The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre – Chapter 37 – Part 2

Behind Kongzhi followed nine old monks, each clad in a bright red kasaya.¹ When the clamour of the assembled heroes had subsided somewhat, one of the nine stepped forward two paces and spoke in a clear voice: “The Dragon Sabre was originally in Xie Xun's possession, but when our Order apprehended him, the sabre was not on his person. Our monastery's abbot, regarding this as a matter of great consequence to the wulin,² conducted a thorough investigation. Xie Xun is stubborn and wicked, and refused to confess the truth. Today's Heroes Assembly serves two purposes: first, to deliberate how Xie Xun should be dealt with. Second, to ask the assembled heroes if any know the whereabouts of the Dragon Sabre. Whoever has information on this matter, please speak plainly.” The assembled worthies exchanged glances, but none could answer.

Situ Qianzhong spoke again in his sardonic tone: “For many years the wulin has had a saying: ‘Supreme in the wulin, the treasured sabre Dragonslaying. Command the world, none dare refuse. Were Heaven-Reliant not revealed, who could contest its edge?’³ Besides the Dragon Sabre, there is also the Heaven-Reliant Sword. This Heaven-Reliant treasured sword was said to be in the Emei Order’s hands, but after the battle at Bright Peak in the Western Regions, it vanished without trace. Though this gathering is called a Heroes Assembly, surely the heroines of the Emei Order might deign to attend?” When the crowd heard this last remark, they burst into loud laughter.

Amid the roar of laughter, a guest-receiving monk announced in a loud voice: “Guild Chief Shi of the Beggars’ Guild, leading the Beggars’ Guild’s Elders and disciples, has arrived!” When Zhang Wuji heard the words “Guild Chief Shi,” he was greatly puzzled: “Guild Chief Shi Huolong of the Beggars’ Guild died long ago at Yuanzhen’s hands. How has another Guild Chief Shi appeared?”

Kongzhi said, “Please welcome them!” The Beggars’ Guild was the foremost guild in the jianghu,⁴ and he went out personally to greet them.

A column of people was striding swiftly towards the plaza, roughly a hundred and fifty strong, all men in tattered clothing. Though the Beggars’ Guild’s influence in recent years had diminished from its former glory, a centipede dies but does not stiffen,⁵ and it still possessed enormous reserves of strength in the jianghu. None of the assembled heroes dared slight them, and most rose to their feet.

Leading the way were two elderly beggars. Zhang Wuji recognised them as the Chuan Gong Elder and the Zhi Fa Elder. Behind the two old men was an ugly girl of twelve or thirteen, her nostrils upturned, two large front teeth showing in her wide mouth — none other than Shi Hongshi, daughter of Shi Huolong. She held in her hand the Dog-Beating Staff,⁶ the token of the Beggars’ Guild Chief. Behind Shi Hongshi came Zhang Bang Longtou and Zhang Bo Longtou, followed in order by eight-sack Elders, seven-sack disciples, and six-sack disciples.

Kongzhi, seeing that the one holding the Dog-Beating Staff was a child, hesitated. He did not know who the Guild Chief was, or to whom he should address his words. He could only press his palms together in greeting and say vaguely: “The monks of Shaolin respectfully welcome the worthies of the Beggars’ Guild.”

The beggars all pressed their fists in return. The Chuan Gong Elder said, “Our Guild’s former Guild Chief Shi has sadly passed away. The Elders, by collective decision, have installed the late Guild Chief’s daughter, Miss Shi Hongshi, as Guild Chief. This young lady is our Guild’s new Guild Chief.” With that, he extended his hand towards Shi Hongshi.

Kongzhi and the assembled heroes were all taken aback. They had long heard the saying in the jianghu: “The Ming Order, the Beggars’ Guild, the Shaolin Order” — among the various Orders, the Ming Order held first place. Among the world’s guilds, the Beggars’ Guild was supreme. And among the martial schools, the Shaolin Order ranked highest. That the Ming Order had installed a young man of twenty-odd, Zhang Wuji, as its Order Leader was already cause for much astonished commentary, but that the Beggars’ Guild should push forward such a little girl as Guild Chief — had not the Beggars’ Guild Elder spoken the words himself, truly no one could have believed it. Years ago, Huang Rong had become Guild Chief of the Beggars’ Guild as a young woman, and though there was precedent for this, at that time Huang Rong was still several years older than the little girl before them, and moreover was the apprentice of former Guild Chief Hong Qigong and the daughter of Island Master Huang of Peach Blossom Island — she had great backing behind her.

Though Kongzhi was greatly astonished, he was not lacking in propriety. Pressing his palms together, he said, “Kongzhi of the Shaolin gate respectfully greets Guild Chief Shi.” Shi Hongshi curtsied in return, but could only stammer and could find no words to answer. The Chuan Gong Elder said, “Our Guild’s Guild Chief is young. All guild affairs are temporarily handled by myself and the Zhi Fa Elder. The Divine Monk Kongzhi is a Virtuous One⁷ of the senior generation — we would not presume to accept such ceremony.” The two exchanged a few modest phrases, and the guest-receiving monk led the beggars into the wooden shelters to be seated.

The Beggars’ Guild had many people, and some time passed before they were all settled. Zhang Wuji observed that every beggar wore mourning, their faces bearing expressions of grief and anger. Some disciples had things wriggling in the cloth sacks on their backs, clearly indicating they had come prepared for action. He was secretly pleased, and had just said to Yang Xiao, “We have gained a fine batch of helpers,” when the Chuan Gong Elder and the Zhi Fa Elder led Shi Hongshi to the Ming Order’s shelter.

The Chuan Gong Elder clasped his fists in greeting and said, “Order Leader Zhang, the Golden-Maned Lion King’s capture — our Guild bears great responsibility for this. Today we would sooner lose our lives than fail to atone for our sin. Moreover, we seek vengeance for our late Guild Chief. The Beggars’ Guild, high and low, stands ready to follow Order Leader Zhang’s orders.” Zhang Wuji hastily returned the greeting, saying, “I would not presume.” The Chuan Gong Elder’s words were delivered with abundant neili,⁸ his voice ringing out loud and clear — plainly he intended for everyone in the plaza to hear. When he had finished speaking, the Beggars’ Guild disciples all rose as one and cried loudly, “We respectfully follow Order Leader Zhang of the Ming Order’s commands. Through boiling water or blazing fire, we shall not flinch.”

The assembled heroes were all taken aback: “When did the Beggars’ Guild become sworn allies with the Ming Order?” Aside from the few recluses who rarely travelled the jianghu, everyone knew that the Beggars’ Guild and the Ming Order had been attacking each other for years. The previous year, when the Beggars’ Guild had joined the siege of Bright Peak, both sides had suffered heavy casualties in the bloody battle, and the Beggars’ Guild members who had stormed Bright Peak were almost entirely wiped out. Now the Chuan Gong Elder openly declared that the entire Guild would follow Zhang Wuji’s commands, and spoke of avenging former Guild Chief Shi — no one could make heads or tails of it.

The Chuan Gong Elder turned and said loudly, “Our Beggars’ Guild and the Shaolin Order have never had any quarrel or enmity. Our Guild has always respected the Shaolin Order as the foremost martial school in the wulin. Even if there were minor friction, we would do our utmost to restrain ourselves and yield, never daring to give offence. From our former Guild Chief Shi downwards, we have deeply admired Shaolin’s Four Divine Monks for their high virtue and prestige, worthy to serve as exemplars for all who practise the martial arts.” He paused, then continued, “Former Guild Chief Shi has long been in retirement, living in seclusion to nurse his illness, not associating with jianghu personages for decades. For what reason, he was struck down by a Shaolin eminent monk’s deadly hand…” When he reached this point, everyone in the plaza cried out “Ah!” in unison, and even Kongzhi was greatly startled.

The Chuan Gong Elder continued, “Today we have come before all the heroes in the world to ask Abbot Kongwen to illuminate our confusion. What offence did our former Guild Chief Shi give to the Shaolin Order, that after a Shaolin eminent monk murdered former Guild Chief Shi, you would pursue his widow and orphan daughter to extinction, unable even to spare Lady Shi’s life?”

Kongzhi pressed his palms together and said, “Amitabha. Guild Chief Shi’s sad passing — I only now hear this news for the first time. The Elder speaks repeatedly of our Order’s disciples being responsible, but I fear there is a grave misunderstanding. I beg the Elder to describe the circumstances in detail.”

The Chuan Gong Elder said, “The Shaolin Order has for a thousand years been Mount Tai and the Northern Dipper of the wulin⁹ — how would we dare slander? Pray let an eminent monk and a lay disciple of your honourable monastery come forward to confront us.” Kongzhi said, “As the Elder commands, we shall obey. I wonder which two persons the Elder requires?” The Chuan Gong Elder said, “It is…” and suddenly his mouth opened and closed, unable to utter a sound.

Kongzhi was startled and rushed forward, seizing his right wrist — only to find his pulse had ceased. Kongzhi was even more alarmed, crying: “Elder! Elder!” He looked at his face and saw in the centre of his brow a tiny black dot like the tip of an incense stick — he had been struck in a vital point by an extremely poisonous hidden weapon. Kongzhi said loudly: “Heroes all, bear witness! This Beggars’ Guild Elder has been struck by an extremely poisonous hidden weapon and has sadly perished. Our Shaolin Order would never resort to such vile and treacherous weapons.”

The Beggars’ Guild members immediately erupted in an uproar. Dozens of them rushed to the Chuan Gong Elder’s corpse. Zhang Bo Longtou took a lodestone from his robe and placed it on the Chuan Gong Elder’s brow, drawing out a steel needle as fine as an ox’s hair and barely an inch long.

The Beggars’ Guild Elders knew Kongzhi spoke true — such a vicious hidden weapon was something a renowned orthodox school like the Shaolin Order would never use. Yet in broad daylight, before countless eyes, someone had loosed a hidden weapon in ambush without a single person noticing. The strangeness of the matter was beyond comprehension. The Zhi Fa Elder and others reasoned that the Chuan Gong Elder had been facing south, so the weapon must have been fired from the south. At that time, the sunlight glaring southward had been blinding, and the Chuan Gong Elder’s anger had left him entirely unguarded against so minute a projectile.

Standing at the front of the south end was Kongzhi, and behind him were all Shaolin monks. The Elders glared angrily at the ranks behind Kongzhi. The nine old monks in bright red kasayas stood with eyes half-closed, brows lowered. Behind these nine were rows upon rows of yellow-robed monks and grey-robed monks. It was impossible to discern who had loosed the weapon, yet the killer must surely be among the Shaolin monks — of this there could be no doubt. The Zhi Fa Elder gave a loud, bitter laugh, tears rolling down his face, and said, “Great Master Kongzhi still says we have wronged the Shaolin Order. Given what has just occurred, what more is there to say?” Zhang Bang Longtou, most impatient of all, swung his iron rod and roared: “Today we settle accounts with the Shaolin Order!” There came a clatter of weapons being drawn as Beggars’ Guild members drew their arms and surged into the plaza.

Kongzhi’s face was ashen. He turned to the Shaolin monks and said slowly: “Since Patriarch Bodhidharma established our foundation, for a thousand years the monks of each generation have diligently cultivated Buddhist law and strictly upheld the precepts. Though our study of martial arts for self-defence has led us to associate with jianghu heroes, we have never dared commit any act that violates Heaven’s reason. The abbot, my shixiong,¹⁰ and I have long since seen through worldly attachments — why would we cling to this mortal dust any longer?” His gaze swept across the monks’ faces one by one. “Who fired this poisoned needle? A true man dares his deeds and owns them — step forward.”

Not one of the several hundred Shaolin monks answered. Some said, “Amitabha. Sin, sin.” Zhang Wuji’s mind stirred, and he recalled an old affair: years ago, his mother Yin Susu had disguised herself as his father Zhang Cuishan and killed a Shaolin monk with a poisoned needle, leaving his father bearing an unavenged injustice. But the Tianying Order’s silver needles and this steel needle were vastly different in form, and the poison upon them was entirely different as well. Judging from the Chuan Gong Elder’s manner of death, the deadly poison on the needle appeared to come from a Western Regions venomous insect called “Heart’s One Beat.”¹¹ The phrase “Heart’s One Beat” meant that once the insect’s venom touched warm blood, the victim’s heart would beat but once before stopping. He had long known that Shi Huolong had been killed by Yuanzhen, and he knew that Yuanzhen’s partisans lurked hidden among the Shaolin monks. The one who fired the needle to kill the Chuan Gong Elder must have been trying to prevent him from speaking Yuanzhen’s name. It was only because everyone had been watching the Chuan Gong Elder at that moment that no one noticed who had fired the needle.

Zhang Bang Longtou cried loudly, “The identity of the murderer who killed Guild Chief Shi — there is not one among the Beggars’ Guild’s tens of thousands of disciples who does not know. You wish to silence people by killing them? Humph, humph! You would have to kill every single disciple of the Beggars’ Guild in the world. The monk who committed this murder — it is Yuanzhen…”

Footnotes

1. 袈裟 – jiāshā. The outer robe worn by Buddhist monks. ↩

2. 武林 – wǔlín. Lit. “martial forest.” The community of martial artists and their schools, distinct from the broader jianghu. ↩

3. 武林至尊，宝刀屠龙。号令天下，莫敢不从。倚天不出，谁与争锋？ – The traditional verse concerning the Dragon Sabre and Heaven-Reliant Sword. “Supreme in the wulin, the treasured sabre Dragonslaying. Command the world, none dare refuse. Were Heaven-Reliant not revealed, who could contest its edge?” ↩

4. 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. ↩

5. 百足之虫，死而不僵 – A Chinese proverb: “A centipede dies but does not stiffen.” Meaning that a large organisation, even in decline, retains residual strength. ↩

6. 打狗棒 – Dǎgǒu Bàng. The Dog-Beating Staff, the traditional token of office of the Beggars’ Guild Chief. ↩

7. 大德 – dàdé. Lit. “great virtue.” An honorific term for a monk of high moral standing. ↩

8. 内力 – nèilì. Internal force; the kinetic manifestation of qi cultivated through neigong. ↩

9. 泰山北斗 – Tài Shān Běi Dǒu. Lit. “Mount Tai and the Northern Dipper.” A metaphor for the most revered authority in a field. ↩

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

11. 心一跳 – Xīn Yī Tiào. Lit. “Heart’s One Beat.” A venomous insect from the Western Regions whose poison causes the heart to beat but once before stopping upon contact with warm blood. ↩