Startled, they halted their steps, composed themselves, and looked.
The curtain on the carriage window was hanging down, so that it looked mysterious.
The driver of the carriage was unfamiliar-looking man. This moment the driver grinned, revealing two neat rows of snow white teeth. He said in heavy voice, "Wherever two Ye'er [masters] want to go, let Xiaoren give gentlemen a ride! Your enemies are numerous, I am afraid strolling everywhere like this will not be too appropriate!”
As soon as he spoke, the two immediately recognized him as Kou Zhong. Laughing and swearing, they gladly boarded the carriage, separately sitting on Kou Zhong's left and right.
Shouting dramatically, Kou Zhong urged the two steeds pulling the carriage to head south, round a corner, and into a big street parallel to the city wall.
Pulling his mask, he stuffed it into his pocket and said with a big laugh, "We are finally in Luoyang! Our enemies are in trouble!”
※ ※ ※
This time, sitting on the driver seat of the carriage, Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan enjoyed their higher position as they looked at the wide open and endlessly long street. It was a busy street, with carriages going back and forth, and restless pedestrians crowding the walkways on both sides of the street. It was a different feeling.
Kou Zhong's mood was particularly good. Between the rising and falling of the horses' hoofs, he narrated his ‘encounter' with Wang Shichong and Dugu Feng. Obviously his trust toward Ba Fenghan had increased significantly.
Finished listening, Ba Fenghan said with a smile, "Looks like now we'll need to arouse twelve of our spirits, especially since even though the granny might feel it beneath her dignity to personally deal with us, but Dugu Feng certainly won't let us off. Female assassin might be more unscrupulous than men.”
Full of confidence, Kou Zhong said, "How could our ten-day training on the mountain be in vain? Moreover, we've learned through experience that along the way all three of us continue to make breakthroughs. It's just that I don't know where to find some real martial art masters to test my saber. They are willing come, I can't ask for more. Hey! But it's best if from now on we do not separate.”
When the two heard how in his last sentence Kou Zhong was ‘revealing his tail', they nearly burst out laughing.
Greatly embarrassed, Kou Zhong busily changed the topic, "What are you two guys up to?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Ba Fenghan said, "I came across Shan Wanjing, and obtained some news concerning Yin Gui Pai. Nothing much.”
"What?” Kou Zhong blurted out, "The two of you went to see Dongming Princess?”
A burst of bizarre feeling welled up in Xu Ziling's heart.
Before meeting Ba Fenghan, he always thought that Ba Fenghan was a cold-hearted man, yet he found out that he actually had an emotional side as well.
Ba Fenghan laughed and said, "Brothers are like hands and feet, wives are like clothes. Not to mention Wanjing's fate has been fixed, what's wrong with going to see her? But actually Ling Shao shrank back as the time for battle approaches, so I had to go alone.”
Turning to Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong asked, "Have you had a chance to look for Yucheng and the others?”
Xu Ziling shook his head indicating that he has not. And then, sketching in light shades he said, "I only met four people: Li Jing, Liu Heita, Li Shimin, and Shi Feixuan, in that order.”
"What?” the other two blurted out; so loud that other people on the street turned their attention to the slow-moving carriage.
※ ※ ※
With the bluish green Tianjin's imperial willow in the distance, the riders and the pavilion were getting closer to each other.
Kou Zhong urged his horses to turn into the Heavenly Street connecting the southern end gate of the Imperial City with the Dingding Gate [lit. set up the sacred tripods, fig. the founding of the dynasty]. Beyond the shade of the Chinese scholar trees and the willow trees lining both side of the street, tens of thousands buildings stood in great numbers. Looming in the distant bell towers and drum towers looked at each other, over the inns, leather shops, bamboo pole business, woolen business, grocery stores, paper shops, cotton goods, fresh fruit stalls, and other businesses competing against each other, creating an atmosphere of thriving economy.
Pedestrians crowding the street like a school of fish, mixed with unending stream of carriages and sedan chairs, the perfect picture of flourishing metropolis bustling with noise and excitement.
This moment Xu Ziling had just finished recounting his encounters this morning. The other two agreed that it was highly likely that Qin Chuan was indeed Shi Feixuan.
The carriage glided toward the Tianjin Bridge. But due to the crowded street, their speed was quite low.
Under the shadow of the four multi-story buildings facing each other, Tianjin Bridge exuded its myriad ambience.
South of the Bridge was precisely the Dongjia Restaurant where Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan enjoyed a cup of fragrant tea this morning.
Knitting his brows, Ba Fenghan said, "There's something that I feel it's really strange. Just now Ziling said that he caught some kind of mystery-within-a-mystery tranquil sensation from Qin Chuan, who might be Shi Feixuan; hence he asked whether Qin Chuan was a follower of Buddha. Is that right?”
Xu Ziling nodded, "What's so strange about that?” he asked.
Kou Zhong's eyes glittered like frost and snow, but he did not make any sound.
"Was it a very strong sensation?” Ba Fenghan asked.
After pondering quietly for half a day, Xu Ziling replied, "I can't say it was very strong, but it was definitely very clear.”
Slapping his thigh, Ba Fenghan said with a sigh, "That's what I am talking about. If Qin Chuan is indeed Shi Feixuan, based on her brilliance, there is no way she would leak out anything that would give out her identity. Therefore, the Jade Annulus of the He Clan must be in her possession, and the sensation Ling Shao caught must be the Jade Annulus of the He Clan on her body. Besides, legend has it that the Jade Annulus of the He Clan has a miraculous effect of calming the spirit.”
The two boys felt it was a very reasonable argument; furthermore, they had always greatly admired Ba Fenghan's intelligence.
Blowing out a long breath, Kou Zhong said, "This Qin Chuan must be Shi Feixuan then.”
Ba Fenghan spoke in heavy voice, "He could also be Ning Daoqi himself.”
Xu Ziling jumped in fright, "My Niang!” he exclaimed.
Kou Zhong urged the horses to pass four sturdy-looking servants carrying a gorgeous sedan chair; smiling ruefully, he said, "I don't care whether Qin Chuan is Shi poniang [b1tch] or Ning laotou [lit. old head, derogatory term to address older man], I am going to get the Jade Annulus of the He Clan into my hands, by stealing openly or robbing stealthily. Otherwise, if that Li kid obtain it, I am going back to my village to till the fields!”
The two men drew a mouthful of cold air; they both were stunned speechless.