Welcome to the Bizarre Games

Chapter 185 The Singer
Zhou You looked up and saw a little girl holding a zither, speaking to him cautiously.

He was familiar with this; it was nothing more than some old musicians adopting orphaned girls, teaching them skills so that they could take care of him in his old age and see him off in his final days.

But usually it's two people, one old and one young, together. How come there's only one left now?

Zhou You asked casually.

"Where is your master? Why are you the only one playing the music?"

Who would have thought that asking would have made the girl's eyes instantly redden.

"My grandfather had a conversation with a master a few days ago. The master said my grandfather had a connection with Buddhism, so he forcibly took him to the temple by the yamen runners, and then there was no news of him. I was so hungry that I couldn't stand it anymore, so I had no choice."

The rest of his words were choked with sobs, but Zhou You understood what he meant.

A sigh.

...In these chaotic times, human life is worth less than that of a dog.

He took out his money bag, counted out the money for today's meal, and threw the rest to the little girl.

"Sir/Madam, what brings you here?"

"Here's a treat. Play a few pieces you're good at, I'm getting annoyed by all the noise, it'll be good for my ears."

The little girl wanted to refuse, but Zhou You just waved his hand, so she could only pick up the violin, shrink into a corner where the bald man couldn't see her, and then gently start playing.

A clear and melodious voice rang out, with a noisy drunkard on one side and an orphan girl softly singing a tune on the other.
They're not exactly unrelated, but rather utterly incongruous.
-
Before long, Zhou You's dishes were served.

Just as the waiter said, everything was vegetarian; looking around, there wasn't a trace of meat on the entire table.

He wasn't particularly interested in the vegetables on the table; he just held the scriptures in his hands and idly put some food into his mouth.

However, just as he was feeling a bit bored, the drinking game at the table not far away finally ended, and a group of drunken bald men started chatting.

"Brother, you've really made something of yourself this time! You've actually caught the eye of the abbot of the temple. You're sure to rise to great heights in the future. Don't forget your underlings when that happens!"

The one referred to as "senior brother" was none other than Ben Shan. He was already seven or eight parts drunk, and amidst the compliments from his cronies, he became increasingly smug.

However, he still shamelessly feigned humility.

"What guru? Master is just the senior lama of the temple. However, since all the gurus are in the temple preparing for the Dharma assembly, he is temporarily in charge of everything outside the temple."

Those cronies immediately started jeering.

"All things? That's just being in charge, right? Senior brother, you're truly second only to the emperor!"

Hearing the continuous flattery made Ben Shan feel quite smug.

After a few more cups of wine, he became increasingly unrestrained in his speech.

"By the way, junior brothers, let me tell you a secret—do you know why today's parade ended so quickly? It wasn't because Master was unwell, as some people outside were saying, but rather... suddenly some important news came through."

One of the henchmen laughed.

"Senior brother, you must explain this matter carefully—just how important is it that it could make the master abandon the Joyful Method and rush back so eagerly?"

Ben Shan said with a thick tongue.

“I’m telling you, but don’t tell anyone—do you remember Zhengde, the one the temple offered a thousand taels of gold for and was wanted throughout Lizhou? Someone just reported that he was spotted again at Changliuzhuang a few days ago.”

Zhou You unconsciously clenched his fist over the teacup.

—Were Zhengde and his followers discovered by the Tantric sect?
And, a few days ago?

...I clearly parted ways with them around the same time, so how come it's been several days in the blink of an eye?
Despite having many questions in his mind, Zhou You patiently listened to the commotion.

"A thousand taels of gold? Damn, senior brother, if we catch him, won't we be rich?" Who would have thought.

Ben Shan, who reeked of alcohol, spat directly at the source.

"Pah, you wish! That guy is a high-ranking Zen monk, not so easy to catch. According to the scouts who came to report, he wiped out the first few groups of people who were after the bounty. They had no other choice but to ask the temple for help."

Hearing this, Zhou You loosened his grip slightly.

Although I haven't fully grasped Zhengde's strength, with the blessing of the Arhat Relic, his level is definitely not low. Putting aside everything else, at least one of the miscellaneous soldiers would die.

just
Just as he feared, Ben Shan stepped onto the stool and began boasting again.

"But fellow disciples, don't worry. Now that the message has reached here, he definitely can't escape."

Ben Shan, hiccuping from drinking, patted his chest as if he were the one leading the arrest.

"Master has already gathered all the experts who came to participate in this Dharma assembly. Although the external Tantric experts have not yet arrived, their numbers alone are enough to overwhelm Zhengde. Your senior brother and I plan to go with this group to capture Zhengde tomorrow. Not only will I get a share of the thousand taels of gold, but I might also gain the master's favor and participate in the Three Altars Dharma Assembly together."

And so another round of flattery ensued.

At first, it was all flattery, but soon, someone started it, and the conversation turned to risqué topics, like who kicked down whose widow's door, or which mature woman he was having an affair with.
Zhou You didn't find it interesting, so he picked up Duan Xie, stood up, and wanted to pay the bill and leave.

Anyway, we already have news of Zhengde, so it's the right thing to hurry over and join them—the Three Altars Dharma Assembly hasn't started yet, so there's no point in staying in this city any longer.

However, it would have been better if he hadn't stood up, because once he did, he suddenly attracted the attention of the group of bald men.

One of them glanced at him—only lingering on him for a few seconds—before moving behind him.

There, the girl who had just finished playing her piece packed up her instrument and was about to leave with Zhou You.

Then, a burst of wild laughter suddenly rang out.

"Hey senior brother, weren't you just complaining about not being able to find any virgins? Well here's one—come here, little girl, come play a couple of tunes for us, and you'll get a good reward!"

The little girl trembled upon hearing this.

She was from out of town and hadn't been brainwashed. All she knew was that her grandfather, who had raised her, had been forcibly taken away by this group of bald men. Even when she was starving, she always stayed in a corner and never went near that table.

Who would have thought that after finally making some money, these guys would target him again.

Clutching her zither, she spoke in a flustered manner, like a startled fawn.

"No, I'm sorry, gentlemen, I... I'm finishing work today. If I don't pay my room fee soon, I'll have nowhere to sleep. Please leave."

However, the group ignored his words completely. Ben Shan, reeking of alcohol, walked over drunkenly, leering as he spoke.

"Tsk, look at what you're saying. I'm a monk, full of compassion. How could I possibly watch you end up homeless? It's okay if you have nowhere to sleep, just sleep with me!"

As he spoke, those fan-like hands reached out towards the little girl—

however.

Suddenly, a soft sigh was heard.

"Sorry, brother, this is Ge Lian I invited, it has nothing to do with you guys."

The hand stopped abruptly the next moment.

When Ben Shan looked down, he discovered that a bamboo chopstick was sticking out of the center of the back of his hand.

It pierces straight into the bone.

(End of this chapter)