Prologue Eleven:
She bats an eye to Zhan Bai and grasped. “If it not for you last night…”
Although Zhan Bai did not understand but he had some linking. He felt sweet but it was without guilty conscious as he asked. “Are you alright then?…”
That beautiful young maiden was melancholically as she replied. “Although it not a big deal but my entire training is ruined! I can no longer attain the impervious body [金刚不坏之体 ] from now on…”
Then she suddenly asked. “Do you know who I am?”

Chapter Fourteen: Fan Suluan

When the [Three Heroics] had heard the cries of their sister, their swords hesitated for a while.

Zhan Bai took the opportunity to unleash ‘The Battling Wind’ 风打枯荷 and ‘Hidden Leopard in the Southern Mountains’ 豹隐南山 in three continuous waves.

At this moment of time, Zhan Bai internal power was already stronger that what he had in the past, especially when he had used it in a bid to save his own life, these three blows were really too mighty to be blocked directly.

So these blows that were seemingly enough to move mountains and overturned the ocean 排山倒海 created such powerful windforce across the air that the [Three Heroics] would never dream of and grasped how impossible for such a unremarkable young man like Zhan Bai to have such powerful inner martial palm technique, that they withdrawn their attack stances and swung their swords around to be on the defensive.

The [Three Heroics] moved swiftly five feet away from Zhan Bai and their swords were right in front of them to protect against a direct attack as they quickly surrounded Zhan Bai from all sides.

“Rascal! You do have some ability.” Eldest Brother [True Heart Sword] Fan Jun shouted to Zhan Bai as he furrowed deeply. “But don’t you think you are too arrogant abit?”

Third Brother [Stellar Cloud Sword] Jun Ying coldly said as he pointed his sword at Zhan Bai. “Hehe. But if you want to escape from the three swords of the Fan lineage, it will be a wistful thought!”

Fan Su, whose real name was Fan Suluan 樊素鸾 had by now hurried to her brothers, brushing her long flowing hair back as she came, said. “My three brothers, he…young hero Zhan has saved him in the dungeon and moreover, he…just now help me to treat my injuries…” (How could she tell her brothers that Zhan Bai had touched her? That was the reason why she was upset with him earlier).

Although Fan Suluan was a woman but she had the frankness of speech of a man but now, she was feeling terribly embarrassed and she was stammering now.

When Jun Ying saw the look on his sister face, he did not know whether to believe his sister or not.

But [True Heart Sword] Fan Jun asked. “Is it true?”

[True Heart Sword] was famous of his nonchalance. Therefore no one really knows if he was asking his sister or Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai who had tried his best to save a person but in the end, what he got, was anger. He had really met with too many unreasonable things lately. So he refused to say anything because he was feeling anger now.

“Dage!” Fan Suluan was filled with melancholy as she said. “Do you think your sister will lie to you?”

Although Fan Ying was staring at Zhan Bai and did not turn his head to look at his sister but he could hear his sister melancholy voice, so he knew that it would not be faked.

As for [True Heart Sword], he was beginning to feel that he had unwittingly hurt his sister’s pride by doubting her. Although he was a lonely and cold person but to his only sister, he loved her dearly and would do anything to protect her. So when he had heard her melancholy voice, he immediately withdrawn his stance and turned around. “Since it is true, then, we just have to let him go.”

Fan Jie too had withdrew his stance after listening to his brother.

Fan Ju shouted. “Let us go!”

So the [Three swords and one Mystical Bird] 三剑一鸾 began to walk towards the slope of a small hill…

When Zhan Bai had saw such a scene, his heart underwent a million heart breaks. His life was really so ill-fated. Everyone that he had met or known, were all so unreasonable. He had saved a life out of good intention but in exchange, what he got was a stomach of resentments.

But when he had saw Fan Suluan walked away with her long flowing hair that was flying in the wind, he could not help but felt a sense of emptiness and longing for her. But he did not know the reason that had caused it. He just felt that Fan Suluan and him were like a bosom friends that could talk about everything. But now, when she had just left like this, he found himself musing and missing for her. Therefore for a time after she had left, his thoughts were in a faraway place and he was startled on the same spot…

As a matter of fact, he had even forgotten about the rudeness of the [Three Heroics]. But before the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] had gone far, he could hear a ruffle of voices in the forest in front of him and a few series of hum. And then an eerie voice could be heard.

“Fleeing? Do you think it is so easy? Do you think that Baotu Manor is a place where you can come and go as you pleased?”

Zhan Bai could also see tens of shadows moving in the distant woods! And they had cut off the retreat route of the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird].

[Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] immediately halt their steps and they had turned ashen with frightened looks on their faces but they immediately formed a circle around their sister and from the looks of it, they were preparing to fight to the death!

When Zhan Bai witnessed it and saw a man clothed in beautiful clothing among them, he unconsciously became angry…

It was because it was Master Murong of the Baotu Manor, whom everyone had known in the Martial Fraternity as [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han.

Actually Zhan Bai did not know that he was [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han but the clothing he was wearing now was identical to the piece of silk clothing that his father had left behind. This was the main reason why he was incited.

Zhan Bai did not know yet that this [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han was his father’s killer but in this world, not many people would afford or like to wear this type of elegant robe. It was the only lead he had in pursuing his father’s killer.

[Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han was shouting at the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird]. “Outrageous juniors! You dare to make a night attack upon Baotu Manor. Drop your weapons and surrender now. Do you want to wait for me to handle you personally?”

“You despicable man!” [True Heart Sword] Fan Jun angrily bramble out. “You don’t have to show off your power and influence! It is only because you have many people with you but do you think we be afraid of you? Since we dare to come, why should we fear you in the first place, what you have, showcase to us!”

[Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han smiled and said. “Junior! You are hovering on death’s door and yet you dare to mutter so much rubbish. If you were to throw away your sword, then I will on account of your father, will still give you an option to live. If not, heng!” He coldly hummed and then stared at him with blighting eyes that were filled with a malevolent air. “If not, this hill will be your burial ground!”

[Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] knew that [Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han would surely do what he had threatened. Moreover he was staring at them with such malevolent air. And the ten top exponent fighters of Baotu Manor were also at the back, staring at them in the same manner too, not to mention the tens of followers at the back too.

But, this concerned their family reputation in the Martial Fraternity and their deceased mother…she had suffered a great humiliation in the hands of Master Murong therefore she had committed suicide. Therefore they were filled with anger instead and everyone of them had decided to put their life and death aside and said at almost the same time. “Rubbish aside! Show us what capabilities you have to bring us down!”

[Zhaxing Shou] Murong Han was solemn and then he waved with his hand. Immediately five to six of his ten most powerful exponent fighters sprang in front!

Every single one of the top ten exponent fighters of the Baotu Manor, was the epitome exponent fighter 顶尖高手 that could dominate the Martial Fraternity in an area of expertise. Just any of them was the most resounding person in the Pugilist. Therefore everyone of them thought that with just their lone presence, no one would dare to intrude upon Baotu Manor. But now, in just a single night, numerous people would dare to intrude into the manor, even set fire upon the manor. Therefore without a doubt, all the top ten exponent fighters regarded it as an insult. So when Master Murong had signaled for them to bring them down, everyone had sprung in front at almost the same instant.

But because of their status in the Martial Fraternity, naturally they could not fight the Fan Clan with wolf pack tactics.

[The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng bowed with his hands together to the rest of the top martial exponents. “My dear brothers! As I am the oldest here, allow me to fight with them!” And he took out his silver flute.

Since, he had said he was the oldest here, surely he must be the oldest although it was very hard to tell from his age.

Suddenly the blind priest laughed. “Brother Zhang, your ‘Enchanting Lyric Flute Display’ is so renowned throughout the Pugilistic Martial Fraternity. To deal with a few lowly juniors, is there a need for Brother Zhang to fight personally? In my opinion, allow me, a blind priest to fight instead!”

A one arm bald old man who was really the [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing shouted. “Please forgive me, my brothers. Let me fight instead!” And he sprang ahead of them to engage the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird].

When the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] attacked at the same time, their co-operation were perfect, their timing and placement wondrous. It was because these three swords and pair of hand, formed the famous Fan Clan Sword and Fist formation known as the ‘Mystical Energy Triple Slash Formation’ 混元三才阵. The four of them were well versed in this formation and now forced to fight together, their display were indeed formidable!

But [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing as the top martial exponent fighter in the Northwest, his martial abilities were naturally unfathomable. Moreover his temper was extremely violent. Together with [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju, they were known as the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass]. And now, he wanted to be the first of the ten top martial exponents to attack because he wanted to show off his skills. However in momentum carelessness, he had gonna the lower hand because he had never expected these four juniors when they were fighting together, would be this formidable and their stances and strokes would be this marvelous.

[Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing when he attacked with his hand, his attacking force was like a huge boulder that was thrown into the ocean. At the same time, two teething sword energies flashed in his left and right. He instantly knew that he was in trouble. But lucky he was rich in fighting experience and knew that his present pose was disadvantaged, therefore he scuffled his legs backward and just managed to avoid the killer sword strokes coming in from his left and right side!

Now [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing was terrible angry and he took out a bronze bell. This bell was just an ordinary bell in the eyes of others but when he started to ring it, everyone’s ears were shrieked by it as it went. ‘Dingdang’ ‘Dingdang’.

Immediately several top martial fighters began to move backward. It was obvious that this small bell was not simply a bell. Moreover Sima Jing nickname was [Soul Seeker Bell]. Surely there must be a reason why he was nicked this way.

When the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] saw Sima Jing took out this bell, they seemed to remember suddenly who this man might be and all their expressions changed!

Fan Suluan mind and spirit had been trembled by the ‘Soul Seeker’ effect of the bell and now when she had attacked, her sense of direction seemed to have been confused! And she even felt dizzy now and knew that something was not right as she leapt backward as she grasped. “Aiya!”

Sima Jing’s soul seeker bell was indeed very powerful. Just one stance alone, was enough to break the ‘Mystical Energy Triple Slash Formation’ And moreover as he sensed the weakness in the formation, he began to attack Fan Suluan. But before he could do so, a thunderous shout was heard, halting his attack.

“Hold your hand!” As a powerful windforce streaked out.

Sima Jing moved back two yards and saw that it was a young man that had just appeared. “Huh! Is him?”

This young man was indeed Zhan Bai.

So it seemed that the shrieking sound of Sima Jing’s bell woke Zhan Bai up from his thoughts. When he had lifted his head, he had saw that Fan Suluan was in grave danger.

As Zhan Bai had always been filled with a sense of heroism, so how could he not step forth? Moreover Fan Suluan was the bosom friend in his heart.

Therefore in this crisis, he had actually forgotten about the sleazy angry that were caused by her three brothers. His only thought was on saving a life and he did not even considered if he could even win Sima Jing! It was right to say that he had lent a righteous hand and disregard life and death. Moreover he was trying to save his bosom friend, so it was purely without hesitation.

So when Zhan Bai had shouted. “Hold your hand!” He had used ten folds of his strength and generated a powerful windforce.

Sima Jing was startled therefore he had leapt two yards backward.

He had expected to see a top martial exponent fighter. When he had calmed down to take look, it was actually the same young man that caused him to fight with that Crazy Lei. Therefore he was startled and angry at the same time.

Angry because, when he was fighting with others, someone would actually dare to interrupt. Startled because, this unremarkable young man actually had such powerful palm technique. It was so unbelievable.

“Young rascal!” He shouted angrily at Zhan Bai. “I have heard that you are a junior of Lei Zhenyuan, why do you keep opposing me time and again?”

Zhan Bai looked into the crowd but there was no sight of Lei Dashu. Although he was a honest young man but he could tell that Sima Jing was trying to shift all the blame upon Lei Dashu. Zhan Bai really did not know how to lie but if he say he did not know Lei Dashu, it would weight heavily in his heart for he had accorded him with great kindness, saved him two times from dangers and even passed onto him the ‘Sacred Manual’. If he admit he was the junior of Lei Dashu, would it not give him a great deal of tricky troubles? How could Lei Dashu alone fight the entire Baotu Manor? Therefore he opened his eyes widely to look around but still he could not find any words to reply.

When the [Three Heroics] saw that it was the same young man that had saved their sister once more, they were instantly filled with guilt towards him.

Fan Suluan recomposing from her startled looks, was now looking intently at Zhan Bai with her curvy watery eyes. What was she thinking now…

[Zhaxing Shou] furrowed deeply with his eyebrows…

“Young friend, you are indeed extraordinary!” [The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng smiled as he stepped from the crowd. “I wonder who protégé are you? What is your name, can you tell me?”

Even before he could reply, a voice thundered. “Brother Zhang, why waste your breath! Let us bring this junior down first and coerced him to speak after we had him in our hands. Then all the truths will be out!”

The speaker moved very fast, even though he had just one leg. He was indeed the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju. When Zhan Bai had startled and caused his old buddy Sima Jing to move back two yards, he was startled as well.

But he was not like the others. He was very sharp and observant and although he could not guess Zhan Bai’s background but he could tell that he had only internal force and did not have any extraordinary stances. Therefore he stepped forward, intending to use his unique martial skill ‘Lightning chasing the Wind Hands’ to overcome this young man.

This old freak was ruthless and attacked without hesitation. So just when [The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng was questioning Zhan Bai, he had shouted and attacked Zhan Bai as he leapt forward in mid air with a stance of ‘Golden Leopard Flashing its Claw’. 金豹露爪

Zhan Bai dodged with his legs and extended his hands with lightning speed with a stance. ‘Implosion Divider’分猿裂虎

[One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju as he displayed his stances two times in continuous was very sure that Zhan Bai could not evade it that was why at the same instant, he shouted. “Now you will fall!”

But who would expect Zhan Bai who looked stiff and slow, would suddenly become so fast and swift and that he had actually dodged his stances. This, enraged the [One leg Flying Heretic] as he displayed three of his killer stances now, ‘Hungry Ghost seeking Souls’ 饿鬼攫魂, ‘Severance of the Nerves and Pulses’ 断筋截脉, ‘Hitting the Vitals’ 卸关点元 in continuous attack strokes.

Although the old freak had one leg but he was unbelievable fast or else he would be called the [One leg Flying Heretic]! But no matter how he looked at it, Zhan Bai did not seem to be using any extraordinary swiftness movement skill to dodge his attacks and he always managed to dodge his attacks at the very last minute or after he had attacked.

Especially Zhan Bai’s bright big eyes that were looking at all the changes of his stances and strokes with an intensity. It was like he did not care much very much for dodging and retaliation and more like a Mentor Teacher that was giving pointers to his disciple. Since everything that the disciple knew, was taught by the Mentor Teacher, no matter how fast he was, he was still unable to hit his Mentor Teacher. And the Mentor Teacher did not need to dodge on purpose, he would dodge his disciple’s attacks therefore he did not even need to guard against his disciple and just observed if his disciple attacks and movements skills were properly used.

From this point of view, then won’t this unremarkable young man martial abilities be much higher than this [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju who had been lording over the Martial Fraternity for tens of years? It was really so unbelievable! Therefore, many of the top martial exponent fighters that were watching this scene were stunned and they paid all their attention to this fight…

As for [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju, he was more startled than anyone else. Even as he attacked Zhan Bai non stop, he was thinking. “I must have knocked into a ghost! How could it be possible that my specialty hand and claw martial skill could not even touch a young inexperience young man? I am losing all my face!”

Therefore [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju stances became even more vicious and all his strokes were a life ender display.

In actuality, Zhan Bai could dodge all his killer stances and strokes were due to his unconscious reflexes and he himself did not know the reason.

Naturally, it must be credited to his gruesome training that he had put his efforts into for quite a number of years. At the same time, because he had practiced with the Sacred Manual and cultivated his internal strength with its intricate formulas, his internal force got a huge boast. And now his ears were even sharper and coupled with the fact he had broken through his eight wondrous meridian channels and pulses, his reflexes were now extraordinary fast. What he thought, he would react, as his mind and thought moved as one. 心随意动，意在神先

But Zhan Bai had forgot to attack as he stared wide eyes at the [One leg Flying Heretic] marvelous killer stances.

But who would say he was foolish? He had actually picked up the extraordinary skills of the [One leg Flying Heretic] even as the fight was carried on. Just like that, the stances and strokes of the [One leg Flying Heretic] were slowly being copied and ripped by Zhan Bai. And the old freak did not even notice it as he attacked faster and faster. In a twinkle of an eye, he had displayed twenty to thirty stances and strokes.

Chapter Fifteen: Old Man Dong

So many top martial exponent fighters here, although all had walked from the North to the South and were rich in experience but they had never saw a fighting that was conducted in such a manner. Therefore…Everyone was like speculators that were looking at a show and actually forgot that it was a life and death duel.

Sima Jing who was watching at the side, although he felt insulted by Zhan Bai and wanted to fight with him but to fight Zhan Bai together with [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju, was a greater embarrassment.

After watching Li Ju and Zhan Bai exchanging more than thirty strokes, there was still no sign of any victor, so he decided to turn his attention to the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] first.

[Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] was staring wide eyes at the duel between Li Ju and Zhan Bai.

Making up his mind, he raised his voice to say. “The four lowly juniors, are you still waiting for me?” And he rung his bell.

The [Three Heroics] raised their swords in fright while Fan Suluan seemed to be enthralled by Zhan Bai. The looks on the [Three Heroics] gave the [Soul Seeker Bell] Sima Jing great pleasure.

And now he started attacking them as he toyed with them. Their swordplay meant nothing to him.

[The Three Swords of the Fan Clan] were very angry and flustered at the way Sima Jing toyed with them considering their status as well as their father in the Martial Fraternity.

Fan Suluan was startled and turned her head around to see her brothers in grave danger.

Her Second Brother [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie had been knocked back five to six steps back. And he had lost his balance, his sword was even sent flying off his hands.

Sima Jing was laughing hilariously.

Once again his soul seeker bell flew as it gave out a tingling sound as it now flew towards back of [Wind Chaser Sword]’s head.

Fan Suluan upon turning her head had witnessed this very scene that would take her brother’s life. With a grasp, without a hesitation on her own safety, she extended her two hands and leapt towards the soul seeker bell.

At the same time, [True Heart Sword] Fan Ju and [Stellar Cloud Sword] Fan Ying upon seeing their brother losing his stance and was now in grave danger, attacked Sima Jing at the same time in a bid to distract him from their brother and sister.

Sima Jing indeed pulled his soul seeker bell away but Fan Jie was still hit, his shoulder was hit by a force that was like a thousand weight and the sensational pain reached even to his heart and he had collapsed onto the ground…

The soul seeker bell had now returned to Sima Jing’s hands and [True Heart Sword] and [Stellar Cloud Sword] because they were very near him, was trembled by its sound and they seemed to have a lack of focus. Therefore they knew that they had to back off.

But at the very instant, Sima Jing sent his soul seeker bell at Fan Suluan.

Fan Suluan martial skills were weaker than her three brothers. Her three brothers combined forces were not even a match for the [Soul Seek Bell] Sima Jing one mighty attack. And now, two of her brothers were forced to retreat after having been trembled badly by his bell, another of her brother was serious injured.

Against Sima Jing’s fierce and extremely powerful bell that was shooting at her now, she had no choice but to use all her might in her hands to block it. But she failed and the bell had struck her on her chest and she had turned ashen immediately after grasping out…

Suddenly there was a deep voice, although the voice was not too loud but it was very crystal clear in Sima Jing’s ears. “Sima Jing you scoundrel! How dare you have the guts to commit murder here? Stop it immediately!”

Sima Jing was startled and he halted his attacks to turn his head…

A big figure was sent knocking against him and Sima Jing had caught him. It was his buddy the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju!

Now even Sima Jing was stunned and he turned to look at Li Ju’s face that had turned very white. He was biting his teeth, from the looks of it, he had been afflicted by internal injuries.

He thought. “Don’t tell me, my buddy is defeated by that green thorn young man?”

Sima Jing was startled in his heart and lifted his head to look. He saw Zhan Bai standing across him looking at him with his bright and big eyes. His eyes caused Sima Jing to receive a very shock for only now did he realized that only a person with pure inner strength would have such a bright eyes and spirit. But still how could he going to believe that this unremarkable young man was the one that had injured [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju?

In actuality, the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju that was rampaging in the Northwest whom no one in the Martial Fraternity would dare to agonize was indeed wounded by Zhan Bai with a blow.

It was because after fighting for a long while, Li Ju was after all an old and experienced pugilist. How could he not sense that Zhan Bai was secretly stealing his skills? Because Zhan Bai was only interested in how and when he maneuvered his attacks.

So he thought. “Rascal! You have actually run to my house to pick some bargains! Heng! Heng! I going to teach you a terrible lesson now so that you will not think that I am such a fool!”

Therefore he used a feint and Zhan Bai had actually fallen for it as he dodged it and now he changed his stances so fast that Zhan Bai now had no chance to dodge it as he landed a blow on Zhan Bai’s chest.

Even all the top martial exponents had thought the same as well.

Because Zhan Bai was startled and he immediately tried to block with his hands, in a panicky, he used a stance of ‘The Buddha Mediation’ 佛祖参掸 and there was a clanking sound as he sent the [One leg Flying Heretic] Li Ju flying backward six to seven big steps to the back. Zhan Bai was real lucky to have used correctly.

That was why Li Ju had suddenly knocked into Sima Jing as he had only one leg and could not control himself.

In front of so many martial exponents, especially in front of Master Murong, how could Li Ju faced anyone? With a shout, he insisted on fighting with his life with Zhan Bai but he was gripped on his shoulder by Sima Jing.

Li Ju began to follow the glance of Sima Jing who was looking at the dark recess of the woods for he suddenly noticed that Sima Jing had turned very white and frightful. And he saw a thin old man with a long white beard, very old, eighty years or more riding a donkey. He had many wrinkles on his face but his eyes were very shining and mesmerizing.

The old man looked very harmless and innocent as he tried to control his donkey. “Beast! You are frightened because you have saw so many people issn’t?” He paused for awhile before shouting. “But I have important matters to attend, if you do not hurry, I be late.” And he started to whip the donkey with a small leather whip.

When this old man appeared, the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] Sima Jing and Li Ju had turned ashen and they were looking very frightful…

Sima Jing had already broke out in cold sweat as he thought. “No wonder the voice is so familiar. It is because he has come! Alas! Today, I, Sima Jing is really so down on my luck to meet him…”

Li Ju was even more scared than him as he thought. “It over now! Today I have disgraced myself utterly…”

Not only the [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] was feeling scared and startled but all the top ten martial exponents of the Baotu Manor, including Master Murong was feeling the same too.

[Meteor Hand] Murong Han expressions had changed. Not only he had thousands of top fighters under him and his martial skills were at the epitome too. His status and his air, had long been considered to be a Grandmaster. But now when he had saw this thin old man, he had actually grown frightful. It was really hard and weird thing to explain.

Zhan Bai thought. “This old man that is selling rolls of clothing ever since I am a escort guard, I have met him a few times already. Why did he always appear in the areas where pugilists have often gathered? I don’t think he is there to do business?…”

The old man was shouting. “Folks! Help me! Aiya! No good! My donkey has been startled! Help me to stop it! Ah! Ah! No good, no good! I old man, is finished…” He looked like he would almost fall from the donkey.

And the donkey began to run and it was really very fast but not even a single pugilist stepped forward to help him even though there were so many top exponent fighters here. In fact, they even moved aside…

“Alas!” The old man grasped in startle. “Why don’t anyone of you help me ah? Do you want to watch me die? Ah! Ah! People of this era are really very bad! The hearts of people are very bad…” There was another “Argh” and he looked like he was about to fall.

[Meteor Hand] Murong Han suddenly stepped forward and bowed with both his hands together. He was filled with great respect and apologetic as he said. “Is respected old senior surname Dong, of the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] fame? Junior, I am Murong Han, paying my respect to you!”

It was really strange for the donkey had now throttled in front of Murong Han now and not moving, stopped five feet away from him. It was as though nothing had happened earlier.

But when Murong Han had finished spoken, everyone presented had their expressions changed.

It was because when this old man had first appeared, only the older pugilists were startled but not the younger pugilists.

But when Murong Han had mentioned his name, everyone instantly recalled that he was the earth shaking [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli, that was so renowned forty to fifty years ago. Therefore everyone expressions had now changed.

It was because this old man was a legend himself and his martial skills were so unfathomable that not even heaven knew his limits. As for his many strange tales, it became myths and legends in the Martial Fraternity. It was also because forty to fifty years ago, he had already vanished from the Martial Fraternity and very few people had seen him.

[Cripples from Beyond the Pass] Sima Jing and Li Ju had became a cripple because of him.

At that time, Sima Jing and Li Ju had rushed back to their Mentor Teacher crying out that they had been crippled by the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut].

Of course at that time, they would never reveal how they had been bullying the people in the Northwest and of the many atrocious things that they had done. They only told their Mentor Teacher how they were attacked by the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] and how he had insulted their Benefactor Teacher. And they added a lot of fuel to fan the flames of anguish causing their Mentor Teacher to flew into a rage and he immediately went into the Central Plains to avenge for his disciples.

So it seemed that at that time, their Mentor Teacher was already one of those few prominent figures in the Martial Fraternity. But he also knew that if he wanted to win the [Divine Donkey], he stood no chance. Therefore he invited all the very top martial fighters of the unorthodox clans and there were tens of them. They were numerous and challenged the [Divine Donkey] on the summit of Mt. Taixing. 太行山

This fight would take place on the peak of Ji Gao, on Mt. Taixing, attracted the attention of almost all the top martial fighters in the Central Plains. Even the top recluse fighters from all the four corners of the earth and ocean were there too.

But their Mentor Teacher and tens of the very top unorthodox fighters at that time, everyone was fell by Sixty-four stances of his ‘Wondrous Hand’. 奇形掌 Many were killed or seriously injured and no one ever managed to walk out beyond his ten attack strokes!

So this fight tremendous increased the fame of the [Divine Donkey] but after this, he had disappeared from the Pugilist Fraternity.

And now, this legendary fighter, Dong Qianli had appeared here. Would not everyone be startled?

“Hahaha!…” The old man laughed and said to [Meteor Hand]. “You must have misunderstood me for some other person! Just because I am riding a donkey, does not mean I am the [Divine Donkey]! And I am not [Iron Gut] too! Haha! I am a [Tofu Gut] in fact and I am most afraid of seeing fights…”

As the old man laughed and said, he and his donkey was now besides the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird]. They were now urgently trying to save the life of their Second Brother, [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie!

Fan Ying was holding Fan Jie while Eldest Brother Fan Ju was trying to make sure that Fan Jie’s life channels could flow. Fan Suluan was trying to mouth a secret pill of the Fan Family for her brother to swallow.

The old man said. “Look at this, do you think it is not scary? People are wounded because of fighting!” He looked at Fan Jie and then looked at Sima Jing and Li Ju before asking. “Who is the one that started this fight?”

The haughty [Cripples from Beyond the Pass] were instantly so frightened that they had turned white with fright but did not dare to admit or deny. They had become mutes all of a sudden...

At this time the old man was looking at Zhan Bai and he was laughed and laughed.

Zhan Bai did not know why the cloth seller old man would want to laugh at him but every time he had saw him, he would smile and laugh at him so he smiled as well.

“Little brother!” The old man said to Zhan Bai. “We seem to share some destiny, we have met again!”

“What a coincidence!” Zhan Bai replied. “Wherever I go, old mister you will be there!”

The old man laughed again and suddenly he got off from the donkey and walked to the [Three Swords and one Mystical Bird] and pointed at Fan Jie’s right shoulder. “His right shoulder is wounded through the Bingfeng accupoint. Unless you treat him in time, he would be a vegetation in no time!”

[True Heart Sword] Fan Ju was now perspiring. No matter how much he had tried to clear his brother’s channels, he did not seem to be able to clear his brother’s injured accupoint. Because he was the nearest to the old man, he instantly felt a slight wind fluttering from the old man’s fingers. Fan Ju was very startled and he did not know it was a legendary skill that was displayed in the Pugilist but was never seen, ‘Aerial Accupoint Technique’! 凌空拂穴

Fan Ju did not know the old man’s intention and was afraid that his brother would come to harm so he was very startled…

Suddenly [Wind Chaser Sword] Fan Jie shivered several times before he woke up from his unconsciousness and opened his eyes…

Only then did he realized that the old man was helping them and helped his brother cleared his accupoint channels. He had spent a great deal of his time and energy yet still could not save his brother and now this old man had simply lifted his finger and he had saved his brother. To think that he had almost wanted to stop this old man when he had pointed his finger so he said secretly to himself. “It is so embarrassing!”

But when this old man had got off from his donkey, Zhan Bai had suddenly noticed that on the back of the donkey was a sword. Instantly, Zhan Bai head and heart began to tremble hilariously…

It was because the sword was his family heirloom the ‘Heartless Precious Sword’! The sword that his father had left behind for him to avenge him.

So he shouted. “Issn’t this my precious sword? Old Mister…”

Just when he was about to grab the sword, the old man was even faster and had got on the donkey and had throttled a few paces away. “Ah! This little brother, what happens to you? Why did you want to steal a old man’s precious sword?”

“Heng!” Zhan Bai was very angry now as he coldly hummed. “I don’t know who steal from who precious sword? I don’t have sand in my eyes! You have been following me all the way and even steal my precious sword! And you even dare to flash it in front of me?…”

Zhan Bai was angry and he began to spring to the old man but the old man and his donkey throttled even faster away.

Zhan Bai was afraid that he would run away so he began to use his ‘Eight Diagram Movement Swiftness Skill’ 八步赶蝉 to give chase.

“Aiya!” The old man sounded panicky. “Little brother, your greediness arouse when you see something precious and even think of robbing me! So many of you here, who can help me stop him ah!”

“Old man! Don’t pretend to be silly!” Zhan Bai scolded after him. “If you don’t return my precious sword, even if you were to run to the ends of the heaven, I will still chase you till you have returned my precious sword!”

“Aiya!…Aiyo!…” The old man exclaimed several times as he sped away in his donkey with Zhan Bai chasing him in a frenzy as they disappeared into the dark woods.

When the top exponent fighters of Baotu Manor had saw that Zhan Bai had run away while chasing the old man, many of them wanted to go after him but was stopped by Master Murong...

Chapter 16: Living Dead Man and Dead Living Man

Zhan Bai had chased the old man that was riding a donkey for forty to fifty miles before he lost sight of him.

But a miraculous thing happened. Although the old man had disappeared, he found his ‘Heartless Sword’ thrust on a pine tree.

Zhan Bai almost could not believed his very own eyes. How could such a strange thing happen in this world? The sword that he had lost, would actually be found on the top of the tree, waiting for him to retrieve?

But that was the truth that his eyes had seen - The golden edge of the scabbard, the green scale fish leather scabbard! The Heartless Sword was in indeed hanging right here!

Zhan Bai thought he had developed a blurry vision. He thought because of his constant longing for this sword caused him to develop hallucinations. So he rubbed his eyes and lifted his head again and saw that the Heartless Precious Sword was still hanging up there.

One month or so ago, [Cruel Hand Midget] had stolen Zhan Bai’s sword and his small sack and even thrown the contents away.

The distance between the sword and him was four yards but because he was trying to verify if the sword was real, he had no time to think and jumped up to retrieve the sword. Actually he had not paused to consider that the height was too high. So when he had jumped and caught the sword, he was surprised and exclaimed. “What excellent swiftness movement skill!” As he praised himself, astonished that his lightness feat 轻身提纵术 had suddenly improved by so much.

But as he landed, there was a shout behind him that startled him.

The sword that was now in Zhan Bai’s hand had twice been stolen away from him. The experience scarred him badly. Therefore thinking again, that he would be so unlucky as to lose his sword once more, he got a big fright much like a bird that was being fired upon by an arrow. Quickly, he turned around and drawn his sword, displaying a stance, ‘Fending in Eight Directions in the Dark’ as soon as he turned around, sending a blink of light as he unsheathed his sword. Next he looked at what had occurred.

Goose pimples broke out.

For standing behind him were two strange men in white hemp cloth and both of them were looking idiocy at him with their pale white faces that did not even have any hint of any blood.

These two weird men had suddenly appeared behind him without a single sound like a spectral. Moreover these two weird men carried a ghastly aura. What was more, with their appearance, even the forest of pine woods suddenly became eerie.

Although it was now a beautiful afternoon but Zhan Bai could not help feeling like he was in hell and all his hair was standing.

What was even weirder was that those two men were almost identical whether in appearances or dressing. It was like a person playing the role of two persons.

Just when Zhan Bai was still startled, one of the weird man began to flash his teeth to laugh.

But his laugh was even scarier. His facial expressions did not even tweaked, showing forth his teeth.

As for the another man, he extended forth a hand and eerily shouted. “Hand it over!”

Zhan Bai took a step back and placed his sword in front of his chest. He thought to himself. “No matter what happen this time round, I must not lose my father’s sword again. Even if I have to die, I would not bulge!” As he thought, he said. “I am not acquaintance with the two of you. I do not know what you want me to hand over?”

“Ke!Ke!Ke!…” The two weird men began to laugh aloud, shivering Zhan Bai.

“The first thing you have to do is to hand over the sword!”

“The second thing you have to do is to hand over your life. But I think it is wiser for you to hand over the sword first, or else after you have died, fancy a old man like me will have to bend over to pick the sword!”

The tone of the words was filled with arrogance. After Zhan Bai had heard it, he began to furrow deeply and he was now filled with rage. As he had already cast away life and death, he laughed coldly and said. “What a thing to say! Hurry and report your names! I, Zhan Bai, will never tainted my sword with killing nameless ghosts!”

When both of them heard Zhan Bai’s name, they glanced at one another and their expressions suddenly tweaked. And asked at the same time. “What! You are named Zhan too! Is it real?”

“Ridiculous!” Zhan Bai thought. “Will a surname be fake?”

Therefore he exclaimed proudly. “Is it because the two of you have used a fake name, therefore you did not dare to say aloud your names?”

But who would expect that it would cause a distress in their innermost hearts. One of them began to shout. “I am called [Living Dead Man]!”

The another man thundered. “I am called [Dead living Man]!”


The two of them exclaimed at the same time. “We are really nameless and without surnames as well. But if we tell you our real nicknames, it is the time for you to meet your maker!”

Even as the both of them spoke, they had sprang forward and attacked Zhan Bai ferociously with palm and gripping attacks.

Zhan Bai tightened his grip on the hilt and started parrying left and right. After continuously displaying five, six strokes only then did he managed to fend them off.

Even though Zhan Bai had encountered many top pugilist exponents recently but he had never seen such weird strokes that were being displayed by those two weird men. When they attacked, it changed from gradually slow to fast rapid attacks. When they extended out their palms and fingers, it suddenly became as fast as a fast moving hurricane.

And so each time they attacked with a single stance, Zhan Bai was forced to parry with another three to five stances. Therefore when they attacked with two to three stances, he found himself in a frenzied state.

At that moment of time, Zhan Bai totally lost his state of calmness when he was facing the [One leg Flying Heretic]. It was because even though the [One leg Flying Heretic] strokes may be very fast, but there were still some breathing spaces for him to parry. But now, those two weird men when they attacked, they left no thinking time for him to pause and consider.

Zhan Bai martial arts were originally very complex. In the beginning, he had spend more than ten years training in hardship in his martial arts. But a lack of guidance from a Enlightened Master restricted his martial skills to the most ordinary ones. But then after he had practiced hard the orthodox intricate formulas in the [Sacred Manual], his inner strength tremendously increased. His eyes and ears became sharp and focus, becoming extraordinary in the process and he finally had the potential to practice the higher forms of martial arts.

However, he still could not comprehend all those strange and wondrous sword and unarmed techniques. And then, after quite a few encounters with the top exponents, he managed to grasp a few strokes and stances due purely to a moment’s inspiration. For the gaps in between the strokes, he tried to alleviate by filling it with possible strokes as he fought along.

But now, under the fierce attacks of those two men that were using a weird and wondrous attacking stance that severely crippled Zhan Bai ability to hold his ground as he tried his very best to parry in all directions.

After tens of strokes fly past, Zhan Bai was now parrying more than he could retaliate. His sword could not even aim accurate at them as powerful windforce caused by those two men defrayed the sword.

Zhan Bai was feeling panicky now. Suddenly he started to see white images of them attacking him as they split from two to four, from four to eight, from eight to sixteen, from sixteen to much much more as they started to surround him.

Naturally Zhan Bai understood that the illusions were caused by the two weird men’s illusionary swiftness movement skills. But he did not know which were the actual and which were the illusions. He could only danced his Heartless Precious Sword all around him continuously in a bid to protect himself.

Zhan Bai’s ‘Three Flair Swordplay’ 三才剑法 was a most ordinary swordplay but when he had displayed it, sword energy chillingly radiated from it as it thundered like thunder in the thunderstorm. It was like a furious dragon in a maelstrom.

The two weird men were no less startled than Zhan Bai who was equally startled by their martial art skills. It was because very few people could even ten strokes of their collective display of the ‘Trilateral Equilibrium Soul Snatching Palm’太极两仪离魂掌. And Zhan Bai could actually have the ability to fight with them for more than ten strokes and not be defeated.

In a blinking flash, another five, six strokes scurried by.

[Living Dead Man] 活死人 was patience enough and he was not in a hurry as he attacked Zhan Bai stroke by stroke, stance by stance. [Dead Living Man] 死活人 however was by natural an impatience man. After witnessing that Zhan Bai was still undefeated, he suddenly gave a thunderous shout as he executed a stance named ‘Dividing the Mortals’ 阴阳异路 as he forcefully barged towards and aimed at five of his vulnerable accupoints as he sliced with his left hand and chopped with his right hand.

This stance of his were extraordinary swift and deadly. Zhan Bai was already dazzled by those two weird men that he did not even know where all the incoming strokes were coming from. His only natural reflex was to dance the Heartless Precious Sword around him non stop like a gale, seeking self preservation instead of attempting to hurt his opponents. Therefore when this deadly stance was displayed, he was unaware of it.

He was an exemplar of a blind man riding a blind horse. He did not even know that he had walked into a treacherous road…

However [Living Dead Man] was looking out for Zhan Bai with a hidden agenda and he fended off all the killer strokes executed by the [Dead Living Man]. Just when [Dead Living Man] was about to fly into a temper, [Living Dead Man] snatched the bundle off Zhan Bai’s sword and retreated backwards.

[Dead Living Man] did not know why [Living Dead Man] had suddenly retreated but they had always assaulted and retreated together. So when he saw [Living Dead Man] had back off, he was filled with displeasure and did the same as well.

Zhan Bai suddenly felt as though a heavy pressure had been lifted off him as the illusionary white figures had started to vanish. And he stood rooted to the ground vigilantly with his sword.

Then the two weird men began to open up the bundle and casually took a bundle of hair from it and looked at one another before they finally turned towards Zhan Bai and asked. “What is it?”

However when Zhan Bai had saw them picked out the bundle of hair from inside the bundle, he was furious and stared at them with blood shot eyes.

It was indeed the clues and the items left behind by his father that he had been painstaking seeking all this while!

“Return it to me!” Zhan Bai thundered. “Where did the both of you find it from?”

The two weird men did not expect Zhan Bai to become suddenly so fierce and threw the hair in front of him, coldly said. “You can have it if you want it. This isn’t any good stuff anyway.”

Immediately after they had said that, they took out a thread of silk strings and once again, they looked at one another. They turned and looked at Zhan Bai without expressions to ask. “What is this then?”

“Hurry and return it to me!”

Zhan Bai did not notice that the bundle was snatched from his sword hilt. He only felt strange that how could these two weird men possibly could have his deceased father’s possession? Therefore he became very agitated and shouted continuous. “All the things in that small bundle are mine!”

But the two men ignored the yelling pleas of Zhan Bai and reaching into the bundle and threw a iron pearl and a copper button from inside the bundle at him.

Suddenly the two of them began to dance madly in a hilarious manner, all the while screaming.

Zhan Bai was startled. Why did they suddenly become crazy?

Suddenly the two men caught hold of Zhan Bai by his arms, from two sides and they started to grip him tightly. But Zhan Bai bit his teeth tightly and did not mutter a single sound e even though he was in terrible pain.

How did they catch hold of him so easily? Firstly, he was caught by surprise and did not guarded against them. Secondly, they were simply too fast.

“Is this the Precious Heartless Sword?” [Living Dead Man] asked in a shrieking sorrowful voice as he gripped Zhan Bai’s on his right shoulder.

Zhan Bai tried to resist as he protested. “Let go of me!”

“Are you the descendant of the Great Hero Zhan Yuntian?” Asked the [Dead Living Man] as he asked in an equally sorrowful voice as he gripped him on his left shoulder.

Grieved at the mention of his late father but still Zhan Bai refused to say a word more.

Suddenly the two weird men let go of Zhan Bai and together, they bowed at him. And then, [Living Dead Man] lamented sorrowfully. “Heaven is not blind after all, our benefactor has a heir!”

[Dead Living Man] was lamenting loudly as well. “Heaven is blind, our benefactor have been wronged so unjustly that it can sink to the bottom of the ocean!”

“What else!” [Living Dead Man] clenched the copper coin in his fist tightly. He lamented aloud in terrible grief. “Brother, what do think is this?”

Suddenly, [Dead Living Man] was hollowing even more loudly and his shrieking voice was as though it could shatter rocks and penetrated to the clouds.

“Us two brothers, try as we try, we still cannot find out who killed our benefactor and he had to die in limbo.” [Dead Living Man] seemed to finish lamenting as he sunk his voice painfully to add. “Rather than live in this world to suffer the indignant of not avenging our benefactor that is worse than death, that is why we hide our real names and use the nick of [Living Dead Man] and [Dead Living Man]. But today after witnessing these objects…”

[Dead Living Man] looked even more sorrowful as he pointed at the copper coin that [Living Dead Man] was holding and he was weeping. “Now that we already know who to seek vendetta with but we are unable to avenge for our benefactor. Can we still face anyone in life? Do we still deserve to live in this world?”

“That is right!” [Living Dead Man] too began to lament in great sorrow as he questioned. “My brother! Do we still have anything that deserve to live for in this world?”

As they said, they began to hug one another to weep uncontrollably…

Never did Zhan Bai expect that these two ghastly weird men that radiated such an eerie and cold demeanor, would have such warm heartfelt affection! Moreover, judging from their tone and mannerism, it was quite obvious that they were his father’s friends.

Therefore by now, Zhan Bai had already cast away his dislike and feeling of repulsive for them. Instead, he felt so intimate with them as though it was like his father meeting with his best of friends.

He tried to comfort them by saying. “Do not grieve. There is a saying: It never too late for a gentleman to avenge a wrong even if it were ten years late. As long as the two of you have this heart, not to mention myself but also my late father will be extremely grateful in the underworld!”

It would be better if Zhan Bai did not comfort them for it upset them even more as they hollowed loudly with tears. “What a great shame, how can we face his family! What a great shame, how can we face his family!…”

Suddenly [Living Dead Man] as he lamented began to bang his head headlong into a pine tree.

It was obvious that he was too deeply overcome with grief and was now trying to commit suicide by rushing headlong into a pine tree which width required two men to surround with their hands.

Zhan Bai was too late to [Living Dead Man] and when he tried to hold him back, [Dead Living Man] had rushed into a giant pine tree on the other side!

There were a series of loud crashing sound caused by the two men as they attempted to bang their heads again and again!

Zhan Bai was secretly stunned. The force of these men when they banged into the trees were like thousand weight force. 千钩力道

Seeing that they could not succeed in their suicide, they lamented aloud as they shrieked before finally making their way out of the pine forest in extreme grief.

After Zhan Bai had saw them went afar and after standing on the same spot for some time, did he recovered his thoughts as he thought. “It really so unthinkable that these two ghastly men are actually men of blood and tears!”

“Alas!” Zhan Bai sighed aloud as he thought. “From their tone, it seem that they had already known who killed my father. But why did they say, they can’t avenge for my father…”

When Zhan Bai had thought of that, he suddenly stomped his leg and shouted. “Alas Ah! Why did I forget to ask them…”

“Little rascal! Who did you forget to ask?” Someone replied him from his back. “You are actually talking to yourself!”

Zhan Bai turned around and his blood ran cold for standing right in front of him was the [Cruel Hand Midget] 辣手童心.

Zhan Bai furrowed his eyebrows puzzling over the prospect of his luck.

[Cruel Hand Midget] laughed aloud and looked extremely happy as he said. “Little fellow, you seem none too please to meet an old man like me?”

Zhan Bai did not bother to answer him.

“But, who will expect that we can actually encounter one another again! Moreover it is the same place. Little Fellow, can you not say that it is not Heaven’s Will after all?”

Zhan Bai was jolted. He suddenly remembered this was the same place that he had encountered the [The Outrageous Flying Cloud] 燕云五霸天. It was also the very same place that they had tried to raid his escorts. Recalling all these things that had occurred one month ago, he was crestfallen and a feeling of sadness overwhelmed him! 如有隔世之感

“Since we have so much fate,” [Cruel Hand Midget] jeered, ignoring Zhan Bai that looked so depressed and said. “Then surrender it now!”

Zhan Bai stumbled backward at his words as he thought. “Not again!” He bitterly said. “Old senior! You have thrown junior’s things away and caused me untold grief. Don’t you feel that is enough already? Now you want to take things from me again! What do you want? I really do not have anything on me…”

[Cruel Hand Midget] giggled and pointed at his Heartless Precious Sword. “I promise this time I do not want your smell stuff anymore! Hand over your sword and let me have a look!”

Zhan Bai was furious and he thought. “Must I be manipulate and let other snatch my things like that?” And he stared at him and said aloud. “Everyone in the Martial Fraternity knows that a pugilist’s weapon is his second life! For an old senior like you to mutter such a thing, don’t you feel ridiculous at all?”

[Cruel Hand Midget] tweaked his face as his jovial expression disappeared and he solemnly said in a deep voice. “I only ask you this. To surrender it? Or not to surrender it?”

Zhan Bai laughed coldly and replied proudly. “Then you have to ask my sword to see if it is in agreement!”

[Cruel Hand Midget]’s eyes were filled with malevolent air. Because Zhan Bai thought that he was about to attack him, he secretly channeled his inner force throughout his body as a precaution.

Suddenly [Cruel Hand Midget] turned panicky as he caught sight of the huge pine trees lying all over in pandemonium. He pointed his finger around and asked. “What is going on around here? How did these trees fall?”

Zhan Bai really felt laudable at himself. He had been so nervous for quite awhile and this [Cruel Hand Midget] suddenly switched his attention and asked about those fallen trees. He thought that this old man was really unreasonable and he did not want to waste anymore time with him.

“Then…” Zhan Bai said. “I plead with old senior to spend some time investigating and to ponder over it! Junior still have other matters to attend to and I take my leave now!” After saying, Zhan Bai turned his head around and walked away.

There was a hum and a shadowy flash as [Cruel Hand Midget] made his way in front of Zhan Bai. He thundered loudly. “Little rascal! Are you thinking of running again? You dare to play punk with me right in front of my very eyes? Then you are asking for trouble!”

Zhan Bai waved his Heartless Precious Sword and coldly replied. “Then, may I ask you for some instructions! I will simply fight and not back off!”

[Cruel Hand Midget] hummed aloud from his nostril as he exclaimed none too please. “Little rascal! You dare to exchange blows with me?”

Zhan Bai straightened his back and answered without hesitating. “I can’t wait in fact to take a look at some of old senior’s epitome strokes!”

[Cruel Hand Midget] looked undecided and his eyes were looking left and right around him…

However Zhan Bai knew that the [Cruel Hand Midget] might be weird but he was actually a very cunning man. Afraid that he might use some sneak attacks on him, he immediately focussed his attention and circulated his inner strength throughout his entire body to ready himself for any attacks.

Suddenly the [Cruel Hand Midget] noticed some words on the ground tens of yards away. And slowly he began to walk towards it as if curiosity got the hand of him. He was heard muttering. “Alas! Who wrote these words on the ground?”

Because the Midget had relaxed his malevolent air, Zhan Bai found himself relaxing from his tight tension as well. He suddenly found himself unable to smile. Even if he were to cry, there would be no tears. Not in the least having the curiosity as the [Cruel Hand Midget], he began to storm out of the surrounding pine woods in broad strides…

At the same time, Zhan Bai hardened his heart and said to himself if the [Cruel Hand Midget] tried to stop him again, he would surely circulated all his internal force and stabbed him in the chest with his sword. Even if this freak were to confuse him and muttered sweet nothings to him, he would never even kindled his eyebrows to ponder…

As soon as his heart was hardened, it became soft again as he walked in strides away. Only this time, the [Cruel Hand Midget] did not try to stop him but he began to read out some words that could barely considered sentence, causing him to pause and turned back!

“The act of avenging thee father…must…gold…be left avenge…do not be rush…Donkey…Gut…”

[Cruel Hand Midget] was heard scolding as he jumped up and down. “It made utterly no sense at all!”

But to Zhan Bai, it made perfect sense as blood rushed to his head and his heart pounded. “Alas ah! Isn’t it obviously the hints of the old man with the donkey? He is trying to tell me who killed my father!”

Zhan Bai rushed back immediately as the [Cruel Hand Midget] began to erase the words by his jumping! But it was too late!

He shouted hilariously. “Old senior! Do not erase all those words!”

Even though he had rushed back as quick as lightning but [Cruel Hand Midget] had totally caused all the words to vanish from the ground!

He looked at Zhan Bai to say, “What is the matter with you, little fellow? Are you the one that wrote all those words on the ground? It really made no sense at all! Didn’t you study at all when you are little? To think you are an adult now!”

How would Zhan Bai still have the mood to argue with him? He only bowed his head low at the ground that just moment ago contained the clues to his father’s death as he exclaimed anxiously. “Old senior! What must you pit yourself against me! Why expended so much efforts on me? Really! It was really…”
Zhan Bai kept scolding ‘Really’ for some time in repetitious not knowing what to say.

But the [Cruel Hand Midget] began to applaud with his hands after witnessing how frustrated Zhan Bai was. He thought that it was the most fun thing that had happened.

“Alas!” Zhan Bai let go of a long sight as he thought. “Why wasted so much time on him. It is better if I stay away from him, the faster the better! Since that old man that rides the donkey has left his sword and words behind for him, surely he is trying to help him secretly. Even though those words are not clear but his father’s killer must surely be at Nanjing (gold can be pronounced Jin). Why don’t he take a trip down to Nanjing? Maybe he can find some clues there…”

As he was thinking, he began to turn back to walk away…

But the [Cruel Hand Midget] suddenly blocked his way and shouted. “Little rascal! If you do leave your sword, don’t even think of leaving here! Do you think you are able to leave on your own?”

Zhan Bai was really pushed to a corner by him and he snapped by executing ‘Sword Finger of the Heavenly South’. 剑指天南 He was so angry that he was speechless now and he attacked the [Cruel Hand Midget] who responded by shouting. “Wonderful attack!”

Suddenly [Cruel Hand Midget] swayed aside, avoiding his sword stance and attacked fiercely toward Zhan Bai right wrist with his left hand. This counter attack was exactly a technique known as the ‘Hand grasping and weapon clenching style’ 空手入白刃 for unarmed fighter to fight against some one with a weapon in hand. At the same time, his right hand swiftly and fiercely reached out and hit violently at Zhan Bai’s left chest.

Indeed, the [Cruel Hand Midget] was not to be trifled with. In a mere instant, he had countered, counter attacked and his strokes were all secretive and marvelous. It was indeed very extraordinary to behold.

Zhan Bai was taken aback. Even with a sword in his hand, he could not gain an edge over him. Not only did the [Cruel Hand Midget] not retreat in the face of his deadly and swift swordplay, he had even successfully counter attacked and put him at a disadvantage.

All Zhan Bai could do was to muster all his strength and swung his sword in a defensive position in a bid to withdraw his attacking stance. But it was already too late and his right wrist was hit by the [Cruel Hand Midget] and he felt his chest experiencing a painful sensational as if his bones had cracked. He felt his upper body growing numb and his Heartless Precious Sword almost dropped from his hand…

It was a lucky thing that after Zhan Bai was struck in the chest, his right wrist was not gripped by the [Cruel Hand Midget] or it would well be fatal.

Zhan Bai was panicky and he lifted his left hand to parry his attacker remaining blows. Both of them were knocked back three steps.

Because both of them were still in the process of exchanging blows and had not used all their might, they could not gain an immediately edge over one another.

In Zhan Bai’s panicky state, he had seal off the remaining blows with a powerful stretch thus saving him from a perilous situation. He did not think much about this exchange but as for the [Cruel Hand Midget], it wounded his pride.

With his consummate skills and present state of cultivation, how could Zhan Bai had the strength to knock him back? It was something that was impossible.

He thundered at Zhan Bai, “Good rascal! Hats off to you! What about taking a blow from my hands!” Upon saying, he raised his strength of cultivation to eight folds and violently struck out.

A streak of windforce that hallowed as he extended his hands. The [Cruel Hand Midget] palm strike was startling!

Zhan Bai had unconsciously pushed the [Cruel Hand Midget] backward. Therefore he received a boast to his confidence and he quickly switched his sword to his left hand and let his right hand received the incoming blow.

There was a thunderous clap as sand flew in all directions.

Zhan Bai was still standing firmly on the same spot while the [Cruel Hand Midget] was knocked back five to six steps backward before he could steady himself.

This time round, the [Cruel Hand Midget] was startled and he thought. “I have found fame in the pugilist world for many years and rarely meet any worthy opponents. How could I be knock back by such a unremarkable young man?”

One month ago, he had encountered this young man and had already known that his skills were ordinary. Therefore, how was it possible for Zhan Bai to improve so tremendous in a single month?…

If this got out to the pugilist realm that he was jerked backward by this unknown young man, how would he going to face anyone in the future? This was too great a blow to his pride.

When the [Cruel Hand Midget] analyzed up to this point, his eyes turned murderous and stray of his hair were standing up. This was a sign that his internal force had been cultivated to the level of finesses. “Rascal! Not bad.” And then he thundered aloud. “What about taking another blow from me!”

Zhan Bai knew instantly that this old man had used all his might. Wishing to know the extent of his internal cultivation as well, he lifted the energy from his diaphragm and used ten fold of his strength by exercising the Sacred Manual consummate skills.

The [Cruel Hand Midget] laughed, “I see that you have readied yourself!”

Zhan Bai did not know that the [Cruel Hand Midget] was planning a ruse so he replied. “Old senior, please exhibited your blow! Junior I…”

But who would have thought that when Zhan Bai was still speaking in mid sentences that the [Cruel Hand Midget] would suddenly attack him suddenly as he shouted. “Heh!”

Zhan Bai was taken completely by surprise as he hurriedly raised his vital energies around him in a quick attempt to take the incoming blow.

“Pang!” A thunderous sound was heard.

Zhan Bai began to see stars as he was dazzled by the furious amount of impact. He found himself almost unable to stand still. The pressure of that blow was like the sudden rushing of the great river Changjiang that had rushed upon him. He knew that if he was in grave danger now. If he could not handle this blow, he would die instantly.

Therefore he focused his thoughts and mustered all his vital energies from his diaphragm as he tried to perform the ‘Thousand Weigh Fall’千斤坠 to steady himself while at the same time, he circulated the vital energies to both his shoulders and then to his both his hands. Surprisingly, he managed to withstand the attack in its entirely and the danger faded.

Although the [Cruel Hand Midget] did not think much of Zhan Bai nor did he placed him in high regards, he knew by now that this young man was not to be underestimated. In this third round of fight, he tried to use a little ruse; While Zhan Bai was talking, he would attack because while talking, vital energies would leak away. It was an excellent opportunity to kill Zhan Bai on the spot and he would preserve his pride as well.

Therefore he lifted and used all forty to fifty years of his internal power and extended both his hands into a blow while thinking. “Rascal, you are finished this time…”

But who would expect that Zhan Bai would suddenly managed to calm his explosive force down and reversed the force at him!

The [Cruel Hand Midget] was greatly startled and he immediately calmed himself down and mustered his remaining strength to both his hands…

Zhan Bai too readied all his internal strength to resist…

It was now a contest of vital energies as they froze in a posture with hands extending together. Those who did not know might have wondered why an old man and a young man were posturing for in the forest!

On closer look, both men were looking extremely anxious and were shaking slightly. The old man was staring with murderous intent at Zhan Bai.

The internal skills that Zhan Bai had mastered was the Sacred Manual containing all the orthodox upper echelon intrinsic formula and it was passed down by the Lord of the Only Eye. At such, the book was the most marvelous in the world. The martial skills that were recorded in it were all rarely seen but were all first class. It had the powers of the monastic order to subdue demonic forces. What more, Zhan Bai had a most extraordinary encounter. He was attacked by Zhang Shipeng’s Enchanting Lyrical Flute Display that caused his vital energies to reverse upon himself. 归真返璞. Lucky, Master Lingfeng had unwittingly dealt him a blow and cleared his eight wondrous meridian channels.

Therefore Zhan Bai inner martial arts underwent a tremendous increase. It was not beneath some one that had forty to fifty years of internal cultivation and practice.

Once again, they were equals in this standoff.

The [Cruel Hand Midget] too was experiencing that Zhan Bai’s internal force was like the great river Changjiang that were rushing at him. He bit his teeth and concentrated on dealing with the pressure. Not only was he startled, he was enraged!

What amount to the time to boil a hot teapot passed as the both of them fought a physical and mental contest to see who would be the first to go under. The surrounding woods had suddenly became eerily quiet.

Suddenly Zhan Bai remembered that the Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual had two lines of secret formula that formed: “An illusion that is not, the weakness that is not.” 虚而不虚，弱而不弱 Did the intrinsic formula meant it as ‘Suck’?

Therefore Zhan Bai thought. “I need to go Nanjing. If I contest with him painstakingly in this manner, I wondered when would it ended? Why don’t I attempt to use this ‘Suck’ method. It would well be my liberation to leave this place!”

Because Zhan Bai was still young and impatience, he did not pause to think that this was a life and death matter. What he had thought of, he acted upon it. Therefore at this moment of time, he reversed all his vital energies backward and he could feel a suction in the [Cruel Hand Midget]’s palms as well. The energy that was reversing was like tens of thousands of rivers rushing forth and it was rushing at him! Zhan Bai was greatly startled…



Chapter 16 Ended

Chapter 17: The truth is difficult to explain

Inside Fei Yi Tong’s 费一童 innermost thoughts, he was hilariously happy when he felt Zhan Bai palm force receding. He had thought that Zhan Bai internal strength was giving way, therefore he hallowed in joy.

“You will go…”

But before he could say ‘Down’, he suddenly felt a tremendous force rebounding back from Zhan Bai. Like a thousand ton crashing upon his body, his eyes turned black and his ears thundering aloud, he found himself no longer able to withstand anymore.

He screamed aloud as he was knocked back. There was a loud ‘Pong’ sound that clapped like thunder as he was thrown a yard away and landed on the ground.

When Zhan Bai had used the ‘Suck’ intrinsic formula, he immediately sensed something was not right. In a bid to salvage the situation, he accidentally executed the ‘Reality that is, Strong enforcing Strong’ 实而又实，强而又强 in the Sacred Manual that formed the intrinsic word ‘Rebound’ and instantly knocked back Fei Yitong.

This was something that Zhan Bai had not expected. He heard the screams of Fei Yitong after that for he himself was knocked backward onto the ground. He got up and circulated his breathing first before he walked over to check upon him and saw that blood was bleeding from his veins, nose, mouth and ears; Fei Yitong was dead now.

Although Zhan Bai had previously roamed the pugilistic realm for many years but this was actually the first time he had killed some one. Therefore when he saw that Fei Yitong was bleeding from his seven senses and died in such a terrible manner, he was panicky.

To someone that had bullied him on numerous times, he was feeling apologetic at the moment as he muttered in prayer. “Old senior, why must we come to this stage? You have caused me numerous troubles, alas! I have misjudged and accidentally killed you…”

As he muttered, he thought. “I have better buried him in case his body is exposed to the wilderness and eaten by the wild beasts…”

Therefore, he drawn the Heartless Precious Sword to use as a spade and dug a pit in the forest ground. Just when he had thrown the corpse of Fei Yitong into the pit, suddenly there was a series of wicked laughter coming from three big burly men.

“What a good thing that you have done!”

A burly man that seemed to the leader of the ground said. “To think that someone after murdering a man in broad daylight has decided to destroy all traces of the evidence. Don’t try to deny this thing anymore, rascal!”

Zhan Bai was taken aback while another burly man with an alert face was grinning. “Friend, which fraction do you belong to? After you got yourself such a loot, don’t try to seize all of it for yourself!”

The third burly man that had a pale face coldly said. “Witnesses have a share in the loot too. Take out all the loot no matter how valuable or minor and share with us!”

Although Zhan Bai had previously mixed with the unorthodox fractions in the past not more than a few days but he did understand their meanings. When he heard that these burly men had thought of him as a fellow bandit and even asked to have a share in the loot, he was feeling misery. So he replied. “There is no loot to be shared here. The one that died is my companion. He had died during the travels and I am burying his corpse for him!”

The three burly men refused to believe what Zhan Bai had died and walked over to take a look. When they saw the horrid expressions of Fei Yitong, the burly man with the alert face laughed. “There is no need to play a covert games with the knowing. Friend, this companion of yours did not died of illness, right?”

“Oh gosh!”

Before Zhan Bai could reply, the man with the pale face startling called out. “Isn’t this dead man, old senior [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong!”

The other two were speechless and opened their eyes wide opened and took a closer once more. After verifying that it was really the [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong, they immediately took two steps back and they drawn their sabres from the back of their body.

And they immediately surrounded him.

“You rascal, how could you have killed old senior Fei?” The leader pointed his finger at Zhan Bai and said aloud. “Why don’t you honestly confess it now!”

“Laoda! (Leader)”

The other two men shouted together. “There is no need to ask anymore! A life for a life for old senior Fei’s life!”

And they had firmly surrounded Zhan Bai now.

“Hold it!” Zhan Bai shouted. “I was dueling with old senior Fei when I misjudged my strength and accidentally hurt him…”

“Rascal! Do you know that telling tell tales will cause your tongue to rot!” The pale faced man coldly said eerily. “In a fair duel, how would you ever be a match for old senior Fei? You must be using some underhand means to kill old senior Fei!”

“Rascal! A life for a life!” The alert face man suddenly hacked his sabre at Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai had barely dodged it when the other two men too started hacking him from his left and back.

Zhan Bai saw that these three men were proficiency with their sabre techniques therefore he unsheathed the Heartless Precious Sword from the scabbard and displayed a stroke ‘Crossing the River, diverting the Flow’ 桥江断流

There were two ‘Clang’ sound as two sabres were severed from its hilt by the Heartless Precious Sword.

The three burly men were startled as they back off one yard away as they stared at Zhan Bai in a state of panic.

This time round, they did not dare to underestimate Zhan Bai anymore for they had witnessed him severing their sabres with his sword.

The three of them were furious and two of the men with the severed sabres charged towards Zhan Bai.

They attacked Zhan Bai on all sides again.

Upon seeing how frantic were their attacks, Zhan Bai did not dare to use his hand to handle the attacks. So he moved his body and used the ‘Ripple of the White Heron’ swiftness skill to dodge the two severed sabres.

Zhan Bai lifted gave a flying kick towards the third man and he was knocked backward to the ground.

The three men had by now lost all their morale and were frightened. They quickly moved backward as they were afraid that Zhan Bai would kill him.

Seeing that Zhan Bai had no wish to pursue them, the pale faced man shouted fiercely. “If you have the guts, leave behind your name!”

“Zhan Bai is my namesake!” Zhan Bai had by now knowingly understood that his martial skills had improved tremendously; his bodily co-ordination and execution of his skills were excellent. Therefore he started to feel proud in his heart and he replied. “Do you still have any opinion to express?”

“Don’t be too sure of yourself yet! We may have admitted defeat for now! But you better watch out!”

As they exclaiming, they were in fact running hastily away.

Zhan Bai laughed on his own and thought. “To think that I, Zhan Bai finally have the opportunity to be famous now…”

After he had finished burying Fei Yitong and ascertaining the way to Nanjing, he was soon on his way.

When the darkness descended, Zhan Bai had walked into a big town. However, he did not know what was the name of this town. But he could see that the streets were lit in a beautiful glow and crowds of people were moving around. It was a bustling town with many traders and people.

As Zhan Bai had hurried hastily here, he was feeling very hungry for quite some time. Taking a good look around hoping to spot a tavern or a Inn to rest and then when dawn came tomorrow, he would continue on his way.

Along the way, Zhan Bai was looking all around for a Inn Tavern and did not notice that quite a few men in short garment were staring at him.

Finally, Zhan Bai spied an Inn Tavern with a big golden sign board with the inscription ‘Gathering of the Heroes’. The merry sounds of people that were making a din out of guessing fists and the fragrance of wine attracted Zhan Bai. Therefore, he began to walk in bold strides towards this ‘Gathering of the Heroes.’

When Zhan Bai entered through the entrance, a bulky man in short sleeves stopped him and asked. “Are you here to drink or stay?”

Zhan Bai took a glance at him and the bulky man did not look like he was drunk. Therefore he replied, “I am here to drink as well as to stay for the night.”

The bulky man in short sleeves looked up and down at Zhan Bai for several moments before he coldly said, “Very sorry! Our tavern is fully occupied at the moment and so are our rooms. Please go to other Inn Taverns!”

Zhan Bai noticed that this bulky man did not look like the type that was in the Inn business and he saw that a few people inside looked frightful. Therefore he only stood at the entrance and did not dare to enter. He was filled with suspicious but since he was told that it was fully occupied inside, he was naturally shy to barge inside. So he turned his head around to walk away.

But after Zhan Bai had approached five to six other Inn Taverns, he was filled with disbelief after he was told that every single of them were fully occupied and asked him to approach other Inn Taverns. He walked to the last Inn Tavern at the edge of the town and he saw the darkness approaching swiftly and there were no lights at all even from the various households. Zhan Bai was immediately filled with suspicious and he saw the last eatery was half empty therefore he dared to walk boldly inside.

Suddenly a muscular man walked up to him and blocked him, yelling. ‘Friend! Why are you looking so panicky? What do you want here?”

Zhan Bai suddenly had an inspiration in his head and he replied. “To look for someone!” This time round, he did not say he was here to drink or to stay. That was because he had already observed that all the bulky men that had blocked him along the way were not in this business. Therefore he just wanted to enter the tavern and to order food and drinks before he explained himself.

But alas, the muscular man did not move aside and remained blocking him. He coldly asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Zhan Bai was stunned but he replied, “Why must I tell you who I am looking for?”

The muscular man laughed for a second before saying, “If you are looking for someone, I will dispatch my guys inside to search for you. You shouldn’t be let loose inside on your own!”

Zhan Bai thought, “Why are there so many rules?” But he had already noticed that these people are troublemakers and therefore he pretended to be dumb as well. “I am looking for the Steward of the Inn Tavern!”

The muscular man looked stunned for a second, as he did not expect Zhan Bai to say something like this. But after a while, he knew Zhan Bai was making a fool of him. He stared at Zhan Bai and shouted, “What are you looking for the Steward of the Inn Tavern for?”

Zhan Bai suppressed his anger and he said slowly, “Naturally it is for eating and to stay in the tavern.”

“Friend! To tell you honestly!” The muscular man laughed coldly at him, “There is no food for you to eat here nor is there any room for you to stay. You have better go elsewhere instead!”

Zhan Bai flinched with anger and he was losing control of his rage. So he laughed coldly as well and said, “When I eat, I’ll pay for my food. When I stay in the tavern, I’ll pay for my lodging. Therefore, why should I bother you to meddle in my affairs?”

As Zhan Bai said, he began to bypass the muscular man to walk into the tavern directly.

“When I command that you cannot stay for the night, you surely can’t stay!” The muscular man began to attack Zhan Bai with his hands in a clawing gesture.

How could Zhan Bai let him have the chance to grip him? He dodged the attack and the muscular man followed by a fist after his attack missed.

This fist of his was not only powerful and forceful. It carried a windforce and it was swift and fast as well.

Zhan Bai waited for the muscular man’s fist to be near before he counter-attacked by extending his hand to twist his wrist and pushed him backward, exclaiming. “Out you go!”

And that huge muscular man was indeed obedient, with a scream, he was thrown out of the entrance.

The muscular man crawled back and he pointed at Zhan Bai, cursing loudly at him. “Very good rascal. If you have the courage, don’t run away.” After cursing him, he left hurriedly.

Zhan Bai smiled and he walked majesty into the Inn Tavern and began to sit down. The guests that were in the Inn Tavern were all staring at Zhan Bai with wide-opened eyes. The shop assistants had saw him sitting down but did not dare to approach him to take his orders.

“Hello!” Zhan Bai said after he had sat for quite a while and saw that no one approached him to take orders. So he said loudly, “Where is the drink and food? Serve it to me!”

The shop assistants and the tavern accountants looked at one another for awhile before a brave one dare to approach him and said to him. “Distinguish guest! May we request for you to go to other places to have your meal, alright! Our insignificant shop did not dare to serve you!”

“Rest assure!” Zhan Bai said to him, “Just bring forth the drinks and food. I will shoulder all the troubles incurred and will not drag you into it.

The shop assistant had a bitter smile on his face. “Distinguish guest! You are not wrong in what you say but if we allow you to have your drinks and meal here, we can forget about opening for business in the future.”

“What’s dealings did that fellow have and why are you all so afraid of him?” Zhan Bai asked him. “Is there no imperial law around here?”

“The imperial law do exists here!” The shop assistant replied, “Distinguish guest, have you heard of the name of the ‘The Dashing Joy Seeker’?”

Zhan Bai received a jolt in his head and he began to understand much more clearly now. He thought, “Ah! No wonder! No wonder why these people are so frightened! It is because that fellow is the protégé of Young Master Anle!”

A thought descended upon Zhan Bai that set him thinking again. “A few months ago, I chanced upon Young Master Anle (Chapter 2). Not only is he noble looking, he looked cheerful and heroic as well. Why is that his henchmen are behaving in such a ridiculous manner and yet he did not seem to know?…”

As Zhan Bai pondered, he could not resist asking, “The Young Master Anle that you are referring to, is he from this town?”

The shop assistant smiled when he noticed that Zhan Bai had recognized the name of Young Master Anle. Therefore he laughed and said to him, “Distinguish guest, it is good that you know. Even though Young Master Anle is not at this place but half of this town belongs to him and he is like our foster parents providing food and clothing to us. How did we dare not to respect him?…”

Zhan Bai was listening and thinking at the same time, “Maybe these henchmen are borrowing the prestige and fame of the Young Master Anle and abusing it. Since this shop steward has said that Young Master Anle did not stay in this town so even if I said that I knew him, no one would believe me. It seems that today I am going to starve!…”

Zhan Bai’s eyes were looking around at the same time. He spotted ready made duck, geese and roasted meat. Suddenly a thought struck him and he said, “Since that is the case, I will not put you in a tight spot. Just bring me two catty of roasted meat and some buns for me. I will bring it along to eat!

But the shop assistant did not bulge at all and he was just nodding his head in a continuous bittersweet smile…

“Don’t push me to the extreme!” Zhan Bai stared at him as divine light shone forth from his eyes as he shouted, “Hurry and bring the food here! If you not hurry, don’t blame me for being ungracious…”

“So what if you are ungracious. What then will you do?”

Before Zhan Bai could finish what he was trying to say, two well dressed men had appeared all of a sudden, much like a candle which light shone the instant it was lit.

It was an old man and a young man. The old man was around sixty and his hair was pure white. But his face was reddish and he had thick eyebrows. His eyes were sharp and piercing; he was fierce to behold. On his waist was an unorthodox weapon 奇形兵器 that was shaped like a cross and he had iron bangles around his belt. It was glittering and it enhanced the malevolent air of the old man.

The young man was twenty plus of age. He had a jaded face and his eyebrows crossed like the clash of swords. He looked handsome but he could not disguise the fierce look on his jaded face. What more, his lips looked like he was of the vicious type and on the whole, he looked proud and arrogant. He too stared at Zhan Bai and he was looking none too pleased with him.

When these two men appeared, the shop assistant that was besides Zhan Bai began to step backward slowly…

Zhan Bai rose from his seat but before he could open his mouth, the old man with the reddish face shouted deeply at him, “You are the one that specialized in secret projectiles and killed the [Cruel Hand Midget]?”

The old man speech was powerful and electrifying. It was loud, thunderous and deafening!

Zhan Bai had a bittersweet expression on his face as he listened. It was obviously the [Cruel Hand Midget] had died in a melee fight yet these people were trying to demonize him by suggesting that he won by despicable methods. Therefore he laughed bitterly for a second before exclaiming, “This is a misunderstanding. I am an acquaintance of Young Master Anle. If only I can have a audience with him….”

The arrogant young man with the jaded face coldly hummed as he interrupted, “How could Young Master Anle know a nameless nobody like you? Rubbish aside! Surrender your life as payment in exchange for Old Senior Fei’s life!”

When he had finished, he had suddenly purged forward and attacked Zhan Bai on his right wrist, attempting to grapple him.

Zhan Bai noted that he was not weak and he made an intricate movement, turned his body and he was out of harm’s way.

The arrogant young man began to convert his claw to a palm attack as he followed Zhan Bai. It was the ‘Golden Flake Hand’ 金插手 as he attacked him furiously. At the same time when he had plunged forward, his right hand turned into a slicing blade as he aimed Zhan Bai’s ‘Jian Xue’ that if hit, would be very grievous indeed. (Shoulder blade).

This one stance, two strokes were not only swift like the striking of flint and steel, it also carried the brokering sound of the windforce. It was very obvious that the arrogant young man possesses extraordinary internal strength as well.

If it were one month ago, these two strokes would surely cause Zhan Bai to be defeated on the spot. But the Zhan Bai now was not the weakling that he once was! When he had seen the displaying his two killer strokes, he immediately extended his hands. There were two clanking sounds as he gripped the arrogant young man by his wrists.

The arrogant young man’s countenance underwent a tremendous change as he turned green and he was perspiring profusely. What was lacking was that he did not let go of a terrifying scream to the scene.

This wondrous technique of Zhan Bai was called the ‘Intricate Chain and Shackles’. 巧套双锁 It was a skill that Zhan Bai had stolen from the [One Leg Flying Heretic]. He did not expect to use this technique at all here and the instant he had executed it, he had suppressed this proud and arrogant young man that held his head high above all and belittled all others.

Because this stance of Zhan Bai had gripped the arrogant man’s two wrists and caused him unnerving pain, even if he had many powerful martial moves, he could not muster anymore.

Zhan Bai did not want to bully him. Just when he wanted to say a word or two before he released the arrogant young man, there was a powerful windforce coming behind his back.

At the same time, he heard the reddish old man shouting, “Release him!”

Actually even if the reddish old man did not shout, Zhan Bai knew that it was him that was attacking him from behind his back. He immediately let go of the arrogant young man and leapt back five feet away from the attack.

There was a powerful pang sound as the reddish face old man who was unable to stop himself because of the tremendous force that he had mustered, hit the arrogant young man on his chest as Zhan Bai dodged out of the way.

The arrogant young man was sent flying more than one yard away before he landed with a studding sound as he crashed headlong on the wall. He was seen dropping lifelessly on the ground and not a sound was heard. It seemed that he was not far from dying…

The shop assistants and the guests were in a state of confusion as they began to bellow aloud. “Someone is killed!…”

The reddish face old man saw that he had yet to land a finger upon Zhan Bai and instead he had injured his beloved disciple. He was now extremely furious and was in terrible rage now. His eyebrows looked like it would explode at anytime. He crackled his knuckles before he plunged at Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai did not expect that the reddish face old man would continue to attack him even though he had just killed that arrogant young man and even after he had dodged his attacks. He saw that the old man was in such a terrible rage and his palm attacks were like the flooding of the Great River that he decided to dodge.

But the reddish face old man was like a maddening tiger refusing to let Zhan Bai go. He let go of a thunderous shout, “Where do you think you are going! Exchange blows with me!”

Because the tavern was small, narrow and there were many tables and chairs blocking Zhan Bai. Coupled with the fact that the old man blows were fast, furious and his power extended even to a yard, Zhan Bai found himself unable to dodge anymore and he was forced to take his blows as he extended his two hands out.

There were a thunderous ‘Pong ------ Pang!’ when they landed their four hands at one another, sending the bowls, plates, cups, dishes, spoons and chopsticks that were on the table flying all over as explosive ripples shook the place.

There were a series of cries and screams as many of the guests and shop assistants that were in the tavern were injured by this powerful impact. Everyone tried to scurry for the exit like a swarm of homing bees. Many were injured by the impact of the blows and the flying objects that were in the place. It was pandemonium…

Zhan Bai felt the power of the reddish face old man’s internal power when both their hands had impacted. He felt a burning sensation and his visions turned black. He was secretly shocked at the might of the old man's blows.

All of a sudden he saw the old man attack him once more with his eyes staring at him. The old man’s palms were sweating profusely what looked like blood.

At the same time, Zhan Bai suddenly recalled that in the Martial Fraternity, there was a type of extremely poisonous palm stance called the ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’ 红砂血形掌. Anyone that was struck by it would feel like he was burning and then finally all five of his organs would turn to black like charcoal before finally perishing. It was poisonous beyond imagination. It was hinted only in rumors and never seen.

Now that Zhan Bai had seen that the old man’s palms turning as red as fire and after he had traded blows, he could feel his the fire spreading from his hands to his body. It was a sensation that he had never experienced before. When he had thought of that, cold chill shook him…

At the same time, he had also thought of when he was in grave danger, Young Master Anle had lent him a righteous hand. Therefore he was his benefactor. If he stirred a misunderstanding with his men then won’t the misunderstanding be even harder to resolve? Then won’t they have the chance to have a cordial meeting together in future? Moreover the present situation was hard to explain in mere words. Why did he not move away from here first and maybe explained in the future…

　　 All those thoughts happened in the twinkle of an eye but the old man’s ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’ had its force mustered to its zenith. A tremendous torrent of windforce like the hurricane began to deliver upon Zhan Bai as the old man howled aloud, “Heh!”

Zhan Bai extended one hand out and gentle grasped the incoming attack before he borrowed the force to turn himself away and he shouted, “Sorry, I got to go!” And he headed towards the window.

“Where do you think you are going?” The old man behind him shouted in a maddening rage…

But before Zhan Bai could escape through the window, there were three studding sounds as he spotted three silvery white light flying towards him. Using the ‘Flipping in the Cloud’ 云里翻 to raise himself three more inches, he managed to dodge the flying projectiles as he spotted three razor thin needle 三枚透骨钉 hitting the edge of the window.

When Zhan Bai had landed on the ground and lifted his head to take a look, he got a terrible jittery and shock…



Chapter 17 Ended

Chapter 18: The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm

Prologue 12: The Evil Heretic Sects were exterminated by the Virtuous Orthodox Clans. Peace had finally returned to the Martial Fraternity. Leading the Virtuous Orthodox Sects were the Four Martial Aristocracy Families that competed with one another to be the Alliance Leader of the Entire Martial Fraternity. Each of the Four Martial Aristocracy not only surpassed the existing Virtuous Orthodox Sects, they had with them numerous followers and Reclusive Martial Grandmasters, every single of them are equaled in martial ability with the Sect Leader of Wudang and Shaolin!

As Zhan Bai tried to leap out of the window, in came three incoming secret projectiles, suddenly a dark overwhelming darkness that carried windforce, came crashing onto his head like a furious falling mountain.

Zhan Bai was extremely shocked as he did not know what came crashing through that in his panicky state, he raised his ‘Heartless Precious Sword’ to display the ‘The skill of moving Tremendous Force with a Fractional Force’ 四两拨千斤. The tip of his sword impaled with a tinkling impact as he raised it upward to meet the unknown. At the same time, he turned his head upward to take a look and saw a big fat monk wielding a very big placard and he landed behind his back.

This monk was very big, rough looking and really looked very impressive. On the top of his head were eight dots that denoted the eight monastic restrictions of the monastic order. The monk was now staring at him viewing him with surprise.

Suddenly Zhan Bai remembered that in the pugilist realm, there was a [Iron Signboard Monk]. His weapon was an iron placard that weighed a thousand catty. He could mobilize ten thousand catty of force. In his ignorant state, he had used the tip of his sword to still such a heavy pressurized force. Needless to say, the [Iron Signboard Monk] was stunned and even he did not believe it himself.

At the same time, tens of men had by now surrounded the Inn Tavern and as Zhan Bai was just adjusting to his situation, two bright light flashed like the brightness of meteor flew furiously at Zhan Bai’s head, aiming at his ‘Tai Yang’ fatal accupoints!

Zhan Bai squatted down immediately and parried his Precious Heartless Sword upward with the ‘Spire Fire that burns the Heaven’. 举火烧天

There were two clanging clash of metals as a two morning stars attached to a chain was parried quite far aside.

There were a series of howling rage as three beams of light, two swords and one blade slashed together at the same time on Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai wielded his sword as he followed his sword as the Heartless Precious Sword exuded a brilliant flare of light as it slashed fiercely at the three types of weapons.

But the attackers knew by now the dangers of the Heartless Precious Sword and they withdrawn their strokes hurriedly before jumping backward…

Suddenly there was a strong windforce fanning towards Zhan Bai at the same time. Because he had already brandished his stance and sword, he could not retract immediately. Therefore he extended his left hand from his chest to receive the incoming attack.

There was a thunderous clap! It came from another old man that looked around fifty of age as he was knocked backward three steps loudly. He eyed Zhan Bai with eyes wide-opened. This came from the [Iron Fist] 铁掌 Lu Liu Shun that had practiced the ‘Iron Breaker Palm’ 铁砂掌 diligently for twenty to thirty years. He was very proud of his namesake [Iron Fist]. He had noticed that Zhan Bai was a young man that had managed to keep five men at bay just because he had a precious sword that were sharp and durable. Therefore the amount of practice that Zhan Bai had with his hand to hand combat and his internal strength would definitely not be as good as his swordplay and that he was only trying to show off his skills in front of the others. So he picked an opportune time to attack Zhan Bai when he saw his sword attacking forth in another direction and he could surely not be able to swing his sword in time. So seizing this opportunity, he unleashed eight folds of his strength with a blow at Zhan Bai.

But who would expect that Zhan Bai took this blow of his directly and he was using only his left hand! What more, it seemed so easy and relaxing, knocking him three steps backward! Because Zhan Bai was so young, even if he were just born and started training his internal power, surely he would not be stronger than him! This caused the proud and self-confident [Iron Fist] Lu liu Shun that liked to show off his skills most, to be bewildered!

Zhan Bai’s stomach was growling with hunger. He did not have anything to eat and yet he was besieged by people from all sides. They did not give him any breathing space and he was feeling extremely hungry as well. He was now feeling angry and he stared with his eyes at the tens of martial pugilists as he swept his surroundings. When his Heartless Precious Sword suddenly moved…

Actually Zhan Bai had not readied a stroke yet but when his sword moved, everyone thought that he was going to attack therefore everyone moved one step backward with fright…

Zhan Bai could not resist laughing aloud when he saw all those fierce looking men taking a frightful step backward even before he had readied a stroke when his sword flinched a little.

After Zhan Bai had laughed, everyone began to regain their composure. Everyone of them were courageous men of the Martial Fraternity that lived under constant threats of weapons and death. How could they display such a cowardly attitude in the face of a opponent?

Therefore everyone was fast turning red with embarrassment. Some others were reacting with anger and rage. All of a sudden in a thunderous explosive commotion, shadowy movements of blades, swords, maces, claws and countless numerous weapons came scurrying like the torrid hurricane and rain at Zhan Bai.

In panicky, Zhan Bai executed the ‘The Swift Wind Felling the Grass’ 疾风斩劲草 and a white shiny wall flashed forth. There were two to three people that could not stopped in time and the weapons in their hands were instantly sliced apart. Everyone received a jolt and stunned cries could be heard as they moved back together…

This ‘The Swift Wind Felling the Grass’ stroke was picked up at the Baotu Manor when Fan Jie had twice displayed it after Zhan Bai had seen it. He had stolen it by seeing it. Even though he had not totally understand the intricate and the essence yet but his grasp of this swordplay was already more or less! He just did not expect that when he had executed it, the force of this swordplay would be this big!

After this success and just when Zhan Bai decided to charge out of the enclosure, he heard someone giving a great shout, “Hold it!”

The voice was deafening and ear-shattering. When Zhan Bai turned to have a look, he saw the reddish face old man walked hurriedly towards him. He was followed by a handsome young man.


The reddish face old man pointed at him and asked, “Whose protégé are you under? What relationship did you have with Zhenjiang (A city in the Jiangsu Province) 镇江 Master Fan? Make yourself clear or else it would cause a misunderstanding!”

“I do not know any Master Fan from Zhenjiang!” Zhan Bai replied. “As for my Protégé Master, please forgive me for not unable to reveal it.”

Zhan Bai was an honest young man and did not know the treacheries of the pugilist fraternity. What came to his mind, he would speak his mind. Actually he was focusing on building up his martial foundations but unfortunately did not have the opportunity to find a Protégé Master. He was taught here and there, secretly copied his skills from various sources so naturally he did not really consider having a Protégé Master.

The reddish face old man began to roar with laughter as he exclaimed, “Young fellow, you are indeed something! But do you know who I am?”

“Please forgive me for being blind. I really do not know who old…respected sire is!” Zhan Bai had wanted to address him as an old senior but when he noticed the way he was looking at him, he changed the form of address and his tone did not sound respectful.

“Little fellow, you who have just come out of your mother’s weaning!” The reddish face old man began to roar with laugher as he said, “Old man I, really do not believe that the [Cruel Hand Midget] would be defeated in your hands! I have no other intentions. If you can receive three blows from an old man like me, you are free to wander to the regions of Su, Lu as you please. I will definitely not harass or stop you. Little fellow, what do you think of this idea?”

Zhan Bai did not know this reddish face old man. In actuality, this reddish face old man was extremely well known and feared in the regions of Su and Lu. He was nicked the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] 血掌火龙. Not only was he thorough in ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’, he carried secret projectiles coated with gunpowder too! He was truly unique in the pugilist fraternity and could hold his ground against everyone. He had a strange unorthodox weapon on his back that looked like a human fist but was bigger. He could use this to execute the ‘Eight Directional Wind Chaser’ 追风八打. This weapon of his was used specially to hit accupoint pressures and to disarm his opponent’s weapon. What more, concealed in the fingers of this unorthodox fist, was extremely powerful secret firearms. When he fought with his opponent, in the midst of trading blows, he would release the secret projectiles from the fingers. Because his opponents did not expect it, they would be caught unaware and could not defend against it. It could be said to be unreasonable powerful. He named this weapon of his, the ‘Cactaceae’ 仙人掌. There were many martial exponents that fell victim to this weapon of his. He had traveled the Region of Lu and Su and had never met anyone that could be said to be his match. That was why it fuelled his arrogance and bred into him a haughty attitude.

This [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was the dominant figure of the Region of Lu and Su. How did he come to join the Young Master Anle as his retinue? Because he was outside the sphere of influence from the ‘Yunmo Manor’ 云梦山庄 that was in Suzhou, he could decide all things big and small here. Today, he had suddenly heard one of his men reporting to him that a young man carrying a sword had killed the [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong in the dense woods to the north of the town. He simply could not believe his ears!

That [Cruel Hand Midget] Fei Yitong was one of the top notch martial fighters pledging allegiance to Young Master Anle. In the Martial Fraternity, his status and martial abilities were very high. Even he had no confidence of winning him. Therefore, he was doubtful and suspicious of the report. So he ordered his men to keep a lookout for a young man with a sword. On the other hand, he sent someone to go to Suzhou to inform Young Master Anle.

Later when he had heard his men reporting that a young man with a sword that was behaving strangely had shown up at this Xinlu Town 兴隆镇. Therefore together with his disciple, the [Jaded Face Nezha] Song Xiao Fei 宋小飞, they rushed here to check on Zhan Bai.

Just now when Zhan Bai had brandished the ‘Wind Chaser Swordplay’ belonging to the Zhenjiang Fan Aristocracy Family, he stepped in to interrupt. That was because Young Master Anle and the Zhenjiang Fan Aristocracy Family had deep ties with one another. He had thought that Zhan Bai was from the Zhenjiang Fan Aristocracy Family. Afraid to cause a misunderstanding with the two families, he shouted to interrupt.

Who would expect that Zhan Bai to deny it and he sounded haughty. This incited the fury of the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] and now he wanted to trade three blows with Zhan Bai to determine the outcome of victory and loss.

Zhan Bai was born with a stubborn trait and he did not how high was the sky. When he noticed that the reddish face old man had looked down on him, he replied immediately in a haughty tone, “No matter what are your intentions, I will take the challenge!” After speaking, he sheathed his sword into the scabbard and prepared to take the blows.

“Very good little rascal! You do have courage!” The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] thundered as he shifted his shoulders and a loud cranking sound could be heard. And then he started to bend his body like a bow that had been bent. His white hair on his head appeared to be standing straight and his face that was originally quite red turned even redder. He extended forth his hands that now looked like blades and his palms were as red as burning fire as he howled, “Be careful! This is the first blow!”

In between his howling, The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] displayed his famous ‘The Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’ that shook the pugilist fraternity by storm, mustering five folds of his strength. With a howl, he extended his right hand like a torrid hurricane furiously towards Zhan Bai.

There was a thunderous clapping sound as both hands met, sending flurrying of windforce ripping around as rocks and sands stirred from the ground. Zhan Bai remained standing but a flow of sensational warm heat could be felt through his palm. At the same time, he felt as if his whole body was on fire and was feeling unbearable. He felt thirsty, his tongue was dry and was dizzy.

However that [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was knocked two steps backward by the impact. That was because he had not used his full strength yet and he mustered only five folds of his internal power. But Zhan Bai was using ten folds of his internal strength! This further infuriated him and fanned his rage. He stared angrily before shouting aloud, “Very good little rascal! Why not try my second blow!”

This time round, the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] flipped his left hand in a gesture as he mustered eight folds of his strength as he howled loudly. It was obvious that the windforce emitting from this posture was even more powerful than the first blow.

Old pugilists who were rich and wise in battle experience, when they fought with unknown exponents on the initial fight, most would be reluctant to use their full might. Usually they would only use four to five folds of their internal power to gauge how strong or weak was their opponent. And then they would slowly increase their might and strength. Therefore, it was the reason why the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand]’s second blow seemed to have its power increased tremendous! That was because in this way, it would allow them to fight more and more courageous! That came from the same meaning as the first beat of the drum would cause morale to be at its highest, the second drum becoming weaker thus affecting morale and then the third drum becoming a spent energy.*

*Yufeng Notes: In the Autumn & Spring Period of the Zhou Dynasty, a strategist from a smaller army beat a superior army by playing the drums in an reverse order, starting from weak to strong. His opponent charged mightily with the beating of the drums on the initial charge. As the battle proceed, the smaller army whose drums are beating stronger and strong received tremendous boast to their morale by the beating of their drums, fought more and more courageous. This story later a famous saying and was studied for its application. It was also famous because a smaller army defeated a bigger army in a field battle. Sun Bi during the Warring States Period of the Zhou Dynasty had a similar recounting.

But Zhan Bai did not understand this reasoning. In his first blow, he had used all his might and when the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand]’s second blow came with its almighty force and power, on the another hand, he felt his strength receding. But because he was someone that did not like to give up and did not want to evade the blow, he used his left hand to receive this blow.

There was a thunderous clap that shook like thunder as the two hands impacted on one another. Windforce ripped all around in a strong and force manner that even the tens of top exponents could not stand properly and had to hurried backward…

The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] imposing body did not move at all. Instead, it was Zhan Bai that had been forced back two steps back. The heat from his blow was still circulating around and Zhan Bai felt his left hand burning like fire. He was now covered with sweat; he was feeling dazed and almost toppled over…

Zhan Bai had tried to match the two blows from the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] forcefully. Although his internal organs were already injured by the pure invigorate energy of the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] but he remained standing. This fact stunned the tens of martial experts that were all around.

Everyone was muttering and thinking, “This little fellow is really something! He can actually take two blows from the earth shattering [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] that resound throughout the Region of Lu and Su…”

But the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] had already sensed that Zhan Bai could not be able to muster anymore strength. He would have lost his esteem and prestige since he had loudly proclaimed to be able to beat this young lad in three blows. Unwilling to let Zhan Bai had a breather, he immediately proceeded to continue on his third blow. He shouted, “Here is the third blow! Little rascal! Down you go now…!”

The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] circulated and mustered all his internal power in both hands as he pushed fiercely towards Zhan Bai.

Only then was the true power of the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] revealed as windforce the sound of the wind echoing through the ravines were heard as it came like the torrid endless seas waves, creating a high pressure upon Zhan Bai’s chest.

Even before the windforce had reached Zhan Bai, he had already felt the heat generated by the windforce flurrying on him. Even his breathing was becoming difficult. Zhan Bai knew that he could not be able to take the third blow at all. But because he was stubborn by nature, even though he knew he was no match, he was not willing to display any weakness in front of anyone. He actually raised both his hands in a similar manner to coincide…

“Pong!” A thunderous sound echoed. Suddenly everything within five inches from the impact scene including the thick cotton window curtains were tore apart by this clash of blows. One could really see the power of both their palm skills!

The dust and sand of this aftermath were stirred as high as two to three yards high, causing everyone blurry visions and able to see the duel clearly.

And then when the dust storm that was created by the windforce of the impact settled down, everyone could see clearly that both the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] and the young man Zhan Bai was still standing at a face off with one another. No one had fall.

The faces of everyone began tweaking in surprise and disbelief as they immediately broke into a discussion, “How did this young man gets his martial ability from?…”

“He can actually take three blows from Old Hero Yao…”

Everyone was startled for they had never seen such a powerful and magnificent display of palm windforce before. Moreover the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was a highly competent Martial Fraternity fighter 武林高手 and had gained prominent fame tens of years ago. Moreover his opponent was an unknown young man…

But on closer observation, they finally noticed that Zhan Bai composure looked strange. His face was very red and his eyes were in a daze. Although his eyes were opened but it was without life.

A thought dawned upon the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] as he realized that Zhan Bai had been knocked conscious after the tremendous clash. The only why he did not fall was because just behind his back was a dark shadowy wall. Moreover because his windforce generated was so great, it rebound back at him after hitting the wall and due to an extreme intricate coincidence, that young man did not fall as the rebound windforce supported him…

“Hey! Little rascal! What do you think of these three blows coming from an old man like me?”

Zhan Bai did not move nor did he say anything.

“Hahaha!” The [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] burst into a thunderous roar of laughter. He was looking extremely proud of himself as he said, “I think you are unable to answer me at all. But the strange thing is, I wondered what sort of a virtuous righteous man are you that when you die, you did not fall?”

Even when he was talking, he was already on the move by extending out one of his finger in a furious manner to hit Zhan Bai on his ‘Mei Xin’ 眉心 (forehead) fatal accupoint!

This move of his had two purposes. If Zhan Bai had died, then he should be on the ground so that he could ask his henchmen to dispose of the corpse. If he did not fall and remained standing, how ridiculous it would be, moreover a corpse could not possible talk and declared himself dead. If Zhan Bai had not died but was only severely injured because of internal injuries then this finger of his would surely ended his life.

One must know that Yao Bin Kun 姚炳昆 who was also nicked the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was well known in the pugilistic fraternity for his ruthlessness. When he fought with his opponents, he never left a single survivor. He would make sure that his foes were all dead and weed out all descendants. For that, he had his own theories; if he were benevolent to his enemies, it would be cruel and mean to himself. Another theory that he likes to quote; If one did not weed out the grass to its roots, when spring comes, it would grow again.

If he did not enter into conflict with others, then it would be good. But once he fought with his foes, he would never rest until he had his foes dead. To him, it was pointless to leave behind a malicious growth just because he was once benevolent.

But when his body had just started to spring forward and before he could hit Zhan Bai on his forehead, he suddenly heard a captivating grasp, “Old Ghoul! You dare?”

In the midst of the captivating grasps were several series of windforce and sounds speeding through the air and a dark shadowy figure reached out to hit the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] on his ‘Yin Du’ 阴都 accupoint that was on his right shoulder.

Indeed the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was no ordinary martial expert. He could react accordingly and not be confused. So he changed his bodily movement and turned over using the ‘Flipping in the Cloud’ 云里翻 as he did a somersault before his feet returned to the original position.

There were a series of grasps and startled reactions. When the commotion had ended, everyone’s eyes were dazzled because standing between Zhan Bai and the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] was a lovely young maiden whose looks were beyond comparison dressed in a cotton garment!

Earlier there were a series of whacking sounds. It was caused by a horse whip that was three inches long. And this young girl was holding the whip in her hand.

Suddenly the [Iron Signboard Monk] gave a loud startled cry as he felt a pain on his ear. He had reached out and saw blood. Because he was a rough man, he did not control his emotions and cried out aloud. The horse whip had struck him while he was looking intently between the duel between Zhan Bai and the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand].

She whipped her whip again and this time, everyone could see that it had pierced three to four inches into the thick wall. One must know that a horse whip was a soft object and when this young girl in cotton garment and dress appeared, she could bypass everyone like a shooting arrow, into the overlapping buildings and injured someone on the way in. There was no doubt that her wrist power was shockingly unbelievable and her martial abilities were extremely high as well.

Everyone could not resisted being startled and their eyes were staring wide-opened at this young girl.

Her skin was pure white and so were her teeth. She was slim looking and wearing a cotton garment and dress. She adored her hair in a beautiful way and she looked like she was only sixteen or seventeen. She looked extremely lovely and captivating. In her captivating look, she exudes a certain nobility air. It was exactly like the saying, “More beautiful than the flowers could describe, more fragrance than even the Jades.” 比花花解语，比玉玉生香. She looked extremely innocent, carried a certain exquisite aura and bore a coquettish manner. Even if she were now looking angry, her mouth still carried a tinge of a smile and she looked extremely cute indeed!

“From whose family are you from, destitute girl? When the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] had seen clearly by now that it was a captivating lovely young girl that had caused him to be in a panicky with his hands and legs and even wounded one of his top fighters serving him, he was solemn and shouted angrily, “How dare you interrupt me and display such arrogance?”

“Red face old man! Don’t you try to be proud first!” The young girl in cotton placed one of her hands on her waist and a finger pointing at his nose before saying, “First, let me ask you this. As an elder, what you say, does it count at all?”

“Heng!” He hummed coldly before saying, “Undisciplined destitute girl! How dare you mutter nonsense in my presence! Do you know how to respect your elders at all? Don’t blame me for killing you with my hand!”

“Heng! Deplorable old man that enjoy lying.” She began to mimic his speech and continued, “Don’t mention that hand of yours that cannot even touch me. You can’t even take one blow from me. If you can take one blow from me, then I let you wander throughout the Six Northern Regions and the Seven Southern Regions freely in these thirteen regions. I will definitely not harass or stop you…”

“Shut up!…” This infuriated him as he shouted for he knew that the girl was trying to mimic his speech earlier. It caused his rage to reach boiling point and just when he was about to attack her…

“Outrageous little maid! How dare you tear my ear! I make you pay for this with your life!” The [Iron Signboard Monk] howled with explosive rage as he interrupted the [Red Dragon with the Red Hand] as he lifted his iron placard that weighed a thousand catty on a shoulder as he swung it to crash it on the young girl’s head.

The young girl remained on the same spot, smiling and laughing at the same time. It was as though she did not see the iron placard that weighed a thousand catty coming at her. Only when the iron placard was two inches away from her, there was a blur flash and no one knew what swiftness movement skill that could have helped her to bypass the iron placard to reappear on the top, flicking over once in mid-air in a graceful manner. She stood on the top of the iron placard as she said, “What a stupid monk! Lacking a weapon to fight, you actually take down the signboard from the temple!”

The [Iron Signboard Monk] began to swing his iron placard in a wild frenzy in a bid to force her to come down.

That young girl began to leap, jump and tip toe on the iron placard. She was actually seen dancing on it as she was giggling merrily, “Gosh so fun! Really very fun!…huh.”

This scene was really too good to be missed. As the streets were brightly lit and a big rough looking monk was swinging his hands in a wild dance with the iron placard. On the top of the iron placard was a captivating lovely young girl dancing merrily and with much grace. She was giggling and laughing heartily. Those that did not know actually though she was a street performer and that she was performing a special performance!

At this moment it was not just the [Red Dragon with the Red Hand] that was in the scene but many common people had actually came out of their homes and from the streets to take a look. At first, they had thought that it was a vendetta between the pugilists of the pugilistic martial fraternity so they stay out of sight. But when they seen such a scene, everyone came out to join in the commotion as speculators…

[The Iron Signboard Monk] was getting frustrated when he could not hit the young girl after such a long time. He knew that this method was not going to work in getting her off and so he hatched a perverted thought. He used one hand to support the iron placard and all of a sudden, used another hand forming a fist to reach into the skirt of the young girl but he cursed in his mouth instead, “You bitch! How dare you make a fool out of me! Down you go!”

For a young innocent girl, this stance by the [Iron Signboard Monk] was indeed a pervert display. She flushes as her red turned red and she could no longer laugh. Switching to the ‘Zhang Fei stealing the horse’张飞骗马, she lifted one leg up to avoid getting hit by the monk’s fist while another leg touched the iron placard giving it a push as she somersaulted two yards away.

Now the [Iron Signboard Monk] did not know that when the young girl had pushed the iron placard down at the same time, she exerted the ‘Thousand Weight Fall’ through. It broke his fingers that were holding the iron placard and also broke his other fingers as he tried to use his other hand to support himself from falling down. That was because his two legs were broken when she gently tipped the iron placard.

The [Iron Signboard Monk] was now howling with pain as his body bent in an awkward position on the ground…

The young girl had landed in front of the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] Yao Bin Kun. She started to brush her stray hairs and at the same time exclaiming to him, “Red face old man. I see that you do have some renown in the pugilistic fraternity. The agreement that you have made with young hero Zhan, do you still adhere to it?”

When the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] had seen the swiftness movement skill that she had displayed when she was playing a fool out of the [Iron Signboard Monk] was actually the ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’ 踢空幻影. Suddenly he recalled that a powerful martial family that was in the martial fraternity and this ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’ was a secret skill that was not passed to outsiders. And since this young girl knew this type of movement skill, surely she had very familiar ties with that martial family. Not to mention himself, even his Protégé Master, Young Master Anle could not afforded to offend this family.

Therefore he swept his pride and rage under the carpet and his face had a sudden transformation. He began to brighten and laugh, “Maiden! As long as you know that old man, I have some renown in the pugilistic fraternity, that itself is enough. Why don’t you explain yourself, what makes me a liar?”

[Red Dragon with Red Hand] was indeed a cunning old man. Even though he seemed to give way to the young girl in cotton garment and dress, he was also extolling himself.

“Humph!” The young girl raised her nose and hummed before saying, “Despicable old man, don’t you try to paste gold on your face! And don’t try to make a pretense! Just now you made an agreement with young hero Zhan that should he take three blows from you, you would allow him to wander freely throughout the Regions of Lu and Su and would definitely not harass him at all. Now that young hero Zhan had taken three blows from you, what do you have to say now?”

The [Red Dragon with Red Hand] began to roar with laughter, “My conversations with that lad were overheard by maiden. Since that is the case, just base on this point raised by maiden, I will let this lad on his way then!”

“Now this is indeed humane!” The young girl said, “Then, please ask your men to give way!” As she said, she blew a whistle. It was a high pitch whistle and immediately a big red horse appeared as it galloped from view.

This red horse was extremely magnificent and unusual. It galloped besides the young girl and began to rub softly against her body in an extremely intimate way.

Among the tens of iron men, many were also lecherous men. When they had seen this young girl that was as beautiful as a fairy, captivating and innocent that was also unreasonable and unruly. Even their leader the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] had to burrow into her good books, even though they had lecherous thoughts on her but they did not dare to step forward to harass. Therefore they swallowed their lust in bitterness but when they seen this red horse that was so intimate with her, it was indeed ‘Man is no better off than a Horse’. Many sighed…

The young girl used her jaded white hand to pat the horse on its neck before she flew in a startling speed to extract her horse whip from the wall before she returned back to the side of the horse. This movement was like lightning. No one could see her leg touching the ground nor did they see her fingers touching the wall. Just this swiftness skill alone caused the martial pugilists that had gathered here to sigh continuous in inferior complex.

But for this young girl, she did it so effortlessly in front of tens of pairs of eyes. After retrieving her horse whip, she pulled the horse besides Zhan Bai. Upon seeing his face bubbly red and his idiotic eyes, her eyes began to water in sympathetic. She grasped softly and gently, “Big Brother Zhan! You are injured?” But Zhan Bai did not move or reply.

“Big brother Zhan, are you severely injured? Why don’t you say anything?” Zhan Bai did not response at all. Even his eyeballs did not bulge.

Upon witnessing such a reaction, her eyes began to redden and she shed a few tears as she said hatefully, “Humph! It must be this old despicable man that had injured you until you are like this! When your little sister sends you back home for treatment, I will come back again to seek vendetta for big brother!”

As she said, she even turned around to look hatefully at the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] before she sprang like she was flying onto the horse as she effortlessly and gently positioned Zhan Bai on the horse bridle. Then she embraced Zhan Bai with one hand and used another hand to hold the stirrups to leave…

“Maiden, wait don’t go yet!” The [Red Dragon with Red Hand] moved one step forward as he shouted loudly.

“What is the matter?” The young girl was obviously not too pleased and she furrowed her eyebrows before she coldly asked, “Despicable old man! Are you going to go back on your word again?”

[Red Dragon with Red Hand] had a bitter smile on his face as he said, “Maiden. You keep saying old despicable man on and off, isn’t it too disrespectful to an elder?…”

“Is there anything you want to say?” She interrupted him. Obviously she was growing impatient.

“Outrageous little maid! Don’t you push your luck too far!” [Jaded Face Ne Zhai] Song Xiaofei shouted at her as he could not stand her insulting his protégé master anymore. He flew into a rage and step forward, yelling and cursing, “Today I will surely…”

“Fei Er, don’t you interrupt!” The [Red Dragon with Red Hand] pacified his disciple Song Xiaofei before saying to the young girl, “Maiden, I am only giving face due to your family background. If you are not willing to listen, then I will not say more. This young lad Zhan has been injured by my ‘Red Sloe Blood Skill Palm’. If without any antidote, not even three days had passed, his internal organs would surely turn black like charcoal and died. Now I will be a good man and do a good deed till the very end; I will present to maiden an antidote. Take it and let him swallow it. After a few days of recuperation, he will recover!” As he finished saying, he took out a small gourd and took out a small green pill from it. He extended his fingers and shot the pill towards the young girl!

The young girl smiled for a while before she extended she caught the pill gracefully with two of her beautiful fingers.

This might be an ordinary pill but from the fingers of the [Red Dragon with Red Hand], the force imbued through it was indeed no ordinary. Moreover, the pill was so small and it shot so fast but yet this young girl had used only two fingers and she had caught it. Her eyesight, the pureness of her internal power and the intricate movement of her fingers and her accuracy finally caused the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] to really impress by her. He secretly sighed before turning back to look at his disciple, the [Jaded Face Ne Zhai].

After Song Xiaofei had witnessed this display by the young girl in silvery cotton garment and dress, he looked down in shame…

But who would expect that after the young girl got hold of the antidote, she looked at it in her palm for awhile before she asked, “How shall I know if this pill is for real? What if you have given me a poison pill? Huh…”

Actually the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] did not become benevolent all of a sudden and wanted to save the life of Zhan Bai. It was because he knew that this young girl’s family was very influential and powerful. When he had seen how concern this young girl was towards Zhan Bai, he had guessed that their relationship might be highly unusual. If he did not save Zhan Bai, surely this young girl would come for him for vengeance. Therefore, he pretended to be benevolent and appeared to do a favor to them. This was to ensure that this young girl would not come back to him for vendetta next time. Who would expect that he had humbled so much now and even planned this part in such a well manner, this young girl would say such an infuriating thing?

So his face lost his composure and he coldly said, “If I am not sincere to save him, even if I do not give him any poison, he would not live…”

“From the way you say it, then I must really thank you, am I right? Old despicable man!” The young girl had now ascertained that this was indeed an antidote so without waiting for him to finish, she raised the saddle and galloped away. The horse galloped like the wind and in the twinkle of an eye, they disappeared from the streets and into the darkness. But not before sending the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] infuriating with rage and his eyes bulging out as she called out again, “Old despicable man!”



Chapter 18 Ended

Chapter 19: Between Life and Death



A beautiful red handsome horse was galloping in great haste on the main road. On the horse was a captivating young maiden in a cotton garment and in her embrace was a young man. She did not seem to be avoiding attention and thus attracted a great deal of attention.

But the horse she was riding on was simple too fast. Even though people wanted to have a good look at them but in a blink of an eye, they were gone like the wind. Only dust covered the back of the vanishing horse.

The young maiden was sterling the horse and at the same time kept lowering her glances to look at this young man. Her face was full of care and love! If the unconscious young man would regain conscious and witness such a captivating young maiden looking at him with such concern and love that was so protective, he might feel that he was the most blissful man in the entire world!

However this young man was in an unconscious state therefore even though the young maiden had displayed a million types of tenderness and affections, he would never know. Moreover, his face was burning red like fire, his breathing was rough and his chest was heaving rapidly. It was obvious that his life was in terrible danger!

The young maiden became even more anxious when she had seen that the young man in her embrace could no longer make it anymore; His temperature was gradually getting higher and higher. It was just like she was carrying a burning fire. So she became even more restless as she traveled. She thought, “From the looks of it, I don’t think I can make it back in time back home. But in this wilderness, where should I find a physician to treat Brother Zhan’s illness…”

“Oh curses!” She began to think aloud, “If only I had brought a couple of our family ‘The Vigor Rejuvenate Pill’ that my ancestors had passed down; It is most useful for treating injuries. Then I will not have to rush so relentless now!”

“Aiya!” When the young maiden thought of her ancestor’s divine medicine, she was reminded that the red face old man had given her an antidote. It was because she was too sure of her ancestor’s divine medicine that till now, she did not feed it to Zhan Bai yet. Why don’t she first feed this antidote to Zhan Bai to save his life…

When she had thought of this, she gave a grasp for she was scolding herself for being so muddle-headed. So she looked around with her watery eyes around her hoping to spot a household so that she could ask for some boiled water so that Zhan Bai could gulp the antidote.

But it was wilderness all around. Except for tall grasses and some pots of farmlands, there was not a single household to be seen.

Then she spotted a ridge that was five to six miles away. Although the young maiden rarely ventured far from home, she was bright beyond comparison 聪慧无比。In her home, she was a pampered mistress that had all the finery and riches but her senses were exceptional honed and sharp. So she immediately thought of riding to the ridge and looked around to see if there were any households around. It was better than riding blindly like what she was doing now!

The big red horse that she was riding was the famed ‘Thousand Mile Equine’. Its footings were very swift. Even though they were now traveling across the wilderness but in a twinkle of an eye, they had reached traverse five to six miles. She got down and looked around her. Green hills and crystallite ravines dotted the back of the ridge. Then she spotted the red edge of what seemed to be a red building in the hills and mountains. But that place was tens of miles away. Other than that, she could not see any other households in this wilderness. Therefore, she got on her horse again and rode towards that red edge!

Her equine was indeed a treasure. Not only could it gallop like it was flying along leveled ground but in this rocky wilderness, it was still the same. In a twinkle of an eye, they had reached the location of the red edge.

The young maiden in cotton garment immediately carried the unconscious young man down from the horse and walked to the front of the entrance to take a look. Suddenly, she turned ashen!

This house was very unique. It was red from top and had white stones as its walls. Even the wooden door was white. But on the white door were three words written with ink ‘Dead Men Dwelling’!

Even though the young maiden was highly skilled in martial arts but she rarely wandered in the pugilistic fraternity. So how could she have known of such a strange place? Even though this place was built along the mountain slopes but it was not a temple. It did not look like a cemetery either yet on its door hang the characters ‘Dead Men Dwelling’.

This caused the young maiden to be momentarily stunned in front of the door. She really did not know whether should she retreat or enter. Therefore she could only stared with a stunned expression with her big lovely eyes!

She pondered how could there be such a weird place as this? Who would hung such a thing as a ‘Dead Men Dwelling’ on their own door? Even if it were a cemetery, it should not be written in this manner?

But such a thing and fact existed and it was right in front of her. The world was filled with strange and wondrous things indeed!

Just when she was pondering what to do, the young man in her embrace gave a painful moan as he jerked for an instant…

This shook the stupefied young maiden as she thought carefully. What was most important was to save a life. Why should she care if it were a dead man or living man inside? She decided to enter the house and decide what happened next!

The power of love was indeed magnificent and selfless! The pampered and rich young mistress gained the will to cast away all her fears and sense of dangers because of her love for this young man, decided to venture alone in the ‘Dead Men Dwelling’ now!

Leaving her horse behind to feed on the grass itself, she pursed her lips and with a firm conviction, she carried the unconscious Zhan Bai and shouted in front of her. “Is anyone there?”

She shouted many times and could only hear the echoes coming back from the mountains. No one answered her calls. She mustered her courage and tipped slightly with the tip of her shoe and the white wooden door swung opened with a crackling sound!

Inside the door was a small courtyard and she saw dying flowers and trees It gave a eerie and creepy atmosphere. It was unusual quiet and it generated a terrible horrible feeling!

In the courtyard, there was a pavement leading to a red house. The red house had its door and windows shut tightly and it seemed to hide something mysterious!

But this young maiden mustered a courage that exceeded the norm and actually walked towards the mysterious and terrible red house all the while carrying the unconscious young man!

When she walked to the door of the red house, written on the white wooden door was the same characters painted in black, “Dead Men Dwelling, Forbid to the Living”.

The young maiden crunched her teeth and yelled aloud, “Yo dead men! You got a living visitor!”

Suddenly there were a series of shrieking sound caused by a strange bird. It cuckoo twice before flying off from the roof towards the back of the hills.

The young maiden was so startled and frightened by it that her guts almost jumped out! But after a while, upon seeing that there was nothing in it and that there was no one, she mustered her courage once more. She pushed the door opened with the tip of her foot.

Like the door to the courtyard, the door to the house was not locked. But the interior was tidy and without any dust. Needless to ask, this ‘Dead Man’ must be fond of cleanliness.

The young maiden remained guarded and alerted while scanning her big eyes around to survey the hall. She saw white furniture, white table and besides it were two white chairs. All these were made of white wood. Just like the doors and windows, all these were made from the woods from the mountain forest and no paint was added. However the scent from the hall reminded her of coffins. That was because, that was precisely the same scent as that of a shop that sold coffins!

After surveying for a while and observed that nothing was amiss, she put the unconscious young man onto the white chair. That was because even though she was well trained in martial arts but after carrying him for half a day, her two shoulders felt numb.

She put down the unconscious young man and let him on the chair. Finally she heaved a sight of relief and thought, “This deserted ghost place! Fancy it being a ‘Dead Men Dwelling’ but yet there was not even a sight of even a dead man!…”

Unconsciously, she began to take a look around her once again and noticed that towards the middle of the wall, hung a curtain. When the wind blew slightly in, the curtain began to flutter and something seemed to be behind the curtain.

Out of sheer curiosity, she mustered her courage and reached out to pull the curtain aside. Behind the curtain looked like a shrine to something and there was a tablet in it. The tablet too, was made of white wood and the words that were carved on it were extremely intricate; it read ‘The divine resting place of our benefactor, The Great Hero Zhan of the Thunderous Sword fame, Zhan Yun Tian!’

The young maiden almost cried out. She remembered very clearly when she saved her Brother Zhan, she had asked about his background. At the moment, Lei Dashu had barged in from the window and griped his hands and asked hurriedly, “Who is Zhan Yun Tian to you?…”

This was a shrine to Zhan Yun Tian in this ‘Dead Men Dwelling’. Was there an intimate relationship between this Zhan Yun Tian and her Brother Zhan?

So this young maiden was none other than WanEr. She had fallen in love with Zhan Bai but because she was terrible upset that Zhan Bai was with Fan Suluan that she stormed all the way to her room. But later, when she had heard that Zhan Bai was taken away by the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli, she felt extremely uneasy. So she secretly rode off with her father’s Thousand Mile Horse ‘Chi Hualiu’ and left her home to search for Zhan Bai.

Even though she had developed a deep understanding in martial theories and had mastered several powerful martial skills but she had never been away from home before. Moreover, it was the intrigue pugilist world. When she had left her home, she did not really know in which direction should she begin her search for Zhan Bai. But as luck would have it, she found Zhan Bai at the Town of Xin Lu.

At that time, she was dining at a wine tavern. It just that she was upstairs while Zhan Bai was downstairs. Therefore they had not seen one another. But afterwards, when the crowd had gathered and she heard the clanging of weapons, did she run down to take a look. She found Zhan Bai fighting with tens of top martial exponents, his composure steady and seems to have the upper hand.

Therefore she stayed away from view. Only when the [Red Dragon with Red Hand] had tried to harm Zhan Bai after the three palm strike, did she unleash her whip in a bid to save him.

And now, once more, she had in a stroke of luck, ran into this ‘Dead Men Dwelling Place’ and also chanced upon the spiritual tablet of Zhan Yun Tian. And this was something that had to do with her Big Brother Zhan, so how would she not be concerned?

She looked around in her surroundings in a careful manner, forgetting that she supposed to find water for her Brother Zhan to go with his medicine. On the shrine, were flowers that had some water vapor on it, fresh fruits and joss sticks that were burnt halfway. It was obvious that some one had recently paid their respect.

Beyond the shrine was a hallway and there were two doors on the left and right. The doors of the hallway were made of white wood as well. The door on the left side had a piece of white paper hanging on top of it with the inscription in black ink, ‘Living Dead Man’. The door to the right had a similar paper but with the words, ‘Dead Living Man’ written on it. Both doors had an couplets on both sides, with the inscriptions, ‘If kindness is not repaid, it is as good as dead.’ The other couplet read, ‘It is humiliating that vendetta cannot be seek. Vengeance must be pursued and kindness must be repaid.’

After WanEr had seen those words, she could begin to comprehend half of it. The one that stayed in this Dead Men Dwelling Place was not a dead person but because he was indebted to Hero Zhan but now that he had been wrongfully killed, he was unable to find the killer to avenge him; the kindness and benevolent that he received could never be repaid, hence he called himself a dead man…

When WanEr had concluded to this point, suddenly she felt it strange that she saw no sight of either the [Living Dead Man] or the [Dead Living Man]. Unconsciously, she had walked to the left side of the hall and used her hands to push open the door.

In the room were a table and a chair. The room had just a simple setup. There was no bed or even bedding. But at the corner of the room was a white coffin!

The white coffin was sealed very tightly. After looking around for a while and finding nothing, she turned around and walked into the door to the right to take a look.

Who would expect that the other room was exactly the same and equally identical! Both rooms just had a table, chair and a white coffin!

In such a big house, there was no one and there were two big white coffins in the rooms. Having such an unsightly name like the ‘Dead Men Dwelling Place’ was weird enough. To a young maiden like WanEr that had never stepped away from long distances from her home, it was extremely eerie and creepy. It frightened her and caused her mind to wander, unable to calm down to think.

Just when WanEr was still feeling dumbfounded in the room to the right of the hall, she heard a loud ‘Dong’ sound coming from outside. It caused her to be startled and with her left hand holding her chest, she sprang out of the room only to see her Brother Zhan lying on the ground, after falling down from the chair.

Without any hesitation, she sprang to his side and saw his face burning red. His breathing was extremely weak and blood was snoozing from his mouth…

WanEr was shocked and stunned at the same time. She examined Zhan Bai carefully but found no visible wounds on him. She concluded that when she left to investigate the rooms, her Brother Zhan must have fell on his own. She scolded and blamed herself silently. Why did she have to do the most trivial things and left the most pressing matters undone?

She carried Brother Zhan tightly and carried him to sit on the chair. She took out the green color antidote that the red face old man had given her. But because she could not find any water in this moment of need, she pondered for a while before she opened her small mouth, using her saliva to substitute as water. Mouth to mouth, the antidote was sent down Zhan Bai’s throat.

Because WanEr’s heart was innocent and pure, she did not even think that between a man and a woman, such a thing, could only be done between a man and a wife. Moreover, it was also because WanEr loved Zhan Bai from the bottom of her heart.

And because it was urgent, without pausing to consider much ado, she used her saliva to substitute it as water for Zhan Bai, for fear that he might lose unconscious and could not swallow the pill down his throat.

Immediately afterwards, she began to use her palms to massage Zhan Bai on his chest. Just then, she felt something between her fingers.

WanEr did not know what Zhan Bai had hidden in his clothes, so she reached for and retrieved out a book with multi color cover.

WanEr unwillingly giggled and thought to herself, “This Brother Zhan of mine is like a small kid. He is so big yet he is still looking at picture book!…Huh!”

As WanEr was thinking to herself, she carelessly flipped the book. She did not expect that in the book was all drawing of maidens in the nude. The posture was extremely mesmerizing, beautiful, heart-stopping and beholding…

WanEr had a dumbfounded expression on her face as she flushed. She muttered in a low voice, “So disgusting! You…” She forgot that Zhan Bai was unconscious and threw the book back to him. The book hit Zhan Bai and fell to the ground…

Suddenly there was a thunderous shout, “Who is so outrageous and bold? There is actually someone that dared to disturb the Dead Men Dwelling Place!”

Even before WanEr could turn her back, she could feel a gush of wind flurrying towards her.

As she was afraid that her Brother Zhan would come to harm by the stranger, without dodging and pausing to inquiry, she displayed the stroke ‘Reversal’倒转阴阳 and flipped around with both of her hands extending out to welcome the gush of flurrying windforce.

“Omg! It’s young benefactor…”

The instant WanEr turned her body, the stranger had already clearly seen Zhan Bai’s face and immediately shouted, withdrawing his attacks.

But still, it was still too late as the pair of palms clashed with one another. WanEr’s arms were sore from the clash!

She was startled and thought, “Such powerful palm force!” She lifted her head and saw two weird looking men that dressed themselves in white clothing. They looked eerie and had a dead expression on their faces. They stood exactly besides one another, left and right in front of WanEr, looking like a zombie. WanEr felt a chill running down her spine.

The two weird men began to stared coldly at WanEr and then at Zhan Bai. And then back to her.

As they looked terrifying and eerie, with crafty eyes, WanEr was afraid that they might have malicious intentions towards her Brother Zhan. Even though she knew she was not their match but in order to protect her Brother Zhan, she mustered her internal power to prepare a final showdown. She did not have any trace of fright or any intention to run but instead was determined to fight. If the two men were to raise their hands against her Zhan Bai, she would immediately fight it all out with them…

“Young benefactor looks like he is badly injured!” The weird man on the left said to no one in particular.

“So I say we mustn’t die. We should continue our meager existence for there are still many things for us to do!” The weird man on the right exclaimed.

WanEr was puzzled at their behavior and speech. She looked at their icy cold stares and then took a glance at her Brother Zhan.

“Young lass! Are you the one that injured young benefactor?” The weird man on the right suddenly thundered.

“Just who are you?” Instead of replying him, WanEr retorted. She continued, “Why would I injure Brother Zhan?…Huh!”

The weird man on the right suddenly shouted at her in a thunderous voice and then charged at her, using his left hand to push WanEr aside and then plunged towards Zhan Bai.

“What are you trying to do?” WanEr was afraid that the weird man would try to harm her Brother Zhan, therefore she shouted, ‘Opposing the Tidal Force’ 力挑千钧 as she reached out her right hand to grip the weird man’s shoulder.

As WanEr had hurriedly attacked, this stance used all her strength. Needless to say a human’s shoulder, even an iron would be blend by her.

But the weird man seemed not to notice this all almighty attack from WanEr; he did not dodge and evade. Instead, he continued to plunge towards Zhan Bai.

WanEr hit his left shoulder but it was as solid as steel. It caused her upper body to be numbed with paralysis. She was knocked back five to six steps before she could regain her balance. Her hands were crying out with excruciating pain!

She saw the weird man came in front of Zhan Bai and hit his front vulnerable points with his big hands.

WanEr was startled and panicky. She cried out aloud, “Old ugly monster! Dare you to touch my Brother Zhan! I will fight it out with you!”

WanEr attacked him again with all her might but he just nudged off her attacks like it was nothing.

“Young lass! Restraint yourself! You…” As he knocked WanEr backwards against a wall.

WanEr almost fainted after being knocked backwards. She found her vision growing dim. Hurriedly, she tried to circulate her breath before she opened her eyes and was horrified to see the weird man pressing her Brother Shane’s ‘Life Channels’ accupoints.

One must know that the ‘Life Channel’ was the death accupoint of a human being. Should the weird man hit hard on this point, Zhan Bai would instantly lose his life. Tears began to drip from WanEr’s eyes in her moment of helplessness…

But when she took a closer look, she finally realized that the weird man was not trying to harm her Brother Zhan but was trying to use his life force energy to help Zhan Bai to clear his channels. It was because she had noticed that the redness from Zhan Bai’s face had retreated and his eyes were fluttering.

WanEr could not help it but muttered in her heart, “Such embarrassment!” She leaned backwards on the wall and used the opportunity to regain the circulation of her breath…

The other weird man had walked near to Zhan Bai but his eyes were on the multi color book that was beneath his legs.

“Alas!” That weird man picked the book. With only one glance at the book, he began to exclaimed excitedly, “Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual! Elder Brother! Elder Brother! Come and have a look…”

He looked up and saw wisps of steam floating above his brother’s head. He seemed to be in full concentration trying to clear Zhan Bai’s blood channels. And it was now at the most crucial part. Therefore he immediately left his sentence unfinished.

But even then, his icy cold face had an excited, uncontrollable expression. His eyes were glowing and even the hands that were holding the book were trembling!

He was startled and lifted his head, only to see his elder brother had a wisp of steam rising from his head. It is obvious that he had reached a crucial point of helping Zhan Bai to clear his blood channels. He immediately halted what he was trying to say.

But his cold and eerie expression was full of excitement. His eyes were beaming and even the hands that were holding the book were trembling.

Even WanEr, who was leaning against the wall and was trying to regain her breathing circulation, received a sudden jolt when she suddenly heard the weird man suddenly shouted, “Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual!”

That was because she had once unintentional overheard her father conversing with his protégé guests on the affairs of the martial fraternity that two hundred years ago, there was a Martial Fraternity Sage by the name of the Lord of the Only Eye. He left behind a manual called the ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’

This manual had been acknowledged by the martial fraternity as the most wondrous book ever. Whoever could obtain this wondrous book and learnt the skills within it, would dominate the martial fraternity as the most powerful martial arts expert…

WanEr was bewildered at this point. That was because she had just browsed through the book and within the book, were all pictures of women in the nude. There weren’t any martial formula. Could it be that the posture of the naked women be martial stances?…

WanEr’s mind was pacing with thoughts and was making plenty of wild guesses as she looked at the weird man; he was flipping the pages one by one, reading with his hands trembling…

On closer look, the weird man began to have a strange expression on his face. His eyes were darting and his mouth was trembling. His eyes had a strange kind of glow and his white and colorless face began to flutter in tint red…

Slowly, the weird man began to shiver as though he could no longer control the powerful excitement. Finally he closed his eyes…

WanEr was momentarily distracted by the another weird man that was treating Zhan Bai. The weird man’s head was now thick with steam and he had three wisps of white cloud above his head. From afar, it looked like three white lotuses.

WanEr was startled. She knew that this is the ‘Halo of the Three Flowers’. Unless one had practiced inner strength to its peak, this phenomenon would never appear! She would never imagine that this man that looked like a ghost would have such unbelievable depth of inner strength. As a result, she was mesmerized by the scene…

Suddenly, she sensed two sharp beam of light nailing her body. She turned her head around and saw that the another weird man that was reading the ‘Bones Binder, Soul Destroyer Sacred Manual’ earlier, had opened his eyes.

His entire face was red and he was trembling. His eyes were looking intently at her body. Suddenly, he started to walk towards her…

WanEr was a naïve young girl whom innocent had not yet been shed. How could she have known that man when they were thirsted for sex, would be so bestial and crazed?

This weird man was a martial recluse and moreover, he had decades of martial training. Only a few in the martial fraternity could match his martial prowess and the strength of his willpower. Who would expect that a book would cause him to lose control of his self-will!

At the moment, his lust was at its pinnacle and he had broken free of his decades of self-restraint. He could no longer restraint his lust that was like a fiery fire. Facing a young and beautiful young maiden like WanEr, he had actually forgotten his very own identity. He even forgot about his life promises. He had even forgotten that his brother was just besides him. He had also forgotten his benefactor’s son…

His lust had consumed him and caused him to lose his reasoning. He was now like a hungry tiger that was plunging towards a sheep.

WanEr was startled and quickly displayed a ‘Enclosure’ stance as she gathered and circulated her inner strength as she extended her hands towards the crazed weird man’s chest in a furious and panicky manner.

There was a thunderous loud sound as the weird man took the impact of WanEr’s palms without questioning and dodging.

WanEr had displayed at least five hundred to six hundred catty of strength through the deliverance of this stance but against this weird man, it just caused his body to shutter two times in quick succession but it failed to halt his advance. In response to this attack, it was like his movements had quickened instead as he opened his arms and pushed WanEr’s slim body into his embrace.

WanEr felt like she was being pressed against steel and the pressure in her chest was so heavy that it caused her circulation to be disrupted. Because her hands and legs could not moved, she was stunned and in great anxiety. Eventually and finally, she passed out…

The weird man who had been consumed by the fires of lust was like a crazed person as he started to tear apart WanEr’s embroidered silk dress. He was now panting very hard as he finally tore off the embroidered silk dress that was worth a thousand gold, revealing WanEr snow white body…

WanEr was as alluring as a flower. Now that she was unconscious, she even had to brave through the cruelty of the thunderstorm and the hurricanes that was about to become her fate. She was like a flower that was quickly going to be despoiled. It was cruelty at its extremity…

Suddenly, there was a chilly heng. It was by the weird man that was helping Zhan Bai to treat his injuries. He sprang in a startling flash of revelation with his fingers extending out and struck furiously on the spine accupoints “精促穴” of the other weird man who was embracing WanEr.

There was a loud crashing sound as the struck weird man collapsed onto the floor. He then proceeded to hit three of his major accupoints; “Chang Qiang”, “Ling Tai”, “Shen Men”. After that, he lifted him up and sprang in a startling movement into the room on the left before throwing him into the coffin.

Like a wind, in a blink of an eye, he proceeded to lift and carry WanEr into the coffin to the room on the right. At the same time, he had also picked the “Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual” and stuffed it into his garment. Next, he continued to pat furiously on Zhan Bai’s twelve accupoints on various parts of his body.

It was as though nothing had happened in the hall.

When Zhan Bai had awakened and his first sight was the ghastly weird man, he was too stunned for action.

“Young Hero Zhan, do you still recognize me?”

Zhan Bai was instantly jolted as he recalled how he had tried to steal his sword in the Pine Forest and how both of them had tried to commit suicide by banging their heads against the trees but failed. He asked in a startled voice, “How did I come to be here? And where is your other companion?”

The weird man shook his head and said, “That companion of mine has gone out and yet to return. As for why you are here, you have to ask yourself!”

“Have to ask myself?” Zhan Bai was puzzled. He could only remembered how he had encountered a red face old man in a little town and took his blows from him. After that, he was engulfed in a strange burning sensation and had passed out. Then how did he manage to come here? A thought struck him and he asked, “Old Senior, is that you who has saved me?”

“I myself do not know who have delivered you. But I did lend you a helping hand here. Young Hero Zhan, why not you tell me after we had parted, where else had you been to?”

Therefore Zhan Bai began to relate to him his encounters.

After listening, the weird man began to sigh and said, “Is it all really pre-destiny? I have tried to commit suicide many times but failed to. Is it because I am meant to preserve my wretched life for my benefactor’s descendant!” Upon finishing, he led Zhan Bai to the spiritual tablet of Zhan Yun Tian and said, “This benefactor of mine is in fact your father!”

When Zhan Bai saw his father’s tablet, he began to shed his tears uncontrollable as he fell into his knees to kowtow thrice. In that instant, he started to recall all his humiliations and tribulations that happened to him all these years. Unable to hold back his emotions, he began to cry out loud in great sorrow.

When the weird man saw Zhan Bai’s sorrows, he too began to recall how he had chosen to hide his name and identity, unable to face the world, forced to stay in the Dead Men Dwelling and to sleep inside the coffin. He too, was heart wrenched and cried out, beating his chest like Zhan Bai.

Chapter 19 Ended

Chapter 20: Who is the Antagonist?

Both wailed for a long time before the weird man let go of a long sigh. He looked vengeful and distressed at the same time. He wiped his tears with his hand and said, “Heroes shouldn’t shed their tears so easily! My young benevolent master, let us don’t cry anymore! I still have some urgent matters to inform you!”

Zhan Bai felt much better after venting out his sorrows. He suppressed his sorrowful voice and stood up. “Old Senior, please do not be too gracious. If you have any instructions, feel free to say so!”

The Living Dead Man sighed and said, “I am ashamed! My younger protégé brother and me have benefited from benevolent master and have no way to repay him! To think that when benevolent master had died in such inhumane manner and yet, we do not who are the murderers! How could we still have the conscious to live in this world? We had wanted to kill ourselves by smashing our foreheads to accompany our benevolent master in the afterlife but we had also wanted to investigate who are the antagonists are and avenge for him. That is why we choose to endure the humiliation of living and renamed ourselves ‘Living Dead Man’ and Dead Living Man”. As long as we did not avenge for our benevolent master, we will not call ourselves by our names! But the ones that murdered our benevolent master did such a brilliant job and their methods are incalculable cunning and secret that it took us more than ten years of grueling constant investigations to unravel them! And they are six of the topmost pugilist exponents in the Fraternity!”

When Zhan Bai heard that Living Dead Man was about to inform him of his father’s murderers, he was trembling all over now. His throat was dry and he trembled, “Please continue! Old Senior, please continue…”

“Alas!” Living Dead Man was shaking his head and heaving a long sigh. “They are none other than your father’s swore brothers and was proclaimed alongside him as the Seven Heroes of the Central Plains! Who would have thought that they would plot to murder your father for a untold riches that was in Lake Tongding!…”

“Old Senior! Please tell me! Who are they? What are their names?” Zhan Bai became agitated because he had saw the Living Dead Man becoming extremely distressed and did not continued anymore.

“Except for one that left for distant lands overseas and whereabouts unknown, the other five have become aristocracy families in the Martial Fraternity. Oh heavens! Why did the good not have a good provident while the bad always seem to have their heart’s desires?…”

“Old Senior! Please hurry and let me know their names?” Zhan Bai pleaded with him after seeing that after urging for some time, he still did not reveal the names of the antagonists.

“One is the Conqueror Whip Fan Fei from Zhengjiang!” Living Dead Man stared hatefully for an instant before he continued angrily, “They are none other than the resounding Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity…”

“The Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity?” Zhan Bai felt a drum in his head and caught hold of the Living Dead Man. His eyes were bloodshot and he asked again, “It is the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity?”

Living Dead Man nodded his head solemnly and said, “It is the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity, their fathers….!”

“Is it the father of Young Master Lingfeng, the [Meteor Hand] Murong Han?”

Living Dead Man nodded his head.

“Young Master Anle’s father, the [Universal Palm] Yun Zonglong?”

Living Dead Man nodded his head but did not say anything.

“Young Master Duanfang’s father, the [Origin Finger] Sikong Jin?” Zhan Bai hastily added, “Young Master Qilin’s father, the [Heavenly Bronze Coin] Jin Jiu?”

With a solemn face, Living Dead Man once again nodded his head. When he saw that Zhan Bai had finished asking, he added, “And that [Silver Fan] Liu Suihou that has ventured out to distant shores and his location is currently unknown…”

“Alas!” Even before Living Dead Man had finished, Zhan Bai had cried out and he had fallen backwards and had lost conscious.

Living Dead Man immediately supported Zhan Bai to an upright position and channeled his internal energy with his palm onto his heart accupoint. After massaging for awhile, Zhan Bai began to regain consciousness.

He could not withhold his tears and with great disappointment said, “Old Senior, it seems like Junior I, would never be able to avenge this vengeance of mine!”

“Alas!” Living Dead Man sighed and replied, “Young benefactor! I understand how despairing you felt. Not only you, when my brother and I had first known of it, we know it is a hopeless cause to ever seek avenge for our benefactor. That was why we tried to commit suicide in the Pine Woods by crashing into the trees!”

Zhan Bai’s spirits was lifted by Living Dead Man’s words. He thought and said to himself why he did not have more integrity? Why did he cow in the face of adversity? As long as he is still alive, he can still train in his martial skills day in and night out. Once he had accomplishment in his martial arts, he can still seek vendetta for his father and killed his father’s killers one by one. He will let the entire martial fraternity knows that his father still has a heir in him…

When Zhan Bai had reached this conclusion, he suddenly had an inspiration and he hastily plunge forwards and kneel down in front of Living Dead Man and said with great sincerity, “Thanks for Old Senior guidance that Junior I, have began to see the light in the tunnel. Since Old Senior has old ties with my father, I plead with you to accept me as your disciple! Once Junior I, have learnt your martial skills, I can go and seek vendetta for my father!……”

When Living Dead Man saw Zhan Bai kneel suddenly in front of him, he was panicky and could not stop him in time. He too kneel and hastily said, “Young Benefactor, please rise. You are as good as killing me!”

Zhan Bai thought that Living Dead Man could not accept him as his disciple and he stubbornly refused to get up. In the End, Living Dead Man had to forcefully carried him up and put him onto a chair.

He solemnly said, “It is not that I am refusing to teach you martial arts. I have very valid reasons not to. With my martial skills, if I were to fight against second or third rate fighters, it can still be considered useful. But by no means, I am a match for those first rate fighters. Even if I were to teach you all my martial skills, it would still be useless to you. Moreover you must know, in the martial fraternity, once a person is your Martial Master, forever is your Martial Master. I will be destroying Young Benefactor’s future if I do. This is the first reason.”

“Moreover, my brother and I is considered servants to our Benefactor Hero Zhan. Strictly adhering, young benefactor, you can still be considered as my young master. So how can I as your servant be your Martial Master?”

Zhan Bai knew that what Living Dead Man had said made sense and he could not force him to accept him. Even though he was very disappointed, he did not say it.

“Actually, young benefactor, you do not need to be disappointed. Don’t you have a manual that is even better than any famous martial masters?”

Reminded by Living Dead Man, Zhan Bai suddenly realized that he had the Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual. He immediately reach within his robe for it but was startled and his heart gone cold when he realized he did not have it…

Then Living Dead Man took out the Bones Blinder, Soul Destroyer Secret Manual and said, “This is the most wondrous martial book in the entire world. May I know how did Young Benefactor come in possessions of it?”

“It was given to me by a Lei Dashu,” replied Zhan Bai. He was instantly relieved that he had not lost the book.

As they chat, Living Dead Man began to flip the book. But after taking a few glances, he quickly closed the book and closed his eyes to regain his composure. After awhile, he opened his eyes and said, “That was a close shave! This book can create delusions and caused others to go berserk. Young Benefactor, you are so young, how did you manage to read this book at all?”

“Junior I, read it by feeling it in the darkness.” Zhan Bai had a kind soul and was not suspicious of others. Therefore he was honest and did not conceal in all matters.

When Living Dead Man first heard that Zhan Bai mentioned that he had feel it to read it, he did not believed it at first but after he used his fingers to feel the inside of the book, he too come to the revelation. But a flash of greed appeared in his countenance.

Zhan Bai saw it as well.

Living Dead Man returned the book to Zhan Bai. He pondered for awhile before asking, “Who is this Lei Dashu? He is generous indeed!”

Zhan Bai described Lei Dashu’s characteristics and features to him.

“Oh!” Living Dead Man cried out. “Lei Zhenyuan!”

“Old Senior, you know him?” Zhan Bai interrupted.

“How can I not know him! Your father and him are bosom friends! When my brother and I are with our Benefactor in the martial fraternity, he was always with us!……”

“May I know if I can know Old Senior name? At least we have the fate of encounter and I can at least know.” Zhan Bai asked.

Suddenly Living Dead Man was solemn and expressionless once more. He sighed deeply and said, “I hope young benefactor will forgive me for this slight. My brother and I once made an serious oath that before we could avenge for our Benefactor, we would never mention our names ever again. You can address us brothers as the Living Dead Man and Dead Living Man.”

Zhan Bai upon seeing that he would not reveal his name, did not force him. He paused for awhile before asking, “Old Senior, how did you know who are the culprits behind Junior’s father death…”

Without waiting for Zhan Bai to finish, Living Dead Man interrupted, “It all thanks to Old Senior the [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli that we know it. When we first heard of it, we did not believe it as well but after Old Senior Dong verified it, only then did we know that it is true.”

“When we saw Young Benefactor a few days ago and from that bronze coin, we recognized that it was the secret projectile of [Heavenly Bronze Coin] Jin Jiu. We have no choice but to believed that the news is the truth!”

“[Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut]!” Zhan Bai muttered, “Is Old Senior Dong dressed in silk floss, looks like a peddler and rides a donkey?

Living Dead Man answered, “Indeed, it is him.”

Suddenly, Living Dead Man exclaimed loudly as if he was reminded of something, “Old Senior Dong is over a hundred years old and he is a extraordinary man. He had three pieces of iron guts and the Sixty-four stances of his ‘Wondrous Hand’ plus his highly accomplished martial skills, I afraid none in the martial fraternity can be comparable to him at all. Just now, young benefactor, you have said that you are looking for a Martial Teacher. Why not plead with him to accept you as his disciple?”

Zhan Bai was extremely happy that he did have a ray of hope and asked joyfully, “Where does he resident at?”

“Even though he has no fixed dwelling place but he frequents near Nanjing Sparrow shore banks and the Mountain rocks of the Twelve Caves. If Young Benefactor will to go there, you may find him…”

Zhan Bai did not wait for Living Dead Man to finish and got up immediately, gave a respectful bow, “Then, Junior will take my leave now! Thanks for Old Senior to come to my aid in my hours of need and for guiding me. All these acts of kindness, I, Zhan Bai, will always remember deep in my heart…”

Zhan Bai had exited the ‘Dead Man Dwelling Place’ even before he had finished speaking.

“Young Benevolent!…” Living Dead Man was shouting for him behind him, wanting to tell Zhan Bai that there was a young maiden that had come with him. Suddenly, he remembered that it might be inconvenient for him to explain the circumstances just now, he immediately paused to think for awhile. While he was pausing, in that split second, Zhan Bai had sprung down the mountains.

As Zhan Bai was anxious and excited, he did not think of anything unusually of a red mare that was eating grass just outside the house. Zhan Bai just thought that it was just a horse owned by Living Dead Man. If he had carefully think about it, he would realize that such majestic and colorful horse would not have suited the character of Living Dead Man…


Chapter 20 Ended

Chapter Twenty-One: Jiangnan most beautiful Maiden


This day, the weather was extremely warm and uncomfortable in Nanjing. Young Master Qilin and his sister went out with an entourage of proteges. They took with them their married elder sister’s children, a boy and a girl by the name of Mingming and Lanlan respectively.

Young Master Qilin, whose real name is Jin Caihuan, a resident of the City of Nanjing. He was extremely wealthy coupled with the fact that he had many extraordinary people to teach him martial skills, was highly endowed in martial arts. His proteges in his manor numbered more than a thousands and had many first rate fighters. No wonder his reputation was positioned as the other three Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity!

Sitting besides Young Master Qilin, was an inculpable beautiful young maiden, Jin Caifeng. She was the sister to Young Master Qilin. Because she delighted in having a plum blossom hairpin braided on her hair and moreover she had refined air, was elegantly beautiful, her nickname was [Plum Blossom].

They had come to the Sparrow Tea Tavern to dip tea and to cool off. But they had not expected to encounter the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] and their disciple [Three Inch] Xiao Sangmen.

[Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] had few opportunities to venture out of their valley dwelling. They had no idea how influential Young Master Qilin was. The reason why they were creating troubles for him was because a petty man had been secretly sowing discord.

When they had saw Young Master Qilin, they purposely made outrageous remarks to provoke him.

Even though Young Master Qilin had great influential power in the fraternity, he had amazing patience and self-restraint. He did not for once fall into provocation. Even when his proteges could not restraint any longer, he rose up on a number of occasions to calm them down.

But when Young Master Qilin did not respond to their provocation, they were ill at ease to seek vengeance for the time being.

Just then, a down and trodden lad with his crestfallen head walked past. He seemed to be thinking of something as he walked past hurriedly. He accidentally stepped upon on Lanlan’s grasshopper.

“Hey!” Lanlan cried out panicky as she quickly tried to pull back the string that was attached to the grasshopper. But it was too late and the grasshopper was crushed. “Look what have you done to my grasshopper. I want you to pay me back!”

Who would expect that the lad to ignore Lanlan's cries of outrage? He was too focus in his own thoughts that he was not aware of his surroundings. He continued to walk away…

Even though Lanlan is a six to seven year old young girl but because she was born in a martial aristocracy family, she had a certain degree of solid foundation in her martial skills. When she saw that down and trodden lad did not even turn his head after stepping on her grasshopper, she was aroused to much anger and she selected an ovary stone from a flower pot and flickered her fingers towards the head of the lad. Indeed, this was the ‘Snapping Silver’ secret projectile technique!

The projectile struck as intended because firstly, the lad was occupied in his own thoughts and there were many people around therefore he did not guarded against any secret attacks. Secondary, Lanlan’s “Snapping Silver’ technique was highly accurate and there was no sound even though her mastery of the force was still lacking.

The lad turned his head around and looked around for some time and but still could not find who was his attacker for Lanlan had took a deep breath and suppressed herself so as not to laugh aloud.

Lanlan then stick her tongue out and smiled at Mingming.

Mingming misunderstood that Lanlan was challenging him to a contest and he too, selected an ovary stone from the flower pot and he aimed it at the lad’s head. It was a perfect shot as well.

Who would expect that this to present the ‘Jiangnan Two Extraordinary’ an excellent opportunity to make use of this lad to create trouble for Young Master Qilin!

The ancient name of Nanjing was Jinling. It was the capital of the Six Dynasties period as well as a major city during the warring state period.

There were many scenic and ancient remnant places to catch the attention of passer by but Zhan Bai was not bothered by it. His face was covered by sweat and it appeared that he did not wash his face for many days. But still, there was no mistaking his sharp and handsome air!

Suddenly a stone struck him at the back of his head. Even though he was not hurt by it, it was very painful.

He turned around and noticed that there was a tea tavern with many people and they were all laughing at him. He reached out for his head to rub it and he could feel a bruise. But in the midst of so many tens of people, there was simply no way to know who threw that stone at him.

But the instant he turned his head again, he was hit by another stone behind his head again.

This time round, it was much more painful and he jumped three feet high and turned back violently. He focused his eyes and was very much enraged. He could see that everyone in the area was roaring with laughter.

But this time round, he did see who was his assailant. They were two children, one boy and a girl. The boy was around seven to eight while the girl was around six to seven. The boy was dressed beautifully while the girl was dressed plainly but she was very alluring.

Behind those two children were many flowerpots with similar ovary stones that were identical to what was used to hit him. They were all looking at him in a funny way and they had their hands behind their back. Their small eyes were vibrating in a cute round shape and they were pursing their lips tightly. It looked like they were trying to suppress their laughter.

Just where the children stood, besides them was a elegant tea tavern. Inside, a big table was covered with white cloth and on it was placed many fresh flowers and fruits. Seating on the table were five to six men and women in bright color clothing. On the surface, they looked like they were from a wealthy family but closer look, their spirits and countenances were vibrant and their eyes were bright. They were all obviously in possession of powerful martial skills.

The most eye catching was a twenty plus and minus young man. He had beautiful white complexion like a jade. He was serene, handsome and radiated a noble air!

Sitting just besides the young man, was a twenty plus and minus young maiden who glare the eyes of those that looked upon her. She was beholding and her countenance was like those of a radiating fairy. She was dressed in a cloud plumage dress and her smiles were tender as she looked at him and then with reproaching eyes, she stared at the two children.

When Zhan Bai was hit by the two stones and was made a laughing stock in front of the crowd, he was instantly filled with rage. But when he saw it was just two children that were making mischief, half of his anger began to disperse. So he said to them, “Young friends! You shouldn’t have hit anyone intentional. It is alright to hit me but what if you hit someone with a bad temper, he wouldn't have spare you that easily…”

The small boy rolled his eyes for awhile before he replied mischievously, “Does it means you are not bad?”

The little girl laughed aloud as she could not suppress her laughing anymore. But after she laughed, she felt a little ill at ease and she immediately turned her back to face the riverbanks. As she turned around, she saw a tortoise resting on a rock and she used the other stone that was hidden in her other hand and used snapped her little fingers. The stone hit the tortoise on its head and it turned toppled on its back. The tortoise immediately tried to claw frenetically to turn its back.

“Heh!” The little girl clapped her hands in applause. “Big brother! I have hit the tortoise on its head!”

The two noble young man and maiden that were sitting on top of the tea tavern began to exclaimed together, “Lanlan, do be not naughty…”

But before they had finished, Mingming used the same secret projectile technique and hit the tortoise on its head and sent it flying into the river. His force was much greater than that of Lanlan. “What so interesting about it?” He asks his sister, “I too, have hit the tortoise’s head!”

Hundreds of people began to laugh merrily.

Even though the children did not mean anything but their words and the laughter from the people turned Zhan Bai face white with anger. He stared hard at them but how could he raise his temper at two children that known not right or wrong? Therefore, he sighed to himself, “Why am I so unlucky. I did been through worse humiliating circumstances than this, so why bother with these two children…”

But who would expect that someone would purposely wanted to infuriate him further? When he turned around and began to walk hurriedly away, he heard a voice that croaked like a goat, “Hey second brother! Did you say something just now that a real man can have his head beheaded and his blood flowed out but he couldn’t allow himself to be insulted and live in indignity? From what an old man like man can see, a lot of people are like a tortoise. They are young and without aspirations. After they have been humiliated, they didn’t even dare to pass a fart!”

The voice that croaked like a goat was high pitch and shrieking and irritated the ears. Moreover the voice was exceptional loud. Even though there were people far away from Zhan Bai, it caused everyone to turn their glance towards him.

Two old men and a lad were sitting on a tavern bench shaded by a tree and they were using a despicable stare that were targeted at Zhan Bai.

The two old men were very old but had remarkable features. One had red hair and dark skin and had white nose and eyes that seemed to piercing in all directions. He was wearing an oversized white cloth robe making him looked like a big monkey from the circus.

Another old man although he could have easily blended with the others but he was as thin as the bamboo and had a big head. He was also wearing thick clothing. It was already so weird to wear like that on such a hot weather! He was shaking his head and he was the one that had spoken earlier. He continued, “Don’t you think you are too absurd and ridiculous?”

This infuriated Zhan Bai and his rage was pouring forth from his stomach but he could still suppress his anger.

The same old man waved his hand and yelled, “Come over here!”

Zhan Bai pretended not to know and asked, “Old sir, are you calling me?”

“Alas! Still so dense as ever!” He growled. “If I weren’t calling for you, would I then be calling to a dog?”

As the old man in winter clothing was obviously teasing and calling Zhan Bai a dog, the crowd in the area was now roaring with laughter!

At this point, Zhan Bai could no longer suppress his anger and angrily retorted, “You look decent when you speak but not one word of yours were proper! I guess you are not a gentleman and a crooked scholar as well! If it were not for your age, I would…hum!”

Zhan Bai did not know that he was making the red hair old man who was standing besides the winter clothing old man even more joyous. He was now clapping his hands and stomping his legs and croaking, “Hahaha…my gentleman Second Brother! Haha…You are always sighing from day to night about being gentlemanly…hahaha…but now, all your grace of being a gentleman is now gone….haha…And this young man says you are a crooked scholar as well…haha…”

The winter old man yelled angrily at the down and crestfallen Zhan Bai, “What a blockhead, what a blockhead! You are really beyond teaching! I called you to come over here and yet you have the tenacity to insult and humiliate me! Hum!” He pressed his hands upon the table and was about to…

“Teacher, wait!” The lad besides him rose up to say, “Let your disciple takes over this menial task from you. Killing a chicken requires just a reasonable blade will do. To take care of this rascal, there is no need for my respected sir to hands on personally. Let me, as your disciple, disciplines him for you.”

The old man in winter clothing nodded his head and sat down.

The lad skipped from the bamboo chair and approached Zhan Bai slowly. Why did the lad seem to skip? It was because the lad looked measured only three feet and he had to use his buttocks to touch the chair before he could land on the ground with his feet.

Zhan Bai looked at this lad who was not even three feet and had a big head. Not only that, he was extremely ugly as well!

The lad however walked in an arrogant manner and with much fanfare towards Zhan Bai and pointed at his nose, “Hey you rascal! How dare you offend my respected Mentor Teacher! If you bow your head to me, I will plead for leniency with my Teacher for you. Hopefully my Mentor Teacher will forgive you and spare you! If not, hummed! Not only will my Mentor Master be mad, I will also not spare you!”

Zhan Bai was speechless with anger that he couldn’t mutter any words.

The lad stared at him and shouted, “Rascal, why don’t you say something?”

Zhan Bai only gave a cold wry smile and did not say a word or moved. In actuality, he wanted to fight but because he did want others to say he bullied a dwarf.

But now, everyone had gathered to see the scene and the feeling was unbearable for him because he was being looked upon as a coward for being non-responsive.

The lad however did not care a hoot on what Zhan Bai was thinking and seeing that he was non-responsive, thought that Zhan Bai was looking down upon him. Suddenly, he raised his fingers into a claw and struck towards Zhan Bai’s chest. This grasp technique was not only quick and wondrous, it could be classed as a first rate technique in the martial fraternity!

Zhan Bai was startled. Never did he expect this unremarkable three feet dwarf was capable of such highly developed martial powers. Zhan Bai too used a grasp technique, fending low to high to counter-attack and to grasp the lad’s right hand.

“Great! It nigh time that you fight!” The lad shrieked and his right wrist slipped from Zhan Bai’s counter-attack and at the same time, his left hand clawed towards Zhan Bai’s throat.

By now, Zhan Bai had withdraw his over-confidence and began the fight seriously.

The two of them were both using grasp techniques and were hitting furiously fast. This type of grasp technique was very rarely seen in the martial fraternity. In a twinkle of an eye, many blows and strokes were exchanged. 　

Among the people in the tea tavern, were many hidden dragons and crouching tigers. They were from respected and famous clans of the martial fraternity. At first, they all thought this crestfallen young man and the unremarkable lad were just having a dog fight with one another and did not pay much heed. But when they started to trade blows, everyone eyes were bewildered and staring widely! They were all startled and intrigued by their wondrous and ingenious grasp techniques!

Among those that paid special attention to the fight were the two weird men [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary], the noble Young Master Qilin and the exquisite beautiful Jin Caifeng.
　　
The [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] were both expert specialists in internal, external and swiftness martial arts. They had weird temperaments and did not like to have contacts with others. They had led a life of recluse in the ‘Ghost Valley’ but no one knew where was the exact location of that place. Moreover, few people had even been there before. Now that they had wandered out, they were sure to do a few stuff that could ripple through the martial fraternity with their abilities.

The dwarf like young lad was their only disciple. He used to be an abandoned baby that they had picked up on the mountain tracks. They do not like people and no one knew why they had suddenly become soft hearted and had actually brought that baby home to raise. They even trained him in their martial skills. Because he was born as a dwarf and did not have a name, they called him [Three Inch] Dwarf or [Small Funeral Door] (Xiao Sangmen).

Now, don’t everyone belittle this ‘Small Funeral Door’. Even though he did not look human or ghost but he received a no hold instructions from the ‘Jiangnan Two Extraordinary’ and had four to five folds of their martial powers! It was not to say he was now invincible but he was considered to be a first tier fighter in the martial fraternity!

The [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] were now staring at every single stroke and style of the young man. They had noticed that the grasp technique that Zhan Bai was displaying was very similar to their ’18 styles of the Dragon Slaying’. They were mystified but could not place a word to it yet.

Their plans were to provoke Zhan Bai into conflict with Young Master Qilin but things did not go according to their plans. It was not until [Three Inch Small Funeral Door] and Zhan Bai had fought did they realized they had eyed the wrong target and discovered that this down and out young man actually possessed extraordinary martial skill levels.

Young Master Qinlin and his sister were even more mystified. They secretly thought to themselves that within their sphere of influence, there were actually people that dared to incite troubles with themselves. What more, in this area, this down and crestfallen young man would possess such extraordinary and powerful martial skills, it was totally unexpected and escaped the eyes of their protégés! It was really unbelievable!

Therefore, all the protégés of Young Master Qilin and his sister were now staring at the fight with bewildered eyes and with interests.

Zhan Bai’s technique was intricate and extraordinary. Moreover his palms were emitting heavy wind blows. It was obvious that his internal strength was stronger than [Three Inch Small Funeral Door]. But his body swiftness was not as agile as him and he was also slower in his techniques. Therefore for now, both of them fought to a standstill.

But as time passed, Zhan Bai began to lose his advantage as he was slower and he was not as accustomed in his skills as the [Three Inch Dwarf].

[Three Inch Dwarf] with his nickname of [Small Funeral Door] was a vicious and cunning person. When he found out he could not gain any advantage after fighting for so long under the watchful eyes of his two Teachers, his face became awkward and unhappy. When he suddenly got an advantage over Zhan Bai, he immediately increased his strength by two folds and to strike Zhan Bai hard on his chest.

If Zhan Bai did not die, he would still be seriously injured.

“Alas!” The crowd echoed in startled voices, among them, was [Plum Blossom] Jin Caifeng. She looked with regret and pity, not wishing for that young man to die but felt embarrassing if she were to interfere to help…

Just when Zhan Bai was about to be dealt a thunderous blow on his chest, he yelled aloud, “Heh!...” And his hands were suddenly on his chest and he returned blow to blow. No one could see how Zhan Bai could have avoided that fatal, moreover he could even counter-attack!

Because the [Three Inch Dwarf] was small, he was knocked back and flied towards his Mentor Masters. What a coincidence!
　　
The [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] turned ashen and the red hair old man immediately caught hold of [Three Inch Dwarf].

The [Three Inch Dwarf] rubbed his head for a second before his little eyes turned around and he replied in a shrieking voice, “Master, don’t you worry! Your protégé do not care a hoot on such puny hit!” Then he turned around to fight.

Everyone was puzzled that after [Three Inch Dwarf] was knocked back a great many distance, he appeared to be not injured. What was the reason for that?

The old man in winter clothing blocked [Three Inch Dwarf] and walked arrogantly towards Zhan Bai and stared at him before exclaiming thunderously, “May I know your name and from which martial clan?”

Zhan Bai replied without hesitation, “I am Zhan Bai. As for my Teacher and martial clan, I am not obliged to reveal!”

The old man was thoughtful for a minute and from his memories, he did not have any impression of such a person. He shook his head and exclaimed, “This is really strange! Even though you do not tell me where you are from but from your grasping technique, why is it so familiar to the grasping technique that I have created?”

Actually Zhan Bai was equally feeling strange that when he sparred with [Three Inch Dwarf], he noticed that the grasping technique that was used was similar to the [One Leg Heretic]. Therefore he gave a wry smile and said, “Do you know a person that missing a leg, old sir?”

The old man immediately turned ashen and gone was his piercing malevolent air. “What? You are his…disciple?”

The old man with the red hair asked nervously, “Then this young man is his successor? He is still alive?”

Zhan Bai was puzzled why the two weird old men suddenly became nervous. His grasping technique was stolen from the [One Leg Heretic] when they had sparred. No matter what, he was not going to acknowledged him as his Mentor Master. Therefore he protested, “Both of you don’t be nervous! I have no such Mentor Master…”

“I have no such disciples too!” Someone continued from afar. “In my entire life, I have only accepted two disciples and I had lost both my legs! If I have one more disciple, even my head will roll!”

Zhan Bai turned his head to look and saw a very old man who did not have any legs but used two clutches to sprint rapidly like a breeze.

When Zhan Bai turned back his back, the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] was no longer to be seen. They had long fled. So was [Three Inch Dwarf].

“Immoral disciples!” The old man with no legs was shouting and scolding, “I have been looking for you for thirty, forty years. Do you think you can escape?”
　　
The old man sprang like a bird towards the direction of the mountain with twelve caves. From afar, Zhan Bai could see three black dots. Needless to say, the dots were the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] and the [Three Inch Dwarf].

For some time, Zhan Bai was too startled and mystified by the happenings to even move…


Suddenly, there was a blur in front of Zhan Bai and someone stood in front of him, causing him to lift his head. He saw a strong muscular man and was startled for he did not know this man. But the strong muscular man exclaimed, “Wait a minute and don’t go yet, friend! My Young Master wishes to speak with you!”

“Please forgive me for I have no time to waste!” Zhan Bai replied. Ever since Zhan Bai knew that the Four Aristocracy Family Young Masters were his father’s killers, therefore were his enemies, he had come to dislike any mention of “Young Master”. He growled and said, “Moreover, I do not know who is your Young Master!” Upon finished speaking, he walked past the man and continued on his way.

That strong muscular man hummed and once again, he was in front of Zhan Bai and was now staring at him. “Friend, don’t you dare to flatter yourself. If my Young Master wishes to see you, it is because he has an eye for you. If it isn’t for the fact that Young Master wants to meet you, you will never have the chance to…”

When Zhan Bai saw that he was chatting non-stop, he was already feeling impatient. Before he could finished, Zhan Bai interrupted, “What a joke! Even if your Young Master is the Emperor, when I say I am not interested to meet him, I meant not to meet!…”

When the muscular man saw that Zhan Bai was unruly and moreover scolded his master, he gave a great shout, “Even if you do not want to meet, you have to now!” And he shook his shoulders and reached out to strike Zhan Bai on his chest.

When Zhan Bai saw that the man’s blow was not only swift but carried a windforce, he knew instantly that his opponent martial prowess was not weak. As he was still upset and when he saw the muscular man’s stroke attacking his vital points, he retaliated with a stroke called the ‘Subduing the Tiger and the Dragon’; His left palm struck the man’s shoulder while his right hand striking at his chest.

In the martial fraternity, the style of “Using Attack to subdue the attacks” was extremely rare and thus rarely was it glimpsed. Not only was the muscular man surprised by it, even Young Master Qilin and his sister were moved by it through their expressions…

As both men were both using attacking stances and moreover was too fast, Young Master Qilin was unable to stop it in time and saw that the muscular man had been struck by Zhan Bai’s palm and he was splitting blood in mid-air. When he had landed, he did not even move. Quite obvious, he appeared to be dead.

When the crowd saw that someone had been killed in the area, there was some initial confusion.

Suddenly there was a thunderous roar and a shadow flashed across the fight scene. Even before the shadowy image had touched the ground, Zhan Bai found himself attacked by ten eagle-like fingers on his head!

This attack stance was amazing powerful and as swift as meteor fire. Even if Zhan Bai wanted to dodge it, he could not as those heavy hands zapped to and forth.

There was a thunderous clap and once again, it was power versus power as Zhan Bai locked palms with the attacker. He felt as though there was a ten thousand catty of heavy mallet that came crashing upon his shoulders.

In that instant, he felt his blood flow reversing and he saw golden stars in his eyes. He was forced back five to six steps and were unable to stand firmly on the ground! Then he fell down onto the ground on his bottom.

The attacker did not even wait for Zhan Bai to rise and rush against Zhan Bai with both his heavy palms towards his chest.

The attacker had already made up his vicious mind to kill Zhan Bai on the spot so as to avenge his underling. This palm used up all his might and was like the wind breezing through and always pinpointing the target. Even if Zhan Bai wanted to avoid this blow, it was already too late and it looked like he was going to be a goner under this attacker, there was a shout, “Brother Tianhe! Hold it…”

When the attacker heard that voice, his ongoing strike slowed a little but Zhan Bai could seize upon this little chance and flipped over and stood eight feet away.

Now Zhan Bai could finally see who his attacker was; it was an old man with dark skin in a shining black robe. On each of the old man smallest finger were a metal ring.

Zhan Bai had just escaped from a possible death and he was too startled to compose himself. He turned and looked in the direction of the man who had stopped the old man from attacking further; it was Young Master Qilin.

“Brother Tianhe!” Young Master Qilin came swiftly and he was very dashing in appearances. “I want to make a friend out of this person and a fight is not what I have intended.”
　　
When he had finished speaking to the old man, he turned around and smiled at Zhan Bai, “What a dashing martial skills that you have there, brother. I am Jin Huancai, a resident of Nanjing. I would like to invite you to my residency for a few days. May I know if brother would care to grace me with your presence?”

Before Zhan Bai could replied, that black and thin old man interrupted furiously, “Young Master, do you intend for one of our own to die in vain!…” He clapped his hands and stared at Zhan Bai piercingly as though he wanted to continue the fight.

Young Master Qilin reached out to stop the black thin old man and said, “We are all living in the martial fraternity. If both sides cannot agree with one another, they are bound to exchange blows. Death and permanent injuries are unavoidable. We have only to blame for not being studious in our martial arts and not blame others. Now that Liang You had died, I will buy him the best coffin wood and buried him with honors. I will also compensate his kins.”

When Young Master Qilin had said to that point, he turned his head around, “Liang Jue! Come over here!”

A young muscular young man approached and there was no masking his rage. He looked viciously at Zhan Bai before turning and bowed at Young Master Qilin, “Young Master, what are your orders?”

“Go and take three thousands silvers to bury your older brother in grandeur!”

“Thank you Young Master!”

Once again, the muscular young man bowed before turning around to retrieve his brother’s body. But before he left, he stared at Zhan Bai viciously.

Zhan Bai did not expect he would kill this Liang You. When he saw Liang Jue sorowful and resentful look, he was feeling regretful in his heart. He blamed himself for striking so hard just now.

But when he looked at this Young Master who had the surname Jin, he guessed as much that he could be that Young Master Qilin by now. He secretly exclaimed to himself, “Hum! It is all because he has some filthy money that he was able to buy the hearts of others and caused them to use their lives for him!…”

When the black thin old man saw that Young Master Qilin had in the presence of everyone, had given him some face, he was pacified. He withdrawn his threatening stances but still looked viciously at Zhan Bai and said, “For the sake of Young Master, for the time being, I will spare you the death sentence!”

Zhan Bai could not resisted humming back in an arrogant manner, “It remains to be seen!…”

Immediately, the black thin old man expressions were tense once more…

But Young Master Qilin could not let Zhan Bai continued and said, “Let bygones be bygones! I haven’t asked you for your name yet.”

Zhan Bai suddenly had a thought in his mind, “The father of Young Master Qilin is my father’s killer. Since I have to find both his father and him sooner or later to avenge this blood debt, why not I let them know my name in the presence of everyone else. Then the pugilist fraternity may know that the Zhan family still have an outstanding man left who is not afraid of powerful and influence!

Zhan Bai immediately answered, “I am Zhan Bai. I suppose you must be the renown Young Master Qilin that everyone is talking about?”

“You'll heap too much praise me onto me!” Young Master Qilin handsome face was all smiles and he said, “I am always hospitable to guests. If Young Hero Zhan does not despite it, I would like to invite you to my residency so that I can honor you as a host!”

Just when Zhan Bai was about to reject the invitation, there was a glimmer in front of his eyes. It was Young Master Qilin’s sister Jin Caifeng, while they were all talking had by now walked over. She was now standing just behind her brother’s back and was using a pair of bright autumn watery eyes to look upon Zhan Bai.

Jin Caifeng was called the most beautiful maiden in Jiangnan and her beauty was as true as the autumn breeze. Her bright, beautiful and knowing beauty was not what brush could describe. Her moral character was excellent too. She was humble, not at all arrogant and her grace and generosity would always be presented in whatever place she been to. Everyone could appraise her and everyone would praise her; she would not hide from criticism. She would be all too natural and not a trace of pretenses would be found in her.

Even though Zhan Bai had recently saw many beauties like Murong Hong, Zhan Wan’Er, and Fan Suluan but none could compare to Jin Caifeng presently. He thought of her beautiful as a shining light, especially her honey sweet smiles.

Unwittingly, Zhan Bai and her eyes made contact and he could resist praising her in his heart, “So beautiful!…”

When Young Master Qilin saw that Zhan Bai did not reject his offer, he thought that he must have accepted his invitation. Therefore he gave orders to prepare carriages and horses and bowed using his hands at Zhan Bai, “After you, please!”

Now when Zhan Bai wanted to reject it, he found it hard to say so. He found himself taking one step at a time and acted accordingly.

Along the way, Young Master Qilin was warmed hearted and hospitable. He was earnest and honest in his manners and speech. Even though Zhan Bai thought of him as his enemy but he could not help but admired him. The saying that Young Master Qilin had a warm heart was true after all.

And especially that Jin Caifeng. She had a sedan but did not sit in it. Instead, she rode a snow white horse and followed by her brother side. From time to time, she would look at him but did not say a word. It was as though her eyes could speak. Zhan Bai could only feel her eyes radiated unlimited sense of soft sentiments. That beautiful eyes of hers, that was already so beautiful, whenever she looked at him, it caused him to be bewildered and deeper into bewildered….

“It seem like both brother and sister have outstanding moral character. I wonder if I have the heart to fight with them one day when it is time for me to seek vengeance for my father?” Zhan Bai was lost in his own hearts and did not notice that they had arrived in front of a towering mansion.

The walls of the mansion were tall and there were two stone statues of a horse on the left and right side of the gate. The flights of stairs were made of Chinese white jade and all in all, there were ten steps. The grandeur of the place was simple overwhelming! On every 5th step, there were a guard with golden armor and sword and Zhan Bai could count fifty to sixty in all.

He thought, “I did not think that for an aristocracy family, such grandeur and imposing magnificent is actually possible. Even a duke mansion could not have possible compared to this…”

There was not a hint of haughtiness when Young Master Qilin caught hold of Zhan Bai’s hand as he led him towards the stairs. The golden guards were all equally respectful.

Zhan Bai sighed. Young Master Qilin who was as wealthy as a wealthy duke could be so hospitable to a poor and downtrodden fellow like him. Indeed, he deserved to be called the [Ever Hospitable] Master Qilin.

As they entered the halls and doors, he saw many scholar tablets hanging on the walls. These tablets were all official titles. It seemed like Young Master Qilin was not only from a martial aristocracy clan but he was also from a official clan.

As Zhan Bai was sightseeing, he was also in his own thoughts. By now, it was nightfall and Young Master Qilin had led him into a beautiful hall with hundreds of candle lights. It seemed like the entire hall was a golden color.

Young Master asked, “I guess that Brother Zhan have not eaten yet.” He laughed gently and said, “Your little brother will do my best as a host to fulfill your needs. Please eat freely and do not restraint yourself!” As he said, he gave a signal to order his servants to prepare food, not waiting for Zhan Bai to reply.

“Oh Brother! You are really…” Jin Caifeng interrupted but she left it unfinished. Her beautiful eyes like rolling meadows turned her glance from her brother to Zhan Bai. She sighed, “Look at our Young Hero Zhan…”

Jin Caifeng, who was famously called [Jiangnan most beautiful maiden] seemed like her eyes would really speak. Even before she could finish speaking, Young Master Qilin had understood and he laughed, “I would have forgotten about it if not for my sister.”

He raised his voice aloud and said, “Oei, someone come over here!”

Four maids in green immediately arrived and walked ritually in front of Young Master Qilin and they said together as one, “Young Master!...”

Young Master Qilin waved his hand and said, “Help our guest to change his clothing!”

Immediately, the four maids in green walked towards Zhan Bai and respectfully said, “Honor guest, please come with us!” And they turned around.

Zhan Bai hesitated for a minute. But really he was covered with sweat and it was time for him to bath. Therefore he did not reject and followed them.

After walking through several beautiful courts, he saw them opened a tall and big window glass door and led him into a grandeur and spacious bathroom.

In the center of the bathroom were two pools. The pools were crystal clear and he could see the bottom and in the middle of the two pools was a white jade statute of a half-naked maiden. And on the statue shoulder was a vase with water pouring forth into the pools. It gave a feeling of rejuvenation and feeling of comfort even before one had entered the pools.

When the four maids in green entered the bathroom, they began to loosen their belts and Zhan Bai was instantly startled. He asked hurriedly, “What! Are all of you are going to bath too?”





Chapter 21 Ended　　

Chapter Twenty-Two: Poisoned Wine



Zhan Bai was shocked that the four maidens had started to undress themselves in front of a stranger. What more, they did it under his watchful eyes as they stripped to nothing! Except for an extremely short underwear and a red cloth in front of their chest, there were practically nothing else.

Zhan Bai eyes were wide-opened at this suddenly display and he was dazzled by it. He could not even mutter anything.

The four maidens acted as if it were a routine chore for them. They had already prepared the towels but when they saw that Zhan Bai still did not take off his clothes but stared at them, they laughed and their eyes looked at him, “If you want to shower, why did you not take off your clothes?”

Everyone had something that they ought to be ashamed for. As a man that stared at unknown girls undressing themselves in front of him, unless he was crazy, no one would have the guts to do it so broadly.

Even if you were a courageous hero, if you were to be in this situation, you too would feel awkward; even though Zhan Bai had once torn off his clothing in front of a girl. But that was caused due to the effects of the ‘Enchanting Lyrical Soul Devourer Flute Play’ by [The Soul Snatching Silver Flute] Zhang Shipeng, thus causing him to lose his conscious and self-awareness.

But now he was conscious and all too aware. So how could he muster the courage to take off his clothing in the presence of four partial naked maidens? Moreover, they were looking at him.

At the same time, from beyond the bathroom door, echoed a swallow voice, “The feast has been laid, please notified our honor guest that the feast can start!”

The four naked maidens began to laugh together, “He…has not yet begin to wash yet!” When they finished, they began to laugh in chorus for several moments.

“What is the matter? After ages, the four of you have not even begun to serve…” The person stopped when she barged in through the door. When she saw that Zhan Bai was still fully clothed, she stood stunned in the center of the bathroom.

But soon after she began to laugh merrily, “Look at the four of you! Even before you have helped our guest to undress, you have helped yourself to undress first! Really! All of you are not doing any work anymore!”

Zhan Bai saw a maid dressed like the other four entered the bathroom. She was about twenty, slightly older than the other four maidens, had an elegant bearing and was graceful. Even her dress and accessories were more exquisite than the others. He supposed she must be a maid of higher position.

What shocked him was that she began to untie and loosen his clothing immediately, which made him extremely awkward and embarrassed.

In his startled posture, he tried to dodge away when the maid tried to untie his clothing on his body. But this maid was clever; it was as though she had already guessed that Zhan Bai would attempt to cower away therefore, she twisted her fingers slightly and when he cowered away, his clothing would be loosened.

She giggled and said, “Honor guest, it is the first time you have visited the Jin Residence therefore you may be unused to being attended upon. Please allowed us to attend to your needs!” And she had already removed his outer garments.

Zhan Bai was even more startled. Never did he expect a maid from the Jin Residence would possess such remarkable martial finesse.

Even though he would have easily protest with his martial skills but he would never bring his heart to injure the maid even though the owner of this residence, Jin Jiu, was his hatred enemy.

Therefore, he could only brushed in embarrassment and told her off, “Maidens! All of you go out. I can do it on my own…”

But before he could finish, something dropped on the ground from his garments. It was the colorful book…

“Yo, what is this pornographic book that it will held your attention?!” She asked and bent down to pick.

Zhan Bai was alarmed and startled at the same time! He knew that he was now in his foe’s home. Here is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, everywhere there was people of extreme talents and highly accomplished martial masters.

And this Soul Binding Book was the number one book that everyone in the martial fraternity would die to have! So how could he allow others to view it?

In his panicky state, he pushed the maiden away on her shoulders and she was knocked back five to six steps and into the pool.

And this maiden came out of the pool with her silk dress all wet and translucent.

The other four maidens clapped their hands and burst into merry laughter.

“Why are you four wrenches laughing at?” The maid stared a Zhan Bai with a vicious look. Since she was unable to scold Zhan Bai, she turned around to scold the young maids, “Hurry and lift me up, change the water and attend to our guest and help him to shower!”

The four naked maids seemed rather scared of her and they immediately stopped laughing and lifted her up from the pool. They drained the water from the pool and replaced it with fresh water.

Suddenly she said, “This guest is our Young Master’s honor guest. Pouring the “Jade Spring” is not respectful enough. Use that “Gentle Home Return” instead!”

When the four maids heard what she said, they were all startled for a moment but after seeing her staring at them in a strict manner, they bowed their heads low and walked away to press a button at the other side of the bathroom door. And a gush of fresh crystal clear water came forth from the vase of the half nude statue.

But Zhan Bai did not pay attention to her. He was distracted by her white flesh and figure as she was lifted up of the pool. She was beautiful enough but now she looked miserable.

Unable to bear to see her in this state, he apologized to her, “I really can’t have you looking at the book. In my hastiness, I was too rough. Maiden, please forgive me for being rude!”

She replied icily, “We are all meant to be servants of you Masters. If our service is not to expectations, we deserve to be scolded and beaten as you wish. We can only blame our parents for giving us a life of servitude!”
　　
But Zhan Bai knew that she had her difficulties and she must have felt wronged.

Therefore he did not mind at all and with all sincerity said to her, “I am born in poverty since young and never have anyone waiting on me before. I would like to ask everyone to go out and I will bath on my own.”

She looked in suspicious for awhile before she replied, “Your wish is my command. Since guest is afraid that our services are not as good as expected, we have to leave then.”

Then she turned around and said to the four other maids, “Dress up and then we will go!”

The four maids did not hesitated against her orders and immediately dressed up.

Just before she left, she said to Zhan Bai, “I hope that sir would hurry up and shower so as not to allow our Young Master to wait for you at the feast!”

Zhan Bai bathed hurriedly and he did not even wear the new garments that the Jin Residence had prepared for him. He wore his old clothing and left the bathroom.

Once again, he saw the four maids; they were waiting for him outside the door. Therefore he followed them to the grand hall.

Even before Zhan Bai had entered the hall, he could hear the loud merry voices of the pugilists. When he paid heed to these voices, he noticed that they were discussing about him. One said, “Although I could not tell his martial history but this young rascal is really something. Who would expect that Liang You the [River Dragon] could not even take one hit from him!”

Another continued, “His strokes are too mixed. I wonder how someone so young like him would have mastered all that?”

Then there were a series of praises.

When Zhan Bai heard that someone was praising him, he couldn’t help but feel comforted and be gratified. But then suddenly, someone in a loud voice interrupted over, “Stop blowing his trumpet! He could not even hold against one stance from our Master Ba Tianhe the [Iron Wing Bird]!...”

Just then, Zhan Bai had entered the hall and tens of watchful glances were upon him. There was a glow in their eyes. Who would have expected that the messy young man with unkempt hair that they had known earlier would emerge now with such jaded and polished face? What was more, he radiated a heroic spirit and remarkable handsome to look upon!

Even though he was still in that old clothing but there was no mistaking who he was.

Everyone was enthralled by Zhan Bai unearthly bearing and was staring wide-eyed at him, especially Jin Caifeng the [Most beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan]. Her beautiful watery eyes were looking at him and blinking from time to time at him. There was a strange and mystified look in her eyes…

Young Master Qilin was already on his feet and he bowed with his hands to invite Zhan Bai to the feast as well as introduced him to everyone present.

Zhan Bai glanced around and he saw many pugilists. All of them looked spirited and their piercing eyes were extremely intimidating. He knew instantly they were all the top martial exponents of the fraternity.

He bowed to them with his hands and heard Young Master Qilin making introduction for him,“This is Senior Master Gongsun Chu the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon]!”

Zhan Bai saw that this old man mannerism was bold and powerful, his glances were like lightning. He knew that he was definitely an extremely powerful martial exponent. He bowed with his hands and said, “Old Senior Gongsun, I have long heard of your fame!”

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] began to laugh aloud and his voice thundered the hall, “Good fellow, do not be too polite!”

“And this is Senior Master Ba Tianhe the [Iron Wing Bird]!” When Young Master Qilin mentioned his name, he was especially polite and he was extra respectful. “Just now, Brother Zhan you have met him and as the saying goes, “Only through fighting, does one makes acquaintances”! I hope in future, the two of them will be extra close to one another.” He laughed jokingly.

Zhan Bai could feel his face flushing red as he recalled feelings of humiliation and resentments. He suppressed his emotions and did not let it surface.

Instead, he blamed himself, “Oh Zhan Bai, Zhan Bai! You can’t even defeat a guest from their residency, how could you hope to seek vengeance on their Master?...”

Zhan Bai was upset emotionally and Young Master Qilin continued to make several introductions. The people that Young Master Qilin introduced, any one of them could rampage and startled the martial fraternity with their names.

But he did not pay heed and stood in stunned expressions. It was because his heart was boiling with raging, heart wrenching emotions. Therefore he even forgot to pay the due etiquette as required of him.

Suddenly, there was a deep hum and even though the voice was too loud but it was icy cold. It came from a handsome young man in black. “He did not possess true martial knowledge and skills, did not even know the proper etiquette of the pugilist fraternity, yet he dare to sit in high statute here!

The young handsome man was no more than twenty but judging from his bearing and that he could sit among the top exponents here, his martial foundation was definitely not weak!

It was because this handsome young man was Jin Jiu favorite disciple. Meng Ruping is his formal name. He had grown up in the Jin Residency since he was little. The love that Jin Jiu showered him was no less than his only son, Jin Xianglin. Moreover, he handed his most powerful martial knowledge to him. Even though he was young but he was already highly accomplished in martial skills. He was thoroughly versed in Jin Jiu’s secret projectile skill and could execute it to perfection. What was lacking was his internal power maturity. But among the young martial experts in the martial fraternity, he was already well known and he was given a nick, [Junior Money Jade Face]!

He was similar in age to both the Jin Brother and Sister. In fact, he was younger than Young Master Qilin by two years and older than Jin Caifeng by a year. He grown up with both siblings and he had developed feelings and affections for Jin Caifeng who was as beautiful as a fairy, therefore he had eyed her as his other pair.

Jin Caifeng was also affectionate towards him, often calling him, “Big Brother Ping” nonstop. But still he could not feel satisfied for he could tell that the affections that Jin Caifeng had showered him were that of a sisterly relationship and was that of a lover.

Moreover, as Jin Jiu’s youngest child, she was also the favorite of her father and was allowed to do freely whatever things she had wished. And she would travel to and forth among the people in the pugilist fraternity and was eager to recruit young and excellent fighters to their cause.

But in his eyes, it was a cause of jealousy and concern to him.

And today, he noticed that she was looking at Zhan Bai with interest. Even though all the young competitors in the past did not snatch the [Most beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan] from his hands, this down and crestfallen newcomer was giving him an uneasy feeling.

And when he saw that everyone was praising Zhan Bai, he could not help but said loudly earlier, “He could not even hold against one stance from our Master Ba Tianhe the [Iron Wing Bird]!”

Now that Zhan Bai was led to the most honored seat in the feast and he did not adhere to protocol and stepped down, this gave him an opportunity to use his hand sword to remove this needle once and for all!

Zhan Bai was already feeling ill at ease here, even though he did not show it. But when he heard those strongly worded sentences from Meng Ruping, he could not suppressed his ill feelings any longer.

He bowed with his hands and said, “It is not my intention to come to this esteemed residency. Since I am not welcome, I take my leave now!”

And he slipped his robes and turned around to leave…

But Young Master Qilin hurriedly attempted to stop him. He had a smile on his face as he tried to say, “Brother Zhan, is it because I am not sincere enough? Now that the feast is ready, no matter what, I would like to offer Brother Zhan a few cups of wine and water. Please allow me to fulfill my responsibilities as a host!”

Upon seeing that Young Master Qilin was sincere towards him and he was instantly sorry in his heart. He thought, “The [Ever Hospitable Xianglin] is sincere and this comes from his heart. It is not nothing that a hypocrite could be capable of!”

But still, he said, “Brother Jin, I’m really appreciative of you! But really, I have important matters to attend to. Allow me to pay you a visit in the future!” And he continued to walk away.

But even before Young Master Qilin could speak, Meng Ruping exclaimed coldly, “If you want to leave, please leave. Why make so many fake formalities! Do you think the Jin Residence would miss one esteem guest like you?”

“Senior protégé brother!” Jin Caifeng could not resist speaking. “What are you trying to do? My brother is trying to retain our guest, yet you are driving our guest away!”

Young Master Qilin too stared at Meng Ruping for a second before he pulled Zhan Bai with all sincerity and said, “My younger protégé brother is hot tempered by nature and therefore rude. Please do forgive him for that! Brother Zhan, even if you have urgent matters to attend to, please do drink a cup or two of drinks before you leave. Or else, I would think that Brother Zhan is looking down on me, Xianglin!”

Even though Zhan Bai wanted to leave but he could not find the heart to say so. Moreover by now, several senior martial masters had also spoken up for him to stay. But he did reply just yet.

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was a famous drunkard. When he saw that the wine was not about to be serve and he could not lay his hands onto it, he was getting impatience, “A young man shouldn’t be such a puss! It is not straightforward at all! Are you worried that this feast is actually a Hongmen Banquet (A banquet that is setup with the aim of murdering the guest) and that the wine is poisoned? Therefore you did not dare to drink from it!”

Zhan Bai was infuriated by him and he replied, “Old Senior Gongsun meant to say that I am given no choice but to drink three cups. But I must make it very clear. After drinking three cups, I will immediately leave. I don’t want anyone to laugh and think that I, Zhan Bai is someone that is afraid to die and is a coward!”

When he had finished, he lifted the wine cup and raised his hands to everyone, “Come on everyone! As a junior before everyone, I respectfully offered all the seniors a toast!” And he gulped the drink.

Jin Caifeng giggled and said, “Am I considered to be an old senior too?” With that, she too drank a cup.

Zhan Bai flushed with redness. When he had taken a drink, he felt as though his stomach was toasting in flames. He felt a warm and burning sensation rippling inside. He suddenly had a thought, “Is this wine really spiked with a powerful poison?”

But he suddenly thought that it was highly impossible. Young Master Qilin did not know of his true identity and he did not have reason to kill him. Moreover, as one of the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity and in the presence of many top notch fighters, would he still use such a despicable method?

When he came to this and under the roars and praises from the crowd, once again, he lifted a second cup and said, “I, Zhan Bai, is still a greenhorn and did not display proper etiquette just now. The first cup is for the seniors. The second cup is for those of my seniority!”

Jin Caifeng smiled delicately and said lovingly, “Now, it is closer to the truth!” When the eyes of this [Most Beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan] looked at Zhan Bai, there were a million affections in her expressions.

However, Zhan Bai did not notice it and continued to gulpe the second drink down hastily.

But it was noticed by Meng Ruping and he was filled with hatred for Zhan Bai. He really would want to beat him to a pulp.

How could Zhan Bai have known that Jin Caifeng’s million affectionate eyes would ignite upon him a fire of jealousy?

But after drinking this second cup, Zhan Bai could feel like he was burning on fire and throughout his five organs. An indescribable feeling of rush and lusts began to arouse in him….

But Zhan Bai thought that this Young Master would never in the presence of everyone attempted to secretly plot against him, therefore he did not mind at all. It must be because he tried to drink wine on an empty stomach…

But Jin Caifeng had already seen that something was not wrong here. She too, had drunk two cups and knew that these wine was the family best graded “Nǚ'érHóng” that was stored in the residency. The alcohol was not strong. Even if Zhan Bai were to drink eight to ten cups, it would not matter. So why did he just drink two small cups, his face would turn instantly as red as a red cloth? Moreover his eyes were emitting a strange glow and his body was unstable now.

“Ayah…” Even before she could ask for the reason, Zhan Bai had already lifted the third cup up and gulped it down his throat. She was left alarmed and frightened.

“Excellent wine!” Zhan Bai exclaimed. His body was now like charcoal and his fever caused him to be in a semi-dazed condition.

He had already felt something was not right here and he felt pain all over. Immediately, he knew he had fallen into a trap. Who would expect that Young Master Qilin, a person of such commanding high status in the martial fraternity would use such a despicable underhand undertaking on him?

When he mused over that he had fallen alone into his enemy’s hands and the results were disastrous! --- He had died, his family line was also cut off, he could not avenge for his father, he could not help but scolded in resentment and rage, “What excellent wine from the Jin Residence! Three cups are enough to break the intestines and to kill! What a pity that…”

Before he could finished, he had flipped over, collapsed and lost consciousness!...



Chapter Twenty-two Ended

Chapter Twenty-three: The Pleading Phoenix




Time passed and for how long, Zhan Bai did not know when he had awakened. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a bed.

Even though the bed was not as serene as Young Master Lingfeng’s room but its grandeur surpassed it.

He felt his throat dry and husky and his internal organs were still burning. He unwittingly said, “Water…”

A young boy with outstanding bearing and an extremely beautiful little girl was happy that Zhan Bai had awakened. They are none other than Mingming and Lanlan.

They turned around and ran out, all the while yelling, “Aunt! Aunt! He has awakened!”

And a beautiful person in mild dress entered the room. She was none other than Jin Caifeng, the [Most Beautiful Maiden in Jiangnan].

Today, she worn simply with a green ribbon on top, her long hair breezed along her. She did not have a single accessory on her and there was not a trace of cosmetics on her. But all the more, it displayed her outstanding beauty.

Indeed, her divine fragrance beauty was unrivaled! No wonder she was regarded as Jiangnan most beautiful maiden! There was a common saying, that a real beauty had no need for cosmetics and beautiful accessories. It was all too true.

When she entered the room, she looked at Zhan Bai with her wide eyes. Her watery autumn eyes were soft and mysterious. Her teeth was lustrous when she smiled at him.

When he set sight on the ever beautiful Jin Caifeng, he could not helped praising her in his heart, “So beautiful!...”

Her smiles were like a hundred flowers blossoming and her voice like golden oriole as she said, “Alas, finally you have regained conscious! Xiaohong, hurry and serve the tea!”

Zhan Bai was really thirsty and he was feeling unbearable but even before he could say it, she knew what he needed.

That Xiaohong, was the maid that he had unwittingly pushed into the pool because he had thought she wanted to snatch his secret soul binding manual! But for now, he had no other concerns except to quench his thirst first.

He snatched the cup and finished it immediately but after drinking, he was still feeling very thirsty so he used his tongue to lick the cup…

Jin Caifeng laughed, “I guess that you must be really thirsty. Xiaohong, serve him another cup!”

She was extremely beautiful, her intellect was also in the extreme. What others were thinking, she would have thought of. It was like, there was no need to say it out for her…

Even before Xiaohong could turn her body, Mingming and Lanlan had barged in and they were shouting, “Come on! Bring the tea!” They had brought a hot pot of tea.

It caused Xiaohong to be panicky and she angrily said, “Alas! My young ancestors! It is not of consequences to smash the teapot but if it were to scald your legs, it would not be funny anymore!”

Mingming artfully said, “Sister Hong, don’t you look down on others! Even if I let the pot slipped out of my hands, the water will not splash out!”

When Mingming had said that, he started to toss the pot towards Xiaohong.

“Alas!” Xiaohong’s expression underwent a great change. If it were an incoming secret projectile, she would have used her palm to knock it down or dodged it. But this teapot was from the imperial palace and was extremely precious. In fact, it was bestowed by the present Emperor and now Mingming had tossed it.

If she did not catch it well, not only would her fingers be scalded, the teapot would be broken as well! Even though her martial finesse was excellent in level but still, she was startled enough to cry out.

Just when Xiaohong was spreading her hands and was at a loss how to salvage the situation, Jin Caifeng was smiling and scolding at the same time, “Mingming! You are so naughty!”

As she said, she waved and the windforce from her palms lifted the teapot in the air by three feet and with the handle facing towards Xiaohong.

Xiaohong managed to catch the teapot by the purple gold handle. Not a drop of tea spilled over but she was so startled that she burst into cold sweat.

Zhan Bai lamented on the bed after watching the scene. These women and weaker sex had such martial abilities. Indeed, he must not underestimate them.

Zhan Bai finished the tea served by Xiaohong. He seemed to feel better but still, his limbs felt soft and lifeless.

Just then, four maids in green entered in chorus into the room. One of the maids bowed and respectfully said to Jin Caifeng, “Regards to Mistress, Young Master is here!”

“Amazing! His news is so well-informed indeed!”

Even before she had finished, Young Master Qilin had marched in followed by [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] and the [Iron Wing Bird].

“Brother Zhan, you have awakened!” When Young Master Qilin marched in, he went directly to the side of Zhan Bai’s bed and he appeared to be extremely concerned about him.

But Zhan Bai purposely avoided him and looked instead at the ceiling, ignoring him completely.

However, Young Master Qilin did not seem to mind this haughty attitude from him and he continued to express warmly, “Brother Zhan you have mistakenly bath with the “Frosty Spring water’ and the frost from the water obstruct all your vital channels. The fiery effects of the three cups of wine forcefully pushed through your channels therefore you temporary lose consciousness. But do not panic, even though your muscle and tendons have been affected and temporary is unable to move but I do have the antidote to remove the frost poison. In three days, you will recover. And…”

But Zhan Bai interrupted and replied coldly, “It is too much of a coincidence!”

Zhan Bai was extremely sarcastic when he said that. Even an unflustered person like Young Master Qilin was taken aback. But he immediately he regained his composure to said, “No wonder Brother Zhan is suspicious. And it also so coincidence that [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] had told a bad joke at the same time. This caused Brother Zhan to think that the wine had been poisoned and you had collapsed on the spot in the company of everyone. Not only me, but I Xianglin, was also fooled. I had heard from Xiaohong that Brother Zhan had mentioned that you was not used to being attended to, therefore you went on your accord to release the bath water yourself. I guessed that you must have released the wrong one and misunderstood the frost spring water for the warm one. That was why the incident happened!”

And when Young Master Qilin had finished, he laughed but he was also apologetic.

Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] laughed as well, “But I am really impressed with you, young yellow! You actually have the courage to face death with equanimity! Impressive! Impressive!”

And this hunchback old man who was so renowned in the martial fraternity for his fighting skills burst into a thunderous laughter and gave Zhan Bai a thumb up.

However, Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] commented coldly, “You don’t have to be so suspicious. Young Master Qilin is a true wuxia hero. Not only is he respectful to others, he is also renowned throughout the entire fraternity. If he really wanted to create trouble for you, he need not have poisoned the wine. This is all a coincidence and you have no choice but to believed it as the truth!”

Both the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] and the [Iron Wing Bird] was known as the Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence. Their status in the Jin Residence was highly exalted and everyone in the pugilist fraternity knew of that too. Since both of them had believed that it was a coincidence, surely there wasn’t a plot?

But still Zhan Bai refused to believe and icily replied, “It is true that I, Zhan Bai did not like to be attended upon. But the water from the bathroom is not released by me. That is the truth! I believed that both Old Seniors have always been high esteemed and words from your mouths are the golden truth. Moreover, The Jin Young Master is a true gentleman and he would not secretly plot to harm others. So then to say, I Zhan Bai, must have suffered a stroke on my own!? I would faint on my own then! Or is it because I can’t drink at all and three cups of wine is enough to drunk me?”

Even though Zhan Bai did not fault any but everyone would hear the contempt in his words.

One must imagine this. A person such as Young Master Qilin had such a high standing in the martial fraternity and allowed Zhan Bai to sullen his reputation and treat in contempt?

Even Jin Caifeng’s expressions had changed.

The [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] was even more aroused to anger. And their faces were seething with rage and at anytime, they would fly into a rage…

Young Master Qilin was surprising composed and he did not seem to have the intention to revile Zhan Bai. Instead, he turned his head around to Xiaohong and told her, “Lying to your Master, disrespect to our guest and by displaying arrogance, do you know you have committed a unforgivable mistake. What are you waiting for?

Xiaohong understood immediately and her face turned ashen. She was momentum stunned for awhile before she turned around and left the room without saying a word. Suddenly there was a loud knocking sound, similar to something crashing into a hard object that came from the outside.

From the sound, it had dawned upon Zhan Bai what had happened. He could not tell feeling stunned and he exclaimed to himself in a startled revelation, “Just because Young Master Qilin softly had said a few words, she would actually choose to commit suicide? The clan laws of the Jin Residence is really strict and severe!…”

While Zhan Bai was shocked by it but no one in the Jin Residence felt any remorse or moved by it. It was as though nothing had happened!

Young Master Qilin rose up to say, “Brother Zhan, in three days, I assured you that you would recover. Please recuperate and rest well!” When he had finished, he left with the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] and the four maids without even turning his head back.

Mingming and lanlan had already gone out to play without anyone noticing.

Now only Zhan Bai and Jin Caifeng was left in the bedroom since everyone had left.

Jin Caifeng looked at Zhan Bai and said melancholy, “What my brother did, is considered flattering to others. But instead, you are irked by it!”

“Please be more specific!” He said.

Originally, Zhan Bai had already nursed the Jins. Now that he had seen such a cruel chapter in their lives, his hatred for them deepened. Therefore, his tone and mannerism was extremely icy and cold towards this Jiangnan beauty.

“Even though Xiaohong is just a maid, her position is not low at all. Because on purpose, she is negligent towards the guest therefore my brother bestowed death upon her. In most pugilist clans, isn’t this considered to be a reward already? In order for my brother to win the friendship and fellowship of the people, it is considered to be justified. Only then would they faithfully render their services to our family. But you are different…”

Jin Caifeng was about to go on when Zhan Bai interrupted her with a cold laugh, “I am not a cold blooded person. I would never use another person’s life so as to win the fellowship of the pugilists in the fraternity. Your brother wishes to use the life of another to win over my fellowship so that I would feel grateful and repay him for his special favor. But I can tell you this: Dream on! I feel especially irked by it.”

Jin Caifeng answered, “But my brother did this in a fair manner and address it according to the circumstances. He has no intention to buy your fellowship on purpose. Xiaohong lied to her lord and cannot be forgiven. Not only is she negligent to our guest, she even plotted against our guest. It is considered to be disrespectful. Since she is disloyal and disloyal and her veil is exposed, she has no face to carry on. Since she is willing to die as a penance for her deeds to purge her name, it is considered a good way for penance. There is nothing wrong with it and it is not my brother blame as well. Why did you want to view my brother with such hatred? Unless you have another reason for that or else it is hard to explain!”

The way Jin Caifeng analyzed things was way too uncomfortable for Zhan Bai. Therefore he did not want to talk too much with her and feared that even before he could unravel the opposition first, his own purpose would be discovered first. It would bring great inconvenient to his vengeance plan in the future.

But suddenly he was startled by a thought that dawned suddenly upon him and he asked, “If that frost spring water has a frost poison in it, why then is it connected to the bath? Unless, it is…”

Jin Caifeng laughed gracefully, “Even if the Jin Residence would want to set a secret mechanism to harm another, there is no need for it to be put inside the bath pools. That is for purpose of my father’s martial practice use!”

“Your father!” Zhan Bai eyes were wide-opened as he asked. “Why then did I not seen your father? Is he not at home?”

“My father is right at home now!” Jin Caifeng replied curiously and was puzzled at the question. “It is because it is not convenient for him to move around therefore he did not want to meet any guests. That’s all!”

“Then at which part of the residence is he now?” Suddenly Zhan Bai regretted asking too hastily.

“Huh?” Jin Caifeng was even more surprised, “Does Young Hero Zhan knows my father?”

Zhan Bai had a bitter smile as he tried to explain, “Who doesn’t know Jin Jiu the [Heavenly Bronze Coin]? Everyone in the pugilist fraternity has heard of his resounding name!”

Jin Caifeng smiled as well and said, “So you have heard but not seen him personally?”

Zhan Bai could only nodded his head as a reply to her statement.

Jin Caifeng said, “This is more like it. My father has not been out for more than ten years. From your age, it is not likely that you could have met my father before!”

Zhan Bai asked curiously, “Why is that so?”

Jin Caifeng shot a suspicious eye upon him and asked astonishing, “Young Hero Zhan, you seem to be extremely concerned about my father?”

Zhan Bai turned red immediately and knew that his question had been too thinly veiled and careless. Now he had aroused her suspicious. He shook his head to deny, “I am just being curious. With your father’s prestige and renown in the pugilist fraternity, I wonder why did he stay at home for more than ten years?”

It immediately put a rest to Jin Caifeng’s suspicious and her beautiful face once again regained her serenity and composure. “The reason why my father did not go out for many years is because he has a strange illness that cause both his legs to be useless. Since he can’t move, he has to stay at the ‘Harmony Court’ to recuperate.”

Now he understood the reason, he was determined in his heart not to ask further in order not to arouse any suspicious.

Since then, he had been recuperating at the Jin Residence and Jin Caifeng visited him often to take care of him. As for Young Master Qilin, he had frequent visits from the heroes of the pugilist fraternity, he did not come that often.

In a twinkle of an eye, it was now the evening of the third day. By now, Zhan Bai had totally recovered his health and body. And he had decided to leave now.

Because Young Master Qilin was not home, he could not bide farewell to him. Even though Jin Caifeng tried a hundred reasons to retain him but he had already made up his mind to say goodbye.

From her reluctant for him not to leave and from her expressions, the striking beautiful Jin Caifeng the [Jiangnan Most Beautiful Maiden] seemed to have fallen for him over the past two days.

Towards this uniquely beautiful maiden that everyone else envied and admired, Zhan Bai was not bothered in his heart. As for Jin Caifeng’s soft whispering words, her million affections and sentiments, he was unwilling to even look.

But the more Zhan Bai was not bothered and unmoved, the more Jin Caifeng thought of him as an exceptional above all the others and the more she loved him so.

“Very well. Are you really in a rush to leave here?” Jin Caifeng eyed him with a mystified eyes, “Can’t you just wait in my house for a few more days?”

“No!” Zhan Bai replied cruelly. “This is because I have important matters to attend to!”

“Is it because my house is not that pleasing and comforting or it is…” Jin Caifeng cried.

“I did not say anything of that sort.” Zhan Bai said, “But I cannot allow myself to be delayed in your distinguished residence for long, that’s all.” His tone remained icily cold.

“Can’t you stay for just one more night?…” When Jin Caifeng had said to this point, her beautiful eyes were now glittering with tears.

When Zhan Bai saw her beautiful facial became distorted and her tears were so alluring and touching, he could not but feel his heart softened. He sighed and said, “Alas! This…this is truly impossible!”

At this moment, he had finally understood. It was not because he did not love this [Jiangnan Most Beautiful Maiden]. Everyone adored beauties and moreover she was deeply in love with him! But the vengeance in his heart forced him not to accept her love.

That was why under this innumerable emotions, he had said that even though it made no sense other than to himself.

When he had finished speaking, he saddled the Heartless Precious Sword onto his back and walked with great strides and never to look back again.

It was because his heart understood that could he stay for any moment longer, he would never have the heart to leave the Jin Residence again. Should he fell in love with the daughter of his father’s killer, what a dilemma he would be in! He could not avenge for his father and if he could not avenge for his father, his conscious would never be at peace. All these would be too unthinkable for him!

But after Zhan Bai took two steps, Jin Caifeng had suddenly caught hold of his arm and cried out in sorrow, “Wait a while. Can you wait for me to say something first?…”

Before Zhan Bai could reply, a shadow came through the window like a flurry breeze!

When the shadow had lands, both Zhan Bai and Jin Caifeng would see that it was the [Heavenly Bronze Coin] favored disciple and who also grown up together with the Jin Brother and Sister – Meng Ruping the [Junior Money Jade Face]!

He was all dressed up in deep black and his handsome face was haughty. He said solemnly, “Protégé Sister, let go of him!”

“Who needs you to interfere in my affairs!” Jin Caifeng voiced out unhappily. “Hurry and get out of here!”

Meng Ruping was stunned. He had never expected that the little protégé sister that he had grown up with would tell him off rudely! Therefore it aroused his fury and he said viciously, “Older Protégé Brother is not at home and I don’t care a hoot who is to disciple you. Do you really want to cast the Jin Residence in utter disgrace…”

There was a loud pang and Jin Caifeng had slapped him tightly on the side of his face but her voice was serene as she said, “In what way am I being disgraceful? Even my brother will never dare to tell me off in this manner!…”

Meng Ruping never expected her to hit him and he stood there in stunned silence. When he had finally realized it, five red finger marks were seen on his face.

Now he turned green with envy and anger. He stared viciously at her for awhile before turning around to stare at Zhan Bai, “Little rascal, if you do not leave the Jin Residence today, I will make sure you die in the wilderness and your body scattered all over the places!”

When he had finished, he stormed out of the door.

“So it seems then,” Zhan Bai replied with a bitter smile. “That I, Zhan Bai could no longer stay in the residence today!”

But Meng Ruping had already walked off and there was no sight of him.

But Jin Caifeng said to him by his side, “Young Hero Zhan, please rest assured that with me around, he will never dare to touch even a single hair of yours!”

Zhan Bai coldly mocked, “Without young mistress flattering help, I have faith that I can still handle this on my own!”

There was a strange glow in Jin Caifeng’s beautiful big eyes and she looked at him for awhile before she shook her head to sigh, “I am not trying to praise myself. Those that have looked upon me, will all praise me for being beautiful and they will all flock to me to heap praises upon me or to curry favors upon me. Moreover, countless young men have tried to get near to me but I have never before love alone.”

She paused for awhile, “But ever since I have seen Young Hero Zhan, I do not know why, I…”

Even Jin Caifeng was from a martial aristocracy clan, a daughter of the pugilists. Her boldness and grace exceeded would naturally surpassed that of an ordinary young mistress from a rich or noble family.

But still, she was flushing with red and could not continued.

When Zhan Bai saw her coyness and shyness, it was like so beautiful like a blossoming flower. She was indeed the most beautiful girl that he had seen among all the others. What more, her heart was for him and only. It was something that even a million gold could not buy and a wishful fate that one would only hope for but not has!

He suddenly recalled from an old man in the escort agency that he once worked, telling him, “In a person lifetime, he would meet a lot of people and have a lot of friends. A blossom friend is difficult to find. And an intimate girlfriend that understands you is even more difficult to find. If a exceedingly beautiful maiden is also one that understands you, do you know how many cycles of good karma that one have to undergo so as to have that!”

But now that Zhan Bai had finally known an intimate girlfriend but she was also the daughter of his father’s killer! Therefore he could not accept her affections. This is such a woeful fate!”

Zhan Bai was left in stunned silence for a while, not knowing what to say, would be the best…

Just when both were left wordless and was embarrassed alone with one another, there was a loud laughter that caused the windows to vibrate that came from outside the door.

“Virtuous niece, I have heard that you have disgraced our Jin Residence! That little rascal…”

When Jin Caifeng and Zhan Bai heard that voice, they almost turned ashen at the same time and bolted out of the door.

“Meng Ruping!” Jin Caifeng was so angry that she turned white. She rebuked him in a shrieking voice, “How dare you slander me! From now, I, Jin Caifeng will not recognize you anymore as my older protégé brother!”

Zhan Bai laughed aloud. “I thought that you have some great means to get back at me but all you know is to slander and tell tales! And you have to ask for accompany to help you!…”

When Meng Ruping had heard Jin Caifeng scolded him in such an unforgiving manner and Zhan Bai further aggravated him further. He was so aroused to anger fit that he felt he was bursting. So he shouted loudly, “I have invited the two old seniors to bear witness! You filthy rascal Zhan, do you think the Jin Residence is a place for you to display your atrocious ways? Just me alone can take away your filthy life!”

And he drawn out his sword from his sheath and displayed a stance, ‘Displaying the Water Divine Dragon’ and attacked Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai was no less slow and he tried to take his Heartless Precious Sword from behind his back.

But Meng Ruping did not wait for him to fully drawn out his sword and continued with ‘Dark Clouds over the Moon’, ‘Smiling Finger Southern Sky’ and ‘Punitive Bird Attack’ and attacked Zhan Bai in a lightning flash in three of his most vulnerable positions!

For a momentum, Zhan Bai lost an upper opportunity and he had to evade, block, parry and dodge all at the same time. Finally on the last stroke was he able to sprang a yard back but still he was still slower and a piece of cloth was sliced from his robe and he almost lost his leg!

Zhan Bai broke into beans of cold sweat as he narrowly avoided losing his leg and now the Heartless Precious Sword was now in his hand but it was still sheathed.

Jin Caifeng turned white with startled fright when she saw Meng Ruping almost hacked off Zhan Bai’s right leg but when she saw that Zhan Bai had just managed to avoid it narrowly, she told him off, “Are you trying on purpose to shame and disgrace the Jin Residence?”

“In what way did I shame the Jin Residence?” Meng Ruping replied defiantly, “Unlike you, you have really shamed and disgrace the Jin Residence!”

Jin Caifeng was so upset by his remarks that her jade face flustered and she hatefully replied, “You have no right to meddle into my own affairs! But when you fight with the other, even before he has drawn his weapon, you have launched such fiery pre-emptive attacks! Even my father will feel extremely ashamed of you!”

“Shut up!” Meng Ruping shouted thunderously, “He has only to blame for his poor martial skills. When fighting with others, he can’t even draw his sword out properly. Do you expect others to put a sword on his hand first instead?”

As they continued to bicker, Zhan Bai made use of this breathing space and unsheathed his Heartless Precious Sword from the scabbard.

As it was now evening, the darkness had already descended on the place. The servants of the Jin Residence had hung many lanterns to light the place. And they had also gathered around to watch with great interest as well. They did not seem the least surprised or startled by this latest commotion. It was a common thing that frequently happened in the Jin Residence.

A cold piercing light unsheathed from Zhan Bai’s Heartless Precious Sword as he yelled, “Young Mistress Jin, please move aside! Tonight, I, Zhan Bai will like to meet this so call expert!”

“How wonderful!” Not only did the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] not stop the fight, they were eager to witness the fight as they shouted.

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was shouting, “Young fellow! That is the right spirit! Go on and fight!”

Not waiting for Jin Caifeng to say a word more, Meng Ruping quickly thundered, “Now you have a sword in your hand, you have nothing more to add. Now filthy rascal, prepare to surrender your life!”

Suddenly as he said, he sprang into mid-air and a green glow of light emitted from his sword as he prepared to hack right into Zhan Bai’s head!

When Zhan Bai had seen his agile movements, his vicious swordplay and even before his stroke was bore to fruition, he could feel the icy cold sword energy on his face. He immediately recited the ‘Calming Meditation’ verse and executed a stance with his Heartless Precious Sword, ‘Reversing Heaven and Earth’.

Now the Heartless Precious Sword was indeed a divine weapon. And it immediately halted the advances of Meng Ruping glaring swordplay and stopped the incoming glow!




Chapter Twenty-Three Ended

Chapter Twenty-four: The Intense Duel



When Meng Ruping saw that Zhan Bai’s sword was no ordinary sword, he was still determined to channel all his internal power to his wrist and hacked towards Zhan Bai while still in mid-air.

There was a shower of brilliant golden sparks as both swords clashed towards one another. The brightness was similar to a burning tree and the imagery was like a mirage!

Both felt their shoulders growing numb at the same time and the power of their strength was actually equaled!

As Meng Ruping had the advantage of the brilliant light in mid-air, he quickly tumbled eight yard away.

Both quickly started to inspect their swords for damage!

Zhan Bai’s Heartless Precious Sword was still as crystal like as water and did not seem to be damaged in any way while Meng Ruping’s black long sword was still as dark and also did not have any damage.

Therefore, both of them instantly knew that the other side had a precious sword in their hands and gave up the idea to damage the other’s weapon. And both decided to use all their best martial skills and once again they began to enter the melee.

Everyone could only glimpse the rainbow glare of Zhan Bai’s Heartless Precious Sword and Meng Ruping’s black long sword was like a black dragon flashing everywhere. Two powerful sword energies were flaring and its heat was radiating from the area!

When both were fighting fast and furiously, no one could see where they were except for their sword energies!

In a twinkle of the eye, they had exchanged more than forty strokes.

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was staring at the area and was shouting in a loud voice as he appraised both their swordplay, “Heh! Very good, young fellow! This stroke, ‘The Golden Needle holding the Seas’ is indeed well executed and worthy!”

“Alas! What a pity! Ruping! This stroke ‘Hacking the Prawn in the Waves’ is only lacking two inches and it could not harm the opposition…”

[Iron Wing Bird] was very solemn but his sharp brilliant small eyes were staring unblinking at the fight. He was biting his lips tensely but refused to say anything.

Jin Caifeng the [Jiangnan Most Beautiful Maiden] knew that her older protégé brother had inherited her father’s best skills and she was secretly worried for her admirer. Her big water eyes were looking unblinking at them and her fists were grasped tightly, so much that her fists broke into cold fragrance sweat.

As for the maids and man servants that were in the area trying to see the commotion, they were all dumbfounded as they stared wide-eyed. Even though they had seen many furious duels before but they had never seen one so tense and furious before.

The cold piercing sword wave and the windforce that was generated was extremely cold and its light too flaring. Quite a few was scared by it and could not stand properly. Unconsciously, they had begun to step back continuously.

And Zhan Bai and Meng Ruping was now at the most critical stage of their life and death.

Meng Ruping swordmanship was extremely high and moreover his swiftness movement arts were also agile. The way he moved was like an extremely agile monkey moving around and his swordplay was extremely vicious. All his strokes were aimed at Zhan Bai’s vulnerable positions. He could not wait to kill Zhan Bai hence removing this love foe.

Zhan Bai’s internal strength was vigorous therefore his breathing and execution was steady. His swordplay was orthodox and his hands, eyes, body, stroke, steps and in all ways were all extremely steady as though he had practiced long and hard before. As his swordplay was orthodox, honorable and aboveboard, there seemed to be an air of graceful poise and he seemed have a demeanor of a grandmaster.

As Meng Ruping fought with him, he was feeling weirder and weirder for Zhan Bai’s swordplay was the most commonly seen swordplay in the martial fraternity called the 'Thrice Swordplay'. He only added a few weird additional modifications to it and it was not at all useful and brilliant.

He had always thought highly of his swordplay and was renowned as a swordsman too but still, he could not gain any advantage over him at the moment! He had already carried out several secret killer strokes and yet Zhan Bai did not panic and remained extremely composed as he used a simple stroke from a simple swordplay and neutralized his intricate killing strokes.

At this moment of time, they had battled close to a hundred exchanges without an outcome.

As Meng Ruping was growing impatience and coincidentally when Zhan Bai executed a stroke from the ‘Cosmos Return’, and hack across onto his head, this gave him an excellent opportunity!

Suddenly he blended over his body. Not only did he avoided Zhan Bai’s attack, he also counterattacked with a stroke from the ‘Moon’s Reflection’ and hurriedly hacked at Zhan Bai’s underneath!

Zhan Bai reacted by springing upwards and he displayed the ‘Meteorite over the Moon’ and once again aimed at the top of Meng Ruping’s head once more.

According to convention thoughts, Meng Ruping should have immediately use ‘The Evading Wind’ or the ‘Divine Bee’ to avoid Zhan Bai’s ‘Meteorite over the Moon’.

But he was too eager to claim a victory and therefore he thought he would try a risky stroke so as to achieve victory. Therefore he did not dodge or move and thrust his sword upwards with a stroke, the ‘Million flowers Meeting the Buddha’ and aimed directly at Zhan Bai’s chest.

Indeed, this stroke was extremely risky. If Zhan Bai swiftness arts were higher and he could change his position in mid air, and hovered upwards by three more inches, he would have pierced the top of Meng Ruping’s head.

But after close to a hundred strokes of exchange, Meng Ruping had figured out how the extend of Zhan Bai Zhan Bai swiftness agility. He had calculated that Zhan Bai could not know how to change his position in mid air nor could he hovered upwards, therefore he executed this risky stroke.

But did Zhan Bai really do not possess the ability to change his position in mid air? He could! It was because his martial arts and internal power had improved too rapidly that he himself did not know the potential of his internal power! Moreover he was also lacking in fighting experience and he expected Meng Ruping would dodge his attack.

But when Meng Ruping did not back off and thrust his sword horizontally towards his chest and Zhan Bai knew that he could not evade it and saw that he was about to be killed…

Those with average martial skills would never have saw how risky this stroke was but the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] and Jin Caifeng knew that this stroke was risky beyond compare and all of them gave out a startled cry.

“Ruping!” [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] gave a great shout, “What sort of fighting style is this!” And he sprang forward…

It was too late.

Zhan Bai panicked and he tried to muster all his internal powers onto his wrist and hand, channeling all the surrounding vital internal energies into his sword and swung it, knocking Meng Ruping’s black long sword away onto the ground leaving Meng Ruping stunned with his mouth opened.

Zhan Bai immediately flinched his wrist and landed the cold blade of the Heartless Precious Sword at Meng Ruping’s throat.

When Meng Ruping had saw that he was defeated, he was so miserable that he could feel as though a million arrows had just pierced him. This was the first time that he had been defeated in such a miserable state! And his beautiful face turned gray.

Zhan Bai had not expected he could freely muster and withhold his internal power to this stage. So when he placed the Heartless Precious Sword onto Meng Ruping’s sword, he too, was stunned and did not continued anymore.

“Hahaha!” [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] arrived like the wind and he was in front of them. He laughed heartily before he said, “Young fellow, you are really something! You have won and it is such an admirable victory! But it is just a duel to display both your inherent talents. Since both of you do not have any enmity with one another, that is enough. You can now sheathed your sword!”

Even though the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was very old, he had a ruddy red face and his bearing was majestic and commanding. His voice too was like a loud thunder and he had a charismatic presence.

Zhan Bai did not wish to kill someone who could not retaliate and moreover his plot to avenge his father was still undiscovered, he was still a guest in the Jin Residence. Also, he did not to be accused of killing an innocent. Of course, [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] played an important role with his commanding voice as well.

Therefore he sheathed his sword and stepped eight yards back before saying, “I will pay heed to old senior.” But he continued to face Meng Ruping and coldly said, “As long as you do not consider everyone else beneath you and to go about with your nose in the air…”

“Filthy rascal! Don’t be a too sure of yourself!” Meng Ruping thundered, “See if you can handle this or not!” He waved his left hands and a multitude of dazzling green light furiously flied towards Zhan Bai.

Meng Ruping used the ‘Showering the Skies’ method to launch the secret projectiles of the [Heavenly Bronze Coin] that was so famously known throughout the pugilist fraternity as the ‘Golden Coin Darts’.

“Older protégé brother! How dare you!...” Jin Caifeng exclaimed in startled cries…

[Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was equally shocked, “Ruping!” Zhan Bai was a guest of the Jin Residence and he had heed his advises and sheathed his sword. But he never expected that his own people did not respect his reputation and took the opportunity to make such a vicious sneak attack!

Therefore he thundered out angrily, “What are you trying to do…” And at the same time tried to knock down the darts with his windforce from his palms.

But the ‘Golden Coins Darts’ were specially made and the method of throwing was equally unique. Even the powerful windforce of the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] could not knocked all the darts down! And several darts sped past him faster than before like meteor showers and aimed towards Zhan Bai!

There were three golden clanks of metals and three golden flare as three of the golden coin darts were knocked down by Jin Caifeng! It was because she had already prepared three golden coin darts in case of an emergency earlier.

When she saw that old senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] failed to knock down all the darts, she had launched hers.

But there were still four darts that were left! The golden coin darts were aiming at Zhan Bai’s shoulders and his legs!

When Jin Caifeng tried to take out more of her golden coin darts to save Zhan Bai, it was already too late. Her beautiful crescent face turned pale…

Zhan Bai tried to dodge the darts by tumbling but could only dodge three of them. He was struck on his left shoulder and the dart went deeply into his shoulder as fresh blood oozed out!

Zhan Bai felt a chilling energy on his injured shoulder and it went straight into his organs! He knew instantly that the secret projectile had been coated with poison! He was startled immediately but he clenched his teeth tightly and endured the pain. Quickly, he sealed his accupoints on his left shoulder and with his right fingers and then secretly used the ‘Golden Vest’ hand method to force the dart out.

“Young Hero Zhan!” Jin Caifeng quickly took out a pill and melancholy cried out, “This is the antidote. Hurry and administrate it! Or else…”

Zhan Bai clenched the golden coin dart that he had forced out and his expressions were terrible. And there were tears of blood flowing from his eyes. He did not even noticed Jin Caifeng soft and demure voice…

Jin Caifeng was flabbergasted when she saw the terrible expressions on Zhan Bai. She could not help but feel a chill in her heart.

She said in a trembling voice, “Young Hero Zhan, please do not be like this! It is my older protégé brother that wronged you. Wait for my brother to come back and I will surely inform him and asked him to administrate justice on your behalf!”

As she said, she tore off the clothes from his injured shoulder and administrated the antidote into the wound. She used her jade hand and massage continuously…

But Zhan Bai was not paying any attention. His mind was far away and was thinking of a sorrowful thing. But no one else knew what was in his mind…

When Meng Ruping had saw how concerned Jin Caifeng was towards Zhan Bai, his jealousy was once again ignited and he was prepared to use the golden coin darts once more.

“Ruping!” Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] thundered aloud, “What are you doing? Are you not showing me at least a little respect and really wants me to make a move on you?!”

But Zhan Bai was not aware of the commotion and when Jin Caifeng helped him to administrate the antidote, he did not notice too. It was because he suddenly remembered how terrible his father had died. This golden coin dart was similar to the bronze coin and one of the six objects that his father had given to him just before he had died!

Immediately, he had imagined how his father was surrounded and had fought six powerful exponents. It was such a bloody scene. His father, Zhan Yuntian of the Thunderbolt Sword fame with his Heartless Precious Sword was trapped in the midst of the six most powerful exponents of his time. Did they attack him at the same time or did they use a wolf pack tactic to wear him off?

He really would not guess but he was sure that his father fought till the very end and exhausted all his vital internal energies before Jin Jiu or maybe others as well began to use their secret projectiles on him! Finally they began to descent upon him and began to hack…

But why did these people of the Jiangnan Seven Heroes fame who had sworn together in a brotherhood and swore to die together suddenly decided to gang up against his father? It was a mystery that was hard to figure it out!…

Zhan Bai continued to think. If his father did not die, he would share equal fame and renowned with the Jiangnan Seven Heroes and he himself, would grow up too with the status that was accorded to the present four young masters of the martial fraternity. At the very least, he would be travelling alone with his parents as they sojourned across the pugilist fraternity joyfully and led a carefree life. Unlike now, he was forced to wander in a downcast manner across the pugilist realm and had no place for him to settle. He was really pitiful!…

But Zhan Bai had a sudden realization. He was now without doubt that this golden coin dart was indeed Jin Jiu’s bronze coin dart! This proves that this Jin Jiu was without doubt his father’s killer and although he took a risk by entering the Jin Residence, he did not have the opportunity to see Jin Jiu yet.

But if he were to kill jin Jiu’s favorite disciple, he would surely appear! Now that he had this opportunity, why not take this chance to avenge for his father? If not, would he have any more chances in the future?

When his thoughts cleared, Zhan Bai suddenly shouted, “Stand where you are!”

This explosive shout was burst out from Zhan Bai vented up hatred and infused with his vital internal energies. His voice was like thunderbolt and it deafened the ears of all the others, causing them to feel a piercing breaking pain!

After Meng Ruping was yelled by Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon], he picked his black long sword and turned to move away. But after he took two steps, he was halted by Zhan Bai’s shout and he immediately turned around and stared viciously at him. “I will surely stand where I am! Hehe! Do you really think with your lousy swordplay, you can really win? That is because I am careless, that is why you managed to this small opportunity for victory. If it isn’t for the sake of Old Senior Gongsun, you will surely have died earlier!”

Zhan Bai unsheathed his Heartless Precious Sword and said, “There is no need to be so courtesy. We can start afresh and who is the strong, who is weak, there will be an outcome soon enough!”

Meng Ruping flashed his black long sword in his hand and exclaimed, “Do you think I am afraid of you!”

“Young Hero Zhan!” Jin Caifeng anxiously pleaded, “You are carrying an injury now. Do not be bothered with him…”

Even Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] said, “Let get over this. We have already seen everyone’s strength and what is the point of another fight? This is not a vendetta…”

Zhan Bai pushed Jin Caifeng away and said, “Today, no one can stop us! If he do not die, then I will perish then!”

Everyone was astonished and thought that they were really going to kill one another. But they did not know the vendetta in Zhan Bai’s heart and the fire of jealousy in Meng Ruping’s heart had both ignited a burning fire that was three thousands feet high.

“Good!” Meng Ruping shouted, “Today, I will surely end this with you!” And he charged at Zhan Bai with a stroke ‘The Fire Prawn Piercing the Sun’.

Zhan Bai knew by now that Meng Ruping’s internal strength was not as solid as his foundation. He had depended on the mysteries and intricacies of his superior swordplay. Not wanting to lose his opportunity for as time flew, he might be on the losing end, he too, charged into the fray a ‘Making Waves off the Southern Seas’.

This type of swordmanship and fighting style was an extremely rare sight in the martial fraternity. Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was overjoyed while Jin Caifeng was startled. Even Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] was showing emotions on his face as they all grasped.

Both Zhan Bai and Meng Ruping were both attacking furiously. They scattered the vases and various decorations in the court as they fought from one end to the other.

At first, it was Zhan Bai that was making all the attacks for more than ten strokes, and Meng Ruping was in a state of panicky as he tried to fend it off. Then when Meng Ruping got a breathing space, it was his turn to attack Zhan Bai continuously with his many superior swordplay, all of it extremely vicious and aimed at Zhan Bai’s most vulnerable positions.

But when it was Zhan Bai’s turn again, he too responded again with hurried attacks.

The people in the martial fraternity had never witnessed a fight like this one. Even the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] and all the veterans of the pugilist fraternity here who had seen and been to countless number of fights had never saw such a level of crazy fight before! For awhile, everyone was looking dumbfounded and even forgot to stop the fight…

Jin Caifeng was in a state of panic and she did not know what to do. She did not want Meng Ruping to hurt Zhan Bai but she also did not want Zhan Bai to hurt Meng Ruping. No matter, among all the others, she was the most anxious.

But both of them were fighting like crazy tigers and her voice was hoarse from shouting but they did not seem to bother and was focused on their intense and vicious fight.

Both their fighting style was exceptional unique. One made use of his great agility and superior swordplay, the other had a good foundation in his internal power and steady swordplay.

The entire court was now in a chaotic mess as more than a hundred strokes had been exchanged by both sides. It seemed that even if two hundred strokes were to be exchanged, there would still be no outcome.

Many started to heave and sighed. This fierce battle was a once a lifetime scene. Quite a few began to wonder what might the result be once the battle concluded at the end?

The [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] were too engrossed in the fight and forgot their supposed responsibilities and duties. Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was gesturing with his hands and responding with praises while the solemn face of Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] was excited beyond measuring; he was staring intensely with his small eyes at the crazed battle that was going on.

But before long, Meng Ruping was sweating and beads of perspiration flowed from his head as his internal strength was inferior to Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai battled more and more courageous even though blood was dripping down from his injuries on his left shoulder. He attacked furiously as though his internal power improved the more he used it.

But now, Zhan Bai had corned Meng Ruping with the light of his sword.

Meng Ruping saw that he was surrounded by the imagery of Zhan Bai’s sword and he began to feel pressurized. He began to grow anxious and knew that if it were to continue, he would surely be defeated. This was not just a matter of pride! Not wanting to be defeated, not wanting to lose his beloved, it did not matter if he lost the respect of others, even his life would not matter!

He had secretly decided to harden his will to kill and he had taken out the golden coin darts and placed it in his hand secretly!

Jin Caifeng was so hoarse from shouting that she could no longer shout anymore. Now that Zhan Bai had the upper hand, she could tell from his expressions that if he had won, he would not hesitate to kill Meng Ruping.

And Meng Ruping’s expressions were equally vicious. He had already put the golden coin darts that her father had given him into his palms. Once this life pursuing golden coin darts were released, Zhan Bai would surely die or wounded by it!

She did not want anyone of them to be dead or wounded. Therefore she was in a state of great anxiety and her beautiful face had turned ashen. She had been too anxious and when she regained some of her composure, her intelligent mind reminded her that since her brother was not around, there was still the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] that was around. Only they had the power and ability to stop this fight. She looked at Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] who was looking intensely at the fight and said, “Uncle Ba! Will you please stop them! Or else…”

When she saw that Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] was too engrossed to take notice of her, she suddenly remembered that he was a weird person and sometimes did certain thing that was beyond the comprehension of the others. Therefore she turned towards Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] and said, “Uncle Gongsun! Will you please step in and stop them from fighting!”

Gongsun Chu the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] began to laugh happily, “Maiden, don’t you worry. Although they are fighting intensely but for the time being, the outcome…oh shit!”

Before he could finish, there was a horrible loud scream and blood was scattered everywhere!

Meng Ruping had turned horribly white and his left shoulder had been hacked off! Even though his right hand was still clutching his sword, it was now shaking uncontrollable!

When the servants of the Jin Residence saw their Master’s favorite disciple was injured, there was cries of panicky and anxiety…

When Jin Caifeng was asking Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] for help, Zhan Bai had saw Meng Ruping reaching out for the golden coin darts. He had continued with a few violence and furious sword strokes before he displayed ‘Slant Abandoned’, a sword stroke from the Wind Chaser Swordplay.

This unique masterstroke was actually a superior swordplay from the Wind Chaser Swordplay using the principle of ‘There is falsehood in the Truth and there is Truth in falsehood’. Somehow Zhan Bai had picked it up from the Fan Brothers. He had a knack of learning any skills even in duress and it was not just mimic and could apply it and modified it to his own use without knowing the techniques involved.

Meng Ruping had saw Zhan Bai’s sword towards his right side and when he wanted to throw the golden coin darts, Zhan Bai had reversed his body and now his right was his left and caught by surprise, his arm was hacked off as he could not avoided Zhan Bai’s sword in time!

And the golden coin darts, together with his arm scattered on the ground.

It was really a coincidence. If Jin Caifeng did not try to ask Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] for help, he would not be distracted and would surely have helped Meng Ruping and not let Zhan Bai hurt him.

Even though Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] had seen it but he did not want to stop it. It was because if two sides battled with one another and one side were to perish, the person that perished deserved to die for his lack of skills and should not blame it upon others. Even if it were his own son, he would not care a hoot and he deserved it! It was because he had this view that a duel without blood was a disappointment instead.

When Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] had seen that, he knew a troublesome tragedy had occurred. He immediately sprang forward into the scene and while in midair, extended his palm towards Zhan Bai. He was afraid that Zhan Bai might take advantage of Meng Ruping in his injured state therefore he entered the fray to interfere.

But Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] was even swifter than him and like a flying bird descending upon a prey, was on top of Zhan Bai in an instant! He was like a mountain crashing down onto him!

Two powerful hurricane windforce, one left and one right descended upon Zhan Bai.

When Zhan Bai had caught sight of such a startling power, he dared not to engage in close melee and therefore he sprang back a yard away.

There was such a thunderous clap when both Old Seniors accidentally struck one another with their palm and claw that dust flew all over the place!

When they discovered that Zhan Bai had sprang backwards, they withdrawn in time half of their might but the power generated was still so awesome. The foundation of their internal power was indeed absolutely startling!

But Zhan Bai shown no sight of being afraid and he waved his sword to say, “Does the two Old Seniors wish to interfere and fight with me as well?”

Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] sealed the accupoints of Meng Ruping’s accupoints on his upper left shoulder to stop his blood loss. Next, he immediately two servants to hurry and get some medicines…

As for Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird], he said coldly to Zhan Bai, “Rascal! Why don’t you hack off your shoulder now to save me the troubles of doing it later!”

Zhan Bai waved his sword but before he could say anything, Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] interrupted with a laughter. “Second brother Ba! Let them settle it themselves! Why should we interfere? If this gets out to the pugilist fraternity, won’t we be a laughing stock and others would say we are using our seniority to bully the weak! Let these junior pugilists handle it on their own!”

Meng Ruping who just had some medical aid from the servants now walked towards Zhan Bai. He stared at him viciously and said, “I will never forget this vendetta, I will surely take vengeance for the loss of my arm!”

Zhan Bai retorted, “I will surely welcome you anytime, anywhere!”

Surprising, Old Senior [Iron Wing Bird] seemed to be extremely obedience to Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] and did not say a word more now.

As for Jin Caifeng, her beautiful face had turned pale and she did not know what to do now…

Zhan Bai paid a respect to Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] with his hands and said, “Old Senior, if there isn’t anymore thing, I take my leave now!”

Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] was taken aback, “Young Fellow, why not wait till tomorrow? Wait for our Young Master to be back before leaving, alright?”

“I really have urgent matters to attend to and cannot afford to wait any longer,” Zhan Bai replied. “My sincere apologies and many thanks to you. I will now take my leave.

When he had finished, he sheathed the Heartless Precious Sword and once again, bowed with his hands and turned around to leave…

“Young Hero Zhan….” Jin Caifeng called out hurriedly thrice but Zhan Bai did not for once turn his head around and walked away.

Old Senior [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] stared at Zhan Bai all the way till he had vanished from sight but he did not say anything more to hold him back…

When Zhan Bai left the Jin Residence, he did not attempt to stay in any Inns for the night but he traveled throughout the night towards the Mountain Rocks of the Twelve Caves.



******************



At this moment, Zhan Bai was pleased with himself but at the same time, he was disappointed.

He was pleased that his martial arts had shown improvement and he could defeat Jin Jiu’s direct successor Meng Ruping. 　

He was disappointed because he had witnessed the martial levels of the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence] and their martial level were simply too high and had no way to win. Moreover, there were so many highly accomplished exponents in the Jin Residence. How could he alone defeat everyone? It seemed beyond his reach to avenge for his father…

And in his mind, the images of Jin Caifeng often appeared to him. He thought often of her lovely deep affections for him. It made him sweet and bitter at the same time, joy and sadness…

Zhan Bai walked slowly towards the Mountain Rocks of the Twelve Caves. The reason why he did not hurry was because he did not know where to find Old Senior [Divine Donkey with the Iron Gut] Dong Qianli and secondly, he had many things on his mind.

He walked past many caves and even though all those caves were deserted but there were signs and markings left behind by travelers and tourists. He began to feel that the information by Old Senior [Living Dead Man] was unreliable. A reclusive hero like Dong Qianli would never like to be in the company of noisy and troublesome travelers. He had made a futile trip…

But still he did not give up and even though he knew it was useless, he continued to search the mountains. After another three caves, he went deep inside the mountains.

When he walked past a peak, suddenly he could hear the melodious voice of a young maiden, “This round is not counted! Once more!”

Then an old man voice said, “Why do you have so many funny ideas, young girl? Are making taking an old man like me for a monkey? No way I am not going to do it again!”

Another old man’s voice was heard laughing aloud, “Don’t you deny it! If you do not do it again, then admit that you have lost!”

“I won’t let you win me that so easily! Even though I am an old man that do not have any legs but it is not something that can bow me over!” When he had finished, there was a breeze coming from that direction!

When Zhan Bai had heard those three voices, a feeling of familiarity struck him but he could not recall who they were. He was more curious why three people would hide in the mountains and gambled in secret?

Therefore he hastened his steps and when he was near, he moved silently and out of sight. Then he saw in front of him was a gigantic boulder on the ground, as though it was man made arena.

Then he saw a young maiden in white, a thin old man with white hair and another old man with no legs.

That old man with no legs was standing with his hands and he was hopping around like he was jumping and flying! He was really weird and looked like he was doing the devil dance under the moonlight!

Under the moonlight, coupled with Zhan Bai superior eyesight, he could see quite clearly. That old man without any legs was the strange old man that had chased the [Jiangnan Two Extraordinary] three days earlier.

As for the thin old man with white hair, it was too far for Zhan Bai to identify him.

As for that young maiden in white, with her beautiful hair fluttering, was the delicate and innocent Zhan Wan’Er.

“Why did she come to the wilderness with two old men? What game is she after?…”

The old man without legs, grasped his clutches proudly and said, “What do you think? Even though an old man like me has no legs, I can still do it!”

“Alas!” Wan’Er sighed deeply before saying, “I think both of you have comparison martial powers. It is really hard to determine an outcome. Why not give it up!”

“What do you mean by comparison?” The old hair old man protested. “Little girl! Why don’t you pointed out who has the higher martial prowess! But no matter, I insist on proving which among us, have the truly superiority!”

“That is right!” The other old man with the clutches exclaimed. “We have already contested for three days and three nights, I bet you have already taken out all your skills. I bet you do not have any masterstrokes in your sleeves anymore! I must fight it all out with you!”

“But what is there to contest anymore?” Zhan Bai said, “Fist, palm, weapon, secret projectile, internal power, internal vital energies, swiftness agility and movement, what else is left? I think, why don’t both of you just admit that you are equal and make it a tie!”

“No way! No way!” The thin and white hair old man shook furiously as he repeated himself twice. Then he suddenly said, “Now the topic has arrived. Earlier, a man has just arrived and he is now watching us in secret…”

Without waiting for the thin and white old man to finish, the old man with the clutches interrupted, “I have already known that! Haha! He is just hiding behind that big tree on that mountain slope!” And he waved his clutch towards the direction of Zhan Bai.

Zhan Bai was startled. He was very sure he had concealed himself perfectly but who could expect that he was still unable to mask it from those two old men. Just when he was about to come out of his hiding place, the thin and white hair old man panicky shouted, “Wait! Wait a minute! Just stay where you are and don’t reveal yourself just yet!...”

Zhan Bai was even more startled. He thought, “I didn’t even move and he could guess what is in my mind? Does this old man have the ability to ‘Inspect the Heavens and Listening to the Earth’? How else then would he able to know what is on my mind!...”



Chapter Twenty-four Ended

Chapter Twenty-five: Divine Donkey vs the Divine Ape




“Let us guess the identity of this unknown person,” the thin old man said. “How old is this person? Is it male or female? Who can correctly guess it is the winner and the one that deduct wrongly is considered the loser! Old freak, what do you think of this idea?”

The old with the clutches began to laugh aloud. “You sly old man that rides a donkey! No matter how smart you are, you will never fool me! Someone that you have known has arrived, do you think I do know yet?”

When Zhan Bai heard that the thin old man was the one that rode a donkey, he immediately concluded that this eccentric old man must be the reclusive master Dong Qianli of the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] fame that he had been searching for all along!

Therefore, he sprang onto the platform while shouting, “Old Senior Dong! I, Junior, have been searching for you in despair all this while!” He had forgotten that they were in the midst of a contest.

Dong Qianli stared blankly for instance. His martial accomplishments were said to be unequaled and his six senses were extremely sensitive. By listening to the footsteps of the intruder, he deducted it must be a young personal and definitely a man.

Therefore he wanted to use his superior deductions to win this old man with the clutches. But he never expected anyone to recognize him; that was because he had been concealing his whereabouts for decades. Even in the present pugilistic fraternity, very few would know of his name now.

Now that Zhan Bai had greeted him by his surname and further confirmed the prediction of the other old man, making him stumped for words. He asked, “How did you know my name?”

Before Zhan Bai could reply, the other old man was mocking, “There is no need for further play acting! I bet you have run out of ideas therefore you secretly ask a junior to hide down there so as to trick me. You can’t even food a three year old kid…”

Dong Qianli the [Iron Gut Divine Donkey] was indignant and he gently waved his palms while exclaiming in anger, “Old freak! Don’t blather non-stop and try taking a few blows from me!”

When Dong Qianli attacked with his palms, there was no windforce, for it was a soft and supple type of skill. But the impact of his palm strength was extremely shocking!

“I won’ cares a hoot even if it were a few hundred blows!” While the other old man had said, his five fingers too emitted an invisible soft gentle wave!

When their gentle wave clashed against one another, there were titanic thunderclaps! Amidst the first wave, they exchanged a further three blows that were so fast, fury that the surrounding mountains echoed with their titanic clash!

Zhan Bai was secretly startled. It was already so astonishing that they were so fast that he could not see clearly. Their gentle flurry palm strength could give off such startling power, it was out of the world!

When Wan’Er saw Zhan Bai appearing before her eyes, she was both thrilled and astonished. For a moment, she was dumbfounded. Then when the two old men had started fighting and Zhan Bai was looking as though he was entranced and did not look at her, she could not help remarking in melancholy, “Alas! They have started fighting once more. It looks like this is going to be another endless and futile fight again. They are already so old yet their tempers are still so uncontrollable huh!”

Zhan Bai sighed nonstop when he saw that the old man with the clutches was so dexterous and his martial abilities were not beneath that of the [Iron Gut Divine Donkey]. A cripple that could have such accomplishments was indeed worthy of praise and envy!

The more he looked, the more bewildered he was. He could not help asking, “Why did they want to fight with one another?”

Wan’Er replied, “I myself do not know what and why are they fighting for. I come here to look for you but to no avail. Instead, I come into them. And they been fighting for three days and three nights now. Virtually all types of unarmed and armed combat, all types of martial and internal martial skills have been fought over with but there is still no outcome. When you just arrived, I wanted to test them on the ‘Walking in the Air’ movement technique skill but the old man without any legs is still able to do it by replacing his legs with his hands huh!”

Now that Wan’Er had cleared some the air, Zhan Bai finally understand some of the situation. But he still did not know what cause these two old men to fight in the first place? Suddenly, he was interrupted by a curious thought and turned to her, “Wan’Er, you say you have been looking for me. Why are you looking for me?”

Wan’Er’s eyes turned starry, her heart was sore and she almost shed tears. She thought, “To save you, I almost lost my life and yet you do not even know huh?”

But she kept hidden her thoughts and said melancholy, “Let me ask you instead. When you are at the Xinglu Tavern and had been wounded by the [Red Dragon with the Blood Hand] with his red sloe blood skill palm, who save you?”

“Oh!” The realization dawned upon Zhan Bai and he said, “It is Wan’Er that saved me! Then you must have seen the [Living Dead Man] too? Why did I not see you when I regain consciousness?”

Wan’Er turned red and now when she recalled her humiliations and ordeal at the dead men dwelling place, she almost cried out…

“You two babies over there! Stop chattering nonstop!” Even though the [Iron Gut Divine Donkey] was in the midst of a dangerous fight, he found the time to shout at them. “Hurry and get away from here! I am going to use my killing masterstroke now!”

“I say!…” The another old man laughed merrily, “Old man that rides a donkey! Enough of the bluff! If you really have any shit masterstrokes, just use it will do! I will surely return you blow by blow!”

This made the [Iron Gut Divine Donkey] furious and suddenly there was sounds of wind and thunderclaps as his palm strength increased in manifolds! On the top of the platform where Zhan Bai and Wan’Er was standing, the wind was extremely strong and they could not find their footings!

Therefore they were forced to jump down from the platform and retreated to the top of a big pine tree that was tens of yards away to continue their conversations and at the same time, were speculators in their fight.

The two old men strokes and stances were simply too astonishing fast. Their windforce was especially strong and powerful. Their martial path was that of the soft yin types and not the earth shattering hard yang types but it could duplicate the power of the hard yang types! Not only that, under the moonlight, they were a blurry image and a twister sprang up from beneath them!

It was hard to believe that there were actually two men inside the twister, competing for martial superiority!

Zhan Bai had been trained in the Orthodox Intricate Formula of the Soul Binder Scripture and moreover, he had his eight wondrous meridians cleared and his eyes, ears were now extremely sharp now. He could see in the dark and moreover he was aided by the moonlight. But he still could not see clearly their intricate strokes and wondrous stances.

As for Wan’Er, she could not see clearly at all.

The old man with the clutches laughed hilariously, “[Iron Guts Divine Donkey], your ‘Wondrous Hand’ skill is just so and so. Do you still have any fresh techniques to bring out for me to appraise?”

This really infuriated Dong Qianli who had been fighting with him over three days. And he really was upset now. “Old freak, don’t be too arrogant yet. Catch my Iron Guts!” And a cold wave that rung a tingling sound rushed towards the old man with the clutches. He had released two powerful secret projectiles of his own invention – Iron Guts.

Although the old man with the clutches were initial shocked, he managed to deflect it and when he regained his composure, he laughed, “This is just a projectile used by little girls and is too easy for an old man like me!”

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] released two more ‘Iron Guts’ and this time, it spin in mid-air before it flew like meteor fire towards him.

“Haha!” The weird old man with the clutches laughed, “It is a little interesting! Old Donkey, this is slightly better than what a little girl is capable of!”

This odd and bizarre style of shooting secret projectiles was totally unheard of and its power could not be described for no one was capable of doing it!

Zhan Bai and Wan’Er were sitting on the thick branch of the pine tree and looking. And they were shaking to the core as they stared wide-eyed as their spirits and souls were carried away by this display. They had even forgot to talk with one another!

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] taunted aloud, “How about trying something even more dangerous so as to bring this game to a higher level of fun?” And it released three Iron Guts with even more startling power as three golden lights blinked from him and flew everywhere in circles towards the old man with the clutches.

This made the old man with the clutches was little panicky as he deflected the Iron Guts constantly as it flew back in circles no matter how many times he could deflect it! But fortunately, he had reached the point of reacting with his will and his body would automatically reacted! Therefore it was not impossible for him to dodge and deflect constantly!

But when the Iron Guts were deflected and went for another round towards the old man with the clutches, he had suddenly vanished from the thin air!

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] was stunned and he composed himself for a second before he withdrawn his Iron Guts.

Then suddenly he had heard a cold and icy voice behind his back, “Your area attacking balls are nothing compared to my ‘Shadow Evasion and Invisibility’ special swiftness movement skill. If not for the fact that I have considered my reputation, you would have been severely injured if I were to strike you!”

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] was solemn for a second before he turned around with his palm extended with an invisible eruption as the surrounding rolled like an angry tsunami.

Suddenly the old man with the clutches cried out in fear as he vanished, “Thunderclaps of the Buddha!”

A powerful tsunami-like windforce sped past from the hand of the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] as it stuck a gigantic pine tree. Not only did it fell the gigantic pine tree with a thunderous sound on the right side of the platform, leaves and dust whirled around non-stop. The thunderclap sounds was like sonic as it echoed throughout the mountains and did not dissipated for quite some time!

Zhan Bai stumbled for words as he excitedly exclaimed, “What an awesome palm force! If a person can practice martial asceticism into such a level, it is really unconceivable and unfathomable!…”

Wan’Er nodded and said, “My father have many proteges under him and many of them topped the list as legendary fighters in the martial fraternity. I often bear witnesses to their duels and the force of their palms could not compare to this awesome power being unleashed!”

‘Your father!” Zhan Bai had suddenly recalled that Murong Han the [Meteor Hand] was among his father’s killers! Therefore he could not help asking, “Your father’s name is Murong Han the [Meteor Hand]?”

Wan’Er battled an eyelid at him and was melancholy, “Obviously you know. Why did you ask huh?”

“Then why are you not a Murong like your father,”Zhan Bai asked, “And is a Zhan instead?”

“Are you really so forgetful or are you pretending to be confused?” Wan’Er unhappily replied. “Didn’t I tell you before that I am following my mother’s clan name?”

“Everyone in the world usually follows their father’s clan name and not their mother’s clan name.” Zhan Bai blabbered out in bewilderment, “Wan’Er maiden, maybe you are not the real daughter of the [Meteor Hand]!”

Wan’Er expressions changed and she furiously said, “You are doubting me! Do you think I will lie to you?”

For awhile, Zhan Bai was too sad for words and he thought, “Wan’Er is such an innocent and kind heart-hearted girl. Moreover she have twice saved my life. If I am going to avenge for my father and kills her father, I wonder how abhor she will feel towards me…”

Wan’Er loved Zhan Bai deeply in her heart or else she would not have secretly left her home and had to endure bitter hardships in search of him.

But Zhan Bai’s questions earlier caused her to be extremely upset therefore she blunt out impolitely to contradict him. Now she saw that he was silence and was furrowing his brows, she assumed that he was angry with her. Therefore she hurriedly added, “Zhan Gege, are you upset with me huh?”

Zhan Bai shook his head and let go of a sight. “It is not that I am angry with you but…just alas!”

Suddenly Zhan Bai paused and grasped aloud for he had suddenly saw that the duel had intensified to such an extend that it had reached the point of life and death!

Wan’Er followed Zhan Bai’s glance and looked at the platform and saw that the two old men were now encircling one another in an extremely slow movement like two cocks fighting.

The duel had progressed from lightning fury attacks to another opposite extreme. It took them ages to unleash an attack! But each attack once it was unleashed echoed through the air like thunderclap and the force released was earth shaking!

Both Zhan Bai and Wan’Er knew instantly what was going on and knew that this type of fighting was based on their vital internal energies. There were no techniques at all. Each blow could shatter rocks and grind it to dust! If it strike a person, it would mean instantaneous death!

Zhan Bai wanted to seek vendetta for his father and he was especially concerned for [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] and hoping for his victory. He recalled his father’s horrible death and knew that given his poor martial skills, it was impossible for him to avenge him.

That was why he wanted to entreat this old man to include him as his protégé. Whether he could avenge for his father, his hope was totally rested upon this old man now.

If [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] were to be defeated now, all his hopes would be dashed. Therefore Zhan Bai was so nervous that his tightened fists broke into cold sweat!

The old man with the clutches was also a top exponent that hardly existed in the mundane world but Zhan Bai had never thought of entreating him as his Master for he carried an air of evil around him. His martial skills did not look orthodox to him and moreover, he would not know about the truth of his father’s death.

Therefore, although both old men did not have any relationship with him, he wished that the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] would be the one that emerged victorious.

Wan’Er was not the least concerned about them and she threw all her heart instead upon Zhan Bai. When she saw that Zhan Bai was shaking and breaking into cold sweats, she comforted him with soft and emotional affections, “Zhan Gege, why are you so nervous? They are all old freaks. No matter what is the outcome, does it matter to us?

As Zhan Bai was totally focusing on the platform, he did not heard Wan’Er honey sweet affections and instead, he pushed her slim body aside and jumped down from the pine tree and headed towards the platform.

“Zhan Gege! It is too dangerous to go!”

Wan’Er was startled and cried out towards Zhan Bai but he did not take notice. Therefore she jumped down from the pine tree and sprang towards him.

At this moment, the two old men were no longer encircling one another but were now facing one another with both their palms extended out. Their internal power and internal vital energies were seen flowing through their hands! Their heads were wisping with hot air and everyone footstep they took left a deep mark three feet into the stone platform!

This was going to be last stage and also the most dangerous part when both their vital internal energies clashed with one another! This life and death situation would instantly be let known soon!

Zhan Bai knew that it was a dangerous contest. The one with the weaker vital internal energies would have his internal organs damaged by the strong vital internal energies and die! If both internal powers equaled one another, the result would be double fatalities!

Therefore he shouted anxiously, “Old Seniors! Is there anything that you cannot sit down and discuss. Why must it end in fatalities for both?”

But they were now in a critical stage and had to be in full focus. Even if they had heard Zhan Bai, they could not reply and remained in their combatant stance.

Now Zhan Bai was extremely worried and he moved forward. His intention was to separated them…

Just when he had taken two steps, Wan’Er pulled him and said, “Zhan Gege, it is unwise for you to go! At this moment, they have exercised their martial powers to its peak and are now surrounded by inertia barrier. Even before you can reach them, you will be jolted by it!…”

Zhan Bai wrangled free from her and said, “I can’t possible bear to see these two old men end up in double fatalities right before my own eyes!” And then he moved forwards.

But when he was about two yards away, he felt an invisible great pressure in front of him, halting him.

Zhan Bai was startled but did not lose hope and continued to force himself forward with all his might. There was a loud thunderclap sound and instead of moving forward, he was forced backward by several steps. He could feel his vital energies and his blood reversing. “So powerful!”

Wan’Er immediately caught hold of him, “Zhan Gege, are you injured?”

Zhan Bai shook his head, “It not serious…”

But before Zhan Bai could finish replying, both old men gave a great earth-shaking shout and there was a huge air explosion and tens of mini whirlwinds sprang out and scattered in all directions!

Both Zhan Bai and Wan’Er was knocked off the ground and was forced to move back by several steps. It took them a while before they had channeled their strength and to get their footings onto the ground.

When they did, they immediately looked at the platform and the scene horrified them!

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] Dong Qianli had turned white and he had blood on his mouth and hair. He was now sitting on the ground with both his eyes shut. It was very obvious he was severely injured.

The another old man was also sitting on the ground with his eyes shut. His face was a ginger yellow, his mouth and edge of his clothing was covered with fresh blood.

It was all too obvious that both old men had sustained serious injuries!

Zhan Bai hurriedly asked as he walked to [Iron Guts Divine Donkey], “Old Senior Dong, are you injured?”

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] did not open his eyes or say a word. It took him a while before he reacted by popping some pills into his mouth. Only then did he open his eyes and he smiled bitterly, “Old freak, are you still alive?”

“Don’t you worry!” The other old man opened his eyes and he too smiled bitterly. “As long as Donkey Old Man did not die, I will definitely not die as well!” And he too took out a bag of powder and swallowed it. “Alas!”

Dong Qianli let go of a long sigh, “Old freak, I have never met my match in my lifetime except for you! You are my worthy strong opponent!”

“The same goes for you!” The another old man exclaimed as well. “I have profess myself the invincible in the martial fraternity but never would I expect to encounter you just before I pass away. Even though both of us can’t live for long but the fight is really absolutely fabulous and immensely satisfying! For a martial person, to be able to die in the hands of martial, is so absolutely gratifying!”

“But,” Dong Qianli said, “How is that I am a total stranger in my impression for you. I have never heard of anyone in the pugilist fraternity talking about you. What is your name? If you can tell me, at least our fight will not be in vain…”

The another old man laughed aloud for awhile even though his laughter had weakened a lot since earlier. “To think you are called the [Divine Donkey]. Have you never heard of the [Divine Ape] before?”

Dong Qianli grasped out and suddenly he saw the light. “You are that from that southern wilderness, from Mount Li Gong, that [Divine Ape] Tie Ling. Your renown had already been known decades ago!”

“Indeed I am!” He said, “Southern Ape, Northern Donkey. Even though we have never met but decades ago, people of the pugilist fraternity have already put our names on par with one another!”

When Zhan Bai and Wan’Er had heard that this was the resounding Tie Ling of the [Divine Ape] fame, they were startled. It was because even though the [Divine Ape] had not appeared or seen in the pugilist fraternity for decades but his fantastic iron deeds were often discussed enthusiastic by the older pugilist generation!

Who would expect to see a legend right before their very eyes! Before they had merely heard of him but had never seen him before. Now that they noticed, with his round face, monkey mouth and a fiery pair of eyes, he did indeed bear resembled a monkey. Even though he looked comical, but they were unable to laugh…

Dong Qianli suddenly laughed aloud, “Actually, decades ago, I have wanted to find you but because I was entangled with too much affairs, I did not get my wish. But who would expect that decades later, I would finally have this opportunity. Now the two of us who are the older generation can finally have our wish and die without regrets!”

[Divine Ape] stared blankly for awhile before he said, “Indeed, before I die, I can finally meet up with the [Divine Donkey] is really my wish but I can’t say it is not without regrets!”

[Divine Donkey] Dong Qianli was startled. “I am almost a hundred. I believe that you are not younger than I am. It is really not an easy thing for us to roam in the iron blades of the pugilist fraternity and survive to this age. Moreover, just before we die, we can even die under the hands of our generation. What is there left to regret for?”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling sadly said, “I am not as lighthearted as you. Just think about it. We are about to die in the wilderness and with no one to pick our corpses. If we have to die, sure we die but are we going to let the vultures and the wild beasts humiliate us? This is not a peaceful death at all!”

[Divine Donkey] Dong Qianli became sad as well, “Take me for example. In my life- time, I am a recluse and spend my time in leisure. I have no sons or daughters, moreover I did not have any protégé disciples too. My bones, it seem, is destined to be fed to the dogs! But you are different. Long ago, I have heard that you have two protégé disciples. Can’t they collect your corpse for you?”

When his protégé disciples were mentioned, [Divine Ape] expressions turned vicious and he hatefully clenched his teeth, “The mere mention of my evil heretic apprentices make me want to eat their flesh alive! Alas! Look!” He pointed at missing legs. “They crippled me and caused me extreme miseries that for decades, I cannot roam the pugilist fraternity freely!”

When Zhan Bai and Wan’Er heard this, they too were filled with indignant at this unrighteousness!

“The benevolent teacher is like one own benevolent father! Is there anyone with such vicious, ungratefulness, so cruel and unscrupulous as to cut off their benevolent teacher’s legs?”

Dong Qianli was even more indignant as he shouted loudly, “Don’t spare those evil heretic apprentices of yours lightly!”

Tie Ling stared at him for a second, “Wah! If not for you, I would have let them die under my clutches and they would not have escaped!”

Dong Qianli looked startled and cried out, “You mean that three days ago, the three men that you almost cornered, are your two evil heretic apprentices! There is a dwarf among them. Who is he?”

[Divine Ape] disappointing said, “That dwarf is their apprentice. If you have not stopped me from killing them that day, I would not be this infuriate with you. Therefore I immediately fought with you. At that time, you may thought that I was beyond reasoning…alas!”

He sighed and was filled with remorse as he said, “At that time, I was really too impatient. Without explaining things, I started to fight with you. When I come to recognize that you are the [Divine Donkey], all the more I am unwilling to let off of such an excellent opportunity to compete with you as I have long wanted that chance. It resulted in their escape. Now that I can’t cleanse these evil heretic apprentices out of my door, when I have died, they would surely plunged the pugilist realm into chaos.”

When he had finished, he kept sighing non-stop.

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] Dong Qianli was also deeply remorseful. “Alas! I was only thinking of saving lives but I have never expected to save the lives of two rotten eggs! Heroics does not pay…”




Chapter Twenty-Five Ended

Chapter Twenty-Six: Who is the Superior Master?




Zhan Bai tried to comfort them by saying, “Now that the misunderstandings have been cleared and both old seniors are severely injured. Why not wait until your injuries have first recovered…”

[Divine Donkey] Dong Qianli stared at him, “Do you think that both of us will still be able to live?”

Zhan Bai was startled.

But [Divine Ape] Tie Ling said instead, “This young boy has a good heart. But we have used beyond our vital energies and our internal organs have been damaged. It won’t be long before we pass away. This is the best time for us to talk before we become too weak to do so!”

Once again, Zhan Bai was shocked and he distressed when he heard that. He became emotional, “Is there really no medicine in the world that we can turn to? Even though I, Zhan Bai lacks the knowledge but if the two elderly seniors would inform me where to find the divine physician and the sacred medicine, junior will make the trip for you to save you…”

Wan’Er interrupted, “That is right! My father has in his possession many such divine panaceas! For example, grand ginseng, divine linzhi etc. There are still many many more! As long as I return home and ask my father for it, I can use it to save you. Moreover, the divine physician grandpa Liang is now residing in my home…”

[Divine Ape] asked all of a sudden, “Young lass, who is your father?”

Without waiting for Wan’Er to reply, Dong Qianli answered for her, “[Meteor Hand] Murong Han!”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling asked, “Is he ranked third among the [Jiangnan Seven Heroes]?”

Dong Qianli said, “Who else would he be?”

Wan’Er with her wide big eyes blinking, asked, “Do you know my father?”

Dong Qianli laughed merrily, “Nowadays, the four martial aristocratic clans have the most resounding fame in the martial fraternity. And your father is one of the topmost exponents. Who in the central plains martial fraternity would not have heard of him?”

[Divine Ape] sighed with regret. “I have not been in the pugilist fraternity for decades. I did not expect that generation would have the ability to dominate the heroes of the fraternity now. I wonder who are the other three martial aristocratic clans?”

“You are really out of touch with realities,” Replied Dong Qianli. “Not only did that generation dominate the entire fraternity now, even their younger generation, their sons have become outstanding people! Currently, there is a folk song that has been circulating throughout the pugilist fraternity; [The Dashing Joy Seeker] Anle, [The Roaming Wanderer] Duanfang, [The heartless Wind] Lingfeng, [The Ever Hospitable] Xiangling. These four verses also represent the Four Young Masters of the Martial Clans. What a pity that you are going to die soon and have no chance to chance upon them anymore!…”

[Divine Ape] stared impatiently, “Old Donkey! First, don’t go to the present yet! You have not even clarified which are the four aristocratic clans yet and now you are mentioning the four young masters of these aristocratic clans! Do you want me to die as a muddle headed ghost?”

Dong Qianli laughed, “Young Master Lingfeng is the brother of this maiden here and he is the son of Murong Han the [Meteor Hand]. Young Master Anle is the son of Yun Zonglong the [Universal Palm], Young Master Duanfang’s father is the [Origin Finger] Sikong Jin and there is Young Master Qilin whose father is the [Heavenly Bronze Coin] Jin Jiu! There is still the Conqueror Whip Fan Fei from Zhengjiang, although he is not as influential as the other four but he is still the dominant figure in his area!”

[Divine Ape] nodded his head. “These five people that you have mentioned are all from among the [Jiangnan Seven Heroes]. But what happened to their lead, the [Thundersword] Zhan Yuntian. Why did you miss him out? Unless you want to say that all his aides become the dominant figures of the fraternity while he goes into recluse?”

When Zhan Bai heard that they were talking about his father, his expressions were tormented and he was sorrowful.

But Dong Qianli glanced profoundly at Zhan Bai and replied, “Zhan Yuntian had already died long ago, having been surrounded by tens of top martial exponents!...”

When Zhan Bai had heard this, he had an indescribable grief upon his face and his face was now covered with his tears. He immediately bowed down in front of Dong Qianli to wail, “Will respected senior please enlighten me who are the killers so that I can seek vendetta for my father!...”

[Divine Ape] was equally angry and he shouted aloud with bloodshot eyes, “Is Zhan Yuntian really dead?”

Dong Qianli answered, “Why would I bluff you? Before your very eyes, is his son and he can bear witness to it!”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling looked furiously at Zhan Bai and raised his right hand, seeming to strike Zhan Bai but when he tried to muster his martial power, he found out that his internal vital energies were all scattered and could not be focused together. He let go of a long sigh and put down his hand, “Alas! I didn’t expect that I could not even settle this old debt with the Zhans!...”

He kept sighing hatefully non-stop in grief.

But Zhan Bai did not take notice of the [Divine Ape] and had bowed his head onto the ground, pleading with the elderly Dong Qianli to reveal his father’s killers…

It was only now that Wan’Er was aware that Zhan Bai was the son of the [Thunder Sword] Zhan Yuntian! She was both startled and delightful. Startled because Zhan Bai appeared poor and did not have the appearances that he was from any renowned clans. Delightful because Zhan Bai’s father and her father was among the [Jiangnan Seven Heroes]. She supposed that they had good ties and now their relationship was now one step closer.

But when she saw Zhan Bai was grieving and weeping, she began to panic and pulled Zhan Bai towards her and at the same time doing her best to comfort him…

When the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] saw the resentment from the expressions of the [Divine Ape], he was startled and asked Zhan Bai to stand on his feet first. Then he turned to the [Divine Ape] and asked, “Are there enmity between Zhan Yuntian and you?”

[Divine Ape] let go of a long sigh but refused to say anything.

Dong Qianli asked again, “Zhan Yuntian had already died and we are not going to live as well. Is there anything you cannot say?”

[Divine Ape] sighed again and again, “Buddy, you may not believe me. I thought of myself as the invincible in the entire fraternity but I lost to him. His Heartless Precious Sword defeated me by a single stroke!”

Dong Qianli exclaimed, “I do believe you for even I may not win him…”

This infuriates Tie Ling and he shouted angrily, “Old Donkey! Are you implying that your martial skills are one notch higher than me?”

Dong Qianli did not expect him to be such a chauvinist and so insistent to be superior over everyone.

He had a bitter smile, “If I really want to compare with you, I would not have end up in this state! We are both going to be a dead man soon and yet your temper is as fury as ever. Hurry and continue your story!”

After the [Divine Ape] had calmed down, he continued, “Many years ago, Zhan Yuntian sought me out in my place of recluse in the mountains of Li Gong. He wanted to borrow my most precious treasure; Water Alleviate Divine Pearl. Although he was polite but the Water Alleviate Divine Pearl is Li Gong foundational treasure! How would I have easily lent it to anyone? Moreover, he did not state the reason and just assured me that he would definitely return it and he even further assured me by the fame of the seven heroes of Jiangnan.”

“It was only then that I know he was the lead of the younger generation of pugilists. Therefore, all the more I did not want to lend it to him. It was because if this thing got out to the pugilist fraternity, people would think I was intimated by the [Jiangnan Seven Heroes], therefore that was why I loan him my divine pearl.”

“He then suggested a duel with me. The condition was that if I lost, I would lend him my Water Alleviate Divine Pill. If he lost, I am free to take his life!”

Dong Qianli interrupted, “In the end, you lost to Zhan Yuntian!”

“Will you let me continue instead!” Tie Ling appeared irritated, “We fought for three days and three nights just like you and me. The only difference was, he was not injured at all. At the end of the fierce duel, he just tore a hole in my clothing, just at the front of my chest but he did not hurt me. I knew that he was just being merciful but did you all know that it was worse than death to me! I would rather die than be tormented like this! Therefore I yelled at him, “Zhan Yuntian! Why did you not kill me? Why don’t you kill me!””

Dong Qianli interrupted again, “In the end, Zhan Yuntian still did not kill you!”

“Obviously!” Tie Ling answered, “If he had killed me, I won’t be fighting with you today! But it was precisely that he did not kill me, that I suffered additional pain and torments! I surrendered to him the Water Alleviate Divine Pearl and had an agreement that he was to return me the divine pearl in three years and we were to duel again.”

“After he had left, I sealed myself in total solitaire to practice several legendary divine skills. Just when I had reached the most critical stage of my practice, my two evil heretic apprentices suddenly stole my divine skill manuals and drove me to experience deviation phenomenon and I was forced to cut off both my legs! Not only did they stole my divine skill manuals, they had also seal the entrance of the cave that I was in with a huge boulder, thinking of burying me alive!”

When Dong Qianli had finished listening, he was apologetic, “In the end, Zhan Yuntian did not return the Water Alleviate Divine Pearl to you, am I right to say so?”

Tie Ling clenched his teeth and said, “Zhan Yuntian did not return to sought me out. Even though both my legs were gone but my martial powers remained. After I used my internal power to treat my injuries, I burst out of the cave and return to the pugilist fraternity. First thing I wanted to do, was to find these heretics and cleanse them from my clan. Secondly, I was to seek Zhan Yuntian to avenge for my humiliating defeat and to retrieve my divine pearl! Never would I expect to meet you who is still alive and cause all my dreams and hopes to be dashed! Woes and alas…”

Dong Qianli did not let him continue, “I had stopped you from killing your heretic apprentices, it was all my mistake. But things had come to this stage, even a apology does not happen anymore.”

“But the reason why Zhan Yuntian did not return the Water Alleviate Divine Pearl to you was not because he had retracted his promise. It was because he had died while trying to retrieve some treasures under the lake. When he had emerged from the lake, he was instantly surrounded by tens of top exponents and were killed.”

“As saying goes, the dead can no longer be held accountable. But for us, if you still do not feel convinced, we can still continue our competition!”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling was startled, “You and me, we have used up all our internal vital energies and we are no different from ordinary people now. Moreover, with our injuries, our days are soon numbered. What is there left for us to compete?”

Wan’Er was chirping by the side, “As long as I return home, I will save both of you huh!”

Wan’Er was voided of hidden designs in her heart. Even though what they had said was useless and pointless to both Zhan Bai and her, but she still felt that she could not allow them to die just like this. When she had finished, she pulled Zhan Bai along with her so as to quickly return home to seek help…

Tie Ling was a man of great gratitude and a man that avenge great wrongs as well. When he saw that Wan’Er was not only elegant and lovely, she also had a good heart. He could not control his sentiments and was moved to say, “Little girl, I greatly appreciate your thoughts. I have long thought that the world has already been devoid of good people. It seems that this mindset of mine had to be changed…”

Dong Qianli smiled at Wan’Er, “Maiden, do not be too bothered about us! Even though your father have a lot of expensive and rare medicines but they would not be as effective as the [Divine Ape]’s ‘Prolonging Powder’ and my ‘Rejuvenation Pill’ that we had taken earlier! Years ago, we were called the [Southern Ape and Northern Donkey], we also had another well known nick; [Southern Powder and Northern Pill]. Imagine that if even the [Southern Powder and Northern Pill] would not save us, even if you could invite an immortal, it would still be useless!”

[Divine Ape] nodded in agreement with Dong Qianli.

When Wan’Er saw that they were trying to comfort her, she sobbed, “So you really meant to say, both of you are beyond help?...”

“Maiden, do not sorrow!” Dong Qianli comforted her, “Life and death are predetermined, wealth and power comes from providence. The fact that we can live close to a hundred years is already a great blessing for us from Heavens above. We are not sad at all, so don’t be sad anymore alright?”

Just when [Divine Ape] wanted to say something, Dong Qianli continued to add, “I suddenly have a great idea. Not only will we have someone to collect our corpses for us when we have died but we can also continue our unfinished duel as well!”

[Divine Ape] rolled his eyes, “Sly old man, even if you do not say it aloud, I know of it as well! You want us to teach them our martial powers so that they can substitute us. Asking them to collect our corpses for us is not hard but if you really want to ask them to duel with one another, it is really an impossible thing to accomplish!”

“[Divine Ape]! I am really so impressed by you!” Dong Qianli happily shouted out, “Everyone praises the intelligence of the [Divine Ape] but only today, I am finally convinced of that! But you are simply too smart. You have only thought of the first part but not the second part!”

[Divine Ape] coldly asked, “Why don’t you explain!”

[Iron Guts Divine Donkey] replied, “They look so close and sweet to one another that it is naturally impossible for them to fight to the death. But if we just teach them our martial powers and ask them to make a comparison, it is naturally possible. Whoever successor is the stronger, the superior master will be the victor.”

[Divine Ape] had a strange glow in his eyes, “Then you mean to say, you will choose the guy?”

Dong Qianli answered, “Of course! Zhan Yuntian and you have enmities and you naturally would not choose Zhan Yuntian’s son to be your successor!”

[Divine Ape] looked at Zhan Bai and Wan’Er for a while before saying, “Then you have an advantage. It is obvious that the guy has the more powerful internal power than the girl!”

Dong Qianli exclaimed, “But the girl has the superior swiftness agility and movement! Both have their advantages. You can’t claim who has the advantage!”

[Divine Ape] thought it over and finally said, “Very well! We will decide it this way. But how long can you still live? We must decide upon a date!”

Dong Qianli replied, “I guess it won’t be longer than a hundred days!”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling estimated for awhile before saying, “Very well! Let us decide it then. We leave some allowances just in case for us to view the duel. How about in three months time?”

Dong Qianli said, “That is a promise! Come, let us clap our palms thrice to as agreement!”

And they struggled to get up and clapped their palms. No longer were they powerful, their clapping was ordinary and carried no strength.

When Zhan Bai and Wan’Er had heard that Dong Qianli had described them as close and sweet to one another, they could not help but flushed deeply in red. But when they heard that both old men who was dying, still wanted to prove their superiority, they were startled and stunned for a while…

After they had clapped their hands, they beckoned for them to come over to their side.

Zhan Bai and Wan’Er each took a glance at one another and could not help walking towards them.

Dong Qianli said to Zhan Bai, “Young fellow, follow me!”

And then he started to walk away. But after walking to the edge of the platform, he found out that he could not jump down from the platform, having lost all his internal powers. After looking for a long while, he finally decided that he really could not jump off so he sighed, “Young fellow, I think it is better for you to carry me down instead!”

It was only then that Zhan Bai realized that the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] had really lost all his martial powers. He wondered how on earth would he be able to teach him martial arts? As he wanted to enquiry more on his father’s killers, he did not hesitated at all and carried the elderly senior down the platform.

Dong Qianli then guided him into the recess of the mountains and they entered a secretive cave…

Wan’Er was dumbfounded as she watched Zhan Bai and Dong Qianli disappeared from view. Even after they were long gone, she remained lost in thoughts.

[Divine Ape] had sat down and asked her, “Little girl, so which way do we go?”

It was because his clutches were broken and he felt it was an embarrassing thing to ask her to carry him. Therefore he purposely asked her for her opinion.
　　
Instead Wan’Er flushed and asked him generously, “I don’t think you can walk in this manner. Let me carry you on my back instead! But, where shall we go now huh?”

Wan’Er was not as polite as Zhan Bai but her temperate was just nice for [Divine Ape] for she was very blunt. He laughed, “There are many caves around here. Let us just find one will do. But we should not go too far. Three months later, I will personally be your witness when you defeat the Old Donkey’s successor!...”

Wan’Er paused to think, “I don’t want to! I am not going to stay in these dark and eerie caves for three months! I will definitely not going to do this!”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling was stunned, “Don’t you want to learn any of the rare and unrivalled divine skills?”

Wan’Er replied, “Can’t we do it here, on this platform huh?”

[Divine Ape] replied, “It must be done in secret in case we are being watched by others! Moreover it is also a precaution against distractions. I will even teach you some skills that I myself have not succeeded in practicing. I assure you that you will definitely win the Old Donkey’s successor!” Then he broke into a mysterious laugher.

Wan’Er replied in disbelief, “How could you teach me the skills that even you have not mastered? Moreover your martial powers are lost now and you are injuried…”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling stared at her and suddenly he asked, “Do you want to learn or not?...”

Wan’Er replied, “I don’t want to learn anymore!” And then she turned around and walked away.

[Divine Ape] shouted in panicky for Wan’Er and he was pleading her. “I have already clapped three times with my palm with the Old Donkey. No matter what happens, I must let you learnt all my unrivalled martial skills…”

When Wan’Er saw that he was so genuinely sincere, she turned around. “Then you must follow my wish and let it be here…”

[Divine Ape] seemed to have great difficulties in his face. He thought for a minute before he said, “Outsiders must never allow to know the intricate formula of these unrivalled martial skills. Moreover, we must also prevent outside disturbances to your training. Look at my legs. They served as best example what resulted from derivation phenomenal.”

“I just want to win the Old Donkey’s successor and would never have thought of harming you. If you could carry me into a secretive cave, I would teach you the intricate formulas of my martial skills. Except when you are training inside the cave, I will give you free rein of your time. What do you think of this?”

Wan’Er sighed, “But I really do not have the mood to learn any martial arts. But I could not bear to reject you. I guess for now, this have to do huh!”

Then she carried him around and they went in search of a cave.

Wan’Er found several caves but all these caves do not fulfilled the requirements of the [Divine Ape]. Finally they had reached a big cave and Wan’Er was angry. “No matter what, this cave will have to do! I refuse to carry you furthermore as we search everywhere. It is like we are rabbits that are lost!...”

When Wan’Er thought that they were rabbits, she could not help giggling and she straightened her back and dropped the [Divine Ape] Tie Ling onto the ground.

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling looked around and said, “This cave is not as good as the last two. Moreover the cave entrance is too big. It is possible it may be too windy. Let us…”

Wan’Er impatiently said, “Let us not wait for you to search anymore! I am not going around anymore and that is it! If you are afraid that the cave entrance is too big, I can carry you to the inside of the cave where you can avoid the wind huh!”

And she bent down to help the [Divine Ape] to her back.

Tie Ling of the [Divine Ape] fame let go of a long sighed, “To think that I, Tie Ling the [Divine Ape] havocked the entire fraternity throughout my life, there is nothing that I am afraid of. But when I about to die, I have to suffer the idle temper of this little lass here…”

Wan’Er stood up again and angrily exclaimed, “I am the one that is unwilling huh! Since that is the case, let call it off! I don’t want to learn your unrivaled martial skills and you do not want to suffer my idle temper, we can go our separate ways!”

And she turned and left but [Divine Ape] quickly called out, “Hey! Hey! Little lass! Don’t be so impatience alright? I will let you have your wish, alright?”

Wan’Er paused her steps and said, “Then from now on, stop calling me little lass, little lass! I am Zhan Wan’Er. If you have anything for me, just call out my name!”

“Everything will be according to your commands!” [Divine Ape] nodded his head several times. “This is the first time that I am really afraid of someone!…”

Wan’Er continued, “That not true! You are at least afraid of two persons. One is me, the other is the one that gain victory over you by a sword stroke…”

[Divine Ape] stared for awhile before answering, “I have never been afraid of a second person. With my martial powers, I can easily win Zhan Yuntian. If I continue to practice some of the unrivalled divine skills that I have, I assure you that Zhan Yuntian cannot even held his ground against one stroke of mine..."”

“Enough! Enough!” Wan’Er said, “Stop blowing your own trumpet! I afraid that you can’t even win over a strong guy without any martial foundation now huh!”

This silenced the [Divine Ape] and there was a murderous flash in his eyes. And this increased his hatred for the [Divine Donkey]…

Wan’Er knew that she had overdone it with her words. When she saw his torturous look, she could not bear it in her heart anymore. She bent down her body, “Let me carry you inside where there is no wind. Forget about the past.”

[Divine Ape] did not say a word more and Wan’Er carried her into the deep recess of the cave.

The weird thing about this cave was that even though the entrance was not especially large but the tunnels inside were rather deep. Wan’Er walked for tens of yards but still, she could not find a single place that could shelter them from the wind. The winding tunnels were confusing, dark and there was strong wind whispering in all directions. It was in fact blowing stronger in the inside than the entrance!

At this moment, both knew that something was not right but they did not say a word.

By now the [Divine Ape] had known that this beautiful young maiden that was carrying him, had a good heart and was naïve but she was also headstrong in her emotions. If he was to open his mouth and ordered her to turn around, not only would she refuse, she would also abandon him and just left.

Since he could not move, that would indeed be a most terrible fate. Therefore even though he could tell that the situation was alarming but he tried his best not to speak aloud to her.

As for Wan’Er, since she was the one that insisted on using this cave for martial practice, she felt awkward if she suddenly changed her mind. Therefore she did not voice out her concerns too and in fact, increased her martial powers on her legs so that she could continue her pace.

Wan’Er’s possessed excellent swiftness movement and agility skills. It was because the Murong Clan possessed an unrivalled swiftness movement skill called ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’. Even though there was little light and the terrain was sometimes steep and uneven, she could still hop like she was flying and increased her pace forward.

After moving for several hours, Wan’Er estimated that they were several miles deep inside the mountain cave.

Both began to have their hesitations but did not voice out.

Wan’Er began to slow down her movements and suddenly she gave a startled cry. “Oh alas!”

Now that the [Divine Ape] had lost his internal power, his eyesight was not as formerly. So when Wan’Er cried out, he asked hurriedly, “What is the matter?”

Wan’Er exclaimed, “Why is there a dead man here?”

Indeed, there was a blood-dripping corpse here standing against the wall! But on closer inspection, they realized that this corpse’s heart had been pierced by a dart but was not a dart, resembled an edged secret projectile but was not exactly an edged weapon. It looked clean and glow a bright blue and they knew that it was cloaked with a venomous poison!

The secret projectile had nailed the dead man onto the stone walls and such was the force that it was driven several inches deep!

Wan’Er said,” Judging from the blood, the man had just died. I wonder what sort of secret projectile is this?”

[Divine Ape] took a look and shook his head, “Even an old man like me had not seen it before. But the throwing force of the person that uses this secret projectile is indeed powerful and this secret projectile has been cloaked with poison!”

Wan’Er asked again, “Then do elderly senior know of this man that was killed?”

[Divine Ape] took another look at this dead man who was dressed in a light golden silk robe. His dead face looked fierce and covered with sweat. On his head, there was a warrior type of bandage. He knew instantly this dead man must be a pugilist.

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling shook his head. “I have not been roaming the pugilist fraternity for many years, especially these few decades, I have not been in the pugilist fraternity at all. I do not know this man here.”

When Wan’Er saw how terrible this man had died, she felt that there was hidden malevolent air that was lying in wait around here. Even though she was scared, she refused to manifest her fears. “I think the murderer must be hiding here. Elderly Senior, do we still want to move forward?”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling laughed, “It is for maiden to decide. It is not my wish to come into this cave in the first place!”

Wan’Er ignored him in a fit of anger and continued to move forward. Soon after, they chanced upon two more corpses and both were killed by the same type of secret projectiles as well!

Even though Wan’Er was frightened and startled at the sight but she was having fits with the [Divine Ape], therefore she continued to walk in front, irregardless of any dangers.

[Divine Ape] was getting worried. Now that his martial powers had been lost and this little lass was too inexperience. In this dark cave, if someone were to conceal themselves and suddenly sprang an attack upon them, they would surely perished!”

After walking for awhile, they saw a stone chamber in front of them. Wan’Er hurried her steps towards it.

“Be wary!…” Even before the [Divine Ape] could finish his warning, Wan’Er had had walked into the stone chamber.

Suddenly in the darkness of the stone chamber, a pair of black hands appeared without a sound in front of her.

Wan’Er cried out in shock, “Oh my!”




Chapter Twenty-Six Ended

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Young Master Duanfang




Wan’Er was so startled that she hurried backwards with her hands upright…

Even though the [Divine Ape] had lost his martial powers but he had a rich experience as an old pugilist. He called out to Wan’Er, “Wan’Er, do not panic! This is just another dead person!”

When Wan’Er had taken a careful look, she realized that it was really a dead man. And on the ground was a sword. She deducted that this man must be hiding behind this entrance waiting to ambush someone but his target had avoided his sneak attack and used a heavy hand technique and killed him instead.

This dead man had an inch thick hole in his chest and he had died instantly. Even though the assailant had left, they could see that his martial style was not only perfect and bordering upon the supernatural!

Inside the stone chamber, lying besides the chamber wall was another dead corpse. The dead man wielded a thick brush and there was another brush on his chest too. Like the dead man at the entrance, both of them had a terrible vestige on their faces. Even before the dead man with the dead brush could execute any move with his brush, he was killed by a heavy hand technique.

[Divine Ape] looked solemn as he said, “It seemed like they were killed by the Impervious Golden Finger, One Finger Flicker or similar skills. The summit of this assailant’s martial powers had not only reached the peak and to the most extreme utmost as well!”

“Oh my huh!” Once again, Wan’Er gave another startled cry. “Elderly Senior, look, there are two chests of treasures here…”

Wan’Er pointed at two iron chests that were already opened and there were all kinds of rare precious stones and jewelry that gave a wondrous glow.

Even though the [Divine Ape] was weird in behavior but he was actually a true hero of the pugilist fraternity even though he acted weird. Therefore he was not aroused by greed by these treasures.

As for Wan’Er, as she came from the four aristocracy clans, the treasures that she had seen in her house was so exceedingly that she did not put those two chests of treasures on her mind.

Wan’Er put the [Divine Ape] down and walked to inspect the treasures. These treasures did not look ordinary and all the pearls were all as big as a longan fruit. Even the diamonds were huge too. There were Jasper, green Jade, lapis stones etc. All these precious stones were extremely rare and worth a hefty amount. It was comparison to the treasures at home.

Then she had a sudden thought and was stunned, “Are these treasures stolen from my home?”

“Wan’Er!” [Divine Ape] called out for her, “Let just stay here for you to practice your skills!”

Wan’Er was interrupted from her thoughts by the [Divine Ape] and she thought over a moment before exclaiming. “I am not going to stay with two dead men huh!”

[Divine Ape] said, “What does it matter? If you really so dislike them, you can simple threw them out to feed the vultures! That is so easy to accomplish!”

Wan’Er looked even tenser than ever. “You be the one that is going to throw them out, I am not going to do it!”

[Divine Ape] smiled bitterly and said, “If I could still move, why should I still need you to carry me?”

Wan’Er added, “Then let us not wasted our time arguing over this. No matter what, I am not going to touch them. Let us go then to other places!”

Therefore she tossed the precious jewelry back into the chest and carried the [Divine Ape] out of the stone chamber.

After walking for awhile, they found an entrance leading to the outside. Judging by the rays of the sun, they had been in that cave for four hours!

[Divine Ape] had fought with the [Divine Donkey] for three days and three nights. As they were highly imbued with a powerful martial level earlier, they did not feel exhaustion.

But after the duel with Dong Qianli and after a long lengthy period, he was feeling extremely exhausted and thirsty now. It was the effects of his Prolonging Powder that fought off the fatigue till now.

So when he came out into the open and saw that there was a stream flowing out of a mountain cave, he could not resist shouting while on Wan’Er’s back. “Water! Water! I want to drink some water!”

Actually Wan’Er was also thirsty and hungry and so they immediately started to quench their thirst in wild excitation…

Suddenly they heard a clear voice calling out toward them. “Rather thirst to death than drink from this spring! Since both of you have the guts to enter the Valley of the Lost Souls, surely you have heard of this proverbial saying?”

Both the [Divine Ape] and Wan’Er was startled and lifted their heads. On top of a small slope, stood a handsome and young man.

This young man was tall, handsome and was dressed in an ordinary clothing, looking more like a farmer.

[Divine Ape] stared at him in rage, “A young boy should not babble groundlessly! If you try to scare us intentional, I shall let kill you and shred you to pieces!”

Wan’Er thought it was funny that the [Divine Ape] was still capable of such haughty big words now that he could not move anymore. From the eyes of this young man, Wan’Er could tell that his martial abilities were above average. If the young man could just kick him, he would be rolling in pain for half a day long…

Wan’Er actually started to giggle as she spat the water out of her mouth as the more she thought about it, the funnier she thought it would be.

The handsome young man had taken noticed of Wan’Er and he was stunned. Her facial expressions were so beautiful that she looked like a fairy and a sense of covertness appeared on his face. But when he saw that Wan’Er had just spat out some water as she continued to giggle, he exclaimed in astonishment, “If you do not believe, look over at that side!”

He pointed to the direction of the upstream of this spring. A white wooden tablet was laid on top and written on it was the inscription: There is poison in this spring and in seven steps, it will dissolve your intestine. Do not drink of it!

Wan’Er expressions changed instantly into shock. “Oh my! I have already drink quite a lot! What shall I do?”

The [Divine Ape] remained unmoved as he coldly said, “Wan’Er, do not be anxious. How do you know that he is not making a fools out of us?”

The young man exclaimed, “I have never bluff anyone. My kind warnings are from the bottom of my heart. If you do not believe, then so be it!”

[Divine Ape] looked at Wan’Er and laughed, “How about it? Am I right? I have guessed as much that he is trying to terrify us. If this spring is really poisonous, why is it that after we have drunk so aplenty, why is that we do not feel anything amiss in our intestines?”

Wan’Er supposed that he was right. She too, had drunk aplenty from this spring and her stomach was as lively as ever. She did not feel like she was being poisoned! She secretly praised the [Divine Ape]. He was after all much more experience than she was and would not get tricked so easily…

But the young man replied once again. “The poison in this spring is really special. It won’t cause discomfort and is undetectable. But once a person starts to move, in no more than seven steps, the person will surely die as a result of a broken intestine!…”

[Divine Ape] began to laugh aloud. “In the past, Cao Zhi composed a poem in seven steps and now, an old man like me would have to take seven steps before I die of a broken intestine. Isn’t it just nice for me to compare myself with the ancient folk? But it is a pity that I do not have any legs. If I really have one, I would really like to try to take this seven steps and see if it is really true.”

Wan’Er said, “You do not legs but I have. Not to mention just seven steps, even if it is seven hundred steps, we still have to go. Now that we have drink to our fill, it is time for us to leave and attend to our matters!”

As she finished, she began to carry the [Divine Ape] and started to leave…

But the young man was startled and he floated like a breeze and was in front of Wan’Er in an instant. “Maiden, please do not force yourself. I am telling the truth and will definitely not try to fool the both of you. This spring is called the ‘Mercury Spring’. To say that it would break the intestine in seven steps may be a little too exaggerated. It was because the spring contains mercury and if a person were to start walking, the mercury inside the body will react even faster and hastened the damage done to the intestine. But luckily, I have the antidotes for it and would like to make a gift to both of you...”

But even before Wan’Er could say anything, the [Divine Ape] had grown impatience and waved his hand to shout, “Get lost! Stop blabbering non-stop! Even if the water is not poisoned but if we really accept your poison in the antidote, we are really finished…”

Although Wan’Er thought that this young man did not look like a bad person but he was a stranger to her. So she did not accept his kind offer to give them the antidotes.

And she turned around to leave.

But who would have expected that just when she started to hop forward, she felt a sudden pain in her stomach. She was so painful that she fell from the mid-air. It was a good thing that she was well honed in the ‘Walking in the Air Miracle’ swiftness movement agility technique that was only taught to the Murong Clan that she managed to land safety on her feet.

Wan’Er beautiful face turned ashen and she was feeling awfully painful and uncomfortable. She cried out in shock, “Oh my huh! Elderly Senior, we have been poisoned!…”

[Divine Ape] Tie Ling who had lost his martial powers was faring a lot worse and he was so filled with uncontrollable pain that he did not even heard Wan’Er. In fact, he had fainted.

“Maiden!” The handsome young man rushed forward with concern, “Now you believe that I am telling no tall tales. Here is the antidote. It is because that you take it now!”

Wan’Er took the antidote and popped it into her mouth. In an instant, her pain was relieved and she felt refreshed. When she had recovered from her terrible pain, she began to look at the young man with gratifies in her heart.

The young man found great comfort in her eyes and from her eyes, he began to think that he would endure any indignant just for her. Therefore he put out another bag of antidote and handed it over to her, “This is for the unconscious old man. Have him take it before it is too late!”

Wan’Er had started to trust him and therefore she took the bag of antidote and poured it into the mouth of the unconscious Tie Ling.

After awhile, Tie Ling began to shout aloud, “The pain is really unbearable!…”

“Thank you very much huh!” When Wan’Er saw that the [Divine Ape] was saved as well, she began to thanks him profusely. “I have not even ask for your name yet. Please forgive me for not being polite huh!”

“Maiden, you are indeed too humble!” The young man said, “I’m Sikong Changjing!…”

Instantly Wan’Er had a surprise on her face. “You are that Young Master Duanfang? You are one of the Four Young Masters of the Martial Fraternity? The one that everyone call the [The Roaming Wanderer] Duanfang?”

The young and handsome man laughed, “Indeed I am! But it only because the friends in the pugilist fraternity have thought of me too highly and placed me on par with the other three Young Masters!”

Wan’Er could not help staring at this beautiful young man and was extremely touched by his kind gesture.

Even though he was in an ordinary clothing but it could not hide his beautiful bearing. He may look humble but was no coward. This only brought forth his generous bearing and his good looks. He seemed like a heavenly aura that the heavens and the earth had created.

Wan’Er could feel her heart beating. She thought to herself. “There is really such a beautiful and handsome man in this world!…”

And then she suddenly remembered that Zhan Gege was her first love. So how could she have shifted her attention to another? She flushed and slowly avoided eye contact with him. She began to lower her head…

Even as Wan’Er was startled at the beauty of this Young Master Duanfang, he too, was bowed over by her unrivalled grace and beauty that he was totally bewitched by her.

The first time he saw her giggle, was like the moon that cast hope and light in the darkness. She was not only alluring and sexy, she did not look ordinary as well. Her big eyes were like clearer than spring, her long hair like clouds, her body as slim as a leaf, her skin was white as snow and as smooth as polished jade.

Especially that excellent beauty of her air was like intoxicating spirit that seemed to come from nature itself. She was wholly natural and extremely pleasing to look at. This is something that an ordinary person did not have or as much as they tried, they could not duplicate it.

Indeed, Young Master Duanfang who thought that of all the countless beauties that he had seen, he had never seen one as perfect as her.

Especially when her bright crystal eyes were looking at him, her eyes were watery and had so much expressions, so noble and affectionate yet carried no lust…he was stunned and his mind began to travel far away…

Their glances did not fool the experienced old pugilist [Divine Ape] even though it was brief. He was a peculiarity old man and he was not used to seeing this sort of thing. Therefore when he interrupted with a great shout. “Wan’Er! Now that you have already thank him, it is time for us to leave!”

Wan’Er flushed but did not say a word.

Young Master Duanfang said, “Now that I know your name but I do not know you come from. And as for this elderly old man, how shall I address him? I wonder if it convenient for you to tell me?”

Before Wan’Er could reply, the [Divine Ape] stared at him and rushed to speak. “Young fellow, don’t you think that by displaying a little kindness, you can expect anything from us. If you continue to pester, do not blame me for turning ugly!”

Wan’Er stared at him hatefully before saying, “Why are you so fierce? Young Master Duanfang has just save our lives. Moreover he has also been polite to us. Even if he were impolite to us, we must not repay kindness with a hatred huh!”

Then she turned to Young Master Duanfang and said, “I have no relationship with this elderly senior at all. I just happen to be with him under coincident circumstances. My family name is Zhan and I stay at the Baotu Manor in Jinan. When Young Master is free, you can come to my home to play for a few days…”

When Wan’Er had introduced herself, Young Master Duanfang was shocked into interrupting, “Are you a relative of the Master of the Murong Manor?”

Wan’Er laughed, “That is my father huh!”

Once more, Young Master Duanfang was surprised. “But…your surname is a Zhan?..”

[Divine Ape] was growing really impatience and he shouted loud. “Young boy! Have you have enough already?! If you keep on blabbering, do not blame me when the time comes!”

Wan’Er was unhappy that he was scolding Young Master Duanfang.

But Young Master Duanfang gave a smile and remarked, “It seems from your confused and lifeless eyes, elderly senior is not only severely injured and is also not far away from death. I am surprise that you still have such a fury temper?…”

This further infuriated the [Divine Ape] as his temper exploded. He stared and shouted at him, “Indeed you have an excellent eye-sight! But even if my vital energies have been dispersed, I could still take your filthy life away easily! Now take this ‘Afloat in the Southern Seas’!”

Young Master Duanfang was taken aback when he suddenly heard the elderly old man exclaiming aloud, “Now take this!”

Wan’Er was even more startled as she thought, “This peculiar old man has lost all his martial powers and yet he could still challenge and fight?…”

So she turned back and looked at the [Divine Ape] who still remain on the ground.

He was extending his fists out and exclaiming, “If I use this stance ‘Afloat in the Southern Seas’ and suddenly attack and hit you hard in the left and right side of your ears, at your Cang Xue fatality point. There are truths in falsehoods and there are falsehoods in truths. If you do not avoid it, then you will surely die for the Cang Xue is a person fatal accupoint point. As long as my windforce could brush against your Cang Xue, you will die instantly!”

“Even if you want to avoid it, as long as I turned my arms towards your Xin Yu fatal point with my left hand and my right hand towards your Shen Men fatal point, no matter if you turn left or right, you will still die!”

“If you think you can stand a chance against my ‘Vitality Energy Inertia Force’ that I had so painstakingly trained for the past sixty years, you may stand a chance if you use the ‘Follow the Cloud and See the Sun’ stance and beckon attack stroke with attack stroke.”

“Then I would withdrawn both my fists and extended it wide into the ‘Suck’ intricate formula. Not only would you fail to in your attacking stance as your attack voided itself and when I once again extended my fists, I will have struck you directly in your chest! Now tell me, how many filthy lives do you still have if I simply use a ‘Afloat in the Southern Seas’?”

Even though the [Divine Ape] had lost his martial powers but Wan’Er and Young Master Duanfang were secretly startled for the method he described could really cause them unable to parry and unable to dodge!

Especially for Young Master Duanfang, he was now sweating profusely from cold sweat as he recounted the scene when he was being attacked by the ‘Afloat in the Southern Seas’. He was proud of his martial achievements and was full of self-confidence until now…no matter how he used his imagination, he could see no way out.

In fact, the attack was so real to him that he imagined the fists and windforce coming towards him in a furious manner. He could not dodge it. Even if he wanted to counter-attack, his strength was sucked and channeled off, there was a stroke beneath another layer of stroke…he was absolutely terrified and his face was covered with sweat.
He murmured, “Just need only one stroke, I am already dead…”

But Wan’Er had a brainstorm all of a sudden and she chirped, “There is still a way to evade this stance. As long as you jump upward, you can evade it. Furthermore, you can still use the…”

But the [Divine Ape] laughed, “There is no need for the furthermore. Why don’t you ask him even if he jump upwards, can he still avoid the ‘Afloat in the Southern Seas’?”

Young Master Duanfang shook his head. “Jumping upward and jumping downward makes no difference! This masterstroke is simple too powerful. I am grateful for elderly senior for showing mercy upon me. I take my leave now!”

He raised his hands to bow and then sprang away. In just two to three hops, he disappeared from view in the mountains!

Wan’Er was startled to see Young Master Duanfang disappeared without a trace. She turned around and said to the [Divine Ape], “Elderly Senior, you are really something. Just mere words alone, you can fight off the famous Young Master Duanfang huh!”

[Divine Ape] replied her proudly. “Wan’Er, do not have disbelief. As long as learn all my intrinsic martial formulas, you can disdain the entire fraternity already!”

Wan’Er hummed unhappily. “Even if I learnt one hundred percent of your skills, I am still unable to win any old man that rides a donkey!”

[Divine Ape] was so angry that he began to cough aloud. “Little lass, you do not have to incite me! Till now, there is still no outcome between that Old Donkey and I! Furthermore, we are still settling for an outcome and I have full confidence that I am going to be the winner!”

“Forget about it!” Wan’Er remained unhappy. “What if I refuse to learn any martial skills from you? Moreover, what if I really did learn your skills but refuse to compete with my Zhan Gege? Then how are you going to be the winner?”

[Divine Ape] was stunned and he exclaimed in disappointment. “How can you have broken your promise to an old man like me? Once again, you choose to back off at the last minute!”

Wan’Er chuckled for awhile before replying, “Once again, you are spinning your own tales. When did I ever promise you? All along from the start, you are the writer and the actor…”

[Divine Ape] had a great transformation in his expressions. “You mean to say, you are not learning any martial arts from me?”

“Of course I am not going to learn!”

Wan’Er decided to make it clear to him. “Even if the Donkey Old Man and you equaled one another but you are not invincible. You can’t disdain the entire fraternity because Zhan Yuntian the [Thunder Sword] still win you over by a sword stroke…”

[Divine Ape] yelled aloud, “It is so infuriating!” And he spat out blood and his body arced behind…




Chapter Twenty-Seven Ended

“Do you know how did the Four Martial Aristocratic Clans come to dominate the entire Fraternity instead of the current major orthodox clans?”
“It was because several years ago, there was a major catastrophe! Thousands of top martial exponents from the Major Orthodox Clans, the Trial Leaders of the Pugilists Fraternity and even the Heretic Clans were all almost exterminated by a mysterious lady!”
“She killed them all in a duel?”
“No! She was surrounded by the thousands of top exponents from the entire fraternity and she almost exterminated them all!”
“That is impossible! No human could possible could be capable of such feats!”
“The good news is that the older pugilists won this catastrophe fight but at a most terrible cost! Till now, they did not totally recover.”
“The bad news is, she escaped…”
“….!!!”


Chapter 28: The Truth Revealed



After Zhan Bai took the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] to a highly secretive cave, he was taught the unique unrivalled ‘Thunderclaps of the Buddha’ palm skill that originated from the Western Region. He also told him the circumstances that led to Zhan Yuntian’s death.

Zhan Yuntian the [Thunder Sword] was not only highly skilled, he was also impossible strong. Furthermore, he was also a great hero that was above board. With his Heartless Precious Sword, he roamed the entire fraternity as a knight errant and was invincible.

Because he had always been very fair, and his renown was so resounding, pugilists from both the orthodox clans and the heretic clans were respectful to him. As he was always in an impatient mood to do good deeds and would wander everywhere, he had saved many lives and made a lot of friends. But he had also offended a lot of wicked people and had a lot of enemies.

The most unexpected thing that happened was that he was murdered when he was ambushed by his very own buddies and not by his enemies!

He had six buddies and together, they were called the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan by the people in the pugilist fraternity.

While Zhan Yuntian was a hero with a generous spirits and an iron gut. He was not afraid to die if it means he could perform a righteousness act.

But his buddies did not think it in this way. They had their own plans and were selfish. Often they had accompanied him, braving life and death with him and often were not rewarded for their ‘good deeds’. Therefore they were unsatisfied and displeased in their hearts.

Moreover Zhan Yuntian was lofty, haughty and was the decision-maker all the time. He was only concern with righteousness and was unconcerned about what his buddies were thinking. Therefore they were getting more and more dissatisfied with him. It was their fear of his highly martial levels that stopped them from opposing him in public.

What’s more, Zhan Yuntian’s actions were above-board and were indeed righteous. So how could they have the nerve to voice out their selfishness? Moreover as their renown and fame increased in the pugilist fraternity, they found it embarrassing to dispute hotly with their leader.

It so happened that the [Meteor Hand] Murong Han had found a secret map in a highly secretive dungeon in the mountains. From the clues given in the secret map, he knew that a thousand year treasure hoard was hidden under Lake Dongting and the riches were so untold that it could make him unsurpassed wealthy!

Murong Han was extremely happy for he had been roaming the fraternity for half of his life. If only he could have the treasures for himself, he would not have need to risk his life anymore in the dangerous pugilist fraternity.

But the location of the treasure hoard had somehow been made known and when he reached Lake Dongting, there were already several top exponents lying in wait.

As a matter of fact, there were rumors that the thousand year old treasure hoard contained three legendary treasures; the Water Ascension Jade, the Immortal Golden Cinnabar and the Epitome Martial Chronicles that contained the most powerful martial techniques ever!

When Murong Han learnt of the rumors, he was startled and at the same time, extremely delighted. Delightful because the treasure map was in his hands. Startled because he did not know how the news of the treasure hoard was leaked.

When he saw that the Lake Dongting was occupied by numerous top exponents, he knew that it was impossible for him to lay his hands upon the treasures.

The most important part was, even though he had the treasure map but he did not know how to swim!

Left without a choice, he decided to discuss it with the [Seven Heroes of Jiangnan].

Of course when he was with them, he did not let them know of his original intention to have the treasures all to himself. He told them how he accidentally got his hands on this secret treasure map. As he disdained riches, so he decided to share it with his alliance buddies.

But he was dumbfounded and flabbergasted when Zhan Yuntian decided to retrieve the treasure and to donate it to the people in the area who had been hard hit by natural disasters!

So tragedy was the natural disaster that people were so hungry that they had to feed upon human flesh or else they would die of starvation. Even the government had no means to help. Every day, thousands of people died of starvation.

The righteous and good hearted Zhan Yuntian therefore decided to retrieve the treasures and to exchange it for food for the people.

Murong Han was shocked and once again, he got no rewards for his contributions! After all, it was so hard for him to get his hands on this secret treasure.

But still he had not given up hope yet. He could give up the riches but not the three legendary treasures…

But the other five thought that if they went under the lake to retrieve the treasures under the watchful eyes of so many top exponents, it was too risky. Moreover, they had to risk their lives for unknown strangers, it was something that they did not want to do willingly. Therefore they persuaded Zhan Yuntian to abort his plan.

But Zhan Yuntian considered it a righteous thing to do and still insisted on trying the people. He then suggested to split the three legendary treasures to the other exponents so that they would not interfere in his plan to save the people.

When Murong Han heard that he could not even keep the three legendary treasures, together with the other six, they decided to abort the plan to retrieve the treasure hoard. But once Zhan Yuntian decided upon a matter, he would never back off nor would he give up so easily. Brushing aside their objections, he insisted on retrieving the treasure hoard.

Even though Zhan Yuntian had made it clear to the other pugilists that he was not interested in the three legendary treasures but in the riches that could be used to save the unfortunates. But once the three legendary treasures had been retrieved, there would bound to be chaos as everyone from the orthodox clans to the heretic clans would surely try to lay their claims.

This gave Murong Han, whose heart had grown cold an opportunity to use his fame as the [Seven Heroes of Jiangnan] to lay a claim to the three legendary treasures as well.

Therefore they contacted everyone from the entire fraternity and appointed a time for the treasure hoard to be retrieved.

Among the seven heroes of Jiangnan, only [Silver Fan] Liu Zonghou was an expert in deep water diving. But after two days and two nights of trying, Liu Zonghou sustained severe internal injuries. It was because the depth of the lake was several hundreds yards in depth! The pressure increased as the depth increased!

Even Liu Zonghou who was so thoroughly expert in diving almost lost his life. Many top exponents who thought highly of their swimming and diving skills tried to retrieve the treasure hoard but they all ended dead or severely injured even before they could hit the bottom of the lake!

As time passed, many of the top exponents gave up hopes on retrieving the treasure hoard and began to scatter. Even the seven heroes of Jiangnan had also lost hope.

After a period of five to six years, people in the martial fraternity began to forget about this incident. But Zhan Yuntian happened to know that in the Yunnan Region, the [Divine Ape] Tie Ling had a water restraining pearl that was called the Water Alleviate Divine Pearl.

Zhan Yuntian thought that if he could borrow this Water Alleviate Divine Pearl, he could then retrieve the treasure hoard.

Therefore he went to Mount Li Gong and dueled with the [Divine Ape] for three days and nights and finally he managed to borrow the pearl and rushed to meet his buddies and to retrieve the treasure hoard.

But he was ambushed by his six buddies and was killed!

This time round, not many people know of the [Jiangnan Seven Heroes]’s plan to retrieve the treasure hoard and when Zhan Yuntian was killed by them, no one in the fraternity had a clue.

Many years had passed since that incident and from that point onwards, the entire fraternity had since been dominated by the five buddies who bribed the top exponents of the entire fraternity with their wealth and power. That was how the four martial aristocratic clans came into existence.

As for [Silver Fan] Liu Zonghou, he was rumored to have died overseas. Perhaps it was because he had felt remorse in killing his swore brother?

Zhan Yuntian who had disappeared from that point onward was believed to have been killed by his enemies in the pugilist fraternity.

Very few people know of this matter. Even Zhan Yuntian’s best friends like Lei Zhenyuan and [Shadowy Divine Thief] Hua Qingquan and many others who had spend many years searching for the truth, searched in vain….

Finally Dong Qianli said, “After many years of searching for the truth through various means, I have finally found out the truth. If the [Divine Ape] had not revealed that he had lent his Water Alleviate Divine Pearl to your father, I would never have guessed how on earth did he manage to retrieve the thousand year treasure hoard….”

Zhan Bai was covered with his own tears as he listened to the accounts that led to his father’s death. His tears were flowing non-stop with grief that it became blood.

Dong Qianli sighed deeply when he saw how grief-sicken Zhan Bai was. “It is a pity that in my moment of foolishness that I had dueled with the Old Monkey and resulted in double fatalities for both of us. If not, I would surely aid you and help you to avenge the wrongs. But I am dying soon and may not teach you much.”

“Now that I still have a breath, I still you have better suppressed your grief and focus all your concentration for I am going to explain to you some of the intricacy formulas of these unrivalled martial skills!”

Zhan Bai said, “Elderly Senior, you are right. A hero should not shed. I am not going to grief anymore. I will be filled with indignant instead! Elderly Senior, please continue, I am all ears now!”

Therefore [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] began to explain the intricacy formulas of the uppermost martial concepts. He explained to him how to use all the strokes and their usage and the theory behind one how to achieve victory over his opponents.

It was a good thing that Zhan Bai had a good martial foundation and the aid of the Soul Binder Sacred Manual. This caused his internal power to increase tremendous!

Even though Dong Qianli’s skills were extremely difficult to understand for the essence of his unrivalled skills were boundless and difficult to grasp, Zhan Bai learnt them in one shot and his pace of learning was godlike.

You can even say, if there was something for Zhan Bai to learn, he would surely grasp it!

This astonished the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] and he was utterly delightful. This further increased his interest and eagerness to teach Zhan Bai, so much that he disregarded his own health and put himself in grave danger to teach him all his martial achievements and know how!



But it is a pity, times flies and ninety days had passed. The mortally injured Dong Qianli ignored his injuries and taught Zhan Bai day in and night out. He did not spend his time on recuperating and spent all his energy and efforts to teach and train Zhan Bai. And now, he had reached his limit!

In the past, Zhan Bai had searched high and low for a brilliant master but he failed to find any. Only a peculiar but a good man, Lei Zhenyuan, had given him a wondrous book to study but he had to figure out the meanings in the book himself.

Now that he had a chance to acknowledge a highly sough after elderly senior Dong Qianli as his master, he was not only grateful but he had also pay great attention and it was golden words to him. You could even say, Zhan Bai eagerness to learn was so strong that except when it was time for him to eat and drink, he was totally immersed in martial. He also did not notice that Dong Qianli was getting weaker everyday.

During these three months, Zhan Bai managed to comprehend eighty to ninety percent of all the skills of the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey]!

But Dong Qianli was now breathing his last and he said to Zhan Bai. “It is a good thing you have that world most wondrous scripture. If you continue in your practice, very soon, your achievements will even exceed me. Now that our destiny with one another is going to end very soon, it is time for you to go…” And he closed his eyes.

Zhan Bai was startled, “Elderly Senior, you…”

Dong Qianli opened his eyes once more. “Do not worry about me. Remember, in your zeal to avenge your father, do not be too rush. First thing you need to do is to train hard. Befriends the heroes of the fraternity and then reveal the truth of your father’s death to them and then…”

Suddenly there was a shout from the outside that interrupted Dong Qianli. “It must surely be there! From the look of this cave, it is obviously there are people inside!”

And then, several shouts were heard, “Let search! Let go in! Go…”

And Zhan Bai could hear the footsteps of the intruders rushing into the cave.

Zhan Bai could tell that the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] was dying now and he was afraid that the elderly senior might be disturbed so he took a few steps towards the entrance and shouted. “Who is that outside? Stop making all these noisy display…”

But before Zhan Bai could finish, there was a great shout. “Attack!”

And countless bright and piercing secret projectiles burst through the air generating a strong windforce flew towards Zhan Bai!


Zhan Bai was furious when the intruders threw secret projectiles into the cave without any explanations. He waved his palms and sent three flying darts flying with bright sparks into the cave walls!

Under the tutelage of the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey], Zhan Bai could easily control his internal powers at will now. This ‘Waving Metals into the rock’ technique could easily have shook the pugilist fraternity with deafening outcries!

Zhan Bai was disgusted by the attackers’ ruthlessness. As Zhan Bai waved one hand to deflect the secret projectiles, he also sent two palm force outward with the other hand.

The windforce generated by Zhan Bai vibrated the cave and two shrieking sounds were heard and three dark figures flew out of the cave.

Two figures landed onto the ground and did not move. No one knew if they were dead or alive.

And the third dark figure was Zhan Bai!

When Zhan Bai emerged from the cave, he had his right palm in an outright position and his left palm guarding his chest. He saw clearly that he was being surrounded by countless number of pugilists and among them was the handsome and elegant Young Master Qilin!

Standing besides Young Master Qilin was the beautiful beyond comparison, Jiangnan most beautiful maiden, Jin Caifeng.

And standing right behind them were the [Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence], the [Crouching Iron Back Dragon] Gongsun Chu and [Iron Wing Bird] Ba Tianhe.

There were many more top exponents from the Jin Residence but for a moment, Zhan Bai could not remember their names.

When Young Master Qilin, Jin Caifeng and the rest of the top exponents saw that it was Zhan Bai that had emerged from the cave, they were surprised and stunned.

It was because two top exponents from the Jin Residence had just entered the cave and were instantly thrown out and they were now lying on the ground.

It was impossible to imagine that it was Zhan Bai that had sent them flying out.

The general conclusion was that there must be a highly accomplished master that was inside the cave!

Young Master Qilin quickly regained his composure and he asked, “So it is Brother Zhan that is inside the cave. May I know who is the expert martial master that is inside the cave? May I ask you to invite him out?”

Zhan Bai had not expected that it was renowned Young Master Qilin that had broken the pugilist rules first and had used secret projectiles on the unexpected. Therefore he coldly said, “The man in the cave refuses to see anyone that do not knows the engagements of the pugilist fraternity! Anyone that uses secret projectile on the first meeting does not deserves to meet him. If Young Master have any instructions, you can speak to me directly instead!”

And his tone was not in the least polite at all.

When Jin Caifeng had saw it was Zhan Bai, her heart began to rumble fast and her starry watery eyes were looking at him but before she could speak, her brother had asked, “So it is Brother Zhan…”

Young Master Qilin had a bitter smile as he said, “Please do not misunderstood, Brother Zhan. I really do not know that you are inside the cave…”

Zhan Bai coldly exclaimed, “So you mean to say, if it were others, you would not hesitate to use your secret projectiles? Because of your status, you are the exception to the pugilist rules? Does it mean that I have to grateful to you for showing mercy on me!”

Jin Caifeng interrupted. “Please do not misunderstood my old brother. It is because we lost something very important. And the people we send out to comb these mountain caves have been attacked. Therefore…”

Among all the people from the Jin Residence, Ba Tianhe had the most impatience temper. Recently, the Jin Residence had been robbed and their men attacked in the vicinity of the Mountain Rocks of the Twelve Caves.

Now that two top exponents of the Jin Residence had seemingly lost their lives and Zhan Bai was so impolite and haughty given the fact that both the Jin brother and sister kept giving in to him. He was naturally upset and without waiting for Jin Caifeng to finish, he went forward and shouted at him, “Outrageous Junior! You are given a face yet you refuse to take the face. Do you think that the entire Jin Residence is afraid of you! If you still refuse to reveal who is inside that cave, do not blame me for being courtesy to you!”

Zhan Bai remained unmoved and coldly smirked. “So what if I am not polite. What are you doing to do then?”

“I will first put you down first!”

[Iron Wing Bird] gave a thunderous roar as he sprang forward like a lightning flash and extended his claws onto Zhan Bai’s face.

Indeed, Ba Tianhe instantly proved himself worthy as one of two best fighters in the Jin Residence. Not only was his speed fast, his strokes were intrigue to behold.

Even before his claws had reached his face, Zhan Bai could feel a windforce as sharp as a knife tormenting his skin.

But Zhan Bai was not what he was previously! Under the faithful guidance of the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey], he had learnt a quite a few intriguing strokes as well. Moreover whatever he willed, his body would react accordingly and released all his godlike strength that was in his innermost potential.

He did not move his body, did not move his legs and just turned his shoulders and he avoided Ba Tianhe’s claws and his hands in turn attacked the [Iron Wing Bird] shoulders.

Zhan Bai’s causal attack was actually a most marvelous stroke! Even though the [Iron Wing Bird] attacks seemed simple but it was actually a very subtle masterstroke called the ‘Dragon Lock’.

Ba Tianhe was startled that Zhan Bai could counter his stroke using another stroke. He immediately changed his attack positions.

Zhan Bai too was startled. He felt that it was unbelievable that the [Iron Wing Bird] could change his strokes so swiftly and his attacks were so quick, that had it not for Dong Qianli’s guidance, he would not have even hold his ground against him!

Zhan Bai was alarmed and he dared not slow down as he turned his body and executed a masterstroke ‘Capturing the Wind and Catching the Shadow’ that he had learnt from the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] and countered the [Iron Wing Bird] with this attack stroke.

Both men attacked with strokes and counter-attack with strokes. They did not defend nor dodge as their fists and palms clashed against one another. Both were also exceptional fast and their body swiftness movement and attacking stroking were all too intriguing to behold!

In a blink of an eye, they could exchange up to six to seven strokes. Even the top exponents of the Jin Residence were dazzled by them!

Especially the martial prowess of the [Iron Wing Bird]. The depth of his martial skills was too unpredictable and also amazing. He was the envy of the majority of the top exponents in the Jin Residence.

Now that they had witnessed Zhan Bai fighting with him to a standstill, they were all in shock and staring with their gaping mouths!

That the fact that Zhan Bai could battle the [Iron Wing Bird] into a standstill, shown no fright and could counter every stroke with a stroke, using attack stroke to halt another attack stroke was enough to send all the top exponents in the Jin Residence into astonishment and shock.

It was because his name alone was enough to send others into a flight!

The [Iron Wing Bird] had never encountered a match before and he had already used several uniquely masterstrokes continuous but still Zhan Bai remained as steady as ever!

Therefore he was infuriated and his stances were getting more and more vicious and the windforce that was generated in his claws increased. His fury was so great that it seemed like he wanted to kill Zhan Bai on the spot!

Now the fight processed into a point when they were attacking as fast as lightning and almost could not be distinguished from one another in a confusing daze of display. And then there was a thunderous air explosion as both disengaged from one another and maintained a distance of two yards!

Both stared at one another in rage for awhile and did not continued.

Now Young Master Qilin was a man that appreciated talents and when he saw how Zhan Bai had fought to a standstill with one of his Twin Ironguards of the Jin Residence despite his youth, he was extremely delightful of him.

Just when he about to shout for them to halt the fight, they suddenly plunged into the crazed melee again with a great shout after staring at one another.

This style of fighting was never seen before! And it stunned everyone as they continued the same thing again.

Gongsun Chu laughed aloud. “Young fellow! You are really something. You can actually fight our Old Bird to a standstill!”

When the [Iron Wing Bird] heard that, he was even more infuriated! With a great shout, he used ten folds of his martial power and furiously extended out his palms like a horrid hurricane into Zhan Bai!

Zhan Bai did not hesitate and bent his body and circulated all his martial powers to accept the blow.

As both palms locked, it created a huge thunderclap sound and stirred out a ripple of windforce in all directions, sending dust and dirt flying in all directions!

But this powerful blow from the [Iron Wing Bird] failed to bow Zhan Bai over and with the aid of his Divine Iron Wing Armor, he instantly sprang swiftly into the air and executed an even more powerful attack on top of Zhan Bai’s head!

Zhan Bai quickly raised his hands upward in a ‘Conqueror Stance’ to receive the incoming blow.

Everyone saw that a dark and big figure had ascended into the air above like a gigantic flying bird and about to descend in a furious stomp downward! He was using the ‘Thousand Weight Fall’ stance into his own style called the ‘Weight of the Mountain’ as he came crushing down.

Except for Zhan Bai, everyone knew that Ba Tianhe was about to use his ‘Iron Wing Divine Skill’ no one had ever survived the full force of this divine skill before!

There was a explosive thunderclap and it was so earth shaking and much forceful than just a moment ago that all the top exponents began to cry out in startled voices as they scurry backward.

But Zhan Bai still remained on the ground, seemingly without any injuries and he was as compose as ever! Moreover his big eyes were showing signs that it was even sharper than ever!

Now, not even the [Iron Wing Bird] was stunned but even Young Master Qilin, Jin Caifeng, [Iron Crouching Black Dragon] and all the rest of the top exponents were stunned as well.

Everyone knew the power of the Iron Wing Divine Skill. Even Gongsun Chu who had similar martial power with Ba Tianhe knew how deadly and powerful that skill was. What was more, he had combined it with the ‘Thousand Weight Fall’ stance and this increased the power of the Iron Wing Divine Skill by manifolds! Even if it was he himself, he dare not risk taking such a blow.

So speechless was Gongsun Chu, that he had forgot his usual humor and he thought to himself, “He is so young. How on earth did he attain…”

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a great shout from Zhan Bai, “Why not try taking a blow from me too!”

Zhan Bai had taken a deep breath as he circulated all his vital energy from his abdomen as he extended out both his palms. This stroke came from the ‘Thunderclaps of the Buddha/Enoch’, a unrivalled skill from the Western Regions which the [Iron Guts Divine Donkey] had taught him and was called the ‘Thunderclaps of the Western Paradise’.




Chaper 28 Ended