Mandarin Duck Blades – Part 9

Yuan Guannan, more concerned with saving his life at this moment, had no time to seize the blade. He whispered urgently, “Quiet—the blind old man has caught up!”

Xiao Zhonghui started.

“But wasn’t he poisoned by you?” she asked. Yuan Guannan gave a slight smile and said, “The poison was fake.”

Before Xiao Zhonghui could ask further, they heard Zhuo Tianxiong’s coarse voice saying, “There are no dwellings around here. If they’re not here, where else could they be?”

The elderly nun replied, “Honoured patron,¹ perhaps you should search further ahead. You must have passed them by already.”

Zhuo Tianxiong said, “Very well! I’ve posted men in all directions, so that whelp won’t escape even if he tries to flee beyond the horizon’s edge. If I can’t find him, I’ll return to settle scores with you. When I do, I’ll burn down this wretched nunnery!”

Hearing this, Lin Yulong and Ren Feiyan’s anger flared and they were about to retort, but before they could open their mouths, Yuan Guannan and Xiao Zhonghui’s fingers struck in unison, sealing their acupoints.

Zhuo Tianxiong entered the rear courtyard and lingered for a moment, presumably looking about. They heard him muttering curses, followed by the sound of his iron staff striking the ground as he turned and left the convent.

After Zhuo Tianxiong’s hand was marked with black ink, he had panicked and rushed to wash it in a stream. The ink stain washed away instantly, leaving no trace. Still uneasy, he scrubbed desperately at his skin until it broke and began to truly ache. This frightened him even more, and he stood dumbfounded for quite some time.

Only when he observed no further strange effects did he realise he had been duped. He then gave chase. Although his qinggong was superb, and he could race as though flying, the delay had allowed Yuan Guannan and the others to hide in the Purple Bamboo Convent.

Yuan Guannan and Xiao Zhonghui waited until they were certain he had gone far enough before finally releasing the Lin couple’s acupoints. The four leapt down from their hiding spot behind the Guanyin statue. Their brows furrowed as they recalled Zhuo Tianxiong’s words.

With his formidable qinggong, he would undoubtedly return once his search across dozens of miles proved fruitless. There were no buildings or shelters in any directions that they could hide in. And they could neither overcome him in combat nor elude his pursuit. Were they truly left with no choice but to await their doom? Yuan and Xiao faced each other in silence, their minds desperately searching for a means of escape.

Lin Yulong spat out angrily, “It’s all your fault, you insufferable woman! Had we mastered the Wedded Blades Style,² our combined strengths would have made the blind old man no threat at all!”

Ren Feiyan shot back, “Whose fault was it that we failed to master the Wedded Blades Style? That old monk clearly told you to follow my lead, yet from the moment we started practicing, you thought only of yourself!”

The two continued without end, trading bitter accusations. Hearing their constant bickering about the Wedded Blades Style, Xiao Zhonghui interjected, “The four of us, along with your child and the elderly nun, every one faces imminent death. Once that blind old man returns, none shall survive. What’s the point of this quarrel?”

Yuan Guannan asked, “What exactly is this Wedded Blades Style?”

The Lin couple’s explanation came mixed with continued argument, and only after a considerable time did the complete tale emerge.

Three years ago, shortly after their wedding, Lin and Ren fell into constant quarrels. They happened to encounter an eminent monk who, unable to bear their discord, decided to impart to them a special dao³ style. The moves he taught Lin Yulong and Ren Feiyan were completely different, requiring both to master their parts and fight as one. Their bladework would complement each other like yin and yang, fitting together perfectly—–when one advanced, the other retreated; when one attacked, the other defended.

The old monk had said, “With this blade style, fighting side by side in the martial world, no enemy, however formidable, can defeat you. But wielded alone, the technique is utterly useless.”

Perceiving the couple’s innate goodness and simplicity of heart, and their sense of chivalry was undermined only by rashness and hot temper, leading to incessant arguments. Fearing they might end in estrangement and separation—a prospect he found deeply regrettable—he taught them this extraordinary dao style to bind them together, as neither could function without the other. This blade technique was originally created by a devoted couple of ancient times who were inseparable and of one heart and mind, their twin blades always moving to protect each other.

Yet, Lin and Ren were both hot-tempered, and although they each mastered their individual parts, they could never achieve harmony together. After just three or four moves, far from protecting each other, the couple would end up fighting amongst themselves.

After hearing their tale, Yuan Guannan had a sudden inspiration and turned to Xiao Zhonghui, “Miss, I have something rather forward to say. I shouldn’t speak of it, but given our dire circumstances, with everyone’s lives at stake…”

Xiao Zhonghui interrupted, “I know what you’re going to say. You want me to learn this Wedded… Wedded…”

Her cheeks flushed red at this point. Yuan Guannan stammered, “Yes, I wouldn’t dare to presume, but it’s truly… it’s truly because…”

Xiao Zhonghui did not let him finish, turning instead to Ren Feiyan, “Elder Sister, please teach me. If he and I… if we can master it and hold off that blind old man, we might save everyone’s lives.”

Ren Feiyan replied, “This blade technique is extremely difficult to learn—it’s not something one can master in a day or two.”

Xiao Zhonghui said, “However much we can learn will have to suffice. It’s better than waiting helplessly for death.”

Ren Feiyan agreed, “Very well, I’ll teach you. But I wonder if he still remembers?”

Lin Yulong snapped, “How could I not remember?”

The Lin couple began explaining and gesticulating, demonstrating each move with their broken blades that Zhuo Tianxiong had severed with the precious dao. Yuan and Xiao watched intently, each silently committing their portions to memory.

Although Yuan and Xiao possessed considerable martial prowess, the intricate patterns of the Wedded Blades Style proved too complex to master within a short time. The Lin couple demonstrated a few moves, their instructions interrupted by occasional bickering.

With two teaching and two learning, they had scarcely reached the twelfth form when a thunderous voice boomed from outside, “You wretched cur, where have you hidden yourself?” A figure flashed across the threshold as Zhuo Tianxiong burst into the hall, iron staff at the ready.

Seeing his return, Lin Yulong felt anger rather than fear.

“We haven’t finished teaching the technique, and you’re already here. Couldn’t you wait a moment longer?” he shouted, slashing with his blade. Zhuo Tianxiong blocked with his iron staff as Ren Feiyan attacked from the right.

“Use the Wedded Blades Style!” Lin Yulong called out, eager to demonstrate their skill to Yuan and Xiao. He swept his broken blade diagonally at Zhuo Tianxiong’s waist. At this moment, Ren Feiyan should have executed a defensive flourish to shield her husband, but in her eagerness for victory, she abandoned the first move of the Wedded Blades Style. Instead, she employed the aggressive second move, turning what should have been a coordinated defence into a reckless double attack.

Seeing the glaring flaw in their technique, Zhuo Tianxiong countered with his Heaven’s Deception⁴ move, deflecting both blades with his staff while his fingers darted out from beneath, striking both Lin and Ren’s acupoints with two swift jabs. Had they not attempted the Wedded Blades Style, they might have held their own for a while, but their failed coordination combined with the broken blades’s lack of reach led to their instant defeat.

Lin Yulong exploded in fury. “You insufferable woman! That was meant to be the first move! You should have executed the blade flourish to protect my flank!”

Ren Feiyan retorted with equal rage, “Why couldn’t you follow my second move instead? Must I always be the one following your lead?”

Their blades hung suspended in mid-air while their bitter quarrel raged on unabated.

Yuan Guannan⁵ knew their situation was dire. He whispered, “Miss Xiao, make haste and flee—I’ll hold him off.”

Xiao Zhonghui⁶ 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, we’ll meet again.”

Xiao Zhonghui began, “But—”

Before she could finish, Zhuo Tianxiong⁷ 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. Both were spurred to sacrifice themselves for the other—the essence of the Wedded Blades Style—and found it natural to protect one another when facing the enemy.

Lin Yulong⁸ saw it clearly and called out, “Excellent! ‘Beauty and talent worth ten thousand pearls’⁹—the first move of the Wedded Blade Style,² executed to perfection!”

Yuan and Xiao both blushed, surprised at how they had unconsciously performed the newly learnt technique in perfect harmony in the heat of the moment. Zhuo Tianxiong raised his iron staff to strike and Ren Feiyan¹⁰ shouted, “Second move, ‘Heaven ordains beauty to marry’!”¹¹

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’!”¹²

The pair’s blades soared in unison, whistling through the air. Ren Feiyan said, “Moonlight illuminates the beauty’s golden chamber!”¹³

Yuan and Xiao exchanged smiles, both feeling joy in their hearts as their blades flashed like moonlight, illuminating 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.”¹⁴

The other followed, “Joy binds creeping vines to the tall tree.”¹⁵

One shouted, “Peerless hero makes a gallant groom.”¹⁶

“Red candles kindle in the bridal chamber.”¹⁷

“Twin phoenixes sings to the jade flute tune.”¹⁸

“Today’s bride with countenance like jade.”¹⁹

Lin Yulong shouted, “Golden moment of this blessed night.”²⁰

Ren Feiyan called out, “Claiming all joy in heaven and earth.”²¹

With that, they had executed the opening 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 swung his blade and struck, 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 Blades²² moved in tighter harmony. By the ninth move, “Twin phoenixes sings to the jade flute tune,” their blades danced like paired phoenixes in flight, each strike aimed at vital points. 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 whispered softly, “Please come find me at the daxia Xiao Banhe’s residence.”

Then, with head lowered, she fled the nunnery with head lowered, disappearing into the distance.

Footnotes

1. 施主 – shǐzhǔ. A respectful term used by Buddhist clergy to address laypeople. ↩

2. 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. ↩ ↩²

3. 刀 – dāo. A single-edge sword used for slashing and chopping. See Wikipedia. ↩

4. 偷天换日 – tōu tiān huàn rì. Literally stealing the sky and replacing the sun. A strategy that describes achieving victory through cunning rather than direct force. As a name for a martial arts move, it describes a move that uses misdirection before striking. ↩

5. 袁冠南 – Yuán Guānnán. ↩

6. 萧中慧 – Xiāo Zhōnghuì. ↩

7. 卓天雄 – Zhuó Tiānxióng. ↩

8. 林玉龙 – Lín Yùlóng ↩

9. 女貌郎才珠万斛 – nǚ mào láng cái zhū wàn hú. Literally woman’s beauty and man’s talent of ten thousand units of pearls. Phrase from classical poetry that suggests an ideal match of a beautiful woman and talented man as precious as countless pearls. A classical Chinese expression to describe perfect marriages. ↩

10. 任飞燕 – Rèn Fēiyàn. ↩

11. 天教艳质为眷属 – tiān jiào yàn zhì wéi juàn shǔ. Literally Heaven teaches beauty to become spouses. It suggests that the union was ordained by Heaven. The phrase uses traditional literary terms for beauty (yanzhi) and spouse (jianshu). ↩

12. 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. ↩

13. 明月照妆成金屋 – míng yuè zhào zhuāng chéng jīn wū. Literally bright moon illuminating makeup in the golden chamber. It is a metaphor for cherishing one’s beloved. It refers to the famous classical phrase 金屋藏娇 (jīn wū cáng jiāo) from Emperor Wu of Han’s promise to his future concubine that he would “house her in a golden chamber.” ↩

14. 刀光掩映孔雀屏 – dāo guāng yǎn yìng kǒng què píng. Literally glint of blades shining through the peacock screen. It combines the martial imagery with the luxurious domestic setting of a peacock screen usually found in wealthy households, especially in bridal chambers. ↩

15. 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. ↩

16. 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. ↩

17. 却扇洞房燃花烛 – què shān dòng fáng rán huā zhú. Literally fanning the bridal chamber to light wedding candles. The rich Chinese wedding imagery depicts the bridal chamber where newlyweds spend their wedding night with special red candles lit during wedding ceremonies. ↩

18. 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. ↩

19. 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. ↩

20. 千金一刻庆良宵 – qiān jīn yī kè qìng liáng xiāo. Literally a moment worth a thousand gold to celebrate a wonderful night. 千金一刻 (qiān jīn yī kè) means time as precious as gold. 良宵 (liáng xiāo) refers to special evenings, especially wedding nights. The phrase means a precious moment of celebration ↩

21. 占断人间天上福 – zhàn duàn rén jiān tiān shàng fú. Literally complete claim to the mortal world and Heaven’s blessing. The grand statement is an ambitious statement claiming total possession of happiness in the mortal and heavenly realms. ↩

22. 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. ↩