Chapter - 4 (4) (1/2)

As Wei Xiaobao pounced forward, Xiao Xuanzi sidestepped, while stretching out his hand to push Wei Xiaobao's back. Wei Xiaobao pounced on an empty air. His own momentum plus Xiao Xuanzi's push had sent him crashing heavily on the ground.

The person walked in. From underneath the table Wei Xiaobao peeked, he saw the boots were not big, so the incoming person must be a boy about the same age as himself, instantly he was relieved. He put the sesame coated cake in his mouth, but he did not dare to chew, he just used his saliva to slowly soak the cake and then when it was soft enough he swallowed it. He heard the sound of munching next to the table, the boy was eating the cake and pastry. Wei Xiaobao thought, ”Another food thief. I'll jump out and scream, this little demon will certainly be frightened and run away, then I can enjoy my food in peace.” He also thought, ”I was so stupid, I should've put those light refreshments in my pocket and leave. This is not Lovely Spring Courtyard, they will not miss anything, surely they won't make me responsible for it?”

Suddenly he heard some 'bang, bang' noise, the boy was pounding something. Wei Xiaobao's curiosity was piqued, he craned his neck to look around, and saw the boy, approximately fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing short gown, was punching the sack hanging from the beam. After punching the sack for a while, he turned his attention to the cowhide dummy hanging on the wall and started to attack. The boy punch the pit of the dummy's stomach, followed by reaching out with both arms to grab the dummy's waist and pressed it to the floor. The technique the boy used was similar to the Manchurian wrestling technique he saw at the wine shop the previous day.

Wei Xiaobao laughed aloud and jumped out from underneath the table; he said, ”Dummy is dead, what so fun about it? I am here to play with you.”

Seeing Wei Xiaobao suddenly appear with his face wrapped in white cloth, the boy was slightly startled, but hearing that he was here to accompany him playing, immediately his face showed a happy expression. ”Good,” he said, ”Bring it on!” Wei Xiaobao pounced forward, trying to twist the boy's arm. The boy sidestepped and tripped with his right foot. Wei Xiaobao staggered and fell to the ground.

”Pei,” the boy spat, ”You don't even know wrestling.”

”Says who?” Wei Xiaobao replied. He leaped back up and grabbed the boy's left leg. The body reached down to grab his back, but Wei Xiaobao dodged, the boy caught an empty air. Wei Xiaobao recalled the technique Mao Shiba used to deal with the seven Manchurians at the wine shop; suddenly he threw a punch with his left hand toward the boy's lower jaw. 'Bang!' it hit the target. The boy was startled, his eyes revealed an angry look. Wei Xiaobao laughed. ”Pei,” he spat, ”You don't even know wrestling.”

The boy did not say anything; his hand made a feign move, Wei Xiaobao leaned sideways to evade, the boy suddenly sent out his elbow and hit Wei Xiaobao's waist. Wei Xiaobao cried out in pain and doubled over. From behind the boy slipped both arms underneath Wei Xiaobao's armpits and hooked them up; ten fingers grasped each other behind his neck, forcing Wei Xiaobao down lower and lower. Wei Xiaobao kicked backwards with his left foot. The boy abruptly pushed with both hands, flinging Wei Xiaobao out, 'bang!' he fell face down like a dog eating dung.

Wei Xiaobao was greatly angered, he rolled over and grabbed the boy's legs with all his might and pulled him down as hard as he could. The boy could not withstand and fell down; he happened to fall on top of Wei Xiaobao's body. The boy was comparably bigger and taller than Wei Xiaobao. Right away he used his elbow to press down the back of Wei Xiaobao's neck. Wei Xiaobao could not breathe, he struggled to stand up with everything he had. After a bit of struggling, he finally succeeded to be on top and now he pressed down on the boy's body. However, Wei Xiaobao was small, his body was light, he was unable to press for long; soon the boy was back on top again.

Wei Xiaobao was very slippery, releasing the boy's legs, he slipped to his back, and fiercely kicked the boy's butts. The boy reached backward to grab Wei Xiaobao's right leg and pulled it hard; Wei Xiaobao fell face up. The body pounced and clutched Wei Xiaobao's neck with both hands. ”Surrender?” he shouted.

Wei Xiaobao hooked his left foot around the boy's waist, but because the boy's clothes were slippery, his foot was rubbing the boy's waist. The boy was ticklish and he giggled, his hands loosened. Wei Xiaobao seized this opportunity to leap up and grabbed the boy's neck. The boy used a wrestling technique to seize the back of Wei Xiaobao's neck and threw him heavily on the floor. Wei Xiaobao was dizzy and was unable to move a single step. The boy laughed aloud and asked, ”Surrender?”

Wei Xiaobao suddenly leaped up and rammed his head against the opponent's lower abdomen. ”Humph!” the boy grunted and staggered several steps backwards. Wei Xiaobao lunged forward, the boy leaned slightly to the side, and swept his leg across. Wei Xiaobao fell down, but managed to grab onto the boy's thigh with all his life. Both of them tumbled down together.

Sometimes the boy was on top, sometimes Wei Xiaobao was on top; after rolling around for seventeen, eighteen times, finally the two of them were grabbing each other, both were gasping for breath. Suddenly, as if by prior agreement, both of them broke out in laughter, since both thought that this kind of wrestling was very fun; then slowly they let their hands go.

The boy reached out to tear the cloth wrapped around Wei Xiaobao's face; he laughed and said, ”What do you wrap your head for?”

Wei Xiaobao was startled; he was about to reach out and snatch it back, but then he thought the boy had seen most of his face anyway, so trying to conceal it again would be useless. He laughed and said, ”I wrapped my face, so that when I come and steal the food, nobody would recognize me.”

The boy stood up and said with a laugh, ”Alright, turns out you often come here and steal the food.”

”Not often,” Wei Xiaobao said, while also standing up. He saw the boy's face had delicate features and a lofty expression, so Wei Xiaobao had a favorable impression on him.

The boy asked, ”What's your name?”

”Xiao Guizi,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”And you?”

The boy hesitated for a moment, then said, ”I am … I am Xiao Xuanzi[40]. Which Gong-gong do you work for?”

”I am with Hai Laogong,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

Xiao Xuanzi nodded. He used Wei Xiaobao's wrapping cloth to wipe the sweat from his forehead; picking up another piece of light refreshment, he started eating again. Wei Xiaobao did not want to be outdone, he thought 'you dare to steal the food, my courage is not inferior to yours'; thereupon he picked up another piece of thousand-layer cake and without the slightest care put it into his mouth.

Xiao Xuanzi chuckled and said, ”You haven't learned wrestling, but your hands and feet are very nimble, surprisingly I am not able to hold you down for a long time. If we fight a bit longer, you will definitely lose.”

”That's not necessarily true,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Let's try again.”

”Very good,” Xiao Xuanzi said. The two of them started to wrestle again.

Xiao Xuanzi seemed to know some wrestling techniques, plus he was older and stronger than Wei Xiaobao. However, Wei Xiaobao had fought hundreds of fights at Yangzhou marketplace, he had survived countless scuffles against big thugs and little rascals, his 'battle' experience was far richer than Xiao Xuanzi. Yet in the end he remembered Mao Shiba's lecture, plus his wrestling against Xiao Xuanzi was just a game, not a life-and-death fight; and thus he did not resort to the stunts that he was famous of, such as finger twisting, braid pulling, throat biting, eyeball poking, ear pulling, scrotum pinching, and so on. As a result, it was more difficult for him to score a victory.

After wrestling for a while, Wei Xiaobao was pinned down with Xiao Xuanzi riding on his back without he was able to stand up. Xiao Xuanzi laughed and said, ”Surrender now?”

”I won't surrender even to the death,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

Xiao Xuanzi laughed aloud and jumped up from Wei Xiaobao's back. Wei Xiaobao leaped up and pounced on him again, but Xiao Xuanzi shook his hand and said with a laugh, ”No more fighting today, we'll do it again tomorrow. But you are not my match, fighting again will be useless.”

Wei Xiaobao refused to give in, he fished his pocket for an ingot, weighed approximately three taels, he said, ”Tomorrow we'll fight again, but for money. You must also bring three taels.”

Xiao Xuanzi was taken aback, he said, ”Alright, we'll fight for a prize. Tomorrow I will bring my stake here. Midday, we'll fight again in here.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”We have a dead appointment, don't leave before we meet. A real man gave his words, … some horses cannot pull it back.” For some reason, he could never remember the 'four-horse team' part of this saying, so he could only mumble that part.

Xiao Xuanzi laughed aloud and said, ”That's right, a real man gave his words, … some horses cannot pull it back.” While saying that, he walked out the room.

Wei Xiaobao grabbed a handful of light refreshments and put it in his pocket, and then he also left. He remembered Mao Shiba who was having a martial art duel appointment, even though he was in prison, he must escape from prison to keep the appointment. Although he was seriously injured, he still vowed to keep his promises, waiting for the two experts at the foot of the Victory Hill. This kind of spirit had won others' true admiration. Many times he had heard the storytellers told about heroes, oftentimes he would fantasize himself were a big hero, a real warrior, who was having duel appointment with others, wasn't it his chance has come now?

Thinking that tomorrow he must come, tonight he must return to Hai Laogong's residence. Thereupon he retraced his path, slowly looking for the building he had been gambling earlier. Since previously he had taken a right turn, which had led him farther and farther away, this time he took the left turn. Walking past two winding corridors, he vaguely remembered the gardens and the courtyards he had seen before. By looking for familiar landscape, eventually he reached Hai Laogong's residence.

As he walked through the door, he heard the sound of Hai Laogong's coughing. ”Gong-gong,” he called out, ”Are you feeling better?”

”Better your fart!” Hai Laogong's gloom voice replied, ”Get in, quick!”

Wei Xiaobao walked into the room and saw Hai Laogong was sitting on a chair. The broken table had been replaced with a new one. Hai Laogong asked, ”How much did you win?”

”I won more than ten taels,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”But … but …”

”But what?” Hai Laogong asked.

”But I lent it to Lao Wu,” Wei Xiaobao said. Actually, he won more than twenty taels, other than what he loaned Lao Wu, he still had eight or nine taels, but because he was afraid Hai Laogong would ask him to hand it over, when Hai Laogong asked the account, he unavoidably did not tell the truth.

Hai Laogong's countenance sank, he said, ”What good it is to lend money to that kid Lao Wu? He does not even work for the Upper Study Room. Why didn't you lend it to the two Wen brothers?”

Wei Xiaobao was unclear of the reason, he said, ”The Wen brothers did not ask for a loan.”

Hai Laogong said, ”Didn't ask you for a loan, can't you think of a way so that they would? Don't tell me you have forgotten everything I told you?”

”I … I killed that boy last night,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”I am so scared that I have forgotten everything. Must loan money to the Wen brothers, right, right, you, Senior, did instruct me to do that.”

”Humph,” Hai Laogong said, ”What's so great about killing one or two people? But you are still young, you have never killed anybody before, I can't blame you. That book, you haven't forgotten about it, have you?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”That book … book … I … I …”

Hai Laogong snorted again, he said, ”So you really have forgotten everything?”

”Gong-gong, I …” Wei Xiaobao said, ”I have a terrible headache, I … I am very scared, you are coughing like that, I am really worried, everything … everything is muddled in my head.”

”Alright, come here!” Hai Laogong said.

”Yes!” Wei Xiaobao replied, as he walked several steps closer.

Hai Laogong said, ”Let me tell you again, if you don't remember it this time, I am going to kill you.”

”Yes, yes,” Wei Xiaobao said, thinking, ”If you tell me all the way through, I won't forget it for a hundred years.”

Hai Laogong said, ”Win the Wen brothers' money, when they are out of money, you give them loan, the more the better. After a few days, you then want them to take you to the Upper Study Room. They owe you money, they won't dare not to comply. If they give you all sorts of excuses, tell them that I will settle the account with the Upper Study Room manager, Wu Laogong. If the Wen brothers still do not want to pay, we may have to bring this to the Emperor's attention …”

”The Emperor?” Wei Xiaobao said.

”What is it?” Hai Laogong asked.

”No … nothing,” Wei Xiaobao said.

Hai Laogong continued, ”They may ask you what do you want in the Upper Study Room. You tell them that people are bound to go to higher place, you wish to see the Emperor by doing some errand at the Upper Study Room. Of course the Wen brothers won't let you see the Emperor, when they take you there, certainly the Emperor won't be in the Upper Study Room. That's when you will try to steal a book.”

Hearing him kept mentioning of the Emperor, Wei Xiaobao's heart was stirred, ”Could it be that this is the Imperial Palace? And not Beijing's biggest brothel? Aiyo hey, that's right, that's right, if this is not the Imperial Palace, how could there be such splendor and majesty? These people must be court eunuchs attending the Emperor.”

Although Wei Xiaobao had heard people mentioning the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, Princess, as well as palace maids and court eunuch, he only knew that the Emperor are supposed to wear dragon robe, but how the Emperor actually look like, he had no idea. In Yangzhou he had watched a lot of plays, but the court eunuchs in those plays did not dress like Hai Laogong, Lao Wu or the others at all, the actors' hands always held a whisk, which they waved here and there. The songs in the play were not pleasant to hear. He had contact with Hai Laogong only for a day, he had gambled with Lao Wu, the Wen brothers and the others for half a day, but he did not know they were eunuchs. This time hearing Hai Laogong's words, he gradually understood; he thought, ”Aiyo, in this case, haven't I turned into a court eunuch?”

In stern voice Hai Laogong said, ”Have you understood clearly what you heard?”

”Yes, yes, very clear,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”I have to go to the Em … Emperor's Upper Study Room.”

”To the Emperor's Upper Study Room for what?” Hai Laogong said, ”To play?”

”To steal a book,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

”Steal what book?” Hai Laogong asked.

”This … this … some book … I … I can't remember,” Wei Xiaobao stammered.

Hai Laogong detected the happiness in his voice, he asked, ”Why are you happy?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”As soon as you mentioned it, I then recalled it to mind, therefore I am happy.”

Hai Laogong added, ”If you want to steal book at the Upper Study Room, your movements must be clean and in order; if anybody catch you, even if you have a hundred lives, you won't be able to keep them.”

”I understand this part well,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”If you steal something and are caught, how could you sing and play trick?” A sudden inspiration struck; he said, ”In no way would I mention Gong-gong's name.”

Hai Laogong said, ”Mention my name or not, it has nothing to do with this matter.” He coughed several times, and then continued, ”You have done well today, unexpectedly you win some money. Did they get suspicious?”

”Hey hey,” Wei Xiaobao laughed, ”No, no, how could they get suspicious?” He wanted to toot his horn a little bit, but in the end he restrained himself.

”Don't be lazy, idling left and right without doing anything,” Hai Laogong said, ”You must practice a lot.”

Wei Xiaobao complied and walked into the room, he saw bowls and chopsticks on the table, plus four dishes of meat and vegetables, and one bowl of soup, but nobody had touched anything. ”Gong-gong,” he hastily said, ”You haven't eaten? Let me get some food for you.”

”I am not hungry,” Hai Laogong said, ”I don't want to eat. You go ahead and eat.”

Wei Xiaobao was delighted. Without taking any rice, he picked a red-cooked pork with his fingers and ate. Although the dishes were already cold, as it entered his stomach, he found it was indescribably delicious. ”I wonder who sent this meal over,” he mused, ”I'd better not ask this kind of trivial matter, I just have to open my eyes and slowly I will find out.” He also thought, ”If this is really the Imperial Palace, then Lao Wu, the Wen brothers, and that Xiao Xuanzi that I'll have to deal with, are all eunuchs. I wonder what do the old Emperor and Empress really look like? I guess I will have to see to know that. When I return to Yangzhou, hey hey, laozi can tell it with some air. I wonder if Mao Dage can escape from the Imperial Palace? During the gambling nobody mentioned anything about catching anybody, most likely he was able to get out.”

After eating, because he was afraid he might raise Hai Laogong suspicion, he took the six dice and 'ding ling ling', he threw them into the bowl continuously. After throwing dice for a moment, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. He did not sleep at all the previous night, and only now did he finally feel very weary, so in a short while he was already asleep.

He slept until the evening, when a worker eunuch came to deliver their dinner. Wei Xiaobao waited on Hai Laogong as he ate, he also helped him to bed, and then he lay down on the small bed. He thought, ”The most important thing tomorrow is the martial art contest with Xiao Xuanzi. It would be best if I can beat him.” Closing his eyes, he recalled the technique Mao Shiba used to fight the Manchu wrestlers at the wine shop, but the picture in his mind was fuzzy; he could not help but feel a tinge of regret, ”Mao Dage wanted to teach me martial art, I was not willing to learn. If I had learned it along the way, although Xiao Xuanzi is stronger than me, how can he be my match? If tomorrow he manage to sit on me and I am not able to flip over, losing money is nothing, but losing face is a big thing. I, the Little White Dragon Wei Xiaobao, cannot mingle around in Jianghu anymore.” Suddenly another thought popped up, ”The Manchu warriors are not Mao Dage's match, but Mao Dage is not the old turtle's match, why not swindle the old turtle to teach me some skill?” Thereupon he said, ”Gong-gong, you want me to go to the Upper Study Room to get the book, but there is a small problem.”

”What problem?” Hai Laogong asked.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”On my way back from gambling today, I met a little ... little eunuch. He stopped me and told me to give him the money. I refused, so we had a duel. He said that if I can beat him, then he would let me go. I fought with him for half a day, that's why ... that's why I was late for lunch.”

”And you lost, didn't you?” Hai Laogong said.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”He is taller and stronger, a lot stronger than I am. He said he wants to have a duel with me every day. The day I can beat him, that will be the day he won't bother me anymore.”

”What's this baby's name?” Hai Laogong asked, ”Which building does he belong to?”

”He is called Xiao Xuanzi,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”But I don't know which building he belongs to.”

Hai Laogong said, ”Must be because you won some money, your manner appeared disgusting in the eyes of others; otherwise, why would he look for you?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”I refused to submit to him, I'll look for him again tomorrow. I just don't know if I can beat him.”

”Humph,” Hai Laogong said, ”You want to ask me to teach you martial art. I told you I won't teach you, so I won't teach you. It's useless for you to ask in a roundabout way.”

Wei Xiaobao cursed silently, ”This old turtle is smart, he won't fall into my trick.” He said, ”This Xiao Xuanzi also does not know martial art. If I want to beat him, I don't need to learn any martial art; who ask you to teach me? Today clearly I was able to sit on his body, it's just that he is strong, he managed to turn me over. Tomorrow I am going to grab him with all my strength, this fellow may not necessarily be able to turn over like a turtle.” For the whole day he had been careful, restraining himself not to speak any vulgar word, but now finally he could not bear not to say one.

Hai Laogong said, ”You want to hold him down that he won't turn over, that is easy.”

”I also think it won't be difficult,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Tomorrow I will grab his shoulder really hard.”

”Humph,” Hai Laogong snorted, ”What good is it to grab his shoulder? Whether he can turn over or not depends on the strength of his back. You must use your knee to press against the acupoint on his lower back. Come here, I'll show you.”

Wei Xiaobao rolled down from his bed and leaped toward Hai Laogong's bed. Hai Laogong ran his finger on Wei Xiaobao's lower back, and lightly pressed. Immediately Wei Xiaobao felt his entire body limp and painful, his strength was gone.

”Can you remember it?” Hai Laogong asked.

”Yes,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Tomorrow I'll give it a try, I just don't know if it will work.”

Hai Laogong angrily said, ”What do you mean it won't work? That is 'one hundred shots, one hundred hits, ten thousand times tests, ten thousand times effective'.” He then put out his hand on either side of Wei Xiaobao's neck, and pressed lightly.

”Ah!” Wei Xiaobao screamed, he felt the pit of his stomach was choked, his breathing could not flow.

Hai Laogong said, ”If you pressed hard these two acupoints, he won't have any strength to fight you.”

Wei Xiaobao was overjoyed, ”That will do,” he said, ”Tomorrow I might be allowed to defeat him.” He had just learned the word 'allow' during the gambling that day. Returning to his own bed, he fantasized that the following day the 'Little White Dragon' Wei Xiaobao would beat Xiao Xuanzi so that he would call 'surrender'; and he felt very proud of himself.

The next day Lao Wu called him up again to gamble. The Wen brothers' names were Wen Youdao and Wen Youfang, and today it was these two brothers' turn to be the banker. Wei Xiaobao used his trick and won more than twenty taels from them. The two brothers' luck was quite bad that day, in less than an hour, their fifty taels capital was wiped clean. Wei Xiaobao loaned them twenty taels, but by quitting time, the Wen brothers also lost these twenty taels.

Wei Xiaobao's mind was occupied with his martial art competition against Xiao Xuanzi. As soon as the gambling adjourned, he rushed to that room. He saw the table was still loaded with dishes of light refreshments. He picked several pieces and started munching. Soon he heard the sound of boots. Afraid that the incoming person was not Xiao Xuanzi, he thought it would be better for him to hide underneath the table first. But he heard from outside the door Xiao Xuanzi had already called, ”Xiao Guizi, Xiao Guizi!”

Wei Xiaobao leaped to the door and said with a laugh, ”Appointment to the death, don't leave before we meet.”

Xiao Xuanzi also laughed, ”Ha ha ... Appointment to the death, don't leave before we meet,” he said as he walked in.

Wei Xiaobao noticed that Xiao Xuanzi was wearing a brand new set of outfit, it looked really gorgeous, so that he could not help but feeling rather jealous. He thought, ”Wait till I tear your new clothes, you won't be so cocky!” With a loud shout he pounced on Xiao Xuanzi.

Xiao Xuanzi also shouted, ”Good move!” Grabbing Wei Xiaobao's arms, he swept with his left leg. Wei Xiaobao could not withstand it, he tottered several steps and tumbled down on the ground, pulling Xiao Xuanzi along that he also fell.

Wei Xiaobao rolled away and leaped up to sit on Xiao Xuanzi's back. Remembering Hai Laogong's lesson, he stretched his hand to press on the acupoint on Xiao Xuanzi's lower back. However, he had never practiced sealing acupoints before, how could he seal the acupoint simply by grabbing it? His grab missed a little bit, Xiao Xuanzi had already turned around and caught Wei Xiaobao's left arm, which he twisted backward forcefully.

”Aiyo!” Wei Xiaobao screamed, ”Have you no shame, twisting my arm like that?”

Xiao Xuanzi laughed and said, ”Learning wrestling is precisely learning how to twist others' arm; what do you mean I have no shame?”

Taking advantage while Xiao Xuanzi was still speaking, Wei Xiaobao threw himself as hard as he could toward Xiao Xuanzi's lower back, ramming his head against his back, while sneaking his right hand underneath Xiao Xuanzi's armpit, and flung him upward as hard as he could. Xiao Xuanzi's body flew over Wei Xiaobao's head and 'thump!' he landed on the floor.

Xiao Xuanzi leaped up and said, ”So you also know the move 'antelope hanging its antlers'.”

Wei Xiaobao had no idea what an 'antelope hanging its antlers' move look like, he simply moved without thinking and succeeded. Feeling proud of himself he said, ”This 'antelope hanging its antlers' is nothing, I still have many formidable moves I haven't used yet.”

Xiao Xuanzi happily said, ”Nothing better than that; let's fight again.”

Wei Xiaobao said in his heart, ”Turns out you have practiced martial art, no wonder I cannot beat you. But you use one move, I learn one move; at most you will throw me down several times, I will be able learn your technique.” Seeing Xiao Xuanzi was pouncing at him, he also threw himself forward forcefully. To his surprise, Xiao Xuanzi attack was a feign one. As Wei Xiaobao pounced forward, he had already held his momentum and sidestepped, while stretching out his hand to push Wei Xiaobao's back. Wei Xiaobao pounced on an empty air. 'Bang!' His own momentum plus Xiao Xuanzi's push had sent him crashing heavily on the ground.

Xiao Xuanzi cheered loudly and jumped to ride on Wei Xiaobao's back. ”Surrender now?” he asked.

”No!” Wei Xiaobao replied. He was about to straighten his back to stand up, suddenly his waist went numb; the two acupoints on his lower back were pressed by Xiao Xuanzi's fingers. This acupoint sealing technique was exactly the one Hai Laogong taught him the previous night. Although he had learned it, the opponent had beaten him in using it first. Wei Xiaobao struggled several times, but all along he was unable to free himself. ”Alright,” he had no choice but to call out, ”I surrender this time!”

Xiao Xuanzi laughed aloud and let him stand up. Suddenly Wei Xiaobao extended his foot to trip him. Xiao Xuanzi's body tilted sideways, he was about to fall. Wei Xiaobao sent a punch toward his lower back. Xiao Xuanzi grunted in pain and doubled over. From behind Wei Xiaobao pounced with both hands grabbed his neck from two directions. Xiao Xuanzi had a spell of dizziness and fell down on the ground. Wei Xiaobao was delighted, without taking his hands away, he asked, ”Surrender now?”

Xiao Xuanzi grunted; suddenly both of his elbows struck backwards. Wei Xiaobao felt a severe pain that he thought his ribs were about to break. He screamed and fell face up. Xiao Xuanzi turned around and sat on the pit of his stomach. He had just scored another victory, but he was panting heavily and was feeling very tired that he was unable to breath normally. ”Do ... do ... do you surrender now?” he asked.

”Surrender your fart!” Wei Xiaobao said, ”No ... no ... surrender. A hundred times ... ten ... ten thousand times no surrender. You've just won by chance.”

Xiao Xuanzi said, ”If you don't surrender, then get up and fight again.”

With both hands pushing the floor, Wei Xiaobao wanted to stand up, but the vital acupoint on the pit of his stomach was still being pressed by the opponent, his body was numb and aching that he was unable to exert his strength. After struggling for a long time, he did not have any choice but to surrender one more time.

Xiao Xuanzi stood up, his arms were limp and painful. Wei Xiaobao strived to get up, but his body swaggered; he said, ”Tomorrow ... tomorrow we'll fight again, I must ... must make you surrender.”

Xiao Xuanzi laughed and said, ”Fighting a hundred times more, you will ... will ... will lose. If you have guts, tomorrow we'll fight again.”

”I am afraid it's you who don't have guts,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Why wouldn't I have guts? Appointment to the death, don't leave before we meet.”

”Alright,” Xiao Xuanzi said, ”Appointment to the death, don't leave before we meet.”

Both of them were fired up because of the fight, nobody mentioned anything about the money. Since Xiao Xuanzi did not mention it, Wei Xiaobao was glad to pretend that he forget. If he were the victor, he would definitely want his money.

Wei Xiaobao returned to his room and said to Hai Laogong, ”Gong-gong, your technique was useless, it was too sloppy and ordinary.”

”Humph,” Hai Laogong snorted, ”Hopeless, you lost again.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”If I had used my own technique, granted that although I may not win, I may not necessarily lose either. But your technique is just too useless, all other people already know how to us it, what's so special?”

”He also knows this technique?” Hai Laogong wondered, ”Show me.”

Wei Xiaobao thought, ”You are blind, you want me to show you, can you see it?” But then he had a second thought, ”But I don't know if he is really blind or just pretending to be blind, I might as well test him.” Immediately both of his elbows struck backward and he said, ”He strikes like this and each one of the three-thousand bones in my body was very painful.”

Hai Laogong sighed and said, ”You told me he strike like that, how can I see it?” He rose up shakily and said, ”Try to do what he did.”

Wei Xiaobao was secretly delighted, ”The old turtle is really blind.” With his back against Hai Laogong, he thrust his elbows slowly backwards, and said, ”He used his elbows like this to strike me.” As soon as his elbow reached Hai Laogong's chest, he no longer exerted any strength.

”Hmm,” Hai Laogong said, ”This is 'armpit-bottom hammer'; nothing special about it.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Then there is this one.” He pulled Hai Laogong's left hand and placed it on his right shoulder; he said, ”He put forth his strength and flung me, my body then flew over his head.” Actually, it was he who flung Xiao Xuanzi, which he was very proud of, but he intentionally reversed the role to test Hai Laogong.

”It is the 'antelope hanging its antlers',” Hai Laogong said.

”So you know that one,” Wei Xiaobao said. Then he pulled Hai Laogong's arm and slowly twisted it backward.

”Um, that one is the third stance of the 'Falling Broken Plum',” Hai Laogong said, ”What else?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Turns out all Xiao Xuanzi's moves have famous names. Then the techniques I used, my random punch and random twist against him should also have some pleasant sounding famous names. I pounced at him, this kid sidestepped, but taking the opportunity he pushed on my back, and I ...”

Without waiting for him to finish, Hai Laogong cut him off, ”Where did he push?”

”As soon as he pushed, I was thrown and knocked out of my mind, how could I remember where he pushed?” Wei Xiaobao said.

Hai Laogong said, ”Try to remember it, did he push here?” He stretched out his hand to push behind Wei Xiaobao's left shoulder.

”Not there,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

”Is it here?” Hai Laogong asked.

Wei Xiaobao still replied, ”Not there.”

Successively Hai Laogong pressed seven or eight locations, Wei Xiaobao always replied, ”Not there.” Hai Laogong stretched out his palm to press Wei Xiaobao's right waist underneath his ribs and asked, ”Is it here?” While saying that, he gently pushed.

Wei Xiaobao staggered and tumbled several steps away. Right away he remembered it was the exact spot Xiao Xuanzi had pushed. ”That's it!” he shouted, ”Dead on, that's the exact spot. Gong-gong, how do you know?”

Hai Laogong did not answer, he was deep in thought for half a day, then said, ”I taught you two techniques, yet you say he knew both of them already. Are you telling me the truth?”

”Naturally it's the truth,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Genuine goods at fair prices, treating both the young and the old honestly. Not only this kid can press my lower back, he can also crush the pit of my stomach right here, so that I could not breathe, and thus I was forced to surrender that time. It was called ...”

Hai Laogong did not care whatever name Wei Xiaobao was going to mention; he held out his hand and said, ”He pressed on the pit of your stomach where?”

Wei Xiaobao pulled his hand and pressed it against the pit of his stomach, right on the spot where Xiao Xuanzi had pressed. ”Right here,” he said.

Hai Laogong sighed and said, ”This is the zigong ['purple palace'] acupoint. This child's Shifu is a martial art master.”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”That's nothing, a real man can submit or can stand tall, living on a green mountain, no need to worry there won't be cooking firewood (Book note: the actual phrase is 'firewood to cook with' but he changed it to 'cooking firewood'). I ... I, Wei ... I, Xiao Guizi has lost a fight today, tomorrow I will win it back from him, it's not a difficult matter.”

Hai Laogong sat back on his chair. He bent his right hand and stretched it out again, then he stretched it out and bent it again. His eyes closed in contemplation. After quite a long time, he said, ”He knows 'little grappling[41] technique', it's not so strange; but his palm pushed the yishe ['desire residence'] acupoint on your right waist, it was exactly Wudang Pai's 'Soft Palm' technique. Afterwards he pressed your jinsuo ['muscle shrinkage'] acupoint, and then your zigong acupoint. Those are Wudang Pai's acupoint striking technique. Turns out there is a Wudang master hiding in our palace. Hmm, very good! Very good! Tell me, that Xiao ... Xiao Xuanzi, how old is he?”

”He is a lot older than I am,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

”How much older?” Hai Laogong asked.

”Several years,” Wei Xiaobao replied.

Hai Laogong angrily said, ”What do you mean several years? One or two years is several years, eight or nine years is also several years. If he is eight or nine years older than you, do you still want to fight him?”

”Alright,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”Let's just say he is one or two years older than I am. But he is a lot bigger and taller than I am.”

Luckily the opponent was older and bigger, so losing was not considered a major face loss. If not for the fact that he wanted Hai Laogong to teach him some martial art, Wei Xiaobao would have not say anything about his defeat in the duel; when he returned, he would inevitably give an exaggerated account of things, he would say that it was him who scored a big victory instead.

Hai Laogong muttered, ”This child is fourteen, fifteen years old. Hmm, how long did you fight him before you were beaten?”

”At least four or six hours [orig. '2, 3 sichen', 1 sichen is 2 hours],” Wei Xiaobao said.

Hai Laogong's face sack. ”Don't brag!” he barked, ”How long?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Perhaps it's less than 2 hours, but it is more than one hour.”

”Humph,” Hai Laogong said, ”I am asking you, you'd better answer nicely. This kid knows martial art, you don't; so even if you lose the fight, you don't lose your face. It does not matter whether you fought ten times or eight times, even if you lose a hundred times, two hundred times, you are still young, what are you afraid of? So long as the last one time you win, your opponent will not dare to fight with you anymore. Now that is a hero and a warrior.”

”That's right,” Wei Xiaobao said, ”In the past, Han Gaozu[42] fought a hundred battles and lost a hundred times. Finally in the last battle he beat Chu Bawang [Overlord/hegemon Chu] that he hanged himself by the River Wu ...”

Hai Laogong said, ”What do you mean he hanged himself by the River Wu? He cut his own throat by the River Wu.”

”Hanging himself or cutting his own throat, it does not matter, he lost and thus he killed himself,” Wei Xiaobao said.

”You always want to win every argument,” Hai Laogong said, ”Tell me, during your fight with Xiao Xuanzi today, how many times did he beat you?”

Wei Xiaobao said, ”About one or two times, maybe two or three times.”

”It was four times, wasn't it?” Hai Laogong said.

Wei Xiaobao said, ”Actually, I really lost twice, the other two times he was cheating, it didn't count.”

”Each time how long did you fight?” Hai Laogong asked.

”I didn't keep track of the time,” Wei Xiaobao replied, ”Sometimes it was like pooping, sometimes it was like peeing.”

”Rubbish!” Hai Laogong said, ”What do you mean sometimes it was like pooping, sometimes it was like peeing?”

”Defecating is somewhat slower,” Wei Xiaobao explained, ”Urinating does not take too much time.”

Hai Laogong chuckled, he said, ”Although this kid's analogy is vulgar, what he said is very clear.” After pondering for half a day he said, ”You have not learned martial art, this Xiao Xuanzi still need to fight you for a while before he can knock you down, that means his 'little grappling technique' is newly learned. Don't be afraid, I'll teach you the 'big grappling technique'. Learn it well, and tomorrow you may challenge him again.”

Wei Xiaobao was delighted. ”He is using the 'little grappling technique', we are using the 'big grappling technique', big will overcome small, we will definitely win,” he said.

”That's not necessarily true,” Hai Laogong said, ”Both big and small grappling techniques have their own strong points. We must take the practitioner into consideration. If he trained better than you do, the little grappling technique will surpass the big grappling technique. This big grappling technique altogether has eighteen moves, each one has seven or eight variations. You won't be able to remember all, let's practice one or two moves before we proceed further.”

Right away he stood up and performed the move. Finished with one move, he said, ”This move is called 'Immortal Crane Combing its Plume'. Practice it well, then try it with me.”

Wei Xiaobao only looked one time, and he already remembered. After practicing for seven, eight times, he thought he had mastered it well. He said, ”I have mastered it.”

Still sitting on a chair, Hai Laogong stretched out his left arm to grab Wei Xiaobao's shoulder. Wei Xiaobao raised his hand to ward it off, but he was one step slower, his shoulder was already grabbed.

”Mastered what? Practice again,” Hai Laogong said.

Wei Xiaobao practiced several more times, then he tried it again with Hai Laogong. Hai Laogong stretched out his left arm, he was using exactly the same posture and move as the previous time. This time Wei Xiaobao was prepared, as soon as he saw the hand moved, he raised his hand to ward off; who would have thought that he was still somewhat slower and his shoulder was grabbed again.