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Thread: Lu Xiaofeng Book 4: Silver Hook Casino

  1. #41
    Moderator Ren Wo Xing's Avatar
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    Keep it up! This is proving to be a really fascinating story.
    Read the latest chapters of Coiling Dragon at Wuxia World!

  2. #42
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    Too bad, I kinda like Ding XiangYi! I hope she's okay!

    Rob

  3. #43
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    Shi Fu, how about adding 'Xiaofeng Cheering' to our club's name?
    It was often said, "Among horses, Chi Tu (Red Hare). Among retards, Lu Bu."

    Vice-President of Wuji Haters Club!

    Originator of "Wuv Kuddly Hamsty" activity.

  4. #44
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    Thanks, foxs for the update.

    Lifeburner, we were doing nothing since completion of HSDS. We might as well cheer Xiaofeng. :P
    "Big Hero Linghu kills frogs with the Dugu Nine Swords!”


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    thanks. it's an awesome story and a good translation. keep going.

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    Quote Originally Posted by foxs View Post
    Thanks for the support. Can't always promise regular updates though. I have only so much free time and have to juggle many things.
    It seems to me you are making mighty fine use of that free time.

    Missouri.slim

  7. #47
    Senior Member IcyFox's Avatar
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    Wow 4 chapters in a month is simply amazing!

  8. #48
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 4 - Part 3

    Four very short chapters (compared to Jin Yong, that is ...)
    ------------------------------------

    Although the Black Tiger Hall was a new organization within the Jianghu, their organization was tight and their influence was enormous. Some said that it had already surpassed the Green Shirt Pavilion of the former days. It was backed by strong and solid financial resources that even the Beggar Clan and the Diancang Sect could not compete.

    The Beggar Clan has always been the biggest clan of the Jianghu, while Diancang's disciples were all of rich families; plus there was a gold mine on the Diancang mountain. Therefore, these two organizations have always been the richest.

    But Black Tiger Hall was actually richer.

    Money will make the Devil turn millstones, they say. The main reason the Black Tiger Hall was able to rise so rapidly was exactly because of its riches.

    Lu Xiaofeng: "They say the Black Tiger Hall is fearsome because it has too much money. Naturally the defense of their treasury is very strict."

    Fang Yuxiang: "I believe so."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "These last couple of days I found out that the number of martial art masters who work for Black Tiger Hall is a lot more than I imagined. What ability does Ding Xiangyi have that she was able to empty their treasury?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Her ability might be superficial, but whatever little ability she has is enough."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Oh?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Who is the Hall Leader of Black Tiger Hall?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Flying Jade Tiger." [orig. 'Fei Tian Yu Hu', lit. jade tiger flying to the sky]

    Fang Yuxiang: "She is Fei Tian Yu Hu's wife."

    Lu Xiaofeng was shocked.

    Fang Yuxiang: "I heard when Fei Tian Yu Hu was not home recently, Ding Xiangyi seized the opportunity to clean up the Black Tiger Hall's treasury and eloped with one of Fei Tian Yu Hu's pageboys."

    She laughed, and then continued, "Actually, you shouldn't be surprised. She is not the first, and definitely won't be the last of women who steal their husbands' valuables and elope with a 'little white face' [see my previous note in Chapter 3]."

    Finally Lu Xiaofeng sighed: "Looks like this 'little white face's ability is not to be trifled with; he was able to make her brave this kind of danger."

    Fang Yuxiang laughed: "Are you jealous?" [orig. 'eat (or drink) vinegar']

    With a straight face Lu Xiaofeng said coldly, "I just want to see what kind of man he is, that's all."

    Fang Yuxiang: "Too bad you will never see him now."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Why?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Because he has been chopped into eight pieces by the Five Warriors of Liao Clan, stuffed in a box and shipped back to the Black Tiger Hall."

    The Five Warriors of Liao Clan must be the five men who followed him earlier.

    Now Lu Xiaofeng understood, they were not following him at all, but tailing Ding Xiangyi.

    Fang Yuxiang: "After the 'little white face' was dead, she realized that the Black Tiger Hall was hot in pursuit. Only then did she get scared, therefore ..."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Therefore, she looked for me."

    Fang Yuxiang: "Everybody in Jianghu knows that the Four-eyebrowed Lu Xiaofeng is not someone to be messed up with. Even the Emperor is his good friend. Even the Master of the White Cloud Castle and Yan Duhe have fallen under his hands. With an escort of this caliber, surely the Black Tiger Hall would not dare to act rashly."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "But they did not know that I have three even fiercer escorts protecting me in secret."

    Fang Yuxiang: "That's why out of the thirteen people who came, twelve have already died."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Who is the last one?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Fei Tian Yu Hu."

    Lu Xiaofeng's countenance changed. "He is also coming? Where is he?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "He seemed to be outside a moment ago. I think he must be going home now."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Why?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Because he must have found the person he was looking for. In handling his business, he always draws a clear line between gratitude and grudges. He knew that you are merely a puppet exploited by Ding Xiangyi. Therefore, he will not come looking for you."

    Lu Xiaofeng coldly said, "Therefore, I should feel relieved, because Fei Tian Yu Hu's martial art skill is simply too high, his ability is so awesome that if he comes looking for me, I will definitely die."

    Fang Yuxiang sweetly said, "I have no doubt that you are not afraid of him, but it's always best to avoid this kind of troublesome issue."

    Lu Xiaofeng turned his head around to look at her. Suddenly he asked, "Probably Ding Xiangyi's knowledge of Black Tiger Hall is not any clearer than yours."

    Fang Yuxiang sighed: "To tell you the truth, I was the one who introduced her to him, consequently, when she offended him like this, I also am losing face."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Also because he did not marry you but married Ding Xiangyi instead, you were very angry and then went out to gamble everything you have, in the end you married the Blue Beard."

    Fang Yuxiang nodded. She said softly, "That's why I do not have any emotional attachment toward the Blue Beard. In all honesty, I regret ever marrying someone who owns a gambling establishment like him."

    It does not matter whether it was a man or a woman, when one is going through a heart-breaking experience, one would usually drink to drown one's sorrow or gamble to gain happiness, and then casually pick just anyone to be one's partner. But when one's head is clear afterwards, it usually is already too late to regret.

    This is a tragic story, but also a very common one.

    The man is too busy dealing with his business outside, the woman cannot bear the loneliness, and thus cheating with someone else, so much so that they eloped together.

    This kind of affair is also very common.

    Ding Xiangyi was afraid Lu Xiaofeng would pay no attention to her if he knew the truth; hence she did not give the Yin Kid any opportunity to speak, and thus she took the initiative to strike the first blow to silence the witness.

    Seeing Fang Yuxiang had arrived, originally she wanted to slip out unnoticed; but as soon as she went out, she discovered Fei Tian Yu Hu's trail. Without any better option, she was forced to return to the room. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxiang forced her out again.

    There was a very plausible answer to each of his questions. But Lu Xiaofeng was still not satisfied. For some reason he always felt that there was a conspiracy in the midst of all these, a secret he was not able to penetrate.

    "They say Fei Tian Yu Hu is a very mysterious character; he has never revealed his true identity."

    A leader of a secret organization must always maintain his mystery, only then can he live quite a long life.

    Lu Xiaofeng: "But you are an exception, you must have seen him."

    Fang Yuxiang concurred. "I have seen him many times."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Actually, what kind of person is he?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Lately, many people believe the Jianghu's two most mysterious personalities, the two most fearsome people, are the Two Jades of the North and West."

    The west had a Jade, the north also had a Jade. Bumping into these two Jades, the game was as good as lost. [Translator's note: the character 'yu' in both 'Yu Luocha' and 'Fei Tian Yu Hu' means 'jade'.]

    Fang Yuxiang: "Since he shares the same reputation as the Western Region's Yu Luocha, he must be similarly vicious and ruthless, a similarly astute and fierce character."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "What does he look like?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Although he is more than forty years old, he looks about thirty-six, thirty-seven years old. His stature is short and small, his eyes look like a hunting hawk."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "What is his surname? What is his name?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "I don't know."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "You don't know?"

    Fang Yuxiang: "Perhaps he has a very bitter past that he has never revealed his real name and origin in front of others. I am no exception."

    Her hand suddenly started moving again.

    Lu Xiaofeng was still motionless.

    In a tender voice Fang Yuxiang said, "Now that you know everything, what are you afraid of?"

    Lu Xiaofeng did not respond.

    Fang Yuxiang: "The night is very deep, the wind outside is also very strong, are you cruel enough to drive me out?"

    Her voice was sultry, full of passion, her hand was even more stimulating.

    Finally Lu Xiaofeng sighed and said, “Of course I won’t drive you out, but I …”

    Fang Yuxiang: “But you what?”

    Lu Xiaofeng stopped her hand, “I only want to clarify one thing.”

    Fang Yuxiang: “What matter?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Ding Xiangyi came to me because she wanted to use me as her shield. What about you?”

    Fang Yuxiang: “Do you think I am here to exploit you as well?”

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed: “I truly wish you came here because you had a liking for me. Too bad I would still not believe it even after I drank thirty catties of wine.”

    Fang Yixiang: “Because you know you are not someone who thinks himself to be a gift to women?”

    With a bitter smile Lu Xiaofeng replied, “I was, in the past; and that is the reason I still live even today. It truly is not easy.”

    Fang Yuxiang also sighed. “If you must know the truth, I will tell you the truth. I came here to strike a business deal with you.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “What business deal?”

    Fang Yuxiang: “I want to trade your Luocha Tablet with my body. I will give you my body first then when you get the Luocha Tablet, you must give it to me.”

    She laughed, then continued, “I am the Blue Beard’s wife, if after finding the Luocha Tablet you give it to me, you can be considered successful in your mission, hence you won’t suffer the least bit of loss.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “And if I cannot find it?”

    Fang Yuxiang: “That’s a risk I am willing to take. I will not blame you at all.”

    Her voice was even sultrier, even more passionate: “The night is already this deep, the wind outside is so strong, in any case I do not dare to go out.”

    Unexpectedly he did indeed stand up and walked out the door without turning his head. Suddenly a ‘Crack! Bang!’ was heard, the spacious and sturdy wooden bed collapsed.

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed.

    Hearing Fang Yuxiang cursing and swearing, his laughter was even more cheerful. “You prevent me from having a good night’s sleep, I won’t let you have a good night’s sleep as well.”

    He was not a sage, nor a gentleman.

    Fortunately, he was Lu Xiaofeng, the one and only Lu Xiaofeng.

    Who can imagine where he would sleep tonight?

  9. #49
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    LoL, thanks foxs+Eliza

  10. #50
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    Sure they are short chapters, but there is an update about every other day. We don't have to wonder if you are going on sabbatical. LXF book 3 took a little over 2 years to translate if I remember correctly. I mean no offense to Moinllieon or anyone else involved in the project-- the first three LXFs were the first three translations I read while I was lurking and they are the reason I started an account.

    Missouri.slim

  11. #51
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 4 - Part 4

    He slept on the roof. Hence by the time he woke up the next morning, he was almost dry blown by the wind, blown until he turned into a ‘wind chicken’ [not sure, orig. 風鷄 Can anybody tell me what a ‘wind chicken’ is?].

    Apparently someone sometime should think oneself to be a gift to women so that one would sometimes enjoy better days.

    He sighed and strained to stretch his body really well before he was able to move his hands and feet. Luckily Fang Yuxiang had left. Nobody would be able to spend the night on a shattered bed.

    Nobody would want to go up the roof to vent her anger to him, therefore, she unleashed her rage on his clothes.

    When he wanted to change clothes, he found out that all his clothes had been torn to pieces. Except one long robe, on which someone had written these characters using the rouge Ding Xiangyi had left behind: “Lu Xiaofeng, your guts is smaller than that of a chicken; why don’t you change your name to Lu Xiaoji?” [Translator’s note: ‘Xiaofeng’ - Little Phoenix, 'Xiaoji" - Little Chicken.]

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed.

    “Even if I am a chicken, I won’t be a ‘little chicken’.” Feeling his blown-dried face he said, “At least I should be a ‘wind chicken’.” Wind chicken was very nourishing.

    Other than wind chicken, there was a dish of cured meat, a dish of scrambled eggs, and a dish of cucumber pickled in soy sauce.

    Lu Xiaofeng drank four large bowls of sweet smelling and hot sticky rice porridge before he finally put his chopsticks down. Although he was a bit sore all over his body, his heart was very happy.

    It was a pity that his happiness has always been short-lived.

    He was about to order the fifth bowl of porridge when someone coming from the outside delivered a letter for him.

    The stationery was very exquisite, the handwriting was also very delicate. “Has that troublesome fox left yet? I do not dare to call on you. Do you dare to call on me? If you don’t, you are a grandson of the turtle.”

    Lu Xiaofeng recognized the courier as the inn’s attendant. From the tone of the letter, Lu Xiaofeng also recognized it as Ding Xiangyi’s.

    So she had not died yet?

    “This Miss Ding is the same Miss Ding who came in with Mister Guest yesterday.”

    Indeed she had not died yet.

    Immediately Lu Xiaofeng forgot all the soreness on his body, just like someone who suddenly hears the singing of the ‘Tan Appeals to the Heaven’ opera outside. He sprang up instantly, “Where is she? Take me to her, quick! If I don’t go, I am the grandson of a turtle’s grandson.”

    The door was unlocked.

    Pushing the door open, he smelled a scent even sweeter than the osmanthus flowers.

    There were no osmanthus flowers inside the room, but there was someone, someone who was lying on the bed.

    It was not the first time Lu Xiaofeng smelled this kind of fragrance. It was precisely the scent of Ding Xiangyi’s body.

    Ding Xiangyi was indeed very fragrant.

    The person lying on the bed was indeed a very fragrant person.

    The sunlight streamed in through the window. The room was serene and elegant, making one’s heart full with joyful and warm feeling.

    She was lying on a spacious soft bed, covered in cotton quilt embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks playing on the water.

    Scarlet quilt, emerald-green mandarin ducks, her face captivating pink, her jet-black hair shiny; obviously she had just finished grooming herself.

    The woman was pleased and ready, she was waiting for him.

    Lu Xiaofeng felt warmness creep into his heart again, but he deliberately maintained a straight face as he said, “Why do you want me to come? Are you going to return those fifty-thousand taels of silver banknotes to me?”

    Ding Xiangyi also deliberately closed her eyes and ignored him.

    Lu Xiaofeng sneered: “If one already has three-hundred thousand taels of gold, why would one want to take fifty-thousand taels of silver?”

    Ding Xiangyi still did not pay him any attention, but from her tightly shut eyes two streams of tears suddenly flowed down.

    Crystal clear tears, flowing slowly along her captivating pink cheeks, just like dews on the petals of a rose.

    Lu Xiaofeng’s heart softened again. He slowly walked over. He was thinking of saying some rather gentle words.

    He had not said anything. Because suddenly he realized something strange – Ding Xiangyi’s body seemed to be a little bit shorter. The lower part of the quilt seemed to be empty.

    Why?

    Lu Xiaofeng did not even dare to think. He grabbed the corner of the cotton quilt embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks playing on the water and raised it up. Suddenly he felt as if he sank into cold water. His body, from top to bottom, was ice-cold.

    Ding Xiangyi was still fragrant, she was still pretty, her breasts were still full and tender, her waist was still soft and slender, but her pair of hands, her pair of feet, had disappeared!

    The sunlight was still streaming in through the window, but the warm bright sunlight had turned more dazzling than the tip of a sharp needle.

    Lu Xiaofeng closed his eyes; immediately he saw a thin small face with eyes like a hawk, filled with malicious hatred. The face was grinning fiendishly at Ding Xiangyi, as if he was saying, “I cut off your hands, I want to see if you still dare to steal my gold. I cut off your feet, I want to see where can you run?”

    Lu Xiaofeng clenched his fists, tight.

    A man has every right to get his eloped wife back. He did not resent Fei Tian Hu Yu for this. When he knew Ding Xiangyi was captured, he only felt sourness and sadness, nothing more.

    But this was a different story.

    Nobody has any right to harm others. He abhorred violence, just like farmers hate locusts.

    When he opened his eyes, he found out that Ding Xiangyi was looking at him. She had been looking at him for a while.

    Her eyes did not contain any anger, only sadness. All of a sudden she softly uttered two words, “Go away!”

    Originally she wanted him to come; now that they have met, why did she want him to go away? Was it because she did not want him to see her wretched condition? Or was she afraid Fei Tian Yu Hu would return unexpectedly?

    Perhaps she wrote the short note under Fei Tian Yu Hu’s coercion. Perhaps it was a trap.

    Lu Xiaofeng gently set the quilt down. He pulled a chair and he sat by her bed. Although not a single word came out of his mouth, his meaning was loud and clear: “I will not go away.”

    It did not matter the reason she wanted him to go away, he was determined to stay, to keep her company.

    Because he knew that this time was definitely a time when she needed company the most. When he was lonely, didn’t she also come to keep him company?

    Lu Xiaofeng was not a narrow-minded person. Although others had wronged him, he would quickly forget those offenses.

    He preferred to remember only other people’s kindness.

    Obviously Ding Xiangyi also understood his intention. Other than sadness, now her eyes were brimming with unspoken gratitude. “Now I am sure you know my story.” Her voice was so low, as if she was afraid others would hear her. “Obviously I have no way of taking those three hundred thousand taels of gold everywhere with me. In order to force me to reveal the whereabouts of the gold, he tortured me like this.”

    “And now certainly you have returned the gold to him; but why did you wait until he tortured you like this before you were willing to return it to him? Those gold were his to begin with, you should return it to him.”

    Lu Xiaofeng’s mouth stayed shut; of course he did not utter these thoughts. In reality he could not bear to hurt her anymore.

    The wind was blowing outside the window; one by one the falling leaves hit the shutters like a weary hand fiddled a zither bow, grating it across a rough tangerine-peel surface. Although it created a sound, it was a very distressing sound.

    What should he say now? Any consolation would be unnecessary, because whatever comforting words he was trying to say, she would not be comforted.

    After a long distressing silence she suddenly asked, "Do you know why I stole those three-hundred thousand taels of gold?"

    Lu Xiaofeng shook his head, he could only pretend he did not know.

    But Ding Xiangyi's explanation was beyond his expectation. "It was also because of that Luocha Tablet."

    It was not a good explanation, that's why it did not sound like a lie.

    Ding Xiangyi: "I know Li Xia took the Luocha Tablet. I also know that she has returned to Lao Wu [lit. old house]."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Lao Wu?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "Lao Wu is Rahasu. Rahasu is the local dialect, it means the Old House."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "You know Li Xia?"

    Ding Xiangyi nodded. Her face suddenly showed a very strange expression. After hesitating for a long time she softly said, "She is actually my stepmother."
    Last edited by foxs; 06-12-09 at 09:51 PM.

  12. #52
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    Quote Originally Posted by foxs View Post
    He slept on the roof. Hence by the time he woke up the next morning, he was almost dry blown by the wind, blown until he turned into a ‘wind chicken’ [not sure, orig. 風鷄 Can anybody tell me what a ‘wind chicken’ is?].

    Other than wind chicken, there was a dish of cured meat, a dish of scrambled eggs, and a dish of cucumber pickled in soy sauce.
    From the 2nd paragraph it sounds like some kind of air dried preserved chicken (think of parma ham, etc).

    However, I found a reference to "fengji" via Google. They are roof ornaments.
    http://readtw.ncl.edu.tw/readtw/town...4/triver13.htm

  13. #53
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    Quote Originally Posted by CFT View Post
    From the 2nd paragraph it sounds like some kind of air dried preserved chicken (think of parma ham, etc).

    However, I found a reference to "fengji" via Google. They are roof ornaments.
    http://readtw.ncl.edu.tw/readtw/town...4/triver13.htm
    I think its more commonly known as weathercock or weathervane.

    Han Solo
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    Quote Originally Posted by bliss
    I think they're probably at the same level as or one level below Ah Qing, which is about the level of a 2nd or 3rd generation Quan Zhen disciple.
    Troll Control

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    Quote Originally Posted by Han Solo View Post
    I think its more commonly known as weathercock or weathervane.
    Yes, but the Chinese ones appear to be static rather than freely rotating.

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    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 4 - Part 5

    But the ornamental chicken is not edible ... I agree with CFT's first guess, it was some kind of food.
    -----------------------------------------------

    This reply was even more beyond Lu Xiaofeng's expectation; she explained further, "Before Li Xia married the Blue Beard, she was my father's wife."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Your father ...?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "He is dead now. But Li Xia and I still keep in touch with each other."

    Li Xia was her stepmother, Fang Yuxiang was her older cousin. Her cousin had actually snatched her stepmother's husband, and her cousin actually introduced her to her current husband.

    Lu Xiaofeng suddenly realized that these three women had a very complex relation with each other. If she did not tell him, he would have never guessed it.

    Ding Xiangyi could see through his mind; she said mournfully, "Women are weak; there are a lot of who women have fallen into very unfortunate situations, they are often forced to do things they were unwilling to do. Not only men do not show the least understanding toward them, oftentimes men would also look down upon them."

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed. "I ... I understand."

    Ding Xiangyi: "This time, although what Li Xia did was wrong, I sympathize with her."

    "She stole her husband's Luocha Tablet, you stole your husband's gold. What you did were the same, of course you sympathize with her."

    Obviously Lu Xiaofeng did not say this thought out loud, but Ding Xiangyi could read his mind.

    "I said she did something wrong, not because she stole the Luocha Tablet," it was the first time her expression revealed grief and indignation, "If a woman has been abandoned by her husband, whatever she did to retaliate is justifiable."

    This is a woman's idea; most women will have this idea.

    Ding Xiangyi was a woman.

    Therefore, Lu Xiaofeng could only express his agreement.

    Ding Xiangyi: "I said she did something wrong, because she should not agree to sell the Luocha Tablet to Jia Leshan."

    Lu Xiaofeng's countenance changed. "Jia Leshan of Jiangnan?"

    He knew this man.

    Jia Leshan was a well-known rich man from Jiangnan; he was also known locally as a benevolent warrior. Only a very small number of people knew that in the past he was a notorious pirate of the four seas that even more than half of 'wokou' [my dictionary says 'Japanese pirates of the 16th and 17th century'] of the eastern world [orig. Dong Yang - modern day Japan] was under his command.

    The 'wokou' had always been known as bloody and cruel, vicious bandits, they were valiant and unafraid to die. Not only that, their natural disposition was capricious. The fact that Jia Leshan was able to subdue these people showed just how formidable and fierce he was.

    Ding Xiangyi: "I know Li Xia has had a negotiation with Jia Leshan's secret envoy who was sent to the Central Plains, even the price has been agreed upon. The transaction will be conducted at Rahasu. Payment is cash on delivery."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Since they have reached an agreement in the Central Plains, why must the transaction be at the remote small town way up north?"

    Ding Xiang Yi: “That is also one of Li Xia’s conditions. She knew Jia Leshan is always vicious and ruthless. For fear that he would eat her alive, she insisted that the transaction must be done at Rahasu.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Why?”

    Ding Xiangyi: “Because that is my father’s hometown. Also, she had lived there for ten years, she is very familiar with the people and the area. Even Jia Leshan would not dare to be reckless there.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “It seems like she is an unusually astute and fierce woman.”

    Ding Xiangyi sighed: “She has no choice but be astute, because she has fallen into men’s treachery too many times.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “But she told you this secret anyway.”

    Ding Xiangyi: “Because right after she got hold of the Luocha Tablet, the first person she looked for was me.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Oh?”

    Ding Xiangyi: “She also made a promise that if I could get two hundred thousands taels of gold by the end of the year, she would sell the Luocha Tablet to me …”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Why do you want that Luocha Tablet?”

    Ding Xiangyi: “Because I want revenge.”

    Clenching her teeth, she continued, “I have known long ago that Fei Tian Yu Hu has another woman, he has always considered me a hindrance; that woman obviously dislikes me even more. If I live a day longer, she could give up the idea to be Madame Clan Leader of the Black Tiger Hall forever.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Are you saying that they want to kill you?”

    Ding Xiangyi: “If not for my vigilance, I am afraid I would have died under their hands long time ago. But if I have the Luocha Tablet in my hand, they would not dare to deal with me.”

    If a woman is willing to spend two hundred thousand taels of gold on something, she must have a strong reason.

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Why?”

    Ding Xiangyi: “Because if I have the Luocha Tablet, that means I am the Cult Leader of the Luocha Cult. Even Fei Tian Yu Hu cannot help not to have at least a third part of fear toward the Cult Leader of the Western Region’s Demon Cult.”

    Her tired and sad eyes suddenly shone as she told a very astonishing secret:

    The Western Region’s Yu Luocha was dead. He died suddenly as his son was entering the Great Wall.

    “When my hundred years is over, whoever I pass on the Luocha Tablet to, will become the next generation Jiaozhu of our Cult. Whoever defy this order will have to suffer ten thousands cuts, will be dismembered by poisonous ants. After death will be imprisoned as a ghost and will not be redeemed for ten thousand years.”

    The Western Region’s Yu Luocha was certainly astute and fierce character. He was afraid after his death his disciples would massacre each other in their fight for power, and thus destroy the Cult he founded with his own hands.

    Therefore, when he opened up the mountain to establish his school, the first thing he did was personally drawing up this demonic jade law.

    Also because of this, he had already passed on the Luocha Tablet to his son. Too bad that Yu Tianbao was no different from children of affluent and wealthy families, he was a spoiled brat, the black sheep of the family.

    Ding Xiangyi: “If Yu Luocha knew that his precious son has pawned the Luocha Tablet, even in the netherworld he would certainly vomit blood in anger."

    Lu Xiaofeng exhaled slowly. Now he finally understood why there were so many people fighting with everything they got over the Luocha Tablet.

    "For the purpose of holding a memorial for Yu Luocha, and also inaugurating the new Jiaozhu, the Law Protecting Elders and various leaders within the Cult have decided that on the seventh of the first month next year, all important disciples will gather together on the Great Brightness Mirror of the Kunlun Mountains."

    "And if on that day you manage to bring the Luocha Tablet to that place, you will become the new Jiaozhu of the Devil Cult. From now on, absolutely nobody will dare to mess with you."

    The Western Region's Devil Cult not only possessed such a deeply rooted power and influence, their disciples were spread all over the world. Whoever became the next Cult Leader would immediately turn into the most influential character in Jianghu. With power and influence, naturally fame and riches would follow.

    No matter who you are, you would find this kind of enticement nearly impossible to resist.

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed. He suddenly realized that this matter had become increasingly complex, and his mission was also getting more and more difficult.

    But there was something he did not understand: "Why won't Li Xia personally take the Luocha Tablet to the Kunlun Mountains?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "Because she is afraid that she would die along the way before she reaches the Kunlun Mountains. She is even more afraid that she would not live to see the seventh of the first month next year."

    Before the seventh of the first month next year, regardless of who had it, this Luocha Tablet would be like a bomb, which could go off anytime, frying the holder into a torn body and crushed bones.

    Ding Xiangyi: "She has always been an astute woman; she knew the safest option would be to sell it to other people."

    She sighed before continuing, "A woman her age, who does not have anybody to lean on, whose spirit is always restless, would usually do everything she could to make more money, therefore ..."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Therefore, although you have a special relationship with you, she still wants you to pay her the two hundred thousand taels of gold."

    Ding Xiangyi grimly said, "It's a pity that my condition right now is more wretched than hers. I really don't have anything left in me."

    Forcing a laugh, Lu Xiaofeng said, "At least you still have a friend."

    Ding Xiangyi: "You?"

    Lu Xiaofeng nodded. Suddenly he felt an unexplainable feeling bubbling up in his heart. Originally they were not 'friends', but their relationship was actually closer than friends. Yet now...

    Ding Xiangyi looked at him. Her eyes revealed an unspeakable emotion. Who can say if it was sadness? Comfort? Or was it gratitude?

    After a long time, she suddenly asked, "Can you promise me a favor?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Tell me."

    Ding Xiangyi: "Now, even a Luocha Tablet is useless for me, but I still wish to be able to see it, because ... because I have sacrificed everything for it. If I cannot even look at it, I will not die peacefully."

  16. #56
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 4 - Part 6

    Lu Xiaofeng: "So after I find it, you want me to bring it here and show it to you?"

    Ding Xiangyi nodded, her gaze was fixed on him. "Will you promise?"

    How could Lu Xiaofeng not promise?

    "But it will take me at least a month; will you still be here at that time?"

    "I will," Ding Xiangyi was suddenly mournful, "Now I am no more than just a trash. It doesn't matter if I live or if I die, they will not pay me anymore attention."

    Her eyes turned red, and tears started to stream down. "Besides, for somebody like me, where else there is go?"

    The moon was gradually rising, outside was getting more quiet, the guests who should have hit the road have already left.

    Lu Xiaofeng gently wiped the tears on Ding Xiangyi's face with his sleeve then he sat back down.

    After another long pause, she sighed gently and said, "You should also go."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "You want me to go?"

    Ding Xiangyi laughed: "Certainly you cannot stay here with me forever?"

    Although she was laughing, her expression was actually more forlorn than when she was crying.

    Lu Xiaofeng was about to speak, but he stopped.

    Ding Xiangyi: "Do you want to say something?"

    Lu Xiaofeng nodded. There was something he originally thought he should not ask, because he did not want to rub salt into her wound; on this matter, however, he had no choice but to ask: "What kind of man is Fei Tian Yu Hu, actually?"

    Ding Xiangyi's answer was the same as Fang Yuxiang's. To his surprise, even she did not know Fei Tian Yu Hu's actual name. His life experiences stayed secret, his actions were unpredictable, his stature was thin and small, his eyes like a hawk. He would never trust anybody, his own wife was no exception. But his martial art skill was definitely very high, all throughout his life he had never met any who could be his match.

    The above points were the known facts.

    Lu Xiaofeng could not help but ask, "What kind of place is Rahasu?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "That place is just like Fei Tian Yu Hu, mysterious and frightening. The locals are usually narrow-minded, often show hostility towards foreigners and newcomers. Other than two people, it is best if you do not believe whatever anybody else is saying."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Who are these two people I can trust?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "One is called Lao Shanyang [lit. old mountain goat]; he was my father's old business partner. The other is Chen Jingjing, she grew up with me. If they knew you are a friend of mine, they would certainly spare no effort in helping you."

    Lu Xiaofeng committed these two names into his memory.

    Ding Xiangyi: "Right after the Mid-autumn Festival [15th day of the 8th month of Lunar Calendar], the weather turns cold, day in and day out. By the middle of the tenth month, the river freezes."

    Lu Xiaofeng had also heard that once the Songhua River turned into ice, it became a strip of a flat and vast main street.

    Ding Xiangyi: "People who have never been there will have no idea how cold that place actually is. On the coldest days, the snoot flowing down from your nose will freeze into ice, even the breath from your mouth will become particles of ice."

    Lu Xiaofeng groaned inwardly, without realizing it he pulled his collar higher.

    Ding Xiangyi: "I know you are a Jiangnan person, so you must be very sensitive to cold weather. Therefore you'd better leave as soon as possible before the weather turns really cold. It’s best that when you are outside the Great Wall, you buy a fur-lined coat to protect you against the cold first."

    Lu Xiaofeng suddenly felt warm again. Regardless of what had happened, she cared about him after all.

    Knowing that somebody in this world cares about you is always a pleasing matter.

    But he still had one matter he must ascertain.

    After hesitating a moment he asked, “With the death of Yu Luocha, inside the Devil Cult there must be some unavoidable turmoil. His death must be kept a secret until today to prevent outside forces from entering by exploiting their weakness."

    "Not too many people knew about this secret," Ding Xiangyi agreed.

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Then how did you find out?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "In the Black Tiger Hall, there are three sections: White Pigeon, Grey Wolf and Yellow Dog ..."

    The Yellow Dog's responsibility is to trace and pursue. The Grey Wolf's mission is to fight and kill. The White Pigeon's task is to gather and distribute information.

    The Black Tiger Hall's rapid rise could be attributed in part to these three highly efficient and well-managed major sections.

    Nearly all famous characters of the Jianghu; their lives' stories, their appearances, martial art skills and origin, as well as personal strengths and weaknesses, including their hobbies and indulgences, were all documented properly in the White Pigeon section.

    "That's why before I even saw you, I already know what kind of person you are," Ding Xiangyi concluded.

    Was it because she knew he had a weakness against women, so she came to him to make him her shield?

    Lu Xiaofeng did not want to think about this aspect. Others wronged him, he did not want to think too much about it. That was the reason he was able to maintain a bright, cheerful and open-minded attitude.

    Ding Xiangyi laughed suddenly, a forlorn and bitter laugh. "Actually, I used to occupy two positions in the Black Tiger Hall."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Oh?"

    Ding Xiangyi: "Not only I was the Hall Leader's punch bag, I was also the Head of the White Dove Section."

    Finally Lu Xiaofeng left.

    Ding Xiangyi was right, certainly he could not accompany her in this place for the rest of their lives.

    The weather was still very clear. The sun was still shining with the same brightness. But his mood was actually not as cheerful as only a moment ago.

    His mind was burdened with his mission, which was growing in complexity and difficulty. Thinking about how he was implicated in all these troublesome matters, he wished he could just jump into the river.

    The courtyard was full of falling leaves. Amidst the continuously falling autumn leaves, a girl of thirteen, fourteen was standing alone underneath a tree, as if she was going to be swept away by the autumn wind any minute.

    She had a letter in her hand. Her frightened eyes were looking at Lu Xiaofeng, from top to bottom.

    Lu Xiaofeng came over to her and smiled suddenly. "Are you waiting for me?"

    The girl was startled; she pressed her back closer to the tree. With a frightened voice she stammered, "Are you ... are you that Four-Eyebrowed Lu Xiaofeng?"

    Lu Xiaofeng smiled. "I am Lu Xiaofeng. Who are you?"

    The girl replied, "I am Qiu Ping." [lit. autumn duckweed]

    Looking at her frail stature and timid appearance, perhaps her life story was as sad as floating duckweed.

    Women are weak creatures. Too many girls have a tragic life story, encountering a very pitiful experience.

    But isn't this world a man's world?

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed. With a gentle voice he said, "Didn't Fei Tian Yu Hu tell you to come?"

    Qiu Ping nodded.

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Didn't he want you to give this letter to me?"

    Qiu Ping nodded again. Holding the letter with her pair of pale hands, she gave it to Lu Xiaofeng.

    The stationery and the ink were of a top quality, the handwriting was also surprisingly very elegant.

    To Mr. Xiaofeng:

    Mister is a great hero of this age, an absolutely extraordinary man, Di [younger brother, referring to self] has long admired you, it is a great regret that I fail to make a personal acquaintance with you. About my wife Xiangyi, since she has already been bequeathed by Mister's kind affection, Di can only give up my treasure and offer her to you, as a token of my meager appreciation, wishing Mister would kindly accept.

    Another day, when we are destined to meet, there will be food and wine at the Green Plum Pavilion, where Mister and I will commune and drink for ten days.

    Also, the board and lodging expenses of this place, Di has paid in full until the end of the month. Enclosed please find the receipt from the Inn, please accept accordingly.

    In addition, here is the divorce certificate of my wife to clear all formalities, please also accept accordingly.

    The signature underneath was indeed Fei Tian Yu Hu.

    Suppressing his anger, Lu Xiaofeng read the letter until the end. Suddenly he discovered that his self-cultivation had made some progress, he did not tear the letter away.

    Qiu Ping was still standing there, her pair of big eyes was still scrutinizing his face. She seemed to be very interested in this four-eyebrowed handsome man.

    Lu Xiaofeng smiled: “Are you waiting for my reply?”

    Qiu Ping nodded. Fei Tian Yu Hu naturally wanted to know very much how would Lu Xiaofeng respond after reading his letter? How was his expression?

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Go and tell him that I very much appreciate his gift, and thus I also want to give something to him.”

    Qiu Ping: “Do you want me to deliver it back to him?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “You have no way of bringing it back; he must personally come and get it from me.”

    Qiu Ping seemed to be afraid. “But… “

    Lu Xiaofeng: “But there is no harm in me telling you what kind of gift I prepare for him, so you can go back and tell him.”

    Qiu Ping relaxed. “What do you prepare for him?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I want to give him an a**hole.” [Translator’s note: I am not sure about this, the original was 屁眼, pi yan, pi – fart, yan – eye (or classifier for big hollow things)]

    Qiu Ping was startled.

    She did not understand. She wanted to ask, but she did not dare to ask. She wanted to laugh, but she did not dare to laugh.

    Lu Xiaofeng did not laugh. “I want to give him an a**hole on his nose.”

    End of Chapter 4.

  17. #57
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    A long reading update for me :-) Thanks!

  18. #58
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
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    Default Chapter 5 - Part 1

    You are welcome.
    ------------------------------------------

    Chapter 5 – Suddenly Acquiring Ill-gotten Gains
    Translated by Foxs, Edited by Eliza Bennet)

    ‘Cursing people’ is definitely not something you recommend to others, but it is definitely something that always has a good reason behind it. Anybody who has just spontaneously cursed somebody who he hates most will certainly cheer up, his mood will be happy, just like someone who has had constipation for several days and suddenly he can go freely.

    Too bad that Lu Xiaofeng had never been able to maintain this kind of happy mood for too long.

    Leaving the inn, he walked in big strides along a dusty road, with yellow sand billowing in the distance. But before he even covered half a li, he suddenly discovered two things that would extremely displease him.

    Other than the Sui Han San You and himself, he did not see any other traveler nearby, no more people were following behind him.

    Other than a little bit of spare change, which he prepared for tips, not even a wen adorned his pocket.

    He always liked company, he liked to see all kinds of people bustling around him. He did not care even if he knew that some of those people bore malicious intentions against him.

    Isn’t ‘poverty’ also a loneliness of some kind? Why is it that loneliness always follows poverty?

    When you are rich, it is so easy for you to chase loneliness away. But when you are penniless, you will find that loneliness is just like your own shadow, even if you whip it, it would not go away.

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed. For the first time he realized that the wind blowing straight to his face was really cold.

    At lunch Lu Xiaofeng only ate a bowl of sheep’s innards soup and a couple of bread rolls. Those three old freaks were actually ordering four catties of choice cut mutton, five or six stir-fried dishes, and seven, eight fresh wheat steamed buns, plus several pots of wine.

    Lu Xiaofeng really wanted to go over and tell them: "You old men eat too much of greasy food, your bellies must be hurting."

    Since the meal was not enjoyable, he should have not left any tip. Too bad that when somebody was used to be a big boss, the big boss attitude could not change even when they had fallen into the bottom of the pot.

    Therefore, after paying the bill, the amount of money in his pocket reached a pathetic stage.

    Rahasu was still very far on the horizon. He could not steal, he could not swindle some money, it was even less possible for him to beg. If it were someone else in his place, there is no way that person would have continued walking this road.

    Fortunately Lu Xiaofeng was not someone else.

    Lu Xiaofeng was Lu Xiaofeng. No matter what difficulty he encountered, he always seemed to find a solution.

    When the dusk fell, the wind was blowing colder; the road was devoid of any travelers.

    With his hands behind his back, Lu Xiaofeng walked leisurely, as if he had just finished a very satisfying meal and had enjoyed good wine, and right now he was strolling along the busiest street in Beijing, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

    Although the bread rolls in his tummy had already been digested long time ago, he was laughing in his heart; because no matter how slow he walked, Sui Han San You could only follow behind him nicely.

    Everybody knew Lu Xiaofeng was more slippery than a fish, he was more sneaky than ghost. If they let down their guard in the slightest, they could forget even seeing his shadow. If he did not stop for dinner, they certainly did not dare to stop for dinner.

    However, travelling this dusty road on empty stomach, with only northwest wind for them to drink, definitely would not make them too happy.

    In all their lives Sui Han San You had never received this kind of treatment from anybody. Mr. Gu Song finally could not bear anymore. With a wave of his long sleeve he flew like a floating cloud and landed in front of Lu Xiaofeng.

    Lu Xiaofeng was all smiles. "Why are you stopping me? Am I walking too fast for you?"

    With an ashen face Mr. Gu Song asked, "I only want to ask you a question."

    He was not someone who had a good sense of humor, much less right now that what was left in his stomach was anger. "I am asking you, do you know what time is it now?"

    Lu Xiaofeng blinked his eyes several times. "Looks like now is dinner time."

    Mr. Gu Song: "Since you know it, why don't you hurry up and find a place to eat?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Because I am not happy."

    Mr. Gu Song: "Happy or not, you must eat."

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed: "Being forced to have sex and being forced to gamble I have heard, but I have never heard anybody being forced to eat."

    Mr. Gu Song: "Now you have."

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Whether I eat or not, why do you care?"

    Mr. Gu Song: "Everybody has to eat. Don't tell me you are not human?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "That's right, everybody has to eat. But there are kind of people who cannot eat."

    Mr. Gu Song: "What kind of people?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "People who are too broke to eat."

    Finally Mr. Gu Song understood. With a gleam in his eyes he said, "And if someone is inviting you to eat?"

    Lu Xiaofeng said lightly, "It depends."

    Mr. Gu Song: "Depends on what?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "It depends on whether he invites me wholeheartedly."

    Mr. Gu Song: "If I wholeheartedly want to invite you, will you go?"

    Lu Xiaofeng smiled, "If you really want to invite me, certainly it is improper for me to reject."

    Mr. Gu Song stared at him. "You don't have money to eat and want to be invited, yet you don't want to open your mouth and ask, but waiting for me to open my mouth and ask you first.

    Lu Xiaofeng said indifferently, "Because I know you will definitely come to ask. And since you have come, not only you must take care of my meals, you have to take care of my lodging as well."

    Mr. Gu Song fixed his gaze on him for half a day before he finally heaved a long sigh and said, "The rumor floating around the Jianghu is truly not wrong. Dealing with Lu Xiaofeng is really not easy."

    Good dish, good wine, good tea.

    Mr. Gu Song: "Drink!"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "I don't drink a little."

    Mr. Gu Song: "If you want to drink then you must drink until you are satisfied, right?"

    Lu Xiaofeng: "Not only you need to be satisfied, you must drink it fast, too."

    He really filled his cup full of wine, then raising his head, he poured the wind into his mouth and swallowed.

    The way he drank his wine was not really 'drink', but actually 'pour'. Although there are many people in the world who can 'drink' wine, not too many can actually 'pour' wine into their mouths.

    Mr. Gu Song looked at him. For the second time there was a gleam in his eyes. He also filled his cup full, and downed it.

    Unexpectedly, his drinking method was also 'pour'.

    Lu Xiaofeng cheered in his heart: "This old fellow's pouring skill is really not bad."

    Mr. Gu Song drew a smug look on his face. “Drinking wine not only must be fast, it has to be painful too.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Painful?”

    Mr. Gu Song: “Painful to drink. Three cups or five cups, even if you can drink faster, it’s nothing.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “How many can you drink?”

    Mr. Gu Song: “Drinking much is also considered nothing. Drinking much without getting drunk, now that can be considered a real skill.”

    This cold and arrogant old loner, when he chatted about wine, it looked like he had changed into a different man.

    Lu Xiaofeng smiled. “How much can you drink without getting drunk?”

    Mr. Gu Song: “I don’t know.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Are you saying that you have never been drunk?”

    Mr. Gu Song did not deny at all, he asked back, “How much can you drink without getting drunk?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I only drink one cup and I felt a bit tipsy already. I drink more cups and I still feel the same.”

    For the third time a gleam appeared on Mr. Gu Song’s eyes. “So you have never really been drunk?”

    Lu Xiaofeng did not deny; he simply raised his head and poured another cup of wine down his throat.

    For a chess player, meeting a worthy match is a very interesting matter; for a drinker, meeting a worthy match is equally satisfying.

    For people who don’t drink wine, seeing this drinking match was a very senseless matter.

    Qing Zhu [lit. green bamboo] and Han Mei [cold plum] were not interested in watching them, their expressions showed nothing. They stood slowly and walked out the door.

    The autumn night was as cold as the water.

    Two men, with their hands behind their backs, looked up to the sky for a long time before Qing Zhu slowly asked, “How long has it been since Lao Da [lit. old big or old first, eldest child in a family or the leader of a group] got drunk the last time?”

    Han Mei: “Fifty-three days.”

    Qing Zhu sighed: “I’ve known it all along that he will be very drunk one time today.”

    After a long time Han Mei also sighed and said, “Since for how long have you not been drunk?”

    Qing Zhu: “Twenty-three years.”

    Han Mei: “After the three of us got really drunk that day, you have never touched a single drop of wine?”

    Qing Zhu: “Among the three of us, as long as there is one who’s always sober, we can live a bit longer.”

    Han Mei: “Two people sober even better.”

    Qing Zhu: “Therefore, you also have never touched a drop in more than twenty years.”

    Han Mei: “Twenty one years and seventeen days.”

    Qing Zhu smiled, “While in fact your alcohol capacity is greater than Lao Da.”

    Han Mei also smiled, “The one with the greatest alcohol capacity is certainly you.”

    Qing Zhu: “But I know that in this world there is no one who has never been drunk.”

    Han Mei nodded. “That’s right,” he said, “If you drink, you will get drunk.”

    If you drink, you will get drunk. This saying has never changed from time immemorial. Therefore, Lu Xiaofeng was drunk.

  19. #59
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    Heh. Gu Long's legendary drinker status rears it's head again!

    Nice how Lu's getting his minders to take care of him!

    Rob

  20. #60
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    Default Chapter 5 – Part 2

    The room was very spacious, with a very big fire in the fireplace. Lu Xiaofeng was lying down, stark naked on a very big bed.

    He always thought that sleeping with your clothes on was just like farting with your pants down. Not only it was troublesome, it was also totally superfluous.

    It doesn’t matter who you are, when you drunk, you would get a very deep sleep. Lu Xiaofeng was not an exception. It’s just that he always woke up earlier than most people.

    Right now outside the window was still a layer of darkness, the room was also dark, but he was already wide awake. In the face of this cavernous emptiness, the boundless darkness surrounding him, he was only staring blankly as if his soul had left him.

    He remembered a lot of matters; many of those matters he could not tell others, not only that, he did not even want to remember those matters. Perhaps because he wanted to forget these matters that he intentionally challenged Gu Song to a drinking contest; he deliberately wanted to be drunk.

    But as soon as he opened his eyes, he would remember these matters.

    Why is it that things that should be forgotten always come back to haunt you? Why is it that things that should be remembered always slip out of your mind?

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed quietly. He got up without making a noise, as if he was afraid he might wake up the person sleeping right next to him.

    Was there anybody sleeping right next to him?

    Wasn’t he afraid of waking himself up?

    Right this moment he suddenly heard a soft sigh. Although there was not anybody sleeping by his side, there was somebody in the room.

    In the darkness he seemed to see a vague outline of a shadow, sitting motionlessly on a chair opposite his bed. He did not know when the person came; he also did not know how long the person had been sitting there.

    “Being drunk along the country road, he cannot bear to continue his journey,” that person sighed, and then continued, “But if this road is travelled too much, it’s like all the interest for it is gone.” [Translator’s note: this must be a quote from some famous verse, but I do not have the ability to provide you with the exact reference. Plus, I am never good at translating poems or quotations, so the above translation might be off. For these, please accept my apology.]

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed.

    In circumstances where everyone else was not able to laugh, he would always be able to laugh.

    With a smile he said, “I am surprised Sire is a very educated man.”

    The man: “I do not dare. It’s just that sometimes my heart is moved and I could not help but blurt it out.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Sire came in the middle of the night, I am sure not to say these words for me to listen?”

    The man: “I do have something else to say.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “And you insist that I listen?”

    The man: “Seems like that. Yes.”

    Although he was speaking softly in an even tempo, his voice was actually piercing with sharpness that was sharper than the tip of the needle.

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed and simply lay back down on the bed. “The matter that I have to hear, most probably is not something too pleasant. If I can listen lying down, why would I have to sit?”

    The man: “Listening while lying down, aren’t you showing too much disrespect toward your guest?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I believe Sire is not my guest. I have never even seen Sire’s appearance.”

    The man: “If you want to see me, it’s very easy.”

    He coughed lightly once, and the door behind him immediately opened. A flicker of flame appeared as a lantern was lit. Someone dressed in black, even wore black cloth mask, with a stature as slender as a bald eagle, standing straight like a javelin, suddenly appeared from the darkness.

    His hands were holding a bronze lantern. There was a sword scabbard hanging on his back. The lantern looked exquisite, antique and elegant; the sword also looked exquisite, antique and elegant, making him to look like someone who had been banished in hell for many years and then suddenly received the devil’s spell to hasten back to bring disaster to the world of the living as an evil apparition; so much so that the lantern seemed to emit an eerie bluish green light, bringing an unspeakable gloomy feeling into the room.

    The man sitting on the chair also appeared suddenly under the light.

    The fire in the fireplace was already out.

    Dark and gloomy light, dark and gloomy room, dark and gloomy man.

    His attire was very elegant, stunningly beautiful; his expression looked noble and graceful. His eyes fiery, with the dignity of one who used to give orders. But all in all, he still looked dark and gloomy, so much so that he looked more frightening than the man in black standing behind him.

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Not bad, not bad indeed.”

    The man: “Not bad? I do not look bad?”

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed: “Sire’s appearance surely does not differ too much to the one I’ve always imagined.”

    The man: “Do you know who I am?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Jia Leshan?”

    The man let out a breath softly. “You have seen me?”

    Lu Xiaofeng shook his head.

    The man: “But you actually recognize me.”

    Lu Xiaofeng smiled. “Other than Jia Leshan, who in their right mind would brave the cold to look for me in this desolate place? Other than Jia Leshan, who would have an ancient-sword-wielding, internal-energy-expert Wulin master like this as an escort?”

    Jia Leshan laughed out loud.

    His laughter was similar to his personality, carrying that kind of sharp, oppressive and mocking sentiment. “Good, Lu Xiaofeng is not ashamed of being Lu Xiaofeng, you indeed have keen eyes.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I do not dare. It’s just that sometimes I see something and I could not help but blurt it out.”

    Jia Leshan’s laughter stopped. He stared at him for a very long time before finally he slowly said, “Do you also know why I came?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I would rather hear it directly from you.”

    Jia Leshan: “I want you to come back.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Come back? Where should I come back?”

    Jia Leshan: “Come back to the soft and red wide-world of luxury, come back to those bright and glamorous restaurants and casinos, to the perfume and cosmetic-filled red light district. Those are places Lu Xiaofeng should go.”

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed and said, “That’s true, I also want to come back very much, it’s just that …”

    Jie Leshan cut him off, “I also know that recently you have been strapped and short of cash; therefore, I have already prepared something to tide you over.”

    He coughed again, and an old servant with long white hair, followed by two big men carrying a huge chest, walked into the room.

    The chest was brimming with ingots of dazzling yellow gold and white silver.

    Lu Xiaofeng frowned. “Where did this much money come from? Isn’t it troublesome?”

    Jia Leshan: “I understand that banknotes are more convenient, but they are not as real as gold and silver in the eyes of the beholder. If you want to move others’ heart, you must use quite the real thing.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Make sense.”

    Jia Leshan: “You are willing to accept?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “The money is moving the heart, why am I not willing to accept?”

    Jia Leshan: “You are also willing to go back?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I am not.”

    He smiled, and then continued: “Accepting is one thing, coming back is another. These two things are basically unrelated to one another.”

    Jia Leshan laughed.

    Unexpectedly, he was also the kind of man who could laugh when there was no reason for him to laugh.

    “This is the enticement by profit.” He smiled again, “For a man like you, I also know that this kind of enticement by profit will not be enough.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “What else did you prepare?”

    Jia Leshan: “Profit is not enough, naturally there is intimidation.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Very good.”

    The man in black suddenly said, “Very bad.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Bad?”

    Man in black: “Sire’s reputation covers the imperial court and the ordinary people, you make friends with everybody everywhere, even the current Emperor is good to you. If I kill a man like you, my trouble will not be a few.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “And thus you don’t want to kill me?”

    Man in black: “I don’t.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I happen to be not willing to die either.”

    Man in black: “It’s a pity that once my sword leaves its sheath, it must find blood.”

    Lu Xiaofeng laughed again. “Is this intimidation?”

    Man in black: “This is not only a warning.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “And after a warning?”

    The man in black slowly lay down the bronze lantern, and slowly raised his hand. With a sudden ringing noise, the sword had left its scabbard.

    A pale sword, as if it longed to drink the enemy’s blood to its heart’s content.

    Lu Xiaofeng sighed: “A truly rare hundreds-of-years-old weapon.”

    Man in black: “Are you sighing for yourself?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “No.”

    Man in black: “No?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “I am sighing for you. I am happy for you. When I am happy for others, I will also sigh.”

    Man in black: “Oh?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “You are wielding such a divinely sharp weapon, yet are willing to be a lackey for people like Jia Lezhan. You came all the way from Jiangnan, yet you did not meet that friend of mine at all. Your luck is really not bad.”

    Man in black: “And if I met that friend of yours, then what?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “If you did, then at this moment this sword was already his, and you had entered the yellow dust.”

    Man in black laughed coldly. “The tone of your voice is certainly not small.”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “It is not my tone, it is his.”

    Man in black: “Who is he?”

    Lu Xiaofeng: “Ximen Chuixue.”

    Ximen Chuixue!

    Long white robe floating like the cloud, a drop of blood slowly dripping from the tip of his sword …

    Sword’s ray like the lightning, eyes as cold as the stars.

    The blood dripped down, splashing …

    The veins appeared on the hand-holding sword of the man in black. The pupils of his eyes suddenly narrowed. “Too bad you are not Ximen Chuixue!”

    In this split second, his sword thrust forward, the sword’s ray was like a rainbow, the sword’s aura was bone-chilling!

    Astonishing power, from an astonishing position, with an astonishing speed!

    Such a sharp sword, thrust with such speed, its power was not inferior to a lightning bolt or thunder.

    Who in the world is able to resist a lightning bolt or a thunder?

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