Chapter 5 Chapter 4 Journey
"elder sister……"
In the endless darkness, Shimadzu Hu Linglan heard that vague voice calling her.
She was so frightened that her body kept shaking.
The voice gradually approached.
She finally saw that figure taller than herself.
The younger brother, Matagoro, was as pale as paper.The mouth kept spitting blood.
"Sister..."
Matagoro staggered and approached Hu Linglan step by step.His right hand was holding his stomach, which was stained with bright red blood, while his left arm was hanging limply. There was a large piece of purple and black blood stasis on his shoulder, which was where he was cut by the thorn split wooden knife.
Hu Linglan couldn't move or speak in the dark.With teary eyes, she looked at the younger brother who was once known as "the first man in Kagoshima".His face no longer had the fresh vitality of the past.Blood kept gushing out from the cut stomach and pouring down, and he made bright red footprints on the ground one after another.
"Sister...Look..." Matagoro spread out his red-stained palms: "...I can only do seppuku with one hand..."
The bloody hand stretched forward, as if it was about to touch Hu Linglan's face.
"You...why do you like that man?...Didn't you come to Ming country to seek revenge from him? Look...my shoulder was crippled by him! I really can't bear this kind of humiliation Live... It's all his fault! Have you forgotten?... Wow!"
Matagoro's miserable voice gradually turned into an angry howl.The blood-stained hand stretched out and firmly grasped Hu Linglan's throat.
She only felt that it was difficult to breathe, but her younger brother called out more violently.
"ah!……"
The fingers are getting tighter and tighter, and it is about to pinch her neck...
Hu Linglan woke up under the bright sunshine, panting heavily.Everything around seems to be unreal.
Hu Linglan touched her throat, it was indeed sticky and wet, but it was not blood, but her own cold sweat.
The violent cry that woke her came from the other side of the hill.
The caller was the bearded Dai Kui from the Xinyimen. He was practicing the "Horizontal Saber" in the "Xinyi Sanhe Dao".
Jing Li stood beside Dai Kui, holding the long Japanese sword on his right shoulder, and was watching Dai Kui's simple and ingenious sword moves over and over again.
On the other side tens of feet away, Yan Heng was also practicing with all his strength, holding a long and a short wooden sword similar to the "Male and Female Dragon and Tiger Sword".The wooden swords were staggered in front of him, and the sound of breaking wind was loud.
Lian Feihong was playing with a flying knife tied with a red scarf, sitting cross-legged on a rock next to Yan Heng, with a pair of sharp eagle-like eyes, closely watching Yan Heng's every sword move.
"Don't just be quick!" Lian Feihong yelled, "Make it denser!"
Yan Heng nodded, and the two wooden swords in his hands swung more and more rhythmically, weaving in front of him like shuttles.The feet on the lower body also alternated with the sword moves. At first glance, his movements seemed to be performing some juggling dance.
As for Tong Jing, she was practicing swords by herself at the corner of the hillside, but when she saw Yan Heng receiving training from Lian Feihong, she couldn't help but stop to look at his long and short swords.The endless overlapping changes of the two wooden swords are so beautiful that Tong Jing is fascinated by it, and her mouth can't help but slightly open.
"Baby, isn't it pretty?" Lian Feihong found out, smiled at Tong Jing and said, "How about I teach you?"
But Tong Jing just "hummed" and turned her head away, ignored the training of Feihong, and continued to practice the Qingcheng School "Fenghuo Sword" that she had learned.Lian Feihong scratched her hair helplessly.
Seeing her companions practicing hard under the sun as usual, Hu Linglan's heart finally settled down.She only felt dry mouth, touched the bamboo tube on the ground beside her, unplugged it, and took a few sips of clean water.
But the guilt in the dream still lingers.Matagoro's blood seemed to be still in front of his eyes.
She looked at Jing Li again.At this moment, Jing Li has already mentioned the Japanese sword, and is practicing with great interest according to the "Horizontal Sword" of Xinyimen taught by Dai Kui.
——You like Brother Jing.
—Anyone can see it.
Hu Linglan recalled what Tong Jing said in the dark the night before leaving Xi'an.
She was already extremely tired that night, and couldn't sleep the whole night; when she left the city the next day, because she was distracted, she almost threw the saddle for the horse, Jing Li was surprised to see it.
She stood up on the wooden sheath of the Nodachi.The back view of Jing Li wielding the knife still fascinates her.But seeing it at this moment, there is no bitterness.
——Anyone can see it... so can he see it too?
—but he never once expressed anything to me...
After experiencing the Battle of Xi'an, she has a clearer understanding of what Jing Li is pursuing in her life, and how steep and difficult the journey to climb up is.
Can a man whose life is occupied by such grand ambitions still have room for a woman in his heart?
——Even if it's a woman like me...
she does not know.He also couldn't open his mouth to ask Jing Li.To ask is to admit defeat.
Shimadzu Tiger Linglan never gave up to a man in her life.
At first, she traveled westward to the Central Plains alone to find Jing Lie, and she kept telling herself in her heart: I came to beat him hard and avenge my brother.But at the same time, she couldn't completely suppress the hidden admiration for Jing Li.
Now that she has gone through two life-and-death adventures of fighting side by side with him, she can no longer draw her sword against him.
The fight is now at rest.During this period of time, Hu Linglan's heart gradually fell into chaos: If he doesn't love me at all, why should I stay?Is it because of the friendship with Tong Jing and Yan Heng that you are not willing to leave?Or is it just because I have nowhere else to go? ...
——Hu Linglan stole the "Kanhe Talisman" and went to sea by boat without telling her father Satsuma.
"Fighting requires companions."
When in Sichuan, Jing Li once said this to her.What he meant then was: You need companions.But Hu Linglan recalled it over and over again, and couldn't help feeling like this:
—Did he mean: "I need you"? ...
How longing she was, Jing Li would really say that to herself.Her cheeks glowed red.
But after a while, the death eyes of Matagoro in the dream reappeared in her heart, making her feel ashamed.
——Is Matagoro's undead warning me that I shouldn't pursue a man who doesn't like me so hard?
Great distress.
Hu Linglan yelled, pulled out the wild sword, and slashed at the branches and leaves of the tree violently.The green leaves flew down amidst the violent sword strokes.
The other five people were stunned by her cry and turned to look at her.I saw the long blade flashing repeatedly, and Hu Linglan's whole figure was wrapped in the blade light.Seeing that she was practicing the sword desperately, everyone didn't care, and continued to practice.Only Jing Li frowned at her for a while.
—what is she doing? ...
Hu Linglan noticed Jing Li's gaze, but she deliberately didn't look at him.
At this time, Lian Feihong picked up the stick that was around four feet long, jumped in front of Yan Heng, stabbed one end of the stick towards his lower right, and shouted at the same time: "Left!"
Yan Heng hastily pressed down the dagger in his left hand to block the whip that was coming.
Lian Feihong continued to stab the whip stick one after another, calling out the command "left" or "right" at the same time for each strike, and Yan Heng had to do what he said, using the left sword or the right sword to strike the whip head.
Practicing Feihong actually only used half strength to move, and used the whip as a target for Yan Heng to practice the sword.The difficulty of this practice lies in practicing Feihong's forceful left and right commands. Sometimes the whip stick is coming and going, it is clear that it is smoothest to use the left sword to block the blow, but Yan Heng is forced to hit with the right sword; Hong's passwords are not arranged in order, sometimes plum blossoms and bamboos, sometimes even shouting six or seven are all on the same side, the rhythm is fast and slow, and every time he uses the sword, he must hit the whip accurately, which is better than Yan Heng before. Free-wielding sword flowers are many times harder.
——However, it is a necessary exercise to train two weapons to be able to use one mind and two weapons, as if each has its own head to command.
When Yan Heng wields the sword, he must concentrate on it, listen to the commands, and keep his eyes on the target. The physical exertion is not far from actual combat.Between the flying of his two swords, he had already struck sixty or seventy strokes, and gradually he became out of breath, and he missed the timing of two strikes with the whip.
Lian Feihong pulled back the whip and jumped away, Yan Heng's twin swords stopped.
"It's almost here today." Lian Feihong said with a smile.Although he only hit the shots with ease and half strength, he was sweating profusely and seemed a little tired-always because of his age.
Yan Heng's clothes were soaked through, but there was no uncomfortable expression on his face. Instead, he was very excited, and he was still gesturing slowly.
This is the joy of seeing your progress.
It has been more than four months since the group of them left Xi'an. They have been traveling and practicing eastward, and they have come to the northeast of Huguang Province without realizing it. This place is a wild hillside next to the official road in the suburbs of Hanyang.
In the past few months, besides continuing to learn from Jing Li, Yan Heng has also received guidance from the Kongtong school Lian Feihong and Xinyimen Dai Kui, especially benefiting the most from Mr. Feihong, because the Kongtong school Martial arts are good at all kinds of double weapons, and they use the "flower technique" of alternating left and right to confuse the eyes and minds of the enemy and win.Yan Heng learned a lot of new skills from him, plus he accumulated a lot of practical experience in Xi'an, and his double sword skills have improved rapidly - although there is still a long way to go from the real "Male and Female Dragon and Tiger Sword".
"Good practice." Lian Feihong put the whip on the ground, stepped forward and patted Yan Heng's shoulder.
"Thank you, senior!" Yan Heng clasped a pair of wooden swords upside down.Thinking of this famous martial arts legend in front of him, Yan Heng, who was a former friend of his master He Zisheng and who lost his teacher, he felt more kindness and respect for Lian Feihong.
At this time, Lian Feihong's smile became cunning, and he stretched his arms around Yan Heng's shoulders: "Okay...then it's your turn to teach her..." As he spoke, he glanced at Tong Jing who was standing in the distance. . "Remember...you must teach her everything I taught you..."
"Yes..." Yan Heng scratched his hair embarrassingly.Lian Feihong let go of her arms, and patted Yan Heng's butt to urge him to step forward.
Yan Heng blushed, coughed dryly, put on a serious look, and hooked his fingers towards Tong Jing.
Tong Jing puffed up her cheeks and walked over, while looking at Lian Feihong with unconvinced eyes.
Lian Feihong acted like a naughty boy but deliberately pretended not to see her, and ran and jumped to the side of Jing Li and Dai Kui.
"Come on. I'm starting to learn new sword moves." Yan Heng urged, wiping his face with a sweat towel.
Tong Jing asked suspiciously: "You taught me the sword skills of your own Qingcheng School, right?"
"Have you forgotten what brother Jing gave you on the first day he took you in in Chengdu? You can learn whatever we teach you. You are not allowed to ask. If you don't like learning, you can leave."
Tong Jing glared at Yan Heng angrily, bit her lower lip and tried not to refute, and then began to learn the new trick he taught.Not long after practicing, she gradually forgot about this unhappiness and concentrated on practicing sword moves.
On the roof of the "Yinghua Pavilion" in Xi'an, the sharp sword that stabbed the Wudang master Jiao Hongye shocked all the martial arts people present. Tong Jing still has endless aftertaste on this incident.She also didn't understand why: How did she stab the right sword so naturally at that time?She has been practicing hard since then, but she has not been able to make the same sword move again.
Even so, she still couldn't restrain the great joy in her heart: a new realm of martial arts, once briefly opened a window in front of her, let her know that the miraculous realm is ahead - and she really has the potential to go there .
——As long as I practice harder than before, one day I will be able to stab that sword again.Followed by two.three times.Then do whatever you want.
Driven by this motivation, Tong Jing practiced sword hard and happily for several months, even reducing the time she spent arguing with Yan Heng.
The only thing that annoyed her was the old man who called himself "Sir".
Tong Jing was practicing Yan Heng's Protestant sword moves at the moment—actually, the Kongtong School's introductory sword technique "Fifteen Swordsmanship"—while watching Feihong practice, she felt very uncomfortable.
Tong Jing is smart after all, she has seen through the "conspiracy" of Lian Feihong, Jing Li and Yan Heng long ago.She left her father and walked so far with Jing Li and others in order to pursue the freedom of "going her own way". She hates being manipulated; but for her now, there is nothing more important than learning to sword.She couldn't resist.
--it is good!I will still learn swordsmanship!But don't expect me to call you "Master" in your lifetime!
Lian Feihong is studying the method of flying knives with Jing Li.The hidden weapons of the Kongtong School are outstanding, and there are many strange tricks.Jing Li's victory over Xi Xiaoyan last time was also by throwing weapons to seize the opportunity. Naturally, he was very interested in learning and hoped to develop better tactics; on the other side, Dai Kui was also listening attentively. Although he does not have hidden weapons such as flying knives, there is no guarantee that he will not encounter enemies who use hidden weapons in the future (he has not forgotten that there is a flying sword master named Fan Zong in the Wudang sect). up.
Last time in the "Yinghua Pavilion", Jing Li had already seen Feihong's Iron Claw Feiluo and Throwing Knife, how easy and beautiful the shots are, and he wanted to learn it for a long time.He has only been taught by Lian Feihong a few times, and he has already mastered the tricks. When using the mandarin duck dart knife and chain gun point, he has made great progress.
With a flick of Jing Li's wrist, the heavy spear shot straight out, piercing the tree trunk a few feet away.The technique of darts has shrunk, which naturally greatly reduces the omens that the enemy will notice.
Dai Kui couldn't help clapping his hands and said: "Brother Jing's talent in learning martial arts is really admirable!"
Lian Feihong was watching Jing Li practice darts, and he was playing with the whip stick as a two-handed long knife with both hands. He was reviewing the Japanese sword technique that Jing Li had taught him earlier - Lian Feihong is a martial idiot after all, but anyone who sees fresh Martial arts, regardless of whether they are from the Central Plains or overseas, want to learn, Jing Li did not keep it private, and sincerely exchanged martial arts with him.
Jing Li retracted the chain on the gun head, and walked up to Lian Feihong.
"Sir, look." He pointed at Yan Heng and Tong Jing.Lian Feihong looked over and saw that Tong Jing was practicing Kongtong swordsmanship with a smile in his eyes.
"Sir, what do you think of Yan Heng?" Jing Li asked again.
"This guy is straightforward, and he can concentrate on learning things, okay." Lian Feihong flipped the stick and said, "But if he wants to practice double swords well, he has to change his temperament. Double swords should be used at the same time, or offensive and defensive. Simultaneously suppressing the opponent, or changing left and right to confuse the enemy, the mind must be more delicate and complicated to practice well."
"So senior has been teaching him how to wield double swords?" Dai Kui asked.
Lian Feihong nodded: "Those gimmicks accounted for most of the tricks, but it's hard to use them in battle. I'm exercising and opening his heart."
Jing Li looked at Lian Feihong and thought to himself:
——This Mr. Feihong does have the qualifications to be a famous teacher.
"Jing Li, you are just the opposite of him." Lian Feihong suddenly said: "Your talent for learning is indeed very high, and you have rich travel experience, and what you have learned is very extensive. But you have not been able to thoroughly grasp the skills you have learned. In the long run, it will become too much to get things done, and it is difficult to raise martial arts to another level and become a real peerless master." He smiled wryly, and added: "Just like me. .”
Jing Li put away his usual smile and looked at him seriously without saying a word.
Lian Feihong's words reminded him of the powerful enemy Xi Xiaoyan he met earlier.
Xi Xiaoyan was concentrating on practicing the move of "Anode Knife" to the extreme. It took Jing Lie to break his move that day, and it took a lot of effort, using various tactics and terrain to slightly defeat him; Years later, the power of Xi Xiaoyan's "Anode Knife" must be improved to a higher level. At that time, it was still possible to break it with a strange move, and Jing Li was really not sure.
——Maybe, it will be like when Lian Feihong met He Zisheng back then.
"Don't follow my old path." Lian Feihong put away his whip and warned Jing Li: "Perform what you have learned into a set of martial arts that truly belongs to you. This is the only way to reach a higher level Alas, it's a pity that I myself didn't understand this truth until I reached this age, it's too late..."
Jing Li lowered his head, and with his left hand pressed the Yanling Saber that Pei Shiying had given him at his waist.
Lian Feihong is the best teacher Jing Li has ever met after Master Pei.What Lian Feihong said just now seems to be contrary to Pei Shiying's previous teaching, but in fact there is no contradiction.
Just because of Jing Li ten years later, it is time to embark on another stage of martial arts.
At this moment, Lian Feihong grabbed Dai Kui again: "Come on! Before we break up with you, quickly teach me your Xinyimen's method of punching and vigorously!" Missed the attainments, turned around and couldn't change the old problems, and was eager to try new martial arts.
Jing Li walked away by himself, pondering Feihong's enlightenment in his heart.
At this moment, he saw that Hu Linglan was still shouting and swinging the saber, she looked quite tired, her saber moves were a bit scattered.
Jing Li walked over and squatted on a stone.
"Take a break." He smiled and said to Hu Linglan in Japanese, "You will get hurt if you practice hard."
"Don't worry about it!"
Hu Linglan screamed violently, Ye Taidao made a backhand move, and "Qing An" slashed at Jing Li's face!
——Ever since Xi Xiaoyan was completely defeated in strength by Xi Xiaoyan in the Battle of Xi'an, Hu Linglan has been unable to shake off his shadow for several months, taking him as an imaginary enemy day and night, vowing to develop a weapon that can surpass the "Anode Knife" Sword move.
This "Qing An" struck suddenly, and the speed was faster than Jing Li imagined, so he could only raise his head and dodge in time——
When blood spattered, Hu Linglan's heart was agitated.
The other four turned their heads because of Hu Linglan's yell, and saw this sudden scene at the same time.
Jing Li leaned up and fell from the stone onto the grassy slope.
Hu Linglan's Nodachi froze in front of her.His hands trembled violently.
It took Jing Li a while to finally get up.A gash was cut under the belly of his right eye, and blood trickled down, covering half of his face.
Jing Li's expression was surprisingly not angry at all, he just breathed heavily and looked at Hu Linglan with puzzled eyes.
Hu Linglan's eyes seemed to be covered with fog.Soon, tears began to flow from the eyes.
——This is the first time Jing Li saw her cry.
Hu Linglan put the Nodachi on her shoulder without words, turned around and walked away.
In the afternoon of that day, the six of them entered Hanyang Fucheng, first found an inn to rest, settled their horses and packed up, and then went to the city street. This Hanyang is a must-distribute place for business travelers in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The streets are very bustling, and there are many handmade clothing and accessories sold in the shops on both sides.Tong Jing saw a lot of new gadgets, and couldn't help but stop to watch and play with them. When everyone saw her innocent appearance, they couldn't help laughing, and they didn't urge her too much. Usually, at times like this, Tong Jing always takes Hu Linglan to enjoy the show together.But at this moment, Hu Linglan's face was ashen, and she stayed far away at the end, losing the hearty aura of the past.Tong Jing didn't dare to call her after seeing her. Yan Heng and Tong Jing walked side by side in this shopping street, and for a moment recalled the scene of playing with Song Li in Weijiang Town at the foot of the mountain in Qingcheng Mountain.Song Li always coaxes him to buy some gadgets for her every time. ——Is she doing well now? ... "Look!" Tong Jing tugged at Yan Heng's sleeve, and with the other hand pointed to a small stall on the street, filled with colorful dough dolls, in the shape of various gods and generals, and the craftsmanship was very delicate. "This! Like me?" Tong Jing smiled and pointed to one of the dolls. It was a woman in armor and holding a sword. "Who is this?" Yan Heng couldn't figure out why girls would fight. "Little brother, you don't know about this?" the doll seller grinned and said, "Mulan who joined the army instead of my father!" Yan Heng grew up in the Qingcheng School, so he had never heard of these folklore stories, so naturally he didn't know. When he saw Tong Jing looking at the doll, his eyes lit up, and he recalled Song Li again, and when he was touched, he asked her softly, "Can I buy it for you?" Tong Jing didn't expect Yan Heng to say that, she just nodded blankly.Yan Heng also took out copper coins to pay, pulled up the Mulan doll, and handed it to Tong Jing's little hands. Tong Jing held the doll cherishingly, and asked Yan Heng with a smile, "Why did you give it to me?" "Because I saw that you like it." Yan Heng shrugged and replied. Tong Jing turned the puppet in her hand, and turned her head away from looking at him.Yan Heng thought she was having some trouble again, so he scratched his face in puzzlement. "Let's go. It's getting dark." Jing Li, whose face was half bandaged, finally couldn't help urging: "Hurry up and find a place to eat." The six of them were dressed in strange clothes, and they were wearing weapons wrapped in cloth, and they were walking on the street.But Hanyang is a big commercial port after all, and people have long been accustomed to seeing people from the rivers and lakes and martial arts, and they didn't look sideways. Jing Li asked passers-by until he arrived at the most expensive restaurant in the city, "Hongyan Tower", and led the crowd there. They're going to set up a farewell table tonight.
Yan Heng dried up the wine in the glass, and felt a rush of heat rushing to his nose and brain.He endured it and held his breath for a while before he could speak: "Brother Dai, I didn't expect to part so soon." Dai Kui drank a glass with a smile.The table is full of big fish and meat called by Tong Jing.But the separation was imminent, and the six of them couldn't enjoy themselves. "There was a bloody battle in Xi'an that day, and my Xinyi Sect suffered heavy casualties..." Dai Kui put away his smile when he said: "As the oldest 'in-law disciple', I didn't take the bodies of all the juniors back in person, and I didn't report to them. The master explained the whole story, and followed a few people to travel and practice martial arts. In fact, I owe the master a debt, and I can't let go of this heart..." "You are also doing this for the future of the master." Tong Jing said with a sad face.She has been with this bold and straightforward uncle for several months, and she has already developed a friendship. "I don't think your master will blame you." "It's enough to go here." Dai Kui said: "If you go further south, you don't know when you will return to Shanxi. I came out this time not just to pursue my own accomplishments, but to take what I have learned back home. , to help our school fight against Wudang in the future. I have benefited a lot from the guidance of Senior Lian and Brother Jing in the past few months. The time to start a war with Wudang is not far away. I still need to spend time thinking and integrate what I have learned My own martial arts, and I have taught these new skills to my colleagues, so it is time to go back." "I also have to thank you." Jing Li also toasted.He was a little vague in his speech, the bleeding had just stopped because of the knife wound on his face, and he was afraid that if his face moved too much, the wound would rupture again. "Thanks to you teaching Xinyimen's 'Sanhe Dao' technique, I have a deeper understanding of how to use the sword. Maybe next time I meet that weird guy named Xi, I can knock out his sword head-on. "He said with a smile, the knife wound hurt, and he couldn't help frowning. When everyone saw his bandaged face, they couldn't help but fell silent, and looked towards Hu Linglan. Hu Linglan only ate a little food, and left the table alone, crossed one leg and sat half leaning against the window sill, holding Nodachi in her arms, facing the lights of the night street outside the window. Only Lian Feihong ignored it, and still said to Dai Kui: "Yes! Xinyimen emphasizes the unity of mind and strength, simple and vigorous, and it is indeed a superior martial art!" He was still chewing beef while taking a sip of wine at the same time. , the gray beard around her mouth was covered with rice grains and soy sauce, and Tong Jing showed a disgusted expression when she saw it. Dai Kui was very happy to hear that this well-known senior had such high praise for Xinyimen.Losing a soldier in Xi'an, the confidence he had taught him in his own martial arts was greatly frustrated. "Brother Jing, where are you going from now on?" Dai Kui asked. Jing Li couldn't answer.Ever since the armistice agreement was made, the Wudang faction no longer sent troops to attack, and Jing Li had no targets to pursue and attack. In the past four months, he was really at a loss. He led the people out of Guanzhong, and just kept heading southeast. On the way, we worked hard to practice together, but there was no destination.Jing Li has been a wanderer for ten years, and never thought of staying there for a long time.Yan Heng is even more curious about the world beyond his home, so he has no objection to this aimless journey. "There is one thing that remains to be done." Jing Li suddenly remembered, picked up the Yanling Saber that was resting on the table, untied the cloth bag and pulled out the sheath. There were mottled marks all over the body of the already dull knife, and there were more than a dozen slight curls and cracks on the edge. "It's not just this one. After a series of battles, the weapons in our hands are more or less damaged. If we don't find a master to sharpen them, there is no guarantee that the whole weapon will not be broken. An ordinary knife sharpener." ——Sharpening swords is really a great science. If you don't meet a good knife sharpener, you can wear out the blade at any time, or shorten the life of the blade.In particular, the sword in Yan Heng's hand, the "Male and Male Dragon and Tiger Sword", is even more impossible for an ordinary folk master to know how to sharpen it. "That's a coincidence." Dai Kui patted his thigh: "The head of Yin Yingfeng of the Eight Diagrams Sect has a younger brother, Senior Yin Yingqi, who is also a good player in the Eight Diagrams Sect. He visited our Qi County main hall a few years ago as a guest. I At that time, I heard from him that there is a very famous knife sharpener in Luling, Jiangxi Province, named Han Shizi, whose skill in sharpening swords is unrivaled. Even Yin Yingchuan, the senior of "Zhan Yue in the Water", brought the Eight Diagrams sword with him to the south. Ask him to polish it! Luling is in the west of Jiangxi Province, although there is a distance from here, it is not too far away. Brother Jing, why don't you go visit him?" Jing Li was born in Fujian in the south, while Feihong practiced in Gansu, they don't know much about the martial arts figures in the Central Plains, and they have never heard of the name Han Shizi.But if even Yin Yingchuan had to go south from Huizhou to find him in person, this knife sharpener must be extraordinary. "Hehe, good!" Lian Feihong clapped his hands: "I have so many weapons, so I just went to find some kind of cold stone, and sharpened them for me in one go! This trip is very cost-effective." Yan Heng also nodded in agreement.Since he kept the treasure of his family, he naturally wanted to take good care of it, and he was diligent in oiling the "Male and Female Dragon and Tiger Sword" to prevent rust.He thought of the proud Yin Yingchuan, and even more wanted to spend time with this senior Han Shizi. "Brother Dai will go on the road alone tomorrow, so be extra careful." Jing Li said at this time. "How to say?" Dai Kui was surprised. "Actually, since we left Xi'an, I feel that we have been being followed and monitored." Jing Li said solemnly: "Although I'm not sure, it seems like nothing, but it has often happened in the past few months." "What a coincidence?" Lian Feihong patted the table: "I thought the same way a few times! I thought my junior sister came after me and forced me to go back to be the master..." Yan Heng thought to himself: Brother Jing has traveled all over the world all his life, so his intuition is naturally keen; Senior Lian is also a seasoned veteran, having dealt with horse thieves in the vast Loess Plateau for many years.If both of them have similar perceptions, the possibility of someone following them is very high. "Brother Jing, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Tong Jing asked with dissatisfaction. "You, as well as Brother Dai, are all straightforward people. I don't tell you because I don't want you to behave nervously, which is equivalent to letting the follower know that we have found them." Jing Li replied calmly: "Never Let the enemy know what you know. It can save your life anytime it matters." Although Jing Li is more than ten years younger than Dai Kui, his martial arts attainments and thoughtfulness are superior to him, and Dai Kui admires Jing Li even more. "Who does Brother Jing think it is?" "I can't figure it out..." Jing Li shook his head: "But after following for so long, things are unusual. And since we started following from Xi'an, it must be related to what happened there. Brother Dai, please think carefully: Yao Lianzhou entered The trip to Guanzhong will only take a month or two at most, why did the news spread so fast and so widely, enough to attract all the sects in the world to join in the fun? Someone must be behind this matter, and the influence is not small..." Dai Kui has never thought about the joints, but now after Jing Li's analysis, he thinks it is very reasonable. "In the world, people with such eyes and ears..." Dai Kui frowned: "Even if it's not the imperial court, it must be someone who has something to do with the government..." Yan Heng was astonished when he heard the word "imperial court".He remembered the detached status of the Qingcheng faction in the past, and had little contact with the local government.Why would someone in the imperial court interfere with this martial arts matter? "No matter who it is, I guess the other party has no intention of harming him for the time being, otherwise there would be no need to follow him for so long." Jing Li said, "Brother Dai should be more cautious." "Should we pull out the man who hangs the tail and ask?" Tong Jing asked excitedly. Jing Li smiled: "No need. Since they want to get something from us, they will show up sooner or later." Everyone chatted for another round, and they were almost drunk, so they left "Hongyan Tower" and went back to the inn. Tong Jing walked in the front with a lantern, and in the other hand she held the dough puppet Yan Heng sent, leading the way joyfully. "When you came here just now, you were just playing. Do you remember the way?" Yan Heng asked. "Hmph, who said I don't remember?" Tong Jing smiled and ran to the front of the street.Yan Heng chased after him angrily. Jing Li deliberately stayed at the end, standing side by side with Hu Linglan.As the night deepened, the lights on the street had faded, and the two of them walked in the center of the dark street without a word. Just like that night in Chengdu. The cloth on Jing's cracked cheeks was already soaked with blood, and the dressing had to be changed again when he went back.He looked solemn, but it was not because of the pain. Hu Linglan was also calm on the outside, but inside she was like waves.She knew that if the knife in the afternoon had been a little deeper, one of Jing Li's eyes would have been disabled long ago, and even her life would have been lost. In other words, Jing Li's life in martial arts almost ended under Hu Linglan's impulse. Thinking of this, her heart felt as if it was wrapped in a chill. --Why do I…… It was obviously summer.Hu Linglan's shoulders were trembling. At this moment, a warmth came from her right palm, which immediately dispelled the chill in her heart. It was Jing Litian's rough hand holding the knife, holding her equally rough hand silently in the darkness. "I don't know how the samurai in Kagoshima treat their wives?" Jing Li said this very softly, but to Hu Linglan's ears, it sounded like thunder. "I'm still on a long journey." Jing Li looked at the far ahead where there was only a little brilliance of the lantern and said, "I don't even know when I will go. I don't even know what I can give you. But I—" A crisp voice interrupted his words. Hu Linglan threw Jing Li's hand away, and slapped him backhand.Hit in the same place where the knife wound was. Jing Li felt a burning pain, and couldn't help moaning this time.Blood seeped across his surprised face, running down to his chin. "What do you think the women of our Shimadzu family are?" Hu Linglan wiped the blood between her fingers, and smiled wildly: "A few words will make you surrender to a man?" "I...I..." Jing Li, who was usually very tongue-tied, could no longer speak calmly at this moment, and was momentarily at a loss for words. Hu Linglan ignored him and strode towards the front of the street alone. "Are you... are you going to leave?" Jing Li asked anxiously from behind. "But I..." Jing Li originally wanted to say something: --I need you. But Hu Linglan's slap and smile just now made it impossible for him to say these words smoothly. "I'm not leaving." Hu Linglan stopped and said back.A pair of willow eyebrows almost wrinkled into a line. "Have you forgotten why I came to Middle-earth to find you?" She patted the knife hanging behind her back, crossed her hips and said: "I'm here to overthrow you! I'm here to overthrow you! On that day, when you give up in front of me with a sad face, maybe I will pity you and marry you as a wife..." Jing Li smiled wryly. "I said it earlier..." She added: "Before the day I personally defeat you, I won't let those bastards of 'Wudan' take your life first." After Hu Linglan finished speaking, she continued to walk forward. Jing Li was stunned for a while, then returned to a hearty smile.Laughing touched the wound again, the hot feeling was especially strong in the dark. Jing Li couldn't see: while Hu Linglan was walking away from him, she also showed a smile very similar to his. It is only natural that two weapons are more difficult than single weapons. The reason is simple: most people use one hand (called "sharp hand"). ; Even if one has attained certain attainments in one weapon, it is another difficulty to learn the other hand from scratch and get used to different directions of force. The first stage of exercising two weapons is to coordinate the left and right hands, so that the two weapons will not hinder each other and strike; and they must be swung at the same time, without neglecting one another, and being able to move smoothly and in a continuous rhythm. This is the most basic requirement.At this stage, it is usually necessary to practice a lot of predetermined swinging patterns (the so-called "sword flower" or "knife flower"), so that both hands are used to moving at the same time for a long time. In the second stage, it is necessary to practice one mind and two tasks, doing different offensive and defensive moves on the left and right sides, the so-called "drawing circles with the left hand and drawing squares with the right".At this point, you can attack from the left and defend from the right, or defend from the left and attack from the right, at any time. Only in this way can you really begin to apply dual weapons to actual combat.In addition, a lot of practice is needed to change the method of changing steps from left to right, because the advantage of holding weapons with both hands is that there is no distinction between the front hand and the rear guard. For the concept of internal and external sects, please refer to the first volume "Lecture Notes of Dao Zhen Jian Tang Part 22").If there is no flexible and changing footwork, these advantages cannot be fully utilized. Therefore, there is a saying in the martial arts saying: "Two swords look away", and this is the reason. At this stage of one mind and two purposes, if you go to the highest level, dual weapons can deal with two enemies from different directions at the same time. For example, when Yao Lianzhou used his "Tai Chi dual swords" to fight against the left and right enemies at the same time when he challenged Huashan Mountain.However, this kind of realm can only be achieved with extremely high talent, and the thinking and reaction of the mind must be different from ordinary people, and not most people can achieve it. The third stage of the final stage of the double weapon is to combine the two into one in reverse. The left and right weapons can either attack and defend at the same time, or attack together, or combine strict defense, or make a virtual attack from the left and a solid attack from the right, or break the momentum with the right and grab with the left. Attacking, adapting to the situation, like mercury pouring down the ground, advancing when there is a gap, so that the two weapons can truly multiply each other, and the power is more than doubled.双兵器的高手锻炼至此，往往能以强力压制对手，不予其喘息之机，先立于不败之地。青城掌门何自圣的战法即为一例。 一般的双兵器，用的是左右一模一样；而要练好像“雌雄龙虎剑”这等左右形制、份量、用法、劲力差异甚大的双剑，就更是难上加难。但是一旦练成，招式变化和战术又比一样的双兵器更多更奇，往往能够将威力推到更高的境地。
Notes:
In the afternoon of that day, the six of them entered Hanyang Fucheng, first found an inn to rest, settled their horses and packed up, and then went to the city street. This Hanyang is a must-distribute place for business travelers in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The streets are very bustling, and there are many handmade clothing and accessories sold in the shops on both sides.Tong Jing saw a lot of new gadgets, and couldn't help but stop to watch and play with them. When everyone saw her innocent appearance, they couldn't help laughing, and they didn't urge her too much. Usually, at times like this, Tong Jing always takes Hu Linglan to enjoy the show together.But at this moment, Hu Linglan's face was ashen, and she stayed far away at the end, losing the hearty aura of the past.Tong Jing didn't dare to call her after seeing her. Yan Heng and Tong Jing walked side by side in this shopping street, and for a moment recalled the scene of playing with Song Li in Weijiang Town at the foot of the mountain in Qingcheng Mountain.Song Li always coaxes him to buy some gadgets for her every time. ——Is she doing well now? ... "Look!" Tong Jing tugged at Yan Heng's sleeve, and with the other hand pointed to a small stall on the street, filled with colorful dough dolls, in the shape of various gods and generals, and the craftsmanship was very delicate. "This! Like me?" Tong Jing smiled and pointed to one of the dolls. It was a woman in armor and holding a sword. "Who is this?" Yan Heng couldn't figure out why girls would fight. "Little brother, you don't know about this?" the doll seller grinned and said, "Mulan who joined the army instead of my father!" Yan Heng grew up in the Qingcheng School, so he had never heard of these folklore stories, so naturally he didn't know. When he saw Tong Jing looking at the doll, his eyes lit up, and he recalled Song Li again, and when he was touched, he asked her softly, "Can I buy it for you?" Tong Jing didn't expect Yan Heng to say that, she just nodded blankly.Yan Heng also took out copper coins to pay, pulled up the Mulan doll, and handed it to Tong Jing's little hands. Tong Jing held the doll cherishingly, and asked Yan Heng with a smile, "Why did you give it to me?" "Because I saw that you like it." Yan Heng shrugged and replied. Tong Jing turned the puppet in her hand, and turned her head away from looking at him.Yan Heng thought she was having some trouble again, so he scratched his face in puzzlement. "Let's go. It's getting dark." Jing Li, whose face was half bandaged, finally couldn't help urging: "Hurry up and find a place to eat." The six of them were dressed in strange clothes, and they were wearing weapons wrapped in cloth, and they were walking on the street.But Hanyang is a big commercial port after all, and people have long been accustomed to seeing people from the rivers and lakes and martial arts, and they didn't look sideways. Jing Li asked passers-by until he arrived at the most expensive restaurant in the city, "Hongyan Tower", and led the crowd there. They're going to set up a farewell table tonight.
Yan Heng dried up the wine in the glass, and felt a rush of heat rushing to his nose and brain.He endured it and held his breath for a while before he could speak: "Brother Dai, I didn't expect to part so soon." Dai Kui drank a glass with a smile.The table is full of big fish and meat called by Tong Jing.But the separation was imminent, and the six of them couldn't enjoy themselves. "There was a bloody battle in Xi'an that day, and my Xinyi Sect suffered heavy casualties..." Dai Kui put away his smile when he said: "As the oldest 'in-law disciple', I didn't take the bodies of all the juniors back in person, and I didn't report to them. The master explained the whole story, and followed a few people to travel and practice martial arts. In fact, I owe the master a debt, and I can't let go of this heart..." "You are also doing this for the future of the master." Tong Jing said with a sad face.She has been with this bold and straightforward uncle for several months, and she has already developed a friendship. "I don't think your master will blame you." "It's enough to go here." Dai Kui said: "If you go further south, you don't know when you will return to Shanxi. I came out this time not just to pursue my own accomplishments, but to take what I have learned back home. , to help our school fight against Wudang in the future. I have benefited a lot from the guidance of Senior Lian and Brother Jing in the past few months. The time to start a war with Wudang is not far away. I still need to spend time thinking and integrate what I have learned My own martial arts, and I have taught these new skills to my colleagues, so it is time to go back." "I also have to thank you." Jing Li also toasted.He was a little vague in his speech, the bleeding had just stopped because of the knife wound on his face, and he was afraid that if his face moved too much, the wound would rupture again. "Thanks to you teaching Xinyimen's 'Sanhe Dao' technique, I have a deeper understanding of how to use the sword. Maybe next time I meet that weird guy named Xi, I can knock out his sword head-on. "He said with a smile, the knife wound hurt, and he couldn't help frowning. When everyone saw his bandaged face, they couldn't help but fell silent, and looked towards Hu Linglan. Hu Linglan only ate a little food, and left the table alone, crossed one leg and sat half leaning against the window sill, holding Nodachi in her arms, facing the lights of the night street outside the window. Only Lian Feihong ignored it, and still said to Dai Kui: "Yes! Xinyimen emphasizes the unity of mind and strength, simple and vigorous, and it is indeed a superior martial art!" He was still chewing beef while taking a sip of wine at the same time. , the gray beard around her mouth was covered with rice grains and soy sauce, and Tong Jing showed a disgusted expression when she saw it. Dai Kui was very happy to hear that this well-known senior had such high praise for Xinyimen.Losing a soldier in Xi'an, the confidence he had taught him in his own martial arts was greatly frustrated. "Brother Jing, where are you going from now on?" Dai Kui asked. Jing Li couldn't answer.Ever since the armistice agreement was made, the Wudang faction no longer sent troops to attack, and Jing Li had no targets to pursue and attack. In the past four months, he was really at a loss. He led the people out of Guanzhong, and just kept heading southeast. On the way, we worked hard to practice together, but there was no destination.Jing Li has been a wanderer for ten years, and never thought of staying there for a long time.Yan Heng is even more curious about the world beyond his home, so he has no objection to this aimless journey. "There is one thing that remains to be done." Jing Li suddenly remembered, picked up the Yanling Saber that was resting on the table, untied the cloth bag and pulled out the sheath. There were mottled marks all over the body of the already dull knife, and there were more than a dozen slight curls and cracks on the edge. "It's not just this one. After a series of battles, the weapons in our hands are more or less damaged. If we don't find a master to sharpen them, there is no guarantee that the whole weapon will not be broken. An ordinary knife sharpener." ——Sharpening swords is really a great science. If you don't meet a good knife sharpener, you can wear out the blade at any time, or shorten the life of the blade.In particular, the sword in Yan Heng's hand, the "Male and Male Dragon and Tiger Sword", is even more impossible for an ordinary folk master to know how to sharpen it. "That's a coincidence." Dai Kui patted his thigh: "The head of Yin Yingfeng of the Eight Diagrams Sect has a younger brother, Senior Yin Yingqi, who is also a good player in the Eight Diagrams Sect. He visited our Qi County main hall a few years ago as a guest. I At that time, I heard from him that there is a very famous knife sharpener in Luling, Jiangxi Province, named Han Shizi, whose skill in sharpening swords is unrivaled. Even Yin Yingchuan, the senior of "Zhan Yue in the Water", brought the Eight Diagrams sword with him to the south. Ask him to polish it! Luling is in the west of Jiangxi Province, although there is a distance from here, it is not too far away. Brother Jing, why don't you go visit him?" Jing Li was born in Fujian in the south, while Feihong practiced in Gansu, they don't know much about the martial arts figures in the Central Plains, and they have never heard of the name Han Shizi.But if even Yin Yingchuan had to go south from Huizhou to find him in person, this knife sharpener must be extraordinary. "Hehe, good!" Lian Feihong clapped his hands: "I have so many weapons, so I just went to find some kind of cold stone, and sharpened them for me in one go! This trip is very cost-effective." Yan Heng also nodded in agreement.Since he kept the treasure of his family, he naturally wanted to take good care of it, and he was diligent in oiling the "Male and Female Dragon and Tiger Sword" to prevent rust.He thought of the proud Yin Yingchuan, and even more wanted to spend time with this senior Han Shizi. "Brother Dai will go on the road alone tomorrow, so be extra careful." Jing Li said at this time. "How to say?" Dai Kui was surprised. "Actually, since we left Xi'an, I feel that we have been being followed and monitored." Jing Li said solemnly: "Although I'm not sure, it seems like nothing, but it has often happened in the past few months." "What a coincidence?" Lian Feihong patted the table: "I thought the same way a few times! I thought my junior sister came after me and forced me to go back to be the master..." Yan Heng thought to himself: Brother Jing has traveled all over the world all his life, so his intuition is naturally keen; Senior Lian is also a seasoned veteran, having dealt with horse thieves in the vast Loess Plateau for many years.If both of them have similar perceptions, the possibility of someone following them is very high. "Brother Jing, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Tong Jing asked with dissatisfaction. "You, as well as Brother Dai, are all straightforward people. I don't tell you because I don't want you to behave nervously, which is equivalent to letting the follower know that we have found them." Jing Li replied calmly: "Never Let the enemy know what you know. It can save your life anytime it matters." Although Jing Li is more than ten years younger than Dai Kui, his martial arts attainments and thoughtfulness are superior to him, and Dai Kui admires Jing Li even more. "Who does Brother Jing think it is?" "I can't figure it out..." Jing Li shook his head: "But after following for so long, things are unusual. And since we started following from Xi'an, it must be related to what happened there. Brother Dai, please think carefully: Yao Lianzhou entered The trip to Guanzhong will only take a month or two at most, why did the news spread so fast and so widely, enough to attract all the sects in the world to join in the fun? Someone must be behind this matter, and the influence is not small..." Dai Kui has never thought about the joints, but now after Jing Li's analysis, he thinks it is very reasonable. "In the world, people with such eyes and ears..." Dai Kui frowned: "Even if it's not the imperial court, it must be someone who has something to do with the government..." Yan Heng was astonished when he heard the word "imperial court".He remembered the detached status of the Qingcheng faction in the past, and had little contact with the local government.Why would someone in the imperial court interfere with this martial arts matter? "No matter who it is, I guess the other party has no intention of harming him for the time being, otherwise there would be no need to follow him for so long." Jing Li said, "Brother Dai should be more cautious." "Should we pull out the man who hangs the tail and ask?" Tong Jing asked excitedly. Jing Li smiled: "No need. Since they want to get something from us, they will show up sooner or later." Everyone chatted for another round, and they were almost drunk, so they left "Hongyan Tower" and went back to the inn. Tong Jing walked in the front with a lantern, and in the other hand she held the dough puppet Yan Heng sent, leading the way joyfully. "When you came here just now, you were just playing. Do you remember the way?" Yan Heng asked. "Hmph, who said I don't remember?" Tong Jing smiled and ran to the front of the street.Yan Heng chased after him angrily. Jing Li deliberately stayed at the end, standing side by side with Hu Linglan.As the night deepened, the lights on the street had faded, and the two of them walked in the center of the dark street without a word. Just like that night in Chengdu. The cloth on Jing's cracked cheeks was already soaked with blood, and the dressing had to be changed again when he went back.He looked solemn, but it was not because of the pain. Hu Linglan was also calm on the outside, but inside she was like waves.She knew that if the knife in the afternoon had been a little deeper, one of Jing Li's eyes would have been disabled long ago, and even her life would have been lost. In other words, Jing Li's life in martial arts almost ended under Hu Linglan's impulse. Thinking of this, her heart felt as if it was wrapped in a chill. --Why do I…… It was obviously summer.Hu Linglan's shoulders were trembling. At this moment, a warmth came from her right palm, which immediately dispelled the chill in her heart. It was Jing Litian's rough hand holding the knife, holding her equally rough hand silently in the darkness. "I don't know how the samurai in Kagoshima treat their wives?" Jing Li said this very softly, but to Hu Linglan's ears, it sounded like thunder. "I'm still on a long journey." Jing Li looked at the far ahead where there was only a little brilliance of the lantern and said, "I don't even know when I will go. I don't even know what I can give you. But I—" A crisp voice interrupted his words. Hu Linglan threw Jing Li's hand away, and slapped him backhand.Hit in the same place where the knife wound was. Jing Li felt a burning pain, and couldn't help moaning this time.Blood seeped across his surprised face, running down to his chin. "What do you think the women of our Shimadzu family are?" Hu Linglan wiped the blood between her fingers, and smiled wildly: "A few words will make you surrender to a man?" "I...I..." Jing Li, who was usually very tongue-tied, could no longer speak calmly at this moment, and was momentarily at a loss for words. Hu Linglan ignored him and strode towards the front of the street alone. "Are you... are you going to leave?" Jing Li asked anxiously from behind. "But I..." Jing Li originally wanted to say something: --I need you. But Hu Linglan's slap and smile just now made it impossible for him to say these words smoothly. "I'm not leaving." Hu Linglan stopped and said back.A pair of willow eyebrows almost wrinkled into a line. "Have you forgotten why I came to Middle-earth to find you?" She patted the knife hanging behind her back, crossed her hips and said: "I'm here to overthrow you! I'm here to overthrow you! On that day, when you give up in front of me with a sad face, maybe I will pity you and marry you as a wife..." Jing Li smiled wryly. "I said it earlier..." She added: "Before the day I personally defeat you, I won't let those bastards of 'Wudan' take your life first." After Hu Linglan finished speaking, she continued to walk forward. Jing Li was stunned for a while, then returned to a hearty smile.Laughing touched the wound again, the hot feeling was especially strong in the dark. Jing Li couldn't see: while Hu Linglan was walking away from him, she also showed a smile very similar to his. It is only natural that two weapons are more difficult than single weapons. The reason is simple: most people use one hand (called "sharp hand"). ; Even if one has attained certain attainments in one weapon, it is another difficulty to learn the other hand from scratch and get used to different directions of force. The first stage of exercising two weapons is to coordinate the left and right hands, so that the two weapons will not hinder each other and strike; and they must be swung at the same time, without neglecting one another, and being able to move smoothly and in a continuous rhythm. This is the most basic requirement.At this stage, it is usually necessary to practice a lot of predetermined swinging patterns (the so-called "sword flower" or "knife flower"), so that both hands are used to moving at the same time for a long time. In the second stage, it is necessary to practice one mind and two tasks, doing different offensive and defensive moves on the left and right sides, the so-called "drawing circles with the left hand and drawing squares with the right".At this point, you can attack from the left and defend from the right, or defend from the left and attack from the right, at any time. Only in this way can you really begin to apply dual weapons to actual combat.In addition, a lot of practice is needed to change the method of changing steps from left to right, because the advantage of holding weapons with both hands is that there is no distinction between the front hand and the rear guard. For the concept of internal and external sects, please refer to the first volume "Lecture Notes of Dao Zhen Jian Tang Part 22").If there is no flexible and changing footwork, these advantages cannot be fully utilized. Therefore, there is a saying in the martial arts saying: "Two swords look away", and this is the reason. At this stage of one mind and two purposes, if you go to the highest level, dual weapons can deal with two enemies from different directions at the same time. For example, when Yao Lianzhou used his "Tai Chi dual swords" to fight against the left and right enemies at the same time when he challenged Huashan Mountain.However, this kind of realm can only be achieved with extremely high talent, and the thinking and reaction of the mind must be different from ordinary people, and not most people can achieve it. The third stage of the final stage of the double weapon is to combine the two into one in reverse. The left and right weapons can either attack and defend at the same time, or attack together, or combine strict defense, or make a virtual attack from the left and a solid attack from the right, or break the momentum with the right and grab with the left. Attacking, adapting to the situation, like mercury pouring down the ground, advancing when there is a gap, so that the two weapons can truly multiply each other, and the power is more than doubled.双兵器的高手锻炼至此，往往能以强力压制对手，不予其喘息之机，先立于不败之地。青城掌门何自圣的战法即为一例。 一般的双兵器，用的是左右一模一样；而要练好像“雌雄龙虎剑”这等左右形制、份量、用法、劲力差异甚大的双剑，就更是难上加难。但是一旦练成，招式变化和战术又比一样的双兵器更多更奇，往往能够将威力推到更高的境地。
Notes: