MEN FROM THE DARK CULT 3

"Since we know that our enemy is from the dark cult, then everything gets easier. We just call the Dao priests, the monks, and other religious leaders to diminish them," Qu You said in confidence.

"You don't get the point... Huan Shikang and Suo Junhuan are not a mere heretics, I tell you, even the heretics are afraid of them! We must be serious in dealing with them, don't be too confident and even underestimate them!" Liu Ku warned.

"I agree with Liu Ku," Zhu Su said. "But being careful is not enough. We should still be confident, sure that we will solve this problem. Many problems are failed to be solved just because we possess giving-up mentality even from the beginning."

Liu Ku stared at Zhu Su. Slowly, he curved his lips, "Your Highness, you are so great. I support you... perhaps, I can take my vengeance!"

"What have they done towards you?"

"They almost killed me!" Liu Ku gritted his teeth. "At that time, Huan Shikang was going to practice the dark magic he has learned. I was only a green teenager, I indeed often met with Huan Shikang but rarely talked with him. Yet, he was interested to make me as his experimental subject, Heaven knows the reason. Then that night... he killed me!"

"But... you don't die?..." Wu Qi asked.

"I'm still alive, because of being rescued by Suo Junhuan."

"Eh?! He is your savior, then? What's the problem?" Qu You asked.

"Even worse. I should notice his true motive from the beginning... that he wants to get the secret book I am inherited by my great grandfather!"

"Then... you give it to him?!"

"I give it to him at last because he put a venomous snake into my stomach. He said that he would eradicate the snake if only I gave my grandfather's heirloom!"

"Geez! So cruel!"

"At first I thought that I could create an antidote by myself, but it's really beyond my expectation, that brat is cleverer than me. In the end, I must hand over the book to him!"

"So?! He is basically an expert at killing, and now your grandfather's book makes him more terrible?!"

With a bitter face, Liu Ku nodded. "Suo Junhuan becomes more rampant in Jianghu. His career as a hitman grows rapidly, and so is his mental illness, also increases with the pace of his developing career. At some point he looks quiet, like a nerdy, or even like an idiot. But don't be so shocked when he changes his appearance, he will become so brutal, much more brutal than the most brutal killer you ever meet. Look at his eyes - it's not the normal eyes. He is a madman."

"They want to cooperate with a madman?"

"Why not, since he is a genius madman?" Liu Ku asked back.

"Exactly, Liu Changshi. Huan Shikang, Suo Junhuan, and the gang are the real genius madmen. Now they are joining forces with a rich merchant. God knows what they actually want. But I bet that is not a good one," Qu You commented.

"How about the Dao Priest? Do you also know him?"

Liu Ku shook his head. "I don't know."

Zhu Su sighed. "Then there is still a problem we have to solve..."

The gate opened. They soon returned to their hideout. Merchant Kui had finished his transaction with Huan Shikang. He saluted to his new allies, laughed, "I really appreciate all of your kindness, Mr. Huan Shikang! See you on the day!"

"You're welcome, Merchant Kui. I am looking forward to work together with you."

Merchant Kui entered his palanquin, and after the luxurious entourage left, Huan Shikang said to his cronies, "Alright! It is Geng time (three o'clock in the afternoon), the time for us to go to the City Hall. We are the Supreme Being who will help the people!"

Three of them mounted their horses, then spurred them to the City Hall.

"Follow them!" Zhu Su and the others approached their horses and mounted them, and by making some certain distances behind Huan Shikang, they spurred the horses towards the same destination very carefully.

When they arrived at City Hall, they were so surprised as it was very crowded there. Even a big podium had been standing perfecty - as if everybody knew that "a spectacular show" would be held soon. When Huan Shikang, Suo Junhuan, and the Dao priest - who was apparently "The Black-White Dao Priest" named De Ta - came, the people shouted enthusiastically, "The Grandmasters have come! Our Saviors have come!"

Huan Shikang went up to the podium. His gesture was as if he had became an emperor, full of arrogance. His chin was high and his eyes looked straight ahead. As he stood on the podium, he raised his hands, and the people fell silent. "Today, you all look better. This is a good improvement. It means that we have succeeded in helping you get better."

"We have to thank you for your help!" A man shouted. He was responded with enthusiastic hail from other audiences.

"Grandmaster! Are you going to continue your noble activity, to heal the sick? Plenty of sick people need your generosity!" An old thin man shouted.

"Absolutely! That's why Master Suo Junhuan is here!"

"Long live Master Ren!"

"Thank you very much, Master Ren!"

Liu Ku showed an expression of disgust as finding the people respected Suo Junhuan so much. Suo Junhuan himself curved an awkward smile. Observing his behavior at this time, nobody would expect that he was a ruthless man who had the heart to do killing every night and by then got the nickname "The Murderer Physician".

De Ta continued, "All of you have queued up? Good! Then, Number One, go up here!"

A middle-aged woman went up to the podium, she was carrying an old thin man holding his right rib. After the woman helped the man to sit down, paid her respect to them, and introduced the man as her husband, she went down.

"Does your rib hurt?" Suo Junhuan began to examine the Number One.

Gasping, the man answered, "Yes. So hurts... it makes me suffocate."

"How long has it hurt?"

"From... three days ago..."

Suo Junhuan stared at the man for a few moments quietly. His mysterious silence made the atmosphere turn awkward.

"Is he giving medical treatment, or performing a show? Why do I feel like I am watching a theater?" Qu You muttered.

Finally, Suo Junhuan turned over. He approached the storage of acupuncture needles. He took a needle which was very long in size, was about to use them for his treatment.

Zhu Su shouted in surprise. "That needle is 6 cun * in size... he wants to use it at such dangerous points?!"

Of course Zhu Su got surprised. The 6 cun acupuncture needle is a needle that has a measurement of around 18 cm, much longer than a needle normally used in acupuncture treatment which is usually around 3 to 5 cm in size. Besides, Suo Junhuan inserted it directly at the man's liver, he even inserted it so deeply the whole needle sank all into the rib.

And when Suo Junhuan inserted the needle, that man screamed aloud.

"Aauuuccchhh...." The man trembled so hard, De Ta even must hold him. But Suo Junhuan had not finished yet. He twirled the needle tip in a very sharp rotation angle. And the man screamed louder.

"Does he intend to kill that man?!" Zhu Su stepped forward, urged to prevent Suo Junhuan from doing malpractice. He was so worried Suo Junhuan would make a fault and then killed the old man, fright made him cut the line hastily and let the being-cut people glare at him furiously.

Suo Junhuan pulled the needle out when Zhu Su arrived at the third row. He gave an awkward smile to the man, "Now you may stand up, Sir."

***

* Cun = a measurement relative to the patient's body that is used to find acupuncture points