Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan
/ Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 7 Chapter 5 part2
As the two boys were charging into the main hall like a hot knife through butter, Junshi Shao Lingzhou, Wind Bamboo Hall's Hall Master and his deputy Shen Beichang and Luo Feng, and Song Yuzhi and her team, who were having a meeting in there, were stunned to see them.
Shao Ling zhou was slim, very tall, and on his delicate and handsome face there were five strands of long beard. His age was around forty, his overall appearance reminded them of a religious scholar or even a Taoist immortal.
When he saw the two boys charging in, his eyes flickered with cold rays as he shouted coldly, "Which mad disciples have the impertinence to disturb my Mansion?”
On the north end of the main hall two rows of imperial tutor chairs were arranged, Song Yuzhi occupied the seat of honor on the east, displaying how much respect Zhuhua Bang was showing to the representatives of the Song Clan. Next to her were three men who appeared to be her martial art masters.
Sitting on the west's seat of honor was surprisingly the ‘thousand-loveable, a hundred-charm' gorgeous woman, the famous courtesan who, back in Yangzhou, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling loved to peek from a distance, the most popular lady of Tianxian Lou, Miss Yu Ling.
Zhuhua Bang's former Gang Leader Yin Kaizhan was executed by Yang Guang precisely because he refused to present her to him.
It was only at this point the two boys understood the reason Yin Haishan was braving death by having her sent away from Yangzhou was because Yu Ling has become Madame Yin Kaishan.
Sitting under Yu Ling were, in order, Shao Lingzhou, Shen Beichang and Luo Feng. Standing behind the imperial tutor chairs were a dozen or so Zhuhua Bang and the Song Clan's people whose rank was rather low.
Standing behind Yu Ling were precisely Gui Xiliang and Xing Rong, two kids, who, as with eyes open wide they stared at Kou and Xu, two childhood friends of theirs, were at a loss on how to defend them.
Song Yuzhi was the first to speak up, "Shao Junshi, please calm down. These two must have very strong reason, please let them come in and speak up!”
Shal Lingzhou immediately shouted his order, "Let them in!”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling strode a few steps forward. The former laughed aloud and said, "We are here to propose a business deal. Based on the fact that we, two brothers, have just killed Zuo Qiubi and Luo Xian, perhaps we ought to have the qualifications to speak!”
When they heard this, other than Song Yuzhi, the others were completely taken by surprise.
Wind Bamboo Hall's Hall Master Shen Beichang said in heavy voice, "Even Laofu has eyes but failed to see; who are you two?”
A gentle and soft, and very pleasant to hear, voice rang from Yu Ling's fragrant lips, "These two are called Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling; they have grown so tall that Qie [I, your servant (deprecatory self-reference for women)] nearly did not recognize them.”
After a short pause, she went on, "In the past they were the little bandits under Yangzhou's loyal martyr Yan Kuan; they loved to steal a peek on Qie. One time they were caught Qie's men, but seeing their extraordinary character, Qie decided to have my men let them go.”
Seeing Yu Ling still recognized them, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling felt both honored and greatly embarrassed at the same time, because what they did was not the most honorable thing.
Luo Xian was relieved, "So be it!” he said, "At least you did not really tell us lies.”
With a wry smile Kou Zhong said to Yu Ling, "Yu Ling Jie, do you have to go into such detail about our past?”
Yu Ling covered her mouth as she laughed coquettishly and said, "And you are still as shameless as before.”
This exchanged immediately eased up the tense atmosphere.
Knitting his brows, Shao Lingzhou said, "Since you are one of our own, plus you have trained quite a good martial art skill, we would be more than happy to receive you; why did you have to fight and force your way in?”
Xu Ziling cupped his fist and said, "Gui Xiangzhu has indeed led us to pay our respect to Shao Junshi, but we were stopped by Mai Xiangzhu outside the bridge. Right now the situation is urgent, we simply had to force our way in, would Shao Junshi please forgive us.”
His refined and gentle bearing immediately earned Shao Lingzhou's favorable impression. Nodding in approval, he called, "Xiliang! Is that true?”
"It is indeed true,” Gui Xiliang hastily replied.
Kou Zhong interjected, "If Shao Junshi immediately dispatches the elite troops of our Gang, we should have enough time to intercept the renegades led by Dew Bamboo Hall's Tong Changfeng, and annihilate them in one move, and thus avert our Gang from being split up in pieces.”
Shao Lingzhou, Shen Beichang, Luo Feng, and the others were visibly shaken; they were obviously quite tempted by Kou Zhong's proposal.
Song Yuzhi and her uncle, his father's cousin, Song Shuang, who was sitting next to her, exchanged a glance; they knew Kou Zhong's courageous and ruthless style of cutting weeds and eliminating the roots.
Just by utilizing a simple strategy, the entire situation, as well as the initiative and powers, immediately fell into Kou Zhong's hands. Therefore, it was clear that he was the kind of personality who could ‘create clouds by turning his palm up, create rain by turning his palm down'.
A Duozhu [helmsman], Ye Bingchen, standing behind Shao Lingzhou expressed his opinion, "This is a very important matter, how do we know that the two of you are not spies sent by the enemy to lure us into a trap?”
After glowering at Kou Zhong, Song Yuzhi said, "Although this person loves to babble nonsense, he is not the kind of person who loves to tell lies; even more, he is not the kind of person who could be easily bought by the enemy. Am I right, Kou Zhong, Hero Kou?”
Everybody was shocked; it was only now that they realized that the Xiao Zhong, Xiao Ling in front of them were actually the Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, whose names shook the Jianghu, on whose heads laid two separate hunt and kill orders, namely the ‘Duke of Pushan's Decree' and the ‘Dong Ming Dispatch'.
Gui Xiliang and Xing Rong's shock was, quite naturally, no need to be mentioned.
Shen Beichang stood up abruptly; he said gruffly, "Mere Tong Changfeng, he is not worthy in Laofu's eyes. Leave this matter to Laofu!”
From his bosom Shao Lingzhou took out the ‘Zhuhua Ling' [Bamboo Flower Plaque, symbol of authority] and whisked it toward Shen Beichang, who, upon receiving it, immediately took his men out.
Song Yuzhi also made a hand signal, immediately two Song Clan martial art masters under Song Shuang's command also left in a hurry.
The main hall fell silent.
Kou Zhong chuckled softly and said, "Many thanks Miss Song for vouching for me; is it possible for me to have a private chat with Miss?”
Song Yuzhi spoke in disdain, "There is nothing that can't be said in front of others. Whatever it is, you may speak up here.”
Song Shuang was surprised inwardly, recalling that although this beautiful niece of him was rather strong-willed, it was very seldom that she butted head with other people with equal harshness. Moreover, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's names were among the Song Clan's list of people whom they ought to try to win over. Therefore, determined to help to smooth things over, he said, "I am Song Shuang. Why don't Kou and Xu, two Xiongdi, come over here and sit down first so we can talk it over?”
Shao Lingzhou also immediately ordered his disciples to serve tea; his manner was very polite.
Putting on an angry expression, with a forced laugh Kou Zhong said, "Since Miss Song refuses to do me the honor, is it possible for Xiaodi to have a private chat with Junshi?”
Shao Lingzhou was put on the spot; he looked awkwardly at Song Yuzhi, this beautiful representative of the Song Clan, his big supporter.
Song Yuzhi could not help glowering at this lofty, wild and free-spirited young man. "Why so sneaky anyway?” she said crossly, "If it is concerning Zhuhua Bang's affair, naturally we should discuss it together.”
Xu Ziling spoke up nonchalantly, "Since we cannot discuss it with you, we, two brothers, will leave immediately. Only we would appreciate it very much if Shao Junshi could bestow four mule carts for our use.”
Realizing the deadlock, Song Shuang signaled Song Yuzhi with his eyes as he stood up and said, "Let us talk about it nicely. Kou Xiongdi, would you be willing to reveal a little bit of what you want to discuss, so that Yuzhi may consider whether she ought to talk to you privately?”
As if nothing had happened, Kou Zhong said, "It's nothing. I was mistaken to think that Miss is still interested in the ‘Duke Yang Treasure'; who would have thought that there is no such thing? I really don't have anything good to talk about!”
Everybody in the hall was emotionally moved.
Seething with rage, Song Yuzhi stood up and walked over toward the inner chamber. "Get your @$$ in here!” she said coldly.
Kou Zhong laughed aloud; he winked at Xu Ziling first before running after her.
A strange feeling rose up in everybody's heart; they all had a vague feeling that Song Yuzhi was unusually blunt toward Kou Zhong. Could it be that it was because she had viewed him in a new light?
Chapter end
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