Dragon King with Seven Stars by Gu Long

[LuDongBin]

Yikes I must have missed something. Wu Tao left and General Li appears and I missed the connection. And now two Gaos ... this novel is addictive .... now don't take too long a break, deathblade.

[HPC7595]

Thanks deathblade

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks deathblade

[theSwordoftheWest]

Thank you deathblade.

Actually, I'm spook when Gao Tianjue suddenly speak. I though she was dead when they touch her feet and it's cold.

Is Guo Mie is Laughing general? Is this where all the love triangle started. Guo Mie is Laughing General, Laughing general have a mistress, her mistress have a son. Gao Tianjue discover and killed her, and Laughing general chopped of her hands and his sword leave scar on her face. Thus begin enmity between those two.

At this point, I'm just throwing guesses, because Gu Long like to messed my mind.

[deathblade]

Chapter 20 - The Second Star

Part 1

April 19th. Before sunset.

The light of the setting sun, which shone on the camellia, suddenly became dim and murky. The camellia, which moments ago had seemed so bright and colorful, suddenly looked pale and sallow.

This is because it does not emit its own light. Moments ago, it had appeared so glorious only because of the light of the sun shining down onto its petals.

People are the same.

Some people shine brilliantly for a time, but then at a certain point become old and frail, and despite being alive, are simply waiting to die.

***

Fortunately, some people in the world are not like that.

This is because they are innately luminous, powerful, without any need to rely on others. When alive, none dare look down on them. Even after they die it is the same.

Gao Tianjue was that sort of person. Regardless of the circumstances, no one would be willing to doubt her power.

If she said that the “Thunder and Lightning” couple and Tang Lanfang would never again see Ingot, then sadly, they could only wait until after death to do so.

“You’re a women, as am I,” said Grand Miss Lei, staring at Gao Tianjue. “What women say is generally not very reliable. But, I believe you.”

“Oh?”

“If you dare to say such a thing, then I believe that not only have you already killed Ingot, you are also prepared to attack us. Now that we have seen your face, you will not let us keep on living.” She sighed. “If I were you, I would probably do the same.”

“You don’t want to ask if I’m certain I can take on all three of you at once?”

“I don’t need to ask.”

“Why not?”

“Because if you killed Ingot, then we couldn’t allow you to continued to live.” Grand Miss Lei’s voice suddenly grew very calm. “We would do it even though we might die. So no need to waste breath on any questions.”

“Correct,” said Gao Tianjue. “There is no need for further questions.”

“I could see just now that your acupuncture points had been sealed. And now, I can see that your blood and Qi are flowing properly again.”

“Correct.”

“Even my husband and I could not do that,” said Grand Miss Lei. “Your kung fu really is a lot higher than ours.” She sighed again. “In recent years, we haven’t payed any attention to all the trivial matters in Jianghu. And yet we have more and more of our own trivial matters to attend to. All year, every day, all day, the things we do are of no account. We don’t do anything important at all.”

“Oh?”

“What we do all day is plant flowers and pull weeds, play chess and chat, get jealous and argue, visit scenic spots, catch rabbits and go fishing. Where is there room for important kung-fu related matters?” She sighed. “Although these things are more interesting than important matters, it means that our kung fu hasn’t advanced at all in the past few years. So, of course we can’t match up to you.”

Despite all her sighing, her expression was filled with joy, and contained no trace of regret.

Even though Gao Tianjue didn’t sigh, her eyes seemed to filled with remorse and pain.

“Right now, even if we attack you three against one, young Miss Tang wouldn’t really count as a person. She would be useless in an attack, so you really would only need to deal with the two of us.”

The old man broke in: “Actually, we don’t really count as two people.”

“Why not?”

“Because we two are one person,” he said. “When attacking her, you would defend me with your life, and I would defend you with my life. If I got hurt, you would get flustered, and if you got hurt, I would be flustered. And that is when she would have her chance.” He sighed. “So as I said, the two of us will never measure up to them.” Even though he sighed, his expression was one of happiness, without any sign of regret.

“So,” asked Grand Miss Lei, “you mean that we’ve already lost this battle?”

“Pretty much.”

“And we are basically dead already.”

“No one can evade death, so there’s nothing really amazing about it. In any case, we have lived our lives quite happily. Although, there’s something I need to say to you before I die.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you remember that year we went to the Zhongnan Mountains to make immortality pills? [1] Your younger martial sister came to visit and stayed for about a month?”

“I remember.”

“There was one occasion when you went to the other side of the mountain to pick medicinal herbs, and you were gone for a few days. Well, when you were gone, your younger martial sister and I did something wrong. We regretted it, but by that time, we had already done it, and it was too late.”

Grand Miss Lei stared at him, and then her wizened, rigid face broke out in a smile, a smile a lovely as a lily.

“You think I didn’t know about that?” she said. “You think you could fool me?”

“You knew?” said the old man, shocked. “When did you find out?”

“I knew all along.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you lose your temper? Why didn’t you flip out on me?”

“Because we are married,” she said softly. “Being married is different than being siblings, friends or lovers. If I flipped out on you for a mistake you made, then the person in the wrong would not be you, but me.”

***

Gao Tianjue had been listening quietly, but now she interjected: “I also had a husband. He was surnamed Guo. Guo Mie. He was an extremely intelligent and talented man. I’ve never met another man in my entire life who could compare even to one of his fingers. When we were young, we were also happily married.”

“We know all that already.”

“He’s dead now,” said Gao Tianjue. “Do you know how he died?”

“No,” said Grand Miss Lei. “But we’ve always wanted to.”

“Then I’ll tell you. I killed him. I used the most cruel method possible to kill him.” Her voice was again extremely calm, frighteningly calm. So calm it was almost impossible to take. “Do you know why I killed him? Of course you don’t know.”

“Why?”

“Because of a child.”

“A child?” blurted Grand Miss Lei. “You killed your own husband because of a child?”

“Yes.”

“Whose child was it?”

“My husband and my older sister’s child. My blood sister.”

***

The room was suddenly silent. Even the sound of breathing seemed to have ceased.

Everyone knew that she must have a feeling of deep hatred in her heart to have become like this. But who could have imagined that the people she hated were her blood sister and her husband.

Gao Tianjue suddenly asked Grand Miss Lei: “If you were me, would you have become like this?”

Grand Miss Lei was at a loss for words. After a very long time, she quietly said, “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Gao Tianjue sighed. “In any case, we two are different. You have grown old together happily as a couple, because you have patience. I am a vicious and jealous woman, and that is why I have become like this.” She laughed. “So everything you just said is quiet useless.”

“What did we say? What do you mean useless?”

“You said all those things on purpose. You wanted to provoke me, make me feel pain, to create an opening to kill me.”

This was a tactic; don’t attack the person, attack the heart. When experts fight, if the heart is disturbed, it can lead to defeat.

“Unfortunately, this type of tactic is useless on me,” said Gao Tianjue coolly. “Because my heart is already dead. I have always been prepared to die, and that day is today.”

Grand Miss Lei looked surprised. “You prepared to die today?”

“Not only am I prepared to die, I am determined to die. So anything you say is useless. However, you do not wish to die, therefore, you will.” She sighed and continued, “There are many things in the world like this. People who don’t want to die often die more quickly than the ones who do.”

Tang Lanfang suddenly let out a sigh. “The person who least wishes to die is me. And yet I know I will be the first one to go.”

“Yes,” said Gao Tianjue coolly. “You shall be the first to die!”


Part 2

Ingot took the black headband off and removed the silver mask, chuckling as he looked at Xiao Jun.

“Chamber Lord Xiao, long time no see! Hello!”

“You!” Xiao Jun said, looking shocked. “How could it be you?”

“How could it not be me?” chuckled Ingot. “From the day I was born until now, I’ve always been me, not some random Joe. And I’m not Pockmarks Wang’er.” [2] He laughed happily. “But if someone wants to mistake me for Gao Tianjue, well I can’t do anything about it.”

Xiao Jun looked at him in amazement. Staring at his outfit, he said, “Who do these things belong to?”

“To Gao Tianjue, of course,” he said, placing the mask on top of his head. “Other than her, who else would have treasures like this?”

“Why would she give them to you?”

“Who said she gave them to me?” said Ingot. “These are her treasures. She wouldn’t give them away even if you killed her.”

“And yet there they are in your hands.”

“I’m just borrowing them.”

“She agreed to let you to borrow them?”

“She didn’t agree.”

“If she didn’t agree, then how could you have borrowed them?”

Ingot sighed. “To be honest, I didn’t borrow them.”

Xiao Jun usually was not the type of person who wanted to examine a matter down to the last detail. But he could not hold back from asking more questions.

“You didn’t borrow them?”

“No.”

“Then where did they come from?”

“I took them,” said Ingot. “Because she didn’t agree to lend them to me, I had to take them.”

“How did you do it?”

“I only have two hands, so of course I used two hands. First I took the headband and the mask, and then the clothes and boots.”

“Where did you take them from?”

Ingot looked at him as if he were a simpleton. “Do you really have to ask me such an obvious question?”

“I already did.”

Ingot shook his head and sighed. “Well, I guess I just have to tell you, then.” He spoke it like a list: “The headband, I untied off her head. The mask, I took off her face. The cloak, I stripped off her body.” He paused for a moment before continuing on slowly: “The boots were a bit more difficult, because they were on tight. It took a lot of effort, but I finally took them, off of her feet.”

Xiao Jun stared in shock. After a long time passed, he said, “You took these things off of her body?”

“Every one of them.”

“And what of her?” asked Xiao Jun. “Where was she?”

Ingot looked like he wanted to jump up. “Did you really just say that? Did your really ask such a nonsensical question? She’s there. Her head was inside the headband, her face was behind the mask, her body was inside the cloak, and her feet were inside the boots. Such a simple matter, don’t tell me you couldn’t figure that out?”

“Is she dead?”

“No,” said Ingot. “How could a person like her be dead?”

“If she’s alive, but you have her things, does that mean she made you take them?”

“Even if she refused, I would still take them.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m Ingot,” he said, pointing at his nose. “I’m a big, round, shiny, lively, charming and handsome giant ingot.”

***

Xiao Jun didn’t say anything. There was nothing he could say.

He didn’t believe it, not any of it. If this little scoundrel wasn’t insane, then he was ten times as thick-skinned as before to dare to boast and tell such lies.

The best method to deal with people like this is to ignore them.

Yet in the world there are some people who are impossible to get rid of, and ignoring them doesn’t work.

“You’ve asked me all these questions for such a long time,” said Ingot, “I think it’s now my turn to ask you some questions. “Do you have such an expression on your face because you just killed someone?”

Xiao Jun ignored him.

“Killing isn’t good. If I killed someone, I would feel regret, and then sorrow. But you’re different. The person you killed was the person everyone said you wanted to kill. Why are you sad?”

Xiao Jun couldn’t continue to ignore him.

“How do you know I killed someone,” he asked. “Do you know who I killed?”

“Of course I know.”

A murderous look appeared on Xiao Jun’s pale white face, an expression that made it seem like he could kill someone at any moment.

Ingot didn’t seem to notice, and in fact seemed happy. He said, “You killed Three Frightening Laughs General Li. He’s someone that everyone wanted to kill. It doesn’t matter who killed him, it would cause a huge sensation. Lately there have been more people around here trying to kill him than you could find rats in a rice granary. Only you succeeded. You should be happy to death, and yet you look like you’re so sad you want to die.”

Ingot shook his head: “I really don’t understand what’s going on with you.”

Xiao Jun stared at him. After a long time passed, he said, one word at a time: “You really don’t understand?”

“At first I didn’t. Even if you smashed my head open I wouldn’t be able to figure it out.”

“And now?”

“Now?” Ingot rolled his eyes. “Right now, the sky is turning dark and it’s about time for dinner. If you cooked up a pot of mushrooms, ham and pigs’ feet, maybe with some chicken, then added some fragrant sticky rice and boiled it for a while, I think I could finish the whole thing without your help.”

Xiao Jun stared at him lividly.

“And now?” he asked again, his face looking as taught as a bowstring. “Do you understand now?”

“Yes,” admitted Ingot with a sigh. “Even if I wanted to not know, I would still know.”

Xiao Jun suddenly stood, gathering his Qi and assuming a stance. The five fingers on his right hand became hooks. It looked as if he were about to snatch a viper.

This was a unique technique of Beggar Sect disciples. Neither vipers nor people could easily escape its grip.

It could stab the vital point on a vipers and kill people alike.

***

But there were no vipers in the cabin, only a person.

In Xiao Jun’s eyes, Ingot, so vivacious and charming, had become as abominable and terrifying as a viper.

Ingot didn’t even blink.

“Why don’t you ask me what I know? And how I know it?”

It seemed his words were effective. Xiao Jun, who was originally about to attack, suddenly didn’t.

That was because he really did want the answers to those questions.

Ingot smiled. “That’s better. If you want to kill me to shut me up, you should at least first let me make things clear before you attack.”

It turned out Xiao Jun was willing to ask: “What exactly do you know?”

“Honestly speaking, I happen to know quite a bit.” Sounding completely at ease, he said, “Everything that you don’t want people to know about, I know.”

“Like what?”

“Gao Tianjue worked out a plan for you to kill someone. After you did, she told you that you shouldn’t have killed him. Even if everyone under heaven wanted to kill him, you couldn’t. Because you are his son.”

Xiao Jun’s fists clenched. They clenched, not upon a person’s throat, nor upon the vital spot of a viper.

They clenched on themselves, on his own life and blood and soul.

“Other than Gao Tianjue, who would ever have guessed that you were the son of Three Fearsome Laughs General Li? Even you could never have guessed. That’s because you always believed that he killed your mother.” Ingot sighed. “Gao Tianjue told you that even if he did kill your mother, you can’t deny that you are his son. Gao Tianjue hated his guts, so he devised this plot, had you kill him. That way, he would die in unrest, and you would regret it for the rest of your life.”

Xiao Jun showed no reaction. He was already numb to the point of collapse.

“Even in your wildest dreams you never imagined that there could be someone in the world who would use such vicious methods to kill people. If Gao Tianjue hadn’t told you herself, you wouldn’t have believed it.”

“Did she tell you this herself?” Xiao Jun seemed like a person who had been awaked from a dream by being stabbed with a needle. “Why would she tell you these things?”

“Perhaps because she felt proud of herself, and couldn’t help but tell someone. Perhaps because she wished me to spread the story, that she had gotten her revenge in this way. Then no one in Jianghu would ever forget her.”

Both conjectures seemed highly possible.

Ingot sighed again. “Although, perhaps only heaven knows why she told me.”

Xiao Jun looked at him, his expression empty, numb, exhausted. But murderous intent still shone in his eyes.

“You shouldn’t know these things.” He sighed. “And I wish you didn’t.”

“I know what you mean.”

“You do?”

“I’m so charming, you really can’t help but like me. But now that I know all these things, you have no choice but to kill me to shut me up.” He continued, “Even though you don’t want to continue living, you have to kill me first so that I don’t reveal your secrets. They are things you cannot allow others to know.”

Xiao Jun didn’t deny it.

He was in control of himself, his spirit and energy. All of his energy and concentration, all of his gathered Qi, was focused on something.

And that something was how to deliver a killing blow.

Ingot didn’t seem to notice.

There are some things that others don’t notice whatsoever that he would notice from the very beginning. And yet some things that others noticed immediately, he wouldn’t notice whatsoever.

Anyone at all could see Xiao Jun’s intent to kill, that he planned to crush Ingot like a viper. And yet Ingot looked happy. With a chuckle, he said, “Actually, I should know these things. Even if I didn’t want to know them, I should. And fortunately, there are some other things I know.”

“What things?”

“Some things that I should know. Some things that should make you very happy, you and other people as well. Anyone who knows such things should be able to live a long, happy and peaceful life.” He smiled, exceedingly cheerful. “And only someone as smart and talented as me could know such things.”

***

Some people seem to be unable to refrain from praising themselves, to boast, to talk themselves up. People who look down on them end up being overlooked.

Xiao Jun knew that Ingot was not such a person.

He just liked to talk this way because he wanted others to be happy, and hoped that others could be like him, and go with the flow.

Depression, nervousness, sorrow, and wrath are not only useless, they can also cause people to make unforgivable mistakes.

A person should maintain a bright and open frame of mind in order to make the most correct decisions and made the best judgements.

So as of now, Xiao Ju could no longer take Ingot to be a boastful, naughty child. He asked him, “What type of things are you talking about?”

“Well for example, some people are convinced that they killed someone, and are certain that they should not have killed that person. Therefore, they are sad to death. That is because they don’t know that the person isn’t dead at all. But,” Ingot said, “I do know.”

“You do know?” said Xiao Jun in shock. “Who are you saying isn’t dead?”

“General Li, of course.”

“You really know this?”

Ingot sighed and shook his head. “What kid of person do you think you are? Chu Liuxiang? Little Li Tanhua?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Of course you’re not. You’re not even qualified to compare yourself to them.”

Xiao Jun had to admit this was correct.

Even though he was a very proud person, he admired those two great heroes of the older generation as much as anyone.

“Since you already admit that you can’t compare to them, then why don’t you think about it a moment. How could Three Fearsome Laughs General Li, who roamed unhindered throughout the earth, possibly die by your hand?”

Xiao Jun was speechless.

He knew that he was fundamentally not a match for General Li, and wished that what had occurred had not.

But underneath that pale moon, he had clearly seen his sword stab General Li in the heart.

He would never forget the look on General Li’s face as his sword stabbed into the flesh and blood.

“Why don’t you say something?” asked Ingot. “Don’t tell me you still think you killed him?”

Xiao Jun was silent for a long time. Slowly, he said, “The reason I’m still here is because I hoped he wasn’t dead. I hoped that I would see him again.” His expression miserable and dark, he said: “And if he is dead, I hoped that I could see his corpse.”

“But they haven’t pulled up his corpse, even after switching shifts several times during the dredging process. They haven’t even caught sight of his shadow.”

“True.”

“Do you know why they haven’t found General Li’s corpse?” said Ingot. “You probably know.”

“But I don’t.”

“You really don’t?” said Ingot, looking surprised. “Such a simple thing, and you still don’t get it?”

He again shook his head and sighed. “They can’t find the corpse, because he isn’t dead!” Ingot acted as if he were chiding a child. “If a person isn’t dead, there can’t be a corpse. If you can’t understand something as simple as that, then you really are an idiot.”

“Even if he wasn’t dead at first, he would be drowned by now.”

“Why?”

“Because the shores are patrolled constantly, and all of the guards are experienced martial artists. Gao Tianjue spent ten long years training up this group of people.”

“I believe it.”

“Perhaps their kung fu doesn’t count as being truly top rate, without compare. But their eyesight, hearing, endurance, as well as their powers of observation and judgement, are all first rate.”

“I believe it.”

“It’s clearly impossible for General Li to have slipped past the shores of the lake. Even if they couldn’t stop him, they would have at least seen him.

“Who ever said General Li made it to the shores? If he went onto the shores, of course he would find it impossible to evade the eyes and ears of those men.”

“Well, then he must have drowned in the lake," said Xiao Jun sadly. “It’s already been a day and a night since he entered the waters. There is no way he could stay under this long. Furthermore, even if he wasn’t dead at the time, he was seriously injured.”

Ingot stared at him for a while, before coldly asking him: “Do you really think he is dead?”

Xiao Jun didn’t answer, because even he was not sure what he believed in his heart.

He was never the type of person to say much. Even at times when he should speak, he wouldn’t speak very much.

Right now, he should have remained silent because of grief, and yet had actually spoken quite a bit.

That was because in his heart, he still had some hope.

Ingot could actually refute everything he had said.

—If you saw a man do something incredibly abnormal, and then become filled with deep pain and suffering, and yet could understand enough to forgive him, then you would be a truly magnanimous person. A true man.

***

Ingot stared at Xiao Jun for a long time before suddenly saying, “I know that you don’t dare to make a bet with me. Definitely not.”

“What do you want to bet about?”

“I want to bet that he’s not dead. Do you dare make the bet?” He looked askance at Xiao Jun and did something that experienced swindlers will do to attract gamblers: “I advise you not to make the bet, because this time I definitely will not lose.”

Xiao Jun’s pale white face suddenly grew red, the color of watered-down blood.

He knew that Ingot didn’t really want to make a bet with him, nor did he himself want to win such a bet.

He wanted to lose.

Perhaps Ingot was using this as a method to comfort him, to raise his spirits, stop him from being depressed, remove his thoughts of longing for death.

For whatever reasons Ingot did it, he felt grateful in his heart.

“I’ll bet with you,” he said. “Whatever the bet is, I’ll take it.”

Ingot laughed, just like a swindler who had seen the sheep get hooked into the trap.

“You won’t regret?”

“I won’t.”

“If I can find General Li, let you see him with your own eyes, alive, then what?”

“I’ll do anything you want.”

***

This was not something Xiao Jun would normally say. Considering his identity and position, he wouldn’t say something such as this in any situation.

But if he lost to Ingot, he really would do as he said. He would willingly do anything Ingot said.

And he truly hoped that the loser would be himself.

But he really did not see how Ingot could win. How could Ingot possibly find General Li?

General Li had to be dead. Even if in the one out of ten thousand chance were true and he hadn’t died, how could Ingot possibly know where he was?

Ingot had absolutely no way to know.

The red on Xiao Jun’s face disappeared, because in his heart, though he wished to lose the bet, he still believed Ingot would lose.

It seemed Ingot could tell what he was thinking. “Why don’t you ask me what will happen if I lose?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

Ingot frowned deliberately and thought for a moment. Then he asked, “Do you know why Gao Tianjue suddenly became so agreeable? Why she would obediently hand her treasures over to me?”

That matter didn’t have anything to do with the bet, but Xiao Jun hadn’t been able to figure it out. He’d wanted to know all along, so he said, “Why?”

“Because she was already under my control,” said Ingot. “I sealed seven or eight of her acupuncture points in a matter of seconds.

“Oh?”

“You don’t believe it. I knew you wouldn’t.” Ingot laughed happily, proud of himself. “How could someone like me seal the acupuncture points of someone as skilled as Gao Tianjue?” He chuckled. “You’re thinking to yourself, this kid is crazy; he has skin thicker than anybody to be able to boast like this, to tell such lies.”

Xiao Jun didn’t deny it, because that is exactly what he was thinking at the moment.

“But think for a second. Had I not sealed her acupuncture points, how could her things end up in my hands?”

No one could deny the truthfulness of what he said. So Xiao Jun asked, “How did you seal her acupuncture points?”

“Oh, that was nothing,” he said, acting deliberately casual. “I just showed her something.”

“You just showed her something? When you moved to seal her acupuncture points, couldn’t she dodge or fight back?” Xiao Jun was both shocked and a bit suspicious. “What did you show her?”

“Of course it was something special. Something very special.”

***

Twenty years ago, Gao Tianjue was already unstoppable under heaven, powerful and invincible.

In those twenty years, she had no idea how many amazing and terrible things she had done. But she did know that she had shed many tears alone in the night.

After twenty years of setbacks and painful lessons, she had become even more eccentric, cold, proud and ruthless. And her martial arts were even more powerful.

If there was truly something in the world that could make her lose her head to fear and let a teenage youth seal her acupuncture points, then that thing was definitely very special.

Anyone could reach this conclusion.

Many people in Jianghu would trade their lives for such an item.

Ingot coolly said, “If I lose, I’ll give it to you.”

At some point, he had pulled the object out and held it in his hand. Even though he wasn’t a very big person, his hands were not small, and when he closed it into a fist, no one could see what was inside.

Xiao Jun didn’t want to win, and receive this item. But everyone gets curious.

He couldn’t help but ask, “What is this thing?”

“Nothing, really,” said Ingot in a deliberate understatement. “It’s just a star, that’s all.”

“A star?” asked Xiao Jun. “What kind of star?”

“A small star,” he said, sounding apologetic and regretful. He sighed. “A very, very, very small star." And then, Ingot revealed his second star.

**

[1] Zhongnan Mountains are located in Xi’an, and are known for their connection to Buddhism and Daosim. http://tinyurl.com/m62km24
[2] I’m pretty sure he’s referring to Xiao Jun’s subordinate with the pockmarked face.

[deathblade]

@LuDongBin: Probably because the story has been split up that you missed that detail. If you go back for a second read later, you'll see that even though the narrative doesn't 100% outright say that Wu Tao is the Laughing General, from the analysis and observations of various characters, it is pretty much confirmed that he is.
@Ysabelkid, HPC7595: You're welcome!
@theSwordoftheWest: Some good guesses. This last update should make things a lot more clear, although there are still some mysteries to be revealed.


The translation is now 79% complete! Down the home stretch!

[theSwordoftheWest]

Thank you deathblade.

Have a nice rest.

[Laoren]

Wow... 2 chapters, dude, u da man, thanksX2, I want one of those stars ; is Ignot the Dragon King with 7 stars? Wait it was mentioned he was the 9 young master, ; will Gao Tianjue kill the old couple and Boss Tang? Can't wait..

[HPC7595]

Thanks deathblade

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks deathblade ... two updates in a day....you are spoiling is ....muahahaha

[LuDongBin]

Don't stop the music .... thks deathblade .. will re-read again.

[Drak17]

Thanks DeathBlade! Sooo gooddd!!! Hahaha. Cannot wait for more! <:.

[deathblade]

Chapter 21 – A small star, glittering


Part 1

“A small star, glittering,
Stars fill the heaven, but the moon does not shine,
People fill the earth, their hearts grieve.”

***

An autumn night, full of stars. A young boy, and two young girls； three children, one heart and a star. A very, very, very small star. Later, the children grew up. One heart became three. But there was still only one star.

And there was still just one very, very, very small star.

After growing up, they grew old. Some of them died. Some did not die, and yet their hearts died.

The star was as small as ever, and didn’t change. This is because stars do not have emotions, or life. They don’t understand how to pursue love, nor do they comprehend hatred. And so they do not change, nor do they grow old.

This star had been made from a seashell, scooped up out of the ocean.

When one of those people, who had already grown old and changed so much, who was not dead, but whose heart was dead, saw this star, a star that would never change, what feeling would arise in that person’s heart?

Other than the three people, who could know?


Part 2

April 19, before dusk.

The stars had not yet begun to shine.

The star was made from a beautiful and precious seashell. On the back were carved delicate designs, and two characters. It had obviously been carefully carved by a pair of extremely nimble hands.

Some seashells in the ocean are as precious as pearls, with radiance and luster which will never fade.

But this seashell appeared to be nothing more than a shell picked up off the beach by a pair of beautiful hands. It didn’t look like anything special.

Xiao Jun couldn’t help but ask: “You showed her that star?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t tell me that after she saw the star she suddenly couldn’t fight back against you?”

“No, it’s not like that,” said Ingot. “After she saw the star, her hand started trembling, as did the rest of her body. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see her face, so I’m not sure her expression at the time.”

“She was wearing her mask?”

“Yes.”

“Then how could she see you?”

Ingot laughed. “You’re a person who pays close attention to details, or at least that’s what you think. You believe nothing can slip past you.” He sighed. “Sadly, you are not like that at all.”

“Oh?”

“Do you really think Gao Tianjue can’t see anything when she puts on her mask? If so, then how could I wear the mask to come here? And how could I know what expression is on your face? If you were as attentive as you think you are, you would have noticed that even though the mask does not have eyes, it does have two tiny holes, each a bit larger than the size of a needle, inlaid with pieces of crystal. When the mask is shining and glittering, I’m afraid only an incredibly bright, kid genius like myself would notice!”

Xiao Jun could only keep his mouth shut.

“Preventing others from seeing you is a mark of genius, but to prevent yourself from seeing others would be plain stupid.” He sighed. “Think about it, how could Gao Tianjue possibly be that stupid?”

***

The Beggar Sect is the largest sect in the world. It has the most beggars, and the most complicated affairs.

The Chamber Lord of its newly founded Torture Chamber, intent on reorganizing the sect, not only must be occupied with numerous complicated affairs, but must also have the wisdom to be able to perceive the minutest details of a matter. He must have an unfailing sense of judgment. But in front of this boastful, laughingly foolish youth with his feigned charm, this conceited Chamber Lord could not say a single word.

It seemed Ingot had more questions. “Can you tell what is special about the star? Why it would have such an effect on Gao Tianjue?”

“I can’t tell.”

“I can’t either,” said Ingot. “That’s because you are not Gao Tianjue, and neither am I.” In a serious tone, he continued, “From my perspective, it just looks like a star a kid might make out of a seashell. But to some people, it seems to have a type of magical power.”

“Some people?” said Xiao Jun. “What people?”

“At the moment, I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because right now, I don’t know. At the moment, I just know that it is absolutely useful in dealing with Gao Tianjue. More useful than the most fearsome weapon in the world.” [1]

That was enough. Just based on that alone, the value of this star was incredible.

For some people, this star could be considered far more valuable than the “turn iron into gold” star.

“So, let me ask you. Will you accept the bet?”

“I accept.”

Ingot tucked the star away, put on his mask, and tied the black headband on. “Then come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“To find General Li.”

“You can find him?”

“Of course. I have no choice. Otherwise I have to give you my star.”

“Where is he?”

“On this ship, of course.”

***

Xiao Jun didn’t say anything.

He now believed Ingot, believed that General Li wasn’t dead, believed that Gao Tianjue, after seeing Ingot’s star, had allowed her acupuncture points to be sealed. But despite believing all that, he couldn’t believe that General Li was on the ship.


Part 3

The ship was lit with lanterns, even below decks. Not the shadow of a single person could be seen.

That was because this Gao Tianjue who wasn’t really Gao Tianjue had ordered, “Everyone go up top. No one is permitted to come down.”

Even though it was Ingot who gave this order, it was as effective as if it had been spoken by Gao Tianjue. This was because he wore the headband, mask, cloak and boots. All of these things were symbols of mysterious power, an irresistible authority.

No one had ever doubted this power and authority, and no one could have ever imagined that these symbols of Gao Tianjue could be “taken” away.

***

The area below decks was much larger than anyone who hadn’t been there could imagine. And there was even more space in the hull.

There was nothing in the hull. But without the hull, the boat would sink. And were it filled with objects, the boat would also sink. It was its emptiness that made it important, far more important than any other part of the ship.

There are many things in the world like this.


Part 4

There were about ten cabins below decks. People lived in some of them, others were filled with grain or other cargo.

Ingot took Xiao Jun along cabin by cabin. Though they didn’t even see the shadow of a person, Ingot was still filled with confidence.

“I know that you don’t believe General Li is on the ship,” said Ingot.

Xiao Jun had to admit it.

Then, Ingot asked him a very incredible question: “Why don’t you believe?”

Xiao Jun thought about the question for a while: “Because it’s just not possible. Who could possibly believe it?”

“So you are saying that it is impossible for him to be hiding on this ship.”

“Yes.”

“I understand what you mean,” said Ingot with a smile. “Your way of thinking now is the same as it was two days ago, when you never imagined that we could be hiding in Jinan’s biggest prison.”

Xiao Jun understood what he meant.

If a person like General Li wanted to hide somewhere, he would pick a place no one would ever think to look.

“I get what you mean,” said Xiao Jun. “But did you ever think of how he could possibly get onto the ship?”

Ingot deliberately made a straight face, and in a very serious tone said, “It’s definitely not possible. There are people everywhere, all of them with very sharp eyes, none of them even half blind. General Li has no invisibility technique, nor the seventy-two transformation abilities of the Monkey King that would allow him to turn into a housefly and fly on board.” He let out a deliberate sigh. “When you think about it your way, he definitely could not come onboard.”

“Therefore, it is not possible for him to be on this ship.”

Ingot sighed, then, with a chuckle, said: “Fortunately, you are not, fortunately, you are not.”

“Fortunately I’m not what?”

“Fortunately you are not General Li, and he is not you. Otherwise you would be dead, and I would have lost.”

“Don’t tell me you still think he’s on the ship?”

Ingot didn’t respond. Instead, he gripped an iron hoop nailed into the deck planks and pulled up a secret hatch. “I think you should go see for yourself.”

Underneath was the hull. No people, no cargo, no lamps. Nothing.

Xiao Jun hesitated, but then finally grabbed a small lantern and leaped down. And then, he gaped in shock.

In the corner of the hull was a person!

It really was him. The multi-millionaire who had faked his own death, Sun Jicheng. The man who had fled and then returned to Jinan, the businessman Wu Tao. And the incarnation of them all, Three Frightening Laughs General Li!

Xiao Jun stood in front of him as if in a dream. This was truly something that would not occur even in a dream.

General Li lay there, half sitting, half reclining. His back lay against the bulkhead, and he seemed as if he didn’t even have the energy to sit straight.

Even though the sword had not actually stabbed through his heart, his injury was clearly severe.

But his eyes shone brightly, and when he saw Xiao Jun, he suddenly smiled. It was a smile filled with both comfort and pain. And then he said, “Where’s Ingot?”

***

Ingot jumped down, shutting the secret hatch behind him. In his best imitation of Gao Tianjue’s bearing, he walked up to stand in front of General Li.

He really did have a bit of genius. He had studied well the ways to imitate a person, and pulled it off quite well.

“That little bastard Ingot is already dead and fed to the turtles,” he said. “You’ll never see him again.”

General Li laughed. “How can a person call himself a bastard? We’re friends. If you’re a little bastard, what does that make me?”

Ingot laughed too.

“How did you know it was me?” he said. “And how did you know I would come?”

“When I hid here, I thought to myself, if anyone could find me here, it would definitely be Ingot.”

Ingot immediately nodded his head in agreement! “Other than me, no one would guess. When it comes to a genius like myself, there is no second in the world.” He sighed. “Sometimes I just can’t help but admire myself.” He suddenly clapped Xiao Jun on the shoulder. “Right now you can’t help but admire me too, right?”

Xiao Jun seemed to be in a dream, staring blankly at General Li.

—Was this person who he had never seen before really his father? Why would he abandon he and his mother? Why would he let his mother die in her hatred, and let him live a life of suffering?

Regardless, the man was alive. Perhaps he had made mistakes, but the mistakes were not so great that amends could not be made.

Xiao Jun looked on this relative who was a stranger, not sure whether his heart filled with hatred or love, sorrow or happiness.

Ingot was incredibly happy. “Who would have thought you would hide on this ship?” he said. “Other than me, no one would have imagined you would use this method.”

“How did you come to realize it?”

“It was when I saw the water armor the people wore when they went to look for you.”

The divers wore tight water armor made from fish skin that covered their entire bodies, even their hair.

That was what General Li was currently wearing.

“The divers’ kung fu was good, and you were injured, but you could still take care of one of them easily.

General Li smiled. “It was incredibly simple.”

“Take off his armor and wear it, then bury him in the sludge at the bottom of the lake, mingle back in with the people returning to the ship and take advantage of the chaos of the shift change to sneak down here. At that time, it wasn’t light yet, everything was dark below and above the water. Nobody could see anything clearly. To do all that wouldn’t be difficult at all.”

General Li smiled and gave a sigh. “As of now, even I have to admire you a little bit.”

“A little bit?” said Ingot, shocked. “I assumed at the least it would be a medium bit or a lot bit. I was definitely sure.”

What he said really was a bit excessive, but he had to have a reason to say something this.

So General Li asked, “Definitely? Why do you say definitely?”

Ingot’s response was incredible: “Because you aren’t blind yet.”

“I’ve never been blind,” responded General Li, baffled. “What does me being blind or not have to do with me admiring you or not?”

“Of course they’re connected. Because you’re not blind, you should be able to see whose clothes I’m wearing.” An immensely proud expression covered his face. “I took these things from Gao Tianjue, and it definitely wasn’t easy.”

“You took all of that from her?”

“Every piece.”

“How did you do it?”

“I just showed her something, that’s all. As soon as she looked at it, I sealed her acupuncture points. Then I took all this stuff.”

General Li looked at him for a long moment, the look on his face the same as Xiao Jun’s when Ingot had told him the same thing.

Of course what Ingot said was completely unbelievable, so General Li couldn’t help but ask, “What did you show her?”

“A star,” said Ingot. “A very small star.”


Part 5

Ingot always carried a random assortment of things on his person. People might think them a valueless lot of broken copper and iron, but they were his treasures, treasures that he would not allow others to see. But this time, not only did he let General Li see his star, he didn’t even wait for him to ask. He just pulled it out and put it out in front of General Li’s face, as if afraid he couldn’t see it clearly.

“This star,” he said. “This star fell from heaven, and then was scooped up out of the sea.”

General Li’s expression was changing. Even before Ingot had finished speaking, his expression had begun to change. Just like Gao Tianjue, as soon as he laid eyes on the star, his expression changed, as if someone had stabbed a long, sharp, pointed needle directly into his heart.

This star was something a child might play with. If it fell onto the ground, not many people would even pick it up. If you gave it to someone, they would probably drop it into the gutter.

But in the eyes of the incredibly proud Laughing General, who had roamed Jianghu unhindered, this star seemed to carry all the blessings and curses of the heavens and the earth, of gods and demons. It seemed to him to be more valuable than all the treasures in the world.

He reached out his hand as if to take the star, his hand trembling, just like Gao Tianjue’s. It trembled uncontrollably.

This time, Ingot did not take advantage of the situation to seal his acupuncture points. Instead, he just stepped back.

“This is mine,” he chuckled. “Grownups can’t steal things from children.”

“That’s not yours,” said General Li, his voice hoarse with grief. “I know it’s not.”

“Maybe it didn’t used to be, but now it is. And no one can take it from me.”

“Where did you get it?”

“That’s my affair,” said Ingot with a wink. “Can’t I keep a few secrets for myself?”

General Li stared at him for a long time, then let out a long sigh. “So, you’re a member of the Dragon family,” he said. “What is your seniority among your brothers and sisters? Are you Dragon Eighth? Or the Ninth?”

Ingot responded with his own question, “How do you know I’m a member of the Dragon family?”

“Because I know that this star would not fall into anyone else’s hands.” He spoke with utmost confidence.

Ingot didn’t deny it, but instead asked, “If I wasn’t a member of the Dragon family, would you have already taken the star away from me?”

General Li looked at him for a while. “If you weren’t a member of the Dragon family, you would be dead already.”

“Why?”

“Because I wouldn’t want that star to be in anyone else’s hands,” he said. Then he asked, “Would you be willing to trade it to me?”

“Trade it for what?”

“Anything you want,” said General Li. “Gold, white jade, pearls, emeralds. Anything you want is fine.”

Ingot laughed. “You undoubtedly know that I won’t trade it. Those things you just mentioned can’t be worn as clothes, nor can they be eaten. I don’t need them.”

The things mentioned by General Li are things anyone in the world would love to have. Who knows how many people scheme and bleed and risk their lives for them? But to Ingot, not even a single coin was of any worth.

General Li sighed. “Good. I knew you wouldn’t trade it. How could the children of the House of the Dragon care about paltry treasures and money?”

“And so, seeing you alive and not dead, I’m extremely happy.” Ingot laughed. “Because were you dead, this star would already be in someone else’s hands.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I just made a bet with Chamber Lord Xiao, and this star was the stakes of the bet.”

“What did you bet?”

“He was sad just now because he thought that you had died under his sword.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“I told him there was no way you were dead.” He laughed even more happily. “I said, how could Three Fearsome Laughs General Li, who roamed unhindered across Jianghu, possibly die so easily at your hand?”

General Li’s expression changed again, his face filling with indescribable agony and grief.

And yet, his eyes still glittered, like the cold stars on an autumn night.

Ingot once again clapped Xiao Jun’s shoulder. “You’ve lost, so the star still belongs to me.” He chuckled. “Do you still remember what you owe now that you’ve lost?”

Xiao Jun didn’t say anything. But General Li did. He said something very strange.

“He didn’t forget,” he said. And then, one word at a time: “But he didn’t lose.”

“He didn’t lose?” Ingot seemed to be both shocked and amused. “Don’t tell me I lost?”

“Correct,” said General Li. “You lost.”

Ingot laughed, so hard that he bent over.

“I’m gonna laugh myself to death,” he said. “I haven’t heard something so funny in my entire life.”

“Oh?”

“If I told people that Three Frightening Laughs General Li was helping his son to act shamelessly, who knows how many people in Jianghu would die laughing. Then if I took all the bodies of the people who had died laughing and shipped them here, well even if you used 500 large eight-wheeled carts, I’d say it would take at least three days and three nights.”

He laughed until it seemed he was having trouble breathing, as if he really would die.

General Li didn’t have even the slightest hint of laughter on his face. In fact, he looked even more solemn than if he were facing an enemy.

He waited until Ingot finally started to think things weren’t so funny after all, then slowly said, “If people in Jianghu found out about this matter, there would be a lot of deaths. If one person found out, there would be one death. If ten thousand people found out, there would be ten thousand deaths. Except, I can guarantee they wouldn’t be laughing.” His voice grew very cold. “Because it’s not a laughing matter.”

Ingot couldn’t laugh at this point.

“What’s going on here?” he asked General Li. “Why do you say that I lost?”

“Because you are the loser.”

Ingot looked at Xiao Jun, then back at General Li. “Don’t tell me he isn’t your son?”

“He is,” said General Li dejectedly. “He is bone of my bone, blood of my blood.”

“Don’t tell me you’re dead?!” Ingot asked, a deliberate question.

“I’m not dead yet.”

“Then it’s strange. You’re obviously not dead, how could I have lost?”

“Because even though I’m not dead, General Li is. Dead for many years.”

Ingot was shocked.

“General Li is already dead? Don’t tell me you’re not General Li?”

“I’m not.”

***

Ingot stared blankly. He stared at this man who was being pursued by all the heroes under heaven, who everyone thought was General Li. Then he looked at Xiao Jun.

“Gao Tianjue told me with her own mouth that he is General Li’s son. I cannot believe that she would tell a lie.”

“She wouldn’t.”

“Then, he really is General Li’s son?

“Yes.”

“And didn’t you just tell me that he is your son, bone of your bones, blood of your blood?”

“Yes.”

“You do not seem like the type of person to tell lies, either,” said Ingot with a bitter laugh. “Can you just tell me what is really going on here?”

“It’s not really that complicated. You yourself are the one who has made it complicated, that’s all.”

“Oh.”

“Everyone has parents. And parents means more than one person.”

Ingot finally understood, but still found it hard to believe. “Don’t tell me General Li is his mother?”

“Yes.”

“Are you telling me General Li is a woman?”

“Yes.”

Ingot again stared blankly.

Three Fearsome Laughs General Li, whose name could shake the heavens, was a woman. This was a truly shocking matter.

Despite the fact that down to this day, no one had ever seen what General Li looks like, and no one truly knew whether he was a man or a woman, how could anyone put forth the idea that she was a woman?

In the popular mentality of the men of Jianghu, women are inherently weaker, and can never match up to men.

“General Li is his mother, and you are his father.” Ingot sighed. “Now I understand this part.”

“What else is there that you don’t understand?”

“The more I think about it the less sense it makes. Who exactly are you?”

There aren’t very many men who could claim to match up to General Li.

“Your martial arts, your heroic spirit, your complexion, your resourcefulness, I’ve never seen a second person who can compare to you.” Ingot’s words were spoken in complete sincerity. “If you were General Li, well that wouldn’t be anything strange. In my imagination, General Li should be just like you.” He sighed. “Sadly, you’re not him. So I just can’t figure it out.”

“What can’t you figure out?”

“If you’re not General Li, who are you? I’ve thought a lot about who in Jianghu would match your description. It just doesn’t seem that person exists.”

“You’re right, I really shouldn’t exist.” He gave a sad laugh. “Because I should already be dead.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Guo Mie,” he said. “I’m the Guo Mie who should have died seventeen years ago.”


Part 6

Guo Mie and Gao Tianjue, No couple in Jianghu had a higher level of martial arts.

They were the mortal enemies of General Li.

“End the heavens, destroy the earth” took it as their duty to pursue fugitive bandits and robbers. Who knew how many great criminals with excellent martial arts fell to them?

At the time when Three Fearsome Laughs General Li roamed Jianghu unhindered, their reputation was at its peak.

Everyone in Jianghu knew that “End the heavens, destroy the earth” would never let General Li go. If they did not execute such a great thief, they would regret it for the rest of their lives.

And so, everyone waited to see what would happen when the tiger and the dragon had their showdown.

No one was certain who would prevail.

But then “End the heavens, destroy the earth” suddenly disintegrated. Guo Mie disappeared from Jianghu, assumed dead, presumably at the hands of General Li.

Therefore, when Gao Tianjue reappeared, everyone assumed it was because of General Li. She must want revenge for the death of her husband. No one would think twice about it, no matter how vicious the methods she used.

Who could have imagined that she was not going up against General Li, but rather her own husband, Guo Mie?

Of course she knew he was Guo Mie and not General Li. Even though no one else in the world knew, Gao Tianjue definitely knew.

Why did she view her husband as an enemy who must die?

How could Guo Mie be alive?

How could he have a son with the arch-enemy of “End the heavens, destroy the earth,” General Li?

Why would the former Sect Leader of the Beggar Sect tell Xiao Jun that his mother had been killed by General Li?

When surrounded by the pursuing heroes, why would Guo Mie admit to being General Li?

Who had revealed his whereabouts?

In seventeen years, no one had been able to find him, why would everyone suddenly descend onto Jinan in only one night to come after him?

***

Who could explain these things?

**

[1] Everyone knows the most fearsome weapon in the world is a solitary box…

[deathblade]

@theSwordoftheWest: you're welcome. no rest for the weary!
@laoren: things should be starting to make more sense after this last chapter
@Ysabelkid, HPC7595, LuDongBin, Drak17: you're welcome!

[HPC7595]

Thanks deathblade

[LuDongBin]

Yo, so my earlier suspicions that the logical surmise that Sun Jicheng is Wu Tao is Gen Li is too good to be true is correct after all? Or is there a further twist later on? Typical Gu Long style.

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks deathblade ...another update ....getting my fix ....muahahaha

[9Dragons]

"More useful than the most fearsome weapon in the world." [1]
Deathblade, was this your footnote or the one from the book? Yeah, that box can unleash terrifying ultimate weapons.

Cool development in this revealing chapter.
Guo Mie = Wu Tao = Sun Jicheng
General Li = Guo Mie's lover = Gao Tianjue's sister = Xiao Jun's mother
Gao Tianjue = Guo Mie's wife

[Laoren]

Thanks deathblade...

[Drak17]

Lol. Did not expect General Li to be female, and that Guo Mei was "General Li". So Gao TianJue hates Guo Mei because he had a son with General Li, and therefore she was trying to kill him. Xiao Jun is Guo Mei's son and Gao TianJue thought it was Guo Mei because of the resemblance, and chopped off his arm. x_x. Even Guo Mei who was supposedly be unstoppable, fear the Star that Ingot have. ! The Dragon Clan sure is intimidating!!

Thanks for the chapter