THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

Rescue Part 5

"Tian Boguang came into the cave and sat down on the ground silently. I held my breath and didn't even dare to breath. Suddenly, a great pain came from my shoulder. It came so unexpected that I couldn't help groaning. That spoiled the whole thing. Tian Boguang laughed loudly and walked toward me with big steps. Big brother Linghu just squatted by the side and did not move.

"'Little lamb, so you are still hiding in the cave, huh!' Tian Boguang said with a smile. He stuck his hand out to grab me.

"I heard the sound of a sword thrust, and then I found that big brother Linghu had stabbed at Tian Boguang. Tian Boguang was startled and dropped the broken sword. But the thrust didn't hit his vital parts. What a pity! Tian Boguang jumped back in a hurry, pulled out the knife by his waist, and began to swing it at big brother Linghu. The knife and the sword hit each other with a clang; the two started fighting. In the dark, neither of them could see. After a couple of clangs, both of them jumped backward. All I could hear was the sound of their breathing. I was scared to death."

"How many rounds did Linghu Chong fight him?" Priest Tianmen interrupted.

"I was scared senseless at the time, and didn't notice how long they had fought," Yilin answered. "I heard Tian Boguang laughing and saying, 'Ha, you are from the Huashan Sword School! The Huashan Sword Art is no match for my skills. What's your name?'

"Big brother Linghu said, 'Five Mountains Sword Alliance; same root different branches. Either Huashan Sword School or Heng-Shan Sword School, we are all after you, evil rapist....' Before he could finish his words, Tian Boguang had already started his attack. It turned out that he tricked big brother Linghu into talking in order to find out where he was. After several more rounds, big brother Linghu let out a cry of pain. He was wounded again.

"Tian Boguang laughed. 'I told you. Huashan Sword Art is no match for my skills. Even if your old Master Yue had come, himself, he'd lose, too.' But big brother Linghu did not answer him again.

"Earlier, when I had a great pain on my shoulder, it turned out it was because the pressure points on my shoulder opened up by themselves. I felt some more pain on my back; those points were opening up too. I slowly struggled up while moving my hands around looking for the broken sword. Big brother Linghu heard the sound and said happily, 'Your pressure points are open now! Run away! Hurry up!'

"'Apprentice brother of the Huashan Sword School, let's fight the villain together!' I declared.

"'You run away! Hurry up! We will still be no match for him even if we fight together,' he demanded.

"Tian Boguang laughed. 'Glad you know that! Why waste your life over something for no reason? Hey, I really like your courage. What's your name?'

"'If you had asked for my respectful name nicely, I would tell you, but since you asked your old man so rudely, he won't pay any heed to you,' big brother Linghu answered.

"Master, don't you think that was funny? Big brother Linghu wasn't his father, but called himself his 'old man'."

"That was just a rude word, it doesn't really mean 'his old man'!" Dingyi let out a disgruntled snort as she explained.

"Ah, I see. Big brother Linghu then said, 'Apprentice sister, you can run to the town of Hengshan. We have lots of friends there; I am sure this villain wouldn't dare to go there looking for you.'

"'What if he kills you?' I asked.

"'He is not good enough to kill me!' big brother Linghu yelled. 'I will tie him up here. Why are you still here? Run! Ouch!' With two metallic sounds made by their weapons hitting each other, big brother Linghu was wounded once more.