HPC, Ysabel, Xiaohu, Jaya, you are welcome. DongBin, welcome back then. Sky, I am starting to think that she is one of those characters who is mentioned a lot but never make any real appearance. Suddenly I recall the character 'Maris' from the sitcom 'Frasier'. Not sure if you know what I am talking about. Lao Qianbei, how about you download the story, and read it on your gadget while enjoying the tea? You are not Wei Xiaobao in disguise, are you? Anyway, end of Chapter 9.

Shangshu Mansion.

Inside the secret chamber.

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong slapped the table and shouted with praise, "Lucky that you thought about it. Just now I painstakingly thought but could not come up with any good plan. Because the more we are trying to hide it, the more it would appear conspicuous.”

Inwardly Kou Zhong cursed him as selfish and lacking yiqi, but on his face he put on a smiling expression, continued with laughing aloud and said, "Naturally my first consideration is for w.a.n.g Gong. Now, pus.h.i.+ng the blame to Shangguan Long is ideal; this black pot ought to be put on Yin Gui Pai's devil back, considering they are more veteran than we are. It is just right to ease the pain of us, three pure an innocent people.”

Among the three, Kou Zhong was not afraid of lying. Ba Fenghan disdained lying, but Xu Ziling simply did not want to lie. Just by looking at this respect, the character differences between the three were obvious.

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong cast him a couple of glances and said with a nod, "Xiyi Xiong and I have reflected on this matter, and both of us agreed that if it was stolen by you, there will be many things that do not make sense. For example, after you were discovered and were driven away, how could you immediately turn back and eager to s.n.a.t.c.h it away? Plus where did the confidence come from that you let only one person to brave the danger? Moreover, you did not apply your inner power to alter your body shape, to such an extent that someone recognized you? And things like that.”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, "It's all because w.a.n.g Gong understands reason. Even if we took that ghost jade, what can we use it for? Even if it were delivered to me, I would reject it. Besides, I would have to gamble my little life away. Ay! I wonder if w.a.n.g Gong has some information on Liao Kong or s.h.i.+ Feixuan that you can pa.s.s on to me?”

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong shook his head, "No news,” he said, "But w.a.n.g Bo came to talk to me. Although on the surface he was very polite, he pleaded me to urge you to hand over the Jade Annulus of He Clan, the fact is that he indirectly threatened me. Humph! What kind of person he thinks I, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong, am? How could I be so easily intimidated?”

Inwardly, Kou Zhong was amused; he said, "Right now w.a.n.g Gong has no time to do other things, you might as well not get involved in this. I only have one favor I'd like to ask, is that w.a.n.g Gong would protect a friend of mine.”

Nodding his head, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong said, "Are you referring to that man who came with you, Xu Xingzhi? That's not a problem. If I can't even do such a trivial thing, I, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong, need not go out to see other people.”

Kou Zhong delightedly said, "In that case I am relieved!”

And then, lowering his voice he said, "Is it possible for w.a.n.g Gong to give him a part-time job in your government? This man is indeed a rare talent; in term of wisdom and scheming, he is even better than I am. After he becomes your staff, when others come to ask for him, you can give him s.h.!.+tty argument not to hand him over.”

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong was skeptical, "I can talk with him,” he said, "If he is indeed a talent, I will retain him in my employment.”

Kou Zhong smiled and said, "He is a man you can trust. And with him dealing with Li Mi, I guarantee w.a.n.g Gong will win this battle. All right! I have to go. If I am still alive, I will come again tomorrow to pay a visit to w.a.n.g Gong!”

※ ※ ※

‘Clink!'

After a toast, the two drained their cups.

Xu Ziling sighed and said, "If this continues, we may turn into drunkards who only have pa.s.sion for the wine.”

Ba Fenghan leaned back on his chair, his eyes scanned the not-a-soul-in-sight shop and the closed main door; he said, "We should not be drunk tonight. But while we don't have anything to do, we can try to guess who will push the door and enter in next.”

Frowning, Xu Ziling said, "There are too many possibilities, can you really guess?”

Smiling, Ba Fenghan replied, "The highest possibility would be Zhong Shao. He ought to find a place for Xu Xingzhi, this very important chess piece!”

Before he finished speaking, the door was pushed open.

※ ※ ※

Kou Zhong had just left the Imperial City and turned into the main street. Two men, who have been following him, ran up to overtake him.

He was wondering why the other side could be this reckless and not afraid to reveal their own track when one of the shouted, "Dead Kou Zhong, you still haven't stopped!”

Kou Zhong turned around in shock, and cried out involuntarily, "Miss!”

Turned out the two men were Zhai Rang's daughter, Zhai Jiao, and Tu Shufang, who escorted her out of Xingyang in the past.

Zhai Jiao was dressed as a man, but she was definitely androgynous, making it hard to tell whether she was a male or a female. On the other hand, Tu Shufang was his old self, only there was some sign of wind and frost [i.e. hards.h.i.+p] on his face.

Without any trace of politeness, Zhai Jiao grabbed his arm and pulled him scrambling into a side street. "You, two kids, are quite famous!” she cursed, "No need to listen to my commands anymore.”

Perhaps it was because of Susu, but in Kou Zhong's heart welled up a meeting-again-after-a-calamity and a hard-to-describe intimate feeling. Smiling wryly, he said, "How could your servant dare? Miss must be training hard day and night these past years, your grab nearly broke my arm bone.”

He also raised his hand in greeting toward Tu Shufang, who was watching on guard on the other side.

With a cold humph Zhai Jiao said, "Do I need you to tell me that? Without any real skill, how to get that traitor Li Mi, the renegade leader, onto the blade in my hand? Come this way!”

Letting him go, she slipped into a small alley to their left.

By this time the sky was gradually darkening, every house has started lighting their lanterns. But the alley was cold and cheerless, like an uninhabited place.

Unleas.h.i.+ng their footwork, Kou Zhong and Tu Shufang followed closely behind her.

Zhai Jiao really did not brag, her skill now was clearly superior to before; although her lower back was thick and solid just like before, she was really nimble, she was able to jump vertically with ease.

Suddenly she leaped over a tall wall, and then pa.s.sed through a house, leaped over a building, flying high and crouching low, and after rus.h.i.+ng over for a time needed to drink a cup of hot tea, they reach a private house located at a scenic pedestrian lane by the ca.n.a.l on the northeast side of the city.

The three entered the reception hall and sat down. A pretty maid came out to serve fragrant tea.

Kou Zhong took a glance, and called out in delight, "Aren't you Chuchu?”

The beautiful maid's eyes turned red; with her small cicada head hanging down, she spoke faintly, "It's hard to believe Kou Gongzi still remembers me!”

Kou Zhong recalled the happy memory of throwing s...o...b..a.l.l.s with her at the Big Boss Mansion. Naturally he could not forget even more the sweet memory of that night when she came to his quarter and the intimacy that ensued [see Book 4 Chapters 10 & 11], which invoked in him the distant and fuzzy feeling that he had already forgotten.

He was about to reply, when Zhai Jiao rudely cut him off, "What I fear the most is seeing people cry. Chuchu, get lost! You are not allowed to set foot in the hall anymore!”

Chuchu jumped in fright; after casting a very sad look toward Kou Zhong, she hurriedly scampered into the inner hall.

Tu Shufang has been sizing up Kou Zhong with rapt attention; this moment he sighed and said, "Old acquaintance must not be forgotten. Xiao Zhong, you are now more understated, and did not flaunt yourself at all; no wonder your name shakes the eight points of the compa.s.s and you are able to criss-cross the world undefeated.”

Kou Zhong wanted to make some modest remarks when Zhai Jiao slapped her palm on the table, creating a loud ‘Bang!'.

The two men were startled; they turned their eyes at her.

Zhai Jiao's huge, round and bulging eyes shot deep hatred; gnas.h.i.+ng her teeth, she said, "I want to kill Li Mi to avenge Die; Kou Zhong, you must help me!”

Kou Zhong really wanted to tell her that whether he could survive the night was still a big question mark, but being swept by her bra.s.s-bell like eyes, his heart softened. Striking his chest, he said, "Of course, how could we be people without yiqi?”

Finished speaking, he was amused.

That day Zhai Rang bit the hand that feeds him, he did not withhold yiqi at all. But now, under the big yiqi banner, he, Kou Zhong, would have to avenge his death.

Sound of rustling wind.

While Kou Zhong was startled, a young man of about twenty-seven, twenty-eight, came in through the window. Standing in front of Zhai Jiao, he saluted and said, "Reporting to Miss: we have thrown off the pursuers.”

Zhai Jiao let out a stifled snort; she stood up first before saying, "This is Kou Zhong!”

The man smiled and said, "I have seen Kou Gongzi. I am Xuan Yong, Zhai Ye's no-name disciple.”

Kou Zhong examined him carefully; this man looked imposing and dignified, there was a strange looking weapon hanging on his back, his build was like a fierce general who could take the head of the enemy's chief in the middle of magnificent army with thousands of men and horses as easy as feeling one's pocket and taking it out. Delighted, Kou Zhong promptly returned the propriety.

Noticing Kou Zhong's curious look at the weapon on his back, Xuan Yong took it and handed it over to him, saying, "I got the inspiration for this weapon from a pitchfork. Originally pitchforks are used to defend the city; its length may reach up to five chi, specifically design to deal with the enemy who use cloud ladders to climb into the city. This one has horizontal steel blade mounted at the top of the pole, it can press against the enemy's weapon, but can also be used to peck or pierce. Therefore, I named it ‘Bird Beak Strike'.”

Tu Shufang rose up to his full height; walking over toward the two men, he said, "Not only has Xuan Yong received Zhai Ye's personal instruction, he has also created the thirty-six moves ‘Bird Beak Strike' technique. That day, were it not for him, we would not be able to fight off the pursuing troops sent by Li Mi.”

Kou Zhong was about to speak when Zhai Jiao scolded, "The situation is urgent, you are still in the mood for chitchatting?”

The three helplessly sat down around the table.

Zhai Jiao pointed to the tip of Kou Zhong's ear; she said, "You are well-known for being cunning; quickly tell me how we are going to kill Li Mi.”

Hearing that, Tu Shufang and Xuan Yong frowned deeply, but they did not dare to many any noise.

Kou Zhong did not know whether he should laugh or cry, but on the surface he put on serious expression as he said, "First of all, I want to understand the situation on Miss' side.”

"What is there to tell you?” Zhai Jiao replied impatiently, "That day Die sent me to Dongping County to rely on help from Tai Shu [uncle]. Li Mi sent his troops to attack the city several times, but Xuan Yong beat him back every time. Until recently the old thief Li scored big victory over Yuwen Huaji, but on the contrary, Xuan Yong said that the opportunity to a.s.sa.s.sinate the old thief has arrived. Thereupon he selected a group of martial art expert and came to Luoyang to try our luck. Perhaps the old thief would sneakily come to Luoyang for the sake of the Jade Annulus of He Clan, and so I must make him leave without his life.”

Kou Zhong immediately had a whole new level of respect for Xuan Yong; he asked, "How did Xuan Xiong know that this time Li Mi's victory was so tragic that it was tantamount to defeat?”

Although Xuan Yong could not be considered good-looking, he had appropriate outline and was pleasing to the eye, giving the impression that he had unswerving determination and he stood above the ma.s.ses.

This moment he had his attention fixed at Kou Zhong; his eyes bright and lively, his thick eyebrows slightly slanting upwards, in contrast with his rather long nose and slightly higher cheekbones, and his wide mouth, which revealed a calm smile. All in all he made people feel that he had the air of a great general.

He methodically explained, "That old traitor Li Mi has never been able to wipe out all the people who have had connection with Zhai Ye from Wagang Army; therefore, I always know what happened to him like the back of my hands.”

Kou Zhong slapped the table and laughed aloud, "This time Li Mi will surely die!” he said.

Hearing that, the other three looked at each other with bewilderment; they were completely at a loss as why Kou Zhong said so.