Siheyuan: Game of Red Dust

Chapter 331: Life Chasing, Cold Blooded
Zhui Ming, one of the Four Great Constables, was originally named Cui Lueshang. He was the third of the Four to join the ranks, yet also the oldest. His parents were from a branch of the Liang family, known as the "Taiping Gate," and he was the seventh son. Because his mother, Liang Chuxin, also known as "Smoke and Water Cold," was assaulted during pregnancy, he was born with internal injuries. His father, Cui Chunrong, known as "Drunk Sky," was too consumed by his drinking to bother naming him, and simply referred to him as "Hey, the one with the internal injuries." Later, his father entrusted him to his friend Wen Yuehong, also known as "Three Cylinders Master." Wen Yuehong, who treated his injuries, found the name "Cui Nei Shang" too unpleasant, so he named him "Cui Lueshang" inspired by the poem "Shang Lue in the Dusk Rain." Over four years, Wen Yuehong cured Zhui Ming's internal injuries using the "fighting poison with poison" method. However, due to the large amount of antidotes he had taken, which required alcohol to counteract them, Zhui Ming developed a drinking habit similar to Wen Yuehong's. Furthermore, the effects of the drugs weakened his upper body, making it difficult for him to practice boxing and palm techniques. He was primarily strong in the lower body, and leg techniques were always easy to master. His father was murdered when he was three, and his mother at five. Later, Wen Yuehong returned to the "old-established Wen family" in Lingnan. Knowing the dangers of the journey, Wen Yuehong refused to allow Zhui Ming to accompany him, and thus, the two parted ways, forever. When Zhui Ming returned home, his family had been destroyed, and he wandered the world, experiencing the vicissitudes of life.

He once fell in love with a commoner named Xiaotou, but was forced to death by the county magistrate's son. Once, chased for stealing alcohol, he encountered an old man. He ran desperately, but couldn't shake him off. The old man kindly persuaded him, convinced him, and then turned and left. Realizing his mistake, he resolutely ran back to confess his mistake. To his surprise, Shu Wuxi, the owner of "Baoshi Villa," not only didn't blame him, but also accepted him as a guest and gave him a book containing various martial arts and weapons, which benefited him greatly. He later fell in love with Shu Wuxi's daughter, Shu Dongren, but her marriage was unsuccessful because she later became an imperial concubine. After Shu Wuxi was framed and fell from power, "Baoshi Villa" was disbanded. Zhui Ming and another former guest, Yu Yibian, were among the few who spoke up for Shu Wuxi, becoming targets of Shu Wuxi's political enemies. Working together, they fought off their enemies and became close friends. Later, the emperor changed his mind, accepted the advice of Grand Tutor Zhuge Zhengwo, and re-issued an edict to re-employ Shu Wuxi.

Over the years, he endured many trials and tribulations, mastering martial arts and surviving numerous disasters. It was only later that he realized that it had been Mr. Zhuge who had been silently watching over him all along, and that Shu Wuxi was actually one of Mr. Zhuge's close friends. He then formally became Zhuge Shenhou's apprentice, and his former acquaintances, Wuqing and Tieshou, also became his senior apprentices. He then changed his appearance and name, infiltrating the cunning and treacherous "General Terror" Ling Luoshi as an undercover agent. At a crucial moment, he assisted his passionate but inexperienced fourth apprentice, Lengxue. He later learned that he had many close allies, silently assisting him in crucial moments. Mr. Zhuge also suggested that working undercover alongside the cunning "General Terror" Ling Luoshi was an opportunity to temper his unruly personality. The "General Terror" case was one of the few cases solved by the Four Masters of Detectives working together.

He excels in kicking, employing the renowned family-inherited Eleven Life-Chasing Kicks. His kicks are swift, powerful, and angled, transforming his legs into weapons that can be hard or soft, long or short. His unparalleled leg strength makes him a master of tracking, making it nearly impossible for anyone to escape his clutches. Influenced by his mentor Wen Yuehong as a child, he developed a propensity for drinking, becoming increasingly powerful with intoxication, yet never letting his drinking delay his pursuit. He is free-spirited and untidy, seemingly unconcerned with anything. Though often staggering with intoxication, he regains composure and clarity in the face of adversity. Surprisingly, alcohol can be used as a weapon. He can lock his throat and launch powerful jets at his opponent, and alcohol has indeed saved his life on several occasions.

Zhui Ming once assisted Zhou Baiyu, the Lord of "North City," and his lover, Bai Xinru, the "Fairy Heroine," in defeating Shi Guoqing, the "One Sword to Kill," with a single blow. He also killed Mr. Wuwei and, joining forces with several others, finally slew the world-renowned Invincible Young Master of Helan Mountain. His martial arts prowess is undeniable. His killing blow was a result of a single spurt of wine. He succeeded by distracting the Invincible Young Master, as Zhui Ming never failed in his investigations. Regardless of the killer, he ultimately hunted down the thief, earning him the nickname "Zhui Ming." His exceptional legwork earned him the nickname "God Leg Zhui Ming." His original surname and given name are forgotten.

Zhui Ming possesses exceptional martial arts skills and unparalleled kicking prowess. He is known for his playful nature, unconcerned with small matters. He often wears tattered shoes and clothes, content with nothing more than a bottle of wine, yet he has mastered the art of using alcohol as a concealed weapon. His kicking prowess is exceptional, and his tracking skills are unmatched. The more he drinks, the bolder he becomes. The more he fights, the more advanced his martial arts skills become. His drinking has given him a unique skill: he can store all the alcohol in his throat. He can spray it repeatedly, blinding his opponents. In a bloody battle against the Invincible Young Master and Shi Youming, the owner of Nether Villa, he used this technique to blind his opponent and secure his victory.

Leng Xue, one of the Four Great Constables, was born Leng Lingqi. He was the youngest of the four and the last to join the ranks. An orphan, he was raised by wolves in the forest before being discovered and adopted by Mr. Zhuge, who came to rescue Leng Huishan, an orphan. Having previously lived primarily in the wild, he lacked a keen understanding of human nature, yet possessed the keen sense of a wild animal. Mr. Zhuge took time out to visit him and silently cared for him. He hired five people to teach him, but none of them became his formal apprentices, serving only as coaches. Finally, Zhuge Zhengwo, impressed by his talent, chose to teach him himself. He formally became his apprentice and became a Constable.

He was always wounded while pursuing wanted criminals, yet he never failed. He almost reveled in his injuries, constantly wounded. People called him "cold-blooded," as if his entire body were made of steel. By the age of sixteen, he had already achieved remarkable feats. At eighteen, to capture the supremely skilled Demon King, he hid in his cellar for eleven days, remaining silent, refusing food or drink. Seizing a single opportunity, he struck a fatal blow at the unguarded moment, causing a sensation in the martial arts world. At nineteen, he single-handedly journeyed into the forest, hunting down thirteen prominent thieves, ultimately slaying each and every one of them, even slaying the leader, whose martial arts skills were twice his own.

Cold-Blooded excels in swordsmanship, possessing a resilient character and immense destructive power. He never retreats in combat, becoming stronger when faced with a stronger opponent, and even more courageous when wounded. His physical strength and endurance are astonishing, and even when initially unable to kill him, he rises in courage, turning defeat into victory. He strives with all his might, never retreating. He is also exceptionally agile and adept at exploiting every opportunity, often achieving miracles and defeating those far superior in martial arts. While his martial arts skills are swift and agile, he struggles to improve beyond a certain level. He wields a long, flexible sword, employing a technique known as the "Forty-Nine Unnamed Swift Swords." Unlike other swordsmanship techniques, he uses a backhanded, backhanded sword. Each thrust is a single strike, swift, accurate, and brutal, yet these thrusts lack specific names. He is known for his willingness to risk his life, rarely employing defensive techniques with a return strike. He primarily uses offense as a defensive tool, often leaving opponents at a loss for how to react to his reckless style, giving him the perfect opportunity to finish them off with a single blow. However, Cold-Blooded generally leaves his victims alive, especially later on.

(End of this chapter)