The four men was about to make their move, Xu Ziling threw himself backward on the sand; fast as lightning his hands reached out to grab the ankles of the two men behind him.
Under Mai Yunfei and the others' utter shock, plus nobody knew what technique Xu Ziling used, the two men were thrown overhead, and ‘Splash!' they landed in the river, and immediately struggled hard to crawl onto the opposite bank.
Amidst the shouting and yelling, more than a dozen Zhuhua Bang disciples who were guarding the Mansion at the other end of the bridge rushed over.
‘Qiang!' Mai Yunfei and the other two men drew their sword, but instead of charging forward, they retreated. Apparently they were waiting for the rest of the men to arrive before they dared to make their move.
Kou Zhong laughed aloud and sprang up, his long saber left its scabbard and in one fluid motion hacked down on Mai Yunfei.
Mai Yunfei raised his sword horizontally to block.
‘Dang!'
Kou Zhong's ‘Moon in the Well' returned to its scabbard. Mai Yunfei staggered five steps back before he could steady his footings; his countenance turned unbearably ugly.
Meanwhile his reinforcement has arrived. They crowded behind him, but nobody dared to step forward to fight.
Xu Ziling also sprang up. Pointing to the other end of the bridge, he said, "Someone's coming, you don't mind your proper business, but are engrossed in bullying your own people. If that is not dereliction of duty, then what is it?”
It was only then did Mai Yunfei caught his breath back; he was fighting hard to suppress his continuously surging blood and qi provoked by Kou Zhong's saber power. Along with his men, he turned his head around to see, and indeed there were a group of about a dozen riders galloping along the street heading toward the head of the bridge.
Only after giving the two boys a vicious look and said, "I will settle the score with you later,” did he lead his men to hurry back over the bridge.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other and burst out in laughter. The former shook his head and sighed, "Why are there so many people who love to ride roughshod over others in the world?
The sound of hoof beats was getting closer.
The two boys looked over and were stunned.
Because one of the riders turned and galloped toward them, on the horseback was astoundingly the beautiful and energetic young lady of the Song Clan, Song Yuzhi.
This beauty with unique style reined her horse and stopped. Arrogantly and coldly she looked at the two boys from head to toes several times. Finally her eyes landed on the Wind Bamboo insignia embroidered on the lapel of their clothes. Knitting her jet-black eyebrows, she said, "You, these two drifters, why do you suddenly become a single bamboo [level] disciple of the Zhuhua Bang? Are you conspiring against the law?”
Although the other people did not come over, their attention was fixed on the situation over here.
Kou Zhong smiled slightly and said, "Come! Let me do the introduction: this is Miss High and Mighty Song Yuzhi.” And then wrapping his arm around Xu Ziling's shoulder and pulled him closer, he said, "My brother Xu Ziling; he looks handsome enough, right?”
Seeing him giving her an irrelevant answer, plus he was mocking her, Song Yuzhi's jade countenance fell. Feigning disdain she shot a glance toward Xu Ziling. A weird expression appeared suddenly in her eyes, but just as sudden it died out. And then with a tender snort she said, "Seeing that you have not committed any wicked conduct, I want you to leave town immediately. Otherwise, with just one word from me, don't even think that you can leave town alive.”
Kou Zhong slapped his own forehead, hard. "Xiaodi [little brother, referring to self] nearly forget,” he said, "Our, two brothers' heads are extremely valuable. Song Xiaojie [young lady], please go ahead and give your word! Let's see how many people we can drag down to accompany us to the grave.”
Amazingly enough Song Yuzhi did not get angry. After staring at Kou Zhong for half a day, she finally turned to Xu Ziling and said, "I advise you and your brother to leave together! If people knew you are here, they might give you gargantuan problem.”
Xu Ziling has never had any good opinion on arrogant, precious daughters of lofty family and big clan; he felt that those girls would always look down upon ordinary men. He replied indifferently, "We are basically not afraid of anybody; otherwise, we won't be here talking to Miss Song.”
Song Yuzhi sighed and said, "Although you have made a little name for yourself, but compared to Li Mi you are still far too inferior. Well, just think about it!”
Kou Zhong asked in surprise, "Could it be that Miss Song has a high regard toward this handsome brother of mine? Why are you so amiable toward him, but toward me you are so stern and harsh? After all, the relationship between you and I ought to be a bit deeper.”
Finally Song Yuzhi could not take it anymore. "Shut up!” she angrily said.
Kou Zhong giggled and pulled Xu Ziling away.
"Hold on!” Song Yuzhi's tender voice called out.
Already three or four riders galloped over toward them.
Kou Zhong let Xu Ziling go, he stopped abruptly, his hand already pressed on the hilt of his saber, his entire body stood up perfectly straight, his tiger eyes flashed with deep and unfathomable sharp gleam, his countenance became incomparably hard and callous, his entire being seemed to exude a terrifying, powerful grandeur.
Song Yuzhi suddenly felt that this instant Kou Zhong has completely turned into someone that she did not recognize, no longer like the kid who laughed and giggled in the past, but rather a hero, a towering figure who stood straight and wouldn't surrender in front of any storm, who would not be afraid of anybody.
But then, against all expectations, Kou Zhong suddenly broke into laughter, revealing a splendid, as bright as the sun, smile on his face. Shaking his head, he said with a sigh, "This won't do! How could I, Kou Zhong, be hard-hearted in front of Miss Song?”
Finished speaking, he laughed aloud and pulled Xu Ziling away.
Song Yuzhi was disconcerted by his dramatic change and the tone of his voice, as well as his demeanor, and his teasing, which were overflowing with youthful, masculine charisma. Unexpectedly she forgot to stop them.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling sat down against the wall in a quiet, secluded alley, just like back in Yangzhou, when they were still little rogues from the marketplace.
With a faint smile Xu Ziling said, "Zhong Shao, are you thinking of replacing Li Xiuning with her?”
Kou Zhong revealed a smile that showed that he had pondered it over; stretching himself, he spoke leisurely, "Love affair between boys and girls will only increase the burden in our mind. I don't mind looking for a girl to have fun, but I will never let myself get emotionally involved. Our business is more important, other matters must be set aside. Teasing the haughty Song family's Miss is all right, but don't ever think that I, Kou Zhong, will want to be inconvenienced by fawning on her, by stooping down for her. Do you understand?”
"But what are we going to do now?” Xu Ziling asked.
Kou Zhong said, "We can either leave right now, or wait until tonight, when we can create his mother's havoc in here. What do you say?”
Xu Ziling shrugged his shoulders, "I am certain my idea will be different than yours. In my opinion, we can't manage, nor do we have the ability to mind the Zhuhua Bang's affair. Not to mention Duan Yucheng and the others are still waiting for us. It is better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Don't you think we have enough trouble of our own already?”
Kou Zhong giggled and said, "Can you not have that much prejudice against me? When did I, Kou Zhong, ever dare not to esteem your, Ling Shao's opinion? Just as you said, we'll steal a mule cart and leave. Perhaps two mule carts will be enough.”
Xu Ziling looked doubtful, "Where can we steal mule carts from?” he asked.
Kou Zhong laughed and said, "Naturally from the Wind Bamboo Hall. They have that many mule carts, loaning two for our use shouldn't be any problem. We can simply make any excuse, the mule carts will be ours immediately. Just leave it to me.”
Xu Ziling was unhappy, "Shen Beichang and Luo Feng are very kind to us, how could we repay good with evil?”
"You are right,” Kou Zhong nodded, "In that case we'd better go take a look at the Rain Bamboo Hall. Since we already had enmity with them, adding one shouldn't make any difference.”
Xu Ziling understood immediately; he smiled wryly and said, "You muddled-egg [i.e. ], after going around and around, in the end you still want to create trouble, and then see in there is any opportunity to fish in troubled water.”
Kou Zhong roared in laughter, "Nobody knows me better than you do,” he said.
And then he pulled Xu Ziling hard and lowered his voice, "Just now Rain Bamboo Hall's Hall Leader Luo Xian sent that Bai Rong to get Xiliang to Rain Bamboo Hall, there must be a conspiracy somewhere, so we might as well find out what it is. Hey! You can't ignore Xiliang and Xing Rong's two little lives, can you?”
"Do you know where Rain Bamboo Hall is?” Xu Ziling asked.
Kou Zhong replied, "When a sage does not know something, he would not feel ashamed to ask and learn from his subordinates, right? Don't drag your feet, come on!”
Knowing he could not win against him, Xu Ziling helplessly followed Kou Zhong.