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

[foxs]

Anurman, Ysabel, HPC, Jaya, Sky, you are welcome. Xiaohu, what happened? You are losing your touch? You slipped from second place to third place. Akolaw, honestly I don’t quite understand, but thanks for sharing. Chua, OK. Although I still don’t get it; why ‘Batman’ and not some other characters?

---

Book 25 Chapter 12 – Fated Encounter

By the time they reached the pier, there were already several dozens of men, women, young and old waiting to board the ship. Xu ZIling still maintained his ‘Scar-faced Guest’ Gong Chenchun identity to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Knowing that Xu Ziling did not like publicity, Hou Xibai said, “Xiaodi will only send Ziling off thus far; Ziling only need to give your name to the Wu Jiang Bang people onboard, then you won’t have to worry about anything else. Xiaodi already paid the fare, everything has been arranged properly.”

Xu Ziling asked in passing, “How could Wu Jiang Bang have so much face?”

Hou Xibai replied, “Wu Jiang Bang’s Sha Laoda [big boss] has more than ten years’ history of doing business around the Three Gorges, transporting people and goods, his credibility is outstanding. Because of its long history with Baling Bang, also because they are in charge of buying provision and arranging payments, as well as transporting the goods for Xiao Xian, they are getting on well with each other. Ziling can rest assured.”

“So that’s how it is,” Xu Ziling said, “No wonder such a big ship only has twenty, thirty passengers. Transporting cargo ought to be their main business, and the passengers are only secondary business?”

Hou Xibai laughed and said, “But the real money actually comes from the passengers. Knowing that the situation may change at any moment, they only have fifteen cabins. If not a well-off passenger, it is impossible to get a bed. I went to talk directly to Sha Laoda, only then was I able to make this arrangement for Ziling.”

Patting Hou Xibai’s shoulder, Xu Ziling said, “Thank you very much Hou Xiong for making this arrangement, Xiaodi is leaving!”

Reluctant to part, Hou Xibai said, “Were it not for Xiaodi unexpectedly must train in secret – to delve into the xinfa on the Immortal Image Scroll, I would definitely accompany Ziling touring the Three Gorges. Ziling, please take a good care of yourself.”

Xu Ziling shook hands with Hou Xibai to bid him farewell, and then walked over to the pier. The passengers have just started boarding the ship. Xu Ziling was at the end of the line. When he looked back, Hou Xibai has already disappeared without any trace.

Since leaving Yangzhou, this was the first time he took long-distance passenger ship. It was a novel and fascinating feeling. What he did not understand the most was why must they sail at night? It carried some kind of ‘fleeing from calamity’ impression.

Under the flickering wind lantern, the river water appeared to be an expanse of darkness, all he could hear was the sound of the water beating against the hull and lapping the shore. The dock and the city were separated by a wooded area, all he could see was faint dots of light on the other side of the forest; it looked as if it was another world altogether.

Other than the Wu Jiang Bang’s passenger and cargo ships, moored upstream of the river were several dozen sailboats, big and small. This moment those boats were dark without any light. On such a big dock, theirs was the only ship showing any activities, with several dozen of big men continuously taking goods from the covered shed and carrying it to the ship.

The four big men in tight warrior outfits in charge of receiving the passengers were quite polite and courteous; they even helped carrying the passengers’ heavy luggage on board.

In front of Xu Ziling was a small family of three. The man appeared to be a scholar; the woman was beautiful and dignified. Both husband and wife seemed to be in their twenties, with the boy looked to be around four, five years old.

Seeing Xu Ziling’s scarred face, apparently they were a bit wary, so much so that they forbade the boy to look back at him.

Most of the other passengers were dressed like traveling merchants, in groups of three or four. Only about five or six people appeared to be Jianghu people.

When Xu Ziling came on board and gave his name, the Wu Jiang Bang man was even more courteous; he even shouted, “Chief! Gong Ye is here!”

The woman ahead of him could not resist her curiosity; she looked back to cast him a glance. Xu Ziling nodded at her and smiled. Unexpectedly it frightened her even more that she hung down her head in panic and hurriedly walked up the deck.

Xu Ziling was accustomed to mingle around in Jianghu. He immediately thought that this family of three must be in trouble; otherwise, they would not be like a bird startled at the twang of a bow like this. He could not help secretly elevating his vigilance.

Arriving on the deck, a short and stout man greeted him, “Gong Ye, how are you, Senior? Xiaoren Lin Lang, the Xiangzhu [fragrant master] of Wu Jiang Bang’s Meihua Tang [plum blossom hall]. Sha Laoda already instructed us not to neglect hospitality toward Gong Ye. Please come this way.”

Xu Ziling really wanted to tell him not to be overly courteous toward him, but realized that it would not work. Toward such a celebrity martial art master whose name was known throughout the country like Hou Xibai, naturally local gangs and societies would do their best to curry favor from him, to win a big favor from him, so that when something happened in the future, Hou Xibai would stand up for them.

The ship was sturdy and spacious; the hold was divided into three decks, unexpectedly Xu Ziling got a single-occupancy cabin, which was beyond his expectation.

After some chitchats and good wishes, Lin Lang left.

Xu Ziling walked over toward the window to look out; the goods from the shed have been completely transferred to the ship. Myriads of thoughts burst in his heart. Bashu was certainly a very special place for him, yet he just wanted to leave as soon as possible, so that everything that happened here could be forgotten.

The main reason was Shi Qingxuan, a woman who, in certain instant – was able to move him into revealing his true feeling. In the end Xi Ying was killed singlehandedly by him; what would she, or perhaps Shi Feixuan, think?

The hull shuddered, the anchor was raised and the ship started to sail.

Suddenly there was a thunderous sound of hoof beats.

More than dozen riders swept through the forest like a tornado, rushing toward the dock. The riders called out loudly to stop the boat.

Obviously Wu Jiang Bang men did not know who these people were; they put the punting poles out and pushed the boat faster off the shore. They sailed downstream following the current. At first they could still see the group of riders giving chase along the shore, but in the blink of an eye the ship has left them far away behind.

Xu Ziling has not had a good sleep for more than ten days. He went to the bed and collapsed, and was immediately entering the land of dreams.

In the morning light, all around them strange mountain peaks, with dangerous ridges and lofty peaks, as if they were pared by a hatchet – stood in great numbers. Layered rocks and piles of stones were heavy in bluish-green color; beautiful landscape appeared one after another.

Although watching all these Kou Zhong was gasping in amazement, he knew that he had lost his way; he could not find his way toward Yulin County. Otherwise, after rushing about all through the night, it was impossible for him not to find even a shadow of a single official road.

In this layer upon layer of mountains and overlapping rivers, among the towering mountains and precipitous ridges, finding man-made road was not an easy thing to do.

Originally he was heading west on the northern bank along the Yu River, who would have thought that mountains and streams were in the way? He thought about making a detour to continue, but after making a few turns he came to this ‘ahead no village was to be seen, behind there was no place with any people on it’ place.

Exasperated, Kou Zhong thought he might as well climb one of the peaks. This peak towered above the range of hills. Climbing halfway, he was already enveloped by clouds and mist. There was a stream meandering among the strange-looking rocks and unusual trees. When he reached the peak, he looked to the west, and saw a fortified village about ten li away, hidden among the mountain ranges covered by the trees. There was a longwinded stone path leading to the main gate of the stronghold. There were also terraced rice fields, where the water reflected the light like luster of gems.

It was already the end of autumn, the beginning of winter. The forest leaves had turned golden yellow. Surrounded by the mountain and embraced by the river, there was an out-of-the-world, stand-alone, oblivious-of-human-world – feeling about the village.

Watching all these, Kou Zhong’s thoughts wandered far away, thinking to himself that if he did not have important matter to attend to, it would be extremely enjoyable if he could stay here for ten days or half a month. But thinking about Song Yuzhi, his hesitation was gone; he quickly rushed toward the fortified village.

Sailing downstream following the current to the east, in just one night they already passed Meishan, Jianwei, and Luchuan, three counties. After eating breakfast provided by the ship, Xu Ziling went to the bow and stood facing the wind, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the river.

On this section of the river, the water was deep, the current swift, and the tide was surging. Overhanging cliffs stood opposite of each other on both sides; arduous, high and steep. Following the torrential current, the sailboat carried a flowing-out-swiftly-for-thousand-li momentum.

Seeing all these, Xu Ziling’s heart yearned, his spirit raced; he felt deeply that the trip has not been made in vain, so he was even more grateful to Hou Xibai for this good suggestion, thinking that if Kou Zhong were here, chatting and joking with him, it would be even more free and pleasing.

He could not help thinking about Shi Feixuan accompanying Hou Xibai touring the Three Gorges as well, momentarily a hundred different emotions running through his heart.

While he was still deep in thought, Lin Lang came over and said, “By noon today, we will pass through Ba County. From Ba County to Badong, the section of the river is even more strategic; if we get tailwind, by nightfall tomorrow we are going to reach Zheng County, where we are going to stop over for one night. Over there, they have numerous shrines; if Gong Ye is interested, you may want to go into the city to take a look around.”

Xu Ziling asked, “When are we going to enter the Gorges?”

Lin Lang replied, “After Baidi City, probably about a sichen later will be the mouth of the gorge. For us who are used to seeing it, it’s nothing, but if this is the first time Gong Ye tours the gorge, that kind of towering mountain peaks clasping the river in between with steep terrain might make Gong Ye sigh pretty darn good.”

Xu Ziling was extremely interested; Chang Jiang [Yangtze] was like a jade belt of vast water forest, extending into the peaks of the mountain range. Nodding, he said, “Before entering the gorge, the scenery is already this spectacular; after entering the gorge, naturally it will be even more worth seeing.”

Appearing to be casual, Lin Lang asked, “Last night, those people who chased after us demanding to stop the boat, did Gong Ye recognize them?”

Xu Ziling was well aware that this was the real purpose of him coming to speak to him; shaking his head, he said, “It has nothing to do with me. Does Lin Xiangzhu know which side those people belong to?”

Doubtful, Lin Lang replied, “Xiaoren is unclear of their identity, hence I came to inquire of Gong Ye. In that case, it may be related to other guests on board. Gong Ye need not take it to heart.”

After some more pleasantries, Lin Lang took his leave to go back to his job. But the image of those young couple and the little boy floated in Xu Ziling’s heart.

[wangxiaohu]

Noooooooooooo

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[anurman]

A party with Dong Suni last night makes me wake up 2,5 sichen late this morning. Congrats Xiaohu..... 😁
Thanks Foxs.

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[foxs]

Xiaohu, Jaya, HPC, Ysabel, you are welcome. Anurman, I am amazed you still remember those minor characters. Short chapter, plus I am thinking of catching up a little bit.

---

If those riders persevered by taking a boat to continue their relentless pursuit on their tail, then something might happen during their stop over at Zheng County tomorrow night.

Thinking to this point, he heard the pitter-patter of footsteps from behind him. Xu Ziling looked back, and saw the little boy skipping over toward him. Hastily he reached out to catch him. Frowning, he said, “Child, how could you rush around randomly on the boat?”

The child had red lips and white teeth, his features delicate; he was extremely refined and cute. Acting like a spoiled kid, he said, “Bobo [uncle, older than one’s dad] pick me up, Jie’er wants to see.”

Sweeping his gaze around, Xu Ziling was surprised not to see the child’s parents. Thinking about little Lingzhong, his heart was filled with infinite tenderness. Picking him up, he spoke softly, “There, can you see now?”

Little Jie’s big eyes, which black and white were distinct, without the least bit of contamination of grownups’ muddy aura – sparkled brightly as he looked around, full of curiosity.

Xu Ziling’s emotion was stirred. Only a little child, with his inquisitive mind and his power of mental association – would be able to ‘see’ things with purity and innocence like the heart of a newborn; full of passion, and full of desire.

Although Xu Ziling could see with his spirit, but in his heart different thoughts were surging, his mind was full of the adult world’s matter, brimming with disturbing gains and losses, far inferior to Little Jie’s pure and unadulterated focus and intentions.

Light footsteps entered his ears.

Inwardly Xu Ziling shivered slightly. This was the sound of footsteps of a woman who knew martial art.

Sure enough, the pretty young mother came behind him and chided, “Jie’er, how could you be so disobedient and bother this Dashu [big uncle (younger than one’s dad)]!”

Xu Ziling put Little Jie, who did not want to let off easily, down on the deck, before turning around to meet the young mother face-to-face.

Stooping down slightly, she picked Little Jie up, hung down her head to avert his gaze, and spoke in low voice, “I am so sorry, Jie’er has bothered Dashu!”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it!”

Carried in his mother’s bosom, as they walked away, Little Jie was still grinning while waving his little hand to him. Right this instant, Xu Ziling made a firm resolution that if Little Jie and his parents were in danger, he would definitely not watch with folded arms.

The closer he was to the fortified village, the more Kou Zhong felt this place’s fascinating scenery, its strange beauty and serenity. A stream of river flowed from the northwest, winding its way through the middle of the fortified village, and continued to the southeast. The stockade consisted of long buildings with shingle siding scattered around on both sides of the stream in clusters of four to six houses.

The houses located at the edge of the water or on the slope had their foundation supported by wooden pillars, forming some kind of platform, so that it looked like the house had hanging feet; very distinctive.

The smaller stockaded village had more than a dozen households, the bigger ones had more than a hundred households; some were hidden among the trees, some were built on the cliff at higher elevation, with small path crisscrossing among the buildings.

He had not entered the village yet, the dogs were already barking.

A group of about a dozen Li Liao women was sitting in a circle at the entrance to the village, chatting idly while doing their embroidery work. Seeing a stranger came, they all showed alert expression.

The bell rang.

After his past experience, Kou Zhong did not dare to rashly enter the village. He stopped and raised his voice to call out, “Anybody speak Han? I just want to ask for directions!”

Greeting him was nearly a dozen of vicious dogs, big and small, rushing toward him, but stopped at approximately a zhang away from him, while continuing to bark furiously; fortunately the dogs did not pounce straight at him.

Maybe the men of the village were out hunting, but other than the women at the mouth of the village, he only saw old men and young children. Everybody was looking and pointing at him, as if he was some kind of a freak; obviously no one understood his words.

Thinking that entering the village would not bring any result, but would provoke unnecessary misunderstanding instead, Kou Zhong felt that perhaps it would be better for him to rely on his own ‘natural senses of geographical acuity’ to find his way.

He was just turning around, ready to leave, when a pleasant female voice rang out behind him, “Kou Zhong! What are you doing here?”

Shaken, Kou Zhong turned back. He could not believe his eyes for, standing at the village entrance, wearing tight warrior outfit, facing the wind awe-inspiringly, was Song Yuzhi, the beauty he yearned for day and night these past few days.

When Xu Ziling was returning to his cabin, Little Jie’s dad was talking with Lin Lang. The latter did not stop shaking his head.

Without thinking, Xu Ziling asked, “What’s the matter?”

Little Jie’s dad shot a wary glance at him; evidently he did not like Xu Ziling being meddlesome and interrupted their discussion.

Lin Lang said, “Gong Ye, please help me speak reasons. When all is said and done, this ship is going to Jiujiang; which route to take, which harbor to dock, everything has been predetermined, how could we change it arbitrarily? This Mr. Han Zenan does not want to understand.”

Han Zenan spoke in distress, “It’s not that Zaixia did not understand, I am just asking Lin Dage for a favor to let us disembark at Bashao; that’s all!”

Displeased, Lin Lang said, “How many times do I have to tell you, Ba County is Chang Jiang Lian’s [Yangtze River Alliance] territory. We, Wu Jiang Bang recently have some disagreement with them. If we suddenly cast anchor on the shore, there will be trouble.”

Inwardly Xu Ziling was aware of what’s going on, but he also knew what trick Lin Lang, this seasoned Jianghu man, was playing. In just one glance anybody would know that the riders last night were not benevolence people at all. If they caught up with them later and knew that Wu Jiang Bang had let some people off midway, they might not be willing to let the matter drop. But if Han Zenan, husband and wife, left after they cast anchor at Badong County, then Lin Lang would be able to wash his hands clean.

This was the established rule of Jianghu; no one could refute it.

Xu Ziling said, “Let me talk to Han Xiong.”

Lin Lang respectfully said, “Gong Ye is indeed very understanding.”

Finished speaking, he simply left.

Han Zenan was so disappointed that he seemed to be losing his mind.

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Han Xiong, can we talk?”

Han Zenan glared at him angrily, and spoke coldly, “There is nothing to talk.”

Just like that, he returned to his cabin.

[anurman]

Thanks Foxs for the surprise update.

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[Lance23]

Ty foxs and yuzhi reappears!

[wangxiaohu]

WHAT?!????

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

Who is this family? Thinking the wife is from some prominent family and the husband is probably a poor scholar. They decided to run away from home and now the girl's family is chasing after them.

SYZ is back! Hopefully she gets some more page time.

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[foxs]

Anurman, HPC, Ysabel, you are welcome? Lance, not much. Xiaohu, what’s what? Sky, you must be thinking of Zhao Min and Zhang Wuji …

---

Book 25 Chapter 13 – Engraving Name on Whetstone

Kou Zhong followed behind Song Yuzhi toward a big rock by the stream.

Coming to a halt, with her back facing Kou Zhong, Song Yuzhi asked again, “What are you doing here?”

Suppressing the undulating emotion in his heart, Kou Zhong spoke softly, “Naturally for my Song San Xiaojie [third miss]. I came specifically to apologize.”

Song Yuzhi shook her head and said with a sigh, “Kou Zhong, how could you be wading in mud and water like this, becoming a hopelessly muddled person? That day in Luoyang both of us agreed to make a clean break, so we made a clean break; henceforth we have nothing to do with each other. Beware that Yuzhi might look down on you!”

With a bitter laugh Kou Zhong said, “By all means, Yuzhi must not misunderstand. This time I came here not to plead with you to renew old cordial relations!”

Snorting disdainfully, Song Yuzhi said, “Don’t flatter yourself [orig. stick gold on your face]! Who has had cordial relation with you? What old friendship is there to renew?”

Kou Zhong showed his natural instincts; laughing, he said, “That time in Rongyang, on that small alley outside Shen Luoyan’s residence, didn’t we have cordial relationship?”

Song Yuzhi was so angry that her large, round eyes were opened wide. She spoke furiously, “Let’s see if you dare to say that again!”

Kou Zhong remembered his hooligan days in Yangzhou; when someone challenged him to repeat something, and he did really repeat it, that would be the beginning of a big fight. Thereupon he busily waved his hand and said, “Zhizhi, please calm down; forgive me for babbling nonsense. Hey! Back to the main point, I just want to see you again; there is no other wishful thinking.”

Song Yuzhi stared at him without blinking at all, and without speaking. She appeared to be scrutinizing his sincerity.

The more he looked at her, the more Kou Zhong loved her. “Zhizhi is losing weight?” he spoke softly.

Displeased, Song Yuzhi said, “What does that have anything to do with you, Shao Shuai Kou Zhong? Speak up honestly! Why did you spare no effort in rushing to Lingnan?”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Can’t we sit down and talk? Could it be that in this kind of Peach Garden Holy Land that can completely wash away the dust and the vulgarity of the world we still cannot chat civilly? Even if you don’t consider me as … hey! Can’t you just consider me as an acquaintance whom you once met?”

After staring blankly at him for half a day, Song Yuzhi nodded and said, “All right!”

She walked over to the riverbank and sat down, her pair of legs covered in boots swaying gently above the water.

Gently and cautiously Kou Zhong sat down side by side with her, separated by about a chi of ‘safe distance’. Thinking out loud, he said, “Frankly speaking, I had never intended to come to Lingnan, simply because I am well aware that Zhizhi’s temperament has not changed. But for some reason, under the full moon of the Mid-Autumn [Festival], suddenly my heart was filled with a strong desire, that is, before the army is defeated and the body perishes, I want to see Zhizhi one more time. This is the truth, coming from the bottom of my heart.”

The tone of his voice revealed some kind of undisguised sincerity. Hearing that, Song Yuzhi’s fragrant heart trembled.

Her jet-black eyebrows lightly knitted, she said, “Don’t lie to me. You, Kou Shao Shuai had just recently spread out your divine power greatly; successively thwarting Yuwen Huaji and Li Zitong, seizing control of Pengcheng, Liangdu, Donghai, and the others, more than twenty cities. Even more, you broke Cao Yinglong, Xiao Xian, and Zhu Jie, three sides’ coalition army. Unexpectedly, opening your mouth, closing your mouth, you speak like you might suffer defeat and die any moment. Are you trying to win my sympathy?”

Kou Zhong slowly said, “My current slight achievement is just like a rainbow in the sky. Although it is beautiful, not only it isn’t real, it will vanish in the blink of an eye. That Li kid has already occupied Guanzhong; he also receives full support from Wulin’s white way [orthodox, the ‘righteous’] headed by Ci Hang Jingzhai, the heart of the people has turned toward him. My defeat is just a matter of time. If I don’t see Zhizhi one more time, I, Kou Zhong, will not die with my eyes closed.”

Closing her beautiful eyes, Song Yuzhi spoke word-by-word, “Since that is the case, why don’t you withdraw from this whirlpool of the struggle over the world, like your good brother Xu Ziling, howling over the mountain and the forest? Wouldn’t it also mean that you are not going to turn your back all your life?”

Shaking his head, Kou Zhong sighed and said, “If I could do that, I would have washed my hands in the golden dish early on. A real man is to be buried in a horsehide [idiom: to give one’s life on the battlefield], dying will also have to be that kind of death. You want me to bend my head and admit defeat to Li kid, that is not going to happen. Even if I have to battle until the last soldier the last man, I still want to contend with his Li Family until the end.”

Song Yuzhi pondered quietly for half a day; hanging her cicada head down, she spoke softly, “Since that’s the case, why do you want to see me?”

Severely shaken, Kou Zhong blurted out, “Zhizhi!”

Song Yuzhi rose to her full height. Bending her head down to look at him, her eyes revealed a complicated, intense emotion, as she spoke softly, “If, between the strive for the world and Yuzhi you can only choose one, what would Kou Shao Shuai pick?”

Dejected, Kou Zhong smiled ruefully and said, “Zhizhi ought to know that I have my feet deep in the mire; how could Zhizhi have the heart to force me to make such a cruel decision?”

Song Yuzhi revealed a splendid, like a fresh flower in full bloom, but sad and emotional – smile, and spoke calmly, “It’s you who are cruel, not me. Yuzhi has fled back to the south, precisely in order to forget you. Why do you still want to come and see me for whatever last time you are talking about? What’s the reason behind this?”

“I was wrong,” Kou Zhong blamed himself, “I thought that by doing this I could still win Zhizhi’s favor, to let Zhizi leave a beautiful memory in my heart. Only now do I know that Zhizhi’s love for me is that deep.”

Stunned, Song Yuzhi asked, “Who has deep love toward you?”

Kou Zhong was confused; grabbing his head, he said, “If Zhizhi does not love me, why did you flee to the south and make every effort to forget me?”

Song Yuzhi leaned her pretty face to the side and pondered deeply for half a day. Nodding, she said, “I have thought about this matter, and finally came to a conclusion. Do you want to hear it?”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Without you saying it, Xiaodi can already guess that it could not be anything that is pleasant to hear. All right! Speak up! Nothing sadder than a withered heart [idiom (attributed to Confucius by Zhuangzi): the worst sorrow is not as bad as an uncaring heart].”

Song Yuzhi spoke with great fury, “You are adept in using strategy; is in this move you are posing as a pitiful creature?”

Kou Zhong replied with a wry smile, “Affairs of the heart is just like battlefield, some strategy must be used. But now it does not seem to be effective. How about speaking forthrightly?”

Song Yuzhi bent her knees to sit on the rock again; with smiling face, she laughed tenderly and said, “You nearly angered me to death.”

Beating the snake following the stick, Kou Zhong said, “Can I kiss Zhizhi’s left and right cheeks one time each?

Immediately red clouds appeared on Song Yuzhi’s jade cheeks; really angry, she said, “What kind of person do you think I, Song Yuzhi, am?”

In a flurry Kou Zhong changed the subject, “Zhizhi has not explain your view of the love and hate intertwining relationship between us!”

Hanging her head down, Song Yuzhi whispered the words ‘love and hate intertwining relationship’ twice, before speaking softly, “My conclusion is that the reason I am hopelessly muddled with you is thirty percent pity, thirty percent friendship, and the remaining forty percent involve the feeling between a man and a woman. But within this forty percent, there is a lot of hate but very few love. Am I speaking forthrightly enough for you?”

Slapping his thigh, Kou Zhong said with a laugh, “As long as there’s ten percent of love between a man and a woman, I, Kou Zhong, am so happy that I feel like going crazy!”

Displeased, Song Yuzhi said, “Typical you, speaking like that.”

With solemn expression Kou Zhong said, “Zhizhi believes it, great; Zhizhi don’t believe it, it’s also all right. This time I am sincerely paying a visit, it is indeed because I was unable to restrain my emotions; I really longed to see Zhizhi again. Why don’t we throw everything out and start anew, carefree and without worries playing his mother … hey! No! Let’s just treat each other as an honored guest to get along well for three days, and then Ling Shao and me will have to hurry up to Guanzhong for a treasure hunt. As for what will happen next, when human’s effort fails, we will listen to the mandate of heaven.”

Her countenance changed, Song Yuzhi said, “Li Family is setting up an inescapable net waiting for you in Guanzhong, the two of you still want to go there to throw your lives away?”

Greatly astonished, Kou Zhong said, “And yet you said that you have a lot of hate but very few love? Turns out Zhizhi is so concerned about me.”

Song Yuzhi’s pretty face blushed slightly, she angrily said, “I have never seen anybody with thicker face than yours. You and Xu Ziling are Yuzhi’s friends, could it be that seeing you go to die I would just watch in vain without groaning half a word?”

Returning to his distinctive character, Kou Zhong giggled and said, “The more Li kid is adequately prepared, waiting with tight troops disposition, the trip to Guanzhong will be even more interesting. Since I was young, I, Kou Zhong, have always been one who is unwilling to be left out. That Li kid is willing to accompany me playing, I should be grateful to him.”

With her beautiful eyes Song Yuzhi gazed deeply at him for a moment, and then hanging her head down, she said, “No wonder Die said that by nature you are someone who cannot be tamed!”

Taken aback, Kou Zhong asked, “Has your Die seen me?”

Song Yuzhi replied indifferently, “Do you know why you could come across me in this place?”

Kou Zhong drew a blank; he shook his head quietly.

Song Yuzhi slowly said, “I was looking for nearby Li Liao brothers to ask for help, so that I could intercept you at the earliest possible time, so that you won’t go to our mountain city home.”

Kou Zhong was baffled. “If I go to your mountain city home, what’s the problem?” he asked.

Revealing a hint of helpless wry smile, Song Yuzhi hung her head down and said, “Die is going to kill you!”

“What?” Kou Zhong blurted out.

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs

[anurman]

Thanks Foxs. Kou Zhong and Song Yuzhi...... so romantic.

[wangxiaohu]

Hmmmm... 3rd place isnt sp bad

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

Once again, I'm not feeling the deep love that KZ has for SYZ.