The Fragrant Wood Swordsman
pk 02 part 9

Keng Hong stood up. After he witnessed the action of three demon humans and nine people who claimed to be kang-ouw figures, he said, his heart grew cold towards Kun-lun-pai whom he had held high as the center of the virtuous saints. He looked sharply at Kiang Tojin and then said,

"Totiang, even to death I will not deny that Totiang has helped my life and even to death I will always remember and will try to return the favor Totiang. However, does the mind that Totiang used to be free contain strings attached so that during my life I have to follow and obey all Totiang's will? Is Totiang trying to take away my freedom? Totiang, once I read the words in the ancient book that the gratitude is accompanied by selflessness is not the renunciation of his name, but the debt that must be paid back along with his flowers! Did Totiang give me a favor?"

"Ha-ha-ha...!" Sin-jiu Kiam-ong laughs curled up and he caresses the boy's head. "Boy, you are full of tempestuous spirit! Uh, Kiang-toyu, I'm sorry, yes. It seems this boy has already caught my character! Now what are you going to say, Toyu?"

Kiang Tojin's face became red, he became anxious for the child because there was actually not the slightest bit of selflessness in his heart to ask for the child's reply. He was trying to separate Keng Hong from Sin-jiu Kiam-ong because in his heart he was not willing and did not like to see Keng Hong become a student of this extraordinary grandfather. This feeling solely arose out of affection for Keng Hong.

He knows the kind of person who is Sin-jiu Kiam-ong, a man who since his youth only relies on transverse poor intelligence, an adventurer who never hesitates to do all kinds of mischief, he said, pursuers of pleasure gratuities. He wanted to see Keng Hong become a good person and he understood that if this child became a disciple of the sword king, it would inherit his wild disposition and adventurous spirit. He breathed and said,

"Siancai, only God knows the human heart! Taihiap, I never wanted to influence Keng Hong and it was up to him to be Taihiap's student himself. But there is one thing that Taihiap should know well and especially by Keng Hong himself. Since he was not the son of Kun-lun-pai's disciple, and had nothing to do with Kun-lun-pai, then in the future all his lunge had nothing to do with Kun-lun-pai. Taihiap is welcome to occupy Kiam-kok-san because Taihiap is a Kun-lun-pai helper, but later when Taihiap is no longer in Kiam-kok-san, he is not, of course we will prohibit Keng Hong from being in our territory. Well, farewell, Taihiap, may Thian always protect and bestow His blessings."

Tosu beckoned to his brothers, then after jutting towards Sin-jiu Kiam-ong immediately left the place to return to the top and gave a report to Thian seng Cinjin.

Sin-jiu Kiam-ong laughs and holds Keng Hong's hand to be invited to climb the summit of Kiam-kok-san while saying, "Don't assume all that toshu talk, Hong-ji. They are bound people, shackled by their religious accomplices, pity...! All rules made by man are fetters that will bind his own accomplices. Ehh, your name uses the letter Hong, the same as my name. We are a fool... aughhh...!" The grandfather held onto his chest and his legs staggered.

"Ehh... why? Temperatures.... Temperature's hurt...?"

The grinning face withstanding the pain was radiant again. "Ahh, not how great. Did you know that when you mentioned Kong-kong to me, I felt as if you were my own grandson? Ha-ha-ha-ha! How funny, even married never, how can you have grandchildren? You're more apt to be my student. I will give all of mine to you, my disciple. Hopefully it's not too late. Let us go up to Kiam-kok-san and you must be diligent in studying because there is not much time. I. satan accursed the three devils. I am wounded, if only the poison has been broken Siang-bhok-kiam, but. ahhh…, their blows damaged the contents of my already less powerful chest...! Hopefully it's not too late..."

When they entered the thick cucumber that sealed off the top of the sword stone, Keng Hong almost became stiff by the coldness. His whole body shivered until his upper teeth clashed with his lower teeth. But he persisted, not complaining at all.

When his temperature released him and Keng Hong looked around him, he saw that now he was at the top of the sword stone, and that the peak was not tapering as it seemed from below. The thick cucumber did not reach the top, but rather floated underneath.

The peak itself shone with a very beautiful sunlight and the peak was wide enough to be rectangular, as if the peak had tapered and then broken. It was over fifty meters wide and there was a small hut, and the earth or stone was overgrown with grass and light green moss.

Surrounding the peak was mere lurking, as if the place was no longer a part of the world, but rather in another world, in the middle of the sky among the white clouds! But Keng Hong was not strong anymore because suddenly his stomach became convulsing so cold and he collapsed fainting near the foot of his desert!

Keng Hong came to his senses near the bonfire. When he got up and sat down, he saw his teacher cross-legged nearby and this teacher was sticking a palm on his back.

"Sit cross-legged, Keng Hong, and set your breath slowly. With the help of a hot fire, emphasize in your heart and mind that the air is not at all cold, even rather hot. Don't hesitate, I'll help you."

How possible, the boy argued. Eve was very cold, even the heat of the fire was not felt at all by her. What if there was no palm of his teacher attached to his back, the palm of his hand that seemed to enter the heat that spread throughout his body, of course he would not be strong to resist.

But he obeyed his temperature command, sitting cross-legged and breathing deeply, long, while emphasizing the belief that the air was not as cold as he had originally thought. It was a bit difficult, but the more silent he focused his attention, the more he felt that he had mistakenly guessed. The air is not very cold. The longer it gets hotter until it starts to sweat around his neck!

"Our bodies are only tools, my disciple. When our mind is strong, then we will be able to master the tools that will do all the commands of our brain and will. You must practice like this, strengthening your will until your whole body submits and obeys you. If your heart says hot, your body should feel hot, but if it says cold, it should feel cold." Grandpa gave the first lesson.