Chapter 203 - Suicide Woman

The flight was in the morning and Liang Zheng-Chun, Xia Lei and Lu Sheng were already in the hotel on Emei mountain when evening came. The hotel was the one the organiser had arranged for them and quite a few martial artists had already been booked onto the same floor. Liang Zheng-Chun knew some of them and had gone off early to chat. Lu Sheng had gone with him. It looked like one of his motives in coming for the martial arts seminar was to get to know more martial artists. Xia Lei was bored and walked around Jinding* by himself.

The hazy dusk of twilight enveloped Jinding. The Ten-Faced Puxian Stupa and Grand Hall of the Great Sage were originally golden but the added glow of sunset made it appear more golden. A sea of clouds surged by its peak, not fast, but giving one the impression of a thousand men and horses galloping imposingly and majestically across the sky. It was Xia Leis first time seeing such scenery and he was stunned.

The sun soon sank into the clouds in the west and the light faded from Jinding. The sky was still as blue as if itd been washed and stars sparkled in the sky like inlaid gems. This was also another beautiful piece of scenery.

Xia Lei was affected by the great view and thought, I should bring Si-Yao here next time were free. Shes lively and active so she must like to travel. Shell love this beautiful view too. Oh, and Xia Xue; shes going to have her winter holidays soon. Shell be very happy if she knows that Si-Yao has become my girlfriend and her future sister-in-law, wont she? Xia Lei smiled as he thought his interesting thoughts.

At that moment, a young woman holding a mobile phone walked towards the edge of a cliff, talking as she went.

I dont want to hear your excuses! I wont! The woman seemed very agitated. I was so good to you - why do you still want to be with that woman? Whats so good about her Youre telling me to die? Fine, Ill go die, youll see! Whuuh

Xia Lei smiled wryly and shook his head. This must be the breakup of a couple in an affair, huh?

The woman walked to the railings at the edge of the cliff and watched the clouds, sobbing.

Xia Lei thought about cautioning her but he did not know this woman so he dismissed the idea.

However, that woman suddenly flung the mobile phone in her hand down the cliff, grabbed the railings and climbed up.

Xia Lei quickly ran up to her, calling, Miss, wait! Dont do this!

The woman turned to look at Xia Lei and said emotionally, Dont come over. All you men are cruel; you like the new and get bored with the old! Go away!

He was scolded out of the blue but Xia Lei took no offense. He slowly approached the woman as he spoke reassuring words to divert her attention. Miss, not all men are like that. Please calm down. Love is not all there is in life. Think of your parents - your parents took pains to raise you. Wont they be heartbroken if you jump?

Im not listening! Go away! I dont want to see you! The woman wailed, but not very loudly.

It wouldve been great if someone else were around to help but it was just the potential-jumper and himself when Xia Lei looked around. He bit the bullet and continued his approach, saying, Miss, dont be reckless. Climb over here and we can have a talk.

All you good-looking men are liars! The woman added one more line, Perverts!

Xia Lei laughed dryly. We dont even know each other so why do you think Im a liar and a pervert? Come over here - dont be foolish. Really, you should think about your parents. Your parents made you and raised you; they are the ones who love you most in this world. If you jump now, youll bring them indescribable pain.

The woman seemed to be calmer and she looked tearily at Xia Lei, her behaviour visibly less emotional than it was before.

Xia Lei approached her cautiously and reached to grab her hand. Come, Ill help you.

At that moment, however, the woman suddenly pushed her foot against the railing and twisted Xia Leis hand, moving sideways to pull Xia Lei over the edge of the cliff.

This all happened in an instant - this womans speed, strength and timing was perfect. These were not something a regular heartbroken woman could achieve; it was a carefully arranged murder!

Xia Leis body was pulled over the rail at once and over the womans shoulder. A steep drop awaited just an inch away! Xia Lei grabbed with his left hand in his time of great peril and hit the woman on her waist. Her waist became his fulcrum and he spun like a pole-dancing man doing a human flag, with the woman as his pole. If she wanted to throw him down the cliff, she had to go first!

The woman had no intention of going along with Xia Leis plans. Xia Lei was pushing her hard by holding her by the waist and her centre of gravity tilted towards the abyss. She bent her knees instinctively and let go of Xia Leis trapped right hand to grab the railing.

Xia Leis body hit the railing. He climbed up from the railing and aimed a punch at the head of the woman who was also climbing up.

A look of fear appeared in her eyes. Yawning nothingness was under her feet and she dared not intercept Xia Leis punch. She hid under the railing.

Xia Lei blocked her way and said coldly, Who sent you to kill me? Gu Ke-Wu? Gu Ke-Wen? Speak!

Whuuh I dont know what youre talking about Whuuh The woman suddenly yelled at the top of her voice, HELP! Molester!

Whos there?! Light from a torch shone on them.

Xia Lei was bathed in electric light. He looked back; the light was glaring but it did not affect his left eye. He saw two workers of the company in charge of the tourist spot and two more people swiftly making their way over - Dong Wu and Qin Qi.

Xia Lei understood what was going on immediately at the sight of those two.

Dong Wu and Qin Qi had obviously planned it all since they appeared so quickly. They would come rescue this woman when her assassination attempt failed.

The woman took the opportunity to climb over the railing when Xia Leis head was turned. She cried as she ran towards Dong Wu, Daddy, that punk tried to molest me! Whuuh

Daddy? Xia Lei put two and two together - she was Dong Wus daughter!

The first-aggressor ran into Dong Wus arms and sobbed, Daddy, he, he molested me Whuuh

Damn you! You even dare molest my daughter? Ill crush you! Dong Wu pushed the woman aside and rushed at Xia Lei with his sword.

This was all scripted and if Dong Wus daughter managed to throw Xia Lei off the cliff, Dong Wu, Qin Qi and the two workers would not appear. Xia Leis death would be taken as a result of a mis-step and not investigated. If Dong Wus daughter failed, Dong Wu and Qin Qi would turn up to protect her and borrow the excuse of protection to make their move. Theyd make Xia Lei suffer even if they were unable to kill him off!

Xia Lei removed the black-painted mecha gloves from his belt. The gloves unfolded from their box shapes with a shake and clattered as they re-shaped themselves into robot-hands. He quickly put them on. He brought the gloves with him as a precaution wherever he went after that experience of nearly being done in at Distinguished Gathering.

The mecha gloves were black and blended in well with his surroundings. Without the shine of metal, Dong Wu saw Xia Lei put something on his hands but he had no idea what. Dong Wu unsheathed his sword, the blade hissing. The precious sword gleamed coldly under the light of the new moon.

Gu Ke-Wu had spent a million to get the Japanese swordsmith Rokushin Takuya to make this sword for Dong Wu and it was now time for him to do something for Gu Ke-Wu in return.

You molested my daughter - Ill make it so that youll never be able to touch women ever again! Dong Wu said the words but they were just words for the workers to hear.

Crimes of passion had light sentences in the court of law. Besides, Xia Lei was the one who had molested his daughter!

Dong Wu stepped forward and slashed at the space between Xia Leis legs. He really was aiming to cut off Xia Leis cuckoo!

Xia Lei did not dodge but slapped at the incoming slashing sword. His metal-encased palm threw up a row of sparks as it hit the swords blade, accompanied by the clang of metal-on-metal.

Dong Wu hurriedly retracted his sword and looked at the blade. There was no trace of damage. He was relieved. What surprised him was that a million-yuan sword crafted by a Japanese swords-smith had not cut through Xia Leis palm. He squinted at Xia Leis hands and confirmed that Xia Lei was not wearing nylon gloves but metal.

Qin Qi! shouted Dong Wu. He promptly swung his sword at Xia Lei, lightning-quick.

Clang! Clang! Xia Leis hands slapped at Dong Wus sword, holding it off. He had a visual advantage in the darkness which Dong Wu could not even imagine. The mecha gloves Xia Lei wore were also able to go up against the sword Dong Wu wielded. He quickly overcame the disadvantage of a close-combat weapon and was able to parry and attack with ease.

The advantage of using Wing Chun in close combat was also quickly realised. Xia Leis titanium alloy gloves were much faster than a sword and he was double-handed too, opening up even more possibilities for attacking and strategy change. Dong Wu had the upper hand in the beginning, pressing Xia Lei with a sword, but that changed in the blink of an eye, with Xia Lei pursuing Dong Wu in attack.

Qin Qi! Dong Wu shouted again.

This was the signal for Qin Qi to make his move.

Qin Qi flicked his hand and a throwing knife streaked to Xia Leis chest in a cold flash.

Xia Lei was drawing close to Dong Wus chest and preparing to land a punch on him when his left eye caught the cold flash in an instant. He whipped up a hand and blocked with the back of his hand.

Ding! A throwing knife struck the back of the alloy glove and bounced off, falling right down the cliff.

Dong Wu saw his chance and swung his sword, cutting Xia Leis thigh open with one stroke.

Xia Lei hurriedly retreated. The right leg of his trousers was cut and a wound bled. Good thing Dong Wu lacked the strength to cut him in two and had not used a lot of strength because it was a sneak-attack, otherwise the flesh on his thigh wouldve been cut off!

A faint sneer appeared on Qin Qis lips. He held another throwing knife in his hand, prepared to do a sneak attack at any time.

Admit defeat, punk! sneered Dong Wu. His hand was as quick as the wind and the blade whistled through the air as it came towards Xia Lei.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinding