Chapter 60
Hua Wu Que and Madam Bai has already left, the big hall seems even more quiet, even more eerie. The light from the setting sun shone on the fresh blood on the corpse, the fresh blood revealed an eerie blue color under the light.
By now Jiang Yu Lang had strolled back, and clasping his hands, laughed, “Elder is really shrewd, I am really impressed.”
The ‘dead person’ hanging on the beam suddenly laughed, “This ploy may be good, but only people like that Hua guy will be tricked. If it were you or me, I’m afraid we would not have believed a woman’s words so easily.”
This ‘dead person’ leaped down from the beam, his right hand pulling off the blade’s handle stuck to his chest, his left hand pulling off the tip of the blade stuck on his back. So this knife is in fact two broken parts, which were stuck on Bai Shan Jun’s body.
Hua Wu Que sat in the carriage in a state of semi-consciousness. Madam Bai had given him a very strong sedative, and once the effect of the medicine kicked in, he felt like sleeping. Luckily the carriage is very comfortable. He does not know where Madam Bai got this carriage from, nor does he know who the carriage driver is, and all the more he doesn’t know where the carriage is heading towards. A dying man, what is there not to trust towards others!
On an evening three days later, the carriage came to a hillside and slowly stopped. Flowers filled the hillside, and it looked like a painting.
Looking afar, the river is like a ribbon, the round sun behind the hill is like fire. The setting sun shone on the river, making it look even more sparking and magnificent.
Hua Wu Que secretly sighed, “Even if I were to die on this journey, to be able to die at such a place, the journey would not have been in vain.”
Madam Bai heaved a long sigh, and said, “That person has an extremely weird temperament, I… I have no wish to see him.”
She opened the carriage door and helped Hua Wu Que down the carriage. Pointing towards the front, she said, “Do you see that pavilion over there?”
Amidst the green trees and red flowers, there was a pavilion, a stream flowed next to the pavilion, shimmering in a shade of jade, and under the sunset, it looks even more colorful, it’s brilliance unmatched.
Hua Wu Que’s life is almost at an end, and to suddenly arrive at this place, he suspected that he is already in heaven. The faint fragrance of the flowers blew over with the wind and he was stunned for a moment before he nodded and said, “I see it.”
Madam Bai contined, “After you pass by that pavilion, you will see a stone door hidden among the vines on the side of the hill. The stone door is never closed, so you can just walk in.”
Hua Wu Que secretly sighed, “Certainly someone living in this kind of place will not be a nobody. I am lucky enough to meet such an esteemed person, and it should be a happy thing, but what a pity I am in such a state now.” Hua Wu Que asked, “What is his name?”
“Her name is Su Ying.”
Hua Wu Que thought to himself, “Su Ying… Su Ying… We do not know each other at all, yet I am here to beg you to save my life, I’m afraid you will only think this hilarious.”
Madam Bai added, “After you’ve seen her, maybe she will ask who brought you here, you only need to say my name… that’s right, my maiden name is Ma Yi Yun.”
Hua Wu Que replied, “I’ll remember.”
Madam Bai smiled sadly, “Although my life in future would be like a living dead, you do not have to be concerned about me. From now on, there will not be another woman with such a bitter life like me…”
She suddenly stopped talking, turned around and ran back into the carriage. The carriage immediately rode off in a rush. Hua Wu Que was stunned for a moment, and he cannot even tell what he is feeling now.
This woman had harmed him so much, but now he felt only gratitude, only trust, and not an ounce of suspicion or hate.
The carriage wove past a few hills, and suddenly stopped. At the side of the hill, under the vines, were three people, and they were Tie Ping Gu, Jiang Yu Lang and Bai Shan Jun. Hua Wu Que had already walked into that stone door which had been dyed green by the vines.
Behind the stone door, the quietness of the cave makes one who is in it to be totally lost in time.
Hua Wu Que hated his own laughter, that destroys the quietude that makes one forget the world. He used his strength to cover his own mouth, but the laughter still came out.
After walking for a while, he is now deep in the cave and the walls on both sides of the hill slowly became closer, but after walking a few more steps, the area suddenly opened up. It seems that he is no longer on earth, but in heaven.
There is a valley in front, with the white clouds in the sky, flowers all over the land, the clear stream and weird looking rocks. They all seemed intertwined, exquisitely mixed up.
From afar the cry of a crane was heard, and three to five white cranes, accompanied by two brown deers wandered over. They don’t seem to be afraid of humans, but looked as if they are welcoming this guest who has come from afar.
Hua Wu Que was still feeling affected by the scene when that white crane had already lifted his clothes and led him towards the stone path which was covered by flowers.
A clear stream flowed past, and next to the stream sat a person.
She sat there with lowered head, as if in deep thought, but also as if telling the swimming fishes in the water how youth can be easily lost, and the loneliness of living in the hills.
Her long black hair hung over her shoulder, her light, flowing clothes white as snow.
Hua Wu Que was unconsciously brought here by the welcoming crane. The person’s silhouette was a mirror image of the silhouette reflected in the water, he was staring unconsciously.
The young lady in white also turned around and took a look at him. It doesn’t matter if she had not turned back, but now that she turned back, all the fragrant flowers in the valley seemed to have suddenly lost their color. Her brows were like a painting, her dainty dimples like jade, her exquisite lips may seem a little too big, her wide forehead may seem a little too high, but her eyes that looked like an autumn’s moon, like shining stars, is more than enough to compensate for everything.
She may not be as dazzling as Tie Xin Lan, or have the simple beauty of Murong Jiu, or as charming as Little Fairy… she may not be considered very beautiful. But her incomparable grace, will make one feel inferior, and dare not belittle her.
Right now, there is a thread of surprise in her eyes, a thread of complaint, as if she’s asking this crude guest why is he laughing so weirdly.
Hua Wu Que unconsciously blushed, and said, “I… I am Hua Wu Que, and have come especially to see Su Ying, Old Master Su.”
That young girl in white replied slowly, “I am Su Ying.”
Hua Wu Que was really stunned. He had thought that since this ‘Su Ying’ can cure him, he must be an aged person, a famed physician in the martial arts realm, a highly skilled exponent who has retired. He never imagined that Su Ying would actually be a young lady who is not more than twenty years old.
Su Ying’s eyes rolled, and asked lightly, “My mountain abode is extremely deserted, I wonder who is the one who showed you the way?”
“This… I…” He really could not imagine why Madam Bai would want him to come and beg this young girl to save his life. Faced with such a slight smile, such cold eyes, how can he express his request?
Su Ying continued, “Since you have come from afar, don’t tell me you can’t even say a single sentence?”
Her words may sound polite, but she seemed to be looking down on this guest who is laughing distressingly. Her mouth was still talking, but her eyes have wandered back to the swimming fishes in the water.
Hua Wu Que suddenly said, “I came here by accident, I’m really sorry for disturbing Miss’s peace…” He bowed slightly and actually turned around and walked away.
Su Ying did not turn around as well, until Hua Wu Que’s back is almost lost among the flowers did she suddenly called out, “Sir, please stop.”
Hua Wu Que can only halt his steps and asked, “Does Miss have anything else?”
Su Ying replied, “Come back.”
These two words may sound a little impolite, but the tone has become indescribably gentle, indescribably persuasive, no man in this world would remain unaffected upon hearing such a tone. Hua Wu Que walked back unconsciously.
Su Ying still did not turn around, and said slowly, “You did not come here accidentally, but came with a purpose. It’s just that you saw that Su Ying is actually a young girl, you felt a little disappointed, right?”
Hua Wu Que really did not have anything to say.
Su Ying continued calmly, “Just because you are this kind of a person, who feels that pleading before a young girl is a loss of face, so although you came with a purpose, you left with an excuse, right?”
Hua Wu Que was stunned again.
The young girl only took a short glance at him, but this glance seemed to have bored through his heart. No matter what his heart was thinking, it seemed that nothing can be hidden from this pair of beautiful eyes.
Su Ying sighed lightly, “If you still want to leave, of course I will not stop you, but I must tell you, you will never walk out of that stone door outside!”
Hua Wu Que trembled, and before he can speak, Su Ying had added, “Now your heart is about to be torn, there is a deathly cast on your face. In the whole world, there are only three who can save you, and I…”
She continued lightly, “I am one of them, and I’m afraid also the only one who will extend a hand to save you. If you do not know how to treasure your own life at all, won’t that be a disappointment to others!”
This is a large and comfortable house, with large windows on all four sides. Now the sky is getting darker, the candle lighted, the fragrance of the flowers in the valley floated in with the warm night wind, the stars in the sky also shone in. Su Ying opened the last window, that slender hand, seemed so pale that it’s almost transparent.
The area without windows, was filled with ancient pine bookshelves, the pinewood also emitted a light fragrance in the night wind. There were large and small compartments on the shelves, and on it were placed books of all kinds, big and small bottles, some made of jade, some made of stone and some carved from various types of wood.
These things filled the four walls, and seemed a little haphazardly placed at first glance, but on a closer look, they look so elegant and exquisite, that the most brash person were to walk into this house, a little of his brashness would be wiped out.
But there is a very weird matter about this house, which is, in such a big house, there is only a chair and nothing else.
This chair is also extremely weird. It did not look like a normal armchair, nor did it look like those commonly found in a lady’s boudoir.
This chair actually looked like a very, very large chest, just that there is an indent in the middle, so that whoever sits on it will look like he’s engraved into it. Hua Wu Que had already walked in.
He only felt that although this young girl’s words sounded gentle, but one is unable to argue with her as well. He also felt that her although her words sounded icy, but one is unable to reject her. Su Ying had already seated herself on that only chair.
Hua Wu Que can only stand there, and in his heart he does not know whether to laugh or cry.
The armrest of the chair was very wide, and actually looked like a chest as well, which can be opened.
Su Ying had already opened up the lid on top and reached inside and gently pulled. There was a ‘creak’ sound.
The floor in front of Hua Wu Que suddenly split open, revealing a hole, and a bed rose up slowly from that hole.
Su Ying said calmly, “Now there is a bed for you to lie on, what else do you want?”
Hua Wu Que replied, “I… I would like some tea.”
This is not the words that he really wanted to say, but he unconsciously said them. He really would like to test how great this young girl’s abilities are as well.
Su Ying replied, “Ah, I actually forgot. A guest have come from afar, and even if there is no wine, but a cup of tea should have been offered long ago.”
As she spoke, her hand pulled something in the chest again.
Suddenly sounds of water could be heard from behind a bookshelf on the wall, followed by the shelf moving aside on its own, a small wooden man slid out slowly from behind the bookshelf.
There really was a tea tray on the wooden boy’s hands, and on the tray there were two jade cups, the water in the cup looked milky. Su Ying smiled slightly, “I’m terribly sorry, there’s no tea here, but this hundred year’s stone milk should be able to pass off as a welcome to a guest, please.”
Hua Wu Que can’t help but said, “Zhugu Wu Hou’s (also known as Zhugu Liang) wooden ox* can’t even be compared to it’s ingenuity.”
(*ancient transport vehicle, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_ox)
Su Ying smiled slightly, “Mr Kong Ming’s (courtesy title of Zhuge Liang) wooden ox is well used on the battlefield, but if it’s used to serve tea and guests, it seems a little too aggressive for that.” What she meant was, even Zhuge Wu Hou is not worth her notice.
By now it’s late in the night, the starlight is not enough to lend shine on anyone’s face and although there were copper lamps on the bookshelves, they were not lighted. Hua Wu Que can’t help but ask, “Can it be that Miss can light the lamp without even using your hands?”
Su Ying said, “I’m a very lazy person, a lazy person will usually think of many ways…”
Her hand gently pulled again, and between the copper lamps, immediately stuck out the flints and with the sound of a ‘choke, the sparks flew. The copper lamps were really lighted.
Su Ying said with a laugh, “Look, even if I were to sit here without moving, I can still do a lot of things.”
Hua Wu Que laughed loudly… really laughing loudly, and replied, “From what I see, even if you were to light the lamp and serve tea personally, it would be so much easier than making such mechanisms. How can a lazy person like you think of the most troublesome way?”
Without knowing why, he really wanted to knock her down a peg. He is not that kind of a person, but now maybe all the laughing have made him lose his normal sensibility.
Su Ying replied coldly, “A person like me, would I pour tea for you?”
Hua Wu Que answered, “Why don’t you have a maid or servant, won’t this way be much easier as well?”
Su Ying replied icily, “I’m afraid these people’s uncouth ways would taint me.”
Hua Wu Que is speechless again. Su Ying stared at him quietly, and continued slowly, “You said these words, because you think that I am too formidable, so you want to suppress me, right? I don’t mind telling you, no one in the world can suppress me, I am forever high above. You need not waste your efforts.”
Hua Wu Que laughed loudly, “Actually you’re just a weak girl, anyone can push you down with a palm.”
Su Ying replied, “You actually can tell that I do not know martial arts, your eyesight is really not bad.”
“Thank you”
Su Ying added, “Your martial arts is very good, right?”
Hua Wu Que answered, “It’s passable.”
Su Ying continued, “But now you are the one begging me to save you, and not me who is begging you to save me. You can tell from this that there are many things in the world which cannot be settled by martial arts. Man is the leader of all animals, because he is intelligent, not because he is strong. If we were to compare strength, even a donkey would be stronger than a man.”
Hua Wu Que can only feel a surge of anger rising up, and wanted to leave again, but Su Ying chose this time to suddenly smile and walk over, saying gently, “Now, you will lie down honestly. After I let you take a bottle of medicine, your terrible laughter will stop immediately.”
Faced with such an adorable smile, such gentle voice, how many men in the world can still be angry. Besides, the words that she has spoken, are what Hua Wu Que would most like to hear.
Hua Wu Que is not afraid of death, but this laughter… now he cannot think of anything more horrible than ‘laughing’. The laughter finally stopped. Hua Wu Que fell into a deep sleep after taking the medicine.
Suddenly a person can be heard giggling, “Good sister, you really have your way, no matter how fierce a man is, he will become obedient like a little puppy in front of you…” Walking in after the sound of the giggles, was Madam Bai.
Su Ying did not even take a look at her, but said calmly, “Why have you come now, you’re worried about me?”
Madam Bai smiled, “It’s just that everyone knows how proud Sister is, so they wanted me to come plead with Sister, to bear with it this time. As soon as this lad tells us the secret of ‘Shifting Flower Grafting Jade’, we will kill this lad immediately to appease Sister’s anger…”
Only now did Su Ying glance at her icily, “You think that my way of treating him is not good.”
Madam Bai smiled condescendingly, “Not that it’s not good, but… now we are trying to trick him into revealing the secret, so…”
Su Ying replied coldly, “You think that I should be more gentle towards him, should try to gain favor with him, give him some drugs, and if need be even take off all my clothes and fall into his arms, right?”
Madam Bai giggled, “Anyway this lad is about to die, so there’s no harm in letting him take some advantage.”
Su Ying had already added coldly, “To tell you the truth, if I really use such methods on him, he will never speak. Such methods can only be used on your husband.”
Madam Bai fluttered, “But… but…”
Su Ying replied, “To deal with a person like him, will need methods like mine, only then will he acquiesce. Because I have treated him thus, he will never think that I have a favor to ask of him, and he will never be on his guard against me. Or else why would I deliberately let him see that I do not know martial arts? You should know that although I have never learnt such silly stuff, but if I were to pretend to be a highly skilled martial artist, I can still put up a convincing act.”
Madam Bai beamed, “Only now do I understand. Sister, your methods are really unparalleled.”
Su Ying smiled lazily, “It’s good that you understand, now you better hide far away. By this time tomorrow, I will make him honestly reveal the secret of ‘Shifting Flower Grafting Jade’…”
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