After a long time, Kong Dong and E Mei each had six, seven people enter the cabin. They greeted Yu LianZhou, XiHua Zi, and Wei SiNiang. The Kong Dong group is headed by an old, skinny man. The E Mei group is headed by a middle-aged nun. These two groups were quite surprised to see the Heavenly Eagle Sect people here.
XiHua Zi said loudly, "Hello, venerable Jing Xu, Third Master Tang. Unfortunately, Wu Dang and Heavenly Eagle Sect have joined forces." That short, old man is called Tang WenLiang, one of the 'Five Elders of Kong Dong'. The middle-aged nun, Jing Xu, is E Mei fourth generation's eldest disciple. Both are renowned experts in the martial world. They couldn't believe what XiHua Zi just said. Jing Xu is a very careful person, knew about XiHua Zi's bad temper, and didn't say anything. However, Tang WenLiang's eyes immediately glared at Yu LianZhou. He said, "Is this true, Second Hero Yu?"
Before Yu LianZhou could respond, XiHua Zi cut in, "Wu Dang and Heavenly Eagle Sect are now relatives through marriage. Zhang CuiShan is Yin TianZheng's son-in-law..." Tang WenLiang said with surprise, "You've found the Zhang CuiShan who had disappeared for ten years now?"
Yu LianZhou pointed at Zhang CuiShan and said, "This is my fifth martial brother, Zhang CuiShan. Fifth brother, this is an elder of Kong Dong Sect, Third Master Tang WenLiang." XiHua Zi added, "Zhang CuiShan and his wife know 'Golden-Haired Lion King' Xie Xun's location. Yet instead of saying it, they chose to make up a huge lie."
Tang WenLiang's turned incredibly angry upon hearing Xie Xun's name, and yelled, "Where is he?" Zhang CuiShan said, "I must consult with my master on this matter first. So I'm sorry to withhold this information for now." Tang WenLiang yelled furiously, "Where is this bastard Xie Xun? He killed my nephew. There's no way I can coexist with him in the same world. Are you going to tell me his location or not?" He spoke in such a deafening voice, without a hint of courtesy.
Yin SuSu said coldly, "You're just one of the older guys in the Kong Dong Sect. What right do you have to question Fifth Hero Zhang this way? Are you the Martial World's most venerable? Are you the Head of Wu Dang, Taoist Zhang?"
In his rage, Tang WenLiang was about to attack Yin SuSu. But he held back at the last moment. Yin SuSu was simply a young woman. It would be very rude for an elder like him to attack her in such a manner. So he asked Zhang CuiShan, "Who is she?"
Zhang CuiShan said, "She is my wife." XiHua Zi added, "And also the daughter of Heavenly Eagle Sect's Leader Yin. Humph, just a wretched demonic lady of an evil sect." 'White-Browed Eagle King' Yin TianZheng's kung fu is quite incredible. No one who fought him had lasted more than ten exchanges. So when Tang WenLiang heard that she's Yin TianZheng's daughter, he hesitated to speak further, and said, "Good! Good! Absolutely marvelous!"
Jing Xu had been silent ever since entering the room. She chose to speak up at this moment, "Can Second Hero Yu tells us the story behind all this?" Yu LianZhou said, "This is indeed a long story, as it covered events over a ten-year period. How about this, Wu Dang will host a gathering at Wu Chang city's Yellow Crane Restaurant. We will welcome all heroes who wish to attend. There, the entire story will be told, and we can resolve this issue. Is this ok with everyone here?" Jing Xu nodded, said, "This is fine with me."
Tang WenLiang said, "We can wait to hear the story three months later. But as for Xie Xun's location, I'd like to know now, Fifth Hero Zhang." Zhang CuiShan shook his head, said, "I'm afraid I cannot tell you right now." Although he didn't like the response, Tang WenLiang knew he couldn't offend Wu Dang and Heavenly Eagle Sects. Besides, there's no way Zhang CuiShan can withhold the truth in three months. Without further words, he stood up, waved at his constituents, and said, "Let's meet in three months. Goodbye."
XiHua Zi said, "Third Master Tang, can we hitch a ride back on your boat?" Tang WenLiang said, "Sure." XiHua Zi said to Wei SiNiang, "Martial Sister, let's go!" He came here on the same boat as Yu LianZhou, so this act clearly showed enmity towards Wu Dang. Yu LianZhou did not make a comment, and courteously showed them off the boat. Then he said, "After reporting to our master, we shall send out invitation letters to everyone."
Yin SuSu suddenly said, "Taoist XiHua, I wish to ask you something." XiHua Zi turned his head, said, "What?" Yin SuSu said, "You said that I was a demonic woman of an evil sect. But how am I 'demonic' and 'evil'?" XiHua Zi froze for a moment, then said, "You're a devilish fox who belongs to an infamous evil sect. What's more to say? Otherwise, why would a righteous Fifth Hero Zhang fall for you?" Yin SuSu said, "Thank you for your explanation."
XiHua Zi was surprised that Yin SuSu did not try to rebut. Hearing no further words, he walked over to Kong Dong Sect's boats on the plank.
Even thought the boats are next to each other, it still takes a seven-meter plank to connect the two. By answering Yin SuSu's questions, XiHua Zi walked across last. Just as he walked toward the middle of the plank, sound of wind came from behind, followed by a scraping noise. Despite his temper, XiHua Zi's kung fu is quite formidable, and certainly very experienced. Thinking that someone attacked from behind, he quickly drew his sword. At this moment, he felt the plank giving away below his feet, as it was cut in two. He tried to jump up, but as he was right in between two boats, there was nothing to hang on to. With only the deep, blue sea under him, Splash! XiHua Zi fell into the water.
XiHua Zi didn't know how to swim, and immediately swallowed a large amount of water. His hands waved like mad, when suddenly the hands found a rope. In his joy, XiHua Zi held on to the rope tightly, only to feel a person pulling him up. XiHua Zi looked up, and saw that the person pulling him is actually Branch Leader Cheng, who looked at him in a smug expression.
Yin SuSu really despised XiHua Zi's rudeness, and made this trap for him. Branch Leader Feng's thirty-six flying daggers are renowned in the martial world. He's both fast and accurate. Each dagger was exquisitely made by the best blacksmiths with the best materials. Thin as a feather, astonishingly sharp, so should his opponent try to block with a weapon, that weapon usually breaks in half. When Branch Leader Feng used the dagger cut off the plank, it split apart easily. Branch Leader Cheng prepared a rope at the same time. After XiHua Zi had drunk some seawater, he pulled XiHua Zi up.
When Wei SiNiang, Tang WenLiang, and others saw XiHua Zi drop into the sea, they knew it was a trap. But Branch Leader Feng was too quick, and they had all been looking the other way. So no one knew exactly what had happened.
As Branch Leader Cheng pulled him up, XiHua Zi held back his anger. He waited to get on the deck first to attack these people. However, after pulling him up a bit above the water, Branch Leader Cheng stopped. He yelled, "Old Taoist, don't move. I'm not all that strong. If you move and I can't hold on, I'd have to release the rope." XiHua Zi didn't want this person to throw himself back into the water again. So he held on to the rope tightly.
Branch Leader Cheng yelled, "Be careful!" He then swung the rope, XiHua Zi's body flew back over twenty meters, then this momentum was used to send him over to the other boat.
XiHua Zi let go of the rope, and landed on the boat's deck. His had just lost his sword to the sea, and was about to go berserk. Only to hear thunderous laughter coming from the Heavenly Eagle Sect's boat. XiHua Zi quickly grabbed Wei SiNiang's sword and was about to go duel with them. But then realized that the two boats are too far apart now. So other than cursing loudly, he couldn't do anything else.
Yu LianZhou saw exactly how Yin SuSu ridiculed XiHua Zi. He felt that this woman is quite cruel, not a good match for fifth brother, and then said, "Hall leaders Yin and Li. Please tell your sect leader that should he have time, we welcome him to the Yellow Crane Restaurant gathering. Now let us part. Fifth brother, are you coming with me to see master?" Zhang CuiShan said, "Yes."
Yin SuSu knew that Yu LianZhou wanted to separate her and Zhang CuiShan. She looked up at the sky, then down on the deck.
Zhang CuiShan knew what she meant, 'On Heaven or in Hell, never to part'. So he said, "Second brother, how about I take your sister-in-law and nephew to see our master. Then, with his permission, we would then go see my father-in-law. Is that alright?" Yu LianZhou hesitated, but knew that he can't truly separate this family of three, and nodded.
Joyous at his approval, Yin SuSu turned to Li TianYuan, said, "Martial uncle, please send these words to my dad. Tell him his daughter can't visit him right now. I will go back home as soon as I can."
Li TianYuan said, "That's fine, I'll wait surely wait for you. He then stood up, and waved goodbye to Yu LianZhou.
Yin SuSu asked, "How is my father's health?" Li TianYuan said, "Excellent! He's more energetic than ever." Yin SuSu then asked, "How is my brother?" Li TianYuan said, "Also excellent! His kung fu has accelerated greatly these past years. Not even this martial uncle is his match now. Pretty ashamed of myself, really." Yin SuSu smiled, and said, "Oh, you're just joking with me." Li TianYuan said seriously, "Actually, I'm not kidding. Even your father's said that his son would soon surpass himself. Don't you think that's amazing?" Yin SuSu said, "Oh, I can't believe you're gloating like this in front of outsiders. You're not afraid that Second Hero Yu would laugh at you?" Li TianYuan said with a smile, "Fifth Hero Zhang is now our leader's son-in-law. How could Second Hero Yu be an outsider?" As he spoke, Li TianYuan bowed with his fists together, and walked out the cabin.
Yu LianZhou felt quite annoyed upon hearing these last words. He raised his eyebrows, but did not speak.
* * *
After the people from the Heavenly Eagle Sect had left, Zhang CuiShan asked in a hurry, "Second brother, what happened to third brother afterwards? Did he...recover?" Yu LianZhou sighed, but did not respond for a long time. Zhang CuiShan waited in suspense. He kept examining Yu LianZhou, afraid that he'd say the word 'died'.
Yu LianZhou then said, "Third brother's still alive. But quite frankly, he's not much different from a dead person. His whole body's permanently crippled. There is no longer a Third Hero Yu in the martial world now."
Zhang CuiShan was happy that Yu DaiYan was alive, but cried at third brother's crippled condition. He then asked, "Have you found out who injured my third brother?"
Yu LianZhou didn't respond. Instead he turned toward Yin SuSu. His eyes glared like lightning, and asked, "Miss Yin, do you know who injured my third brother?" Yin SuSu shuddered and said, "I heard his joints were broken by Shaolin's Golden-Steel Finger." Yu LianZhou said, "That's correct. Do you know who did it?" Yin SuSu shook her head, said, "I don't know."
Yu LianZhou then ignored her, and said to Zhang CuiShan, "Fifth brother, Shaolin said that you killed everyone in the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, including servants and relatives. Plus you killed several Shaolin monks. Is this true?"

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HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE - Book 1 Of 2
Historical FictionThe story takes place during 14th Century China during the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, roughly 100 years after the events of Return of the Condor Heroes. (So this is the last / third part of The Condor Trilogy). It revolves around a pair of priceless an...