[Linghu Chong laughed loudly. "Little nun," he said, "Do you want me towin or lose?" "Of course I want you to win," Yilin said, "When you fight whilesitting down, you are the second best in the world, you won't lose to him.""Good!" Linghu Chong said. "Then please go! The quicker the better, the furtherthe merrier!"]
"Sister," Liu Zhengfeng said, smiling politely, "there's really no need to be so angry. Nephew apprentice Linghu only said that nonsense to Tian Boguang in order to rescue your brilliant little apprentice. Did you actually believe he meant what he said?"
"You mean he said all that in order to rescue Yilin?" Dingyi was struck with surprise.
"That is my belief." Liu Zhengfeng nodded. "Nephew apprentice Yilin, what do you think?"
"Big brother Linghu was a good person, only...only a little bit without manners when he spoke. But Master, if you are going to be angry, I dare not continue!" Yilin lowered her head.
"Tell me everything! Tell everything without omitting any details. I want to know what on earth he was thinking, good or evil! If this fellow was really a rascal, then, even though he's dead, I will make old man Yue pay for it." Dingyi yelled.
Yilin murmured a few words, but was too afraid to continue.
"Keep talking! Don't be so concerned about him. Are you afraid that we won't be able to distinguish between what's good and what's evil?" Dingyi demanded.
"Yes, Master!" Yilin said.
"'Brother Tian,' big brother Linghu said, 'we are people of the Martial World – we live our lives on the sword's edge. Someone with better-developed skills does possess certain advantages, but eventually, we all have to count on our luck. Don't you agree? When facing someone that has about the same level of fighting skills, life and death depends entirely on luck. This little nun is as scrawny as a chicken that weighs no more than three pounds. Even if she were as pretty as a goddess from heaven, I still wouldn't have anything to do with her. Life is definitely much more important. Putting women before friendship is wrong! Putting women before life is just plain stupid. It's to everyone's best interest that no one touches this little nun at all.'
"'Brother Linghu,' Tian Boguang sneered, 'I thought you were a man that feared nothing. Why are you so superstitious about nuns?'
"'Hey,' big brother Linghu exclaimed, 'I have really bad luck every time I see a nun. It's quite consistent. I simply can't ignore the fact. For example, I was perfectly fit last night before I met this little nun. Then, without even seeing her face, just by hearing her voice, I ended up with three stab wounds from you, which almost cost me my life. If this isn't bad luck, then what is?'
"'That's right!' Tian Boguang burst into loud laughter.
"Big brother Linghu then said, 'Brother Tian, I don't talk with nuns. Why don't you just let the little nun get lost, so we can enjoy our drinks in peace? Trust me! I am giving you valuable advice. Even one touch to that little nun will bring you incredibly bad luck, and when you wander about the Martial World, trouble will follow you everywhere, unless you become a monk yourself. How can you risk the Three Venoms of the World?'
YOU ARE READING
THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong
AcakLegend has it that there is a martial arts manuscript Bixie Sword Manual in the house of Lin family, which when learned will give the person god-like speed and power. Thus, whoever manages to master it, will become the conqueror of the martial world...