The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre – Chapter 26 – Part 9

Lu Zhangke¹ heard this and was startled. Then he smiled, thinking, *So this dhūta has done all this to coerce me, and it turns out to be to save his old lover and his own daughter. That is only human feeling. Though the matter carries some risk, gaining a peerless beauty in exchange is truly worth it.* Seeing that Bitter Dhūta² had something to ask of him, his heart relaxed at once. He smiled and said, “So kidnapping the Prince's beloved concubine to this place was also Master Ku's handiwork?”

Fan Yao³ said, “A matter of such magnitude, how could I come empty-handed? Naturally I must offer something in return.”

Lu Zhangke was greatly pleased, but feared someone might be outside the room and did not dare laugh aloud. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he asked, “Then how did my shidi come to be poisoned by Ten-Spice Softening Powder?⁴ Where did you obtain that poison?”

Fan Yao said, “Was that not easy? The poison was in your shidi’s keeping. He is fond of wine and greedy for the cup. When he drank until he was merry and excited, how could Bitter Dhūta fail to steal it?”

Lu Zhangke had no further doubts. He said, “Very well, Master Ku. I have made a friend of you. I shall definitely not betray you. Only I hope you do not trick me again like this.”

Fan Yao pointed at Lady Han⁵ and smiled. “If there is another such fragrant and beautiful trick next time, I beg Master Lu to set a trap for Bitter Dhūta to fall into. This old monk shall accept it gladly.”

The two looked at each other and smiled, yet each was calculating in his heart. Lu Zhangke was secretly planning how, once this immediate crisis passed, to take the other by surprise and finish off this wicked dhūta. Fan Yao knew well that though Lu Zhangke was temporarily coerced, the Xuanming Elders⁶ were men of great standing. Having suffered such a humiliation, how would they simply let it rest? The moment he had settled Lady Han somewhere and released He Biweng’s⁷ acupoints, he would come after him at once. But by then the six factions’ masters would already be rescued, and he would have long since slipped away.

Seeing that Lu Zhangke delayed in producing the antidote, Fan Yao thought, If I press him, he will only make difficulties. So he sat down and said with a smile, “Why does Brother Lu not release Lady Han’s acupoints, so we can all share a few cups together? To gaze upon a beauty by lamplight, such fortune as that takes several lifetimes to earn!”

Lu Zhangke knew that Wan’an Temple⁸ was full of people coming and going. The longer Lady Han stayed here, the greater the danger. He took up his deer-antler staff, unscrewed one of the antlers, took a cup, and poured some powder into it. “Master Ku, your schemes are beyond me. I concede defeat. Here is the antidote. Please take it.”

Fan Yao shook his head. “So little powder, what use is that?”

Lu Zhangke said, “Let alone saving two people, it would be enough for six or seven.”

Fan Yao said, “What harm in giving a little more? To speak plainly, you are resourceful and full of cunning. Bitter Dhūta is deeply afraid of being tricked by you.”

Seeing him ask for more antidote, Lu Zhangke suddenly grew suspicious. “Master Ku, the ones you mean to save, are they not just Miejue Shitai⁹ and your daughter?”

Fan Yao was about to fabricate an explanation when suddenly the sound of footsteps came from the courtyard. Seven or eight people rushed in. One voice said, “The footprints lead here. Could Lady Han have entered Wan’an Temple?”

Lu Zhangke’s face changed colour. He seized the cup containing the antidote and stuffed it into his robe, thinking only that Bitter Dhūta had stationed men outside and would betray him the moment he got the antidote.

Fan Yao waved his hand, telling him not to panic. He took a single quilt, covered Lady Han with it from head to toe, and lowered the bed curtain. A voice came from the courtyard, “Is Master Lu at home?”

Fan Yao pointed at his own mouth, meaning he was mute, signalling for Lu Zhangke to answer. Lu Zhangke called out clearly, “What is it?”

The man said, “A concubine of the Prince’s household has been kidnapped by bandits. The bandits’ footprints lead to Wan’an Temple.”

Lu Zhangke cast an angry glare at Fan Yao, meaning: If you had not deliberately left traces, with your skill how could you have left footprints at all?

Fan Yao grinned and made a gesture, telling him to dismiss the man. In his heart he thought, Bat King Wei¹⁰ did a thorough job of framing, leading the footprints all the way from the Prince’s household to here.

Lu Zhangke sneered, “Haven’t you all split up and searched? What are you doing shouting here?” Given his martial arts and position, everyone feared and respected him greatly. The man answered submissively, not daring to say more, and at once sent his men to search the vicinity.

Lu Zhangke knew that now the entire area around Wan’an Temple would be closely searched. Though he supposed they would not dare search his own quarters, taking Lady Han out to hide her elsewhere would now be impossible. He frowned and glared fiercely at Bitter Dhūta.

Fan Yao had a thought and said in a low voice, “Brother Lu, there is a good place in Wan’an Temple where your beloved might be hidden for a time. After a day or half a day, when the search outside has relaxed, it will be time enough to move her.”

Lu Zhangke said angrily, “Unless you hide her in your own room.”

Fan Yao laughed. “A beauty like that hidden in my room, this old dhūta might not be able to resist. Would not Brother Lu be jealous?”

Lu Zhangke asked, “Then what place do you suggest?”

Fan Yao pointed at the pagoda’s spire beyond the window and smiled slightly.

Lu Zhangke was clever and sharp-witted. He understood at once. He raised his thumb and said, “A good plan!”

That pagoda was where the six factions’ masters were imprisoned. The chief guard was Wu Wang Apu,¹¹ Lu Zhangke’s eldest disciple. No one would suspect any other place, but they would certainly never suspect that the Prince’s beloved concubine had been kidnapped into the most heavily guarded prison of all.

Fan Yao said in a low voice, “There is no one in the courtyard now. We should not delay. Let us move at once.” He took hold of the four corners of the bedsheet and wrapped Lady Han in it, making a great bundle. He held it in his right hand and offered it to Lu Zhangke.

Lu Zhangke thought, Don’t try to trick me again. If I carry Lady Han out on my back and you raise the alarm, I shall be caught red-handed. What defence would I have? His expression shifted slightly, and he did not reach out to take the bundle.

Fan Yao knew what he was thinking. He said, “See a thing through to the end. Escort a Buddha all the way west.¹² Bitter Dhūta shall play the flower-guardian for you once more. Why not? After all, I have something to ask of you.” As he spoke, he shouldered the bundle, pushed open the door, and went out, saying in a low voice, “You go first and watch. If anyone tries to stop or question you, kill them.”

Lu Zhangke slipped out sideways, but kept his back not directly facing Fan Yao, fearing a sneak attack from behind. Fan Yao reached back and closed the door, then carried Lady Han on his back towards the pagoda. It was now late in the xu-hour.¹³ Apart from the guards stationed outside the tower, no one else was about. The guards, seeing Lu Zhangke and Bitter Dhūta, all bowed respectfully and stood aside. Before they reached the tower, Wu Wang Apu, alerted by his subordinates, came out to meet them. He said, “Shifu,¹⁴ you are in good spirits today. Coming up the tower for a sit?”

Lu Zhangke nodded. He and Fan Yao were about to step into the pagoda when suddenly a figure emerged from the moon-gate on the east side of the tower. It was Zhao Min.¹⁵

Lu Zhangke, with a guilty conscience, was greatly startled, thinking Zhao Min had come in person to arrest him. He could only steel himself and, together with Bitter Dhūta and Wu Wang Apu, step forward to pay respects.

After Zhang Wuji’s disturbance the previous night, Zhao Min did not know that the Ming Order¹⁶ had sent only three people. She feared they might launch a great assault, and so had come to inspect the tower personally. Seeing Fan Yao there, she smiled slightly and said, “Master Ku, I was just looking for you.”

Fan Yao nodded, showing no expression.

Zhao Min said, “In a while, please accompany me to a certain place.”

Fan Yao cursed inwardly: With such difficulty I have tricked Lu Zhangke into the tower. I only needed to seize his antidote and the great work would be complete. Who would have known this little girl would come calling for me at this moment? He tried to think of some excuse not to go, but in his haste could find no good one. Besides, he was pretending to be mute, and could not refuse in words. In his desperation, wit came to his rescue. Let Lu Zhangke think of a way out. He pointed at the bundle in his hand and shook it towards Lu Zhangke.

Lu Zhangke was greatly alarmed and cursed Bitter Dhūta silently for leading him into such trouble.

Zhao Min said, “Master Lu, what is in Master Ku’s bundle?”

Lu Zhangke said, “Ah, ah, it is Master Ku’s bedding.”

Zhao Min asked in surprise, “Bedding? Why is Master Ku carrying bedding?” She gave a little laugh. “Has Master Ku decided I am too stupid to be worth teaching, refused to take me as a disciple, and is rolling up his bedding to quit?”

Fan Yao shook his head and raised his right hand, making random gestures. He thought, Let Lu Zhangke think of the lies. There are advantages to being mute.

Zhao Min could not understand his gestures and could only look at Lu Zhangke, waiting for him to explain.

Lu Zhangke, quick-witted as he was, had already thought of an answer. He said, “It is like this. Last night several demonic cult heads came stirring up trouble. Your subordinate feared their ambitions were not small… this… this… they might even try to rescue prisoners from the tower. Therefore my shidi and I, along with Master Ku, have decided to move into the tower and guard it personally, lest the Princess’s great undertaking be harmed. This bedding is Master Ku’s quilt.”

Zhao Min was greatly pleased. She laughed and said, “I had meant to ask Master Lu and Master He to guard the tower in person, but I felt it would be too much trouble for you and was too embarrassed to ask. How fortunate that you three are willing to share my worry. That could not be better. With Masters Lu and He guarding here, I trust those demons will get nothing, and I need not go up to look. Master Ku, come with me now.” She reached out and took Fan Yao’s hand.

Fan Yao had no choice. He thought, If I expose Lu Zhangke’s secret now, first, it will accomplish nothing, and second, Lady Han is clearly on my back, and Zhao Min may not believe me. He could only hand the great bundle to Lu Zhangke.

Lu Zhangke reached out and took it, saying, “Master Ku, I shall wait for you in the tower.”

Wu Wang Apu said, “Shifu, let me carry the bedding.”

Lu Zhangke laughed. “No need. It is Master Ku’s things. His shifu wants to curry favour with him, so he shall carry the bedding roll himself.”

Fan Yao grinned and reached out to pat the outside of the bundle, landing squarely on Lady Han’s backside. Fortunately she had been sealed at the acupoints and could not cry out. But Lu Zhangke was already frightened pale. He did not dare linger longer. He bowed to Zhao Min and then carried Lady Han into the tower. He had already made up his mind: the moment he entered, he would swap a real quilt into the bundle. If Bitter Dhūta tried to expose him to Zhao Min, he would simply deny everything.

Footnotes

1. 鹿杖客 – Lù Zhàngkè. Lu Zhangke, the Deer-Staff Guest, elder of the Xuanming Elders. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 苦头陀 – Kǔ Tóutuó. Bitter Dhūta. The disguise Fan Yao adopted: a lay-headed Buddhist ascetic with a hideously scarred face, who had posed as a mute for over a decade in the Prince of Ruyang’s service. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 范遥 – Fàn Yáo. Fan Yao, the Bright Right Messenger of the Ming Order, at present disguised as the scarred mute Bitter Dhūta. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 十香软筋散 – Shíxiāng Ruǎnjīn Sǎn. Ten-Spice Softening Powder. A poison devised by the barbarian monks of the Western Regions, colourless and odourless, which renders the victim’s bones and sinews soft and deprives him of all neili. ↩

5. 韩氏女 – Hán Shìnǚ. Lady Han, the newest concubine of the Prince of Ruyang. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 玄冥二老 – Xuánmíng Èr Lǎo. The Xuanming Elders, Lu Zhangke and He Biweng, a pair of fearsome masters in the service of the Prince of Ruyang, practitioners of the Xuanming Divine Palm. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

7. 鹤笔翁 – Hè Bǐwēng. He Biweng, the Crane-Brush Old Man, junior of the Xuanming Elders. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 万安寺 – Wàn’ān Sì. Wan’an Temple. A temple in the Yuan capital where the six factions’ masters were imprisoned. ↩

9. 灭绝师太 – Mièjué Shītài. Miejue Shitai, zhangmen of the Emei Order. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 韦一笑 – Wéi Yīxiào. Wei Yixiao, the Green Winged Bat King, one of the four Guardian Kings of the Ming Order, renowned for his qinggong. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

11. 乌旺阿普 – Wū Wàng Āpǔ. Wu Wang Apu, Lu Zhangke’s chief disciple, in the service of the Prince of Ruyang. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

12. 送佛送到西 – sòng Fó sòng dào xī. Lit. escort a Buddha all the way to the West. A proverb meaning to see a task through to its completion, not abandon it halfway. ↩

13. 戌时 – xū shí. The xu-hour, spanning 7 to 9 pm. The day was divided into twelve shichen, each lasting two hours. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

14. 师父 – shīfù. Teacher responsible for technical instruction and moral guidance. Shī means teacher. Fù means father. ↩

15. 赵敏 – Zhào Mǐn. Zhao Min, daughter of the Prince of Ruyang, also known as Princess Minmin. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

16. 明教 – Míng Jiào. The Ming Order, also known as the Ming Cult. A secret martial order whose teachings draw on Manichaeanism. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩