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.