Heaven-relying Sword And Dragon-slaying Sabre

Zhang Wuji's heart was torn; he remembered Zhao Min's cheerful talks and her touching actions. He felt if he could take Zhao Min as his wife and be with her forever, then that would be his entire's life happiness. But as he remembered the seven horizontal and eight vertical sword cuts on Yin Li's face dripping-with-blood, he hastily said, "Miss Zhao is my archenemy. I want to kill her to avenge Biaomei's [younger female cousin] blood."

"That's more like it," Xie Xun said, "Miss Zhou, are you still jealous?"

In a low voice Zhou Zhiruo said, "I am not convinced, unless … unless you tell him to make a vow. Otherwise, I'd rather die with poison in me than asking him to help me drive the poison away."

"Wuji, quickly make a vow!" Xie Xun said.

Zhang Wuji dropped down on his knees and said, "I, Zhang Wuji, if I ever forget Biaomei's deep hatred, let me not be forgiven by the Heaven and the Earth."

Zhou Zhiruo said, "I want you to state clearly; what are you going to do to that Miss Zhao?"

"Wuji, state it clearly at once," Xie Xun said, "What 'forgiven by the Heaven and the Earth'? Too ambiguous."

In a loud and clear voice Zhang Wuji said, "That witch Zhao Min works for Tartars' imperial family, makes our people's live miserable, harms my fellow Wulin warriors, stole my Yifu's precious Saber, and harmed my Biaomei Yin Li. As long as I live, Zhang Wuji will not dare to forget this deep enmity. If I violate my vow, let the Heaven loathe me, and the Earth curse me."

Zhou Zhiruo smiled sweetly; she said, "I am afraid when the time comes, you won't have a heart to make your move."

"Listen to me," Xie Xun said, "There is no particular day that is better than any other day. We are Jianghu's warriors. We don't fuss over detailed formalities and womenfolk's mumbo-jumbo. As long as you, two young people, agree, then you can bow to the Heaven and the Earth to get married today. The sooner you get rid of this 'shi xiang ruan jin san', the better."

"No! Yifu, Zhiruo, please listen to me," Zhang Wuji said, "Miss Yin had a very deep feeling toward me; she had always wanted me as her husband since she was young. In my heart I have also regarded her as my wife. Although there was no ceremony, we could be considered husband and wife. Now that her body and her bones are not yet cold, how can I tie another joyous relationship immediately?"

Xie Xun hesitated before saying, "That's true. What do you suggest, then?"

"In your child's opinion," Zhang Wuji replied, "Child will agree on an engagement with Miss Zhou today, and immediately help her repel the poison from her body; this will be much more convenient. Supposing the Heaven granted us returning to the Central Earth someday, Child will put Zhao Min to the blade and recapture the Tulong Saber, and return it to Yifu. At that time the marriage with Miss Zhou can be consummated. That way we satisfy both sides."

Xie Xun laughed and said, "That sounds very good; but what if within ten years, eight years, we still are not able to return to the Central Earth?"

Zhang Wuji said, "After three years, no matter whether we can leave this island or not, Child will ask Yifu to preside over our marriage."

Xie Xun nodded and asked Zhou Zhiruo, "Miss Zhou, what do you say?"

Zhou Zhiruo lowered her head without answering. After half a day she finally said, "I am a lone orphan, what idea do I have? I'll leave everything on Laoye Zi's hand."

Xie Xun laughed heartily and said, "Very good! Very good! It's settled. You two are engaged. No need to worry about custom and tradition. Wuji, drive the poison from my daughter-in-law away." After saying this he walked to toward the back of the hill in big strides.

"Zhiruo," Zhang Wuji said, "That difficulty was caused by me, can you forgive me?"

Zhou Zhiruo smiled and said, "Because I am ugly, you tried to refuse in every possible way. If it was Miss Zhao, I am afraid tonight you would have…" Speaking to this point, she turned her head around as she felt uncomfortable to continue.

Zhang Wuji's heart skipped a beat as he thought, "When we were adrift on that small boat, I was foolishly and presumptuously thinking of marrying four beauties. Actually the one my heart really loves is that won't-stop-at-any-crime, evil-and-sly little witch. People call me a hero in vain; in my heart I cannot differentiate good from evil, easily infatuated by a pretty face."

Zhou Zhiruo turned her head back. Seeing he was lost in thought as if in a trance, she stood up to walk away. Zhang Wuji reached out to grab her hand and pulled her down. Unexpectedly Zhou Zhiruo's internal energy was gone; her feet were weak. She staggered and stumbled back into Zhang Wuji's bosom. After struggling hopelessly, she angrily said, "Must you bully me for my whole life?"

Seeing her frowning and a bit angry, Zhang Wuji's heart was touched; he hugged her tender and soft body and said in a low voice, "Zhiruo, when we met on the River Han when we were both little, I have never imagined there will come a day like today. On the Brightness Peak I was alone facing four elders from Kunlun and Huashan, two sects; you gave me directions and saved my life. At that time I appreciated your loving care to me, but I did not dare to have any absurd thoughts."

Leaning on his bosom, Zhou Zhiruo said, "That day I stabbed you with a sword, don't you hate me?"

"You did not stab me on the chest," Zhang Wuji replied, "That's why I knew that you secretly have a feeling toward me."

"Pei!" Zhou Zhiruo spat, her cheeks blushed, she said, "If I knew early on that you are going to say that, I'd stab your chest, kill you neat and clean, so I'd avoid being bullied by you later on, listening to your nonsense."

Zhang Wuji embraced her tighter and said, "Hereafter my love to you will be doubled or tripled, we are husband and wife, two people one body; how can I mistreat you?"

Zhou Zhiruo leaned some more to look at his face; she said, "What if I wrong you or offend you, will you hit me, scold me, kill me?"

Zhang Wuji's face was only several inches apart from her egg shaped face, he felt her breath was like an orchid; he could not restrain from kissing her left cheek gently while saying, "You are such a gentle and cultured lady, a dignified, worthy, warm and virtuous wife; how can you make a mistake?"

Zhou Zhiruo gently caressed the back of his neck. "Even a saint erred," she said, "Since I was little I had never had a father and a mother to instruct me. It would be difficult not to mess up sometimes."

"Whatever your mistake is, I can advise you nicely," Zhang Wuji said.

"Will you always be faithful to me?" Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Are you sure you won't ever kill me?"

Zhang Wuji kissed her gently on her forehead; "Don't have absurd ideas," he said in a tender voice, "How can there be such thing?"

With a trembling voice Zhou Zhiruo said, "I want you to promise me with your own mouth."

"All right!" Zhang Wuji laughed, "I will always be faithful to you. I won't ever kill you."

Staring at his eyes, Zhou Zhiruo said, "I don't want you to joke around. I want you to take this seriously."