CLX Book 6 Chapter 3 – Part 1

Chapter 3 – A Glimmer of Light

Before the applause was over, a sound of laughter had already started. _{Translated by foxs}

The sound of applause was crisp, the sound of laughter was even crisper.

Along with the sound of laughter, someone came out from under the cart; bright and cheerful laughter, bright and cheerful clear eyes.

A bright and cheerful beauty, a woman who made people happy. Although her body and face were covered in mud and dirt, it still did not give the impression that she looked dirty.

There was a kind of woman who, no matter what the situation she was in, she would look like a freshly-picked red bayberry [Myrica rubra]. Zhang Jiejie was this kind of woman.

She clapped her hands and said with a laugh, “Chu Xiang Shuai indeed his name is not in vain, he really can swindle the dead without compensating with his life.”

Chu Liuxiang smiled and bowed.

Zhang Jiejie laughed and said, “So no matter how old a woman is, she must never, ever listen to Chu Xiang Shuai’s words; women from eight to eighty years old, there is no exception.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Only one person is an exception.”

Zhang Jiejie asked, “Who?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “You.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Me? Why am I an exception?”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Because if you did not deceive me, I would already be very grateful, how could I dare to deceive you?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Pouting her lips, Zhang Jiejie said, “Could it be that I deceived you? … when did I deceive you? Tell me.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I can’t.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Hmph, I knew you can’t.”

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “After deceiving someone, you still want someone to say no, that is indeed a real skill.”

Zhang Jiejie stared at him, her eye sockets circles suddenly turned red, and then copious amount of tears flowed down her face.

Chu Liuxiang felt a bit strange again, he could not help asking, “Are you crying?”

Gritting her teeth, Zhang Jiejie spoke bitterly, “When I feel deeply hurt, I cry; could it be that it is also against the law?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “You feel deeply hurt? Why are you deeply hurt?” _{Translated by foxs}

Zhang Jiezhi wiped her tears and said loudly, “I saw you fell into other people plotting against you, so I immediately hid under the cart, thinking of waiting for an opportunity to rescue you. Along the way, you don’t know how much I suffered, how much dirt I ate, and what happened in the end?”

Her tears started to flow down again; sobbing, she continued, “Not only did you not even have the slightest intention of thanking me, on the contrary, you made sarcastic comments to mock me with sneering words. I … How could I not feel deeply hurt?” The more she said, the more she grieved; she simply cried for real.

Chu Liuxiang was stunned. He only knew that she was a girl who was very good at laughing, but he never thought that she was also very good at crying.

In Chu Liuxiang’s view, a woman’s tears were simply more terrifying than the Bat Prince’s secret projectiles.

No matter how formidable the secret projectiles, you can at least dodge. Women’s ‘tears’ can’t even be evaded. No matter how formidable the secret projectiles, at most they could only punch a few holes on your body. Women’s tears can break your heart to pieces.

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he spoke softly, “Who says I don’t appreciate you, I’m terribly grateful.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Then … why didn’t you say so?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Real gratitude should be hidden in the heart; if it is spoken, it will lose its meaning.”

Zhang Jiejie could not help turning tears into laughter; she pointed at Chu Liuxiang’s nose and said with a laugh, “That Laotouzi was right, you do have the silver tongue that can deceive women.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “Don’t forget that that Laotouzi is also a man, whatever men say cannot be relied on.”

Zhang Jiejie laughed and said, “He is indeed an old fox [fig. cunning person], moreover, his martial art skill is not weak.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But he still can’t compare to that Laotaipo, so it’s no wonder that he is afraid of his wife.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Do you also think that that Laotaipo’s sealing acupoint technique is very high?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Speaking about acupoint-sealing technique, she could be ranked inside the top five.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “In that case, she should be a famous Wulin martial art master.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “It must be so.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “People say that Chu Xiang Shuai’s experience is the vastest, presumably you must have already seen her background early on.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “I have not.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Even you can’t see it … can you think about it again?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “No need to think, who these husband and wife, two people are, it’s not important.”

Zhang Jiejie asked, “Why?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Because in the future, they will never come to give me trouble anymore.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “So, what is the important matter?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “The important thing is: who ordered them to come? Where is that person?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Why didn’t you ask them just now? Why did you let them go so casually?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “If I asked them, would they just tell me casually?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “They wouldn’t.”

She pondered for a moment, and added, “If they are people who can easily reveal secrets, that person would not have sent them to deal with you.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “You are really different from other women, your mind is very clear.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Pulling her face, Zhang Jiejie said “Are you trying to pat my horse’s butt again? I’m not like other people, so easy to be fooled.”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “Could it be that I have to curse you that you will believe that I’m telling the truth?”

Zhang Jiejie glowered at him, she said, “Even if they guard their mouth like a closed bottle [idiom: tight-lipped], you should have a way to get them to talk.”

Smiling wryly, Chu Liuxiang said, “These husband and wife, two people’s age added together would be at least 130, 140 years. Could it be that I could hang them and question them via torture?”

Zhang Jiejie said in disbelief, “Although you are not a good thing at all, you are not such a person.” She suddenly heaved a sigh again, and said, “Now that they have left, it seems that I have no choice but to follow you coming back to look for that friend of mine.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “That’s not necessary.”

Zhang Jiejie’s eyes grew big, she said, “Not necessary? Could it be that you have a way to find that person?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang chuckled and said, “Although I can’t find him, someone can.”

Zhang Jiejie’s eyes grew even bigger, she asked, “Who?”

Chu Liuxiang’s hand pointed forward, “That one.”

Following his hand, Zhang Jiejie saw the mule pulling the cart. The mule had its head down, nibbling on the grass by the roadside.

Covering her mouth, Zhang Jiejie laughed and said, “Turns out it is your friend too.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “At least mules have one advantage: mules can’t tell lies.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “But mules can’t speak human words with you either.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “It doesn’t need to talk.”

He suddenly asked, “If I left suddenly and left you here alone, where would you go?”

Zhang Jiejie was stunned, she said, “I can go anywhere; I have at least one or two places I can go.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “What if there is no place to go?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Then I am going home.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “That’s right, of course you want to go home, plus you must know the way home.” He went on, “Other than humans, there is another kind of animal that knows its way home.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zhang Jiejie said, “A horse.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “That’s right. An old horse knows the way [idiom]. No matter where you leave a horse, it will find a way to go home.”

Zhang Jiejie laughed and said, “Perhaps it still depends on whether it is a stallion? Or a mare?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Even a stallion will have no other option but to go home, it has no other place to go. Because on earth, there are no brothels and wine shops for horses yet.”

Zhang Jiejie’s eyes gradually lit up, she said, “You mean … this mule can also find its way home?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “Don’t forget that mules are half horses, and they are smarter than horses.”

Zhang Jiejie blinked, she said, “You are going to follow the mule home, but will it go home to its donkey’s Papa, or its horse Mama?”

The mule walked in front, Chu Liuxiang and Zhang Jiejie followed behind; they were walking quietly, when Zhang Jiejie suddenly laughed, she was bending over in laughter. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang could not help asking, “What are you laughing at?”

Zhang Jiejie replied, “I’m laughing at myself.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I can’t guess which part of you is so funny.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “I’m laughing at myself for being an idiot.”

Chu Liuxiang also laughed and said, “Why did you suddenly become so modest?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “If I’m not an idiot, why would I walk behind a mule’s ass?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “That is because I want to find the owner of this mule.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “How do you know that the owner of this mule is the person who wants to harm you?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I don’t know, hence the reason I want to try my luck.”

Zhang Jiejie looked at him, slowly she started to shake her head and said, “They say that if someone met peach blossom luck, he would be unlucky. Why would I want to accompany you to meet your bad luck?” She blinked and went on, “Whatever the case, at least I haven’t harmed you yet, have I?”

Stroking his nose, Chu Liuxiang said, “You indeed have not.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “I am a woman, you are a man, men and women should not be intimate with each other [saying from Mencius]. You should have heard this saying?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I have indeed heard it.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zhang Jiejie said, “Therefore, you can’t hold me back, you can’t insist that I must follow you.”

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he said, “I indeed can’t.”

Zhang Jiejie spoke sweetly, “In that case, I’m leaving. I don’t want to wander around randomly following a mule, or an idiot.” She patted Chu Liuxiang’s shoulder, and then continued with a laugh, “When you are really getting killed by someone, don’t forget to notify me, I will surely rush over to burn incense sticks for you.”

As soon as she spoke the last word, her person was already seven, eight zhang away. And then she looked back and waved at Chu Liuxiang, and then suddenly disappeared.

Chu Liuxiang suddenly discovered that her qinggong was very high. If there were only ten thousand people in this world, she might be much more brilliant than the other nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight people. Only nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight people, because there was one Chu Liuxiang among them.

“But now, even Chu Liuxiang can’t catch up with her.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he muttered to himself, “If I was really getting killed by someone, how could I notify you?”

He discovered that everything the girl said seemed to be like this: half-truth, half-false, apparently right but actually wrong, so whatever the case, other people could not guess her intention.

“What kind of person she really is? What is her intention to me?”

If he said she had evil intention, she indeed did not harm Chu Liuxiang; moreover, to some extent, she even revealed a little secret to Chu Liuxiang.

She was hiding under the cart, indeed it was as if she was waiting for a chance to rescue Chu Liuxiang; but if it wasn’t for her, how could Chu Liuxiang get in that cart full of baskets? How could he fall into that pair of old foxes’ trick?

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh again, he only hoped that he would not be out of luck like she said, he only hoped that this mule could help him, to go home obediently, and take him to see that person. He really wanted to ask that person, why did he wholeheartedly want to kill him?

While sighing, they walked together, the mule returned to its old home, ‘Yuanji Luoma Hao’ [lit. remembering the root (origin) horse and mule business establishment].

A very large mule and horse business establishment; inside, there were all kinds of donkeys, mules, and horses.

Chu Liuxiang painstakingly followed the mule for half a day journey. Good or bad, he really wanted to see its donkey’s Papa or its horse Mama. Could it be that Zhang Jiejie had already guessed this kind of outcome? It seems that if a person follows a mule, there could not possibly be any outcome. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The mule already wagged its tail, joyfully satisfied, it went to look for its relatives and friends.

But Chu Liuxiang could only stand there by himself, staring blankly.

It was only after a very long time that he could laugh. Smiling bitterly, he muttered to himself, “This mule must be a female.”

Across the street from the mule and horse business establishment, there was a restaurant, ‘Wu Fu Lou’ [five happiness building (with more than 1 story].

Turned out he was an idiot. An out-and-out idiot. That’s right, presently he knew that someone wanted to kill him. But he was still alive.

“Since he wants to kill me, why don’t I wait for him to kill me? Why did I take such a great trouble to look for him?”

Chu Liuxiang drank the sixth cup of wine, and he drank it very quickly because it was not a good wine at all. At least it was much more inferior than his stash of wine.

“Even a mule understands that he must go home, why would I want to wander around persistently and pointlessly outside?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang decided to stop drinking at the twelfth cup of wine.

“Go to Xiao Hu first, and then go home.”

Not only there would be good wine waiting for him at home, there would also be many gentle and lovely people waiting for him.

He decided that this time he would stay at home for a longer period of time, to get a good rest and enjoy himself.

He really needed to enjoy himself.

Shi Guanyin, Wuhua, ‘Shui Mu’ [Water Matriarch] Yinji, Huameiniao [the Thrush (bird)], NanGong Ling, Xue Yiren, Xue Baobao, Kumei Dashi, Bianfu Gongzi [Bat Prince] …

All these people, none was easy to deal with.

If Chu Liuxiang had not relied on his luck, by now he might have died seven or eight times.

As soon as he thought about the past, he could not help thinking.

“I may not to care about other things, but I simply can’t see her die for me.”

Suddenly there was another shadow in his heart. The shadow of that hand.

Suddenly, a hand stretched over from the side, it stretched out in front of him.

A very beautiful hand, the five fingers were slender, soft as if it did not have any bones, slowly lifted the wine pot on Chu Liuxiang’s table. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The wine cup was already empty.

Chu Liuxiang did not look up, he was only watching the wine slowly pouring out of the wine pot, filling the wine cup.

The wine cup was empty again.

Chu Liuxiang still did not look up.

He already saw a set of water-red upper garment and skirt, already smelled a familiar aroma. That was enough for him to recognize who this person was.

Ai Hong.

Chu Liuxiang really did not expect her to appear again; suddenly he chuckled and said, “You already changed shoes.”

The skirt was hanging down, her pair of feet was lifted slightly, revealing a pair of very delicate green flower shoes, the soles were thin and soft. This kind of thin sole, there was absolutely no concealed weapon inside. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang nodded, he laughed and said, “Very pretty, these are the shoes that girls should wear.”

The shop’s attendant already set up the additional cup and chopsticks.

Chu Liuxiang said, “Since you have come, why don’t you sit down and drink a couple of cups?”

Ai Hong sat down.

It was only then that Chu Liuxiang discovered that her face had become much paler than the last time, her expression seemed to be a bit more melancholy. Even that kind of playful sweet smile on the corner of her mouth had disappeared, her eyebrows were tightly knitted, as if she had a very heavy load on her mind.

Girls are melancholy and moody, who does not have a load on his mind? But Ai Hong did not appear to be that kind of melancholy and moody girl.

Chu Liuxiang poured a cup of wine for her, he laughed and said, “Are you still thinking about that pair of shoes? The shoes are still in the hands of that under-the-table friend of mine, I can get them back for you at any time.”

Ai Hong hung her head down, as if she was very uneasy.

Chu Liuxiang laughed again and said, “Don’t worry, although that friend of mine likes your shoes very much, but this time he is not hiding under the table.”

Ai Hong bit her lip, finally she took the cup of wine in front of her and drank it down.

Using her chopsticks, Chu Liuxiang took a piece of fried chicken and put it on the plate in front of her, he said, “Drinking on an empty stomach is the easiest way to get drunk. The dishes here are not bad, you should try it first.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Ai Hong suddenly began to look up, she fixed her gaze at him. Her pair of beautiful eyes was brimming with melancholy and uneasiness. A girl like her shouldn’t be in such pain.

Chu Liuxiang handed the chopsticks to her, he spoke softly, “Please eat something first, and then I’ll accompany you drinking, all right?”

Ai Hong lightly heaved a sigh, she said, “Do you always talk this gently and softly with women?”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “It depends on what kind of women.”

Ai Hong asked, “What kind of a woman am I?”

Chu Liuxiang did not answer, he was only looking attentively at her with appreciative gaze. _{Translated by foxs}

This kind of gaze could often make girls happier than any words of praise.

But Ai Hong’s eye socket turned red instead, she looked even more emotional. Hanging her head down, she said, “I am not Ai Qing’s Meimei.”

Chu Liuxiang said. “I know.”

Ai Hong said, “I deceived you, but I also long to see you again, I practically am a very bad woman, you originally did not need to be so tolerant of me.”

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, “The matter of the past, I already forgot, because I know it was definitely not your own intention.”

He suddenly discovered a very strange thing; all along Ai Hong’s left hand was hidden inside her sleeve, she never even raised it up.

Ai Hong said, “What if it was my own intention?”

Chu Liuxiang spoke softly, “Even if it was your own intention, I don’t blame you either. Such a naïve and beautiful girl like you, no matter what you did, others can always forgive you.” He suddenly raised Ai Hong’s left hand.

Ai Hong’s countenance immediately changed, it become even paler. Chu Liuxiang’s countenance also changed.

This section of the sleeve was empty, Ai Hong already lost a hand.

Now, Chu Liuxiang finally knew whose hand was on the windowsill. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Young girls often regard their appearance as more important than their lives. Even a scar on their hand would already be a very painful thing, much less losing a hand?

Chu Liuxiang not only sympathized with her, he also could not help grieving for her.

He had indeed forgiven her long ago.

If she was hiding from him but was found by him, or if when she saw him she still looked like she felt that men were idiots, perhaps the situation would be different.

But if a pitiful girl, her heart was filled with melancholy – voluntarily came to him and poured him wine, no matter what she did to him, he absolutely would not take it to heart.

Chu Liuxiang always very quickly forgot other people’s offenses, but he never forgot anyone’s good points. Therefore, not only his life must be happier, but his life must also be longer.

People who don’t have hatred in their hearts would always pass their days a bit better.

After a long time, Chu Liuxiang sighed softly and said, “It was because you did not kill me that they did this to you?”

Ai Hong lowered her head and did not say anything, but her tears were dripping down into the wine cup in front of her. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Who did this to you?”

Ai Hong bit her lip hard, as if she was afraid she might reveal the secret in her heart.

Chu Liuxiang said, “You still do not dare to say it even now? Why are you so afraid of her?” [Note: the ‘her’ was indeed feminine, not sure whether it was intentional or just a typo.]

Ai Hong was indeed afraid.

She looked to be not only in pain, but also in fear, so frightened that her whole body was trembling incessantly.

The person not only chopped off one of her hands, he could also take her life any moment.

Chu Liuxiang could not even imagine that anyone who could be so cruel to such a young girl, but if it wasn’t for him, Ai Hong would not have encountered this kind of misfortune.

He suddenly felt very angry.

Chu Liuxiang seldom got angry because anger always easily affects people’s judgment; people who get angry are always the most likely to make an error.

But he was, after all, a human; there were times when he could not control it, not to mention that this time his mood was not too good, his frame of mind was not too stable. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

He had already forgotten about going home to enjoy himself. Suddenly he stood up and said, “Sit here and wait for me, I’ll be back soon.”

Ai Hong nodded; her gaze gentle and soft, she looked at him, as if she already regarded him as the only person she could rely on.

She came this time not only to ask for Chu Liuxiang’s forgiveness, but also perhaps because she already felt that she was alone.

Chu Liuxiang understood her intention. Therefore, there was something that he simply had to do.

It seemed like the people who worked for a horse and mule business establishment were more or less infected by the ‘mules’ character, they were not as polite as those other people in other businesses.

Just as Chu Liuxiang walked over, the not-so-friendly attendant came up to him and said, “Keguan [polite appellation for a guest at a hotel, etc.] came here to pick a horse? Or buy a mule? We guarantee that the feet [classifier for horse/mule] we sell here are the best.”

Finally, it was a very polite greeting. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “I came here just want to inquire about some information.”

Hearing that it was not a business visit, there was no need to be polite. The attendant spoke coldly, “We only have information about [domestic] animals here, no information about people.”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “I precisely want to inquire about information concerning a mule.”

The attendant’s cold eyes sized him up and down, finally he held back and did not say anything unpleasant to the ears.

Chu Liuxiang said, “There was a mule without anybody with it running in just now, did you see it?”

The attendant asked, “Such a mule, could it be that it is yours?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “It’s not mine, it’s yours.”

Only now did the attendant’s face become a bit better, he said, “Since it is ours, what do you want to know?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But naturally you have sold this mule once, I just want to ask who bought it.”

The attendant suddenly pointed his hand forward and said, “Did you see, how many mules are there?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang did see it, in the back shed there were indeed so many mules.

The attendant said, “Mules are not like people. Some people are handsome, some ugly, but all mules look the same. In one day, I don’t know how many mules we sell, how would I know which mule is sold to whom?” The attendant showed an impatient look on his face, obviously he was ready to end this conversation.

Chu Liuxiang had no choice but to use his last weapon, which was also the most formidable.

Even if you use this kind of thing to punch a few holes on someone’s head, perhaps that person would still be smiling and thank you——other than silver, what could have such great magical power?

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