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Hou Xibai laughed and said, “Fortunately, although we did not plan it, we came to your Ol’ Die’s city. If it were a House of Tang’s city, I am sure Yang Xuyan would already have led his men to capture us alive last night, and made us prisoners in their dungeon. Just thinking about it makes my heart shivers. Whether our fate is glorious or dried up, the difference is only one fine line.”

Xu Ziling laughed and said, “Frankly speaking, this time Yang Xuyan lost the battle, he must have felt deep resentment, victory and defeat was just like migratory bird, it involved of a bit of gambling.”

Hou Xibai cheerfully said, “But there is a common saying, in the end, success is not just by luck; if not for Ziling’s extremely skillful spiritual great method, which gave me, a fool who are on a treasure mountain but did not see the treasure – direction, how could Yang Xuyan be so confused, which resulted in his defeat?”

Xu Ziling spoke in astonishment, “I never thought that Xibai is such a modest person. Because when speaking with gifted scholars, the impression that the people get is they are always inordinately proud of their ability, and Xibai happens to be a hundred-percent gifted scholar.”

Blurted out laughing, Hou Xibai said, “Gifted scholar? Ha! Even if I was a gifted scholar, in front of you, Xu Ziling, another gifted scholar, who would dare not to be modest? I really am admiring you more and more; furthermore, I like it that you amiably call me Xibai, and not Xibai Xiong long and Xibai Xiong short, treating me with extreme formal courtesy. In this regard, Kou Zhong is different from you, he barely knew someone, and immediately he can carry on intimately with them. Ziling is more cautious and solemn in maintaining a distance from other people.”

Smiling wryly, Xu Ziling replied, “To make Xibai’s belly so full of complaints, it is indeed Xiaodi’s sin. Xibai Daren, please be magnanimous, forgive this offense. At that time I was only blurting out quite naturally; in order to protect me, Xibai did not hesitate to sacrifice your life, we all treat one another with absolute sincerity, hence our relationship changed naturally.”

Hou Xibai roared in laughter, he put a hand on Xu Ziling’s shoulder, and spoke cheerfully, “All those things are already in the past, looking forward is what smart people should do. If Ziling can recover you power, perhaps even when your hands and feet are half-bound, you can still play with Yang Xuyan on the palm of your hand.”

Shaking his head, Xu Ziling said, “You are too optimistic! First of all, if I fight with him, I will lose the advantage of an outsider can see things more clearly or objectively than those involved [idiom]. Secondly, Yang Xuyan will learn a lesson from this bitter experience, he will try to eliminate his flaws. Once he can reach the able-to-do-what-his-heart-desires level, he will become another one of your Shi Shi. One day he is not dead, our heart and belly will always be in danger.”

Hou Xibai suddenly whispered, “Look! Unexpectedly Badong City has such beautiful woman with exceptionally good personality traits.”

Following his eyes, Xu Ziling cast his gaze across the street. A beautiful woman, wearing plain and simple clothes, yet it was difficult to cover up her charming beauty of her slim and graceful figure – was turning into a side street. He could only see her back, he could not see her flowery countenance.

Looking at Xu Ziling, Hou Xibai asked in astonishment, “Why does Xu Ziling’s gaze look so strange? Can’t possibly be because seeing a beauty your heart is moved? That is so not like you.”

Xu Ziling spoke heavily, “I feel that her figure seen from behind looks very familiar, it gave me deep impression that I have seen her somewhere before.”

Hou Xibai said, “I can guarantee that she is not a beauty that I have seen before. I have certain skill in looking at women; even if she changed her appearance in disguise, she wouldn’t be able to hide from me.”

Xu Ziling nodded and said, “She is absolutely not our enemy, because the impression she gave me is very positive.”

Hou Xibai pulled his sleeve and said, “We are here. It indeed deserves its reputation as the number one lou [multi-story building] in Badong, merely the façade of Wang Huai Lou is enough to arouse people’s spirit.”

Suddenly Xu Ziling’s tiger-body shook, as if he just realized something.

Hou Xibai pulled Xu Ziling aside, so that they would not be in the way of other guests who were entering or exiting the Wang Huai Lou’s main gate; he asked, “Did Ziling just remember who the woman that you seemed to have met before?”

Xu Ziling shook his head and said, “No, I’m remembering another thing; all along I did not understand, that day I received injury and lost consciousness from Zhu Yuyan’s ‘burning both jade and common stone’ move, when I woke up the next day, Feixuan already left me and was gone. This matter is like a small thorn remained in my heart, making me feel uncomfortable. I thought that it would not have been too late to say goodbye to me after I woke up and restored my strength to defend myself. It was only this moment that I began to understand, that is precisely ‘the Heart of the Sword Brightly Lit’ realm; however, I would have to sustain injuries and have no martial art skill to rely on before I could genuinely understand what ‘the Heart of the Sword Brightly Lit’ really is, and it was only by relying on this that I was able to help Xibai to defeat Yang Xuyan.”

Hou Xibai praised, “Turns out Ziling is thinking something else that has nothing to do with what we have before our eyes, but it’s quite fascinating. All along Shi Shi does not dare to set foot on Ci Hang Jingzhai to challenge Fan Qinghui, precisely because he has misgivings of ‘the Heart of the Sword Brightly Lit’ sword way realm of the ‘Ci Hang Sword Canon’. Actually, Ziling always has the potential to communicate with the spirits, only you have not had any chance to bring it out! If Ziling’s power can return to your original level, the injury this time will be an enormous good thing, as well as a good turning point.”

Xu Ziling laughed calmly and said, “Whether recovering completely or not, I don’t really care. This Wang Huai Lou is certainly not an ordinary building, merely the four mahogany pillars with dragon carvings supporting the top level of the three stories are enough to make people sigh in admiration. How about we climb the stairs to watch the Huai [River]?” [Reminder: ‘Wang Huai’ means ‘watching/gazing into the distance at Huai (river).]

Hou Xibai laughed aloud and said, “Ziling, after you!”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Xibai is too polite.” With his hands behind his back, he climbed up the stairs.

Wang Huai Lou was located in the northern part of the city, the design was distinct, the lowest level was like the first floor of any other building, one must climb more than a dozen steps of wooden stairs. The entire building was made of cylindrical wooden structure, it was stable and pleasing to the eye, without losing its natural beauty.

At the end of the wooden steps was the reception counter of the restaurant’s shopkeeper; passing this counter and entering straight into the lower floor of the building, there were more than thirty big round tables, most of the tables were full of diners. Looking at their outward appearance, the majority of these guests must be traveling merchants. The servers serving steaming hot dimsum and fragrant tea were all young women; this was their unique distinguishing feature. Turning to the right, there was another flight of stairs leading to the first floor.

Xu Ziling was looking everywhere. The young shopkeeper was serving a tea-customer paying his bill. Perhaps because Xu Ziling and Hou Xibai’s bearing was out of the ordinary, he cast his gaze toward the two men, and thus he met Xu Ziling face to face.

Stunned, Xu Ziling said, “Unexpectedly it’s Han Xiong.”

Immediately the young shopkeeper body was severely shaken, blood was draining from his face, so that he was as pale as a dead person.

Immediately Xu Ziling regretted his action that he wanted to die. This man was precisely Han Zenan, whom he met along the way when he left Bashu and took a ship from the Three Gorges. He and his tender wife Xiaochang and their beloved son Xiao Jie were running away from the ‘Evil Monk’ Fa Nan and ‘Amorous Nun’ Chang Zhen’s hunt [see Book 25 Chapter 12]. At that time Xu Ziling upheld justice and made his move [Book 26 Chapter 8] to repel Fa Nan and Chang Zhen. Han Zenan and his wife and son, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow, left the boat in panic and escaped far away, so that he was unable to understand clearly their relationship with Yin Gui Pai.

He regretted that momentarily he forgot that it was in ‘Gong Chenchun’ appearance that he made acquaintance with Han Zenan. By calling him ‘Han Xiong’ like that, it was tantamount to revealing Han Zenan’s shunning-the-world-and-go-into-hiding identity. No wonder Han Zenan’s countenance became so unsightly. At the same time, Xu Ziling realized that the familiar beautiful figure that he had just seen must be Han Zenan’s wife, Xiaochang.

Following behind him, Hou Xibai was stunned, “Did Ziling meet an old acquaintance?” he asked.

At a loss, Xu Ziling hurriedly said, “No, I mistook him for someone else!” Pulling Hou Xibai away, he quickly walked toward the steps to the first floor.

Reaching a corner leading to the upper floor, Xu Ziling stop dejectedly, and said with a sigh “I want to go back to clear things up, how about Xibai go to the third floor and find an empty table?” [Translator’s note: I thought the building only has three levels, but the description about lower, first and third floors is kind of confusing to me, I simply translate it as-is. In the US, the ground floor is called the first floor, while in Europe, the first floor is the level above the ground floor (equivalent to the second floor in the US). I don’t know in China.]

Hou Xibai shook his head and said, “I have a great responsibility, how can I leave your left and right? We go together!”

The two men turned around and went down the stairs, but when they reached the lower level, unexpectedly Han Zenan disappeared without any trace, another man was doing his job.

Inwardly Xu Ziling knew that the turn of events was not too encouraging; Han Zenan must have escaped in order to avoid disaster, Xu Ziling was indeed guilty of the most serious crime. “We must run after him!” he hastily said.

The two hurriedly went down, they happened to catch a glimpse of Han Zenan’s back side entering the side street across the restaurant.

His heart was heavy, Han Zenan scurried along the totally-empty side alley with his head down. Suddenly there was a flash in front of his eyes, somebody appeared out of nowhere. Scared, he retreated three steps in succession, his face was of the color of the earth.

The blocker was Hou Xibai, who rushed over one step ahead of Xu Ziling. Greeting by raising his cupped fist, he said, “Han Xiong, please forgive Xibai for being rude, because my friend wants to clear the misunderstanding a moment ago with Han Xiong, no need to be alarmed.”

Having just recovered from a shock, Han Zenan spoke in astonishment, “I wonder if Gexia [Sire] is the ‘Passionate Prince’ Hou Xibai?”

Hou Xibai cheerfully said, “Precisely Zaixia; I did not expect Han Xiong, being not well-versed in martial art – to know Jianghu affairs. My friend is here!”

Han Zenan again revealed a worried and suspicious expression. Turning his head to look back, to his surprise, he saw Xu Ziling, wearing Gong Chenchun mask, was coming toward him. Immediately his countenance relaxed, unable to believe his own eyes, he cried out, “EnGong [benefactor/savior]!”

Xu Ziling took off his mask and came to Han Zenan’s side, apologizing, “I was careless, implicating Han Xiong that you were frightened. Are Zun Furen [honorable madam] and Ling Lang [your esteemed son] well?”

Han Zenan was still staring blankly, this sudden change has made him losing his mind. It was half a day later that he recovered and exhaled slowly; he said, “Unexpectedly there is such an exquisite and skillfully made mask in the world. Jian Nei [my humble wife] and Xiao’er [mu humble son – I just want to show how complicated Chinese appellations are] are all safe and sound. EnGong’s great kindness and great virtue toward us, we still haven’t had any chance to personally thank you. Every time we think about it, it’s difficult for our heart to feel at peace.”

Patting his shoulder, Xu Ziling said, “Nothing needs to be said, Han Xiong can just forget everything that happened today, Xibai and I are going back to have our breakfast, Han Xiong can continue with your job, you and us have nothing to do with each other.” Laughing aloud, he and Hou Xibai left together.

Han Zenan called out from behind, “Would EnGong

please bestow me your honorable surname and great given name?”

“Xiaodi Xu Ziling,” Xu Ziling replied, “Han Xiong, don’t worry, we will never mention the secret than Han Xiong is living in seclusion here.”

The two sat peacefully at a table by the window, casting their gaze toward the forest sea of wilderness extending as far as the eye could see, and the Huai River flowing in the distance – beyond the north city wall.

Hou Xibai sighed and said, “If Feixuan’s heart-of-the-sword-brightly-lit realm gave her the psychic divine power to foresee the future, I will feel uncomfortable associating with her. I hope her immortal method still has limitations, so that she cannot see through the vast, with no clear boundary, and unfathomable future.”

Xu Ziling said, “I understand Xibai’s anxiety, you are thus not optimistic about Kou Zhong.”

Staring at him, with a smile on his face, Hou Xibai said, “Talking with Ziling saves me a lot of time. I am not a man of Qi fearing the sky falling [idiom: groundless fears], the question is to which level has Feixuan’s heart-of-the-sword-brightly-lit reached? When she chose Li Shimin to be the Son of Heaven ordained by Heaven, did she foresee what happened today? If it is so, then Kou Zhong is in danger.”

Xu Ziling’s expression solemn, he said, “Her ability to predict the future is obviously not necessarily effective and divine; at least she chose me as the mountain gate protector of the law [sic, it was ‘sand gate’ in Book 52 Chapter 5], so Xiaodi has a burden she entrusted to me.”

“Mountain gate protector of the law?” Hou Xibai asked in astonishment.

After explaining briefly, Xu Ziling said, “The development of the facts is that I am walking on the opposite path of the purpose of her intentions, and there is no possibility of turning back or changing. The opposition to her will only become increasingly sharper.”

Hou Xibai was still mulling over this when Han Zenan appeared on top of the stairs and came over to their table. Although the two did not understand why he was unafraid to expose his identity, out of courtesy, they busily invited him to sit down.

Han Zenan showed a determined look, he spoke with serious expression, “Just now Xiaodi went home to talk it over with my humble wife, we hope we can borrow two gentlemen’s power to rid the world of evil.”

Remembering Yin Gui Pai, Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Han Xiong’s righteous courage while disregarding your personal safety is really admirable; however, since their Paizhu [sect master] died, Yin Gui Pai’s internal dispute escalates, which resulted in all-split-up-and-in-pieces situation, momentarily they are not enough to be a danger. Han Xiong can feel at ease living in peace and working happily here.”

Shaking his head, Han Zenan said, “Xiaodi is talking about ridding the world of evil, not about Yin Gui Pai. I am referring to Xiang Gui and his family, who specialized in human trafficking and running gambling enterprise, doing all the shady business that offend the Heaven and reason.”

Hearing that, the two were emotionally moved, feeling deeply that when the willow trees make the shade, the flowers give the light [idiom: at one’s darkest hour, a glimmer of hope/light at the end of the tunnel], what they suspected as the place with no road, unexpectedly it was a place of charm and beauty.

Han Zenan continued, “If EnGong was not Xu Ziling, my humble wife and I definitely will not dare to have this thought. This is because EnGong and Shaoshuai are the men whom the Xiang Family have most misgivings and fear.”

Hou Xibai detested the Xiang Family, who regarded women as commodity – the most; greatly delighted, he asked, “How did Han Xiong know about the Xiang Family’s affairs?”

Revealing an ashamed expression, he gnashed his teeth and said in low voice, “Because before leaving the Xiang Family, Xiaodi was managing all the Xiang Family’s transaction accounts.”

Xu Ziling and Hou Xibai were overjoyed at unexpected good news, thinking that it all came without them spending a great deal of time and effort. Han Zenan occupied such a crucial position within the Xiang Family’s enterprise, it would enable them to grasp what is true and what is false of the Xiang Family, they could then make the Xiang Family crumble in one move.

Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling asked, “Then why is it that it was Yin Gu Pai people who came to kill Han Xiong that day?”

Han Zenan sighed and said, “This matter is complicated and not easy to express succinctly. My humble wife, Bai Xiaochang [note: it was Hong Xiaochang in Book 26 Chapter 8] came from Yin Hui Pai, furthermore, she was Yin Gui Pai’s designated person to deal with the Xiang Family in financial matters. Most of the Holy School’s Two Sects and Six Ways have close relationship with the Xiang Family, the Xiang Family wants their support in military [or martial] and political power, while the various sects of the Holy School rely on the Xiang Family’s financial resources; therefore, they formed a mutually beneficial relationship. Moreover, the Xiang Family are the Holy School’s eyes and ears, they help the various sects of the Holy School by gathering intelligence for them from all sides.”

After a short pause, he went on, “It was under this circumstance that from time to time, Xiaochang came in contact with Xiaodi. Familiarity breeds fondness, until Xiaochang was pregnant, which is a big taboo in Yin Gui Pai; we then had no choice but to immediately flee and went into hiding in Bashu. After encountering a few years of life of peace and happiness, finally they discovered our whereabouts; we were forced to flee in panic by boat, and it was on that boat that we came across EnGong.”

Hou Xibai asked, “How did Han Xiong come to work for the Xiang Family? Moreover, it was such an important position?”

Han Zenan explained in details, “Since I was young, Xiaodi followed my late father working for the Xiang Family. After my late father passed away, the responsibility naturally fell to Xiaodi‘s shoulders. Officially, the accounts were Xiang Gui’s older brother Xiang Fu’s responsibility, but Xiang Fu is engrossed in wine and women, the actual work became mine to deal with, Xiang Fu only showed perfunctory interest. Xiaodi has also read the holy book; although knowing I was helping tyrant Zhou in his oppression [idiom: taking the side of the evildoer], but because I was afraid of the Xiang Family’s tyrannical abuse, also afraid to implicate my family, I could only follow orders. Afterwards, Niang and Die passed away one after another, also encountering Xiaochang, who has already had disloyal thought toward Yin Gui Pai early on, only then did we choose to flee.”

“Where is Xiang Gui’s lair?” Xu Ziling asked.

Han Zenan replied, “Since Yang Guang encountered murder by his own subordinate and died in Jiangdu, I have moved with Xiang Gui several times, the last headquarters was in Luoyang. However, before Xiaochang and I ran away to Bashu, Xiang Gui was planning on moving to Chang’an to spread out his fist and feet in a big way.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Hou Xibai said, “Han Xiong, please don’t blame Zaixia for investigating to the bottom of this matter, but based on how strict Yin Gui Pai controls the disciple in their Sect, how could they give Han Xiong and Sao Furen [madam sister-in-law] the opportunity to be intimate?”

Han Zenan replied frankly, “Xiaochang was not only responsible for the financial aspect of both sides, but before that muddleheaded ruler was murdered by his subordinate, she was also in charge to training the maids to be sent into various imperial palaces on Xiang Gui’s behalf. These maids were all acquired by the Xiang Family, by fair means or foul, from all parts of the country.”

Xu Ziling’s heart was moved, he asked, “Is it possible for us to have a word with Sao Furen?”

Han Zenan’s home was located in a neighborhood at the northeastern part of Badong City, a three-section style ordinary house, the furnishing was simple and unadorned, evidently it was because they, husband and wife, did not dare to display ostentatiously, hence they felt contented to live ordinary people’s life.

After some words of politeness, Xu Ziling asked about Bai Xiaochang’s experience in training the palace maids in the past, while also explaining Yin Xiaoji’s affair.

Bai Xiaochang’s graceful jade countenance revealed a thinking-deeply-trying-to-remember expression. Half a day later, she said, “Qie [I, your servant (deprecatory self-reference for women)] remember! She was a temperamental [lit. spleen-natured], unyielding girl, her pair of eyes was brimming with hatred. We strictly forbid the girls to use their original names, but every time we called her by her new name, she always reaffirmed that her name was Yin Xiaoji. Afterwards, Xiang Gui’s younger sister Xiang Hua fixed her up really good, only then did she not dare to say that she was Yin Xiaoji, but from then on she also refused to speak.”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling was both happy and alarmed; happy because after going through numerous twists and turns, he finally found someone who knew Yin Xiaoji, and obtained some information about her. Alarmed because Yin Xiaoji’s temperament was so strong that possibly the Xiang Family had dealt with them viciously.

Bai Xiaochang was able to see through the load on Xu Ziling’s mind, she cheerfully said, “EnGong need not be worry; afterwards, the Jiangdu incident happened, hundreds of detained girls took advantage of the great chaos following Yuwen Huaji’s rebellion to escape. Xiang Gui was too busy to look after himself, he had neither the time nor the mood to pay them any attention.”

Listening to her, Xu Ziling was stupefied, recalling the situation when they were running away from trouble that year, when he and Kou Zhong fled Jiangdu. At the time of soldiers’ mutiny and troops rebelling, a weak little girl’s fate was really hard to fathom. Thus the trail to pursue Yin Xiaoji was completely cut off. In the boundless sea of people, how were they going to find her?

Han Zenan sincerely said, “In dealing with the human traffickers, what can we, husband and wife, do?”

Coming back to his senses, Xu Ziling said, “We will contact a man by the name of Lei Jiuzhi to meet with Han Xiong. He has been, in thousand ways, a hundred plans, thinking of ways to deal with the Xiang Family. Furthermore, he can arrange everything for Han Xiong, to ensure your safety. Han Xiong and Sao Furen may rest assured. And one more thing, please don’t call me EnGong anymore.”

Hou Xibai laughed and said, “Ziling is precisely this kind of benevolent-scholar-righteous-hero who does not expect any repayment. About contacting Lei Dage, leave it to me. Ziling can rest and recuperate at ease.”

Han Zenan and Bai Xiaochang revealed a puzzled expression.

Xu Ziling told them frankly, “I was injured by the enemy, hence I must find a place to treat my injury; I will leave soon, Han Xiong and Sao Furen can live as usual, when Lei Dage meet with you, he is going to make proper arrangement.”