A few things:
- I'm somewhat rusty because I haven't translated in a long time, so my thanks go to Moinllieon and mich for their help.
- I can't promise super-fast updates ŕ la foxs or RWX, or anyone currently translating who updates quickly.
- I've preserved some of the terms that Moinllieon used for his translations of Books 1-3, so you may find them familiar if you've read them.
- As per forum rules, please do not save my translations and/or distribute without my permission.
~
幽灵山庄
Chapter One: Lu Xiaofeng on the run
Underneath the shiny antique bronze paperweights rested twelve white paper cards, around the elegant Eight Immortals Table sat seven people.
Seven people whose reputations and fame shook through the martial arts world.
Ancient Pine Hermit, Wooden Taoist, Monk Bittergourd, Second Master Tang, Swordsman Xiaoxiang, Sikong Zhaixing, Hua Manlou.
These seven people had unusual statuses and distinctive backgrounds; among them were monks, hermits, wandering swordsmen, highly-skilled imperial guards, disciples of esteemed sects, and elders of the martial arts world who had seen it all.
They had gathered here because they shared something in common.
They were Lu Xiaofeng’s friends.
Now they had something else in common – all seven had grave expressions and heavy hearts.
Especially the Wooden Taoist.
Every one was watching him, waiting for him to speak.
They had all come here at his bidding; this was no simple matter, and of course he had the most important of reasons.
There were food and wine on the table, but nobody had lifted their cups or touched their food.
A breeze was blowing and the pavilion was filled with the fragrance of flowers, spirits should have been high during such a beautiful season.
They were originally carefree, unrestrained characters, why would they be so troubled?
Hua Manlou was blind, and the blind do not light lamps, but the one who had lit the hexagonal lamp on the table was precisely he.
There are many things in the world that are just like this – they should not have happened, but they did.
The Wooden Taoist sighed and finally opened his mouth: “Every one has made mistakes, but so long as he repents, that is a good thing.” He was trying very hard to restrain himself, but his voice still sounded rather agitated: “However, there are some things where you absolutely cannot do wrong, once you have made a mistake, you only have one path to go!”
“A dead end?” Sikong Zhaixing asked.
The Wooden Taoist nodded and picked up the antique bronze paperweight on the table; twelve paper cards, with twelve names written on it.
Twelve famous names!
“They shouldn’t have died, whoever wanted to kill them wouldn’t have had it easy. A pity they had all committed a fatal mistake!”
He retrieved four from the pile of paper cards: “Especially these four, I’m sure you have heard of them.”
Four paper cards, four names.
Gao Tao: Phoenix Tail Sect’s third section chief
Crime: Turncoat
Bounty hunter: Ximen Chuixue
Fate: On the run for thirteen days, died in the marshes.
Gu Feiyun: True successor to Bashan Swordsman
Crime: Killed friend’s son and seduced friend’s wife
Bounty hunter: Ximen Chuixue
Fate: On the run for fifteen days, died in the busy downtown.
Liu Qingqing: Famed swordswoman of Huainan, wife of Diancang swordsman Xie Jian
Crime: Adultery, murdered husband
Bounty hunter: Ximen Chuixue
Fate: On the run for nineteen days, died in the wilderness.
“One-armed Divine Dragon” Hai Qikuo
Crime: Indiscriminately killing innocent people
Bounty hunter: Ximen Chuixue
Fate: On the run for nineteen days, died at sea after boat capsized.
Every one had heard of these four names, but the one name they were most familiar with was Ximen Chuixue’s!
Which self-respecting martial artist had not heard of Ximen Chuixue? Who would dare say his swordplay was not unparalleled?
Swordsman Xiaoxiang suddenly said: “I’ve seen Ximen Chuixue.”
Since that duel at the Forbidden City, even this number one imperial guard had to concede that Ximen Chuixue’s skill was unmatched: “But I am not able to see how he enjoys poking his nose into other people’s business.”
“This isn’t frivolous business,” said Hua Manlou.
Sikong Zhaixing immediately added: “He rarely makes new friends, but hates people who betray their friends.”
Swordsman Xiaoxiang shut his mouth, but Second Master Tang began to speak.
The Tang family of Sichuan was famous for its use of poisoned hidden weapons, equally well-known was Second Master Tang’s dislike of talking, but he suddenly asked: “You think their fatal mistake was to have betrayed their friends?”
“Isn’t that the case?” Sikong Zhaixing asked.
Second Master Tang shook his head and did not say another word, because he knew someone else would understand the point he was trying to put across.
Indeed, another person understood: “Their crimes were different, but the fatal mistake was the same.”
“Which is?”
“Ximen Chuixue!” the Wooden Taoist slowly said: “Should Ximen Chuixue decide to kill someone, nobody would be able to escape.”
Even if one could, one couldn’t live beyond nineteen days.
“These twelve people all died by Ximen Chuixue’s sword.” The Wooden Taoist’s expression was even graver: “And now there’s another person who has committed the same fatal mistake, and the crime is even more serious.”
“Oh?”
“He not only betrayed a friend, the one he betrayed is Ximen Chuixue!”
“Who is this person?”
“Lu Xiaofeng!”
Chapter One, part ii
Chapter Two
Chapter Two, part ii
Chapter Two, part iii
Chapter Three
Chapter Three, part ii
Chapter Three, part iii
Chapter Four
Chapter Four, part ii
Chapter Five
Chapter Five, part ii
Chapter Five, part iii
Chapter Six
Chapter Six, part ii
Chapter Six, part iii
Chapter Seven