A Girl Like Me

"I have heard about the poor boy's story from Cheng Hao before, but I never knew he became the Lightning Sword. I don't think he knows it as well." General Yun has recruited Cheng Hao after Yang Ge Xin's death.

He only did it because Yang Ge Xin has asked him to take care of Cheng Hao if anything happened to him. His antique was disturbing at first but later, he is glad that he had accepted him before. Not only Cheng Hao is talented in martial arts and medical techniques, he also quick witted. His unique thinking has proved to be valuable in many occasions.

"Interesting story, it is quite unexpected for me. But I also interested in what it is inside the document he gave your father. Is it what I think it is?"

"Yes, it is. It contains the assassination order for the Sun and Moon Kingdom's royal family who visited the Yeluo Town in secret." Yang Fei Xia confirming General Yun's hunch, but he sees confused look from others in the room.

"Their royal family and nobles often did this even now since the town is pretty save. As long as nobody knows them, they can enjoy their vacation there. Of course, our spy always informs us about these visits. Though nobody ever bothers to make any actions to it, since we are on good terms. However, as we have our spies there, they also have their spies here. They then notified us about an assassination attempt to a royal family on a secret visit there. That letter he gave us enabled us to stop that assassination."

"But why is that letter goes into some physician in town? Also, why someone wants to assassinate a royal family from our ally?"

As a part to one of the biggest sects in the country, it is no wonder Ma Fu Song curious about this. Unlike the Yang family who attached themselves with the government, the Ma family only concern with the problem in the martial world. However, it is impossible for such a huge sect to disregard the government completely and vice versa.

A huge sect means a huge force. Their existence is a potential threat for even a kingdom, therefore they must to be kept under surveillance all time. Even then it is unwise to antagonize them directly. As a result, both parties make an unwritten mutual agreement. The sect will help to the government to some matters in the martial world that is unethical for them to dive right in. In exchange the sect can grow without any interruption, also some of their member can easily get high position in the government. They might not be the only sect to choose this kind of relation, but they are the biggest in the kingdom.

"Well that physician is a brother of one court physician in the capital which gives him that letter. After investigation, we found out that the one giving the order was Bai Fang Gu. Well I guess that name can tell you the rest of the history."

Bai family was one of the strongest family in the Central Plain. They were the ruler of their own kingdom. After surrendered to the Central Plain, their royal family are maintaining their status as the leader in their former territories. However, Bai Fang Gu rebellion ended their reigns.

The Bai family still survive now because some of them opted to against Bai Fang Gu and sided with the government during the rebellion. It was said that Bai Fang Gu hates for the Sun and Moon Kingdom was the start of his rebellion.

His wife killed in the Sun and Moon Kingdom territory by people using their soldier uniform. They stated they was a deserter that turns into bandits and been executed for that deeds. Still Bai Fang Gu did not buy any of those explanation. Of course, his attempts to war with them been opposed by everyone else, which resulted in his rebellion.

"Did you say that little kid's action has been the start of that civil war." This time one of General Yun's parties speaks out of the murmuring among the crowd.

"Yes, but also preventing a bigger war between the two kingdoms."

Bai Fang Gu's rebellion never had any hope to succeed. He basically had nothing in his advantage, whether it is the quality or the quantity. It just that since they are part of the kingdom, their citizen also the kingdom's citizen. So, the government cannot just unleash they full force towards them.

This makes the rebellion lasted for several years before finally putted down. It was Bai Qian Shu who betrays his own cousin and captured Bai Fang Gu. For that he is appointed as a prefect of a small portion of area that was ruled by the Bai family and a lot of hates from its subjects. Traitors never receive much loves.

A heated discussion starts afterwards and Yang Fei Xia just silently letting them.

What if? That is the point of their discussion. A little thief has changed the history of a country. To the better or worse no one can really say for sure. Though the major consensus say it is a good thing to happen, there will always be someone to argue otherwise.

"Strange, I thought you say you met the Lightning Sword before Yang Fei Xia did." Ma Fu Song directed his question to Liu Ka Xing.

"Simply put I did not know he met him as a little kid. This is my first time to hear this story as well. However, I did meet him when I was very young. Way before he is known as the Lightning Sword." This answer shows how that Liu Ka Xing is close with Ma Fu song, but also shows he is even closer with the one called Lightning Sword.

Ma Fu Song also renowned as one of the most talented in this generation. For those who not know better he is one of the three best swordsmen that everyone talking about. Not someone whose name are unknown for most people.

Ma Fu Song himself felt that he is worthy of such title. However, the duel that just happened puts him into his place a little bit. The one person that he though unworthy of the title surely is the Lightning Sword. He knows the other two so well and how good they are. He met the Lightning Sword before as well, but never actually sees how terrifying he is. That being said are also true for Yang Fei Xia, the person he had crosses sword with before.

"How did you meet him then?"

"How I met him? Well it certainly is a story worth telling. But before I begin, I guess I have to introduce you with Lu Lin. A beautiful girl that captivated my heart and the only girl to have defeated me." A few giggles heard as the Jade Sword explain tells his story.

"Wait! To my defense, I was enchanted by her beauty and underestimated her. Surely, I also still very young and had not immersed myself in the martial arts, in which she does."

Liu Ka Xing starts to panic. Even though there are a lot of great women martial artists out there, this is the world where a man still considered superior than woman. Losing to a girl certainly is a humiliating story he should not want others to hear. Ever.

"Yeah right! Just say we believe that. What is that girl has to do with both of you?"

Liu Ka Xing just realize it is useless to explain anything them right now, they just want to mock him. So, he can only accept the laughs and wait for it to die out before continuing his story.

"Everything. Not only she is the reason for me to meet him, she is the reason I got into the martial world in the first time." Liu Ka Xing starts his story and immersed in it, slowly sucking others into it.

"I always enjoy martial arts, but never truly picked a style to master. A lot of martial arts masters were hired to teach me some of their techniques. Until I got bored then my father will find another master to teach me. I was thirteen years old, when a spear master named Lu Shen came to our house. He is a wandering martial artist that is not famous, but having a good skill."

Few in the crowd nod their head. Wandering martial artists often underrated compared to an establish one. Since their names are often unknown, many of their achievements snatched by other people shamelessly claimed it as their own. The Lightning Sword is one testament of how the wandering martial artist are often overlooked.

"He is a good fighter but a boring teacher. His teaching methods relies a lot on repetition. For a teenager like I was, it is a little unbearable. He did not teach me for long. When my father fired him, he did not give any complaints. His daughter however did not take this lightly. She came to me. Saying how incompetent I am, being unable to withstand the hard training process. Before finally challenge me to a duel. It was by then I was mesmerized by her. She is so beautiful yet so fierce, unlike any other girl I have ever seen. She knew this as well that she is different with other girls. I never forget what she said when I told her to behave like other girls."

"You never met a girl like me and you will never meet any other. No one can ever be like me nor can I be like them."

"So how the fight goes?"

Laughter followed the question. Everyone in the room know how it end since Liu Ka Xing just told them.

"Her fighting skill is also unlike any other girl who relies on speed and agility. She is fast, but her real strength comes from her precise movements and ferociousness. She also extremely mature for a fighter her age." Liu Ka Xing able to maintain his calmness and continues his story. Slightly avoid the question while still giving an inside of how the fight going on. Certainly, showing his skill of storytelling.

"In the end she and her father left my place just as it planned. But her image cannot leave my mind. She was right there are no other girl like her. Since I will never find another girl like her, I have to find her instead to get my mind back in peace. That is why I decided to run away from my great life into the hardship of martial world."