Episode 4 – He has no mercy
第四回-不留活口
The morning light shines on several cottages on the end of a path in the hidden land. Here is the Men’s mirror workshop, where Men Da-Qi and Da-Zhu live peacefully. At this time, Men is sitting in front of the door and smoking tobacco while a vigorous young man walking to him.
清晨的陽光照著水月洞天內一條小徑盡頭的幾間小屋,那就是門大器和大柱如今清靜地居住著的門氏鑄鏡坊,此時門大器正坐在門前抽旱煙,一個矯捷的身影走了過來
Shin: (smiling) Uncle Men, long time no see. You look wonderful!
心: (微笑)門大叔,多日不見,您看起來精神不錯
Men:(raises his head and laughs) Isn’t it Shin who is selected as a master? I heard that you went to visit my adopted daughter and son-in-law.(knocking his long stem pipe to clean it and stands up)What’s in their mind anyway? A wedding could be prepared so long that the alcohol bugs in me would cry out!
門: (抬頭笑笑)這不是做了長老的童心小子嗎?聽說你去找我乾女兒女婿了,(敲敲煙桿,站起身來)他們到底在玩什麼把戲?一樁親事籌備了半天還沒個影,我肚子裡的酒蟲都快從鼻子爬出來啦!
Shin:(with a bitter laugh) I come to see you just for that. Elder brother is missing.(Men is shocked and opens his mouth wide) I searched everywhere these days and found that Yu-Jian manor and the famous Wan-Ren clique were both intruded by someone. Further, according to my Sec. Brother, the man who intruded Yu-Jian manor may be elder brother and seemed to look for something. At same time, Mr. Yin zhong disapeared with the Hades sword, too. I feel some connections between these things(Men looks more worried and is smoking) Uncle Men, as a experienced and knowledgeable senior sword forger, could you recall something that is related to those?
心:(苦笑一下)我也正為此事來找您的,大哥失蹤了(門大器驚的張大嘴)我這幾天四處搜尋,發現御劍山莊和另一武林名門萬刃門都發生了有人闖入的事,而且據二哥說,闖入御劍山莊的人有可能是大哥,好像在找什麼東西,同時尹二爺也隨著幽冥劍失蹤了,我感覺這些事之間似乎有什麼關聯,(門大器臉色轉趨凝重,吸了一口煙)門大叔一生鑄造兵器,多識武林掌故,可想得起什麼相關之事?
Men: (exhales smoke slowly) There is indeed a rumor in which the dark-iron that was used to forge the Hades sword, Yu-Jian manor, Wan-Ren clique and another famous place are all involved. This rumor is not well known by regular people, who are not in weapon-forging business and has not been mentioned for several decades. I have to call it back to memory carefully....(narrows his eyes)
門:(緩緩的吐了口煙)的確有一個傳說,跟鑄造幽冥劍的玄鐵,御劍山莊,萬刃門,以及另一個武林有名的地方有關,這傳說不在兵器鑄造一行的人,還真不見的知道,只是幾十年沒人提了,我可得想想....(咪起了眼睛)
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Same day, before dawn, Doug and Xue have chased along the piles of ants every once for some distance toward northeast. Those four people were very careful. They always walked on grass and avoided riding horse. They even separated into two groups as had reached a main forked road. However, for Tien-Xue’s good guess that the guy carries the oil jar is Chi Lie, Doug and Xue never follow the wrong guys. About noon, they arrived a little mountain village, which looks only composed of a few hunter families and almost no outsiders. However, Chi Lie and the other are surely there so Doug and Xue decide that let Doug go into the village in woman beggar suit to inquire about the guys while Xue will search around outside the village for piles of ants. They will meet two hours later.
同日天未明時,豆豆和天雪便沿著地上每隔一段距離出現的一堆螞蟻,向東北方追跡了過去,那四人真的非常小心,一路不但盡量走在草叢中,也沒有換乘馬,在遇到一個較大岔路時,有兩人還分道而行,但就如天雪估計的,背油罈之人正是祁烈,跟著他就沒錯,到得晌午時分,兩人來到了一個小山村外,看來這村子裏只有獵戶,很少外人,祁烈和另一人卻顯然進村去了,天雪和豆豆商量了一下,還是由豆豆扮
成丐婦進村去打聽消息,天雪在村外找尋螞蟻蹤跡,一個時辰後會合
The villagers are very confidential and speak little even if Doug tried to ask question tactfully. Doug can only go out the village and to meet Xue first. She finds Xue, who is with a worried face soon.
山村裏的人口風很緊,無論豆豆如何套問也問不出什麼來,豆豆只好先出村去找天雪,才走不久,就迎面遇上神色凝重的天雪
Xue: Follow me!(turns around and leads)
雪:豆豆,跟我來(轉身先行)
Xue took Doug to a cliff then walks along the foot of it for a while.
天雪帶著豆豆來到一個山壁前,沿著山壁走了幾步
Xue:(touches the cliff) I saw several piles of ants nearby but was not sure that those are result from the sugar powder then I arrived this cliff and found some scorch smell, which is from nowhere. Do you smell that?
雪:(摸著山壁)我在這附近看到幾堆螞蟻,可不確定是不是糖粉造成,到了這山壁前,聞到一股焦味,卻不知從哪傳出來,我覺得不安,就先去找你,你聞到了嗎?
Doug is frowning and nods. She closed her eyes and searched the foot of the cliff with her touch prudently then stops in front of a thin cliff seam.
豆豆皺著眉點點頭,她閉上眼沿著山壁慢慢摸著,停在一處山縫前
Doug:(observing carefullly) This is it!(call Xue come) Look! A artfully carved stone is used here to seal the seam so it’s difficult to recognize here as an entrance. The smell is spreading from here!
豆:(仔細觀察)是這裡了,(把天雪叫來)天雪你看,這用一個特別刻出的石塊把山縫巧妙地封住,所以外表不易辨認,焦味是從這裡面傳出來的
Xue noded and broke the stone with one box then squeezes into the seam with Doug.
The further they walks in the thicker the smell is. As they could see the light of exit, there is also blood smell blending in then they hear a bloodcurdling scream. They looked each other then runs toward exit hurriedly. The brightness of outside makes them half close their eyes. Later, as the circumstance can be seen clearly, they are both stunned.
天雪頷首,一掌劈出將石塊打碎,兩人往山縫中擠了進去,越往裏走,焦味越重,到得她們看見出口的光線,焦味中還混了血腥味,然後聽到一聲慘叫,她們互望一眼,向前急奔,出去之後外面的光線讓她們咪著眼睛,當她們看清楚了四周,不禁都驚呆了
There is a small village before their eyes and it is so small that they can see through it with one glance. On one side of the village, there are a few large waterwheels, which send water of stream into the houses in village. Almost every house in the village has a big chimney and there are blast furnaces, anvils and water troughs settled in all houses in sight. It seems that this is the secret forging village of Wan-Ren clique.
眼前是一個小小的村子,一眼可以望到底,村子一邊有幾個大水車,把溪水送到房舍中,幾乎每個房舍都有個大煙囪,在可以望見的房舍裏,都擺了鼓風爐,砧台,水槽等鑄劍設備,看來這是萬刃門的鑄造密村
What it made Doug and Xue stunned is that there are people everywhere—on the street, roof even the waterwheel—and they are all dead! However, there is not much bloodstains since those people have all been killed by one slash! Somethings like burning house posts knocked down to the furnace by dead bodies are the sources of scorch smell.
而讓豆雪驚訝的是,街上,屋頂上,甚至水車上都有人--死人!不過血跡不多,因為這些人都是被一劍致命!有些被屍體撞倒的屋柱之類被爐火燒著了,則是焦味的來源
While Xue is still watching, Doug abruptly rashs forward with moving skill and stops in front of the main gate of the lardest house here, which is on the end of village. One person is there, the only living one in the village! He pulls a cloth wrapper down from the back of a body lying on the ground while the blood is dripping down silently from the blade of the dragon sword, which he holds in right hand.
天雪還在打量,豆豆卻突然向前使輕功猛衝了出去,直到村子盡頭最大的屋舍門前才停了下來,那有個人,村子裏唯一的活人!那人從地上一個屍體的背上扯下一個包袱,鮮血順著他右手握著的神龍劍的劍鋒流下,無聲的滴在地上
Doug:(with shaking voice) Po....it’s really you....(suddenly shouting) You killed all those people?!
豆:(顫抖的聲音)童大哥....真的是你....(突然大吼)這些人都是你殺的?!
Po stands straight and walks away with clothwrapper like he hasn’t heard anything. Doug rushs to him and grabs his arm.
童博站直了身子,彷彿聽不見豆豆的叫喊,提著包袱轉身就走,豆豆立刻衝上去扯住他手臂
Doug:(crying and shouting) Po, what’s wrong with you? Is your heart occupied by devil? (turns to be in front of him and grabs his collar) Anwser me! Do you still keep the words “You shall not kill” in mind?
豆:(哭叫)童大哥!!你是怎麼回事?中了什麼邪?(轉到他身前扯著他衣襟)你回答我!!你還記不記得”不可殺人”這四個字!!
Po swings his arm all at once and makes Doug fall backward like a rug doll. Fortunately, Xue keeps following her and catches her. Later, Xue heard a roar of dragon then raises her head. She sees a white dragon shadow flying through the village and disappears in the seam she and Doug came from.
童博突然手一揮,豆豆就像稻草人似的向後摔了出去,幸好天雪一直跟在旁邊,接住了豆豆,跟著聽得一聲龍嘯,天雪抬起頭來,只見一個白色龍影穿過村子飛進山縫消失了
Doug flings Xue’s hand away and dashes forward. She almost tripped down by the bodies on the ground for several times. Xue chased after her and paralyzed her to make her rest.
豆豆甩開天雪的手,向前狂叫著奔跑,幾次差點被地上的屍體絆倒,天雪追過去點了她穴道,讓她昏睡一下
Xue: (looks at the seam) Blessed.... It’s blessed that he doesn’t kill her....
雪:(望著山縫,心想)還好.....還好他沒有殺她......
There has already been no any sound here except the wind blows bring the blood smell....
整個村子,除了帶來陣陣血腥味的風聲,竟已無絲毫響動......
As soon as Doug woke up, she and Xue went back to Long-Ze manor immediately. Zen, who stares at Xue after listening to the describing of the things happened in that village, feels like all his blood is frozen. He wanted to shout “I don’t believe that!” out but he didn’t. He knows that Xue won’t lie to him and must not be joking by that, either. Zen closed his eyes for a moment then looks back to Doug, who is sitting woodenly, for a while.
待得豆豆醒轉,豆雪二人火速趕回龍澤山莊,童戰在聽完天雪的描述後,只覺全身的血液都似乎要凝結了,他瞪著天雪,想吼出”我不相信”四字,卻是出不了聲,他知道天雪不會騙他,更不會拿這種事開玩笑,他閉上眼一會,轉頭望了呆呆坐在椅上的豆豆一下
Zen: (trying to make it sounds calm) that might be done by another one, who is with a look of elder brother and a fake dragon sword.
戰:(盡量使聲音平靜)那也許是另一個人,假扮了大哥樣子,拿著仿造的神龍劍做的
Xue: (looks him) Then how to explain the Long-shen-gong? (Stops for a while) Would you say that one might be Sec. Uncle? Or the third guy, who can use the Long-shen-gong? Sincerely, I hope that guy was Sec. Uncle so Doug would not be so heartbroken... But, I still trust in Doug’s feeling. That is elder brother!
雪:(望著他)那龍神功呢?(頓了一下)你是不是要說可能是二叔?可能是第三個會龍神功的人?(垂下眼去)老實說....我寧願是二叔,豆豆就不會那麼傷心....可是我仍相信豆豆的感覺,那是大哥!
Zen takes a deep breath and shows a resolute expression in his eyes.
童戰吸了口氣,露出堅定的眼神
Zen: Let’s go back to the hidden land and inquire the Masters.
戰:我們回水月洞天問長老去!
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The Wu-Yin[means”no silver”] fort sited on a col 20 miles south from the canal. The view is good but the building is not so attractive, just like a regular rich family. Only a professional eye can recognize that the four words on the banner of the main gate”real gold looks copper” are made of true gold mine stone. A man who wears a leaf hat is now standing in front of main gate and watching the couplet written on both side of gate. The small side door is opened and a servant walks out.
無銀堡坐落在運河南邊約二十里處的一個山坳中,風景雖秀,卻是並不起眼,僅像個尋常大戶人家,只有識貨之人,才知道門上的橫幅”真金似銅”四字是用真正金原礦打造的,此時一個戴著斗笠的人正站在門前看著門邊的對聯,門旁小門打開,一個家人走了出來
Servant:(salutes to the visitor)Sir, my master said that he doesn’t want to meet you. I am sorry but....
家人:(向來人拱手)大爺,我家老爺說不想見您,請您.....
The visitor looks deeply into that servant’eyes and the eye expression of the visitor is filled with queer, soul-sucking shine.
來人卻向那家人深深地看著,眼神充滿了奇異的,攝人心魄的光芒
The visitor:(deep voice) Please bring me in. Your master would be willing to meet me.
來人:(低沉的聲音)請您帶在下進去,老爺會見我的
That servant looks straightly to the visitor for a while then replies with dull eyes.
那家人直勾勾地看著來人,過了一會,眼神呆滯地回應
Servant: My master would be willing to meet you. I’ll bring you in.(brings the visitor in through the side door)
家人:老爺會見您的,我帶您進去(帶著來人從小門進去)
The view inside is what can be seen in average wealthy family. That servant, though, frequently reaches his hand to push or move something in the flowerpots, behind railings or under the rocks. When they arrive a side hall, there is a old man in his sixties sits on a delicate big chair which its back faces the door.
裡面是普通中等富戶的庭園景色,但一路上那家人頻頻在如花盆,欄杆後或石塊下面按或是推一下,到了一個偏廳,有一個年約六旬的老者坐在一張背對門口的太師椅上
Old man:(a little unpleased) Hui! I said I don’t want to meet the visitor!
老者:(有點不悅)阿輝,我不是說了我不見來客的麼?
That servant looks like just waking up from a dream and doesn’t know why he is here.
那家人如夢初醒,看了看四周,竟似不知自己為何在此
Hui: My master, I...I....
阿輝:老...老爺,小的.....
The visitor:(salute to the old man) This Sir here must be Mr.Jin. I am Tung San. I have actually some important matters to talk with you so played a little trick on your servant. Please forgive me.
來人:(向老者拱手)想必這位就是金老爺,在下童三,實有要事和金老爺相商,才對貴家人使了點小手段,請金老爺見諒
Without any apparent movement of Mr.Jin, the big chair turns around and faces the door. Mr.Jin sends the servant out and looks Tung San up and down.
也不見金老爺有什麼動作,太師椅便突然轉了過來面向門口,他遣走家人,打量了童三幾眼
Mr.Jin:(with disdain) You certainly has some tricks but couldn’t fool me by that. For your achievement of arriving here, I’ll give you this!(pushs somewhere on the handle) Go!
金老爺:(不屑地)你是有點鬼門道,不過還矇不到老夫,看在你到的了老夫面前的份上(在椅把上按了一下)這個給你,走吧!
A ingot of silver weighs about 2.5Kg drops out from an opening of a pillar and rolls to the front of San. But San doesn’t even give it a glance and just looks at Mr.Jin with a smile.
一錠足有五十兩重的銀子,居然從柱子上一個開口掉出來,滾到童三面前,童三卻看都不看一眼,只笑望金老爺
San:Mr.Jin, I do not come for this. (steps forward) First, I like to know if there is anything unusual happened here these days? Has any intruder appeared?
童三:金老爺,在下不是為此而來,(上前一步)先請教金老爺,貴堡這兩日,可有發生什麼不尋常之事?可有人闖入?
Mr.Jin:(with a dry laugh) I don’t need a stranger to interfere with the matters in this fort. Now that the money is not what you want, I have nothing to talk with you. You should be able to go out for you could come in. I won’t see you off! (with left foot slightly moves)
金:(乾笑一聲)敝堡之事,無須外人插手,既然閣下意不在財,老夫跟閣下沒什麼好談的,閣下進的來自當出的去,老夫少陪了!(左腳微微一動)
A trap door appears abruptly behind the big chair and Mr. Jin withdraws with the chair into the door then it closes. Tung San smiles and boxes forward in air. The box blast hits on the trap door and makes a loud noise. Soon, the floor in front of the door sinks and a huge pole knocks down on the place floor sinks.
太師椅後突然出現一個暗門,金老爺連人帶椅退了進去,暗門隨即關上,童三微笑一下,一掌凌空劈出,掌風撞在暗門上,發出咚的一聲大響,立刻暗門前的地板就陷了下去,一根大柱隨即打在地板陷落處
San: (laughing with loud and clear voice) Mr. Jin, You missed me!
三:(朗聲笑道)金老爺,你可沒打到在下呢!
Soon, from each pillar around San, shoots out four steel threads to attack him. He hits some away and dodges the others. Then countless ultra-thin needles are shot out from furniture in the hall. At this time, San chants a strange sentence.
過了一會,從四周柱子裏,突然各飛出四根鋼絲,向童三打去,童三運勁打開數根,閃過其他的,此時從四週家具中,又射出無數細如毛髮的針,童三立刻唸了句怪話
San: Control the power of thunder; let the light net protect me!
三:御雷之力,光網護身!
There is a layer of light net composed of threads of lightning occurs around San and all the thin needles fall down with a trace of smoke as soon as they touch the net. However, before all the needles reach the floor, the whole piece of hall floor is sinking and the bottom of the hall becomes a big hole! San, though, has not fallen! He murmurs something and is floating in air then somersaults backward and lands on the ground outside the hall.
童三身邊出現一層由一道道閃光組成的光網,所有的牛毛細針碰到那層網,都發出一絲清煙,落在地上,但沒等那些針全部落地,整個偏廳的地面就居然通通陷落,成了個大洞,可是童三竟沒有掉下去,只見他口中不知喃喃念著什麼,身體浮在空中,然後向後一翻,落在偏廳外的地上
San: (with clear voice) Mr. Jin! I know you can see and hear me and there are still many traps could be used to attack me in Wu-Yin fort, where is famous with numberless apparatuses and mechanism. However, according to my knowledge, the apparatuses need power source and the amount of attacking gadgets is limited. I’ve brought enough food and can dawdle here with you for over ten days. How many traps would you waste on me? How much ability would you keep to confront the other enemy? As you see, I possess the skill to resist your apparatuses. If I really have malicious intent, would you sleep tight?
三:(朗聲)金老爺!在下知道你看的見我,聽的見我,也知道以無數機關削器聞名的無銀堡還有很多東西可以對付在下,可是在下聽說,機關需靠力量牽引,暗器也有用盡之時,在下帶了足夠乾糧,可跟金老爺耗上十天半月,期間金老爺要損耗多少機關之力在在下身上?還有多少餘力對抗另一個強敵?金老爺看見了,在下有不懼機關之術,如果真有歹意,金老爺豈能安枕?
That trap door suddenly opens. Mr. Jin shows behind the door and still sits on the big chair.
那道暗門倏然打開,金老爺出現在門後,仍坐在太師椅上
Mr. Jin: (slightly angry) what do you want anyway?
金:(微怒)你到底想怎樣?
San: (sincerely) Mr. Jin, I just like to be your fort guard for a few days.
三:(誠挚地)金老爺,在下只想做幾天無銀堡的護院!
Mr. Jin: (slightly surprised) What?
金:(微訝)什麼?
San: You don’t have to pay me and just give me a place to stay and the freedom of act. My goal is to meet the man who wants to intrude here.
三:金老爺無須付在下酬勞,只需給在下棲身之地和行動自由,在下的目的只是要會一會那個企圖侵入無銀堡的人
Mr. Jin: (looks hesitantly) How could I know you wouldn’t be his partner!
金:(疑色)我怎麼知道你跟他不是一夥的!
San: (with his corner of mouth rising) Mr. Jin, I cannot tell you more now. The only thing I can say is I thought the target of that intruder should be that heirloom of your family (Mr. Jin’s cheek shakes) If you trust me, I promise I will try to protect it for you. If you don’t, I’m still gonna stay here. Consider it!
三:(嘴角微揚)金老爺,在下目前無法再多說什麼,只能說在下認為那人的目的應該是貴堡的那件家傳之物(金老爺頰肉抖動了幾下)如果金老爺相信在下,在下一定為您設法保住此物,如果不信,在下仍會賴在這兒,金老爺自己考慮吧!
Mr. Jin kept silent for a while then closes the trap door again. Soon, from a corner of the garden, a ball-shaped paper flies out. Tung San catches it and unfolds it. There is a gold ring wrapped in the paper and some words written on it. The words says:
金老爺沉默了一會,把暗門再關上,不久從花園一角,突然飛出一個紙團,童三伸手接住,展開一看,裏面包著一枚細細的金戒指,紙上寫道:
“You can go every part of this building except the main bedrooms. There will be a servant leads you in every part. You don’t have to see me again. Don’t reply to my daughter! ”
“憑此戒可出入除主內堂外所有院落,各院落家僕會帶你,你無須再見我,不要理我女兒!”
The last sentence is really weird. Tung San smiles and puts the ring on his finger. He walks to the inner parts of the building and stops at a moon gate because he thought he should wait for someone to lead him. At this time, a young lady with a servant girl walks toward him along the path in the garden. She looks normal and doesn’t put an eye on San so he doesn’t care about her, either. But, when the lady reaches the side of San, She attacks San with her sword unexpectedly. In fact that attack is not so splendid or fast but the sharpness of the aurora of the sword is merely seen in San’s experience. Even San dodged so quickly; one piece of his sleeve was still cut down.
最後一句實在有點莫名其妙,童三笑了一下,把戒指戴在手上,向內進走去,到了一個月洞門前,他認為應該等人來帶他,就站在那兒,此時一個容貌秀麗,拿著把劍,身後跟著個小婢的年輕女子沿著小徑走了過來,女子神色平淡,也沒有看他,童三本來不以為意,可是那女子走到童三身邊時,突然一劍向童三劃去,老實說這一招並不精妙也不多快,可是那劍的寒光之凌厲,卻是童三生平僅見,他急忙閃避,卻還是被削下一片衣袖
Lady: (returning her sword to the sheath slowly) well, you’re really skilled. That’s why my father locked the middle gate a moment ago. He hasn’t done that for a long time. (She observed San then is shocked after seeing that gold ring) My father really trusts you! He’s given you the gold ring! Ol’ Kong got that after 20 years working for us! (Squinting at San) I don’t know what kind of spell you put on my father and made a chicken-hearted fox like him trust you so much. (Raise her sword) However, you best remember that I am different from my father and don’t trust you. Leave me alone! (Going away with her servant-girl)
女子:(把劍緩緩插回鞘裏)你倒有些真功夫,難怪能逼得我爹暫時封住中門,他很久沒這麼作了(打量了童三一下,看見那枚戒指,現出驚訝之色)我爹居然相信你!給了你金戒指!老孔在我家做了二十年才拿到!(斜眼望著童三)我不知你給我爹灌了什麼迷湯,讓他這個膽小老狐狸這麼信你!(舉起劍來)不過你最好記住!我跟我爹不同! 我不相信你,你最好少惹我!(轉身跟婢女離去)
Tung San shakes his head with a bitter laugh. Now he knows the meaning of that last sentence on the paper.
童三搖頭苦笑了一下,倒是了解了金老爺紙上最後一句話的意思
---------episode 4 end-----------------
----------------第四回完--------------
本集出場新角色:金如海-岳耀利,金靈-安以軒
Episode 5 – A Lost Dragon
第五回-迷途神龍
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