By now each of them had been very exhausted, and every took a spot to sit down in repose with their eyes closed, leaning in opposition to a giant rock. Quickly Linghu Chong started to nod off. Within the sleep, he all of the sudden noticed Ying-Ying putting three roasted frogs into his arms and asking him, “Have you ever forgotten me?”

“I’ve not! I’ve not! The place the place have you ever been?” Linghu Chong replied loudly. However impulsively, Ying-Ying’s picture vanished earlier than his eyes. “Don’t go! I’ve quite a bit to inform you,” he shouted unexpectedly. However all he might see now had been numerous of knives, swords, and varied weapons putting towards him one after one other. He cried out loudly after which awakened.

“Have you ever dreamed of your sweetheart and had quite a bit to inform her?” Xiang Wentian mentioned with a giant grin.

Linghu Chong’s face went crimson. He wasn’t certain what else he had mentioned in his dream that Xiang Wentian may additionally overheard.

“Brother, if you wish to see your lover, you’ll should recuperate your harm and remedy your self earlier than going searching for her,” Xiang Wentian instructed.

“I I don’t have a lover. In addition to, my harm is incurable,” Linghu Chong replied, his face trying gloomy.

“I owe you a life. Though you might be my sworn brother, it nonetheless doesn’t really feel proper, and I merely should repay you with a life. I’ll take you to a spot. There, you can be cured,” Xiang Wentian exclaimed.

Linghu Chong had lengthy disregarded his personal life, however that was often because he didn’t have a alternative in spite of everything and needed to deal with it with indifference. Now when he heard Xiang Wentian saying that his harm was really curable, a blended feeling of hope and bliss started swelling in his chest. If these phrases had come out of another person’s mouth, he wouldn’t have let his hope go up. However Xiang Wentian was a person with extraordinary talents, and his Kung Fu abilities had been so superb that apart from Grand Uncle-Grasp Feng, Linghu Chong had not seen anybody possessing such distinctive abilities. Even an off-the-cuff comment from him might have weighed greater than a thousand kilos.

“I I ,” Linghu Chong murmured however discovered himself misplaced in phrase from the sudden surge of spirit.

By now, the crescent formed moon had climbed up the opening of the valley and shone over it silently, casting rays of chilly mild into the underside of the valley. Though the valley backside nonetheless regarded darkish and gloomy, in Linghu Chong’s eyes, every thing appeared to have brightened up impulsively as if it was sunshine in all places.

“We’ll go see a person. However this man has a really eccentric temperament, so it’s higher that we don’t let him know beforehand. Brother, should you belief me, simply let me prepare every thing,” Xiang Wentian defined.

“What’s there to not belief? Brother Xiang, your making an attempt to remedy my harm is rather like that outdated saying, ‘Engaged on curing a useless horse as if the horse was nonetheless alive.’ It was a hopeless factor to start out with anyway. If it may be cured, then reward the lord! If it will possibly’t be cured, then it’s simply the way in which it ought to have been.”

Xiang Wentian licked his lips at these phrases. “I ponder the place we dropped that horse leg. God dammit! We killed so many bastards, and there’s not even a single one down right here.”

From the expression on Xiang Wentian’s face, Linghu Chong might inform that he have to be excited about discovering some corpses for meals. Gasping with astonishment, he dared not say one other phrase and closed his eyes to sleep.

The subsequent morning, Xiang Wentian mentioned, “Brother, apart from moss and grass, there’s nothing right here. If we keep right here and drag on like this, we’ve acquired to search out some useless corpses for meals. However the ones that fell down the valley yesterday had been all outdated and stringy. I believe your received’t have too good of an urge for food consuming these.”

“I received’t have any urge for food in any respect,” Linghu Chong replied hurriedly.

Xiang Wentian grinned. “Then we’ll should discover a approach out of right here. Let me change your seems a bit bit.”

He scooped some slime from the bottom and smeared it onto Linghu Chong’s face. Then he put his arms on his personal chins and rubbed. As quickly as his interior energy radiated out from his palms, his lengthy beards started falling off fully. Subsequent, he positioned his arms on his personal head and rubbed, and shortly all the grey hair on his head additionally fell off fully, turning his head right into a shinny, bald head.

Inside moments, he had modified his look fully. Linghu Chong discovered it amusing but superb. Xiang Wentian scooped some extra slime after which made his nostril larger, his chins chubbier. Now even when somebody checked out Xiang Wentian rigorously nose to nose, he would nonetheless have a tough time recognizing him.

Xiang Wentian main the way in which, they started searching for a approach out of the valley. Xiang Wentian put his arms collectively and hid them within the sleeves, which additionally lined up the iron chain tied round his wrists. So long as he didn’t draw his arms out, no one would have been in a position to acknowledge that this bald fatty was really the hale, hearty, and degage Xiang Wentian.

The 2 of them explored the valley from one aspect to the opposite, and by midday, they caught sight of a small, wild peach tree in a small col. Regardless that the peaches had been removed from ripe and tasted bitter and astringent, they couldn’t care much less and every had a abdomen full. After resting for about two hours, they resumed their stroll. By the point of nightfall, Xiang Wentian lastly discovered the proper place to get out of the valley, solely that they needed to climb over a precipice a couple of hundred ft excessive. Xiang Wentian carried Linghu Chong on his again after which climbed upward.

After they climbed up the cliff, a small path appeared in entrance of their eyes, winding by way of the lengthy grasses masking the wild nation land. Though the surroundings was bleak, a minimum of they’d gotten out of the tight spot the place even traces of untamed birds or animals had been missing, and each heaved an extended sigh of relieve.

The subsequent morning, they traveled east. After they lastly arrived at a good-sized city, Xiang Wentian took out a bit of Golden Leaf[1] from his chest pocket and requested Linghu Chong to alternate that into silver at a neighborhood cash market. When that was all taken care of, they put up at an inn. Xiang Wentian ordered a lavish feast and likewise requested the servant to carry out a giant jar of wine. The 2 of them each drank to coronary heart’s content material till over half jar of the wine had gone. Then with out paying any consideration to the meals on the desk, one merely fell asleep on the desk whereas the opposite one fell right into a fuddle and handed out in mattress. Not till the following morning when the nice and cozy sunshine had lined the complete window did they get up one after one other. They exchanged a couple of grins as they recollected the fierce struggle contained in the pavilion and on the stone beam, virtually feeling as if these occasions had solely occurred of their final incarnation.

“Brother, you wait right here. I’ll be proper again,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

However Xiang Wentian didn’t return till over two hours later. Linghu Chong was simply beginning to fear, fearing that he may need encountered enemies, when Xiang Wentian reappeared with many packages in varied sizes in his arms and underneath his arms. The iron chain that had shackled round his waists additionally disappeared. He will need to have requested a blacksmith to chisel it off. Xiang Wentian opened the packages. It turned out each one in every of them contained luxurious clothes and apparels.

“We’ll disguise into wealthy retailers. The extra extravagant, the higher,” Xiang Wentian defined.

The 2 of them turned into the model new garments from inside out fully. After they walked outdoors, the inn servant lead two tall horses in shiny saddles and bridles to them which apparently Xiang Wentian had additionally simply bought. They traveled slowly additional east on horsebacks. After two days into the journey, Linghu Chong had already felt worn out, so Xiang Wentian employed a horse-drawn wagon for him to journey in. After arriving by the Grand Canal,

[2] they merely gave up the thought of touring by horse and employed a ship, touring south by water, as an alternative.

Alongside the journey, Xiang Wentian stored the spending spree, as if he had infinite variety of Golden Leaves with him. After they crossed the Yangtze River, increasingly more markets and outlets bustled alongside each banks of the canal. The apparels Xiang Wentian bought additionally turned increasingly more extravagant. In the course of the lengthy days spent on the boat, Xiang Wentian instructed many anecdotes and tales of the Martial World, most of which had been tales Linghu Chong had by no means heard of earlier than and introduced nice gusto out of him. But when there was something relating the Darkish-Wooden Cliff or regarding issues of the Demon’s Cult, Xiang Wentian wouldn’t point out any phrase of it, and Linghu Chong wouldn’t ask any query, both.

This present day, they arrived outdoors the town of Hangzhou. With additional consideration, Xiang Wentian labored on the disguises of Linghu Chong and himself another time earlier than getting off the boat, then after buying two high-quality horses, they rode into the town of Hangzhou.

The town of Hangzhou, which used to have the title of Lin-An, was the capital metropolis throughout the Southern-Music Dynasty, and had all the time been an awesome place for residence. As quickly as they entered the town, they had been greeted by boisterous pedestrians crowding the streets shoulder to shoulder whereas faint music and songs from alleys and courtyards echoing faintly within the background. Linghu Chong adopted Xiang Wentian till they’d arrived on the financial institution of the West Lake, and what greeted his eyes had been a stupendous slate of blue water reflecting the blue sky like an enormous mirror and the numerous weeping willows stroking the lake floor with their lengthy comfortable branches. The magnificent great thing about the surroundings might have simply made one surprise if he had simply stepped in a fairyland.

“I’ve heard many individuals say: Suzhou and Hangzhou are Heavens on earth. I’ve by no means been to Suzhou so do not know about it. At this time, after seeing the West Lake with my very own eyes, I’ve to agree that utilizing Heaven on earth to explain its magnificence is actually no exaggeration,” Linghu Chong exclaimed.

Xiang Wentian confirmed a smile as his reply after which led Linghu Chong to a distant nook, which, with a small hill on one aspect and an extended causeway separating it from the outer lake on the opposite, appeared much more secluded and peaceable. The 2 of them dismounted their horses after which after tying the reins to the willow bushes by the financial institution, they ascended the flight of stone steps main up the small hill. It appeared as if Xiang Wentian had returned to a previously visited place and was very aware of the pathways. After a number of turns, all of the sudden, there have been plum bushes in all places. Aged boughs slanted to the aspect with dense branches and leaves on the highest, making one surprise what a splendid view it will be within the early spring once they had been all lined within the numerous of gorgeous, snow-white plum blossoms.

They walked by way of the massive stretch of plum forest after which adopted the principle stone slab path. Quickly a big manor with a crimson gate and white partitions got here into their view. As soon as they got here nearer, Linghu Chong might see two giant characters, “Plum Manor,” written outdoors of the gate; and by the aspect, the phrases “signed by Yu Yunwen” had been inscribed in smaller fonts. Regardless that Linghu Chong didn’t have a lot training and didn’t know that Yu Yunwen was the well-known Southern-Music common that had defeated Jin’s invading military, he might nonetheless sense the vigorous, heroic spirit behind the elegant and sleek handwriting.

Xiang Wentian stepped ahead and grabbed onto the shiny copper ring hanging from the gate. “Depart every thing to me,” he turned his head over his shoulder and whispered.

Linghu Chong nodded, pondering to himself, “This Plum Manor clearly is the residence of a really wealthy household within the metropolis of Hangzhou. May this have been the house of an distinctive physician?” Then he heard Xiang Wentian knocking on the gate utilizing the copper ring. He knocked 4 instances at first then paused for a second earlier than knocking twice once more. Then after one other quick pause, he knocked 5 instances, then one other pause earlier than three extra knocks. Letting go of the copper ring, Xiang Wentian took a step again and waited.

After some time, the gate opened slowly, and two outdated males in servant’s garments walked out abreast. Linghu Chong felt a slight shock on the sight of the 2 outdated males. Their eyes shining with sharp stares and their steps regular and agency, apparently each of them had glorious Kung Fu. Why would they permit themselves to be employed to such lowly posts as servants? Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however ask himself inwardly.

“Might I ask what enterprise has introduced you to our humble manor?” the person on the left requested with a slight bow.

“Members of the Songshan College and the Huashan College want to request an viewers with the 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan,[3] the 4 respectful masters,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

“The Masters of the manor don’t want to obtain any friends,” the person replied and made for closing the gate, however Xiang Wentian took one thing out of his chest pocket after which opened it up.

Linghu Chong felt one other shock. Inside Xiang Wentian’s hand was a brocade flag in 5 colours stubbed with shining pearls and treasured gems, and within the bight daylight they twinkled magnificently. Linghu Chong knew that this flag was the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance Command Flag of the Songshan College’s Chief Zuo, and wherever the flag confirmed up, it was as if Chief Zuo had additionally come, himself, and all members of the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance would maintain the provider of the Command Flag to the very best esteem and observe his command strictly.

Linghu Chong faintly felt that this was inappropriate. He was virtually certain that Xiang Wentian will need to have not obtained the flag by way of correct means. Perhaps he had killed some vital members of the Songshan College after which had robbed the flag of him, and perhaps the flag was the very cause why orthodox college members chased after him. Now he claimed to be a member of the Songshan College, what sort of scheme was he planning to drag? However since Linghu Chong had agreed to let him prepare every thing, he had no alternative however to keep up his silence and observe by the aspect.

On the sight of the Command Flag, the 2 servants’ countenance modified barely. “The Command Flag of Songshan College’s Chief Zuo?” they muttered collectively.

“Sure, it’s,” Xiang Wentian confirmed.

“The 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan and the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance by no means had the prospect to make the acquaintance. Even when Songshan College’s Chief Zuo had come, himself, our Masters wouldn’t essentially essentially properly!” the servant on the proper replied. He didn’t end his sentence, however everybody knew what he meant: “Even when Chief Zuo had come, himself, our Masters wouldn’t essentially grant an viewers simply the identical.”

Chief Zuo of the Songshan College was, in spite of everything, a person of excessive publish and excessive status, and the person didn’t need to say something contemptuous. However he apparently thought of the standing of the “4 Playfellows of the Jiangnan” to be a lot increased in comparison with that of the Chief Zuo.

“Who’re these ‘4 Playfellows of Jiangnan’? Suppose they actually have such prestigious standing within the Martial World, why have I by no means heard Grasp or Grasp-Spouse point out their names? And after I questioned concerning the Martial World, I’ve heard individuals speaking about many distinctive senior masters, how come I’ve by no means heard the title ‘4 Playfellows of Jiangnan’ talked about earlier than?” Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however ponder.

“This Command Flag of My Nephew-Apprentice Zuo was solely good for bluffing. The 4 senior masters of Jiangnan are all prestigious masters. In fact they might suppose nothing of this small flag .” Xiang Wentian confirmed a slight grin and put the Command Flag again into his chest pocket.

Linghu Chong thought to himself, “‘Nephew-Apprentice Zuo’? Are you really pretending to be Chief Zuo’s Uncle-Grasp? That is actually getting out of arms.”

“I’ve by no means had the privilege of paying a proper go to to the 4 respectful masters of Jiangnan, I simply thought that this Command Flag is perhaps used as a token of verification,” Xiang Wentian continued.

“Oh,” the 2 servants acknowledged. Listening to how Xiang Wentian had actually elevated the place of the 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan in his speech, each eased up within the face.

“Are you Chief Zuo’s Uncle-Grasp?” one man requested.

“Sure, I’m!” Xiang Wentian set free one other grin. “I’m solely a no one within the Martial World; naturally you’d by no means have heard about me. However I’ve lengthy heard abut the nice feats you might have completed. Brother Ding, that 12 months on the foot of Mount Qilian, didn’t you single-handedly wipe out the whole band of 4 tyrants and subdued two prestigious Kung Fu masters with a single swing of your sword? And Brother Shi, didn’t your Eight-Diagram Golden Saber drink the blood of the Inexperienced-Dragon Clan’s all 13 ringleaders on the Han River in Hubei Province simply in order that you might save the lifetime of an orphan? Such feats are undoubtedly laborious to neglect.”

The 2 males in servant’s garments had been named Ding Jian and Shi Lingwei respectively. Earlier than retiring to the Plum Manor, they’d been two ruthless figures within the Martial World, chivalrous typically and depraved another instances. They’d one factor in frequent: seldom had they revealed their names within the many battles they’d fought. Consequently, regardless of their extraordinary martial artwork abilities few had heard of their names. The 2 incidents Xiang Wentian simply introduced up had been none apart from what they’d thought of the true masterpiece of their lives. In each instances, their opponents had been elite Kung Fu masters they usually needed to struggle many enemies alone, however every of them claimed a neat victory. In addition to, they’d been the chivalrous heroes upholding justice whereas their opponents had been the villains in each incidents, which had been very uncommon occurrences all through their lives. Typically when somebody performs a very good deed, though he wouldn’t exit of his technique to publicize it, he would nonetheless really feel totally happy if others study it unintentionally. Each Ding and Shi’s faces lit up at Xiang Wentian’s phrases.

“Such trivial issues actually don’t price mentioning. Mister, your data of the Martial World could be very spectacular,” Ding Jian spoke with a faint smile.

“The Martial World actually doesn’t lack individuals who fish for fame and praise, however lofty gents with real talents and studying that will quite stay nameless after doing nice deeds are very laborious to come back by,” Xiang Wentian continued. “I’ve all the time admired the nice fame of ‘Straight Line Lightning Sword’ Brother Ding and ‘Wulu God’ Brother Shi. When Nephew-Apprentice Zuo talked about about consulting the 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan in regard to sure issues, I agreed to make the journey to Hangzhou. I figured that even when I may not have the luck to fulfill the 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan, so long as I get to fulfill the ‘Straight Line Lightning Sword’ and the ‘Wulu God,’ it will have been a worthy journey. Nephew-Apprentice Zuo mentioned that if he had come, himself, he was afraid that the 4 senior masters may not need to obtain him, having an aversion to the undeserved repute he had attained lately. However in my case, since I often stayed in and stored myself away from Martial World issues, perhaps I received’t look too repugnant of their eyes. Ha-ha! Ha-ha!”

Very happy to listen to Xiang Wentian flattering each the 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan and the 2 of them, Ding and Shi additionally accompanied him with a couple of laughs. Though the bald fatty regarded repulsive in look, his speech and demeanor confirmed nice method and magnificence, which satisfied Ding and Shi that he was not simply any atypical customer. And since he was Zuo Lengchan’s Uncle-Grasp, his Kung Fu abilities needed to be extraordinary. Ding and Shi felt their respect rising.

By then, Shi Lingwei had determined to report them to the masters of the manor. Turning towards Linghu Chong, he requested, “Is that this mister a member of the Huashan College?”

“That is Brother Feng. He’s the Uncle-Grasp of the present Huashan College Headmaster, Yue Buqun,” Xiang Wentian replied swiftly earlier than Linghu Chong had any likelihood to open his mouth.

From the a lot nonsense Xiang Wentian had made up, Linghu Chong had guessed that Xiang would vamp up a pretend title and id for him, however he had no concept that Xiang would make him the Uncle-Grasp of his personal Grasp. Regardless that Linghu Chong was a person that didn’t care a rush, pretending to be a senior of his respectful Grasp made him very uneasy. He couldn’t assist however shudder. Fortunately his face was lined underneath a thick layer of yellow powder, which successfully hid his startled face.

Ding Jian and Shi Lingwei exchanged a suspicious stare, each pondering, “Though we will’t inform this man’s true age, he’s almost certainly underneath forty. How might he be Yue Buqun’s Uncle-Grasp?”

Xiang Wentian had made Linghu Chong look a lot older with the assistance of the disguise. Nevertheless, Linghu Chong nonetheless regarded removed from an aged man, and any extreme make up would have given him away fully.

“This Brother Feng right here is definitely youthful than Yue Buqun, however he’s the one disciple of apprentice brother Feng Qingyang and the one inheritor of apprentice brother Feng’s distinctive sword arts. His abilities in sword arts are so distinctive that few within the Huashan Sword College could possibly be his match,” Xiang Wentian defined.

As soon as once more, Linghu Chong discovered himself astounded. “How would Brother Xiang know that I’m the disciple of Grand Uncle-Grasp Feng?” he contemplated and located the reply solely a second later, “Together with his distinctive sword artwork abilities, Grand Uncle-Grasp Feng will need to have had a prestigious fame within the Martial World a few years in the past. Brother Xiang is a really educated man. As soon as he noticed the sword arts I used, naturally he was in a position to deduce the origin of the sword arts. If Nice Grasp Fang-Sheng can acknowledge it, so can Brother Xiang.”

Ding Jian uttered a cry of shock. He was an knowledgeable in swordsmanship, and upon studying that Linghu Chong was a superb sword grasp, he itched for a contest. However the man standing in entrance of him had such a yellowish, swollen face and a totally wretched look, he had a tough time linking the person to an impressive grasp in sword arts.

“Might I’ve the honour to listen to your names?” he requested.

“My surname is Tong, and my full title is Tong Huajin. This Brother Feng’s first title is Er-Zhong,” Xiang Wentian answered.

“We’ve been trying ahead to assembly you for a very long time.” Each Ding and Shi cupped their arms in greetings.

Xiang Wentian couldn’t assist however chuckle inwardly. The title he made up, “Tong Huajin,” meant copper turning into gold, which, after all, clearly acknowledged that it was pretend. And the title “Er-Zhong” merely got here from separating the 2 radicals within the character “Chong.” There was nobody within the Martial World with any of these two names, but the 2 of them nonetheless regarded ahead to assembly them. Why would they be trying ahead to it, a lot much less trying ahead to it for a very long time already?

“Please are available in and have some tea whereas I report back to my Masters. However whether or not our Masters will see you or not, I received’t promise something,” Ding Jian mentioned.

“Regardless that you humbly name yourselves servants of the Manor, you might be extra like intimate brothers to the 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan. I’m certain the 4 senior masters is not going to go in opposition to your strategies,” Xiang Wentian mentioned with a smile.

Ding Jian returned with a smile, shifting to the aspect to make approach, and Xiang Wentian stepped into the manor, adopted intently by Linghu Chong. They walked by way of a giant courtyard following the trail, alongside which stood two aged plum bushes, one on either side, their limbs extending vigorously in all instructions. After getting into the reception corridor, Shi Lingwei invited the friends to be seated and stood by the aspect in accompany whereas Ding Jian went inside to report back to the Masters. Seeing that Shi Lingwei stood by the aspect, Xiang Wentian felt quite irreverent to stay sitting, himself. However Shi was a servant of the Plum Manor, and it will have been inappropriate for him to ask Shi to sit down down. After which, he had an concept.

“Brother Feng,” Xiang Wentian mentioned to Linghu Chong, “Take a look at that portray there. Though it’s made up of just a few merely strokes, it actually depicts nice momentum.” At these phrases, he stood up and walked in entrance of the central scroll hung in the midst of the corridor.

Having traveled alongside Xiang Wentian for a lot of days, Linghu Chong knew very properly that Xiang was not adept at portray and calligraphy regardless of his resourceful wits. Now when he all of the sudden started praising the portray, there needed to be one thing extra to it. At that thought, he acknowledged with a snort and likewise walked in entrance of the portray. The portray contained the drawing of a celestial man’s again. It virtually felt as if the ink on the portray was nonetheless dripping moist, clearly displaying the highly effective vigor of every of the strokes. Regardless that Linghu Chong was no knowledgeable within the artwork of portray, he might nonetheless inform that this needed to be a real masterpiece. The autograph on the portray learn, “Mr. Paint Splashing Paints In a Massive Fuddle.” These phrases had been written in a really stern model, as if every brushstroke got here from a prod or swing of an extended sword.

“Brother Tong, I’m very interested in this phrase ‘Fuddle’ on the portray. It virtually felt as if the portray and the writing contained some sort of very good sword arts,” after staring on the portray for a while, Linghu Chong commented. The brushstrokes within the writing and the gesture of the celestial man appeared to have reminded him of the sword arts carved on the rock wall within the again cave atop the Cliff of Contemplation.

Earlier than Xiang Wentian had an opportunity to answer, Shi Lingwei had already spoken out, “Mr. Feng is actually an knowledgeable in sword arts. Our Fourth Grasp mentioned: He painted this portray after he grew to become fully inebriated someday and unconsciously included the spirit of sword arts within the art work. That is the perfect art work he had ever created. As soon as he grew to become sober, he might by no means paint something like this once more. Mr. Feng can really make out the spirit of sword arts within the portray. Fourth Grasp will certainly consider you as a bosom pal. Please permit me to excuse myself so I can report this to him.” Beaming with pleasure, he went inside.

“Brother Feng, turned out you realize the artwork of portray,” Xiang Wentian cleared his throat and mentioned.

“I don’t know something about portray. I used to be simply making wild guesses, and occur to hit the goal by chance. If this Mr. Paint desires to debate the artwork of portray with me, I’ll find yourself making a idiot out of myself,” Linghu Chong replied.

Out of the blue a loud voice rose from outdoors the door, “Did he actually, did he actually acknowledge the spirit of sword arts in my portray? He have to be a really insightful man. He have to be!” Amid the clamor, a person entered the room, holding a wine cup in his left hand, his face tipsy and his lengthy beard virtually reaching all the way in which to his bosom.

Shi Lingwei adopted proper behind the person. In a rush, he launched, “These two friends are Mister Tong from the Songshan College and Mister Feng from the Huashan College. That is the Fourth Grasp of the Plum Manor, Mr. Paint. Fourth Grasp, as quickly as this Mister Feng noticed your Splash-Ink portray, he mentioned that the portray contained good sword arts.”

The Fourth Grasp, Mr. Paint, glanced at Linghu Chong up and down from the nook of his tipsy eyes. “You realize portray? You realize sword arts?” he all of the sudden requested. The 2 questions sounded very insolent and rude.

Linghu Chong seen that the wine cup in his hand was a jade inexperienced Emerald Cup; he might additionally inform from the odor that the wine contained in the cup was Pear-Blossom Wine. Out of the blue, Zu Qianqiu’s speech on the boat once they traveled within the Yellow River got here to his thoughts.

“Bai Juyi wrote in his poem

Spring View of Hangzhou

, ‘

The crimson sleeves of the silk weaving ladies mirrored the persimmon leaves, and the emerald inexperienced flag of the wine store units off the Pear-Blossom Wine

.’ To drink the Pear-Blossom Wine, Emerald Cup could be the pure alternative. Fourth Grasp is actually an knowledgeable within the artwork of wine-drinking.”

Linghu Chong didn’t have a lot training and knew little about poetry and literature. However being a really clever man, he was gifted with an awfully retentive reminiscence and will recite different individuals’s phrases after listening to them over as soon as. So simply, he copied Zu Qianqiu’s actual phrases over.

Mr. Paint’s eyes grew to become huge open at these phrases. Out of the blue he held Linghu Chong into his arms.

“Good heavens!” he cried out loud, “A bosom pal has arrived. Come! Observe me! Let’s go drink a minimum of 300 cups. Brother Feng, I’m hooked on the artwork of wine, the artwork of portray, and the artwork of sword. Individuals name me Lord of the Three Arts. However among the many three arts, the artwork of wine is on the high of the checklist. Artwork of portray is the second and artwork of sword is the final.”

These phrases seemed like music in Linghu Chong’s ears. “I do know nothing concerning the artwork of portray,” he thought to himself, “I’ve come to hunt assist in therapeutic my accidents. It’s the very last thing I need to do to get right into a sword struggle with them. However consuming, that’s simply down my alley. What extra might I’ve requested for?”

With out hesitation, he adopted Mr. Paint inside adopted by Xiang Wentian and Shi Lingwei. Down a winding hall, they got here to a room to the west, and as quickly because the portiere was lifted, a robust perfume of wine assailed their nostrils.

Linghu Chong had been keen on consuming since childhood. Solely as a result of his Grasp and Grasp-Spouse hadn’t given him a lot pocket cash, he had not the posh to tell apart the nice from the unhealthy and easily drank no matter he might get. Not till he listened to Elder Bamboo-Inexperienced discussing the artwork of consuming intimately within the metropolis of Luoyang, and was proven the numerous sorts of nice wines, was he in a position to admire high quality wines and the artwork of consuming. Firstly, this was congenial for him; secondly, he had a very good trainer to provide him instructions. In order quickly the scent of wine hit his nostrils, he praised.

“Wow! I odor the scent of aged Excessive Grade Fen-Wine. Hmm, the Hundred-Grass Wine in all probability is round seventy-five years outdated. And that Monkey Wine is even more durable to come back by.”

As quickly as he acknowledged the aroma of the Monkey Wine, he immediately remembered Lu Dayou, his sixth apprentice brother, and sorrow swelled in his coronary heart.

“Wonderful! Wonderful! Brother Feng, as quickly as you stepped into my wine room, you might have already acknowledged the perfect three brews in my assortment. You might be actually an knowledgeable! Superb! Superb certainly!” Mr. Paint clapped his arms with a giant smile blossoming on his face.

Linghu Chong glanced across the room. What met his eyes the place wine jars, wine bottles, wine calabashes, and wine cups in all places.

“I actually doubt Senior Grasp’s assortment stops on the three nice brews I’ve simply talked about. The Shaoxing-Crimson Wine is unquestionably first-class, and the Grape-Wine from the Western Area metropolis Turfan,[4] which requires 4 cycles of distillation and ferments, is second to none in the whole world.”

“My Turfan 4 cycles of distillation and ferments Grape-Wine remains to be sealed off within the picket barrel. How might you might have sniffed it out?” Mr. Paint uttered, half shocked and half happy.

“Come on! With such high quality wine, even should you conceal it in a cellar twenty ft beneath floor, the candy scent would nonetheless make all of it the way in which right here,” Linghu Chong mentioned with a smile.

“Proper on! Let’s drink this 4 cycles distillation and ferments Grape-Wine, then!” Mr. Paint shouted.

Quickly, he took out a giant barrel from a nook of the room. The barrel had begun to show black from its outdated age and was lined with wriggling Western Area scripts. The picket stopper was sealed off by sealing wax, which carried the signal of a solemn trying stamp. Mr. Paint held the picket stopper and gave it a delicate pull. Rapidly, the room was stuffed with the scent of nice wine. Shi Lingwei was a person who by no means touched alcohol, and on the robust odor from the wine, he instantly felt tipsy. Mr. Paint waved him off with a smile.

“Exit! Exit! You don’t need to get drunk, do you?”

Inserting three wine cups in a row, he picked the barrel up and poured the wine towards the wine cups. The wine’s shade was darkish crimson and virtually regarded like blood. When the cups had been full, the highest of the liquid was really barely increased than the sting of the cup, but not a drop spilled out.

“This man has extraordinary Kung Fu abilities,” Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however cheer inwardly. “Holding the over one-hundred kilos massive barrel in his arms and pouring wine into the small wine cups, he was nonetheless in a position to fill the cups completely to their capacities. That’s no straightforward activity.”

“Cheers! Cheers!” Holding the picket barrel underneath his proper arm, he raised his wine cup together with his left hand and stared at Linghu Chong’s face with unblinking eyes, ready to see his response after he tasted the wine.

Linghu Chong raised his personal cup after which drank half of its content material down his throat, smacking his lips as he tasted the flavour, his eyes closed. However due to the thick layer of powder on his face, the one specific on his face was indifference, as if he didn’t fairly just like the style. Mr. Paint’s face, then again, had anxiousness written throughout it, as if he was afraid that this knowledgeable in wine-appreciation would solely fee his wine mediocre.

After an extended whereas, Linghu Chong lastly opened his eyes. “Very unusual! Very unusual certainly!” he muttered.

“What’s unusual about it?” Mr. Paint requested.

“Nicely, that is so complicated. That is actually past me,” Linghu Chong answered.

“You might be saying ,” Mr. Paint mentioned, his eyes flickering with pleasure.

“I’ve solely had the fortune to style this wine as soon as earlier than, and that was within the metropolis of Luoyang. Regardless that the wine was totally mellow and pure, one might nonetheless really feel the slight sourness in its taste. Based on a grandmaster within the artwork of wine, that was due to the bumping and jolting alongside the transportation route. With the 4 cycles distillation and ferments Turfan Grape-Wine, the extra you progress it, the extra of the excellence will probably be impaired. There are a lot of hundreds of miles between Turfan and Hangzhou, however Senior Grasp’s wine doesn’t even have the slightest sourness in its taste. Nicely .”

Mr. Paint broke into loud laughter, trying very happy of himself.

“That is my utmost secret. I had to make use of three sword strikes in alternate for the key recipe from Moore Watson, the Western Area Swordsman. Do you need to hear it?”

“I’m already completely glad for the prospect to get pleasure from such great wine. I actually dare to not ask about Senior Grasp’s secret recipe.” Linghu Chong shook his head.

“Let’s drink! Let’s drink!” Mr. Paint crammed the three wine cups as soon as once more. Linghu Chong’s no want for the key recipe really made his coronary heart itch extra. He couldn’t assist however mutter, “Really the recipe is just not price a dime. It’s amazingly merely, you realize.”

Linghu Chong knew that the much less he desired to listen to the key, the extra Mr. Paint would need to share it. So he shook his arms hurriedly.

“Senior Grasp, please, please don’t converse the key out. I can think about that the three sword strikes you gave out will need to have been no small matter. If I take away your secret recipe, which you needed to pay an awesome worth in alternate, so simply, I’ll by no means really feel proper about it. It’s properly mentioned that there’s no receiving a reward with out making a benefit .”

“Didn’t you drink with me? Didn’t you acknowledge the origin of the wine? That’s loads of benefit already. You need to hearken to the key recipe,” Mr. Paint insisted.

“I really feel nice gratitude that Senior Grasp is prepared to grant me an viewers and bestow on me your most dear wine assortment. How might I ?”

“However I need to inform you. You’ll be able to hear.”

“That is Fourth Grasp’s goodwill. Brother Feng, you needn’t decline,” Xiang Wentian additionally chimed in.

“Precisely! Precisely!” Mr. Paint concurred. “Let me ask you. Are you able to inform how outdated the wine is?” he requested with all smiles.

Linghu Chong drank up his wine and tasted it rigorously. After an extended whereas he spoke once more.

“There’s one other factor unusual about this wine. It tastes prefer it’s 100 and twenty years outdated, but it additionally tastes as if it’s only twelve or 13 years outdated. There’s outdated taste within the latest style and there’s additionally new taste within the outdated style. Evaluating to regular, over 100 years outdated wine, it appears to have a singular essence.”

Xiang Wentian knitted his brows barely as he thought to himself, “Now he has actually made a idiot of himself. There’s over 100 years distinction between 100 and twenty years and twelve or 13 years. How might they be talked about in the identical breath?”

He was afraid that Mr. Paint could be displeased to listen to these phrases, however fairly on the contrary, the outdated fellow Mr. Paint broke into loud laughter, his lengthy beard fluttering forwards and backwards.

“Good brother! You might be as sharp as a razor. That’s precisely the place the key lies. Let me inform you. That Western Area Swordsman, Moore Watson, gave me ten barrels of 100 and twenty years outdated Turfan Grape Wine that had gone by way of three cycles of distillation and ferments and had 5 high-quality horses carry all of them the way in which to Hangzhou. After which I went by way of the fourth cycle of distillation and ferments and brewed one barrel of high-quality wine utilizing the ten barrels Grape Wine. If we rely the times, that was precisely twelve and a half years in the past. That’s why the Grape Wine didn’t go bitter after such an extended journey and why there’s outdated taste within the latest style and new taste within the outdated style.”

“That’s why!” Xiang Wentian and Linghu Chong each put their arms collectively.

“Even should you had been to make use of ten sword strikes in alternate for the key of creating such great wine, it will have been price it. And also you solely had to make use of three strikes. What a steal!” Linghu Chong added.

Mr. Paint was much more happy. “Little brother, you actually perceive me properly. At the moment, each Massive Brother and Third Brother grumbled about it and complained that by exchanging sword strikes for wine brewing method, I had let the key of our Central Area distinctive abilities into the Western Area. And though Second Brother solely smiled with out saying something, I wager he didn’t approve it in his thoughts, both. Solely you, little brother, perceive that I’ve made a kill on this deal. Lets have a toast for that!”

Seeing that Xiang Wentian clearly didn’t know something concerning the artwork of consuming, he paid no extra consideration to him.

“Fourth Grasp, there’s really one other technique to get pleasure from this wine. Too unhealthy we received’t have the ability to at this second,” Linghu Chong mentioned after consuming up one other cup of wine.

“How? Why can’t we?” Mr. Paint requested anxiously.

“Turfan is the most popular place on this planet. I heard that when Nice Grasp Xuan-Zang[5] journeyed to India to retrieve the true Buddhist Scriptures, he glided by the Mountain of Blaze, which is strictly the place Turfan is situated,” Linghu Chong defined.

“Sure. That place could be very sizzling, certainly. Within the summertime, even after you immerse your self in a bucket of chilly water, you’d nonetheless really feel the insufferable warmth. And within the wintertime, it’ll freeze you to the bone. However simply due to that, the grapes they produce there are out of the atypical,” Mr. Paint remarked.

“After I tasted this wine within the metropolis of Luoyang, it was nonetheless very chilly. That grandmaster within the artwork of consuming introduced out a giant piece of ice after which set the wine cups on high of the ice. As soon as the wine was iced, it had a unique sort of style. It’s already within the early summer season now, that’s why I mentioned we wouldn’t have the ability to style it that approach,” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“After I was within the Western Area, sadly it was within the summertime additionally. Moore Watson additionally talked about concerning the great style of Iced Grape Wine. Little brother, that’s straightforward. All it’s important to do is to remain in our Plum Manor for an additional half a 12 months. Then when it’s within the winter, we will style the wine collectively,” Mr. Paint instructed. After a brief pause, he went on, his eyebrows barely knitted, “However we’ll have to attend for such a very long time. What a torment!”

“It’s a pity that there’s nobody right here in Jiangnan who focuses on ‘Icy Palm’ or ‘Chilly-Wind Claw’ the sort of Kung Fu that focuses on the detrimental ideas, or else ,” Xiang Wentian joined in.

“I’ve acquired it! I’ve acquired it!” earlier than Xiang Wentian even completed his sentence, Mr. Paint had shouted out cheerfully. Setting the wine barrel all the way down to the ground, he walked out of the room excitedly.

Linghu Chong solid a look at Xiang Wentian with a abdomen stuffed with questions, however Xiang Wentian solely grinned again in silence.

Not lengthy after, Mr. Paint had returned, dragging a really tall and really skinny, outdated man in black gown behind him.

“Second Brother, you’ve acquired to do me a favor this time it doesn’t matter what,” he pleaded.

Linghu Chong regarded on the man. What he noticed was a person with delicate options, solely that his face regarded unnaturally white as if the face of a corpse, which might ship a chill down one’s backbone on the sight of it. After Mr. Paint launched him, Linghu Chong discovered that the outdated man was the Second Grasp of the Plum Manor, Mr. Black-White. His hair regarded extraordinarily black whereas his pores and skin regarded extraordinarily white. They had been actually in sharp distinction.

“What favor?” Mr. Black-White requested in a chilly tone.

“To reveal your Turning-Water-Into-Ice Kung Fu to those two good mates of mine,” Mr. Paint mentioned.

“That’s simply an insignificant ability not even price mentioning. It might solely make the true consultants chuckle,” Mr. Black-White mentioned coldly, rolling his black eyeballs across the white of the attention as he spoke.

“Second Brother, to inform you the reality, this Brother Feng, right here, mentioned that if we ice the Turfan Grape Wine, it will have an attention-grabbing style. However the place the heck can I discover ice in the midst of the summer season?” Mr. Paint confessed.

“The wine is already very mellow and savory. There’s no have to ice it,” Mr. Black-White replied.

“Turfan is a spot of sweltering warmth ,” Linghu Chong defined.

“Completely! Highly regarded!” Mr. Paint added.

“’Though the grapes produced there are glorious, inevitably, additionally they carried a number of the summer season warmth,” Linghu Chong went on.

“Completely! That’s after all!” Mr. Paint added once more.

“The summer season warmth was then brewed into the wine. Although after 100 years, the impact had decreased dramatically, the little little bit of bitter is solely inevitable, in spite of everything,” Linghu Chong concluded.

“Completely! Completely! For those who had not talked about it, I’d have thought that it was as a result of the flame was too excessive on the time of the distillation. I’ve actually blamed that royal cook dinner wrongly,” Mr. Paint mentioned.

“What royal cook dinner?” Linghu Chong requested.

“Nicely, I used to be afraid to spoil the ten barrels of nice wine with incorrect diploma of heating on the time of the distillation, so I made a particular journey to the imperial palace in Beijing and grabbed the royal cook dinner to come back again with me so he might make the hearth and brew the wine for me.” Mr. Paint grinned.

“Making a mountain out of a molehill?” Mr. Black-White shook his head.

“I see,” Xiang Wentian reduce within the dialog. “If it had been for simply atypical ones, it wouldn’t matter a lot for them to have the bitterness of their drink. However Second Grasp and Fourth Grasp are lofty hermits that retreated to the lakeside of the scenic West Lake, fully completely different from the tough fellows within the Martial World. As soon as the wine is iced and rid of the roughness, then it will match completely with the standing of the 2 lofty masters. It is rather like the gamesmanship within the recreation of Go.[6] Combating with shear energy would solely fall into the ninth grade of gamesmanship whereas masters within the first or second grade of gamesmanship would search a contest of spirit and understanding .”

“You realize the sport of Go?” rolling his queer eyes as soon as once more, Mr. Black-White all of the sudden grabbed at Xiang Wentian’s shoulder and requested eagerly.

“The sport of Go is the favourite in my life. Sadly my abilities are simply atypical. So I traveled all around the nation in pursuit of Go manuals. All through the previous thirty years, I’ve managed to memorize fairly a couple of of the well-known video games of all ages,” Xiang Wentian replied.

“Which well-known video games have you ever memorized?” Mr. Black-White requested excitedly.

“For instance: The sport Wang Zhi watched when he encountered celestial beings on Mount Decayed Helve,[7] the sport Liu Zhongpu performed in opposition to the Fairy Granny on Mount Li,[8] and the sport Wang Jixin heard between the mom and the daughter-in-law fairy foxes[9] .”

Earlier than he even completed, Mr. Black-White had begun shaking his head in disappointment. “These are solely myths. How can they be credible? And the way might there be actual recreation manuals from these fantasy tales?” At that phrase, he let go of Xiang Wentian’s shoulder.

“Nicely, at first, I additionally thought these had been simply tales made up by busybodies, however twenty-five years in the past after I noticed the sport guide for the sport between Liu Zhongpu and the Fairy Granny of Mount Li with my very own eyes and realized how pointed and profound every transfer was, nothing an atypical particular person might have made up, that was after I believed entire heartedly that the parable story was actual. Is Senior Grasp additionally keen on this recreation?”

Mr. Paint all of the sudden burst into an uncontrolled chuckle, his lengthy beard fluttered about as soon as once more.

“Why are you laughing?” Xiang Wentian requested.

“Didn’t you ask my Second Brother if he’s keen on the sport of Go? Ha-ha-ha! My Second Brother’s title is Mr. Black-White. You inform me if he likes the sport or not. They approach Second Brother loves the sport of Go is rather like how I really like the artwork of consuming,” Mr. Paint mentioned in amusement.

“Good heavens! Second Grasp, please excuse my random discuss. That’s like displaying one’s slight ability earlier than an knowledgeable,” Xiang Wentian mentioned hurriedly.

“Did you actually see the sport guide for the sport between Liu Zhongpu and the Fairy Granny of Mount Li?” Mr. Black-White requested. “I’ve seen recordings from historical journals about this story. It mentioned that Liu Zhongpu was the nationwide champion on the time, however he misplaced miserably to a countryside granny on the foot of Mount Li and spat out a number of liters of blood from the frustration. That’s why this well-known recreation guide was named the ‘Blood-Spitting Handbook.’ May this ‘Blood-Spitting Handbook’ actually exist on this world?”

When he first entered the room, his face had regarded fully detached, however now it was lined with pleasure.

“Twenty-5 years in the past, I had the prospect of studying it within the outdated residence of a well known household in Chengdu, Szechwan. As a result of it was such a shocking battle, even after twenty-five years, I might nonetheless bear in mind each single one of many complete 100 and twelve strikes,” Xiang Wentian elaborated.

“There are a complete of 100 and twelve strikes? Why don’t you present it to me? Come on, let’s go to my recreation room to set it up,” Mr. Black-White proposed anxiously.

Mr. Paint stretched his arms out and blocked the way in which.

“Maintain it! Second Brother, should you don’t make ice for me, see if I’ll ever allow you to go away,” he mentioned as he took out a white china basin stuffed with clear water.

“Alas, every of the 4 brothers has his personal ‘factor’ to be loopy about. It’s hopeless,” Mr. Black-White sighed.

He stretched out his proper hand and inserted his index finger into the water. Solely a brief second later, faint traces of white mist started rising from the water floor, and shortly, hoar frost started forming alongside the perimeters of the basin. Earlier than lengthy, a skinny layer of ice appeared on the water floor. The ice grew thicker and thicker and solely minutes later, the water contained in the basin had all changed into chilly ice. Xiang Wentian and Linghu Chong each cheered loudly.

“I heard that the ‘Violent Wind Finger’ Kung Fu had been lengthy misplaced within the Martial World. Who would have thought that the Second Grasp ?” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

“This isn’t the ‘Violent Wind Finger.’ That is known as the ‘Profound Heavenly Finger,’ which is a way more superior Kung Fu as compared with the truculent ‘Violent Wind Finger’ Kung Fu,” Mr. Paint clarified promptly. With none delay, he had positioned 4 wine cups on high of the ice as he spoke and crammed them with Grape Wine. Shortly afterwards, traces of white mist started rising from the floor of the wine.

“Now!” Linghu Chong mentioned.

Choosing up a wine cup, Mr. Paint tossed the wine down, and certain sufficient, the wine tasted thick and mellow and there was not a hint of bitterness. As well as, a style of cool and refreshing was additionally added to the wine and made it much more scrumptious. He couldn’t assist however reward.

“How marvelous! Now I did an awesome job brewing the wine; Brother Feng did an awesome job defined it; Second brother did an awesome job made the ice. Nicely, what about you? Hmm .” He grinned at Xiang Wentian. “You probably did an awesome job stooging alongside.”

Mr. Black-White drank up his wine casually, didn’t even pay any consideration to the flavour of it. Grabbing Xiang Wentian’s arm, he pulled.

“Come on! Come on! Present me how Liu Zhongpu’s ‘Blood-Spitting Handbook’ seems like.”

Xiang Wentian gave Linghu Chong’s sleeve a delicate pull, and Linghu Chong instantly understood. “I’d prefer to go have a look, myself.” he mentioned.

“I wager you there’s nothing attention-grabbing about it. Why don’t you and I keep right here and revel in our wine?” Mr. Paint instructed.

“We are able to watch the sport and revel in our wine on the identical time,” Linghu Chong replied and started strolling following behind Mr. Black-White and Xiang Wentian.

Mr. Paint had no alternative however observe them into the sport room, holding the massive wine barrel underneath the arm.

The sport room was a really spacious room, however apart from a stone desk and two comfortable chairs in the midst of the room it was fully empty. The highest of the stone desk had been carved right into a recreation board with a grid of 19 vertical and nineteen horizontal strains. On the 2 ends of the checkerboard sat two baskets, one stuffed with black recreation items and one with white ones. Apparently having no different articles within the room besides the desk, the chairs and the sport items was to reduce distractions for the gamers.

Xiang Wentian walked to the stone desk after which positioned one recreation piece on every of the “star” factors on the 4 corners of the sport board. Subsequent, he set a white recreation piece on the six-three intersection, then a black recreation piece on the nine-three intersection, a white recreation piece on the six-five intersection, a black recreation piece on the nine-five intersection. He went on and on and positioned one recreation piece after one other onto the sport board, step by step slowing down as he went.

The black aspect and the white aspect started a fierce dogfight from the very starting of the sport, and neither aspect had even one poor transfer. Mr. Black-White regarded on the recreation board with fastened stares and shortly sweat streamed down his brow.

Linghu Chong discovered himself baffled by the scene. He had witnessed how Mr. Black-White turned water into ice together with his “Profound Heavenly Finger” Kung Fu, which might have required extraordinary interior power cultivation, however he didn’t even break a sweat; enjoying Go recreation was solely an unorthodox college,[10] but he was sweating profusely simply watching a recreation. When one had nice concern about one thing, he would extra more likely to lose his rational. This man was loopy concerning the recreation of Go, and Xiang Wentian likely had picked this weak spot of his deliberately as a breakthrough.

Positive sufficient, when Mr. Black-White seen that Xiang Wentian hadn’t put any recreation piece down an extended whereas after he confirmed the sixty-sixth transfer, he turned impatient.

“What concerning the subsequent transfer?” he requested.

“That may be a key step of the sport. The place do you suppose the following recreation piece must be at?” Xiang Wentian grinned.

Mr. Black-White contemplated upon the query for fairly some time and at last muttered, “Nicely, the place do I need to put this one? A Tsuke transfer could be inappropriate; a Dame transfer wouldn’t be proper; a Sagari transfer wouldn’t make it by way of; to make two eyes appears unattainable.[11] Nicely properly properly .”

Holding a white recreation piece together with his index finger and center finger, he rapped on the stone desk with it, however after virtually half an hour, he was nonetheless unable to determine the place on the sport board to place this recreation piece. By then Mr. Paint and Linghu Chong had every drank up seventeen or eighteen cups of wine, already.

“Brother Tong, isn’t this the ‘Blood-Spitting Handbook?’ Do you actually need my Second Brother to spit up blood due to it? Regardless of the subsequent step is, why don’t you simply inform us what it’s easy?” noticing that Mr. Black-White’s face started turning furious, Mr. Paint proposed.

“Alright! The sixty-seventh transfer must be proper right here,” Xiang Wentian replied as he positioned a recreation piece on the seven-four intersection.

“Splendid!” Mr. Black-White known as out as he smacked his thigh with pleasure. “To put the sport piece there’s a good transfer, certainly.”

“Liu Zhongpu’s this transfer is, after all, an excellent transfer. But it surely’s solely a intelligent transfer from a mortal champion. When in comparison with the divine transfer from the Mount Li Fairy Granny, it’s far inferior,” Xiang Wentian mentioned with a smile.

“What concerning the divine transfer from the Mount Li Fairy Granny?” Mr. Black-White inquired eagerly.

“Second Grasp may as properly give it a strive,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

Mr. Black-White contemplated upon it deeply however might solely conclude that this was destined to be a shedding battle, and it will have been unattainable to show the tide. So he shook his head.

“Because it’s a divine transfer, how can any one in every of us mortals determine it out? Brother Tong, there’s no have to promote the climax.”

“This transfer contained great foresight. It actually takes an immortal to determine it out,” Xiang Wentian grinned once more.

Mr. Black-White was an knowledgeable in gamesmanship, thus additionally grew to become very proficient in studying an opponent’s minds. Since Xiang Wentian wouldn’t simply converse out the sport guide frankly, which made his coronary heart itchier by the second, he reckoned that Xiang should had one thing he needed in return.

“Brother Tong, should you inform me this recreation guide, I guarantee you that you just received’t be dissatisfied.”

Linghu Chong thought to himself, “Is it doable that Brother Xiang knew this Second Grasp’s ‘Profound Heavenly Finger’ Kung Fu can remedy my accidents, that’s why he went round in such a giant circle for the request?”

“Brother Feng and I’ve nothing to request of the 4 Masters of the Manor. Second Grasp’s phrases have actually put us two down,” Xiang Wentian raised his head and mentioned.

“I encourage your pardon for my discreet comment.” Mr. Black-White bowed deeply. Xiang Wentian and Linghu Chong additionally bowed in return.

“The 2 of us got here to the Plum Manor as a result of we’d prefer to make a wager with the 4 Masters,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

“”Make a wager? What sort of wager?” Mr. Black-White and Mr. Paint requested in unison.

“I need to make a wager that nobody within the Plum Manor can beat Brother Feng right here in sword arts,” Xiang Wentian answered.

At these phrases, Mr. Black and Mr. Paint each turned to have a look at Linghu Chong. Mr. Black-White’s face regarded apathetic and with no signal of approval or disapproval. Mr. Paint, then again, broke right into a loud chuckle.

“What’s the stake then?” Mr. Paint requested.

“If we lose, I’ll give this portray to Fourth Grasp,” Xiang Wentian replied as he untied the package deal on his again and opened it, inside which had been two scrolls.

Xiang Wentian opened one of many scrolls and a really antiquated portray appeared in entrance of everybody’s eyes. On the higher proper nook of the portray the autograph learn, “Traveler in Mount Brook, Painted by Fan Zhongli of the Northern Music.”[12] Within the portray, a towering mountain shot as much as the sky, steep and sumptuous, properly illustrated with the thick ink model. Regardless that Linghu Chong had little data about portray, he might nonetheless inform that this surroundings portray was a superb piece of artwork. The awe-inspiring mountain stood tall and upright. Though it was solely an image on the canvas, one nonetheless couldn’t assist however really feel the admiration hovering in his coronary heart.

“Holy cow!” Mr. Paint cried out. Fixing his eyes upon the portray, he might not look away. After a very good whereas he lastly spoke once more, “That is the genuine work of Fan Kuan within the Northern Music period. The place the place did you get it?”

Xiang Wentian smiled however didn’t reply. Slowly, he started rolling the portray right into a scroll.

“Wait,” Mr. Paint known as out.

He reached out and pulled Xiang Wentian’s arm, making an attempt to cease Xiang from rolling the portray. However as quickly as his hand touched Xiang’s arm, a stream of sentimental but vigorous interior power shot out of Xiang’s arm and gently pushed his palm away. Xiang Wentian regarded as if he had no concept about what had simply occurred and slowly rolled the portray again right into a scroll. Mr. Paint was amazed. When he had pulled Xiang Wentian’s arm simply now, he had probably not put a lot energy into the pull, afraid that he may injury the portray. However the interior power push from Xiang’s arm clearly confirmed very superior interior power cultivation. Furthermore, apparently Xiang had not used his interior power to the complete extent. He felt his admiration rising inwardly.

“Previous Tong, turned out your Kung Fu is so glorious! It’s in all probability on par with mine,” he praised.

“Fourth Grasp have to be joking! Except for the talents in sword arts, the 4 masters of the Plum Manor are invincible in another sort of Kung Fu. I, Tong Huajin, am only a no one. How might I ever be in comparison with the Fourth Grasp?” Xiang Wentian replied.

“Why did you say ‘apart from the talents in sword arts’? Are you so certain that my swordsmanship is less than his?” Mr. Paint pulled an extended face.

“Two Masters, what do you consider this work of calligraphy?” Xiang Wentian set free a slight smile after which unrolled the opposite scroll, which turned out to be a bit of Loopy Grass[13] model calligraphy with extraordinarily cursive scripts.

“Oh, oh, oh!” Mr. Paint cried out in shock. After the three “oh” he all of the sudden shouted out on the high of his lungs, “Third Brother! Third Brother! The treasure of your life is right here!”

The shout was so loud and explosive that even the partitions, the home windows and the door jolted whereas dusts on high of the rafters and beams on the ceiling started falling. Moreover, the shout was so sudden that Linghu Chong was accomplished astounded.

“What’s the fuss?” a person requested from a distance.

“For those who don’t hurry up to have a look, as soon as they put it away, you might be gonna remorse it for the remainder of your life!” Mr. Paint shouted.

“You’ve discovered one other counterfeit calligraphy work, haven’t you?” the person outdoors replied.

The portiere was raised and a person stepped into the room. This was a brief and stout man, the highest of his head fully bald with out a single hair, which shined profusely underneath the sunshine as if it had been polished. There was a giant brush in his proper hand and there have been ink marks throughout his gown. He walked nearer to try the calligraphy work, and all of the sudden, his eyes grew to become huge open and he started respiratory closely.

“This that is genuine! It actually actually is the ‘Willful E-book’ by Zhang Xu of the Tang Dynasty. It may possibly’t can’t can’t be pretend!” he muttered, his voice trembling.

The strokes of the Grass Type writing on the paper appeared unrestrained and in depth, as if a Kung Fu grasp was performing the martial arts of Qing-Gong, leaping up typically and bending low another instances, swift within the motion, but beautiful within the poise.

Out of every ten characters, Linghu Chong might solely acknowledge one at his finest. However the many stamps of seals and postscripts on the backside of the calligraphy guide simply satisfied him that this calligraphy art work was no trivial matter.

“That is my third brother Mr. Bald-Brush,” Mr. Paint launched. “He picked this title as a result of calligraphy is his final ardour and hundreds of writing brushes had turned bald in his arms from training. It’s not as a result of he’s baldheaded. Please don’t confuse one with the opposite.”

“Acquired it!” Linghu Chong acknowledged with a smile.

Reaching out together with his proper index finger, the person named Mr. Bald-Brush stared on the “Willful E-book” and started writing within the air following the ticks and strokes within the calligraphy work, his thoughts fully imbedded in his personal world. Not solely didn’t he solid a single look towards Xiang Wentian or Linghu Chong, apparently he didn’t even hear a phrase from Mr. Paint’s introduction.

Out of the blue, Linghu Chong felt a shock in his coronary heart. “Brother Xiang will need to have deliberate this manner beforehand. After I first met him within the roadside pavilion, he was already carrying this package deal behind his again,” he thought to himself. However then he had a second although. “At the moment, the package deal didn’t essentially comprise these two scrolls. Perhaps, alongside our journey, to be able to get the 4 Masters of the Plum Manor to deal with my harm, he went outdoors and acquired them, and even stole or snatched them, after I was resting within the inn. Hmm, he almost certainly stole them. The place can he discover such invaluable art work on the market wherever?”

He might hear the slight sound made by robust power drive tearing by way of air when that Mr. Bald-Brush wrote within the air together with his finger. The highly effective inner energy proven was in par with that of Mr. Black-White. “My inner harm was brought on by the Peach Valley’s Six Fairies and Nice Grasp No Commandment,” he thought. “Evidently the inner energy cultivation of the three Plum Manor Masters is at least that of the Peach Valley’s Six Fairies and Nice Grasp No Commandment. The primary Plum Manor Grasp is perhaps much more highly effective. Along with Brother Xiang, all 5 of them working collectively, they maybe can heal my harm. I actually hope it will not price them nice interior power exhaustion.”

Xiang Wentian didn’t look forward to Mr. Bald-Brush to complete. He shortly rolled the “Willful E-book” again right into a scroll and put it again into the package deal.

Mr. Bald-Brush stared at Xiang Wentian in nice disbelief. After an extended whereas, he lastly mentioned, “What would you like in alternate?”

“I don’t need to alternate it for something.” Xiang Wentian shook his head.

“How concerning the twenty-eight strikes of Stone-Drum[14] Acupoint-Hitting Brush Kung Fu?” Mr. Bald-Brush proposed.

“No!” Mr. Black-White and Mr. Paint shouted in refrain.

“Sure! Why not? If I might use it in alternate for this real Loopy Grass work of Zhang Xu, why ought to I really feel pity for shedding my Stone-Drum Acupoint-Hitting Brush Kung Fu?” Mr. Bald-Brush disagreed.

“No!” Xiang Wentian shook his head as soon as once more.

“Then why did you present it to me?” Mr. Bald-Brush requested anxiously.

“Nicely, my mistake then. Third Grasp, simply fake you might have by no means seen it earlier than,” Xiang Wentian answered.

“However I’ve seen it. How can I simply fake I’ve by no means seen it?” Mr. Bald-Brush rejected.

“If Third Grasp actually desires to amass this real work of Zhang Xu, it’s not tough in any respect. All it’s important to do is to just accept our wager,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

“What’s the wager?” Mr. Bald-Brush requested hurriedly.

“Third Brother,” Mr. Paint reduce in, “this mister here’s a little bit out of his thoughts. He desires to make a wager that nobody in our Plum Manor might beat the sword arts of this pal Feng from the Huashan College.”

“What if somebody might beat his sword arts? What then?” Mr. Bald-Brush requested.

“If somebody within the Plum Manor, no matter whom, can beat my Brother Feng’s lengthy sword, then I’ll give this real ‘Willful E-book’ of Zhang Xu away to the Third Grasp free of charge, and go away that genuine portray by Fan Kuan, ‘Traveler in Mount Brook’, to Fourth Grasp as a present. I’ll additionally write down the twenty well-known Go video games performed by fairies, ghosts, and immortals that I’ve memorized and provides them to the Second Grasp,” Xiang Wentian defined.

“How about our Massive Brother? What are you giving to him?” Mr. Bald-Brush requested.

“I’ve this music rating of the ‘Guang-Ling Music’. Perhaps the First Grasp .”

“Guang-Ling Music?” the three Masters of the Plum Manor cried out all collectively earlier than Xiang Wentian even completed his sentence.

Linghu Chong additionally felt a shock. “Wasn’t it Elder Qu who discovered the ‘Guang-Ling Music’ music rating after digging by way of quite a few historical tombs and composed it into the ‘Smiling Proud Wanderer’ tune? The place did Brother Xiang get it?” he couldn’t assist however ponder. Then he realized, “Brother Xiang was the Proper Counselor of the Demon’s Cult, and Elder Qu was an Elder of the Demon’s Cult. They had been in all probability on pleasant phrases with one another. And when Elder Qu acquired maintain of this music rating, within the nice pleasure, he after all would inform Brother Xiang about it. If Brother Xiang had needed to borrow it and make a duplicate, Elder Qu, for certain, wouldn’t have any downside with it.” On the thought that the music rating was nonetheless current whereas the founder had perished, he couldn’t assist however sigh inwardly.

“Ever since Ji Kang died, the ‘Guang-Ling Music’ had been misplaced endlessly. Brother Tong, aren’t these phrases of yours a bit deceitful?” Mr. Bald-Brush shook his head in disbelief.

“I’ve an intimate pal, who’s obsessive about zither music. He mentioned that everyone believes that after Ji Kang died, there isn’t a extra ‘Guang-Ling Music’ underneath the solar. Undoubtedly, this music rating had fallen into oblivion after the Western Jin Dynasty, however what about earlier than the Western Jin Dynasty?” Xiang Wentian grinned.

Mr. Bald-Brush and the opposite two Masters glanced at one another blankly; none might perceive what Xiang Wentian’s phrases meant.

“This pal of mine possesses extraordinary mentalities. Moreover, he’s not the sort who shies from committing every kind of outrages. So he started excavating in well-known Pre-Jin Dynasty zither gamers’ tombs. A willful man can have his approach. After digging by way of dozens of historical tombs, he lastly discovered the music rating manuscripts within the tomb of Cai Yi, the well-known musician of the Jap Han Dynasty.”

Each Mr. Bald-Brush and Mr. Paint set free a slight cry of shock. Mr. Black-White nodded slowly and exclaimed, “Clever and brave! Extraordinary!”

Xiang Wentian opened his package deal after which took out a booklet with the phrases “Guang-Ling Music Music Rating” written on the quilt. He turned a couple of pages by way of it casually. Positive sufficient, it had music notes recorded in it.

“Brother Feng,” Xiang Wentian mentioned after he handed the booklet to Linghu Chong, “if anybody within the Plum Manor beats your sword arts, please give this music rating to the First Grasp of the Plum Manor.”

Linghu Chong took the booklet and positioned it into his chest pocket. “This might have been Elder Qu’s relic. Since Elder Qu has handed away, what’s so tough if Brother Xiang needed to pick the music rating, himself?” he thought to himself.

“Brother Feng, right here, is properly completed within the artwork of wine; his sword abilities have to be simply as glorious. However he’s solely a younger man; it’s hardly doable that inside our Plum Manor ha-ha, isn’t {that a} bit ridiculous?” Mr. Paint grinned.

“Whether it is true that nobody inside our Plum Manor can overcome younger hero Feng, what can we lose?” Mr. Black-White requested.

Though Linghu Chong had the settlement with Xiang Wentian beforehand that he would let Xiang prepare every thing, he didn’t count on issues to end up this manner and felt that Xiang Wentian had gone a bit too far. Weren’t they right here to ask for a therapeutic remedy? How might they be so boastful and belittling the hosts a lot? In addition to, he had misplaced all his interior energy. How might he be a match for these very succesful masters of the Plum Manor? At that thought, he opened his mouth.

“Brother Tong all the time likes to make jokes. How dare I, an insignificant junior who lags significantly behind within the understanding of martial arts, deliberate sword arts and alternate strikes with the Masters of the Plum Manor?”

“These well mannered remarks are, after all, crucial; in any other case individuals would have known as you a immodest swordsman,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

Mr. Bald-Brush didn’t appear to have heard any of those phrases, as an alternative, he muttered, “‘Three drinks turns Zhang Xu into Sage of Grass; baring his head earlier than the Aristocracy he confirmed no class; wielding his writing brush he pours clouds onto papers in a blast.’ Second Brother, Zhang Xu was often called the Sage of Grass, the final word grasp in Grass Type calligraphy. That is how Du Fu wrote about him within the poem ‘Eight Ingesting Saints Music’. He was additionally one of many ‘Eight Ingesting Saints’. Simply by trying on the ‘Willful E-book’ you’ll be able to in all probability think about how he waved his writing brush about after consuming to his coronary heart’s content material. Nicely, it’s so highly effective and unstrained like a heavenly steed hovering throughout the skies. Simply Good! Simply Good!”

“Yep! If he likes to drink, then he have to be an superior man, and naturally the stuff he writes can’t be unhealthy in any respect,” Mr. Paint agreed.

“Han Yu[15] additionally wrote about Zhang Xu in his poem: ‘Pleasure, anger, disgrace, or uneasiness; melancholy, sorrow, happiness, or leisure; hatred or aspiration. Inebriated and tipsy, when discontent is felt within the coronary heart, he let it circulate by way of his writing brush in Grass Type.’ This mister and we’re simply of the identical variety. When discontent is felt within the coronary heart, let it circulate in writing the Grass Type, as if with a flick of the sword, blissful we turn out to be!” Mr. Bald-Brush continued. Elevating his finger as soon as once more, he started writing within the air. After a couple of strokes, he mentioned to Xiang Wentian, “Hey, come on, let me take one other look.”

Xiang Wentian shook his head. “As soon as Third Grasp wins the competition, this calligraphy guide would have turn out to be yours. There isn’t any have to be impatient.” He grinned.

Mr. Black-White was an export in gamesmanship and all the time had cautious consideration of the general state of affairs. Earlier than excited about successful, he was already contemplating the implications of a defeat.

“If on one inside the Plum Manor might defeat Brother Feng’s sword arts, what sort of stakes would we be shedding?” he inquired once more.

“We’ve come to the Plum Manor with no intent for any favor or any merchandise. All Brother Feng desires is to come back to the final word summit of world martial arts and have the chance to alternate the understandings of sword arts with the perfect martial artists on this world. If, hopefully, we find yourself successful the competition, we’ll flip round and go away immediately with out asking for any stake from you,” Xiang Wentian answered.

“I see. This Hero Feng has come for fame. Defeating the ‘4 Playfellows of Jiangnan’ in succession will, certainly, achieve him nice fame within the Martial World,” Mr. Black-White mentioned.

“Second Grasp, you’ve thought it unsuitable,” Xiang Wentian replied as he shook his head. “After at this time’s sword contest within the Plum Manor, no matter who the winner is, if even one phrase about it leaks out, Brother Feng and I’ll stand condemned by Heaven, and we aren’t any higher than canine’s droppings.”

“Good, good! I like your frankness,” Mr. Paint remarked. “This room right here could be very spacious. Let me alternate a couple of strikes with Brother Feng proper right here then. Brother Feng, the place is your sword?”

“We’re not daring sufficient to carry weapons to the Plum Manor,” Xiang Wentian replied with a smile.

“Deliver me two swords,” Mr. Paint shouted out.

Somebody answered from outdoors the room and shortly Ding Jian and Shi Lingwei returned, every holding a sword with each arms. Strolling in entrance of Mr. Paint, they bowed and introduced the swords. Choosing up the sword from Ding Jian’s arms, Mr. Paint mentioned to Shi Lingwei, “Give that sword to him.”

“Sure,” Shi Lingwei acknowledged after which walked in entrance of Linghu Chong, holding the sword excessive with each arms.

Feeling very embarrassed about this complete matter, Linghu Chong turned his head and glanced at Xiang Wentian.

“The Fourth Grasp of the Plum Manor has reached the acme within the understanding of sword arts. Brother Feng, even should you might solely be taught one transfer or one method from him, you’d nonetheless profit from it the remainder of your life,” Xiang Wentian affirmed.

Linghu Chong knew that underneath the present circumstance, this sword contest had turn out to be inevitable. Having no different options, he took the sword with each arms, bowing barely.

“Maintain it, Fourth Brother,” Mr. Black-White spoke up all of the sudden. “This Brother Tong right here has put up a wager that nobody in our Plum Manor can defeat Brother Feng. Ding Jian additionally is aware of methods to use a sword, and he’s additionally a part of the Plum Manor. You don’t essentially should do it your self.” The extra assured Xiang Wentian sounded, the extra apprehensive he grew to become. So he determined to let Ding Jian take the problem first and take a look at the water. He knew that Ding Jian possessed glorious abilities in sword arts; in addition to, Ding was solely a servant within the Plum Manor. Even when Ding misplaced the struggle, there would have been no hurt performed to the nice title of the Plum Manor. And with this take a look at, they might have the ability to inform how good or unhealthy this Feng Er-Zhong’s abilities in sword arts really had been.

“Positive, certain! So long as an individual from the Plum Manor defeats my Brother Feng’s sword arts, it counts as our defeat. It doesn’t should be the 4 masters themselves. Brother Ding right here has earned the nickname ‘Straight Line Lightning Sword’ within the Martial World. His sword strikes are so quick. Such velocity isn’t seen on this planet. Brother Feng, it is going to be good for you should you take a look at Brother Ding’s Straight Line Lightning Sword first.” Xiang Wentian didn’t object.

Mr. Paint tossed his lengthy sword towards Ding Jian. “For those who lose, you’ll be going to Turpan to move wine for me as your punishment.” He grinned.

Ding Jian caught the lengthy sword with a blow and turned towards Linghu Chong. “Ding Jian right here thanks Mister Feng for the prospect of the sword match,” he mentioned. A brief ring echoed as he drew his sword.

Linghu Chong additionally drew his sword and set the sheath on the stone desk.

“Three Masters, Brother Ding, this can be a contest of sword arts, so there’s no have to compete within the interior energy division,” Xiang Wentian spoke up once more.

“In fact each side will know when to cease,” Mr. Black-White commented.

“Brother Feng,” Xiang Wentian turned to Linghu Chong, “it’s important to promise to not use any interior energy within the match. We’re having a contest of sword arts. The one with high-quality and intimate strikes wins the match and the one with crude and sluggish strikes loses it. The interior power cultivation technique of your Huashan College could be very well-known within the Martial World. For those who use your interior energy to realize victory, then it counts as our defeat.”

Linghu Chong virtually laughed at these phrases. He thought to himself, “Brother Xiang knew very properly that I don’t have any little bit of interior energy. He’s utilizing these phrases to trick them.” So he mentioned, “If I take advantage of my interior energy, for certain the three Masters, Brother Ding and Brother Shi will chuckle their tooth off. I actually dare to not use any little bit of it.”

“We’ve come to the Plum Manor with full sincerity. If Brother Feng hold sticking to etiquette and being too modest, that will be disrespectful to the 4 senior masters. Everybody within the Martial world is aware of that the ‘Divine Artwork of Violet Twilight’ of your Huashan College is way superior to the interior energy cultivation technique of our Songshan College. Brother Feng, why don’t you stand in these two footprints of mine if you spar with Brother Ding and be sure you don’t transfer your ft?”

After these phrases, Xiang Wentian took a couple of steps apart, and two footprints, every virtually two inches deep, appeared on two bricks on the ground. It turned out that whereas he was talking he had shifted his interior energy to his ft and stamped two footprints on the bricks with shear drive.

“Wonderful Kung Fu!” Mr. Black-White, Mr. Bald-Brush, and Mr. Paint cheered in refrain.

Seeing how Xiang Wentian had shifted his interior energy to the underside of his ft as he spoke with out turning a hair, and there was not a single damaged brick piece within the footprints he created, whereas the depth of the 2 footprints had been precisely an identical and the footprints had been so clean as if somebody had carved it out rigorously, they might inform that Xiang Wentian’s interior energy had reached an unbelievable stage, which was approach above the interior energy stage of their very own. All of them thought that Xiang Wentian was simply displaying off his interior energy. Though such an affected efficiency appeared shallow, not one thing a real martial arts grasp would have performed, his superb interior energy cultivation was nonetheless very admirable. None had a clue that Xiang Wentian really had profound which means in his motion.

Linghu Chong had no downside understanding Xiang Wentian’s habits. Xiang had been propagating that his interior energy cultivation was superior to that of Xiang’s. If Xiang’s interior energy had been so extraordinary, then his might solely have been extra formidable, then when the match began, his opponents wouldn’t be daring sufficient to make use of interior energy in opposition to him, fearing of bringing shame to oneself. In addition to, apart from the talents in sword arts, he was no good in another Kung Fu abilities, and leaping and springing about had been actually not his good qualities. By standing within the two footprints and solely use sword arts within the spar, he might simply conceal his inadequacy.

When Ding Jian heard Xiang Wentian suggesting Linghu Chong to have the sword struggle with him whereas standing nonetheless within the two footprints, he couldn’t assist however really feel significantly irritated by the plain contempt. However the profound interior energy Xiang Wentian confirmed by leaving footprints on bricks additionally astounded him. “If they’re daring sufficient to problem our 4 Masters, they might not have been atypical. If I can get a draw out of the struggle, I’d have made an awesome contribution to the Plum Manor of the Lone Hill,” he thought to himself.

He was a particularly boastful swordsman in former years, however later he encountered a really formidable enemy. He was taken prisoner and was put by way of many torments. Luckily the “4 Playfellows of Jiangnan” rescued him and set him free. That was when he determined to hitch the Plum Manor and willingly took on the job of a servant. After so a few years, the fierceness and boldness inside him had virtually died out fully.

“Brother Ding, please!” Linghu Chong stepped into the footprints made by Xiang Wentian and mentioned with a smile.

“Please excuse my lack of manners,” Ding Jian apologized. He brandished his lengthy sword transversely and all of the sudden, an extended, white flash shot throughout everybody’s eyes like a lightning, accompanied by the slight sound of the blade reducing by way of the air.

Though he had been residing in seclusion within the Plum Manor for over ten years, his Kung Fu abilities had not declined a bit. The sword artwork he used was named the “Straight Line Lightning Sword Artwork,” and each time when a transfer within the sword artwork kind was executed, it regarded as if a lightning had simply shot throughout the sky. The dazzling impact was so dramatic that it will have simply shocked the opponent and put concern in his coronary heart. The formidable enemy that had as soon as defeated him was a blind loner robber. As a result of the person was fully blind and used his listening to to detect Ding Jian’s sword strikes, the awe-inspiring environment created by the “Straight Line Lightning Sword” had no impact on him. At this second when he put the sword artwork to good use, all of the sudden, the whole room had been stuffed with dazzling lightning flares.

However solely after the primary transfer of the “Straight Line Lightning Sword” was put to show, Linghu Chong had recognized three main flaws within the sword artwork. Ding Jian didn’t rush together with his assault and easily waved his sword about as if he was displaying a very good quantity of manners to a visitor of the manor when in fact, he actually supposed to dazzle and slacken Linghu Chong so he wouldn’t have the ability to stand up to the sharp attacking strikes following behind.

By the point Ding Jian was on his fifth transfer, Linghu Chong had already counted a complete of eighteen flaws in his sword strikes. “Excuse me,” he mentioned as he thrust his lengthy sword out at an indirect angle.

For the time being Ding Jian was in the midst of sweeping his sword from the left to the proper in a speedy swing. Though the blade of Linghu Chong’s sword was nonetheless two ft and 6 inches from his wrist, however the swing would have despatched his personal wrist towards the bare blade, and because the sweep was too speedy and carried an excessive amount of energy, it was already unattainable to take it again.

“Look out!” the 5 bystanders known as out in unison as if by prior settlement.

Mr. Black-White occurred to be holding two recreation items, one black and one white, in his palm. Simply when he was about to shoot them at Linghu Chong’s lengthy sword to avoid wasting Ding Jian’s hand from being reducing off, a thought popped into his head, “If I assist Ding Jian out by interfering with the competition, that will make the struggle two in opposition to one, then clearly the Plum Manor would have misplaced the match and there could be no want for any additional contest.” Amid his hesitancy, Dian Jian’s wrist had swept towards the sword blade speedily whereas Shi Lingwei uttered a loud cry of panic.

On the faction of the second, Linghu Chong turned his wrist gently, turning the blade of the sword sideways. With a light-weight clap, Ding Jian’s wrist hit the flat aspect of the sword, and to all of the audiences’ nice shock, his wrist didn’t endure even the slightest injury. Solely after a brief daze did Ding Jian understand that his opponent had actually proven nice leniency. Inside that fraction of a second, he had been lucky sufficient to maintain his hand. If his wrist had been reduce, all his Kung Fu abilities would have been ruined. Coated with chilly sweat, he bowed down deeply.

“I’m totally grateful for the mercy Hero Feng has proven together with his sword.”

“I don’t actually deserve it!” Linghu Chong additionally bowed again.

Witnessing how Linghu Chong had turned his lengthy sword to spare Ding Jian from bloodshed, Mr. Black-White, Mr. Bald-Brush, and Mr. Brush all felt their favor towards Linghu Chong rising quickly. Mr. Paint poured a cup with wine after which raised it with each arms.

“Brother Feng, your sword abilities are marvelous. Right here’s a toast for you!” he mentioned.

“You flatter me!” Linghu Chong replied. Taking the wine cup from Mr. Paint, he drank it up.

Mr. Paint additionally drank a cup of wine in accompany. Filling the wine cup in Linghu Chong’s arms once more, he mentioned, “Brother Feng, you’re a man with nice mercy and spared Ding Jian’s hand. That calls for an additional toast.”

“It was only a coincident. There’s nothing to it,” Linghu Chong answered and drank up his wine, holding the cup with each arms.

After consuming a cup in accompany, Mr. Paint crammed the cup as soon as once more.

“Let’s maintain on to the third cup right here, lets? Let’s have our play first, and whoever loses the match must drink the third cup as his penalty,” he mentioned.

“I’ll be shedding the match naturally. Why don’t I drink it first?” Linghu Chong confirmed a giant grin.

“No hurry! No hurry!” Mr. Paint shook his hand in disapproval. Setting the wine cup onto the stone desk, he grabbed the lengthy sword from Ding Jian’s arms. “Brother Feng, you go first.”

On the time of the primary two cups of wine, Linghu Chong had already been deliberating inwardly, “He claims that he’s hooked on, firstly, the artwork of wine, secondly, the artwork of portray, and thirdly, the artwork of sword, then his abilities within the sword artwork needed to be very distinctive. Judging from that celestial beings portray of his on the reception corridor, the strokes are little doubt swift and fierce, nonetheless, it appears that evidently he had some downside self-discipline himself. If his sword strikes are similar to his portray methods, then they will need to have many flaws.” Bowing down respectfully, he mentioned, “Fourth Grasp, I encourage in your clemency.”

“Don’t be too modest. Go forward, present your strikes,” Mr. Paint mentioned.

“Sure!” Linghu Chong answered.

Elevating his lengthy sword, he thrust it at Mr. Paint’s shoulder. The thrust was each skewed and tremulous. It clearly carried no energy, nor did it observe any methodical sword artwork ideas. There merely couldn’t have had a sword transfer like this amongst all doable sword arts in the whole world.

“What the hack is that this?” Mr. Paint cried out, astounded.

Since he knew that Linghu Chong was a member of the Huashan Sword College, he had been pondering over the numerous sword artwork types of the Huashan College in his thoughts. Who would have thought that when the primary transfer was proven, it was nothing prefer it? Not solely wasn’t it a transfer from the Huashan Type Sword Arts, it couldn’t even be known as a sword transfer.

Ever since Linghu Chong studied the artwork of sword from Feng Qingyang, he not solely discovered the world-prominent “Dugu 9 Swords,” but additionally grasped “overcoming a transfer with out a transfer” the final word gist within the artwork of sword. This gist and the idea behind the “Dugu 9 Swords” complement one another. Although the profoundness and subtlety of the “Dugu 9 Swords” had reached the intense as a sword artwork kind, it contained strikes and methods in spite of everything, which had been nonetheless traceable. However as soon as one utilized the precept of “overcoming a transfer with out a transfer” to it, it grew to become much more risky and unpredictable, leaving no mark for the opponent to fathom. Due to this fact, when Linghu Chong made the thrust, Mr. Paint was instantly shocked, not figuring out what could be the proper technique to block it utilizing his personal sword. Very confused, he took two paces again to dodge it.

When Linghu Chong made Ding Jian threw down his sword and gave in with just one transfer, though Mr. Black-White and Mr. Bald-Brush each praised Linghu Chong’s sword abilities inwardly, neither of them discovered the end result shocking, pondering that if he was daring sufficient to problem the Plum Manor, it will have been ridiculous if he couldn’t even defeat a servant of the Plum Manor. After seeing how Mr. Paint was pressured to retreat two steps by his first thrust, they discovered themselves astounded.

After retreating two paces again, Mr. Paint charged two paces ahead immediately. Linghu Chong despatched one other thrust out together with his lengthy sword, this time aiming on the higher left aspect of Mr. Paint’s physique. This thrust was, once more, only a random thrust that didn’t observe any of the overall sword artwork ideas. Mr. Paint needed to fend it off with a aspect swing of his sword, however earlier than the 2 swords even collided, he instantly realized that the opponent’s sword tip had shifted right into a slanting angle pointing towards the decrease proper costal area, which was huge open, and if the opponent took benefit of this weak spot in protection, the state of affairs could be past redemption. That meant the block could be very unwise. In desperation, he modified his transfer immediately. With a fast push to the bottom, he sprang backward over ten ft.

“Wonderful sword abilities!” he shouted out and charged ahead as soon as once more with none delay. Placing his complete weight behind the sword, he drove the blade towards Linghu Chong in nice velocity. This was a thrust with overwhelming energy.

Noticing an apparent flaw at Mr. Paint’s bending proper arm, Linghu Chong swung the lengthy sword very quickly and chopped towards his proper elbow. If Mr. Paint didn’t change his transfer halfway, then his proper elbow could be reduce off earlier than he might incur any injury to his opponent. However Mr. Paint was a real swordsman with nice abilities. Within the nice hurry, he shortly lowered his wrist and thrust his sword on the ground. Counting on the counterforce from the ground, he flipped backward and landed steadily in over twenty ft. On the time his again was just a few inches from the wall. If he had used a bit bit extra energy when he executed the again flip, his again would have collided with the wall, which might have undoubtedly put a giant dent on his repute as a Martial Arts Grandmaster. Besides, the escape was just too awkward, and his face confirmed some slight purplish crimson from the frenzy.

Being an open-minded and beneficiant particular person, Mr. Paint laughed out, as an alternative. Elevating his left thumb, he uttered, “Wonderful sword abilities!” Waving his lengthy sword vigorously, he launched a transfer “White Aurora Taking pictures the Solar,” which was then modified to “Willow Wickers Fluttering within the Spring Breeze,” which in flip modified to the “Mounting Flood-Dragon and the Hovering Phoenix.” The three strikes had been accomplished with none letup. It regarded as if he didn’t ever transfer his ft, however as soon as the three strikes had been executed, the tip of his lengthy sword had reached Linghu Chong’s face.

Linghu Chong tilted his sword and smacked down gently, the flat aspect of his sword pushing down in opposition to the center ridge of Mr. Paint’s lengthy sword. The light smack was executed with such accuracy in its positioning and timing. At that actual second when Mr. Paint thrust his sword ahead, his energy and power had been all concentrating on the tip of the sword, and the center ridge of the sword carried no energy in any respect. As a light-weight clank echoed, the lengthy sword in his hand sank helplessly. Linghu Chong snapped his wrist gently and despatched his lengthy sword ahead, pointing immediately at Mr. Paint’s photo voltaic plexus.

“Ah!” Mr. Paint cried out and leapt to the left. Folding his left hand right into a sword finger kind, he charged ahead, waving the lengthy sword in his proper hand fiercely. This time he resorted to forceful hacks and chops, bringing his sword swishing down by way of the air. “Be careful!” he shouted.

He didn’t actually need to injure Linghu Chong. However this strike named “Jade Dragon Hanging Upside Down” was extraordinarily swift and fierce. If the opponent had ignored it and he couldn’t rein in his personal drive in time, he was afraid that the strike may really wound the opponent.

“Acquired it!” Linghu Chong acknowledged as he poked his lengthy sword upward. With a slight rustle, the sting of his sword sliced upward proper subsequent to the aspect of Mr. Paint’s sword.

If Mr. Paint adopted by way of with the sword strike, earlier than his blade might attain Linghu Chong’s head, his 5 fingers holding his lengthy sword would have been sliced off first. As he watched his opponent’s lengthy sword sliding upward in opposition to his personal blade, a transfer that might not be countered, having no different different, he struck down closely together with his left palm. The power shot out from his palm hit the ground with a loud growth, and using the counterforce, he leapt backward and landed over ten ft away.

Earlier than he even recomposed to a agency stance, he had drew three circles in entrance of him together with his lengthy sword, which magically turned into three circles of sunshine. The three circles of sunshine regarded as if they’d really materialized. After freezing within the air for a second, they started shifting towards Linghu Chong step by step. On the first look, these sword power turned circles of sunshine didn’t seem as swift or fierce because the “Straight Line Lightning Sword,” however the power launched simply crammed the whole room and everybody felt the chilling drive coming from them.

Linghu Chong prolonged his lengthy sword after which sliced out from the left aspect of the sunshine circle with an inclined angle, which was precisely an power hole when the ability from Mr. Paint’s first transfer was nearly to die and the ability from the second transfer was nearly to be launched.

“Oh?” Mr. Paint uttered and retreated. The sunshine circles constituted of the sword power additionally retreated along with him. However impulsively, the sunshine circles shrank briefly earlier than rising into huge shapes quickly and gushing speedily towards Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong shook his wrist and thrust out his lengthy sword; as soon as once more, with one other cry of shock, Mr. Paint leapt away in a rush.

Thus with quite a few fast charging forwards and fast retreats, inside moments, Mr. Paint had attacked with eleven strikes and retreated eleven instances. By then, the reflections from his sword had grown severely from the accelerated assaults and painted a layer of blue on his face. His beard and mustache additionally regarded as if they had been all standing on their ends from the tense environment. Amid a loud roar from Mr. Paint, dozens of sunshine circles, some massive and a few small, shot towards Linghu Chong on the identical time. This was the very peak of perfection in his sword artwork, with which he had mixed dozens of sword strikes into one. Each single one out of the handfuls of sword strikes contained fierce killer methods, and every transfer had a number of variations. As soon as mixed, the complexity was merely unequalled.

Resisting complexity with simplicity, Linghu Chong squatted barely and prodded his sword tip up from underneath the handfuls of sunshine circles, pointing immediately at Mr. Paint’s decrease abdomen. With one other loud cry, Mr. Paint leapt backward with all his energy. “Bang!” he sat closely on the stone desk from the autumn. Subsequent, a number of clatters echoed because the wine cups on the stone desk fell to the ground from the sudden shake and smashed to items.

“Marvelous! Marvelous!” Mr. Paint broke right into a loud laughter. “Brother Feng, your abilities within the artwork of sword are a lot, significantly better than mine. Come, come, come! I suggest three toasts for you!”

Mr. Black-White and Mr. Bald-Brush knew very properly about their fourth brother’s attainments within the artwork of sword. However with out ever stepping out of the footprints made by Xiang Wentian, Linghu Chong efficiently pressured Mr. Paint again eighteen instances throughout his sixteen attacking strikes. The unbelievable sword abilities Linghu Chong had proven had been each admirable and scary. Mr. Paint crammed the wine cups and drank three cups along with Linghu Chong.

“Among the many 4 Playfellows of Jiangnan, my Kung Fu is the weakest. Though I admit my defeat, Second Brother and Third Brother received’t admit theirs. Most likely they’ll need to examine you out themselves,” he mentioned.

“We did exchanged many strikes, however Fourth Grasp didn’t lose in anybody of them, how can we conclude the match with a winner?” Linghu Chong disagreed.

“I misplaced after the primary transfer. The remaining seventeen strikes had been all pointless. Massive Brother says that I want to enhance my demeanor. He’s completely proper.” Mr. Paint shook his head.

“Fourth Grasp’s demeanor is in very excessive customary, similar to your tolerance of wine can also be in very excessive customary,” Linghu Chong mentioned with a smile.

“Yeah! Yeah! Let’s drink some extra!” Mr. Paint grinned.

Being a person who thought extremely of himself within the artwork of sword, Mr. Paint didn’t have a single hint of irritation after shedding to a not well-known in any respect junior swordsman. The negligent and open-minded grace he had proven was undoubtedly first-class. Each Xiang Wentian and Linghu Chong felt nice admiration for him.

“Shi, will you please go and get me my bald brush?” Mr. Bald-Brush mentioned to Shi Lingwei.

Shi Lingwei answered and went out. Quickly, he returned with a weapon after which introduced the weapon to Mr. Bald-Brush with each arms respectfully.

Linghu Chong took at take a look at it, which turned out to be a Choose’s Pen, one foot and 6 inches in size, solid in high-quality metal. The humorous factor was that there was really a bundle of wool, nonetheless with ink, tied to the tip of the Choose’s Pen, as if it was an actual brush used for writing. For atypical Choose’s Pens, the top part was used to seal the enemy’s Acupoints. However this pen right here used the comfortable lamb wool because the pen’s head. When it was used to strike individuals’s Acupoints, how might it assist in defeating the enemy in an actual battle? Linghu Chong figured that Mr. Bald-Brush should know some particular sort of Kung Fu; in addition to, he should possess very resourceful interior energy, in order quickly because the interior power is launched, even lamb wool could possibly be used to wound the enemy.

“Brother Feng, are you continue to going to remain in these two footprints?” taking the Choose’s Pen into his hand, Mr. Bald-Brush requested with a smile.

Linghu Chong took two steps again without delay. “I dare not! I’m a junior asking pointers from a Senior Grasp, how dare I be overconfident?” He bowed.

“There you go!” Mr. Paint nodded. “Whenever you had the sword contest with me, it was okay so that you can keep put. However to struggle my Third Brother, that wouldn’t be smart.”

Mr. Bald-Brush raised the Choose’s Pen and smiled. “My stroke types are all created from variations of well-known calligraphy artists’ masterpieces. Brother Feng is a person properly versed in each well mannered letters and martial arts. I’m certain you’ll be able to simply acknowledge the way in which of my Choose’s Pen strikes. Brother Feng is an effective pal, due to this fact, I received’t dip this bald brush in ink.”

Linghu Chong was barely bowled over, pondering to himself, “If he didn’t take into account me a very good pal, then he would have dipped his brush in ink. What’s going to occur if he does dip his brush in ink?”

He was unaware that the ink Mr. Bald-Brush dipped his brush in throughout actual combats was really constituted of stewing very particular medicinal supplies, and after the ink acquired on one’s pores and skin, the colour would imprint deeply underneath the pores and skin and will by no means be eliminated, whether or not by washing or scraping with a knife. Within the former years when Martial masters had fought the “4 Playfellows of Jiangnan,” Mr. Bald-Brush had been the one giving them essentially the most complications. If anybody had not been additional cautious, he would find yourself with a circle, a cross, or perhaps a phrase or two written on his face by the Mr. Bald-Brush, after which the remainder of his life would have been accomplished ruined. Individuals would quite take a hack and even lose an arm than having him drawing issues on the face. Solely as a result of Mr. Bald-Brush noticed how Linghu Chong confirmed nice leniency in his match in opposition to Ding Jian and Mr. Paint, had he determined to not dip his brush in ink.

Regardless that Linghu Chong had no concept what Mr. Bald-Brush had meant, he figured that it will need to have been some sort of good intention. So he bowed.

“Many thanks for the nice kindness. Sadly I’m not very literate; I’m certain I received’t have the ability to acknowledge Third Grasp’s brush strokes.”

Mr. Bald-Brush was barely dissatisfied. “You don’t know calligraphy?” he mentioned. “Okay, let me clarify it to you first. The stroke kind I’m about to make use of is known as ‘Basic Pei Poem,’

[16] which remodeled from Yan Zhenqing’s[17] calligraphy guide. There are a complete of twenty-three characters, and every character accommodates between three and sixteen strikes. Now hear rigorously: ‘Basic Pei! The nice lord that dominated the Six Instructions!

[18] The valiant common that guarded peace within the 9 Fields!

[19] His war-horse as valorous because the dragon or tiger, galloping above the excessive mound with grand and heroic spirit!’”

“Thanks for the steerage,” Linghu Chong replied, however inwardly, he thought, “You’ll be able to clarify concerning the poem or the calligraphy all you need. I do know nothing about them anyhow.”

Mr. Bald-Brush swung the massive pen and pecked 3 times towards Linghu Chong’s left cheek. These had been none apart from the primary three strokes of the character “Pei.” These three pecks had been really pretend strikes. Elevating his massive pen excessive within the air, he was nearly delineate down from the highest, when Linghu Chong all of the sudden thrust his lengthy sword out in a preemptive strike and stabbed towards his proper shoulder. Mr. Bald-Brush was pressured into holding his massive pen crosswise to dam the strike, however by then Linghu Chong had already retracted his sword. Their two weapons didn’t collide with one another; each strikes turned out to be fakes. However Mr. Bald-Brush was solely in a position to execute half of the primary transfer of the “Basic Pei” kind and couldn’t full it.

After blocking solely to skinny air, Mr. Bald-Brush instantly launched the second transfer. Earlier than the top of the pen had an opportunity to strike ahead, Linghu Chong had already thrust at one other spot the place he had no different however to defend. Immediately, Mr. Bald-Brush swung his pen backward to fend it off, however Linghu Chong had retracted his lengthy sword as soon as once more, and Mr. Bald-Brush’s second wave terminated once more solely half approach by way of.

Proper from the start, Mr. Bald-Brush’s two strikes had been each interrupted halfway by way of. Not in a position to full the pen kind he was very happy with, Mr. Bald-Brush couldn’t assist however really feel fairly irritated, as if a calligrapher had simply picked up his brush to write down, however just a few strokes into it, a naughty child started catching his penholder or pulling his arms, and prevented him from ending writing a personality easily.

“I’ve already learn the whole poem of ‘Basic Pei Poem’ to him beforehand. He is aware of the order of my strokes and is ready to predict my strikes and cease me forward of time. I’d higher not observe the order of the characters with my later strikes,” Mr. Bald-Brush thought inwardly. After a pretend dot, the massive pen curved downward from the higher proper nook to the decrease left nook with plentiful energy, writing the character “As” within the Grass Type. However Linghu Chong shortly pushed his lengthy sword ahead and pointed at his proper rib cage. Astounded, Mr. Bald-Brush reversed the motion of the Choose’s Pen and smash it towards Linghu Chong’s lengthy sword. Who would have anticipated that this stab of Linghu Chong’s was not an actual stab? All he actually did was simply displaying the posture, however as soon as once more, Mr. Bald-Brush was solely in a position to execute half of his transfer. With this Grass Type stroke, he had put out a large amount of power and energy. When all of the sudden the motion was redirected, not solely did the stroke turn out to be stagnant, his inner energy was additionally pressured to reroute, which stirred up fairly some power disruption inside his decrease abdomen and induced indescribable discomfort.

After taking a deep breath, he waved his Choose’s Pen quickly in an try to complete the “Galloping” transfer, however solely half approach into it, he was pressured to retract his Choose’s Pen in protection by Linghu Chong’s assault simply as normal.

Mr. Bald-Brush was significantly irritated. “Hey chap! Cease placing sand within the wheels!” he bellowed as he accelerated his Choose’s Pen’s motion. However irrespective of how he sprang left and proper remodeling his strikes, he was solely in a position to write as much as the second stroke with every character earlier than being pressured to cease by Linghu Chong’s sword strikes.

Mr. Bald Brush uttered a loud roar, and all of the sudden the writing model modified fully. Earlier than, the circulate of the strokes was free and unrestrained; now the strokes turned thick and heavy, with the vigor passing by way of the middle whereas the innovative appeared blustering and aggressive. The strokes regarded easy but grand on the identical time.

Linghu Chong after all had no approach of figuring out that this stroke kind was impressed by the calligraphy guide “Mount Bameng Maxim” written by the well-known Shu Basic Zhang Fei,[20] however he additionally seen the dramatic change within the writing model. He couldn’t look after much less as to what transfer his opponent was utilizing, and each time as quickly as he noticed the Choose’s Pen transfer, he would assault its flaw.

Mr. Bald-Brush croaked in frustration, however no matter his actions, he was solely in a position to execute half of his transfer and by no means succeeded in finishing the complete transfer.

Out of the blue, Mr. Bald-Brush’s writing model modified once more and started writing the Grass Type in “Huai Su Self-Stating E-book”[21] Now the strokes flutters in all instructions and the circulate of the writing grew to become a lot unpredictable.

“Huai Su’s Grass Type calligraphy, by itself, was already very tough to learn. Now I’m including much more Grass Scripts to the Grass Type, I wager this chap received’t have the ability to acknowledge this self-made Grass Scripts of mine,” he thought to himself.

How might he have identified that Linghu Chong couldn’t even learn many characters written within the square-shaped common scripts, not mentioning the unrestrained Grass Scripts? He had assumed that the one cause Linghu Chong succeeded in predicting his motion and stopping him forward of time was as a result of Linghu Chong had been in a position to learn his writing, when the truth is all Linghu Chong noticed in his eyes had been weapon strikes and types, and his profitable putting to the cracks all attributed to attacking the issues within the opponent’s strikes.

Even with the Loopy Grass Type, Mr. Bald-Brush nonetheless might solely go so far as half a transfer with every of his strikes. Feeling the indignation rising quickly inside his chest, he all of the sudden shouted out loudly.

“No extra struggle! No extra struggle!”

Leaping backward, he picked up that barrel of grape wine Mr. Paint had introduced alongside and poured the wine onto the stone desk. Dipping his massive pen within the wine, he started writing on the white wall, and it was none different that “Basic Pei Poem.” All twenty-three characters appeared stuffed with ardour, particularly the character “As,” which regarded as if it might have flown off the wall any minute.

After ending off the writing, Mr. Bald-Brush lastly set free a breath of aid. Turning his head sideways barely, he admired the massive characters on the white wall in darkish crimson shade, and laughed out loudly.

“Fantastic! Amongst my life-long artworks, this one is the best,” he concluded.

The extra he checked out it, the prouder he grew to become.

“Second Brother, can I take this recreation room from you? I’d hate to half with this calligraphy work. I’m afraid that I’ll by no means have the ability to write something nearly as good in the remainder of my life,” he requested.

“Nice,” Mr. Black-White answered. “Different that the stone desk, there’s nothing else on this room anyway. Even should you don’t need it, I’d have to maneuver all the identical. How can I ever concentrate on the sport of go whereas dealing with the vigorous calligraphy of yours on a regular basis?”

Mr. Bald-Brush stared on the a number of strains of calligraphy and wagged his head forwards and backwards, feeling very happy of himself.

“Even when the revered Mr. Yan was reborn, I’m afraid he wouldn’t have the ability to write one thing like this,” he praised himself. Turning his head towards Linghu Chong, he mentioned, “Hey buddy! All of it because of you for protecting my ardors inside my stomach till it was crammed to the purpose of bursting, after which impulsively, they poured out from my coronary heart by way of my hand and enabled me to create such splendid and unparalleled work underneath heaven. Your sword abilities are glorious, and my calligraphy abilities are additionally glorious. That is known as every has his specialty and no winner will be claimed on this match.”

“Precisely! Every has his specialty and no winner will be claimed on this match,” Xiang Wentian agreed.

“Furthermore, it was additionally due to my glorious wine!” Mr. Paint added.

“This Third Brother of mine is as harmless and artless as a baby. Please be aware that he’s merely loopy about calligraphy; it’s not that he doesn’t admit he had misplaced the match.” Mr. Black-White defined.

“I perceive,” Xiang Wentian answered. “The wager is that nobody within the Plum Manor can beat Brother Feng’s sword artwork anyway, so so long as no winner will be claimed, we don’t lose our wager.”

“That’s appropriate!” Mr. Black-White nodded.

Reaching underneath the stone desk, Mr. Black-White drew a square-shaped iron board from beneath. The iron board had nineteen horizontal strains and nineteen vertical strains engraved onto it. Turned out this was a recreation board solid in iron. Holding a nook of the iron recreation board, he mentioned, “Brother Feng, let me utilizing this recreation board as my weapon to take a look at your good strikes.”

“I’ve heard that Second Grasp’s recreation board is a magical treasure merchandise that may management many sorts of weapons and projectiles,” Xiang Wentian mentioned.

Mr. Black-White solid an extended look at him after which replied, “Brother Tong actually has huge studying and a retentive reminiscence. Very admirable! Very admirable! Actually, this weapon of mine is not any magical merchandise. It was constituted of magnets, so it will have the ability to entice recreation items manufactured from iron, this manner after I performed video games with different individuals whereas boarding boats or on horsebacks in former years, the sport items would keep and permit us to proceed with the sport.”

“I see,” Xiang Wentian answered.

Listening to these phrases, Linghu Chong thought to himself, “Fortunately Brother Xiang gave me the pointer forward of time, in any other case, my lengthy sword would have been interested in his recreation board proper from the beginning, and I’d have misplaced the match with out the true struggle. After I spar with this particular person, I’ve to make it possible for I don’t let his recreation board contact my lengthy sword.” At that thought, he pointed his lengthy sword to the ground after which cupped his arms in salute.

“Second Grasp, thanks for giving me the chance to ask recommendation from you.”

“I dare not. Brother Feng’s understanding within the artwork of sword is good. I’ve by no means seen extraordinary sword abilities in my life. Please begin!” Mr. Black-White mentioned.

With a random slice Linghu Chong let his lengthy sword wiggled within the air following an squiggly line.

“What sort of sword transfer is that this?” Mr. Black-White hesitated for a fraction of a second. Seeing that the tip of the sword shortly approaching his personal throat, he swung his recreation board and blocked. However Linghu Chong had redirected the stab and thrust his lengthy sword towards his proper shoulder. With out a lot pondering, Mr. Black-White moved the sport board and blocked once more. Earlier than the lengthy sword even approached the sport board, Linghu Chong had retracted it and thrust it at Mr. Black-White’s decrease abdomen as an alternative, which Mr. Black-White blocked as soon as once more.

“If I don’t counter assault, how do I take over the initiative?” Mr. Black-White thought inwardly.

Within the recreation of go, it is extremely vital to regulate the initiative of the sport; in a martial arts competitors, it is usually vital to regulate the initiative. As an knowledgeable within the gamesmanship, Mr. Black-White after all was very aware of this concept, so not losing one other second, he raised his recreation board and pounded it towards Linghu Chong’s proper shoulder. The sport board was about two ft huge and one inch thick. It was a really heavy piece of weapon. If it smashed into the lengthy sword, even when the iron board didn’t have magnetism, the lengthy sword would nonetheless have been damaged.

Turning his physique barely towards the aspect, Linghu Chong drove the sword towards the Mr. Black-White’s decrease rib cage. In Mr. Black-White’s eyes, this thrust didn’t appear to be a legit transfer in any respect, however the spot it was attacking actually required consideration. So he swung the sport board in a tilted angle to knock towards the lengthy sword and on the identical time pushed the sport board ahead. This transfer “Massive Hosi”

[22] was one which contained counterattacking within the defending. If Linghu Chong had to reply to this transfer, then his following strikes would pour out in a gradual stream. Who would have thought that Linghu Chong paid no consideration to his transfer? Jabbing his lengthy sword with an angle, Linghu Chong had launched a forestalled assault. Thus, Mr. Black-White’s defending transfer containing counterattacking operate solely had half the impact: the defending half labored however the counterattacking didn’t.

Afterwards, one thrust after one other, Linghu Chong attacked over forty instances with none delay. Mr. Black-White blocked left and warded proper and defended his entrance and guarded his again, placing up a protection defend so tight as if if one splashed water towards the defend, not even a drop of water would make it by way of, a really agency defend certainly. However they exchanged over forty strikes, and Mr. Black-White’s over forty strikes had been all defending strikes. He didn’t also have a spare second to launch one counterattacking transfer.

Mr. Bald-Brush, Mr. Paint, Ding Jian, and Shi Lingwei had been accomplished stupefied. They might all see with their very own eyes that Linghu Chong’s strikes had been neither fast, nor overwhelming, nor fierce, and the transformation between strikes didn’t appear tough or artful, however each time when he thrust his lengthy sword out, it will all the time put Mr. Black-White into straitened circumstances and make him work to make up for his flaws. Mr. Bald-Brush and Mr. Paint each understood it very properly that there’s flaw in each single martial arts transfer. But when one might forestall and assault the opponent’s important factors first, then his personal flaws wouldn’t have turn out to be flaws, and even when he had lots of and even hundreds of flaws, it will not have mattered. And the forty or so persevering with attacking strikes Linghu Chong confirmed merely adopted this precept.

Mr. Black-White additionally felt the shock rising larger and greater in his coronary heart. He actually needed to launch his personal counterattack, however as quickly as he moved the sport board barely, the sword tip of the opponent was already pointing towards the issues in his personal strikes. Inside the forty strikes additionally, he merely had no likelihood to enhance the state of affairs, as if he was enjoying a recreation of go along with somebody who had a lot, a lot increased abilities, and for each single one of many forty or so recreation items the opponent performed, he had no alternative however to reply. Mr. Black-White knew that if the struggle had continued like this, then even after one other 100 or 200 strikes, he would nonetheless be in the identical boat the place he would hold taking hits and by no means have the ability to struggle again.

“If I don’t tackle some dangers for an opportunity of success, then my illustrious title would have been fully ruined,” he thought to himself. Swinging his recreation board ahead horizontally, he smashed it towards Linghu Chong’s left aspect waist in excessive velocity. As soon as once more, with out dodge for the strike, Linghu Chong thrust his lengthy sword towards Mr. Black-White’s decrease abdomen, however this time, Mr. Black-White didn’t retrieve his recreation board to defend and nonetheless smashed the sport board ahead as if he was able to threat his life and have a standard damage together with his opponent. On the time when the sword tip approached his abdomen, he all of the sudden reached out together with his left hand and clipped on the sword blade together with his index finger and center finger. He had mastered the “Profound Heavenly Finger” Kung Fu, and the 2 fingers carried immense interior energy, which was actually at least one other highly effective weapon.

Seeing Mr. Black-White utilizing such a dangerous transfer, the 5 bystanders all cried out in shock. Such transfer would not qualify as a contest of abilities, however quite a recreation of life and demise. If he didn’t catch the sword together with his fingers, then the sword tip would undoubtedly find yourself penetrating his abdomen. Inside the fraction of an on the spot, all 5 of them felt chilly sweat of their palms. Mr. Black-White’s two fingers had been virtually touching the sharp blade of the sword, and whether or not he might catch the blade or not, one out of the 2 sparring pair would for certain get wounded or get killed. If he did catch the blade, then Linghu Chong’s lengthy sword couldn’t go any additional, the sport board would strike him within the waist, and he wouldn’t have any time to evade it. If he didn’t catch the blade, or if he did catch the blade however didn’t cease the lengthy sword from going ahead, then the lengthy sword would proceed with the thrust and even when Mr. Black-White needed to leap again, he would don’t have any time to take action.

Simply on the on the spot when Mr. Black-White’s finger barely touched the blade of the sword, the tip of the sword all of the sudden went upward and pointed at his throat. This alteration merely exceeded everyone’s wildest creativeness. All through all of the martial arts within the historical past, there couldn’t have ever had a transfer like this, as a result of this might have meant that the primary thrust towards the decrease abdomen was really a pretend. Utilizing such a pretend transfer in a struggle between two top-notch martial artists would have been a joke. However though this transfer didn’t adjust to any orthodox precept within the artwork of sword, it did come out by way of Linghu Chong’s hand. The sword tip prodded upward towards Mr. Black-White’s throat. If Mr. Black-White’s recreation board continued with the strike ahead, the prod would have penetrated his throat first.

Completely dumbstruck, Mr. Black-White used all his energy and held the sport board nonetheless. He was a person with very fast wits and a grasp in gamesmanship, in the mean time of the approaching peril, he instantly discovered the opponent’s intention: if he aborted his strike with the sport board, then the opponent’s lengthy sword wouldn’t prod ahead both.

Positive sufficient, seeing that he held the sport board nonetheless, Linghu Chong additionally froze the thrust with the lengthy sword. The tip of the sword was solely inches from his throat whereas his recreation board was additionally solely inches from Linghu Chong’s waist. Each of them held their positions regular and froze like two lifeless statues.

Though it regarded as if neither was prepared to budge, Linghu Chong was actually the one with all the benefits. The sport board was a heavy merchandise; solely when it was putting down from a number of ft afar would it not incur any injury. At current, it was solely inches from Linghu Chong, even when Mr. Black-White determined to push it ahead with numerous energy, it wouldn’t do Linghu Chong a lot hurt, however all Linghu Chong needed to do was to prod ahead gently, and the sword tip would simply kill his opponent. It was fairly apparent for everybody to inform who was in higher sneakers.

“Nicely, neither dares to maneuver first. That’s known as ‘Twin Life’ within the rule of go. Second Grasp is admittedly each clever and brave. You have got ended up a draw within the match in opposition to Brother Feng,” Xiang Wentian declared with a smile.

Linghu Chong withdrew his lengthy sword and took two steps again. “Please excuse my boldness.” He bowed.

“Brother Tong have to be joking. How can one name this a draw? Brother Feng’s understanding within the artwork of sword is incomparable. I simply had a crushing defeat,” Mr. Black-White muttered.

“Second Brother, your Kung Fu along with your recreation piece darts is a singular ability within the Martial World. No one might ever escape it if you shoot out the 300 and sixty-one black and white recreation items. Why don’t you take a look at this Brother Feng’s Kung Fu in breaking darts?” Mr. Paint instructed.

Mr. Black-White felt a throb in his coronary heart. He glanced at Xiang Wentian, who nodded barely a couple of instances. Turning his head to have a look at Linghu Chong, he discovered no expression on Linghu Chong’s face.

“This one’s sword abilities are to the intense,” he thought secretly, “in the whole world, that particular person in all probability is the one one who might defeat him. The look on these two’s faces instructed that they’d nice confidence. If I’ve one other contest of darts, likely I’ll find yourself making myself a idiot another time.”

At that thought, he shook his head and confirmed a wry smile, “I’ve already admitted my defeat. What’s the necessity for an additional match of darts?”

[1] Gold solid into the form of leaves for the comfort of vacationers.

[2] The world’s most historical man-made waterway, China’s Grand Canal, a system nonetheless in use as much as the twenty first Century, was constructed within the Sui Dynasty in 606 AD, which linked the Yangtze, Yellow and Huai rivers, requiring the conscription of as much as two million staff.

[3] South of the decrease reaches of the Yangtze River.

[4] Turfan is a well-known metropolis within the Xinjiang Autonomous Area. It’s very well-known for its excessive temperature in the summertime. And due to the particular local weather, the town produces world-renowned Hami melons and grapes. The well-known Mountain of Blaze descried within the novel Journey to the West is situated proper subsequent to the town of Turfan.

[5] Nice Grasp Xuan-Zang, or Tang Seng (Monk from Tang Dynasty), journeyed all the way in which to India to be able to retrieve the true Buddhist Scriptures. Later, his story was written into the well-known novel, Journey to the West.

[6] A Chinese language recreation for 2, performed with black and white counters on a board that’s dominated with 19 vertical and 19 horizontal strains. You’ll be able to go to this net web page by Mindy McAdams for extra details about the sport of Go.

[7] Legend has it that within the Jin Dynasty, there was a younger woodman named Wang Zhi. Sooner or later when he went up the mountain to cut woods as normal, he noticed two outdated males enjoying a recreation of Go, so he set his axe apart and watched by the aspect. By the point the sport was over and the 2 outdated males had left, he determined to assemble his axe and get on together with his work. That was when he discovered that the helve of his axe had decayed fully. Very baffled, he went down the mountain, solely to search out out that 5 hundred years had handed and everyone he had identified had all handed away. As a result of this story was so huge unfold that individuals of the later generations gave the sport of Go a nickname: Decayed Helve.

[8] Legend has it that within the Northern Music Dynasty, Liu Zhongpu, the Nationwide Champion within the recreation of Go, performed a recreation of Go along with a younger lady in a teahouse. Liu’s white items took all of the higher arms within the recreation. Very happy with himself, Liu made no effort of concealing his conceitedness, so the younger lady excused herself and shortly returned with a granny, who picked up the place the younger lady had left off within the recreation of Go. With a lot ease, the granny positioned her items on the board shortly and fully turned the sport round, knocking Liu off his ft. The utmost anxiousness and desperation hit Liu laborious and he started spitting up blood from the frustration. Solely after he had misplaced the sport did he understand that the younger lady and the granny weren’t human however celestial beings.

[9] Legend has it that when Xuan-Zong, the emperor of Tang, fled to Szechwan due to An Lushan’s revolt. Wang Jixin, his royal champion of Go, additionally adopted. And alongside the way in which, someday, Wang Jixin put up for the night time underneath the eave of an outdated farmer granny’s home, when he heard the mattress discuss between the outdated granny and her daughter-in-law. Turned out they had been enjoying a recreation of Go whereas mendacity on mattress at midnight just by spelling out their strikes. Drastically shaken by the good strikes, Wang Jixin memorized all of the strikes within the recreation quietly. The subsequent morning when he tried to seek the advice of the outdated granny and her daughter-in-law, he discovered that the home was really an deserted home with nobody residing in it. He suspected that the outdated granny and her daughter-in-law had been really fairy foxes who had assumed human form.

[10] Confucius regarded on the sport of Go as a waste of time, thus criticized it as unorthodox college.

[11] These are phrases within the recreation of Go. Please see this net web page for extra data.

[12] See the portray right here.

[13] A extremely cursive script model in Chinese language calligraphy (a subset of Grass Type calligraphy) executed with strokes flowing collectively. Not solely the model writing is free and straightforward, but additionally quick.

[14] The model of calligraphy for inscriptions on drum-shaped stone blocks of the Warring States Interval (475-221 B.C.)

[15] Han Yu, a well-known poet, author, and thinker of the Tang Dynasty.

[16] See the calligraphy guide right here.

[17] Yan Zhenqing (709-785AD) is a well-known calligraphy artist throughout the Tang Dynasty who created the Yan Type of Chinese language Calligraphy.

[18] Six Instructions: The six cardinal instructions: entrance, again, left, proper, above, and beneath, which means all underneath heaven.

[19] 9 Fields: North, South, East, West, Center, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, which means the world.

[20] A well-known common throughout the Three Kingdoms interval. See

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

for the story of Zhang Fei.

[21] Huai Su was one other very well-known Calligraphy Artist in Chinese language historical past. See the calligraphy guide right here.

[22] A particular time period within the recreation of Go. Please see this net web page for extra data.