resting inside the pavilion. From a distance, he saw a man and a woman walking towards the pavilion. The woman wore red and white robes, and the man wore black, their colors unmistakable. The two twins stood up happily, their faces lighting up. he knew from the color of the clothes that the two persons must be Guozhao Hunters, his heart pounding with recognition. He continued to feed his horse, trying to appear nonchalant, ignoring the man and woman, though his gaze kept flickering towards them.

The man and the woman greeted the two elders, bowing respectfully. "Third Master," they said to Fang Yaoting. Then they looked at Lee Dachin. "Teacher Lee."

The twins said happily, their voices filled with excitement, "Senior Brother! Senior Sister!"

Lee Dachin smiled, a genuine warmth in his expression. "I'm very happy that you two came back safely, Zhiqiang, Chuntao."

Fang Yaoting asked, his voice filled with concern, "Zhiqiang, Chuntao, how was it? Did you find anything?"

Deming was so shocked that his heart was shaking, as if it would stop at any moment, hearing that familiar name. He believed he had heard it wrong, a trick of the wind. He slowly turned to the small pavilion and saw Guozhao Zhiqiang standing in front of the two older men, his face weary but recognizable. "Zhiqiang," Deming whispered, his voice a choked gasp, a profound relief washing over him. Looking at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his heart was full of happiness, an overwhelming joy. He wanted to rush to hug him, to feel his warmth again.

Yang Chuntao, noticing Deming's bag, asked, "Whose bag is this, Senior Brother? Are we expecting someone?"

Fang Weisheng smiled lightly, eager to share the news. "It's that brother." He pointed rudely to Deming and his horse. "He said he was going to Cloud City to study our principles."

Yang Chuntao looked at Deming, her gaze curious. "Really?" She smiled at Deming, a friendly, welcoming expression.

Deming nodded at Yang Chuntao; his eyes still fixed on Zhiqiang. He glanced at Guozhao Zhiqiang, but Guozhao Zhiqiang did not look at Deming like the other disciples, his gaze distant, as if he hadn't noticed him. He saw Guozhao Zhiqiang and Yang Chuntao sit on a bench together. Yang Chuntao gave Guozhao Zhiqiang food, a gesture of care. Guozhao Zhiqiang willingly accepted it, eating slowly. He didn't know why; he was very angry when he saw the two of them sitting together, offering food back and forth, a bitter jealousy twisting in his gut.

Before long, a group of merchants and some other hunters also came to rest around the small pavilion, seeking shelter and conversation. Then, a little girl about ten years old and a little boy about four years old ran frantically towards the group of people, their faces etched with terror.

The little girl cried for help, her voice shrills with desperation, "Please help us! Please someone help us! We're in danger!"

A man's rough voice came from behind, filled with menace, "Fen'er, run away! Don't let them catch you!"

The young girl and boy, panting, came to the hunters, seeking refuge. The girl pleaded, her voice trembling, "Hunters… please help us! They're chasing us!" The little girl knelt down right in front of the hunters, her small hands clasped in supplication. "Please these big brothers and big sisters, please help us! Save us!"

When the girl was begging, more than twenty rough-looking men surrounded the small pavilion, their faces cruel. One of the men dragged an older man over, his body limp, and threw him roughly to the ground. The man was seriously injured, and dark blood stains were visible on his head and face. The injured man fell to the ground and coughed violently, a painful, gurgling sound.

Pang Tao, the leader of the rough men, stepped forward, his face sneering. "A good dog should not block a gentleman's path," he said, his voice mocking, looking at the injured man.

Fang Weimin, his face hardening, stood beside Guozhao Zhiqiang. "I agree," he said, his voice cold. "Good dogs should not block a gentleman's path, especially when they're trying to hurt innocents."

Xu Shi, one of Pang Tao's men, said angrily, "Kid, stay away from man's business! This doesn't concern you!"

Fang Weisheng stood next to his brother, his face flushed with indignation, and said angrily, "Who do you call kid, you brute?!"

Pang Tao smirked, a cruel glint in his eye. "Of course, you, little boy." He peeked back and saw Yang Chuntao, her beauty striking. "Heh… look at this beauty here." He smirked at Yang Chuntao, his gaze lecherous. "How about you go with us, pretty lady, and we will leave your little brothers go? A fair trade."

Fang Weimin smirked at Pang Tao, a cold, dangerous glint in his eyes. "Tsk… tsk… if you still want your hand to hold your penis while urinating, I advise you to leave her alone. She's a Guozhao Hunter, and you'll regret touching her."

"Good suggestion. I will satisfy your wishes," Pang Tao said, his face twisting with rage, and he threw his fist directly at Fang Weimin, a powerful blow.

Guozhao Zhiqiang, moving with lightning speed, grabbed Pang Tao's fist in mid-air and, with a powerful kick, sent Pang Tao hard in the stomach. He kicked Pang Tao out of the pavilion, sending him flying twenty yards away, crashing to the ground.

Xu Shi called out, his voice shrill, "Everyone attack the weirdo! Get him!"

Fang Weisheng angrily said, his voice filled with righteous fury, "How dare you call my Senior Brother a weirdo, you dog!" He attacked the attackers, his movements swift and precise.

Fang Weimin smiled, a cold, dangerous smile. "Attacking our Senior Brother is the biggest mistake you dogs have made. You'll regret it."

The other hunters and merchants, seeing the fight erupt, pulled away from the crowd that had begun the fight and walked towards Deming, seeking safety. Deming looked at the two older men sitting calmly in the pavilion; both of them were remarkably composed. The shorter older man in white had peeled an orange and handed it to the old man in red. The two older men didn't seem to worry at all, their faces serene amidst the chaos.

Four people shot arrows at Guozhao Zhiqiang and his juniors, their bows twanging. Deming, reacting instinctively, flew out, a blur of red and black, used the guzheng he now carried, emitted powerful sound waves, and blocked the arrows from hitting Guozhao Zhiqiang and the twins, deflecting them harmlessly.

Guozhao Zhiqiang flipped backward, his movements graceful, and sent out a talisman at the group of attackers. The talisman turned into many tiny balls of fire, exploding among them. The group of men were severely burned, screaming in pain. Then small rocks and mud fragments floated around him, swirling with spiritual energy. He softly said, "Hit," his voice a low command. Rocks and mud fragments flew towards the group of people and hit them heavily, like a barrage of bullets. The men groaned in pain, desperately blocking the flying shards with their hands, their bodies battered.

Pang Tao, bruised and enraged, looked around at the many hunters standing beside him, observing the fight. He raised his voice and shouted, his voice desperate, "Any hunter here, if you are willing to catch this weirdo, this Black Hunter, I will reward you greatly! Name your price!"

One of the hunters, a stern-faced man, stood up, his voice clear and firm. "No matter how high the reward is, we will not be an enemy of Guozhao Hunters," he said, his loyalty unwavering.

Pang Tao's voice trembled with dawning horror and disbelief. "You... you are all Guozhao Hunters?!" he stammered, realizing his grave mistake.