Chapter - 438 The Bride's Pale Arms Parts the Red Clothing (13)

"Miss Zhao," he said, "Please don't compel me to be an unrighteous person that I will be reviled by the heroes and warriors of the world."

Zhao Min's shoulder injury was rather serious. At first, driven by her anger, he made an effort to walk away. But now, listening to Zhang Wuji's words, she said, "You … you …" Her anger subsided and she collapsed to the ground.

Zhang Wuji stooped down. "Tell me where my Yifu first," he said.

"Take me to rescue him," Zhao Min said, "I will … I will … give you directions."

"Is he [Senior] alive?" Zhang Wuji asked.

Zhao Min had the will, but not the strength. "Your Yifu … Yifu fell into Cheng Kun's hands," she said.

As he heard the name 'Cheng Kun', Zhang Wuji felt as if blood had been drained from his body; this man was not only an expert in martial art, he was also very crafty and cruel. There was a deep enmity, as deep as the ocean, between Xie Xun and him, so if Xie Xun fell into his hands, he would face an unspeakable danger indeed.

"You can't do it alone," Zhao Min said, "Call … call Yang Xiao and the others to come with you." As she saying that, she pointed her finger to the west, but suddenly her head limped backward and she passed out.

Zhang Wuji imagined all kind of sufferings his Yifu was subjected to right at this moment; he felt as if his five internal organs were burning. Immediately he embraced Zhao Min, hurriedly ripped her clothes and wrapped the wound. Seeing a Ming Cult disciple by the side of the road, he beckoned him to come, and gave his order, "Quickly report to Yang Zuo Shi [left emissary], tell him to lead everybody to the west at once, tell him that I have an important matter to attend." The disciple complied and ran to report the order.

Zhang Wuji thought the sooner he leaves the better. Who knows? Perhaps this delay for few minutes would cost him the opportunity to save his Yifu's life. He carried Zhao Min immediately, and walked quickly toward the city gate, where he ordered the soldier guarding the gate to fetch a steed. Flying up, he mounted the steed and galloped it westward.

After speeding up several 'li's, he felt Zhao Min's body in his bosom gradually turn cold; checking her pulse, he found it to be weak. He was in panic. Stopping down to un-wrap the wound, he saw the five holes were very deep, reaching the shoulder bone, and the skin around the wound had turned blackish purple, an obvious sign of poisoning.

Zhang Wuji was startled, "Zhiruo is Emei disciple," he mused, "How did she learn this kind of poisonous martial art? Her move was very fierce, even fiercer than Miejue Shitai's; how is that possible?" He knew that if Zhao Min did not receive help immediately, she would die of poisoning. But he was wearing the groom clothes, why would he bring any anti-poison drug?

He pondered for a moment then leaped down from the horse. Carrying Zhao Min in his arms, he jumped toward the mountain on his left. He looked around trying to find some herbs to treat poisoning, but after looking for a while he did not find even an ordinary herbal medicine.

With his heart thumping madly, he ran around the hills and the valleys, while muttering a silent prayer. Suddenly his eyes caught some bright color; he saw ahead of him, slightly to the right, there was a bush of about four, five little red flower trees. They were the 'fo zuo xiao hong lian' [little red lotus, seat base of Buddha], which had quite some effect of fighting poison. Although by this time it was the second month of spring, when hundreds of flowers were in full bloom, but to be able to find this red flower right then and there was truly a Heaven's blessing.

n his great delight he carried Zhao Min across two mountain streams toward the bushes. He took some red flowers, chewed them in his mouth, and then he fed half into Zhao Min's mouth, while applied the other half on her shoulder. Everything done, he carried Zhao Min again and continued westward.

Rushing about thirty 'li's, Zhao Min stirred and moaned, and then she awoke, "I … am I still alive?" she asked in a low voice.

Knowing that the 'fo zuo xiao hong lian' was really effective, Zhang Wuji was very happy. He laughed and replied, "How do you feel?"

"My shoulder itches very much," Zhao Min said, "Ay, Miss Zhou's hand this time was very fierce."

Zhang Wuji gently put her down, and looked at her shoulder again. He saw the black was not diminishing, but her pulse was not as weak as before. Zhang Wuji thought for a moment. He knew 'fo zuo xiao hong lian' was very slow and was not enough to neutralize the poison. Thereupon he stooped down to put his mouth on her shoulder, and sucked the poisonous blood from her wounds, which he then spat on the ground. The stench attacked his nose and he wanted to vomit.

Zhao Min looked at Zhang Wuji with the corner of her eyes then she reached up and gently stroke his head. "Wuji Gege," she sighed, "Have you figured out what was happening?"

Zhang Wuji had finished sucking the blood and was going to a small creek to rinse his mouth. He walked back and sat by her side. "What is happening?" he asked.

Zhao Min said, "Miss Zhou is a disciple of a famous upright sect. How did she learn this kind of poisonous, heretical martial art?"

"I myself also thought it strange," Zhang Wuji said, "I wonder who taught her that skill?"

Zhao Min laughed sweetly and said, "It must be the little thief from the heretical sect Devil Cult."

Zhang Wuji laughed, "Although the Devil Cult has many devil-heads, nobody knew this kind of martial art. Only Qing Yi Fu Wang's sucking-blood-from-people's-neck skill is similar to Zhang Wuji's sucking-blood-from-people's-shoulder skill." And then he asked, "How did my Yifu fall into Cheng Kun's hands? Where is he right now?"

"I'll take you there and help you to think of a way to rescue him," Zhao Min said, "As for the exact location, that is Bu Dai Heshang [cloth sack monk] Shuo Bude. [Zhao Min was playing with words here, Shuo Bude means 'can't say', he was one of the Five Wanderers, and his title was 'Bu Dai Heshang'. I guess for those of you who have not read the missing chapters, you will have to wait patiently to know a little bit more about him.] As soon as I tell you, you will dash ahead and drop me without giving me another thought."

Zhang Wuji sighed. "Surely I am not that heartless and without any sense of righteousness, am I?" he asked.

"For your Yifu's sake, you were willing to abandon your pretty-as-a-flower, precious-as-a-jade new bride; much less me?" Zhao Min said, while slowly leaning her body against his. "Today I disrupted your wedding [orig. dong4 fang2 hua1 zhu2 – lit. cave room flowery (or fancy) candle], are you blaming me?"

Without knowing the reason, right at this moment Zhang Wuji felt happy and content. Other than his concern over Xie Xun's safety, he was even more happy and content than when he was going to bow to the Heaven and the Earth with Zhou Zhiruo. But why he felt like that, he could not explain. However, he could not admit that he was happy because Zhao Min had disrupted his wedding ceremony; therefore, he said, "Of course I blame you. Next time, when you and that elegant hero who will become the 'jun ma ye' [princess' husband] are bowing to the Heaven and the Earth, I will also come and create a great disturbance; I will not let you be the new bride peacefully and easily."