Chapter 16: False Compa.s.sion, False Kindness
Chapter 16: False Compa.s.sion, False Kindness
Original novel written by Gu Long
Fan translation by Meh (Send an email)
There抯 no one guarding the door. Maybe no one expected Ah Fei to come in the daytime. Or maybe they just want to take a nap.
This storage room has just one small window. It抯 as dark as most jail cells. By the stacks of firewood lies a person.
When Ah Fei saw the fur coat, the blood in his chest began to boil. No even he knows why he feels so much friendship to this person.
He stepped forward and said, 揧ou...�
Just at this time, a sword sparkled from under the coat!
This lightning-quick sword stroke totally shocked Ah Fei!
Not only was it so unexpected, it was also very fast!
It抯 a good thing Ah Fei still has his sword. His sword is even faster, fast beyond belief. Even though that other person attacked first, Ah Fei still gained the initiative.
Ah Fei抯 sword hit the handle of the handle of his opponent.
That person抯 wrist shook, the sword came out of his hand.
This person is also a top swordsman. Even under such circ.u.mstances he still did not falter. With a quick roll, he retreated a few meters. At this time, Ah Fei saw his face. It抯 You Long Sheng.
Ah Fei doesn抰 know who he is, so it didn抰 affect his concentration. He attacked again, but also began to retreat out the room at the same time. Although his movement very fast, it抯 too late.
A golden sabre and a staff has already blocked his path. Also at this time, many people appeared from behind the stack of firewood. Each with arrows aimed at him. At this distance, these arrows are incredibly deadly.
No matter how powerful a person is, if he thinks he can leave the room in this situation, then he抯 dreaming.
Tian Qi laughed. 揑s there anything you want to say, my friend?�
Ah Fei sighed. 揋o ahead.�
Tian Qi said, 揧ou don抰 waste any time, do you. Fine, I抣l grant you your wish!�
He waved his hand, and those arrows shot out of those people抯 hands like rain.
Just at this time, Ah Fei suddenly rolled on the ground. His left hand picked up the sword dropped by You Long Sheng. As the swords danced in his hand, the arrows bounced off. In an instant, he reached the door.
Zhao Zheng Yi let out a roar, his golden sabre came piercing down at Ah Fei.
Yet before his stroke connect, he saw a flash of light in front of him.
This sword stroke is amazingly fast.
When Zhao Zheng Yi tried to adjust, it was too late. The sword has penetrated his throat. Blood spilled out.
Tian Qi stuttered a bit.
But at this time, Ah Fei had left the room.
Tian Qi wanted to chase after Ah Fei, but then he stopped. Zhao Zheng Yi is still clutching his throat. Amazingly enough, he抯 still not dead.
Ah Fei flew out of the garden. But before he let, he threw You Long Sheng抯 sword at Tian Qi.
Tian Qi wanted to give chase, but thought better of it.
At this time You Long Sheng let out a long sigh. 揟his youngster really is incredibly fast!�
Tian Qi chuckled. 揌is luck isn抰 so bad either.�
You Long Sheng asked, 揕uck?�
Tian Qi said, 揇idn抰 you see that two arrows. .h.i.t his body?�
You Long Sheng said, 揧ou抮e right. His sword strokes is still not perfect. He wasn抰 good enough to block all the arrows. But he somehow didn抰 injure himself.�
Tian Qi said, 揟his is because he was wearing the Golden Thread Vest. I calculated for everything, but somehow forgot about this. Otherwise, he had no chance to leave this room today.�
You Long Sheng looked at the sword and sighed again. 揌e shouldn抰 have come today.�
Tian Qi laughed. 揇on抰 worry too much about losing. Besides, just because he escaped our trap doesn抰 mean he can leave here.�
Just as Ah Fei went out the door, he heard a Buddhist chant. The chant was very loud and seems to be coming from every side.
Then five monks surrounded him.
The first one is Reverend Xin Mei.
Ah Fei surveyed the situation and kept his calm. He simply said, 揝o even monks will trap people these days.�
Reverend Xin Mei said slowly. 揑 do not intend to hurt anyone. You are very witty with words. But words cannot hurt others, just yourself.�
He said in an even tone. Yet as the words reached Ah Fei抯 ears, they shook loudly.
Ah Fei said, 揕ooks like someone抯 just as good as I am with the way of words!�
He knows that if he were to escape from above, the reverend抯 beads can easily take advantage and cripple his legs. So his only chance is to escape between two monks.
Yet just as he moved, the monks started to rotate around him. All five moving so fast Ah Fei could not possibly escape.
Just as Ah Fei stopped moving, so did the monks.
Reverend Xin Mei said, 揂s monks we don抰 like to kill. You have a sword in your hand and shoes on your feet. If you can break our Luo Han Formation, you may leave.
Ah Fei started to breathe deeply. His body perfectly still.
He sees that not only do these monks have incredible kung fu, they also complement each other very well. This formation doesn抰 have any weaknesses at all.
When Ah Fei was nine, he saw a crane being surrounded by a large snake. Although the crane has a sharp beak, it never made a move.
He originally wondered why. Only afterwards did he found out that the crane knows the snake抯 personality. After surrounding the crane, the snake can attack with both his head and tail in a quick and smooth fashion. If the crane attacks the head, then the tail will wrap it. If it attacks the tail, the head can bite it.
Therefore the crane simply stood there. The snake became impatient and attacked first. Only that way did the crane deter the attack quickly and fought off the snake.
To counter speed with stillness.
Therefore, as long as the monks stay still, so will he.
After a bi, the reverend seemed to have become a bit impatient. 揂re you going to give up?�
揘o.�
Reverend Xin Mei said, 揑f so, then why don抰 you try to leave?�
Ah Fei said, 揧ou抮e not going to kill me, and I can抰 kill you. So I can抰 leave.�
Xin Mei chuckled. 揑f you can kill me, I would have no regrets.�
Ah Fei said, 揋ood!�
With a sudden flash of the sword, Ah Fei attacked Xin Mei.
The Shaolin monks immediately moved to attack Ah Fei.
Yet somehow Ah Fei suddenly changed his movement. No one saw how he did it. They just realized that he suddenly turned the other way.
That stroke was originally aimed at Xin Mei. Now it抯 aimed at the fists of the other monks.
Xin Mei said. 揈xcellent!�
As he said the word, he rolled his sleeves. The sleeves of shaolin monks are sharp as knives. He prepared to attack Ah Fei
Although the other four monks are being attacked, he does not have to help them defend. This is one of the strong points of the Luo Han Formation.
No one would抳e thought that at this instance, Ah Fei changed his move again.
When other swordsman switch to a different sword stance, they simply change the direction from which the attack comes from or the attacking point. But Ah Fei could change the direction of his whole body.
A stroke that originally attack east suddenly attack west.
Nothing else changed. Just his footwork, with such lightning speed others could not believe what they抮e seeing.
In the next instant, his sword cut through Xin Mei抯 sleeves. His sword and body as one ent.i.ty. So as the sword escaped, so did the body.
Only to hear Xin Mei said, 揚lease walk carefully. I抣l send you out.�
Ah Fei then felt a surge of energy from his back, as if a huge iron rod hit him. Although he抯 wearing the Golden Thread Vest, he still could not help feeling much pain.
One of the monks said, 擜fter him!�
Xin Mei said, 揘o need.�
The monk said, 揌e can抰 escape very far. Why let him go?�
揑f he can抰 escape very far, why bother to chase after him?�
That monk thought a moment. Then said, 揗artial uncle is right.�
Xin Mei looked in the direction of Ah Fei, then said, 揗onks should not hurt others if possible.�
Tian Qi was looking at the whole event from afar. He suddenly chuckled. 揗onks are really great. If others will help them kill people, then they won抰 bother.�
The power of a Shaolin reverend抯 palms really are amazing. It took a while for Ah Fei just to get his balance back.
He realized that he has a major internal injury. But at least this is an injury he can recover from.
After years of training and hardship, he抯 incredibly durable. It抯 as if his body is made of steel.
If Ah Fei really can escape, then he抎 be incredibly lucky. There are very few people who could escape from the combined attack of five top Shaolin fighters.
Except Ah Fei doesn抰 really want to escape.
Where did they hide Li Xun Huan?
Like an eagle, Ah Fei抯 eyes surveyed his surroundings. He quickly dashed to the backyard garden. It抯 much easier to hide there.
Suddenly, he heard a laughter.
Ahead of him is a pavilion. The person laughing sits there, reading a book. He looks deeply enchanted by the book.
He抯 wearing plain clothing that looks worn-out. His face is skinny and yellow, with a long beard. He looks like an old scholar who doesn抰 know how to take care of himself.
Yet only a top level expert can make his laughter heard from so far away.
Ah Fei stopped. He stared at this man closely.
This old man didn抰 seem to notice Ah Fei. He turned the page and continued to read intently.
Ah Fei back stepped. After ten steps, he turned around and flew away. With only two steps he抯 already in the plum forest
Ah Fei took a deep breath, swallowed the blood coming up from his throat.
He realized that his injury is more serious than he originally thought. It抯 unlikely he can still fight in this condition.
At this moment, he heard a sound of the flute.
The music is loud and crisp. The plum flowers� pedals all started dropping around Ah Fei.
He then saw a person playing the flute under the trees behind him. It抯 that old scholar he saw a minute ago.
Ah Fei did not walk away this time. Looking at the old man, he said, 揗r. Iron Flute?�
The sound of the flute slowly disappeared.
He stared at Ah Fei for a long time, then asked suddenly, 揧ou抮e injured?�
Ah Fei was surprised, thinking that this man really has great eyesight.
Mr. Iron Flute then asked, 揑njured on the back?�
Ah Fei said, 揝ince you know about the injury, why bother asking?�
揦in Mei hurt you?�
Ah Fei said, 揌umph.�
Mr. Iron Flute shook his head. 揕ooks like the reverend of Shaolin isn抰 all that great.�
Ah Fei asked, 揥hy do you say that?�
Mr. Iron Flute explained. 揊or someone in his position, he shouldn抰 have attacked you from behind. And if he did, he should not have allowed you to live long enough to see me.�
He suddenly smiled. 揅ould it be that the this old monk want someone else to help him kill you?�
Ah Fei said, 揕et me tell you three things. First, if he hadn抰 attacked me from behind, he would抳e never had a chance to hurt me. Second, even though he hit me, he still couldn抰 kill me. Third, you can抰 kill me either!�
Mr. Iron Flute laughed loudly. 揧ou really are very arrogant, young man.�
He suddenly stopped laughing. 揝ince you抮e hurt, I shouldn抰 fight you. But you抮e too arrogant, so I have to teach you a lesson.�
Ah Fei already felt he said too much. He didn抰 want to say anything else.
Mr. Iron Flute said, 揃ecause you抮e hurt, I抣l let you have the first three moves.�
Ah Fei looked at him, then suddenly chuckled.
As he chuckled his sword returned to his waist. Turned around and walked away.
Mr. Iron Flute said, 揘ow that you抳e met me. Do you really think you can leave alive?�
Ah Fei didn抰 even turn around. He simply said coldly, 揑f I don抰 go, then you have to die!�
Mr. Iron Flute couldn抰 help but laugh. 揥ho抯 dying, you or me?�
Ah Fei said, 揘o one could let me have three moves first.�
揝o if I do so, then I have to die?�
揧es.�
Mr. Iron Flute said, 揟hen why don抰 you try?�
Ah Fei stopped talking, turned around, staring at him.
He never saw anyone抯 eyes like this.
This pair of eyes contain no emotions. They seem to be made of stone. When they look you, it抯 like a G.o.d looking at a mortal being.
Mr. Iron Flute subconsciously retreated a few steps.
At this moment, Ah Fei made his move.
When his sword attacks, it never misses.
This is Ah Fei抯 philosophy. If he didn抰 have total confidence, he would not pull out his sword!
The snowflakes and the plum pedals flew in the air together, creating a beautiful scene. Only to see Mr. Iron Flute抯 body flowing and dancing among the falling snow.
Ah Fei didn抰 even look up. His sword returned.
Mr. Iron Flute flew back down. His decent is very slow, like a piece of paper dropping down. A pool of blood appeared on the snow.
Ah Fei looked at the snow on the ground, then said, 揘o one can let me have three moves. Not even one move!�
Mr. Iron Flute leaned on a tree. His face pale white. His chest full of blood.
He never had the chance to use his worldly renowned iron flute!
Ah Fei then said, 揃ut you didn抰 die. Because you kept your words.�
He then chuckled. 揂t least you抮e better than Xin Mei.�
Xin Mei said he would never hurt Ah Fei. As long as Ah Fei escaped his formation, he can leave. But instead he attacked from behind. This is a lesson Ah Fei swore he抣l never forget.
Mr. Iron Flute then said, 揧ou still have two more moves.�
揟wo more?�
Mr. Iron Flute bit his teeth, forcing a smile. 揑 said three moves. You only used one.�
Ah Fei looked at him for a while, then replied. 揊ine!�
He attacked slowly and lightly. Two punches that barely landed. 揋reat. Now I抳e made three...�
At this moment, he heard a light sound, Ten 揅old Star Thunder Storm Needles� came out of the iron flute!
Mr. Iron Flute抯 pale face suddenly brightened. He said, 揟oday I learned a lesson. Never let someone have the first three attacks. You should also learn a lesson. That is, if you attack, the opponent better die. Otherwise, don抰 bother attacking in the first place!�
Ah Fei bit his teeth while looking at the needle on his leg. He responded one word at a time. 揑抣l never forget this!�
Mr. Iron Flute said, 揋ood. You can leave now.�
Before Ah Fei could respond, he heard someone yell from afar.
揈lder. Old Iron Elder. Did you get him?�
Mr. Iron Flute told Ah Fei, 揌urry. I am unable to kill you, but I also don抰 want you to die in someone else抯 hands!�
Ah Fei immediately rolled away.
His legs cannot move, but his hands can.
He felt a lot of blood surging from his throat. Although he抯 desperately trying to keep it down, it抯 all in vain.
Even if no one chases after him, he knows that he doesn抰 have that long to live. He only want to see Li Xun Huan, to tell him that he did his best.
At this moment, a shadow came quickly towards him.
There抯 only one candle in the room.
Long Xiao4 Yun looked at Li Xun Huan. He waited for Li Xun Huan to finish coughing, then let him drink another cup of wine.
After he finished this cup, Li Xun Huan smiled. 揃ig brother. Noticed that not a drop came out? Even though I抦 hanging upside down, I can still drink every drop of wine brought to my mouth.�
Long Xiao4 Yun wanted to smile, but he couldn抰. 揥hy don抰 you let me unseal your pressure points?�
Li Xun Huan said, 揑 can抰 stand temptations. If you unsealed my pressure points, I抎 probably escape.�
Long Xiao4 Yun said, 揘ow... now there抯 no one抯 here. Don抰 you understand what I抦 trying to do?�
Li Xun Huan cut him off, 揃ig brother. Don抰 you understand what I抦 trying to do?�
Long Xiao4 Yun said, 揑 know, but...�
Li Xun Huan smiled. 揑 know what you want to say. Actually you didn抰 do anything wrong. Just for this cup of wine, I抣l never regret our friendship.