Soaring Swallows Startle Dragons

The Return to the Origin Manual

Part 2 (21)

Master One Yang was startled and jumped up, eyes flashing, scanning the area where the laughter came from, but inwardly he felt it pointless because the laughter was coming from not far away, yet he couldn’t see anyone anywhere. Given his advanced internal skill he could spot a falling leaf from five staves away, how could someone manage to sneak up on him undetected?

Master One Yang muttered to himself, and Master Wise Perfected and Greatmaster Clear Karma also alertly felt that the derisive laughter was strange. Six eyes scanned the area for a long time, still not finding a trace of anyone.

Suddenly they heard Shen Xialin cry out, “Ah! The big white crane is back again.”

Master One Yang, Master Wise Perfected, and Greatmaster Clear Karma were focused on looking for a trace of the enemy and never expected something from overhead. They looked up at the sound of Xialin’s cry, but they were a step late. The enormous crane flapped its wings, wind sweeping along past Master One Yang’s side and it extended its sharp talons and grabbed the inkscaled ironplated snakeskin.

Master Wise Perfected was the closest to Master One Yang and was pained and angered to see the enormous crane suddenly grab the snakeskin. With a shout she whipped her left sleeve out and soared into the air, right hand sending a forcewind chop at the enormous crane. The forcewind palm was an internal arts skill and was quite powerful. A strong gust of wind swept out with her palm and the enormous crane suffered the blow, wavering a couple times and crying out. It burst through the air and in a split second disappeared into the reef of clouds.

Master Wise Perfected had been sore about losing that treasure and had leapt up and shot a palm out, concentrating all of her power. Such forcewind palm power was enough to shatter rocks and split stone steles, but it was not enough to knock the enormous crane out of the sky. This was not only a painful shock to Master Wise Perfected, famed throughout the martial world, it also made her shamed and indignant. Once she landed she looked to the sky and stood there staring blankly.

Suddenly, Master Wise Perfected leapt up, starry eyes flashing. In the distance four grotesquely ugly weirdos were guarding a white-bearded old man in a long robe along, who was walking with a staff.

In an instant they reached the six of them. The old man looked quaint and elegant, with a white beard down to his chest. His blue-green shirtrobe came down to his knees and his white brows drooped at the corners of his eyes, but his face was ruddy and radiant, without the least trace of senility. He wore silvergrass sandals and white pants and he held a dragonhead cane. The four weirdos were all dressed in long blue-green jute-cloth gowns and leather shoes with no socks. Set off by their strange, scarred faces, they barely looked human.

The old man stopped a stave or so away from the six of them. He cupped a hand over his fist in salute to Master One Yang. “The Three Masters of Kunlun are greatly renowned throughout the martial world. This old rotter is fortunate to be able to meet you eminent people today.” Then he loosed a laugh that resounded through the sky.

Master One Yang took one look at the old man’s quaint, elegant face and knew it was the Sky and Sea Elder Li Canglan, chief of the Heavenly Dragon Gang. The four ugly, strangely dressed people beside him must then be the rumored Four Uglies of Sichuan. He put his palms together and returned the courtesy, “Chief Li is a remarkable man of the jianghu, establishing the Heavenly Dragon Gang with your own hands, its prestige spreading far and wide, near and far. How could nobodies like us Three Masters of Kunlun compare with Chief Li?”

Li Canglan smiled. “You’re too kind, too kind. The Kunlun School is one of the Nine Major Martial Arts Schools of the martial world. The Heavenly Dragon Gang is no more than a grouping of jianghu brushweeds, a sectarian heretical sect of the left-hand path, how can we dare contend with the nine major orthodox schools of the martial world?”

Saying that, he retracted his smile and his eyes gleamed like two bolts of cold lightning at the yellow silk bundle Master One Yang was shouldering. “I heard on the wind that Abbot has obtained the treasure map that has been rumored throughout the martial world for hundreds of years. I wonder if this rumor is true or false?”

Master One Yang found this question quite difficult to answer because he had a great reputation within the jianghu and could not very well speak irresponsibly and swear and oath and deny it. He thought for a moment and said, “Yes, this humble Daoist has obtained that item.”

Li Canglan smiled faintly. “Since Abbot has the treasure map, it shouldn’t be too hard to find the Return to the Origin manual. Is that yellow silk bundle Great Xia is shouldering the Return to the Origin manual?”

Such a to the point question made Master One Yang’s complexion change. He said coldly, “It is indeed the Return to the Origin manual. Chief Li has made thorough inquiries, does he have his sights set on it?”

Sky and Sea Elder gave a hearty laugh. “Return to the Origin is a rare martial world treasure, but I, Li Canglan, disdain to take it by force from someone. At present, there are not a few eminent people gathered on Mount Kuocang. Everything will come to light sooner or later. This old rotter rather has a fair method. The abbot should safeguard Return to the Origin for now but must not privately read it. The sectmaster of your honorable school and myself will sign an invitation inviting the sectmasters of the Nine Major Schools and all the world’s heroes to a second swordmeet. Firstly, this can settle the ranking issue among the schools that has been a headache for hundreds of years. Secondly, it can determine who the Return to the Origin manual shall belong to and kill two birds with one arrow. Abbot, what do you think?”

Before Master One Yang could reply, Master Wise Perfected cut in, “Our Kunlun School found Return to the Origin, so it naturally belongs to us. As for a second swordmeet to decide rankings, Chief Li can do as he likes and send out invitations. Kunlun will of course participate, but forgive us for not signing it and helping to manage it…”

Li Canglan cut her off with a derisive laugh, “This must be the martial world-renowned lady xia Master Wise Perfected. This old rotter was speaking with your senior sectbrother Dao Senior Master One Yang. Out of respect for seniority, the heroine had best not interrupt.”

Master Wise Perfected flushed but could say nothing. She turned to Senior Brother, who replied slightly angered, “Chief Li’s aspirations for hosting a second swordmeet of the world’s heroes is certainly a grand occasion for the martial arts. Kunlun has no intention of shrinking back from it. However, there is no need to drag the Return to the Origin manual into this matter. This humble Daoist is eager to return to head back west, excuse me for having no time to debate with Chief. This humble Daoist and the others will be at Three Clarities Palace on Gold Crest Peak on Mount Kunlun waiting for your invitation. We will certainly be on time.” With that, he turned and beckoned for Yang Menghuan and the others to set out.

Li Canglan put his dragonhead cane out to block them, laughing. “If you keep on ahead, not more than thirty miles from now you will run into others who will intercept you. Even if this old rotter doesn’t do anything, it will be difficult to hold onto the Return to the Origin manual!”

Master One Yang laughed derisively. “The Three Masters of Kunlun has never suffered others’ idle threats. Chief Li’s good-natured warning this humble Daoist appreciates.”

Sky and Sea Elder laughed again and asked, “If someone were to attack and try to wrest from you the Return to the Origin manual by force, the Heavenly Dragon Gang might get into the fray as well.”

Master One Yang laughed coldly. “Of course you can, Chief Li, if it so pleases you, by all means strike.”

Li Canglan withdrew his dragonhead cane and gave way. “Then it’s agreed. If no one else attacks to steal it, then the Heavenly Dragon Gang will absolutely not start anything.” Saying that, he turned and strolled off.

Master One Yang waited till Li Canglan and the Four Uglies of Sichuan left, then turned to Menghuan and Xialin. “In a little while, when we’re intercepted, you mustn’t lash out without permission. These people are all first-rate masterhands of the martial world and they think highly of themselves. As long as you don’t attack, they would never act against kids like you.”

Yang Menghuan detected a hidden meaning in Shifu’s grave words, clearly intending to sacrifice his life to protect the secret manual. That made him sick at heart, and he cried out, “Shifu…” but Master One Yang shook his head and didn’t let him finish but beckoned for Master Wise Perfected and Greatmaster Clear Karma and they continued on ahead.

~*~

They went more than twenty miles and it was the end of the 8th double-hour and the beginning of the 9th, a gentle afternoon mountain breeze blowing through the secluded valley, the fragrance of flowers assailing their nostrils, the mountains a pleasing, vivid emerald green, yet their moods were unusually heavy as a storm of carnage approached as the time for fighting drew near, making them taciturn and keyed up.

Suddenly they heard the loud sound of laughter coming from a pinewood on one side of a peak in the secluded valley and a person flipped down from dozens of staves up in the air. His long robe rippled in the wind, white beard like silver, and he held a bamboo staff held out blocking their path. He saluted Master One Yang and said, “Abbot of Mystic Metropolis Abbey, how have you been since we parted? You still recognize your old friend Wen Gongtai don’t you?”

Master Wise Perfected sneered, “Mount Hua Sectmaster, as good as your word you really did manage to find us on Mount Kuocang.”

Eight Armed Divine Codger said, “More than this old rotter has come. Besides the Three Geese of Diancang, there’s probably around a dozen rarely seen friends of the jianghu. Three of the five banner altarmen of the Heavenly Dragon Gang have come. There hasn’t been such a grand meeting like this since the swordmeet on Mount Song’s Shaoshi Peak 300 hundred years ago. One good show after another, we’re in store for some lively excitement.”

Master One Yang said coldly, “Sounds like Brother Wen is planning on participating in this grand gathering?”

Wen Gongtai laughed. “Oh I couldn’t, I couldn’t. I’m no more than a small time player come along to fill out the numbers.”

Master One Yang hmphed. “The Return to the Origin manual is in this yellow bundle on my back. If Brother Wen believes he can take it, then be my guest.”

Eight Armed Divine Codger’s complexion changed. “The Split Second Swordplay and the Celestial Dipper Palm don’t count as some lost art of the martial world. I’m confident I can take a few moves, but out Mount Hua and Kunlun schools have no enmity to speak of. If Dao Brother is willing to let out Mount Hua study the arcane mysteries of the secret manual as well, then this old rotter is willing to lend a hand in warding off the formidable foes that lay ahead.”

Master One Yang said, “This humble Daoist appreciates Brother Wen’s good intentions but must decline. The Three Masters of Kunlun are reluctant to bend a knee and ask for help.”

Wen Gongtai held his bamboo staff out crosswise. “Then I will have to get a taste of a few of Dao Brother’s advanced moves.”

Master One Yang reached back and drew his sword. “I will accompany you. If I can see with my own eyes Brother Wen’s incredible Finger-Snapping Golden Pellet technique, then even if I am buried on Mount Kuocang, i can die without regret.”

Wen Gongtai’s green staff thrust out with Laughingly Pointing to the South. Master One Yang’s sword changed to Wind and Rain All Around, blocking the green bamboo staff with his sword surrounding his body like an unrolled bolt of white silk, then he took the advantage with Peak Among the Clouds, the silver awn of the tip of his sword quivering, stabbing at his chest. Eight Armed Divine Codger shouted, “Excellent Swordplay.” His green bamboo staff knocked the sword away with Whirlwind Whisks the Willows, then he leapt up and struck in midair, a mass of green shrouding overhead.

Master One Yang let out a long laugh and opened up his Split Second Swordplay to engage the enemy. His internal skill was solid and advanced, as was his swordplay, different from Yang Menghuan’s. He warded off the enemy and stole in to attack, move after move loaded with force and containing within it variations. In an instant the two of them had exchanged sixteen or seventeen moves.

Wen Gongtai was burning with rage as he lashed out with Divine Dragon Thrice Appears, his staff carrying forcewind with it swish swish swish in three rapid attacks, deflecting Master One Yang’s tight, continuous swordlight, while he himself seized the opportunity to tumble back, withdrawing a stave or more away. He held his staff out crosswise and grabbed at the air with his left hand, and his beard and brows suddenly fanned out as he fixed his eyes on Master One Yang and slowly closed in.

Master One Yang knew that this time when he attacked he would use all of the skill and power he’d accumulated in his life, aimed at speed, so he didn’t dare get careless. He stepped in the configuration of yi-wood, bing-fire, sword slanted at gui-water, left elbow turned in, palm level before his chest, qi gathering in his dantian and circulating throughout his body, focused as he waited for his foe.

Master Wise Perfected was anxious watching it all, because the two of them were going all out with there decades of internal skill in a fight to the death. Once they unleashed it, victor and defeat would be decided, life and death would be parceled out. They were just about to reach the breaking point when they suddenly heard loud laughter. “You two hold on a moment with your life and death struggle, what if we join the fun as well?”

Wen Gongtai pulled back the power he was about to unleash and turned to see it was two of the Diancang Geese. He said coldly, “How do you two just happen to be everywhere? Seems the karmic connection between us is not slight!”

He turned as he said this to welcome the two Geese of Diancang.