Hi, I’ve run out of anime to watch and I’m really bored so I decided to start reading a new book tody. San Shaoye De Jian or the Little Sword of the Third Master. This is thanks to Tai Han who recommended me the Vietnamese site about a million months ago and gave me the Chinese name. I haven’t finished this book, I’ve decided to translate as I go because it’s more fun this way plus I hate re reading Vietnamese books. Therefore I’ve finished chapter one and decided to put it up.
Ummm… because I’m Vietnamese the names will be in Vietnamese unless I can think of English translations or actually know the mandarin pinying- which will be very rare. Oh yeah, I am really lazy and have absolutely no dedication whatsoever, therefore this project could be abandoned at any time. I’ll try really hard so hope that doesn’t happen. Can’t actually remember how many chapters I downloaded so we’ll see. If there’s a part that doesn’t make sense to you, it probably didn’t make sense to me either- Vietnamese is so much harder than it looks and I’m relatively new at this
Chapter One: One Sword Pierces Heart
Kie^/m khi/ tung hoanh\ tam va.n ly/
Nha^/t kie^/m quang han/ tha^.p cu`u? cha^u
Sword aura roams for 30 000 li
Light of a sword sends shivers throughout 19 provinces <This line is thanks to Noodles- Thank you!>
Late autumn. The setting sun casts shadows from the dried up leaves of a lone tree.
Under the tree there stood a figure, a figure so still and so cold that he seemed to be one with the earth.
A tiredness that seeped through every bone of his body and an unimaginable killing aura. He was tired probably because he had no other choice. His hand held a sword. A sword with a sheath that was made from black crocodile skin. The mouth of the sheath was made of gold and on it was set large 13 pearls. The people of the jiang hu world did not know little of this figure. Since 17, he and his sword had made a name for themselves. Now he was older and he had put down his sword. However, other people did not allow him to put down his sword. When he puts down his sword, his life will come to an end. Fame at times is like a piece of luggage, a piece of luggage that can never be put down.
Afternoon. Autumn leaves flutter in the wind.
A person was walking up towards the tree. His clothes were exquisite, his face pale and his sword in hand as he stared ahead. His steps were steady and he walked very fast, stopping only about seven steps away from the figure under the tree.
“Yen Thap Tam?” He suddenly asked.
“Yes.”
“Is your Doat Menh Thap Tam Kiem [Taking Lives 13 Swordplay] really unbeatable?”
“Not necessarily.”
The person laughed coldly.
“I am Cao Thong, One Sword Pierces Heart Cao Thong”
“I know.”
“Did you ask me to come out here?”
“I know you have been waiting for this.”
“Precisely. I was looking for you so that I could kill you.”
Yen Thap Tam said coldly
“You’re not the only one who wants to kill me.”
“It’s because you are too famous. If I kill you I can become renowned instantly.” He laughed. “It’s not easy to be famous in the jiang hu world. To be famous quickly, this is the easiest method.”
“Very good.” Yen Thap Tam answered.
“Now I am here, I have brought a sword that will wash your throat.”
“Very good.”
“Where is your heart?”
“My heart is dead.”
“Then I will let it die one more time.”
A flash of light as the sword is drawn from its sheath. It moves towards Yen Thap Tam’s heart as fast as lightning.
One sword pierces heart.
Using this sword, he has pierced an uncountable number of hearts. This is his ultimate killing technique.
However, he could not pierce Yen Thap Tam’s heart.
As he thrust his sword forward, he felt a flash of coldness by his throat. Yen Thap Tam’s sword was 1.3 inches deep inside his throat.
Cao Thong’s sword fell from his hands, his body not yet dead.
“I hope you know that to become famous is not an easy thing.”
Cao Thong stared at him, his body dead.
“Therefore it’s better that you should die.”
He drew back his sword, slowly very slowly so that the blood did not touch him. He knew that it was very hard to clean blood stained clothes. It was even harder to clean the streak of blood upon his hands.
The night grew darker.
The blood on the sword had been washed clean. The sword had been returned to the sheath. In the night four people appeared. Four people, four swords. All four were dressed exquisitely and they all had arrogant faces. The oldest had white hair whilst the youngest was a mere adolescent. Yen Thap Tam recognized these people. He knew who they were.
The oldest had been famous for 40 years. He lived in the country and he became famous with his clan’s ‘Phi Ung Thap Tam Thich [Flying Eagle 13 ?]. This time he had entered the city to look for Yen Thap Tam. He did not believe that his ‘Phi Ung Thap Tam Thich’ could be less than Yen Thap Tam’s ‘Doat Menh Thap Tam Kiem’.
The youngest was a person whom had recently risen to fame in the jiang hu world. He was also the best student of the Diem Suong Sect. He was a genius and he was also hardworking. His heart was also very evil. He had roamed the jiang hu world for a just a year before he earned the nickname of Heartless Youngster Tao Bang.
The other two people were also highly skilled pugilists. Thanh Phong Kiem’s swordplay was light and like the wind. Iron Sword Tran Tam Son’s swordplay was steady and his sword weighed 30 pounds. Yen Thap Tam knew them for he had asked them to come here. All eyes were on Yen Thap Tam, no one even glanced at the corpse near him. No one wanted to have their confidence effected by the person who lay dead on the ground. No matter who it was on the ground it didn’t matter to them. As long as they were alive, whoever was dead or alive was no concern of theirs.
Yen Thap Tam’s smile was very tired.
“So you all came.”
Quan Ngoai Phi Ung said coldly
“I thought you only invited me.”
Yen Thap Tam said lightly
“If I can solve this all at once then why not.”
Tao Bang interrupted
“Four people have arrived, so who goes first?”
He was very impatient, impatient to become famous, impatient to kill Yen Thap Tam.
Iron Sword Tran Tam Son:
“We can use rock, scissors, paper to settle the matter and see who goes first.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“No need.”
Iron Sword Tran Tam Son:
“Yes there is.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“You can all come at once.”
“What kind of people do you think we are to use so many against only one?” hollered Quan Ngoai Phi Ung.
Yen Thap Tam:
“But I agree to it.”
He drew his sword and swung it like lightning across the four faces of his opponents. Now they had no choice but to attack him all at once. Four swords were drawn from their sheaths. Tao Bang attacked the fastest and with the most killing intent. Quan Ngoai Thien Ung had leapt into the air and was striking from above. Phi Ung Thap Tam Thich was a type of martial arts that used ‘up’ to overcome ‘down’ and ‘hard’ to overcome ‘soft’ but it was unfortunate that his opponent was far faster.
In a flash, Tao Bang had initiated 9 sword strikes. He did not pay attention to anyone else except for Yen Thap Tam. He wanted his sword to be the one that killed Yen Thap Tam but all his strikes hit empty space. Yen Thap Tam who was before him had disappeared. He stood still and suddenly realized something very scary. On the ground there were three other corpses. On all their necks there was another hole. Quan Ngoai Thien Ung, Thanh Phong Kiem, Iron Sword Tran Tam Son- three number one swordsmen in jiang hu had all died under Yen Thap Tam’s sword in a blink of an eye. Tao Bang’s hands became cold. He saw that Yen Thap Tam was standing under the lone tree again. The killing sword had returned to its sheath.
Tao Bang held his two hands tightly.
“You…”
Yen Thap Tam interrupted.
“I don’t want to kill you yet.”
Tao Bang:
“Why?”
Yen Thap Tam:
“Because I want to give you a chance to kill me.”
The green veins on Tao Bang’s hands rose and sweat formed on his forehead. This was an insult. But he could not forgo this chance.
Yen Thap Tam:
“Go home and continue to practice. After three years come and find me again.”
Tao Bang held in his anger.
Yen Thap Tam:
“Diem Suong Swordplay is actually very powerful. If you practice hard you will have a chance.”
Tao Bang suddenly asked:
“What if someone else kills you in those three years?”
Yen Thap Tam laughed.
“Then you can go and kill the person who killed me.”
“Well then you should take care. It’d be best if you don’t die.” Tao Bang said.
Yen Thap Tam:
“I also hope that that would be the case.”
The night got even darker. Darkness had swallowed the earth.
Yen Thap Tam slowly turned around and faced the darkest part of the night.
“Are you well?”
After a long while, a voice came from the darkness.
“I am well.”
It was a cold voice, a dry voice. A person stepped from the shadows slowly: black clothes, black hair, black sword and on his black face there seemed to be the colour of death. However, his eyes shone very brightly. He walked very slowly and his two feet seemed to not even touch the ground like a ghost in the shadows of the night.
Yen Thap Tam’s body seemed to shrink a bit and he asked suddenly.
“Black Raven?”
“Yes.”
Yen Thap Tam sighed.
“So at last I still get to meet you.”
Black Raven
“Seeing me is not a good thing.”
That is probably the case. Black ravens are not heroic birds, no one likes to see these birds. From long ago there has been stories about black ravens flying past and bringing disaster. So what type of calamity has it brought this time? It could be that it is Black Raven himself that is the calamity, an unavoidable calamity. If one knows that it is unavoidable then there is no point worrying about it.
Yen Thap Tam was calm once again. Black Raven was looking at him, looking at his sword.
“That’s a good sword.” He said.
Yen Thap Tam:
“Do you like swords?”
Black Raven:
“I only like swords. You not only have good swordplay but also a good sword.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“You want my sword?”
Black Raven:
“Yes.”
The answer was short and straightforward. Yen Thap Tam laughed. This time his laughter was free from any tiredness it only had a killing aura. He knew that this time he had finally met a formidable opponent.
Black Raven:
“Other birds bring joy but black ravens only bring disaster and worry.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“You brought disaster here?”
Black Raven:
“Yes.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“I am in danger?”
Black Raven:
“Yes.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“Are you the danger that I must face?”
Black Raven:
“No.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“If not you then what?”
Black Raven:
“Your sword.”
The woodsman was innocent but to carry jade within himself is a crime. Yen Thap Tam knew this principle very well. Fame and a good sword were like the sweet smell of muskrat and the antlers of deer.
Black Raven:
“I have collected 17 good swords.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“Impressive.”
Black Raven:
“17 famous swords.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“Seems like you’ve killed quite a few famous people.”
Black Raven:
“I will take the swords of Cao Thong and Phi Ung.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“If you bury them, then the swords are yours.”
Black Raven:
“I don’t need corpses I only need swords.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“But you need the swords of corpses.”
Black Raven:
“That’s right.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“If you kill me then my sword is yours.”
Black Raven:
“Ofcourse.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“That’s good.”
Black Raven:
“No its not.”
Yen Thap Tam:
“Why not?”