The Heavenly Sword & the Dragon Sabre Chapter 9 Part 1

Endless joy at the reunion of the seven heroes.

After a long while, six or seven people from the Kongtong and Emei Orders entered the cabin to greet Yu Lianzhou, Xihua Zi, and Wei Sinian. The leader of the Kongtong group was a lean, wizened old man in grey robes. The leader of the Emei group was a middle-aged nun. Seeing Li Tianyuan and others from the Tianying Order seated in the cabin, they were all startled. Xihua Zi shouted loudly, “Third Master Tang, Jingxu Shitai, the Wudang Order has joined forces with the Tianying Order. We’re going to suffer a great loss this time!”

The short, thin old man in grey robes was Tang Wenliang, one of the Five Elders of Kongtong. The middle-aged nun, Jingxu Shitai, was the third disciple of the fourth generation of the Emei Order. Both were renowned experts in the wulin. Hearing Xihua Zi’s words, they were both taken aback. Jingxu Shitai was meticulous by nature and knew of Xihua Zi’s hot temper, so she didn’t think much of it. But Tang Wenliang rolled his eyes and glared at Yu Lianzhou, saying, “Yu the Second Xia, is this true?”

Before Yu Lianzhou could answer, Xihua Zi rushed to speak: “The Wudang Order has already become relatives by marriage with the Tianying Order. Zhang Cuishan has become Yin Tianzheng’s son-in-law…” Tang Wenliang asked in surprise, “The missing Zhang the Fifth Xia has been found?”

Yu Lianzhou pointed at Zhang Cuishan and said, “This is my fifth shidi¹, Zhang Cuishan. This is Elder Tang Wenliang of the Kongtong School. You two should get to know each other better.” Xihua Zi added, “Zhang Cuishan and his wife know the whereabouts of Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King, but they’re hiding it and won’t say. Instead, they’ve made up a huge lie, saying Xie Xun is dead.”

Hearing the name “Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King,” Tang Wenliang was both alarmed and angry. He shouted, “Where is he?” Zhang Cuishan said, “This matter must first be reported to my master. Please forgive me for not being able to tell you at this moment.” Tang Wenliang’s eyes seemed to spit fire as he shouted, “Where is that villain Xie Xun? He killed my own nephew. I, Tang, cannot coexist with him under the same sky. Where is he? Are you going to tell me or not?” His last few words were fierce and sharp, without the slightest courtesy.

Yin Susu said coldly, “You seem to be just a few years older than some people in the Kongtong School. By what right do you question Zhang the Fifth Xia like this? Are you the supreme authority of the wulin? Are you the Wudang Order’s leader, Daoist Zhang?”

Tang Wenliang was furious. His fingers spread wide as he was about to pounce on Yin Susu. But seeing she was just a delicate young woman, and he was a renowned elder in the wulin, it really wasn’t appropriate to attack her. Suppressing his anger, he asked Zhang Cuishan, “Who is this lady?”

Zhang Cuishan said, “She is my wife.” Xihua Zi interjected, “And also the daughter of the Tianying Order’s leader Yin. Humph, what good thing could come from a demonic cult’s wicked woman?” Yin Tianzheng the White-Browed Eagle King’s martial arts were profound. Until now, no one in the wulin who had fought him could last more than ten moves. When Tang Wenliang heard that this beautiful young woman was Yin Tianzheng’s daughter, he couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. He just said casually, “Good, good! Very good indeed!”

Jingxu Shitai had been quietly silent since entering the cabin. Only now did she speak: “Please tell us the details of this matter, Yu the Second Xia.” Yu Lianzhou said, “This matter involves many people and has been going on for ten years. How can it be explained clearly in a moment? How about this: in three months, our sect will host a banquet at Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang. We’ll invite all the major sects and gangs involved. Right and wrong will be judged publicly. What do you all think?” Jingxu Shitai nodded and said, “That would be very good.”

Tang Wenliang said, “Right and wrong can be discussed in three months. But where that villain Xie Xun is hiding, Zhang the Fifth Xia must tell us first.” Zhang Cuishan shook his head and said, “It’s really not convenient to say at this moment.” Though Tang Wenliang was extremely dissatisfied, he thought that since the Wudang Order had joined forces with the Tianying Order, they really couldn’t afford to provoke them. Justice resides in people’s hearts. Let’s see how they explain things to the world’s heroes in three months. He stopped speaking, stood up, cupped his fists, and said, “We’ll meet again in three months. Farewell.”

Xihua Zi said, “Third Master Tang, can we few take your boat back?” Tang Wenliang said, “Of course, why not?” Xihua Zi said to Wei Sinian, “Fourth Sister, let’s go!” He had come on the same boat as Yu Lianzhou. By doing this, he was clearly treating the Wudang Order as an enemy. Yu Lianzhou remained calm and politely escorted them to the bow, saying, “We’ll return to the mountain to report to our master, then send invitations to the heroes’ banquet.”

Yin Susu suddenly said, “Daoist Xihua, I have something to ask you.” Xihua Zi turned back in surprise and said, “What is it?” Yin Susu said, “You keep calling me a demonic cult’s wicked woman, but I don’t know what’s demonic or wicked about me?” Xihua Zi was startled and said, “Demonic ways, fox-like seduction, that’s what it is. Why do I need to say more? Otherwise, why would the perfectly good Zhang the Fifth Xia of Wudang be bewitched by you? Heh, heh!” He sneered repeatedly. Yin Susu said, “Good, thank you for the guidance!”

Xihua Zi was quite surprised that his few words had left her speechless. Hearing her say nothing more, he stepped onto the gangplank and walked toward the Kongtong School’s boat.

Those two sea-going ships were both three-masted large vessels. Though they were moored together, the distance between the two decks was still about two zhang,² so the gangplank was quite long. Xihua Zi and Yin Susu had exchanged a few words and fallen behind. The others had already crossed. He was walking in the middle of the gangplank when suddenly he heard a slight sound of wind behind him, followed by a soft hissing sound. Though he was hot-tempered, his martial arts were quite good, and he had much experience in the jianghu. Hearing this sound, he knew someone was attacking him from behind. He suddenly turned around, his long jian already drawn in his hand. Just then, the gangplank suddenly gave way beneath his feet, breaking in two. He hurried to leap up, but between the two boats there was nothing to grab hold of. He saw only the deep blue sea beneath his feet. After leaping, his footing was empty, and with a splash, he fell into the sea.

He didn’t know how to swim. Immediately he gulped down several mouthfuls of saltwater, his hands flailing and scratching wildly. Suddenly he grabbed hold of a rope. Overjoyed, he gripped it tightly, feeling someone pulling the rope, lifting him out of the water. Looking up, Xihua Zi saw that the one holding the other end of the rope was actually Cheng, the altar leader of the Tianying Order, looking at him with a half-smile, half-serious expression.

It turned out that Yin Susu, angered by his rude words, had secretly instructed Altar Leaders Cheng and Feng while everyone was crossing the boat, setting up this scheme. Altar Leader Feng’s skill with thirty-six flying daggers was famous in the jianghu. His strikes were both fast and accurate. Each flying dagger was crafted by a master smith from fine steel, thin as willow leaves and extremely sharp. If an opponent tried to block his flying daggers with their weapon, their weapon would often be cut broken. Now he used his flying daggers to cut the gangplank. With a light slice, the gangplank was severed, and the flying daggers fell into the sea. Altar Leader Cheng had prepared a rope nearby. After Xihua Zi had gulped a few mouthfuls of water, only then did he pull him up.

Wei Sinian, Tang Wenliang, and the others saw Xihua Zi fall into the water. Though they guessed the other side had done something, Altar Leader Feng’s movements were extremely fast. Everyone was looking ahead and didn’t see how the gangplank had been cut. By the time they shouted and wanted to rescue him, Altar Leader Cheng had already pulled him up.

Xihua Zi suppressed his anger, waiting until he reached the boat’s bow before attacking. But who knew that Altar Leader Cheng only pulled him about a foot above the water surface, then stopped pulling and shouted, “Daoist, please don’t move. I don’t have enough strength. If you move, I won’t be able to hold you and you’ll fall!” Xihua Zi thought that if he pretended to be stupid and threw him back into the sea, that wouldn’t be any fun. So he could only grip the rope, not daring to climb up.

Altar Leader Cheng shouted, “Be careful!” His arm shook, swinging the long rope in a half circle. His physical strength was truly remarkable. With this shake, Xihua Zi’s body swung backward through the air for seven or eight zhang, then was sent flying toward the opposite boat.

Xihua Zi released the rope, his feet landing on the deck. His long jian had already fallen into the water when he fell in the sea. Now, furious as a madman, he heard the cheers and laughter from the Tianying Order’s boat blending together. He immediately grabbed Wei Sinian’s jian at her waist and was about to rush over and fight to the death. But by now the two boats were far apart, impossible to leap across. He could only jump up and down in rage, pointing and cursing, with no other recourse.

Yin Susu’s teasing of Xihua Zi was all seen clearly by Yu Lianzhou. He thought to himself, “This woman is truly unorthodox. She’s not a good match for Fifth Brother.” He said, “Altar Leaders Yin and Li, please report to Leader Yin that if he doesn’t disdain our humble invitation, we earnestly request his presence at the Yellow Crane Tower gathering in Wuchang in three months. Today we part here. Fifth Brother, will you come with me to see our master?” Zhang Cuishan said, “Yes!” Yin Susu, hearing Yu Lianzhou’s words intending to separate her husband and wife, looked up at the sky, then down at the deck.

Zhang Cuishan knew her meaning referred to the two sentences “In heaven above, on earth below, we shall never part.” He said, “Second Brother, I’ll take your sister-in-law and child to kowtow to our master first. Once we have his permission, we’ll go pay respects to my father-in-law. How does that sound?” Yu Lianzhou hesitated slightly, thinking that forcing them to separate husband and wife, father and son, was something he couldn’t bring himself to say. So he nodded and said, “That’s fine too.”

Yin Susu was very pleased. She said to Li Tianyuan, “Shishu³, please report to my father that his unfilial daughter has fortunately escaped with her life. In a few days she’ll return to the main headquarters, and together with her husband, bring her son to pay respects to him.”

Li Tianyuan said, “Good, I’ll await your arrival at the headquarters.” He stood up and took his leave of Yu Lianzhou and the others.

Yin Susu asked, “Is my father well?” Li Tianyuan said, “Very well, very well! Even more vigorous than before.” Yin Susu asked again, “Is my brother well?” Li Tianyuan said, “Very well! Your brother’s martial arts have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. This shishu is far behind him, truly ashamed.” Yin Susu smiled and said, “Shishu is teasing us juniors again.” Li Tianyuan said seriously, “This isn’t teasing. Even your father praises him for surpassing the master. Isn’t that impressive?” Yin Susu said, “Oh my, shishu, in front of outsiders, you’re like a rat falling on a scale, weighing yourself. Aren’t you afraid Yu the Second Xia will laugh?” Li Tianyuan laughed and said, “Zhang the Fifth Xia has become our brother-in-law. Is Yu the Second Xia still an outsider?” With that, he cupped his fists in a round of salutes, turned, and left the cabin.

Hearing these few words, Yu Lianzhou frowned slightly, cupped his fists in return, but said nothing.

Footnotes

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

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

3. 师叔 – shīshū. Junior lineage uncle. Shidi or shimei of one’s shifu. Shī means teacher. Shū means father’s younger brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩