Chapter 21: 21 Choose One of Two

21 Choose One of Two

Tang Zhao was dumbfounded; this was something he had never expected. He pointed at the portrait and said, "This... how can you tell this is me?"

The portrait had tried its best to depict a handsome youth, but it was absolutely impossible to trace the drawing back to a specific living person, and naturally, it had nothing to do with Tang Zhao.

Lord Xing smiled and said, "Take a look—isn't this your Longevity Lock?"

The youth in the painting wore a Longevity Lock, which did look somewhat similar to Tang Zhao's—in Heiyang County, saying that a youth of similar age and similar handsomeness wearing a similar lock was Tang Zhao did make some sense.

This time, Tang Zhao was truly puzzled. He muttered, "Who is looking for me? I haven't provoked anyone."

If he had to name someone he had provoked, it was only... a certain human trafficker?

Are human traffickers this arrogant now? Can they even put out a bounty if they can't catch someone?

He couldn't help but think: If you had told me earlier that I was worth one thousand taels, I might have sold you back then to repay Feng Ge.

Lord Xing said, "With a bounty of one thousand taels on you, if you weren't here with me, you would have been captured sooner or later."

Tang Zhao said, "Then should I thank you, my lord?"

Lord Xing casually pressed the portrait onto the table and said, "Do you know why I had you two come here?"

With that one sentence, Tang Zhao's spine straightened and Wei Zhangle's face turned pale; the atmosphere changed instantly.

The temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. Tang Zhao stood up straight, steadied himself, and said carefully, "I dare not guess wildly. Since you summoned us, my lord, there must be some task for us."

This was a platitude; Tang Zhao was trying to avoid words like "arrest," "pursuit," or "criminal." This was truly a critical moment concerning his survival and future; if Lord Xing accepted this, he could avoid the worst-case scenario.

Lord Xing said slowly, "You are quite clever. I do have something for you to do. It was originally a small matter, but now it has become quite a big deal. Why did you run? If you hadn't run, would I have had to chase you like this? It really is a waste of effort and money."

Tang Zhao felt a slight relief in his heart and thought: That's good. It's not about a crime.

Wei Zhangle suddenly said, "My lord..." His voice was trembling slightly.

Lord Xing gave a hum, and Wei Zhangle said, "The matter you have for me... it doesn't require two people, does it? If... if one person is enough..."

Tang Zhao felt a slight stir in his heart, not because he was moved that Wei Zhangle was trying to save him, but because he was moved by the courage it took for him to say those words.

Lord Xing raised his eyelids slightly and said, "Two people is better, but one is fine. How about this, I will test you both. You answer quickly, and later I will let the more useless one go."

Tang Zhao thought that this Lord Xing's personality was truly wicked.

Just as he was thinking this, Lord Xing had already said, "What character is on the table?"

Tang Zhao and Wei Zhangle almost blurted out simultaneously: "Xing."

A character was written on the table, its strokes glowing slightly, as if written with fluorescent ink.

Xing, the Xing of punishment.

Lord Xing said, "Very good, one point each. Remember, this is the character of my surname. Now then?"

As soon as the words fell, the light twisted, forming a new character. Only, this light was a different color than before; it had been yellowish, but this time it was white.

"Death." Again, almost simultaneously.

Just from reading this character, Tang Zhao felt a bit of a chill.

Lord Xing smiled and said, "Very good. It seems it really isn't easy to pick a useless one out from among you."

At this moment, Wei Zhangle tugged at Tang Zhao's clothes and gave him a look.

Tang Zhao pondered for a moment, and Lord Xing tutted, "What is going on? Shouldn't you be colluding somewhere I can't see?"

Tang Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Lord Xing, whether it is me or Wei Zhangle, we are both mere commoners. Our lives and deaths are all in your hands. This student dares to speak: if for the sake of thoroughness you must keep us both, then we have nothing to say. If you have a heart of mercy and truly wish to let one of us go back, then let me go back."

Lord Xing had been listening dismissively, but upon hearing the end, he said, "You've decided just like that? You won't argue for it anymore?"

Tang Zhao said, "Firstly, there is no need to argue; we have communicated and reached an understanding. Secondly, I dare not argue."

Lord Xing said, "Dare not?"

Tang Zhao said, "I remember you were angry when you were at the foot of the mountain earlier, precisely because you disliked that 'competing for righteousness' act of ours. If we were to do it again now, wouldn't we be deliberately offending your majesty? We students dare not act presumptuously."

Lord Xing tutted and said, "Listen to that sarcastic tone; you truly are a seed of a scholar."

Tang Zhao felt deeply innocent; he had always been straightforward and frank, and he didn't know why people always thought he was being sarcastic.

"Meow—"

A cat's cry sounded; the big fat cat lying on the chair stretched, changed into a disdainful posture, and lay back down.

The three of them turned their gazes to the cat's rear end in unison. Tang Zhao's heart brightened: Isn't this the big cat from the entrance of Xue Fu?

It seemed to be, but he felt there was something a bit different.

It seemed to be...

The fur was brighter?

That coat of downy fur was as bright as gold, seemingly glowing faintly.

Perhaps because the rhythm was interrupted by the cat, Lord Xing couldn't be bothered to play with the children anymore and said, "How about this, I have a small test here. Based on the result, either I will keep both of you, or I will let you go."

Wei Zhangle hurriedly said, "Thank you, my lord."

Lord Xing said, "Then we shall start with you. Come in with me. Tang Zhao, wait here; you can eat the things on the table." Having said this, he stood up.

This room consisted of one bright room and two dark rooms. Lord Xing took Wei Zhangle into another room, and the door closed naturally, cutting off the inside from the outside. Not a single sound could be heard, unlike the side hall where Tang Zhao had just been, which was drafty on all sides.

The hall was as quiet as stagnant water. Tang Zhao felt anxious in his heart. He stood in the hall for a while, then sat down next to the seat where Xing Ji had been.

On his left was a small table holding a four-compartment tray of snacks and a plate of fresh fruit, along with a pot of clear tea. This was surely what had been used to entertain guests earlier, and also what Xing Ji had said he "could eat."

The aroma of the snacks was mouth-watering, and they had barely been touched.

Although Tang Zhao had eaten two meals at the mountain villa, they were just steamed buns and pickles—how could they compare to snacks and fresh fruit? He casually picked up a peach and took a big bite.

The juice flowed, and a fresh sweetness slid down his throat; he felt immensely satisfied.

That was a taste he hadn't had for a very, very long time.

Thinking back, although his family hadn't been wealthy, they had been well-off enough for food and clothing. Not only did they support Chen Zong, who was lazy and idle, but he himself often had some small change in his pocket to buy candy or fruit on the street. He still remembered that sugar figurines were two wen each, candied haws were three wen a string, and autumn peaches were one wen each, though you couldn't buy the biggest, reddest ones.

When he didn't have much money, he would buy one peach, eat it while walking, and use the remaining money to watch a play or sneak a look at the street performers, only returning home at sunset.

He hadn't paid much attention to it at the time, but thinking about it now, what a wonderful time that was?

In a flash, it has already been over half a year.

"Meow—"

The cat's cry interrupted his reminiscence.

Right, there was still a fat cat lying at his feet!

This cat reminded him of...

Reminded him of nothing, he had never raised a cat.

But that didn't stop him from wanting to pet it.

Happily reaching out his hand, Tang Zhao decided to scratch its chin first.

Just as his fingers drew near, the cat suddenly lifted its head. With this lift, the lazy air emanating from its fur vanished instantly, and its narrowed eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of golden eyes.

Tang Zhao was stunned.

Do cats... also have vertical pupils during the day?

Immediately after, he felt a moment of trance.

"Meow?"

After that sound, he regained his senses.

That cat cry just now...

Was it him who made it?

Had he gone mad? Mimicking a cat's cry?

How stupid!

He shook his head repeatedly, though he didn't think much of it; such instances of subconscious foolishness happened occasionally.

It was a good thing no one was here.

Shifting his gaze, he took some candy from his pocket and offered it to the cat:

"Eat some candy."

The fat cat's whiskers twitched; it opened its mouth, swallowed the candy, and narrowed its eyes again, showing an expression of enjoyment.

Tang Zhao couldn't help but laugh and ate one himself, suddenly wondering: who told me that cats like to eat candy?

"Tang Zhao, come in."

Although the voice was calm, Tang Zhao felt a shiver.

The fun of teasing the cat just now vanished abruptly, and he returned to reality.

He looked up sharply—the door to the inner room was already open.

But he did not see Wei Zhangle come out.

The wide-open door was like the maw of a Pixiu, only allowing entry and no exit.

Tang Zhao took a deep breath, casually gripped a peach pit in his hand, stood up on his own, and plunged into that great maw.