Chapter - 271 Visitors Drunk On Magical Lotus In the Green Willow Manor (3)

Yang Xiao saw the four bald condors were still circling overhead; seemingly waiting for them to leave Yin Liting and then they would swoop down to feast on his corpse. Yang Xiao picked four small stones from the ground and 'swish, swish' flicked those stone up. Four bald condors successively fell on the ground, their heads were smashed by the stones.

Zhang Wuji gave Yin Liting a pill to stop the pain and protect his heart; then he thoroughly examined him. After finding more than twenty breaks on Yin Liting's four limbs, each and every one of them was crushed by heavy fingers' strength, Wuji was not able to continue the examination.

In a low voice Yin Liting said, "It's just like San Ge [third (older) brother]; Shaolin Sect … 'jin gang zhi dao' [diamond finger blade. Chapter 3 has it as 'Golden Steel Finger'; 'jin gang' could also mean 'a very hard substance'. I am not sure why it has an extra 'blade' (刀 ) character; I think it was a mistake, it should be 'strength/power' ( 力 ) character.] … injured by finger strength." Zhang Wuji recalled his father telling him about how San Shibo [third martial (older) uncle] Yu Daiyan was injured; his joints were also crushed by Shaolin Sect's Diamond Finger 'Power'; and as a result he had been bedridden for more than twenty years. At that time his parents had not yet acquainted with each other. Unexpectedly many years later one more of his shishu [martial (younger) brother] had fallen under the same Shaolin Sect's Diamond Finger. After calming himself down he said, "Liu Shu [sixth (younger) uncle], don't you worry. This matter has fallen into your nephew's hands. The criminal responsible for this will not escape justice. Which Shaolin Sect disciple did this, does Liu Shu know?"

Yin Liting shook his head. He had suffered untold hardship these past several days; he was already dead-tired. At this moment his heart was relieved, he could not hold any longer and passed out. Zhang Wuji remembered his own life; how his parents committed suicide for his San Shibo's sake. Today his Liu Shishu had fallen under similar circumstances. If he could not force Shaolin Sect to hand over the criminal responsible for this cruelty, how could he fulfill his duty toward his Yu and Yin uncles? How could he be worthy to see his departed parents? He knew that although Yin Liting was severely injured, his life was not in danger. Only his limbs would be difficult to heal; most likely he would end up sharing Yu Daiyan's fate.

Zhang Wuji's experience was limited; facing this unfortunate situation he had to calm himself and think carefully. With his hands behind his back he wandered off some distance away; finally he sat down on top of a small hill. Two thoughts were waging war inside his mind: "Shall I go to the Shaolin Temple and find the criminal to avenge Father, Mother, San Shibo and Liu Shishu? If Shaolin Sect is willing to admit honestly and hand over the criminal, naturally nothing can be better than that. Otherwise, should Ming Cult join hand with Wudang Sect to deal with Shaolin together? My brethren and I have already drunk blood and made an oath, not to seek enmity with various sects, clans and societies ['pai', 'bang' and 'hui']. But as soon as I take this matter personally, I might as well throw the oath out the window; how can I win everybody's heart? Once the disaster gate is opened blood will be avenged, I don't know how many generations this bloodshed will continue, and how many heroes and warriors life will be sacrificed?"

In the meantime the sky had turned dark; the Ming Cult people built a fire and cooked their meals. Zhang Wuji was still sitting on the hill. He saw the bright moon rise, but he still could not make up his mind. He was deep in thought until almost midnight before he finally decided: "I'll go to Shaolin Temple and see Abbott Kong Wen; I'll explain everything and ask him to render justice." But then he thought again, "What if we reach deadlock? Must I fight? Then what will happen?" He heaved a deep sigh, stood up and thought, "I am young yet have to bear a heavy responsibility. Right from the start I face this extremely difficult situation. I wholeheartedly want to avert the war and the fighting; but this deep hatred is shoved into my face. I bear the heavy responsibility of the Cult Leader of the Ming Cult, I can't get away from it; consequently I'll have to face endless and exhausting hardships! If only I am not the Cult Leader, wouldn't that be a lot better?"

As he returned to the fire he saw that everybody was very hungry but nobody dared to move their chopsticks to eat; they were standing up respectfully, waiting for him. Zhang Wuji felt very bad and busily said, "Next time you can go ahead and eat; you don't have to wait for me." He went over to see Yin Liting's condition. He saw Yang Buhui had already cleaned his wounds with hot water and was feeding him hot soup. Yin Liting was still in daze; suddenly he opened his eyes and stared at Yang Buhui and loudly said, "Xiaofu Meizi [younger sister, term of endearment], I miss you so much, do you know it?"

Yang Buhui blushed; her face looked awkward. With her right hand holding the soup spoon she said in a low voice, "Drink some more soup."

"Promise me you won't leave me forever," Yin Liting said.

"All right! All right!" Yang Buhui replied, "Drink this soup first, we'll talk later." Yin Liting looked very happy; he opened his mouth and drank the soup.

The next day Zhang Wuji passed an order for everybody not to go their assigned destinations for the time being, but to go to Shaolin Temple at Mount Song ['song shan'], to find out the whole story about Yin Liting's injury first and to talk about other things later. Wei Yixiao, Zhou Dian and the others had seen the severity of Yin Liting's injury, every one of them was enraged; hearing their Cult Leader's order to seek justice at the Shaolin Temple they cheered loudly.

Yang Xiao had always felt regret and guilt toward Yin Liting over Ji Xiaofu's affair; although his mouth did not say anything, in his heart he was determined to avenge him with all his might. He also quietly told his daughter to take a good care of Yin Liting and thus clearing his conscience.

From here on they did not meet any other strange events along their way. When Yin Liting awoke later, Zhang Wuji asked him again the circumstances surrounding his injury. It was still difficult for Yin Liting to speak, he said, "Shaolin Sect's monks, five of them besieged me. They were using Shaolin martial arts, I can't be wrong."

That day they have entered the Yumen pass. They sold their camels and bought some horses so as not to raise any suspicions. They also changed their clothes and dressed up as traders. Some of them acquired mule carts and loaded them with leathers, goods, medicine, and other commodities. The next day early in the morning they left to get an early start along the Ganliang main road. The sun was blazing like fire, the temperature was starting to rise.

After journeying for more than four hours they saw a row of about twenty willow trees ahead of them. They were very happy and urged their mounts to pick up speed since they wanted to take a rest under those trees. When they got closer they saw there were nine people sitting under the trees. Eight of them were big men dressed as hunters, with blades on their waists and bows and arrows on their shoulders. They also had five, six hunting falcons with them; the falcons looked fearsome with black feathers and sharp claws. The last man was a young gentleman, wearing a sapphire blue silk gown, lightly waving a folding fan in his hand. His appearance carried an elegant air around him.