The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre – Chapter 28: Broken Bonds and the Purple-Robed Dragon King
Translation by Jenxi Seow
Zhang Wuji and his companions raced to a ruined temple outside the city to confer. Zhang Wuji recounted that he had already promised to help Zhao Min borrow the Dragon-Slaying Dao for a look, saying, “The matter is improper in the first place, but that day I pledged to do three tasks for her, and this was the first she named. If I shirk and refuse, I fear she will set me an even harder challenge. A man of honour keeps his word. We cannot break faith.”
Yang Xiao said, “Chief, we were planning to go and bring back King Xie in any case. We might as well take this foreign woman along and let her hold the Dragon-Slaying Dao on Fire and Ice Island for one shichen.1 We can surround her on all sides. Even if she has the skills of a goddess, she won’t be able to pull any tricks.” Zhang Wuji immediately felt a great weight lift from his heart and said, “We complete her first task and bring King Xie back at the same time, two birds with one stone. An excellent outcome indeed.”
They agreed that Yang Xiao’s party would head south first, rally the followers of the Flood Dragon Banner, hire a seagoing vessel, and provision it with food and fresh water, meeting at Dinghai in the Qingyuan Circuit before setting sail together. Once the plan was settled, Zhang Wuji returned to the city to fetch Xiao Zhao and Zhao Min.
As he approached Dadu, Zhang Wuji reflected that after last night’s battle at Wan’an Temple, many of Prince Ruyang’s warriors had seen his face, and being recognised would cause trouble. So he bought a set of old farmer’s clothes from a peasant household, changed into them, put on a bamboo hat, and smeared his face and hands with soot and mud before entering the city.
He returned to the inn in the western part of the city. Looking all around and seeing nothing amiss, he slipped inside and entered his room. Xiao Zhao was sitting by the window, sewing. When she saw him enter, she started in surprise, then recognised him, her face brightening like a spring flower unfolding. She laughed, “Chief Brother, I thought some farmer had stumbled into the wrong room. I never imagined it was you.”
Zhang Wuji smiled. “What are you making? Getting lonely on your own?” Xiao Zhao blushed and hid the garment she was sewing behind her back. She said coyly, “I’m learning to sew. It’s not fit for anyone to see.” She tucked the garment under her pillow, poured tea for Zhang Wuji, and seeing his face black with mud, asked with a laugh, “Aren’t you going to wash?”
Zhang Wuji smiled faintly. “I did it on purpose. Don’t wash it off.” Holding his teacup, he pondered silently: “This journey to Fire and Ice Island will surely mean bringing my sworn father back to the Central Plains. Sworn Father had always worried that he had too many enemies in the jianghu, and after losing his sight, he couldn’t cope. Now the wulin is united against the Mongols. Personal grudges should all be set aside. As long as I stay at his side, no one will dare harm a single hair on his head. The seas are treacherous with wind and waves. Xiao Zhao must not come along. Yes, I’ll ask Miss Zhao to arrange for Xiao Zhao to stay in the Prince’s mansion. That would be safer than anywhere else.”
Xiao Zhao saw him smiling suddenly and asked, “Chief Brother, what are you thinking about?” Although Zhang Wuji had acknowledged her as a little sister, in front of others Xiao Zhao still kept her place as a humble servant. Only when they were alone did she occasionally call him “Chief Brother.” Zhang Wuji said, “I’m going to a very far, very dangerous place. It would be inconvenient to take you. I’ve thought of a place where I can send you to stay.”
Xiao Zhao’s face changed colour. “I must follow you. Xiao Zhao wants to serve you every day like this.”
Zhang Wuji tried to persuade her: “It’s for your own good. The place I’m going is far away and dangerous, and I don’t know when I’ll return.” Xiao Zhao said, “Chief Brother, you promised to take me to bring King Xie back. Isn’t that far enough? In that underground palace on Bright Summit, I had already made up my mind: wherever you go, I follow. Unless you kill me, you can’t leave me behind. Do you find me repulsive and don’t want my company?”
“No, no! You know I’m very fond of you. I simply don’t want you to face needless danger. The moment I return, I’ll come looking for you.”
Xiao Zhao shook her head. “As long as I’m at your side, I don’t care about any danger. Chief Brother, please take me with you!”
Zhang Wuji took her hand and said, “Little sister, I won’t hide it from you. I’ve promised Miss Zhao that I’ll accompany her across the seas. The ocean waves reach the sky. I have no choice but to go. But for you to face such peril would be utterly pointless.”
Xiao Zhao flushed crimson. “When you’re with Miss Zhao, that’s all the more reason I must follow you.” With these words, her eyes glistened with tears. Zhang Wuji asked, “Why all the more?” Xiao Zhao said, “That Miss Zhao has a wicked heart. No one can guess what she might do to you. If I follow you, I can at least keep watch over you.”
Zhang Wuji was stirred. “This little girl truly cares for me. I fear it is more than ordinary attachment.” He had been with Xiao Zhao for a long time and genuinely could not bear to part from her. He smiled and said, “Very well, I’ll take you. But when the ship rocks on the ocean, you’re not allowed to complain.”
Xiao Zhao was overjoyed and agreed repeatedly, saying, “If I ever displease you, you can throw me into the sea to feed the fish!”
Zhang Wuji laughed. “My dear little sister, how could I bear to do that?”
They had travelled ten thousand li2 together, and sometimes when lodging was scarce they had shared a room. Though they occasionally addressed each other as brother and sister, Xiao Zhao kept her humble status, and Zhang Wuji had never spoken a single flippant or teasing word to her. Now the words “my dear little sister” and “how could I bear it” had tumbled out unbidden, a momentary lapse of restraint. Seeing Xiao Zhao’s eyes shimmer and her manner shy and tender, he realised he had misspoken and felt his face grow warm. He turned his head to look out the window.
Xiao Zhao sighed and went to sit apart. Zhang Wuji asked, “Why are you sighing?” Xiao Zhao said, “You have so many people you truly can’t bear to part from. The Miss Zhou from the Emei Order, the Princess from Prince Ruyang’s mansion, who knows how many more in the future? How could you possibly miss a little nobody like me?”
Zhang Wuji went to her side and said, “Little sister, you have always been kind to me. Don’t I know that? Do you think me an ungrateful wretch who cannot tell good from bad?” His expression was grave as he spoke, his words sincere. Xiao Zhao felt both shy and delighted. She lowered her head and said, “I’m not asking you to treat me in any special way. Just let me serve you forever, let me stay at your side as your little maid, and I’ll be content. You haven’t slept all night. You must be tired. Rest a while.” She lifted the quilt and settled him in, then went to sit by the window, picking up her needlework.
Zhang Wuji listened to the faint clinking of the iron chain on her wrist and felt a deep peace and joy in his heart. If life could go on like this forever, he would ask for nothing more. Before long, he fell asleep.
He slept until evening. After eating a bowl of noodles, he said, “Xiao Zhao, I’m taking you to see Miss Zhao. I’ll borrow her Heavenly Jian to cut the shackles from your wrists and ankles.”
The two of them went out into the street, where Mongol soldiers rode back and forth on patrol, searching with great strictness. At every sound of hoofbeats they shrank behind corners, careful not to be seen by the Yuan soldiers, until at last they reached the small wineshop.
Zhang Wuji pushed open the door with Xiao Zhao behind him. Zhao Min was already sitting in the same seat where they had drunk last night. She rose with a smile and said, “Truly, Young Master Zhang is a man of his word.”
Zhang Wuji saw that her demeanour was perfectly composed, showing not the slightest resentment over the previous night. He thought to himself, This young woman’s mind runs deep. By rights, I should have sent someone to kill her father’s favourite concubine and released all the six factions’ masters she had gone to such lengths to capture. She ought to be furious. Yet she looks exactly as she always did. Let us see how she vents her anger. Seeing that two place settings were already laid out on the table, he bowed slightly and sat down, while Xiao Zhao stood well back to attend.
Zhang Wuji clasped his fist and said, “Miss Zhao, regarding last night’s affair, I caused you great offence. I hope you will forgive me.”
Zhao Min laughed. “That Han concubine of my father’s was so simpering and affected that I found her repulsive the moment I saw her. Thank you for having her killed. Mother keeps praising how capable you are, and was asking me how to reward you.”
Zhang Wuji was taken aback. This outcome was entirely unexpected. Zhao Min continued, “It’s just as well you rescued those people. They refused to submit, so keeping them was useless to me. Now that you’ve saved them, everyone will be deeply grateful. In the Central Plains wulin, no one’s prestige stands higher than yours now. Young Master Zhang, I toast you!” She raised her cup with a bright smile.
Just then, a figure walked in through the door, Fan Yao. He first bowed to Zhang Wuji, then turned and bowed respectfully to Zhao Min, saying, “Princess, Bitter Dhūta comes to take his leave.”
Zhao Min did not return the courtesy. She said coldly, “Bitter Master, you’ve kept me thoroughly fooled. Your Princess has taken quite a tumble, hasn’t she?”
Fan Yao rose and said proudly, “Bitter Dhūta’s real name is Fan Yao, and I serve as the Bright Right Messenger of the Ming Order. The Court and the Ming Order are enemies. I infiltrated Prince Ruyang’s mansion with a purpose. I am deeply grateful for the Princess’s generous hospitality over the years, and I have come specifically to say farewell.”
Zhao Min remained cold. “I always knew you were someone of consequence, but I never imagined you held such high rank in the Ming Order. If you want to go, go. Why so many formalities?”
Fan Yao said, “A true man acts openly and honourably. From this day forward, I shall be the Princess’s enemy. If I did not tell you plainly, I would be unworthy of the kindness you have shown me.”