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Book 60 Chapter 7 - Superiority Completely Lost

In the stone pavilion of the South Garden of Yeting Palace, Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan stood on a small bridge, leaning on the railings, silently watching the water flowing in the man-made creek under the bridge, quietly waiting for the time to go to the banquet.

After casting a couple of glances toward Xu Ziling, Ba Fenghan asked in surprise, “Why does Ziling look like you have a lot on your mind? Is it because of Shi Feixuan’s departure?”

Heaving a sigh, Xu Ziling said, “Knowing that Feixuan is returning to Jingzhai and seeing Qingxuan again, on the way back to the Xing Qing Palace, my mind seemed to suddenly back to clear and bright. I recall many things that I hadn’t thought about or did not think about before, my heart feels very uncomfortable.”

Smiling wryly, Ba Fenghan said, “Hearing you said that, I’m scared; why don’t you tell me clearly?”

Xu Ziling said, “The last time we came to Chang’an, I ran into Shi Zhixuan because of following An Long’s track. He mistakenly thought that our intention was to assassinate Li Shimin, he even mentioned asking for our help to deal with Zhao Deyan. My intuition at the time clearly told me that he did have this misunderstanding. However, when we had a falling out with him, before he made his move trying to kill me, he said something else; he told me that he had seen through our scheme early on in order to disturb my mind. At the time, I didn’t care about it, but looking back now, I feel something is very wrong.”

Ba Fenghan did not understand, “What makes you suddenly remember this matter?”

Xu Ziling said, “All because Feixuan was able to leave safely. According to reason, Wanwan already mastered Tianmo Da Fa, there is no reason she would miss the opportunity to defeat Feixuan. They don’t have to decide life and death, merely deciding victory or defeat, Wanwan would have already achieved her goal.”

His countenance changed, Ba Fenghan said, “That is indeed a very big question.”

Xu Ziling said, “Wanwan secretly visited Shizhixuan without telling us, it makes me even more suspicious. Shi Zhixuan said he saw through our purpose of coming to Chang’an, he was not guessing, but Wanwan told him. It’s just that after the fact, he acted as if he was smart, that’s all!”

Hearing that Ba Fenghan knitted his brows, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

Xu Ziling said, “I also remember one thing, after Wanwan heard that Zhu Hou [empress] passed away, she went into my room and wept bitterly, moving my heart to pity her, playing tricks to make me help her mastering her Tianmo Da Fa. This matter is still fresh in my memory.”

Shaken, Ba Feng said, “Ziling is saying that she is being friendly toward you guys now is just some kind of trick, while actually she is harboring malicious intentions? What do we do? She knows clearly all of our secrets, including the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house.”

Xu Ziling spoke dejectedly, “Kou Zhong and I both have a fault, our way of thinking is naïve, very easy to believe other people’s good words.”

Shaking his head, Ba Fenghan said, “Not that your way of thinking is naïve, but oftentimes you measure others based on yourselves. This could be considered either as an advantage or a disadvantage. It depends on the other side’s character and motivation.”

Xu Ziling said, “Just now I looked down at the flowing water under the bridge and thought that any matter has physical properties, human character is also like that. Wanwan was influenced by Zhu Yuyan since childhood, the demonic school’s mission is their sacred task, nothing above it, how could it suddenly change? Zhu Yuyan pretended to cooperate with us, while actually she wanted us to accompany her to die in such a way that Shi Zhixuan also perishes.”

Ba Fenghan said, “If Ziling’s guess is not incorrect, it will give us more headache than Li Yuan wanting to kill us tonight, and the only thing that we depend on no longer exist.”

Xu Ziling said, “I hope I’m just over-anxious, but Wanwan keeps saying that there is another magnificent plan of the demonic school, which makes my misgivings grow as a thicket. No matter what her plan is, as long as Kou Zhong and I are still alive, we definitely will not sit and watch her destroy the peaceful reunification of the world. And she knew this in her heart.”

Ba Fenghan nodded and said, “Ziling’s perception is reasonable and fair, if I was her, now that I have such a good opportunity to kill using a borrowed knife, I will definitely not let it pass. Precisely because of this, she will not hesitate to give up the opportunity to challenge Shi Feixuan.”

Xu Ziling said, “Shi Zhixuan knew her plan, hence the reason he made up his mind to kill me, afraid that the night is long the dreams many. However, in the end, because his heart was hindered, Shi Zhixuan was unable to kill me, so he had to let Wanwan do it. The last several times Wanwan coming to visit us, she always tried to avoid me. Kou Zhong and I are both puzzled about this, but now I finally understand that she is afraid that I will make her softhearted, or even change her mind.”

The murderous intent in Ba Fenghan’s pair of eyes flaring greatly, he spoke heavily, “Do you think she has revealed the secret of the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house?”

Xu Ziling replied, “Based on her usual conduct and style, plus both she and Shi Zhixuan are currently caught in isolated situation, at present, even if this matter is leaked, it should still be limited to her and Shi Zhixuan.”

Ba Fenghan said, “If that is the case, if we kill Shi Zhixuan and Wanwan, won’t the whole world be at peace?”

Xu Ziling said, “This matter must be discussed carefully when Kou Zhong is here. The biggest problem is that we practically don’t know where they are hiding during the day.”

Li Jing appeared on the forest path, the time for the banquet has arrived.

The state banquet was held in the Taiji Palace, just like the New Year Eve’s banquet last time, the host’s seat was set at the north end of the palace hall, and the guest seats were arranged on the left and right, on either side of the big palace hall.

The square outside the palace hall was crowded with civil and military officials, waiting for the bell to enter the palace hall for the banquet, carriages and horses were flowing continuously from the Imperial City into the traversing square, where the passengers dismounted outside the Cheng Tian Gate, the atmosphere was lively.

Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling, under escort by Li Jing, husband and wife, Yuchi Jingde, Pang Yu, Shi Wanbao, Liu Dewei, Zhangsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Yin Zhixuan, and so on, a crowd of the Heavenly Policy Mansion’s military generals and civilian court officials, walked out of the Yeting Palace, stepped into the traversing square, and walked over toward the Cheng Tian Gate.

Li Jing said to Xu Ziling and Ba Feng, “Bi Xuan and Fu Cailin, two sides both refused to attend the state banquet tonight, showing clearly their dissatisfaction with Huangshang and Shaoshuai forming an alliance.”

Ba Fenghan sighed and said, “So tonight will greatly lose its color.”

On the other side, Zhangsun Wuji laughed and said, “Fortunately, there’s Ge Suwen joining in the fun. According to reports, Ge Suwen has, on multiple occasions, expressed his desire to measure himself against Shaoshuai to see whose saber technique is more superior.”

Following behind, Yuchi Jingde said, “At least half of Shao Shuai Army’s fame for fighting prowess is based on Shaoshuai’s unrivalled saber technique. If anybody could surpass Shaoshuai for even one move or half a style, it will bring about unbearably-imaginable destruction and harm to Shao Shuai Army’s morale and prestige; therefore, the enemy will definitely not willing to miss this opportunity.”

Ba Fenghan said with a sneer, “To check for convenience is not easy at all. Before challenging Shaoshuai’s Moon in the Well, they will have to crash their way through my, Ba Fenghan’s Stealing the Heaven Sword.”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “If you, Lao Ba make Kou Zhong lose all the opportunities to relieve the itch on hands, especially one that he deserves in a fair division of the booty, he will definitely protest.”

Hearing that, none did not blurt out laughing.

The banquet attendees gathering in front of the Cheng Tian Gate saw Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan were among the group of newcomers, they scrambled over to meet them, creating a tiny disturbance.

Suddenly a group of more than a dozen people came toward them. The leader was surprisingly Li Yuanji, following behind him were people whom some they recognized, such as the master of Longxi Pai Jin Dazhuang, Yuanji’s trusted aide, great general Xue Wanche, Qin Wutong, Qiu Tianjue, Yu Wenbao and so on, Wei Zheng was also one of them, but they did not see Yang Xuyan.

One after another Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling’s attention fell on a warrior with a back of a tiger and waist of a bear, behind and to the right side of Li Yuanji. Firstly, because of his appearance was unfamiliar, and secondly, because he was dressed as a Khitan; furthermore, he also carried the air of a lord-of-a-sect martial art master, which made them feel wary.

This person could not be called handsome, but his build was imposing and straight as a ramrod, his complexion dark and shiny. The most noticeable thing was his pair of eyes, which seemed to be open, yet seemed to be closed. When opened, the refined light was flashing, and when closed, he appeared enigmatic, giving him some kind of despising-everybody-else and thinking-too-much-of-himself impression. His forehead broad and his brow bones high, putting his staunch and stubborn personality in full display. His slightly curved lips appeared to be hanging an eternal disdain-toward-others and his self-confidence - smile, so that once people saw him, it would be difficult to forget.

While they were still some distance away, Ba Fenghan asked in a heavy voice, “Which hallowed figure is that Khitan kid?”

Hong Funu replied, “That man is called Huyan Tiezhen, a famous warrior of the Khitan great tribal chief Abaojia, renowned as the most outstanding martial art master of Khitan’s new generation of Khitan, coming to Chang’an as a member of Bi Xuan’s delegation, I don’t know how he and Qi Wang mingle together.”

Pang Yu spoke hatefully, “Naturally there won’t be any good intention in his bosom, there is some other evil intentions.”

Xu Ziling spoke indifferently, “This person should not be underestimated.”

Li Yuanji cupped his fist from a distance according to Jianghu etiquette and called out. “Xu Xiong, Ba Xiong, how are you [lit. are you good, see below]? Two gentlemen honoring us by your presence in Chang’an, Yuanji already wished to call to pay my respect, but because of two gentlemen’s honorable busy schedule, Yuanji painstakingly has had no opportunity to personally benefit from listening to gentlemen’s advice. This regret ought to be compensated tonight.”

The two sides gradually approached.

Ba Fenghan was able to hear the play on words in his speech, to see the stab hidden within his words, he laughed hoarsely and said, “It should be Qi Wang who is good, what’s so good about us [see above]?”

Li Yuanji and his entourage stopped three steps in front of Xu, Ba and the others; hearing that, pretending to be surprised, he said, “Ba Xiong’s remark contains anger, I am afraid you still cannot forget former enmity, making others feel depressed. However, the brain grew inside Ba Xiong’s head, even though Yuanji has the heart to erase all past grievances, I am completely helpless against anything on top of Ba Xiong’s head.”

These words were extremely rude, brimming with provocation and humiliation overtone. Xue Wanche and the others all were showing a mocking expression, watching how Ba Fenghan would react. Although the men and horses from both sides knew that there was no possibility to fight in such an open confrontation, they were still full of with-swords-drawn-and-bows-bent, antagonistic overtone.

But Xu Ziling applauded inwardly, knowing that the message Kou Zhong passed on to Jiancheng and Yuanji via Yang Xuyan took effect, causing the other party to have the heart to strike back.

Beyond everybody’s expectation, Ba Fenghan was not provoked at all, he smiled in return and said, “Qi Wang’s remarks ought to be sharper than the sharp points of the treasured spear in your hand, making Ol’ Ba suddenly have a strange idea, could it be possible for Qi Wang to make an arrangement to obtain Huangshang’s approval, so that you and I can have a touch-and-stop competition to swap pointers? It could be considered a grand occasion in Chang’an’s martial arts circle.”

Li Yuanji revealed a without-the-slightest-bit-fear smile, he was just about to answer, a cold snort was heard from the crowd behind him, shaking people’s eardrum, causing everyone to raise their eyebrows.

The light in Ba Fenghan’s pair of eyes flaring greatly, he coldly shouted, “Qi Wang has not finished speaking, who dares to interrupt? Report your name to me, Ba Fenghan.”

The Khitan martial art master Huyan Tiezhen took a step forward, he moved to Li Yuanji’s right side, a hint of sinister, ruthless smile escaped from the corners of his lips, he said, “I am Huyan Tiezhen, the chief imperial guard under the banner of my king Abaojia. It is rare that Ba Xiong has such interest, how about we play a game in here first?”

Li Yuanji rushed in front of Ba Fenghan, letting out a long laughter, he said, “Huyan Xiong, why are you in such a hurry? The future is long, why worry that there won’t be an opportunity to experience Ba Xiong’s sword technique? We’ll go one step ahead of them, please!”

Letting out another burst of proud-of-himself long laughter, he led Huyan Tiezhen and the others to walk toward the Cheng Tian Gate arrogantly.

Li Yuan and Kou Zhong left the imperial study room side by side, Wei Gonggong met him, kneeling down on one side and said, “Reporting to Huangshang, Deyan Guoshi [teacher of the state] is asking to see Shaoshuai.”

Li Yuan was slightly startled, he looked at Kou Zhong and said, “Shaoshuai, please make the decision yourself.”

Kou Zhong secretly praised Li Yuan for speaking appropriate to the occasion, he was even more alarmed by Zhao Deyan’s power inside the Tang Palace; he smiled and said, “I wonder if Fazhu would wait for a moment? The fact is, between Deyan Guoshi and I, there shouldn’t be a few good things to say.”

Although Xu Ziling’s person entered the Cheng Tian Gate, his eardrums were rumbling with the sound of the guards at the gate saluting, but his mind was still tied to Shi Feixuan. It was only this moment that he began to experience the mysterious principle of Zen idea of the ‘lesson in parting’ that she exercised in Longquan. If it were not for this lesson, perhaps even the sound of Chang Shan Ni’s unbounded Buddhist power wooden fish still would not be able to awaken him, a dreamer losing his bearing in the sea of ??love.

The spiritual love in Longquan, which felt like illusion but appeared to be real, was abundant with unspeakable wit; when Shi Feixuan went down the mountain for the second time, she convinced him to attach most importance to the world and turn to support Li Shimin. The romance between he and Shi Feixuan entered a completely new realm. Unreservedly showed him her deep love for him, and then, when he did not expect at all, quietly left to let him to fully dedicate his love to Shi Qingxuan. The situation was subtle to the extreme point.

When he was turning upside down and was bewitched, someone suddenly flashed ahead and blocked the way. Xu Ziling hurriedly halted his steps and composed himself to look. Unexpectedly it was Liexia, that annoying fellow - again.

To his surprise, he saw that, with a smile across his whole face, Liexia bowed respectfully with cupped fist and said, “Two gentlemen Dage, please do me a favor. Fu Dashi and Xiufang Dajia are both absent from the state banquet tonight, implicating this ignorant one that I am not eligible to attend ether. I wonder if two gentlemen could take Xiaodi; for example, by setting up one extra chair on your honorable table, to enable this ignorant one to have a chance to shine.”

The murderous intent in Ba Fenghan’s pair of eyes flaring greatly, he coldly shouted, “Get lost!”

Xu Ziling also felt that his shamelessness was hard to endure, he knitted his brows and said, “Lie Xiong is joking?”

Li Jing and the others did not understand the relationship between the three, they had no choice but to become the spectator on the wall.

The Cheng Tian Gate was the main thoroughfare on this segment of the road to and from the Taiji Gate. Due to the large crowd stopping on the street, it created a slight disorder, implicating the latecomers that they had to walk around them to proceed.

Liexia laughed aloud and said, “Ziling is really formidable, you could see that this ignorant one is joking. Actually, I already strived hard to acquire a seat where I can fit myself, I was just testing whether the two gentlemen would disregard old grievance against the ignorant one. Ha! There is something that this ignorant one forgot to tell Ziling, this ignorant one is now turning enemies into friends with the Tujue people. This is called it’s appropriate for enmity to be settled, not appropriate to be tied! Amiable ending is better than you want me to live and I want you to die.”

Turning to Ba Fenghan, he said, “Won’t Ba Xiong agree?”

Ba Fenghan’s hand grabbed the hilt of the Stealing the Heaven Sword, instead of being angry, he laughed and said, “I said get lost, did you hear me?”

Xu Ziling knew that Ba Fenghan could draw his sword to kill people at any time, he sighed and said, “Lie Xiong, please make way!”

The corner of Liexia’s mouth leaked out a vague smile, he said, “Ziling is not the least big interested in the ignorant one and the Tujue people’s affair? I will have to thank Ziling very much for this. Were it not for Ziling, how could the ignorant one have the opportunity to obtain Song JinGang’s severed head as the big gift to curry favor with the Tujue people?”

The cold light in Xu Ziling’s pair of flared suddenly, shrouding Liexia, his heart welled up with soaring-to-the-heavens rage. Even with his temperament and cultivation, he was still unable to control the murderous intentions in his heart against Liexia, for the unbearable grief of Song JinGang being harmed by a crafty scoundrel.

Liexia’s action was indeed despicable and cruel to the extreme point. Song JinGang was disheartened, he wholeheartedly wanted to bow out after a long career and go back to his native place and live in seclusion, but Liexia, this spineless man, not only abandoned Xu Kaishan, but also took the opportunity to catch up with Song JinGang and his party, and struck treacherously to murder Song JinGang and use it to render meritorious credit to Xieli.

Liexia suddenly retreated, let out a long laughter and said, “Two gentlemen Dage, we’ll meet again later, ha …”

Xu Ziling spoke slowly, word by word, “He is now mine!”

Wei Gonggong took Kou Zhong to the garden southeast of the Imperial Study Room, he spoke respectfully, “Deyan Guoshi is waiting respectfully for Shaoshuai in the small pavilion in the garden. Shaoshuai, please follow this path, Xiaoren awaits order in here.”

Frowning, Kou Zhong said, “Have Gonggong ever thought about it, maybe this is a trap?”

Wei Gonggong hurriedly said, “Shaoshuai, don’t worry, Deyan Guoshi is alone, he has no attendants.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Gonggong thinks that alone, he has no qualifications to kill me? Ha! Gonggong, please don’t think of me too highly.”

Wei Gonggong knew that Kou Zhong was teasing him, but he was at a loss on how to deal with him. As if nothing had happened, he said, “How could Xiaoren dare to make random guesses? Shaoshuai, please understand clearly.”

Kou Zhong laughed aloud, he moved forward along the path and entered deep into the garden, leaving Wei Gonggong behind, musing inwardly that if inside the pavilion he did not see Zhao Deyan, but Li Yuan arranged an ambush to kill him, it would be extremely bad.

Turning around a bend, he reached the center, a wide-open space in the garden. A small pavilion was peacefully leaning by a small artificial lake, with sparse trees, a small bridge over a flowing stream, rockeries and piles of rocks, the scenery was delightful.

Zhao Deyan stood on the platform outside the pavilion with his hand behind his back, as if looking down and admiring the situation in the pond. Suddenly he turned around, let out a long laughter and said, “Shaoshuai, I trust you have been well since we last met, you are still as svelte as before, Deyan would like to act on behalf of the Great Khan to send his regards to Shaoshuai.”

Kou Zhong quickened his pace, crossed the bridge and climbed the steps, and came in front of Zhao Deyan; smiling, he said, “Guoshi wants to see me, Kou Zhong, you can’t possibly be that polite and courteous by only wanting to send me your regards?”

Zhao Deyan restrained his smiling expression, the refined light in his pair of eyes flashing sharply, he fixed his gaze on him and said, “Shaoshuai’s guess is not lacking; I am coming this time will be the last time I have kind words to say to you.”

Kou Zhong met his gaze without yielding at all, he calmly replied, “Guoshi can’t possibly be wanting to advise me to leave? If that’s the case, let me advise Guoshi to save the nonsense and go back.”

Zhao Deyan’s murderous aura flaring greatly, he spoke with a cold snort, “This is called Shaoshuai does not know other people’s good intention. The Great Khan this time connecting the various tribes of the prairie, it is in order to help Shaoshuai‘s prestige, otherwise, how could the Gunatai brothers, Pusa and Tuli Khan not to be shirked without dishonor, they support the Great Khan with all their strength? Who would have thought that not only Shaoshuai does not appreciate the kindness, you even came to Chang’an to breathe from the same nostril as Li Yuan, blatantly disregarding the brotherhood and the friendship in the past? Shaoshuai’s move this time is very unwise and will only bring pain to the loved ones and quick for the enemies [Chinese proverbs: certain action that is only good for the enemy, not good for oneself, and is for the pleasure of seeing the enemy (baike-baidu)]. Fortunately, there is still room to save the situation, If Shaoshuai is willing to rein in the horse at the edge of the precipice [idiom], it’s not too late.”

Although knowing perfectly well Zhao Deyan’s malicious intentions, Kou Zhong still had no choice but to admit that his words were reasonable. He was forming an alliance with Li Yuan at this time, to Tuli and the others, a group of brothers and comrade-in-arms, naturally he was showing evil and not goodwill at all. He, Kou Zhong assisting Li Yuan, it made a lot of sense, it’s a pity that to Tuli and the others on the prairie who were accustomed to attach most importance to their own tribe, it was still considered as an unacceptable conduct. This was precisely the difference in ideology between the people inside and outside the Great Wall, because they would think that the Li Tang Army and the Shao Shuai Army were just like two different tribes in a state of conflict.

Kou Zhong spoke heavily, “Guoshi should know more clearly than me what this is all about, I don’t want to talk more nonsense!”

Zhao Deyan revealed a sinister smile, he spoke leisurely, “With this answer from Shaoshuai, Zhao Deyan can go back to report. I must pass on as things really are to the people involved. Excuse me, I must leave!”

Looking at Zhao Deyan’s fading back, Kou Zhong knew that he had really broken off relations with Tuli and the other brothers outside the Great Wall, it would be difficult to have a margin of reconciliation, everything could only be settled based on victory or defeat on the battlefield.