Chapter 404: 404
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Once he remembered Xuanming Elders, he was panic-stricken. Lu Zhangke and He Biweng were very strong martial art-wise, even if Xie Xun's eyes were not blind, he might not necessarily be able to fight them one against two. He leaped up and briskly walked toward Zhao Min's door. "Miss Zhao," he called out, "Where did your subordinates, the Xuanming Er Lao, go?"
From behind the door Zhao Min replied, "Most likely they thought I managed to escape and withdraw inside the Wall, so they pursue to the south."
"Are you telling me the truth?" Zhang Wuji asked.
With a cold laugh Zhao Min said, "Why do you ask? Since you don't believe what I say…"
Zhang Wuji was at a loss for words; he stared blankly at the door. Zhao Min said, "Supposing that I told you I sent the Xuanming Er Lao to this inn to kill Xie Daxia and your beloved Miss Zhou, would you believe me?"
Her last words had touched the most sensitive spot on Zhang Wuji's mind; immediately his foot flew up to kick the door open. With the veins on his forehead bulging out and a trembling voice he shouted, "You … you …"
Seeing him like that, Zhao Min was scared; she regretted having said such things. "I was just scaring you," she hastily said, "There is no such thing. You must not take it seriously."
Staring hard at her, Zhang Wuji slowly said, "You are not afraid of coming to this inn to see my Yifu. You kept saying that you want to confront them directly. Could it be that it was because you knew they are no longer alive?" While saying that, he moved two steps forward until he was less than three feet away from her. He raised his palm high, ready to strike her to her death.
Looking directly into his eyes, Zhao Min gravely said, "Zhang Wuji, let me tell you this: in the matters on this earth, you cannot rashly believe what other says unless you witness it with your own eyes. Furthermore, you cannot let your own imagination run wild. You want to kill me, fine, just do it. But what if your Yifu comes back? How would you feel then?"
Listening to her reprimand, Zhang Wuji was somewhat ashamed; he said, "As long as my Yifu is safe and sound, I'll consider myself very fortunate. You must not joke about my Yifu's safety and well-being."
Zhao Min nodded. "I shouldn't say those things, I only have myself to blame; you should not feel bad."
Hearing her admitting her own mistake, Zhang Wuji's heart softened. Smiling slightly he said, "I was too rude and rash, and thus offended you." Finished speaking he returned to Xie Xun's room.
He waited all night, but until dawn neither Xie Xun nor Zhou Zhiruo came back. Zhang Wuji was even more anxious. He took a quick breakfast then had a discussion with Zhao Min about where they would go next. Zhao Min creased her eyebrows and said, "This is really strange. I think we'd better try to overtake Shi Huolong and his company, and think of a way to eavesdrop."
Zhang Wuji nodded. "Let's do it." Immediately they settled their room bills, and left a message with the innkeeper that if Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo return, they were to wait in that inn. The inn helper led a pair of red steeds from the stable.
Zhang Wuji saw that the steeds' hides were smooth and shiny, with long slender legs and strong bodies, the signs of top quality horses. He could not restrain from clucking his tongue in admiration, thinking that these horses must belong to the people under her command who were trailing the Beggar Clan to this place. She must have fetched them when she went out to buy some clothes the previous day. Zhao Min showed a faint smile as she mounted the horse.
Two riders galloped side by side heading south. To the onlookers, their horses looked like dragons, the two riders, a man and a woman, were wearing exquisite and expensive-looking clothes, their appearances smart and beautiful, they must be a young couple from a rich, high-ranking government official's family who were out travelling.
That day they galloped for more than two hundred 'li's [1 li is approximately 0.5 km], and after spending the night en route, they continued their journey at daybreak the next morning. By midday, they felt the north wind was blowing stronger on their backs, with overcast clouds seemingly hanging over close to their heads. After twenty more 'li's, big, goose down-like snowflakes started to fall. Along the way, Zhang Wuji did say almost nothing to Zhao Min. Seeing that the snow was getting heavier, he still did not utter a single word from his place in the front. That day, they were actually riding through a remote mountainous path. By nightfall the snow had reached over a foot deep, although their mounts were divine steeds, they could not go further. Zhang Wuji realized the sky was getting darker and darker. He stood on the saddle and looked around, but did not see a single building; he was indecisive.
"Miss Zhao," he said, "What do you think? I am afraid our horses won't be able to take it anymore if we hurry along."
With a cold laugh Zhao Min said, "You only know the horses won't be able to take it anymore, but you don't care whether the people will live or die."
Zhang Wuji was regretful; he thought, "I have Jiu Yang Shen Gong [divine energy from the Nine Yang Manual] in my body, I don't feel weary or cold. In my eagerness to save people, I am being inconsiderate towards her."
Traveling a little bit more, he suddenly heard a cracking noise, a roebuck fled from their left, running toward the mountain. "I'll catch it for our dinner," Zhang Wuji said.
Leaping down from his saddle, he followed the roebuck trail on the snow, chasing it straight down the mountain. After circling a small hill, under the dim evening fog he saw that roebuck was running straight into a cave. Exerting his strength, he flew like an arrow toward the roebuck, and caught it by the back of its neck before it entered the cave. The roebuck turned its head around trying to bite Zhang Wuji's wrist. Zhang Wuji exerted all his strength to his fingers and 'crack' he snapped the roebuck's neck.
He noticed that although the cave was not too big, it could easily give shelter to the two of them for the night. Carrying the roebuck, he returned to Zhao Min and said, "There is a cave over on that side, let us spend the night here. What do you think?"
Zhao Min nodded, but suddenly she blushed. Raising the reins, she steered the horse toward the cave.
Zhang Wuji led the horses towards the slope and tied them underneath two big pine trees, to protect them from the snow, and then he looked for some dried branches to build a fire on the cave entrance. The cave was clean, with no trace of filthy animal excrement inside. Looking toward the inside, all he could see was impenetrable darkness. Thereupon he skinned the roebuck, washed it with snow, and roasted it on the fire.
Zhao Min took her mink fur coat and spread it on the ground. Under the blazing fire, the cave was as warm as springtime. Zhang Wuji happened to turn his head around. Under the flickering fire light, he saw her pretty face was even more stunning. They looked at each other and smiled; it was as if the hunger and cold of the day melted in that one smile.
When the roebuck was done, each of them ripped the hind leg and ate. Zhang Wuji heaped more firewood to the fire. Leaning against the wall of the cave he said, "Why don't you sleep?" Zhao Min smiled sweetly. Leaning against the opposite wall, she closed her eyes. Zhang Wuji's nose caught an intermittent whiff of fragrance coming from her body. He saw her cheeks were rosy, and he felt a strong urge to kiss her, but he held back the thought and closed his eyes to sleep.
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Once he remembered Xuanming Elders, he was panic-stricken. Lu Zhangke and He Biweng were very strong martial art-wise, even if Xie Xun's eyes were not blind, he might not necessarily be able to fight them one against two. He leaped up and briskly walked toward Zhao Min's door. "Miss Zhao," he called out, "Where did your subordinates, the Xuanming Er Lao, go?"
From behind the door Zhao Min replied, "Most likely they thought I managed to escape and withdraw inside the Wall, so they pursue to the south."
"Are you telling me the truth?" Zhang Wuji asked.
With a cold laugh Zhao Min said, "Why do you ask? Since you don't believe what I say…"
Zhang Wuji was at a loss for words; he stared blankly at the door. Zhao Min said, "Supposing that I told you I sent the Xuanming Er Lao to this inn to kill Xie Daxia and your beloved Miss Zhou, would you believe me?"
Her last words had touched the most sensitive spot on Zhang Wuji's mind; immediately his foot flew up to kick the door open. With the veins on his forehead bulging out and a trembling voice he shouted, "You … you …"
Seeing him like that, Zhao Min was scared; she regretted having said such things. "I was just scaring you," she hastily said, "There is no such thing. You must not take it seriously."
Staring hard at her, Zhang Wuji slowly said, "You are not afraid of coming to this inn to see my Yifu. You kept saying that you want to confront them directly. Could it be that it was because you knew they are no longer alive?" While saying that, he moved two steps forward until he was less than three feet away from her. He raised his palm high, ready to strike her to her death.
Looking directly into his eyes, Zhao Min gravely said, "Zhang Wuji, let me tell you this: in the matters on this earth, you cannot rashly believe what other says unless you witness it with your own eyes. Furthermore, you cannot let your own imagination run wild. You want to kill me, fine, just do it. But what if your Yifu comes back? How would you feel then?"
Listening to her reprimand, Zhang Wuji was somewhat ashamed; he said, "As long as my Yifu is safe and sound, I'll consider myself very fortunate. You must not joke about my Yifu's safety and well-being."
Zhao Min nodded. "I shouldn't say those things, I only have myself to blame; you should not feel bad."
Hearing her admitting her own mistake, Zhang Wuji's heart softened. Smiling slightly he said, "I was too rude and rash, and thus offended you." Finished speaking he returned to Xie Xun's room.
He waited all night, but until dawn neither Xie Xun nor Zhou Zhiruo came back. Zhang Wuji was even more anxious. He took a quick breakfast then had a discussion with Zhao Min about where they would go next. Zhao Min creased her eyebrows and said, "This is really strange. I think we'd better try to overtake Shi Huolong and his company, and think of a way to eavesdrop."
Zhang Wuji nodded. "Let's do it." Immediately they settled their room bills, and left a message with the innkeeper that if Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo return, they were to wait in that inn. The inn helper led a pair of red steeds from the stable.
Zhang Wuji saw that the steeds' hides were smooth and shiny, with long slender legs and strong bodies, the signs of top quality horses. He could not restrain from clucking his tongue in admiration, thinking that these horses must belong to the people under her command who were trailing the Beggar Clan to this place. She must have fetched them when she went out to buy some clothes the previous day. Zhao Min showed a faint smile as she mounted the horse.
Two riders galloped side by side heading south. To the onlookers, their horses looked like dragons, the two riders, a man and a woman, were wearing exquisite and expensive-looking clothes, their appearances smart and beautiful, they must be a young couple from a rich, high-ranking government official's family who were out travelling.
That day they galloped for more than two hundred 'li's [1 li is approximately 0.5 km], and after spending the night en route, they continued their journey at daybreak the next morning. By midday, they felt the north wind was blowing stronger on their backs, with overcast clouds seemingly hanging over close to their heads. After twenty more 'li's, big, goose down-like snowflakes started to fall. Along the way, Zhang Wuji did say almost nothing to Zhao Min. Seeing that the snow was getting heavier, he still did not utter a single word from his place in the front. That day, they were actually riding through a remote mountainous path. By nightfall the snow had reached over a foot deep, although their mounts were divine steeds, they could not go further. Zhang Wuji realized the sky was getting darker and darker. He stood on the saddle and looked around, but did not see a single building; he was indecisive.
"Miss Zhao," he said, "What do you think? I am afraid our horses won't be able to take it anymore if we hurry along."
With a cold laugh Zhao Min said, "You only know the horses won't be able to take it anymore, but you don't care whether the people will live or die."
Zhang Wuji was regretful; he thought, "I have Jiu Yang Shen Gong [divine energy from the Nine Yang Manual] in my body, I don't feel weary or cold. In my eagerness to save people, I am being inconsiderate towards her."
Traveling a little bit more, he suddenly heard a cracking noise, a roebuck fled from their left, running toward the mountain. "I'll catch it for our dinner," Zhang Wuji said.
Leaping down from his saddle, he followed the roebuck trail on the snow, chasing it straight down the mountain. After circling a small hill, under the dim evening fog he saw that roebuck was running straight into a cave. Exerting his strength, he flew like an arrow toward the roebuck, and caught it by the back of its neck before it entered the cave. The roebuck turned its head around trying to bite Zhang Wuji's wrist. Zhang Wuji exerted all his strength to his fingers and 'crack' he snapped the roebuck's neck.
He noticed that although the cave was not too big, it could easily give shelter to the two of them for the night. Carrying the roebuck, he returned to Zhao Min and said, "There is a cave over on that side, let us spend the night here. What do you think?"
Zhao Min nodded, but suddenly she blushed. Raising the reins, she steered the horse toward the cave.
Zhang Wuji led the horses towards the slope and tied them underneath two big pine trees, to protect them from the snow, and then he looked for some dried branches to build a fire on the cave entrance. The cave was clean, with no trace of filthy animal excrement inside. Looking toward the inside, all he could see was impenetrable darkness. Thereupon he skinned the roebuck, washed it with snow, and roasted it on the fire.
Zhao Min took her mink fur coat and spread it on the ground. Under the blazing fire, the cave was as warm as springtime. Zhang Wuji happened to turn his head around. Under the flickering fire light, he saw her pretty face was even more stunning. They looked at each other and smiled; it was as if the hunger and cold of the day melted in that one smile.
When the roebuck was done, each of them ripped the hind leg and ate. Zhang Wuji heaped more firewood to the fire. Leaning against the wall of the cave he said, "Why don't you sleep?" Zhao Min smiled sweetly. Leaning against the opposite wall, she closed her eyes. Zhang Wuji's nose caught an intermittent whiff of fragrance coming from her body. He saw her cheeks were rosy, and he felt a strong urge to kiss her, but he held back the thought and closed his eyes to sleep.
Once he remembered Xuanming Elders, he was panic-stricken. Lu Zhangke and He Biweng were very strong martial art-wise, even if Xie Xun's eyes were not blind, he might not necessarily be able to fight them one against two. He leaped up and briskly walked toward Zhao Min's door. "Miss Zhao," he called out, "Where did your subordinates, the Xuanming Er Lao, go?"From behind the door Zhao Min replied, "Most likely they thought I managed to escape and withdraw inside the Wall, so they pursue to the south.""Are you telling me the truth?" Zhang Wuji asked.With a cold laugh Zhao Min said, "Why do you ask? Since you don't believe what I say"Zhang Wuji was at a loss for words; he stared blankly at the door. Zhao Min said, "Supposing that I told you I sent the Xuanming Er Lao to this inn to kill Xie Daxia and your beloved Miss Zhou, would you believe me?"Her last words had touched the most sensitive spot on Zhang Wuji's mind; immediately his foot flew up to kick the door open. With the veins on his forehead bulging out and a trembling voice he shouted, "You you "Seeing him like that, Zhao Min was scared; she regretted having said such things. "I was just scaring you," she hastily said, "There is no such thing. You must not take it seriously."Staring hard at her, Zhang Wuji slowly said, "You are not afraid of coming to this inn to see my Yifu. You kept saying that you want to confront them directly. Could it be that it was because you knew they are no longer alive?" While saying that, he moved two steps forward until he was less than three feet away from her. He raised his palm high, ready to strike her to her death.Looking directly into his eyes, Zhao Min gravely said, "Zhang Wuji, let me tell you this: in the matters on this earth, you cannot rashly believe what other says unless you witness it with your own eyes. Furthermore, you cannot let your own imagination run wild. You want to kill me, fine, just do it. But what if your Yifu comes back? How would you feel then?"Listening to her reprimand, Zhang Wuji was somewhat ashamed; he said, "As long as my Yifu is safe and sound, I'll consider myself very fortunate. You must not joke about my Yifu's safety and well-being."Zhao Min nodded. "I shouldn't say those things, I only have myself to blame; you should not feel bad."Hearing her admitting her own mistake, Zhang Wuji's heart softened. Smiling slightly he said, "I was too rude and rash, and thus offended you." Finished speaking he returned to Xie Xun's room.He waited all night, but until dawn neither Xie Xun nor Zhou Zhiruo came back. Zhang Wuji was even more anxious. He took a quick breakfast then had a discussion with Zhao Min about where they would go next. Zhao Min creased her eyebrows and said, "This is really strange. I think we'd better try to overtake Shi Huolong and his company, and think of a way to eavesdrop."Zhang Wuji nodded. "Let's do it." Immediately they settled their room bills, and left a message with the innkeeper that if Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo return, they were to wait in that inn. The inn helper led a pair of red steeds from the stable.Zhang Wuji saw that the steeds' hides were smooth and shiny, with long slender legs and strong bodies, the signs of top quality horses. He could not restrain from clucking his tongue in admiration, thinking that these horses must belong to the people under her command who were trailing the Beggar Clan to this place. She must have fetched them when she went out to buy some clothes the previous day. Zhao Min showed a faint smile as she mounted the horse.Two riders galloped side by side heading south. To the onlookers, their horses looked like dragons, the two riders, a man and a woman, were wearing exquisite and expensive-looking clothes, their appearances smart and beautiful, they must be a young couple from a rich, high-ranking government official's family who were out travelling.That day they galloped for more than two hundred 'li's 1 li is approximately 0.5 km, and after spending the night en route, they continued their journey at daybreak the next morning. By midday, they felt the north wind was blowing stronger on their backs, with overcast clouds seemingly hanging over close to their heads. After twenty more 'li's, big, goose down-like snowflakes started to fall. Along the way, Zhang Wuji did say almost nothing to Zhao Min. Seeing that the snow was getting heavier, he still did not utter a single word from his place in the front. That day, they were actually riding through a remote mountainous path. By nightfall the snow had reached over a foot deep, although their mounts were divine steeds, they could not go further. Zhang Wuji realized the sky was getting darker and darker. He stood on the saddle and looked around, but did not see a single building; he was indecisive."Miss Zhao," he said, "What do you think? I am afraid our horses won't be able to take it anymore if we hurry along."With a cold laugh Zhao Min said, "You only know the horses won't be able to take it anymore, but you don't care whether the people will live or die."Zhang Wuji was regretful; he thought, "I have Jiu Yang Shen Gong divine energy from the Nine Yang Manual in my body, I don't feel weary or cold. In my eagerness to save people, I am being inconsiderate towards her."Traveling a little bit more, he suddenly heard a cracking noise, a roebuck fled from their left, running toward the mountain. "I'll catch it for our dinner," Zhang Wuji said.Leaping down from his saddle, he followed the roebuck trail on the snow, chasing it straight down the mountain. After circling a small hill, under the dim evening fog he saw that roebuck was running straight into a cave. Exerting his strength, he flew like an arrow toward the roebuck, and caught it by the back of its neck before it entered the cave. The roebuck turned its head around trying to bite Zhang Wuji's wrist. Zhang Wuji exerted all his strength to his fingers and 'crack' he snapped the roebuck's neck.He noticed that although the cave was not too big, it could easily give shelter to the two of them for the night. Carrying the roebuck, he returned to Zhao Min and said, "There is a cave over on that side, let us spend the night here. What do you think?"Zhao Min nodded, but suddenly she blushed. Raising the reins, she steered the horse toward the cave.Zhang Wuji led the horses towards the slope and tied them underneath two big pine trees, to protect them from the snow, and then he looked for some dried branches to build a fire on the cave entrance. The cave was clean, with no trace of filthy animal excrement inside. Looking toward the inside, all he could see was impenetrable darkness. Thereupon he skinned the roebuck, washed it with snow, and roasted it on the fire.Zhao Min took her mink fur coat and spread it on the ground. Under the blazing fire, the cave was as warm as springtime. Zhang Wuji happened to turn his head around. Under the flickering fire light, he saw her pretty face was even more stunning. They looked at each other and smiled; it was as if the hunger and cold of the day melted in that one smile.When the roebuck was done, each of them ripped the hind leg and ate. Zhang Wuji heaped more firewood to the fire. Leaning against the wall of the cave he said, "Why don't you sleep?" Zhao Min smiled sweetly. Leaning against the opposite wall, she closed her eyes. Zhang Wuji's nose caught an intermittent whiff of fragrance coming from her body. He saw her cheeks were rosy, and he felt a strong urge to kiss her, but he held back the thought and closed his eyes to sleep.
