Mandarin Duck Blades Chapter 9

Yuan Guannan¹ knew their situation was dire. He whispered, “Miss Xiao, make haste and flee—I’ll hold him off.”

Xiao Zhonghui² did not expect such chivalry from him. Stunned, her heart warmed, and she said, “No, we’ll face him together.”

Yuan replied anxiously, “Listen to me, go now! If I survive today, we’ll meet again.”

Xiao Zhonghui began, “But—”

Before she could finish, Zhuo Tianxiong³ had already charged in with his iron staff.

Yuan slashed with his blade. Xiao Zhonghui noticed his left shoulder was exposed. Before Zhuo could exploit the opening, her blade darted to guard Yuan’s shoulder. Though they had never practiced together, one had urged the other to leave and the other insisted on staying. Such a display of chivalry naturally drove them to protect one another when facing the enemy.

Lin Yulong⁴ saw it clearly and called out, “Excellent! ‘Beauty and talent worth ten thousand pearls’⁵—the first move of the Wedded Blade Style,⁶ executed to perfection!”

Yuan and Xiao both blushed, surprised at how they had unconsciously performed the newly learned technique in perfect harmony in the heat of the moment. Zhuo Tianxiong raised his iron staff to strike and Ren Feiyan⁷ shouted, “Second move, ‘Heaven ordains beauty to marry’!”⁸

Xiao Zhonghui attacked as instructed while Yuan Guannan moved to defend. Unable to switch from attack to defense, Zhuo was forced to dodge with a step backwards.

Lin Yulong shouted, “Third move, ‘Gentle breeze guides precious jade down the celestial tower’!”⁹

The pair’s blades soared in unison, whistling through the air. Ren Feiyan said, “Moonlight illuminates the beauty’s golden chamber!”¹⁰

Yuan and Xiao exchanged smiles as their blades flashed like moonlight, illuminating on their faces. Zhuo Tianxiong was forced to retreat another step.

Lin and Ren calling out the moves in quick succession. One yelled, “Blade gleams before the peacock screen.”¹¹

The other followed, “Joy binds creeping vines to the tall tree.”¹²

One shouted, “Peerless hero makes a gallant groom.”¹³

“Red candles kindle in the bridal chamber.”¹⁴

“Twin phoenixes sings to the jade flute tune.”¹⁵

“Today’s bride with countenance like jade.”¹⁶

Lin Yulong shouted, “Golden moment of this blessed night.”¹⁷

Ren Feiyan called out, “Claiming all joy in heaven and earth.”¹⁸

With that, they had executed the first twelve moves of the Wedded Blade Style. There were over sixty other moves, but Yuan and Xiao had yet to learn them. Yuan cried out, “From the beginning!”

He struck with his blade, executing once more the first move, “Beauty and talent worth ten thousand pearls.” When they first used the twelve moves, their shaky coordination due to unfamiliarity was enough to make Zhuo Tianxiong struggle to fend them off. As they went through the moves the second time, they moved in greater synchrony.

Realising that each move of the Wedded Blade Style bore a poetic, romantic name, they were thrilled and bashful. Their Mandarin Duck Blades¹⁹ moved in tighter harmony. By the ninth move, “Twin phoenixes sings to the jade flute tune,” their blades danced like paired phoenixes in flight. How could Zhuo Tianxiong withstand such an assault?

He cried out as a blade struck his shoulder and blood gushed. He knew was outmatched and that staying would spell certain death in the nunnery. Blocking with his staff in desperation, he leapt over the wall to escape.

Yuan and Xiao gazed at each other as unspoken feelings stirred between them, both at a loss for words. Suddenly Lin Yulong’s voice boomed out, “Magnificent! Truly magnificent! Beauty and talent worth ten thousand pearls indeed!”

Although he was praising the Wedded Blades Style, Xiao Zhonghui flushed red and fled the nunnery with head lowered, disappearing into the distance.

Yuan Guannan rushed to the temple gate but only managed to catch a glimpse of Xiao Zhonghui’s back as she vanished behind a row of willows.

Suddenly he heard someone call out behind him, “Young master!”²⁰

He turned to see his page boy grinning at him, holding an open book basket. The infant son of the Lin couple was sleeping within as a large wet patch spread across the books beneath—truly to the prhase “there are children’s piss within books.”²¹

The tenth day of the third month marked the fiftieth birthday of Xiao Banhe,²² the great xia²³ of Jinyang.²⁴

His mansion overflowed with well-wishers as renown heroes gathered. Xiao Banhe, dressed in long robes with a riding jacket, greeted heroes from all factions—righteous xias, notorious outlaws, renowned veterans, ambitious youths—and many Xiao Banhe had never met, who had made their way to pay respects due to his fame.

In the rear hall, Madam Yuan,²⁵ Madam Yang,²⁶ and Xiao Zhonghui were all dressed in new finery, radiating joy. The two madams were organising the continuous stream of birthday gifts arriving from outside. Xiao Zhonghui stood before a mirror, arranging flowers in her hair. Suddenly, her reflection flushed as she softly recited, “Gentle breeze guides precious jade down the celestial tower, moonlight illuminates the beauty’s golden chamber.”

Madam Yuan and Madam Yang exchanged glances, both thinking, “Since returning with that Mandarin Duck Blade, the girl has been alternating between joy and melancholy, clearly troubled by something. She’s eighteen this year—most likely met a young man to her liking.”

Seeing her struggling with the flowers and noticing something missing from her hair, Madam Yang asked, “Huier,²⁷ where’s the golden hairpin your First Mother gave you?”

Zhonghui giggled, “I gave it to someone.”

The two ladies exchanged another knowing look, thinking, “Just as we suspected, she had already given away a love token.”

Madam Yang asked, “To whom?”

Zhonghui laughed like swaying flower branches, saying, “He… well? He’ll probably come to wish Father happy birthday today. He’s quite the renowned figure, no ordinary person.”

Just as Madam Yang was about to inquire further, the servant lady Zhang Ma entered with a brocade box, saying, “What an odd birthday gift—why would someone give the master a golden hairpin?”

Both ladies approached and saw the box contained a dazzling item—Zhonghui’s unmistakable hairpin. Madam Yang turned to see her daughter’s face filled with joy, and asked hurriedly, “Where is the bearer of the gift?”

Zhang Ma replied, “He’s presently in the hall speaking with the master.”

Both ladies, eager to see the sort of person who could make their daughter so utterly infatuated, nodded to each other and went to peek from behind the main hall’s screen. They heard someone stammering: “My humble name is Gai Yiming,²⁸ also known as Eight Steps Chasing Toads, Rivalling Zhuan Zhu,²⁹ Treading Snow Without a Trace, Skimming Water with One Leg, and the Twin Daggers. My three brothers and I have come today with our birthday greetings for the great hero Xiao.”

The two ladies peered and saw a scrawny man of unremarkable appearance, accompanied by three peculiar-looking individuals. Xiao Banhe stroked his beard and smiled, “The honour of a visit by the Four Xias of Taiyue³⁰ and the present of such a fine golden hairpin—how can I deserve this?”

Gai Yiming replied, “Think nothing of it!”

The two madams were perplexed. Was this short man really the one their daughter had fallen for? Though well-versed in worldly matters, they knew appearances could be deceiving. His titles sounded impressive, suggesting considerable martial skill, and anyone worthy of being called a xia must surely possess noble character.

Amidst drumbeats and music, three more visitors entered and bowed to Xiao Banhe. A handsome young scholar announced in a crisp voice, “Juniors Lin Yulong, Ren Feiyan, and Yuan Guannan wish Elder Xiao fortune vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains.³¹ Please accept this humble gift.”

He presented an uncovered long box. Xiao Banhe thanked them and looked inside, then froze. Three words left his lips: “Mandarin Duck Blade!”

In the back garden of the Xiao residence, Lin Yulong instructed Yuan Guannan in sabre technique while Ren Feiyan taught Xiao Zhonghui. After spending the better part of the day of the day, Lin and Ren had imparted all sixty remaining movements of the Wedded Blade Style.

Guannan and Zhonghui tried their best to remember the moves, but it proved difficult for them to concentrate. After learning how they had obtained the blades, Xiao Banhe discussed with his wives and they agreed to betroth his daughter to Yuan Guannan. He declared that they would add to the joyous birthday celebrations by announce the engagement that very night, adding to the joyous birthday celebrations.

The young couple’s hearts swelled with delight. If not for the knowledge of the incredible power of the blade technique, they would have had no interest in learning martial arts at this moment. Moreover, if martial artists were not somehow exempt from social conventions, an unmarried couple should maintain proper distance and not be together at a time like this.

“Blade gleams before the peacock screen, joy binds creeping vines to the tall tree… Twin phoenixes sings to the jade flute tune, today’s bride with countenance like jade…” Having completed their instruction, Lin and Ren left the betrothed couple to practice on their own. The married couple felt immense satisfaction at having taken such promising disciples.

The Four Xias of Taiyue had been watching them practice, with Xiaoyaozi and Gai Yiming constantly pointing out supposed flaws and openings in their technique. Feeling irritated, Lin Yulong wiped sweat from his brow and said, “Brother Gai, my wife and I have given this saber technique as a wedding gift to Brother Yuan and his bride. What gift do the Four Xias of Taiyue offer?”

Hearing this, all four xias tensed, momentarily speechless. For them, giving gift was a particularly sensitive topic.

Ren Feiyan wanted to tease them, so she said, “The Blue-blood Golden Toad³² lives in the muddy river over there. If a martial artist consumes one, it’s worth ten years of training—though they’re nearly impossible to catch. Brother Gai, since you’re the Eight Steps Chasing Toad and famed for Skimming Water with One Leg, why not catch a few as prized gifts for the newlyweds?”

Gai Yiming brightened, “Really?”

Lin Yulong said, “Dare we lie to you? Unfortunately, my wife and I lack the necessary qinggong and swimming skills to catch them.” Gai Yiming declared, “Speaking of qinggong³³ and swimming, those are my specialties. Brothers, let’s go catch some now!”

Ren Feiyan laughed, “Ha! Brother Gai, you’re showing your inexperience again. The Azure Blood Golden Toad only emerges from its cave at midnight to absorb the moon’s essence. How could you catch one in broad daylight?”

Gai Yiming replied, “Yes, yes, I knew that—it merely slipped my mind. If they were so easily caught in daylight, why would they be special?”