Chu Liuxiang 1 Chapter 18 - Turning All Living Things Upside Down

She spoke the world's richest-with-legend, as well as the most romantic, name, one more time, but the tone of her voice was still flat, as if there was not the slightest bit of amazement. 'Chu Liuxiang', these three words were regarded with such indifference … especially regarded with such indifference by a woman; perhaps this has never happened before.

NanGong Ling bowed and said, "Originally disciple did not dare to take outside guest to come and disturb Madame, but this gentleman Chu Gongzi has a rather deep relations.h.i.+p with our Gang. Not only that, the reason of his visit this time is related to our Gang …"

Madame Ren spoke indifferently, "The Gang's affair has nothing to do with me; why would you come to me?"

"But this matter is deeply related to Madame," Chu Liuxiang said.

"What matter?" Madame Ren asked.

Chu Liuxiang cast a glance toward NanGong Ling. Muttering to himself irresolutely, he said, "Ximen Qian, Zuo Youzheng, Lingjiu Zi, Zha Muge, these four Qianbei, presumably Madame knew them. This time Zaixia's visit here is related to these four gentlemen."

As he spoke, he paid close attention to any changes in Madame Ren's look. Although he did not see her face, he found out that her tranquil shoulders seemed to suddenly tremble a little.

And then, she abruptly rose up to her full height and looked back.

Chu Liuxiang has been waiting for her to look back; he was waiting to see her turning-all-living-things-upside-down appearance. When her head was turning, Chu Liuxiang could not stop his heart from beating faster.

But when she turned back, Chu Liuxiang was completely disappointed.

Unexpectedly her face was covered in a layer of black gauzed veil, so much so that even her eyes were covered. Unexpectedly she was this stingy with her appearance; she was unwilling to let anybody look at her.

Chu Liuxiang only felt that her pair of bright and sharp fluid glance was penetrating the black gauzed veil to look at him … so much so that it penetrated his body, and was looking at his heart.

But he did not lower his head. No one in the world could make Chu Liuxiang lower his head.

Madame Ren's gaze was fixed at him for a long, long time. By the time she spoke again, her voice has returned to its former tranquil tone. She finally spoke slowly, "That's right, I do know those four men. But it was a matter of twenty years ago. Why did you use this matter, which even I have already forgotten, to disturb me?"

"But Madame has recently wrote a letter to them, is that right?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

"Letter?" Madame Ren blankly said.

Chu Liuxiang looked straight at her. "That's right," he said, "Letter! The letter said Madame had some difficulties and asked them to rush over to help. Zaixia came here precisely to consult Madame about what kind of difficulty was mentioned in the letter?"

Madame Ren was silent for half a day. She spoke indifferently, "I don't remember ever writing such letter; are you sure you did not read it wrong?"

Chu Liuxiang was like suddenly someone stuffed a half-ripe persimmon in his mouth; his heart felt bitter and astringent, as well as dejected. He really did not understand why Madame Ren was unwilling to reveal the secret of this letter.

But he did not give up; he spoke loudly, "Madame did write the letter, Zaixia did not read it wrong."

Madame Ren coldly said, "How do you know that you did not read it wrong? Are you saying that you recognize my handwriting?"

Chu Liuxiang was stumped for words; he stared blankly without being able to say anything.

Madame Ren turned around and kneeled down again, saying, "NanGong Ling, close the door on your way out. Forgive me for not seeing you off."

Quietly pulling Chu Liuxiang, who was still staring blankly, NanGong Ling said, "Madame already said she did not write that letter, someone must have impersonated her. Let's go!"

Chu Liuxiang muttered, "Impersonating her … that's right."

His eyes suddenly turned toward the inelegantly shaped, ancient looking porcelain bottle; he said, "Could it be that Ren Lao Bangzhu's remains were cremated?"

Madame Ren has not responded, NanGong Ling already interrupted, "When Beggar Clan disciples die, most of them would be cremated. This is the legacy regulation that is pa.s.sed from generation to generation within the Beggar Clan."

Letting out a long laughter, Chu Liuxiang said, "Too bad I could not even see Ren Lao Bangzhu's face for the last time. It is a really big regret."

Unexpectedly Madame Ren suddenly said, "You need not regret it. My late husband was bedridden for many years and he died suddenly, those who could see his face for the last time were not many. Just go away quickly!"

Chu Liuxiang's eyes suddenly lit up. "Thank you Madam," he said.

"I did not do you any favor, you don't need to thank me," Madame Ren replied.

"Yes," Chu Liuxiang said.

He quietly withdrew, but in his mind he chewed on Madame Ren's last few words. These few words sounded so ordinary, yet he felt that there was infinite meaning behind it.

The two men returned all the way to Jinan. NanGong Ling seemed to know that Chu Liuxiang was not in good mood, hence he did not disturb him; he simply accompanied him quietly by his side.

By the time they arrived at Jinan, it was already very late at night of the third day.

Only then did NanGong Ling sighed and said, "Chu Xiong going back and forth in vain, Xiaodi feels very much disappointed as well."

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, "I am the one meddling in other people's business, yet I am implicating you to accompany me running around there and back; I should have invited you for a couple cups of wine."

NanGong Ling laughed and said, "Accompanying Chu Xiong drinking wine, I need at least three days. Would Chu Xiong excuse me?"

Chu Liuxiang was precisely hoping that he would go away, the quicker the better. Laughing aloud, he said, "I will excuse you this time, but if you are still not leaving, I am afraid I might change my mind."

He has not finished speaking, NanGong Ling really laughed heartily, cupped his fist, and left.

As soon as NanGong Ling left, Chu Liuxiang hurriedly headed toward the bank of Daming Lake.

This time, he found Hei Zhenzhu without any difficulty at all. As soon as Hei Zhenzhu saw him, his pearl-like eyes grew darker and shone brighter [reminder: Hei Zhenzhu means black (or dark) pearl]. Jumping up from the small boat, he asked, "Did you see Qiu Lingsu?"

"Although somebody wholeheartedly tried to stop me, I managed to see her," Chu Liuxiang replied.

"Was she really very beautiful?" Hei Zhenzhu asked.

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, "Somehow you really are like girls; instead of asking what she said, your first question is what she looks like. Too bad her face is covered in black gauzed veil, so I did not see her face."

Hei Zhenzhu seemed to be more disappointed than Chu Liuxiang; he sighed first before asking, "What did she say?"

Smiling wryly, Chu Liuxiang said, "She said, she did not remember ever writing that kind of letter."

Hei Zhenzhu was stunned. "Could it be that the letter was not written by her?" he said.

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, "If she really wrote those letters, she must have known that Ximen Qian and the others have already died for her; why would she lie to me? Could it be that she did not want me to uncover this secret for her?"

Hei Zhenzhu stared blankly for half a day. He mumbled, "That's right, indeed she has no reason to lie to you, but …" he suddenly grabbed Chu Liuxiang's hand and blurted out, "You said her face was covered by black gauzed veil, didn't you?"

"Uh huh," Chu Liuxiang replied.

Hei Zhenzhu said, "Could it be that the one you saw was not Qiu Lingsu, but someone else posing as her?"

"Definitely not someone else disguised as her," Chu Liuxiang replied.

"You have not even seen her face," Hei Zhenzhu said, "How do you know it was not someone else disguised as her?"

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, "Although I have not seen her face, but that kind of voice, that kind of graceful bearing, who on earth could impersonate it? Besides, if she was a fake article, there wouldn't be someone who wanted to stop me, someone who did not want me to see her."

Finally Hei Zhenzhu heaved a deep sigh and said, "In that case, the secret could never be uncovered?"

Chu Liuxiang smiled slightly and said, "In Chu Liuxiang's eyes, there has never been these three words, 'impossible' [bu ke neng]."

Laughing coldly, Hei Zhenzhu said, "What word is there in your eyes? I am afraid there are only two words, 'tooting your own horn' [chui niu]!"

Chu Liuxiang ignored him; his eyes swept around, he asked, "I told you to watch for someone, she hasn't come?"

"She has already come," Hei Zhenzhu replied.

Greatly delighted, Chu Liuxiang asked, "You have seen her? Where is she?"

"Dead!" Hei Zhenzhu replied.

When 'Dead', these two words [si liao] came out of his mouth, although he said it in an easy manner, in Chu Liuxiang's ears it was tantamount to huge thunder overhead, tantamount to heaven falling and earth rending.

Chu Liuxiang's entire body jumped up, he grabbed Hei Zhenzhu's shoulders and cried out involuntarily, "What did you say?"

"I said, she had been killed," Hei Zhenzhu replied.

"You … you saw it?" Chu Liuxiang asked.