Kou Zhong said, "Since we don't have anything to do, why not tail them and see why they are so pretentious? Finding a place to spend the night will also be good.”
Xu Ziling readily agreed.
The two boys' childish character was aroused; unleashing their qinggong, they flew to the eaves and jumped over the walls just like walking on level ground. They were indeed able to do what their heart wished.
Suddenly they entered a place between the heaven and the earth, where previously they could only dream of, a place where although there was only a fine line separating it from ordinary people's world, yet it was vastly different; it was the pinnacle of qinggong, which could only be classified as a place where only martial art experts with ultimate skill could ever achieved. This has filled them with mysterious and marvelous feeling.
Their heart and mind have become like the clear water in the well; nothing to think, no obstruction, but objectively reflecting the great mysteries of the universe.
When they stuck out their heads from behind the eaves of a house, the two men had just turned from the alley into the main street ahead.
They saw a huge residential building situated at the southern city wall where there was an endless stream of horses and carriages outside of its door; it was very lively. Inside and outside the gate the lanterns were fully lit, people coming and going, sound of people talking and laughing could be heard everywhere.
Kou Zhong whispered in Xu Ziling's ear, "Turns out everybody is coming here. There must be a birthday or wedding, a happy occasion. What do you say we also join the festivities?”
Xu Ziling said, "No wonder those two muddled-eggs laughed at us for not having enough qualifications to come. Just look at the flair, the one having this happy occasion must not be a nobody. Without invitation, how are we going to mingle in?”
Kou Zhong seemed to have been completely recovered from the blow caused by Li Xiuning earlier; brimming with excitement, he said, "If the front gate is impenetrable, we will go through his mother's back door. Right now our clothes are brand-spanking new; as long as we are in, nobody will suspect that we are not genuine articles!”
Without waiting for Xu Ziling's response, Kou Zhong jumped down onto the alley and turned into the main street. Xu Ziling had no choice but to run after him.
Side-by-side the two boys walked toward the big building at the corner of the street. It was only then did they discover that from their angle of view just now they could not see the entire situation of the front gate. It was actually jam-packed with crowd of people who were unable to get it; at least the number would be close to several hundreds.
A group of more than thirty men wearing dark green warrior outfits was trying to maintain order; they did not let any onlookers from blocking the street, to let real guests on carriages and horses to enter the mansion.
Kou Zhong was greatly surprised, "My Niang! What happens here? Even if this family is holding a banquet, it definitely won't attract these many onlookers!”
Seeing the crowd ahead of them was blocked by those several men in warrior outfits, Xu Ziling turned around and hastily stopped one of the crowds and asked, "What happen in there?”
The man glowered at him; he vented his frustration on these two boys, "You don't even know that the world-famous Shi Qingxuan is here? Get lost! Go back to your nest to suck on your old Niang's breasts!” he angrily said and walked away.
Hearing that, the two boys were dumbstruck.
It should be noted that Shi Qingxuan's name has shaken the whole country as an amazing woman, due to her flute [xiao, see my note earlier, Book 2 Chapter 8] skill that was shocking the present age. They had heard her name as early as when they were still in Yangzhou, it's just that they did not know which person had this much face that he was able to invite her to perform here. Rumor has it that she had lived a reclusive life, not many people were able to enjoy her flute music, but those who had heard her had all prostrated themselves in admiration.
Kou Zhong elbowed Xu Ziling's flank and said with a giggle, "We won't have to worry about being lonely tonight; there are both a show to enjoy and wine to drink.”
Xu Ziling's heart warmed up; he laughed and said, "If you drink again, I won't accompany you.”
"I won't drink!” Kou Zhong hastily said, "Come!”
Seeing the path ahead was blocked, he led Xu Ziling going around in big circle and arrived at the rear wall of this grand residence, which occupied a land close to a hundred mu [1 mu is approximately 1/5 of a hectare, or about ½ an acre].
They lightly leaped over the high wall, and landed on a deserted rear courtyard. Walking toward the front of the building, they saw the big garden behind the main building was as bright as day with colored lanterns hanging everywhere, and it was packed with maids and guests.
The two boys brushed the dust from their clothes and then swaggered to join the crowd, feeling very excited in their hearts.
With ‘golden eyes blazing gaze' Kou Zhong sized up the meticulously dressed female guests who looked like ‘lovely scene of blossoming flowers swaying in the breeze', while from occasionally pointing out and making idle remarks about those women's appearance; it appeared that he has indeed gotten over Li Xiuning.
When they squeezed themselves into the inside hall of the main building, they saw that the atmosphere was even more lively. Everybody was excitedly discussing Shi Qingxuan's flute skill, as if they all were experts who have had extensive research about her.
Inside the hall, leaning against the wall were a dozen of tables full with hors d'oeuvres and all kinds of delicacies for everybody to enjoy.
Kou Zhong pulled Xu Ziling along as he squeezed himself left and right toward the tables. He sighed and said, "If I had known this good place, we could have come here to have dinner!”
Xu Ziling suddenly let out a muffled cry and pulled Kou Zhong to hide behind a stone pillar, as if he wanted to hide from certain people.
Kou Zhong was baffled. "What's the matter?” he asked in confusion.
Xu Ziling pointed his finger, "Look!” he said.
Kou Zhong stuck out his head to look. He saw among a crowd of men and women guests, six or seven respectable looking young masters [gongzi] in, were chatting around two beautiful young women; it was quite noticeable. His spirit aroused, he said, "Those two girls are very pretty.”
"I don't mean them!” Xu Ziling angrily said, "Can't you look a bit farther than that? You said you won't be so easy to be tempted by women.”
Kou Zhong reluctantly looked away from the girls, and saw toward the edge of the hall there was a cluster of rosewood chairs, where three men were sat. Other people could only stand on the side, emphasizing the status of these three men even more.
One of the men had snow-white hair and beard, his bearing bold and powerful, but his clothes were tattered. Although he was sitting down, he still gave the impression of his magnificent build that was as majestic as the mountain.
Another man was wearing long gown, the hair on his temples was peppered with white spots, so that people knew that he was definitely not a young man; but his appearance looked like a middle-aged man, carrying a distinguished and scholarly air of a Sect's leader, his manners elegant, giving the impression that he was an out of the ordinary, free from vulgarity, man.
These days Kou Zhong's experience has advanced greatly, yet he still felt that these two were outstanding characters.
Accompanied these two was a middle-aged man dressed in a high-ranking government official attire; very lordly, and gave the impression that he was an astute and formidable man.
Kou Zhong was wondering in his heart; although it appeared that these three were special personage, Xu Ziling should not make so much fuss about it.
This moment Xu Ziling's voice was heard next to his ear, "Isn't that Shen Naitang who we encountered the other day?”
Kou Zhong jumped in fright; hastily he swept his gaze over the dozen or so people who stood around these three men, and he quickly found Shen Naitang.
That day the two boys were detained by Du Fuwei in relation to the ‘Secret to Long Life', along the way they encountered Shen Naitang and Liang Shidou's son, Liang Shunming, and the others. A conflict broke out, which gave the two boys the opportunity to escape in the midst of the confusion. These days he did not remember them anymore, but now that he saw Shen Naitang, immediately he recalled Shen Naitang's beautiful niece Shen Wushuang.
Xu Ziling said in a low voice, "Hurry up, let's leave!”
"Why would we want to leave?” Kou Zhong argued, "Without listening to Shi Qingxuan's flute, we cannot leave. Besides, old fellow Shen has not seen us yet.” And then he added, "That official looking guy must be the host. I wonder who those two are?”
Temporarily Xu Ziling cast Shen Naitang out of his mind; answering Kou Zhong, he said, "Just look at how respectful the other men are, we know that they are not ordinary people. Hey! Ultimate martial art experts must have this kind imposing style!”
Right this moment, it was as if that bold and powerful old man and the scholar in long gown have sensed the two boys' staring at them; as if having prior agreement, they both shot a glance toward the two boys.
The two boys jumped in fright, they hastily withdrew to hide behind the pillar.
Kou Zhong exclaimed in low voice, "My Niang! Experts are indeed experts; they are definitely not a play thing.”
Flustered and panicked, Xu Ziling felt that someone was approaching him from behind. At first he thought it was just a guest walking by, but he clearly sensed that the person's hand was about to tap his shoulder.
It was a subtle feeling that was hard to describe with words, he did not see the other person's movement at all, but he clearly just knew.
In this instant, his mind entered the realm of clear water, not rippled, that can reflect the bright moon in the sky; he just knew that the other person did not mean him any harm.
The hand patted his shoulder; it was gentle and soft.
Kou Zhong also felt something was wrong, both he and Xu Ziling turned around at the same time.
As soon as they saw who it was, their soul flew away and scattered.
Because that person was the Dong Ming Princess who dressed as a handsome scholar. The one person in the world that they did not wish to see the most.