Gongqi and the wolf-bandits men, escorting the mule cart, taking the horse lane on the left side of the main palace hall – galloped in the direction of the west courtyard where Bai Ziting received Kou Zhong this morning.

At that time, Kou Zhong only gave thought for his own little life, hence along the way he paid particular attention to the route he was taking. In the west courtyard, he even surveyed the surrounding environment. He was certain that the Inner Palace jail was located north of the west courtyard, at the northwest corner of the park behind the imperial palace. Because, according to reason, this kind of unpleasant place would not be built between the palace and the courtyard residence, it would be located in the secluded corner. Translated by foxs

Now that the men following Gongqi only numbered twelve men in total, if Gongqi left, if Kou Zhong rose in revolt and caught them off guard, he was sure that he could put them in order. The most difficult problem was that during his action he must not alarm anybody else. Besides, until now Kou Zhong still did not have any good plan to properly settle these sixteen no-guts-no-power Pingyao merchants.

Compared to this morning, the atmosphere inside the imperial palace was notably different. Perhaps it was because a large number of troops were being transferred to guard the city walls to take precautions. Other than massive military force inside and outside the palace gate, inside the palace itself they only encountered patrolling soldiers and guards being stationed at the main palace hall and other important places; practically there was no other palace guards. The more likely reason was to ensure public security. The palace maids and inner attendants all stayed at the rear palace, hence even if the darkness fell, other than the main passageways, most of the imperial palace were trapped in the dark without any lanterns, giving up the desolate, declining impression of great catastrophe about to befall. The atmosphere was heavy.

Gongqi’s bosom was full of worries; sitting on the horseback, he hung his head in contemplation.

Arriving outside the west courtyard, Gongqi reined his horse and called for a stop.

Kou Zhong swept his gaze around, everywhere he looked, there was no one in sight. The west courtyard was pitch-black, only the northwest corner had a dim lantern light.

‘Tchak! Tchak!’

Two wolf-bandits lighted fire sticks, illuminating the tightly closed west courtyard gate and the thick and high wall extending to the left and right.

“Open the door!” Gongqi ordered.

Two wolf-bandits flew off their horses and pushed the door open. The mule cart was driven into the garden inside the courtyard.

Luo Yi and the others looked around and saw that this place did not look like a prison, immediately they were shocked; they thought Gongqi and the others were going to execute them in private. Were it nor for they had Kou Zhong in their midst, this moment they would, one after another, beg for mercy or sob in fear.

Kou Zhong still had a headache. Suddenly a more brazen idea flitted across his mind, he could not help cursing himself stupid for not thinking about an even easier solution, but racking his brains to think about an idea that only an idiot would do it.

Thinking to this point, he hastily groaned loudly.

Luo Yi and the others, their heart hanging, their guts strung together – all looked at him; contradicting thoughts filled their hearts, they wanted Kou Zhong to make his move, but were afraid because the opposite side had many men. Even more worrisome was that even if they escaped the forbidden park deep within the palace, it would still be difficult to leave the city. Translated by foxs

Gongqi was flying off his horse; hearing the groan, he was unconcerned, “Slap him for me!” he said.

Two wolf-bandits laughed nastily and walked over toward the mule cart parked right in the middle of the garden.

Kou Zhong pretended to piss in his pants in terror, he struggled hard to crawl up, but his legs went weak and he fell of the cart, and heavily dropped down on the grassy lawn, and then rolled in pain in the direction of Gongqi.

The crowd of wolf-bandits roared in laughter, brimming with the cruel overtone of taking joy in calamity and delight in disaster.

Gongqi’s pair of eyes was flashing with ominous glint, he walked over to Kou Zhong and spoke coldly, “This fellow loves to cause trouble the most, grab him and pick him up.”

Two wolf-bandits pounced forward, one grabbed Kou Zhong’s armpit and the other grabbed his upper arm, and lifted him up to let their boss handle him. Strange change happened suddenly.

‘Bang! Bang!’

Shooting from both sides, he punched the two wolf-bandits that they spurted blood and were thrown down. And then saber light flashed, yellow light flared greatly, fast as lightning the Moon in the Well was thrust toward Gongqi, who was completely caught off guard.

This moment, from the Moon in the Well, Gongqi started to realize that this fellow who loved to cause trouble the most was unexpectedly Kou Zhong in disguise. His soul flew away and scattered, he retreated and pulled his cavalry saber at the same time and held it across his chest to block.

The other ten wolf-bandits, including the cart driver, who were not injured – were so scared that they were as dumb as a wooden chicken, momentarily they did not have enough time to react.

‘Whoosh!’ Two sabers clashed, but the collision only produced a muffled sound. Turned out Kou Zhong used a technique to avoid alarming other people in the palace as much as possible.

Hit by the saber, Gongqi, the person, as well as the saber, staggered three steps back; his heroic spirit completely gone, he was in an extremely sorry state. However, he could be considered outstanding as well. Under this kind of situation he still had the ability to block Kou Zhong’s full-powered saber strike.

This moment the other wolf-bandits were like being awakened from a dream, one after another they pulled their weapon to charge toward Kou Zhong. Kou Zhong, right in the middle, made up his mind. Translated by foxs

The fire sticks were thrown down to the ground and went off. With the weak lantern light from outside the garden’s gate, Luo Yi and the others could only see shadows leaping and moving, and saber light flashing. They could not tell who won and who lost, they could only ask Laotianye to bless and protect Kou Zhong to triumph over the opponent, and that other people would not hear the sound of fighting and rush over.

Kou Zhong repeatedly chopped Gongqi three times, the next saber strike was heavier than the previous one, the next saber strike’s angle was trickier than the previous one, he attacked Gongqi until he was sweating profusely, and was completely without the power to hit back. He met the saber strike and spurted, no more and no less, three mouthfuls of blood. The situation was severely tragic to the extreme point.

‘Bang!’

While a wolf-bandit was hit and was sent flying away, Kou Zhong moved the saber back and sliced another enemy’s throat.

Even if the other side was not the wolf-bandits that he hated with passion, under this kind of situation, he could not be lenient.

The Moon in the Well struck again. Taking advantage while with his right hand he chopped and deflected Gongqi’s cavalry sword, he forcefully opened a crack in the opponent’s line of defense and an instant he hacked the saber inside, so fast that even Gongqi himself could not see clearly. Gongqi groaned tragically, his cavalry sword fell down to the ground, he was thrown backward.

Kou Zhong swiftly retreated, he forcefully knocked against an enemy on his chest, immediately the cracking sound of breaking bones was heard. The Moon in the Well was launched at the same time, one after another the enemies cried and fell down, no one could crawl back up alive.

‘Qiang!’

The Moon in the Well returned to its scabbard, all the enemies were disposed of.

Pulling off his mask, Kou Zhong came over to Gongqi, who was lying on his back on the ground. Shaking his head, he said with a sigh, “Do you want me to recite the scripture from your honorable cult to help your soul find peace?”

Gongqi’s breathing was already as thin as soft silk, blood was seeping out of the corner of his mouth, but there was not any scar on his body, because Kou Zhong deliberately used yin power in his saber qi to break his heart meridian.

Gongqi’s pair of eyes emitted blazing hatred; gasping for breath, he struggled to speak, “Da Zun will definitely avenge me.” At this point he stopped breathing.

Kou Zhong quickly took off his military uniform and helmet, with which he assumed Gongqi’s outward appearance, before returning to the cart.

Frightened and still in doubt, Ou Liangcai spoke on behalf of everybody else, “What do we do now?” Translated by foxs

Kou Zhong calmly said, “No one knows that you are here, so before dawn, you should be safe in here. I must do something extremely urgent right away; I will be back within half a sichen to get you out of the city.”

Smiling wryly, Liexia said, “Dage, you want to kill, you want to slaughter, of course it’s your decision. But from the beginning we have sat on the same table eating mud-baked fish and raising our cups to drink wine. According to the rules of the prairie, no matter what you must explain everything clearly to this ignorant person!”

Ba Fenghan pulled the Stealing the Heaven Sword; tranquil, calm and at ease, he stared at Liexia, and said with a smile, “When I, Ba Fenghan, want to kill someone, I never have to explain anything to the other side; why should you be an exception?”

Swinging the Stealing the Heaven Sword, he pointed at the opponent from a distance. Immediately a burst of biting cold, concentrated sword qi rushed forth.

Liexia did not dare to be careless; from his boot he pulled a dagger, about a chi and a half long, shiny and bright, and slightly curved. Holding it across his chest, he met Ba Fenghan’s sword qi head-on, without the slightest bit of unable-to-endure appearance. Toward Xu Ziling, who was standing behind Ba Fenghan, he cried for help and shouted, “Ziling, how could you see-death-but-not-helping? [Side note: in Jin Yong’s Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, the same phrase, jian si bu jiu, was translated as ‘The One who Ignores the Dying’ (Hu Qingniu’s nickname).] I have never done anything to let you down, and now I don’t want to fight even more.”

As if nothing had happened, Xu Ziling said, “Who was the woman who came with you to chase me last night?”

Liexia was slightly startled. Ba Fenghan let out a cold snort, the Stealing the Heaven Sword stabbed toward his face. Within the fierce and severe without equal, there was a hint of emptiness, effective and elegant flavor, so that people felt that it was difficult to block, but even more difficult to dodge. Although it was a simple and nimble sword strike, but within the angle and the arc that was drawn in the air, there was some kind of mystery within a mystery, ingenious as if crafted by the heaven – feeling, demonstrating the changes happening to him from his hard work and refinement after he came back to life.

‘Dang!’ With a clear ring, Liexia’s curved dagger generated subtle changes, unexpectedly he blocked Ba Fenghan’s sword strike head-on with a hard technique. And then he flew backward to retreat, passed through the open wide main gate, and disappeared into the main hall of the Xiao Hui Yuan.

The two men already knew that his martial art skill was outstanding, but they never thought that his skill in borrowing strength to escape was this brilliant; unexpectedly he was able to get away and escape from Ba Fenghan’s Stealing the Heaven Sword.

Just like a shadow following the shape, Ba Fenghan, swift as flash of lightning, chased after him into the building. Translated by foxs

Xu Ziling was afraid there was another ambush inside the building, he followed closely behind Ba Fenghan. By the time he passed the door and was inside, Ba Fenghan was already chasing into the inner hall. Such a big hall was absolutely empty, not even half a shadow was in sight.

Xu Ziling cried, ‘Not good!’ inwardly, and darted inward. A moment later he met Ba Fenghan, whose sword had already returned to its sheath. The latter was standing next to a well, he sighed and said, “We are one step too late. If just now we burst through the door and attacked inside, the enemy would not have the time to slip away.”

Xu Ziling cast his gaze down the well, only to see a room down below; unexpectedly there was a tunnel, which extended to God knows where.

Ba Fenghan said, “I dare say that this tunnel is leading to outside the city. Da Ming Zun Jiao is scheming against other people all day long, naturally they are also afraid that others would scheme against them. Therefore, they must have prepared this secret tunnel to escape during critical situation, to avoid being caught in one net by the enemy.”

Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling said, “Da Ming Zun Jiao has many men, a great force; how could they be this useless that the two of us can scare them away like this?”

Ba Fenghan said, “First of all, they did not know whether we still have reinforcement behind us; at least they did not see Kou Zhong. Secondly, they already gave up their heart on Bai Ziting and Longquan; it’s simply not worthwhile to take this risk. Just consider them lucky this time.”

And then he put his arm around Xu Ziling’s shoulders and said, “Good brother! I still can’t stand it! Let’s immediately sneak into the Palace City; depending on the situation, we’ll decide on how to rescue Song ErGe out. He is the person that I, Ba Fenghan admire the most.”

Like a bird escaping from its cage Kou Zhong flew across and soared over the rear palace. He evaded three teams of patrolling troops and two checkpoints in succession, and arrived at the courtyard in the northwest corner, only to see that one corner of the palace wall had a single-story, about ten zhang across – structure that looked like a stone fort, with iron-bar gate, and was strictly guarded. Just outside the gate alone there were close to ten palace guards. Knowing that he has arrived, he hurriedly looked for any sign of Han Chao’an.

Inside the courtyard, there were only a few large trees to provide shade, the rest were low bushes of flowers and plants. Seeing all these at a glance, he could not help groaning inwardly. This could not be the place where Gongqi and Han Chao’an agreed to meet.

Kou Zhong scanned the surrounding area. He thought that since Han Chao’an was not familiar with the situation of the rear palace, Gongqi could not possibly ask him to meet at a too-difficult-to-find place, most likely it was somewhere nearby, for instance, the inner palace jail’s east or south sides. Thinking to this point, he hurriedly flipped down, rounded the inner palace jail’s partition wall, and sneaked toward the south. He chose this place first, because the south side of the inner palace jail was the rear imperial garden with no structure; there were only garden rockery and a pond, a pavilion, a bridge, and grass and trees. The surroundings were quiet and secluded, the most suitable place to pull the wool over people’s eyes.

After the thunderstorm, the night sky outside was bright and clear. Fortunately it was a moonless night. Although the vast sky was full of stars, the lantern light from the inner palace jail could not reach this side; it was gloomy, dark, and hazy, greatly beneficial to the brilliant scheme in his heart.

Imitating Gongqi’s walking gait, he went to the small pavilion in the middle of the garden, while at the same time imitating Gongqi’s voice and intonation, he called, “Han Xiong!” Translated by foxs

At first there was no detectable movement, and then a shadow appeared from a row of bamboo trees at the north side of the garden, moving toward him.

Kou Zhong pretended that he did not see, he did not turn his tiger-body around, so his back was facing the approaching Han Chao’an, he did not allow him to see his august countenance.

Han Chao’an set foot on the stone step of the small pavilion, he lowered his voice to say, “Gong Jiangjun is indeed a trustworthy person, I guarantee that when Jiangjun arrive in Gaoli, you will enjoy riches and honor, glory and splendor to the utmost.”

Kou Zhong suddenly understood; Gongqi was harboring evil intentions, he wanted to borrow Han Chao’an’s hands to kill Song Shidao, naturally he had to find an excuse why he was willing to do Han Chao’an this favor.

Kou Zhong suddenly turned around, his right fist, swift beyond human comprehension, delivered a heavy blow toward the enemy.

Han Chao’an, wearing army uniform of Gongqi’s men, disguising himself as a palace guard, groaned miserably and staggered backward. But he was worthy to be a martial art master, unexpectedly, under these circumstances, he was still able to evade so that his vital part was not hit, he used his left shoulder, moving rapidly, to take Kou Zhong’s full-strength punch head-on. Not only he deflected nearly half of Kou Zhong’s qi power, he even returned a palm strike, so that Kou Zhong was unable to launch successive moves; however, he received heavy injury.

Lightning fast, Kou Zhong pressed forward again. Finally Han Chao’an was able to see who he was. “Hold on!” he shouted in low voice.

Kou Zhong’s five fingers were held open, his single palm took aim at the retreating-to-about-a-zhang-away, standing-still Han Chao’an, his momentum was enveloping and locking Han Chao’an tightly. If he launched another strike, he would surely be able to take Han Chao’an’s dog life. However, he did not have the slightest feeling of delight at all, instead, he felt so useless for being unable to kill the enemy in one move, so that the other side could still shout a warning, and thus destroying his grand plan. Translated by foxs

Without any better option, he tried to divide Han Chao’an’s mind by laughing mischievously and said, “Yesterday you plotted against me, today Laozi is plotting against you, let’s consider we are even. Now we can have a fair fight for three hundred rounds.”

Blood was seeping out of the corner of Han Chao’an’s mouth; his handsome face was twisted like malicious spirit from the pain. Smiling sadly, he said, “Shaoshuai indeed proved yourself to be a wonder troop, so that I have no choice but to submit. However, if I shout a bit louder, Shaoshuai won’t have an easy time as well.”

Having his vital part hit by the opponent, naturally on the surface Kou Zhong did not want to admit; while continuously increasing the pressure of his momentum, he laughed and said, “Whether I, Kou Zhong, will be well-off or disappointed, I am afraid Han Xiong won’t have the opportunity to witness it; am I right?”

Gasping for a couple of breaths, Han Chao’an said, “It depends on whether Shaoshuai is willing to compromise. Not concealing anything from Shaoshuai, this time I came here to make a turn; I am going to immediately leave Longquan to return to my home country. If Shaoshuai agrees to let Xiaodi go, Xiaodi will definitely pay you back.”

Kou Zhong knew that what he said was not empty talk. Funantuo was dead, Gesuwen and Han Chao’an no longer had ill-gotten gains that they could benefit, why would they be willing to fight life and death for Bai Ziting, to challenge the Tujue mighty army division, which proclaimed themselves hegemon in the prairie for many years?

Sneering, Kou Zhong said, “You think I am a three-year-old kid? After I let you go, Han Xiong will raise up your tail and go to notify Bai Ziting, and then won’t I have to pack my food and leave before I finish eating? I’d rather gamble over you, LaoGe screaming before your death so that the men at the prison had no choice but to hear it, and then Xiaodi would stake everything, to try to kill as many as possible. At least I would still have a chance of success.”

Smiling wryly, Han Chao’an said, “Shaoshuai is underestimating Xiaodi’s scream before my death too much; I guarantee that it will directly enter Bai Ziting’s ears. Ay! Xiaodi has a proposal that will satisfy rival demands; I wonder if Shaoshuai will be interested to hear it?”

Kou Zhong was at a loss against him; he laughed and said, “Xiaodi is listening with respectful attention.”

Han Chao’an’s spirit greatly aroused, he said, “If Xiaodi leaves according to our agreement, without alarming anybody in the palace, I am asking Shaoshuai to ask Song Gongzi not to reveal that I plotted against him. Otherwise, what would Shaoshuai think?”

Laughing involuntarily, Kou Zhong said, “Won’t that mean you are taking advantage of us to the fullest? Not only you want me to spare your life, you also want to beg Song ErGe to keep your secret.”

Han Chao’an hastily said, “Hence the reason I said I would pay you back earlier. First of all, the secret password to enter the palace prison. Gongqi told me. It will save Shaoshuai a lot of trouble. Secondly, Xiaodi still has some important intelligence concerning the Five-Colored Stone and Wang Shichong, respectively. It will be extremely useful for Shaoshuai.”

Staring blankly, Kou Zhong said, “Unexpectedly you know something with regard to Wang Shichong. You must now invent crazy nonsense to deceive Laozi.”

Han Chao’an sighed and said, “Someone that under these circumstances still dare to deceive you must be a big idiot [orig. stupid egg; didn’t I mention that Chinese have certain fascination with birds and eggs?] who does not know how to write the word ‘dead’. If I have one false word, let me, Han Chao’an not die a good death in the future.” Translated by foxs

Kou Zhong nodded and said, “Speak up then!” He pulled back the true power that enveloped and pressed hard on Han Chao’an that made him unable to move a single step.

Han Chao’an relaxed and circulated his qi, he said, “The password to open the prison is different from military order; only Bai Ziting and Gongqi, two men knew, hence it is very useful, because the prison guards do not recognize their own parents; they only recognize the password.”

Kou Zhong felt it made sense. Because Bai Ziting did not trust Funantuo, moreover, he was afraid Funantuo would kill Song Shidao and the others, he used passwords to put the inner palace jail under his own control. He also thought about how Bai Ziting repeatedly disregarded everything to deal with him, it was only because Funantuo threatened him so he had no choice, because his son Da Zuorong was in Funantuo’s partner, Gesuwen’s hands.

His heart was moved, he said, “Don’t tell me the password yet, I have one condition; if you accept, then I’ll consider the pros and cons, plus I will guarantee that if someone ask Song ErGe in the future whether you are really that kind of despicable vile character, he will deny it on your behalf.”

Ridiculed by Kou Zhong, Han Chao’an did not know whether he ought to laugh or cry; helpless, he said, “Other than accepting the condition, would Xiaodi have any choice?”

Kou Zhong spoke with a sneer, “Don’t worry! Although you have been heartless toward me, I definitely will not treat you unjustly, I won’t force people too much. Otherwise, I could join hands with the Gunatai brothers and Pusa to besiege Old Ge heavily until daybreak. What do you think the consequences be?”

Immediately Han Chao’an’s countenance changed. “Xiaodi surrender!” he said dejectedly, “Shaoshuai, please state your condition.”

“It’s just a small thing,” Kou Zhong said, “You guys hand over Da Zuorong to me.”

Han Chao’an was greatly startled. Obviously he did not think that Kou Zhong knew about Da Zuorong being in their hands. After staring blankly for half a day, he nodded and said, “Not a problem.”

Kou Zhong laughed in low voice and spoke cheerfully, “The deal can proceed then!”

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