DEMI GODS AND SEMI DEVILS Book 2 of 5 (Shrouding Screen In Suzhou) by Jin Yong

Wishes Of The Present Part 3

Still laughing nonstop, that Han man took a step forwards wanting to raise his sword and thrust again. Suddenly there was a 'peng' sound. A plank of the hydraulic wheel had hit the back of his head making him pass out. Even though that Han man had lost consciousness, he was still breathing and kept laughing ha-ha-ha nonstop, but because he only had the air and not the strength, his laughs sounded very strange. The hydraulic wheel slowly revolved, another 'peng' sound was heard. The second plank had hit his chest. His laughs became a bit lower. After getting hit seven or eight times, the 'ha-ha, ha-ha' sounds he made sounded just like the snores of someone who was dreaming.

Seeing that Duan Yu was being gripped and unable to pull away, Wang Yuyan felt extremely anxious. She also thought that there was still a Western Xia warrior with a scary expression standing beside the door, if he conveniently gave Duan Yu a saber or sword stroke, Duan Yu would be killed instantly. She shouted in panic: 'Don't kill Mr. Duan. We... we should discuss this slowly.'

That Western Xia man was still gripping Duan Yu. He placed his right arm horizontally and pressed it against the chest of Duan Yu with full power, wanting to crush his ribs or make him unable to breathe and die. Duan Yu was extremely frightened. His left wrist and right arm were being gripped therefore the Beiming Divine Skill which absorbed internal energy could not be used. He had no choice but to extend his left fingers and pushed chaotically with them, but all of his finger attacks only hit the air. He felt the pressure on his chest getting heavier and heavier, and gradually he could no longer breathe.

At that critical moment, suddenly there were several 'chi-chi' sounds, that Western Xia expert uttered a soft 'Ah' cry and said: 'Good skill, you've finally poked me... poked me in the Yuzhen...' His hands gradually loosened and his head drooped. He leaned against the wall and died.

Very surprised, Duan Yu turned that man over to have a look. He really saw a small hole at the 'Yuzhen acupuncture point' on the back of his head. Blood was oozing from it. This wound had been inflicted on him by his Six Meridians Divine Swords. Duan Yu did not understand for the moment what had happened. He did not know that in that urgent situation his internal energy had condensed and the energy of one of his finger attacks had hit the wall, sprung back, and hit the back of the head of that Western Xia expert. Duan Yu had executed several tens of finger attacks altogether. One after another they had bounced off the wall and hit every place on the back of the enemy. Because that Western Xia man had had a strong internal energy and the power of the rebounded energy had been very weak, they had not been able to damage him at all. But by lucky coincidence the last beam of internal energy had bounced off the wall and hit his 'Yuzhen acupuncture point'. The 'Yuzhen acupuncture point' had been his weakness and most fragile point therefore even though the rebounded internal energy had been weak he had nevertheless died instantly when it had hit him at that acupuncture point.

Duan Yu was both surprised and happy. He released the corpse of that Western Xia man and shouted: 'Miss Wang, Miss Wang, all the enemies have been killed!'

Suddenly he heard an icy voice from behind himself: 'All haven't necessarily died!' Duan Yu was frightened. He turned around and saw that it was the Western Xia warrior with a wooden expression. He thought: 'I overlooked you, but your martial arts aren't good. I can kill you with just a grip on your 'Zhishi acupuncture point.' He then laughed and said: 'Old chap, you run away quickly, okay? I definitely won't kill you.' That man said: 'Do you have the ability to kill me?' His tone was extremely arrogant. Duan Yu was really unwilling to kill again therefore he cupped his fist and said: 'I'm really not a match for you, please show your mercy and forgive me.'

That Western Xia warrior said: 'These sentences of yours are merely a jest. They have absolutely no sincere intention of begging for mercy. The Solitary Yang Finger (t/n: Yiyangzhi) and the Six Meridians Divine Swords of the Duan clan are well-known all over the world, in addition to that, this girl has told you important secrets, they're really no small matter. Let me experience your masterful stances.' Every word of these few sentences was said monotonously with no high or low sound, no rise or fall of the voice and no pause therefore they sounded very unusual. Perhaps he was a foreigner, because even though he knew the Han language and his use of words and grammar were correct, his tone was obviously very awkward.

Duan Yu innately disliked martial arts. Today he had killed so many people like this only because the situation had forced him to do so and he had had no alternative. Speaking of fighting, if it was possible to avoid fighting he would try his best to. He immediately gave a deep bow and sincerely said: 'You are very correct to be critical of me. I must confess my intention of begging for mercy was not respectful and sincere. I have never learned martial arts. Just now, it was sheer luck that I killed people. Being able to preserve my life, I'm already perfectly content, how dare I flaunt my skills and vie for superiority?'

That Western Xia warrior laughed grimly and said: 'You haven't learned martial arts yet with a raise of your hand you annihilated four experts of First-class Hall and killed eleven warriors. If you learn martial arts, would there still be survivors in wulin?'

Duan Yu took a glance from the east to the west. Seeing that in the mill corpses were lying in disorder and each of them was covered in blood, he could not help feeling extremely sorry. He covered his face and said: 'How... how did I kill this many people? I... I really don't wanna kill anyone. What should I do now? What should I do?' That man let out some grim laughs and glanced at Duan Yu to see if these few sentences arose out of his true feelings. Duan Yu shed tears and said: 'These people all have parents, wives and children. Not long ago every one of them was still full of vim and vigor, now they were all killed by me, I... I... how can I apologize to them?' Saying to here he could not help but beat his chest and cry loudly. His tears fell down like rain drops. He sobbed: 'They might not necessarily want to kill me. It's just that they were acting under orders and were assigned to capture people. That's all. I and they didn't know each other before, why I could lay my murderous hands on them so quick?' His heart was inherently benevolent. Since childhood he had chanted Buddhist scriptures and learned Buddhism, and had not dared to harm even ants and mole crickets, how could he have known that today this kind of catastrophe would suddenly happen?

That Western Xia warrior sneered: 'You're play-acting like a cat crying over a mouse's death. You think you'll be exempted from punishments by it?'

Duan Yu held back his tears and said: 'That's right, I already killed people and committed sins. What's the point of crying? I'd better bury these corpses carefully.'

Wang Yuyan thought: 'There're more than ten corpses like this, how long will it take to bury them one by one?' She shouted: 'Mr. Duan, I'm afraid there're more enemies coming in large quantities. We should run away as soon as possible.' Duan Yu said: 'Yes, yes!' He turned around, wanting to climb up the ladder.

That Western Xia warrior said: 'You haven't killed me, how can you go?' Duan Yu shook his head and said: 'I can't kill you. Besides, I'm not a match for you either.' That man said: 'We haven't fought, how can you know that you're not a match for me? Miss Wang taught you the Wave Treading Exquisite Steps, ha-ha, you're sure extraordinary.' Duan Yu at first had wanted to say that the Wave Treading Exquisite Steps technique had not been taught to him by Wang Yuyan, but he thought that there was no need to tell a stranger about this matter therefore he only said: 'Yes, moreover I haven't learned any martial arts. I've escaped from disasters totally thanks to being given directions by Miss Wang.' That man said: 'Very good, I'm waiting here. You go ask her to tell you a way to kill me.' Duan Yu said: 'I don't wanna kill you.'

That man said: 'You don't wanna kill me then I'll kill you.' As he finished saying he picked up a saber on the ground, suddenly in the main room a white light flashed, within a more than one zhang (t/n: 3.333 m) radius of him there were full of saber images. When Duan Yu had still not taken a step he had already been hit heavily on his shoulder with the back of the saber. He let out an 'Ah' shout and staggered. As soon as his footsteps became disordered that Western Xia warrior took advantage of the situation and rushed forwards. The edge of the saber was already put on the back of his neck. Duan Yu was so frightened that his whole body broke into a cold sweat. He only stood motionlessly, stunned.

That man said: 'You quickly go consult your master to see if she has any way to kill me.' As he finished saying he withdrew the saber and swiftly extended his left leg cleverly. A 'peng' sound was heard. He had kicked Duan Yu sending him rolling on the ground.

Wang Yuyan shouted: 'Mr. Duan, quickly go up here.' Duan Yu said: 'Yes!' then climbed up the ladder. He turned his head around and saw that man sitting and holding the saber. There was still a wooden expression which was similar to that of a corpse on his face. Obviously he thought absolutely nothing of Duan Yu and would definitely not take advantage of the time he was climbing up the ladder to sneakily attack from his back. After having climbed up the garret, Duan Yu said in a low voice: 'Miss Wang, I can't beat him. We should find a way to run away quickly.'

Wang Yuyan said: 'He's guarding downstairs, we can't run away. Please take that gown for me.' Duan Yu said: 'Yes!' then held out his hand and took a set of worn-out clothes left by that peasant girl. Wang Yuyan said: 'Close your eyes then come here. Okay! Stop. Put it on for me, you mustn't open your eyes.' Duan Yu complied with everything she said. He was a sincere gentleman and esteemed Wang Yuyan as if she was a heavenly god therefore he did not dare to disobey her words at all, but when he thought that at the moment her clothes were not enough to cover her body, his heart unavoidably pounded in his chest.

Wang Yuyan waited until he finished dressing her then said: 'Okay. Help me stand up.' Duan Yu had not yet heard the order that he could open his eyes therefore they were still closed tightly. When he heard her say 'Help me stand up' he immediately put out his right hand and unexpectedly touched her cheek. Feeling that there was something smooth and soft in his palm, he could not refrain from starting with fright. He hastily withdrew his hand and said continuously: 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'

When Wang Yuyan had been having him dressing herself she had already felt so ashamed that her cheeks had become very red. Now seeing him with his eyes closed extending his palm and touching her face in a disorderly manner she blushed even more. She said: 'Hey, I told you to help me stand up!' Duan Yu said: 'Yes! Yes!' His eyes were still closed tightly therefore he did not know where he should move his hands to, fearing that if he touched her body his misdemeanor would become serious. He could not help feeling at a loss and totally troubled. Wang Yuyan's mind was also in turmoil. Only after a good while did she remember that she needed to tell him to open his eyes. She said in a displeased-sounding tone: 'Why don't you open your eyes?'