Chapter 114

Feng Yi was lost in thought, he knew well that Xiao Xiangzi and the others were experts recruited by Hubilie; since they were here, would Hubilie also be here? If so, killing him would be far more useful than killing the Mongol chancellor Yelü Chucai; he immediately decided to watch developments, lest he startle the snake.

Hearing Xiao Longnv's words, Feng Yi came back from his thoughts, gave a slight smile, and said softly, "These few people, aside from that big guy, the other three are peerless experts in the world; we were just lucky to happen upon them."

Feng Yi knows that Nimo Xing, Xiao Xiangzi, and Yin Kexi each could surpass the Quanzhen disciples; they are all rare experts in today's martial world; as for Ma Guangzuo, that big fellow only has greater strength, his martial arts compared to the others are still far inferior.

Xiao Longnv nodded slightly, thinking: "That would be fine; if the world were full of such experts, Guo'er's unforgiving nature would be in unknown danger."

She previously learned from her master and Granny Sun that the only top martial artists in the world were the Eastern Heretic, Western Poison, Southern Emperor, and Northern Beggar; but Feng Yi this person shattered her understanding.

Moreover, seeing Nimo Xing and the others' appearance vastly different from ordinary people, their inner energy extraordinary, their knowledge profound, they looked fierce, leading her to think that such people were common in the world.

While Nimo Xing and Xiao Xiangzi et al. were speaking, Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan fought over dozens of moves; Yelü Yan, lacking a weapon, repeatedly tried to seize her opponent's willow-leaf saber but failed, instead being forced to dodge left and right, unable to retaliate.

At this moment, more than ten guards all wanted to step forward to help, but Yelü Qi said, "Wait!"

He stepped forward three paces and said, "Third sister, step back."

Yelü Yan stepped aside and said, "Fine! Second brother, you come."

Wanyan Ping snorted, then launched three consecutive moves with a whooshing sound; the blade wind mixed with six palm strikes of the Iron Palm technique—this "saber sandwiching double palms" came from left and right to jointly attack Yelü Qi, which was very formidable.

Yelü Qi, however, stood still, waiting until the saber chopped at his chest before extending a finger to point, striking the blade's face.

With a "zheng" sound, Wanyan Ping's arm went numb, and the saber rebounded to slash back at herself.

However, her lightness skill was superb; she leaned back, the blade edge swept past her face, her body spinning like a windmill around Yelü Qi, each strike faster than the last, brilliant light bursting forth, dazzling like stars.

Yelü Qi kept his left hand lowered and unmoving, using only his right hand to casually chop, strike, thrust, and grasp; though the techniques were certainly exquisite, his timing and placement were even more extraordinary.

The "dangdang" of finger and blade clashing rang out incessantly; Wanyan Ping's storm-like barrage of moves was resolved by him one by one.

Just three moves were enough to make Yin Kexi unable to refrain from exclaiming praise, saying, "The Quanzhen Sect claims to be the orthodox martial arts of the world; indeed its reputation is not undeserved, to have such a young expert among its disciples!"

In fact, Yin Kexi's knowledge of the sects, figures, and martial arts of the Central Plains was extensive, far surpassing Xiao Xiangzi and Nimo Xing; he had long recognized that Wanyan Ping's technique was the Iron Palm method, but he always concealed his abilities, lest he become a target of everyone's resentment.

Xiao Xiangzi let out a sharp, cold laugh: "Haha, Quanzhen versus Iron Palm, bearded scholars fighting womenfolk—this show is indeed entertaining!"

Nimo Xing continued: "I've long heard that the former Quanzhen sect leader Wang Zhongyang possessed extraordinarily high martial prowess, having claimed the title of number one under heaven, though I didn't know if it was deserved; but looking at this young man, it's likely genuine!"

Xiao Xiangzi said in a gloomy tone: "Under heaven, the title of number one belongs only to you, Elder Nimo; no one else could claim it."

Nimo Xing again threw back his head and laughed long, then sensing a hint of mockery in his words, he flared with anger: "Xiao Xiangzi, you look down on me, don't you? Fine, let me test just how formidable your Longevity Wood Longevity Skill really is."

Having said he would test, he immediately did so; his body moved flickeringly, like a ghost, swift and dark, as if a streak of black smoke swept past Ma Guangzuo and Yin Kexi, closing in on Xiao Xiangzi.

Don't be fooled by Xiao Xiangzi's stiff posture; his movements were also incredibly swift—he stepped back, extended his long arm, and his palms instantly emanated a biting chill, a gloomy wind hissing as he thrust both palms toward Nimo Xing.

With a "bang", both retreated; Xiao Xiangzi's body struck the railing, while Nimo Xing smashed straight through a private booth, accompanied by a clattering noise.

From this collision, each knew the other's martial arts were superb, not inferior to their own.

The burly man traveling with them widened his copper-bell-like eyes, looking this way and that, bewildered, wondering how they had suddenly started fighting; Yin Kexi still wore a grin, but inwardly he felt alarmed, thinking: "No wonder those two act as if they fear no one—they truly possess astonishing skill."

However, this change came suddenly; the populace and guards, who had been fully focused on the duel between Yelü Qi and Wanyan Ping, were startled by a loud noise from above.

Looking up, they saw several sections of railing, buffeted by strong wind, howling as they fell; if they struck a person, it would surely cause a great disaster, and the crowd instantly scattered in panic.

Yelü Qi, having no time to disengage from Wanyan Ping, suddenly extended his right hand, two fingers gripping the saber's back and lifting it; Wanyan Ping could not hold onto her blade, and he snatched it away.

Yelü Qi was about to leap into midair to deflect the railing when he suddenly heard a "swish"; his gaze shifted, and a golden whip shot down from upstairs faster than lightning.

Amid the crowd's panic, having already seized the railing, he gave the whip a light tug; the railing's downward momentum instantly turned into a sideways glide, accompanied by a piercing cry, and it landed on the opposite roof.

With a "papa-la", it shattered many tiles but injured no one.

Yelü Qi saw that the long whip came with unpredictable, unrestrained force, its power profound; his heart sank, he looked upstairs and saw the attacker was a Western Regions barbarian; he clasped his hands and said, "Your martial arts are superb; I admire you."

"It's nothing, nothing. Lord Yelü, you are young and handsome, a rare sight in the world."

Yin Kexi gave a slight smile, shook his right hand, and the golden dragon whip retracted back into his sleeve.

Feng Yi had previously taken his golden dragon whip; he had hastily made another, but it ultimately could not match the prestige of that whip.

Xiao Xiangzi and Nimo Xing observed his whip technique, exchanged a glance, and both thought that this fellow with the face of a market trader, a Western Regions merchant, was actually a hidden expert—they had underestimated him.

Feng Yi and Xiao Longnv also clearly saw the situation below, but neither spoke nor intervened.

Feng Yi knew that Yelü Qi was a righteous person who would surely handle the matter; there was no need for him to intervene.

Xiao Longnv, by nature aloof, paid no heed to others; she merely pondered the martial arts lineages of Nimo Xing and Xiao Xiangzi.

She had practiced the legacy inscriptions of Wang Zhongyang; the martial arts essence therein includes not only Huang Shang's writings, capable of breaking the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, but also constitutes a compendium of Wang Zhongyang's martial arts; her current cultivation is insufficient to fully grasp its subtleties, yet her insight is extraordinary.

After exchanging that move, Nimo Xing and Xiao Xiangzi, though they did not grasp the true essentials, understood that Nimo Xing's attack contained hardness within softness; they only wondered where his small frame could generate such great strength.

Xiao Xiangzi, however, blends yielding force into his power release; he ended up fighting Nimo Xing to a standstill, which is no small feat, thinking: "The world's extraordinary individuals are indeed many; like Feng Yi and them, I've never heard of them before."

Just then the big fellow muttered, "Brother Yin, your martial arts are amazing—why hide such an impressive whip in your sleeve? You should tie it around your waist!"

Yin Kexi smiled and said, "Brother Ma, not letting wealth leak out is the way to manage a household."

Having been relieved of his weapon by Feng Yi in a single move, he considered it a great disgrace; before taking revenge, it was improper to draw that whip again for show.

This burly man is named Ma Guangzuo, a person from the Hui region, possessing boundless strength, and he said, "So you're this wealthy just because you've saved up like that?"【Jin Yong's note: In the original Ma Guangzuo was named Ma Guangzuo, but later a Yuan-dynasty scholar-official also bore the name Ma Guangzuo; to avoid confusion, it was changed.】

Yin Kexi smiled and said nothing.

Yelü Qi's gaze kept shifting back and forth over the others, thinking: "Could these be the experts recruited by the Four Princes?"

Seeing him lost in thought, Wanyan Ping suddenly thrust out her left hand, grabbing for Yelü Qi's right wrist.

In the past, Qiu Qianren took refuge in the Jin state, having once taught some rudiments of Iron Palm technique to a few aristocrats. Wanyan Ping, a descendant of Jin nobility, had even shallower mastery, yet her Iron Palm grappling hand remained extremely accurate; with a single move "Withered Vine Entwines Tree", she immediately seized Yelü Qi's wrist, twisting it outward to try to take back the dagger.

After Yelü Qi and Yin Kexi finished speaking, he pondered; as soon as her soft, smooth palm touched him, he did not retaliate but instead handed the dagger to her, stepped back two paces, and said, "Miss, you have lost."

Wanyan Ping stared at Yelü Qi, baring a few bright white teeth as she bit her upper lip and let out a snort; a flash of light appeared in her hand, the blade pointing at Yelü Qi, and she said, "Young Master Yelü, though you spared my life last time, the debt of gratitude to one's parents is as weighty as heaven; if I do not avenge them, how am I any better than a beast?"

"If you do not kill me for a single day, I will never give up!"

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Longnv felt as if her chest had been punched, her eyes full of sorrow; in an instant she thought of herself.

Seeing Wanyan Ping's gaze glistening like water, Yelü Qi's heart filled with pity, and he involuntarily shook his head, saying, "Miss, even if you were to kill me, I would not kill you!"

Wanyan Ping saw his solemn expression, not seeming to lie, and a sour ache rose in her chest; she said hoarsely, "Young Master Yelü, the feud between our families is irreconcilable; why do you trouble yourself?"

Yelü Qi said, "The affairs of the older generation are beyond my control; but as long as I live, I cannot allow you to kill my father!"

Wanyan Ping's heart suddenly ached for no reason, her eye sockets reddening, and she said, "Then I will kill you first—just wait!" She flicked her sleeve to wipe her face, leapt up and fled. The attendants were about to stop her, but Yelü Qi waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Do not make things difficult for her!"

A guard urgently said, 'Second young master, the master's body is worth ten thousand catties of gold!'

Before he could finish speaking, Wanyan Ping had already blended into the chaotic crowd and vanished.

Yelü Yan laughed and said, 'Second brother, you clearly know she wants to assassinate, yet you set up a false formation to give her a chance to vent her anger, but she doesn't appreciate your feelings; if she continues like this, she can't become my sister-in-law.' She spoke these words in Mongolian.

Yelü Qi's face darkened, and he waved his hand: 'Let's go!'

Yelü Yan stuck out her tongue, not daring to speak further.

The crowd on the street stared blankly as Yelü Qi and his party swaggered away, all thinking, 'How could assassinating a Mongol noble leave them unscathed?' 'I never expected the son of the Yelü chancellor to not only be a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect but also a lovesick fool!' Xiao Xiangzi said in a neutral tone.

Yin Kexi chuckled: 'What a pity, Wanyan is the surname of the Jin state; the two sides have national and familial hatred. Even if this Yelü lord is a heroic and righteous warrior, it's all in vain.'

Nimo Xing snorted coldly: 'What lovesick fool? I see it as just boring, boring. There are plenty of beauties in the world, the great Mongols are mighty, as the son of the grand chancellor, to show mercy to an enemy's daughter is laughable, laughable!'

Xiao Xiangzi saw him opposing him, his face wavering between cloudy and clear, but hearing Yin Kexi leisurely say: 'Gentlemen, why get angry over this trifle? The Fourth Prince has treated us with extra favor, never assigning us any tasks. This time, at the martial arts gathering in the Central Plains, let us go and have a good time, and we must earn face for the Fourth Prince.'

Xiao Xiangzi interrupted his words, with a sullen face he said: 'Speaking of this, wasn't the matter entrusted to that Mongolian First National Teacher?' A pair of eagle eyes emitted a terrifying cold light.

Yin Kexi laughed: 'I heard the Fourth Prince say that all the disciples of that Golden Wheel National Teacher were killed by Feng Yi; I won't hide it from you two—I too have been defeated by him. This shows the Central Plains indeed has talent. The Fourth Prince fears that this great National Teacher, alone, lacks strength, so he wants us to assist.'

Nimo Xing sneered: 'The great Mongols are mighty; since he is the First National Teacher, his abilities are naturally great.'

Feng Yi is merely a sneaky, backstabbing rat; he can't even defeat him, yet he has the nerve to call himself a National Teacher—utterly absurd!

Feng Yi held his wine cup, smirking silently, thinking to himself: 'These few people are actually going to the Heroes' Assembly; if we kill several of them there, it will boost morale even more.'

But thinking, if Kublai were in Chang'an, following them and killing him would be even better.

He was pondering when Ma Guangzuo loudly said: 'Good, let's set off now. With us few taking action, what do we have to fear from the Central Plains martial world? We will surely not fail the prince's important affair!'

Yin Kexi and the others glanced at Ma Guangzuo together, seeming to reproach him, but seeing his honest expression, they said nothing, each thinking: 'Such a person hardly deserves to sit as our equal; we only tolerate him for the Fourth Prince's sake.'

Yin Kexi chuckled: 'Let's go then; if we encounter that Golden Wheel National Teacher, we'll also get to see his abilities.'

Nimo Xing laughed heartily: 'Yes, yes.' Following Ma Guangzuo downstairs, Xiao Xiangzi also followed, giving a few cold snorts, and flicked his sleeves away.

The innkeeper was unhappy about the few people fighting, but having run the tavern for decades and seen all sorts of travelers from the three teachings and nine streams, his eyes were sharp; he felt this group was not to be provoked, so he could only suffer financial loss to ward off disaster.

Feng Yi saw the few people go downstairs, looked at Xiao Longnv, who lowered her head, and said: 'Miss Long, go to Dashengguan yourself; I still have business.' He took out several ingots of silver and placed them on the table, saying: 'Use one ingot as cash; they will give you change. Along the way, buy whatever you want to eat or need with this money.'

He was eager to follow those people to find Kublai, and was about to rise and leave.

But then Xiao Longnv said: 'Am I not human?'

Feng Yi turned his head and saw Xiao Longnv looking up at him; her face was pale, her eye sockets slightly red. On her exquisitely beautiful face appeared deep sorrow. Seeing this girl, who was usually as cold as frost, suddenly become like this, he was greatly surprised and said: 'What brings this on?'

Xiao Longnv felt a suffocating tightness in her chest, sighed, and said: 'Miss Wanyan spoke well—the debt of upbringing is as great as heaven; if we do not avenge, how are we different from beasts? I grew up without parents, relying entirely on my master's care; she was killed by Ouyang Feng, yet I have fallen for Guo'er, I...' As she spoke, tear after tear streamed incessantly from her clear, water-like starry eyes.

Xiao Longnv had practiced since childhood the martial art that severs the seven emotions and six desires; unfortunately, having stirred emotion, her skill was already broken. Seeing today Wanyan Ping's efforts to avenge, compared to that, what has she become? This scene made Feng Yi feel she was no different from a sentimental maiden; he softly sighed and said: 'Miss Long, you're not in the ancient tomb—haven't you figured it out yet?'

Xiao Longnv's expression shifted several times, she gave a bitter smile: 'Hao Datong beat Granny Sun to death; I intend to kill him to avenge her. But Ouyang Feng killed my master, and I have not done so; I feel I am utterly wicked, sorry to my master.'

Feng Yi sighed again, thinking: 'Why did I say that to Li Mochou that day?'

Xiao Longnv's eyes were blood-red, she lightly bit her teeth, and whispered: 'You say, if I kill Ouyang Feng, will Guo'er blame me?'

Her voice suddenly softened, but Feng Yi felt a chill; he saw Xiao Longnv's pupils lose focus, gradually becoming bewildered.

He knew this girl before him was lost in the sea of love, unable to extricate herself, and the one she loved happened to be the adopted son of her master's enemy; usually she didn't show much, but seeing Wanyan Ping avenge today stirred her deeply.

However, Feng Yi disliked this way of talking and didn't know how to answer the question; he thought: 'That's your master, not mine—you kill if you want, why ask me?'

He said aloud: 'Miss Long, I can't help you with this, because I have never experienced such a thing; if you kill Ouyang Feng, how Guo'er will react—I suspect he doesn't even know. We'll meet again.' Saying this, he went out and downstairs.

Xiao Longnv's mind was in utter turmoil; on the day she learned Ouyang Feng had killed her master, she thought she could not survive, so she considered her and Guo'er's fate bitter, thus she did not want to think of vengeance, and instead pitied Guo'er all the more.

But seeing Wanyan Ping, who clearly knew she was outmatched yet repeatedly sought revenge, she had forgotten her master's grudge; thinking of this, Xiao Longnv suddenly clenched her teeth, flicked her sleeve, snatched the several silver ingots, stepped out of the tavern, and pursued the direction Wanyan Ping had gone.

The waiter and innkeeper were about to open their mouths to demand payment when a white figure flitted by and exited the shop.

Xiao Longnv had no idea what 'cashing' meant.

Her understanding was that Feng Yi had just treated her to a meal, and she would use silver to buy food only when she ate again.

As for Feng Yi's effort to teach her how to spend money, so she wouldn't make a laughingstock of herself—it was all in vain.

Nimo Xing, Xiao Xiangzi, and the others had distinctive bearing; although Feng Yi had spoken a few more words with Xiao Longnv, he quickly caught up with them.

But seeing them laughing and joking all the way, they exited Chang'an; initially they walked normally, but after leaving the city they walked faster and faster, wind rushing past.

Feng Yi saw Nimo Xing, Xiao Xiangzi, and Yin Kexi barely touching the ground, fluttering like paper kites—all possessed top-tier lightness skill.

Ma Guangzuo knew his lightness skill was far inferior to theirs, but he loved meat, delighted in grandeur, and was unwilling to admit defeat; he swung his legs in big strides, closely following, his speed not slow.

Feng Yi went neither hurried nor delayed, keeping a distant distance behind them.

After walking for the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, they heard wailing voices all around, heads surging; Mongol military flags covered the mountains and fields, within a radius of over ten li, with arrow towers above, inside stood tall buildings, and Mongol yurts stretched continuously.

Xiao Xiangzi and the others passed unhindered, directly entering the great camp.

Feng Yi, hearing amidst the crowd, understood: the reason for the sea of people, bustling and noisy, was that they were conscripted soldiers and relatives seeing them off.

Fathers, mothers, wives, and children, knowing their kin had joined the army and that life and death were no longer in their own hands, naturally clasped hands and wept, wailing everywhere.

Moreover, the constant clanging of metal rang in their ears; in the distance, some sheds had been erected, stacked with dozens of iron-smelting furnaces.

Hundreds of artisans swung huge hammers, everyone sweating like rain, forging bows, arrows, spears, bronze helmets, and iron armor.

In this Mongol southern campaign, the Jingzhao Prefecture is Kublai's fief; naturally they must exert great effort!

Feng Yi saw that these people were mostly Han, yet ultimately they would serve the Mongols and fight against the Han, filling him with both anger and sorrow.

Obviously, assassinating officials could not ultimately stop the tide.

After long contemplation, Feng Yi suddenly made an astonishing decision; he removed his mask, tucked the lower hem of his robe into his belt, and stepped slowly forward, moving through the crowd toward the Mongol camp.

Before he even reached the camp gate, four soldiers surrounded him, one saying: 'Sir, what are you doing?' He spoke Chinese, but with a somewhat awkward accent.

Seeing his clear eyebrows and handsome looks, a scholar's attire, the usually domineering Mongol soldiers, upon speaking, did not dare to be negligent.

Feng Yi gave a slight smile and said: 'May I ask, gentlemen, is Kublai present?'

(End of chapter)