The Nine Cauldrons

Chapter 4: Eyes Filled with Emotion

On the fourth day, Teng Qingshan was in the courtyard of his rented residence located in Yangzhou City.

He sat cross-legged in the courtyard. The night had passed and when the first ray of sunlight shone down on Yangzhou City, Teng Qingshan opened his eyes almost at the same time. His mind was calm like water, and his spirit reserved. He stood up and faced the rising sun as he took in a deep breath. With a calm expression, he started performing the Twelve Forms of Xing Yi.

The Twelve Forms of Xing Yi were the forms of Dragon, Tiger, Eagle, Monkey, Horse, Swallow, Harrier, Chicken, Bear, Sparrowhawk, Alligator, and Snake.

Each stance had its own profoundness.

When Teng Qingshan was performing the Dragon Form, he was like a swimming dragon bursting from the water, moving through great waves. He was quick as lightning, spinning and gaining force from his momentum. Suddenly, he thrusted his fist out and a sharp sound that sounded like an electric drill spinning and piercing through the air rang out. The Dragon Form and the Xing Yi Five Element Fists ’s ‘Drilling Fist’ combined almost perfectly.

When he was performing the Tiger Form, his body moved so quickly that it made one felt as if it was the flash of an illusion. With both his palms and feet on the ground, he suddenly leaped out like a ferocious tiger descending from the mountains. A low whistle rang out. His left fist twisted and turned while his right fist was sent out as if it was a missile, causing the sounds of firecrackers crackling. His left and right fists crossed paths and then he launched out his left fist again… The cycle repeated as he attacked in turns with his left and right fist. He was like a tiger descending from the mountains with claws tearing out incessantly, appearing to have the desire to tear his prey into pieces.

…

After performing the fist technique for one round, the sun had already completely leaped out from the horizon.

Facing the rising stance, resolve!

As Teng Qingshan watched the rising sun, his gaze appeared unmoved and firm like a rock. Ever since his wife passed away, Teng Qingshan only pursued ‘martial arts’ with an extremely strong determination. This resulted in the improvement of Teng Qingshan’s comprehension of the Xing Yi Martial Art. Each improvement of his understanding of the Xing Yi Martial allowed Teng Qingshan to sense the profundity of the martial art.

“It has been three days, but I’ve yet to see Qinghe!” Teng Qingshan frowned. However, he then smiled as he thought to himself, “However, the efficiency of the ‘Hand of Darkness’ is really low to have only discovered my traces yesterday evening.”

Teng Qingshan had initially thought that the Hand of Darkness would be able to track him down within a day, considering that Yangzhou City was only over a hundred kilometers away from Anyi County City. Yet, who would have thought that they were only able to find him on the third evening. However, this was not surprising either because the Hand of Darkness had originally thought that Teng Qingshan would escape somewhere far away immediately after his location was exposed. Therefore, they spent a large part of their energy on somewhere else.

They didn’t expect that Teng Qingshan would have no fear of death and actually continued staying in Yangzhou City.

“It’s been three consecutive days and I still haven’t found Qinghe… As a member of the country’s special department, Qinghe might have been held up by something important.” As usual, Teng Qingshan left his residence, took a taxi, and headed straight for Old City District’s Willow Tea House.

Under normal circumstances, Teng Qingshan would stay in Willow Tea House during morning and then stay at the White Cloud Cafe nearby in the afternoon as he could see his younger brother’s house from within the White Cloud Cafe.

******

In the Willow Tea House in the Old City District in Yangzhou City:

“Sir, you’re here. Please come in.” The waiter led Teng Qingshan to the seat next to a window on the second storey with great familiarity. “Sir? Is it still soya milk and xiaolongbao?” For three consecutive days, Teng Qingshan had sat at the same spot, ordered the same food, and stayed for the entire afternoon. Of course the waiters knew well of what Teng Qingshan was going to order.

Teng Qingshan nodded slightly, “That’s right. Thank you.” He then turned and looked out the window towards the house of his younger brother, Qinghe.

“Mmm, Qinghe hadn’t gone home at all for the past few days. What’s going on?” Teng Qingshan frowned slightly. This was his fourth day of observing. After a few consecutive days of observation, Teng Qingshan was now very familiar with his younger brother’s home. He would be able to differentiate if anyone had touched the doors, windows, and curtains with just one glance.

There were no changes!

Through his observations, he realized that Qinghe’s place had not housed anyone for that few days

“In a few days, ‘Sharpshooter’ Sun Ze and ’Body Crusher’ Dolgoterov will be here. I hope that I’ll be able to see my younger brother before this battle with them.” Teng Qingshan thought to himself.

“Sir, here’s your soya milk and xiaolongbao.”

The waiter served up a basket of xiaolongbao and a big cup of soya milk. Teng Qingshan began eating his breakfast as he waited quietly…

……

A slight breeze blew as a Land Rover’s Range Rover SUV drove along the streets of the Old City District. This domineering and manly car was being driven by a delicate short-haired beauty. When a beauty drives a car like this, it emanated a different charm, causing the eyes of many people along the streets to lit up as they gasped in admiration.

Lin Qing drove the Land Rover silently.

She had long gotten used to the gazes along the streets. Her face now only had a faint lonely expression.

“I had thought that I’d just live my life muddling along without any aim, but the heavens gave me the chance to meet him… Teng Qingshan, he’s like a gust of wind, coming abruptly, bringing colors to my life once again. However, also like a gust of wind, he left without a sound.” Lin Qing’s gaze appeared cold. Suddenly, her eyes spotted a tea house along the streets—Willow Tea House.

In Yangzhou City, Willow Tea House’s reputation was far a match for that of the Rich Spring Tea House, but it also had a long history and its prices were much cheaper in comparison.

Making the usual turn, Lin Qing parked her Land Rover in front of the tea house and stepped into Willow Tea House.

“Miss Lin,” When the waiter saw Lin Qing, he immediately welcomed her warmly, “It’s been awhile since you last came.”

“I went travelling.” Lin Qing smiled faintly and said as she headed up the stairs.

……

Teng Qingshan had already finished his breakfast and was having some tea as he continued focusing on his younger brother Qinghe’s house.

“Teng Qingshan!” A slightly trembling voice rang out.

Teng Qingshan froze for a moment. In Yangzhou City, not many people know him. Puzzled, he turned and saw a short-haired lady dressed in a white blouse and a pair of long black pants—Lin Qing! When Teng Qingshan met Lin Qing’s gaze, he suddenly felt his calm heart quivered.

Lin Qing’s gaze appeared angry and anxious, containing a hint of joy and a hint of annoyance. What kind of eyes were those that they were able to hold so much emotions?

“Little Cat…”

Teng Qingshan could still remember the scene which happened when he was twenty years old. Back then, he was on a mission with his wife ‘Cat’ in Lebanon, a middle-eastern country. In a state of emergency, he had taken off Little Cat’s clothes and removed the bullet from her wound. During that time, Cat also looked at him like how Lin Qing did…

It was both angry and anxious and the hint of both joy and anger.

It was the same exact gaze!

It was also after that time that Cat and him and taken the crucial step forward and became lovers.

“Teng Qingshan, didn’t you say that you have some important things to tend to and need to rush back to your hometown? You even said that you live in the mountainous area and I wouldn’t know about it. Why are you still in Yangzhou?” Lin Qing sat down opposite Teng Qingshan as she demanded an explanation. However, she realized that Teng Qingshan remained silent and was just staring at her.

Staring at her eyes!

It was very rude for one to meet a lady’s glance.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Qing could not help but asked. Although she said this, there was a hint of joy in her heart. Teng Qingshan, this blockhead, has finally noticed her charm.

“Your eyes…they look very much like my wife’s.” Teng Qingshan let out a soft sigh, drew back his gaze, and took a sip of tea.

Lin Qing was stunned.

“Your wife?” Earlier, Lin Qing was still infuriated and wanted to ask why Teng Qingshan had lied to her. However, when she heard the word, ‘wife’, she was completely stunned. “You…Didn’t you just graduated and left university? Why do you have a wife?”

“University?”

Teng Qingshan shook his head as he answered, “I have never attended a university before.”

In actuality, even the spectacles were fake and was just a tool for the disguise.

“You, you…” Lin Qin was absolutely confused.

“I’m sorry to have deceived you all this while. I lied when I said that I stayed in the mountainous area; I also lied when I said that I had just graduated from university.” Teng Qingshan smiled faintly and said, “Lin Qing, I really do have an important matter, but it’s inappropriate for you to get involved in it. That was why I have been lying to you all this while. There are many things that are too complicated to be explained. The best solution is for you to take it as if you have never met me before.”

Lin Qing had felt that Teng Qingshan was mysterious to begin with. It was because of the shocking power and physical abilities he had displayed in the northeastern Great Xing An Mountain. And right now, Lin Qing felt that Teng Qingshan was more mysterious than ever before.

“Take it that I haven’t met you before?” Lin Qing stared at Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan nodded.

Lin Qing could sense that the apathy Teng Qingshan had hidden in his heart seemed to be rejecting other people from coming into contact with him and understanding him!

“You’ve been lying to me all this while. Don’t you plan to make it up to me?” Lin Qing asked.

“Make it up to you?” Teng Qingshan frowned.

“Are you busy today?” Lin Qing asked.

Teng Qingshan nodded slightly, “I’ll be staying at the cafe next door for the entire afternoon.”

“Excellent,” Lin Qing smiled and nodded, “My request won’t be difficult. I just want to keep you company when you are enjoying your tea here. When you head for the cafe in the afternoon, I’ll join you too. If you have to meet someone else, I won’t interrupt. I want to be with you for the entire day. What do you think?”

Teng Qingshan was a little puzzled. It was only so that she could stay next to him for a day?

If she were to insist to be stay next to him, there was no way he could stop her.

“Alright.” Teng Qingshan nodded and Lin Qing broke into a smile.

[1] Xiaolongbao is a type of steamed bun (baozi) from the Jiangnan region of China, especially associated with Shanghai and Wuxi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaolongbao