Originally translated by kara. Review and partially re-translated by kaister.
Chapter 9
More Than Meets the Eye
Shopkeeper Xie also saw this person. He was evidently surprised and even a little bit scared.
Yan Shisan couldn’t help but asked, “Who is that person?”
Shopkeeper Xie asked back, “Do you know who is the current manor master of the Divine Sword Manor?”
Yan Shisan obviously knew, “It’s Xie Wangsun.”
Shopkeeper Xie said, “The person you are looking at right now is Manor Master Xie, Xie Wangsun.”
* * *
Xie Wangsun was not a famous hero of Wulin that blazed through Jianghu. He was famous around the world simply because he was the manor master of Divine Sword Manor.
Yan Shisan know all of this. However he still couldn’t imagine this famous Master Xie was actually this easy-going and unassuming person.
Although he did not seem too old, his life had already reached its nightfall. It was precisely like the peace and tranquility of a late autumn night. There were no longer any matter in the world that would touch his heart.
His hands were also arid yet warm. He currently grabbed onto Yan Shisan and smiled, “You don’t have to introduce yourself. I know who you are.”
Yan Shisan said, “But qianbei (senior) you…”
Xie Wangsun said, “Please don’t refer me as qianbei (senior). Right here you are my guest.”
Yan Shisan did not dispute, and was no longer polite.
Being held onto by this hand, his heart suddenly also had a very warm feeling.
However, his other hand was still tightly holding onto his sword.
Xie Wangsun said, “My house is not far ahead. We can slowly walk there.”
He smiled and continued, “Under such a good weather, being able to take a leisure walk and chat with a person like you is definitely a delightful thing.”
* * *
Although the setting sun already disappeared, the maple leaves on the mountain side was still gorgeous.
The night wind was filled with clean smell of the dry tree leaves, and a fragrance from the faraway mountain.
Yan Shisan’s heart suddenly had this peace and comfort he had not felt in many years. He suddenly thought of a poem:
Up faraway a cold mountain a stone path slants,
Deep within the white clouds households reside,
Carriage stops to admire the maple forest night,
Frosted leaves are redder than February flowers.43
At this time and this moment with this scenery, wasn’t this precisely the scene described by the poem? The person walking next to him, wasn’t he the person within the poem, the person within the painting?
Xie Wangsun was walking very slowly. To him, although life was short, he was not impatient or worried.
As he was looking into the distant, he could see the Divine Sword Manor’s grand and ancient building.
Xie Wangsun said, “My ancestors built this two hundreds years ago. Till today, it hasn’t changed a bit.”
There were emotions stirring in his voice, “But the people here already changed. They had changed greatly.”
Yan Shisan was quietly listening. He could hear the emotions in his voice. It was just a slight emotion stirring, not melancholy.
Because he already see through everything. People always change, why be melancholic about it?
Xie Wangsun said, “The person that built this manor was the first generation ancestor of this place. You should know about him.”
Yan Shisan, of course, knew.
Two hundreds years ago, all the famous heroes of the world gathered in Mount Hua discussing martial art and comparing sword skills. That was such a fascinating history.
Capable of garnering the respect of all the heroes at the time, this person must a great figure.
Xie Wangsun said, “Since the laorenjia (old sir) passed away, this place had went through many generations. Although no one could be compared to talaorenjia (him, the old sir), each generation had their grand history and had accomplished great feats.”
He laughed and continued, “Only me. I am only a very ordinary man, don’t deserved to be part of the Xie clan.”
His laugh was still very serene, very comfortable, “It was because I knew I am ordinary with no capability, I am, on the other hand, able to enjoy an ordinary and quiet life.”
Yan Shisan could only listen. The words this old man was saying, there was no way he could partake in.
Xie Wangsun said, “I have two daughters and three sons. The eldest daughter married a very ambitious young man. Unfortunately he was a bit arrogant and prideful, so they died very early on.”
Yan Shisan heard of this matter before. The big miss of the Xie family married the swiftest and most courageous young swordsman at the time. They indeed died very early. They died on the night of their wedding, they were ambushed in their wedding chamber.
Xie Wangsun said, “My second daughter also died very young. She died of depression. It was because she fell in love with one of my young scholar study. She didn’t dare to say it out. We did not know so we’d arranged a marriage for her to another family. Before the wedding day, she silently passed away.”
He softly sighed, “In reality, if she was willing to tell us what was in her heart, we wouldn’t be against it. My young study was also a very good child!”
This was the first time he sighed. It was only a sigh of having no alternative.
And there was not much sorrow.
— Why must men grieve about deeds in the past? Xie Wangsun said, “My eldest son was an idiot and died prematurely during childhood. My second son wanted to avenge his older sister and brother-in-law, died in a battle at Mount Yin45.”
The Ghost Pack of Mount Yin who ambushed the big miss of the Xie family all died after that one battle.
Xie Wangsun said, “These are the misfortunes of my family. I never blame anyone.”
His voice was very serene, “Everyone has their own destiny. Whether it is fortune or misfortune, you can’t blame other people. Therefore after all these years, I’ve slowly come to accept these facts!”
Although he had experienced so much tragedies and sorrows he could still maintain a tranquil heart. This point alone made this man an impressive figure. Yan Shisan admired it; he admired him greatly.
Xie Wangsun said, “Right now I’d came to acceptance. What created these misfortunes was perhaps because the culmination of killings of the Xie family was too great…”
Being able to come to this point was greatly admirable. However, why did he tell another person all of this? These are all private affair of their family, there was no need for other people to know.
— He told me all of this, is it because he already considered that I’m a dead person?
— Only a dead person would never reveal any secret.
Yan Shisan already thought of this point but he was not concerned by it because he’d already accepted how other viewed him. He no longer let it bother him any more.
Xie Wangsun continued, “You obviously know I still have a son named Xie Xiaofeng.”
Yan Shisan said, “I know.”
Xie Wangsun said, “He was indeed a very smart child. The spirit of the Xie clan seemed to be entirely concentrated within him.”
Yan Shisan, “I know when he was young, he had defeated the famed swordsman at the time, Hua Shaokun46.”
Xie Wangsun said, “Hua Shaokun’s swordplay was not as impressive as legend had it. Beside he was too arrogant, he did not take an around ten year old child seriously.”
He slowly continued, “A person practicing sword should be wholly focused on proper thoughts. You absolutely cannot be arrogant; arrogance leads to negligence. Any type of neglect can be fatal.”
This was truly a gem of wisdom, of course Yan Shisan was listening.
Xie Wangsun laughed and said, “However that child of mine did not have this bad habit. Although he became famous when he was young, he never take anyone lightly.”
Yan Shisan couldn’t help take a deep sigh, and said, “Just because of this one point, it is no wonder he is invincible in the world!”
Xie Wangsun also couldn’t take a sigh and said, “However, this is also his misfortune.”
Yan Shisan asked, “Why?”
Xie Wangsun replied, “It is because he never underestimate anyone, he always use his full strength.”
He did not say any further, Yan Shisan understood his point.
— If a person insisted on using full strength against opponent, the sword would definitely injure the person.
He had already known there were no survivor under the Third Young Master’s sword.
Xie Wangsun was sighing and said, “His biggest mistake in life was that his killings were too numerous.”
Yan Shisan said, “This is not consider his mistake!”
Xie Wangsun asked, “No?”
Yan Shisan replied, “Perhaps he didn’t want to kill. He kills because he doesn’t have a choice.”
— If you don’t kill me, I’ll kill you.
Yan Shisan also sighed and said, “A man in Jianghu, sometimes does things that are beyond his control. Killing is also the same!”
Xie Wangsun looked at him. After looking for a while, he slowly said, “Can’t believe that you understand him very well.”
Yan Shisan said, “Because I also kill!”
Xie Wangsun asked, “Do you also really want to kill him?”
Yan Shisan replied, “Yes!”
Xie Wangsun said, “You are very honest.”
Yan Shisan said, “A person that kills people must be honest. A person that’s not honest usually dies under another’s sword.”
— A person who learn swordsmanship must be sincere and just. This principle is basically the same.
Xie Wangsun stared at him. His eyes suddenly revealed a strange expression. He suddenly said, “Good, you follow me!”
Yan Shisan said, “Thank you!”
* * *
Thank you is a very ordinary phrase. At this time this moment, him actually saying these words had became very strange.
What was he thanking? Was it for the understanding from this old man or was it because this old was willing to bring him to death?
He originally came here to die.
* * *
Night.
Early in the night, Divine Sword Manor already had lamps lit up one after another.
They walked into a room next to the main hall. The lamplights in the main hall were splendid. The light in this room, on the other hand, was muddle yellow and dim.
Everything in the room were covered with black clothes, magnifying its cold and gloomy atmosphere.
Why didn’t Xie Wangsu receive his guest in the main hall? Why did he bring him here? Yan Shisan did not ask and did not need to ask.
Xie Wangsun removed a black cloth to reveal a plaque with the golden words: “The World’s Number One Sword”.
Xie Wangsun said, “Since ancient times, this is an honor no one in Jianghu has obtained. This is something the descendant of the Xie family greatly treasure, and greatly ashamed of.”
Yan Shisan asked, “Ashamed?”
Xie Wangsun replied, “Because since the laorenjia44 (the old sir) passed away, not a single descendant of the Xie family had been deserving of this title.”
Yan Shisan said, “But right now it has been recognized that a person in Jianghu is worthy of these five words!”
There was just one person.
The third young master of the Xie family.
Xie Wangsun said, “That’s why talaorenjia (his, the old sir) former sword that he used in Mount Hua, was passed down to him right now.”
He also emphasized, “That sword had not been used in a while, only now was passed to him.”
Yan Shisan understood.
Other than “him”, who else was worthy of that sword?
Xie Wangsun asked, “Do you want to see this sword?”
Yan Shisan replied, “Yes, very much so.”
* * *
Another black cloth was lifted up, revealing a wooden stand.
The wooden stand had a sword. The sheath was black. Even though it was very old it was still preserved intact.
The apricot yellow sword tassel attached to the handle had faded and already lost its form. The classic form blade edge was still shimmering.
Xie Wangsun was quietly standing in front of this sword, like he was facing his most revere God respectfully.
Yan Shisan felt the same way. He felt even more pious than Xie Wangsun because he knew only this sword in the world could kill him!
Xie Wangsun suddenly said, “This was not made by a famous master blacksmith, nor is it an ancient sword.”
Yan Shisan said, “This is a famed sword unparalleled in the world.”
Xie Wangsun acknowledged, “Indeed it is.”
Yan Shisan said, “But what I truly wanted to see is not this sword.”
Xie Wangsun said, “I know!”
Yan Shisan said, “What I wanted to see is the owner of this sword, the current owner.”
Xie Wangsun said, “Right now you are already facing him.”
* * *
Yan Shisan was facing the wooden stand for the sword. Behind the wooden stand was something that was also covered by a black cloth. It was a long rectangular object.
Yan Shisan’s heart suddenly felt an indescribable jolt of coldness. It chilled from the head all the way to the bottom of the feet. He suddenly felt something kind of ominous. He wanted to ask but he daren’t to ask. He so much as to not even dare to believe, and not willing to believe. He only hoped this type of feelings was a mistake.
Unfortunately, he was not wrong. The black cloth was lifted up revealing a coffin. On top of the brand new coffin, there seemed to be eight to nine words.
Yan Shisan only saw the first three words: “Xie Xiaofeng…”
* * *
Although the light in the main hall was just as splendid as before, but no matter how splendid the lamp lights were it would not light up Yan Shisan’s heart. This was because the brilliance in his heart already disappeared.
The brilliance on the sword already disappeared —
The only sword that could kill him!
“Xiaofeng already died seventeen days ago.”
Obviously he did not died under Cao Bing’s sword. No one could defeat him! Absolutely no one.
The only thing that could defeat him was destiny!
— Each person has his own destiny. Maybe because Xie Xiaofeng’s destiny was so glorious that it was so brief.
Although his death was sudden, it was peaceful. Though the old man’s eyes was tearful, it was very serene!
“I am not terribly upset because he had lived enough. He life already had its worth and could die with no regret.”
He suddenly asked Yan Shisan, “Would you prefer to quietly live out the rest of your live or prefer to live like him for just three years?”
Yan Shisan did not answer or needed to answer.
— Are you willing to be a shooting star?
Or willing to be a candle?
— Though the light of a shooting star is brief, how could the countless sticks of candles be comparable to the splendor and beauty of a shooting star?
* * *
The lights in the main hall might be radiant, however Yan Shisan would rather walked into the darkness.
A boundless sheet of darkness between faraway mountains.
Yan Shisan suddenly asked, “You told me all those things is not because you already viewed me as a dead person.”
Of course not.
The Third Young Master was dead, how could he die?
Yan Shisan suddenly turned around, faced Xie Wangsun, and asked, “Why did you tell me all those things?”
Xie Wangsun dully replied, “Because I know you came here to die!”
Yan Shisan asked, “You knew?”
Xie Wangsun replied, “I could see your admiration and reverence toward Xiaofeng. You knew you had no chance to defeat him.”
Yan Shisan said, “Being coming here to die is not a matter worthy of respect!”
Xie Wangsun said, “Yes!”
He was laughing. His laugh had a sorrowful tone to it, “At least I respect you, because I would never have that courage. I am just an ordinary person, furthermore I am old…”
His voice was getting softer and softer; it was muffled as if it was a sigh.
The autumn wind was also muffled as it it was a sigh.
At this time, in the darkness there was flash of a person, a sword!
* * *
One person, one sword. The movement of the person was as vigorous as a hawk. The spurt of the sword as a quick as lightning.
This person appeared behind Xie Wangsun. The sword was aiming for his heart from the back.
When Yan Shisan saw it, it was too late to help him.
Xie Wangsun, yet, did not seem to have detected anything, he was merely sighing and bent down to pick up a dried leaf.
His movement was very slow. It seemed as if he decided to pick up this dried leaf on a whim.
His life was like this dried leaf; it was dried and withered. However, he coincidentally evaded this lightning strike like sword.
At this moment, the flash of the sword clearly could pierce through back of his heart, yet it pierced nothing but air.
The person that rushed forward had already committed his energy, there was no way to withdraw this attack. This person turned over from where his back was, the sword was directed at the Yan Shisan at the opposite side.
The momentum of the sword strike was still there, it was still enough to take someone’s life.
Yan Shisan had to counter attack. His sword left its sheath, the light of the sword flashed.
This person somersaulted in mid-air and fell back seven chi (feet) away, the pale green face was still intoxicated.
“Cao Bing!”
Yan Shisan cried and lost his voice. His tone carried three parts astonishment and seven parts pity.
Cao Bing stared at him. His eyes were filled with astonishment and fear. He wanted to say something but he couldn’t say it out.
His throat suddenly had a strand of fresh blood coming out, and then he collapsed.
* * *
The autumn wind was still sighing.
Xie Wangsun slowly picked up that dried leaf, quietly gazed at it, and seemed as if he still didn’t realized what had occurred.
In that split second, there was a person, whose life had withered and fallen like the dried leaf. Though the tree leaf life is short, it will grow again the following year.
How about human?
Xie Wangsun slowly bent his back again and gently put this leaf back on the ground. Yan Shisan had been looking at him, his eyes filled with admiration and respect. Till now he finally realized this person was more than meets the eye, an expert. His martial art had reached a godly stage, had already reach the stage of perfection, had already fused with the great nature. Therefore, nobody could even see it anymore.
— When the ruthless cold approaches, you can’t see its power yet imperceptibly it turned water into ice and can freeze a man to death.
“I am only an ordinary man…”
Wonder how much of his “ordinary” was created from the “extraordinary”?
How many people in the world can achieve this type of “ordinary”?
* * *
Yan Shisan did not say anything. Although right now he could see a lot of things but he did not say a single thing. He had learnt how to remain silent.
Xie Wangsun simply blandly said, “This night is already dark, you should leave.”
Yan Shisan said, “Yes.”
[End of Chapter 9]
[Footnote]
43. Du Mu’s “Mountain Travel” 杜牧 - <山行>. Du Mu is a famous Tang dynasty era poet.
44. laorenjia (老人家), a very respectful ways to address an old person.
45. Yinshan (阴山), the Yin mountains of Inner Mongolia.
46. Hua Shaokun(华少坤), not a typo but I think he was called Hua Yukun earlier. The difference is the middle character which means little or young.
click to show/hide spoilersEditor's Notes
Translation difference:
• Line missing in the beginning after YSS answered "It's XWS.".
• “not polite” was incorrectly translated as “not a guest”. Note: In Chinese, polite is a compound of the words “guest air”…so maybe that’s why it’s wrong. <shrug>
• Updated translation of the poem, added footnote with some info.
• Section about XWS had many ‘errors’, most are words and description never used in the original text.
Example of changes: “bedroom” -> “wedding chamber” (technically correct but text was very specific), “young mistress” -> “big miss” (not the same), “too hesitant” never mentioned original text was “die of depression/grieve”, “too shy” -> “dare not to say” (word shy was never used), “my wife and I” - > “we” (word wife never mentioned), “became ill and die” -> “silently passed away” (word ill was not used), “page was a talented young man” -> “young study was a good child” (completely different),
• Second son’s location of battle was missing.
• When XWS talks about HSK, he mention XXF was around ten. This was missing.
• After YSS entered DSM, I changed from them going to a “house” to a “room” based on context. This is because even though wuzi typically means a house, it can also mean a room. Hell, it could be a single room ‘house’ since I believe a main ancient Chinese house, and especially manor, could consist of multiple small buildings.
• Lines missing after XWS said YSS had no chance to beat XXF.
• According to text sword was aiming at XWS “back heart”, not just the back.
• When YSS realized XWS was not ordinary, one line is missing after "I'm just an ordinary man..."