A few moments later, the noises of step ceased. On released space, with the top of the hill, two silhouettes were held: the first, motionless, with a leather cap on the head, resembled to a Mongol; the second, with long hair floating with the wind, was obviously a woman.
"Here is thus Corpse of Bronze and Iron Corpse, says Han Xiaoying. Thus let us see how they will be involved"
They transfer the woman then to turn slowly around the man, and heard its articulations crack gently. Then it accelerated its step, and the crackings became increasingly strong, increasingly brought closer, as when one knocked on several drums at the same time.
"Its neigong is thus so strong! Han Xiaoying was still astonished. Not astonishing that Large-brother showed himself also circumspect!"
the woman advanced and moved back her two hands and, each time, the articulations of its arms crépitaient. Its long hair was practically stretched with horizontal by speed, and gave him a terrifying aspect.
Han Xiaoying felt an icy cold to invade its heart and the hairs to roughcast itself on its body. Suddenly, the woman raised the right palm and cut down the left palm on the chest of the man.
"As it, said the six, is the body of her husband is strange able to resist its blows of palm?"
The man fell behind, but it had already turned behind him and struck it in the back. Thus, going and coming at high speed, it had struck eight blows of palm, each time more quickly, each time more strongly. The man did not make a noise. After the ninth blow, it leaps suddenly very high, going down again in piqué, raised the leather hat of the man, and planted to him the five fingers of the right hand in the face!
Han Xiaoying failed to push a cry. The woman had fallen down on her feet and burst of laughing. The man, broken down by ground, did not move. It tightened its mackled hand of blood and brain, examining it under the moon while laughing. It turned the head, and Han Xiaoying saw that its face, although a little noirâtre, was rather pretty, and that it seemed to have forty years.
The six had understood that the man was not her husband, but only one alive target which it had captured for the needs for its drive. This woman was to thus be Iron Cadavre, Mei Chaofeng.
She stopped laughing, tightened the hands and tore clothing of death. In the North, where the cold was extreme, one always carried thick leather fur-lined coats. However, it tore this very resistant clothing as if it were paper, without any effort. Then it plunged the hand in the chest of the unhappy target, withdrawing with internal organs, which it attentively examined with the moonlight, throwing them afterwards on the ground. By far, the six could see that all these bodies, heart, lungs, liver, misses, were completely destroyed. They then included/understood the finality of this drive: it had struck the body of this man of nine blows of palm and had succeeded in breaking the internal bodies without breaking the bones of the skeleton. By examining the internal organs, it was ensured of the progression of its power.
Very angry, Han Xiaoying wanted to attack immediately. She tore off her sword, and was on the point of springing when Zhu Cong retained it silently.
"For the moment, says the Well-read man, Cadavre of Iron is all alone, she seems frightening, but with us seven, us should be able to come to end. If one gets rid of it initially, it will be easier to deal with Bronze Corpse after, whereas we would be absolutely unable to face both at the same time... But which knows if Bronze Corpse is not hidden in a corner, ready to fall us above to the improvist? Large-brother knows well the practices of these two monsters, better is worth to follow his instructions and to wait until it launches the first attack..."
After having inspected the internal organs, Mei Chaofeng seemed satisfied. A smile with the lips, it sat down as a tailor, vis-a-vis the moon, and started to practise the regulation of the breath. It turned the back on Han Xiaoying and Zhu Cong, which saw its shoulders rising and dropping as it inspired and expired.
"If I attack of a blow" the Flash illuminates the large sky ", thought Han Xiaoying, I am almost certain of being able to transpierce it right through. But if I miss my blow, it is all our company which will be compromised!"
It trembled of all its body, incompetent to decide.
Zhu Cong either did not dare to move, it tested an icy feeling in the back, because it was flooded of cold sweat. While raising the eyes, it noticed that the black clouds coming from the west had invaded half of the sky, as a rice paper sheet which one would have sprinkled of ink. In the medium of the dark clouds scintillated of the stripes of flash, still increasing the anguish and terror in the heart of the six Odd ones. The thunder thundered dully, as choked by the thickness of the clouds.
After having practised the regulation of the breath during a certain time, Mei Chaofeng rose, was forwarded, by trailing the corpse behind it, to the hole where Ke Zhen' E had been dissimulated, and bent down to raise the stone slab.
The six Odd ones tightened their weapons, ready to leap on it as soon as the flagstone would have been open.
However, Mei Chaofeng, hearing a rustle of sheets which did not seem to him not caused by the wind, turned the head suddenly and saw a human shade appearing with the summit of a tree. Pushing a long howl, it leaps in this direction.
The man hidden on the tree, it was Han Baoju. Benefitting from its small size, it had been dissimulated perfectly in the foliage but, as it was on the point of jumping, it had been discovered a little, which had immediately alerted Mei Chaofeng. This one thus leaps on him of an irresistible dash! Then Han, of a blow "the black Dragon aspires water", cut down its whip on the wrist of Mei. This one, against any waiting, did not seek to avoid the blow, but seizes the end of the whip. The dwarf, very extremely, nimbly drew towards him his attacker, who benefitted from it to let herself bring nearer, and counter-attacked of a fulgurating palm. Han Baoju felt the breath of the blow to arrive and, knowing that it could not resist it, released its weapon, made a galipette to jump to bottom of the tree. But Iron Cadavre did not let it escape, it jumped behind him, carrying its claws in the back of the dwarf.
This one still smelled an icy breath on the nape of the neck and made an extraordinary effort to advance more quickly. At the same time, Nan Xiren and Quan Jinfa, dissimulated with the foot of the tree, launched their invisible projectiles on the prosecuting one, a punch "transpierce-bone" for the first and a dart hidden in the sleeve for the second. It swept them of a flick of the left hand, whereas its right hand tore off a piece of clothing on the back of Han Baoju. The dwarf touched ground of the left foot and rebounds immediately. However Mei, nimble like the wind, was held already in front of him:
Which are you? she shouted. What do you come to make here?
At the same time, it planted the ten fingers in the shoulders to him. Han felt a fulgurating pain, as if ten iron punches had abruptly been encrusted in its flesh. It gave a kick towards the belly of Iron Corpse, which para the blow of the right hand while breaking to him almost ankle. Without losing his coolness for as much, the dwarf threw himself to ground in a roulade to get clear.
At the time when Mei was going to trample it, a door bars black fell down on its foot: it was Nan Xiren, the Logger of the southernmost Mountain.
Forsaking Han, Mei Chaofeng moved back quickly to avoid the bar. In one moment, it is lived surrounded enemies: a well-read man holding a range out of iron sought to strike the vital points his meridian lines while a girl handling the sword attacked by the line.
A strapping fellow ventru armed with a large knife of stopping and a small thin catch equipped with an instrument bizarroïde attacked it by the left; a vigorous making peasant of the winches with his iron bar was held vis-a-vis it; finally the noises of step, behind it, were to come from the feet of the large dwarf to the whip. All these people were perfectly unknown for him and, however, they seemed to be eminent experts in martial arts.
"They are too numerous, is said it, it is thus necessary to resort to the strong manner to eliminate some without delaying from them. It does not matter their names or their origins... In any event, besides my Shifu beloved and my bastard of husband, I card-index myself to kill anyone in this low world!"
It sprang, all claws outside, on Han Xiaoying. In front of the power of this attack, Zhu Cong took fear: it leaps by pointing its range of iron on the vital point "sinuous Pond" located at the hollow of the elbow of Mei. But, this one, which did not seem to be concerned with it, advanced the right hand; Han Xiaoying defended of a blow "white Dew on the river", in the intention to strike it with the arm. But Iron Cadavre swivelled its wrist, seeking to catch the sword with naked hand, as if it did not fear the blade. Han Xiaoying was afraid in its turn and moved back. At this time, the range of the Well-read man struck with precision the point "Pond sinuous". It was a very significant vital point there human body, and the arm of Mei should have been immediately paralysed. Zhu Cong was delighted to have made a success of its blow, when it saw arm suddenly lengthening abruptly, and its frightening nails practically on its head! It moved back at the last time and escaped from accuracy from death!
« N'a-t-elle therefore not any vital points? itself it demanda-t-il, surprise and frightened. »
Han Baoju then had collected his whip, and the Six, brandishing their weapons, encircled Mei Chaofeng. Now, this one did not seem at all impressed: its nude hands, of which she served herself to seize the weapons, showed themselves as effective as fangs in steel. The Fantastic ones were all the more worried ones since they noted than the nickname of their opponent was not usurped: iron Corpse appeared effectively to have an iron body! She nevertheless had just received two blows in the back, inflicted by the balance of Quan Jinfa, apparently without damage no. They comprirent that she had succeeded pushing the resistance of his body to the extreme one: to leaves the cutting points of the knife of Zhang Asheng and sword of Han Xiaoying, she seemed not to fear the others arm, that she did not look for even to avoid, preoccupying only to attack.
She vigor redoubla and seizes by the arm Quan Jinfa, too slow to separate itself. The five others themselves précipitèrent, but too late, and Mei, of a blow violate, had pulled out a flesh piece with the sleeve.
« All those that practice this technique of the iron body, itself said Zhu Cong, possess necessarily a nodal point of entraînement, on which it is for them impossible to spread the protection of this technique. This besides point particularly vulnerable, it sufficed to touch it to injure to dead l'individu. .. Where therefore is situated the nodal point of this mégère? »
It jumps to right, to the left, playing the fan, trying successively to touch the point meridian « Meeting of the Cents » to the summit of the head, to the point « Screen of the Spring » to the throat, then to the point « Tomb of the spirit » to the hollow one ombilic, to the point « Hollow of the Environment » in the back... It thus about ten essaya points, while being said that, if she put a special care to defend such or such not at all, this would be there his nodal point.
The meaning of this carousel do not n'échappa at all to Mei Chaofeng:
- Pathetic Educated! she cria-t-elle. My technique perfectly is at the point: I have not any not at all nodal!
And of a blow, she seizes the wrist of Zhu. This one, stupéfait, had fortunately the lively spirit and the nimble hands. Before Mei put to sink him the nails in flesh, it had pivoted the wrist and slipped his fan in the hand of his opponent, while whispering:
- Attention, there is poison on the fan!
Feeling sudden a hard object in the hand, Mei Chaofeng, first taken aback, eut effectively fear of the poison and jeta the fan to earth.
Zhu Cong in profita to release itself and back up of several steps. It regarda his hand, of which the back carried five bloody striures and feels flooded cold sweat: the fight lasted since a certain time already, not only the Fantastic ones not steps had been on top, but three of the their already were injured. If Bronze Corpse arrived, they all there were going to leave life. Zhang Asheng, Han Baoju and Quan Jinfa already all were left breathless and in sweat. Alone Nan Xiren, of which the neigong was more powerful, and Han Xiaoying, lighter, did not seem tired, while their enemy became more and more valiant. It lives sudden, to the pale glimmer of the moon, the three piles of skulls on the left. It frissonna and eut the idea to precipitate itself towards the hole where Ke zhen'e was hidden, while screaming:
- Except that can!
The other comprirent and reculèrent in fighter.
- Mongrel go out of nulle leaves, ricana Mei Chaofeng, you wanted to trap me here, this is too late to flee you at present!
She herself lança to their pursuit. Nan Xiren, Quan Jinfa and Han Xiaoying firent of them better to keep it, while the three others united their forces to raise the rock flagstone. It was times, for Mei Chaofeng had seized the iron bar of Nan Xiren and already advanced its claws heading for the eyes of the latter.
- Descends quickly to help us, cria Zhu Cong.
It had pointed his finger up, all looking at towards the sky, and did gestures of the other hand, as to call for the rescousse a concealed companion on a height.
Surprised, Mei not put to prevent itself to get up the eyes, but she lives only the low clouds veiling to half the moon... It there had not person!
- To seven straight steps in front of! cria Zhu Cong.
To these words, Ke zhen'e had launched six poisoned macres to seven steps in front of, two in top, two in the middle and two down below, all while jumping outside the hole. The Fantastic others attaquèrent at the same time of all the sides. Mei Chaofeng poussa a pain scream: two macres had attained its eyes! Fortunately for her, his nimbleness him permit to tip immediately the head, so well that the invisible projectiles not pénétrèrent to the brain, but she definitively was blinded!
Crazy of pain and of rage, she abattit its two palms in front of she, but Ke zhen'e already had separated itself on the side. One entendit two deaf blows, for the blows had concerned a boulder. More furious return again, she donna a kick, that heurta the flagstone and the fit to fly away itself. The Seven, frightened by the force of its attacks, restèrent cautiously out-of-the-way.
As her do not there see more, she struggled herself in all the direction, striking, clawing, banging. She resembled a tiger in furie, or to a malefic demon, breaking all on his passage, raising clouds of dusts, breaking the branches of the trees, without doing the least evil to its enemies, that held themselves sufficiently far, while keeping blows for them. Shortly after, its eyes becoming completely insensitive, she comprit that the poison had done his effect:
- That are for you? she cria-t-elle of a terrible voice. Said it quickly, that I die while knowing at least that kills me...
Zhu Cong fit a gesture heading for Ke zhen'e for him to give of be quiet itself and leave Mei to die in the ignorance. But it himself sudden souvint that his Big Brother was blind, how could it have seen its gestures?
- Mei Chaofeng, said Ke of an icy voice, you do you remind of « Dragon squarely sky », Ke Bixie, and of « Bat squarely sky », Ke zhen'e?
Mei Chaofeng éclata of a laugh tonitruant and terrible.
- Salopard, you are not therefore dead! You come to avenge Dragon squarely sky?
- Exactly! Yourself you are not dead again, that falls well!
Mei soupira and silent demeura.
The Seven Fantastic restèrent on keeps for them. At that very moment, the moon almost completely was hidden by the dark clouds, one felt a cold insidieux and penetrating. Mei Chaofeng held itself motionless as a rock statue, the hands alongside the body, its fingers to the flaked nails and sparkling lightly separated. The wind violate that blew behind her raised its long hair. Han Xiaoying that faced for him see the blood to flow of its eyes.
All of a sudden, Zhu Cong and Quan Jinfa crièrent in choir:
- Attention! Big brother!
Their voices resounded again when Ke zhen'e feels a gust to arrive him squarely chest. It jumps in the air, while helping itself of a big blow on the ground with his cane, and itself posa on the summit of a tree that was located behind him. Iron corpse, that not trouva person in front of she, planta its ten fingers in the trunk of the tree. The six Fantastic terror pâlirent: if Ke zhen'e had delayed of an alone second, the nails would have planted themselves in his body, how does it have been able about it to escape living?
Having lacked his blow, Mei Chaofeng poussa sudden a long strange scream, on a tonalité very aiguë, but with a powerful breath that carried very far.
« Misfortune, is said then Zhu Cong, she calls his husband Corpse Bronze to the relief. »
- Quickly, it cria-t-il, it is necessary to finish it!
It mobilisa all sound energy in the arm and frappa heavily the back of Mei Chaofeng, while Zhang Asheng raised a big rock that it abattit on his head.
Iron corpse, that had just lost the view, did not know again to spot itself to the heard, as the fact Ke zhen'e. The big rock, while falling, did a noise that she could hear and she s'écarta herself quickly. But she not put to avoid the blow of Zhu Cong. Even if she had returned his extremely resistant body, the Educated one to the hands prestes had also the heavy hand, and she feels a dazzling pain in the back.
Zhu Cong voulut to take advantage of his advantage and continua to hit, but Mei Chaofeng against attaqua of a claw swipe, and it dut to back up.
The Fantastic others prepared themselves to jump also, when one entendit to the far a long scream, on the same tonalité as Mei all on time, that gave hen flesh. Shortly after, a second scream resounds, but a lot nearer one.
« As this individual moves himself quickly », itself dirent the Seven, scared.
- Attention, here Bronze Corpse! cria Ke zhen'e.
Han Xiaoying s'écarta itself and regarda towards the bottom of the hill, she aperçut then a shadow that approached to lively pace and yelled all while running.
Mei Chaofeng had adopted a defense posture, without attacking more. She concentrated his internal energy to contain the progression of the poison, while awaiting the arrival of his husband to exterminate the enemies.
Zhu Cong fit a sign to Quan Jinfa, the two men themselves glissèrent in the brushlands. Iron corpse already was fearsome to her alone. To see the Corpse pace of Bronze, Zhu Cong doubted itself well him to be again stronger than his woman. Quite obviously, it was impossible to overcome the two spouses while the confronting full-face. On the other hand, a luck existed maybe if one took them by trick.
All of a sudden, Han Xiaoying poussa a surprise cry: she see, in front of the shadow that rushed with great speed, another smaller outline, that had equally undertaken to ascend the hill. Only, as this outline went a lot more slowly, and than she was all small, person had not noticed it beforehand. She regarda attentively and lives that it was a matter of a child, Guo Jing certainly. Surprised and delighted, she s'empressa herself to carry itself to his encounter.
She did not be located very moved away from him, and the descending slope was easier tear down, but Bronze Corpse, remarkable expert in weightlessness, won land. Han Xiaoying hésita: « I am not any size to confront alone Bronze Corpse... But the child will fall between its hands, how could I not carry me to his rescue? »
She accéléra then and cria:
- Quickly, child, course more quickly!
In the view, Guo Jing poussa a joy cry, unconscious of the imminent danger that threatened it.
For these whole years, Zhang Asheng had been secret in love with Han Xiaoying, but it never had dared to express its feelings. See that she ran a terrible danger, it eut if fear that it s'élança himself to recover it and to protect it.
At the top of the hill, the Fantastic others did not attack anymore and observed this that happened to mi-colline, keeping their invisible projectiles concealed in the hand, ready to intervene.
In a wink, Han Xiaoying had arrived to the height of Guo Jing, she prit his small hand and tourna the heels to flee with him. But to pains did they have traversed some regard, that she feels the hand of Guo Jing to slip: the child poussa a big cry, Chen Xuanfeng had just grabbed it in the back!
Han Xiaoying itself retourna with nimbleness and, of a sword blow « The Phénix nods the head », feinta towards the left armpit of the enemy, then, swerving aside, releva the point of the sword of a lively and precise gesture, aiming the eyes of the opponent. It was there the very gasoline of the artificial technique of « THE SWORD of the Girl Yue ».
Chen Xuanfeng prit the child under his left arm, para the blow with his straight arm, pushing back lightly the blade towards the exterior one and, porta a palm blow, « To Push the esquif in following running it ». The young woman tourna his weapon and fendit, but the arm of Chen Xuanfeng sembla sudden to lengthen itself of a half foot: Han Xiaoying, that had the impression to have put itself outside reach, was therefore attained to the shoulder and tomba to earth.
This exchange eut place in a wink. Bronze corpse, pitiless, porta a claw swipe directly on the summit of the skull of Han Xiaoying. This bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness was a fearsome and cruel technique, that destroyed flesh and broke the bones. The blow would not have lacked to break the skull of the young woman. Zhang Asheng, that was located to some steps, comprit the danger and, without thinking about his own security, s'interposa itself while throwing itself on her, recovering it of his body. The claw s'abattit itself, and the five Corpse fingers of Bronze s'enfoncèrent itself in the back of cheerful Buddha.
This one poussa a terrible scream and chercha to attain the chest of the enemy with his knife of butcher. But Chen Xuanfeng para, dropping the weapon, and retourna his palm against Zhang, that was projected to earth.
The Fantastic others effroi crièrent and itself précipitèrent to his rescousse.
- My mégère, hurla Chen Xuanfeng, that itself does it pass?
- They destroyed me the eyes! répondit Mei Chaofeng in a moans, supported against the tree. If you in leave to escape an alone, my rotten one, you will have to deal with me!
- Not any concern, my mégère, cria Chen Xuanfeng, not an alone not about it will escape. You... Do you have poorly? Does not budge...
Bronze corpse abattit again his hand on the head of Han Xiaoying. This one, as « A lazy Donkey does a galipette », s'écarta itself in rolling.
- You believe to be able to escape? itself moqua Chen while getting up his left hand.
Zhang Asheng, seriously injured, lives confusément that his liked good was located in death danger. Mobilizing its last forces, it lança a kick towards the hand of the enemy. This one planta its fingers in the leg of Zhang that, spurred by the pain, itself redressa and jeta its arms around the size of his aggressor. Chen the attrapa by the neck, wanting to throw it to the far, but the cheerful Buddha, fearing that one not fît of the evil to Han Xiaoying, refused obstinément to loosen taken. Bronze corpse him porta a fatal blow to the head that the assomma. The butcher perdit knowledge, and its arms itself relâchèrent.
The intervention of Zhang had given the time to the young woman to jump on its feet to resume the fight. She did not dare for as much to approach, and had to content itself to revolve around the enemy thanks to his weightlessness technique.
- Fifth brother, did she scream, how you do you feel?
She had done two times the turn, when its companions the rejoignirent. Zhu Cong and Quan Jinfa lancèrent immediately their invisible projectiles.
Bronze corpse was surprised to see as much enemies of this force. « One is squarely desert, it songea-t-il, from which go out all these hard ones to cook that I do not know? »
- My mégère, it cria-t-il, that are these sly devils?
- THIS IS the Bat band squarely sky, the Dragon brother squarely sky.
- Good, the mongrel one is not dead, it came to look for his punishment here.
Fearing for the injury of his woman, it cria:
- And you, my mégère, are you injured gravement? That does not threaten nonetheless your life female dog?
- Dispatch You to slaughter them, cria Mei Chaofeng furious. Me, I am not again dead...
See that his woman remained supported to the tree, without coming to lend him strong hand, Chen had well understand that, in spite of his crânerie, she was injured gravement. Very worried, it hoped only to liquidate the fastest possible enemies, in order him to be going to carry helps. At this point in time, five Fantastic ones surrounded it, alone Ke zhen'e remained out-of-the-way, ready to intervene at any moment.
Chen Xuanfeng lança Guo Jing to earth and décocha a fist blow heading for Quan Jinfa. This one, worried for the child, itself pencha to avoid the blow and in profita to recover Guo Jing then, of a galipette, itself mit outside reach of the enemy. This movement, called « The mischievous Cat catches smiles it », that allowed at once to elude and to save, had been executed with nimbleness and precision. Same Chen Xuanfeng in conçut of the admiration for his author.
Bronze corpse was cruel by nature: more the opponents were strong, more it wanted to do them to die in of atrocious sufferings, so much than they had injured his well liked spouse. The Two Malefic ones of the Black Wind trained since a long time to two fearsome techniques: the bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness and the « Palm Breaks Heart », that it mastered now to eight or nine tenth ones of their power. Pushing a scream terrifying, it attaqua its enemies without being concerned with his own security, carrying to every time mortal blows.
The five, that had well conscience that their lives played themselves at this point in time precise, do not does n'eurent be careful not to take these attacks to the light one and mobilisèrent all their forces to defend itself. But they not purent to approach the enemy so this one appeared fearsome.
Han Baoju itself décida to attack, while using the technique of the « Whip to shave ground », rolling on the ground, launching blows of all party towards the Corpse legs of Bronze. This one, disrupted by this unexpected attack, reçut a stick blow in the back inflicted by Nan Xiren, that him fit to push pain cries. It himself retourna and tendit its claws towards the Lumberjack.
This one had not had the time to bring back his stick in defense that it feels the claws on him, dut to reverse itself behind. Now, it entendit a clacking in the Corpse joints of Bronze, of which the arm s'allongea itself sudden of several thumbs, so well that his hand was located against the forehead of the Lumberjack. In a fight between experts, the deadly blows avoided themselves often to an or two thumbs near. There, Nan Xiren had beautiful and well seen that the tension of the arm of his opponent had arrived to his extreme one, and nevertheless, it again had lengthened himself! How the Lumberjack could it have escaped this blow? It already felt the point of the nails of Chen on his forehead...
In the panic, it leva his left arm and seizes the wrist of the enemy with the technique of the qinna, looking for to block it. At that very moment, Zhu Cong had jumped on the Corpse back of Bronze and jammed his before arms on the throat of the opponent in order to strangle it. This fact, it completely exposed his chest, but to save the life of his sworn brother, it did not preoccupy more to infringe the elementary rules of precaution in the fight.
To this instant, where the life of the fighters held only to a wire, a thunder blow resounds and the clouds recouvrirent completely the moon. Total obscurity itself fit, one do not see anymore the fingers of its own hands and rain tomba to big drops.
One entendit then two creaks and a deaf noise: Chen Xuanfeng had just broken the left arm of Nan Xiren and, at the same time, had given an elbow blow in the chest of Zhu Cong. This one feels such a pain that it was constrained to relax the pressure on the neck of the enemy and tomba behind. Bronze corpse had felt stifled also and rings on the side, panting.
- Back up all, cria Han Baoju in obscurity. Seventh sister, how you do you feel?
- Silence! répliqua Han Xiaoying while separating itself from several steps.
Astonished by the noises of the movements of its companions, Ke zhen'e demanda:
- Second brother, that itself does it pass?
- OBSCURITY is total in this moment, répondit Quan Jinfa, one does not there see nothing!
This is the Sky that provides assistance us, itself said Ke zhen'e, delighted.
The Seven Fantastic ones, of which three seriously were injured, believed to have lost the party, but the black clouds then had obscured the sky and it fell hallebardes. Each kept his breathing, person did not dare to budge. The heard extremely fine Ke zhen'e him permit to recognize that the man left breathless being located to seven or eight steps of him, on the left, did not be an of its brothers. It lança immediately in this direction six poisoned macres.
Chen Xuanfeng perçut it arrived from the invisible projectiles and sauta in the air. It was really very strong, for it succeeds avoiding, in extremis, the six macres and put, at the same time, distinguish their origin. Without doing a noise, it jumps sudden, all claws outsides, towards Ke zhen'e. This one the entendit, s'écarta itself sharply, and répliqua by a stick blow. For him, there was not difference between the day and the night. As Chen Xuanfeng do not there see drips, his power big was diminished. Thus, the two men done equal games. After about ten exchanges, Bronze Corpse had the impression that the enemy attacked of all parts, without having the certainty that its own blows carried and felt squarely nightmare.
While groping, Han Baoju, Han Xiaoying and Quan Jinfa allèrent to come to the aid of their injured brothers. The goes out of Ke zhen'e preoccupied them evidently, but they not at could all help it in this ink night. In the crackling of rain, one heard the sifflements provoked by the hands of Chen Xuanfeng and the cane of Ke zhen'e. The two fighters had at pains exchanged about thirty blows, but, for the Fantastic others, that sembla to last an eternity. Sudden, one entendit two deaf blows, and Bronze Corpse itself mit to scream pain: it had therefore been attains by the cane. The Fantastic ones rejoiced, when a flash zébra the sky, illuminating the whole summit of the hill.
- Attention, Big Brother! cria Quan Jinfa.
But Chen Xuanfeng had taken advantage of this clarity instant to spot itself: it s'avança while concentrating his energy on the left shoulder and encaissa without faltering a cane blow, that it seizes next to full hand, while his upright hand already grabbed the chest of the blind person. This one, surprise, lâcha his cane and jumps behind. Bronze corpse evidently was not going to leave to pass such a occasion: the claw that already had torn the clothing of the opponent itself sudden transforma in fist. Without even a movement of the body, the arm of Chen s'allongea itself and porta a solid blow, loaded with internal energy, in the chest of the blind person, that violently was projected behind. At the same time, it jeta the cane as a javelot. All these gestures themselves firent in a skillful continuity, Bronze Corpse in was very to trust, and poussa a long joy scream, that accompagnèrent of thunder rumbles.
To the glimmer of the flashes that illuminèrent fugitivement again the scene, Han Baoju lives the cane to fly away itself towards his Big Brother, unconscious of the danger. It fit immediately to slam his whip of the Dragon of now that s'enroula itself around the projectile and the fit to fall.
- Now, s'écria itself Chen while precipitating itself towards him, I will remove you your dog life!
But, taken by his momentum, it trébucha on something as a body, it himself pencha and the ramassa: it was effectively a small boy, Guo Jing.
- Loosen Me, cria the child.
At this point in time, a new flash illumina the scene: Guo Jing lives the face of the man that held it in the air, a yellowish face to the look threatening. It was if frightened that, instinctively, it dégaina his poignard and the enfonça in the body of the enemy, right in the middle of the navel, to the guard.
Chen Xuanfeng poussa a terrible scream and itself renversa behind. In this technique that it used to return his invincible body to the blows, the vulnerable nodal point was located precisely situated in the navel. The poignard of Guo Jing was a blade splitting to the extreme one, but even a simple knife, if it touched this place, would have been for him fatal. It was the reason, during a fight, it took all the precautions to protect this party of his body. When it had seized the child, it did not test nulle mistrust to his consideration, so much as, the already having caught on the flank of the hill, all on time, it knew pertinemment that the childlike one did not there know nothing in martial arts. Now, as says the proverb, « THIS IS the good swimmer that drowns itself, and this is in flat land that the cart reverses itself » : that could have foreseen that this fearsome expert was going to die by the hand of a small weak and ignorant boy!
After killing Bronze Corpse, Guo Jing demeura débout, petrified, standing without knowing what to do. It seemed to want to cry, but did not dare to leave to go itself.
While hearing the long one moans of his husband, Mei Chaofeng itself précipita, trébucha, tomba and rampa until him.
- My rotten one, she cria-t-elle, what that arrives you?
- It is screwed-up, my mégère, it balbutia-t-il, dispatch you of t'enfuir...
- I will avenge you, she grinça-t-elle.
- The Sûtra, he says of a stifled voice, I l'ai... I burned it... the essential one, I have it on my chest...
And it rendit the soul.
The squeezed heart, iron Corpse glissa the hand towards the chest of his husband, to the the bulk of research the True Sûtra of the Nine Darkness.
Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng were all two disciples of the Master of the island of the Flowers to fish, Huang the alchemist. This one had created a trains special martial arts, of which the power and complexity had not nothing to envy to renowned authorities that were the Sect of the absolute Perfection and the royal family Duan, that reigned in the South. Chen and Mei had fallen in love of each one other before even to have finished their formation. They knew that if the Shifu discovered their liaison, not only they would not have the life except, but they would die in of atrocious sufferings. More they there thought, more the terror won them. They finirent by to decide to save itself. By an obscure night, they s'embarquèrent themselves secretly in a small small boat that the mena until a small other island to the east, then s'enfuirent itself to Ningbo, in the province of the Zhejiang.
Before leaving, Chen Xuanfeng songea that the little that they had learned would suffice for them doubtless to defend itself in the Rivers and the Lakes, but certainly could not assure for them a true fame. Thus, so as to do, it prit his courage to two hands and pénétra in the secret room of his Shifu, where it vola the half of a « True Sûtra of the Nine Darkness », that the master cherished as the prunelle of its eyes. Huang the alchemist entra evidently in a black fury, but as it had done the solemn vow of not to leave the island so as a promise would not have been realized, it could not launch itself to the pursuit of the runaways. Nevertheless, his anger was such as it châtia its other disciples: it their coupa to all the stretch legs and the chassa of the island, remaining all alone, reclusive, to ruminate his wrath.
The two lovers were therefore the cause of the misfortune of their fellow students. But they purent, thanks to the Sûtra, obtain an art of the exceptional fight. This True Sûtra of the Nine Darkness constituted some does the anthology of the orthodox martial arts of the taoïsme. Only, Chen had not succeeded flying that the second half of the document, while the practice formulas of the neigong, of mastery of the internal energy, were located in the first half. The martial arts of the island of the Flowers to fish followed a special progression, that not resembled at all to the practice developed by the taoïsme. Cruel by nature, the two renegades tentèrent to understand the indications of the Sûtra while the interpreter to their manner, choosing to practice the techniques more perverted and the most pitiless ones.
That day, they trained, in the mountain, to the bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness, piling up the skulls nine by nine, when the brothers Ke tombèrent on them by chance. See that the two spouses killed innocent, the brothers voulurent to intervene. But Dragon squarely sky, Ke Bixie, mourut right away under a palm blow of Chen Xuanfeng. Fortunately, at that very moment, the bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness did not be again to the point, Ke zhen'e succeeds therefore to escape, but it not put to save its eyes.
When Chen and Mei itself ready sentirent, they écumèrent the Rivers and the Lakes, without never to meet opponents to measures for them. The weapon masters ordinary did not be evidently any size, but even famous experts tombèrent under their blows. This was as well as they reçurent the nickname of « Two Malefic ones of the Black Wind ». See that their Shifu did not leave the island, they devinrent again more arrogant and more harmful, until several tens fighters valeureux eussent decided to ally itself against them, and their stretched eussent an ambush. During the fight, the couple seriously was injured, so well that they disparurent of the circulation. During many years, one do not n'entendit anymore to talk about them, one crut than they were dead. Now, they only were hidden in the desert, to train to perfect their arts of the death.
These two techniques, the bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness and the Palm Breaks Heart, were located effectively registered in the True Sûtra of the Nine Darkness. Chen Xuanfeng, that loved nevertheless his woman, not voulut never to show him the original text of the Sûtra. It studied it alone and, in a second time only, transmitted for him this that it had himself understand. She had beautiful to implore it or to threaten it, it not voulut never to breach to this rule.
« This Sûtra behaves two parties, him did it say, I did not succeed robbing that the second. Now, all the basic techniques, to assure the bases, are located in the first party. If I leave you to read the text, you be too greedy and you will want all to assimilate at one go, engaging you thus in an erroneous way that will take you to your loss. To the better, you seriously will be injured, to the worse one, you risk there to leave life. There is a lot of techniques in the Sûtra, but we can practice only the one that are compatible with our basic formation.
This reasoning convainquit Mei Chaofeng, conscious of love true that carried him his husband. Even if, in daily life, they launched themselves of the « rotten » and « mégère » to the head, they were secured by a deep love. Then she do not n'insista.
See his husband dying, she pensa then to him to ask the question of the Sûtra, but it had expired before to have replied completely. She the fouilla at the level of the chest without nothing to find. Taken aback, she voulut to look for again, but Han Baoju, Han Xiaoying and Quan Jinfa, taking advantage first glimmers of the dawn, had launched themselves to the attack.
Mei Chaofeng had not only lost the view, but she felt that the head turned for him, doubtless because of the poison that did his effect. To train to the bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness, the two spouses, since about ten years, absorbed uniformly white arsenic in small quantities, of which they neutralized the effect toxic by the internal energy. It was the alone manner that had found Chen Xuanfeng to increase, while using a stupid method, their internal and external power. With the time, Mei had therefore been mithridatisée, otherwise the poisoned macres of Ke zhen'e already would have done it to pass life to demise.
She herself défendit so harshly that the Fantastic ones, that did not arrive even to attain it, were endangered to several returns. Han Baoju commença to irritate itself: « If we do not reach, he says itself, to get the upper hand to three against a, an injured and blind woman what's more, which shame for the Seven Fantastic ones of the Jiangnan! » It attaqua of more beautiful one with his whip, looking for especially to attain it in the back. Han Xiaoying and Quan Jinfa, see that the enemy staggered, redoublèrent equally of vigor. The moment they seemed to be able to take it, the storm itself leva, and the black clouds assombrirent again the sky. At one go, one does not there live more nothing, the violent flurries of mixed winds of rain swept all on their passage. The three Fantastic ones s'aplatirent themselves to the ground to protect itself. A long time after, the storm itself calma, the moon perça behind the clouds. Han Baoju jumps on its feet and poussa a vexation cry: Mei Chaofeng had disappeared, as well as the corpse of Chen Xuanfeng. It see only its injured friends extensive to earth. The small head of Guo Jing apparut slowly of behind the boulders. All were soaked until the bones.
The three survivors s'activèrent themselves to care for the injureds: Nan Xiren had the arm broken, but no internal, strong injury fortunately. Ke zhen'e and Zhu Cong, of which the neigong was powerful, too were not affected no more, even themselves they had undergone headlong the Corpse blows of Bronze. Alone Zhang Asheng, attains, to two returns, by the bone Claw white of the Nine Darkness, had received a mortal blow to the head. It had resumed conscience but his life held only to a wire.
The view to the item of the death, the Six were collapsed sadness, especially Han Xiaoying, that knew well that the Fifth brother was in love with her since a long time. But itself was a little missed boy, liking the arts martial by over all, and little reach on the heart matters. Zhang Asheng, for its part, laughed the whole times of an air deny, then they never had not acknowledged himself their true feelings. While thinking that it had thrown himself under the claws of the enemy to protect it, she étreignit Zhang while sobbing.
On the face always rigolard of the Butcher floated again a light one to smile. Of his big hand as a beater, it caressa the soft hair of Xiaoying:
- Does not cry, the it consola-t-il. Does not cry, I go well.
- Fifth brother, does she say while hiccupping, you want well to marry me?
Zhang laughs niaisement, its injuries did it terribly to suffer, and it began losing conscience.
- Fifth brother, does she poursuivit-elle, reassure you, considers that I am here and now your woman... I will not marry myself more never and, after my death, we will remain together for eternity.
- Seventh sister, balbutia Zhang, I am not never well taken care of you... I... I am not worthy of you...
- You are well taken care of me, she sanglota-t-elle. Very, very well. I always knew it...
The eyes fill with tears, Zhu Cong demanda to Guo Jing:
- If you came here, this is to learn the martial arts with us?
- Yes, répondit the child.
- Then you must obey us henceforth.
Guo Jing hocha the head.
- We other seven brothers and sister let us are all your Shifu, poursuivit Zhu Cong while wiping its tears. At present, your fifth Shifu goes climb to the sky, prostrate you and return him homage.
Guo Jing did not know exactly this that meant « climb to the sky », but it obeys right away, itself prosterna and frappa the ground of his forehead.
Zhang Asheng, white as a linge, itself força to smile:
- It is sufficient as that... Brave boy, I will not be able therefore to transmit you my knowledge... Ah, but in any case, even if you had learned this that I know, that would not have served you to nothing. I am of a natural obtuse one, and rather lazy to l'entraînement... I rested on the few force brute that j'avais... If I had been more constant to the era, I maybe would not have had this sad fine one aujourd'hui...
It fails to turn eye and PALER devint again.
- You no more, he says while panting, you are not very gifted naturally, then it is necessary absolutely to do efforts. When you will be attempted to be lazy, thinks about your Fifth Shifu and to the state in which you see it...
It voulut to follow, but not in eut more forces it.
Han Xiaoying approcha the ear of the mouth of Zhang, and the entendit to pains:
- Form well l'enfant... In order not to to have the under facing the Taoist pretentious one...
- Is reassured, said Han Xiaoying, the Seven Fantastic ones of the Jiangnan never lose!
Zhang Asheng eut a small laugh deny, ferma the eyes and rendit the soul.
The Six Fantastic éclatèrent in sanglots. Since that they had become sworn brothers, very narrow links united them. During the last years, launched to the Lion research Ping and of his son, they had lived together day and harmed. And here that the one of them tragically had just died in foreign earth. How could they not have been submerged pain? After crying all the tears of their body, they creusèrent a grave and enterrèrent Zhang Asheng. When they finished eurent to erect a big boulder to mark the place of the tomb, the day had got up.
Quan Jinfa and Han Baoju partirent to the research of likely indices to drive to Mei Chaofeng. After the storm, the sand did not carry anymore no track, and it was impossible knowledge where she had gone. They poussèrent their investigation to several link to the round one, but empty-handed revinrent.
- In this desert, said Zhu Cong, I imagine that this aveug... this good woman was not able to go well far. The poisoned macres had to do their effect, she is doubtless dead somewhere. It's better first to bring back the child at his place and care for our injureds. After, Third and Sixth brothers, Seventh sister, you will resume the researches.
All acquiescèrent and versèrent of the tears while said farewell to the grave of their deceased brother.