Chu Liu Xiang (Chor Lau Heung) Summaries

Xue Hai Piao Xiang - Part 3

Original novel written by Gu Long

Fan translation by Athena

Chu LiuXiang rushed towards Mount Ni. When he arrived there was no trace of Qiu LingSu, but he saw that the urn was missing and the backdoor was open. He quickly pursued, suddenly he heard an evil laughter and someone saying: "You wouldn't let me touch you, and I agreed, what are you waiting for now? Jump off the cliff!"

Chu recognized the voice, it was Bai YuMo.

He heard Qiu LingSu saying: "I will die anyway, just give me final moments." At this point Chu saw them, Qiu LingSu was wearing a veil and stood near a cliff holding the urn (containing Ren Ci's ashes). Bai YuMo was holding a club smiling sinisterly. When Chu saw that only Bai YuMo was present, he was not so worried.

Bai YuMo shouted: "If you die early, you can reincarnate earlier! You're going to die anyway, what are you waiting for!"

Qiu LingSu:"Life is so precious, even living a moment longer is a good thing."

Bai YuMo bitterly said: "I have waited 20 years to avenge myself. Although I cannot kill old man Ren myself but seeing his ashes fly away and you leaping to your doom, I still have my little revenge."

Qiu LingSu: "How did you find me?"

Bai YuMo scoffed: "You think nobody knows of this place?"

Qiu LingSu: "Its location is not known to many people."

Bai YuMo laughed: "But someone took you here."

Qiu LingSu sighed: "I should have known he wouldn't let me live."

"You have asked your questions, now jump!," shouted Bai YuMo.

Qiu LingSu sighed again: "I should have died 20 years ago, why bother dwelling in this world."

"You still think someone will rescue you? Stop dreaming!" Bai YuMo said.

Qiu LingSu said:"At this point, I am afraid no one will able to save me. I wonder how death is like?"

She clutched the urn tightly and wanted to jump down.

Suddenly Chu shouted: "Bai YuMo, although I haven't killed anyone before, if you move a single hand I will kill you."

Chu jumped in front of him and pulled Qiu LingSu away from the cliff. Bai YuMo raised his club to strike Chu LiuXiang, but Chu pushed away his club and struck him down. His club fell into the cliff.

Chu smiled and said:"Aren't you going to leave?" Bai YuMo couldn't believe his ears. Chu LiuXiang was letting him go.

Chu told him: "If you regularly think of why you're still living then from now onwards you would be a better man."

Bai YuMo quickly left.

Chu apologized to Qiu LingSu for coming too late. Qiu said it didn't matter because he came after all. She said she guessed only Chu was intelligent enough to understand her final 2 sentences. She did everything possible to buy herself some time when Bai YuMo appeared.

Everything Qiu LingSu did wasn't out of survival she wanted someone to know her secret, and then she could go away peacefully. Chu asked her about the letters she wrote to Zuo YuoZeng, XiMen Qian, etc.

She felt remorseful because she was in a way responsible for their deaths. Qiu LingSu asked Chu whether he heard of the story of *Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han dynasty. Although he was the emperor, he had to listen to others and other people used him as a puppet.

These last 3 years Ren Ci's situation was similar to this poor emperor.

Chu LiuXiang asked: "Who controlled him?"

Qiu LingSu replied: "NanGong Ling!"

Chu LiuXiang said: "It is him after all."

Qiu LingSu said that NanGong Ling was an orphan, Ren Ci raised taught him martial arts and he was a bright young boy.

Chu asked how Ren Ci could have been rendered powerless. Because he knew that Ren Ci had powerful martial arts. Qiu said that although he was old his martial arts didn't decline and he was still very vigorous. But somehow these 3 years he suffered from a strange disease not only did he became weak and feeble but his arms and legs were paralyzed.

Chu commented no one could escape the clutches of disease.

But according to Qiu this wasn't a natural illness. Chu asked her whether someone used poison, Qiu replied that NanGong Ling poisoned Ren Ci.

NanGong Ling feigned filial duty and tricked everyone into believing that he was innocent and Ren Ci suffered from a strange disease. Furthermore, if he killed Ren Ci, someone might get suspicious so he used this plan to place Ren Ci under house arrest. Everyone in the Beggars Association knew that NanGong Ling will be the heir to the leadership of the Beggars Association. So everyone agreed that NanGong Ling would take over all of Ren Ci's duties as leader.

When Ren Ci and Qiu LingSu discovered his plans, they were unable to stop him anymore. When she told this story her voice changed, Chu knew these 3 years must have been a living hell for them.

Chu asked her why nobody in the Beggars Association knew something was wrong, but according to Qiu he covered his tracks so good nobody saw anything suspicious. And he told all the elders that Ren Ci wanted to live on Mount Ni to recover and didn't want to be disturbed.

Also, NanGong Ling forced her to write those 4 letters, in order to expand his own power and the Beggars Association he needed a lot of money.

He also knew that Qiu LingSu and those 4 murdered martial arts experts were old friends and wanted to use her to get more finances.

Chu concurred because all 4 men had power and wealth. Zuo YouZeng was the leader of the Celestial Star Association, XiMen Qian was an elder of the ZhuSha Zhang School, LingYing Zi was a prominent figure of the HaiNan School. HaiNan School had lots of property and Zha MuHe was known as the 'King of the Desert', who had acquired lots of money.

Qiu LingSu also knew that NanGong Ling was using her, but she wanted to use this opportunity to contact her 4 old friends. If she could give them a clue of her present situation they would surely help her. And with 4 martial arts experts and 3 prominent martial arts schools on her side, Ren Ci and herself could surely foil NanGong Ling's evil plans.

However just one day before the rendezvous, someone came to see NanGong Ling. They two of them had an argument, Qiu LingSu didn't know what they were arguing about but NanGong Ling and this mysterious man changed their ideas and wanted to kill those 4 men.

The next day, NanGong Ling brought a bowl of ginseng soup for Ren Ci. Qiu LingSu suspected there was something wrong with that soup and used 3 different methods to check the soup. But the soup seemed fine and Qiu LingSu was a renowned user of poison herself 20 years ago.

She thought the soup was safe and Ren Ci could use some nourishment so she let him drink the soup.

After Ren Ci drank it his body was all swollen and soon he died. Chu LiuXiang concluded that NanGong Ling must have used The Sacred Water of the Divine Water Palace.

Qiu LingSu couldn't believe NanGong Ling was capable of killing his own teacher and godfather, but he did. Chu concluded that NanGong Ling was evil but the mysterious man was the mastermind behind the entire plan. He was even more ruthless.

Chu said: "This mastermind must also the person who impersonated TianFeng ShiSi Lang."

Qiu asked Chu how he knew this name, Chu LiuXiang asked her whether she knew this man.

She said she didn't but Ren Ci often spoke of him. She told a story of many years ago, at that time Ren Ci was just leader of the Beggars Association when he received a challenge from TianFeng ShiSi Lang. He accepted and went to meet somewhere in the Fukien province.

Ren Ci didn't want to tell everybody about this duel and only took elder ShiTu, who died some years back, to the battle.

Within a few stance he was able to strike TianFeng ShiSi Lang down. It seemed TianFeng had suffered from a heavy internal injury not long ago and died that very same day.

Before he died he asked Ren Ci to do something for him. Qiu LingSu asked Ren Ci many times what he wanted Ren Ci to do but he didn't tell her.

After some time she guessed what that thing was. Every time Ren Ci saw NanGong Ling he felt remorseful and when NanGong Ling poisoned him he didn't even hold a grudge against him. He even said he was sorry causing NanGong Ling so much grievance.

NanGong Ling was the son of TianFeng ShiSi Lang and he asked Ren Ci to take care of his son.

Chu said: "This isn't fair, old master Ren is being punished for something which was an accident 20 years ago."

Qiu LingSu said: "If this is heaven's retribution, then heaven is too unfair."

Chu LiuXiang was still puzzled as to who the mystery man who knew Japanese martial arts was. Qiu said that mystery was up to Chu to solve, she had told everything she knew.

Chu LiuXiang asked Qiu LingSu a favour--he wanted to see her face.

Qiu sighed and said these 20 years only 2 men saw her face. One was Ren Ci, the other was Chu Liuxiang. After saying this she removed her veil.

He thought he would see the face of a goddess but he saw a face of a monster. Her entire face was destroyed, not a piece of normal skin.

She told Chu LiuXiang why she wore a veil and only 2 persons ever saw her face these 20 years. She said if Chu came 20 years earlier he could have saw her true face.

Chu apologized and said he was very happy to see her charm and her elegance. Qiu even said she thanked the person who destroyed her face because of her she knew true happiness. Chu asked who ruined her face.

Qiu LingSu asked him: "Have you ever heard of the "Stone Avalokitesvara?" Chu saw shocked when he heard that name.

Qiu said he must heard of her, she is supposed to be the most beautiful woman on this world and also has the best martial arts of this world. Chu asked whether she had any grudges with her. Qiu said she never even met her before.

One night she came to look for Qiu LingSu and looked/observed her for 2 hours. Before she left she asked what Qiu wanted--to stay alive but with a mutilated face or to die with her pretty face.

3 months later she would come back to see what choice she made and left a small bottle of poison behind. She gave Qiu 3 last months to enjoy her beauty. Qiu went to see the best painter of the time--Sun PuWen--to paint 4 portraits. And she couldn't escape--if the Stone Avalokitesvara wanted you dead, there was no escape. On the completion of the portraits, the 3 months were up, she didn't want to die and used the poison. After she used it, she lost her senses and poked out the eyes of Sun PuWen.

For a few months she lived like an animal, but then she was found by Ren Ci who took care of her. She hated him for rescuing her. Every day Ren Ci came by she cursed him, hit him. But he always came back with that friendly smile warm character.

When she said these words she gently touched the urn.

She gradually accepted him and fell in love with him. She knew only Ren Ci truly loved her. He was the leader of the largest WuLin association but still he would come by and comfort her.

Chu commented that Ren Ci wasn't in love with her beauty but with her soul. And that will never change.

Qiu thanked him for these words and said he and Ren Ci could have become good friends.

She said Ren Ci knew that when a woman lost her beauty she will have nothing to live for and only love and companionship can ease the suffering so he sacrificed himself to accompany an ugly woman. She gently said she always knew he was the sweetest and kindest man that lived on this world.

Chu said: "It is not sacrifice, although he couldn't marry the most beautiful woman in the world, he married the most gentle, the most elegant and the most considerate wife in this entire world."

Qiu LingSu thanked him again for his most kind words.

Chu said: "I have never heard of a more touching love story than this one."

She gently touched the urn again and said: "Only Ren Ci could give me 20 years of happiness and serenity, but you give me a tranquil and grateful mind. I can die in peace now."

Chu said: "Die?"

Qiu LingSu gently said:"After Ren Ci died I lived because I wanted to expose NanGong Ling's evil plans, my wish is fulfilled. Do you think after he died I truly want to live on?"

Chu LiuXiang saw Qiu LingSu jump towards her death but couldn't stop her. He knew her mind was made up, nothing he did could/would stop her from dying. Chu was filled with sorrow and anger, he quickly rode back to JiNan. He wanted to confront NanGong Ling.

He entered the mansion where NanGong Ling and all the other beggars were staying. It seemed deserted, he only saw NanGong Ling sitting in the hall. Chu approached him, NanGong Ling asked whether he knew everything. Chu answered positively.

NanGong Ling said no one could blame him for killing Ren Ci. He just avenged his father, no one in WuLin could judge him.

Chu said the elders and other disciples of the Beggars Association wouldn't accept the killer of their old leader as their new figure-head. NanGong Ling knew also knew this and asked Chu why he interfered in his affairs.

NanGong Ling asked Chu LiuXiang whether he remembered the first time they met. Chu said he could remember vividly.

Some years ago, the 4 Brothers of JiLu raided a convoy of money protected by the Dual Righteousness Group. The 4 brothers even kidnapped the daughter of the head-protector. Chu rushed there to help, but when he arrived he saw NanGong Ling defeating the 4 brothers. He was very impressed by him and became good friends. Once NanGong Ling came to Chu's houseboat and in 5 days they drank all of the wine on board. NanGong Ling even painted a portrait of Su Rong Rong. They caught a large turtle and they held a contest who could eat the most and as result both of them had an indigestion. Chu LiuXiang and NanGong Ling both laughed heartily as they both reminisced about these past events.

However the laughter died. NanGong Ling told Chu these days could stay the same if he kept what he knew a secret.

Chu remained silent for a while and sighed: "If there is something that could touch my heart, that thing must be friendship."

NanGong Ling was very happy to hear this and asked whether he would truly say nothing.

Chu said he would. NanGong Ling said: "Chu LiuXiang is indeed a true friend of NanGong Ling."

Chu spoke again: "But I have 2 conditions, the first one is you have to resign from the Beggars Association and go to a secluded place to think over your mistakes."

NanGong Ling scoffed: "How long do I have to stay away? 10, 20 years! How many 10 or 20 years does a person have?"

Chu said all he wanted was that NanGong Ling would do penance for his crimes. NanGong Ling sneered and wanted to know what the second term was. Chu wanted to know who the mastermind was behind this evil plan. Chu knew this man had a series of plans to create turmoil and he must be stopped.

Chu told NanGong Ling this man was using him, if the necessity arises he would kill NanGong Ling without a second thought.

NanGong Ling told Chu: "No one can stop him, he will never harm me. You don't even know my relationship with him."

Chu said: "I don't want to fight you, don't force me."

NanGong Ling shouted: "You're the one who keeps forcing me to destroy our friendship. If it must be, I will kill you."

Chu said: "You're no match for me, don't attack me."

NanGong Ling sneered: "Really!"

NanGong Ling remained seated in his armchair and he flew up. Chu LiuXiang did the same, they exchanged 7 palms in the air. Both landed, Chu LiuXiang gently floated back to his original place. NanGong Ling landed too but he pressed against the armchair causing the chair to make cracking noise and he looked pale.

NanGong Ling yelled: "You don't get conceited Chu LiuXiang. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

He waved his hand and a big man walked in, he was carrying a chair. A girl sat in the chair. It was Su RongRong.

NanGong Ling used her as a hostage, he wanted to force him to comply with his wishes. Otherwise, Su RongRong will be killed. He would also take Su RongRong with him just to ensure his own safety. Seeing no other alternative, Chu LiuXiang was about to comply when a whip curled around the big man's neck. Chu quickly advanced forward to rescue Su RongRong. NanGong Ling wanted to intercept but was stopped by a long sword. It was Yi DianHong.

Hei ZhenZhu and Yi DianHong came to Chu's rescue. Chu was very happy to see them. Hei ZhenZhu tried to pull the big man down but the man had incredible strength and pulled back suddenly. The whip broke and the big man suffocated.

Yi DianHong and NanGong Ling looked at each other. NanGong Ling was willing to pay Yi DianHong 100,000 taels of silver if he helped him to kill Chu LiuXiang.

Yi DianHong coldly asked: "Is Chu LiuXiang worth so much?"

NanGong Ling said if Yi DianHong killed him no one would pay him. Yi DianHong agreed because in his eyes NanGong Ling wasn't worth anything and he attacked. NanGong Ling avoided 7 swords and flung his chair towards him and quickly drew his sabre.

Both were equally well-matched. At this time Chu LiuXiang was massaging one of Su RongRong's acupoints, she gradually woke up. Hei ZhenZhu was annoyed by this and hinted that Chu LiuXiang didn't care less if his friend was engaged in mortal combat, the only thing that concerned him was his beautiful female friend. Chu smiled and replied that Yi DianHong didn't like people to interfere with his fights. Suddenly Yi DianHong was hurt, his left shoulder was bleeding, but soon Yi DianHong wounded NanGong Ling.

Hei ZhenZhu took a careful look at Su RongRong and coldly said she looked very pretty. Chu said she wasn't just pretty. Hei ZhenZhu said there are plenty of women who are more beautiful than her. Chu said that could very well be true but in his eyes she is the most considerate, gentle girl ever. Not many women can compete with her. Hei ZhenZhu turned his head and ignored them.

NanGong Ling called out to Chu LiuXiang: "I think the two of us shouldn't solve our problem, call of your friend."

Chu said: "I would love to but when Yi DianHong starts a fight no one can urge him to stop."

Yi DianHong jumped away and said: "I quit not because you say so, but I can't kill him, he can't kill me. There is no thrill in his battle."

Chu thanked him. Yi DianHong said: "You don't have to thank me. Just remember Yi DianHong will always be your friend." As he said this he was gone.

NanGong Ling told Chu to follow him if he wanted to solve this matter.

Chu asked Hei ZhenZhu to take care of Su RongRong. But he would stay here a bit longer because he had some questions he wanted to ask NanGong Ling.

They stopped at the DaMing lake, both of them entered a small boat. There was wine and food prepared.

NanGong Ling said "he" told him to go to this place if he couldn't solve the problem.

Chu asked him whether he was sure he would come. NanGong Ling said he will arrive soon, because only "he" can stop Chu LiuXiang.

NanGong Ling poured two cups of wine and told Chu to drink--it may be his last one. NanGong Ling gulped the wine down and sighed. He wished that Chu LiuXiang never discovered this secret. He said he didn't want to see a friend die. Especially a friend whom he captured a turtle with. He laughed faintly and frowned when he saw Chu not drinking. He asked Chu why he did not drink. Chu smiled and said he should know that Chu LiuXiang is a very careful man. NanGong Ling laughed and said he poured them from the same bottle. Chu said a careful person always lives longer. NanGong Ling laughed even louder saying no one is foolish enough to believe that mere poison is capable of killing Chu LiuXiang. So why should "he" even bother.

All of a sudden NanGong Ling's face changed. All his veins popped out. "The wine," he exclaimed. Chu LiuXiang quickly came to his help but he couldn't see signs of poison. He suddenly remembered something--The Sacred Water of the Divine Water Palace. "He" didn't want to poison Chu, but NanGong Ling.

NanGong Ling couldn't believe "he" would poison him. Chu LiuXiang explained to NanGong Ling if NanGong Ling died no one will be able to reveal "his" secret. Chu asked him to reveal "his" identity. At this time NanGong Ling was all swollen up, his skin split open and blood gushed out of his eyes and finger tips.

NanGong Ling said with pain: "I don't believe "he" wants to poison me. I don't believe it."

Chu said:"Why don't you believe it! Are you willing..."

NanGong Ling painfully said: "Do you know who "he" is?"

"Tell me who "he" is!" Chu said.

NanGong Ling said: "No one knows this secret, " he" is my older brother."

Chu LiuXiang was shocked and sighed: "That's why you trust him, and followed his instructions. But tell me, who is your brother?"

NanGong Ling opened his mouth but only blood came out and he will never be able to speak again.

Chu LiuXiang was extremely tired, he was still in the boat of NanGong Ling. Everything he did was in vain. NanGong Ling is dead, he didn't reveal the identity of this brother. Chu was really feeling depressed.

But suddenly it hit him, TianFeng Shi Si Lang challenged another person first. So his first opponent must be a famous martial arts expert, perhaps even more famous than Ren Ci. Secondly, this expert must be someone who doesn't like vanity. Thirdly, this person must also be a benevolent man. Lastly, he must live in the southern parts of China, because TianFeng ShiSi Lang couldn't travel that far with heavy internal injury to fight Ren Ci. But with his deduction he narrowed down the possible people.

He hears someone calling him, it was Hei ZhenZhu. Hei ZhenZhu said that Su RongRong already went back to the houseboat and he demanded that Chu LiuXiang would give him information about his father the King of the Desert, Zha MuHe. Chu LiuXiang apologized and said his father already passed away. The remains of his father was put away safely on his boat and he could ask Su RongRong to take him to see his father.

Hei ZhenZhu asked whether Chu killed his father. Chu told him if he saw Su RongRong she could explain everything to him and as for one of the murderers, he was inside the cabin. Hei ZhenZhu rushed inside, Chu jumped on his horse and said he would return it as soon as possible and rode away.

He headed towards south and hoped to find clues of the missing brother and the first opponent of TianFeng ShiSi Lang.

He arrived at a small village and he decided to rest for a while in a teahouse and ordered some tea. In these parts of China, they had exquisite tea-leaves.

He saw 2 middle-aged men dressed nicely. One of them had a large beard, the other had a pockmarked face. Chu recognized the pockmarked face man. He was called Qian MaZi. 7 years ago he was attacked by 2 imperial martial arts expert but he was saved by Chu LIuXiang.

Qian MaZi and the other man were discussing tea-leaves, it seems that Qian MaZi had some very fragrant and precious tea-leaves that he intend to give to someone. He said this martial arts expert loved tea very much. The other man was very curious to know who this person was and asked. Qian MaZi said whether he had heard of reverend TianFeng.

The other man said:"Reverend TianFeng of the southern ShaoLin monastery?" Qian MaZi said he was correct.

Chu Liuxiang suddenly thought of something and he approached the 2 men. He asked Qian MaZi whether he still recognized him, Qian MaZi didn't recognize him. Chu asked whether he remembered 7 years ago.

Qian MaZi quickly respectfully asked: "Are you...." Chu interrupted him saying that he didn't need to tell his name.

The other man didn't have a clue who this young man was but he knew Qian MaZi to be a rather famous expert and seeing him talk so respectfully to this young man, he knew that Chu must be a very famous expert. He quickly introduced himself, his name was Fong TianHe. Chu said he had heard of him before and was very glad to meet him.

The 3 of them started talking. Chu LiuXiang asked Qian MaZi about reverend TianFeng. According to Qian MaZi when the reverend CiXin of the northern ShaoLin monastery died, reverend TianFeng should be the next abbot and leader of the ShaoLin school but he didn't want to be the new leader and gave his position to his other martial arts brother reverend TianHu. TianFeng moved to the southern ShaoLin monastery because there he could frequently taste his favourite tea-leaves. Chu asked how long TianFeng has been the abbot of the southern ShaoLin monastery. Qian MaZi said more than 20 years. He was very happy to hear that and asked him how was Ren Ci compared to reverend TianFeng concerning status and martial arts.

Qian MaZi said in his opinion Ren Ci was famous and had superior martial arts but reverend TianFeng was the most prominent and respected martial arts expert of the entire WuLin realm.

Chu LiuXiang thought aloud and said the name of TianFeng ShiSi Lang. Qian MaZi asked who this man was. Chu said this was a very strange man who challenged 2 top martial arts expert and leaders of 2 important schools and before he died he left his 2 sons in the care of these 2 experts.

Chu again had an idea, he was thinking aloud and said perhaps TianFeng Shi Si Lang wanted to die and wanted to secure the futures of his 2 sons. Also, he knew that reverend TianFeng and Ren Ci wouldn't just adopt a child but if he died at their hands they would surely comply to his last wish.

Qian MaZi couldn't make heads or tails out of Chu's thoughts and asked who one of the sons was.

Chu said the youngest son was NanGong Ling. The other one was the mysterious killer. He sighed and said he hoped the other son wasn't that person he had in mind. Qian MaZi asked what killer. Chu said this mysterious killer had already killed 9 people. His next target would be reverend TianFeng.

He asked whether he could take the tea-leaves to reverend TianFeng instead. Qian MaZi said that wouldn't be a problem.

On his way to the southern ShaoLin monastery he met another martial arts expert named The Bald Eagle. He was looking for Chu because the elders of the Beggars Association wanted to track down the killer of NanGong Ling and they asked their friends for help and they said Chu LiuXiang could help them to avenge their dead leader. Chu said 3 days later he would tell him and the elders who the killer was and left.

Chu couldn't get in the ShaoLin monastery undetected. And he didn't want to formally pay his respects so he sneaked inside. So he created a diversion. all the monks thought someone came to steal the ShaoLin martial arts scriptures so almost every monk went there to protect the scriptures making it easy for Chu to look for reverend TianFeng.

He suddenly saw WuHua and sitting towards him, an old skinny monk. The old monk was about to drink a cup of tea.

Chu LiuXiang jumped out and said he couldn't drink the tea.

Reverend TianFeng carefully put down the cup and asked what he could do for Chu. WuHua introduced him and reverend TianFeng smiled when he heard Chu's name and praised his art of levitation.

Chu said he brought some exquisite tea-leaves for TianFeng. TianFeng was instantly curious about it. As they waited for the water to boil TianFeng spoke to Chu with a friendly smile: "As the water isn't ready yet, perhaps you have a few questions for me, and answering those questions now is the best time."

Chu discovered that this old monk was very sharp and his eyes were filled with wisdom. Chu asked him whether he could tell him what happened 20 years ago when TianFeng ShiSi Lang challenged him. The old monk sighed and told Chu the story of the battle between the HuaShan School and the Family Li of Mount Huang. The survivor Li Qi fled to Japan, met TianFeng ShiSi Lang and she disappeared again to go back to China to kill of her enemies. 4 of the 7 Swords of HuaShan killed and with that final deed she mysteriously disappeared. Her husband came looking for her, but in vain. In his sorrow he challenged reverend TianFeng and was defeated and injured. He asked reverend TianFeng to adopt his eldest son and told him where he was and quickly left. Reverend TianFeng rushed over to the place and saw Ren Ci and knew TianFeng ShiSi Lang had died.

After reverend TianFeng narrated the past events, the water began to boil. Chu took the liberty to make a cup of tea for reverend TianFeng. Chu thanked him for telling him this story. TianFeng asked him whether he had any more questions. Chu said he had none. Reverend TianFeng smiled and said he told him everything he knew and started tasting the tea and said: "This cup of tea is definitely better than the other cup."

Chu looked at TianFeng and he didn't know how much this enlightened, wise monk knew and couldn't stop to ask: "Do you have any questions you would me to answer?"

TianFeng casually asked: "Did old master Ren Ci pass away?" Chu said yes and said everything reverend TianFeng needed to know he feared he already knew. TianFeng nodded and Chu asked permission to talk to WuHua alone. TianFeng told them to go because everything that needed to be said must be said.

As WuHua took his leave and walked out of the little room, reverend TianFeng gave WuHua a very deep and complex look but didn't say a word.

They both left the ShaoLin monastery and stopped at a desolated area. WuHua and Chu LiuXiang started talking. WuHua said he wouldn't thank Chu for not exposing him in front of TianFeng. He knew Chu did that to prevent reverend TianFeng from feeling sad. And the friendship between them is also gone.

Chu asked him how he knew his past, WuHua said for a very young boy he knew a lot and he never forgot anything that happened. Chu said he knew how WuHua could get inside the Divine Water Palace.

WuHua admitted he stole the Sacred Water. Chu deducted although the Palace didn't allow men to enter but an elegant, handsome, and refined Buddhist monk could quite easily enter and that poor girl died for nothing. WuHua felt no remorse for the death of the girl who committed suicide and carried his child. He said she had her sweet moments and Chu shouldn't feel sorry for her. The reason for stealing the Sacred Water was to use it against reverend TianFeng and Ren Ci. Chu also said the mysterious killer was WuHua, he was also responsible for the failed assassination attempts on Chu's life, also the insane disciple of SuXin Shi Tai said the word "Wu" before she died and that meant she wanted to say WuHua.

WuHua said he thought by killing NanGong Ling every clue would die out. Unfortunately Chu was able to track him down and also he guessed that TianFeng ShiSi Lang must have left a manuscript for him because otherwise WuHua couldn't master Japanese martial arts.

Chu asked WuHua whether his deduction was accurate. WuHua simply replied that it was no concern to Chu anymore. Chu said he didn't want to kill anyone and he didn't want to harm WuHua.

Suddenly there was a flash of lightning, WuHua used his ShaoLin fist to attack Chu. This ShaoLin ShenQuan was renowned for its sturdiness and vigor. Chu LiuXiang returned a stance, it was simple and direct and it blocked WuHua's technique. WuHua used 18 fists and were all blocked by Chu and he suddenly changed technique and used his fingers. He used his fingers to shoot at Chu's acupoints this was the famous TanZhi ShenTong (*I always thought Chu used TanZhi ShenTong but it seems that WuHua is using this technique in this novel).

But seeing TanZhi ShenTong couldn't defeat Chu LiuXiang he switched to another form of hand palms. He now used the FengPing Zhang (a ShaoLin technique). WuHua couldn't believe that Chu LiuXiang used the most simple techniques/stances to block and counter attack him. But every simple move is not simple when used by Chu LiuXiang.

Suddenly there was another flash of lightning and WuHua jumped up and threw a series of sharp objects at Chu and he knew that Chu couldn't avoid those objects in the dark. He thought he heard Chu cry out but when another flash appeared he couldn't see Chu's body.

WuHua yelled: "Where are you! Where are you, Chu LiuXiang!"

"Right behind you," Chu LiuXiang calmly said.

WuHua stopped everything and softly admitted his defeat and said he now knew for sure he wasn't Chu's match. Chu wanted to hand him over to someone who can judge him. Chu never killed a person and he said no one has the right to take the life of another person.

Chu said there are laws and morals people have to abide by and violence will not solve anything.

WuHua said those people were not fit to judge him and suddenly he fell down, Chu quickly rushed over and he saw WuHua's face turning pale.

Chu LiuXiang sighed: "WuHua, death isn't a solution. You're just running away from your problems. "

WuHua said with a forced smile: "I'm not running away for those people. I don't want to bow before them. No matter what I have done wrong, I will always be the most high and mighty man ever. Even you must admit that Chu LiuXiang." After he said that he closed his eyes and he will never hear Chu's response.

3 days later the Bald Eagle and an elder of the Beggars Association are awaiting Chu's arrival.

Suddenly Chu appeared before them and the elder asked Chu whether he caught the killer of NanGong Ling. Chu said the killer was dead, the Bald Eagle wanted to know how he died. Chu said he died, that is all there is to it. The Bald Eagle wanted to say something else but Chu LiuXiang sharply asked them whether they didn't trust him. The Bald Eagle quickly said he didn't mean that. The elder wanted to know where the corpse was, he said all the disciples of the Beggars Association wanted to know. Chu didn't let him finish his sentence and furiously scolded the elder.

Chu LiuXiang sharply said: "I'm telling you with his death he cleansed all his sins. And if you're not satisfied or you don't believe me, you can find out for yourself what happened. However if you disturb me again I shall not be courteous!"

Even Chu LiuXiang didn't know why he was so angry. Perhaps he was upset about WuHua's death or just because he was too tired. He just wanted to go home and wanted to taste Song TianEr's dishes, lying next to SuRongRong and listening to Li HongXiu stories with a happy ending. But it seems that heaven didn't want him to rest. Before he got back, something he never expected would happen to him did happen to him!

With NanGong Ling and WuHua dead everything seems to be solved. But what happened to their mother Li Qi and her revenge on the HuaShan School. Will she accept the deaths of her sons? Gu Long has many surprises for us yet in his next epic adventure of Chu LiuXiang Da Sa Mo (The Great Desert). Characters like Hu TieHua and others will make their appearances.

So please read the next novel of Chu LiuXiang. Da Sa Mo (The Great Desert)

Da Sa Mo - Part I

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