I am super, super busy in real life. Luckily as I have mentioned before, I have a stash of Chu Liuxiang material (I wanted to know how it ends ...).

Book 1 Chapter 22 - Close Friends Became Foes

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, "No matter what, he could not be regarded as sacrificing his life; although he did not obtain the most beautiful woman on earth, he did obtain the world's gentlest, most elegant, most considerate wife."

Qiu Lingsu spoke gently, "Thank you, thank you for saying such thing about me. You will never know how happy I am in my heart listening to your words."

Chu Liuxiang said, "Zaixia is the one who should thank Madame for telling me about these past happenings. In all my life, Zaixia can't possibly hear a greater, more moving love story."

Qiu Lingsu suddenly laughed as well, she said, "Maybe you know that other than Ren Ci, not only you are the only man who had ever seen my face, you are also the only man that I am grateful to."

Fixing her gaze on Chu Liuxiang, her eyes became gentler.

She gently stroked the porcelain urn, so light and gentle, as she slowly continued, "Although only Ren Ci could give me twenty years of tranquil and blessed life, but only you can make me die with such a tranquil mind …"

Aghast, Chu Liuxiang asked, "Die?"

Qiu Lingsu unhurriedly said, "Ren Ci is dead, the purpose of my being alive is to expose NanGong Ling's secret. And now that the load on my mind already gone, do you think I can still keep on living?"

Even until Chu Liuxiang was back in Jinan, his heart was still br.i.m.m.i.n.g with grief.

He saw with his own eyes as Madame Ren's body fell into the ten-thousand-fathom precipice, and he saw how the hazy mist swallowed her up, yet unexpectedly he was unable to do anything to rescue her.

He also saw very clearly how, before her death, Madame Ren's eyes were still so tranquil, without the slightest bit of pain. Although he knew that for Madame Ren's exhausted life 'death' was just one kind of everlasting rest, he still felt unspeakable grief, unspeakable anger.

He swore that he must find NanGong Ling.

And he did find NanGong Ling almost immediately.

The night was very deep, yet the Beggars Clan's Fragrance Hall was still brightly lit.

When Chu Liuxiang came here, he did not expect to find NanGong Ling. He just wanted to find Beggar Clan's disciple to inquire NanGong Ling's whereabouts. But under the brilliant light, in the s.p.a.cious red sandalwood chair, someone was sitting upright like a stone statue. Unexpectedly that someone was NanGong Ling.

He sat there with his hand supporting his cheek, appearing to be deep in thought, or perhaps he was waiting for someone.

But who was he waiting for?

From far across the roof ridge, Chu Liuxiang already saw him. Bai Yumo must have returned, so in all likelihood, NanGong Ling must have known that Chu Liuxiang had met Qiu Lingsu alone, and had talked with her. But why hasn't he left? Why was he still sitting here?

Could this be another trap? Could it be that there was an ambush in the courtyard to kill him, using NanGong Ling was the bait, waiting for Chu Liuxiang to take the bait?

But the courtyard was extremely quiet, there was no human shadow, and he could not see the slightest amount of murderous aura. The starlight was reflected on the dark green flagstones, which were as bright as a mirror.

NanGong Ling suddenly raised his head, smiled slightly, and said, "Have Chu Xiong arrived? Xiaodi has been waiting here for a long time."

Chu Liuxiang was slightly surprised. NanGong Ling laughed again and said, "Chu Xiong, please don't worry, Xiaodi is the only one here, there is no ambush at all."

Chu Liuxiang laughed aloud and said, "Naturally there is no ambush here at all, naturally I am extremely at ease. This kind of thing, naturally you don't want to alarm other people. Naturally you know that it is better for you and I, alone, to resolve this matter."

Amidst his speaking voice, he already swept into the main hall, his eyes were s.h.i.+ning as he stared at NanGong Ling.

NanGong Ling met his stare; his sharp eyes were like a wolf's, or like an eagle's.

It was a long, long time later that NanGong Ling sighed and said, "You knew, didn't you?"

Chu Liuxiang nodded. He said, "You also knew that I already knew, didn't you?"

NanGong Ling also nodded. He smiled and said, "But Xiaodi has not gone away; I am waiting here instead. Chu Xiong must be extremely puzzled."

Chu Liuxiang said, "You did not go, just because you know that you can't go anywhere."

NanGong Ling laughed aloud and said, "I did not go, just because I did not want to go. Otherwise, the world is so big, where can't I go?"

Chu Liuxiang pulled a chair and sat down; he spoke unhurriedly, "If you go, you have to give up everything and pa.s.s your days living an exile-like life. But if you must give up your current reputation and power, you will be more miserable than being dead."

NanGong Ling laughed aloud and said, "Chu Xiong really knows Xiaodi like you know yourself."

He suddenly stopped laughing, and spoke sternly, "Since you understand me that deeply, you ought to know that even if I have to die, I will never give up everything. I have spent my heart's blood in my whole life to obtain all these, no one can force me to give it all up."

Chu Liuxiang sighed lightly and asked, "Can you not give up everything though?"

NanGong Ling stood up suddenly and spoke sternly, "Why not? Even though I killed Ren Ci, but that was for the sake of avenging my father. Father and the enemy cannot live under the same sky, who in Jianghu would dare to say that what I did was wrong?"

"You already knew this secret?" Chu Liuxiang blurted out.

With a mournful laughter NanGong Ling said, "Ren Ci thought he could deceive me; are you telling me that you thought you could deceive me as well?"

Chu Liuxiang heaved a long, long sigh, and spoke slowly, "Even if you did what you did really to avenge your father, even if no one in Jianghu really care about you, but what about Beggar Clan's disciples? If they knew that you killed Ren Ci, would they still allow you to become their Bangzhu?"

NanGong Ling's body shook, he plopped himself back into the chair. Chu Liuxiang's last remark was like a knife stabbing deep into his vital point.

It looked like he suddenly aged a lot. Hanging his head down, he said dejectedly, "Chu Liuxiang! Chu Liuxiang! Why are you pus.h.i.+ng me like that? I did not have the slightest intention to harm you, but you … why are you intent on meddling in other people's business?"

Chu Liuxiang was speechless for half a day. Finally he smiled wryly and said, "Maybe because my innate character is one who loves to meddle in other people's business."

NanGong Ling slowly said, "Ever since the first time I met you, I always thought that you can be a good friend throughout my life. Do you … do you remember where did you and I met for the first time?"

Chu Liuxiang said, "It was a the foot of Mount Tai. At that time, not only Qilu Si Xiong [Four Mighty Men of Qilu (abbr. for Shandong)] were robbing the escorted goods of Jinling's Shuang Yi Bao Ju [Double Righteousness Escort Agency], they also tied up the daughter of the Zongbiaotou [head of escort agency] Sha Tianyi. After I heard about it, I could not curb my meddling character from flaring up, and immediately rushed to Mount Tai. Who would have thought that you have already rushed over and arrived before I did?"

His sharp gaze gradually softened, he slowly continued, "When I rushed over, you already used your pair of iron palms to inflict heavy losses on Qilu Si Xiong; I noticed your different-from-ordinary martial art skill, and yet you were so young and handsome, so unavoidably I was greatly admiring you. If at that time someone had asked me who the number one young hero in the world was, I would not hesitate to tell him, it was NanGong Ling."

NanGong Ling smiled and said, "From then on, you and I became very close friends. As soon as I have free time, I would come on board your boat and stayed for a couple of days. You might remember that time when I painted a portrait of Su Rongrong …"

A smile also appeared on the corner of Chu Liuxiang's mouth, he said, "That was the longest you and I had hanging around each other. In those five days, you and I drank all the wine in the boat's hold. There was one time I was completely drunk, and wanted to catch the moon in the sea. Unexpectedly you also jumped into the water to help me. Although we did not catch our moon, we did catch a big sea turtle."

NanGong Ling roared in laughter and said, "That sea turtle, in all my life, I have never tasted anything more delicious. You and I had a compet.i.tion on who could eat more. Such a big sea turtle, unexpectedly we could eat it all in just one day. But, as a result, our tummy was hurt for the next couple of days."

The two of them roared in laughter together, a very happy laugh, just like all the unhappiness between them has been completely forgotten. But for some reason, unexpectedly the laughter grew faint.

Chu Liuxiang muttered, "Those days can really be considered a series of happy days. Sometimes I unconsciously wonder, why is it that happy days always seem to be exceptionally short?"

NanGong Ling unhurriedly said, "As long as you don't destroy it, we will still able to have that kind of happy days. As long as you don't say anything, no one will know anything about this matter."

Chu Liuxiang suddenly went silent. A long time later, he sighed softly and said, "If there is anything in the world that can move Chu Liuxiang's heart, that will be friends.h.i.+p!"

NanGong Ling said, "You … you agree not to talk?"

"I won't talk …" Chu Liuxiang said.

Greatly delighted, NanGong Ling said, "Friend … I knew that Chu Liuxiang is NanGong Ling's friend."

Chu Liuxiang spoke in heavy voice, "I won't talk, but I want you to promise me two things!"

NanGong Ling was startled. "What is it?" he asked.

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, "Even if you wanted to avenge your father, you shouldn't have used such a cruel method. Moreover, you shouldn't have killed that many innocent people. I wish for you to temporarily resign from your position as the Bangzhu, to find a quiet place where you can shut yourself up and ponder over your errors. You … you are still young; in the future, you will start anew. With your talents, there must be something that you can do."

NanGong Ling's complexion turned ashen. Throwing his head back, he laughed and said, "Chu Liuxiang, good friend! You, after all, did not say that you wanted to kill me, but you want me to start anew in the future. When will this 'future' be? Ten years? Twenty years …?"

He stood up again suddenly, his body shook, and he hissed, "In one's lifetime, how many ten or twenty years does he have? Why are you forcing me to sacrifice the best time of my life? Why don't you simply say that you want to kill me?"

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, "I just want you to atone for what you did, I just want you to mend your ways. I don't want you to die at all. You must know that 'death' is not the best way to atone for one's crime; not at all."

NanGong Ling laughed coldly and said, "And what is your second condition? I want to hear it."

Chu Liuxiang spoke heavily, "I just want you to tell me, who, exactly, is he?"

Frowning, NanGong Ling asked, "He?"

Chu Liuxiang said, "He is the person who killed Tianying Zi, who killed Song Gang's men. He is the person impersonating Tianfeng s.h.i.+si Lang, the one who wanted to take my life. He is the person who stole the Heavenly One Divine Water from the Divine Water Palace."

NanGong Ling's body shook; he was suddenly stumped for words.

Chu Liuxiang went on, "You naturally know that he did all those things not just so that he could kill Ren Ci. He must have a lot of others plots. I can't let his conspiracy continue further, I simply must stop him!"

Clenching his teeth, NanGong Ling spoke word-by-word, "You can never stop him. n.o.body can stop him!"