Chapter 121: Chapter 119: [I’m Serious]
Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: I’m Serious
Eldest Brother’s surname was Wu, and his given name was Dao.
The "Wu" like the character for mouth below sky, and "Dao" as in rice paddy.
The name immediately suggested a peasant background.
And actually, that wasn’t wrong.
According to Teacher Jiang, Wu Dao was a registered disciple he had taken in back in his old hometown, before coming to Jinling City.
Similar to Chen Nuo and Zhang Linsheng, Wu Dao had followed him for a few years to practice boxing.
But Teacher Jiang had known him for many years; he was a child Teacher Jiang had watched grow up.
Wu Dao had acknowledged him as his master. However, Teacher Jiang later felt the boy’s temperament wasn’t suited for martial arts, so he hadn’t taught him any real kung fu, just some body-strengthening exercises. Besides, the boy’s heart wasn’t in martial arts.
Instead, he was interested in all sorts of unorthodox, even dubious, things...
Well, alright, what Teacher Jiang called "dubious" wasn’t truly so. It was just that the boy, ever since he was young, had always been a bit of a babbler, prone to mystical-sounding pronouncements.
So, back in their hometown, people didn’t call him by his full name, Wu Dao.
They called him: Wu Daodao—Wu the Babbler.
Listen to that name: Wu Daodao.
Sun Keke, Lu Xixi, Wu Daodao.
This author is clearly a weakling when it comes to naming characters.
Wu Daodao’s arrival was unexpected by Teacher Jiang. Wu Daodao had phoned a couple of days earlier to send his regards, and Teacher Jiang had told him not to bother making the trip.
But this Eldest Brother was indeed thoughtful. Despite saying he would listen and not come, when the day arrived, he still made his way over.
The original seating arrangement at the banquet was with Teacher Jiang, as the day’s host, in the seat of honor.
To his left, starting from the seat of honor, were Old Sun, Teacher He (the math teacher), then Yang Xiaoyi and Sun Keke.
To his right were Teacher Jiang’s family: Song Qiaoyun beside him, then Zhang Linsheng, Chen Nuo, and Xiao Yezi.
With Eldest Brother’s arrival, a place should have been added between Song Qiaoyun and Zhang Linsheng.
Chen Nuo suddenly became very enthusiastic. He sent Xiao Yezi to sit with Sun Keke, then proactively went up and pulled Eldest Brother to sit beside him.
Wu Daodao, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead, looked at Chen Nuo’s forced smile and managed a strained one himself.
Teacher Jiang, in high spirits, didn’t notice the awkwardness. He warmly introduced everyone and then introduced Chen Nuo and Zhang Linsheng to Wu Daodao.
Zhang Linsheng didn’t think much of it and greeted Wu Daodao politely.
Chen Nuo’s enthusiasm, however, surprised Teacher Jiang a little, as he pulled Wu Daodao into small talk.
"Eldest Brother, where are you currently employed?"
"Er, back in my hometown."
"I guess you must have come by train this afternoon, right?"
"Er, yes, yes, yes."
Nonsense, didn’t I already show you the train ticket...
Wu Daodao wiped the sweat from his forehead and shot Chen Nuo a pleading look. Chen Nuo nodded, releasing his grip on Eldest Brother’s wrist.
Wu Daodao secretly drew in a sharp breath.
Then he hurriedly turned his head, smiled apologetically at Teacher Jiang, stood up, walked over, and respectfully took out a sealed red paper envelope from his pocket.
"Teacher, a small token of my esteem."
"No, no... It’s not easy for you to earn money. Just coming for a drink is enough!"
"Teacher, really, please accept it."
"Oh, dear..."
Chen Nuo, watching from the side, smiled. He walked over and stuffed the red envelope into Teacher Jiang’s hand. "Teacher, it’s Eldest Brother’s kind intention, just accept it! At the table, there’s no need for such back-and-forth. We’re all martial artists; let’s be more straightforward."
With that, he pulled Wu Daodao back to their seats.
"About this, Eldest Brother..."
"Ah! Junior Brother, go ahead."
"Let me guess again... inside the red envelope... five hundred yuan, right?"
"You’re brilliant, Eldest Brother!" Wu Daodao smiled nervously, giving a thumbs up.
Hmm, how could he not be brilliant.
There was a hundred-yuan note inside that Xiao Yezi had drawn a small turtle on with a ballpoint pen at home this afternoon.
Chen Nuo did not cause trouble at the banquet.
He couldn’t!
It was Teacher Jiang’s once-in-a-lifetime fiftieth birthday; Chen Nuo couldn’t possibly spoil Comrade Jiang Fusheng’s birthday feast by acting out.
The birthday feast, in fact, proceeded smoothly.
This Wu Daodao truly lived up to his nickname, often muttering as if divinely inspired, and indeed, he seemed to possess some real substance.
He proactively toasted everyone. Upon learning Old Sun was to be the vice-principal of Teacher Jiang’s future school, his attitude became even more respectful. He repeatedly toasted Old Sun, showering him with a deluge of compliments.
Finally, he toasted Teacher Jiang, reminiscing about past times, single-handedly enlivening the dinner table’s atmosphere.
He was even able to discuss history and current affairs with Song Qiaoyun, and they exchanged a few lines from ancient scriptures.
Old Sun was somewhat surprised. "Little Wu, you’re quite knowledgeable! What did you do back in your hometown?"
The question, meant as casual small talk, unexpectedly made Teacher Jiang’s expression turn peculiar when he heard it.
Song Qiaoyun coughed and said with a smile, "This child has had a hard life. His family was poor when he was young. Later, there was a temple in his hometown. He didn’t want to study, so when we left, he devoted himself to the temple, and the master there took him as a disciple."
"From the temple?" Old Sun was stunned.
"Yes. He became a monk." Song Qiaoyun shook her head. "A pity for this clever child to have chosen such a path."
Song Qiaoyun turned to look at Wu Daodao. "I heard that the master who took you in at the temple has passed away, hasn’t he?"
"Er, yes, he passed away last year," Wu Daodao nodded. "Mrs. Jiang, I’ve now taken over the temple’s affairs."
"Oh! So you’ve become the abbot then?" Chen Nuo suddenly interjected. "Eldest Brother, Abbot Wu! Hey? As an abbot, are you still allowed to drink alcohol?"
With that remark, everyone at the table suddenly focused, casting doubtful glances at Wu Daodao.
In front of Wu Daodao, the liquor bottle was already half empty. In his bowl, there was a half-eaten chicken leg and two slices of pork belly with preserved vegetables, both bitten into!
"..."
"..."
"..."
Wu Daodao paused for a few seconds, then laughed and waved his hand. "It’s fine, it’s fine!"
He bowed slightly with a smile to Teacher Jiang, Mrs. Jiang, and the other elders. "Teacher, Mrs. Jiang, respected elders, I have returned to secular life now."
"Returned to secular life?"
"Yes."
As he spoke, Wu Daodao pulled out several business cards from his pocket and distributed them around the table. "Please excuse the humble introduction."
Chen Nuo also took one and looked closely...
Qingyun Institute of Classical Studies, Cross Village, XX Town, XX County, XX City.
Director Wu Dao.
Song Qiaoyun held it and looked it over. "Wasn’t it Muyun Temple? Why is it now the Qingyun Institute?"
"Mrs. Jiang, you might not know... There used to be a Qingtian Temple in our hometown. A few years after you and Teacher Jiang left, I went to Qingtian Temple and studied under the Daoist priest there for several years... Later, when the Daoist priest also passed away... I merged Qingtian Temple and Muyun Temple. I named it Qingyun Institute.
Buddhism and Daoism are both part of classical studies, right? So we research them together..."
Wu Daodao spoke cheerfully, easing the awkwardness at the dinner table.
Chen Nuo, meanwhile, seemed to mutter to himself with a sigh.
Good grief... Qingyun... so you’re the founder of the Qingyun Sect.
After three rounds of wine and a variety of dishes, the lively dinner table gradually quieted down.
Jiang Fusheng saw that everyone’s spirits were winding down, and since the older guests had work the next day, he raised his glass for a final toast, concluding the banquet.
Old Sun’s family of three naturally headed home. Although Sun Keke wanted to stay with Chen Nuo, Old Sun and Yang Xiaoyi wouldn’t agree with so many people present, so she had to reluctantly wave goodbye to Chen Nuo.
Teacher He went home alone.
Teacher Jiang and Song Qiaoyun took Xiao Yezi with them.
Xiao Yezi was still living at Old Jiang’s house and had kindergarten the next morning.
Chen Nuo looked at Zhang Linsheng, who was still there, and the newcomer, Eldest Brother Wu Daodao.
"Lin Sheng, where are you off to?"
"Uh... I, I’m going home, home." Zhang Linsheng seemed somewhat distracted. He took out his phone, glanced at it, then put it away again.
Chen Nuo squinted with a smile but, with more pressing matters at hand, let Zhang Linsheng leave for the time being.
Seeing everyone else had left, Wu Daodao hurriedly said to Chen Nuo with a bitter smile, "Brother... Little Brother... about the dinner table earlier, thank you for saving my face."
"Don’t mention it. Let’s have a proper chat," Chen Nuo said smilingly, grabbing Wu Daodao by the wrist and leading him out of the hotel.
They left the hotel. Though Wu Daodao struggled, how could he possibly overpower Chen Yanluo?
Chen Nuo dragged him straight to the roadside. Passing a small shop, Chen Nuo tossed down some money for two more bottles of baijiu, then pulled Wu Daodao along to an open public square.
Releasing him, Chen Nuo had Wu Daodao sit on a stone bench.
Wu Daodao shook his wrists and chuckled. "Junior Brother, you’ve got quite a grip! It seems your training with Teacher Jiang has paid off well!"
Chen Nuo ignored him. He opened one bottle of liquor, then the second, and placed them on the stone bench.
"Tell me about today’s events."
"Huh?"
"I originally thought you were just a common charlatan, tricking people out of small sums, and had merely gotten lucky guessing Sun Keke’s situation.
But now, with all your mystical talk, I feel there’s something suspicious about you.
Come on, tell me, how did you figure out what’s going on with Sun Keke?
Most importantly... that misfortune you mentioned, is it real or not? Can your Amulet really dispel it?"
"Uh, this..."
"Can’t say, or you can’t explain it clearly?"
"Er, that..." Wu Daodao blinked rapidly.
Chen Nuo nodded. "If you don’t talk, I’ll pour both these bottles of liquor down your throat."
Wu Daodao frowned, glancing at Chen Nuo and then at the bottles of liquor before him.
Suddenly, he gritted his teeth, grabbed a bottle, and tilted it to his lips.
GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG...
Chen Nuo was stunned. What the hell? You...
GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG...
A whole bottle went down!
Chen Nuo actually laughed. "What do you mean by this?"
Wu Daodao shook his head, put down the empty bottle, grabbed the other one, and tilted his head back again.
GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG...
"Hey!" Chen Yanluo wasn’t having it. He grabbed Wu Daodao’s hand. "What’s wrong? You can’t speak?"
"...Can’t talk about it." Wu Daodao, reeking of alcohol, his eyes glazed over, mumbled, "Junior Brother... you’re too much... at least give me some peanuts with this..."
With that, his head lolled to the side, and his body slumped rigidly to the ground.
Chen Nuo was flabbergasted!
A few seconds later...
Wu Daodao, sprawled on the ground, was already drunk beyond coherence, mumbling through the alcohol fumes, "Impressive... you... you think you can... kill me...? We’re... we’re fellow disciples... Ha, ha... HAHAHA..."
His eyes closed, and he passed out!
"Damn it! Playing the unyielding scoundrel with me, are you!" Chen Yanluo laughed, exasperated.
Yes, this guy really was something, and cunning too.
Killing him was out of the question; we’re from the same martial family, after all.
Beating him up... wasn’t convenient either.
This shameless fellow, if he runs to Teacher Jiang tomorrow to complain...
It’d be trouble!
But... does he really think Chen Yanluo can’t handle a scoundrel?
A scoundrel?
I’m the original scoundrel!
Wu Daodao, thinking his trick had worked, had deliberately drunk himself unconscious and now slept soundly, without a care in the world.
He didn’t know how long he slept. When he leisurely awoke, he found himself lying in a cramped space.
Opening his eyes, he immediately sensed something was wrong.
A blanket covered him, but when his hand moved beneath it, touching his own body...
What the hell?
He was completely naked! Even his underwear had been stripped off!
The shock jolted Wu Daodao fully awake, his eyes flying open.
He was in the back of a van, lying on the rearmost seats. His clothes had been stripped off at some point, leaving him covered only by a blanket.
Most importantly, there were three to five burly, fierce-looking men sitting in the van’s seats!
One of them, with a ferocious, oily face, stood out.
His bald head was gleaming with oil! He was pinching his chin, staring at Wu Daodao with a sinister grin.
Wu Daodao felt the hairs on his body stand on end! Naked under the blanket, he began to tremble.
"Y-y-y-y-you, who... who are you people..."
Wu Daodao was so agitated that he stuttered.
The bald man was, naturally, Brother Lei.
Brother Lei pinched his chin and smiled. "Brother, I won’t make things difficult for you. Just look out the van window."
Outside the window, it was already broad daylight!
It was Jinling City’s busiest street, bustling with traffic and an endless stream of pedestrians...
"A friend asked me to ask you something. He said you should think it over carefully: will you talk, or not?"
"And if... if I don’t talk?" Wu Daodao swallowed, a bitter taste in his mouth.
"If you don’t talk... we won’t lay a hand on you... We’ll just open the door and push you out onto the street."
"You... you think I’m afraid of that!" Wu Daodao retorted, craning his neck defiantly.
"Hmm, no problem. If once isn’t enough, we’ll do it twice. If twice isn’t enough, ten times."
Brother Lei shook his head. "We’re idle anyway, and Jinling City has plenty of streets. We can play this game on every single one of them.
If one day isn’t enough, we’ll do it for two. If two days aren’t enough, a whole week."
Wu Daodao sucked in a cold breath!
Brother Lei looked at Wu Daodao. "How about it? Made up your mind yet?"
"..." Wu Daodao clenched his teeth and stayed silent.
Brother Lei sighed and gestured with his hand. "Open the van door."
"Don’t! Please, don’t! Absolutely not!!" Wu Daodao immediately caved, looking up with a sigh. "I give up! Fine! Get Chen Nuo. Whatever he asks, I’ll answer."
Wu Daodao met Chen Nuo again in Brother Lei’s auto shop.
It was already the afternoon of the day after the birthday feast.
Wu Daodao wore a jacket and trousers. Although he was still bare-chested underneath, he at least felt less exposed.
In a room at the back of the auto shop, Chen Nuo sat on a sofa, sipping tea. Brother Lei pushed Wu Daodao in.
Brother Lei even proactively refilled Chen Nuo’s teapot, then nodded at Chen Nuo before stepping out and closing the door.
Wu Daodao looked around, sizing up his surroundings and observing Chen Nuo, who was drinking tea.
"Heard at the dinner table yesterday that you’re working at an auto shop... this is the place, right?"
Chen Nuo didn’t speak.
"That bald man earlier, I heard them call him ’Boss’. He’s the owner of this auto shop, right?" Wu Daodao sighed, his eyes darting around. "What kind of job are you doing here? It looks more like he’s working for you.
You’ve got quite the hidden depths... Does Teacher Jiang know about this?"
Chen Nuo put down his teacup and looked up at Wu Daodao, his gaze somewhat icy.
After a few seconds of silence, Chen Nuo took a deep breath. His tone was very steady, his speech deliberately slow.
"Originally, I didn’t plan to reveal these connections to you... I could have spent more time playing along with your stubborn act."
Chen Nuo paused, then pointed to an empty chair in front of him. "Sit."
Wu Daodao sat down and even picked up a cigarette from the table, placing it between his lips.
Chen Nuo didn’t stop him; he even passed him a lighter.
"Junior Brother, you have your secrets too. How about we just mind our own business and go our separate ways, alright?" Wu Daodao smiled, lighting the cigarette and taking a puff.
Chen Nuo didn’t respond to that. Instead, he said calmly, "Eldest Brother, things have changed a bit. I don’t have the patience to play games with you anymore."
With that, Chen Nuo fixed his gaze on Wu Daodao’s eyes.
"This morning, I got a call. Sun Keke was hit by a car when she went out.
It was a small accident, not serious. She was hit by a bicycle, just grazed. Her injuries weren’t severe, just some scrapes and bruises on her knee.
Considering all her recent experiences.
And then thinking about what you said when I met you yesterday..."
Hearing this, Wu Daodao’s expression also turned serious.
Chen Nuo slowly shook his head. "To be honest, I don’t believe in all this mystical stuff about bad luck or retribution.
Amulets, destinies overshadowed by dark clouds—I don’t really believe in that either. And talk of gods or Buddhas is just nonsense.
But... I do believe one thing.
There must be some mysterious power, one I don’t yet understand, causing these things to happen.
I can tell you plainly, right now, I’m extremely anxious!
What is the reason for Sun Keke’s recent string of misfortunes? What power is causing them?
How powerful is this power?
How many more such incidents will happen to her?
What is the most severe consequence this could lead to?
Wu Dao!
If you can’t clearly answer these questions for me today..."
Chen Nuo took a deep breath, his youthful face expressionless.
"Sun Keke is my life!
If you don’t tell me...
Today, you will bleed.
I mean it.
I am serious."