32 Chapter Seventeen: In Love Part 2 (1/2)

Linghu Chong stepped closer. Fang-Sheng reached out with his right hand and then gripped Linghu Chong's wrist. As soon as he placed his fingers on the ”Da-Yuan” and the ”Jing-Qu” acupoints on Linghu Chong's wrist, he felt a stream of peculiar inner energy inside Linghu Chong's body, which gave his fingers a violent jolt and made them slip off the acupoints. Fang-Sheng felt a shock in his heart. He was one of the few top fighters among the highest generation of Shaolin monks. It was simply unimaginably queer that the inner energy inside the young man was powerful enough to jolt away his fingers. How could he have known that there were inner energy streams from the Peach Valley's Six Fairies and Monk No Commandment inside Linghu Chong's body? Although he had top notch Kung Fu, himself, when caught off guard, he still could not stand the combined force from those seven elite fighters. He couldn't help but utter a light cry of surprise. Fixed his stare on Linghu Chong's eyes, he spoke slowly.

”Young hero, you are not from the Huashan School.”

”I am really an apprentice of the Huashan School. I was the first apprentice my master Mr. Yue ever took in,” Linghu Chong replied.

”Then why did you learn the heretical Kung Fu from heterodoxy people afterwards?” Fang-Sheng requested.

”Uncle-Master, this chap is without a doubt using heterodoxy Kung Fu. There's no point denying it. Didn't we see a woman follow behind him just now? Where is she hiding now? I bet she is no good egg, acting so clandestine and all!” Yi Guozi cut in.

”You are a member of a renowned school. How can you be so out of manners?” hearing Yi Guozi insulting the granny, Linghu Chong yelled angrily. ”Granny just doesn't want to see you so as not to get angry over you.”

”You tell her to come out. Whether she is good or evil, my Uncle-Master can tell with his sharp eyes,” Yi Guozi dared him.

”Our dispute started because you were disrespectful to my granny. Haven't you spoken enough nonsense?” Linghu Chong rebuffed.

”Young hero Linghu,” Jue-Yue joined in, ”earlier when I looked by the hill, I could see that the woman following behind you walked in very nimble steps, and didn't seem to be an aged woman.”

”Granny is a member of the Martial World. It's only natural that she had nimble steps. What's so odd about that?” Linghu Chong disagreed.

”Jue-Yue, we are members of the Buddha's order. How can we insist on seeing the elder, female member of other people?” Fang-Sheng reproved. Turning toward Linghu Chong, he said, ”Young hero Linghu, there are many doubtful points in this matter that I could not figure out. You are indeed severely wounded. But your internal wounds are completely out of the ordinary. It could not have been my Nephew-Apprentice Yi who had caused the injuries. It is fate that has brought us here together today. I wish you a speedy recovery. Farewell for now. Your internal injury is very serious. I have two pills here that you can take. But I am afraid they won't cure….” Fang-Sheng reached into his chest pocket.

Linghu Chong felt his admiration soar in his heart. ”An accomplished monk from Shaolin shows extraordinary bearings indeed,” he thought to himself. Bowing toward Fang-Sheng, he said, ”It is so fortunate that I can meet Great Master….”

Before he had a chance to finish his words, suddenly a loud ring echoed and Yi Guozi had unsheathed his sword.

”Here she is!” Yi shouted excitedly and then dived into the bush where the granny had been hiding, sword first.

”Nephew-Apprentice Yi, don't be rude!” Fang-Sheng shouted.

With a loud whoosh, Yi Guozi had flown back out from the bush and after gliding tens of feet in the air. Smack, he dropped to the ground like a log, facing upwards. His arms and legs twitched a few times and then he became still.

Fang-Sheng and the rest of the people were astounded. A hole had appeared on Yi's forehead, from which blood gushed out. He still held a tight grip of the long sword in his hand, but he had already stopped breathing.

Xin Guoliang, Huang Guobo, and Jue-Yue roared in unison. Each gripping his weapon tightly they made at the bush in fury. Fang-Sheng extended his arms to his sides, and as the loose sleeves of the monk's robe spread open, a powerful yet soft stream of energy force blocked the three men like an invisible wall.

”May I ask which friend from the Dark-Wood Cliff has come here?” turning toward the bush Fang-Sheng asked gravely, his voice loud and clear. But only silence followed, complete silence, which swept all over the hundreds of shrubs and bushes.

”Our school never had any imbroglio with the Dark-Wood Cliff. Why have you slain Nephew-Apprentice Yi with such murderous scheme?” he asked again, but still, no one responded from within the bushes.

”The Dark-Wood Cliff? The Dark-Wood Cliff is where the Demon's Cult is headquartered. Could…could this granny have been a senior member of the Demon's Cult?” Linghu Chong was thunderstruck.

”I've had the chance to make acquaintance with Chief Dongfang once many years ago. Friend, now that you have committed the murder, we must settle the discord once for all. Why don't you show yourself?” Fang-Sheng urged.

”Chief Dongfang? Is he talking about the chief of the Demon's Cult, Dongfang Invincible? That man was known as the number one fighter in the entire world. Then…then this granny really is a member of the Demon's Cult.” Linghu Chong felt another shock shooting up his spine.

But the granny stayed behind the bushes and would not respond.

”Friend, if you insist on not showing yourself, please excuse the old monk's discourtesy then!” Fang-Sheng exclaimed as he retracted his arms slightly, and immediately, energy soared inside his two sleeves, inflating them like two large balloons. He pushed his arms forward and the powerful force shot out from his palms. A loud crack exploded in the air as the dozens of scrubs all broke from the middle and small branches and leaves swirled in the midair. Right at that moment, a shadow leapt out from the remains of the bushes.

Even though Linghu Chong really wanted to take a look at the granny's appearance, he still remembered the promised he had made and quickly turned his back to it. He could hear the roaring and bellowing from Xin Guoliang and Jue-Yue, together with the sounds of weapons clashing with each other, so dense and so speedy that it sounded as though the raindrops from a thunderstorm bouncing off the window. Apparently the granny had already engaged in the right with Fang-Sheng and his group.

It was about 10 o'clock in the morning, and the sun hung in a corner of the sky, casting rays of sunshine down from an angle. Although Linghu Chong found himself tormented by anxiety and curiosity, in order to keep his promise, he dared not turn his head around to glance at the fight, and only looked down at the ground where dark shadows cast by the five fighters fluttered wildly. Fang-Sheng and his three Nephew-Apprentices had surrounded the granny. Fang-Sheng was not holding any weapon in his hands; Jue-Yue was using a Buddhist's Spade; Huang Guobo used a knife; Xin Guoliang wielded a long sword. The granny had a pair of very short weapons in her hands. They looked like daggers, yet also assembled the shapes of Emei Stings. The weapons were short and thin, and almost looked as though they were transparent. Looking only based on the shadow from the sun Linghu Chong could not make out what kind of weapons they were. The granny and Fang-Sheng both fought quietly, whereas Xin Guoliang and the rest two all bellowed at the top of their lungs, which seemed to have made their attacks more menacing.

”Can't we talk this over? This is outrageous, four guys attacking an elderly granny at the same time!” Linghu Chong protested.

”An elderly granny? Ha-ha, this chap must be daydreaming. She…” Huang Guobo scoffed when Fang-Sheng suddenly shouted to him, ”Huang…watch out!”

Huang suddenly uttered a painful cry. Evidently he had just taken a hard hit.

Linghu Chong was almost struck dumb with amazement. ”This granny's Kung Fu must have been terrific!” he thought. ”Earlier when Great Master Fang-Sheng broke those scrubs with shear energy force, he showed astonishing inner strength. But this granny is still able to get the upper hand one against four!”

Suddenly, Jue-Yue also cried loudly in pain. The Buddhist's Spade flew out of his grip, over Linghu Chong's head, and then fell to the ground dozens of feet away. By then, there were only three fluttering shadows on the ground. Both Huang Guobo and Jue-Yue had collapsed, and it was only Fang-Sheng and Xin Guoliang still left in the fight against the granny.

”What a sin! What a sin! You are too ruthless, killing my three Nephew-Apprentices one after another. I can no longer hold my hands. You give me no choice but to do everything in my power to contend with you,” Fang-Sheng exclaimed.

Loud clapping sounds followed. It appears that Great Master had wielded his weapon, which seems to have fallen under the category of a wooden club or staff. Linghu Chong only felt the turbulence of energy behind his back became swifter and fiercer, which compelled him to take steps forward again and again.

An accomplished Shaolin Monk was certainly no trivial matter. As soon as Great Master Fang-Sheng began using his weapon, the situation of the fight changed immediately. Linghu Chong could vaguely hear the granny gasping heavily as though she had used up her inner strength.

”Throw down your weapons! I won't make this difficult for you. I only want you to come with me to the Shaolin Temple, so I can tell the abbot apprentice brother what happened and then awaits his judgment,” Great Master Fang-Sheng said.

The granny did not respond, instead, she suddenly launched a series of quick attacks toward Xin Guoliang, who had a hard time fending them off and retreated from the fight, letting Great Master Fang-Sheng to take it over. After taking a short moment to collect himself, Xin Guoliang rejoined the fight, waving his long sword fiercely. After a few more minutes, the clanking sounds from the weapons clashing against each other gradually slowed down while the turbulence created by the inner energy streams turned louder and louder.

”Your inner strength is no match for me. If I were you, I would have thrown down the weapons and then go to the Shaolin Temple with me. Forcing yourself to go on with the fight would only result in severe internal injury,” Great Master Fang-Sheng persuaded.

The granny only replied with an angry snort. But suddenly she shrieked and Linghu Chong felt some kind of watery substance splashing onto the back of his neck. He wiped it with his hand and then looked at the hand, which was now in a color of dark red. What had splashed onto the back of his neck turned out to be blood.

”What a sin! What a sin! With your new wound, you won't be able to hold out much longer. You should know that I have been holding back all along,” Great Master Fang-Sheng spoke again.

”This woman is an evil demon. Uncle-Master, please eradicate the evil and avenge the three apprentice brothers. How can we who any mercy to an evil monster?” Xin Guoliang snarled.

Linghu Chong could hear the heavy panting and the staggering footsteps of the granny, and it sounded as if she could be collapsing any minute. ”The granny asked me to be her escort so I can protect her. How could I just stand by the side when she is in great danger?” he thought to himself. With an echoing ring, he had unsheathed his long sword.

”Great Master Fang-Sheng, senior master Xin, please stop the fight, or else I'll have no choice but to offend you,” Linghu Chong exclaimed loudly.

”We'll just eradicate this evil along with the other evil then,” Xin Guoliang bellowed as he thrust his sword toward Linghu Chong's back.

Afraid that he might cast a glance at the granny, Linghu Chong dared not to turn around and simply dodged to the side.

”Watch out!” the granny shouted as Xin Guoliang also adjusted the angle of the thrust and still pushed his long sword toward Linghu Chong's back.

Suddenly Xin Guoliang screeched loudly as his body flew over Linghu Chong's left shoulder with an angle. Then a loud thump followed when his body hit the ground. His limbs twitched a few times before he finally stopped moving. Somehow the granny had managed to hit him with a lethal blow. Only seconds later, there was another loud thump. The granny had been hit with a palm strike from Great Master Fang-Sheng, which sent her flying in the air and then falling into the bushes.

”Granny, Granny! Are you alright?” Linghu Chong yelled in astonishment, then he heard the granny groaning in an undertone.

Feeling somewhat relieved that the granny was still alive, Linghu Chong turned slightly and then shot a thrust at Fang-Sheng. The positioning of the thrust was extremely clever and Fang-Sheng was forced to leap back. Linghu Chong immediately followed with another thrust, which Fang-Sheng managed to block with his weapon. By the time Linghu Chong withdrew his long sword, he had already turn completely around and was now standing in front of Great Master Fang-Sheng face to face. Now he finally saw the weapon Great Master was using: a three-foot long worn staff.

”Who would have expected his weapon to be simply a short staff?” Linghu Chong was taken aback. ”This Shaolin monk's inner strength is too overwhelming. If I don't subdue him with my sword arts, the granny would die for sure.” At that thought, he quickly thrust up once, down once, and then up another twice, all using techniques taught by Feng Qingyang.

”You…you….” Great Master Fang-Sheng croaked, his face turning completely white.

Linghu Chong dared not to slow down in anyway, knowing too well what consequences that would have brought. He did not have any internal strength, so any slack would give his opponent the opportunity to overwhelm him with resourceful inner energy. Then undoubtedly he would be killed instantly and the granny would for sure be taken to the Shaolin Temple as a prisoner and later executed. He cleared his mind completely, and then poured out techniques after techniques from the profound ”Dugu Nine Swords” at will. The ”Dugu Nine Swords” sword art was the utmost fine and ingenious sword art. Although Linghu Chong had lost all his inner strength and had not fully understood all the subtleties of this sword art, his sword attacks forced Great Master Fang-Sheng to back up step after step. Soon, Linghu Chong felt the energy streams soaring inside his chest once again and his arms aching and limp; his sword moves also grew weaker and weaker.

”Drop your sword,” Fang-Sheng suddenly shouted out as his struck his left palm toward Linghu Chong's solar plexus.

By then, Linghu Chong was already done up. He thrust his sword out, but only half way through with the thrust, his arm dropped down from exhaustion, which also lowered the sword. Grinding his teeth, Linghu Chong pushed the thrust forward anyway, but this slight delay had slowed his thrust quite a bit, and Great Master Fang-Sheng had already placed his left palm on Linghu Chong's soar plexus, holding his inner strength back, asking, ”Dugu Nine Swords! Where…?”

But right at that split of a second, Linghu Chong's sword also pierced into Fang-Sheng's pit of stomach. Ever since he met the Shaolin monk, Linghu Chong had held him in the highest regard. As soon as he felt the sword tip touching Fang-Sheng's skin, he pulled hastily with all his strength and withdrew his sword. Having used too much strength at the pull, he lost his balance and fell to the ground, blood gushing out from his mouth.

”Brilliant sword arts!” Great Master Fang-Sheng pressed his hand onto the wound on his chest and praised brightly. ”If young hero had not shown mercy with your sword, my life would have perished right in front of my own eyes.”

He did not mention a word about the fact that he had shown great mercy by holding back the power from his palm strike and began coughing wildly after speaking these words. Although Linghu Chong worked his best to withdraw the sword, the tip of the sword still cut into Fang-Sheng's chest, leaving a wound over an inch deep, injuring Fang-Sheng seriously.

”I am…am terribly…sorry that I…I have offended you, Great Master,” Linghu Chong gasped.

”I certainly had not thought that senior master Feng Qingyang of Huashan had found a disciple for his brilliant sword arts. I had once received great graciousness from senior master Feng many years ago. Today's matter, I…I can not decide for myself,” Great Master Fang-Sheng speak softly. Reaching into his rope slowly, he took out a small paper bag and then unwrapped it, showing two pills in the size of two longans inside. ”These are healing panaceas of the Shaolin Temple. You can take one,” he said. After a slight hesitation, he said, ”Give the other one to that woman.”

”My injuries are incurable; why waste a perfectly good pill? Great Master, I think you should take the other pill yourself,” Linghu Chong replied.

”I have no need of it.”

Great Master Fang-Sheng shook his head and then set the two pills down in front of Linghu Chong. Turning his head around, he looked at the four corpses on the ground one by one, his face now looking mournful and grieved. Putting his palms together, he began reciting some Buddhist scriptures in a gentle voice, and gradually, a look of harmony started to blossom on his face, and eventually, his face appeared so peaceful as though it was glowing with a divine halo, looking ”infinitely merciful.”

Feeling awfully lightheaded, Linghu Chong knew that he could not hold out much longer, so he picked up the two pills and took one down his throat.

When Great Master Fang-Sheng finally finished reciting the scriptures, he turned to Linghu Chong again.

”The disciple of senior master Feng's Dugu Nine Swords can not have been a follower of evil. Young hero, you have great chivalry deep in your heart. Reasonably speaking, you should not die an untimely death. But the internal injury you are suffering is extremely peculiar and cannot be cured with medicine or acupuncture. The only way for you to stay alive would have to be studying advanced internal Qi-Gong, yourself. If you listen to an old Buddhist monk, I suggest you come to the Shaolin Temple together with me, and then I'll entreat the Head Master apprentice brother to teach you the utmost supreme internal energy techniques of our Shaolin School. I am sure, then, your internal injuries can be cured.”

After some more coughs, he continued, ”Only the few who possess the right Karma can study this set of Qi-Gong techniques. I, for example, do not have such fortune. The Head Master of the Shaolin School, my senior apprentice brother, is especially large-minded. He might find you the one with the right Karma to teach this supreme Kung Fu to.”

”Great Master, many thanks for your kindness. After I've escorted Granny to a safe place, if I were lucky to be still alive, I would pay a visit to the Shaolin Temple and pay my respects to Great Master and the Head Master Abbot,” Linghu Chong replied respectfully.

”You…you call her Granny?” A look of surprise spread over Fang-Sheng's face as he muttered. ”Young hero, you are an apprentice of a reputable and orthodox school. You should not associate with evil. My suggestion is for your own good. It will be wise to reconsider.”

”A true man always keeps his words. How can I break my promise to others,” Linghu Chong exclaimed.

”Very well! I look forward to seeing young hero again in the Shaolin Temple.” Great Master Fang-Sheng sighed. Casting a quick glance at the four corpses on the ground, he murmured, ”Four abandoned vessels,[3] burial or no burial, what difference does it show. When a soul leaves the mortal world, death ends it all.” Turning on his heels, he strolled away.

”Granny, are you…are you alright?” Linghu Chong asked while sitting on the ground, unable to move. He gasped wildly, his entire body aching.

Rustling sounds rose from behind his back as the granny came out of the bushes.

”I won't die!” she replied. ”You'd better go with that old monk. He said he could cure your internal injuries. The internal Qi-Gong techniques of the Shaolin School are absolutely matchless in the world. Why are you still here?”

”I promised to escort Granny, then of course I'll escort all the way,” Linghu Chong answered.

”You've been wounded badly. How can you escort me?”

”Aren't you wounded as well? We'll see!” Linghu Chong grinned.

”I am an evil, heterodox monster, and you are an apprentice of a reputable, orthodox school. If you associate with me, aren't I ruining the clean name of an apprentice of a reputable school?”

”I never had any clean name to start with. What do I care how others think of me? Granny, you have been so kind to me. Linghu Chong is not one who doesn't know what's right and what's wrong. You have been severely wounded. If I leave you just like that, how can I ever see my own face in a mirror?”

”So you are saying that if I had not incurred any wounds, you would have left me just like that, aren't you?” the granny snapped.

Linghu Chong was slightly taken aback, but he smiled.

”If Granny you don't dislike me, a young and ignorant lad, and would prefer to have me around as company, then Linghu Chong is willing to stay by your side and be your chat partner. But I am afraid that I have always been a crude one who commits all kinds of outrages at will, and maybe only a few days into it, Granny would not want to talk to me any more.”

The granny let out a snort but did not answer. Extending his arm backward, Linghu Chong handed the pill given by Great Master Fang-Sheng toward the granny.

”That Shaolin monk is truly remarkable. Granny, you killed four apprentices from his school, but he would rather spare the healing panacea for you instead of taking it himself. When he fought with you earlier, he probably held back some,” he said.

”Humph! If he did hold back, how come he still wounded me? People like that pose as members of the reputable and orthodox school, hypocritically pretending to be the good guys. I despise them,” the granny replied angrily.

”Granny, why don't you take this pill? After I took one, I did feel much better around my chest and my stomach,” Linghu Chong suggested.

The granny acknowledged, but did not take the pill.

”Granny…,” Linghu Chong spoke again but was cut off by the granny abruptly.

”We are the only two here. Why do you keep calling 'Granny,' 'Granny?' Can't you give it a rest?”

”Sure. That'll be fine. Why aren't you taking the pill?” Linghu Chong grinned.

”Since you think the healing pill of the Shaolin School is great, and the healing pill I gave you is no good, why didn't you take this pill from the old monk together with the one you took earlier?” the granny mocked.

”What? When did I ever say that your healing pill is no good? You are really wronging me. Besides, the Shaolin School's healing pill is great, and that's why I want you to take it, so you can gather up some strength sooner for the journey.”

”I see, so you think it's too boring to be my company, don't you? Go ahead! Leave! Nobody is stopping you,” the granny snapped again.

”Why is the granny so grumpy all of a sudden, always at odds with me? Oh, I got it. She is suffering from severe wounds and is not feeling well, then naturally her temper went high. I can't really blame her,” Linghu Chong thought to himself. Grinning brightly, he said, ”But I am too exhausted to even move half a step. Even if I wanted to go, I couldn't. Besides…besides…ha-ha….”

”Besides what? Ha-ha what?” the granny asked in an annoyed tone.

'Ha-ha is ha-ha. Besides, even if I could go, I wouldn't have wanted to go, unless you'll go together with me,” Linghu Chong beamed.

At first, he had always maintained good manners when talking with the granny, but when she started to throw a fit and became unreasonable, he also became unbridled. But to his surprise, the granny did not get angry and suddenly fell into a silence, lost in thought.

”Granny…,” Linghu Chong called out.

”You are calling me Granny again! Have you never called others 'Granny' before? Don't you get tired of calling that?” the granny reproved.

”From now on, I won't call you granny any more. How should I call you then?” Linghu Chong asked with a smile.

The granny did not answer him right away. Only after a few moments, she finally said, ”We are the only two here. Why bother? As soon as you open your mouth, I'll know that you are talking to me. Could you have been talking to anybody else?”

”Sometimes I like to talk to myself. I hope you don't misunderstand,” Linghu Chong smirked.

”Always talking so roguishly, no wonder your little apprentice sister doesn't want you.” The granny snorted.

These words struck Linghu Chong right on the spot in his heart where it hurt the most. His heart sinking horribly, he couldn't help but think, ”Little apprentice sister dislikes me and likes apprentice brother Lin. Maybe that really is because I am always roguish in doing things and saying things. That's why she was unwilling to commit her life to my care. That's right. Apprentice brother Lin always toes the line and acts like a perfect gentleman, almost an exact duplicate of Master. If I were a girl, I would have liked him and not the always ill-behaved prodigal, let alone little apprentice sister. Alas, Linghu Chong! Linghu Chong! You always get drunk and run wild, pay no attention to school rules and regulations. You are beyond redemption. I made friends with the evil rapist Tian Boguang; I slept inside the brothel in the town of Hengyang. Little apprentice sister must have felt awful!”

”Why? Did I touch a sour spot? You are angry now, aren't you?” didn't hear a reply from Linghu Chong, the granny asked.

”No, I am not angry. You said it right. I always talk roguishly and doing things roguishly. No wonder little apprentice sister dislikes me, and Master, Master-Wife also dislike me.” Linghu Chong answered, his voice gloomy.

”Don't be depressed. Your Master, Master-Wife, and your little apprentice sister dislike you doesn't mean that there's…there's no one else who likes you,” the granny comforted him, her voice so soft and gentle, filled with consolation.

Linghu Chong was utterly grateful. A feeling of warmth washing over him; he felt something choking in his throat.

”Granny, you are so kind to me, so even if nobody else in this world likes me, that…that would be all right.”

”You surely have a honey mouth, always speaking pleasant things. No wonder even people like Blue Phoenix of the Five-Sylph Sect was full of praises when talking about you. Very well, you can't walk, and I can't walk either. We'll just have to spend the night over there under that cliff. I wonder whether we'll die today.”

”If we survive today, I wonder whether we'll die tomorrow. If we survive tomorrow, I wonder whether we'll die the day after.” Linghu Chong grinned.

”Drop it! You crawl over there slowly and I'll be right after you.”

”But if you don't take this pill from the old monk, I am afraid I don't even have enough strength to crawl one step,” Linghu Chong whined.

”You are talking nonsense again. If I don't take that pill, why are you the one having no strength to crawl?” the granny asked.

”This is definitely not nonsense. If you don't take the pill, your injury won't recover soon, and for sure you would not be in a mood to play the zither. Then I'd be all worried to death and where do you expect me to find strength to crawl over? I won't even have any strength to just lie here, much less crawling over,” Linghu Chong explained.

”Even lying here requires your strength?” The granny chuckled.

”That's of course. This is a slope here. If I don't use my strength to hold myself still, I would have rolled all the way down it and fallen into the mountain gully down below. Then either I'll smash myself to pieces or drown.”

”Even when you are so severely injured, not knowing whether you can make it till tomorrow, you are still in such a merrily mood to joke about. People as cheeky as this had to be rare in this world.” The granny sighed.

Linghu Chong threw the pill back behind his back gently. ”Will you just take it, please?” he pleaded

”Anyone who poses as a member of the reputable and orthodox schools can not be an good egg. If I take this pill of the Shaolin School, it will only dirty my mouth,” the granny let out an irritated snort.

”Ouch!” Linghu Chong suddenly cried as he leaned his upper body to the left and then rolled toward the mountain gully down the slope.

”Look out!” astounded, the granny shouted.

Linghu Chong kept on rolling. The slop was not very steep, but very long. It took Linghu Chong a good while to finally roll to the edge of the gully. Spreading his arms and legs widely Linghu Chong stopped himself from rolling any further.

”Hey? Hello? Are you all right?” the granny shouted.

The sharp rocks along the slope gave Linghu Chong's face and arms quite some cuts and bruises, but he kept his silence in spite of the fierce pain.

”Fine! I'll take the old monk's stinking pill. Get…get back up here,” the granny shouted again.

”You've said it. You can't go back to your words,” Linghu Chong replied.

At the moment there was already quite a distance between the two. Linghu Chong didn't have any inner strength, so his voice couldn't reach very far. The granny only vaguely heard some indistinct sounds, but couldn't make out what he had said.

”What did you say?” she asked.

”I…I…,” Linghu Chong wanted to answer, but had to gasp for air.

”Hurry, come up here! I promise I'll take the pill,” the granny shouted.

Linghu Chong tottered back onto his feet and tired to climb up the slope, but to roll down the slope was way much easier than climbing back up it again. Only after two steps, his leg suddenly gave out under him, and after some staggering, thump, he really fell into the mountain gully.

Seeing how Linghu Chong fell into the mountain gully from high above with a good view, the granny was stunned. Giving it no thought, she also rolled downward along the slope. When she finally rolled by Linghu Chong's side, she reached out and grabbed onto his left ankle with her left hand. After taking in a few deep breaths, she clutched his back robe and then pulled a dripping-wet Linghu Chong out of the water.

By then Linghu Chong had swallowed many gulps of water and golden sparkles danced in front of his eyes. He shook his head slightly trying to pull himself together when suddenly he noticed the two inverted images reflected in the water: a young girl clutching his back robe tightly in her hand. Feeling very muddleheaded, he then heard the girl uttering a painful cry from behind his back, spilling a mouthful of warm blood onto the back of his neck. The girl bent over his back as though she had been paralyzed. Feeling the girl's soft body leaning on his back and her long hair brushing against his face, Linghu Chong found himself at a loss, as though all his emotions had been emptied out of his heart. He took another look at the reflection in the water. Half of the girl's face could be seen from the reflection in the water. Her eyes were shut tight, and her long eyelashes swayed in the breeze. Even though he could not see very clearly from the reflection in the water, he could still tell that she was a gorgeous-looking girl seventeen or eighteen years of age.

”Who is this girl? Why did a young girl suddenly come out of nowhere to rescue me?” he was deeply amazed. The reflection in the water and the feeling on his back were both telling him that the girl had fainted. Linghu Chong wanted to turn around and prop the girl up, but his entire body felt weak, and he didn't even have enough strength to raise a finger. It felt as though he was in the middle of a dream. He gave another look at the graceful appearance in the reflection of the water and could not decide if he had arrived at a wonderland. All he could think was, ”Am I dead already? Am I in heaven?”

A long while passed when the girl on his back finally came around.

”Were you just trying to scare me, or did you really…really want to kill yourself?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

As soon as Linghu Chong heard her voice, he almost jumped out of his skin. The voice he had just heard was completely identical to the voice of the granny. Shocked beyond description, he muttered, trembling, ”You…you…you….”

”What? I just won't take the old monk's stinking pill. Go ahead, commit suicide and show me,” the girl snapped.

”Granny, so you are a…a pretty, little…little girl!” Linghu Chong muttered.

”How did you know?” the girl screeched. ”You…you promise-breaker! Have you peeped?”

As soon as she looked down and then saw a clear reflection in the mountain gully of herself leaning on Linghu Chong's back, her face turned completely scarlet, and she hurriedly struggled to stand up. But right after she straightened her back, her knees became weak and she fell right onto Linghu Chong's bosom. After a few frantic try to prop herself backup, which almost made her faint once more, she had to lay still.

Linghu Chong's heart was filled with puzzlement. ”Why did you disguise as an elderly granny to fool me? Pretend to be a senior master, and caused me…caused me…” he asked eagerly.

”Caused you what?” the girl asked.

The girl's cheek was only about a foot from Linghu Chong's eyes. Her skin was so white as though it was made out of crystal, and dimly showing a shade of flush beneath the skin.

”Caused me to call you granny this and granny that all the way. Humph, shame on you! You aren't even old enough to be my younger sister, yet you want to be my granny! If you want to be a granny, better wait at least another eighty years!”

”When did I ever say that I was a granny?” the girl chuckled. ”It was you who wanted to call me granny. Didn't I get mad at you because you kept calling me 'Granny' just now? Told you to not call me that, but you just wouldn't listen. Am I right?”

Linghu Chong had to agree inwardly that these words were very true. But having been hoodwinked for so long and having acted like a complete fool on his part, he couldn't just let it go easily.

”You deceived me on purpose when you disallowed me from looking at your face. If I had looked at you face to face, would I have called you a granny? It even goes all the way back to the city of Luo Yang. Even back then you intentionally tricked me, colluding with Elder Bamboo-Green that old goat and asking him to call you auntie. He was already so old, and since you were his auntie, how can I not call you a granny?”

”Elder Bamboo-Green's Master calls my dad Uncle-Master, then what should Elder Bamboo-Green address me as?” The girl grinned.

Linghu Chong was taken by surprise. ”Are you really Elder Bamboo-Green's auntie?” he asked hesitantly.

”That bloke Elder Bamboo-Green is not someone extraordinary. Why would I want to pretend to be his auntie? What's so great about been an auntie?”

”Well! I am so stupid. I should have already known.” Linghu Chong heaved a sigh.

”Have already known what?” the girl asked, giggling.

”Your voice is so pleasant. How can there be any eighty-year old granny in this world with such a tender and melodious voice?”

”My voice is so coarse and hoarse, like the croaks of a crow. No wonder you thought I was an old granny,” the girl said, beaming.

”Your voice is like the croaks of a crow? Wow, the world has really changed. So croaks of crows nowadays actually sound more pleasant than the singing of the orioles.”

The girl knew that Linghu Chong was praising her. A quick flush shot across her cheeks as her heart thumped with joy.

”Alright, alright! Grandpa Linghu! Senior master Linghu! You've called me Granny for so long, now I'll call you back. Will that even it up for you? Are you happy now?” the granny reconciled.

”If you are Granny, and I am Grandpa, then we are the Grandpa and Granny. Aren't we…?” Linghu Chong said in a big grin.

He had always been the unrestrained and uninhibited type, having no scruples when he talked. He was just about to say ”aren't we a couple then” when he suddenly noticed the knitted eyebrows and the angry look on the girl's face, so he shut up abruptly.

”What kind of nonsense are you talking about?” the girl growled.

”I said that if we are the Grandpa and Granny, aren't we…aren't we both senior masters of the Martial World?” Linghu Chong answered.

The girl knew very well that he had just gone out of his way to change his wording, but decided to not pursue the case, afraid that he might spill out even more coarse terms. Learning on Linghu Chong's bosom and sensing the strong scent of a male in her nose, she had already felt great distractions in her heart. She really wanted to stand up, but her limbs simply would not comply. With a blushed face, she demanded, ”Hey, give me a push!”

”Give you a push for what?” Linghu Chong asked.

”The way…the way we are…is very inappropriate,” the girl said.

”It's appropriate for Grandpa and Granny,” Linghu Chong grinned.

”If you keep talking rubbish, I'll kill you!” the girl yelled in a stern voice.

Linghu Chong felt a chill on his back as he remembered how she had made dozens of men cutting out their own eyes and then banished them to the Twine-Dragon Island in the East Sea, and he dared not making any more jokes. Then he remembered, ”Even in such a young age, she was able to kill four apprentices of the Shaolin School with simply a raise of her hand. Such excellent Kung Fu skills combined with such ruthless conducts, it is so hard to believe that these traits all belonged to this delicately pretty girl right in front of my eyes.”

”You are getting angry again, aren't you? You are a man, how come you are so intolerant?” receiving no answer from Linghu Chong, the girl spoke again.

”I am not angry. I am feeling afraid, afraid that you'll kill me,” Linghu Chong answered.

”If you remain well-behaved from now on, why would I want to kill you?” The girl cackled.

'But I was born one with a nature of not behaving well, it's not like that I had a choice. I guess I am doomed to die in your hands.” Linghu Chong sighed.

”When you were calling me Granny, you showed a lot of respect to me. That was good, very well behaved. Just keep that going and you'll be fine,” the girl said with a snigger.

”No way! Once I know that you are a little girl, I can no longer regard you as a granny.” Linghu Chong shook his head.

”What…what…?” the girl muttered, but suddenly she seemed to have thought of something; she blushed and shut her mouth.

Linghu Chong bent his neck slightly, and took in a good view of the girl's face. It was a beautiful face, so sweet and charming, still carrying the tender coyness of a young girl, prettier than anything else in the world. In an almost dreamlike state, he felt a slight tickle in his heart, and before he knew it, had already moved his head closer and kissed the girl gently on the cheek.

The girl was shocked, and out of nowhere, she suddenly found some strength inside her that wasn't there a minute ago. Turning her hand over, she slapped Linghu Chong heavily in the face, and immediately after, she sprang up. But the strength disappeared as abruptly as it had come; still in the midair, she found herself just as weak as a second ago, and a faction of a second later, she fell back onto Linghu Chong's bosom once again, only this time she felt even feebler than the last time, and could no longer move a muscle.

”If you…if you do that again, I'll…kill you,” afraid that Linghu Chong might take even more liberties with her and feeling utterly apprehensive, she muttered sternly.

”Whether you kill me or not, I have not much time left in this life, anyway, I think I'd rather do it again,” Linghu Chong grinned.

”I…I…I…,” the girl gasped in great worry, yet found herself at her wit's end.

After working hard to gather some strength, Linghu Chong propped the girl's shoulder slightly and then rolled away to the side.

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”Whatcha gonna do?” he asked with a grin, but right after these words, he coughed violently and spilled out a few mouthful of blood.

Having become enamored all of a sudden and kissed the girl, he regretted immediately. Then after getting hit on the face, even though he was still firm in speech, he knew he shouldn't have done so and dared not to stay close to her any longer.

Linghu Chong rolling away from her all of a sudden took the girl by great surprise. Seeing blood coming out of his mouth once again after he used his strength, she felt regretful secretly, but thin-skinned as she was, she could not bring herself to speak any of it.

”Your…your chest is hurting pretty bad, isn't it?” she finally asked gently.

”It's not my chest that's hurting, it's somewhere else,” Linghu Chong replied.

”Where are you hurting then?” the girl asked hurriedly, her voice filled with concern.

”Here!” Linghu Chong stroked his cheek where the girl had slapped him.

”If you want me to apologize to you, alright, I am sorry.” The girl smiled.

”It's my fault. Granny, will you please forgive me?” Linghu Chong said.

Hearing him calling her ”Granny” again, the girl burst into giggles.

”Where's that stinking pill from the old monk? You never took it, did you?” Linghu Chong asked.