Book 9 Chapter 1 –Amorous Demon of Yin Gui
Passing through the woods and crossing the creek, the mule cart continued on to the wilderness, going faster and faster. But the more they were chasing it, the more Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling felt alarmed.
This was impossible.
Even if the cart was pulled by highest quality colts, with first class driver driving it, because the path was not really a flat street, it had holes and bumps and would be difficult to pass, the two boys ought to be able to overtake it for quite some time.
Yet it was as if the mules knew the way as they swerved left and swayed right through the woods, over the hills, thru the gaps between rocks, running as fast as speeding horse, totally beyond their natural ability.
The two boys knew something was amiss. They took a chance to leap up the top of a tree, but as they looked down, their entire body suddenly turned cold.
They saw a woman with long silvery hair, wearing golden colored oversized robe, was sitting on the driver seat of the mule cart. Her upper body leaned forward in some kind of weird and unnatural posture, both hands reached out with her palms on the mules’ buttock. Blood was seeping out of the two mules’ eyes, ears, mouth and nose as they desperately ran for their lives.
The peerless beauty Wanwan was still lying peacefully on the cart, so serene that she did not seem to be affected by everything that was going on outside.
This kind of tyrannical skill where one was able to spur and enhance an animal’s potential, not only the two boys had never heard of, they had never even thought that such skill existed.
But obviously the mules would not be able to hold for long; this extremely cruel thing has almost come to its end.
The two boys exchanged eye signals. A righteous indignation flared out in their heart for the opponent’s disgraceful act.
At this moment the pair of mules racing wildly was running through a wooded area and snapped and broke more than a dozen small trees blocking their way. As they ran up the slope of a small hill, naturally their speed decreased considerably.
Seeing that they could not afford to lose any more time, Xu Ziling called out, “I’ll help you!” while deliberately fell back a bit.
Kou Zhong has been working with him for so long that he intuitively understood what he had in mind. Immediately he raised his qi to leap up.
Very lightly, as if he did not use any strength at all, Xu Ziling pressed his palms onto Kou Zhong’s back.
Kou Zhong’s body immediately soared into the air, his speed was several times higher than his regular speed. Like a rainbow he swept the air in an arc toward the mule cart.
When he was about to reach the mule cart, as if she had eyes on the back of her head, the silver-haired woman suddenly waved her left golden sleeve back; more than ten black dots shot toward Kou Zhong.
Kou Zhong remained calm. The Moon in the Well left his back and swept a large circle in front of his body. Twelve cow’s hair needles met the saber and fell down.
But Kou Zhong was also adversely affected; he slowed down, and the mule cart dashed over the top of the slope and rushed down the other side.
Xu Ziling sped up to catch up and give Kou Zhong another push.
Seizing this opportunity, Kou Zhong and his saber fused together and soared high into the air. He started later but arrived sooner. Flying over the top of the hill, he reached just above the silver-haired woman, and hacked his saber down.
The silver-haired woman suddenly shook her square head [orig. small cicada with square head], her silver hair shot up like a whip, lashing toward Kou Zhong’s Moon in the Well. The timing and the angle of attack were impeccable.
Naturally Kou Zhong did not expect such weird move.
The hair and the saber collided; both combatants were severely shaken.
Kou Zhong was jolted by her seemingly continuous soft internal energy that he was thrown backward. The silver-haired woman was jerked by his strong qi that her tender body lurched forward.
The two mules neighed miserably and fell down, dead.
Receiving continuous blow, both the cart and the mules’ dead body continued rushing down the slope at great speed. The situation was extremely dire.
Kou Zhong knew that after his powerful qi entered her body, it was transmitted into the poor mules’ body. Inwardly he was very regretful, but the die has already been cast, nothing he could do about it.
Seeing the cart was about to stumble over the mules’ carcass and flipped to its side, he hastily raised his qi to make a somersault. His left hand reached the whip around his waist and sent it out toward the cart to catch Wanwan.
Who would have thought that since the cart was about to overturn and was lurching forward, plus the cart’s own momentum was rather strong, the tip of the whip missed Wanwan by a hairsbreadth. He failed within the sight of success.
Meanwhile one side of the cart’s wheels had already off the ground, the cart was about to topple to the other side.
Like a clump of golden cloud the silver-haired woman soared into the air, spinning her body around, she waved her sleeve. Immediately Wanwan was rolled up inside her golden sleeve, her graceful hair came loose, its beauty surpassed the immortals, lightly floating like fallen leaves.
As Kou Zhong met the silver-haired woman face-to-face, immediately a chill crept into his heart.
The woman’s profile was quite beautiful, but her face was deathly pale without the slightest bit of human’s color. Her eyes flickered with bizarre, gloomy and fierce sharp gleam, just like an amorous ghost from the netherworld looking to devour human’s life.
The mule cart overturned; it continued rolling down the hill, dragging the mules’ dead body along the dirt path, creating a chaotic collision noise.
Holding Wanwan in her arms, the silver-haired woman made a somersault and landed on the green grass at the bottom of the hill.
Not far from there was a small river, the opposite bank was emerald green forest. Under the moonlight it looked even more serene, peaceful and beautiful.
One after another Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling caught up with her, ready to confront her.
With wooden face the silver-haired woman said, “Indeed you carry some weight, no wonder even Ren Shaoming lost his life under your hands.” Her voice hoarse and deep and low, making those who hear it feel very uncomfortable.
Kou Zhong laughed aloud and said, “Yin Gui Pai female demon [see footnote on chapter title, Book 8 Chapter 10], report your name to me.”
Without any change in her countenance, the silver-haired woman said, “When did I tell you that I am from Yin Gui Pai?”
Shaking the Moon in the Well in his hand, Kou Zhong thundered, “Your internal energy is of the same character of Amorous Nun’s; you still want to deceive us?”
The silver-haired woman’s countenance still did not change the slightest bit, she said coldly, “Just consider you have a bit of eyesight. I am one of the four demons under Jiaozhu [Cult Leader], Yin Fa Mo Nu [Silver-haired Demoness] Dan Mei. I am going to take this natural born beauty back with me and report to my superior since she is most suitable to enter our Sect. If the two of you understood my intention, get lost immediately, the farther the better. Otherwise I might teach you a lesson that it would be too late for you to regret.”
Kou Zhong smiled and said, “I don’t believe you have the ability to teach us a lesson that it would be too late for us to regret. Why not let the woman down, and let me see if you really have some skills I can learn?”
Dan Mei’s eyes flashed sharply. “Get lost!” she hissed in low voice, “Or I’ll kill her first.”
Xu Ziling, who all along was watching with folded arms, suddenly sneered and said, “Really funny! You have just said you are going to recruit Wanwan on your honorable Jiaozhu’s behalf, and now you said you are going to kill Wanwan; it can clearly be seen that you are just spouting nonsense. Less bullsh1tting. Zhong Shao, show your formidability and let her increase her knowledge.”
“All right!” Kou Zhong thundered.
As soon as his roar subsided, Kou Zhong straightened up his backbone, his bearing suddenly became bold and powerful without rival; raising his saber, he strode forward.
His pair of tiger-eyes was bright and clear like the cold star, emitting a deep, incomparably chilly sharp gleam, his imposing manner solid, full of power. The strangest thing was that he did not seem to be afraid at all that Dan Mei would use Wanwan as a shield.
Even Xu Ziling standing on the side also felt that the Moon in the Well carried dense, austere saber qi, so what Dan Mei, who was standing right in front of him, felt need not be mentioned.
For the first time Dan Mei’s pale countenance showed a stunned look. “You really don’t care about this woman’s life?” she shouted sternly.
“That’s exactly right!” Kou Zhong thundered.
The Moon in the Well attacked swiftly, it turned into a rainbow, the target was unexpectedly Wanwan, which was carried horizontally in Dan Mei’s arms.
Xu Ziling acted as if he has had foreknowledge of what was happening; standing in relaxed position with folded arms, he looked like someone who was enjoying a good show.
Finally Dan Mei’s countenance changed slightly; she quickly floated backward.
But Kou Zhong was unwilling to let her off, like a shadow he followed her closely, like a meteor catching up with the moon he chased after her. The Moon in the Well chopped down from top to bottom, his movements were faster than lightning flashes, while at the same time the wind generated by his saber was as strong as the mountain, swift and fierce without equal.
Dan Mei was so furious that her eyes shot ominous glint; she soared high, like a turning wheel the pair of delicate feet under her golden-colored embroidered skirt launched chain-kicks to block Kou Zhong’s saber momentum, which was storming up toward her like violent waves.
The sound of clashing qi lingered on faintly.
Seeing her kicking skill was this formidable, Kou Zhong’s fighting spirit was aroused. With a somersault he leaped above Dan Mei’s head, the Moon in the Well turned into cold rays filling the air, coming down like a net above her head.
The most formidable aspect of this move was that it would be difficult for Dan Mei to use her legs to block the saber.
Dan Mei snorted coldly; unexpectedly she tossed the peerless beauty Wanwan in her hands upwards to meet Kou Zhong’s blade, while at the same time she dropped rapidly to the ground and spun sideways to evade.
Although Kou Zhong’s saber strike seemed so ruthless, he actually left a lot of leeway; seeing his scheme prevailed, he promptly held the saber back, while his left palm brushed on Wanwan’s body and then he leaped back to get out of the way.
Xu Ziling finally made his move.
Faster than a spark from a flint he flashed toward Dan Mei and launched an attack with all his might, without giving any leeway at all.
In an instant the two of them already exchanged more than a dozen punches and kicks.
Not only Dan Mei lost her acute spirit, when dealing with Kou Zhong’s hacks earlier, her blood and qi were churning, so that this moment she was unable to cope with the two boys’ tag-team tactics. As soon as she revealed a gap in her defense, Xu Ziling sent out a palm strike toward her left shoulder. Instantly her mouth spurted blood, she staggered and stumbled down sideways.
But she was also an outstanding character. With a loud roar she ran away toward the wilderness, crossing the brook, and disappeared into the depth of the forest on the opposite bank.
As if she was being carried by invisible hands, Wanwan dropped slowly on the soft grass, unscathed.
Chapter 1, Part 2
Kou Zhong came over to Xu Ziling’s side. They both gazed on this otherworldly fairy-like peerless beauty.
Reaching out and putting his hand on Xu Ziling’s shoulder, Kou Zhong whispered, “What’s our chance of success?”
For an outsider, Kou Zhong seemed to blabber incoherently. But naturally Xu Ziling did not have that problem. “At least 80%,” he replied indifferently, “Whether it was Chang Shumou or Dan Mei, both wanted to lure us away, so that this most formidable direct disciple since the beginning of the history of Yin Gui Pai can carry out some kind of plot against us. And it may be assumed that this plot must involve some physical contact.”
His countenance changed, Kou Zhong rubbed his hands and said, “My hands seem to be okay!”
Knowing that Kou Zhong was simply ‘dressing up as God, playing the devil’, Xu Ziling was unable to help laughing, “Go to your Niang!” he said, “If just by touching she can inflict damage, even Ning Daoqi, Bi Xuan and Fu Cailin, add to that the Zhaizhu [monastery master] of Ci Hang Jing Zhai, are no match for her. Ay! Too bad there’s still 20% uncertainty; otherwise, Zhong Shao, right now you could get your saber and see if you could chop her alive.”
Kou Zhong sighed and said, “I definitely won’t have a heart to do that. If she really is a Big Sister of Yin Gui, you can’t but admire her. Just look at how touching she is. Looking down or looking across, she does not look like a goblin that kills or harms people. Yet the fact is that any man who came across her would, to some extent, suffer some pain because of her.”
Xu Ziling smiled wryly and said, “And the two of us are remarkably alike one of her victims.”
Leaning close to him, Kou Zhong spoke in the tiniest voice possible, “How about sending her back to Fang Zetao and tell him to take care and bid him farewell? That way, won’t we escape from the abyss of suffering?”
Like waterfall Wanwan’s beautiful hair cascaded down in all directions, lining her jade face vermillion lips, which, under the illumination of the moon, looked beautiful and alluring beyond human comprehension, that even a senior monk who has had painstaking cultivation for many years would be moved by her that he would be reluctant to leave this world.
Xu Ziling sneered and said, “Funny that you and he are still calling each other Xiong and Di [older and younger brother, respectively]. Supposing she is genuine goods at fair prices Yin Gui siren, it would be strange indeed if Fang Zetao would not suffer his city broken and the people perish. If a moment ago we did not lure Chang Shumou away, perhaps Fang Zetao would have been killed by him.”
Kou Zhong blew out a mouthful of cold air and said, “Are you saying that we ought to bring this hot potato along on our journey, and ascertain first whether she is a dragon or a snake before making decision whether we should hand her over to the infatuated Fang Zhuangzhu?”
Xu Ziling’s eyes were gleaming with cold flashes as he stared hard at the beautiful Wanwan, who was lying on the ground, who, in her tight gauze clothing, revealed her incomparably graceful lines. His lips curled into a smile as he said, “This is a battle on an uncharted territory. As long as we are able to force her to show her true identity, we win the first battle.”
And then he broke into laughter and said, “Come on! Let us build another bed to carry this beauty along; let’s see how long can she sleep?”
From the broken down mule cart the two boys tore off an eight-chi long and three-chi wide board, and then with utmost care they placed Wanwan on the board. Without even trying to secure her on the plank, they carried her just like that, one at the front the other at the rear, and went on their way promptly.
Although the path was rugged and uneven, and from time to time they had to jump high and crouch low, yet under their ingenious cooperation, the plank stayed level throughout, which gave them quite an enjoyment that they did not feel it was a burden at all.
Originally, after what Fang Zetao told them about Wanwan’s background, their suspicion toward this sleeping beauty has been greatly reduced, but after Chang Shumou and Dan Mei appeared one after another, they suddenly felt that the opponent was trying to hide something, which made it more conspicuous. Plus for no apparent reason Xu Ziling had always had premonition, which was hard to dispel. Therefore, renewed suspicion started to grow in their hearts.
Not only Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling possessed superior ability and wisdom, they were also adept in marketplace and Jianghu’s scamming and swindling tactics; coupled with imagination richer than average person’s, they were able to come up with ideas that others would find it hard to achieve even in their dreams.
This moment the two boys were afraid to come across Fang Zetao and his men instead, and that was the reason why they were speeding along on the opposite direction. Only after rushing for more than ten li did they finally begin to slow down.
This moment the stars have disappeared from the night sky and the moon dimmed; it was the darkest hour just before dawn. They have come to the top of a small hill. Looking around as far as they could see, they saw there was a small village in the northwest but the grass and the trees have overgrown it. Apparently it has been abandoned by its inhabitants quite some time ago. Beyond the village was a range of hills.
Casting a glance toward the peerless beauty sleeping on the plank, Kou Zhong sighed and said, “The inhabitants of the village must have fled to Jingling to take refuge. There seemed to be a path behind the village cutting through the mountains, perhaps it’s a shortcut to Jingling.”
Xu Ziling looked up to the sky; he saw dark clouds gathered on the northeaster horizon. Nodding his head, he said, “Looks like heavy rain is coming this way. We do not have any problem, but I am not sure if this Miss Wanwan will have some problems. Let us seek shelter from the rain first, and then think about what we are going to do next.”
Smiling wryly, Kou Zhong said, “No matter how much we think, we won’t find anything. The most formidable thing about her is she is unfathomable. Just to guard against her suddenly making her move to injure others, we have to take the trouble and spend a lot of energy. Resting seemed to be a very good idea.”
Once they made up their mind, the two boys lifted Wanwan up and rushed toward the small village.
Noticing that the surrounding area has been left to return to unchecked growth, Kou Zhong recalled the abandoned village where they encountered Zhai Rang and Li Mi. He said to Xu Ziling, who was carrying the plank backhandedly at the front, “Do you remember the village where Li Mi plotted against Zhai Rang? That time we plainly saw someone setting fire in the village, but when we got there, not even half a ghost was to be seen. Later on whoever that was, he never showed up. Who on earth was he?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Xu Ziling replied, “Only ghosts know! Why did you suddenly bring up the past? I nearly forget!”
Kou Zhong shook his head, “I am not sure,” he replied, “Perhaps because seeing this creepy-looking village has brought back old memories? Ay! War truly inflicts a lot of suffering. Just imagine how peaceful, tranquil and leisurely this small village was, everybody lived in peace and worked happily, chicken clucking and dogs barking, but look at how dilapidated this place is now.”
Xu Ziling sighed with him; momentarily nobody spoke a word. In that moment the picture in their mind was transformed into the scenery of the Garden of the Peaches of Immortality.
Soon the first streak of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, but because the dark clouds were still covering the sky, it was even darker than before.
Suddenly a lightning flashed, followed by the rumble of a thunder, and then bean-sized raindrops started to fall, sparse at first, but soon became thick, and in the blink of an eye became a downpour. They had just passed through the decorated archway at the mouth of the village, hastily they bolted toward the closest house.
The building was dilapidated, the paint peeled off, the door opened as soon as they push it.
This house was separated into three parts, the front, the middle and the rear, with two courtyards connecting them. The house was fully furnished; although everything was simple and unadorned, it was by no means broken, it’s just that everything was covered in cobweb; a totally bleak sight to behold.
After setting the plank, with the beauty Wanwan still on it, on the floor, Kou Zhong took it on himself to close the door, while Xu Ziling went to open the window a little bit, to let fresh air in and stale air out.
“Ah!”
The two boys turned around at once.
The mysterious beauty Wanwan still looked like she was in eternal slumber, but her face already had a little bit of color, making her looked even more tender and beautiful and alluring.
Seeing Xu Ziling was walking toward her, Kou Zhong jumped and pulled him back; he said in a low voice, “Don’t touch her!”
Xu Ziling knitted his brows and said, “Whatever happens, we still have to try! Whether someone sealed her acupoints, or she is playing ghost on her own, it is still a difficult problem and a challenge in the study of martial art. If we can unravel it, we will certainly be able to learn something that we previously did not know.”
Sucking in a mouthful of cold air, Kou Zhong said, “If by thousand ways, a hundred plans she did that precisely to entice us to do just that, wouldn’t that mean we fall right into her hands?”
Pulling Kou Zhong aside, Xu Ziling said in a low voice, “Just treat this as another battle! If not, how are we going to settle this matter?”
Kou Zhong finally agreed. “I have a great idea,” he said, “You alone will touch her body, I will transmit my internal qi into your body, while taking the responsibility of simultaneously monitoring your and her condition. This way, if there is something wrong, we won’t suffer an ‘all-army being routed’ situation.”
“Very well!” Xu Ziling replied.
The two boys came over to her side and exchanged glances.
Xu Ziling propped her up. He felt her hands were soft, tender but supple, and could not help his heart from being swept away. Frightened, he hastily put this thought away, and calmed his mind down.
Sitting cross-legged behind her, he put one palm at the middle of her back, and used the other hand to support the back of her small head with her face looking up.
Kou Zhong also sat cross-legged behind him; his eyes looked down on his nose, his nose looking down on his heart, both palms pressed onto Xu Ziling’s tiger-back.
After discharging all distracting thoughts from his heart, Xu Ziling asked softly, “Are you ready?”
“Do it now!” Kou Zhong replied heavily.
Focusing his mind and spirit, Xu Ziling slowly injected a stream of warm Yang true qi into the channel on her spine.
Right this moment, the sound of hoof beats was heard from a far, but it was getting near.
Unexpectedly, in this extremely critical moment, Wanwan’s tender body started to shake.