by RWX
Xiao Siwu said, “Ye Kai is your friend. Naturally, you’ve seen him strike as well.”
Fu Hongxue admitted to it.
He had naturally seen it, and not only once.
Xiao Siwu said, “Right now, I only want to ask you one thing. If you won’t tell me, I won’t blame you.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Ask.”
Xiao Siwu said, “Why, exactly, is my flying dagger inferior to Ye Kai’s?”
Fu Hongxue was silent. Only after a long time did he speak. “You ambushed me twice with your dagger. The first time, you used all your strength, but before you struck, you gave me a warning. The second time, although there was no warning, you held back twenty percent of your strength.”
Xiao Siwu did not deny it.
Fu Hongxue said, “This is because in your heart, you know that you shouldn’t kill me. You simply do not have a reason which makes it absolutely necessary for you to kill me, and so when you strike, you lack a righteous, all-conquering air.”
He slowly continued, “But the people whom Ye Kai killed, were all people who absolutely had to be killed. Therefore, he is superior to you!”
Xiao Siwu said, “Is it this alone?”
Fu Hongxue said, “This is enough. You will never be able to surpass him!”
Xiao Siwu was silent for a long time as well. Suddenly, he turned around. Without even looking back, he departed.
Fu Hongxue didn’t turn around.
After walking for some time, Xiao Siwu suddenly turned around again. He loudly said, “Just wait. There will be a day when I am stronger than him. When that day comes, I will kill you.”
Fu Hongxue lightly said, “I will definitely wait for you.”
If you intend to kill someone, abstain from nothing at all.
This time, should Fu Hongxue have killed Xiao Siwu?
“This time, you did not kill him. I fear that next time, you will die to him.”
This time, Fu Hongxue once again did not strike. But he didn’t regret it, because he had already laid down a seed within Xiao Siwu’s heart.
The seed of righteousness.
He knew that this type of seed would flower and bear fruit one day.
He walked out of the alleyway. That seventeen year old girl had once more placed that strand of jasmine flowers in her hair. She stood at the door to her home, secretly looking at Fu Hongxue. She appeared both fearful and curious.
No one had ever given her a few dozen taels of silver for no reason at all. This pale-faced cripple must be a true eccentric.
Although Fu Hongxue didn’t want to see her again, it was difficult for him to not even spare her a glance.
Just as he reached the exit, she suddenly said in a loud voice, “You hit me. That’s an indication that you like me. I know that you will definitely come back to find me.”
Her voice became even louder. “I will definitely wait for you.”
The Ancient Monastery of the Heavenly Dragon was actually the Great Heavenly Dragon Monastery. It was originally a place of great splendor and burning incense. No one knew why it suddenly became cold and desolate. But there were many legends and myths as to why that was now the case.
The most widespread legend said this: “This ancient temple which looked solemn and majestic on the outside, was actually a den of sin. The beautiful woman who came to this monastery to pray before the Buddha would often be kidnapped and taken to hidden rooms deep within the monastery. Those who resisted would be beaten to death.”
Thus, whenever there was no moon or stars in the sky, their lonely, wronged spirits would appear.
With regards to whether or not this temple actually had secret rooms, and exactly how many women from good families were raped and defiled, no one was sure, because no one had personally seen any of this!
But ever since this story became widespread, the people who came to this temple to pay their respects slowly became fewer in number.
The type of person who would actually believe that spending a little money on sesame oil would buy them four seasons worth of peace and prosperity naturally wouldn’t carefully consider the truth or falsehoods inherent in rumors.
There was a dense forest outside of the ancient monastery. Although it was spring, the fallen leaves were very plentiful.
The road which led to the monastery had long since been covered by fallen leaves. Even people who often came here might not be able to recognize the road from within the dark forest.
Fu Hongxue hadn’t come here even once!
From his current viewpoint, there were large trees all around which looked absolutely identical.
He couldn’t tell which direction was the right one.
Just as he was hesitating, the sound of footsteps could be heard on the fallen leaves. A monk with features as delicate and refined as a crane’s walked by on the leaves. There wasn’t a single speck of dust on his fluttering, moon-white robes.
Although he wasn’t very old, he appeared to definitely be a monk of very high learning.
Although Fu Hongxue wasn’t a pious follower of Buddhism, he still respected eminent monks and men of learning.
“Master, where are you headed?”
“I come from where I came from. Naturally, I am headed to the place I am going.”
The monk’s features were very heavy, and his hands were clasped together. He didn’t even look at Fu Hongxue.
But Fu Hongxue wasn’t willing to give up the chance of asking for directions. He didn’t have the time to go on a wrong road.
“Master, do you know by which road one should travel to the Ancient Monastery of the Celestial Dragon?”
“Come with me.”
The monk’s footsteps were slow and peaceful. It seemed as though even if this road were headed to the Western Paradise, he wouldn’t hurry up even slightly.
Fu Hongxue could only slowly follow him from behind!
The night became even gloomier. They finally arrived before a six-pillared pavilion. The red paint on the banisters of the pavilion had already peeled off. Within the pavilion, there was a zither, a chessboard, a kettle of wine, and a set of ink and a quill. There was also a little stove made from red mud.
To be stroking the zither and playing chess, chanting poems and boiling wine within such a secluded grove, this eminent monk was just like a scholar. Both were very aesthetic.
Although Fu Hongxue had never experienced this sort of relaxed luxury, he still respected others enjoy this sort of refined pleasure.
The eminent monk, as refined and elegant as a crane, had already entered the pavilion. He picked up a chess piece and stared at it. There was a look of great pondering in his eyes, as though he was considering how, exactly, he should make his next move.
Afterwards, he slowly put the chess piece in his mouth. With a gurgle, he swallowed it.
Next, he broke the zither apart and put the wooden pieces into the oven, and lit a fire. He poured the alcohol in the pot out and washed his feet with it, then poured the ink in the inkslab into wine kettle and boiled it on top of the fire. Then he lifted up the chessboard and rapped on it non-stop, revealing a satisfied smile on his face, as though this sound was much more beautiful than the sounds of zither playing.
Fu Hongxue, watching, was stunned.
This seemingly advanced, erudite monk was actually a crazy monk?
Fu Hongxue was stunned yet again.
That monk is not only crazy, he also likes to eat flesh. Human flesh.
That monk was looking at him up and down, as though appraising how much flesh there was on his bones.
But Fu Hongxue still couldn’t believe it.
“You really are a crazy monk?”
“Crazy is sane. Sane is crazy.” The monk giggled. “Perhaps the truly crazy one isn’t me, but you.”
“Me?”
“If you weren’t crazy, why would you court death?”
Fu Hongxue tightened his hands. “You know who I am? Know where I am going?”
The monk n
odded, then shook his head. He suddenly raised his head to the sky, then mumbled, “It’s over, all over. A thousand-year old ancient monastery is about to collapse. A sea of people will become drenched with blood. Where do you want this monk to go?”
He suddenly picked up the wine kettle on the fire, then poured its contents into his mouth. The ink overflowed, pouring out of the corners of his lips, dripping down and staining his moon-white robes.
He suddenly fell to his knees and began to loudly weep. Pointing to the west, he loudly shouted, “If you want to die, hurry up and go die! Sometimes, living is a fate worse than death.”
Just at this moment, the sound of a bell being struck suddenly came from the west.
This was the thousand-year old copper bell of the ancient monastery. Only it could produce such a clear, loud, and melodious sound.
If there was only a mad monk in this ancient monastery, who was ringing the bell?
The bitterly crying monk suddenly jumped up. His eyes were suddenly filled with shock and terror.
“This is a funeral bell.” He loudly cried out, “When a funeral bell sounds, then someone is surely about to die!”
Rising to his feet, he threw the wine kettle at Fu Hongxue, then continued, “If you don’t die, others will die. Why don’t you hurry up and go die?”
Fu Honxue looked at him. He dully said, “I go.”
Chapter 16 - Funeral Bell
The bell had stopped ringing, but the echoes remained. Fu Hongxue had already arrived at the main gate of the Ancient Monastery of the Celestial Dragon.
Although the dark grey monastery was constructed long ago, it still retained vestiges of its former glory and prestige. In the courtyard, there was an enormous thousand-jin copper cooking vessel, stained with rust. The stone steps were covered with moss as well. Although it did appear a bit gloomy and unfrequented, the grand, majestic main hall still towered like a mountain over the surroundings, and the pillars in the courtyard remained as strong and erect as a tiger’s spine.
How could such a strong, vigorous monastery suddenly collapse?
“The words of a crazy monk are naturally crazy words.”
It had been a long time since the sacrificial altar in the main hall had enjoyed the scent of meat or burning joss sticks. But it was still lofty and high above, staring down at the ignorance and suffering of men. The corners of the hall were filled with cobwebs, and the old, shabby curtains fluttered hither and fro in the wind. There was neither sight nor sound of human being here.
Where was the one who rang the funeral bell?
Fu Hongxue silently stood in front of the statue of Buddha. In his heart, he suddenly felt an extremely strange feeling. He suddenly wanted to kneel down, kneel down before this Buddha, whose gilt skin had already begun to peel off. To beg for peace, peace for Zhuo Yuzhen and her children.
This was the first time in his life he felt so pious. But he did not kneel down, because just at this time, a swishing sound came from outside of the main hall.
When he turned his head, he saw a rainbow-colored, lightning-like flash of sabre light flickering outside. Where the sabre light flashed, those pillars in the courtyard, as strong and erect as a tiger’s spine, were severed. Swishing sounds continually entered the ear, and the mountain-like main hall began to tremble and way.
He inclined his head upwards, and immediately saw that the pillars and beams supporting the ceiling were beginning to slide down.
The words of that crazy monk weren’t just crazy words. After the dancing sabre light flashed across the main hall, this towering, millennia-old monastery truly did collapse!
What type of sabre was that? How could it have such fearsome strength?
Fu Hongxue tightly gripped his sabre!
This sabre was a weapon beyond compare, but this sabre definitely didn’t have such a fearsome strength!
With a thundering sound, one corner of the main hall collapsed.
But Fu Hongxue did not collapse. The mountains might burst and the earth might split, but some people will never collapse.
Another corner of the main hall collapsed. Rubble and debris flew about as though propelled by wind. The swallows on the roof beams had long since flown away.
But Fu Hongxue continued to stand there without moving!
Outside, not only was the Demon Decapitating Sabre of Heaven’s Monarch, that weapon which could anger gods and aggrieve demons, waiting for him, but also innumerable murderous plots and tricks!
He suddenly sneered.
“Demon Decapitator Miao, you have a very fine sabre, but you yourself are a base creature. Why don’t you dare to stand face to face with me and fight to the death, and instead run around playing tricks?”
The sabre light disappeared. Someone sneered from outside the main hall as well. “As long as you aren’t dead, come to the inner courtyard to meet me.”
The laughter of the Heaven’s Monarch, the Demon Decapitator, sounded like the crying of ghosts. One word at a time, he continued, “I will definitely wait for you!”
“I will definitely wait for you.”
The exact phrase, the exact six words. But coming from two different mouths, they had two totally different meanings!
At this moment in time, Fu Hongxue suddenly thought of that girl who wore the jasmine flowers. He thought of how she fell to the ground, and of her eyes, filled with pain, sorrow, and despair.
She was also a person. No matter what type of person one was, they wouldn’t be willing to accept that sort of humiliation.
Could it be that all her life, she was destined to live in that crumbling, swaying room, without any road to take, and no path of escape, until debris and dirt covered her body?
Fu Hongxue’s hands tightened. He suddenly started walking out. He walked very slowly, and his gait still appeared painful and ugly. But since he began to walk, he definitely would not stop.
The doorway had collapsed. The flying dust covered his eyes, as he slowly walked past the broken pieces of wood.
Another sound, akin to giant earthquakes and massive landslides. The center of the main hall had collapsed as well.
Debris and shattered pieces of wood collided into his back.
He did not look back. He didn’t even blink. This required not only an astonishing degree of composure, it also required an unshakable, fearless degree of courage! Precisely because he was composed, precisely because he had courage, he avoided the first trap.
Just as he stepped foot over the main hall’s doorway, at least fifty or so hidden projectiles shot out at him from outside.
If he had looked back in surprise, if he had lost his composure, he would have collapsed.
Collapsed, just like this majestic monastery.
Courage and self-confidence are the pillars of a man, helping preserve humanity’s existence.
So long as these two pillars do not fall, mankind shall never be extinguished!
Just as these hidden projectiles were shot out, two rays of cold light shot out as well, intersecting. It was a sword and a hook!
Fu Hongxue’s sabre had already left its sheath. With a slanted flash of sabre light, he scurried out.
He didn’t dare to stop and look back. He didn’t know how many other deadly ambushes were there.
The copper vessel in the courtyard was still there. His slender body shot out like a javelin, coming down just behind the copper vessel.
A gust of wind blew towards him. He felt it was as cold as a sabre’s chop on his shoulders. After looking down, he realized that a four-inch long wound had been left on his shoulder. The sword and the hook had launched an extremely swift and deadly assault. If someone hadn’t personally experienced the attack, they wouldn’t be able to imagine it.
Blood flowed from his shoulder. Blood flowed from his sabre as well. Whose blood was dripping from his sabre?
That hook was naturally Gongsun Tu’s eagle-beak. But the sword was definitely not Yang Wuji’s ancient sword of Damascus steel.
&n
bsp; This sword was far faster, far more accurate, and far more fearful than Yang Wuji’s sword. In addition, Yang Wuji’s sword-arm had been cut off.
The wound on Fu Hongxue’s shoulder was a sword wound. Who had his sabre harmed?
The main hall seemed to have totally collapsed by now. Turning around, he didn’t see anybody at all.
If the first strike does not land true, fully withdraw! This wasn’t just the rule of the Xingxiuhai sect. It was also the principle by which old veterans of the martial world followed without fail!
But why didn’t that Demon Decapitating Sabre of Heaven’s Monarch appear again? With the first attack, he chopped the horse in half. With his second, he destroyed the great hall. Why didn’t he strike at Fu Hongxue? Was he really waiting for Fu Hongxue at the inner courtyard?
The inner courtyard was peaceful and secluded. But there wasn’t even a shadow here either. Within the verdant mulberry grove, there was someone singing light songs. The songs were soft and haunting, causing gloom and capable of extinguishing one’s soul.
There were three lit verandas in the grove. The doors and the windows were all open.
As soon as one entered the grove, one could see a giant who looked like a deity from heaven. He was squatting in front of a barbarian bed, his hair all tousled, tied together with a golden ribbon. On his body, he wore a golden embroidered robe. But beneath his waist, he wore a battle-kilt made from a tiger’s pelt. Light shone out of his panther-like eyes, and his bronze skin sparkled. He looked just like one of the titans, who existed when the heavens and the earth were first separated, or like an undefeatable god of war from the myths.
Four women with coifed hair and light garments were wrapped around his body. One was holding a golden cup and sitting on his knee. Another was combing his hair. A third was taking off his boots. The other was sitting far away beneath the window, and singing in a low voice. They came from the cart on which the Ghostly Granny had arrived in. Although they were no longer young, they had their own mature, graceful, womanly elegance.
If they weren’t mature women, how could they endure such a virile, healthy titan?
A stove burned in one corner of the room. A sabre was placed on the table. The handle of the sabre was one foot, three inches long. The blade was seven feet, nine inches long. There were many dazzling pearls sewn onto the beautiful shark-skin sheath.
