Flying Eagles in the 9th Month

CHAPTER 1

Early morning ….

The first clear morning after a long period of snow, yet the cold was bitter enough to turn the snow that had gathered on the long streets into ice. Icicles hung in staggered lengths under the eaves, as if they were the teeth of wolves that waited for the opportunity to sink themselves into their chosen victims.

But there was nobody on the street, all of the windows and doors of the homes were tightly closed, dense fog hung near the ground. The heaven and earth were like inseparable, creating an environment that freeze and kill any signs of life.

There was no wind, even the winds had all been frozen like they were dead.

Tong Tong-shan gathered his fur coat around him, sitting on a tiger-skin-chair at the head of the long street, facing this deathly stillness in the long street, feeling very smug in his heart because his order had already been carried out.

He had warded off this long street for the battlefield, in not even half an hour, he will take Xi Cheng (the western city) Du Huo-tang’s blood, to cleanse the amassed snow on this street.

Before that moment arrived, if there were a single person who dared to step on this long street, he would cut off his foot. This was his city, anyone should just gave up any idea of entering a foot in his domain, including Xi Cheng Du Huo-tang.

Besides Wei Ba Tai-ye (Old gentleman Wei Ba), he definitely would not allow anyone else to be in front of him, blocking his path. He simple striped blue clothing, his hands bunched together in front of his body.

Beside him, there were also two similar tiger-skin-chairs. A young person with a pale complexion and a face full of arrogance, lazily leaned against the left side of one of the chairs. He wore a purple sable worth one thousand pieces of gold on him. He used his little finger to hook the handle of the gem-decorated sheath of a long sword, swinging it back and forth without stopping. To him, this matter was very boring and very senseless. Because the one that he wanted to kill was not this Du Huo-tang, this person was not even worthy of him to make a move

The person on the right was rather young and was using a snow-bright goose feather sabre to manicure his own fingernails. He wanted to maintain a calm appearance as much as he can, however his long face, filled with youthfulness, was turning red with excitement.

Tong Tong-shan really understood this young person’s state of mind. He was similarly anxious the first time he performed a task for Wei Ba Tai-ye. However, he also knew that this young person held the twelfth position among 13 great protectors in Wei Ba Tai-ye’s organization, moreover he handled a goose feathered sabre, therefore he would not disappoint him.

Inside a shut-tight room, suddenly a child’s crying erupted, breaking the silence in this world. The sound of crying just resounded and then muffled. The child’s mouth had been obviously clamped by the grown-ups.

A furry old dog then darted off from a dog-hole in the corner of a wall, wagging his tail, and fled along the long street.

That long faced youthful person looked at that dog running to the heart of the street, with a very strange expression in his eyes. The left hand slowly went inside his coat, then suddenly it came out very quickly.

With one flash of the sabre, the dog was nailed to death at the heart of the street. The sabre skillfully penetrated its throat, its blood flowing through the snowy area, painting it brightly red…

Tong Tong-shan spirit was aroused, he approvingly said: “Good, Twelfth brother moves really fast.”

This youth was also obviously very satisfied with his move and proudly said, “When Old Man Tong issue an order, no matter whether it is a person or a dog, so long as it dares to rush through here, I, Duan Shier (12) will want his life.”

Tong Tongshan with a big laugh said, “It’s good to have fourth brother Xin and twelfth brother, two young heroes here. Even if ten, and not one, Xi Cheng old man Du who come here, what is there to fear?”

Xin Si however coldly said: “I only fear today it is not my turn to make a move.”

His little finger that hooked the long sword suddenly stopped rocking, Tong Tongshan’s laughter also suddenly stopped.

A change occurred, there was somebody else on the long street, a group of people very quickly approached. A group of 26-28 people, all wearing the black short coat, the foot-binding trousers, and the thin boots on the foot, were treading on the snow and ice, causing the “rustling” sound.

The person heading the group, with dense eyebrows, big eyes, and an energetic face, was precisely the number one bandit of western city, “big eye” old man Du.

Seeing this person, Tong Tongshan’s face tautened immediately, his pupil contracted. A sturdy-cloth youth with a sabre emerged from behind, leaping forward one step, holding the sword. At the same time, they could hear the sound of the series of knives leaving the sheaths and held upfront of the body by the dozens of people behind the black-clothed person. The aura of thick enmity blended with the rustling sound of the footsteps. Besides this noise, there was no other sound in the world.

They saw with their own eyes the opposite group of pedestrians walking nearer and nearer. Who knew at this moment, in the nearby street, a narrow door was suddenly opened. 13-14 white-clothed persons walked one after another, and approached Xi-cheng’s old man Du. A person said two sentences in a low voice. Xi-cheng’s old man Du unexpectedly did not say a word, and halted on the spot. This group of white-clothed people then all walked to Tong Tongshan.

Tong Tongshan now at last saw that they had very thin clothing on their body without any jackets. They carried a straw mat behind them, a short walking stick in the hand, with the straw sandals on their feet.

In this kind of bitter cold weather, these people did not looked like being afraid of the cold at all. Only the hands and the feet had all been frozen and turned bluish. The faces were also pale white, devoid of any expression. These faces looked unexpectedly similar to dead people’s faces, that evoked surreptitious horror in the heart.

When passing through nearby that dead dog, one of them suddenly bent down his body, loosened the straw mat, and tucked in this dead dog with a long rope into the straw mat bundle just like before. Then he hung this on the wooden stick, and strode forward to overtake his companions.

Duan Shier complexions had changed, the left hand slowly entered the bosom, as if ready to wield the knife. Tong Tongshan actually cast a meaningful glance to stop him, and lowered his voice: “All these people looked very strange, we should first find out their purpose in coming, then we can decide.”

Duan Shier sneered and said: “They may look a little strange now, but after they become dead people, they would not look strange anymore.” Although he said this, he did not move after all.

Tong Tongshan actually lowered his voice and called: “Tong Yang!”
The youth that hold the saber in the front immediately responded: “Yes.”

Tong Tongshan said: “As soon as they meet you, try first to estimate their wugong skill. You cannot be too hasty, surely you can still fight if it comes to clinging for your dear life.”

Tong Yang’s eyes had flickered, while holding the sword he said: “The disciple understands!”

They saw that white-clothed person who spoke a moment ago, gave a signal with his hand. As soon as he did that, the group of pedestrians stopped ten feet away.

This person had a horsey face, blue penetrating eyes, and high cheekbones. As soon as he spoke out, everyone else would follow. Although his attire was not any different from the other people, he showed that he was worthy to be looked at, and he was surely the leader.

Tong Tongshan certainly also saw that, a pair of shining eye was staring at this person. He suddenly asked: “Your honored name?”

This person said: “Mo Bai (White Ink).”

Tong Tongshan said: “Comes from where?”

Mo Bai said: “Qing Cheng (Blue City).”

Tong Tongshan said: “What are you doing?”

Mo Bai coldly said: “See if we can turn the spears into the silks of a king.”

Tong Tongshan suddenly released his breath and smiled, said: “Turns out this friend wants to act as a mediator for this quarrel.”

Mo Bai said: “Precisely.”

Tong Tongshan said: “How will you enforce this wish?”

Mo Bai’s face and others did not show any expression, all did not say any words.

Tong Yang was already eager to try, this moment he stepped forward quickly, in a severe voice: “If you want to mediate a quarrel, it is easy. But I must ask first whether this sword will comply.”

He pulled with his hand, “trang”, the sword already left its sheath.

Mo Bai had not looked behind but behind him the thinnest smallest white-clothed person actually had stepped forward. He was unexpectedly just a 14-15 years-old child.

Tong Yang knitted his brows: “What do you little rascal want?”

The white-clothed young lad’s face was unexpectedly icy, devoid of any expression. He lightly said: “I am asking your sword to comply.”

Tong Yang said: “This would depend on you?”

Said the young lad: “You are with a sword, by chance I am also with a sword.”

He suddenly laughed wildly and said: “Good, I will first dispatch you and then we can talk again.”

Silently, he thrust the sword forward with “the poisonous snake spit” style, straight at this white-clothed young lad’s chest. The white-clothed young lad split his hands, he had unexpectedly also extracted the narrow sword from the short club. The child raised the sword forward with “the poisonous snake spit” style also. He unexpectedly did not evade nor dodge from the sword, all parts of his body did not flicker including the eye. They listened to the “rip” sound, when the child raised his sword, his chest is pierced.

The blood red splashed similarly, when his sword also using “the poisonous snake spit” style, pierced Tong Yang’s chest.

Suddenly, all movement stopped including the breathing, as if the world had stopped completely. In one instant, this battle had ended!

Each person’s complexion had all changed. They could not believe there was really such a person in this world, there was really such a matter.

The rain of blood had splattered, the fog had dissipated.
In the snowy area, there were already many spots of blood splashes, bright like the hungmuy(?) tea.

There was no expression at all on the white-clothed young lad’s face, only a pair of cloudy sad eyes protruding like a dead fish. He looked like he was just leaving his childhood, his eyes looked like he was callously ridiculing this matter.

Tong Yang’s face on the other hand, was completely distorted, his eyes were filled with surprise, anger, and fear. In his mind, he could not believe there was really this kind of person, this kind of matter. He died in disbelief!

They presented such appearance standing there, suddenly both persons’ eyes becoming empty with no life. They were just two dead people.

A white-clothed person slowly went out from behind, loosened the straw mat behind him, tucked in the dead corpse, tied it up the straw mat with a long rope, hung it behind him, and slowly walked. There was no expression on his face, just an icy look that was quite similar to his companion’s when tucking in that dead dog a moment ago.

The strong winds broke out, blowing from afar, bringing the icy feeling from the far mountain.

The people behind Tong Tongshan could feel their palms sweating.

Mo Bai stared emphatically at Tong Tongshan, before he lightly said: “Would your excellency be willing to turn swords into plowshares?”

Duan Shi-er suddenly raised his stern voice: “You must also ask my willow sword… ”

A white-clothed person slowly emerged behind Mo Bai and said: “I ask you.”

Duan Shi-er claimed: “You also use a sword?”

This white-clothed person: “Right.”
His hand split, from the center of the stick, he had really extracted a sword.

Duan Shier now at last saw that the sticks in their hands had different width and thickness, obviously the weapons inside them were also different. If the other party used a sword, they would use a sword to cope with him. If the other party used a sabre, they would also used a sabre.

Duan Shier sneered to him: “Good, you must first have a look at this knife.”
He turned in a half circle, his wild goose feather sword swooshed in the fresh wind, aiming to cut this white-clothed person’s left shoulder. The white-clothed person unexpectedly did not evade nor dodge, but used the sword style “stands by Huashan ravine”, aiming to cut Duan Shier’s left shoulder also.

But Duan Shier’s wugong was obviously not comparable to Tong Yang’s, his style was more mature. Just before the final execution, before commiting the same mistake, the sword reversed the direction, using the ‘Eight sides swordstyle’ suddenly aimed at the center, and instead thrust towards the white-clothed person’s chest.

Who would have thought the white-clothed person also reined in his sword at the last moment, using the ‘Eight sides swordstyle’ suddenly aimed at the center!

Although, he moved slower by half move, if Duan Shi-er continued with his move, the opposite party would be executed under his sword, but he himself would not be able to avoid the other’s sword.

The white-clothed person did not feel awful about it, but he did.

When his knife moved, he had guarded against this possibility. He suddenly changed direction again, raised his arm and flew high, brandished his sword aiming at the white-clothed person’s left neck.

He occupied the attacking position from above, the white-clothed person’s whole body seemed liked had been covered in his knife wind. Not only he would be unable to make any changes, including defending himself. But the fearful thing was, he did not want to defend himself.

When Duan Shi-er’s sword chopped his neck, his knife also pierced Duan Shi-er’s lower abdomen! Three feet long sword was slammed completely to the hilt. Duan Shi-er crazily roared, his entire body flew upward like a rocket for about 20 feet! The blood fell heavily like raindrops, falling all over this white-clothed person’s body. His white clothes was suddenly dyed red, but there was just the icy look, no expression on the face.

When Duan Shi-er had dropped down from the midair, he would only then dropped down also. To him, dying was just like going home, there was nothing to be dreaded about it.

Tong Tongshan complexion had changed, suddenly shouted: “What kind of wugong is this?”
Mo Bai lightly said, “This does not really count as any kind of wugong.”

Tong Tongshan got angry: “What does this count as?”
Mo Bai said: “This can count only as a lesson.”

Tong Tongshan said: “A lesson?”
Mo Bai said: “This lesson tells us that if you must kill others, others can also kill you similarly!”

Xin Si suddenly sneered said: “Not necessarily.”
He pulled out the little finger from the sword ribbon, and slowly walked, the sword towed behind in the snow and ice, sending out intermittently a grating sound.

But there was a light on his pale face, with a sparkle in his eyes he coldly said: “When I kill you, you will give up any hope of killing me.”

A white-clothed person lightly said that, “Not necessarily.”
His speech said, the person arrived in front of Xin Si, his skill was obviously much better than the two people a moment ago.

Xin Si: “Not necessarily?”
The white-clothed person: “Regardless of any vicious swordstyle, someone would be able to break it.”

Xin Si sneeringly said: “Nobody can break a killing swordstyle.”
The white-clothed person: “Only a certain person can.”

Xin Si: “What kind of person?”
The white-clothed person: “A person who is not afraid of death!”

Xin Si: “You are a person who is not afraid of death?”
The white-clothed person coldly said: ” What happiness does living bring? What is to be feared of dying?”

Xin Si sneered said: “You are living because you are preparing yourself to die?”
The white-clothed person: “Perhaps!”

Xin Si said: “Such being the case, I have to help you.”

His sword suddenly left the sheath, punctured seven times in an instant, the sword wind like the bamboo flutes, the sword light like the lightning, one could only see the sword shadow like the colorful rain splashing all over the sky, it would be difficult to distinguish how he move from his position.

But the white-clothed person simply did not want to distinguish his moves, he also did not want to fend the moves, he just calmly stood there, calmly waiting. He was ready to die, from which direction the opponent’s sword struck, he did not really care.

Xin Si struck with the sword seven times, but this white-clothed person unexpectedly had not moved at all. Xin Si’s sword went around several times, but these seven moves were all empty moves.

Then, he suddenly slid sideways to be behind the white-clothed person. He had calculated that this spot was precisely the white-clothed person’s weakest point, nobody could move in this weakest spot.

He must kill this person, and he did not want this person to have an opportunity to kill him. When the sword pierced, the empty move had changed to a solid move, the sword light flash pierced towards the white-clothed person’s back.

With a “rip” sound, the sword had entered the flesh! He even felt the sword glancing on the opponent’s bone, but at this moment, impressively he discovered that this sword had not pierced his opponent’s back, instead it was his chest.

During that brief period when he executed his style, the white-clothed person had unexpectedly turned around quickly and received his sword on the chest.

Nobody could imagine that any person would be willing to use his own flesh and blood to receive the sword. The white-clothed person had used himself as a weapon.

Xin Si lost the color on his face. He made an effort to withdraw the sword, but the sword had been gripped within his opponent’s ribs.

When he wanted to let go, the white-clothed person’s sword silently moved forward. It was like a young gentle girl slowly inserting fresh flowers in the vase, slowly the sword got inserted on his chest.

He did not feel the pain at all, only some coldness on the chest. Then, his entire body suddenly felt cold completely.

The blood splashes came sputtering out, they stood face-to-face, you look at me, I think of you!

There was no expression on the white-clothed person’s face, however Xin Si’s face were actually surprised and twisted with fear.

Although his swordskill was much higher, also he could move much quicker than the white-clothed person, but the result was actually the same. This fight had suddenly ended.

Tong Tongshan suddenly stood up, then sit down again, with no color at all on his face. This was not his first time looking at a killing, nor the first time looking at a killer, but he actually never thought that a killing could be so cold, so fearful.

The killing and the killer were similarly cold, frigid, similarly fearful. He suddenly wanted to vomit.

Mo Bai stared and said: “If you kill other people, the others can also similarly kill you, you can certainly believe this lesson now.”

Tong Tongshan slowly nodded, could not say any word, because he had been radically stupefied.

Mo Bai said: “Therefore you should understand also that the killer and the person who got killed, often suffer a similar pain.”

Tong Tongshan acknowledged that, he had no alternative but to acknowledge.

Mo Bai said: “Then why do you still have to kill people?”

Both Tong Tongshan’s fists tightened and suddenly said: “I only want to understand why you do such things, actually why?”

Mo Bai said: “No reason!”

Tong Tongshan said: “You are not Lao Du’s person?”

Mo Bai said: “No, I do not know you, I also do not know him!”

Tong Tongshan said: “But, you actually do not want him to die.”

Mo Bai said: “We do not, we who died for him, only want other people to live.”

He looked at the corpses in the pool of blood and continued: ” Although these people have died, they have allowed at least 30 individuals to live on.”

Tong Tongshan gave a startled look and said: “You really come from Qing Cheng?”

Mo Bai said: “You do not believe it?”

Tong Tongshan really did not believe it, he thought these people must have come from hell. There was just no such kind of people in the world.

Mo Bai said: “Do you comply?”

Tong Tongshan said: “Comply with what?”

Mo Bai said: “Turning the swords into plowshares.”

Tong Tongshan suddenly sighed, said: “It is a pity that even if I comply, it would not be useful.”

Mo Bai said: “Why?”

Tong Tongshan said: “Because, there will be someone who will not comply.”

Mo Bai said: “Who?”

Tong Tongshan said: “Wei Ba Tai-ye!”

Mo Bai said: “You might as well tell him to look for me.”

Tong Tongshan said: “Look where?”

Mo Bai desolate eyes suddenly looked into the far off distance. After a very long time, he slowly said: “In Chang An city, the plum blossom in Leng Xiangyuan (the cold fragrant garden), should have already bloomed now… ”

When Wei Ba Tai-ye’s mood was good, he would be similar to any other person, smiling and patting your shoulder, or laughing at his own joke. But when he was angry, he would become quite a different person. Usually he would have a glowing healthy face, but this would change to look like a hungry and angry lion, the eyes project a swift, fierce and fearful look. He just looked like an angry lion who will snap and grasp at anyone near him, ripped him into fragments and swallowed them pieces by pieces.

He was angry now.

Tong Tongshan knitted his eyebrows, standing in front of him. This prestigious person in this town’s martial arts world were usually very bold, but now he just looked suddenly like a lamb, was restless yet he hardly dared to breathe in a low noise.

Wei Ba Tai-ye with a pair of red flushed eyes stared at him and while clenching his teeth, he repeated: “You said this son of a ***** is called Mo Bai?”

Tong Tongshan said: “Yes.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye said: “You said that he comes from Qing Cheng?”

Tong Tongshan said: “Yes.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye said: “In addition, you don’t know anything else?”

Tong Tongshan’s head hung low and said: “Yes.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye sent out an angry lion’s roar: “That bastard has killed my two good apprentices, you actually do not know his origin, you also have some face to see me. Your old grandmother, I can’t think why you shouldn’t die.” (obviously some derogatory remarks)

He suddenly jumped from the chair and seized Tong Tongshan’s front clothes, ripped it suddenly apart, and from side to side gave Tong Tongshan 16-18 boxes on the ears.

Tong Tongshan’s corners of the mouth which had been hit did not stop bleeding, but he did not have any angry painful expression at all, instead he looked like he was very, very relieved.

He knew when Wei Ba Tai-ye hit ominously or scolded ominously, this expression meant that he was still taking the person’s side as his own. As long as Wei Ba Tai-ye wanted him to be on his side, his life could be considered as safe.

If Wei Ba Tai-ye was being polite to him, he should give up any idea of leaving this room alive today. After 16-18 hits around the ears, Wei Ba Tai-ye kicked him additionally on the belly.

Although Tong Tongshan was bleeding profusely from the hits, drenched in cold sweat, he actually just stood there obediently, not daring to move an inch.

Wei Ba Tai-ye finally while breathing heavily, stared at him roaringly shouted : “Do you know those helpers are supposed to help you kill people?”

Tong Tongshan said: “I know it.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye said: “Now they were killed by these persons, you instead joyfully come back, what thing are you?”

Tong Tongshan said: “I am not a thing, but I’m not worthy.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye said: “Your bastard, you are unworthy? Couldn’t you clamp your tail and run away to faraway places, as to avoid this old person’s anger?”

Tong Tongshan said: “I also know you would be angry, therefore if you must hit, go ahead and hit, if you must kill just kill me, I do not have any word to say, but I will not run away, I am not willing to die like that.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye stared at him, suddenly loudly approved with a smile: “Good, you have guts!”

He put out a hand to pat Tong Tongshan’s shoulder and loudly called out: “All of you have a look, now at last this is my good son, you should completely imitate him. Why would you be afraid when you make a mistake? His old grandmother, anyone makes mistakes in his lifetime, all make mistakes, including me, Wei Tianpeng, even more so.”

As soon as he smiled, the ten people in the hall immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Wei Ba Tai-ye said: “Does any of you know who this bastard Mo Bai is?”
Although this speech included everybody, but his eye actually only stared at one person.

This person had a vain face, with two slivers moustache and small beard, he looked very refined, and also very friendly. Who wouldn’t recognize this person, who couldn’t see this refined young bookworm, was the most fearful character in Wei Ba Tai-ye’s clan, “hard awl Han Zhen”. He indeed was described as a hard awl, regardless of how hard was your shell, he could still drill a big hole in you. But he looked like a very friendly person, with a constant serene smile on the face, he spoke in a slow and stable voice.

He had made sure no one else would reply to the question, and only then he slowly said: “Many years ago, there was a person surnamed Mo, to evade the calamity he lived in seclusion in Qing cheng, this person was perhaps Mo Bai.”

Wei Tianpeng smiled, casting a sidelong glance in all directions he loudly said with a smile: “I have already said, this boy seems knowledgeable in any world matter,.”

Han Zhen smilingly said: “But actually I do not know their hiding place, only every 35 years, they actually must come out.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Why do they comes out?”

Han Zhen said: “To meddle in other people’s business!”

Wei Ba Tai-ye face sunk, he always did not like a person who meddle into other people’s business.

Han Zhen said: “They have no alternative but to barge into other people’s business, because they call themselves as Mo Zhai’s descendant, the Mohist school descendant, the Mohist school disciple, originally he was a recluse which try to improve his own moral’s worth.”

Wei Tianpeng knitted his brows: “What thing is Mo Zhai again?”

Han Zhen revealingly said: “He is not a thing, but an individual.”

Wei Tianpeng had instead smiled, there certainly weren’t many who would dare to contradict him in front of him. The majority would call him “the old man”, occasionally he also liked some people to contradict him.

Han Zhen said: “Mo Zhai Jiu is Mozi, the Mohist school spirit, he is eager to help the distressed, even he does not hesitate to undergo any hardship for the sake of good, to go through fire or water, therefore the Mohist school disciple, cannot be just a recluse, but need only to be a chivalrous person as well.”

Wei Tianpeng sank the face, said: “That bastard Mo Bai is also a chivalrous person?”

Han Zhen smiled, said: “There are many kinds of chivalrous persons.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Oh!”

Han Zhen said: “A chivalrous person would have guts, although he may seem pompous, actually he would secretly make the attempts.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “This kind of chivalrous person can be handled easily.”

Han Zhen said: “How?”

Wei Tianpeng said: “By killing a few of them.”

Han Zhen said: “You can’t kill them.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Why not?”

Han Zhen said: “The chivalrous person is the same with the gentleman, regardless of the genuine and fake, we can’t kill them.”

Wei Tianpeng unexpectedly laughed, said: “Right, if you kill them, there are bound to be some people who say that you are cruel, not righteous, a villain.”

Han Zhen said: “Therefore you can’t kill them.”

Wei Tianpeng stared and said: “Certainly we can’t kill them! If someone suggests killing them, I will kill him first!”

Han Zhen said: “Moreover, it is also not easy to kill them.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Does that bastard really have real skill?”

Han Zhen said: “His skill perhaps is not fearful, what is fearful is the deadly gentlemen under him.”

Han Zhen again said that, “These deadly gentlemen are all prepared to die for him as necessary.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “These people are not skilled?”

Han Zhen nods said: “Not so skilled person is the most fearful person, not so skilled wugong is the most fearful wugong.”

Wei Tianpeng waited for him to explain.

Han Zhen said: “Because if you kill him with a knife, he may similarly kill you with a knife.”

Wei Tianpeng was obviously unsatisfied with this explanation.

Han Zhen said: “Even if you act much faster than him, when you kill him he could still kill you, because when your knife attacked, he simply does not want to fend, therefore when the knife enters his flesh, in that flash he still has enough time to kill you!”

Wei Tianpeng suddenly made a break through, patting his shoulder, he said: “Well said! Truly spoken!”

Han Zhen looked at him, understanding his meaning. If not the foe, make them your friends. If I could not kill you, I would make you as friends. This was not just Wei Tianpeng’s principle, but also people in the martial arts world through the ages, this principle was without doubt absolutely correct.

Han Zhen said: ” Tong Tongshan had said that they would go to Chang An city.”

Wei Tianpeng slowly nodded and said: “Heard Leng Xiangyuan (Cold fragrant garden) is a good place, I already want to have a look.”

Han Zhen said: “Leng Xiangyuan encompasses thousand acres of good soil, with 11,000 plum blossoms, now is precisely the most colorful plum blossom blooms, therefore… ”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Therefore?”

Han Zhen said: “Since we must go, might as well go in full force.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “That’s true.”

Han Zhen said: “We can invite Mo Bai, let him have a look at Wei Ba Tai-ye’s might, if he is not a simpleton, he will think twice later before opposing us!”

Wei Tianpeng said: “He is not a simpleton?”

Han Zhen said: “Certainly is not!”

Wei Tianpeng clapped his hands and said, “Good, great idea.”

It was very peaceful in the corridor, while the plum blossoms filled outside the porch. Tong Tongshan and Han Zhen slowly walked on the corridor, they were originally old friends, and haven’t seen each others for many years. The wind was very cold, yet filled with the plum blossom’s fragrance.

Tong Tongshan suddenly stopped, he was staring at Han Zhen and said: “I have a matter which I find continually to be strange.”

Han Zhen said: “What matter?”

Tong Tongshan said: “Why as long as you say the word, the old gentleman thought it is a great idea?”

Han Zhen smiled and said: “Because that is already his idea, I just say it for him.”

Tong Tongshan said: “Since it is his idea, why does he want you to say it?”

Han Zhen hesitatingly said: “How long were you with the old gentleman?”

Tong Tongshan said: “More than 10 years.”

Han Zhen said: “Do you see what type of person is he?”

Tong Tongshan hesitatingly said: “What do you see?”

Han Zhen said: “I think you certainly considered him very boorish, very hot tempered, always do not understand small details kind of person.”

Tong Tongshan said: “Isn’t he?”

Han Zhen said: “Across Jiangnan, there were eight outstanding individuals in the years past. The most astute was Liu the third master, the fiercest is Li the seventh master, and the most confused is Wei the eight master.”

Tong Tongshan said: “I have also heard about it.”

Han Zhen had smiled and said: “But now, the most astute Liu the third master and the fiercest Li the seventh master have all died, and the most confused Wei the eight master is actually living, moreover fares very well.”

Tong Tongshan smiled too, he had suddenly understood Han Zhen’s meaning. Only a person who looked confused and acted confused, could really be the most astute and the fiercest.

Tong Tongshan suddenly also sighed and said: “It is a pity that acting confused is not an easy matter.”

Han Zhen said: “Indeed it is not.”

Tong Tongshan said: “It seems like you cannot act confused.”

Han Zhenku said with a smile: “If I want to appear confused, I simply can’t reveal this confused appearance.”

Tong Tongshan said: “Why?”

Han Zhen said: “Because nearby a confused person, you have to have an astute person! Now I am playing the role of an astute person.”

Tong Tongshan said: “Therefore as long as you say it, the old gentleman think that is a great idea.”

Han Zhen said: “Even if afterwards it is discovered that it is not a great idea, the one who is wrong is me, not the old gentleman.”

Tong Tongshan said: “Therefore the others will disparage you, not the old gentleman.”

Han Zhen sighed, said: “Therefore you should understand by now, why an astute person always die early.”

Tong Tongshan suddenly smiled and said: “But there is a gutsy person who could die earlier compared to an astute person.”

Han Zhen said: “What kind of person?”

Tong Tongshan said: “A person who opposes the old gentleman.”

Han Zhen also smiled and said: “Therefore I have great sympathy with this kind of person, they can’t really have an easy life.”

Feng Liu slowly walked through the snow, from afar, he could see the bright colored plum blossoms in Leng Xiangyuan.

“Reserve the entire Leng Xiangyuan, if there were anyone there, just expel him/her, whether living or dead, just expel them.”

This was Wei Ba Tai-ye’s order, a typical order from Wei Ba Tai-ye. He sent you simply to complete a task, where not being successful was not an option. As far as how you did it, he didn’t really care, no matter how difficult it was, it didn’t matter. If there was any difficulty, he wanted you to take care it, if you can’t overcome it, you are simply not worthy as Wei Ba Tai-ye’s disciples.

Feng Liu was ordered to come here. He was always a discrete person, extremely discrete. He had assessed the difficulty which might occur, considering everything carefully.

Making way through this snow trail, he found the Leng Xiangyuan’s gatekeeper. He hoped this steward was a smart person. The smart people all knew that Wei Ba Tai-ye’s request could not be turned down.

The steward of Leng Xiangyuan on duty today was a middle-aged person over 30 year-old, although he didn’t appear to be intelligent, he didn’t seem stupid.

“You can tell me, Yang Xuan, everything. Whether the master would like to enjoy the view, drink wine or just want to linger in this place for several days.”

Feng Liu reply was direct and brief: “We must reserve this whole place!”

Yang Xuan appeared very disturbed, but he was smiling as he said: “Here altogether there are 21 courtyards, 14 buildings, seven halls, 28 reception rooms, more than 200 guest rooms, master wants all of these to be reserved?”

Feng Liu: “Yes.”

Yang Xuan hesitated: “How many people will come altogether?”

Feng Liu: “Even if only one person comes, this whole place must also be reserved.”

Yang Xuan’s face became clouded, he coldly said: “This has to be a certain kind of person.”

Feng Liu: “It is Wei Ba Tai-ye!”

Yang Xuan changed his countenance and said: “Wei Ba Tai-ye, Baoding’s government officer Wei Ba Tai-ye?”

Feng Liu nodded with high satisfaction in his heart, after all Wei Ba Tai-ye’s reputation was known by almost everyone.

Yang Xuan looked at him, suddenly he exposed a very sly happy expression and said: “I won’t dare to violate Wei Ba Tai-ye’s, only… ”

Feng Liu: “Only what?”

Yang Xuan said: “There was also a customer a moment ago who wanted to corral this whole place, moreover he pays 1,000 silver taels per day, if I promise master this place also, where will I move this customer?”

Feng Liu had wrinkled his brow and said: “Where is this person?”

Yang Xuan had not replied, he just looked over his shoulder.

Feng Liu had turned round, then he saw a bluish face with no expression. A person stood behind him, with a very frail hemp clothing on his body, carrying a mat behind, and a short stick in his hand.

When Feng Liu came in a moment ago, he certainly did not see this person, now this person did not seem to have seen him, a pair of cold eyes with no expression, eyes fixed at a distant point.

In this world, all person, all matters, he only viewed them momentarily with the tail of his eyes. He only cared for a distant illusory place. Only there, could he obtain the true tranquility, the peace and the happiness.

Feng Liu looked at that person, not recognizing who this person was, he certainly did not want to look too carefully nor to speak with this person, he knew talking to this person would be an extremely stupid thing to do. In Yang Xuan’s eyes, there was also that gleam of sly happiness.

Feng Liu smiled and said: “Do you do business?”

Yang Xuan said: “I am a businessman.”

Feng Liu: “Why do you do business?”

Yang Xuan said with a smile: “Certainly to make money.”

Feng Liu: “Good, I will give you 1,500 silver taels a day, and 1,000 taels for the sales commission.” He knew discussing the transaction with a businessman was much easier than talking to that reserved person. After many years with Wei Ba Tai-ye, he knew how to make the correct judgement and choice.

Yang Xuan was obviously moved, before he heard that white-clothed person coldly said: “I will pay 1500 silver taels, and add this.”

Feng Liu heard a swift and gentle swish of knife behind him, he could not stop himself from turning his head. The white-clothed person had extracted a thin knife from the short stick and cut a piece of flesh from his thigh. He slowly put it on the table, he had no expression at all on his face, like it did not cause him any pain at all.

Feng Liu looked at him, and felt the corner of his eyes keep flickering. After a very long time, only then he slowly said: “I will also pay for this price.”

The vacant indifferent eyes of the white-clothed person only looked at him, but also kept staring at the distant place.

Feng Liu slowly extracted his short knife, and also cut a piece in his thigh. He did it very slowly, very carefully. Regardless of any matter, he was always very careful, the flesh being cut, although very painful, but Wei Ba Tai-ye’s order if he was unable to complete, certainly could be more painful. His surmise and his choice were similarly correct, perhaps he had no choice anyway. Two pieces of bloody flesh were put on the table, Yang Xuan had already become quiet.

The white-clothed person looked at Feng Liu, suddenly brandished a sword, and cut his own ear. Feng Liu thought his own arm became very stiff. He had sheared others’ ear, at that time he only thought that was a pleasing brutality, but shearing his own ear was actually another matter.

He might have brandished his sword and killed this white-clothed person rightaway, but he had not forgotten Han Zhen’s speech. Even if you move much quicker than him, when you kill him, he could still kill you. A discrete person would treasure his own life.

Feng Liu was a discrete person, he slowly regained his composure, he started cutting his own ear, shearing slowly and carefully. The white-clothed person’s shoulder was dyed red with his blood dripping from where the ear was, but suddenly there was a brutal pleased expression in these pairs of indifferent vacant eyes.

Feng Liu’ ear looked different from his own. The two bloody ears were put on the table, Yang Xuan’s body could not stop shivering.

The white-clothed person looked at the blood that kept flowing from Feng Liu’s ears before he coldly said: “Can you also pay this price?” He suddenly brandished his sword and chopped at his own left wrist.

Feng Liu’s heart sank with this swing of the knife. However at this moment, he suddenly felt a rushing wind, with a strange fragrance in it.

Then he saw a person. A woman. In a short interval, Feng Liu thought he certainly had not seen such a beautiful woman, that was like a fresh picture blown by the wind.

When the white-clothed person saw her, he detected immediately that his own knife was grasped by her hand.

She kept smiling while looking at him. With a gentle and happy voice, she spoke happily, “If the knife cut on the flesh, it can hurt very badly.”

The white-clothed person coldly said: “This is not your flesh.”

This beautiful woman said gently: “Although it is not my flesh, I can also love it dearly.” She sprung her bamboo-like slender fingers gently, like a sweetheart plucking a fresh flower from the vase.

The white-clothed person noticed the knife in his hand had been transferred to her hand. This knife was tempered from fine steel, thin and sharp.

This perfect slender figure, with a ‘trang’, unexpectedly broke this fine steel knife into several broken pieces. “Moreover, this place has been reserved by me, why do you have to fight it?”

While speaking, she hold the broken pieces with her two fingers, and slowly putting them in the mouth, swallowing them one by one. Then on her beautiful face, she revealed a very satisfied expression, just as if she was swallowing delicacies or candies.

Feng Liu was astounded, he nearly could not believe his own eyes. Even the white-clothed person’s eyes were also to unable to restrain revealing his extreme fear. How could there be such strange and fearful wugong in this world? Wasn’t she afraid of getting an ulcer or a decaying stomach?

This beautiful woman kept swallowing the broken pieces until the last one, before gently sighing and smilingly said: “This knife is actually really good, not only it is made from very good steel, but it is also made very purely, it tastes much better than the knife I ate yesterday.”

Feng Liu could not bear saying: “You eat a knife everyday?”

This beautiful woman said that, “I certainly do not want to eat too many, every day only three knives. Eating a knife or a sword is also similar to eating pork, if you eat too much, the stomach would not feel comfortable.”

Feng Liu’s eyes kept looking at her. He realized he was being very rude in front of the beautiful woman, but right now he completely had no control over himself.

This beautiful woman looked at him before saying: “Like the knife in your hand, this one is not very delicious.”

Feng Liu could not bear saying: “Why?”

She smiled and lightly said: “Your knife has been used to kill a lot of people, the smell of blood is too heavy.”

The white-clothed person looked at her, before he suddenly turned walked away. He did not fear death, but if he were supposed to eat pieces of a knife, he could not manage it. Nobody could manage it, that was just an impossible achievement.

She smiled and said: “He doesn’t really want to fight me, how about you?”

Feng Liu did not open his mouth, he just couldn’t open it.

This beautiful woman also said that, “A real man, even if he wins against a woman, that still wouldn’t be an honorable matter, right?”

Feng Liu finally sighed and said: “I need your honored name, so next time I will be able to recall this meeting.”

She also sighed and said: “I am only a maid, even if you ask my name, that would not be helpful.”

So, this peerless grace and talent, beautifully illuminated person, immeasurably skillful wugong woman, was just a maid. Then, how unique would be her master?

“You might as well go back to Wei Ba Tai-ye, and say that this place has been reserved by Nanhai Niang-zi (the South Sea Lady), if he has some spare time, then he may please come to visit after several days.”

Feng Liu asked again: “Nanhai Niang-zi?”

This beautiful woman nodded and said: ” Nanhai Niang-zi is my master, You go back and tell Wei Ba Tai-ye, he would certainly know.”

Chapter 2: The South Sea Lady

When Wei Ba Tai-ye was happy or angry, he would become like two different people, but now he looked like a third person. No one had seen him so anxious like now, so agitated, that his healthy glowing face had turned dark green all of a sudden.

“Nanhai Niang-zi! Hasn’t she died already?” He clenched both of his hands, his voice was filled with anxiety and surprise, and even fear.

Nobody dared to make a noise, no one could think there was someone in this world who inflicted such fear in Wei Ba Tai-ye.

Wei Tianpeng suddenly stared at them and shouted: “Do you know what kind of person Nanhai Niang-zi is?”

Although this sentence was aimed at the whole group, but the eyes were directed at only Han Zhen. Instead, Han Zhen did not open his mouth this time.

Wei Tianpeng darted forward, seized the front of his clothes and said sternly: “If you all do not know Nanhai Niang-zi, what else do you know?”

Han Zhen’s face suddenly became like those white-clothed persons, completely devoid of any expression, the pair of eyes also kept staring at a distant place.

Wei Tianpeng stared at him, the anger on his face gradually lessened, he started to draw back, the hands that held the front of the clothes also gradually released the grips, before he suddenly gave a long sigh and said: “This really cannot blame you, your age is also too young. When Nanhai Niang-zi run amok among all living things, crisscrossing the whole world, you were not born yet.”

He suddenly pumped his chest, and in a loud voice: “But I actually have seen her, all over the world, I, Wei Tianpeng, is the only person who have seen her actual face with my own eyes, no one else can claim that.”
His face became flushed red, the fact that he could see Nanhai Niang-zi’s true face with his own eyes, were unexpectedly something to feel extremely proud of.

Within themselves, each one wanted to ask, “Actually who is this Nanhai Niang-zi, what is she, how does she look?”

No one dared to ask the question in front of Wei Ba Tai-ye. He didn’t like a person who talked too much.

Wei Tianpeng suddenly said loudly: “Nanhai Niang-zi is like the Thousand Goddess of Mercy (Guan Yin?), this means, not only she has a few, but also more than 1,000 different appearances.” He suddenly asks Feng Liu: “When you met that woman, what was her appearance?”

Feng Liu said slowly: “She looked very good.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “When you say good, was she extremely attractive?”

Feng Liu responded: “She was extremely attractive.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “How old did she appear to be?”

Feng Liu’s head hang lower, he suddenly discovered that he could not predict clearly that woman’s age.

When his first saw her, he thought she was very young, although perhaps about 25-26 years old. But when he heard her speak afterwards, he thought she looked like she was only 15-16 year-old girl. But when he looked at her again, he discovered that the corners of her eyes seemed to have some wrinkles, so she should be 30 or older. But now that he remembered how she swallowed the knife, if she had not practiced for 40-50 years of painstaking effort, how else could she have that depth and maturity of wugong?

Wei Tianpeng said: “You could not see that she was old already?”

Feng Liu’s head hung very, very low.

Wei Tianpeng suddenly clapped his hands and said: “This woman could very possibly be the Thousand Goddess of Mercy.”

Feng Liu could not bear saying: “If she had retired for 30-40 years already, wouldn’t she be now an old lady?”

Wei Tianpeng sneeringly said: “When she was 17-18 year old, some people thought she was an old lady, 20-30 years afterwards, there were some people who said she was only a young girl.”

Feng Liu was astounded, he really could not comprehend this.

Wei Tianpeng said: “This person could manifest herself in 1,100 ways. For any kind of person, she could play that role if she wants. It is said that a Shaolin master was preaching in Taishan, there were several old friends in the audience. After listening for two days and two nights, suddenly the true master really came, thereupon at last these people discovered that the one who preached as that master was actually Nanhai Niang-zi!”

This kind of story might seem to be just a myth, nobody would believe it, but everyone knew that Wei Ba Tai-ye never lied.

Wei Tianpeng said: “If someone had looked at Nanhai Niang-zi’s true face, undoubtedly, he had to die, therefore the person who knows her reputation best is only me… only me… ”

His voice became softer, with a very strange expression on his face. After a very long time, he slowly said: “She can throw and receive hidden weapons exquisitely, nobody can be compared to her, her disguise skill is exquisite and unprecedented. However, just at the peak of her reputation, she suddenly went missing, nobody knew anything, not where she had gone to. For 30 years, nobody in jiang-hu heard her news, including me.”

Everybody looked at each other in blank dismay, certainly they did not dare to speak.

Now everyone could see there were special and mystical relationship between Wei Ba Tai-ye and Nanhai Niang-zi, which increased their curiosity even further. Since this Nanhai Niang-zi had been missing for 30 years, why had she appear so suddenly?

After a while, Wei Tianpeng suddenly shouted: “Come out ‘Old powder’!”

A thin handsome youth with a silvery fox shawl walked forward accordingly. His attire was very magnificent, with tailor-made good fit. He had an extremely attractive face, which would show some happiness even if he was not smiling, just a face that would be loved by women. The eyes were a little suffused as if he had not had enough sleep.

Perhaps if he could fulfill the wish of each woman that favored him, his sleep would not be enough. This youth was one of Wei Ba Tai-ye’s 13 disciples “Old powder young lord” Ximen Shisan.

Wei Tianpeng stared at him with a pair of slanted eyes, after a very long time, he coldly said: “In the evening of midautumn festival in the eighth month, did you meet a new bosom friend called Lin?”

Ximen Shisan was a little startled, finally lowered his head to acknowledge: “Yes.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “After you had met that bastard, what else have you done this month?”

Ximen Shisan’s face suddenly become flushed, his tongue got tied up.

Wei Tianpeng sneeringly said: “I also know that you would not dare to speak, good! Han Zhen, you said it for him.”

Han Zhen slowly said immediately: “In the evening of 20th of the eighth month, he had borrowed 30,000 silver taels from the official storehouse. In the 30th of the eighth month, he had borrowed again.”

Wei Tianpeng sneeringly said: “In ten days you have spend 30,000 silver taels, these two bastards could spend so generously.”

Han Zhen you then said: “In the evening of the sixth of the ninth month, they being drunk came upon three young Kunlun Mountain disciples. After some altercations, they actually pursued them for 80 miles and killed them.”

Wei Ba Tai-ye coldly said: “It looks like Kunlun Mountains school disciples have degenerate since the last time they assisted the emperor in his great tasks.”

Han Zhen said: “After killing these people, their escapade instead intensified and they intruded Shijiazhuang, snatched a pair of 14 year-old twin sisters, and force them to accompany them for a full day and night.”

At this point, Ximen Shisan’s eyes seemed to beg Han Zhen to stop with the meaningful glances. However Han Zhen acted as if he had not seen them, and continued to say, “After that, their courage got even bigger, on the 13th of the ninth month … ”

Ximen Shisan did not wait for him to finish, “puff” he had knelt in front of Wei Ba Tai-ye, ripped open his own clothes and said: “The disciple understands. You can kill me for my mistakes.”

Wei Tianpeng stared at him, looking at him for a while before he suddenly laughed and said: “Good, you have guts. A real man would dare to kill other young fellows who are not as useful, or play around with some beautiful young girls.”

Ximen Shisan was startled and said: “You do not blame me?”

Wei Tianpeng laughed and said: “Why do I blame you? If those two young girls did not like you, why couldn’t they escape? Why did they have to accompany you day and night? If they like you, what is wrong then? Young girls have fallen in love with other young fellows, this is a perfectly justifiable matter, no one could control this, even a king.”

Ximen Shisan could not stop smiling and said: “These girls certainly have looked for me secretly in the last few days.”

Wei Tianpeng laughed and said: “For a man to live in this world, he must have the courage to kill, have the capacity to entice a young girl, otherwise he would not really count as a real man.”

His laughter suddenly stopped, staring at Ximen Shisan he said: “Since I do not blame you, do you know why I called you to come out?”

Ximen Shisan: “I do not know.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Do you know who that bastard Lin is?”

Ximen Shisan: “I do not know.”

Wei Tianpeng suddenly let fly a foot, kicked him so he tumbled away about ten feet, then he pulled at his hair, lifted up his entire body, and gave him 17-18 boxes left and right on the ears, then asked: “Do you know why I hit you?”

Ximen Shisan said: ” I do not know.” He indeed did not know, he was simply too astounded.

Wei Tianpeng said sternly, “A real man, getting killed and torched does not really count, but if he actually do not know his own friend, then he is really a live bastard, that should be beheaded 100 times.”

This speech was just finished when suddenly a person’s shadow flashed by, and a person stood at Ximen Shisan’s side. The 30 pairs of eyes in the hall had not seen clearly where this person came from.

Under the shining light, they could only see that this person had a fair and clear face, with a tall stature. He looked delicate, and had refined manner, his face showed a little part of girlish shyness. But he had swiftly covered the ground silently, the levitation skill of the 13 disciples was nothing compared to this person’s.

As soon as his body came to a stop, he bowed with one hand cupped in the other and said: “The younger generation Ding Lin, comes purposely to pay a visit to Wei Ba Tai-ye.”

Wei Tianpeng stared at him and said sternly: “You dare to come here?”

Ding Lin said: “The younger generation wouldn’t dare!”

Wei Tianpeng suddenly loudly said with a smile: “Good! You have guts, this old person likes a young fellow like you who have guts!”

He let Ximen Shisan go while saying, “You bastard should understand now, this Lin fellow is Ding Lin, when you can obtain this kind of friend, your good fortune is finally good!”

Ximen Shisan was startled looking at his friend, all people looked at his this friend, everyone had heard Ding Lin’s name, but actually nobody could guess that this refined, girlish youth, was unexpectedly the martial arts world’s master of the highest levitation skill “wind young lord” Ding Lin.

Besides Han Zhen and Wei Ba Tai-ye, indeed no one else could have guessed. Ding Lin’s face actually turned red.

Wei Tianpeng said: “I punch this young bastard, instead of punching you.”

Ding Lin blushed and said: “Actually I do not know what instruction does the senior have?”

Wei Tianpeng said: “I have a matter I want you to do for me, you may turn down this matter if you do not want to.” His expression suddenly became very serious, before he finally said: “But I do not want you to go unprepared, therefore I also want to have a look at your levitation skill.”

Ding Lin was standing still, his shoulder had not moved, the arm had not lifted, the fingertips were all linked together not moving. But at this moment, he suddenly flew like a swallow, like the wind blowing on top of the head of the numerous people.

When this wind had blown, he had unexpectedly became stationary again in the original place, in his hand there were actually many lanterns.

These lanterns were originally hanged on a bamboo pole outside the hall, this bamboo pole was at least 30 feet high, and about 50-60 feet away from where he was standing. But he swiftly went there and back without breathing heavily.

Wei Tianpeng clapped his hands and laughed aloud, “Good! All other people said that ‘wind young lord ‘’s levitation skill is high, and possibly among the top five masters in the world, today I can see that it really lives up to the reputation.” He pat Ding Lin’s shoulder and also said: “You have such levitation skill, you might go.”

Ding Lin could not bear to ask: “Go where?”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Go to Leng Xiangyuan, to actually have a look at that Nanhai Niang-zi.”
Ding Lin’s complexion was suddenly pale.

Wei Tianpeng said: “You know Nanhai Niang-zi?”
Ding Lin nodded.

Wei Tianpeng said: “You also know her ruthlessness?”
Ding Lin nodded again.

Wei Tianpeng stared at him for a moment before suddenly asking: “Who is your master?”

Ding Lin felt embarrassed, suddenly stepping forward two steps, he gently said a name near his ears.

Wei Tianpeng changed his countenance immediately and said: “No wonder you know about her, at Tianshan war in the years past, your master once ran across her.”

Ding Lin blushed, said: “The younger generation only knows a little, I do not dare to be impolite.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “But there is a matter you do not know.”
Ding Lin said: “Please advise!”

Wei Tianpeng said: “In order to keep her face immortal, Nanhai Niang-zi had practiced a kind of weird internal strength. For some reason, everyday at a certain time between midnight and noon, she suffered a relapse for at least half an hour, the whole body will become stiff as wood and not able to move.”

Ding Lin was calmly listening.

Wei Tianpeng said: “But her whereabout is usually very much concealed, even if she suffer a relapse at this moment, the time is also extremely short, therefore although some people knew her weakness, no one also dare to look for her!”

He slowly continued: “Now that we know that she is staying in Leng Xiangyuan, your levitation skill is so good, that when you find her martial arts practicing place, she might be suffering this relapse, and therefore you can open her mask… ”

Ding Lin could not bear asking, “Mask? What mask?”

Wei Tianpeng said: “She usually wear a mask on her face, even when she is not disguised, she still does not want to show her true face.”
Ding Lin said: “Since nobody has seen her true face, although the younger generation can open her mask, but still cannot confirm her identity.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “I have seen her true face, she has a very special mark, as long as you see it, you can certainly recognize her.”
Ding Lin said: “What marks?”

Wei Tianpeng suddenly has bent down, and gently said two words near his ears.

Ding Lin’s face changed his color, after feeling embarrassed for a long time, he probingly said: “Since senior has seen her real appearance, and since you are her friend, why don’t you have a look at her on your own.”

Wei Tianpeng’s face suddenly showed anger, and called out: “I call you to go, you must go, you should not think about any other matter or you had better be strongly disciplined.”

Ding Lin did not speak, when Eight Master Wei was greatly angered, nobody dared to speak.

Wei Tianpeng stared at him, fiercely asking: “You will not go?”

Ding Lin sighed and said: “Since the younger generation already knows this secret, even being afraid will not do any good!”

Wei Tianpeng suddenly said with a smile: “Good, you really are a smart person, this old person always like a smart person!” He pat Ding Lin’s shoulder again and said: “As long as you go, regarding any other matter, I will comply with all your requests.”

Ding Lin had also suddenly smiled, he said: “Now the younger generation only wants to ask one matter from the senior.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “What matter?”

Ding Lin said: “The younger generation wants to hit a person.”

Wei Tianpeng said: “Who do you want to hit?”

Han Zhen suddenly sighed and said: “Me.”

Ding Lin had really turned around, slowly walks to in front of him, smilingly said: “Good, indeed I want to hit you!”

His smile seemed very gentle, giving a very shy appearance, but his hand suddenly had moved and the fist connected with Han Zhen’s nose.

Han Zhen’s entire body were thrown back.

Ding Lin had finally turned around to Eight Master Wei and smilingly said: “The younger generation will go to Leng Xiangyuan, within five days, you will have some news.” ‘Some news’ was barely spoken when he disappeared.

Wei Tianpeng unexpectedly also sighed, muttering: “This young generation looks different compared to ours, but regarding this matter… ”

CHAPTER 3 

Tall wall, cold night.

Under the tall wall at the corner gate, suddenly a person quietly slipped out. The extremely handsome face that was half swollen belonged precisely to Ximen Shisan. As soon as he showed up, a shining black horse-drawn carriage came and stopped nearby him.

When the carriage door was opened, he jumped in. In the compartment there was a cup of wine already waiting for him. A cup presented just right by the girl in red, one of the two beautiful sisters that were redder than even the drunken men. The elder sister looked just like the younger sister, however if the younger sister was tender, the elder sister was more mature.

A young fellow, wearing the marten coat, was holding a wine cup, languidly leaning on the elder sister’s bosom. He actually pushed the younger sister to Ximen Shisan and said with a smile: “This boy suffered several punches today, you should comfort him well quickly!” The younger sister then began to kiss Ximen Shisan lightly on the places that were swollen.

The horse-drawn carriage speedily went along to Chang An city! The cold outside, cut like the knife because it was already near the year’s end, however inside the compartment it actually felt warm just like spring.

Ximen Shisan drank that cup of wine in a gulp, then he took a look at that youth in the marten coat. He said: “You knew I was coming?”

This young fellow was certainly Ding Lin, only now he did not looked the same as he was a moment ago. That Ding Lin a moment ago was very refined, very shy youth. Now this Ding Lin, was actually an unconventional loose prodigal son.

He cast a glance at Ximen Shisan from the corner of his eyes and languidly laughed while saying: “I certainly know it, if that old bastard had not asked you to get the news about me, who else could have come?”

Ximen Shisan had also smiled and said: “Since you have lots of guts, why didn’t you call him an old bastard to his face? Why did you have to turn in that kind of appearance like the grandson of a turtle!”

The elder and younger sisters all smiled at this. Their ages were not very old, but looking at their bodies, a blind person could see that they are no longer children.

Ximen Shisan continued with a smile: “No matter what, you did punch Han Zhen hard a moment ago, that’s a reason for joy!”

Ding Lin said: “Although he said those words, all of those were what the old bastard wanted him to say, he was only a live puppet.”

He sneered and continued: “That old bastard was a sly old fox, although he staged his appearance so he looked like a tiger. It is a pity although he can hide the truth from the others, he cannot hide the truth from me.”

Ximen Shisan sighed, said: “No wonder the old man said that you are formidable, he has not really judged you wrong.”

Ding Lin coldly said: “This generation of young people can only become famous in jiang-hu if he is formidable, truly formidable, otherwise he would not be visible.”

Ximen Shisan: “There are also many formidable persons in jiang-hu nowadays?”

Ding Lin said: “At least there are ten people like me. Only you, the grandsons of turtle, who hide all day in the old man’s pants who can only see the outside sky is bright, and cannot see the dark shadow.”

He sneered and continued, “I thought you 13 disciples eat too much, therefore your brains are addled and fuzzy. Even if the old man put out a fart, you all think it is fragrant.”

Ximen Shisan, instead of getting angry, sighed and said painstakingly with a smile: “Recently they indeed eat too much and live too comfortably. Therefore in a single incident, two people have died.”

Ding Lin said: “Does it seem like an important matter to you?”

Ximen Shisan: “Although it is not big, it is not too small also. It is for this matter also, the old man is trying to act quickly.”

Ding Lin said: “Oh?”

Ximen Shisan: “Because he has prepared to execute the responsible party, therefore he asks you to eavesdrop on the news in Leng Xiangyuan.”

Ding Lin said: “You think he is really trying to cope with Mo Bai, only then he will go to Leng Xiangyuan?”

Ximen Shisan: “It isn’t?”

Ding Lin said: “Even if Mo Bai is not there, I guarantee that he will actually go as well to Leng Xiangyuan.”

Ximen Shisan’s eyes flashed, he said that, “So even if he was not looking for you, you would still go to eavesdrop on Nanhai Niang-zi’s whereabouts?”

Ding Lin said: “Right!”

Ximen Shisan: “This other matter is the truly important matter?”
Ding Lin agreed: “Yes.”

Ximen Shisan’s eyes shone brighter and said: “Has Nanhai Niang-zi come because of this other matter as well?”
Ding Lin sighed, said: “You have finally become smart.”

Ximen Shisan: “This matter, not only can make the old man and you to act, moreover the already missing for 30 years Nanhai Niang-zi also become alarmed, looks like this is a really important matter!” His face became flush with excitement, he was obviously an excitable youth.

Ding Lin’s eyes were also is shining, said: “Besides these people you knew already, as far as I know, within five days, at least some 6-7 individuals are also going to Leng Xiangyuan!”

Ximen Shisan: “What kind of people are these 6-7 people?”

Ding Lin said that, “Certainly all are people with a lot of real skill.”

Ximen Shisan: “They also know the old man is ready to move as well?”

Ding Lin lightly said that, “Although these people are not too old, they still keep a watch on your old man.”

Ximen Shisan reluctantly smiled said with a smile: “The old man is certainly not a person who is easy to cope with.”

Ding Lin said: “But in the same generation in jiang-hu, actually not many people think highly of him, just like he also looks down upon these young people.”

Ximen Shisan cannot bear to say: “No matter what, young people’s experience is always more shallow.”

Ding Lin said: “The experience is certainly not the biggest factor in deciding a victory or a defeat!”

Ximen Shisan: “Oh?”

Ding Lin said: “As far as I know, any person who dares to go to Leng Xiangyuan, the wugong is certainly not under Wei Tianpeng, in particular… ”

Ximen Shisan: “You?”

Ding Lin has smiled, said: “I certainly also have this ambition, but since this person comes as well, I am prepared to stand on the side and look at the live events.”

Ximen Shisan knitted his brows: “You also yield to this person?”

Ding Lin also sighed and said: “I have said before, I am a person who has a lot of knowledge.”

Ximen Shisan appeared to be not so convinced, said: “Actually who is this person?”

Ding Lin slowly sipped the wine and easily said: “Have you heard of Little Li’s flying dagger?”

Ximen Shisan’s face change color and almost spilled his cup of wine.

“Little Li’s flying dagger!”
These four words could instill fear into someone’s guts.

Ximen Shisan lost his voice and whispered, “Little Li’s flying dagger also comes?”

Ding Lin smiled and lightly said: “If Little Li’s flying dagger also came, your old man and the thousand Goddess of Mercy would not even bother to come, instead they would just hide inside.”

Ximen Shisan finally breathed out and said: “I also knew Little Li Tan Hua had not been involve in jiang-hu’s matter for many years, some people even said that he followed the example of another former days famous hero Shen Lang, transcended to immortality overseas. (There is another sentence here which explains this process, I have no idea how to translate it)”

Ding Lin said: “He traveled all over the world, and someone obtained the Little Li’s flying dagger method.”

Ximen Shisan unable to restrain his excitement and said: “But why nobody in jiang-hu had heard that Little Li’s flying dagger had an apprentice?”

Ding Lin said: “Because he was not not truly Little Li Tan Hua’s disciple, I just learned about him and Little Li Tan Hua’s relationship recently.”

Ximen Shisan: “Why don’t we know about it?”

Ding Lin lightly said, “Perhaps because you all ate too much.”

Ximen Shisan displayed a forced smile, but could not bear to ask: “What is his name?”

Ding Lin again slowly sipped the wine and slowly said: “He is surnamed Ye, he is called Ye Kai.”

Ye Kai!
Ximen Shisan was silent, with sparkling eyes, he obviously had decided to remember this name in his heart.

Ding Lin again said that, “Although Ye Kai is great, these other young people are similarly also very fearful.” He had suddenly smiled and said: “You are ‘Powder young lord’, I am ‘Wind young lord’, do you know there are several ‘young lord’s as well?”

Ximen Shisan nodded, said: “I know there are ‘Wooden young lord’, ‘Iron young lord’, ‘Single-devil young lord’.”

Ding Lin easily said that, “Perhaps when you arrive there, only time will be the barrier before you see them, but then you could regret it.”

Ximen Shisan: “Regret?”

In Ding Lin’s eye suddenly there was a very strange expression, he slowly said: “Because regardless of anyone who saw these people, he would not feel better in the occasion, because sooner or later he must see their skills.”

Nighttime, it was cloudless yet without the moon.

The horse-drawn carriage had stopped in a thatched shed behind Leng Xiangyuan. This thatched shed seemed to be prepared already for them there. That pair of lovable twin sisters, actually were curled up, resting in the corners.

Ximen Shisan looked at the younger sister’s completely mature body, he could not bear to sigh and say: “Tonight, we rest here?”

Ding Lin nodded and reasoned: “If you could not get hold of yourselves, you could treat me as a blind person.”

Ximen Shisan smiled also and said: “I am not that anxious as it may appear to you. I only feel it’s strange why you suddenly change to be so law-abiding today?’

Ding Lin said: “Tonight I have an appointment.”

Ximen Shisan: “An appointment? With whom?”

Ding Lin smiled and said: “Certainly with a woman.”

Ximen Shisan anxiously asked immediately: “How does she look?”

Ding Lin smiled very mysteriously and said, “She looks very beautiful.”

Ximen Shisan became more anxious and said: “Can you manage another person to slip in, include me in there?”

Ding Lin said: “If you must go, that is also good.”

Ximen Shisan: “I know you are not a selfish person.”

Ding Lin suddenly said that, “But, if we go, we may not necessarily come back to tell the tale.”

Ximen Shisan changed his countenance and said: “Who are you meeting?”

Ding Lin said: “Thousand Goddess of Mercy, Nanhai Niang-zi.”

Ximen Shisan was astounded.

Ding Lin casted a glance at him with the corner of his eyes and said: “Do you still want to go?”

Ximen Shisan replied very simply: “I don’t think so.” He cannot bear to ask: “You are really prepared to go tonight?”

Ding Lin said that, “Actually I am very anxious to be able to see whether or not Nanhai Niang-zi is indeed a beautiful woman.”

Ximen Shisan: “What then are you waiting for?”

Ding Lin said: “I am waiting for a person.”

Ximen Shisan: “And wait for who?” He just said these two words, when he heard the cart driver to snap his fingers.

Ding Lin’s eyes also shone, said: “He has come!”

Ximen Shisan shove open the window, he saw a person in a raincoat in the distant darkness, with a bamboo hat on his head. He used three long bamboo poles in the hands, the bamboo poles moving on the ground, the person passed over gently and swiftly every 5-10 feet, buoyantly dropped outside the thatched shed.

Ding Lin said: “What do you think of his levitation skill?”

Ximen Shisan painstakingly said with a smile: “This person seems to have real skill.”

By now that person had loosened the raincoat, hung it on the pillar, and smilingly said: “I didn’t intend to show off my levitation skill, I was only afraid of leaving a trail behind in the snowy area.”

Ding Lin then said, “I didn’t expect you to work so discretely.”

This person said, “That’s because I want to live longer.”

He slowly walked nearer and finally also took off the bamboo hat. Ximen Shisan could now see that he was older than 30 years-old, wearing fox fur outside his robe, but also with a wrapper of blue cloth. He looked like a well-mannered businessman, only a pair of extremely bright eyes and the sly smile conveyed extreme astuteness.

Ding Lin also smiled and said: “This is Leng Xiangyuan’s guardian, Yang Xuan.”

Yang Xuan looked at Ximen Shisan’s eyes, after a while said: “I have long heard of Eight Master Wei’s highly-skilled disciples, very fortunate to meet you.”

Ximen Shisan was startled looking at him, he could not bear to ask: “Are you the same Yang Xuan that my sixth brother saw?”

Yang Xuan said: “Yes.”

Ximen Shisan said painstakingly with a smile: “He said you are only a timid businessman, it looks like he just ate too much as well.”

Yang Xuan lightly said that, “I am just a timid businessman, he has not looked wrongly.”

Ding Lin said: “I am the one who is mistaken.”

Yang Xuan said: “Oh?”

Ding Lin said with a smile: “I thought you are ‘the flying fox’ Yang Tian.”

Yang Xuan knitted his eyebrows, Ximen Shisan also unable to restrain to change his countenance.

He had heard of “the flying fox” Yang Tian. In fact, very few people in jiang-hu had not heard the name of this person, he was the most famous solitary robber in jiang-hu for the last ten years. He was reported to practice the best wugong skill in the last ten years, when you had locked him with handcuffs and foot shackles, he could use Niu Jinkun (making your body and bones smaller), that he could still escape. Such a person was unexpectedly willing to become a steward in Leng Xiangyuan, this certainly was very surprising. His schemes could in no way be a very ordinary matter.

Ximen Shisan suddenly realized that this matter had become more and more interesting, but also had become more and more fearful.

Ding Lin seemed to realize that he had talked too much, then changed the topic immediately, and said: “That Nanhai Niang-zi has come?”

Yang Xuan nodded and said: “She just arrived.”

Ding Lin said: “You saw her?”

Yang Xuan shakes the head, said: “I only see some servants and maids of her sect’s.”

Ding Lin said: “How many people do they altogether have?”

Yang Xuan said: “37.”

Ding Lin said: “That woman that can eat the knife is also here?”

Yang Xuan nodded, said: “She is called Auntie Tie, she seems to manage the group efficiently.”

Ding Lin said with a smile: “Not to forget that you also are the steward, how could the matter not be managed correctly by both of you.”

Yang Xuan put on a serious face, clamping his mouth, he didn’t seem to like cracking a joke.

Ding Lin cough drily twice, and changed the subject, “Which courtyard do they live in?”

Yang Xuan said: “Ting-tao storied-pavilion.”

Ding Lin said: “How long has it been since midnight, compared to noon time?”

Yang Xuan said: “It is already more than halfway there, if there is a person inside, as soon as you go in, they may hear you.”

Ding Lin eyes shone, he said: “It looks like I can go back to drinking the wine again, and leave.”

Yang Xuan looked at him, after a very long time, he suddenly said: “This time we form this partnership, because I need you, you also need me.”

Ding Lin has smiled, said: “We are good partners.”

Yang Xuan lightly said that, “But we are not friends, this point you should better remember.”

He does not let Ding Lin speak again, he had slowly turned around, wore his bamboo hat and his raincoat, swiftly moving the bamboo pole in his hands, very soon the person was already five to ten feet away, and soon he could not be seen anymore.

Ding Lin gazed at his vanishing shadow and smilingly said: “Fine skill, he is really worthy to be called ‘the flying fox ‘.”

Ximen Shisan could not bear to ask: “Is he really that ‘flying fox ‘ Yang Tian?”

Ding Lin said: “Only the flying fox has that capability.” He suddenly sighed, and said painstakingly with a smile: “Luckily only he has such skill.”

Taking off his marten coat, he revealed a set of tight-fitting night clothes, black, like the color of the night.

Ding Lin had taken off the marten coat, he certainly did not drink that final cup of wine again. His eyes were sparkling, on the face no one could not see the smiling face. The jet black night clothes, wound closely his thin and keen body.

Suddenly, he seemed to have turned into another person. Not a moment ago he was a loose prodigal son, he had become extremely, extremely calm and fearful.

Ximen Shisan kept staring at him, the eyes exhibited a very strange expression, as if envying the person in front of him.

Ding Lin said: “You’d better wait in here, in a while, I will come back.”

Ximen Shisan suddenly smiled and said: “What if you do not come back?”

Ding Lin also smiled and lightly said: “Then you may carry off these two girls, isn’t that what you have been thinking of? … ” When he finished these words, he had already vanished in the darkness.

Ximen Shisan thereupon sat in there, not moving at all. He originally thought his Wugong was not under other young people, only now did he realized the truth. This young generation was much more fearful than what he had imagined. He lifted his hands, lightly caressing his own swollen face, with a very painful expression in his eyes.

The older sister seemed to be in a deep sleep. Suddenly she turned her body and grasped at his leg. Ximen Shisan did not moved. The elder sister was not his, the younger sister was.

Who knew the elder sister suddenly nip on his leg, nipped very sharply, causing extreme pain. But Ximen Shisan’s pain actually disappeared suddenly. He discovered that if a person wanted to exceed the others, he could depend not only on his wugong. Thereupon his face revealed a smile, a smile that glowed like the wine that had not been drunk by Ding Lin …

Ting-tao storied-pavilion certainly was not located in an ocean wave. In Leng Xiangyuan besides ten thousand plum blossoms, there were also several hundred dark green pines, and several thousand bamboo trees for decoration. Ting-tao storied-pavilion had the bamboo trees lined up like the wave of the ocean.

Ding Lin was concealed in the dark recede of the bamboo grove. He opened a leather bag, and pulled out a cylinder. Inside the cylinder was one kind of black crude oil that he obtained from a herdsman in Tibet, by trading with the salt.

He rotated the cylinder cover, and there was a gust of the wind coming out with the crude oil from inside the tube, the oil spurted out in a very fine mist. That mist of the oil beads, flew out along with the wind, sprinkling the outside of the Ting-tao storied-pavilion.

Then he lay aside the cylinder, and took out ten pellets that were sized slightly bigger than a pill, and using two fingers’ strength, he shot them and hit the opposite eaves of the roof.

Suddenly, with only a “clang” sound, the Ting-tao storied pavilion’s eaves turned into an ocean of fire, the bright red flame, rose about 30 feet. The distant place started to rumble, just around midnight. The rousing alarm sound that just started to roar had flattened.

“Fire!”

Dozens of people shadows called out in alarm to flee from Ting-tao storied pavilion. The extreme intensity of the fire caused the calmest person to unavoidably be in a state of panic.

During this moment, Ding Lin leaped into the pavilion through an open window, blowing away at the light smoke. The small hall was extremely stranded and quite calm, no one was around

Ding Lin suddenly shouted loudly. “Fire, this place is on fire!”
Nobody came out.

Ding Lin started opening the doors one by one, he certainly did not know where Nanhai Niang-zi exercised her martial arts, therefore he moved very quickly. He felt he also needed to have good luck along the way.

It turned out his luck was not so bad. The third door was bolted from inside, so he drew a sword and shouldered open the door bolt.

Inside the door was a hall for worshipping Buddha. Inside the copper bowl, the fragrance was burned, the long sticks crackled, causing an additional mystical appearance inside the deserted and quiet hall for worshipping Buddha. Behind the incense table, a yellow curtain hung down, nobody was seen.

Ding Lin actually did not believe that a room with a bolted door would have nobody inside. He rushed in without hesitation, and raised the hanging curtain.

He was astounded. Behind it, there were unexpectedly four people.

Four people wearing a long purple satin gown, the black hair was pulled up above the head, each face wearing a wooden mask. These four people had exactly the same appearance, all were motionless while sitting cross-legged on the floor. Although the flame was burning brightly outside the building, there was no fear detected behind that fierce similar masks.

These four people could all possibly be Nanhai Niang-zi, but Nanhai Niang-zi was actually only one. Ding Lin knew he wouldn’t have a second opportunity, therefore he decided to plunge into the danger.

He rushed in, and opened the first person’s mask. Under the mask was a pale and beautiful face, the long eyelash, which covered the closed eyes, insurmountably pointed out that she could not have been older than 20, Nanhai Niang-zi could not be so young.

Ding Lin next uncovered the second person. This person turned out to be a man, the face also had the grayish Hu corn. Nanhai Niang-zi certainly could not be a man.

Although the third person looked also very young, but there were actually wrinkles on the corners of the eyes.

The fourth person was full of wrinkles on the face, she looked like a faltered old lady who was very frail.

Ding Lin was astounded again. He had not seen the face that he wanted to see, but by now he could not stop anymore, nor had he the time to linger. He turned around wanting to leap away.

However, he saw the hand of the person with the Hu corn on his face slightly moved. He noticed that and wanted to fend for himself, but the speed of this person’s move was unexpectedly quick and so difficult to imagine. As soon as he saw this person’s hand move, he felt a stabbing pain on the waist, like being gently punctured by a sharp needle. Then he fell down.

In the hall for worshipping buddha, everything was quiet and tasteful, outside the ashes of the flame were extinguished, in the copper bowl the long sticks were formed in a circle, but the smell had changed to a light fragrant wood.

Ding Lin finally awoke, his eyes got wider. He suddenly discovered that he wore a typical skirt worn by a woman. He put out a hand to trace his hair and in a great surprise, his hair had been unexpectedly combed into a high bun like the one usually worn by the Yang imperial concubines. This is typical hairstyling for woman, although the hair bun was slightly askew, it was hold at the root by an ornamental hairpin.

When “the wind young lord” Ding Lin was 16-17 years-old, he started to make a living as a wandering fortune-teller, in three years, he had won a very big reputation.

In jiang-hu everybody all knew, not only that his levitation skill was extremely high, moreover he was extremely vigilant, also extremely adept at escaping any tricky situation.

But now he actually could not escape at all. He had not run away, because from his waist down, every part of his body did not have any strength, and felt soft. Actually his entire body all felt soft, and his heart sank at this reality.

On the incense table, there was a three feet high Guanyin statue that was smiling, the hand was bent as if she would perform the universal restoration. With the long sticks smoke which wound around her, her smiling face offered some unknown hidden surreptitious meaning.

Ding Lin suddenly discovered that this goddess of mercy’s face was unexpectedly the same as the beautiful young girl that wore the mask a moment ago. Was that young girl Nanhai Niang-zi? But the one who acted against him so quickly was actually the Hu corn’s man, earlier he thought this man was a disguise of Nanhai Niang-zi. By now he was utterly confused, he did not even dare to think of anything. Otherwise, he feared that he would go crazy. Luckily by now even if he wanted to think, he did not have the time to do it again as the hall for worshipping buddha’s door had been opened slowly.

A person slowly walked in, the face brought a beautiful and surreptitious smile, just like the smiling face of the goddess of mercy. Ding Lin had another look at the Goddess of Mercy statue, and then looked at her again, he suddenly sighed and closed his eyes…

This young girl’s face was simply this goddess of mercy’s face. He did not want to look again, because he feared that after looking so many times he could go crazy. It was a pity that not looking could also similarly make you go crazy.

This young girl walked to him and suddenly said with a smile: “Your hair is combed attractively today, who combs it for you?”

Ding Lin could not stop himself from opening his eyes further, staring past her he said: “I want to ask you, who combs it for me?”

This young girl seemed very surprised and said that, “Don’t you know that?”

Ding Lin said: “How can I know?”

This young girl said that, “Can you remember anything at all?”

Ding Lin said with a smile: “How can I remember, basically I was not aware of this before, even so after you broke my head. I also can’t guess correctly why you have me play the role of a woman?”

This young girl seemed startled and said: “What did you say? You said we forced you to play the role of a woman? Have you forgotten at all that you were originally a woman?”

Ding Lin could not bear saying out: “Who said I am originally a woman?”

This young girl was so startled looking at him, that her face expressed the disbelief of a person looking at a lunatic.

Ding Lin could not bear saying: “If you say that I am originally a woman, you are certainly insane!”

This young girl sighed, said: “I am not insane, instead it’s you!”

She suddenly turned her head and called out: “Everybody, here everybody looks, how can younger sister Ding could suddenly be like this?”

Younger sister Ding?
“The wind young lord” Ding Lin suddenly turned into younger sister Ding! Ding Lin wanted to smile but he could not smile, wanted to cry but also could not cry. He saw 4-5 women walked into the room, including the middle-aged beautiful woman who also wore a mask a moment ago.

She turned out to be Auntie Tie, because that young girl was greeting her. “Auntie Tie, you quickly have a look, younger sister Ding acted strangely a moment ago, how could she suddenly be like this?”

Auntie Tie was also looking at Ding Lin, smilingly she said: “She looks very good, what else is wrong. The hair combing is even more attractive than usual.”

This young girl said that, “But… But she unexpectedly is not willing to acknowledge that she is a woman.”

Ding Lin tried to control himself as much as possible, he knows that he need great calmness to go through this. But he actually could not stop himself from saying, “I am indeed not a woman!”

Auntie Tie looked at him, suddenly sighed and said: “I understand your mood, sometimes like me you wish that you are not a woman, in this world, a woman indeed has to suffer a greater loss than a man.”

Ding Lin also sighed, said: “Actually I do not oppose to being a woman, what a pity I was born as a male, therefore when I arrived a moment ago, I was also a male.” He had really tried to use his greatest strength to control himself.

There was a very surprised expression on Auntie Tie’s face, she suddenly turned her head and asked another woman: “How long do you know this younger sister?”

“About 2-3 months.”

“Is she a man? Or woman?”

“Certainly she is a woman.”

All women are smiling now: “If younger sister Ding is a man, everyone of us is a man as well.”

Ding Lin felt his own face turning pale and green, still trying to endure patiently and said: “It’s a pity I am not really younger sister Ding.”

Auntie Tie brought her smile and asked: ” Then who are you?”

Ding Lin said: “I am also surnamed Ding, called Ding Lin.”

Auntie Tie said that, “I know that you are called Ding Ling Lin.”

Ding Lin said: “It is not Ding Ling Lin, it is Ding Lin.”

Auntie Tie said that, “It is not Lin-er, but Ding Ling Lin, how could you forget your own name.”

After a long time, suddenly the young girl whose face was like the goddess of mercy’s smiled and said: “Luckily her voice has not changed, anybody can hear that that is a woman’s voice.”

Ding Lin sneered and said: “Anybody should be able to distinguish my male… ”

His voice suddenly stopped, the cold sweat suddenly broke out from his back. He suddenly detected that his voice had also changed, changed so it was light, just like a woman’s voice.

‘How did I suddenly turn into a woman?’

He was never really afraid of anything, but now this kind of fear, penetrated his brain like a sharp needle. He wanted to try to move certain parts of his body, but pitifully he was completely numb from the waist down. He even wanted to put out his hand to trace that particular spot, but in front of so many women, he really did not have that kind of courage.

Auntie Tie looked at him, her eyes filled with sympathy and pity, with a supple voice: “Recently your mood has not been good, you have also drunk a lot of wine. Unavoidably you forget some matters, moreover you originally were not willing to remember it again.”

Ding Lin was listening carefully.

Auntie Tie said that, “But we all may remind you, although the past events were sad, but if you completely forget everything, this will not be good to yourself.”

Ding Lin had to sigh, said: “Good, you say it, I am listening.”

Auntie Tie said that, “You are called Ding Ling Lin, an extremely attractive girl, you originally had a very kind sweetheart, but afterwards you two had a falling out, therefore you ran to the seashore to commit suicide, but fortunately Auntie Xin was there to rescue you.”

That young girl with a smile like the Goddess of Mercy was called Auntie Xin, she immediately responded: “If I had not pulled quickly, that day you would be lost to the sea.”

Ding Lin clenched his teeth, and did not open his mouth. He suddenly became very afraid of hearing his own voice.

Auntie Tie said that, “Your sweetheart is surnamed Ye, is called Ye Kai, he… ”

Ye Kai!

Hearing this name, Ding Lin felt his brain suddenly heard a “bang” sound. Suddenly, he understood everything.

He knew that he fell into the most treacherous and the most ingenious snare. This snare was actually prepared for Ye Kai, he had somehow stumbled into this mess.

Auntie Tie was saying something, but he did not hear anything, as he was trying to focus his thought. He certainly wanted to find a way to escape from this snare, but he also knew that this was not an easy matter. Not easy at all.

After a very long time, Auntie Tie’s actually had not stopped speaking.

Originally she spoke repeatedly to him many orders, just like she was forcing Ding Lin to accept the fact.

“Your sweetheart is surnamed Ye, called Ye Kai, he was originally the son of the hall leader of ‘the god knife hall’ (shen-dao-tang), afterwards adopted by Ye family!”

“Your father’s name is Ding Chengfeng, your aunt’s name is Ding Baiyun, originally they were Ye family’s enemy, but afterwards this hatred had been dissolved by Ye Kai, your feeling towards him therefore had gone deeper instead.”

“You originally would have been married to each other by now, but suddenly a woman called Shangguan Xiaoxian appeared.”

“This woman was said to be the daughter of the prestigious ‘gold coin clan’ (jin-qian-bang) ‘s leader in the years past Shangguan Jinhong, who lived at that time with the world’s most beautiful woman Lin Xianer. Although Lin Xianer was beautiful like a fairy maiden, she actually would tempt men to go to hell.”

“Her daughter was equally malicious and caused you to break up with Ye Kai.”

“This matter you certainly cannot forget, must not forget!”

Ding Lin listened to her speak on and on, and then suddenly he discovered that he no longer could focus on his own, moreover he felt what she said was true.

Suddenly, he felt like competing with this woman who was called Shangguan Xiaoxian, and hated her with his entire body. He almost acknowledged that he was Ding Ling Lin, acknowledged that he was originally a woman. In the stove the smoke from the fragrance sticks fluttered intermittently, entering his breath, permeating into his brain. He unexpectedly started to lose the ability to determine what is right and wrong.

Auntie Tie looked at him, her face revealed a surreptitious and self-satisfied smile, slowly spoke: “You are called Ding Ling Lin, an extremely attractive girl, you… ”

Ding Lin suddenly exhausted all his strength to bite his own lips, the severe pain caused him to be suddenly sober. He bellowed immediately said: “You do not have to say it again, I have understood you!”

Auntie Tie smiled and said: “You have really understood?”

Ding Lin said: “I certainly look very much like Ding Ling Lin, therefore you want to use me to harm Ye Kai!”

Auntie Tie said that, “You are Ding Ling Lin.”

Ding Lin said: “Actually you do not have to use such method, I am not unwilling to follow your direction.”

Auntie Tie said that, “Oh?”

Ding Lin said that, “But you must agree on several matters first.”
Auntie Tie said, “You say it.”

Ding Lin said: “I want you to tell me first, actually do you discover that I look like Ding Ling Lin by chance, and only then set up this snare, or do you already know that I would come?”

Auntie Tie suddenly did not open the mouth.

Ding Lin said: “Then you should release my accupoint and let me have a look at Nanhai Niang-zi. After this trouble, at least I need to understand this!”

Auntie Tie had suddenly smiled, said: “Nanhai Niang-zi is here all along, can’t you see her?”

Ding Lin puzzled asked: “Where is she?”

Ding Lin puzzled asked: “Where is she?”

Suddenly he heard a graceful and mystical sound slowly said that, “Here!”

This sound impressively came out of the Goddess of Mercy statue.

Ding Lin suddenly stopped, looking at this mystical statue, his eyes could no longer leave this spectacle. Looking between the indistinct dense of smoke, he suddenly discovered that the statue had unexpectedly changed into a face.

Originally it had a smiling face, but now it had became severe, with the sign of anger between the forehead. This statue with no life within, suddenly became alive.

“I am the person who you inferred, therefore now you should look at me, what I say now, you will believe every words!” The smoke swirled around, this voice came out so unexpectedly from within.

Ding Lin only felt his whole body go ice-cold, and helplessly nodded. Although in his heart, he did not want to look again, but his eyes could not be averted from this mystical but monstrous statue.

“You are Ding Ling Lin, Ye Kai is your sweetheart, your husband, but Shangguan Xiaoxian actually snatches him from your side.”

“Now, they spend day and night together all the time, while you are actually left all alone, a lonely person!”

Ding Lin looked at her, there was a sadness on her face. “I know that you and her have this deep unforgettable hatred, therefore you certainly must fight against her.”

On Ding Lin’s there was suddenly a flush of hatred, he muttered: “I certainly must retaliate… I certainly must retaliate… ”

“Now Ye Kai will bring that hateful woman to here soon, you would have the opportunity.”

Ding Lin was listening, the shining eyes had gradually became empty, but the flush of hatred on the face had actually became more intense.

“Ye Kai absolutely do not suspect that you could be here, therefore when he sees you suddenly, he will be very started.”

“But he actually will not harm you, therefore you may seize the opportunity to snatch that malicious woman from his side, and to destroy her beautiful face, so she will not have the way to entice any other man forever.”

“Have you understood me now?”

Ding Lin slowly nodded, said: “I have understood.”

“Are you willing to execute my words?”

Ding Lin said: “Yes!”

“All I have said to you, you believe it all?”

Ding Lin said: “Yes!”

“Good, you now stand up, your accupoint is released, you can stand up.”

Ding Lin really slowly stood up. Both of his legs were completely numb, but now suddenly they had the strength in them.

“Good, you have a knife on your body, now I want you to use this knife to kill a person for me.”

Ding Lin said: “Who?”

“Yang Xuan.”

Ding Lin slowly has turned around, slowly walked away from Auntie Xin and Auntie Tie. His eyes just looked straight ahead, the hand grips the knife tightly to the bosom, there was only one thought in his heart, “with this knife, kill Yang Xuan!”

*****

Although there was a fire in the gatekeeper’s house, it was still very cold. Yang Xuan calmly sat near the brazier (the pan holding the charcoal), although his thoughts were already anxious and restless. He was waiting for Ding Lin’s news. There were no news from Ding Lin until now.

At this moment, a person had slowly opened the door and walked in. A very beautiful woman, the long black hair, stylishly pulled up, with a phoenix ornamental hairpin inserted into the hair bun.

Yang Xuan stood up and smilingly said: “What do you Miss need?” He obviously thought of this woman as one of Nanhai Niang-zi’s disciples, and avoided looking directly at her. This woman instead was actually staring at him continuously, with a very strange expression in her eyes.

Yang Xuan snatched a few glances from looking at the ground, and suddenly found out that he liked this person very much.

This woman’s eyes was still staring at him, and emphasized each word, said: “You are Yang Xuan?”

Yang Xuan nodded, before he was suddenly startled and called out: “You are Ding Lin!”

Ding Lin said: “I am not Ding Lin, but Ding Ling Lin.”

Yang Xuan still looked at him with astonishment, said: “You… How can you turn like this?”

Ding Lin said: “This is who I am, I am a woman.”

Yang Xuan complexion had changed, said: “Is it possible that you have gone insane!”

Ding Lin said: “I am not insane, you are the one who is insane, therefore I must kill you.” He suddenly extracted the short knife from his bosom, and the knife entered Yang Xuan’s chest.

Yang Xuan could not dream that he could be suddenly betrayed, he did not guard against it, he tried to avoid it but without enough time. The fresh blood splashed from his chest, a few spots sprinkled on Ding Lin’s clothes.

Ding Lin’s face did not have any expression, he coldly saw Yang Xuan dropped down, then he slowly turned around.

Outside the gate the snow swirled, the night was deeper.

He slowly walked into the fog, there was suddenly the exquisite and the mystical voice in the darkness: “You did very well, but now you are already too tired, so tired that your eyes could not open at all.”

Ding Lin said: “I am indeed too tired!” His eye really slowly closed.

“Here lies a very comfortable bed, now you can go to sleep. When Ye Kai and that malicious woman arrive, we will awaken you!”

On that accumulating thick snow and ice, Ding Lin actually lay down. It seemed like he was really lying down on a very comfortable bed, and he could sleep well.

Written by Gu Long
Translation by Fastclock
Edited and proofread by audiowuxia.

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