Chapter - 51 A Raft Drifting In the Vast Beiming Sea (3)

There are sixteen sailors, yet they all used hand gestures with each other, as if they're all mute. Yin SuSu said, "You are certainly something, to be able to find so many mute-deaf sailors."

Xie Xun said, "What's so hard about that? First I find some illiterate sailors. Then I shatter their hearing with a roar. Then feed them some drugs to make them mute."

Zhang CuiShan shuddered inside. Yin SuSu clapped her hands, and said with a smile, "That's a great idea. Since they're deaf-mute, they certainly could not divulge your secrets. Too bad you need them to sail, or you'd probably blind them too, I bet." Zhang CuiShan looked at her, said in a lecturing tone, "Miss Yin. Why do a girl like you only think of ways to hurt people? This is a sad story. How could you laugh at it?" Yin SuSu stuck out her tongue at him, about to argue, but thought better of it upon seeing his expression. Xie Xun said calmly, "After I get back to the mainland, of course I'll blind them." Zhang CuiShan looked at the sailors, thought, "In a day you'll all be blind too."

The masts raised, the ship began to move. Zhang CuiShan said, "Elder Xie. Are you just going to leave these people here? How are they going to get back?" Xie Xun said, "Mr. Zhang. You are a pretty good guy. The only problem is that you're too mindful of other people's businesses. What's wrong with leaving these people here on their own?" Zhang CuiShan realized that it's impossible to talk any sense into this man, and decided to stop talking altogether. He thought, "Although most people on the island aren't good people, it's still a terrible fate that they've suffered. The elders of Kun Lun sect would surely look for their disciples now that they're going to die here. Unfortunately, yet more troubles in the martial world."

For the past years, the seven Wudang heroes had always gotten the upper hand in any confrontation they've faced. Who'd have thought that he, Zhang CuiShan, would be a prisoner here on this boat? Angry and dejected, he decided to calm down and meditate, ignoring Yin SuSu and Xie Xun.

After a while, he looked out the window into the sea, staring at golden the sun setting in the distance, a beautiful scene. Suddenly, he trembled, thought, "Wait, why is the sun setting to the back of the boat?" He turned around and asked Xie Xun, "The sailors are sailing in the wrong direction. We're going east." Xie Xun said, "I know. We're supposed to go east."

Yin SuSu said in shock, "But there is only water to the east. Where are we going?"

Xie Xun said, "Haven't I been clear enough? After getting this saber, I want to seek a place to rest, to find the secret of the Dragon Saber, to know why it can rule over the martial world. In the central plains, there's no way I can hide for very long before someone find out about my secret. Then I'd have to spend a ton of effort just fighting off those seeking the Dragon Saber. Besides, should those enemies be the likes of White-Browed Eagle King or Zhang SanFeng, I might lose the saber too. No… it's much better to rest in a faraway island, where I can settle down."

Yin SuSu said, "But you have to take us back first." Xie Xun said with a smile, "Wouldn't my secret be divulged upon your return?" Zhang CuiShan stood up and said loudly, "Then what do you want?" Xie Xun said, "Simple. I just want you two to live on the island with me." Zhang CuiShan said, "What if you can't even figure out the secret after eighteen years? Xie Xun said, "Then you'll live with me for eighteen years. If I never figure it out, then you'll live with me forever. You too are a perfect match for each other. How about becoming husband and wife on the island, and have kids? Heheh, now wouldn't that be nice?" Zhang CuiShan yelled angrily, "Don't you dare say that sort of thing!" He looked around, only to see Yin SuSu's head lowered, her face incredibly red.

Zhang CuiShan shuddered, realized that if he spent any more time with Yin SuSu, he might not be able to control his emotions. Xie Xun's a powerful opponent, his heart is yet another one. It really is best for him to leave this place as soon as possible. Suppressing his anger, Zhang CuiShan said, "Elder Xie, you should know about my reputation. I am willing to make a solemn promise, that I will not divulge anything I saw and heard today."

Xie Xun said, "I've heard of your reputation, that your words can be trusted. But I made a promise when I was twenty-eight. Look at my finger." As he spoke he raised his left hand. Zhang CuiShan and Yin SuSu both saw that his pinky on the left hand has been cut off.

Xie Xun said, "That year, the person I respected, loved the most ruined me. He killed my whole family, my parents, wife, and kid. From that moment on, I promised to never trust a single person again. Today I am now forty-one. For the past thirteen years I've only been friends with wild animals. I trust animals, but not people. In these years I've killed more humans than animals."

Zhang CuiShan shuddered, realized just why has no one heard of him despite his amazing kung fu. That event when he was twenty-eight must've devastated him. That's why he has turned his hatred upon society. Zhang CuiShan originally only despised Xie Xun, but now he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. After a while, he said, "Elder Xie. I take it you've already had your revenge."

Xie Xun said, "No. The person who ruined me is superior at kung fu. I can't beat him." Zhang CuiShan and Yin SuSu both gasped, said, "Better than you? Who is this person?" Xie Xun said, "Why should I speak of him? It only brings back painful memories. If it weren't for revenge, why do I need to take this saber? To find out its secret? Mr. Zhang, I really like you. Otherwise, I would've never let you two lived in my usual temper. It's certainly quite abnormal for me let you live a while longer. Hopefully it wouldn't be a problem."

Yin SuSu said, "What do you mean by 'a while longer'?" Xie Xun said, "When I understand the secrets within this saber and leave the island, that's the day I shall kill you. So the longer it takes for me to find the secret, the longer you two shall live." Yin SuSu let out a 'humph', said, "Actually, this saber is just a bit sharper than other weapons, and can withstand lots of heat. What secret could it possibly contain? I bet 'Controlling all under Heaven, None dares to not follow' simply meant that it can break all other weapons into pieces."

Xie Xun sighed, said, "If what you're saying is true, then the three of us will live on the island forever." Suddenly his expression turned pale, as if he felt this just might be the case. Then he would have no chance at revenge.

Zhang CuiShan wanted to say some word to lessen his worry. Only to see Xie Xun blow out the candle, said, "Let's go to sleep." Followed by a long, deep sigh, which contained infinite pain, infinite despair, almost inhuman, as if wild beast sighing before its death.

The cold wind came into the cabin again and again. Yin SuSu did not wear much. After a while, she began to quiver. Zhang CuiShan whispered to her, "Miss Yin, are you cold?" Yin SuSu said, "I'm fine." Zhang CuiShan took off his robe and said, "Put this on." Yin SuSu was very grateful, said, "You don't have to. You're cold too." Zhang CuiShan said, "I'm not afraid of the cold." As he spoke he put the robe on Yin SuSu's hand. Yin SuSu took it and put it over her shoulder, still feeling the warmth of Zhang CuiShan's body on the robe. She felt very content in her heart, and couldn't help but smile brightly in the darkness.