THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

Invitation Part 2

Although Linghu Chong's sword moves were really disorganized, he managed to block the swift and fierce attacks by Madam Yue. After he retreated next to the rock wall and had no more space to retract to, he gradually started his counter-attack. When a chance suddenly presented itself, he immediately attacked with the move Green Pines Welcoming Guests. His sword tip seemed to have transformed into countless sparks and pelted toward Madam Yue's tempos.

A loud bang exploded as Madam Yue blocked the attack with her sword. She quickly waved her sword in front of herself for protection. Madam Yue knew well that the move Green Pines Welcoming Guests had several powerful additional techniques. Although Linghu Chong had mastered that move well and would never really hit her with it, it was still a tough move to defend, so she changed into a defending stance from the previous attacking stance and waited in great focus. But who would have thought that Linghu Chong's long sword came in such a slow speed with no strength attached – it didn't even pose a threat.

"Execute your moves attentively. What the heck are you imagining in your head?" Madam Yue yelled and slashed her sword three times. Seeing that Linghu Chong jumped around and dodged those moves, she shouted, "What kind of Green Pines Welcoming Guests was that? Have you returned all your sword training back to your Master because of your illness?"

"Sorry!" Linghu Chong replied as he returned the attack with two of his own thrusts. His face was covered with embarrassment.

Noticing that Master's face look more and more discontented, Shi Daizi and Lu Dayou were both worried. Rustling sounds rose suddenly as Madam Yue began circling around the field. Her green skirt seemed to have transformed into a blurry green shadow. Reflections from her sword glimmered, and because of her great speed, all of her sword moves became indistinct.

Linghu Chong's brain seemed to have become a pool of muddle. All kinds of thoughts flashed by in his head and created chaos. "If I use Galloping Steeds, the opponent can use the brilliant level blocking move to overcome it. If I use the sideway thrust, I'd undoubtedly be getting a terrible wound." As soon as he thought of a sword move from the Huashan sword art, he couldn't help but remember a move on the rock wall that would break the sword move. The reason why he gave up halfway when he used the moves Graceful Phoenix and Green Pines Welcoming Guests was because he had remembered the different ways that can be used to break those two moves. He had become very scared, thus instinctively, he would stop half way through the execution and retract into a defending stance.

Madam Yue had used the fast sword moves hoping to lead him into using the "Unrivaled and Unmatched, The Thrust of Ning" to beat the opponent and claim victory, but Linghu Chong simply blocked using random moves. He simply wasn't focused. It appeared as if he was completely terror-stricken and scared out of his wit. She had long known that Linghu Chong had great courage and was the fear-nothing type. She had never seen him fight like this before.

"Don't you want to use that move?" greatly annoyed, Madam Yue yelled out loudly.

"Yes Ma'am!" Linghu Chong answered as he thrust his sword straightforward. The way he used the technique and the way the sword traveled matched the move created by Madam Yue – Unrivaled and Unmatched, The Thrust of Ning – exactly.

"Good!" Madam Yue shouted. She knew this move was an ultimately swift and fierce one, so she dared not to take it head on, but instead, dodged to the side and shot out a back prick.

But meanwhile, Linghu Chong was actually thinking to himself, "This move is not going to work. It's useless. It will only get me a crushing defeat."

Suddenly, a tremendous shock came from his wrist and his long sword flew out of his grip into the air. "Ah...!" in astonishment, Linghu Chong burst out a cry.