Zhang Wuji and the peasant girl turned their gaze toward the northeast. It was already dawn. They saw a green shadow walking on the snowy ground with steps as light as a feather. When the shadow was about a dozen of 'zhang' away, they could see clearly that it was a woman wearing a green robe. She talked with Ding Minjun for a while, and then turned her head toward Zhang Wuji and the peasant girl, before finally she walked towards them.
Her clothes fluttered in the wind, her movements were light and graceful, her steps were dainty, but in an instant she was already four, five 'zhang' away from the two people. They saw her style was simple yet elegant, her countenance beautiful, she could not be older than seventeen, eighteen years of age.
Zhang Wuji was amazed; listening to her whistle and looking at her movements, he would have thought that she was a lot older than Ding Minjun, but it turned out that she looked even younger than him. He noticed a short sword hanging on the young woman's slender waist, yet she did not draw her weapon but approached them barehanded.
Ding Minjun warned her, "Zhou Shimei [younger martial sister], this witch girl's martial art is very demonical."
The young woman nodded. With a refined and polite manner she asked, "May I know your honorable surnames and great given names? For what reason did you injure my Shijie [older martial sister]?"
When she was near enough, Zhang Wuji thought she looked quite familiar. As soon as she spoke, he remembered immediately, "Turns out she is the Hanshui River boatman's little girl, Miss Zhou Zhiruo. Tai Shifu took her up the Wudang Mountain, how did she become Emei School's disciple?"
His heart warmed up; he wanted to ask her about his Taishifu, but then he changed his mind. "Zhang Wuji is dead. Right now I am a bum, the ugly freak Zeng Ahniu. If I am not able to control my emotions, I would only invite inexhaustible calamity in the future. I simply must not reveal my true identity to avoid bringing harm to Yifu, so that my Papa and Mama's death would not be in vain."
The peasant girl laughed coldly and said, "With the 'pushing the window to look at the moon' your honorable Shijie's palms struck my back. She broke her own wrists because of that. How could you blame me? Go ahead and ask your honorable Shijie, did I attack her even for half a stance?"
Zhou Zhiruo flashed a questioning look at Ding Minjun. Ding Minjun angrily said, "Take these two to see Shifu, let the Senior punish them."
Zhou Zhiruo said, "If these two did not offend Shijie intentionally, in Xiao Mei's [little sister – referring to self] opinion, it's always better to let it go, turning an enemy into a friend."
"What?" Ding Minjun angrily shouted, "Are you siding with the outsiders?"
Looking at Ding Minjun's expression, Zhang Wuji remembered one night a few years ago, when Monk PengYingyu was besieged by enemies in the forest, in which Ding Minjun showed hostility toward Ji Xiaofu. History repeated itself today. Ding Minjun again was forcing her will to her young martial sister. He could not help but secretly worry for Zhou Zhiruo. But Zhou Zhiruo was very respectful toward Ding Minjun.
"Xiao Mei will follow Shijie's instructions, will not dare to disobey," she said with a bow.
"Alright," Ding Minjun said, "Seize this stinky girl, break both of her hands."
"Yes," Zhou Zhiruo replied, "I am asking Shijie to help watch my back." Turning around toward the peasant girl, she said, "Please forgive Xiao Mei for being rude; I want to request Jiejie's [older sister] expert instructions."
The peasant girl said with a cold laugh, "Where did this wordy girl come from?" While in her heart she said, "Do you think I am afraid of this little girl?"
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HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE Book 2 of 2
Historical FictionA CONTINUATION FROM HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE BOOK 1 OF 2 ORIGINAL STORY BY JIN YONG After ending up in an isolated valley by chance, Zhang Wuji becomes a formidable martial artist. Later on, he helps to resolve the conflict between the unorthodox M...