Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

It turns out that Wu Yueniang had a secret affair, which is a long story, so we'll leave it for now.

Elsewhere, Zheng Tu strolled out from South Street, truly feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Having just dealt with that group of hooligans, I not only released the pent-up anger I'd been holding in, but I also managed to swindle a considerable amount of money from them—a total of eleven or twelve taels of loose silver, plus a few strings of copper coins. Though not a huge sum, it was still quite a windfall.

"You really can't find a 'business' this easy to do anywhere else!"

It's a win-win-win situation—winning favors, making money, and avoiding responsibility—a rare and desirable opportunity.

Zheng Tu weighed the heavy money bag in his arms and felt greatly relieved.

This money came just in time to solve his immediate problem, giving him a lot more money to spare. He could then think about starting a legitimate business and settle down in Qinghe County.

Zheng Tu enjoyed riding that tall, magnificent horse with its long legs, slender waist, and shapely rear, but since it ultimately belonged to Ximen Qing, he felt embarrassed to ride it for long.

So he had the servant Dai'an lead him back to the mansion first, while he planned to stroll around the streets for a while, and find out which shops were in good locations and what kind of business was suitable.

So we traveled along, stopping frequently to admire the beautiful scenery of Qinghe County.

Signboards hung high on both sides, and wine flags fluttered in the breeze; the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, diners chatting and laughing, and music playing mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Zheng Tu walked slowly, taking in the shops on both sides: silk shops, medicine shops, taverns, teahouses, pawnshops, blacksmith shops... a wide variety of shops.

As they were walking, they suddenly saw a wandering monk sitting under an old locust tree at the corner of the street ahead.

This monk was strangely shaped and had a peculiar appearance: a leopard's head with sunken eyes, a face as purple as liver and lungs, a headband the color of chicken skin, and a flesh-red robe. His beard was unkempt, but the top of his head was completely bald, forming a strange bald patch.

The truth is:

Describing a strange and eccentric Arhat, a one-eyed dragon who has not yet rid himself of his fiery nature.

At this moment, the monk was drowsy with his head drooping, his neck tucked into his chest cavity, looking nothing like an ordinary person, but rather like a strange creature.

Zheng Tu's heart stirred.

It should be noted that in traditional plays and novels, monks with such strange attire and peculiar appearances invariably possess some extraordinary qualities. They may have unique skills, hidden treasures, or know the secrets of heaven.

How could he possibly miss such an opportunity?

With the thought that "even if it's hopeless, I might as well try my luck," Zheng Tu mustered his courage, stepped forward, cleared his throat, and called out loudly, "That monk! Where are you from, and what kind of eminent monk are you?"

He called out once, but the monk did not move an inch.

The second sound, still no words.

Upon hearing the third sound, the monk straightened up on the ground, stretched his back, and opened one eye. His other eye remained tightly closed, as if he were blind.

The one-eyed monk jumped up, nodded to Zheng Tu, and replied in a gruff voice:

"You ask me what's wrong? This humble monk never changes his name or surname! I am a Hu monk from the Cold Pavilion Temple on the Peak of the Dense Pine Forest in the Western Regions of India, who has come here on a pilgrimage to provide medicine and help people. Sir, what do you want me to say?"

However, it was a foreign accent.

Zheng Tu was secretly delighted, and couldn't help but think of his martial arts skills, which had not improved in a long time.

Because each improvement in martial arts skills relies on the stimulation of one's own blood and energy, over time, there is a subtle sense of deficiency.

This is why, after his rebirth, he has kept his available points and dared not add them rashly.

If one could obtain some nourishing and strengthening elixirs, perhaps this worry could be resolved.

He then tentatively asked, "Since the high monk is distributing medicine to help people, I'd like to ask you for some nourishing medicine. Do you have any?"

The foreign monk looked up and scrutinized Zheng Tu with his one eye. He first shook his head, then nodded, exclaiming, "Eh!" He continued, "Your face is quite strange. It's clearly a sign of an early death. Your forehead is dark, and there's a deathly aura between your brows. You should be a man who doesn't have long to live... How could you have lived until now? Strange, very strange!"

Zheng Tu was startled, but feigned ignorance: "What do you mean, Master? I am in good health; how could I have died young?"

The foreign monk chuckled but did not reply.

He stood up, took his heavy, dark iron cane from beside the tree and used it for support, and then slung a worn-out leather satchel over his shoulder.

The satchel was bulging and contained two medicine gourds, one green and one purple.

He took down the blue medicine gourd, tossed it casually, and the gourd landed steadily in Zheng Tu's arms.

"Since we've met, it must be fate. I'll give you one of these medicine gourds! The other one... well, it'll have to wait for the one destined to receive it, hehe."

Zheng Tu reached out and caught it, but found the medicine gourd to be heavy in his hand. The mouth of the gourd was sealed tightly with silk cloth.

"Master, this medicine..." Zheng Tu wanted to ask again.

But the foreign monk ignored him completely, swung his one leg, leaned on his iron staff, and limped away.

Despite appearing to be walking unsteadily, their speed was astonishing, and in the blink of an eye they had already covered more than 30 feet!

Zheng Tu hurried to catch up, calling out, "Master, please wait! I haven't yet asked how to take this medicine and what its effects are?"

The foreign monk didn't even turn his head, only waving his hand: "Those who are destined to know will know; those who aren't, asking is pointless!"

Zheng Tu was unwilling to give up and quickened his pace to catch up.

Who knew that although the monk was lame, he didn't walk very fast. He was calm and composed, and didn't even pant. In no time, he had left Zheng Tu far behind. After turning a street corner, he was nowhere to be seen!

Zheng Tu chased after him to the street corner, looked around, but there was no sign of the Hu monk. It seemed as if he had vanished into thin air.

He was astonished and could only stop in his tracks: "This monk... truly has skill! Just this one movement technique alone would make him impossible for an ordinary person to handle!"

"The Cold Court Temple on the Peak of the Dense Pine Forest in the Western Regions of Tianzhu Kingdom..." Zheng Tu murmured the strange place name, "It sounds like it was made up. But this monk does have some supernatural powers."

He looked down at the medicine gourd in his hand and felt that it was warm and smooth to the touch, with a faint fragrance emanating from it.

Shake it, and you can hear a soft "rustling" sound from inside, like a pill rolling around.

Driven by curiosity, Zheng Tu immediately uncorked the gourd, tilted the opening, and poured out a pill into his palm.

The pill was about the size of a longan, entirely blood-red, with a smooth surface and a faint, peculiar fragrance.

The fragrance was neither orchid nor musk, but rather somewhat like sandalwood mixed with herbs. It was an exotic and invigorating scent that made one feel warm and comfortable throughout the body.

Zheng Tu leaned closer for a closer look and saw that the surface of the pill was engraved with extremely fine lines, which looked like some kind of Sanskrit incantation. It was not clear and was definitely not an ordinary object.

"This medicine..."

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not take the pill rashly. He poured the pill back into the gourd and sealed it tightly.

As he was examining it closely, he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.