Chapter - 411 Being Driven Mad By Unredressed Mongol Injustice (11)

Chen Youliang smiled dryly, "You only remember my oath, but you don't remember your own even heavier one. You said that from that day forward, you would obey what I say. Was it you who break your promise first, or was it I who did not keep my word?"

Song Qingshu hesitated for half a day before saying, "You wanted me to put poison in Tai Shifu and my Father's food; I would rather die than obeying your word. Just get your sword and kill me."

"Song Xiongdi," Chen Youliang said, "There is a saying that to understand the directions of the age is an outstanding talent. We do not want to murder your father and elders, we only want to drug them so they will lose consciousness. Didn't you agree to it at the Mi Le Temple?"

"No, no!" Song Qingshu said, "I did agree to drug them, but the poison Zhang Bo Longtou gathered was from vipers and centipede; this is a poison to kill people, not a common drug to lose someone's consciousness."

Slowly and unenthusiastically Chen Youliang raised his sword, saying, "Emei Pai's Miss Zhou is as beautiful as a goddess, there is no other girl like her, yet you resign to the fact that she is going to fall into that guy Zhang Wuji. This is really strange. Song Xiongdi, that day, deep into the night, you went to peep into the room occupied by Emei Pai's female disciples. Your Qi Shishu caught you doing that, and he pursued you down. You fought him by the rocky ridge, and thus a nephew killed his uncle. Why did you do that? Wasn't it for the sake of this gentle and tender, good-looking Miss Zhou? This matter has come this far, once you have done it, you can't stop. Can the horse turn back once it enters a narrow pathway? I see that you have climbed the mountain 90% of the way, but fail for lack of a final effort. It's a pity! It's a pity!"

Song Qingshu stood up shakily. "Chen Youliang," he angrily said, "Your words are sweet but insincere! You have forced me. That night I was defeated by Mo Qishu; I was not his match. I have brought disgrace to Wudang Pai. It would be a hundred times better if I died under his hands; who wanted you to interfere by giving me a hand? I have fallen into your scheme so deep that my reputation is swept away and I cannot free myself."

"Fine, fine!" Chen Youliang laughed, "Mo Shenggu died because of the 'zhen tian tie zhang' [iron palm shaking the heaven] on his back; was it you who hit him, or was it me, Chen Youliang who hit him? Isn't it your Wudang Pai's martial art? Certainly I cannot do that. That night I helped you, not only I saved your life, but protected your reputation as well; so you say I was wrong? Song Xiongdi, you and I came across each other, let's not raise the matters of the past up. About you killing your uncle, my mouth is as tight as a drum; I will never leak even for half a word. The mountain is far, the river is long, we will see each other again in the future."

In a trembling voice Song Qingshu said, "Chen … Chen Dage, you … what are you going to do to me?" His voice was full of doubt and uncertainty.

Chen Youliang laughed. "What am I going to do to you?" he said, "I am not going to do anything. Let me show you something. What is this?"

From their hiding place behind the rock, Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min were dying to stick out their heads to see the thing Chen Youliang took out, but in the end they decided against doing so.

"Ah!" they heard Song Qingshu cried out in alarm, "This … this is the iron ring of Emei Pai's Sect Leader," his voice was trembling, "It is Miss Zhou's … You … you … where did you get it from?"

In his heart, Zhang Wuji also shuddered, he thought, "When I left Zhiruo, I plainly saw her still wearing this Sect Leader iron ring; how did it fall into Chen Youliang's hand? Most likely it is a fake one, he forged it to swindle other people."

But he heard Chen Youliang laugh lightly and said, "Look carefully, whether this is the real thing or a fake one."

A moment later Song Qingshu said, "In the Western Region I asked Miejue Shitai for some pointers in martial art, I saw this ring on her finger. I believe this is real."

A 'clang!' noise was heard, a sound of metal striking against metal. Chen Youliang said, "If it was fake, this sword should cut it into two. Look here, there is an inscription inside the ring, 'liu yi xiang nu' [bestowed to daughter Xiang] four characters, it can't be fake, can it? This is the Emei Pai founder, Guo Xiang Nuxia's [heroine Guo Xiang] xuan tie [black/mysterious iron – Yang Guo's heavy sword] ring."

Song Qingshu said, "Chen Dage, you … where did you get it from? Miss Zhou, she … is she all right?"

Chen Youliang laughed again, he said, "Zhang Bo Longtou, let's go. From now on, the Beggar Clan has nothing to do with this person." Footsteps were heard, the two of them turned around and left.

"Chen Dage, come back!" Song Qingshu called out, "Has Miss Zhou fallen into your hands? Is she still alive, or is she dead?"

Chen Youliang came back. With a smile on his face he said, "That's right. Miss Zhou is in my hands. A beautiful woman like her, no man's heart in this world will not be moved upon seeing her. Until now I am still single. I am thinking of asking Bangzhu earnestly to grant me Miss Zhou as my wife, chances are, Bangzhu will grant my request."

Song Qingshu mumbled indistinctly, apparently, he was at a loss of what to say. Chen Youliang continued, "Actually, a gentleman should not take someone else's prized possession. In order to win this Miss Zhou, Song Xiongdi has braved a grave disaster; how could for the sake of a beauty Chen Youliang ruin the 'yi qi' [spirit of loyalty and self-sacrifice/code of brotherhood] between brothers? But since you have revolted against the Clan, there is no more kindness and righteousness between us; nothing is out of question anymore, right?"

Song Qingshu mumbled some more. From the corner of his eye, Zhang Wuji noticed there were two streams of tears flowing down Song Yuanqiao's cheeks; it was obvious that the grief in his heart had reached its peak. Suddenly they heard Song Qingshu say, "Chen Dage, Longtou Dage, as your little brother, I was confused; I beg your forgiveness. I hereby admit my guilt."

Chen Youliang laughed out loud and said, "Right, right! Now, that is my good brother. I put my hand on my heart to guarantee you that you only need to take this drug [orig. 'meng1 han4 yao4 – a medicine to knock someone's consciousness] to Mount Wudang, and then quietly put it into everybody's cup of tea. Your honorable elders' lives will not be harmed; the beautiful Zhou Zhiruo will certainly be your wife. We only want to coerce Zhang Sanfeng, Zhang Zhenren [respectable term to address a Taoist priest] and the Wudang heroes into forcing Zhang Wuji to listen to our command. Supposing that we harmed Zhang Zhenren and your honorable father's lives, Zhang Wuji will only come to the Beggar Clan to exact the revenge; what good will that do to us?"

"That's correct," Song Qingshu said.

Chen Youliang continued, "Wait till the Beggar Clan has subdued the Ming Cult, driven out the Tartars, and ruled the earth; our Bangzhu will ascend to the throne [orig. long2 wei4 – dragon position], you and I will render meritorious service to the founder of the kingdom, needless to say, not only our wives and descendants will enjoy titles and positions, but your honorable father will benefit from your bright face."