Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 35 Yanggu County

As evening falls and the sun begins to set, a chilly atmosphere pervades the world.

It was the transition between summer and autumn, and the sky in the mountains darkened quickly, with layers of mist and haze settling over the surrounding peaks.

A mountain wind rose, howling and sweeping through the gaps in the forest in the valley, rustling the leaves all over the mountain, like a thousand horses galloping over withered branches and fallen leaves.

The wind howled ever stronger, adding to the profound loneliness.

Beside the official road, a small hotel stood alone.

The shop door was half-closed, and a signboard hung under the eaves. The sky was dim, and the words on the signboard were blurred and difficult to read.

The shop was deserted, with only the owner sitting behind the counter. He was about fifty years old, propping his chin up with one hand and dozing off intermittently.

Apart from him, there was not a single customer in the shop. It was so quiet that the only sounds were the wind outside and the occasional crackling of firewood in the stove.

In the stillness, "creak—"

With a strange noise, the shop door was suddenly pushed open!

A burly figure, accompanied by the mountain wind, burst into the shop, bringing with him a chill.

"Master, bring the wine!"

The sound startled the shop owner awake, and he hurriedly looked up.

The newcomer raised his face, and although his features were not particularly handsome, they were angular and his face was rugged. His eyes shone brightly in the dim light. It was none other than Zheng Tu!

Although he was dressed for a long journey, he could not hide his strong and capable aura.

He had traveled all day, riding his horse along the official road, without a proper rest from morning till night, his buttocks aching from the jolting on the saddle.

My mouth is dry and my stomach is rumbling with hunger.

As the sun was about to set, and there was no village or shop in sight, he was getting anxious when he was delighted to see a wine shop peeking out from the mountain valley. It was like "rain after a long drought," and he hurriedly urged his horse to go there.

Upon entering the shop, Zheng Tu chose a seat in the middle and gently leaned a long object he carried with him against the earthen wall.

The object was tightly wrapped with coarse cloth strips, and was the same thickness at both ends, resembling an ordinary whistle stick, only slightly shorter.

A mountain wind howled, and the door, which wasn't closed tightly, was blown open a crack. The shopkeeper hurriedly got up, muttering, "This deadly draft..."

He jogged over and quickly bolted the door, then nudged it with his shoulder, as if afraid that the little bit of warmth he had managed to gather in the shop would be blown away.

Before closing the door, Zheng Tu glimpsed what appeared to be five characters on the banner outside, but it was too dark to see them clearly.

Now that he had settled in, he finally had time to look around the shop's layout.

The shop was small, consisting of only one main room and a counter, all of which were clearly visible. Inside, there were three or four wooden tables and benches, and several strings of dried chili peppers and garlic hung on the wall.

There was a curtain at the back, presumably leading to the kitchen and several guest rooms.

The shop was run by only the owner, who also served as the waiter. A pile of odds and ends lay in the corner, bearing the heavy marks of daily life. The threshold was worn smooth and shiny from years of footsteps by merchants from all over. The tables and chairs, though old, were spotlessly clean, unlike the slovenly state of some other establishments.

I've already inquired about this place; it's already within the territory of Yanggu County, and Qinghe County is just a short distance ahead. In his previous life, he took a different, secluded route, but this time, riding a horse along the official road, the path is naturally different.

This place is neither too far nor too close to Qinghe County. If we hurry on our journey tomorrow, we should be able to arrive before evening.

Without giving it much thought, Zheng Tu reached out and touched the long cloth bundle leaning against the wall. Inside was the wrought iron dagger he had obtained from Tang Wu, the "Flower-Piercing Tiger".

This knife was truly sharp; even a slight touch of the palm revealed a chilling aura emanating from the gaps in the cloth. Its blade was long and narrow, with a gleaming edge—a weapon capable of killing without shedding blood.

Unfortunately, Zheng Tu was only skilled in fist and foot techniques, and was a complete novice when it came to swordsmanship. In order to avoid accidentally injuring himself and to avoid being discovered, he wrapped the knife in thick cloth and used it as a makeshift staff.

Whether to sell or use it, we can decide later.

Having died several times in the martial arts world, Zheng Tu dared not relax his guard even though the shop seemed safe.

While the shop owner turned to the kitchen to heat the wine, Zheng Tu quietly moved to the small door, listened carefully for a moment, and then quickly peeked out.

Seeing that the stove was clean and the firewood was neatly arranged, with nothing unusual, he felt somewhat relieved and returned to his seat.

Before long, the shop owner came out carrying a wooden tray and placed a rough porcelain bowl, a pair of bamboo chopsticks, and a plate of steaming salt and pepper fried tofu in front of Zheng Tu, and then poured a full bowl of wine.

The wine was clear and bright, without a trace of impurity. The fine bubbles in the bowl dissipated in a moment, and when poured into the bowl, it looked just like water.

The aroma of the wine is neither too strong nor too weak, carrying a light and mellow fragrance.

Zheng Tu picked up the bowl and took a sip.

It felt smooth and warm as it entered my mouth and went down my throat. At first, I felt a line of fire going down, and then a warm feeling rose from my abdomen. The coldness in my body gradually dissipated, and my limbs and bones felt comfortable. The fatigue accumulated from traveling for days seemed to have been relieved.

"This is truly fine wine!" Zheng Tu thought to himself. "The shop may not be large, but the wine is quite good. Although it can't compare to the expensive wine that Ximen Qing served at the Lion Tower that day, it has its own unique flavor."

Thinking of Ximen Qing, Zheng Tu felt a mix of emotions.

Judging solely by his conduct, this Ximen official was indeed notorious. He was a womanizer, a gambler, a drunkard, and a womanizer, and could be considered a local tyrant in Qinghe County.

But on the other hand, he was a completely different person when he interacted with me. He chatted and laughed with me, was generous with his money, and apart from some other aspects, we were quite like-minded. We sat facing each other for half a day and found ourselves to be kindred spirits.

Human nature is incredibly complex.

Zheng Tu shook his head, no longer thinking about it, though he didn't know if Ximen Qing had ulterior motives for befriending him.

But judging by his actions rather than his intentions, his previous behavior alone made him worthy of my help.

It wasn't that she wanted to deal with Wu Song and his brother for him, but rather that she wanted to end their ill-fated relationship before Ximen Qing ran into Pan Jinlian.

In this way, the deadlock is immediately resolved!

Zheng Tu narrowed his eyes, gradually forming a plan in his mind, and then turned his attention back to the food.

After a long day of travel, the hot wine made him feel refreshed, and he took two big gulps of it. He then picked up the golden-brown fried tofu and began to chew it heartily.

The shop fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sounds of Zheng Tu drinking and eating.

This peaceful and serene atmosphere is exactly what Zheng Tu has always wanted.

As the bowl of wine was nearly finished, the chill in his body was completely dispelled, and a slight sweat appeared on his forehead.

Just as Zheng Tu was about to ask the shopkeeper to pour another bowl, he suddenly heard a series of "shh, shh, shh" footsteps coming from the official road outside the shop.

The footsteps were initially quite far, but soon they came close, walking very quickly.

"Squeak—"

The shop door was pushed open again, and a mountain breeze swept into the room, bringing a cool feeling.

A cold wind blew into his neck, and Zheng Tu shivered. He put down his wine bowl and stared intently at the doorway.