The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre – Chapter 30 – Part 8

Zhang Wuji, Zhao Min, and Zhou Zhiruo stared at one another, utterly at a loss. A vague presentiment stirred in Zhang Wuji's heart: Xiaozhao's affection for him ran deep, and the look she cast as she sailed away was at once helpless and reluctant. Suddenly Zhao Min whispered in his ear, “Look, the two of them look alike!” Zhang Wuji started and gazed across. Sure enough, Daiqisi and Xiaozhao both had delicate, otherworldly oval faces, high-bridged noses, and skin as fair as snow. Their eyes carried the same liquid grace, and in brow and feature they resembled each other six or seven parts. Only in Xiaozhao's countenance the Persian blood lingered as a faint shadow, while in Daiqisi one saw at once a woman not born in the Central Plains. He recalled at once the words Bitter Dhūta¹ Fan Yao had spoken to Xiaozhao in a small wineshop in Dadu:² “She really does look like her, really does!” So when Fan Yao said “really does,” he meant that Xiaozhao's face truly resembled the Purple-Robed Dragon King.³ Then was Xiaozhao Daiqisi's sister? Her daughter?

Zhang Wuji then recalled how Yang Xiao and Yang Buhui, father and daughter, had been watchful of Xiaozhao at every turn. Whenever he had asked Yang Xiao why he treated so small a girl with such suspicion, as though she were a formidable foe, Yang Xiao had replied only that Xiaozhao’s face bore a striking resemblance to an old acquaintance, and that she might bring harm to the Ming Order, but he had spoken in vaguest terms and refused to explain. Only now did Zhang Wuji understand: Yang Xiao too had noticed that Xiaozhao’s features bore a considerable likeness to the Purple-Robed Dragon King, yet he had had no other proof, and seeing that Zhang Wuji and the girl were fond of each other, he had found it awkward to speak plainly. As for Xiaozhao’s deliberate twistings of mouth and nose, her labouring to pass herself off as an ugly girl, the purpose behind it was plain indeed.

All at once another thought struck him. “Xiaozhao infiltrated Bright Peak for what purpose? How did she know the entrance to the secret passage? The Purple-Robed Dragon King must have sent her, and her intention could only have been to steal the manual of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.⁴ She served as my bondmaid for over a year, and I never guarded against her. She had already read that manual through. To copy it out now would be as easy as reaching into a pouch. Ai! I took her for an innocent, artless girl, and never suspected her of such cunning calculation. I have lived this past year as though in a dream, trapped in her snare without the faintest awareness. Zhang Wuji, Zhang Wuji, you trust too readily all your life, and time and again are made a fool of, and even this small wench has played you in the palm of her hand.” The thought filled him with bitter anger.

Just then Xiaozhao’s gaze drifted towards him. He saw in her eyes a tenderness without limit, brimming with deep feeling, and his heart gave a sudden leap. He remembered how, during the battle against the six great factions on Bright Peak, she had thrown herself in harm’s way to protect him, and how she had served him with long and careful devotion afterwards. One could not deceive her in every matter. Might he be doing her an injustice? He was still turning the question over in his mind when the ship lurched violently and sank a great deal further.

Daiqisi said, “Order Leader Zhang,⁵ there is no need for any of you to fear. When the Persians’ ships arrive, Xiaozhao and I shall have a way to deal with them. The Purple-Robed Dragon King, though only a woman, knows that one person must answer for one’s own deeds, and shall not drag the rest of you into danger. Order Leader Zhang and Third Brother Xie have shown me loyalty as weighty as the mountains. Daiqisi gives her thanks.” So saying, she bowed gracefully. Zhang Wuji and Xie Xun returned the courtesy at once, both thinking the same thing: “These Persians are ruthless. Once they have you, they will burn you to death and not spare the rest of us either.”

The ship was sinking lower by the moment, and water was pouring into the cabin. Zhou Zhiruo lifted Yin Li into her arms. Zhang Wuji took Zhao Min. They all climbed up the mast.

Suddenly Xiaozhao pointed to the east and began to cry. They looked where her finger directed and saw on the distant sea a scattering of sail. Before long the sails grew larger: more than ten great Persian ships, running before the wind in pursuit.

Zhang Wuji thought, “If I were Daiqisi, rather than suffer the agony of death by fire, I would throw myself into the sea and make an end.” Yet when he looked at her, she was composed and self-possessed, showing not a trace of fear. He could not help admiring her: she ranked first among the Four Dharma Kings, and with good reason. In those years the Eagle King, the Lion King, and the Bat King had all been famous warriors, yet she, a girl in the flower of her youth, had taken her place above the three. That could not have been earned in a single day. She must possess abilities beyond the ordinary. He watched the Persian ships drawing nearer and thought further: “I have offended the Guardian Kings grievously. Once I fall into their hands, I can hardly hope to escape with my life. The question is how to find some way to shield my sworn father⁶ and Miss Zhao, Miss Zhou, my cousin, and Xiaozhao. Xiaozhao, ah Xiaozhao, I called you my little sister. I would rather you wronged me than that I should treat you without honour.”

The dozen or more great Persian ships drew steadily closer. Every cannon on their decks was trained on the sinking ship’s mast. When they were a little over two hundred feet away, they furled their sails and dropped anchor. The Wisdom Guardian King’s laughter rang out, brimming with triumph. “Do you surrender or not?” he called. Zhang Wuji raised his voice and replied, “You are all senior figures of the Ming Order, yet you act without a shred of light. Does that not shame the very word ‘Ming’? If you are true men, then settle it in martial contest.” The Wisdom Guardian King laughed. “A great man pits his wits, not his strength!”

Daiqisi suddenly spoke several sentences in Persian, her tone sharp and authoritative. The Wisdom Guardian King started, then answered in kind. The two exchanged words, question and answer, some dozen sentences, and the Great Sage Guardian King⁷ joined in the discussion. After a few more words, the flagship lowered a small boat. Eight rowers shipped their oars and pulled towards the sinking ship.

Daiqisi said, “Order Leader Zhang, Xiaozhao and I will go over first. Please wait a while.” Xie Xun said in a harsh voice, “Madam Han, the Ming Order of the Central Plains has treated you well. The safety of this Order rests upon Wuji alone. If you betray us, my own life is of no account. But if so much as a hair on Wuji’s head comes to harm, Xie Xun shall pursue you as a vengeful ghost and show no mercy.” Daiqisi gave a cold laugh. “Your sworn son is a treasure of the heart, and my daughter is so much dust and rubble?” She took Xiaozhao’s arm, leapt lightly, and landed in the small boat. The eight rowers drove their oars like wings and pulled away towards the Persian flagship.

The others were stunned by her words. Zhao Min said, “So Xiaozhao really is her daughter.”

From a distance they watched Daiqisi and Xiaozhao climb aboard the great ship. The two women stood at the bow speaking with the Guardian Kings, while their own ship continued to sink, the mast lowering inch by inch.

Xie Xun sighed. “Those who are not of our kind, their hearts must surely be different. Wuji, my child, I was wrong about Madam Han, and you were wrong about Xiaozhao. Wuji, a true man can bend and stretch. Let us endure this disgrace for now, and seek our chance to escape later. A heavy burden rests upon your shoulders. The millions of common folk in the Central Plains look to our Ming Order to raise the banner of rebellion and drive out the Tartars. When the moment comes, you must save yourself first. Do not worry about those beside you. You are the Order Leader. You must distinguish clearly between what weighs heavy and what weighs light.”

Zhang Wuji was silent, deliberating. Zhao Min snorted. “You cannot even save your own life, and you are still talking about Tartars this and Tartars that. Which do you think is better, the Mongols, or the Persians?” Zhou Zhiruo had been quiet throughout, but now she spoke. “Xiaozhao’s feeling for Zhang-gongzi runs deep. She would rather give up her own life than betray him.” Zhao Min said, “Did you not see the Purple-Robed Dragon King pressuring her again and again? Xiaozhao refused at first, but when the pressure grew too great, she finally agreed, and put on a fine show of weeping, too.”

By now the mast stood only ten feet or so above the sea. Waves washed up and soaked them all from head to foot. Zhao Min suddenly laughed. “Zhang-gongzi, it is as well that we die together. That scheming, cunning Xiaozhao does not even get to die alongside us.” Though spoken in a teasing tone, the words carried a tender, lingering meaning.

Zhang Wuji was deeply moved. He thought, I cannot marry them both, but if I can end my life beside them both, it will not have been in vain. He looked at Zhao Min, then at Zhou Zhiruo, then down at Yin Li in his arms. Yin Li lay still unconscious. The cheeks of Zhao and Zhou were both flushed with wine-red colour, their faces dotted with drops of seawater, like flowers in the morning dew. The Zhao girl shone like a rose. The Zhou girl was graceful as an orchid. For a moment he felt, of all things, a quiet peace and happiness. Yet whenever his thoughts turned to Xiaozhao, a wave of sorrow washed over it.

Suddenly a great shout rose from the dozen or more Persian ships. Startled, they stared across and saw the Persians on every vessel prostrating themselves on the deck, bowing towards the flagship. The Guardian Kings themselves were lying face-down at the bow. In the middle, seated on a chair, was a figure that looked like Xiaozhao herself, but the distance was too great to see clearly. Zhang Wuji and the others were bewildered, unable to guess what game these Persians were playing. The barbarians shouted for a while, then rose to their feet, still crying out without ceasing. Their voices were full of joy, as though some great and auspicious occasion had fallen upon them.

Footnotes

1. 苦头陀 – Kǔtóutuó. Fan Yao’s assumed identity as a disfigured monk while spying in the Mongol court. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 大都 – Dàdū. The Yuan Dynasty capital, present-day Beijing. ↩

3. 紫衫龙王 – Zǐshān Lóngwáng. The Purple-Robed Dragon King, chief of the Ming Order’s Four Dharma Kings. Her true name is Daiqisi. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 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 trajectory of attacks. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 教主 – jiàozhǔ. The title of the leader of the Ming Order, literally “Order Master.” ↩

6. 义父 – yìfù. Sworn father. A man who has taken a child as his own by oath rather than by blood. ↩

7. 大圣宝树王 – Dàshèng Bǎoshùwáng. The Great Sage Guardian King, chief among the eleven Guardian Kings of the Persian Ming Order. ↩