Book 62: Chapter 2: The Midnight Appointment

If he were Li Shimin, knowing that the one coming to see Xu Ziling was Shen Luoyan, perhaps he would say a word or half a sentence, or at least make a signal with his eyes, reminding him that Shen Luoyan was Li Shiji’s tender wife, and Li Shiji was the commander-in-chief overseeing Luoyang, hence he must never, ever step out of line, even if Shen Luoyan took the initiative, he must still persevere to resist her to the end. However, Li Shimin did not even say half a word, make half a signal with his eyes – in this regard, which showed his absolute trust in Xu Ziling. This was precisely where Li Shimin surpassed others, because he ‘knew people’, he understood what kind of person Xu Ziling was.

While this thought flitted through his mind, Shen Luoyan’s familiar fragrant scent assailed his nostrils. Wearing a plain yellow gauzed skirt, full of smile, Shen Luoyan sat down on the edge of the bed without any hesitation. She stretched out her slender hand and pressed it on the back of his hand, and took a closer look at his countenance. She spoke softly, “Looking at Qin Wang‘s high-spirited expression, my originally pessimistic mood is swept clean. But I still don’t understand why Ziling is faking an injury in here?”

Xu Ziling met her beautiful eyes that could make people’s heart tremble, he smiled and said, “Tomorrow’s success or failure will depend on whether we can coerce Li Yuan to control Chang’an. I am taking up this task, and …”

Shen Luoyan’s jade hands moved up, she pressed it against his lips, shook her head and said, “Don’t tell me the details, it will only provide the materials for me to worry about. Zhang Jieyu summoned me into the palace tonight to accompany her, therefore, about tomorrow, I can only be a spectator. Returning to Chang’an this time, Li Yuan tried to win nujia over via Zhang Jieyu. Now Li Yuan’s action is near at hand, naturally he does not want me to be involved in this matter and get hurt, because if any mishaps [orig. three long two short: unexpected misfortune/accident] happen to Qin Wang, Shiji is the first great general of the Tian Ce Fu that Li Yuan wants to win over.”

Beyond his control, Xu Ziling could not stop the pitter-patter of his heart jumping up and down. It’s not that he had never tasted Shen Luoyan’s clinging to him and acting intimately with him before, only for some reason her allure was particularly powerful this time, perhaps because he was just pondering over this ten-thousand-face issue, or perhaps because his marriage to Shi Qingxuan was already decided that he felt the excitement of occasional extramarital affair.

Shen Luoyan continued, “I originally wanted to warn you guys to guard against the alliance ceremony tomorrow morning, but now of course there is no need to do more than is required. Who actually injured you that you have to fake injury?”

Xu Ziling felt she pulled her jade hand away from pressing on his shoulder and pressed it again on the back of his hand. His spirit and wisdom returned clear and bright, he replied, “The one injuring me is Wanwan, she is now temporarily renewing old cordial relationship with Zhao Deyan, Yin Zuwen, and so on, to fight for the fate of the demonic school. Ay! This is another problem that gives me headache, Wanwan must have an undercover agent inside the palace, so that Wanwan knows everything inside the palace like the back of her hand, I even suspect that she is hiding in the palace, naturally using another identity.”

Shen Luoyan’s pretty face revealed a grave expression, she said, “You are confused over the current situation, for this reason, you may have misunderstood Wanwan’s intention. Can Ziling briefly describe what happened to you guys in the past two days?”

Unexpectedly Kou Zhong returned the saber inside its scabbard, he spoke with serious expression, “I, Kou Zhong am what I am today, it is entirely due to what Niang bestowed to me. Toward Niang’s clansmen, Niang’s country, I have a deep, close and dear affection and admiration. If Dashuai understands what kind of person I am, you should understand that I, Kou Zhong, only wants Dashuai to be a brother and not an enemy. One day I, Kou Zhong, am alive and kicking, I will never allow anyone to offend Niang’s ancestral family, Dashuai, please note clearly.”

Ma Ji spoke in stern voice, “Dashuai must not be confused by his graceful words, flowery speech [idiom: dishonest rhetoric].”

Kou Zhong turned his head to look at Ma Ji in the distance, he laughed calmly and said, “Can you give an actual example, after my debut, when did I, Kou Zhong ever try to go back on my word, and who did I fail?”

Ma Ji was at a loss for words.

Kou Zhong’s gaze moved back to Ge Suwen, he smiled and said, “Dashuai has magnificent aspiration in your bosom, you can’t possibly haggle over every ounce of the gains and losses of one time, one place. Ziling and I really regard Gaoli as half of our ancestral home, only I am afraid we have not safeguarded it satisfactorily. If there is the slightest bit of false assertion, Niang’s soul and spirit in heaven can’t possibly let us, these unfilial sons – off.”

Without blinking at all, Ge Suwen fixed his gaze at him, his eyes gradually softened, suddenly he shook his head with a wry smile, his ring-headed saber drooped down to point at the ground, he said, “Chao’an and Zhengzong, what do you say?”

Jin Zhengzong’s voice sounded from behind Kou Zhong, “Zhengzong firmly believes each word came from the bottom of Shaoshuai’s heart. In Longquan that day, were it not for Shaoshuai thinking fondly of old affection, if would be very difficult for us to escape unscathed.”

While Ge Suwen was nodding slightly, Han Chao’an sighed and said, “Shaoshuai is definitely not a person who lightly gives promises and lacking trust.”

Ge Suwen threw his head back in long laughter, he tossed the saber away, letting it fell to the ground with a ‘Dang!’, and spoke heavily, “Another saber …”

Finished listening, Shen Luoyan’s pretty eyebrows deeply knitted as she pondered over, she said, “The enemy has launched several operations, all were targeted against Ziling. This matter is rather unusual, they ought to know that if Kou Zhong is murdered, Jiancheng and the others immediately successfully accomplish their goal, so what’s the use of such a turning point for three, four times against you in succession? Could it be that they think Ziling is easier to deal with than Kou Zhong?”

Xu Ziling said, “The two sneak attacks and ambush happened both on my way to see Qingxuan, therefore, ambushing me is comparatively easier, because there were traces that they could look for.”

Shen Luoyan analyzed, “That might be only one of the reasons. In fact, with your and Kou Zhong’s combined power, although inevitably you will suffer injury, you will still be able to break the siege and escape. The enemy’s goal is to inflict heavy losses on you, thus it will gravely encumber Kou Zhong, not only it will make Kou Zhong unable to say he’s leaving and immediately leave, when the conflict breaks out, Kou Zhong won’t be able to simply disregard you and run away even more. This move can be considered the ultimate scheme, they are doing everything in their power to keep you, two men, here forever.”

Shaken, Xu Ziling said, “You are right!”

Shen Luoyan said, “According to the situation, after Yang Xuyan’s assassination operation was wrecked by Shi Zhixuan, he had no choice but to ask Wanwan to come down the arena, hence Wanwan only wanted to inflict heavy losses on you, but the target is still Kou Zhong, otherwise, if they let you and Kou Zhong join forces to break the siege, even if Bi Xuan personally makes his move, I am afraid he will still not be able to stop you.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Xu Ziling said, “Shi Zhixuan should not know that Wanwan could come to deal with me, he should not know that Yang Xuyan and Wanwan are working together in secret. However, it’s hard to say, Shi Zhixuan is temperamental, he changed six times in five hours, no one can guess his mind.”

Shen Luoyan pulled back her hand from his, she smiled and said, “You are overestimating Shi Zhixuan! With Shi Qingxuan here, he has turned back into a loving father who is willing to make any sacrifice for his daughter. Wanwan understands this point better than anyone, as a result, there is an irreparable difference between Wanwan and Shi Zhixuan.”

Xu Ziling spoke cheerfully, “If it is indeed as you said, we have one less of this hard-to-fathom Shi Zhixuan variable.”

Shen Luoyan stood up gracefully, with her eyes brimming with tenderness, she stared fixedly at him, and spoke softly, “Perhaps you don’t know, every time a war is approaching, I feel scared and nervous, therefore, I’m really not like Kou Zhong, that kind of natural commander-in-chief, but I’ve never been so afraid and frightened like tonight. Be careful! One mistake, we will be defeated, the ground blanketed with bodies [idiom: suffer a crushing defeat].”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Don’t worry! Kou Zhong plus Li Shimin, they can’t possibly lose. When Kou Zhong comes back, we will develop a perfect strategy, using the least cost to obtain the greatest victory, to stabilize our capital Chang’an.”

Ge Suwen slowly pulled the saber out of the sheath, his entire person changed instantly. Not only was he in high spirits, but he also generated some kind of a grand, majestic aura, showing that all his misgivings had gone completely, that his aspiration was focused on defeating the enemy. Man and saber have merged into one.

Kou Zhong had never seen such a simple, without anything fancy, heavy and thick long saber, compared to the Moon in the Well, it was half a chi longer, and twice as thick and wide. The body of the saber was black, but flickering and dazzling.

Laughing calmly, Ge Suwen said, “This is the forty-nine refined clear steel saber made by Jin Xi, a famous saber maker of my country, produced at my request. After the clear steel was forged, it was folded over and over and forged into forty-nine layers. The blade was tempered, the clear steel is the primary essence of black steel, there is softness within the hard, I call it the Dun Ji Dao [shield striker saber], the sheath is the rear, the saber is the striker, the combined weight of the sheath and the saber is one hundred and twenty catties, Shaoshuai, be careful.”

Kou Zhong spread out both hands, he shook his head with a wry smile and said, “Since Dashuai is unwilling to let the matter drop, Kou Zhong has no choice but to accompany, and let me experience the extraordinary saber technique that uses the sheath as the shield and the sword as the striker.”

Ge Suwen smiled and said, “Suwen is not a warlike person at all, only because Shaoshuai‘s saber technique produced deity and man transformation, it moves my heart. If I miss something on my face, it will be a great pity. Shaoshuai, please be so kind as to enlighten me, so that Suwen could gain first-hand experience of the Eight Methods of the Well whose name shook inside and outside the Great Wall, so that Suwen would not return empty-handed.”

Heroic feeling welled up in Kou Zhong’s heart, furthermore, he understood Ge Suwen’s way of thinking. If Ge Suwen accepts his, Kou Zhong’s proposal to establish friendly relations while he was at the disadvantageous position, it would be akin to him being scared of Kou Zhong, not to mention he might still have the ability that he kept at the bottom of his chest; if he did not have the opportunity to use it, he would not be willing to let it go. Smiling, he said, “Since Dashuai thinks so highly of Xiaodi, Xiaodi will play the Eight Methods of the Well from head to tail, to let Dashuai take a look and give directions.”

‘Qiang!’

The Moon in the Well left its sheath again, as if it was driven by the saber, Kou Zhong’s whole body leaned forward, the saber blade pointed at Ge Suwen from a distance, who had the scabbard on his left hand and the saber on the right, however, he did not emit the slightest coldness of the saber qi, as if he was taking a stance without any substance. However, all the onlookers, including Ge Suwen standing inside the arena, no one did not clearly feel that Kou Zhong’s person and the saber became one; even more, they felt the heaven and earth became one entity. The heaven and earth’s power was his power; he had fully seized the heaven and earth’s nature.

Ge Suwen became aware that his previous move to lure the enemy and to control the enemy were completely useless; he was overcome with the no room to advance or to retreat feeling. Without any better option, he assumed the stance where the scabbard in his left hand acted as the shield, and was held at an angle to protect his chest, while the right hand held the saber horizontally high above his head, and lowered his waist in a horse stance. Biting cold qi power like a gale chased toward Kou Zhong, standing two zhang away. Cool-headed and calm, he spoke indifferently, “May I venture to ask, what method is this style?”

Kou Zhong generated the heaven, earth and man became one, no man, no saber, completely dissolving into one entity – feeling. Even facing Ge Suwen’s astonishing qi power, he was like a fish in the water, totally natural, like a fish that would not overlook any changes in the water. As soon as the opponent made the slightest move, his next move would immediately deliver a frontal assault with amazing strike. He smiled and said, “This move is called ‘No Attack’, and the next move will be ‘Striking Strange’ [reminder: ‘strange’ here means sudden attack/ambush]. Dashuai, please be careful.”

Ge Suwen laughed and said, “If I defend but don’t attack, how would Shaoshuai launch the ‘Striking Strange’?”

Reversing his qi power, Kou Zhong stood proudly, absolutely still [orig. not a trace of wind was moving]. Laughing aloud, he said, “In that case, I will have no choice but to use ‘Square and Circle’; just when Dashuai changed from defense to attack, I naturally will have the opportunity that I can exploit to find the strange and strike.”

Frowning, Ge Suwen said, “This defensive style of mine is called Feng Tian Bi Di [lit. sealing the Heaven and shutting the Earth], there is no gap to be entered. If Shaoshuai has the ability to make me change my move, Suwen will accept wholeheartedly.”

A hint of strange smile escaped from the corner of Kou Zhong’s mouth, he said, “‘Square and Circle’ is the last method of the Eight Methods of the Well, it is the ability that I keep at the bottom of my chest. If I can’t make Dashuai change your move to deal with it, Xiaodi will immediately relinquish the saber and admit defeat; however, we all are still brothers, Dashuai, please spare my little life.”

Ge Suwen spoke cheerfully, “Even if I do not wish to make friends with you, I simply can’t. Shaoshuai, please impart your wisdom.”

Kou Zhong let out a burst of long laughter, the yellow light of the Moon in the Well in his hand suddenly flared greatly, a vortex of qi shot out from the saber blade, rolling and whirling away, forming a circle within a square, but he himself sent out an astonishing qi field, pressing down on the opponent like a wall, like a barrier. And then he formed a square within the circle, and it came one after another, so that Ge Suwen was struggling hard to cope.

Ge Suwen had never thought that his ‘Square and Circle’ was not saber move at all, but the change of true qi, which could attack from a distance. The most terrifying thing was that on the one hand, the vortex of qi power was coming, splitting the air, while the other piece of qi power absorbed the true qi that he released, so that he could no longer grasp Kou Zhong’s what is true and what is false from the qi power contact. Such a terrifying move, this was the first time that he encountered in all his life.

Ge Suwen shouted sternly, one hundred percent of his true qi condensed into the scabbard in his left hand, the person moved sideways, he swept at the vortex of energy to strike first.

‘Bang!’

True qi collided, the two men were severely shaken at the same time.

Kou Zhong appeared to be about to pounce forward, but the qi wall was pressing down on Suwen. The latter shouted again, the heavy clear steel saber held horizontally above his head swiftly chopped down. The qi wall rolled away to either side, like the water of the ocean parted and formed walls on both sides, revealing a road at the bottom of the water to pass through.

Ge Suwen had no other choice, because he was afraid that Kou Zhong would seize the opportunity to kill, he had to gain the initiative by striking first, using momentum against momentum, he flew at full speed through the formless passage from the split open qi wall. The heavy saber in his right hand transformed into refined light like lightning flashes. Traversing the two-zhang space, using ten-thousand-jun-thunderbolt momentum he struck straight toward Kou Zhong.

He was finally forced to turn defense into offense, and could not but show a change.

Who would have thought that the adopting-the-attacking-stance Kou Zhong did not use the ‘Striking Strange’ as he anticipated, but he really used ‘Cheating Troops’ to lure the opponent to change move and attack? The subtlety within was splendid, so that watching it, Jin Zhengzong and the others’ eyes were dazzled, they gasped in amazement.

Faced with the shocking attack of the breaking-the-heaven-opening-up-the-earth heavy sword, Kou Zhong remained calm and unhurried. The Moon in the Well stabbed the empty air in front of him more than a dozen times, sending out more than a dozen streams of saber qi, each stream of saber qi hit the body of the opponent’s saber one step ahead. It was precisely learning and applying pragmatically, he was applying one attack [pu – pounce] of Ning Daoqi’s San Shou [scattering hand, from San Shou Ba Pu – scattered hand eight attacks] in his ‘Chess Abundant’ of the Eight Methods, using the man to play [yi] the saber, using the saber to play the enemy.

‘Ding!’

The wild, violent offensive suddenly disappeared without a shadow without a trace, Kou Zhong’s Moon in the Well not only successfully blocked Ge Suwen’s startling the heaven and earth, sobbing-ghost-and-deity strike, but also successfully sucked the heavy saber firmly.

Ge Suwen roared, the scabbard in his left hand, covering the head, covering the face, swept and hacked toward Kou Zhong.

Kou Zhong let out a long laugh, he secretly applied the Bu Si Yin Fa, the real qi within his body transformed the death into life, the flow of qi reversed.

‘Qiang!’

The irresistible saber force, like a raging billow, violent wave invaded Ge Suwen’s heavy saber, forcibly jolting him three steps away, the scabbard in his left hand swept an empty air.

Ge Suwen casually tossed the scabbard, he threw his head back in laughter and said, “If I still want to press on, I would become a despicable and shameless person. I received the instruction! I, Ge Suwen, will leave tonight, and will no longer get involved in Chang’an’s affair.”

After Shen Luoyan left, Hou Xibai returned from the Ling Yan Pavilion, he sat down next to the bed and said with a sigh, “This time we are in trouble!”

Even with Xu Ziling’s free and easy manner, because it involved his Shigong, hearing that, his heart was startled his guts palpitating. Smiling ruefully, he said, “Go ahead! I hope I can bear it.”

Hou Xibai spoke in deject, “You should say whether Kou Zhong can bear it or not.”

Xu Ziling was shocked, “What’s the matter?” he asked.

Hou Xibai replied, “I went to Ling Yan Pavilion to see your Yu Yi just now. To make a long story short, I told her that I was passing on a message word for you, that tonight’s midnight appointment must be postpone to tomorrow night. Who would have thought that she was furious, saying that your Shigong detests those who don’t keep their promises the most? This kind of acting arbitrarily regardless of the rules will worsen your relationship with Shigong. Ay! Under pressure and having no alternative, I was forced to confess the truth about the pretense and told her that you suffered heavy injury from Wanwan. Your Yu Yi told me to wait for a moment, so that she can ask Shigong for instructions. When she came back, she told me that Shigong issued an order, if Kou Zhong does not meet him at the pavilion [ting] in the middle of the lake of the Ling Yan Pavilion [ge] tonight at zi hour [11pm-1am], he will personally go to Yeting Palace to look for Kou Zhong and give him bad luck.”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, he would rather they fought Bi Xuan, because then Kou Zhong could at least deal with him with all his strength, however, towards Fu Cailin, they had layer upon layer of misgivings, there would only be defeat without victory, because they simply had to give consideration to Niang’s love.

Having a headache, Hou Xibai said, “What do we do?”

Smiling wryly, Xu Ziling said, “In everything, let’s talk when Kou Zhong returns!”

His mood relaxed, Kou Zhong left the Liang Yuan, even he himself was satisfied with the way he handled Ge Suwen, which not only retained the other side’s face and did not damage a good relationship, but also prevented Ge Suwen from getting involved in tomorrow’s battle and weakened Li Jiancheng’s side’s power. He could not help thinking about his next move, whether he should pretend that because Xu Ziling received serious injury, fury attacked his heart, he, Kou Zhong, went everywhere to find somebody to vent his anger, and took the opportunity to break through straight into the East Palace, challenge Yang Xuyan and slaughter this kid. But he was also afraid that it would affect the tomorrow’s operation. While he was hesitating, he turned his head around to look, Ba Fenghan caught up with him from behind, and said with a laugh, “Good kid, unexpectedly the quick-footed climb up first, you snatched my Ge Dashuai.”

Kou Zhong waited until he came beside him, and then they walked side by side. He spoke happily, “Did you see me coming out of Liang Yuan?”

Ba Fenghan spoke slyly, “Looking at your high and mighty look, were you able to attack [‘sha’, which could mean kill, attack, weaken or reduce] Ge Suwen that he gets lost to his home town on the east dragging his dagger-axe and armor?”

Kou Zhong smiled and said, “When martial art masters exchange blows, there’s no need to decide victory or defeat, I only chased him that he fell into the disadvantageous position twice. Out of five sabers, three still remain, plus I thoroughly laid out the pros and cons, we all ended in harmony, he immediately led his team to leave the city. Ha! Where did you go just now?”

Ba Fenghan said, “Just consider him lucky, I definitely would not treat him as good as you did.”

Kou Zhong said, “Quickly answer my question, don’t look left and right with regard to him, did you go after Badai’er earlier?”

Ba Fenghan put his hand on his shoulder, he sighed and said, “Xiongdi’s heart, how could it be hidden from you? Badai’er and I have a set of technique to contact each other, if she wants me to find her, she will leave a secret mark at the East Gate. Now she has already moved out of the imperial palace and is staying in an inn on the Vermillion Bird Boulevard, I still haven’t decided whether I should see her. I was wandering around the street like a lonely soul without a master, and suddenly remembered Ge Suwen; who would have thought that I ran into you?”

Kou Zhong was about to speak, Ba Fenghan said, “Look!”

By this time, the two men had arrived at the vicinity of the imperial city. Following Ba Fenghan’s eyes, Kou Zhong looked. Liexia was stepping out of the Vermillion Bird Gate, walking in the opposite direction from them.

Greatly delighted, Kou Zhong said, “Heaven’s net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it [idiom, from Laozi]; this kid’s time has come!”

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