Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain by Jin Yong Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Jin Yong
muffled sound on the snow alerted him that Fortune and Valour were catching up with him.
Curio's inconsistent pace convinced Fortune that he was not his match in levitational arts. However Valour, the Seven Stars Hand, was able to keep pace with him; he was silent all the way. When he ran fast, so did Valour; and when he slowed down, Valour followed suit. Valour seemed to be managing capably and could still go quite a way; he had not yet tried his utmost. Fortune thought to himself, "You two are testing the strength of an old fellow like me." Then he took a deep breath and made the best use of his levitational arts, acquired through ten years of vigorous training and laborious practice. He glided up the snowy, white slope with his feet barely touching the ground.
Levitational arts had always been a specialty of the Southern Branch, and although Fortune was heavy, when he came to practising the principal martial skill of his Branch, he was as nimble as a monkey. Soon, he found himself over a thousand yards ahead of Curio. But Valour still kept up with him, walking by his side. Fortune tried several times to quicken his pace to shake himself free of Valour, but succeeded only in throwing him off by ten yards or so.
The pinnacle was only some ten miles away. "Brother Valour, how about testing the strength of our legs?" suggested Fortune in good humour. "Let us find out who will be the first to reach the summit."
To this Valour replied, "I doubt that I can beat you."
"Come on, accept a fair challenge," wheedled Fortune.
No sooner had the words been uttered than Fortune made full speed uphill, like an arrow whistling from the bow. In a second, the pinnacle was barely ten yards away. Fortune turned around and found Valour falling behind by some five yards only. Then he activated all his inner energy, and was just about to dash up the mountain when suddenly up bounded Valour, landing right by his side.
"Watch out! Somebody is there," whispered Valour, pointing to the copse on the left of the slope.
"He certainly beats me," shuddered Fortune. "He is much better at levitational arts than I am."
Now Valour bent double, lowered his head and advanced quietly towards the copse while Fortune followed behind.
* * *
They reached the copse, hid behind a huge boulder which jutted out and looked below them. In the valley, swords glistened in the sunlight. Five men were gathered at the end of the valley; three were armed and had posted themselves on three thoroughfares to guard against trespassers. One of the remaining two was digging feverishly under a big tree with a steel hoe, while the other used an iron spade. The two apparently knew their fierce enemies were hot on their trail; they were pressed for time and were digging and shovelling with all their might.
"Just as we expected: Tao Senior and Junior of Horse Spring." Fortune lowered his voice. "I wonder who the other three are?"
"They are all three Chieftains of Horse Spring. They fight fiercely and vigorously," whispered Valour.
"Our five against their five. Just about right," added Fortune.
"The three of us, Curio, you and I, will have no problem handling them," said Valour. "But I am worried about Sign and Radiant. Perhaps we should attack one or two of them from behind? The rest can then be easily taken care of."
Fortune frowned at this suggestion, "If word reaches people moving in our circle that we of the Dragon Lodge make surprise attacks on our adversaries, would we not be mocked by the heroes of the world?"
"To avenge our Brother Pastoral," answered Valour coldly, "we have to wipe out every single enemy and no one shall escape alive. If we keep this to ourselves, nobody will find out."
Fortune asked, "Do Tao Senior and Junior really fight that fiercely?"
Valour nodded. After a while, he said, "If I were to have a proper match of prowess with my opponent, I would not stand a chance." Fortune knew well that Valour was considered the champion of the
Curio's inconsistent pace convinced Fortune that he was not his match in levitational arts. However Valour, the Seven Stars Hand, was able to keep pace with him; he was silent all the way. When he ran fast, so did Valour; and when he slowed down, Valour followed suit. Valour seemed to be managing capably and could still go quite a way; he had not yet tried his utmost. Fortune thought to himself, "You two are testing the strength of an old fellow like me." Then he took a deep breath and made the best use of his levitational arts, acquired through ten years of vigorous training and laborious practice. He glided up the snowy, white slope with his feet barely touching the ground.
Levitational arts had always been a specialty of the Southern Branch, and although Fortune was heavy, when he came to practising the principal martial skill of his Branch, he was as nimble as a monkey. Soon, he found himself over a thousand yards ahead of Curio. But Valour still kept up with him, walking by his side. Fortune tried several times to quicken his pace to shake himself free of Valour, but succeeded only in throwing him off by ten yards or so.
The pinnacle was only some ten miles away. "Brother Valour, how about testing the strength of our legs?" suggested Fortune in good humour. "Let us find out who will be the first to reach the summit."
To this Valour replied, "I doubt that I can beat you."
"Come on, accept a fair challenge," wheedled Fortune.
No sooner had the words been uttered than Fortune made full speed uphill, like an arrow whistling from the bow. In a second, the pinnacle was barely ten yards away. Fortune turned around and found Valour falling behind by some five yards only. Then he activated all his inner energy, and was just about to dash up the mountain when suddenly up bounded Valour, landing right by his side.
"Watch out! Somebody is there," whispered Valour, pointing to the copse on the left of the slope.
"He certainly beats me," shuddered Fortune. "He is much better at levitational arts than I am."
Now Valour bent double, lowered his head and advanced quietly towards the copse while Fortune followed behind.
* * *
They reached the copse, hid behind a huge boulder which jutted out and looked below them. In the valley, swords glistened in the sunlight. Five men were gathered at the end of the valley; three were armed and had posted themselves on three thoroughfares to guard against trespassers. One of the remaining two was digging feverishly under a big tree with a steel hoe, while the other used an iron spade. The two apparently knew their fierce enemies were hot on their trail; they were pressed for time and were digging and shovelling with all their might.
"Just as we expected: Tao Senior and Junior of Horse Spring." Fortune lowered his voice. "I wonder who the other three are?"
"They are all three Chieftains of Horse Spring. They fight fiercely and vigorously," whispered Valour.
"Our five against their five. Just about right," added Fortune.
"The three of us, Curio, you and I, will have no problem handling them," said Valour. "But I am worried about Sign and Radiant. Perhaps we should attack one or two of them from behind? The rest can then be easily taken care of."
Fortune frowned at this suggestion, "If word reaches people moving in our circle that we of the Dragon Lodge make surprise attacks on our adversaries, would we not be mocked by the heroes of the world?"
"To avenge our Brother Pastoral," answered Valour coldly, "we have to wipe out every single enemy and no one shall escape alive. If we keep this to ourselves, nobody will find out."
Fortune asked, "Do Tao Senior and Junior really fight that fiercely?"
Valour nodded. After a while, he said, "If I were to have a proper match of prowess with my opponent, I would not stand a chance." Fortune knew well that Valour was considered the champion of the