Chu Liuxiang spoke loudly, "Until now, why do you still want to keep the secret for him? You must know that he wanting to have Ren Ci killed was only one part of his entire conspiracy? You are nothing more than a tool that he used to kill Ren Ci. In the end, when necessary, he might kill you as well."

NanGong Ling howled with laughter again. He said, "He used me? He is going to kill me as well? … do you know who he is?"

Chu Liuxiang spoke heavily, "Precisely because I don't know who he is that I am asking you."

NanGong Ling howled with laughter again. "And you think I will tell you?" he asked.

Chu Liuxiang heaved a deep sigh and said, "NanGong Ling! NanGong Ling! I really do not wish to hurt you, why are you pus.h.i.+ng me like this?"

NanGong Ling's voice trembled, "It was you who are pus.h.i.+ng me, I am not pus.h.i.+ng you. Although I did not want to hurt you, but as the last resort, I will have no choice but to make my move!"

Chu Liuxiang slowly said, "You will definitely not make your move, your martial art skill is definitely not my match!"

Laughing coldly, NanGong Ling said, "You think so?"

His body did not seem to move at all, but he flew straight up from the chair. Chu Liuxiang's body did not seem to move either, yet he also flew up.

However, in the air, unexpectedly Chu Liuxiang was still sitting; unexpectedly that ma.s.sive and heavy red sandalwood chair was like glued to his b.u.t.ts.

When the two met high up in the air, there was the sound of palms slapping against each other, seven times in succession. Unexpectedly, in this fast-like-a-white-steed-flits-past-a-crack instant, the two had exchanged seven palm strikes.

After seven palm strikes, the two shadows suddenly seemed to fuse together, and quickly separated again.

Chu Liuxiang brought the chair back floating to the ground, and happened to land on the exact spot, hardly missed it by a fraction of a cun. When the heavy chair landed on the ground, unexpectedly it did not make the slightest noise.

NanGong Ling made a somersault in the air, and he also fell back into his chair. But the solid wooden chair made a squeaking noise from the pressure. His countenance also changed miserably.

Although both of them did not suffer any injury, undoubtedly who was superior and who was inferior was already decided. Although the two of them exchanged blows in such a short period of time, undoubtedly it was the battle that would determine the current situation in Wulin.

This battle seemed to be an understatement, but its importance was definitely not below any battle in the word since ancient times.

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, "NanGong Ling, do you still want to force me to make my move?"

NanGong Ling's countenance alternated between green and red, his expression was unspeakably miserable. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, "NanGong Ling! NanGong Ling! You painstakingly trained martial art for twenty years, unexpectedly you are unable to withstand a single blow like that?"

He suddenly rose up to his full height again and shouted loudly, "Chu Liuxiang, don't feel so proud of yourself either! Since I, NanGong Ling, have been waiting for you here today, do you think I don't have any other way of dealing with you?"

Amidst his shout, he waved his hand, and a big man, about eight chi tall, bare-chested, bald head, looked like a beast, holding a chair high above his head, walked in in large strides.

Under the brilliant lantern lights, he saw sitting on the chair was surprisingly someone with wooden expression, sitting upright with pale face, and a pair of beautiful eyes staring emptily straight ahead.

Chu Liuxiang turned pale with fright; his countenance changed, he called, "Rong'er, you … how could you be here?"

Unexpectedly Su Rongrong did not seem to hear him at all, she still remained motionless.

NanGong Ling let out a cold laugh and said, "Naturally Miss Su was invited by me. Other than me, who else could move her into accepting my invitation?"

Chu Liuxiang said, "At the Fengyu Pavilion by Daming Lake, were those four men in green sent by you as well?

"Exactly!" NanGong Ling replied.

"How did you know that she was there?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

NanGong Ling laughed and said, "Under the moon at Daming Lake, a tryst with a beauty after dusk! Since Wuhua Das.h.i.+ reminded me of that, naturally I must see it for myself. Since I painted a portrait of her, how could I not recognize her?"

Chu Liuxiang said, "You are afraid she might discover the secret of the Divine Water Palace, you went so far as to deal with her maliciously. But since you already executed your evil scheme, how did you know that she did not die?"

NanGong Ling smiled and said, "I know that that youngster in black was watching from the side, I deliberately let him pa.s.s on the story to you. But when you came here, your face did not show the slightest sign of grieving. From this, it could be seen that Su Rongrong must not be dead. Therefore, after you made an excuse to urinate and slipped away, I did not pursue you at all, but pursued after her instead. Although chasing after you is not easy, chasing after her was not difficult at all."

Chu Liuxiang heaved a deep sigh and said, "And she obviously did not have the slightest suspicion toward you; otherwise, how could she fall into your hands?"

NanGong Ling laughed aloud and said, "How could she doubt Chu Liuxiang's friend?"

Chu Liuxiang seemed to suddenly remember something. "That's not right!" he shouted, "When those four men made their move against her, you were with me to look for Madame Ren. There must be someone else orchestrating this from behind the screen; who is he? How did he know Rong'er?"

NanGong Ling's countenance changed again; he spoke sternly, "I already gave my order, why would I need to be personally present?"

Without waiting for Chu Liuxiang to respond, he shouted, "Put her down!"

The beast-like big man stretched his arms horizontally and slowly put the chair down.

"Why don't you show this friend the strength of your hands?" NanGong Ling said.

The big man drew back the corners of his mouth into a big grin, while stretching out a pair of hairy, gigantic palms, with which he slowly grabbed a chair next to him, and then both of his hands lightly squeezed.

He heard a 'crack'. The solid wooden chair was unexpectedly crushed into smithereens - this was not a human being! This was like an evil beast from the great wilderness.

NanGong Ling laughed aloud and said, "Very good! Now, I want you to put your hands on the little Miss' head. Just be a bit careful, don't crush her head yet."

The big man's hand indeed slowly landed on Su Rongrong's head.

Pointing to Chu Liuxiang, NanGong Ling ordered the big man, "Now, open your eyes wide and look at him. As soon as any part of his body, either a hand or a foot, moves slightly, you can immediately crush this little Miss' head!"

The big man unexpectedly giggled excitedly, as if he felt that this was an extremely interesting thing. Chu Liuxiang, however, felt his hands and feet were turning cold. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, "NanGong Ling! NanGong Ling! I never thought you would resort to such a despicable, shameless trick. You … you really disappoint me."

Turning his head around, NanGong Ling spoke hoa.r.s.ely, "I did not want to do it, but why did you insist on pus.h.i.+ng me so hard?"

Chu Liuxiang said, "Now you … what do you want?"

NanGong Ling replied, "I just want you to know that Su Rongrong has fallen into my hands. If you still want her alive and well, you must never meddle in my business."

Chu Liuxiang was silent for a long time. He spoke slowly, "And if I disregard her life and insist on meddling in yours?"

NanGong Ling turned his head back and said with a smile, "I am certain that Chu Liuxiang can't possibly be that kind of person."

Chu Liuxiang said, "In that case, are you … are you going to keep Rong'er here forever?"

NanGong Ling replied, "It doesn't matter where, but I will let you know that she is still alive. That is definitely better than dead, isn't it?"

Chu Liuxiang slowly said, "But I will still be alive as well. As long as I am alive, you guys will never feel at ease. Although this moment I can give you my words, you guys will always try to kill me, am I right?"

NanGong Ling's countenance slowly sank; he spoke word-by-word, "That is another matter altogether. Whether you are dead or alive, it has nothing to do with her life and death. If you still want her alive, this moment you have no choice but to agree."

Chu Liuxiang said, "After I die, are you still going to kill her?"

NanGong Ling spoke unhurriedly, "Since you are already dead, whether she is dead or alive, it has nothing to do with you. But as long as you are alive, you will never have the heart to see her die because of you, am I right?"

Chu Liuxiang smiled bitterly and said, "Wouldn't this agreement be too unfair?"

NanGong Ling laughed loudly and said, "Even until now, you are still hoping for a fair agreement? Besides, before you die, you might have some chances of rescuing her out of here."

Chu Liuxiang's eyes have been fixed on Su Rongrong, unconsciously his fingertips started to tremble. If anybody had said that unexpectedly Chu Liuxiang could tremble, perhaps n.o.body in the world would believe that.

NanGong Ling laughed aloud and said, "I have seen through your bones, I know you absolutely cannot disagree, you simply have no leeway not to."

Chu Liuxiang seemed to cast a quick glance outside the window, and then he sighed and spoke unhurriedly, "NanGong Ling, since you disappoint me like this, perhaps once in a while I might also disappoint you."

Amidst his voice, suddenly a 'swish' was heard. A streak of black light, carrying a sharp gust of wind, wound itself around the big man's throat like a viper.

The big man howled and raised his hand. He had just raised his hand, like a light smoke Chu Liuxiang already swept across and grabbed Su Rongrong, along with the chair she was sitting on, and pushed them both away.

Greatly surprised, NanGong Ling wanted to pounce, but a chilling cold sword ray flew by like a trained horse to block his way.

Chu Liuxiang pushed Su Rongrong all the way to the corner before letting out a sigh of relieve; he muttered to himself with a chuckle, "Hei Zhenzhu, Yitian Hong, knowing the two of you, I am really lucky."

The long whip in Hei Zhenzhu's hand was stretched taut like the bowstring.

He pulled the long whip with both hands with all his might, just like the barge hauler pulling his boat over the dangerous rapids of the Yangtze River, so that his body was almost parallel to the ground; blue veins already bulged out of his delicate hands and palms.