Ode to gallantry, p.82
Ode to Gallantry, page 82
Long Daozhu suddenly said: "So everyone is enjoying the account books of the Command of reward and punishment." The disciples took back the account books separately.
Long Daozhu said with a smile: "My brother sends some of his subordinates to inquire about the news in the martial art world. By no means are they prying in our friends' privacy but whatever they learn, they simply write it down. Every single person or school or sects who are exterminated by the island of heroes is guilty of the most heinous crime and no one can say that he doesn’t deserve it. Although we do not dare to say that we are enforcing the justice on behalf of Heaven, however the right or wrong and good or evil is ascertain and then only we act.
I and Brother Mu already live in this island of heroes; the actions we take must always be to do the right thing and should protect the integrity of the character "Hero". We only hate that the island of heroes is limited and we cannot completely execute the evil person in all over the world. Everybody please carefully remember when we have killed a sect or a family who were good and chivalrous people and upheld justice. Just because we have sent the bronze medal invitation to you doesn’t mean that island of heroes wants to exterminate you too."
People remained silent for half of the day and nobody answered.
Long Daozhu said: "Therefore we kill the people then actually this is the punishment which he deserves ......"
Bai Zizai sneered and said suddenly: "In Tongzhou, Hebei province, Master pugilist Nie Laozi was not wicked person, why did you kill his whole family?"
Long Daozhu extracts a book and threw it towards Bai Zizai gently and said: "Power and virtue gentleman please look." That notebook flew to Bai Zizai really slowly. Bai Zizai puts out his hand as soon as he threw but unexpectedly that account book suddenly crashed fiercely just a couple of two feet in front of his fingers.
Bai Zizai put out a hand to hurriedly catch account book before it fell on the gruel bowl and made a hash of catching a book. Once he got the account books suddenly it dawned to him that: "This person shoots a several pages thick book such conveniently, the incoming speed is really slow but the strength and vigor is extremely unpleasant and unpredictable. They should also remove the words "skills in the concealed weapons are the best" from my title. The skill of these people is really as in fables, the so-called "fly to attack the enemy, to pick the leaf to offend somebody" things are achieved by them. The strength of hand and the projection speed of concealed weapon are pretty difficult to judge and to evade."
He saw the words "Nie family from Hebei, Tongzhou" and turned on the pages. He was shocked to learn that "On second day of fifth month, Nie Zongtai raped and killed two people in Cangzhou and shifted the blame on black tiger stronghold bandits and thieves". Another incident was mentioned in other paged: "On seventeenth day of tenth month, Nie Zongfeng wounded the eldest son of official Liu Wen in the Jinan province and on the same night killed the entire 13 people of the Liu family to eliminate a potential informant." Nie Zongtai and Nie Zongfeng are the sons of Nie Laozi and he was aware of these incidents but he unexpectedly did not tried to stop them or told anyone about these incidents.
Bai Zizai hesitated and said: "These matters can’t be verified, I did not know that if it is really false or true. I do not dare saying that two hosts are intentionally slaughtering the innocents but I am afraid that in some instances the disciples of island of heroes might have listened to wrong criticism or information also."
Zhang San said suddenly: "Power and virtue gentleman does not believe then please have a look at this thing." As he was saying these words, he turned around and came back immediately, raised his right hand and threw an account books to Bai Zizai. The account book flew to him and dipped at the last moment just as earlier but Bai Zizai was ready for this and noted that his technique and Long Daozhu was not different. He puts out a hand to take up and obtained the book but felt that the power with which he has thrown the book was much less compared to Long Daozhu.
Bai Zizai and Nie Laozi were well acquainted in their youth and he recognized the handwriting immediately, he saw that this book was really in Nie Laozi’s own handwriting and had records of several of his monetary communications and on the top of it were written characters "may kill", this account was: "On 8th bought the 83 Chinese acres of land in Zhoujia Village at the price 72."
Bai Zizai thought: "This much money must have bought only about 80 Chinese acres of fields, this field was bought too cheaply, had he used some kind of intimidation or influence to buy in such cheap rates."
He also looked at another account, on its top were "has been possible to kill" written, the account was: "on 15th, received 2520 silvers from the Tongzhou magistrate."
Bai Zizai thought: "Nie Laozi was a chivalrous person from martial art world, why is he receiving money from the government authorities', was he colluding with the corrupt officials, he gave the impression that he was kindhearted but was making dishonorable deals."
He turned over the page with "may kill" these two characters written over more than 50-60 pages, he understood that this red ink two characters were information obtained by Zhang San or Li Si and cannot help but closed the book and said with a deep sigh: "One can be intimate to a person but cannot understand what is underneath the surface! This Nie Laozi was killed deservedly. If I surnamed Bai would have seen this book earlier that even if island of heroes might have shown mercy to him but I would have killed his entire family."
As he said these words he stood but and went to the envoys of Command of reward and punishment and held the book by both hands and said: "Admires, really admires!"
He turned his head to look at both island hosts and admired their sentiment and thought in his heart: "the people from island of heroes are not only outstanding in martial arts but their conduct is also thorough and they uphold the justice. Although I don’t know much about the rewarding the punishment but punishing the wicked will be entirely appropriate for me too. Although my snow mountain sect has numerous disciples but I don’t have a single disciple who is as talented as Zhang San or Li Si… Oh…"big master of great learning and integrity" these three characters should also be removed from my title or I will be ashamed for the rest of my life."
Long Daozhu understood that Bai Zizai is ashamed to voice his concern about Nie family so he said with a smile: "Power and virtue gentleman, please sit down. You have been in the western region for such a long time and had not been aware of this beast in human’s clothing and other incidents in central plains, it’s not really surprising."
Bai Zizai nodded and returned back to his place.
Ding Busi said loudly: "This means that island of heroes have killed all the people in past couple of dozen of years, they all deserve the punishment and the one who accepted the invitation were only invited to study and interpret this big martial art secret."
Long Daozhu nodded and said: "Yes!"
Ding Busi said: "Why is it then the heroes who have arrived to the island of the heroes have not unexpectedly returned home? There is not a shred of information about their well being. It is said that they are all dead."
Long Daozhu shook his and said: "Master Ding this is funny! You have heard some kind of a roadside rumor, how can you completely believe it?"
Ding Busi said: "According to Long Daozhu, then these martial arts exponents are all alive and haven't died? Ha…ha, its laughable… laughable."
Long Daozhu also had a good laugh and said: "Ha…ha, laughable… laughable?"
Ding Busi asked: "Why are you laughing?"
Long Daozhu said with a smile: "Master Ding is my island’s honored guest. If master Ding said that something is laughable then I have to agree with him, isn’t it?"
Ding Busi said: "In 30 years, about 200-300 people might have arrived at island of heroes to eat that meat gruel, Long Daozhu said unexpectedly that they were still in good health, how could it not be laughable?"
Long Daozhu said: "Mortal people all have a natural lifespan; the predestined time of death can’t be altered. I didn’t say that nobody died but what I meant was that no one was killed by people in island of heroes."
Ding Busi didn’t think much and asked hurriedly: "I actually want to inquire about a person who it is said came to island of heroes. Some female named ...... named Fanggu, I heard about 20 years ago that she arrived in the island of heroes, is she in good health?"
Long Daozhu said: "What is this female’s surname? How old is she? Is she the leader of some sect or school?"
Ding Busi said: "Surname......That I do not know…maybe surnamed Ding ......"
That woman with veiled face squawked and said: "Is his natural daughter. This girl may be with Ding surname or she might be with her mother’s surname, she might be called Mei Fanggu."
The face of Ding Busi turned red and he said: "Heh heh, surnamed Mei …surnamed Mei, actually I don’t have much information about her ….she ......She might be roughly 40 years old ......"
That female said in sharp voice: "What roughly 40 years old? She is 39 years old."
Ding Busi said: "Good, good, she is 39 years old. She is not the leader of any sect or school but she had studies the plum blossom fist, in fact is the first disciple of plum blossom fist and I reckon she might have come to island of heroes."
Mu Daozhu shook his head and said: "Plum blossom fist? No... no…she doesn’t have the necessary qualifications."
That woman with veiled face said in sharp voice: "Why doesn't plum blossom fist have the qualifications? I ......Hasn't I received your invitation for this feast and those bronze medals?"
Mu Daozhu shook his head and said: "You didn’t get the invitation for the plum blossom fist."
Long Daozhu said: "Mei Nuzi, my brother Mu is usually very succinct and does not talks a lot…you can say he is a bit inarticulate. He meant that we have not invited you to the island of heroes for you family’s plum blossom fist but because of you’re the set of swordsmanship which you have newly created in past two years."
That woman surnamed Mei asked: "My newly created swordsmanship, nobody has seen it yet, how did you know?" her voice was very incisively grating, her tone was coarse and was really uncomfortable for the listeners.
Long Daozhu showed a faint smile and pointed at two disciples. One disciple was in yellow clothes and other in dark green clothes stepped forward immediately and bowed in front of him.
Long Daozhu said: "You two, give a demonstration of this new set of swordsmanship created by Mei Nuzi and why do not ask her for pointers."
Two disciples said: "Yes."
They went near to the empty space close to the wall. The person in yellow clothes took out an iron sword; the person in dark green clothes took out a soft whip. The one in yellow clothes bowed in front of Mei Nuzi and said: "Mei Nuzi, please instruct in case I make a mistake."
He immediately took the posture and then started making various vertical and horizontal strikes. In the hall various heroes from the martial art world had seen all kinds of martial art techniques and fights. The moves of the person in the dark green cloths looked familiar but one in yellow cloths was using some unusual moves and a new set of swordsmanship.
That female does not find it that amusing and said: "This may be wonderful…this may be wonderful! When you do peep?"
Shi Potian looked at several moves and thought: "This person in yellow clothes is good but is that person in dark green clothes is using the Jinlong whip technique of Ding Busi grandpa"
At the same moment he heard the sound of Ding Busi: "Hey….you created this set of swordsmanship to counter my Jinlong whip technique, what was your intention?"
That person in dark green cloths was indeed using the Jinlong whip technique but his every gesture and attack was restrained by the person in yellow cloths using the sword technique of Mei Nuzi. That woman with veiled face sneered but did not reply.
Ding Busi got angrier and shouted loudly: "you wanted to create a sword technique to counter my Jinlong whip technique, I am afraid you failed."
As he spoke these words, he saw the person in yellow clothes using the sword made a very cunningly and strange move, it was menacing and at the same time ruthless, a little crass and of low quality, certainly does not resemble the grace of any famous expert or style.
Ding Busi called out: "Nonsense, nonsense! What kind of swordsmanship is that? Bah, this is the vixen swordsmanship." In his heart cannot help but was secretly startled: "If the opposite party uses this kind of moves then he was afraid that he will be in difficult position." However this kind of a move was sinister strategic move and actually can only be used as a sneak attack and is not suitable for uprightly and fair fights; although under his heart Ding Busi was surprised but was actually also secretly happy and thought: "This kind of sneak attack is a strategic move, if someone acts on it and could have caught me unawares but now I know about this attack so the surprise factor is gone and I just have to keep a eye open for these kind of attacks. This technique is kind of heretical but after all it won’t be that difficult to handle."
Fan Yifei, Lu Zhengping and Gao San Niangzi had once fought with Ding Busi and suffered against his golden whip. When they saw with their own eyes that this set of Jinlong whip technique was incessantly resisted by the sword technique of Mei Nuzi and were extremely happy and could not restrain themselves and cheered loudly.
Ding Busi got angry: "What good is it?"
Fan Yifei said with a smile: "this is the famous Jinlong whip technique of Ding Busi"
Gao San Niangzi said with a smile: "Jinlong whip technique is wonderful. I am really getting mad…this is so awesome!" She kept on calling these characters "I am getting mad, it’s awesome". Ding Busi understood that she is trying to provoke him and cause trouble.
The person in dark green clothes made a set of Jinlong whip moves and moved the whip in a circular manner suddenly. Then the person in yellow made the move to attack him. The person in dark- green clothes could mange to avoid his attack and had to let go his whip and took the stance to fight empty-handed.
Shi Potian looked at this move and exclaimed: "Ahhh….this move really seizes the whip adeptly." Originally the person in dark-green clothes made a set of Ding family palm moves called "phoenix tail", "tiger fingernail", "beautiful woman picks up needle" and "demon to lock throat" and so on. Dingdang had taught him these on the long river boat.
Ding Busi got angry, said loudly: "Mei Nuzi, tell me, what are your intentions? This ......This ......Isn't this bewildering?" In his heart, naturally he knew that this female surnamed Mei had deliberately planed to retaliate against him for his thoughtless sex with her sister at first and then later her abandonment.
He saw with his own eyes that person in yellow cloths was resisting the Ding fist and foot martial art moves by his swordsmanship, he was really mean and could have picked up either his abdomen, or could have gouged his eyes or poked on his buttocks but person in green clothes was admirably resisting him. Suddenly, the person in yellow clothes made a horizontal sword swipe, the person in green clothes jumps back to fend. The person in yellow clothes threw his iron sword and used his hands to grasp the pharynx and larynx of person in dark green clothes.
Ding Busi called out in alarm: "Oh!" As if his own throat is in the hands of the other person. His heart was jumping madly and his Jinlong whip technique was ingeniously defeated by this woman.
Both disciples let loose one another and bowed in front of Ding Busi and Mei Nuzi and asked: "We ask elder Ding and Mei Nuzi for advice on our demonstration." They both greeted the two island hosts and then picked up the iron sword and drew back into the original ranks.
That woman surnamed Mei said: "You have managed to learn about 70-80% of this sword skill secretly without my help, this is admirable but it …."
Ding Busi said in anger: "This kind of a martial art skill does not need any improvement, such lowly skills and ungraceful underhand tricks don’t need refinement, this scandalous, what is so difficult to study?"
Bai Zizai said provokingly: "What scandal? You surnamed Ding, if you had suddenly met someone with this sword skill then you would have been thrown in confusion and by this time you might have 7-8 holes in your body."
Ding Busi said in anger: "You should try then."
Bai Zizai said: "In brief, you are not an eligible rival of Mei Nuzi now. She can nip this throat of yours in a matter of time. Even if your ability is ten times strong still you won’t be able to evade."
That woman surnamed Mei said in harsh voice: "Who wanted you to flatter? Tell me how will I and Shi Xiaocui compare?"
Bai Zizai said: "You fall far too short in comparison to her. My wife is not here in person and hasn’t come to island of heroes but here….that boy is my granddaughter's husband, you can compare your skills with him"
Shi Potian said: "I have already seen, we do not need to compare our skills."
That female surnamed Mei asked: "Are you Shi Xiaocui’s disciple?"
Shi Potian said: "Yes."
That female said: "Then how are you his granddaughter's husband? Are you a bastard or what?"
Shi Potian said: "Yes, I am bastard (Gouzazhong)."
That female could not restrain herself and laughed at him loudly.
Mu Daozhu said in a loud voice: "Enough!" Although he said only this word but his voice was really impressive and totally drowned the voice of Mei Nuzi and she stopped laughing immediately.
Long Daozhu said: "Mei Nuzi, this set of swordsmanship gives the devil his due and is not inferior to the Ding martial art technique. However Mei Nuzi had been innovative and created this set of sword skills so obviously she is a natural talent and is clever. Some of the move in your technique are really ingenious and cleverly thought that is why we have invited you to island of heroes and hope that you can find some meaning in those ancient poetic verses and illustrations. As for the plum blossom fist, you have already inherited it so it doesn’t matter much."
