Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay

**Melanie** · 07-18-10, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by tweety365

Mel

, can't believe you are already asking for more. LOL, but I have been thinking of another poster for your story, but it's really difficult to find all the right pictures. I was just lucky that I managed to find that pic of SFF in black to match the character in your story. I will do my best, but if you can supply the pics you want in the poster, that would definitely help me out.

It's true that I am a bit greedy.

Thanks, tweety, for agreeing to make me another poster.

I'll start searching for pictures.

**icrayray** · 07-21-10, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Melanie

It's true that I am a bit greedy.

Thanks, tweety, for agreeing to make me another poster.

I'll start searching for pictures.

I'll help too!!! Do you want pics of characters who didn't appear in the poster yet or pics of both characters who were in the poster and not?

**Melanie** · 07-22-10, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by icrayray

I'll help too!!! Do you want pics of characters who didn't appear in the poster yet or pics of both characters who were in the poster and not?

Oh, hey, icrayray.

Thanks for offering to help look for pictures! I think tweety would like to have as many pictures as possible to pick from to make her poster. So I believe getting pictures of both characters who were and were not in the poster would be helpful.

**icrayray** · 07-22-10, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by Melanie

Oh, hey, icrayray.

Thanks for offering to help look for pictures! I think tweety would like to have as many pictures as possible to pick from to make her poster. So I believe getting pictures of both characters who were and were not in the poster would be helpful.

Gigi Lai (Lam Suk Chi) sorry if some of the pics has other unrelated people in it tweety, hopefully you can photoshop it.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JEzLvfoXqPU/TA...jpg?imgmax=640

http://icewent.com/wp-content/upload...E%E5%A7%BF.jpg

Idy Chan

http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL358.../318541201.jpg

http://image.jmrb.com/UploadImages/2...2910_93330.jpg

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:1...859e51461e.jpg

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:a...1g646dd41d7131

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:g...11786/head.jpg

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:7...6192533955.jpg

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:B...e3756bedbe.jpg

http://119.img.pp.sohu.com/images/bl...163f90cacb.jpg

http://icewent.com/wp-content/upload...E%E5%A7%BF.jpg

**Melanie** · 07-22-10, 08:40 PM

Great pictures, icrayray.

I love the last one of Gigi Lai. She's beautiful.

I'm surprised you didn't post up a bunch of Wallace Chung photos.

**Liu Xiao Xiao** · 07-22-10, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by Melanie

Second, I didn't even realize Liu Xiao Xiao visits this story thread, as it has nothing to do with Liu Shi Shi.

Hey Mel...little did you know I have always been admiring your great mind, fantasy, imaginations, and story telling. You have such superb writing skills!!! Of course I got this from our conversations in LSS's thread. I always have been visiting this thread..just didn't tell you about it

I have to confess something...sorta a long story, but I'll make it short. A year or couple years ago I too hung around Winglin and I did come across your story. I was very excited because of the long list of veteran actors/actresses(very rare)...however, as I was reading the list I did not see my favorite actress(the main reason and only reason I was at the site was to read ALL her fanfic....you can say I was addicted..LOL). I read the cast list probably like ten times just in case I missed her name or something..hehehe, but alas I didn't see it. And no.....it was not Liu Shi Shi, because she hadn't exist in my mind yet during that time.......By chance, years later you happened to be crazy about Yuan Hong and waltz into LSS's thread!!!! LOL......

I definitely know this is a great story since it's written by you....maybe one of these days I'll get around to read it

**icrayray** · 07-22-10, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Melanie

Great pictures, icrayray.

I love the last one of Gigi Lai. She's beautiful.

I'm surprised you didn't post up a bunch of Wallace Chung photos.

LOL thx Mel but please disregard the previous post. It is not the complete thing I wanted to post. I was editing everything but somehow it didn't go through so here is everything that I found!

http://images.xooob.com/20084291/2008429142224493.jpg
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:n...3248_small.jpg
http://img015.photo.wangyou.com/2005...1116511608.jpg
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:7...9441190274.jpg
http://v3.56.com/images/12/20/xiaowa...8968238_37.jpg
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/3852/wallace5vd2.jpg
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:t...1116511608.jpg
http://img.youtube.com/vi/24vF-4nMBN0/0.jpg
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:R...2_15002525.bmp
http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ent/d/2007-11-1...0124205458.jpg
http://www.tong-hua.net/bbs/attachme...27b5e912f4.jpg
http://www.hkatv.com/v3/drama/08/nis...mage/pic07.jpg

Song Jia (if Mel had planned to use her lol)
http://images.wangchao.net.cn/images...9665261317.jpg
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1aTJmIRxV5Q/0.jpg

Song Jia and Wallace
http://images.wangchao.net.cn/images...9665256739.jpg
http://images.wangchao.net.cn/images...9665258629.jpg
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/q6Kuh4meSd4/0.jpg
Sun fei fei and Wallace
http://pic2.chinawestnews.net/0/10/0...123_290507.jpg

Sun fei fei
http://images.xooob.com/20084181/200841810720703.jpg
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:a...92/a291252.jpg
http://i3.sinaimg.cn/ent/v/m/2006-10...1012184353.JPG
http://pic4.sdnews.com.cn/NewsImg/20...1218163658.jpg
http://diunga.blu.livefilestore.com/...2%E8%8F%B2.jpg
http://ent.people.com.cn/mediafile/2...1879025585.jpg

Tweety we are counting on your photoshop skill, especially on the small pics, hopefully you can enlarge them if you do use them in your poster!

**tweety365** · 07-23-10, 01:29 AM

Wow, I am totally impressed with all those pics, icrayray! Quite a collection. Awwwww, you remember my great love for Vincent

. Even though I already have those pictures, I'm still greatly touched. Alas, his character got axed so early in the story. I can still remember like it was yesterday when I read how Mel sentenced him to such a horrible death

. Yes Mel, after all these years, I'm surprised my memory is still so good

.

I will do my best, but the small pictures most likely won't make it to the poster. Perhaps as background pics or something. Mel, who do you want in the poster? Is there some style in particular that you prefer? Should I include only the characters that are still alive or even the dead ones?

**icrayray** · 07-23-10, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by tweety365

Wow, I am totally impressed with all those pics, icrayray! Quite a collection. Awwwww, you remember my great love for Vincent

. Even though I already have those pictures, I'm still greatly touched. Alas, his character got axed so early in the story. I can still remember like it was yesterday when I read how Mel sentenced him to such a horrible death

. Yes Mel, after all these years, I'm surprised my memory is still so good

.

I will do my best, but the small pictures most likely won't make it to the poster. Perhaps as background pics or something. Mel, who do you want in the poster? Is there some style in particular that you prefer? Should I include only the characters that are still alive or even the dead ones?

LOL no problem tweety. If you need any other pics, feel free to tell me, I'll try my best to find it. Yes poor Vincent, at least you can make an awesome poster with him in it!

**Melanie** · 07-26-10, 12:29 AM

Hey, everyone! I haven't been here for a few days. And do you know why?

I've recently discovered another hot bad boy in Chen Guan Lin, the actor who plays villain Ma Wen Chai in 2007 Butterfly Lovers! I've been drooling over this guy for the past few days.

This is a bit off-topic, but here's a music video on him as Ma Wen Chai.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qd9H...eature=related

But don't worry, people! I've also been working on the next chapter. I have 5 pages written so far. I've been looking for another actor to cast as Wallace Chung's love rival, and I have just found him in Chen Guan Lin!

By the way, I am able to log into my account at winglin again, so I will change the poster to the new one tweety has made along with the posting of the next chapter, which will introduce Wallace Chung and Sun Fei Fei. Also, I had to split up the original Chapter 76 into two chapters (Chapters 76 and 77) at winglin because it was too long and got cut off by winglin. Therefore, to be consistent, I am splitting up Chapter 76 here, too.

Originally Posted by Liu Xiao Xiao

Hey Mel...little did you know I have always been admiring your great mind, fantasy, imaginations, and story telling. You have such superb writing skills!!! Of course I got this from our conversations in LSS's thread. I always have been visiting this thread..just didn't tell you about it.

I have to confess something...sorta a long story, but I'll make it short. A year or couple years ago I too hung around Winglin and I did come across your story. I was very excited because of the long list of veteran actors/actresses(very rare)...however, as I was reading the list I did not see my favorite actress(the main reason and only reason I was at the site was to read ALL her fanfic....you can say I was addicted..LOL). I read the cast list probably like ten times just in case I missed her name or something..hehehe, but alas I didn't see it. And no.....it was not Liu Shi Shi, because she hadn't exist in my mind yet during that time.......By chance, years later you happened to be crazy about Yuan Hong and waltz into LSS's thread!!!! LOL......

I definitely know this is a great story since it's written by you....maybe one of these days I'll get around to read it.

Wow, it's a small world after all.

Your confession reminds me of the one icrayray made not too long ago to me. She, too, only reads stories with her favorite actors and actresses, and not only that, the story needs to have the correct romantic pairings to attract her interest.

Who was your ex-favorite actress, by the way?

You can tell how imaginative I am by simply reading my posts in the LSS thread?! Those are quite some deductive skills you have, since all I do is gush and drool over men in that thread.

Of course, as the author of Legendary Book, I do hope you will read my story one day, but there's no rush nor any pressure to do so. The story is only average, so you're not missing anything if you choose to bypass it.

Icrayray! Wow, thanks for the very long list of pictures you posted! I haven't had any time to look for pictures so far, as I assume everyone would rather I spend my free time writing the next chapter rather than searching for pictures. So thank you so much for spending your time and effort to help look for pictures!

Originally Posted by tweety365

Wow, I am totally impressed with all those pics, icrayray! Quite a collection. Awwwww, you remember my great love for Vincent. Even though I already have those pictures, I'm still greatly touched. Alas, his character got axed so early in the story. I can still remember like it was yesterday when I read how Mel sentenced him to such a horrible death. Yes Mel, after all these years, I'm surprised my memory is still so good.

Tweety dear, you're like the villain in a martial arts story who never forgets a slight.

It's been how many years since I killed Vincent's character in my story? Oh, maybe eight years? And you still feel the pain like it was just yesterday. You're so funny, I could just hug you!

Your great love for Vincent amuses me to no end. Even I have let go of Gilbert Lam.

Originally Posted by tweety365

I will do my best, but the small pictures most likely won't make it to the poster. Perhaps as background pics or something. Mel, who do you want in the poster? Is there some style in particular that you prefer? Should I include only the characters that are still alive or even the dead ones?

Actually, I'm happy you're making me a poster at all, as I understand that you're busy. So I will leave the poster making decisions up to you. I trust your skills and judgment.

**tweety365** · 07-27-10, 11:00 PM

Mel, you make it sound like what you did to Vincent's character was a mere slap on the wrist. He kicked the bucket after merely appearing for a few scenes. Yes, my love for Vincent will probably last a lifetime. He's just so awesomely cool

. Although I don't go online and gush about as much as I should. Don't have much time for that.

Anywho, I am slowly editing the pictures I've picked for the new poster. There are some characters I haven't decided on the pictures yet. Since there are a lot more people than the Wallace/SFF poster, this will take a bit longer. Or maybe a lot longer

depending on my level of procrastination. Hope you don't mind.

**icrayray** · 07-28-10, 12:13 AM

OMG I can't wait to see the new poster and read the new chapter. Mel, will Wallace be appearing in the next chapter or not yet? And wow Wallace Chung's love rival, can't wait! Hope your love for that rival guy didn't exceed your love for Wallace yet lol.

**Melanie** · 08-10-10, 05:09 AM

Hi, everyone. No, no, this is not a new chapter posting. I just want to let everyone know that I tried very hard to complete the next chapter, but simply couldn't find enough time to do so before going to Germany. Rather than hurriedly writing an incoherent chapter, I opted to wait until after my trip to finish the new chapter. I sincerely apologize for disappointing everyone (especially those hoping to find Wallace Chung popping up in the next chapter). I'll see everyone again when I come back! Thank you for understanding.

**Melanie** · 09-03-10, 05:10 AM

Hi, everyone!

I'm back from Germany.

I had an awesome time. I rented a car and drove along the Romantic Road in Germany. Yes, there is such a stretch of road by such a name.

(There is even a road in Germany called the Fairytale Road that visits the places where the Brothers Grimm obtained their inspirations from, but I didn't have enough time to go there.) Anyway, the Romantic Road is indeed romantic. There are a bunch of very storybook like medieval villages along the road, thus giving the road the name Romantic Road. I'm not kidding! These small towns are just like something out of a fairytale, complete with gingerbread-like houses, castles with turrets and towers, city walls, and even a real moat!

Anyway, I'm back and I spent the last few days working on Chapter 78 whenever I could. It's not an action-packed chapter, but rather, it serves as an introduction of events to come later. Wallace Chung and Sun Fei Fei have not technically appeared yet in this chapter, but their story fills up the bulk of the chapter. I hope everyone enjoys Chapter 78, even if it is not a very exciting installment.

And thank you to tweety for creating this lovely poster of Wallace Chung and Sun Fei Fei for me. I shall post her creation here, since Wallace Chung and Sun Fei Fei dominate a large part of Chapter 78.

CHAPTER 78 --- BOOK OF BLACK ROSE

Characters appearing in this chapter:
Idy Chan Yuk Lin---Lam Yin Yuk
Kristy Yeung Gong Yu---Lam Suk Yu
Kevin Cheng Ka Wing---Cheng Sai Chung
Gigi Lai Chi---Lam Suk Chi a.k.a. Chi Chi

And introducing…
Sun Fei Fei---Fa Heung Yan a.k.a. Black Rose
Wallace Chung Hon Leung---Sit Chung Nam

EVENING
CITY OF LAM ON
LAM MANSION
MAIN FOYER

As the last clan members leave, Suk Yu sends her mother a concerned glance. "Mother, how are you going to find out about the details of the Blood Shadow Palm? In three days’ time, will we really be able to give the martial arts community an acceptable solution regarding this killer?"

Closing her eyes, with fatigue overcoming her, Yin Yuk whispers, "I don’t know, Suk Yu. I don’t know…" She only allows herself the luxury of a few seconds of peace and quiet before opening her eyes again. Back to business, she sighs as she methodically thinks of ways to resolve this problem of the re-emergence of the Blood Shadow Palm. Turning to her elder daughter, she motions for Suk Yu to follow her. "Come with me, Suk Yu. I have a story to tell you."

LAM MANSION
LIBRARY

Rummaging through the bookshelves, Yin Yuk pulls out several volumes of martial arts manuals, revealing a hidden compartment in the wall. Turning the stone dial on the door of the hidden compartment, Yin Yuk then opens a small safe in the wall. Reaching inside, she removes a slightly tattered, aged book.

"Here, let me help you, Mother." Suk Yu takes the book from Yin Yuk’s hands and places it on the corner table. Feeling around for the small wooden stool, she sits down and gently dusts the cover. Unable to see, Suk Yu traces her fingers around the edges of the aged book. "What is this, Mother?"

"This book belonged to Sit Chung Nam." Yin Yuk provides that bit of information.

"Sit Chung Nam? Who is Sit Chung Nam, Mother?" Suk Yu questions.

"Sit Chung Nam was the leader of the Floating Cloud Sect, a prominent martial arts sect that existed during the time when the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan dominated the martial arts world five-hundred years ago." Yin Yuk answers her daughter. "Just as large and as powerful as the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan, the Floating Cloud Sect was rumored to be the only opponent capable and mighty enough to pose as a threat to the prevailing Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan."

"Then why didn’t Sit Chung Nam lead his Floating Cloud Sect to drive the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan from the Central Plains and help rid the martial arts world of the menace of the evil clan?" Suk Yuk wonders.

"The reason was very simple." Yin Yuk replies grimly. "The Floating Cloud Sect, although capable of challenging the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan, chose to turn a blind eye to the murdering ways of the evil clan."

"But I don’t understand, Mother!" Suk Yu gasps in bewilderment. "How can an orthodox sect just sit back and not do anything to help fight off evil?"

"Orthodox?" Yin Yuk sighs, shaking her head at Suk Yu’s mistaken assumption. "Oh, honey, the Floating Cloud Sect was far from orthodox! In fact, the sect’s ancestors were pirates, terrorizing those who traveled by sea, raping, pillaging, and murdering without a qualm. Eventually, a small band of pirates broke away from the main group and settled in the Central Plains, turning into mountain bandits instead. Ferocious fighters, the bandits soon conquered vast regions, acquiring more and more followers. Setting up their main quarters of operation on Floating Cloud Summit, the group named itself the Floating Cloud Sect. As decades past by, the bandits, with their stolen wealth, invested in learning how to read, write, and recite poetry, and some even acquired quite a gentlemanly and scholarly air. But they never deviated far from their roots as rapists, thieves, and murderers. Their outwardly scholarly appearance and pretentious charm only made them more dangerous to unsuspecting victims. The Floating Cloud Sect’s ninth generation leader, Sit Chung Nam, was the epitome of a cold-blooded killer hiding under the façade of a well-learned gentleman. However, unlike his predecessors who murdered for sport, he mostly minded his own business and only killed when he deemed it necessary. But if someone were foolish enough to slight him, he would murder without any remorse or mercy. Knowing his temperament, the two leaders of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan, Poison Snake and Black Rose, wisely steered clear of Sit Chung Nam, giving him a wide berth. Since the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan never bothered him, he never bothered it."

"But, wait!" Suk Yu exclaims as something occurs to her at that moment. "I just remember a bedtime story you and father used to tell me about the Floating Cloud Sect. In the story, you told me that the Floating Cloud Sect helped save the martial arts world by defeating Poison Snake and disbanding the evil Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan. So if that were true, then the Floating Cloud Sect did eventually take action against the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan! But I still don't understand..." Suk Yu wrinkles her brow in confusion. "Why would a cold-blooded bandit like Sit Chung Nam come to the orthodox schools’ aid, especially if the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan never bothered him to begin with?"

Smiling wryly, Yin Yuk picks up the tattered volume in Suk Yu’s hands and points to it. "The reason for Sit Chung Nam’s willingness to help the orthodox schools to rid the martial arts world of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan lies within this book."

"Then this old manual must contain the most superior of all martial arts to lure such a character as Sit Chung Nam to take action!" Suk Yu concludes. "This martial arts manual must contain the techniques of the feared and almighty Blood Shadow Palm, correct, Mother? Did he invade the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan to steal this manual?"

Shaking her head, Yin Yuk laughs. "Oh no, Suk Yu. To Sit Chung Nam, a mere martial arts manual meant nothing. Already a formidable fighter with great potential, he modified and perfected his ancestors’ martial arts and continually created his own new techniques, thereby establishing himself as one of the top martial artists in the world at that time. Hence, he had no reason to risk antagonizing another large, prominent clan such as the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan for a martial arts manual. He wasn’t a mindless fool."

"But…I don’t understand…" Suk Yu murmurs in confusion. "If that manual does not contain one of the world’s top martial arts, then what could it contain to motivate Sit Chung Nam to attack the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan?"

"From the start of time, what is potent and alluring enough to lead men, even intelligent and great leaders, to their downfall?" Yin Yuk quizzes.

Thinking for a moment, Suk Yu suddenly looks up, the answer now very obvious. "A woman! He risked defeat and annihilation of his Floating Cloud Sect to attack the mighty Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan for a woman! It must be! Only a woman has that kind of power over a man."

Nodding, Yin Yuk concurs. "Very perceptive, honey. The deceptively civilized, yet arrogant and callous leader of the martial arts world’s most feared and powerful band of thieves lusted after a woman, someone he would kill to possess."

"Then that manual is…" Suk Yu asks curiously.

Carefully opening the book, Yin Yuk reveals the sketch of an exquisite beauty on the first page. Even with the pages faded from old age, one could still make out the dainty features of the young maiden depicted in the drawing, her large, almond-shaped eyes dark and alluring, framed by delicately arched brows. Pink-flushed cheeks flank a straight, petite nose. Her rose-red lips curve seductively, as if beckoning the painter forward into her embrace. However, despite the classically beautiful features, this woman’s most stunning and captivating aspect lies in the mysterious, unattainable aura that surrounds her. Her gaze, bewitching, yet aloof, calls out to men, like a siren at sea, weaving her spell, enticing men to their deaths.

"This book is not a martial arts manual. Rather, it contains a compilation of Sit Chung Nam’s paintings and sketches of the enchanting and highly desirable Fa Heung Yan, otherwise known as Black Rose, one of the leaders of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan." Yin Yuk explains to her daughter. She gently flips through the book, unveiling more drawings of Fa Heung Yan in almost every pose possible. Some paintings show her sitting prettily on a bench admiring flowers. Some display her playing the qin. There are even ones of her sleeping. It was almost as if Sit Chung Nam’s world revolved completely around Black Rose, in either absolute adoration and love or obsession. One could only guess which one it was.

Suk Yu shivers, partly from the cold draft snaking its way through the open window of the library and partly from the chilling realization of how dangerous such an obsession could be. "Sit Chung Nam’s fixation on Black Rose doesn’t sound very healthy…"

"No, it doesn’t." Yin Yuk agrees. "Some romantics called his feelings for her total love and devotion, while other cynics likened his actions to pure stupidity and blind obsession."

"So which one was it?" Suk Yu muses to herself.

"Perhaps only Sit Chung Nam himself could answer that." Yin Yuk responds. "I suppose a very fine line separates true undying love from pure stupidity and obsession." Yin Yuk murmurs. "According to legend, his love…or obsession…for Black Rose was so overwhelming that he risked the livelihood of his Floating Cloud Sect and his own life to win her heart. While everyone else in the martial arts realm cowered in fear upon hearing about the Blood Shadow Palm and the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan, he dared to invade this evil clan and go up against the virtually undefeatable Blood Shadow Palm, in an attempt to kidnap Black Rose."

"Kidnapping one of the leaders of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan? It must not be an easy feat, given that the clan was one of the most powerful at that time. How did Sit Chung Nam get past the clan’s infamous Blood Shadow Palm?" Suk Yu asks.

"I don’t know." Yin Yuk answers honestly. "The stories only mentioned that Sit Chung Nam was the sole person, so far, in the martial arts world capable of defeating the Blood Shadow Palm. How he did it or whether this claim was true or not, only a few knew."

"So…if we find out how Sit Chung Nam defeated the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan’s Blood Shadow Palm, then we will have the solution on how to take down this murderer who is currently terrorizing the martial arts world!" Suk Yu concludes.

"Exactly." Yin Yuk concurs. "Unfortunately, aside from scanty stories and rumors, your father and I don’t know much about Sit Chung Nam. For someone who was the leader of the once prominent and formidable Floating Cloud Sect, information on him is oddly scarce for some reason. All we know is that, after abducting Black Rose, he fathered Sit Tin Pang with her. Even my teacher and his teacher before him only know snippets of the complete story of Sit Chung Nam’s involvement with the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan."

"Sit Tin Pang, the Guardian of the Swords of Sun and Moon, was one of the founders of our Sun Moon School of Sword Fighting! How can we know so little of his parents, Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose?" Suk Yu wonders, puzzled.

Smiling wryly, Yin Yuk shakes her head. "It’s quite embarrassing to know next to nothing about our school’s ancestors, isn’t it, dear?" Sighing, she waves the dusty book filled with drawings of Black Rose. "However, aside from this book of images, we have no other clues of Sit Chung Nam’s life with Black Rose, which is very odd, given that Lam Mansion used to be the main site of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan. You would think there would be some traces of their lives together left behind here. But when your father took over as the leader of our Sun Moon School of Sword Fighting and inherited this mansion, we found only this book containing Sit Chung Nam’s sketches and paintings of his Black Rose. It was almost as if the absence of details of Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose’s lives was deliberate, as if someone wanted to erase them from history. Your father, I, and our teacher have always wondered why…"

After hearing about her mother’s lack of information on Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose, Suk Yu furrows her brows in worry. "Mother, if even you and father and grand teacher do not know the details of Sit Chung Nam’s involvement with Black Rose and the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan, then how will we find out how he defeated the Blood Shadow Palm? How will we be able to answer to the martial arts community in three days when they re-congregate here at Lam Mansion?!"

Sighing deeply, Yin Yuk shakes her head with concern. "This upcoming meeting in three days is what I am worried about. With a vicious murderer lurking out there in the martial arts world, mutilating people left and right, the martial arts community is roused into a frenzied state. You’ve seen how angry and frantic everyone is this evening in the foyer. In three days, if we don’t come up with a solution to rid the martial arts world of this killer, that furious and scared crowd may transform into a lynch mob."

"But Mother, it would be impossible to find out about how Sit Chung Nam defeated the Blood Shadow Palm in just a mere three days! Where would we even begin our search for this information?! You yourself even admitted that grand teacher does not know how Sit Chung Nam triumphed over the Blood Shadow Palm. Who else can we ask for information?" Suk Yu tries to remain calm as she fights the urge to pace.

"I wish I know the answer, sweetheart." Yin Yuk replies to her daughter sadly. "At this point, I really don’t know who to turn to for help."

"Then what should we do, Mother? What answers can we give to the martial arts community in three days?" Suk Yu bites her lower lip with apprehension.

Pondering their dilemma, Yin Yuk carefully flips through the pages of the book containing Sit Chung Nam’s drawings of Black Rose. Unsure of what she should be looking for, she examines the sketches, hoping for some miraculous inspiration on how to find out how Sit Chung Nam defeated the Blood Shadow Palm. Suddenly, something in one of the drawings catches her eye, causing her to pause. Focusing in on the background landscape in one particular sketch, Yin Yuk furrows her brows as she stares intently at the lake in one of the drawings

"I’ve seen that lake somewhere!" Yin Yuk jabs her finger at a drawing showing Black Rose bathing in lake, a very oddly shaped lake that resembles a crane drinking water from a crescent shaped moon.

"What lake, Mother?" Suk Yu questions, confused by Yin Yuk’s outburst.

"In Sit Chung Nam’s book of sketches, one particular drawing stands out from the rest. The rest of the drawings only feature Black Rose, either alone or with an accessory, like a qin or small comb. However, whereas all the other drawings contain no background setting, Sit Chung Nam has included background scenery in this particular sketch." Yin Yuk explains to Suk Yu. "This painting shows Black Rose bathing in a lake. She’s in some sort of forest setting, with thick clusters of towering trees surrounding the lake. This lake still exists today! I know where this place is! It’s in a small secluded place called Blue Moon Village, in the woods known as the Forest of Shifting Echoes."

Puzzled, Suk Yu asks , "Blue Moon Village? Forest of Shifting Echoes? Mother, how could you be sure?" She sends her mother a doubtful look. "There are plenty of villages with forests and lakes, and they all appear very similar."

Shaking her head at Suk Yu, Yin Yuk counters confidently, her voice with the slightest hint of excitement. "This lake is like no other in the world. It’s shaped in a very peculiar, interesting form. If you look down on the lake from an aerial perspective, it resembles a large crane sipping water from a crescent shaped moon. Because of this, the lake has acquired the name Heavenly Crane Lake, as many people reason that the crane must be a heavenly creature in order to be able to drink from lakes on the moon. An army of weeping willows encircles the perimeter of the lake, the low sweeping branches of the willows enclosing the body of water into a small private alcove. Beyond the weeping willows stand tall, magnificent conifers. People call this forest the Forest of Shifting Echoes, as they believe that it is haunted. Many passersby claim to have heard the various noises drifting from those woods, echoes of laughter, screams of agony and heartbreak.

"But even if the setting for this drawing of Black Rose is indeed the Forest of Shifting Echoes in Blue Moon Village, I still do not understand what the importance of the location is." Suk Yu shakes her head slowly as she tries to comprehend her mother’s excitement.

"It’s very simple, Suk Yu." Yin Yuk explains to her daughter, who cannot see the sketches in Sit Chung Nam’s book. "Like I mentioned just now, in the majority of Sit Chung Nam’s paintings, he pays very little attention to the setting and only uses a few strokes of the paintbrush to create the background. Most of the sketches focus solely on Black Rose, on her beauty, her delicate features, her graceful body form." Tapping her finger at the drawing of Black Rose in the lake, she points out. "However, only in this one specific drawing of Black Rose bathing in the lake does he make a careful and deliberate effort to fill in the background scenery, to identify the location."

"Therefore…this place, this Blue Moon Village and this Forest of Shifting Echoes must somehow play a significant role in Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose’s life!" Suk Yu completes Yin Yuk’s thoughts.

"Correct!" Yin Yuk laughs, proud of her daughter’s intelligence. "They must have spent some time in Blue Moon Village, at least long enough for Sit Chung Nam to consider that village significant enough to include in his drawing of his beloved Black Rose. During their time there, a few people in that village may have noticed their presence, as the leader from the Floating Cloud Sect and one of the leaders of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan do not exactly blend in inconspicuously with a crowd of villagers."

"Therefore, if we go to Blue Moon Village, perhaps we may find some villager who has heard of Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose from his or her ancestors! And from him or her, maybe we can learn about how Sit Chung Nam defeated the Blood Shadow Palm!" Suk Yu concludes. She clasps her hands together, almost as if in prayer, desperately clinging onto this plan and hoping that someone in Blue Moon Village would be able to help them solve the mystery of how the Blood Shadow Palm could be vanquished. If not, the Lam family would have a very difficult time explaining to the martial arts community in three days why, as the Chancellor’s family, they cannot come up with a solution to keep the martial arts world safe from the Blood Shadow Palm.

"We can only hope we will find a villager in Blue Moon Village who knows about Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose." Yin Yuk tries to inject some confidence into her tone, although she is silently praying along with Suk Yu. "It’s a very remote, slim chance that we will successfully find any information about this pair in Blue Moon Village, but it’s worth a try. At least, it’s more productive than sitting around for the next three days and then announcing to the martial arts community that we have come to the meeting with no information whatsoever on how to defeat the Blood Shadow Palm."

"Then we shall go to Blue Moon Village right this moment! We don’t have any time to waste!" Suk Yu exclaims.

Yin Yuk laughs, amused by her usually quiet and serene daughter’s exuberant exclamation. "Not tonight, sweetheart!" Going over to Suk Yu, Yin Yuk places a hand on her daughter’s arm. "Have you forgotten that you have a marriage competition coming up?"

Taken aback by her mother’s reminder, Suk Yu blinks, unsure how to respond. For a while, she has indeed forgotten about her marriage competition, since there is the more pressing dilemma of a killer running loose in the martial arts world. "Oh…"

"Your marriage competition is in two days, but the martial arts community will be re-convening here in three days to discuss how to take care of the matter of the re-emergence of the Blood Shadow Palm." Yin Yuk starts calculating the next plan of action. "It takes about one day’s time by fast horse to reach Blue Moon Village from here. If we wait two days until your marriage competition is over, we won’t have enough time to travel to and from Blue Moon Village and still make it back in time for the martial arts congregation in three days."

"Then we cancel my marriage competition." Suk Yu suggests matter-of-factly.

"Of course, we are not going to do such a thing!" Yin Yuk gently admonishes her daughter. "I refuse to let some insane murderer practicing the Blood Shadow Palm interfere with my daughter’s chance at finding a nice young man to take care of her!" She declares resolutely. Reaching up, she cups her palm lightly against Suk Yu’s cheek. "Suk Yu, you have suffered enough after Ching Bong’s betrayal. Don’t you think it’s time you open your heart to someone else who can make you happy?" Staring intently into Suk Yu’s eyes, Yin Yuk smiles knowingly. "Besides, I met a nice young man by the name of Yeung Lap Chun a few days ago. He seems to be very concerned about you. I caught him staring longingly at you while you were at the Lam Family Cemetery at the edge of the forest south of Lam Mansion. When I tried to chase him away in a little fight, he bravely held his ground and refused to leave you." She chuckles at Yeung Lap Chun’s audacity and courage, despite losing to her in the fight. "Now, that young man is a keeper. I suppose he is showing up at your marriage competition?" She asks Suk Yu teasingly.

Lowering her head bashfully, Suk Yu blushes furiously. "Oh… You’ve met him already, Mother. Really, we’re just…friends." Suk Yu denies, embarrassed.

"Really? Just ‘friends,’ huh?" Yin Yuk grins again, tapping her finger lovingly on the tip of her daughter’s nose. "Well, we shouldn’t disappoint your ‘friend’ by canceling your marriage competition."

"But what about going to Blue Moon Village? We won’t be able to go to Blue Moon Village and come back in time for the congregation of heroes here at Lam Mansion in three days’ time if we wait around for my marriage competition." Suk Yu objects.

"Don’t worry, Suk Yu. We’ll be able to hold your marriage competition and go to Blue Moon Village." Yin Yuk reassures her daughter. "I plan to move up the marriage competition to tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Suk Yu repeats, stupefied by the abruptness of the competition.

"Yes, tomorrow." Yin Yuk confirms. "I know it’s short notice, but it’s unavoidable. We’ll have all our servants spread the news by dawn of tomorrow. Once we determine a winner at the competition, I want you and your new fiancé to take off immediately to Blue Moon Village. If you two travel with two of our fastest horses nonstop, you should reach Blue Moon Village by nightfall tomorrow. You will then have approximately one day to investigate the matter of Sit Chung Nam and Black Rose before hurrying back in time for the congregation of heroes to discuss how to defeat the Blood Shadow Palm."

When Suk Yu remains silent, still somewhat shocked by the sudden change in plans for her marriage competition, Yin Yuk sighs. Placing her hands on her daughter’s shoulders, she speaks in a soothing tone. "Suk Yu, believe me, I do not wish to take your marriage competition as a light matter, switching the dates back and forth. If it were possible to keep the original date of your competition, I would do so. However, I cannot go to Blue Moon Village myself. With your father away, I must stay at Lam Mansion just in case chaos erupts and the martial arts community comes knocking, just like it did tonight." Lifting Suk Yu’s chin up with her finger, Yin Yuk questions her daughter seriously. "Suk Yu, tell Mother the truth. Do you love this Yeung Lap Chun? If you do, I will cancel the marriage competition and betroth you to him."

"I don’t know, Mother." Suk Yu answers honestly. "I admit I have developed warm feelings toward him. He has taken good care of me so far." Covering her hands over her once broken heart, she continues, "I know, deep in my heart, that he loves me and that he will make a good husband, but I felt the same way about Ching Bong many years ago, too. And look how our relationship turned out." Her lips twist bitterly. "Bong’s betrayal made me doubt my own judgement of people’s characters. What if I am wrong about Yeung Lap Chun?" She faces her mother with scared eyes. "What if I entrust my love and happiness to him, like I did once to Ching Bong, and he betrays me like Bong?"

"Then what do you wish to do, Suk Yu?" Yin Yuk asks her daughter.

Taking in a deep breath, Suk Yu closes her eyes for a moment. When she opens them again, a new confident and decisive light appears in them. "I want to go ahead with the marriage competition tomorrow. I want to take a chance and let fate decide for me whom I will spend the rest of my life with."

Nodding slowly, Yin Yuk respects her daughter’s decision. "All right. Then, let’s plan on holding the marriage competition tomorrow. Glancing at the full moon peering in from outside the library window, Yin Yuk shoos Suk Yu along. "It’s late. You should get some rest. Tomorrow is your big day, and you should be bright-eyed and eager to greet the winner of the competition, your future fiancé."

Once Suk Yu has left the library, Yin Yuk stares down at the book still held in her hands. Reaching her hand toward the drawing the Black Rose, she traces her fingers along the curve of the maiden’s jaw. "Such beauty, such fragility." She murmurs. "What was your life like, being one of the leaders of the most powerful clans of your time? What was your relationship with your elder sister, Poison Snake? How did you attract the attention of the young leader of the infamous Floating Cloud Sect? Did you love him, or did you loathe him? But most importantly, how did your suitor defeat your elder sister’s all-powerful Blood Shadow Palm? And what happened to both of you after defeating Poison Snake? How come there is virtually no information left behind about both of you?" However, only silence greets Yin Yuk’s flurry of questions. Black Rose’s large, mesmerizing eyes stare back at Yin Yuk from the drawing. Her smile, secretive and alluring, challenges Yin Yuk to unveil the mysteries of her life…

OUTSKIRTS OF CITY OF HOI YEUNG
WOODS
EVENING

"Little Brother!" Sai Chung yells breathlessly, as he runs after Chi Chi. The two heavy travel sacks, looped in a crisscross fashion on his back, swing back and forth, colliding against each other and slowing him down, as he gives chase, trying to keep Chi Chi in sight.

Without stopping, Chi Chi turns around to glance back at Sai Chung. "Hurry up, Big Brother Sai Chung! Come catch me!" Giggling, she tears joyously deeper into the woods, leaping up and down like a child, trying to capture the dried leaves drifting down from the tall trees.

With only sparse moonlight to guide him, Sai Chung follows her into the woods. "Little Brother, wait for me! It’s dark and I don’t want to lose sight of you! It could be dangerous in the forest, so wait for me!" Sai Chung warns her.

However, Chi Chi, just like always, pays no heed to his words. She zips cheerfully deeper and deeper into the woods. The darkness quickly cloaks her figure.

Exasperated, Sai Chung rushes after her. However, she has already disappeared from sight. As he ventures further into the dense forest, a thick blanket of mist shrouds the ground. Tiny puffs of vapor break off from the blanket covering the ground and snake their way up the tree trunks like tentacles curling and strangling the trees. With visibility more and more difficult, Sai Chung calls to Chi Chi again.

"Little Brother? Little Brother?" He squints his eyes, hoping to be able to make out Chi Chi’s silhouette in the darkness. "Little Brother!" He calls out again.

However, only his own echo bounces back at him. Glancing around worriedly, a chill suddenly races down his spine, causing him to shiver, despite the balmy night. Slowing down to a standstill, Sai Chung listens carefully, praying to hear Chi Chi’s laughter. The seconds tick by, but he could only hear his own heart pounding in his head, obnoxiously and frighteningly loud. A trickle of sweat snakes down his temple as he swallows, trying to gulp down the dry lump obstructing his throat. A sense of dread envelops him, just like the last time he thought Chi Chi was murdered.

Something is amiss. He can feel it. His heart screams at him to rip through the forest looking for Chi Chi. But his more rational mind tells him to calm down and approach the situation with extreme care. Trusting his instincts, Sai Chung shifts the travel bundles higher up onto his shoulder. Taking one cautious step at a time, he advances further into the woods.

Cool, frothy fingers of mist surround him, creating a curtain of haze in front of him. Darting his eyes left and then right, he listens intently for any clues of Chi Chi’s whereabouts.

"Little Brother?" Sai Chung calls.

He waits and waits. Nothing but dead silence answers him.

Then, out of nowhere, a screech reverberates sharply through the night, its sickening high-pitched sound like metal grating against metal. Sai Chung swings around to face the noise, his heart thumping. From within the darkness, an animal, possibly a very large wild cat or cougar, leaps through the air, its fangs glistening lethally in the mist-shrouded night. Swerving swiftly to the right, he dodges the animal’s attack. The animal disappears into the darkness as suddenly as it has appeared. Spinning around toward the direction in which the cat has vanished, Sai Chung raises his hands in attack position. At just that moment, the large cat vaults forward again from its hiding place, its sharp claws raised. This time prepared for the attack, Sai Chung sweeps forward with his Silent Palm, sending a direct hit to the cougar’s trunk. The animal catapults backward from the impact of Sai Chung’s palm energy, its body flying through the air like a rag doll before landing heavily on the ground. With one final weak whimper, the cat dies.

Breathing heavily, Sai Chung steps closer to the corpse, as he starts to become cognizant of a revolting stench in the air. "What is that awful smell?" He nearly gags from the fetid odor. "It smells like rotting flesh." Looking down at the dead animal, Sai Chung shakes his head in confusion. "But this cougar just died, so the smell of decomposing flesh can’t be from it." Pondering about the origin of the foul odor, he suddenly freezes as a thought pops into his head. "Wait!" He murmurs to himself. "Wild animals are out prowling the grounds. They must be feeding on dead bodies somewhere else in this forest!"

Now with his worry for Chi Chi’s safety a thousand times magnified, he races through the woods, screaming her name. "Little Brother! Little Brother, where are you?"

At that moment, another high-pitched cry echoes through the darkness, this one belonging to a human female.

"Chi Chi!" Sai Chung gasps to himself upon hearing her scream. Throwing caution to the wind, he thrashes through the thick groves of trees like a wild man. "Little Brother! Where are you?"

The scream rings out again, allowing Sai Chung to follow the sound to a clearing in the forest. His vision, already limited by the darkness of his surroundings, further blurs as loose branches and twigs slap against his face, obstructing his view. Batting aside the foliage, he bolts forward. As he nears the clearing, he sees a petite form hunched over something against the base of a large tree trunk.

"Little Brother!" Sai Chung pants. Relieved at finally finding her, he starts to smile.

At that instant, Chi Chi turns around, causing Sai Chung to halt in his tracks, as his heart nearly stops at the sight in front of him.

While the moonlight is sparse elsewhere in the woods, here in the clearing, a generous wash of silver light bathes the entire area, throwing Chi Chi’s tear-stained face in stark relief against the inky blackness of the forest. Sitting amid a pool of dark red blood, she raises bloody fingers weakly toward Sai Chung, her eyes blank and hollow, expressionless…

**tweety365** · 09-03-10, 10:33 PM

YEAH!!! I haven't read the chapter yet

but couldn't help showing my excitement

. Wallace and SFF together

.

Sorry for delaying the other poster Mel. I've just been so super busy with work and personal activities. I went to 2 weddings and there are 2 more before year end. In between, I've been studying to pass the last part of my exam. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. After passing, I am going to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and just be a couch potato

EDIT - read the chapter

. Is Chi Chi in danger again?! Why?!

Also, me thinks Lam Siu Tin found the Blood Shadow Palm manual left behind by Black Rose and other information, but hid them for his own evil use!

**Melanie** · 09-03-10, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by tweety365

YEAH!!! I haven't read the chapter yet

but couldn't help showing my excitement

. Wallace and SFF together

.

Sorry for delaying the other poster Mel. I've just been so super busy with work and personal activities. I went to 2 weddings and there are 2 more before year end. In between, I've been studying to pass the last part of my exam. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. After passing, I am going to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and just be a couch potato

Oh, hey! Hi, tweety! No problem regarding the second poster. Take as long as you like, since exams are more important. Besides, I'm lucky you are making me anything at all, since this is purely out of the kindness of your heart. Thanks, sweetie!

Good luck on your exams! I love weddings! Were you a bridesmaid? Regardless, you must have looked beautiful.

EDIT - read the chapter

. Is Chi Chi in danger again?! Why?!

Also, me thinks Lam Siu Tin found the Blood Shadow Palm manual left behind by Black Rose and other information, but hid them for his own evil use!

I'm really tempted to reply to your guesses. I REALLY am, but I will refrain from doing so. Too many spoilers if I do. Thanks for being the first to comment! It's always nice to know I at least have one person reading.

**Melanie** · 09-04-10, 12:37 AM

OMG! I just found some hot pictures of Wallace Chung. This is not entirely off topic.

Just stare at these pics and imagine that naked torso when you read about Sit Chung Nam (Wallace Chung).

**tweety365** · 09-04-10, 12:41 AM

Girl, you know I will be here for you! Not bridesmaid, only bridesmaid once and it was sooooooo tiring. Was a mere guest

Yes, you are so secretive about your plot. I love the story behind Black Rose and her hot, smexy lover already

. Fingers crossed nothing bad happens to Chi Chi. Can only patiently await your next update. Thanks for a great read!

OMG JUST NOTICED THE PICS YOU POSTED! LORD HAVE MERCY!!!

I think I'm gonna have a heart attack!

**Melanie** · 09-04-10, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by tweety365

Girl, you know I will be here for you! Not bridesmaid, only bridesmaid once and it was sooooooo tiring. Was a mere guest

I was maid of honor for one of my best friend's wedding. It wasn't too bad, but then again, she wasn't a demanding bride.

Yes, you are so secretive about your plot. I love the story behind Black Rose and her hot, smexy lover already

. Fingers crossed nothing bad happens to Chi Chi. Can only patiently await your next update. Thanks for a great read!

Ah, sexy Wallace Chung. I actually thought of making his character, Sit Chung Nam, goody goody, but then I changed my mind. Nowadays, I have developed a liking for wuxia bad boys, so I made Sit Chung Nam baaaad!

I can't seem to remember who your favorite gal in the story is - Chi Chi or Suk Yu.

OMG JUST NOTICED THE PICS YOU POSTED! LORD HAVE MERCY!!!

I think I'm gonna have a heart attack!

My sentiments exactly when I saw those pictures on the internet.

So I thought I would rattle some other people's heart rhythms with his naked torso pictures, also.

**tweety365** · 09-04-10, 11:00 AM

Mel, I blush just gazing at those pics. Obviously, they are saved to my hard drive

. I giggle like a love sick school girl. So embarrassing!

I think Wallace excels in the baddie roles, so your decision was

If only I can see Wallace show that kind of devotion to SFF in the series they starred together. That would be so wonderful. Thanks for fulfilling my request

Oh, so far my fav couples are gigi/kevin and kristry/ekin (in no special order).

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