Book 1 Chapter 21 - Madame Gang Leader

Chu Liuxiang could not help asking, "What two words?"

Qiu Lingsu replied, "He only said, 'Come', these two words [lai ba]; and then he shut up and did not speak. Seeing how arrogant he was, Ren Ci could not stop his anger from rising up; therefore, he did not feel like talking to him either."

"Did Ren Bangzhu use any weapon?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

Qiu Lingsu replied, "The weapon Ren Ci used was the bamboo staff, the traditional weapon that has been used by Beggar Clan's Bangzhu from generation to generation, which is commonly referred to as 'Dog Beating Stick'. The two men fought for not even ten moves, Ren Ci already sent the sword in Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's hand flying, and struck the pit of his stomach with his staff. Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang immediately spurted blood and fell down."

Chu Liuxiang was even more surprised; he blurted out, "Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang came here relying on his skill, how could he be that bad?"

Qiu Lingsu heaved a deep sigh and said, "At that time Ren Ci was surprised as well. Later on he found out that Ren Ci was not the first person that Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang challenged. In that same day, Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang already fought a duel with someone else; not only that, he already suffered a very heavy internal injury. If he were willing to speak, naturally Ren Ci would not be willing to take advantage of his precarious position by fighting with him. But he was afraid that if he talked, others would think that he was a coward. Therefore, he only spoke two words, 'Come', while all along his lips were sealed and did not say anything about his own injury. Ren Ci thought that his natural temperament was arrogant, hence he disdained talking with other people!"

She sighed and went on, "His internal injury was originally very heavy, and then he received Ren Ci's staff strike. Internal and external injuries flared up at the same time, even if he were made of iron, he would not be able to endure it; he died that same day. Even at death's door he still did not say anything that showed his weakness; he did not blame Ren Ci the slightest bit either. He only said that he could die on the battlefield, his life could be considered not in vain."

To begin with, this tale of an eccentric Wulin character was full of moving and tragic emotion. This moment, Qiu Lingsu retold the story using her uniquely graceful voice, it became even more moving and thrilling.

Listening to her, Chu Liuxiang could not stop his hot blood from boiling. Looking up to the sky, he let out a long sigh and said, "This Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang was unwilling to show any weakness, he was unwilling to break his promise even more. Fully aware that he would definitely die, he still waited there to take up the challenge. He is indeed worthy to be called the rarely-seen-in-the-world hero and strong real man."

Qiu Lingsu said, "That is probably the spirit of martial art way [wudao] of the Dongying [East China Sea or j.a.pan] warriors [wus.h.i.+ - samurai]." [Translator's note: I translated this section as is. If Gu Long had said 'wu s.h.i.+ dao' instead of 'wu dao', then it would be 'Bus.h.i.+do' - the way of the warriors.]

Chu Liuxiang said, "In any case, this kind of man is always worthy of other people's admiration. No wonder that even twenty years later Ren Lao Bangzhu still thought about him often."

Qiu Lingsu sighed and said, "Although Ren Ci was not responsible for Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's death, throughout his life Ren Ci always felt guilt-ridden; he often said that if that day he paid a bit more attention, it would not be difficult to see that Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang had been injured."

"Who was the other person who injured him before Ren Lao Bangzhu did?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

"Ren Ci never mentioned this matter," Qiu Lingsu replied.

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Chu Liuxiang said, "This man must be similar Ren Lao Bangzhu in that he did not like false reputation either; hence the reason until today, no other person knew about his duel with Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang."

He paused, and then added, "This person was able to injure Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang using his internal power, his martial art skill must be very high. It is also obvious that after Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang received injury during the decisive battle, he was still able to hasten on toward the mountain, so presumably that person's residence was also around the Minnan region. But who is he …? Ah! Could it be …"

Qiu Lingsu suddenly said, "I am telling you this story, it is not without any reason."

"What's the reason?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

Qiu Lingsu slowly said, "At the death's door, Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang entrusted something to Ren Ci. But no matter how I asked him, Ren Ci always refused to tell me."

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, "Why did Ren Lao Bangzhu keep this matter as a secret like that?"

Qiu Lingsu spoke heavily, "Originally I was at a loss as well, but later on I managed to guess a little bit."

"Oh?" Chu Liuxiang said.

Qiu Lingsu said, "Each time Ren Ci looked at NanGong Ling, he always remembered Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang; he would sigh ruefully all day long. Until later, although he was fully aware that NanGong Ling had harmed him, he would still refuse to cause the slightest bit of harm toward NanGong Ling; he always said that he had let NanGong Ling down. But he raised NanGong Ling from a child to an adult, how did he let NanGong Ling down?"

Her gaze seemed to penetrate the black gauzed veil and was fixed on Chu Liuxiang's eyes as she spoke word-by-word, "Therefore, my guess is that the matter Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang entrusted to Ren Ci just before his death was NanGong Ling. Ren Ci was aware that he let Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang down, therefore, he was exceptionally tolerant toward NanGong Ling."

Chu Liuxiang excitedly said, "Are you saying that NanGong Ling is Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang's orphan?"

"Exactly," Qiu Lingsu replied.

Chu Liuxiang thought for a moment, and then he clapped his hands and said, "That's right! Ren Lao Bangzhu never wanted to talk about this, he must be afraid that after NanGong Ling found out about the secret of his past, he would have a radical change of heart."

Qiu Lingsu mournfully said, "Now you can finally understand Ren Ci's difficulty. At that time he simply regarded NanGong Ling almost as his own son, naturally he did not want NanGong Ling to know that he was his father's killer. All his life he had always been open and honest, yet there was this hidden secret, so the pain in his heart could be very well imagined."

Chu Liuxiang spoke in horror, "But no matter how he concealed it, unexpectedly the person that finally killed him was still NanGong Ling. Twenty years ago, he unintentionally made a mistake, yet after twenty years he paid it with his own life."

Thinking that the underworld had arranged this bizarre and cruel punishment, even Chu Liuxiang could not help shuddering inwardly, while Qiu Lingsu spoke with quivering voice, "If that was really the price that the Heaven wanted him to pay, then the Heaven is really too unfair."

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Chu Liuxiang said, "But is NanGong Ling also aware of this matter? That mysterious killer, could it be that he is also related to Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang? If not, how could he master the secret of Dongying warriors' ren shu?"

Qiu Lingsu slowly said, "These secrets, you will have to uncover them all yourself. Everything that I know, I have completely pa.s.sed on to you. You … you may go now."

Looking straight into her eyes, Chu Liuxiang suddenly said, "Zaixia still wants to ask Madame one thing."

"What is it?" Qiu Lingsu asked.

Chu Liuxiang said, "I wonder if Madame could open your veil, so that Zaixia could have a glimpse of Madame's splendor?"

Qiu Lingsu was silent for a long time; she spoke pensively, "You really want to see me?"

"Zaixia does have this wish, and it is not just today," Chu Liuxiang replied.

In his heart he was really full of curiosity; he really wished he could see what the beauty that overturned all living things really looked like, otherwise, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

The more one cannot see something, the more he would want to see it. Although the black gauzed veil covering her face was thin, it actually made this peerless beauty appeared more mysterious and heightened the fantasy surrounding her.

Qiu Lingsu was silent for a long time. At last she sighed softly and said, "In the last twenty years, you will be the second person of ever seeing my true face."

Stunned, Chu Liuxiang said, "Those who can see Madame's appearance are only two?"

Qiu Lingsu replied word-by-word, "That's right; only two. You and Ren Ci …"

"Why?" Chu Liuxiang asked, "Other people …"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stopped. Although he had seen not a few of strange things in all his life, not one thing could make him this shocked.

The black gauzed veil was finally lifted.

Chu Liuxiang had hoped to see a fairy's face, who would have thought that this moment, the face that was revealed by the black gauzed veil actually belonged to the devil?

On this face, unexpectedly there was not even one fen, one cun smooth, intact skin. The entire face was like the solidifying lava after volcanic eruption. There were no five sense organs, no outline. In fact, there was nothing, except some ugly, naked-red piece of meat, with some split cavities.

Qiu Lingsu spoke slowly, "Are you satisfied now?"

Chu Liuxiang replied, "Zaixia … Zaixia really don't know …"

Qiu Lingsu said, "Now you ought to understand why only you and Ren Ci have ever seen this face, because my face has already been destroyed. I think, no woman in the world would want anybody to see her face if it looks like this; don't you agree?"

Unexpectedly her voice could be this indifferent and calm. But this kind of calm and indifferent words was even more unbearable to Chu Liuxiang.