The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre – Chapter 31 – Part 7

Chen Youliang went on, “Young xia Song and I are bonded as brothers in life and death. When I learned of this news, I at once joined forces with the two eight-bag elders, Elder Ji and Elder Zheng, and led four seven-bag disciples to Lingshe Island,¹ meaning to take Xie Xun alive and seize the Dragon-Slaying Dao to present to the Guild Chief. We did not expect that a great host of the demonic order would also set out for Lingshe Island at that very time. Though our brothers fought to the death, they were too few, and Elder Ji and the four seven-bag disciples gave their lives for the Guild. As for the battle on Lingshe Island, I shall ask Elder Zheng to report to the Guild Chief.”

The crippled Elder Zheng rose from among the throng and recounted the fighting between the Ming Order and the Beggars’ Guild on Lingshe Island. He said nothing of how the Guild had surrounded Xie Xun in force. Instead he spoke of how the demonic order had outnumbered them greatly, and how he and his companions had fought with desperate courage. Then he came to Chen Youliang’s selfless defence of his life, and grew ever more impassioned, his spittle flying as he described how Xie Xun had been so awed by Chen Youliang’s righteous bearing that in the end he dared not lift a hand against them. The beggars in the great hall listened with their hair standing on end, and cried out in admiration as one.

The Skills-Transmission Elder said, “Brother Chen is as brave as he is clever. A fine man indeed. And such loyalty as his is rarer still.” Chen Youliang bowed and said, “I have only the Guild Chief and the elders to thank for their teaching. The great cause of our Guild demands that a man plunge into boiling water and tread through fire. A trifling matter, yet Elder Zheng and the Skills-Transmission Elder honour me with their praise. I am quite abashed.” The beggars, seeing him claim no credit for himself, praised him all the more.

Zhang Wuji, hidden in the tree, grew angrier with every word. He thought, This man is shameless. He sold out his friend to save his own skin, yet has turned it into a tale of heroic rescue. The only reason it holds together is that he has covered every seam so neatly that even Elder Zheng cannot see the joins. He is a thorough-going villain. He thought further, Our Order’s uprisings across the land have won great victories, and if in the end we can drive out the Tartars, then by these beggars’ own account the Ming Order must govern the empire. My sworn father says that a man who accomplishes great deeds must be ruthless, that when need arises he must be willing to kill even his parents and children. I could never do such a thing. In the end I shall have to resign the Order leadership. But when it comes to the craft of great enterprise, I cannot match even a man like Chen Youliang. Then his heart grew heavy. This villain’s schemes fooled my sworn father at the time, and they fooled me too. Only the Purple-Robed Dragon Queen and Miss Zhao saw through them. Ah, Miss Zhao is clever and resourceful, but her character is such…

The Law-Enforcement Elder rose to his feet and said coldly, “So many more of our brothers have been harmed by the demonic order. Are we to let this sea of blood go unavenged?” The beggars clamoured loudly, “We must avenge Elder Ji!” “Level Bright Peak! Sweep away the demonic order!” “Kill Zhang Wuji! Kill Xie Xun!” “The Beggars’ Guild and the demonic order cannot coexist. See one, kill one. See two, kill a pair!” “Guild Chief, give the order! All the Guild’s brothers will march against the demonic order!”

The Law-Enforcement Elder turned to Shi Huolong. “Guild Chief, the matter of vengeance, how we proceed awaits the Guild Chief’s command.” Shi Huolong frowned. “Well now, this is a great matter for our Guild. Yes, yes. We must give it long consideration. You, tell the seven-bag disciples and those below to withdraw for now. We shall discuss this properly among ourselves.” The Law-Enforcement Elder answered, “Yes!” He turned and called out, “By the Guild Chief’s order: all seven-bag disciples and below, withdraw from the hall. Wait outside the temple.” The lower-ranking beggars answered with a great shout, bowed to Shi Huolong and the others, and filed out of the temple gate together. Only the eight-bag elders and above remained in the great hall.

Chen Youliang stepped forward and bowed. “Reporting to the Guild Chief: this Song Qingshu, this brother Song, has done considerable service for our Guild. If the Guild Chief would be so gracious as to permit him to enter our order, then with his status and standing he could yet accomplish great deeds for us in the days to come.”

Song Qingshu said, “That seems rather…” He had said only the one word rather before Chen Youliang’s two sharp eyes shot across to his face. Song Qingshu saw his expression and lowered his head at once, saying no more.

Shi Huolong said, “Very good indeed. Let Song Qingshu enter our Guild and take the rank of six-bag disciple, under the command of eight-bag Elder Chen Youliang. He must observe our Guild’s rules and labour for our Guild. Today, as a special exception, he may take part in our council of great affairs.”

A flash of anger and resentment crossed Song Qingshu’s eyes, but he mastered it at once. He stepped forward and knelt before Shi Huolong. “I, Song Qingshu, kowtow to the Guild Chief. I thank the Guild Chief for his mercy in granting me the rank of six-bag disciple.” Then he paid his respects to the elders in turn.

The Law-Enforcement Elder said, “Brother Song, now that you have entered our Guild, you are bound by our Guild’s rules. Even if one day you become zhangmen² of the Wudang Order, you must still obey our Guild’s commands. Do you understand?” His tone was very severe. Song Qingshu said, “I do.” The Law-Enforcement Elder went on, “Though our Guild and the Wudang Order both walk the righteous path, our ways are not the same. Since the Wudang zhangmanship will surely fall to you one day, why have you willingly entered our Guild? This matter must be made plain.” Song Qingshu glanced at Chen Youliang and said, “Elder Chen has shown me great kindness. I admire the man he is, and I am willing to follow in his train.”

Chen Youliang laughed. “There are no strangers here. There is no harm in telling the tale. After Miejue Shitai,³ the zhangmen of the Emei Order, died, the new zhangmen was a young and lovely woman named Zhou Zhiruo. This girl and brother Song grew up together, and there was a marriage pact between them. Who should have guessed that the great demon chief of the demonic order, Zhang Wuji, would steal her away and carry her off across the sea? Brother Song was so enraged that he came to me for help. I thumped my chest and pledged to help him win back his betrothed.” Zhang Wuji’s anger grew with every word. He thought, This man is talking nonsense. Nothing of the sort ever happened. He could hardly restrain himself from leaping into the hall and confronting him, but in the end he mastered his rage and listened on.

Shi Huolong laughed. “Since ancient times, even heroes have been undone by beauty. There is nothing strange in it. One is to be zhangmen of Wudang, the other zhangmen of Emei. Not only are the houses well matched, but the man is talented and the woman beautiful. They were a fine pair indeed.”

The Law-Enforcement Elder asked further, “Since brother Song has suffered this wrong, why did he not seek justice from Zhang Sanfeng the Perfected One⁴ and Song daxia?” Chen Youliang said, “Brother Song says: that wretch Zhang Wuji is none other than the son of Zhang the Fifth Xia of the Wudang Order. Zhang Sanfeng has always been fondest of Zhang Cuishan⁵ above all his disciples, and so of late the Wudang Order has been rather inclined to make common cause with the demonic order. Neither Zhang Sanfeng nor Song daxia wishes to offend the demonic order. At present in the Central Plains wulin,⁶ only our Guild and the demonic order are sworn enemies, and only our Guild has strength enough to stand against the demons.” The Law-Enforcement Elder nodded. “That explains it. Once we destroy the demonic order and kill that wretch Zhang Wuji, brother Song’s wish will be fulfilled soon enough.”

Zhang Wuji, hidden in the tree, recalled how on that day in the Western Regions desert and on Bright Peak, Song Qingshu’s manner towards Zhou Zhiruo had indeed been rather peculiar. Now that he had the pieces to fit together, he saw that Song Qingshu had long harboured feelings for her. Yet he found it hard to credit. A Wudang disciple joining the Beggars’ Guild may not be impossible in itself, but surely he ought to have obtained permission from my Grand Shifu⁷ and Song shibo⁸ first. To abandon his shimen⁹ for the sake of a woman, to fail in filial duty towards his own father, that is a sorry character indeed. And yet Zhiruo has been true-hearted towards me. Even with the Beggars’ Guild behind him, how could Song shixiong¹⁰ force her to submit? Brother Song earned his reputation in the jianghu¹¹ long ago as the most promising young talent of the Wudang Order. How could he be so foolish?

Then he heard Chen Youliang say, “Reporting to the Guild Chief: I have captured an important personage of the demonic order near Dadu.¹² This man has considerable bearing on our Guild’s great enterprise. I beg the Guild Chief to deal with him.” Shi Huolong was delighted. “Bring him in at once!” Chen Youliang clapped his hands three times and said, “Bring the demon chief in!” From behind the hall four Beggars’ Guild members emerged, weapons drawn, escorting a man whose hands were bound behind his back.

When Zhang Wuji looked at the man, he saw a young fellow of twenty or so, with a very familiar face. He remembered having seen him at the great Ming Order assembly in Butterfly Valley, but could not recall his name. The man’s face was purple with fury. As he passed Chen Youliang, he suddenly opened his mouth and spat a mouthful of thick phlegm straight at his face. Chen Youliang dodged aside and slapped him across the left cheek with the back of his hand. The cheek swelled at once. The Guild disciple escorting him shoved him from behind and barked, “See the Guild Chief! Kneel! Kowtow!” The man gave a cough and spat another mouthful of thick phlegm straight at Shi Huolong’s face.

The man and Shi Huolong were close together, and the phlegm flew with tremendous force. Shi Huolong ducked his head hastily, yet could not quite dodge it. With a sharp slap it struck him square on the forehead. Chen Youliang swept a leg and kicked the man down, stepping between him and Shi Huolong. He pointed at the man and barked, “You impudent wretch! Do you mean to throw your life away?” The man cursed, “Once a man falls into your hands, he’s given up any hope of going home alive!” With Chen Youliang blocking the way, Shi Huolong had already seized the chance to wipe the phlegm from his forehead. Chen Youliang stepped back two paces and said, “Guild Chief, this fellow is a first-rate fighter of the demonic order. His martial arts seem to surpass even the four Guardian Kings. We must not underestimate him.”

Zhang Wuji found this remark peculiar, but then understood at once: Chen Youliang was deliberately exaggerating the man’s prowess to cover the Guild Chief’s embarrassment. For Shi Huolong, as chief of the Beggars’ Guild, to have been unable to dodge a mouthful of phlegm was absurd enough, and to show no anger at such an insult, but only a flustered alarm. That was altogether unreasonable.

The Law-Enforcement Elder said, “Brother Chen, who is this man?” Chen Youliang said, “His name is Han Lin’er. He is the son of Han Shantong.” Zhang Wuji nodded silently. Of course. At the Butterfly Valley assembly that day, he was always at his father’s heels and never spoke to me. That is why I could not remember his name. The Law-Enforcement Elder cried delightedly, “Ah, he is Han Shantong’s son! Brother Chen, this is a great merit indeed. Reporting to the Guild Chief: in recent years Han Shantong has defeated the Yuan armies time and again and won himself great renown. His chief generals, Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and the rest, are all fearsome men of the demonic order. If we hold this young fellow as a hostage, we need have no fear that Han Shantong will not do our bidding.”

Han Lin’er broke into a torrent of abuse. “You can dream on, you sons of whores! My father is a hero and a brave man. Do you think he would be cowed by a pack of shameless wretches like you? My father takes orders from Order Leader Zhang alone. You beggars dream of rivaling our Ming Order. You overestimate yourselves. Your stinking Guild Chief is not fit to carry Order Leader Zhang’s shoes!”

Chen Youliang said with a smile, “Brother Han, you speak of your Order Leader Zhang as though he were the hero of heroes. We are all most admiring and would very much like to meet him. Why don’t you introduce us?” Han Lin’er said, “Order Leader Zhang bears a great burden. Even the brothers of our own Order do not easily get to see him. What chance would he have of finding time for the likes of you?” Chen Youliang laughed. “All across the jianghu men say that Zhang Wuji has been captured by the Yuan troops, that he was beheaded in Dadu long ago, and that his head has been sent round to all the provinces. And still you sit here blowing hot air!” Han Lin’er was furious. “Bullshit!” he spat. “The Tartars capture our Order Leader? They could surround him with ten thousand men and ten thousand horses, and he would still come and go as he pleased. Dadu, now, Order Leader Zhang has indeed been to Dadu. That was when he went to rescue the martial heroes of the six great factions from prison. Beheaded? Save your lies!”

Chen Youliang was not in the least put out. He still smiled. “But that is what everyone across the jianghu is saying. How can I not believe it? Why is it that for the past half-year one hears of nothing in the Ming Order but Han Shantong, Xu Shouhui, Guo Zixing, Zhu Yuanzhang, the monk Peng Yingyu, and never a word of a Zhang Wuji? Clearly he must be dead.” Han Lin’er was so angry that the veins stood out on his forehead. He shouted, “My father and Xu Shouhui and the rest all act under Order Leader Zhang’s orders. How can they be compared with Order Leader Zhang?”

Chen Youliang said lightly, “Zhang Wuji’s martial arts are passable, I suppose. But he has the look of a man destined to die young and violent. Someone told his fortune and said he would not live past the beginning of this year…”

Footnotes

1. 灵蛇岛 – Língshé Dǎo. Lingshe Island, an island in the Eastern Sea. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 掌门 – zhǎngmén. The head of a martial school or order. ↩

3. 灭绝师太 – Mièjué Shītài. Miejue Shitai. The late zhangmen of Emei Order, killed on Lingshe Island. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 真人 – zhēnrén. Literally true person. A Daoist honorific title. ↩

5. 张翠山 – Zhāng Cuìshān. Zhang Cuishan, Zhang Wuji’s father, the fifth of the Seven Xias of Wudang. ↩

6. 武林 – wǔlín. The martial forest; the community of martial artists. ↩

7. 太师父 – tàishīfù. One’s shifu’s shifu. Two rungs up the lineage ladder. ↩

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

9. 师门 – shīmén. The house of one’s shifu: the master, the fellow disciples, and the rules and obligations binding them. ↩

10. 师兄 – shīxiōng. Male senior fellow disciple. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Xiōng means older brother. ↩

11. 江湖 – jiānghú. Literally 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. ↩

12. 大都 – Dàdū. The Great Capital, the Yuan Dynasty’s capital city (modern Beijing). ↩