“Lie Xiong’s Han language is better than mine,” Ba Fenghan said, “I wonder if that is because you have lived in the Central Earth for a long time?”

The four men were sitting around the table on clay terrace on the side facing the river of a shop specializing in sheepskin trading along Hualin’s main street, enjoying the river scenery in front of them and drinking wine.

According to Liexia, this shop was opened by Huihe people, and thus the reason he chose this shop was to obtain his clansmen’s assistance. However, the three felt that the Huihe shop owner, which was called Keleidaming, was particularly deferential toward him, it did not like an ordinary relationship between fellow tribesmen.

The three felt that Liexia was a profound mystery; although his speech was pompous, he was polite and showing respect toward them. Yet they always sensed that he had an ulterior motive; certainly he was not as simple as he appeared on the surface. Therefore, as soon as he started the conversation, immediately Ba Fenghan deftly cross-examined him.

Liexia was pouring wine for the three; hearing the question, he laughed and said, “This ignorant person has never been to the Central Earth, but has always had great admiration toward Central Earth culture, hence I study hard to understand Han language, so that when I come to the Central Earth, there won’t be any misunderstanding or obstacle due to language differences.”

Xu Ziling was enjoying the beautiful scenery of the fertile land extending for a thousand lion the opposite bank of Songhua River. Among the luxuriant forest, he saw several herdsmen wearing garish and beautiful little hats in the distance, driving a large flock of cattle and sheep slowly away. On the water flowing toward the northwest, fishermen on wooden rafts were pulling the net and casting the net; everything was brimming with the breath of life. Inwardly he could not help feeling anxious even more. Various tribes outside the Great Wall were heading quickly toward dangerous struggle; would there be a day where the peace and security before his eyes were going to be destroyed?

Liexia continued, “Keleidaming will send someone to put a few different mud-burning fresh fish on the table so that three gentlemen can sample it.”

On the other side, the main street was still clamoring; horses and sheep were squealing, the terrace felt like it was far away from the hustle and bustle, so that they appreciated the quiet side of the Songhua River even more. Their horses were within their line of sight in the backyard connected to the clay terrace, resting and grazing peacefully.

Clinking his cup in a toast, Kou Zhong said, “We came across Lie Xiongin here, I wonder if it was due to another misunderstanding.”

Earlier, Liexia was joking with the Great Shiwei’s Princess Shili, telling her not to misunderstand that this was a coincidental meeting; hence Kou Zhong’s remark.

Liexia laughed aloud and said, “Of course it’s not a misunderstanding at all, because this ignorant person has heard the news and came here specifically to wait respectfully for the three gentlemen’s good selves.”

Not expecting he would be this forthcoming, the three were stunned.

Knitting his brows, Ba Fenghan said, “Lie Xiong’s news is fast and abundant, which is quite impressive. How did you guess that we would come to Hualin?”

Liexia replied indifferently, “From Yan Yuan to Longquan, Hualin is the road one must follow. Based on various Dage’s style, naturally you can’t possibly be flashing and pulling, fleeing and taking a roundabout route; am I right?”

Xu Ziling pulled his gaze back from the plains on the opposite bank and cast it toward Liexia. This person seemed to carry some kind of evil, demonic and strange temperament, yet it was precisely this characteristic that made up his unique charm.

Kou Zhong’s pair of eyes emitted sharp rays of light; sizing him up with full attention, he said, “If Lie Xiongis unwilling to tell us frankly the reason you are looking for us, we will immediately brush our sleeves and leave.”

Letting out a long laugh, Liexia said, “Shaoshuaiis too serious! The reason this ignorant person sitting here with the three gentlemen drinking wine and sampling the fish is to warn the three gentlemen: several most formidable figures from Qidan, Mohe and Shiwei, three sides, have decided to ignore your close relationship with Tuli; not only they are going to stop you from delivering the Five-Colored Stone to Longquan, they will also try to kill you at all costs. The Furen’s heart is the most poisonous of all; you have fallen into that s1ut Meiyan’s malicious scheme.”

Letting out a cold snort, Ba Fenghan said, “Lie Xiongand us are neither relatives nor friends. Why isn’t Lie Xiongafraid to offend the three sides’ power and take the risk to warn us?”

Sketching it in light shade, Liexia said, “Because I practically am not afraid of them, but toward three gentlemen I do have heartfelt admiration.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Lie Xiongis indeed outstandingly outspoken and straightforward. Only I wonder which figures are you talking about? Can you tell us?”

Liexia gladly replied, “From Qidan, naturally the various tribes’ big tribal chiefs led by Abaojia. From Mohe, it’s the HeshuiMohe’s Houjin Tiefuyou, who is like water and fire with Bai Ziting. As for Shiwei, they are Shen Mohuan and Mu Ling, the Husband and Wife Team of Evil Thieves. In order not to offend Tuli, each of them dispatches the very top martial art masters, to do everything they can to get rid of you, neat and clean. Therefore, if three gentlemen fall into the ambush, you will encounter their ten-thousand-junthunderbolt attack. If three gentlemen lower your guard, perhaps you will suffer big loss.”

Ba Fenghan spoke heavily, “Unexpectedly Mengwu Shiwei’s Bielegunatai brothers are not involved?”

Shaking his head, Liexia replied, “Bielegunatai and Bugunatai, two brothers’ martial art skill is unrivalled, they have no reason not to fight alone, how could they lower themselves to join forces with others to take advantage of the many to strike the few? Therefore, no need to worry that they would participate in this kind of crafty scheme.”

Xu Ziling spoke indifferently, “Lie Xiong’s news is indeed fast and abundant, beyond conventional reasoning and morals. But how do we know that Lie Xiongis not the martial art master sent by three sides’ coalition army?”

Ba Fenghan and Kou Zhong had similar suspicion. The stern light in two pairs of eyes was flaring greatly; if there was one wrong word, they were ready to strike with all their strength to kill this person, to avoid endless trouble in the future, because this man’s martial art skill, ability and wisdom, were all able to make others wary and apprehensive.

Liexia suddenly reached out to pull open the front piece of his jacket, exposing his broad and sturdy chest. Surprisingly, there was a tattoo of strange graphic, dominating by red and yellow fine lines; at first glance it looked like a strange beast’s head, but it also looked like dark green human face with tusks.

Startled, Ba Fenghan said, “Da Ming Zun Jiao?”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance. The Da Ming Zun Jiaotattoo on Liexia’s chest was clearly not the same as the tattoo on the wolf-bandits’ bodies; could it be that the wolf-bandits have nothing to do with Da Ming Zun Jiao?

Liexia spoke seriously, “This ignorant person is precisely the head of the Five Bright Sons, Miao Kong Mingzi[lit. wonderful air/empty bright son], under Da Zunzhe[great honored sir] and Shan Mu[benevolent mother, see also Book 38 Chapter 10]. By now gentlemen ought to understand why this ignorant person is so well-informed, moreover, unafraid of anyone?”

Scratching his head, Kou Zhong said, “Isn’t Lie Xiongan enemy and not a friend to us?”

Astonished, Liexia asked, “When did we tie any enmity?”

Staring at him fixedly, Xu Ziling said, “Wasn’t Shanhai Pass’ Sao Niangziyour people?”

Laughing involuntarily, Liexia said, “Turns out there is this misunderstanding in the middle. Sao Niangziwas indeed our Cult’s people once, but then she betrayed our religion and ran away into the Central Plains. Remembering that she had served her for many years, Shan Mudecided not to pursue this matter and spared her life.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Before her death, she was still reciting your Da Ming Zun Jiao’s scripture; apparently her apostasy was not complete at all.”

Liexia cheerfully said, “Ming Zunbless and protect; unexpectedly at the death’s door she relied on a bit of divine light to get back on the right path. After death she might leave the dark and enter the light, into the blessed land of eternal light.”

He pushed everything away neat and clean, so that the three were unable to do anything to him.

Ba Fenghan spoke heavily, “The reason Pusa was expelled from Huihe, could it be that it does not have the least bit relationship with your honorable Cult?”

Smiling bitterly, Liexia said, “This is an even bigger misunderstanding. This ignorant person himself is a Huihe, naturally I hope to have a hero and towering figure like Pusa to revitalize Huihe, so that we could follow the national strength, as the tide rises, the boat floats, to spread our teachings. Pusa was actually chased away by Xieli, who was putting pressure on Shijian.