A House on Mount Linux

Part 3: The Unruly Treacherous Nephew Dares His Gentle Unhappy Uncle

Part 3: The Unruly Treacherous Nephew Dares His Gentle Unhappy Uncle

... Liu LiZhong came into the big study, everybody had already gathered there. His uncle, like Linux Mountain, was towering over his desk surrounded by relations and subordinates. He worked the jaws of his mighty face, his eyes burning with dark fire. The tiger, that had been crouching in this powerful body for thirty years, at last was ready to break through.

"Why did you do it? You are so eager to become the Emperor's family enemy? Are you that dumb? What are you asking for?"

"What am I asking for?"

Liu LiZhong was looking at his uncle with a sinister smile.

"Bai Chi, I'll just say it out loud what I am asking for, and you will go and crash that motherfucker's head of yours against that damn antique bookcase. Such a fool you are to ask in front of everybody," he thought. "Just one little word from me. Funny, though."

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* Bai Chi - idiot

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"Where did you transport the gold? Can we stop the shipment?.. Look at me!"

The uncle stood up from the desk and was on his way to him.

"Fuck the gold!"

Liu LiZhong stared defiantly at the older man' face. That was going to be the last time for him to see those dark serious eyes, the familiar wrinkle on the forehead, the lips and their shadow below.

Liu LiZhong turned his face away. Liu ShanShun reached his hand to turn it back... but the hand stopped midway in the air and went down.

Liu ShanShun was looking at his nephew helplessly. The young man's bright handsome face was full of despise as usual. His lucent eyes were squinted, the colour of the iris barely seen, like the moonlight through slits in the shutters. He didn't say a word. He never said a word... It was all useless.

The nephew gave out a hopeless fleer.

"Where is the money?! Tell me now! My father will arrest you!" that cow Hu Zhei was shouting.

Everybody was eager to display resentment and disgust to please the family's head. His uncle was lifeless among the hostile turmoil, not knowing what to do. He never knew... It was all useless.

He suddenly threw his fist in the nearest resentful relative's shithole, pushed somebody's shoulder and bolted out of his ancestors' home into the rain and darkness.

"Seize him! Catch the traitor!," shouted Hu Zhei.

"Hu Zhei, Hu Zhei, I will choke you to death now," thought Liu ShanShun.

Liu MiLi was crying her heart out.

The gold... fuck it. The amount was enormous, his nephew having given a good brush to their assets. That wasn't of major concern for Liu ShanShun: if the creditors agree to extend the terms just by an insignificant bit, he'll sell the merchandise in the storage and cover the loss. Let it be more than one turnover, never mind. It's all bullshit.

High treason - that's no bullshit.

"Why couldn't you just strip me bare and keep the money for yourself? I don't get it. You could enjoy luxury in a beautiful country, build a palace or whatever, I don't know what you really want..."

"Now this cow Hu Zhei will bellow 'Catch the traitor!' and you will be a wanted criminal in forty three prefectures. If they find you, they'll chop off your legs and arms."