MHNEB 19 (2/2)

Book 1:  Now we don’t hear the loom shuttle; we only hear our daughter sighing.

第19章 倒霉崔琳

Chapter 19: Unlucky Cui Lin [Part 2 of 2]

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The people who were familiar with Gai Wu all knew that he was troubled with some matters if he produced a woodcarving and started to carve it.

It was hard for the Lushuihus to control their tempers. But this was probably due to them favouring flavoursome wines and their familiarity with the killing trade. This young man, Gai Wu, seems to be an anomaly in their race. This also allowed him to gain the respect and trust to become the Lushuihu’s leader. 

It was not that he did not have a temper, rather it was his way of venting and soothing his emotions that were effective.

Carving a woodcarving was one of the ways. 

Gai Wu’s subordinate “Bai Ma” is still a young’ un, and compared to him, it’s harder for Bai Ma to hide his feelings. It has been three days since Gai Wu started to carve a woodcarving. One would find it seems hard to distinguish the gender of the woodcarving. Bai Ma felt that his heart was beating at an irregular pace these few days. Now that Cui Lin had purposely stirred trouble, for awhile he couldn’t help but ask in the Xiongnu language: 

“Big Brother Gai Wu, what are you exactly withholding you in your mind? The way that you carve the woodcarving for the entire morning and night, has caused all of us to feel oppressed and jittery!” 

Once Bai Ma’s words were out, a few warriors in the house looked over. 

Gai Wu placed his blade down and stared in Bai Ma’s direction. But once Bai Ma had finished what he had to say, he immediately used his hands to cover his eyes. With this tongue out, he giggled: “I know that you are staring at me, I can’t see it. Feel free to continue staring! Hehe, hehe……”

The shameless Bai Ma had caused Gai Wu to be unable to concentrate on carving the woodcarving. He kept the woodcarving in his bosom, “I am still concerned about that night’s events. I’m not particularly concerned about the sword breaking, rather I have met such an uncommon opponent at Yu City. That’s why I was a little lost in my thoughts.”

Bai Ma curled his lips slightly. He was there that night too. However, he was the one responsible for coercing the two wandering swordsmen to unlock the doors. 

He witnessed that battle as well. But in his eyes, he felt that the strange woman had the advantage because due to the sturdiness of her weapon, she was able to break their leader’s weapon. Since they had other important matters that had to be settled, they did not want to create more problems. Hence, they retreated.

The truth was that Gai Wu was not willing to take action to steal Hua Mulan’s belongings. However, there were 50 over men had come over to Yu City. If they were only staying in that decrepit temple for a period of time, they had to have some rice and grains for their use. By solely relying on the commission given by the customer would not be sufficient. Therefore, after the urgings of Bai Ma, he agreed to give it a try. 

The Han had a saying that a penny would kill a hero. Now, it seems that even without the “penny”, the situation would force them into their ends. 

“Don’t you feel that the Great Wei’s citizens are strange. The women were strong to an impossible extent, and the men were akin to small chicks, with just a swop, we could easily pick them up……” Bai Ma glanced at Cui Lin, who was tied up and appeared like a weak chicken to him in disdain, “If the person we were to kidnap was that Hua Mulan, we wouldn’t be having it easy today.” 

“When I was about your age, I had once seen Hua Mulan standing far, far away from me. At that time Liang kingdom’s general, Hao Feng, had hired my uncle. I accompanied my uncle, who was employed as a mercenary to help the Liang army resist the Wei army……” Gai Wu recalled the past matters from a few years ago, “That time, I personally saw Hua Mulan shot an arrow from a far distance……”

“Just like that, sigh……”

He raised his hands and acted like he was drawing a bow and releasing the arrow. 

Gai Wu’s imposing tone caused the warriors in the whole house to hold their breathing.  

“Afterwards, Hao Feng’s entire head ruptured. Red and white bits splattered all over the horse.” 

“That time, Hao Feng was fleeing to the city gate. We, the mercenary army had protected him as he headed towards the direction of the city gate in retreat. The arrow that had shot forward towards his back had explosive power. He didn’t even have the time to exclaim as he was already dead. The skull of a human’s head is extremely tough. She stood at the distance of a few arrow’s length shots, but by just using the strength of a single arrow, she is able to accomplish this. Witnessing such a sight, how can one not feel the terror striking in their hearts?

“With Hao Feng’s death on the battlefield, the morale of the army was fell to an all-time low. My uncle, seeing that the employer had died, then brought us into another path as we retreated. But that Xianbei General known as “Hua Mulan”’s expression, I would never be able to forget.” 

Gai Wu seldom talked so much like what had happened now. Because of this, everyone in the house could feel his nervousness and how serious the matter was.

“That night, I wanted to use this chance of exchanging moves with her to untie the knot in my heart. But I discovered that the knot did not disappear, it actually became more tangled.” Gai Wu said this to remind his tribesmen not to be tempted by monetary possessions or think of stealing Hua Mulan’s belongings.

“When she and I had fought, by just receiving a random move from her and my machete shattered. All of you, think about it, if she had used her full strength, is it possible for her to shatter her opponent’s head with her bare hands?”

The sound of the Lushuihus sucking in their breaths could be heard constantly. 

Amongst the Hu-ren, regardless of being a Di-ren, Qiang-ren, Jie-ren or the Xiongnu Turks, in their legends, most of it would involve the elements of “God descending to the mortal realm”. In the legends, whichever God that descended with the reasons of massacring people, or saving the populace was a hero that had strength so huge that it was incomparable. They were all warriors with mystifying appearances.

Though most of the Lushuihus believed in the teachings of Buddhism, the main reason was that they had killed too much. The teachings of Buddhism and faith is a religion that allowed them to calm their soul the most, but their original beliefs still held an important place in their hearts. 

Cui Lin used his hands that were tied behind his back to press down on his back, so as for him not to show any glimpse of strange expression.

He had received the sincere teaching of his grandfather since he was young. He could understand the Xiongnu language, the Turk language, the Xianbei language, the Gaoche language and various languages spoken by the Qiang and Jie tribes. These people thought that since he was a Han-ren, he would be most familiar with the Xianbei language, so, they let down their guard and used the Xiongnu language to converse in his presence. However, they didn’t know that he understood what they said!

This leader that was known as Gai Wu had previously exchanged moves with Hua Mulan, and he was subsequently defeated.

That woman who appeared cold and dull was actually so amazing?!

“Even if such was the case……” Bai Ma was unreconciled, “The well water does not encroach on the river water(2), it can’t be possible that the woman wanted to come to our doorsteps to beat us……”

“Where’s Gai Wu!”

A few high-pitched shouts from the Yu City Manor’s soldiers were heard outside the temple.

“What happened?!” Bai Ma was unable to sit still. He leapt out and ran out to see. 

When they abducted Cui Lin, they did not reveal their names. The people here probably should not know who’s the leader.

“It’s the two wandering swordsmen.” The stern-looking gigantic man behind Gai Wu immediately thought of what possibly could be the cause. He grinded his teeth and regretfully said: “What a pain! We should have killed them!”

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Outside the doors of the Qiuyuan temple, He Mulan that was dressed in hunting garbs was accompanying Magistrate You Ke and the Liangshou County’s soldier. They weaved by the Yu City Manor’s soldiers that were surrounding the area.

As she quietly weaved through the soldiers that were by her side, the atmosphere suddenly turned silent and solemn.

The slender and tall Xianbei-ren with a solemn expression strangely had an aura that was akin to an unmovable mountain. 

He Mulan had one hand pressed on “Pan Shi”, as she moved her body to the door that a few Lushuihu calvaries were standing in front of. She asked from one zhang (3) away: “Where’s the leader of this very territory, Gai Wu at?”

“Where’s Gai Wu?! Where’s Gai Wu?!”

These few Lushuihus all understood the Xianbei language. When they heard what He Mulan had said and the soldiers’ hollering behind here they looked at each other in a loss. 

It seemed that in this situation, they were quite pitiful. 

 He Mulan raised her voice a little more.

“Tell Gai Wu that Hua Mulan has arrived.” 

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(2) Well water and river water leave each other alone -- stay out of things that don't concern you.

(3)One Zhang is 3 1/3m. 

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Fleur's Corner:

Next Update by 24/1. 

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