THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

Hand-Washing Part 3

"Apprentice brother Fei, if you want to throw maliciously slanders at me, at least make it sound right," Liu Zhengfeng said with a laugh, holding his anger back. "Other apprentice brothers of the Songshan Sword School, why don't you show yourself now?"

"Fine!" voices came from both the east side and the west side of the roof. Two yellow shadows flashed by in front of everyone's eyes and two men appeared at the entrance of the hall. The Qing-Gong they used was the exactly same type Fei Bin had used earlier when he jumped down the roof. The one standing to the east was a big fatty with broad shoulders. Sister Dingyi and others recognized him to be the second apprentice brother of the Songshan Sword School Head Master, "Tower Holding Palm" Ding Mian. The one standing to the west was a tall and thin man. He was the third apprentice of the Songshan Sword School, "Crane Hands" Lu Bai. "Hi, Liu Sir. Hi, everyone," the two cupped their hands slightly to greet. Ding Mian and Lu Bai both had great fame in the Martial World; everyone stood up to greet back.

Seeing that more and more first-class Songshan masters showed up, all had a gut feeling that this whole thing was not going to end pleasantly. Most likely Liu Zhengfeng would get the worst of it.

"Brother Liu, don't worry. All things in this world cannot go against righteousness. Even though they have an overwhelming number of guys, the friends from our Taishan Sword School, Huashan Sword School, and Heng-Shan Sword School aren't just a bunch of good-for-nothing guys either," Sister Dingyi said angrily.

"Sister Dingyi," Liu Zhengfeng said with a wry smile, "this is so embarrassing. It is really an internal affair with my Hengshan Sword School, yet it caused worries for so many friends. It is very clear in my mind that my senior apprentice brother Mo must have complained to Alliance Chief Zuo of the Songshan Sword School, which brought so many apprentice brothers of the Songshan Sword School here to denounce my wrong deeds. Fine, fine, fine! It was my fault that I have not shown good manners to senior apprentice brother Mo. I will apologize to senior apprentice brother Mo and ask for his forgiveness."

Fei Bin glanced around the hall, his eyes squinting, yet appearing to be bright and piercing, clearly showing his great inner energy.

"What does this have anything to do with Great Mr. Mo? Great Mr. Mo, please come out, so we can straighten this out," he demanded.

After his words, the entire hall quieted down, but after quite a while, "Night Rain of Xiaoxiang" – Great Mr. Mo still did not step out.

Liu Zhengfeng let out a wry smile. "Everyone in the Martial World has already known that my apprentice brother Mo and I don't get along, so I really don't have to hide this fact. I am lucky to have been born in a rich family and inherited quite a few assets from my ancestors. My apprentice brother Mo, on the other hand, came from a very poor family. Normally speaking, even friends should be giving loans to each other, not mentioning apprentice brothers, but just because of the difference here, senior apprentice brother Mo loathed about it and never come to my home. We have not seen each other or contacted each other for years. Of course senior apprentice brother Mo would not come here today. What really ticked me off was the fact that simply with the one-sided story from my senior apprentice brother Mo, Alliance Chief Zuo had sent so many apprentice brothers here to deal with me today, even taking my wife and my children prisoner. Don't...don't you think you are making a fuss over a trifling matter?"

"Raise the Command Flag," Fei Bin said to Shi Dengda.

"Yes!" Shi Dengda answered and raised the Command Flag high in the air by the side of Fei Bin.

"Apprentice brother Liu," Fei Bin said grimly, "the matter today has nothing to do with the Head Master of the Hengshan Sword School, Great Mr. Mo. You don't need to mix him into this. Alliance Chief Zuo has ordered us to investigate what secret collaboration does apprentice brother Liu have with the Demon Cult Chief – Dongfang Invincible, and what plot you are developing to attack our Five Mountains Sword Alliance and other chivalrous martial fellows."