Mandarin Duck Blades Chapter 11

Xiao Banhe¹ laughed heartily and said, “After sixteen years of disguise, I finally return to my true self as Xiao Yi.”²

He wiped his hand across his face and left everyone stunned into silence. Though the hall had been thrown into complete chaos, for a moment, all eyes were fixed on Xiao Banhe’s face, and not a sound could be heard.

Between heartbeats, Xiao Banhe’s appearance transformed to everyone’s bewilderment. His once full beard vanished with a swipe of his hand, his chin became bare in an instant with not a single whisker left. Even plucking out the hair by the roots would not have been so clean.

Just then, Yuan Guannan’s³ page boy came running from the inner hall carrying two book baskets, saying, “Young sir, make haste and leave!”

Sudden inspiration struck Yuan Guannan and he grabbed a book from one of the baskets, flinging it outward. Golden light shimmered as dozens of thin gold leaves fluttered through the air. How could the escorts⁴ and imperial soldiers resist the sight of gleaming gold, especially when the gold leaves drifted right before them? Everyone reached out to grab them.

Yuan Guannan showered tattered books at Zhou Weixin,⁵ filling the hall with gold leaves that fluttered like dancing butterflies. Zhou Weixin was fixated on not losing the Mandarin Duck Blade, thinking, “As the jianghu saying goes, ‘Even scoundrels teach their sons to beware of easy gains.’”

He watched the gold leaves drift toward him, yet he did not reach for them. Yuan Guannan channelled his energy and flung a book weighing several jin⁶ filled with gold that struck Zhou’s face with a resounding slap.

Zhou Weixin cried out and staggered. Yuan Guannan propelled himself forward with both feet, lunging at him. Zhuo Tianxiong moved to block him with a horizontal palm strike, but felt a sudden fierce gust of air at his flank as Xiao Banhe struck with his Unified Innate Energy.⁷ Well aware of the danger it posed, Zhuo Tianxiong had no choice but to counter with his own palm. Two internal powers collided with explosive force, sending both men stumbling two steps backwards. Just then, Yuan Guannan’s left hand wielded his blade to keep Zhou Weixin disoriented while his right hand unsealed Xiao Zhonghui’s acupoints.

Among the guests, a small group retreated to stay away from the conflict, but the majority were Xiao Banhe’s close friends who engaged the imperial guards, escort agency men, and soldiers with their brandished weapons or bare hands.

Xiao Zhonghui, who had been bottling up her anger, bore down on Zhou Weixin. Extending her left hand diagonally and her right hand hooking back, she landed a resounding slap to his face. Twisting his wrist, she seized the short Yang blade⁸ from his hand. Yuan Guannan called out in joy, “Hui-mei!⁹ Gentle breeze guides precious jade down the celestial tower!”¹⁰

Xiao Zhonghui’s eyes reddened as she thought, “How can I still wield this wretched Wedded Blade Style¹¹ with you?”

She surveyed her surroundings. Her father was locked in combat with Zhuo Tianxiong, their palms dancing as they fought to a standstill. Everyone else had engaged an opponent, but two Qing guards were forcing Madams Yuan and Yang to retreat as their situation grew increasingly perilous. Yuan Guannan called out, “Hui-mei, quick, save Mother!""

They combined their blades to execute “Twin phoenixes sing to the jade flute tune,”¹² and a guard crumpled to the ground with a grievous shoulder wound. They followed with “Today’s bride with countenance like jade,”¹³ and the hilt of Xiao Zhonghui’s blade struck another guard’s cheekbone, knocking him unconscious.

The love birds working their blades in unison to use the Wedded Blade Style, they became unassailable. Wherever the pair advanced together, imperial guards and escorts fell wounded. Before they had used even half of the seventy-two moves of the blade style, their enemies were fleeing through the doors. However, this set of blade technique had a peculiarity: while it was easy to wound opponents, it was extremely difficult to kill them. The wounds inflicted were never in vital areas, suggesting that the married couple who had created this blade style were kindhearted and reluctant to take lives, thus each deadly move left the enemies a margin of survival.

As the battle wore on, only Zhuo Tianxiong remained as he continued his stubborn resistance. Yuan Guannan and Xiao Zhonghui’s blades flashed toward him, one attacking his left shoulder, while the other slashing at his right leg. Zhuo Tianxiong pulled a steel whip from his waist and parried with a clang, knocking the tip off Xiao Zhonghui’s short Yang blade.

The move “Joy binds creeping vines to the tall tree”¹⁴ was of such divine ingenuity. As Yuan Guannan’s long blade flashed through the air with a clean hiss, it sliced deep into Zhuo Tianxiong’s lower leg, cutting to the bone and drawing a stream of crimson blood.

With a serious wound to his lower leg, Zhuo Tianxiong dared not linger in battle. He struck a palm toward Xiao Zhonghui, and as she leaned sideways to dodge, he pushed off with both feet and darted into the courtyard before bounding onto the roof. Yuan and Xiao could have intercepted him with their blades using the move “Peerless hero makes a gallant groom,”¹⁵ but with the tip of Xiao Zhonghui’s blade broken, the move was no longer effective.

Seeing that despite the hall in complete disarray, they were fortunate to suffer only seven or eight injuries with no lives lost, Xiao Banhe boomed, “My good friends, though the soldiers have retreated for now, they will surely return soon. This place is no longer safe. Let us withdraw quickly to Zhongtiao Shan¹⁶ and make further plans there.”

The crowd roared their approval.

Xiao Banhe led his family to gather their valuables before setting fire to the mansion. As the flames rose to the sky and the city fell into chaos, they charged through the east gate and headed straight for Zhongtiao Shan.

---

On a rocky ridge before a large cave, Xiao Banhe, Madams Yuan and Yang, Yuan Guannan, Xiao Zhonghui, the Lin Yulong couple, two dozen or so family members and disciples, and over three hundred guests and friends gathered around several campfires. Water deer and muntjacs roasted over the flames, their aroma reaching everyone’s nostrils.

Xiao Banhe coughed and reached to stroke his beard—a habit in the past decade whenever he had something important to say. But this time, his hand found nothing. His chin was bare, without a single hair on it. He gave a slight smile and said, “By the grace of my jianghu friends, I, Xiao Yi, am considered a notable figure in the wulin. But does anyone know that I, Xiao Yi, am a eunuch?”

Everyone was startled. The words “I, Xiao Yi, am a eunuch” made everyone think that they misheard, but seeing Xiao Banhe’s solemn expression, it was clear it was not in jest. Madams Yuan and Yang exchanged glances before lowering their heads.

Xiao Banhe continued, “Indeed, I, Xiao Yi, am a eunuch. I was castrated at sixteen and entered the palace to serve the Emperor, with the goal of assassinating the Manchu¹⁷ Qing Emperor to avenge my father. My father was locked in mortal enmity against the Manchu Qing usurpers, and ended up being slaughtered.

“His seven sworn brothers pledged with blood to avenge him, but the Manchu Qing were too powerful. Not one of my seven uncles met a good end—they were either killed in battle by imperial guards, or captured and executed by lingchi.¹⁸ The feud only deepened with time. After careful consideration, I realised that even if I dedicated my entire life to training, I might never reach the martial prowess of my father and these seven uncles. And even if I did, it might not be enough to settle this deep blood feud. So I willingly became a eunuch, lowly and despised by all.”

Hearing this, everyone admired his single-minded determination.

Xiao Banhe continued, “But security within the imperial palace was far beyond my imagination. Forget approaching the Emperor—even seeing him once proved a monumental task. For over ten years, though I waited for an opportunity day and night, I never found the chance to strike. One evening sixteen years ago, I overheard two imperial guards discussing how the Emperor had learned of a pair of precious Mandarin Duck Blades,¹⁹ and the one who obtains them would be unmatched in the whole realm. These blades were in the possession of two heroes Yuan and Yang. The Emperor captured their entire families, forcing them to surrender the precious blades. The two great heroes chose death rather than submit, and their wives were thrown into the imperial prison.”

At these words, tears streamed down the faces of Madams Yuan and Yang, and they threw their arms around each other in sudden loud sobs.

Yuan Guannan and Xiao Zhonghui exchanged glances, their hearts filled with both sorrow and joy. Xiao Banhe said, “At that time, I realised that saving the living was more important than avenging the dead. Thus, I infiltrated the prison, killed several guards, and rescued the two madams. The prison officials considered women to be of little concern and were lax in guarding them, and no one expected a eunuch would rescue imperial prisoners, hence my swift success. However, the enemy’s forces were overwhelming, and we lost Madam Yuan’s son in our hasty escape. This has weighed on my conscience all my life, but who would have thought that Young Master Yuan has grown and developed such formidable martial skills. Truly a blessing of divine magnitude!

“As for Zhonghui, you’re eighteen this year. When I first saw you, you were only two. Your father’s surname is Yang. He was the renowned Daxia of Three Xiang,²⁰ Yang Bochong²¹—Yang daxia.”²²

Yuan Guannan and Xiao Zhonghui (or rather, Yang Zhonghui) embraced their respective mothers. Grief overwhelmed them at the thought of their fathers’ vengeance, followed by boundless gratitude for Xiao Banhe’s righteousness.

Xiao Banhe continued, “After we escaped Beijing, the Emperor dispatched riders in all directions to search for us. To evade the Qing court’s surveillance, Old Xiao grew a beard and had Madams Yuan and Yang pose as my wives. Since Old Xiao is a eunuch, this temporary arrangement didn’t dishonour the names of Yuan and Yang daxia.”

Yuan Guannan and Xiao Zhonghui gazed at each other and smiled, thinking, “Who says we’re blood siblings?”

Xiao Banhe slapped his thigh and said, “Old Xiao is a eunuch and admired how Zheng He,²³ the Great Ming Dynasty’s²⁴ Three Treasures Eunuch, led expeditions to distant lands spreading China’s virtue and might. That’s why I changed my name to Banhe,²⁵ hoping to have half of Zheng He’s heroism. Hehe, that’s just Old Xiao’s foolish dream.

“These years passed peacefully, but when the Mandarin Duck Blades resurfaced, Old Xiao became determined to reclaim them to appease the spirits of the two heroes Yuan and Yang. I grew careless in concealing our identities and was eventually discovered by the Qing court. Given how things have turned out, it doesn’t matter anymore. Unfortunately, of the Mandarin Duck Blades, only the long Yuan blade remains. Huier’s²⁶ short Yang blade must be a fake, otherwise how could it have broken? That villain Zhuo Tianxiong must have switched it. It’s a pity we couldn’t stop him.”

By now, the aroma of the roasting deer was intensifying. Ren Feiyan²⁷ took out a knife and began cutting the meat into pieces. Lin Yulong²⁸ bellowed to Yang Zhonghui without warning, “Wasn’t I right? You said your parents never quarrelled, and I said couples who don’t argue aren’t real couples—there must be something strange. Isn’t your big brother Lin prophetic and sensible?”

Ren Feiyan placed a piece of venison on the tip of her knife and thrust it into his mouth as she chided, “Eat your venison. What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lin Yulong wanted to retort but his mouth was full of meat and he could not speak.

Just as everyone was laughing, a disciple standing watch outside the woods shouted, “Who goes there?”

“The Four Xias of Taiyue!” came the reply.

Yang Zhonghui could not help but giggle. The Four Xias of Taiyue²⁹ appeared, covered in mud, carrying a large fishing net on a wooden pole. The net contained a large, dark object, its nature obscure. Yang Zhonghui laughed and asked, “Four Xias of Taiyue, what treasure are you carrying?”

Gai Yiming replied with obvious pride, “Young Master Yuan, Miss Xiao, the four of us brothers went to the muddy river to catch a Blue-blood Golden Toad³⁰ as a gift for you both. But before we could catch the toad, someone came limping by with an injured leg, groaning in pain. The Four Xias of Taiyue took one look and realised it was none other than Zhuo Tianxiong! We stealthily threw a fishing net over his head and captured him!”

Everyone was both surprised and delighted. Yuan Guannan reached to Zhuo Tianxiong’s waist and pulled out a short blade, its gleaming light unstained by mud—it was the genuine Yang blade.

Madam Yuan held the pair of Mandarin Duck Blades and sighed, “The Qing Emperor heard that these paired blades contained a great secret to becoming unmatched in the world. This is indeed true, but even if he knew the secret, could he follow it? Everyone, look!”

As people gathered closer, they saw “The Benevolent”³¹ engraved on the Yuan blade and “Invincible”³² on the Yang blade.

“The benevolent is invincible!”

And this was the great secret to being unmatched in the world.

– End –

Footnotes

1. 萧半和 – Xiāo Bànhé. ↩

2. 萧义 – Xiāo Yì. ↩

3. 袁冠南 – Yuán Guānnán. ↩

4. 镖师 – Biāoshī. Professional armed escorts employed by escort agencies. ↩

5. 周威信 – Zhoū Weīxìn. ↩

6. 斤 – jīn. A Chinese unit of weight, approximately 500 grams or 1.1 pounds. ↩

7. 混元气 – hùn yuánqì. Literally mixed innate energy. ↩

8. 鸯刀 – yāngdāo. Yang is the female mandarin duck and is the name of the shorter of the Mandarin Duck Blades. ↩

9. 妹 – mèi. Literally younger sister. Here, it’s used as a term of endearment. ↩

10. 清风引珮下瑶台 – qīng fēng yǐn pèi xià yáo tái. Literally fresh breeze guiding a jade pendant down a celestial tower. It evokes a scene of a gentle breeze guiding a noble lady wearing jade ornaments from a celestial tower. The phrase is an elegant classical phrase from ancient Chinese poetry. ↩

11. 夫妻刀法 – fūqī dāofǎ. Literally the married couple’s dao style. Often mistranslated as the Couple’s Blade Style and losing the specific marital reference. It also refers to how the moves are designed to complement each other. ↩

12. 碧箫声里双鸣凤 – bì xiāo shēng lǐ shuāng míng fèng. Literally two phoenixes singing amidst the sound of jade flute . There are several symbolism here: jade flute represents refinement and harmony, phoenix pair symbolises marital bliss and the image of them singing together means perfect matrimonial harmony. ↩

13. 今朝有女颜如玉 – jīn zhāo yǒu nǚ yán rú yù. Literally today, there is a maiden with face like jade. The phrase echoes classical Chinese poetry where comparisons to jade were the highest praise for beauty. The use of today makes it immediate, suggesting the moment of marriage. ↩

14. 喜结丝萝在乔木 – xǐ jié sī luó zài qiáo mù. Literally joy bound by climbing vine on a tall tree. The beautiful metaphor comes from Chinese poetry where climbing vines and tall tree represents a perfect marriage. The imagery symbolises the natural joining of two beings in mutual support and growth. ↩

15. 英雄无双风流婿 – yīng xióng wú shuāng fēng liú xù. Literally matchless hero a gallant groom. The phrase combines martial prowess with romantic refinement. In particular, the term 风流 (fēngliú) suggests cultural sophistication, romantic accomplishment, and natural grace. ↩

16. 中条山 – Zhōngtiáo shān. Mountain range in Shanxi Province. See Wikipedia. ↩

17. 满族 – Mǎnzú. A Tungusic ethnic group native to Manchuria. See Wikipedia. ↩

18. 凌迟 – língchí. Literally slow humiliation. A form of capital punishment by dismembering the body used in imperial China from approximately the 10th century until it was officially abolished in 1905。 See Wikipedia. ↩

19. 鸳鸯刀 – Yuānyāng dāo. Literally mandarin duck daos. Yuan and yang stand for the male and female mandarin ducks respectively, and are considered to be lifelong couples in traditional Chinese culture. The name means that the daos come in a pair. ↩

20. 三湘 – sānxiāng. Literally three Xiang. It is used to refer to the Hunan Province. Other variations include Three Xiang and Four Rivers (三湘四水 Sānxiāng Sìshuǐ), and Great Lands of Three Xiang (三湘大地 Sānxiāng Dàdì). ↩

21. 杨伯冲 – Yáng Bóchōng. ↩

22. 大侠 – dàxiá. A title of great respect in the martial world, denoting someone of exceptional martial prowess who upholds justice and righteousness. ↩

23. 郑和 – Zhèng Hé. Chinese official from the Ming Dynasty, often regarded as the greatest admiral in Chinese history. See Wikipedia. ↩

24. 明 – Míng. A dynasty that ruled China from 1368 to 1644. See Wikipedia. ↩

25. 半和 – bànhé. Literally half He. ↩

26. 儿 – ér. A term of endearment, especially for a child or lover. ↩

27. 任飞燕 – Rèn Fēiyàn. ↩

28. 林玉龙 – Lín Yùlóng ↩

29. 太岳 – Tàiyuè. Taiyue is the ancient name of modern day Tianzhu Mountain in Anqing, Anhui. See Wikipedia. ↩

30. 碧血金蟾 – bìxuè jīnchán. Literally blue blood golden toad. A mythical creature that is said to have the power to heal wounds and prolong life. ↩

31. 仁者 – rénzhě. Benevolent One. A Confucian concept of the ideal person who embodies humanity and compassion. ↩

32. 无敌 – wúdí. Invincible. ↩