The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre – Chapter 24 – Part 9

When she recognised him, Zhang Wuji spoke in a clear voice, “My late father Cuishan was the fifth disciple under my Grand Shifu.¹ If I don't call him Grand Shifu, what should I call him? What is there to be shy about?” He turned and knelt before Zhang Sanfeng, kowtowing. “Your child Zhang Wuji pays respects to Grand Shifu and Third Shibo.² Matters arose in haste and there was no time to report. I beg Grand Shifu's forgiveness for my deception.”

Zhang Sanfeng and Yu Daiyan were mingled with joy and astonishment. Never in their wildest thoughts had they imagined that the youth who had just defeated two great masters of the Western Regions Shaolin was the very child who, years ago, had been so ill he nearly died. Zhang Sanfeng laughed heartily and reached out to raise him. “Good child, you didn’t die. Cuishan has an heir after all.” Zhang Wuji’s martial skill was superb, but that was secondary to what delighted Zhang Sanfeng most. He had believed the boy long dead, yet here he stood alive. Joy fell upon him like a gift from Heaven, his heart blooming with happiness. He turned to Yin Tianzheng and said, “Brother Yin, congratulations on siring such a fine grandson.” Yin Tianzheng smiled and replied, “Zhang Sanfeng the Perfected One,³ congratulations on raising such an outstanding disciple-grandson.”

Zhao Min cursed, “What fine grandson, fine disciple-grandson! Two old wrecks who’ve bred a cunning little demon. Ada, go test his swordplay.”

Ada, whose face bore its usual look of deep sorrow, replied, “Yes!” With a flash of steel he drew the Heavenly Jian,⁴ and a cold gleam danced before everyone’s eyes. An icy chill seemed to seep into their very skin. A fine jian indeed.

Zhang Wuji asked, “That jian belongs to the Emei Order. How did it come into your hands?” Zhao Min spat, “Little brat, what do you know? That old nun Miejue stole it from my family. Now the thing returns to its rightful owner. What does the Heavenly Jian have to do with the Emei Order?”

Zhang Wuji had never known the jian’s true origin. Her retort left him unable to answer, so he shifted the subject. “Miss Zhao, please give me the Black Jade Bone-Rejoining Paste⁵ to heal my Third Shibo and Sixth Shishu’s broken limbs. Then we can let the past rest.” Zhao Min said, “Hmph! Let the past rest? Easy to say. Do you know where Kongwen and Kongzhi of the Shaolin Order, Song Yuanqiao and Yu Lianzhou of the Wudang Order, and the rest of them are right now?” Zhang Wuji shook his head. “I don’t know. I beg you to tell me.”

Zhao Min sneered, “Why should I tell you? I ought to tear your body to pieces to atone for the insult and humiliation you dealt me in the Iron Prison at Green Willow Manor!” When she spoke of “insult and humiliation,” the memory of that day rose unbidden, and her face flushed crimson. She was angry and ashamed at once.

When Zhang Wuji heard her mention “insult and humiliation,” his own face reddened too. To save the Ming Order heroes from their deadly poison, he had been forced to such extremes, using his neili⁶ to tickle the soles of her feet. He had harboured not the slightest intention of impropriety, but the propriety between men and women forbade such contact. Though necessity had excused it, he had told no one. If the others truly believed he had been toying with a young woman, that would be disaster. With no way to defend himself, he could only say, “Miss Zhao, will you give me the Black Jade Bone-Rejoining Paste or not?”

Zhao Min’s bright eyes flickered, and she smiled. “You want the Black Jade Bone-Rejoining Paste? That’s not difficult. Only agree to three things for me, and I’ll present it with both hands.” Zhang Wuji asked, “What three things?” Zhao Min said, “I haven’t thought of them yet. When I do, I’ll name one, and you’ll do it.” Zhang Wuji said, “That won’t do. What if you demand I kill myself, or turn me into your pig or dog? Must I obey that too?” Zhao Min laughed, “I won’t ask you to kill yourself, and I certainly won’t make you a pig or a dog. Hee hee, you couldn’t be one even if you wanted to!” Zhang Wuji said, “Tell me first. If it doesn’t violate the way of a xia,⁷ and it’s something I can do, then I’ll agree.”

Zhao Min was about to reply when her glance fell on a pearl flower pinned in Xiaozhao’s hair. It was the very one she had given Zhang Wuji. Fury rose in her. She saw that Xiaozhao had bright eyes and white teeth, a smile like peach blossoms, a face like plum. Though still young, she had bloomed like a lotus in the morning dew, painfully lovely to behold. Zhao Min’s resentment deepened. She gritted her teeth and said to Ada, “Cut off this surnamed Zhang’s two arms!”

Ada replied, “Yes!” He shook the Heavenly Jian and stepped forward. “Order Leader Zhang,⁸ my mistress has ordered me to cut off your two arms.”

Zhou Dian had been stifling himself for a long time. Now he could hold back no longer and cursed, “Bullshit! You’d be better off cutting off your own arms!” Ada’s face was full of sorrow. He said bitterly, “That makes sense too.” Zhou Dian was delighted. “Then cut them off quickly!” Ada replied, “No need to rush.”

Zhang Wuji was secretly troubled. The Heavenly Jian was sharper than any blade in the world. Any weapon that met it would shatter. His only recourse was to use the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth⁹ to seize the weapon empty-handed. But reaching near so keen a blade, if the opponent’s swordplay varied even slightly in an unexpected way, a single graze from fingertip to shoulder would sever his arm in an instant. How to fight him was no small puzzle. Suddenly he heard Zhang Sanfeng say, “Wuji, you’ve learned the Taiji Fist¹⁰ I created. I have another set, the Taiji Swordplay.¹¹ I can teach it to you now. You can use it against this gentleman.” Zhang Wuji was overjoyed. “Thank you, Grand Shifu.” He turned to Ada. “Senior, my swordsmanship is poor. I must ask Grand Shifu to instruct me before I fight you.”

Ada had secretly feared Zhang Wuji all along. Though he held the superior jian, victory or defeat was uncertain. To hear he meant to learn new swordplay was better than he dared hope. New-learnt techniques, however exquisite, would be unfamiliar. Swordplay prized lightness and fluidity. One needed at least twenty or thirty years of practice before one could wield it at will against an opponent. He nodded. “Go learn your moves. I’ll wait for you here. Will two shichen¹² be enough?”

Zhang Sanfeng said, “No need to go elsewhere. I teach here, Wuji learns here. Fresh from the wok, hot and ready. In less than half a shichen, the entire Taiji Swordplay will be taught.”

When he spoke, everyone except Zhang Wuji was aghast. They could scarcely believe their ears. Even if the Wudang Order’s Taiji Swordplay were wondrous beyond measure, to teach it openly here, where the enemy could see every move plainly, what secret could remain?

Ada said, “That’s fine too. I’ll wait outside the hall.” He would not take even this advantage. Though a servant by station, he carried himself with the dignity of a wulin¹³ master. Zhang Sanfeng said, “No need for that. This swordplay is newly created. I don’t yet know if it’s any good. You are a master of the sword. I’d like you to watch and point out its flaws.”

Yang Xiao’s thoughts stirred, and he suddenly understood. He called out, “You are the ‘Eight-Armed Divine Sword’ Elder Fang, aren’t you? With your honour as a senior elder of the Beggars’ Guild,¹⁴ why demean yourself to serve another man as a servant?” When the Ming Order heroes heard this, all were startled. Zhou Dian said, “Aren’t you dead? How did you come back to life? That… that can’t be!”

Ada sighed long and slow, then lowered his head. “This old man survived a hundred deaths. What use speaking of what’s past? I am no longer an elder of the Beggars’ Guild.” The older generation all knew that Fang Dongbai,¹⁵ the Eight-Armed Divine Sword, had been the foremost of the Beggars’ Guild’s four great elders. His swordplay was marvellous and extraordinary, famed throughout the jianghu.¹⁶ Because his strikes were so swift, as though he had grown seven or eight arms, he had earned that epithet. More than ten years ago they had heard he died of illness. Everyone had mourned him. No one imagined he still lived.

Zhang Sanfeng said, “This old Daoist would be honoured to have the Eight-Armed Divine Sword guide a few moves. Wuji, do you have a jian?” Xiaozhao stepped forward and presented the wooden imitation of the Heavenly Jian that Zhang Wuji had taken from Green Willow Manor. Zhang Sanfeng took it and laughed. “A wooden jian? Isn’t this what old Daoists use to draw talismans and ward off ghosts?” He rose to his feet, the wooden jian in his right hand, his left hand forming the sword seal. His hands formed a circle and rose slowly. The opening posture unfolded, followed by Three Rings Embrace the Moon, the Great Dipper, the Swallow Skims the Water, Left Intercepting Sweep, Right Intercepting Sweep… move by move he performed them. When he reached the fifty-third move, “Compass Pointing South,” both hands traced circles at once, completing the fifty-fourth move, “Returning the Jian to the Origin.” Zhang Wuji did not memorise the moves. He watched only for the spirit within them, the meaning of “the spirit leads the sword, unbroken as silk.”

When Zhang Sanfeng finished the entire sequence, not a single person cheered. All were puzzled. Such slow, soft swordplay, how could it be used in combat? Then they thought again: surely Zhang Sanfeng the Perfected One had slowed the moves on purpose so the boy could see them clearly.

Zhang Sanfeng asked, “Child, did you see clearly?” Zhang Wuji said, “Yes.” Zhang Sanfeng asked, “Do you remember it all?” Zhang Wuji said, “I’ve already forgotten a small part.” Zhang Sanfeng said, “Good. That’s difficult enough for you. Think it through yourself.” Zhang Wuji lowered his head in silent thought. After a while, Zhang Sanfeng asked, “How is it now?” Zhang Wuji said, “I’ve forgotten more than half.”

Zhou Dian cried out involuntarily, “Terrible! He’s forgetting more and more! Zhang Sanfeng the Perfected One, your swordplay is profoundly subtle. How can anyone remember it after one look? Please perform it again for our Order Leader!”

Zhang Sanfeng smiled. “Very well, I’ll do it again.” He raised the jian and began once more. The onlookers had only seen a few moves when they were greatly astonished. The second performance shared not a single move with the first. Zhou Dian cried, “Terrible, terrible! This is even more confusing!” Zhang Sanfeng traced a circle with the jian and asked, “Child, how is it now?” Zhang Wuji said, “Three moves I haven’t forgotten.” Zhang Sanfeng nodded and returned the jian to its rest.

Zhang Wuji paced slowly in a circle across the hall. He pondered for a long while, then paced another half-circle. He raised his head, his face bright with joy. “I’ve forgotten it all now! Clean forgotten!” Zhang Sanfeng said, “Good, good! You forgot quickly. Now go ask the Eight-Armed Divine Sword to teach you a lesson.” He handed him the wooden jian. Zhang Wuji bowed and received it, then turned to Fang Dongbai. “Senior Fang, please.” Zhou Dian clawed at his ears and scratched his head, full of worry.

Fang Dongbai asked, “You’re using a wooden jian?” Zhang Wuji said, “Yes. Please instruct me.” Fang Dongbai darted forward with a thrust, saying, “Forgive my presumption!” One strike lanced out. A cold gleam flashed, and a hissing sound filled the air. His neili was every bit as formidable as the bald Aer’s. Everyone present was alarmed. In his hand he held not merely the jian that cleaved gold and jade, but even a scrap of rusty iron, wielded with such neili, would be unstoppable. “Divine Sword” was no empty name.

Footnotes

1. 太师父 – tàishīfù. Grand Shifu. One’s shifu’s shifu, two rungs up the lineage ladder. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 师伯 – shībó. Senior lineage uncle. The shixiong or shijie of one’s shifu. Shī means teacher. Bó means father’s elder brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 真人 – zhēnrén. Literally “true person.” An honorific title for a Daoist master who has attained spiritual perfection. ↩

4. 倚天剑 – Yǐtiān Jiàn. The Heavenly Jian. Lit. “Heaven-Reliant Sword.” One of the twin legendary weapons forged by Guo Jing and Huang Rong from Yang Guo’s Heavy Iron Sword. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 黑玉断续膏 – Hēi Yù Duànxù Gāo. Black Jade Bone-Rejoining Paste. A rare medicinal salve capable of mending shattered bones and severed limbs. The closest secret of the Western Regions Shaolin. ↩

6. 内力 – nèilì. Internal force. The kinetic manifestation of qi cultivated through neigong. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

7. 侠 – xiá. A martial artist who upholds justice and protects the weak. The code of xia demands righteousness, loyalty, and courage. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 教主 – jiàozhǔ. Order Leader. The head of a religious or martial order. ↩

9. 乾坤大挪移 – Qiánkūn Dà Nuóyí. The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. The supreme secret art of the Ming Order, capable of redirecting force and reversing the flow of qi. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 太极拳 – Tàijí Quán. Taiji Fist. The Wudang Order’s foundational unarmed technique embodying yin-yang balance through circular, continuous motion. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

11. 太极剑 – Tàijí Jiàn. Taiji Swordplay. Sword techniques channeling Taiji principles, where softness overcomes hardness and the spirit leads the blade. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

12. 时辰 – shíchén. The traditional Chinese unit of time, each equal to two hours. The day was divided into twelve shichen. ↩

13. 武林 – wǔlín. Lit. “martial forest.” The community of martial artists and their organisations, distinct from the broader jianghu. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

14. 丐帮 – Gài Bāng. The Beggars’ Guild. The largest and most powerful martial organisation in the jianghu, renowned for its Dog-Beating Staff Technique and Dragon-Subduing Palm. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

15. 方东白 – Fāng Dōngbái. His name meaning “East White”. ↩

16. 江湖 – jiānghú. Lit. “rivers and lakes.” The itinerant world beyond settled society and official reach, holding not only martial artists but the trades that travel with them. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩