Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 10 Chapter 9 part2

Remembering his own life back in Yangzhou, Kou Zhong's heart softened. His left hand took out a piece of gold, he stuffed it into the boy's hand and said in low voice, "Your pickpocket skill is so sub-standard; you shouldn't continue doing this!”

Dumb as a wooden chicken, the boy looked at him, and then he looked at the gold in his hand; his eyes revealed a grateful look.

From ahead, Luo Fang turned around and called, "Xiao Ning, come on!”

Patting the boy's shoulder, Kou Zhong hurriedly caught up with Luo Fang and Xu Ziling.

※ ※ ※

By the time the three of them climbed the stairs onto the second floor, Shang Xiuxun and the others had already been seated around two of the five tables by the windows facing the street.

The entire second floor was clamorous and crowded with all kinds of people. But one of the tables next to the window was occupied by only one person.

This person's body type was majestic. Just looking at his back, others would feel that he exuded some kind of terrifying aura.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's countenance changed; they groaned inwardly, because even if this person had turned into ashes, they would still be able to recognize that this back belonged to Ba Fenghan.

The waiters and other guests appeared to be accustomed to this young martial art master who occupied an entire table all by himself; nobody even showed unusual look toward him.

While the two boys were contemplating whether they should turn around and slip away to avoid being recognized by him and thus unmasked their identity, Ba Fenghan already turned his head around to look. He flashed a meaningful smile toward the two boys. And then his gaze turned toward Shang Xiuxun, and his face immediately revealed an astounded look.

Lou Fang has also noticed Ba Fenghan; immediately he pulled the two boys along and hissed, "Don't just stand here and block the path unless you want to create trouble. Come on!”

Helplessly the two boys followed him to sit on the table adjacent to Ba Fenghan's table. Copying him, they also sat with their backs facing the head of the flight of stairs. Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan were only separated by a distance of half a zhang or so, while at the same time he blocked Ba Fenghan's line of sight toward Shang Xiuxun, who was sitting on the seat closest to the corner.

Ba Fenghan's table had a pot of wine and several dishes of appetizers. But looking at those dishes, it was obvious that he had not touched the food at all; he was simply pouring his own drink in a leisurely manner of a martial art master.

His sword was laid down on the table, but they did not see his saber.

Shang Xiuxun leaned forward slightly and looked back toward Ba Fenghan; her pretty eyes showed that she was emotionally moved. Obviously she was shaken by Ba Fenghan's perfect wild, leisurely, and extremely masculine countenance and build.

Swept by Ba Fenghan's penetrating gaze, the other people sitting in Shang Xiuxun's table: Liang Zhi, Xu Yang, Wu Yan, Shang He and Shang Peng, all felt a chill in their hearts. ‘How formidable!' they cried out inwardly; nobody has ever expected they would encounter this kind of rarely seen martial art master who was still this young. But nobody knew who he was.

Suddenly someone on the street shouted loudly, "Ba Fenghan, come down to receive your death!”

Immediately the entire restaurant gradually quieted down. But there were still comments like ‘Here we go again!', ‘Let's watch some excitement', and the like, rising and falling in succession, until finally it grew so quiet that even the sound of a falling pin would be heard clearly.

Astounded, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked down and saw standing on the street were four men, tall and short, but each man's eyes revealed ominous glint. With weapons in their hands, they issued challenge to Ba Fenghan, who was sitting upstairs.

Shang Xiuxun and the others were all emotionally moved.

Ba Fenghan was a martial art expert from the Western Regions. These past couple of years he unceasingly challenge martial art masters from famous houses and schools, as well as local heroes and evil tyrants, in all parts of the country, yet suffered not even one defeat. So much so that the families seeking revenge assembled and besieged him, yet he was still able to escape easily. His reputation has spread in Jianghu for a long time. Together with Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Hou Xibai and Yang Xuyan, they were known as most outstanding martial art masters of the present days' young generation, obtaining the highest accolades.

In the eyes of the Wulin people, it was only after they succeeded in assassinating Ren Shaoming that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's prestige barely caught on with the other three, and they were considered as one entity, unlike the other three, who were considered able to assume personal responsibility.

The four challengers on the street were wearing black warrior outfits of the same style. Their ages ranged from around thirty to around forty. The tallest guy was wielding a pair of hooks, while the other three used sabers. Their appearance looked fierce and tough, making others feel that they were not of the benevolent type.

Luo Fang said in a low voice, "Did you see the plum blossom insignia embroidered on the lapel of their robes? These four are the leaders of the Plum Blossom School. Together with their Laoda [oldest/big boss] Gu Yue, they are known as the Five Vicious Plum Blossoms. Their subordinates numbers more than a hundred young men, specialist in breaking into a house for robbery, and they won't shrink from any crime. I wonder if their Laoda was killed that they came here to seek revenge.”

This moment, the tall guy thundered, "Little Thief Ba, get out here! Dage's [big brother] debt of blood must be repaid by your blood.”

Kou Zhong raised his thumb toward Luo Fang, praising him for hitting the target at the first guess, so that Luo Fang was feeling very proud of himself.

Calm and composed, Ba Fenghan poured the wine from the pot into his cup; without even looking at the four remainders of the Five Vicious Plum Blossoms, he smiled and said, "What qualifications do you have that you ask me to get out for you? I can take care of your Laoda in less than three moves. If you can take one move, I will be very surprised.”

As if he knew that Shang Xiuxun was watching him with rapt attention, he turned his head around and raised his cup to toast her with a smile. Rather unnaturally Shang Xiuxin averted her gaze to avoid his.

With a sudden shout, as if the earth was struck by scorching thunder, one of the Vicious leaped up at an angle with the intention of charging onto the second floor.

Ba Fenghan let out a cold snort, his eyes were still fixed on the side view of Shang Xiuxun's face. Fast beyond human's understanding the cup in his left hand moved. The wine inside the cup turned into droplets of arrows shooting at lightning-fast speed toward the enemy who was leaping upstairs.

The man's feet have just left the ground, his roar had not yet stopped, the arrows of droplets accurately pierced his mouth. The man's entire body shook severely; his eyes, ears, mouth and nose spurted blood, his head was thrown backward, he fell flat on his back and died a violent death on the spot.

The entire second floor stood up with a thunder-like roar.

It was the first time that these people personally witnessed someone killing the enemy using droplets of wine as arrows, and the victim was an evil bully who ran amuck the region.

Flying Horse Ranch people were all shaken as well.

Only Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, two boys, continued drinking their tea calmly as if nothing has happened.

The other three Vicious turned pale with fright; their aggressive arrogance disappeared without a trace. Lifting up their dead comrade's body, they immediately covered their head and sneaked away like a rat, provoking the hooting and booing of the people watching down the street from the second floor windows.

Ba Fenghan acted as if what he just did was a trivial matter; he resumed his leisure drinking. Soon afterwards the restaurant was also back to its former condition, just like the street after the two gangs' brawl earlier, as if nothing had ever happened.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling heard someone on the table behind them speaking in low voice, "This was the seventh idiot who did not like to have a long life. They could be considered lucky; prior to this, those who came were more powerful than they, but half of them could not leave alive.”

The food and wine arrived.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling no longer had any interest in Ba Fenghan; plus they saw that he did not come to provoke them, hence feeling relieved, they chewed vigorously. On the contrary, Shang Xiuxun, who was usually addicted to food, perhaps because of Ba Fenghan's influence, she appeared to be heavy-hearted. Only after eating two pieces of yellow-croaker fish, she put down her chopsticks.

Shang Peng and Shang He, two old men, still from time to time looked at Ba Fenghan, sizing him up.

Suddenly a voice was coming from the top of the stairs, "I want those two tables!”

The waiter's stunned voice was heard, "But the guests have not left!”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling stared at each other in horror, knowing something was wrong, simply because they recognized this repulsive voice belonged to Qu Ao's first disciple Changshu Mou. They were sure this time he came to confront Shang Xiuxun and her men.

Evidently the Flying Horse Ranch people also knew who Changshu Mou was. Other than Shang Xiuxun and Peng, and He, the two old guys, they all looked keyed up and alert.

Naturally the two boys did not dare to look back; thinking that the opponent has come prepared, they would be lucky if after an all-out battle the entire team could retreat safely.

Ba Fenghan seemed to be entranced; he did not pay any attention to what was going on behind him at all.

More than a dozen footsteps appeared behind Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, a woman's voice shouted, "We want to use these two tables; go!”

It was the voice of the Tiele beauty, Hua Lingzi, who once exchanged blows with Xu Ziling.

Because Kou and Xu were sitting with their backs facing them, they were not yet aware about these two big adversaries' presence.

It was as if Ba Fenghan had just woken up from his stupor; he laughed aloud and said, "The disciples that Qu Ao is sending out are all so overbearing like this?”

When the guests at the two tables behind the two boys learned that the people who wanted to use their tables were Qu Ao's disciples, they immediately became as tame as sheep and ran away in panic.

Changshu Mou came to the table behind Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, and deliberately sat down with his back toward the windows. His back was less than half a zhang away from Kou and Xu, two boys. To his left was Ba Fenghan, to his right was Shang Xiuxun. The distance between them was less than a zhang; the situation was indeed very strange.

Chapter end