The Swordsman Journey Book One by Gulong

The Swordsman Journey
Prologue One

270 years, a highly regarded man created a highly sought Divine Book the 'Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ 锁骨销魂天佛卷 after he went berserk and was harmed by the 'Most Desire of the Desirables' 绝代尤物, 'The Heavenly Enchantress 天仙魔女who seduced him with the Glamourous Soul Bewitchment Skill. 姥女迷魂大法
He left behind a warning to all the seekers of his Divine Book, those with poor willpower should not seek it...

Introduction

The Swordsman Journey traced the chronicles of a young man Zhan Bai, as he tried to try out the killers of his father, once the greatest hero in the Martial Fraternity.

His only clue was a bundle with some artefacts in it. His martial arts were mostly self trained as he wandered the Pugilist in search of his father's killers.

The only thing that his father had behind for him was the 'Heartless Precious Sword' and the bundle that contains the clues to his killers. In the bundle six objects - silk cloth, iron pearl, bronze button, silk string, bronze coin and a string of hair...

Before his mother had passed away, he was warned never to look up for the killers of his father!

But his travels began to fraugh with a complexities and unbelievable events...
Swordsman Journey is a fun novel and entertaining read as Zhan Bai stubbornly tries to resolve things according to his principles.

Chapter 1-3
Zhan Bai took employ with an Escort Agency but alas, he met a group of bandits and had a series of mysterious encounters that resulted in him losing his precious sword and the bundle that contained the clues to his father's death...

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Prologue Two
After the Heavenly Enchantress 天仙魔女 was urged upon by the others and forced to use the ‘Glamorous Soul Bewitchment Skill’ 姹女迷魂大法 to ruin the training of the Lord of the Only Eye. She aroused severe backlash by the pugilists of the Martial Fraternity and branded her as an evil unorthodox heretic that she was forced to flee to a desolate Island because there was no place for her anymore in the Central Plains…
On that island, were many blood eels, when she ate it, she found her internal power tremendously increased. What more, one day she and her disciple accidentally caught a thousand year blood eel and after eating it, they managed to reach the divine state of everlasting youth and longevity!…

Chapter Four: The Mysterious Lady

Zhan Bai 展白 was exhausted from all his ordeals as he lay besides a huge boulder to rest. His thoughts were very confused and fuzzy at the moment and he fell asleep unconsciously.

In his dreams, he had once again returned to that golden period when he was still a child. He still had a loving mother that was gently patting him on his body and singing a child ballet to him.

Therefore he started to laugh as a motherly hand began to gently pat on his body. He did not know if it was really a dream for he had began to feel that the patting was getting heavily and heavily. Therefore he opened his eyes and woke up. And besides his ears was a gentle caring voice. “The wind is very heavy now, why did you choose to sleep here? Are you not afraid that you will catch a cold?”

This voice sounded more and more concern and caused him to believe that he was still in his dreams. Therefore he struggled to clear his head and opened his eyes wide open.

A beautiful middle-age lady in fine gown and garment was standing besides him and using a most caring and concern look upon him. He had not enjoyed such wonderful look for a long time.

When the beautiful lady had seen him opened his eyes, she smiled on her serene face. “You are so young and you cough to cherish your life, when you are older and start to regret it, it will be too late.”

Although her voice was full of concern but she also sounded sorrowful.

Zhan Bai was startled and he immediately rose up. He was a frank and outspoken person and when he saw that this lady who he did not know had shown so much concern and care for him, he was moved in his heart. He wanted to save words of thanks but he did not know how to begin.

When the beautiful lady had saw his expressions, her eyes became even more compassionate and she sighed gently. “Although a man should have his inspirations everywhere but alas, is there a place that is warmer than your own home in the world? I see that you are fragile and obvious that you have been drifting for quite a while. Don’t blame me saying so much, it is better if you…should hurry home.”

After finishing, she pats his shoulder and turned around to leave.

When Zhan Bai saw her back view, he felt his emotions inside him stirring and he could not control himself and sighed sorrowful. “I…I don’t have a home!” And tears began to flow down his cheeks.

After the beautiful lady took two steps and heard him, she stopped in her tracks and turned around to him.

Zhan Bai wiped away the tears from his eyes and sighed deeply. “In all my entire life, I have never saw a person as nice as lady, therefore I lost control and…”

Suddenly he stopped and he saw in the distance, at the edge of the wood was a beautiful carriage and four men with long swords were staring unhappily at him.

Therefore he was jolted and added. “Lady, you have much things to do, you should go, in future, I…I will definitely cherish my own life.”

Although he had said so like this but he was secretly thinking. “Actually is life worth cherishing? If I did not have to avenge for my father, even if I was to die now, it doesn’t matter to me. But I do not even know who has killed my father and I have even lost my father’s artefacts!” Therefore he became even more grief and sorrowful all of a sudden.

The beautiful lady was in thoughts for a while before she gently asked. “You are still young but why did you sound so troubled and sad? Alas! Why are all the young men the same. Even before they are really at dead end, they already become so anxious with worries. When you reach my age, then when you really have worries to say but you will not find yourself able to say it out. Alas! Don’t think so much about any worries. Alas, young man, have a smile on your face, alright? You still have a bright future and you are still young, there are many things left for you to enjoy!”

This beautiful lady was so caring that Zhan Bai wished she could carry on forever. But when Zhan Bai lifted his head and saw the worry looks in her eyes, he thought. “This lady is dressed in fine clothing and have a noble air, it obvious that she comes from either a rich family or a noble family. She looked like someone who is so blissful but why did she look so trouble?”

He thought again. “She and I do not know one another but judging by the way she treats me, she must be a very compassionate and nice person. If she is troubled, why don’t I try to help her?”

He only knew that if someone were to treat him well, it was only natural for him to treat the other person ten times even better. Therefore he pushed aside his worries and without asking himself if he could really help to resolve the worries of other, he said. “I can tell that lady, you are being troubled. Why don’t you tell it to me? Although I am useless but I still have some brute strength. As long as it is something that I can do, I will surely do my very best for you.”

The beautiful lady smiled. “You and I do not know one another, why did you want to help me?”

Zhan Bai was startled. Then he slowly explained. “I really do not know how to answer your question. But ever since I start to wander, even if I lie under the heavy rain, no one will care for me. But now lady you look upon me with much care and concern, if I can help you in any ways, I will be very happy and delightful.”

To him, what he had just said sounded just like the correct thing to do, therefore his voice became louder and clearer towards the very end.

The beautiful lady began to look at him with telling eyes. She seemed to be touched by his gestures. She gently sighed and said. “Alas, silly child. I am only passing through here and happen to see you sleeping under the sun and the wind. I afraid that you might catch a cold therefore I stepped down from the carriage to check upon you. This is nothing great and deserving. If I really have some difficult things that I need you to help me to do, then won’t you be a fool?”

Zhan Bai sighed deeply and said. “I do not know how to express myself. What I think in my heart, I will usually express out!”

That beautiful lady shook with her hands. “It alright if you did not say anything because I know you are a good child. Your good intentions, I will remember it in my heart. Alas, if only Qinger’s 青儿 heart will be half as kind as you, that will be great. Why did Heavens always want those kind people to suffer?”

She looked with compassionate at Zhan Bai for awhile before she added. “Don’t forget my words. Put aside all your worries. There are many more people without a home in this world. A young man shouldn’t have too much resentment. Do you know that life is a very beautiful thing, the most beautiful things in life are waiting for you to create. If you let yourself be dispirited and don’t struggle for it, then you will only have to suffer forever. “ She smiled before she turned to leave.

Zhan Bai stood below the tree, seemingly stunned for awhile. The words of the beautiful lady were echoing in his ears again and again. “…You still have a bright future…Many things waiting for you to enjoy…life is a very beautiful thing… the most beautiful things in life are waiting for you to create…” He was trying to think over the meaning of these phrases till he looked idiocy.

Suddenly, he saw three riders riding towards him.

Zhan Bai was slightly startled. He really did not know why they had come and their intentions in coming.

But from the looks of it, their martial abilities were not weak. He sensed their malevolent air as they approached.

Zhan Bai was mystified and he thought. “These men look like they want to harm me but I did not even know who they are. Why am I always encountering all the strange things in the world and bringing me headaches!”

They shouted. “Little fellow, surrender your life! Do you think with your skills you are able to fight with us? You must be dreaming!” And they started to attack him.

Zhan Bai martial ability was not high. Moreover he did not have a sword in his hands, therefore he was furthered disadvantaged. Furthermore, he had not yet recovered from his exhaustion and his mind and spirit was in disarray, so how would he be the match of these three fierce men? After exchanging a few blows with them, he could not resist the urge to ask. “What vendetta do I have with you that without a word, you want my life?”

He tried to fight with them longer but these three men were actually experts therefore he was beaten up quit badly.

Although he had unlimited courage to fight for his life but one of the men had slashed him with a sabre and his pain was now overbearing. He found his strength almost giving way now. He secretly sighed and he plunged forward and hugged tightly the man on his right side, preparing to die together with him.

Suddenly there was a sound of a horse and the voice of the beautiful lady began to shout. “Chen Qing, Chen Ping, stop what you doing now!”

The men started to look at one another and move aside. But the one that Zhan Bai was hugging began to scold him in a low voice. “Little fellow, you dare to do such a thing to our lady…”

But before he could finish, he had received a tight slap and Zhan Bai did not know how the beautiful lady could be so fast for he did not see her hands moved!

The beautiful lady asked. “What did you say about me?”

The man who was slapped did not dare to say anything.

The beautiful lady coldly laughed awhile. “All of you are becoming more and more outrageous now. Now you even want to kill someone. This young man is as old as young master Qing, even if Old Master has seen me talking to him, he will not think to say anything. So when did it ever become a servant task to meddle into my affair? If I have not discovered that all of you are missing and rush here, won’t this young man have lost his life?”

None of the men that she had scolded dared to lift their heads. She hummed awhile before adding. “Hurry and scam far far away!”

These three men began to spring away in a hurry, forgetting even the horses that they had rode with them.



When Zhan Bai saw how the beautiful lady had scolded those three men and they did not dare to open their mouths, he began to wonder who this lady was.

Zhan Bai tried to force himself to smile. “Thanks lady for coming, or else…”

Before he could finish, he had saw that the eyes of the beautiful lady were filled with compassion and she slowly said. “You young people are really…Do you know you are sick?”

Zhan tried to force himself to smile again.

She added. “Just now I did not notice it and I thought that you look fine. But sleeping here with such a heavy fog around here, is already not the right thing to do. And now…alas! If the chill has entered your bones and you are afflicted from the external as well as the internal, then…”

She gently sighed and did not continue.

The concern and care that she had showered upon him was something that Zhan Bai had never experienced, therefore for quite sometime, he looked idiocy at her before he said. “I am used to wander. The care that lady shown me, I have no way to repay you but I will always remember in my heart, I will forever remember it.”

He added. “But I have a strong body. Although I feel abit pain right now but I can still able to endure it. Therefore lady you don’t have to be worry for me.”

But the beautiful lady shook her head and said. “Do you know that although you look fine on the surface but the tinge of light that are in your eyes have grown dim. From what I can see, not only are you seriously injured but you are also sick. For those people who train themselves in martial arts, once they start to fall sick, they will be seriously sick! Alas, you are still so young, there are many things that you do not know yet. You should listen to me, I believe I will never diagnosis wrongly.”

Zhan Bai began to think. “Am I really seriously injured?” And he began to circulate his breathing and found out that his chest was painful. Although he was always healthy but after all those events last night, his spirit and mind had been severely jolted. And earlier, he had fought with those three men and now he had both internal and external injuries. Now he looked like he was about to collapse now and he had not realized that till now.

The beautiful lady sighed. “Listen to me, hurry up and go home…or else find a close friend dwelling and rest there for a few days.”

She reached into her clothing and took out purple red pill from a small pouch. And she said. “Due to my carelessness and I did not know that those stupid men would be so bored and cause you to be seriously injured. Alas…Although I know that you will not blame me but I am feeling very bad in my heart. I have kept this pill for many a years now, I believe that it will be useful to you. Take it and eat it!”

Zhan Bai slowly took it from her. Clutching the purple red pill, he began to think of all his troubles and sorrows before he slowly said. “I…I do not have a home and…and I have no friends too. I have no home…and I have no friends too.” And the sorrows in his heart became a heavy burden as he suddenly collapsed with the beautiful lady calling out for him in fright. That was the last thing he had heard.

Prologue Three
When top fighters are fighting, timing (天时 ), terrain (地利 ), human factor (人和 ), are also important factors. Next are their Stances, Internal power and Willpower (定力)...

Chapter Five: Young Master Lingfeng

While Zhan Bai was unconscious, he began to drift to the time when he was still cuddle in his mother warm embrace when he was still a baby. Suddenly he was fighting bare handed against countless numbers of swords and blades, then he was running from them and he had fallen to the ground and they were now slashing and hacking on his body…

Finally, he woke up from his nightmare and opened his eyes but everywhere was a white blank in front of him. It seemed like he had been unconscious for days. Slowly his vision cleared and suddenly he had discovered he was lying in a magnificent and luxury room.

The first thing that had came into his mind. “What is this place? What happen to me? What is going on around here? Aren’t I with the escort agency…Ai, that is not right, I have long left them.”

He tried to remember what had happened and started to recollect his memories bit by bit.

He remembered that the ‘Outrageous Five Flying Cloud’ 燕云五霸天 had tried to rob from the escorts. He remembered that Young Master Anle 安乐公子 had lent a righteous lending help and that the Shadowless Chaser 追风无影 Hua Qingquan 华清泉 had committed suicide in front of him and die in a mysterious way. And then he remembered the mysterious compassionate beautiful lady and her smiles.

Therefore he knew that when he had fainted, the beautiful lady must have brought him back to this luxury room. “But who exactly is she?” Not just him, everyone will have thought she is a noble lady or a wealthy lady. But when he remembered those three men that had beaten him up, he suddenly remembered the startling movement skills that she had used when she saved him from them, he became very confuse.

After some time, he found his thoughts to be more and more disarrayed. He struggled to sit up but found out that his entire body was like cotton and not a trace of strength could be muster. Therefore he began to look out of the window and admired the moon.

“If Father did not die, then won’t life be so beautiful! Alas…Father, before you have died, at least you should to try to tell me who are the ones that tried to murder you. Alas…but even if I did know, so what! I…I am just a useless person. I can’t even protect my father sword so how could I even avenge for him?”

Therefore he sighed and then suddenly he saw a man in blue silk robe looking coldly at him. How did this man arrive, when did he arrive, he had no inkling at all. He only knew that handsome, icy cold, haughty young man suddenly appeared like a ghost right before his very eyes.

The young man slowly walked to the bed and asked icily. “Who is you?”

Zhan Bai said. “I…”

But the young man coldly shouted ignoring him. “No matter who you are, hurry and get lost from here!”

Zhan Bai was angry and laughed coldly for awhile. “Then who is you? You and I do not know one another. I think you should be more respectful when you are talking!”

The young man stared at him without an expressions but his eyes were like swords. He laughed coldly for a few times before he slowly said. “Do you know who am I? Do you know what place is this?”

Zhan Bai was startled and thought. “Who is this man? What is this place? Is he the owner of this place? Then why did the beautiful lady want to bring me here to this place?”

When he had thought of this, his anger dissipated and he tried to sit up on the bed but he simply could not muster any strength.

That young man was startled and he coldly hummed. “So you are injured. Then who is the one that bring you to this place?”

Zhan Bai asked. “Are you the owner of this place?”

The young man coldly replied. “If I am not the owner of this place, heng heng, then are you the owner of this place!”

Zhan Bai secretly thought. “It is so embarrassing!”

Therefore he was no longer angry now, instead he apologized. “I really do not know what place is this and I do not know how did I come to be here. If you are the owner of this place, you can carry me out, alas! I…”

The young man coldly said. “You do not know what place is this and you do not know how you come to be here? Heng Heng!” He was shouting now. “I don’t care if you are injured or sick. Hurry and get lost! If you wait for me to do that personally, heng, then you are in deep trouble!”

Zhan Bai secretly sighed and he felt angry in his heart. But after thinking over it, it was after all his place. As for him, he had intruded muddle headed and even slept on his bed, no wonder the young man was so unhappy. Therefore he extinguished the fire in his heart and slowly said. “If you are the owner of this place, I can leave now but I am not here by my own intention. Why did you have to be so rude to me!”

The young man pondered and then shouted. “I give you a tea time to leave. If you still do not hurry and leave, then I will let you…”

Zhan Bai did his best to endure it and not to let anger overcome him. He added. “How can you still be consider a hero if you lift your hand against some one who cannot move and is sick as well.”

The young man suddenly laughed coldly. “Therefore you meant to say that if you are not sick, then I do not have the ability to hurt you?”

Zhan Bai coldly laughed. “It is still unknown.”

He did not actually want to argue with this young man but he was simply too rude. He had wanted to tell him he was here because the beautiful lady had brought him here but when he realized he did not know her name or background. Moreover when he remembered the words of the three men that had beaten him up, he was even more afraid to bring trouble upon the lady.

So he secretly thought. “Zhan Bai ah, Zhan Bai. Even if you driven out of this room, you must not cause the lady any troubles!”

But he had not thought that since he was really brought back by the lady, then surely she must have her own reasons to bring him to this room. Therefore her relationship with this young man must be intimate if not why did she choose to bring him to this room?

Suddenly the young man walked over to Zhan Bai to feel his pulse and this action startled Zhan Bai. As he had no strength, he could not resist. He saw the young man furrowing with his eyes and then walked away without saying anything.

Zhan Bai was puzzled. “Why did this young man ask me to leave and then feel my pulse? Now he even left without saying a word. Although I am not in pain now but I have no strength. These few days I have been unconscious, it obvious that my sickness is not light but why did I not feel any discomfort?”

He could not figure all the strange and mysterious things that had happened to him over the past few days. All the events could not be explained by sheer logic. Who was this young man? He could only smell that this room was surprising fragrant and luxurious. His background was so pitiful and he thought that the beautiful lady and this young man must surely had an extraordinary background. However, his mind told him not to think about things that did not concern him but he could not help thinking about it. These strange events were plaguing his confused mind as he tried to reason a logical explanation to it.

Suddenly he heard the voice of the young man again. He was saying in an icy tone to some one. “The weather has turned warm these few days and do you think you can be lazy and don’t have to do any work. I think all of you should be dismissed instead.”

Zhan Bai spotted four men in black outside.

Then he saw the young man pointing in his direction from the window. “Who is this man? That he could lay in my bed with so much audacity? Are you all living in luxury that you are so lazy to even lift your finger? Or else are all of you blinded?”

The young man was scolding these four men coldly. Although his voice was not too loud but it was piecing. Zhan Bai could see that they were now very frightened. So he thought. “Why are some people have to be so pitiful since everyone are also human? But can I blame that young man? If some others were to lay on my bed, what will my reaction be?”

He sighed. He really wished he could run out this room and to tell a few words in his own defense.

Although he had the heart to do so but he did not have the strength to do so. Therefore he became embarrassed, frustrated as well as enveloped by other emotions and remained on the bed in idiocy.

The young man coldly said them. “If you have rest enough, hurry up and carry that man off now.” His tone and mannerism was obvious that he had looked down on Zhan Bai and everyone.

The four men immediately ran towards the room that Zhan Bai was in.

When Zhan Bai saw that they were heading towards his direction, he knew that he was going to be carried off by the four men soon. He mustered all his strength to protest but the young man appeared not to hear him and instead, he was looking up as though he did not hear anything.

As Zhan Bai saw them approaching in ever increasing steps, his blood boiled and he finally mustered all his strength to shout aloud. “Stop where you are!”

Although the four men hesitated for awhile but they continued in their approach.

Zhan Bai felt that it very embarrassing and shameful for this to happen to a proud young man like him. He rather die fighting than subjected himself to humiliations by letting others carted him away! But his protest was in vain again for the young man did not appear to have heard him.

Zhan Bai shouted again and he tried to pull himself out of the bed but his strength was like a baby now. He would rather crawled out of the bed than being carted out by others. But no matter how hard he had tried, his strength kept failing. Therefore he knew that it was useless to resist.

Now he closed his eyes in hopelessness and his heart was bleeding in sorrows for he was going to be subjected in this shameful manner.

When those four men were about to reach the bed and Zhan Bai closed his eyes in hopelessness, there was a captivating shout. “Stop where you are!”

Zhan Bai was jolted greatly in his heart and he opened his eyes to look out of the window. Under the moonlight, he saw the movements of a black shadowy figure sprang in a startling speed.

Although his eyes were fast but he could not catch up with the speed of this person. He only knew that when he blinked his eyes, a black figure was standing in front of his bed.

All four men were gave a startled cry and halted their steps. They bowed with their bodies most respectfully to the newcomer and did not dare to straighten their backs for a long time.

The young man who was outside took two steps forward and furrowed his eyes to ask. “Why did you come here for?” Although his voice was still so ill-mannered but it was not as icy cold as before.

Zhan Bai began to wonder. “Who is this person? That even the four big men will accord her with so much respect?”

The mysterious newcomer had her back facing him, therefore Zhan Bai could not see her face. But from the soft black silk garments that she was wearing over her slim body, he could tell that the newcomer that had come as fast as lightning was actually a woman.

He thought. “Is she that mysterious, noble and beautiful lady?”

He was still looking at her and had noticed that when she moved her body slightly, her long flowing hair was unbraided and her hands were as white as jade. No matter how much he had looked at her, she looked different from that beautiful lady.

Therefore he became even more mystified. He began to think that that beautiful lady, that young man and this woman that had suddenly appeared were so mysterious. Even this courtyard seemed to hide some secrets. “Who exactly are these people? And what are their identities? And where am I?” Once again, he began to ponder the same question that he had been asking himself. “Is this a Martial Aristocracy Family? Or a wealthy family? Or even a Duke residence?”

He turned to look at this woman who was dressed in black satin and silk. Except for her hands that were moving, she was maintaining a beautiful pose simply by just standing unmoving on the spot. Zhan Bai could not see her face but in his heart, he imagined her to be very cool, haughty extraordinary beautiful woman with an air of nobility and her looks were like flowers.

She did not say much of a word but she was looking at the young man quietly.

After a while, the woman in black began to question. “What are the lot of you doing?” Even though her voice was captivating and gentle but it was filled with an cold demeanor. Her voice and her beautiful slim body did not seem to match.

Zhan Bai secretly sighed and thought. “How come things would develop into such a drama!”

One of the four men began to reply. “Earlier, young master has ordered us to cart this man out therefore…”

The woman in black began to coldly hummed and slowly said. “Indeed, you are all so obedient.”

Zhan Bai saw her turned slightly to face the young man before she coldly asked. “Is that you who ask these men to cart him out?”

The haughty young man gently nodded his head and said. “Who ask you to come here? It is none of your business. Does it concern you if I ask a few men to carry a stranger off my bed?”

Then he began to look at the four men.

All four of them were looking in fright now. They looked at the woman in black and then at the young man not knowing what to say or do.

The woman in black coldly said. “To think that you claim to be a very smart and tactical person in the Martial Fraternity! Heng, I think your brain nerve is in fact very limited. Why don’t you think it over. If this young man is a nobody, how could he be here to recover from his injuries? Do you think everyone in the house is dead?”

The young man did not look at the woman in black but at the four men. “I think that you lot is better off dead than alive. Look at you lot, you do not like you are alive to me. Heng heng, really…”

Suddenly the woman in black shook with her slim waist, Zhan Bai did not see her legs moving and she was in front of the young man. She coldly chided. “Who are you referring to? Do you want to make yourself clearer!”

Although she had moved but her back was still facing Zhan Bai.

The haughty young man looked at her and said. “Why are you so jittering about? Am I talking about you?”

The woman in black coldly hummed and said. “I know that you are a famous big hero in the Martial Fraternity now. You are putting on airs, so how would you care a hoot about me who is your elder sister? But…heng, don’t tell me you do not care a hoot for Mother?”

The haughty young man expressions changed and he suddenly turned his head back. “Ah! Our Mother is the one that brings this stranger here to recuperate?” And he turned back again to look over her shoulder, at Zhan Bai.

A thought dawned upon Zhan Bai now. “So this haughty young man is the son of that beautiful lady.”

He remembered the beautiful lady always had a melancholy looks in her eyes. He thought. “Why was she feeling so melancholy? Theoretically, she shouldn’t be this melancholy! Why does she look like she is so disappointed in her son? Not only is her son handsome but is also a prominent figure in the Fraternity. But what about me?…”

When he had thought of himself, he secretly sighed.

The woman in black added again. “If it issn’t our Mother, who else will dare to bring this person into your room…” Suddenly there were flowery images and several slapping sounds in front of him and he saw those four men were now holding onto their faces. In that instant, the woman in black had slapped all four of them two times each!

Zhan Bai was startled and thought. “Did she really slap those four men two times each in an instant of time?” Suddenly he began to feel disappointed with his own martial abilities. He had trained day and night, painstaking but compared to the martial abilities of this woman in black, he began to feel most inferior.

The haughty young man stared at her. After awhile, he began to say slowly. “Do you know whose henchmen are they?”

The woman in black coldly said. “Who else but the Young Master Lingfeng 凌风公子, successor to the Murong Aristocracy Family, other than that who else could be their Master?”

Zhan Bai who was paying close attention to their conversations was jolted. “This young man is actually one of the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity, the most heartless one, Young Master Lingfeng, Murong Chengye!” 慕容承业

When he first stepped into the Pugilistic Fraternity, he had already heard of the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity for they were the most famous and their fame were also the most resounding.

If you would to recite a line of poem to anyone in the Martial Fraternity. “The Dashing Joy Seeker 安乐风流 .” They would immediately recite to you. “The Roaming Wanderer 飘零端方, The heartless Wind 凌风无情, The Ever Hospitable 样麟热肠.” This four famous lines were also the notation of the special characteristics of ‘The Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity’”

Prologue Four
According to pugilistic legends, there were three greatest treasures in the Pugilist. One of the treasures was the Epitome Martial Chronicles 武学真经 that contained the most powerful martial techniques ever. It was for this reason that Zhan Yuntian was killed...

Chapter Six: Love at First Sight

Zhan Bai saw that although that Young Master Lingfeng was angry but he did not express it on his face. He thought. “Young Master Lingfeng is also called the Emotionless Swordsman, those who are emotionless are those that have temperaments like the breeze. Although the rumours of the Pugilistic Fraternity cannot be totally believable but there are some grains of truth in it.”

Suddenly Young Master Lingfeng laughed coldly for awhile as he stared at the maiden in black. “Marvelous, marvelous. I didn’t expect that I couldn’t even decide the arrangements in my very own room. Even my men have to be taught a lecture by you. Fine, fine…” And he turned away and walked out of the courtyard.

And the four men looked at the maiden in black in fright.

When Zhan Bai saw that these brave men had turned into cowards of a sudden, he felt sorry and pity for them. He really could not understand why so many people in the world would rather submit themselves to others.

He turned to look at the back view of this maiden in black and then he saw her trembling slightly for a few times much like a leaf fluttering in the wind, standing there unmoving. After a long while, she began sighed melancholy. “Your Young Master has already left. Why are you all still standing here for?”

And the four men began to bow most respectfully and left in hurriedly.

Therefore this magnificent room once again returned to its tranquil state. Zhan Bai who was lying on the bed began to secretly sigh. But still the anxiety in his heart refused to go away. It was because the fact remained that he was still powerless and was sick on the bed. Even if there were more sudden changes, he would still be helpless to do anything. He knew that he would be subjected to humiliations any time. This was something a proud person like him could not handle and endured.

But no matter what, he was extremely grateful to the maiden in black. However, he did not know what to say to bring out the gratuitous in his heart.

But who would expect the maiden in black would suddenly sighed deeply and said melancholy to him. “My brother is ignorant and doesn’t know the principle to be a proper human. I pray that you will forgive him for his arrogance.”

Her mannerisms were exactly the same as the beautiful lady, therefore Zhan Bai began to think of the lady. But her musing now was so gentle and warm that it caused Zhan Bai to forget the blow to his pride earlier and his composure was restored as a result.

However he did not reply her because he knew that although that Young Master Lingfeng was arrogant but it was because he was lying on his bed. The one that should be forgiven should be himself instead of him!

Therefore, he secretly sighed and looked idiocy at the back view of the woman in black and said. “I am but a homeless wanderer, I have no accomplishments…alas. The way maiden you have helped him caused me to be filled with gratuitous toward you. If you insist on saying such words, it will cause me to be ashamed instead.”

He was filled with self-resentment when he had said the first two lines but later felt that it was most inappropriate to say such words to a maiden that he did not know. Therefore he changed the topic. But now he regretted it and secretly blaming himself now. “What happen to me, I cant seem to say anything right!”

Who would expect the maiden in black to sigh with great melancholy after hearing from him. She was heard muttering. “Homeless wanderer…what wrong with being a wanderer? It so carefree and it is much better than being caged inside a cage.” Her melancholy became ten times even more heavily.

Zhan Bai was startled and secretly thought. “She is born to such a wealthy family and she have everything. As long as she says a word, there will be many people willing to do what she commands for her. Why is she being so sorrowful and melancholy?”

And he suddenly thought of the beautiful lady again. It seemed like everyone had their own troubles. So why were they so troubled? He really could not guess.

As he began to ponder over it, suddenly he saw the maiden in black turned her body around. Zhan Bai heart skipped a beat as he stared into her face.

Now he was staring at her in her face and for some strange reasons, he would not tear himself from her eyes.

Although he was quite a scholar himself but tried as he could, he still could find any words to describe her face.

It was not because he had really seen her face. For she had covered her face with a black veil. Her watery eyes were like spring, Zhan Bai had never saw such an exquisite beauty ever in his life. She was so beautiful that even with this ordinary veil that was used to cover her face, it could not even hid her charms and beauty thus making her even more mysterious to him.

Her watery eyes that were so bright began to look upon Zhan Bai like the spring sun. It penetrated his heart and caused him to think that everything under the heavens and the earth were suddenly so comfortable.

This type of feeling was something that Zhan Bai had never experienced in his entire life. Although tried as he could to tear away from her but his eyes seemed like a wanderer that were looking for a warm tender home and remained staring at her face, unable to move.

The two of them had stared at one another for awhile before the maiden in black suddenly lowered her head. After a long while later, she slowly lifted her head to look at Zhan Bai again. It was another long while of silence. Zhan Bai’s eyes had slowly brightened up while the maiden’s eyes were slowly losing her dim. The melancholy in her eyes grew even weightier.

Suddenly she turned her slim body around and without turning her head began to walk to the entrance of the door.

In that very instant, Zhan Bai began to resent himself again, secretly blaming himself for being so rude by staring at her and hated himself for developing such a strange and weird feeling.

But when the maiden had walked to the entrance of the door, she suddenly halted her steps and gently sighed. “You have fainted for many a days. Now your body is very weak. Later I will send someone to send some food over to you…” She gapped and then added. “But you do not need to thanks me for it. It is because all this, I am only doing it for the sake of someone.” Before her last words had sunk into his ears, she had sprung away.

Her first two lines were spoken with great tenderness but after she had gapped, it suddenly became so icy-cold. It was very hard to believe the first two lines and the last two lines were actually muttered by the same person!

Only when she had disappeared from Zhan Bai’s view that he had began to sense there was a faint perfume aroma that had suddenly appeared when she was in this room. His ears were repeating all her lines for it seemed that her words had pierced him deeply and into his heart.

Therefore he began to arrange his disarray hair on his head as he raised his hand looking very troubled. Although his hand was shaking with great pain but it could not be compared to the pain in his troubled heart. “I owe a debt of gratuitous to this maiden although we do not know one another. She has such a good background, what about me? The way she accords me is already very kind, why did I want to burden myself with more troubles?”

Although he was thinking this way but somehow, he simply could not forget her.

He began to think now even if everyone in the world would to belittle him, it could not even be comparable to the cold treatment shown by the maiden in black that was so unbearable to endure. Then another thought crossed him. “She said she helping me for the sake of someone. Then who is he? What did he ask her to do such a thing and she had actually agreed to help. Then, what is the relationship between he and her…” He became even more pained with agony just thinking over it and he had not realized he was pulling his own hair…

Then there was a soft grasp at the entrance of the door and a little maid in green walked in with a tray. On top of the tray was a jade bowl. She walked swaying towards Zhan Bai and carefully watching her steps and then she softly grasped. “May Young Master takes your soup now!”

Zhan Bai had sensed a fragrant in his nose. Before he could gather his thoughts and reacted, the maid had lifted the jade bowl of soul in front of him. And she took a jade big spoon that was besides the tray and started to feed the soup into his mouth.

By the time Zhan Bai had finished the soup and his spirit was lifted because of that. But still he was feeling greatly troubled at heart. Because he was now so pitiful that he even had to accept the sympathy of that maiden. And she had sympathized with him because someone wanted her to do so and he did not even know who that someone was.

When he had thought of this, he now wished he could throw up everything that he had just ate. Suddenly he noticed that there was a shadow that had sprang past to the door and then there was a captivating laughter coming from beyond the door.

The quietness of this room was dispersed of that laughter.

But he was feeling so troubled now so how could he endure this type of merry laughter?

Therefore he turned his face with a loathsome look on his face and saw another maiden with a slim body walking in with a tray. She was holding the tray with one hand and another hand on her waist as she walked carefully into the room. Her smiles were like the breeze that had blown into the room.

But Zhan Bai turned his head away, for he was not in a good mood.

That young maiden began to laugh gently as she said demurely. “Young Master, do you want to eat? Huh…you have not eaten anything for days already.”

Her voice was so demure and she could drag the last line of her words slightly longer. It was just like the music of a flute that was so enchanting.

But this demure and enchanting voice when Zhan Bai had heard it caused his troubles to deepen. In fact, he was thinking that she was laughing at him…

“Young Master…you have not eaten for many a days already.”

Therefore Zhan Bai began to hum aloud unwittingly and thought. “Sympathy, yet another sympathy!” And then he started to yell aloud. “Get out, get out of here.”

The young maiden who was standing besides him was startled and then she asked. “What is wrong with you?” Her voice was still as demure and captivating as ever.

Zhan Bai began to sigh in his heart. Suddenly he felt guilty. No matter what, she came with a kind intention and the way he had treated her was simply too rude.

Therefore he said. “Maiden, thanks for your kind intentions but…it is better for you to leave.” Although his tone had became friendlier but still he did not turn his head. It was because he hoped that by the time he had turned his head, he would be left alone in the room to pour over all his troubles.

But the young maiden laughed awhile and said. “If you don’t want to eat, it is alright. Why do you have to be so fierce huh! Do you know that I have spent a great deal of effort, putting all my heart into it just to help you this once, yet you…you want me to leave now.”

Zhan Bai was startled by her words and he turned his head over to saw that the young maiden that was standing besides the bed was a very beautiful maiden with long flowing hair and she had an air of nobility around her.

Her beautiful eyes were now looking at him most intently. Suddenly she laughed demurely again. “Frankly speaking, it is wrong for you to be so fierce to me. Do you know that because I want to help you, I have to face with so much problems and difficulties? You huh…you really do not know what is good for you.”

Then she began to bend over and began to sit on the bed and added. “Come, let me feed you with some food. If you want to blown your top, carry on but don’t forget about yourself. If you are going to starve yourself, I will definitely not allow it!”

Zhan Bai was stunned and looked at this young maiden idiocy. His heart became even more confuse. Try as he could, he still could not remember ever meeting her before. But the way this young maiden talked to him was like she was an old friend of his. And she was so caring and intimate to him.

He thought. “She had helped me before?” But what help did she do? Zhan Bai really had no idea at all.

A faint fragrant aroma began to drift into his nose as this young maiden began to sit nearer and nearer to him. Although he had no ill intentions toward her but he disliked her for her boldness. He had always thought that men and women should have a divide. It was the most proper thing to do. Therefore he started to loath her.

With a solemn face, he said gravely. “We have never met before in our entire lives. If maiden you indeed have helped me before, then I will surely repay you in the future but now, it not that I do not want to eat anything. It just that when a man and a woman are alone in the room, we should observe our conducts in the most proper manner. Therefore I plead with maiden to pay more attention to it.”

But the young maiden was looking at the ceiling and did not seem to hear what he was saying. Only when Zhan Bai had finished did she lower her head slowly and she blinked and looked at her shoes as she said in a low voice. “If indeed have helped you, indeed have, helped you…”

Suddenly she smiled and her beautiful eyes rolled towards him and blinked at him. “Do you think that it would be fake?”

And then she pointed her at him with a finger and began to shake her finger in front of him. “To tell you the truth, if it issn’t for me, you huh…you would have been carried off by others already.” Her voice was so demure and sweet, coupled with the movements in her eyes, it was indeed an extreming moving sight.

Although she seemed to be lecturing but the affections shown by her numbered in a million ways. No matter who she was lecturing, it seemed like the one that was being lectured was really bliss to be lectured by her.

Once again, Zhan Bai looked at her, stunned. He really did not know what he supposed to feel now. But he had a thought. “So it seemed, that the maiden in black was here because of her…Then who is this young maiden then? Is she also the sister to that Young Master Lingfeng?”

So he started to look carefully at her. Although she shared the same beautiful looks as the maiden in black but she lacked her cold demeanor. Although that Young Master Lingfeng was haughty, arrogant and emotionless, she was not.

On closer inspection, she had some features that were similar to them. He really could not understand why these three brother and sisters had such different temperaments. In that instant, he started to sympathize with the beautiful lady. How would she not be melancholy in having three such children!

Although the fame of the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity were known to him but he had never expected those of the Aristocracy Family would have such complexities in their families. Even the Young Master Anle…

His thoughts began to stray as he started to think more and more of other things until the young maiden interrupted him with a laugh. She asked. “Did you not hear what I have said?”

Only then did he remember that he had not reply her yet.

“But, how should I reply her then?” He thought. “Grateful?” To a proud person like him, it was indeed a very hard thing for him to express! He began to think of a best possible way to answer her. “Her mother had saved me, her brother wanted to drive me away. And her sister had helped me to overcome my predicaments but it was only because she had entrusted her sister to do so. And I didn’t even know her, alas…What is going on here? They are a family but why did they have such complexities in their relationships?”

Because earlier, he was already burdened with many thoughts and now he was totally confuse therefore he could not even say anything out. He tried to calm himself down when suddenly a cold voice asked him. “Why don’t you reply her, did you not hear her?”

Zhan Bai was startled and saw that an imposing man with disarray hair was coldly staring at him.

The sudden coming of this strange man had startled him and now he found himself all the more speechless.

But the young maiden was still smiling like the Spring and did not turn to look at the strange wild man. It was as though his appearance was within her expectation.

The strange man stared at him and coldly said. “Did you not hear what I have just said?”

Zhan Bai look at him in shock therefore he did not reply.

The wild man laughed coldly for awhile before he reached out his hand and a windforce enveloped his hand as his hand reached for him.

But the young maiden turned around, still smiling and hugged the strange man’s arm and then whispered something into his ear. The strange man immediately withdrawn his stares and looked gently at the young maiden for awhile before he turned around and sprang out of the window without saying a single word.

Although the window was not small but the strange man was tall and imposing, Zhan Bai was startled to see that he could be so dexterous as to sprang out of the window as though he had full control of his limbs.

The stranger had come so sudden and left as sudden too. As Zhan Bai watched him leaving, he was startled and thought that everything that had happened was just like a dream.

The young maiden slowly turned her head around and giggled as she looked at Zhan Bai. “Are you afraid of him?”

Zhan Bai shook his head and said. “Who is he? Why must I be afraid of him?”

The young maiden began to arrange her hair and dress before she once again began to sit on the bed. She laughed lovingly. “Why should you not be afraid of him? His martial abilities are really powerful. Even Dage and Father have said that his martial abilities are unfathomable. But as he never fight with anyone else, no one knows how highly skilled is he. But…hehe, if anyone else is to bully me huh, he will definitely not agree and will surely beat that person till he is barely alive.”

She paused for awhile to add. “Last time, there was a person from Lubei, by the name of Three Winged Moth that came to pay my Father a visit. But when he saw me at the garden, he thought I am good to be bullied and told me a few awful words. I was so angry and embarrassed that just when I was about to teach him a lesson, even before I could lift my hands, Lei Dashu seemed to be at my back and without saying a word, with just a light pat on him, he killed him instantly on a bed of roses. When he had died…he actually become a lustful ghost.”

In a short span of time, she had said so many things and was now laughing when she had finished. This young maiden seemed like she was gently provoking him but she also looked very naïve, daring to say anything.

He thought. “Who is that stranger with wild hair that he could come and go as he pleases.”

So Zhan Bai began to wonder. “What kind of man is her father that even a flower thief would want to see him?” And when he had heard her saying that ‘Three Winged Moth’ had died on the bed of roses and even nicked him as a ‘Lustful Ghost’, he secretly laughed. “How come she could even say this out.”

He did not know that his maiden was a very naïve, innocent girl and did not know what was called shyness. At the moment of time, the young maiden giggled a laugh again and continued. “Just now when Lei Dashu sketched his hand, if I wasn’t standing besides him, then you would surely be dead now.” She laughed again and then suddenly melancholy sighed as she looked outside the window.

When Zhan Bai saw her laughed most loving an instant ago and suddenly sighing now, he was mystified. Only to hear her adding. “It is really very strange. Ever since, Mother brought you home, when I first saw you, I already like…”

Although she had not lost her naivete yet and have a simple way of viewing things but she still could not finish off the sentence. Her cheeks became red and she started to finger her long hair and then said. “Therefore when Mother could not make the time to see you, I would come everyday to see you. Today when Dage had returned from Lake Taihu, knowing his temper, I knew that something would have happened and he would surely tried to drive you out of his room. Mother is not around and I am afraid of Dage. After thinking for awhile, I decide to ask my sister out to act as a relief soldier. Do you know that my sister temperament is vastly different from mine. She scarcely says anything whole year round. After I pleaded with her nonstop for half a day and then finally I manage to persuade her come. You huh…you doesn’t appreciate it.”

Although Zhan Bai did not like her boldness but when he saw that she was so concern about him that he was moved in his heart. He smiled and said. “The way maiden has accorded me, I am really thankful so how will I not feel appreciative!”

The young maiden looked at him and pretended to be annoyed. “Who want you to be thankful to me? Who want you to be appreciative!”

Zhan Bai was startled when he saw she had become upset but suddenly she was laughing and with her hands holding the side of her dress, she playfully said. “But as long as you know that I am nice toward you and you will not be so fierce towards me, I be very happy.”

Although Zhan Bai had acted cautious towards her but now it had vanished. He only thought that this young maiden’s affections for him was so real and innocent, unmotivated by any desires to make use of him. He had long been a wanderer and trained very hard in martial skills all day long. He had never enjoyed such an affectionate feeling before. So for a moment of time, he looked idiocy at this young maiden, unable to say anything.

The young maiden asked as she played along the side of her dress. “What is your surname? What is your name? I ever asked Mother before but she said she did not know. It is really strange. Mother and Dage are exactly alike, they are usually surrounded by a cold demeanor and rarely smile. But Mother is so concern about you that I thought she and you must surely be very close but how do I know that she did not even know your name.”

Zhan Bai sighed as the past returned to haunt him. He thought. “If it was not for the kind helping hand of that beautiful lady, then right now, he would be in the wilderness. What more, she had accorded me with much kindness and I did not even know her name!”

So he asked. “Your Mother is a compassionate and kind person. Her kindness to me moved me greatly. If maiden you do not mind, can you tell me her name so that I…”

The young maiden giggled and laughed as she interrupted him. “I really can’t tell that you will be so slippery when you are talking. You are really like a poor scholar.”

Zhan Bai blushed while she said. “My Father surname is Murong, my Dage and Dajie surnames are also Murong, make a guess what is my surname?”

Zhan Bai was stunned. He had not expect that this maiden would be so simple minded. How could she have asked him this? Did she really think he was an idiot? But he replied. “Maiden your surname must surely be Murong then.”

But the young maiden shook her head and clapped her hands and laughed. “You have guessed wrongly. I am not a Murong but Zhan. I follow my Mother’s surname.” And she looked so delightful and proud when she had said that.

Zhan Bai secretly laughed but he said. “Naturally I am unable to guess.” Then he had another thought. “So that lady has the same surname as mine.”

The young maiden laughed again and said. “Look at you, I thought you are also a pugilist from the Martial Fraternity. Why did you not know anything about my family?” Her meaning, everyone in the Fraternity should know about her family.

Now Zhan Bai was looking intently at her and eyed her smiling and joyous laughs. At first he had thought she was trying to gently provoke him but now all such thoughts vanished from his mind.

The young maiden rolled her beautiful eyes to look at him and then gently laughed again, said in a low voice. “I telling you, I am Zhan WanEr. What is your name, why did you not tell me? Are your Father and Mother still around? Where are they? Do you have a…”

She bit her lips and laughed gently before she lowered her had to add. “…wife.”

She had asked him five questions at a go, and all her questions pierced his innermost heart. After being startled for awhile, he sighed and said. “My surname is Zhan too, Zhan Bai is my name. My Father and Mother…had passed away. I am a wanderer, I have no accomplishments and I have not even avenge for my Father’s death yet.”

Because he had been wandering for a number of years now and he had no bosom friends to talk to. And now this young maiden was asking in such a frank and innocent manner, he began to tell her all his most innermost troubles.

And Zhan WanEr who had been listening, her eyes were now a fluttering red and her tears began to flow down her cheeks. The relationship between humans were indeed a very intricate and marvelous thing. Some people would never tell a single true word to another even though they had known for a long time while some others would be so honest to one another even though it was the first time that they had known one another. Therefore Zhan Bai began to relate all his sorrows to her, he even forgot that the one he was talking to is just a young maiden that he had just known, innocent and naïve.

But before he could finish everything, a shadow sprang to him and caught him by the shoulders and asked solemnly. “Who is you? Who is Zhan Yuntian to you?”

Zhan Bai was startled and he could only feel the painful sensational feeling of his arms that seemingly were about to tear apart from him.

Zhan Bai was startled and strange that this man would actually know his Father’s name. He did not know why this name had treated him so violently and he tried to look up to see that the man that was gripping his shoulders were that strange man ‘Lei Dashu’.

Prologue Five
Among all the outstanding beauties in the South, the most beautiful and wondrous was Jin Caifeng, so much that she was called the number one beauty in all of Jiangnan...

Chapter Seven: WanEr

But Zhan Bai had always been a haughty and proud person. The more others tried to use force on him, the more he could resist with his pride. Even if it were an axe that was on his head now, he would not even blink his eyes and submitted.

Therefore, tried as he mightily as Lei Dashu gripped him, even though he was in great pain, he did not even mutter a sound or bother to reply him.

“Speak! Who are you?” Lei Dashu stared at him and thundered. “Are you the descendant of Zhan Yuntian?”

Lei Dashu was extremely agitated and his grips were trembling even when he was asking Zhan Bai. Therefore he unconsciously used even more strength to grip Zhan Bai!

As the grip by Lei Dashu aggravated his wounds coupled with the fact he was still sick, he looked like he would pass out anytime. But he still refused to say anything.

The young maiden who was as beautiful as a flower that was sitting besides him noticed that his face had turned ashen and sweating profusely, was startled and heart wrench for Zhan Bai’s pain. She was secretly praising his determination and backbone and she was unhappy with Lei Dashu now. “Dashu! Please release your hold huh! Look, you almost breaking his arms now so how could he even reply you?…”

Lei Dashu had doted on WanEr the most and would always accede to her requests no matter what. But at this moment of time, he seemed to lose his cool and did not pay her any heed.

No matter how much Zhan WanEr tried to protest and made a fuss, he did not seem to hear her and he was gripping Zhan Bai very tightly and staring at him…

“Yun Tian alas! Yun Tian! Is it because the Heavens are looking over you that you have a descendant?…Ah! It must be it…it must be it! It must be it! I, Lei…”

Lei Dashu stared at Zhan Bai in frantic for a while before he managed to compose himself but he could still be heard muttering.

But suddenly Waner grasped in shock. “Aiya! He is dead. Lei Dashu! Lei Dashu! He is dead huh…”

Lei Dashu seemed like he had woke up from his dreams and stared at white sheet face of Zhan Bai in shock. There was even no breathing in his mouth and nose.

This Lei Dashu, was once the swore brother of the ‘Thunderous Sword’ Zhan Yuntian and they had gone through many life and death situations together. The two of them traveled across the Pugilistic Realm doing many glorious, righteous and heroic deeds.

But once, when they had parted for a short time, he suddenly received news that the Thunderous Sword Zhan Yuntian whose fame was so resounding throughout the Pugilistic Fraternity was ambushed and died terribly!

At that time, when he had heard of this terrible news, he hurried to the Peaks of Junshan 君山绝顶 . The scene on the summit of Junshan was littered with secret projectiles and weapons. There was blood all over the place but he could not find the corpse of Zhan Yuntian or even his killers!

When Lei Dashu witnessed such an appalling sight, he knew that the rumours were true after all. He almost went crazy with grief and he thought of committing suicide to repay his best friend.

But a desire that was even greater than death forced him to carry on living, the desire to seek vengeance!

Therefore he started to search for all the possible killers of his brother so as to avenge him for his wrongful death!

But he had traveled to the ends of the earth till his shoes had worn off and he still could not find any clues to the identities of the killers. Therefore for the past twenty years or so, it remained an unresolved tight knot in his heart. And then he was invited by the Master of the Murong Manor who had known him through his heroic name and invited him as an honorable guest here.

He had no intention to be the protégé of anyone but when he had thought that having found no clues after drifting in the Pugilist realm for such a long time and that the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity had just established themselves and were actively seeking top exponents as their protégés. Because there would be many pugilists that frequented the Murong Manor, he might possible find a clue or two eventually. Therefore he became a protégé of the Murong Manor.

The Murong Manor had wealth that equaled a kingdom. Therefore everyone had to dress in style and observe a proper etiquette. But the Master of the Murong Manor made an exception for him because he knew him as a righteousness man and even gave him the important task of protecting the inside of the Murong Manor.

Therefore he began to stay as a protégé in the Murong Manor. It was not because the Master of Murong Manor had appreciated him but because he had doted on WanEr, even more so than what her parents had doted on her. And so he began to stay for quite a long time in the Murong Manor.

But Lei Dashu had never give up in the hopes of finding the killers of his swore brother.

And now when he thought he had saw the descendant of his brother, he was so excited that he behaved out of the norm in utter delight!

That was because he had never heard that his swore brother had a wife or any children.

But when he had seen Zhan Bai today, he suddenly noticed his mannerisms and looks were so alike to his swore brother.

He was outside the window when he had heard Zhan Bai saying to WanEr. “My surname is Zhan too…My father had died terribly and I did not even know who are his killers…”

Next he was gripping Zhan Bai’s shoulders and muttering something. Only when Waner kept shouting in fright that Lei Dashu woke out from his daze and found out that Zhan Bai had now fainted and his pupils were white! He immediately started to clear the life channels of Zhan Bai’s accupoints!

The sight of Zhan Bai fainting like he was dead caused WanEr to sob and wail nonstop!

Waner who had the looks of a heavenly fairy was a naïve and innocent maiden. The number of people in the Martial Fraternity that were courting her numbered into thousands. There were those that were wealthy, even nobles, top exponents, handsome ones…all kinds and types of people but she had never took an eye on them.

But now, she had fallen in love with this down and out poor wanderer, moreover he was also a wounded and sick young man!

Love was really so unexplainable, illogical and difficult to understand.

“Maiden!” Lei Dashu stammered out as he knew that he had been too hard on Zhan Bai and had also hurt WanEr’s feelings. He tried to say in a gentle tone. “You don’t have to worry, he would not die!”

“I, I hate you so much!…” WanEr said when Lei Dashu had tried to comfort her. And her tears were flowing nonstop.

She was heart wrenched when Lei Dashu had gripped Zhan Bai and caused him to faint therefore she had said that without thinking.

But the minute she opened her mouth, she suddenly felt that she was too disrespected to the elder that had always doted on her. Therefore she gagged awhile and said. “If he, if he really die…I will never forgive…you…”

Although she did her best to change her words and was determined not to say anything disrespectful to Lei Dashu but because she was still so concerned about the safety of Zhan Bai, she unwittingly muttered out these words that she meant not to say. And she was as rude as ever.

Lei Dashu got a shock. Ever since he had become a protégé of the Murong Manor, he had doted on WanEr and even loved and protected her as though she was like his own daughter. Although he had never married and it not possible for him to have any children but he believed that even if he had a daughter, he would not have doted her more than WanEr. Therefore he was so surprised that she could actually say such things to him…

But, that was only a momentum feeling and he immediately started to clap on all the life channels of Zhan Bai and at the same time glancing at WanEr.

When he saw WanEr looking idiocy at Zhan Bai with concern a look and that her tears were flowing uncontrollably, a thought suddenly dawned upon him. “I think that this attentive little girl of mine has fallen in love with this young man. Alas!…I must be muddle headed. To a young girl like her that has first experienced love, what can be more important and happier than the prince charming in her heart?…”

So when Lei Dashu had thought of this, not only was he not offended by her rudeness instead he smiled. “WanEr, you don’t have to so anxious. Dashu will take responsible and return you a living…”

Suddenly he stopped. He was thinking what should he say, a living groom or a living lover…but no matter what he was trying to think, he thought it sounded very inappropriate. Then he began to stroke his beard and kept blinking…

When WanEr saw the expressions on Lei Dashu’s face, this innocent naïve maiden was like the Spring flower that had bloomed after the rain, asked. “Living what huh? Dashu, why did you stop halfway?”

“Living…living person!” After pausing for some time, he managed to say something. Suddenly he began to pat himself on his head, silently praising himself for being so brilliant to think of a word finally. And he was feeling extremely happy at that.

“Pu Ge!” WanEr could not resist laughing and she said lovingly. “Of course it is a living person, do you think I will want a ‘dead person’?…”

Suddenly halfway through her laughter, she began to blush deeply, lowered her head and used her hands to pull her garments. And then she glanced over at Lei Dashu who was looking at her with a deep meaning in his eyes. And she withdrawn her glances and lowered her head even lower for her cheeks were even redder now.

Someone said. “The blushing of a young maiden is the most beautiful of all sights!” Indeed this saying was not wrong. WanEr pale face had a glow of pinkish red now giving her beauty a more glamorous glow. She was like a rainbow that gave out hues of colours, so pure in beauty and peerless. And so beautiful to behold!

Actually Lei Dashu did not know why WanEr had suddenly blushed so shyly.
But, in this world, who could guess a young maiden’s heart?

It was because, WanEr had always heard her Mother calling her Father ‘Dead person’. As she was just an innocent young maiden, she thought that ‘Dead person’ was also the representative of ‘Husband’. Therefore unintentionally she had misrepresented Zhan Bai as a ‘Dead person’, no wonder she was blushing now…

At this moment of time when Zhan Bai had regained conscious and was slowly opening his eyes, what he saw in front of him was the beautiful WanEr that was like a flower blooming in front of him. She was like a flower in the fog that had just appeared in his still hazy vision…

“Water…” He muttered.

When WanEr saw him regaining conscious, she was very delightful and happy. When she heard that he wanted to drink water, she immediately poured some of the hot boiling from the teapot to the jade bowl. And she gently carried it over to him and slowly feed him mouthful by mouthful.

“Alas!” Lei Dashu grasped out as he witnessed this lovely and noble second mistress of the Murong residence accorded this down and out young man with such tenderness and attention. Therefore he secretly sighed and thought that the power of love was so magnificent and really so unfathomable…

“Thanks…thanks…” As Zhan Bai gurgled from WanEr’s hands that were holding the bowl. When his mind had cleared, the first thing he could sniff was her unique fragrance from her body.

The second thing was to notice the face of this extraordinary beautiful young maiden 绝色少女 who was looking at himself intently.

The third thing was to find himself in the soft gentle embrace of a purely beautiful young maiden. Therefore he suddenly found his face turning hot and an unspeakable feeling began to pollute his heart…

This warm tenderness, this divinity was something he had never experienced in his entire life. And when he saw this young maiden that was like a flower, holding him and feeding him with a bowl of clear water mouthful by mouthful. Moreover her beautiful eyes that were like spring were looking at him with boundless love.
Ah! All these that had occurred were so surreal to him. He did not know if it was real or a dream but one thing for sure, it moved his heart greatly.

So he could only muttered. “Thank you!” And then suddenly he noticed that Lei Dashu was staring at him with a strange look on his face. Suddenly he felt so embarrassing to be caught in the embrace of a young maiden that he had scarcely known therefore he struggled to sit up!

If he had not struggled, it would be better for when he struggled, he felt the painful sensation of his wounds that he immediately fell back into the embrace of the young maiden.

“Alas!” As Zhan Bai was a proud young man, he did not mouth a word of pain. Instead he clenched his teeth to endure it. Therefore once again, he fell into her embrace again.

When WanEr noticed that her hands were wet, she thought she had been careless and accidentally spilled the water but when she looked at her hand, she saw it was actually blood that she cried out in fright.

“What!” As Lei Dashu did not know why she was so startled so he hurriedly asked.

“WanEr!” Someone grasped from beyond the room and it was the beautiful lady as she walked hurriedly into the room. She was startled. “What has happen to…him!…”

At the same time, Lei Dashu began to notice that earlier when Zhan Bai had struggled, he had reopened the wounds on his left shoulder. Therefore there was blood all over the bed now.

In a state of fright and concern, the beautiful lady began to hit Zhan Bai on his Bi Ru 臂儒 and Xin Yu 心俞 accupoint channels to stop his bleeding. And then she turned her head around and said. “WanEr, go and get ready a hot ginseng soup. I want it to be thicker!”

WanEr did not reply and started to spring away like she was flying out of the room…

“WanEr!” Lei Dashu hurriedly called out. “You don’t have to go. I have a divine pill here. Ginseng can only rejuvenate and restore the blood but my pill is much stronger and better than any ginseng soup!” And he took out a thick cloth and unwrapped it with a hesitation and a heavy heart. From the looks of it, the pill inside must be very precious…

But WanEr yelled from outside. “Dashu, you give your pill to him first. I will go and get the ginseng soup too…” And she was far now…

The beautiful lady laughed and said to Lei Dashu. “This child has always been very caring…”

Although Zhan Bai was feeling awfully painful now but he had not lost his conscious yet. He bit his teeth hard to overcome the pain and looked at this lady that was looking at him like a compassionate mother.

And then he thought of WanEr that had run off to get the ginseng soup worrying about him. Considering her status, she did not need to be so attentive towards him and yet she humbled herself down to wait upon him and to attend to his very needs, he felt unlimited gratefulness towards her…

As for this pill of Lei Dashu that was of an unknown origin, being a proud person, he would rather not accept the sympathy of others. Moreover Lei Dashu was asking him to tell the truth to him before he could give him his pill, it was a threat that he refused to submit too. Therefore he ignored Lei Dashu totally by turning his head to face the wall.

Zhan Bai’s actions caused Lei Dashu to burst forth into anger. In fact, he almost exploded by anger.

Even the beautiful lady when she saw that Zhan Bai was unappreciative to Lei Dashu’s good intentions, gently said to him. “Child! This Dragon Tiger Prolonging Pill 龙虎续命丹 can even cause the dead to revive. It can also increase a person’s internal power. It is something that is even beyond the dreams of the people of the Martial Fraternity! Just answer Lei Dashu’s questions, hurry and reply to Lei Dashu! Once you eat this pill, all your injuries and sickness will be well again! Moreover, it can do you a lot of good too…”

She was persuading him in a compassionate and concern manner just like she was exactly his Mother.

But, Zhan Bai did not turn his head around and said facing the wall. “I do not reciprocate it!”

“This is so infuriating!” Lei Dashu angrily shouted. “Am I really blind! I…”

He thought to himself. This pill is something that people in the Martial Fraternity would want very much but not even in their wildest dream could they obtain it. One time, he disregard his own life and did a great help to Shaolin Temple 少林寺 . Therefore the Shaolin Abbot Leader bestowed this one pill to him. He had kept it for over fifty years and could not even bear to use it. But now, when he wanted to give it to Zhan Bai, he did not even reciprocate…

Therefore the more he thought over it, the more upset he had become.

Things that were sent out could not be taken back. If he kept the pill now, others would think he would not bear to part with it haiz…

There was a ‘Ba’ sound as Lei Dashu threw this rare and precious divine pill onto the ground and then he stormed off.

The beautiful lady was left standing in shock and surprise.

“What is going on?” Zhan Bai asked as he did not have inkling what had happened.

“Alas!” The beautiful lady grasped and then she said. “Child, do you know that you have hurt Lei Dashu’s heart.”

“Whose heart is being hurt?” Suddenly WanEr had entered the room with the ginseng soup as she asked.

Without waiting for the lady to say anything, WanEr began to blow on the soup to cool it before she took the big spoon in front of Zhan Bai and laughed lovingly. “Come! Eat this, I feed you!”

But Zhan Bai ignored the ginseng soup in front of him first and asked the lady. “Lady, I do not wish to eat this pill, how could it be considered hurting his heart?”

The lady did not reply him but she was in deep thoughts for awhile before she lowered her head to ask. “What did Lei Dashu ask you about?”

“He ask me who…am I?” How could Zhan Bai not answer this compassionate lady? “He even ask me…”

“What else?” The beautiful lady asked.

“Mother!” WanEr who had been holding the ginseng soup by the side interrupted. “Don’t ask so many much huh! First let him eat, alright! Or else, he will…”

“Don’t interrupt!” The beautiful lady silenced WanEr and then turned to look at Zhan Bai with her marvelous phoenix eyes.

“He even ask who is Zhan…” Although Zhan Bai planned to answer honestly but when he thought of his father, he began to tremble unwittingly. “…Yuntian’s to me?”

When the beautiful lady heard the name of Zhan Yuntian, she received a jolt and asked Zhan Bai hurriedly. “Why did you not answer Lei Dashu? Who is Zhan…Yuntian to you?”

“Zhan…Yuntian is my late Father…” As he was grateful to the lady for saving his life and moreover she was like a compassionate mother to him, therefore he answered her honestly.

When the beautiful lady had heard that Zhan Yuntian was his father, her eyes began to glow with an unspeakable delight. But she was too shocked to say anything for the time being…

The beautiful WanEr however did not know who is Zhan Yuntian and did not notice the change in the expressions of her mother. She was only concerned about letting Zhan Bai finished the bowl of ginseng soup. She suddenly noticed that Zhan Bai had lowered his head and there were tears on his cheeks. She hurriedly put aside the ginseng bowl and took out a handkerchief from her clothing and started to wipe his tears, at the same time saying tenderly to him. “Don’t cry huh! Come, wipe your tears and eat this bowl of ginseng soul then all your pain will be gone huh! Be good! Listen to me, huh!…”

This young maiden who was eighteen or twenty did not seem like she was talking to a person that was one or two years older than her. Instead she seemed to trying to coax a small child.

Zhan Bai’s head felt a sense of boundless serenity. Suddenly…

Suddenly from the door, a maid in green walked in hurriedly and said. “Lady!…You are here! I have been looking everywhere for you…Old…Master is looking…for lady…” The maid’s face was flustered and she was patting heavily.

The beautiful lady furrowed her eyes and looked none the pleased. She replied nonchalantly. “Why is Old Master looking for me?”

“Maid I do…do not know. Old Master he is throwing…throwing a tantrum now and asking lady…to hurry to see him!”

The beautiful lady straightened her body and looked at Zhan Bai who was lying on the bed for a while before she said to WanEr. “You must take good care of him. Mother will be back soon!”

WanEr ‘En’ a sound as the Lady and the maid walked out of the room.

Now the room was left with only Zhan Bai and WanEr. WanEr made a fuss and tried to cheer Zhan Bai at the same time so he could finish the bowl of ginseng soup.

Ever since Zhan Bai’s Mother had passed away, he had been a wanderer and had never experienced such a tender and warm feeling. Moreover it was a beautiful maiden that was feeding him mouthful by mouthful that sent this feeling of tenderness and warm into his very heart…

As he opened his mouth to eat, he could not resist looking at this beautiful young maiden. She was very moving to his eyes and she was so out of the world. Her air was so pure, her innocence coupled with that she had no hidden agendas and her heart was as pure and kind as an angel caused him his thoughts to be confused and developed a affection for her. 意乱情迷

He was totally charmed by her now and could even sniff her virgin fragrant that was from her body, it was like a dream. Try as he could, he could not understand why this extraordinary beautiful young maiden would want to accord him with such kindness?

“…I…would like to ask maiden some questions.” He had remembered that when the beautiful lady had left the room, she was filled with an air of melancholy. He wondered what was troubling her in her heart? And when he remembered WanEr innocence and kindness, and that Young Master Lingfeng that was so haughty, and that mysterious maiden in black that had an air of cold demeanor around her, moreover they were after all one family. All that and that, made him curious. So he asked. “I wonder if maiden…would be happy to answer for me some questions?”

But he felt bad about trying to ask about the personal matters of others. Therefore he was hesitating and stammering in his speech.

“I…maiden…maiden…” WanEr mimicked Zhan Bai but before she could finish, she had burst out laughing. She added. “Alas huh, it really so ugly!”

Zhan Bai turned red…

“Baige, 白哥 if you have anything just feel freely to ask huh!” WanEr was just being innocence, she had only mimic out of fun and had no intention to poke fun at Zhan Bai.

When she suddenly noticed that Zhan Bai was blushing, she gagged her laughs and then said sincerely. “If your little sister knows the answer, I will surely tell you. Don’t be a sissy and be so formal, when I heard it, it is so unnatural! In future just call me your sister will do huh!”

“How can…I really dare not…” Zhan Bai tried to protest but WanEr interrupted and said. “We are all Zhan, so there is no dare or dare not! Baige, what you want to say, just say it out huh!”

When Zhan Bai saw how insistent WanEr was, he was embarrassed to keep protesting so he simply said. “Wanmei 婉妹 …”

When Zhan Bai had called her Wanmei, she was very thrilled and her smiles were blooming like flowers now.

“The Old Master that the little maid is referring to, is he your father…”

WanEr nodded her head and Zhan Bai continued to ask. “Your Mother doesn’t seem to be so happy. I wonder if your father and mother…”

WanEr smiles immediately ceased as she furrowed deeply and then grasped lovingly at him. “Baige, please don’t ask me about all these, alright? Your sister is not willing to discuss the affairs of my elders…”

When WanEr had said to the last part, her voice became softer and her head was lowered too.

When Zhan Bai saw WanEr was looking so melancholy, he knew that he had touched a sensitive area of a personal matter. Therefore he changed the topic and said. “If Wanmei is not willing to say, your silly brother will not ask. But your silly brother has one more matter to ask that I do not understand. Why is Wanmei you are so nice, yet your brother is so forceful in his attitude? And your sister…”

“Don’t discuss about them huh!” WanEr lifted her head and her beautiful eyes looking at him lovingly. “Let your sister ask you some questions too. Baige, after you are well, what are you planning to do?”

Zhan Bai was stunned at her question. Naturally he had to avenge his father but he did not know who were his father’s killers. Moreover he had lost his father’s precious sword and the bundle that contained the clues to his father’s death.

Moreover his martial abilities were so lacking in completion and he was also homeless. What was more, he had left the Yanjing Escort Agency 燕京镖局 halfway, so how could he have the face to return to the Escort Agency now?

Although in this mysterious place, the beautiful lady and WanEr was all so nice to him but maybe it was because they had took pity on him because he was wounded and sick. When he was well, maybe they would not be so compassionate towards him. As for the Young Master and that Lei Dashu, he shivered to stay here…

No matter how he gauged his situations, he was in a hopeless and sorrowful state. It was really the end of the road for him!

Therefore he began to feel that a hero would actually come to this end, his tears started to flow from his eyes…

“Baige!” When WanEr had saw that Zhan Bai looked blankly and tears had flowed down his cheeks, she plunged into his embrace and with both hands, hugged him tightly and she said in a soft tender melody voice that could even melt the heart of a person even if his heart was made of iron. “Heaven’s end, Corner of the Earth, to the far reaches of the Ocean, no matter where you are going, Wanmei will never want to separate from you!”

The true feeling of this pure and innocence young maiden moved Zhan Bai greatly. It was like the cold Winter in the world and then when the warm Spring appeared, all the hopelessness became hopes and there was finally light in the retreating darkness, just like a flower had suddenly blossomed in the desert! But was it real?

Zhan Bai found himself hugging WanEr tightly too and muttering in a low voice. “Yes, we will forever never to separate! Forever never to separate, forever never to separate…”

“Heng!” Suddenly there was a cold hummed outside the window that came like the winter wind.

“Shameless brat, how dare you damage the reputation of our family!” A voice lectured in extreme coldness.

“Dage!” WanEr grasped with her melody voice. “You dare to bully me!” WanEr separated from Zhan Bai and sprang out of the window.

There were a series of fighting sound and shouting. But it drifted further and further away and finally nothing could be heard…

In that instant, everything became so quiet and cold. Ever since he had met that Young Master Anle in the forest, every thing that had happened to him became so confuse and difficult to comprehend. Although he tried to calm himself now to think it over thoroughly but he failed.

Prologue Six
In the areas around Lake Tongding, the folks there would often see a handsome young man accompanying by five beautiful and peerless ladies as they made their way in jubilant. If a man could have five such wives, it was really unimaginable and unbelievable. Even the bliss of an Immortal would not compare to it! More enviable were that all five of the extraordinary beautiful young ladies were hugging or carrying babies in their embrace as they made merry, it was so admirable! Could it be related to the three legendary treasures of the Martial Fraternity?...

Chapter Eight: In the Darkness

People could be weird at times. When they had come to a noisy place, they hope to have some peace. When they had come to a quiet place, they wished that it would become a noisy place. That was the feeling Zhan Bai was feeling now.

Zhan Bai began to sigh and slowly closed his eyes to calm his confuse and disarray thoughts. But suddenly, he saw a shadowy figure that moved as fast as lightning towards him. He forced himself to open his eyes and he muttered. “Lei Dashu! You…”

Lei Dashu looked idiocy at Zhan Bai for awhile before he picked him up and sprang out of the window.

Zhan Bai tried to struggle but he had no strength. He began to question why did Lei Dashu want to treat him in his way but come to think of that, this Lei Dashu was so out of the norm that even if he were to ask him, it would be futile.

Lei Dashu had sprung out of the window and turned to the right direction. When Lei Dashu had hesitated for awhile, Zhan Bai forced himself to lift his head and saw that they were surrounded by dense woods and there were huge piles of boulders everywhere.

Then Lei Dashu began to run through this dense woods and Zhan Bai was greatly startled to see tree after trees flashing in front of him dazzling him. Then he closed his eyes. No matter where Lei Dashu was taking him to kill him, he was powerless to resist. Now his fate was in the hands of heavens…

Although he had closed his eyes but he could still hear. After awhile, Lei Dashu said. “We have reached.”

When Zhan Bai had opened his eyes, he found himself in a cave with only some light from the stars from the outside of the cave acting as torches.

There was also a stone bed. The entire place was quiet but was also astonishing clean. This place was totally out of character when compared to the wild and strange Lei Dashu. He thought. “What place is this? Why did he bring me here and for what reason?”

Lei Dashu started to put him down on the stone bed.

Zhan Bai secretly sighed and once again closed his eyes. He thought. “But no matter what, there will always be a day when a mystery will be revealed.”

Lei Dashu stood besides the bed and purposely looked at Zhan Bai for awhile before he started to pat him on his chest, waist. It was such agonizing pain for him that he unwittingly cried out aloud and when he opened his eyes, his vision was hazy and then he fainted.



When he had awakened, he found the cave to be in complete darkness.

Slowly he opened his eyes and it did not seem like it was opened for everything was still pitch dark.

Therefore he tried to sit up. But who would expect that when he tried to move, he could actually sit up so effortless! What had happened to his pain and sickness? It seemed like all of his afflictions had mysteriously vanished! (It seemed like Lei Dashu had feed him the Dragon Tiger Prolonging Pill without his knowledge)

He was startled, almost could not believe that it was true. He had been afflicted with many wounds and sickness before, he had never recovered as speedily as now.

He came down from the bed and shouted in the darkness. “Lei Dashu!”

No reply.

Where did that mysterious Lei Dashu go to?

Suddenly he found out his hands and legs had become very agile. It was more agile that what he had known. Therefore he was stunned and stood on the spot for a long time. Suddenly he could feel a breeze on his body. He was all the more puzzled. In this cave where there was no light and in complete darkness, how could there be wind?

So he followed the direction of the small breeze and he reached out, only to find out that in front of him was a wall. But this wall seemed to have many tiny holes.
“Since there is wind, why issn’t there any light?” He questioned himself. “Maybe this wall lead to another passage and this passage is a place where the wind can flow in.”

Therefore he had begun to understand his surrounding but other than that, he knew nothing.

He began to feel the walls around him. There was no doors, what happened to the cave entrance that he had glimpsed earlier? How did he come here? Now he was utterly confused…

Suddenly he found a sack at the corner of the cave. There seemed to be food and water inside. The water was strangely fragrance like wine but it was not and when he took a sip, he suddenly calmed down a lot. He had never for once drunk such wonderful water. Therefore he took a few more sips. He began to sigh for he had never thought he would have such strange happenings. Moreover there was no way out too.

Inside the sack was also a book. He picked it out and walked with it to the bed. Then he remembered that there was no light at all. So how could he possible read a book? It was so laudable. Nevertheless he started to play with the pages on the book and suddenly he discovered that he could actually feel the words on the book. Therefore his heart jumped because he was extremely bored and at least there was something to keep him occupied now. So he started to map the words on the book. Now he understood the difficulties facing the blind people.

He sighed and concentrated and finally he mapped the first word as he grasped. “Air!” 气

Then what about the second word? Therefore finally he mapped the second word, “Mixture”. 混

After figuring two characters, his confidence increased tremendously. After patiently mapping further, he mapped out another three characters. “Conceal 掩 , Pure 清 , Impure 浊 .”

The sixth character was also Pure. The seventh character was ‘Ascend 升, eighth character is Mixture again. The ninth character was descend 降, the tenth character was Way 道. Being quite an expert now, he began to feel the eleventh character. It was ‘One 一, twelfth character was Rule 法. The thirteen character was Together 众..

He took a long time, it was a tedious and difficult task of mapping all the characters. He heaved a sigh of relief for his fingers were numbed now. After a while, he recited those thirteen words together.

“Air Mixture Conceal Pure Impure Pure Ascend Mixture Descend Way One Rule Together…” But what did those words mean? He could not understand therefore he focused with all his concentrations.

He muttered. “Air, it may refer to Vital Energy 真气, Mixture and Conceal, Pure and Impure, Pure energy ascending? Mix the energy and descend? There is only one way but the method can be many…Ah! Can these thirteen words be interpreted in this way?”

Therefore he started to experiment not knowing if he could be right or wrong.

He began to take a few sips of the sweet water and began to map more words.

Time passed, his food and water was running out soon but he did not care because those words in the book had caught all his attention. His pace was getting slower and slower because the meaning of each word was getting more and more difficult to understand too.

He really did not expect that for such a thin book, it would actually contain all the deepest knowledge of the most intricate principles and formulas of Martial knowledge. Really, this book was like the bottomless Ocean.

Because Zhan Bai naturally loved martial arts with all his heart but he had never meet an outstanding Mentor yet. Therefore when he suddenly discovered this book with all its wondrous secrets, he was so delightful and laughing like he had gone mad. He began to put aside all his other thoughts from his heart except for this book.

Although he could map the words very fast now, becoming quite an expert but his progress was getting slower and slower. Each word he had to spend more and more time thinking over it. Moreover it had to be compatible with the other words in the sentence too.

But, he believed that since there was a beginning, eventually there would be an end too. Moreover he was a very patience person.

Finally one fine day when he had finally unraveled the last of the mysterious words, his heart almost jumped out of his body in great joy! He did not realize that he had been a genius. Now he lay on the stone bed and began to recite all the words again and committing it to memory.

And then he used the methods of the book and started practicing it on his own.

Although it was such a long and painstaking period of time but finally he had his rewards. He had discovered that using the methods in the book to train his internal force, it was supernaturally fast. It was totally heaven and earth apart using the method that he had known in the past.

He found his rest to be shorter and shorter yet his spirit, mind and stamina was so invigorating. He found himself unable to think of any other things for the martial knowledge in the book was so enticing and so wondrous.

But suddenly one day when he was practicing his internal power on the bed, the bed started to move. He was so startled that he lifted a breath of vital energy and began to jump from the bed in a slow but dexterous movement to the ground. And then he was on his guard. For he did not know what sudden events would be going to happen to him now.

A ray of light burst forth from beneath the bed revealing a passage and Zhan Bai was startled as he thought. “What sort of power can cause this stone bed to move?…”

There was a laughter echoing from beneath the passage as a man emerged from the shadows – Lei Dashu! He was laughing nonstop hilariously and then he was sitting on the stone bed!

Zhan Bai carried Fan Su into the cave and gently placed her on her stone bed that he had once slept. Next he reached out to check her breathing which had by now grown weak and pathetic. And it was clear that she was dying.

Zhan Bai did not care for the divides between men and women and thought that he should try his very best to save her first. In actually, he had even forgot about the divides between the sexes. Fan Su had been dealt a heavy blow and her internal organs were now bleeding now. After Zhan Bai shifted her organs back to its original position, he used both his hands to press on her Min Men (命门: Heart) and did his very best to revive her meridian pulses.

Fortunately, the Sacred Manual was indeed the most wondrous martial art in the world. After Zhan Bai did some transfer of his lifeforce on her and after doing some massages for awhile according to the Sacred Manual, Fan Su began to moan and had awakened.

But it was the first time that Zhan Bai had done a transference of lifeforce to treat injuries 运功疗伤, therefore he had expended a great deal of vital energies and was feeling extremely tired now.



When Su Fan had opened her eyes, it was pitch dark and she could not see a thing.

Suddenly, she had recalled that she had been seriously injured by the blind priest and she remembered that under the blazing fire that was in their surrounding, Zhan Bai had saved her and after that she had fallen unconscious…

Then, where was she now? She gently moved her body and found out that the excruciating pain in her chest was gone now. It was like that her injuries were no more. But who was the one that had helped her to treat her injuries then?…There were so many questions that need answers but she could not see a thing in the darkness. It caused her to think she was still in a dream.

When she had fully recovered from her daze and proven that it was not a dream, she started to finger with her long hair unconsciously as she began to think once more. Suddenly she remembered that she had accompanied her three brothers and without the knowledge of their father led the protégés in their manor to attack the Baotu Manor, to avenge their mother’s death. She had attempted to assassinate Murong Han with two other protégés ahead of her brothers. But she had failed, was captured by Murong Han and thrown into the dungeon. Even her two protégés were dead now.

Now that her injuries were fine now, it was best that she quickly left now or else once it was daybreak, she would find herself in more dire situations.

After awhile of walking in the dark, she had saw what seemed to be the entrance of the cave and walked towards it, without seeing Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai was following the supreme orthodox intricate formulas in the Sacred Manual, using a method known as ‘Returning to the Natural State’ 返本归元.. This ‘Returning to the Nature State’ made use of a single breath of vital energy and circulate it between the Xiao Zhuang 消转 and the Dan Tian 丹田 and it could flow through thirteen levels while sustaining the body, therefore there was not even a breathing sound from Zhan Bai.

That was why Fan Su did not detect Zhan Bai, moreover it was so dark as well.

Only when Zhan Bai had saw that Fan Su had almost reached the entrance that he had finally restored his flow of breathing and revitalized his vital energy. “Brother Fan…No! Maiden Fan, where are you going?”

In the darkness when Fan Su heard the voice of a man, she really got the fright of her life. After a momentum shock, she immediately sprang out of the cave in fright!

Although she possessed epitome martial skills but a young maiden like her after she had heard a voice in this darkness, she was actually scared out of her wits.

But Zhan Bai did not know this and worried that Fan Su would worsen her injuries if she were to activate her vitalized energy. Also, he was afraid that she might have run into her enemies once outside the cave, therefore he too sprang out of the cave to chase after her.

Zhan Bai noticed that it was almost dawn now. Soon he caught up with her.

“Oh!” Fan Su grasped as though she was singing, her face was as cold as water as she coldly said unabashedly without the coyness of other girls. “So I was saved by Brother Zhan! Let me extend my appreciation to you.” And she bowed both her hands together to him.

Zhan Bai did not expect her to be suddenly so cold towards him even though she had just extended a bow to him. He said. “Fan…Maiden Fan your injuries have just been treated, it not good for you to move around…”

She turned her face around and said. “This, you do not have to worry.” And she turned around and walked away.

“Maiden, please wait!” Zhan Bai ran after her, calling for her.

Suddenly she turned around and her eyes were angry. “Is it because Brother Zhan, you have saved me, you are expecting something in return?” These two lines she had said with great severity and coldness.

Zhan Bai was startled and was speechless! He thought. “I did not fault you but why did you suddenly become so cold?…”

Just when Zhan Bai was startled, three figures emerged out of the dark woods. All of them were astonishing fast and in an instant, they had pointed their long swords in front of Zhan Bai’s chest.

Zhan Bai was even more startled because he had suddenly found himself trapped and in their hands when he was momentarily distracted. He estimated their age to be twenty to thirty. All of them have shining bright eyes and were filled with a heavy malevolent air! Suddenly he noticed that one of them looked familiar. He was the same person that had attacked the blind priest last night so he could not be from the Baotu Manor.

“Dage!” 大哥 Fan Su called out from his side and said. “He is not a dog of Baotu Manor…”

The oldest of the three men, furrowed deeply and then exclaimed in a low voice to Zhan Bai. “Rascal! Who is your Mentor Teacher? Why are you after my sister? Speak the truth or you will be a wandering ghost!”

After hearing that, how would Zhan Bai not be upset? He had expended his vital energy just to save person but in the end, he had to endure such threats and attitude. One must know that Zhan Bai was a haughty young man so how would he allow himself to be subjected in this manner! Moreover what incited him further were the three swords that were pointing at him. So he looked at them with a despise look on their faces, coldly hummed and kept silence!

The youngest among the three, who was also the most impatience when he saw Zhan Bai’s proud attitude, shouted. “Dage, look at what this rascal is wearing (Zhan Bai was wearing a cloak from the Baotu Manor). He is obviously our enemy. Why talk so much to him! Let finish him off and hurry away!” And he suddenly thrust his long sword into Zhan Bai’s chest!

Zhan Bai felt a sharp pain in his chest even before the long sword had pierced him and he pushed his hands at the sword.

There was a tearing sound as Zhan Bai’s cloak was tore and his chest was bleeding but luckily, it was not too deep and none of his arteries were cut.

The youngest swordsman that had attacked Zhan Bai was surprised. He did not expect that Zhan Bai had so much power in his hands that he could actually use his bare hands to block off his attack (Zhan Bai had used the windforce in his hands to lessen the impact of his thrust). In fact, he almost lost the grip on his long sword.

“Rascal, you do have some ability. How about this?” And the youngest swordsman attack again with a stance called the ‘Weeding the Grass to seek the Snake’ 拨草寻蛇 as the tip of his long sword was imbued with a golden ray of light towards Zhan Bai’s waist.

Zhan Bai used the strong windforce from his palms to deflect as much attack strokes from the him as possible. Then the another two swordsmen began to join in the fray.

Zhan Bai leapt one yard away and muttered. “Outrageous, you want to win me using wolf pack tactics. Farewell, I don’t wish to linger here anymore.” And he turned to walk away…

The three swordsmen came from a prominent swordsman family in Zhenjiang 镇江. Everyone knows about the [Zhenjiang, Fan lineage, Three Heroics]. Although tonight they had set fire to the forbidden ground of the Martial Fraternity, Baotu Manor and create a pandemonium but they did not get much of an advantage. It was because they had led more than twenty to thirty first rate fighters in this raid but most of their best fighters had been killed, seriously injured or surrounded by the fighters of Baotu Manor. Therefore when it was soon daybreak, they knew that they would lose their advantage in the confusion, that was why they had ordered a retreat.

But today, Fan Jie, the Second Brother of the [Three Heroics] when he was fighting with the blind priest earlier had saw his sister being carried away by a young man, he seek the assistance of his Eldest Brother [True Heart Sword] 戳情剑 Fan Jun 樊俊 and Third Brother [Stellar Cloud Sword] 摩云剑 Fan Ying to comb the areas for their sister.

Coincidentally, they had found their sister with Zhan Bai. Because their swiftness movement skills were fast, they were also high skilled in sword techniques, when they had just appeared, they had instantly seal Zhan Bai under their swords. But who would expect that Zhan Bai would manage to escape from under their swords now?

The Fan Clan and the Murong Family used to have very co-ordinal relationships. But because of an incidental that caused Lady Fan to be disgraced and she committed suicide, the two families started to be enemies. Although Master Fan was willing to be forget about this incident and forgo vengeance for his beloved wife but his sons and daughters would never forget about this great hatred that caused their mother to be humiliated and they would always think of avenging for their beloved mother.

Because Master Fan had to leave the manor for the South to settle some matters, the Fan Brothers and sister took this opportunity to lead the top exponents that were their protégés to seek revenge. But they did not expect that not only did they fail in their vendetta, they were also not the match for their enemies and had to beat a hasty retreat.

And now, Zhan Bai who was wearing a cloak that had the insignia of the Baotu Manor, caused the three brothers to be filled with an air of malevolent. But who would expect that a unremarkable young man like him would actually escape from their swords?

Therefore they attacked Zhan Bai again, determined not to let him off.

Although Zhan Bai had cleared all his eight wondrous meridians channels and pulses, if he had the guidance of an expert exponent, in a short time, it was not difficult for him to become an extraordinary expert fighter but now, he had just his powerful internal force and did not know how to make full use of it.

But now he had to face three beaming shadow swords that flashed towards him like a celestial dragons that were now surrounding him now. He instantly felt piercing sword energies all around him, pressuring him.

Suddenly a captivating voice called out. “My three brothers, hold it!…”

Chapter 9: The Soul Destroyer Secret Manual

Zhan Bai used the weirdest eyes to look at Lei Dashu but that did not stop him from ceasing his hilarious laughter.

Lei Dashu laughed mysteriously. “You must be feeling very strange why did I bring you to this place and then suddenly I have left? Issn’t it?

Zhan Bai was startled and nodded his head. Lei Dashu added. “You are also wondering about this cave, issn’t it?”

Once again Zhan Bai was startled and he thought. “How did he know what I am thinking?”

But he did not know that anyone in his situation would surely be thinking about the same thing too.

“The first thing naturally you won’t not be able to guess but the second thing…” He laughed and laughed. “Take a look first, this cave may not look extraordinary. I simply shifted the position of the bed and block off the entrance of the cave. After that I shifted another boulder to block off the cave. In the darkness, naturally you have thought that the entrance of the cave is still in front of the bed but you did not know…” He laughed merrily and then added. “That the entrance of the cave is just besides the bed only.”

Zhan Bai was startled and secretly sighed. “What did I not think of that? Why did this wild old man appears to be talking sense now and so unlike what I have known? Is he pretending to be crazed and wild but…”

Lei Dashu appeared to be very happy just by looking at the bewildered look on Zhan Bai’s face. He then walked over and took the book while smiling.

Only then did Zhan Bai notice that the cover of book was multi-colour.

Lei Dashu said. “The only reason why I bring you here is to discuss about this secret manual. After so many days, I am very sure you must have read this book already, right?”

Zhan Bai nodded.

Lei Dashu added. “I lock you inside this cave so that you can read this manual alone and in the darkness so that you can marvel over the wondrous of this manual. So I wonder now…” Suddenly he had turned solemn and serious.

But when Zhan Bai was angry instead as he thought. “You want me to read and marvel over this wondrous manual but instead you lock me in a place where there is no light for me to read. Heng…what logic is that!” So he interrupted. “I greatly appreciate your intentions, Old Senior but my eyesight have no problems at all. I can still read in a place where there is light. If Old Senior think that I can only read in the darkness, then…heng heng…” He was an outspoken person therefore he would voice out all his anger out, no matter who he was facing. And he could say so without hesitation and would never think of the consequences. Well, that was also the characteristics of a young hero.

Instead of being angry with him, Lei Dashu had a faint smile on his face. Only when Zhan Bai had finished ranting, Lei Dashu sighed deeply and looked at Zhan Bai queerly. “Really, your temperament is exactly the same as him. Alas…” He sighed again.

Lei Dashu tossed the manual to him and said. “An outspoken young man is not a bad thing but you not judge anything lightly whether it is things or people, do you understand?”

Once again, Zhan Bai was startled since he had not understood what Lei Dashu was trying to tell him.

Lei Dashu coldly said. “Open the book and have a look!”

Zhan Bai became curious and he thought. “Is it because this book cannot be look when there is light?” But how could it be? He could still remember all the words that were so real. So he turned the cover of the book and look – He was totally stunned on the spot.

His heart, began to beat in a fast pace, seemingly would jump out any time. He even thought of destroying this secret manual that contained all the epitome knowledge of the Martial Fraternity.

But another strong desire and curiosity caused his eyes to fix upon the book. In that instant, he felt his eyes grew hazy and amorously. And a lustful thought became to overwhelm him and he found himself unable to stand steadily. Even his hands were trembling as he turned another page.

But…

He was given a heavy slap by Lei Dashu and the secret manual was snatched by him.

Only then did his mind become clear. But when he thought what had happened to him earlier, his cheeks started to become red hot.

It was because when he first opened the multi-colour cover, although there were some words on the book but the entire page was filled with the drawings of an extremely beautiful maiden in various glamorous poses that had nothing on her. And the pictures were all so real life and in colours. Her poses were all so moving, detailed and so revealing that even if it was a steel hearted or idiot man that would to look at the drawings, they would be bound to be moved by it. Moreover Zhan Bai was just flesh and blood. He was a hot blood young man and had never seen such drawings before. What more, there was something mysterious about the maiden various poses too that had caught his attention.

Although he had calmed himself down now but his heart was still beating very rapidly.

Lei Dashu laughed aloud for awhile and said. “Although you cannot see in the darkness but it is better than seeing it, right!”

Zhan Bai darted his eyes, feeling very guilty.

But Lei Dashu smiled and patted him on his shoulder and said in a friendly manner. “But you do not need to be so upset about it. This ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ 锁骨销魂天佛卷 since ancient times till now, had destroyed the heroic spirits of many heroes. As you are still young, what does it matter to you?” He seemed to be encouraging Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai was grateful to him. Instead of getting a reproach from losing his willpower, he got an encouragement. So he muttered. “Old Senior…I, Junior…is still young and lacking in experience. I hope that Old Senior you will not take it to heart.”

One must know that Zhan Bai had an unyielding character. If someone were to bully him and wanted him to lower his head to apologize, it was something he would never do. But if someone were to accord him with kindness, he would feel guilty and would say anything out.

Lei Dashu smiled and said. “This ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ is a most wondrous book in the world. As you are young, you may not have heard of it before but…even if you were the same age as me, you may not have heard of this book either. I spent lots of efforts and tried a million ways before I could finally obtain this book. But I was almost driven to deviation phenomenon by it.” 走火人魔

Then he stopped for awhile before he handed the book to Zhan Bai once again. “Take another look, this is not the only intrinsic wonder about the book.”

But Zhan Bai lowered his head and eyes, he did not dare to look at the book again.

Lei Dashu smiled and then opened the book to its first page, covering most of the page with his hand and said. “Take a look at the words on this book first.”

Although Zhan Bai had decided that he would never look at the book again but he knew that Lei Dashu had a purpose so his eyelids just opened slightly. He was totally shocked because the bold words that were on the book were. “A beautiful woman must have charm, have affections, be interesting, be spirited…the lips must be like the glory of the sun and body to be as seductive as the wind…” He lifted his glances and did not dare to look anymore. He was greatly startled and he muttered. “I remember the first few lines of the book are not like this! How did it become…”

Lei Dashu furrowed deeply and then he was suddenly delightful. “Come, feel it again with your eyes closed.”

Zhan Bai closed his eyes and began to feel the page. It was still the first thirteen characters that he had known so well. He grasped. “What is going on here?”

Now Lei Dashu was laughing and he seemed extremely happy. “At first I am afraid that even when you found this book in the darkness, you would not be able to find the secrets behind the book. I didn’t expect that you can actually feel the words that are hidden in the book.”

Zhan Bai added. “Junior have completely memorized all the words that are in this book…”

Lei Dashu furrowed with his eyes and hurriedly asked. “Then do you know the hidden meanings of the book?”

Zhan Bai sighed. “Junior is not gifted therefore I may not be able to grasp fully. But after spending so many days on it, I have grasped it more or less. I still need some pointers from Old Senior.”

Lei Dashu suddenly closed his eyes and sighed. Slowly he said. “It seem like it is all predestined and cannot be forced. Alas…at least my efforts for you are not wasted at all.” He opened his eyes and began to sit on the stone bed. Then he said. “If you have really understand the meaning of this marvelous book, as long as you work hard in future research, it won’t be too long that even I am no longer your match.”

Zhan Bai could not resist asking. “Since this book is obviously an orthodox Inner Martial Arts, why did it have such an improper name? Furthermore, it is obvious that the author of this book wanted to pass on his martial arts to future generations. Then why did he have to draw such obscene pictures inside the book? It is deliberately leading others to sin.” And his pitch was slowly getting higher. “The Inner Martial Arts of such a person, I doubt it is really an accepted orthodox training method, it is alright if Junior I, did not learn such skills.”

One must know that he had an unyielding character and he followed the doctrines of his parents faithfully, thus he was a true gentleman. That was why he had spoken frankly what he had thought.

Lei Dashu smiled and said. “Although the book has a great deal of nefarious contents in it but the divine skills that are in this book are no doubt the most highly guarded secrets of the Orthodox Clans in the Martial Fraternity. Moreover, the way this book is, is still more or less acceptable.”

Zhan Bai coldly hummed.

Lei Dashu added. “Not many people know of the history of this book. But all in all, this book has a history of 270 years and it once belong to a highly regarded man in the Martial Fraternity known as the Lord of the Only Eye.” 只眼郎君

Zhan Bai could not resist asking. “That Lord of the Only Eye, what sort of person is he? He has only one eye?” He was after all still young and what he felt strange about something, he would ask instead of keeping it in his heart.

Lei Dashu smiled. “Although the Lord of the Only Eye named himself ‘Only Eye’ but it well possibly meant that he had a unique way of discerning the good and evil in a person. He could look at a person and instantly know if he is good or evil, subsequently many hypocrites who pretended to be good in the Martial Fraternity were exposed by him. This Senior was not only highly skilled but he was also a hero of his times, it a pity that I was not there to witness his glory.”

Zhan Bai furrowed deeply. “Then why did such a person want to create a book that would harm the others? From what I can see, he is also a hypocrite (Some one who pretended to be a gentleman) as well!”

Lei Dashu laughed. “A person shouldn’t judge too fast if he is not certain, moreover I afraid that he is now ashes now and could not have possible rose from the coffin to argue in his defense. What he did is good or evil, everyone will have different views on it but this secret manual that he had left behind, is not a book that is considered harmful.”

Zhan Bai furrowed with his eyes because he was not totally convinced by his arguments, so he could not resist protesting. “So Old Senior, you have said earlier that this book caused a great deal of heroes to lose their heroic spirits, so how could it not be considered to be a harmful book?”

Lei Dashu laughed. “I didn’t expect that you are so young yet you are so stubborn. Even if you want to be stubborn, you must stubbornly choose to do good. Only those that are stubborn and do good, are considered to be a true gentleman.” He ceased his laughs and said. “According to legends, that Lord of the Only Eye did not have one eye but instead he was also a very handsome and charming man. He could be considered the number one most beautiful man in the Pugilistic Realm. Although he was entangled by many mortal love and relationships throughout his life but he had a heart like iron therefore he was never tempted.”

Zhan Bai hummed and thought. “A person that have a heart of iron is surely a heartless man. If a man is heartless, surely he is not a good person.” He was now prejudiced against that Lord of the Only Eye and was not impressed by him. Only when he saw that Lei Dashu was so impressed by that Lord of the Only Eye that he did not say it aloud.

Lei Dashu said. “When this Senior first took his place in the Pugilistic Fraternity, although his martial skills were high but he had not reached the point of acme yet. And those people that he had exposed with their wiles, naturally hated him very much. But as he was a very amicable person, there were also many highly regarded men in the Martial Fraternity that befriended him and accorded him with esteemed prestige. Therefore his enemies could only hate him in the dark and could do nothing to him.”

“But his enemies thought hard and long, even using a million methods to entice and trap him. As soon as he committed a single mistake, they would use that as an excuse to get rid of him. But who would expect…haha.” Lei Dashu laughed for a while before adding. “But who would expect that his heart was really as solid and firm as gold, they would use power and influences to entice him, even beauties to seduce him but he remained unmoved therefore he did not fall into any traps.”

Although Zhan Bai was not impressed by the Lord of the Only Eye, he was secretly praising his solid willpower. “If he is such a person, then he is indeed a worthy and real man.”

Lei Dashu added. “One day, he finally penetrated and grasped all the deepest knowledge of the Inner Martial Arts, thereby he searched for a secret place to research the upper epitome of all the marvelous Inner Martial techniques. Although he had made all necessary precautions but he did not guard against his best friend, who because of jealousy betrayed his training place. Therefore once the news spread, all the most malicious dark forces were on the move. They intended to interrupt him while he was training. Among all the malicious dark forces, the most terrible and most powerful, was said to be an Enchantress that was as beautiful as a heavenly fairy. She actually exhibited her Glamorous Soul Seduction Skill 姹女迷魂大法 and before he could reach the acme point of his supreme Inner Martial Art, she caused his heart to move.”

Lei Dashu paused for a long while in regrets.

Zhan Bai sighed too, feeling pity for him. “What a pity.”

Lei Dashu added again. “If one fail in his attempt to go for a breakthrough in Inner Martial Arts, he can attempt some other days but alas…”

One must know that although the True Way could be high and mighty but the Dark Force was even higher. 道高一尺，魔高一丈 The more a person pushed his internal force to a greater height, the dark force within would be harder and harder to resist. Especially when he was trying to clear his life and death channels 生死玄关 and had thrown all his everything, staking his very life upon it. Failure to succeed may well possible lead to deviation phenomenon or even losing his very life.

“Therefore this highly regarded man of his times at the most crucial period of his life, had his thoughts disturbed and was afflicted by deviation phenomenon. If not for the fact that Steel Hearted Priest 铁心道长, Chief Leader from the Orthodox Sect of Wudang 武当玄门 and ‘Bitter Water Saint’ 苦水上人, Abbot Leader of the Shaolin Monastic Order 少林佛门 when they had heard of such a vile happening, angrily rushed down from their recluse retreats and use their clans most ultimate supreme orthodox energy infusion methods to save him. Or else he would surely be afflicted by deviation phenomenon and became a vegetation state forever.”

Zhan Bai sighed and wiped his cold sweat from his head, shook his head and said. “What a close call!”

Lei Dashu added. “Alas! But from that point onward, that highly regarded man of the Martial Fraternity although he had penetrated and grasped an understanding of all the most marvelous and mysterious all the Inner Martial Arts 内家绝顶奥妙, but because he had injured his body and he forever could not have the chance to breakthrough to the very last level of his internal force. Therefore he could only live in regrets forever. He did not want to sunder the secrets of his knowledge to the grave but he did not want anyone to effortlessly obtain his secrets as well. Therefore he spent a great deal of effort to create such a wondrous book and buried all his knowledge and secrets inside. Next he announced to the entire Pugilistic Fraternity that such a secret manual existed but if a person’s willpower is not firm enough, they must never never attempt to…” He looked at Zhan Bai and asked. “So how could you say he is wrong to do so?”

Zhan Bai lowered his head.

Lei Dashu said. “This Senior as he knew that his martial progressions would never again proceed to the next level, began to immense himself in poem and paintings. He was really a very talented man and was gifted in a hundred areas. He even became the greatest painter in the world. According, the pictures on the book was not only what he had personally experienced and the person on it, was actually the Enchantress that had once destroyed him.”

Lei Dashu patted on the book and added. “Did you notice that the maiden that you have saw although she is in various poses but her face is always the same? Alas…this enchantress is really the most desirable woman in the world. If the drawings were real, then all the more, she would disrupt our thoughts and willpower. It is no wonder that the Lord of the Only Eye…” He sighed deeply and fell into silence.
Zhan Bai was silence too after hearing the story of the Lord of the Only Eye. He began to think. “Disrupt our thoughts and willpower if the drawings were real…alas! Not only was this Lord of the Only Eye a wondrous person, I think that this Enchantress was too.”

Both of them were silence for a long time as they were thinking of the Lord of the Only Eye and the Enchantress…

Finally Zhan Bai broke the silence and he asked. “What happens to this book thereafter? And how did Senior you manage to get this book?”

Lei Dashu calmed himself down to reply. “Although that Lord of the Only Eye had warned them but when everyone in the Martial Fraternity had heard of such a Inner Martial Secret Manual, who would not be moved by temptations? Not even half a year had passed, everyone had gathered at the Mount Luofu 罗浮山 . Everyone wanted to lay their hands on this secret manual. In a twinkle of an eye, after every rook and pebble had been thoroughly searched, this secret manual was found by two protégés of the Fahua Southern Orthodox 武林正宗 Clan.”

Zhan Bai furrowed deeply and added. “Those that were also searching for the secret manual and those that were disappointed, would they let them take the secret manual peacefully away! And…when they saw this…multi colour book that looked like almost a porno book, how would they know it is the Inner Martial Arts of the Lord of the Only Eye?”

Lei Dashu smiled and said. “Actually I have heard it from others too. The actual events, I do not know too. I only know that the two protégés of the Fahua Southern Orthodox were very good fighters…” Suddenly he sighed. “You must know that all the top pugilist fighters of the Martial Fraternity after they had gathered at Mount Luofu, they had undergo a series of open fights and underhand means. The number of people that were killed was numerous. Since these two protégés of the Fahua Southern Orthodox were able to survive the elimination of the weak by the strong, their martial abilities must be exceptional, their cunning would have to be far exceeding that of others too.”

Zhan Bai nodded his head several times and said. “Indeed!” Then he had a jolt when he saw Lei Dashu and he thought. “He is original a very smart person but why did he have to behave and dressed like a wild man? Alas! I think he must be hiding an extraordinary past, I must remember to ask him the next time!”

Lei Dashu said. “After this ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ was found by them, it was said that the book was inside a fragrance wooden chest and on the chest were the words ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ hence its name. Without changing their countenance after discovering this secret manual, they opened the chest and substitute a Taiji Quanfa Intricate Formula 极拳法诀要 inside. After that they began to follow the others to continue the search as though nothing had ever happened. Naturally others would not know.”

Zhan Bai secretly sighed and he said. “This two men are really so cunning and have thought of everything. But didn’t their expressions betrayed them not a least?”

Lei Dashu sighed and said. “All these pugilist heroes, they were not to be belittled. They had never left even a stone unturned so how could it be possible that others not tell from their expressions! But for the moment they would only suspect.”

Zhan Bai sighed. “I only know that the Fahua Southern Orthodox was a Orthodox Clan in the Martial Fraternity but I would never have guessed that they would have such a disciples.”

Lei Dashu laughed weakly. “Not to mention the Fahua Orthodox, even Wudang, Shaolin had such people too.”

Zhan Bai sighed at that.

Lei Dashu added. “Those who had gone up Mount Luofu to search for the secret manual, only tens of them were left. Most were either killed or leave in disappointed after a year of searching. Of course, the two protégés of the Fahua Southern Orthodox were two of the survivors. Several days had passed, in the middle of the night when everyone was trying to light a fire to keep themselves warm from the chilling cold of the mountains. Suddenly everyone heard a hilarious laughter coming from afar. Startled, everyone rushed to the place where the direction of the hilarious laughter was coming from. What they saw instead was the naked body of one of the protégés of the Fahua Southern Orthodox rolling on the ground. And in his hands, he was holding this wondrous book.”

Zhan Bai was trembling now and unwittingly grasped.

Lei Dashu sighed deeply and said. “It was because the man was tasked with keeping the wondrous book and after a few days had passed, he could not resist taking a peek for he thought that it was now the dark recess of the night so what did it really matter if he just took a few looks? Therefore when everyone were distracted, he ran to the wilderness, borrowed the light from nature and began to look into the book. Alas…If he did not take a peek, it would be good but when he did, his heart paced rapidly, his face was overcame with lust and his primeval will take over control of him. He used to be a bandit before he had joined the Fahua Southern Orthodox therefore his internal force cultivation was not pure enough. Moreover in his earlier days, he had many relationships with women, after suffering one year at Mount Luofu and suppressing his urges for just as long, he lost control after reading the book. In fact, he became crazy.”

Zhan Bai was jolted and he interrupted. “The drawings on the book really have such a enchanting power?”

Lei Dashu sighed. “You do not know the marvelous part of the book yet. According, the drawings were based on the poses when that Enchantress used the Glamorous Soul Seduction Skill. And the poem inside the book…alas! Just think why the name is named the Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer, because it have the power to bind your bones and destroy your soul.”

He paused for a while before saying. “The another protégé of the Fahua Southern Orthodox upon seeing this appalling scene, was greatly startled. In panicky, he did not seem to care about the life and death of his protégé, instead the first thing that he did was to snatch away this book. But this action aroused the suspicious of everyone and they joined hands to deal with these two men from the Fahua Southern Orthodox first. They even made an agreement not to flip the pages of this book first. They thought of many ways to torture these two men into confession. Unable to bear with the torture, they revealed what they had known.”

Zhan Bai sighed and added. “It seemed that they were unlikely to have escaped now!”

Lei Dashu sighed. “Not only did they come to harm but they died terribly too. The minute they confessed that it was the secret manual, everyone was startled and confused. Five men that were standing in the most front rows were instantly killed by the men in the back. And the rest began to fight among themselves regardless of friends and foes. There was a man named the ‘Spirit Fox with Five Claws’ 五爪灵狐 who was the canniest of them all. He knew his martial abilities were weaker so he sneaked away first. But he did not gone far at all, instead he hid himself in the darkness to peek, waiting for all the top exponent fighters to kill one another first. At last, only a Kongtong 崆峒 disciple was left and he was very highly skilled. He laughed hilariously as he picked the book. But before he could finish laughing, the Spirit Fox with Five Claws had sneaked behind his back and stabbed him. Now there was another hilarious laughter, this time by the Spirit Fox with Five Claws.”

Lei Dashu suddenly noticed that Zhan Bai was trembling.

Indeed, Zhan Bai was not only trembling but his limbs had grown cold. Ever since he had started to roam the Pugilist, he had never expected that the Pugilistic Fraternity would be naught with so much cruel feuds and so many viciously cruel people! So he had felt unspeakable anger rising from him. So he could no longer bear it any longer and snatched the wondrous book from Lei Dashu and intending to tear it.

Prologue Seven
Twenty years or so ago, a man stirred up a turmoil in the Martial Fraternity because he found the Record of the Secret Knowledge of Martial 武学秘录...The skills recorded in the manual were even more marvelous than all the major orthodox sects combined...

Chapter 10: Murong Hong

“Wait a minute!” Lei Dashu shouted in a hurry to stop Zhan Bai.

Just when Zhan Bai was about to tear the book, he saw a dark figure at the entrance of the cave and he was jolted. For the black figure was swaying charmingly with her slim body, her long hair was flying along with the wind, it was undeniable a beautiful sight to behold. And her face was covered with a black veil but her beautiful hands were white as jade, she was that mysterious maiden that was dressed in black whom had saved him from Young Master Lingfeng!

When Lei Dashu saw this mysterious maiden in black, his expressions shown a none too pleased a look. He furrowed deeply and asked. “What is the matter?”

Covered by her black veil, the maiden in black with her watery captivating eyes turned to look at Zhan Bai briefly before she said coldly to Lei Dashu. “Little brother and little sis are fighting now.”

“Why did you not care about it?” Lei Dashu asked in concern.

“There is nothing I can do!” The maiden in black replied as coldly as ever.

“Heng!” Lei Dashu hummed, he sounded like he did not believe it. Then he asked. “What about your mother?”

“He doesn’t want to listen to mother as well!” She replied.

“What about your father and others?! This is your family matter, why did you want me to go and settle it?” Lei Dashu was getting impatient with her.

“All others can do nothing about it!”

Zhan Bai who was standing nearby, was feeling strange. From Lei Dashu’s expressions, he was obviously very startled and worried but he talked like he did not care. And the maiden in black sounded so icy cold like she did not care. Moreover she was talking about her own brother and sister! But she was asking Lei Dashu for help.

Zhan Bai was worried for WanEr, that innocence and naïve young girl. Was she fighting with her brother because of him?

“I go take a look.” Lei Dashu finally said. It was obvious that he was after all still concerned about WanEr. He turned his heard around and intonation with his head to him. “Wait at this very place for me!”

His meaning was very clear to Zhan Bai, he wanted Zhan Bai to keep the Bones Binding, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual carefully. And Lei Dashu sprang out of the cave in a hurry!

However the maiden in black did not leave with Lei Dashu. Instead she was still standing at the entrance of the cave, looking at Zhan Bai with her watery captivating eyes that were like the Spring Mountains. She looked so beautiful, captivating and enticing with the light of the sun shining behind her back!

“Maiden, please take a seat inside…” When Zhan Bai noticed that the maiden was looking at him with her beautiful affectionate eyes, his spirit and usual composure had already dispersed. He wanted to say a few courtesy words but now he realized that only he was alone with this maiden, so how could he have invited an unmarried maiden inside the cave to sit with him?

So when he had thought of that, he started to rub his nose to ponder. But the hand that was rubbing his nose was holding that ‘Bones Binding Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’.

That maiden in black suddenly saw that he was holding a multi colour book so she asked. “What is the book that you are holding to? Can I have a look?”

Zhan Bai was greatly startled by her request. How could he show her all the drawings that were on this book? Definitely not! Especially she was only a young maiden. Therefore he hurriedly tried to toss the book into his clothing and stammering in a hurry. “Nothing…there is nothing!”

“What are you hiding?” She blinked at Zhan Bai. “I only want to take a look and I have no intention to take it. You stingy meanie!”

“This…this…maiden you cannot…look…”

Zhan Bai had always been a proud person. After ten years or more of wandering, he had suffered all the cold treatments. Therefore he was most afraid of letting others looking down on him. And the words of this young maiden had wounded his heart greatly. If it were other things, he would definitely show it to this maiden even if it mean losing his very life. But no matter what, he did not have the courage to show this book to an innocent young maiden.

“Heng!” She raised her head up to hum and she became even colder. “I have never beg anyone before. I didn’t expect that the first time I have to beg, I would have hit a nail. I have saved your life once before, just this alone, you should have let me take a look no matter what!”

As she said, she had walked to Zhan Bai and extended out her beautiful hand to say coldly. “Surrender it!”

When Zhan Bai sniffed her wonderful fragrance as she extended out her hand and saw her beautiful watery eyes looking at him, he started to feel hapless and lost. He started to move slowly backward and muttered. “Maiden…really cannot allow you to take a look…”

When the young maiden saw that Zhan Bai really did not give her any face, she started to lift her body up with the force of her leg. At the same time, she had two fingers from her left hand ready to poke Zhan Bai’s eyes with a stance ‘Stealing Peaches from under the Leaf’ 叶底偷桃 while her right hand was focusing on snatching the book from Zhan Bai’s hand.

When Zhan Bai suddenly saw the young maiden attacking him, he began to react with a natural reflex by flunking the book continuously on her, to force her to retreat. Because he had been playing with his fingers as he mapped out the secret manual and that under a situation where there were no strokes, coupling with the tremendous increase of his internal power, his natural reflex became explosive fast. Therefore the young maiden was forced to retreat and withdrawn her stances. Now she was the one looking stunned at him.

But she soon recovered from her startled expression and after all, the young maiden martial abilities were several notches much higher than Zhan Bai, so using a feint, she successfully snatched the ‘The Sacred Manual’ 天佛卷 from him. Next she sprang to the outside of the cave and muttered. “I would really like to see what kind of book is this? What makes it so valuable that you did not even want to show it to me!…” As she said, she began to open the book.

“Maiden! You cannot look!” Zhan Bai shouted in great anxiety and hurry outside as he sprang out of the cave to snatch the book!

When the young maiden opened the ‘Sacred Manual’ and took an eye into it, her whole face turned red and she said in a low voice. “Oh mine! What a dirty book! Take it back!” And then she turned around, preparing to throw the book back into the cave.

The young maiden had turned very fast indeed but so was Zhan Bai when he rushed out of the cave. Therefore they knocked into one another’s embrace with both grasping. “Aiya!”

When the young maiden in black was in the embrace of Zhan Bai, her chest became numbed and her entire body softened. This was something that she had never done before in her entire life. As a chaste maiden, to be knocked into the embrace of a man, although it was not painful but it caused her to be so startled and embarrassed. Unwittingly, her heart began to pound very fast. In that instant, her face was all pinkish red and she was too shocked to say anything…

When Zhan Bai knocked himself into the embrace of this young maiden, he could feel it was so sweet and warm, an experience that he had never encountered before that caused him to lose his very senses and think wry. Immediately he took his three steps back and lifted his head and saw that she was looking at him with her bright watery eyes but her face was red with anger. (That what he had thought) “Ah! So sorry!” Zhan Bai was like a big child that had no evil intentions or thoughts. When he had knocked into another, he would immediately apologize. He joined his hands together and hurriedly apologized at the same time picked up the Bones Binding Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual and tucked it into his clothing.

Suddenly there was an eerie laughter that startled Zhan Bai that he turned his face around to look.

What Zhan Bai had saw startled him even more. Beyond the cave, on the grass patch, stood tens of people and he did not even know when they had arrived!

The one that was leading them was a Young Master Lingfeng! And behind him were eight men with big blades that were looking at him hatefully.

Among the eight men, three to four of them looked awfully familiar to him. It was Chen Qing and Chen Ping that were with the beautiful lady when they had tried to harm him. And some were those that tried to carry him off when he was lying on the bed seriously sick and wounded.

A priest stood on Young Lingfeng right side and there were another two on his left. All four of them had air of aura indicating that they were not to be trifled lightly. And their eyes were so bright, telling Zhan Bai that their martial skills were very high as well. Only the priest’s eyes were closed while the rest were staring at him like swords.

Zhan Bai was too startled to say anything, therefore he could only take a look at this and that of each of them.

“Heng!” The young maiden in black hummed in a low voice and then she coldly said. “After you have bullied your little sister, you have come to look for your older sister now!”

Young Master Lingfeng furrowed faintly and ignored her. Instead he said coldly to Zhan Bai. “I suppose you have recovered from your sickness now?”

“All thanks to you that my sickness has been recovered.” Zhan Bai did not know why Young Master Lingfeng had come, therefore he just replied him.

“What funeral arrangements do you wish to hand over?” Young Master Lingfeng smiled.

“…” Zhan Bai was too speechless to reply him.

“Are you pretending to be a fool or are you afraid?” He stared at Zhan Bai and said. “Don’t you remember what you have told me in my room? A real man need not fear death.”

Now Zhan Bai was mad because the tone of Young Master Lingfeng was stepping on his toes. “I am not afraid of anything before but I don’t know what you meant?”

“Hahaha!…” Young Master Lingfeng simply laughed hilariously. His laughs were earth shattering and piercing. It was obvious he had powerful internal force.

A middle age arrogant man walked two steps in front and said. “Ignorant rascal, how dare you talk with such disrespect to our Young Master. Are you tired of living already!”

When Zhan Bai looked at this middle age man in the eyes, he already knew he was not his match. But he secretly prepared to be on his guard and preparing to fight with his very life for it was his stubborn nature not to submit even if he would to die.

But before the middle age man could lift his fingers, Chen Qing and Chen Ping stepped forward and bowed with their hands together to Young Master Lingfeng. “Master, let us capture this man for you!”

Zhan Bai was feeling indignant now for even the servants looked down on him…

Young Master Lingfeng lowered his head and looked at them for awhile and then coldly added. “I want him alive and not dead!”

Just this sentence alone caused Zhan Bai’s blood to boil…

Chen Ping and Chen Qing bowed with their hands together to their Young Master and the middle age man before saying. “Just this nameless nobody, there is no need for our Second Master to lift your hands. Let your humble servants capture him for you!”

“Hahaha!” The middle age man roared in laughter. “One is enough, there is no need for two to capture him!”

When Zhan Bai heard it, he was all the more hopping mad now and thought. “Everyone in front of me look down on me. Although I know I am not their match but at least I will take one or two down…”

When Chen Qing and Chen Ping heard what the middle age man had said, they really feel shy about taking Zhan Bai together. Therefore Chen Qing said. “Then, let me have a go.” And he drawn out his sabre and pointed it at Zhan Bai. “Draw your weapon!”

When Zhan Bai remembered how he got thrashed, beaten up by these servants and hacked by them, he became even more angrier. So he ‘hehe’ and said. “Fighting with you servant, I do not need any weapons! I will use my bare fists then!”

Actually Zhan Bai heirloom sword ‘The Heartless Precious Sword’ had been lost in the hands of Young Master Anle. Even if he wanted to draw a weapon, he had no weapon. But when he saw Chen Qing treated with him contempt, so he used the ‘Peerless Spear to fight the Peerless Shield’ stratagem. Since Chen Qing was so outrageous and arrogant, he had to be even more outrageous and arrogant than him!

From the words of Zhan Bai, everyone in the crowd had their expressions changed. Of course Chen Qing all the more could not resist shouting. “What an arrogant rascal! Watch my sabre!”

That day in the woods, Chen Qing had a taste of Zhan Bai fists and hand martial techniques. But that was three versus one. Although he wanted to be as arrogant as Zhan Bai and threw his weapon away to engage him in a bare hands fight but he dare not. So he thought. “Let me slash him one or two times to smoothen the fire of my heart…”

“Stop!”

Before Chen Qing could hack Zhan Bai, the young maiden in black had interrupted with a captivating grasp. “Chen Qing, aren’t you disgraceful? You actually use a weapon to fight with a bare handed person!”

Chen Qing flustered with embarrassment. He held his sabre and stood on the same spot, not knowing what to do…

“This matter has nothing to do with you!” Young Master Lingfeng furrowed with his eyes and said. “You actually have the audacity to be alone with this stranger. The fact that I did not pinpoint what you did, is already enough and you still want to interrupt by the side. Don’t you know what is shame?”

The young maiden in black was actually trembling in anger now. How could such a cold demeanor maiden be moved to such anger and was actually speechless now. She pointed her beautiful fingers at Young Master Lingfeng. “You…you…” But for quite a while, she could not say anything.

“Chen Qing! Hurry and continue the fight!” Commanded Young Master Lingfeng and ignoring his sister.

Chen Qing raised his sabre to hack at the head of Zhan Bai.

But Zhan Bai was ready and plunged forward with his hand using the most direct form of attack ‘Splitting Huashan’ 力劈华山 and hit Chen Qing directly on his chest.

There was a loud cranking sound as though Chen Qing had been landed with a thousand weight force that sent him flying back three yard away! And he died on the spot! And his sabre flew even further away…

Everyone was slightly stunned.

Then there was a shout as Chen Ping grieved by the death of his brother charged at Zhan Bai. Moreover it was such a demeaning humiliation to be defeated by a nameless nobody such as Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai reacted by hitting him on his face with his right hand with a stance ‘Hitting the Golden Bell’ 倒打金钟 . Chen Ping instantly collapsed with blood sputtered on his seven senses in his face.

Although Chen Qing and Chen Ping were just guards in the Murong residence, their martial skills were not weak. Even a first rated fighter in the Martial Fraternity would find it near impossible to defeat them within two or three strokes. But now when Zhan Bai attacked, he had instantly killed the two men with just a single stance. Therefore all the highly martial skill experts that were presented here when they witnessed such a feat that was out of their expectations, were all startled and their expressions changed.

Everyone was thinking. “Such an unremarkable lad would actually have such astonishing display!”

Not to mention the others, even Zhan Bai himself was stunned. He thought. “A few days ago at the woods, I am not their match. How come today, they would become so weak now that I can kill them with only a blow?”

One must know that the Sacred Manual was the most wondrous book in the world. All the divine skills contained within it were the most closely guarded secrets in the Martial Fraternity that was long lost or that it was deemed too dangerous to pass. 不传之秘 And now his internal force had tremendous increased and he even used all his strength, so how then could Chen Qing and Chen Ping resisted it?

Master Lingfeng countenance had changed by now, especially when he had witnessed how Zhan Bai had killed his two henchmen…

“Hahaha…” The arrogance middle age suddenly laughed aloud and his voice was loud and trembling to the ears. Till he had stopped, his laughter was still echoing back. One could know that this man internal power level had already reached the divinity state of as pure as a raging fire. 炉火纯青之境

“Little rascal!” The middle age man laughed again as he stared at Zhan Bai. “In front of Young Master, you actually killed two members of the Murong residence. You are indeed arrogant enough! What guts too!”

“Who matter who it is!…” Zhan Bai was feeling quite guilty for he did not knew that he had dealt such a heavy blow. But what he felt more stronger now, was the sense of humiliation and indignant. He knew that he had now committed a hate situation, since it was a no-win situation for him so he decided to throw his life out and he said. “…You can settle the score with me, my life is here for the takers!”

“What arrogance little rascal!” The man stared at him with explosive looks and said solemnly. “Do you know I am?”

Zhan Bai said. “Forgive me for my blindness. I do not know who are you!”

“[Ultra Boastful Scholar]” 天涯狂生 the man thundered. “Do you know now? [Ultra Boastful Scholar] Zhao Jiuzhou 赵九州 is me, I am [Ultra Boastful Scholar] Zhao Jiuzhou! Just three strokes! I need only three strokes to slay you!”

“What if after three strokes thereafter, I am not dead?” Zhan Bai interrupted. He knew that he was obviously not his match because this Zhao Jiuzhou martial abilities really won him by too many notches and his instincts were warning him now. However, he refused to bow to weakness and he was denying it now stubbornly.

But how could he not know the name of [Ultra Boastful Scholar]? He had heard of his legendary exploits and deeds too many a times. Everyone in the Pugilist had heard of him and his exploits and deeds were even integrated into songs and lyrics.

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] was borne as a protégé of the Changbai Clan 长白门, he learnt all he could in three years and he could even defeat all the top exponents in the Changbai Clan. Even his Mentor Teacher was not his match. After that he seemed to think Changbai Clan had nothing to teach of him and there was nothing worthy left for him to learn, therefore he left the mountain without permission and announced to the Pugilistic Fraternity, if anyone could defeat him, he would bow to him as his Mentor. Because he was highly gifted, no matter what clans and sects martial techniques, if he happened to see, he would never forget about it, in fact he could be even thought of a way to counter it instantly. 举一反三

That was why after three to five years later, the number of exponents that could still be his match were fewer than few. But no one could defeat him. After that he went on his own to Songshan 嵩山, to the Shaoshi Peak 少室蜂 to challenge the Shaolin most renowned formation in the Pugilistic Fraternity, ‘Luohan Formation’ 罗汉阵. After that he went on his own to duel with the Wudang Sect top three exponents ‘The three Scions of Wudang’ 武当三子 and he could even escape unscathed. Therefore the name of [Ultra Boastful Scholar] began to vibrate throughout the entire Martial Fraternity.

But after that for unknown reasons, [Ultra Boastful Scholar] disappeared from the Pugilist. Who would expect that he would appear here and actually became a protégé guest in the Murong residence, ‘Baotu Manor’ 豹突山庄

But judging from the characteristics of [Ultra Boastful Scholar], he had never been impressed by anyone before and now he was so courtesy to Young Master Lingfeng. It was very strange indeed!…

“If you can still live after three strokes,” Zhao Jiuzhou said. “I will give the title of [Ultra Boastful Scholar] to you. Little rascal, prepare to die now!”

“I have long been prepared!” Because the arrogance of Zhao Jiuzhou incited him greatly, he was offended and replied sarcastically.

“Prepare to take the first stroke!”

Even before Zhao Jiuzhou had finish uttering ‘stroke’ he had lifted himself up and somersault like a dolphin straight towards Zhan Bai’s San Yang 三阳, Fen Shui 分水 accupoint points on his chest!

Zhan Bai was greatly startled for he had never seen this stance ever before in his life, much less heard of it! Because he did not know what manner of a stance and stroke was this or a method to counter it, he decided to use the ‘Horse Spanning the Golden Mountain’ 跨马金山 swiftness movement skills to evade!

What an coincidentally, just when he had turned his body to evade, he tripped on a pebble and he lost his balance to fell with a ‘Ai’ sound…

“The second stroke.”

Zhan Bai was still on the ground when Zhao Jiuzhou had displayed the second stroke. This second stroke of his was even more ingenious and unique. He flew towards Zhan Bai like an arrow, and used his legs to kick against the ground as momentum towards him. His legs moved so fast that he could scarcely saw Zhao Jiuzhou tip of his shoes touching the ground, much like he was treading on water as he pushed out his hands against him.

Zhan Bai was panicky now and he did not know what to do and he tried to run but he lost his balance again and slipped all the way to the side, thus he evaded the blow once more. He was really very lucky for although [Ultra Boastful Scholar] had missed him but the windforce of his hands were even more powerful than a sword and a small pine tree five feet away was bend over by the force of his windforce!

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] was not a person that gave empty promises. His first two strokes were not only ingenious but swift and formidable too. Putting Zhan Bai aside, even it was the top most powerful exponents 一流的顶尖高手 would find it most difficult to evade it.

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] blows were really ingenious and marvelous. He had already calculated where Zhan Bai could evade. And the second stroke was a finishing blow at the only possible point where Zhan Bai could evade should he have the genius to know where to evade. And he had used the second stroke without pausing. Therefore when Zhan Bai fell in an awkward position, he not only evade the first stroke but also the second stroke as well. For the second stroke was even more ingenious at point blank.

So when [Ultra Boastful Scholar] saw that Zhan Bai was on the ground, he did not know that Zhan Bai had unintentionally dodged his attack strokes and only thought that he was using a special swiftness movement skills. But on closer inspection after he paused for a while, he saw that Zhan Bai had really fallen down. Therefore he laughed and shouted. “Little Rascal! Stand up first!” And he waved a hand at the fallen Zhan Bai.

Just when he was trying to stand, [Ultra Boastful Scholar] had shouted for him to stand and he could sense a windforce in the air, therefore he thought that the third attack stroke had arrived so he used a swiftness movement skill ‘The Lazy Donkey Rolling’ 懒驴打滚 and he rolled backward for eight feet before he rose up from the ground.

‘Hahaha…” [Ultra Boastful Scholar] laughed hilariously. “Little rascal! Don’t be too tense. I have not yet exhibited my third attack stroke yet!” As he said, he walked to Zhan Bai, all the while staring at Zhan Bai…

The third attack stroke that he was going to use, was to kill another person while he was still laughing before his opponents could gather or concentrate their thoughts on defense, was really vicious and terrifying but also an important fighting factor.

“Heng! Uncle Zhao!” The young maiden in black hurriedly said. “You are after all a prominent figure in the Martial Fraternity. So what you have said, do you honor it or not?”

“Your Uncle Zhao is always a man that keep my word and my words are gold, so how could I not honor my words! If not, why did I stay in your Murong residence for ten years, Maiden Hong, don’t you agree?”

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] took a few more steps toward Zhan Bai even as he was replying to her.

“Then,” she said. “Uncle Zhao you have said that after three strokes you could kill him but now three strokes are finished, why then do you still want to attack him?”

Her big bright captivating eyes were looking at [Ultra Boastful Scholar] and at the same time, looking at Zhan Bai too.

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] was about to attack Zhan Bai when he heard her saying that he had used three attack strokes. Therefore he said solemnly. “It was obviously two attack strokes, everyone here is a witness. So why did you say it is three attack strokes?”

“The first stroke is called ‘Against the flow of the River Jiang’, the second stroke is called the ‘Changing the Course of the River Jiang’. Uncle Zhao, is your niece right to say so?”

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] nodded and said. “Right! What about the third attack stroke then?”

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] was secretly surprised that this young maiden, Murong Hong was so highly gifted that she even knew about his self-created martial art ‘Wind Chaser Wondrous Hand’. But it was obviously that he had used only two strokes and not three. So he thought. “No matter how brilliant you are, you won’t be able to pinpoint my third attack stroke.” Therefore he waited patiently for her to reply.

“The third stroke,” She said rolling her big eyes. “Was when this young man was on the ground, Uncle Zhao you have exhibited the third stroke.

“Heng!” Tianya Kuangsheng coldly hummed. “Your Uncle would never attack a person on the ground. That was just a gesture to ask him to get up so how could it be considered a stroke?”

“The Waves against the Sand!” Murong Hong said. “It was obviously a deadly attack stroke. If it wasn’t for the fact that the young man had dodged fast enough, he would be dead!”

[Ultra Boastful Scholar] was stunned on the spot when she pointed it out!

It was because he really did have such a stroke in his Wind Chaser Wondrous Hand stances. And that wave of his hand really resembled that technique but he did not purposely attack Zhan Bai, if he did, how could Zhan Bai have dodged it while he was still lying on the ground? Although Murong Hong had exposed this attack stroke of his but he could still deny it and continued to exhibit the third attack stroke on Zhan Bai and to kill him.

But [Ultra Boastful Scholar] had long established his name as one of the very top martial exponents so how would he deny his own stances? Moreover he was a haughty and arrogant man!

Therefore he was startled for a while before he shook his had and said solemnly. “Uncle Zhao considers myself to be conceded. But, Maiden Hong, I must make it very clear. Today I concede because of your mouth and not in his hands!”

When he had finished, he turned around and bowed with his hands together to Young Master Lingfeng. “I have stayed at your residence for ten years now and have no contributions whatever so. Therefore today I bide farewell till we meet again!”

When he had said the last four words, he had already sprung away in an instant and had disappeared from view. No one expected him to just leave! Moreover, his swiftness skills were simply too fast that not only Young Master Lingfeng did not have the chance to say anything but the others too!

“Heng!” Young Master Lingfeng hummed and pushed all his resentments upon his sister and said. “You actually caused Second Uncle Zhao to be so upset as to leave. I like to see how you are going to account for our Father!”

Murong Hong lifted her nose up and coldly hummed too. “He leave by his own free will, so what can I do!”

“But you are wasting your efforts!” Young Master Lingfeng said even more coldly. “I am not going to spare him today!” And he started to walk towards Zhan Bai.

“Young Master please hold your hands!” A middle age man who was clothed beautifully said. “Let an old man like me blow a melody tune and invite this young man to appraise it. I wonder if this young man you have the interest and the mood?”

But Zhan Bai gauged that the man was not more than forty so why did he call himself an old man? But he understood that in the Pugilist, the more courtesy a man was, the harder he was to deal with and it not wise to antagonize these types of people. Although he did not know who he was but from his air and his sharp eye, he knew instantly that he was a top martial exponent in the Martial Fraternity. 武林顶尖高手

But Zhan Bai had already decided that no matter who it was, he would never let anyone despise him. Because he was all too clear that to ask for mercy from these merciless pugilist heroes that killed without even blinking their eyes, were hopeless and was a form of humiliation. It was even harder for him to bear than death. Therefore, without even thinking to consider, he had agreed. “No matter what you have up to your sleeves, I’ll accept!”

When Zhan Bai had agreed so fast, Murong Hong furrowed deeply and said. “You silly rascal! Aren’t you finding trouble for yourself? Do you know that this Zhang Shipeng 章士朋 of the Soul Snatching Silver Flute 银萧夺魂 is even harder to antagonize than Tianya Kuangsheng and you even dare to challenge him?”

The Soul Snatching Silver Flute Zhang Shipeng smiled and took out a silver flute and he started to blew on the flute. “Hu…Lu! Hu…Lu!”

He had started playing the first two tunes, which was extremely clear and high pitch!

Then Zhan Bai suddenly became…

All the people from the surrounding started to move backward and used a cloth to cover their ears. And Murong Hong was so anxious that she started to stomp her legs and her heart was secretly crying out. “Oh dear…”

Although the way Zhang Shipeng played the flute was not too loud but it was surprising high pitch and clear. The melody of the flute began to penetrate deeply into the hearts of all the listeners and cause them to have a heart breaking and even their souls would weep 魂销肠断之感, and those who had weaker willpower was now feeling emotional and their tears began to flow.

“Hu Lu! Hu Lu!” And the melody got even sadder. Zhan Bai’s face was full of sorrows now and he was now staring idiocy at a place faraway. His spirit and soul was lost and he had tears on his cheeks now.

Murong Hong knew that the melody from the flute was very deadly therefore she had already focus with all her thoughts to guard against it and had cleared her mind with all thoughts. So she was not affected by the music of the flute. But when she saw Zhan Bai sorrowful look and that he was weeping now, she knew that Zhan Bai was caught unprepared by this musical display. So in great anxiety and haste, she shouted aloud. “Uncle Zhang! It is not fair!”

It was because ‘Meteor Hand’ 摘星手 Murong Han 慕容涵 accorded all the top exponents that were protégés under him with great esteem and respect. Not only did he address them as his brothers but he also wanted his son and daughters to address them as their Uncles. Therefore Murong Hong would address them as her Uncles. Naturally, it was his stratagem to win over their hearts.

The Soul Snatching Silver Flute Zhang Shipeng smiled and stopped playing his flute and said. “Maiden Hong, what other opinion do you have?”

Murong Hong flustered and her cheeks turned rosy. Although she was covered by a veil but from the sides of her cheeks and eyes, she looked terribly flustered now. She kept defending Zhan Bai against her own people that when Zhang Shipeng on the sly hinted her abit, she immediately got his meaning. Especially when Zhang Shipeng kept smiling at her and his eyes were full of hidden meaning.
Now she felt awkward having her feeling revealed. She was usually very composed and would wrap herself in a cold demeanor. She would never lose control of her emotions and feelings this easily. But how did she become so affectionate to this lonely wanderer of a Zhan Bai? Therefore before her usual mannerism underwent a tremendous change. And her cold, noble and haughty air was changed to a shy, flustered mannerism of a young chaste maiden!

Although she was still terribly flustered at the moment but she knew that Zhan Bai was in grave danger now so she cast away all reservations and shyness to say. “Uncle Zhang, you are so famous in the Martial Fraternity so how could you ambush a Junior!”

‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng was greatly startled and he looked none the pleased. “Maiden Hong! Can you care to explain it?”

“Uncle Zhang, your ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ 音魔夺魂箫法 is widely recognized as the most pinnacle epitome technique in the Pugilistic Fraternity. You did not declare it to him and display it out of the moon, by catching him unprepared, issn’t it equal to ambushing him?”

“Who say I did not declare it?” He was indignant that she had coined his attack as an ambush. Therefore he was really angry now. He sunk his face and said solemnly. “I have invited him to appraise my flute skills and he has personally agreed. More than ten eyes and ears are my witnesses. So how can you say I did not declare it? Heng! It is really so outrageous!”

“But,” Murong Hong was a most quick thinking person and have a keen intellect. Even though ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng was not wrong and every one of his words true but because she wanted to save Zhan Bai with great anxiety, she had already know what to say to disrupt the contest. Rolling her captivating eyes, she said. “But Uncle Zhang, you did not declare that you are using the melody of the flute to duel, naturally he would not be prepared!”

So Murong Hong turned to Zhan Bai and said. “Do you agree or not? Do you know that Old Senior Zhang ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ is a set of powerful martial technique?”

Murong Hong had good intentions. She wanted to remind Zhan Bai to be on the alert and not to lose his life in muddle.

But Zhan Bai was still looking in great idiocy, his tears were still flowing down his cheeks and he did not seem to hear anything.

Murong Hong was startled. She knew that Zhan Bai had been bewitched by the melodies of the flute and was now an idiot. She wondered if he had suffered internal injuries or had his internal force shattered in the process. So she pushed Zhan Bai and said in a high pitch voice. “Did you hear what I have said, hello, did you hear me or not?”

Zhan Bai broke into a cold sweat and he woke up all of a sudden from his daze. And he looked at Murong Hong and did not know what had happened.

It was because when Murong Hong had pushed Zhan Bai, she had secretly hit his ‘Cai Tai’ 采台 and ‘Qi Hu’ 气户 accupoint channels thus knocking him back to his senses.

Upon seeing Zhan Bai had now returned to his normal state, she hinted aloud to him. “‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Old Senior Zhang wants to use his ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ that has destroyed many in the Martial Fraternity to duel with you. Can you really accept his challenge? If you think you cannot, it better that you do not wrought disaster upon yourself!”

Murong Hong was purposely protecting Zhan Bai. First, she reminded him of the formidability of ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’, next she reminded him not to force himself. Even if he did not accept the challenge, it did not matter for given the status Zhang Shipeng in the Martial Fraternity, he would feel shy to force a pugilist junior to accept his challenge so that he could use his killer stance.

But, Zhan Bai totally misunderstood her good intentions. When he had just woke up to his senses and heard the young maiden in black wording him cautiously, he thought that she too, was looking down upon him! After furrowing deeply with his eyes, he said. “Senior Zhang, your ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ is so resounding throughout the entire Martial Fraternity that for a pugilist junior like me to experience it, I feel so lucky! I just have to invite you to demonstrate to me then. If I am not unfortunate as to die, it is my absolute glory too!”

He thought to himself. “Ah Zhan Bai, Zhan Bai! Although you have been very unfortunate to go through the grinds but you mustn’t destroy your family reputation. In the past, when your Father with the ‘Heartless Precious Sword’ 无情碧剑, roamed the North and the South in a glorying display of his heroism. You must learn to be like your Father and not to let a few words demoralize you. You must not never let anyone look down on you!” He had totally misunderstood the young maiden in black!

Zhang Shipeng was expecting Zhan Bai to reject the challenge after Murong Hong had showcased all his formidability. But who would have expected Zhan Bai to accept his challenge so readily. So he said. “Then, let me invite you to appraise my musical composition!” And he started to put the flute onto his mouth…

Murong Hong stared at Zhan Bai hatefully. Although she was so anxious but what could she do when things had developed to this stage?

Chapter 11: Enchanting Lyrical Illusions

As for the rest of the crowd, everyone had long retreated far away and preparing to witness the display of this ‘Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display’ 音魔萧法

“Hu Lu! Hu Lu!…”

But this time, the melody was not as sad and sorrowfully as before. In fact, it was a very joyous and exuberate type. It was as thought it was the blossoming of all the spring flowers, a hundred types of birds singing and the vast earth was filled with life and jubilant.

It was like a youthful lover that knew that an affectionate companion was waiting for him in a garden filled with the magnitude of a hundred different kinds of flowers. Therefore he started to sing and dance as he made his way to her and to throw himself into her embrace. It was filled with happiness, joy, love and not even a trace of sorrow or heart breaks…

But Zhan Bai was prepared this time and he had cleared his mind from all thoughts. He was sitting on the grass patch on the ground reciting silently the intricate formula of the ‘Sacred Manual’. “In Energy there is a Mixture Concealing within it, Lift the Pure and left behind the Impure, In Way there is but One Rule Altogether…” This was actually the orthodox intricate formula to discern the bad qi and the good qi (energy).

The Bone Binding, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual was indeed the most wondrous book in the Entire Fraternity. As Zhan Bai began to follow the circulation method to practice his flow of vital energy, he had actually reached the point of purity in his breathings and entered the state of forgetfulness. Therefore he did not even heard the touching affectionate music of the flute play!

Although standing far away, many had tried to cover their ears but they had been affected by the flute play. Some of the henchmen of Young Master Lingfeng had even lost control and was now dancing with a jubilant looks on their faces…

Even Murong Hong who had extremely good self-control and willpower, was seen with her eyebrows seeming dancing and she seemed to be losing her willpower…

But even as the flute play was playing, there was not a trace of emotion from Zhan Bai…

‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng who was watching Zhan Bai began to feel disappointed and he thought. “Although this young man looked like he has the fundamental physique 根骨 for martial training but he doesn’t seem to have developed far in martial ability levels, so how could he have such a extremely strong willpower? And not be affected by my flute play…”

Therefore ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng began to change the tune of his flute play from one of being joyous to extreme hopelessness.

When the tune changed and instantly became sad and grieving, it was like the withering of the spring flowers and the cold chilling winter had crept in. And the icy snow had frozen all the life in the vast earth with the violent icy wind destroying and desolating all life. The period of happiness was over, happiness had turned into despair. Even the most loved companion was lost, hope had vanished and hopelessness reigned over everything. Everyone started to lose their hearts and was discouraged and the future was as bleak as a bottomless pit. Only darkness and emptiness reigned…

Young Master Lingfeng, the priest with his eyes closed and a bald old man who had much stronger internal power and they were at a further distance too, was not affected by the flute play. But all the henchmen of Young Master Lingfeng were now totally enthralled by the flute play and were sad beyond measure.

Even Murong Hong who had the highest willpower but because she was worrying about Zhan Bai and had stood besides Zhan Bai, was moved by the flute play. Although she was wearing a veil but it could not hide her eyes that was like the Spring Mountains and the merry laughs of her eyes. But now when the tune of the flute play had changed, the smiles of her face that was like flower vanished and she was filled with a melancholy and sadness. When the music of the flute play had reached its epitome, her tears began to flow down her cheeks.

But Zhan Bai remained unmoved and that caused ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng to be perplexed with amazement.

‘Ascending into the Bliss of Spring Joy’ 阳春蘸露” and ‘Descending into the Withering Winter’ 寒冬瑞雪 were two of his greatest compositions yet it could not move such a young man!

“Hu Lu! Hu Lu!”

The music of the flute play had now been changed from the ‘Descending into the Withering Winter to the ‘Frosty Blade of the Autumn Wind.’ 秋风霜刀

It was extreme sorrow now, like the dying cries in a sea of million men of war and horses that shook the entire earth!

The terrifying screams of people dying in the battle and the grief experienced in such a war that was so heart wrenching! It was as though the listeners were participating in such a battle!

Suddenly Young Master Lingfeng’s henchmen were fighting among themselves. In an instant, three to four were seriously wounded! Young Master Lingfeng immediately hit their accupoints but they were looking at one another with hatred and outrage, refusing to put down their weapons. They were all still bleeding and terrible to behold…

Murong Hong purity looks suddenly was filled with an air of malevolent air but she bit her teeth to resist it. And her face was covered with her fragrance sweat, indicating that it was taking all her willpower and endurance…

“Brother Zhang!” The priest with his eyes closed was actually really a blind man but his hearing was very sharp and sensitive. He could actually know his surroundings very well much like he was actually seeing it. He knew that ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng’s ‘Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display’ had failed to move this young man, instead he was causing their own people to be so pathetic. Therefore had had used the Secret Whispering Skill 传音入密 to secretly whisper into his ears. “This young man is a bit strange. Let us change to another location to seize him so as not to startle the Old Master!”

The blind priest was using the Secret Whispering Skill to talk to Zhang Shipeng. Others could only see his lips were moving but they could not hear what he was saying. Only the ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ could hear it very clearly. But the words of this blind priest had unintentionally stroked his burning rage. It was because it was impossible for his renowned ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ to fail against this nameless nobody of a young man. What if this had leaked to the Pugilist Fraternity, how would he going to face anyone! Therefore, he did not stop playing and played even more hurriedly and in faster pace.

And he began to play a variety of melody to bring out a person’s emotions, rage, joy, sorrow, fear…the seven affections and the six worries were playing according but…he was still unable to move Zhan Bai.

At this moment of time, Zhan Bai had a beautiful and pure glow on his face as he focusing on bringing his five hearts upon the heavens. In fact, he looked like he could exude a golden treasure light in this mountainous green wilderness. An inviolate aura of tranquil and righteousness had enveloped him.

Zhang Shipeng with his silver flute had rampaged the Pugilist for tens of years and was invincible. The proudest moment of his entire life was to fight the ‘The Three Elders of the Central Plains’ 中原三老 that had dominated the entire Martial Fraternity and forced them to retreat with his Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display. Since then, his internal power had tremendous increased. But he was old now and not as energetic as before so he was contented to be in a semi-retirement.

But today when he had witnessed this young man that could kill Chen Qing and Chen Ping with only one stroke, even evaded Tianya Kuangsheng three killer stances and drove him away in a fit of anger thus causing him to show an interest in Zhan Bai therefore he wanted to use the Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display to gauge his depth.

At first, he did not use all his strength for he was very sure just with just the Spring and Winter melodies, he could shatter Zhan Bai’s will.

But who would expect that after he had displayed his Four Melody Chapters of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, even played the Soul Devourer Chapter of ‘Seven Affections and Six Worries’ to destroy Zhan Bai’s Will but Zhan Bai remained unmoved. Zhang Shipeng was secretly very stunned and thought. “This young man looked like the type that is very emotional but how could his willpower exceed that of ‘The Three Elders of the Central Plains’?”

That was because he had never expected what Zhan Bai used to resist the ‘Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display’ was from the most wondrous book in the Entire Fraternity ‘Bone Binding, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ which contained the ultimate form of the intricate formula from the Monastic Orthodox Order! 武林绝响的佛门正宗心法

In the past, when the Lord of the Only Eye, was forced to resist the charms and temptations of the ‘Most Desire of the Desirables’ 绝代尤物 ‘The Heavenly Enchantress’ when she was using her ‘Glamorous Soul Bewitchment Skill’ 姥女迷魂大法 on him and he was afflicted by a deviation phenomenon. And all the talents and knowledge of the Lord of the Only Eye was almost totally destroyed and became a naught, Steel Hearted Priest 铁心道长, Chief Leader from the Orthodox Sect of Wudang 武当玄门 and ‘Bitter Water Saint’ 苦水上人, Abbot Leader of the Shaolin Monastic Order 少林佛门 quickly saved him before it was too late.

Therefore he started to transfer all his knowledge and ingenuity into this ‘Sacred Manual’. Among the skills that were in the manual, included a technique to refine energy and to resist the dark force. It was a skill that was unprecedented from the ancient times to now. It was created to deal with the ‘Heavenly Enchantress’ to counter her ‘Most Desire of the Desirables’ charms. Was there anything else in the whole wide world that would be as tempting as her? It was why, no matter how formidable was Zhang Shipeng’s Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display, it would not reach and move Zhan Bai’s heart.

But, how would Zhang Shipeng who called himself ‘The Invincible in the Entire Fraternity’ 天下无敌 swallow this bitter pill? His face was now flustered in redness and his pair of eyes almost exploded and he started to lift his vital energies to display the most powerful Chapter melody in his arsenal ‘Enchanting Lyrical Illusions’! 音魔幻境

Therefore this time the melodies of the flute could even breech the clouds above and shattered rocks. “Hu Lu, Hu Lu!”

As the melodies exploded up the air, there were thousands of rain dews spluttering down much like the ‘The Heavenly Maiden Stripping’ 天女散花, ‘Rain of Flowers’ 缤纷花雨, ‘The Slow Dance of the Snowflakes’ 瑞雪漫空飞舞…Even the rainbows and the Solstices were not as colourful and wonderful that this displayed caused by the melodies…

Young Master Lingfeng expressions changed and the bald old man that was besides him shouted. “Everyone retreat!” And he caught hold of the wrist of Young Master Lingfeng as he sprang tens of yards away.

The blind priest knew that the ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng had already used his most powerful stances and could not be stopped. Therefore he could only secretly sighed. Now that things had reached such a stage, there was no stopping it. The only option was to follow the bald old man and move back tens of yards from the scene as well as to protect Young Master Lingfeng…

This rainbow melodies once it had enacted, had countless of extremely beautiful maidens in the nude dancing, it was the most enchanting sight to behold…This was the illusions of a young man. But in the hearts of a young maiden, it was different. It was a very perfect young man that was besides her and he was so gentle, so caring. His passion and love was enough to melt the hearts of any young maiden…In the heart of a greedy person, everywhere was gold in exceedingly qualities and pearls of the highest qualities littered everywhere…If in the heart of a vain person, there would be a crown of the emperor awaiting him and countless number of servants and court officials polishing his vainness…What a most extraordinary marvelous music that it could create illusions. What a person desired most and not obtainable yet he or she had their hearts content now. What you wanted, you would get it.

Therefore, who would resist such powerful temptations? This dream of a illusion, this illusion of a dream. This desire, who could resist it? Who would not be tempted by it? Who would not fall into this vortex of this melody?

But, Zhan Bai was not moved!

This ‘Bone Binding, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ had the intricate principles of the Monastic Orthodox Order, the willpower that was bestowed, was most extraordinary!

But, standing besides Zhan Bai was a young maiden by the name of Murong Hong, who was also the older sister of Young Master Lingfeng, daughter of ‘Zhaxing Shou’ Murong Han, she had lost control of her willpower!

She was trembling now, her slim body that was like a leaf was trembling nonstop and her face was a rosy red. Her eyes that were like the Spring Mountains were immersed with the pain of love. Her watery eyes were beaming now, was wishful, shy and revealing a uncontrollable desire and urge…

There was a sound and Murong Hong had tore away her veil and threw it to a side as she was sunder in urges and desires. 欲火烫身

Ah! Her face was as pure as a pearl, captivating and enthralling that not even the most brilliant of all sculptors could carve out, for her face was so perfect! The young maiden in black had finally revealed her face that was like a heavenly fairy, out of the world and no place on the face of the earth would find a face like her.

The Murong Hong without her veil was beautiful and enthralling. She had lost all her haughtiness and cold demeanor, looking with a hundred affectionate expressions as she was consumed by passion while she walked step by step towards Zhan Bai.

“Ge 哥 …I have waited you for a long time…(repeat), I miss you…think of you so badly…Ai. Ge…I love you…”

Her passions were like fire and she was muttering dreamily in a low voice at the same time throwing herself into Zhan Bai’s embrace, with one hand around his neck, the another on his face…

Zhan Bai was happily mediating when he got a cold shiver down his spine and there was an itchy feeling on his face. So he opened his eyes to take a peek and saw an extremely beautiful young maiden whose beauty was peerless in his embrace and after sniffing her fragrance and warm …His heart was like Boom! Boom! Boom!…And he immediately became panicky and he made a mess of his internal circulation and breathing as blood rose up from his Dan Tian 丹田 (Stomach) to his Ni Wan 泥丸 and sputtered to his five organs…

Sniffing a drop of blood from his nose now, Zhan Bai found his first line of defense that was his heart breaching through. 心之防线 And the enchanting melodies from the Chapter of Enchanting Lyrical Illusions took the opportunity to invade. Zhan Bai found himself opening his arms and to hug her very tightly…

Prologue Eight
Poor Zhan, as the sayings go, although the True Way could be high and mighty but the Dark Force was even higher. 道高一尺，魔高一丈 The more a person pushed his internal force to a greater height, the dark force within would be harder and harder to resist. It was inevitable Zhan Bai would be afflicted by deviation phenomenon, leading to cripple or death.

The Lord of the Only Eye would surely turned in his grave if he had known that Zhan Bai, the successor of his wondrous Sacred Manual, had failed in his willpower…

…Continued from Chapter Eleven

This picture of such a romantic warm first love when it descended upon the eyes of the haughty Young Master Lingfeng caused him to be so embarrassed and angry that he yelled. “That is enough!”

This explosive shout gathered all of Young Master Lingfeng’s internal power, was like the thunder of a lighting bolt and instantly ‘The Soul Snatching Silver Flute’ Zhang Shipeng stopped his gold melting melodies.

In between the explosive shouts, Young Master Lingfeng had sprung to the front of Zhan Bai and Murong Hong. Pulling his sister away from Zhan Bai with one hand, the another hand he dealt a direct blow onto Zhan Bai’s chest!

There was a loud ‘Pa’ sound as Zhan Bai was too dazed to try to evade the blow as Young Master Lingfeng dealt a heavy blow on the still sitting Zhan Bai who staggered for awhile with his body but he did not fall.

But it was such a heavy blow by the thousand weigh force of Young Master Lingfeng that Zhan Bai vital energies were dispersed, his internal organs trembled and his heart pounded hard that he could not resist opening his mouth as he pui out a mouthful of blood!

Suddenly there was a loud slapping sound as the young maiden in black, Murong Hong slapped Young Master Lingfeng till he was forced to take five to six steps back and could barely stand, almost falling to the ground!

Five red marks instantly appeared on the handsome face of Young Master Lingfeng, even the side of his mouth had blood dripping.

It was obvious that this slap by Murong Hong was not light. Young Master Lingfeng was born in a wealthy and noble aristocracy family, had a pampered upbringing. Not to mention beating, in all his life, he had never even received a single word of scolding. And suddenly he received such a heavy slap out of the blue that he was actually too stunned to react…

After the young maiden in black, Murong Hong had slapped Young Master Lingfeng, he did not seem to be conscious of it but was looking lovingly and full of tenderness at Zhan Bai, even as she captivating grasped. “Ge 哥…oh!…Are you in pain? Ah! My pitiful Ge…Let your sis examine your injuries to check if it is heavy?…”

As she said, she walked forward and lifted her sleeves to help Zhan Bai wiped away the bloodstains on his lips.

“Why don’t you walk away argh! Maiden, I am used to hardships, what this bit of injuries mean to me!”

Who would expect that Zhan Bai would feel indifferent to the tender and affectionate Murong Hong. Pushing her away, he began to stand up, turned around and walked staggering away…

“Ge! Wait for me, sis will follow you!” She started to tag closely behind him but Zhan Bai was still walking unevenly in front and ignoring her pleas. She was now pleading and crying with her tears flowing down her cheeks for Zhan Bai did not seem to care.

After Young Master Lingfeng was heavily slapped by his elder sister, he was left in a state of shock for he had never been slapped before. But what was even more shocking was that his elder sister that almost never talk, ignored everything in her surrounding would act out of her norm today and even pursuing a young man that was a stranger to her, so desperately and lingering. Therefore when he witnessed such a scene, his eyes were staring wide-opened in shock and he actually forget about the pain on his face…

“Maiden Hong! Mistress Murong!” The blind priest and the bald old man chased after her and blocked her passage to wake her out of her senses to remind her that she was still a chaste maiden and her status…

But who would expected, Murong Hong would stare at them rudely and yelled. “What are the both of you doing here? Get lost!”

The blind priest and the old bald man were actually very highly regarded and prominent figures in the Martial Fraternity. They were highly respected in the Pugilist. Although they had become protégés in the Baotu Manor and resident in the Murong residence but never once did Master Murong dare to treat them with contempt or disrespect. So when Murong Hong suddenly shouted at them, they were stunned at the same time.

“Maiden Hong!” The bald old man furrowed with his eyebrows and said. “You are the one that disregard your status and as your Uncle, I am not gong to let you run in an amok!”

The blind priest added. “Maiden! You must consider your father status in the Martial Fraternity and not be artful…”

“Don’t be so annoying!” Murong Hong was feeling vexed now for Zhan Bai had now walked far. She immediately attacked with both her hands using ‘Dividing the Wild Horse’ 野马分鬃 and forced them to step aside as she sprang towards Zhan Bai shouting. “Ge…wait for me…”

The blind priest and bald old man had never expected Murong Hong to attack them so they were caught off guarded by her stance. Also they had never expected her to use the ‘Dividing the Wild Horse’ stance with such power and ingenuity that under the condition of being caught off guarded, she could actually force two of the most prominent top exponents in the Martial Fraternity to back off two steps!

The blind priest and the bald old man were reddened with embarrassment that once again, they sprang as though they were flying and caught up with her to block her.

Murong Hong was like a small child as she made a fuss and cried out. “Get lost! Get lost! I don’t want any of you to interfere…” As she sobbed, she started to tear off her clothing piece by piece. She was very swift and fast, in three to five gestures, she was able to tear off her black silk garments off and following her gestures were her very beautiful and pure white jade body.

The bald old man immediately turned ashen and took flight. Although he was very old, was invincible in the Martial Fraternity and had witnessed many extraordinary things in the Pugilist but none of what he had seen, was this sudden. Unable to cope with it and unable to stop her anymore, he took flight in extreme panicky…

Prologue Nine
There existed a mysterious energy technique, the ‘Supreme Intricate Energy Force’ 无上玄功真气 that could revive dead channels…

Lament by Murong Hong, Adapt from Li Bai;
Long yearning, breaks my heart…
I roll back the hanging, gaze at the moon, and long sigh in vain…
My lonely lamp is not bright, I’d like to end these thoughts…
Above is the black night of heaven's height…
The sky is long, the road is far, bitter flies my spirit…
The spirit I dream can't get through, the mountain pass is hard…
Frost coalesces on my bamboo mat, changing its colour with cold…
The moon is like the autumn that never sleeps…
I think of him all the time but never once have I seen him…
His past memories flashed in my eyes…
My tears were like lake…
Suffering terrible heart breaks…

Chapter Twelve: A great Tragedy Occurs

Although the blind priest could not see but his hearing was exceptional excellent. And not in the least inferior to someone who had eyes. Although he could not see but when he picked out the tearing sound of Murong Hong garments, he too turned ashen and withdrawn several steps backward. His lips were trembling and muttering something but no sounds were heard for a long while.

“How outrageous? It simply too…simply too…” Young Master Lingfeng could only mutter to himself and not knowing what to do. It was because although she was his own sister but now she had nothing on her. So how could he have dared to approach her, to stop her? He could only clenched his fists and trembled…

Zhan Bai turned his head around and saw the young maiden Murong Hong with her pure peerless beauty in front of him and she was nude therefore he was stunned.

“No one can bother about me! I love him! No one can bother me about me! I love him!…”

Murong Hong had removed her clothing, now she was even removing her accessories on her hands, ears and her decorations on her head. She had returned to her natural state and her long flowing hair rolled from her head as she flew into the embrace of Zhan Bai like a bird.

Zhan Bai’s heart was like a holy sanctuary that was opened for her. He had never seen such a sight before. She was a beautiful cloud fluttering across the evergreen plains that caused flowers to sprout from the vast earth. And this picturesque of a naturally very pure nude maiden that was running towards him carried no taint of sin, her wondrous beauty shone forth and was as pure as the holiest and her goodness was like an heavenly angel!

Therefore regarding Murong Hong, Zhan Bai had no ill feeling or desire. Nor did he feel shameful about her instead he felt it was natural and her goodness overwhelmed him. So he too started to take off his clothing as well.

Murong Hong looked at him and her eyes beamed with light and joy as she grasped in happiness. “Ah! Yo! Heh!…”

Only Zhan Bai’s pants were left when Murong Hong flew into his embrace and hugged him tightly. She had gone insane, insane with her happiness, insane with freedom. She had never been this happy and free before. This freedom caused her to be so blissful.

But, Young Master Lingfeng, Zhang Shipeng, the blind priest, bald old man and the rest were stunned speechless, beyond belief, beyond imagination at the sight in front of them.

Among them, only Zhang Shipeng was the most upset for he had never expected that his invincible skill ‘Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display’ that could bow the Entire Fraternity to his feet, could create such a disastrous effect, bordering on disgrace and tragedy.

Zhan Bai too felt unrestraint joy and freedom…therefore he too had thrown everything away. But there were two things that he could not thrown. In fact, he was brought back to reality by them.

One was the ‘Bone Binding Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’, it contained all his hopes and he could hear Lei Dashu words in his ears very clearly [Learn the supreme martial skills, create your own future and avenge for the wrongful death of your father…] The second one was the sack that used to contain all the clues to his father’s death. That was his only clue left, all the more he would not thrown it away.

Therefore he was brought back to reality and suddenly found himself in the embrace of the very beautiful Murong Hong who was according him with a million types of affections. And her love for him was so pure, she was idolizing him as she kissed him. But he ignored her for he was now thinking, how was he going to shake off those speculators and to train the skills in the ‘Sacred Manual’ And how to investigate who was his father’s killers?…He was clenching the two objects tightly and totally forgot about the Murong Hong who was kissing him affectionately…

Suddenly there was a cold hummed in the distant as a man thundered coldly. “Unless bums! Hurry and seize her back, what are you all waiting for? She has thrown away all my face!”

At the same time, another voice was heard, it was the elegant lady that had saved Zhan Bai. “HongEr! HongEr!” 红儿 She was very startled as she called out. “What is happening to you? What has happened?”

Thereafter, the sounds of tens of people could be heard and this time, Zhan Bai was startled and woke up from his thoughts. He looked up and saw tens of people in front of him.

He saw a man in his fifties with beautiful and fine clothing looking at him in anger that it was very hard to look into his eyes. Even the beautiful lady that had saved him was here too. So he guessed that the man must be her husband as well as the ‘Old Master’ that was in everyone’s lips.

Suddenly he had also noticed that around him were four maids in green removing their outer garment to cover Murong Hong.

“I don’t want to! I don’t want to!…” Murong Hong was grasping but she was very afraid of her father and dare not go against him. Although she had not regain her senses yet but in her heart she was very unwillingly to leave.

There was a sudden inspiration and jolt in Zhan Bai. He quickly tucked the ‘Sacred Manual’ and the sack into his trousers. Lucky his pants were very tight and his items did not fall out.

“Give him a piece of clothing and ask him to follow us!” The fierce man in fine clothing thundered.

One of the men that was carrying a sabre took off his black cloak and sent it flying towards Zhan Bai.

Maybe this man that had just threw the cloak wanted Zhan Bai to die. For the cloak was imbued with the vitalize strength of Inner Martial force. It did not flutter lightly instead it was sent flying like a heavy object and it was heading headlong towards Zhan Bai's chest!

Zhan Bai smiled and he extended two fingers and dispersed the internal force that was in the cloak and immediately put on the cloak on. This ‘Finger Dispersing a Thousand Weigh Force’ 点力破千钧 was not an easy feat to demonstrate and he was very proud when he had displayed it but the angry man in fine clothing did not even look at him and had turned away. It was as though he knew that Zhan Bai would not resist and would surely follow him.

There was a strong reaction inside Zhan Bai but when he saw the angry looks on all the pugilists and the compassionate eyes of the elegant lady that was looking at him, he forced himself to swallow all his protests and angry words but it was rather forcefully.

So he thought. “I like to see what you will do to me? I will follow you first and wait and see!”

But after he took a few steps, his pride was wounded. So he scolded himself secretly. “Zhan Bai, Zhan Bai! Do you want to be such a coward? And be like a sheep that is sent to the butcher!”

But his enemies were too strong and he could feel their burning aura. He knew he did not have the power to resist. Although he was feeling stubborn inside but he also understood that he could not sacrifice himself blindly. He must leave himself an option to complete his heavy responsibility to his father.

Therefore, he forced himself to swallow his anger and decided to take one step at a time. Until he was forced to, he would not sacrifice himself lightly.

But he felt so ashamed following these group of people that he had to lower his head. He began to wonder what sort of a person was this world renowned [Meteor Hand] Murong Han. Then he started to look at him and he was jolted. Suddenly he had found Murong Han’s garments to be very special. It seemed that his garments would occasionally glittered out light, indeed it was very special. But even a very rich man would not have possible own such clothing.
This accidental discovery caused Zhan Bai to be jolted. Was not his clothing identical to the silk clothing in his sack? This discovery caused him to be filled with anger and to charge in front to engage in a life and death fight! But he tried his very best to suppress his feeling and bit his teeth. “Is this despicable man the killer of my father?”

Zhan Bai thought again as he searched his mind for answers. “Before my father had died, he personally give me this small sack. In the sack were some loosened hair, a silk string, iron pearl, a bronze button, bronze coin and a silk piece of cloth that was identical to what Murong Han is wearing now. Even if he is not my father’s killer but at the very least, it is a very good clue…”

Zhan Bai followed the Murong Master for quite some time, he entered through doors after doors in the end, Murong Han did not even question him but instead he found himself jailed in a dark dungeon.

Zhan Bai did not know how was [Meteor Hand] going to do with him and why was he locked into the dungeon? So he was inevitable very nervous. But after a while, he decided to endure it and since he was being cut off from the outside, he might as well started to practice the unfathomable arts in the ‘Sacred Manuel’.

At first, he was in a hurry to train his martial abilities. When no one was around even in broad daylight, he would start to open the pages of the Sacred Manual. But the drawings of the Enchantress in various enticing poses distracted him from his concentration and he found himself unable to calm himself down to pour over the mysteries of the book. In fact, more often than not, he would think wry especially when he had remembered the pure and beautiful Murong Hong with nothing on her. The drawings in the Sacred Manual would often than not, lead him to think of Murong Hong and caused him to lose his concentrations and to think wry!…

In the end, he was shocked into waking from his senses because if this carried on, he would surely be afflicted by deviation phenomenon while training. Therefore he began to follow his old method in the dark cave, closed his eyes and began to feel with his fingers. Therefore with all his heart, his spirit, he began to immense himself totally in the ‘Sacred Manual’, forgetting about the passing of day and night and even the loneliness that was in this stone dungeon…



[Meteor Hand] Murong Han blamed himself for not being a strict father. Now how could his own daughter took off her own clothing in full view of so many people? If this news got out to the Martial Fraternity, how was he going to face anyone?

[Meteor Hand] was the leader of the Five Northern Provinces, was extremely furious now. He and his lady was strictly questioning Murong Hong, what caused her to disregard her very own shame in a secretly chamber.

But Murong Hong refused to reply to her father’s questioning.

This further enraged him even more. He rose up and threw a beautiful decorated short sword in front of her and thundered. “Then you be better off dead! So that you will not further disgrace me!” After finishing, he rushed out of the chamber in a fit of anger.

Murong Hong with tears on her cheeks, without hesitation once her father had left the chamber, picked the short sword and stabbed on her neck.

But the beautiful lady, who was also Lady Zhan seized from the hands of her daughter the short sword as she wiped away the tears from Murong Hong’s face. “HongEr, you must never end your life! Your father is fuming in a fit of anger. After a while, he will be alright!”

“Mum!” Murong Hong could not stop crying as she collapsed into her mother’s embrace…



Zhan Bai was in the dungeon cultivating his breathing and practicing the Sacred Manual. In fact he had the reached the divine state of forgetfulness and only his senses were exceptional sharp. He felt a flow of vitalize energy flowing throughout his body…when suddenly the iron door of the dungeon cracked opened with a loud sound.

Zhan Bai suddenly opened his eyes and found out that he could see very clearly in the dark!

“Night vision!” 夜能视物 Zhan Bai was startled and hilariously happy…

It was because when Zhan Bai was circulating his internal force to resist the Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display, at the most crucial moment he was interrupted by Murong Hong and he would have been afflicted by deviation phenomenon, luckily for him, that Young Master Lingfeng in momentarily fit of anger had dealt him with a heavy blow. Not only was he not injured but his dead pulses in his body was jolted that he had threw out blood and his two main energy meridians 任督二脉 were cleared! These two main energy meridians were the most difficult channels to clear for all the exponents. Yet under a series of coincidences, Zhan Bai had turned his bad luck into luck and cleared his two main energy meridians. It was really a miracle!

Although he had unconsciously cleared the most difficult obstacle to all the exponents resulting his two main energy meridians to flow but it was through an unorthodox means. If he did not do any warm up after Young Master Lingfeng had caused his two energy meridians to flow, he would surely be a handicap afterwards. But Master Murong had to force him to walk a long distance therefore causing him to exercise all his limbs and pulses, saving him from being a handicap. However, even this was not enough, even if he did not become a handicap but if he did not get the chance to cultivate his breathing, it would still result in his death from weak flow of blood and energy. Coincidental upon coincidental, when Master Murong had seized him back to his manor, he did not question him or subject him to anything and only locked him into a dungeon. And he got the chance to cultivate his breathing and flow of energy.

It was indeed the most coincidental things that could ever happen. It was like the Heavens wanted a miracle to happen to a naturally kind hearted young man like Zhan Bai and changed all the powers that were harming him to powers that could aid him.

All these, naturally he simply did not know it yet. By the time, he was aware of it, he would already be the most invincible in the Entire Fraternity. Therefore, putting aside all these, let go back to what Zhan Bai was experiencing in the terrible darkness of the dungeon.

It was now in the middle of the night and yet he could see in total darkness. He was hilariously delighted in his head. He did not believe it was true and turned his head around to look out of the window grills and he saw the bright constellations of the stars that he had never seen before. He bit his fingernails to prove that it was not a dream. And he started to look at the new friend that was being culled into the dungeon.

A young handsome man in clad in assassin clothing, from the looks of his chest, looked strong had been thrown into the dungeon with him. Zhan Bai began to admire the looks of this handsome man for he had never saw anyone this handsome.

Somehow Zhan Bai did not know why but when he saw him, he thought that they were seemed to share some forms of destiny and an intimate feeling had formed out of the blue between them. So he started to smile at the young man but who would expect he would ignore him. Instead he was looking up at the ceiling as though he was staring in the heavens.

Suddenly Zhan Bai had a jolt. This jail room had no light, only he could see him but the other young man might not have seen him! Therefore he started to speak. “This brother, for what reason are you being locked inside the dungeon?”

“Who? Who are you?” The person was very startled and started to look around. It was obvious he could not see a thing inside this jail room.

“I am Zhan Bai, may I know your name if it is convenient for you to give?”

That person when he had heard Zhan Bai’s name, after thinking over for quite some time could not remember there was such a person in the Pugilist, became less guarded and sighed. “I am already a prisoner, why bother to about any names! Friend, let me tell you honestly, you and me are already in the lion den, we can only resign ourselves to our fate and wait for death, what is there for us to talk about? Alas!” After saying, this soft spoken young man sighed again.

Zhan Bai smiled and said. “Although life and death is up to our destiny but real man don’t fear death. As long as what we do are without guilt and never to let our conscious down, even if there are swords and blades in front of us, why should we be afraid? Moreover, we can still make use of our intelligence and intellect to find a way out and live! Although we may well possible die but as long as we can make one more friend before we die, issn’t it a small comfort too? Moreover, it very hard to find a close friend that is willing to undergo life and death with you!”

When the young man heard Zhan Bai encouragement and extraordinary words, his spirits seemed to lift and the looks of anxiety began to lessen a lot on his face. “Thanks for this teaching. I am Fan Su… 樊素 Actually she had one more letter to his name but after pausing for awhile, she did not know if it was safe for her to say her full name.

But Zhan Bai had thought that his full name was Fang Su, so he said. “Oh it is brother Fang Su! Let me help brother Fang to untie!”

By the time, she wanted to protest, Zhan Bai had already unloosened the ropes around her. She was normally a high and haughty person but when she thought that she was now in the manipulations of others and could do nothing but look, her face began to turn flustered. And there were even tears on her face now. It was really heart wrenching for her to be so humbled in front of others.

But Zhan Bai did not know her thoughts so he said. “Brother Fan, don’t be too upset about our dire predicaments! Even the sages of old had their down moments.” Therefore, he started to relate to him all his happenings and how much humiliations he had to face…

After she had noted that Zhan Bai was really an honest and frank person, she began to take a liking to him.

But when Zhan Bai had finished loosening all the ropes around him and saw that Fang Su could not move, he discovered that he might have been blocked in his accupoint channels. So he offered to help him to clear his accupoints but no matter how much Zhan Bai offered to help, Fang Su would object very strongly.

When Zhan Bai saw Fang Su’s face had turned red, although he felt it was a strange thing but Zhan Bai was a pure hearted young man so he did not think of anything. So when he saw Fang Su was objecting very strongly, he began to use the ‘Aerial Accupoint Technique’ 凌空拂穴 to clear his accupoints.

This ‘Aerial Accupoint Technique’ was a skill that Zhan Bai had picked up from the Sacred Manual. He was simply following the book but did not know how profound and startling this skill was!

But she was secretly very startled for she would never expect [Meteor Hand] would jail such an invincible top martial exponent fighter 绝世武功的武林高手 in this jail room!

Suddenly from the outside, there were cries of fighting and killing from the outside…

Prologue Ten
This ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’ 踢空幻影 was an most extraordinary feat that none in the Martial Fraternity had rarely seen and only heard of. And this young maiden that looked like sixteen, seventeen had actually exhibited it as she sprang and walked in the air! She turned around and it was WanEr!…

Chapter Thirteen: Event Horizon Blight Hand

There was a ruffle outside the door of the room. It sounded like someone had been hit in his accupoints and then the door swung opened. Then Lei Dashu appeared and said solemnly. “Hurry and go!”

Zhan Bai eyes were very sharp now and immediately he had recognized Lei Dashu who had stood outside the door. Without hesitating, he grabbed Fan Su in her hands and shouted. “Go!” And they sprang out of the door and out of the dungeon with Fan Su following tightly.

Outside was a huge commotion. There were fighting all over and fire had broke out in several areas.

Zhan Bai looked around him and saw that Lei Dashu was not here now. So where was he?

Fan Su on the another hand was saddened to see her own people getting killed or seriously wounded. The pugilists from the Tu Bao Manor were fighting more and more ferociously, especially a blind priest that seemed to be fighting with so much courage that her own people could not measure to him.

She did not know who that blind priest was but she saw her second brother [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie “追风剑”樊杰 and the two Jin brothers were fighting with the blind priest now and they were looking pathetic!

At a coincidence time, [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie had exhibited a swordplay from the Wind Chaser Swordplay a killer stroke. ‘The Swift Wind Felling the Grass’ 疾风斩劲草 and displayed it at the back of the blind priest.

But the priest seemed to have eyes on his back suddenly turned around and turned his powerful blow on Fan Jie instead!

Suddenly Zhan Bai saw a dark figure flashed to take the blow off her brother with her hands in mid-air, it was Fan Su!

[Wind Chaser Sword] narrowly escaped from death but as for Fan Su, after she had took a blow from the blind priest, her shoulders became numbed and her blood flowed in the reverse. She could barely stood her ground and was biting her lips, holding herself to prevent a mouthful of blood from her mouth from throwing out. Her eyes grew dim and her petite face was ashen.

“Good rascals!” The blind priest laughed hilariously. “I like to see how many men do you still have? Ask them all to attack! So I can send them all to the western paradise!”

And he started to attack the Jin brothers and [Wind Chaser Sword] with his left hand and Fan Su with his right hand which had turned green.

It was obviously that he intended to kill Fan Su with a blow and that blow on his right hand was imbued with all his internal power!

Fan Su was startled as she saw this blow coming that was like a windforce dividing the ocean. The pressure was enveloped within two yards of his blow, even if she would to dodge it, it would be futile! Biting her teeth, she mustered all her internal power with both her hands to take the blow with the ‘Conqueror Mighty Hand’ 霸王举鼎

The Jin brothers and [Wind Chaser Sword] had already been hard pressed by the blind priest left hand stances and had been forced to back off. Fan Su who had been seriously injured after she had took his earlier blow did not seem like she could be able to take the blind priest full blow. As she gathered all her vital energy to her internal force on her hands, she simply could not endure anymore and thrown up a mouthful of blood and before she could even intercept the blow, she had collapsed onto the ground.

“Stop!” Zhan Bai yelled as he sprang forward to attack the blind priest on his chest.

Although the blind priest could not see but his hearing was as good as seeing. But he was very angry now and his malevolent air increased tremendously. It was because every time he was being surrounded and attacked, he would fly into a terrible rage.

That was because, his eyes were blinded when he was once surrounded and ambushed. But because of his firm resolution, after he was blinded, he did not give up and throw away all his martial abilities, instead he trained even harder for thirty years in the wilderness. Finally he had reached the pinnacle of ‘Using ears as eyes.’ 双眼全瞎. Not only was he better than a person with sight was. What was more, even his senses were all greatly enhanced.

Furthermore, during those thirty years, his martial abilities had also tremendously improved. After he re-emerged in the Pugilist again, he hunted down all his enemies that blinded him. Eventually he became a protégé of Murong Han and became one of the top ten exponents of Baotu Manor.

Tonight, a great deal of enemies had dared to intrude. The blind priest because he wanted to repaid Master Murong for showing appreciation to him was now fighting with his very life and best of his abilities. Because he was highly skilled, many of the intruders had actually been wounded or killed by him.

The ‘Three Heroics’ 三杰 from the Fan Clan, [Winder Chaser Sword] who was the second of the three brothers, could be considered one of several expert fighters that had intruded into the manor but even he was not his match. The renowned thirty six stances of the Wind Chaser Swordplay could not even handled this blind priest. The Jin brothers afraid that their second young master would be in grave danger had joined forces with him.

But this blind priest could even fight three of the best swordsmen in the Martial Fraternity with ease.

The blind priest blows were called the ‘Event Horizon Blight Hand’ 罡眇黑煞掌, it was not impossible for him not to smash Fan Su into meatball…

But Zhan Bai did not know how powerful was the blind priest technique was, so he actually went to intercept it for Fan Su with a great shout. Using ten folds of his strength, both his hands and the blind priest impacted on one another. Instantly a vacuum of windforce erupted all around them, pebbles and sand started to fly in all directions from the explosive impact!

Zhan Bai was forced back five to six steps back and he saw darkness in front of his eyes! And he thought. “What a powerful blow!”

Zhan Bai was most fortunately that he had started the Sacred Manual internal force if not this blow from the blind priest would surely claim his life!

At the same time, the blind priest was secretly startled and thought. “This person’s blow is very powerful and seem to have the monastic power of subduing the evil forces 佛门降魔掌力 and I have never seen such a powerful fierce blow ever in my life!”

With a great shout, [Wind Chaser Sword] and the two Jin brothers began to seize the opportunity to attack the blind priest!

Zhan Bai was dazed after taking the blow. He had to stand for awhile before he could recover his clear state of mind. Actually Zhan Bai had no wish to fight and he was only concern about saving Fan Su’s life. So he immediately carried her and started to run into the darkness!

“Stop right there, you junior!” It came from a man behind him and all his attack strokes were terribly fast!

Zhan Bai was startled as he thought. “Oh no…”

Zhan Bai tried to evade it but he had to think about the Fan Su in his hands, therefore he was slower in his reaction just when he was about to be hit, Lei Dashu flashed past and saved him!

　 “Lei Zhenyuan!” 雷震远 an old man with only one arm angrily said to Lei Dashu. “Are you so ungrateful as to help the outsiders?”

“Sima Jing!” 司马敬 Dashu solemnly said. “Don’t say any rubbish! Do you know what kind of a person is me?”

Zhan Bai was shocked to hear that the one armed old man was [Soul Seeker Bell] 追魂铃 Sima Jing who twenty years ago who everyone had feared in the Martial Fraternity!

It was because [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing was an infamous evil heretic in the Northwest region. Together with the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju 独脚飞魔李举, they were known collective as the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] 塞外双残. Their martial abilities were unfathomable and they were very cruel. They virtually kill or maimed all their enemies. No pugilists from the unorthodox and orthodox clans even dared to provoke them. Who would have expected that Sima Jing would be a protégé of Master Murong now?

“Then…” [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing coldly said. “Why did you stop me from capturing an escaped prisoner?”

“Brother Sima, you have made a mistake.” Lei Dashu replied sharply. “This young man is a junior of mine. How can he be an escaped prisoner?”

“Hehehe…” [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing laughed coldly for awhile before saying. “Together with Master Murong, we personally captured him and locked him into the dungeon, so how can it be not true? Lei Zhenyuan, you are obviously helping the outsiders…”

“Shut up!” Lei Dashu thundered. “So what if I, Lei Zhenyuan is helping the outsiders? It is not up to a bald head like you to question me!”

“Crazy Lei!” [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing really hated people for calling him a bald head, so when he heard him scolding him bald head, his malevolent air was stirred and he replied coldly. “Others are afraid of you but do you think that I, Sima Jing is afraid of you! Don’t think that your seventy-two stances of ‘Sacred Hand’天佛掌 is really invincible! To me, it is not even worth anything!”

“If you do not believe, you can try it now!” Lei Dashu clenched his fists.

“Fine!” Let me have a taste of your ‘Sacred Hand Enoch’!” 天佛绝学 And he delivered a blow towards Lei Dashu! His palm windforce was very powerful, Zhan Bai could hear it very clearly.

But Lei Dashu smiled and he was as steady as the mountain as he took the blow.

[Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing when he had almost landed his blow on Lei Dashu’s chest, changed it to a claw and with slashed against him with much ferocity and speed.

Zhan Bai who was standing on the side was watching with much excitement and interest. For an old man like him with only one arm that could display such ferocity, swift, steady and had so much changes that defied logic was really very startling.

The two of them were not only swift in their movements and attacks, it was also very marvelous to behold. Zhan Bai who was watching was totally immense in their fight that his visions had only them in sight and he was hilariously delighted. In fact, he had forgot that he was going to save Fan Su, that was the reason why he was running away in the first place. His eyes were wide opened as he followed every single of their stances and strokes…

Some one once said. “If one were to witness the fight between two very top exponents, it is better than three years in the tutelage of their Mentor Teacher.”

Zhan Bai had carried the heavy responsibilities of avenging for his father and was engrossed in training martial arts but he had never meet a competent Mentor Teacher. What he had learnt were more useful in strengthening himself but if he would to meet a top exponent of the Martial Fraternity, it was as good as suicide.

Although Zhan Bai had cleared his eight wondrous channels and pulses 奇经八脉 but regarding how a top exponent would fight, their timing and the intricate of their stances, how it was changed and interchangeable, he had no idea at all. And Lei Dashu and Sima Jing was the top ten fighters of the Baotu Manor, their internal strength cultivation had already reached the purity state and could control it with ease, moreover they had their own divine skills that made them even more unfathomable.

However because of this very same reason, Lei Dashu and Sima Jing was accorded with the same respect by Master Murong, it caused them to have divides. Because every one of them had thought that they were the best. But because for the sake of their reputation and status in the Martial Fraternity, they could not fight with one another. But now, when the opportunity had come, they actually fought with the best of their abilities, their stances were getting more and more vicious as well as heavy! It was as though they were fighting against their enemies. But luckily, there were hundreds of people intruding the Murong residence and with fire everywhere, none noticed that they were actually fighting among themselves.

Suddenly there was a low captivating voice in Zhan Bai’s ears that woke him up from his admiration. “You are too brave! Why are you still standing here and not leave?” And he felt someone with a slim body had tugged him by his sleeves. And the slim body had sprung into the darkness.

Only then did Zhan Bai remember that he was in the lion den and that he was still carrying an unconscious new bosom friend of his. He felt that the person that had just tugged him and disappeared in front of him was a friend and not a foe. So he decided to follow first as well as to leave this dangerous place and to treat Fan Su’s injuries first.

While chasing the shadowy figure in front him, Zhan Bai began to find the person familiar. The shadowy figure swiftness movement skills were very fast and would stop often for him. After turning a corner and out of the manor, the person signaled for him to run into the woods before finally stop running.

Because Zhan Bai could see in the dark, he had noticed that it was WanEr by now.

“Who are you carrying in your embrace?” WanEr asked when Zhan Bai had caught up with her, as she brushed her long flowing back with her hands.

“This is a new friend of mine, his name is Fan Su.” Zhan Bai replied without hesitation. “Maiden…”

“A Fan fellow?” WanEr interrupted. “That must be the enemy of our family then. Let me take a look who he is?”

When WanEr had said it, she had already sprang forward like the wind and clawed her hands at Fan Su’s face.

Zhan Bai really did not expect WanEr swiftness and actions would be so swift, certainly she was not below par when compared to her older sister.

And now, this little sister had reached out so fast upon hearing that his friend had the surname Fan, Zhan Bai worried that WanEr would use her killer stances to hurt the unconscious Fan Su. Although Zhan Bai and Fan Su were newly made friends but they hit off very well. Afraid that WanEr might hurt his friend, he tried to evade from her attacks.

There was a tearing sound! Although Zhan Bai had evaded very fast but WanEr was also very fast. This one dodge, one claw, tore Fan Su head clothe off.

“Argh!”

“Huh!…”

WanEr and Zhan Bai were both very startled to see that a mass of long flowing hair began to drift down and Fan Su was actually an extraordinary beautiful young maiden in disguise!

“Heng!” WanEr was startled. Suddenly there were hints of jealousy on her face and she coldly hummed. “So it is a girl! Now I know why you will want to risk your life to save her huh!”

“I…I really don’t now!” Zhan Bai stammered out. He was startled as well. “Really…don’t know she is a girl…”

“Don’t put on any pretense now!” Jealousy was the birthright of any woman. The more deeper love was, the more deeper jealousy was. Although WanEr was an innocent and naïve maiden and she was untouched by the realities of the real world but she was after all a woman. Therefore she would still have this jealousy that she was naturally equip to have. After a period of tendering to Zhan Bai while he was unconscious, she had already secretly loved Zhan Bai. But now he had risked his life to save such an extraordinary beautiful young maiden and even carry her intimately in his embrace to protect her, so from her heart, floated some sour feeling and she unhappily said. “Then, now that you know huh!”

Her meanings to Zhan Bai: You can put her down now.

Alas but Zhan Bai happened to be a young man that did not know the hearts of girls so he did not know what she meant. Looking at the unconscious Fan Su and then he lifted his head to look at the surrounding and noticed that it was the same place that Lei Dashu had brought him to learn the Sacred Manual so he muttered. “She is seriously injured. I’m going to treat her injuries.” After saying, he actually sprang to the cave in front of him carrying Fan Su and ignored the unhappy WanEr who was still standing on the spot waiting for him to put Fan Su down.

“You…” WanEr was startled for Zhan Bai surprised her with his reactions. When she saw that he had run into the cave with the girl, her expressions changed and she lifted her hands to stop him but suddenly she seemed to have thought of something and could only mutter ‘You’ and then she stopped. She was still reeling from shock, after biting her lips for awhile, she stormed away hatefully.

WanEr was like a smoke that had wisped into the thin air.

As for Zhan Bai, in his mind, he was only concerned about Fan Su’s injuries so he did not pay attention when WanEr had left in anger.

Prologue Eleven:
She bats an eye to Zhan Bai and grasped. “If it not for you last night…”
Although Zhan Bai did not understand but he had some linking. He felt sweet but it was without guilty conscious as he asked. “Are you alright then?…”
That beautiful young maiden was melancholically as she replied. “Although it not a big deal but my entire training is ruined! I can no longer attain the impervious body [金刚不坏之体 ] from now on…”
Then she suddenly asked. “Do you know who I am?”

Chapter Fourteen: Fan Suluan

When the [Three Heroics] had heard the cries of their sister, their swords hesitated for a while.

Zhan Bai took the opportunity to unleash ‘The Battling Wind’ 风打枯荷 and ‘Hidden Leopard in the Southern Mountains’ 豹隐南山 in three continuous waves.

At this moment of time, Zhan Bai internal power was already stronger that what he had in the past, especially when he had used it in a bid to save his own life, these three blows were really too mighty to be blocked directly.

So these blows that were seemingly enough to move mountains and overturned the ocean 排山倒海 created such powerful windforce across the air that the [Three Heroics] would never dream of and grasped how impossible for such a unremarkable young man like Zhan Bai to have such powerful inner martial palm technique, that they withdrawn their attack stances and swung their swords around to be on the defensive.

The [Three Heroics] moved swiftly five feet away from Zhan Bai and their swords were right in front of them to protect against a direct attack as they quickly surrounded Zhan Bai from all sides.

“Rascal! You do have some ability.” Eldest Brother [True Heart Sword] Fan Jun shouted to Zhan Bai as he furrowed deeply. “But don’t you think you are too arrogant abit?”

Third Brother [Stellar Cloud Sword] Jun Ying coldly said as he pointed his sword at Zhan Bai. “Hehe. But if you want to escape from the three swords of the Fan lineage, it will be a wistful thought!”

Fan Su, whose real name was Fan Suluan 樊素鸾 had by now hurried to her brothers, brushing her long flowing hair back as she came, said. “My three brothers, he…young hero Zhan has saved him in the dungeon and moreover, he…just now help me to treat my injuries…” (How could she tell her brothers that Zhan Bai had touched her? That was the reason why she was upset with him earlier).

Although Fan Suluan was a woman but she had the frankness of speech of a man but now, she was feeling terribly embarrassed and she was stammering now.

When Jun Ying saw the look on his sister face, he did not know whether to believe his sister or not.

But [True Heart Sword] Fan Jun asked. “Is it true?”

[True Heart Sword] was famous of his nonchalance. Therefore no one really knows if he was asking his sister or Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai who had tried his best to save a person but in the end, what he got, was anger. He had really met with too many unreasonable things lately. So he refused to say anything because he was feeling anger now.

“Dage!” Fan Suluan was filled with melancholy as she said. “Do you think your sister will lie to you?”

Although Fan Ying was staring at Zhan Bai and did not turn his head to look at his sister but he could hear his sister melancholy voice, so he knew that it would not be faked.

As for [True Heart Sword], he was beginning to feel that he had unwittingly hurt his sister’s pride by doubting her. Although he was a lonely and cold person but to his only sister, he loved her dearly and would do anything to protect her. So when he had heard her melancholy voice, he immediately withdrawn his stance and turned around. “Since it is true, then, we just have to let him go.”

Fan Jie too had withdrew his stance after listening to his brother.

Fan Ju shouted. “Let us go!”

So the [Three swords and one Mystical Bird] 三剑一鸾 began to walk towards the slope of a small hill…

When Zhan Bai had saw such a scene, his heart underwent a million heart breaks. His life was really so ill-fated. Everyone that he had met or known, were all so unreasonable. He had saved a life out of good intention but in exchange, what he got was a stomach of resentments.

But when he had saw Fan Suluan walked away with her long flowing hair that was flying in the wind, he could not help but felt a sense of emptiness and longing for her. But he did not know the reason that had caused it. He just felt that Fan Suluan and him were like a bosom friends that could talk about everything. But now, when she had just left like this, he found himself musing and missing for her. Therefore for a time after she had left, his thoughts were in a faraway place and he was startled on the same spot…

As a matter of fact, he had even forgotten about the rudeness of the [Three Heroics]. But before the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] had gone far, he could hear a ruffle of voices in the forest in front of him and a few series of hum. And then an eerie voice could be heard.

“Fleeing? Do you think it is so easy? Do you think that Baotu Manor is a place where you can come and go as you pleased?”

Zhan Bai could also see tens of shadows moving in the distant woods! And they had cut off the retreat route of the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird].

[Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] immediately halt their steps and they had turned ashen with frightened looks on their faces but they immediately formed a circle around their sister and from the looks of it, they were preparing to fight to the death!

When Zhan Bai witnessed it and saw a man clothed in beautiful clothing among them, he unconsciously became angry…

It was because it was Master Murong of the Baotu Manor, whom everyone had known in the Martial Fraternity as [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han.

Actually Zhan Bai did not know that he was [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han but the clothing he was wearing now was identical to the piece of silk clothing that his father had left behind. This was the main reason why he was incited.

Zhan Bai did not know yet that this [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han was his father’s killer but in this world, not many people would afford or like to wear this type of elegant robe. It was the only lead he had in pursuing his father’s killer.

[Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han was shouting at the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird]. “Outrageous juniors! You dare to make a night attack upon Baotu Manor. Drop your weapons and surrender now. Do you want to wait for me to handle you personally?”

“You despicable man!” [True Heart Sword] Fan Jun angrily bramble out. “You don’t have to show off your power and influence! It is only because you have many people with you but do you think we be afraid of you? Since we dare to come, why should we fear you in the first place, what you have, showcase to us!”

[Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han smiled and said. “Junior! You are hovering on death’s door and yet you dare to mutter so much rubbish. If you were to throw away your sword, then I will on account of your father, will still give you an option to live. If not, heng!” He coldly hummed and then stared at him with blighting eyes that were filled with a malevolent air. “If not, this hill will be your burial ground!”

[Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] knew that [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han would surely do what he had threatened. Moreover he was staring at them with such malevolent air. And the ten top exponent fighters of Baotu Manor were also at the back, staring at them in the same manner too, not to mention the tens of followers at the back too.

But, this concerned their family reputation in the Martial Fraternity and their deceased mother…she had suffered a great humiliation in the hands of Master Murong therefore she had committed suicide. Therefore they were filled with anger instead and everyone of them had decided to put their life and death aside and said at almost the same time. “Rubbish aside! Show us what capabilities you have to bring us down!”

[Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han was solemn and then he waved with his hand. Immediately five to six of his ten most powerful exponent fighters sprang in front!

Every single one of the top ten exponent fighters of the Baotu Manor, was the epitome exponent fighter 顶尖高手 that could dominate the Martial Fraternity in an area of expertise. Just any of them was the most resounding person in the Pugilist. Therefore everyone of them thought that with just their lone presence, no one would dare to intrude upon Baotu Manor. But now, in just a single night, numerous people would dare to intrude into the manor, even set fire upon the manor. Therefore without a doubt, all the top ten exponent fighters regarded it as an insult. So when Master Murong had signaled for them to bring them down, everyone had sprung in front at almost the same instant.

But because of their status in the Martial Fraternity, naturally they could not fight the Fan Clan with wolf pack tactics.

[The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng bowed with his hands together to the rest of the top martial exponents. “My dear brothers! As I am the oldest here, allow me to fight with them!” And he took out his silver flute.

Since, he had said he was the oldest here, surely he must be the oldest although it was very hard to tell from his age.

Suddenly the blind priest laughed. “Brother Zhang, your ‘Enchanting Lyric Flute Display’ is so renowned throughout the Pugilistic Martial Fraternity. To deal with a few lowly juniors, is there a need for Brother Zhang to fight personally? In my opinion, allow me, a blind priest to fight instead!”

A one arm bald old man who was really the [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing shouted. “Please forgive me, my brothers. Let me fight instead!” And he sprang ahead of them to engage the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird].

When the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] attacked at the same time, their co-operation were perfect, their timing and placement wondrous. It was because these three swords and pair of hand, formed the famous Fan Clan Sword and Fist formation known as the ‘Mystical Energy Triple Slash Formation’ 混元三才阵. The four of them were well versed in this formation and now forced to fight together, their display were indeed formidable!

But [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing as the top martial exponent fighter in the Northwest, his martial abilities were naturally unfathomable. Moreover his temper was extremely violent. Together with [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju, they were known as the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass]. And now, he wanted to be the first of the ten top martial exponents to attack because he wanted to show off his skills. However in momentum carelessness, he had gonna the lower hand because he had never expected these four juniors when they were fighting together, would be this formidable and their stances and strokes would be this marvelous.

[Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing when he attacked with his hand, his attacking force was like a huge boulder that was thrown into the ocean. At the same time, two teething sword energies flashed in his left and right. He instantly knew that he was in trouble. But lucky he was rich in fighting experience and knew that his present pose was disadvantaged, therefore he scuffled his legs backward and just managed to avoid the killer sword strokes coming in from his left and right side!

Now [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing was terrible angry and he took out a bronze bell. This bell was just an ordinary bell in the eyes of others but when he started to ring it, everyone’s ears were shrieked by it as it went. ‘Dingdang’ ‘Dingdang’.

Immediately several top martial fighters began to move backward. It was obvious that this small bell was not simply a bell. Moreover Sima Jing nickname was [Soul Seeker Bell]. Surely there must be a reason why he was nicked this way.

When the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] saw Sima Jing took out this bell, they seemed to remember suddenly who this man might be and all their expressions changed!

Fan Suluan mind and spirit had been trembled by the ‘Soul Seeker’ effect of the bell and now when she had attacked, her sense of direction seemed to have been confused! And she even felt dizzy now and knew that something was not right as she leapt backward as she grasped. “Aiya!”

Sima Jing’s soul seeker bell was indeed very powerful. Just one stance alone, was enough to break the ‘Mystical Energy Triple Slash Formation’ And moreover as he sensed the weakness in the formation, he began to attack Fan Suluan. But before he could do so, a thunderous shout was heard, halting his attack.

“Hold your hand!” As a powerful windforce streaked out.

Sima Jing moved back two yards and saw that it was a young man that had just appeared. “Huh! Is him?”

This young man was indeed Zhan Bai.

So it seemed that the shrieking sound of Sima Jing’s bell woke Zhan Bai up from his thoughts. When he had lifted his head, he had saw that Fan Suluan was in grave danger.

As Zhan Bai had always been filled with a sense of heroism, so how could he not step forth? Moreover Fan Suluan was the bosom friend in his heart.

Therefore in this crisis, he had actually forgotten about the sleazy angry that were caused by her three brothers. His only thought was on saving a life and he did not even considered if he could even win Sima Jing! It was right to say that he had lent a righteous hand and disregard life and death. Moreover he was trying to save his bosom friend, so it was purely without hesitation.

So when Zhan Bai had shouted. “Hold your hand!” He had used ten folds of his strength and generated a powerful windforce.

Sima Jing was startled therefore he had leapt two yards backward.

He had expected to see a top martial exponent fighter. When he had calmed down to take look, it was actually the same young man that caused him to fight with that Crazy Lei. Therefore he was startled and angry at the same time.

Angry because, when he was fighting with others, someone would actually dare to interrupt. Startled because, this unremarkable young man actually had such powerful palm technique. It was so unbelievable.

“Young rascal!” He shouted angrily at Zhan Bai. “I have heard that you are a junior of Lei Zhenyuan, why do you keep opposing me time and again?”

Zhan Bai looked into the crowd but there was no sight of Lei Dashu. Although he was a honest young man but he could tell that Sima Jing was trying to shift all the blame upon Lei Dashu. Zhan Bai really did not know how to lie but if he say he did not know Lei Dashu, it would weight heavily in his heart for he had accorded him with great kindness, saved him two times from dangers and even passed onto him the ‘Sacred Manual’. If he admit he was the junior of Lei Dashu, would it not give him a great deal of tricky troubles? How could Lei Dashu alone fight the entire Baotu Manor? Therefore he opened his eyes widely to look around but still he could not find any words to reply.

When the [Three Heroics] saw that it was the same young man that had saved their sister once more, they were instantly filled with guilt towards him.

Fan Suluan recomposing from her startled looks, was now looking intently at Zhan Bai with her curvy watery eyes. What was she thinking now…

[Zhaxing Shou] furrowed deeply with his eyebrows…

“Young friend, you are indeed extraordinary!” [The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng smiled as he stepped from the crowd. “I wonder who protégé are you? What is your name, can you tell me?”

Even before he could reply, a voice thundered. “Brother Zhang, why waste your breath! Let us bring this junior down first and coerced him to speak after we had him in our hands. Then all the truths will be out!”

The speaker moved very fast, even though he had just one leg. He was indeed the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju. When Zhan Bai had startled and caused his old buddy Sima Jing to move back two yards, he was startled as well.

But he was not like the others. He was very sharp and observant and although he could not guess Zhan Bai’s background but he could tell that he had only internal force and did not have any extraordinary stances. Therefore he stepped forward, intending to use his unique martial skill ‘Lightning chasing the Wind Hands’ to overcome this young man.

This old freak was ruthless and attacked without hesitation. So just when [The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng was questioning Zhan Bai, he had shouted and attacked Zhan Bai as he leapt forward in mid air with a stance of ‘Golden Leopard Flashing its Claw’. 金豹露爪

Zhan Bai dodged with his legs and extended his hands with lightning speed with a stance. ‘Implosion Divider’分猿裂虎

[One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju as he displayed his stances two times in continuous was very sure that Zhan Bai could not evade it that was why at the same instant, he shouted. “Now you will fall!”

But who would expect Zhan Bai who looked stiff and slow, would suddenly become so fast and swift and that he had actually dodged his stances. This, enraged the [One leg Flying Heretic] as he displayed three of his killer stances now, ‘Hungry Ghost seeking Souls’ 饿鬼攫魂, ‘Severance of the Nerves and Pulses’ 断筋截脉, ‘Hitting the Vitals’ 卸关点元 in continuous attack strokes.

Although the old freak had one leg but he was unbelievable fast or else he would be called the [One leg Flying Heretic]! But no matter how he looked at it, Zhan Bai did not seem to be using any extraordinary swiftness movement skill to dodge his attacks and he always managed to dodge his attacks at the very last minute or after he had attacked.

Especially Zhan Bai’s bright big eyes that were looking at all the changes of his stances and strokes with an intensity. It was like he did not care much very much for dodging and retaliation and more like a Mentor Teacher that was giving pointers to his disciple. Since everything that the disciple knew, was taught by the Mentor Teacher, no matter how fast he was, he was still unable to hit his Mentor Teacher. And the Mentor Teacher did not need to dodge on purpose, he would dodge his disciple’s attacks therefore he did not even need to guard against his disciple and just observed if his disciple attacks and movements skills were properly used.

From this point of view, then won’t this unremarkable young man martial abilities be much higher than this [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju who had been lording over the Martial Fraternity for tens of years? It was really so unbelievable! Therefore, many of the top martial exponent fighters that were watching this scene were stunned and they paid all their attention to this fight…

As for [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju, he was more startled than anyone else. Even as he attacked Zhan Bai non stop, he was thinking. “I must have knocked into a ghost! How could it be possible that my specialty hand and claw martial skill could not even touch a young inexperience young man? I am losing all my face!”

Therefore [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju stances became even more vicious and all his strokes were a life ender display.

In actuality, Zhan Bai could dodge all his killer stances and strokes were due to his unconscious reflexes and he himself did not know the reason.

Naturally, it must be credited to his gruesome training that he had put his efforts into for quite a number of years. At the same time, because he had practiced with the Sacred Manual and cultivated his internal strength with its intricate formulas, his internal force got a huge boast. And now his ears were even sharper and coupled with the fact he had broken through his eight wondrous meridian channels and pulses, his reflexes were now extraordinary fast. What he thought, he would react, as his mind and thought moved as one. 心随意动，意在神先

But Zhan Bai had forgot to attack as he stared wide eyes at the [One leg Flying Heretic] marvelous killer stances.

But who would say he was foolish? He had actually picked up the extraordinary skills of the [One leg Flying Heretic] even as the fight was carried on. Just like that, the stances and strokes of the [One leg Flying Heretic] were slowly being copied and ripped by Zhan Bai. And the old freak did not even notice it as he attacked faster and faster. In a twinkle of an eye, he had displayed twenty to thirty stances and strokes.

Chapter Fifteen: Old Man Dong

So many top martial exponent fighters here, although all had walked from the North to the South and were rich in experience but they had never saw a fighting that was conducted in such a manner. Therefore…Everyone was like speculators that were looking at a show and actually forgot that it was a life and death duel.

Sima Jing who was watching at the side, although he felt insulted by Zhan Bai and wanted to fight with him but to fight Zhan Bai together with [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju, was a greater embarrassment.

After watching Li Ju and Zhan Bai exchanging more than thirty strokes, there was still no sign of any victor, so he decided to turn his attention to the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] first.

[Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] was staring wide eyes at the duel between Li Ju and Zhan Bai.

Making up his mind, he raised his voice to say. “The four lowly juniors, are you still waiting for me?” And he rung his bell.

The [Three Heroics] raised their swords in fright while Fan Suluan seemed to be enthralled by Zhan Bai. The looks on the [Three Heroics] gave the [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing great pleasure.

And now he started attacking them as he toyed with them. Their swordplay meant nothing to him.

[The Three Swords of the Fan Clan] were very angry and flustered at the way Sima Jing toyed with them considering their status as well as their father in the Martial Fraternity.

Fan Suluan was startled and turned her head around to see her brothers in grave danger.

Her Second Brother [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie had been knocked back five to six steps back. And he had lost his balance, his sword was even sent flying off his hands.

Sima Jing was laughing hilariously.

Once again his soul seeker bell flew as it gave out a tingling sound as it now flew towards back of [Wind Chaser Sword]’s head.

Fan Suluan upon turning her head had witnessed this very scene that would take her brother’s life. With a grasp, without a hesitation on her own safety, she extended her two hands and leapt towards the soul seeker bell.

At the same time, [True Heart Sword] Fan Ju and [Stellar Cloud Sword] Fan Ying upon seeing their brother losing his stance and was now in grave danger, attacked Sima Jing at the same time in a bid to distract him from their brother and sister.

Sima Jing indeed pulled his soul seeker bell away but Fan Jie was still hit, his shoulder was hit by a force that was like a thousand weight and the sensational pain reached even to his heart and he had collapsed onto the ground…

The soul seeker bell had now returned to Sima Jing’s hands and [True Heart Sword] and [Stellar Cloud Sword] because they were very near him, was trembled by its sound and they seemed to have a lack of focus. Therefore they knew that they had to back off.

But at the very instant, Sima Jing sent his soul seeker bell at Fan Suluan.

Fan Suluan martial skills were weaker than her three brothers. Her three brothers combined forces were not even a match for the [Soul Seek Bell] Sima Jing one mighty attack. And now, two of her brothers were forced to retreat after having been trembled badly by his bell, another of her brother was serious injured.

Against Sima Jing’s fierce and extremely powerful bell that was shooting at her now, she had no choice but to use all her might in her hands to block it. But she failed and the bell had struck her on her chest and she had turned ashen immediately after grasping out…

Suddenly there was a deep voice, although the voice was not too loud but it was very crystal clear in Sima Jing’s ears. “Sima Jing you scoundrel! How dare you have the guts to commit murder here? Stop it immediately!”

Sima Jing was startled and he halted his attacks to turn his head…

A big figure was sent knocking against him and Sima Jing had caught him. It was his buddy the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju!

Now even Sima Jing was stunned and he turned to look at Li Ju’s face that had turned very white. He was biting his teeth, from the looks of it, he had been afflicted by internal injuries.

He thought. “Don’t tell me, my buddy is defeated by that green thorn young man?”

Sima Jing was startled in his heart and lifted his head to look. He saw Zhan Bai standing across him looking at him with his bright and big eyes. His eyes caused Sima Jing to receive a very shock for only now did he realized that only a person with pure inner strength would have such a bright eyes and spirit. But still how could he going to believe that this unremarkable young man was the one that had injured [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju?

In actuality, the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju that was rampaging in the Northwest whom no one in the Martial Fraternity would dare to agonize was indeed wounded by Zhan Bai with a blow.

It was because after fighting for a long while, Li Ju was after all an old and experienced pugilist. How could he not sense that Zhan Bai was secretly stealing his skills? Because Zhan Bai was only interested in how and when he maneuvered his attacks.

So he thought. “Rascal! You have actually run to my house to pick some bargains! Heng! Heng! I going to teach you a terrible lesson now so that you will not think that I am such a fool!”

Therefore he used a feint and Zhan Bai had actually fallen for it as he dodged it and now he changed his stances so fast that Zhan Bai now had no chance to dodge it as he landed a blow on Zhan Bai’s chest.

Even all the top martial exponents had thought the same as well.

Because Zhan Bai was startled and he immediately tried to block with his hands, in a panicky, he used a stance of ‘The Buddha Mediation’ 佛祖参掸 and there was a clanking sound as he sent the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju flying backward six to seven big steps to the back. Zhan Bai was real lucky to have used correctly.

That was why Li Ju had suddenly knocked into Sima Jing as he had only one leg and could not control himself.

In front of so many martial exponents, especially in front of Master Murong, how could Li Ju faced anyone? With a shout, he insisted on fighting with his life with Zhan Bai but he was gripped on his shoulder by Sima Jing.

Li Ju began to follow the glance of Sima Jing who was looking at the dark recess of the woods for he suddenly noticed that Sima Jing had turned very white and frightful. And he saw a thin old man with a long white beard, very old, eighty years or more riding a donkey. He had many wrinkles on his face but his eyes were very shining and mesmerizing.

The old man looked very harmless and innocent as he tried to control his donkey. “Beast! You are frightened because you have saw so many people issn’t?” He paused for awhile before shouting. “But I have important matters to attend, if you do not hurry, I be late.” And he started to whip the donkey with a small leather whip.

When this old man appeared, the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] Sima Jing and Li Ju had turned ashen and they were looking very frightful…

Sima Jing had already broke out in cold sweat as he thought. “No wonder the voice is so familiar. It is because he has come! Alas! Today, I, Sima Jing is really so down on my luck to meet him…”

Li Ju was even more scared than him as he thought. “It over now! Today I have disgraced myself utterly…”

Not only the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] was feeling scared and startled but all the top ten martial exponents of the Baotu Manor, including Master Murong was feeling the same too.

[Meteor Hand] Murong Han expressions had changed. Not only he had thousands of top fighters under him and his martial skills were at the epitome too. His status and his air, had long been considered to be a Grandmaster. But now when he had saw this thin old man, he had actually grown frightful. It was really hard and weird thing to explain.

Zhan Bai thought. “This old man that is selling rolls of clothing ever since I am a escort guard, I have met him a few times already. Why did he always appear in the areas where pugilists have often gathered? I don’t think he is there to do business?…”

The old man was shouting. “Folks! Help me! Aiya! No good! My donkey has been startled! Help me to stop it! Ah! Ah! No good, no good! I old man, is finished…” He looked like he would almost fall from the donkey.

And the donkey began to run and it was really very fast but not even a single pugilist stepped forward to help him even though there were so many top exponent fighters here. In fact, they even moved aside…

“Alas!” The old man grasped in startle. “Why don’t anyone of you help me ah? Do you want to watch me die? Ah! Ah! People of this era are really very bad! The hearts of people are very bad…” There was another “Argh” and he looked like he was about to fall.

[Meteor Hand] Murong Han suddenly stepped forward and bowed with both his hands together. He was filled with great respect and apologetic as he said. “Is respected old senior surname Dong, of the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] fame? Junior, I am Murong Han, paying my respect to you!”

It was really strange for the donkey had now throttled in front of Murong Han now and not moving, stopped five feet away from him. It was as though nothing had happened earlier.

But when Murong Han had finished spoken, everyone presented had their expressions changed.

It was because when this old man had first appeared, only the older pugilists were startled but not the younger pugilists.

But when Murong Han had mentioned his name, everyone instantly recalled that he was the earth shaking [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli, that was so renowned forty to fifty years ago. Therefore everyone expressions had now changed.

It was because this old man was a legend himself and his martial skills were so unfathomable that not even heaven knew his limits. As for his many strange tales, it became myths and legends in the Martial Fraternity. It was also because forty to fifty years ago, he had already vanished from the Martial Fraternity and very few people had seen him.

[Cripples from Beyond the Pass] Sima Jing and Li Ju had became a cripple because of him.

At that time, Sima Jing and Li Ju had rushed back to their Mentor Teacher crying out that they had been crippled by the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut].

Of course at that time, they would never reveal how they had been bullying the people in the Northwest and of the many atrocious things that they had done. They only told their Mentor Teacher how they were attacked by the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] and how he had insulted their Benefactor Teacher. And they added a lot of fuel to fan the flames of anguish causing their Mentor Teacher to flew into a rage and he immediately went into the Central Plains to avenge for his disciples.

So it seemed that at that time, their Mentor Teacher was already one of those few prominent figures in the Martial Fraternity. But he also knew that if he wanted to win the [Divine Donkey], he stood no chance. Therefore he invited all the very top martial fighters of the unorthodox clans and there were tens of them. They were numerous and challenged the [Divine Donkey] on the summit of Mt. Taixing. 太行山

This fight would take place on the peak of Ji Gao, on Mt. Taixing, attracted the attention of almost all the top martial fighters in the Central Plains. Even the top recluse fighters from all the four corners of the earth and ocean were there too.

But their Mentor Teacher and tens of the very top unorthodox fighters at that time, everyone was fell by Sixty-four stances of his ‘Wondrous Hand’. 奇形掌 Many were killed or seriously injured and no one ever managed to walk out beyond his ten attack strokes!

So this fight tremendous increased the fame of the [Divine Donkey] but after this, he had disappeared from the Pugilist Fraternity.

And now, this legendary fighter, Dong Qianli had appeared here. Would not everyone be startled?

“Hahaha!…” The old man laughed and said to [Meteor Hand]. “You must have misunderstood me for some other person! Just because I am riding a donkey, does not mean I am the [Divine Donkey]! And I am not [Iron Gut] too! Haha! I am a [Tofu Gut] in fact and I am most afraid of seeing fights…”

As the old man laughed and said, he and his donkey was now besides the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird]. They were now urgently trying to save the life of their Second Brother, [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie!

Fan Ying was holding Fan Jie while Eldest Brother Fan Ju was trying to make sure that Fan Jie’s life channels could flow. Fan Suluan was trying to mouth a secret pill of the Fan Family for her brother to swallow.

The old man said. “Look at this, do you think it is not scary? People are wounded because of fighting!” He looked at Fan Jie and then looked at Sima Jing and Li Ju before asking. “Who is the one that started this fight?”

The haughty [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] were instantly so frightened that they had turned white with fright but did not dare to admit or deny. They had become mutes all of a sudden...

At this time the old man was looking at Zhan Bai and he was laughed and laughed.

Zhan Bai did not know why the cloth seller old man would want to laugh at him but every time he had saw him, he would smile and laugh at him so he smiled as well.

“Little brother!” The old man said to Zhan Bai. “We seem to share some destiny, we have met again!”

“What a coincidence!” Zhan Bai replied. “Wherever I go, old mister you will be there!”

The old man laughed again and suddenly he got off from the donkey and walked to the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] and pointed at Fan Jie’s right shoulder. “His right shoulder is wounded through the Bingfeng accupoint. Unless you treat him in time, he would be a vegetation in no time!”

[True Heart Sword] Fan Ju was now perspiring. No matter how much he had tried to clear his brother’s channels, he did not seem to be able to clear his brother’s injured accupoint. Because he was the nearest to the old man, he instantly felt a slight wind fluttering from the old man’s fingers. Fan Ju was very startled and he did not know it was a legendary skill that was displayed in the Pugilist but was never seen, ‘Aerial Accupoint Technique’! 凌空拂穴

Fan Ju did not know the old man’s intention and was afraid that his brother would come to harm so he was very startled…

Suddenly [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie shivered several times before he woke up from his unconsciousness and opened his eyes…

Only then did he realized that the old man was helping them and helped his brother cleared his accupoint channels. He had spent a great deal of his time and energy yet still could not save his brother and now this old man had simply lifted his finger and he had saved his brother. To think that he had almost wanted to stop this old man when he had pointed his finger so he said secretly to himself. “It is so embarrassing!”

But when this old man had got off from his donkey, Zhan Bai had suddenly noticed that on the back of the donkey was a sword. Instantly, Zhan Bai head and heart began to tremble hilariously…

It was because the sword was his family heirloom the ‘Heartless Precious Sword’! The sword that his father had left behind for him to avenge him.

So he shouted. “Issn’t this my precious sword? Old Mister…”

Just when he was about to grab the sword, the old man was even faster and had got on the donkey and had throttled a few paces away. “Ah! This little brother, what happens to you? Why did you want to steal a old man’s precious sword?”

“Heng!” Zhan Bai was very angry now as he coldly hummed. “I don’t know who steal from who precious sword? I don’t have sand in my eyes! You have been following me all the way and even steal my precious sword! And you even dare to flash it in front of me?…”

Zhan Bai was angry and he began to spring to the old man but the old man and his donkey throttled even faster away.

Zhan Bai was afraid that he would run away so he began to use his ‘Eight Diagram Movement Swiftness Skill’ 八步赶蝉 to give chase.

“Aiya!” The old man sounded panicky. “Little brother, your greediness arouse when you see something precious and even think of robbing me! So many of you here, who can help me stop him ah!”

“Old man! Don’t pretend to be silly!” Zhan Bai scolded after him. “If you don’t return my precious sword, even if you were to run to the ends of the heaven, I will still chase you till you have returned my precious sword!”

“Aiya!…Aiyo!…” The old man exclaimed several times as he sped away in his donkey with Zhan Bai chasing him in a frenzy as they disappeared into the dark woods.

When the top exponent fighters of Baotu Manor had saw that Zhan Bai had run away while chasing the old man, many of them wanted to go after him but was stopped by Master Murong...

Chapter 16: Living Dead Man and Dead Living Man

Zhan Bai had chased the old man that was riding a donkey for forty to fifty miles before he lost sight of him.

But a miraculous thing happened. Although the old man had disappeared, he found his ‘Heartless Sword’ thrust on a pine tree.

Zhan Bai almost could not believed his very own eyes. How could such a strange thing happen in this world? The sword that he had lost, would actually be found on the top of the tree, waiting for him to retrieve?

But that was the truth that his eyes had seen - The golden edge of the scabbard, the green scale fish leather scabbard! The Heartless Sword was in indeed hanging right here!

Zhan Bai thought he had developed a blurry vision. He thought because of his constant longing for this sword caused him to develop hallucinations. So he rubbed his eyes and lifted his head again and saw that the Heartless Precious Sword was still hanging up there.

One month or so ago, [Cruel Hand Midget] had stolen Zhan Bai’s sword and his small sack and even thrown the contents away.

The distance between the sword and him was four yards but because he was trying to verify if the sword was real, he had no time to think and jumped up to retrieve the sword. Actually he had not paused to consider that the height was too high. So when he had jumped and caught the sword, he was surprised and exclaimed. “What excellent swiftness movement skill!” As he praised himself, astonished that his lightness feat 轻身提纵术 had suddenly improved by so much.

But as he landed, there was a shout behind him that startled him.

The sword that was now in Zhan Bai’s hand had twice been stolen away from him. The experience scarred him badly. Therefore thinking again, that he would be so unlucky as to lose his sword once more, he got a big fright much like a bird that was being fired upon by an arrow. Quickly, he turned around and drawn his sword, displaying a stance, ‘Fending in Eight Directions in the Dark’ as soon as he turned around, sending a blink of light as he unsheathed his sword. Next he looked at what had occurred.

Goose pimples broke out.

For standing behind him were two strange men in white hemp cloth and both of them were looking idiocy at him with their pale white faces that did not even have any hint of any blood.

These two weird men had suddenly appeared behind him without a single sound like a spectral. Moreover these two weird men carried a ghastly aura. What was more, with their appearance, even the forest of pine woods suddenly became eerie.

Although it was now a beautiful afternoon but Zhan Bai could not help feeling like he was in hell and all his hair was standing.

What was even weirder was that those two men were almost identical whether in appearances or dressing. It was like a person playing the role of two persons.

Just when Zhan Bai was still startled, one of the weird man began to flash his teeth to laugh.

But his laugh was even scarier. His facial expressions did not even tweaked, showing forth his teeth.

As for the another man, he extended forth a hand and eerily shouted. “Hand it over!”

Zhan Bai took a step back and placed his sword in front of his chest. He thought to himself. “No matter what happen this time round, I must not lose my father’s sword again. Even if I have to die, I would not bulge!” As he thought, he said. “I am not acquaintance with the two of you. I do not know what you want me to hand over?”

“Ke!Ke!Ke!…” The two weird men began to laugh aloud, shivering Zhan Bai.

“The first thing you have to do is to hand over the sword!”

“The second thing you have to do is to hand over your life. But I think it is wiser for you to hand over the sword first, or else after you have died, fancy a old man like me will have to bend over to pick the sword!”

The tone of the words was filled with arrogance. After Zhan Bai had heard it, he began to furrow deeply and he was now filled with rage. As he had already cast away life and death, he laughed coldly and said. “What a thing to say! Hurry and report your names! I, Zhan Bai, will never tainted my sword with killing nameless ghosts!”

When both of them heard Zhan Bai’s name, they glanced at one another and their expressions suddenly tweaked. And asked at the same time. “What! You are named Zhan too! Is it real?”

“Ridiculous!” Zhan Bai thought. “Will a surname be fake?”

Therefore he exclaimed proudly. “Is it because the two of you have used a fake name, therefore you did not dare to say aloud your names?”

But who would expect that it would cause a distress in their innermost hearts. One of them began to shout. “I am called [Living Dead Man]!”

The another man thundered. “I am called [Dead living Man]!”


The two of them exclaimed at the same time. “We are really nameless and without surnames as well. But if we tell you our real nicknames, it is the time for you to meet your maker!”

Even as the both of them spoke, they had sprang forward and attacked Zhan Bai ferociously with palm and gripping attacks.

Zhan Bai tightened his grip on the hilt and started parrying left and right. After continuously displaying five, six strokes only then did he managed to fend them off.

Even though Zhan Bai had encountered many top pugilist exponents recently but he had never seen such weird strokes that were being displayed by those two weird men. When they attacked, it changed from gradually slow to fast rapid attacks. When they extended out their palms and fingers, it suddenly became as fast as a fast moving hurricane.

And so each time they attacked with a single stance, Zhan Bai was forced to parry with another three to five stances. Therefore when they attacked with two to three stances, he found himself in a frenzied state.

At that moment of time, Zhan Bai totally lost his state of calmness when he was facing the [One leg Flying Heretic]. It was because even though the [One leg Flying Heretic] strokes may be very fast, but there were still some breathing spaces for him to parry. But now, those two weird men when they attacked, they left no thinking time for him to pause and consider.

Zhan Bai martial arts were originally very complex. In the beginning, he had spend more than ten years training in hardship in his martial arts. But a lack of guidance from a Enlightened Master restricted his martial skills to the most ordinary ones. But then after he had practiced hard the orthodox intricate formulas in the [Sacred Manual], his inner strength tremendously increased. His eyes and ears became sharp and focus, becoming extraordinary in the process and he finally had the potential to practice the higher forms of martial arts.

However, he still could not comprehend all those strange and wondrous sword and unarmed techniques. And then, after quite a few encounters with the top exponents, he managed to grasp a few strokes and stances due purely to a moment’s inspiration. For the gaps in between the strokes, he tried to alleviate by filling it with possible strokes as he fought along.

But now, under the fierce attacks of those two men that were using a weird and wondrous attacking stance that severely crippled Zhan Bai ability to hold his ground as he tried his very best to parry in all directions.

After tens of strokes fly past, Zhan Bai was now parrying more than he could retaliate. His sword could not even aim accurate at them as powerful windforce caused by those two men defrayed the sword.

Zhan Bai was feeling panicky now. Suddenly he started to see white images of them attacking him as they split from two to four, from four to eight, from eight to sixteen, from sixteen to much much more as they started to surround him.

Naturally Zhan Bai understood that the illusions were caused by the two weird men’s illusionary swiftness movement skills. But he did not know which were the actual and which were the illusions. He could only danced his Heartless Precious Sword all around him continuously in a bid to protect himself.

Zhan Bai’s ‘Three Flair Swordplay’ 三才剑法 was a most ordinary swordplay but when he had displayed it, sword energy chillingly radiated from it as it thundered like thunder in the thunderstorm. It was like a furious dragon in a maelstrom.

The two weird men were no less startled than Zhan Bai who was equally startled by their martial art skills. It was because very few people could even ten strokes of their collective display of the ‘Trilateral Equilibrium Soul Snatching Palm’太极两仪离魂掌. And Zhan Bai could actually have the ability to fight with them for more than ten strokes and not be defeated.

In a blinking flash, another five, six strokes scurried by.

[Living Dead Man] 活死人 was patience enough and he was not in a hurry as he attacked Zhan Bai stroke by stroke, stance by stance. [Dead Living Man] 死活人 however was by natural an impatience man. After witnessing that Zhan Bai was still undefeated, he suddenly gave a thunderous shout as he executed a stance named ‘Dividing the Mortals’ 阴阳异路 as he forcefully barged towards and aimed at five of his vulnerable accupoints as he sliced with his left hand and chopped with his right hand.

This stance of his were extraordinary swift and deadly. Zhan Bai was already dazzled by those two weird men that he did not even know where all the incoming strokes were coming from. His only natural reflex was to dance the Heartless Precious Sword around him non stop like a gale, seeking self preservation instead of attempting to hurt his opponents. Therefore when this deadly stance was displayed, he was unaware of it.

He was an exemplar of a blind man riding a blind horse. He did not even know that he had walked into a treacherous road…

However [Living Dead Man] was looking out for Zhan Bai with a hidden agenda and he fended off all the killer strokes executed by the [Dead Living Man]. Just when [Dead Living Man] was about to fly into a temper, [Living Dead Man] snatched the bundle off Zhan Bai’s sword and retreated backwards.

[Dead Living Man] did not know why [Living Dead Man] had suddenly retreated but they had always assaulted and retreated together. So when he saw [Living Dead Man] had back off, he was filled with displeasure and did the same as well.

Zhan Bai suddenly felt as though a heavy pressure had been lifted off him as the illusionary white figures had started to vanish. And he stood rooted to the ground vigilantly with his sword.

Then the two weird men began to open up the bundle and casually took a bundle of hair from it and looked at one another before they finally turned towards Zhan Bai and asked. “What is it?”

However when Zhan Bai had saw them picked out the bundle of hair from inside the bundle, he was furious and stared at them with blood shot eyes.

It was indeed the clues and the items left behind by his father that he had been painstaking seeking all this while!

“Return it to me!” Zhan Bai thundered. “Where did the both of you find it from?”

The two weird men did not expect Zhan Bai to become suddenly so fierce and threw the hair in front of him, coldly said. “You can have it if you want it. This isn’t any good stuff anyway.”

Immediately after they had said that, they took out a thread of silk strings and once again, they looked at one another. They turned and looked at Zhan Bai without expressions to ask. “What is this then?”

“Hurry and return it to me!”

Zhan Bai did not notice that the bundle was snatched from his sword hilt. He only felt strange that how could these two weird men possibly could have his deceased father’s possession? Therefore he became very agitated and shouted continuous. “All the things in that small bundle are mine!”

But the two men ignored the yelling pleas of Zhan Bai and reaching into the bundle and threw a iron pearl and a copper button from inside the bundle at him.

Suddenly the two of them began to dance madly in a hilarious manner, all the while screaming.

Zhan Bai was startled. Why did they suddenly become crazy?

Suddenly the two men caught hold of Zhan Bai by his arms, from two sides and they started to grip him tightly. But Zhan Bai bit his teeth tightly and did not mutter a single sound e even though he was in terrible pain.

How did they catch hold of him so easily? Firstly, he was caught by surprise and did not guarded against them. Secondly, they were simply too fast.

“Is this the Precious Heartless Sword?” [Living Dead Man] asked in a shrieking sorrowful voice as he gripped Zhan Bai’s on his right shoulder.

Zhan Bai tried to resist as he protested. “Let go of me!”

“Are you the descendant of the Great Hero Zhan Yuntian?” Asked the [Dead Living Man] as he asked in an equally sorrowful voice as he gripped him on his left shoulder.

Grieved at the mention of his late father but still Zhan Bai refused to say a word more.

Suddenly the two weird men let go of Zhan Bai and together, they bowed at him. And then, [Living Dead Man] lamented sorrowfully. “Heaven is not blind after all, our benefactor has a heir!”

[Dead Living Man] was lamenting loudly as well. “Heaven is blind, our benefactor have been wronged so unjustly that it can sink to the bottom of the ocean!”

“What else!” [Living Dead Man] clenched the copper coin in his fist tightly. He lamented aloud in terrible grief. “Brother, what do think is this?”

Suddenly, [Dead Living Man] was hollowing even more loudly and his shrieking voice was as though it could shatter rocks and penetrated to the clouds.

“Us two brothers, try as we try, we still cannot find out who killed our benefactor and he had to die in limbo.” [Dead Living Man] seemed to finish lamenting as he sunk his voice painfully to add. “Rather than live in this world to suffer the indignant of not avenging our benefactor that is worse than death, that is why we hide our real names and use the nick of [Living Dead Man] and [Dead Living Man]. But today after witnessing these objects…”

[Dead Living Man] looked even more sorrowful as he pointed at the copper coin that [Living Dead Man] was holding and he was weeping. “Now that we already know who to seek vendetta with but we are unable to avenge for our benefactor. Can we still face anyone in life? Do we still deserve to live in this world?”

“That is right!” [Living Dead Man] too began to lament in great sorrow as he questioned. “My brother! Do we still have anything that deserve to live for in this world?”

As they said, they began to hug one another to weep uncontrollably…

Never did Zhan Bai expect that these two ghastly weird men that radiated such an eerie and cold demeanor, would have such warm heartfelt affection! Moreover, judging from their tone and mannerism, it was quite obvious that they were his father’s friends.

Therefore by now, Zhan Bai had already cast away his dislike and feeling of repulsive for them. Instead, he felt so intimate with them as though it was like his father meeting with his best of friends.

He tried to comfort them by saying. “Do not grieve. There is a saying: It never too late for a gentleman to avenge a wrong even if it were ten years late. As long as the two of you have this heart, not to mention myself but also my late father will be extremely grateful in the underworld!”

It would be better if Zhan Bai did not comfort them for it upset them even more as they hollowed loudly with tears. “What a great shame, how can we face his family! What a great shame, how can we face his family!…”

Suddenly [Living Dead Man] as he lamented began to bang his head headlong into a pine tree.

It was obvious that he was too deeply overcome with grief and was now trying to commit suicide by rushing headlong into a pine tree which width required two men to surround with their hands.

Zhan Bai was too late to [Living Dead Man] and when he tried to hold him back, [Dead Living Man] had rushed into a giant pine tree on the other side!

There were a series of loud crashing sound caused by the two men as they attempted to bang their heads again and again!

Zhan Bai was secretly stunned. The force of these men when they banged into the trees were like thousand weight force. 千钩力道

Seeing that they could not succeed in their suicide, they lamented aloud as they shrieked before finally making their way out of the pine forest in extreme grief.

After Zhan Bai had saw them went afar and after standing on the same spot for some time, did he recovered his thoughts as he thought. “It really so unthinkable that these two ghastly men are actually men of blood and tears!”

“Alas!” Zhan Bai sighed aloud as he thought. “From their tone, it seem that they had already known who killed my father. But why did they say, they can’t avenge for my father…”

When Zhan Bai had thought of that, he suddenly stomped his leg and shouted. “Alas Ah! Why did I forget to ask them…”

“Little rascal! Who did you forget to ask?” Someone replied him from his back. “You are actually talking to yourself!”

Zhan Bai turned around and his blood ran cold for standing right in front of him was the [Cruel Hand Midget] 辣手童心.

Zhan Bai furrowed his eyebrows puzzling over the prospect of his luck.

[Cruel Hand Midget] laughed aloud and looked extremely happy as he said. “Little fellow, you seem none too please to meet an old man like me?”

Zhan Bai did not bother to answer him.

“But, who will expect that we can actually encounter one another again! Moreover it is the same place. Little Fellow, can you not say that it is not Heaven’s Will after all?”

Zhan Bai was jolted. He suddenly remembered this was the same place that he had encountered the [The Outrageous Flying Cloud] 燕云五霸天. It was also the very same place that they had tried to raid his escorts. Recalling all these things that had occurred one month ago, he was crestfallen and a feeling of sadness overwhelmed him! 如有隔世之感

“Since we have so much fate,” [Cruel Hand Midget] jeered, ignoring Zhan Bai that looked so depressed and said. “Then surrender it now!”

Zhan Bai stumbled backward at his words as he thought. “Not again!” He bitterly said. “Old senior! You have thrown junior’s things away and caused me untold grief. Don’t you feel that is enough already? Now you want to take things from me again! What do you want? I really do not have anything on me…”

[Cruel Hand Midget] giggled and pointed at his Heartless Precious Sword. “I promise this time I do not want your smell stuff anymore! Hand over your sword and let me have a look!”

Zhan Bai was furious and he thought. “Must I be manipulate and let other snatch my things like that?” And he stared at him and said aloud. “Everyone in the Martial Fraternity knows that a pugilist’s weapon is his second life! For an old senior like you to mutter such a thing, don’t you feel ridiculous at all?”

[Cruel Hand Midget] tweaked his face as his jovial expression disappeared and he solemnly said in a deep voice. “I only ask you this. To surrender it? Or not to surrender it?”

Zhan Bai laughed coldly and replied proudly. “Then you have to ask my sword to see if it is in agreement!”

[Cruel Hand Midget]’s eyes were filled with malevolent air. Because Zhan Bai thought that he was about to attack him, he secretly channeled his inner force throughout his body as a precaution.

Suddenly [Cruel Hand Midget] turned panicky as he caught sight of the huge pine trees lying all over in pandemonium. He pointed his finger around and asked. “What is going on around here? How did these trees fall?”

Zhan Bai really felt laudable at himself. He had been so nervous for quite awhile and this [Cruel Hand Midget] suddenly switched his attention and asked about those fallen trees. He thought that this old man was really unreasonable and he did not want to waste anymore time with him.

“Then…” Zhan Bai said. “I plead with old senior to spend some time investigating and to ponder over it! Junior still have other matters to attend to and I take my leave now!” After saying, Zhan Bai turned his head around and walked away.

There was a hum and a shadowy flash as [Cruel Hand Midget] made his way in front of Zhan Bai. He thundered loudly. “Little rascal! Are you thinking of running again? You dare to play punk with me right in front of my very eyes? Then you are asking for trouble!”

Zhan Bai waved his Heartless Precious Sword and coldly replied. “Then, may I ask you for some instructions! I will simply fight and not back off!”

[Cruel Hand Midget] hummed aloud from his nostril as he exclaimed none too please. “Little rascal! You dare to exchange blows with me?”

Zhan Bai straightened his back and answered without hesitating. “I can’t wait in fact to take a look at some of old senior’s epitome strokes!”

[Cruel Hand Midget] looked undecided and his eyes were looking left and right around him…

However Zhan Bai knew that the [Cruel Hand Midget] might be weird but he was actually a very cunning man. Afraid that he might use some sneak attacks on him, he immediately focussed his attention and circulated his inner strength throughout his entire body to ready himself for any attacks.

Suddenly the [Cruel Hand Midget] noticed some words on the ground tens of yards away. And slowly he began to walk towards it as if curiosity got the hand of him. He was heard muttering. “Alas! Who wrote these words on the ground?”

Because the Midget had relaxed his malevolent air, Zhan Bai found himself relaxing from his tight tension as well. He suddenly found himself unable to smile. Even if he were to cry, there would be no tears. Not in the least having the curiosity as the [Cruel Hand Midget], he began to storm out of the surrounding pine woods in broad strides…

At the same time, Zhan Bai hardened his heart and said to himself if the [Cruel Hand Midget] tried to stop him again, he would surely circulated all his internal force and stabbed him in the chest with his sword. Even if this freak were to confuse him and muttered sweet nothings to him, he would never even kindled his eyebrows to ponder…

As soon as his heart was hardened, it became soft again as he walked in strides away. Only this time, the [Cruel Hand Midget] did not try to stop him but he began to read out some words that could barely considered sentence, causing him to pause and turned back!

“The act of avenging thee father…must…gold…be left avenge…do not be rush…Donkey…Gut…”

[Cruel Hand Midget] was heard scolding as he jumped up and down. “It made utterly no sense at all!”

But to Zhan Bai, it made perfect sense as blood rushed to his head and his heart pounded. “Alas ah! Isn’t it obviously the hints of the old man with the donkey? He is trying to tell me who killed my father!”

Zhan Bai rushed back immediately as the [Cruel Hand Midget] began to erase the words by his jumping! But it was too late!

He shouted hilariously. “Old senior! Do not erase all those words!”

Even though he had rushed back as quick as lightning but [Cruel Hand Midget] had totally caused all the words to vanish from the ground!

He looked at Zhan Bai to say, “What is the matter with you, little fellow? Are you the one that wrote all those words on the ground? It really made no sense at all! Didn’t you study at all when you are little? To think you are an adult now!”

How would Zhan Bai still have the mood to argue with him? He only bowed his head low at the ground that just moment ago contained the clues to his father’s death as he exclaimed anxiously. “Old senior! What must you pit yourself against me! Why expended so much efforts on me? Really! It was really…”
Zhan Bai kept scolding ‘Really’ for some time in repetitious not knowing what to say.

But the [Cruel Hand Midget] began to applaud with his hands after witnessing how frustrated Zhan Bai was. He thought that it was the most fun thing that had happened.

“Alas!” Zhan Bai let go of a long sight as he thought. “Why wasted so much time on him. It is better if I stay away from him, the faster the better! Since that old man that rides the donkey has left his sword and words behind for him, surely he is trying to help him secretly. Even though those words are not clear but his father’s killer must surely be at Nanjing (gold can be pronounced Jin). Why don’t he take a trip down to Nanjing? Maybe he can find some clues there…”

As he was thinking, he began to turn back to walk away…

But the [Cruel Hand Midget] suddenly blocked his way and shouted. “Little rascal! If you do leave your sword, don’t even think of leaving here! Do you think you are able to leave on your own?”

Zhan Bai was really pushed to a corner by him and he snapped by executing ‘Sword Finger of the Heavenly South’. 剑指天南 He was so angry that he was speechless now and he attacked the [Cruel Hand Midget] who responded by shouting. “Wonderful attack!”

Suddenly [Cruel Hand Midget] swayed aside, avoiding his sword stance and attacked fiercely toward Zhan Bai right wrist with his left hand. This counter attack was exactly a technique known as the ‘Hand grasping and weapon clenching style’ 空手入白刃 for unarmed fighter to fight against some one with a weapon in hand. At the same time, his right hand swiftly and fiercely reached out and hit violently at Zhan Bai’s left chest.

Indeed, the [Cruel Hand Midget] was not to be trifled with. In a mere instant, he had countered, counter attacked and his strokes were all secretive and marvelous. It was indeed very extraordinary to behold.

Zhan Bai was taken aback. Even with a sword in his hand, he could not gain an edge over him. Not only did the [Cruel Hand Midget] not retreat in the face of his deadly and swift swordplay, he had even successfully counter attacked and put him at a disadvantage.

All Zhan Bai could do was to muster all his strength and swung his sword in a defensive position in a bid to withdraw his attacking stance. But it was already too late and his right wrist was hit by the [Cruel Hand Midget] and he felt his chest experiencing a painful sensational as if his bones had cracked. He felt his upper body growing numb and his Heartless Precious Sword almost dropped from his hand…

It was a lucky thing that after Zhan Bai was struck in the chest, his right wrist was not gripped by the [Cruel Hand Midget] or it would well be fatal.

Zhan Bai was panicky and he lifted his left hand to parry his attacker remaining blows. Both of them were knocked back three steps.

Because both of them were still in the process of exchanging blows and had not used all their might, they could not gain an immediately edge over one another.

In Zhan Bai’s panicky state, he had seal off the remaining blows with a powerful stretch thus saving him from a perilous situation. He did not think much about this exchange but as for the [Cruel Hand Midget], it wounded his pride.

With his consummate skills and present state of cultivation, how could Zhan Bai had the strength to knock him back? It was something that was impossible.

He thundered at Zhan Bai, “Good rascal! Hats off to you! What about taking a blow from my hands!” Upon saying, he raised his strength of cultivation to eight folds and violently struck out.

A streak of windforce that hallowed as he extended his hands. The [Cruel Hand Midget] palm strike was startling!

Zhan Bai had unconsciously pushed the [Cruel Hand Midget] backward. Therefore he received a boast to his confidence and he quickly switched his sword to his left hand and let his right hand received the incoming blow.

There was a thunderous clap as sand flew in all directions.

Zhan Bai was still standing firmly on the same spot while the [Cruel Hand Midget] was knocked back five to six steps backward before he could steady himself.

This time round, the [Cruel Hand Midget] was startled and he thought. “I have found fame in the pugilist world for many years and rarely meet any worthy opponents. How could I be knock back by such a unremarkable young man?”

One month ago, he had encountered this young man and had already known that his skills were ordinary. Therefore, how was it possible for Zhan Bai to improve so tremendous in a single month?…

If this got out to the pugilist realm that he was jerked backward by this unknown young man, how would he going to face anyone in the future? This was too great a blow to his pride.

When the [Cruel Hand Midget] analyzed up to this point, his eyes turned murderous and stray of his hair were standing up. This was a sign that his internal force had been cultivated to the level of finesses. “Rascal! Not bad.” And then he thundered aloud. “What about taking another blow from me!”

Zhan Bai knew instantly that this old man had used all his might. Wishing to know the extent of his internal cultivation as well, he lifted the energy from his diaphragm and used ten fold of his strength by exercising the Sacred Manual consummate skills.

The [Cruel Hand Midget] laughed, “I see that you have readied yourself!”

Zhan Bai did not know that the [Cruel Hand Midget] was planning a ruse so he replied. “Old senior, please exhibited your blow! Junior I…”

But who would have thought that when Zhan Bai was still speaking in mid sentences that the [Cruel Hand Midget] would suddenly attack him suddenly as he shouted. “Heh!”

Zhan Bai was taken completely by surprise as he hurriedly raised his vital energies around him in a quick attempt to take the incoming blow.

“Pang!” A thunderous sound was heard.

Zhan Bai began to see stars as he was dazzled by the furious amount of impact. He found himself almost unable to stand still. The pressure of that blow was like the sudden rushing of the great river Changjiang that had rushed upon him. He knew that if he was in grave danger now. If he could not handle this blow, he would die instantly.

Therefore he focused his thoughts and mustered all his vital energies from his diaphragm as he tried to perform the ‘Thousand Weigh Fall’千斤坠 to steady himself while at the same time, he circulated the vital energies to both his shoulders and then to his both his hands. Surprisingly, he managed to withstand the attack in its entirely and the danger faded.

Although the [Cruel Hand Midget] did not think much of Zhan Bai nor did he placed him in high regards, he knew by now that this young man was not to be underestimated. In this third round of fight, he tried to use a little ruse; While Zhan Bai was talking, he would attack because while talking, vital energies would leak away. It was an excellent opportunity to kill Zhan Bai on the spot and he would preserve his pride as well.

Therefore he lifted and used all forty to fifty years of his internal power and extended both his hands into a blow while thinking. “Rascal, you are finished this time…”

But who would expect that Zhan Bai would suddenly managed to calm his explosive force down and reversed the force at him!

The [Cruel Hand Midget] was greatly startled and he immediately calmed himself down and mustered his remaining strength to both his hands…

Zhan Bai too readied all his internal strength to resist…

It was now a contest of vital energies as they froze in a posture with hands extending together. Those who did not know might have wondered why an old man and a young man were posturing for in the forest!

On closer look, both men were looking extremely anxious and were shaking slightly. The old man was staring with murderous intent at Zhan Bai.

The internal skills that Zhan Bai had mastered was the Sacred Manual containing all the orthodox upper echelon intrinsic formula and it was passed down by the Lord of the Only Eye. At such, the book was the most marvelous in the world. The martial skills that were recorded in it were all rarely seen but were all first class. It had the powers of the monastic order to subdue demonic forces. What more, Zhan Bai had a most extraordinary encounter. He was attacked by Zhang Shipeng’s Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display that caused his vital energies to reverse upon himself. 归真返璞. Lucky, Master Lingfeng had unwittingly dealt him a blow and cleared his eight wondrous meridian channels.

Therefore Zhan Bai inner martial arts underwent a tremendous increase. It was not beneath some one that had forty to fifty years of internal cultivation and practice.

Once again, they were equals in this standoff.

The [Cruel Hand Midget] too was experiencing that Zhan Bai’s internal force was like the great river Changjiang that were rushing at him. He bit his teeth and concentrated on dealing with the pressure. Not only was he startled, he was enraged!

What amount to the time to boil a hot teapot passed as the both of them fought a physical and mental contest to see who would be the first to go under. The surrounding woods had suddenly became eerily quiet.

Suddenly Zhan Bai remembered that the Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual had two lines of secret formula that formed: “An illusion that is not, the weakness that is not.” 虚而不虚，弱而不弱 Did the intrinsic formula meant it as ‘Suck’?

Therefore Zhan Bai thought. “I need to go Nanjing. If I contest with him painstakingly in this manner, I wondered when would it ended? Why don’t I attempt to use this ‘Suck’ method. It would well be my liberation to leave this place!”

Because Zhan Bai was still young and impatience, he did not pause to think that this was a life and death matter. What he had thought of, he acted upon it. Therefore at this moment of time, he reversed all his vital energies backward and he could feel a suction in the [Cruel Hand Midget]’s palms as well. The energy that was reversing was like tens of thousands of rivers rushing forth and it was rushing at him! Zhan Bai was greatly startled…



Chapter 16 Ended

Chapter 17: The truth is difficult to explain

Inside Fei Yi Tong’s 费一童 innermost thoughts, he was hilariously happy when he felt Zhan Bai palm force receding. He had thought that Zhan Bai internal strength was giving way, therefore he hallowed in joy.

“You will go…”

But before he could say ‘Down’, he suddenly felt a tremendous force rebounding back from Zhan Bai. Like a thousand ton crashing upon his body, his eyes turned black and his ears thundering aloud, he found himself no longer able to withstand anymore.

He screamed aloud as he was knocked back. There was a loud ‘Pong’ sound that clapped like thunder as he was thrown a yard away and landed on the ground.

When Zhan Bai had used the ‘Suck’ intrinsic formula, he immediately sensed something was not right. In a bid to salvage the situation, he accidentally executed the ‘Reality that is, Strong enforcing Strong’ 实而又实，强而又强 in the Sacred Manual that formed the intrinsic word ‘Rebound’ and instantly knocked back Fei Yitong.

This was something that Zhan Bai had not expected. He heard the screams of Fei Yitong after that for he himself was knocked backward onto the ground. He got up and circulated his breathing first before he walked over to check upon him and saw that blood was bleeding from his veins, nose, mouth and ears; Fei Yitong was dead now.

Although Zhan Bai had previously roamed the pugilistic realm for many years but this was actually the first time he had killed some one. Therefore when he saw that Fei Yitong was bleeding from his seven senses and died in such a terrible manner, he was panicky.

To someone that had bullied him on numerous times, he was feeling apologetic at the moment as he muttered in prayer. “Old senior, why must we come to this stage? You have caused me numerous troubles, alas! I have misjudged and accidentally killed you…”

As he muttered, he thought. “I have better buried him in case his body is exposed to the wilderness and eaten by the wild beasts…”

Therefore, he drawn the Heartless Precious Sword to use as a spade and dug a pit in the forest ground. Just when he had thrown the corpse of Fei Yitong into the pit, suddenly there was a series of wicked laughter coming from three big burly men.

“What a good thing that you have done!”

A burly man that seemed to the leader of the ground said. “To think that someone after murdering a man in broad daylight has decided to destroy all traces of the evidence. Don’t try to deny this thing anymore, rascal!”

Zhan Bai was taken aback while another burly man with an alert face was grinning. “Friend, which fraction do you belong to? After you got yourself such a loot, don’t try to seize all of it for yourself!”

The third burly man that had a pale face coldly said. “Witnesses have a share in the loot too. Take out all the loot no matter how valuable or minor and share with us!”

Although Zhan Bai had previously mixed with the unorthodox fractions in the past not more than a few days but he did understand their meanings. When he heard that these burly men had thought of him as a fellow bandit and even asked to have a share in the loot, he was feeling misery. So he replied. “There is no loot to be shared here. The one that died is my companion. He had died during the travels and I am burying his corpse for him!”

The three burly men refused to believe what Zhan Bai had died and walked over to take a look. When they saw the horrid expressions of Fei Yitong, the burly man with the alert face laughed. “There is no need to play a covert games with the knowing. Friend, this companion of yours did not died of illness, right?”

“Oh gosh!”

Before Zhan Bai could reply, the man with the pale face startling called out. “Isn’t this dead man, old senior [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong!”

The other two were speechless and opened their eyes wide opened and took a closer once more. After verifying that it was really the [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong, they immediately took two steps back and they drawn their sabres from the back of their body.

And they immediately surrounded him.

“You rascal, how could you have killed old senior Fei?” The leader pointed his finger at Zhan Bai and said aloud. “Why don’t you honestly confess it now!”

“Laoda! (Leader)”

The other two men shouted together. “There is no need to ask anymore! A life for a life for old senior Fei’s life!”

And they had firmly surrounded Zhan Bai now.

“Hold it!” Zhan Bai shouted. “I was dueling with old senior Fei when I misjudged my strength and accidentally hurt him…”

“Rascal! Do you know that telling tell tales will cause your tongue to rot!” The pale faced man coldly said eerily. “In a fair duel, how would you ever be a match for old senior Fei? You must be using some underhand means to kill old senior Fei!”

“Rascal! A life for a life!” The alert face man suddenly hacked his sabre at Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai had barely dodged it when the other two men too started hacking him from his left and back.

Zhan Bai saw that these three men were proficiency with their sabre techniques therefore he unsheathed the Heartless Precious Sword from the scabbard and displayed a stroke ‘Crossing the River, diverting the Flow’ 桥江断流

There were two ‘Clang’ sound as two sabres were severed from its hilt by the Heartless Precious Sword.

The three burly men were startled as they back off one yard away as they stared at Zhan Bai in a state of panic.

This time round, they did not dare to underestimate Zhan Bai anymore for they had witnessed him severing their sabres with his sword.

The three of them were furious and two of the men with the severed sabres charged towards Zhan Bai.

They attacked Zhan Bai on all sides again.

Upon seeing how frantic were their attacks, Zhan Bai did not dare to use his hand to handle the attacks. So he moved his body and used the ‘Ripple of the White Heron’ swiftness skill to dodge the two severed sabres.

Zhan Bai lifted gave a flying kick towards the third man and he was knocked backward to the ground.

The three men had by now lost all their morale and were frightened. They quickly moved backward as they were afraid that Zhan Bai would kill him.

Seeing that Zhan Bai had no wish to pursue them, the pale faced man shouted fiercely. “If you have the guts, leave behind your name!”

“Zhan Bai is my namesake!” Zhan Bai had by now knowingly understood that his martial skills had improved tremendously; his bodily co-ordination and execution of his skills were excellent. Therefore he started to feel proud in his heart and he replied. “Do you still have any opinion to express?”

“Don’t be too sure of yourself yet! We may have admitted defeat for now! But you better watch out!”

As they exclaiming, they were in fact running hastily away.

Zhan Bai laughed on his own and thought. “To think that I, Zhan Bai finally have the opportunity to be famous now…”

After he had finished burying Fei Yitong and ascertaining the way to Nanjing, he was soon on his way.

When the darkness descended, Zhan Bai had walked into a big town. However, he did not know what was the name of this town. But he could see that the streets were lit in a beautiful glow and crowds of people were moving around. It was a bustling town with many traders and people.

As Zhan Bai had hurried hastily here, he was feeling very hungry for quite some time. Taking a good look around hoping to spot a tavern or a Inn to rest and then when dawn came tomorrow, he would continue on his way.

Along the way, Zhan Bai was looking all around for a Inn Tavern and did not notice that quite a few men in short garment were staring at him.

Finally, Zhan Bai spied an Inn Tavern with a big golden sign board with the inscription ‘Gathering of the Heroes’. The merry sounds of people that were making a din out of guessing fists and the fragrance of wine attracted Zhan Bai. Therefore, he began to walk in bold strides towards this ‘Gathering of the Heroes.’

When Zhan Bai entered through the entrance, a bulky man in short sleeves stopped him and asked. “Are you here to drink or stay?”

Zhan Bai took a glance at him and the bulky man did not look like he was drunk. Therefore he replied, “I am here to drink as well as to stay for the night.”

The bulky man in short sleeves looked up and down at Zhan Bai for several moments before he coldly said, “Very sorry! Our tavern is fully occupied at the moment and so are our rooms. Please go to other Inn Taverns!”

Zhan Bai noticed that this bulky man did not look like the type that was in the Inn business and he saw that a few people inside looked frightful. Therefore he only stood at the entrance and did not dare to enter. He was filled with suspicious but since he was told that it was fully occupied inside, he was naturally shy to barge inside. So he turned his head around to walk away.

But after Zhan Bai had approached five to six other Inn Taverns, he was filled with disbelief after he was told that every single of them were fully occupied and asked him to approach other Inn Taverns. He walked to the last Inn Tavern at the edge of the town and he saw the darkness approaching swiftly and there were no lights at all even from the various households. Zhan Bai was immediately filled with suspicious and he saw the last eatery was half empty therefore he dared to walk boldly inside.

Suddenly a muscular man walked up to him and blocked him, yelling. ‘Friend! Why are you looking so panicky? What do you want here?”

Zhan Bai suddenly had an inspiration in his head and he replied. “To look for someone!” This time round, he did not say he was here to drink or to stay. That was because he had already observed that all the bulky men that had blocked him along the way were not in this business. Therefore he just wanted to enter the tavern and to order food and drinks before he explained himself.

But alas, the muscular man did not move aside and remained blocking him. He coldly asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Zhan Bai was stunned but he replied, “Why must I tell you who I am looking for?”

The muscular man laughed for a second before saying, “If you are looking for someone, I will dispatch my guys inside to search for you. You shouldn’t be let loose inside on your own!”

Zhan Bai thought, “Why are there so many rules?” But he had already noticed that these people are troublemakers and therefore he pretended to be dumb as well. “I am looking for the Steward of the Inn Tavern!”

The muscular man looked stunned for a second, as he did not expect Zhan Bai to say something like this. But after a while, he knew Zhan Bai was making a fool of him. He stared at Zhan Bai and shouted, “What are you looking for the Steward of the Inn Tavern for?”

Zhan Bai suppressed his anger and he said slowly, “Naturally it is for eating and to stay in the tavern.”

“Friend! To tell you honestly!” The muscular man laughed coldly at him, “There is no food for you to eat here nor is there any room for you to stay. You have better go elsewhere instead!”

Zhan Bai flinched with anger and he was losing control of his rage. So he laughed coldly as well and said, “When I eat, I’ll pay for my food. When I stay in the tavern, I’ll pay for my lodging. Therefore, why should I bother you to meddle in my affairs?”

As Zhan Bai said, he began to bypass the muscular man to walk into the tavern directly.

“When I command that you cannot stay for the night, you surely can’t stay!” The muscular man began to attack Zhan Bai with his hands in a clawing gesture.

How could Zhan Bai let him have the chance to grip him? He dodged the attack and the muscular man followed by a fist after his attack missed.

This fist of his was not only powerful and forceful. It carried a windforce and it was swift and fast as well.

Zhan Bai waited for the muscular man’s fist to be near before he counter-attacked by extending his hand to twist his wrist and pushed him backward, exclaiming. “Out you go!”

And that huge muscular man was indeed obedient, with a scream, he was thrown out of the entrance.

The muscular man crawled back and he pointed at Zhan Bai, cursing loudly at him. “Very good rascal. If you have the courage, don’t run away.” After cursing him, he left hurriedly.

Zhan Bai smiled and he walked majesty into the Inn Tavern and began to sit down. The guests that were in the Inn Tavern were all staring at Zhan Bai with wide-opened eyes. The shop assistants had saw him sitting down but did not dare to approach him to take his orders.

“Hello!” Zhan Bai said after he had sat for quite a while and saw that no one approached him to take orders. So he said loudly, “Where is the drink and food? Serve it to me!”

The shop assistants and the tavern accountants looked at one another for awhile before a brave one dare to approach him and said to him. “Distinguish guest! May we request for you to go to other places to have your meal, alright! Our insignificant shop did not dare to serve you!”

“Rest assure!” Zhan Bai said to him, “Just bring forth the drinks and food. I will shoulder all the troubles incurred and will not drag you into it.

The shop assistant had a bitter smile on his face. “Distinguish guest! You are not wrong in what you say but if we allow you to have your drinks and meal here, we can forget about opening for business in the future.”

“What’s dealings did that fellow have and why are you all so afraid of him?” Zhan Bai asked him. “Is there no imperial law around here?”

“The imperial law do exists here!” The shop assistant replied, “Distinguish guest, have you heard of the name of the ‘The Dashing Joy Seeker’?”

Zhan Bai received a jolt in his head and he began to understand much more clearly now. He thought, “Ah! No wonder! No wonder why these people are so frightened! It is because that fellow is the protégé of Young Master Anle!”

A thought descended upon Zhan Bai that set him thinking again. “A few months ago, I chanced upon Young Master Anle (Chapter 2). Not only is he noble looking, he looked cheerful and heroic as well. Why is that his henchmen are behaving in such a ridiculous manner and yet he did not seem to know?…”

As Zhan Bai pondered, he could not resist asking, “The Young Master Anle that you are referring to, is he from this town?”

The shop assistant smiled when he noticed that Zhan Bai had recognized the name of Young Master Anle. Therefore he laughed and said to him, “Distinguish guest, it is good that you know. Even though Young Master Anle is not at this place but half of this town belongs to him and he is like our foster parents providing food and clothing to us. How did we dare not to respect him?…”

Zhan Bai was listening and thinking at the same time, “Maybe these henchmen are borrowing the prestige and fame of the Young Master Anle and abusing it. Since this shop steward has said that Young Master Anle did not stay in this town so even if I said that I knew him, no one would believe me. It seems that today I am going to starve!…”

Zhan Bai’s eyes were looking around at the same time. He spotted ready made duck, geese and roasted meat. Suddenly a thought struck him and he said, “Since that is the case, I will not put you in a tight spot. Just bring me two catty of roasted meat and some buns for me. I will bring it along to eat!

But the shop assistant did not bulge at all and he was just nodding his head in a continuous bittersweet smile…

“Don’t push me to the extreme!” Zhan Bai stared at him as divine light shone forth from his eyes as he shouted, “Hurry and bring the food here! If you not hurry, don’t blame me for being ungracious…”

“So what if you are ungracious. What then will you do?”

Before Zhan Bai could finish what he was trying to say, two well dressed men had appeared all of a sudden, much like a candle which light shone the instant it was lit.

It was an old man and a young man. The old man was around sixty and his hair was pure white. But his face was reddish and he had thick eyebrows. His eyes were sharp and piercing; he was fierce to behold. On his waist was an unorthodox weapon 奇形兵器 that was shaped like a cross and he had iron bangles around his belt. It was glittering and it enhanced the malevolent air of the old man.

The young man was twenty plus of age. He had a jaded face and his eyebrows crossed like the clash of swords. He looked handsome but he could not disguise the fierce look on his jaded face. What more, his lips looked like he was of the vicious type and on the whole, he looked proud and arrogant. He too stared at Zhan Bai and he was looking none too pleased with him.

When these two men appeared, the shop assistant that was besides Zhan Bai began to step backward slowly…

Zhan Bai rose from his seat but before he could open his mouth, the old man with the reddish face shouted deeply at him, “You are the one that specialized in secret projectiles and killed the [Cruel Hand Midget]?”

The old man speech was powerful and electrifying. It was loud, thunderous and deafening!

Zhan Bai had a bittersweet expression on his face as he listened. It was obviously the [Cruel Hand Midget] had died in a melee fight yet these people were trying to demonize him by suggesting that he won by despicable methods. Therefore he laughed bitterly for a second before exclaiming, “This is a misunderstanding. I am an acquaintance of Young Master Anle. If only I can have a audience with him….”

The arrogant young man with the jaded face coldly hummed as he interrupted, “How could Young Master Anle know a nameless nobody like you? Rubbish aside! Surrender your life as payment in exchange for Old Senior Fei’s life!”

When he had finished, he had suddenly purged forward and attacked Zhan Bai on his right wrist, attempting to grapple him.

Zhan Bai noted that he was not weak and he made an intricate movement, turned his body and he was out of harm’s way.

The arrogant young man began to convert his claw to a palm attack as he followed Zhan Bai. It was the ‘Golden Flake Hand’ 金插手 as he attacked him furiously. At the same time when he had plunged forward, his right hand turned into a slicing blade as he aimed Zhan Bai’s ‘Jian Xue’ that if hit, would be very grievous indeed. (Shoulder blade).

This one stance, two strokes were not only swift like the striking of flint and steel, it also carried the brokering sound of the windforce. It was very obvious that the arrogant young man possesses extraordinary internal strength as well.

If it were one month ago, these two strokes would surely cause Zhan Bai to be defeated on the spot. But the Zhan Bai now was not the weakling that he once was! When he had seen the displaying his two killer strokes, he immediately extended his hands. There were two clanking sounds as he gripped the arrogant young man by his wrists.

The arrogant young man’s countenance underwent a tremendous change as he turned green and he was perspiring profusely. What was lacking was that he did not let go of a terrifying scream to the scene.

This wondrous technique of Zhan Bai was called the ‘Intricate Chain and Shackles’. 巧套双锁 It was a skill that Zhan Bai had stolen from the [One Leg Flying Heretic]. He did not expect to use this technique at all here and the instant he had executed it, he had suppressed this proud and arrogant young man that held his head high above all and belittled all others.

Because this stance of Zhan Bai had gripped the arrogant man’s two wrists and caused him unnerving pain, even if he had many powerful martial moves, he could not muster anymore.

Zhan Bai did not want to bully him. Just when he wanted to say a word or two before he released the arrogant young man, there was a powerful windforce coming behind his back.

At the same time, he heard the reddish old man shouting, “Release him!”

Actually even if the reddish old man did not shout, Zhan Bai knew that it was him that was attacking him from behind his back. He immediately let go of the arrogant young man and leapt back five feet away from the attack.

There was a powerful pang sound as the reddish face old man who was unable to stop himself because of the tremendous force that he had mustered, hit the arrogant young man on his chest as Zhan Bai dodged out of the way.

The arrogant young man was sent flying more than one yard away before he landed with a studding sound as he crashed headlong on the wall. He was seen dropping lifelessly on the ground and not a sound was heard. It seemed that he was not far from dying…

The shop assistants and the guests were in a state of confusion as they began to bellow aloud. “Someone is killed!…”

The reddish face old man saw that he had yet to land a finger upon Zhan Bai and instead he had injured his beloved disciple. He was now extremely furious and was in terrible rage now. His eyebrows looked like it would explode at anytime. He crackled his knuckles before he plunged at Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai did not expect that the reddish face old man would continue to attack him even though he had just killed that arrogant young man and even after he had dodged his attacks. He saw that the old man was in such a terrible rage and his palm attacks were like the flooding of the Great River that he decided to dodge.

But the reddish face old man was like a maddening tiger refusing to let Zhan Bai go. He let go of a thunderous shout, “Where do you think you are going! Exchange blows with me!”

Because the tavern was small, narrow and there were many tables and chairs blocking Zhan Bai. Coupled with the fact that the old man blows were fast, furious and his power extended even to a yard, Zhan Bai found himself unable to dodge anymore and he was forced to take his blows as he extended his two hands out.

There were a thunderous ‘Pong ------ Pang!’ when they landed their four hands at one another, sending the bowls, plates, cups, dishes, spoons and chopsticks that were on the table flying all over as explosive ripples shook the place.

There were a series of cries and screams as many of the guests and shop assistants that were in the tavern were injured by this powerful impact. Everyone tried to scurry for the exit like a swarm of homing bees. Many were injured by the impact of the blows and the flying objects that were in the place. It was pandemonium…

Zhan Bai felt the power of the reddish face old man’s internal power when both their hands had impacted. He felt a burning sensation and his visions turned black. He was secretly shocked at the might of the old man's blows.

All of a sudden he saw the old man attack him once more with his eyes staring at him. The old man’s palms were sweating profusely what looked like blood.

At the same time, Zhan Bai suddenly recalled that in the Martial Fraternity, there was a type of extremely poisonous palm stance called the ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’ 红砂血形掌. Anyone that was struck by it would feel like he was burning and then finally all five of his organs would turn to black like charcoal before finally perishing. It was poisonous beyond imagination. It was hinted only in rumors and never seen.

Now that Zhan Bai had seen that the old man’s palms turning as red as fire and after he had traded blows, he could feel his the fire spreading from his hands to his body. It was a sensation that he had never experienced before. When he had thought of that, cold chill shook him…

At the same time, he had also thought of when he was in grave danger, Young Master Anle had lent him a righteous hand. Therefore he was his benefactor. If he stirred a misunderstanding with his men then won’t the misunderstanding be even harder to resolve? Then won’t they have the chance to have a cordial meeting together in future? Moreover the present situation was hard to explain in mere words. Why did he not move away from here first and maybe explained in the future…

　　 All those thoughts happened in the twinkle of an eye but the old man’s ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’ had its force mustered to its zenith. A tremendous torrent of windforce like the hurricane began to deliver upon Zhan Bai as the old man howled aloud, “Heh!”

Zhan Bai extended one hand out and gentle grasped the incoming attack before he borrowed the force to turn himself away and he shouted, “Sorry, I got to go!” And he headed towards the window.

“Where do you think you are going?” The old man behind him shouted in a maddening rage…

But before Zhan Bai could escape through the window, there were three studding sounds as he spotted three silvery white light flying towards him. Using the ‘Flipping in the Cloud’ 云里翻 to raise himself three more inches, he managed to dodge the flying projectiles as he spotted three razor thin needle 三枚透骨钉 hitting the edge of the window.

When Zhan Bai had landed on the ground and lifted his head to take a look, he got a terrible jittery and shock…



Chapter 17 Ended

Chapter 18: The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm

Prologue 12: The Evil Heretic Sects were exterminated by the Virtuous Orthodox Clans. Peace had finally returned to the Martial Fraternity. Leading the Virtuous Orthodox Sects were the Four Martial Aristocracy Families that competed with one another to be the Alliance Leader of the Entire Martial Fraternity. Each of the Four Martial Aristocracy not only surpassed the existing Virtuous Orthodox Sects, they had with them numerous followers and Reclusive Martial Grandmasters, every single of them are equaled in martial ability with the Sect Leader of Wudang and Shaolin!

As Zhan Bai tried to leap out of the window, in came three incoming secret projectiles, suddenly a dark overwhelming darkness that carried windforce, came crashing onto his head like a furious falling mountain.

Zhan Bai was extremely shocked as he did not know what came crashing through that in his panicky state, he raised his ‘Heartless Precious Sword’ to display the ‘The skill of moving Tremendous Force with a Fractional Force’ 四两拨千斤. The tip of his sword impaled with a tinkling impact as he raised it upward to meet the unknown. At the same time, he turned his head upward to take a look and saw a big fat monk wielding a very big placard and he landed behind his back.

This monk was very big, rough looking and really looked very impressive. On the top of his head were eight dots that denoted the eight monastic restrictions of the monastic order. The monk was now staring at him viewing him with surprise.

Suddenly Zhan Bai remembered that in the pugilist realm, there was a [Iron Signboard Monk]. His weapon was an iron placard that weighed a thousand catty. He could mobilize ten thousand catty of force. In his ignorant state, he had used the tip of his sword to still such a heavy pressurized force. Needless to say, the [Iron Signboard Monk] was stunned and even he did not believe it himself.

At the same time, tens of men had by now surrounded the Inn Tavern and as Zhan Bai was just adjusting to his situation, two bright light flashed like the brightness of meteor flew furiously at Zhan Bai’s head, aiming at his ‘Tai Yang’ fatal accupoints!

Zhan Bai squatted down immediately and parried his Precious Heartless Sword upward with the ‘Spire Fire that burns the Heaven’. 举火烧天

There were two clanging clash of metals as a two morning stars attached to a chain was parried quite far aside.

There were a series of howling rage as three beams of light, two swords and one blade slashed together at the same time on Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai wielded his sword as he followed his sword as the Heartless Precious Sword exuded a brilliant flare of light as it slashed fiercely at the three types of weapons.

But the attackers knew by now the dangers of the Heartless Precious Sword and they withdrawn their strokes hurriedly before jumping backward…

Suddenly there was a strong windforce fanning towards Zhan Bai at the same time. Because he had already brandished his stance and sword, he could not retract immediately. Therefore he extended his left hand from his chest to receive the incoming attack.

There was a thunderous clap! It came from another old man that looked around fifty of age as he was knocked backward three steps loudly. He eyed Zhan Bai with eyes wide-opened. This came from the [Iron Fist] 铁掌 Lu Liu Shun that had practiced the ‘Iron Breaker Palm’ 铁砂掌 diligently for twenty to thirty years. He was very proud of his namesake [Iron Fist]. He had noticed that Zhan Bai was a young man that had managed to keep five men at bay just because he had a precious sword that were sharp and durable. Therefore the amount of practice that Zhan Bai had with his hand to hand combat and his internal strength would definitely not be as good as his swordplay and that he was only trying to show off his skills in front of the others. So he picked an opportune time to attack Zhan Bai when he saw his sword attacking forth in another direction and he could surely not be able to swing his sword in time. So seizing this opportunity, he unleashed eight folds of his strength with a blow at Zhan Bai.

But who would expect that Zhan Bai took this blow of his directly and he was using only his left hand! What more, it seemed so easy and relaxing, knocking him three steps backward! Because Zhan Bai was so young, even if he were just born and started training his internal power, surely he would not be stronger than him! This caused the proud and self-confident [Iron Fist] Lu liu Shun that liked to show off his skills most, to be bewildered!

Zhan Bai’s stomach was growling with hunger. He did not have anything to eat and yet he was besieged by people from all sides. They did not give him any breathing space and he was feeling extremely hungry as well. He was now feeling angry and he stared with his eyes at the tens of martial pugilists as he swept his surroundings. When his Heartless Precious Sword suddenly moved…

Actually Zhan Bai had not readied a stroke yet but when his sword moved, everyone thought that he was going to attack therefore everyone moved one step backward with fright…

Zhan Bai could not resist laughing aloud when he saw all those fierce looking men taking a frightful step backward even before he had readied a stroke when his sword flinched a little.

After Zhan Bai had laughed, everyone began to regain their composure. Everyone of them were courageous men of the Martial Fraternity that lived under constant threats of weapons and death. How could they display such a cowardly attitude in the face of a opponent?

Therefore everyone was fast turning red with embarrassment. Some others were reacting with anger and rage. All of a sudden in a thunderous explosive commotion, shadowy movements of blades, swords, maces, claws and countless numerous weapons came scurrying like the torrid hurricane and rain at Zhan Bai.

In panicky, Zhan Bai executed the ‘The Swift Wind Felling the Grass’ 疾风斩劲草 and a white shiny wall flashed forth. There were two to three people that could not stopped in time and the weapons in their hands were instantly sliced apart. Everyone received a jolt and stunned cries could be heard as they moved back together…

This ‘The Swift Wind Felling the Grass’ stroke was picked up at the Baotu Manor when Fan Jie had twice displayed it after Zhan Bai had seen it. He had stolen it by seeing it. Even though he had not totally understand the intricate and the essence yet but his grasp of this swordplay was already more or less! He just did not expect that when he had executed it, the force of this swordplay would be this big!

After this success and just when Zhan Bai decided to charge out of the enclosure, he heard someone giving a great shout, “Hold it!”

The voice was deafening and ear-shattering. When Zhan Bai turned to have a look, he saw the reddish face old man walked hurriedly towards him. He was followed by a handsome young man.


The reddish face old man pointed at him and asked, “Whose protégé are you under? What relationship did you have with Zhenjiang (A city in the Jiangsu Province) 镇江 Master Fan? Make yourself clear or else it would cause a misunderstanding!”

“I do not know any Master Fan from Zhenjiang!” Zhan Bai replied. “As for my Protégé Master, please forgive me for not unable to reveal it.”

Zhan Bai was an honest young man and did not know the treacheries of the pugilist fraternity. What came to his mind, he would speak his mind. Actually he was focusing on building up his martial foundations but unfortunately did not have the opportunity to find a Protégé Master. He was taught here and there, secretly copied his skills from various sources so naturally he did not really consider having a Protégé Master.

The reddish face old man began to roar with laughter as he exclaimed, “Young fellow, you are indeed something! But do you know who I am?”

“Please forgive me for being blind. I really do not know who old…respected sire is!” Zhan Bai had wanted to address him as an old senior but when he noticed the way he was looking at him, he changed the form of address and his tone did not sound respectful.

“Little fellow, you who have just come out of your mother’s weaning!” The reddish face old man began to roar with laugher as he said, “Old man I, really do not believe that the [Cruel Hand Midget] would be defeated in your hands! I have no other intentions. If you can receive three blows from an old man like me, you are free to wander to the regions of Su, Lu as you please. I will definitely not harass or stop you. Little fellow, what do you think of this idea?”

Zhan Bai did not know this reddish face old man. In actuality, this reddish face old man was extremely well known and feared in the regions of Su and Lu. He was nicked the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] 血掌火龙. Not only was he thorough in ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’, he carried secret projectiles coated with gunpowder too! He was truly unique in the pugilist fraternity and could hold his ground against everyone. He had a strange unorthodox weapon on his back that looked like a human fist but was bigger. He could use this to execute the ‘Eight Directional Wind Chaser’ 追风八打. This weapon of his was used specially to hit accupoint pressures and to disarm his opponent’s weapon. What more, concealed in the fingers of this unorthodox fist, was extremely powerful secret firearms. When he fought with his opponent, in the midst of trading blows, he would release the secret projectiles from the fingers. Because his opponents did not expect it, they would be caught unaware and could not defend against it. It could be said to be unreasonable powerful. He named this weapon of his, the ‘Cactaceae’ 仙人掌. There were many martial exponents that fell victim to this weapon of his. He had traveled the Region of Lu and Su and had never met anyone that could be said to be his match. That was why it fuelled his arrogance and bred into him a haughty attitude.

This [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was the dominant figure of the Region of Lu and Su. How did he come to join the Young Master Anle as his retinue? Because he was outside the sphere of influence from the ‘Yunmo Manor’ 云梦山庄 that was in Suzhou, he could decide all things big and small here. Today, he had suddenly heard one of his men reporting to him that a young man carrying a sword had killed the [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong in the dense woods to the north of the town. He simply could not believe his ears!

That [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong was one of the top notch martial fighters pledging allegiance to Young Master Anle. In the Martial Fraternity, his status and martial abilities were very high. Even he had no confidence of winning him. Therefore, he was doubtful and suspicious of the report. So he ordered his men to keep a lookout for a young man with a sword. On the other hand, he sent someone to go to Suzhou to inform Young Master Anle.

Later when he had heard his men reporting that a young man with a sword that was behaving strangely had shown up at this Xinlu Town 兴隆镇. Therefore together with his disciple, the [Jaded Face Nezha] Song Xiao Fei 宋小飞, they rushed here to check on Zhan Bai.

Just now when Zhan Bai had brandished the ‘Wind Chaser Swordplay’ belonging to the Zhenjiang Fan Aristocracy Family, he stepped in to interrupt. That was because Young Master Anle and the Zhenjiang Fan Aristocracy Family had deep ties with one another. He had thought that Zhan Bai was from the Zhenjiang Fan Aristocracy Family. Afraid to cause a misunderstanding with the two families, he shouted to interrupt.

Who would expect that Zhan Bai to deny it and he sounded haughty. This incited the fury of the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] and now he wanted to trade three blows with Zhan Bai to determine the outcome of victory and loss.

Zhan Bai was born with a stubborn trait and he did not how high was the sky. When he noticed that the reddish face old man had looked down on him, he replied immediately in a haughty tone, “No matter what are your intentions, I will take the challenge!” After speaking, he sheathed his sword into the scabbard and prepared to take the blows.

“Very good little rascal! You do have courage!” The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] thundered as he shifted his shoulders and a loud cranking sound could be heard. And then he started to bend his body like a bow that had been bent. His white hair on his head appeared to be standing straight and his face that was originally quite red turned even redder. He extended forth his hands that now looked like blades and his palms were as red as burning fire as he howled, “Be careful! This is the first blow!”

In between his howling, The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] displayed his famous ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’ that shook the pugilist fraternity by storm, mustering five folds of his strength. With a howl, he extended his right hand like a torrid hurricane furiously towards Zhan Bai.

There was a thunderous clapping sound as both hands met, sending flurrying of windforce ripping around as rocks and sands stirred from the ground. Zhan Bai remained standing but a flow of sensational warm heat could be felt through his palm. At the same time, he felt as if his whole body was on fire and was feeling unbearable. He felt thirsty, his tongue was dry and was dizzy.

However that [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was knocked two steps backward by the impact. That was because he had not used his full strength yet and he mustered only five folds of his internal power. But Zhan Bai was using ten folds of his internal strength! This further infuriated him and fanned his rage. He stared angrily before shouting aloud, “Very good little rascal! Why not try my second blow!”

This time round, the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] flipped his left hand in a gesture as he mustered eight folds of his strength as he howled loudly. It was obvious that the windforce emitting from this posture was even more powerful than the first blow.

Old pugilists who were rich and wise in battle experience, when they fought with unknown exponents on the initial fight, most would be reluctant to use their full might. Usually they would only use four to five folds of their internal power to gauge how strong or weak was their opponent. And then they would slowly increase their might and strength. Therefore, it was the reason why the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand]’s second blow seemed to have its power increased tremendous! That was because in this way, it would allow them to fight more and more courageous! That came from the same meaning as the first beat of the drum would cause morale to be at its highest, the second drum becoming weaker thus affecting morale and then the third drum becoming a spent energy.*

*Yufeng Notes: In the Autumn & Spring Period of the Zhou Dynasty, a strategist from a smaller army beat a superior army by playing the drums in an reverse order, starting from weak to strong. His opponent charged mightily with the beating of the drums on the initial charge. As the battle proceed, the smaller army whose drums are beating stronger and strong received tremendous boast to their morale by the beating of their drums, fought more and more courageous. This story later a famous saying and was studied for its application. It was also famous because a smaller army defeated a bigger army in a field battle. Sun Bi during the Warring States Period of the Zhou Dynasty had a similar recounting.

But Zhan Bai did not understand this reasoning. In his first blow, he had used all his might and when the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand]’s second blow came with its almighty force and power, on the another hand, he felt his strength receding. But because he was someone that did not like to give up and did not want to evade the blow, he used his left hand to receive this blow.

There was a thunderous clap that shook like thunder as the two hands impacted on one another. Windforce ripped all around in a strong and force manner that even the tens of top exponents could not stand properly and had to hurried backward…

The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] imposing body did not move at all. Instead, it was Zhan Bai that had been forced back two steps back. The heat from his blow was still circulating around and Zhan Bai felt his left hand burning like fire. He was now covered with sweat; he was feeling dazed and almost toppled over…

Zhan Bai had tried to match the two blows from the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] forcefully. Although his internal organs were already injured by the pure invigorate energy of the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] but he remained standing. This fact stunned the tens of martial experts that were all around.

Everyone was muttering and thinking, “This little fellow is really something! He can actually take two blows from the earth shattering [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] that resound throughout the Region of Lu and Su…”

But the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] had already sensed that Zhan Bai could not be able to muster anymore strength. He would have lost his esteem and prestige since he had loudly proclaimed to be able to beat this young lad in three blows. Unwilling to let Zhan Bai had a breather, he immediately proceeded to continue on his third blow. He shouted, “Here is the third blow! Little rascal! Down you go now…!”

The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] circulated and mustered all his internal power in both hands as he pushed fiercely towards Zhan Bai.

Only then was the true power of the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] revealed as windforce the sound of the wind echoing through the ravines were heard as it came like the torrid endless seas waves, creating a high pressure upon Zhan Bai’s chest.

Even before the windforce had reached Zhan Bai, he had already felt the heat generated by the windforce flurrying on him. Even his breathing was becoming difficult. Zhan Bai knew that he could not be able to take the third blow at all. But because he was stubborn by nature, even though he knew he was no match, he was not willing to display any weakness in front of anyone. He actually raised both his hands in a similar manner to coincide…

“Pong!” A thunderous sound echoed. Suddenly everything within five inches from the impact scene including the thick cotton window curtains were tore apart by this clash of blows. One could really see the power of both their palm skills!

The dust and sand of this aftermath were stirred as high as two to three yards high, causing everyone blurry visions and able to see the duel clearly.

And then when the dust storm that was created by the windforce of the impact settled down, everyone could see clearly that both the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] and the young man Zhan Bai was still standing at a face off with one another. No one had fall.

The faces of everyone began tweaking in surprise and disbelief as they immediately broke into a discussion, “How did this young man gets his martial ability from?…”

“He can actually take three blows from Old Hero Yao…”

Everyone was startled for they had never seen such a powerful and magnificent display of palm windforce before. Moreover the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was a highly competent Martial Fraternity fighter 武林高手 and had gained prominent fame tens of years ago. Moreover his opponent was an unknown young man…

But on closer observation, they finally noticed that Zhan Bai composure looked strange. His face was very red and his eyes were in a daze. Although his eyes were opened but it was without life.

A thought dawned upon the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] as he realized that Zhan Bai had been knocked conscious after the tremendous clash. The only why he did not fall was because just behind his back was a dark shadowy wall. Moreover because his windforce generated was so great, it rebound back at him after hitting the wall and due to an extreme intricate coincidence, that young man did not fall as the rebound windforce supported him…

“Hey! Little rascal! What do you think of these three blows coming from an old man like me?”

Zhan Bai did not move nor did he say anything.

“Hahaha!” The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] burst into a thunderous roar of laughter. He was looking extremely proud of himself as he said, “I think you are unable to answer me at all. But the strange thing is, I wondered what sort of a virtuous righteous man are you that when you die, you did not fall?”

Even when he was talking, he was already on the move by extending out one of his finger in a furious manner to hit Zhan Bai on his ‘Mei Xin’ 眉心 (forehead) fatal accupoint!

This move of his had two purposes. If Zhan Bai had died, then he should be on the ground so that he could ask his henchmen to dispose of the corpse. If he did not fall and remained standing, how ridiculous it would be, moreover a corpse could not possible talk and declared himself dead. If Zhan Bai had not died but was only severely injured because of internal injuries then this finger of his would surely ended his life.

One must know that Yao Bin Kun 姚炳昆 who was also nicked the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was well known in the pugilistic fraternity for his ruthlessness. When he fought with his opponents, he never left a single survivor. He would make sure that his foes were all dead and weed out all descendants. For that, he had his own theories; if he were benevolent to his enemies, it would be cruel and mean to himself. Another theory that he likes to quote; If one did not weed out the grass to its roots, when spring comes, it would grow again.

If he did not enter into conflict with others, then it would be good. But once he fought with his foes, he would never rest until he had his foes dead. To him, it was pointless to leave behind a malicious growth just because he was once benevolent.

But when his body had just started to spring forward and before he could hit Zhan Bai on his forehead, he suddenly heard a captivating grasp, “Old Ghoul! You dare?”

In the midst of the captivating grasps were several series of windforce and sounds speeding through the air and a dark shadowy figure reached out to hit the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] on his ‘Yin Du’ 阴都 accupoint that was on his right shoulder.

Indeed the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was no ordinary martial expert. He could react accordingly and not be confused. So he changed his bodily movement and turned over using the ‘Flipping in the Cloud’ 云里翻 as he did a somersault before his feet returned to the original position.

There were a series of grasps and startled reactions. When the commotion had ended, everyone’s eyes were dazzled because standing between Zhan Bai and the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was a lovely young maiden whose looks were beyond comparison dressed in a cotton garment!

Earlier there were a series of whacking sounds. It was caused by a horse whip that was three inches long. And this young girl was holding the whip in her hand.

Suddenly the [Iron Signboard Monk] gave a loud startled cry as he felt a pain on his ear. He had reached out and saw blood. Because he was a rough man, he did not control his emotions and cried out aloud. The horse whip had struck him while he was looking intently between the duel between Zhan Bai and the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand].

She whipped her whip again and this time, everyone could see that it had pierced three to four inches into the thick wall. One must know that a horse whip was a soft object and when this young girl in cotton garment and dress appeared, she could bypass everyone like a shooting arrow, into the overlapping buildings and injured someone on the way in. There was no doubt that her wrist power was shockingly unbelievable and her martial abilities were extremely high as well.

Everyone could not resisted being startled and their eyes were staring wide-opened at this young girl.

Her skin was pure white and so were her teeth. She was slim looking and wearing a cotton garment and dress. She adored her hair in a beautiful way and she looked like she was only sixteen or seventeen. She looked extremely lovely and captivating. In her captivating look, she exudes a certain nobility air. It was exactly like the saying, “More beautiful than the flowers could describe, more fragrance than even the Jades.” 比花花解语，比玉玉生香. She looked extremely innocent, carried a certain exquisite aura and bore a coquettish manner. Even if she were now looking angry, her mouth still carried a tinge of a smile and she looked extremely cute indeed!

“From whose family are you from, destitute girl? When the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] had seen clearly by now that it was a captivating lovely young girl that had caused him to be in a panicky with his hands and legs and even wounded one of his top fighters serving him, he was solemn and shouted angrily, “How dare you interrupt me and display such arrogance?”

“Red face old man! Don’t you try to be proud first!” The young girl in cotton placed one of her hands on her waist and a finger pointing at his nose before saying, “First, let me ask you this. As an elder, what you say, does it count at all?”

“Heng!” He hummed coldly before saying, “Undisciplined destitute girl! How dare you mutter nonsense in my presence! Do you know how to respect your elders at all? Don’t blame me for killing you with my hand!”

“Heng! Deplorable old man that enjoy lying.” She began to mimic his speech and continued, “Don’t mention that hand of yours that cannot even touch me. You can’t even take one blow from me. If you can take one blow from me, then I let you wander throughout the Six Northern Regions and the Seven Southern Regions freely in these thirteen regions. I will definitely not harass or stop you…”

“Shut up!…” This infuriated him as he shouted for he knew that the girl was trying to mimic his speech earlier. It caused his rage to reach boiling point and just when he was about to attack her…

“Outrageous little maid! How dare you tear my ear! I make you pay for this with your life!” The [Iron Signboard Monk] howled with explosive rage as he interrupted the [Red Dragon with the Red Hand] as he lifted his iron placard that weighed a thousand catty on a shoulder as he swung it to crash it on the young girl’s head.

The young girl remained on the same spot, smiling and laughing at the same time. It was as though she did not see the iron placard that weighed a thousand catty coming at her. Only when the iron placard was two inches away from her, there was a blur flash and no one knew what swiftness movement skill that could have helped her to bypass the iron placard to reappear on the top, flicking over once in mid-air in a graceful manner. She stood on the top of the iron placard as she said, “What a stupid monk! Lacking a weapon to fight, you actually take down the signboard from the temple!”

The [Iron Signboard Monk] began to swing his iron placard in a wild frenzy in a bid to force her to come down.

That young girl began to leap, jump and tip toe on the iron placard. She was actually seen dancing on it as she was giggling merrily, “Gosh so fun! Really very fun!…huh.”

This scene was really too good to be missed. As the streets were brightly lit and a big rough looking monk was swinging his hands in a wild dance with the iron placard. On the top of the iron placard was a captivating lovely young girl dancing merrily and with much grace. She was giggling and laughing heartily. Those that did not know actually though she was a street performer and that she was performing a special performance!

At this moment it was not just the [Red Dragon with the Red Hand] that was in the scene but many common people had actually came out of their homes and from the streets to take a look. At first, they had thought that it was a vendetta between the pugilists of the pugilistic martial fraternity so they stay out of sight. But when they seen such a scene, everyone came out to join in the commotion as speculators…

[The Iron Signboard Monk] was getting frustrated when he could not hit the young girl after such a long time. He knew that this method was not going to work in getting her off and so he hatched a perverted thought. He used one hand to support the iron placard and all of a sudden, used another hand forming a fist to reach into the skirt of the young girl but he cursed in his mouth instead, “You bitch! How dare you make a fool out of me! Down you go!”

For a young innocent girl, this stance by the [Iron Signboard Monk] was indeed a pervert display. She flushes as her red turned red and she could no longer laugh. Switching to the ‘Zhang Fei stealing the horse’张飞骗马, she lifted one leg up to avoid getting hit by the monk’s fist while another leg touched the iron placard giving it a push as she somersaulted two yards away.

Now the [Iron Signboard Monk] did not know that when the young girl had pushed the iron placard down at the same time, she exerted the ‘Thousand Weight Fall’ through. It broke his fingers that were holding the iron placard and also broke his other fingers as he tried to use his other hand to support himself from falling down. That was because his two legs were broken when she gently tipped the iron placard.

The [Iron Signboard Monk] was now howling with pain as his body bent in an awkward position on the ground…

The young girl had landed in front of the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] Yao Bin Kun. She started to brush her stray hairs and at the same time exclaiming to him, “Red face old man. I see that you do have some renown in the pugilistic fraternity. The agreement that you have made with young hero Zhan, do you still adhere to it?”

When the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] had seen the swiftness movement skill that she had displayed when she was playing a fool out of the [Iron Signboard Monk] was actually the ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’ 踢空幻影. Suddenly he recalled that a powerful martial family that was in the martial fraternity and this ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’ was a secret skill that was not passed to outsiders. And since this young girl knew this type of movement skill, surely she had very familiar ties with that martial family. Not to mention himself, even his Protégé Master, Young Master Anle could not afforded to offend this family.

Therefore he swept his pride and rage under the carpet and his face had a sudden transformation. He began to brighten and laugh, “Maiden! As long as you know that old man, I have some renown in the pugilistic fraternity, that itself is enough. Why don’t you explain yourself, what makes me a liar?”

[Red Dragon with Red Hand] was indeed a cunning old man. Even though he seemed to give way to the young girl in cotton garment and dress, he was also extolling himself.

“Humph!” The young girl raised her nose and hummed before saying, “Despicable old man, don’t you try to paste gold on your face! And don’t try to make a pretense! Just now you made an agreement with young hero Zhan that should he take three blows from you, you would allow him to wander freely throughout the Regions of Lu and Su and would definitely not harass him at all. Now that young hero Zhan had taken three blows from you, what do you have to say now?”

The [Red Dragon with Red Hand] began to roar with laughter, “My conversations with that lad were overheard by maiden. Since that is the case, just base on this point raised by maiden, I will let this lad on his way then!”

“Now this is indeed humane!” The young girl said, “Then, please ask your men to give way!” As she said, she blew a whistle. It was a high pitch whistle and immediately a big red horse appeared as it galloped from view.

This red horse was extremely magnificent and unusual. It galloped besides the young girl and began to rub softly against her body in an extremely intimate way.

Among the tens of iron men, many were also lecherous men. When they had seen this young girl that was as beautiful as a fairy, captivating and innocent that was also unreasonable and unruly. Even their leader the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] had to burrow into her good books, even though they had lecherous thoughts on her but they did not dare to step forward to harass. Therefore they swallowed their lust in bitterness but when they seen this red horse that was so intimate with her, it was indeed ‘Man is no better off than a Horse’. Many sighed…

The young girl used her jaded white hand to pat the horse on its neck before she flew in a startling speed to extract her horse whip from the wall before she returned back to the side of the horse. This movement was like lightning. No one could see her leg touching the ground nor did they see her fingers touching the wall. Just this swiftness skill alone caused the martial pugilists that had gathered here to sigh continuous in inferior complex.

But for this young girl, she did it so effortlessly in front of tens of pairs of eyes. After retrieving her horse whip, she pulled the horse besides Zhan Bai. Upon seeing his face bubbly red and his idiotic eyes, her eyes began to water in sympathetic. She grasped softly and gently, “Big Brother Zhan! You are injured?” But Zhan Bai did not move or reply.

“Big brother Zhan, are you severely injured? Why don’t you say anything?” Zhan Bai did not response at all. Even his eyeballs did not bulge.

Upon witnessing such a reaction, her eyes began to redden and she shed a few tears as she said hatefully, “Humph! It must be this old despicable man that had injured you until you are like this! When your little sister sends you back home for treatment, I will come back again to seek vendetta for big brother!”

As she said, she even turned around to look hatefully at the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] before she sprang like she was flying onto the horse as she effortlessly and gently positioned Zhan Bai on the horse bridle. Then she embraced Zhan Bai with one hand and used another hand to hold the stirrups to leave…

“Maiden, wait don’t go yet!” The [Red Dragon with Red Hand] moved one step forward as he shouted loudly.

“What is the matter?” The young girl was obviously not too pleased and she furrowed her eyebrows before she coldly asked, “Despicable old man! Are you going to go back on your word again?”

[Red Dragon with Red Hand] had a bitter smile on his face as he said, “Maiden. You keep saying old despicable man on and off, isn’t it too disrespectful to an elder?…”

“Is there anything you want to say?” She interrupted him. Obviously she was growing impatient.

“Outrageous little maid! Don’t you push your luck too far!” [Jaded Face Ne Zhai] Song Xiaofei shouted at her as he could not stand her insulting his protégé master anymore. He flew into a rage and step forward, yelling and cursing, “Today I will surely…”

“Fei Er, don’t you interrupt!” The [Red Dragon with Red Hand] pacified his disciple Song Xiaofei before saying to the young girl, “Maiden, I am only giving face due to your family background. If you are not willing to listen, then I will not say more. This young lad Zhan has been injured by my ‘Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’. If without any antidote, not even three days had passed, his internal organs would surely turn black like charcoal and died. Now I will be a good man and do a good deed till the very end; I will present to maiden an antidote. Take it and let him swallow it. After a few days of recuperation, he will recover!” As he finished saying, he took out a small gourd and took out a small green pill from it. He extended his fingers and shot the pill towards the young girl!

The young girl smiled for a while before she extended she caught the pill gracefully with two of her beautiful fingers.

This might be an ordinary pill but from the fingers of the [Red Dragon with Red Hand], the force imbued through it was indeed no ordinary. Moreover, the pill was so small and it shot so fast but yet this young girl had used only two fingers and she had caught it. Her eyesight, the pureness of her internal power and the intricate movement of her fingers and her accuracy finally caused the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] to really impress by her. He secretly sighed before turning back to look at his disciple, the [Jaded Face Ne Zhai].

After Song Xiaofei had witnessed this display by the young girl in silvery cotton garment and dress, he looked down in shame…

But who would expect that after the young girl got hold of the antidote, she looked at it in her palm for awhile before she asked, “How shall I know if this pill is for real? What if you have given me a poison pill? Huh…”

Actually the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] did not become benevolent all of a sudden and wanted to save the life of Zhan Bai. It was because he knew that this young girl’s family was very influential and powerful. When he had seen how concern this young girl was towards Zhan Bai, he had guessed that their relationship might be highly unusual. If he did not save Zhan Bai, surely this young girl would come for him for vengeance. Therefore, he pretended to be benevolent and appeared to do a favor to them. This was to ensure that this young girl would not come back to him for vendetta next time. Who would expect that he had humbled so much now and even planned this part in such a well manner, this young girl would say such an infuriating thing?

So his face lost his composure and he coldly said, “If I am not sincere to save him, even if I do not give him any poison, he would not live…”

“From the way you say it, then I must really thank you, am I right? Old despicable man!” The young girl had now ascertained that this was indeed an antidote so without waiting for him to finish, she raised the saddle and galloped away. The horse galloped like the wind and in the twinkle of an eye, they disappeared from the streets and into the darkness. But not before sending the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] infuriating with rage and his eyes bulging out as she called out again, “Old despicable man!”



Chapter 18 Ended

Chapter 19: Between Life and Death



A beautiful red handsome horse was galloping in great haste on the main road. On the horse was a captivating young maiden in a cotton garment and in her embrace was a young man. She did not seem to be avoiding attention and thus attracted a great deal of attention.

But the horse she was riding on was simple too fast. Even though people wanted to have a good look at them but in a blink of an eye, they were gone like the wind. Only dust covered the back of the vanishing horse.

The young maiden was sterling the horse and at the same time kept lowering her glances to look at this young man. Her face was full of care and love! If the unconscious young man would regain conscious and witness such a captivating young maiden looking at him with such concern and love that was so protective, he might feel that he was the most blissful man in the entire world!

However this young man was in an unconscious state therefore even though the young maiden had displayed a million types of tenderness and affections, he would never know. Moreover, his face was burning red like fire, his breathing was rough and his chest was heaving rapidly. It was obvious that his life was in terrible danger!

The young maiden became even more anxious when she had seen that the young man in her embrace could no longer make it anymore; His temperature was gradually getting higher and higher. It was just like she was carrying a burning fire. So she became even more restless as she traveled. She thought, “From the looks of it, I don’t think I can make it back in time back home. But in this wilderness, where should I find a physician to treat Brother Zhan’s illness…”

“Oh curses!” She began to think aloud, “If only I had brought a couple of our family ‘The Vigor Rejuvenate Pill’ that my ancestors had passed down; It is most useful for treating injuries. Then I will not have to rush so relentless now!”

“Aiya!” When the young maiden thought of her ancestor’s divine medicine, she was reminded that the red face old man had given her an antidote. It was because she was too sure of her ancestor’s divine medicine that till now, she did not feed it to Zhan Bai yet. Why don’t she first feed this antidote to Zhan Bai to save his life…

When she had thought of this, she gave a grasp for she was scolding herself for being so muddle-headed. So she looked around with her watery eyes around her hoping to spot a household so that she could ask for some boiled water so that Zhan Bai could gulp the antidote.

But it was wilderness all around. Except for tall grasses and some pots of farmlands, there was not a single household to be seen.

Then she spotted a ridge that was five to six miles away. Although the young maiden rarely ventured far from home, she was bright beyond comparison 聪慧无比。In her home, she was a pampered mistress that had all the finery and riches but her senses were exceptional honed and sharp. So she immediately thought of riding to the ridge and looked around to see if there were any households around. It was better than riding blindly like what she was doing now!

The big red horse that she was riding was the famed ‘Thousand Mile Equine’. Its footings were very swift. Even though they were now traveling across the wilderness but in a twinkle of an eye, they had reached traverse five to six miles. She got down and looked around her. Green hills and crystallite ravines dotted the back of the ridge. Then she spotted the red edge of what seemed to be a red building in the hills and mountains. But that place was tens of miles away. Other than that, she could not see any other households in this wilderness. Therefore, she got on her horse again and rode towards that red edge!

Her equine was indeed a treasure. Not only could it gallop like it was flying along leveled ground but in this rocky wilderness, it was still the same. In a twinkle of an eye, they had reached the location of the red edge.

The young maiden in cotton garment immediately carried the unconscious young man down from the horse and walked to the front of the entrance to take a look. Suddenly, she turned ashen!

This house was very unique. It was red from top and had white stones as its walls. Even the wooden door was white. But on the white door were three words written with ink ‘Dead Men Dwelling’!

Even though the young maiden was highly skilled in martial arts but she rarely wandered in the pugilistic fraternity. So how could she have known of such a strange place? Even though this place was built along the mountain slopes but it was not a temple. It did not look like a cemetery either yet on its door hang the characters ‘Dead Men Dwelling’.

This caused the young maiden to be momentarily stunned in front of the door. She really did not know whether should she retreat or enter. Therefore she could only stared with a stunned expression with her big lovely eyes!

She pondered how could there be such a weird place as this? Who would hung such a thing as a ‘Dead Men Dwelling’ on their own door? Even if it were a cemetery, it should not be written in this manner?

But such a thing and fact existed and it was right in front of her. The world was filled with strange and wondrous things indeed!

Just when she was pondering what to do, the young man in her embrace gave a painful moan as he jerked for an instant…

This shook the stupefied young maiden as she thought carefully. What was most important was to save a life. Why should she care if it were a dead man or living man inside? She decided to enter the house and decide what happened next!

The power of love was indeed magnificent and selfless! The pampered and rich young mistress gained the will to cast away all her fears and sense of dangers because of her love for this young man, decided to venture alone in the ‘Dead Men Dwelling’ now!

Leaving her horse behind to feed on the grass itself, she pursed her lips and with a firm conviction, she carried the unconscious Zhan Bai and shouted in front of her. “Is anyone there?”

She shouted many times and could only hear the echoes coming back from the mountains. No one answered her calls. She mustered her courage and tipped slightly with the tip of her shoe and the white wooden door swung opened with a crackling sound!

Inside the door was a small courtyard and she saw dying flowers and trees It gave a eerie and creepy atmosphere. It was unusual quiet and it generated a terrible horrible feeling!

In the courtyard, there was a pavement leading to a red house. The red house had its door and windows shut tightly and it seemed to hide something mysterious!

But this young maiden mustered a courage that exceeded the norm and actually walked towards the mysterious and terrible red house all the while carrying the unconscious young man!

When she walked to the door of the red house, written on the white wooden door was the same characters painted in black, “Dead Men Dwelling, Forbid to the Living”.

The young maiden crunched her teeth and yelled aloud, “Yo dead men! You got a living visitor!”

Suddenly there were a series of shrieking sound caused by a strange bird. It cuckoo twice before flying off from the roof towards the back of the hills.

The young maiden was so startled and frightened by it that her guts almost jumped out! But after a while, upon seeing that there was nothing in it and that there was no one, she mustered her courage once more. She pushed the door opened with the tip of her foot.

Like the door to the courtyard, the door to the house was not locked. But the interior was tidy and without any dust. Needless to ask, this ‘Dead Man’ must be fond of cleanliness.

The young maiden remained guarded and alerted while scanning her big eyes around to survey the hall. She saw white furniture, white table and besides it were two white chairs. All these were made of white wood. Just like the doors and windows, all these were made from the woods from the mountain forest and no paint was added. However the scent from the hall reminded her of coffins. That was because, that was precisely the same scent as that of a shop that sold coffins!

After surveying for a while and observed that nothing was amiss, she put the unconscious young man onto the white chair. That was because even though she was well trained in martial arts but after carrying him for half a day, her two shoulders felt numb.

She put down the unconscious young man and let him on the chair. Finally she heaved a sight of relief and thought, “This deserted ghost place! Fancy it being a ‘Dead Men Dwelling’ but yet there was not even a sight of even a dead man!…”

Unconsciously, she began to take a look around her once again and noticed that towards the middle of the wall, hung a curtain. When the wind blew slightly in, the curtain began to flutter and something seemed to be behind the curtain.

Out of sheer curiosity, she mustered her courage and reached out to pull the curtain aside. Behind the curtain looked like a shrine to something and there was a tablet in it. The tablet too, was made of white wood and the words that were carved on it were extremely intricate; it read ‘The divine resting place of our benefactor, The Great Hero Zhan of the Thunderous Sword fame, Zhan Yun Tian!’

The young maiden almost cried out. She remembered very clearly when she saved her Brother Zhan, she had asked about his background. At the moment, Lei Dashu had barged in from the window and griped his hands and asked hurriedly, “Who is Zhan Yun Tian to you?…”

This was a shrine to Zhan Yun Tian in this ‘Dead Men Dwelling’. Was there an intimate relationship between this Zhan Yun Tian and her Brother Zhan?

So this young maiden was none other than WanEr. She had fallen in love with Zhan Bai but because she was terrible upset that Zhan Bai was with Fan Suluan that she stormed all the way to her room. But later, when she had heard that Zhan Bai was taken away by the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli, she felt extremely uneasy. So she secretly rode off with her father’s Thousand Mile Horse ‘Chi Hualiu’ and left her home to search for Zhan Bai.

Even though she had developed a deep understanding in martial theories and had mastered several powerful martial skills but she had never been away from home before. Moreover, it was the intrigue pugilist world. When she had left her home, she did not really know in which direction should she begin her search for Zhan Bai. But as luck would have it, she found Zhan Bai at the Town of Xin Lu.

At that time, she was dining at a wine tavern. It just that she was upstairs while Zhan Bai was downstairs. Therefore they had not seen one another. But afterwards, when the crowd had gathered and she heard the clanging of weapons, did she run down to take a look. She found Zhan Bai fighting with tens of top martial exponents, his composure steady and seems to have the upper hand.

Therefore she stayed away from view. Only when the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] had tried to harm Zhan Bai after the three palm strike, did she unleash her whip in a bid to save him.

And now, once more, she had in a stroke of luck, ran into this ‘Dead Men Dwelling Place’ and also chanced upon the spiritual tablet of Zhan Yun Tian. And this was something that had to do with her Big Brother Zhan, so how would she not be concerned?

She looked around in her surroundings in a careful manner, forgetting that she supposed to find water for her Brother Zhan to go with his medicine. On the shrine, were flowers that had some water vapor on it, fresh fruits and joss sticks that were burnt halfway. It was obvious that some one had recently paid their respect.

Beyond the shrine was a hallway and there were two doors on the left and right. The doors of the hallway were made of white wood as well. The door on the left side had a piece of white paper hanging on top of it with the inscription in black ink, ‘Living Dead Man’. The door to the right had a similar paper but with the words, ‘Dead Living Man’ written on it. Both doors had an couplets on both sides, with the inscriptions, ‘If kindness is not repaid, it is as good as dead.’ The other couplet read, ‘It is humiliating that vendetta cannot be seek. Vengeance must be pursued and kindness must be repaid.’

After WanEr had seen those words, she could begin to comprehend half of it. The one that stayed in this Dead Men Dwelling Place was not a dead person but because he was indebted to Hero Zhan but now that he had been wrongfully killed, he was unable to find the killer to avenge him; the kindness and benevolent that he received could never be repaid, hence he called himself a dead man…

When WanEr had concluded to this point, suddenly she felt it strange that she saw no sight of either the [Living Dead Man] or the [Dead Living Man]. Unconsciously, she had walked to the left side of the hall and used her hands to push open the door.

In the room were a table and a chair. The room had just a simple setup. There was no bed or even bedding. But at the corner of the room was a white coffin!

The white coffin was sealed very tightly. After looking around for a while and finding nothing, she turned around and walked into the door to the right to take a look.

Who would expect that the other room was exactly the same and equally identical! Both rooms just had a table, chair and a white coffin!

In such a big house, there was no one and there were two big white coffins in the rooms. Having such an unsightly name like the ‘Dead Men Dwelling Place’ was weird enough. To a young maiden like WanEr that had never stepped away from long distances from her home, it was extremely eerie and creepy. It frightened her and caused her mind to wander, unable to calm down to think.

Just when WanEr was still feeling dumbfounded in the room to the right of the hall, she heard a loud ‘Dong’ sound coming from outside. It caused her to be startled and with her left hand holding her chest, she sprang out of the room only to see her Brother Zhan lying on the ground, after falling down from the chair.

Without any hesitation, she sprang to his side and saw his face burning red. His breathing was extremely weak and blood was snoozing from his mouth…

WanEr was shocked and stunned at the same time. She examined Zhan Bai carefully but found no visible wounds on him. She concluded that when she left to investigate the rooms, her Brother Zhan must have fell on his own. She scolded and blamed herself silently. Why did she have to do the most trivial things and left the most pressing matters undone?

She carried Brother Zhan tightly and carried him to sit on the chair. She took out the green color antidote that the red face old man had given her. But because she could not find any water in this moment of need, she pondered for a while before she opened her small mouth, using her saliva to substitute as water. Mouth to mouth, the antidote was sent down Zhan Bai’s throat.

Because WanEr’s heart was innocent and pure, she did not even think that between a man and a woman, such a thing, could only be done between a man and a wife. Moreover, it was also because WanEr loved Zhan Bai from the bottom of her heart.

And because it was urgent, without pausing to consider much ado, she used her saliva to substitute it as water for Zhan Bai, for fear that he might lose unconscious and could not swallow the pill down his throat.

Immediately afterwards, she began to use her palms to massage Zhan Bai on his chest. Just then, she felt something between her fingers.

WanEr did not know what Zhan Bai had hidden in his clothes, so she reached for and retrieved out a book with multi color cover.

WanEr unwillingly giggled and thought to herself, “This Brother Zhan of mine is like a small kid. He is so big yet he is still looking at picture book!…Huh!”

As WanEr was thinking to herself, she carelessly flipped the book. She did not expect that in the book was all drawing of maidens in the nude. The posture was extremely mesmerizing, beautiful, heart-stopping and beholding…

WanEr had a dumbfounded expression on her face as she flushed. She muttered in a low voice, “So disgusting! You…” She forgot that Zhan Bai was unconscious and threw the book back to him. The book hit Zhan Bai and fell to the ground…

Suddenly there was a thunderous shout, “Who is so outrageous and bold? There is actually someone that dared to disturb the Dead Men Dwelling Place!”

Even before WanEr could turn her back, she could feel a gush of wind flurrying towards her.

As she was afraid that her Brother Zhan would come to harm by the stranger, without dodging and pausing to inquiry, she displayed the stroke ‘Reversal’倒转阴阳 and flipped around with both of her hands extending out to welcome the gush of flurrying windforce.

“Omg! It’s young benefactor…”

The instant WanEr turned her body, the stranger had already clearly seen Zhan Bai’s face and immediately shouted, withdrawing his attacks.

But still, it was still too late as the pair of palms clashed with one another. WanEr’s arms were sore from the clash!

She was startled and thought, “Such powerful palm force!” She lifted her head and saw two weird looking men that dressed themselves in white clothing. They looked eerie and had a dead expression on their faces. They stood exactly besides one another, left and right in front of WanEr, looking like a zombie. WanEr felt a chill running down her spine.

The two weird men began to stared coldly at WanEr and then at Zhan Bai. And then back to her.

As they looked terrifying and eerie, with crafty eyes, WanEr was afraid that they might have malicious intentions towards her Brother Zhan. Even though she knew she was not their match but in order to protect her Brother Zhan, she mustered her internal power to prepare a final showdown. She did not have any trace of fright or any intention to run but instead was determined to fight. If the two men were to raise their hands against her Zhan Bai, she would immediately fight it all out with them…

“Young benefactor looks like he is badly injured!” The weird man on the left said to no one in particular.

“So I say we mustn’t die. We should continue our meager existence for there are still many things for us to do!” The weird man on the right exclaimed.

WanEr was puzzled at their behavior and speech. She looked at their icy cold stares and then took a glance at her Brother Zhan.

“Young lass! Are you the one that injured young benefactor?” The weird man on the right suddenly thundered.

“Just who are you?” Instead of replying him, WanEr retorted. She continued, “Why would I injure Brother Zhan?…Huh!”

The weird man on the right suddenly shouted at her in a thunderous voice and then charged at her, using his left hand to push WanEr aside and then plunged towards Zhan Bai.

“What are you trying to do?” WanEr was afraid that the weird man would try to harm her Brother Zhan, therefore she shouted, ‘Opposing the Tidal Force’ 力挑千钧 as she reached out her right hand to grip the weird man’s shoulder.

As WanEr had hurriedly attacked, this stance used all her strength. Needless to say a human’s shoulder, even an iron would be blend by her.

But the weird man seemed not to notice this all almighty attack from WanEr; he did not dodge and evade. Instead, he continued to plunge towards Zhan Bai.

WanEr hit his left shoulder but it was as solid as steel. It caused her upper body to be numbed with paralysis. She was knocked back five to six steps before she could regain her balance. Her hands were crying out with excruciating pain!

She saw the weird man came in front of Zhan Bai and hit his front vulnerable points with his big hands.

WanEr was startled and panicky. She cried out aloud, “Old ugly monster! Dare you to touch my Brother Zhan! I will fight it out with you!”

WanEr attacked him again with all her might but he just nudged off her attacks like it was nothing.

“Young lass! Restraint yourself! You…” As he knocked WanEr backwards against a wall.

WanEr almost fainted after being knocked backwards. She found her vision growing dim. Hurriedly, she tried to circulate her breath before she opened her eyes and was horrified to see the weird man pressing her Brother Shane’s ‘Life Channels’ accupoints.

One must know that the ‘Life Channel’ was the death accupoint of a human being. Should the weird man hit hard on this point, Zhan Bai would instantly lose his life. Tears began to drip from WanEr’s eyes in her moment of helplessness…

But when she took a closer look, she finally realized that the weird man was not trying to harm her Brother Zhan but was trying to use his life force energy to help Zhan Bai to clear his channels. It was because she had noticed that the redness from Zhan Bai’s face had retreated and his eyes were fluttering.

WanEr could not help it but muttered in her heart, “Such embarrassment!” She leaned backwards on the wall and used the opportunity to regain the circulation of her breath…

The other weird man had walked near to Zhan Bai but his eyes were on the multi color book that was beneath his legs.

“Alas!” That weird man picked the book. With only one glance at the book, he began to exclaimed excitedly, “Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual! Elder Brother! Elder Brother! Come and have a look…”

He looked up and saw wisps of steam floating above his brother’s head. He seemed to be in full concentration trying to clear Zhan Bai’s blood channels. And it was now at the most crucial part. Therefore he immediately left his sentence unfinished.

But even then, his icy cold face had an excited, uncontrollable expression. His eyes were glowing and even the hands that were holding the book were trembling!

He was startled and lifted his head, only to see his elder brother had a wisp of steam rising from his head. It is obvious that he had reached a crucial point of helping Zhan Bai to clear his blood channels. He immediately halted what he was trying to say.

But his cold and eerie expression was full of excitement. His eyes were beaming and even the hands that were holding the book were trembling.

Even WanEr, who was leaning against the wall and was trying to regain her breathing circulation, received a sudden jolt when she suddenly heard the weird man suddenly shouted, “Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual!”

That was because she had once unintentional overheard her father conversing with his protégé guests on the affairs of the martial fraternity that two hundred years ago, there was a Martial Fraternity Sage by the name of the Lord of the Only Eye. He left behind a manual called the ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’

This manual had been acknowledged by the martial fraternity as the most wondrous book ever. Whoever could obtain this wondrous book and learnt the skills within it, would dominate the martial fraternity as the most powerful martial arts expert…

WanEr was bewildered at this point. That was because she had just browsed through the book and within the book, were all pictures of women in the nude. There weren’t any martial formula. Could it be that the posture of the naked women be martial stances?…

WanEr’s mind was pacing with thoughts and was making plenty of wild guesses as she looked at the weird man; he was flipping the pages one by one, reading with his hands trembling…

On closer look, the weird man began to have a strange expression on his face. His eyes were darting and his mouth was trembling. His eyes had a strange kind of glow and his white and colorless face began to flutter in tint red…

Slowly, the weird man began to shiver as though he could no longer control the powerful excitement. Finally he closed his eyes…

WanEr was momentarily distracted by the another weird man that was treating Zhan Bai. The weird man’s head was now thick with steam and he had three wisps of white cloud above his head. From afar, it looked like three white lotuses.

WanEr was startled. She knew that this is the ‘Halo of the Three Flowers’. Unless one had practiced inner strength to its peak, this phenomenon would never appear! She would never imagine that this man that looked like a ghost would have such unbelievable depth of inner strength. As a result, she was mesmerized by the scene…

Suddenly, she sensed two sharp beam of light nailing her body. She turned her head around and saw that the another weird man that was reading the ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ earlier, had opened his eyes.

His entire face was red and he was trembling. His eyes were looking intently at her body. Suddenly, he started to walk towards her…

WanEr was a naïve young girl whom innocent had not yet been shed. How could she have known that man when they were thirsted for sex, would be so bestial and crazed?

This weird man was a martial recluse and moreover, he had decades of martial training. Only a few in the martial fraternity could match his martial prowess and the strength of his willpower. Who would expect that a book would cause him to lose control of his self-will!

At the moment, his lust was at its pinnacle and he had broken free of his decades of self-restraint. He could no longer restraint his lust that was like a fiery fire. Facing a young and beautiful young maiden like WanEr, he had actually forgotten his very own identity. He even forgot about his life promises. He had even forgotten that his brother was just besides him. He had also forgotten his benefactor’s son…

His lust had consumed him and caused him to lose his reasoning. He was now like a hungry tiger that was plunging towards a sheep.

WanEr was startled and quickly displayed a ‘Enclosure’ stance as she gathered and circulated her inner strength as she extended her hands towards the crazed weird man’s chest in a furious and panicky manner.

There was a thunderous loud sound as the weird man took the impact of WanEr’s palms without questioning and dodging.

WanEr had displayed at least five hundred to six hundred catty of strength through the deliverance of this stance but against this weird man, it just caused his body to shutter two times in quick succession but it failed to halt his advance. In response to this attack, it was like his movements had quickened instead as he opened his arms and pushed WanEr’s slim body into his embrace.

WanEr felt like she was being pressed against steel and the pressure in her chest was so heavy that it caused her circulation to be disrupted. Because her hands and legs could not moved, she was stunned and in great anxiety. Eventually and finally, she passed out…

The weird man who had been consumed by the fires of lust was like a crazed person as he started to tear apart WanEr’s embroidered silk dress. He was now panting very hard as he finally tore off the embroidered silk dress that was worth a thousand gold, revealing WanEr snow white body…

WanEr was as alluring as a flower. Now that she was unconscious, she even had to brave through the cruelty of the thunderstorm and the hurricanes that was about to become her fate. She was like a flower that was quickly going to be despoiled. It was cruelty at its extremity…

Suddenly, there was a chilly heng. It was by the weird man that was helping Zhan Bai to treat his injuries. He sprang in a startling flash of revelation with his fingers extending out and struck furiously on the spine accupoints “精促穴” of the other weird man who was embracing WanEr.

There was a loud crashing sound as the struck weird man collapsed onto the floor. He then proceeded to hit three of his major accupoints; “Chang Qiang”, “Ling Tai”, “Shen Men”. After that, he lifted him up and sprang in a startling movement into the room on the left before throwing him into the coffin.

Like a wind, in a blink of an eye, he proceeded to lift and carry WanEr into the coffin to the room on the right. At the same time, he had also picked the “Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual” and stuffed it into his garment. Next, he continued to pat furiously on Zhan Bai’s twelve accupoints on various parts of his body.

It was as though nothing had happened in the hall.

When Zhan Bai had awakened and his first sight was the ghastly weird man, he was too stunned for action.

“Young Hero Zhan, do you still recognize me?”

Zhan Bai was instantly jolted as he recalled how he had tried to steal his sword in the Pine Forest and how both of them had tried to commit suicide by banging their heads against the trees but failed. He asked in a startled voice, “How did I come to be here? And where is your other companion?”

The weird man shook his head and said, “That companion of mine has gone out and yet to return. As for why you are here, you have to ask yourself!”

“Have to ask myself?” Zhan Bai was puzzled. He could only remembered how he had encountered a red face old man in a little town and took his blows from him. After that, he was engulfed in a strange burning sensation and had passed out. Then how did he manage to come here? A thought struck him and he asked, “Old Senior, is that you who has saved me?”

“I myself do not know who have delivered you. But I did lend you a helping hand here. Young Hero Zhan, why not you tell me after we had parted, where else had you been to?”

Therefore Zhan Bai began to relate to him his encounters.

After listening, the weird man began to sigh and said, “Is it all really pre-destiny? I have tried to commit suicide many times but failed to. Is it because I am meant to preserve my wretched life for my benefactor’s descendant!” Upon finishing, he led Zhan Bai to the spiritual tablet of Zhan Yun Tian and said, “This benefactor of mine is in fact your father!”

When Zhan Bai saw his father’s tablet, he began to shed his tears uncontrollable as he fell into his knees to kowtow thrice. In that instant, he started to recall all his humiliations and tribulations that happened to him all these years. Unable to hold back his emotions, he began to cry out loud in great sorrow.

When the weird man saw Zhan Bai’s sorrows, he too began to recall how he had chosen to hide his name and identity, unable to face the world, forced to stay in the Dead Men Dwelling and to sleep inside the coffin. He too, was heart wrenched and cried out, beating his chest like Zhan Bai.

Chapter 19 Ended

Chapter 20: Who is the Antagonist?

Both wailed for a long time before the weird man let go of a long sigh. He looked vengeful and distressed at the same time. He wiped his tears with his hand and said, “Heroes shouldn’t shed their tears so easily! My young benevolent master, let us don’t cry anymore! I still have some urgent matters to inform you!”

Zhan Bai felt much better after venting out his sorrows. He suppressed his sorrowful voice and stood up. “Old Senior, please do not be too gracious. If you have any instructions, feel free to say so!”

The Living Dead Man sighed and said, “I am ashamed! My younger protégé brother and me have benefited from benevolent master and have no way to repay him! To think that when benevolent master had died in such inhumane manner and yet, we do not who are the murderers! How could we still have the conscious to live in this world? We had wanted to kill ourselves by smashing our foreheads to accompany our benevolent master in the afterlife but we had also wanted to investigate who are the antagonists are and avenge for him. That is why we choose to endure the humiliation of living and renamed ourselves ‘Living Dead Man’ and Dead Living Man”. As long as we did not avenge for our benevolent master, we will not call ourselves by our names! But the ones that murdered our benevolent master did such a brilliant job and their methods are incalculable cunning and secret that it took us more than ten years of grueling constant investigations to unravel them! And they are six of the topmost pugilist exponents in the Fraternity!”

When Zhan Bai heard that Living Dead Man was about to inform him of his father’s murderers, he was trembling all over now. His throat was dry and he trembled, “Please continue! Old Senior, please continue…”

“Alas!” Living Dead Man was shaking his head and heaving a long sigh. “They are none other than your father’s swore brothers and was proclaimed alongside him as the Seven Heroes of the Central Plains! Who would have thought that they would plot to murder your father for a untold riches that was in Lake Tongding!…”

“Old Senior! Please tell me! Who are they? What are their names?” Zhan Bai became agitated because he had saw the Living Dead Man becoming extremely distressed and did not continued anymore.

“Except for one that left for distant lands overseas and whereabouts unknown, the other five have become aristocracy families in the Martial Fraternity. Oh heavens! Why did the good not have a good provident while the bad always seem to have their heart’s desires?…”

“Old Senior! Please hurry and let me know their names?” Zhan Bai pleaded with him after seeing that after urging for some time, he still did not reveal the names of the antagonists.

“One is the Conqueror Whip Fan Fei from Zhengjiang!” Living Dead Man stared hatefully for an instant before he continued angrily, “They are none other than the resounding Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity…”

“The Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity?” Zhan Bai felt a drum in his head and caught hold of the Living Dead Man. His eyes were bloodshot and he asked again, “It is the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity?”

Living Dead Man nodded his head solemnly and said, “It is the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity, their fathers….!”

“Is it the father of Young Master Lingfeng, the [Meteor Hand] Murong Han?”

Living Dead Man nodded his head.

“Young Master Anle’s father, the [Universal Palm] Yun Zonglong?”

Living Dead Man nodded his head but did not say anything.

“Young Master Duanfang’s father, the [Origin Finger] Sikong Jin?” Zhan Bai hastily added, “Young Master Qilin’s father, the [Heavenly Bronze Coin] Jin Jiu?”

With a solemn face, Living Dead Man once again nodded his head. When he saw that Zhan Bai had finished asking, he added, “And that [Silver Fan] Liu Suihou that has ventured out to distant shores and his location is currently unknown…”

“Alas!” Even before Living Dead Man had finished, Zhan Bai had cried out and he had fallen backwards and had lost conscious.

Living Dead Man immediately supported Zhan Bai to an upright position and channeled his internal energy with his palm onto his heart accupoint. After massaging for awhile, Zhan Bai began to regain consciousness.

He could not withhold his tears and with great disappointment said, “Old Senior, it seems like Junior I, would never be able to avenge this vengeance of mine!”

“Alas!” Living Dead Man sighed and replied, “Young benefactor! I understand how despairing you felt. Not only you, when my brother and I had first known of it, we know it is a hopeless cause to ever seek avenge for our benefactor. That was why we tried to commit suicide in the Pine Woods by crashing into the trees!”

Zhan Bai’s spirits was lifted by Living Dead Man’s words. He thought and said to himself why he did not have more integrity? Why did he cow in the face of adversity? As long as he is still alive, he can still train in his martial skills day in and night out. Once he had accomplishment in his martial arts, he can still seek vendetta for his father and killed his father’s killers one by one. He will let the entire martial fraternity knows that his father still has a heir in him…

When Zhan Bai had reached this conclusion, he suddenly had an inspiration and he hastily plunge forwards and kneel down in front of Living Dead Man and said with great sincerity, “Thanks for Old Senior guidance that Junior I, have began to see the light in the tunnel. Since Old Senior has old ties with my father, I plead with you to accept me as your disciple! Once Junior I, have learnt your martial skills, I can go and seek vendetta for my father!……”

When Living Dead Man saw Zhan Bai kneel suddenly in front of him, he was panicky and could not stop him in time. He too kneel and hastily said, “Young Benefactor, please rise. You are as good as killing me!”

Zhan Bai thought that Living Dead Man could not accept him as his disciple and he stubbornly refused to get up. In the End, Living Dead Man had to forcefully carried him up and put him onto a chair.

He solemnly said, “It is not that I am refusing to teach you martial arts. I have very valid reasons not to. With my martial skills, if I were to fight against second or third rate fighters, it can still be considered useful. But by no means, I am a match for those first rate fighters. Even if I were to teach you all my martial skills, it would still be useless to you. Moreover you must know, in the martial fraternity, once a person is your Martial Master, forever is your Martial Master. I will be destroying Young Benefactor’s future if I do. This is the first reason.”

“Moreover, my brother and I is considered servants to our Benefactor Hero Zhan. Strictly adhering, young benefactor, you can still be considered as my young master. So how can I as your servant be your Martial Master?”

Zhan Bai knew that what Living Dead Man had said made sense and he could not force him to accept him. Even though he was very disappointed, he did not say it.

“Actually, young benefactor, you do not need to be disappointed. Don’t you have a manual that is even better than any famous martial masters?”

Reminded by Living Dead Man, Zhan Bai suddenly realized that he had the Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual. He immediately reach within his robe for it but was startled and his heart gone cold when he realized he did not have it…

Then Living Dead Man took out the Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual and said, “This is the most wondrous martial book in the entire world. May I know how did Young Benefactor come in possessions of it?”

“It was given to me by a Lei Dashu,” replied Zhan Bai. He was instantly relieved that he had not lost the book.

As they chat, Living Dead Man began to flip the book. But after taking a few glances, he quickly closed the book and closed his eyes to regain his composure. After awhile, he opened his eyes and said, “That was a close shave! This book can create delusions and caused others to go berserk. Young Benefactor, you are so young, how did you manage to read this book at all?”

“Junior I, read it by feeling it in the darkness.” Zhan Bai had a kind soul and was not suspicious of others. Therefore he was honest and did not conceal in all matters.

When Living Dead Man first heard that Zhan Bai mentioned that he had feel it to read it, he did not believed it at first but after he used his fingers to feel the inside of the book, he too come to the revelation. But a flash of greed appeared in his countenance.

Zhan Bai saw it as well.

Living Dead Man returned the book to Zhan Bai. He pondered for awhile before asking, “Who is this Lei Dashu? He is generous indeed!”

Zhan Bai described Lei Dashu’s characteristics and features to him.

“Oh!” Living Dead Man cried out. “Lei Zhenyuan!”

“Old Senior, you know him?” Zhan Bai interrupted.

“How can I not know him! Your father and him are bosom friends! When my brother and I are with our Benefactor in the martial fraternity, he was always with us!……”

“May I know if I can know Old Senior name? At least we have the fate of encounter and I can at least know.” Zhan Bai asked.

Suddenly Living Dead Man was solemn and expressionless once more. He sighed deeply and said, “I hope young benefactor will forgive me for this slight. My brother and I once made an serious oath that before we could avenge for our Benefactor, we would never mention our names ever again. You can address us brothers as the Living Dead Man and Dead Living Man.”

Zhan Bai upon seeing that he would not reveal his name, did not force him. He paused for awhile before asking, “Old Senior, how did you know who are the culprits behind Junior’s father death…”

Without waiting for Zhan Bai to finish, Living Dead Man interrupted, “It all thanks to Old Senior the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli that we know it. When we first heard of it, we did not believe it as well but after Old Senior Dong verified it, only then did we know that it is true.”

“When we saw Young Benefactor a few days ago and from that bronze coin, we recognized that it was the secret projectile of [Heavenly Bronze Coin] Jin Jiu. We have no choice but to believed that the news is the truth!”

“[Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut]!” Zhan Bai muttered, “Is Old Senior Dong dressed in silk floss, looks like a peddler and rides a donkey?

Living Dead Man answered, “Indeed, it is him.”

Suddenly, Living Dead Man exclaimed loudly as if he was reminded of something, “Old Senior Dong is over a hundred years old and he is a extraordinary man. He had three pieces of iron guts and the Sixty-four stances of his ‘Wondrous Hand’ plus his highly accomplished martial skills, I afraid none in the martial fraternity can be comparable to him at all. Just now, young benefactor, you have said that you are looking for a Martial Teacher. Why not plead with him to accept you as his disciple?”

Zhan Bai was extremely happy that he did have a ray of hope and asked joyfully, “Where does he resident at?”

“Even though he has no fixed dwelling place but he frequents near Nanjing Sparrow shore banks and the Mountain rocks of the Twelve Caves. If Young Benefactor will to go there, you may find him…”

Zhan Bai did not wait for Living Dead Man to finish and got up immediately, gave a respectful bow, “Then, Junior will take my leave now! Thanks for Old Senior to come to my aid in my hours of need and for guiding me. All these acts of kindness, I, Zhan Bai, will always remember deep in my heart…”

Zhan Bai had exited the ‘Dead Man Dwelling Place’ even before he had finished speaking.

“Young Benevolent!…” Living Dead Man was shouting for him behind him, wanting to tell Zhan Bai that there was a young maiden that had come with him. Suddenly, he remembered that it might be inconvenient for him to explain the circumstances just now, he immediately paused to think for awhile. While he was pausing, in that split second, Zhan Bai had sprung down the mountains.

As Zhan Bai was anxious and excited, he did not think of anything unusually of a red mare that was eating grass just outside the house. Zhan Bai just thought that it was just a horse owned by Living Dead Man. If he had carefully think about it, he would realize that such majestic and colorful horse would not have suited the character of Living Dead Man…


Chapter 20 Ended

Chapter Twenty-One: Jiangnan most beautiful Maiden


This day, the weather was extremely warm and uncomfortable in Nanjing. Young Master Qilin and his sister went out with an entourage of proteges. They took with them their married elder sister’s children, a boy and a girl by the name of Mingming and Lanlan respectively.

Young Master Qilin, whose real name is Jin Caihuan, a resident of the City of Nanjing. He was extremely wealthy coupled with the fact that he had many extraordinary people to teach him martial skills, was highly endowed in martial arts. His proteges in his manor numbered more than a thousands and had many first rate fighters. No wonder his reputation was positioned as the other three Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity!

Sitting besides Young Master Qilin, was an inculpable beautiful young maiden, Jin Caifeng. She was the sister to Young Master Qilin. Because she delighted in having a plum blossom hairpin braided on her hair and moreover she had refined air, was elegantly beautiful, her nickname was [Plum Blossom].

They had come to the Sparrow Tea Tavern to dip tea and to cool off. But they had not expected to encounter the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] and their disciple [Three Inch] Xiao Sangmen.

[Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] had few opportunities to venture out of their valley dwelling. They had no idea how influential Young Master Qilin was. The reason why they were creating troubles for him was because a petty man had been secretly sowing discord.

When they had saw Young Master Qilin, they purposely made outrageous remarks to provoke him.

Even though Young Master Qilin had great influential power in the fraternity, he had amazing patience and self-restraint. He did not for once fall into provocation. Even when his proteges could not restraint any longer, he rose up on a number of occasions to calm them down.

But when Young Master Qilin did not respond to their provocation, they were ill at ease to seek vengeance for the time being.

Just then, a down and trodden lad with his crestfallen head walked past. He seemed to be thinking of something as he walked past hurriedly. He accidentally stepped upon on Lanlan’s grasshopper.

“Hey!” Lanlan cried out panicky as she quickly tried to pull back the string that was attached to the grasshopper. But it was too late and the grasshopper was crushed. “Look what have you done to my grasshopper. I want you to pay me back!”

Who would expect that the lad to ignore Lanlan's cries of outrage? He was too focus in his own thoughts that he was not aware of his surroundings. He continued to walk away…

Even though Lanlan is a six to seven year old young girl but because she was born in a martial aristocracy family, she had a certain degree of solid foundation in her martial skills. When she saw that down and trodden lad did not even turn his head after stepping on her grasshopper, she was aroused to much anger and she selected an ovary stone from a flower pot and flickered her fingers towards the head of the lad. Indeed, this was the ‘Snapping Silver’ secret projectile technique!

The projectile struck as intended because firstly, the lad was occupied in his own thoughts and there were many people around therefore he did not guarded against any secret attacks. Secondary, Lanlan’s “Snapping Silver’ technique was highly accurate and there was no sound even though her mastery of the force was still lacking.

The lad turned his head around and looked around for some time and but still could not find who was his attacker for Lanlan had took a deep breath and suppressed herself so as not to laugh aloud.

Lanlan then stick her tongue out and smiled at Mingming.

Mingming misunderstood that Lanlan was challenging him to a contest and he too, selected an ovary stone from the flower pot and he aimed it at the lad’s head. It was a perfect shot as well.

Who would expect that this to present the ‘Jiangnan Two Extraordinary’ an excellent opportunity to make use of this lad to create trouble for Young Master Qilin!

The ancient name of Nanjing was Jinling. It was the capital of the Six Dynasties period as well as a major city during the warring state period.

There were many scenic and ancient remnant places to catch the attention of passer by but Zhan Bai was not bothered by it. His face was covered by sweat and it appeared that he did not wash his face for many days. But still, there was no mistaking his sharp and handsome air!

Suddenly a stone struck him at the back of his head. Even though he was not hurt by it, it was very painful.

He turned around and noticed that there was a tea tavern with many people and they were all laughing at him. He reached out for his head to rub it and he could feel a bruise. But in the midst of so many tens of people, there was simply no way to know who threw that stone at him.

But the instant he turned his head again, he was hit by another stone behind his head again.

This time round, it was much more painful and he jumped three feet high and turned back violently. He focused his eyes and was very much enraged. He could see that everyone in the area was roaring with laughter.

But this time round, he did see who was his assailant. They were two children, one boy and a girl. The boy was around seven to eight while the girl was around six to seven. The boy was dressed beautifully while the girl was dressed plainly but she was very alluring.

Behind those two children were many flowerpots with similar ovary stones that were identical to what was used to hit him. They were all looking at him in a funny way and they had their hands behind their back. Their small eyes were vibrating in a cute round shape and they were pursing their lips tightly. It looked like they were trying to suppress their laughter.

Just where the children stood, besides them was a elegant tea tavern. Inside, a big table was covered with white cloth and on it was placed many fresh flowers and fruits. Seating on the table were five to six men and women in bright color clothing. On the surface, they looked like they were from a wealthy family but closer look, their spirits and countenances were vibrant and their eyes were bright. They were all obviously in possession of powerful martial skills.

The most eye catching was a twenty plus and minus young man. He had beautiful white complexion like a jade. He was serene, handsome and radiated a noble air!

Sitting just besides the young man, was a twenty plus and minus young maiden who glare the eyes of those that looked upon her. She was beholding and her countenance was like those of a radiating fairy. She was dressed in a cloud plumage dress and her smiles were tender as she looked at him and then with reproaching eyes, she stared at the two children.

When Zhan Bai was hit by the two stones and was made a laughing stock in front of the crowd, he was instantly filled with rage. But when he saw it was just two children that were making mischief, half of his anger began to disperse. So he said to them, “Young friends! You shouldn’t have hit anyone intentional. It is alright to hit me but what if you hit someone with a bad temper, he wouldn't have spare you that easily…”

The small boy rolled his eyes for awhile before he replied mischievously, “Does it means you are not bad?”

The little girl laughed aloud as she could not suppress her laughing anymore. But after she laughed, she felt a little ill at ease and she immediately turned her back to face the riverbanks. As she turned around, she saw a tortoise resting on a rock and she used the other stone that was hidden in her other hand and used snapped her little fingers. The stone hit the tortoise on its head and it turned toppled on its back. The tortoise immediately tried to claw frenetically to turn its back.

“Heh!” The little girl clapped her hands in applause. “Big brother! I have hit the tortoise on its head!”

The two noble young man and maiden that were sitting on top of the tea tavern began to exclaimed together, “Lanlan, do be not naughty…”

But before they had finished, Mingming used the same secret projectile technique and hit the tortoise on its head and sent it flying into the river. His force was much greater than that of Lanlan. “What so interesting about it?” He asks his sister, “I too, have hit the tortoise’s head!”

Hundreds of people began to laugh merrily.

Even though the children did not mean anything but their words and the laughter from the people turned Zhan Bai face white with anger. He stared hard at them but how could he raise his temper at two children that known not right or wrong? Therefore, he sighed to himself, “Why am I so unlucky. I did been through worse humiliating circumstances than this, so why bother with these two children…”

But who would expect that someone would purposely wanted to infuriate him further? When he turned around and began to walk hurriedly away, he heard a voice that croaked like a goat, “Hey second brother! Did you say something just now that a real man can have his head beheaded and his blood flowed out but he couldn’t allow himself to be insulted and live in indignity? From what an old man like man can see, a lot of people are like a tortoise. They are young and without aspirations. After they have been humiliated, they didn’t even dare to pass a fart!”

The voice that croaked like a goat was high pitch and shrieking and irritated the ears. Moreover the voice was exceptional loud. Even though there were people far away from Zhan Bai, it caused everyone to turn their glance towards him.

Two old men and a lad were sitting on a tavern bench shaded by a tree and they were using a despicable stare that were targeted at Zhan Bai.

The two old men were very old but had remarkable features. One had red hair and dark skin and had white nose and eyes that seemed to piercing in all directions. He was wearing an oversized white cloth robe making him looked like a big monkey from the circus.

Another old man although he could have easily blended with the others but he was as thin as the bamboo and had a big head. He was also wearing thick clothing. It was already so weird to wear like that on such a hot weather! He was shaking his head and he was the one that had spoken earlier. He continued, “Don’t you think you are too absurd and ridiculous?”

This infuriated Zhan Bai and his rage was pouring forth from his stomach but he could still suppress his anger.

The same old man waved his hand and yelled, “Come over here!”

Zhan Bai pretended not to know and asked, “Old sir, are you calling me?”

“Alas! Still so dense as ever!” He growled. “If I weren’t calling for you, would I then be calling to a dog?”

As the old man in winter clothing was obviously teasing and calling Zhan Bai a dog, the crowd in the area was now roaring with laughter!

At this point, Zhan Bai could no longer suppress his anger and angrily retorted, “You look decent when you speak but not one word of yours were proper! I guess you are not a gentleman and a crooked scholar as well! If it were not for your age, I would…hum!”

Zhan Bai did not know that he was making the red hair old man who was standing besides the winter clothing old man even more joyous. He was now clapping his hands and stomping his legs and croaking, “Hahaha…my gentleman Second Brother! Haha…You are always sighing from day to night about being gentlemanly…hahaha…but now, all your grace of being a gentleman is now gone….haha…And this young man says you are a crooked scholar as well…haha…”

The winter old man yelled angrily at the down and crestfallen Zhan Bai, “What a blockhead, what a blockhead! You are really beyond teaching! I called you to come over here and yet you have the tenacity to insult and humiliate me! Hum!” He pressed his hands upon the table and was about to…

“Teacher, wait!” The lad besides him rose up to say, “Let your disciple takes over this menial task from you. Killing a chicken requires just a reasonable blade will do. To take care of this rascal, there is no need for my respected sir to hands on personally. Let me, as your disciple, disciplines him for you.”

The old man in winter clothing nodded his head and sat down.

The lad skipped from the bamboo chair and approached Zhan Bai slowly. Why did the lad seem to skip? It was because the lad looked measured only three feet and he had to use his buttocks to touch the chair before he could land on the ground with his feet.

Zhan Bai looked at this lad who was not even three feet and had a big head. Not only that, he was extremely ugly as well!

The lad however walked in an arrogant manner and with much fanfare towards Zhan Bai and pointed at his nose, “Hey you rascal! How dare you offend my respected Mentor Teacher! If you bow your head to me, I will plead for leniency with my Teacher for you. Hopefully my Mentor Teacher will forgive you and spare you! If not, hummed! Not only will my Mentor Master be mad, I will also not spare you!”

Zhan Bai was speechless with anger that he couldn’t mutter any words.

The lad stared at him and shouted, “Rascal, why don’t you say something?”

Zhan Bai only gave a cold wry smile and did not say a word or moved. In actuality, he wanted to fight but because he did want others to say he bullied a dwarf.

But now, everyone had gathered to see the scene and the feeling was unbearable for him because he was being looked upon as a coward for being non-responsive.

The lad however did not care a hoot on what Zhan Bai was thinking and seeing that he was non-responsive, thought that Zhan Bai was looking down upon him. Suddenly, he raised his fingers into a claw and struck towards Zhan Bai’s chest. This grasp technique was not only quick and wondrous, it could be classed as a first rate technique in the martial fraternity!

Zhan Bai was startled. Never did he expect this unremarkable three feet dwarf was capable of such highly developed martial powers. Zhan Bai too used a grasp technique, fending low to high to counter-attack and to grasp the lad’s right hand.

“Great! It nigh time that you fight!” The lad shrieked and his right wrist slipped from Zhan Bai’s counter-attack and at the same time, his left hand clawed towards Zhan Bai’s throat.

By now, Zhan Bai had withdraw his over-confidence and began the fight seriously.

The two of them were both using grasp techniques and were hitting furiously fast. This type of grasp technique was very rarely seen in the martial fraternity. In a twinkle of an eye, many blows and strokes were exchanged. 　

Among the people in the tea tavern, were many hidden dragons and crouching tigers. They were from respected and famous clans of the martial fraternity. At first, they all thought this crestfallen young man and the unremarkable lad were just having a dog fight with one another and did not pay much heed. But when they started to trade blows, everyone eyes were bewildered and staring widely! They were all startled and intrigued by their wondrous and ingenious grasp techniques!

Among those that paid special attention to the fight were the two weird men [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary], the noble Young Master Qilin and the exquisite beautiful Jin Caifeng.
　　
The [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] were both expert specialists in internal, external and swiftness martial arts. They had weird temperaments and did not like to have contacts with others. They had led a life of recluse in the ‘Ghost Valley’ but no one knew where was the exact location of that place. Moreover, few people had even been there before. Now that they had wandered out, they were sure to do a few stuff that could ripple through the martial fraternity with their abilities.

The dwarf like young lad was their only disciple. He used to be an abandoned baby that they had picked up on the mountain tracks. They do not like people and no one knew why they had suddenly become soft hearted and had actually brought that baby home to raise. They even trained him in their martial skills. Because he was born as a dwarf and did not have a name, they called him [Three Inch] Dwarf or [Small Funeral Door] (Xiao Sangmen).

Now, don’t everyone belittle this ‘Small Funeral Door’. Even though he did not look human or ghost but he received a no hold instructions from the ‘Jiangnan Two Extraordinary’ and had four to five folds of their martial powers! It was not to say he was now invincible but he was considered to be a first tier fighter in the martial fraternity!

The [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] were now staring at every single stroke and style of the young man. They had noticed that the grasp technique that Zhan Bai was displaying was very similar to their ’18 styles of the Dragon Slaying’. They were mystified but could not place a word to it yet.

Their plans were to provoke Zhan Bai into conflict with Young Master Qilin but things did not go according to their plans. It was not until [Three Inch Small Funeral Door] and Zhan Bai had fought did they realized they had eyed the wrong target and discovered that this down and out young man actually possessed extraordinary martial skill levels.

Young Master Qinlin and his sister were even more mystified. They secretly thought to themselves that within their sphere of influence, there were actually people that dared to incite troubles with themselves. What more, in this area, this down and crestfallen young man would possess such extraordinary and powerful martial skills, it was totally unexpected and escaped the eyes of their protégés! It was really unbelievable!

Therefore, all the protégés of Young Master Qilin and his sister were now staring at the fight with bewildered eyes and with interests.

Zhan Bai’s technique was intricate and extraordinary. Moreover his palms were emitting heavy wind blows. It was obvious that his internal strength was stronger than [Three Inch Small Funeral Door]. But his body swiftness was not as agile as him and he was also slower in his techniques. Therefore for now, both of them fought to a standstill.

But as time passed, Zhan Bai began to lose his advantage as he was slower and he was not as accustomed in his skills as the [Three Inch Dwarf].

[Three Inch Dwarf] with his nickname of [Small Funeral Door] was a vicious and cunning person. When he found out he could not gain any advantage after fighting for so long under the watchful eyes of his two Teachers, his face became awkward and unhappy. When he suddenly got an advantage over Zhan Bai, he immediately increased his strength by two folds and to strike Zhan Bai hard on his chest.

If Zhan Bai did not die, he would still be seriously injured.

“Alas!” The crowd echoed in startled voices, among them, was [Plum Blossom] Jin Caifeng. She looked with regret and pity, not wishing for that young man to die but felt embarrassing if she were to interfere to help…

Just when Zhan Bai was about to be dealt a thunderous blow on his chest, he yelled aloud, “Heh!...” And his hands were suddenly on his chest and he returned blow to blow. No one could see how Zhan Bai could have avoided that fatal, moreover he could even counter-attack!

Because the [Three Inch Dwarf] was small, he was knocked back and flied towards his Mentor Masters. What a coincidence!
　　
The [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] turned ashen and the red hair old man immediately caught hold of [Three Inch Dwarf].

The [Three Inch Dwarf] rubbed his head for a second before his little eyes turned around and he replied in a shrieking voice, “Master, don’t you worry! Your protégé do not care a hoot on such puny hit!” Then he turned around to fight.

Everyone was puzzled that after [Three Inch Dwarf] was knocked back a great many distance, he appeared to be not injured. What was the reason for that?

The old man in winter clothing blocked [Three Inch Dwarf] and walked arrogantly towards Zhan Bai and stared at him before exclaiming thunderously, “May I know your name and from which martial clan?”

Zhan Bai replied without hesitation, “I am Zhan Bai. As for my Teacher and martial clan, I am not obliged to reveal!”

The old man was thoughtful for a minute and from his memories, he did not have any impression of such a person. He shook his head and exclaimed, “This is really strange! Even though you do not tell me where you are from but from your grasping technique, why is it so familiar to the grasping technique that I have created?”

Actually Zhan Bai was equally feeling strange that when he sparred with [Three Inch Dwarf], he noticed that the grasping technique that was used was similar to the [One Leg Heretic]. Therefore he gave a wry smile and said, “Do you know a person that missing a leg, old sir?”

The old man immediately turned ashen and gone was his piercing malevolent air. “What? You are his…disciple?”

The old man with the red hair asked nervously, “Then this young man is his successor? He is still alive?”

Zhan Bai was puzzled why the two weird old men suddenly became nervous. His grasping technique was stolen from the [One Leg Heretic] when they had sparred. No matter what, he was not going to acknowledged him as his Mentor Master. Therefore he protested, “Both of you don’t be nervous! I have no such Mentor Master…”

“I have no such disciples too!” Someone continued from afar. “In my entire life, I have only accepted two disciples and I had lost both my legs! If I have one more disciple, even my head will roll!”

Zhan Bai turned his head to look and saw a very old man who did not have any legs but used two clutches to sprint rapidly like a breeze.

When Zhan Bai turned back his back, the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] was no longer to be seen. They had long fled. So was [Three Inch Dwarf].

“Immoral disciples!” The old man with no legs was shouting and scolding, “I have been looking for you for thirty, forty years. Do you think you can escape?”
　　
The old man sprang like a bird towards the direction of the mountain with twelve caves. From afar, Zhan Bai could see three black dots. Needless to say, the dots were the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] and the [Three Inch Dwarf].

For some time, Zhan Bai was too startled and mystified by the happenings to even move…


Suddenly, there was a blur in front of Zhan Bai and someone stood in front of him, causing him to lift his head. He saw a strong muscular man and was startled for he did not know this man. But the strong muscular man exclaimed, “Wait a minute and don’t go yet, friend! My Young Master wishes to speak with you!”

“Please forgive me for I have no time to waste!” Zhan Bai replied. Ever since Zhan Bai knew that the Four Aristocracy Family Young Masters were his father’s killers, therefore were his enemies, he had come to dislike any mention of “Young Master”. He growled and said, “Moreover, I do not know who is your Young Master!” Upon finished speaking, he walked past the man and continued on his way.

That strong muscular man hummed and once again, he was in front of Zhan Bai and was now staring at him. “Friend, don’t you dare to flatter yourself. If my Young Master wishes to see you, it is because he has an eye for you. If it isn’t for the fact that Young Master wants to meet you, you will never have the chance to…”

When Zhan Bai saw that he was chatting non-stop, he was already feeling impatient. Before he could finished, Zhan Bai interrupted, “What a joke! Even if your Young Master is the Emperor, when I say I am not interested to meet him, I meant not to meet!…”

When the muscular man saw that Zhan Bai was unruly and moreover scolded his master, he gave a great shout, “Even if you do not want to meet, you have to now!” And he shook his shoulders and reached out to strike Zhan Bai on his chest.

When Zhan Bai saw that the man’s blow was not only swift but carried a windforce, he knew instantly that his opponent martial prowess was not weak. As he was still upset and when he saw the muscular man’s stroke attacking his vital points, he retaliated with a stroke called the ‘Subduing the Tiger and the Dragon’; His left palm struck the man’s shoulder while his right hand striking at his chest.

In the martial fraternity, the style of “Using Attack to subdue the attacks” was extremely rare and thus rarely was it glimpsed. Not only was the muscular man surprised by it, even Young Master Qilin and his sister were moved by it through their expressions…

As both men were both using attacking stances and moreover was too fast, Young Master Qilin was unable to stop it in time and saw that the muscular man had been struck by Zhan Bai’s palm and he was splitting blood in mid-air. When he had landed, he did not even move. Quite obvious, he appeared to be dead.

When the crowd saw that someone had been killed in the area, there was some initial confusion.

Suddenly there was a thunderous roar and a shadow flashed across the fight scene. Even before the shadowy image had touched the ground, Zhan Bai found himself attacked by ten eagle-like fingers on his head!

This attack stance was amazing powerful and as swift as meteor fire. Even if Zhan Bai wanted to dodge it, he could not as those heavy hands zapped to and forth.

There was a thunderous clap and once again, it was power versus power as Zhan Bai locked palms with the attacker. He felt as though there was a ten thousand catty of heavy mallet that came crashing upon his shoulders.

In that instant, he felt his blood flow reversing and he saw golden stars in his eyes. He was forced back five to six steps and were unable to stand firmly on the ground! Then he fell down onto the ground on his bottom.

The attacker did not even wait for Zhan Bai to rise and rush against Zhan Bai with both his heavy palms towards his chest.

The attacker had already made up his vicious mind to kill Zhan Bai on the spot so as to avenge his underling. This palm used up all his might and was like the wind breezing through and always pinpointing the target. Even if Zhan Bai wanted to avoid this blow, it was already too late and it looked like he was going to be a goner under this attacker, there was a shout, “Brother Tianhe! Hold it…”

When the attacker heard that voice, his ongoing strike slowed a little but Zhan Bai could seize upon this little chance and flipped over and stood eight feet away.

Now Zhan Bai could finally see who his attacker was; it was an old man with dark skin in a shining black robe. On each of the old man smallest finger were a metal ring.

Zhan Bai had just escaped from a possible death and he was too startled to compose himself. He turned and looked in the direction of the man who had stopped the old man from attacking further; it was Young Master Qilin.

“Brother Tianhe!” Young Master Qilin came swiftly and he was very dashing in appearances. “I want to make a friend out of this person and a fight is not what I have intended.”
　　
When he had finished speaking to the old man, he turned around and smiled at Zhan Bai, “What a dashing martial skills that you have there, brother. I am Jin Huancai, a resident of Nanjing. I would like to invite you to my residency for a few days. May I know if brother would care to grace me with your presence?”

Before Zhan Bai could replied, that black and thin old man interrupted furiously, “Young Master, do you intend for one of our own to die in vain!…” He clapped his hands and stared at Zhan Bai piercingly as though he wanted to continue the fight.

Young Master Qilin reached out to stop the black thin old man and said, “We are all living in the martial fraternity. If both sides cannot agree with one another, they are bound to exchange blows. Death and permanent injuries are unavoidable. We have only to blame for not being studious in our martial arts and not blame others. Now that Liang You had died, I will buy him the best coffin wood and buried him with honors. I will also compensate his kins.”

When Young Master Qilin had said to that point, he turned his head around, “Liang Jue! Come over here!”

A young muscular young man approached and there was no masking his rage. He looked viciously at Zhan Bai before turning and bowed at Young Master Qilin, “Young Master, what are your orders?”

“Go and take three thousands silvers to bury your older brother in grandeur!”

“Thank you Young Master!”

Once again, the muscular young man bowed before turning around to retrieve his brother’s body. But before he left, he stared at Zhan Bai viciously.

Zhan Bai did not expect he would kill this Liang You. When he saw Liang Jue sorowful and resentful look, he was feeling regretful in his heart. He blamed himself for striking so hard just now.

But when he looked at this Young Master who had the surname Jin, he guessed as much that he could be that Young Master Qilin by now. He secretly exclaimed to himself, “Hum! It is all because he has some filthy money that he was able to buy the hearts of others and caused them to use their lives for him!…”

When the black thin old man saw that Young Master Qilin had in the presence of everyone, had given him some face, he was pacified. He withdrawn his threatening stances but still looked viciously at Zhan Bai and said, “For the sake of Young Master, for the time being, I will spare you the death sentence!”

Zhan Bai could not resisted humming back in an arrogant manner, “It remains to be seen!…”

Immediately, the black thin old man expressions were tense once more…

But Young Master Qilin could not let Zhan Bai continued and said, “Let bygones be bygones! I haven’t asked you for your name yet.”

Zhan Bai suddenly had a thought in his mind, “The father of Young Master Qilin is my father’s killer. Since I have to find both his father and him sooner or later to avenge this blood debt, why not I let them know my name in the presence of everyone else. Then the pugilist fraternity may know that the Zhan family still have an outstanding man left who is not afraid of powerful and influence!

Zhan Bai immediately answered, “I am Zhan Bai. I suppose you must be the renown Young Master Qilin that everyone is talking about?”

“You'll heap too much praise me onto me!” Young Master Qilin handsome face was all smiles and he said, “I am always hospitable to guests. If Young Hero Zhan does not despite it, I would like to invite you to my residency so that I can honor you as a host!”

Just when Zhan Bai was about to reject the invitation, there was a glimmer in front of his eyes. It was Young Master Qilin’s sister Jin Caifeng, while they were all talking had by now walked over. She was now standing just behind her brother’s back and was using a pair of bright autumn watery eyes to look upon Zhan Bai.

Jin Caifeng was called the most beautiful maiden in Jiangnan and her beauty was as true as the autumn breeze. Her bright, beautiful and knowing beauty was not what brush could describe. Her moral character was excellent too. She was humble, not at all arrogant and her grace and generosity would always be presented in whatever place she been to. Everyone could appraise her and everyone would praise her; she would not hide from criticism. She would be all too natural and not a trace of pretenses would be found in her.

Even though Zhan Bai had recently saw many beauties like Murong Hong, Zhan Wan’Er, and Fan Suluan but none could compare to Jin Caifeng presently. He thought of her beautiful as a shining light, especially her honey sweet smiles.

Unwittingly, Zhan Bai and her eyes made contact and he could resist praising her in his heart, “So beautiful!…”

When Young Master Qilin saw that Zhan Bai did not reject his offer, he thought that he must have accepted his invitation. Therefore he gave orders to prepare carriages and horses and bowed using his hands at Zhan Bai, “After you, please!”

Now when Zhan Bai wanted to reject it, he found it hard to say so. He found himself taking one step at a time and acted accordingly.

Along the way, Young Master Qilin was warmed hearted and hospitable. He was earnest and honest in his manners and speech. Even though Zhan Bai thought of him as his enemy but he could not help but admired him. The saying that Young Master Qilin had a warm heart was true after all.

And especially that Jin Caifeng. She had a sedan but did not sit in it. Instead, she rode a snow white horse and followed by her brother side. From time to time, she would look at him but did not say a word. It was as though her eyes could speak. Zhan Bai could only feel her eyes radiated unlimited sense of soft sentiments. That beautiful eyes of hers, that was already so beautiful, whenever she looked at him, it caused him to be bewildered and deeper into bewildered….

“It seem like both brother and sister have outstanding moral character. I wonder if I have the heart to fight with them one day when it is time for me to seek vengeance for my father?” Zhan Bai was lost in his own hearts and did not notice that they had arrived in front of a towering mansion.

The walls of the mansion were tall and there were two stone statues of a horse on the left and right side of the gate. The flights of stairs were made of Chinese white jade and all in all, there were ten steps. The grandeur of the place was simple overwhelming! On every 5th step, there were a guard with golden armor and sword and Zhan Bai could count fifty to sixty in all.

He thought, “I did not think that for an aristocracy family, such grandeur and imposing magnificent is actually possible. Even a duke mansion could not have possible compared to this…”

There was not a hint of haughtiness when Young Master Qilin caught hold of Zhan Bai’s hand as he led him towards the stairs. The golden guards were all equally respectful.

Zhan Bai sighed. Young Master Qilin who was as wealthy as a wealthy duke could be so hospitable to a poor and downtrodden fellow like him. Indeed, he deserved to be called the [Ever Hospitable] Master Qilin.

As they entered the halls and doors, he saw many scholar tablets hanging on the walls. These tablets were all official titles. It seemed like Young Master Qilin was not only from a martial aristocracy clan but he was also from a official clan.

As Zhan Bai was sightseeing, he was also in his own thoughts. By now, it was nightfall and Young Master Qilin had led him into a beautiful hall with hundreds of candle lights. It seemed like the entire hall was a golden color.

Young Master asked, “I guess that Brother Zhan have not eaten yet.” He laughed gently and said, “Your little brother will do my best as a host to fulfill your needs. Please eat freely and do not restraint yourself!” As he said, he gave a signal to order his servants to prepare food, not waiting for Zhan Bai to reply.

“Oh Brother! You are really…” Jin Caifeng interrupted but she left it unfinished. Her beautiful eyes like rolling meadows turned her glance from her brother to Zhan Bai. She sighed, “Look at our Young Hero Zhan…”

Jin Caifeng, who was famously called [Jiangnan most beautiful maiden] seemed like her eyes would really speak. Even before she could finish speaking, Young Master Qilin had understood and he laughed, “I would have forgotten about it if not for my sister.”

He raised his voice aloud and said, “Oei, someone come over here!”

Four maids in green immediately arrived and walked ritually in front of Young Master Qilin and they said together as one, “Young Master!...”

Young Master Qilin waved his hand and said, “Help our guest to change his clothing!”

Immediately, the four maids in green walked towards Zhan Bai and respectfully said, “Honor guest, please come with us!” And they turned around.

Zhan Bai hesitated for a minute. But really he was covered with sweat and it was time for him to bath. Therefore he did not reject and followed them.

After walking through several beautiful courts, he saw them opened a tall and big window glass door and led him into a grandeur and spacious bathroom.

In the center of the bathroom were two pools. The pools were crystal clear and he could see the bottom and in the middle of the two pools was a white jade statute of a half-naked maiden. And on the statue shoulder was a vase with water pouring forth into the pools. It gave a feeling of rejuvenation and feeling of comfort even before one had entered the pools.

When the four maids in green entered the bathroom, they began to loosen their belts and Zhan Bai was instantly startled. He asked hurriedly, “What! Are all of you are going to bath too?”





Chapter 21 Ended　　

Chapter Twenty-Two: Poisoned Wine



Zhan Bai was shocked that the four maidens had started to undress themselves in front of a stranger. What more, they did it under his watchful eyes as they stripped to nothing! Except for an extremely short underwear and a red cloth in front of their chest, there were practically nothing else.

Zhan Bai eyes were wide-opened at this suddenly display and he was dazzled by it. He could not even mutter anything.

The four maidens acted as if it were a routine chore for them. They had already prepared the towels but when they saw that Zhan Bai still did not take off his clothes but stared at them, they laughed and their eyes looked at him, “If you want to shower, why did you not take off your clothes?”

Everyone had something that they ought to be ashamed for. As a man that stared at unknown girls undressing themselves in front of him, unless he was crazy, no one would have the guts to do it so broadly.

Even if you were a courageous hero, if you were to be in this situation, you too would feel awkward; even though Zhan Bai had once torn off his clothing in front of a girl. But that was caused due to the effects of the ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ by [The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng, thus causing him to lose his conscious and self-awareness.

But now he was conscious and all too aware. So how could he muster the courage to take off his clothing in the presence of four partial naked maidens? Moreover, they were looking at him.

At the same time, from beyond the bathroom door, echoed a swallow voice, “The feast has been laid, please notified our honor guest that the feast can start!”

The four naked maidens began to laugh together, “He…has not yet begin to wash yet!” When they finished, they began to laugh in chorus for several moments.

“What is the matter? After ages, the four of you have not even begun to serve…” The person stopped when she barged in through the door. When she saw that Zhan Bai was still fully clothed, she stood stunned in the center of the bathroom.

But soon after she began to laugh merrily, “Look at the four of you! Even before you have helped our guest to undress, you have helped yourself to undress first! Really! All of you are not doing any work anymore!”

Zhan Bai saw a maid dressed like the other four entered the bathroom. She was about twenty, slightly older than the other four maidens, had an elegant bearing and was graceful. Even her dress and accessories were more exquisite than the others. He supposed she must be a maid of higher position.

What shocked him was that she began to untie and loosen his clothing immediately, which made him extremely awkward and embarrassed.

In his startled posture, he tried to dodge away when the maid tried to untie his clothing on his body. But this maid was clever; it was as though she had already guessed that Zhan Bai would attempt to cower away therefore, she twisted her fingers slightly and when he cowered away, his clothing would be loosened.

She giggled and said, “Honor guest, it is the first time you have visited the Jin Residence therefore you may be unused to being attended upon. Please allowed us to attend to your needs!” And she had already removed his outer garments.

Zhan Bai was even more startled. Never did he expect a maid from the Jin Residence would possess such remarkable martial finesse.

Even though he would have easily protest with his martial skills but he would never bring his heart to injure the maid even though the owner of this residence, Jin Jiu, was his hatred enemy.

Therefore, he could only brushed in embarrassment and told her off, “Maidens! All of you go out. I can do it on my own…”

But before he could finish, something dropped on the ground from his garments. It was the colorful book…

“Yo, what is this pornographic book that it will held your attention?!” She asked and bent down to pick.

Zhan Bai was alarmed and startled at the same time! He knew that he was now in his foe’s home. Here is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, everywhere there was people of extreme talents and highly accomplished martial masters.

And this Soul Binding Book was the number one book that everyone in the martial fraternity would die to have! So how could he allow others to view it?

In his panicky state, he pushed the maiden away on her shoulders and she was knocked back five to six steps and into the pool.

And this maiden came out of the pool with her silk dress all wet and translucent.

The other four maidens clapped their hands and burst into merry laughter.

“Why are you four wrenches laughing at?” The maid stared a Zhan Bai with a vicious look. Since she was unable to scold Zhan Bai, she turned around to scold the young maids, “Hurry and lift me up, change the water and attend to our guest and help him to shower!”

The four naked maids seemed rather scared of her and they immediately stopped laughing and lifted her up from the pool. They drained the water from the pool and replaced it with fresh water.

Suddenly she said, “This guest is our Young Master’s honor guest. Pouring the “Jade Spring” is not respectful enough. Use that “Gentle Home Return” instead!”

When the four maids heard what she said, they were all startled for a moment but after seeing her staring at them in a strict manner, they bowed their heads low and walked away to press a button at the other side of the bathroom door. And a gush of fresh crystal clear water came forth from the vase of the half nude statue.

But Zhan Bai did not pay attention to her. He was distracted by her white flesh and figure as she was lifted up of the pool. She was beautiful enough but now she looked miserable.

Unable to bear to see her in this state, he apologized to her, “I really can’t have you looking at the book. In my hastiness, I was too rough. Maiden, please forgive me for being rude!”

She replied icily, “We are all meant to be servants of you Masters. If our service is not to expectations, we deserve to be scolded and beaten as you wish. We can only blame our parents for giving us a life of servitude!”
　　
But Zhan Bai knew that she had her difficulties and she must have felt wronged.

Therefore he did not mind at all and with all sincerity said to her, “I am born in poverty since young and never have anyone waiting on me before. I would like to ask everyone to go out and I will bath on my own.”

She looked in suspicious for awhile before she replied, “Your wish is my command. Since guest is afraid that our services are not as good as expected, we have to leave then.”

Then she turned around and said to the four other maids, “Dress up and then we will go!”

The four maids did not hesitated against her orders and immediately dressed up.

Just before she left, she said to Zhan Bai, “I hope that sir would hurry up and shower so as not to allow our Young Master to wait for you at the feast!”

Zhan Bai bathed hurriedly and he did not even wear the new garments that the Jin Residence had prepared for him. He wore his old clothing and left the bathroom.

Once again, he saw the four maids; they were waiting for him outside the door. Therefore he followed them to the grand hall.

Even before Zhan Bai had entered the hall, he could hear the loud merry voices of the pugilists. When he paid heed to these voices, he noticed that they were discussing about him. One said, “Although I could not tell his martial history but this young rascal is really something. Who would expect that Liang You the [River Dragon] could not even take one hit from him!”

Another continued, “His strokes are too mixed. I wonder how someone so young like him would have mastered all that?”

Then there were a series of praises.

When Zhan Bai heard that someone was praising him, he couldn’t help but feel comforted and be gratified. But then suddenly, someone in a loud voice interrupted over, “Stop blowing his trumpet! He could not even hold against one stance from our Master Ba Tianhe the [Iron Wing Bird]!...”

Just then, Zhan Bai had entered the hall and tens of watchful glances were upon him. There was a glow in their eyes. Who would have expected that the messy young man with unkempt hair that they had known earlier would emerge now with such jaded and polished face? What was more, he radiated a heroic spirit and remarkable handsome to look upon!

Even though he was still in that old clothing but there was no mistaking who he was.

Everyone was enthralled by Zhan Bai unearthly bearing and was staring wide-eyed at him, especially Jin Caifeng the [Most beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan]. Her beautiful watery eyes were looking at him and blinking from time to time at him. There was a strange and mystified look in her eyes…

Young Master Qilin was already on his feet and he bowed with his hands to invite Zhan Bai to the feast as well as introduced him to everyone present.

Zhan Bai glanced around and he saw many pugilists. All of them looked spirited and their piercing eyes were extremely intimidating. He knew instantly they were all the top martial exponents of the fraternity.

He bowed to them with his hands and heard Young Master Qilin making introduction for him,“This is Senior Master Gongsun Chu the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon]!”

Zhan Bai saw that this old man mannerism was bold and powerful, his glances were like lightning. He knew that he was definitely an extremely powerful martial exponent. He bowed with his hands and said, “Old Senior Gongsun, I have long heard of your fame!”

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] began to laugh aloud and his voice thundered the hall, “Good fellow, do not be too polite!”

“And this is Senior Master Ba Tianhe the [Iron Wing Bird]!” When Young Master Qilin mentioned his name, he was especially polite and he was extra respectful. “Just now, Brother Zhan you have met him and as the saying goes, “Only through fighting, does one makes acquaintances”! I hope in future, the two of them will be extra close to one another.” He laughed jokingly.

Zhan Bai could feel his face flushing red as he recalled feelings of humiliation and resentments. He suppressed his emotions and did not let it surface.

Instead, he blamed himself, “Oh Zhan Bai, Zhan Bai! You can’t even defeat a guest from their residency, how could you hope to seek vengeance on their Master?...”

Zhan Bai was upset emotionally and Young Master Qilin continued to make several introductions. The people that Young Master Qilin introduced, any one of them could rampage and startled the martial fraternity with their names.

But he did not pay heed and stood in stunned expressions. It was because his heart was boiling with raging, heart wrenching emotions. Therefore he even forgot to pay the due etiquette as required of him.

Suddenly, there was a deep hum and even though the voice was too loud but it was icy cold. It came from a handsome young man in black. “He did not possess true martial knowledge and skills, did not even know the proper etiquette of the pugilist fraternity, yet he dare to sit in high statute here!

The young handsome man was no more than twenty but judging from his bearing and that he could sit among the top exponents here, his martial foundation was definitely not weak!

It was because this handsome young man was Jin Jiu favorite disciple. Meng Ruping is his formal name. He had grown up in the Jin Residency since he was little. The love that Jin Jiu showered him was no less than his only son, Jin Xianglin. Moreover, he handed his most powerful martial knowledge to him. Even though he was young but he was already highly accomplished in martial skills. He was thoroughly versed in Jin Jiu’s secret projectile skill and could execute it to perfection. What was lacking was his internal power maturity. But among the young martial experts in the martial fraternity, he was already well known and he was given a nick, [Junior Money Jade Face]!

He was similar in age to both the Jin Brother and Sister. In fact, he was younger than Young Master Qilin by two years and older than Jin Caifeng by a year. He grown up with both siblings and he had developed feelings and affections for Jin Caifeng who was as beautiful as a fairy, therefore he had eyed her as his other pair.

Jin Caifeng was also affectionate towards him, often calling him, “Big Brother Ping” nonstop. But still he could not feel satisfied for he could tell that the affections that Jin Caifeng had showered him were that of a sisterly relationship and was that of a lover.

Moreover, as Jin Jiu’s youngest child, she was also the favorite of her father and was allowed to do freely whatever things she had wished. And she would travel to and forth among the people in the pugilist fraternity and was eager to recruit young and excellent fighters to their cause.

But in his eyes, it was a cause of jealousy and concern to him.

And today, he noticed that she was looking at Zhan Bai with interest. Even though all the young competitors in the past did not snatch the [Most beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan] from his hands, this down and crestfallen newcomer was giving him an uneasy feeling.

And when he saw that everyone was praising Zhan Bai, he could not help but said loudly earlier, “He could not even hold against one stance from our Master Ba Tianhe the [Iron Wing Bird]!”

Now that Zhan Bai was led to the most honored seat in the feast and he did not adhere to protocol and stepped down, this gave him an opportunity to use his hand sword to remove this needle once and for all!

Zhan Bai was already feeling ill at ease here, even though he did not show it. But when he heard those strongly worded sentences from Meng Ruping, he could not suppressed his ill feelings any longer.

He bowed with his hands and said, “It is not my intention to come to this esteemed residency. Since I am not welcome, I take my leave now!”

And he slipped his robes and turned around to leave…

But Young Master Qilin hurriedly attempted to stop him. He had a smile on his face as he tried to say, “Brother Zhan, is it because I am not sincere enough? Now that the feast is ready, no matter what, I would like to offer Brother Zhan a few cups of wine and water. Please allow me to fulfill my responsibilities as a host!”

Upon seeing that Young Master Qilin was sincere towards him and he was instantly sorry in his heart. He thought, “The [Ever Hospitable Xianglin] is sincere and this comes from his heart. It is not nothing that a hypocrite could be capable of!”

But still, he said, “Brother Jin, I’m really appreciative of you! But really, I have important matters to attend to. Allow me to pay you a visit in the future!” And he continued to walk away.

But even before Young Master Qilin could speak, Meng Ruping exclaimed coldly, “If you want to leave, please leave. Why make so many fake formalities! Do you think the Jin Residence would miss one esteem guest like you?”

“Senior protégé brother!” Jin Caifeng could not resist speaking. “What are you trying to do? My brother is trying to retain our guest, yet you are driving our guest away!”

Young Master Qilin too stared at Meng Ruping for a second before he pulled Zhan Bai with all sincerity and said, “My younger protégé brother is hot tempered by nature and therefore rude. Please do forgive him for that! Brother Zhan, even if you have urgent matters to attend to, please do drink a cup or two of drinks before you leave. Or else, I would think that Brother Zhan is looking down on me, Xianglin!”

Even though Zhan Bai wanted to leave but he could not find the heart to say so. Moreover by now, several senior martial masters had also spoken up for him to stay. But he did reply just yet.

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was a famous drunkard. When he saw that the wine was not about to be serve and he could not lay his hands onto it, he was getting impatience, “A young man shouldn’t be such a puss! It is not straightforward at all! Are you worried that this feast is actually a Hongmen Banquet (A banquet that is setup with the aim of murdering the guest) and that the wine is poisoned? Therefore you did not dare to drink from it!”

Zhan Bai was infuriated by him and he replied, “Old Senior Gongsun meant to say that I am given no choice but to drink three cups. But I must make it very clear. After drinking three cups, I will immediately leave. I don’t want anyone to laugh and think that I, Zhan Bai is someone that is afraid to die and is a coward!”

When he had finished, he lifted the wine cup and raised his hands to everyone, “Come on everyone! As a junior before everyone, I respectfully offered all the seniors a toast!” And he gulped the drink.

Jin Caifeng giggled and said, “Am I considered to be an old senior too?” With that, she too drank a cup.

Zhan Bai flushed with redness. When he had taken a drink, he felt as though his stomach was toasting in flames. He felt a warm and burning sensation rippling inside. He suddenly had a thought, “Is this wine really spiked with a powerful poison?”

But he suddenly thought that it was highly impossible. Young Master Qilin did not know of his true identity and he did not have reason to kill him. Moreover, as one of the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity and in the presence of many top notch fighters, would he still use such a despicable method?

When he came to this and under the roars and praises from the crowd, once again, he lifted a second cup and said, “I, Zhan Bai, is still a greenhorn and did not display proper etiquette just now. The first cup is for the seniors. The second cup is for those of my seniority!”

Jin Caifeng smiled delicately and said lovingly, “Now, it is closer to the truth!” When the eyes of this [Most Beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan] looked at Zhan Bai, there were a million affections in her expressions.

However, Zhan Bai did not notice it and continued to gulpe the second drink down hastily.

But it was noticed by Meng Ruping and he was filled with hatred for Zhan Bai. He really would want to beat him to a pulp.

How could Zhan Bai have known that Jin Caifeng’s million affectionate eyes would ignite upon him a fire of jealousy?

But after drinking this second cup, Zhan Bai could feel like he was burning on fire and throughout his five organs. An indescribable feeling of rush and lusts began to arouse in him….

But Zhan Bai thought that this Young Master would never in the presence of everyone attempted to secretly plot against him, therefore he did not mind at all. It must be because he tried to drink wine on an empty stomach…

But Jin Caifeng had already seen that something was not wrong here. She too, had drunk two cups and knew that these wine was the family best graded “Nǚ'érHóng” that was stored in the residency. The alcohol was not strong. Even if Zhan Bai were to drink eight to ten cups, it would not matter. So why did he just drink two small cups, his face would turn instantly as red as a red cloth? Moreover his eyes were emitting a strange glow and his body was unstable now.

“Ayah…” Even before she could ask for the reason, Zhan Bai had already lifted the third cup up and gulped it down his throat. She was left alarmed and frightened.

“Excellent wine!” Zhan Bai exclaimed. His body was now like charcoal and his fever caused him to be in a semi-dazed condition.

He had already felt something was not right here and he felt pain all over. Immediately, he knew he had fallen into a trap. Who would expect that Young Master Qilin, a person of such commanding high status in the martial fraternity would use such a despicable underhand undertaking on him?

When he mused over that he had fallen alone into his enemy’s hands and the results were disastrous! --- He had died, his family line was also cut off, he could not avenge for his father, he could not help but scolded in resentment and rage, “What excellent wine from the Jin Residence! Three cups are enough to break the intestines and to kill! What a pity that…”

Before he could finished, he had flipped over, collapsed and lost consciousness!...



Chapter Twenty-two Ended

Chapter Twenty-three: The Pleading Phoenix




Time passed and for how long, Zhan Bai did not know when he had awakened. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a bed.

Even though the bed was not as serene as Young Master Lingfeng’s room but its grandeur surpassed it.

He felt his throat dry and husky and his internal organs were still burning. He unwittingly said, “Water…”

A young boy with outstanding bearing and an extremely beautiful little girl was happy that Zhan Bai had awakened. They are none other than Mingming and Lanlan.

They turned around and ran out, all the while yelling, “Aunt! Aunt! He has awakened!”

And a beautiful person in mild dress entered the room. She was none other than Jin Caifeng, the [Most Beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan].

Today, she worn simply with a green ribbon on top, her long hair breezed along her. She did not have a single accessory on her and there was not a trace of cosmetics on her. But all the more, it displayed her outstanding beauty.

Indeed, her divine fragrance beauty was unrivaled! No wonder she was regarded as Jiangnan most beautiful maiden! There was a common saying, that a real beauty had no need for cosmetics and beautiful accessories. It was all too true.

When she entered the room, she looked at Zhan Bai with her wide eyes. Her watery autumn eyes were soft and mysterious. Her teeth was lustrous when she smiled at him.

When he set sight on the ever beautiful Jin Caifeng, he could not helped praising her in his heart, “So beautiful!...”

Her smiles were like a hundred flowers blossoming and her voice like golden oriole as she said, “Alas, finally you have regained conscious! Xiaohong, hurry and serve the tea!”

Zhan Bai was really thirsty and he was feeling unbearable but even before he could say it, she knew what he needed.

That Xiaohong, was the maid that he had unwittingly pushed into the pool because he had thought she wanted to snatch his secret soul binding manual! But for now, he had no other concerns except to quench his thirst first.

He snatched the cup and finished it immediately but after drinking, he was still feeling very thirsty so he used his tongue to lick the cup…

Jin Caifeng laughed, “I guess that you must be really thirsty. Xiaohong, serve him another cup!”

She was extremely beautiful, her intellect was also in the extreme. What others were thinking, she would have thought of. It was like, there was no need to say it out for her…

Even before Xiaohong could turn her body, Mingming and Lanlan had barged in and they were shouting, “Come on! Bring the tea!” They had brought a hot pot of tea.

It caused Xiaohong to be panicky and she angrily said, “Alas! My young ancestors! It is not of consequences to smash the teapot but if it were to scald your legs, it would not be funny anymore!”

Mingming artfully said, “Sister Hong, don’t you look down on others! Even if I let the pot slipped out of my hands, the water will not splash out!”

When Mingming had said that, he started to toss the pot towards Xiaohong.

“Alas!” Xiaohong’s expression underwent a great change. If it were an incoming secret projectile, she would have used her palm to knock it down or dodged it. But this teapot was from the imperial palace and was extremely precious. In fact, it was bestowed by the present Emperor and now Mingming had tossed it.

If she did not catch it well, not only would her fingers be scalded, the teapot would be broken as well! Even though her martial finesse was excellent in level but still, she was startled enough to cry out.

Just when Xiaohong was spreading her hands and was at a loss how to salvage the situation, Jin Caifeng was smiling and scolding at the same time, “Mingming! You are so naughty!”

As she said, she waved and the windforce from her palms lifted the teapot in the air by three feet and with the handle facing towards Xiaohong.

Xiaohong managed to catch the teapot by the purple gold handle. Not a drop of tea spilled over but she was so startled that she burst into cold sweat.

Zhan Bai lamented on the bed after watching the scene. These women and weaker sex had such martial abilities. Indeed, he must not underestimate them.

Zhan Bai finished the tea served by Xiaohong. He seemed to feel better but still, his limbs felt soft and lifeless.

Just then, four maids in green entered in chorus into the room. One of the maids bowed and respectfully said to Jin Caifeng, “Regards to Mistress, Young Master is here!”

“Amazing! His news is so well-informed indeed!”

Even before she had finished, Young Master Qilin had marched in followed by [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] and the [Iron Wing Bird].

“Brother Zhan, you have awakened!” When Young Master Qilin marched in, he went directly to the side of Zhan Bai’s bed and he appeared to be extremely concerned about him.

But Zhan Bai purposely avoided him and looked instead at the ceiling, ignoring him completely.

However, Young Master Qilin did not seem to mind this haughty attitude from him and he continued to express warmly, “Brother Zhan you have mistakenly bath with the “Frosty Spring water’ and the frost from the water obstruct all your vital channels. The fiery effects of the three cups of wine forcefully pushed through your channels therefore you temporary lose consciousness. But do not panic, even though your muscle and tendons have been affected and temporary is unable to move but I do have the antidote to remove the frost poison. In three days, you will recover. And…”

But Zhan Bai interrupted and replied coldly, “It is too much of a coincidence!”

Zhan Bai was extremely sarcastic when he said that. Even an unflustered person like Young Master Qilin was taken aback. But he immediately he regained his composure to said, “No wonder Brother Zhan is suspicious. And it also so coincidence that [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] had told a bad joke at the same time. This caused Brother Zhan to think that the wine had been poisoned and you had collapsed on the spot in the company of everyone. Not only me, but I Xianglin, was also fooled. I had heard from Xiaohong that Brother Zhan had mentioned that you was not used to being attended to, therefore you went on your accord to release the bath water yourself. I guessed that you must have released the wrong one and misunderstood the frost spring water for the warm one. That was why the incident happened!”

And when Young Master Qilin had finished, he laughed but he was also apologetic.

Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] laughed as well, “But I am really impressed with you, young yellow! You actually have the courage to face death with equanimity! Impressive! Impressive!”

And this hunchback old man who was so renowned in the martial fraternity for his fighting skills burst into a thunderous laughter and gave Zhan Bai a thumb up.

However, Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] commented coldly, “You don’t have to be so suspicious. Young Master Qilin is a true wuxia hero. Not only is he respectful to others, he is also renowned throughout the entire fraternity. If he really wanted to create trouble for you, he need not have poisoned the wine. This is all a coincidence and you have no choice but to believed it as the truth!”

Both the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] and the [Iron Wing Bird] was known as the Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence. Their status in the Jin Residence was highly exalted and everyone in the pugilist fraternity knew of that too. Since both of them had believed that it was a coincidence, surely there wasn’t a plot?

But still Zhan Bai refused to believe and icily replied, “It is true that I, Zhan Bai did not like to be attended upon. But the water from the bathroom is not released by me. That is the truth! I believed that both Old Seniors have always been high esteemed and words from your mouths are the golden truth. Moreover, The Jin Young Master is a true gentleman and he would not secretly plot to harm others. So then to say, I Zhan Bai, must have suffered a stroke on my own!? I would faint on my own then! Or is it because I can’t drink at all and three cups of wine is enough to drunk me?”

Even though Zhan Bai did not fault any but everyone would hear the contempt in his words.

One must imagine this. A person such as Young Master Qilin had such a high standing in the martial fraternity and allowed Zhan Bai to sullen his reputation and treat in contempt?

Even Jin Caifeng’s expressions had changed.

The [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] was even more aroused to anger. And their faces were seething with rage and at anytime, they would fly into a rage…

Young Master Qilin was surprising composed and he did not seem to have the intention to revile Zhan Bai. Instead, he turned his head around to Xiaohong and told her, “Lying to your Master, disrespect to our guest and by displaying arrogance, do you know you have committed a unforgivable mistake. What are you waiting for?

Xiaohong understood immediately and her face turned ashen. She was momentum stunned for awhile before she turned around and left the room without saying a word. Suddenly there was a loud knocking sound, similar to something crashing into a hard object that came from the outside.

From the sound, it had dawned upon Zhan Bai what had happened. He could not tell feeling stunned and he exclaimed to himself in a startled revelation, “Just because Young Master Qilin softly had said a few words, she would actually choose to commit suicide? The clan laws of the Jin Residence is really strict and severe!…”

While Zhan Bai was shocked by it but no one in the Jin Residence felt any remorse or moved by it. It was as though nothing had happened!

Young Master Qilin rose up to say, “Brother Zhan, in three days, I assured you that you would recover. Please recuperate and rest well!” When he had finished, he left with the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] and the four maids without even turning his head back.

Mingming and lanlan had already gone out to play without anyone noticing.

Now only Zhan Bai and Jin Caifeng was left in the bedroom since everyone had left.

Jin Caifeng looked at Zhan Bai and said melancholy, “What my brother did, is considered flattering to others. But instead, you are irked by it!”

“Please be more specific!” He said.

Originally, Zhan Bai had already nursed the Jins. Now that he had seen such a cruel chapter in their lives, his hatred for them deepened. Therefore, his tone and mannerism was extremely icy and cold towards this Jiangnan beauty.

“Even though Xiaohong is just a maid, her position is not low at all. Because on purpose, she is negligent towards the guest therefore my brother bestowed death upon her. In most pugilist clans, isn’t this considered to be a reward already? In order for my brother to win the friendship and fellowship of the people, it is considered to be justified. Only then would they faithfully render their services to our family. But you are different…”

Jin Caifeng was about to go on when Zhan Bai interrupted her with a cold laugh, “I am not a cold blooded person. I would never use another person’s life so as to win the fellowship of the pugilists in the fraternity. Your brother wishes to use the life of another to win over my fellowship so that I would feel grateful and repay him for his special favor. But I can tell you this: Dream on! I feel especially irked by it.”

Jin Caifeng answered, “But my brother did this in a fair manner and address it according to the circumstances. He has no intention to buy your fellowship on purpose. Xiaohong lied to her lord and cannot be forgiven. Not only is she negligent to our guest, she even plotted against our guest. It is considered to be disrespectful. Since she is disloyal and disloyal and her veil is exposed, she has no face to carry on. Since she is willing to die as a penance for her deeds to purge her name, it is considered a good way for penance. There is nothing wrong with it and it is not my brother blame as well. Why did you want to view my brother with such hatred? Unless you have another reason for that or else it is hard to explain!”

The way Jin Caifeng analyzed things was way too uncomfortable for Zhan Bai. Therefore he did not want to talk too much with her and feared that even before he could unravel the opposition first, his own purpose would be discovered first. It would bring great inconvenient to his vengeance plan in the future.

But suddenly he was startled by a thought that dawned suddenly upon him and he asked, “If that frost spring water has a frost poison in it, why then is it connected to the bath? Unless, it is…”

Jin Caifeng laughed gracefully, “Even if the Jin Residence would want to set a secret mechanism to harm another, there is no need for it to be put inside the bath pools. That is for purpose of my father’s martial practice use!”

“Your father!” Zhan Bai eyes were wide-opened as he asked. “Why then did I not seen your father? Is he not at home?”

“My father is right at home now!” Jin Caifeng replied curiously and was puzzled at the question. “It is because it is not convenient for him to move around therefore he did not want to meet any guests. That’s all!”

“Then at which part of the residence is he now?” Suddenly Zhan Bai regretted asking too hastily.

“Huh?” Jin Caifeng was even more surprised, “Does Young Hero Zhan knows my father?”

Zhan Bai had a bitter smile as he tried to explain, “Who doesn’t know Jin Jiu the [Heavenly Bronze Coin]? Everyone in the pugilist fraternity has heard of his resounding name!”

Jin Caifeng smiled as well and said, “So you have heard but not seen him personally?”

Zhan Bai could only nodded his head as a reply to her statement.

Jin Caifeng said, “This is more like it. My father has not been out for more than ten years. From your age, it is not likely that you could have met my father before!”

Zhan Bai asked curiously, “Why is that so?”

Jin Caifeng shot a suspicious eye upon him and asked astonishing, “Young Hero Zhan, you seem to be extremely concerned about my father?”

Zhan Bai turned red immediately and knew that his question had been too thinly veiled and careless. Now he had aroused her suspicious. He shook his head to deny, “I am just being curious. With your father’s prestige and renown in the pugilist fraternity, I wonder why did he stay at home for more than ten years?”

It immediately put a rest to Jin Caifeng’s suspicious and her beautiful face once again regained her serenity and composure. “The reason why my father did not go out for many years is because he has a strange illness that cause both his legs to be useless. Since he can’t move, he has to stay at the ‘Harmony Court’ to recuperate.”

Now he understood the reason, he was determined in his heart not to ask further in order not to arouse any suspicious.

Since then, he had been recuperating at the Jin Residence and Jin Caifeng visited him often to take care of him. As for Young Master Qilin, he had frequent visits from the heroes of the pugilist fraternity, he did not come that often.

In a twinkle of an eye, it was now the evening of the third day. By now, Zhan Bai had totally recovered his health and body. And he had decided to leave now.

Because Young Master Qilin was not home, he could not bide farewell to him. Even though Jin Caifeng tried a hundred reasons to retain him but he had already made up his mind to say goodbye.

From her reluctant for him not to leave and from her expressions, the striking beautiful Jin Caifeng the [Jiangnan Most Beautiful Maiden] seemed to have fallen for him over the past two days.

Towards this uniquely beautiful maiden that everyone else envied and admired, Zhan Bai was not bothered in his heart. As for Jin Caifeng’s soft whispering words, her million affections and sentiments, he was unwilling to even look.

But the more Zhan Bai was not bothered and unmoved, the more Jin Caifeng thought of him as an exceptional above all the others and the more she loved him so.

“Very well. Are you really in a rush to leave here?” Jin Caifeng eyed him with a mystified eyes, “Can’t you just wait in my house for a few more days?”

“No!” Zhan Bai replied cruelly. “This is because I have important matters to attend to!”

“Is it because my house is not that pleasing and comforting or it is…” Jin Caifeng cried.

“I did not say anything of that sort.” Zhan Bai said, “But I cannot allow myself to be delayed in your distinguished residence for long, that’s all.” His tone remained icily cold.

“Can’t you stay for just one more night?…” When Jin Caifeng had said to this point, her beautiful eyes were now glittering with tears.

When Zhan Bai saw her beautiful facial became distorted and her tears were so alluring and touching, he could not but feel his heart softened. He sighed and said, “Alas! This…this is truly impossible!”

At this moment, he had finally understood. It was not because he did not love this [Jiangnan Most Beautiful Maiden]. Everyone adored beauties and moreover she was deeply in love with him! But the vengeance in his heart forced him not to accept her love.

That was why under this innumerable emotions, he had said that even though it made no sense other than to himself.

When he had finished speaking, he saddled the Heartless Precious Sword onto his back and walked with great strides and never to look back again.

It was because his heart understood that could he stay for any moment longer, he would never have the heart to leave the Jin Residence again. Should he fell in love with the daughter of his father’s killer, what a dilemma he would be in! He could not avenge for his father and if he could not avenge for his father, his conscious would never be at peace. All these would be too unthinkable for him!

But after Zhan Bai took two steps, Jin Caifeng had suddenly caught hold of his arm and cried out in sorrow, “Wait a while. Can you wait for me to say something first?…”

Before Zhan Bai could reply, a shadow came through the window like a flurry breeze!

When the shadow had lands, both Zhan Bai and Jin Caifeng would see that it was the [Heavenly Bronze Coin] favored disciple and who also grown up together with the Jin Brother and Sister – Meng Ruping the [Junior Money Jade Face]!

He was all dressed up in deep black and his handsome face was haughty. He said solemnly, “Protégé Sister, let go of him!”

“Who needs you to interfere in my affairs!” Jin Caifeng voiced out unhappily. “Hurry and get out of here!”

Meng Ruping was stunned. He had never expected that the little protégé sister that he had grown up with would tell him off rudely! Therefore it aroused his fury and he said viciously, “Older Protégé Brother is not at home and I don’t care a hoot who is to disciple you. Do you really want to cast the Jin Residence in utter disgrace…”

There was a loud pang and Jin Caifeng had slapped him tightly on the side of his face but her voice was serene as she said, “In what way am I being disgraceful? Even my brother will never dare to tell me off in this manner!…”

Meng Ruping never expected her to hit him and he stood there in stunned silence. When he had finally realized it, five red finger marks were seen on his face.

Now he turned green with envy and anger. He stared viciously at her for awhile before turning around to stare at Zhan Bai, “Little rascal, if you do not leave the Jin Residence today, I will make sure you die in the wilderness and your body scattered all over the places!”

When he had finished, he stormed out of the door.

“So it seems then,” Zhan Bai replied with a bitter smile. “That I, Zhan Bai could no longer stay in the residence today!”

But Meng Ruping had already walked off and there was no sight of him.

But Jin Caifeng said to him by his side, “Young Hero Zhan, please rest assured that with me around, he will never dare to touch even a single hair of yours!”

Zhan Bai coldly mocked, “Without young mistress flattering help, I have faith that I can still handle this on my own!”

There was a strange glow in Jin Caifeng’s beautiful big eyes and she looked at him for awhile before she shook her head to sigh, “I am not trying to praise myself. Those that have looked upon me, will all praise me for being beautiful and they will all flock to me to heap praises upon me or to curry favors upon me. Moreover, countless young men have tried to get near to me but I have never before love alone.”

She paused for awhile, “But ever since I have seen Young Hero Zhan, I do not know why, I…”

Even Jin Caifeng was from a martial aristocracy clan, a daughter of the pugilists. Her boldness and grace exceeded would naturally surpassed that of an ordinary young mistress from a rich or noble family.

But still, she was flushing with red and could not continued.

When Zhan Bai saw her coyness and shyness, it was like so beautiful like a blossoming flower. She was indeed the most beautiful girl that he had seen among all the others. What more, her heart was for him and only. It was something that even a million gold could not buy and a wishful fate that one would only hope for but not has!

He suddenly recalled from an old man in the escort agency that he once worked, telling him, “In a person lifetime, he would meet a lot of people and have a lot of friends. A blossom friend is difficult to find. And an intimate girlfriend that understands you is even more difficult to find. If a exceedingly beautiful maiden is also one that understands you, do you know how many cycles of good karma that one have to undergo so as to have that!”

But now that Zhan Bai had finally known an intimate girlfriend but she was also the daughter of his father’s killer! Therefore he could not accept her affections. This is such a woeful fate!”

Zhan Bai was left in stunned silence for a while, not knowing what to say, would be the best…

Just when both were left wordless and was embarrassed alone with one another, there was a loud laughter that caused the windows to vibrate that came from outside the door.

“Virtuous niece, I have heard that you have disgraced our Jin Residence! That little rascal…”

When Jin Caifeng and Zhan Bai heard that voice, they almost turned ashen at the same time and bolted out of the door.

“Meng Ruping!” Jin Caifeng was so angry that she turned white. She rebuked him in a shrieking voice, “How dare you slander me! From now, I, Jin Caifeng will not recognize you anymore as my older protégé brother!”

Zhan Bai laughed aloud. “I thought that you have some great means to get back at me but all you know is to slander and tell tales! And you have to ask for accompany to help you!…”

When Meng Ruping had heard Jin Caifeng scolded him in such an unforgiving manner and Zhan Bai further aggravated him further. He was so aroused to anger fit that he felt he was bursting. So he shouted loudly, “I have invited the two old seniors to bear witness! You filthy rascal Zhan, do you think the Jin Residence is a place for you to display your atrocious ways? Just me alone can take away your filthy life!”

And he drawn out his sword from his sheath and displayed a stance, ‘Displaying the Water Divine Dragon’ and attacked Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai was no less slow and he tried to take his Heartless Precious Sword from behind his back.

But Meng Ruping did not wait for him to fully drawn out his sword and continued with ‘Dark Clouds over the Moon’, ‘Smiling Finger Southern Sky’ and ‘Punitive Bird Attack’ and attacked Zhan Bai in a lightning flash in three of his most vulnerable positions!

For a momentum, Zhan Bai lost an upper opportunity and he had to evade, block, parry and dodge all at the same time. Finally on the last stroke was he able to sprang a yard back but still he was still slower and a piece of cloth was sliced from his robe and he almost lost his leg!

Zhan Bai broke into beans of cold sweat as he narrowly avoided losing his leg and now the Heartless Precious Sword was now in his hand but it was still sheathed.

Jin Caifeng turned white with startled fright when she saw Meng Ruping almost hacked off Zhan Bai’s right leg but when she saw that Zhan Bai had just managed to avoid it narrowly, she told him off, “Are you trying on purpose to shame and disgrace the Jin Residence?”

“In what way did I shame the Jin Residence?” Meng Ruping replied defiantly, “Unlike you, you have really shamed and disgrace the Jin Residence!”

Jin Caifeng was so upset by his remarks that her jade face flustered and she hatefully replied, “You have no right to meddle into my own affairs! But when you fight with the other, even before he has drawn his weapon, you have launched such fiery pre-emptive attacks! Even my father will feel extremely ashamed of you!”

“Shut up!” Meng Ruping shouted thunderously, “He has only to blame for his poor martial skills. When fighting with others, he can’t even draw his sword out properly. Do you expect others to put a sword on his hand first instead?”

As they continued to bicker, Zhan Bai made use of this breathing space and unsheathed his Heartless Precious Sword from the scabbard.

As it was now evening, the darkness had already descended on the place. The servants of the Jin Residence had hung many lanterns to light the place. And they had also gathered around to watch with great interest as well. They did not seem the least surprised or startled by this latest commotion. It was a common thing that frequently happened in the Jin Residence.

A cold piercing light unsheathed from Zhan Bai’s Heartless Precious Sword as he yelled, “Young Mistress Jin, please move aside! Tonight, I, Zhan Bai will like to meet this so call expert!”

“How wonderful!” Not only did the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] not stop the fight, they were eager to witness the fight as they shouted.

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was shouting, “Young fellow! That is the right spirit! Go on and fight!”

Not waiting for Jin Caifeng to say a word more, Meng Ruping quickly thundered, “Now you have a sword in your hand, you have nothing more to add. Now filthy rascal, prepare to surrender your life!”

Suddenly as he said, he sprang into mid-air and a green glow of light emitted from his sword as he prepared to hack right into Zhan Bai’s head!

When Zhan Bai had seen his agile movements, his vicious swordplay and even before his stroke was bore to fruition, he could feel the icy cold sword energy on his face. He immediately recited the ‘Calming Meditation’ verse and executed a stance with his Heartless Precious Sword, ‘Reversing Heaven and Earth’.

Now the Heartless Precious Sword was indeed a divine weapon. And it immediately halted the advances of Meng Ruping glaring swordplay and stopped the incoming glow!




Chapter Twenty-Three Ended