n ignored him and asked, “Miss, what’s your name?”

Guo Xiang said, “My name is Guo Xiang.”

That man clapped his hand and said, “Forgive me for not recognizing you, you’re the famous Miss Guo. Your father is the great hero Master Guo Jing and your mother is the famous heroine Master Huang Rong. With the exception for ignorant peasants and idiots, everyone in the realm of martial arts knows them. The two of them are well-versed in both literary and martial arts, and are well-versed in sabre, swords, spears, halberds. Also renowned for their palm, fist techniques, internal energy, zither, chess, calligraphy, art, composing poems and songs. But there are clearly some foolish people who have never heard of them before.”

Guo Xiang was quite amused and thought, “You’re were listening at our conversation on the roof. It seems that you don’t know who my parents are. And my father being well-versed in literary fields is even more hilarious.” She laughed and said, “Well, what’s your name?”

The man answered, “My name is He Zudao.” Guo Xiang smiled and said, “He Zudao! He Zu Dao Zai (‘not worth mentioning’)? A very modest name.”

He Zudao said, “Compared to Tian (‘heaven’) something or Di (‘earth’) something these arrogant bragging, overweening ignoramuses, my name isn’t that appalling.”

He Zudao keeps mocking the three of them, they could keep their tempers under control because they knew this man wasn’t an ordinary man. But He’s remarks were getting even more insulting and Wei Tianwang was the first to attack and raised his palm to strike He Zudao. He Zudao ducked his head and passed under Wei’s arms. Wei Tianwang felt a numbness in his left hand and saw that He seized the sword out of his hand. When Wei Tianwang seized the sword, he was so swift that no one could see his movements, but He Zudao did in a very floating and light manner.

Wei Tianwang was shocked and he used his hands as claws to try to get the sword back. He aimed for He’s shoulder. He avoided that claw. Pan Tiangeng and Fang Tianlao leapt out of the pavilion. Wei Tianwang attacked with both hands, left hand with a fist, right hand palm stances causing a ‘whooshing sound.’ He Zudao avoided Wei’s seven, eight stances, Wei couldn’t even touch He’s clothes. With one hand holding the sword, he could still avoid the attacker’s violent attacks, with a small movement Wei Tianwang’s attacks were always in vain.

Guo Xiang, herself was not a real martial arts expert due to her young age. However, her friends and relatives are all top martial arts experts of this time so her insight is very profound on martial arts. When she saw that He Zudao used balanced movements and very clever moves to avoid very violent attacks she knew his martial arts were of an entire different type and were very different from the martial arts found in China.

Wei Tianwang used twenty stances already and still couldn’t force his opponent to fight back, so he took a deep breath and his fist techniques changed and he attacked slowly now but the force of his fists increased. Guo Xiang felt his energy and stepped out of the pavilion.

At this point, He Zudao didn’t dare just to avoid these attacks and hung the sword at his belt and stood still and yelled, “You’re not the only one skilled in tough martial arts.” When Wei’s two palms reached him He used his left hand to respond at this attack. Tough against tough, the three palms made a ‘bamming’ sound. Wei’s body shook and he took two paces back. He Zudao stood still.

Wei Tianwang always believed that this skill of his was unequalled in the realm. But today he was unable to win and he himself was pushed back two paces. He wasn’t ready to give up and took a deep breath and yelled out both palms pushed forward. He Zudao yelled out too and returned a palm, shaking the broken roof.

Wei Tianwang backed four paces, before he could stand still again. After two times of palm to palm attacks his hair was messy and he had bug-eyes now looking very eerie. He put his hands around his public region and took a few breaths causing his chest to swell up again. All his joints made a funny cracking sound and he walked towards He Zudao.

He Zudao didn’t dare to be inattentive and readied himself to encounter him. Wei Tianwang kept walking towards He and walked so close that they could feel each other’s breath. At this point, one of Wei’s palms aimed for He’s face the other palm aimed for the lower abdomen. With this attack he hoped to divide the opponent’s energy. This stance was very violent and fierce.

He Zudao used his both palms to meet up with Wei’s palms. He divided his energy into two sorts, Ying and Yang. Wei felt that the palm that aimed for his face was empty and hollow, the other palm felt it hit an iron brick wall. Wei Tianwang knew this wasn’t good and he felt an enormous energy coming towards him and pushing him out of the pavilion.

This sort of tough attacks, the weaker one will be injured and there was no way to avoid that. No matter whether Wei Tianwang could stand still or fall down. His own energy was reflected back and He Zudao’s energy was added to it. Wei was surely to cough up blood. Pan Tiangeng and Fang Tianlao both yelled, “Now!” Both jumped up and grabbed Wei’s arms and picked him up, and helped him avoid the enormous blow. Although Wei Tianwang wasn’t injured, his Five internal organs felt like it was turned upside-down and all his joints seemed to be cracked. He couldn’t breathe easily now and was panting.

Fang Tianlao was angry and surprised to see his third martial arts brother wounded but remained smiling and said, “Your palm techniques are indeed very powerful, and are hardly equaled in the realm. My respects.”

Guo Xiang thought, “When it comes to powerful palm techniques, who can match my father’s Eighteen Palms of Dragon Subduing. You, The Three Saints of Kunlun, are just too ignorant. One of these days you’ll meet a true hero of the central plains.”

When she thought of this, she felt grieved again. Because she wished that the hero they would meet was Yang Guo and not her father Guo Jing.

Fang Tianlao said, “This unworthy old man wants to try your swordsmanship.”

He Zudao said, “Brother Fang was very friendly towards Miss Guo. I don’t blame you for anything and we needn’t battle.”

Guo Xiang was surprised and thought, “The reason why you taught Wei Tianwang a lesson was that he was very rude to me?”

Fang Tianlao drew his sword and used a finger to tick the tip of his sword. The sword made a humming sound. When Fang drew his sword, his smile disappeared. The sword pointed into the sky and this stance was called “An Immortal Giving Directions.”

He Zudao said, “If brother Fang really wants to battle I’ll use the short sword of Miss Guo.” He drew the broken sword, the sword originally was very short and after Wei Tianwang broke it was even shorter. Furthermore, the tip was gone now and it didn’t even resemble a dagger.

He Zudao held the scabbard in his left hand and thrust the sword forward. This was a very fast manoeuvre, Fang Tianlao saw a white flash and already He Zudao attacked with three stances, because the sword He used was too short he couldn’t wound Fang Tianlao. But Fang was still frightened and thought, “Very fast three stances, most difficult to block. What kind of swordsmanship does he use? If he used an ordinary long sword I would be dead by now.”

After He Zudao attacked with three stances, he backed away and stood still. Fang Tianlao displayed his sword techniques in half defending and half attacking. He Zudao avoided the attacks and didn’t counter attack. Suddenly he attacked with incredible speed again forcing Fang Tianlao to be in a frantic rush. And He Zudao jumped back again. Fang Tianlao displayed his sword into a white light, and his movements were very swift.

Guo Xiang thought, “This old man’s techniques are violent, fierce, ruthless and viscous. Similar to the palm techniques of Wei Tianwang, but he’s swifter and makes him more lethal……”

When she thought of here, she heard He Zudao yell out, “Be careful!” After saying ‘careful’ his scabbard in his left hand was quick as lightning and encased Fangs’ sword and his right hand sword pointed at the throat of Fang Tianlao.

Fang Tianlaos’ sword was stuck in the scabbard and couldn’t be used to block that stance. Seeing that sword was about to thrust through his throat, he let go of his sword and rolled away on the ground and avoided that lethal blow. Before Fang got up, Pan Tiangeng seized the hilt of the sword and pulled it out of the scabbard. Both Guo Xiang and He Zudao exclaimed, “Excellent movement!” This sickly looking old man didn’t say a word, but it was evident his martial arts were above his two younger martial arts brothers.

He Zudao said, “Sir, you have very good martial arts. My respects.” He Zudao turned his head to Guo Xiang and said, “Miss Guo, after hearing your enchanting performance earlier, I’ve composed another song. And I would like you to give me your opinion.”

Guo Xiang asked, “What kind of song is it?” He Zudao sat on the ground and started to prepare his zither.

Pan Tiangeng said, “You’ve defeated my two martial arts brothers. I would like to compete with you.”

He Zudao shook his hands and said, “I have already competed and had no pleasure in it. I want to play a song for Miss Guo now. It’s a new song, if you’re interested you can stay and listen if you don’t understand you’re welcome to leave.” And started playing the zither.

Guo Xiang was amazed and pleased. Somehow He Zudao composed this new song from the song she played earlier. Making it even more brilliant and interesting. The music was very mesmerizing.

The actual translation will have to wait for some time, or someone else already knows the translation. He/she is welcome to do that part.

At one point of this song, He Zudao mentioned a “she” in his lyrics, Guo Xiang thought, “The “she” in his song, could it be me? The music was very touching, moving and was filled with admiration and love.”

Realising that Guo Xiang blushed. Never in her life did she even hear such beautiful music.

Pan Tiangeng and others didn’t understand any of this. They don’t know that He Zudao was a rather arrogant man with a flair of a silly bookworm behavior.

After composing a new song he rushed over to play it for Guo Xiang. Furthermore, he composed it for her and he forgot everything else. But seeing him like this, Pan and the others thought he was looking down upon them and couldn’t restrain their anger anymore.

Pan pointed the sword at He Zudaos’ shoulder and yelled, “Stand up, I want to battle you.”

He Zudao was entirely into the music and thought himself to be a proud scholar who was roaming about to enjoy the scenery. He vaguely saw a very gentle young girl standing on a small island. No matter what stood in his way he had to reach her……

Suddenly he felt a pain in his shoulder and raised his head to see Pan Tiangeng pointing a sword against his shoulder and penetrating a bit of skin. He knew that if he didn’t fight Pan would surely wound him. However, he didn’t finish his song yet and felt that these Philistines were preventing him from finishing his song to Guo Xiang.

He Zudao drew the broken sword of Guo Xiang in his left hand and blocked Pan Tiangeng’s attacks and used his right hand to play the zither.

He Zudao displayed his special ability, one hand playing the zither and the other hand using a sword. He managed perfectly well with one hand playing the zither. He also used a puff of air to play another chord of the zither.

Pan Tiangeng attacked rapidly with a few violent techniques, He Zudao easily blocked them and his eyes were concentrated on the zither and was afraid his puff of air will disperse.

Pan Tiangeng became angrier and angrier, his sword techniques were becoming fiercer and fiercer, but still He Zudao easily warded them off.

Guo Xiang was listening to the music and didn’t pay any attention to the attacks of Pan Tiangeng. However, the sounds of the swords intersecting was disturbing the music. She softly clapped her hands and raised her eyebrows and said to Pan Tiangeng, “Your techniques are not in unison, are you not familiar with music? If you listen carefully the sounds of the swords won’t disrupt the music.”

Pan Tiangeng didn’t pay any attention to her and saw that the enemy was sitting on the ground and was concentrated on the zither. And still he wasn’t able to overcome He Zudao, Pan became very anxious and his stances changed to rapid attacks and the clatter of the sounds were becoming very dense. This sound was the total opposite of the gentle soft music. He Zudao raised his eyebrows and passed strength to his sword and the sword of Pan Tiangeng made ‘clank’ sound and broke into two halves. However, one of the chords of the zither broke as well. Pan Tiangeng looked very pale and didn’t say a word and left the pavilion. The three martial arts brother mounted their horses and quickly rode up the mountain.

Guo Xiang was a bit surprised to see that and said, “These three men were defeated, how come they’re still headed towards the Shaolin Monastery? Do they really want to fight to the end?”

She turned to He Zudao and saw him looking sad and was touching that broken chord and looked very unhappy. Guo Xiang thought, “Just a broken chord why so unhappy?” She picked up the zither and removed the broken chord and was tuning the zither again.

He Zudao sighed, “After all these years of training, I still cannot focus properly. I used force in my left hand breaking his sword but also breaking that chord.”

Now Guo Xiang understood and knew he was unhappy that his martial arts was still not perfect and smiled, “You want to fight with your left hand and play the zither with your right hand. This form of using your concentration of two matters is only known to three persons in the realm. You haven’t reached that level yet, why worry so much about it.”

He Zudao asked, “Who are these three people?” Guo Xiang said, “The first one is “The Old Imp” Zhou Botong, the second one is my father and the third one is Madame Yang, Xiao Longnü. Apart from these three people, even people with great martial arts like my grandfather the lord of the Peach Blossom Island, my mother and “the Condor Hero” Yang Guo are unable to that.”

He Zudao said, “It’s hard to believe that there are so many astonishing people in the realm. You must introduce me to them.”

Guo Xiang faintly said, “If you want to meet my father that is not difficult, as for the other two, I don’t even know where to look.” She saw He Zudao looking disappointed she said, “You’ve defeated “The Three Saints of Kunlun” which is a amazing thing. Why fret over such a small incident like a broken chord.”

He Zudao was shocked and asked, “The Three Saints of Kunlun? What are you talking about? And how did you know?”

Guo Xiang smiled, “Those three old men came from the western borders, they must be “The Three Saints of Kunlun.” They do have their unique abilities, but challenging Shaolin is a bit too arrogant…..”

She saw that He Zudao was looking very strangely and asked, “What’s so strange?”

He Zudao softly said, “The Three Saints of Kunlun, The Three Saints of Kunlun, He Zudao. That’s me.”

Guo Xiang was surprised and asked, “You’re “The Three Saints of Kunlun”? Where are the other two?”

He Zudao said, “The Three Saints of Kunlun” is one person, there were never three. I have established a small reputation in the western borders, and the local friends say that my chess, sword and zither skills are superb. Also they say I’m fit to be a saint in the zither, a saint if chess and a saint in swordsmanship. But I knew that the saint was not something that could easily be assumed. So I changed my name to He Zudao (‘not worth mentioning’). So when other people hear my name they won’t think I’m an arrogant, overbearing man.”

Guo Xiang smiled and clapped her hands, “Now I get it. I thought that “The Three Saints of Kunlun were three persons. But who were those three old men?”

He Zudao answered, “They? Those were Shaolin disciples.”

Guo Xiang was even more confused and said, “So they belong to Shaolin. Right, their martial arts were firm and strong. Indeed that red-faced man used “Damo” swordsmanship and the sickly-looking man used “WeiTuo” Demon-Subduing Sword techniques. But there were a lot of changes and alterations to them I couldn’t recognize them. Why did they come here?”

He Zudao said, “This is not without reason. Last year Spring, I was at Mount Kunlun, peak JingShen playing the zither. Suddenly I heard fighting noises and took a look and saw two men were struggling on the ground. Both were heavily injured but both were still wrestling with each other. I yelled at them to stop but they still continued and walked over to push them aside. When I did so, one of them fell down and died, the other was still breathing. I took him to my home and gave him some medicines, after half a day he was revived. But he was mortally wounded and no medicine could prolong his life anymore. Before he died he said his name was Yin Kexi…..”

Guo Xiang called out in surprise and asked, “Was the other man called Xiao Xiangzi? He was very tall and skinny and his face looked like a corpse, right?”

He Zudao was surprised and said, “Yes, how did you know?”

Guo Xiang said, “I saw them once, I never thought they two would fight each other to the death.”

He Zudao said, “That Yin Kexi said he did a life full wicked deeds, there was no use in feeling sorry for himself anymore. He said that he and Xiao Xiangzi went to the Shaolin Monastery and stole a manuscript, both of them were suspicious of each other. Both of them didn’t trust each other and were afraid if the other one learnt the manuscript he would kill the other one and keep the manuscript for himself. Both ate at the same table, slept in the same bed and didn’t leave the other out of sight. But, both were afraid that one would put in poison in the food or sneak up on him in the night and kill him. Both were extremely edgy and couldn’t eat or rest properly, also, they were afraid that Shaolin monks would catch up on them. So they went to the western borders and at Peak JingShen, both were extremely weary and knew if this continued both of them would be tired to death. So they fought it out there and then. According to Yin Kexi, Xiao Xiangzi’s martial arts was better than his and attacked first. Yin Kexi suffered a blow, but in the end, Yin Kexi gained the advantage. Then Yin realised that Xiao Xiangzi was heavily injured at Mount Hua and hadn’t recovered yet. If otherwise, they wouldn’t have made it to Mount Kunlun.”

After Guo Xiang heard this story she thought of the situation Yin Kexi and Xiao Xiangzi were in and became gloomy and sighed, “Just because of a manuscript, this isn’t worth it.”

He Zudao said, “After telling this, Yin Kexi was having difficulty breathing and begged me to go to the Shaolin Monastery and tell a monk called Jueyuan something about ‘the manuscript is in the oil’ (‘Jing Zai You Zhong’). I found this sentence very strange and didn’t understand what he meant with the manuscript in the oil. Just when I wanted to ask him what he meant, he fainted. I thought after he rested for awhile I will ask him again. But he never woke up again. I thought perhaps he hid the manuscript in an oilcloth, but I couldn’t find anything in their clothes. Anyway, I have been entrusted to deliver a message so I decided to carry this mission out. Furthermore, I’ve never been to China before so I decided to tour around for some time and ended up here.

Guo Xiang asked, “Why did you leave a note at Shaolin? And challenged the Shaolin monks?

He Zudao smiled and said, “This is has to do with those three old men earlier. They are the Shaolin disciples of the Western Shaolin Monastery. According to the people there, they belong to the same “Tian” generation as the TianMing abbot of this Shaolin. It seems that their patriarch had a disagreement with his martial arts brothers here and in a fury he left and founded the Western Shaolin Monastery. Originally, the martial arts of Shaolin came with Master Damo of India to China and from China to the western regions. Which wasn’t a strange thing. These three men heard of my reputation as “The Three Saints of Kunlun” and wanted to duel with me. On their way here, they kept boasting that Shaolin martial arts were unequalled in the realm, I was permitted to be a saint in chess and the zither but not in swordsmanship. So I had to be the two saints instead of three. And this happened before I met Yin Kexi so I thought I could finish two tasks in one go. I sent someone to notify those three old men to meet me at the Shaolin Monastery. Anyway, the three of them were travelling very fast and could catch up with me.”

Guo Xiang laughed, “I guessed entirely wrong. I wonder what those three old men will say when they reach the Shaolin Monastery.”

He Zudao said, “I don’t have any grudges against Shaolin so I left a note that I will come ten days later. I did this because I wanted those three old men to arrive at Shaolin and battle them. But now the duel is over, let us go to Shaolin together and after I delivered the message we will leave again.”

Guo Xiang frowned her eyebrows and said, “The rules of these monks are very strict, women may not enter.”

He Zudao said, “Pooh! What damn rules! We’re just going to enter and what are they going to do about it? Kill us?”

Guo Xiang is a rather meddlesome girl, but after meeting reverend Wuse she has no bad feelings towards Shaolin and shook her head and smiled, “I’ll wait for you outside, you just enter and deliver the message. There’s no need to create unnecessary trouble.”

He Zudao nodded and said, “Alright! I haven’t finished playing my song for you after delivering the message I’ll played once again for you.”