Chapter Ninety-Three: Tomorrow’s Contest

The eight weapons were forged by Liu Ji. Yuan Tingyu stroked his goatee beneath his chin and said with solemn composure.

Liu Ji? Liu Bowen of the Ming Dynasty? Though Zhou Yi had already surmised that it was indeed Liu Bowen, he still could not help but exclaim in astonishment. He had always believed these eight keys to be relics of the Qing Dynasty; never had he imagined they had come from the hands of Liu Ji.

Yuan Tingyu gave a slight nod and went on. Where did you obtain this Fire of Departure?

Zhou Yi did not conceal the truth. He told Yuan Tingyu how he had obtained the Fire of Departure in the land of Zhuolu, and Yuan Tingyu kept nodding in admiration and wonder as he listened.

The two spoke in low voices, while Mu Chen and Gong Tian were locked in fierce combat upon the martial stage. Their contest was not the swiftest, nor the most perilous, but every time their blades struck, sparks burst forth with the ringing clash of steel, making it the most visually captivating match of the day.

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, he continued. This contest concerns the ownership of that Sun and Moon Universe Blade?

Yuan Tingyu nodded. Minakawa Inakage came to my Mount Mao and forced this poor Daoist to surrender the Sun and Moon Universe Blade. Though I am not afraid of him, Mount Mao has many disciples. They possess no spiritual cultivation; how are they to protect themselves?

Zhou Yi understood Yuan Tingyu’s painstaking intentions. So the martial contest had been proposed by Yuan Tingyu himself.

At that moment Zhou Yi’s heart was in turmoil, for he had to obtain the Sun and Moon Universe Blade; it was Queshui, one of the eight keys.

If Mount Mao lost this contest, then Queshui would fall into Minakawa Inakage’s hands. By then, should Zhou Yi step in and seize it for himself, it could be said that after making a full circle, Queshui would have benefited him the most.

But if Mount Mao lost, the consequences would extend far beyond the mountain itself, reaching even the Daoist world and China as a whole. Minakawa Inakage would certainly not miss such an opportunity to make grand propaganda for his own country.

If Zhou Yi helped Mount Mao win, then Queshui would naturally remain with Mount Mao. How, then, could he obtain it?

He was caught between two impossibilities: on one side, loyalty to a friend; on the other, filial duty. As the ancients said, loyalty and righteousness are hard to fulfill together; for Zhou Yi now, it was filial piety and righteousness that could not both be preserved. Thinking of this, he could not help feeling vexed and restless.

Are you unwell, Taoist Zhou? Yuan Tingyu sensed that Zhou Yi’s aura had changed and asked.

Zhou Yi did not answer. Instead, he took two deep breaths to steady his mood. Do you know why I need this Fire of Departure, Taoist Yuan?

Yuan Tingyu nodded to indicate that he did.

Then do you also know that I wish to gather all eight weapons?

Yuan Tingyu nodded again, then said, If one were to assemble the eight weapons, one could alter destiny above and foresee one’s former lives and future below. Who would not wish to find them all?

Zhou Yi furrowed his brows deeply after hearing this. So these eight weapons were not merely the keys to opening Nurhaci’s tomb; they had other uses as well.

Alter destiny?

It is said that in those days, Nurhaci himself gathered these eight weapons and distributed them among the commanders of the Eight Banners. Only then was he able to ride his iron cavalry through the passes, overthrow the Ming Dynasty, and seize the realm, Yuan Tingyu said.

So there was such hidden history. Only then did Zhou Yi understand why everyone was searching for these eight weapons. Now the whereabouts of four had already been discovered, and the remaining four must surely have been taken by others before him. To gather them all would be even more difficult.

Seeing Zhou Yi lower his head in thought, Yuan Tingyu turned his gaze back to the martial arena.

The two had already fought for an entire hour. The sun had begun to sink in the west, and prolonged combat had drained both spiritual energy and strength. Their movements had gradually slowed.

Though their speed had lessened, the brilliance of the contest had not diminished in the least.

At that moment Mu Chen’s eyes were bloodshot. Fixing a fierce stare on Gong Tian, he let out a sharp cry and wielded his sword as though it were a saber, slashing directly downward at him.

Gong Tian raised his blade to meet the strike, but the force of the blow was tremendous. With the clash of steel, Gong Tian’s body suddenly sank by an inch, both feet driving straight into the wooden planks of the platform.

Gong Tian slipped aside, drawing his blade in a sweeping horizontal arc toward Mu Chen’s chest. Mu Chen could only retreat in haste.

As Mu Chen withdrew, Gong Tian tensed his waist and, as his feet tore free from the planks, sent up a shower of shattered wood. Mu Chen dared not receive it head-on and could only leap aside to evade.

Seizing a breath of respite, Gong Tian then vanished from sight.

It was precisely this use of ninja arts that Mu Chen had been waiting for. He reached into his robe and scattered a handful of talismans across the martial stage. As they fell, thick fog surged over the platform, and within a single zhang it was impossible to see one another clearly.

The formation had been set by Mu Chen, and naturally it contained formation talismans. The mist was useless against him, but Gong Tian was the one at a disadvantage, for his ninja arts offered no advantage at all in such dense fog.

Holding his breath and concentrating, Gong Tian tried to sense Mu Chen’s aura, but Mu Chen seemed to have vanished entirely, more thoroughly than any illusionary technique could conceal.

We admit defeat in this match. Remove the formation, Minakawa Inakage said, rising at once to concede. He himself could not see through the fog within the formation, and Gong Tian would certainly fare no better in it. If this dragged on, something else might happen to Gong Tian; better to admit defeat early.

Yuan Tingyu smiled and nodded. Mu Chen, dismiss the formation. This one is won.

No sooner had Yuan Tingyu spoken than the fog dispersed. On the martial stage stood only Gong Tian. He looked down at the wound in his abdomen, blood surging out like a spring, his face full of stunned disbelief.

With a thud, he collapsed onto the platform.

Isn’t what Headmaster Yuan did a bit too much? Minakawa Inakage said through gritted teeth.

Yuan Tingyu kept his face stern and bellowed, You wretch, come out here!

At Yuan Tingyu’s shout, Mu Chen crawled out from within the martial stage.

Within the stage itself, yes. This must be explained by the construction of the platform. The base below was built entirely of round timbers, with wooden planks laid on top. When Mount Mao’s disciples constructed it, they had a thought to leave a hidden door at one corner of the stage. Beneath it, there was just enough space for one person to hide. Mu Chen had come out from that hidden door.

Wretch, before you went on stage I told you not to take a life. Why did you not heed your master’s words? Do you know your crime? Though Yuan Tingyu’s eyes flashed with a trace of amusement when he saw Mu Chen, his tone was exceptionally severe.

Seeing his master grow “angry,” Mu Chen hurriedly knelt. Master, please investigate carefully. In the formation, your disciple nearly fell prey to Gong Tian’s scheme. If not for my quick wit, the one lying on the stage now might have been me, he said with a face full of grievance.

Upon hearing this, Gong Tian pointed at Mu Chen in fury but could not manage to say a single word. His eyes rolled back and he fainted from rage.

How could Minakawa Inakage not see through the two men’s performance for the crowd? Yet no amount of anger could help. He could only snort coldly. It is already late today. We will fight again tomorrow.

Yuan Tingyu smiled faintly and rose to salute. My Mount Mao lies far away, and traveling up and down the mountain is inconvenient. We have prepared a modest banquet and guest quarters. Mr. Minakawa need not go back down the mountain.

It had been thought that after hearing this, Minakawa Inakage would erupt in fury again. Who would have expected him to grow calm instead? Today we have fought four matches, with two victories and two defeats. Tomorrow there are still five contests left. I hope Headmaster Yuan will still be able to smile as he does today.

With that, Minakawa Inakage led a group of eastern warriors down the mountain.

Since there would be no more fighting today, that was for the best. It would give Zhou Yi and Xuhua time to recover from their injuries. Only the remaining five matches would be somewhat difficult to arrange.

...

This is the final chapter draft. Once I send it, I’m off to write. I checked my eyesight today; I’ve developed fifty degrees of astigmatism, caused by staring at the computer for long periods. When you read, remember to take care of your eyes. Wearing glasses is really uncomfortable.