Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 4 Chapter 3 part1

OK, I asked these questions last time:

2. Follow this thread from Book 1 Chapter 1, but have read Grundle's original thread?

1: Jaya, Critical, Faerro, Ysabel, Unreachable (5)

3: Chiktikka, Littleli (2)

So thank you for responding to my survey. Now I know that at least I have 15 readers.

Book 4 Chapter 3 - Shooting Star from the North

All of a sudden, the two boys were surrounded.

Dong Ming Sect's young Commander-in-chief Shang Ming and two generals Shang Bang and Shang Kuiyi [sic. Last chapter it was Kuitai] appeared from the crowd at the same time. Along with Shan Wanjing they enveloped the two boys in front of the wooden pillar. All escape routes were sealed.

Kou Zhong forced a laugh and said, "Everybody, how are you? Are you here to enjoy the show?”

Shang Ming let out a cold snort and said with disdain, "Despicable man!”

Shan Wanjing's jade countenance was icy-cold as she stared hatefully at Xu Ziling, "I thought you were captured and taken away,” she coldly said, "But now that I see you are as lively as a dragon and as animated as a tiger, I know that you are wallowing in the mire with Yuwen Chengdu and came with the intention to strike us. This time it is called ‘heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it' [idiom from Laozi, c. 73AD].”

Xu Ziling shook his hand and said, "Princess, please do not misunderstand; not only we do not know Yuwen Chengdu, we have big enmity with his Yuwen Clan.”

Shang Bang angrily said, "It's very rare that Madame thought highly of you, yet you insist on breaking her heart. I don't care whether you know Yuwen Chengdu or not, whether you are related to him or not, but you stole something, and that is an undeniable fact.”

Shang Kuiyi's eyes exuded murderous intention as he asked, "Who actually sent you?”

Kou Zhong smiled apologetically and said, "Whatever it is, we can talk it over; how could there be anybody sending us?”

Because both sides were talking in low voices, in the other guests' eyes, they were just like old friends who happened to meet and were having idle chat. Nobody knew that they were in a ‘sword-drawn-and-bow-bent' kind of dangerous situation; that the situation could easily escalate into a fatal one.

Shan Wanjing's hatred and anger stare toward them subsided; she spoke indifferently, "If nobody giving you direction, how did you know such account book existed?”

Shang Ming continued on, "Speaking with these low lives is just a waste of time; let's take them away.”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling saw a gleam of hope. They knew that these people were giving face to the host, hence they did not dare to hastily break into fighting, and thus destroying the harmonious atmosphere in this place.

Kou Zhong smiled mischievously, "If you fight, this martial art expert will immediately shout for help; therefore, before you fight, please think it over three times.”

Before he even finished talking, Shan Wanjing and Shang Ming already made their move.

Shan Wanjing's jade hand slide out of her sleeve at an unimaginable speed toward the acupoint on Xu Ziling's lower waist, creating a ‘swish' noise of her qi splitting the air.

Shang Ming's five fingers were open into a claw, grabbing toward Kou Zhong's arm.

Both of them had the same intention, i.e. they wanted to subdue the two boys before they could shout asking for help. However, although Shan and Shang, two people's movement was swift and fierce, their shoulders were absolutely still. Coupled with Shang Bang and Shang Kuiyi blocking other people's view, although there was no lack of Wulin masters in the hall, there was still no one noticed the changes.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew that it was a critical moment; if Dong Ming Sect people found out that the account book was in their possession, even if they jumped into the Yellow River, it would still be difficult to wash away the suspicion.

In that instant, the two boys entered the ‘still-water-in-the-well' realm. All movements seemed to be slowing down considerably.

Xu Ziling did not misjudge the speed, as well as the angle and strength, of Shan Wanjing's finger jab, at all. He even had a very clear understanding that if he competed with her in speed, he would definitely be defeated. Moreover, the only way he could withstand the attack was taking advantage of the opponent's underestimation of him.

With all these thoughts flashed in his mind in lightning speed, he already drew a countermeasure strategy.

Before the finger even touched his body, Shan Wanjing's true qi had already penetrated his skin, attacking the acupoint on the right side of his lower flank. The true qi flowed along his arteries to strike the major acupoint on his backbone.

And then Shan Wanjing's delicate finger touched his lower waist.

Xu Ziling's mind became very clear. He used his thought to control his qi to meet the true qi entering his artery and acupoint. And then the muscle of his waist contracted to prevent the opponent's jab from hitting him head-on.

Shan Wanjing was delighted that her strike was going smoothly, suddenly she felt that not only did her fingertip hit something soft without any resistance at all, her opponent also sent out a surge of energy that her finger slipped to the side.

While she was still in shock, Xu Ziling reached out to touch her cheek.

Meanwhile, Kou Zhong was gnashing his teeth and giving everything he had to deal with Shang Ming's attack. His palm sliced across Shang Ming's right hand that changed from claw into a fist.

‘Bang!' There was a dull thud as Shang Ming's body was jolted and he was forced to take half a step back. On the other hand, Kou Zhong was shaken and crashed onto the stone pillar behind him. It was so painful that he let out a muffled groan.

Shan Wanjing and Shang Ming had never imagined that the two boys would have this kind of resisting power. The former let out a tender scream and dodged Xu Ziling's frivolous hand. Before she could launch a follow-up attack, Xu Ziling already hid on the other side of the stone pillar behind Kou Zhong's back.

If they fought for real, based on Shan Wanjing's prowess, with which she was able to take Du Fuwei's attack, perhaps the two boys fighting together would not even last ten stances against her. However, one, she did not really wish to harm or even kill them, she merely wanted to subdue Xu Ziling; two, because she did not wish to disturb other people, hence she only used thirty, forty percent of her strength. It was only because she had misjudged Xu Ziling's skill that now she could only stare blankly and let the two boys slipped away.

As Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling circled to the other side of the pillar, they happened to come face to face with the awe-inspiring old man and the refined, lofty-looking scholar. The two men's eyes met the two boys', immediately an astonished look flashed through their eyes.

Worst yet, Shen Naitang also saw them and was greatly surprised.

This moment Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling did not have time to worry about other people. They rushed several steps forward into the crowd of several dozen clamoring men and women, straight toward the front door.

While they were still several steps away from the door, shadows flashed, two men and one woman blocked their way. The woman stood akimbo and shouted, "Little dogs, you want to run away?”

The two boys promptly halted their steps. When they looked up, they found out that it was the almond-eyed Shen Wushuang, while on her left and right were this crafty and unruly woman's two martial brothers, Meng Chang and Meng Ran. Meeting their enemies, their eyes turned red in fury.

Meanwhile Shan Wanjing and the others, four people already caught up behind the two boys, but since they were unclear about the two boys' relationship with Shen Wushuang, three people, they also halted their steps and just calmly observing from the side.

Obviously Shen Wushuang did not know Shan Wanjing; her countenance immediately changed, "Turns out you have your comrades here, no wonder you put on so much air.”

Kou Zhong was an expert in teasing techniques; he giggled and said, "Wushuang Mei [younger sister, term of endearment] misunderstood. They just asked us to go outside so that they could study our punching and kicking skill.”

Shen Wushuang shrieked, "Who's your Wushuang Mei?”

Xu Ziling interjected, "We are all of the same side, let's not quarrel, shall we? We just come here as guests, not to fight with other people.”

From behind, Shan Wanjing impatiently said, "Quickly make way!”

Shen Wushuang was so angry at Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling that she was spouting smoke through her seven orifices; hearing Shan Wanjing, her anger turned toward her. "You are the one who should get lost,” she said furiously, "Let me punish these two little dogs first, and then I'll settle the account with you.”

Seeing she was humiliating his Princess, Shang Ming laughed coldly and said, "Stinky girl, what makes you think that you are qualified to settle the account with us?”

This time it was Meng Chang and Meng Ran who fought for their martial sister. "How dare you?” they shouted angrily in unison.

The more they talked the more both sides lost their temper, prompting the guests around them to raise their eyebrows.

Seeing the commotion, Shen Naitang came over. "What are you doing?” he scolded them, "Do you know what kind of place this is?”

He was relying on ‘old affecting the old'; as soon as he said that, from all three sides people were rebuking them.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling stole a glance around, and saw like tidal wave the guests separated onto two sides, so that the sitting people's line of sight was open and they were able to see the situation near the door.

Just by this spontaneous action of the guests one could see the three people's status must be out of the ordinary. Everybody was looking at them reverently, so that in that moment they had become the ‘target of a multitude arrows'.

Kou Zhong laughed aloud; bowing with cupped fist he said, "It has nothing to do with us, two brothers; they are just quarreling among themselves.”

Shen Wushuang was so angry that her pretty face turned ashen; she was about to retort, but Shen Naitang stopped her.

Now all gazes naturally fell onto Shan Wanjing, four people.

This time Shan Wanjing came because of Shi Qingxuan's fame; she was using the invitation card presented by Li Shimi, and did not have any desire to publicize their status, yet she did not wish to offend the master of this mansion even more. Although she was fuming with anger and wanted to kill the two boys very much, she did not have any choice but to smile slightly and spoke to the scholar, "Forgive us for alarming Seniors. Ha! We don't have any problem.”

Leading the others, she mingled into a crowd of guests on the side.

And thus a disturbance has been settled.

However, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were groaning inwardly, because they could not stay, but they could not leave even more.

The man wearing government official attire suddenly spoke up, "Two Xiao Xiongdi, could you come over to meet with us?”

Chapter end