If this man was indeed Dugu Ce, then in terms of status and martial art skill, this man far surpassed the two boys.
Yun Yuzhen stepped forward to meet them and said, "The enemy is too strong, we must immediately escape to the shore.”
Bu Tianzhi and that man, whom they suspected was Dugu Ce, also came to either side of Yun Yuzhen. The latter was staring at the two boys, sizing them up.
Kou Zhong pretended to be surprised as he stared back at Dugu Ce curiously.
Yun Yuzhen cleared her throat and made the introduction, "This is our Gang's martial art master protector of the law. He and Bu Fu Bangzhu will personally protect you.”
Dugu Ce laughed and said, "Two Xiao Xiongdi need not be scared; leaving the ship is just a tactical matter, not that we are afraid of the enemy.”
As soon as he spoke, the two boys recognized his voice; he was indeed Dugu Ce.
"Who's the enemy?” Xu Ziling asked.
Yun Yuzhen replied, "Du Fuwei has just taken the two large towns along the river ahead; he blocks the route to Zhongyang, hence we must change our route and go different way.”
Kou Zhong smiled politely to Yun Zhi, who was standing to the side, "Look!” he said, "Bangzhu treated us with a lot more courtesy than you did.”
Yun Zhi glowered at him for a moment, but then she hung her head and did not dare to say anything.
Yun Yuzhen also glowered at Yun Zhi, but right that moment someone came to report, "Bangzhu! We will reach Leigong [lit. god of thunder] Gorge soon.”
The two boys looked ahead, and saw the river narrowed, both banks were high and steep cliffs; the terrain looks extremely dangerous.
"Prepare to abandon ship!” Yun Yuzhen ordered.
The twenty-something people moved toward the port side of the bow. Bu Tianzhi and Dugu Ce separately came to Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong's sides, and pulled their shoulders toward the edge of the ship.
Meanwhile, the enemy ships were closing in behind them that they were now only about a li away.
Jukun Bang's warship was steered toward the left bank. When they were only about three zhang away from the cliff, the twenty odd people soared to the sky across the Huai River, flying toward a dangerous cliff nearby.
Bu Tianzhi and Dugu Ce wrapped their arms around the two boys' waist, and then took them soaring into the air, and landed at the bank.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling did a self-check: if they had to exert their strength and jump across three zhang distance, it would still be beyond their reach. But now everybody, including Yun Zhi, was able to easily do it. Based on this fact alone they knew that these people, at least in term of qinggong, was much better than they.
Holding them in their arms, Bu Tianzhi and Dugu Ce were still able to ‘handle the butcher's cleaver with ease'; it was obvious that the two boys could only ‘see the other rider's dust and have no hope of catching up'. [Translator's note: I could very well translate this paragraph as: Holding them in their arms, Bu Tianzhi and Dugu Ce were still able to do it skillfully and easily; it was obvious that the two boys were far inferior. But to me, personally, Chinese idioms are fascinating, and I'd like to share it with you.]
Therefore, under normal circumstances, they basically had no hope of escaping.
After landing, Yun Yuzhen did not just stay there; they quickly ran into the depth of the mountain and fields.
After running for a time needed to burn an incense stick, Dugu Ce suddenly shouted, "Halt!”
Everybody halted in shock.
A moment later, they heard the sound of bird cry and the flapping of wings ahead; obviously the enemy is coming their way, startling the sleeping birds away.
Aghast, Yun Yuzhen said, "This way!” Taking the lead, she dashed to the right.
After rushing down a hill, they saw ahead was a big mountain. Unleashing their lightness skill, everybody ran up the mountain at full speed.
By this time the sky was gradually getting brighter; all around them was desolate forest and mountainous open space that has never seen human footprint.
Passing through a thick forest, suddenly they were greeted by vast open space with wide panorama; turned out they had come to the edge of a high cliff. Directly across the canyon, peaks of a mountain range still loomed at the distance that they were all horrified.
Still holding Kou Zhong under his arm, Dugu Ce walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked down. "This is a dead end!” he exclaimed.
Kou Zhong craned his neck, he saw the cliff was around a hundred zhang tall, but clusters of old trees sprouted along the wall of the cliff, easing the feeling of danger. Down below was an endless stretch of jungle that extended toward the sloping hill on the opposite side.
Yun Yuzhen was trying to fins a way down when suddenly there was a long laugh coming from behind them. "Hongfen Bangzhu [orig. rouge and powder, see Book 2 Chapter 8], please hold! Du Fuwei of Huai River pays his respect to Bangzhu.”
Everybody knew hard battle was inevitable; they halted their steps and drew their weapons.
Bu Tianzhi and Dugu Ce put the two boys down and stood in front of them to shield them.
In order to deal with the powerful enemy, Yun Yuzhen and the rest stood in a semi-circle battle formation to protect them as well. Behind them was precisely the high cliff that could have their body torn and their bones crushed.
Kou Zhong reached out to grab Xu Ziling's hand; taking advantage while Yun Yuzhen and the others had their attention fixed on the enemy and did not pay any attention to the two boys, he whispered into Xu Ziling's ear, "We'll wait for an appropriate time to jump down the cliff. The cliff wall is full of trees and bushes, which will reduce the momentum of our falling. The bottom of the cliff is a forest, I guarantee we won't die from falling.”
Xu Ziling clenched his teeth and nodded his head.
Meanwhile Du Fuwei's tall and lanky figure has appeared ahead, and stopped about a zhang away in front of Yun Yuzhen and the others. Farther down, at the edge of the hill, there were thirty, forty people came out and immediately surround them.
Du Fuwei still wore tall hat on his head, his vigor was still as before, his gaze fell to the two boys, unexpectedly, a smiling expression, which was very difficult to describe, appeared on his dead-man-like face. He said in tender voice, "Children, now that you see your father, why haven't you come over to pay your respect and admit your wrong?”
Kou Zhong giggled and said, "Die, how are you, Senior? Your children have betrayed our family clan, henceforth father and sons relationship is cut asunder. Die, you'd better go home to enjoy live of ease and comfort, don't go around tiring yourself for the sake of your children.”
Seeing Kou Zhong was not the least bit afraid of the notoriously cruel and merciless Du Fuwei, Yun Yuzhen could not help feeling greatly amazed. If it were they, due to Du Fuwei's reputation, they would not dare to speak thoughtlessly and thus offending him.
What she did not know was that Du Fuwei was accustomed to listening to Kou Zhong, hence he still had a familiar feeling in his heart; smiling, he said, "It was caused by lack of communication between us, father and sons. Let your Ol' Die get rid of these brazen, mad fellows who kidnap people first, and then we, father and sons can sit down and have a nice heart-to-heart chat!”
Dugu Ce and Yun Yuzhen let out a cold snort at the same time.
Du Fuwei acted if he did not even see them. His gaze swept across the several women in the group; he laughed and said, "I often heard Jukun Bang is accustomed to use women to confuse people. Sure enough it is true. This time I, Du Fuwei, come prepared. If fighting breaks, I am afraid not many people will escape alive. The men will unavoidably die on the spot; the women will be difficult to escape humiliation. Does Yun Bangzhu still want to insist?”
With a cold humph Dugu Ce said, "People said that Du Fuwei is so arrogant that no one else matters. Sure enough it is true. Who's strong and who's weak, we'll find out as soon as we fight; why talk too much?”
Du Fuwei's gaze fell on Dugu Ce's face; his eyes emitted a very cold and sharp ray. "May I know this young friend's respected surname and great given name?” he asked in icy-cold tone, "Your tone is bigger than Yun Bangzhu's!”
With a charming laugh Yun Yuzhen said, "Have Du Zongguan heard Yuzhen speaks? How do you know who has the bigger tone?”
Du Fuwei shook his head; he said, "I only know that in these circumstances he can still talk out of turn, I know he is not your subordinate; why would Yun Bangzhu still want to cover him up?”
Yun Yuzhen was dumbstruck and unable to reply.
Du Fuwei nonchalantly said, "Jukun Bang and I have always been without grievance without enmity. I am just trying to get back two naughty children whose inferior character is hard to change. Fighting always damages a good relationship, but if we don't fight, it will be difficult to convince you. How about this! I have a proposal, I wonder if ladies and gentlemen are willing to listen.”
Yun Yuzhen coldly replied, "This Bangzhu will listen with respectful attention.”
At this time, even Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew that Du Fuwei has completely seized the initiative, while Yun Yuzhen's side could only play along.
Although earlier Dugu Ce did not consider Du Fuwei's prestige to be worthy in his eyes, but when he actually met Du Fuwei, it was like the hero suddenly turned into a coward [play on words here: hero - yingxiong, coward - gouxiong (lit. black bear)]; his nastiness disappeared who knows where.
Du Fuwei pointed to Dugu Ce and said, "Let this mysterious friend have an all-out battle with the Ol' Du for ten moves. Supposing I cannot achieve victory, I will immediately turn on my heels and will no longer consider these two inferior kids even exist. But supposing by fluke the Ol' Du wins, Yun Bangzhu will immediately hand them over to me so that I could bring them home and give them a good discipline. Yun Bangzhu, what's your opinion?”
And then he added in an icy-cold tone, "If Yun Bangzhu does not agree, my party will go all-out against yours. When that happens, please don't blame Ol' Du of being vicious and merciless, and totally disregarding Jianghu's principle of giving you a face.”
Yun Yuzhen's heart shivered in fear; she realized Du Fuwei's vision was indeed brilliant. He had seen through that in her side, Dugu Ce possessed the most superior martial art skill, yet he still dared to challenge him for ten moves; thus it was clear how high the opponent's confidence in achieving victory.
All of a sudden, she came to a realization that she had fallen into absolute disadvantage, and that she had no other choice.