THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

Hand-Washing Part 5

"We have the Head Masters of the Taishan Sword School and the Huashan Sword School here, plus Sister Dingyi from the Heng-Shan Sword School, who should be able to make a decision representing her Head Master apprentice sister. In addition, all the fellow martial people and heroes here today can act as eye witnesses," Liu Zhengfeng argued. He glanced around everybody and said in a deep voice, "I am begging for a favor from all you friends. Please let me save my family and my apprentices while not betraying my belief in brotherhood."

Sister Dingyi was the type who acted tough with a hot-temper, yet very kind in one's heart. She first agreed.

"That would be great, thus we won't damage our good relationship. Apprentice brother Ding and apprentice brother Lu, let's agree to brother Liu. Since he wouldn't be seeing any member of the Demon Cult, and he will be far away, it'll be like there isn't a Liu Zhengfeng in this world at all. Why do we have to commit more killing?"

"That sounds good." Priest Tianmen also nodded. "Brother Yue, what do you think?"

"Brother Liu's words are as solid as a mountain," Yue Buqun said. "If he said so, of course we all trust him. Come on! Let's turn hostility into friendship. Brother Liu, you set brother Fei free, and then we'll all drink a cup of friendly wine. Tomorrow morning, you can take your family and your apprentices to leave the town of Hengshan!"

"Even the Head Masters of Taishan and Huashan said so, plus Sister Dingyi is also pleading for Liu Zhengfeng, how can we dare to oppose? But because apprentice brother Fei fell for Liu Zhengfeng's tricks, if we just agreed like that, everyone in the Martial World will be saying that the Songshan Sword School was taken hostage by Liu Zhengfeng and had to give in. When rumors like this spreads out, what would happen to our reputation?" Lu Bai said.

"It is brother Liu who is begging for mercy from the Songshan Sword School. He wasn't threatening or forcing you. Talk about 'give in', it is Liu Zhengfeng who is giving in, not the Songshan Sword School. And you've already killed an apprentice of the Liu House," Sister Dingyi said.

"Di Xiu, get ready!" Lu Bai said after a disgruntled snort.

"Yes!" Songshan apprentice Di Xiu answered. He pushed the short sword in his hand forward a bit, until the tip of the blade penetrated the cloth and reached Liu Zhengfeng's eldest son's back muscle.

"Liu Zhengfeng, if you want to beg for mercy, then come back with us to Mount Songshan and see Alliance Chief Zuo. You can beg him for mercy yourself. We are just following orders. We can't make decisions. Give me back the Command Flag and set my apprentice brother Fei free," Lu Bai demanded.

With a sad smile, Liu Zhengfeng turned to his son. "Son, are you afraid to die?"

"I am with you, Dad. I am not afraid!" Liu's son exclaimed.

"Good kid!" Liu Zhengfeng said.

"Kill him!" Lu Bai yelled.

Di Xiu pushed the sword forward. The tip of the short sword went all the way until it penetrated the heart. Then he pulled the short sword out as Liu's son collapsed onto the floor, blood gushing out from the wound on his back.

Madam Liu, Liu Zhengfeng's wife, screamed and rushed by her son's body.

"Kill her too!" Lu Bai yelled again.

Di Xiu thrust his sword forward. The blade penetrated Madam's Liu's back.

Sister Dingyi's anger exploded. "Swoosh," she slammed her palm toward Di Xiu while swearing, "You monster!" Ding Mian rushed forward and also pushed out with his palm. The two palms met squarely in the midair, sending Sister Dingyi stumbling three steps back. Sister Dingyi felt a great pain from her chest, with blood gushing out of her throat into her mouth. She was the type that would always try to best others, so she immediately swallowed the blood back in, not showing any weakness.