A Madman

Zhang San had read in books that there were roughly three causes of dissociative fugue recorded.

The authors of those books analyzed that the first two causes were the least probable.

The first one was congenital. Needless to say, there had never been any cases of this, but the writers had speculated that such a possibility could exist.

The second one was that the patient had experienced major traumatic events as a stimulus. Of the four case studies recorded in that ancient book, there was one such example.

The third and most common cause, or rather the most common cause of this rare disease, was when the patient had been tormented by some kind of negative emotions for a long time. To alleviate the suffering, the mind would produce an even stronger will, thus leading to the onset of dissociative fugue.

These emotions could be called misery, hatred, guilt and so on...

Among the four case studies in the ancient book, three of them had the third kind of cause.

Zhang San briefly explained this to Wang Xiaoer as they stood in the lobby of the painting and calligraphy shop.

But Wang Xiaoer still did not quite believe in this bizarre illness. Though, this was also Zhang San's first time encountering a real case.

Wang Xiaoer said, "Master, does Prefect Lu really have this disease? I still don't quite believe it."

Zhang San, a firm believer in medicine, retorted, "Then have you seen a madman before?"

Wang Xiaoer replied, "Well, yes... back in my hometown."

Zhang San said, "To put it simply, this so-called dissociative fugue is, in my opinion, actually a kind of madness."

Wang Xiaoer said, "Master, you mean... Prefect Lu is actually a madman?"

Zhang San said, "I'm afraid there's no mistake about it!"

Wang Xiaoer said, "That can't be. He looks so smart no matter how you look at him. He seems far more intelligent than most people. How could he be a madman?"

But Zhang San insisted, "Yet he is a madman."

Having said that, he sent Wang Xiaoer to the secret chamber and urged him to hurry up and cultivate, to prepare for their eventual escape.

Zhang San began recalling word for word what Lu Gaosheng, or rather Lu Qingming, had told him earlier. But Zhang San knew that the most critical part was actually that one line: An assassin had tried to kill him a year ago, and with a flick of his hand, he could get Song Tianxing, the martial arts master of Black Heaven Gate, to help him.

One year ago. Assassin. A high official in the imperial court. Song Tianxing.

These four words made Zhang San unable to help but associate them with Wang Xiaoer's father - Gray Lion!

An assassin of Song Tianxing's caliber would not make a move lightly. He probably only took action once or twice a year. And with the timing, characters and events all matching so perfectly...

Zhang San was already ninety percent certain that Gray Lion had undoubtedly been killed by Song Tianxing, and behind Song Tianxing was none other than that Song YanShi!

The Left Chancellor of Great Wu, the prominent minister known even to commoners, Song YanShi!

Zhang San sucked in a breath of cold air and involuntarily glanced back at Wang Xiaoer, who was walking towards the secret chamber.

This was bad.

Previously, Zhang San had deduced that when Wang Xiaoer grew up, even if Song Tianxing did not know of Wang Xiaoer's existence, Wang Xiaoer would definitely go looking for Song Tianxing.

Just Song Tianxing alone would be troublesome enough. And now there was also the number one official, Song YanShi!

Zhang San could even envision Wang Xiaoer leaving the tutelage in the future, then killing his way up the underworld hierarchy until reaching the officials. But by then, how could he, Wang Xiaoer's master, distance himself from it all?

Zhang San exclaimed inwardly:

Damn it!

...

...

Upon returning to his residence, Lu Gaosheng immediately went to his room and took out a map, scrutinizing it carefully.

Whether Bai ShiXuan's battle tactics and formations would work depended on this time.

Li Xing stood in attendance nearby. Seeing how serious Lu Gaosheng looked, he couldn't help asking, "My lord, didn't you say earlier that with our strength, it would be difficult to seize those 30 thousand stones of grain, so we should give up?"

Lu Gaosheng said indifferently, "That's right. I can't utilize the troops of Tian Ruo Prefecture. And my Bai Lu Army, though trained for years and equipped well, still only numbers around one thousand men. The top masters among them are just you, the Twin Wolves and me. However! The weak need not necessarily lose to the strong!"

Li Xing cautioned in a low voice, "But my lord, isn't the risk too great..."

Lu Gaosheng raised his head with an icy gaze.

That frosty look immediately silenced Li Xing's objections.

Suddenly Li Xing felt that this was the Lu Gaosheng he knew.

As for their meeting this morning, perhaps that really had just been his own misperception.

Twirling the white jade finger ring, Lu Gaosheng had already devised all his plans within the time of an incense stick.

But there was one person.

No matter how detailed he schemed, this person posed the greatest threat.

If he failed, perhaps this person would be the cause of defeat.

Xu Guo!

A top expert at the peak of Lesser Heaven stage from Xiaotianjie.

Even if Li Xing and the Twin Wolves joined hands, it was uncertain whether they could defeat him.

What's more, for the Bai Lu Army to take action, those three top fighters Li Xing and the Twin Wolves had to lead the troops, otherwise they couldn't exert the strengths of Bai ShiXuan's battle tactics.

Yet aside from martial arts, Xu Guo was also well-versed in military strategy. Adding that to the formidable Golden Armored Guards, one of Great Wu's most elite forces that he commanded, their battle prowess was terrifying.

Along with their numerical advantage, it would be very difficult for even his secretly trained Bai Lu Army over many years to prevail over the Golden Armored Guards.

The more Lu Gaosheng thought about it, the angrier he got. He even slammed the map on the table onto the floor.

Li Xing was very shocked. He had followed Lu Gaosheng for years, and no matter what difficulties they encountered or what tough opponents they faced, Lu Gaosheng had always maintained that breezy and brimming with confidence attitude. The saying that the enemy would be annihilated amidst his nonchalant laughs was not far from the truth.

Yet this was Li Xing's first time seeing Lu Gaosheng lose his temper and composure so violently. He couldn't help but bow his head slightly.

Propping himself against the table and forcing himself to calm down, Lu Gaosheng said coldly, "Li Xing, have the messages been spread in the Central Region and southern jianghu?"

Li Xing immediately saluted and replied, "Replying to my lord, it is in progress. But..."

"You're worried we can't find any top masters, right?" Lu Gaosheng voiced Li Xing's concern.

Li Xing nodded. "Yes, my lord. Masters comparable or even superior to Xu Guo would definitely require the help of the Three Great Underworld Gangs to have a chance of finding. As for other organizations in the jianghu, only Liu Hu of the Earth List's third rank has reached Lesser Heaven stage, but he has gone missing these past days and we have no way of contacting him."

Lu Gaosheng was well aware of all this.

Yet he was unwilling to wait, he could not wait.

Gradually, he thought of someone.

Someone whom Blood Wolf had judged to have an extremely high chance of being a top expert at the peak of Lesser Heaven stage.

Blood Wolf had said that at one instant, the killing intent emanating from that person was enough to make even him shudder.

In Lu Gaosheng's eyes gradually surfaced a fierce look.

The only hope was the best hope!

Unable to defeat Xu Guo meant all other talk was nonsense!

Gamble it is!

But if he really won this gamble, then what could make that Zhang San yield and obey him?

Indeed, that was an issue.

In the end, Lu Gaosheng gritted his teeth and decided to stake his own... life on this gambling table!

A life or death gamble!

He turned and said, "Li Xing, I have a few things that I need you to carry out personally."

...

...

That night, Wang Xiaoer sat listlessly in the painting and calligraphy shop, scribbling uninterestedly on the account book on the table.

Zhang San was closing up the shop. Seeing Wang Xiaoer's state, he scolded, "Why aren't you helping me close up shop and just dawdling there?"

Wang Xiaoer sighed. "Well, Xiao Yu said she's going out with Aunt Bai tomorrow to meet Ming Qing's family. They might stay in the outskirts for a few days too..."

Zhang San thought for a moment then said, "Since they're getting married, it's normal to meet the other family right? But how did you know about it?"

Wang Xiaoer answered matter-of-factly, "When I was at Xiao Yu's house this afternoon helping her make tofu, Ming Qing came again. He talked about taking Aunt Bai and Xiao Yu to meet his family while I was there, and I listened along with Xiao Yu and Aunt Bai."

Zhang San said, "Oh, so that was it. Pretty normal stuff, why the long face?"

Wang Xiaoer said bitterly, "Master, your internal cultivation is almost complete. With Xiao Yu leaving like this, who knows when we'll meet again... sigh."

Upon hearing that... Zhang San was pissed from all directions!

Now being watched all day long, I practice inner strength techniques in the hopes of getting away sooner. You little brat still trying to chat me up.

Deserves a beating!

Thinking this, Zhang San quickly slammed the door shut and embarked on yet another great educational journey, the methodology named 'violence'.

The next day, early winter brought a hint of warmth to heaven and earth.

At the tofu shop entrance welcomed an exquisite palanquin, made of fine pear wood on both ends, with beaded curtains on the palanquin doors, truly extravagant.

Ming Qing stood gracefully in front of the palanquin, wearing brocade robes, a face full of smiles.

Seeing such an eye-catching palanquin and man enter the slums, passersby couldn't help but stare.

Bai Fang and Xiao Yu changed into plain white clothes, without much to say, and boarded the palanquin with Ming Qing.

Talented scholar and beautiful woman, always the envy of others. Many discussed around them, but the palanquin had already gone far.

Wang Xiaoer who had his head beaten into a pig's head, watched Xiao Yu's departing palanquin with tears flowing down his face.

Zhang San was likely the only one watching the departing palanquin with a frown.

He didn't suspect the honest and simple Ming Qing, it was only natural for people to meet one's family before marriage.

But Zhang San still muttered to himself: Something...doesn't seem right.