Hungry, true, the author seemed to groom Kou Zhong as a strong contender for the throne. Akolaw, based on how much text Huang Yi spent on the women, I'll say s.h.i.+ Feixuan is number one, followed by Wanwan. Next would be Shang Xiufang, Shang Xiuxun. s.h.i.+ Qingxuan is 'not there' yet, but it was because of her fake nose. I am sure later on we will see pages upon pages on her. Xiaohu, I never said that. I was simply answering your question on 'who's Takeyama'. Anh, Ysabel, Paona, HPC, Jaya, DongBin, you are welcome. Xu Xiong, you misunderstood. I was responding to your hope that Xu Ziling and s.h.i.+ Qingxuan's trip would result in more blood. Sky, I knew it!

Book 20 Chapter 12 - Lucky Chance

Dusk.

Xu Ziling, disguised as Yue Shan, and s.h.i.+ Qingxuan, traveled as father and son, arrived in Hefei, another big city northwest of Liyang. Yangtze River was still two days away, that is, a.s.suming the two would travel as fast as their feet could carry them.

This city was inside Jianghuai Army's territory, but the flag flying overhead was Fu Gongyou's banner, and not Du Fuwei's.

Outside Hefei, the countryside was unbroken fields stretching into the distant; seedlings were everywhere, fresh yellow and light and dark green as far as the eyes could see, making their mind felt fresh and cool.

After paying the tax to enter the city, the fascinating scenery of the patchwork of waterways of the Yangtze River basin warmed their hearts and delighted their eyes.

The streets were paved with either bluestone or built by laying bricks, giving the impression of abundant antiquity. The buildings were compact and elegant, with whitewashed wall and black roof tiles, wooden doors and stone steps, simple, nothing fancy. In this continuous fire of war, the time where ruins lay for a thousand li, outsiders looking at it would feel peace and harmony in their heart.

Pa.s.sing through a narrow but long alley, both sides densely packed with the rear walls of people's houses, s.h.i.+ Qingxuan, who along the way has never uttered even half a word, suddenly laughed and said, "I was thinking of leaving the city immediately after late night supper, so that tomorrow we'll be able to reach the Great River, but somehow after entering the city, I suddenly feel tired and lazy, and now I only want to rest. Before nightfall I want to go out to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city. Xu Xiong, what do you think?"

Xu Ziling smiled and said, "Even if we are in a hurry, one night or half evening will not matter much. Besides, we really must have a good night sleep. Therefore, I have no objection."

Thereupon the two found a clean, simple yet elegant inn in the vicinity, ordered two adjacent rooms, and separately went to the bathroom to freshen up, before meeting again and together went to the city center to enjoy the liveliness. Sitting down at the corner of a restaurant, s.h.i.+ Qingxuan ordered two vegetarian dishes, and then the topic of their conversation went back to Xie Ji Zong.

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan did not wish for the guests at the adjacent table to listen to their conversation, hence she sat by Xu Ziling's side, with her back against other people, and affectionately leaned close to Xu Ziling's ear, and said, "The problem is that so far, no one has ever reaped any benefit from the Relic, but it has become a tradition of the Xie Ji Zong from generation to generation that when the Zongzhu is approaching his end, he would transmit his qi essence into the Relic. Other than Xiang Yutian, who was not able to fulfill this obligation due to the unexpected death, there are altogether eleven Zongzhu who sacrifice their primal essence into this Relic."

A chill crept up in Xu Ziling's heart, thinking that the conduct of demonic sect's people was indeed strange and unfathomable.

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan went on, "It was only during Xiang Yutian's time that they took a turn for the better. Xiang Yutian was the first person to understand how to use the Relic to train the demonic skill, so that he ranked above Zhu Yuyan among the demonic sects' grand masters. It's a pity that he never completed the 'Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa'. Just before his death, he separately taught the secret on how to use the Relic to train the demonic skill to four inferior disciples, who harbored the intention to murder their master, and to Yin Gui Pai's Zhu Yuyan. In addition, he instructed Lu Das.h.i.+ to hide the 'Demonic Emperor Relic' in some secret place. The best part was that he deliberately mystifying this matter, so that You Niaojuan and the others mistakenly thought that the 'Demonic Emperor Relic' has been handed over to Zhu Yuyan, while Zhu Yuyan is convinced that it has fallen into the four people's hands. The consequences can be easily imagined."

Naturally they battled each other as irreconcilable adversaries [orig. you die, I live], which ended up You Niaojuan and the others suffered a crus.h.i.+ng defeat, and no longer dared to show their face. This ruse was certainly evil and extremely vicious, a clear sign that even though Xiang Yutian's character underwent huge changes, he did not have the heart of Bodhisattva at all, while implying punishment to his evil disciples at the same time.

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan continued, "In the end, paper can never contain fire. By the time both sides realized that the 'Demonic Emperor Relic' was in Lu Das.h.i.+'s hands, both parties have already tied deep enmity with each other."

Xu Ziling was puzzled, "How did this matter implicate Miss?" he asked.

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan sighed; she replied, "Can I hold on to the climax for the time being by temporarily not tell you this?"

Xu Ziling smiled and said, "Since Miss has a hidden trouble that is hard to mention, it's all right not to tell me that. But we are going our separate way tomorrow; is there any other instruction Miss would like to tell me?"

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan shook her head and said, "We are not going to part tomorrow. We are going to part tonight."

Xu Ziling was stunned.

※ ※ ※

Kou Zhong slept until late afternoon; alone, he went to the busiest street in Xiapi, to look around with great interest.

In order to fool people, he did not carry the Moon in the Well, which normally has never left him, he also dressed as a distinguished and accomplished young master of a wealthy family, with silk clothes and everything else.

Along the street, he saw group after group of men wearing blue tight warrior outfit, walking in domineering manner; they must be Luoma Bang men, but they did not create any trouble at all.

In this time of war, common people were the source of manpower. Du Ren must have restrained his men to follow a strict code of conduct; otherwise, if the people ran away, the city would become ruins.

The lanterns were started to illuminate the street. Pedestrians and vehicles fought against each other for the right of way. Except for its scale, which was comparably smaller, the liveliness was not inferior to the Heavenly Street in Luoyang.

After sleeping for more than three sichen, Kou Zhong's physical strength, as well as his spirit and mind, were completely recovered. He felt full of energy, and really wished he could find some bad people to beat up. Inwardly he also wished for Xu Ziling to be here, so that they could chat and joke, and spoke some vulgar language. Certainly the evening would be even more enjoyable.

After walking for two blocks, he stopped in front of a pleasure house, which signage said 'Xiao Chun Guang' [lit. little scenes of springtime]. After taking a deep breath, he swaggered through the pedestrian entrance leading into the courtyard.

Seeing the arrival of a fat sheep, the bouncer at the gate busily took him to the reception lobby, and called the laobao [female brothel keeper] for him.

Kou Zhong showed off that he brought enough money, so that the other party would think that he was a big customer from outside the country who came to do business here. He gave generous tip, before casually mentioning the most popular girl by name, Miss Qiu Yue [lit. autumn moon].

The laobao, who insisted to be called Auntie Qing, showed off an awkward expression while saying, "Daye [big master] is really unfortunate this time! Tonight Qiu Yue is already booked by another Daye. How about I have Qiu Rong [lit. autumn lotus] to accompany Daye? In terms of voice, beauty and artistry, she can't be inferior to Qiu Yue."

Kou Zhong tossed half an ingot of gold to her, telling Auntie Qing to have Qiu Rong come and accompany him, but no matter what, he still wanted Qiu Yue to come and have a cup of wine with him, while putting the other half of the gold ingot on the table. [This paragraph has a lot of missing characters, as well as gibberish, so I 'interpreted' it as best as I can from what's left.]

Such a generous and forthright honored guest was rarely seen in the world, hence Auntie Qing's greedy eyes lit up immediately, but she was still hesitant and could not make decision.

Kou Zhong leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I have an idea; how about this! You arrange for me to have a room next to the room she is entertaining her guest. As long as I hear her singing voice over the wall, you can consider me getting my cherished desire, and that half gold ingot is yours!"

Auntie Qing mused that unexpectedly there was such an idiot in the world who willingly spend money like this. She gladly took him upstairs.

※ ※ ※

A smile broke out of s.h.i.+ Qingxuan's dark 'jade countenance', like a sliver of sun bursting out of the black clouds; she spoke gently, "Don't be overly sensitive. I only change my mind, I want to go back to s.h.i.+chuan via land route."

Xu Ziling nodded and said, "Very well! We'll part after dinner. It would be perfect if I can reach Baling sooner."

After staring at him quietly for half a day, s.h.i.+ Qingxuan spoke softly, "Your build certainly bears striking resemblance to Old Yue, but you lack his aggressiveness and overbearing saber. Do you want to appear a bit more like him?"

Xu Ziling replied indifferently, "It doesn't matter how much I look like him on the outside, once I fight, there is no way I can cover my traces; therefore, there is no need to do more than is required."

Pursing her lips, s.h.i.+ Qingxuan laughed and said, "I said to appear a bit more like him, naturally that includes his saber technique and his overbearing saber. Do you forget that when he died I was at his bedside?"

Thinking about it, Xu Ziling felt more headache, "No matter how hard I tried, it's difficult for me to imagine that you and Yue Shan could hang out together."

From this angle, he could see s.h.i.+ Qingxuan's profile from the side, as clear and distinct as if it was carved by a knife, the lines were as beautiful as if it came from the ghost's hatchet with divine skill, astonis.h.i.+ng to see, especially since the make up to disguise her original appearance covered up her icy flesh and bone, so that Xu Ziling was able to focus his attention on her refined lines.

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan's beautiful eyes showed a far-away, recalling-fond-memories, look, her jade lips spoke gently, "Forty years ago, Old Yue suffered a crus.h.i.+ng defeat under the hands of Heavenly Saber Song Que. Heavily injured, he traveled a thousand li to see my Niang, his original intention was that just before dying, he could see Niang for one last time. But Niang disregarded the wear and tear of her own true power, and saved his life using her acupuncture skill to stimulate his acupoints, so that he was able to live thirty more years, but he was unable to save his martial art skill."

And then, casting a glance at Xu Ziling, she spoke indifferently, "Why are you staring at me?"

Xu Ziling hastily averted his gaze and said in embarra.s.sment, "Listening to you, I was enthralled, and involuntarily staring at you. If you don't like it, I won't look at you."

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan showed a cute, naïve expression like a little girl, pursed her lips and said with a laugh, "I was teasing you. You are different from other men; no matter how ugly my disguise is, you are always able to find something touching about me. And now Qingxuan's skin is dark and rough, what do you say?"

Xu Ziling nearly grabbed his head and cried out for the pain; distressed, he said, "You seem to be afraid others might admire your appearance, but that is a fact that cannot be changed."

s.h.i.+ Qingxuan smiled and said, "That is because I have my Niang as an example. Ever since I was old enough to understand, I have never seen Niang smiling. Don't change the subject, where were we?"

Xu Ziling thought that it was you who changed the subject, yet you made laozi [me] the criminal ringleader, the main offender. But naturally he would not argue with her over this; he replied, "You were telling me that Yue Shan managed to keep his life, but not his martial art skill …"