Chapter 21: A Day in the Forest
Sun rays spread out heavily upon a group of six men and women walking along with a large white tiger, proceeding towards a forest
“Aiya! Where’s Xiu Lan? She promised me a grand feast when we arrive to SuZhou!” A tall skinny man complained as he sat down and rest on a large rock.
“Stop complaining, Shan Hao! We’ve only arrived one day ago. Perhaps Xiu Lan is wandering around waiting for us somewhere,” replied a young woman in her twenties as walked ahead a few steps.
Somewhere nearby the two sworn brothers stood still and stared at one another. Both of them knew each other is a formidable opponent and any careless mistake would mean victory for one. The two unsheathed their swords at the same time and started their duel. Miao Ting Feng bended down and did a 360 degree turn, cutting at his opponent's legs. Chen Gu Xing nimbly flipped over the sword and still in mid-air aimed at Ting Feng. Ting Feng rolled on his back and unleash a kick at Gu Xing’s chest. Gu Xing in return did a kick of his own and the two fighters flew back a few steps by the force.
Ting Feng rolled onto his feet while Gu Xing landed. Both continue to use the moves they had learn their whole life to battle one another. Although the two swords only made contact with one another, leaves were falling everywhere from the chi from their respective owners. Chen Gu Xing leap up onto a tree, follow closely by Miao Ting Feng. Each landing on a tree branch, a few inches apart. Chen Gu Xing stabbed at Miao Ting Feng’s left shoulder. The move was nothing fancy but it was unbelievably fast. Not many people could avoid this attack of his. But then, most people are not Miao Ting Feng. Ting Feng made no effort to avoid the sword, he raised his sword to block and the two swords created sparks on contact. Chen Gu Xing smiled with delight because he has finally found a sword that was as quick as his.
Gathering energy from his abdomen into his hand, Miao Ting Feng pushes off. Chen Gu Xing was forced back several meters. Even though there are no ground underneath his feet, Gu Xing showed no sign of stumbling. He would step onto tree branches and sometimes only a leaf until the Ting Feng's force had disperse.
His Lightness Kung Fu was clearly top notch. Gu Xing by now was on a competely different tree.
Not wanting to lose the initiative, Miao Ting Feng quickly follow suit. Miao Ting Feng also had a very high level of Lightness Kung Fu. Chen Gu Xing waited for his good opponent to arrive before he made his move. Right when Ting Feng came, Gu Xing jumped up and did a flip which positioned his body upside down. His sword over his head as he began to descend upon Ting Feng. Ting Feng took a few steps to his right, just in time to avoid the tip of the sword. And he quickly turn about and release a downward slash.
Being in an awkward position, Gu Xing had no chance of blocking the move. But the move also had no chance of hitting him. Gu Xing continued to descend onto the ground. Any three branches that were in his way was quickly shredded into pieces. Miao Ting Feng also jumped off the tree and landed several feet away. The two looked at each other and laugh to their hearts' content.
Applause followed after their laughter, Lin Hong Ye arrived by Ting Feng’s side holding a basket of food and hot tea.
“Ting Feng, Gu Xing, you must be thirsty by now. Here have some tea and dim sum I just made,” she offered them along with her dazzling smile.
The two men wiped the sweat off their forehead and each took a cup of tea and dim sum.
“Lin gu niang, thank you for making such delicious dim sum," commented Gu Xing.
“Your welcome, Gu Xing,"she replied.
After taking his time, smelling the sweet aroma coming from the freshly baked sweet cake, Ting Feng was about to slip the morsel into his mouth. But then in a flash it was taken from his hand. He turned around to see a tall skinny man, devouring his small cake.
“Umm...gu niang, very tasty! Have you got anymore?”
“Aye! I did not say you can eat it!” said Hong Ye.
Soon after, three men, two women and a white majestic tiger appeared before them.
“Shan Hao! It’s not nice to take people’s food without asking.” The lady in a light green robe reprimanded.
“She’s right. You shouldn’t steal food from these two handsome young men,” Yuan Yuan agreed.
“Yuan Yuan! Stop your nonsense. You only agree because you like these two handsome men!”
Miao Ting Feng and Chen Gu Xing looked at each other bewilderedly. ‘Who are these people?, “ they thought.
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That's all for now... <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">
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