The Tattooed Monk Uproots a Weeping Willow; The Panther Head Mistakenly Enters the White Tiger Hall.

A poem says:

A man may live at most seventy years; why scheme day and night?  
All things in the world come to an end;  
Vain splendor scatters in a moment and is not real.  
Poverty and wealth are fated;  
Fame and achievement are but dust in a crack.  
When you gain an advantage, do not rejoice;  
Retribution may fall on your descendants if far off, or on yourself if near.

Now of the twenty or thirty ruffians outside the Sour Jujube Gate, two were leaders: Zhang San, the Street-Crossing Rat, and Li Si, the Green Grass Snake. These two led the rest to welcome Lu Zhishen. Lu Zhishen happened to walk to the manure pit and saw the group standing there, not leaving. Together they said, “We have come specially to congratulate you, Master, on taking up your post.” Lu Zhishen said, “Since you are neighbors, all of you come sit in the compound.” Zhang San and Li Si knelt on the ground and would not get up, hoping that when Lu Zhishen reached out to raise them, they could seize the chance and push him into the manure pit. Lu Zhishen saw this and became suspicious: “These men are a shady lot, and they will not come near me. Are they thinking of pushing me in? These fellows really dare to stroke the tiger’s whiskers. I will step forward and let them see what I can do.”

Lu Zhishen strode forward to the crowd. Zhang San and Li Si said, “We brothers have come specially to pay our respects to you, Master.” As they spoke, they lunged forward, one grabbing at his left foot, the other at his right. Before they could seize him, Lu Zhishen lifted his right foot. With a thud, he kicked Li Si into the manure pit. Zhang San was about to run when Lu Zhishen’s left foot flew up, and both ringleaders fell into the pit, struggling. The twenty or thirty ruffians behind were stunned and wanted to flee. Lu Zhishen shouted, “If one dares run, I will throw one in! If two run, I will throw two in!” The ruffians were so frightened they did not dare move. Zhang San and Li Si poked their heads out of the pit. It was so deep they could not touch bottom. They were covered in filth, maggots crawling in their hair, and shouted from the pit, “Master, spare us!” Lu Zhishen shouted, “You ruffians, pull these two out quickly, and I will spare you all.” The men hurriedly reached in and dragged the two to the gourd trellis. The stench was unbearable. Lu Zhishen laughed loudly. “You two fools! Go wash in the garden pond, then come talk with everyone.” The two ruffians washed for a long time in the water, and others brought two sets of clothes for them to change into.

Lu Zhishen called out, “All of you come sit in the compound and talk.” Lu Zhishen sat in the center and pointed at them. “You lot, do not try to hide anything from me. What sort of men are you, daring to make a fool of me?” Zhang San, Li Si, and all their companions knelt and said, “We have lived here for generations, making a living by gambling and begging for money. This vegetable garden is our rice bowl. The Grand Xiangguo Monastery has several times paid men to deal with us, but no one could do anything to us. Where does Your Reverence come from, with such skill? The monastery has never seen anyone like you. From now on we are willing to serve you.” Lu Zhishen said, “I was originally a commandant under the Old General Zhong, Military Commissioner of Yan’an in Guanxi. Because I killed a man, I willingly became a monk and came here from Mount Wutai. My secular surname is Lu, and my Dharma name is Zhishen. Do not speak of you twenty or thirty men; even if a thousand troops and ten thousand horses came, I would dare charge in and out!” The ruffians agreed again and again, bowed, and left. Lu Zhishen returned to his room, put things in order, and rested for the night.

The next day, the ruffians pooled money, bought ten bottles of wine, and brought a pig, inviting Lu Zhishen to drink. The wine and food were set out in the compound. They asked Lu Zhishen to sit in the center, and the twenty or thirty ruffians sat on both sides. Lu Zhishen said, “How can I let you spend your money?” They said, “We are lucky to have you here, Master, to back us up.” Lu Zhishen was very pleased. When they were half drunk, some sang, some chatted, some clapped and laughed. It was very lively. Just as they were making noise, they heard crows cawing outside the gate. Some gritted their teeth and muttered, “May the disaster of tongues go up to heaven; may gossip be buried in the earth.” Lu Zhishen asked, “What are you muttering about?” They said, “When crows call, it means trouble from wagging tongues.” Lu Zhishen said, “What nonsense!” The gardener laughed and said, “In the green willow by the corner of the wall, a crow has built a new nest. It caws from morning to night.” They said, “Put up a ladder and tear down the nest, and that will settle it.” Several were about to do it. Lu Zhishen, feeling the wine, went out with them to look. There was indeed a crow’s nest in the willow. They said, “Bring a ladder and tear down the nest so our ears can be clean.” Li Si said, “I can climb up without a ladder.” Lu Zhishen looked at the big tree, walked up to it, took off his monk’s robe, braced his right hand against the ground, sank his body, grabbed the upper part of the trunk with his left hand, and with a great effort of his waist, pulled the green willow up by the roots. When the ruffians saw this, they all fell to their knees and cried, “Master, you are no mortal! You are a true arhat! Without a million catties of strength, how could you pull up a great tree?” Lu Zhishen said, “What is such a small thing? Tomorrow you will watch me practice with weapons.” That night the ruffians dispersed. From the next day on, these twenty or thirty idlers were completely obedient to Lu Zhishen. Every day they brought wine and meat to invite him and watched him practice boxing and martial arts.

Several days later, Lu Zhishen thought, “I have been eating their wine and meat every day. Today I will spread a feast in return.” He told his servant to go into the city and buy several kinds of fruit, brew two or three loads of wine, and kill a pig and a sheep. It was the end of the third month, and the weather was hot. Lu Zhishen said, “It is too hot!” He told the servant to spread reed mats under the large locust tree and had the ruffians sit around. They poured wine in big bowls and cut meat in large pieces and let everyone eat their fill. Then they set out fruit and continued drinking. When they were enjoying the wine, the ruffians said, “These past days we have seen you show your strength, Master, but we have not yet seen you wield a weapon. Could you open our eyes?” Lu Zhishen said, “You are right.” He went back to his room and brought out his iron monk’s staff, five feet long and weighing sixty-two catties. When the men saw it, they were all astonished and said, “Unless a man had the strength of a water buffalo in his arms, he could not lift it!” Lu Zhishen took the staff and whirled it with a whistling sound. His whole body moved steadily, without the slightest error. The men watched and cheered without stopping.

Lu Zhishen was practicing smoothly when an official outside the wall saw him and shouted praise, “Well done!” Lu Zhishen heard, stopped, and looked. At the gap in the wall stood a military officer. He was dressed like this:

He wore a blue gauze headwrap, with a white jade ringed side ornament behind his head. He had a green silk embroidered battle robe, a double-tailed tortoise-back silver belt at his waist, black leather court boots, and a folded Western Sichuan paper fan in his hand.

This officer had a leopard’s head, round eyes, a swallow’s chin, tiger whiskers, stood eight feet tall, and was about thirty-four or thirty-five years old. He said, “This master is truly extraordinary. His weapon work is beautiful!” The ruffians said, “Even this instructor praises him, so he must be truly formidable.” Lu Zhishen asked, “Who is this officer?” They answered, “This is Lin Chong, martial arts instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards, Instructor Lin.” Lu Zhishen said, “Why not invite him over to meet me?” Instructor Lin climbed over the wall and came in. The two met under the locust tree, sat down, and talked. Lin Chong asked, “Where is your hometown, brother, and what is your Dharma name?” Lu Zhishen said, “I am Lu Da of Guanxi. Because I killed too many men, I became a monk. When I was young I came to the Eastern Capital and knew your father, Instructor Lin.” Lin Chong was delighted. There and then he and Lu Zhishen became sworn brothers, with Lu Zhishen as the elder. Lu Zhishen asked, “Instructor, why have you come here today?” Lin Chong answered, “Just now my wife and I came to the neighboring Yue Temple to burn incense and fulfill a vow. I heard someone practicing martial arts here and became absorbed in watching. I told my maid Jin’er to accompany my wife into the temple to burn incense, while I waited here. I never expected to meet you, brother.” Lu Zhishen said, “I have just come here and have no acquaintances. Thanks to these brothers who keep me company every day. Now I am fortunate to become sworn brothers with you, Instructor. This is very good.” He called the servant to bring more wine to entertain Lin Chong.

They had drunk only three cups when the maid Jin’er, flustered and red-faced, ran to the gap in the wall and shouted, “Master, do not sit there! Madam is quarreling with someone in the temple!” Lin Chong quickly asked, “Where?” Jin’er said, “We had just come down from the Five Peaks Tower when a scoundrel blocked Madam and would not let her go.” Lin Chong said in panic, “I will come back to visit you later, brother. Forgive me, forgive me!” Lin Chong took leave of Lu Zhishen, quickly climbed over the wall, and followed Jin’er straight to the Yue Temple. He rushed to the Five Peaks Tower and saw several men with slingshots, blowpipes, and sticky poles standing by the railing. On the stairs stood a young man, his back to the road, blocking Lin Chong’s wife and saying, “Come upstairs. I have something to say to you.” Lin Chong’s wife said angrily, “In a peaceful world, why do you bully a respectable woman?” Lin Chong rushed forward, seized the young man by the shoulder, and shouted, “What crime is it to molest a good man’s wife!” He was about to strike when he recognized the man as the adopted son of his superior, Marshal Gao. Gao Qiu had recently risen to power and had no biological son. To have support, he adopted his cousin’s son as his own. Though they had originally been cousins, he made him his adopted son and doted on him. This fellow tyrannized the Eastern Capital on the strength of his power, specializing in molesting and seizing other men’s wives and daughters. The people of the capital feared his influence and no one dared argue with him. They all called him the Flowery Prince.

When Lin Chong pulled the man around and saw it was Gao Yanei, his hand went weak. Gao Yanei said, “Lin Chong, what business is this of yours? Why meddle?” He did not know this was Lin Chong’s wife. If he had known, he would not have caused this. Seeing Lin Chong did not strike, he dared say this. The hangers-on saw the trouble and all came to urge peace. “Instructor, do not be angry. The young lord did not recognize your honored wife and was greatly offensive.” Lin Chong’s anger had not yet subsided, and he glared at Gao Yanei. The hangers-on restrained Lin Chong and coaxed Gao Yanei away. He mounted his horse and left the Yue Temple. Lin Chong took his wife and maid Jin’er out through the corridor. Then he saw Lu Zhishen carrying his iron staff, with twenty or thirty ruffians, striding into the temple. Lin Chong saw him and called, “Brother, where are you going?” Lu Zhishen said, “I have come to help you fight!” Lin Chong said, “This man is the adopted son of my superior Marshal Gao. He did not recognize my wife and was momentarily rude. I wanted to beat him badly, but I feared it would look bad for the marshal. As the old saying goes, do not fear the official, fear the one who controls you. I eat the marshal’s salary. This time I will let him off.” Lu Zhishen said, “You fear his superior Marshal Gao, but what do I fear? If I run into this fellow, I will give him three hundred blows of my staff!” Lin Chong saw that Lu Zhishen was already drunk and said, “Brother, you speak boldly. I have been restrained by everyone, so I will spare him for now.” Lu Zhishen said, “If trouble comes in the future, call me anytime and I will come.” The ruffians saw Lu Zhishen was drunk and supported him, saying, “Master, let us go back first. We will meet tomorrow.” Lu Zhishen carried his staff and said to Lin Chong’s wife, “Sister-in-law, do not take offense. Do not laugh at me. Brother, until tomorrow.” Lu Zhishen took leave and left with the ruffians. Lin Chong took his wife and Jin’er home, feeling gloomy.

Now Gao Yanei, with his crowd of idlers, after seeing Lin Chong’s wife and being interrupted by Lin Chong, could not forget her. He was depressed and unhappy. Back at the residence he was restless. Two or three days later, the hangers-on came to serve him and saw he was troubled, so they dispersed. Among them was a hanger-on named Fu An, nicknamed Dry Bird Head, who understood Gao Yanei’s thoughts. He alone entered the residence and waited. Seeing Gao Yanei sitting blankly in the study, Fu An came forward and said, “Young lord, lately you look haggard and unhappy. You must have something troubling you.” Gao Yanei said, “How do you know?” Fu An said, “I can guess.” The young lord said, “Guess why I am unhappy.” Fu An said, “You are thinking of that woman surnamed Lin. Am I right?” The young lord laughed. “You guessed right. But there is no way to get her.” Fu An said, “What difficulty is there? You fear Lin Chong is a hero and do not dare bully him, but there is no need to fear. Lin Chong is an official under the marshal and receives a generous salary. How would he dare offend the marshal? At the least he can be exiled; at the worst, killed. I have a plan that can get the woman for you.” Gao Yanei said, “I have seen so many women, but for some reason I am fond of her alone and cannot let her go. I am sick with longing. If you have a way to get her for me, I will reward you richly.” Fu An said, “The marshal’s trusted retainer Lu Qian, the Inspector Lu, is Lin Chong’s best friend. Tomorrow you hide in the upper room of Lu Qian’s house and prepare wine and food. Have Lu Qian invite Lin Chong out to drink and lead him to a private room in Fan Tower. I will go to Lin Chong’s house and trick his wife, saying, ‘Your husband was drinking with Lu Qian and suddenly fainted upstairs. Madam, come quickly.’ I will lure her to the upstairs room. Women are easily moved. When she sees an elegant man like you, young lord, and you coax her with kind words, she will not refuse. What do you think of my plan?” Gao Yanei cried, “Excellent plan! Tonight send someone to call Inspector Lu and give him instructions.” Lu Qian’s house was in the lane next to Marshal Gao’s house. The next day, the men arranged the plan. Lu Qian had no choice but to agree. To please the young lord, he disregarded years of friendship.

Now Lin Chong had been depressed for days and did not want to go out. At the hour of the Snake in the morning, he heard someone at the gate call, “Is the instructor at home?” Lin Chong went out and saw it was Inspector Lu. He quickly said, “Brother Lu, why have you come?” Lu Qian said, “I came specially to visit you. Why have you not been on the street for days?” Lin Chong said, “I have been depressed and have not gone out.” Lu Qian said, “Let me drink a few cups with you, brother, to relieve your gloom.” Lin Chong said, “Come in and have tea.” After tea, the two rose. Lu Qian said to the curtain inside, “Sister-in-law, I am taking my brother out for a drink.” Lin Chong’s wife came to the cloth curtain and urged, “Brother, drink less and come back early.”

Lin Chong and Lu Qian left the house and strolled in the streets. Lu Qian said, “Brother, let us not go home. Let us go straight to Fan Tower to drink.” The two went up Fan Tower, took a private room, called the wine waiter, and ordered good wine and fine fruit. They chatted, and Lin Chong sighed. Lu Qian asked, “Brother, why do you sigh?” Lin Chong said, “Brother, you do not know. A man may have great ability, but if he does not meet a wise lord and is wronged under a petty man, he suffers this kind of stifled anger!” Lu Qian said, “Among all the instructors in the Imperial Guard, who can match your ability, brother? The marshal values you too. Who has made you suffer?” Lin Chong told him about Gao Yanei at the Yue Temple the other day. Lu Qian said, “The young lord surely did not recognize your wife. This is not a big matter. Do not think too much, brother. Just drink.” Lin Chong drank eight or nine cups and wanted to relieve himself. He rose and said, “I will go to the privy and be right back.” Lin Chong went downstairs, left the wine shop, and went to the east lane to relieve himself. As he turned out of the lane, he saw the maid Jin’er running toward him. “Master, I have been looking for you everywhere. So you are here!” Lin Chong quickly asked, “What has happened?” Jin’er said, “Less than half an hour after you left with Inspector Lu, a man ran to the house in a panic and said to Madam, ‘I am Inspector Lu’s neighbor. Your husband was drinking with Lu Qian and suddenly fainted upstairs. Please, Madam, come quickly.’ Madam asked Old Woman Wang next door to watch the house and went with the man. They came to a house in the lane in front of the marshal’s residence. She went upstairs, and wine and food were set out, but you were not there. She was about to come down when the young man who molested her at the Yue Temple came out and said, ‘Madam, sit a moment. Your husband will be here soon.’ I ran downstairs in a panic and heard Madam shouting upstairs, ‘Murder!’ I looked for you everywhere. A medicine seller, Mr. Zhang, said he saw you go into Fan Tower with a man. So I ran here. Master, go quickly!”

Lin Chong was shocked. He left Jin’er and ran to Inspector Lu’s house. He rushed to the stairs, but the upper door was already closed. He heard his wife cry, “In broad daylight, why have you locked me in here?” Then he heard Gao Yanei say, “Madam, have pity on me! Even a heart of iron or stone can be moved by me!” Lin Chong stood at the stairs and shouted, “Wife, open the door!” The woman heard her husband’s voice and hurried to open it. Gao Yanei panicked, opened the upper window, jumped over the wall, and fled. Lin Chong went upstairs, could not find Gao Yanei, and asked his wife, “Were you defiled by this scoundrel?” His wife said, “No.” Lin Chong smashed everything in Lu Qian’s house, took his wife downstairs, and left. Outside, the neighbors on both sides had all shut their doors. Jin’er came to meet them, and the three went home together.

Lin Chong took a short knife and ran straight to Fan Tower to find Lu Qian, but Lu Qian was already gone. Lin Chong went back to Lu Qian’s gate and watched all night, but no one came. He had to go home. His wife urged him, “I was not violated by him. Do not be rash and make trouble.” Lin Chong said, “I hate that beast Lu Qian. He and I were like brothers, yet he tricked me! Even if I cannot find Gao Yanei, I will settle accounts with Lu Qian.” His wife pleaded earnestly and stopped him from going out. Lu Qian hid in the marshal’s residence and did not dare go home. Lin Chong watched for three days but did not see Lu Qian. The servants in the residence saw Lin Chong’s fierce face and no one dared ask.

On the fourth day at lunchtime, Lu Zhishen came directly to Lin Chong’s house and asked, “Instructor, why have I not seen you for days?” Lin Chong answered, “I had some family matters and could not visit you, brother. Since you are here, I should offer you wine, but I have not prepared anything. How about we go out on the street and buy wine to drink?” Lu Zhishen said, “Excellent.” The two went out together and drank all day, agreeing to meet again the next day. From then on, Lin Chong drank with Lu Zhishen in the streets every day, and this trouble gradually faded.

Now Gao Yanei, after being frightened in Lu Qian’s upstairs room and jumping over the wall to escape, did not dare tell Gao Qiu. Later he fell ill in the residence. Lu Qian and Fu An came to see him and found him haggard and listless. Lu Qian asked, “Young lord, why are you so unhappy?” The young lord said, “To tell the truth, because of Lin Chong’s wife, twice I could not get her, and I suffered this fright. My illness grows worse. It seems I will not live more than three or five months.” The two said, “Rest easy, young lord. Leave this matter to us. We will surely get the woman for you, unless she takes her own life.” Just then the old steward of the residence came to visit the young lord’s illness. The symptoms were:

No pain or itch in the body, but sudden chills and fevers;  
The heart in confusion, sometimes full, sometimes hungry.  
By day he could not eat; by night he could not sleep.  
Before elders he could not speak of his obsession;  
Before acquaintances he could not hide his shame.  
His soul drifted as if about to reach the gate of ghosts,  
As if he were about to die a violent death.

When Lu Qian and Fu An saw the old steward come to visit, they quietly discussed a plan. After the old steward came out from seeing the patient, the two pulled him to a quiet place and said, “If you want the young lord to recover, you must report to the marshal and have Lin Chong killed. Only then can the woman be with the young lord, and his illness be cured. Otherwise, the young lord’s life cannot be saved.” The old steward said, “This is easy. Tonight I will report to the marshal.” The two said, “We have already thought of a plan. We await your reply.”

That night the old steward saw Gao Qiu and said, “The young lord’s illness is not otherwise. He has fallen for Lin Chong’s wife.” Gao Qiu asked, “When did he see his wife?” The steward answered, “On the twenty-eighth of last month, at the Yue Temple. It has been more than a month now.” He then told Gao Qiu the whole plan Lu Qian had devised. Gao Qiu said, “For one woman, how can I harm Lin Chong? I think if I protect Lin Chong, I will lose my child’s life. What shall I do?” The steward said, “Lu Qian and Fu An have a way.” Gao Qiu said, “Since that is so, call the two in to discuss.” The old steward at once called Lu Qian and Fu An. The two came forward and bowed. Gao Qiu asked, “In this matter of my child, what plan do you two have? If you can cure my child, I will certainly promote you.” Lu Qian came forward and reported, “Your Excellency, only do this.” After Gao Qiu heard it, he cried, “Good plan! Tomorrow you two go and carry it out.” We need not speak of it further.

Now Lin Chong drank with Lu Zhishen every day and gradually put the matter aside. One day, the two walked to the entrance of the Martial Review Square lane and saw a big man with a headwrap, an old battle robe, and a precious sword in his hand. A straw tag was stuck in the sword. He stood in the street muttering to himself, “No one who knows goods has come along. My precious sword is buried!” Lin Chong paid no attention and continued walking and talking with Lu Zhishen. The man followed behind and said, “A fine sword, but no one knows its value!” Lin Chong still walked on. The man said again behind him, “In such a great Eastern Capital, there is not a single man who understands weapons!” Lin Chong heard this and turned his head. The man suddenly drew the sword, and its cold light dazzled the eyes. Lin Chong’s fate was due to meet trouble. He blurted out, “Bring it here and let me see.” The man handed it over. Lin Chong took it and looked at it with Lu Zhishen. The sword:

Dazzling cold light, pressing cold air.  
From afar like spring ice in a frozen pool; up close like white auspicious snow on an immortal terrace.  
The blade was covered with patterns that would frighten ghosts and gods;  
Its force was sharp, and the wicked trembled to see it.  
The Tai’a and Juque swords could not compare; Ganjiang and Moye seemed ordinary.

Lin Chong was astonished and blurted out, “A good sword! How much do you want for it?” The man said, “The marked price is three thousand strings; for a sincere buyer, two thousand.” Lin Chong said, “The sword is worth two thousand, but there is no one who knows it. If you will sell it for one thousand, I will buy it.” The man said, “I need money urgently. If you truly want it, I will take five hundred less—one thousand five hundred.” Lin Chong said, “One thousand, and I will buy it.” The man sighed. “Selling fine gold as scrap iron. Forget it, forget it! Not one coin less.” Lin Chong said, “Come home with me and I will get the money.” He turned to Lu Zhishen and said, “Brother, wait for me in the tea shop. I will be back soon.” Lu Zhishen said, “I will go back first. We will meet tomorrow.” Lin Chong took leave of Lu Zhishen and went home with the sword seller to get the money. He converted silver into cash and paid the man. Lin Chong asked, “Where did you get this sword?” The man said, “It was handed down from my ancestors. My family has declined, and I had no choice but to sell it.” Lin Chong asked, “Who was your ancestor?” The man said, “If I told you, it would be too shameful!” Lin Chong did not ask further. The man took the silver and left. Lin Chong held the sword, turned it over and over, and praised it. “A truly good sword! The marshal’s residence also has a precious sword, but he never shows it. Several times I wanted to borrow it to look at, but could not. Now that I have bought a precious sword, I will find a chance to compare it with his.” That night Lin Chong looked at the sword all night. He hung it on the wall, and before dawn he rose to look at it again.

The next day at the hour of the Snake, two runners from the residence came to the gate and called, “Instructor Lin, the marshal has ordered that since you have bought a precious sword, you are to bring it to the residence for comparison. The marshal is waiting for you.” Lin Chong heard and said, “Who has been gossiping again?” The two runners urged Lin Chong to put on clothes, take the sword, and follow them to the marshal’s residence. On the way Lin Chong said, “I have not seen you two in the residence before.” They said, “We have only recently come to serve in the residence.” Soon they reached the marshal’s residence. They entered to the front of the hall, and Lin Chong stopped. The two said, “The marshal is sitting in the rear hall.” They passed through a screen to the rear hall, but Gao Qiu was not there. Lin Chong stopped again. The two said, “The marshal is waiting inside. Instructor, come with us.” They passed two or three more doors and came to a place surrounded by green railings. The two brought Lin Chong before the hall and said, “Instructor, wait here a moment. We will go in and report to the marshal.”

Lin Chong stood under the eaves with the sword. The two went in. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, no one came out. Lin Chong was puzzled. He peeped through the curtain and saw four large blue characters on the plaque above the eaves: White Tiger Hall. Lin Chong suddenly realized: the White Tiger Hall is where military secrets are discussed. No one may enter without being summoned. This is against the rules! He was about to turn and leave when he heard footsteps. A man came in from outside. Lin Chong looked and saw it was his superior, Marshal Gao. Lin Chong held the sword and came forward to bow. The marshal shouted, “Lin Chong! Without being summoned, you dare enter the White Tiger Hall! Do you know the law? You hold a sword in your hand. Are you here to assassinate me? Someone told me that two or three days ago you were waiting outside the residence with a sword. You must have evil intentions.” Lin Chong bowed and reported, “Your Excellency, just now two runners called me here and told me to bring the sword for Your Excellency to see.” The marshal shouted, “Where are those two runners?” Lin Chong said, “Your Excellency, they went into the hall.” The marshal said, “Nonsense! How would runners dare enter my hall? Guards, seize this man!” Before he finished speaking, more than twenty men rushed out from the side rooms, pushed Lin Chong down, and pinned him, like a hawk seizing a swallow or a tiger pouncing on a lamb. Marshal Gao raged, “You are an instructor of the Imperial Guard and do not understand the law? Why did you hold a sharp blade and deliberately enter the military hall, intending to assassinate me?” He ordered his men to take Lin Chong away. Lin Chong’s life hung in the balance.

Because of this, the story would lead to this: the Central Plains would be thrown into chaos, and heroes would range across the land. From then on farmers would have army marks branded on their backs, and fishing boats would fly banners. Whether Lin Chong could preserve his life—listen to the next chapter for the answer.