CLX Book 4 Chapter 14 – Part 1

Chapter 14 – Mermaid

The sky was already bright.

All along, the doors of those four cabins were closed, no one went in or came out, nobody heard speaking voice even more. _{Translated by foxs}

All along, Hu Tiehua was sitting on the step of the stairs, staring at the four doors.

His entire person seemed to have become a little crazy. Sometimes he would smile, as if recalling something very happy, sometimes he would knit his brows and mutter to himself, “Could it be her? … what did she see?”

The first one to get out the door was Zhang San.

People who live on water are like fish, they spend more time in moving and less time in resting, therefore, they always woke up earlier than other people.

Seeing Hu Tiehua sitting on the stairs alone, he was also startled, but an instant later, he laughed and said, “I thought you went I don’t know where to steal wine and spent your time drinking, I didn’t expect you to be this sober. It’s rare, rare …”

“Humph,” Hu Tiehua snorted.

Zhang San said, “But why are you sitting here alone, staring blankly?”

Hu Tiehua’s belly was so full of anger that he almost screamed again, he said loudly, “You snore like a dead pig, and I’m not deaf, how can I put up with it?”

Zhang San looked at him up and down a couple of times, he muttered, “I’m afraid this man has taken the wrong medicine … Some women can’t even sleep because they did not hear me snoring.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

He was holding the washbasin in his hand, but now he used the washbasin as a shield to block in front of him, as if he was afraid that Hu Tiehua would suddenly jump up and bite him.

Hu Tiehua glowered at him, he said coldly, “You blocked the wrong place, why don’t you use the washbasin to shield your butt? Right now, I really don’t even have the slightest bit of interest on your face.”

Zhang San said, “You ought to find something to cover your face, your face is simply uglier than your butt.”

Before he finished speaking, he already flew up like a wisp of smoke.

Following him out of the room was Chu Liuxiang.

Seeing Hu Tiehua sitting there alone, he was astonished as well; knitting his brows, he looked him up and down a few times before asking, “Why is your countenance so unsightly [lit. difficult to see]?”

Hu Tiehua was already on fire, and these words added fuel to the fire, he pulled his face even longer and said, “So your countenance is pretty [lit. good to see]? You’re really a damn little white face [pretty face, one who does not do labor work in the farm and not exposed under sun light; therefore, his face is white. Usually used derogatory, referring to young men who rely on rich women. Gigolo, toy boy].”

Chu Liuxiang laughed instead; shaking his head, he said with a laugh, “It looks like I just happened to be your punching bag again, only I don’t know who offended you again, was it Zhang San?” _{Translated by foxs}

Laughing coldly, Hu Tiehua said, “It’s not worth getting angry at that mad dog, it was he who bites anyone he sees.”

Chu Liuxiang looked him up and down a couple of times again, he spoke heavily, “Could something had happened last night?”

Hu Tiehua bit his lip hard, he stared blankly for a moment, suddenly he dragged Chu Liuxiang up to the deck, and ran behind the cabin, his eyes kept looking around, as if he was afraid that someone might eavesdrop.

Hu Tiehua has never been this mysterious in talking.

Chu Liuxiang could not help asking, “What exactly did you see last night?”

Hu Tiehua heaved a sigh, he said, “Nothing much, I just saw a ghost.”

His expression looked like he was beside himself, as if he had really run into a ghost.

Knitting his brows, Chu Liuxiang said, “Ghost? What ghost?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Big-headed ghost, female ghost … female big-headed ghost.”

Chu Liuxiang could not help stroking his nose; smiling wryly, he said, “You seem to run into female ghosts every two days; the female ghosts who have taken a fancy to you are really not a few.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Hu Tiehua said, “But this time, the female ghost I ran into, you will never guess in your lifetime.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Chu Liuxiang said, “Could it be that I have seen that female ghost before?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Of course you have; not only that, she is a very good old friend.”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled and said, “Can’t be Gao Yanan, can it?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Not the slightest bit incorrect, it was Gao Yanan.”

Chu Liuxiang was stunned instead, he muttered, “How could she be on this boat? Could it be that you mistook someone else for her?”

Hu Tiehua cried out, he said, “How could I mistook her? Other people, I might mistake them, but she … even if she was burned to ashes, I would still recognize her.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Chu Liuxiang said, “If she is really on board this boat, Kumei Dashi must be here too.” _{Translated by foxs}

Hu Tiehua said, “I’ve thought about it for a long time, I also think it’s very possible, because their boat sank, maybe they were all rescued by Yuan Suiyun.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Moreover, their destination happens to be the same as Yuan Gongzi.”

Hu Tiehua said, “That old freak’s temperament has always been weird, hence the reason she keeps the door closed all day and doesn’t want to see anyone.”

Chu Liuxiang slowly nodded his head.

Hu Tiehua said, “Presumably Yuan Suiyun also saw this shortcoming of hers, hence he didn’t introduce her to us.”

Chu Liuxiang suddenly asked, “When she saw you, did she say anything?”

Hu Tiehua said, “She didn’t say anything … wait, that’s not right, she did say one sentence.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “What did she say?”

Surprisingly, Hu Tiehua’s face turned a little red, he said, “She said, a tigress and a wine ghost are really a couple born in heaven.”

Chu Liuxiang was stunned again, “Tigress?” he said, “Who is the tigress?”

Smiling bitterly, Hu Tiehua and said, “Who do you think looks like a tigress, that is the tigress.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang was even more surprised, he said, “Could it be Jin Lingzhi?”

Hu Tiehua heaved a sigh, he said, “Actually, she is not really a tigress. When she is gentle, you will never be able to imagine.”

Chu Liuxiang stared at him, he said, “Last night, could it be that you and she … did something?”

Hu Tiehua sighed and said, “We haven’t done anything, Gao Yanan already ran across us.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed, he shook his head and said with a laugh, “Your ability is indeed not small.”

Hu Tiehua said, “I knew you would be jealous.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “The one who is jealous, I’m afraid it’s not me but someone else.”

Hu Tiehua blinked, he said, “You mean … her?”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Could it be that the smell the vinegar in that sentence, you cannot smell?” _{Translated by foxs}

Hu Tiehua started to stroke his nose.

Chu Liuxiang said, “She is still jealous of you, that shows that she has not forgotten you.”

Hu Tiehua heaved a deep, deep sigh, he said, “To be honest, I haven’t forgotten her either.”

Chu Liuxiang cast a glance at him out of the corners of his eyes, he said indifferently, “She is also a tigress; with you, she is also a natural match, it’s just that …”

He sighed, and then continued, “A man seeing two tigresses at the same time, if he could retain a few bones, his luck is already not bad.”

Gritting his teeth, Hu Tiehua said, “Good kid, I wanted to talk with you, you want to see me making a fool of myself instead.”

Chu Liuxiang spoke unhurriedly, “To be honest, I really want to see how this drama of yours will end.”

Hu Tiehua was silent for half a day, suddenly he said, “No matter what, I have to see her one time.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “And when you see her, what are you going to do?”

Hu Tiehua said, “I will explain to her.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “How are you going to explain?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Hu Tiehua could only stare blankly.

Chu Liuxiang said, “This kind of thing, the more you touch it up, the blacker it will be; the more you explain, the angrier she will be.”

Hu Tiehua nodded, he muttered, “That’s right, women don’t like to listen to the truth, plus my skill in cheating is not as good as yours … It looks like it will be better if you explain on my behalf.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “This time, I definitely don’t want to take the blame for you, besides … right now Kumei Dashi must still be unwilling to reveal her identity. If we go to see her, wouldn’t we be violating her taboo.”

He smiled wryly, and then went on, “You know, this Lao Taitai, I really can’t afford to offend her.”

Hu Tiehua’s nose was already rubbed red, he sighed and said, “In that case, what do I do?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I just want to ask you, which one do you really like? Is it Jin Guniang? Or Gao Guniang?”

Hu Tiehua said, “I … I … I don’t know either.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang was angry and amused at the same time, he said, “Since that is the case, I can’t help you.”

Hu Tiehua pulled him back, he said, “Even if you don’t want to care, you can’t.”

Smiling wryly, Chu Liuxiang said, “How should I care? I’m not your laozi [old man/father], could it be that I must choose a wife for you?”

Hu Tiehua spoke with a pained expression, “What do you think these two women will do to me?”

Blurted out laughing, Chu Liuxiang said, “Don’t worry, they are not real tigresses, definitely they are not going to eat you.”

Hu Tiehua said, “But … But they will definitely ignore me.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Currently, of course they are not going to pay you any attention, but if you could stay calm and not pay them any attention, sooner or later they will come to you.”

He chuckled and continued, “This is a woman’s character, as long as you can grab their temper, no matter how fierce a woman is, it’s very easy to deal with.”

Yuan Suiyun was standing on the stairs.

There were bursts of voices coming from inside the cabin, the voices were vague and indistinct. Among ten million people, definitely not one would be able to hear such a soft voice clearly.

But Yuan Suiyun was listening. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Could it be that he was able to hear clearly?

Sure enough, Chu Liuxiang did not guess incorrectly, and surprisingly, Hu Tiehua also behaved himself quite well.

Not only did Jin Lingzhi ignore him, she did not even look at him, as if this person did not exist in this world.

Intentionally or otherwise, she sat down on the seat next to Bai Lie, she even smiled at him. Surprisingly, her smile was very sweet even more.

Bai Lie’s soul already flew away.

As soon as Hu Tiehua walked in, Jin Lingzhi actually smiled sweetly at Bai Lie and said, “This snail is very good, would you like me to pick one for you to try?”

Of course, even if Jin Lingzhi offered him a piece of mud, he would still swallow it.

Jin Lingzhi really picked a piece with her chopsticks and gave it to him, he nearly swallowed it whole, including the shell.

If a woman wants a man to be jealous, she will use any method — if a woman deliberately wants to make that man jealous, it also means that she is jealous of him. _{Translated by foxs}

This logic, Hu Tiehua understood very well.

Therefore, although he has a bellyful of anger, on the surface, he did not reveal any sourness.

Hence Jin Lingzhi’s drama could not continue.

When Bai Lie was trying to return the compliment with a piece of preserved eggs, she suddenly spoke loudly, “Even if you want to pick food for others, at least you have to choose a pair of chopsticks that you have not used yet. You don’t dislike your own filth, but others might dislike your filth, could it be that you don’t understand this rule?”

Before she finished speaking, she already stood up and walked out without looking back.

Bai Lie was dumbfounded, his face became redder than the braised fish in the dish.

Hu Tiehua really could not help wanting to laugh, but right this moment, he suddenly heard a burst of cheers from the deck!

Fishing season.

Everyone flocked to the side of the boat. Under the morning sun, the sea looked like a large piece of transparent emerald, a school of fish passed through the sea like silver arrows from north to south. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The ship happened to pass through the warm current carrying the school of fish.

Watching this, Hu Tiehua was stunned, he muttered, “The number of fish I have seen in my life is less than half of what I am seeing today. Could it be that all these fish are crazy? What are they doing in a flock like this?”

Zhang San said, “Migrating.”

Hu Tiehua was even more confused, he said, “Migrating? Migrating to where?”

Zhang San chuckled, he said, “I just said that you are knowledgeable, turns out you are not knowledgeable … Fish are also afraid of the cold just like humans, therefore, each time the autumn is deep and the winter is coming, they will ride on the warm current.”

He went on to say, “These fish may have traveled thousands of li, so their meat has become particularly firm and delicious. Fishermen at sea often wait all year long for this one-time bumper harvest.”

Hu Tiehua heaved a sigh, he said, “You indeed know a lot about fish, too bad you don’t know anything about human affairs.”

Yuan Suiyun had been standing far away, his face carried a smiling expression. This moment he suddenly said, “I have long heard that Zhang San Xiansheng’s fast net in catching fish is the best in the world. I wonder if today you could broaden our horizon.” _{Translated by foxs}

Although he himself could not see anything, he could take the happiness of others as his own.

Zhang San was still hesitating, somebody already brought a fishing net over.

Catching fish, lowering the net, it seems to be no more than a very monotonous, very simple thing, not requiring the slightest bit of knowledge, much less any ingenuity or special skills.

The ingenuity within it, perhaps only the fish could understand.

This is just like martial arts; obviously the same move ‘pushing the grass aside to look for the snake’, some people use it completely without any result, while some other people use it, it could take someone else’s life.

It’s just because they are able to grasp the most appropriate time, the best opportunity.

Opportunity is always fleeting, therefore, to grasp the opportunity, one must have speed.

And of course there would be a little bit of luck involved – whatever one is doing, one must have a little bit of luck.

However, ‘luck’ does not drop from the sky; if a person can grasp the opportunity every time, his ‘luck’ must always be good. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The boat was already slowing down.

From the stern, someone shouted, “Drop the sails …”

The ship shuddered, and then slowly stopped.

Like a dark cloud, the fishing net in Zhang San’s hand was suddenly cast.

Yuan Suiyun laughed and said, “What a fast net, even people may not necessarily be able to escape, much less fish?”

Just by listening to the sound of the wind, he could already judge the speed of the other person’s movement.

Zhang San’s feet were like being nailed to the deck, his whole body was as stable as Mount Tai.

His eyes were flashing with light, one originally very ordinary person, now suddenly had the charm, had the brilliance, as if he had suddenly changed into a completely different person.

Hu Tiehua heaved a sigh, he muttered, “I really don’t understand why every time Zhang San casts a net, I get a feeling he is much more adorable.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “This is just like Wang Qiong.”

Hu Tiehua asked, “Who is Wang Qiong?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “He was a famous swordsman of many years ago, but people in Jianghu who know this man are really not many.”

Hu Tiehua asked, “Why?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “This man was dirty, lazy, poor, plus he was crippled, so he never wanted to see anyone. Only when he absolutely had no alternative that he was willing to draw his sword.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Drawing his sword and then what?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Once the sword was drawn, his entire person suddenly change, he became full of vitality, bursting with life. At that time, definitely no one would feel that he was dirty, and they would forget that he was a cripple.”

Hu Tiehua pondered for a moment, he nodded slowly and said, “I understand, because in his life, he might have lived for the sword; he has already put all his mind and spirit on the sword. The sword was his life.”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “Although this explanation is not very accurate, the meaning is already very close.”

This moment, Zhang San’s breathing gradually began to become urgent, the veins on the back of his hands were bulging one by one, and the soles of his feet made a screeching noise against the deck. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

He was already pulling the net.

Obviously the weight of this net was not light.

Yuan Suiyun laughed and said, “Zhang San Xiansheng indeed has good skill, first net and you already get bumper harvest.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Come, I’ll help you.”

When the net left the water, ‘Crash!’ it flew onto the boat, and ‘Bang!’, it landed on the deck. Everybody was stunned.

Unexpectedly, there was not even a single fish in the net.

Only four persons, all women.

Four stark-naked women.

Four healthy, well-developed, firm, brimming with wild-nature attractive power women.

Although they were still curled up inside the net, this thin layer of fishing net not only failed to cover up their toned bodies, on the contrary, it increased their sex appeal even more. _{Translated by foxs}

Every man on board was starting to breathe heavily — except for those who could not see.

With a smile on his face, Yuan Suiyun said, “I wonder what kind of fish was caught in the net?”

Stroking his nose, Hu Tiehua said, “It’s mermaid.”

Yuan Suiyun was a bit startled, “Mermaid?” he blurted out, “I never thought there are actually mermaids in this world.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “It’s not mermaid, it’s fish people – women.” [Note: I don’t know how to translate it: mermaid – ren yu (lit. human fish), Chu Liuxiang said, yu ren (lit. fish human).]

Yuan Suiyun asked, “Dead or alive?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Must be alive, there is definitely no such beautiful dead person on earth.”

His mouth was talking, he already wanted to rush over to untie the fishing net, but he suddenly stopped.

He suddenly found out that Jin Lingzhi was standing on the far side, ferociously staring at him. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Although in their heart everybody wanted to go, yet it seemed like their feet have taken root under their feet; if there was nobody around, perhaps everyone would have rushed over, but being stared at by dozens of pairs of eyes was not a good feeling.

Some people even turned their heads away, feeling too embarrassed to continue looking.

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “Yuan Gongzi, looks like it will be better for you to make your move.”

Yuan Suiyun smiled and said, “That’s right, Zaixia have no color [sex] in my eyes, Xiang Shuai has no color in your heart, please.”

Although he could not see, his movements were by no means slower than Chu Liuxiang’s.

The two men’s hands shook out, the fishing net came loose.

Everybody’s eyes lit up, those who turned their heads away could not help turning their heads back.

The rising sun shone on their bodies, their skin looked like satin.

Silky, delicate, and shimmering. _{Translated by foxs}

The skin was not white, it has been tanned by the sun that it became pale yellow; looking at it, there was some kind of peculiar fanning power even more, enough to fan the flames in most men’s hearts.

‘Healthy’ was indeed a kind of ‘beauty’.

Besides, their toned bodies were nearly without any blemish, their legs slender and firm, their breasts ample and beautiful, their waists slim. Every part seemed to carry some kind of primal elastic power, also enough to spring the men’s soul.

But Yuan Suiyun heaved a sigh, he said, “They’re dead.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Such women, if they are dead, I am willing to have my eyeballs dug out.”

Yuan Suiyun said, “But they are not breathing.”

Hu Tiehua frowned, he pondered some more, but suddenly Jin Lingzhi already rushed over, intentionally or otherwise, she blocked in front of him, bent down, and pressed her hands on their chests.

Chu Liuxiang said, “Well?”

Jin Lingzhi said, “Indeed they are not breathing, but their heart is still beating.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Can they be saved?”

Hu Tiehua could not help speaking again, “Since their heart is still beating, naturally they can be saved.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Jin Lingzhi glared at him, she spoke loudly, “Do you know what injury they received? Or what kind of illness? How can you save them?”

Hu Tiehua rubbed his nose, he stopped talking.

All along Zhang San was too stunned to move, this moment he muttered, “I’m just wondering, where did they come from? How did they get into the fishing net? When I cast the net down, I clearly saw fish.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “That question, there’s no harm in talking about it later, saving people right now is most urgent.”

Ying Wanli said, “I wonder if Xiang Shuai can already tell why their breathing stopped?”

Smiling wryly, Chu Liuxiang said, “The breathing stopped, but the heart is still beating, I have never encountered such a situation before.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Ying Wanli said, “Maybe … they deliberately hold their breath.”

Yuan Suiyun spoke indifferently, “They don’t seem to have the need to do such thing. Besides, these four Guniang definitely do not have such deep inner power, it is absolutely impossible for them to stop breathing this long.” _{Translated by foxs}

Knitting his brows, Ying Wanli said, “If even the cause of illness is unknown, how could we help them?”

Yuan Suiyun said, “The person who can save them, perhaps there is only one.”

Hu Tiehua rushed to ask, “Where is this person?”

Yuan Suiyun said, “Luckily, on this boat.”

Hu Tiehua asked, “Who?”

Yuan Suiyun replied, “Lan Taifuren.”

Hu Tiehua was stunned, it was only half a day later that he stammered, “But I wonder who this Lan Taifuren is?”

Actually, he naturally knew that Lan Taifuren was Kumei Dashi.

Yuan Suiyun said, “Jiang Zuo Wan Shi’s [not sure if this is a name, lit. Ten Thousand Clan (family name) Left of the River] medical skill is the best in the world, presumably gentlemen have heard of it?”

Gongsun Jieyu said, “But ‘Yi Zhong Zhi Shen’ [lit. the God of Medicine] Lan Lao Qianbei has become an immortal [fig. to die] many years ago, moreover, I heard that he did not have direct disciple.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Yuan Suiyun chuckled, he said, “The Lan Clan’s medical knowledge has always been passed on to the daughter-in-law but not to the daughter. This Lan Taifuren is also the only direct disciple of the Lan Clan’s medical skill in the world today, only …”

He heaved a sigh, and then said, “Only I don’t know if she, the Senior is willing to undertake the task, that’s all.”

Hu Tiehua suddenly remembered that Kumei Dashi‘s medical skill was also very brilliant, he could not help blurting out, “We all go together to plead with her, presumably she, the Senior would feel difficult to refuse.”

Only to hear someone spoke slowly, “This matter, Jiashi [lit. family master/teacher] already knows, gentlemen, please bring these four Guniang over.”

Hu Tiehua’s person was startled again.

The speaker was precisely Gao Yanan.

Jin Lingzhi cast a couple of glances at her, then she glared at Hu Tiehua, suddenly she turned her head away to look at the sea.

At the horizon where the sea met the sky, there seemed to be another dark cloud floating over.

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