Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 1 Chapter 8 part1

Anyway, my apology, been rather busy the first couple of days after long weekend.

Book 1 Chapter 8 - In so much pain, wishing for death

Yuwen Huaji's forceful voice came from the right shore, "I wonder which honorable person from the Song Clan presides over this fleet of ships, please pull toward the shore and halt the ships, let Yuwen Huaji get on board to send my regards.”

Inside the cabin, Fu Junchuo and the two boys looked at each other. They did not expect Yuwen Huaji would catch up with them this quickly.

This moment the four large ships were heading toward the left shore instead; obviously they were afraid Yuwen Huaji would fly toward their ship, or perhaps he would use arrows to attack from the distance.

From the bow Song Lu's laughter soared to the sky, "Yuwen Daren, I trust you have been well since we last met. Song Lu pays his respect.”

While spurring his horse to pursue the ship, Yuwen Huaji laughed and replied, "Turns out it's the Silver Beard with a Silver Dragon Cane, Song Xiong, now everything will be alright. Would Song Xiong please have your fleet pull toward the shore first, so that Xiongdi [brother, referring to self] can tell you the details?”

Song Lu laughed and said, "Yuwen Xiong flattered Xiaodi [little brother, referring to self] too much. If Yuwen Daren were in Xiaodi's shoes, suddenly saw martial art masters from the Capital flocked in in the middle of the night, telling us to stop along the river, while Xiaodi's ships are loaded with valuable goods, for the sake of safety, how could I not inquire clearly first the purpose of Yuwen Daren's visit?”

Yuwen Huaji was extremely shrewd, he did not get angry at all; he said cheerfully, "That's easy. This time this officer [referring to self] received the Sage's [referring to the Emperor] order to capture three offenders to the throne. Reportedly the Fourth Gongzi has paid the bills of these offenders at a restaurant in Danyang, and later on he even invited them to come aboard his ship. I wonder if there is indeed such thing?”

Without even thinking Song Lu replied, "Someone must be trying to frame us up. Would Yuwen Daren please return and report to the Holy Sage that if I, Song Lu, see these offenders, I will personally capture them to bring them to justice, I will send them under escort to the Capital. It's late! The Ol' Song is going back to his cabin to sleep.”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling did not expect Song Lu to hold yi qi [spirit of loyalty and self-sacrifice, code of brotherhood] like this. Without the slightest hesitation he simply refused to hand them over to him; they did not even hear him asking whether the offender was male or female, he simply asked Yuwen Huaji to return to the Capital. Hence they knew that he would not betray them. Such character indeed deserved to be called a hero and a warrior.

Yuwen Huaji threw his head back and laughed aloud, "Song Xiong is quick to act and quick to speak. In this case Xiaodi won't hide anything from you. Although for the time being Song Xiong can enjoy your peace, you will only invite endless trouble in the future. Furthermore, this officer can push the blame to your Song Clan. When the Sage's dragon heart is angry, I am afraid Song Xiong and your family won't feel better either.”

Song Lu said, "Yuwen Daren always loves to exaggerate, but you forget that mouth also grows on other people's faces. Hearing Daren inflicts misfortune to my humble family, there will be another story in the Jianghu. It seems to me Yuwen Xiong's consideration is less than thorough.”

Yuwen Huaji seemed to be listening with great delight; he laughed until he was out of breath and said, "In that case, this officer will not rush back to the Capital just yet. I will quietly wait Song Xiong's honorable self at the Weeping Ghost Gorge ahead, where the river is comparatively narrower, so that we can talk a bit more conveniently, no need for us, brothers, to shout until our voices hoarse.”

Again Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's countenance changed. Fu Junchuo suddenly stood up and said, "I, Fu Junchuo, have received enough kindness from Han people, I will not implicate other people anymore. Come, let's go.”

The two boys haven't even had the chance to hear Song Lu's response when Fu Junchuo grabbed their belts and broke out through the window. Like a big bird they flitted across the surface of the river over four zhang or so distance toward the left riverbank.

Song Lu's surprised cry and Yuwen Huaji's angry roar could be heard almost simultaneously before the three people entered the forest.

The wind cut through Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's ear as Fu Junchuo took them soaring like a cloud or like riding on the mist, entering deep into the forest. In just a short moment they have covered over ten li. They felt that they were climbing higher and higher, the terrain was gradually getting steeper and more rugged. It was not until Fu Junchuo set them down that they realized that they were up on a high mountain. The mountain breeze blew, the two boys were so cold that their teeth chattered.

Rounding around the mountaintop, Fu Junchuo brought the two boys to a shallow cave where on both sides the mountain rocks, the trees and the grass were tall, so that they could hide inside and were temporarily sheltered from the cold wind.

Kou Zhong let out a relieved sigh and said, "So dangerous! Fortunately we are on the other side of Yangtze River, Yuwen Huagu cannot chase after us.”

Fu Junchuo sighed and said, "Maybe it's impossible for other people, but Yuwen Huagu only needs a piece of dry stick, and he could easily cross the Great River. You, this kid, really don't understand anything.”

Shocked, Xu Ziling said, "Why don't we quickly run away then?”

Fu Junchuo sat cross-legged. With a bitter smile she said, "If I have trained to the ninth level, I would surely be able to continue carrying you away, but with my ability, I can only bring you here.”

Kou Zhong probed further, "If Yuwen Huagu crossed the River and pursued to this place, where should we flee to?”

Fu Junchuo flatly replied, "Someone with strong martial art skill like Yuwen Huaji has a lot stronger sense compared to ordinary person. We only need to leave some scent and traces along the way, and we could forget about evading his eyes and nose. Alright, stop talking, I want to meditate to build up my qi, hopefully by the time he arrive, my strength will be restored, and then I can fight him to the death.”

Finished speaking, she closed her eyes and went into meditation.

The two boys dejectedly sat close to each other; they did not even dare to discuss their situation, for fear that they might agitate their Niang.

As time passed, the two boys' anxiety slipped away bit by bit.

Suddenly Fu Junchuo stood up and whispered, "He's here! He is alone.”

The two boys followed her standing up. Kou Zhong said in trembling voice, "Just give the book to him and be done with it.”

Fu Junchuo turned around and spoke sternly, "Are you still considered human being? How can you say such thing?”

Xu Ziling said softly, "He is only concerned over Niang.”

The bright moon high up in the sky shone its light down below. Fu Junchuo sighed. And then ‘Pfft!' she laughed and said, "Xiao Zhong must not blame Niang, I am so used to scolding you!”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's whole body trembled. Under different circumstances, with Fu Junchuo willing to call herself their Niang, they would be utterly delighted; this time, however, they felt ill omened.

Fu Junchuo said in a low voice, "No matter what happens, you must not get out of here. Niang will definitely take you leave this place.”

Yuwen Huaji's laughter was heard outside the cave, "For those two boys' sake Miss has revealed your hiding place. It was really unwise. These past few years, Miss has twice disguised yourself as a palace maid and penetrated the Palace to assassinate the Holy Sage, yet we could not even touch the tail of your gown. I had never expected that this time, for the sake of a ghost book, Miss felt compelled to show off your trace. If not for Miss granting these two kids a favor, even I, Yuwen Huaji, have to eat dust, I would never overcome Miss' lightness skill.”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other. Turned out their Niang has entered the Palace to assassinate Yang Guang; even more, for their sake she has made such a big sacrifice, otherwise, with her lightness skill, which even Yuwen Huaji was ashamed of being inferior, how could Yuwen Huaji catch up with her?

Fu Junchuo's hand was already on the hilt of her sword. Under the hazy moonlight, she appeared majestic and stately. "Yuwen Huaji,” she said coldly, "You came here alone, aren't you afraid that you may not be the sword in my hand's match?”

Yuwen Huaji laughed and said, "Although the sword in Miss' hand is formidable, but how much weight it carries, I think you and I are already well aware of. If you want to slaughter me, Yuwen Huaji, you'd better make your move right away. Otherwise, if my men catch up with us, Miss will lose this golden opportunity.”

Fu Junchuo said indifferently, "Since you, Yuwen Huaji, are so eager to die, let me help you fulfill your wish!”

Her silhouette flashed, Fu Junchuo had already flown out; followed by the continuous sound of qi clashing against each other.

Both sides carries the almost the same thought in their hearts; both were disregarding his and her life, and both were going all out. Under the moonlight shining on the mountain ridge, Yuwen Huaji was seen standing on top of a giant boulder, while Fu Junchuo looked like a ghostly smoke, attacking him from four sides, eight directions. The blade in her hand turned into myriad of sword tips, like tidal wave of mercury crashing against the opponent; it was a totally hard fight where both sides were staking everything they got.

The expression on Yuwen Huaji's long face was solemn and respectful, his hands turned into fist or claw or open palm, interspersed with kicks here and there, as if he turned into an exorcist dealing with Fu Junchuo's wild, out-of-this-world attacks.

The two boys vowed that they would never forget his appearance for as long as they live. Although they were separated by a good seven, eight zhang away from him, the wind generated by the fierce battle still assaulted them that they felt the burning pain was about to crack their skin open, and it was difficult for them to keep their eyes open.

When they could not take it anymore, they shrunk back into the rock crevices. By the time when they looked out again, the situation has changed. Fu Junchuo flew over Yuwen Huaji, her sword moved even faster, more vicious, and extremely ruthless; she was going on an all-out offensive without any defensive move at all. But the fact was that Yuwen Huaji could only defend without being able to counter. Apparently he was falling into disadvantageous position.

This time the two boys' endurance was even worse; they could only blink several times, and were already forced to withdraw with eyes so painful that tears streaming down their face.

Right this moment, they heard Yuwen Huaji's angry shout and Fu Junchuo's muffled grunt outside. Forgetting the pain in their eyes, the two boys could not resist stretching out their heads to look. In a daze, they seemed to see white shadow floating over. By the time they realized what had happened, their belts tightened, as Fu Junchuo carried them up. Once again they felt like soaring above the clouds or riding into the mist as they flew down the mountain.

In their hearts the two of them were wild with joy, because once again Yuwen Huaji had been beaten back by their incomparably formidable Niang.

Chapter end