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Thread: The Deer and The Cauldron

  1. #301
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    Default im bored

    some one pm me when wxb gets some good martial arts... or a beautiful wife.. lol

    he seams to just keep hanging out with old men making hypothetical plans... there not even real plans...
    Ali Derhamy

  2. #302
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    Quote Originally Posted by aliderhamy View Post
    some one pm me when wxb gets some good martial arts... or a beautiful wife.. lol

    he seams to just keep hanging out with old men making hypothetical plans... there not even real plans...
    LOL I feel the same way. The pace of the story is pretty slow. Hopefully it'll pick up soon.

    I wonder how old WXB is when he meets his first wife. He's currently 12 or 13 right now so we need a time skip for him to be at least old enough to get a wife.

  3. #303
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    Quote Originally Posted by aliderhamy View Post
    some one pm me when wxb gets some good martial arts... or a beautiful wife.. lol

    he seams to just keep hanging out with old men making hypothetical plans... there not even real plans...
    Quote Originally Posted by SkyWalker View Post
    LOL I feel the same way. The pace of the story is pretty slow. Hopefully it'll pick up soon.

    I wonder how old WXB is when he meets his first wife. He's currently 12 or 13 right now so we need a time skip for him to be at least old enough to get a wife.
    click to show/hide spoilers
    Since during that time, its nothing weird for a fourteen year old to sire a child, your wish might be granted sooner...

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    Default :D

    It was good when he was learning martial arts and compeating with the emperor....

    even the empress kicking *** was good...

    the lies and deceptions is also good (the .5 million is stolen confescations was owesome)...

    im just sick of these useless underground society figures... they dont even have good martial arts
    Ali Derhamy

  5. #305
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    Quote Originally Posted by aliderhamy View Post
    It was good when he was learning martial arts and compeating with the emperor....

    even the empress kicking *** was good...

    the lies and deceptions is also good (the .5 million is stolen confescations was owesome)...

    im just sick of these useless underground society figures... they dont even have good martial arts
    those guys have pretty good martial arts. what made them unbearable were their internal squabbling, their pride and their lack of focus of their goal.

  6. #306
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    Default Chapter 9 - Part 4

    Tweety, it was a couple of years ago, when working on HSDS, that I wanted to know more about the founding of the Ming Dynasty, I read a book 'History of China', and found out about this society. If you are interested, do a wiki search on 'Tian Di Hui', 'Heaven and Earth Society', or 'Hongmen'. Of course the story is different from this novel. CFT, thanks for clarifying that.

    Sky, Ali and Ace, I thought it was only me ... You know, if you guys want, I can hold the update until I finish with Chapter 9, so that I will be the only one bored. Counting from the amount of text, I can say that we have about five more parts, so about ten days, give or take a couple of days. That way you can read the boring part in one go. What do you say?

    Forgot password, I 'forgot' to say the other day, that I noticed you are working on DGSD. I used to follow this thread, but quit when the translation sputtered and died. I am looking forward to reading your work. Thank you. Come to think about it, I also noticed that the activity in this forum is picking up. Thanks to Justin, Irwirka, Fastclock, Grundle ... did I miss anybody? I haven't read your work yet (some I have, partially), but I will. Right now I want to concentrate on Deer and Cauldron. Oh, Sky, I forgot to say the other day, that I was just teasing you about 3 years for one book. The Lord's willing, I am going to finish this story much sooner than that. Who knows? Perhaps 3 years for all five books.

    -------------------------------------------------
    Fan Gang said, "Wei Xiangzhu does not need to personally come with us. We are going to talk reason with those two surnamed Bai men; whatever the outcome, we'll report to Wei Xiangzhu when we come back."

    At first Wei Xiaobao was rather afraid of the Mu Palace, but since they were going to invite several famous martial art masters of Wulin world to come with them, it was like a guaranteed victory without any possibility of defeat; just like gambling with those 'cattle' using mercury-loaded dice, how could he bear to be left out? Thereupon he said, "It won't be fun if I don't go. Just don't tell the outsiders my real name and status."

    Priest Xuanzhen said, "If Wei Xiangzhu change his outfit and go in disguise, nobody will know that he work in the Palace ..."

    Before he even finished, Wei Xiaobao had already clapped and cheered; "Wonderful! Wonderful!" he repeatedly shouted. This idea was exactly what he needed. To visit someone's house and create trouble was already very amusing, creating trouble after dressing up was even more interesting. Originally everybody else was thinking that if it wasn't the fact that Wei Xiangzhu was their leader, he would be more of a liability to them; but seeing his enthusiasm and his determination to come along, nobody raised any objection.

    The old man Xu said, "Everybody ... everybody must be very careful. Wei Xiangzhu, what ... what are you going to dress up as?" Everybody turned their eyes toward Wei Xiaobao, waiting to hear his idea.

    Wei Xiaobao thought, "Shall I dress up as a wealthy family boy, or shall I dress up as a little beggar?" At the brothel, he was quite envious to see the visitors of the courtyard, who were mostly the sons of rich and influential families, were dressed in magnificent and expensive looking clothing and personal adornments, but all along he had never had any opportunity to dress like that. After slight hesitation, he fished three banknotes, worth five hundred taels each, from his pocket and said, "Here I have a thousand five hundred taels; I must bother one Dage to buy me some clothes."

    Everybody was slightly startled; almost together several of them said, "But we won't need that much money?"

    Wei Xiaobao said, "I have the money, the more expensive the clothes the better, buy some jewelry too, when I wear all that, nobody will know that I am a Palace ... a Palace's little eunuch."

    "Wei Xiangzhu is right," Priest Xuanzhen said, "Gao Xiongdi, go and buy some clothes for Wei Xiangzhu."

    Wei Xiaobao took out another banknote worth a thousand taels and said, "Spend some more money; it doesn't matter."

    Seeing a little child with that much money in his disposal, everybody was secretly amazed. Whatever people say, nobody could have guessed that he still had more than four hundred thousand taels at home. Based on Wei Xiaobao's original character, if he had two or three taels with him, he would not feel comfortable until he spent it all; but how would he spend more than four hundred thousand taels? To be able to buy magnificent and expensive clothes and be able to show off was indeed an opportunity that was hard to come by; he was very happy in his heart. Seeing the people's dumbfounded expression, he put his hand into his bosom again.

    When his hand came out, there were banknotes in his palm, worth three thousand and five hundred taels, which he handed over to Priest Xuanzhen, saying, “Today is the first time Xiongdi meets all Dage, I do not have any present for you. I got this money from that Tatars’ place over there, it’s all ill … ill money[9], I am asking everybody to help me spend it.”

    Tian Di Hui’s rules were strict; taking other people’s property was strictly prohibited. Fan Gang, Gao Yanchao and the others had been poor for a long time, suddenly seeing Wei Xiangzhu drew out that much banknotes and explicitly stated that it was the Tatars' ill-gotten wealth, which must be true since he was working in the Qing Palace, everybody could not help but cheering loudly.

    Priest Xuanzhen said, "We must separately invite those people; it is too late today. Wei Xiangzhu, all of us will respectfully wait for your honorable self in here, I wonder what time will you be able to arrive."

    Wei Xiaobao said, "I have work to do in the morning, I will definitely be here in the afternoon."

    "Very good," Xuanzhen said, "We'll meet here tomorrow afternoon, and then we'll leave together to settle the account with those two surname Bai's."

    That night Wei Xiaobao's heart was unbearably itchy, he jumped up and down in his room, gesticulating while talking to himself. The next morning, from the Upper Study Room he hurriedly went to a jewelry store to buy a big emerald ring, and asked the shop owner to attach a large piece of white jade and four perfectly round pearls onto his satin cap. Just like that he spent more than four thousand taels. Seeing the rich customer was a court eunuch from the Palace, the shop owner did not have the slightest suspicion, since when people from the Palace bought jewelry, ten times that amount was not uncommon.

    Wei Xiaobao hurried back to Hui Chun Tang [Return of Spring Hall] drug store, everybody else had been waiting for him in the basement. They reported that they managed to invite Bejing's four well-known martial art masters to come with them as their witnesses. Each one of those masters received two hundred taels for their trouble. Wei Xiaobao mused, "Wealth brings people, calamity drives away people; these four martial art masters will have to help us. It's just that two hundred taels as a thank you gift is too few, it would be better if they receive five hundred taels each. Four martial art masters are too few, it would be better to invite sixteen."

    Gao Yanchao produced some clothes, shoes and socks for Wei Xiaobao to change into, each one was utterly luxurious; the outer long-gown was lined with fire fox fur, the collar and the sleeves were lined with glossy and bright-colored fur. Gao Yanchao said, "I asked them to alter the fur gown into smaller size in the same night, I paid them three taels and six coins extra."

    "Not expensive, not expensive," Wei Xiaobao repeatedly said. There was an azure-colored satin magua [a buttoned mandarin jacket of the Qing Dynasty]; it had ten buttons made of real gold; yet in spite of this extravagant attire, Gao Yanchao did not even spend half of the money Wei Xiaobao had given him.

    Wei Xiaobao had been living in the Palace for close to a year. Residence alters character, nurturing alters body; he ate proper food and gained a lot of knowledge and experience, and for the last half a year he had been the head of the Catering Department, he had more than a hundred eunuchs at his disposal, so for quite a while he was accustomed to be a leader. Presently he was dressing up in fancy clothes; although he still had a rather tacky impression of a newly rich, his style was by no means appeared ordinary. With his exuberant manner, he had distinguished himself from Fan Gang, Gao Yanchao and other warriors of the wilderness.

    A sedan chair had been prepared, waiting outside the door. They asked Wei Xiaobao to ride on it, so that while traveling on the street in disguise, he would not come across a eunuch or court official from the Palace. Their entourage went to the Wusheng Escort Agency at Dongcheng district first, to rendezvous with the four martial art masters. Of these four martial art masters, the first one was the headmaster of Beijing Tantui[10] School, Old Master Ma Boren, a member of Qingzhen Cult; the second one was a famous physician Yao Chun. When the Old Xu was injured, he was treated by this physician. This man was not only a famous physician, his qinna and close-combat skill was also profound. The third one earned the nickname of ‘Tiger-face Overlord’, Lei Yixiao; his iron-armor skill was very famous. The fourth one was none other than the head escort of the Wusheng Escort Agency himself, the Golden Spear Wang Wutong.

    Ma Boren and the others, four people, had already learned that Tian Di Hui’s leader Wei Xiangzhu was very young. When they met, they were very surprised to see that he looked like a teenager from a powerful and wealthy family. However, they all respected Chen Jinnan’s great name, thinking that although the disciple of Tian Di Hui’s Zongduozhu was very young, certainly he had an astonishing skill, hence they did not dare to belittle him.

    After drinking some tea in the escort agency office, they continued their journey together to the Willow Tree Lane where the two surnamed Bai men resided. Wei Xiaobao, Ma Boren and Yao Chun three people rode on sedan chairs, while Lei Yixiao and Wang Wutong rode horses; the rest of the entourage accompanied them on foot. Priest Xuanzhen, Fan Gang, and the others were famous characters, Wang Wutong wanted to let them use his horse, but Xuanzhen was afraid they would attract attention, so he adamantly refused.

    Finally they arrived outside a vermillion-painted gate of a large house on Willow Tree Lane. Gao Yanchao was about to step forward to knock on the door when suddenly they heard faint weeping sound coming from inside. Everybody was startled, they saw by the main gate there were two white lantern, a sign that the family was in mourning. Gao Yanchao knocked the knocker ring lightly on the door. After a while the gate opened, an old housekeeper came out. Gao Yanchao presented five name cards, which they had prepared beforehand, and said, "Several friends from Wusheng Escort Agency, Tantui School and Tian Di Hui are here to pay their respect to Bai Da Xia and Bai Er Xia[11]."

    As soon as the housekeeper heard three words 'Tian Di Hui', he raised his eyebrows and shot an angry look while he glowered at everybody. Receiving the visiting cards, without saying anything he went back in.

    Although Ma Boren was already old, his temper was actually quite fiery; unable to restrain his anger he said, "This servant is very rude."

    "Ma Laoye[12] is exactly right," Wei Xiaobao said. He was actually very afraid of the Mu Palace people, he was hoping that Ma Boren, Wang Wutong and the others would stand by his side, so that when the fight broke later on, he would have several capable helpers.

    Quite a while later, a man about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old came out. He was very tall, his entire body was covered in mourning garment; his eyes were red as the tears in his eyes had not dried up. Cupping his fist he said, "Wei Xiangzhu, Ma Laoyezi, Wang Zongbiaotou[13], gentlemen, it is an honor to have you here, welcome. Bai Hanfeng pays his respect to you." Everybody also cupped their fists to return the salute.

    Bai Hanfeng led everybody to the main hall. Ma Boren was most impatient; he asked, "Bai Er Xia, you are wearing mourning attire, I wonder which family member of yours has passed away?"

    Bai Hanfeng replied, "It's my older brother Hansong who was unfortunate and died."

    Ma Boren stomped his foot. "What a pity, what a pity!" he said, "The two Bai brothers were Mu Palace's heroes and brave generals, who were greatly well-known in Wulin. Bai Da Xia was in the prime of his life, I wonder what illness did he suffer?"

    They had just entered the main hall and were not seated yet, hearing this, Bai Hanfeng suddenly turned around, it was as if his eyes were shooting fire. "Ma Laoyezi," he said harshly, "Zaixia[14] regards you as a Wulin senior, and thus has treated you with due respect. You are asking something you already know, are you ridiculing me?"

    Wei Xiaobao was taken aback that Bai Hanfeng got so angry suddenly; he was scared and took a step back. Ma Boren stroked his white beard and said, "That's strange! Laofu[15] did not know, hence I asked. What do you mean asking something I already know? Bai Er Xia's older brother has just died, even if your heart is full of sorrow, there is no need to have a fit of temper to this old man!"

    'Humph," Bai Hanfeng snorted and said, "Please sit down!"

    Ma Boren mumbled to himself, "Fine, I'll sit down, do you think I am scared?" Turning to Wei Xiaobao he said, "Wei Xiangzhu, please take the seat of honor."

    "No, Ma Laoyezi should take the seat of honor!" Wei Xiaobao replied.

    When Bai Hanfeng looked at the visiting cards, he knew that among his guests there was a Xiangzhu of the Tian Di Hui's Green Wood Hall, Wei Xiangzhu; but he had never imagined that this teenager was Wei Xiangzhu, he was surprised and angry. Reaching out, he grabbed Wei Xiaobao's left wrist and shouted, "You are Tian Di Hui's Wei Xiangzhu?"

    The force behind this grab was extraordinarily strong, Wei Xiaobao felt the pain penetrated his bone. "Ah!" he screamed, two streams of tear involuntarily flowed down his cheeks.

    Priest Xuanzhen said, "Please release your guest, Bai Er Xia took too much advantage of others!" Stretching out his finger, he jabbed Bai Hanfeng's side.

    Bai Hanfeng blocked with his left hand while releasing Wei Xiaobao's wrist at the same time and took a step backward. "Please forgive my offense," he said.

    Wei Xiaobao looked very distressed; he wiped the tears with his sleeve. It was totally beyond Bai Hanfeng's expectation; Ma Boren, Wang Wutong, as well as Tian Di Hui people were also surprised. They could see that although Bai Hanfeng's grab was very swift and fierce, it was not something that cannot be evaded. Yet as the disciple of Chen Jinnan, not only this Wei Xiangzhu did not dodge, he screamed and shed some tears too; it was truly a great marvel in the Wulin world. Xuanzhen, Fan Gang, Gao Yanchao, and the others were blushing to their ears, they were greatly ashamed.

    -------------------------------------------------
    [9] Book note: he was thinking of saying ‘ill-gotten gain’ 不义之财, but this phrase was too hard, he was unable to remember the rest.

    [10] Tantui is a northern school of martial art boxing.

    [11] Great Hero and Second Hero, respectively.

    [12] Old master/gentleman.

    [13] Head escort.

    [14] Lit. below/under - referring to self.

    [15] Lit. old man - referring to self.

  7. #307
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    Quote Originally Posted by foxs View Post
    Forgot password, I 'forgot' to say the other day, that I noticed you are working on DGSD. I used to follow this thread, but quit when the translation sputtered and died. I am looking forward to reading your work. Thank you.
    You're welcome. To be honest I don't know if I'll ever be able to finish it like how you almost single-handedly handled LOCH and HSDS. But I'll translate at least 10 more chapters.

    As I read your translation, I noticed that our approaches in DOMD and TLBB are quite similar to each other, that is trying to be as close as possible to the original texts. But it's easier for me as TLBB doesn't contain so many personal pronouns and nouns like in DOMD. I understand them but my mind will prolly explode trying to find English equivalents of Xiangzhu, Zongduozhu or the likes.

  8. #308
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    Quote Originally Posted by foxs View Post
    Sky, Ali and Ace, I thought it was only me ... You know, if you guys want, I can hold the update until I finish with Chapter 9, so that I will be the only one bored. Counting from the amount of text, I can say that we have about five more parts, so about ten days, give or take a couple of days. That way you can read the boring part in one go. What do you say?
    NO!!! Don't do that, foxs. I need my fix, even if it is boring .

  9. #309
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    Thanks Foxs!! I'm starting to look forward to these updates...is like HSDS all over again lol...

  10. #310
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    Thanks for the update foxs.

    Quote Originally Posted by foxs
    Sky, Ali and Ace, I thought it was only me ... You know, if you guys want, I can hold the update until I finish with Chapter 9, so that I will be the only one bored. Counting from the amount of text, I can say that we have about five more parts, so about ten days, give or take a couple of days. That way you can read the boring part in one go. What do you say?
    Since you have to suffer, we as readers might as well suffer with you. Please just continue to do what you're doing. And it looks like Tweety is hooked and needs her regular fix.

    Quote Originally Posted by foxs
    Oh, Sky, I forgot to say the other day, that I was just teasing you about 3 years for one book. The Lord's willing, I am going to finish this story much sooner than that. Who knows? Perhaps 3 years for all five books.
    It's only been 4 months since you started this translation and you're already on ch 9. I'm sure if you keep this pace, you'll be done with this novel by next year. After that, I'm hoping you'll pick up the Seven Swords.

  11. #311
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    Quote Originally Posted by SkyWalker View Post
    Since you have to suffer, we as readers might as well suffer with you. Please just continue to do what you're doing. And it looks like Tweety is hooked and needs her regular fix.
    Yes, I am currently addicted. WXB amuses me.

  12. #312
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    Quote Originally Posted by tweety365 View Post
    Yes, I am currently addicted. WXB amuses me.
    WXB amuses me too, but those incompetent guys annoyed me

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    Default this

    Quote Originally Posted by tweety365 View Post
    NO!!! Don't do that, foxs. I need my fix, even if it is boring .
    and this 2
    Seeing a little child with that much money in his disposal, everybody was secretly amazed. Whatever people say, nobody could have guessed that he still had more than four hundred thousand taels at home
    Ali Derhamy

  14. #314
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    I've been wondering

    1. WXB was wandering alone in the Capital.
    2. A lot of people knew he is from the Palace.
    3. Very few people knew he is a member of TDH.

    if the Anti Qing Restoring Ming sentiments were really high among the masses, will not WXB be an easy target? Yet he wandered without a care, and the masses seem to give him some respect.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ace High View Post
    I've been wondering

    1. WXB was wandering alone in the Capital.
    2. A lot of people knew he is from the Palace.
    3. Very few people knew he is a member of TDH.

    if the Anti Qing Restoring Ming sentiments were really high among the masses, will not WXB be an easy target? Yet he wandered without a care, and the masses seem to give him some respect.
    Perhaps this shows that the Anti Qing sentiment is not that great and/or the general population is fearful of the consequences of opposing the government. Kinda like the oppressed people of modern day countries.

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    In the south this might be true in which WXB would get lynched. However you forget that people ate Oboi more than any other Manchu and it was common knowledge that WXB caused his downfall. Also this was in the north, in the Imperial City. Anybody who dared to touch the Emperor's favored would have his entire family executed.


    Quote Originally Posted by tweety365 View Post
    Perhaps this shows that the Anti Qing sentiment is not that great and/or the general population is fearful of the consequences of opposing the government. Kinda like the oppressed people of modern day countries.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bchin22 View Post
    In the south this might be true in which WXB would get lynched. However you forget that people ate Oboi more than any other Manchu and it was common knowledge that WXB caused his downfall. Also this was in the north, in the Imperial City. Anybody who dared to touch the Emperor's favored would have his entire family executed.
    1. Its only well known a young eunuch caused Oboi's downfall. The masses didn't know WXB's face.

    2. Let say someone wore a mask, followed and attack WXB in some deserted alley, or someone sneaked into WXB's room at night. Who will know?

    3. The masses hate Oboi but it seem only select few people hate the Manchu.

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    I thought court eunuchs, however minor the post, were still considered government officials.

    No one would dare harm a 1) manchu or 2) goverment official without causing unnecessary attention or fear of arrest. Even if they did not know WXB's identity, people must suspect he is out of the ordinary with all his money and freedom to wander out of the palace. I think any sensible gangster would be afraid there may be undercover palace guard protectors.

    Besides, I think Tin Dai Hui brothers were all secretly watching out for their Xiangzhu.

  19. #319
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    Default Chapter 9 - Part 5

    “I am sorry!” Bai Hanfeng said, “Elder brother was unfortunate to be killed under Tian Di Hui’s evil scheme, Zaixia’s heart is grieved …”

    “What?” before he could finished, everybody exclaimed one after another, “Bai Da Xia is killed by Tian Di Hui?” “How can there be such thing?” “There is absolutely no such thing.”

    Suddenly Bai Hanfeng stood up and loudly said, “You say there is absolutely no such thing, are you saying that my Gege did not die? Come, I want all of you to take a look.” Stretching out his hand, he was about to grab and pull Wei Xiaobao’s left arm. But this time Priest Xuanzhen and Fan Gang were prepared; as soon as Bai Hanfeng’s right arm moved, the two of them, one toward his chest and the other toward his back, attacked simultaneously.

    Immediately Bai Hanfeng turned his body sideways and took a step back, while his palms struck out right and left. Xuanzhen raised his left palm and struck with right palm; in the meantime, Fan Gang had already exchange a blow with Bai Hanfeng. Bai Hanfeng turned around and aimed for Xuanzhen’s throat. Xuanzhen leaned sideways to evade. Bai Hanfeng fiercely said, “My Dage died under your hands, I don’t want to live anymore. Tian Di Hui’s dogs, come up together!”

    The famous physician Yao Chun sprang up and spread out his arms to block. “Wait, don’t fight!” he said, “There is a misunderstanding here. Bai Er Xia keeps saying that Bai Da Xia was killed by Tian Di Hui, but what had really happened? Please explain to us clearly.”

    “All of you come with me!” Bai Hanfeng said, and walked in big strides toward the inner hall. Everybody thought that since their number was greater, they were not afraid he might have any plot or trick, they followed him inside.

    As soon as they reached the courtyard, they all halted on the spot. They saw the rear hall was arranged as a mourning hall, with a coffin behind the mourning curtains, and a dead body lying inside the coffin; half of the body’s head, as well as its pair of feet, were visible. Bai Hanfeng raised the mourning curtains and called out in loud voice, “Gege, you died without your eyes closed, Xiongdi is going to kill several Tian Di Hui dogs to avenge you.” His voice was hoarse, obviously because he had been crying for a long time.

    Wei Xiaobao went to see the dead person’s appearance and he was shocked. He had seen this person in that little restaurant along the way north of Jiangsu; he was the one striking Wu Sangui’s troops with chopsticks, his martial art skill excelled, it was hard to imagine that he would die in here. Immediately he thought that the opposite party had one less formidable persona; his shock was covered with a feeling a relief.

    Ma Boren, Yao Chun, Lei Yixiao, Wang Wutong, four people stepped closer to the coffin. Wang Wutong was an acquaintance of Bai Hanfeng; he sighed and said, “Bai Da Xia has indeed passed away; what a pity!”

    Yao Chun was a particularly cautious man, he stretched out his hand to check the dead body’s pulse on his wrist. With a cold laugh Bai Hanfeng said, “If you manage to get my Gege from the grave, I … I will kowtow to you twelve thousand times.”

    Yao Chun sighed and said, “Bai Er Xia, the dead cannot come back to life; please restrain your grief. Are you sure it was Tian Di Hui people who harmed Bai Da Xia? Bai Er Xia has not made a mistake?”

    “I … I made a mistake?” Bai Hanfeng screamed, “How can I make mistake?”

    Seeing his grief was beyond ordinary sorrow, one could see that the brotherly bond between the two of them was very deep; they all could not help from feeling sorry for him, Fan Gang’s anger had subsided considerably, he thought, “His older brother is dead, no wonder he did not realize whether his action was light or heavy.

    With arms on his waist, Bai Hanfeng stood in the middle of the mourning hall and loudly said, “The one who killed my Gege was the old thief surnamed Xu who day by day sells medicinal plaster on the Heavenly Bridge. That old thief’s name is Xu Tianchuan, his bandit nickname is ‘Eight-armed Ape’, he is an officer in the Green Wood Hall of Tian Dihui, am I right? You still want to deny it?”

    Fan Gang, Xuanzhen and the others looked at each other in blank dismay; they went to the Willow Tree Lane was actually to confront the two brothers of the Bai family, to inquire them why they injured somebody. Unexpectedly the older brother of the Bai family, Bai Hansong had died under Xu Tianchuan’s hands. Fan Gang sighed and said, “Bai Lao’er, Xu Tianchuan, Xu Dage in our Tian Di Hui brother, that is true, but he … he …”

    “He what?” Bai Hanfeng asked harshly.

    “He is seriously injured by the two of you, he is on his last breath, I don’t know if by this time he is still alive or already dead. To tell you the truth, the reason of our visit today is to inquire of you, two brothers, why did you beat our Xu Dage like that? Who would have thought … who could have imagined … ay …”

    Bai Hanfeng angrily said, “Let’s not talk about this old thief surnamed Xu has not died, even if he has, the life of that old thief who is worse than a dog or a pig is not fit to make up for my Gege’s life.”

    Fan Gang was also angry, “Your mouth is so filthy, what kind of Wulin hero are you? So what do you want?”

    “I … I don’t know,” Bai Hanfeng screamed, “I want to butcher all of you, Tian Di Hui dog thieves, and make you mincemeat. I will die with you, we all will die together.” Turning around, he pulled a steel blade from the dead body’s side, and then he leaped up like a mad tiger, brandishing the saber wildly, making a loud ‘whoosh, whoosh’ noise. Tian Di Hui’s Fan Gang, Xuanzhen, and the others also unsheathed their weapons, prepared to meet the enemy. Wei Xiaobao hastily withdrew behind Gao Yanchao.

    Suddenly a loud roar was heard, “Stop fighting!” The voice shook everybody’s ears that their eardrums were buzzing. They saw the ‘Tiger Face Overlord’ Lei Yixiao raised both of his hands, standing in front of the Tian Di Hui group. With a loud voice he said, “Bai Er Xia, if you want to kill people, just kill me first!”

    This man had a good surname, his given name was also fitting[16]; his shout indeed had the power of jolting thunder. Bai Hanfeng was grieving of his brother’s death; his mind was somewhat abnormal, as soon as he heard the shout, his brain cleared up slightly. He said, “Why would I want to kill you? It wasn’t you who killed my Gege?”

    “These Tian Di Hui friends are not your Gege’s killer either,” Lei Yixiao said, “Besides, all over the world, Tian Di Hui has at least two, three hundred thousand members; can you kill them all?”

    Bai Hanfeng was startled, he shouted, “Killing one means one less, killing a pair means a pair less!”

    Suddenly from outside the door came a faint noise of hoof beats; it sounded like more than ten riders were rushing their way. Yao Chun said, “Perhaps government soldiers, everybody, hide your weapons!” Seeing Lei Yixiao was blocking in front of them, Fan Gang, Xuanzhen, and the others knew that it would not be easy for Bai Hanfeng to pounce on them with brandished saber; hence they all hid their weapons.

    Bai Hanfeng loudly said, “Even if the old man the emperor of heaven himself came, I am not scared.”

    The hoof beats were drawing nearer and nearer toward the alley, and then the riders stopped abruptly in front of the main gate, followed by the knocker ring was pounded on the door. Someone outside called out, “Bai Er Di, it’s me!” A shadow flashed, a man jumped over the wall and rushed in.

    This man was approximately forty years old, his bearing was imposing, but his expression greatly changed as with a trembling voice he said, “It’s really … really Bai Da Di … Bai Da Di[17] …”

    Bai Hanfeng threw the steel blade in his hand and rushed out to meet him and called out, “Su Si Ge[18], my Gege … my Gege …” Unable to continue, he broke in a bawl.

    Ma Boren, Fan Gang, Xuanzhen and the others all thought, “Could it be that this man is the Mu Palace’s ‘Divine Physician Hermit’[19] Su Gang?”

    At this moment the main gate was opened and about a dozen people, men and women, rushed in and ran straight toward the coffin. Several women immediately raised their voices in loud wailing. One young woman was Bai Hansong’s wife, another young woman was Bai Hanfeng’s wife.

    Fan Gang, Xuanzhen, and the others felt awkward, they saw how these people were crying in extreme distress. If they did not leave now, after these people finished crying, even if they did not fight, unavoidably they would throw curses at them. Wei Xiaobao’s wrist was heavily gripped by Bai Hanfeng earlier, right now he felt the pain was still severe. Originally he wanted to take advantage of their number and told Xuanzhen, Fan Gang and the rest to catch Bai Hanfeng for him, so that at least he could kick his damn butt seven or eight times. Unexpectedly, the opposite party now had more people, so that if a fight broke, it would not be too convenient to them; his heart was thumping madly. He saw Xuanzhen was signaling him with his eyes, obviously Xuanzhen wanted to wipe the oil from their soles, by slipping out quietly. It was exactly what Wei Xiaobao had in his mind. Immediately he turned around and walked away, while saying, “Everybody, let’s go buy some yuanbao and candles, and come back here to pay respect to the dead!”

    “Want to run away?” Bai Hanfeng shouted, “It’s not that easy.” Rushing forward, he sent his right palm fiercely toward Fan Gang’s back.

    “Who wants to run away?” Fan Gang angrily said, while lifting his left arm to block, but he did not retaliate. Xuanzhen and the others halted their steps. But Wei Xiaobao continued running toward the gate; he wanted to make sure one of his feet was across the threshold before seeing what would happen next.

    The man surnamed Su asked, “Bai Er Di, who are these gentlemen? Please forgive zaixia for not recognizing them.”

    “They are Tian Di Hui dogs,” Bai Hanfeng replied, “My GegeGege was killed by them.” As soon as he blurted those words, the people who were prostrating and crying loudly suddenly leaped up. Continuous ringing was heard, weapons were flashing, instantly the guests were surrounded; even Ma Boren, Yao Chun, Lei Yixiao and Wang Wutong, four people were inside the encirclement.

    Wang Wutong laughed aloud and said, “Ma Dage, Lei Xiongdi, Doctor Yao, since when did we join the Tian Di Hui? Based on our morality and conduct, I am afraid in the Tian Di Hui friends’ eyes we are not fit to carry their shoes.”

    The middle-aged man surnamed Su cupped his fist. “So gentlemen are not from Tian Di Hui?” he asked, “This Doctor Yao, presumably your given name is Chun. Zaixia Su Gang. As soon as I learned that the older brother of Bai family had met a misfortune and died, from Wanping we rushed over here. In my grief I did not ask for guidance; this is indeed showing my lack in manners.” While saying that, he cupped his fist and bowed.

    Wang Wutong also cupped his fist and bowed, “You are too kind, you are too kind,” he said, “Divine Physician Hermit, you have a fully justified reputation; you indeed have the knowledge and experience, and the bearing of a hero.” Right away he presented everybody present, one by one; the first one was naturally Wei Xiaobao. “This is Tian Di Hui Green Wood Hall’s Wei Xiangzhu.”

    Su Gang knew that altogether Tian Di Hui had ten halls, each hall’s xiangzhu was a heroic warrior with unsurpassed skill; but this Wei Xiangzhu was obviously a teenager of a rich family whose smell of his mother’s milk had not yet dried, he could not help but was astonished, however, his face remained calm and collected. Cupping his fist he said, “An honor to meet you at last!”

    Wei Xiaobao giggled and cupped his fist to return the propriety, from the threshold he walked back in. “Why is it an honor for you to meet me?” he asked.

    Su Gang was startled; he said, “It’s an honor for Zaixia to meet Tian Di Hui’s ten Xiangzhu, each one is a hero and a warrior.”

    Wei Xiaobao nodded; “So that’s how it is,” he said with a laugh. Seeing his cunning expression and sly tone, the doubt in Su Gang’s heart grew.

    Presently Wang Wutong continued his introduction to the rest of the party. Su Gang also introduced the people who had come with him. Two were his two younger martial brothers; the three of them were martial brothers with the two brothers of the Bai family. And then there were several disciples of Su Gang. Madame Bai Hansong was leaning over her husband’s dead body and wept bitterly, Madame Bai Hanfeng was crying and comforting her at the same time. These women did not come over to be introduced.

    Yao Chun said, “Bai Er Xia, what has exactly happened? How did the contention between Bai Da Xia and Tian Di Hui started? Would Bai Er Xia tell us?” He coughed, and then continued, “Wulin people are always looking up to the Mu Palace of Yunnan, Tian Di Hui’s internal rules are always very strict, neither one are capricious and unreasonable people. The whole world cannot lift this ‘reason’, the matter of today cannot be settled by fighting or using martial art. Here we have Old Master Ma, Lei Xiongdi, Wang Zongbiaotou, as well as the trivial Zaixia, granted that we have no special friendship with either side, but we always admire both sides’ reputation. Bai Er Xia, would you do it for out sake, how did it all happen?”

    Wang Wutong said, “Not trying to conceal anything, I can tell you that the friends from Tian Di Hui really did not know that Bai Da Xia has passed away, otherwise, won’t you say that their visit would be embarrassing?”

    “In that case,” Su Gang said, “For what reason did Wei Xiangzhu and other friends come to our humble place?”

    Wang Wutong said, “We are not going to lie to you, Tian Di Hui friends said that their Xu Tianchuan, Xu San Ge has been beaten and seriously injured by Mu Palace people, so that he is already unable to speak. Hence they invited us, several old rotten men to accompany them to your respectable place to inquire the reason.”

    Su Gang grimly said, “If that so, everybody’s visit here is to condemn us?”

    “That we do not dare,” Wang Wutong said, “We make our living by mingling in the Jianghu, entirely dependent on friends giving us face. Right or wrong, crooked or straight, it’s all a matter of public opinion, nobody can speak blindly against one’s conscience.”

    Su Gang nodded. “Wang Zongbiaotou is right,” he said, “Please everybody come to the hall and talk.”

    They all went to the main hall. Su Gang told his martial brothers and his disciples to sheathe their weapons. Bai Hanfeng was unwilling to lay down the steel blade in his hand. Su Gang let everybody sit, and then said, “Bai Er Di, what had really happened? Why don’t you tell it to everybody?”

    Bai Hanfeng sighed, and then said, “The day before yesterday, in the afternoon …” He only said those words when he could not refrain anger from raising up, that he brandished the steel blade in his hand. Wei Xiaobao was startled and shrank back. Bai Hanfeng realized he had been too ill-mannered; with might he threw the steel blade to the ground. ‘Crash!’, it smashed two pieces of square bricks. With a heavy breathing he said, “In the afternoon the day before yesterday, Gege and I were having a drink in a wine shop on the Heavenly Bridge, when suddenly in came a government official with his four attendants. Those four attendants' conduct were loathsome, they asked for wine, asked for dishes, but they were speaking in Yunnan dialect.”

    “Oh,” Su Gang said.

    Bai Hanfeng continued, “When Gege and I heard them speak, we focused our attention.”

    Wang Wutong, Fan Gang, and the others knew that for generations Mu Palace had ruled Yunnan. Su Gang, Bai Hanfeng, and the others grew up in Yunnan. Hearing a local accent in Beijing, naturally they would pay more attention.

    --------------------------------------------------
    [16] Lei Yixiao, ‘lei’ – thunder, ‘yi xiao’ – one hiss or whistle.

    [17] Bai Da Di and Bai Er Di are ‘first younger brother Bai’ and ‘second younger brother Bai’, respectively.

    [18] Fourth older brother Su.

    [19] FYI: Orig. 圣手居士 [sheng shou ju shi], sheng shou can be translated as either ‘divine physician’ or ‘highly skilled practitioner’. In White Hair Demoness, ju shi was translated as ‘hermit’, but literal translation is ‘resident scholar’.
    Last edited by foxs; 11-01-10 at 04:54 PM.

  20. #320
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    Commenting on Forgot Password's post: I agree with you. It is exactly because there are no English equivalents that I prefer to keep those terms in their original form. Take this part, for example, zaixia, laofu, etc. would have been translated as 'I'. Xiongdi, da di, er di, si ge, gege, etc. would become 'brother'. Hence the relation between the speakers would be lost. And then there is 'Master', which in Chinese could be Shifu, Xiangzhu, Laoyezi, etc ... I apologize to the readers for using the Chinese terms rather than the much-simplified English terms, but I do want to preserve these nuances.

    Tweety, Sky, Ali, I was just making an offer ... But thanks for your enthusiasm. As requested, I am going to continue as usual. JoeLee, you are welcome. Glad you are enjoying this one too. It is different than HSDS. Ace, bchin, smurf, interesting discussion. Thank you everybody, for making this thread alive. It is readers like you who keep us, the translators, motivated.

    Sky, funny that you mentioned Seven Sword. About the 'reaching chapter 9 in four months' ... actually, it is because I am not too busy at work, which is good for you guys, but not good for our financial situation. I definitely hope that the economic situation will get better; in which case, I will have less time to translate. But don't worry, as much as it is within my power to do so, I will finish this story. Now, about the Seven Sword ...

    My usual practice is that I will try to find the book (hardcopy), since the online text usually have lots of error. At the end of White Hair Demoness I tried to find Lu Ding Ji and Qi Jian Xia Tian Shan. I was out of luck, my local library did not have these two. So I contacted my brother in Singapore. He found Lu Ding Ji and brought it with him during his visit last July. Just a week ago, my parents told me that they found Qi Jian, and that they were going to send it to me. Coincidentally, the books (2-volume book) arrived the same day you posted your comment. However, if you don't mind, I really want to finish Lu Xiaofeng first. To me, LXF is a light-reading ... not much poetry, not much historical background, just a simple story. Unless by the time I finish Lu Ding Ji someone else has already finish it. We'll see ... OK?

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