HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE Book 2 of 2

Intoxicating Lotus of the Green Willow Manor Part 5

Xiao Zhao flashed one of her captivating smiles. "I am very happy to attend to your needs; what servant are you talking about?" After waiting for him to wash his hands and face; she took the golden case out and said, "I wonder what kind of poisonous bugs or secret projectiles are in this box?"

"Right," Zhang Wuji said, "We have to be very careful."

Placing the case on the table he pulled her away from it. Taking out a copper coin he tossed it away. 'Ding!' the coin hit the edge of the golden case and opened up its lid. Nothing strange happened. He came near to take a look. Inside the box was a pearl head ornament; it still vibrated lightly. It was precisely the head ornament he took from Zhao Min's temples, except the two big pearls, which Zhao Min said were missing, were back on their golden stems. Zhang Wuji was taken aback; he could not guess Zhao Min's real intention in doing this.

Xiao Zhao smiled and said, "Master, that Miss Zhao is very good to you, she sent somebody to deliver this precious pearl head ornament to you."

Zhang Wuji said, "I am a man, what am I supposed to do with this kind of girl's jewelry? Xiao Zhao, you can keep it."

Xiao Zhao shook her hand; she laughed and said, "How can I? Others show their affection to you; how do I dare to take it?"

With three of his left hand fingers Zhang Wuji took the pearl ornament. "Catch!" he laughed, and tossed the ornament away. His strength was neither light nor heavy; the ornament landed on Xiao Zhao's hair without the golden pin scratching her skin.

Xiao Zhao reached up to take it away, but Zhang Wuji shook his hand and said, "Can't I give you some trinkets?"

Xiao Zhao's cheeks blushed; in a low voice she said, "Thank you very much, then. I am only afraid my Miss will be angry with me."

"What you did today was not a small matter," Zhang Wuji said, "How can the Left Emissary Yang, father and daughter, still suspect you?"

Xiao Zhao's heart was filled with joy; she said, "You have been gone for a long time, I was really worried; plus those Tartars came to attack. I don't know how, but suddenly I was swept by a great courage. If I think about it now, I was really scared. Master, can you talk to the Five Elements Flags and the Heavenly Eagle Flag brothers: asking them not to be offended by Xiao Zhao's boldness and unseemly behavior?"

Zhang Wuji smiled and said, "They can't thank you enough, how can they blame you?"

Less than a day later they arrived within the Henan borders. By that time the world was in chaos; everywhere heroic and patriots raised their arms to fight the invaders. Mongolian officers and soldiers conducted an even stricter questioning and searching of insurgents. It was inconvenient for the Ming Cult people to travel together as a large group, therefore, they traveled in smaller groups to the Mount Song [Song Shan] and regrouped at the foot of the mountain before they finally traveled together up the Shaoshi Peak.

The Gigantic Wood Flag Chief, Wen Cangsong, was sent ahead to deliver Zhang Wuji and the others' name cards to the Shaolin Temple. Zhang Wuji knew that this time they went up to the Shaolin Temple to ask for justice and although they did not want any fight, the end result would be difficult to tell. Supposing that the Shaolin monks did not want to talk but resort to violence instead, the Ming Cult could not balk at the challenge. Thereupon he passed on an order: while the leaders were entering the temple, the Five Elements Flags and the Heavenly Eagle Flag were to disperse around the temple and wait outside; as soon as they heard him whistle three times, they were to render their assistance. The flag leaders accepted the order and went their separate ways.