Chapter 26: Feng Da

In a dilapidated old house, a family of four wore clothes covered in patches.

Feng Da sat in his humble home drinking; he had been at it since morning. Throughout the forenoon, his wife, Wang, had been busy cooking, washing clothes, and tending to two crying children. Her patience had worn thin, and since her hands were never idle, her tongue was equally restless. "All you know is how to drink day in and day out! There’s barely enough rice left in the pot. You might as well let the three of us starve to death."

Feng Da pretended to be deaf, continuing to drink his liquor and snack on boiled edamame.

Wang continued her nagging: "Look at Liu Er, the butcher. He has pig offal to eat every day, and his wife and children are plump and healthy. Look at our two sons—they’re as thin as little monkeys."

Feng Da remained as silent as a mute, continuing to drink his liquor and eat his edamame.

The two children played and scuffled, completely ignoring their mother’s nagging. The younger son, like a headless fly, bumped into Wang and knocked the bowl from her hand, shattering it on the floor. Wang moved to strike him, but the boys, realizing they had caused trouble, had already darted out into the courtyard. Wang did not chase them, merely cursing, "You two blind wretches, you’ll be the death of me yet!"

The younger boy, panicked and flustered, ran toward the courtyard gate and collided with Ma Youcai.

Ma Youcai hoisted the boy up by his shoulders and asked, "Little one, it’s been a while—you’ve grown taller. Where is your father?"

The boy, frightened by the stranger, let out a wail. His older brother ran back into the house, shouting, "Drunken Papa, you have a friend here to see you!"

Wang was the first to run out. She took the child from Ma Youcai’s arms. When Feng Da emerged into the courtyard and recognized his old friend, he gave him a warm welcome: "Brother, it has been a long time."

Ma Youcai replied, "Since you wouldn't come to see me, I had no choice but to come see you."

"Come inside quickly," Feng Da said. "Let us drink."

As Wang held the younger son, Ma Youcai pulled out a twenty-tael silver ingot and placed it in the child's hand. He said with a grin, "Trouble, sister-in-law, to buy some wine and meat. My brother and I have a great deal of drinking to do."

"Since you’ve come, brother, why spend your own money? I’ll go buy it," Wang said, her face beaming at the sight of the silver. She offered the customary pleasantries.

Ma Youcai said, "Go quickly, sister-in-law. Don't let us delay our drinking."

"Very well." Wang set off to buy the provisions, with the older son trailing behind her.

Feng Da led Ma Youcai inside, set out the cups and chopsticks, and asked, "You must have come to see me for a reason, brother?"

Ma Youcai feigned envy. "These past few years, you’ve been home with your wife and children—you’ve been living quite well!"

"Living well? Hardly," Feng Da scoffed. "Let’s not talk of that. Recently, I’ve developed a new poison, 'Rat-Killer Supreme.' If you buy it for your home, I guarantee a pile of dead rats."

Ma Youcai grabbed Feng Da’s arm, produced a twenty-tael gold ingot, and set it on the table with a heavy thud. He lowered his voice: "Brother, what happens if a person consumes this 'Rat-Killer Supreme'?"

"If a person eats it," Feng Da replied, "they die even more miserably than a rat."

Ma Youcai said, "I’ll buy this poison. Can you also provide the service of administering it?"

Feng Da dropped all pretense of subtlety: "Who is the target? I shall go at once."

"His name is Xiao Bugui," Ma Youcai said. "He is currently at Zhang’s Donkey Meat Flatbread shop. However, his martial arts are extremely high; you had better find two helpers."

"With my 'Rat-Killer Supreme,' never mind a man—even a god would surely perish if he consumed it." Casting a glance at the gold, Feng Da turned and opened a wooden chest, retrieving a gourd from within. He boasted to Ma Youcai, "Do you see this? A single gourd of this poison, tossed into a river or lake, would kill everyone in the martial arts world."

Ma Youcai said, "Then let us go to Zhang’s Flatbread shop right now."

Xiao Bugui was drinking tea. Business at Master Zhang’s was brisk, so one had to queue for his donkey meat flatbread. But Master Zhang, fearing his guests would become impatient, provided excellent service—he served tea first to ensure they were well-hydrated.

Xiao Bugui had finished a whole pot of tea by the time the waiter brought the flatbread. The fragrant, crispy crust paired with the minced meat and garlic was a delight to the palate. Xiao Bugui ate four in one sitting. Ma Zengsan, seeing this, remarked, "Eat a little less. Once the crabs are brought out, you won't have room for them."

The Green Lion, also catching the scent of the food, poked its head out. Discovering it was merely crispy bread with minced meat, it scoffed: "I eat only fresh meat, and I consume only the finest weapons. This common human food is nothing but waste and provides me no benefit." After this complaint, it retreated back into the tattoo.

Hearing the Green Lion’s assessment, Xiao Bugui could only smile. When the waiter brought out a platter of crabs, he grew impatient. Not knowing how to eat them, he picked one up and handed it to Ma Zengsan: "Master Ma, you eat first."

Ma Zengsan pried open the shell, revealing the oily, golden roe, and smiled: "You don't know how to eat this? Shall I teach you?"

Xiao Bugui followed suit and found it so delicious he couldn't stop. He devoured five platters, four large crabs to each.

Ma Zengsan probed, "Still hungry?"

Xiao Bugui nodded sheepishly.

Ma Zengsan waved his hand and called for the waiter to bring another platter. But the waiter who returned was different—it was Feng Da in disguise.

The scent of liquor on Feng Da made Ma Zengsan suspicious. After a closer look, he realized this man was no ordinary waiter. When Feng Da set down the crabs and turned to leave, Ma Zengsan blocked his path: "Who are you?"

Feng Da froze for a moment, then smiled: "I am merely here to deliver crabs to the two gentlemen."

Ma Zengsan took a silver hairpin from his head and inserted it into the crab shell. "Your name is Feng Da, the poisoner. You’ve come to see us off to our graves, haven't you?"

Feng Da remained calm. "Perhaps the gentleman would like to give me this crab to eat?"

Ma Zengsan said nothing, using the silver hairpin to lift the crab and hand it to Feng Da. Feng Da was unfazed; he took the crab and sat right down at the table. "Have we met?"

In the martial arts world, silver is used to test for poison. Seeing that the hairpin had not changed color, Ma Zengsan said, "I met you once at the funeral of your master, Pan Yue. Have you been short on money lately, that you’ve resorted to harming people?"

Feng Da peeled the crab and gave a bitter laugh. "I developed a poison meant to kill rats, but everyone keeps cats instead—who would spend money on my poison? So, I came here to earn a little cash."

Ma Zengsan said, "Regardless, I am an old acquaintance of your master. You wouldn't harm me, would you?"

Feng Da pointed at Xiao Bugui. "I came for him."

Xiao Bugui was still busy eating his crab. Seeing Feng Da pointing at him, he asked, "What business do you have with me?"

Feng Da smiled. "Nothing much. I just wanted to inform you that these crabs are poisoned."

Feng Da’s reminder made Xiao Bugui realize his stomach was beginning to cramp. "If these crabs were poisoned, why didn't you say so earlier? I’ve already eaten them!"

Feng Da rose to leave, sneering, "If I had told you earlier, you wouldn't have eaten them. Farewell."

Ma Zengsan tried to block him. "Give us the antidote!"

"There is no antidote for this poison," Feng Da said, fleeing the restaurant.