Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 84 I Have a Plan

After much thought, Zheng Tu suddenly realized something.

In Qinghe County, he had unknowingly made so many enemies: Wang Qilang and his gang disappeared after being beaten by him; Zhang Laizi and his gang of hooligans were imprisoned and their whereabouts were unknown; Huang Silang had a hidden plan and the crisis was not over; Jiang Zhushan was resentful because his lustful desires were thwarted; and the wealthy man was angry with his relatives and friends because his business was suppressed by Ximen Qing...

Although he didn't think these people were anything special, to him, having many debts didn't bother him, and having many lice didn't bother him.

But for those around them, it's impossible to guard against!

He recounted the groups of people he had guessed, and Wu Song listened, then closed his eyes and pondered for a long time.

Half of his face was illuminated by sunlight, while the other half remained dark and indistinct, his brows furrowed.

The room fell silent for a moment.

After a long silence, Wu Song suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife as he looked at Zheng Tu: "Brother, let me ask you, how much do you know about that Master Ximen?"

Zheng Tu's heart tightened.

He knew that Wu Song was always brave and resourceful. Just by looking at how he could remain calm after losing his loved ones and narrow down the suspects to three or five people in such a short time, he knew that Wu Song was meticulous and thoughtful.

He is quite capable.

Now that he has asked about Ximen Qing, could it be that he really suspects him?

But if it really was Ximen Qing who did it, why did Pan Jinlian also die?

If Ximen Qing wanted to get rid of Wu Da, he could have simply used slow poison; why did he have to harm Pan Jinlian as well? This doesn't make sense.

Personally, Zheng Tu didn't really want to believe that Ximen Qing was behind it.

According to custom, having lived two lives, Ximen Qing had always treated him well, giving him shares and forming a sworn brotherhood, and always looking out for him.

Emotionally speaking, if Ximen Qing truly committed this heinous act because he mistakenly believed that Ximen Qing had an affair with Pan Jinlian, then where would Ximen Qing stand? How could he possibly face Wu Song?

Zheng Tu's mouth was dry, and he wanted to lie and say that Ximen Qing was a kind and law-abiding hero.

But his fist loosened and tightened under the table, then loosened and tightened again.

Finally, he made up his mind and told the truth: "Ximen Qing is a man... cunning and treacherous. He often lends money to officials in the county to make money, and he has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds. Few people in the county are not afraid of him. He is really not a good person. However... we are very good friends."

Zheng Tu paused for a moment, then added with difficulty, "As for the motive... it's possible that I said something foolish when I was drinking with him before, which made him mistakenly believe that I was having an affair with my sister-in-law, so he poisoned me to help me get what I wanted. This is all just my own speculation, and there is no evidence to support it."

Zheng Tu spilled out all his guesses, feeling a great weight lifted from his shoulders, though he felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

Hearing him say this, Wu Song breathed a sigh of relief.

He had long heard that Zheng Tu and Ximen Qing were close friends and that they would be sworn brothers tomorrow.

If Zheng Tu continues to defend Ximen Qing and cover for him, it will truly chill Wu Song's heart. After all, Wu Song is just a young man with some strength, while Ximen Qing is a wealthy man with immense riches.

Moreover, although Zheng Tu made such an evaluation of Ximen Qing, he did not distance himself from the matter and spoke frankly about his suspicions, which truly shows his upright character.

"Wu Er trusts his brother's character."

Wu Song felt a warmth in his heart. "I heard that my brother is going to become sworn brothers with Ximen Qing tomorrow. If that's the case..."

He gritted his teeth, "I'll take a gamble with Wu Er! I'll believe he wouldn't harm my brother!"

These words sounded decisive, as if he were trying to convince himself.

"As for the rest of them," Wu Song's eyes flashed with a fierce light, "since none of them are good people, and they are all suspects..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Zheng Tu already understood his implication.

Kill without mercy!

At this moment, Wu Song had already made up his mind to perish together with his opponent, and he no longer had any scruples.

He relaxed completely and even gave Zheng Tu a sly smile: "Brother, let's treat Wu Er to another drink! This time we'll really fleece you!"

Zheng Tu stared intently at Wu Song, his expression complex.

Wu Song simply turned his head away and shouted towards the door, "Innkeeper! Bring out all the best wine and meat! I want the finest Jinhua wine and the fattest lamb!"

Before long, the food and wine were ready.

Wu Song broke the mud seal, poured two large bowls of wine, drank them down in one gulp, and then tore off a leg of lamb and chewed it heartily.

As he ate, he chuckled and teased, "Why does brother look so miserable? Are you worried about the cost of the food and drinks?"

Great sorrow can turn into joy; it's nothing more than this.

Zheng Tu knew that after Wu Song finished this meal, he would take up his knife to seek revenge and go on a killing spree.

But the person didn't say a word, clearly afraid of putting himself in a difficult position.

It seems that Wu Song had already resolved to die when he saw his elder brother's corpse. He only needed to kill his enemy with his own hands, and then he would have no more worries.

Wu Song ate heartily, while Zheng Tu simply watched him quietly from the side.

But look how heartily Wu Song laughed.

The more heartily he laughed, the more distressed Zheng Tu felt.

We were brothers.

If you, Wu Erlang, have such courage, why shouldn't I, Zheng Tu, dare to give it a try?

The next time, it might be a splitting headache, or it might be... no more reincarnation.

Wu Song was tearing apart a leg of lamb when he suddenly heard Zheng Tu call out softly.

"Jiro."

Wu Song stopped what he was doing and looked up in confusion.

Zheng Tu looked at him quietly and said, word by word, "I have a plan that can bring your brother and sister-in-law... back to life."

Wu Song was stunned, then burst into laughter: "What nonsense are you talking about, brother..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes suddenly widened—

Zheng Tu brought his right index and middle fingers together like a sword, and to Wu Song's horrified gaze, he suddenly stabbed it into his right temple!

"Pfft!"

The sound of finger bones breaking through the skull could be clearly heard.

Two fingers were actually shoved into his temples, all the way to the base of his fingers!

Blood spurted out like an arrow, splattering onto the food and wine on the table, the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, and Wu Song's astonished face.

Zheng Tu swayed slightly, but a strange smile appeared on his face, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

Wu Song suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with rage: "Brother—!!!"

He rushed forward to support Zheng Tu, only to find that Zheng Tu's eyes had quickly lost their luster.

Zheng Tu's burly body fell heavily, overturning tables and chairs, the sounds of shattering dishes and spilled wine filling the air.

Wu Song knelt in the pool of blood, embracing the corpse of Zheng Tu Shang Wen, his whole body trembling.

"Why? Why is that, brother?!"

But then the sky suddenly changed, and everything around seemed to turn upside down, reverting to the old path.

As dawn broke, the sun seemed to be heading eastward backwards, and the peddlers' cries on the street abruptly ceased, while the coins that had fallen into their baskets hung suspended in mid-air.

The sparrows startled from under the eaves froze with their wings and scurried back into their nests.

The porters coming down the mountain staggered backward, and the firewood on their carrying poles also went backward, being stacked back into the forest behind the mountain.

The porcelain bowl that had just been smashed gathered its fragments together, the cracks slowly healing, and rolled back onto the table.

The spilled wine on the ground seemed to have a spirit, climbing up the edge of the table and falling back into the wine pot without missing a single drop.

The world is upside down!

Wu Song looked down at the two bloody holes on Zheng Tu's temples, then looked up at the sudden changes around him. He felt his mind go blank, as if it were about to explode!