THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

The Wager Part 3

"Why are you laughing?" Xiang Wentian asked.

"Didn't you ask my Second Brother if he is fond of the game of Go? Ha-ha-ha! My Second Brother's name is Mr. Black-White. You tell me if he likes the game or not. They way Second Brother loves the game of Go is just like how I love the art of drinking," Mr. Paint said in amusement.

"Good heavens! Second Master, please excuse my random talk. That's like displaying one's slight skill before an expert," Xiang Wentian said hurriedly.

"Did you really see the game manual for the game between Liu Zhongpu and the Fairy Granny of Mount Li?" Mr. Black-White asked. "I've seen recordings from ancient journals about this story. It said that Liu Zhongpu was the national champion at the time, but he lost miserably to a countryside granny at the foot of Mount Li and spat out several liters of blood from the frustration. That's why this famous game manual was named the 'Blood-Spitting Manual.' Could this 'Blood-Spitting Manual' really exist in this world?"

When he first entered the room, his face had looked completely indifferent, but now it was covered with excitement.

"Twenty-Five years ago, I had the chance of reading it in the old residence of a well-known family in Chengdu, Szechwan. Because it was such a stunning battle, even after twenty-five years, I could still remember every single one of the entire one hundred and twelve moves," Xiang Wentian elaborated.

"There are a total of one hundred and twelve moves? Why don't you show it to me? Come on, let's go to my game room to set it up," Mr. Black-White proposed anxiously.

Mr. Paint stretched his arms out and blocked the way.

"Hold it! Second Brother, if you don't make ice for me, see if I'll ever let you leave," he said as he took out a white china basin filled with clear water.

"Alas, each of the four brothers has his own 'thing' to be crazy about. It's hopeless," Mr. Black-White sighed.

He stretched out his right hand and inserted his index finger into the water. Only a short moment later, faint traces of white mist began rising from the water surface, and soon, hoar frost began forming along the edges of the basin. Before long, a thin layer of ice appeared at the water surface. The ice grew thicker and thicker and only minutes later, the water inside the basin had all turned into cold ice. Xiang Wentian and Linghu Chong both cheered loudly.

"I heard that the 'Violent Wind Finger' Kung Fu had been long lost in the Martial World. Who would have thought that the Second Master...?" Xiang Wentian said.

"This is not the 'Violent Wind Finger.' This is called the 'Profound Heavenly Finger,' which is a much more advanced Kung Fu in comparison with the truculent 'Violent Wind Finger' Kung Fu," Mr. Paint clarified promptly. Without any delay, he had placed four wine cups on top of the ice as he spoke and filled them with Grape Wine. Shortly afterwards, traces of white mist began rising from the surface of the wine.

"Now!" Linghu Chong said.

Picking up a wine cup, Mr. Paint tossed the wine down, and sure enough, the wine tasted thick and mellow and there was not a trace of bitterness. In addition, a taste of cool and refreshing was also added to the wine and made it even more delicious. He couldn't help but praise.

"How marvelous! Now I did a great job brewing the wine; Brother Feng did a great job explained it; Second brother did a great job made the ice. Well, what about you? Hmm...." He grinned at Xiang Wentian. "You did a great job stooging alongside."

Mr. Black-White drank up his wine casually, didn't even pay any attention to the flavor of it. Grabbing Xiang Wentian's arm, he pulled.

"Come on! Come on! Show me how Liu Zhongpu's 'Blood-Spitting Manual' looks like."