Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan
/ Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 11 Chapter 8 part2
And thus the die was cast. With this sudden decision, not only they avoided the distress of being killed, the three of them would also take another crucial step in their journey through the martial art study.
※ ※ ※
Under the moonlight, River Han meandered in the distance, flowing swiftly outside the mountains; the reflection of the moon on the waves created quite an impressive sight.
Xu Ziling was sitting cross-legged on top of a high cliff; he slowly opened his tiger-eyes.
After nearly four sichen of quite meditation and internal cultivation, the scene in front of his eyes became even more brilliant, filling him with a fresh, touching feeling.
Sweeping his eyes around, he saw the mountain peaks to his left and right were like a giant roc spreading its wings. The cliff walls extended for thousands of li felt like a barrier that even birds would find it difficult to cross. In fact, even with their ability, they still had to spend a considerable effort to climb up.
The lower-elevation mountain range on the opposite side was covered in lush, thick forest, with rarely seen vegetation too many too count. From among the rocks and crevices a stream of spring appeared. It flowed toward the wall and flew down as a waterfall, adding charm to the already fascinating secluded valley this deep in the mountains.
With a gust of wind Kou Zhong landed by his side, and sat down on the edge of the cliff, with his feet dangling above the ravine, looking unspeakably free and relaxed.
"Where is Ol' Ba?” Xu Ziling asked.
"I don't know where that guy went to train,” Kou Zhong replied, "Ay! Frankly speaking, although our training this time is for mutual benefit, but because in terms of martial art foundation and knowledge and experience that Fengshi Han is stronger than we are, plus his natural talent is also not inferior to ours, perhaps he is merely nurturing a tiger to invite calamity upon himself.”
Xu Ziling smiled and said, "Zhong Shao rarely praised other people's spirit and extinguished your own prestige; why suddenly have such a feeling?”
Kou Zhong sighed and said, "The more you get along with Fengshi Han, the more you'll feel that he is a callous and fickle man. Although right now everybody considers everybody else as brother, in the future nothing good will come out of it.”
Xu Ziling asked in bewilderment, "Listening to the tone of your voice, you seem to have misgivings toward him.”
Kou Zhong replied in heavy voice, "These past few days I continuously either sparing hand to hand or study meticulously; I came in contact with him a lot, and could only describe this man as deep and immeasurable. In crucial points he is somewhat reserved, hence he derives greater benefit compared to us.”
"I still think that both sides are even,” Xu Ziling said, "It doesn't matter if he keeps a skill for himself, we still learn many things that we have never thought before, not to mention we also heard a lot of exotic conditions and customs of people outside the country. Right! Didn't you tell me that these days you are reading the book on history and military strategy and tactics that Mr. Lu left behind? What have you learned?”
Radiant with delight, Kou Zhong said, "The benefit is naturally not shallow. Military strategy is thousand-time, hundred-time more complicated than two people fighting one-on-one; there are millions of changes, there is no way we can talk about everything. But in my opinion Mr. Lu's imagination is not rich enough; sometimes his arguments are too conservative.”
Xu Ziling admonished him, "You need to be modest enough to understand others' experience and learning!”
"I respect him, the Senior, more than you do,” Kou Zhong said, "Mr. Lu paid the most attention to the changes in troops disposition, such as triangular formation, plum blossom formation; the usage of strange and straightforward, what is true and what is false, and so on. Everything can be used like our predecessors have never used before. He taught me military strategy and tactics, his intention must be for me to use the things he researched in the actual battlefield. I definitely won't let him down.”
And then, lowering his voice he said, "Do you think that Fengshi Han is really interested in Yu Yi?”
Xu Ziling sighed and said, "This is really hard to say. This Ba kid is very shrewd, he never revealed his innermost feeling. In my opinion, he still loves himself a little bit more.”
A shrill whistle came from the mountain peak; it was time to practice.
※ ※ ※
The round and bright moon cast its light across the mountain ridge.
Ba Fenghan's sword fiercely slashed down three times, creating ear-piercing noise as the sword split the air; vicious, violent, and ruthless, with the prowess that could chill the heart and split the gall.
‘Ring!'
The sword returned to its sheath. Calm and composed, Ba Fenghan said, "Xu Xiong, Kou Xiong, what do you think of these three sword strikes? Please give me some advice.”
Kou Zhong laughed and said, "The most formidable part of these three strikes was that whether it was the strength or the speed, either one can be adjusted to uniformity. The most hard to come by was that each strike is more powerful than the other, so that anybody facing these three sword strikes of Ba Xiong's will have to wait until the third strike before he can counterattack.”
Ba Fenghan nodded; without offering any comment he asked for Xu Ziling's suggestion.
As if he was still thinking about it, Xu Ziling answered, "There is something strange with Ba Xiong's three sword strikes; they appear to be executed in one fell swoop, but the fact is that is not the case. There seems to be a gap that can be exploited. If the opponent is a martial art master, he would be able to exploit this small gap to counterattack.”
Sighing in admiration, Ba Fenghan said, "That is an excellent opinion. If I wanted the three sword strikes to have equal power and speed, I would have to send out my power to the sword three times; thereupon the situation is exactly like Xu Xiong mentioned. During the decisive battle against Dugu Feng that day, she did find out this gap, and with her sword she broke my strike. This woman's beauty is astonishing, but her hand is even more terrifyingly strong.”
Hearing that, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other. They both asked themselves: even though they had this insight, whether they would be able to exploit this gap to break Ba Fenghan's sword strike was a totally different matter. Moreover, their opinion was based on ‘the spectators can always see more clearly than the players', where they had a comparatively serene state of mind. If they were the recipient of these three sword strikes, they would thank the Heaven and thank the Earth if they could block the attack. From this, it was clear what kind of martial art master Dugu Feng was.
Blowing a mouthful of cold air, Kou Zhong asked, "Did you lose to her?”
Ba Fenghan proudly replied, "She won in the exquisiteness of her swordsmanship, but I won in real combat experience. I intentionally let my saber broke and thus deceived her by half a move, so that she left in anger. But next time we meet, I won't be able to get away that easily. This b1tch [poniang] is more belligerent than I am.”
Xu Ziling suddenly understood, "No wonder Ba Xiong suggested that we entered the mountain to train; this must be one of the reasons!”
With a cold snort Ba Fenghan said, "If it was only to deal with that b1tch, one person, it's enough for me to train alone. But my target is Ning Daoqi, Zhu Yuyan and the like. When I return in the future, the first I want to challenge is that fellow Bi Xuan, so that he will know who the real number one martial art master in Tujue is.”
Kou Zhong could not help asking, "Have you actually fought Bi Xuan?”
Smiling wryly, Ba Fenghan replied, "If I have actually fought him, how could I still be alive and studying martial art together with you today? But it was actually as if I have fought with him, because I have slaughtered his first disciple Yan Huifeng. Do you know what I mean?”
The two boys mused inwardly that no wonder Bi Xuan wanted to kill you.
Ba Fenghan returned to his cold and detached manner as he said, "Xu Xiong, Kou Xiong, please be prepared.”
Kou Zhong was taken aback, "Are you going to deal with the two of us together?” he asked.
Ba Fenghan smiled and replied, "Why not?”
Xu Ziling laughed and said, "After spending four sichen in quiet meditation, Ba Xiong must have gained some understanding, so he wants us to broaden our horizons!”
Ba Fenghan slowly drew his treasured-sword; as he stood facing the breeze blowing across the mountain ridge, his clothes were fluttering. Since behind him was the cliff edge, it looked as if his entire being was embedded in the star-studded night sky; looking straight at him was like looking at a deity, but there was also an insufferably arrogant and overbearing spirit surrounding him. Stroking his sword, he muttered softly, "This sword is made of steel I mined from the deep sea, and took me seven days and seven night of exhausting forging to finish. The hardness contains softness, the rigidity contains flexibility; it far surpassed my other saber, which was broken. In the past I could not find a suitable name for it, but tonight I suddenly have an idea. I hereby name this sword ‘Zhan Xuan' [beheading mystery]. Gentlemen, please be my witness.”
The one the Beheading Mystery wanted to behead was Bi Xuan [lit. whole/complete mystery]. This was the target of Ba Fenghan's pursuit.
Straightening up his back, Kou Zhong drew his Moon in the Well, and said with a laugh, "The name Moon in the Well came from a profound mystery's idea; let's see if Ba Xiong's Beheading Mystery sword can really behead mystery.”
Ba Fenghan's eyes shot cold rays while his gaze was fixed on the Moon in the Well, which, imbued by Kou Zhong's internal energy, was flickering with yellow glow; with deep contemplation he said, "Kou Zhong, your saber's murderous aura is very heavy; just remember that the man can control the saber, the saber can also control the man.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong ran his finger along the saber; he spoke doubtfully, "Is there such thing?”
Letting out a long whistle, Ba Fenghan turned his gaze toward Xu Ziling. The bright moon happened to shine on the high place behind his handsome face. Under the golden moonlight, the more he got the impression that Xu Ziling appeared to be standing above the common crowd, with his confident and at ease, proud and touching temperament. Ba Fenghan could not help thinking about Shan Wanjing. Sighing inwardly, he said in heavy voice, "I am going to put forth my sword!”
Xu Ziling's pair of tiger-eyes brightened; he spoke indifferently, "Why is Ba Xiong suddenly exuding murderous aura, unlike before, where you exercised restrain and hid it deep within you?”
Ba Fenghan's heart shivered in fear, knowing that any explanation would be superfluous. Smiling, he said, "Hence gentlemen this time must be especially careful. Who knows? Maybe on a whim Xiaodi [little brother] will kill you! En garde!”
Cold energy suddenly arose.
Chapter end
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