Zhan Zhao Adventures - Chapter Six (Part VI)

Chapter Six: Crane Rushing to the Sky (Part VI)

The Zhong Xiong inside the barn, as well as Little Brother Huo upon the beam, both because of this abruptly arising massive change, froze blank for a time.
 
Zhong Xiong's spine instantly gave a burst of shaking, appearing as if condensing power and about to strike, but the cold Qi of the "Zhanlu" within Zhan Zhao's hand had already appeared just like a bone-attaching nail in form, soaking into his pores. If he merely moved a tiny bit, that long sword would bound to pierce straight through his throat and pass across. Next, his body softened up, and his entire body then no longer possessed a single bit of strength.
 
During this single moment of flint-sparks-and-lightning, the one who was restricted had already restricted the person, while the one who previously restricted the person, right now was however restricted by the person!
 
Zhong Xiong suddenly threw back his head and laughed loudly, saying: "What a move of 'Crane Rushing to the Sky'! For Zhong Xiong to obtain a sight of this martial arts that crowns the age, it is truly not in vain to have lived this life! If Guard Zhan wants Zhong's life, why not strike as fast as possible?"
 
Zhan Zhao was peaceful and self-possessed, saying with a slight smile: "Chief Zhong is the left flank and right arm of the Xiangyang Prince; you truly are worthy of having a mountain collapse before you while your spirit does not move, Zhan Zhao admires you! Right now Zhan Zhao took advantage of a person's lack of guard, and out of expectation restricted Chief Zhong; how can I blindly execute a cruel hand against Chief Zhong."
 
Zhong Xiong said: "Then what exactly do you want?"
 
Zhan Zhao said: "To tell you the truth without concealment, once past the small town ahead, it precisely is the Xiqiao Ferry; the river water of this locality, at this point, is at its narrowest. Once past that river, it will no longer be the territory under the jurisdiction of the Xiangyang Prince's Mansion, but rather the direct subjection of the Great Song official authorities. What is even more wonderful is, not far from the ferry port of that opposite bank, it precisely is the post station for the court's eight-hundred-li urgent transmission of letters; having changed horses there, one can then rush and arrive at the capital city within two days."
 
Little Brother Huo hearing up to here, his heart gave a stir, feeling that these words of Zhan Zhao's appeared as if they were reminding himself of something.
 
Zhong Xiong's countenance was already iron-blue: "Could it be that Guard Zhan wants to coerce Zhong?"
 
Zhan Zhao said: "Zhan Zhao only wants Chief Zhong to shift your carriage to travel together, and escort me to the location of the ferry port."
 
Zhong Xiong said: "What if I do not agree? One must know that Zhong Xiong in this life has never accepted another person's threat! Even if you killed Zhong, I am afraid you could not escape the encirclement and attack of the masters of the Jinshi Hall!"
 
Zhan Zhao said: "Why must Chief Zhong speak these words again? If Chief Zhong plans to show a momentary quickness of heart, emulating the courage of a common fellow whose blood splatters five steps, I wonder if it can be counted as having repaid the Xiangyang Prince's grace of recognizing and treating you well. The Chief is a hero of a lifetime, right now his grand aspirations are still unfulfilled, and his great undertaking is still unaccomplished; I also do not know that if you die right at this time, whether you would also be reconciled to it in the days hereafter!"
 
Zhong Xiong was silent.
 
Zhan Zhao's words were just like sharp swords, drilling straight into his heart.
 
——Was this because his eyes, from the very beginning, looked through his heart, and looked through his ambitions?
 
Inside the barn, for a time, it was a death-like silence.
 
After a long while, Zhong Xiong said slowly: "Good, I grant you!"
 
He turned his head, and had already ordered toward the outside of the barn: "Come people, prepare horses!"
 
Turning his head back, within Zhong Xiong's eyes that looked at Zhan Zhao, a strand of a peculiar expression had already surged up. His voice, although it was still low, deep, and pleasing to the ear, when listened to by Little Brother Huo, however, caused him to feel a burst of chilliness for no reason at all.
 
——"I naturally cannot die. If I died, how could I look at your 'Crane Rushing to the Sky,' to see for how long it can support!"
 
Zhan Zhao's sword had already entered the scabbard.
 
His gaze, however, was still unspeakably leisurely and calm.
 
——"If Chief Zhong had come half a shichen earlier just now, Zhan Zhao's 'Crane Rushing to the Sky' would have been too late to execute. As for exactly how long this 'Crane Rushing to the Sky' can support, Zhan Zhao is afraid that when it comes to the end, it will again cause Chief Zhong to be disappointed."
 
Speaking, he and Zhong Xiong had already walked with slow steps out of the barn.
 
——Stepping out of the barn, the sunlight outside was brilliant and magnificent, unexpectedly causing a person to be unable to open their eyes for a time.
 
After the overcast rain of multiple days, the sun that abruptly manifested itself had already caused a person's spirit to be clear and refreshing.
 
Only, upon the faces of the ten-odd Iron-Blood Guards outside the barn, the dark clouds were however such that no matter how intense the sunlight was, it could not disperse them away.
 
Zhan Zhao's voice continued: "Since Chief Zhong knows the power of the 'Crane Rushing to the Sky,' you might as well tell your subordinates that along this way, they must absolutely not act blindly or move recklessly, otherwise a single lack of care would inevitably spoil Chief Zhong's high spirits for watching the play."
 
——Granted that Zhong Xiong was vigilant and full of a hundred changes, right now his entire body was restricted, and within a short time he also could not think out a method for extricating himself. His subordinates consistently viewed him like a heavenly deity; seeing that the commander-in-chief was restricted, even though every single person was eager to try, they were however also apprehensive of harming the vessel to hit the rat.
 
For a time outside this barn, it was so quiet that not a crow or sparrow made a sound, and so gloomy and heavy that it was exactly like a tomb.
 
Zhan Zhao smiled slightly and said: "To be able to have the fate to have a battle with Chief Zhong is truly the fortune of Zhan Zhao. Only hope that in the days hereafter, I can obtain free time to come again to experience Chief Zhong's martial arts."
 
He gazed for a bit toward the horizon, and again said slowly: "This place from the Xiqiao ferry port, after all, is not far. This escort of Chief Zhong's, after all, will not escort very long.”