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seems like no one has ever translated this, so i would like to give it a try.
will try to finish translating it and stick as close as possible to the original sentence.
however, do expect irregular updates and numerous errors particularly because chinese and english both are not my first language.
thanks.
Chapter 1: A Strange One Bowl of Noodle
One night; one spring night; a spring rain in Jiang Nan which could bring sadness to people.
It was still in early spring; in a night when the night was not so young anymore. People in some faraway places, perhaps, would be able to cherish more of this unbroken thousands strings of rain drops. But, the people in this city had already long entered the dream’s world.
However, in one muddy narrow lane, a dimly shone lantern could be seen; a lantern whose exteriors had turned yellowish due to the constant exposure to smoke. It was hanged onto a simple and crude bamboo pole, lighting up a small noodle stall, a few tables and chairs and two bitter faces.
Under that heavy rain, at that quiet small alley, who would come to buy their noodles? The wrinkles on the faces of those noodle-seller couple deepened. But, unexpectedly at that time, the sound of footsteps could be heard. A green-clothed person walked under the rain and the cold wind. His face was pale, like a person who had been sick for a long time, a person who should stay on the bed to rest and drink his medicine.
Strangely, he went to the stall owner and said, “I want to eat noodle, three bowls of noodle, three big bowls”. How could someone like that had such a good appetite?
The owner and his wife could not resist using suspicious eyes to cast on this person. “What kind of noodle, honorable guest would like to eat? The lady owner, whose figure was still slender although her age was more than thirty years old, asked; “cabbage noodle? meat floss noodle or maybe pork knuckle noodle?”. “ I do not want any of those” using his coarse voice, the green-clothed person answered. “I want one bowl of gold flower, one bowl of silver flower, one bowl of pearl flower”.
This person did not come to eat noodle, he came to look for trouble. However, there was no trace of amusement on the faces of the noodle-seller couple. They only flatly replied, “Do you have the capability to eat it?”
“Let me try”, the green-clothed person flatly answered. Suddenly, there was a cold flash of light. A long sword appeared in the hand of the green-clothed person, like a venomous snake it attacked the chest of the seemingly slow stall owner. His movement was even faster than a venomous snake.
The stall owner turned his body slightly. A big chopstick was used as an acupoint-sealing weapon to seal the acupoint in his opponent’s shoulder.
The wrist of that green-clothed person shook slightly. The cold flash was getting brighter; the sword’s point had reached the chest of the stall owner. A “ding” sound could be heard as if the sword had hit a metal plate.
........
thanks for doing this translation! looking forward to it.:D
Thank you for introducing a new wuxia novel for those of us who can not read chinese.
I am deeply appreciative of the effort you have decided to place on translating this for us.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is always a joy when a new story is translated!:D
Always looking forward to something new. Often looking forward to something old that is new to me. Thanks for starting this.
Missouri.slim
thanks alot for the your kind encouragements :)
Chapter 1 - Part 2
The sword flashed again, however, this time it entered its scabbard. Apparently, the green-clothed person didn’t continue to attack. With a calm attitude he looked at the couple.
The lady owner started to smile, actually her face was pretty average, but because of the smile, it had an enticing side. “Good! Good swordsmanship!” She praised, and subsequently brought out a chair from the bamboo hut. “Please sit down and enjoy your noodle”.
The green-clothed person silently sat down. One bowl of steaming hot noodle was quickly delivered. Inside the bowl, there was no cabbage, meat floss, or pork knuckle, in fact not even one strand of noodle could be found. Only one longan size bright pearl was there.
Unbelievable, at that small stall in that narrow alley, the one that was sold was actually this kind of noodle. And the people who could afford to eat this kind of noodle definitely were not many. But, the green-clothed person was also not the only one who could afford to eat it.
He just sat down, when the second person came. A seem to be full-of-manner young man. He also wanted to eat three bowls of noodle. “One bowl of gold flower, one bowl of silver flower, one bowl of pearl flower”.
Similarly, the stall owner would also like to test this young man, “Do you have the capability to eat the needle?”
This young man, although his sword seemed to be as mannerly as himself, it was very fast, accurate and effective. Furthermore, the sword never ceased to move. Once one thrust had been sent out, it would be followed by another three moves, no more and no less.
The sword’s light flashed. “ding, ding, ding” sounds were heard. The stall owner’s chest had been ‘hit’ by the sword three times. This mannerly young man’s swordsmanship unexpectedly was even three times faster than what others would think of.
Even the stall owner’s countenance had changed. The lady owner smiled happily. The young man upon seeing her smile, suddenly inside his eyes, a lust that shouldn’t be inside the eyes of a gentleman, could be seen.
The lady owner gave an even more tantalizing smile; she liked to be stared by that kind of gaze that comes from young men’s eyes. But, suddenly she stopped smiling, and the eyes of that young man were also becoming cold. It was like both at the same time could sense a pressing algidity was attacking their bodies.
That young man, his sword had already been sheathed, but his hand was still tightly grasping the hilt of his sword. He turned his body slowly, and saw a figure of one-armed man, who even though his body was as thin as a bamboo pole, the shoulder was very wide. That person stood under the heavy rain, slanted on his back was a black bamboo pole.
Chapter 1 - Part 3
He wore a bamboo hat. The hat covered his head until just below his eyebrows, revealing only his left eye which was sharply staring at the young man. He asked: “Are you the disciple of the iron sword Fang Zheng?”
“Yes”.
“In that case, you come over here”
“Why do you want me to go over there?” “What for?”
“For me to kill you”
Suddenly he threw away his bamboo hat to a distant darkness. The light from the lantern shone upon the face of that one-armed man, showing a face full of scars. In his right eye, there was a cross-shaped scar which made the right eye completely blind, yet this also made the left eye incomparably sharper.
The young man’s palm which held the sword began to sweat. He had remembered who that man was. He also knew that the cross-shaped scar was due to what kind of sword art. The one-armed man, extending his thin yet sturdy big hand was slowly reaching the pitch-black bamboo pole on his back.
However, the lady owner suddenly moved towards the one-armed man and stood in front of him. Using her soft hand to wrap around his neck, she brought her soft lips close to that man’s ear. She whispered, “At this moment, you are not allowed to touch him, he is also someone I am purposely looking for, moreover he is a very useful person, wait until this matter has been settled then you can do whatever you want to do to him. Well, he also can’t run away even if he wants to”. Using her flirty soft voice she added “I can’t run away too”
The tone of her voice and her action was similar to the way a woman talk to her lover. Her husband was simply regarded as being dead. But the husband also acted like nothing had happened, nothing was heard.
The one-armed man stared at her; suddenly he grabbed her collar, lifting up the lady owner as if she was a tiny chick. He walked into the stall and then slowly putting down the lady owner, slowly saying word by word “I want to eat noodle, three bowls, three big bowls”.
The lady gave a smile, a smile which resembled the spring flower, “That’s the code I made for others, to determine whether they are the person I’ve invited. But you are different, even if you have been reduced to dust, I will still be able to recognize you, so why do you still need to say these useless words to me?
The one-armed man did not say anything anymore. He also didn’t glance at that young man anymore, not even once.
Exactly at that moment, they saw a person leisurely entered that small alley. Someone they had never seen before, and also someone whose face they had never imagined. The face of that person was actually not weird, it could even be said that on his face there was nothing weird at all. He appeared to be slightly taller than the average people. Perhaps he was also slightly taller than his actual height; this was because he wore a pair of old-fashioned clogs. And although he was walking on muddy soil, there was no trace of mud on his white pair of socks.
thanks. keep going:D.
Chapter 1 - Part 4
His clothes were nothing expensive, but the quality of the clothes was extremely good and the color combination was also nice to eyes. He didn’t carry a sword, no other weapon as well. But, he brought with him an umbrella, a new one, to shelter his body from the rain.
When he entered that small and dark alley under the rain, he looked like he was taking a walk under sunny bright sun in a garden full of blossoming flowers.
Anywhere, anytime, his countenance would not change, just because he was that kind of person, even during the most dangerous situation it would not change. Therefore, on his face there was always a smile, and even if he was not smiling, others would think that he was smiling. Perhaps, this was the only weird thing about this person.
The dim light from the lantern shone upon that person’s face. Not the kind of face which would make young women fall in love at the very first sight, yet it was not an annoying face either.
Having noodle, frying pan, spoon, chopsticks, soy sauce, sesame oil and scallion, the noodle stall was no different from other noodle stalls. It had a big wooden plate too, on top of which there were beef, beancurd, and salted egg.
That man seemed to be very interested in a lot of things. “I want one piece of every side dish, as for the beancurd please give me more. He added, “I want two pots of wine as well, any kind of wine will do”.
“How about the noodle?” the stall owner asked. “What kind of noodle do you want to eat? And how many bowls?”
“I don’t even want one half of a bowl” he said with a smile. “I only want to drink a little wine, do not really want to eat” it happened that that person did not come to eat noodle. The countenance of the previous three people who came to eat noodle changed upon hearing this. Green veins bulged from the hand of the one-armed man.
The stall owner had gripped his long chopsticks. But, his foot was stomped by his wife. “Here, we do not have any good wine. However, the beancurd is really not bad”. The lady owner smiled “Honorable guest, please sit inside, the food will be delivered shortly”.
That rundown stall had only three small tables. Each had been occupied by the three people who came earlier. Fortunately, one table usually can be occupied by more than one person. It generally had two or three chairs by its side. Just like one teapot had a few teacups.
Hence, that person also had a chair to sit on. He chose to sit in front of the green-clothed man who came first to that stall. This was because that seat was the nearest. This person seemed to be very lazy. Moreover, he looked a bit stupid and insensitive. He said to the green-clothed man, “The world is so big and human is so small, the two of us can sit on the same table, it is really a fateful encounter” “therefore, I would like to invite you to drink a few cups of wine, is that alright with you?”
“It is not” the attitude of this green-clothed man could not be considered impolite, “I do not drink wine”. This person caressed his nose, looked like he was utterly disappointed. But as soon as the food and wine were delivered, he quickly became spirited again. “A person, even though he has no companion to drink wine, it is still better than to have no wine to drink at all”. As soon as he finished his sentence, an applause could be heard.
Chapter 1 - Part 5
“That is a saying that will transcend time.” Someone clapped his hands and laugh loudly. “Just because of this sentence, it is justifiable to drink until someone’s heart content”. This person’s laughter was loud and full of spirit. When he walked, the waist was very straight; his clothes were a new one and recently washed. Next to his waist, there was a long sword in a black scabbard. The sword’s hilt was rubbed shiny.
So that people had a good impression on him, he really had put on a lot of efforts. Unfortunately, it still could not cover his languish, his tiredness, although he had hoped that others would not notice it.
“Too bad, at this moment I could not accompany you to drink wine; I want to eat a few bowls of noodle first”. With a big stride he walked towards the front part of the noodle stall. “I want three bowls of noodle, three big bowls”.
The stall owner stared at him with the expression like he wanted to strangle that person’s neck, while asking why he couldn’t saw that there was a person who didn’t come to eat the noodle inside the stall, why he wasn’t being able to be discreet.
The sword carrying old man looked back at the stall owner. He let out a cold snicker, “Why don’t you reply? What do you mean by this? Do you assume that I, Jiao Lin have become old already? Have no more capability to eat your noodle?” his voice became hoarse due to his anger. “To eat or not to eat the noodle is of a secondary importance, I have to let you see whether I still have some capabilities or not”.
He unsheathed his sword. The way he unsheathed his sword was good and efficient but too bad his hands were not sturdy. The stall owner’s long chopsticks started to move; with a quick thrust the stall owner attacked that man’s eyes. That man’s sword had not reached the chest of his opponent, yet his eyes had already been threatened by enemy’s weapon. He had no choice but to retreat.
He had only retreated for a step when the owner’s chopsticks suddenly moved down and successfully hit his wrist bone. A “dang” sound could be heard as he had dropped his sword. At the moment the sword dropped, Jiao Lin too felt like he had fallen from the top of a high building to the depth of an abyss.
Just within that short moment, everything he had wanted to conceal was exposed. The fact that he had aged, his poorness, a pair of hands which were not steady anymore, even the torn next to the collar and wrist line of his clothes could be seen clearly. However, no people were willing to glance at them already.
He slowly bent down, slowly picked up his sword which had dropped to the ground, retreated back step by step, while his eyes kept staring at the stall owner’s chopsticks.
the drinking guy seems to be Chu liuxiang. intersting beginning. thanks.
His hands were trembling, his eyes were full of despair and fear, as if one step backward equal to one step closer to death.
The man who drank wine suddenly stood up, brought out a silver coin and put it down on top of the table. He opened his umbrella, slowly approached Jiao Lin and propped him up.
He smilingly said “I know that your wine addiction has been acting up, the beancurd in this place is really not bad but the wine is of a poor quality, let’s go to other place to drink some wine”
The old-fashioned clogs walked on the muddy soil, the new umbrella was sheltering its owner from the drizzling rain. With one hand propping up Jiao Lin, that man walked out from that alley.
The one-armed man was looking at them, his only eye showed the murderous intent. The green-clothed man had stoop up, the young man had gripped the hilt of his sword, and the stall owner was ready to give a chase too.
“Don’t move” The lady owner suddenly slammed down the table. She said, “No one is going to move, the one that is going to move will die”.
The stall owner’s countenance changed, “This time I could not obey your wish, we must not let Jiao Lin to stay alive,” he toned down his voice, “This matter, the risk is too big. More or less Jiao Lin has known about it, although considering his profession he somehow could be trusted but we really need to eliminate the risk.”
“It is precisely because we could not take the risk, therefore we must not touch him,” the lady owner continued,”Once we lay a hand on him, we sure are bound to be fail.”
“Are you seriously afraid of Jiao Lin? Don’t you see that he has nothing left?
“The one I’m afraid of is not him,” the lady owner said, “Ten Jiao Lin can’t even be compared to that person’s one finger.”
“That man?” the owner asked, “I can’t believe that you are afraid of that man who dressed up like a lady-killer?”
“Yes, that’s correct, I’m afraid of him.” The lady owner said, “Originally I wanted to kill him, but luckily I suddenly remembered who he is. If not, perhaps we all are going to die.”
The one-armed man gave a cold chuckle. “Have you really recognized who I am? Have you forgotten about me?” The lady owner said, “I know you are not afraid of anyone. I also know that except for that one loss at Bashan, these last 4 years you have been competing against 13 masters from seven big clans, and you have won all. Furthermore, last month, in only one stance, your sword was able to kill Diancang’s Zhuo Fei.
The one-armed man said coldly. “He was not the only one whom I killed with only one stance.”
Only need one stance to kill, that kind of sword art was really so great and fearful.
“But I can assure you that you won’t be able to kill him in only one stance.” The lady owner said, “In this world there is no one who is able to kill him in only one stance, moreover there is no one who can kill him even with 100 or 1000 or 10000 stances.” She continued with a hissed voice, “Because as far as I know, for the whole of his life, he has never lost.”
The one-armed man was startled and asked; “Who exactly is he?” the lady owner finally revealed the name of that person, that name was like a magic spell that can make everyone’s face changed color.
That name was Chu Liuxiang.
_____________
end of chapter 1
Chapter 2: Crescent moon on a pure silk handkerchief
A high wall, a big house, a spacious backyard.
Chu Liuxiang brought Jiao Lin towards the small door at the back of that house. He said’ “wait for me here, and please don’t go.”
Jiao Lin was stoned. That was because the moment that stranger finished his words, like an eagle carried by the wind he had disappeared behind that small door.
The way this person do thing was totally different from others, Jiao Lin was not able to comprehend it and he didn’t even know his name. But Jiao Lin trusted him. Jiao Lin had never trusted anyone before, yet he could trust this man. This, even Jiao Lin was not able to understand the reason behind it.
Time slowly passed, the rain had stopped. Jiao Lin did not wait for too long, for the small door was opened and two little good-looking boys came out, bringing lanterns with them. They invited the guest to enter the house. Jiao Lin followed them.
The front part of the house was really big, under the dim light of the lanterns, Jiao Lin could still see the flowers, the beautiful rocky decoration and pavilion.
Chu Liuxiang was waiting outside the door; a smile could be seen on his face. The light inside the house was very bright, on the table there was wine. These brought some pride to this suffering wanderer’s heart.
Jiao Lin was not a talkative person, yet at that moment he asked: “What is this place?”
“A place in which you could stay for three months,” Chu Liuxiang smilingly answered him, “Well actually you can stay however long you want, but I know that you do not stay in a place any longer than three months.”
“Why do I have to stay here for three months?”
“Because no one will guess you could stay here, and also there will be no one who will disturb you here. After three months have passed, things are going to change, and by that time there won’t be anyone looking for you anymore.” Chu Liuxiang said, “Everyone only has one life, those who have no lives won’t be able to drink wine.”
Jiao Lin started to drink the wine, hot wine which began to warm up his freezing blood. “I’m just a poor wanderer, my hands are no longer as they are used to be, I have no more hope as well, today if it was not because of you perhaps I had died. Why are you so nice to me?”
“I don’t know’” Chu Liuxiang said, “I normally do not need a good reason to do something.”
“Do you know who those noodle sellers were? Do you know why did they invite people like us?”
“I don’t know and I don’t want to know.”
“Why?”
“Because I have enough troubles for myself.” Chu Liuxiang bitterly smiled, “You can randomly find 8 or 9 people and the sum of their troubles won’t even match half of my troubles. I can guarantee this.”
“But I believe you have added one more trouble.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Those people who came to eat the noodle in that stall, their expertise in killing, their high pay, nowadays there are not many who could match them and the one who could pay them are not many as well.” Jiao Lin said, “You should definitely be able to guess that what they are doing is a big secretive thing.”
“I could roughly guess it.”
“They won’t let go the people who know even a little about their secret! They definitely won’t mind to kill one person more.”
Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “This, I have also thought of. But I think they will still give me some face.”
“Why?”
“It seems like among them there was one who recognized me.”
Alright! One chapter down. How many chapters are there total?
Keep it up. We are all looking forward to it.
Missouri.slim
thanks. there are 12 chapters altogether.
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Chapter 2 - Part 2
Jiao Lin all that while kept looking down and looked at the wine inside the cup, only after hearing this sentence, he lifted up his face.
“Now I know why did they let me go!” his dull and inspirited eyes suddenly shone. “Long black bamboo pole, the sword that never spare a prey’s life! Even he did not do anything to me”
He lifted up his cup and gulped down the wine, laugh loudly. “Now I know whom was they were afraid of! I’m such an unlucky person but unexpectedly still have the fortune to meet you!”
He drank three cups of wine in a row and became a bit drunk.
“Originally I wanted to get that job, because they will definitely give a high pay, at least I could spend time in luxury for 1 to 2 years with the pay! I also know whom they want to kill, he really deserves to be killed,” Jiao Lin said, “Although my hands are soaked in blood, but I’ve never taken undeserved money, not even a cent. I wanted that job because I don’t want to die of hunger.” He laugh loudly again, “But today I am able to meet the world famous fragrant commander Chu, even if I have to die I will not regret it!”
“You won’t die,” Chu Liuxiang said, “A person when it is not his time to die yet, even if he wants to die he will not be able to.” Suddenly he started to rub his nose. “I have a friend who seems like he could not die, there were many times I thought he surely will perish and yet he was able to survive again and again.”
The moment he talked about that friend, he seemed like he couldn’t resist the urge to rub his nose. He sighed, “I have not met him for years, and out of blue I got news about him.”
“What kind of news?”
“He wants me to look for him, look for him on top of a tree.”
“A tree?” Jiao Lin tried to suppress his bewilderment, “You mean the kind of tree with branches and leaves?”
“Yes, precisely that kind of tree”
“Your friend is on top of a tree and he wants you to go to look for him?”
“Perhaps he has been waiting for quite long” Chu Liuxiang said, “maybe has been waiting for 20 days already.”
“Has always been waiting on top of that tree?”
“Yes, on top of that tree.”
“I don’t understand, I really don’t understand” Jiao Lin smiled bitterly, “There are times when I would like to sit on top of a tree, sipping on wine while sitting on it or plucking fruits to be eaten. But if I have to wait for a person, I would not wait for that long.”
Chu Liuxiang only asked one question and Jiao Lin instantly understood. “What if you could not climb down from the top of the tree?”
“Your friend is in a grave danger, therefore he hides on top of that tree, waiting for you to come to rescue him.” Jiao Lin continued, “You guys must be old friends, and that tree is definitely a place which two of you frequented in the past. Furthermore, between the two of you there must be a secret codeword to ask for help during emergency. Hence even though you are not by his side, your other friends, whenever they see it, they will find a way to tell you about it.”
Jiao Lin said, “Chu Liuxiang has roamed every corner of this world, has friends everywhere. The landlord of this house must be one of your friends too, otherwise why would he let me to stay here?”
After he had finished his words, Jiao Lin quickly drank another cup of wine, because he knew he was not drunk yet and furthermore his brain was still sharp, it was even sharper than most people brains in average.
Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “You have explained it clearer than I would have done. Therefore I’m going to say two words to you.”
“And what are they?”
“Good bye!”
Chapter 2 - Part 3
“Good bye’ these two words are really simple words. However, their meaning might not be as simple. Sometimes they could mean “Really want to meet again” other times they could be perceived as “soon will be able to meet again” but there is also time when they really mean “forever do not want to meet again”
But only one thing will never change, whenever you say this words it is either you want to leave or you want another person to leave. Chu Liuxiang did not want Jiao Lin to leave, he himself wanted to leave.
Usually once Chu Liuxiang had said he wanted to leave, he would immediately leave, but that time Jiao Lin managed to make him to stay by saying 5 words only. “You go, I also go.”
Upon seeing Chu Liuxiang’s carried by the wind fleeting figure suddenly halted, Jiao Lin said, “I know that the friend whom you are looking for is Hu Tiehua, I also know that for him you can put aside any other matters. I, on the other hand also want to go to look for a particular person, and the relationship between me and this person is many times deeper than your relationship with Hu Tiehua.”
“Who is this person?”
“My daughter, my biological daughter.” Jiao Lin said, “Although I do not know where she is, I still want to look for her.”
“You yourself don’t even know where she is?”
“I don’t know.” Jiao Lin said, “But I do know that I have this daughter, now you tell me, do you still think that I shouldn’t leave?”
Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose again, after a while then said, “You could choose not to go.” Chu Liuxiang was not an unreasonable person, but the sentence he said earlier sounded rather unreasonable. Jiao Lin of course could not stand not to ask him, “Why is that so?”
“Because I just saved your life, I do not want to see you die.” Chu Liuxiang said, “Moreover you yourself do not know where your daughter is. How do you plan to go looking for her?”
“I have my own clue.”
“Then you only need to tell me your clue and I could help you to find your daughter. Therefore, you could stay here.” Chu Liuxiang said, “If even I could not find her, you definitely also won’t be able to.” No one could refute this sentence, Chu Liuxiang was actually still a reasonable person.
Jiao Lin’s eyes immediately shone, like a magic trick, a silk handkerchief suddenly appeared on his hand.
The snowy white handkerchief had already turned yellowish. On top of it a crescent moon was embroidered using a red thread. “Her mother had left me even before she was born. I only know that below her neck there was a birthmark, it had the shape similar to this handkerchief’s crescent moon.”
Jiao Lin said, “Unfortunately, I also do not know where her mother went after she had left me, because this thing happened 18 years ago.”
A handkerchief, a birthmark below the neck. Below the neck usually means above the breast. An 18 years old young girl, even if she was an idiot, it was still impossible for her to flaunt this part of her body to a stranger.
Chu Liuxiang was dumbfounded. When he saw Jiao Lin’s face and received that handkerchief, he felt like he was boarding a pirate ship and what worse was he willingly boarded it.
Jiao Lin also said, “I surely know that using this way to look for a person is not easy at all, but luckily I also know that all his life Chu Liuxiang has never failed to do anything. Therefore, I am at ease.”
Of course he felt at ease. He had passed on his inextricable problem to other person, passed it to the only person in the world who was willing to shoulder it. Chu Liuxiang looked at him. He looked at Jiao Lin for quite some time, and then he laughed and said, “You old fox, why don’t you also ask me to pluck the moon in the sky for you?”
However, right then what worried Chu Liuxiang the most was not the “crescent moon” whose whereabouts was unknown. The thing that worried him the most was the “kennel” on top of a tree and the person inside that “kennel”.
A very big tree. A very tall tree.
thanks. it's becoming more intersting.
Chapter 2 - Part 4
Long time ago when Chu Liuxiang and Hu Tiehua were little boys, they built a small tree house on top of a tree which had the densest leaves. The color of the tree house was similar to the color of the tree’s bark. The size of that small tree house was about the size of the prehistoric people’s house which main purpose was to protect them from beasts attack.
Back then, it was because they were playful, also because their martial arts had reached a pretty high standard; therefore, they built such a tree house.
Hu Tiehua said, “Why don’t we call this place as kennel?”
Chu Liuxiang said, “Why is that so?” he was discontented; “Only eagle and condor could build such a high tree house. We are not dogs. Moreover, dog is not able to climb a tree, so why do we have to name this place as kennel?”
“Because I like dogs.” Hu Tiehua’s answer made Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose. “Who knows that one day we will be chased by others just like stray dogs with no hiding place to go. At that time, we could come here.”
And hence it was decided that kennel was the name of that place.
Although they had never been chased after like some stray dogs, they had been there for a few times, bringing a jar of wine, plucking some fruits to eat, climbed the tree in drunken stupor, and then left after pouring down every word that they could not say, did not want to say or dared not to say to others.
During their last rendezvous at that place, they made a pact. Hu Tiehua said, “If any of us is in danger, that person will come here to hide. No matter who is the one who comes here, the other person has to come to rescue him.”
Hu Tiehua also said, “If I am the one who comes, I will leave ‘kennel’ this word at every place that you often visited. Others might not understand what does it mean, but you will definitely understand it.”
He told Chu Liuxiang, “When that time comes, I surely am in a grave danger. So the moment you see the ‘code’, you have to come as quickly as you could. If you see me using a white chalk to write the word, that means if you come late even by an iota bit, you most probably have to buy a coffin for me.”
Chu Liuxiang had seen the ‘code’, written by using white chalk, and could be seen at many places. When he saw that ‘code’, the word had become a bit blurry and therefore he concluded that between the time he had seen the ‘code’ and the time Hu Tiehua wrote it, at least 15 to 20 days had lapsed.
For that last few months Chu Liuxiang had often appeared in Jiang Nan, but Jiang Nan was a pretty large place, to be able to see the ‘code’ agreed upon from 10 years ago within 30 days can be considered that Hu Tiehua’s luck was not bad at all. However, 20 days was not a short period of time, within those 20 days the number of people who had died perhaps exceeded the number of ants a person could have seen during his entire life; and Hu Tiehua might be one of the dead people.
Hu Tiehua was not died yet, on the contrary Chu Liuxiang was closed of being angered to death. When Chu Liuxiang found him, he was not in any danger at all; moreover, he was having a happier life compared to the most people on the earth.
The mountain was still the same mountain. The tree was still the same tree.
On top of that fog-covered green mountain, nothing seemed to have change, but the kennel on top of the tree had changed.
The exterior was still the same, because it was built by two very capable pair of hands using the very best of woods. Hence, even after years standing against heavy wind and rain, the house was still sturdy.
However, its interior had changed. In the world, probably there was no one who would think that that place was a mere kennel. People could call it ‘Garden of Eden’ or even “the house of God and Goddess”, both are fine. But, it was definitely could not be called a kennel anymore. Hu Tiehua himself did not look like a stray dog which was being chased by some people and had no place to go.
Inside the tree house originally there were only one small table, two torn grass mats, and several empty wine jars. But at that moment everything had changed, as if there was a divine being who had gone there and touched all of the things inside the house with one finger of his which was able to turn everything to gold.
Therefore, the two torn grass mats had changed into world’s softest, warmest, and most expensive woven-carpets; the empty wine jars made from clays had changed into jars made from gold and jade, and inside them was the best wine from various places.
The moneyless face-full-of-beard wanderer Hu Tiehua had also changed. He had become 5 persons; one man and four women. The women were of course the kind of stunning beauty who could entice a man’s soul. You only need to cast one glance at them and you are guaranteed won’t be able to sleep at night. One of them was petite and extremely loveable, one was gentle, one was full of energy and another one was very slim.
The man was surely the one with the qualifications to match these beauties. He was tall, looking stout and mature, his hair was combed nicely and his beard was trimmed clean. Compared to the old Hu Tiehua who might not take a bath, shave his face and change his clothes more than once a month, this person was like a completely different Hu Tiehua.
Unfortunately, Chu Liuxiang in one glance could verify that these seemingly two different persons were actually one same person. Even if Hu Tiehua had turned to ashes, Chu Liuxiang would still be able to recognize him.
“How could this person change?” “How could this place change until like this?”
Chu Liuxiang could not guess it. If there was really a god who would descend upon the earth and with one finger he could create a miracle. Chu Liuxiang would really like to borrow that finger. He will use it to touch this “Hu Tiehua look-alike” and turn him into a pig.
end of chapter 2
Chapter 3 - Part 1
A person who adores beauty
A human can’t become a pig. However, if Hu Tiehua could really become a pig, he still couldn’t amuse Chu Liuxiang any further. Because, even in his wildest dream, Chu Liuxiang wouldn’t believe that Hu Tiehua could change as drastically as this.
Hu Tiehua was looking at him. The way he looked at Chu Liuxiang was like that was the first time they had ever met and furthermore his expression was like there was a petunia flower grew on Chu Liuxiang’s face.
“Have you eaten the wrong medicine?” Hu Tiehua unexpectedly asked, “Or someone has stepped on your tail?”
“This person has a tail?” one of the girls who had big doe-eyes asked, “Why can’t I see where is his tail?”
“A person once he has become an old fox, even if he had a tail, others won’t be able to catch a glimpse of it.” Hu Tiehua with a serious expression on his face said, “But, look at his face, it is a bit weird isn’t it? His face is similar to the face of a person who has just swallowed a big and fat live chinch.”
The girls were giggling; their giggles were so mesmerizing just like them. Chu Liuxiang looked at his own hands; he really wanted to make a fist and then punch Hu Tiehua on his nose so that he will get a broken nose and stop spouting rubbish.
Unfortunately, Chu Liuxiang did not have the habit to punch his friend’s nose. Hence, his hand was forced to caress his own nose instead. The girls were laughing heartily, suddenly Chu Liuxiang was also laughing and his laugh was even heartier.
“Nice, nice, very nice.” He asked Hu Tiehua, “Since when have you become such a merry person? Why didn’t I know about it?”
“Isn’t this good?” Hu Tiehua blinked and said, “Don’t tell me that you are angry with me?” He said with the conscience of a sinless person, “Will you be happy if you really saw me beaten into a pulp and hiding here like a stray dog?”
The top of the small table was full of fruits, snacks, bread and meat, and two jars of wine. He asked Chu Liuxiang again, “Do you know what wine are these? This one is 30 years Nuerhong and that one is the best Luzhoudagu wine.”
He embraced the slim girl with long legs who was standing next to him, and said, “even though your nose is not functioning well, your eyes are very sharp. You definitely can tell that each of these girls is 18x prettier than any girl we have encountered before.”
HU Tiehua shook his head and sighed, “A person who can have such good wine, such beautiful girls and yet still remember to invite his friend to enjoy them together, this person must be an extraordinary person. If I could have such a good friend, I definitely will kneel in front of him and kiss his feet.”
Into another chapter. Keep it coming!
MIssouri.slim
:thumbsup:
Chapter 3 - Part 2
Chu Liuxiang laughed, he genuinely laughed. If you had this kind of friend, what will you do? Bite him?
The girl with doe eyes smiled and said, “Don’t worry. He does not really want you to kiss his feet. He missed you so much; therefore he invited you to come here with a little trick. His purpose was only to have you to accompany him to drink wine.”
The girl kneeled beside the small table, poured some Nuerhong wine into a jade cup. Her hands were whiter than a white jade and one of her finger wore an emerald ring.
Chu Liuxiang started to sit down. He stared at that girl’s hands like some sort of pervert. “What’s your name?” The girl gave an even sweeter smile. She passed the wine cup to Chu Liuxiang and said, “I will tell you once you have finished this wine.”
“That won’t do, one cup won’t be enough.” Chu Liuxiang said, “At least I have to drink 18 cups.” He stretched out his arm, not to receive the cup but to hold that girl’s smooth and fair hand.
That girl gave a coquettish smile, “you are bad. You are really a bad person.”
“I originally am not a good person.” Chu Liuxiang gave a cunning smile, “I can guarantee that I am 10 times worse than what you can imagine.”
A crack sound was heard. The girl’s pair of jade-white hands had been twisted until the bones were fractured. The wine cup in her hand was flicked by Chu Liuxiang’s finger. The flying cup hit the waist of the slim girl.
The emerald ring had also been taken of by Chu Liuxiang. With two fingers he flicked that ring towards the doe-eyed girl. It hit her shoulder acupoint. The moment that girl wanted to scream, she was already unable to move.
Those three girls were shocked mute. They couldn’t imagine that the person who looked like someone who adores beauty could inflict this sort of thing on them.
The last girl who was the gentlest and most petite suddenly brought out a shiny dagger. She placed that dagger across Hu Tiehua’s neck.
“Chu Liuxiang, I admire you, you are really great! I really don’t know how did you manage to see our trick.” She said with hatred, “but don’t you dare to move, otherwise I will slice his neck.”
Anyone could see that she wasn’t giving an empty threat. In this world there is a type of girl, who may look tamer than a kitten, yet if forced by the situation, it will show its claws, and if it is needed it will claw you until you are dead. And there is no mistake that girl was that kind of girl.
Hu Tiehua, even though he was still smiling but his pace has become pallid. However, Chu Liuxiang was nonchalant about it. “Go ahead, do it with whatever method you have.” He smiled and said, “That neck is not mine, even if you sliced it I won’t feel any pain.”
Chu Liuxiang sat again, with an expression similar to the expression of a person who is going to see a performance. “You cut, I see,” Chu Liuxiang smiled happily, “to be able to see a pretty girl like you slicing a person’s neck, I bet it will be an interesting sight.”
Hu Tiehua shouted, “Interesting? You said interesting? What kind of friend are you?”
Thanks for your hard work. I do wish we will have complete Chu Liuxiang, starting from Book 1. But ... first thing first: Here is to wish you all the best!
Chapter 3 - Part 3
Chu Liuxiang smiled, “The kind of friend like me is indeed rare. It is not easy to find even one. Today you are able to meet one, you are really lucky.”
That petite girl was starting to feel anxious, her pair of eyes which originally full of murderous intent starting to show fear.
It was not that she was scared to kill Hu Tiehua, instead she was scared about what would happen after she had killed him. Would she be killed in the same way or in an even more gruesome way?
Chu Liuxiang didn’t say such things. He had never said something like that. That kind of thing was not able to be said by Chu Liuxiang. However, he was always able to let others to fantasize it themselves.
The shiny dagger was still next to Hu Tiehua’s neck. However, the hand which held the dagger had begun to show tremor.
“If you are not in a hurry to kill him, I will also take my own sweet time.” Chu Liuxiang said, “It is comfortable to sit here and moreover I am not an impatient person.”
He sighed, “Too bad all the wines here can’t be drunk. Because once you have drunk it, you will be like this Mr. Hu, sapped of strength.”
The hand which held the dagger shook incorrigibly. Will this situation continue? If it will, then until when? Suddenly she felt that this situation was not enjoyable at all.
Chu Liuxiang seemed to know what she was thinking about. He suddenly gave a suggestion, “If you don’t want to continue this, I have a way to stop it.”
“How?” She quickly asked.
“You let me bring this Mr. Hu away, after we have gone, you can also leave. I will not hurt you; you should know that I am a person who always adores beauty.”
“Fine, I trust you” She said, “I know Chu Liuxiang always keep his promise.”
The girl with the broken wrist, who all the while was enduring the pain suddenly shouted, “We didn’t do any mistake, and this Mr. Hu was also very obedient, he did whatever we instructed him to do. Hence, how could you know there is sedative inside the wine?
Chu Liuxiang smiled and then he poured a cup of wine for that girl. “I will tell you once you have finished this cup of wine.”
The wine must not be drunk. Therefore, they forever would not know how did Chu Liuxiang manage to uncover their secret.
Chapter 3 - Part 4
Tall mountain,
Flowing water.
There was spring water which streamed down from that tall mountain, creating a small river with clear sparkling water.
Hu Tiehua was still wearing the extravagant clothes. He was soaking himself in that river, fully dressed. That was because Chu Liuxiang insisted that by doing so he would be able to ‘sober’ from the influence of the sedative agent faster. Hu Tiehua had no choice but to do it.
He could only stare at Chu Liuxiang. He stared at him for quite some time and then he sighed. “You are great! Not only you are suave and classy, you are also very smart! A genius like you, in this world there won’t be another person who can match you! His voice became louder, “If you consider yourself as world number 2, there will be no one who dares to claim to be the number 1.”
Chu Liuxiang was lying supine on a big rock at the riverside. His face showed happiness and content. “I like to hear this kind of sentences. Please tell me some more.”
“Of course I will continue saying it. But unfortunately, it was not meant for you.”
“Not me? Then for whom?”
“Me, myself.” Hu Tiehua said, “I said it for myself. Because, I am really smart and full of grandeur, to the point that I couldn’t help but idolize myself.”
Once Chu Liuxiang was lying down, there were not many people who were able to make him to get up. But at that point of time, he immediately sprung up and looked at Hu Tiehua like he was seeing a ghost.
“Are you really admiring yourself? Do I hear it right?”
“Yes, you hear it right. Your ears are definitely better than your nose, how could you hear it wrong then?”
“I have saved you from a dangerous situation, to the point that others will admire me. You did not thank me, did not admire me, instead you were boasting about yourself.” Chu Liuxiang shook his head and took a deep breath, “In this case I think I should also admire you.”
“Of course you should,” Hu Tiehua said, “If there was no me, how could you save me?”
haha. :D. Hu Tiehua said true things.
Chapter 3 - Part 5
Chu Liuxiang was dumbfounded.
He had always known that Hu Tiehua had a thick skin but he never realized that it was that thick.
However, Hu Tiehua had his own reasoning, “We have been friends for as long as I could remember. Now I ask you, how many times have you seen me take a bath?”
“Very seldom” Chu Liuxiang tried to recall, “Perhaps once or twice.”
“Is it a difficult task to make me take a bath?”
“Not really, just a little bit more difficult than to make a dog stop eating shit.”
“Then, how about asking me to stop drinking?”
“This one is really difficult.” Chu Liuxiang took a deep breath, “This is even more difficult than stopping you from touching a woman.”
“In that kennel there was so much good wine, so many beautiful girls. But, when you found me, I was totally sober; I was so clean, even cleaner than the nascent you. Therefore, even a pig would be able to know there was something amiss.” Hu Tiehua opened up his big mouth and smiled, “And moreover you are slightly cleverer than a pig.”
Chu Liuxiang was at loss for words. Suddenly he felt that Hu Tiehua words were reasonable, very reasonable indeed.
He only asked one question. “A genius like you, how come you can be subjugated by 4 little girls?”
Hu Tiehua’s answer was even more eccentric. “It’s precisely because they were 4 little girls. If they were 4 old men, there’s no way I would be subdued.”
“It sounds logical”
“Seeing 4 beautiful girls like them, even though I was aware that there was sedative inside the wine, I would still drink the wine.” Hu Tiehua bitterly smiled, “Unfortunately, once I had drunk it all my strength was drained away.”
“In that situation, how did you manage to run to the kennel?”
“Of course I was the one who asked them to bring me there.”
“Why did they agree to do so?”
“Because of you.” Hu Tiehua explained, “I knew that they were also looking for you, but could not find you. So why didn’t I show them the way.”
“What way?”
“The way to trick a dog to enter its house.”
Chu Liuxiang bitterly smiled. “Now I know you are indeed a very good friend! Your expertise in involving others in your problem is also no. 1 in the world.”
“If I didn’t drag you, then who should I drag? If you didn’t help me, then who will?” Hu Tiehua opened wide his eyes, “Furthermore, I did that to make you happy.”
“To make me happy?” Chu Liuxiang couldn’t comprehend it, “What was the happy thing for me?”
“To be able to save a good friend like me from other’s hand, don’t tell me that you are not happy.” Hu Tiehua sternly said, “If I didn’t do that, how could you go to the kennel to look for me? And how could you save me in the end?”
Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose and thought for a long time. Finally he admitted, “That sounds logical. How come all your sentences are pretty logical?”
Suddenly Chu Liuxiang asked Hu Tiehua, “Have you ever thought that perhaps they had no malicious intent against you. Maybe they just wanted to take you to their home to meet their parents?
Chu Liuxiang himself represented Hu Tiehua to answer, “I bet you have ever thought about it. Because your skill in daydreaming is unrivaled in this world.”
“I don’t have to daydream.” Hu Tiehua said, “A person like me, who is handsome, witty, brave and mature is indeed every girl’s dream man. I only need to flirt a little and if they were not madly in love with me afterwards then it’s a strange thing.”
“And then why didn’t you make them madly in love with you? Why did you need me to rescue you?”
“Because, right now I have no time to play around.” Suddenly Hu Tiehua’s expression became solemn and mysterious. “Right now I have a big matter I have to attend. I have to finish this task otherwise there will be chaos on earth and there would be a lot of people die.
His tone was serious. Chu Liuxiang looked at him for a long time. There was not any trace of joking on Hu Tiehua’s face.
“What is the big thing that you have to do?”
Hu Tiehua lowered his voice, “I am going to help a friend to escort his daughter to get married to someone.”
Chu Liuxiang was almost angered to death, “This kind of thing is also a big matter?”
thanks for the translation.
plz keep them coming.
Chapter 3 - Part 6
“Of course it is a big matter. If you knew who that friend of mine is, you will understand how important this thing is.”
“Then who is that friend of yours?”
“Right now I’m not at liberty to tell you who he is.” Hu Tiehua seriously said, “I can only tell, in Jiang Hu he may not be as famous as you, but his social status is far higher than you. His daughter, not only she is famous for being extremely beautiful, she is also a princess. Her title was personally conferred by the emperor, definitely not a fake one.”
“To whom are you going to escort this princess?
“This person, in terms of name he is not less famous than you. I think you have heard about Shi Tianwang, the Tianzheng general whose name has shaken the world for these last few years.
Chu Liuxiang’s countenance changed
“It seems that there are many people in Jiang Hu who oppose to this marriage. Therefore, I have to escort that princess. In fact it was her butler who personally invited me to do this task.” Hu Tiehua said, “Hence, unless Shi Tianwang suddenly dies, no one could preclude this marriage.”
Chu Liuxiang suddenly remembered something and he shouted; “Now I know why was that auntie looking for some people to do some errand for her.”
“Which auntie?” Hu Tiehua asked, “Who are those people?”
“The auntie is the noodle seller, and those people are the people who went to her noodle stall to eat noodle the night before.”
Hu Tiehua was an eccentric person. He often said something whimsical which sometimes even Chu Liuxiang couldn’t comprehend it. But at this time it was Hu Tiehua who couldn’t understand what Chu Liuxiang was saying.
“What did you say earlier?” He deliberately asked, “Do you have an aunt who is a noodle seller and her stall is patronized by so many people to the point that there are still customers who will come in the middle of the night just to eat the noodle?”
Hu Tiehua was trying to contain his laughter and seriously said, “Your aunt is so great! I really don’t know that you have such a great noodle-seller auntie.”
“Even though what she was selling was not beef noodle, but her skill is indeed something not to be trifled with.” Chu Liuxiang took a deep breath, “If she really was my aunt, I will definitely feel flattered. Unfortunately, she isn’t.”
“Then, whose aunt is she?” Hu Tiehua asked.
“Of course she is not your aunt,” Chu Liuxiang said, “She is your ‘mom’.”
“My mom?” Hu Tiehua then shouted, “Do you mean the aunt Hua who likes to kill people?”
“Can it be that you have more than one mother? I only know that you have only one mom and that is her.”
Hu Tiehua was still shouting, “Hasn’t she found an unlucky guy who didn’t mind to marry her? Then why doesn’t she spend her days happily instead of reappearing in Jiang Hu.”
Chu Liuxiang was looking at Hu Tiehua, smilingly he said, “Perhaps after pondering for quite some time she finally realized that you are still better than that unlucky guy. Therefore, she is looking for you now.”
Chapter 3 - Part 7
Hu Tiehua felt like someone had stuffed dog’s shit into her mouth while Chu Liu xiang gloated over his misfortune.
“Help me! Don’t let her find me! I still want to keep my life to drink wine with you for a few more years.”
Chu Liuxiang saw his gloomy face, he sighed, “Do you really think that you are the suave guy whom was the object of affection from all of the women in this world? Do you really think that all women will fall for you and without you they will die one by one? Although her reappearance is really for looking for person but unfortunately that person isn’t you!”
“Not me?” Hu Tiehua couldn’t believe it, “She is not looking for me? Then who is she looking for?”
“I don’t know how many people she is looking for. I only know that she has found three people.”
Hu Tiehua shouted again, his voice was even louder, “She has found three guys, this women is really too much! But who are those people?”
“I only recognize two of them, one is the sickly Huang whose price is thirty-thousands tael and the other one is the black bamboo pole whose price is a hundred –thousands tael.”
Hu Tiehua was suddenly angry, “I have never asked her even for a cent, so on what basis could those people ask for so much?”
Of course Hu Tiehua was not really angry, although he felt a little bit jealous and disappointed. He was not a stupid person who only knew to daydream. He knew the occupation of those people and the reason aunt Hua was looking for them.
Because there was only one reason, to kill a particular person and furthermore that person was not easy to be killed.
In this kind of age-old cruel profession, sickly Huang and black bamboo pole were first class assassins. That’s why their price was so high.
Especially the black bamboo pole, his price was the third most expensive among the top ten highly paid assassins.
This was because he was really reliable. He could be trusted, his mouth was fully sealed, he would not reveal anything about the buyer. Even if you chopped one of his limbs, you won’t be able to extract a single word from him mouth.
And of course the one that was most significant was the sword hidden inside the bamboo pole. That sword almost never failed to do its task.
“I know that aunt Hua has no money, she spend money like water” Hu Tiehua finally said something seriously, “Although she may want to kill a person, she definitely won’t be able to provide so much money to hire both sickly Huang and black bamboo pole.”
“Perhaps she is not the one who pays them, she is only the middleman.” Chu Liuxiang said, “For this kind of job no one is more suitable than her.”
“There is one person who is more suitable.”
“Who?”
“You.”
Hu Tiehua started to smile again. He was the kind of person who could easily forget all those things that could make him angry, annoyed, sad and disappointed.
“Sometimes I am really fond of her.” He asked Chu Liuxiang, “Do you know what is the reason?”
“I don’t know.”
“Because, in many aspects she resembles you a lot.” Hu Tiehua smiled happily, “Sometimes she is clever, other times she is stupid. Sometimes she could deceive people but other times she’s the one who is being deceived. She knows more people than anyone else do. She loves to poke her nose into other people’s businesses. Sometimes I almost think that she is you and you are her.”
Chu Liuxiang almost punched Hu Tiehua’s nose.
Because his nose was not punched, Hu Tiehua continued talking. “Her character is also similar to you, as hard and smelly as the stone inside the toilet. Therefore how could she work for somebody else?”
“Because, she doesn’t want an ******* to escort the princess to get married to a chimpanzee.”
Hu Tiehua could not smile anymore. He stared at Chu Liuxiang for quite some time and then carefully said, “I don’t care what others think about it. I only want to know do you consent to this marriage?”
Chu Liuxiang also carefully said, “I could only tell you that I have never consented to murder. However, if this time they succeed to kill that chimp, I really will kiss their feet.”
Hu Tiehua looked at Chu Liuxiang for a long time and then he suddenly jumped out from the water.
“Let’s go”
“Go?” Chu Liuxiang asked, “Go where?”
“Go looking for the parent of that princess, that friend of mine”
“Why do I have to go with you?”
“Because you have to protect me, escort me there; don’t let me die in the middle of the road.” Hu Tiehua said, “Because I want him to talk to you personally. After the talk perhaps you might want to change your mind.”
“If I don’t want to talk with him?
Hu Tiehua glared at Chu Liuxiang and talked loudly, “I ask you, when you wanted to go to that terrifying desert, who accompanied you to go there? Every time you were surrounded by your enemies, who stood by your side? Every time you couldn’t sleep at night, who drank wine with you until daybreak?”
Chu Liuxiang took a deep breath, “Alright, let’s go. But I have a condition.”
“What is it?”
“I will definitely escort you, but we will keep our distance and in no situation you should divulge my identity.” Chu Liuxiang frowned, “If you do not agree then I will not go. If you agree but somehow break the rule, I will suddenly ‘disappear’.”
End of chapter 3
Another chapter completed. That is a quarter of the book. Congratulations.
Missouri.slim
Chapter 4 Rouge, Face blush, Perfume
Small town, Long street.
The spring’s sun was like the face of a young girl. Shyly revealing itself amidst the moving clouds; warmly casting its light upon that long street full of people.
Man and woman, old and young, have abandoned their winter clothes. They had started to wear spring vesture full of lucrative colors, basked gloriously under the sunlight letting others to admire.
Children were playing happily on the street. The blue sky was full of colorful kites with various shapes. Even an old grandpa could be seen stealthily enjoying osmanthus candy.
Long winter had finally passed away. Everyone was ready to embrace the gaiety of spring.
****
Hu Tiehua was brimming with joy. He pointed at a street-side small tea stall which also sold steamed bun and confectionary and said, “Why don’t we sit there?”
“Alright,” Chu Liuxiang instantly agreed, “You go there first.”
“How about you?”
“I want to go to that beauty salon over there first.”
****
In front of the tea stall indeed there was a small beauty salon. On its front door there was a sign made from white wood. ‘Madam Cui beauty salon. Selling rouge, face blush and high quality perfume. Welcoming female patrons for facial, haircut, etc. Price is 20 cents for any kind of services.’ were the words written on top of the sign.
Hu Tiehua was a little bit taken aback when he saw Chu Liuxiang really entered the salon.
“What kind of mischievous thing is this old imp going to do?”
The weirder thing was Chu Liuxiang did not only enter the salon, he also entered a back door whose window was covered by a layer of cloth curtain.
Hu Tiehua had eaten twenty freshly fried steamed buns, some snacks and drank two pots of tea. However, there was still no sign of Chu Liuxiang coming out from the salon.
However, there was an old man coming out from there. His face was full of white beard and yet it was a pleasant face to look at. That old man was using a long cane to assist him in walking. He directly walked towards Hu Tiehua and sat next to him with no hesitation at all. Furthermore, he then ordered a big bowl of ham, twenty pieces of toasts and two plates of fried snacks and subsequently ate them voraciously.
Hu Tiehua was startled.
Luckily he was not an idiot and therefore he could guess that the old man who sat next to him was Chu Liuxiang.
“You bas****! Why do you make yourself this ugly?”
Chu Liuxiang ignored him, after he had finished eating, he stood up, wiped his mouth and went away.
Hu Tiehua quickly stood up too in order to follow him. However, the waiter who was holding a big teapot stood in his way. That waiter stared at him with disdain look and said, “Sir, in this kind of eating places those guests who have eaten the food should pay first before they leave, am I right?”
Of course he was right. You have to settle your bill! And it has to be paid with cash. Unfortunately, our Mr. Hu did not have the habit to carry any money with him.
If Hu Tiehua wanted to leave without paying, he could definitely do so. Because, let alone that one waiter, even though there were 10 of him, they still would not be able to stop Hu Tiehua.
Too bad our Mr. Hu’s face was not that thick yet.
Therefore, he was forced to sit down again. As long as he stayed, he did not have to hurry to pay. In this kind of eating places, you can choose to sit as long as you want, if you want to sit from dawn to dusk it is also up to you.
That waiter could not do anything anymore, but wherever he walked, his disdain gaze kept fixing on Hu Tiehua.
When Hu Tiehua was contemplating for a way out of his problem, suddenly a person who could help him pay his tab entered the tea stall.
this story is nice and easy to read. and your regular updates make it nice to folow. keep up the good work and thanks. with jean doing her charity work and grundle working 3 jobs... this story gets me through my day.
Chapter 4 - Part 2
She was a slender and beautiful girl in simple dressing. Her pretty face was void of face powder. Inside her eyes, a deep sorrow could be seen. Any man who had looked into those pair of eyes would definitely give their sympathy for her.
Every pair of eyes inside that tea stall was directed to her and all of them felt that their hearts started to beat up faster.
But who could guess, a flower as beautiful as that simply fell on a pile of cow dung.
The one she was looking for was none other than the “thick skin” who wanted to run away without paying.
Of course Hu Tiehua knew what the others thought, since he once fell into a trap in a manner similar to this. Only after the girl had put a knife across his neck, he then realized that the gentle and quiet girl was actually more ferocious than anyone else.
That girl had sit next to his side, looked at him intently, her gaze was full of longing and sadness. She spoke with a barely audible voice, “I will pay your tab, you come with me.”
Her sentence and her countenance were totally different. Hu Tiehua could not help but laugh.
“Although I am not going with you, you will still pay my tab,” Hu Tiehua whispered, his foot had stamped the girl’s foot. “I think this time it is your turn to obey my command.”
That girl looked at him for a long time, suddenly her pearly tears rolled down her cheek.
“Please, I beg you to go home with me, mother-in-law and the kids are very sick. Don’t you want to see them? Don’t you know that it is really not easy for me to finally find you?”
Her voice was still very low but this time others who sit close to them could hear it.
She had not finished her words yet tens of pair of eyes had stared at Hu Tiehua. All of them showed scorn, anger and hatred.
Hu Tiehua felt like he had become a big rat, fat, dirty and foul. If he didn’t quickly leave, perhaps he would be beaten up by all of the people inside the stall.
A few tael of silver which was enough to pay for his bill was passed to him from below the table.
****
On that long street, a carriage had arrived and it stopped in front of that tea stall.
Hu Tiehua had no choice but to go with her.
The other three girls had already been waiting inside the carriage. Hu Tiehua decided to be impudent. He boldly sat in the centre; his hand embraced the waist of the first girl.
“I have never imagined that you are my wife.” He smilingly said, “My beloved wife, where do you want to bring me to?”
All of the girls pulled long faces, stared at him icily. Hu Tiehua didn’t care about it.
Because his strength had returned. He alone could handle those four girls.
Furthermore, Chu Liuxiang was in close proximity. Even if Chu Liuxiang was sitting on top of the carriage’s roof he would not be surprised. He had always believed in Chu Liuxiang.
“Actually, you can bring me anywhere you want.” Hu Tiehua said with a serious tone, “Because now you are my wife, a wife will not kill her husband right?”
****
i loled at this passage. wishful thinking never got any man any where. thanks for the translation.
Chapter 4 - Part 3
That small town was situated near a river.
The carriage stopped at the riverside.
At that place wild grass grew. No single person was there.
The river was misty. At a faraway distance ship’s canvas could be seen. Indistinct voice of village girls singing their folk song could also be heard.
Jiang Nan in March, the scent of spring was really thick.
Hu Tiehua was stretching his waist amidst the spring breeze. He mumbled, “Don’t know where to get some wine; even if there is sedative in it I will still drink the wine.”
The four girls were glaring at him.
“That time we subdued you using a lowly trick and therefore you will not acknowledge your loss.”
“In that ‘kennel’ the cunning Chu Liuxiang had a little advantage over us. That was because we let our guard down. You surely think that we are easily bullied people.”
“This time we will fight you using our martial arts prowess. Hence, after we’ve defeated you, you will admit your loss wholeheartedly.”
“We would like to ask, if we win over you, what will you do?”
All four of them had glib tongues and hearing their exchanges made Hu Tiehua angry.
“If you want to fight me with your real martial arts then I will definitely fight you.” He smilingly said, “If I lose, I will let you do whatever you want to me. I will definitely honor my words.”
Surely Hu Tiehua will not lose against these four girls. Therefore, he smiled contently.
In Jiang Hu, no one could refute that Hu Tiehua was a first class martial arts expert. Furthermore, his original creation ’72 stances of butterfly flying across flowers” could be considered a top skill.
He was confident that he will not lose against these four girls. He even felt that these four girls didn’t think he was happy enough and therefore trying to do something to make him happier.
Suddenly these four girls took off their clothes, showing their curvy and long legs, and their slim waists.
Although they did not put any rouge on their face but their whole bodies were covered by a thin layer of skin soothing oil.
Under the sunlight, it seemed like their skin was as smooth as a piece of expensive silk.
They had unsheathed their weapons. A saber, a sword, a judge pen, and a pair of Emei’s water bisecting short spear.
All of their weapons are steel tempered but the length was half of those commonly found. Hence, the weapons were like kids’ toys.
Hu Tiehua felt that this was fascinating and he secretly hoped Chu Liuxiang would not come so fast.
The doe-eyes girl seemed to know what was he thinking and she coldly said, “You may think that this is interesting, but I can guarantee that you will not be able to enjoy it any moment soon.”
What she said was indeed true. Very soon Hu Tiehua could no longer feel any joy, he was in a grave danger.
Their weapons might be short and small but their moves were very fast, ferocious and accurate.
Their waists and limbs were able to move lucidly. Their movement was like the movement of fish in water.
Fish has no clothes. What the girls were wearing was only slightly more than a fish. Many parts of their bodies which were not supposed to be seen by others could be seen clearly especially when they jumped and kicked.
This kind of situation would definitely make men’s hearts beat erratically and they won’t be able to calm down. And if they were only spectators, it would definitely very entertaining.
But for the man who had to be in the fight. Whose head might be chopped down or heart might be penetrated by a sword in any moment, the situation was really terrifying.
Especially for a man like Hu Tiehua. He clearly knew that this situation will endanger his life. But, unfortunately even if he didn’t want to see he had to.
He had to see them. Every movement had to be seen clearly. If not perhaps there would be additional orifice in his neck. Because, in those girls hands, there were deadly weapons not toys.
But perhaps the most perilous thing was the fact that Hu Tiehua had very good eyesight. He could even see clearly the movement of those girls’ leg muscles.
Anyone who saw this kind of ‘scenery’ would find it hard to resist the temptation and in worst case will have to pay it with their lives.
Hu Tiehua started to wish again. He wished that Chu Liuxiang will come faster.
If it was Chu Liuxiang who was fighting the girls, he could leisurely watch them from the side. That would be so enjoyable and he would not get bored watching it for 3 days and 3 nights.
But even after waiting for quite long, he could not even see Chu Liuxiang’s shadow.
“You don’t need to wait anymore.” The doe-eyes girl said, “That Chu Liuxiang who suddenly became an old man won’t come!”
“Old man?” Hu Tiehua apparently could also pretend to be a dolt. “Which old man?”
“You think we don’t know?” The girl with the most gorgeous figure sneeringly said, “We saw him entering madam Cui’s salon with our own eyes. We also saw an old man came out from the salon and then ate together with you, again with our own eyes. Do you think we won’t know that he was Chu Liuxiang? Do you think that all of us are pigs?”
Hu Tiehua wished that they talked more, the more the better. Because, whenever a person talks his/her movement will be slower.
Therefore he asked again, “How do you know that the old man will not come?”
“Because, we have hired a few people to take care of him. If by now he has not died yet, it can be said that he is a fortunate person.”
“Do you want him to die?” Hu Tiehua said, “If he was not Chu Liuxiang then how?”
“Just take it as we have killed a wrong person.” The girl who was the gentlest said, “To wrongly kill one or two persons, that is a very common thing.”
“That is very common thing indeed, then why don’t you wrongly kill 70 to 80 people?” Hu Tiehua sighed. “One day when you think back about this thing, I bet you won’t be able to sleep well at night. Because, the malevolent spirits will definitely go after you.”
“You don’t need to worry. We always sleep well at night.”
“Perhaps you are sleeping well and also dream that those spirits are stripping your clothes off.”
“You are farting (spouting rubbish)!”
“Who is farting?” Hu Tiehua said, “If there’s someone who’s farting here, then it won’t be me because in all of my life I can never fart.”
“Inappropriate, that’s really inappropriate.” Suddenly someone’s words could be heard.
“How could a grown up man cheats on a few little girls? It is a well known fact that you fart more than anyone else. How could you claim that you have never farted? If you have never farted then no one in this world has ever farted.”
Hu Tiehua Laughed.
“I knew that you will not die. For the whole of my life I have never seen anyone with better luck than you.”
At the river side there was a big rock. Chu Liuxiang was standing on the rock. He carried with him a few hats, about 6 to 7 hats.
A moment ago there was no one on top of that rock but then suddenly Chu Liuxiang was there.
The countenance of those four girls changed. They suddenly gave a brief fierce attack and subsequently started to flee.
“Seize one of them!” Chu Liuxiang shouted, “Any one of them will do.”
Unfortunately Hu Tiehua didn’t manage to catch any of them.
Originally Hu Tiehua had managed to apprehend the girl with long legs. He had clutched one of her leg but she managed to sneak out.
Those girls were even slimier than fish. Water splashed. The four girls had dove into the river. In a jiffy their shadows could no longer be seen.
Hu Tiehua looked at his oil covered hand.
“Such beautiful girls, why do they need to make themselves like oily fried chicken?”
Hu Tiehua sighed, “If one day I have a wife, and discover that there is oil on her body, even only for a little bit, I will definitely spank her with a big stick.”
“That’s right. There is a person who needs to be spanked and that person is you.”
“Yes, I deserve to be spanked because I could not capture any of them!” Hu Tiehua angrily said, “Then how about you? You also have hands, why didn’t you go after them?”
Chu Liuxiang took a deep breath. “Why can’t you understand, a gentleman like me, how could I anyhow touch a woman’s leg?”
Hu Tiehua glared at Chu Liuxiang and stared at him for a long time. He then suddenly laughed so hard.
“There is one more reason for you to deserve a spank.” Chu Liuxiang said.
“What is it?”
“That time when you tricked them to talk with you, you had a few chances to subdue them. At least you could subdue two of them. It was clear that there were flaws in their moves but you didn’t see it!”
“Of course I saw the flaws.” Hu Tiehua said, “Although I may not as gentlemanly as you are, I also couldn’t anyhow touch those scantily-clad girls’ bodies.”
He had been laughing hard then suddenly stopped laughing at all.
He glared at Chu Liuxiang, “How did you know that? Have you been here all along?”
If I wasn’t here at that time, how could I saw it?” Chu Liuxiang leisurely said, “If I did not see it, how could I know about it?”
Hu Tiehua kept glaring at Chu Liuxiang like a big cock glaring at a centipede. He sneeringly said, “Good! Very good! You actually have been here for a long time, hiding and watching from a distance.”
Hu Tiehua shook his head and angrily said, “Your best friend could lose his head anytime and yet you were hiding to peek on women’s thighs? Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself?”
“Yes I did. Of course I felt ashamed of myself.” Chu Liuxiang suddenly said,”But then I suddenly thought, if you were me, perhaps until now you would still peeking and not showing yourself.”
He happily continued, “Once I thought of it, I don’t feel any guilt anymore.”
Hu Tiehua sighed, “How is it possible that you can understand me so well? Are you really the tape worm inside my intestine?
****
The wagon had long gone, gone bringing with it the clothes of the four girls.
What was the milieu of those girls? Who commanded them? Judging from their wit and skill, it was definite that they had been trained hard since very young.
The one who could train those 15-16 years old girls to achieve such caliber, that person must be an extraordinary person himself.
Behind those girls there might be a strong organization which steered and backed them up. And they always never let things ended half way.
Hu Tiehua sighed, “I deserve to be spanked for letting them fled away. But why didn’t you capture one or two? Do you really think you could know their background based on these few hats?”
“I don’t need to ask for their background.”
“Why?”
“Because I have recognized them.” Chu Liuxiang said, “They are the ex-disciples of Mr. Iron sword, kicked out by their own teacher. After a few years travelling in Jiang Hu, their morale has become very low and they do not mind doing anything for money. This time they were paid 10000 silver taels to fight against an old man. But too bad, they didn’t know who their opponent was even after they had asserted to the request.”
“They didn’t know that the old man was Chu Liuxiang?”
“I guessed they didn’t know. If they did they wouldn’t take the job.”
“Not long after you came out form Madam Cui’s salon they had been able to find people to take care of you.” Hu Tiehua took a deep breath, “These four girls are indeed formidable.”
“Maybe it was not because they were resourceful but it was because there were some of their people in the area. And those people were formidable by themselves. Hence, it was easy for the girls to do anything.”
He patted Hu Tiehua shoulder and said, “Therefore we still have to go separately and this time I will go first.”
“Why?”
“Because the white bearded old man has already been recognized, so I could not continue disguised as him.”
“Are you going back to that Madam Cui’s salon? Is she really a disguise artist? How come I have never heard about it?”
“The thing that you have never heard is a lot.”
“This time whom you will disguise as?”
“I can’t tell you. Perhaps still an old man, maybe a trader with a bulging tummy, or a handsome man, or a weak scholar. Definitely not the person you have ever seen before. But, I will always be adjacent to you.”
He continued, “I do this for your own safety. If even you could not recognize me, then how could others? This way I could protect you better.” He sighed, “I treat you better than you have treated your mother.”
Hu Tiehua caressed his nose.
His way in caressing his nose was somehow similar to Chu Liuxiang’s.
The thing is Chu Liuxiang had never laughed while he was caressing his nose but Hu Tiehua suddenly laughed. He laughed so hard till he couldn’t stand straight.
“What are you laughing at?”
“I suddenly think of a very funny thing. If you disguised as a girl, I believe there will be many guys who will be mesmerized by you. And if one of them is a rapist that would be so very fascinating.”
End of chapter
Is the use of the term cock intentional? Why not rooster?Quote:
Hu Tiehua kept glaring at Chu Liuxiang like a big cock glaring at a centipede. He sneeringly said, “Good! Very good! You actually have been here for a long time, hiding and watching from a distance.”
Thanks for the translation.
Han Solo
thanks for the translation. I love the friendship these two have
Quote:
Originally Posted by Han Solo
No, it isn't. Rooster would be good, thanks.
U're welcome.