VIP Volume, Chapter 21: The Man of a Thousand Faces

Hao Six-Fingers’ house was actually not far from the archaeological team’s camp. Out of breath, Ye Xiaoxuan said to Ye Dajun, “I can’t do it anymore. I’ve walked back and forth several times tonight. I’m exhausted. You go ahead, I’ll wait here for you!”

Ye Dajun shook his head. “No way, it’s pitch black out here—” Ye Xiaoxuan shot him a wicked grin. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark!”

Ye Dajun cursed, “Damn it! I’m afraid of losing you! We go together, we come back together. I’m not leaving you here. Come on, I’ll help you.” With that, he pulled Ye Xiaoxuan up, half-supporting, half-carrying him forward.

Ye Xiaoxuan simply slung his arm around Ye Dajun’s neck, brought his mouth close to his face, sniffed hard, and chuckled, “Bro, what kind of cologne are you wearing? Smells pretty good!”

Ye Dajun tried to shake him off, but worried he’d refuse to go otherwise, he held his temper and muttered, “I don’t know, just grabbed whatever was at home. What are you doing?” He caught the hand that was reaching for his chest.

Ye Xiaoxuan said with envy, “Bro, you’re getting sturdier! Your chest is getting bigger and bigger. I can never train to be like you.”

Ye Dajun stared at him for a long moment, as if suppressing some kind of torment, and finally snapped, his voice trembling, “Cut the crap! Why aren’t we there yet?”

Ye Xiaoxuan pointed to a tall earthen house nearby. “Here we are!” He picked up a clod of dirt and hurled it at the back window above, striking the glass with a thud.

No light came on inside, but the window opened and a beam from a flashlight shone down. Seeing Ye Xiaoxuan waving, the light disappeared.

A moment later, a shadow appeared in the window like a monkey, gripping the sill with both hands and slowly lowering his body, sliding down the three-meter-high wall without making a sound.

It was Hao Six-Fingers. He was even shorter than Ye Xiaoxuan, barely one meter seventy, thin as if malnourished, with an enormous head that made him look comical, almost like one of those big-headed dolls in a folk dance troupe.

Grinning, Hao Six-Fingers said to Ye Xiaoxuan, “Come on, let’s go to Widow Liu’s and swipe Dahua’s collar!” Ye Xiaoxuan asked curiously, “Did you bring the hook?” Hao Six-Fingers patted his chest, “Got it right here!”

Ye Dajun circled Hao Six-Fingers, eyeing him curiously. “How big is the hook? Will it hold?”

Hao Six-Fingers looked at Ye Dajun, puzzled. Ye Dajun quickly added, “Just kidding! We came to ask if you’d join us on the boat tomorrow. We’ll split the money with you!”

Hao Six-Fingers curled his lip. “No way! That’s risking your life. You think I’m stupid?” Ye Dajun pounded his chest. “I’ll be there! And besides, the archaeological team’s got big boats and lots of people. What’s there to risk?”

But Ye Xiaoxuan said, “Bro, let me talk to him.” He went to Hao Six-Fingers and asked, “Bull hook or earth hook?”

“Bull hook! Planning to climb Widow Chen’s courtyard wall,” Hao Six-Fingers replied.

Ye Xiaoxuan nodded. “So you hooked the one-armed guy first?”

Hao Six-Fingers glanced at Ye Dajun. “Are you sure?”

Ye Xiaoxuan grinned, “I’ve been smelling it all night. The scent’s changed.” Hao Six-Fingers nodded, “Let’s do it.”

Ye Dajun asked from behind, “What are you two talking about? I don’t understand a word!” Ye Xiaoxuan turned and flashed him a mysterious smile. “We’re handling something first—it’s for tomorrow’s trip.”

Ye Dajun, intrigued, pressed in. “What’s going on?” Ye Xiaoxuan turned to Hao Six-Fingers, “Ready?” Hao Six-Fingers unbuttoned his jacket and nodded, “Ready!”

Before the words had even faded, Ye Xiaoxuan yanked a rope from Hao Six-Fingers’ waist, circled him once, and before he could react, had firmly bound his arms to his sides!

Hao Six-Fingers then bounced and spun, wrapping Ye Dajun up tightly from head to toe! With a flick of his right hand, Ye Dajun suddenly felt his whole body constrict, his legs snapping together uncontrollably. Off balance, he crashed to the ground with a thud!

Even though it was a dirt road, the fall made him grimace in pain. He cursed at Ye Xiaoxuan and Hao Six-Fingers, “You two bastards! Playing games at a time like this?!”

Ye Xiaoxuan squatted in front of him, grinning, and rubbed his hands over Ye Dajun’s face. Soon, his palms were smeared with greasepaint. Hao Six-Fingers shone his flashlight and said, “Huh? A man of a thousand faces? This is disguise ointment!”

Ye Xiaoxuan cackled, “I knew something was off. It really is the man of a thousand faces!” The fake Ye Dajun lying on the ground stopped struggling. At last, he realized Ye Xiaoxuan had seen through him long ago—the one-armed guy referred to him!

“Speak. Who are you really? Why are you pretending to be my brother?” Ye Xiaoxuan squatted before the impostor, slapping his face as he questioned him.

The fake Ye Dajun snorted and shot back, “In appearance, in gait, even in voice—I’ve studied Ye Dajun for a long time. I’m ninety percent like him. How did you see through me so quickly?”

Ye Xiaoxuan grinned wickedly, blew a breath across his face, and said, “You’d better answer my question first, or you’ll regret it.”

The impostor spat and sneered, “You think you can touch me? The two of you—one’s a cripple, the other’s a runt—not even a match for a martial artist. You think you can take me? Hah! Ouch—”

He tried to inhale and tense his muscles, hoping to burst the ropes, but not only did he fail, the bindings tightened further.

Hao Six-Fingers squatted down angrily and slapped him hard across the face. “You little bastard! Who are you calling a runt? Look down on me? Let me tell you, that’s a bull hook, bull tendon rope—the harder you struggle, the tighter it gets!”

“You dare hit me?” The impostor’s eyes blazed with fury, glaring at Hao Six-Fingers.

Hao Six-Fingers spat back in imitation, “What are you posturing for? Think you’re untouchable? Not only will I hit you, I’ll—”

The impostor glared, snapping, “What else? Try anything and I’ll kill you!”

Hao Six-Fingers shuddered, nearly dropping to the ground in fright, hands drawn back, not daring to move again. The real Ye Dajun had a terrifying look, but this glare made him look downright demonic!

“And strip you naked!” Ye Xiaoxuan added cheerfully, his hands roaming all over the impostor, making Hao Six-Fingers shudder with goosebumps. Even if this Ye Dajun was a fake, he was still a grown man! When did this guy start liking musclemen? He quickly stood up and whispered to Ye Xiaoxuan, “Xuanzi, not here, okay? Let’s drag him somewhere more private.”