Black Pearl Chapter 137

"Thud.."

Suma Kiat staggered backward, his mouth twisted in a grimace of pain, his entire right arm felt numb and his chest tight.

It was not because of Kiang Liong's parry, but because the force of his own punch rebounded when it was blocked by Kiang Liong's arm. Seeing how his cousin sent a punch from behind so viciously and cruelly, Kiang Liong quickly moved to parry. Quietly, this young man grew increasingly displeased with his cousin. To act so cruelly and deceitfully toward a mere *sumoi*. Even if this Mutiara Hitam was truly at fault in this disturbance, he still would not allow his cousin or anyone else to defeat her unfairly. The extremely sharp light in his eyes made Suma Kiat dare not open his mouth, and then both of them, like everyone else, returned to watching the match between Mutiara Hitam and Cheng Kong Hosiang.

Yu Siang Ki also witnessed the event that happened so quickly and he became increasingly confused by Kiang Liong's attitude. Earlier he showed hostility, but now he was protecting Mutiara Hitam. And why was Kwi Lan acting like that? He felt faced with a riddle. Was what the girl accused true? That Kiang Liong was conspiring with the rebels? Ah, it seemed impossible. And who was the *hwesio* named Cheng Kong Hosiang whom Kwi Lan attacked? He watched attentively, ready to help Kwi Lan if the girl was threatened by danger.

The thin *hwesio* was indeed extremely formidable. His staff was made of strong, heavy bluish steel, and his staff technique was also extraordinarily powerful. The staff in his hand spun quickly until its shape vanished, transforming into a dazzling roll of blue light. Kwi Lan herself had vanished into a blur, enveloped by the greenish light of her sword. However, the old *hwesio*'s defense was truly formidable. Wherever the light of her sword attacked, he could always parry it with his staff, making the match increasingly fierce and intense. The *hwesio*'s dozen or so attacks also never succeeded because Kwi Lan's movements were extremely agile.

"Clang"

"Clang.."

Twice the staff and sword met, and the two fiercely fighting individuals shot backward more than three meters.

"Hold!"

Cheng Kong Hosiang shouted, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the edge of his left sleeve, his demeanor fierce.

"Miss, *pinceng* is a guest of *Kiang-kongcu* and *pinceng* respects the host enough not to cause trouble in this garden. If you do not show respect to *Kiang-kongcu* and still intend to challenge *pinceng*, this is not the place."

Kwi Lan smiled mockingly.

"Hah, you bald old fogey are truly skilled at currying favor with the host who is your ally. Eh, Cheng Kong Hosiang, do you think I don't understand your rotten secret? You are the envoy of Bouw Lek Couwsu, leader of the Hsi-hsia people. You are tasked with forming a wicked alliance with the traitors and rebels in the capital city. Most of the nobles and officials present here..."

"Clang-clang.."

The staff swept fiercely, and Kwi Lan, who parried the two attacks, felt her shoulder tremble. She became angry and moved her sword to counter the opponent's attack. The two were immediately fighting fiercely again. Siang Ki's face changed upon hearing Kwi Lan's words. Ah, so the girl was acting based on such an important foundation. Was what the girl said true? He glanced at the beggar leaders, and they prepared themselves. Meanwhile, the officials who heard Kwi Lan's words turned pale, rose up, and then hastily and secretly moved to leave this dangerous place.

"Stop. No one is allowed to leave this place!"

Kiang Liong snapped, quickly giving a signal to a guard, then whispering an order for the Guard to quickly go and summon the commander of the palace guards and his troops. He himself guarded the door and watched the battle with a tense heart. Since earlier, he had been surprised to see how formidable the old *hwesio* was and that he possessed martial arts based on *pat-kwa* footwork, exactly like the formidable martial arts of Bouw Lek Couwsu. Now, hearing Kwi Lan's words, his suspicion grew stronger. The girl's accusation was not impossible, considering how determined Bouw Lek Couwsu was to contact treacherous officials.

Kwi Lan realized that she had exposed a great secret and that this *hwesio* would certainly try hard to kill her. Perhaps even the *hwesio*'s henchmen, including her *suheng*, would try to harm her. However, she felt somewhat relieved seeing how Kiang Liong had thwarted her *suheng*'s punch earlier. If a major battle were to break out, her only worry was Kiang Liong, whom she knew possessed martial arts far superior to hers. So, seeing Kiang Liong's attitude just now, her heart was relieved, and her suspicion that Kiang Liong was also a traitor now diminished. She must defeat this *hwesio* first, she thought. But it was not easy to defeat this *hwesio*, who was actually Bouw Lek Couwsu's head disciple.

Kwi Lan became frustrated. The *hwesio*'s defense was truly strong, difficult for her sword to penetrate. She had to use cunning. Within one or two seconds, she found a plan. If her opponent, who was skilled and had mature experience in combat, was allowed to continue defending, it was unlikely she would achieve victory even after a hundred *jurus*. The only way was to provoke the old man into attacking, because a person's defense would surely become weaker when used for offense. That is, every attack opens a gap or weakness in the defense. Suddenly, Kwi Lan thrust her sword toward the opponent's chest. She deliberately made her movement slightly off-balance with insufficient footwork.

The opponent's staff parried, and Kwi Lan cried out loudly in surprise, her sword slipping from her grasp. Yu Siang Ki also let out a cry of surprise, and even Suma Kiat cried out, but his cry was one of joy. He realized that no matter how formidable, Cheng Kong Hosiang would eventually be unable to match his *sumoi*'s prowess and would surely fall. Now, seeing the change in the course of the match, he secretly felt delighted. He loved his *sumoi*, but if his *sumoi* blocked the path to achieving his ambitions, he would not hesitate to rejoice seeing her threatened by mortal danger. Only Kiang Liong remained calm, standing straight, his eyes never blinking as he watched the course of the match. This young man had been too rigorously trained by Suling Emas not to see the basis of Kwi Lan's movement.

But Cheng Kong Hosiang, seeing his opponent's sword slip, did not consider any other possibility. In that instant, victory was clear to him. This girl must be killed because she was too dangerous. His staff flashed in an attack, striking toward Kwi Lan's head. The girl tilted her body and ducked her head, deliberately allowing the tip of the staff to graze her shoulder. In his heart, Kiang Liong was stunned. This tactic was brilliant, but too dangerous. This girl was incredible, possessing a fortitude that was hard to match. If her calculation was slightly off, if her movement was late by a quarter of a second, her head would be smashed by the staff. However, Kwi Lan was not only resolute but also calm and clever; her calculation would not fail. The moment she felt a sharp pain on her right shoulder grazed by the tip of the staff, her left hand struck forward. That was the *Siang-tok-ciang* (Fragrant Poison Palm) strike.

"Auuuggghhh.."

The strike did not seem too hard, but Cheng Kong Hosiang's body was thrown backward, and the old man rolled and writhed in pain because his entire abdomen felt as if it were being stabbed.

"Sumoi, you are too..."

Suma Kiat ran toward Kwi Lan, who was ready to fight her *suheng*, but the young man did not attack her at all; instead, he knelt near Cheng Kong Hosiang's still writhing body.

"*Lo-suhu*, which part hurts? Let me check..."

The young man felt his chest, felt his abdomen, and the old monk no longer groaned, nor did he move anymore.

"*Piauw-te* (Cousin), step aside!"

Kiang Liong snapped at Suma Kiat.

The young man intended to examine and force the *hwesio* to reveal his secrets, but he was shocked when he checked: Cheng Kong Hosiang was already lifeless. He stood up and stared at his cousin's face with a sharp, piercing gaze, but Suma Kiat only sneered. At that moment, a commotion was heard outside the garden, and a commander in gallant attire entered, leading a troop of three dozen personal guards. The commander immediately strode toward Kiang Liong, while his subordinates neatly guarded the exit.

"Hmm, there is no need for us to stay here any longer. Siang Ki, let's go."

Kwi Lan said, having sheathed her sword. Yu Siang Ki nodded. Indeed, he desperately wanted to talk to Kwi Lan about the accusation the girl had thrown earlier. The *kai-pang* leaders present here also moved. The guard commander blocked the way and looked at Kiang Liong with a questioning gaze, awaiting orders. But Kiang Liong said gently,

"Let them go."

Yu Siang Ki felt awkward hearing Kiang Liong's words. He clasped his hands in front of his chest and bowed to Kiang Liong, saying,

"*Kiang-kongcu*, please forgive my behavior just now."

"Hmm, there is nothing to forgive. If you want to apologize, go to the slopes of Cin-lin-san Hill, at Pek-lian-si Temple. There is a novice *nikouw* there who will consider whether you can be forgiven or not."

After saying this, Kiang Liong turned his body, no longer paying attention to the Chief of the Khong-sim Kai-pang. Yu Siang Ki was astonished, not understanding, but because Kiang Liong had turned his back and was talking to the guard commander, and because Kwi Lan had pulled his hand, he was forced to follow the girl out of the garden along with the beggar leaders.

"Kwi Lan, what did all your words about the alliance mean..."

"Shhh, be quiet and let's leave the capital city. There is important work for us. We must go and rescue the Khitan Crown Prince who was captured by Bouw Lek Couwsu."

"What...? How? Where?"

"Shhh, just follow me, I'll explain later."