I am flying home tomorrow morning, next update will be delayed.
One after another the other martial art masters on Changshu Mou's side sat down; their number happened to be twenty even, Genggehu'er and Hua Lingzi separately sat down on Changshu Mou's left and right.
Seeing the waiter was still standing with trembling hands and feet and did not immediately clear up the leftovers on the table from the previous guests, Changshu Mou calmly said, "When I, Changshu Mou, was still in my humble country, I have already heard Ba Xiong's illustrious name, and was already filled with admiration, wishing earnestly that I can have an opportunity to ask for your brilliant guidance. I wonder if in these couple of days Ba Xiong has spare time, can we agree on a time and a place where we can talk intimately?”
Ba Fenghan drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, and casually threw the cup to the floor between he and Changshu Mou.
‘Crash!'
The china cup shattered into pieces and scattered all over the floor.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances; inwardly they were greatly surprised. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, this Ba kid unexpectedly was helping them!
Calm and composed, Ba Fenghan said, "Selecting an auspicious date is not as good as a chance encounter. I will leave town tomorrow, just let me, Ba Fenghan, see how much of Qu Ao's skill has Changshu Xiong mastered.”
Everybody halted their chopsticks; several hundreds eyes were all on Changshu Mou, wanting to know how he would react.
Genggehu'er and Hua Lingzi's countenance changed suddenly. While they were about to rise, Changshu Mou waved his hand to stop them, and then he let out a long laughter that shook the roof tiles.
Those in the restaurant who knew what's what were emotionally moved; they heard the sound of his laughter was high-pitched but not overbearing, yet it was able to pierce their eardrums. Obviously in terms of both inner and outer skills, Changshu Mou has reached transformation stage.
The laughter suddenly stopped.
Although there was no wind, Changshu Mou's white clothes suddenly fluttered; immediately a burst of cold and sharp murderous aura arose. A gentle and soft smile appeared on his handsome face, as he shook his head and said with a sigh, "What a delight. Too bad right now I have an important thing to do. I wonder if Ba Xiong could stay a bit longer?”
And then he turned toward the waiter, who was standing on the side without knowing what to do, and barked his order, "Give me two more orders of the same food that the friends from Flying Horse Ranch behind me ordered. Go!”
The waiter hurried away.
Shang Xiuxun knew the enemy would make their move anytime; she signaled her men to instruct them who should fight and who should leave.
This is called ‘he who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no one well meaning will come' [i.e. be careful not to trust strangers].
Changshu Mou's party seemed to have very high confidence, they must have something to rely on; perhaps they still have hidden troops downstairs or outside the building. However, merely Changshu Mou, three martial brothers and sister, already had formidable power.
The other seventeen Tiele warriors had understated expression; each one was as calm as ordinary people. Those with discerning eyes would be able to tell that these men were not to be trifled with.
In the restaurant, crow and peacock made no sound [i.e. absolute silence]; nobody was willing to leave and miss watching the excitement. Everybody was waiting quietly for Ba Fenghan's response.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked down to the street, and found out that the street, which was originally bustling with people coming and going, has suddenly turned as quiet as a ghost domain; the stores and shops have closed their doors, and not a single human being was to be found. Immediately they realized that Changshu Mou's operation to deal with the Flying Horse Ranch has received Qian Duguan's tacit approval; they could not help shivering in fear.
Ba Fenghan's voice rang out, "This is indeed a coincidence. I was going to deal with two friends from the Flying Horse Ranch for some personal gratitude and grudges; would Changshu Xiong also wait a little bit?”
Both Shang Xiuxun and Changshu Mou's men were surprised.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew it was time for the ugly woman to meet the father-in-law. While they were looking at each other with wry smile on their faces, Ba Fenghan suddenly muttered as if he was talking to himself, "Why is Junyu late?”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were gob smacked; they both thought that it would be worse if they came across Fu Junyu.
Shang Xiuxun's gaze fell on them, her eyes gleamed with cold flashes.
Kou Zhong finally spoke up; he sighed and said, "Since Changshu Xiong lost your golden shields, I wonder if you are now using iron shields, copper shields, wooden shields, leather shields, or perhaps rotten shields?”
This remark was like a sharp tip suddenly appeared out of nowhere. First, Changshu Mou was greatly shaken; next, he turned around and seeing Kou Zhong, he stared in disbelief at the two boys.
Luo Fang was even more shocked; along with everybody else's golden eyes and fiery gaze, he stared fiercely at the two boys.
Kou Zhong turned around and flashed Changshu Mou one of his splendid smiles. He even raised his hand to greet him and said, "Hello! You have fallen into a trap! Wanwan is secretly conspiring with us; otherwise, how could you idiots drop by here to receive a beating today? Ha! Really funny!”
And then, pointing at the two new shields hanging on Changshu Mou's back, he roared in laughter and said, "Turns out it's iron. Ha! Suddenly you became poor!”
Next, he turned toward Shang Xiuxun, who was glowering at him, winked and said, "Changzhu Daren, please be magnanimous; we, two brothers, will atone for our crimes by meritorious acts!”
Other than those in the know, everybody listening was baffled; they were unclear on who exactly Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were? However, just by the fact that Changshu Mou's side did not recklessly make their move, they knew that these two boys must have unusual background.
With a tender laugh Hua Lingzi said, "We should be the one who said ‘interesting'; let this Miss see how you, these two kids, are going to render meritorious acts?”
Finished speaking, two short blades immediately moved from her sleeves into her hands.
"Hold on!” Ba Fenghan suddenly shouted.
Just like that, the ‘swords drawn and bows bent' atmosphere was temporarily suppressed.
Genggehu'er had found early on that Ba Fenghan was unpleasant to the eye; he laughed coldly and said, "Isn't Ba Xiong meddling on other people's business too much?”
Ba Fenghan sneered and said, "Whether I am meddling or not, it depends on my mood. But if even a little bit of face you are not willing to grant me, don't blame Zaixia for putting my foot down.”
Even with Changshu Mou's arrogant and conceited character, he was unwilling to deal with the Flying Horse Ranch's martial art masters and Kou and Xu, two boys at the same time; not to mention with the addition of Ba Fenghan, a formidable opponent. Thereupon he put down his ambitious and ruthless character. With his back against Kou Zhong, he sat comfortably in his chair and slapped the table and shouted, "Why haven't the food and wine being served yet?”
Shang Xiuxun's silver-bell-like laughter rang out, attracting the entire restaurant's attention. She then said calmly, "I have long heard Ba Xiong's saber and sword's mutual splendor; is it possible for you to let Xiuxun broaden her horizon?”
Everybody, including Ba Fenghan himself, was stunned; nobody understood why ‘grew new branch out of a knot' by suddenly issuing challenge to Ba Fenghan.
Except Xu Ziling. He understood a little bit her frame of mind. First of all, she was annoyed that the two boys deceived her, and then she was mad at Ba Fenghan sticking his nose right this moment by wanting to settle scores with the two boys, which would give Changshu Mou an unfair advantage.
This moment Xu Ziling turned his head to look at Ba Fenghan. Ba Fenghan also happened to look at him. As the two men's eyes met, it was as if four streaks of lightning struck against each other in the air.
Xu Ziling straightened up his back and shoulders, his imposing manner rose up steeply, revealing a terrifying graceful bearing that no one, Kou Zhong included, has ever seen before. Calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos, he cast a sidelong glance toward Ba Fenghan and said with a smile, "Has Ba Xiong's saber been broken?”
Ba Fenghan was astonished, "Xu Xiong has indeed guessed correctly. Ten days ago Zaixia met a martial art master that I have never met before, which resulted in my saber broken. How did Xu Xiong guess?”
As soon as the two words ‘Xu Xiong' came out of his mouth, the room was abuzz with people expressing their opinions. By this time everybody guessed that these two ‘brothers' must be Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong, who dealt with Ren Shaoming.
Shang Xiuxun revealed an extremely angry expression. She stomped her feet under the table to vent out her anger, yet in her fragrant heart she was secretly pleasantly surprised; it was indeed an extreme contradiction.
Liang Zhi, Luo Fang and the others were dumbstruck; in their hearts, there was an equal amount of disbelief and delight.
When Ba Fenghan mentioned that he encountered a strong opponent that he had never met before, his eyes revealed an extremely complex expression, as if it was a very memorable encounter. Noticing that, Kou Zhong's heart was moved; he said, "What's so difficult to guess? We also know that the opponent Ba Xiong encountered was a woman as beautiful as an immortal from the Heaven; her fragrant name is Wanwan. Ha! Isn't that right?”
Ba Fenghan burst out laughing. He said, "Right! Ha! But Kou Xiong is only half right. She did look amazingly beautiful, but she was not Wanwan at all; rather, the most outstanding female martial art master since the beginning of Dugu Clan's history.”
"Dugu Feng?” Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling blurted out together.
This time Ba Fenghan was stunned. "Have you fought with her too?” he asked in astonishment.
Changshu Mou joined in; he asked in amazement, "Does that mean Ba Xiong was losing a battle? How come I have never heard about this woman?”
Kou Zhong sneered and said, "What's so strange about you never heard about it? Isn't Ba Xiong also unclear about this female demon Wanwan?”
Changshu Mou was displeased, "I was talking to Ba Xiong, you interrupted me,” he said.
Kou Zhong was about to retort, Shang Xiuxun's tender voice snapped, "Why so much bullsh1t? Just shut up! Ba Fenghan, let me see if your sword is stronger than your saber.
The room grew quiet again.