Chapter 99: Everyone Showing Off Their Abilities (3)
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The man, dressed in white, carried a light fur coat and a broad belt. Aged about thirty-five or thirty-six years, he moved elegantly, had a distinguished appearance, and an undeniable martial air. He seemed to be a scion of a noble family.
"Here is," said Wanyan Kang laughing, "the Junior Chief of the WhiteCamelMountain from the Kunlun mountain range in the WesternTerritories. His name is Ouyang Ke. Honourable Ouyang had never been in the Central Plains before. It is thus for the first time you all meet him."
The sudden appearance of this man surprised not only Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing, but Peng Lianhu and Liang Ziwong as well, who also didn't know him. After seeing a demonstration of his ability, everyone was secretly very admiring, but nobody had ever heard about the WhiteCamelMountain in the WesternTerritories.
"Brothers, I should have arrived in the capital since several days," said Ouyang Ke while greeting. "But I had a small hitch in the way, which caused a certain delay, that is why I have just arrived, please excuse me." After learning that he was the Junior Chief of the WhiteCamelMountain, Guo Jing understood that he was related to those young women wearing white clothes who had tried to burgle his horse on the road. He felt his heart tightening, "Have my six Shifus already clashed with him?" he wondered. "Have they been injured?"
Wang Chuyi noticed that all adversaries were of frightening ability, particularly he himself had experienced the pressure of Ouyang Ke's hand, who had an internal energy by no means inferior to his own, though it contained a strange viciousness.
If dialogue turned out to be impossible, and it turned into a fighting, he himself was not even sure of being able to beat Ouyang Ke. Then, should the enemy attack in mass, how could they defend themselves?
"And your Shifu?" he asked Wanyan Kang. "Why don't you ask him to come?"
"I will," the young man agreed, turning to his servants. "Request Shifu to come and meet the visitors."
Wang Chuyi was feeling more reassured. "If Brother Qiu is here," he mused, "though the enemy are dominant in number, we will be able at least to remain unscathed."
Some time later, one heard noises of boots. Through the large door a big old officer of forty years dressed in brocade entered, with a thick beard on his chin and a martial air. Wanyan Kang advanced.
"Shifu," he said respectfully. "This Taoist Elder wishes to see you, and have already asked about you on several occasions."
Wang felt upsurging anger: "Ah, wicked one," he thought, "you dare to make fun of me? The way this officer moves, he can't have a remarkable skill, he is certainly not the one who taught this rascal his strange techniques"
"Taoist," said the officer, "what do you want from me? Normally I hate seeing monks or taoists."
The anger of Wang was so strong that he burst out laughing:
"I would like," he said, "to request alms from Your Excellency, alms of thousand silver taels."
The officer was called Tang Zude, captain of Prince Zhao's personal guard. When Wanyan Kang was small, Tang Zude had given him some martial arts lessons, that's why everybody in the household called him "Shifu."
On hearing the outrageous request from Wang Chuyi, he was startled:
"Rubbish!" he retorted.
"Thousand taels in silver," Wanyan Kang said, "is nothing, nothing at all. Let someone quickly prepare thousand taels, and present it to the venerable Taoist."
Tang Zude remained baffled. He examined Wang Chuyi from top to toe with his mouth agape, then upwards, without managing to understand why one should show such benevolence.
"Please all take a seat," Wanyan Kang invited. "Taoist Elder Wang, it's the first time you've come to us, the place of honour is reserved for you." Wang Chuyi refused modestly, but ended up settling at the place of honour. Three wine rounds were served.
"You are all eminent personalities of the JiangHu realm," Wang declared then. "You all shall judge how we'll regulate the affair of Mr. Mu and his daughter." All glances were fixed on Wanyan Kang, waiting to see his reaction.
Wanyan Kang poured wine and raised the wine cup. Respectfully presenting the cup before Wang, he said, "Senior (qianbei), do me the honour and accept this cup first. As for the affair in question, it will be dealt according to Senior's instructions, your Junior (wanbei) dares not to disobey. Wang was amazed to see him accepting so easily. He took the cup and drank the wine in one go."
"Very well," he said. "Let us take Mr. Mu here and let him speak."
"Thus someone must take him here," Wanyan Kang said. "Could I charge Brother Guo then with the task of bringing Mr. Mu here?" Wang Chuyi nodded.
Guo Jing immediately left the banquet to go to the Prosperity Inn. But the room of Mu Yi was empty: the father and the girl had left, carrying all their belongings with them. Questioned, the boy at the inn answered that someone had come to seek them and had paid the room and the meals, but he could not say who. Guo Jing hurriedly returned to the residence of Prince Zhao, where Wanyan Kang greeted him with a great smile:
"Brother Guo, thank you for your effort. Where is Mr. Mu?" Guo Jing told him that he had sought in vain.
"Ah, it is my fault," sighed Wanyan Kang. Turning to one of his servants, he ordered:
"Take several men with you, go quickly in all directions. Must absolutely find Mr. Mu!" The servant obeyed and left.
Thus, without the main person of interest, it was impossible to continue. Wang Chuyi could say nothing, but his head was full of suspicions.
"To go and seek Mr. Mu," he said to himself, "it is enough to send one or two servants. This rascal insisted that Guo Jing should go, obviously he wanted that Guo Jing himself should notice the departure of Mu, and can give testimony on it."
"It doesn't matter that mysterious things happened," he sneered, "in the end the truth will always triumph."
"Taoist Elder, you have reason to believe that Mr. Mu did mysterious things?" Wanyan Kang answered laughingly, "it is really odd."
The officer Tang Zude, already furious to see how the taoist had easily extorted thousand taels, found it intolerable to see him also showing insolence to the Young Prince. He vented his anger:
"Thus, taoist, to which temple do you belong? What right do you have to swindle our Master?"
"Thus, officer," retorted Wang Chuyi. "To which country do you belong? What right do you have to occupy an official position here?" He had well seen that Tang Zude was Chinese, but occupying an officer rank in the Jin army, benefitting from it to oppress his compatriots, it was for this reason he made fun of him.
The thing that Tang Zude hated most was people mentioning that he is a Chinese. He felt that he is highly skilled in martial arts, is loyal and willing to risk his life for the Jins but yet, they still do not allow him to lead an army. He has worked hard for 20 years but is ultimately kept in the Zhao prince residence for show. Wang Chuyi's comments have hit his sore point and his face immediately changes before roaring out in anger. He stands up, opposite Liang Ziwong and Ouyang Ke and releases a fist towards Wang Chuyi's face.
The later glances at the fist coming towards him and stretches out two fingers from his left palm to grab Tang Zude's wrist, laughing, "Even if you are not willing to answer, there is no need to resort to violence right?"
Tang Zude's fist is stopped in mid-air, and finally is unable to move. He is surprised but angry, and scolds, "Brilliant witchcraft, you used witchcraft!" He uses his might to release his fists but is unable to, and scowls, feeling very embarrassed.
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The man, dressed in white, carried a light fur coat and a broad belt. Aged about thirty-five or thirty-six years, he moved elegantly, had a distinguished appearance, and an undeniable martial air. He seemed to be a scion of a noble family.
"Here is," said Wanyan Kang laughing, "the Junior Chief of the WhiteCamelMountain from the Kunlun mountain range in the WesternTerritories. His name is Ouyang Ke. Honourable Ouyang had never been in the Central Plains before. It is thus for the first time you all meet him."
The sudden appearance of this man surprised not only Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing, but Peng Lianhu and Liang Ziwong as well, who also didn't know him. After seeing a demonstration of his ability, everyone was secretly very admiring, but nobody had ever heard about the WhiteCamelMountain in the WesternTerritories.
"Brothers, I should have arrived in the capital since several days," said Ouyang Ke while greeting. "But I had a small hitch in the way, which caused a certain delay, that is why I have just arrived, please excuse me." After learning that he was the Junior Chief of the WhiteCamelMountain, Guo Jing understood that he was related to those young women wearing white clothes who had tried to burgle his horse on the road. He felt his heart tightening, "Have my six Shifus already clashed with him?" he wondered. "Have they been injured?"
Wang Chuyi noticed that all adversaries were of frightening ability, particularly he himself had experienced the pressure of Ouyang Ke's hand, who had an internal energy by no means inferior to his own, though it contained a strange viciousness.
If dialogue turned out to be impossible, and it turned into a fighting, he himself was not even sure of being able to beat Ouyang Ke. Then, should the enemy attack in mass, how could they defend themselves?
"And your Shifu?" he asked Wanyan Kang. "Why don't you ask him to come?"
"I will," the young man agreed, turning to his servants. "Request Shifu to come and meet the visitors."
Wang Chuyi was feeling more reassured. "If Brother Qiu is here," he mused, "though the enemy are dominant in number, we will be able at least to remain unscathed."
Some time later, one heard noises of boots. Through the large door a big old officer of forty years dressed in brocade entered, with a thick beard on his chin and a martial air. Wanyan Kang advanced.
"Shifu," he said respectfully. "This Taoist Elder wishes to see you, and have already asked about you on several occasions."
Wang felt upsurging anger: "Ah, wicked one," he thought, "you dare to make fun of me? The way this officer moves, he can't have a remarkable skill, he is certainly not the one who taught this rascal his strange techniques"
"Taoist," said the officer, "what do you want from me? Normally I hate seeing monks or taoists."
The anger of Wang was so strong that he burst out laughing:
"I would like," he said, "to request alms from Your Excellency, alms of thousand silver taels."
The officer was called Tang Zude, captain of Prince Zhao's personal guard. When Wanyan Kang was small, Tang Zude had given him some martial arts lessons, that's why everybody in the household called him "Shifu."
On hearing the outrageous request from Wang Chuyi, he was startled:
"Rubbish!" he retorted.
"Thousand taels in silver," Wanyan Kang said, "is nothing, nothing at all. Let someone quickly prepare thousand taels, and present it to the venerable Taoist."
Tang Zude remained baffled. He examined Wang Chuyi from top to toe with his mouth agape, then upwards, without managing to understand why one should show such benevolence.
"Please all take a seat," Wanyan Kang invited. "Taoist Elder Wang, it's the first time you've come to us, the place of honour is reserved for you." Wang Chuyi refused modestly, but ended up settling at the place of honour. Three wine rounds were served.
"You are all eminent personalities of the JiangHu realm," Wang declared then. "You all shall judge how we'll regulate the affair of Mr. Mu and his daughter." All glances were fixed on Wanyan Kang, waiting to see his reaction.
Wanyan Kang poured wine and raised the wine cup. Respectfully presenting the cup before Wang, he said, "Senior (qianbei), do me the honour and accept this cup first. As for the affair in question, it will be dealt according to Senior's instructions, your Junior (wanbei) dares not to disobey. Wang was amazed to see him accepting so easily. He took the cup and drank the wine in one go."
"Very well," he said. "Let us take Mr. Mu here and let him speak."
"Thus someone must take him here," Wanyan Kang said. "Could I charge Brother Guo then with the task of bringing Mr. Mu here?" Wang Chuyi nodded.
Guo Jing immediately left the banquet to go to the Prosperity Inn. But the room of Mu Yi was empty: the father and the girl had left, carrying all their belongings with them. Questioned, the boy at the inn answered that someone had come to seek them and had paid the room and the meals, but he could not say who. Guo Jing hurriedly returned to the residence of Prince Zhao, where Wanyan Kang greeted him with a great smile:
"Brother Guo, thank you for your effort. Where is Mr. Mu?" Guo Jing told him that he had sought in vain.
"Ah, it is my fault," sighed Wanyan Kang. Turning to one of his servants, he ordered:
"Take several men with you, go quickly in all directions. Must absolutely find Mr. Mu!" The servant obeyed and left.
Thus, without the main person of interest, it was impossible to continue. Wang Chuyi could say nothing, but his head was full of suspicions.
"To go and seek Mr. Mu," he said to himself, "it is enough to send one or two servants. This rascal insisted that Guo Jing should go, obviously he wanted that Guo Jing himself should notice the departure of Mu, and can give testimony on it."
"It doesn't matter that mysterious things happened," he sneered, "in the end the truth will always triumph."
"Taoist Elder, you have reason to believe that Mr. Mu did mysterious things?" Wanyan Kang answered laughingly, "it is really odd."
The officer Tang Zude, already furious to see how the taoist had easily extorted thousand taels, found it intolerable to see him also showing insolence to the Young Prince. He vented his anger:
"Thus, taoist, to which temple do you belong? What right do you have to swindle our Master?"
"Thus, officer," retorted Wang Chuyi. "To which country do you belong? What right do you have to occupy an official position here?" He had well seen that Tang Zude was Chinese, but occupying an officer rank in the Jin army, benefitting from it to oppress his compatriots, it was for this reason he made fun of him.
The thing that Tang Zude hated most was people mentioning that he is a Chinese. He felt that he is highly skilled in martial arts, is loyal and willing to risk his life for the Jins but yet, they still do not allow him to lead an army. He has worked hard for 20 years but is ultimately kept in the Zhao prince residence for show. Wang Chuyi's comments have hit his sore point and his face immediately changes before roaring out in anger. He stands up, opposite Liang Ziwong and Ouyang Ke and releases a fist towards Wang Chuyi's face.
The later glances at the fist coming towards him and stretches out two fingers from his left palm to grab Tang Zude's wrist, laughing, "Even if you are not willing to answer, there is no need to resort to violence right?"
Tang Zude's fist is stopped in mid-air, and finally is unable to move. He is surprised but angry, and scolds, "Brilliant witchcraft, you used witchcraft!" He uses his might to release his fists but is unable to, and scowls, feeling very embarrassed.
The man, dressed in white, carried a light fur coat and a broad belt. Aged about thirty-five or thirty-six years, he moved elegantly, had a distinguished appearance, and an undeniable martial air. He seemed to be a scion of a noble family."Here is," said Wanyan Kang laughing, "the Junior Chief of the WhiteCamelMountain from the Kunlun mountain range in the WesternTerritories. His name is Ouyang Ke. Honourable Ouyang had never been in the Central Plains before. It is thus for the first time you all meet him."The sudden appearance of this man surprised not only Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing, but Peng Lianhu and Liang Ziwong as well, who also didn't know him. After seeing a demonstration of his ability, everyone was secretly very admiring, but nobody had ever heard about the WhiteCamelMountain in the WesternTerritories."Brothers, I should have arrived in the capital since several days," said Ouyang Ke while greeting. "But I had a small hitch in the way, which caused a certain delay, that is why I have just arrived, please excuse me." After learning that he was the Junior Chief of the WhiteCamelMountain, Guo Jing understood that he was related to those young women wearing white clothes who had tried to burgle his horse on the road. He felt his heart tightening, "Have my six Shifus already clashed with him?" he wondered. "Have they been injured?"Wang Chuyi noticed that all adversaries were of frightening ability, particularly he himself had experienced the pressure of Ouyang Ke's hand, who had an internal energy by no means inferior to his own, though it contained a strange viciousness.If dialogue turned out to be impossible, and it turned into a fighting, he himself was not even sure of being able to beat Ouyang Ke. Then, should the enemy attack in mass, how could they defend themselves?"And your Shifu?" he asked Wanyan Kang. "Why don't you ask him to come?""I will," the young man agreed, turning to his servants. "Request Shifu to come and meet the visitors."Wang Chuyi was feeling more reassured. "If Brother Qiu is here," he mused, "though the enemy are dominant in number, we will be able at least to remain unscathed."Some time later, one heard noises of boots. Through the large door a big old officer of forty years dressed in brocade entered, with a thick beard on his chin and a martial air. Wanyan Kang advanced."Shifu," he said respectfully. "This Taoist Elder wishes to see you, and have already asked about you on several occasions."Wang felt upsurging anger: "Ah, wicked one," he thought, "you dare to make fun of me? The way this officer moves, he can't have a remarkable skill, he is certainly not the one who taught this rascal his strange techniques""Taoist," said the officer, "what do you want from me? Normally I hate seeing monks or taoists."The anger of Wang was so strong that he burst out laughing:"I would like," he said, "to request alms from Your Excellency, alms of thousand silver taels."The officer was called Tang Zude, captain of Prince Zhao's personal guard. When Wanyan Kang was small, Tang Zude had given him some martial arts lessons, that's why everybody in the household called him "Shifu."On hearing the outrageous request from Wang Chuyi, he was startled:"Rubbish!" he retorted."Thousand taels in silver," Wanyan Kang said, "is nothing, nothing at all. Let someone quickly prepare thousand taels, and present it to the venerable Taoist."Tang Zude remained baffled. He examined Wang Chuyi from top to toe with his mouth agape, then upwards, without managing to understand why one should show such benevolence."Please all take a seat," Wanyan Kang invited. "Taoist Elder Wang, it's the first time you've come to us, the place of honour is reserved for you." Wang Chuyi refused modestly, but ended up settling at the place of honour. Three wine rounds were served."You are all eminent personalities of the JiangHu realm," Wang declared then. "You all shall judge how we'll regulate the affair of Mr. Mu and his daughter." All glances were fixed on Wanyan Kang, waiting to see his reaction.Wanyan Kang poured wine and raised the wine cup. Respectfully presenting the cup before Wang, he said, "Senior qianbei, do me the honour and accept this cup first. As for the affair in question, it will be dealt according to Senior's instructions, your Junior wanbei dares not to disobey. Wang was amazed to see him accepting so easily. He took the cup and drank the wine in one go.""Very well," he said. "Let us take Mr. Mu here and let him speak.""Thus someone must take him here," Wanyan Kang said. "Could I charge Brother Guo then with the task of bringing Mr. Mu here?" Wang Chuyi nodded.Guo Jing immediately left the banquet to go to the Prosperity Inn. But the room of Mu Yi was empty: the father and the girl had left, carrying all their belongings with them. Questioned, the boy at the inn answered that someone had come to seek them and had paid the room and the meals, but he could not say who. Guo Jing hurriedly returned to the residence of Prince Zhao, where Wanyan Kang greeted him with a great smile:"Brother Guo, thank you for your effort. Where is Mr. Mu?" Guo Jing told him that he had sought in vain."Ah, it is my fault," sighed Wanyan Kang. Turning to one of his servants, he ordered:"Take several men with you, go quickly in all directions. Must absolutely find Mr. Mu!" The servant obeyed and left.Thus, without the main person of interest, it was impossible to continue. Wang Chuyi could say nothing, but his head was full of suspicions."To go and seek Mr. Mu," he said to himself, "it is enough to send one or two servants. This rascal insisted that Guo Jing should go, obviously he wanted that Guo Jing himself should notice the departure of Mu, and can give testimony on it.""It doesn't matter that mysterious things happened," he sneered, "in the end the truth will always triumph.""Taoist Elder, you have reason to believe that Mr. Mu did mysterious things?" Wanyan Kang answered laughingly, "it is really odd."The officer Tang Zude, already furious to see how the taoist had easily extorted thousand taels, found it intolerable to see him also showing insolence to the Young Prince. He vented his anger:"Thus, taoist, to which temple do you belong? What right do you have to swindle our Master?""Thus, officer," retorted Wang Chuyi. "To which country do you belong? What right do you have to occupy an official position here?" He had well seen that Tang Zude was Chinese, but occupying an officer rank in the Jin army, benefitting from it to oppress his compatriots, it was for this reason he made fun of him.The thing that Tang Zude hated most was people mentioning that he is a Chinese. He felt that he is highly skilled in martial arts, is loyal and willing to risk his life for the Jins but yet, they still do not allow him to lead an army. He has worked hard for 20 years but is ultimately kept in the Zhao prince residence for show. Wang Chuyi's comments have hit his sore point and his face immediately changes before roaring out in anger. He stands up, opposite Liang Ziwong and Ouyang Ke and releases a fist towards Wang Chuyi's face.The later glances at the fist coming towards him and stretches out two fingers from his left palm to grab Tang Zude's wrist, laughing, "Even if you are not willing to answer, there is no need to resort to violence right?"Tang Zude's fist is stopped in mid-air, and finally is unable to move. He is surprised but angry, and scolds, "Brilliant witchcraft, you used witchcraft!" He uses his might to release his fists but is unable to, and scowls, feeling very embarrassed.
