CLX Book 4 Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Vermilion Sand Palm Prints

Dusk.

The setting sun filled the sky, shining on the boundless sea, reflected on the surface of the sea as tens of thousands golden rays of light. The scenery was indeed indescribably grand, beautiful and glorious, with myriad of magnificence. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang and Zhang San were leaning against the side of the boat, appearing to be enthralled by it all.

Zhang San sighed and said, “Before I came to the sea, I always felt that the scenery on the river was already fascinating. Now that I come to the sea, I realize how small the river is, I simply don’t want to go back.”

Chu Liuxiang smiled and spoke leisurely, “This is called having crossed the vast ocean [idiom: widely experienced in the vicissitudes of life], it’s difficult to consider the water …”

Suddenly, he discovered Ding Feng was rushing over from the direction of the bow, he seemed to be very panic-stricken, even before coming near, he already called out loudly, “Have two gentlemen seen Hai Bangzhu today?”

Knitted his brows, Chu Liuxiang said, “Since we parted company this morning, we haven’t seen him yet.”

Zhang San said, “He has been busy all day, maybe he went to bed, why don’t Ding Baozi go to the cabin below to look for him?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Ding Feng said, “I did, but his bed is still tidy, as if he hasn’t slept at all.”

Emotionally moved, Chu Liuxiang said, “Could it be that no one else has seen him?”

Ding Feng’s countenance was ashen, his usual amiable and touching smile had disappeared early on, he spoke heavily, “I’ve checked everywhere, the last person to see him is Qian Feng.”

Chu Liuxiang knitted his brows again, “Qian Feng?” he said.

Ding Feng said, “According to Qian Feng, he saw Hai Bangzhu at noon, standing alone at the bow, looking at the sea, lost in thought, his mouth kept mumbling  Xiang Er Ye’s name, Qian Feng invited him to dinner, he ignored him, and no one has seen him since then.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “At that time there was no one else on the deck?”

Ding Feng said, “At that time, most of the sailors on the ship were eating in the dining room, only two sailors left on the stern manning the helm, and three men on the port side mending the sail, plus one man on the bridge on watch duty.”

He heaved a sigh, and then continued, “But none of the six men saw Hai Bangzhu at the bow.”

Zhang San said, “Could it be that Qian Feng is lying?” _{Translated by foxs}

Ding Feng said, “But I can’t think of any reason why he would do that. Maybe others were busy that they did not pay attention to Hai Bangzhu coming up on the deck. Hai Bangzhu did not stand on the bow for long either.”

Zhang San said, “Where did he go then? Could it be that he jumped into the sea?”

Ding Feng spoke sadly, “I’m just afraid that he was mourning Xiang Er Ye’s death in his heart, momentarily his heart was depressed, so he became short-sighted [suicide] …”

Chu Liuxiang spoke confidently, “Hai Bangzhu is definitely not such a person; where is Qian Feng? I want to ask him a few questions.”

Ding Feng said, “He’s not on duty today, so he’s resting at the bilge.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Let’s go find him.”

The bottom deck was not that big. More than a dozen people crowded into one cabin, naturally it was dirty, messy and smelly.

Qian Feng’s bunk was the third bed on the right row. He was lying on the bed, his face was covered by a quilt, which also covered his entire head, but his feet were exposed outside the quilt. He was still wearing shoes, as if he was extremely tired, as soon as he lay down on the bed, he fell asleep before he even had the time to take off his shoes.

Lu Changji had not slept yet. Hearing that people were coming to look for Qian Feng, he rushed over to wake him up. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

After calling for half a day, Qian Feng was still sleeping very soundly, so Lu Changji reached out to shake him up, but after shaking him for half a day, he still did not wake up.

Laughing in spite of himself, Lu Changji said, “When this man drinks, he falls asleep like a dead pig.”

Zhang San cast a glance at Chu Liuxiang, he laughed and said, “This man’s problem is similar to Xiao Hu’s.”

His smile suddenly froze. As soon as Lu Changji lifted the quilt, he realized something was wrong. Qian Feng was lying on the bed, although his face still looked very peaceful, but his expression had become indescribably terrifying, just like the two dead bodies they found outside the cargo hold door.

Lu Changji’s legs turned to jelly, he was unable to stand, ‘Plop!’ he fell on his butt on the floor.

Anybody could see that the one sleeping on the bed was no longer a living person.

Chu Liuxiang rushed one step forward, he ripped open the front piece of Qian Feng’s robe. Indeed there was a reddish palm print on his chest! It was the left palm’s print!

Qian Feng has also been murdered by the same person! _{Translated by foxs}

Ding Feng suddenly said, “This is Zhusha Zhang [Cinnabar (Vermilion Sand) Palm].”

Zhang San look at him coldly, he said, “Ding Baozi indeed has good eyesight, presumably you also practice Zhusha Zhang.”

Ding Feng did not seem to hear the sarcasm in his voice [orig. a thorn in his words], shaking his head, he said, “For the past few years, I haven’t heard of anybody in Jianghu who trained Zhusha Zhang!”

Chu Liuxiang’s eyes flashing, he said, “Who came into this cabin just now?”

Lu Changji’s head was wet with cold sweat, his voice trembling, he said, “I had just come down myself, at that time Qian Feng was already asleep … Everyone here was asleep. Rough people like us, once we fall asleep, it is very difficult to wake up.”

What he said was right, Zhang San woke up all the nine sleeping men and asked them, sure enough, no one saw anyone coming in.

Chu Liuxiang spoke indifferently, “But Ding Baozi obviously came here to ask Qian Feng just now, could it be that none of you saw it?”

Everybody shook their heads.

Ding Feng’s countenance did not change, he said, “I did come down here just now, but at that time Qian Feng was still alive. Besides, when I was asking him, Jin Guniang was also here, she could attest to what I said.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

He continued, “Afterwards, I went to the dining room to ask those six men who were on the deck at noon, and then went to look for Chu Xiang Shuai and Zhang Xiong. From beginning to end it took less than half a sichen.”

Zhang San could not help asking, “Where is Jin Guniang?”

Ding Feng said, “Jin Guniang and I parted ways on the stairs, she went to look for Hu Xiong, Gou Xiong and that Gongsun Xiansheng, only I don’t know if she found them or not.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Chu Liuxiang said, “I wonder where the dining room is?”

The dining room was next to the kitchen, it was not very big. The two long wooden tables almost occupied the entire room. Not only the sailors slept in simple and crude condition, they also ate very sloppily. There were three large bowls on the table, one bowl was filled with roasted fatty meat in seaweed, the other bowl was filled with garlic fried small fish, and then there was also a bowl of soup, the color looked straight like the water used to wash the pots. But the rice bucket was huge – if you want people to work for you, you have to feed them. By this time, only less than half of the dishes remained in the bowls, and the rice bucket was nearly empty.

Of the six men eating, two fell face down on the table, two fell under the chairs, and two fell at the door, unexpectedly not a single one was alive.

Their fatal wound was identical, all were light reddish palm prints, was it also Zhusha Zhang? _{Translated by foxs}

The two men lying on the table were the first to die, the two men next to them had just stood up when they were knocked down under the chair, and the other two were running to the door, yet they still could not escape death! All six men met poisonous hands in an instant!

Gritting his teeth, Zhang San said bitterly, “It seems that this man’s hands and feet [movements] are really fast!”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “Looking at this, Hai Bangzhu seems to be everything bodes ill, no positive signs [idiom: inauspicious].”

Ding Feng also heaved a sigh and said, “That’s right, when Hai Bangzhu was harmed, Qian Feng and these six men must have noticed it, hence the murderer was compelled to kill them to shut their mouths!”

Shaking his head, he spoke in grief, “If just now they told me the secret, perhaps they would not have ended up like this! How did the murderer make these men guard their mouth like a closed bottle [idiom: tight-lipped]?”

Zhang San spoke coldly, “Maybe they haven’t had a chance to speak up yet.”

Casting a glance at Ding Feng out of the corner of his eyes, he continued coldly, “As soon as Ding Baozi asked them, they died. Isn’t it a big coincidence?”

Ding Feng’s countenance still did not change, he spoke sadly, “That’s right, if I did not ask them, perhaps they wouldn’t have died that quickly … From start to finish, this incident happened in less than half a sichen. During this half sichen, who could have dealt such a poisonous hand?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zhang San said coldly, “Anybody could have done it.”

Ding Feng’s eyes flashing, he said, “Within this half a sichen, did two gentlemen see Gongsun Jieyu and Gou Zichang?”

Presently, everybody has gathered together.

Hu Tiehua blurted out, “I can bear witness that all this time Gou Zichang has been chatting with me, there is absolutely no chance for him to go out and kill people.”

Ding Feng said, “What about Gongsun Xiansheng?”

Gongsun Jieyu said, “We, master and disciple have always been in the room, Hu Xiong should know.”

Laughing coldly, Hu Tiehua said, “That’s right, I did talk to you through the wall, but what about after that?”

Gongsun Jieyu said, “After that, we stayed inside the room until Jin Guniang came looking for us …”

Jin Lingzhi said, “That’s right, when I looked for them, they were indeed inside the room.” _{Translated by foxs}

His countenance sank, Hu Tiehua said, “But during the time after I talked to you and before Jin Guniang came to look for you, where were you? That time is enough to kill several people.”

Gongsun Jieyu said, “Today, we, master and disciple practically never went out the door even for one step.”

Hu Tiehua sneered and said, “But Gou Xiong clearly saw you coming out, so what’s going on?”

Gongsun Jieyu’s eyes flashing, he fixed his gaze at Gou Zichang, and said word by word, “When did Gexia see us, master and disciple go out?”

Gou Zichang’s countenance changed, he said, “I heard footsteps outside, so I went out to look, and happened to see someone going up the stairs, I thought it was Gongsun Jieyu Xiansheng.”

Gongsun Jieyu spoke coldly, “Turns out Gexia only ‘thought’, but did not really see whether it was me.”

Forcing a laughter, Gou Zichang said, “At that time, that person was about to go upstairs, I only saw his feet, I really could not be certain who it was.”

Hu Tiehua stared at him, he had no choice but to shut his mouth. Suddenly, everyone stopped talking. All of a sudden the cabin was as quiet as a tomb, only to hear ‘Splash!’ noise from the outside. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Half a day later, there was another ‘Splash!’

Everyone knew in their hearts that this must be the sailors burying their dead companions at sea. Although the ‘Splash!’ sounded dull and monotonous, it was brimming with some kind of indescribably sinister and terrifying feeling, just like a ghost soldier striking the death knell in front of the Yanwang Dian [palace of the King of Hell].

In less than a day, nine men on board were dead. How long would anyone else be able to live? Whose turn would it be next?

The murderer was obviously inside this cabin, but clearly no one could guess who he was!

Chu Liuxiang was originally hoping that the next time he struck again, he would find out some clues, but who would have thought that each time the murderer made his move, it was cleaner than the previous time. This time, unexpectedly not even a bit of trace was left behind.

Everybody’s eyes were staring blankly, but no one dared to look at the other’s eyes, as if they were afraid that the others would regard them as the murderer, or perhaps they were afraid that the murderer would see them as the next target.

At some point, food and drink have been placed on the table, but no one raised their chopsticks. _{Translated by foxs}

After a long time, Hu Tiehua suddenly said, “As long as a person is not dead, he has to eat …”

He had just picked up the chopsticks, Zhang San already said coldly, “But after eating, whether he will be alive or dead, no one knows.”

Hu Tiehua immediately put down his chopsticks again.

Who would dare to say that there was no poison in the food and drink?

Chu Liuxiang laughed indifferently and said, “But if you don’t eat, you will starve to death. The feeling of starving to death is not good. At least death by poison is better than death by starvation.”

Unexpectedly he really picked up the chopsticks, sampled a piece from each dish, and drank another cup of wine.

Gou Zichang blurted out in praise, “Good, Chu Xiang Shuai’s heroic spirit is indeed like the clouds in the sky [idiom: numerous], your name is not empty!”

Hu Tiehua laughed and said, “If you think he really has the heroic spirit of viewing death as a return home [idiom: not to be afraid of dying], you are wrong. He just has some kind of special ability to tell whether certain food has poison in it or not. Even I don’t know where this ability of his came from.”

Gongsun Jieyu heaved a sigh, he said, “To be together with Chu Xiang Shuai, we are indeed fortunate.”

Hu Tiehua’s face darkened again, he said, “If you are the murderer, I’m afraid you can only sigh of your bad luck.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Gongsun Jieyu ignored him, he raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

No one knows why Hu Tiehua was having problem with Gongsun Jieyu in all aspects today, but after a few cups of wine went down his belly, everybody’s mood has improved a little.

Ding Feng suddenly said, “The situation is very serious, it’s better for us all to drink a couple of cups less. Although Jin Guniang and Hu Xiong agreed to have the drinking duel today, you’d better reschedule. No matter which one between the two gets drunk, it won’t be too good.”

He did not mention it, it was still all right, but as soon as he mentioned it, Jin Lingzhi was the first to lose her temper, she laughed coldly and said, “Drinking or not is not a problem, but the one getting drunk will definitely not be me.”

Hu Tiehua was losing his temper as well, he also laughed coldly and said, “Could it be the one getting drunk will be me?”

Jin Lingzhi did not say anything else, she spoke loudly, “Bring six pots of wine!”

Anyone who has been mingling in Jianghu for a few years would know which types of people were the most difficult to deal with; if it was possible not to provoke them, it would be best if they could be avoided a little bit. _{Translated by foxs}

The first type was scholars and xiucai [a person who has passed the county level imperial exam] who are refined in manner, the second type was those who have left home to become [Buddhist] monks and [Daoist] priests, and the third type was old fellows getting on in years.

But the one type that must not be trifled the most was women.

If these types of people dared to come out and ventured into the Jianghu, they must have a couple of tricks up their sleeves.

Hu Tiehua had rich experience in fighting, naturally he understood this logic. But drinking was a different matter.

No matter how good a person’s wine capacity is, when they were getting on in years, it would regress some. As for women, innately, their physical strength was a bit weaker, the misgivings of the day after were a bit higher as well; in drinking, they had no way to compete with men even more.

Hu Tiehua also had rich experience in drinking, naturally he also understood this logic. In drinking, he has never been afraid of old men and women.

But in the world, there is exception in everything.

This time, as soon as Jin Lingzhi drank the first cup of wine, Hu Tiehua knew he had fallen into her trick. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Jianghu people had a common saying, ‘As soon as he stretched out his hand, a connoisseur knows whether he has it or not’. This saying was also very appropriate to describe drinking.

People with experience, only by looking at the other party’s posture in picking up the wine cup, they would be able to tell how much his drinking capacity was –– People with a good wine capacity really have the spirit of ‘lifting heavy as light’ when they pick up the wine cup. Those who don’t know how to drink, a tiny wine cup in his hand would also appear to weigh hundreds of catties.

It’s just that Jin Lingzhi was, after all, a woman, hence she must, at least, use a wine cup to drink.

Hu Tiehua was not so refined.

He picked up the wine pot and poured it directly into his mouth.

In front of women, he refused to show weakness even to death. Before Jin Lingzhi finished the first pot, two pots of wine had already entered his belly.

Gou Zichang clapped his hands and said with a laugh, “Hu Xiong indeed has good wine capacity, merely this word ‘fast’, it is not something that others can match.”

Hu Tiehua’s face showed that he was pleased with himself, his eyes bright as he looked at Jin Lingzhi, laughed heartily and said, “Drinking duel, one must be fast, if drinking slowly, one pot of wine can be finished in three days and three nights, even a three-year-old child won’t be drunk.” _{Translated by foxs}

Jin Lingzhi sneered and said, “No matter how much you drink, if you pass out quickly, it cannot be considered any skill. If you compete in getting drunk, anybody can pour several pots of wine … Zhang San, tell me, isn’t that right?”

Zhang San said, “Right, right, right, absolutely right. Some people’s wine capacity is not good at all, they simply dare to get drunk. Anyway, if they are already drunk, drinking a few more pots is not a problem.”

He laughed and then continued, “If someone is seventy-, eighty-percent drunk, the wine entering his mouth will become like plain water. Therefore, drinking much can’t be considered any skill at all, if one can drink much without getting drunk, only that can be considered a skill.”

Pulling his face, Hu Tiehua said, “If I really get drunk, you should be the first one to be careful.”

Zhang San said, “What do have to be I worried about?”

Hu Tiehua said, “When I am drunk, seeing those mapi jing [lit. horse-butts (flattery) demon (goblin spirit)] is like seeing bedbugs, I simply must strangle them to death one by one.”

He suddenly looked at Chu Liuxiang, chuckled and said, “But you must not be worried, even though you are an old stinky bug, you can’t possibly pat the horse’s butts.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang was talking to Ding Feng, he acted as if he completely did not pay attention to him.

But Zhang San heaved a sighed, he muttered, “This man is not drunk yet, he is already biting people randomly like a mad dog. If he is really drunk, everybody should really be more careful.”

Ding Feng was sitting next to Chu Liuxiang, this moment he spoke in that charming voice of his, “What Jin Guniang said is not completely without any reason. No one can drink like Hu Xiong without getting drunk.”

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “If he’s drunk, that won’t be strange sat all; if he doesn’t, it will be strange indeed.”

Ding Feng said, “But now is not the time to get drunk, why did Chu Xiong not advise him?”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “This man, as soon as he starts drinking, he will immediately not recognize his own family, who would be able to advise him?”

He suddenly chuckled again, his eyes were fixed on Ding Feng, he continued slowly, “Aren’t there many people here waiting to see how he looks like when he is drunk? Why would I want to advise him?”

Ding Feng was silent for half a day, he said, “Can it be possible that Chu Xiong thinks that I am also waiting for him to get drunk?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang spoke indifferently, “If it wasn’t for Ding Xiong’s remark a moment ago, how could they have drinking duel right now? If they are having drinking duel, how could they not be drunk?”

Ding Feng said, “But … but a moment ago Zaixia only advised them to reschedule …”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Ding Xiong did not advise them, perhaps it would be a bit better, but this advice reminded them instead — Ding Xiong has been in contact with him for two or three days, could it be that you have not seen that he has the ‘pulled back does not want to stay, rushed out will fall back instead’ Shandong’s donkey temper?”

Ding Feng was silent for half a day, heaving a deep, deep sigh, he spoke with a wry smile, “Presumably right now Chu Xiong must have some misunderstanding toward me, but sooner or later, Chu Xiong will understand how I conduct myself …”

Chu Liuxiang suddenly interrupted him, saying, “Zhang San, why don’t you show that thing to Ding Xiong?”

Zhang San laughed and said, “Just watching people having a drinking duel, I almost forget about this important matter.”

His mouth was still talking, his person already walked toward the rear cabin.

Ding Feng’s eyes flashing, he tried to sound him out, “I wonder what is it that Chu Xiong wants me to see?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “This kind of thing is really amazing. No matter who receives it, the secret in his heart can immediately be guessed by other people.”

Ding Feng also laughed, he said, “So, could it be that there is some kind of magic in this thing?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “There is indeed some magic.”

Although Ding Feng was still smiling, it was a bit forced.

At this time, Zhang San had already brought out the bundle from the rear cabin, but instead of handing it over to Ding Feng, he handed it over to Chu Liuxiang.

Chu Liuxiang took it in his hand, his eyes were fixed on Ding Feng’s eyes, he spoke word by word, “If Ding Xiong has something on your mind that you are unwilling for others to know, it is better not to take this bundle.”

Forcing out a laughter, Ding Feng said, “By saying that, could it be that Chu Xiong still think that Zaixia have some hidden secret?”

Chu Liuxiang smiled but said nothing, he slowly handed the bundle over.

Everyone was watching Jin Lingzhi and Hu Tiehua’s drinking duel, but this moment, as if agreeing by chance, they all looked this way, except for Jin Lingzhi and Hu Tiehua. They were already partially drunk, apart from ‘wine’, there was nothing else in the world that could attract their attention. _{Translated by foxs}

Ding Feng finally took the bundle.

His stretched hand was also moving very slowly, as if he was afraid that a viper might suddenly come out of the bag and bite his hand hard. Other people’s heart was also brimming with curiosity, they were unable to figure out what strange thing might this bundle contain?

But this bundle really did not contain the slightest bit of strange thing.

Ding Feng’s hands holding the bundle, he laughed again and said, “This moment, has Chu Xiong been able to see Zaixia’s secret?”

Chu Liuxiang spoke indifferently, “More or less, I’ve seen some.”

Ding Feng asked, “What did you see?”

Chu Liuxiang’s eyes were shining, he said, “I’ve seen that Ding Xiong is left-handed.”

Ding Feng’s countenance did not change, he laughed and said, “That’s right, when Zaixia was very young, I even used my left hand to eat and write; for this reason, I don’t know how many times my father lectured me. Only after I grew up that I forced myself to change. Only when I did not pay attention that this old weakness flared up.” [This might sound strange to western readers: in some eastern countries, the use of left hand, especially in relation to other people, like handing/receiving something, shaking hands, etc. was ‘frowned upon’, hence left-handed kids are often ‘forced’ to use their right hand more.] _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “In that case, Ding Feng’s left hand must be as agile as your right hand.”

Ding Feng said, “I’m afraid it is a bit more agile than my right hand.”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he spoke indifferently, “This secret shouldn’t be revealed.”

Ding Feng said, “This is not such a great secret, why shouldn’t it be revealed?”

Chu Liuxiang spoke with serious expression, “In my opinion, this secret is extremely great.”

“Oh?” Ding Feng said.

Chu Liuxiang spoke slowly, “If other people know that Ding Xiong’s left hand is more agile than your right hand, the next time they fight against Ding Xiong, won’t they pay particular attention to guard against Ding Xiong’s left hand?”

Ding Feng said, “Chu Xiong indeed has wise opinion. Fortunately, Zaixia have no intention of fighting with gentlemen here, otherwise it would be difficult for me to avoid some losses.”

Zhang San suddenly said, “That’s not necessarily true, in any case, Gongzi’s right hand can equally kill people. If others guard against Ding Baozi’s left hand, Ding Baozi could kill him with your right hand, the result would be the same.” _{Translated by foxs}

Surprisingly, Ding Feng’s expression still did not change, he still laughed and said, “Could it be that Zhang Xiong thinks that Zaixia have killed many people?”

Zhang San coldly said, “I’m just saying that killing people with two hands is much more convenient, also much faster than using one hand.”

Ding Feng laughed indifferently and said, “In that case, wouldn’t killing people using three hands be even more convenient?”

Zhang San was speechless.

Even if he was fully aware that Ding Feng was cursing him as ‘three-handed man’ [i.e. pickpocket], he could only listen to him – if one had committed a shameful thing, even if he had to endure the cursing for a lifetime, he could only listen.

Luckily Ding Feng did not continue to curse.

Holding the bag in his hand, he laughed and asked, “I wonder what other secrets Chu Xiong has seen?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “There is another secret, it’s inside this bundle, why don’t Ding Xiong untie it and have a look?”

Ding Feng said, “Zaixia have exactly this intention.”

He untied the bundle, finally his expression changed. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Inside the bundle was precisely the bloody garment that Jin Lingzhi had found.

Chu Liuxiang never took his eyes off Ding Feng’s face, he spoke heavily, “Ding Xiong, do you recognize whose clothes are these?”

Ding Feng said, “Naturally I do, these clothes belong to me.”

“What about the blood on the clothes?” Chu Liuxiang asked, “Is it Ding Xiong’s too?”

Forcing a laughter, Ding Feng said, “Zaixia is not wounded, how could I shed blood?”

Gou Zichang suddenly laughed coldly, he snatched the opportunity to talk, “Other people’s blood, how could it stain Gongzi’s clothes? That’s strange!”

Ding Feng spoke coldly, “I’m afraid Gou Xiong is too naïve [orig. a person who has seen little of the world will be astonished by certain things (idiom)].”

“Naïve?” Gou Zichang said.

Ding Feng said, “If someone wanted to put the blame on me, steal my clothes and put them on, and then kill people, this kind of thing is very common, what’s so strange about it? Besides …”

He laughed coldly and continued, “If that person shared a room with me, to steal my clothes would just be like feeling in his pocket and taking it out [idiom: as easy as pie]; it won’t be the least bit strange.” _{Translated by foxs}

Gou Zichang spoke angrily, “You’ve done it yourself, you spit blood on people [idiom: making false accusation against someone else] instead?”

Laughing coldly, Ding Feng said, “The one spitting out blood, I’m afraid it’s not Ol’ Ding, but Gexia.”

Gou Zichang suddenly rose up to his full height, his eyes seemed to burst into flames.

However, Ding Feng’s voice and face did not move, he coldly said, “Could it be that Gexia want to stain these clothes with Ol’ Ding’s blood too?”

Gongsun Jieyu suddenly laughed and said, “Ding Gongzi, you are worrying too much. Gou Xiong stood up, he just wanted to toast Ding Baozi!”

He stared at Gou Zichang and spoke indifferently, “Isn’t that right?”

Gou Zichang’s eyes were also staring at him, his face alternated between burst of green and burst of white. Suddenly he let out a couple of loud laughter, and then said, “That’s right, Zaixia have exactly this intention, I never thought that unexpectedly Gongsun Xiansheng is a friend who knows myself.”

Unexpectedly he really raised his wine cup toward Ding Feng and said, “Please.”

Ding Feng’s eyes flashing, he looked at Gongsun Jieyu, then at Gou Zichang, finally he also raised his cup and drained it on one gulp. He smiled and said, “Actually, the blood on these clothes may not necessarily Xiang Tianfei’s, perhaps it a pig’s blood or a dog’s blood, who knows? Why would we all harm the friendly atmosphere over this?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Speaking to this point, his body suddenly shook, his face was also twisted.

Chu Liuxiang asked in alarm, “What’s the matter?”

Ding Feng’s entire body shook, his voice cracked, “The wine is …”

Before the word ‘poisoned’ came out of his mouth, his person had already fallen down face up.

In that instant, his face turned from deathly pale to metallic green, and then from metallic green to jet black. Blood already seeped out of the corners of his mouth, even the blood was dead-crow black.

Only to see his eyes were brimming with bitter resentment, he glared fiercely at Gou Zichang, and spoke sternly, “You … you .. you are so ruthless!”

Gou Zichang seemed to be staring blankly in fright, he could not even speak.

Chu Liuxiang moved like the wind, he sealed the six vital acupoints all around Ding Feng’s heart, he spoke heavily, “Ding Xiong, please stay calm first, as long as the poison doesn’t attack the heart, there will be cure.” _{Translated by foxs}

Shaking his head, Ding Feng smiled sadly and said, “It’s too late … it’s too late … Although I knew that this would happen sooner or later, I did not expect it was still difficult for me to avoid the poisonous hands.”

His voice already slurred, he was gasping for breath for half a day, and then said, “Xiang Shuai holds up justice, everyone in the world knows, I just want to ask Chu Xiong for one thing.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Ding Xiong, set your heart at ease, since the murderer is on this boat, I definitely will not let him be unfettered and beyond the law [idiom: evading retribution].”

Ding Feng said sadly, “That is nothing? If a person is about to die, he would see everything as nothing, however … my old mother is in the hall [not sure], I can no longer do my filial duty, I just ask Chu Xiong to take my skeletal remains back …”

Speaking to this point, his throat seemed to be choked, he could not speak any more.

Chu Liuxiang could not help feeling sad, he said, “What you want, I already understand, I will definitely accomplish what you entrusted to me.”

Ding Feng slowly nodded his head, he looked like he wanted to smile, but the smile has not been revealed yet, his eyelids already closed. His amiable and touching smile, unexpectedly it would never be seen again.

Chu Liuxiang was silent for half a day, then his gaze slowly turned toward Gou Zichang. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Everyone’s eyes were also staring at Gou Zichang.

Gou Zichang’s face was ash-grey, he was sweating like rain, suddenly he screamed loudly, “I didn’t do it! I did not put poison in the wine!”

Gongsun Jieyu coldly said, “No one said you put poison in the wine.”

Gou Zichang said, “I did not intend to toast him either, it was you who asked me to toast him!”

Laughing coldly, Gongsun Jieyu said, “He has had a few cups of wine, and there is no poison in the wine, even if my hand is longer, I can’t put poison in this cup of wine.”

He was indeed sitting far away from Ding Feng.

Gou Zichang spoke hoarsely, “Could it be that I have a way to put poison in this cup of wine? So many eyes were watching, he himself was not blind.”

Holding the wine cup in his hand, Chu Liuxiang suddenly heaved a sigh, he said, “Two gentlemen did not put poison in this cup of wine, just because no one could put poison in this cup of wine.”

Knitting his brows, Zhang San said, “But there is no poison in the wine inside the pot, otherwise, wouldn’t we also be poisoned to death?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “That’s right, only the last cup of wine that he drank had poison in it, but the poison was not in the wine.”

Zhang San said, “If not in the wine, then where is it?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “In the wine cup.”

He slowly put down the wine cup, and then continued, “Someone has already smeared a very strong poisonous juice in this wine cup. Ding Feng drank a few cups of wine first, but was not poisoned, simply because at that time the poisonous juice already dried up, and the wine was still cold, it has not dissolved the poison yet.”

Only then did Gou Zichang breathed a sigh of relief, he muttered, “Luckily we have Chu Xiang Shuai here. To be together with Chu Liuxiang isindeed a good luck.”

Gongsun Jieyu said, “But no matter what, someone did put the poison. Who is this person?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Everybody knows that the wine cups are in the kitchen, no one would pay attention to the empty wine cups, therefore, no matter who, to smear the poisonous juice in the wine cup is very easy.”

Gou Zichang said, “But … how did the murderer know that the poisoned wine cup would definitely be delivered to Ding Feng?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “He did not know, and he doesn’t care … No matter in whose hands this wine cup is, he doesn’t care.”

Gou Zichang pondered for a moment, and then he said with a wry smile, “That’s right, in his eyes, we are all going to die sooner or later anyway, who dies first and who dies later, it’s all the same to him.”

Zhang San picked up the bloody garment, covered Ding Feng’s face, and muttered, “Ten people boarded this boat, and now three are dead. Whose turn will it be next?”

Suddenly they heard ‘Plop!’, Hu Tiehua, his person and his chair, fell to the floor together.

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