Xiaohu, see your previous post: you think they are going to die in a few days? Tail, he is stalking me … Akolaw, at first I did not know what you were referring to, so I had to reread my post. Although I am no expert in Chinese sayings and idioms, I guess we can deduce the meaning of that phrase. What I was referring to was what comes AFTER. At times like this, I wish I had the printed books. Hungry, IIRC, they only fought with her once. Ysabel, HPC, Jaya, DongBin, Anh, Sky, you are welcome.

Xu Ziling changed the topic, "I almost forget to ask you, how's Li kid's achievement these days?"

Kou Zhong replied, "Under that kind of circ.u.mstances, we still cannot harm him, which mean that he can't be too far below us.

After contemplating for a moment, Kou Zhong continued in a low voice, "I was wondering if we are doing a really stupid thing right now? We don't have any idea of Khitan people's real strength; all we know is that Peng Liang Hui has been decimated by them."

Xu Ziling spoke resolutely, "People sometimes do really stupid things. Only by doing things that you think is so brilliant but later on proved to be folly will your heart be relieved."

Kou Zhong laughed heartily. Raising his wine cup, he said, "Well said! Let Xiaodi toast Ling Shao a cup."

Xu Ziling had just raised his cup, when an omen appeared in his heart. Together with Kou Zhong they turned to look toward the city gate, and immediately they both groaned inwardly.

The beautiful-as-a-fairy Wanwan, riding along with the wind, her feet did not touch the ground, was floating through the open city gate toward them.

In this battle, where they knew themselves, but did not know the enemy, victory or defeat was already difficult to guess. Now in this crucial moment, where the enemy might arrive at any moment, if Wanwan, this uncertain factor, was added to the equation, if she decided to pull them back, perhaps even if they wanted to flee to the wilderness, they would not be able to.

Wanwan, wearing plain clothes, barefooted, with a face carrying a hint of sparkling smile, in an incomparably graceful att.i.tude, sat down in an empty chair across the table from the two boys.

As if agreeing by chance, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's eyes immediately lit up with sharp rays; murderous intent flared up.

If they could use a thunderbolt before-the-sound-of-thunder-reached-the-ear method to strike the female demon, who had come alone, in front of them either dead or injured, then it would be ideal.

This idea certainly has not gone through careful thought.

Despite saying that they would fight them head-on, they knew in their hearts that they did not have the ability to take care of her.

However, if the two boys, whose martial art skill advanced by leaps and bounds every day, could join hands in dealing with her, and Wanwan did not have the intention to flee, perhaps even Wanwan herself did not dare to ascertain that she had the ability to deal with them.

With her deep and low, pliable and tough like a cotton padding, seductive voice Wanwan said, "A gentleman uses his mouth and not his fist. If you are unwilling to be the gentlemen, the first to suffer will be those newfound friends of yours, the Peng Liang Hui brothers."

The two boys looked at each other in astonishment.

In just a few simple words, Wanwan already revealed her grasp of the overall situation, including their fatal weak point.

The reason they agreed to undertake this task in upholding justice toward Chen Jiafeng and the others really was not to help a gang or a society to take revenge and wipe out a grudge against another gang's powerful members, but because of three reasons.

The princ.i.p.al reason was that they did not wish to see such a beautiful and tranquil ancient city being destroyed in one day. The second reason was the righteous indignation flamed by anger against a common enemy, due to a different tribe ravaging the Central Plains. The last reason was hoping that the rabbit, Yuwen Huaji, would drop in at their gate. Trying to kill him in here was certainly a lot easier than trying to do it in his own territory.

But now that Wanwan came to look for trouble, how could they divide their heart to deal with her?

Kou Zhong busily pushed the smile back onto his face; giggling, he said, "Wan Da Xiaojie, please calm down. Ha! Drink a cup of wine before we talk. Are you hungry? I guarantee the vegetarian dish has no poison in it!"

Smiling gracefully, Wanwan watched as Kou Zhong politely poured a cup of wine for her. "Now this is nice!" she spoke softly, "Even enemies sometimes sit down together to drink wine and have a heart-to-heart chat!"

Ever since they officially set themselves against each other as enemies, Xu Ziling has never had the opportunity to examine this devil cult's female demon in such a close distance and intimate and peaceful atmosphere like this. But no matter how he looked at her, it was difficult to see the least bit of demonic or unusual thing from her personality traits, yet he had witnessed with his own eyes her cruelty and ruthless methods.

Her peerless countenance could be considered on par, rather than inferior to, s.h.i.+ Feixuan's. The difference was that the latter gave the impression of spirited rain on an empty mountain, while Wanwan made people think about barren and deserted plains.

Before picking up her cup, Wanwan's eyes floated toward Xu Ziling; her cherry lips opened lightly and said, "Can Ziling throw out old grievances right now so that we all can have peaceful discussion?"

Xu Ziling replied with astonishment, "You take advantage of our precarious position like this, and yet still talk about exchanging views?"

With a hint of sarcasm Wanwan replied, "And who's taking advantage of other's precarious position now? Who doesn't want to take advantage of others' precarious position? This is not the first day that Ziling entered the Jianghu, why would you still utter such comment?"

Knowing Xu Ziling's temperament, Kou Zhong was afraid they would reach deadlock; he hastily said, "Let's have a good discussion. Hey! Over the years, I have a question that lingers in my heart; now that we have a chance for a heart-to-heart talk, I was wondering if Wan Da Xiaojie would answer me?"

Wanwan knew that Kou Zhong wanted to change the subject, she was happy to oblige. She said cheerfully, "In half a sichen Ku Ge's horse-mounted bandits will reach the city gate; if it doesn't take too much time, Wanwan certainly happy to answer your question."

Kou Zhong laughed and said, "This is just a simple little question: why is Yin Gui Pai willing to be drawn into the dispute of becoming the master of the world?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Wanwan replied, "Who doesn't want to be the master of the world? Isn't this question a bit superfluous?"

Kou Zhong spoke in bewilderment, "For Li Mi, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong, Dou Jiande, Li s.h.i.+min, and the others, this is certainly a stupid question. Among life achievements, nothing can surpa.s.s establis.h.i.+ng a dynasty setting up an era, toiling to become master of the universe that will last for thousands generations. But for your virtuous master Zhu Yuyan, or perhaps Wan Xiaojie yourself, the real pursuit is perhaps not the wealth or power of the secular world!"

Wanwan smiled and said, "I never expected that you had such an understanding about us. Perhaps it can be explained this way: the master of the world is like the extension and continuation of our struggle against Ci Hang Jing Zhai. Also because of this reason I am willing to sit down and have a peaceful talk with you. Otherwise, if we do all we can to deal with you, how long do you think you will last?"

Sneering, Kou Zhong said, "Don't threaten us! Haven't you tried to deal with us will all your strength before? But without success!"

Wanwan revealed a sad expression as if she took pity of his ignorance; she sighed and said, "At the Eastern Capital, we indeed had the intention to kill you; to be precise, we intended to kill one of you. But in the end we refrained from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vase. Even my humble master, due to all kinds of apprehensions, did not dare to carelessly make her move. As for the reasons behind it, you think about it yourselves!"

After a short pause, she let out a faint sigh and said, "The reason we wanted to deal with you, other than for the 'Duke Yang's Treasure', we are afraid that you might stand on Ci Hang Jing Zhai's side. But now that worry has, of course, become redundant."

Xu Ziling let out a cold snort, "Nonsense!" he said, "Didn't you want to kill me earlier?"

Without concealing anything Wanwan replied forthrightly, "I indeed wanted to eliminate you. But the reason is not what you think. Ziling, do you want to hear it?"

Afraid that Xu Ziling and Wanwan might quarrel and thus spoil their big endeavor, Kou Zhong answered on his behalf, "Of course we are dying to hear it!"

Xu Ziling had no choice but to shut up and refrain from expressing any opinion.

Wanwan's eyes emitted an incomparably tender expression, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with emotion like the continuous wave slapping against the riverbank; she spoke gently, "First of all is because you, Ziling, has established a delicate relations.h.i.+p with s.h.i.+ Feixuan, which, to us, creates a big problem. Secondly, Wanwan is a bit afraid I cannot restrain my emotions and fall in love with you."

"What?" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling blurted out together.

Looking at Xu Ziling's handsome face blus.h.i.+ng and his extremely awkward expression, "Pft!" Wanwan burst out in tender giggle and said, "That is the truth, believe it or not, it's up to you."

The sound of hoof beats was getting nearer and nearer.

Ku Ge has finally arrived.

But Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling no longer had the confidence and a.s.surance they had before.

Wanwan's smile was getting sweeter and even more beautiful.