Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 13 Chapter 7 part2

Xu Ziling was just about to step out of the alley when he heard a dry cough from behind. Shivering inwardly, he quickly looked back, and saw Ba Fenghan, who was wearing his mask, was coming fast toward him. Pulling Xu Ziling toward the main street, he said, "I closed that man's mouth forever on your behalf! But what happened? Looking at you, it seems to me that you are heading to Shangguan Long's place for a killing spree. But doing so just show reckless courage; no different to delivering your own life in vain.”

Xu Ziling came to himself; turning around, he cast a glance at Shangguan Long's magnificent residence, across the street, toward the right and rear from where he stood. "The "The Yin Gui Pai Elder you were talking about, is he Shangguan Long?”

Ba Fenghan nodded.

After Xu Ziling finished narrating they key points of what had happened, overwhelmed with shock, Ba Fenghan said, "You are really unafraid of death, knowing full well that female demon Wan and Bian Bufu are most likely hiding in Shangguan Long's mansion, you still want to charge in to avenge your men. Fortunately I am here to step on your plate; otherwise I would not be able to intercept you.”

And then, dragging Xu Ziling into another alley, he said, "Come! I'll take you somewhere else.”

※ ※ ※

Wang Shichong smiled, pulled a roll of silk map from his bosom, spread it out on his desk and said, "This is a sketch of the Jing Nian Chan Yuan [lit. clean thought Buddhist Hall] located on the open area just south of Luoyang. Jing Nian Chan Zong [zong means school/sect] has always had close relationship with Ci Hang Jing Zhai, and just like the Jing Zhai, it has never been involved in the dispute of the Jianghu. Although not famous in the Wulin world, it occupies a majestic status. Therefore, as long as Shi Feixuan has not handed over the Jade Annulus of He Clan to somebody else, she must have handed it over to Jing Nian Chan Yuan's Chanzhu [Dhyana/Zen master/chief] Liao Kong Dashi [great master, a term of respect to address Buddhist monk] for safekeeping. It would be best if due to the strange property of Jade Annulus of He Clan, nobody dares to come close, so that the Jade Annulus of He Clan must be hidden somewhere in the temple, separate from where the people are.”

Kou Zhong examined the map of the Temple. Seeing layer upon layer of temple halls, his scalp went numb as he said, "Just to go around such a big place would require at least half a day; how could we find the Jade Annulus of He Clan?”

Smiling bitterly, Wang Shichong said, "If it were easy, I would have sent someone else to do it. The fact is that although the capable people under my command are numerous, none can surpass you in terms of ability and wisdom. Plus you have two good helpers, so logically speaking you have more chance than other people.”

Sinking back into his chair, Kou Zhong heaved a deep sigh and asked, "How's Liao Kong's martial art skill?”

Wang Shichong replied nonchalantly, "I don't know!”

Kou Zhong nearly sprang out of his chair. "What?” he blurted out, "Don't tell me nobody has ever seen him?”

Wang Shichong replied helplessly, "Of course some people have seen him, I have even met him twice, but he is practicing ‘silent meditation', so he had never talked to others.”

Astounded, Kou Zhong said, "Based on Wanggong's eyesight, you still could not see through him?”

With frustration in his voice, Wang Shichong replied, "Naturally Buddhist monks who can train ‘silent meditation' are unfathomable people! I don't even know whether he understood martial art or not. All I know is that the four Vajra Great Protectors of the Temple under him are all deep and immeasurable martial art masters; otherwise, I would not have to bother Kou Gongzi's honorable self.”

Kou Zhong smiled wryly and said, "You are even better than Shi Feixuan in selecting people. The most annoying thing is that you, Wanggong, are just guessing out of thin air. If I risk my life fighting everywhere all over the Temple and still cannot find the Jade Annulus of He Clan, that would be injustice indeed.”

Wang Shichong's eyes lit up, "As long as there is a chance, we must not let it slip by, otherwise, if Li Mi obtained the Jade Annulus of He Clan, you and I can only abandon honor and glory, so much so that we will pass our days getting trampled on by others.”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, "That being the case, whatever you, Shengshang [a courtier's form of address for the current emperor] say, I will do it!”

※ ※ ※

Pointing to a courtyard among layer upon layer of houses across the street, Ba Fenghan said, "That is Man Qing Yuan [House of Fine Clarity], Luoyang's most famous pleasure house. The three most popular courtesans are Qing Ju, Qing Lian and Qing Ping [lit. chrysanthemum, lotus and duckweed, respectively], who are known as Man Qing's three flowers. The owner is precisely Shangguan Long, whom you, Ziling, really wish to tear into ten thousand pieces.”

The street was crowded with pedestrians, the atmosphere was extremely lively, they had to step back in order not to block the traffic.

This moment the sun was nearly set behind the western hills, some shops even had already lighted their lanterns.

Xu Ziling coldly said, "Could Shangguan Long be coming over here tonight?”

"He has a private room here,” Ba Fenghan replied, "On the surface it is to be used to entertain friends, but actually it is used to gather intelligence from all over the place.”

Astonished, Xu Ziling asked, "How come Dong Ming Pai is able to know so many secret things?”

"That, I am not clear either,” Ba Fenghan replied with a frown, "I asked Wanjing twice, but she did not give me a straightforward answer, I had no choice but to be discreet and did not ask her anymore. But since Wanjing has Bian Bufu as her father, and supposing Madame Dong Ming is Wanjing's birth mother, that means Dong Ming Pai and Yin Gui Pai must have a relationship with each other, so naturally they would know more things related to Yin Gui Pai compared to other people.”

This moment a group of barbarian merchants were entering the shops behind the two men to look at the goods, so they tactfully stepped aside. Ba Fenghan then took this opportunity to pull Xu Ziling to continue walking. "Wanjing has a deep hatred toward her father, Bian Bufu,” he went on, "But she knew that she is not heartless enough to personally kill him; furthermore, this is not an easy thing at all, that's why she pleaded with me to handle this. The fact is that Bian Bufu is extremely powerful. Even if the three of us fought together, without favorable environment, we could forget about overpowering him.”

While still walking side-by-side, Xu Ziling leaned closer and spoke in a low voice, "She wanted to deal with Yin Gui Pai, isn't she afraid of Yin Gui Pai's retaliation?”

Ba Fenghan replied, "That is precisely the other reason why Wanjing wanted to deal with Bian Bufu through me. Because merely Nan Hai Pai [South Sea Sect], Wanjing is already struggling to cope. If they openly provoke Yin Gui Pai, a powerful opponent, which nothing can be more powerful, perhaps Dong Ming Pai would face the disaster of having their Sect wiped out.”

Astonished, Xu Ziling asked, "What ‘thing' is Nan Hai Pai? How come I've never heard of it?”

Ba Fenghan laughed involuntarily, "Nan Hai Pai is not a ‘thing',” he said, "It is the biggest Sect on a big island of the southern sea, which name shook the southern part of the country, its prestige second only to the Song Clan. Seven years ago, its Zhangmen [sect leader] Mei Xun, merely twenty at the time, ascended the Zhang Men position. His expertise in using spears is very famous.”

Xu Ziling sighed and said, "The Central Plains is really too big, amazing people and extraordinary warriors are too many to count; even if I want to hear their names, I will never hear all.”

The two stepped over Xinzhong Bridge, and continued east along the Luo River, heading toward the place they were going to join Kou Zhong.

Ba Fenghan said with a smile, "But the most frightening person of the Nan Hai Pai is not Mei Xun. Rather, it is his martial father-in-law [not sure about this, 师公], Nan Hai Xian Weng Huang Gongcuo [see Book 12 Chapter 10]. In terms of resources, seniority, or perhaps with regard to martial art skill, he could be included in the top ten martial art masters of the Central Plains. Compared to Ning Daoqi, he is perhaps only a tad below. Fortunately he has been retired for many years, or else Wanjing would have even more headache.”

Gaining a bit more understanding, Xu Ziling commented, "No wonder you knew about the Central Plains' affairs like the back of your hand, at least there is this Dong Ming Princess who is willing to provide information to you without reservation.”

Indifferent, Ba Fenghan replied, "As early as I was with the Tujue, I already know a lot of things pertaining to the Central Plains. Come! Let's sit by the dike, waiting for Zhong Da Shao!”

After they were seated, Xu Ziling gazed at a speeding sailboat on the Luo River under the setting sun, his mind filled with myriads of thoughts, he said, "You see how free and easy that boat is, sailing along a busy downtown, as if all the struggle in the world has nothing to do with it. Contrary to you and I, who are deeply involved in the never-ending circle of the squabble of the mundane world, which is difficult to get out.”

Sneering, Ba Fenghan said, "Ziling is definitely an unwilling participant in the world of the living, but since you are talking about the boat, the fact is that this boat is just like us, rolling about in the sea of people. When we finish chatting, we'd better think of a way to capture Shangguan Long alive and force a confession from him on your Yu Yi's whereabouts.”

This moment Kou Zhong arrived. Full of joy and expectations, he kneeled down behind the two and giggling mysteriously, he said, "How about we steal the Jade Annulus of He Clan tonight?”

The two looked at each other in disbelief.

Chapter end