Lu Xiaofeng Book 5: Mansion of Spirits

[Clown Prince]

First! hahahaha
Thanks foxs!

[szfong]

Thanks for another exciting update, foxs!

[LuDongBin]

Ah! Exams! It is only fair you devote yourself to this task. Dun forget to come back tho and start afresh. The book is ending soon right? Thanks foxs.

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

I wonder if Yingyan Laoqi’s ‘separating tendon, dislocating bones’ is similar to the ‘Disconnect the Muscles and Separating the Bones’ (Fen Jing Cuo Gu Shou) taught to GJ by his Second Master Zhu Cong. Although Zhu Cong semi-invented his own version since no master of such skill was near at or around the steppe during that time.

[Anh Nam]

Thanks foxs

[Drowsy Palm Bing Yidao]

What fast translations. Even Ximen Chiuxue's sword may not necessarily surpass these fingers. Thanks again, Foxs.

And thanks for the concern; the computer is okay, Thank God. It fell on top of me. Perhaps I should not have been balancing the chair on it's hind legs in the first place.

[foxs]

Clown, you sneaked in while I was typing ... See my previous comment on CLX. szfong, HPC, Anh, you are welcome. DongBin, yes, we are nearing the end. Jaya, you have a very good memory, I don't even remember that. But most qin na would try to dislocate bones, plus I imagine the writers (Gu Long, Jin Yong, etc.) would have difficult time trying to find new names for their moves/stance, style. Drowsy, .

---

Chapter 15 – Scheming under heavy siege
Translated by Foxs

The thirteenth of the fourth month, dusk.

The sky gradually turned dark, the lamps in the main hall have been lit.

But above the beam was still dark, sunlight could not reach there, lamp light could not reach that place either. Actually, there are a lot of places in the world that are just like that, i.e. in perpetual darkness.

Some people are like that, too.

Could it be that Lu Xiaofeng has turned into that kind of person? Could it be that he would not get another chance to stick his head out, and could only hide in the dark like a mouse, hiding from Ximen Chuixue?

Perhaps he still had a chance. Perhaps this operation was his only chance; therefore, he simply must not fail.

But he did not have any confidence.

To be fair, who would have confidence of snatching the Taoist crown from Shi Yan’s head? He could not think of anyone.

He heard other footsteps coming into the main hall. The one on the head of the procession had very light footsteps, although he was walking in such haste, because all his chi, his blood, his muscles, were already linked together. Although he still had flesh and blood, he was unlike everybody else.

Nothing was wasted from his body.

Lu Xiaofeng could not resist peeking out from atop the beam, sneakily looking down. A procession of Taoist priests wearing purple robes and black hats was entering the main hall. The one leading the procession was, unexpectedly, Wooden Taoist.

He had known Wooden Taoist for many years, but not until now did he realize that this senior Wudang swordsman’s power was actually a lot higher than everybody had always thought.

Shi Yan has not arrived. The first chair on the host side was still empty. Wooden Taoist could only sit on the second chair.

Although he was a person of virtue and prestige, his seniority was extremely high, but when the Sect Leader was present, he would have to occupy the second position.

It was Wudang’s law, but it was also the established standard in Jianghu; no one could change it.

The main hall was brightly lit. And then there was the sound of gong. Wooden Taoist stepped down the stairs to welcome the guests. One after another all the honored guests arrived.

Everybody looked very serious, Yingyan Laoqi and the others looked especially grim; obviously they still could not forget what had happened earlier that day.

That big and tall, majestic looking old man also came. Unexpectedly his seat was above the Chief of the Twelve-dock Alliance’s.

Who was he? How come he never showed his face in Jianghu before? Why did he appear this time?

From the moment he arrived, Lu Xiaofeng has been fixing his eyes on him; he had a vague feeling that he ought to know this man, but he just could not figure it out.

The number of chairs in the main hall was really not too many; the number of people with enough qualifications to sit in this hall was indeed not too many. But the number of guests was quite a lot. Those who did not have seat could only stand.

Tie Jian, Shi Yan, Wang Shidai, Shuishang Fei, Gao Xingkong, Xiao Gu of Mount Ba, Yingyan Laoqi, and the others had people standing behind them; anybody could be the one waiting for an opportunity to take their lives.

Among those people, how many were those who had died once and were resurrected? Which one was Du Tiexin? Which one was Guan Tianwu? Which one was Old Lady Lou?

Lu Xiaofeng was trying to identify them.

After they had their appearances changed, other than Old Sabre Honcho and Canine Master, Lu Xiaofeng was the only one who knew.

Canine Master had made a portrait drawing of everyone’s new appearance, and had given the drawings to Lu Xiaofeng.

-- In all the first-class inns, the lavatory has always been fairly spacious. Other than going to the bathroom, people could do a lot of other things.

Hai Qikuo killed the dog. But since it was a real dog, where did Canine Master go?

Could it be that this secret was also known only to Lu Xiaofeng?

Very soon he was able to find them. Even the man-without-a-face, Shi He, now had a face.

Obviously every one of them had their eyes fixed on their respective target, all they were waiting for was for the lamps to go out, and then they would immediately make their move.

It seemed that the only one without anybody dealing with was Wooden Taoist. Was it because he has not paid any attention to Jianghu matters for a long time that Old Sabre Honcho practically did not consider him as a target?

Lu Xiaofeng did not ponder over this question too far, because right that moment his own target has appeared.

Wearing purple and gold Taoist crown on his head, the Wudang Sect Leader slowly walked in, followed by four law enforcement escorts.

This Taoist priest Shi Yan’s name was known throughout the present age, not only because of his deep spiritual cultivation and numerous meritorious deeds, but also because since he was young he had been a veteran of a hundred battles; his swordsmanship and internal energy cultivation were also at the level that very few people could accomplish.

But now unexpectedly he looked very tired, he looked very old and weak, he looked a bit nervous even.

Shi Yan was indeed a bit nervous.

Facing so many honored guests and distinguish visitors, although he had to put on a smiling face to welcome the guests, in his heart he was actually very tense and jittery.

For the last ten years, he very rarely had this kind of feeling.

However, today he seemed to have some kind of of ominous feeling, a premonition that something bad was about to happen.

“Maybe I should retire,” he said to himself, “I’ll go find a peaceful and remote place, build two wooden cabins, and henceforth no longer care about the right and wrong in the Jianghu, and no longer see any Jianghu people either.”

Unfortunately, up to now, this thought was no more than a fantasy; whether he could really escape unscathed from the Jianghu’s right and wrong, even he himself was not quite sure. If he failed to seize the opportunity, there was a very good chance that it would be too late.

Every time he was tired, the back of his neck would feel stiff, and then his old ailment, a severe headache, would flare-up.

Especially now, when he had to wear the heavy purple and gold Taoist crown, which felt like a saucepan lid pressing down his head.

All the distinguished guests stood up to welcome him.

Although he knew that they only respected him because he was the Sect Leader of Wudang, although he did not completely like this people, he still had to put on the warmest smile on his face, while he greeted the guests one by one to return the courtesy.

-- Wasn’t it just like acting in a play?

-- Since you have the role as the leader of this Sect, it doesn’t matter if your neck is stiff, if your head is aching, the show must go on, you simply must continue acting.

The lamps in the main hall were blazing.

Under the bright light, Tie Jian and Wang Shidai definitely looked more tired than he, they looked even older and weaker than he.

As a matter of fact, they should have had retired and returned to their native place to live in seclusion a long time ago; they did not need to come here at all.

He did not wish to see them, especially Wang Shidai. “An obvious narrow-minded man who always keep others’ offense and want to pay back, yet acted like a man enduring the hardships of life and put on an appearance of despising worldly conventions.”

And then there was that Xiao Gu of Mount Ba, who always love to look in the mirror; he really ought to open a brothel, why did he leave home [to become Buddhist monk or Taoist priest] instead?

Why is it that there are so many people in the world that are not able to do what they really want to do?

The ceremony was underway. Every step of the program, Shi Yan himself was unclear how many times he had performed; every word he had to say, he did not remember how many times he had spoken those same words.

It did not matter what he thought, he would not make a single mistake; everything seemed to be going without a hitch.

And then he had to announce the name of his successor.

With the corner of his eye he looked at several of his most important disciples, those who were most promising, but also those who appeared most nervous.

If the name he announced did not belong to one of these people, what would their expression look like? How would the other people react?

Wouldn’t it be very interesting to see?

Thinking about this, he could not stop a smile from appearing on the corners of his mouth, he nearly could not even resist from laughing.

But he quickly controlled himself and braced himself to continue with the most important segment of the ceremony.

Just then, the altar lamps in the main hall, which had never stop burning day and night, unexpectedly went out suddenly.

Instantly there was a danger sign appearing in his heart, he knew right then that the ominous feeling, the premonition in his heart has already come true.

Almost at the same instant, all seventy-two altar lamps inside and outside the main hall went out together.

Several sharp, swishing noise was heard in the dark, the candles on the incense burning table were also being struck and went out together.

The brightly lit main hall suddenly turned into a blanket of darkness.

Suddenly a series of miserable cry was heard in the dark, followed by even sharper gust of wind, coming from the beam blowing toward his head, blowing the Taoist crown off the top of his head; it sounded like the brushing of sleeve of a night walker.

By the time he reached up to hold the Taoist crown, the Taoist crown had disappeared.

“Qiang!” the Seven-Star Sword on his waist was unsheathed, but it was not he who pulled it out.

Instantly he pulled back, but the ribs on his flank suddenly felt icy-cold, as if a sword blade has just swept across.

[szfong]

Thanks for another update!

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[ycb5959]

Thanks!!!!

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[LuDongBin]

Thks foxs ....

[Drowsy Palm Bing Yidao]

Cliffhanger, foxs?! T.T

Or would it more aptly be 'beamhanger'? Thanks.

[Anh Nam]

Thanks foxs

[Clown Prince]

Thanks Foxs!
I love sneaking in! LOL>......

[foxs]

szfong, HPC, ycb, Jaya, DongBin, Anh, you are welcome. Drowsy, a good one! Clown, perhaps you are still online right now?

---

All these things seemed to happen at the same moment.

Most of the people there did not even know what was going on, naturally they would not know what to do to meet this contingency.

Those mournful, miserable cry had made these turns of events seem even more mysterious and frightening.

Surprisingly, the voices of Tie Jian and Wang Shidai, those top-ranking martial art experts, seemed to be among those miserable cries. And then Wooden Taoist’s shout was heard, “Who has fire paper? Quickly light the lamps.”

Unexpectedly, his voice was still very calm, although Shi Yan could hear the pain in it.

Could it be that he was also injured?

Although it all happened very fast, everyone there felt as if it were forever.

What had happened in that split second, no one would ever forget.

At last the lamps were re-lit, everybody was even more shocked, even more terrified. No one could believe his own eyes, yet these things were real.

-- Tie Jian, Wang Shidai, Xiao Gu of Mount Ba, Shuishang Fei, Gao Xingkong, Yingyan Laoqi, and several most important disciples of Wudang, were down; they fell down in pools of blood.

Wang Shidai even had a sword still sticking out from his waist, the sword’s blade has pierced his fatal point until only the sword hilt was visible outside.

Wooden Taoist also had some bloodstain on his body; but although he was injured, he was still the most calm.

“The assailants must still be here, before the truth is known, it would be best if everybody remains here.”

It was an extraordinary incident, the tone of his voice became very grave, “No matter who, whoever leaves this main hall a single step will not be able to wash off the suspicion of being the murderer; in that case, please do not blame our School’s disciples for being rude to the honored guests.”

No one dared to leave, no one dared to even move.

The situation was indeed too grave, no one was willing to bear the slightest risk of being a suspect.

The strange thing was, nobody remaining in the main hall had any weapons in them; where did the saber and sword used for killing come from? And where did they go?

Although Shi Yan’s injury was not heavy, he appeared to be more grieved, more angry, and more dispirited than others.

Wooden Taoist lowered his voice, “The assailants can’t be just one person. As soon as they finished striking, most likely they used the darkness as a cover to walk away, but they can’t possibly all leave Wudang’s premise.”

Shi Yan could not resist asking, “Since we all have to stay in the main hall, who is going to go after them?”

“I’ll go,” Wooden Taoist said.

He looked around at the Wudang disciples who were waiting for orders, “I have to bring several capable people.”

Shi Yan said, “Our School’s disciples are at Shishu’s [martial (younger) uncle] disposal.”

Wooden Taoist left immediately, taking along ten people; obviously these people were all elites disciples of Wudang School.

Watching him leaving in a hurry, Shi Yan’s eyes suddenly revealed some kind of odd look.

The big, tall, and majestic looking old man quietly came over to him and said in very low voice, “It indeed happened.”

Shi Yan nodded. Suddenly he pulled himself together and raised his spirit, “It was an extraordinary incident, I am obliged to ask everybody to wait here a bit longer. Wu Gou, lead the disciples under your command to take the Seniors died for a just cause to the Ting Zhu Courtyard first. Wu Jing, Wu Se, lead your disciples to search everywhere, as soon as you find any weapon, report immediately.”

“You might as well let them search me first,” the big, tall, and majestic looking old man said.

Shi Yan let out a wry smile and said, “If you want to kill, would you need any saber or sword?”

The old man said, “In that case, I want to accompany your Shishu to go after the killers.”

“Please,” Shi Yan said.

The old man cupped his fist, bent his waist, and then shot out like an arrow.

Instantly some people in the crowd of heroes voiced their dissatisfaction, “We are not allowed to leave, why is he allowed to leave?”

“Because his status is different than any other people.”

“Who is he?”

“He is …” A loud commotion drowned his man’s voice, two Taoist priests in purple robes rushed in in big strides, carrying a sword with both hands. Surprisingly, it was Wudang Sect Leader’s own Seven-star Sword.

But the other treasure that he wore, the purple and gold Taoist crown, was like a yellow crane flying away without leaving any trace.

The thirteenth of the fourth month, midnight.

The night was as cool as water.

At this moment, only one person knew where the gold and purple Taoist crown had gone. This person was, naturally, Lu Xiaofeng.

Nobody knew where he bought a giant round, sun-patterned, felt-lined, bamboo rain hat, which he wore on his had, covering more than half of his face.

The gold and purple crown was on his head, also covered by the felt-lined bamboo rain hat.

It was snatched away from Shi Yan’s head using the priceless two fingers of his; he had not failed.

But in that split second when he made his move, the clothes on his whole body was soaked with cold sweats.

He knew the entire operation had succeeded, because as he swept out of the main hall, he heard miserable cry of Tie Jian and the others.

His clothes had already dried out. He had been circling around the dark alleys several times, making sure that he was not being followed, and then from the corner gate of the rear courtyard he slipped into the House of Blues.

The rear courtyard was awfully quiet, he neither heard anybody nor saw any lantern light.

“Those people are not back yet?”

He was just thinking of finding anybody to ask when suddenly from the hexagonal pavilion at the edge of the flower garden he heard a hiss, “Here.”

It was Liu Qingqing’s voice.

When she saw Lu Xiaofeng, her expression looked very strange, as if she was very surprised, but was very happy as well, “You succeeded too?”

Lu Xiaofeng nodded. “The others?” he asked.

“More or less,” Liu Qingqing replied, “We are all here, just waiting for Old Sabre Honcho.”

She bit her lip and looked at Lu Xiaofeng with the corner of her eye, “I just didn’t think that we would be really successful this time,” she said.

“Why not?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

“Because I was always a little suspicious of you,” Liu Qingqing said, “Especially with what happened to Canine Master, and that waiter who took the dog for a walk for you, and then that man who dug worms at the Ye family house.”

Lu Xiaofeng laughed, “That just proves one thing: you are ten times more paranoid than other people.”

Liu Qingqing also laughed. She was just going to pull his hand when suddenly a shaft of light shot out from within the cluster of flowers. Xiao Cui was standing behind the lantern, staring at them, “Alright, alright, everybody is downstairs waiting, but the two of you are holding hands and whispering sweet nothing to each other in here.”

It was only then did Lu Xiaofeng find out that their secret gathering room was right underneath a clump of Chinese rose flowers.

Every detail of this scheme has been carefully set up, but up to the last minute, other than Old Sabre Honcho, no one else had a full understanding of what was going on.

Even now, no one has ever seen his true identity. “But he will definitely come very soon.”

It was a spacious room, and the ventilation was very good, although everybody was still panting for breath from the excitement. The people who took part in this operation have all arrived; surprisingly, it went without any glitch, no one was injured or suffered any damage.

It was just a split second of intense moment and thrill, which subsided very quickly, but everybody still appeared very excited, but almost nobody talked.

Some people had bloodstain on the front of their robes, presumably when they made their move, they used too much strength that their victim’s blood splashed on their body, so much so that some even had their faces splattered with blood.

They ought to be happy, because what they did tonight would surely change the Wulin world’s history and destiny.

“Why aren’t there any wine here? Our mission was accomplished, why can’t we drink a cup or two to celebrate?”

“Because Old Sabre Honcho has not come back.”

“Why hasn’t he come back?”

“Because he still had a lot to do,” a voice from the outside replied, “He still had to block the pursuing troops from you, and checked the outcome of the battle.”

Old Sabre Honcho finally appeared. Undoubtedly it was a very glorious outcome, because his voice sounded a bit hoarse from excitement.

And then he formally declared, “The strike hit its target, the chief offenders have been completely punished, Operation Thunder is a complete success!”

Careful and thorough plans, speedy and accurate execution, as long as anybody is able to accomplish these two factors, no matter what operation, success is guaranteed.

But Old Sabre Honcho seemed to have forgotten something, he did not ask Lu Xiaofeng at all, whether he was successful or not; how did he know that the operation was a complete success?

[LuDongBin]

Clown is not, but I am ...

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.