CLX Book 4 Chapter 18 – Part 1

Chapter 18 – Tenderness in Hell

Chu Liuxiang’s figure also started to move, he met the two patrolling island lackeys head on. _{Translated by foxs}

His body slipped thru the space between the two men; by the time they suddenly sensed there was someone else there, it was too late.

Chu Liuxiang’s elbow already struck their ribs.

There was absolutely no move faster than this, no move more efficient than this!

The impact of Chu Liuxiang’s elbows nearly reached the peak of human speed, the pinnacle of physical capability and skill, it was already beyond what other people could imagine.

And then he immediately turned to face the man.

Dong Sanniang was struck by this man and fell quite some distance away, the man was speaking sternly, “Who are you …”

These three words have not finished, Chu Liuxiang’s Iron Palm had arrived!

But this time, the man was already on guard, unexpectedly he dodged Chu Liuxiang’s palm!

People who could come to the Bat Island were naturally not ordinary people.

He twisted his body, took a step sideways, and swung his arm backwards. The move he was using was unexpectedly the strongest ‘Da Shuai Bei Shou’ [Big Throwing-Monument Hand] of the hard style of martial arts. The palm wind whooshing, the sound itself has already snatched people’s soul away! _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

But he made a big mistake!

In darkness like this, he shouldn’t have used such a strong and light palm force, the whooshing palm wind already exposed the position of his move to the enemy.

As soon as he waved his palm, his wrist meridian has already been locked!

He never imagined, not even in his dreams – that that he would meet such a terrifying enemy. He had made his name for a long time, and he himself has been through dozens of battles. Naturally, he won more times and lost less, hence the reason he was still alive today.

But even to his death he would never believe that there was someone on earth unexpectedly able to lock his wrist meridian in just one move; he could not help blurting out, “Who are …”

This time, he did not even finish two words, all the muscles in his body suddenly lost their effectiveness. Even his tongue has been completely paralyzed.

One hand already tapped several of his most vital acupoints. This hand was very light, but it was much more effective than the strongest ‘Da Shuai Bei Shou’ of the hard-style martial arts. _{Translated by foxs}

He also heard someone whispered next to his ear, “Remember, they are human too!”

As long as they are human beings, they are equal. No one has the right to deprive other people of their dignity and life.

In the world, only bats can fly by their tactile sensation.

When bats fly, they always make a peculiar noise. If the sound touches another object, the bat itself would react to it immediately.

Strange sound waves, strange reaction.

Now Chu Liuxiang was hearing strange noises; four sides, eight directions were full of this kind of noise. He knew that the bats from hell were flying towards him

The ambush has not yet been initiated, no secret projectiles were being fired, because they still had their guests here, plus they practically have not yet figured out what exactly happened here.

But very soon they would figure it out, no one could resist them in this kind of desperate darkness. Because they were already used to the darkness. Maybe in the light, their martial arts and attacks would not be terrifying, but in the dark, it was sufficient to take any person’s life. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang was also a person, so he was no exception.

Everything happened in just a very short moment. If this moment Chu Liuxiang immediately retreated, or perhaps slid up the stone wall, no one would be able to chase him, and he could at least avoid this crisis. But there are people in this world who will never abandon their friends in times of crisis.

Chu Liuxiang was precisely this kind of person.

Only to hear Dong Sanniang spoke in the lowest possible voice, “Go quickly, turn right ahead …”

She only spoke to the third word, Chu Liuxiang already pulled her hand and said, “Go.”

Dong Sanniang said, “I’m not going, I must find that snuff bottle and give it to her …”

Chu Liuxiang took a deep, deep breath and did not speak any more. At this moment, it would be difficult to give careful consideration to even her own life, yet she still wanted to find a snuff bottle.

She seemed to feel that the snuff bottle was more important than her own life.

If it were someone else, he must have thought that she was either an idiot or a lunatic; even if he did not abandon her, he would forcefully drag her away.

But Chu Liuxiang did not leave, neither did he stop her. He even helped her looking for it. Because he knew that what she was looking for was not a snuff bottle.

What she was looking for was her lost humanity, her lost dignity! Chu Liuxiang simply had to help her find it. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang was such a person.

In order to do something that he believed he ought to do, he would also be willing to do it, he would completely disregard the consequences. Even if a blade was put on his neck, it would not change his mind.

This kind of person might be called a bit foolish. But can you say that he is not adorable?

“Did you finally find the snuff bottle?”

This question was asked by Hu Tiehua after listening to the narrative.

“Of course we found it.”

“By the time you found that snuff bottle, perhaps your life was already gone.”

“Am I not still alive now?”

Hu Tiehua heaved a sigh! _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

“You are really lucky, but in that kind of darkness, how did you find a tiny snuff bottle? Isn’t that nearly the same as trying to fish a needle from the sea?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, his answer was very decisive, “Needles have no smell.”

“Smell? What smell? What do you mean by that?”

“A needle has no smell, but a snuff bottle has a smell … When the snuff bottle fell to the ground, the lid fell off, the smell of the smoke dispersed. Although we could not see it, we could smell where it was.”

This time Hu Tiehua was really convinced, he let out a long, long sigh.

“You are really a genius kid. If it were me, in that kind of moment, I would definitely not think about that fact. If I must grope around, I am afraid even if I groped around for three days, I would still not be able to find it.”

“To be honest, I really admire myself a little bit.”

“I know your brains have always been sharp, but how come your nose suddenly be effective?”

“Just because my nose has a problem; as soon as I smell tobacco smoke, I would have a runny nose. Therefore, it makes it easier to look for it.”

Hu Tiehua could only sigh again.

“Sometimes even I can’t figure it out, why is it that every time you can come up with the best idea at the last moment and use the best way to turn peril into safety [idiom]; is this actually your skill? Or is it your luck?” _{Translated by foxs}

When Chu Liuxiang handed over the snuff bottle to the pitiful woman, her tears were already flowing down and dripped onto his hand. These tears might be more precious than anyone else’s pearls. Even he himself did not think that he still had tears to shed.

Now, even if she died, she would not have any problem, because she had found the most precious part of human nature. After all, there were still people on earth who would treat her as a human being, who still cared about her. To any woman, no matter who, that would be enough.

Only it’s a pity that there are a lot of women on earth who only know how to cherish pearls and treasures, but do not understand the value of this kind of emotion. By the time they realize the regret, loneliness already entangled their lives.

Although the snuff bottle was found, Chu Liuxiang was still there. He was already unable to make decision!

Four sides, eight directions were already brimming with that kind of strange, making-people’s-hairs-stood-on-its-end noise. This place was obviously surrounded, but it was unclear how many people came, neither was it clear what kind of people they were. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Even the stone walls resonated with the noise, they were closing in like a net. This net absolutely had no loopholes.

No matter where Chu Liuxiang went, he would fall into their net! But if he stayed here, wouldn’t he also be found by them?

He seemed to have absolutely nowhere to go. If it were Hu Tiehua, he would have rushed forward to stake his life against them.

Yet Chu Liuxiang did not do so, he always had his own unique way of doing things.

“He can always come up with the best ideas at the most dangerous times.”

This room was at most only two zhang wide and three zhang long. There was only one table, one stool, and one bed. There was no window, there was no other door either.

This room was like a jar, and Chu Liuxiang was precisely inside this jar.

The newcomers were at least one or two hundred people, coming in to search were seven or eight people, each one had a very slender stick in their hands.

This stick was like the antennae of an insect, it was equivalent to their eyes.

With so many people looking for two big persons in such a small room, it was simply easier than ‘catching a turtle in a jar’ [idiom]. As long as their sticks touched Chu Liuxiang, he could forget about escaping.

Their sticks searched every nook and cranny in the room, they did not miss even under the table, under the bed, or on the ceiling. _{Translated by foxs}

Unexpectedly all along they did not find Chu Liuxiang. Where was Chu Liuxiang hiding?

He was not an immortal, neither did he know magic; could it be that he could really turn into a stinky bug and hide in the cracks in the bed? Besides, he had Dong Sanniang with him.

Two big persons hiding in this room, how come other people could not find them? It was mindboggling, no one could figure it out.

The men who came in to search were obviously very surprised, they already started to torture the pitiful woman!

“Where did those people go?”

“What people? No outsider has ever come here.”

“If no one came, how did those three men die?”

“I don’t know. I practically did not see anything. I only heard one or two cries of surprise, perhaps they killed each other.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Her voice was trembling from the pain, evidently she was suffering from the extreme pain of the torture.

Yet she still gritted her teeth and endured, she refused to tell even half a word of truth to the death.

Suddenly they heard someone said, “Who died?”

The voice sounded very familiar, surprisingly, it was Ding Feng’s voice.

Someone responded respectfully, “It’s Zhao Gang of Da Ming Fu [great name mansion], also the two brothers of the sixty-ninth patrol.”

As soon as these words came out, Chu Liuxiang was also shocked.

Zhao Gang was known as the ‘Shan Zhang Kai Bei’ [opening the monument (upright stone tablet) with a single palm], his martial art was so powerful that he could be considered a first-class martial art master in Jianghu, even Chu Liuxiang himself did not expect he would be able to subdue him with a single move.

Only in times of crisis can a person exert his greatest strength.

After a long silence, Ding Feng spoke slowly, “These three men are not dead, could it be that you can’t even tell whether someone is dead or alive?”

No one dared to answer.

And then came Zhao Gang’s groans. _{Translated by foxs}

Ding Feng asked, “What happened here? Who sealed your acupoints?”

Extremely angry, Zhao Gang said, “Who knows? I did not even see a ghost’s shadow.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Ding Feng said, “What method did he use to seal your acupoints?”

Zhao Gang said, “I don’t know either, I was in a daze and he sealed my acupoints … Don’t tell me that you did not catch him?”

“We didn’t,” Ding Feng replied.

Another person said, “Xiaorenmen [lowly people, subordinates] have already surrounded this place, even a housefly won’t be able to fly out.”

Ding Feng said coldly, “A fly may not be able to escape, but this man will definitely be able to escape.”

Zhao Gang heaved a sigh, he said, “He is simply not a human, but a ghost. I have never met anyone who can strike so fast in my life.”

“Could it be that you cannot guess who he is?” Ding Feng asked. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

“Can you?” Zhao Gang asked in return.

Ding Feng said, “Mm hmm.”

Zhao Gang asked, “Who?”

Ding Feng replied, “Chu Liuxiang!”

These three characters were spoken out, Zhao Gang seemed to draw a mouthful of cold air. Only after staring blankly for half a day that he stammered, “How do you know that he is Chu Liuxiang?”

Ding Feng coldly said, “If he wasn’t Chu Liuxiang, he would have killed you long ago to shut your mouth!”

Zhao Gang did not speak any more, the expression on his face must be very ugly.

‘Bandit Chief’ Chu Liuxiang never killed anyone under any circumstances. For hundreds of years, among the famous heroes [xia, knight], perhaps he was the only one whose hands have never been stained with the reek of blood.

This has long been a legend in Wulin, naturally Zhao Gang has heard of it.

He unexpectedly encountered Chu Liuxiang, even he himself did not know whether it was bad luck or good luck.

Ding Feng was silent for half a day, suddenly he said, “Withdraw, all of you, go back to your posts!”

Somebody mumbled, “Withdraw? But …”

Laughing coldly, Ding Feng said, “What do you do if you don’t withdraw? Could it be that Chu Liuxiang will wait for you in here?” _{Translated by foxs}

The man said, “Yes! Withdraw! Everybody, go back to your post.”

Ding Feng said, “Starting with the 70th patrol, add six teams of patrol every sichen. If you meet anybody not wearing waist badge [orig. tile/medal/tablet], kill without question!”

“Where exactly were you hiding?”

Afterwards, naturally Hu Tiehua must ask Chu Liuxiang; just like other people, naturally he could not guess.

Chu Liuxiang chuckled and replied, “On the bed, all along we were lying on the bed.”

Hu Tiehua cried out and said, “On the bed? You guys, two big persons lying on the bed, surprisingly they could not find you? Could it be that they are all dead?”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Naturally I have my own method?”

“What method?” Hu Tiehua said, “Could it be that there was a mechanism on that bed?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “No, the bed only had a quilt on it.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Then what method did you use? Could it be that you really turn into a stinky bug [or bedbug, same characters] and burrowed yourself into the quilt?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Can you guess what method I used?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Who can guess those ghost tricks?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled again, he said, “Actually, the method I used is not strange at all – I told her to lie down on the other side, and pulled the two corners of the quilt taut, while I pulled the other two corners. They used their sticks to sweep over the quilt and thought the bed was empty, but they didn’t know we were lying under the quilt.”

Hu Tiehua stared blankly for half a day, and then he heaved a long, long sigh, and muttered, “That’s right, this method is really not damn strange at all, but only a ghost like you can come up with such a not-strange method.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Of course I have already calculated accurately that they would never think that I would be lying on the bed. Moreover, the quilt was straightened, it was tantamount to adding another layer of bedding on top.”

Hu Tiehua said, “But if there was the slightest bit of flame at that time, you guys would be done for.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “But you must not forget that on the Bat Island there must be absolutely no light. Anything that has advantages, it must also have disadvantages. I am afraid Bianfu Gongzi had never thought that this darkness has helped me a lot.”

Hu Tiehua said, “But they patrol so tightly, how did you escape?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “As soon as they retreated, I also left immediately. Because I know that after this incident, they must patrol more tightly, but when they were retreating, inevitably it would be a little chaotic. If I did not seize this opportunity, I am afraid I could forget about ever leaving again.”

“Never miss an opportunity.”

This was exactly the motto that Chu Liuxiang pursued throughout his life.

In the darkness, the sound of two persons’ footsteps was coming in.

One person’s footsteps were heavy, but the other’s footsteps were as light as a ghost. If Hu Tiehua had not pressed his ear to the ground, he would not have heard it at all. Other than Chu Liuxiang, who would have such a light footstep?

In Hu Tiehua’s heart, there was only the last ray of hope, he sounded out, “Old stinky bug?”

The newcomer immediately said, “Xiao Hu?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Hu Tiehua’s entire being turned cold, even the last ray of hope was dashed; he spoke hatefully, “Why the hell are you here? Haven’t your ability always been very big?”

Chu Liuxiang did not say anything, he simply walked to his side.

Hu Tiehua was stunned, he said, “Did you walk in by yourself?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “Of course I walked in by myself, I’m not a fish.”

He already untied the net and patted Hu Tiehua’s acupoints open.

Hu Tiehua heaved a sigh. Smiling wryly, he said, “I am a fish, a dead fish, your ability is indeed much greater than mine.”

At this moment, Zhang San’s acupoints have also been unsealed, he asked, “How did you know we’re here?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Thanks to this friend of mine who took me here.”

Zhang San suddenly remembered the other person, “Friend? Who?” he asked.

Chu Liuxiang said, “Her name is Dong Sanniang … I believe you will become friends later on.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Of course, your friend is my friend, it’s just because we can’t see her now.”

He laughed and said, “Dong Sanniang, how are you? My name is Hu Tiehua, and this one is Zhang San.” _{Translated by foxs}

Dong Sanniang said, “I’m fine …!” [Originally, ‘how are you’ is ‘ni hao ma’ (are you good/well, ‘ma’ is usually added to the end of a question, like ‘yes or no’), she replied ‘hao’, only one character.]

Her voice seemed to be trembling, perhaps because she had never had a friend—she never had anybody regarded her as a friend.

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Where is Jin Guniang?”

Zhang San hurriedly said, “I don’t know … Xiao Hu may know, but he won’t tell me.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Why?”

Zhang San said, “Only ghosts know.”

Hu Tiehua was silent for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, “We don’t need to look for her anymore!”

Startled, Chu Liuxiang said, “Could it be that she already …”

Hu Tiehua said, “She practically did not jump off the car.”

Zhang San blurted out, “Really?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Hu Tiehua said, “All along I was standing by her side. When I counted to fifty, I quickly jumped down, but she stayed on the car. I am very sure about that.”

Zhang San asked in surprise, “Why didn’t she jump?”

Hu Tiehua spoke hatefully, “She is practically an old friend on Bat Island, why would she want to stay with us? Perhaps this car is a trap that they coordinated beforehand.”

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he said, “You have accused her wrongly twice, there must never, ever be the third time.”

Hu Tiehua said, “You said I accused her wrongly?”

“Mm hmm,” Chu Liuxiang said.

Hu Tiehua said, “In that case, why didn’t she jump with us? Could it be that she can’t even count to fifty?”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “She is doing this for us; even more, it was for you.”

Hu Tiehua nearly wanted to scream again, he said, “For me? So that I would jump into the net?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “She definitely did not know that there was a trap underneath.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Then she should have jumped.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “But if she also jumped, wouldn’t the car be empty?”

Hu Tiehua said, “So what if it was empty?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “If Bianfu Gongzi saw an empty car sliding down for no cause, no reason, he would know for sure that someone has slipped in, he would definitely be particularly on the alert. That’s why Jin Guniang intentionally stayed on the car, she would rather sacrifice herself to help us succeed.”

Dong Sanniang suddenly let out a long, long sigh, she spoke quietly, “You seem to always give thought to others first, and your thinking is always so thorough …”

Zhang San laughed and said, “That’s why so many people think that he is much more adorable than other people.”

Hu Tiehua also let out a long, long sigh; he said, “Since she was going to do that, why didn’t she tell me first?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “If she told you first, would you still let her do that?”

Hu Tiehua stomped his feet and muttered, “It seems like I am really a big muddled egg who is unable to differentiate good from bad [idiom].”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Who is the other friend here?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zhang San said, “I bet you would never be able to guess.”

Chu Liuxiang spoke indifferently, “Could it be Gou Xiong?”

Zhang San was stunned. Smiling wryly, he said, “Looks like you are really a bit like a living immortal, how did you know it was him?”

Of course Chu Liuxiang knew.

He had already calculated accurately that someone like Gou Zichang would definitely end up like this!

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Is Gou Xiong seriously injured?”

Groaning, Gou Zichang said, “Xiang Shuai need not worry about me, this is my retribution, you … you must go now, that Bianfu Gongzi is on the top floor, probably he is having a feast with his soldiers and guests at this moment.”

Suddenly someone spoke coldly, “They are not going anywhere, they will be trapped here with you! Die with you.”

Unexpectedly the voice was coming from outside the door, no one could describe how terrifying, how unpleasant to the ears it was; it was practically like a ghost weeping in the grave in the middle of the night.

This sentence had not finished, Hu Tiehua already rushed over. _{Translated by foxs}

Just as Hu Tiehua was rushing over, the door closed.

Stone door. Almost four or five chi thick.

The stone walls were even thicker.

If the stone door was locked from the outside, this place would become like a tomb.

Unexpectedly Chu Liuxiang and the others were buried alive in this tomb!

Hu Tiehua spoke hoarsely, “How did you get in?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Outside was originally locked, but I twisted the lock to open.”

Hu Tiehua said, “When you came in, did you close the door?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Of course I closed the door, how could I let people find out that the door is open?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Did anybody know that you came in?”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “There were no guards outside, maybe precisely because they know that absolutely no one can escape from this stone prison.”

Hu Tiehua spoke in horror, “In that case, where did that person just now come from?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang had nothing to say.

Zhang San said, “Maybe … that person has been following you all along.”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “Maybe …”

Finally Hu Tiehua could not help screaming, he said, “Someone is following behind you, surprisingly you are not the slightest bit aware? Could it be that that person is a ghost?”

Zhang San said, “What are you yelling for? This kind of place, there might be ghosts around. If you scream again, be careful, the ghosts might come to find you.”

Gritting his teeth, Hu Tiehua said, “I’m about to become a ghost myself, why do I have to be scared of ghost?”

Zhang San asked, “Anybody has a fire paper?”

Hu Tiehua spoke fiercely, “Who would have fire paper here? Don’t you forget that we were picked up from the sea.”

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