Page 3 of 28 FirstFirst 12345678910111213 ... LastLast
Results 41 to 60 of 543

Thread: Lu Xiaofeng Book 5: Mansion of Spirits

  1. #41
    Senior Member Justin13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    528

    Default

    I am quicker than he!

    What a big boast...

  2. #42
    Senior Member junny's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    With Max
    Posts
    2,883

    Default

    Terribly sorry for the delay. Real life got in the way and updates will be slow. So here's a longer update for whoever's still reading.


    ~


    Chapter Four – Mansion of Spirits (1)

    The sound came from a small wooden hut.

    One must be very observant to pick out a small greyish-white wooden hut among all that fog-like clouds.

    Lu Xiaofeng finally saw it – only the hut, but no person.

    The moaning hadn’t stopped, and Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t help asking: “Are you hurt?”

    “Not hurt, but dying soon.” It was a young lady’s voice: “Dying from your singing.”

    “Since you’re here, you must be a dead person too, so what’s the harm in dying again?”

    “Not even a living ghost can take your singing, what more dead people?”

    Lu Xiaofeng roared with laughter.

    From the hut, the voice asked again: “Do you know who saved you just now?”

    “It was you?”

    “That’s correct, it’s me.” Her laughter was very sweet. “My surname is Ye, I’m Ye Ling. Every one calls me Little Leaf.” (2)

    “Good name.”

    “Your name isn’t too bad, but I don’t understand how a big man like you is called little phoenix?”

    Lu Xiaofeng’s laughter became forced as he said: “My name is Lu Xiaofeng, not little phoenix.”

    “What’s the difference?” Ye Ling asked.

    “Phoenixes (feng huang) come in pairs – ‘feng’ refers to the male, while ‘huang’ refers to the female’.”

    He crossed over slowly, but silence suddenly filled the hut. After a long while, he could hear Ye Ling sigh gently: “I’m just a little leaf and not part of a pair, don’t even know whether it’s male or female.”

    Lu Xiaofeng said: “That you don’t have to worry. I only need to take one look at you to know whether you’re male or female.”

    He thrust the door open suddenly and burst into the hut.

    From the outside, this hut already seemed small and miserable, and it was like walking into a dove’s cage.

    However, doves despite their size had everything necessary and this hut was no different. It had seemingly everything that could be found in other houses, even a golden night stool.

    Lu Xiaofeng was not someone overly interested in night stools, but he noticed this one because when he walked in, this young lady dressed in red was sitting on it.

    Neatly dressed and sitting on the night stool, she was gazing at Lu Xiaofeng with large black eyes.

    Lu Xiaofeng could feel his face turning a little red.

    No matter the circumstances, men should not force their way in when a girl is sitting on the night stool.

    Still he’d come in and wouldn’t it be more embarrassing if he’d slipped out now?

    Lu Xiaofeng decided to take the offensive and suddenly smiled. “Do you always sit on night stools to greet your visitors?”

    Ye Ling shook her head primly. “I’d only do that in two situations.”

    The first situation didn’t need elaborating, of course, but what about the other one?

    Ye Ling said: “That’s when something is trying to wiggle out of the night stool.”

    Lu Xiaofeng almost lost his smile.

    Would there still be something wanting to get out of the night stool? Other than a horrible stench, what else could come out?

    “Do you want to have a look at what’s inside?” Ye Ling asked.

    Lu Xiaofeng shook his head immediately. “No.”

    “You still have to look even if you don’t want to,” Ye Ling said.

    “Why?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    “Because everything in here is for you,” Ye Ling replied.

    “Even if I don’t want them?”

    “Of course.”

    As he watched her stand up and lift the lid from the night stool, Lu Xiaofeng almost wanted to bolt out the door and flee.

    He didn’t flee.

    Not only was the smell from the night stool not horrible, it was rather fragrant.

    Following the fragrant aroma were a pair of swallows and a pair of butterflies.

    The swallows and butterflies flew out of the little window and Ye Ling, as though performing some magic tricks, retrieved a new set of attire from the night stool, a pair of soft socks, a small jar of wine, two wine cups, two pairs of chopsticks, a large earthen jar, a large spoon, four or five buns and a bouquet of fresh flowers.

    Lu Xiaofeng was stunned.

    Nobody could have imagined that so many things could be retrieved from a night stool.

    Ye Ling said: “The swallows and butterflies are our welcome to you, the clothes and socks should fit you, the wine is vintage ‘zhuyeqing’ (3), the earthen jar contains flavoured braised chicken and the buns are freshly steamed.”

    She raised her head and gazed at Lu Xiaofeng, continued lightly: “Do you like them?”

    Lu Xiaofeng expelled a breath and replied: “I totally love them.”

    “Do you want them?” she asked.

    “If I don’t, I’m an idiot.”

    Ye Ling smiled, like a flower, a candy, a little fox.

    A fox that could harm or charm people.

    Lu Xiaofeng looked at her and couldn’t help another sigh, said: “You’re female, definitely female.”

    The flowers were just put in the vase, but the wine was already in Lu Xiaofeng’s tummy.

    Little Leaf gazed at him pouring the cool ‘zhuyeqing’ down his throat as he would water, surprised and feeling that it was rather a waste. Suddenly she sighed and said: “There’s just something not quite right.”

    Lu Xiaofeng didn’t understand.

    Little Leaf explained: “Someone said that very few people can match your intelligence, martial arts, drinking ability, thick-skinned and lascivious nature.”

    Lu Xiaofeng set down the empty wine jar and laughed. “Now you’ve seen my drinking ability.”

    “I have seen your skills too,” Ye Ling said. “You didn’t fall off just now, I almost wanted to take my hat off you.”

    “However, I’m not lascivious, so that’s wrong,” Lu Xiaofeng said.

    “That’s not wrong,” Ye Ling said.

    Lu Xiaofeng was angry. “Have I ever been improper towards you?”

    “No, until now no,” Ye Ling said. “But when you look at me, your eyes…”

    Lu Xiaofeng hurriedly cut her off: “What did you say was not quite right?”

    Ye Ling chuckled. “You’re not very thick-skinned, you blush too.”

    “Did you think I’ve never blushed in my life?” Lu Xiaofeng said. “Do you believe everything that person tells you?”

    Ye Ling batted her eyelids and countered: “Do you know who said all that?”

    “Who?”

    “Old Sabre Honcho.”

    This man, this name… why did it exert so much influence?

    Lu Xiaofeng tried testing the waters: “He’s the leader around here?”

    “Not only that, he’s our boss, our old man.”

    “What’s he like?”

    “A man who can make everyone willingly regard him as their old man, what kind of a person do you think he is?”

    “I don’t know,” Lu Xiaofeng said. “I haven’t got anyone who wants to be my son, and I’ve never wanted to be someone else’s son.”

    “You just want to know his name and background, that’s all,” Ye Ling said.

    Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t deny. “Of course I want to know, desperately want to know.”

    Ye Ling said coldly: “If you really want to know, it could cost you your life.”

    Her expression became very stern. “If you want to live comfortably here, don’t ever sniff out anything about other people, or…”

    “Or what?”

    “Or you’d vanish, no matter how highly skilled you may be.”

    “Vanish?”

    “That means you suddenly disappear without a trace, and nobody knows where you’ve gone!”

    “Do people around here disappear often?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    “Frequently,” Ye Ling said.

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed, gave a forced smile. “I thought this was a very safe and regulated place.”

    “This place is regulated. In fact we have three main rules.”

    “What are they?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    “No checking out people’s pasts, no offending Old Sabre Honcho, and no disobeying his orders.”

    “So whatever he wants me to do, I have to do it?”

    Ye Ling nodded her head and said: “Even if he wants you to eat shit, you’ll have to eat it.”

    Lu Xiaofeng’s smile was forced.

    “Do you know why I wanted to come here and tell you all these?” Ye Ling asked again.

    Lu Xiaofeng’s smile suddenly turned cheerful and said: “That’s because you like me.”

    Ye Ling smiled too. “Looks like he wasn’t wrong after all. Your skin is so thick that even the tip of a spear couldn’t pierce through it.”

    Her smile was more beautiful than a flower and sweeter than candy, as she continued lightly: “But if you break my rules, I will skin your face off and use it to make slippers for me.”

    Lu Xiaofeng’s smile turned forced again and said: “You should at least let me know what sort of rules you have.”

    “I only have two rules: don’t offend Big Leaf, and don’t let women into Lu Residence.”

    “Who is Big Leaf?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    “Big Leaf is Little Leaf’s sister, and Lu Residence is Lu Xiaofeng’s residence.”

    “Where’s Lu Residence?”

    “Right here,” Ye Ling said. “From now on, this is your home. You must sleep here at night and stay here quietly in the daytime. I will make spot-checks.”

    Lu Xiaofeng was laughing again, but it sounded rather odd.

    Ye Ling’s brows rose. “You’re laughing at me?”

    “Not at you, just at myself.”

    His laughter sounded not only strange, but a little grieved too, as he said: “I’ve lived thirty years, but this is the first time I have a home of my own, my own place…”

    He didn’t continue, because Ye Ling had shut his mouth – used her own lips to shut his mouth.

    Her lips were soft and icy cold.

    Their lips had barely brushed each other’s before she suddenly aimed a punch at Lu Xiaofeng’s tummy.

    Her punch was hard and heavy.

    Lu Xiaofeng was almost bent double by the blow, but she merely gurgled with laughter before slipping out.

    “Remember, don’t let any women in.” Her voice was already outside. “Especially not the Flower Widow.”

    “And what kind of a person is the Flower Widow?”

    “She’s not a person, but a female dog, a man-eating b!tch.”

    Lu Xiaofeng had four eyebrows, but only two hands.

    He used his left hand to massage his stomach, and his right to finger his lip – he didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

    He’d muddled through all this to find himself turned from a living person into a dead one, and now with a home to boot.

    He still had his two legs, but he couldn’t go anywhere.

    He was suddenly asleep and began dreaming soon after; he dreamt he was being enveloped by an icy cold giant leaf, then dreamt of a flower-covered b!tch crunching his bones, and he could hear the crunching sounds very distinctly.

    Then he realised that there was indeed someone in the hut crunching bones.

    Not his bones, but chicken bones.

    And it wasn’t a b!tch sitting there chewing bones, but a person.

    The moment Lu Xiaofeng came awake, this person was suddenly on the alert, just like the instinctive alertness of wild beasts.

    He twisted his head and stared at Lu Xiaofeng, his eyes full of hostility.

    But he was still gnawing at chicken bones.

    Lu Xiaofeng had never seen anyone take such an interest in chicken bones, nor had he seen such a skinny person before.

    In truth, the flesh on this person’s body would not be any more than the meat on the chicken bones he was chewing.

    However, the clothes he wore were magnificent and he definitely didn’t look poor enough to have to resort to chewing chicken bones.

    Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t resist probing a little. “Are you ill?” he asked.

    “You’re the one who’s sick!”

    This person spat out the bones in his mouth all over the floor, revealing a row of shiny white teeth as he glared at Lu Xiaofeng.

    “What illness did you think I was suffering from? Hunger?”

    “You aren’t hungry?”

    “I eat three meals a day, sometimes supper too.”

    “What do you eat?”

    “I eat rice, noodles, meet, vegetables… whatever is edible, I will eat it.”

    “So what did you eat today?”

    “At noon, I had northern dishes, one was braised pork shanks, one was yellow lamb stew, one was Sanxian duck, one was fried tofu dumplings, one was prawns in black ginseng, one was five-plum pigeon, and another was a bowl of cucumber and meatball soup.

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed.

    This person glared at him again. “You don’t believe me?”

    “I’m merely curious why anyone would want to barge into another’s home to chew chicken bones.”

    “Because I feel like it.”

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed again. “If you like, you’re welcome to drop by whenever I have chicken bones here.”

    There was however a hint of wariness on this person’s eyes as he said: “You welcome me here? Why?”

    “That’s because this is the first time I have a home,” Lu Xiaofeng said. “You’re my new home’s first guest, and I like having friends.”

    This person’s expression grew fiercer. “I am not your friend.”

    “Maybe not now, but definitely in the future,” Lu Xiaofeng said.

    This person was still glaring at him, but seemed to have calmed down somewhat.

    It couldn’t be denied that Lu Xiaofeng was very good at making friends, and people generally liked him. Male or female, they were all the same.

    Lu Xiaofeng had already sat up and suddenly gave a sigh and said: “It’s a pity there’s no more wine now, or I’d have a drink or two with you.”

    This person’s eyes immediately shone. “There’s no wine here, but can’t you go outside and find some?”

    “I haven’t been here for more than half a day,” Lu Xiaofeng said, “and I’m not familiar with the area. But I guarantee that within three days, I’d be able to find whatever you want to drink.”

    This person gazed at him for a long while and finally expelled a breath, his whole body relaxing. “I’m a wandering soul and may barge anytime. You really don’t mind?”

    “I don’t mind,” Lu Xiaofeng said. He really didn’t.

    Often, he would drag friends out in the middle of the night to drink with him, and his friends didn’t mind either.

    Every one knew that he would be only too happy if people came to find him in the middle of the night.

    Darkness had fallen and the night breeze carried with it the sound of a bell.

    “That’s the dinner bell.”

    Lu Xiaofeng didn’t understand, so the Wandering Soul explained: “The dinner bell summons every one to the hall for dinner.”

    “Every one must go?”

    “Mm.”

    “Every day?”

    “About four or five days a month.”

    “On what days?”

    “On the first and fifteenth, during festivals, and when a famous person arrives here for the first day.”

    He gave Lu Xiaofeng the once over and said: “You must be a famous person, don’t tell me you’re that Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows?”

    Lu Xiaofeng offered a forced smile. “Unfortunately the Lu Xiaofeng now is no longer the Lu Xiaofeng of yesteryear.”

    Wandering Soul looked about to speak but restrained himself. Suddenly he stood up. “There will be someone here soon to lead you to dinner, so I have to go. You’d best not tell anyone I have been by.”

    Lu Xiaofeng didn’t ask why.

    If someone had a favour to ask of him, he would not ask the reason so long as he was prepared to agree to it.

    Just on that, he should have many friends.

    Wandering Soul also seemed pleased on that score, then suddenly lowered his voice and said: “When you reach the hall tonight, they will try and scare you into submission.”

    “Oh?”

    “At least half the people here are loonies, and their only hobby is to torture people and watch others suffer. There are six or seven who are even more terrible.”

    “Which seven?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    Wandering Soul said: “One is called Housekeeper, one is General, one is Cousin, one is Hook…”

    He’d only said these four names before suddenly leaping out.

    The hut’s window was very small, but he managed to shimmy out by grabbing the top ledge and inserting himself through.

    It looked as though his qinggong was not only very high, he could shrink himself.

    These two skills were exclusively Sikong Zhaixing’s areas of expertise, so how was he related to Sikong Zhaixing?

    Lu Xiaofeng didn’t think further because he’d heard footsteps outside.

    The footsteps were very light, and only animals with padded paws would be able to tread so lightly.

    Only very highly-skilled veterans of the martial arts fraternity would be able to walk like such beasts.

    Were there so many highly-skilled martial artists in the Mansion of Spirits?

    Just when Lu Xiaofeng was still feeling shocked, he heard a knock on the door.

    He really wanted to see who this person is and what he looked like. Immediately he went to open the door.

    He was even more stunned.

    The knocker was not a person, but really an animal with padded paws!

    It was a dog!

    A big black dog so shiny that he looked just like a leopard in the fading light.

    But it wasn’t hostile to people, as long-term, strict training had already defused its animosity towards humans.

    It wasn’t barking either, because it held a piece of paper in its mouth.

    On the paper were these words: “Please follow me.”

    This dog was here to lead Lu Xiaofeng to dinner.

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed.

    No matter what, being able to eat is always a pleasant thing, especially now when he was really craving for a sumptuous, delicious dinner.

    “Braised pork shanks, yellow lamb stew, Sanxian duck…”

    When he recalled the names of these lovely dishes Wandering Soul mentioned, he almost started salivating.

    The dog was waving its tail at him and he patted its head, smiling. “You know, I’d rather you guide me around, because the dogs here are definitely more adorable than the humans.”


    ______________


    (1) the title for this chapter (in my book, that is) is "Ye Guhong's Suicide" but there are some sites that have labelled it as "Mansion of Spirits", which is more reflective of the chapter's contents if you read on, and is what I will use here.

    (2) Ye Ling - written as 叶灵, the character 叶 (Ye) is the same whether it is used as a surname or for the word "leaf".

    (3) zhuyeqing - 竹叶青, a kind of tea leaf. Can be used to make tea and wine, which is what Lu Xiaofeng drinks here.
    Last edited by junny; 07-25-10 at 02:07 PM.
    玉木宏

    blog

  3. #43
    Senior Member SkyWalker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    1,835

    Default

    Thanks for posting Junny!

    I'm surprised Ye Ling wasn't naked when LXF walked in.

  4. #44
    Senior Member yeongwee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Sunny island, set in the sea
    Posts
    260

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by junny View Post
    Terribly sorry for the delay. Real life got in the way and updates will be slow. So here's a longer update for whoever's still reading.
    Always checking and reading... never fear that you do not have an audience =)
    Man is glue. You are man. How then can you step away from glue?

  5. #45
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Santa Clara, CA
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by junny View Post
    Terribly sorry for the delay. Real life got in the way and updates will be slow. So here's a longer update for whoever's still reading.
    Thanks for the update.

  6. #46
    Senior Member Wanlie Tong's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Dale City, VA
    Posts
    544

    Default

    Thanks for the update.

  7. #47
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    203

    Default

    sigh, i shoudlnt have started reading this, cuz now im hooked
    thank you for the translation

  8. #48
    Senior Member Justin13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    528

    Default

    Jia You! I wish I can help you but I am too busy with SITP.

  9. #49
    Senior Member fastclock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    580

    Default

    Learning new things everyday:

    The expensive zhuyeqing wine is made of tea leaves? wow...
    I read somewhere that zhuyeqing = green bamboo something

    fastclock - Wuxia Stories

  10. #50
    Senior Member junny's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    With Max
    Posts
    2,883

    Default

    Hello, terribly sorry for the delay. I've gone back to school and it's taken a while to adjust to a new country, new lifestyle, and putting the rusty brain to work I'll still be translating, just that I'll be terribly slow.


    ~


    Chapter Four, part ii

    It was night but the fog had not dissipated. There were flickering lights in the distance, but they merely served to make the darkness even darker.

    The dog was walking ahead with Lu Xiaofeng following. When his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, he realised he was walking on a winding path.

    On either side of the path were trees of varying types and some unknown flora.

    In the daytime, this must have been a beautiful valley.

    But who knows whether the sun’s rays would chance to shine here?

    Lu Xiaofeng suddenly found that what he truly desired wasn’t a dish of red-hot braised pork shanks, but sunshine.

    He had once been like the others, had once cursed the sunshine.

    Whenever he perspired and panted under the blazing hot sun, he would feel the urge to curse the scorching rays.

    But what he most wanted now was that kind of sunshine.

    There are many things like that in this world, only when you lose them do you realise their value.

    Lu Xiaofeng was sighing in his heart when he suddenly heard someone else sighing nearby, and a voice spoke: “Lu Xiaofeng, I knew you would come, I’ve been here waiting for you.”

    This was the Mansion of Spirits and there were possibly many spirits lurking in the darkness. This voice sounded sinister and thready like a ghost’s.

    Lu Xiaofeng’s palms began perspiring.

    He was certain the voice was nearby, but he just couldn’t see anyone around.

    “You can’t see me,” the voice began again. “When a vengeful ghost wants to take a life as repayment, it would never let itself be seen.”

    “I owe you a life?” Lu Xiaofeng asked cautiously.

    “Mm.”

    “Whose life?”

    “Mine.”

    “Who are you?”

    “I’m the Blue Beard who died at your hands.”

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed uproariously.

    When a person is truly fearful, he sometimes starts laughing for no rhyme or reason.

    His laughter was loud but short.

    He suddenly realised that it was not a human or ghost speaking, but the dog.

    The dog, which had been walking in front of him, had turned its head and was staring at him with a pair of eyes that resembled dead fish.

    “I’m the Blue Beard who died at your hands.”

    How could a dog utter human speech?

    Could Blue Beard’s ghost have possessed this dog?

    No matter how brave Lu Xiaofeng might be, he still shivered. Just then, the dog lunged at him.

    He made a grab for the dog’s front paw, but a hand snaked out from the dog’s stomach.

    It was a human hand holding a knife; a raise of the hand and the knife flew out, aimed right at Lu Xiaofeng’s lower abdomen.

    This was a complete surprise. How many could avoid such an attack?

    At least one.

    Lu Xiaofeng’s lower abdomen suddenly contracted as he stuck out two fingers and caught the blade neatly.

    The dog, however, had somersaulted and backtracked ten metres, whereby it vanished into the darkness.

    It was impossible to see anything in the darkness.

    Lu Xiaofeng raised his head and gazed into the night, then looked down at the blade he held in his hand, a forced smile on his lips.

    This was supposed to be a nightmare, but it wasn’t a dream.

    In this dreamscape-like Mansion of Spirits, was any one thing a dream or reality? It was difficult to tell.

    However, he had finally understood one thing: “The dogs here aren’t really more adorable than the people.”

    Another voice floated over in the darkness: “So are you now finally willing to let a human guide you along?”

    This time, he actually saw a person.

    He saw Ye Ling.

    In the foggy light, Ye Ling was still smiling sweetly.

    “Now you should understand whether the people or dogs here are more adorable.”

    “I don’t understand.”

    “You still don’t?”

    “I only know one thing,” Lu Xiaofeng said. “Sometimes the dogs here are people, and the people here are dogs.”

    The Flower Widow might not be a real b!tch, but that black dog was a human.

    Lu Xiaofeng continued: “Although few in the martial arts world are willing to be dogs, there is only one who can actually do it to a T.”

    “You know who that is?” Ye Ling asked.

    “Mister Dog.”

    “You already knew?”

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed and said: “I at least know that Blue Beard did not die by my hand. He knew that too, so even if he turned into a vengeful ghost, he wouldn’t come after me.”

    Ye Ling laughed, batting her eyelids. “Even if vengeful ghosts don’t come after you, hungry ones would.”

    “Hungry ghosts?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    “That means the people who will die of hunger while waiting for you to turn up for dinner,” Ye Ling said. “If you don’t hurry over, there will be thirty-seven hungry ghosts tonight.”

    “Even if I don’t go, there will only be one hungry ghost.”

    “Who?”

    “Me.”
    玉木宏

    blog

  11. #51
    Senior Member littleli's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    294

    Default

    junny, thanks for picking this up

  12. #52
    Senior Member mich's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    mirage
    Posts
    1,358

    Default

    *SURPRISE* Hahaha. :P
    MooMoo Cows Can Fly.

  13. #53
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Thanks a lot Junny, for picking this up. It was worth the wait.

  14. #54
    Senior Member Cesare's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Czech Republic
    Posts
    703

    Default

    Haven't yet read the latest installments, but planning to do so soon - just stopping by to say thanks to Junny for translating...
    别想把黑暗放在我的面前
    太阳已经生长在我心底
    不再有封闭的畏惧
    奔腾的灵魂飞上天际
    太阳 我在这里

  15. #55
    Member missouri.slim's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    132

    Default

    I can't wait to compare this to the ridiculous movie version I watched when I was a kid.
    Last edited by missouri.slim; 12-01-10 at 09:10 AM.

  16. #56
    Member missouri.slim's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    132

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by junny View Post
    Terribly sorry for the delay. Real life got in the way and updates will be slow. So here's a longer update for whoever's still reading.
    Thank you for continuing. I look forward to being able to read this when things slow down for me, so no need to apologize when things are busy for you. I am sure there are plenty of people like me watching quietly for this. WHo wouldn't want to see the rest of the LXF series completed?

    Thanks again.

  17. #57
    Junior Member overjoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    6

    Default Loving this book

    Thanks Junny for picking up on this book. Love the xiaofeng series, so I can't wait to find out what happens next.

  18. #58
    Senior Member junny's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    With Max
    Posts
    2,883

    Default

    Hiya, happy 2011! Thanks for being patient and keeping with my terribly slow updates. Hope you've all had a good 2010 and may the new year bring more (translation) goodies for you!


    ~


    Chapter Five – No words to describe a painful situation

    Yesterday was Hook’s seventieth birthday, and as he awoke today with a hangover, he suffered a splitting headache and rush of sexual adrenaline.

    The first symptom indicated that he was already old.

    Yesterday he’d only drunk forty jin of Shaoxing wine, but today his head hurt so much that he longed to take a sabre to it and split it apart.

    Ten years ago, he’d had the record of downing eighty jin of Shaoxing wine in one night, and still be full of energy after four to six hours of rest; with one hand, he’d been able to snap the throats of twenty three of the thirty six Taixing Friends.

    When he thought of that, he was full of hatred, hating heaven and earth, hating himself – why does a person like me have to grow old?

    However, when he realised the second symptom, he felt comforted; at least one part of his anatomy was as rock-hard as the hook inserted up his right wrist.

    How many seventy-year-olds could be as strong as he?

    A pity there were very few women here, and even fewer who could catch his fancy.

    In truth, there were only three he was attracted to, and these three damn women always enjoyed leading him along on purpose.

    Especially that naughty and coy little fox, who had already promised him thrice to come to his room and made him wait in vain for three nights.

    When he thought of that, he felt even angrier and wished he could grab that little fox right now and press her firmly down on the bed.

    Thinking like this made him swell painfully; if he didn’t get some form of release today, he might die of suppression.

    He was still entertaining thoughts of that little fox with her sweet smiles, and her cold as frost sister, along with that over-ripe Flower Widow…

    He was about to stretch out his hand when suddenly someone knocked insistently on the door.

    Only two or three people dared to knock on his door like this, it was either Housekeeper or Cousin.

    Even though these two were his buddies, he still couldn’t help feeling rage well up within him.

    When sexual desire is interrupted, it often turns into rage.

    He pulled a thin blanket over himself and growled in a low voice: “Come in!”

    Hands behind his back, Cousin stood outside the door, his shiny, fair-skinned face looking just like a freshly shelled egg.

    Nobody could guess his age upon seeing that face.

    He was always very proud of this point, sometimes even he forgot about his own age.

    Hearing Hook’s angry growl, he just knew that this old bugger was experiencing stirrings of love.

    With a smile, he pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing that hint of a bulge beneath the blanket, he grinned and said: “Looks like you’re in good shape today, should I pluck two leaves for you?”

    “Shut your thieving eyes and stinky mouth,” Hook roared. “If I want to find girls, I’ll find them myself.”

    “How many have you found?” Cousin asked.

    Hook was even angrier as he leapt up and dashed over to Cousin and pressed the hook of his right hand up Cousin’s belly. Gnashing his teeth, he said: “Say one more word and I’ll rip your heart and intestines out.”

    Cousin was not in the least afraid as he laughed merrily. “I’m not annoying you, in fact I want to cure your illness. See, you’ve gone all soft.”

    Hook glared at him, but suddenly roared with laughter and released his hold. “You don’t have to get cocky either. Were it not for the men here outnumbering the women, your illness would be worse than mine.”

    Cousin crossed over slowly and sat down in a chair by the window, said leisurely: “It’s a pity the number of men here is decreasing, there’s only maybe one who has caught my eye.”

    “Would that be General?” Hook asked.

    Cousin gave a cold laugh and shook his head. “He’s too old.”

    “Is it Xiao Qing?”

    “He’s got the looks but no substance.”

    “Don’t tell me it’s Housekeeper?”

    Cousin laughed again and said: “He’s an old lady himself. I’d be grateful if he leaves me alone.”

    “So whom exactly are you referring to?”

    “Lu Xiaofeng.”

    “Lu Xiaofeng?” Hook yelped. “That Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows?”

    Cousin narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Other than him, who else could tempt me?”

    “How did he end up here?”

    “It seems it’s because he had an affair with Ximen Chuixue’s wife.”

    “Have you seen?” Hook asked.

    “Only stole a few glances.”

    “What is he like?”

    Cousin’s eyes narrowed again and he said: “Of course he’s a real man, the cream of the crop.”

    Hook had just sat down but he stood up again and walked barefoot to the window.

    Outside, it was foggy and desolate.

    Suddenly he turned his head around and stared at Cousin, said: “I want to kill him!”

    Cousin jumped up too. “What did you say?”

    “I said I want to kill him.”

    “You want to kill people just because you’ve got no women?”

    Hook’s fists clenched as he said: “He’s probably only thirty or thereabouts this year; I’m already seventy, but I’m confident I can definitely kill him!”

    Seeing the expression on his face, anyone could tell his desire to shed blood was not only because he wanted to vent his anger, he also wanted to prove he was still young.

    – This is most probably the reason why many old men desire young girls.
    – However, they have forgotten something: youth may be glorious, but old age has its fun side too.

    A Western sage once said something that the elderly should take note:
    – The passing of years is not a gradual process of decline; rather it is the fall from one plain to another. This might upset some, but when we stand up and realise that our bones are not broken and before our eyes is yet another splendid new world, with many wonders still for us to explore, might this not also be a beautiful thing?

    Hook, of course, had not heard of this, and neither had Cousin.

    He gazed at Hook’s expression and finally sighed, saying: “Fine, I’ll help you kill him, but you have to help me do him first.”

    “Fine!” said Hook.

    Suddenly, they heard someone laughing coldly from outside the door. “That’s all well and good, but a pity that both of you are too late.”

    Following the laughter in was a tall, thin hunchbacked man with an eagle nose.

    Cousin sighed again. “I just knew that you, Housekeeper, would come and poke your nose into our business.”

    “I’m merely here to relay some news,” Housekeeper said.

    “What news?” Hook cut in.

    “That black dog has already gone to find Lu Xiaofeng, so even if he doesn’t succeed, there’s still General.”

    Cousin was startled. “What has General prepared?”

    “He’s prepared a Hongmen banquet* and is waiting for Lu Xiaofeng,” Housekeeper said.

    The night was still the same, as were the fog and mountain valley.

    But Lu Xiaofeng was feeling differently.

    Strolling side by side with a sweet and intelligent girl was definitely more pleasant than following behind a dog.

    Ye Ling glanced sideways at Lu Xiaofeng. “You seem happy.”

    “At least I’m happier than just now,” Lu Xiaofeng said.

    “Because you know I won’t bite you?” Ye Ling asked.

    “You’re also prettier than that dog,” Lu Xiaofeng said. “Prettier than any dog.”

    Ye Ling laughed sweetly. “Am I only that little bit better?”

    “Of course there are other merits,” Lu Xiaofeng replied.

    “Such as?”

    “You can talk. I enjoy listening to you talk.”

    Ye Ling batted her eyelids and said: “What do you like me to talk about? The secrets of this place?”

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed.

    One could attribute many meanings to his laughter, but denial was not part of it.

    “Where do you want to start?” Ye Ling asked.

    “How about we start from Hook?”

    Ye Ling’s eyes widened and she stared at him in shock. “You know about Hook? How did you know?”

    “Not only do I know of Hook, I also know of General, Cousin and Housekeeper,” Lu Xiaofeng replied leisurely.

    Ye Ling crossed over to pluck a leaf from the tree and returned, then suddenly sighed and said: “You know too much. However, if you must ask, I can still tell you.”

    “Then you’d better start from Hook,” Lu Xiaofeng said.

    “He’s a murderous one, and also a lusty wolf. The thing he most wants to do is to rip my pants apart and press me down on the bed.”

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed and said: “Actually, you didn’t have to be so honest.”

    Ye Ling widened those innocent eyes of hers and said: “I’ve always been an honest woman, and it so happens also one who understands men the best.”

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed again and gave a forced smile. “What a coincidence, but I don’t want to hear how many men want to rip off your pants.”

    Ye Ling batted her eyes and said: “If someone wants you to take off your trousers, would you want to listen?”

    “That’s a pretty common thing,” Lu Xiaofeng laughed. “Not the first time I’ve encountered that.”

    “If the person who wants you to take off your trousers is a man?”

    “A man?” Lu Xiaofeng yelped.

    Ye Ling said sweetly: “I was wrong. It’s not one man, it’s two.”

    Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t even yell out. Only after a long while did he dare to ask: “Are they Cousin and Housekeeper?”

    Ye Ling’s eyes widened again. “How did you know?”

    Lu Xiaofeng gave a forced smile. “These two names sound rather perverse.”

    “But the most frightening one isn’t either of them.”

    “Oh?”

    “Have you seen anyone who could tear apart a live bull into half?” Ye Ling asked.

    “No,” Lu Xiaofeng shook his head immediately.

    “Have you seen anyone shatter someone’s brains with just a mere finger?”

    “No.”

    “Well, you’ll see that soon.”

    Lu Xiaofeng swallowed hard. “Do you mean General?”

    “That’s right,” Ye Ling replied.

    “He’s waiting for me too?”

    “Not only that, but he’s getting annoyed at having waited for so long, so you’d better go find a huge pot first.”

    “What do I need a pot for?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.

    “To cover your head.”


    ------

    * Hongmen banquet (鸿门宴, hong2 men2 yan4): a dinner party intended to kill the guests. Hongmen (鸿门) is located in modern day Xi'an, Shaanxi province. In BC 206, Xiang Yu's armies marched into Hongmen to eliminate Liu Bang. After mediation by Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo, Liu Bang personally went to Hongmen to meet Xiang Yu, who threw a banquet in his honour. At the banquet, Xiang Yu's adviser Fan Zeng ordered Xiang Zhuang (Xiang Yu's cousin) to assassinate Liu Bang, under the guise of performing a sword dance. Xiang Bo realised the danger and joined the sword dance to protect Liu Bang. Later on, Liu Bang escaped back to his camp on the pretext of going to the latrine. 鸿门宴 is later used to refer to a trap or a situation ostensibly joyous but in fact treacherous.
    玉木宏

    blog

  19. #59
    Senior Member overjoy71's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, AU
    Posts
    304

    Default

    Thank you Junny for the translation! What a great way to start the new year!

  20. #60
    Senior Member SkyWalker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    1,835

    Default

    Thanks for the update Junny. Hope you had a great holiday and a better 2011!

Similar Threads

  1. Lu Xiaofeng Book 4: Silver Hook Casino
    By foxs in forum Wuxia Translations
    Replies: 207
    Last Post: 11-26-13, 01:40 PM
  2. Xie Xiaofeng vs Ximen Chuixu
    By minutemanwayne in forum Wuxia Fiction
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-24-09, 06:42 PM
  3. dream of red mansion
    By Goofy in forum On Reviews
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 03-31-05, 08:09 PM
  4. Full Moon Mansion
    By Mystery in forum Fan Fictions
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 01-02-04, 06:54 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •