Chapter - 327 Hundred-feet Tall Tower Prevents Passage (4) (1/2)
Zhang Wuji saw the fire was getting bigger by the minute; he was afraid his Da Shibo [first martial (older) uncle] and the others' internal strength had not recovered and they died inside the burning Pagoda. ”Miss Zhao,” he said, ”I have to go!” Before finished speaking he had rushed out the restaurant.
”Wait!” Zhao Min called out, ”I am coming too!” But by the time she reached the door, Zhang Wuji had disappeared.
.o0o.
When Ku Toutuo was taken away by the Princess, Lu Zhangke decided to take Concubine Han into his disciple, Wuwang Apu's room. The Wan An Temple Pagoda had a total of thirteen floors, so the total height was about thirteen 'zhang's [1 zhang is approximately 10ft or 3.3m]. The top three floors were consecrated to house the image of Buddha, Buddhist literature, and other religious articles; nobody could stay in these floors. Wuwang Apu was in charge of guarding the Pagoda, so he occupied a room in the tenth floor; from which he could see all around and thus had a better control over the overall situation.
As he entered the room, Lu Zhangke told Wuwang Apu, ”Go and guard outside the room, don't let anybody enter in.” As Wuwang Apu went out the room Lu Zhangke immediately closed the door, untied the bundle to let Concubine Han out. Her beautiful face showed both shocked and hurt expression; her sad eyes were pleading. Lu Zhangke quietly said, ”Now that you have arrived here, you don't have to be afraid. I will treat you well.”
He did not want to unseal her acupoints yet, fearing she would cause a commotion. Thereupon he gently laid her down on Wuwang Apu's bed, pulled up a quilt to cover her up; and then took another cotton-quilt to replace the bundle and set it aside. With Concubine Han safely tucked in the bed Lu Zhangke started to attend to other businesses. He did not dare to stay inside the room for too long; he went out hurriedly, forbidding Wuwang Apu from entering the room or allowing others from doing so. He knew his main disciple had always regarded him with respect and fear, so it was unlikely for him to disobey his master's order.
Lu Zhangke thought, ”I need Ku Toutuo to help me keeping the secret. If I want to win his favor, I must rescue his old lover and his daughter first. Luckily the Cult Leader of the Devil Cult made such disturbance last night, precisely over that girl by the surname of Zhou. I can always put the blame on him by saying the Devil Cult's Jiaozhu rescued Old Nun Miejue and Miss Zhou. Truly the Heaven is on my side; Junzhu will not suspect anything. This little devil head's martial art is superior, Junzhu cannot blame us from failing to stop him.”
All Emei Pai's female disciples were imprisoned on the seventh floor. Miejue Shitai, being a Sect Leader, was imprisoned alone inside a smaller room. Lu Zhangke ordered the guard to open the door and then walked in. He saw Miejue was sitting cross-legged on the floor, her eyes were closed in meditation. She had been on a hunger strike for several days, but although she looked thin and pale, her countenance still showed her proud and valiant character.
”Miejue Shitai, how are you?” Lu Zhangke greeted.
”You are so stubborn,” Lu Zhangke said, ”My master said keeping you alive is useless, I am ordered to send you to heaven.”
Miejue Shitai had determined to die anyway, so she said, ”Very well. Only I do not need to bother Sire to do it; just lend me a knife and I will do it myself. I only request Sire to bring my disciple Zhou Zhiruo, I have something I need to talk to her.”
Lu Zhangke turned around and went out the room, ordering the guard to bring in Zhou Zhiruo; he thought, ”The feeling between a mother and a daughter is really unusual; otherwise why didn't she ask for her other main disciples, but ask for her instead?”
Not long afterwards Zhou Zhiruo entered her master's room. ”Mr. Lu,” Miejue Shitai said, ”Please wait outside, I only need to speak a little bit with her.”