大唐双龙传 [Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan] by Huang Yi

[spynet]

Thanks foxs!

[9Dragons]

but the opinion differed > opinions
so must not be unprepared > so we must
I deal big blow onHaisha Bang? > blows on Haisha
Giggling, Kou Zhong’s said > Zhong
Changzhuwhose riches rank high > Changzhu whose
dropped it on his outstretched palm > dropped them
Xu Xiling said, “Under normal circumstances > Ziling
Changzhusuddenly opens up your heart > Changzhu suddenly open
Not only nobody else try to sit on it > only did nobody
they could also their eyes on scenic view > also feast
stare at you with drools on their mouth > with drooling mouths
let Xiao Ling pulled your hand > pull
caught Xu Ziling was bursting out laughing > Ziling bursting
money with all his heart and all his strength > their heart and all their
ghost who demand money > demands

Very refreshing banter, unlike the times with sullen Susu, who seemed to have a dark cloud following her majority of the story. Almost comedic to read Shang Xiuxun alternating between flashing cold glares and bursting giggles.

[foxs]

DongBin, Sky, that was the reason I thought she had a chance with Xu Ziling. Mind you, it has nothing to do with who’s my favorite. ycb, Ysabel, kink, HPC, Drak, Abhay, Sun, Jaya, spy, you are welcome. Decepticon, that seems to be a recurring theme in this kind of story. Xu Xiong, maybe … Oh, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t disagree with you, it’s just that the author has not explicitly said that. Kowloon, thanks.

---

Kou Zhong swallowed his food. Sighing contentedly, he said, “Money is supposed to be spent; money that don’t get to be spent is a waste. This is a ‘money in exchange of goods’ society, if it is used properly, not only it could make you enjoy everything comfortably, it could also make your life more colorful, and could even earn you fame and profit, and power too, to such an extent that the Emperor’s throne is not impossible to obtain.”

Shang Xiuxun was emotionally moved. “Turns out you want to be like others who vie for the throne. But the money you spent so far has been mine!”

As the spectator, Xu Ziling was able to see more clearly. He knew that Kou Zhong has been going all out to win Shang Xiuxun’s heart, to make her happy, and thus greatly reduced the distance between the two, so that in the future this beauty would support him.

Against all expectation, Kou Zhong suddenly rose up to his full height and raised the gold high above his head. “Whoever can tell me what’s going on in Jingling, this gold will become his!” he shouted loudly.

His voice was full of energy; it immediately subdued the clamor that the noisy restaurant gradually quieted down. Everybody’s eyes were on him. As soon as they saw the glittering yellow gold high up in the air, seventy-percent of the people there shouted, “I know!” and then stood up hurriedly, so that the restaurant was in an uproar.

‘Ring!’

Kou Zhong pulled his Moon in the Well and waved it lightly; fast as lightning the treasured saber soared and embedded itself deep into the beam.

While the blade that was outside the beam was still quivering endlessly, Kou Zhong thundered, “I am Kou Zhong who cut off Ren Shaoming’s bird [or pen1s] head. If anybody dares to babbling nonsense to deceive me, or perhaps simply giving me news that everybody already knew, I will immediately break his mother’s egg.”

After this, one after another the people sat back, no longer made any noise. Right this moment, a middle-aged man in scholar attire stood up smoothly, with an unspeakable calmness.

Kou Zhong said, “Everybody continue eating, your Daye does not like to be looked at!”

Everybody kept quiet out of fear; they simply buried their heads in the dining table. The sound of laughing and chatting was greatly reduced as well.

Pointing to the middle-aged scholar, Kou Zhong called, “You, come here!”

And then, sitting pompously, he said to Shang Xiuxun, who was still laughing like a trembling stem of flower, “Interesting! This is the power of gold combined with the saber.”

Shang Xiuxun rolled her coquettish eyes to him, and swore under her breath, “A dead evil tyrant whose entire body is covered in copper stench.” But at the same time there was a peculiar feeling rising up in her fragrant heart.

All along, in the Flying Horse Ranch she was aloof and remote. Forget about playing or joking with others, she did not even have anybody with whom she could vent up to unload her mind. Yet the kid in her presence was able to make her bursting with joy, mixed with bashful and anger, which was difficult to differentiate.

It was undeniably a fresh and moving feeling.

She could not help shooting a quick glance toward Xu Ziling, who appeared to be deep in thought; a totally different type of person, yet was also able to pull her heartstrings.

The middle-aged scholar came to their table. The waiter hurriedly added a chair for him, while continuously blabbering ‘Kou Ye this’ and ‘Kou Ye that’ for fear that his service was unsatisfactory.

After the waiter withdrew, Kou Zhong put the gold in front of the scholar, and said with an indifferent laugh, “Let me hear first what makes you qualified to earn this gold.”

The scholar smiled and said, “Zaixia Xu Xingzhi, a public figure in Jingling; formerly I held an official post as the secretary of Duba Village’s Right Vanguard Fang Daoyuan, and only this morning I came here by boat. Kou Ye, do you think this qualification is enough?” [Translator’s note: different ‘Xu’ surname from Xu Ziling’s.]

The man spoke with grace, his demeanor calm and collected, neither servile nor overbearing. The three could not help sizing him up again.

Xu Xingzhi looked to be approximately thirty, his gaze ran deep without betraying his emotion, obviously he was well versed in martial arts and possessed considerable skills. His long eyes and straight nose, combined with his five-strand long beard, which matched very well with his delicate features, gave him the impression that he looked like a Taoist immortal.

Kou Zhong nodded, “No question about that,” he said, “Please continue!”

Xu Xingzhi looked up at the Moon in the Well stuck in the beam; he said slyly, “The first thing in military operation is to gain military intelligence. I wonder if Kou Ye would be willing to add another ingot of gold?”

While Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were looking at each other in disbelief, Shang Xiuxun already took out another ingot of gold and heavily dropped it on the table in front of the scholar. Letting out a cold humph, she said, “If what you say is not worth two ingots of gold, I will cut off your ear.”

Xu Xingzhi laughed aloud. He put the two ingots of gold into his pocket, and then calmly, without any sign of fear, he said, “Don’t worry, I totally earn these two ingots of gold.”

A bit impatient, Kou Zhong said, “Speak up quickly!”

Xu Xingzhi was still calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos; he said slowly, “Right now Jingling has worries outside and trouble inside. On the outside is Jianghuai Army’s massive military force besieging the city, cutting off the water and land transport. In the inside is gorgeous female demon causing internal strife, brothers are massacring each other.”

Kou Zhong and the others’ countenance changed immediately; at the same time they felt that the two ingots of gold were money well spent.

Xu Ziling asked heavily, “Is that demon called Wanwan by any chance?”

This time it was Xu Xingzhi’s turn to be astonished; he said, “This gentleman must be Xu Ye! How do you know that woman Wanwan?”

“Let’s talk about that later,” Shang Xiuxun interjected, “Tell me Jingling’s situation in details, don’t miss anything at all.”

Xu Xingzhi said, “And id Zaixia is not mistaken, Miss must be the Flying Horse Ranch’s Changzhu, Shang Xiuxun, because only she would be so concerned about Jingling, and only she would be so liberal with money.”

The three people were moved again; they had a feeling that this Xu Xingzhi was not simple at all. Naturally Shang Xiuxun’s bossy demeanor [orig. order people around by pointing the chin] also contributed to give away her status as someone who was accustomed to boss people around, only Xu Xingzhi did not want to speak it out.

Kou Zhong asked, “So what happened in Jingling? And how did you know that Wanwan is a female demon? Because on the surface she is apparently a fairy.”

Xu Xingzhi smiled wryly and said, “Ever since she pretended to sleep without waking up, I have already warned Fang Ye that this woman’s background is dubious, and did not conform to reason at all. But Fang Ye simply treated my warning as the wind passing his ear, just because he is obsessed with her beauty.”

Xu Ziling asked in wonder, “Didn’t Fang Daoyuan know that Wanwan is Fang Zhuangzhu’s woman?”

Xu Xingzhi sighed and said, “That was precisely the reason I warned Fang Ye. What happened between that female demon and Fang Ye, nobody knows. But the result is that Fang Ye was killed by Fang Zetao. Fortunately, knowing that disaster was hard to avoid, I already made preparation, hence the reason I was able to escape Jingling in timely manner. Now under Fang Zetao there is no more capable general, plus the morale of his soldiers was shaken. If I were Shang Changzhu, the best strategy right now is to immediately return to the Ranch to prepare your troops for imminent war, while at the same time make contact with other powers in the area, to resist the Jianghuai Army’s invasion.”

The three people looked at each other; nobody expected that Jingling’s situation has deteriorated to this condition. Wanwan has managed to make the originally as-steady-as-iron-bucket solid fort to collapse silly and became as precarious as a pile of eggs.

Kou Zhong asked, “How’s the situation at Du Fuwei’s side?”

Xu Xingzhi replied, “Du Fuwei personally led the seventy-thousand strong main force, besieging Jingling heavily, but deliberately open up the southeast road, in order to sway Jingling people’s heart and crush their aspiration to defend their property to death. It is definitely a brilliant strategy. Right now Jingling’s power is gone, the city’s fall is just a matter between morning and evening.”

Shang Xiuxun coldly said, “The gold is yours.”

Xu Xingzhi understood that she was dismissing him. He was about to stand up and leave, when Kou Zhong’s tiger-eyes gleamed with cold rays.

“Mister Xu, what’s your future plan?” Kou Zhong asked with a smile.

Smiling wryly, Xu Xingzhi said, “I was thinking of taking refuge in Guangdong, but deep in my heart I am rather unwilling. Presently I have not made any decision yet.”

Kou Zhong probed further, “A talent such as Mister, any militia would be happy to employ. Why don’t Mister go around to try your luck?”

Xu Xingzhi sighed and said, “In terms of fame and power, nowadays Li Mi is at the top; but in terms of long-term plan, the Li Clan’s base at Guanzhong is the most advantageous. But I don’t like Li Mi’s biting the hands that feed him, and I never liked large and influential clan’s style. The rest are not worth mentioning.”

Shang Xiuxun asked in astonishment, “Li Yuan’s second son Li Shimin is talented and capable, plus he likes to befriend heroes and warriors from all over the world, he appoints talents appropriately, and washes away the degenerate custom of the rich and powerful family; why did Mister speak of him in such an inferior tone?”

Xu Xingzhi said, “If the Li Clan has Li Shimin in charge, he will be able to unify the Clan. Problem is that Li Yuan is a gutless muddle-head; unexpectedly he abandoned Li Shimin and set up his oldest son as the heir apparent. Although this man Li Jiancheng has high martial art skill, he is an obstinate and self-opinionated man, always suspicious and envy talents. Never mind! It looks like I’d better be looking for a quiet place and stay outside of the arena watching a bustling scene!”

Kou Zhong’s eyes shone even brighter. Laughing aloud, he said, “Mister was born in this world, if you don’t create a great undertaking, won’t you just turn your back on the aspiration of your heart? If it were me, rather than feeling wronged all my life, I might as well follow a dead-end road to bring forth new ideas. Even if the horse inside the hide is a dead horse, it is better than gloomily and stuffily enduring life month after month, year after year.”

Xu Xingzhi was amazed, “Turns out Kou Ye harbors magnificent aspiration in your heart. But the world’s great powers are already established, what else can we do?”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “If we can find a suitable location, we can talk about it later. If I, Kou Zhong, be fated not to die in Jingling, I will see Mister in Luoyang.”

Xu Xingzhi’s countenance changed, “You still want to go to Jingling?” he asked.

Shang Xiuxun seriously replied, “Fearing calamity and turning back, how could that be what we do?”

Xu Xingzhi pondered quietly for half a day, he also sized Kou Zhong up for a while; finally making up his mind, he said, “Merely based on Kou and Xu, two Daye’s courage and insight is assassinating Ren Shaoming, I will wait for two gentlemen in Luoyang for three months.”

Immediately they decided on the secret mark with which they would contact each other; only then did Xu Xingzhi took his leave cheerfully.

After retrieving his Moon in the Well from the beam, Kou Zhong and the others rushed back to their boat. As soon as everybody was back onboard, they weighed anchor and sailed toward Jingling.

[spynet]

Thanks foxs!

[Abhay]

Thanks Foxs...

[k1nk4]

thanks foxs!

[LuDongBin]

Thks foxs.

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[Laoren]

Thanks foxs. Ahhhhh...Miss 2 updates as was not notified by spcnet email.

[decepticon]

Thanks foxs. I don't have an issue with a treasure hunting sideplot. In fact it would only enliven a novel. What I have a problem with is the author seemingly telling us that we should take such act as heroic and have the character's main buddy reaffirm that point of view!! While reading the novel, I constantly have the feeling of the author browbeating the readers on how to think about certain characters. Take Shang Xiuxun for example: she's been described as a "lone flower admiring herself". Has the author presented any evidence of such behavior? In fact from what I see, there's more evidence of the two boys admiring each other too much. Heck Kou Zhong himself seems to admire himself quite a bit as well

[徐中銳]

Xu Xiong, maybe … Oh, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t disagree with you, it’s just that the author has not explicitly said that.

Sure, it was but my question to jolt readers' perceptions and engagements

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs. We all know who your favorite is.

Can't wait for them to get to Jingling!

[ycb5959]

Thanks!

This line is funny (talking about KZ):
“Turns out you want to be like others who vie for the throne. But the money you spent so far has been mine!”

[9Dragons]

money that don’t get > doesn't
money in exchange of goods > for goods
not only it could make you enjoy > only could it
anybody dares to babbling nonsense > babble
no longer made any noise > making
mixed with bashful and anger > bashfulness (or embarrassment?)
Zaixia Xu Xingzhi, a public figure > Zaixia, Xu Xingzhi, am a
And id Zaixia is not mistaken > And if
accustomed to boss people around > bossing
escape Jingling in timely manner > in a timely
Fang Zetao there is no more capable > was
but deliberately open up the southeast road > opened
suspicious and envy talents > envies
I, Kou Zhong, be fated not to die in Jingling > am fated
and insight is assassinating Ren > insight in

Ha, I was half thinking what would happen if nobody claimed Kou Zhong's reward. Want to get away?

[Anh Nam]

Thanks foxs

[foxs]

Spy, Abhay, kink, DongBin, Jaya, you are welcome. Lao Qianbei, where were you? Going out of town? Decepticon, true, but that is the author’s prerogative, so nothing we can do about it. Xu Xiong, same response: sometimes Huang Yi goes into a lot of details, other time he simply leaves it to the readers’ imagination. Sky, who’s ‘all’? It’s only you. But based on what I read so far, she is the only one who really care about XZL. Ycb, he has no money at all … Kowloon, thanks. Anh, long time no see, how are you?

---

Book 10 Chapter 12 – Forcibly Crashing Through A Barrier

Under the boundless drizzle, the boat zigzagging along the river course, rapidly heading downstream.

The Han River was as quiet as a ghost country, just like this incomparably solitary boat was the only thing remaining between the heaven and the earth.

Xu Ziling, Liang Zhi, Luo Fang, Wu Yan, four men, each one armed with a three-zhang pole in their hands, stood on the bow. Every time the boat was about to crash onto the dangerous pile of rocks strewn along the riverbank, four poles stuck together, changing the boat direction to safety.

The other team of warriors united in common effort to scull the boat and control the sail under Kou Zhong’s yelling and screaming, enjoying themselves amidst the extremely busy situation.

Shang Peng and Shang He finally went up the deck, preparing themselves to flee for their lives in case the boat capsized.

Shang Xiuxun was standing on the bridge, viciously staring at Kou Zhong, who was flustered at the helm. She said crossly, “Didn’t you brag about your expertise in steering skill? Something about ‘leave it to me’? Did you see this? If there is no one dedicated to help you, this boat would have been capsized ten times already.”

Smiling apologetically, Kou Zhong said, “Beautiful Shifu, please calm down, my experience is in sailing in the ocean; therefore, momentarily I am not used to this nine-bent thirteen-turn small river like this. Look!”

Shang Xiuxun looked forward, a bend rapidly approaching right ahead.

Kou Zhong shouted repeatedly, the boat made a sharp turn, and then smoothly entered a river section that was as straight as a ramrod, giving them a moving feeling like they had just climbing over an endlessly rugged mountain and set foot on verdant village on a level road.

Before their eyes the river section suddenly opened up to a wide panorama, light drizzle filled the sky. Everybody wiped their foreheads, and broke up in cheers. Even Shang Peng and Shang He showed a rarely seen happy expression as if relieved from a burden.

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “We finally finished our apprenticeship! In the future, whether vast body of water or gigantic ocean, big river or small creek, it will not confound me.”

With her back against him, facing the wind and the rain, Shang Xiuxun said indifferently, “What did you just call me?”

Kou Zhong was taken aback; after thinking for a moment he came to realize what she was asking about, “Ah! That is your nickname, ‘Beautiful Changzhu’. Although it is a bit long, but it is both easy to say and suits you well. Hee!” [Translator’s note: ‘Beautiful Changzhu’ has five characters (mei ren er chang zhu). Most nicknames were four characters or less.]

Shang Xiuxun said in a low voice, “You think I am really beautiful?”

Kou Zhong was greatly stunned; he asked in wonder, “Changzhu, do you really not know that you are as beautiful as an immortal, that you are absolutely stunning?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Shang Xiuxun replied, “Who has ever told me?”

For the first time Kou Zhong realized how lonely she was.

Her situation at the Ranch was similar to Yang Guang of the former Sui; nobody dared to tell him the truth. While it was plain as day that they were defeated in battle, he still thought that he was comparable to the Emperor of Qin, Han Wu.

Shang Xiuxun did not know her own beauty. The Ranch people naturally could make idle remarks about her appearance quietly, but nobody dared to declare it openly.

A bit bashful, Shang Xiuxun asked for advice, “Which part of me do you think beautiful?”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Your beauty is perfect. Xiao Ling and I love to watch your lovable disposition and wonderful manner when you are eating the most; whether you are biting lightly or chewing vigorously, you intoxicate people’s heart and mind.”

Shang Xiuxun turned her tender body around and said in delight, “You speak pleasant words, just like you make such good cakes.”

It was also the first time that Kou Zhong saw her like this; he could only stare at her without being able to speak even half a word.

Shang Xiuxun suddenly reverted back to her usual cold, indifferent way; she said, “There’s still about a sichen before we reach Jingling. If the enemy seal off the river with steel rope, what should we do?”

Another first for Kou Zhong; it was the first time that he felt Shang Xiuxun’s trust and reliance on him. He also felt that the distance between the two of them had been reduced significantly. He could not stop strange feeling from bubbling up in his heart.

In term of beauty, without question Shang Xiuxun was a level above Li Xiuning, but for some reason she could not touch his heart like Li Xiuning did.

There was no denying that this beautiful Ranch Master had a tremendous attractive force to him, but it was not strong enough to make him desperately cast everything, forget everything, to pursue her, to obtain her.

He would have to weigh the pros and the cons and find the balance, and adjust the distance between himself and her, because he did not wish to damage the delicate relationship between him and Song Yuzhi for her sake.

A bit impatient, Shang Xiuxun pursued, “What’s on your mind?”

With this rude awakening, Kou Zhong looked up to meet her flower-like jade-countenance and her expectant gaze. His heroic spirit greatly aroused, he said, “If I, Kou Zhong, come out to vie over the world, will Changzhu sell warhorses and equipment to me?”

Without even thinking, Shang Xiuxun frowned and said, “Of course I will help you! But you are so destitute, where would you get the money to buy horses from me? Even though I am the Changzhu, I still need to scrupulously abide by my ancestral way of doing business, I can’t do business at a loss, and I can’t be involved in disputes of the Jianghu.”

Kou Zhong replied in all earnestness, “Can Beautiful Changzhu at least suspend all trade? Give me three months, I will have enough gold and I will come to see you.”

Displeased, Shang Xiuxun said, “Let us talk about it after coming out of Jingling alive!”

Seeing she did not categorically deny his request, Kou Zhong was inwardly very happy.

This moment Shang Xiuxun turned her head around and saw Xu Ziling’s tall and straight, confident and at ease, back as he was talking with Luo Fang and Liang Zhi on the main deck. Her fragrant heart unexpectedly had a nagging feeling that she had done something wrong.

※ ※ ※

The sailboat continuously sped up, rushing farther downstream.

Under the continuous drizzle, they saw two warships standing side-by-side on the watercourse ahead, behind a strip of steel rope traversing the surface of the river.

Xu Ziling was now at the helm, Kou Zhong was now standing proudly at the bow, carrying a rather insufferably arrogant, overbearing air around him.

Shang Xiuxun and her men stood on the deck behind him. Everyone had a bow and arrow in their hands. Each arrowhead was wrapped in oilcloth, ready to be lighted with the stoves available all around them to become fire arrows.

Walking away from Kou Zhong, Shang Xiuxun asked, “Do you really have confidence?”

Kou Zhong was watching the flurry of the enemy’s activity from realizing that they were coming straight toward them. Hearing the question, he turned his head around, flashed a smile full of confidence at her, patted the Moon in the Well on his back, and said, “Don’t forget that this is a divine saber that can communicate with the spirits. I guarantee that no one would expect this move. Even if they personally see it, they won’t dare to believe their own eyes.”

After a short pause, he laughed aloud and said, “Did you see that? Right now they don’t even have time to raise the sail; we break through their barricade, straight toward Jingling, they would not even able to see our tail clearly. That would be interesting.”

Liang Zhi anxiously asked, “What if you fail to cut the steel rope?”

Kou Zhong shook his head, “Impossible!” he said, “I will definitely cut the steel rope.”

This moment they were only about seven zhang away from the steel rope blocking the river.

The situation on the two enemy ships more than twenty zhang away was clearly visible. The Jianghuai Army troops on the boats were already in battle position. Bows and catapults were strung, ready to shoot arrows and rocks.

But this was not the reason why the heart of the people on the boat was anxious.

Looking at the steel rope, which was as thick as a baby’s arm, everybody felt their scalp went numb, imagining the dreadful consequences if Kou Zhong failed and the boat crashed onto the rope.

Only Kou Zhong remained as calm as usual, as if he never thought there was a remote possibility that he might fail.

Four zhang, three zhang …

With no breeze, Kou Zhong’s clothes fluttered, creating rustling noise.

A stream of invisible vortex of energy was surging around his body.

Xu Ziling, who was standing on the bridge manning the rudder, had his eyes gleaming with divine light; they were fixed on Kou Zhong, who was standing proudly at the bow like a deity descending into the mundane world. His heart was also filled with overflowing heroic spirit.

This steel rope represented one crucial step in the course of events in Kou Zhong’s endeavor in vying over the world.

If he was able to break through this obstacle and sail toward Jingling, the spirit of the troops in the city would definitely be greatly roused, their morale would be greatly boosted.

He even had indistinct feeling that if Kou Zhong was able to accomplish this magnificent feat, he would win over the Flying Horse Ranch people, from top to bottom, so that they would be in favor of supporting Kou Zhong in his great undertaking of hegemony over the world.

This saber strike must only succeed and could not fail.

[k1nk4]

thanks for the chapter foxs!

[LuDongBin]

Thks Jean.

[Laoren]

Thanks foxs.

[decepticon]

Oh I agree fox. It's definitely the prerogative of an author to make his/her novel as good or as bad as he/she wants to. But based on my observation, I can already guess the future direction of their relationship. Also it makes the novel less appealing in terms of the characters. Mind you, this novel is going to be epic, given the period (the founding of the Tang Dynasty has always been one of my top historical interests) and the length, but I am not as invested in the characters like how I was with characters from certain Jin Yong novels.

Has anyone watched the Chinese adaptation of this series? This must be one of the hardest adaptations given the number of Super Beauties but man, the only lady that's even half way attractive in that series is the oldest one i.e. Athena Zhu. But then again, has anyone of us ever met a "beauty that can fell a country"?