The luckiest of dead man
Yingying strummed her qin as if born to the instrument, her delicate fingers gliding over the strings like a robin hopping between branches. The crystal clear notes danced down the hill and floated across the river carrying easily to the ears of the man she was playing for. Although she was too far away to see him she imagined Linghu Chong standing on the prow of the barge listening to her tune and smiling.
As she played Yingying's mind went back to the day of their first meeting. She had been dosing in her chambers when Lüzhuweng had knocked gently on her door:
“Yes?” said Yingying
“I am sorry to disturb you Holy Lady but I have something here that might interest you.”
At Yingying's command Lüzhuweng entered the room and placed a book at her feet before backing away to a respectful distance. As Yingying started flicking through the pages she recognized the work of her music teacher Qu Yang. No one else save Liu Zhengfeng had the musical genius to compose such a score and Yingying admired their combined work with awe.
“Where did you get this?”
“It belongs to a young man waiting outside. Some fools claim that this score is a martial arts manual in disguise and accused the young man of being a thief. Seeing his predicament I agreed to take a look at it.”
“What's the young man's name?”
“He is called Linghu Chong.”
####
Outside of the cottage Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, Yue Lingshan, Lin Pingzhi and the senior members of the Wang family waited. It had been nearly an hour since Lüzhuweng had taken the Xiaoao Jianghu score inside and the Wang family were starting to get a little nervous. Finally Wang Bofen, eldest son of the head of the family spoke:
“This is ridiculous. I am going inside”
“Calm down. Remember we are guests here” replied his father Wang Yuanba.
“But what if the old man has runs of with the manual?” retorted Wang Bofen
“Impossible, there's only one way out of the cottage, so just be patient.” replied Wang Yuanba
“Perhaps the heroic Wang family would like to dislocate the old man's arm as well” mocked Linghu Chong.
“Chong'er watch your manners” scolded Yue Buqun
Ning Zhongze wanted to speak up for her apprentice but could not openly contradict her husband, so she patted Linghu Chong on the shoulder and examined his right arm that she had realigned earlier. Linghu Chong smiled his thanks to his Shiniang's unspoken support.
The gentle whistle of the flute glided out of the cottage and filled the tiny garden they were waiting in. All who heard it was struck dumb by the divine music. Each note was as clear as crystal and as fresh as spring water. The tune gradually built up until it became a stream, then a raging river and finally the crushing sea.
As the flute stopped the qin started. First it was like a gentle summer's breeze, then picked up to become a strong wind before reaching the power of a roaring storm. As the last powerful notes were played Ning Zhongze spoke:
“Who would believe that such music could exist within the mortal world”
“This is nothing Shiniang, you should hear both flute and qin being played together. It feels like being in the Ninth Heaven.”
Lüzhuweng emerged from the cottage carrying the score which he returned to Linghu Chong:
“I believe you all heard my aunty's performance. Anyone doubt the authenticity of the score now” he directed the words to the Wang family.
“Nephew Linghu. I am very sorry for the misunderstanding. Let me invite you and your school to dinner tonight as an apology” spoke Wang Yuanba.
“Elder Wang is too kind. It was just a little misunderstanding” replied Yue Buqun.
Linghu Chong bit back an angry retort at Wang Yuanba's offer. His Shifu had accepted the apology and it would be unseemly for him to say anything. As people started leaving the garden Linghu Chong asked his Shiniang permission to stay and properly thank Lüzhuweng. With a final warning to be careful of his injured arm Ning Zhongze also left.
####
Yingying remembered seeing Linghu Chong for the first time as she spied him through a gap in the curtain. The silly man had greeted her as Granny and it was all she could do to not burst out laughing. He was handsome in a raggedy sort of way and seemed quite respectful. However she detected a weakness in his voice and steps that should not have been there in a young man.
After the necessary greetings she asked to take Linghu Chong's pulse and he obligingly placed his arm through the curtain. Yingying was shocked to discover the extent of his injuries. The fact that he was still alive as a minor miracle. To her surprise Linghu Chong seemed completely unconcerned with his dire situation. She did not know whether he was brave or foolhardy but he had gained her interest. Linghu Chong stepped back to a respectful distance from the curtain and held the Xiaoao Jianghu score in front of himself:
“Granny I ask that you take this score, so that I can fulfil my promise”
“Oh and what promise it that” replied Yingying as she took on the voice of an elderly woman.
As Linghu Chong explained the circumstances of his gaining the score Yingying found herself becoming more and more intrigued by him. She didn't think there could be anyone as silly as he was. Why would he risk his life so many times for people he hardly knew? Still she was curious to know more about him so offered to teach him certain tunes on the qin that would help sooth the Qi streams in his body.
Thus began the ten days they spent together. Throughout that time Yingying took care to remain behind the curtain and to take on her fake voice whenever they spoke. She taught him at a deliberately slow pace so that they could spend more time together. During their lessons Linghu Chong would talk and Yingying discovered just how silly he was. She learnt of his heartbreak over Yue Lingshan, his frustration at being misunderstood by Yue Buqun and his loneliness at loosing Dongfang Bai.
From Linghu Chong's description, Yingying had easily deduced that Dongfang Bai was Dongfang Bubai. She had long known that Dongfang Bubai was a woman, for a woman might be able to fool a man in regards to her gender but is unlike to fool another woman. At first Yingying suspected that Linghu Chong might be a spy from the aunty, but as she continued talking to him he seemed genuinely ignorant of his friend's true identity.
Yingying concluded that he was either the greatest liar in the world or that he was telling the truth. As the days passed she found herself waiting anxiously for his coming and dreading his departure. Having grown up at Black-wood Cliff, Yingying had never met someone as pure a Linghu Chong. His purity attracted her like fire does to a moth. She yearned to be part of his innocent and free world, for it seems to bring a joy she had never known before.
So when he announced his departure from the region Yingying greeted the news with genuine sadness. She had sent Lüzhuweng to see him of and present him with a gift of a qin along with a music score. Now she gave him a final heartfelt parting gift. As the final notes left the qin Yingying decided that he must live.
####
Yilin dodged the sword aimed at her heart and threw the helm of her dress at her opponent's face. Instinctively her opponent swayed to the right to avoid the dress that came from the left and as she did so Yilin slashed downwards with her own sword. The blade came to rest on her opponent's neck and the supervising nun called a halt to the spar:
“Well done Yilin. I must say your skills have improved greatly since your return.” said her sparring partner who was a junior nun of North Mount Heng.
Yilin saluted her partner and smiled. Ever since Bai Xuesheng had returned her to her school she had been practising her swordsmanship diligently. He had created this new style for her which combined the quick blade work of her school with flamboyant gestures of her dress. The idea was to use the latter to distract or force the enemy to move in a direction which would allow her to strike at them with her blade.
Yilin's natural grace made her ideally suited to learn this style and they had spent every day of their journey back to North Mount Heng refining it. Now she practised the style as a way of remembering their time together. However she had another reason for practising so hard, for deep down in her heart she hoped that she would see Bai Xuesheng again and wanted to impress him with her skill.
A nun came into the training ground and informed Yilin that her sister was waiting for her in the guest hall. Passing her practice sword to the nun Yilin ran as fast as she could. As soon as she saw her sister Yilin flew into her arms:
“Jiě jiě, I've missed you”
“Me too. I shouldn't have let you run of like that”
“It wasn't your fault. I was being childish”
“You are alright aren't you. Bai Xuesheng didn't do anything to you.”
So they talked and Yilin recounted her adventure with the Lord of White Tiger Palace. Dongfang Bai was surprised on hearing how her friend had been the perfect gentleman. As Yilin spoke Dongfang Bai detected a hint of admiration in her description of Bai Xuesheng and noted the wistfulness that would enter her sister's eyes as she recalled pleasant memories.
Too soon the bell for afternoon prayers rang and Dongfang Bai began to leave. As she rose Yilin called to her:
“Jiě jiě, can I ask you something?”
“Of course”
With her eyes rooted to the ground and her pretty cheeks burning Yilin spoke:
“What's Bai Xuesheng's favourite food?”
Dongfang Bubai smiled. “How fickle a young woman's heart”, she thought to herself.
####
Bai Xuesheng slammed his teacup onto the table:
“Who was sent to Mount Hua?!”
“The...six...peach immortals my Lord” stammered the messenger as he cowered before his Lord's anger.
“I wouldn't trust those freaks to deliver night-soil let alone a person.”
Bai Xuesheng took a deep calming breath. It was not his people's fault, it was his fault for not making his orders clear. There was no point in dwelling on the past, all he could do was remedy the situation. Quickly he called for the four academic treasures. Sealing up an envelope he handed it to the messenger:
“Have this letter delivered in the fastest way possible. Also tell the six immortals to go and accompany Linghu Chong. They are to serve him as if he was me. I will be joining them soon and if anything happens to Linghu Chong before my arrival then they will answer to me.”
The messenger accepted the letter with a bow, then backed out of his Lord's presence. Bai Xuesheng let out a sigh. He didn't know Linghu Chong, but knew that his death would make Yilin sad and that was something he would do anything to avoid. Having delivered her to North Mount Heng, Bai Xuesheng had felt a strangely lonely and listless, so had decided to return to White Tiger Palace.
When he had arrived the messenger had informed him of what had transpired at Mount Hua. With his orders made Bai Xuesheng made his way to the library.
####
Ping Yizhi placed his index finger on Lao Busi's wrist. The doctor stoked his beard for a few moments as he diagnosed the condition of the sickly young woman. Then picking up brush and paper he wrote a prescription and handed it to the portly figure standing nervously behind Lao Busi:
“Have your daughter take this medicine. If you are careful with her health then she should recover in six months.”
Lao Touzi bowed his thanks and helped his daughter up. As they left Ping Yizhi hurried to his room and started packing his things. Last night he had received a summons by Lord Dongfang Bubai to go treat a man called Linghu Chong. The messenger had furnished him with the location of his patient. Surprisingly this morning he had received a summons from the Holy Lady, also commanding that he treat Linghu Chong.
As he was finishing his packing someone called for him. Stepping outside he received a messenger who presented him with a letter. The doctor opened it and found a summons form Lord Bai Xuesheng. Again the summons was for him to treat Linghu Chong. Ping Yizhi could not believe his eyes. Just who is this Linghu Chong? How come the only three people in the world who could command him have ordered him to treat this man?
Dismissing the messenger the Killer Physician went back to his packing with renewed haste.
####
Linghu Chong sat on the prow of the barge trying to ignore the stares that he knew his fellow Mount Hua apprentices were casting behind his back. He could not believe that his relationship with his fellow apprentices had reached such a state. People whom he had considered family now treated him as if he had some kind disease. They were polite and respectful in his presence, but he had caught more than a few whispers about him stealing the Evil Resisting sword or how he wished to usurp the leadership of the school.
Linghu Chong wanted to shout his innocence and ached to reveal the source of his new found skills, but he could not. How could he betray the trust his Granduncle had placed in him. So he endured their quiet whispers, their fearful looks and the smouldering resentment of Yue Buqun.
The only time Linghu Chong found solace was when he was practising the qin, for it was during these moments that he would remember the times he had spent with Dongfang Bai. The memory of her beautiful face softened the accusing stares of his fellow apprentices, her wonderful voice quieted their slanderous whispers and her warmth protected him from Yue Buqun's hate.
“Friends on the barge! Are you of the Mount Hua school” came a voice from the river.
All the Mount Hua apprentices along with Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze came onto the deck of the barge and looked in the direction the voice came from. They saw anman in his 60s coming towards them on a rowing boat accompanied by six other men. The man in his 60s had a medicine chest hanging from his shoulder indicating his occupation:
“Yes we are. I am Yue Buqun. May I enquiry to the physician's name?”
Without replying the doctor and his six companions leapt into the air and landed lightly on the deck. The Mount Hua apprentices reached for their swords but the doctor raised his hands:
“I mean you no harm. May I enquiry if Linghu Chong is on board.”
“I am Linghu Chong. May I know elders name?”
The doctor greeted Linghu Chong with a bow that a servant would give to his master before replying:
“Young sir, your humble servant is Ping Yizhi and these men are the Six Immortals of the Peach Valley. We are at young sir's service”
“Killer Physician Ping Yizhi?” whispered Yue Buqun.
Ping Yizhi continued to ignore the Head of Mount Hua and addressed Linghu Chong:
“If young sir would take a seat, your humble servant would like to take your pulse.”
“Chong'er don't. This man is famous for being able to bring back the dead. However his payment is that whoever he saves must then kill another person for him” said Ning Zhongze.
Linghu Chong looked at Ping Yizhi in shock, but the physician shook his head:
“Your humble servant would never dare to ask any payment from young sir. It is an honour just to be of service to you.”
“But elder....” began Linghu Chong
“Please young sir, do not address me in such a way. I am not worthy to be called your elder”
“Physician Ping, please tell me why you are offering to treat me unconditionally”
“Your humble servant has been commanded to do so”
“By whom?”
“I do dare not mention their August names, but rest assured they are noble people.”
Linghu Chong could tell that Ping Yizhi would not tell him the person or persons who had commanded him to come here, but seeing no harm in the physician's offer he sat down and let him take his pulse.
After several minutes Ping Yizhi turned to the six immortals and rounded on them:
“You fools, how could you channel Qi into the young sir's body like that? Were you trying you kill him?”
“Please Physician Ping, I am sure they meant no harm” said Linghu Chong.
Ping Yizhi gave the immortals one more glare before turning back to Linghu Chong:
“Young sir, your condition is not internal injury but an excess of Qi energy. Your body is unable to contain so much power and so is being damaged by them. Luckily someone has temporally suppressed them for you, otherwise you would have died long ago. Never in all my years have I seen these conditions. I need time to research a cure.”
Reaching into his sleeves Ping Yizhi produced a bottle:
“Please take one of these pills everyday and I guarantee that you live for another 100 days. I will use this time to think of a cure for you.”
“Physician Ping, I am not worth all your efforts”
“Young sir should not say so. Your humble servant is honoured to be of service.”
Ping Yizhi turned back to the six immortals:
“You freaks have your orders. Now make sure you keep me informed of where you and the young sir is. If anything happens to him you know the consequences.”
With a final bow to Linghu Chong the doctor leapt of the barge and onto his boat. With the doctor gone the six immortals knelt in front of Linghu Chong:
“Young sir, we are at your service” said the oldest of the men.
“Why are you obeying Physician Ping?” asked Linghu Chong
“We are not obeying the old man, we are obeying our Lord.” replied the same man.
“And who is you Lord?”
“Our Lord commands and we obey” the six immortals said in unison.
After several minutes of trying unsuccessfully to coax their Lord's name form the immortals Linghu Chong gave up and ordered them it sit quietly on the deck. Turning to his Shifu and Shiniang, Linghu Chong received a concerned look from the latter and an angry glare form the former.
####
It had been an eventful few days. The visit by Ping Yizhi seemed to have opened the floodgates to other well wishers for Linghu Chong. Everyday people would arrive bearing priceless gifts including rare medicines, vintage wines, the highest quality silks and gems. It got to the point that Linghu Chong had to hire another barge to contain all his gifts.
Strangely whenever one of these guests arrived they would stare at Linghu Chong as if he was a thorough bred stallion and mutter things like “no wonder” or “he's certainly impressive”. All this attention made Linghu Chong very uncomfortable and he desperately wanted to know who it was that these people were trying to gain favour with. But when ever he asked them they would say that they were unworthy to mention that person or persons and beat a hasty retreat.
Linghu Chong's curiosity was partially satisfied when one day he received a very special guest. The barges had docked in a quiet harbour and the Mount Hua apprentices were relaxing on the deck as Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze went ashore to purchase supplies. Linghu Chong and the six immortals were at the prow of the barge sampling the wines he had been given when he spotted a small boat coming towards them.
As the boat came nearer two figures could be made out. One was the boatman at the oar and the other was someone in a black and silver robe sitting on the boat. As the boat neared the barge the passenger leapt of the boat and onto the barge. The six immortals fell to their knees and in unison greeted the man as “My Lord”.
Linghu Chong stared at the man for a moment. He was sure he had met him before but could not quite remember where. Then the man turned his emerald eyes to him and Linghu Chong instantly recognized him as the killer of Fei Bin:
“Linghu Chong pays his respect to Lord...” Linghu Chong said the words with a salute but then trailed of as he realized he didn't know the man's name.
“Bai Xuesheng” answered the man with an amused smile.
The other Mount Hua apprentices had gathered around the pair eager to get a glimpse of the new arrival. Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi made their way to the front of the crowd and stared at the stranger. Bai Xuesheng noticed Yue Lingshan staring at him and turned to give her one of his dazzling smiles. His eyes travelled along her body and twinkled with interest:
“Well this is a pleasant surprise”. Bai Xuesheng said the words without thinking, as was his habit when he saw an attractive woman.
Yue Lingshan blushed with a mixture of outrage, embarrassment and excitement. Lin Pingzhi stepped in front of her:
“How dare you speak in such a way you scoundrel”. Blustered Lin Pingzhi.
“So the lady has a little guard dog with a loud bark” replied Bai Xuesheng. His own anger had got the better of him, for he was not used to be spoken to in this way.
Lin Pingzhi drew his sword and lunged for Bai Xuesheng. Bai Xuesheng sidestepped to the left and took Lin Pingzhi's sword from him as if he was a child. Bai Xuesheng's movement was so fast that Lin Pingzhi hadn't realized that he'd been disarmed until his own blade rested against his throat.
Yue Lingshan drew her sword and attacked. Bai Xuesheng pushed Lin Pingzhi aside and parried the lunge. Acting on instincts Bai Xuesheng had channelled a little too much Qi into the move and Yue Lingshan was sent sprawling on the deck. Linghu Chong came to her rescue. Bai Xuesheng felt the displacement of air to his side and turned to face the new threat.
Seeing Linghu Chong he immediately retracted his Qi and stopped the downward slash of his opponent with the borrowed blade. No sooner had the first blow been neutralised then came another and another, until over a hundred blows had been launched. Bai Xuesheng parried every attack expertly but took care not to over extend his moves and so leave himself open.
It had been a long time since Bai Xuesheng had met someone so skilled with the sword and he gave into his competitive urges. He went on the offensive with a series of quick slashes designed to test his opponent's defences. To his surprise Linghu Chong defended by attacking and never took a step back. A lesser opponent would have been cowed by this kind of reckless fighting but not Bai Xuesheng.
The two men met head on and the blades flashed like lightning. Standing around them the Mount Hua apprentices stared in awe at the contest. It was as if a storm of steel had enveloped the combatants and they were amazed that human beings could survive in such conditions. Both men stood stock still as their blades danced around each other. The distance between them was only a couple of feet. At such close range the fight became a contest of instincts and reflexes with no time for conscious thought.
Finally after several minutes Linghu Chong backed away, his injured body unable to maintain the demanding pace. As he fell to his knees he felt a strong hand on his chest. Looking up he saw Bai Xuesheng, now unarmed, with his right palm on his chest. A warm glow started spreading through Linghu Chong's body and he felt the raging Qi streams inside his body settling down.
As Bai Xuesheng strove to soothe the rouge energies in Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze returned. Thinking that Bai Xuesheng was attacking Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun hurled his right palm at Bai Xuesheng. Bai Xuesheng met the attack with his own left palm while keeping his right palm on Linghu Chong. Yue Buqun felt like he was hitting the side of a mountain and had to activate his Violet Mist Divine Skill to stop himself from being thrown into the air.
A purpled mist surrounded Yue Buqun's right palm and he strained against Bai Xuesheng. Soon Yue Buqun was sweating profusely and becoming short of breath while Bai Xuesheng showed no sign of tiring. Finally Bai Xuesheng made a sharp push with his left hand sending Yue Buqun crashing into the side of the barge. He hit with so much force that the entire vessel rocked to one-side making everyone lose their balance.
Bai Xuesheng caught Linghu Chong as he fell and whispered into his ear:
“I hope you get better. Its been a while since I've had such a good fight.”
As the barge settled down Bai Xuesheng spoke:
“Everyone, I have no ill intentions. It was my men who accidentally injured Linghu Chong and I had come to remedy the situation. Unfortunately this task seems to be beyond my talents. So I will take my leave.”
Making his way of the barge Bai Xuesheng turned to the six immortals:
“You freaks are to continue serving Linghu Chong.”
“By your command Lord” replied all six of them at once.
Stepping back into his boat Bai Xuesheng commanded the boatman to take him away. Bai Xuesheng stared into the open sea. He had added his power to Dongfang Bai's seals and further suppressed the Qi streams, but he had the same dilemma as his friend. If he tried to destroy the streams he would kill Linghu Chong.
Bai Xuesheng tried telling himself he had done all he could, but the image of Yilin's face came to his mind and he knew he couldn’t let the matter rest.