Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Epic Tale : Twin Sword ❯ Vengeance ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

Vengeance

 

 

Act 1

 

The Yang Fortress, at night.

 

The lord's private library remained in silence for a very long time. Yang Hu Jin and Lu Shen were seating inside the chamber, each of them occupied with their own thought until then Lu Shen broke the silence with low voice.

 

“Unbelievable; a child with that age could possess Yin Jing at that high state. Lu Shen smiled in irony. “Amazing; the sword, for sure, is worth in his hand.

 

The praise raised the lord's sentiment. “Nonsense! My soldiers would easily capture him if he did not run away,” He replied in despise.

 

Lu Shen let out a small laugh to Yang Hu Jin's words. “I never heard if Chen Cao could easily beaten by only hundred of soldiers.”

 

“That devil is not Chen Cao.”

 

“Even Chen Cao was not that tough on his age.”

 

Yang Hu Jin did not answer this time. He took his tea and then change the subject, “I can't believe this; I just lose the chance to catch the devil.”

 

“He will return; you are alive aren't you?” Lu Shen said. The opponent stared sharply at him in suspicion and asked back, “You know this young man, Lu Shen?” The question made him let out another laugh. He stared back at the lord. “Why, Lord Yang. I am not the one who joined the union years ago. You are the one who should know more about the devil's identity are you not?”

 

 

Act 2

 

Shuhao could not calm himself for his uncle and the lord had already talked inside the library for hours. The two entered the chamber right after the incident happen on fortress square and they had not come out yet. His mind busied to complain Lu Shen's decision for not letting him join in to the discussion inside. Gave his eyes a couple times to the chamber's door, he murmured unclearly. After a while, he was alert to a pair of eyes on him.

 

Li Qiao; the owner of those eyes sat peacefully on one of a stone chair in the park. In front of him, on a stone round table, few of paper scrolls rested in a mess. Both of his hand was holding one of those papers. He smiled brightly when Shuhao stared at him. “What puzzles you? Your uncle and Lord Yang are not in fight in there.”

 

Shuhao sighed. “I know. I just could not wait for this long. It feels like dead.”

 

The forecaster laughed. “You had dead before?” His laugh loosened when he found anger on his opponent's face. “Why don't you come here? I will make a forecast for you so you will not die.”

 

“Nah... I do not believe on such of that. I never found someone who foretells correctly.”

 

“That is because you never chance on me,” Li Qiao replied. “I am Li Qiao a disciple of Zhang Yi Feng the famous foreteller from the west land.”

 

Shuhao smirked, “Yeah, right. Zhang Yi Feng fames for her Sying Quon. What I heard was she can't do foretelling properly.”

 

“My... my... Young Master Lu. You are having problem with your attitude. Come here and listen to my words. I will accept your words of my teacher just now if I foretell incorrectly. How is that? Or... perhaps you are afraid you will take your words back?” The short guy dared Shuhao.

 

“What? Get real!” Shuhao was too proud to take back his words. He approached the other and sat on his opposite. He was not aware of Li Qiao smiled in victory. The young man cleaned up the table of scrolls and then took out his foretelling stones. Both his small hands moved fast, playing the stones beautifully. His brows twisted on his pearl skin. His rosy like lips murmured something, perhaps spells, unclearly. Shuhao stared at Li Qiao. He hardly believed that the young man in front of him was really a man and a fighter of kangouw.

 

“First...” he said at last, “You are not Lu Shen's child in blood.

 

Shuhao laughed at the statement. “You should show better trick. Everyone on Zhao land knows that my uncle has no child.” Li Qiao smiled. “Save those words. You yourself do not know your parent do you?”

 

This time, Shuhao was silenced by Li Qiao's words. His eyes widened. “You know them?” he asked impatiently to the foreteller.

 

“I'm not but I could find out,” as he said so he moved his stones one more time. His face set in puzzle. After a moment, he faced back to Shuhao and smiled in shame. “I'm sorry. It seems that my skill is too low.”

 

Shuhao disappointed and sighed to Li Qiao. “I know that you are just jabbering.”

 

“I am not! It is just... I kind of hard to read these stones.” Raising his voice note suddenly, he continued, “...But I know history better than my foretelling. Do you have any clue about your parents?”

 

Shuhao said quietly, “....Xue...”

 

“Huh?”

 

“My mother's first name was Xue. I don't know her family name or my father's. Uncle said that they already dead.” Shuhao's lips carved a sad smirk. “Yeah right. Like I fool enough to believe his words.”

 

Li Qiao nodded. His face turned to become serious. He asked again, “Xue, was it not? Was your mother a kangouw swordman?”

 

“How do I know that?!!” Shuhao replied with anger.

 

“Aiyo!! You don't have to become angry like that. I'm just asking.” Li Qiao stared at him silently, waiting for his mood to turn out calm and then said carefully, “Listen this carefully. I know only a name of Xue in kangouw; Ye Xue.”

 

Shuhao stared him back in interest. The opponent continued, “She was Chen Cao's one and only disciple.”

 

 

Act 3

 

Xiu Juan sat with her mind on thought inside her private chamber. A number of servants were serving her tea and foods. But she gave not a single attention at all. Her mind was too busy denying a reality she just realized.

 

“You are waiting for me to appear, aren't you? Or suppose I say that you are waiting for this?” that young man's words still lingered on her thought. The meaning was clear. Her father Lord Yang was indeed waiting for his appearance. What she also realized was; her father was unofficially inviting the young man to come... through the match held and through her. Her father made her as bait for the white devil for a reason she also did understand. Silver Sword. Xiu Juan knew her father precisely for she know he already chase the sword for over than twenty years.

 

A single tear dropped to her cheek. She was her father bait in order to possess the sword. Screamed in frustration, she whipped out anything on the table next to her, surprised and scared her servants. Before they could do anything, she already left the chamber.

 

On the moment, her intention was only one; ran away from the reality and tried to forget it. Seat in her favorite park near her father's private library while enjoying the night air would calm her feeling. However, it was for her unfortunate when she found the park already occupied.

 

Shuhao said quietly, “....Xue...”

 

“Huh?”

 

“My mother's first name was Xue. I don't know her family name or my father's. Uncle said that he already dead.” Shuhao's lips carved a sad smirk. “Yeah right. Like I fool enough to believe his words.”

 

Li Qiao nodded. His face turned to become serious. He asked again, “Xue, was it not? Was your mother a kangouw swordman?”

 

“How do I know that?!!” Shuhao replied with anger. “Aiyo!! You don't have to become angry like that. I'm just asking.” Li Qiao stared at him silently, waiting for his mood to turn out calm and then said carefully, “Listen this carefully. I know only a name of Xue in kangouw; Ye Xue.”

 

Shuhao stared him back in interest. The opponent continued, “She was Chen Cao's one and only disciple.”

 

 

Act 4

 

“Ye Xue had no marital record,” Xiu Juan joined the conversation. Both Shuhao and Li Qiao stared her with a little surprised for her sudden appearance. “It is very little change this young master was her blood child,” she continued. She walked gracefully toward her guests, her face without expression `though her sapphire eyes seemed depressing.

 

Li Qiao gave her a light bow with smiled curved on his face. He replied the princess, “Why, it seems that my lady gives attention to kangouw's records as well.”

 

“Not particularly,” was her cold reply. “Please continue.”

 

The opponent nodded and faced back to Shuhao. “This Ye Xue appeared for the first time in kangouw twenty five years ago. Her age was seventeen and she was well known as Chen Cao's only disciple for she also possessed his Yin Jing.” He stopped for a while. “Her record was not much indeed. Further more, I believe your uncle knows better.”

 

“My uncle? Why is that?”

 

Li Qiao gave him a lazy look. “Huh?! Of course, that is because your uncle Lu Shen and Chen Cao were colleagues.” Shuhao's eyes widened; shocked at his words. He himself stared the young man with disbelieve. “Aiya!! You don't know about this?”

 

“I... my uncle never mentioned this.”

 

Li Qiao sighed at his answer. He gave up to him and said to Xiu Juan, “However, Lady Yang, Ye Xue's marital record is beyond our knowledge.”

 

Xiu Juan smiled. “I agree. Her existence now is unclear. She is already dead or still alive; it is far from solidity. The last record was she disappeared suddenly nineteen years a go.” She looked back at Li Qiao. “In your suggestion... is she the one stand behind the white devil?”

 

Li Qiao shoved his head. He argued the princess without doubt, “I believe that she is already dead.”

 

“How could you know if I may ask?” As she doubted the words, the short young man in front of her gave her big grin. He pointed at his nose and said, “This time, I figure it out with my foretelling.”

 

“If that so could you say who the white devil is?”

 

He laughed. “You are asking me too much. Even my great teacher Zhang Yi Feng couldn't answer three questions about the white devil.” He showed his fingers. “First, who is he? Second, how did he get the sword? Third, why is he chasing twelve superiors who involved the great incident happened twenty years a go?”

 

The conversation of those three young bloods was interrupted when they saw Yang Hu Jin came out from his study room. Lu Shen followed him in the back. It seemed that there was a little fight among those two.

 

“You must reconsider the option about gathering the other four superiors. I am sure they will grant you help,” Lu Shen said.

 

The lord smirked. “...and endanger my opportunity of having the sword? I don't think so, Lu Shen.”

 

“Does the sword have higher importance than white devil's head?” asked Lu Shen, started loosing his patient to the lord but his opponent stayed stubborn.

 

Yang Hu Jin answered, “For me, even the sword is more important than my own head. With any change, Yang Hu Jin must own this sword for his self.”

 

“Be careful with your words, my lord. You have to keep in mind that the sword is not yours.”

 

“And it is also not yours,” was the replied which made the two silenced in rage. Both of them pierced each other's eyes until Xiu Juan's voice interrupted their fight.

 

“Father...”

 

“What is it?”

 

“There is something I need to discuss with you. It is about...”

 

Yang Hu Jin drew his eyes from Lu Shen. He stopped his daughter's words, “Not now, Xiu Juan.” As he said that, he walked back into his private library, leaving his daughter and guests.

 

“Do not waste your time, my lady. Right now, Silver Sword is the only thing occupied his stone head,” Lu Shen growled. He switched his attention to his ward that was also being there. “Come with me! We have things to discuss,” he said icily and went ahead.

 

Li Qiao giggled at Lu Shen's words. He whispered to Shuhao, “It seems that you have trouble with you ahead, Young Master Lu.”

 

Shuhao replied with smirk, “I don't need a forecaster to know that. Oh... and can you just call me by name? I kind of irritate with that `master' thing.” He walked off from the park but was stopped a while when Li Qiao called him, this time, by his name. “About what we have talked, I'm sorry I can't hand you more help but I can assure you; about your father, Master Lu Shen was telling the truth.” He thanked Li Qiao with a bitter smile, nodded and then walked off.

 

It was not only Shuhao who feeling distress. After having a not too god respond from her father, Xiu Juan became more depressing than before. She, too, followed the others to walk off from the park. “Excuse me, Miss Li. It is late and I wish to rest at my chamber.”

 

Li Qiao's green eyes opened in shock, stunned with the princess' words before then she grinned with admiration. “...marvelous,” was only her saying.

 

 

Act 5

 

“What are you doing in this place if I may to know?” Lu Shen scolded his ward in anger. “You suppose to be in Hainan and watch over our stronghold while I am not there”

 

Shuhao covered his ears with both his hands. He replied, “Aiya!!! Why are you had to be mad like that? I am here to help.”

 

“Nonsense! You are here because of your unusual curiosity!” Lu Shen sighed. “Your thick head is really giving me headache. Can you just follow at my words for once?” He sighed again and then murmured in soft voice, “a Xue, your son really is a trouble.”

 

Shuhao startled at his uncle murmur. “Ye Xue?”

 

“What?!” This time was Lu Shen's turn to stun. He looked at the younger. “What did you say?”

 

“...Ye Xue... is it her name?”

 

 

Act 6

 

Yang Xiu Juan gazed the candle in the middle of her private chamber. Night was getting late but her eyes would not close. Her body was tired, she was aware of it, but her mind did not let her have a rest. She could not rid the accident happened today out from her thought.

 

Gave up, she released a deep breath. She woke up from her bed, dressed quickly and leaved her chamber. She had to clear this problem with her father. With that in her mind, she walked through the darkness of night accompanied by a single lamp, straight to his father private residence. The guards greeted her and informed that her father was in his study room. Without guide, she approached the room mentioned.

 

From the park before it, Xiu Juan saw soft light shined from inside her father's private library. It was very quite. None of voices was heard. She ended her step right before its door; she knocked as her lips spoke, “Father, Xiu Juan asks to meet you.” It was no answer.

 

“Father, are you still awake?” she repeated. Again, she received no answer and she began to impatient. She opened the unlocked door and stepped inside.

 

“Are you here, Father? It's me; Xiu....” Xiu Juan words were not finished as she stopped her footstep. Her body froze, her eyes fixed on a white figure she saw inside the room, stared in fear. The figure's silver hair glowed at candle's light. A pair of red eyes stared back at her coldly.

 

“Where is Yang Hu Jin?” the White Devil asked.

 

“It's you...!!”

 

“Tell me, where he hides?” he repeated the question as he walked toward Xiu Juan slowly.

 

Stepped back through the door, Xiu Juan took her short blade she carried behind her night coat. “You have to pass me first before you could reach him.”

 

The young man laughed at her ridiculous words. He answered, “I don't have enough time to fool around with you, princess.” As he finished the words, Xiu Juan gave him a straight attack for then he dodged it easily. She sent another strike but this time the White Devil blocked with his still covered Silver Sword. Did not give up, she continued repeating the strikes which none of it succeed.

 

“Pull out your sword or you'll regret for underestimating me!” she demanded. Again, the White Devil made fun of her, “Are you serious?” He pushed her back with his sword.

 

Disgraced by his mockery, anger awoke inside her. She started to attack wild and disorderly. She was not aware of his fast move as he managed to strike back. He touched lightly at her neck and the next second, she could not move her body.

 

Xiu Juan stared in shock. She looked at her opponent who was approaching her still figure. The young man stopped a step apart from her. He raised her face up to meet him, staring back with his cold red eyes. His handsome look smiled. He bent down to her and whispered in a low voice at her ear, “Enough of fooling around. I don't come here to play with you. I come to kill Yang Hu Jin.”

 

“I'm not going to tell you where father is,” her sapphire eyes dared his.

 

“It is not necessary. This sword will invite him,” he answered as he switched his eyes at her behind. “Am I right, Yang Hu Jin?” Xiu Juan startled at his last words. Before she could react, she heard her father voices.

 

“Release my daughter, young man! She wasn't drawn in our matter.”

 

The White Devil answered, “Are you afraid I will kill her?” He smirked. “You underestimate me, Yang Hu Jin. Her life does not have my concern. It is your head that I want.”

 

As he didn't troubled at White Devil's remark, Yang Hu Jin replied the young man with desire in his eyes, “I will not lose my head. It is you who will hand over the sword.” He drew his sword.

 

“We will see that.”

 

 

Act 7

 

“...where that ridiculous idea comes from?” Lu Shen asked. He was still inside the guest room; having a debate with his ward.

 

Shuhao replied in high tone, “Call me fool if you want but for this time, please, be honest to me!” He pierced Lu Shen's eyes. “Is her name Ye Xue?”

 

Lu Shen avoided the stare but Shuhao kept pushing him; this time his voice lowered, “Please uncle... answer me with honest. Is her name Ye Xue?”

 

It was silence for a moment before, at last, Lu Shen sighed and answered softly, “Yes.”

 

Shuhao startled with the answer. A kind of emotion, he didn't sure what was that, raised inside his heart. A tear dropped from his eyelid. He felt his body weakened suddenly as all of his power gone. He then fell to his knees on the floor. “So it is true... Ye Xue... Is she.. Is she still alive?”

 

Lu Shen smiled in sore. “About this matter, I already inform you for times.”

 

Hurt at the fact, Shuhao nodded in sadness. “What about my father? Who is my father?”

 

“I can't tell you this.” His ward let out a sad laugh as the young man knew he would not say a word about it. “Why? Is he a criminal? Or is he a man with dishonor? Is he a public disgrace? Or is he...” Lu Shen stopped his ward's words. His hand loosened for a slap.

 

“Beware of your words!” He stared furiously. The young man in front of him really had gone too far as he knew nothing. “Impudent child, how dare you say such a thing about your father?! Your father is an honorable man nothing like you!”

 

Shuhao remained silence at his words.

 

Voices of steps in hurry and panicky calls outside the chamber cut their talk. As Lu Shen opened the door, he found some guards and one of Yang Hu Jin's private personnel gave him a report.

 

“Master Lu. Hurry to the main residence, please. The lord was being murdered!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epic Tale : Twin Sword