Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, "Now, even if you let me pa.s.s, I won't pa.s.s through. My interest in you is getting bigger than my interest in Madame Ren. After experiencing your 'Yingfeng Yi Dao Zhan', I want to have a nice chat with you."

Laughing fiendishly, Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang said, "This 'Yingfeng Yi Dao Zhan' is the essence of the way of the swords [jian dao]. When the sword comes out, it has to kill; those who block it will not be pardoned. After you look at it, don't think that you would be able to talk to anybody."

He stared at Chu Liuxiang without blinking. His eyes emitted some kind of demonic, peculiar light. Within his slowly spoken words, there seemed to be some kind of demonic, peculiar hypnotic power.

Although on the surface Chu Liuxiang was still smiling, his entire body, from top to bottom, every fen, every cun, was in full alert. But his eyes were fixed on the saber.

The saber was over five chi long, it was long and narrow like a sword.

Such a peculiar long saber, naturally it must have peculiar style as well.

Suddenly he saw Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang grabbing the saber, while his person was also leaping up; the saber has left its scabbard! The saber light was like a vast and deep limpid autumn waters, dark green and deep cold, piercing into the flesh and bones.

Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang turned his left hand over to hold the scabbard, while his right hand grasped the long saber. Left hand hanging below his waist, right hand raising the saber level to his eyebrow, the blade facing out. The saber might chop down any moment.

But his body was like stone statue; it did not move at all. His demonic, peculiar gaze was fixed on Chu Liuxiang. The saber light was like his gaze, it also enveloped Chu Liuxiang.

The blade, although it was not moving yet, but Chu Liuxiang already felt the murderous aura shooting out of it, which was growing heavier and heavier. Although he was standing some distance away, unexpectedly he did not dare to move half a cun.

He knew that as soon as he moved the slightest bit, it would be hard not to reveal any opening, and then the opponent's 'must kill sword' would immediately chop down.

This 'using stillness to control motion' was precisely the essence of the Dongying's sword way.

'The enemy does not move, I do not move. The enemy moves, I move first. Not unleas.h.i.+ng at all, once it is unleashed, it will hit.'

'Martial art masters facing off against each other, wouldn't one move be able to differentiate victory from defeat?'

Dark clouds were gathering from all around, the leaves on the trees were rustling, the earth was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with somber and desolate air.

The sound of surging waves seemed to be moving farther and farther away, until it finally disappeared altogether. The only audible thing was the rhythm of Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang and Chu Liuxiang's breathing, which was also growing heavier and heavier.

The 'stillness' in standing face to face was really more dreadful than the 'motion' of the battle attacking each other.

Only because the 'stillness' was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with unknown crisis, unknown danger; n.o.body could predict where Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's blade would chop.

Chu Liuxiang could already feel the beads of sweat trickling down from the tip of his nose, but Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's yellow waxy face was like a dead person's; it did not show any changes.

Suddenly the two wooden clogs fell into the rave below. It was a long time later that a couple of 'Splas.h.!.+' was heard, as the wooden clogs fell into the water. Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's movement has kicked the clogs down.

Step-by-step Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang was pressing on.

Chu Liuxiang could not move. He did not know how to move.

Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's bare feet ground against the rough stone beam as he moved step by step forward; the sole of his feet was scratched, leaving traces of blood on the stone beam.

But he did not seem to feel anything.

His heart and soul were entirely on the saber. He was totally oblivious of ten thousand matters outside his body. Although his figure was moving, the blade of the saber was still standing upright.

Even the top of the blade did not flicker at all.

But right this moment, suddenly a wisp of sharp wind attacked straight toward Chu Liuxiang's waist and flank.

Although the saber in Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's hand has not moved, the scabbard actually thrust out.

Chu Liuxiang's entire body was actually prepared for the saber, unexpectedly he would use the scabbard to strike first. Startled, instinctively his body moved backward.

Yet at this moment, Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang roared while the sword in his hand was swiftly hacking down.

He already calculated accurately Chu Liuxiang retreating path, and already calculated accurately that Chu Liuxiang would not be able to retreat even if he wanted to, that he would not be able to evade even if he wanted to. This saber was indeed the 'sword that has to kill'.

This saber appeared ordinary, without anything amazing about it, but the essence of this sword way, the intelligence while facing the enemy, the extreme limit of the martial art that the earth is capable of containing, were all covered in this one saber strike.

Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's eyes have turned completely red, the clothes covering his body was also aroused by the true power exuded by his body that it ballooned and fluttered in the wind - this saber must kill; he really did not need to spare any energy.

This 'One Saber Chop in The Wind'; would it really be unequalled throughout the world?

The saber wind pa.s.sed over, Chu Liuxiang's body also fell down … he could not retreat even if he wanted to, could not evade even if he wanted to, unexpectedly he jumped off the stone beam.

Although he managed to evade this saber that must kill without pardon, yet it was difficult for him to avoid having his body buried in the hundreds of zhang deep ravine! NanGong Ling's face contorted; he could not help wanting to cry out in shock.

Who would have thought that his cry has not left his mouth, Chu Liuxiang's figure suddenly sprang up.

Turned out although his body fell down, the tip of his foot still managed to hook the stone beam. Once the saber blade pa.s.sed through, the toes, utilizing the inertia force, sending his body shooting four zhang into the air, where he made a somersault, and then like a hawk seizing a rabbit he pounced down straight toward Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang.

He intentionally walked up the stone beam, seemingly taking his chances, but actually he has already calculated early on his way out of the stone beam. Far before the battle happened, he unexpectedly already figured out every possible scenario. The way he turned over and fell, the way he leaped high into the sky, not only a demonstration of his qinggong, his shenfa, which has reached the great heights, but also the embodiment of his resourcefulness in facing the enemy. Although the two combatants have only exchanged one move, this one move was the crystallization of their martial art and intelligence.

Once Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang sent out one saber strike, he had no strength left. Chu Liuxiang's speed in meeting a contingency, his superior qinggong, had really far exceeded his expectation.

The stone beam terrain was extremely dangerous; Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang originally wanted to exploit the danger to produce victory; he had forgotten that if there was any advantage, there must also be detriment. This moment the situation changed, he ended up eating his own fruit instead.

Chu Liuxiang's figure pouncing down, he also could not retreat even if he wanted to, he could not evade even if he wanted to.

There was a loud 'Clang!' as the blade chopped down of the stone beam; sparks flew everywhere, with one grab Chu Liuxiang caught his hair, and said with a long laugh, "Sire, where do you think you are going?"

The sound of his laughter rose up before it stopped abruptly!

What Chu Liuxiang grabbed in his hand was unexpectedly just a pile of fake hair, with a waxy yellow mask attached at the end. Nothing more.

He saw Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's body rolling down, and then suddenly with another 'Clang!' A piece of string flew out of his hand and nailed itself onto the stone beam.

Following the thread, his body swept away and floated down; unexpectedly he was not hurt at all. They saw him quickly wading toward the bank of the stream and walking away. Laughing loudly, he said, "Chu Liuxiang, you have seen Yihe's 'Empty Cicada Technique', isn't it the most amazing thing in the world?"

Before the laughter disappeared, he had already gone far away.

Unexpectedly Chu Liuxiang could only stare blankly at Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang swaggering off. He could not chase even if he wanted to, he could not block even if he wanted to. He simply clutched the wig and the mask in his hand, while standing there, dumbfounded.

Only drops of water were dripping down from the mask.

Chu Liuxiang suddenly laughed and said, "In any case, I still made him sweat … Just now, with the mask covering his face, I thought he was completely without any feeling so that he did not even sweat!"

Only this moment did NanGong Ling walk over and said with a laugh, "The martial art of Yihe Valley is indeed strange and ruthless, really unfathomable. Were it not for Chu Xiong's unrivalled-in-the-world qinggong, perhaps today no one would escape his saber."

Staring at him, suddenly Chu Liuxiang broke into laughter and said, "Although he learned his martial art from Yihe, but he himself did not come from Yihe."

Taken aback, NanGong Ling asked, "How did Chu Xiong know?"

Chu Liuxiang replied, "If he really came from Yihe, how did he know I am Chu Liuxiang?"

NanGong Ling thought for a moment, and then he blurted out, "That's right, just now Xiaodi did not mention Chu Xiong's name at all."

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, "Besides, if he was really Yihe Ren Xia, you and I basically did not know him, why would he bother to wear a mask and change his appearance?"

NanGong Ling mused, "But if that man was not a Yihe Ninja, who is he?"

Brilliant rays flickered in Chu Liuxiang's eyes, he said, "Until now, although I cannot guess who he is, but I know that he must know me, and I must have known him as well …"

The light in his eyes brightened, he laughed and went on, "The range of possibilities can't be too big, simply because within the Wulin under the heavens, those who know my true ident.i.ty are not many. And those with that kind of martial art skill are even less."

NanGong Ling said, "As far as Xiaodi knows, within the martial art masters of the world, practically not even one person is proficient in Yihe ren shu."

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, "Naturally ren shu is not his original school's martial art. In such a crisis he was still unwilling to use his original school's martial art, naturally it was because he knew that as soon as he used his original school's martial art, I would immediately recognize who he is."

NanGong Ling's eyes also brightened; he said, "In that case, wouldn't this person's real ident.i.ty is on the verge of coming out into the open?"

Chu Liuxiang smiled slightly and said, "Mysteries of heaven must not be revealed. Buddha said, 'must not be mentioned, must not be mentioned'."

NanGong Ling roared in laughter and said, "I never thought Chu Xiong unexpectedly can hold off the climax of the story."

Stretching his limbs, Chu Liuxiang said, "In any case, shall I be able to see Madame Ren today?"

NanGong Ling laughed and said, "Even if Chu Xiong did not wish to see her, I am afraid Xiaodi will be dying to see her."

The two men looked at each other and roared in laughter together as they walked over the stone beam.

Arriving here, where the mountainous area ended, the forest hidden from view, there were thirty-five cottages.

Leading the way, NanGong Ling walked over toward the bamboo fence in front of the cottage and spoke in loud and clear voice, "Disciple NanGong Ling is coming with a specific purpose in mind to kowtow and to inquire Madame's wellbeing."

After half a day, someone responded slowly from inside the hut, "Since you are already here, why don't you push the door and come in?"

The voice was incomparably gentle and soft, incomparably graceful; hearing this kind of voice, one would be able to infer what kind of person the speaker was.

Unconsciously Chu Liuxiang's spirit was shaken; laughing quietly, he said, "Without seeing the person, just by listening to this voice, one's spirit would clear up and his qi open up."

NanGong Ling did not answer; he slowly pushed the bamboo fence open and tiptoed in.

Arriving here, this fiery and pa.s.sionate Gang Leader of the Beggar Clan unexpectedly seemed to become like a tardy pupil who was afraid that the teacher might punish him; he did not dare to even breathe loudly.

The wooden door outside the cottage was half-closed. A whiff of faint delicate fragrance permeated the air from the gap on the door. A huge, ancient cypress tree branches loomed overhead; there was also an unknown kingfisher bird perched on it, but it seemed to be asleep.

Walking into the dense serenity, Chu Liuxiang also seemed to be afraid to break the quiet loneliness; unconsciously his steps became lighter.

This moment, that same elegant voice spoke slowly, "The door is open, why haven't you stepped in?"

With the squeak of the door, the kingfisher was startled, the door was ajar.

At first glance, Chu Liuxiang saw a woman with her long hair draped across her shoulders, wearing black gown, kneeling woodenly in front of an incense burner table, without moving at all, as if she has been kneeling there since the ancient times.

Her back was toward the door, so he could not see her face.

However, although her back was facing the door, although she was not moving, her elegant posture was enough to make Chu Liuxiang, in his unconscious mind, to look at her as he was losing his mind.

He had never thought that the back of a kneeling woman could have such a great charm.

On the incense burner table was an inelegantly shaped, garishly colored porcelain bottle emitting thick incense fragrance. Without turning her head, Madame Ren slowly said, "NanGong Ling, who did you bring here?"

Chu Liuxiang bowed and said, "Zaixia Chu Liuxiang, came with specific purpose in mind to pay my respects to Madame."

Madame Ren said, "Chu Liuxiang …"