Chapter 10
The True Culprit
(1)
Shen Ying’s staff included Sima Cheng and Cui Yishan. Ouyang Manor only sent Foreman Chu and three guards. They split up into several groups and assembled in Zhengzhou’s High Riser Inn.
Shen Ying and Yun Feiyan went together to Zhengzhou. As soon as they entered the city they ran into Foreman Chu. He suddenly went up to Shen Ying and said, “High Riser Inn is crowded, not a good place to stay!” Then he left, as if they didn’t know each other.
Shen Ying said promptly, “Let’s rest in the west end of the city!” And turned and headed west.
Foreman Chu led the three guards for a walk around the area.
As dusk all the staff had arrived.
Lang the Fourth hurried over. “The mark is at Myriad Winnings Manor. Ge Gensheng is hiding out there keeping watch.”
Shen Ying knocked out his pipe ash. “Let’s go!”
The group set out for Myriad Winnings Manor in a formidable array.
Ge Gensheng met them some ways out. Shen Ying asked him, “Any activity?”
“All inside!”
Shen Ying frowned, “That’s odd. They couldn’t be unaware that we’re here. Lang the Fourth and Ge Gensheng have been inside before, so you’re the most familiar with it. You two take Little Gu and go in and take a look so there’s no ambush.”
Gu Sinan said, “Subordinate does as commanded!” He drew his sabre and gestured with it for Lang the Fourth and Ge Gensheng to follow him inside, but Sima Cheng stopped him. “Senior Shen, Little Nephew has a blood debt that needs repaid. Ultimately it was this cur who started everything, please let me take the lead!”
Shen Ying thought a moment and nodded. “But you must be careful. Little Gu, you look out for him!”
× × ×
The four of them climbed over the wall and in. Everything was quiet in the manor, as if there were no one there. Gu Sinan looked around, picked up a rock, and flung it at a window. The lattice was smashed to pieces and Gu Sinan brandished his ravengold sabre before him for protection and streamed in through the window like a rainbow.
Once through the window there was a rustling sound, followed by countless arrows and locust stones flying at them. Gu Sinan swung his sabre, as if creating a tight net of sabres, but the hidden projectiles kept on coming. Gu Sinan felt a chill, fearing they would lose if it took a long time. He was just about to retreat and come up with a different plan when he saw Lang the Fourth enter, sabre dancing, blocking his retreat!
Gu Sinan yelled, “Don’t come in, there’s danger here!” He turned and said urgently to Lang the Fourth, “You go back out, I’ll hold them off. Quick!”
Lang the Fourth hurriedly leapt back out the window, but in his haste he felt his calf go numb, hit by a locust stone. Fortunately it was not severe!
Lang the Fourth had just backed out. Gu Sinan looked up, checking things out, then followed him out. His feet just touched down outside and he leapt back in again, quick as an arrow loosed from the string!
When the projectile throwers inside saw their adversary retreat, they stopped attacking. Gu Sinan used this moment to pounce in the air air at an archer. In the air, he pushed off with his feet against the wall and sprang faster, sabre swinging down at the person, then he twisted and flipped over and grabbed a big man and used him as a shield. These movements happened in the blink of an eye. Now the Gold & Jade Hall people suddenly woke up, but they were a step late, bow and arrow and projectiles in hand, but they didn’t dare loose them for fear or hurting their brother!
Suddenly a voice called out, “Shoot!” in a sinister tone.
Gold & Jade Hall were momentarily taken aback, then their projectiles loosed one after another. Gu Sinan used the big man as a human shield, and after a series of savage screams, the man was dead.
Winter nights are long, the day short, it was already dark out. Gu Sinan’s eyes shone in the night, remembering the positions of all the projectile shooters, plotting his next move then acting.
He was behind a second floor railing. Below was where Lang the Fourth and Ge Gensheng had played pai gow the time before.
Behind him was a row of rooms, one after the other. He didn’t know which their leader was hiding in. He decided to dispose of the archers first, lest they continue to present trouble from their rear. He gently propped the body up against the railing, the body still standing. In the dark, projectiles continued to be thrown over.
Gu Sinan saw it clearly. Once the projectiles thinned out he suddenly leapt forward. One man’s projectile was still in his hand when Gu Sinan’s sabre chopped and sent him flying, his body crashing to the main hall with a savage scream.
Gu Sinan darted behind a pillar and waited for another opportunity.
That sinister voice again called out, “Watch out for that boy!”
As soon as his call fell a savage cry suddenly rose and fell. Turns out Lang the Fourth had led Ge Gensheng and Sima Cheng up from outside as well, and they launched an attack in the dark all at once. In the blink of an eye they’d finished off three Gold & Jade Hall men.
Gu Sinan used this moment when the adversary was caught off guard to once again leap forward, the tip of his sabre stabbing at a man in the back. He said in a low voice, “Put down your weapon!” As soon as he opened his mouth the sound of another volley broke through. Gu Sinan drew back his blade, with the result that the man’s life was taken by the loosed projectiles.
“Light the lanterns!” came the furious, sinister voice suddenly.
Instantly lanternlight lit up and both sides could see each other’s faces.
A ball of flesh came out of one of the rooms. It was Myriad Winnings Manor’s Fatty Qi. “Welcome everyone! Did you all come to gamble money or gamble your lives?”
Gu Sinan said, “Gambling money, gambling lives, what’s the difference?”
“Be it gambling money or gambling lives, this hall welcomes it all the same!” Fatty Qi flashed his soybean-sized eyes and with a false smile said, “However, Gambling lives is dangerous! Do you think Myriad Winnings Manor is made of paper?”
Sima Cheng said furiously, “You took my parents’ innocent lives, you telling me we should be polite to you?”
Fatty Qi said coldly, “You must be Sima Cheng? Looks like you’ve come to gamble your life. Alright, I’ll assist you!”
Sima Cheng said urgently, “And Zhan Tianhong?”
“You’re not qualified to fight Hallmaster Zhan! Incensemaster Su, get rid of him!”
Incensemaster Su was the guard foreman who had fought with Lang the Fourth the other day.
Lang the Fourth brandished his sabre and shouted, “Little Brother Sima, let me and him finish what we started!” He swung his arm, steel sabre chopping swiftly at his adversary!
Incensemaster Su was calm, unafraid. He said coldly, “A defeated opponent dares to talk tough!”
He spread his hands and started using his barehanded weapon fighting kungfu to fight with Lang the Fourth.
Lang the Fourth’s kungfu was all in his steel sabre. Before he’d fought barehanded and was no match for Incensemaster Su, but now with steel sabre in hand, the situation was instantly swapped, and Incensemaster Su was not match for him and retreated in defeat!
Sima Cheng took a quick look, then sprang over at Fatty Qi. “Don’t just stand there!” His right fist drove straight out, a swift punch that Fatty Qi seemed unable to dodge, so he turned around and took Sima Cheng’s punch in the back!
There was an enormous thud and Fatty Qi turned back around, grinning as if it were nothing.
Sima Cheng was shocked. He changed his punching technique, now attacking his adversary’s head.
Fatty Qi seemed clumsy, but he moved very fast, his big hands like fans batting at Sima Cheng’s chest!
Sima Cheng excelled at nimble footwork, advancing and retreating quite swiftly, so Fatty Qi was not at an advantage.
Gu Sinan looked back as a room door suddenly opened and two people walked out.
(2)
Shen Ying saw that it had been half a double-hour since Lang the Fourth and Gu Sinan had gone inside without coming out, and he couldn’t help getting a bit worried.
Yun Feiyan lay down and listened for a while and said, “Uncle, they’re fighting inside!”
Shen Ying’s expression calmed. “Go in!”
They leapt over the wall and in. The manor lights were blazing and there was the continuous sounds of fighting. Tao Song kicked open the main doors and they all streamed inside.
Foreman Chu took three guards and launched an attack first, killing their way through a group of Gold & Jade Hall people!
Shen Ying looked back and the main doors sometime or other had been shut, and an iron portcullis flew down with a schink and sealed up the doors.
Shen Ying remained calm and unafraid. “Charge!”
× × ×
Of those two people, one wore a suit of golden battle armor, the other wore jade-green tightfit clothes. This was a woman.
Gu Sinan’s heart shivered. “Who are you two?”
“You’re known as one of Shen Ying’s great generals yet you’ve never even heard of ‘Gold Sword and Jade Maiden’ of the jianghu in former days?” The green-garbed woman’s voice was like an oriole from out of the valley when she parted her vermilion lips.
Gu Sinan was shocked and blurted out, “I’ve never heard of any ‘Gold Sword and Jade Maiden’, but I have heard of the notorious ‘Gold Demon and Jade Witch’ of ill repute!”
Jade Witch Xian Yuling was furious. She shouted, “You’re courting death!” She raised he hands and two knives shot out. Gu Sinan hurriedly dodged to the side as a knife passed by not less than three fingerwidths from his chest.
The knives flashed and returned to Xian Yuling’s hands. Turns out the knives had a thin, white transparent string attached to the handles, the other ends attached to leather bracers on Xian Yuling’s wrists.
Xian Yuling saw Gu Sinan had a hard time dodging and couldn’t help saying smugly, “The boy knows what’s good for him!”
Gold Demon drew a golden sword and said loudly, “Allow this seat to show him a thing or two!” He flicked his wrist and several golden flourishes bloomed, stabbing at Gu Sinan’s face!
Gu Sinan quickly brandished his ravengold sabre, guarding his face. Gold Demon’s wrist sank and the tip of the sword thrust toward Gu Sinan’s Breast Prominence acupoint.
Gu Sinan dropped his arm, cutting down, and sword and sabre clashed. His qi and blood seethed and he couldn’t help tottering a few times. He shouted, “Amazing as expected!”
The corridor was narrow. Jin Yi opened up with his sword, striking repeatedly, ferociously. Gu Sinan repeatedly pulled back. As they fought intensely, Jin Yi thrust straight ahead, coming on like loosed arrows. Gu Sinan blocked with his ravengold sabre and used his momentum pushed him back and he dropped to the ground floor!
Jade Witch Xian Yuling’s hands went up and a knife shot at Gu Sinan’s back. In midair he twisted and flipped rigidly three spans. Xian Yuling raised her wrist and the string went taught, pushing the knives at Gu Sinan!
Gu Sinan’s perfected qi was in turmoil and he had no strength to dodge. He was about to shed blood when Yun Feiyan raised her sword at the last moment and blocked it.
The knife, knocked away by Yun Feiyan’s sword, was thrown back five spans. Xian Yuling chuckled and swung her arm and the knife circled around and came back stabbing at Yun Feiyan’s chest!
Yun Feiyan knocked the knife away with her sword in her right hand, using her left hand to snatch the string! Having grabbed it, she yanked hard! Xian Yuling sunk her waist and circulated her force and pulled. Yun Feiyan cried out and was thrown and Xian Yuling broke out laughing.
Yun Feiyan looked at her palm. A bloody groove had been “sawed” by the string, and the pain bit deep!
Shen Ying took out his pipe and said coldly, “That’s made from the silk of snow silkworms from Mount Heaven, it’s incredibly strong and durable!” As he spoke he loaded tobacco into the bowl of his pipe, struck a flint, and lit it. He blew out a puff of smoke and said coldly, “What were you two demons waiting for, drawn up in your shells up there?”
Jin Yi hmphed, his sword flashed, and he was about to leap down when Xian Yuling pulled him back by the arm and said in a sweet voice, “Since Old Daddy Shen wasted all this manpower to come himself to Luoyang, how can he go back emptyhanded! Sorry, if you’re interested, you come up here!”
By now all of the henchmen in the main hall had been killed. Everyone stood behind Shen Ying, heads up and looking on.
Yun Feiyan said, “Your men are all dead, do you think just the two of you will be lucky enough to escape?”
Xian Yuling laughed so hard she was shaking!
Zhan Tianhong suddenly appeared before the railing. Laughing, he said, “Last time at Ouyang Manor you burned but didn’t die. I don’t’ believe you can escape this time!”
Shen Ying didn’t wait for him to finish speaking, he immediately sprang up like a big bird. Xian Yuling yelled and raised her hands. Two knives shot out like a venomous snake out of a cave to bite at Shen Ying’s head and shoulder!
Shen Ying was already expecting this. As soon as he was in the air he was already prepared. Xian Yuling’s knives had just left her hands when he shot at an angle in the air and pressed behind a pillar on the railing.
Xian Yuling reacted fast, turning her wrist and the knives seemed to have eyes as they pursued around behind Shen Ying, and with a thud one knife lodged into the pillar, the other one shooting for Shen Ying!
Shen Ying pulled a phoenix nodding its head, ducking to let the knife pass by and the pipestem in his right hand shot out. The bowl didn’t connect with Xian Yuling, but with the string attached behind the knife, and at the same time he sprang up, left palm smacking at the knife handle, and the knife embedded into the wood all the way to the handle.
Xian Yuling frantically pulled on it, but it wouldn’t budge. Alarmed, she turned her right wrist and the other knife flew at at angle at Shen Ying. Shen Ying’s gaze intensified and he flicked with a finger of his left hand and the knife was flicked away three spans!
Quicker than words can tell, the lit tobacco in the bowl lit the snow silkworm string. It sizzled and snapped off!
Shen Ying laughed and spun his pipestem around the knife’s snowsilk string. He knew that this kind of snowsilk string could not be cut by sharp precious swords, only fire could harm it. Sure enough, it worked!
Jin Yi saw Xian Yuling’s other knife wrapped up by Shen Ying and he bellowed and charged forward, brandishing his sword.
Gu Sinan shouted and flew up from the ground floor, the tip of his sabre aimed at Jin Yi’s back. Suddenly he heard Zhan Tianhong hmph and extend his sword to knock it away, then his wrist sank and swordlight cut down at Gu Sinan’s belly!
Gu Sinan didn’t bother with trying to hurt Jin Yi now, he quickly dropped his sabre to block and the two of them were locked in combat.
Foreman Chu want to move to respond, but Yun Feiyan was faster, driving her sword through their air at Xian Yuling’s chest.
Shen Ying’s pipestem was wrapped up by the knife, unable to burn it or two or break free from it. Instantly Jin Yi’s golden sword thrust at him. Showing resourcefulness in an emergency, he raised his left hand and shouted, “Watch out for the darts!”
Jin Yi quickly leapt to the side, and when he did he realized he’d been had and was furious. The golden sword waved and came on again faster!
After Shen Ying’s left hand went up, he yanked and Xian Yuling was dragged forward a step. Then Shen Ying let go and blew forward a step, right at Jin Yi’s oncoming sword!
Everyone watching was astounded and couldn’t help exclaiming softly. Even Jin Yi was surprised. His hand slowed and Shen Ying’s right foot kicked at his wrist.
After Xian Yuling was propelled forward, she sank her waist at once and used force, right hand yanking. Just at that time, Shen Ying let go of the snowsilk string and she staggered back and back, Yun Feiyan’s sword coming up at the right time at her chest!
This Xian Yuling! Worthy of here reputation all these years. She leaned out and the sword passed close by her as she leapt away!
Jin Yi, just in time, lowered his wrist and counterstabbed at Shen Ying’s thigh. Shen Ying quickly spun around to dodge it, then his pipestem knocked the golden sword away and struck at the Jade Hall acupoint on Jin Yi’s chest!
The tip of Jin Yi’s sword knocked the pipe bowl away and swept across at Shen Ying’s stomach. Shen Ying advanced rather than retreated, right hand hitting back, the mouth of the pipe knocking the golden sword away.
Jin Yi shouted, “Nice! Get a look at your old man’s move this time.” His swordplay changed, suddenly getting more violent. Shen Ying met it calmly, dismantling each move as it came, never backing down. He knew full well that if he pulled back he would lose the initiative, plus his pipestem was still wrapped up in Xian Yuling’s snowsilk string, one false move and his life was forfeit!
Besides the two of them there was also Gu Sinan facing off against Zhan Tianhong. Jin Yi had just turned to deal with Shen Ying when Zhan Tianhong got tangled up with Gu Sinan. These two attacked with speed, and in the blink of an eye they had exchanged fifty to sixty moves. Gu Sinan got more and more brave as he fought, sabreplay opening up, gradually forcing Zhan Tianhong back toward Jin Yi’s back.
Xian Yuling only used her left hand to deal with Yun Feiyan’s sword, so of course she was hard up, but every time she was in danger her ample experience turned danger into safety. She spied Shen Ying out of the corner of her eye and suddenly had an idea. She circulated force into her right arm and suddenly flew up and over Yun Feiyan’s head!
At the moment, Jin Yi’s sword was thrusting at Shen Ying, who was busy raising his pipestem to ward it off. Unexpectedly, Xian Yuling’s move pulled him along, and he was flung at Jin Yi. Jin Yi was delighted, the tip of his sword shifting slightly from the pipestem and down, stabbing straight at Shen Ying’s heart!
If it were someone else he’d have to let go of the pipe, but Shen Ying after all was an experienced person who’d been through it all. He put force in his arm and stopped his forward momentum and lowered his wrist, the bowl of his pipe striking the golden sword at an angle, but Jin Yi’s stroke was really very powerful, Shen Ying could only knock it away half a span. The point of the sword still stabbed Shen Ying in the ribs!
Jin Yi was wild with joy and was just about to forcefully to run the sword through with all his might, but just then, Xian Yuling once again yanked on the snowsilk string and Shen Ying just in the nick of time let go of it. The pipe flew off like an arrow loosed from the string, flying right at Jin Yi’s face!
This happened at such close quarters that Jin Yi didn’t have time to think and was struck head on, rocking him back, the point of his sword leaving Shen Ying’s body.
Shen Ying was like a ferocious tiger loosed from its cage, left fist immediately punching Jin Yi in the belly and Jin Yi was forced back again, his back colliding with someone else. He quickly sank his waist and used force to plant his feet, and Zhan Tianhong was knocked flying!
Zhan Tianhong had just been sent flying when Gu Sinan’s ravengold sabre thrust at him, the point of the sabre just happening to stab Jin Yi in the back!
This unexpected happening stunned Jin Yi, and before his sword could slash out, Shen Ying kicked him in the stomach. Instantly the ravengold sabre drove five fingerwidths into his body. He howled and swung the sword backward, chopping at Gu Sinan’s neck. This move caught Gu Sinan off guard. He didn’t have time to pull the sabre out, so he let go of it and flew backward.
Jin Yi immediately turned around and gave chase wielding his sword, the sabre still sticking out of his back, but he didn’t notice it at all! He waved his arm and put all his might into it, the sword shooting like a rainbow at Gu Sinan.
Gu Sinan was shocked. His martial arts was not as good, and now unarmed he didn’t dare try to block it, but threw himself down toward the ground floor. His left foot hit the railing and he couldn’t draw his leg in in time, the golden sword stabbing his leg, blood spurting out!
Shen Ying wasted no time. He saw Gu Sinan’s sabre sticking out of Jin Yi’s back and flew over and kicked the handle of the sabre, running it on through, blood spilling out like a stream!
Xian Yuling pulled with her right hand and slowly retrieved her knife, but Yun Feiyan didn’t let up, her sword coming on relentlessly, tight and close to Xian Yuling’s body!
Just then, Jin Yi’s explosive cry was heard, stopping Yun Feiyan up for a moment. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Gu Sinan was in danger and her mind was in turmoil, causing her hand to slow as Xian Yuling retrieved her knife. Shen Ying’s pipe was still wrapped around the string attached to the handle of the knife. Delighted beyond expression, she was just bummed that her knife was not as good at close quarters as it was attacking from a distance, but she could make use of this pipe!
She took up the pipe and knocked away Yun Feiyan’s sword, then struck at her chest. Yun Feiyan backed away, distracted, and bumped into the railing and teetered there.
Xian Yuling shouted, left palm utilizing her Little Celestial Star Palm Force to strike at Yun Feiyan. Yun Feiyan, shocked, stretched out over the railing and tumbled down!
At the same time, Foreman Chu, wielding a sabre, flew up to the second floor just as Jin Yi had been run through by the ravengold sabre and let out a savage, heart-rending cry. Xian Yuling was stunned and looked over and was frightened out of her senses. She said frantically, “Come quick, save this losing battle!”
Foreman Chu waved his sabre and cut her in half at the waist. “Is this slash quick enough!” And he leapt into one of the rooms.
Jin Yi and Xian Yuling’s deaths and Gu Sinan and Yun Feiyan’s retreat in defeat happened in a flash. Those watching could had not yet come to their senses, Lang the Fourth and Sima Cheng felling their opponents! After a long time, everyone’s pounding hearts gradually slowed to normal.
Quite a while later, Foreman Chu came out of the room pushing Zhan Tianhong. His finger pressed against Zhan Tianhong’s numbing acupoint and Zhan Tianhong went limp and fell. Foreman Chu had a worried look on his face when he said, “The windows have all been barred with iron, it’ll be a tough time getting out of here.”
Shen Ying laughed. “Last time this old fellow broke out through the roof, we can always do the same thing again!”
Foreman Chu leapt up and smashed the ceiling with both palms with a bang and he shot straight back down, but the ceiling was undamaged. “There’s an iron plate in the ceiling!” Everyone’s heart sank.
Shen Ying said, “Everyone gather in the main hall, don’t go anywhere alone, lest you trigger a booby trap. Little Gu, it’s all up to you!”
“These traps won’t give me any trouble!” Gu Sinan said confidently.
Easy to say, but by the time he got the iron portcullis opened and everyone exited the manor singlefile, it was already daylight out!
(3)
Back at Shen Ying’s Luoyang nest, Shen Ying sat, Gu Sinan and Yun Feiyan on either side of him.
Shen Ying thought it would take a long time, but unexpectedly, Zhan Tianhong confessed it all in one go.
“The one who killed Ouyang Peng was out hall’s head hallmaster Jin Yi. I concocted a fake name and wrote an invitation to get him into Ouyang Manor.”
Shen Ying said, “Hold on, I heard you were always with Ouyang Changshou, how did you bring Jin Yi into the manor?”
“When Ouyang Changshou sent me out to greet the guests, I brought him inside then. He was dressed like Senior Liang, posing as a manor guard, so no one was suspicious.”
Shen Yin asked, “How did he get out of Ouyang Manor later on?”
Zhan Tianhong said, “I also had several trusted men in the manor. I had them escort him out at night.”
Shen Ying nodded slowly. “So then why did you all kill Hu Sheng later on?”
“Hu Sheng deserved to die!” Zhan Tianhong said, “He was a drunkard and had a large gambling debt. That kind of person is the easiest to give themselves away, and the easiest to be manipulated. Our hall decided long ago to execute him. Senior Liang naturally knew the truth, so he intentionally fed them to you!”
Shen Ying had a thought and his voice deepened. “Last time when this old fellow was locked in the Ouyang Manor woodshed, that was all your all’s plan and arrangement?”
“Yes.” Zhan Tianhong hung his head, not daring to look at Shen Ying and his relentless gaze. “We thought of this before you arrived at Ouyang Manor, so we first went over the process with Senior Liang of setting the fire. Once you entered the woodshed, our men locked the door!”
Yun Feiyan blurted out, “In that case, Ouyang Manor has a lot of your people in it?”
“Yes, I underwent seven years of painstaking work, expended a lot of sweat and blood, naturally there it was a bit successful.”
But Shen Ying said, “Didn’t Senior Liang’s setting the fire lead to his own death? Even if it had burned this old fellow to death in the process, wouldn’t he have still been burned to death as well?”
“Yes, he knew too much, plus he was always vying with me for merit, of course I wouldn’t keep being polite to him! The woodshed has another little iron door that leads outside, but I ordered men to lock it up!”
Shen Ying said angrily, “Nonsense, you were in Zhengzhou the whole time, how could you arrange all of this in Luoyang?”
Zhan Tianhong hung his head again, thinking this over for a while. “Your Excellency, you mustn’t lose your temper once you hear this. The person who appeared in Zhengzhou was not me, only my stand-in. I had slipped back into Luoyang earlier.”
“When did you slip back in?”
“Once I recognized Lang the Fourth and Gen Gensheng from watching their moves when they fought with Incensemaster Su, I knew I had been found out, so I had no choice but to return to Luoyang, mending the pen after the sheep are lost, better late than never!”
Gu Sinan said angrily, “How did you mend it?”
“By striking first to gain the upper hand,” Zhan Tianhong said gently.
Shen Ying hmphed coldly, “How many of your underlings are there in Ouyang Manor?”
“I couldn’t say. First of all, I hope they can all make fresh starts in life. Most of them were threatened or bribed by me to enter our hall, they didn’t all join willingly. Secondly, this hall is finished, they don’t have the capacity to continue doing evil!”
Shen Ying said, “You’ve said a lot, but you still haven’t said what the purpose for establishing your esteemed hall was!”
Our humble hall hoped to control Luoyang and Zhengzhou, those two pieces of fatty meat, because these two large cities were always under Ouyang Manor, Sima Manor, and Great Xia Cui’s control, no gang would dare get involved, so we first had to eliminate these powerful forces! Because the profits from the gambling dens and the brothels are utterly impressive!”
Shen Ying asked another question, “This old fellow heard your esteemed hall has one by the surname Yi. Who is he?”
“He’s just this hall’s liaison man, his position is more or less the same rank as mine.”
“Why haven’t we seen him?”
“He went to assemble old friends to form an alliance.”
“Also, this Number Four who led people to murder Cui Yishan’s family, who is he?”
“He’s our humble hall’s Incensemaster Su!”
“The likes of him dared to tweak the tiger’s whiskers of Cui Yishan?”
“No,” Zhan Tianhong answered, “that day our humble hall’s Head Hallmaster Jin Yi and Vice Hallmaster Xian Yuling were also among the group.”
“Alright, this old fellow will turn you over to Ouyang Manor. As for how they will deal with you, that’s none of this old fellow’s concern. Little Gu, escort him and turn him over to Ouyang Manor!”
Sima Cheng stood off to the side, face full of grief and sorrow, his whole body trembling. Cui Yishan was also tearful.
Shen Ying looked at them. “Yishan’s grudge has be considered requited. As for Nephew Sima’s matter, that’s a bit thorny. In a few days this old fellow will arrange things for you.”
(4)
Three days later, Ouyang Manor sent someone to Shen Ying’s nest to ask him to go collect his fee. He put away his pipe and went with pleasure.
At Ouyang Manor, Foreman Chu said, “Madame is in the inner chamber waiting for you. I’ll take you there, after you!”
It was Ouyang Peng’s bridal chamber. The interior had been redecorated, Zhao Siniang sat on the bed, merely nodding when she saw Shen Ying. With a rough voice she said, “Many thanks, Your Excellency, for finding out the truth. Out humble manor above and below are indebted to you. This amount isn’t much, but a token of our humble manor’s regard.” She handed him a silver draft.
Shen Ying took two steps forward and received it. He looked at is and blurted out, “200,000 taels of silver!”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth he felt a pain in his back and he pitched forward two steps. He knew something was off and quickly turned around to see Foreman Chu holding a sharp sword, watching Shen Ying sinisterly.
Shen Ying backed up against the wall and slowly pulled out his pipe.
Foreman Chu said softly, “You had good reflexes, so one strike of the sword was not enough to end you!”
Shen Ying scoffed, “Don’t get happy yet, did you see if there’s any blood on the sword?” Brandishing his right hand, the bowl of the pipe hit Zhao Siniang in her Jumping Round acupoint. Zhao Siniang immediately leapt up and shouted abuse at Foreman Chu.
Foreman Chu saw that the flexible sword in his hand was spotlessly shiny, no trace of blood, and he cried out in alarm, “You weren’t hurt?”
Shen Ying scoffed, “No thanks to you! That day my back was burned in the fire, before heading to Zhengzhou I was afraid the burn might impede me, so I put on some burn medicine and then a piece of rhinoceros hide over that. Your sword just now hit the rhinoceros hide.”
Foreman Chu’s shock was no small matter. He quickly spun around and flew out of the room.
Shen Ying shouted urgently, “Little Gu, stop him!” And he struck him in the back with his pipe.
Foreman Chu wasn’t expecting an attack from behind, plus there was no way out ahead, so he did a somersault in the air, leaping over Shen Ying’s head, and he raced into the room.
Shen Ying turned and blocked the door. “Another wrong move, Gu Sinan isn’t here yet.”
Foreman Chu’s face turned pale and ashen. Suddenly he pounced on Zhao Siniang, who didn’t dodge out of the way but let him grab her by the waist.
Shen Ying said coldly, “You two rendezvous every night, now you want to get it on in broad daylight in front of this old fellow?”
Zhao Siniang’s face was burning red. She gently threw off Foreman Chu and groped for her pair of willowleaf sabres on the bed.
Foreman Chu said, “No need to fear, as long as we kill him, who will know?”
Shen Ying said, “It might not be so easy. Madame, why keep making one mistake after another?”
Zhao Siniang sighed faintly. “This time it was you who hurt me!” She glared ferociously at Foreman Chu.
Foreman Chu said, “You only say that now, isn’t it too late?” With that he thrust his sword at Shen Ying.
Shen Ying’s pipe struck and licked out,. Foreman Chu turned and slashed crosswise at Shen Ying’s waist. Shen Ying blocked with the pipe, only defending, not attacking.
Foreman Chu said urgently, “Siniang, what are you waiting for? Our lives from here on depend on this battle!”
Shen Ying responded, “Madame, if this old fellow is not mistaken, Foreman Chu hid a lot of evil things he did from you, he doesn’t have any feelings for you at all.”
Zhao Siniang’s face flushed and she started to whimper. “What… what do I still have to hope for?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Sinan and Yun Feiyan appeared in the doorway and Shen Ying was relieved. He shouted urgently, “Madame, please make way!” His voice was like a thunderclap, Zhao Siniang couldn’t help but do as he said and step to the side.
Shen Ying’s eyes were fixed closely on Foreman Chu. “Don’t think you can hide the fact from this old fellow that you’re in cahoots with Zhan Tianhong, actually this old fellow suspected you back in Zhengzhou.”
Foreman Chu was stunned and blurted out, “What gave me away?”
Shen Ying said, “ First, you were using a sabre, not a sword.”
Foreman Chu interrupted, “That did it? Didn’t I tell you first that I only studied swordplay with Divine Sword of Mount Lao for five years, what’s so strange about me using a sabre instead of a sword? Since I couldn’t learn the essence of the Mount Lao Swordplay, I changed to another sabreplay, that’s perfectly reasonable.”
“The problem is your sabreplay does not go with your internal skill or your other kungfu at all. If a person who studies martial arts has internal skill and fist and kicking techniques that are better than his sabreplay, then why wouldn’t he abandon the sabre and just use his fists?”
Foreman Chu sighed. “That was an oversight on my part. The second thing?”
“Xian Yuling was cut in two with one stroke of your sabre, that’s not easy to do, right? Even though she was distracted and disturbed by Jin Yi’s sudden death, she still could have avoided that sabre stroke. There’s only one explanation for why she didn’t: she was entirely not on her guard around you. If you and her weren’t in cahoots, how else could that be?”
Foreman Chu said coldly, “Since there was a second, there must be a third reason.”
“The third thing is what Xian Yuling right before she died. She said for you to quickly think of a way to save the losing situation, but you weren’t confident of being able to do that, so you simply killed her to dispose of a witness. Then you rushed into the room and told Zhan Tianhong you had a way to help him get out of danger, so Zhan Tianhong put up no resistance when you led him out.”
Foreman Chu’s expression changed again, his heart turned cold. He never imagined what he thought was a flawless plan, would actually have so many holes, how could he not be shaken?
Shen Ying talked faster and faster, “This old fellow intentionally turned Zhan Tianhong over to you. The problem was getting you to play along, so Zhan Tianhong’s testimony was nearly flawless.”
“Since it had no flaws, how did you find flaws in it? Isn’t that a contradiction?”
“This old fellow’s team all have eyes as shiny as snow. Even if they are wearing a disguised, a person’s eyes remain the same. Zhan Tianhong was obviously in Zhengzhou, but he claimed that the person in Zhengzhou was his impersonator. Since his words were false, that proved that there must be someone else directing things in Luoyang. This old fellow carefully deliberated and realized that person must be you. Furthermore, Jin Yi and Xian Yuling’s martial arts were good, but were nowhere near good enough to head a sect or a gang, not enough to be able to control you.”
Foreman Chu laughed. “I’m honored you think so highly of me. This seat, though suffering defeat today, there’s still honor in it. But have you guessed who this seat really is?”
“If this old fellow is not mistaken, you are “Ghost Sword” Yi Bai! This old fellow suspected that the person Sima Cheng encountered in the restaurant in Luoyang was you, Yi Bai! Zhan Tianhong said your position was more or less the same as his, but how could this old fellow believe that? When it comes to martial arts, his is only half as good as yours. What’s more, though you wore a disguise that day, later in Zhengzhou Sima Cheng still recognized your voice.”
“Alright, Amazing Constable Zhan sure lives up to his name. But how did you see through Zhao Siniang and I’s affair?”
“The night Senior Liang pretended to assassinate Madame Zhao, Gu Sinan had just snuck into the place and discovered a black silhouette emerge from the second floor of Madame Zhao’s apartment, but he couldn’t make out the face. Later, this old fellow thought it over and realized it was you.” With a heroic air, Shen Ying said, “You thought to use Senior Liang to feed information to this old fellow, and planned to kill me off. Too bad you couldn’t harm a single hair on this old fellow’s body.”
Yi Bai’s face became more and more pale.
Shen Ying sneered, “This old fellow not only knew of you and Madame Zhao’s affair, I also guessed your motive in seducing Madame Zhao.”
Yi Bai hmphed coldly. “This master doesn’t believe you’re really a divine immortal.”
Shen Ying’s expression hardened. “At first you thought that digging up Ouyang Manor’s foundation would allow you to do as you pleased, but later you discovered that this old fellow was involved in the case, and investigating more and more closely. So you settled for the next best thing, hoping that in the event that Gold & Jade Hall collapsed you could still control Ouyang Manor, and then you would certainly command all of Luoyang. Therefore, this old fellow concluded that you and Madame Zhao were having an affair, but it hadn’t been going on for long. It surely started after this old fellow got involved in this case.”
Yi Bai sighed and flicked his sword with his finger. “No wonder this seat lost to you, your thinking truly is meticulous, not something an ordinary person could accomplish, but what else do you know?”
“Ouyang Peng was killed by you, because the width of your sword matches his wound, and it’s a flex sword, able to wrap around your waist undetected. If you used an ordinary weapon, anyone other than the manorlord carrying a weapon that joyous day would raise eyebrows.”
Yi Bai said, “Truly, nothing gets by you.”
Zhao Siniang cried out sharply, voice quavering, “You really killed Ouyang Peng?”
Yi Bai hmphed coldly and didn’t even look at her.
Zhao Siniang wailed crazily, “Heavens! Changshou, Peng’er, I… I’m ashamed to face you!” Her willowleaf sabre sliced her throat and blood splattered her snow-white neck. No one in the room looked at her, as if they thought she deserved it all along, that it wasn’t worth their sympathy.
A while later, Yi Bai muttered, “Since you know everything, I don’t have anything left to ask.”
Shen Ying, completely expressionless, said, “Madame Zhao still had a sense of shame. Now it ought to be your turn.”
“I still have an unaccomplished wish, to have a fight to the death with you before I die. Can you help grant me this wish?”
Shen Ying, sighing deeply, “That’s called not giving up till you’ve reached the Yellow River. Why not, if you can, put all your skill to work, this old fellow absolutely won’t disappoint you.”
Yi Bai’s expression suddenly hardened, the point of his sword angling at Shen Ying’s face.
Shen Ying said, “Today, to see Divine Sword of Mount Lao Senior Hao’s swordplay is my good fortune.”
Yi Bai took advantage of his moment of distraction in talking to flick his wrist, spraying out five sword flourishes, the point of the sword licking out like a venomous snakes’ tongue at the vital acupoints on Shen Ying’s chest.
Shen Ying remained unmoved, waiting for Yi Bai’s sword to get close before turning his pipe on it.
The point of Yi Bai’s sword spat out, then immediately changed to a thrust at Shen Ying’s Sun acupoint on his temple. This move was very fast. But Shen Ying was better, not blocking with his pipe but swiftly striking at Yi Bai’s Jade Armillary acupoint. This was an advanced move that dispelled the opponent’s move while attacking with your own.
Yi Bai’s sword sped up, completely ignoring whether his vital acupoint on his chest was struck or not, this was a technique of mutual destruction. Shen Ying had no time to think and was greatly shocked, hastily moving to the side and pulling back.
With a ripping sound his shoulder was cut by Yi Bai’s flex sword, blood gurgling out. Yi Bai got the upper hand, his sword overpowering, every move aimed at Shen Ying’s vitals. Shen Ying, in the face of this death-defying fight style, found it a headache, feeling as helpless to strike as if he were all tied up.
With a tearing sound Yi Bai’s sword thrust at Shen Ying’s chest in a gust of forceful wind, Shen Ying’s pipe struggling to block it, his back pressed up against the bid bed carved with mandarin ducks. Impatiently, the pipe struck swiftly against Yi Bai’s wrist. Yi Bai turned his wrist and the point of his sword switched to a soaring thrust at Shen Ying’s shoulder, left palm at the same time smacking at Shen Ying in a gust of forceful wind.
Shen Ying’s pipe cut the sword off at an angle, left hand fingers pointing at Yi Bai’s pulse gate on his wrist. Sword and pipestem clashed, the flex sword speeding up, using the force slash across at Shen Ying’s waist. Shen Ying leapt up and stood on the bed. Yi Bai’s sword missed and he stole forward a step, slashing quickly at Shen Ying’s feet. Shen Ying jumped again and pulled down the mosquito net, which fell over Yi Bai’s head. Yi Bai frantically waved his sword but the mosquito net was giving him trouble unable to cut through it for a time, rather tangling up his flex sword. Shen Ying’s pipe struck and Yi Bai pulled back urgently, right hand swinging wildly, the mosquito fluttering around with the sword, obscuring his line of vision. Shen Ying’s pipe thrust out, his right foot suddenly stepping on Yi Bai’s knee, and with a crunch the bone snapped and he went wide, Shen Ying’s pipe just then pressing his numbing acupoint.
× × ×
Ouyang Changquan and the others heard what was going on and rushed out. He listened to Shen Ying’s analysis and couldn’t help finding it odd. “Since Zhan Tianhong was lying low in out humble manor, why did Yi Bai incessantly scheme to hibernate here? And why come here a year earlier than Zhan Tianhong?”
Shen Ying said, “Forgive me for saying something unpleasant to hear, but Gold & Jade Hall’s pivotal center was established here in your esteemed manor. Yi Bai was Gold & Jade Hall’s true boss. Zhan Tianhong was someone he brought in later to expand Gold & Jade Hall. You three brothers always had it easy, it was unavoidable that after a while you would get careless, especially in your later years, often going out traveling, enjoying the mountains and rivers, imperceptibly giving Gold & Jade Hall an opportunity.”
“Form what you’re telling me, he was profiting from this old rotter’s Third Sister-in-law?”
“Yes, but Zhao Siniang didn’t know what was going on at the time. Yi Bai thought telling her to give this old fellow 200,000 taels of silver would pleasantly surprise this old fellow so much that I’d lose my vigilance. Mm, this silver draft ought to be returned to you. This case is not worth near that much money.”
Ouyang Changquan said, “If not for Amazing Constable perceiving the smallest details, who knows what would have become of our humble manor. This old rotter feels this sum of money is still too little, Amazing Constable, just accept it. To put it a bit arrogantly, 200,000 taels of silver, for our humble manor, is nothing.”
“In that case this seat accepts.”
Suddenly a guard ran over to report, saying that Zhan Tianhong had unexpectedly been killed. Shen Ying said, “That’s certainly on Yi Bai’s orders to do away with a witness. There are still others here now, no matter how your esteemed manner handles it. Also, henceforth I fear your esteemed manor will have to purge this entire group of guards.”
× × ×
Sima Cheng listened to Shen Ying’s report and couldn’t help but shed stinging tears.
“Worth Nephew, what do you plan to do?” Shen Ying said, “This matter was handled too impulsively by Ouyang Manor and the Zhao family.”
Sima Cheng suddenly took on a firm, resolute expression. “Little Nephew considers the matter settled. Ouyang Manor has lost a lot of people, even Zhao Siniang is dead. Even if Little Nephew wanted to take revenge, who would I take it against? Zhao Rongguo? Probably after he learns of everything he will have a hard time handling it. Now Little Nephew only fears my deceased father and mother’s souls in Heaven will not forgive Little Nephew for this decision!”
Shen Ying showed an approving face. “Worthy Nephew’s decision is just what this old fellow wished. It proves that Worthy Nephew’s understanding is a cut above the rest, with willpower and breadth of mind that others can’t match. It will meet your father and mother’s souls in Heaven’s approval with joy.”
× × ×
Half a month later, Sima Cheng went back to Zhengzhou alone to see his old home. There was added two new graves, the tombs immense and lavishly constructed, beside them countless stone figures and stone animals.
Sima Cheng was astonished. He went up for a closer look. One the tombstone were carved his father and mother’s names, and under that “Zhao Rongguo” in small characters. Shockingly, in front of the tombstone an arm lay, and arm that had clearly been separated from its body not long before. It still seemed to carry a trace of warmth.
After Sima Cheng’s shock subsides he realized it was Zhao Rongguo’s arm. His eyes blurred and stinging tears started. He flung himself on the tombstone and starting crying bitterly.
THE END
