Because GFFC reminded me a little of “Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre”, I thought it was apt to take a picture from the famous drama as the Orthodox Sects surrounded Bai Ming Sect. Actually, the Orthodox Sect was superfluous when the real confrontation was between Huang Fu Yun and her crazy Master. Would blood be shed? Would anyone die? What would happen to Huang Fu Yun?
- by Moonblossom -
Chapter 9 Part 1 of 2
Early next morning.
Deng Hai Tang watched
with surprise as He Zai removed his face paint.
Feeling her curiosity, he
explained: “Since Miss has returned and Tian He Manor now knows about He Yue
Hua being a Sky Slave, there is no need for me to hide anymore. All things will come to an end today and
the least I can do is to face up to things with the looks I am born with.”
Jiang Wo Bo smiled as she
played with her flute. “Why do you
seem to be preparing for martyrdom when we are not dying yet?”
He Zai chuckled. “Miss has
mixed up your idioms again”
Che Yan Yan arrived at the
dungeon to personally escort the prisoners and got a shock. “He Zai?”
Jiang Wo Bo tried to
suppress her mirth as He Zai paid no heed to Che Yan Yan. Now that she knew that a good-looking, gladiator-type
of guy has been living right under her nose for the past ten years, did she feel
any regret? He Zai caught sight of
her amusement and shot her a look to quell her mirth.
The three of them were given
pills to suppress their strength before they were lead out. Their destination
was the front hall where she saw ten over pugilists from
the Central Plains had gathered.
He Zai was walking in
front of her and blocked her from most people’s view. Without turning back, he said in a low voice which only she
could hear. “These in hall are renown wulin
elders. Those outside the hall are
their disciples. Seems like they
are going to try the peaceful approach before fighting it out.”
She muttered a sound in
response but continued thinking.
Besides the elders, she has spotted Tu Shan Long as well. He was dressed in commoner’s garbs but
there was an old man dressed in official robes standing beside him. Once the imperial court got involved in
jianghu matters, she knew that things
would become sticky. She was
willing to bet that there were soldiers stationed outside the hall who would be
ready to step in to suppress both sides if a big fight was to break up.
She guessed that many Bai
Ming Sect disciples had been summoned back for the occasion as well, and all the chess pieces were
now in place per Sect Leader’s wishes.
In the beginning, Bai
Ming Sect also had several highly-skilled pugilists. Because their moral yardsticks were different (or more
accurately, they did not care two cents about how others think of them), Bai
Ming Sect had been dubbed an unorthodox sect in the Central Plains.
It was only later when
many skilled members had gone missing that she realized Sect Leader had gone
crazy. At that time, she could
only endure and watch as Bai Ming Sect became increasingly convoluted. Historically, the new Leader for Bai
Ming Sect was always chosen among the Left or Right Protectors, but with its
degeneration, many members had lost faith in the two female candidates for the leader’s
chair, and were secretly coveting to be the next leader, which was also what
Sect Leader had wanted to see.
As she listened half-heartedly
to Sect Leader’s conversation with the other wulin elders, she caught sight of the Gentleman from Cloud Manor in
the side hall directly facing her.
When she failed to spot Xian Yun among them, she took a step forward to sweep
the hall, and finally found him at the main door.
He was wearing his
customary white robe but he had no journals on him today. He stood against the wind, hands folded
behind, and he looked like his normal self, except for his icy demeanor which
had replaced his usual polite aloofness.
She could imagine the tense situation outside, but with him on guard, no
one had dared cross the door yet.
He seemed to have felt
her gaze and turned around to meet her eyes directly. There was no emotion in his dark eyes and for a moment, they
just stared at each of other. Without
his customary sparkle in his eyes, she could not hold his look for long and finally
turned away on the pretext of hiding a cough. When she turned around to face him again, she noticed some fresh
blood stains on the corner of his sleeve.
Che Yan Yan announced,
“Master, I have brought the people here.”
An elder from Tang Manor
spoke up: “Bai Ming Sect and the Central Plains have lived peacefully alongside
each other for twenty over years.
What was Leader Jiang thinking when you capture the bride of the Martial
Arts Scholar and the sworn sister of Gentleman Xian Yun?”
Ignoring him, Sect Leader
said lazily: “He Zai, come cover.”
He Zai moved to stand
beside him without a word.
“What do you think? Is the Left Protector still alive?”
He Zai replied deadpan. “She is still alive.”
“Since she is alive, why
do you think she has not shown herself?”
“Your subordinate does
not know why.”
“Do I have to start
killing people one by one before she shows up? What do you think?”
At this exchange, Tu San
Long furrowed his brow and stepped forward. “Sect Leader Jiang, Huang Fu Yun’s death
has nothing to do with us. If you
are after revenge, you are barking up the wrong tree. We can overlook your capturing my wife and Xian Yun’s sworn
sister. If you can hand them over to us now, we can pretend that today has
never happened.”
Jiang Wo Bo caught Deng
Hai Tang’s helpless expression and thought to herself that it was not easy
being the wife of the Martial Arts Scholar. Here she was being carted left and right, but her husband had
to put the big picture before her and could not even stand up properly for her.
Normally, it was not easy
to gather so many fractions in one place.
Was crazy Sect Leader trying to destroy Bai Ming Sect, or was he waiting
to see how she would clear up the mess?
If she were to guess correctly, did it mean she is crazy too? At this,
she decided she should stop trying to think further.
Sect Leader was all
smiles. “If you want them back, that would not be possible. Protector Che,
since the family of the two women are here, why not you let them collect their
bodies today?”
Che Yan Yan hesitated but
nodded. “Yes.”
Deng Hai Tang was very decisive
and vaulted towards Tu San Long at his words. Her move surprised many but many pugilists quickly close in
to help. Jiang Wo Bo choose remain
where she was, without knowing that this would be her downfall.
“Be careful Miss!”
In a flash, a black
shadow has materialized beside her and it was only then that she realized her
mistake. He Zai only managed to
move two steps before she heard a rough voice breathing into her ear. “Yun Er, I have found you.”
Before she could react, she
felt someone pulling her back with one hand, while his other hand started exchanging
blows with Sect Leader. The blows looked straightforward but were infused with
a lot of internal strength. Given
the close distance between the duelists, there was little reaction time and
Gong Sun Yun could only react instinctively. When his palms clasp with Sect
Leader for the last time, the energy seemed to radiate through the duelists and
shattered something behind them, while sending the two men staggering back
several paces.
Quickly, He Zai and Tu
San Long moved behind Gong Sun Yun to steady him. He Zai was quick to ask: “Is Miss alright?”
Feeling the disruptive qi coursing through Gong Sun Yun, the
question clued Tu San Long on why Gong Sun Yun has taken on the blow instead of
deflecting it. Given the internal
strength of these powerful men, Jiang Wo Bo would be severely injured if not
dead by now, since she was caught between them, had Gong Sun Yun not taken the blow head on.
Worried, He Zai asked
again. “Miss?”
Xian Yun replied for her:
“She is merely out of breath.
Otherwise, she is fine.”
“Good skills!” praised Bai
Ming Sect Leader before he turned and walked slowly back to his seat, his eyes
unusually bright.
While the two were
fighting, other fights had broken out both within and outside the hall. Someone tried to block Sect Leader on
his way to his seat but he sent the fellow flying out of the hall with a wave
of his hand.
Tu San Long and Gong Sun
Yun exchanged a glance. What a mess! Inwardly, Tu San Long started to blame
Jiang Wo Bo. Earlier on, the
situation was still under control, thanks to Xian Yun who had volunteered to
guard the door in disregard of his Gentleman status. Had it not been for her, Xian Yun would never have left his
post and the fight would not have escalated to this extent.
Looking at the pleased-looking
Court Official who had followed him here, he knew that it would not be long
before the old coot would order his solders to intervene.
“Yun Er, can you guess
how did I manage to spot you?”
Jiang Wo Bo finally
opened her eyes and stared at the middle-aged man atop the Sect Leader’s
seat. Although he was not really
that old, his hair was white. She
disengaged herself from Gong Sun Yun and started walking towards Sect Leader
with her hands folded customary behind her.
As she walked, someone
took a swing at her but He Zai, who was right behind her, blocked the
attack. He was about to return a
death blow to her assailant when someone held him back. Turning around, he saw Gong Sun Yun who
said calmly: “Try to forgive if
you can. If you can endure, just
endure.” His colour has returned to
normal and it was hard to tell that this man had just used his entire strength
to exchange blows with Sect Leader.
When He Zai gave a cold snort, Sect Leader Jiang spoke: “When everyone else has succumbed to chaos, Yun Er will be the only person who would remain calm. I know you would never join the chaos until you have determine your strategy and decided on your next course of action.”
When He Zai gave a cold snort, Sect Leader Jiang spoke: “When everyone else has succumbed to chaos, Yun Er will be the only person who would remain calm. I know you would never join the chaos until you have determine your strategy and decided on your next course of action.”
She smiled. “Master indeed knows Yun Er well.” She walked to the steps where He Zai
had been forced to wear his slave bangle long ago. As she stroked her flute, she asked thoughtfully. “Master has been trying his best to
test Yun Er all these years. Can I ask if today is the day you receive your
answer?”
“What have you learnt when
you fell off the cliff?”
She crocked her head. “Besides
being lucky to escape with my life, I found that I have somehow ended up with some
new-found family members who would require me to greet them in the morning and
wish them goodnight everyday.”
At her reply, Gong Sun
Yun broke into a grin.
The answer was obviously
not what Sect Leader has expected to hear, so she continued. “Master’s explosion
has opened my eyes, and I was suppose to learn that I can only rely on myself
as even He Zai can forsake me for his blood brother.”
While He Zai gritted his
teeth, Sect Leader nodded his head, satisfied.
Jiang Wo Bo continued her
slow ascend up the steps. When she
reached Sect Leader, she leaned forward and spoke in low tones: “Seeing that Master
has tried to force me out of hiding in such haste, can I assume you have
reached the end of your rope?”
The eyes of the
white-haired man were burning too brightly, like the last blaze of a candle
that was about to be extinguished.
“Yun Er is so smart, you are worth the love I have showered upon you all
these years.”
“Ay, I am not smart at
all. Master has aged overnight ever since you have fatally injured yourself all
those years back. I have hoped to lie
low until Master has passed on, yet you have hang on for much longer than
expected, and here I am.”
She straightened. “The
blow from Xian Yun was the last straw wasn’t it?”
Instead of feeling
aggrieved, Sect Leader bursted out laughing. “Precisely.”
His laughter was loud and carried his qi across the hall, stopping many pugilists in their tracks as they
felt their intestines contract.
Jiang Wo Bo was the
closest to him and she too felt the pain.
Fortunately, there were two pairs of hands who appeared behind her and lent
her strength.
Endure! No matter what comes today, she will
endure it all!
Gong Sun Yun let out a
long, flat whistle which curbed some of the effects of the jarring laughter.
Sect Leader coughed and
looked at the expressionless Gong Sun Yun. “Your internal qi
is good.”
“Sect Leader Jiang is too
generous with your praise.”
A corner of Sect Leader’s
mouth twitched. “If you are born
twenty years earlier, I would have dueled with you.”
In the next breath, he continued.
“Bai Ming Sect Left Protector Huang Fu Yun, accept my order. From today onwards, you will become the
thirty-first Sect Leader of Bai Ming Sect!”
His power carried his words
clearly into everyone’s ears.
She stared at him for a
long time, then turning around, she walked down the steps. She walked past Che Yan Yan who didn’t
look too well, past a shell-shocked Tu San Lang, but she ignored them all.
“Yun Er, there is no one you
can trust in this world. I have trained
you personally and I know how you think, especially He Zai, who must now be the
chief thorn in your heart. If you
leave today, Bai Ming Sect would be exterminated by the Orthodox Sect or become
prisoners of the court, without a leader at its helm. That would make you the biggest sinner in Bai Ming Sect history
and there will forever be Bai Ming Sect disciples hunting you for
revenge. No matter where you go, you
will never find refuge even in the Central Plains!”
All Bai Ming Sect
disciples have turned their attention to her. As she stepped out of the hall, she stopped and swept her
glance at all who has gathered below the steps.
The main hall of Bai Ming
Sect was situated at mid mountain.
From the entrance, she could see Tian Bi Cliff in the distance that
reached high into the sky. A wide
gorge separated the path up the cliff and to people unfamiliar with the area,
it would be impossible to ascend the cliff.
This was the first time
in her life that she was in the limelight. Perched on the steps, with everyone looking on, could this
be considered her moment of fame?
What a pity that after today, she could no longer wander around the
Central Plains without make-up.
Turning, she faced Sect
Leader in the hall. She knew he
was about to die and that he wanted to pass her this mess before his last
breath. Had she not known that he
was crazy, she would have thought that his ambition in life was to nurture
people. If she had fallen prey to
hatred or disappointment when she fell off the cliff, she would have become the
type of person whom Sect Leader truly wanted her to be.
She smiled and lifted
both hands towards the Master’s seat.
“Huang Fu Yun accepts your order.”
“Miss!” He Zai could not
help his protest as she made her announcement in front of everyone,
She did not pay him any
heed and folded her hands behind her.
“From today onwards, Huang Fu Yun will become the thirty-first Sect
Leader of Bai Ming Sect. All
disciples listen up. Kneel and
send off our Old Leader as he embarks on his last journey!”
Within and outside the
hall, many disciples hesitated before putting down their weapons and knelt.
Chapter Links:
super exciting! so finally ascends the Sect Leader of Bai Ming Sect or is she? The next chapter is the ending of the book. I cannot wait for the next part of chapter 9 unfolds.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this amazing novel with us Moonblossom.
Glad you like it! There is no wuxia fanfare, no epic battle, but this book has its own charm. Even this stand-off was over just as it began, but it is necessary for what comes next. I was grinning as I type the next post and I think you will like it. Here's to the next part.
ReplyDeletemoonblossom kiitos( thanks)
ReplyDeleteOlet sydämellisesti tervetullut.
Deletehaha moonblossom write Fin lol. Just buy ticket hel -sg now feel happy can't sleep but seem can't stay in sg ,so maybe no chance check the novel :) again thanks for the translation . looking forward the next chapter:)
Deletei read this part slowly and carefully coz everything in this part is intense and interesting! she's a perfect new leader, but we didn't want her to live in the sect. She deserves happiness, living carefree and protected in a family.
ReplyDeletei'm always amaze how wang yun endure everything and really unpredictable!
i'm really happy coz both man can protect her now.
thank you so much moonblossom :D
For a moment, I thought she is really going to walk out of the door! But what her Master said make sense, and she has no choice but to accept the leader's position else she will forever be hunted down. The two hands that reached out to support her is very heartwarming, but I am more thankful that Xian Yun appeared the night before and gave her a tonic pill, else she will be dead for sure with all the energy flying around.
Deletethank you moonblossom, you're awesome...
ReplyDelete“Huang Fu Yun accepts your order.”
ReplyDelete“From today onwards, Huang Fu Yun will become the thirty-first Sect Leader of Bai Ming Sect."
I totally gasped because I didn't expect her to accept the order! I know I love this girl for a reason. I'm so happy that she stood up to her master and to the occasion. I'm so excited to know what's coming next. He Zai showed his dismay at her acceptance but what about Xian Yun? Is it in the next chapter?
Btw, I'm wondering why the Old Master thought Huang Fu Yun was a worthy successor despite being so weak. She only seemed to have the ability to endure and strategise (which are really great, of course) but I thought being the Sect Leader requires power and martial arts prowess too.
I suspect he has killed a lot of skilled members in Bai Ming sect, until there are not many capable people left. From the sound of things, he has fostered many to have hopes of being the next leader so he is not leaving her an asset but more of a problem. Let's hope He Zai is a capable enough assistant.
DeleteRight! That's a good point! I wonder what will everyone think now that they know Gentleman Xian Yun's sworn sister is Huang Fu Yun, the new leader of Bai Ming Sect! I'm really glad that this novel is not angsty & is such a pleasant read & not long! =)
DeleteWould He Zai become acting.leader while WY as absemtee leader....frolicking wt XY ?*teehee*
ReplyDeleteGuess, better she accepted the leadership...she can turn it later over to HZ and assure the peace.between evil sect and central plains or all the pugilist world.......while WY & XY lives happily in health & endurance *squeals*
- samie