大唐双龙传 [Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan] by Huang Yi

[Laoren]

Thanks foxs. I think Shi Feixuan will appear to fight Wanwan.

[spynet]

Thanks foxs!

[foxs]

DongBin, Sky, shocking, wasn’t it? Ysabel, HPC, spy, you are welcome. Xu Xiong, thanks for the info. Chowbeng, I agree. Lao Qianbei, you think, huh? Here’s the end of Chapter 1.

---

“It’s bad!” Song Shidao blurted out.

Xu Ziling was frowning deeply, while silently mulling over the contradiction in his heart; it was a difficult decision to make.

Song Shidao said to Ren En, “Would Ren Bangzhu please instruct all members and officers under your command to immediately lay down the flag and still the drum, and cease all operations? Also, it is not advisable for Ren Bangzhu to come and see us anymore; later on, depending on the situation, we will come to you.”

Ren En was stunned, “Surely it is not that serious, is it?” he asked.

Sighing, Song Shidao replied, “It is far more serious than you think! By doing that, Xiao Zhong and Ba Xiong practically tell the enemy that we are going to leave the city immediately; the other side will definitely do everything they can to stop us. And Ren Bangzhu must never let the opponent know that you have a part in this affair.”

Ren En was moved, “Er Gongzi is a true friend indeed,” he said, “I will quietly wait for the good news, waiting for further instruction from Er Gongzi.”

After Ren En left, Xu Ziling asked, “How will Yin Gui Pai react?”

Analyzing the situation, Song Shidao said, “Yin Gui Pai is a number one big Sect with nearly a thousand-year history, but the problem they are facing presently is hard for them to swallow. The fact is, they cannot allow anybody, especially Fu Cailin, to know that they have captured Junyu; therefore, unleashing the thousand-catty-thunderbolt momentum, they will try to annihilate Xiao Zhong and Fenghan, two men, while at the same time they will do everything they can to intercept us. Since they already have their main force in Luoyang to deal with Shi Feixuan, dealing with us should be like ‘handling a butcher’s cleaver with ease’.”

Pondering deeply, Xu Ziling said, “We still have at least one advantage, which is the opponent still did not know that we have Er Gongzi here helping us. Therefore, if I appear right now, they must have thought that I had hidden Yu Yi somewhere save first before coming out to stake my life against them. Hence Er Gongzi’s chance to escape will greatly increase.”

Sighing, Song Shidao said, “Perhaps it is going to be just a bit better. Ay! I might as well go with you, and we fight hand-in-hand together with those two! I can hand Junyu over to Lu Shu [uncle]; he will have a way to bring her back to Gaoli.”

Xu Ziling was about to speak when suddenly the alarm went off in his heart.

Song Shidao also felt it somewhat.

A sweet-sounding female voice rang out from outside the cabin, “Xu Ziling! I have something to tell you.”

※ ※ ※

The tip of Ba Fenghan’s sword was pointing down, but his eyes shot incomparably sharp bright light, as he stared at Wanwan and said, “I wonder if there is more to Miss Wan’s pair of flying ribbons than meets the eye.”

The ribbons were only about one cun wide [about an inch], but they seemed to be able to extend and retract like an elastic material. The length could be up to three zhang, and were extremely difficult to guard against.

With pained expression in her beautiful eyes Wanwan gazed deeply into Ba Fenghan’s eyes; she spoke softly, “At first glance, nujia’s ribbon appeared to be a pair, but it is actually only one strip; it is called ‘Bai Yun Piao’ [floating white cloud]. When Ba Xiong arrive at the Yellow Springs [i.e. netherworld], you must not forget.”

Ba Fenghan appeared unconcerned; he casually asked, “I wonder what material was it made of?”

Wanwan smiled and said, “Some things are better to be kept in mystery; why don’t Ba Xiong try to guess?”

Sitting on the side, Kou Zhong felt strange; in this kind of swords-drawn-and-bows-bent, arrows-on-strung-bows-ready-to-be-shot moment, why would Ba Fenghan, who has always been straightforward and decisive, haggle over every ounce of what material the opponent’s weapon was made of?

Naturally Kou Zhong knew that based on Ba Fenghan’s character, he could not possibly shoot without aiming.

Wanwan sighed faintly.

It did not matter which expression Wanwan was showing, each one was able to show her thrilling innermost feeling. Combined with her magnificent beauty and alluring charm, which was unmatched in her generation, she was displaying ten thousand kind of flirtatious expressions, which dazzled and intoxicated men.

Even though Ba Fenghan and Kou Zhong were standing in hostility against her, and they were perfectly clear that she was vicious and merciless, able to murder without blinking an eye, they still could not help having some kind of warms-the-heart-and-delight-the-eye feeling.

Her vermillion lips opened slightly as she said, “Perhaps you won’t believe me, but nujia really have a bit of reluctance in destroying you. After you’re gone, Wanwan will be lost and lonely, yet I cannot but making my move against you, hence my heart is extremely contradictory. Ay! En Garde!”

The bluish green sleeves rose up, exposing a pair of flickering short blades, the ‘Demonic Double-Beheading’.

Ba Fenghan’s Beheading Mystery Sword still had a chance to attack, Wanwan already dashed to within eight chi in front of his body.

Like two demonic viper’s tongues the Double-Beheading darted forward, in a style that the opponent was unable to guess it drew a fantastic, mysterious arc in the air, striking toward Ba Fenghan.

Wanwan beautiful hair, which was originally draped over her fragrant shoulders, suddenly fluttered in the air; it was both very moving and incomparably weird.

The air surrounding her seemed to be suddenly sucked out, so that it was as if the space about two zhang in diameter around them turned into a bottomless hole.

It was the first time that Ba Fenghan felt the terrifying power of Wanwan’s full-strength attack.

She did not lie.

The previous several times she was definitely leaving some leeway.

In this life and death crisis, Ba Fenghan’s heart was extraordinarily calm instead; there was not a shred of fear of the opponent’s overbearing prowess.

In the blink of an eye, the meridians and true qi inside his body, which was transformed by the Jade Annulus of He Clan, rapidly climbed up to its limit.

His eyes lit up; he clearly grasped every subtle movement of the Demonic Double-Beheading, which in most people’s eyes was just like phantom shadow.

In that moment of life and death duel, a strange feeling rose up in his heart.

He felt that the true qi within Wanwan’s system was changing continuously, it was shifting around incessantly; sometimes it was concentrated on the Demonic Double-Beheading in her right hand, but suddenly it shifted toward her delicate foot, demonstrating her ability to alter her style and killer move of her attack in lightning-speed, sparks-fly speed.

This kind of demonic skill was certainly terrifying to the extreme.

Ba Fenghan suddenly retreating half a zhang backward, before dashing forward to counterattack.

The suffocating swift and fierce sword qi like a bolt of lightning breaking through the dark, dense cloud met the ferocious killer attack coming at him, unleashed by the most outstanding successor among Yin Gui Pai’s new generation’s disciples, head on.

※ ※ ※

Xu Ziling stepped out of the cabin.

In the dim light from the flickering lanterns on the ships and boats moored in the darkness along River Luo’s both banks, a beautiful and graceful figure was standing on the bow, with her back against Xu Ziling. She was wearing tight warrior outfit, with an ancient, ornamented sword hanging on her back.

Xu Ziling was stunned, “Turns out it is really the Princess honoring me with your fragrant self’s presence.”

Dong Ming Princess spoke indifferently, “You did not recognize my voice?”

Xu Ziling walked over toward her and stopped when he was about half a zhang away from her. With his hands behind his back, he said, “How could I not recognize your voice? I just could not believe my ears! May I ask how did Princess know that Zaixia is in here?”

Shan Wanjing answered the question with a question, “Xu Ziling, do you trust me?”

Xu Ziling stared blankly for half a day.

This simple question was actually very hard to answer.

It’s not that he did not trust her reason, but he could not put his absolute trust on her either.

After all, the relationship between them has not been too harmonious.

Displeased, Shan Wanjing said, “A hero and a real man, unexpectedly his mind is this narrow?”

Smiling ruefully, Xu Ziling replied, “Princess, please calm down. I just did not understand what you really mean by that question! Nothing more.”

His smile was free and at ease, and very pleasant. With that kind of smile on his handsome face with slightly melancholy expression, he exuded some kind of extraordinarily touching charm that no one could ever surpass.

Shan Wanjing’s fragrant heart trembled; unexpectedly she was unable to say anything.

Xu Ziling’s eyes emitted an intelligent and clear light. Fixing his gaze at her, he spoke tenderly, “I have never thought that Princess would harm me; would that be enough to prove that I trust you?”

Shan Wanjing was somewhat afraid that his sharp eyes would be able to see the chaos in her fragrant heart; she weakly hung her cicada head down and said softly, “In that case, can you tell me why Yin Gui Pai people are doing everything they can to find you?”

Xu Ziling replied, “Because we succeeded in rescuing Yu Yi back from their hands.”

And then he explained the impossible situation they were facing at the moment.

Finished listening, Shan Wanjing said, “Turns out you have the Song Family’s Er Gongzi helping you in secret. No wonder you managed to accomplish such an impossible thing.”

After pondering silently for half a day, she sighed and said, “Now I am afraid only us will be able to send her out of the city. The reasoning behind this is difficult to explain in a few words; in short, my Niang is one of a few people Zhu Yuyan is afraid of, plus she has deep knowledge of their methods.”

After casting a faint glance at him, she went on, “Originally I wanted you to hand over the Jade Annulus of He Clan in return. But if I took advantage of your precarious position, I knew you would hate me even more. All right! Leave her to me! Quickly go to Tianjin Bridge to fight alongside your two brothers! They are intercepted by Yin Gui Pai and are about to be killed!”

Shocked, Xu Ziling stared blankly at her for half a day.

Song Shidao’s voice came out from the cabin, “Ziling, just go!”

Xu Ziling raised his cupped fist to salute Shan Wanjing, and then leaped ashore and flew away.

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

I think BFH may have figured out Wanwan's secret. Wanwan, don't harm my boy!!

I was surprised it was the Ice Princess who came. I thought the lady was SLY at first.

I'm confused about the Princess' feelings. Does she like BFH or XZL?

[Laoren]

thanks foxs.

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[foxs]

Ysabel, Lao Qianbei, Jaya, you are welcome. Sky, I think she was interested in XZL first, while BFH was just 'a friend', but since XZL ignored her, and BFH still had contact with her ... Anyway, your guess is as good as mine. What's your take?

I give you a longer part today, knowing how much you hate cliffhangers. There's only a bit left of Chapter 2, the Lord's willing, I am going to post it tomorrow.

---

Book 16 Chapter 2 – Vulnerable Position

On the side, Kou Zhong, who was holding off his troops, watched Wanwan, using flawless defensive style, forcing Ba Fenghan to withdraw from his upper hand position, as well as turning from active to passive. Groaning inwardly, Kou Zhong knew that in term of craftiness, he was definitely not female demon Wanwan’s match.

Right now Wanwan seemed to give them a fair chance to fight, yet the actual fact was that it was not as fair as it appeared.

Up to now, Kou Zhong and the others, three men, had always been playing hit and run, they were not really accustomed to cooperate with each other, they merely developed some kind of inadequate complementary tactic.

However, in present situation, based on Ba Fenghan’s stubborn and haughty temperament, even though he knew that death was inevitable, he would never run away.

And Kou Zhong must not interfere, or else later on they would not have the face to see other people.

All Ba Fenghan could rely on was himself.

In Ba Fenghan’s heart, who had just blocked three hard strikes from Wanwan’s Demonic Double-Beheading, welled up an incomparably powerful fighting spirit.

As early as the moment he drew his sword, he had already seen through Wanwan’s mind, yet he also knew that he had no other choice.

If he failed to pass this moment, he had no concern over him being killed, but Kou Zhong could forget about leaving this place alive as well.

Ba Fenghan’s eyes shone with bright flashes; in this instant, the true qi inside the meridians and acupoints on his body has risen to its peak condition. All the hair on his body stood up on its root.

Following Wanwan’s erratic [orig. drifting without a resting place] yet fantastic and mysterious shenfa, the two gleaming short daggers, which were held lightly in her hands, flickered continuously. In her delicate hands, which were better than snow and superior to frost, the daggers turned into two round blurry light and shadow, rendering the opponent unable to guess the attack route. It was continuously changing, and continuously advancing.

There seemed to be indistinct shrill whistle all around, sometimes they seemed to hear it, another time it was unclear whether the sound actually happened in their head, as if it was actually the sound of a ghost wailing.

Yet in the area within three zhang radius, although there was not a single puff of wind, Ba Fenghan felt an enormous pressure so that he had difficulty breathing, and his body was aching so bad that he felt he was about to burst.

Such demonic skill was indeed frightening.

With Wanwan going all-out, before they even clashed with each other, Ba Fenghan already had a bogged down feeling [orig. although he had a cun, he could not move].

Demonic Double-Beheading alternated between fast and slow indeterminately; sometimes advancing, sometime retreating, yet were able to launch deadly attack at any moment.

It was only then did Kou Zhong, who was sitting on the bridge railing behind Ba Fenghan, witness Wanwan’s real strength; no wonder when Shi Feixuan’s mind was distracted she had to suffer loss from her sneak attack.

At the same time he made up his mind that if necessary, he would disregard everything and make his move to join the fight.

Ba Fenghan let out a loud shout and retreated three steps back.

Kou Zhong was so shocked that he nearly fell back into the river.

At the moment when the blades were clashing against each other, how could he retreat?

Especially against Wanwan, the most prominent Devil School’s martial art master after Zhu Yuyan.

After absorbing the Jade Annulus of He Clan’s energy, the most significant improvement in Ba Fenghan, three men, was that the sharpness of their senses was multiplied many times over. Even so, facing Wanwan’ moves, which were like fantastic demonic dance, it was still difficult for him to fathom.

All his life Ba Fenghan has fought all over the world, from outside the Wall to the Central Plains; he had brilliant insight, which was superior to Kou and Xu, two boys. But Wanwan was like a wisp of smoke, drifting, floating and flashing, making him feel that although he had the power, he could not unleash it, and thus forcing him to shoot without aim, which in turn gave birth to the feeling of frustration and helplessness.

If he lost the upper hand, Wanwan would kill him in a short time, like a strong wind wiping the cloud away. In this situation, where he knew for sure that he was going to die, Ba Fenghan pushed his ability and wisdom to its limit; he used such move, which even Kou Zhong did not understand why he did what he did.

Sure enough, his retreating momentum was successful. With this subtle withdrawal of the qi during a fight between martial art masters, naturally Wanwan wanted to respond; the Demonic Double-Beheading became two streaks of lightning, with the speed of thunderbolt-splitting-the-ear, one in front of another, shooting toward Ba Fenghan.

But like magic Ba Fenghan stopped in the air, and then changed his retreat into advancing movement.

The Beheading Mystery Sword carried a sharp piercing noise of the sword qi splitting the air. It sliced from bottom going up, swiftly stabbing toward the pouncing-over Wanwan’s silky breast.

The situation changed immediately.

It was as if Wanwan was delivering herself toward his sword.

Wanwan was already aware that Ba Fenghan was not a coward who would shrink back; his retreating must have a follow-up move. But she had never expected that after obtaining the extraordinary power of the Jade Annulus of He Clan, which transformed the opponent’s meridians, he would be able to move in the air with astonishing flashing-lightning, flying sparks speed, and was able to move completely from retreating to advancing in half a blink of an eye. Not only his power did not diminish the slightest bit, but because he was deliberately storing up his power beforehand, his qi increased without letup instead.

‘Dang! Dang!’

One after another the Demonic Double-Beheading poked the Beheading Mystery Sword.

Ba Fenghan could be considered the first person ever who was able to change his move from offensive to defensive just before Wanwan’s strike arrived.

When Wanwan’s daggers touched his Beheading Mystery Sword, Ba Fenghan’s majestic-like-a-mountain tiger’s body was bounced twice like a feather, while Wanwan floated back.

Watching this, Kou Zhong was dumbstruck that he even forgot to applaud or cheer.

Wanwan’s tender laugh came like a lightly blowing wind.

The air was flowing on the Bridge once again; the breeze was blowing from the Luo River,

Without blinking Ba Fenghan’s eyes stared at Wanwan flying backward. He held the Beheading Mystery Sword with the tip pointing at the opponent.

Had Wanwan been pressing on to attack him, it guaranteed that within less than ten moves, he would have been dead.

Wanwan only used the tip of the big toes on her pair of bare feet to support her entire tender, soft, delicate and beautiful body, so she appeared like a beautiful apparition whose feet did not touch the ground, as she was flying back from about five zhang distance.

Her posture was graceful, elegant, without any fixed pattern. Suddenly she made three consecutive rapid spins, her sleeves flared out, and suddenly she was only about a zhang away from Ba Fenghan.

Ba Fenghan, who was standing near the apex of the Bridge, was waiting in full concentration. Following her spinning posture, with another wonderful posture that was so tender and beautiful that it resembled nature itself, Wanwan shot the ‘Floating White Cloud’ from her two sleeves, which interweaved into a wave-like line, just like a pair of living, breathing serpent spirits wrapping themselves around each other, fleeing along a meandering and circuitous path, coiling around toward Ba Fenghan.

A chilling wind blew Ba Fenghan’s clothes that it fluttered backward, creating rustling noise.

Ba Fenghan’s expression became cold and stiff like a mountain rock; no worry, no delight, but his eyes shot terrifyingly bright light.

Although Wanwan’s offensive was formidable, he was having a sense of relief, knowing that he still had the strength for an all-out, disregarding-everything battle.

From the moment he, when his momentum was at its highest and concentrated, charged forward but was forced back by Wanwan, using the most bizarre defensive style, he had always been in absolute disadvantageous situation; even his mind and senses were under the opponent’s demonic skill’s control.

It was an extremely terrifying feeling, as if his entire being was kept isolated in a place outside of the human world.

He could not even feel the blowing wind and the flowing water.

But the instant he was able to break Wanwan’s Demonic Double-Beheading, everything was suddenly back to normal.

The moon and the stars regained their brightness, the sound of the River Luo flowing, and the smell of it, which he was very familiar with, has also returned to his senses.

Kou Zhong, who was at the bridge’s railings about three zhang behind him, had just wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Although he did not know Ba Fenghan’s feeling in such situation, but seeing how Wanwan must withdraw her Demonic Double-Beheading and changed into using-softness-to-conquer-strength ribbon, he knew that it was not that Ba Fenghan did not pose any threat to Wanwan.

Ba Fenghan let out an ear-splitting long laugh, filled with unspeakable heroic passion and powerful aura, as using a fantastic footwork he met Wanwan’s attack head-on, with his sword lunged forward.

This sword strike was the swift and fierce counterattack stemming from Ba Fenghan’s restored confidence. It looked simple, but actually with the essence, qi and spirit accumulated to its peak condition, reaching the realm of transforming the complicated into simplicity, the realm of grand master level, in using the clumsiness to overcome skill.

The sea of true qi within his system was like the torrential current of the flood of the Great River, flowing along his meridians toward the tip of his Beheading Mystery Sword, turning into a ‘chi, chi!’ sword qi splitting the air as it struck toward Wanwan; its momentum was astonishing to the extreme.

On the surface Wanwan’s beautiful eyes still appeared pained and hazy, and with hidden bitterness, secret grudge in her jade countenance, but actually the astonishment in her heart grew without restraint.

Even with her intelligence and insight, she found it difficult to understand why in terms of tactics, momentum, and inner power, how could Ba Fenghan become this formidable.

She had already drafted a plan: when coming face to face with the Beheading Mystery Sword, she would use her consummate skill ‘delicate hands controlling the dragon’, with which she promptly put Shang Peng and Shang He, two martial art masters, senior figures of the Flying Horse Ranch, under control, by using the ribbon in her right hand to entangle the Beheading Mystery Sword, and then firmly sucking the opponent into her Demonic Power. At that time, even if Kou Zhong wanted to intervene, it would be too late.

Who would have thought that with his sword, Ba Fenghan kept pressing forward with the repelling-three-armies-easily momentum. Moreover, the sword qi splitting the air arrived first. Other than blocking it head-on, without any way out, without any other choice, she had to respond by withdrawing the Demonic Ribbon back into her bluish-green gauzed sleeve, and using the other sleeve to brush against the blade of the opponent’s sword.

This was the second time Ba Fenghan managed to force Wanwan to change move.

He was well aware in his heart that it was not that he was able to really overwhelm the opponent, but that he was able to see through Wanwan’s biggest weakness; which was that in order to kill him, she was unwilling to receive internal injury that would be difficult to heal in a short period of time.

Wanwan’s second combat could happen any time, and Wanwan, who had snatched early victory, naturally refused to let go of such a golden opportunity.

Ba Fenghan was able to see this exact point. Therefore, with each sword strike, he showed no mercy. Using the life-for-life move, he forced Wanwan into a situation where she was unable to unleash the full power of the Demonic Skill.

‘Bang!’

The sleeve clashed with the sword.

As if jolted by a lightning bolt, Ba Fenghan was brushed away by Wanwan that he had to withdraw five steps back and nearly vomited blood.

His blood and qi surged, his ears ringing. Fortunately Wanwan was also pushed back by the reaction force that she floated backward; otherwise, if she continued with chain-attack, it would be difficult for him to even have a narrow escape.

Finally Kou Zhong could not hold himself back anymore; springing up from the railings, he dashed toward Ba Fenghan’s side, and said with a loud laugh, “Beauty, you have seen how formidable he is! In order to save time, why don’t you call all your helpers to come out? Let everybody come out to settle this matter once and for all. Won’t it be better than you flying back and forth on the bridge, tiring you to half death? Ha!”

Wanwan stopped about a zhang away; inwardly she hated Kou Zhong for wrecking her big plan of seizing this opportunity to launch a killer move to finish Ba Fenghan. However, on the surface she giggled tenderly and said, “Shame on you for speaking like that. You plainly broke Jianghu’s rules of one-on-one battle by interfering by force, yet you still speak pompously.”

Kou Zhong giggled and said, “Wan Beauty, you are absolutely right. Presently Jianghu is in chaos that nobody wants to follow the rule, and I simply love to go with the tide. Anyway, back to the topic: right now you have not proven your ability to put this Ba boy under control. Therefore, even if you called some more people to join the excitement, we make no guarantee that we are not going to slip away.”

Even with her confidence and cold nature, Wanwan could not stop her pretty countenance from changing slightly.

It should be noted that Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan had reached the level of even a mob besieging them would not be able to hold them off.

If the two of them fighting to the death and did not run away, or perhaps they were fighting on a plain or similar terrain where it would be difficult to run away, it would still be possible to keep them from escaping.

But on the Tianjin Bridge, or on similar terrain overlooking a long river, a place accessible from all sides, considering the two men were not amateurs in term of escaping, if she wanted to intercept them and kill them off, only by having her Shifu Zhu Yuyan’s assistance, plus with the help of other martial art experts from their Sect, would she have the confidence of pulling this off.

Too bad that in order to heal Shangguan Long’s injury, her Shifu true, primary energy suffered wear and tear, so that she was forced to retreat to a quiet place to recover, and was unable to be on the scene. Hence the reason she had to do it herself. Who would have thought that Ba Fenghan was able to withstand her all-out effort to kill him? Hence she was now put in the situation where there was no room to advance or to retreat. Fortunately she had made other arrangement; otherwise it would be even more difficult for her to step down.

Smiling slightly, Ba Fenghan asked, “Where is your honorable master’s immortal tracks?”

Wanwan let out a silver-bell like tender laughter; her dreamy and hazy beautiful eyes stared deeply into the two men’s eyes as she spoke tenderly, “How about we make a bet? If you can break through the Demonic Formation of our Sect’s four elders, I will let you take away Fu Junyu, and will not interfere in any way.”

Kou Zhong roared in laughter; he said, “In the end, you are still afraid of our escaping technique, which is second to none under the heavens. Now that we are already clear about your foundation, why would we be afraid of you? Your Shaoye is not interested in whatever proposal you have. Just be frank and straightforward, release your troops, let us enjoy some excitement.”

Wanwan sighed; smiling wryly, she said, “Your greatest skill is that you do not know yourself. I have wasted a lot of time in speaking nonsense, the purpose is to build a siege, and now it is complete! How about you try slipping away with your tail tucked between your legs and let Wanwan see it?”

All along Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan have been secretly watching the surrounding area.

The Heavenly Street near both ends of the Tianjin Bridge was still dark and deserted, without any sign of human; nothing looked the slightest bit unusual.

Several hundred steps away from either side of the Bridge’s head, they faintly saw armed men stopping the pedestrians to get close. But these men only play minor role, they should not pose any threat. Besides, they did not look like Yin Gui Pai’s men coming to build a siege. It was indeed quite baffling.

Frowning, Kou Zhong said, “Wan Beauty, please don’t scare me, everybody knew I am timid.”

Wanwan smiled and said, “Who wanted to scare you?”

And then, she tenderly shouted, “Release the arrows!”

The two men were shocked.

※ ※ ※

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[wangxiaohu]

.......aaaaand ZiLing to the rescue!

what an update Foxs!

[LuDongBin]

What a fight! Thks foxs.

[Laoren]

Exciting fight!Thanks foxs.

.......aaaaand ZiLing to the rescue! +1

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs. I don't understand the Princess either. She's engaged right? It's not like she's free to choose her husband anymore. Her last moment with BFH was sad though. Seemed like he's the one who walked away from her. As for XZL, he never paid her any mind so it's better if she forgets about him.

That was one hell of a fight! BFH went toe to toe with Wanwan and survived the ordeal! These boys are so powerful now!

XZL to the rescue +3!!

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[foxs]

Ysabel, DongBin, Jaya, you are welcome. Xiaohu, Lao Qianbei, Sky, we'll see together, ok? As promised, here's the end of Chapter 2. The fight continues on to the next chapter.

---

This moment Xu Ziling’s small boat had just pulled under the shade of a tree on the River Luo’s dike west of Tianjian Bridge; he stopped and turned his gaze into the distance at the bridge.

Anybody willing to think a little bit would immediately know that the situation around the Tianjin Bridge was abnormal.

Because Luoyang was bustling, but only on this segment of the long street and on the Bridge there were no pedestrians. Moreover, all the shops nearby were closed.

Xu Ziling was greatly astounded.

It should be noted that Tianjin Bridge spanned the River Luo; it was one of the three major bridges connecting the market places on the north and south of the city. Even more, it connected the most flourishing street, the Heavenly Street, which was the traffic hub of Luoyang.

It would be strange indeed if the closure of this Bridge did not provoke chaos. To say the least, there should be a long queue of pedestrians, vehicles and horses forming on either side of the Bridge. But now from what he saw, none of this sort of thing was happening.

Evidently some people were directing the traffic to use other streets and other bridges. And to make this happen, there must be a large number of well-trained and well-organized warriors in this operation. And they must have received Luoyang’s residents’ cooperation.

In Luoyang, only two groups of troops had this kind of ability.

Naturally, Wang Shichong’s army was one of them.

The other group represented the Emperor Taizhu, Yang Dong, which was secretly collaborating with, and receiving assistance from, the Dugu Clan’s power.

In that instant, Xu Ziling understood what has been happening, while at the same time he also figured out the mystery of why Dugu Ba was going to visit the Tiele people that day.

The Dugu Clan was playing the ‘strike the water right and left’ game. On one side they collaborate with Li Mi, on the other side, they colluded with the Tiele people and Yin Gui Pai; and thus they need not fall under any side’s control.

This time the Dugu Clan closed the Tianjin Bridge to let Tiele people and Yin Gui Pai to have a free hand in dealing with Ba Fenghan and Kou Zhong, two men; quite possibly it was part of their ‘pulling a snake from its hole’ plot.

As soon as Wang Shichong lost his patience and hastily left the Imperial City to get involved in this matter, the Dugu Clan’s five thousand strong elite troops would join hands with the Tieles and Yin Gui Pai, relying on the advantage of their adequate preparation and meticulous planning, to fix the rivers and mountains [i.e. country] and seize control over Luoyang in one battle.

The situation was extremely dangerous.

And Ba Fenghan and Kou Zhong were caught unaware and had fallen into the center of this dangerous web of power struggle.

By opening up one li, they would clear their way for a hundred li.

As soon as Xu Ziling figured out this link, he suddenly realized why Dugu Ce mingled with Qian Duguan’s beloved concubine Bai Qing’er.

Qian Duguan was perhaps not a Yin Gui Pai man, but the possibility that the ‘Mad Scholar of Henan’ Zheng Shiru was one was probably very high.

Through these two people, Xiangyang City was practically under Yin Gui Pai’s control. No wonder Qian Duguan was not too friendly toward them. But under current circumstances, what could he do?

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

XZL is super smart! He's able to figure out the entire puzzle just by looking at the bridge! Now, how's he going to save his two BFFs?

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

XZL is super smart! He's able to figure out the entire puzzle just by looking at the bridge! Now, how's he going to save his two BFFs?

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[wangxiaohu]

whoah!.. we want more!! we want more!!

Thank fox for the update