CLX Book 6 Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – The Mysterious Old Woman

The night was getting colder, the water was also getting colder. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang lay face down on the ground, burying his head in the clear and cold running water.

He wanted to clear his head up a little bit, he really needed to be clear-headed a bit.

The water flowed over his face, it flowed over his hair, he suddenly recalled something that Hu Tiehua said.

“The only thing that wine is better than water is that wine never makes people too clear-headed.”

Hu Tiehua’s words were always like this, it did not seem to make a very good sense, but at the same time it also seemed to make a lot of sense.

The strange thing was that at this time, what he thought of was neither the dead girl nor Zhang Jiejie, but Hu Tiehua.

Because only in front of Hu Tiehua he could fully express all his pain.

Because only Hu Tiehua could understand his pain.

Because Hu Tiehua was his friend.

“Why don’t I go looking for him?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang raised his head, suddenly he found that the moon in the water was no longer visible.

The clear flowing water stopped, no one knew since when, a dreary-and-fuzzy-like smoke fog was already rising.

The water was flowing, the fog was also flowing.

He suddenly discovered that no one knew since when, a black shadow had appeared in the flowing water like a wisp of smoke.

This person seemed to appear at the same time as the mysterious mist.

Chu Liuxiang turned around, who would have thought that right this moment, a human voice sounded behind him.

Old, hoarse, deep and low, yet it carried some kind power like a magical spell. The voice said word by word, “Don’t look back, otherwise you can forget about finding her, ever.”

These words had more magical power than all the spells in the world.

When Chu Liuxiang wanted to turn back, no one could make him not to turn back, but now, all the power on earth should absolutely be unable to make him turning back.

The black shadow in the water seemed to be a bit clearer, it looked like an old and gray-haired old woman [orig. lao yu, only used in formal writing], her hand seemed to carry a long walking stick. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang could not help asking, “Do you know who I’m looking for?”

The old woman in black said, “You are looking for someone you will never be able to find.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “You … who are you?”

The old woman in black said, “I am the only one who can help you find her.”

Chu Liuxiang’s entire body turned as cold as ice, but there was a fire blazing in his heart, he said, “Do you know where she is?”

The old woman in black said, “Only I know.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Can you tell me?”

The old woman in black said, “I can’t. I can only help you find her, but that’s not an easy task.”

Chu Liuxiang clenched his pair of fists, he was nearly unable to make a sound.

The old woman in black asked, “Are you afraid to bear hardships?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang replied, “No.”

The old woman in black asked, “Are you afraid of death?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “Sometimes I am …”

The old woman in black said, “But in order to find her, even death you are not afraid?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “Correct.”

The old woman in black suddenly sighed softly, she said, “Indeed I have not misjudged you, you are indeed someone worthy of my help.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “You …”

The old woman in black suddenly cut him off, she said, “I ask you these questions, only because I want you to understand that only those who are not afraid to bear hardships, not afraid of even death – can find her.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I … I understand.”

The woman in black seemed to slowly nod her head. After a long time, she said slowly, “There is a very mysterious family [or group, school, organization] in this world, some say they came from the ends of the world, some say they came from the corners of the ocean, some people say that they came from the snowfield where dripping water turns into ice, while some other say that they came from the desolate wilderness where birds are already extinct, but the fact is …” _{Translated by foxs}

Her voice was getting even lower, she went on, “The fact is, no one in the world knows where they were coming from.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Are you talking about the family surnamed Ma?”

The old woman in black said, “Some people say they are surnamed Ma, some people say they are not surnamed Ma, the fact is …”

Chu Liuxiang said, “The fact is, no one in the world knows what their real surname is.”

The old woman in black said, “That’s right.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Could it be that they have something to do with Zhang Jiejie?”

The old woman in black did not answer this question. Only after a long time did she speak slowly, “Since you know this family, presumably you also know where they live?”

Chu Liuxiang nodded, he said, “According to ancient legend, they live in a mysterious cave on the big mountain over yonder, but no one has ever seen them, and no one ever dared to look for them.”

The old woman in black coldly said, “There were people looking, but no one has ever come back.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang exhaled slowly, he said, “And now you want me to look for them?”

The old woman in black said, “You don’t dare to go?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “As long as I can find her, I will go anywhere.”

The old woman in black said, “If you don’t come back, you won’t regret it?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “At that time, what’s the use of regretting?”

The old woman in black said, “I did not ask whether it is useful or not, but whether you will regret later or not?”

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he said, “Definitely I won’t regret it later?”

The old woman in black said, “Since you won’t regret it later, why sigh?”

Chu Liuxiang was speechless. Naturally he was unable to answer her; he heaved a sigh, just because he felt that she was asking too many questions, some questions did not even need to be asked, yet she clearly asked, moreover, asking once was not enough, she simply had to ask again.

Originally, he wasn’t sure if the figure in the water was really old, but now he did not even have the slightest bit of doubt. _{Translated by foxs}

The most talkative among human beings must be women, and the most talkative among women must be laotaipo [old woman (at times contemptuous)]. There is no doubt about this.

No matter what kind of person she is, no matter how high her status is, no matter how mysterious, how terrifying she is, laotaipo is menfolk’s greatest misfortune. Perhaps when clearly you are in terribly hurry, you would come across a laotaipo, who insists on asking some bizarre questions, yet you clearly have no choice but to answer.

At time like this, other than heaving a sigh, what else can you say?

This time, the old woman in black did not force him to answer.

She herself seemed to also heave a soft sigh, she said slowly, “Now you may feel that I ask too many questions, but in the future you will understand that the questions I asked are not superfluous.”

Chu Liuxiang could only listen.

The old woman in black said, “Let me ask you the last question, if you already know that once you go, you will never return, will you still go?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Go.”

The old woman in black said, “All right, then you may go; go find those people surnamed Ma.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang could not help saying, “But I don’t want to look for them, I want to look for Zhang Jiejie.”

The old woman in black said, “I understand.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But until now, have you told me what is Zhang Jiejie’s relationship with them?”

The old woman in black said, “I haven’t.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Have you told me where she is?”

The old woman in black replied, “I haven’t either.”

Smiling wryly, Chu Liuxiang said, “What exactly did you tell me?”

The shadow of the old woman in black in the water rippled, she spoke slowly, “I did not tell you anything, but I just want you to go there, to look for their holy altar.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Holy altar?”

The old woman in black said, “The holy altar is inside the cave that you know.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “What kind of place is that?” _{Translated by foxs}

The old woman in black replied, “No one knows. Other than he himself, no one has ever been there.”

Her voice was even more ethereal, more distant, as she continued slowly, “What they believe is some kind of a very mysterious religion. Their god is in their holy altar, which is not only their holy place, but also their forbidden place, definitely no outsiders are allowed to enter even for one step.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Yet now you want me to go.”

The old woman in black said, “You simply must go, because only their god can tell you about Zhang Jiejie.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Their god?”

The old woman in black said, “You don’t believe in their god?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I wish to believe, but I’m just a mortal, how could god intercommunicate information with me?”

The old woman in black said, “Because their god is different from other gods.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “What’s the difference?”

The old woman in black said, “Their god is not an idol, not a [female] immortal either; their god is a living god. Not only you can see their god’s appearance, but you can also hear their god’s voice.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “I can find their god?”

The old woman in black said, “It will depend on you, whether you can go inside their holy altar or not?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “How can I go inside their holy altar?”

The old woman in black said, “Use your intelligence, use your courage, but the most important thing is your determination not to spare everything. Before you go, you have to be prepared to renounce everything you possess in the world of mortals. And then …”

Her voice was as cold as ice and snow beyond the end of the sky, so cold that it froze people’s blood.

Chu Liuxiang clenched his teeth and said, “And then what?”

The old woman in black said, “And then you can cast aside all concerns, by fair means or foul.”

Her voice suddenly became hot like the blaze from the underworld; she went on, “You can use all means, no matter how despicable; as long as you can get to their holy altar and see their god, they definitely cannot harm you anymore.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But …”

The old woman in black cut him off again, she said, “But there is one more thing that you must remember.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang asked, “What is it?”

The old woman in black said, “You can use tricks to fool them, use stick to knock them down, or even use secret projectiles, use knock-out drugs, it doesn’t matter; but you must, by all means, not let any of them shed blood.”

She continued word by word, “If your body is stained by even a drop of their blood, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Now you know everything, if you don’t go, you will also regret it for the rest of your life.”

The wind was not too cold, the water was not too cold either.

But Chu Liuxiang could not help shivering.

He was very seldom afraid, but the old woman in black’s voice seemed to carry some kind of mysterious magical power, as if just a single curse from her could change your life’s destiny.

Has Chu Liuxiang’s destiny changed since this moment?

He did not know.

Precisely because he did not know that he was afraid. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

That old woman in black, did she tell the truth, or did she lie? He did not know either. But he seemed to have no choice but to believe, he did not dare not to believe either.

His intellect and willpower seemed to be under control of some mysterious power, which was not human power, but it was not a god’s power either.

Rather, it was some kind of demonic, strange and mysterious magical power.

“That is not magical power!”

Hu Tiehua sat upright, he looked at Chu Liuxiang across the table, there was no sign of drunkenness in his eyes at all.

He has not been sober like this for a very long time.

If you have a good friend who spent two days to find you, his face carried some kind of tiredness and an expression that you have never seen before, then even if you are a super drunkard, you will try your best to keep yourself sober.

Hu Tiehua’s eyes were not only sober, they also became even more determined.

Looking at Chu Liuxiang, he spoke slowly, “That was definitely not a ghostly magical power.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Why not?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Because there is absolutely no demon and ghost under the heavens that can subdue you.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “Oh?”

Hu Tiehua said, “You became this kind of confused and submissive, just because of one thing.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “What thing?”

Hu Tiehua said, “You damn fell in love with that little demon.”

Chu Liuxiang hung his head down.

He was indeed very tired; these past couple of days, he had hardly closed his eyes — no matter who, looking for Hu Tiehua was definitely not an easy matter.

He also had no way to refute Hu Tiehua’s comment. What power is there in the world that can be more terrifying than the power of love?

Hu Tiehua said, “A holy altar that no one has ever been to, a talking god … Do you really believe these nonsense [orig. ghost talk]?”

Chu Liuxiang clenched his fists tight, he said, “That is definitely not a ghost talk.”

Hu Tiehua said coldly, “Isn’t that laotaipo a living ghost?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “She is not.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Hu Tiehua said, “How do you know whether she is a human or a ghost? You practically did not really see her.”

Chu Liuxiang indeed did not. What he saw was just her reflection in the water … The mist and water were dreary and fuzzy, the shadow in the water was like a ghost in the wind. Suddenly, a burst of strong breeze blew from no one knows where, creating ripples on the surface of the water. The shadow disappeared in the ripples. By the time the water calmed down, the shadow disappeared …

Hu Tiehua said, “So the old goblin disappeared just like that?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Mm hmm.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Could it be that all along you did not look back?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I did not.”

Hu Tiehua said, “At the beginning, you did not dare to look back because you were afraid that she wouldn’t tell you anything about Zhang Jiejie.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “That’s right.”

Hu Tiehua said, “But after she finished speaking, why didn’t you look back?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I … I don’t know why?” _{Translated by foxs}

When he looked back, there was already no one behind him.

When the shadow in the water disappeared, the old woman in black already disappeared; it was unclear whether it disappeared in the water, or it disappeared in the wind.

It was also unclear whether she really came in person, or whether it was just a ghostly eflection in the water; but if there was no one, how could there be a reflection?

Hu Tiehua stared at Chu Liuxiang, he started for a very long time before he heaved a long sigh and said, “You, this person, indeed have changed a little bit.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Oh?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Not just changed a little bit, you have changed so much; before, even if you beat me to death, I would not have believed that you would become like this.”

Smiling ruefully, Chu Liuxiang said, “Now I have become like what?”

Hu Tiehua said, “You look to be hanging your head dispiritedly, you look dispirited and downcast, you look like when I look at you, you make me angry.”

He suddenly slapped the table and said, “Perhaps that laotaipo is not an old demon, but Zhang Jiejie is definitely a xiaoyaopo [little demon/witch].” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “She is not.”

Hu Tiehua said loudly, “If she is not, who is? If it wasn’t for her, how could you become like this?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But … you can’t blame her either.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Not blaming her, blaming who?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Until now, no one knows what exactly happened, so how can you blame her?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Therefore, you still want to look for her?”

Chu Liuxiang did not answer; usually when one did not answer, it means he admitted tacitly.

Hu Tiehua said, “In order to find her, you really don’t hesitate to renounce everything, to sacrifice everything?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I …”

Hu Tiehua said, “Are you really willing to give up that boat of yours? Those aged Persian [grape] wines? And the little reputation you have earned after more than a dozen years of hard work —— ?”

The more he spoke, the louder his voice, he suddenly jumped up and said loudly, “Even if you don’t want all these things, could it be that you don’t even want friends?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang did not answer.

He did not answer, it did not necessarily mean that he admitted it.

Hu Tiehua stared at him again for a very long time, suddenly his entire person fell down on the chair again; he sighed and said, “Actually, naturally I know, you still want friends, otherwise why would you painstaking go to look for me?”

Chu Liuxiang still did not speak, because he did not need to talk.

As long as you can truly understand the existence of friendship, there is no need to say anything.

It was after another very long pause that Hu Tiehua continued slowly, “But you’d better not forget, other than me, you still have a lot of friends.”

Naturally Chu Liuxiang would not forget.

Who could forget Su Rongrong, Song Tian’er, Li Hongxiu?

Hu Tiehua said, “Day in and day out they are waiting for you, they even care about you more than me; could it be that you don’t understand?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “I understand.”

Hu Tiehua said, “I also know that you definitely will not not want these friends, but if you go, it is really possible that you will not be able to return from that faraway place.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I will return.”

Hu Tiehua said, “You don’t need to lie to me. The legends about those people, I have also heard. As far as I know, I am afraid there is not even one person who is more terrifying than them on earth.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Oh?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Because Shi Guanyin, Shui Mu, Xue Yiren, and the others, no matter how formidable they are, they are no more than one person, but these are an entire family. It is said that every single one’s martial art skill has reached perfection!”

Chu Liuxiang said, “A legend is a legend, the fact is … no one has really seen it.”

Hu Tiehua’s countenance sank, he said, “Precisely because no one has seen it that it is even more terrifying.”

Without letting Chu Liuxiang to talk, he continued, “But the most terrifying thing is not their person, but the cave where they live.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Why?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Because no one knows what boobytrap, what ambush are in that cave.”

Forcing a laughter, Chu Liuxiang said, “Even a cave like the one on the Bat Island, I have been there, what other places I cannot go?”

Hu Tiehua said, “Don’t forget how many people went with you that time? If there was no Hua Zhenzhen, you could forget about coming back that time.”

He continued loudly, “This time, can you still find someone like Hua Zhenzhen to accompany you? I …”

Chu Liuxiang cut him off, saying, “Even if I could, I can’t let her accompany me.”

“Why?” Hu Tiehua asked.

Chu Liuxiang said, “Because in this matter, I can only do this by myself, otherwise …”

Hu Tiehua rushed in to say, “Otherwise you will never see Zhang Jiejie again.”

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he nodded.

Hu Tiehua said, “That laotaipo also said that?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “That’s right.”

Hu Tiehua said, “So you are going to go alone to deal with them, one family, even I cannot come with you?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “That’s right.”

Laughing coldly, Hu Tiehua said, “Who do you think you are? A living god with three heads and six arms?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I am not.”

Hu Tiehua said, “And you simply must go?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Yes.”

Hu Tiehua said, “Is she really worthy your doing it for her?”

Chu Liuxiang’s face showed a pained expression, he spoke sadly, “Whether she is worthy or not, I must do this.”

“Why?” Hu Tiehua asked.

Chu Liuxiang replied, “Because I must find out the truth of this matter, I must find out who that person is. If you were me, I believe you would do the same.” _{Translated by foxs}

Hu Tiehua was suddenly speechless.

Chu Liuxiang did not say anything anymore. He was silent for half a day, and then slowly stood up, walked over, grabbed his hand tightly, and then turned around and walked out in big strides.

His footsteps were still stable and steady, but they were also very heavy.

Hu Tiehua did not stand up to see him off at all, he did not even look at him.

Outside the door was a blanket of darkness.

With no stars and no moon, his person already disappeared into the darkness.

Only then did Hu Tiehua looked back, he stared at the darkness. In his ears, he seemed to hear the old woman’s magical spell, “If you go, you have to be prepared to renounce everything you possess in the world of mortals.”

“If you don’t go, you will suffer pain for the rest of your life.”

“Once you go, even if you will never return, you must not have any regret …”

Now Chu Liuxiang has finally gone. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

What kind of path did he exactly embark on?

Was it a path of no return?

Hu Tiehua did not know … no one knew.

He could only feel the beads of cold sweat breaking out from his forehead and slowly flowing down along the side of his nose.

He only knew that this time, no matter whether he could come back or not, he would definitely suffer a lot of torment, a lot of pain.

In their view, danger was not such a big deal, but some torment and pain were not something that they could endure.

Suddenly Hu Tiehua jumped up and shouted loudly, “If you are Hu Tiehua, can you just watch Chu Liuxiang take that kind of road that leads to his death?”

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