Sword Snow Stride Book 1 Chapter 41

Book 1 – White Horse Out of Liangzhou
Chapter 41 – Great Pavilion Subduing the Old Monster

The Xiao Guniang already said she wanted to leave, but on the first day she said she had a stomachache and did not leave. On the second day she said she wanted to buy some New Year goods to take back for her Die and Niang, so she pulled Shizi Dianxia to stroll around the city for a day. On the third day she lay inside the quilt, refusing to get up, her eyeballs were rolling around, but she couldn’t think of a good reason. Xu Fengnian was tactful, he said that according to the almanac, today was not a good day to take long journey, and then she asked Shizi Dianxia to accompany her going up and down Qingliang Mountain several times. On the fourth day, finally she was unable to find a way out. The young monk, stupid Nanbei was about to go crazy. The Xiao Guniang had no choice but to go with long moan and short gasp [idiom] to the carriage that Xu Fengnian prepared for her. The carriage was filled with her favorite snacks, melons and fruits. _{Translated by foxs}

She also wrote down an IOU for the rouge and gouache, next time she saw Xu Fengnian, she would pay him back. As for whether the copper coins in the alms bowl under her laodie’s [ol’ dad] bed were enough, she did not care.

When the Xiao Guniang saw that Shizi Dianxia did not look like he was going to board the carriage, she felt something was missing. Anxious, she said, “Xu Fengnian, you are not going to see me off?”

Xu Fengnian looked up and spoke softly, “No, I’m afraid that as soon as we are out of the city, I cannot help grabbing you back inside.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The Xiao Guniang was immediately happy. You see, Xu Fengnian still cared about her, this intimate friend. If he could not see her off, then he could not see her off. He was still young and she was still young, no need to worry that in the future she would not have the chance to meet. Besides, Xu Fengnian said that at the latest, he would go back to her home to play. Happy with the visit, Xiao Guniang forgot that she had not told Shizi Dianxia where she lived, which temple was the temple she called home. There were countless temples in the world. No matter how Shizi Dianxia possessed great magical power, without a clue, where could he go to look?

She sat inside the carriage, lowered her head and played with a string of red sandalwood prayer beads in her hand. One hundred and eight beads, the implication was destroying the six roots and six kinds of the three worlds, a total of one hundred and eight troubles. It was a sacred object of Buddhism that Shizi Dianxia earnestly requested from an eminent monk on Mount Jiuhua. The eminent monk’s Shifu happened to pass away at the age of 108, holding this string of Buddhist ‘Shuan Ma Suo’ [lit. rope to tie up the horse] and chanted countless sutras. Naturally it contained a unique victory, achievements and virtue that could only be grasped intuitively.

From this, it could be seen that heartless Shizi Dianxia actually cherished this Xiao Guniang from the bottom of his heart.

That night, during ‘Huang Huang Beiliang Zhen Ling Ge’ [see last chapter], which made all sorts of feelings well up in the heart of the old soldiers in the city, demons and gods at work [idiom: curious coincidence], the Xiao Guniang ran to Shizi Dianxia’s couch. He pulled her into his arms and embrace her in his bosom. She was not shy, listening to the singing, smelling the smell of wine, she just felt her whole heart was free from worry. _{Translated by foxs}

The young monk put his palms together to salute Xu Fengnian before getting on the carriage. Xu Fengnian laughed and returned the courtesy. The young monk had a bit more worldly wisdom than the Xiao Guniang. He said many heartfelt words of gratitude. From beginning to end, the young monk had no antipathy toward this notorious number one white silk pants in Beiliang. Before they met, he probably already heard Lizi say how good, how smart Xu Fengnian was, therefore, the first impression was the strongest [idiom], his impression was not bad. In addition, during this time, he only saw Shizi Dianxia got off his high horse, accompanying Lizi in wild playing, he did not see how domineering and wicked he was. In the end, he brought him several unique Buddhist text that even his own temple was lacking –from that big attic. The young monk really could not loathe him.

The carriage was moving slowly, the Xiao Guniang opened the curtain and waved vigorously.

Xu Fengnian smiled and waved.

Only when Xu Fengnian’s slender figure was completely out of sight that the Xiao Guniang plopped her butts on the embroidered seat cushion, feeling a little upset, her heart felt empty.

The young monk asked, “Lizi, how come we did not see Lao Huang, the stable guy you told me about?”

The previously dispirited and downcast Xiao Guniang was immediately radiant with delight, she said, “That Lao Huang, the most interesting thing is that when he smiles, we can see that he is missing two front teeth. Lao Huang loves an ivory comb the most, he always hides it, for fear that Xu Fengnian would take it and sell it for money, but he was willing to lend it to me to comb my hair. Anyway, my friendship with Lao Huang has become very good!”

As long as Lizi was in a good mood, the young monk would be in a good mood. Whether it was because of Lao Huang or even Xu Fengnian, the young monk did not care. After all, he was the stupid Nanbei. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The Xiao Guniang suddenly knocked the young monk on the head with her finger, she lectured, “Who said you can call me Lizi?!”

The young monk covered his head and said, “Xu Fengnian always call you that.”

The Xiao Guniang flew into a rage out of humiliation, she said, “Are you him?! How could it be the same?”

The young monk timidly said, “All right, Dongxi.”

Gnashing her teeth, the Xiao Guniang said, “You can’t call me Dongxi either! Wu Nanbei, you are the stupid Nanbei!”

Being tactful, the young monk shut up. She was really angry, otherwise she wouldn’t have called him by his full name, Wu Nanbei. Because in the past, Shifu always pulled Lizi‘s braids, earnestly instructed her not to talk about names with monks, and not to talk age with Taoists, that she must not call those who had left their homes with the names before they withdrew from worldly affairs. Ay, this was where Shifu, who did not have any great merits, had a bit of skill. _{Translated by foxs}

Li Dongxi.

Wu Nanbei.

Although the young monk’s expression was overcautious, inwardly he was actually thinking happily: You are Dongxi [east and west], and I am Nanbei [south and north]. As long as we are together, it will be all right.

Poor Xu Xiao did not arrive at his own Wangfu until the Xiao Guniang and the young monk left the city. He sat with Xu Fengnian in the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Only the father and son, two persons, even Chen Zhibao was not present.

Da Zhu Guo’s six adopted sons, Chen Zhibao, Yuan Zuozong, Ye Xizhen, Yao Jian, Qi Dangguo, and Chu Lushan, all have very different personalities. Shizi Dianxia’s relationship with each of them was also subtle. Xu Fengnian has been at odds with Chen Zhibao since he was a child, and before, he also did not have favorable impression toward Yuan Zuozong, Qi Dangguo, these two charging-to-danger, invincible military generals. In the past year, however, their relationship had improved too much, and they had drunk several times. As for the Confucian General Ye Xizhen, all along his relationship with Shizi Dianxia had always been so-so. On the contrary, Yao Jian, who was proficient in green bag technique [traditional Chinese medical practice], could always talk to Xu Fengnian. In the past, the young Shizi loved to watch Yao Jian chewing the dirt and hitting acupoint the most, he always found it very interesting. Needless to say, the as-round-as-a-ball Lu Qiu’er, he bowed and bent the knee [idiom: fawning] as if he were Xu Fengnian’s biological son. No one doubted that if Shizi Dianxia wanted him to kill his own wife and children, this Lu Qiu’er would only frown a little.

Pleased with himself, Xu Xiao said, “I met your Er Jie near the city gate. This time she did not curse me, Laodie is formidable?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Depressed, Xu Fengnian said, “Did not curse you, that is because Er Jie is angry with me. She practically does not take you seriously.”

The dignified Da Zhu Guo Xu Xiao acted dumb, like he was a peasant in the countryside, he said, “That, I don’t care.”

Xu Fengnian said angrily, “You don’t even know how to pull back Er Jie, in any case, she should celebrate the New Year at home?!”

Curling his lips, Xu Xiao said, “In that case, wouldn’t I just ask for scolding?”

Xu Fengnian shook his head, anger filled his belly. Taking a deep breath, he asked, “I performed that illegal song and dance two days ago, is that all right?”

Xu Xiao said humbly, “It’s all right, it’s all right; how can we encounter the emperor’s death again and again.”

Xu Fengnian snorted.

Xu Xiao had no choice but to laugh along. _{Translated by foxs}

When Xu Fengnian was fourteen years old, the late emperor died suddenly and unexpectedly. During the period of mourning by all levels of society, from top to bottom, Shizi Dianxia unexpectedly had big singing, big dancing under the Huang He Lou. The entire Beiliang was shocked and struck dumb. Da Zhu Guo, his whole body covered in dust, rushed back to the Wangfu, wanting to beat this bastard son with a cane, but in the end he could not bear to do it, so he just dragged out more than 200 people from the music studio and beheaded them in public.

At that time, the newly-ascended-to-the-throne emperor revealed his lenient side, he only verbally reprimanded Xu Fengnian a few sentences, on the grounds that Xu Fengnian was young and ignorant, he suppressed the criticism from the civil and military officials of the imperial court and the world’s scholars. Only three years later, he expressed the intention to take the naughty and mischievous Beliang Shizi as the ideal son-in-law. The whole world was in an uproar and was puzzled.

Xu Fengnian asked, “How exactly is Er Jie’s swordsmanship?”

Da Zhu Guo smiled and said, “She is still half a notch inferior to that NanGong Xiansheng you invited here.”

Astonished, Xu Fengnian said, “I know that Er Jie’s swordsmanship is impressive, unexpectedly she is that outstanding?”

Da Zhu Guo said proudly, “Weixiong, this lass, in doing anything she always strives to be the number one. That turtle bastard nicknamed Huang Long Shi [yellow dragon scholar], sooner or later there will come a day that he will be used as a stepping stone by your Er Jie.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Xu Fengnian carried Xiudong on his shoulders, he grabbed his head with both hands, and leaned against the main pillar of the pavilion carved with dragons with red paint and gold powder. He spoke lazily, “How about putting Er Jie and Bai Hu’er Lian together. Come to think about it, the two of them will be relatively well matched.”

Rolling his eyes, Da Zhu Guo said, “If you say this to either one of the two, you are asking for a beating. One Hongchi [red dragon (see Chapter 2)] or one Chunlei, you will suffer!”

Heaving a sigh, Xu Fengnian said, “Indeed I can’t beat them!”

Lowering his voice, Da Zhu Guo said, “I do have a martial art master [orig. high hand] on hand. If you have the ability, take him.”

Knitting his brows, Xu Fengnian asked warily, “How high?”

Da Zhu Guo stretched out both hands and said, “In the whole world, he can really be ranked in the top ten. Forty years ago, he could be ranked in the top three. Twenty years ago, it would definitely be in the top five.”

Smiling bitterly, Xu Fengnian said, “Wouldn’t that be even higher than Lao Huang?”

Xu Xiao chuckled.

Xu Fengnian asked, “Where do you hide him?” _{Translated by foxs}

Xu Xiao pointed at the Ting Chao Ting, he spoke mysteriously, “There is a suppression under the pavilion. Why I built this pavilion and why your Shifu is here are all because of this old monster that can be encountered only once in a hundred years.”

Very well aware of himself, Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, “Just by relying on my venturing-from-my-thatched-hut-for-the-first-time [idiom: young and inexperienced] three-legged cat martial art skill, I am going to throw away my life?”

Xu Xiao nodded, “There’s no rush. The old demon’s viciousness hasn’t been polished off yet, right now, anybody going there will really throw away his life.”

Talking to himself, Xu Fengnian said, “In that case, hereafter I won’t dare to go to Ting Chao Ting anymore.”

Xu Xiao laughed and said, “You can still go.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Xu Fengnian said firmly, “Even if you beat me to death, I won’t go!”