Thousand Autumns

In the early dawn at the foot of Taishan appeared an uninvited visitor.

He held his sword during his ascent, his footsteps light, as if on flat ground, it didn’t take him long to reach the gates of Bixia Sect mid-way up the mountain.

Zhao Chiying was guiding her disciples in sword practice, heard Fan Yuanbai’s report that someone was here from Qingchengshan’s Chunyang Sect, and was waiting outside.

Bixia Sect and Chunyang Sect’s relations were good, lots of back and forth, but with Bixia’s Sect’s diminishment and Chunyang Sect’s growing strength, the bonds formed in the previous generations had thinned considerably, although Chunyang Sect had not minded Bixia Sect’s smaller doors, but the two sects were geographically far apart, in the case of Bixia Sect’s last calamity, far waters could not quench immediate fire, if not for Shen Qiao’s descent from the heavens, and they had to wait until after Chunyang Sect received their message and then for them to get here, even the huanghuacai would be cold.

The news from the outside world arrived intermittently, Zhao Chiying did not know as much as Yan Wushi, but she was aware of Hehuan Sect and the Buddhist sects’ push for power, Bixia Sect, the mountain tall, the emperor far, for now they could preserve themselves, but for Chunyang Sect to send someone this way at this time, it must be something important.

Thinking about this, the visitor had been brought forward by Fan Yuanbai.

His face was cold, dignified in appearance, his steps were steady, and as he walked, the hand that held his sword was also very steady, not a hint of a tremor.

Looks like Chunyang Sect will have a fine successor. Zhao Chiying thought to herself, was a little envious.

“Chunyang Sect disciple Li Qingyu greets Zhao-zongzhu.”

Zhao Chiying: “You must be Yi-guanzhu’s most accomplished disciple? The name Twin Jades of Qingcheng is well-suited, Yi-guanzhu is very fortunate!”

Li Qingyu: “Zhao-zongzu is too kind.”

Zhao Chiying: “I was in seclusion for a long time, I haven’t seen Yi-guanzhu since coming out of seclusion, I bet his wugong realm is more advanced than before.”

Li Qingyu was evidently not adept at small talk, he said: “In truth, I came here on this occasion, to pass on a message from Liuligong, for the matter of the shijiandahui.”

Shijiandahui?

Zhao Chiying and Yue Kunchi looked at each other.

“If I remember correctly, shijiandahui happens once every ten years, and counting this year, should only be the ninth?”

Li Qingyu: “This is true, but not too long ago Liuligong sent people to Chunyangguan, saying they want to borrow the grounds at Chunyangguan to hold the conference earlier, shizun agreed, so sent me to pass along this message, and invite Zhao-zongzhu to attend.”

Around Fangzhangzhou and the outer islands, commoners look but cannot reach it, there is an island with a sect, and that was Liuligong, they were self-sustaining, are rarely delved into the power struggles of the central plains, but they really enjoyed recording the history and names of the martial arts masters of the central plains, like the “World’s Top Ten Masters” rank-list that everyone liked to talk about, was made by Liuligong, the once-every-ten-years shijiandahui were also hosted by them.

Liuligong’s disciples were not known for their wugong skill, and didn’t have a reputation for much, but because of this tradition, if someone from the jianghu encountered them, tended to be respectful, after all they didn’t have any stakes in the martial world of the central plains, there was no need for a life-or-death fight, if anyone was unsatisfied with the ranking, they can personally go find the one ranked above them, no need to make trouble for Liuligong.

If wugong can be improved in ten years, the rank-list ten years later will naturally change, in the arts there is no first place, in martial arts there is no second place, when it comes to wugong, it’s not like something you can muddle through, who was first in the world, who’s wugong is better, it becomes clear at a glance, even if it were close, they would only need a match to know win-lose, high-low.

Shijiandahui was the derivative of the martial masters rank-list, once every ten years, the invitations sent out broadly, anyone could attend, have a martial arts exchange. Liuligong’s location was far, they would borrow the grounds of a sect in the central plains, the sect that was chosen had a chance to grow their reputation, and was usually too happy to do so.

The one responsible for the ranking, their wugong didn’t have to be good, but their judgment had to be sharp, the reason that the rank-list from Liuligong was recognized by all was because the previous iterations had very few errors, like Qi Fengge, ten years ago he was still alive, although he didn’t attend shijiandahui, he was still ranked first, in clear conscience, no one disagreed.

In these years as Liuligong became more widely known, there were of course other masters that appeared on the scene, after the deaths of Qi Fengge and Cui Youwang, there had not yet been a reiteration of shijiandahui, as everyone couldn’t wait for Liuligong’s rank-list, they came up with their own “World’s Top Ten”, Shen Qiao, a person who had never appeared in the jianghu but had the mantle of Xuandushan zhangjiao was also included in the list, though after the fight between him and Kunye, defeated and fallen, busybodies added Kunye and Yu Ai’s name to the list.

But these were not rankings made by Liuligong, when news of an early shijiandahui was released, it stoked many people’s ambitions, jumping at the opportunity, because apart from “World’s Top Ten” this kind of rank-list, Liuligong also will make rankings such as “Sword List” “Knife List”, the sword being the most popular weapon, its practitioners were plenty, so the rank-list for sword-users, became an area of attention for many.

True grandmasters, in the realm of Qi Fengge, Yi Bichen, Xueting-chanshi, hardly needed to use the Liuligong rank-list to boost their reputation. Even if their names were not on the list, it wouldn’t affect their reputation, Liuligong’s rank-list was like adding flowers to a beautiful brocade.

For Shen Qiao, he couldn’t care less about this kind of thing, if he were still head of Xuandushan, if Yu Ai’s backstabbing hadn’t happened, if he received news of shijiandahui, he probably wouldn’t even send any delegates.

Apart from this, lots of people needed Liuligong to garner acclaim, Liuligong also needed this method, to prove themselves to the world, both sides benefitted.

Zhao Chiying didn’t crave reputation, but for the future development of her sect, Bixia Sect really needed to recruit new disciples, if herself or Yue Kunchi did well at shijiandahui, certainly there would be many who would then seek them out based on their reputation.

“I thank Yi-guanzhu for sending you with this message, Bixia Sect is geographically isolated, if we were to wait for news to reach us, we probably would have missed it.”

Li Qingyu: “If Zhao-zongzhu is prepared, I can accompany you on the journey, help each other along the way.”

Zhao Chiying: “Li-daoyou doesn’t have other sects to attend to with the message?”

Li Qingyu: “On this matter it is Liuligong’s responsibility to notify the sects, only because Chunyang Sect and Bixia Sect have always been on good terms, did shizun send me. We heard Bixia Sect recently underwent a calamity, our sect was too far away, couldn’t send our support in time, we hope Zhao-zongzhu doesn’t blame us.”

He was Yi Bichen’s designated disciple, his position was not an ordinary one, rumours were that he would inherit Yi Bichen’s mantle, and become the future guanzhu of Chunyangguan, when it came to wugong, Zhao Chiying’s was likely slightly lesser. To have him personally deliver the message, in reality was giving Bixia Sect plenty of face, Zhao Chiying couldn’t not recognize this, so was very respectful towards Li Qingyu, didn’t hold her position as sect leader above him.

Zhao Chiying: “I also know far waters cannot quench an immediate fire, would not dare to call upon Yi-guanzhu, to receive your regards on this ordeal, I am already grateful, after I explain things to the disciples, tomorrow we may depart, if Li-daoyou doesn’t mind, he can rest here for the night.”

Li Qingyu nodded: “As Zhao-zongzhu wills.”

Suddenly he seemed to remember something: “Can I ask Zhao-zongzhu, if Shen Qiao Shen-daoxiong, is also here at Bixia Sect?”

……………

Shen Qiao at dawn was going to teach his disciples the sword, but was instead requested by Yan Wushi to the mountaintop for practice, Yan Wushi remarked that it had been a long time since he practiced the sword, wanted Shen Qiao to parry with him. He even borrowed a sword from Yue Kunchi, who knew it would remind Shen Qiao of past events, and asked of him “where is the taihua sword you got in exchange that day from Sang Jingxing?”

That year Yan Wushi had fought Cui Youwang and lost, even taihua sword was lost to the other, later passed into his disciple Sang Jingxing’s hands. But Yan Wushi was very conceited, thought no matter how great the sword it remains external to the body, if taken by an opponent, one gives them leverage against you, two adds humiliation to injury, so decided to leave the sword behind, and created his own spring water finger technique, walked into the world alone.

So that time he exchanged Shen Qiao for taihua sword, he really didn’t care about the sword, just wanted to humiliate Shen Qiao, to make him understand he wasn’t even worth a sword, thus falling into total despair.

As for taihua sword after he got it back from Sang Jingxing, he turned around and tossed it to Yu Shengyan, didn’t even look at it.

But no matter how arrogant Yan Wushi was, he knew these thoughts were not suited for saying out loud, otherwise the equanimity that Shen Qiao had towards him would end up completely obliterated and expended.

Maybe the Yan Wushi from back then would never have predicted, there would be a day, he would step into a hole dug by himself.

Luckily Shen Qiao did not pursue the matter further, with this small question moved past it.

The two of them fighting on the mountaintop, after some hundred exchanges, the sun had taken its shape, bathing everything in a gold light, brilliant in all directions, Shen Qiao lost by a margin, not because his sword moves were not skilled, but because his inner qi had not recovered to what it was at his peak, and Yan Wushi had the help of the scroll fragment, in the short span of three months had remedied the flaw in his demonic core, and advanced another level, one could see his natural potential, marvel at the talent.

People who are born talented, were often very proud, and found it hard to accept the presence of someone who was even more talented. Shen Qiao did not have this problem. His personality was kind, towards others and things he had a tolerant heart, when things went wrong he examined himself first before blaming others, he put away his sword and stood still, folded his hands in respect: “While my master was still alive, he had said that in a few years, Yan-zongzhu and him be evenly matched, today it would appear to be the case, thank you for the lesson, this poor one gained more.”

His praise was not flattery, but an earnest acknowledgement that the other was stronger than him, his thanks were given genuinely, did not on account of the loss default into jealousy or rage, a win was a win, a loss was a loss, did not need to be affected by feeling or history, Shen Qiao saw it quite simply.

Yan Wushi felt that he wouldn’t mind looking at his determined appearance a hundred times over, before however much he wanted to see person totally fall into darkness and oblivion, transformed into hate and rage at the world, was now how much he liked this warm, soft-heartedness.

He replayed the other’s countenance in his mind, smiled and said: “A-Qiao, our relationship as it stands today, what you said was too formal.”

Our what relationship today? Shen Qiao grimaced, forced himself to tolerate the other’s frequently irrelevant speech, if he tried to protest, naturally a thousand replies and reversed reasoning awaited him.

He repeated to himself several times “always-has-a-reason”: “It’s getting late, I should go advise Shiwu and Qi-lang’s sword practice.”

Descending from the mountaintop, two people one in front the other following, the one in front was a little rushed, the latter followed not too close not too slowly, and always stayed within 5 steps, resembling the current state of things between them.

Between innocence and ambiguity, lotus root cut strings still tethered, something wanting but not wanting to be said aloud.

Shen Qiao returned to Bixia Sect’s back gardens, saw someone standing at his door, the other saw Shen Qiao walking closer from a distance, his youthful but cold expression revealed a smile that hadn’t even been shown to Zhao Chiying.

“Shen-daoxiong, long time no see.”