At nightfall that evening, after bowing to Grasp and Grasp-Spouse and bidding his farewell to all of the apprentice brothers and sisters, Linghu Chong climbed up the steep cliff on the very high of the Jade Maiden Peak, bringing solely a protracted sword with him. There was a cave on high of the cliff. It was the spot used for punishing generations of Huashan Sword Faculty apprentices who had violated college guidelines. The cliff was fully naked, with no single blade of grass, not mentioning any timber. Apart from the cave, there was nothing else on the cliff. Mount Huashan had many lovely sorts of surroundings and resourceful of timber and grasses, however this steep cliff was an exception. Legend informed that the cliff was a pearl studded on the Jade Maiden’s hairpin. The explanation why earlier generations of Huashan grandmasters picked this steep cliff because the place for punishing apprentices was primarily as a result of it was such a naked place that even birds or bugs didn’t wish to reside right here. Subsequently, when the punished apprentice meditated and thought by his errors, he wouldn’t be distracted by different issues and would be capable of keep centered.

Linghu Chong entered the cave, and an enormous easy rock on the ground quickly caught his eyes.

“For the final a number of hundred years, many grandmasters of our Huashan Sword Faculty will need to have sat on this rock earlier than, which actually smoothed out the rock floor. I, Linghu Chong, am the primary troublemaker of Huashan Sword Faculty these days, so in fact I’m destined to sit down on this rock. Grasp has been actually variety to me. He had waited till immediately to ship me right here to sit down on this rock,” Linghu Chong thought to himself.

“Whats up rock!” He patted on the large rock gently and muttered. “You’ve in all probability been lonely for a few years. However Linghu Chong is right here to be your organization now.”

Sitting down on the rock, he discovered his eyes just one foot away from the rock wall. Then one thing caught his consideration. The phrases “Feng Qingyang” have been carved on the left facet of the rock wall. These will need to have been carved utilizing a pointy blade – the vigorous strokes have been nearly half-an-inch deep into the rock.

“Who’s this Feng Qingyang?” Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however ask himself. “He’s in all probability a senior grasp of our faculty who was as soon as punished to meditate right here. Oh, I see. My Grandmaster’s identify has a ‘Qing’ in it and he belongs to the ‘Qing’ era of Huashan masters. This senior grasp named Feng should be my Grand Uncle-Grasp then. It takes nice power to carve one thing like that. His Kung Fu will need to have been excellent. How come Grasp and Grasp-Spouse by no means talked about him earlier than? I assume this senior grasp will need to have handed away a very long time in the past.”

He closed his eyes and labored on his respiratory workouts for about an hour earlier than standing up once more to stretch out. Going again into the cave and sat again down on the rock, he began pondering upon the query, “Once I meet individuals from the Demon Cult, ought to I merely draw my sword and kill him straight away with no questions requested and with no regards? Doesn’t the Demon Cult also have a single good individual? But when he have been a superb individual, why would he be a part of the Demon Cult within the first place? Even when he had joined the Demon Cult by mistake, he may have stop instantly. If he didn’t stop, then he should be prepared to collaborate with evil and hurt harmless individuals.”

Immediately, many scenes appeared in his thoughts. These have been all scenes Grasp, Grasp-Spouse, and different senior masters within the Martial World had informed him earlier than, issues concerning the many sorts of murders the Demon Cult members had dedicated: The whole household of Grasp Yu in Jiangxi Province, a complete of twenty-three, have been taken prisoner by the Demon Cult and all have been nailed onto tree trunks. Even the three-year-old baby was no exception. Two of Grasp Yu’s sons groaned for 3 days and three nights earlier than lastly passing away. When the Head Grasp of Dragon-Phoenix Saber in Jinan, Zhao Dengkui, held the marriage ceremony for his son, members of the Demon Cult pressured their means into the crowds, beheaded the newly weds and positioned their heads on high of the present desk claiming them to be marriage ceremony items. When previous Hero Hao in Hanyang had his seventieth party and invited many pals within the Martial World over, nobody had identified that the Demon Cult had planted bombs proper beneath the room for the ceremony. The sudden explosion killed and wounded numerous variety of individuals, together with Uncle-Grasp Ji from the Taishan Sword Faculty, who misplaced an arm on this tragedy. Uncle-Grasp Ji had informed this story himself, so it needed to be true. Then he remembered when he met Uncle-Grasp Solar of the Songshan Sword Faculty, whose each arms, toes and eyes have been minimize out. He was screaming nonstop, “The Demon Cult did this. Search revenge for me! The Demon Cult did this. Search revenge for me!” At the moment the Songshan Sword Faculty had already despatched individuals to assist, however with such extreme wounds, there was actually not a lot to be achieved. Remembering the picture of two empty holes on Uncle-Grasp Solar’s face with blood gushing out repeatedly, Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however quiver.

“Demon Cult members actually have dedicated too many merciless crimes,” he thought. “So when Qu Yang and his granddaughter saved me, they will need to have had in poor health intentions. When Grasp asks me once more if I’ll kill with no hesitation once I see members of the Demon Cult, my reply shall be: Why ought to I hesitate? After all I’ll draw my sword and assault with no query requested.”

Lastly capable of assume it by, Linghu Chong had an ease of thoughts. With a protracted roar, he jumped backwards towards the opening of the cave. Turning his physique round whereas nonetheless in mid-air, he opened his eyes once more after touchdown squarely on the bottom. Trying down at his toes, he discovered his toes nearly on the sting of the steep cliff, solely two toes from the very brink of the cliff. If he had used just a bit extra power when he jumped up and had landed two extra toes additional, he would have fallen into the bottomless abyss and have his physique smashed into items. He had really calculated the space nicely in his head earlier than he closed his eyes and jumped backwards. Since he had made his thoughts as much as kill the Demon Cult members on first sight and didn’t have any extra burdens on his thoughts, he simply wished to have a bit dangerous enjoyable.

“I’m nonetheless not courageous sufficient. I ought to have jumped no less than one other toes nearer to the sting for the true enjoyable,” Linghu Chong thought, when sounds of giggles and clapping out of the blue rose from behind.

“Massive apprentice brother! That was so cool!” It was the voice of Yue Lingshan.

Linghu Chong was very delighted. He rotated and noticed Yue Lingshan carrying a meal basket.

“Massive apprentice brother, I’ve introduced you your dinner,” Yue Lingshan introduced fortunately. She sat the meal basket on the bottom, went into the cave, and sat on the large rock dealing with the rock wall. “It is a actually cool trick of yours! Let me give it a strive.”

Linghu Chong knew that this trick was certainly a really harmful one. Even when he tried it earlier, he was prepared to provide all of it up. Yue Lingshan’s Kung Fu expertise have been a lot much less in comparison with his, and if she couldn’t calculate her power proper, it might be disastrous. However as a result of she was actually within the temper in the intervening time, he couldn’t maintain her again. So he stood proper subsequent to the brim of the cliff and waited.

Intending to verify she may beat the large apprentice brother, Yue Lingshan went over the calculation in her head rapidly after which pushed the bottom laborious along with her toes. After her physique had left the bottom, she additionally turned her physique round within the mid-air. Hoping to land nearer to the sting of the cliff than Linghu Chong did, she used a bit bit additional power, however when her physique began to fall, concern out of the blue overwhelmed her and she or he needed to open her eyes. Seeing the bottomless abyss proper in entrance of her eyes, she screamed in terror.

Linghu Chong reached out and caught her left arm whereas she was nonetheless within the air. When Yue Lingshan landed again onto the bottom, she discovered her toes just one foot away from the very brink of the cliff. It was certainly nearer than what Linghu Chong had achieved. Earlier than her coronary heart even had time to fall again into her chest, she was already claiming her victory.

“Massive apprentice brother, I landed additional than you probably did!”

Seeing her frightened face as white as a sheet, Linghu Chong patted her gingerly on the again. “Higher not do that trick once more. If Grasp or Grasp-Spouse ever hear about this, they might positively scold me harshly, perhaps even punish me for one more 12 months of meditation dealing with the wall right here.”

Yue Lingshan felt a bit higher now. She took two steps again and mentioned with an enormous grin, “Then I must be punished too. We are able to meditate dealing with the wall right here collectively. Wouldn’t that be enjoyable? We are able to have a contest on a regular basis to see who can leap additional.”

“Us two, meditate right here collectively on a regular basis?” Linghu Chong repeated the phrases whereas throwing a look on the cave, a breeze of happiness swelling in his coronary heart, pondering, “If I get to spend a whole 12 months along with the little apprentice sister right here with none disruptions, then I’d be as completely satisfied as a worry-free fairy? Alas, it’ll by no means occur.”

“I’m afraid that Grasp may have you meditate within the ‘Home of Integrity’ and ban you from leaving there, then we gained’t be capable of see one another for a whole 12 months,” he mentioned.

“That’s not truthful!” Yue Lingshan instantly complained. “How come you may have enjoyable right here, and I’ve to be a prisoner within the ‘Home of Integrity’?” Understanding clearly that her mother and father would have by no means allowed her to accompany the large apprentice brother right here on the cliff, she modified the topic.

“Massive apprentice brother, Mother informed Monkey Six to convey you meals on a regular basis at first. I informed Monkey Six, ‘Sixth apprentice brother, I do know you’re a monkey and all that, however climbing up and down the ‘Cliff of Contemplation’ isn’t any straightforward job. Why don’t you let me allow you to and do it for you? So, how are you going to repay me for this favor?’ Monkey Six mentioned, ‘I dare to not loaf on the job given by Grasp-Spouse. Moreover, huge apprentice brother is the one which treats me one of the best. I’m so glad that I’ll be bringing meals to him for a whole 12 months and can be capable of see him as soon as on a regular basis. I don’t thoughts even when it’s no straightforward job.’ Massive apprentice brother, don’t you assume Monkey Six could be very imply?”

“Properly, he was telling the reality.” Linghu Chong smiled.

Yue Lingshan continued. “Monkey Six additionally mentioned, ‘I’ve all the time wished to ask for recommendation from huge apprentice brother about Kung Fu questions. However each time as quickly as you present up, you’d be kicking me away, not permitting any extra dialog with the large apprentice brother.’ Massive apprentice brother, do I ever do issues like that? Isn’t Monkey Six speaking rubbish right here? He then mentioned, ‘Hey, for your entire subsequent 12 months, I would be the just one who can go up the ‘Cliff of Contemplation’ to see huge apprentice brother. You gained’t also have a likelihood.’ I obtained mad, however he paid no consideration. Later later .”

“Later you threatened him along with your sword?” Linghu Chong guessed.

“No.” Yue Lingshan shook her head. “Later I obtained actual upset and began crying. Monkey Six then got here to me and begged me to convey meals to you.”

Looking at her cute little face, Linghu Chong may see the slight swelling proper subsequent to her eyes. Certain sufficient, she will need to have had fairly some weeping. Deeply moved, he thought, “She is so good to me. I’d be prepared to die a thousand occasions for her.”

Yue Lingshan opened the meal basket. Taking out two plates of dishes, along with two pairs of chopsticks and two rice bowls, she set them on an enormous rock with a flat high.

“Two units of chopsticks?” Linghu Chong uttered.

“I’ll eat along with you. Look, what’s this?” Yue Lingshan’s face cut up into an enormous grin when she took out a small wine-calabash from the underside of the meal basket.

Linghu Chong was very hooked on wine. Seeing the calabash of wine, he stood up and bowed deeply to Yue Lingshan. “Thanks so-o-o a lot!! I’ve been worrying about having no wine to drink for a whole 12 months. You simply saved my life!”

Yue Lingshan uncorked the wine-calabash after which handed it to Linghu Chong. “There’s not a lot right here. I can solely steal one small calabash of wine for you on a regular basis. If I attempt to steal an excessive amount of, my mother may discover out about it,” she defined with a smile.

The Huashan Sword Faculty rule mentioned that an apprentice meditating on the “Cliff of Contemplation” can be prohibited from consuming any meat, which was why the kitchen solely ready an enormous plate of boiled greens and a plate of Tofu for Linghu Chong. However contemplating herself going by the punishment collectively along with her huge apprentice brother, Yue Lingshan discovered the dishes fairly gratifying. After dinner, the 2 chatted with no particular matters for one more hour. Solely when it was already within the dusk, did Yue Lingshan go down the cliff.

From then on, Yue Lingshan would convey meals up the cliff round nightfall on a regular basis, and the 2 would have dinner collectively. At midday the subsequent day, Linghu Chong merely ate the leftovers from earlier day’s dinner as his lunch.

Though Linghu Chong lived alone atop the cliff, he didn’t really feel lonely in any respect. Each morning after he awakened, he would meditate with respiratory workouts and likewise observe the Huashan model interior power and the sword arts taught by his Grasp. He additionally frolicked pondering upon and going over Tian Boguang’s quick knife chops and the transfer created by Grasp-Spouse – Unequalled and Unmatched, The Thrust of Ning. There was just one thrust on this The Thrust of Ning transfer, but it surely contained many methods from Huashan model interior power and Huashan sword arts. Linghu Chong knew that he was not on the degree to execute this transfer but. If he had tried to make use of it, he would solely make a idiot out of himself, so he labored laborious on a regular basis in advancing himself together with his Kung Fu expertise. Thus, though he was punished to meditate by dealing with the wall to assume over his errors, he didn’t do any of these. Apart from having some chats with Yue Lingshan each night, he merely labored laborious on his Kung Fu expertise with dedication. Two months handed like that, and it began to get colder and colder every day atop the cliff. Some extra days later, Madam Yue completed making Linghu Chong a brand new set of cotton-padded coat and had Lu Dayou convey it to him up the cliff.

Sooner or later, a windstorm swept by within the morning, and by midday, huge snowflakes had began swirling out of the sky. Seeing the heavy darkish clouds gathering within the sky, Linghu Chong may inform that the snow can be lasting for fairly some time. “The highway up the cliff could be very steep and harmful. By nightfall the highway should be very slippery. Little apprentice sister shouldn’t attempt to convey me any meals in a day like this,” he couldn’t assist pondering. However there was no means of communication for him to ship the message. In nice worries, he may solely want that Grasp and Grasp-Spouse would learn about this and cease little apprentice sister from coming.

“How may Grasp and Grasp-Spouse not learn about the truth that little apprentice sister has been bringing meals for me as a substitute of sixth apprentice brother? Perhaps they simply pretended to not know and paid no consideration. If little apprentice sister tried to climb up the cliff immediately, a single slip would price her life. I assume Grasp-Spouse would ban her from climbing up the cliff for certain,” he thought.

Linghu Chong waited anxiously till nightfall, casting a look down the cliff each as soon as some time. Seeing that it was getting darker and darker and Yue Lingshan by no means confirmed up, Linghu Chong felt a bit relieved. “Tomorrow morning, sixth apprentice brother will convey the meals up. I hope little apprentice sister won’t ever tackle the dangers.”

He was about to return within the cave to sleep when rustling sounds of any individual climbing the snow-covered highway to the cliff got here to his consideration. Then Yue Lingshan’s voice rose, “Massive apprentice brother huge apprentice brother !”

Tremendously shocked but in addition tremendously delighted, Linghu Chong rushed by the facet of the cliff. Within the bathe of the large snowflakes, he may see Yue Lingshan wrestle her means up the cliff in slips and skids. Restricted by the order from the Grasp, Linghu Chong dared to not step even one step down the cliff, solely reaching out together with his hand to attempt to catch Yue Lingshan. As quickly as Yue Lingshan’s left hand touched his proper hand, Linghu Chong grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her up the cliff. Underneath the dim mild, Yue Lingshan appeared to have snow throughout her; even her hairs have been coated in snow. There was an enormous swelling on the left facet of her brow and blood was nonetheless dripping down slowly from the minimize. “You you .” Linghu Chong was misplaced in phrases.

Yue Lingshan bit her lip as if she was going to begin crying. “I fell, and the meal basket fell into the valley. You you’ll be hungry tonight.”

Linghu Chong’s coronary heart was swelled with gratefulness and with compassion. He pressed gingerly on her wound together with his sleeve and mentioned affectionately, “Little apprentice sister! The mountain highway is just too slippery. You shouldn’t have come up right here.”

“I don’t need you to starve. And and, I wished to see you,” Yue Lingshan muttered.

“However should you had fallen into the valley in consequence, how may I ever face Grasp and Grasp-Spouse once more?” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“Do away with that worrying face of yours! See, I’m positive right here. It’s simply that I’m too impotent. I misplaced the meal basket and the wine-calabash proper earlier than I nearly made it up the cliff,” Yue Lingshan mentioned.

“I solely need you to be secure. I don’t thoughts if I’ve to starve for ten days,” Linghu Chong mentioned compassionately.

“Half means up, the highway was so slippery. I gathered all my interior power and jumped a few occasions. Hey, I really made it up that actual steep slope by the ‘5 Pine-Bushes.’ I used to be so frightened of falling down into the valley at that second.” Yue Lingshan gasped.

“Little apprentice sister,” Linghu Chong demanded, “promise me that you just’ll by no means danger your life for me once more. In the event you had actually fallen down into the valley, I’d have jumped down after you for certain.”

Yue Lingshan checked out Linghu Chong with heat and happiness blazing in her eyes. “Massive apprentice brother, why do you are concerned a lot? If I had fallen down on my solution to convey you meals, it might be the results of my very own carelessness. Why would you’re feeling so responsible?”

“It’s not about feeling responsible.” Linghu Chong shook his head slowly. “If it have been sixth apprentice brother who was bringing meals to me and fell down into the valley and obtained killed, will I leap down the valley after him?” He shook his head slowly as he spoke. “I’ll strive my finest to take excellent care of his mother and father and his household. However I gained’t leap off the cliff to die together with a buddy.”

“But when I had died, then you definitely wouldn’t wish to reside any extra?” Yue Lingshan requested slowly.

“That’s appropriate. Little apprentice sister, it wasn’t since you have been bringing me meals. Even should you have been bringing meals for another person and died due to that, I wouldn’t have wished to remain alive.”

Yue Lingshan gripped onto Linghu Chong’s palms tightly, her coronary heart stuffed with tenderness and affection. “Massive apprentice brother!” she known as out gently.

Linghu Chong had an urge to embrace her in his arms, however nonetheless couldn’t collect sufficient braveness to take action. The 2 of them merely stared at one another quietly, neither one moved an inch. Massive snowflakes stored pouring down from the sky and shortly the 2 seemed nearly like two snowmen.

After a protracted whereas, Linghu Chong lastly broke the silence. “You may’t go down the cliff all by your self tonight. Did Grasp and Grasp-Spouse know that you just got here up right here? It might be higher if they will ship somebody as much as get you.”

“This morning, out of the blue, Dad obtained a letter from the Songshan Sword Faculty’s Alliance Chief Zuo, saying that they should focus on one thing pressing, so he and Mother had left Mount Huashan immediately,” Yue Lingshan mentioned.

“Then does anybody else know that you just got here up right here?” Linghu Chong requested.

“Nope. No one. Second, third, forth apprentice brothers and Monkey Six all headed to Mount Songshan along with Mother and Dad, and nobody is aware of that I got here up the cliff to see you. In any other case, Monkey Six would have fought with me for the prospect to convey meals up for you, and that will be very troublesome! Oh, that’s proper. The chap Lin Pingzhi noticed me arising. However I informed him to close his mouth if he wished to be spared of a superb beating tomorrow.”

“Wow, what a powerful senior apprentice sister.” Linghu Chong grinned.

“After all!” Yue Lingshan let loose an enormous smile. “Anyone is lastly calling me senior apprentice sister now. If I don’t placed on the style of a senior, what a waste would that be? It’s not such as you. Everyone calls you the large apprentice brother. What do you care?” The 2 of them broke into fun.

“Properly, then you may’t return down tonight. Why don’t you spend the evening within the cave and plan on going again down tomorrow morning?”

Linghu Chong held Yue Lingshan’s hand and walked her into the cave. The cave was fairly small, simply large enough for the 2 of them to remain in, and never a lot room left after that. The 2 of them sat down dealing with one another and chatted till late evening. Yue Lingshan lastly dozed off and fell asleep. Afraid that she may catch a chilly, Linghu Chong took off the cotton-padded coat he was sporting and tucked it round her. Within the dim mild mirrored by the snow exterior, he may vaguely see her cute little face.

“Little apprentice sister has such deep affection for me. Even when I’ve to die for her and be smashed into ten thousand items, I cannot remorse it,” Linghu Chong thought to himself.

Within the silence, he quickly fell into a good deeper thought. “I misplaced my mother and father once I was nonetheless little. Fortunately, Grasp and Grasp-Spouse introduced me up and handled me like their very own son. I’m the top apprentice of the Huashan Sword Faculty. Not solely did I turn out to be an apprentice sooner than everyone else, but in addition my Kung Fu expertise have been means above the remainder of the apprentice brothers. Sooner or later I’ll in all probability take over the duty from Grasp and turn out to be the Head Grasp of Huashan. Now with little apprentice sister treating me like this, it might be unattainable for me to ever repay the good kindness from my Grasp. However I’ve all the time been doing issues with no restrain and have stored Grasp and Grasp-Spouse offended with me. I’ve actually dissatisfied their expectations. I need to completely rectify my errors beginning any further. In any other case, I’d be failing not solely Grasp and Grasp-Spouse, but in addition little apprentice sister.”

Staring on the beautiful hair of Yue Lingshan, which rustled gently from her respiratory, Linghu Chong drifted into deep ideas when he out of the blue heard Yue Lingshan murmuring, “Hey, chap Lin, you aren’t behaving your self! Come over right here to let me provide you with a superb beating!”

Linghu Chong was shocked. However seeing Yue Lingshan turning her physique to the facet along with her eyes shut tight and her respiratory falling again into a traditional rhythm, he realized that she was simply having a dream. Fairly amused, he thought, “Lastly attending to be a senior apprentice sister to somebody, she in all probability has been appearing in an actual cocky means. Throughout lately, apprentice brother Lin will need to have been ordered round left and proper, and doubtless had sufficient of struggling. She will be able to’t even cease bullying him in her goals.”

Guarding by Yue Lingshan’s facet, Linghu Chong didn’t sleep in any respect. Yue Lingshan had been completely exhausted the earlier night, so she slept until it was already late within the morning earlier than waking up. Discovering Linghu Chong observing her with a smile, she returned with a smile after which mentioned with a yawn, “Did you get up early within the morning?”

Linghu Chong didn’t inform her that he had not slept in any respect in the course of the evening. “What dream did you’ve? Did you beat up apprentice brother Lin?” he requested with a smile.

“Did you hear me speak in my goals?” Yue Lingshan requested after pondering for a second. “This chap Lin is so cussed. He simply doesn’t wish to take heed to me. Ha-ha, I scold him not solely in day occasions, but in addition when I’m sleeping.”

“How did he get in your nerves?” Linghu Chong requested.

“I dreamed that I had requested him to go observe sword expertise with me within the waterfall, however he had every kind of excuses and easily didn’t wish to go together with me. I lastly tricked him into going. And as quickly as he obtained to the waterfall, I pushed him down the waterfall.”

“Oops, you may’t do this. You’re going to get him killed,” Linghu Chong commented with a smile.

“It’s solely a dream. It’s not actual. Why are you worrying a lot? Are you afraid that I actually may kill this chap?”

“Properly, what one thinks about in day time, one goals about it at evening. You have to have actually thought of killing apprentice brother Lin in the course of the day, and also you stored serious about it, that’s why you dreamed about it at evening.”

Yue Lingshan confirmed a winkled nostril. “This chap is ineffective. He has been working towards the entry-level sword artwork kind for 3 months now, and it nonetheless seemed removed from proper. But he’s the devoted kind and stored working towards days and nights. I get mad simply taking a look at him working towards. What do I’ve to consider if I wish to kill him? All I have to do is to lift my sword after which convey the sword swishing sideway. A certain kill with a single blow!” She slashed out along with her proper hand and carried out a transfer of Huashan sword arts.

“Cloud by the Hill – Chap Lin’s head falls off!” Linghu Chong burst into laughter.

“If I really use this Cloud by the Hill transfer, his head will fall off for certain.” Yue Lingshan giggled loudly.

“You’re the senior apprentice sister. When a junior apprentice brother has downside together with his sword observe, you have to be giving him some pointers, not drawing your sword to kill for no particular causes. All new apprentices of the Grasp shall be your junior apprentice brothers. What if when Grasp takes in 100 new apprentices, and also you determined to kill ninety-nine of them in a few days? What are we going to do then?” Linghu Chong joked.

“You’re completely proper about that! I’ll solely kill ninety-nine of them and ensure I depart one alone. If I kill all of them, then who’s going to name me senior apprentice sister?” Yue Lingshan held onto the facet of the rock wall and nearly laughed herself foolish.

“In the event you killed ninety-nine junior apprentice brothers, the one hundredth one can be operating away for certain. You continue to gained’t be capable of keep your senior apprentice sister standing.” Linghu Chong urged.

“By then I’ll make you name me senior apprentice sister.” Yue Lingshan grinned.

“I’ve no downside calling you senior apprentice sister. However are you going to kill me or not?” Linghu Chong requested jokingly.

“In the event you take heed to my orders, then I gained’t kill you. In the event you don’t, then I’ll.” Yue Lingshan additionally mentioned jokingly.

“Little apprentice sister, I urge you to indicate some mercy along with your sword!”

It had stopped snowing by then. Afraid that when apprentice brothers and sisters came upon that Yue Lingshan had been lacking they may begin slanderous gossips, which could possibly be disastrous for little apprentice sister’s repute, Linghu Chong urged Yue Lingshan to return down after some brief chats.

“I wish to keep right here a bit longer to play. Mother and Dad are each not at residence. It’s very boring!” Yue Lingshan nonetheless didn’t wish to go.

“My good apprentice sister, within the final couple of days, I simply created some extra strikes for the Chong-Ling Sword Artwork. As quickly as I can depart the cliff, I’ll go together with you to observe sword expertise within the waterfall. Alright?”

After fairly some coaxing, Linghu Chong lastly succeeded in getting her off the cliff again residence.

At nightfall that day, Gao Gengming introduced meals up the cliff as a substitute. He mentioned that Yue Lingshan caught a chilly and was having fevers. She needed to relaxation in mattress, however she thought concerning the huge apprentice brother and had requested him to verify to not overlook bringing some wine when he introduced the meals up. Linghu Chong was tremendously shocked and suffered nice worries. He knew that she had a horrible fall the earlier night and was in all probability terribly scared, which brought on all of the sickness, and wished dearly that he would be capable of rush down the cliff to pay a go to to her. Though he had starved for 2 days, with the meal proper in entrance of him, he solely felt a lump in his throat and will hardly swallow.

Gao Gengming knew that huge apprentice brother and the little apprentice sister have been a loving couple, and that was why as quickly as Linghu Chong heard about her sickness, he grew to become very nervous. So he tried to consolation him.

“Massive apprentice brother, don’t be too nervous. Yesterday we had quite a lot of snow. Little apprentice sister will need to have spent an excessive amount of time within the snow taking part in and caught a chilly. For individuals who observe interior power like us, such a bit chilly is de facto nothing. After taking some medicines, will probably be gone very quickly,” he persuaded.

However Yue Lingshan remained sick for over two weeks. Solely after the Yue couple had returned to Mount Huashan and rid the fever for her utilizing Huashan model interior power was she capable of get well slowly. By the point she was lastly capable of stand up to the cliff, it was already over twenty days later.

After struggling such a protracted parting, each felt nice pleasure tempered with sorrow. Yue Lingshan stared at Linghu Chong’s face and burst out a cry, “Massive apprentice brother, did you get sick too? How come you look so skinny?”

Linghu Chong shook his head. “I didn’t get sick. I I .”

“You you have been pondering of me. And also you misplaced weight due to the troubles.” Yue Lingshan out of the blue realized. She burst into tears. “Massive apprentice brother, I’m all recovered by now.”

“I watched the highway days and nights ready for this very second. Thank Heavens! You got here ultimately!” Linghu Chong muttered, holding Yue Lingshan’s hand tightly.

“Truly, I noticed you a lot occasions,” Yue Lingshan mentioned.

“What? You noticed me many occasions?” Linghu Chong requested in shock.

“Yeah! Whereas I used to be in poor health, I noticed you on a regular basis once I closed my eyes. That day when my fever worsened, Mother mentioned that I stored speaking to you in my goals. Massive apprentice brother, Mother has realized about that evening once I spent the evening up right here.”

Linghu Chong blushed and felt some uneasiness. “Was Grasp-Spouse offended?” he requested.

“Mother wasn’t offended about it. However however .” Yue Lingshan out of the blue blushed and stopped abruptly.

“However what?” Linghu Chong requested.

“I’m not telling you,” Yue Lingshan declared.

Noticing the affected shy expression on Yue Lingshan’s face, Linghu Chong’s coronary heart quivered. He instantly pulled himself collectively and mentioned, “Little apprentice sister, you simply obtained higher. You actually shouldn’t come up right here so quickly. I knew you have been step by step getting higher. On a regular basis when fifth apprentice brother or sixth apprentice brother introduced meals up for me, all of them informed me about you.”

“Then how come you’re nonetheless so skinny?” Yue Lingshan requested.

“Properly, as quickly as you totally get well, I’ll achieve my weight again.” Linghu Chong answered with a smile.

“Inform me the reality. How a lot did you eat at every meal lately? Monkey Six mentioned that you just didn’t contact your meals in any respect and solely drank quite a lot of wine. He tried to steer you, however you merely wouldn’t take heed to him. Massive apprentice brother, why don’t you’re taking excellent care of your self?” At these phrases, tear drops began rolling in her eyes once more.

“Nonsense! Don’t take heed to him. Monkey Six all the time likes to magnify. Why would I solely drink wine and never eat?” Linghu Chong denied.

A breeze of chilly wind swept by and despatched Yue Lingshan shivering. It was a really chilly day. The cliff didn’t also have a single tree to dam the chilly wind. It was already very chilly on high of Mount Huashan; it was even colder right here on the cliff.

“Little apprentice sister,” Linghu Chong mentioned rapidly, “you haven’t totally recovered but. You’d higher not catch a chilly once more. Return down the cliff. Wait until in the future when the solar comes out and after you’ve totally recovered, then you may come as much as see me once more.”

“I’m not chilly. We’re getting snow and windstorm on a regular basis. Who is aware of once we may have sunshine once more?” Yue Lingshan complained.

“However what should you get sick once more? I I ,” Linghu Chong mentioned in a nervous tone.

Seeing the skinny and pallid face of Linghu Chong, Yue Lingshan thought, “If I get sick once more, he’ll get sick too for certain. That can certainly get him killed with nobody right here caring for him in any respect.” So she needed to agree. “Nice. I’m leaving now. You are taking excellent care of your self. Don’t drink that a lot wine. Have no less than three bowls of rice each meal. I’ll go speak to Dad and inform him that you’re not feeling nicely. You want extra nutritious meals. You may’t reside off solely greens.”

“I cannot violate the prohibition. Seeing you getting higher is sufficient nourish for me already. I’m certain I’ll begin gaining weight in a few days. My pricey, please return now,” Linghu Chong urged.

“What did you name me?” Her cheeks going pink, Yue Lingshan requested in a low voice, love and affection swelling in her eyes.

Feeling a bit bit shy, Linghu Chong instantly answered, “I simply blurted that out. Little apprentice sister, please don’t thoughts.”

“Why would I thoughts? I such as you to name me that.” Yue Lingshan replied.

Linghu Chong felt a heat present coursing by his coronary heart. All he may consider was to embrace her tightly in his arms. However he instantly informed himself, “She has proven me such affection. How may I ever shame her with such disrespectful conduct?” So he turned his head apart in a rush, and solely mentioned in a mushy voice, “Stroll gradual while you go down the cliff, one step at a time. Take a relaxation if it is advisable. Don’t simply run all the best way down such as you used to do in different days.”

“I gained’t,” Yue Lingshan answered as she rotated slowly and walked towards the highway down the cliff.

Listening to the sound of her steps getting additional and additional, Linghu Chong turned his head again, solely seeing Yue Lingshan standing a number of dozen toes away down the highway observing him. For a protracted whereas, the 2 simply stared at one another silently.

“Stroll gradual. It’s time so that you can get again,” Linghu Chong lastly mentioned.

“Sure,” Yue Lingshan answered and this time actually began heading again.

In that day, Linghu Chong felt a type of pleasure he had by no means skilled earlier than in his total life. Sitting on the rock, he couldn’t resist his urge to snort out loud. He out of the blue burst out a protracted roar, and it echoed across the valley many times. The roar gave the impression to be shouting the phrases, “I’m so completely satisfied! I’m so completely satisfied!”

The following day, it snowed once more, and certain sufficient, Yue Lingshan didn’t come up. Linghu Chong heard from Lu Dayou that she was having fun with a speedy restoration and was getting higher and higher on a regular basis. That actually cheered him up.

One other twenty or so days handed earlier than Yue Lingshan got here up the cliff once more. She had a basket filled with Zong-Zi

[1] this time. After taking a look at Linghu Chong’s face rigorously for a second, she smiled. “You didn’t lie. You certain gained fairly a number of kilos again.”

“You’ve recovered nicely. I’m so completely satisfied to see you wholesome.” Seeing the ruddy complexion on Yue Lingshan’s cheeks, Linghu Chong additionally smiled.

“I’ve been bugging Mother day-after-day in order that I may convey your meals up, however Mother simply wouldn’t let me. She stored saying that it was too chilly, or it was too humid. She nearly sounded as if as quickly as I come up the cliff, I’ll drop useless. I mentioned that huge apprentice brother has stayed on the cliff for days and nights. I don’t see him getting sick. Mother mentioned that huge apprentice brother has very excessive interior power; I’m merely not in the identical league. Hey, Mother was praising about you. Aren’t you cheerful to listen to that?”

Linghu Chong nodded. “I actually miss Grasp and Grasp-Spouse. I want I may see them quickly.”

“Yesterday I spent a complete day serving to Mother wrapping Zong-Zi. I believed to myself, wouldn’t it’s good if I may convey you some? And guess what? Earlier than I even opened my mouth to ask immediately, Mother had already mentioned to me, ‘Take this basket of Zong-Zi to Chong.’ What a shock!”

Linghu Chong felt a lump in his throat, pondering, “Grasp-Spouse is so good to me.”

“These Zong-Zi simply got here out of the pot; they’re nonetheless sizzling. Let me peel some for you.” Yue Lingshan went within the cave and began unwrapping the bamboo leaves exterior of the Zong-Zi. Quickly, appetizing odor crammed the small cave.

Taking the unwrapped Zong-Zi Yue Lingshan handed to him, Linghu Chong took a chew. Despite the fact that the Zong-Zi solely had vegetarian stuffing, the combination of straw mushrooms, lotus seeds, broad beans and different substances gave it a really scrumptious taste.

“Little Lin and I picked these straw mushrooms the day earlier than yesterday ,” Yue Lingshan bragged.

“Little Lin?” Linghu Chong was misplaced.

“Oh, That’s junior apprentice brother Lin. I’ve been calling him Little Lin lately. He got here to me the day earlier than yesterday and informed me that there was straw mushrooms below these pine timber on the east slope. He even went with me and spent half a day choosing them. However we solely discovered sufficient to fill a half basket. Whereas there’s not a lot, it certain is tasty, isn’t it?”

“Yummy! I nearly swallowed my tongue along with it. So, little apprentice sister, you don’t yell at him now?” Linghu Chong requested.

“Why not! Anytime he doesn’t take heed to me, I yell at him. However he certain realized easy methods to behave himself lately, so I don’t yell at him as a lot now. And when he works laborious and progress a bit together with his sword observe, I reward him a bit, ‘Aha, Little Lin, this transfer appears to be like not too shabby, a lot better than yesterday. But it surely’s nonetheless not quick sufficient. Observe extra! Observe extra!’ Ha-ha!” Yue Lingshan mentioned amusingly.

“Are you instructing him sword arts?” Linghu Chong requested.

“Yep! He speaks Fujian dialect. Apprentice brothers and sisters are having a tough time understanding him. I’ve been to Fuzhou earlier than and it’s simpler for me to know his phrases, so Dad requested me to assist him together with his sword artwork at any time when I’ve time. Massive apprentice brother, since I can’t come up right here to see you on a regular basis, once I get bored, I would as nicely educate him a few strikes. Little Lin isn’t any dummy. He can study rapidly.”

“I see. So you’re the senior apprentice sister and the teacher. No marvel he dares to not disobey you.” Linghu Chong laughed.

“I wouldn’t say that. Yesterday once I requested him to go hunt pheasants with me, he didn’t wish to go, and mentioned that he had not gotten the strikes White Aurora Capturing to Solar and Heaven Hanging Upside Down proper and wanted to observe extra.”

Linghu Chong was a bit shocked. He requested, “He has solely been in our Huashan Sword Faculty for a number of months, how come he’s already working towards strikes like White Aurora Capturing to Solar and Heaven Hanging Upside Down? Little apprentice sister, our Huashan sword arts require the practitioner to observe every of the steps. It might be dangerous to attempt to advance too rapidly.”

“Don’t fear about it. I gained’t be instructing him irresponsibly,” Yue Lingshan defined. “Little Lin is all the time desirous to excel. He practices days and nights. Each time once I wish to chat a bit, in lower than three sentences, he would begin asking questions on sword arts. Sword kinds that may take others three months to understand will solely take him half a month. Once I wished him to go play with me, he would by no means agree frankly.”

Linghu Chong fell silent, and rapidly, some type of indescribable annoyance crammed his coronary heart. He took one other chew, after which simply stared on the Zong-Zi in his hand blankly.

“Massive apprentice brother, did you swallow your tongue? Why have you ever stopped speaking?” Yue Lingshan pulled at Linghu Chong’s sleeves.

Absentmindedly, Linghu Chong put the remaining of the Zong-Zi in his mouth. One way or the other, the supposedly scrumptious Zong-Zi obtained caught in his mouth and he couldn’t swallow it down.

Yue Lingshan pointed at him and giggled laborious. “Aren’t you too impatient? See, you bought it caught to your enamel.”

With a wry smile, Linghu Chong swallowed laborious and at last managed to ship it down his throat. He thought to himself, “I’m actually being silly! Little apprentice sister likes to play. Since I can’t go down the cliff, she wished apprentice brother Lin to be her firm. That’s actually fairly regular. Why am I being so narrow-minded and getting mad at that?” So he relaxed a bit and mentioned with a smile, “You have to have labored on this one. See how tight did you wrap it? It obtained my tongue and my enamel all caught collectively.”

Yue Lingshan burst into loud laughter. After a number of moments, she commented, “Poor huge apprentice brother, who needs to be a prisoner on high of the cliff. See how gluttonous you’re!”

The following time when she got here up the cliff once more, it was already over ten days later. Apart from the meal basket, she additionally introduced a small basket with half basket of pine nuts and chestnuts.

In the course of the ten days, Linghu Chong’s neck in all probability had gotten longer from all of the anxious wanting down the cliff. Each time he requested about little apprentice sister from Lu Dayou when he introduced meals up, Lu Dayou would all the time look queer and communicate in an odd means. Linghu Chong obtained suspicious, however merely couldn’t get a straight reply out of him. When Linghu Chong pressed actually laborious typically, Lu Dayou would all the time reply, “Little apprentice sister is doing nice. She practices sword artwork diligently on a regular basis. Perhaps Grasp didn’t need her up the cliff so she wouldn’t be disturbing huge apprentice brother’s meditation right here.”

Now when he lastly noticed Yue Lingshan once more after all of the ready, his pleasure was unspeakable. She gave the impression to be glowing with well being and radiating vigor, wanting even prettier than how she seemed earlier than the sickness. Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however assume, “She has totally recovered. Why did she wait so lengthy earlier than arising the cliff once more? Did Grasp or Grasp-Spouse ban her from arising right here?”

Seeing the puzzled look in Linghu Chong’s eyes, Yue Lingshan out of the blue blushed. “Massive apprentice brother, I hadn’t come as much as see you for therefore many days. Are you mad at me?” she requested.

“Why would I be mad? Grasp and Grasp-Spouse will need to have informed you to not come up, haven’t you?” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“Yeah. Mother simply taught me a brand new sword artwork kind. She mentioned that this sword artwork kind has so many sophisticated variations, if I had come up the cliff to talk with you, I’d lose my focus.”

“Which sword artwork kind?” Linghu Chong requested curiously.

“Take a guess!” Yue Lingshan challenged.

“Yang-Wu Sword Type?”

“Nope.”

“Xi-Wu Sword Type?”

“Attempt once more!” Yue Lingshan shook her head.

“Might it’s the Truthful-Maiden Sword Type?”

“That’s my mother’s specialty. I’m not even certified to provide the Truthful-Maiden Sword Type a strive but.” Yue Lingshan caught her tongue out and made a face. “Okay, let me inform you. It’s The Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword!” she mentioned triumphantly.

Linghu Chong was taken by slight shock. “You begin to study The Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword now? Oh, that basically is a really sophisticated sword kind,” he mentioned fortunately. All his suspicion melted away.

Though the set of Jade Maiden Sword kind solely had nineteen stances, each stance had very sophisticated modifications and variations. If the practitioner couldn’t memorize all these, he wouldn’t even be capable of totally use only one stance. He had heard from Grasp about it earlier than, “The Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword primarily focus within the fancy variations and modifications. The shape is kind of totally different from our faculty’s foremost focus – Internal Vitality Drives the Sword. Since feminine apprentices are likely to have much less power from their arms, after they encounter with a more durable opponent, they will use this sword kind to counter with suave strikes. However all of the male apprentices don’t have any have to study it.” That’s why even Linghu Chong himself had not realized it earlier than. Primarily based on Yue Lingshan’s present talent degree, it appeared that she was not able to study this sword kind but. Earlier than, Linghu Chong, Yue Lingshan and another apprentice brothers and sisters had watched how Grasp and Grasp-Spouse confirmed the set of sword kind. Grasp had attacked utilizing many various sword artwork kinds from totally different sword faculties and kinds, however Grasp-Spouse solely defended with this Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword kind. The Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword have been really nicely matched with the a whole lot of wonderful sword strikes in a dozen totally different kinds. All of the apprentices watching by the facet have been dumbfounded in amazement. Yue Lingshan had begged her mom to show her this sword kind by then, and Madam Yue had answered, “You’re nonetheless too younger. First, you don’t have the talent degree but. Secondly, this sword artwork kind requires quite a lot of brainpower. You need to in all probability wait until you’re twenty years previous earlier than studying this sword kind. As well as, this sword kind is used for countering sword strikes from different sword faculties. In the event you solely work with apprentice brothers and sisters in our personal college, you’d find yourself working towards easy methods to counter Huashan sword artwork. Chong is aware of quite a lot of totally different Kung Fu and he in all probability remembers many various sword strikes from different sword faculties. He can in all probability observe with you sooner or later.” This was an episode that occurred about two years in the past, and no one ever talked about it once more. Who’d count on that Grasp-Spouse really taught her this sword kind?

“Grasp should be in an actual good temper lately to observe sword artwork with you on a regular basis,” Linghu Chong mentioned.

This sword kind centered on adapting itself to altering situations and never proscribing oneself to sure strikes or postures, that was why proper from the start, the practitioner would wish to observe with a associate. Inside the Huashan Sword Faculty, Yue Buqun and Linghu Chong have been the one two having good information about sword arts from different sword faculties. Thus, since Yue Lingshan was studying The Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword, Yue Buqun needed to be working along with her to assault her with different sword college’s sword strikes.

Yue Lingshan flushed barely once more. “Dad doesn’t have that a lot time. It was Little Lin who helped me to observe,” she mentioned bashfully.

“Apprentice brother Lin? Does he know many sword strikes from different sword faculties?” Linghu Chong requested in shock.

“He solely is aware of the household Kung Fu of his – Evil-Resisting Sword Artwork. Dad mentioned that despite the fact that the Evil-Resisting Sword Artwork isn’t that highly effective in any respect, it has some fascinating variations within the strikes, which might be good for me to check to. He wished me to counter Evil-Resisting Sword Artwork as the start line for my Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword coaching.”

“I see.” Linghu Chong nodded.

“Massive apprentice brother, are you upset?”

“No. Why would I be upset? You’re studying a complicated type of our Huashan sword arts now. I really feel very completely satisfied for you! Why ought to I be upset?”

“However you don’t look very completely satisfied.”

“Which stance are you on now?” Linghu Chong squeezed out a smile and requested.

Yue Lingshan didn’t reply. After a very long time, she lastly mentioned, “I see. Mother mentioned to allow you to assist me observe, however I’m having Little Lin do it, that’s why you’re upset. Am I proper? However give it some thought, huge apprentice brother, within the brief whereas, you gained’t be capable of come down from the cliff, and I’m simply too anxious to study this sword kind. I simply can’t watch for you any longer.”

“You’re speaking childishly once more. We’re all apprentice brothers and sisters, so it’s all the identical regardless of who practices with you,” Linghu Chong mentioned in laughter. He paused for a second after which went on, “I do know you’d moderately have apprentice brother Lin observe with you than having me.”

“Nonsense!” Yue Lingshan blushed once more. “In comparison with you, Little Lin’s talent degree is miles away. What good does it do me working towards with him?”

Linghu Chong thought to himself, “Apprentice brother Lin has solely joined the Huashan Sword Faculty for a number of months. Even when he have been a brilliant genius, how good may he get?” So he mentioned, “After all there’s profit right here. Wouldn’t you’re feeling nice when you may beat him with each single one among your strikes?”

“Humph, simply together with his clumsy Evil-Resisting Sword Artwork, does he really count on to defeat me?” Yue Lingshan giggled.

Linghu Chong had lengthy identified that the little apprentice sister was the kind who all the time wished to win. When she sparred with Lin Pingzhi, most certainly she was ready to make use of the newly realized sword artwork with facility, and was capable of get pleasure from benefit with each single transfer. Lin Pingzhi’s Kung Fu degree was very low, and he in all probability made an ideal spar associate. When Linghu Chong thought of that, his despair went away instantly. “Then let me strive a pair strikes with you. Let’s see how good you’re along with your Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword,” he urged, smiling.

Yue Lingshan was overjoyed. “Fantastic! At present immediately earlier than I got here up I really deliberate .” With a shy smile, she drew her lengthy sword.

“You got here up the cliff immediately simply to indicate me the sword artwork you simply realized? Good, go forward!” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“Massive apprentice brother, your sword expertise have all the time been higher than mine. However after I study this set of Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword nicely, you gained’t be capable of bully me anymore.” Yue Lingshan grinned.

“When did I ever bully you? You’re wronging the great man right here.”

“Don’t you wish to draw your sword?” Yue Lingshan obtained into her beginning place.

“Not so quickly!” Linghu Chong mentioned. He shifted his left hand into the beginning place after which thrust his proper hand out rapidly. “That is from the Qingcheng Sword Faculty’s Pine-Wind Sword Artwork. This transfer is known as Thundering Pine Wave!” He pretended that his hand was a sword and thrust it towards Yue Lingshan’s shoulder.

Yue Lingshan turned to the facet and stepped again whereas waving her sword to dam towards Linghu Chong’s hand. “Look out!” she known as out.

“Don’t attempt to be good. I’ll draw my sword once I can’t defend myself.”

“How dare you combat my Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword along with your naked palms?” Yue Lingshan snapped.

“That’s as a result of you haven’t mastered it. When you grasp it, I gained’t be capable of combat you with my naked palms.”

Yue Lingshan had been working towards the Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword very laborious lately. She felt that she had superior rather a lot in her sword expertise, and even when in comparison with top quality sword masters within the Martial World, she can be no much less. The explanation why she didn’t come up the cliff for the final ten days was to maintain this a secret from Linghu Chong, so she may give him an enormous shock with one good feat, and thus make Linghu Chong assume extremely of her. However now he was really belittling her and solely wished to combat her Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword together with his naked palms, she couldn’t assist however feeling aggravated.

“If by chance I minimize you or one thing, don’t blame me. Don’t inform my mother or dad both.” She pulled a protracted face.

“That’s in fact. You do your finest. In the event you give floor in anyway, you wouldn’t be displaying your true expertise.” Linghu Chong’s left hand out of the blue chopped out as he spoke. “Look out!” he yelled.

“What what! Is your left hand a sword too?” Yue Lingshan shouted in astonishment.

If Linghu Chong had actually chopped down, Yue Lingshan would have been injured within the shoulder. He held on his power and defined, “Some individuals within the Qingcheng Sword Faculty do use double swords.”

“That’s proper! I’ve seen some Qingcheng apprentices carrying double swords. How did I overlook that? Be careful!” Yue Lingshan launched a counter assault.

Seeing that the thrust drifted swiftly, Linghu Chong figured this should be a complicated transfer out of the Jade Maiden Sword. He praised, “This one is superb. Simply not quick sufficient.”

“Nonetheless not quick sufficient? Somewhat bit sooner, I’d have chopped off your arm.”

“Go forward and attempt to chop it off.” Linghu Chong used his proper hand because the sword and chopped towards her left arm.

Yue Lingshan was a bit aggravated. She waved her sword rapidly and swiftly and began utilizing the Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword she had been working towards one transfer after one other. Out of the whole nineteen stances of strikes, she may solely bear in mind 9, and throughout the 9 stances, she may actually solely use six. However these six stances have been already fairly highly effective. At any time when she pointed the sword someplace, Linghu Chong would have a tough time getting near her in that route. Linghu Chong circled round her as they fought. Each time when he tried to assault his means in, he was pressured again by her sharp sword strikes. As soon as he needed to leap backward rapidly and ended up bumping his again on a chunk of rock that was protruding.

Yue Lingshan was very happy with herself. She requested in a smile, “Don’t you wish to draw your sword now?”

“Just a bit bit longer,” Linghu Chong mentioned, as he lured her into utilizing one transfer after one other out of the Jade Maiden Sword kind. After a number of extra moments of preventing, noticing Yue Lingshan used the identical six stances many times, Linghu Chong figured it out. He abruptly stepped ahead and chopped together with his proper knife hand. “Killer transfer from the Pine-Wind Sword Artwork! Be careful!” he yelled. The chop seemed as if it had quite a lot of power in it.

Seeing the knife hand swishing down towards her head, Yue Lingshan slashed her sword upwards. That was precisely the transfer Linghu Chong had anticipated. He reached out his left hand in a flash and flicked out together with his center finger. “Ring,” his finger knocked on the blade of the lengthy sword. Yue Lingshan solely felt a burning ache in her palm and will now not maintain on to the sword. The sword flew out of her grip and fell straight down the bottomless abyss.

Her face as pale as a white sheet, Yue Lingshan stared silently at Linghu Chong in disbelief and astonishment, biting her decrease lip laborious along with her higher enamel. “Oops!” Linghu Chong cried, and instantly rushed by the sting of the cliff, however the sword has disappeared within the bottomless valley and will now not be seen. Instantly, a inexperienced shadow flashed by the facet of the cliff. It appeared to have been a chunk of a gown. However when Linghu Chong seemed extra rigorously, it was already gone. His coronary heart thumped laborious as he thought aloud, “What’s unsuitable with me? What’s unsuitable with me? I’ve practiced and sparred with little apprentice sister 1000’s of occasions earlier than. Each time I’d give floor to her and had by no means acted so mercilessly like immediately. I’m actually being ridiculous!”

Yue Lingshan forged a sideway look down the valley as she cried out loud, “The sword! The sword!”

Linghu Chong was surprised when he out of the blue remembered that little apprentice sister’s lengthy sward was an distinctive sword that might minimize metal. It was known as “Sword of the Inexperienced Pool,” and was acquired by Grasp in Dragon-Spring, Zhejiang Province[2] three years in the past. Ever since little apprentice sister laid eyes on it, she couldn’t maintain her thoughts off it. She had begged for it from Grasp many occasions and Grasp by no means agreed till her eighteenth birthday this 12 months when Grasp gave the sword to her as her birthday current. Now the sword had fallen into the bottomless valley, there can be no solution to retrieve it again.

“What a horrible mistake have I made?” Linghu Chong regretted full heartedly.

Tears rolling in her eyes, Yue Lingshan stomped her left foot in frustration after which rotated to depart.

“Little apprentice sister!” Linghu Chong known as out, however Yue Lingshan ignored him and began heading off the cliff. Linghu Chong chased her to the facet of the cliff and reached out for her arm, however as quickly as his fingers touched Yue Lingshan’s sleeve, he drew his arm again and watched her depart with out ever wanting again.

Feeling very depressed, Linghu Chong thought aloud, “Usually I’d have put up along with her and provides in to her, however why did I flick away her sword immediately? Am I envying her as a result of Grasp-Spouse taught her the Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword? No, no means. It could possibly’t be! The Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword have been meant for feminine apprentices, and wouldn’t I be happier that little apprentice sister is studying extra Kung Fu? Ah, in all probability it’s as a result of I’ve been alone on the cliff for too lengthy and have turn out to be in poor health tempered. I solely want she would come up the cliff once more tomorrow so I can apologize to her sincerely.”

That evening Linghu Chong couldn’t sleep. He sat cross-legged on a rock and tried to work on his respiratory train, however he merely couldn’t keep focus, and he dared to not proceed. Moonlight shone by the opening of the cave and lit the rock wall. Noticing the phrases “Feng Qingyang” carved on the rock wall once more, Linghu Chong reached out and began writing following the strokes carved on the rock wall. Instantly, the wall darkened as a shadow was forged upon the rock wall. In astonishment, Linghu Chong picked up the sword by his facet, with no time to unsheathe the sword, he simply thrust it towards his again. When it was half means out, he out of the blue retracted his power and rotated as he known as out in pleasure, “Little apprentice sister!” But it surely wasn’t his little apprentice sister.

A skinny and tall man stood a couple of dozen toes away from the cave. Wearing a inexperienced gown, he stood together with his again towards the moonlight; a chunk of inexperienced material coated his face, leaving solely his eyes displaying. Linghu Chong didn’t recall ever seeing this man earlier than, so he yelled, “Who’re you?” and jumped out of the cave together with his sword drawn. The person didn’t reply, however raised his proper hand and chopped twice towards his front-right, which turned out to be two strikes out of the Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword Yue Lingshan had used within the day. Linghu Chong was tremendously shocked, though by now he had dropped most of his animosity towards the person.

“Are you a senior in our sword college?” he requested, when out of the blue a robust wind of power came across his face. With no time to assume, Linghu Chong slashed out together with his sword, however on the meantime, a slight ache got here from his left shoulder. It had been hit by the person’s hand. It appeared that the person didn’t use any interior power when he struck together with his hand. In nice concern and astonishment, Linghu Chong hurriedly slid a few steps towards his left. The person didn’t observe up, and easily used his hand as a sword, and inside moments of time, he had proven the handfuls of strikes included in these six stances of the Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword easily with no interruptions. The handfuls of strikes have been executed as in the event that they have been all a part of one huge transfer. The velocity he had proven was merely unthinkable. Underneath the moonlight, Linghu Chong may see clearly that each transfer had been utilized by Yue Lingshan in the course of the day. However how may he have executed all these dozens of strikes as if it was only one huge transfer? Linghu Chong’s jaw dropped and his physique appeared to have frozen. The person flicked his lengthy sleeves and walked off across the again of the cliff.

It was already a superb whereas later when Linghu Chong was lastly capable of regain himself. “Senior Grasp! Senior Grasp!” he known as out loud, however by the point he ran to the bottom of the cliff, all he discovered was the sliverish moonlight mirrored by the bottom. There was nobody to be discovered.

“Who’s he?” Linghu Chong gasped and thought aloud. “When he confirmed the Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword, I’d stand no likelihood flicking away his sword, and each transfer from him may have chopped my hand off. No, it’s not solely my hand. He may have stabbed me anyplace he needs or minimize me anyplace he needs. With these six stances of the Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword, I’d be like a chunk of meat on any individual’s chopping block – completely be at his mercy. It turned out that this sword kind is definitely so highly effective.” He contemplated upon it a bit extra after which thought, “Apparently the facility didn’t come from the sword strikes however the best way he used his sword. With such a technique, I wouldn’t be capable of defend myself it doesn’t matter what type of unusual strikes he makes use of. Who is that this man? Why is he on high of Mount Huashan?”

He contemplated upon the query for a very long time however nonetheless had no clue. Lastly he gave up, pondering that Grasp and Grasp-Spouse should learn about this man, and when little apprentice sister comes up the cliff once more tomorrow, he may ask her to inquire about it from Grasp and Grasp-Spouse.

However Yue Lingshan didn’t come up the subsequent day, nor did she come the third day or the forth day. Solely after a complete of eighteen days, she lastly got here up the cliff along with Lu Dayou. Having longed for Yue Lingshan for eighteen days and nights, Linghu Chong had a abdomen filled with phrases to inform her, however with Lu Dayou by the facet, he merely couldn’t spill them out.

After dinner, understanding Linghu Chong’s emotions, Lu Dayou urged, “Massive apprentice brother, little apprentice sister, because you two haven’t seen one another for a lot of days, why don’t you two have a superb chat right here. I’ll take the basket down first.”

“Monkey Six, are you attempting to run away from me? We got here collectively, so we’ll depart collectively too,” Yue Lingshan mentioned with a smile as she stood up.

“Little apprentice sister, I’ve one thing to speak to you about,” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“Certain. Monkey Six, cease proper there. Massive apprentice brother has some recommendation for us,” Yue Lingshan mentioned to Lu Dayou.

“It’s not about recommendation.” Linghu Chong shook his head. “That ‘Sword of the Inexperienced Pool’ of yours .”

Yue Lingshan minimize him brief rapidly. “I’ve informed Mother that I used to be being too careless and the sword slipped out of my hand down the valley once I was working towards the Nineteen Stances of Jade Maiden Sword. It’s nowhere to be discovered now. I had a superb weep. Mother not solely didn’t yell at me, however she additionally comforted me and promised to get me one other good blade subsequent time. This actually is historical past now. There’s no want to say it once more.” She shrugged with a smile on her face.

The extra simply she acted, the extra disturbed Linghu Chong felt. “After I fulfill my punishment so I can get down the cliff once more, I’ll discover a good blade to repay you.” Linghu Chong promised.

“We’re apprentice brothers and sisters. Don’t fear concerning the sword. And it did fall into the deep valley as a result of I couldn’t maintain on to it. It’s all as a result of I didn’t actually grasp my Kung Fu expertise. Who else is there responsible? Let’s simply ‘gi’ton witit’n falla ya’n distini’.” Yue Lingshan began guffawing.

“What did you say?” Linghu Chong was misplaced.

“Oh, yeah, you don’t know. Little Lin all the time appreciated to say ‘get on with it and observe your personal future,’ however he’s obtained a heavy accent, so I imitate him to make enjoyable of him. Ha-ha! ‘Gi’ton witit’n falla ya’n distini’!”

Linghu Chong squeezed out a dry smile. He out of the blue remembered one thing. “That day when little apprentice sister used the Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword, why did I decide the Pine-Wind Sword Artwork of the Qingcheng Sword Faculty because the counter? In my unconscious, did I really wish to counter apprentice brother Lin’s Evil-Resisting Sword Artwork? His total household and the Fortune Status Escort Home of his Lin household have been fully ruined by the Qingcheng Sword Faculty. Was I deliberately being sarcastic? Why was I so harsh and imply?” Then he thought some extra about it. “The opposite day, within the Jade Home of Hengshan City, I nearly obtained killed from Yu Canghai’s palm strike. It was all due to apprentice brother Lin’s yelling of ‘A senior bullies a junior, how shameless’ with disregard of his personal security, Yu Canghai held again the strike. I actually owe apprentice brother Lin the large favor of life and loss of life.” At that thought, he felt very ashamed of himself as he heaved a protracted breath out.

“Apprentice brother Lin could be very brilliant and he additionally works laborious. After the final couple of months of coaching by little apprentice sister, he in all probability has progressed very quickly. It’s a pity that throughout the 12 months of my punishment, I can’t depart the cliff. In any other case, due to the favor I owe him, I actually ought to have helped him together with his sword coaching myself.” Linghu Chong sighed.

“How did Little Lin do you a favor? How come I’ve by no means heard something about it from him?” Yue Lingshan raised her eyebrows.

“After all he gained’t be bragging about it himself.” Linghu Chong defined after which informed the story about that day on the Jade Home.

Yue Lingshan appeared to have misplaced in her thought for a second. “No marvel Dad mentioned that he had the character of the chivalry variety, and that’s why Dad saved him from the ‘Hunchback of the North.’ He’s so muddle-headed. So he really got here out boldly for you, too, with that loud yell of his.” At these phrases, she couldn’t assist and giggled some extra. “Along with his little Kung Fu expertise, he really saved the large apprentice brother of Huashan Sword Faculty, and likewise got here ahead for the sake of Huashan Head Grasp’s daughter and whacked the beloved son of the Head Grasp of the Qingcheng Sword Faculty. Simply with these two achievements, he may have gained quite a lot of fame within the Martial World. However no one would have guessed that such an enormous hero, who likes to defend individuals towards an injustice, ha-ha, Massive Hero Lin Pingzhi, has such horrible Kung Fu expertise?”

“One can study Kung Fu expertise, however the character of the chivalry kind comes when one will get born. And that’s what differentiate individuals’s ethical standings,” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“Dad and Mother mentioned the identical factor about Little Lin.” Yue Lingshan smiled. “Massive apprentice brother, apart from the character of chivalry, there’s yet one more factor that each of you’ve.”

“What different factor? Unhealthy mood?” Linghu Chong requested.

“It’s the sensation of pleasure. Each of you’re fairly pleased with your self,” Yue Lingshan answered.

Lu Dayou out of the blue minimize within the dialog. “Massive apprentice brother is the chief of all of the apprentice brothers and sisters, it’s pure for him to really feel the pleasure. Who the heck does that chap Lin assume he’s? What makes him assume he’s worthy to indicate his pleasure within the Huashan Sword Faculty?” A tone of hostility towards Lin Pingzhi was clearly proven.

“Monkey Six, when did apprentice brother Lin offend you?” Linghu Chong requested in shock.

“He by no means offended me. It’s simply that we apprentice brothers don’t like his perspective,” Lu Dayou mentioned irritably.

“Sixth apprentice brother, what’s the matter with you? Why are you all the time so laborious on Little Lin? He’s your junior apprentice brother. As a senior, it’s best to deal with him good and never decide on his errors,” Yue Lingshan mentioned.

“If he is aware of his place and behaves himself, I’d don’t have any downside with him, in any other case, I’d be the primary one to leap on to him.” Lu Dayou grunted.

“How did he not know his place and behave himself?” Yue Lingshan challenged.

“He he he ,” Lu Dayou answered however stopped brief.

“What are you attempting to say? Why are you hesitating?” Yue Lingshan charged.

“I hope I obtained it unsuitable and considered it within the unsuitable means,” Lu Dayou croaked.

Yue Lingshan blushed barely and stopped asking. Lu Dayou mentioned that he wished to return now, and Yue Lingshan left the cliff along with him.

Seized with gloominess, Linghu Chong stood by the sting of the cliff and gazed at their receding figures till they turned across the shoulder of the cross. Quickly, Yue Lingshan’s loud and clear singing wafted up the cliff from behind the mountain shoulder. It was a energetic and easy tune. Linghu Chong grew up along with Yue Lingshan and had listened to her singing for a lot of occasions, however he had by no means heard of this tune earlier than. Yue Lingshan had all the time been singing Shanxi[3] people songs – the sort that had a protracted ending sound that will be echoing across the valleys. However this one sounded extra like water drops dripping down a fountain and every phrase was brief and clear. Linghu Chong tried to take heed to the lyrics, however may solely hear one thing like “sisters, let’s go uphill to choose tea.” She had some odd pronunciations; Linghu Chong may hear the phrases, however he may solely acknowledge in all probability the which means of 1 out of ten phrases. He thought, “When did little apprentice sister study this new tune? It’s a very nice tune. I’ll need to ask her to sing this one once more from the start subsequent time when she comes up the cliff.”

Instantly, he nearly felt like a hammer had simply smashed his chest as he realized, “It is a Fujian[4] people tune. Apprentice brother Lin will need to have taught her this one!”

That evening, Linghu Chong couldn’t sleep. Disquieting ideas surged in his thoughts. It appeared as if Yue Lingshan’s energetic however laborious to know singing nonetheless echoed round his ears. “Linghu Chong! You’ve all the time been so unrestrained and carefree earlier than, however immediately you may’t even put apart your fear simply due to a tune. How will you nonetheless name your self a real man?” he stored blaming himself.

Understanding very clearly that he shouldn’t be nonetheless serious about it, however the Fujian people tune sang by Yue Lingshan stored wafting round his ears. Linghu Chong felt nice ache in his coronary heart. In frustration, he picked up his sword and chopped and slashed towards the rock wall like a mad man. Feeling a stream of interior power rising from his stomach, he thrust the sword out, the posture and the best way he used his power occurred to be identical to the transfer taught by Madam Yue – Unequalled and Unmatched, The Thrust of Ning. With a piercing sound, the sword surprisingly went into the rock wall all the best way to the sword deal with.

Linghu Chong was astounded. He knew too nicely that regardless of how rapidly he had superior his Kung Fu expertise within the final a number of months, it might nonetheless be unattainable for him to jab his sword into the rock wall all the best way to the deal with. That may require placing excellent interior power onto the sword blade in order that the blade could possibly be jabbed right into a rock as if the rock was a rotten piece of wooden. Even Grasp or Grasp-Spouse wouldn’t have such magical expertise. He stood there as if he was in a trance, then he pulled on the sword deal with and drew the blade out when he out of the blue realized from the texture together with his hand: the rock wall was solely a really skinny layer of rock. It was empty after about two or three inches deep – there was a cave on the opposite facet of the rock wall.

Linghu Chong’s thoughts was now stuffed with curiosity. He lifted his sword and thrust once more. “Clank!” This time the lengthy sword broke in half. It turned out that as a result of he didn’t use sufficient interior power, the sword couldn’t even penetrate a two or three inches thick layer of rock. He spilled out a pair swears after which picked up an enormous rock from exterior the cave. This time he used all his may and threw the rock on the rock wall, which smashed the rock wall laborious and produced some obscure echoes from behind the rock wall – apparently there was fairly some spacious room behind it. He smashed the rock towards the rock wall as soon as once more, and this time with a loud bang, the rock went by the rock wall and landed on the ground within the different facet. Loud bangs stored rising from the opposite finish because the rock rolled on the ground.

The invention of such a secret cave drove all his despair and worries fully out. He picked up one other rock and began smashing once more. Quickly, a gap large enough for his head to undergo appeared on the rock wall. He widened the opening some extra after which climbed in with a lit torch. Inside was a slim hall type of pathway. Instantly, he broke into a chilly sweat as he seemed down. A skeleton lay nonetheless on the bottom dealing with down proper subsequent to his toes. This scene was removed from what Linghu Chong had anticipated.

He calmed himself down a bit and thought, “Might this be a tomb? However why would the skeleton lay on the ground dealing with down as a substitute of mendacity dealing with up? And this slim hall doesn’t appear to be a tomb hall both.”

He seemed down on the skeleton once more. The clothes on the skeleton had rotten into dusts. Two big axes lay on the bottom subsequent to the skeleton, shining as they mirrored the sunshine from the torch. He picked one of many axes up. It was very heavy, no less than over forty kilos. He raised the axe and chopped it on the rock wall by his facet. “Clank!” A giant chunk of rock was chopped off. He was surprised.

“This axe is just too sharp to be a traditional axe. It will need to have belonged to a senior grasp within the Martial World as his weapon.” The spot the place the axe had simply chopped by seemed very easy, nearly as easy as a Tofu Dice being minimize by a knife, and there have been many chop marks on all sides of the hall. He thought of it for a brief second and was surprised by his conclusion. He walked down the trail a bit extra with the torch raised excessive, solely discovering axe chopping marks everywhere in the cave. He discovered himself stupefied.

“So the pathway was really made by chops from this man utilizing his sharp axes. Proper, he was taken prisoner in the course of the mountain, so he tried to make use of his sharp axes to dig a means out of the mountain. However he fell in need of success and died exhausted with solely inches from breaking out. Alas, he was definitely very unlucky.”

He walked about one other 100 toes and the pathway nonetheless didn’t finish. He thought aloud, “That man dug such a protracted pathway. Such sturdy will and willpower collectively together with his excellent Kung Fu degree will need to have been extraordinary.” He couldn’t assist however really feel nice respect towards the mysterious man.

Some steps deeper down the trail, two extra skeletons appeared, one sitting down leaning towards the wall, the opposite one huddled up and lay on the ground. “So there have been really a couple of trapped in the course of the mountain,” Linghu Cong figured. “However this is a crucial website of our Huashan Sword Faculty; outsiders shouldn’t be capable of have entry right here. Might all these skeletons be senior masters of our Huashan Sword Faculty who violated college guidelines and have been punished to die right here?”

He walked one other 100 toes and adopted the pathway when it swerved to the left. Instantly, an enormous cave, spacious sufficient to carry over a thousand individuals, appeared proper in entrance of his eyes. There have been seven extra skeletons within the cave, some sitting down, some mendacity on the ground. All of them had weapons mendacity subsequent to them. Amongst these weapons have been a pair of iron plates, a pair of Decide-Pens, an iron workers, a copper membership, a weapon that seemed like a thunderbolt mace, a fanged tri-tip and double-blade halberd, and likewise some type of a weapon that seemed like a mixture of knife and sword that he had by no means seen earlier than.

“These individuals with these particular weapons and the one utilizing the axes couldn’t have been apprentices of our sword college,” he informed himself.

Not removed from the place he stood, over a dozen lengthy swords piled on the bottom in dysfunction. He walked by and randomly picked one up. The sword was shorter than common however the blade had double the width of an everyday sword; it was additionally a lot heavier. He thought, “That is the type of sword utilized by the Taishan Sword Faculty.” Among the many remainder of the swords, some have been mild and really versatile, which was the kind of sword utilized by the Heng-Shan Sword Faculty. Some had crooked blade and have been amongst one of many three sorts of swords utilized by the Hengshan Sword Faculty. Some had very blunt edges and a really sharp tip, which was the kind of standard weapon utilized by some senior masters from the Songshan Sword Faculty. There have been additionally three swords that had the identical size and weight of an everyday Huashan model sword. Increasingly questions popped out in his head, “Why is there a pile of weapons from the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance?”

Linghu Cong raised the torch excessive and seemed across the partitions of the cave. There was an enormous rock protruding dozens of toes above the bottom from the rock wall on the best facet. It seemed like a platform. Beneath the large rock, some phrases have been carved onto the rock wall in giant fonts, saying “THE FIVE MOUNTAINS SWORD ALLIANCE, YOU SHAMELESS AND DESPICABLE BUNCH, CAN’T WIN IN A FAIR FIGHT, DIRTY TRICKS ARE YOUR SPECIALTY.” There have been a complete of 4 traces of phrases and every character was a couple of foot tall. The strokes went inches into the rock. Clearly they have been carved in with a really sharp blade. All of the phrases have been written in a daring and tense hand, with strokes extending in all instructions. Then he seen many smaller characters carved subsequent to the large characters with phrases like “soiled scoundrel”, “ignominious cowards”, “filthy pigs”, and “incompetent chickens” and so forth. All of them have been cursing or swearing phrases.

The extra Linghu Chong learn, the angrier he grew to become. “So all these individuals have been prisoners of our 5 Mountains Sword Alliance. They have been all fully irritated, however had no different means of venting their anger, so needed to carve these phrases onto the rock wall. I’d say what they did was the true shameless and despicable factor. However I’m wondering who would they be? In the event that they have been enemies of the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance, then they mustn’t be good.”

He seemed on the rock wall once more and noticed a line of phrases that learn, “Fan Tune and Zhao He defeat Heng-Shan sword artwork right here.” Proper subsequent to the textual content, there have been many sketches of human kinds drawn in pairs, one wielding a sword and the opposite wielding an axe. After a fast depend, Linghu Chong estimated that there have been no less than 5 – 6 hundred of sketch drawings. Apparently the axe wielding one was countering the sword wielding one’s sword artwork kinds. By the facet of these human kind drawings, there was one other line of phrases saying, “Zhang Chengyun and Zhang Chengfeng defeat all Huashan sword artwork right here.”

Linghu Chong was livid. “You shameless scoundrels, how wildly presumptuous you’re! Huashan model sword artwork is meticulous and profound. There’s only a few on this planet that may really block it; who would have dared claiming to have the ability to not solely “defeat”, however “defeat all” of the Huashan sword artwork?” he thought aloud.

He picked up the heavy sword of the Taishan Sword Faculty and smacked it laborious towards the road of textual content. With a loud bang and a bathe of sparks, he smacked part of the phrase “all” off. However from the smacking, he realized that the rock belonged to a really laborious kind, and even with sharp blades, it might nonetheless be very troublesome to attract sketches or write on the rock wall.

He seemed extra carefully and noticed a drawing by the road of textual content. The sword wielding man have been drawn with only some easy and crude traces, however from the posture he may inform that it was one of many strikes within the primary sword type of the Huashan sword artwork known as Swish Phoenix. Within the transfer, the sword can be dancing with lithe and swish actions. The countering human form was wielding a straight line formed weapon that might have been both a workers or a spear, with the tip of the weapon pointing immediately on the swordsman’s sword tip, wanting very clumsy.

Linghu Chong sneered. “The Swish Phoenix transfer of Huashan has 5 extra hidden methods. How may it ever be defeated by such a slipshod transfer?”

However when he checked out posture of the person within the drawing once more, out of the dullness, there appeared to have extra steady movement in it. Though the transfer Swish Phoenix had 5 extra methods, however the workers transfer appeared to faintly have six or seven extra methods, greater than sufficient to counter the varied methods from the Swish Phoenix transfer.

His eyes fixing on the short drawn human sketch, Linghu Chong was dumbfounded. “This Swish Phoenix transfer of our sword college appears to be like like an unusual transfer, however the extra methods maintain nice energy. A wise opponent would have merely blocked it and dodged apart. If he had tried to counter it, he can be struggling nice losses. However that workers transfer within the drawing actually can defeat the Swish Phoenix transfer of ours. That that that .” Regularly, his astonishment remodeled into admiration. Deep in his coronary heart, he additionally felt nice terror.

He stared blankly on the two human sketches, misplaced in ideas and fully forgot about time. Instantly, a fantastic ache got here from his proper hand and woke him. It turned out to be the torch, which had burned nearly to the tip and the flame caught his hand. He threw it down, pondering, “It’s going to be fully darkish if the torch burns down.” So he rushed to the entrance cave, took over a dozen of the pine branches that have been meant to be firewood for heating functions, after which returned to the again collapse a touch.

He lit a pine stick from the about to extinguish torch and gazed at these two human form sketches once more, pondering, “If the workers wielding man has the identical degree of Kung Fu because the swordsman from our sword college, then the swordsman may incur some severe harm. If the opponent has barely higher Kung Fu, then when the 2 strikes clashes, the swordsman will see his personal life perishing in entrance of his personal eyes throughout the time of a flash. That Swish Phoenix transfer of ours has really been defeated by the workers wielding man and has been rendered ineffective!”

He turned a bit and began finding out the second group of drawings and shortly acknowledged that the swordsman was utilizing a Huashan transfer known as Inexperienced Pines Welcoming Visitors. He instantly felt his spirits buoyed up. When he had realized that transfer within the previous days, it had taken him a full month to have the ability to execute it proficiently. That transfer had turn out to be one among his favourite killer strikes. Feeling excited but barely frightened, fearing that this transfer may be defeated once more, he seemed on the workers wielding man drawing. However to his shock, he noticed 5 staffs within the man’s hand placing towards 5 totally different components of the swordsman’s decrease physique.

“Why does he have 5 staffs?” he contemplated.

After wanting on the workers wielding man’s posture some extra he understood it. “These aren’t 5 staffs. He’s placing out 5 occasions rapidly in a single prompt to hit 5 of the opponent’s decrease physique. But when he’s quick, I might be quick too. He may not be capable of strike out 5 occasions quick sufficient. So this Inexperienced Pines Welcoming Visitors can’t be defeated in any case.”

Simply when he was feeling nice, he out of the blue realized, “He’s not placing out together with his workers 5 occasions. He may have struck out in any one of many 5 positions, and the way would I dodge that?”

He picked up one of many Huashan model sword and carried out the transfer Inexperienced Pines Welcoming Visitors. Then he studied the drawings rigorously and imagined in his head how the opponent would have struck out together with his workers. He figured that since he already knew the place the workers can be placing to, he ought to be capable of work out a counter. However when that workers struck out from any one of many 5 positions, his sword would have been totally thrust out with no likelihood of withdrawing it again in time. Until the thrust may kill the opponent, in any other case his decrease physique would for certain get hit. And the opponent most certainly can be a talented fighter, how may one count on to kill the opponent with one single thrust? And with the sliding posture and a lowered shoulder within the drawing, the enemy for certain would be capable of dodge the thrust in that fraction of time. As soon as the enemy dodged the sword thrust and struck again, he would don’t have any likelihood to evade. Thus, the distinctive Huashan transfer of Inexperienced Pines Welcoming Visitors had been defeated as nicely.

Linghu Chong remembered that he had gained 3 times in varied fights utilizing that transfer of Inexperienced Pines Welcoming Visitors. If his opponents had seen the drawing on the rock wall earlier than, and knew easy methods to counter assault, then it wouldn’t matter whether or not the opponent had used a workers or a spear, he would have both get wounded or get killed. Most likely there wouldn’t even be a Linghu Chong left on this planet immediately.

The extra he thought of it, the extra terrified he grew to become. He murmured to himself as chilly sweat streamed down his brow, “That’s unattainable! That’s unattainable! If the transfer Inexperienced Pines Welcoming Visitors could possibly be defeated this fashion, how come Grasp is aware of nothing about it? Why didn’t he ever warn me about it?” He is aware of all the important thing facet of that transfer from inside out, so he knew to the complete extent how detrimental these 5 workers strikes have been. Though these have been simply 5 brief traces on the rock wall, he may nearly really feel each strike smacking closely onto his ankles and shins.

Linghu Chong seemed on. The sword strikes carved onto the rock wall have been all distinctive strikes of the Huashan Sword Faculty, and the opponent all the time had ultra-clever and harsh strikes that will defeat them. The extra strikes he checked out, the extra he gasped, till a transfer known as Boundless Falling Leaves. The enemy’s workers transfer towards this one gave the impression to be very weak and powerless. The whole counter transfer had taken the defending initiative. Linghu Chong heaved a protracted sigh of relieve, pondering, “There’s lastly one you may’t defeat!”

He remembered a scene in January final 12 months. It snowed that day. Numerous of snowflakes swirled within the air. Grasp was in an excellent temper. He gathered the apprentices for a sword artwork lesson. On the finish of the lesson, he demonstrated the transfer Boundless Falling Leaves. His each thrust grew to become even sooner than the earlier one and each thrust hit a swirling snowflake within the air. Even Grasp-Spouse applauded and cheered, saying, “Apprentice brother, I’m satisfied from this transfer that you’re certified to be the Head Grasp of the Huashan Sword Faculty.” Grasp answered with a smile, “It takes ethical integrity, not shear energy to steer the Huashan Sword Faculty. It’s not needed that with only one proficient transfer, somebody would turn out to be certified for the put up of Head Grasp.” Grasp-Spouse rebuffed in a smile, “Hey, aren’t you ashamed? What ethical integrity of yours is healthier than mine?” Grasp smiled and didn’t argue. Grasp-Spouse seldom submitted to different’s Kung Fu and beloved to compete with Grasp. Even she needed to admit her admiration that point, so it was apparent that the transfer Boundless Falling Leaves was a superior transfer. Grasp defined concerning the transfer later. The identify of the transfer got here from a poem and the poem had a line saying one thing like “boundless falling leaves”. Grasp had recited it on the time, however Linghu Chong couldn’t bear in mind it. It gave the impression to be describing how leaves from 1000’s of timber had fallen and swirled within the air in all instructions. That was why this sword transfer wanted to cowl all instructions.

Trying on the workers wielding human sketch, he discovered a human form drawing huddled himself up in a moderately ugly posture that seemed as if he had no means of avoiding a superb beating. Linghu Chong was about to snort out loud when his smile out of the blue froze. He solely felt chilling chilly on his again and his positive hairs on the again nearly all stood up. He gazed on the workers within the man’s hand on the sketch with out blinking. The extra he gazed at it, the extra he felt that the workers was at an ingenious place. All of the 9 thrusts, ten thrusts, eleven thrusts, or twelve thrusts out of the transfer Boundless Falling Leaves would inevitably land on the workers. The place of the workers gave the impression to be uninteresting when one first checked out it, however was really very intelligent; the workers transfer gave the impression to be very weak, but it was really extraordinarily sturdy. The transfer actually had attained the lofty realm of martial arts that’s to “counter movement with standstill and defy cleverness with dullness.”

Instantaneously, he had misplaced all his confidence within the Kung Fu of his personal sword college. All he may consider was that even when he may excellent his sword artwork so it was nearly as good as his Grasp’s, when he encountered the person with the workers, he would nonetheless stand no likelihood of presumably defending himself. In that case, what good wouldn’t it do for him to proceed studying this model of sword artwork?

“Is Huashan model sword artwork actually so fragile that it wouldn’t even face up to a single blow? These skeletons will need to have been decaying within the cave for no less than thirty or forty years. How may the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance nonetheless be dominating the Martial World since then, and nobody had ever talked about that the sword artwork of any one of many 5 sword faculties could possibly be defeated? Are these drawings simply idling theories? Properly, it doesn’t appear so.”

Though he couldn’t inform if the sword arts of the Songshan Sword Faculty and the remainder members of the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance have been really defeated, he knew Huashan model sword artwork from inside out, and he knew too nicely that if he had encountered such good strikes in an actual combat rapidly, he would undoubtedly be struggling a crushing defeat.

He stood nonetheless, seized in terror, nearly as if somebody had sealed his strain factors. Countless of ideas flashed by his thoughts, and he completely forgot about time.

Time glided by, and at last, somebody’s voice rose. “Massive apprentice brother, huge apprentice brother, the place are you?”

Surprised, Linghu Chong instantly turned and ran by the slim pathway till he handed by the opening on the rock wall and obtained again into his personal cave compartment. It was Lu Dayou calling out across the cliff. Linghu Chong leapt out of the cave and turned behind an enormous rock behind the cliff. After sitting down cross-legged, he known as out, “I’m right here meditating. Sixth apprentice brother, what’s the matter?”

Lu Dayou adopted the route of the sound and got here by. “Massive apprentice brother! Right here you’re! I’ve introduced your dinner up for you,” he mentioned fortunately.

Ever since Linghu Chong began finding out the strikes on the rock wall earlier than daybreak, he had completely misplaced observe of time due to his concentrate on the drawings. It was already within the late afternoon by now. The cave he lived in was particularly used for meditation and contemplation, so Lu Dayou dared to not enter with out permission. The cave was a shallow one. Since he didn’t see Linghu Chong contained in the cave, he began wanting across the cliff.

Linghu Chong seen that Lu Dayou’s proper cheek was coated with a layer of natural medication, with blood nonetheless oozing out of the inexperienced dressing. Evidently, he was wounded fairly badly. So he requested hurriedly, “Hey, what occurred to your face?”

“This morning once I was working towards sword artwork, I by chance minimize myself. How silly was I!” Lu Dayou answered.

Seeing extra irritation than embarrassment in Lu Dayou’s eyes, Linghu Chong figured that there should be one thing else. “Sixth apprentice brother, how did you actually get harm? Can’t I be trusted with the reality?” he requested.

“Massive apprentice brother, I don’t wish to conceal the reality from you. I didn’t say the reality as a result of I’m simply afraid that you just may get mad,” Lu Dayou growled.

“So who minimize you?” Linghu Chong inquired. He felt fairly shocked. Apprentice brothers in Huashan Sword Faculty had all the time been getting alongside comfortably nicely, and had by no means obtained into any fights amongst one another. Did exterior enemies come to Huashan to trigger hassle?

Lu Dayou defined. “This morning I sparred with junior apprentice brother Lin. He simply realized that transfer Swish Phoenix. I wasn’t paying sufficient consideration and obtained a minimize on my face.”

“It’s regular for any individual to make a mistake often when apprentice brothers spar one another. Don’t get mad. Apprentice brother Lin in all probability simply realized that transfer not too long ago and couldn’t management the transfer too nicely. You may’t actually blame him. However you in all probability have been a bit too careless. That transfer Swish Phoenix is a strong one. You need to have handled it extra rigorously,” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“That’s proper. However how would I do know that that chap Lin have realized the Swish Phoenix after solely a number of months of apprenticeship? It was after my fifth 12 months in Huashan that Grasp lastly permitted you to show me that transfer,” Lu Dayou grumbled.

Linghu Chong was barely shocked. He thought to himself, “Apprentice brother Lin has solely been in Huashan Sword Faculty for a number of months, and now he has already realized the transfer Swish Phoenix. He has progressed too quick. If he didn’t have the mind of a brilliant good genius, then he wouldn’t have a superb basis. To progress this quick is definitely detrimental for his later progress. Why did Grasp educate him this transfer so early?”

Lu Dayou continued, “Once I noticed it rapidly, I used to be shocked, that’s how I obtained minimize by him. Little apprentice sister applauded and cheered by the facet. She mentioned, ‘Monkey Six, you may’t even beat my pupil. How are you going to pose as a hero in entrance me once more?’ That chap Lin knew he was unsuitable and tried to return by and bind up the wound for me, however I kicked him to the bottom. Little apprentice sister snapped, ‘Monkey Six, he’s attempting to be good to bind up your wound. Are you shamed into anger as a result of you may’t beat him?’ Massive apprentice brother, it turned out that little apprentice sister secretly taught him that transfer.”

Immediately, Linghu Chong’s coronary heart was stuffed with sturdy grief. That Swish Phoenix transfer was a really troublesome one. The 5 extra methods had sophisticated variations, and on high of that, the practitioner additionally wanted to memorize quite a lot of formulation that went with the methods. With a purpose to assist apprentice brother Lin perceive that transfer, little apprentice sister will need to have racked her mind out and put in quite a lot of work. So the explanation why she didn’t come up the cliff all these days is as a result of she spent your entire time with apprentice brother Lin. Yue Lingshan was the impatient kind. She all the time had a tough time staying nonetheless and hated duties that will require meticulous cares. She all the time wished to be higher than others. That was why she was capable of collect sufficient endurance when she was studying sword arts herself. But when she have been instructing another person, she would by no means have taught rigorously. However now she really taught that sophisticated transfer Swish Phoenix to Lin Pingzhi. It wouldn’t be laborious to think about how a lot she cared about this junior apprentice brother of hers. Solely after some time did he lastly managed to settle down.

“Why did you go sparring with apprentice brother Lin?” he requested dryly.

“Yesterday once I mentioned these phrases to you, little apprentice sister wasn’t very completely satisfied about it and croaked at me all the best way down the cliff. Then early this morning, she dragged me to go sparring with apprentice brother Lin. I didn’t assume an excessive amount of about it and thought that it was only a observe. However who would have anticipated that little apprentice sister secretly taught a number of distinctive strikes to the chap Lin. I used to be caught completely off guard and have become a prey of their plot.”

Linghu Chong understood now: When Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi obtained into an intimate relationship in these previous days, since Lu Dayou was very near me, he couldn’t take it anymore, so he will need to have spilled out many satirical feedback. Linghu Chong wouldn’t be shocked if Lu Dayou had even made hassle and swore at Lin Pingzhi. So he requested.

“You’ve swore at apprentice brother Lin a number of occasions already, haven’t you?”

“That soiled shameless sissy. After all I’d be swearing at him. He obtained frightened of me. Each time I swore at him, he dared not swear again at me and all the time turned away instantly to keep away from me. However I’d by no means have thought thought that this chap is so vicious. Humph! He can’t get anyplace by himself. If it weren’t as a result of little apprentice sister was behind him, how may he have wounded me?” Lu Dayou grunted.

Linghu Chong couldn’t assist however really feel a type of indescribable bitterness in his coronary heart. He out of the blue bear in mind the transfer drawn on the rock wall within the again cave that was created to defeat the transfer Swish Phoenix, so he picked up a department from the bottom and was prepared to show that transfer to Lu Dayou, however then he thought higher of it.

“Sixth apprentice brother hates that chap Lin a lot proper now, as soon as he makes use of this transfer, he would nearly definitely wound Lin Pingzhi severely. Then when Grasp and Grasp-Spouse look into the incident, the 2 of us can be severely punished for certain! I can’t do this!” At that thought, he mentioned, “Properly, a fall to the pit, a achieve in your wit. Simply don’t get tricked once more subsequent time. We’re all apprentice brothers. A small loss in a spar observe is de facto nothing. Why don’t you’re taking it straightforward?”

“Certain. However huge apprentice brother, I can take it straightforward. Are you able to you’re taking it straightforward, too?” Lu Dayou rebuffed.

Linghu Chong knew that he meant Yue Lingshan. An excellent ache got here from his coronary heart, and even his face twitched due to the ache.

“Sorry, I I shouldn’t have mentioned that.” As quickly because the phrases got here out, Lu Dayou realized how a lot harm he has achieved, so he instantly regretted it.

Linghu Chong held tight Lu Dayou’s palms and mentioned slowly, “You mentioned it proper. How can I not care? However however .” After a protracted pause, he mentioned, “Sixth apprentice brother, let’s not discuss this anymore.”

“Certain!” Lu Dayou replied. “Massive apprentice brother, you’ve taught me that transfer Swish Phoenix earlier than. I simply didn’t pay sufficient consideration and fell into that chap’s entice. I’ll observe extra dedicatedly with all my coronary heart. I’ve to let that chap know who’s higher, the one taught by huge apprentice brother or the one taught by little apprentice sister.”

Linghu Chong let loose a tragic smile. “The transfer Swish Phoenix, alas, it truly is nothing,” he mentioned.

Lu Dayou may see the unhappy expression on Linghu Chong’s face. He figured that Linghu Chong solely obtained so disheartened as a result of little apprentice sister began to deal with him coldly, so he dared to not say one other phrase. After the 2 completed the meal, Lu Dayou cleared away the bowls and chopsticks after which left.

After a slight relaxation, Linghu Chong lit a torch and went again to the again cave to check these sword artwork drawings on the rock wall once more. At first, all he may consider was nonetheless how Yue Lingshan taught Lin Pingzhi sword arts, so he merely couldn’t consider the drawings on the rock wall. All of the human kinds in easy sketches appeared to have remodeled into Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi, one instructing, the opposite studying, in a really affectionate means. And regardless of which route he checked out, he may all the time see the good-looking face of Lin Pingzhi flashing in entrance of his eyes many times. He heaved a protracted sigh, pondering, “Apprentice brother Lin is ten occasions extra good-looking than I’m, and he’s a lot youthful than me, just one or two years older than little apprentice sister. After all it’s pure for the 2 to turn out to be shut.”

Instantly, a drawing on the rock wall caught his consideration. The swordsman within the drawing thrust his sword out, and the best way he thrust the sword out and the route of the sword tremendously resembled the transfer of Madam Yue’s – Unequalled and Unmatched, The Thrust of Ning. Linghu Chong was astounded. He thought, “This transfer of Grasp-Spouse clearly was created by her. How come it was carved on the rock wall means forward of time? How may this have occurred?”

He seemed on the drawing extra carefully after which came upon that the thrust drawn on the rock wall and the transfer created by Madam Yue have been really fairly totally different. The sword transfer on the rock wall was daring and vigorous, easy and unadorned, apparently executed by a person. As soon as the thrust was out, there was just one thrust, not like how Madam Yue’s transfer had all these additional hidden methods. However as a result of it was less complicated, it was additionally extra swift and fierce. Linghu Chong nodded as he thought aloud, “It’s really not shocking in any respect. The sword transfer created by Grasp-Spouse used an concept that matched with earlier individuals’s thought. Since each strikes got here from the fundamental concept of the Huashan model sword arts, and the 2 creators had about the identical degree of Kung Fu and comprehension, in fact the creations would have been alike with solely minor variations.” Then he realized, “In that case, even Grasp and Grasp-Spouse didn’t know lots of the sword strikes drawn right here. Didn’t Grasp study your entire set of the superior sword arts of our Huashan Sword Faculty?” The opponent’s workers additionally thrust out straight with the workers tip aiming proper on the sword tip. The workers and the sword made an ideal straight line.

Seeing the straight line made, Linghu Chong cried out loud, “Oh, no!” The torch in his hand fell right down to the ground and the cave was immediately coated by full darkness. He was fully taken by terror and will solely murmur, “What do I do? What do I do?”

He may see clearly that for the reason that workers and the sword have been in a tit-for-tat combat, and the workers is inflexible and stable whereas the sword being versatile, when the 2 fighters each thrust out with all their power, the lengthy sword would don’t have any selection however to interrupt from the center. On this transfer, each fighters would have steady power movement going along with the thrust, and the workers can be taking the benefit of the scenario and maintain going ahead whereas the power on the sword would come proper again to hang-out the swordsman. There was actually no means out of it.

A thought out of the blue flashed by his thoughts, “Is there actually no means out of it? I assume not. After the sword breaks in half, and when the opponent’s workers jabs by, the swordsman can both drop the damaged sword, kneel down with each legs, or he can dive ahead to keep away from the strike from the workers. However Grasp and Grasp-Spouse are each well-known sword masters within the Martial World, how may they even think about using such physique positions? They might moderately die than tackle such humiliation. Alas, what a crushing defeat! What a devastating defeat!”

He stood there silently for a superb whereas, after which lastly took out the flint stone and lit the torch once more. He continued finding out the rock wall and noticed that the sword strikes have been getting increasingly beautiful and intriguing, particularly the final dozens of strikes merely fluctuated unpredictably and gave the impression to be mysterious and profound. However regardless of how good every sword transfer was the opponent’s workers would all the time have an efficient solution to counter it. On the finish of the Huashan sword transfer drawings, footage of the swordsman kneeling on the ground in entrance of the workers wielding man, heading down, sword being thrown away, have been carved on the rock wall. Emotions of anger and rage had slipped away from Linghu Chong’s thoughts way back. All there was left was the deep feeling of despair. Though the image was completely smug and harsh, there was little question that Huashan model sword artwork had been fully defeated by him, and the swordsman would by no means be capable of compete with him. It was sadly so very true.

That evening, he wandered across the again cave forwards and backwards for numerous of circles. He had by no means been hit with such a devastating strike earlier than in his total life. He stored pondering, “Huashan Sword Faculty is a member of the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance. It’s a world-renowned huge sword college with nice fame within the Martial World. However the Kung Fu of our sword college is definitely so pathetic. Amongst these sword strikes drawn on the rock wall, there have been no less than over 100 strikes that even Grasp and Grasp-Spouse didn’t learn about. Even when I may grasp your entire most superior sword strikes of the Huashan Sword Faculty, and turn out to be means higher than my Grasp, what distinction wouldn’t it make? So long as the opponent knew concerning the counter strikes, even one of the best and hardest swordsman of Huashan Sword Faculty would nonetheless need to throw down his sword and give up. If he didn’t wish to give up, then the one different selection was to commit suicide.”

He paced up and down, feeling deeply vexed and pissed off. The torch had extinguished some time again. He lit the torch once more. Staring on the kneeling and surrendering human form sketch, he felt increasingly aggravated. Elevating his sword excessive, he wished to cut on the image, however proper earlier than the tip of the sword touched the rock wall, he held it again, pondering, “A real man is open and aboveboard. A win stays a win and a loss stays a loss. Our Huashan Sword Faculty really has inferior Kung Fu expertise. We actually don’t have any excuses.” He threw down his sword with a deep sigh.

He went forward and checked out another drawings on the rock wall, and to not his shock, the sword strikes of Songshan, Hengshan, Taishan, and Heng-Shan Sword Faculties have been additionally fully defeated, and the swordsman sketch all the time ended up kneeling right down to give up. Linghu Chong had been in Huashan Sword Faculty for a very long time and had a superb quantity of information about many different sword faculties. Though he didn’t know the important thing points of the opposite 4 member sword faculties’ sword strikes, he had no less than heard concerning the primary concepts behind them. Each one of many sword strikes from the opposite 4 member sword faculties drawn on the rock wall was really magnificent, however nonetheless, the person within the drawing defeated each one among them.

In his coronary heart, apart from terror, some unanswered questions additionally troubled him. “Fan Tune, Zhao He, Zhang Chengfeng, Zhang Chengyun. Who’re these individuals? The place did they arrive from? Why did they work so laborious to carve on the rock wall all these strikes that may defeat our 5 Mountains Sword Alliance’s sword arts, but they themselves have been so unknown to the Martial World? And the way may our 5 Mountains Sword Alliance have nonetheless maintained such a fantastic fame immediately?” He faintly felt that the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance had been having fun with a fairly undeserved and deceiving fame within the Martial World immediately, or they have been simply too lucky. The 1000’s of masters and apprentices within the 5 sword faculties have been solely capable of survive within the Martial World as a result of fortunately the drawings on the rock wall have been unknown to the general public.

A thought out of the blue popped into his thoughts, “Why don’t I take advantage of that sharp axe to cut all these drawings down and depart no hint of it in anyway, so it might be as if these counter strikes had by no means even existed on this planet? Then, for certain, the celebrity of the 5 Mountains Sword Alliance can be saved. I’ll simply fake that I’ve by no means discovered this again cave. That’s all.”

He went in to the slim pathway, picked up the axe, and got here again by the rock wall. However after observing these beautiful and good strikes for a superb whereas, he merely couldn’t elevate the axe to cut on the drawings. He stood there and contemplated upon the choice forwards and backwards. Lastly, he mentioned to himself loudly, “I, Linghu Chong, won’t ever do such shameless and undignified issues!”

Rapidly, he remembered concerning the masked man in inexperienced gown. “That man has such wonderful sword expertise. He in all probability had one thing to do with the drawings within the cave. Who’s he? Who’s he?”

He stepped again to the entrance cave and contemplated upon the query for half a day, then went again once more to the again cave to check the drawings on the rock wall. He went forwards and backwards between the entrance and the again cave till it was getting late within the day.

Sounds of footsteps got here, and it was Yue Lingshan who got here with the meal basket in her hand. Linghu Chong was overjoyed. He rushed by the sting of the cliff to greet. “Little apprentice sister!” His voice trembled from pleasure.

Yue Lingshan didn’t reply. She climbed up the cliff and threw the meal basket on to the large rock closely. With out even taking a look at Linghu Chong, she rotated and began strolling away.

“Little apprentice sister, little apprentice sister, what’s the matter?” Linghu Chong known as out in despair.

Yue Lingshan gave a snort after which leapt off the cliff onto the trail going again. And regardless of how Linghu Chong known as her many times, she by no means answered and even seemed again.

With ideas surging by his thoughts, Linghu Chong didn’t know what to do. He opened the meal basket and located one bowl of rice and two bowls of vegetarian dishes, with out the small calabash of wine. He stared at them blankly, misplaced in thought. For a number of occasions he had wished to begin consuming, however every time after the primary chew, he would really feel bitterness in his mouth and completely lose his urge for food. He lastly gave up, pondering, “If little apprentice sister is mad at me, why did she convey the meals up for me herself? If she is just not mad at me, why didn’t she say a phrase and didn’t even forged a look at me? Is sixth apprentice brother sick so she needed to convey meals up? But when sixth apprentice brother can’t convey meals up, fifth, seventh, eighth apprentice brothers or every other individual can do it. Why did little apprentice sister come by herself?” He contemplated laborious upon the query and fully forgot concerning the sword strikes on the rock wall within the again cave.

At nightfall the subsequent day, Yue Lingshan introduced meals up once more. As identical because the day earlier than, she didn’t have a look at Linghu Chong or say something to him in any respect. On her means down the cliff, she even began singing Fujian people songs loudly. Linghu Chong felt like somebody was stabbing him laborious within the coronary heart. He thought to himself, “So she got here to harass me deliberately.”

At nightfall the day after, once more, Yue Lingshan threw the meal basket on the large rock and instantly rotated and left. Linghu Chong couldn’t maintain it any longer and known as out, “Little apprentice sister, please cease. I want to speak to you.”

“Communicate out, please.” Yue Lingshan rotated. Her face seemed as if it was coated by a layer of frost. There was no hint of a smile in any respect.

“You you you .” Seeing the expression on Yue Lingshan’s face, Linghu Chong stammered.

“What about me?” Yue Lingshan demanded.

“I I .” On regular days, he was the unrestrained and unconventional kind, and would have been intelligent and fluent, however now he was fully misplaced in phrases.

“In the event you don’t have something to say, I’m leaving,” Yue Lingshan mentioned as she rotated to depart.

Linghu Chong was tremendously nervous, pondering that when she had left, she wouldn’t be again till nightfall the subsequent day, and if he couldn’t get a solution out of her immediately, how may he ever endure the anxiousness for one more evening? And judging from the look on her face, perhaps she wouldn’t even come the subsequent day, and it wouldn’t be shocking that she may not come for a whole month. Within the second of desperation, he reached out and grabbed onto her left sleeve.

“Let go of me!” Yue Lingshan snapped, as she pulled again laborious. With a tearing sound, the sleeve was tore off fully and half of her left shoulder was uncovered. Tremendously nettled and embarrassed, Yue Lingshan didn’t even know easy methods to place her uncovered shoulder and arm. As a martial arts pupil, Yue Lingshan didn’t trouble with small issues as a lot as a mean woman, however when a potion of her shoulder and her arm out of the blue grew to become uncovered, she discovered herself in a really awkward place.

“How how dare you!” she yelled.

“Little apprentice sister, sor sorry, I I didn’t imply to try this.” Linghu Chong defined hurriedly.

Yue Lingshan positioned her proper sleeve on her left shoulder to cowl it up. “What precisely are you attempting to say?” she ranted.

“I simply don’t perceive,” Linghu Chong mentioned, “why are you treating me like this? If I actually someway offended you, little apprentice sister, you you may simply draw your sword and stab me a dozen occasions or one thing, and I’ll die with no grievance.”

“You’re the huge apprentice brother, how dare us to offend you, not mentioning stabbing you a dozen occasions?” Yue Lingshan sneered. “We’re your junior apprentice brother and sister. So long as you don’t self-discipline us with punishment, we’d be thanking Heavens already.”

“I’ve been pondering very laborious, however I nonetheless can’t work out how I offended my apprentice sister,” Linghu Chong mentioned.

“You may’t determine it out? Didn’t you determine easy methods to have Monkey Six complain to Dad and Mother?” Yue Lingshan mentioned furiously.

“I had Monkey Six complain to Grasp and Grasp-Spouse? Complain complain about you?” Linghu Chong requested in nice shock.

“You knew Dad and Mother love me dearly and it might be ineffective to complain about me. How intelligent of you to complain about complain about humph! Why are you continue to pretending? Don’t you realize what you probably did?”

It solely took Linghu Chong an prompt to guess what actually occurred, however that solely introduced extra bitterness. “Grasp and Grasp-Spouse came upon about Lu Dayou’s wound from his sparring with apprentice brother Lin and punished apprentice brother Lin, didn’t they?” he requested, however in his coronary heart, he thought, “As a result of Grasp and Grasp-Spouse punished apprentice brother Lin, you really turn out to be this mad at me?”

“It was solely an accident in a sword spar between apprentice brothers. He didn’t do it deliberately. However Dad sided with Monkey Six and gave Little Lin a superb scolding, saying that Little Lin didn’t have sufficient expertise and shouldn’t have realized the type of strikes like Swish Phoenix. He banned me from instructing him sword expertise. Nice, you gained! However however I I’ll by no means take note of you once more! By no means ever ever!”

The phrase “by no means ever ever” was one thing Yue Lingshan used very often when she joked with Linghu Chong in regular days. When she had mentioned it earlier than, she would all the time be casting a sideway look at him with an enormous grin on her face. However this time she seemed so severe and honest, and from the best way she mentioned it, it appeared as if she actually was decided to finish her relationship with him.

Linghu Chong took a step ahead and mentioned, “Little apprentice sister, I .” He had wished to say, “I actually didn’t ask sixth apprentice brother to complain to Grasp and Grasp-Spouse.” However then he thought, “I didn’t do it. I’ve a transparent conscience. Why ought to I urge pity from you?” So after the phrase “I”, he stopped abruptly.

“You what?” Yue Lingshan requested.

“I nothing.” Linghu Chong shook his head. “I simply thought, despite the fact that Grasp and Grasp-Spouse banned you from instructing apprentice brother Lin sword arts, that’s nothing main, why did you get so mad at me?”

Yue Lingshan blushed. “I’m mad at you! I’m mad at you! You’ve obtained in poor health will in your coronary heart. You figured that since I can’t educate apprentice brother Lin sword arts anymore, I’d be your organization on a regular basis. Humph, I’ll by no means take note of you once more! By no means ever ever!” She stomped her foot on the bottom closely after which stormed off.

This time Linghu Chong dared to not pull her garments once more. With a abdomen filled with grievance and bitterness, he heard her loud and clear singing the Fujian people tune once more. He walked to the sting of the cliff and seemed down, solely seeing her slim receding determine turning across the shoulder of the height. Vaguely, he may see her left arm and shoulder nonetheless coated by her proper sleeve. He grew to become nervous.

“I tore her sleeve off. If she runs to Grasp and Grasp-Spouse to complain, the respectful Grasp and Grasp-Spouse may assume that I used to be taking liberties along with her, then then what’s going to occur? If this will get unfold round, even the bunch of apprentice brothers and sisters would look down on me.”

However then he reconsidered, “I wasn’t taking liberties along with her. What do I care how others would consider it?” However when he thought that she obtained so mad at him simply because she couldn’t educate Lin Pingzhi sword expertise anymore, he couldn’t assist however really feel nice sorrow.

At first, he was nonetheless capable of consolation himself by pondering, “Little apprentice sister is younger and playful. Since I’m meditating on the cliff, and there’s no one else who would chat along with her and play along with her, she simply wished apprentice brother Lin, who occurred to be about the identical age as her, to be her companion. She doesn’t have every other ideas.” However then after reconsideration, he thought, “I grew up collectively along with her. That’s a a lot deeper relationship and affection. Apprentice brother Lin has solely been on Mount Huashan for a number of months, however she has handled us so in a different way, so out of ordinance.” At that thought, he felt much more bitterness.

That evening, he paced up and down, from the cave to the sting of the cliff, then again from the sting of the cliff to the cave, many times, for 1000’s of occasions, and the identical the subsequent day. All he may consider was Yue Lingshan. The drawings on the rock wall within the again cave and that man within the inexperienced gown who confirmed up that evening have been all fully forgotten from his thoughts.

At nightfall, it was Lu Dayou who introduced the meals up. He set the meals on the rock and crammed the bowls with rice. “Massive apprentice brother, let’s eat,” he mentioned.

Linghu Chong merely answered a slight snort as he picked up the bowl and the chopsticks. He positioned some meals in his mouth however had no urge for food in anyway. After casting a look down the cliff, he slowly set down his bowl.

“Massive apprentice brother, you don’t look too good. Are you feeling alright?” Lu Dayou requested.

“It’s nothing.” Linghu Chong shook his head.

“I picked these mushrooms for you yesterday. Have some and see how they style?” Lu Dayou urged.

Not having the guts to go towards Lu Dayou’s good will, Linghu Chong ate two mushrooms. “Superb,” he mentioned. Truly, the mushrooms have been fairly tasty, however he didn’t even discover.

“Massive apprentice brother, I’ve obtained excellent news for you!” Lu Dayou mentioned with a smile. “Ranging from yesterday, Grasp and Grasp-Spouse banned Little Lin from studying sword arts with little apprentice sister.”

“You couldn’t beat apprentice brother Lin in a sword combat, that’s why you complained to Grasp and Grasp-Spouse, didn’t you?” Linghu Chong mentioned coldly.

Lu Dayou jumped onto his toes. “Who mentioned that I couldn’t beat him? I I used to be doing it for .” He out of the blue stopped.

Linghu Chong knew very nicely that despite the fact that Lin Pingzhi wounded Lu Dayou with a transfer of Swish Phoenix unexpectedly, Lu Dayou nonetheless had been within the college for much longer, and Lin Pingzhi can be no match for him. The explanation he complained to Grasp and Grasp-Spouse was actually for Linghu Chong’s sake. He out of the blue came across a thought, “So all of the apprentice brothers and sisters have been pitying me of their hearts. All of them know that little apprentice sister is breaking apart with me. Solely as a result of sixth apprentice brother is near me, he managed to do one thing about it. Humph, a real man doesn’t want pity from others!”

Rapidly, he jumped up like a mad man. Selecting up the bowls and the plates, he threw them off the cliff one after the other, shouting, “Who requested you to poke round? Who requested you to poke round?”

Lu Dayou was shocked. He had all the time revered and admired the large apprentice brother, and had no concept that Linghu Chong can be provoked into such an outrage. Flurried, he stored stepping again, murmuring, “Massive apprentice brother, huge apprentice brother.”

After throwing all of the bowls and dishes into the deep valley, Linghu Chong didn’t really feel any higher, so he randomly picked up one rock after one other and stored throwing them into the deep valley.

“Massive apprentice brother, it’s my fault. Why why don’t you give me a beating,” Lu Dayou mentioned.

Linghu Chong was nearly to throw a rock when he heard Lu Dayou’s phrases. He rotated and requested in a stern voice, “Why is it your fault?”

Lu Dayou took one other step again in concern and murmured, “I I I don’t know!”

Linghu Chong heaved a deep sigh. He threw the rock in his hand distant after which grabbed Lu Dayou’s palms. “Sixth apprentice brother, I’m sorry. I’m simply depressed myself. It has nothing to do with you.”

Lu Dayou let loose a breath of reduction. “Let me get down and produce up some meals once more,” he urged.

“No, don’t trouble. I don’t really feel like consuming.” Linghu Chong shook his head.

Seeing the meals in yesterday’s meal basket nonetheless untouched, Lu Dayou grew to become nervous. “Massive apprentice brother, you didn’t eat yesterday both, did you?” he requested.

“Don’t fear about it. I simply don’t have good appetites lately.” Linghu Chong pressured out a smile.

Lu Dayou dared to not argue, however the subsequent day when it was nonetheless early within the afternoon, he had already introduced meals up the cliff. He thought, “I’ve managed to get an enormous calabash of excellent wine immediately along with two scrumptious dishes. I’ll need to get huge apprentice brother to eat some extra.” However after he climbed up the cliff, he discovered Linghu Chong sleeping on the rock within the cave, wanting very wan and sallow.

“Massive apprentice brother, see what that is?” Barely shocked, he mentioned, as he swayed the wine-calabash in entrance of Linghu Chong. After he opened the lid, your entire cave was quickly stuffed with the fantastic scent of wine.

Linghu Chong took the calabash and drank half of the wine in only one breath. “The wine is just not unhealthy!” he praised.

“Let me fill your bowl with rice,” Lu Dayou mentioned fortunately.

“Nah. I don’t really feel like consuming.” Linghu Chong objected.

“How about only one bowl?” Lu Dayou urged, as he crammed the bowl full with rice.

Not having the guts to go towards Lu Dayou’s good will, Linghu Chong needed to agree. “Okay, I’ll eat it after I end consuming.”

However Linghu Chong didn’t eat the bowl of rice in any case. The following day when Lu Dayou introduced meals up once more, he discovered the bowl of rice sitting on the rock untouched and Linghu Chong sleeping on the ground. Lu Dayou seen some redness on Linghu Chong’s cheeks, so he reached out and felt Linghu Chong’s brow together with his hand. It was burning sizzling. Linghu Chong should be operating a excessive fever. He grew to become very nervous.

“Massive apprentice brother, are you feeling sick?” he requested gently.

“Wine, wine! Give me wine!” Linghu Chong mumbled.

Though Lu Dayou introduced some wine with him, he didn’t give it to him. As an alternative, he poured a bowl of water and despatched it subsequent to Linghu Chong’s lips.

Linghu Chong sat up and drank the large bowl of water in a single swallow. “Good wine, nice wine!” he yelled, after which fell down on his again closely, nonetheless mumbling, “Good wine! Nice Wine!”

Understanding that Linghu Chong’s sickness was fairly severe, Lu Dayou was very involved, but it surely occurred that Grasp and Grasp-Spouse had some enterprise to handle and had left Mount Huashan early within the morning. So he ran down the cliff and informed Lao Denuo and the opposite senior apprentice brothers.

Yue Buqun had arrange a strict rule that apart from the as soon as a day job of bringing meals up the cliff, nobody can be allowed to go up the cliff to see Linghu Chong. However now since he was significantly in poor health, to go up the cliff to verify on him in all probability wouldn’t be counted as a violation. But the bunch of apprentices nonetheless dared to not go up the cliff unexpectedly and determined to go up the cliff to verify on Linghu Chong in teams and in several days. Lao Denuo and Liang Fa have been the primary two to go up.

Lu Dayou then went and informed Yue Lingshan about it. Yue Lingshan was nonetheless fairly offended at Linghu Chong, so she mentioned coldly, “Come on, huge apprentice brother has wonderful interior power, how may he turn out to be in poor health? You may’t idiot me.”

The sickness of Linghu Chong broke with such an incredible pressure. For 4 days and 4 nights, Linghu Chong stayed in a coma. Lu Dayou begged Yue Lingshan to go up the cliff to pay a go to. He nearly knelt down in entrance of her when she lastly realized he was talking the reality and likewise obtained tremendously nervous. She went up the cliff along with Lu Dayou, solely discovering a Linghu Chong with deeply sank cheeks and matted beard throughout his face, nothing even near the unrestrained and unconventional one he was once.

With regret in her coronary heart, Yue Lingshan walked by his facet and mentioned gently, “Massive apprentice brother, I’ve come to see you. Don’t be mad at me any extra, alright?”

Linghu Chong’s face seemed detached. His eyes vast open, he stared at her with a confused look, as if he didn’t know who she was in any respect.

“Massive apprentice brother, it’s me. Why don’t you reply me?” Yue Lingshan mentioned.

Linghu Chong stored observing her blankly. After some time, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Until Lu Dayou and Yue Lingshan had left, he nonetheless didn’t get up.

Solely after nicely over a month, Linghu Chong lastly began to get well. In the course of the one month, Yue Lingshan had come to go to him a complete of 3 times. The second time she got here, Linghu Chong had already regained his consciousness and was very completely satisfied to see her. The third time she got here, Linghu Chong had already been capable of sit as much as eat a few the cookies she introduced along with her. However after that go to, she stopped coming. After Linghu Chong was capable of get up and stroll round, he can be ready by the sting of the cliff a lot of the day for little apprentice sister’s fairly determine to indicate up, however each time all he may see was both the quiet and empty valley, or the sight of Lu Dayou bending his again to climb up the cliff in a rush.

[1] A pyramid-shaped dumpling fabricated from glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves (usually eaten in the course of the Dragon Boat Competition).

[2] The city of Dragon-Spring in Zhejiang Province is well-known for making high quality blades.

[3] Shanxi Province, the place Mount Huashan is. It’s on the northwest a part of China.

[4] Reminder: Fujian province is the Province Lin Pingzhi got here from. The Fortune Status Escort Home Headquarters was situated at Fuzhou, which is the capital of Fujian Province.