The man did not pay them any attention, he steered the boat toward the distant shore on the opposite side instead, as if he intentionally wanted to avoid them.
Qin Shubao signaled the two boys, and soared into the air, crossing about four zhang of water surface, toward the sailboat.
Prior to this, the longest distance the two boys were able to jump was only three zhang. But since they had no choice, they simply braced themselves and jumped with all their strength.
One after another the three people landed on the fishing net between the sail mast and the stern. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling cheered together, they were very pleased with their own progress.
"Aiyo!” the fisherman cried out with shrill voice, "You broke my net!”
The three people looked at each other; turned out ‘he' was a ‘she', a young woman with sweet, pleasant-to-the-ear voice.
Right that moment, the woman raised her right hand to pull something from the thin air, the net where the three people were standing on was suddenly closing up, trapping the three people like fish in the net, hanging from the mast in a very pathetic condition.
It was only then did they realize that the net was tied on its four corners with long, thin, transparent natural silk strings that were connected to an iron axle high up on the mast. Under the bright sunlight, it was almost invisible, so that they were being negligence and fell into the trap. The strange thing was that the transparent and thin silk strings were able to withstand the three people's weight, which was more than 200 catties. [Translator's note: I don't think 200 catties is correct, because that means on average one person weighed only about 30kg; but I translated it as is.]
Three people struggled hard, the net was swaying continuously, but with each sway, the net tightened a bit, until the three of them were squeezed into a ball, that they nearly could not even move their fingers.
The woman laughed aloud; she lifted up the bamboo hat, and her thick, beautiful fair instantly cascaded down like a waterfall.
Qin Shubao's voice cracked, "Shen Luoyan!” As soon as he finished speaking, following the swaying of the net, his face turned to the other side.
The beautiful woman shed her long robe, exposing plain yellow, skintight warrior suit underneath, her waist was wrapped in wide blue belt. She smiled coyly as she looked at the three people she caught in the net.
Kou Zhong cried out, "I am about to die, I am going to die soon! Why haven't you let us out? Aiya! Don't struggle!”
Shen Luoyan was exactly like her name suggested: female beauty captivating even the birds and beasts [chen yu luo yan, lit. fish sink, goose alights; an idiom from Zhuangzi]. Her pair of eyes was just like limpid lake waters in the fall [again, an idiom describing a woman's beautiful eyes], perfectly matched her pretty eyebrows extending onto her slender temples. Her skin was snowy white like jade, coupled with her elegant and graceful demeanor, she was indeed a rare beauty that was not inferior to Yun Yuzhen in any way.
Rarer still, she exuded some kind of noble air that could shake other people's heart, that could make any man who look at her to adore her, while feeling ashamed of his own inferiority.
Running her fingers on her hair, she brushed it aside to reveal her face, which could bewitch men's heart. "Keep calm and don't get excited,” she said nonchalantly, "Let Xiao Nuzi [little/lowly woman] speaks a few words, and then I will put you down.”
After another tender laughter, she said in soft voice, "Qin Shubao! Do you surrender? This net is the ‘Capturing Immortals Net', the handiwork of number one craftsman in the world, Lu Miaozi; even immortals fall for it.”
At this moment her thick hair and lower garment were blown by the river breeze, sticking to her body at the front, and fluttering lightly behind her, highlighting her sweet, fair and graceful figure and her exceptional charm, making people believed even more than she was a fairy descending to the mortal world.
The two boys were staring dumbly at her, but Qin Shubao angrily said, "If that night these two kids did not mess around and spoil my troop disposition, the one being the prisoner would be you, this stinky woman. You just won by luck!”
Xu Ziling also angrily said, "Didn't you hear that? We are your benefactors, how could you treat the benefactors who save you life like this?”
Shen Luoyan laughed heartily, "Of course not!” she said.
With a wave of her left hand, the fishnet fell heavily on the deck, and immediately opened up.
The three people were burning with anger, this humiliation was difficult to endure. Shouting in unison, they pulled out their weapons to kill her.
Shen Luoyan pulled her sword from the stern and drew three sword-flowers, her sleeves floated in the air, she successively blocked the three people's attack.
‘Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!' As each weapon made contact with her sword, they all felt that her sword contained infinite consecutive changes, which not only neutralize their current attack, they felt that if they pressed on with another round of attack, it would also be defused. Overwhelmed with shock, the three people successively retreated to the bow, away from the fishnet.
The trio exchanged glances; a feeling of dread of her exquisite swordplay started to grow in their hearts.
Still calm and unruffled in the midst of fighting, Shen Luoyan sat on a small stool on the stern. Placing her sword horizontally across her knees, she smiled and said, "Do you, three big men, have the guts to listen to me say a few words?”
Qin Shubao coldly said, "Ol' Qin is the general of a defeated army, if you want to take my head, please do so with my respect, but if you want me to betray the imperial court to enter the Wagang Army, let Ol' Qin advise you to forget this delusion.”
Shen Luoyan let the river breeze blew her fair freely, her soul-hooking beautiful eyes swept the three people. Finally her gaze stopped at Qin Shubao's face; with a delicate laughter she said, "I am surprised that such a grand general does not dare to listen to a lowly woman's words. Very well! You may go. But two Xiao Xiongdi, please stay, let Luoyan expresses my gratitude properly.”
Kou Zhong was delighted. "Staying, that won't be necessary,” he said, "Right now what we, two brothers lack the most is money. Beautiful Junzhi [military advisor], whatever money you have on you, please just give it to us!”
"Pfft!” Shn Luoyan burst into laughter; covering up her mouth in mock anger she said, "Who would have imagined that you are this greedy? You want money? Then follow me home.”
It does not matter whether she was lifting a hand or moving a leg, her movements were overflowing with charm. Altough Qin Shubao turned a blind eye to her, but the two boys were unable to take their eyes off her.
Shen Luoyan turned her gaze back to Qin Shubao; pretending to be surprised, she said, "Great General, why are you reluctant to leave?”
Qin Shubao angrily said, "These two kids have nothing to do with Ol' Qin. Truth be told, I even have animosity toward them for causing me to lose the battle. Shen Luoyan, if you think that you can use them to threaten me, you are gravely mistaken.”
Xu Ziling replied in surprise, "Even if she wanted to detain us, I am afraid she does not have the ability; how could she use us to threaten you, laoge?”
Qin Shubao shook his head and said, "You must never underestimate this woman [just remember that in all these, the term ‘woman' was derogatory]. Other than being famous as the ‘Pretty Junshi', she also has another nickname, ‘Serpent and Scorpion Beauty' [interestingly, the dictionary gave ‘Femme Fatale' as alternate definition]. From Wagang Army's world [tian xia], at least one quarter can be attributed to her. Even our Grand Marshal, the ‘Henan Road's Twelve Counties Recovery Ambassador' Zhang Xutuo was lured into her ambush and perished in the battlefield.”
Shen Luoyan was displeased, "Toward the two Xiao Xiongdi, I only have good intention; you, Qin Shubao, can be considered an important person, don't start a rumor to slander me, a lowly woman, will you? Besides, Shen Luoyan really cannot live up to what General Qin said. When all is said and done, Luoyan is only a pawn under Pushan Gong [Duke of Mount Pu(?)]. If we are talking about devising battle plan in a tent, determining victory a thousand li away, who under the heavens in the present day can surpass Mi Gong? [Duke Mi]”
After a short pause, she continued, "Before the battle of Dahai Temple [lit. big ocean], Mi Gong already said, ‘Xutuo is brave, but foolhardy. When his troops enjoy sudden victory, he was very arrogant, hence he could be captured in one battle. But the three generals under his command, Qin Shubao, Luo Shixin and Cheng Yaojin, are rare talents. If we cannot use them, they must be killed!' It is due to Mi Gong's injunction that Luoyan exhausted my lips and tongue to advise you, General, to renounce the dark and seek the light. Bright generals must have brilliant master. Right now destiny has already been determined, the demise of Sui Clan is at hand, all the people in the world long for brilliant master. If General Qin still wants to help tyrannical ruler, please feel free to leave. But these two Xiao Xiongdi must follow Luoyan home.”
Turning to the two boys, she smiled sweetly and said, "If I don't go home, I won't have any money to give you!”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other. Their scalps turned numb; apparently Qin Shubao's conjecture was not incorrect, this woman was more formidable than their Beautiful Shifu.
Qin Shubao looked around, he still could not see what other trick she was preparing to deal with him. With a deep voice he said, "Ol' Qin has never cowered under others' threat.”
Shen Luoyan laughed coquettishly, "Isn't General going to commit suicide at Sishui? Why don't you make a bet with us? Right now Luoyan will let General and two Xiao Xiongdi go freely, within the next six sichen, you may go anywhere. After that, within three days I will capture you three times, but I guarantee that I won't harm even half a strand of hair on your body. If you lose, you must obediently join us, the Pushan Gong's force, and must not show any disloyalty.”
Xu Ziling protested, "We are your benefactors, why do you include us, two people?”
Shen Luoyan frowned and said, "I was only thinking for your good! When Mi Gong obtain the world in the future, you won't have to ask for money everywhere like little beggars.”
Qin Shubao threw his head backward and roared in laughter, "Very well! It's a deal. Just consider what happened just now as the first one. If you have the ability to capture Ol' Qin two more times, Ol' Qin will have to choice but to surrender.”
Shen Luoyan also laughed and said, "Qin Shubao is indeed a hero and a real man.”
Turning toward Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, two boys, she said, "It would be nice if you have half of Qin Xiong's heroic spirit.”
Qin Shubao shouted, "How can you, Shen Luoyan, judge these two Xiongdi? Let us go!”
The trio let out a loud yell and leaped off the sailboat toward the shore, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Shen Luoyan looked at the direction the three of them disappearing, an enigmatic smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.