Chapter 12 - Jasmine

 

Qiu Fengcheng was not dead. This was the second time he was revived after a close brush with death. Ma Rulong thought about Jin Zhenlin's spear and how Qiu Fengcheng had hidden that jade pendant close to his chest. It was this Xiaowan who had helped him explain it. Every step and every detail of his plan were carefully devised. And everytime he'd set his own deathtrap so nobody would suspect him.

Now that he'd thrown up all the poisoned wine, everybody could see that he would certainly live, and perhaps he would live longer than anybody.

At the moment, their attention was diverted to Ma Rulong, and their eyes looked very much like sharp blades.

The first one who spoke was Feng Chaofan.

He said, "What do you have to say?"

Ma Rulong didn't have anything to say. If he told them the truth, who would believe that Qiu Fengcheng had strangled Xiaowan to death? Who would believe that he'd revealed his own secrets? And who would believe that he'd poisoned his own wine?

Merciless Monk asked coldly, "What do you have to give us this time?"

Even if Ma Rulong had a treasured sword in his hand, a pile of gold in his pocket, and a fox fur coat on his body, his old trick wouldn't work again.

Merciless Monk said, "The evidence of your crime is overwhelming but as you won't admit it, we can't tie up your hands."

Ma Rulong knew that not only was he unable to explain himself, he had no way to escape. He knew this much.

But so long as he was still breathing, he would never give up without a fight.

Merciless Monk said, "With the four of us here, capturing you is easy as pie. But we don't want to win simply because we outnumber you."

"I understand," said Ma Rulong.

"What do you understand?" Merciless Monk asked.

Ma Rulong said, "You want to deal with me yourself, hoping you can personally kill me."

He blandly continued, "Because killing people is your only joy."

This sentence was like a needle piercing through his opponent's heart. Yet, the merciless monk didn't pursue the matter.

He sneered, "If you don't want me to kill you, you may choose whoever you want to fight against."

"I'm choosing you," said Ma Rulong.

"Very good," said Merciless Monk.

Ma Rulong said, "Really, it shouldn't be you. Although your inner energy isn't as good as that of Monk Chiku and your sword techniques can't match those of the jade taoist, your killing experience is far greater than theirs. And so, you can kill much better than they can."

With a sigh he continued, "Too bad, even with this knowledge I still had to choose you."

Merciless Monk had no choice but to ask, "Why?"

Ma Rulong replied, "Because I always thought that even though you were a brutal, stubborn, and arrogant madman, I could rely on you to bring justice and that when you indicted someone, you would be ruthless, not allowing that person to live."

His voice became agitated as he said, "I chose you because I must kill you on behalf of the people who had been wronged by you. Even if I'm not your match, I can guarantee you that I have a way to ensure that you and I share the same fate."

Merciless Monk had to ask, "What way?"

He couldn't help but believe Ma Rulong. His facial expression began to change. Although he was going to kill Ma Rulong, he himself was afraid of being killed.

And he couldn't conceal his fear.

Suddenly Ma Rulong let out a laugh, a big laugh. He said, "In fact, you aren't as ruthless as people think. You fear death just like anybody does."

His voice was filled with mockery, "I actually didn't have any particular method to kill you. I only wanted to frighten you, nothing more."

When great masters battled, not only did they keep their minds calm, they had to control their tempers. Otherwise, they would be vulnerable to an attack. The merciless monk had understood this principle all along.

But at the moment his anger had already surfaced, his eyes filled with blood lust, his forehead streaked with blue veins. Both of his hands were stretched out like eagle claws.

He moved toward Ma Rulong, step by step.

This room was laid with glossy wooden floorboards, and wherever he put his foot down, the wooden boards immediately shattered into pieces.

The merciless monk had summoned all his strength. If one was struck by his hand, he would very likely fall dead!

It never crossed his mind that he might be killing the wrong person!

Except the sounds of shattering floorboards, it was as if there was no other sound in the world.

Suddenly, they heard someone calling people to buy flowers.

A voice rang out, "Pearl orchids. Jasmines."

This flower seller's clear and beautiful voice sounded like it came from a distant place. But it suddenly moved closer until it was as if the words were spoken into their ears.

A human-shaped crack appeared on the white and bright wall.

"Pearl orchids. Jasmines."

Suddenly someone emerged from that hole in the wall. She was a thin flower seller, wearing a bamboo hat and a black dress. In her hand were several jasmines stringed together by an iron wire.

Fragant jasmines were beautiful, and so was her hand. Ma Rulong immediately recalled that while they were in that lane, Dawan had gone away with a mysterious flower woman. What was she doing here?

"Would you like a jasmine?"

She suddenly put a jasmine into one of the merciless monk's eagle claws. Like an arrow on a tight bowstring, these hands were brimming with power that would go off at a touch. And if unleashed, even a rock would be crushed by the impact.

Surprisingly, the jasmine hadn't been crushed. Instead, it appeared that the jasmine pricked his hand. And the pain must have hit his heart as well, because as soon as he got the jasmine, he leapt up and -- like an arrow -- flew out the window.

Who was this flower girl? What kind of mysterious power did the jasmine have?

The flower seller turned around and walked over to the jade taoist.

"Would you like a jasmine?"

She picked up another flower.

"This is a fragrant and beautiful jasmine. You should buy it now. If not, you'll definitely regret it later."

"I'd like to buy. How much is it?" The jade taoist asked.

"My flowers are fairly priced. I never cheat."

Her voice was clear and soft. "One life..

..for one jasmine."

The jade taoist forced a smile. He said, "I can't afford it."

He suddenly retreated, his body flying through that hole in the wall like an arrow. Monk Chiku and Feng Chaofan also left at the same speed.

With a sigh the flower seller said, "Such a sweet jasmine, why does nobody want to buy it?"

Ma Rulong suddenly said, "They don't want it but I do."

The flower woman didn't turn her head around. She said, "You've only got one life. You can't afford it either."

"What if I really want to buy it?"

"I'm not selling."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want your life."

"I just got my life back anyway."

"Since you just got your life back, you really should treasure it."

While speaking, she started walking. Ma Rulong followed her. And the two of them quickly walked out of that house and into the dim alley outside.