THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

Imprisonment Part 3

The four of them returned to the Game Room where Mr. Paint brought out many kinds of great wine and had a good drink with Linghu Chong. But Mr. Black-White never showed his face all the while.

The time was getting late now. It seemed as though Mr. Bald-Brush and Mr. Paint was waiting for someone, since both of them kept glancing toward the entrance from the corner of their eyes. Xiang Wentian took leave of them several times, but the two hosts repeatedly urged him to stay. Linghu Chong, on the other hand, paid no attention to it and kept drinking his wine.

"If two Manor Masters do not invite us for dinner, I'll starve to death!" Xiang Wentian checked the color of the sky and then complained with a big grin.

"Right! Right!" Mr. Bald-Brush replied and then called out loudly, "Steward Ding, arrange the banquet! Hurry!"

Ding Jian acknowledged from outside when suddenly, the door was pushed open and Mr. Black-White stepped into the room.

"Brother Feng, there is another one in our manor who would like to have a sword contest with you," he said to Linghu Chong.

As soon as Mr. Bald-Brush and Mr. Paint heard these words, they jumped back onto their feet in unison, beaming with joy. "Big Brother has agreed!"

"So First Master had to give his permission before that person can have a sword contest with me," Linghu Chong thought inwardly. "It seems that they had kept me here so the Second Master could talk it over with the First Master. And only after a long plead did the First Master finally consent. Then this person must be either a junior in First Master's family or his disciple or underling of some sort. Is this person's sword skill really even better than that of the First Master?" Suddenly another thought popped into his brain and he groaned inwardly, "Oh no! They knew that I have lost all my inner strength. In consideration of their own status, they feel unbefitting doing it themselves. But if they send a junior or an subordinate to fight me and specially challenge me in the department of inner strength, it would take him no time to finish me off!" But then he thought, "These four Manor Masters are all fair champions. How could they commit such despicable act? But Third Master and Fourth Master are simply crazy about that painting and that calligraphy book, and although the Second Master looked calm from the outside, he would certainly not rest contented until he gets his hands on those game manuals. Well, using such a bad method for the sake of those painting, calligraphy book, and game manuals is still well within the logic. If anyone really wants to injure me using inner strength, I'll just stab his joints or some crucial key points on his body first."

"Young Hero Feng, May I trouble you with another short trip?" Mr. Black-White asked.

"In regard to genuine Kung Fu skills, I am really no match for Third Master or Fourth Master, much less Second Master and First Master. The four senior masters of the Plum Manor of the Lone Hill all have unsurpassed Kung Fu skills. Only because of the congeniality you felt with me, you have been very tolerant and considerate. It is really needless for me to show my immature and shallow skills again," Linghu Chong declined.

"Brother Feng, of course that person's Kung Fu is higher than yours. But you don't need to be afraid. He...," Mr. Paint said, which was promptly cut off by Mr. Black-White.

"In our humble manor, there is yet another grandmaster who is an expert at the art of sword. Once he heard about Young Hero Feng's brilliant sword skills, he longed for a sword contest. I hope Young Hero Feng wouldn't mind having just one more match."

Afraid that he might be forced into injuring his opponent in the additional match and thus have a fall out with the "Four Playfellows of Jiangnan," Linghu Chong said, "Four Masters have been very kind to me. If I have this additional match, I wonder what kind of temper this grandmaster might have. If, for any reason, this ends in discord, or maybe I get injured from this grandmaster's sword, that would, for sure, hurt the friendly feelings."