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

[LuDongBin]

Tks foxs.Are u back home?

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[FuSpu]

Thanks foxs!

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[Anh Nam]

Thanks foxs

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

[Abhay]

Thanks Foxs.

[徐中銳]

Xu Xiong, oh ... (part 2) Good catch.

I read too seriously into details And am somewhat reserved to always speak up Best wishes

[foxs]

DongBin, yes, since October 1. Thanks for asking. HPC, Jaya, Fu, Ysabel, Anh, Sky, Abhay, you are welcome. Xu Xiong, I thought you were talking about your video.

---

Pei Yan had just reached the edge of the sloping deck; he had not entered the water yet.

The attacker was covered in black clothes; he was lanky and handsome, with extremely heavy make-up on his face. Letting out a long laugh, he said, “This time let’s consider you win. But there will come a day when I, Bai Wenyuan, will repay you nicely.”

With a somersault he entered the river.

His voice was sometimes low and muffled, sometimes shrill and overbearing; he was the person who spoke in the cabin.

By this time the water has reached the bottom of Xu Ziling’s foot, the giant ship was finally sinking.

Under water, Kou Zhong was chasing the two women for nearly a li. When he was about four zhang away from them, the two women split up to the left and right to escape.

In the dark water, Kou Zhong selected one of them and exerted his strength to give chase.

From the opponent’s beautiful diving and swimming style, he was quite sure that this mermaid was indeed You Qiuyan, particularly her sleek bald head; it was something that no one else would be able to impersonate.

Kou Zhong has fought face-to-face with her many times. In terms of underwater skill, he definitely could not match her, an underwater expert. However, in terms of internal strength and punching and kicking, he was far superior to her; hence he did not have any concern that she would fly out of the hollow of his palm.

Ahead, You Qiuyan seemed to lose strength, she started to slow down. Kou Zhong was amused inwardly, knowing that she was going to either release secret projectiles or throw a net; pretending not to know anything, he increased his speed instead, while at the same time his hand grabbed the whip around his waist, ready to give her a surprise shock.

Three zhang, two zhang, one zhang, You Qiuyan suddenly turned around, the net was thrown over his head.

Kou Zhong swiftly dove down, his right hand lightly groped his waist, the whip lashed out like sea serpent to coil itself around You Qiuyan; his left hand reached out toward the edge of the net, and transmitted his true strength via the net.

You Qiuyan’s tender body was jolted, while the whip wound around her slender jade leg, sealing off her acupoints.

Succeeded in capturing his target, Kou Zhong brought her rising to the surface.

Upstream, the River was still shaking with shouts and yells; obviously the hunt and arrest game was still growing strong.

Kou Zhong planted a kiss on You Qiuyan’s sweet lips, and said with a giggle, “Would Yan Jie [older sister Yan] like to make out in the River, or do you want to wait until we are ashore before we get intimate?”

After giving him a hard stare, You Qiuyan closed her beautiful eyes tightly. It was the only way she could show her helpless protest.

Kou Zhong embraced her and brought her up to the sandbar; pressing her body underneath his, he smiled and said, “Last time I let you off, thinking that you would feel grateful to me. Turns out the most vicious one toward me is you. Is your honored Bangzhu well?”

You Qiuyan opened up her beautiful eyes; staring at him coldly, she said, “Just kill me!”

Kou Zhong put his mouth on her jade-like sparkling and translucent small ear, and nibbled on her earlobe. “No!” he said, “I am still going to let you go!” And then he proceeded by patting open her arteries and veins acupoint. Springing up, heroically and loftily he said, “Because I like your beauty. The other day your honored Bangzhu wrapped his arm around your small waist, it irritated me so much that I did not know what I wanted to do to him. Ha! But in the end didn’t I manage to hold you and kiss you and touch you?”

You Qiuyan sprang up, her beautiful eyes spun around and around for a while; finally she sighed and said, “Kou Zhong, don’t you regret it. When I have the opportunity, I will definitely not let you off.”

Kou Zhong reached out to stroke her cheek; he laughed indifferently and said, “I know that you actually love me; hence the reason you hated me so much, but you just didn’t realize it! Let’s just wait and see.”

You Qiuyan was unsure whether she was mad at herself for not dodging when he stroked her cheek, or because she could not tell whether in her heart she loved or hated him; ferociously kicking the ground, she turned around and left.

Watching her beautiful back gradually going away, Kou Zhong could not help thinking about the ambiguous relationship between Dong Ming Princess and Xu Ziling, and then he also recalled Li Xiuning. Sighing, he rushed back toward the upper reaches of the River.

The first streak of dawn finally appeared on the eastern horizon.

The Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling-led military operation was a total success, it sent tremors throughout the City of Baling. The enemies captured were more than thirty people, three of which were women, including the maid who went ashore last night. The dead and the wounded were difficult to count because most were underwater and were carried away by the river.

Knowing that there was a mole inside the General Mansion, Xiao Xian and Xiang Yushan were extremely nervous; they launched an investigation immediately.

Yun Yuzhen was a little upset. She blamed the two boys for not informing her before going personally to deal with the enemy; she blamed them even more for not gaining her approval before going into battle, which was quite overstepping her authority.

However, under Kou Zhong’s gentle ministration, very quickly she went from anger to happiness. The two of them were soon laughing and joking as usual.

That evening, Kou Zhong inquired about the investigation concerning the mole. Xiang Yushan’s countenance sank as he said, “She found out about it and already escaped.”

Susu added, “She is one of my personal maids; she has been missing since going out this morning. Ay! I treated her like a sister, unexpectedly she could do such thing.”

With a wry smile Xiang Yushan said, “She has been serving me since her childhood, I can’t believe she has been bought by the enemy.”

Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling asked, “Does she know martial art?”

Stunned, Xiang Yuzhan shook his head.

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “You have been deceived. If my guess is right, the little maid was murdered. The objective is that you will think that there is no more mole in here.”

Susu was severely shaken, “Xiao Mei!” she exclaimed, and burst into tears.

Xu Ziling shot Kou Zhong a reprimanding look. Helping Susu up, he brought her into the inner chamber to console her.

Kou Zhong slapped his forehead, “My bad!” he said remorsefully.

Yun Yuzhen spoke in low voice, “You are so good to Su Jie; others won’t have anything to say.”

Xiang Yushan muttered, “How can we dig this mole out and dismember his body into ten thousand pieces?”

Casting a glance toward the inner chamber, Kou Zhong heaved a deep sigh, and said heavily, “Just by making Su Jie grieving and shedding tears, I won’t let him off. Get that maid who was captured alive for me, I guarantee that I can get the mole’s identity from her.”

The maid was brought into the side pavilion. Kou Zhong waved the other people to get out of the pavilion.

The maid looked to be around twenty, her countenance was quite pretty, albeit a bit pale. But her expression was quite firm, evidently she refused to give in easily.

Kou Zhong say leisurely in an imperial-tutor chair [i.e. armchair]; smiling, he said, “Miss, please sit down!”

The maid shook her head with her lips closed tightly, showing clearly that she refused to talk.

Remaining calm and unfazed, Kou Zhong said, “As long as you agree to answer a few questions, I will immediately let you go, so you can enjoy your youthfulness well.”

The maid could only stare blankly, with a disbelief look on his eyes, but in the end she shook her head.

Knowing that she refused to believe that there was such an easy thing in the world, Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Who did not know that I, Kou Zhong, is a good person? Your master wanted to kill me, not because I did something bad, but because he is greedy of the ‘Duke Yang Treasure’; therefore, your master is the bad person. Ha! This logic is so simple; only idiots fail to understand it.”

Although the little maid did not speak, her face was no longer stretched so tight.

Kou Zhong patted his chest and said, “Let me, this good person, give you guarantee: as long as you agree to answer three questions of mine, I will let you go.”

The little maid’s tender body trembled slightly; hanging her head down, she spoke hoarsely, “If I answer your question, but you accuse me of lying, then …”

Kou Zhong cut her off, “Whether you lie or not, we will both know it. For instance, if you are hesitating, or perhaps you are stammering, then it will be clear that you are making up stories. In that case there is no need for us to continue!”

The little maid bit her lower lip. “Are you really going to ask me only three questions?” she asked.

Kou Zhong spread out his arms, “Of course!” he said, “I am not one who goes back on his word.”

Summoning her courage, the little maid looked up to meet his gaze; with her spirit returning to her pretty eyes, she said, “As long as I do not hesitate, and I am not stammering, then I can go?”

“That is correct,” Kou Zhong assured her, “But if you offend my by telling me lies, I will immediately waste your martial art, and then I’ll sell you to a low-class brothel, so that you’ll have to serve at least ten patrons a day. Do you understand?”

Hearing that, the little maid’s countenance changed greatly.

Actually, Kou Zhong did not even know how to waste anybody’s martial art skill, plus he would not possibly sell her to any pleasure house. It was all nothing but intimidation.

Quite half a day later, the little maid nodded her head in agreement.

Such an easy matter, anybody would find it hard to refuse. Kou Zhong was just feeling her heart, he did not have any concern that she would not fall into his trap.

His tiger-eyes gleamed with cold rays, Kou Zhong looked at the little maid, whose head was hung low, whose heart was trembling with trepidation, and said in heavy voice, “What’s your name?”

The little maid was stunned. “My name is Xiao Qiu,” she replied, while in her heart mused whether such an easy question could be considered the first question.

Slapping the small table next to him, Kou Zhong said, “You passed the first question!”

The little maid’s heart was mad with delight; she spoke gently, “Kou Gongzi, please ask me your second question!”

With the same gentleness, Kou Zhong said, “The second question is, hey! Who is your master?”

“Princess Mei!” the little maid answered quickly.

Kou Zhong was pleased. “Congratulations Miss for passing two questions. After answering the next question, I will personally escort Miss out of the city to reunite with your family. It would be best if you don’t come back to your Princess Mei. Such master with bad reputation, if you stay with her, disaster may come to you anytime. Let this time be a lesson to you.”

The little maid said in low voice, “Gongzi, please ask your question!”

Kou Zhong deliberately stayed silent for half a day. When the little maid grew so nervous that her whole body trembled unnaturally, he suddenly shouted his last question, “Who gave you the letter last night?”

The little maid suddenly opened her mouth, but no word came out.

Kou Zhong thundered menacingly, “You fail!”

Tears flooding out of the little maid’s eyes, she cried out anxiously, “But I don’t know his name!”

Kou Zhong did not give her any chance to think deeply, “How tall is he?” he shouted.

The little maid did not dare to hesitate, she replied, “Half a head taller than me.”

Subsequently Kou Zhong shot her more than a dozen questions in rapid succession. Finally he rose up and said, “I know who he is, I will take Miss out. Please stop crying!”

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[ycb5959]

Thanks again foxs

error:

Kou Zhong say leisurely in an imperial-tutor chair

should be "sat"?

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[BocahTuaNakal]

thanks foxs

[LuDongBin]

Thks foxs.

[Anh Nam]

Thanks foxs

[9Dragons]

"four zhangaway from them" > zhang away
"two women split up to the left and right to escape" > up to escape left and right
"the whip lashed out like sea serpent" > like a sea
"under Kou Zhong’s gentle ministration" > ministrations
"Xiang Yuzhan shook his head" > Yushan
"Kou Zhong say leisurely" > sat
"so you can enjoy your youthfulness well" > youth?
"that I, Kou Zhong, is a good person" > am a good
"give you guarantee" > you a guarantee
"But if you offend my by telling me lies" > offend me

Kou Zhong sure knows his way around the ladies. Ugh, I hope the mole is not that "character", but it will be an interesting twist.

[foxs]

Jaya, Ysabel, Bocah, DongBin, Anh, you are welcome. ycb, good catch, thanks. Kowloon, thanks. New chapter.

---

Book 8 Chapter 9 – Moon in the Well Champion

With smile on his face Kou Zhong entered the mail hall, he was met by Yun Yuzhen and Xiang Yushan’s expectant glance, but he noticed that Xu Ziling was standing by the window, with neither concern nor delight on his face. Kou Zhong asked in amazement, “Xiao Ling, don’t you want to know who the mole is?”

Xu Ziling replied indifferently, “How could such a tender young child be your, Zhong Shao’s opponent? Unless she basically does not know anything.”

Unable to hold back, Xiang Yushan asked, “What’s the outcome?”

Kou Zhong sat down opposite the two people, “It’s one of your personal guards,” he said, “I think his name is Ouyang Ji or something. You know what to do!”

A strong murderous intent flared in Xiang Yushan’s eyes; without saying a word he stood up and left.

Kou Zhong winked at Yun Yuzhen and said, “Would Beautiful Shifu be interested in a trip out of town with us, two brothers? I promised to escort that poor girl out of the city!”

The next several days, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling devoted their heart and mind to push Duan Yucheng, four men to train martial art. The four, on the other hand, also realized that this matter concerned their honor and disgrace, their life and death, plus they obtained these two highly talented brilliant masters’ direction, therefore, they strived and hence advanced by leaps and bounds.

The rest of the time, the two boys abandoned everything to go with Susu on scenic tours, doing their best to make her happy.

Time flew. The next day they were going to start their journey north. Xiao Xian hosted a banquet to give them a farewell dinner.

There was an additional guest at the dinner that night: Big Sister Xiao, Xiao Huan, who had just returned from Lingnan. Xiao Xian’s Left-field Marshal Zhang Xiu was unable to attend because just that morning he set out leading his army into battle.

As usual, the ten-thousand-kind flirtatious Big Sister Xiao was continuously throwing the two boys flirtatious glances and raining them with sweet talks [orig. ‘confusing soup’].

After saluting them with a round of drink, Xiao Xian said, “Turned out the person who mounted sneak attack on Ziling to give Pei Yan the opportunity to escape was Bai Wenyuan, a newly rising martial art master of Jingjian Zong [lit. clean/net sword school], who is also Zhu Mei’s current lover [orig. handsome male companion, i.e. gigolo]. He is quite famous in Sichuan region, it could be that he is infatuated by Zhu Mei’s beauty that he came to take refuge in Zhu Can.”

Kou Zhong blurted out laughing; he said, “Current lover. The term Xiao Dangjia used is definitely top-notch; it clearly showed that Zhu Mei used to have numerous lovers [here the term is ‘adventurous head’, also in subsequent paragraphs]. Ha!”

Big Sister Xiao glowered at him and said, “Being Zhu Mei’s lover is not a good thing, because she is paranoid and jealous; if she suspected her lover was having affair with different women, she would not hesitate to kill him to vent her anger. That’s the reason Jianghu people call her ‘Poisonous Spider’. Obviously Bai Wenyuan dislike having long life that he attaches himself to her.”

Xiang Yushan laughed and said, “That kind of heavily-made-up person, how could two Dage have any regards for him? But Zhu Mei is indeed highly capable; rumor has it that she has mastered 90% of Zhu Can’s skill. That night she did not fight back, simply because she was intimidated by two Dage’s fame for fighting prowess after you killed Ren Shaoming, plus she was unclear of the situation, hence she could only flee.”

Susu said anxiously, “Since she is a narrow-minded person, certainly she would not want to let this matter rests; you two must be absolutely careful.”

Yun Yuzhen said with a laugh, “Su Jie please set your heart at ease. Talking about wisdom and strategy, Xiao Zhong, Xiao Ling, are definitely not inferior to anybody. Su Jie just think, ever since their debut, the ones suffering losses were other people, when did they ever any suffer defeat?”

Big Sister Xiao laughed like a fluttering stem of flower; she said, “Since Yun Bangzhu is able to say such thing, surely you have suffered losses in the hands of these two boys!”

Yun Yuzhen’s pretty face blushed like red clouds; casting a flirtatious glance toward the two boys, she said, “Dajie has never tasted any losses from them!”

Seeing she blatantly flirted with the two boys during the banquet, Susu was displeased, her jet-black eyebrows were knitted.

Xiao Xian also felt rather uncomfortable with his younger sister’s licentious behavior; changing the topic, he said, “There is one thing that even now I still don’t understand: how did two Xiaodi find out that Zhu Mei and Shen Faxing were hiding in ambush outside the city? They are all old hands in Jianghu; they even managed to keep our people in the dark.”

Naturally Kou Zhong would not divulge the fact that Xu Ziling possessed a supernatural intuition; inventing crazy nonsense, he said, “That was a pure speculation. Funny thing is that at first we did not know it was them; we were looking for Evil Monk and Amorous Nun, but found them by mistake. Just consider it their bad luck, ha!”

Xiang Yushan smiled and said, “This Kou Dage of mine often downplays their achievements, but always speaks cheerfully and wittily, so that with him around, the atmosphere is always full of joy.”

Big Sister Xiao could not help asking in bewilderment, “Why is it that talking to the left General Xiang calls Kou Dage, talking to the left you calls Xu Dage? In term of age, you are older, in term of relationship, you are their jiefu [older sister’s husband]. And Su Jie, why didn’t you correct him?”

Susu happily said, “My two Didi are not ordinary people, naturally Yushan wants to show his respect!”

Yun Yuzhen also smiled and said, “Therefore, I also feel that Yushan did not use incorrect appellation.”

Xiao Xian chuckled, “Well said,” he said, “Two Xiaodi are indeed not ordinary people that I, Xiao Xian, seldom encounter in my life; people who, opening up their palm they create clouds, turning down their palm they create rain, who, leisurely and casually, turned the entire situation of the South upside-down, who also caused our Great Liang kingdom’s power and influence to flourish greatly. Although you have not officially joined my army, I, Xiao Xian, already consider you one of my own.”

And then, clapping his hands he called out, “People!”

While everybody else was stunned, two beautiful maids carrying exquisitely embroidered cases, one long one short, appeared in front of the banquet table.

Xiao Xian signaled with his hand, the two maids separately presented the long case to Kou Zhong, and the short one to Xu Ziling.

After the maids withdrew, Xiao Xian cheerfully said, “Small gifts, not worth showing my respect. Gentlemen, please open the cases and take a look what’s inside.”

Kou Zhong opened his embroidered case. To his astonishment, it was a steel saber. At first glance it seemed to be an ordinary saber, nothing special about it. But after careful look, whether it was the saber itself or the scabbard, although there was neither ornate decoration nor any other embellishment, there was some kind of ancient, simple yet elegant taste on it, so that nobody dared to despise it.

Watching Kou Zhong taking the saber out of the case, Xiao Xian’s eyes emitted some kind of unfathomable gleam as he spoke softly, “This saber has no name, but it is said that it is a divine weapon from the ancient times, the steel quality is marvelous, the blade can emit faint yellow glow. Two hundred years ago it fell into the hands of the number one saber expert of the time, the ‘Saber Overlord’ Ling Shangren [term of respect to address Taoist Master]. Afterwards Ling Shangren retired from Jianghu, this saber also disappeared. Later on, after some twists and turns, it fell into my hands. Although I do not like to use saber, I do have special fondness toward it. Hence I have the intention to present it to Kou Xiaodi, to show my, Xiao Xian’s sincerity and gratefulness.”

‘Ring!’

Kou Zhong pulled the saber off its scabbard.

Everybody focused their attention to look, but all was disappointed.

The saber blade was dull without any luster; where was the yellow glow Xiao Xian was talking about?

But suddenly the blade changed; although it was barely noticeable, there was no doubt a genuine soft yellow glow around it.

Xiao Xian laughed aloud and said, “Xiao Xiongdi is indeed the true owner of this saber; your true qi is able to incite this treasured saber’s reaction. I have played with this saber thousands of times, but the blade has never displayed the yellow glow.”

And thus everybody understood that in the past, when Ling Shangren was using the saber, his true qi must have brought out the strong yellow glow of the blade, but if anybody else picked up the saber, it was no more than an ordinary iron. They all could not help clicking their tongue in wonder.

Kou Zhong knew very well that Xiao Xian was trying to win him over, but still, he was quite delighted and said gratefully, “From now on, this saber will be called Moon in the Well. This kid bows to Xiao Dangjia for bestowing this gift.”

Astonished, Xiao Xian asked, “The name Moon in the Well has a heavy Zen flavor in it; what’s the story behind it?”

Kou Zhong replied perfunctorily, “I just saw a marvel in the well one night; nothing special about it.”

Xiao Xian suddenly sighed and said, “In the past, my ancestor, Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, loved to collect divine weapons. This saber cost him ten years of mental and physical efforts, he sent people on open enquiries and secret search, and went to the end of the world, before he had the destiny to obtain it. Afterwards the enemy troops broke the city defense, but because this treasure was hidden deep in underground storehouse, it was preserved.”

Only then did everybody understand why he was having a reluctant-to-part expression on his face.

Curious, Susu said, “Xiao Ling, why don’t you see what kind of treasure Xiao Dangjia is giving you?”

Xu Ziling picked the case and presented it back to Xiao Xian; he smiled and said, “I appreciate Xiao Dangjia’s good intention, whatever it is inside the case must be a rare treasure of the world, but I am a kind of person who don’t like to be concerned about worldly possession, and I do not wish to know what unfathomable mystery inside the box. I am asking for Xiao Dangjia’s forgiveness.”

Other than Kou Zhong, everybody else was surprised by Xu Ziling’s refusal. However, instead of being astonished, Xiao Xian simply sighed and said, “Xu Xiongdi is independent and loves to travel alone, someday you will certainly become an exceptional and peculiar character. Not only Laofu [old man, referring to self] does not have the slightest displeasure, my heart is full of admiration instead.”

Everybody present was quite moved by Xiao Xian’s poise.

Wanting to steer the conversation away from the Moon in the Well, Kou Zhong changed the subject, “I wonder if Xiao Dangjia’s meeting with Miss Song the other day went well?”

Xiao Xian nodded and said, “Arrangements are being made for me to meet with the ‘Heavenly Saber’ Song Que, I have always had high esteem toward him, Senior. If we can bring this matter to fruition, two Xiao Xiongdi’s merit is great.”

[spynet]

Thanks foxs!

[ycb5959]

Thanks for another quick one!

error:

With smile on his face Kou Zhong entered the mail hall

They had mail room those days?
Think you meant "main hall"