THE RETURN 3

Zhu Su glanced at Gao Qing, as his teacher's odd attitude evoked his curiosity. Since they arrived in Yunnan, he just remained silent. When Zhu Su introduced him to all of his team members, he only nodded and after that remained silent again. He also showed the same attitude when Zhu Su asked for his opinion, either to capture Zhu Youxun, or to continue his fighting against Zhu Yunwen... as he reached this part, Gao Qing's oddity became much worse - the teacher soon stepped out of the room.

Gao Qing's odd attitude hit high spot when Zhu Di came. Even before Zhu Di entered the room, Gao Qing had disappeared elsewhere.

Zhu Di appeared very happy when he saw Zhu Su again. "Thank Heaven! I'm so glad to see you again! I've heard that the government sent troops to rampage your medical center, I thought you have been arrested!"

Zhu Su was also as delightful as his brother was. "I'm also very happy to see you again! First I thought, I won't come back here, let alone see you!"

"I heard that at that time you fled to Ava?"

Zhu Su nodded.

"And you almost decided to settle in Ava, even becoming a citizen there?"

"I thought there was no hope for me to return here. But Wu Qi and Liu Ku came, encouraging me to return. So I am confident to come back."

"You make the right decision. If you choose to settle in Ava, then it means you have raised the white flag and announce your defeat. We have not lost, after all! I will continue this fight until I win, because this war is the determinant of our life and death! And I'll do everything to save you and your men, even though for that I must send a weird man!"

Zhu Su's entire brain was lighted up. Instantly, the murky confusion which once covered his brain got dispersed. "The mysterious person who has released them from prison, is sent by you?!"

Zhu Di grinned.

Zhu Su beamed with delight. "I have to thank for your help releasing Liu Ku and Wu Qi!" He said excitedly.

"No problem. By the way, Liu Ku wrote in his letter that you were almost unwilling to hear his advice to return to Ming. I was going to send someone else to persuade you to come back. But fortunately, they succeeded in bringing you back, after all, they are very close to you, you must be more willing to hear them, more than anyone else." Zhu Di looked at Zhu Su closely. "Fu Huang will be very disappointed if he knows that his son wants to emigrate to a foreign country."

Zhu Su bit his lower lip. "I won't let him disappointed..." He muttered. "Whatever it takes, I will stay here and fight till the end!"

"Liu Ku also told me, a person named Gao Qing once forbade you from returning here? Who is Gao Qing? I've never seen him, anyway."

"Oh, Mr. Gao!" Zhu Su looked left and right, searching for Gao Qing. But Gao Qing had disappeared from sight since long time ago.

Such a weird man, Mr. Gao! When I introduced him to the Team of Wellbeing members, he acted indifferently. Now when Brother Di arrives, he vanishes!

"It seems that he is going somewhere. Maybe he is buying something in the market. I'll introduce him to you later, okay?"

"They say, this Gao Qing is the younger brother of the Poet Gao Qi?"

"Yes."

"How can you come up with such an abnormal idea? Being a disciple of a rebel's younger brother. You aren't afraid that his mindset can poison you?"

"Mr. Gao is a brilliant expert of Wushu Xuanxue, Brother. I become his disciple to study the aspects of Wushu Xuanxue, especially medicine. Not studying politics or something like that," Zhu Su explained. "Besides, Gao Qing is different from Gao Qi. Gao Qi is obviously an odd scholar who is too idealistic and unadaptable to society, while Gao Qing is very good at noticing what is happening in his surroundings. He is a realist, he knows what he should and should not do. In fact, his mindset has helped me to become more aware."

"Still, he is the younger brother of Gao Qi. His thought must be more or less the same as Gao Qi's. You must know the reason why Fu Huang is antipathy with Gao Qi. According to him, Gao Qi was an arrogant person who was unwilling to return the favor. He never thanked his State, he always felt the State was unfair to him and he would never stop in criticizing the State regardless the State was very kind to him. I'm just worried, Gao Qing also has the same mindset. So, is it safe for you to bring someone like that on your side? After all, what the State needs is loyal people, not the rebels."

"Brother, actually we are also the rebels to the State, aren't we?"

"Eh?..."

"We are fighting against the Emperor, of course, we are the rebels of the State. But are we totally guilty? We are not, right? The Emperor has wronged us so we fight him. But despite any excuses we said, we have been labeled all over the world as the rebels of State. So, in my opinion. The concept of "loyalist" and "rebel" is actually very subjective. After all, we can turn those "rebels" into "loyalists" as the wise leaders did. If you can't fight your enemies, befriend them. Right?"

Zhu Di then sighed. "Well... I just warn you. Judging from the stories about this Gao Qing, it seems that he has a difficult temperament. Hopefully, your analysis of him is right. No matter what, if you get the wrong person, it will be very bad for you."

"Fine, Brother," Zhu Su nodded. "Oh, may I know the person you sent to save Wu Qi and Liu Ku?" He changed their topic.

"That person is a Daoist Priest, named Teng Shuo."

"Can I meet with him?"

Zhu Di sighed again. "This person is no less strange than Gao Qing. He likes to appear and disappear as he likes. Actually, he is not my subordinate. When I heard that Kaifeng troops were destroying your medical center and trying to capture you, I immediately looked for someone to overcome them, someone who has a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of Yunnan prison. Then he appeared, and with great confidence, he said that he would be able to release the prisoners, at the same time asking me for tens of troops to defeat the guards, but he is an expert anyway, he apparently doesn't talk nonsense..."

"And where is he?"

"He disappears again."

Zhu Su furrowed his eyebrows. "So strange!"

"He said; he is willing to save you because he is very impressed with your medical expertise, as well as with your kindness in helping the poor people suffering from illness. Only one request he asks you; You should continue to help sick people who are really in need."

Zhu Su smiled awkwardly. "I will definitely do it although he doesn't ask for it."

"Well then, Su. That means you are so well-liked by Yunnan people that even a strange Daoist Priest is willing to help you without expecting anything in return."

After Zhu Di returned home, Zhu Su immediately looked for Gao Qing. Gao Qing evidently had left the residence quite far away since he climbed up one of the summits of Mount Laojun.