The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre Chapter 9 Part 5

Yin Susu was still worried about her son. “He kidnapped Wuji, surely to force out the whereabouts of my sworn brother. I wonder if Wuji will tell him.” Zhang Cuishan said resolutely, “If Wuji reveals the secret, can he still be our child?” Yin Susu said, “Right! He definitely won't say.” Suddenly she burst into tears.

Zhang Cuishan hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong?” Yin Susu sobbed, “Wuji won’t tell. That villain… that villain will surely beat him, maybe even use… use torture.”

Yu Lianzhou sighed. Zhang Cuishan said, “Jade uncarved cannot become a vessel. Letting this child experience some hardship may not be a bad thing.” Though he said this, thinking of his beloved son inevitably writhing in pain, enduring great suffering, he couldn’t help but feel grief and anger. But if at this moment Wuji were sleeping peacefully, it would mean he had already revealed Xie Xun’s whereabouts. Such ingratitude would be far worse than enduring torture. Zhang Cuishan thought, “Better he die immediately than become an unrighteous villain.” He glanced at his wife and saw the pleading, beseeching look in her eyes. He was suddenly startled: “If that villain catches up and threatens Wuji’s life, Susu might very well give in.” He said, “Second Brother, are you feeling better?”

They had learned martial arts together since childhood. With just a word or a glance, they could often understand each other’s thoughts. Yu Lianzhou saw the expression on the couple’s faces and immediately understood Zhang Cuishan’s intention. He said, “Good, let’s travel through the night.”

The three travelled in the dark, taking only deserted small paths. What they feared most was not that the person would catch up and kill them, but that he would, before their eyes, inflict all sorts of cruel tortures on Wuji.

Thus they lodged by day and rode by night, fortunately without incident along the way. But Yin Susu, worried about her son, riding at night, caught wind and dew, and suddenly fell ill. Zhang Cuishan hired two mule carts, letting Yu Lianzhou and Yin Susu ride separately while he guarded on horseback beside them. That day they passed Xiangyang and reached Taiping Dian, where they checked into an inn.

After settling his shixiong¹, Zhang Cuishan was about to return to his own room when suddenly a man pushed open the curtain and burst in. This man wore blue short clothes and pants, holding a horse whip, dressed like a muleteer. He glared at Yu and Zhang, sneered, then turned and left. Zhang Cuishan knew he meant no good and was angered by his rudeness. Seeing the curtain the man had pushed down swinging toward him, Zhang Cuishan grabbed it with his left hand, secretly channeling internal force, and pushed outward. The bottom of the curtain flew up and struck the man solidly on the back with a slap.

The man staggered and fell face-first. He scrambled up and shouted, “Wudang’s little thieves, death is at your doorstep and you still dare to act tough!” Though he said this, he didn’t dare linger at all and walked straight out, but his steps were unsteady. Clearly the curtain strike had injured him heavily.

Yu Lianzhou saw this but said nothing. By evening, Zhang Cuishan said, “Second Brother, let’s set off!” Yu Lianzhou said, “No, we’re not leaving tonight. We’ll go early tomorrow morning.” Zhang Cuishan thought for a moment and understood his intention. His heroic spirit immediately surged. “Right! We’re only two days’ journey from the mountain. No matter how incompetent we fellow disciples are, we can’t disgrace the sect’s prestige. To keep hiding by day and travelling by night at the foot of Wudang Mountain. What kind of talk is that?”

Yu Lianzhou smiled. “Since our cover is blown, let’s see how Wudang’s disciples face death at their doorstep.”

The two went together to Zhang Cuishan’s room and sat side by side on the kang, eyes closed in meditation. That night, outside the paper window and on the roof, seven or eight people kept coming and going, spying, but none dared enter the room to disturb them. Yin Susu slept fitfully. Yu and Zhang paid no attention to the enemies outside. The next morning after early breakfast, they set off. Yu Lianzhou sat in the mule cart and had the cart walls removed, leaving it open on all sides for easy observation.

They had only gone a few li² from Taiping Dian when three horses caught up from the east, following more than ten zhang³ behind, neither approaching nor falling further back. After several more li, they saw four riders waiting by the road. After Yu Lianzhou’s group passed, these four followed behind. After several more li, four more horses joined, making eleven in total. The cart driver became alarmed and whispered to Zhang Cuishan, “Sir, these people seem suspicious. Could they be bandits? You must be careful.” At the noon rest stop, six more people appeared. These people were dressed differently, some in rich clothes, others like peddlers and porters, but all carried weapons. None of them spoke, so they couldn’t tell their accent, but most were thin and dark-skinned, seemingly from the south. By afternoon, the number had grown to twenty-one. Some of the bolder ones rode closer, stopping two or three zhang from the cart. Yu Lianzhou just kept his eyes closed in the cart, not even glancing at them.

At dusk, two horses came galloping from ahead. The leader was a long-bearded old man, his hands empty. The rider of the second horse was a gorgeously dressed young woman, holding twin blades in her left hand. The two horses stopped in the middle of the road, blocking their path.

Zhang Cuishan suppressed his anger and cupped his fists from horseback. “Wudang’s Yu Er and Zhang Wu send their regards. May I ask the elder’s name?” The old man said with a forced smile, “Where is Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King? Just tell us and we won’t trouble Wudang’s disciples.” Zhang Cuishan said, “I dare not make this decision. I must first consult my master.”

The old man said, “Yu Er is injured, Zhang Wu is alone. You’re by yourself, not a match for so many of us.” As he spoke, he reached for his waist and pulled out a pair of judge’s pens. The pen tips were cast in the shape of snake heads.

Zhang Cuishan, nicknamed “Silver Hook Iron Stroke,” used judge’s pens in his right hand. Among those who specialised in acupoint-striking with judge’s pens in the wulin, no one didn’t know him. Seeing this pair of snake-head twin pens, his heart gave a start. He had once heard his master say that in Goguryeo there was a sect that used judge’s pens with snake-head tips. Their moves and acupoint techniques were completely different from those in the Central Plains, generally adopting the yin, soft, and vicious nature of venomous snakes, the moves were slippery and fierce. This sect was called the Qinglong Sect. Among its famous experts, he only remembered the surname was Quan. Not even his master knew the given name. So he cupped his fists and asked, “Is the elder from the Goguryeo Qinglong Sect? May I ask how to address Elder Quan?”

The old man was slightly startled, thinking, “You’re barely thirty years old, yet your knowledge is so broad, you actually know my background.” This old man was indeed the leader of the Goguryeo Qinglong Sect, named Quan Jianan. He had been invited from Goguryeo by the Lingnan Sanjiang Guild with humble words and generous gifts. He had just arrived in the Central Plains and had never fought before. He never expected to be exposed the moment he appeared. He waved his snake-head twin pens and said, “I am Quan Jianan.”

Zhang Cuishan said, “The Goguryeo Qinglong Sect has never had dealings with the Central Plains wulin. May I ask how Wudang has offended Elder Quan? Please make it clear.” Quan Jianan said, “I have no grudge against you. We Goguryeo people also know there’s a Wudang Order in the Central Plains, and that the Seven Xia of Wudang are righteous men. I only want to ask: where is Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King hiding?”

Though these words weren’t exactly rude, their tone was aggressively pressing. At the same time, with the wave of his judge’s pens, the people following the cart scattered and surrounded them on all sides. Clearly, if he didn’t reveal Xie Xun’s whereabouts, there was only one option: fight.

Zhang Cuishan said, “What if I don’t want to say?” Quan Jianan said, “Zhang the Fifth Xia’s martial arts are impressive. Though we are many, we know we can’t keep you. But Yu the Second Xia is injured, and your lady is ill. We have this good opportunity, so we can only take advantage of your weakness and try to detain you two. Zhang the Fifth Xia, please do as you wish.” His Chinese was poorly pronounced, his voice sharp and doubly grating to the ear.

Hearing him speak so shamelessly, having the audacity to say “take advantage of your weakness” himself, Zhang Cuishan said, “Good, in that case, let me experience Goguryeo’s martial arts. If Elder Quan can let me get past even one or half a move, then what?” Quan Jianan laughed, “If I lose, everyone will rush up together. We don’t bother with the one-on-one nonsense. If Wudang has more people, you can also rely on numbers. In the past, when Emperor Yang of Sui, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Gaozong of Tang invaded our Goguryeo, wasn’t it always with hundreds of thousands attacking our tens of thousands? In fighting, the side with more people always has the advantage.”

Zhang Cuishan knew that talking further was useless. If he could capture this man as a hostage, he could force his followers to back off and not harm Second Brother and Susu. So his body rose and he lightly leaped off the horse. His left foot touched the ground while his left hand already gripped the Silver Tiger-Head Hook, and his right hand held the Iron Judge’s Pen. His original judge’s pen had been lost at sea ten years ago. The pen in his hand now was newly purchased from a weapon shop and though the size and weight weren’t quite familiar, it would do. “You’re the guest. Please make the first move!”

Quan Jianan also leaped off his horse. The twin pens struck each other with a clang. His right pen feinted while his left hadn’t yet thrust out, but his body had already circled to Zhang Cuishan’s side. Zhang Cuishan thought, “Today I’m fighting for my sworn brother’s safety. Susu and I are one, and she also has a sworn sisterhood with my brother. Dying for him is fine. But Second Brother doesn’t know my brother. If because of my brother Second Brother suffers humiliation, that’s absolutely wrong.” Seeing Quan Jianan’s right snake-head pen strike over, he extended his hook to block, using only twenty percent of his strength. When hook and pen met, his body swayed slightly.

Quan Jianan was delighted, thinking, “That Sanjiang Guild bunch praised the Seven Xia of Wudang to the skies, but they’re nothing special. Probably the Central Plains martial artists care about face and exaggerate their own people’s prowess.” His left pen followed with three consecutive moves. Zhang Cuishan struggled to parry on both sides, barely managing to return a hook and a pen strike, both weak and lacking force. Quan Jianan thought today he would defeat Zhang the Fifth Xia of the Seven Xia of Wudang and become famous in the Central Plains in one battle. His twin pens flew wildly, each move targeting Zhang Cuishan’s vital points.

Zhang Cuishan guarded his defenses extremely tightly, carefully watching the opponent’s moves. He saw that Quan Jianan’s strikes were light and agile, with considerable resilience in the pen. The acupoints he targeted emphasised the lower three routes and the back, truly very different from the Central Plains’ acupoint masters. After fighting longer, he saw that the left judge’s pen targeted all acupoints below the Lingtai point on the back, from Lingtai, Zhiyang, Jinsuo, Zhongshu, Jizhong, Xuanshu, Mingmen, Yangguan, Yaoshu, all the way to the Changqiang point at the tailbone. The right judge’s pen targeted the acupoints on the waist and legs, from Wushu, Weidao, Huantiao, Fengshi, Zhongdu, all the way to the Yangling point on the lower leg. Zhang Cuishan understood: his left pen specialised in striking the Du Meridian acupoints, his right pen specialised in the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian acupoints. Though seemingly complex, there was actually a clear logic. He thought, “Back then Master said the Goguryeo Qinglong Sect’s acupoint techniques take unorthodox paths. Though vicious, they’re not worth fearing. Today I see it’s exactly so.” Once he understood the opponent’s moves, though his silver hook and iron pen waved up and down, he was actually just putting on a show. As long as he protected the Du Meridian and Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian acupoints, he didn’t need to worry about the rest.

Quan Jianan fought with increasing spirit, shouting loudly and looking imposing. Zhang Cuishan thought, “With such mediocre martial arts, you dare come to Wudang Mountain’s foothill to act tough!” Suddenly his left hand silver hook used the move “Dragon” from the hook technique. With a rip, the hook caught Quan Jianan’s right leg at the Fengshi acupoint. Quan Jianan cried out and his right knee hit the ground. Zhang Cuishan’s right pen moved like lightning, continuously trembling from his Lingtai point straight down, using the last stroke of the “Edge” technique, a straight line like the trembling brush in calligraphy, Zhiyang, Jinsuo, Zhongshu, Jizhong, Xuanshu, Mingmen… all the way to Changqiang, striking every acupoint along his Du Meridian.

This single pen stroke was swift as a shooting star, its spirit overwhelming the heavens. How could Quan Jianan still move? The acupoints struck by this pen were exactly the ones he had spent his life studying. He thought, “Finished, finished! Even if the opponent were a clay statue or wooden dummy, I couldn’t strike ten acupoints in one breath. I’d be far from worthy to be his disciple.”

Zhang Cuishan’s silver hook point aimed at Quan Jianan’s throat. He shouted, “Everyone please step back! I’ll have Elder Quan escort me to the foot of Wudang Mountain, then I’ll release his acupoints!” He thought these people seemed to be his subordinates and would surely retreat out of concern. Who knew the gorgeously dressed young woman raised her twin blades and shouted, “Attack together! Seize the cart!” Zhang Cuishan shouted, “Who dares come up? I’ll kill this man first!” The young woman sneered and shouted, “Everyone attack!” She charged forward on horseback, brandishing her blades, not caring about Quan Jianan at all. It turned out this young woman was a helmsman of the Sanjiang Guild. Their purpose in this large-scale operation was to capture Yu Lianzhou and Yin Susu to force out Xie Xun’s whereabouts. Quan Jianan was merely a guest advisor of the Sanjiang Guild. Since he couldn’t serve the gang’s interests, dying at enemy hands was nothing to mourn.

Zhang Cuishan was startled. It seemed killing Quan Jianan wouldn’t help either. He saw six or seven men rushing to Yin Susu’s cart, six or seven rushing to Yu Lianzhou’s cart, with only a few and that young woman surrounding him. He was just considering what to do when Yu Lianzhou suddenly said loudly, “Sixth Brother, come out and clean up these people!”

Zhang Cuishan was startled. “Is Second Brother using the Empty City Strategy?” Suddenly he heard a clear whistle from mid-air. Someone called out, “Yes! Fifth Brother, how are you? I’ve missed you so much!” A figure leaped down from a large locust tree several zhang away, jian trembling, walking forward. It was none other than Yin the Sixth Xia Liting. Zhang Cuishan was overjoyed and shouted, “Sixth Brother, I’ve missed you so much!”

Several people from the Sanjiang Guild had already split off to intercept. They heard cries of “Ow!” and the clanging of metal, as each person’s wrist was struck at the Shenmen acupoint one after another, dropping their weapons one by one. This Shenmen acupoint is at the end of the sharp bone behind the palm. Once struck, the hand can no longer exert any force. Yin Liting walked leisurely toward them. Whenever an enemy blocked his way, his jian would tremble and with a clang, a weapon would fall to the ground. That young woman turned and shouted, “You’re Wudang…” Clang, clang: her twin blades fell with two sounds.

Zhang Cuishan was overjoyed. “Master’s Divine Gate Thirteen Swords have been successfully created!” It turned out these “Divine Gate Thirteen Swords” had thirteen moves, each different, but all targeting the enemy’s wrist Shenmen acupoint. Ten years ago when Zhang Cuishan left Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng had just had this idea and discussed it with his disciples several times, but several difficult points hadn’t been worked out. Now that Yin Liting used it, not a single expert from the Sanjiang Guild could block even one move. Zhang Cuishan watched with delight as Yin Liting’s every jian strike was exquisitely wonderful. He had only used five or six moves, not even halfway through the “Divine Gate Thirteen Swords”, when over a dozen Sanjiang Guild members had already been struck at the wrist and dropped their weapons.

The young woman shouted, “Scatter! Scatter! Run!” Some gang members rode away, others couldn’t mount in time and turned to flee on foot. Zhang Cuishan opened Quan Jianan’s acupoints, picked up the snake-head twin pens, and tucked them into his waist. Quan Jianan, his face full of shame, cupped his fists at Zhang Cuishan and left in embarrassment, not even going with the Sanjiang Guild members.

Yin Liting sheathed his jian and tightly grasped Zhang Cuishan’s hand, saying happily, “Fifth Brother, I’ve missed you so much!” Zhang Cuishan laughed. “Sixth Brother, you’ve grown taller.” When they parted, Yin Liting was only eighteen. After ten years apart, the thin, small youth had become a tall, slender young man. Zhang Cuishan took Yin Liting’s hand and went to meet his wife.

Yin Susu was seriously ill. She nodded and smiled, saying in a low voice, “Sixth Brother!” Yin Liting laughed. “Fifth Sister-in-law is also surnamed Yin. That’s perfect! Not only are you my sister-in-law, you’re also my elder sister.”

Zhang Cuishan said, “Second Brother is truly remarkable. You were hiding in that big tree and I never knew, but Second Brother saw you long ago.” Yin Liting then explained how he had come to help.

It turned out Zhang the Fourth Xia Songxi had gone down the mountain to buy supplies for Master’s hundredth birthday. He had seen two jianghu figures acting suspiciously, their paths questionable. He was suspicious: “Our Wudang Order’s prestige shakes the world. Could there really be bold people daring to come to Wudang Mountain to provoke the tiger’s whiskers?” He secretly followed them and overheard their conversation, learning that Zhang Cuishan had returned from overseas and had already joined Second Brother Yu Lianzhou. The Sanjiang Guild and the Wufeng Dao both wanted to intercept them and force out Xie Xun’s whereabouts. Zhang Songxi was overjoyed and hurried back to the mountain. At that time only Yin Liting was on the mountain. The two split up to go to their aid, both thinking: with Yu Er and Zhang Wu together, those small gangs and sects would only disgrace themselves. How could they harm the two? They were just eager to reunite with Zhang Cuishan and wanted to see him one moment sooner, so they came out to meet him. As for Yu Lianzhou being injured, those two jianghu figures hadn’t mentioned it, so Zhang Songxi and Yin Liting had no idea. Zhang Songxi went to deal with the two experts sent by the Wufeng Dao. The Sanjiang Guild side was handled by Yin Liting driving them away.

Yu Lianzhou sighed. “If not for Fourth Brother’s alertness, today our Wudang Order might have lost face.” Zhang Cuishan said ashamedly, “Relying on my own strength alone, I couldn’t protect Second Brother. Alas, ten years away from the sect, I’m really far behind my brothers.”

Yin Liting laughed. “Fifth Brother, where are you talking from? Even if I didn’t come out, with those Sanjiang Guild fellows, Fifth Brother could handle them easily. It’s just that you’d definitely prioritise Second Brother, and maybe Fifth Sister-in-law would be frightened. That skill you just used to defeat the Goguryeo old man, Master hasn’t taught it to anyone else. Now that you’re back, Master will be so happy he’ll probably teach you many wonderful skills. I’m afraid you won’t have time to learn them all. Want me to tell you the moves for the Divine Gate Thirteen Swords?” Their brotherly affection was deep. After reuniting after a long separation, Yin Liting wanted to tell his Fifth Brother everything he had learned in ten years in one go. The two walked side by side, Yin Liting gesturing and talking endlessly.

That night the four rested at an inn at Xianren Crossing. Yin Liting wanted to share a bed with Zhang Cuishan. Zhang Cuishan truly liked this youngest shidi⁴. Though he was now tall and big, he was still as attached to him as before. After ten years of separation, life and death uncertain, unexpectedly reuniting, wild joy filled his heart with warmth. Among the Seven Xia of Wudang, Mo Shenggu was youngest, but since childhood he had been mature beyond his years, so Yin Liting actually seemed more childish than his shidi. Zhang Cuishan was not much older than him. Since Yin Liting entered the sect, Zhang Cuishan had always taken special care of him.

Yu Lianzhou laughed. “Fifth Brother now has a sister-in-law. Do you think it’s still like ten years ago? Fifth Brother, you’re back just in time. After we drink Master’s birthday wine, we’ll drink Sixth Brother’s wedding wine.” Zhang Cuishan was overjoyed and clapped, laughing. “Wonderful! Wonderful! Which famous family’s daughter is the bride?” Yin Liting blushed and shyly didn’t speak.

Yu Lianzhou said, “It’s the beloved daughter of Old Hero Ji of the Golden Whip from Hanyang.” Zhang Cuishan stuck out his tongue and laughed. “If Sixth Brother is naughty, that golden whip coming down on his head won’t be fun.” Yu Lianzhou smiled slightly. “Miss Ji uses a jian. Fortunately, among the masked women by the river that day, Miss Ji wasn’t among them.” Zhang Cuishan was startled. “Miss Ji is an Emei disciple?”

Yu Lianzhou nodded. “The Emei women we met by the river had mediocre martial arts. Miss Ji wouldn’t be among them. Otherwise, for Fifth Sister-in-law’s sake, we’d offend Sixth Sister-in-law. People would say Second Uncle is biased. Our not-yet-married Sixth Sister-in-law is both good-natured and skilled in martial arts. As a disciple of a famous sect, she’s truly exceptional, a perfect match for Sixth Brother…” As he spoke, he suddenly remembered that Yin Susu was the daughter of a demonic cult’s leader. Praising Miss Ji like this might make Zhang Cuishan feel uncomfortable. He was about to change the subject when he heard someone walk to the door and say, “Master Yu, several gentlemen have come to visit you. They say they’re your friends.” It was the innkeeper’s voice.

Yu Lianzhou asked, “Who?” The innkeeper said, “Six people in total. They say they’re from the Wufeng Dao.” All three fellow disciples were startled, thinking Zhang Songxi had gone to deal with the Wufeng Dao people. How had the enemies found their door instead? Could Zhang Songxi have suffered some mishap? Zhang Cuishan said, “I’ll go take a look.” He was afraid Second Brother’s injury wasn’t healed and fighting enemies in the inn wouldn’t be proper. Yu Lianzhou said, “Invite them in.”

Soon five men and a beautiful young woman came in. Zhang Cuishan and Yin Liting, empty-handed, stood beside Yu Lianzhou on guard. But these six looked dejected, their faces showing shame, and they carried no weapons, clearly not here to cause trouble. The leader had graying hair and was around forty years old. He respectfully cupped his fists and said, “You are Wudang’s Yu the Second Xia, Zhang the Fifth Xia, and Yin the Sixth Xia? I am Meng Zhenghong, a disciple of the Wufeng Dao. May I ask how you are?”

The three cupped their fists in return, all secretly puzzled. Yu Lianzhou said, “Teacher Meng, please sit.”

Meng Zhenghong didn’t sit but said, “Our sect is in Hedong, Shanxi. Our sect is small and narrow. We’ve long admired Wudang Mountain’s Zhang Zhenren and the Seven Xia’ prestige. It’s like thunder piercing the ears. But we had no opportunity to meet. Now that we’ve reached the foot of Wudang Mountain, we should go up to pay respects to Zhang Zhenren. But hearing that Zhang Zhenren is a hundred years old and in quiet cultivation, we rough martial artists don’t dare disturb him. After the three of you return to the mountain, please convey our regards. Say that the Wufeng Dao disciples from Shanxi wish him a thousand autumns of peace and boundless fortune.”

Yu Lianzhou, because his injury wasn’t healed, was sitting on the kang. Hearing them mention his master, he hurriedly supported himself on Yin Liting’s shoulder and stood, saying respectfully, “I wouldn’t dare. I thank you on Master’s behalf.” Meng Zhenghong continued, “We’re in a remote corner of Shanxi, truly like frogs at the bottom of a well, with shallow knowledge. Not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, we audaciously came to your honoured land. Now we’re grateful that the Wudang heroes are magnanimous and actually saved us from disaster. I’m deeply grateful and have specially come today, first to thank you, second to apologise. I hope you three great people won’t remember the faults of us small people.” As he spoke, he bowed. Zhang Cuishan reached out to support him. “Teacher Meng, please don’t be so formal.”

Meng Zhenghong hesitated, wanting to speak but not daring. Yu Lianzhou said, “Teacher Meng, please speak freely.” Meng Zhenghong said, “I beg Yu the Second Xia to say a word, that Wudang no longer holds a grudge, so we can report back to our master.” Yu Lianzhou smiled slightly. “You gentlemen have come all the way from Shanxi to E, surely to ask about Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King’s whereabouts. May I ask what grievance the Golden-Haired Lion King has with your sect?” Meng Zhenghong said sadly, “My elder brother Meng Zhengpeng died tragically at Xie Xun’s hands.”

Yu Lianzhou’s heart trembled. “We truly have unavoidable reasons and cannot reveal the Golden-Haired Lion King’s whereabouts. I hope Teacher Meng and all of you will forgive us. As for holding a grudge, there’s no need to mention it. When you see your master, Old Wu, tell him Yu Er, Zhang Wu, and Yin Liu send their regards.”

Meng Zhenghong said, “Thank you! I take my leave. In the future, if Wudang has any need, just send word. Though the Wufeng Dao has few people and little strength, we dare not refuse the labour of running errands.” With that, he and the other five cupped their fists and left.

The young woman suddenly returned, knelt on the ground, and said in a low voice, “That I was able to preserve my reputation is entirely due to the Wudang heroes’ grace. In my lifetime, I dare not forget Zhang Zhenren and all of your great kindness.” Yu Lianzhou and the others didn’t know the reason, but hearing her mention a woman’s reputation, they didn’t dare ask more and could only respond with modest words. The young woman bowed several times and left.

The six from the Wufeng Dao had just left when the curtain was pushed aside and someone darted in, rushing to embrace Zhang Cuishan.

Zhang Cuishan cried out in extreme joy, “Fourth Brother!” The person who entered was none other than Zhang Songxi. When fellow disciples met, they were all extremely happy. Zhang Cuishan said, “Fourth Brother, you’re so resourceful, you could turn enemies into friends with the Wufeng Dao. That’s truly not easy.” Zhang Songxi laughed. “It was just a fortunate coincidence. Your Fourth Brother can’t take credit for it.” He then explained what had happened.

It turned out the beautiful young woman’s maiden name was Wu, and she was the second daughter of the Wufeng Dao zhangmen. Her husband was that Meng Zhenghong. This time the six of them came to Hubei together to investigate Xie Xun’s whereabouts. On the way they met a Sanjiang Guild helmsman and learned that Wudang’s Zhang Cuishan knew Xie Xun’s location. Wu Shi had been spoiled since childhood and insisted on capturing Zhang Cuishan to force the information out. Meng Zhenghong had always feared his wife like a tiger, but this time he absolutely refused. He said the Wudang disciples were extremely capable. It would be better to ask politely. If they refused, then they could think of something else. Wu Shi said, “Opportunity comes and goes. If we let Zhang Cuishan get to Wudang, once the fellow disciples reunite and with Zhang Sanfeng protecting him, how can we force the information out?” The two argued and quarreled. The other four were shidi and shizhi⁵ who didn’t dare take sides.

Wu Shi was angry. “You coward. It’s avenging your brother, not mine. Humph, a man with no backbone, even if Zhang Cuishan really told you Xie Xun’s whereabouts, would you have the courage to go find him? Marrying a coward like you is my life’s bad luck.” Meng Zhenghong, accustomed to yielding to his beautiful wife, didn’t dare argue further. But to follow Wu Shi’s plan of using sleeping drugs in the inn to drug Zhang Cuishan and his wife, he absolutely refused. Wu Shi, angry, while her husband slept at night, quietly left.

She wanted to act alone, find Xie Xun’s whereabouts, and shame her husband. Who knew that all this had been seen by a Sanjiang Guild helmsman. Seeing Wu Shi was beautiful, he had evil intentions and secretly followed her. When Wu Shi wanted to use sleeping drugs, he drugged her first. But the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Zhang Songxi had been monitoring the six from the Wufeng Dao. When Wu Shi was in danger, he stepped in to save her and punished the Sanjiang Guild helmsman, driving him away. Zhang Songxi didn’t reveal his name, only saying he was a Wudang Order disciple. Wu Shi, both shocked and ashamed, went back to meet her husband and explained the situation. Now Wudang had become their sect’s great benefactor, and the couple came together to thank Yu Lianzhou and the others for their rescue. Zhang Songxi waited until the six left before revealing himself, to spare Wu Shi’s embarrassment.

Zhang Cuishan, having heard this, sighed. “Dealing with the Sanjiang Guild’s unprincipled people wasn’t difficult. But Fourth Brother’s actions always leave room for others, turning enemies into friends, most in line with Master’s wishes.”

Zhang Songxi laughed. “Ten years not seen, and as soon as we meet, Fourth Brother gets a high hat.”

That night the four fellow disciples shared beds and talked all night. Though Zhang Songxi was clever, even he couldn’t guess the slightest clue about the origin of that expert who had disguised himself as a Yuan soldier, kidnapped Wuji, and injured Yu Lianzhou.

The next morning Zhang Songxi and Yin Susu met. The five travelled slowly, resting another night on the way, before reaching Wudang Mountain.

Zhang Cuishan, returning after ten years to the place where he grew up, thought he could immediately pay respects to his master and meet Eldest Brother, Third Brother, and Seventh Brother. Though his wife was ill and his son scattered, joy outweighed sorrow.

When they reached the mountain, they saw eight strong horses tied outside the temple, their saddles and bridles bright, not mountain property. Zhang Songxi said, “There are guests in the temple. Let’s not announce ourselves yet. Let’s go in through the side door.” Zhang Cuishan supported his wife and entered through the side door. The Daoist priests and servants in the temple, seeing Zhang Cuishan return safely, were all overjoyed. Zhang Cuishan, thinking to pay respects to his master, was told by the Daoist boy attending Zhang Sanfeng that the Zhenren hadn’t yet emerged from closed cultivation. Zhang Cuishan could only kowtow outside his master’s cultivation door, then go see Yu Daiyan.

The Daoist boy attending Yu Daiyan whispered, “Third shibo⁶ is asleep. Should I wake him?” Zhang Cuishan shook his hand and walked softly into the room. He saw Yu Daiyan lying with eyes closed, his face pale, his cheeks sunken. Ten years ago a vigorous, vigorous man, today a dying invalid. Zhang Cuishan watched for a long time and couldn’t help but shed tears.

Zhang Cuishan stood by the bed for a long time, wiped his tears and walked out. He asked the little Daoist boy, “Where are Eldest Brother and Seventh Brother?” The boy said, “In the main hall receiving guests.” Zhang Cuishan went to the back hall to wait for Eldest Brother and Seventh Brother, but waited a long time and the guests still wouldn’t leave. Zhang Cuishan asked the Daoist priest serving tea, “What kind of guests?” The priest said, “They seem to be escort chiefs.”

Yin Liting was very attached to this Fifth Brother who had just reunited. He had only left him for a moment and came back to accompany him. Hearing him asking about the guests’ origins, he said, “They’re three head chiefs: Qi Tianbiao, head chief of the Jinling Huju Armed Escort, Yun He, head chief of the Taiyuan Jinyang Armed Escort, and the last one is Gong Jiujia, head chief of the Capital Dadu Yanyun Armed Escort.”

Zhang Cuishan was slightly startled. “These three head chiefs all came? Ten years ago, among all the armed escorts in the world, these three had the strongest martial arts and greatest prestige. Is it still the same today? Why have they all come to the mountain at the same time?” Yin Liting laughed. “Probably some big escort was lost, and the robbers have a big background these three head chiefs can’t afford, so they had to come ask Eldest Brother for help. Fifth Brother, in recent years Eldest Brother has become more and more of a people-pleaser. When there’s some difficult matter in the jianghu, people often ask Eldest Brother to intervene.” Zhang Cuishan smiled. “Eldest Brother has a Buddha’s face and a compassionate heart. When people ask him for help, he’s always willing to help. Not seeing him for ten years, I wonder if Eldest Brother has aged?” Thinking of this, he couldn’t suppress his desire to see Eldest Brother and said, “Sixth Brother, let me go behind the screen and see what Eldest Brother and Seventh Brother look like.” He walked behind the screen and peered out secretly.

He saw Song Yuanqiao and Mo Shenggu sitting in the lower host seats, attending on the guests. Song Yuanqiao wore Daoist robes, his expression calm and peaceful as before. His appearance hadn’t changed much from ten years ago, except his temples were slightly graying and his body had grown much fatter, probably middle-age spread. Song Yuanqiao hadn’t become a Daoist priest, but because his master was a Daoist and they lived in a Daoist temple, on Wudang Mountain he often dressed as a Daoist, only changing to secular clothes when going down the mountain. Mo Shenggu had grown tall and imposing. Though only in his twenties, his face was covered in thick whiskers, looking older than Zhang Cuishan.

He heard Mo Shenggu say loudly, “My Eldest Brother says one is one, two is two. With Song Yuanqiao’s three characters, do you three still not trust him?” Zhang Cuishan thought, “Seventh Brother’s straightforward temper hasn’t changed at all. I wonder what matter he’s arguing about with someone?” He turned to look at the guests and saw three men all around fifty years old. One had an imposing bearing, one was tall and thin with a gaunt face, and the one sitting at the end looked like an invalid, very withered. Behind the three, five more people stood with hands clasped, probably their disciples. He heard the tall thin man say, “Since Song daxia says so, how dare we not believe? But we don’t know when Zhang the Fifth Xia will return. Can you give us a definite date?”

Zhang Cuishan was startled. “So these three are here for me, probably also asking about my sworn brother’s whereabouts.” He heard Mo Shenggu say:

“Though the seven of us fellow disciples have modest skills, we’ve never dared to be last in doing righteous deeds. Thanks to the praise of friends in the jianghu, we’ve been given the name Seven Xia of Wudang. These four characters, to speak ashamedly, we originally don’t deserve…” Zhang Cuishan thought, “Ten years not seen, and Seventh Brother has become so eloquent. Before, if someone asked him a question, his face would turn red for a long time before he could answer a sentence. In these ten years, apart from me and Third Brother, everyone has progressed by leaps and bounds.”

He heard Mo Shenggu continue, “But since we bear this name, following our master’s strict teachings, we don’t dare make the slightest mistake in our actions. Fifth Brother Zhang is one of the Seven Xia of Wudang. He’s gentle and mild-tempered. Among the seven brothers, his temper is the best. You insist on wrongly accusing him of killing the entire Longmen Armed Escort. That’s simply nonsense!” Zhang Cuishan’s heart went cold. “So it’s about Du Dajin of the Longmen Armed Escort. I’ve heard that south of the Yangtze River, all the armed escorts follow the Jinling Huju Armed Escort. Probably hearing I’ve returned from overseas, the Huju Armed Escort gathered the head chiefs of Jinyang and Yanyun, coming to demand an explanation.”

The imposing man said, “The Seven Xia of Wudang’s name is famous. Who in the wulin doesn’t respect them? Mo the Seventh Xia doesn’t need to praise himself. We’ve long heard your names like thunder piercing the ears.”

Mo Shenggu, hearing his mocking tone, his face changed greatly. “What exactly does Head Chief Qi want? Please state it clearly.”

The imposing man was Huju Armed Escort’s head chief Qi Tianbiao. He said loudly, “The Seven Xia of Wudang say one is one, two is two. But do the Shaolin Order’s high monks habitually tell lies? Shaolin monks saw with their own eyes that everyone at the Lin’an Longmen Armed Escort, young and old, was all injured by Zhang the Fifth Xia Cuishan’s hands alone.” When he said “Zhang the Fifth Xia,” he dragged out the “hero” character, clearly full of mockery.

Yin Liting was so angry this person was mocking Fifth Brother. It was worse than slapping himself three times. He was about to go out and argue. Zhang Cuishan grabbed him and shook his hand. Yin Liting saw his face full of pain and difficulty, not understanding why, thinking, “Fifth Brother’s self-cultivation has improved even more. No wonder Master often praises him.”

Mo Shenggu stood up and shouted loudly, “Don’t say my Fifth Brother hasn’t returned to the mountain yet. Even if he has, there’s only this one sentence. Mo Mou shares life and death with Zhang Cuishan. His business is my business. You three, without distinguishing green from red, insist on wrongly accusing my Fifth Brother of harming the Longmen Armed Escort’s whole family. Fine! Count it all as Mo Mou did it. If you three want revenge for the Longmen Armed Escort, just come after Mo Mou. My Fifth Brother isn’t here. Mo Shenggu is Zhang Cuishan, and Zhang Cuishan is Mo Shenggu. Let me tell you honestly, Mo Mou’s martial arts and strategy are far inferior to my Fifth Brother. You’ve found me. Consider yourselves lucky.”

Qi Tianbiao was furious and stood up abruptly, shouting loudly, “Today Qi Mou came to Wudang Mountain to cause trouble. All martial artists in the world will laugh at me for presuming before the master and overestimating myself. But Du Dajin and his whole family were murdered ten years ago, their deep grievance never avenged. This breath Qi Mou simply can’t swallow. Anyway, Wudang has already killed the Longmen Armed Escort’s seventy-plus people. Adding Qi Mou’s one person makes no difference! Even adding the ninety-plus people of Jinling Huju Armed Escort, it’s all the same! Today Qi Mou will spill blood on Wudang Mountain and consider it a worthy death. When we came up the mountain, out of respect for Zhang Zhenren’s high virtue and prestige, we didn’t dare carry weapons. Qi Mou will accept death under Mo the Seventh Xia’s fists.” With that, he strode to the centre of the hall.

Song Yuanqiao hadn’t spoken before. Now seeing the two had reached an impasse and were about to fight, he blocked Mo Shenggu and smiled slightly. “You three have come to our place, going back and forth, insisting it was our Fifth shidi who harmed the Lin’an Longmen Armed Escort’s whole family. Fortunately, our shidi will return to the mountain soon. Please endure a little longer. After meeting our shidi face to face, we can sort out right from wrong, yes?”

The withered, invalid-looking Yanyun Armed Escort head chief Gong Jiujia said, “Head Chief Qi, please sit down. Since Zhang the Fifth Xia hasn’t returned, this matter is hard to resolve. We might as well pay respects to Zhang Zhenren and ask him for a clear instruction. Zhang Zhenren is the Mount Tai and Northern Dipper of the wulin today. All heroes under heaven respect him. Surely he would never ignore right and wrong and shield his own disciple?”

Though these words were polite, their implication was severe. How could Mo Shenggu not hear it? He immediately said, “Our master is in closed cultivation and hasn’t emerged. Besides, in recent years our Wudang Order’s affairs are all handled by our Eldest Brother. Except for truly famous experts in the wulin, our master rarely receives guests.” The implication was that you three aren’t qualified enough to meet our master.

The tall, thin Jinyang Armed Escort head chief Yun He sneered. “Things in the world are so coincidental. Just as we come up the mountain, your master Zhang Zhenren enters closed cultivation. But the seventy-plus lives of the Longmen Armed Escort can’t be avoided just by entering closed cultivation.” Gong Jiujia heard these words were too heavy and hurriedly signaled with his eyes to stop him. But Mo Shenggu couldn’t contain himself and shouted, “Are you saying our master entered closed cultivation because he’s afraid?” Yun He sneered and didn’t answer.

Though Song Yuanqiao had excellent self-cultivation, hearing him insult his master, he couldn’t help but be angry. Before the Seven Xia of Wudang, someone actually dared to be disrespectful to Zhang Sanfeng in words, something unheard of in over ten years. He slowly said, “You three are guests from afar. We don’t dare offend. See the guests out!” With that, his robe sleeve waved, and a fierce wind rolled out with the wave. The three tea bowls on the tea table in front of Qi Tianbiao, Yun He, and Gong Jiujia were suddenly lifted by the wind and fell onto the tea table in front of Song Yuanqiao. The three tea bowls rose slowly, fell gently, and when they landed on the tea table with just a few soft sounds, not a drop of tea spilled.

When Song Yuanqiao’s sleeve waved, Qi Tianbiao and the other three were pressed by this seemingly soft but actually extremely powerful sleeve wind against their chests. Immediately their breathing was blocked and they couldn’t breathe. The three hastily circulated neili to resist, but that sleeve wind came and went suddenly. The heavy pressure on their chests suddenly disappeared, and with three loud pops, they all exhaled loudly. This fright was not small. They knew that if Song Yuanqiao’s left sleeve followed with another wave, the second sleeve wind would take advantage of the emptiness and rush in. The neili they had circulated would be forced to flow backward. Even if they didn’t die on the spot, they would suffer serious injury and their neili would be greatly damaged. Only now did these three head chiefs know that this seemingly modest, humble, and elegant Song daxia actually possessed unfathomable divine skill.

Zhang Cuishan, behind the screen, thought of Yin Susu killing the Longmen Armed Escort’s whole family and felt deeply ashamed. Seeing Song Yuanqiao’s sleeve display such profound skill, he was greatly amazed and admired, thinking, “Our Wudang Order’s neili, the further you practice, the faster you progress. When I was at Wangpan Mountain, my neili was far from my sworn brother’s. But by the time we parted at Ice Fire Island, it seemed to have narrowed considerably. Back then when my sworn brother wanted to kill Eldest Brother in Luoyang, naturally Eldest Brother couldn’t resist. But even if my sworn brother weren’t blind, his martial arts now wouldn’t necessarily be much better than Eldest Brother’s. In another ten years, perhaps Eldest Brother and Second Brother will surpass my sworn brother.”

He saw Qi Tianbiao cup his fists and say, “Thank you, Song daxia, for sparing my life. I take my leave!” Song Yuanqiao and Mo Shenggu saw them to the eaves. Qi Tianbiao turned and said, “Please don’t trouble yourselves to send me further.” Song Yuanqiao said, “It’s rare for you three head chiefs to visit our mountain. Another day I’ll visit your esteemed agencies in Dadu, Taiyuan, and Jinling to return the courtesy.” Qi Tianbiao said, “How dare I accept that?” After experiencing Song Yuanqiao’s martial arts, he felt this Song daxia, though possessing peerless skill, didn’t have the slightest arrogance in his words and actions. He admired him greatly. The aggressive spirit of coming up the mountain to demand explanation and revenge had already diminished by half.

The two were exchanging polite words when Qi Tianbiao suddenly saw a short, vigorous, spirited middle-aged man hurry in from outside. Song Yuanqiao said, “Fourth Brother, come meet these three friends.” He introduced them to Qi Tianbiao and the others.

Zhang Songxi smiled. “You three came at the perfect time. I have some items to give you.” He handed over three small packages, one to each. Qi Tianbiao asked, “What is it?” Zhang Songxi said, “It’s not convenient to open here. Please look after you go down the mountain.” The three fellow disciples saw them all the way to the temple gate before parting with the three head chiefs.

Mo Shenggu waited until the three went far away, then hurriedly asked, “Fourth Brother, where’s Fifth Brother? Has he returned to the mountain?” Zhang Songxi smiled. “You go in and see Fifth Brother first. Eldest Brother and I will wait in the hall for these three escort chiefs to return.” Mo Shenggu shouted, “Fifth Brother is inside? These three escort chiefs are coming back. Why?” Worried about Zhang Cuishan, he didn’t wait for Zhang Songxi to explain and rushed in.

Mo Shenggu had just entered the inner hall when indeed Qi Tianbiao and the other three hurriedly returned, kowtowing to Song Yuanqiao and Zhang Songxi. The two hastily returned the courtesy. Yun He said, “The great kindness of the Wudang heroes, only now does Yun Mou know. Just now Yun Mou’s words offended Zhang Zhenren. I’m truly worse than a pig or dog.” With that, he raised his hand and slapped his own face hard, left and right, over a dozen times, hitting so hard his cheeks were red and swollen, yet he still didn’t stop. Song Yuanqiao, astonished and at a loss, hurriedly stopped him.

Zhang Songxi said, “Head Chief Yun is a man of spirit. The great wish to drive out the Tartars and restore our rivers and mountains. All Chinese heroes share this heart. This small favour is what we should do. Why must Head Chief Yun be like this?”

Yun He said, “My old mother and young son, my whole family’s lives, are all thanks to the heroes’ grace. Yun Mou was muddled and has been sleeping in a dream for five years. Just now my words were impudent. If you two would hit me hard, Yun Mou’s heart would be somewhat at ease.”

Zhang Songxi smiled. “What’s past is past. Don’t mention it. Head Chief Yun’s words just now, even if our master heard them personally, out of respect for Head Chief Yun’s conduct, he definitely wouldn’t take it to heart.” But Yun He was always anxious and blamed himself deeply.

Song Yuanqiao didn’t understand the reason and could only respond with modest words. Seeing Qi Tianbiao and Gong Jiujia also thanking him repeatedly, but judging from Zhang Songxi’s expression and tone, he wasn’t particularly close to Qi and Gong, but was very respectful and warm to Yun He. The three head chiefs insisted on kowtowing outside Zhang Sanfeng’s cultivation room and also wanted to see Mo Shenggu to apologise. Zhang Songxi declined them all before they left.

After the three left, Zhang Songxi sighed. “Though these three are grateful to us, they didn’t mention the Longmen Armed Escort’s lives even once. It seems gratitude is gratitude, but that disaster still can’t be eliminated.”

Song Yuanqiao was about to ask the reason when he saw Zhang Cuishan quickly run out from the inner hall, kneel, and say, “Eldest Brother, I’ve missed you so much.” Song Yuanqiao was a man of humility and courtesy. Even to his shidi, even in the excitement of reuniting after a long separation, he still maintained propriety and respectfully kowtow in return, saying, “Fifth Brother, you’ve finally returned.”

Zhang Cuishan briefly recounted what had happened since their separation. Mo Shenggu was impatient and asked, “Fifth Brother, those three escort chiefs were rude, insisting on wrongly accusing you of killing the Lin’an Longmen Armed Escort’s whole family. Your self-cultivation is too good. Why didn’t you go out and teach them a lesson?” Zhang Cuishan sighed sadly. “The twists and turns of this matter cannot be fully explained in words. After I tell you in detail, I hope all the brothers can think of a good plan together.”

Yin Liting said, “Fifth Brother, don’t worry. The Longmen Armed Escort failed to properly escort Third Brother, causing him to be crippled for life. Even if Fifth Brother really killed their whole family, it’s out of deep brotherly affection and righteous indignation…”

Yu Lianzhou shouted, “Sixth Brother, what nonsense are you talking? If Master heard that, you’d be locked in the dark room for a month! Killing a whole family, young and old, such extermination, how can we do such things?”

Song Yuanqiao and the others all looked at Zhang Cuishan. They saw his expression was very tragic. After a long while, he said, “I didn’t kill a single person from the Longmen Armed Escort or the Shaolin Order. I didn’t dare forget Master’s teaching and didn’t dare to tarnish all the brothers’ good reputation.”

Song Yuanqiao and the others were overjoyed and all breathed a sigh of relief. Though they absolutely didn’t believe Zhang Cuishan would do such a cruel thing, the Shaolin monks insisted it was him and even said they saw it with their own eyes. When the three head chiefs came to demand an explanation, he didn’t step forward to refute it. Everyone couldn’t help but have some doubts. Now hearing him say this, all felt a great weight lifted from their hearts, thinking, “There are many difficulties in this matter, but as long as he didn’t kill them, it can eventually be explained.”

Mo Shenggu then asked why the three escort chiefs had returned. Zhang Songxi smiled. “Among these three escort chiefs, actually the one who spoke rudely, Yun He, has the best character. He’s highly respected in the Jin-Shaan area and secretly contacted heroes from Shanxi and Shaanxi, swearing an oath to rise up against the Mongol Tartars.” Song Yuanqiao and the others all cried out in approval.

Mo Shenggu said, “I never expected him to have such breadth of mind. Truly admirable. Fourth Brother, don’t continue yet. Wait until I return before telling…” With that, he rushed out.

Zhang Songxi indeed stopped and asked Zhang Cuishan about the scenery of Ice Fire Island. When Zhang Cuishan spoke of the place having half a year of daylight and half a year of darkness, all four were shocked. Zhang Cuishan said, “That place you can barely distinguish east, west, south, north. Where the sun rises can’t even be considered east.” Then he spoke of the sea’s icebergs and all sorts of strange things and unusual objects.

As they spoke, Mo Shenggu had already run back, saying, “I hurried to apologise to Head Chief Yun and said I admire him as a true iron-willed man.” Everyone knew this youngest shidi’s straightforward nature and had already guessed what he went out to do. Mo Shenggu ran back and forth several li without feeling tired. Now that he knew Yun He was a true man, if he didn’t face him and completely resolve the previous conflict, making peace, he wouldn’t be able to sleep for several nights.

Yin Liting said, “Seventh Brother, Fourth Brother’s story is waiting for you not to tell, but Fifth Brother’s strange tales of Ice Fire Island are even more interesting.” Mo Shenggu jumped up. “Ah, really?” Zhang Songxi said, “That Yun He had everything ready…” Mo Shenggu waved his hand. “Fourth Brother, sorry, please wait a moment…” Zhang Cuishan smiled. “Seventh Brother always refuses to suffer a loss.” So he recounted some strange events from Ice Fire Island again. Mo Shenggu said, “Strange, strange! Fourth Brother, please continue now.”

Zhang Songxi said, “That Yun He had everything ready, just waiting for the day to arrive, he would simultaneously rise up in Taiyuan, Datong, and Fenyang. Who knew that among the sworn members there was a great traitor. Three days before the uprising, he stole the list of sworn members and Yun He’s written plan and went to inform the Mongol Tartars.”

Mo Shenggu slapped his leg and shouted, “Oh no, that’s terrible!”

Zhang Songxi said, “By coincidence, at that time I was in the Jin-Ning Circuit and had a score to settle with the Prefect of Taiyuan. At midnight I saw the prefect secretly discussing with that traitor. I heard how they would secretly report to the court while simultaneously mobilising troops to capture all the uprising members in one net. So I jumped into the house, killed the prefect and the traitor, and took the list and plan. When Yun He and the others discovered the list and plan were stolen, they naturally knew something was wrong. Not only would the uprising fail, but everyone on the list would face extermination. So they sent word overnight, telling everyone to flee and take refuge. But by then the city gates were closed and the message couldn’t get out. The next morning, because the prefect was killed, Taiyuan City closed the gates and searched for the assassin. Yun He and the others were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, thinking this time they would surely face extermination, and who knew how many righteous men in the Qin-Jin area would suffer. Unexpectedly, after waiting anxiously for several days, nothing happened. Later, when the city couldn’t find the assassin, the search gradually relaxed, and the matter was left unresolved. Seeing the traitor dead in the prefect’s office, they also guessed someone had helped in secret, but no matter what, they couldn’t guess it was me.”

Yin Liting said, “What you just gave him was the list and plan?” Zhang Songxi said, “Exactly.” Mo Shenggu said, “And what about Gong Jiujia? How did Fourth Brother help him with such a big favour?”

Zhang Songxi said, “This Gong Jiujia’s martial arts are good, but his character and conduct absolutely cannot be compared to Head Chief Yun. Six years ago, he was escorting goods to Yunnan. In Kunming, he was entrusted by a big jewelry merchant to secretly carry a batch of jewelry worth six hundred thousand liang of silver to Dadu. But when he reached Jiangxi, something happened. At Poyang Lake, Gong Jiujia was surrounded and attacked by three of the four Poyang Brothers, and the goods were robbed. Gong Jiujia, even if he sold everything he owned, couldn’t compensate for this batch of jewelry. Besides, his Yanyun Armed Escort was the leader of northern armed escorts. Once his signboard was smashed, he couldn’t face people anymore. In the inn, he thought left and right and actually wanted to end his life.

“The Poyang Three Brothers weren’t greenwood heroes, so why did they rob this batch of jewelry? It turned out the eldest of the Poyang Four Brothers had committed a crime and was imprisoned in Nanchang Prefecture’s death row, about to be executed. The Three Brothers had robbed the prison twice but couldn’t save their eldest brother. The government’s defenses only became stricter. The Poyang Three Brothers knew the officials were greedy, so they wanted to use this batch of jewelry to bribe them and reduce their eldest brother’s crime. I saw the four of them were very righteous, so I found a way to save the eldest brother and asked them to return the jewelry to Gong Jiujia. Though this Head Chief Gong’s face was detestable and his words boring, he had never done any evil deeds in his life. In Dadu he didn’t associate with Mongol officials or bully the good. So saving his life was good. I told the Poyang Four Brothers not to mention my name, only to leave behind the brocade bag used to wrap the jewelry. Just now I returned that bag to him, and he naturally understood.”

Yu Lianzhou nodded. “Fourth Brother did well. Gong Jiujia is passable, but the Poyang Four Brothers are quite good people.”

Mo Shenggu said, “Fourth Brother, what did you give Qi Tianbiao?” Zhang Songxi said, “Nine Soul-destroying Centipede Darts.” The five heard this and all cried out in alarm. These Soul-destroying Centipede Darts were quite famous in the jianghu, the hidden weapon of Liangzhou’s great hero Wu Yimang.

Zhang Songxi said, “This matter I was too bold. Thinking back now, that day was truly fortunate. That Qi Tianbiao was escorting goods and passed through Tong Pass, where he accidentally offended Wu Yimang’s disciple. The two fought, and Qi Tianbiao struck him heavily with a palm. After striking that palm, Qi Tianbiao knew he had caused a great disaster. He hurriedly completed the escort business and wanted to rush back to Jinling that night to gather close friends to deal with Wu Yimang together. But he had just reached Luoyang when he was caught up by Wu Yimang, who made an appointment with him the next day outside Luoyang’s west gate for a martial contest.” Yin Liting said, “This Wu Yimang’s martial arts are very good. How can Qi Tianbiao be his match?”

Zhang Songxi said, “Right. Qi Tianbiao knew that with his ability, he couldn’t block Wu Yimang’s single dart. With no other choice, he invited the Qiao brothers of Luoyang to help. The Qiao brothers readily agreed, saying, ‘With our brothers’ ability, Brother Qi, you know clearly we can’t deal with Wu Yimang. You want us to appear, originally just wanting us to shout and cheer. Fine, tomorrow at noon, outside Luoyang’s west gate, we’ll definitely be there.’”

Mo Shenggu said, “The Qiao brothers are hidden weapon experts. With their help, Qi Tianbiao three against one might be able to fight Wu Yimang to a draw. I just don’t know if Wu Yimang has helpers.”

Zhang Songxi said, “Wu Yimang didn’t have helpers, but the Qiao brothers acted strangely. The next morning, Qi Tianbiao went to the Qiao family to discuss strategy. Who knew the Qiao family’s doorman said, ‘The Eldest Master and Second Master suddenly had urgent business and went to Zhengzhou. Please don’t wait for them, Sir Qi.’ Qi Tianbiao was so angry he almost burst. The Qiao brothers had gotten into trouble in Jiangnan a few years ago, and Qi Tianbiao had helped them greatly. Unexpectedly, when he urgently needed help, the two talked well but actually slipped away. Qi Tianbiao knew Wu Yimang was ruthless and this appointment couldn’t be avoided. So in the inn he wrote a will, arranged his affairs, and gave it to the escort runner. Then he went to Luoyang’s west gate to keep the appointment.

“I watched all this from beginning to end. I disguised myself as a beggar, changed my appearance, and lay under a big tree outside the west gate. Soon Wu Yimang and Qi Tianbiao arrived one after the other. The two fought, and after just a few moves, Wu Yimang used a killing move and released a Soul-destroying Centipede Dart. Qi Tianbiao saw he couldn’t resist and could only close his eyes and wait for death. I rushed forward and caught the dart with my hand. Wu Yimang was shocked and angry, shouting to ask if I was from the Beggars’ Guild. I smiled and didn’t answer. Wu Yimang released eight Soul-destroying Centipede Darts in succession, all caught by me one by one. His famous hidden weapon was truly extraordinary. If I had used our sect’s martial arts to catch them, it wouldn’t have been difficult. But I was afraid he would see through the deception, so I deliberately pretended to be lame in the left foot and with a broken right hand, using only one left hand, and used Shaolin’s dart-catching technique, palm down to catch and grab. I caught all nine darts, but my palm was almost scratched by his seventh poisonous dart. It was truly very dangerous. He indeed shouted to ask which high monk of Shaolin I was a disciple of. I still pretended to be deaf and dumb, making unintelligible sounds with him. Wu Yimang knew he wasn’t a match and left in shame and anger. After returning to Liangzhou, he stayed behind closed doors and hasn’t appeared in the jianghu for several years.”

Mo Shenggu shook his head. “Fourth Brother, though Wu Yimang isn’t a good person, Qi Tianbiao isn’t exactly a good person either. If that day you had been injured by the centipede dart in your palm, what would you have done? Taking such a risk really wasn’t worth it.”

Zhang Songxi laughed. “I was just being meddlesome at the time. I didn’t expect his centipede darts to be truly this powerful.”

Mo Shenggu’s nature was straightforward. He didn’t understand the true meaning of Zhang Songxi’s actions, but how could Zhang Cuishan not understand? Fourth Brother had done his utmost to resolve the Longmen Armed Escort’s extermination grudge. He knew the Huju Armed Escort was the leader of all armed escorts south of the Yangtze. In the Ji-Lu area, the leader was the Yanyun Armed Escort. In the northwest provinces, the Jinyang Armed Escort was most respected. When the Longmen Armed Escort matter erupted in the future, these three agencies would definitely step forward. So he had laid out three favours in advance. These three matters seemed like coincidences, but Zhang Songxi had investigated openly and secretly, waiting for opportunities, not knowing how many days and how much effort it had taken?

Zhang Cuishan choked up. “Fourth Brother, we brothers are one. I won’t say the word ‘thanks.’ It’s all because your sister-in-law acted rashly that day and caused this great disaster.” He then told the whole story of how Yin Susu had disguised herself as him and gone at night to kill the Longmen Armed Escort’s whole family. Finally he said, “Fourth Brother, how should this matter be resolved? Give me your advice.”

Zhang Songxi pondered for a moment. “This matter should naturally be decided by Master. But I think the dead can’t come back to life. Sister-in-law has reformed and is no longer the sister-in-law who killed without blinking an eye. Knowing one’s faults and being able to reform, there is no greater good. Eldest Brother, what do you think?”

Song Yuanqiao, facing the matter of dozens of lives, hesitated to decide for a moment. Yu Lianzhou nodded, however, and said, “Right!”

Yin Liting was most afraid of Second Brother. Knowing Eldest Brother was a people-pleaser and easy to talk to, but Second Brother hated evil and was iron-faced and selfless, he was afraid Second Brother would make things difficult for Fifth Sister-in-law and had been worried the whole time. He didn’t know Yu Lianzhou had already known about this matter and had already forgiven Yin Susu. Seeing Second Brother nod, he was overjoyed and hurriedly said, “Right! If others ask, Fifth Brother just needs to say those people weren’t killed by you. You’re not lying. It really wasn’t you who killed them.” Song Yuanqiao glanced at him. “Simply denying it, how can Fifth Brother’s heart be at ease? We bear the name of heroes. How can our hearts be at ease?” Yin Liting said anxiously, “Then what should we do?”

Song Yuanqiao said, “In my opinion, after Master’s birthday, we first go find Fifth Brother’s child. Then at the Yellow Crane Tower heroes’ gathering, after settling the matter of Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King, the six of us fellow disciples, plus Fifth Sister-in-law, seven people go south together. Within three years, each of us must do ten great good deeds.” Zhang Songxi clapped and shouted, “Right, right! The Longmen Armed Escort wrongly died over seventy people. If we each do ten good deeds and can save the lives of one or two hundred innocent people who suffer disaster, then we can barely make up for it.” Yu Lianzhou also said, “Eldest Brother’s plan is most appropriate. Master will surely approve. Otherwise, even if we make Fifth Sister-in-law pay with her life for those seventy-plus dead, it’s just one more death. What help is that?”

Zhang Cuishan had been troubled by this matter all along. Hearing Eldest Brother’s arrangement, he was overjoyed. “I’ll go tell her.” He told Yin Susu Song Yuanqiao’s words and also said that once all the brothers had finished celebrating Master’s birthday, they would go down the mountain together to find Wuji.

Yin Susu didn’t actually have a serious illness. It was only because she missed Wuji so much she became ill. Now hearing her husband’s words, she thought with the abilities of the Six Xia of Wudang, they could surely find Wuji, and her heart immediately felt relieved.

Zhang Cuishan then went to see Yu Daiyan. When the fellow disciples met, there was naturally both sadness and joy.

Footnotes

1. 师兄 – shīxiōng. Male senior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Xiōng means older brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 里 – lǐ. Traditional Chinese unit of distance, approximately 500 metres or a third of a mile. ↩

3. 丈 – zhàng. Traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.33 metres or 10.9 feet. ↩

4. 师弟 – shīdì. Male junior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Dì means younger brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 师侄 – shīzhí. Lineage nephew or niece. Disciple of one’s shixiong, shijie, shidi, or shimei. Shī means teacher. Zhí means nephew or niece. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 师伯 – shībó. Senior lineage uncle. Shixiong or shijie of one’s shifu. Shī means teacher. Bó means father’s elder brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩