Priest Musang

Priest Musang (simplified: 木桑道长, traditional: 木桑道長, pinyin: Mùsāng Dàozhǎng, jyutping: muk6 song1 dou6 zoeng2), also known as Musang Daozhang, was the leader of the Iron Sword School (铁剑门) and a close friend of Mu Renqing, the leader of the Huashan School. He was known for his exceptional lightness skills and his obsession with chess, which earned him the nickname “Thousand Changes Ten Thousand Calamities” (千变万劫 — Qiānbiàn Wànjié). He taught Yuan Chengzhi the Divine Movement Hundred Changes and eventually accepted Ajiu (later known as Jiu Nan) as his disciple.

Biography

Early life and reputation

Priest Musang was originally a skilled martial artist known for his exceptional lightness skills. In his youth, he was renowned for his agility and rapid movement, earning him the nickname “Thousand Changes Ten Thousand Transformations Grass Flying” (千变万化草上飞 — Qiānbiàn Wànhuà Cǎoshàngfēi), which referred to his ability to change positions rapidly while moving across difficult terrain.

However, Priest Musang developed an obsession with chess (围棋 — wéiqí), which eventually consumed much of his time and attention. He came to believe that his chess skills were exceptional, and he changed his own nickname to “Thousand Changes Ten Thousand Calamities Chess Master” (千变万劫棋国手 — Qiānbiàn Wànjié Qíguóshǒu), claiming that the “Thousand Changes Ten Thousand Calamities” referred to his chess skills rather than his martial arts. However, his actual chess ability was only moderate, and others, out of respect for him, simplified the nickname to “Thousand Changes Ten Thousand Calamities” (千变万劫), which actually praised his martial arts rather than his chess skills.

Leadership of the Iron Sword School

As the leader of the Iron Sword School, Priest Musang was responsible for maintaining the school’s traditions and passing on its martial arts. The Iron Sword School had a unique tradition: whoever possessed the school’s iron sword (铁剑 — tiějiàn) was considered the school’s leader, and all members of the school were required to obey them.

Priest Musang’s junior brother Yuzhenzi (玉真子) eventually obtained the iron sword, which created a crisis for the school. According to school rules, Priest Musang was forced to obey Yuzhenzi despite his evil nature, as the sword represented the authority of the school’s founder.

Relationship with Mu Renqing

Priest Musang was a close friend of Mu Renqing, the leader of the Huashan School. The two were described as sworn friends (生死之交 — shēngsǐ zhī jiāo) who shared a deep bond. Mu Renqing praised Priest Musang’s swordplay, stating that “there is no second person in the world who can use a sword like this” (世间更无第二人使得出 — Shìjiān gèng wú dì’èr rén shǐ dé chū).

Their friendship lasted many years, and Priest Musang would visit Mount Hua to see Mu Renqing and play chess with him.

Teaching Yuan Chengzhi

When Yuan Chengzhi was training on Mount Hua under Mu Renqing, he first met Priest Musang at the age of thirteen. Priest Musang took an immediate liking to the young disciple and began teaching him chess, as well as various martial arts techniques.

Priest Musang’s teaching method was unique: every time he lost a game of chess to Yuan Chengzhi, he would teach him a martial arts technique. This approach demonstrated his commitment to both chess and martial arts, as well as his willingness to use his losses as teaching opportunities.

Over the years, Priest Musang taught Yuan Chengzhi several important techniques:

Divine Movement Hundred Changes (神行百变 — Shénxíng Bǎibiàn) — The signature lightness skill of the Iron Sword School, which allowed for rapid position changes and exceptional agility.
Dark weapon techniques (暗器功夫 — ànqì gōngfū) — Various techniques for using concealed weapons.
Full Sky Flower Rain (满天花雨 — Mǎntiān Huāyǔ) — A technique for throwing multiple projectiles simultaneously.

Priest Musang also gifted Yuan Chengzhi with a protective vest (护甲背心 — hùjiǎ bèixīn) made from black gold wire, hair, and golden monkey fur, which was impervious to most weapons.

Chess obsession and its consequences

Priest Musang’s obsession with chess had serious consequences. When he learned that Yuzhenzi had obtained the iron sword in Tibet, Priest Musang intended to travel there to retrieve it. However, during his journey, he encountered a skilled chess player on Huangshan (黄山) and became so engrossed in playing chess that he stayed for months, delaying his mission to recover the iron sword.

This delay allowed Yuzhenzi to fully establish control over the iron sword and use it to commit evil deeds. Priest Musang’s chess obsession, while harmless in itself, indirectly contributed to the problems caused by his junior brother.

Confrontation with Yuzhenzi

Priest Musang confronted Yuzhenzi twice over his evil actions. In their first confrontation, Priest Musang had the upper hand, but he could not bring himself to kill his junior brother, as their master had asked him to take care of Yuzhenzi before his death. Priest Musang felt responsible for Yuzhenzi’s moral decline and showed mercy.

In their second confrontation, Yuzhenzi had learned some evil techniques and managed to stab Priest Musang in the chest with a sword. However, Priest Musang was wearing the protective vest he had given to Yuan Chengzhi (he had a similar one), which prevented the sword from penetrating. Yuzhenzi, thinking Priest Musang had developed some powerful technique, was distracted, allowing Priest Musang to gain the upper hand again. However, Priest Musang still could not bring himself to kill Yuzhenzi.

Accepting Ajiu as a disciple

Priest Musang had a rule: he would never accept disciples because of the many troubles the Iron Sword School had faced. However, this rule was broken when Ajiu (阿九), the daughter of the Chongzhen Emperor, saved his life.

During a confrontation with Yuzhenzi, when Yuzhenzi had the iron sword and was beating Priest Musang, Ajiu, moved by compassion, threw herself in front of Priest Musang to protect him. Touched by her selfless act, Priest Musang broke his rule and accepted her as his disciple, giving her the Buddhist name Jiu Nan (九难 — Jiǔ Nán).

This decision was significant, as it ensured the continuation of the Iron Sword School’s traditions. Ajiu, later known as Jiu Nan, became a master martial artist and would eventually train disciples of her own in The Deer and the Cauldron.

Later years

In his later years, Priest Musang passed on his legacy to Jiu Nan, ensuring that the Iron Sword School’s martial arts would continue. His appearance changed over time: when Yuan Chengzhi first met him, he was described as wearing a yellow rough cloth daoist robe, with a thin, dry, yellow face and sparse hair that was more white than black, tied in a small daoist bun. By the time Yuan Chengzhi saw him in Nanjing, his eyebrows and beard had turned white, and he carried a black iron chess board on his back. By the end of the novel, his hair and beard were completely silver.

Personality and character

Priest Musang was characterised by his lighthearted and carefree personality. Despite being a master martial artist and the leader of the Iron Sword School, he maintained a relaxed and humorous attitude towards life. His obsession with chess, while sometimes problematic, also reflected his appreciation for intellectual challenges and his ability to find joy in simple pleasures.

He was known for his generosity and willingness to teach. His method of teaching martial arts in exchange for chess losses demonstrated his humility and his commitment to passing on knowledge. He was also known to be somewhat vain about his chess skills, insisting that his nickname referred to his chess ability rather than his martial arts, even though others knew better.

Priest Musang showed great loyalty to his friends, particularly Mu Renqing, and maintained their friendship over many years. However, his relationship with his junior brother Yuzhenzi was more complicated. Despite Yuzhenzi’s evil actions, Priest Musang could not bring himself to kill him, showing both mercy and a sense of responsibility for his junior brother’s moral decline.

His decision to accept Ajiu as a disciple, breaking his own rule, demonstrated his capacity for gratitude and his recognition of exceptional character. This decision would prove significant for the future of the Iron Sword School.

Martial arts

Priest Musang was an exceptional martial artist, particularly renowned for his lightness skills and agility.

Lightness skills

Divine Movement Hundred Changes (神行百变 — Shénxíng Bǎibiàn) — The signature lightness skill of the Iron Sword School, which Priest Musang taught to Yuan Chengzhi. This technique allowed for rapid position changes and exceptional agility, making it extremely difficult for opponents to land attacks.
Cloud Soaring Dragon Riding (攀云乘龙 — Pānyún Chénglóng) — A lightness technique that allowed Priest Musang to leap to the top of trees without bending his knees, demonstrating exceptional leg strength and agility.
Yue Wang Divine Arrow (岳王神箭 — Yuèwáng Shénjiàn) — A lightness technique that allowed Priest Musang to move forward rapidly like an arrow, enabling him to catch up with fast-moving targets.

Weapon techniques

Chess board and pieces (棋盘棋子 — qípán qízǐ) — Priest Musang’s unique weapons. His chess board was made of refined steel, while his chess pieces were made of black iron (black pieces) and silver (white pieces). He had originally used a sword but had switched to using the chess board and pieces in recent years.

Priest Musang’s skill with the chess board and pieces was exceptional. He could throw multiple pieces into the air and have them all land on the board simultaneously, demonstrating precise control and balance. He could also use the pieces as concealed weapons, throwing them at pressure points on opponents’ bodies.

Dark weapon techniques

Full Sky Flower Rain (满天花雨 — Mǎntiān Huāyǔ) — A technique for throwing multiple projectiles simultaneously, creating a “flower rain” effect.
Pressure point attacks — Priest Musang was skilled at using chess pieces to strike pressure points on opponents’ bodies, demonstrating precise control and accuracy.

Protective equipment

Protective vest (护甲背心 — hùjiǎ bèixīn) — A vest made from black gold wire, hair, and golden monkey fur that was impervious to most weapons. Priest Musang gave one to Yuan Chengzhi and kept another for himself, which saved his life when Yuzhenzi stabbed him.

Relationships

Friends

Mu Renqing — The leader of the Huashan School and Priest Musang’s close friend. The two were described as sworn friends who shared a deep bond.

Disciples

Ajiu (Jiu Nan) — Priest Musang’s only disciple, accepted after she saved his life. She would later become a master martial artist in her own right and appear in The Deer and the Cauldron.

Students (informal)

Yuan Chengzhi — Although not formally accepted as a disciple, Priest Musang taught Yuan Chengzhi many techniques, particularly chess and the Divine Movement Hundred Changes.

Junior brother

Yuzhenzi — Priest Musang’s junior brother who turned to evil. Despite Yuzhenzi’s actions, Priest Musang could not bring himself to kill him, showing both mercy and a sense of responsibility.

Legacy

Priest Musang played an important role in the transmission of Iron Sword School martial arts. His teaching of Yuan Chengzhi helped the young disciple develop into one of the most powerful martial artists of his generation. His decision to accept Ajiu as a disciple ensured that the Iron Sword School’s traditions would continue into the next generation.

His lighthearted personality and chess obsession, while sometimes problematic, also made him a memorable and endearing character. His friendship with Mu Renqing demonstrated the bonds that could form between martial artists across different schools, and his willingness to teach and share knowledge reflected the best traditions of the jianghu.

Despite the challenges posed by his junior brother Yuzhenzi and the complications caused by his chess obsession, Priest Musang remained a respected figure in the jianghu, known for his exceptional skills, his generosity as a teacher, and his unique personality.