Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 9 Chapter 12 part2

"That is more preposterous,” Kou Zhong said, "If I were the Four Big Bandits' adviser, I would concentrate my force to attack one of those cities, to lure the Flying Horse Ranch to send rescue expedition, and then ambush them along the way; that would be the proper thing to do. Once their troops are dispersed, it would be strange indeed if the Ranch would not suffer total defeat.”

Suddenly he laughed aloud and said, "The theory that Lu Miaozi invented is best applied to the art of war; currently we are lacking this ‘escaping one' from what we know about the Four Big Bandits' plot. If we could find this precious one, then the enemy's movement will be in place. Everything becomes reasonable and fair! His granny, what in the world is this precious ‘escaping one'?”

Knitted his brows, Xu Ziling said, "If that guy and the spy were sent by the Four Big Bandits, they would hatch their plots in the dark; there is no reason for them to attack with clear saber and clear spear like this. With regard to the Ranch's topology, coordinated offensive from inside and outside won't do much good either.”

Severely shaken, Kou Zhong said, "I get it!”

"You get what?” Xu Ziling happily asked.

"This must be the ‘luring the tiger from its mountain' stratagem,” Kou Zhong said, "The wine lover's heart is not in the cup, but on my sweetheart who does not love me, Li Xiuning.”

Xu Ziling's tiger eyes flashed brightly, "You are right,” he nodded, "Because she saw Li Xiuning's arrival during the day, the spy reported it to the outside ghost; the outside ghost then left sneakily. From this, we should know that this matter is related to the sweetheart in your dreams.”

A bright murderous intent appeared on Kou Zhong's eyes; he snorted coldly and said, "The Four Big Bandits really don't know what they are getting into, unexpectedly they have the guts to target Xiuning. Uh! Not right! What benefit could they gain by offending the Li Clan?”

"The benefits might be in many aspects,” Xu Ziling analyzed, "For instance, breaking the good relation between the Ranch and Li Clan; or perhaps generous rewards or support from Li Clan's enemies, and so on. Has your brain been dulled by Li Xiuning?”

Kou Zhong embarrassedly replied, "Maybe a bit confused; but what can we do now?”

Xu Ziling said, "If I were the character inciting the Four Big Bandits behind the scene, naturally one alive Princess is more useful than one fragrant, worn-out jade, perished Princess.”

Lowering his voice, Kou Zhong said, "Could it be that the man behind the scene is Li Mi?”

Xu Ziling replied, "Li Mi, Yang Shichong [sic], and Xue Ju are highest in the suspects list. Just imagine that on one hand the Four Big Bandits are dragging the Ranch's main force, on the other hand they are deploying their strongest martial art masters from the mountain area descending into the mountain city, with the spy providing support from the inside. Shall we tell Shang Xiuxun directly?”

"Who can tell how Shang Xiuxun would react?” Kou Zhong said, "Better leave it unsaid. Let us find the spy first, and then we'll meet the incoming enemies head-on.”

Xu Ziling shook his head and said, "You'll be in charge of the inside, I'll concentrate on the outside. Only then will we have the golden opportunity of destroying the Four Big Bandits for a thousand years.”

Kou Zhong jumped in fright, "Can we do it the other way around? Let me take care of those four thieves' heads.”

"The one in charge of the inside must work closely with Li Xiuning,” Xu Ziling countered, "Only you deserve it.”

With a pained expression Kou Zhong said, "Have a pity on me, this kid who lost his love!”

Xu Ziling laughed involuntarily, "Didn't you want me to pursue Shang Xiuxun? Maybe this is an opportunity. When someday she realizes how much effort I spend on her behalf, perhaps she will be touched and will give herself to marry me!”

Naturally Kou Zhong knew that he was just joking and teasing him, but he also knew that there was no room for discussion. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "And you still call yourself my good Xiongdi? It's so unfair that you trick me into the trap.”

Xu Ziling roared in laughter and said, "I am enabling Zhong Shao to display your prowess both on the battlefield of the heart and the battlefield of life and death; you ought to be grateful to me. Come on!”

Kou Zhong was stunned, "Where?” he asked.

Letting out a natural and unrestrained laugh, Xu Ziling said, "Why, to see our facilitator behind the scenes of course!”

※ ※ ※

After listening to the entire matter to the end, Lu Miaozi looked at the two boys up and down for half a day, sizing them up. And then rising to his full height, he walked over to a bookshelf, and stretched out his hand inside to operate some sort of mechanism.

‘Creak! Creak!' A stone slab, about three chi by three chi square in the middle of the hall caved in, to become the topmost step of a series of steps leading down; it was indeed astonishing to behold.

This was the very first time that the two boys saw such an elaborate mechanism with their own eyes; they were dumbstruck.

"Get down!” Lu Miaozi ordered, and took the lead going down the stone steps.

The two boys excitedly followed him down the two-zhang deep flight of stairs.

At the bottom was a spacious cellar about three-zhang square. On one side were two big wooden crates, on another side ten elaborate wooden cases were arranged on small tables along the wall.

Hanging from the wall on all four sides were seven, eight kinds of strange-looking things that might be weapons.

Surprisingly enough, the air in the cellar was only slightly more stuffy than the room upstairs; evidently the room had an adequate ventilation system.

Lu Miaozi took a case from one the small tables and handed it over to Kou Zhong, saying, "If you really want to get the ‘Duke Yang's Treasure', you must read and study this book.”

Kou Zhong received the case and took a look. Carved on the surface of the case was ‘Mechanism Study', three large characters [ji guan xue]. Greatly delighted, he said, "Mister really knows what's in this kid's heart.”

Lu Miaozi took three other cases at once and handed them to Xu Ziling; smiling wryly, he said, "After I am dead, you may open the cases and browse through what's inside. Otherwise, if you tell me that after reading through one time you already understand it completely, I won't die with closed eyes. Ha!”

Xu Ziling smiled sheepishly and looked down to read. Turned out they were the ‘Astronomy' [lit. Heavenly Star Study], ‘Mathematics', and ‘Architecture', three books.

Pointing to the two cases with characters ‘Military Strategy' and ‘Geography' carved on them, Kou Zhong said, "Those two cases will also be very useful to me.”

Absent-mindedly, Lu Miaozi said, "Take it! Who told me to have such fate as meeting with you!”

Without any trace of politeness Kou Zhong took the wooden case. Were it not for Xu Ziling stopping him with his eyes, he might have opened the case and looked at the books inside.

Lu Miaozi walked over toward one of the big crates and plopped himself down. He patted the wooden crate, making a ‘Peng! Peng!' sound, and with a wistful look on his face he said, "These are the gadgets I created thirty years ago. While wandering destitute in Jianghu for many years, they had made me countless glistening yellow gold. And now what's left in the box are things I do not have the heart to sell. After I die, whatever you can use you may take away, but leave the rest to accompany me buried in this room!”

Pointing to an iron-rod sticking out from the corner, he said, "If you use your power to pull the iron rod down, this room will close in ten breaths, and nobody will be able to open it. Moreover, this room will descent ten more zhang, and will be my An Le Wo [reminder: Comfort Zone, the name of his house] after I die.”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, "Mr. Lu's reputation is indeed well-deserved; merely this kind of brilliant construction and mechanism is enough to earn you the title of number one master craftsman since times immemorial.”

Lu Miaozi sobbed while shaking his head; with such an unbearable sorrow he said, "Life is like a dream, in just a snap of the fingers, we will return to dust, leaving only intertwining disgrace and regret. If I had the chance to start all over again, I would not have been interested in these playthings that make people addicted.”

And then, pointing to another chest he said, "In there you will find ten exquisitely made masks, which can make you change shape in a single shake and become another person. It was most convenient when I roamed the Jianghu. I guarantee that nobody can see through it. Tonight you can put the masks to good use.”

The two boys were greatly delighted, and were very excited as well.

Lu Miaozi seriously said, "No matter how exquisite and ingenious the device is, in the end it is still minor art. Relying on it opposite to cultivating upper-class martial art, it is really harmful and not beneficial; therefore, I do not encourage you to use them. These ten masks are the exception.”

Kou Zhong was emotionally moved, "Mister's lesson is very good,” he said, "Just now I had greedy thought to find a way to transport everything out, but now of course I do not dare to disobey Mister's instruction!”

Lu Miaozi fixed his gaze on him for a moment. He sighed and said, "Now I like you a little bit.”

Kou Zhong was stunned, "Turns out Mister did not have favorable impression toward me all along,” he said.

Lu Miaozi shook his head and said, "It's not like that; it's because I am quite proficient in the art of looking at people's countenance. I noticed that your eyebrows rose up and your eyes sharp, your nose's energetic look straight through your face and it is pointy; evidently you have great ambitions and not afraid to take a risk out of desperation. The good aspect is that you are the type of hero people of all ages admire. The bad aspect is that you are the type of dominating hegemon. Therefore, I always have thirty-percent wariness toward you.”

Kou Zhong smiled wryly and said, "Since Mister is adept in looking at people's countenance, can't you see that I do have good and honest heart?”

Xu Ziling blurted out laughing and said, "Such sickening words and yet it came out of your mouth; from this it can be clearly seen that your goodness is limited!”

Lu Miaozi also laughed involuntarily. Standing up, he took a pair of steel claws from a wall nearby, and gave each person one, saying, "This is a pair of ‘Flying Divine Escape' [fei tian shen dun, lit. fly to heaven divine escape]. In those days I relied on these treasures to escape Zhu Yuyan's hunt. They can be used separately, can catch and bore through any object; naturally only those with strong martial art skill can operate them easily. The steel ring on their tails can even extend as long as ten zhang of rare, precious ice silkworm thread. With your true qi, you can use the steel claw as nimbly as your hands, the silk thread can be long or short, but today I am not in the mood to elaborate, you must research it yourself!”

The two boys were pleased beyond their expectations; they expressed their gratitude promptly.

Lu Miaozi said, "You may leave the books here. After each of you pick your mask, you may take ‘Flying Divine Escape' claws and join the excitement. Remember to come back here to recount to me the course of events you subdue the enemies and seize the victory.”

After exhaling a mouthful of air, he added, "I don't know if it was the Li Clan's good fortune or the Four Big Bandits' lousy luck that they unexpectedly provoked you, these two guys.”

END OF BOOK 9

Chapter end