THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

Assassins Part 3

Linghu Chong put on a solemn face. "Linghu Chong dares not ever forget the kindness Great Master has shown by saving my life. Apprentice sister Yilin's Heng-Shen Sword School has very strict school rules. If you keep making such meaningless jokes, it wouldn't look good for the two senior sisters Ding Xian and Ding Yi."

"Lin'er, what...what...what's up with this son-in-law? I...I don't get it!" Monk No Commandment scratched his head hard.

Yilin covered her face with both hands and cried, "Dad, enough! Enough! He does his things and I do my own. Why...why...why mix us together?" Tears burst out from her eyes as she dashed down the mountain path.

Monk No Commandment was even more confused. He dazed for a moment and then muttered, "This is so strange! Before seeing him, she would give up everything to see him, but once she sees him, she didn't want to see him anymore. She is just like her mother. It's simply impossible to understand what a little nun might be thinking." Seeing that his daughter was getting further and further, he chased after her.

Tian Boguang managed to stand up after some struggle. "The green mountain will always be green and the blue river will continue to flow. I'll see you around," he said to Linghu Chong and then turned around and stumbled his way down the mountain path.

Yue Buqun waited till Tian Boguang had gone far before speaking to Linghu Chong again, "Chong, you are treating that evil villain well. You would rather stab yourself than kill him."

Linghu Chong's face showed some shame. He knew that Master had seen through his act with his sharp eyes. He lowered his head.

"Master, he did have many bad conducts, but he has promised to mend his ways and do good. He has shown mercy and spared my life multiple times when he had me in his hands."

"Talking morality with such a brutal and cold-blooded skunk, sooner or later, you will have to pay for it," Yue Buqun sneered. He had always favored this Head Apprentice of his. Seeing that he had survived such severe wounds had already brought him great joy. When Linghu Chong pretended to fall and stabbed himself in the leg, he knew very well that it was an act, but he also knew too well that Linghu Chong had always been crafty since he was only a child, so he decided not to investigate further. Besides, Linghu Chong's words to Monk No Commandment were very effective and appropriate, just the way he wanted it, therefore, he chose to set the case of Tian Boguang aside temporarily.

"Where's the booklet?" Yue Buqun stuck out his hand.

Linghu Chong had guessed that Master and little apprentice sister must have come back because the "crime" was discovered and the "criminal" identified, that was why Master came back to Mount Huashan after the book. And that was exactly what he had wished for.

"Sixth apprentice brother has it. Little apprentice sister only did it to save my life. Her intention was all good. Master, please don't blame her. Without Master's permission, I would never dare to even touch the manuscript, not mentioning reading about any formula or technique off the booklet," Linghu Chong swore.

Yue Buqun's face immediately turned into a smile, kind and pleasant. "You did it right. It's not that I don't want to pass it on to you, but since our school is facing some serious events at the time and I could not spare any moment to give you detailed instructions. If I just let you study by yourself, I am afraid that you might go the wrong way, and that would lead to unpredictable trouble." He paused for a while and then continued, "That Monk No Commandment acted like a lunatic, but he does have brilliant inner energy techniques. Did he dissolve those six unorthodox energy streams inside you? How do you feel right now?"