Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/309

 religious name was P‘u-ching. Hearing who the visitor was, he came forward to speak with him.

“General,” said he, “it is many a long year since you left Putung.”

“Yes,” said Kuan Yü, “nearly twenty years.”

“Do you recognise this poor priest?”

“I left the village many years ago; I do not recognise you.”

“My house and yours were only separated by a rivulet,” said the priest.

Now Pien Hsi, seeing the priest holding forth about village matters, thought he would blab about the ambush, so he bade him be silent.

“I want to invite the General to a feast. You priest fellows seem to have a lot to say,” said Pien.

“Not too much,” said Kuan Yü. “Naturally when fellow villagers meet they talk of old times.”

P‘u-ching invited the visitor into the guest room to take tea, but Kuan Yü said, “The two ladies are out there in the carriage; they ought to have some first.”

So the priest bade them take some tea to the ladies and then he led Kuan Yü within, at the same time lifting the priest knife which he wore at his side and looking meaningly at Kuan Yü. The latter understood and told his people to bring along his weapon and keep close at his side.

When Pien Hsi invited Kuan Yü to go into the Hall of the Law for some refreshment, Kuan Yü turned to him, saying, “Is this invitation with good intention or evil?”

His host was so taken aback that he could make no reply, and then Kuan Yü saw that many armed men were concealed behind the arras. Then he shouted loudly at Pien Hsi, saying, “What means this? I thought you an honourable man. How dare you?”

The traitor saw that his plot had failed and called to the assassins to come out and fall to, but Kuan Yü had a short sword in his hand and slashed at any one who came near. So they scattered. Their commander ran down the hall and tried to escape among the side buildings, but Kuan Yü threw aside the short sword, took up Black Dragon and went after Pien Hsi. The latter was trying to get into position to throw his comet-hammer, but Kuan Yü cut the cord and the weapon was useless. He followed Pien in and out and soon caught up with him. Then with one blow he cut him in halves.

The fight over he sought the two ladies, who were surrounded by soldiers. These fled at sight of the terrible warrior. Seeking out the priest, his fellow countryman, he thanked him for the timely warning which had saved him from death.

“I cannot remain here after this,” said P‘u-ching. “I shall pack up my few garments and my alms bowl and take to the