Chapter - 273 Visitors Drunk On Magical Lotus In the Green Willow Manor (5)

The fact that among the Ming Cult's Five Wanderers it's a well known matter that Leng Qian's martial art skill was the highest. Yang Xiao and Zhou Dian were always at each other's throat. Although they no longer fought each other openly, Zhou Dian had never missed any opportunity to argue with Yang Xiao. This time hearing Yang Xiao said that the eight hunters' martial art was higher than Leng Qian's, in other words, he was looking down upon the Five Wanderers, Zhou Dian was angry. He was about to open his mouth to retort when Peng Yingyu laughed and said, "Zhou Xiong, again you fall into Left Emissary Yang's trap. He was deliberately making you angry!"

Zhou Dian laughed a big laugh and said, "I am not angry; how can he make me angry?" But not too long afterwards he started to mutter how Yang Xiao's riding skill was not so good. Everybody looked at each other and smiled.

Under daily medical care of Zhang Wuji, Yin Liting had begun to regain his consciousness. He said that when he left the Brightness Peak that day, his mind was so shaken that he was lost in the desert. He walked farther and farther away, groping his way on the yellow sand of the Gobi desert for eight, nine days. By the time he found the right direction he had lost contact with his Wudang martial art brothers. That day he unexpectedly ran into five Shaolin monks. Without saying anything these five monks suddenly attacked him. Their martial art skill was not weak; although Yin Liting managed to overthrow two of them, in the end he was still overwhelmed by sheer number and in the end had to suffer heavy injury. He said these five monks' martial art was definitely Shaolin's martial art, only he did not see them on the Brightness Peak; so they must be the reinforcement who came later. On why they attacked him violently, Yin Liting could not come with any plausible answer. One time or another Yin Liting had announced his name, so in no way would the monks mistake him for someone else.

Along the way Yang Buhui was taking a careful care of Yin Liting. She knew her parents had offended him; but her own compassion also grew because of his pitiful condition. That particular evening they arrived at Yongdeng. They urged their horses because they wanted to reach Jiangchengzi to spend the night there. While walking they suddenly heard horses' hoofs; on the main road two riders were coming fast toward them. When they got within a dozen 'zhang's, suddenly the two riders stopped their mounts and leaped down. Holding the horses' reins they waited on the side of the road; their manners were really respectful. Those two riders were two of the eight hunters who annihilated the Yuan soldiers with their arrows earlier.

The Ming Cult people were delighted; one after another they dismounted their horses to greet the two hunters. The two hunters walked toward Zhang Wuji and bowed in respect. In a clear voice one of them said, "Our superior had long admired the Ming Cult's Zhang Jiaozhu's heroism and chivalry, along with his heroes and warriors. Xiao ren [little/lowly people] have received our superior's order to invite all of you with sincerity and respect to take a rest at our village."

Zhang Wuji returned the respect and said, "We do not dare, we do not dare! I wonder how shall we address your superior?"

That man replied, "Our superior's surname is Zhao; but I do not dare to tell her name without her authorization." Everyone was pleased they openly admitted that the young gentleman was actually a woman in disguise; indicating the sincerity of the invitation.

Zhang Wuji said, "Ever since we saw your divine archery skill, we have never cease to praise you every day; to be able to make friends with you is truly our good fortune. Only we do not want to impose."

"You are all the heroes of this generation," that man replied, "Our superior has admired you for a long time. Today you pass by our residence, how can it be that we do not offer you three cups of our insipid wine and chat with you to build friendship?"

Zhang Wuji wanted to know these warriors better, but he also wanted to inquire about the Yi Tian sword they saw earlier; therefore, he said, "If that's the case, to refuse would be impolite; we'll visit your village."

The two hunters were delighted; they mounted their horses and led the way.

Less than a 'li' later two more riders came their way. They stopped some distance away and waited by the side of the road. They were also part of the 'shen jian ba xiong' [divine archer eight heroes]. Another 'li' later the last four members of the Divine Archer Eight Heroes also came to welcome them. The Ming Cult people were happy and feeling reassured in seeing the courtesy their host demonstrated.

Following a street made of green flagstones they arrived at the courtyard of a big manor. The manor was encircled by a small brook; the bank of the brook was full of green willow trees. To be able to see a Jiannan-like scenery in Gan Liang area, they felt refreshed.

The manor gate was wide open and a draw bridge was already lowered. The lady surnamed Zhao, still wearing a man's clothes, stood at the gate, welcoming them. Miss Zhao stepped forward and saluted them. "The heroes and warriors of the Ming Cult's visit to the Green Willow Manor today truly bring glory to us," she said in a clear voice, "Zhang Jiaozhu, please! Left Emissary Yang, please! Yin Lao Qianbei [old senior Yin], please! Bat King Wei, please! …" She called out the Ming Cult's people one by one. Not only did she know everybody's name without anybody announcing it to her, but she also knew their respective position; not a single one was missed. Everybody was astonished.

Zhou Dian could not help but asked, "Miss, how did you know our names? Could it be that you know divination?"

Miss Zhao smiled and said, "The Ming Cult's heroes are well-known in the Jianghu, who has not heard of them? In the recent battle of the Brightness Peak Zhang Jiaozhu, with his divine ability, has deterred the six major sects. This news has shaken the Wulin world. You are going east to the Central Plains; along the way I don't know how many Wulin friends will give you admiring receptions, how can this 'xiao nuzi' [lit. little/lowly woman] miss this opportunity?"

Everybody agreed with her and inwardly they were very pleased, but with their mouths they muttered some modest words. They turned toward the Divine Archer Eight Heroes, asking their names and martial art school. One big and tall man answered, "Subordinate is Zhao Yishang [lit. one injury]. This one is Qian Erbai [lit. two defeats]. This one is Sun Sanhui [lit. three destructions]. This one is Li Sicui [lit. four devastations]." Pointing to the other four men he continued, "That one is Zhou Wushu [lit. five loses]. That one is Wu Liupo [lit. six damages]. That one is Zheng Qimie [lit. seven extinguish], and the last one is Wang Bashuai [lit. eight feeble/weak]."

Hearing their names the Ming Cult people were dumbstruck. They recognized the eight men's surnames were taken from the 'bai jia xing' [Book of Hundred Surnames], namely 'Zhao Qian Sun Li, Zhou Wu Zheng Wang." Not only it was very strange, but their given names were all unlucky. Take 'Wang Bashuai' for example; not even bandits and barbarians would think of such names. But in the Jianghu world it was not uncommon that some people changed their names to avoid calamity or enmity; so nobody asked any further.

Miss Zhao personally led the way, taking everybody to the main hall. They saw in the main hall hung a large wooden tablet with 'lu liu shan zhuang' [Green Willow Villa] four characters engraved on it. In the middle of the hall there was a banner with Zhao Mengxiao's poem: