CLX Book 6 Chapter 7 – Part 1

Chapter 7 – Nine-Turn Bridge

Although the window was open, the stars and moonlight outside the window could not be seen. _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang stood woodenly in the darkness.

He came quietly, and now he was leaving quietly.

He did not leave anything behind, neither did he take anything away.

But why was the expression on his face so painful? Why was he in pain? Pain for whom?

When he came, he just knocked on the door and walked in; as simple as that.

When he left, he did not even say ‘Zhenzhong’ [lit. extremely valuable, please take good care of yourself!], he just left; as simple as that.

Although he did not obtain anything here, he did not lose anything either.

In his life full of legends and dangers, this seemed to be just a very ordinary interlude, not worth remembering, not worth telling people even more. But he himself knew that this was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.

Because he had never been so close to death.

“Only the invisible danger is the scariest!”

Did he really see the danger there? What exactly did he see? _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Only he himself knew, it’s a pity that perhaps he would never tell anybody.

The night was even quieter.

The sound of the gong and the loud cry just now did not seem to have alarmed anyone at all.

Could it be that there was practically no one else here?

There should be at least one — that screaming woman just now.

Why did she only shout?

Where did she come from? Why did she suddenly leave again?

Who was she?

These questions, perhaps not even Chu Liuxiang would be able to answer.

When the wind was blowing, he seemed to hear a burst of soft sobbing coming from inside.

He wanted to look back, but he restrained himself. _{Translated by foxs}

Because he knew that he could neither comfort her nor share in her sorrows and suffering –– he could do nothing but sympathize.

All he could do was to harden his heart, to leave quickly, to end this matter as soon as possible.

In all his life, he has never hardened his heart like this.

When he came here just now, he originally felt that he was being ridiculous, but now he felt that he was repulsive.

There was another breeze of wind, he suddenly pushed the door open and walked out.

He was stunned.

The garden was very quiet, there was not one bit of noise, but there were people.

A long row of people, like a long row of trees, waiting quietly in the darkness, without moving.

Chu Liuxiang could not see their faces, neither could he tell how many actually were there, he only saw their bows and their sabers.

The bows were pulled taut, the sabers were unsheathed.

The house was on the bridge, and the bridge was on the lotus pond. They had completely surrounded the lotus pond in the forest of flowers. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

But when they came, they did not make the slightest bit of noise. The footsteps of so many people, surprisingly they managed to hide from Chu Liuxiang.

Chu Liuxiang could only smile wryly.

At that time, his thoughts were indeed too chaotic, the things in his mind were really too many.

The sound of these people’s footsteps was indeed too light. Only those who have undergone strict training could have such footsteps, could pull the bowstring, unsheathe the saber – with no noise, no sound.

But the really terrifying thing was not them.

The really terrifying thing was the person who trained them!

Right this moment, on the head of the Nine-Turn Bridge, suddenly two burning torches were raised high.

In the dark, suddenly flames were lighted, it was always dazzling the eyes.

The dazzling flames illuminated everybody’s face.

Chu Liuxiang finally saw this person, he saw this person clearly. _{Translated by foxs}

At this moment, the person whom he did not want to see the most was precisely this one.

The most powerful person in Wanfu Wanshou Yuan, which could almost be regarded as the person with the most power and prestige within Jiangnan Wulin.

This person was not Jin Laotaitai at all, just recently she already became some kind of symbol of happiness and longevity, just recently became the idol of many people.

The person who really held the power and prestige was Jin Siye [Fourth Master].

In one hand, he held millions and millions of wealth, on the other hand, he held most of Jiangnan Wulin people’s life or death and their fate.

The dazzling flames illuminated someone’s face.

A face brimming with valor, determination and strong self-confidence, a middle-aged man with a mighty appearance wearing loose robe and big sleeves.

A large and comfortable imperial tutor chair was setup at the head of the bridge.

Jin Siye‘s hair was tied casually in a bun with black satin, and his feet also casually wore a pair of multi-eared hemp shoes; he casually sat just like that.

Yet there was absolutely no one who dare to casually look at him, no one dared to casually talk in front of him.

There is a kind of person who, no matter whether he is standing, sitting, or lying down, always carries an indescribable might. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Jin Siye was precisely this kind of person.

Chu Liuxiang looked at him, he knew that he was that kind of person.

But did he know that Chu Liuxiang was what kind of person too?

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he finally walked over. When he was front of Jin Siye, his expression was already very calm.

People who could see panic on Chu Liuxiang’s face were indeed not many.

Jin Siye sharp-like-the-eagle eyes were fixed on his face; suddenly he said, “Turns out it’s you.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “It’s me.”

Jin Siye spoke coldly, “We really did not expect it to be you.”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “I did not expect surprisingly Jin Siye recognizes me.”

Jin Siye’s countenance sank, he said, “Someone like you, as long as I see you one time, I definitely will not forget.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “Oh?”

Jin Siye said, “You have a very particular face.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “My face is particular.”

Jin Siye said, “No matter who, anyone with a face like yours, no matter how much you want to follow compass and set square [fig. established standard, upright and honest], to behave with integrity, it will be very difficult.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed again, he stroked his nose again.

He originally did not want to touch his face, but he still could not help touching his nose.

Jin Siye spoke coldly, “Therefore, I can see at a glance that you are definitely not someone to follow compass and set square.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Therefore, you have not forgotten me.”

Jin Siye said, “Humph.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But I have not forgotten Jin Siye either.”

He smiled, and continued, “Someone like Jin Siye, no matter who, anyone seeing you one time, it will be very difficult to forget.”

Jin Siye’s countenance changed, he said sternly, “Since you know me, you should not have come.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang heaved a sigh, he said, “Too bad I have already come.”

Jin Siye said, “Do you know what place this is?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “I don’t.”

He really did not know. But even if he did, he would still come.

Jin Siye said, “Do you know that for the last thirty years, no one has dared to casually break into this place?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “I don’t.”

Jin Siye asked, “How did you come here?”

Chu Liuxiang smiled wryly and said, “I was in a daze.”

Jin Siye stared him for half a day, suddenly he said, “You don’t even know who you saw just now.”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “I don’t, but I’d really like to know.” _{Translated by foxs}

Jin Siye spoke word by word, “She is my daughter.”

Chu Liuxiang was stunned again, this time he was genuinely stunned.

Jin Siye‘s expression became very strange, he spoke heavily, “If you saw someone walking out of your daughter’s room in the middle of the night, how would you deal with him?”

This question sounded a bit strange.

Yet Chu Liuxiang still shook his head, he said, “I don’t know.”

This time he wasn’t telling the truth.

Actually, he naturally also knew that under this kind of circumstances, a father usually has only two options – if he doesn’t beat the boy to death, he can only force him to marry his daughter as his wife.

An angry look appeared on Jin Siye‘s face, he spoke sternly, “You really don’t know?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “I don’t have a daughter.”

Jin Siye spoke angrily, “What do you know?”

Chu Liuxiang suddenly let out a long sigh, he said, “Up until now, I only know one thing.”

Jin Siye asked, “What thing?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Smiling wryly, Chu Liuxiang replied, “I only know that I seem to have fallen into a trap; without being able to make heads or tails, I suddenly fell into a trap.”

Indeed he was a bit unable to make heads or tails. By the time he realized it was a trap, the noose already tightened around his neck.

Jin Siye‘s countenance changed again, he spoke sternly, “Trap? What kind of trap?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “I don’t know.” He smiled wryly and continued, “If I knew what kind of trap it was, I wouldn’t have fallen into it.”

Jin Siye spoke coldly, “And you still want to jump out?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Indeed very difficult.”

Jin Siye asked, “Do you know how to get out?”

Chu Liuxiang replied, “I don’t.”

Jin Siye‘s eyes suddenly became very strange again, he said, “There is only one way.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Please advise.” _{Translated by foxs}

Jin Siye spoke heavily, “As long as you forget that this is a trap, wouldn’t you be no longer in this trap?”

Chu Liuxiang pondered a moment, he said, “I don’t quite understand this sentence.”

Jin Siye said, “If you forget that this is a trap, then there won’t be any trap, will it?”

Chu Liuxiang pondered again, he said, “I still don’t understand.”

Jin Siye’s countenance sank, he said, “How will I make you understand?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I don’t know.”

Jin Siye spoke sternly, “Very well, let me tell you!”

Suddenly he rose to his full height, suddenly he was already standing in front of Chu Liuxiang. His left palm flashed like a flower blooming in front of Chu Liuxiang’s eyes, his right hand grabbed Chu Liuxiang’s wrist as fast as lightning.

This could not be considered a very exquisite style.

When Chu Liuxiang was seven or eight years old, he already learned how to deal with this kind of style.

Even if he had his eyes closed, one hand and one leg tied, he could still evade this move.

But Jin Siye‘s style already changed, it suddenly changed, but it was unclear how it changed. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang suddenly discovered that Jin Siye‘s right hand was before his eyes, and the left hand, which was originally in front of his eyes, unexpectedly already grabbed his wrist.

It was only then that he was shocked.

In the past two years, he has encountered more top martial art masters than other people ever heard in their lifetime. Shi Guanyin’s shenfa, ‘Shuimu’ [water matriarch] Yin Ji’s palm power, Bianfu Gongzi’s [Bat Prince] secret projectiles, Xue Yiren’s sword. It could be said that not one martial art did not reach great heights, every single style launched, it seemed like there was a change that made people have no choice but to slap the table and shout with praise [idiom], it could not but carry heart-stopping formidable power.

But Chu Liuxiang had never seen martial art with a move as simple as, as effective as – Jin Siye‘s.

This move seemed to be prepared specifically to deal with Chu Liuxiang.

Chu Liuxiang’s wrist was immediately seized.

Jin Siye shouted in a low voice, the veins on his forehead bulged, his arm swung backwards, unexpectedly he threw Chu Liuxiang’s entire person out. _{Translated by foxs}

He clapped his hands, let out a mouthful of air, his face could not help showing a pleased-with-himself expression; unexpectedly he was very pleased with his own martial art skill.

Anyone who can throw Chu Liuxiang out with one move should be very pleased with himself.

Looked like very soon Chu Liuxiang’s head was going to hit the stone pillar at the edge of the bridge, Jin Siye slowly turned around and waved his hand, indicating he wanted his men to take Chu Liuxiang’s dead body away.

He was ready not to see Chu Liuxiang ever again.

When someone’s head was smashed to pieces, it was not a pretty sight.

Who would have thought that as soon as he turned around, he saw someone standing in front of him, grinning, looking at him. This was the person he never wanted to see again.

Jin Siye‘s face suddenly became stiff.

Chu Liuxiang was standing in front of him, looking at him with a grin, from top to bottom, his whole body was intact, just like a piece of chinaware just taken out of a sealed box, without the slightest bit of damage.

From his head, Jin Siye looked at him down to his feet, and then from his feet up to his head; he looked him up and down twice, suddenly he laughed coldly and said, “Good martial art.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang also chuckled and said, “Your martial art is not bad either.”

Jin Siye said, “Try this move again.”

When he was speaking, he already made his move.

He spoke every word slowly, he made his move even slower, amazingly slow.

Chu Liuxiang looked at his hands.

His hands were thick and short, but they were well maintained, the fingernails were also trimmed neatly; moreover, unlike those other pampered [lit. live like a prince (idiom)] Daye [big master, as in ‘master/servant’ relationship], he did not keep the nail on the little finger long, showing that in everything, he did not need to do it himself.

Although this pair of hands were definitely not disgusting, sometimes it could be deadly.

The fingers on his left hand looked even thicker and stiffer, even stronger, surprisingly it was also even more powerful.

Now, although his left hand has been raised, it has not moved, while his right hand was moving very slowly, slowly reaching out to Chu Liuxiang, as if he wanted to shake Chu Liuxiang’s hand, to make friends with him. _{Translated by foxs}

Now this hand did not seem to be the slightest bit dangerous.

But often when something did not appear to be dangerous that it would really be dangerous.

Did Chu Liuxiang understand this logic?

He did not seem to understand.

Therefore, by the time he saw the danger of this hand, it was already too late!

Suddenly, Chu Liuxiang found that both of his hands were already under the control of this hand’s power.

No matter how he wanted to move, very likely his wrists would be immediately seized by these hands.

The blue veins on the back of Jin Siye‘s hands were already bulging, and his fingertips were no more than three cun away from Chu Liuxiang’s wrist.

Chu Liuxiang sighed softly.

At this moment, Jin Siye‘s hand already grabbed his wrist—not the right hand, but the left hand.

His right hand was still stopping on the spot, but his left hand suddenly reached out like lightning. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

On paper, this kind of style was not profound at all, so much so that it could be said that it was a very old-fashioned, very cliché change.

But he launched it simply too fast, too effective!

Chu Liuxiang’s attention seemed to be completely focused on his right hand, he practically did not guard against his left hand.

The deadly left hand.

Jin Siye shouted in low voice again, and Chu Liuxiang’s person was immediately flung over again! Looked like very soon Chu Liuxiang’s head was going to hit the stone pillar at the edge of the bridge again.

This time, Jin Siye had no intention to turn around, neither did he intend to look again.

His eyes were burning, he stared at Chu Liuxiang without blinking.

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