Book 1 Chapter 11 – The Affections of a Beauty
When Xiang Shaolong returned to the guesthouse, Tao Fang is already waiting for him.
After Chunying and the rest of the maids carried in their breakfast, they left.
Tao Fang sniggered and asked, “Is that flirtatious horse exciting?”
Xiang Shaolong replied from the bottom of his heart, “Extremely exciting.”
Tao Fang stopped smiling and said seriously, “Master brought up the issue of your duel with Lian Jin to his Majesty, his Majesty was very happy and chose the duel to be at dusk the day after tomorrow. I think it’s best that you do not tangle with women for these few days, conserve your energy. You must win this duel.”
Xiang Shaolong replied with some embarrassment, “Don’t worry! I’m the kind that of person that, with more women I have, the more energetic I am. If there are no women, I’m more lethargic instead.” When he saw that he looked doubtful, he added, “Don’t forget that on the night we dealt with the horse thieves, Ting Fangshi was sleeping with me.”
Of course Tao Fang does not know that he did not copulate with Ting Fangshi that night, and after looking at him with admiration, said, “Now you’ve become the center of attraction in Handan, and on the same par as Master, even Guo Zong, who made his fortune from ironworks, was asking about you.”
Xiang Shaolong exclaimed in surprise, “What? There’s actually someone else who is equally wealthy as our Master?”
Tao Fang replied, “There is only one such person in the state of Zhao. If we were to measure the number of Master’s livestock using valleys, then the weapons that Guo Zong made from iron can be measured using ships. Not only did he supply weapons for the whole of Zhao, but also to all the other friendly states, earning a large sum of money.” He lowered his voice and continued, “Because of this, his Majesty is more fond of Guo Zong than our Master, because Master’s Father is a half-Qin, that’s why he has such a strange name.”
Xiang Shaolong’s heart lurched, as if he has a hazy idea, but is unable to describe it clearly.
Tao Fang added on, “I received confidential news last night, that rascal Wu Tingwei is very displeased with you, and very much wanted to have your Yan nobility, Shu’er. That’s why he has decided to disregard Master’s orders and will kill you before your duel with Lian Jin. It seems like I will have to bring you along to pay a call to Young Master, so that that rascal will not dare to make any rash moves.”
Xiang Shaolong was still thinking about the matter regarding Master Wu having Qin blood in him. No wonder he wanted so much for a Zhao to win Lian Jin, but maybe that’s not what he truly felt, but did this to show the Zhao Emperor that he is totally on their side. That’s why he refused to speak up for the Yans, and instead gave a beauty like Shu’er to him because of this thinking of his.
In the warring states period there is nothing more important that bloodline, so from this it can be seen what a difficult task it would be to unite the people from so many different countries. When he heard what Tao Fang said, he asked, “Will Lian Jin be helping that rascal deal with me?”
Tao Fang is really open with him now, and did not try to hide anything, saying “Even if you put a sword to Lian Jin’s neck now, he would not dare to start the fight first. That scoundrel went around picking fights because he wanted to get his Majesty’s attention. However his Majesty has always ignored him, and even told the people around him that he’s not happy that our Master have found a foreigner to make our own swordsmen look bad. Not that he’s got this chance, he would not want to spoil it.”
Xiang Shaolong thought that this King Zhao is so narrow minded, how can he every accomplish anything great. He said with a laugh, “Without Lian Jin, I’m not afraid of that rascal, he can’t possibly find a few hundred people to attack me, right?”
Tao Fang was extremely impressed with his humor and chortled, “Of course not, and besides, he has to do this secretly. But it’s still better to pay a call to Eldest Young Master. Among Master’s 17 sons, Eldest Young Master is the most capable and is in charge of all business with other states. And he has a beautiful daughter Wu Tingfang who may have the opportunity of becoming the empress, but his Majesty is still hesitating about accepting Young Grand Missy because of Master having Qin blood in him. The nobility in the royal family are all objecting to this.”
Xiang Shaolong is getting all confused from all these. Things that look very simple on the surface, is actually extremely complicated, so he nodded his head and replied, “All right! I’ll pay a call to Eldest Young Master once I have the chance.”
Tao Fang replied, “What chance or no chance, I’ll take you to see Eldest Young Master immediately. We need to gain the upper hand and not let Wu Tingwei strike first.”
Xiang Shaolong furrowed his brows and said, “At least let me change my clothes first!”
Tao Fang laughed, “Hurry up! I’ll wait here for you.”
Xiang Shaolong slipped back into his room hurriedly.
Shu’er and the 4 maids were rushing to make his warrior clothes so that he can wear it to see the King of Zhao. Xiang Shaolong’s mood turned for the better, and his hands started roaming over the 5 ladies and enjoying their careful ministrations at the same time, making his one mistress and 4 maids all blush to their ears before he left with Tao Fang on horses to the Wu residence.
They came to the bustling martial arts practice field, went around the large mansion where they say Master Wu the other day, walked past a garden to another grand courtyard.
The two of them were invited to wait in the large hall.
After a while, a warrior walked out and invited Tao Fang in, leaving Xiang Shaolong alone, who wondered why that Eldest Young Master did not see them both?
At this point in time that warrior walked out again and told Xiang Shaolong, “Would Master Xiang please follow me!”
Xiang Shaolong followed him and went into another side hall first before abruptly turning left into a garden.
Xiang Shaolong was suspicious, and that warrior’s steps quickened suddenly. Right at this time, there was a flash of sword, and 2 long swords shot out from the bushes on either side, aiming straight at his left and right side.
Luckily he has an intuition long ago, and without advancing or retreating, just stood on the spot and drew out his sword. “Clang clang”, not only did he force his enemy to retreat, but he also injured one of them.
30 odd warriors came out from the bushes and behind the tress, and one of them is Wu Tingwei, and he was heavily surrounded.
Xiang Shaolong stood there holding his sword, obviously not afraid at all.
Wu Tingwei hid behind the warriors and called out arrogantly, “Dog slave, let’s see where you can escape this time.”
Xiang Shaolong smiled suavely and replied, “This time? I don’t think I was the one who escaped the last time, right?”
Wu Tingwei had thought that he would beg for mercy, and did not expect him to be so merciless with his words. He was furious and roared, “Kill him for me.”
Xiang Shaolong is such an experienced fighter, and he understands the logic of striking the enemy first, especially since he is outnumbered now. Wu Tingwei has just opened his mouth but he has already turned into the crowd of warriors with his sword, slashing and kicking, like a tiger in a herd of sheep, seriously injuring a handful of them, thus interfering with their movements.
The warriors have never fought in such a way that is totally without rules but seeks only efficiency, besides they are afraid of this action that will clearly defy their Master’s orders, and on seeing his bravery, most of them just stood there for show.
Xiang Shaolong was furious with Wu Tingwei for molesting Shu’er yesterday, so he was totally ruthless in his attacks, executing the Mozi swordplay to perfection. His movements were mysterious, ever-changing, broad movements yet his techniques were exquisite, suddenly attacking and retreating, with a flying kick once in a while. In short time, his opponents were all staggering in chaos.
Under the orders of Wu Tingwei, the warriors had no choice but to charge, and they fell one by one, either stuck by the sword or a kick. None of the attacks are fatal, but just enough to make them lose the ability to fight back.
In the blink of an eye, only the 10 warriors standing in front of Wu Tingwei protecting him were left.
Xiang Shaolong gave a cold snort, his pair of cold and aggressive eyes staring icily at Wu Tingwei, his sword pointing forward, walking strongly and steadily step by step towards Wu Tingwei and that 10 warriors.
Wu Tingwei did not expect him to be so brave and sharp, felling 10 odd men and yet he’s not even panting. He felt a shiver, and while ordering his men to attack, he retreated towards the back instead.
Xiang Shaolong will certainly not let him off, so he dashed forward, his sword slashing. One of the warriors raised his sword to block him, there was a ‘clang’, and that warrior actually fell and rolled to the ground with the impact. Obviously the strength of his arm is extremely frightening.
All the warriors were startled, afraid that he will injure Wu Tingwei, and they all converged with their swords ready to attack.
But this time Xiang Shaolong did not press on his attack, instead he executed a series of movements to defend himself.
Two of the warriors thought that he is now exhausted and were about to take the opportunity to attack but they suddenly realized that their opponent’s defense was so tight that they have no way of attacking. Even more alarming is that his defense secretly allows him to attack at will as well, holding them at bay, giving them a feeling that they can no longer retreat.
That is the essence of the Mozi swordplay, hiding an attack while defending. When Xiang Shaolong was fighting with the last Juzi of Mohism, Yuan Zong, he was unable to execute any offensive moves at all. The 2 men now is far worse than he was in the past, so naturally their attacks are negligible.
The 2 of them panicked and were about to retreat when there was a flash of sword and the two warriors fell back bleeding.
Xiang Shaolong took this opportunity when everyone else was in a frenzy to dash past his enemy’s protective barrier and go straight towards Wu Tingwei.
Wu Tingwei hardened himself to stand still and defend with his sword.
But who would have expected Xiang Shaolong to rapidly retreat again, right into the midst of the advancing warriors.
After felling 4 warriors, he leapt towards the retreating Wu Tingwei.
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