Chu Liuxiang

Chu Liuxiang stroked his nose and said with a laugh, "Dashi has left the red dust far away behind, unexpectedly you still know Zaixia"s shameful nickname."

Unexpectedly the monk with the grey eyebrow"s gloomy and grave expression suddenly lit up in delight, his cold and sharp gaze also began to shine with a smile. He spoke slowly, "Although Laoseng has stayed away from Jianghu"s knight-errant footprint for a long time, I have a Shizhi [martial nephew] who has a wide circle of friends. Each time he came here, he always recounted some new and odd interesting stories for Laoseng to hear. And among all those stories, Chu Xiang Shuai"s heroic and pa.s.sionate magnificent feats are the most interesting, the most captivating."

Chu Liuxiang said, "The one Dashi"s mentioning, could it be Wuhua?"

The monk with the grey eyebrow smiled and said, "Over the last several hundred years, speaking about Shaolin disciples with vast network of friends, he is the only one."

"He … is he here now?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

The monk with the grey eyebrow said, "Shizhu came here this time, is it to look for him?"

Muttering irresolutely, Chu Liuxiang replied, "Zaixia came here this time, the main reason is to pay my respects to Tian Feng Dashi."

The monk with the grey eyebrow said, "Although Zhangmen Shixiong has not received any outside visitors for a long time, Chu Shizhu is such a person that he would take pleasure in receiving. It"s a pity that Shizhu has come in a very unfortunate time."

Chu Liuxiang anxiously asked, "Could it be Tian Feng Dashi is already …"

With a smile on his face, the monk with the grey eyebrow said, "Zhangmen Shixiong has emptied his mind of ten thousand thoughts; tea is his only pleasure, it never changes from beginning to end. This moment he is enjoying the tea, so no one can disturb him."

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh of relief; his expression turned into delight, he laughed and said, "If Tian Feng Dashi is enjoying the tea alone, Zaixia is not worried. If I could see this Wuhua Shixiong, it would be the same."

The monk with the grey eyebrow said, "Since Shizhu won"t be able to see Zhangmen Shixiong, you won"t be able to see Wuhua either."

Emotionally moved, Chu Liuxiang asked, "Why?"

The monk with the grey eyebrow said, "Among Shaolin disciples, Wuhua is also the only one proficient in Dongying tea ceremony. Whenever he comes here, the first thing that he do is drawing water and brewing the tea for Zhangmen Shixiong."

Chu Liuxiang"s countenance has already changed early on. "This moment Wuhua is brewing tea for Tian Feng Dashi?" he blurted out.

The monk with the grey eyebrow nodded and said with a laugh, "If Chu Shizhu wants to see them, I am afraid you will have to wait until tomorrow morning."

Inwardly Chu Liuxiang was so anxious that it nearly drove him crazy, but on the surface he suppressed his emotion, "They are enjoying the tea, must be in the rear courtyard?" he asked.

"Precisely," the monk with the grey eyebrow replied.

Chu Liuxiang suddenly pointed to something behind the monk with the grey eyebrow; he laughed and said, "But isn"t that Wuhua standing behind Dashi?"

"Where?" the monk with the grey eyebrow asked.

He looked back, but no one behind him; where was Wuhua"s shadow? But by the time he turned his head back, the Chu Liuxiang in front of him has already disappeared.

The first time the monk with the grey eyebrow turned his head, Chu Liuxiang has already flown out.

In his escape this time, he had exhausted all his skill. Furthermore, he already determined accurately where he would step his foot. His toes tapped the ground, he already flew four zhang away. Before the monk with the grey eyebrow turned his head, he was already ten zhang away.

In an emergency, the speed of Chu Liuxiang"s matchless-under-the-heavens qinggong was simply inconceivable. By the time the monk with the grey eyebrow turned his head back, Chu Liuxiang already disappeared behind the short wall.

Behind the short wall, the bamboo leaves in the small courtyard was very thick, the gra.s.s and trees extremely secluded. Among the bamboo grove, there was a pavilion with three sides open, with thick bamboo curtain hanging over it. Looking beyond the bamboo curtains, he could vaguely see two human figures sitting cross-legged on the floor. The courtyard was quiet. The breeze blew the leaves of the trees, their shadows were dancing on the bamboo curtain. The two men seemed to be on heaven.

The one on the right was precisely Wuhua.

In front of him was a small purple clay stove, a red copper pot, a cattail-leaf fan, as well as an exquisite small tea set. This moment, three cups, about the size of a wine cup, were already full to the brim with tea. Bursts of tea fragrance floated out of the bamboo curtains. Added to that the fragrance of the flowers and the fragrance of the bamboo, the aroma was really intoxicating.

Sitting opposite to Wuhua was a withered, thin monk whose beard and eyebrows had turned completely white. This moment he was taking a cup from Wuhua, closing his eyes, and slowly bringing the cup toward his lips.

Chu Liuxiang shouted loudly, while as fast as an arrow he flew through the bamboo curtain and thundered, "This tea must not be consumed!"

When Wuhua saw him, his countenance changed, but in the blink of an eye he regained his composure.

As for Tian Feng Dashi, not even the muscle on the corner of his mouth was twitching; it was as if even if the sky collapsed in front of him, his countenance would not change the slightest bit.

He simply put down the teacup slowly and opened his eyes slowly. When this pair of eyes looked at Chu Liuxiang, unconsciously he felt his hands and feet were failing.

Tian Feng Dashi spoke indifferently, "Shizhu is breaking in like this, don"t you think you are being too reckless?"

Chu Liuxiang bowed and said, "Zaixia was very anxious; I am hoping Dashi would forgive me."

Tian Feng Dashi fixed his gaze on Chu Liuxiang for half a day. He slowly said, "Within the last twenty years, Shizhu is the first person ever to charge into Laoseng"s meditation room. Since you are able to come here, naturally you are not ordinary. How about sitting down and enjoying some tea first?"

This Shaolin senior monk"s cultivation had indeed reached the "stove fire has turned bright green" [idiom: brought to the point of perfection] level; incredibly he did not show the slightest sign of anger. Inwardly Chu Liuxiang could not help admiring him greatly.

Immediately Wuhua also smiled and said, "That"s right, since Chu Xiong is here, why not sit down and drink a cup of tea to wash away the dust of the secular world."

Tian Feng Dashi smiled indifferently and said, "Turns out it is Chu Shizhu; no wonder your qinggong is brilliant, the world has not produced the second person."

"I do not dare!" Chu Liuxiang replied.

With a smile on his face, Tian Feng Dashi said, "Although Laoseng has cut off worldly affairs for a long time, to be able to see the outstanding talent of the present age, my heart is still extremely delighted. This is a cold temple without any wine, there is no harm in Chu Shizhu enjoying tea in place of wine."

He raised the cup with both hands again. Chu Liuxiang could not help blurting out again, "This tea must not be consumed!"

Tian Feng Dashi said, "Even if this tea was not grown by the immortals, it could be considered a fine work of art; why can"t it be consumed?"

Chu Liuxiang cast a quick glance toward Wuhua. Suddenly he laughed and said, "Actually, someone entrusted Zaixia to bring Dashi an exquisite, new tea. Furthermore, Zaixia is confident that in the art of brewing tea, I can be quite out of the ordinary as well. Would Dashi like to have a taste first?"

Tian Feng Dashi broke into delight; he said, "Since that"s the case, Laoseng would love to receive the benefit of your trouble."

Although toward other things this senior monk with deep cultivation and profound power was quite indifferent, hearing about high brewing-tea skill, unexpectedly he could not help revealing delighted expression.

Although inwardly Wuhua was startled and angry, his countenance did not reveal any emotion at all. Unexpectedly he also smiled and said, "I never thought Chu Xiong would have this kind of refined and elegant att.i.tude of mind as well. Wonderful! Wonderful!"

He immediately stood up to let Chu Liuxiang took his place, but he took the pot of tea that he had just brewed and poured it all into the courtyard.

Chu Liuxiang cast him another glance, laughed, and said, "Such a precious water, you threw it all away; won"t it be a pity?"

He did not say "tea", but "water". Only he did not say "Heavenly One Divine Water", four characters. Unexpectedly Wuhua was still expressionless. He smiled and said, "The water came from dissolved snow. Although it was precious, we have enough stored in the Temple"s cellar. If Chu Xiong is also fond of it, there is no harm in bringing a bottle back with you."

Chu Liuxiang sighed inwardly. He sat down respectfully, and started the fire to brew the tea.

Tian Feng Dashi suddenly chuckled indifferently and said, "This moment the water is not boiling yet, Chu Shizhu might as well tell me the purpose of your visit. In front of famous tea, Laoseng"s frame of mind is at its best. If Chu Shizhu has something you"d like to consult, this is also the best time to ask."

Chu Liuxiang suddenly discovered that within this senior monk"s ordinary smile, there was indeed a matchless wisdom hidden in it. That pair of serene eyes seemed to be able to see clearly the downy feather of autumn [idiom from Mencius: able to distinguish right and wrong with acuity].

He sighed softly and said, "Wanbei [junior] came here, just want to ask Dashi to narrate a story."

Frowning slightly, Tian Feng Dashi asked, "Story?"

Chu Liuxiang said, "More than a dozen of years ago, there was a Fusang [mythical island of ancient literature, often interpreted as j.a.pan] warrior called Tianfeng Shisi Lang, who crossed the see from the east. He pitted himself against two martial art masters of the Central Earth, one of them was the Beggar Clan"s Ren Lao Bangzhu. As for the other one, I wonder if it was Dashi?"

Tian Feng Dashi was silent for a long time. Finally he heaved a deep, deep sigh and spoke sadly, "The matter that happened twenty years ago, Laoseng have almost forgotten. Unexpectedly today Shizhu raised this matter again … That"s right, Shizhu is correct, it was indeed Laoseng."

Chu Liuxiang"s eyes lit up, he said, "Tianfeng Shisi Lang crossed the eastern sea asking for a duel, yet he did not have the desire to win; on the contrary, he seemed to be determined to die. If Wanbei did not guess incorrectly, was he in some kind of grief?"

Tian Feng Dashi fell silent again for a long time. He spoke slowly, "Your guess is correct, he was indeed in some kind of grief."

Chu Liuxiang said, "If Dashi is willing to reveal it, Wanbei will be very grateful."

Tian Feng Dashi"s eyes flickered; he fixed his gaze on Chu Liuxiang for a long time before sighing and said, "Past events flit like a smoke. Laoseng originally did not wish to mention it, but Shizhu came her by making light of traveling a thousand li just to inquire about this matter. The implication of this matter is indeed grievous."

Chu Liuxiang hung his head down and said, "Dashi indeed sees clearly the downy feather of autumn. Wanbei does not dare to conceal anything, the implication of this matter is indeed grievous, but Wanbei can guarantee something, that is, Wanbei"s inquiring of this matter is absolutely without any selfish malice intention."

Tian Feng Dashi laughed indifferently and said, "If Shizhu has any selfish malice intention, you would not be able to sit here."

Chu Liuxiang shivered inwardly. "Dashi is able to see clearly," he replied respectfully.

Closing his eyes, Tian Feng Dashi slowly said, "Tianfeng Shisi Lang"s perseverance was outstanding, he was addicted to martial art to the point of being crazy about it, but it was unfortunate that he fell into the web of pa.s.sion. More than twenty years prior to this, there was a big feud between Hua Shan and Huang Shan, two influential Jian Pai [Sword Sects] that there was continuous b.l.o.o.d.y battle between the two for many years. In the end Huang Shan School suffered a crushing defeat until, after the battle, only Li Qi, one person survived."

Chu Liuxiang could not help asking, "What does this matter have to do with Tianfeng Shisi Lang?"

Tian Feng Dashi replied, "In order to escape disaster, Miss Li Qi boarded a merchant ship and sailed to the east pa.s.sing Fusang. At that time she was already suffering internal injury. Exacerbated by the arduous voyage, by the time she reached Fusang, she was too sick to continue the journey."

"Could it be that this lady unexpectedly came across Tianfeng Shisi Lang?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

Tian Feng Dashi sighed and replied, "That"s exactly what happened. Tianfeng Shisi Lang fell in love with this Miss Li at first sight. For many days without stopping to sleep or have a rest, he thoroughly treated Miss Li"s injury. Unavoidably Miss Li was moved by his sincerity. The fourth day after her injury has been completely healed, she became husband and wife with Tianfeng Shisi Lang."

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, "An opportune connection with marriage partner decreed by the Heaven, tying a knot overseas, it is indeed a story that captures the imagination and will be spread far and wide."

Tian Feng Dashi sadly said, "Only a pity their happy days were not long. After Miss Li gave birth to two sons for Tianfeng Shisi Lang, unexpectedly she left without even saying goodbye, leaving only a letter."