金庸短篇小说《越女剑》中英文对照版

PAGEPAGE1金庸短篇小说《越女剑》中英文对照版SWORDOFTHEYUEHMAIDENThisistheonlyshortstorywrotebyJinYong.Becauseofitsshortlength,youcan'treallyseeJinYong'sfulltalentatstory-telling.However,thistranslationcangiveyousomeideaofwhatamartialartsstoryislike.Myclumsytranslationcan'treallydotheoriginaljustice,butIhopeIhavestirredyourinterestenoughthatyouwillgooutthereandfindoutmoreaboutChineseculture,historyandlegend.Theprocessoffindingoutwillnotbeeasy,butIassureyou,whatyouwillfindwillneverbedull.Background:Thisstoryisbasedonrealhistoricaleventsthatoccurredduringthe5thcenturyB.C.It'saperiodbetweenwhat'sknownastheSpringandAutumnperiodandtheWarringKingdomsperiod.ChinawasyettobeunitedundertheFirstEmperor.Theso-calledHanracedidn'texistyet.Chinawasdividedintobigandsmallkingdoms,dukedomsandcountieswhichwarredwitheachotherconstantly.ItallstartedwhenthekingofChuhsleptwithhisson'sfiancee.Badmove,foranyera.Thekingnowfearedthathissonwillturnagainsthim.Thefearwasfannedintoactionbytheallegationsofanambitiousministerwhowantedtodestroythecrownprince'sfaction.Theresultingpurgedestroyedmanyclansandfamilies.Oneofthefamily,almostperipheraltothewholething,wastheHouseofWu.Theyoungestson,WuTzu-Shi,escapedandvowedbloodyvengeance.Afteralonganddangerousjourneythroughseveralkingdomsunwillingtohelp,hearrivedatthenewlyfoundedkingdomofWu(No,theChinesecharactersfortheWuinWuTzu-ShiisactuallydifferentfromthecharacterWuintheWukingdom).HehelpedPrinceHoLutoassassinatehiscousinthekinginaconvolutedpowerstruggle.Thenhebuiltupthekingdomoffromabarelycivilizedkingdomtoamodernkingdomwiththebesttrainedarmyintheknownworld.SunTzu,whowrotetheimmortalArtofWar,servedinWuatthistime.WhenWuTzu-Shiwasready,hemanagedtoconvinceKingHoLutoinvadeChuh.AtthetimeChuhwasasuperpowerandWuwasanupstartkingdom,buttheupstartkingdommanagedtodestroyChuh'sarmyutterly.Unfortunately,WuTzu-shi'svengeancewashollow.Theobjectofhisvengeancehadalreadydiedseveralyearsago.Inhisrage,WuTzu-Shiexhumedthebodyofthedeadkingandfloggedituntilitfelltopieces.ThekingdomoflargerkingdomofbacktoWu.Then,HoLubeganaseriesofwarstoestablishhegemonyovertherestofChina.It'sinoneofthosewarswhenheranintothekingdomofevenmoreprimitivethenWuwasafewdecadesago,buttheyweregreatfighters.TheywereruledbyKingKouChiang.Inapitchbattle,KingHoLuwasstruckbyapoisonarrowanddied.HoLu'ssonFuChaibecameking.Hewasintentonavenginghisfather.Apersonalguardwasorderedtoremindhimofthisfactperiodicallybysaying"FuChai,didyouforgettoavengethedeathofyourfather?"FuChaithenralliedhisarmyanddestroyedthearmyofYueh.KingKouChiangbecameaprisonerofFuChaiforseveralyears.However,FuChaiwasnotabrutalman.InsteadofannexingthekingdomofturningKouChiangintoaslave,hereleasedKouChiangafterextractinganoathoffealtyfromthekingofYueh.Unfortunately,thatgestureofmercywascompletelylostonKingKouChiang.KouChiang,likeWuTzu-ShiandFuChaibeforehim,waspossessedbytheburningdesiretoavengethewrongsdonehim.KouChianghiredtwowisemenfromthekingdomofthemwasFengLi,theotherwasWenChung.ThetwobegantobuildupthebarbarickingdomofYuehsoonedaytheirkingcouldchallengethepowerofWu.Manylegendsareassociatedwiththisperiodofhistory.OneofthelegendswasthelegendoftheYuehMaiden.Story:"Afteryou.""Afteryou."Thetwoswordsmenturnedthepointoftheirbladesdownward.Theirrightpalmholdingtheswordhilt,theirleftpalmcoveredtheirrightpalm,thentheyboweddeeplytoeachotherinawarrior'ssalute.Evenbeforethetwostraightened,asuddenflashofwhite,thenthesoundofclanging.Thetwoswordsmeneachretreatedonestep.Theaudiencegaveoutasoftcry.Theswordmaninbluecutthreetimes.Theliveriedswordmanblockedeachcut.Theswordmaninblueshoutedandslashedhisswordfromtheupperleftcornerstraightdownward.Theslashwaspowerfulandfast.Theliveriedswordmanwastooagiletobecaught.Asimplejumpgothimoutoftheway.Hisbodybouncedbarelyafterhisleftfeettouchedtheground.Hereturnedtwoslashes.Theswordmaninbluestoodstillwithagrimsmile.Hemovedhisswordlightlyandblockedtheattack.Theliveriedswordmansuddenlybeganrunningaroundtheswordmaninblue.Heranfasterandfaster.Theswordmaninbluemerelystaredatthepointofhisenemy'ssword.Hewasreadytostrikeanytimethatpointmovedtoattack.Theliveriedswordmanatfirstranoneway,thentheother.Theswordmaninbluestartedtofeelabitdizzyandsaid"Areyoufighting,orrunningforyourlife?"Theliveriedswordmancontinuedrunning.Theswordmaninblueattemptedtocuthimdownafewtimes,buthisswordalwaysfellshort.Theswordmaninbluepulledhisswordbacktothesideofhisbodyandbowedhisrightlegslightly.Theliveriedswordmanthoughthesawanopeningandloungedathisleftshoulder,theswordmaninbluewasmerelyluringhisenemy.Hisswordcircledintoadirectthrustattheliveriedswordman'sthroat.Thethrustwastoofasttobeavoided.Theliveriedswordmanwassurprised.Hethrewhisswordtowardtheheartofhisenemy.Theliveriedswordmanhopedtoforcetheswordmantoabortthethrustinordertosavehisownlife.Unexpectedly,theswordmaninbluedidn'tattempttodefendhimself.Withamoveofhisarm,thepointofhisswordenteredtheliveriedswordman'sthroat.Thentheliveriedswordman'sthrownswordhithischestwithaloudclangandfelltotheground.Theswordmaninbluelaughedcoldlyandpulledhisswordback.Hewaswearingaroundplateofironinfrontofhischest,justunderthegarment.That'swhythesworddidhimnoharm.Theliveriedswordman'sthroatspurtedbloodandhisbodyconvulsed.Theservantssteppedintoremovethebodyandbegantowipeupthebloodontheground.Theswordmaninbluesheathedhissword.Hesteppedforwardandbowedtowardthenorthofthehallwherethekingsat.Thekingworeapurplerobe.Heisofstrangeappearance.Hisneckwasexcessivelongandhismouthwassharpasabird'sbeak.Hesmiledandsaidinacroakingvoice"Thestrongonehaswonderfulswordskill.Awardhimtenpoundsofgold."Theswordmaninbluekneltdownonhisrightkneeandbowed"Thankyoufortheaward."Thekingwavedhislefthand.Anofficialonhisrightshouted"SwordmenofWuandswordmenofYueh,secondcontest!"Fromtheeastendofthehall,anotherliveriedswordmanwalkedoutfromhisgroup.Thismanwastallofstatureandheldagreatsword.Theswordwasnearlyfourfeetinlength.Thebladewasextremelythickandwasobviouslyquiteheavy.Fromthewestofhall,anotherswordmaninbluewalkedout.Hewasofmediumheight.Hisfacewascrisscrossedbyatleasttwelveorthirteenswordscars.Thefaceseemednolongerhuman.Hemusthavefoughthundredsofbattleswithcountlessswordmen.Thetwoknelttotheking,thentheysalutedeachother.Theswordmaninbluestraightenedhisbodyandsmiled.Hisfacemadethesmileseemeduglyandcruel.Thetallswordmanshivered.Thenhesigheddeeplyandheldhisswordwithbothhands.Suddenlytheswordmaninbluehowledmadlylikeawolfandthrustedhissword.Thetallswordmancried,liftedhisgreatswordandcutdowntowardhisopponent'shead.Theswordmaninbluedodgedwhilehisswordmadeaslashfromlefttoright.Thetallswordmanliftedthegreatswordandwhirled,makingthesoundsofagreatwind.Thegreatweightofthesworddidn'tslowhimdownintheslightest.Thetwomadethirtypassesateachother.Theswordmaninbluecouldn'topposetheweightofhisopponent'ssword.Hekeptretreating.Alltheotherliveriedswordmanbegantoshowhopeontheirfacesastheyanticipatedtheirsidetowinatlast.Thenthetallswordmanmadeagreatcrylikethesoundofathunderclapandmadeahorizontalcutwithhisgreatsword.Theswordmaninbluecouldn'tavoidit.Hecouldonlyblockitwithhisownswordwithallhisstrength.Clang!Thetwoswordsmet.Thegreatswordbrokeandhalfofthebladeflewaway.Theswordmaninbluewieldedafarsharpersword.Thentheswordmaninbluemadeaverticalcutwhichopenedupthetallswordmanfromthroattocrotch.Thetallswordmanhowledandkeptonhowlingashefelttotheground.Theswordmaninbluelookedathisfallenopponentforawhilebeforereturninghisswordtothesheath.Thenheknelttowardtheking.Hisfacecouldn'tdisguisehisjoyofvictory.Theofficialsaid"Thestrongone'sswordskillisimpressive.Theawardistenpoundsofgold."Theswordmaninbluebowedinthanks.Therewereonlyeightswordmeninblue.Comparedwithfiftyliveriedswordmenstandingattheeastsideofthehall,theywerebadlyoutnumbered.Theofficialsaid"SwordmenofWuandswordmenofYueh,thethirdcontest."Again,oneswordmanfromeachwalkedtothecenterofthehall.Theswordoftheswordmaninbluetrembledandshonelikebrightsilk.Theofficialsaid"Goodsword!"Theswordmaninbluethankedhispraise.Theofficialthensaid"Wehaveseenone-to-oneconteststwice.Thistime,twoagainsttwo!"Twomoreswordmenenteredthearena.Thefouragainsalutedthekingfirstbeforesalutingeachother.Thentheswordsflashedasthecombatbegan.Thistime,eachofthetwoswordmenonthesamesidemustreinforceeachother.Afterafewpasses,aliveriedswordmen'sswordwascutintohalfbyhisenemy'ssword.Thisliveriedswordmanwasverycourageous.Hecarriedhisbrokenandjumpedtowardhisenemy.Hisopponent'sswordflashedandcutawayhisrightarmtogetherwithhisrightshoulder.Thentheswordimpaledhisheart.Theotherpairwasstillfighting.Thevictoriousswordmaninbluewatchedforawhile,thenhisswordmoved.Again,theliveriedswordman'sswordwascutintohalf,leavinghimwideopen.Hisoponent'sswordenteredhischestandexitedfromhisback.Thekinglaughedandclapped"Excellentswords!Excellentswordskills.Awardthemwineandgold.Letusseeonecontestoffouragainstfour!"Fourswordmenfromeachsidebegancombat.Theswordmenfromtheeastsidehadalreadylostthreecontests.Thesefourfoughtdesperatelywithalltheirskills.Eveniftheylosttheirlives,theymeanttowinatleastonecontest.Twoswordmeninblueconcentratedononeliveriedswordman.Theothertwoswordmeninbluedefendedthemagainsttheotherthreeliveriedswordmen.Theseswordmeninblueonlydefended.Theirskillofdefensewasimpenetrable.Theyalsomadenoattempttoattack,alltheydidwaspreventingthethreefromaidingtheircomrade.Theothertwoswordmaninblueeasilykilledtheirloneopponent.Thentheyrepeatedtheirtacticagainandkilledanotherliveriedswordman.Theotherliveriedswordmensawthedeathoftheircomrades.Theydrewtheirswordsandwasreadytoaidtheircomradesandchoppedtheswordmeninbluetobits.Theofficialcriedoutinaclearvoice"Thosewholearnedthewayofthesword,mustobeythelawsoftheswor!"Hisvoicewasauthoritative.Theliveriedswordmenquieteddown.Bynoweveryonecouldseethattheswordmeninblueusedcompletelydifferentswordskills.Thetwowhodefendedwerespecializedindefense.Thetwowhoattackedspecializedinattack.Theattackersalwaysoutnumbertheirvictimbecausethedefenderswatchedtheirback.Theycouldwineveniftheiropponentsnumberedsixoreveneight.Theswordsofthetwodefendersformedaswordnetwhichcouldhandlefiveorevensixswordmeneasily.Thetwodefendershadcorneredaliveriedswordmansohewasvirtuallyneutralizedwhilethetwoattackersalreadykilledthethirdliveriedswordman.Thetwodefendersmovedleftandrightandwatchedformoreenemieswhilethetwoattackersbeganontheloneswordman.Eventhoughtheliveriedswordmanhadnohopeofwinning,stillhedidn'tthrowdownhisswordtoadmitdefeat.Suddenlythefourswordmeninblueshoutedloudlyandtheirfourswordsimpaledtheliveriedswordmanfromfourdirections.Theliveriedswordmandiedimmediately,buthiseyeswereopenedlikeroundsaucers.Hismouthopenedwidely.Thefourswordmeninbluepulledouttheirswordsatthesametime.Thefourwipedtheirswordsatthesoleoftheirshoes,thentheyreturnedtheirswordsbackintothesheath.Themovementswerecompletelysynchronized.Thekinglaughedandclappedhishandstogetheragain"Excellentswordskill!Theswordmenofthegreatkingdomweretrulyinvincible.It'sonlytodaythatwe'retreatedtosuchaspectacle.Awardeachswordmantenpoundsofgold."Thefourbowedinthanks.Theybowedatthesameexactangle.Nooneknewhowlongtheypracticedtoachievesuchprecision.Aswordmaninboueturned,pickedalongboxcoveredingoldpaintandsaid"OurkingthankthegenerousgiftsofYourMajesty.HisMajestyorderedustoreturnthefavorwithoneprecioussword.ThisswordisnewlyforgedinourkingdomfortheenjoymentofYourMajesty."Thekingsmiled"Thankyou.MinisterFeng,bringitoverhere."ThekingwasKouChiang,KingofYueh.TheofficialwasFengLi,theroyaladvisor.TheliveriedswordmenweretheRoyalGuardsofYueh.TheeightswordmeninbluewerethemessengerssentbyFuChai,KingofWu.KouChiangwasdefeatedbyFuChaiandhewaitedforachanceforvengeance.WhilehewassubmissivetotheKingdomoftrainedsoldiersinpreparationforanattackonWu.InordertotesttheskillofWuwarriors,hesentoutthebestofhisswordmen.HecouldnotexpectthattheWuswordmeneasilykilledeightofhisfinestswordmen.Hewassurprisedandangry,butheshowednoneofit.Instead,hepraisedtheswordskillsoftheWuswordmenandshowedhisheartfeltadmiration.FengLitookthegoldenlongbox.Theboxfeltverylight,asthoughtit'sempty.Heopenedupthecover.Beforetheotherpeopleinthehallcouldseewhat'sinthebox,FengLi'sfacewasilluminatedbyafaintbluelight.Everyonecriedinsurprise.FengLitooktheboxtoKouChiangandbowed"Pleaselook,YourMajesty."KouChiangsawthattheboxwaslinedwithredsilk.Theswordinsideithadaverythinblade.Thelightitreflectedflowedonitssurfacelikewater.Hesaid"Excellentsword!"Hetookthehiltandliftedupthesword.Thebladetrembledslightly,almostasthoughhecouldbreakthebladewithaflickofhiswrist.Hethought"Theswordbladeistoothin.Itmightlookgood,butithasnopracticaluse."Theleaderoftheswordmeninbluetookoutapieceofgauzefromhispocketandthrewitintotheair."Please,YourMajesty,pointtheedgeoftheswordupwardsoitwillmeetthisfallinggauze.Youwillseethatthisswordisdifferent."Thethingauzefellupontheedgeofthesword,butthegauzedidn'tstopfalling.Itkeptfalling,astwoseparategauzes.Thepeopleonthehallcheered.Theswordmaninbluesaid"Thisblademightbethin,butitwillnotbreakevenifitblocksaheavyweapon."KouChiangsaid"MinisterFeng,tryit."Fengsaid"Yes."Hewalkedinfrontofaliveriedswordman,tookouttheswordandsaid"Draw,let'stryit."Theliveriedswordmanbowed,drewhissword,buthedidn'tdaretostrike.FengLicried"Strike!"Theswordmancutdownward.Fengmetitwithhissword.Thetwoswordsmet.Theswordbladeoftheliveriedswordmenwascutintotwopieces.Beforeoneofthepiecesflewintohim,FengLidodgedwitgreatagility.Thepeopleinsidethehallcheered.Weretheycheeringthesharpnessoftheblade,ortheagilityofFeng?FengLiputtheswordbackintotheboxandputtheboxnexttothefeetoftheking.KouChiangsaid"Swordmenofthegreatkingdom,youareinvitedtothenexthallforafeastandbeawardedforthecontest."Theeightswordmeninbluebowedandleftthehall.KouChiangwavedhishand,alltheswordmen,servantsandministersleft,exceptforFengLi.Koulookedattheswordandthebloodonthegroundandsaid"Whatyoudothink?"FengLisaid"NotalltheWusoldiersareasgoodastheseeight.Notallswordswieldedbythemareassharpasthisone.Butfromthissmallexample,wecanseetherest.Themostterrifyingaspectistheirtechniqueofgroupfighting,theyusedthemethodsofSunTzu.Ibelievethattheycurrentlyhavenomatchintheworld."KouChiangsaid"FuChaisenttheseeightjusttogivemethissword.Whatdoeshehaveinmind?"FengLisaid"Hewantsustoknowthedifficultyofvengeance."KouChiangbecameangry.Hetookuptheswordandmadeabackhandstroke.Thestrokecutupthehalfofthebackofhischair.Heshouted"Evenifthedifficultyisonethousand,tenthousandtimesgreater,KouChiangwillnotretreatfromhisgoal!Oneday,IwillcaptureFuChai,kingofWuandcutoffhisheeadwithhissword."Anotherstrokeoftheswordcutthechairintohalf.FengLibowedandsaid"Congratualations,YourMajesty."Kousaidinsurprise"AfterseeingtheabilityoftheWuswordmen,what'stheretocongratulateabout?"FengLisaid"AslongasYouMajestyhavethedetermination,anythingcanbeaccomplished.Concerningthisdifficulty,ImustdiscussitwithMinisterWen."KouChiangsaid"Good,summonMinisterWen."FengLileftthepalaceandorderedthepalaceservanttosummonMinisterWenChung.Inawhile,WenChungarrivedonaspeedyhorse,thenthetwowalkedbackintothepalace.FengLiwasoriginallyanativeofWan,intheKingdomofChuh.Hewasnotamanconcernedwiththedetailsofetiquette.Often,hedidthingsbeyondtheexpectationsofotherpeople.Peopleofhishomelandcalledhim"FengtheCrazy".WhenWenChungcametobethemagistrateofWan,heheardoftheFengLi'sreputation.HesentsubordinatestosummonFeng.Thesubordinatessaid"ThatFengisthefamouscrazymanofthisland.Nothinghedoesmakesanysense."WenChungsmiled"Whenamantrytodosomethingdifferent,otherpeoplealwayssaythatheismad.Whenhehasasuperioropinion,thecommonofwitwillcallhimstupid.HowcanyouunderstandMasterFeng?"SoWenChungwenttovisitFenghimself,butFengavoidedhim.FengexpectedthatWenwouldnotgiveupsoeasily,soheborrowedsomeproperclothesfromhisbrother.WhenWencameback,Fengwasready.Thetwotalkedandfoundthattheyhadmuchincommon.Theybothfeltthekingdomswereweak.Thekingdomoflarge,butchaotic.Theonlykingdomswhichcouldrisetocommandtherestwerelocatedatsoutheast.WenChungresignedhispositionandwenttothekingdomofthetime.thekingofWu'sfavoritewasWuTzu-Shi.ThetwolivedinthecapitalforafewmonthandsawthatWuTzu-Shiwasindeedawiseman.Theywerenotnecessarilybetterthanhim.Aftersomediscussion,theydecidedthatalthoughYuehwasasmallerkingdom,buttheycouldputtheirtalentstousethere.KouChiangreceivedthemwarmlyandgavethembothhighpositions.ThenKouChiangignoredtheadviseofWenChungandmadewarwithWu.HisarmywasdefeatedbytheshoreofRiver.KouChiangwassurroundedatKuaialmostdiedalongwithhiskingdom,buthelistenedtotheadviseofFengLiandWenChungandbribedthePrimeMinisterofWu.FuChaithenlistenedtothePrimeMinisterinsteadofthewiserWuTzu-Shiandagreedtoapeacetreaty.KouChianglivedinWuasahostageforafewyears,buthewasreleasedlater.ThenKouChiangsleptonlyonbedsmadeofthornybranchesandtastedthebitterjuiceofbeefgallbladderstoremindhimselfofthehumiliationshesuffered.HeusedWenChung'sNineMethodstosubvertWuandstrengthenYueh.TheNineMethodswere.One,payrespecttothegodsandspirits.Two,giveFuChaivastamountofmoneysohewillfeelsecureaswellasbecomingsoftinluxury.Three,borrowfoodfromWuandreturnseedswhichwillnotgrow,causingfamineinWu.Four,giveFuChaibeautifulwomensuchasSiShiandChengDang,soFuChaiwouldbepayingmoreattentiontothebeautifulwomenratherthantheaffairsofthestate.Five,giveFuChaiengineerssohestartedbuildingexpensivepalaceswhichdrainedtheeconomyofthecountry.Six,bribetheministersofWu.Seven,distanceFuChaifromhiswiseministers.ThewiseWuTzu-Shiwaseventuallyforcedtocommittsuicideaspunishmentofafalsechargeoftreason.Eight,hoardfoodsothekingdomofreserveavailable.Nine,makeweapons,trainsoldierandwaitforthechance.Eightmethodshavesucceeded,buttheninthhadrunintogreatdifficulty.EveryonecouldtellthattheeightwarriorsofWuwerebetterthananyoneYuehcouldproduce.FengLitoldWenChungtheresultsofthecontest.WenChungfrowned"BrotherFeng,thesharpnessoftheirswordsisamajorproblem,alsothewaytheirswordmenworkedtogetheringroupsinaccordancetoSunTzu'sArtofWar."FengLisaid"Yes,decadesago,whenSunTzuhelpedthekingofWu.TheydestroyedChuh,themostpowerfulkingdomintheworldatthetime.Inhisbook,it'ssaid"IfIconcentratemyforcesandtheenemy'sforcesisfragmentedintotenpartsthenIcanusemyunifiedonetoattackhistenfragments.ThenIwilloutnumbermyenemyandthebattlewillbeover."Wuusedthisprincipletoachievelocalsuperiorityagainstourswordmen."WhentheytalktheyarrivedinfrontofKouChiang.KouChiangwasstaringatthegiftsword.Afteralongwhile,KouChianglifteduphisheadandsaid"MinisterWen.Yearsago,Wuhadthehusband-wifeteamofswordsmiths,KengChiangandMoShei.YuehhadO-YehTzu.Now,allthreehavedied.Wustillhavegreatswordsmiths,yetwehavenoonetosucceedO-YehTzu."WenChungsaid"IhaveheardthatO-YehTzuhadtwostudents.OneisnamedFongHu-Tzu,TheotheriscalledHsiehChu.FongHu-TzuisinthekingdomofKoubecamegladandsaid"Summonhim.AndordersomeonetogotoChuhwithgoldsowecangetFongHu-Tzuhereaswell."Thenextmorning,WenChungreportedthathealreadysentsomeonetoChuh.Meanwhile,HsiehChuwasalreadyhere.KouChianggrantHsiehanaudienceandasked"YourmasterO-YehTzuoncefollowedmyfather'sordderandforgedfiveswords.Howdoyougradethosefiveswords?"Hsiehsaid"Ihaveheardmymastersaidthatheforgedfiveswordsfortheking.Threelargeswordsandtwosmallswords.TheyareTremblingReed,PureEdge,DefeaterofEvil,FishIntestineandtheGreatChuh.DefeaterofEvilandFishIntestineareinWu.YourMajestystillhavePureEdgeandGreatYearsago,thePrinceHoLuofWuheardoftheswordsandaskedKouChiang'sfatherforsomeoftheswords.KouChiang'sfatherfearedthemightofWuandgaveHoluTremblingReed,DefeaterofEvilandFishIntestine.UsingFishIntestine,HoLuassassinatedhiscousinthekingandtookthethrone.TremblingReedfellintoariverandwasacquiredbythekingofChuh.KingofChinheardofthisandaskedforit.Evenafterafewwars,thekingofChuhstillrefusedtogiveitup.Hsiehsaid"Mymastersaid,ofthefiveswords,DefeaterofEvilisofthehighestgrade.PureEdgeandTremblingReedarenext.FishIntestineislowerandGreatGreatasharpswordandnotatrulyprecioussword."KouChiangsaid"AreyousayingmyPureEdgeandGreatarenotasgoodasFuChai'sDefeaterofEvilandFishIntestine?"HsiehdarenotadmitthatKouChiang'sswordswasinferior,butKouChiangknewtheansweranyway.FengLisaid"Youhavetheskillofyourmaster.Youcanforgeafewswordsofyourown.TheymightnotbeinferiortothoseownedbyWu."Hsiehsaid"Icannotforgeswordsanymore."FengLiasked"Why?"Hsiehhelduphishands.Onbothhishands,thethumbandtheindexfingersweregone.Hesaidsadly"Thumbsandindexfingersarerequiredforforgingswords.Iamacripple."KouChiangsaid"Didyouenemycutawayyourfingers?"Hsiehsaid"No,myfellowstudentdidit.""Yourfellowstudent?YoumeanFongHu-Tzu?Whydidhedoeit?Ah!Itmustbethatyouhavegreaterskillthanhe.Hebeamejealousandcutawayyourfingers."Hsiehremainedsilent.KoChiangsaid"IwasthinkingaboutinvitingFongfromChuh,butnowIseehewon'tcomebecausehefearsyourvengeance."Hsiehsaid"YourMajestyisindeedwise,butFongisnolongerinChuh.HeisinWu.KoChiangsaid"He...He'sinWu?What'shedoingthere?"Hsiehsaid"Threeyearsago,Fongcametomyhomeandtookoutapreciousswordformetoinspect.Iwasastounded.ThatswordwasforgedbymymasterforChuh.ItisnamedtheFlowingFabric.Thebladewasfullofrunesthatflowedlikewater.IheardfrommymasterthatheforgedthreeswordsforChuh.Thatwasone,theotherswereDragonSpringandChingAh."KouChiangsaid"ThenthekingofChuhmusthavegivenittoFong."Hsiehsaid"Indirectly.FongsaidthatafterthearmyofWubrokethecapitalofChuh.WuTzu-shitooktheswordfromthegraveofthepreviousking.WhenhereturnedtoWu,heheardoftheskillsofFong,sohegavetheswordtohimasagift.HesaidtheswordwasalegacyfromourmasterandthatFongwastherightfulowner."KouChiangsaid"WuTzu-Shilettheswordgo?Heistrulyagreatherotoletsuchatreasurego."Thenhelaughed"Fortunately,FuChaihasalreadytakencareofhimforme."Thenheasked"WhatdidWuTzu-ShiwantedinreturnfromFong?"Hsiehsaid"WuTzu-shimerelysaidthatheadmiredourmaster.Fongfeltgratefulafterhereceivedthesword,sohewenttoWuandthankedWuTzu-Shiinperson.WuTzu-Shitreatedasanhonoredguest."KouChiangsaid"That'showhemakepeoplebecomeloyaltohim,evenontodeath."Hsiehsaid"YourMajestyiswise,butFongdidn'tunderstandWuTzu-shi'strueintentions,soheaskedagainandagainhowhecouldrepaythegreatfavordonetohim.WuTzu-Shimerelysaidhewouldnotaskanythingofanhonoredguest."KouChiangsaid"Theoldfox!"Hsiehsaid"FongfinallysaidtoWuTzu-shithathehadlittleskillexceptforgingswords.InreturnforWuTzu-Shi'sfavors,hewillforgeafewpreciousswordsforhim."Kouslappedhisthighandsaid"Gothim!"Hsiehsaid"ButWuTzu-shisaidthekingdomeofWualreadyhadmanypreciousswordsandneedednomore.Besides,theforgingofapreciousswordisatremendouslabor.Yearsago,whenKengChiangandMoYehwereforgingtheirsword,theswordrefusedtocomei