First Act, Second Scene
Time: half a month later.
Place: country of the north.
Stage setting: On the left of the stage there are two pine trees, they are the beginning of the forest in the back of them. In front of the trees is a highway; behind the road very formidable looking mountains of reddish grey color. There are no trees on the mountains but only very few shrubs and grass. In the background more mountains are visible making a deep yellow outline against the sky.
Characters: Wang Ta-ch'eng, Ting Te-sheng, Li Chan-yuan, Sung Ming-liang, Little K'an, Fourth Dog, and a few hired hands. When the curtain rises Little K'an and the Fourth Dog stood before the pine trees.
Little K'an's jacket and trousers are made of unbleached white cotton. His coat is unbuttoned, his belt is very tight, making his waist narrow and shoulders broad. He is not too tall, but very strong. His head is like a melon with angles. His hair is shaved off up to the crown of his head and his pigtail is braided very tightly. His hairdo is a sign of a rough individual. There is a revolver stuck in his belt.
Fourth Dog is taller than Little K'an and his muscles are very strong too.
He is coatless, only a pair of black trousers. In his hand there is a big stick.
FD: I tell you Little K'an, I am quitting this job.
LK: Well, you agreed with me when we started out, now you are scared.
FD: Only a fool is afraid, I am just being careful.
LK: Cautiousness is also a sign of being afraid.
FD: In the past whenever we robbed a passer-by, did you ever see me being scared？
LK: No, you did not knit your brows, you were only trembling all over.
FD: Whenever I talk to you seriously you always joke: I am saying that in the past, the two of us being so strong, we could rob a passer-by just as easily as picking up a cucumber, but now, well, you want us to hold up a whole caravan and besides it is Wang Ta-ch'eng's caravan. You cannot blame me for being careful like this.
LK: You have not figured it out clearly. How much can a single passer-by carry. To rob a single man, we spent a lot of energy and get a few strings of cash which is really not enough to get a whore even once. A man who is strong should really hold up a caravan which will give us carloads of silver and piles and piles of goods. Once we get hold of them we can live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Don't you want to get a carload of silver, marry a girl and enjoy yourself for a few years？
FD: I am not a blockhead, why should not I want to marry and enjoy myself, but you must think it over again, how terrifying Master Wang is. Is there anyone in the world who does not know him？ If just the two of us attack him, do you think we will really succeed？
LK: If you are not confident of doing it, I can and am. If I am not, ... （pulls out his revolver） this will do. What is Wang Ta-ch'eng's ability really？
FD: His ability？ He is most powerful and knows how to use 18 kinds of different weapons I am told.
LK: Heng！ Is he also made of flesh and blood？
FD: Probably he is.
LK: If he is really made of flesh and blood, he is not equal to this. （makes a gesture of shooting） Can he jump over 30 feet？
FD: I don't know, very likely he can.
LK: You dog, you always boast of others. Even if we believe that he can jump 30 feet, yet when I pull the trigger I can kill him at a distance of 30 or even a hundred feet. Bang！ he dies！
FD: Well, that's a good argument, but he won't be alone.
LK: Oh, even if he has 8 or 10 fellows with him, what can they do？ （hides himself partly behind a tree） You see, I will hide myself thus and bang,bang, bang. I will kill them one by one. （suddenly stops talking） Listen！ （comes out from behind the tree and cups his ear） Listen！
FD: What？（wants to run into the forest）
LK: （grasps FD） Where are you going？ Go to that mountain and see where they are.
FD: Oh, heavens, they are coming！
LK: Go, if they are not coming, how can we get any food.
FD: （reluctant to go） My heavens, my heavens！
LK: Be quick！ Are you going or not？ if not, I will first kill you. （forces FD at the point of his revolver to go）
FD: I am going, I am going. It really is awful. （he is scared yet wants to be quick, so climbs up the mountain）
LK： （pushes out his chest, looks at his revolver says to himself） Bang！ carload of silver！
FD: （On one of the rocks, puts his hand over his eyes） Little K'an, they're coming！ Carts, horses, men, a huge crowd. （roll off the rocks and comes over to LK, grasping LK's arm and says） Little K'an, my own uncle, there are too many for us, I tell you you cannot do it.
LK: （releases his arm） If you are afraid, get out of the way; I will challenge them myself. They know how to box, I have my revolver！
FD: （very seriously） Do you want to give up your life？ We have only one life to live.
LK： （annoyed） Don't bother me any more, I have my revolver.
FD: You are not a match to Master Wang even though you have a revolver.
LK: （gritting his teeth） Don't bother me, if you don't want to do it, get out.
FD: Don't blame me if you are killed.（pulls out his stick and walks towards the forest）
LK: （stands waiting） I will do it.
FD: （coming back） No, I cannot leave you alone. If we die, we die together. （puts up his stick against his chest as if it were a gun, straightens himself up and stands beside LK） （they hear shouting, the bells of mules and horses and most distinctly shouts of Ah, hai of the men）
They are really coming. （moistens his lips and his legs are shaking）
LK： Steady, steady; if you are acting like this, it's better to go away and leave me alone. （he himself is also a bit nervous; holds his revolver in the right hand and rubs his left hand against his trousers）
FD： （seeing that LK is also nervous） If we want to get out of this business, it's not too late as yet.
（bells and shouting is getting nearer and nearer; some shouts of Ah, hai）
LK： His mother's！
FD: They are getting very near, my heavens！
LCY: （on his head a black silk kerchief to cover his head; black silk jacket and trousers a pair of black boots with a green leather piping in the middle. On his back there is a sword with red silk tassels. He was shouting "Ah,ah！” As soon as he saw LK and FD, he stops suddenly and shouts Yu, yu, a sign that the mules and horses should be stopped） （the horses and carts stopped with shouts of Yu, yu, heard one after another） Friends, this is Master Wang Ta-ch'eng's caravan.
FD: （holding LK's arm） He calls us friends, that's good！
LK: （pushes FD away, and steps forward） This is a holdup.
LCY: （smiled） What, friends！ Are you hard up, that's easy, Master Wang can give you something. （gives a signal of He-yoo, indicating danger）
LK: （not knowing what to say） This is a holdup.
LCY: （still very calm） How can you, friends！
LK: （shows his revolver to Li） I have this.
LCY: （still trying to talk, to give time to people to come） Revolver！ I have seen it before！ We are all friends, tell me how much do you want？ I will tell my master.
FD: Little K'an, ask for some money.
LK: （not heeding FD but says to Li） I want everything. My revolver knows no pity.
TTS: （similarly dressed as LCY, except that he has a yellow kerchief on his head; holds a long spear and is running towards Li） What is all about？
LCY: A holdup！
TTS: （very carelessly） We never had such a thing before！
WTC: （dressed in black lacquered silk long coat with a huge straw hat on his back. Very calm but very careful. Stops Te-sheng and stands in front of his two pupils and addresses the bandits） Friends, what is all about？
FD: （to LK） This is probably Master Wang himself. （wants to run away, but changes his mind, turns around once and stands in the same place）
LK: （to WTC） Are you Wang Ta-ch'eng？
WTC: Yes, your humble friend, Wang Ta-ch'eng. Are you hard up？ That's quite easy to settle.
LK: I would not do this, if I were not hard up.
WTC: Oh, we can easily settle this since you know that I am Wang Ta-ch'eng. My little brother, speak up, how much do you want？
LK: I want everything.
WTC: （begins to get angry, but controls himself） You are joking, aren't you, my little brother？ You probably know that my life is tied up with my cargo.
TTS: （again wants to attack the bandits）Why waste your words with these fellows？
WTC: （stops TTS again） Little brother, perhaps you know, WTC never pays anything to make a way for himself, so don't be difficult.
LK: No, I don't want you to pay for the road, I want all the cargo.
WTC: （getting angrier） I tell you, you cannot stand my fists.
FD: （getting sacred） Little K'an.
LK: Fists！ I have this, （shows the revolver） stop wasting your words. If you want your life, give me all the cargo.
WTC: （still trying to control himself） Well, we are all people of the world. When we first meet, we are strangers, but the second time we are friends and everybody wants someone's help. This time you help me, and I will help you another time. Is it not so, friends？
LK: If you waste any more words, I will shoot.
TTS: I cannot stand this any more. I will attack him.
WTC: （stops Te-sheng again） （to LK） Friend, do you know, I have been wondering about many many years. I never used a revolver and am not afraid of it either. Now, won't you let me pass by. If not, I will show no more courtesy.
LK: You are not afraid of a revolver, eh？ Now I will let you see something new. If you dare make a step, I will fire.
WTC: （confused, but not afraid） Well, （opens up his coat） aim here.
FD: Little K'an, Little K'an, don't shoot. （and he wants to run away）
TTS: （losing all his patience） Let me give him a lesson. （holding his spear, runs forward towards Little K'an）
LK: That's a good fellow. （fires, the first bullet did not hit anybody, fires again and hits TTS's arm）
TTS: Ah！ （stumbles and falls down）
SML: （immediately after the firing, rushes forward and fires at Little K'an and hits his wrist）
LK: Ah！ （and tries to fire again）
WTC: （jumps over and grabs LK's revolver） You good for nothing！ （pushes LK and LK falls on the ground）
SML: （stands still and says to LCY） Chan-yuan, follow him. （Fourth Dog is running away）
LCY: He cannot escape. （and chases FD）
SML: （turns his head） You, （to the caravan） come here. Carry these two people and treat their wounds. （To WTC） Have we any medicine？
WTC: （looking at the revolver and lost in thought） Ah？
SML: Is there any medicine？
WTC: Yes. （LCY captured FD and they are coming back together） （to LCY） Chan-yuan, don't beat him. Take him to the caravan and watch him. （the hired hands come to the stage, carry away LK and TTS） （to the crowd） Something for their wounds, （takes Mr. Sung's arm） Mr. Sung, do you also have this？ （shows the revolver）
SML: （nodding） Because you have not got one.
WTC: （releases his hand from Mr. Sung） Mr. Sung, I thank you, I thank you, but, （his expression is ashamed and angry） but ... Mr. Sung, but I, Wang Ta-ch'eng, have lost face. I really did not know what to do. I was held up by these two hoodlums and my life was saved by you, a literary man. My name, my skill in boxing, my ... （chokes）
SML: Master Wang, the world has changed, fists are not as efficient as revolvers. It really is not your fault.
WTC: I really don't believe it .... I don't believe it ....
SML: You don't believe what？
WTC: This （holding the revolver） I don't believe. （he fired furiously three times, aiming at the trees; then looks at the bullet holes, says） Even trees, even trees ... （begins to tremble） Ah！
SML: Yes, even a sheet of iron can be pierced with the bullets.
WTC: （as though talking to himself） It can even penetrate a sheet of iron .... （becomes downhearted） Now, Mr. Sung, boxing is over. I am over too. Think of it, suppose a daredevil would hid behind a tree, and fire, I ... I ...
SML: Boxing is still useful and you are useful too.
WTC: I am still useful？ But you saved my life, ouch ...
SML: It would be still more useful if you could combine your boxing with this revolver.
WTC: （as if not understanding what Sung has just said, thoughts occupied with other ideas） Now, let me ask you, why did you want to accompany me？ Did you come to see me being disgraced？
SML: （smiled） I come here to see your disgrace？ Master Wang, what are you saying？ I came because I want to get to know you better, I want to see more people like you.
WTC: Why？
SML: You are useful.
WTC: Useful？ I am no match to this. （points the revolver）
SML: I cannot explain everything in a few words. Anyhow, you know how to box, you have courage, you are strong, an upright character, therefore I say, you are useful.
WTC: Mr. Sung, I don't understand you. Never mind ... You are intelligent. I admire you.
SML: I admire you too. Now I think we must go on with our trip.
WTC: Yes,（in one jump gets near the rocks and shouts） put Te-sheng on one of these carts, we are going！ Chan-yuan, bring these two fellows to me （jumps back where Sung is standing） Mr. Sung, how strong these two fellows are, it would be wonderful if they had the right training.
SML: Oh those two are good for nothing, they are not worth your time.
LCY: （pushes the two hoodlums, Little K'an's wrist is bandaged and some drop seeps through the bandage） Master, shall we let them go？
SML: Yes, Master Wang, do you let them be alive？
WTC: （Looks at the two and seems to take a liking to them）
You ...
FD: Master Wang, have pity, I have a mother about sixty.
LK: （still stubborn） Heng！
WTC: I will forgive you two.
FD: It is really very good of you, Master Wang.
SML: Do you let them go free？
WTC: Mr. Sung, this is the ethics of our profession. （takes out a few pieces of silver from his pocket and gives them to Fourth Dog） Take this, it for you both. Don't do this trick again.
FD: Yes Master. （to Little K'an） Let's go.
LK: （still bad tempered） What about my revolver？
WTC: Oh, yes, your revolver, I don't like this kind of toys.
SML: （seeing that Master Wang wanted to return the revolver to LK, stops him） No, don't give it back to him, you keep it.
WTC: I keep it？
SML: Keep it！
WTC: I guess I should own a revolver for my business in future.
SML: What a great age, what a weapon！
LCY: （pushes Little K'an） Get out. （Little K'an stumbles for a few steps, stands up）
LK: You wait and see ... （goes away）
WTC: （still looking at the revolver） （to himself） What a great age, what a weapon！
（the shouting, the bells, the wheels of the carts start again）
LCY: Ah, hai ... ah, hai ...
（Curtain）