Disciples of Quanzhen.

Guo Jing¹ shook off the pursuing Taoists and, gathering his qi, raced towards Chongyang Palace.² Suddenly, the clang of bells rang out from within the palace. The ringing was urgent, as if sounding an alarm. Guo Jing looked up and saw flames shooting into the sky from the rear courtyard of the temple. Startled, he thought, “So the Quanzhen Sect³ truly faces a major enemy assault today. I must hurry to help.” Behind him, the Taoists shouted in unison and surged forward like a swarm of bees. Only now did he understand: “These Taoists must think I’m with the enemy. With the main temple in danger, they’re even more desperate to fight me.” Paying them no mind, he sprinted straight up the mountain.

Deploying his movement technique, he covered several hundred feet in moments. In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, he arrived before Chongyang Palace. Flames licked upward, thick smoke billowed, and the fire blazed fiercely. Strangely, though Chongyang Palace housed countless Taoists, not a single one had come out to fight the fire.

Guo Jing’s heart tightened with alarm. He saw over a dozen temple buildings scattered sparsely across the mountainside. Though the rear courtyard burned fiercely, the main hall had not yet been touched. From within the main hall came shouts and curses, the clashing of weapons ringing loud. He pushed off with both feet, leapt onto the high wall, and saw a vast square packed with people locked in fierce combat. Looking closely, he saw forty-nine yellow-robed Taoists formed into seven Big Dipper Arrays,⁴ holding off over a hundred attackers. The enemies came in all shapes and sizes, tall and short, fat and thin. At a glance, their martial arts schools and dress were all different. Some wielded weapons, others fought barehanded, assaulting the seven Big Dipper Arrays from every direction. These attackers were clearly no weaklings, and with their superior numbers, the Quanzhen Taoists had already fallen to a disadvantage. But the enemies fought independently, while the seven Big Dipper Arrays supported one another with tight, rigorous defence. Strong as the enemy was, they could still hold them off.

Guo Jing was about to shout a challenge when he heard the rush of wind from within the main hall. Someone was still fighting inside. Judging by the force of the fist-wind, the combatants within far surpassed those outside. He dropped from the wall, sidled in at an angle, weaving east and west, and slipped through the gaps between three Big Dipper Arrays. The Taoists were alarmed and struck their swords in warning, but the enemy’s ferocious assault left them no chance to break off and intercept him.

The main hall had been brightly lit by over a dozen enormous candles, but now the firelight from the rear courtyard streamed in, drowning the candle flames into dim insignificance. Seven prayer mats were arranged in the hall, and seven Taoists sat cross-legged upon them, left palms joined, each extending their right palm to fend off the attacks of over a dozen assailants surrounding them.

Guo Jing ignored the enemies and looked first at the seven Taoists. Three were elderly, four were young. The elders were none other than Ma Yu,⁵ Qiu Chuji,⁶ and Wang Chuyi.⁷ Among the four younger ones, he recognised only Yin Zhiping.⁸ The seven sat motionless, arranged from the Celestial Pivot to the Twinkling Brilliance in the Big Dipper formation. Before them lay a Taoist face-down, unmoving, his hair white with age, his face hidden from view. Guo Jing saw that Ma Yu and the others were in dire straits, and hot blood surged in his chest. Not caring who the enemy was, he roared like spring thunder: “Impudent villains! How dare you run wild at Chongyang Palace?” He reached out and seized two enemies by the back. But as he prepared to hurl them away, both proved to be skilled fighters, their feet rooted firmly to the ground. He could not throw them. Guo Jing thought, “Where have all these tough opponents come from? No wonder the Quanzhen Sect faces disaster today.” He suddenly released his grip and swept his leg across. The two men had been using the Thousand-Catty Stance⁹ to resist his arm strength, never expecting him to switch techniques. The sweep sent them flying through the door.

The enemies were startled by the sudden arrival of a formidable fighter, but confident in their overwhelming advantage, they did not take it too seriously. Two men rushed forward, demanding, “Who are you?” Guo Jing paid them no heed. With two whooshing sounds, he struck out with both palms. Before the men could close in, his palm force knocked them off their feet. Thud, thud, their backs slammed against the wall, and they spat blood. Seeing him injure four men in his first exchange, the remaining enemies were greatly shaken, and for a moment none dared step forward to challenge him. Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and Wang Chuyi recognised him and were overjoyed, thinking, “With this man here, our sect is saved!”

Guo Jing, paying the enemy no further regard, knelt and kowtowed to Ma Yu and the others, saying, “Disciple Guo Jing pays his respects.” Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and Wang Chuyi smiled and nodded, raising their hands in return salute. Yin Zhiping suddenly cried, “Brother Guo, watch out!” Guo Jing heard the wind behind his head and knew someone was launching a sneak attack. Without rising, he braced his elbow against the floor, launched his body into the air, and as he descended, drove both knees into the backs of the two attackers, striking their Hunmen acupoints.¹⁰ The two men collapsed, paralysed. Guo Jing remained kneeling, but now with two human cushions beneath his knees.

Ma Yu smiled faintly. “Jing’er, rise. In over ten years, your skills have advanced greatly!” Guo Jing stood and said, “How shall we deal with these people? I await the venerable masters’ instructions.” Before Ma Yu could answer, Guo Jing heard two simultaneous laughs behind him, the sound deeply strange.

He turned at once and saw two men standing behind him. One wore a red robe and a golden crown, gaunt and withered, a middle-aged Mongol monk. The other wore a pale yellow brocade gown and held a folding fan, dressed like a noble scion, around thirty years old, his face marked by arrogance and cruelty. Guo Jing saw that their bearing was calm and weighty, utterly unlike the rest of the enemy, and dared not treat them lightly. Cupping his fists, he said, “Who are you two? What business brings you here?” The nobleman replied, “And who are you? What are you doing here?” His accent was impure, clearly not that of a native of the Central Plains.¹¹

Guo Jing said, “I am a disciple of these masters.” The nobleman sneered. “I never imagined the Quanzhen Sect still had someone like you.” He was a few years younger than Guo Jing, yet his speech was presumptuous and exceedingly arrogant. Guo Jing had meant to explain that he was not actually a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect, but the man’s flippant tone irritated him. Never skilled with words, he said no more, only: “What grievance do you two hold against the Quanzhen Sect, to muster such forces and set fire to the temple?” The nobleman sneered. “You are a junior of the Quanzhen Sect. This is no place for you to speak.” Guo Jing said, “Carrying on like this is far too overbearing.” By now the flames pressed even closer. It seemed only moments before they would reach the main hall of Chongyang Palace.

The nobleman opened and closed his folding fan with a snap, stepped forward, and laughed. “All these friends were brought by me. If you can withstand thirty moves from me, I’ll spare these old ox-noses.¹² What do you say?” Seeing the crisis deepen, Guo Jing had no desire for talk. His right hand shot out, seized the fan, and pulled hard towards himself. If the man did not release the fan, he would be dragged forward.

Under that pull, the nobleman’s body swayed several times, yet the fan did not leave his hand. Guo Jing was mildly surprised. “This man is young, yet he can withstand my pull. His neili technique resembles that of the Qinghai monk Lama Zhizhu,¹³ but far more cunning and agile. He must also belong to the Esoteric school.¹⁴ The ribs of his fan are forged from steel. It’s a weapon.” He increased his strength and barked, “Let go!” A layer of purple qi suddenly appeared on the nobleman’s face, then faded in an instant. Guo Jing knew he was desperately circulating his neili to resist. If Guo Jing increased his force now, once the purple qi appeared three times on the man’s face, his internal organs would surely be gravely injured. Thinking that it was no easy feat for the man to have trained to this level, Guo Jing was unwilling to use heavy force to harm him. He smiled faintly and suddenly opened his palm.

The fan lay flat on his palm. The nobleman’s pulling force had not yet dissipated, but Guo Jing’s palm strength, transmitted through the fan to the man’s hand, transformed into a pushing force. The nobleman could not keep his footing and was about to fly backward. Had Guo Jing added even a little more force, the man would have fallen flat on his back in a great tumble. But at that moment, Guo Jing released his grip. The nobleman understood: his opponent’s martial arts far surpassed his own, and he had refrained from shoving him down to preserve his dignity. Leaping back with his hands lowered, his face flushed red, he said, “May I ask your honoured name?” His tone had become considerably more respectful. Guo Jing replied, “My humble name is not worth mentioning. Masters Ma, Qiu, and Wang here are all my benefactors and teachers.”

The nobleman was half-doubtful. He had fought the Quanzhen elders for half the day, and only their Tiangang Big Dipper Array had proven formidable. In single combat, none seemed to be his match. How could their disciple be so formidable? He studied Guo Jing from head to toe, noting his plain, unremarkable features and coarse cloth garments, no different from an ordinary farmer. Yet the skill in his hands was truly unfathomable. He said, “Your martial arts are astonishing. This humble one is in awe. Ten years from now, I shall return for further instruction. I still have unfinished business here and will take my leave today.” He cupped his fists. Guo Jing returned the salute. “Ten years from now, I shall await you here.”

The nobleman turned and walked towards the door. At the threshold, he said, “In my dispute with the Quanzhen Sect, I admit defeat today. But I hope the Quanzhen Sect will mind its own business and not interfere with my private affairs.” According to the rules of the jianghu,¹⁵ if a man admitted defeat and set a date for a future duel, then until that date arrived, even if they met in a narrow alley, neither could raise a hand. Hearing this, Guo Jing agreed at once. “That is only natural.”

The nobleman smiled faintly, spoke a few words in Mongolian to the Mongol monk, and was about to leave when Qiu Chuji suddenly drew a deep breath and shouted, “No need to wait ten years. I, Qiu Chuji, will come looking for you.” His shout shook the roof tiles, revealing profound neili. The nobleman’s ears rang, and his heart tightened. “This old Taoist’s neili is not weak. Perhaps they were not using their full strength earlier.” Not daring to linger, he hurried towards the door. The red-robed Mongol monk cast a fierce glare at Guo Jing, then departed with the others.

Guo Jing noticed that among this group, many had unusual features: some with high noses and curly beards, others with deep-set eyes, clearly not people of the Central Plains. Puzzled, he heard the sounds of clashing weapons and battle cries from the square outside gradually die down, knowing the enemy was withdrawing.

Ma Yu and the other six rose to their feet. The old Taoist who had lain face-down still did not move. Guo Jing rushed over to look. It was Hao Datong,¹⁶ the Master of Broad Peace. Only then did he understand that Ma Yu and the others, though threatened by fire, had remained seated without moving in order to protect their fellow disciple. Hao Datong’s face was the colour of gold paper, his breathing faint, his eyes tightly shut, clearly gravely wounded. Guo Jing opened his Taoist robe and was startled. On Hao Datong’s chest was a handprint, five fingers spread wide, deep purple, sunk into the flesh. He thought, “The enemy’s martial arts are indeed of the Esoteric school. This is the Great Hand Seal technique.¹⁷ Though the palm carries no poison, its power surpasses that of Lama Zhizhu in those days.” He checked Hao Datong’s pulse and was relieved to find it still strong and vigorous. He knew that Hao Datong’s orthodox Xuanmen¹⁸ training, cultivated over many years, had given him no shallow neili. His life should not be in danger.

By now the fire in the rear courtyard pressed even closer. Qiu Chuji lifted Hao Datong in his arms and said, “Let us go outside!” Guo Jing asked, “Where is the child I brought? Who is looking after him? Don’t let the fire harm him.” Qiu Chuji and the others had been wholly absorbed in resisting the powerful enemy and knew nothing of this. Hearing his question, they all asked, “Whose child? Where?”

Before Guo Jing could answer, a small figure suddenly dropped from the rafters in the firelight and laughed. “I’m right here.” It was Yang Guo.¹⁹ Guo Jing was overjoyed. “Why were you hiding in the rafters?” Yang Guo laughed. “You and those seven stinking Taoists…” Guo Jing barked, “Nonsense! Come quickly and pay respects to your grandmasters.”

Yang Guo stuck out his tongue and kowtowed to Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and Wang Chuyi. When he reached Yin Zhiping, seeing that he was young, he turned to Guo Jing and asked, “This one isn’t a grandmaster, is he? I don’t think I need to kowtow.” Guo Jing said, “This is Uncle-Master Yin. Kowtow at once.” Deeply unwilling, Yang Guo complied. Guo Jing saw him rise and make no move to kowtow to the three middle-aged Taoists. He scolded, “Guoer, how can you be so rude?” Yang Guo laughed. “If I finish all my kowtowing, there won’t be time. Don’t blame me.”

Guo Jing asked, “What won’t there be time for?” Yang Guo said, “There’s a Taoist tied up in one of those rooms. If no one rescues him, he’ll probably burn to death.” Guo Jing asked urgently, “Which room? Tell me quickly!” Yang Guo pointed east. “Seems like it’s over there. No idea who tied him up, though.” He giggled.

Yin Zhiping shot him a sideways glare and rushed to the eastern wing. He kicked open the door but found no one. He ran to the eastern meditation chamber where third-generation disciples practised neigong. Pushing open the door, he found the room filled with thick smoke. A Taoist was bound to a bedpost, whimpering through his gag, the situation already dire. Yin Zhiping drew his sword, cut the ropes, and rescued him.

By now, Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Guo Jing, Yang Guo, and the others had all left the main hall and stood on the hillside watching the fire. Tongues of flame spat from every corner of the rear courtyard, the firelight reddening half the sky. The mountain’s water source was small, just a single spring, barely enough for daily use, useless for fighting a fire. They could only watch helplessly as the grand and magnificent rear courtyard gradually collapsed, beams breaking and tiles crumbling, reduced to ashes. The Quanzhen disciples worked together to cut off the fire’s path, sparing the remaining halls and quarters. Ma Yu was by nature philosophical, his heart free of attachment. Qiu Chuji, however, was hot-tempered and had only grown more so with age. Gazing at the raging flames, he gnashed his teeth and cursed.

Guo Jing was about to ask who the enemy was when he saw Yin Zhiping emerge from the thick smoke, supporting a portly Taoist under the arm. The Taoist, choking and coughing from the smoke, tears streaming from his eyes, caught sight of Yang Guo and flew into a rage, lunging at him. Yang Guo laughed and ducked behind Guo Jing. Not knowing who Guo Jing was, the Taoist shoved at his chest, meaning to push him aside and grab Yang Guo. But it was like pushing against a wall. Guo Jing did not budge. The Taoist froze, then pointed at Yang Guo and cursed, “You little bastard! You tried to kill me!” Wang Chuyi barked, “Qingdu, what are you shouting about?”

The Taoist, Lu Qingdu,²⁰ was Wang Chuyi’s grand-disciple. Having just escaped death, his heart was in turmoil. At the sight of Yang Guo, he had wanted to tear into him, completely oblivious that the zhangmen, his grandmaster, and Grandmaster Qiu were all present. Only at Wang Chuyi’s shout did he realise his impropriety. Breaking into a cold sweat, he lowered his head and hands. “This disciple deserves death.” Wang Chuyi said, “What exactly happened?” Lu Qingdu replied, “It’s all this disciple’s uselessness. Please punish me, Grandmaster.” Wang Chuyi frowned slightly and said with irritation, “Who said you were useful? I asked what happened.”

Lu Qingdu said, “Yes, yes. This disciple was ordered by my shifu to stand guard in the rear courtyard. Later, my shifu brought this little… little… little…” He desperately wanted to say “little bastard” but remembered he could not be rude before his grandmaster and changed his words: “…child and handed him to me, saying he was a great enemy of our sect who had been brought up the mountain, captured by my shifu, and that I should guard him well and not let him escape. So I took him to the eastern meditation chamber. Soon after we sat down, this little… child played a trick, saying he needed to relieve himself and asking me to untie the ropes on his hands. I thought, he’s just a small child, no harm in untying him. But as soon as I did, the child sat on the chamber pot pretending to defecate, then suddenly jumped up, grabbed the pot, and dumped all the filth on me.”

At this, Yang Guo let out a snicker. Lu Qingdu raged, “Little… little… what are you laughing at?” Yang Guo tilted his head back, eyes to the sky, and laughed. “I’m laughing to myself. What business is it of yours?” Lu Qingdu was about to argue further when Wang Chuyi said, “Stop bickering with a child. Continue.” Lu Qingdu said, “Yes, yes. Grandmaster, you don’t understand. This child is terribly cunning. When the filth came at me, I dodged in a hurry, but he laughed and said, ‘Oh dear, Reverend, I’ve soiled your clothes!’” The listeners, hearing him mimic Yang Guo’s voice in his thin, awkward tone, all suppressed their laughter. Wang Chuyi frowned, silently cursing this grand-disciple for making a fool of himself before outsiders.

Lu Qingdu continued, “Naturally, I was furious and rushed over to hit him. But the child raised the chamber pot and threw it at me again. I shouted, ‘You little bastard, what are you doing?’ and quickly used the move ‘Rapid Current Retreats’ to dodge. But I stepped right into the filth and slipped twice. At least I didn’t fall. But then this little… child, taking advantage of my confusion, drew the sword from my waist and pressed it against my chest, saying that if I moved even a little, he’d stab me through. I figured a wise man doesn’t court disaster, so I stayed still. With the sword in his left hand, the child used his right to tie me to the post with the rope, then cut a piece of my robe and stuffed it in my mouth. Later, when the palace caught fire, I couldn’t move or call out. If Uncle-Master Yin hadn’t rescued me, wouldn’t I have been burned alive by this child?” He glared at Yang Guo with bitter hatred.

Everyone looked at Yang Guo, then back at Lu Qingdu, one small and skinny, the other fat and towering, and could not help bursting into laughter. Lu Qingdu, utterly bewildered by the laughter, scratched his head and ears, at a complete loss.

Ma Yu laughed. “Jing’er, is this your son? He must have learned all his mother’s tricks to be so crafty and clever.” Guo Jing said, “No, this is the posthumous son of my sworn brother Yang Kang.”²¹

At the name Yang Kang, Qiu Chuji’s heart jolted. He studied Yang Guo’s features carefully and indeed saw a faint resemblance to Yang Kang. Yang Kang had been his only lay disciple. Though that disciple had been unworthy, coveting wealth and status, recognising a traitor as his father, Qiu Chuji always blamed himself whenever he thought of it, feeling he had failed as a teacher and allowed his student to stray. He had long carried this guilt. Now, hearing that Yang Kang had left a descendant, sorrow and joy mingled in his heart, and he pressed for details.

Guo Jing briefly recounted Yang Guo’s background and explained that he had brought him to join the Quanzhen Sect. Qiu Chuji said, “Jing’er, your martial arts have long surpassed ours. Why not teach him yourself?” Guo Jing replied, “I will explain that in due time. Today, in coming up the mountain, I offended many fellow Taoists and am deeply uneasy. I offer my apologies to all the venerable masters and beg your forgiveness.” He described how the Taoists had mistaken him for an enemy and the successive exchanges that had followed. Ma Yu said, “Had you not arrived in time to help, the Quanzhen Sect would have suffered utter defeat. We are all family here. Let there be no more talk of apologies or thanks.”

Qiu Chuji’s sword-like brows had long been raised. As soon as the zhangmen finished speaking, he said, “Zhi Jing was in charge of the outer formation and could not tell friend from foe. Utterly useless. I was wondering how such a strong formation outside could have let the enemy burst through so quickly and catch us off guard. Hmph, so he redeployed the Big Dipper Grand Formation to block you.” His beard and brows bristled with fury. He immediately summoned two disciples and questioned them about why they had mistaken Guo Jing for an enemy.

The two disciples looked terrified. The elder one said, “Junior Brothers Feng and Wei, stationed at the foot of the mountain, sent word that this… this Hero Guo had struck the stone tablet at Puguang Monastery. We assumed he must… must be with the enemy.”

Only then did Guo Jing understand. He had never imagined that all the misunderstandings had stemmed from this. He said, “Then the fellow Taoists cannot be blamed. At Puguang Monastery below the mountain, I inadvertently struck the tablet bearing the venerable masters’ poem with a heavy palm. That must have caused the misunderstanding.” Qiu Chuji said, “So that’s it. What a coincidence. We had learned in advance that the evil heretics attacking Chongyang Palace today would use striking the stone tablet as their signal.” Guo Jing asked, “Who exactly are these people, to dare such boldness?”

Qiu Chuji sighed. “It’s a long story. Jing’er, let me show you something.” He nodded to Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi, then turned and walked towards the rear of the mountain. Guo Jing said to Yang Guo, “Guoer, stay here with the grandmasters. Don’t wander off.” He followed Qiu Chuji, watching him stride towards the mountain behind the temple with steps as nimble as a young man’s.

The two men reached the summit. Qiu Chuji walked behind a great boulder and said, “There are characters carved here.”

By now the sky was dark, and behind the boulder it was pitch black. Guo Jing reached behind the stone and indeed felt carved characters. Tracing them one by one, he found it was a poem:

Zifang²² resolved to destroy Qin, once offered a shoe beneath a bridge. He aided Han in its glorious rise, a pillar holding up the sky, Then wandered with Master Red Pine,²³ his deeds done, he brushed his robes and left. Extraordinary men and extraordinary books, Heaven does not lightly bestow.

Chongyang²⁴ raised Quanzhen, gazing high with sweeping strides, A heroic figure, seizing the moment to carve out his domain. His reckless deeds he recognised as wrong, and withdrew his heart to the Tomb of the Living Dead. It is said that when he first entered the Way, two immortals met at this very place. Now beneath Zhongnan,²⁵ halls and towers rise through mist and cloud.

As he traced the characters, running his finger along the carved strokes, he suddenly realised with a start that the grooves matched his finger perfectly, as though the characters had been written with a finger on stone. He blurted out, “Written with a finger?”

Qiu Chuji said, “It sounds unbelievable, but it was indeed written with a finger!” Guo Jing said in wonder, “Could there truly be immortals in this world?” Qiu Chuji replied, “This poem was written by two people, both extraordinary figures of the wulin.²⁶ The one who wrote the first eight lines had an even more remarkable background: supremely gifted in both pen and sword, transcendent and peerless. Though not an immortal, he was a talent rarely seen in a hundred years.” Guo Jing was filled with admiration. “Who was this senior? Could the venerable master introduce me, so that I might pay my respects?” Qiu Chuji said, “I have never met him either. Sit down, and I will tell you the origins of today’s events.”

Guo Jing sat on the boulder as instructed, watching the firelight on the mountainside gradually fade. He suddenly said, “It’s a pity Ronger²⁷ didn’t come with me this time. Otherwise, we could listen to Master Qiu’s wondrous tales together. Wouldn’t that be fine?”

Qiu Chuji asked, “Do you understand the meaning of this poem?” Though Guo Jing was now middle-aged, Qiu Chuji still spoke to him in the same tone he had used when Guo Jing was a boy over ten years ago. Guo Jing felt this was only natural and replied, “The first eight lines seem to be about Zhang Liang. Ronger once told me that story, so I understand it. It says he retrieved a shoe for an old man beneath a bridge, and the man deemed him teachable and passed on an extraordinary book. Later, Zhang Liang helped Emperor Gaozu of Han found the dynasty and was counted among the Three Heroes of Han’s rise. In the end, he retired after achieving his deeds and lived in seclusion, following Master Red Pine. The later lines speak of Grandmaster Chongyang’s deeds, which I don’t fully understand.” Qiu Chuji asked, “Do you know what kind of man Grandmaster Chongyang was?”

Guo Jing paused, then answered, “Grandmaster Chongyang was your shifu, the founding patriarch of the Quanzhen Sect. At the Huashan Sword Summit²⁸ back then, his martial arts were number one under heaven.” Qiu Chuji said, “That’s right. But what about his youth?” Guo Jing shook his head. “I don’t know.” Qiu Chuji said, “‘A heroic figure, seizing the moment to carve out his domain.’ My honoured shifu was not born a Taoist. In his youth, he first studied literature, then trained in martial arts. He was a hero who roamed the jianghu. Furious at the Jin invaders who destroyed our fields and homes and slaughtered our people, he raised a great righteous army and fought against the Jin soldiers, seizing cities and territory, building a magnificent enterprise in the Central Plains. But in the end, the Jin forces were too strong. My shifu suffered defeat after defeat until his officers and soldiers were nearly all lost. Only then, in anger, did he leave the secular world. At that time, he called himself ‘the Living Dead’ and for several years dwelt in an ancient tomb on this very mountain, refusing to step beyond its door. His meaning was that though alive, he was as good as dead, unwilling to share the same sky as the Jin traitors. ‘Not sharing the same sky’, that was his sentiment.” Guo Jing said, “So that is how it was.”

Qiu Chuji continued, “Years later, my shifu’s old friends and former comrades came one after another to visit, urging him to leave the tomb and take up his cause once more. But my shifu’s heart had grown cold and weary, and he felt too ashamed to face his old companions of the jianghu. He steadfastly refused to emerge. It was not until eight years later, when a lifelong rival stood outside the tomb door and heaped abuse upon him, provoking him for seven days and seven nights, that my shifu could bear it no longer and came out to fight. But the man laughed and said, ‘Now that you’ve come out, there’s no need to go back in!’ My shifu suddenly understood: his enemy had acted out of goodwill, unable to bear seeing such a fine hero buried in a grave, and had used this scheme to provoke him out. After this turn of events, the two men turned from enemies to friends and roamed the jianghu together.”

Guo Jing, thinking of the heroic spirit of those predecessors, could not help but be lost in admiration. He asked, “Who was that senior? Surely not one of the four great masters: Eastern Heretic, Western Poison, Southern Emperor, or Northern Beggar?”²⁹

Qiu Chuji said, “No. In terms of martial arts, this person surpassed even the four great masters. But because she was a woman, she never showed herself in public, so few outsiders knew of her, and her name remained obscure.” Guo Jing said, “Ah, so it was a woman.” Qiu Chuji sighed. “This senior actually held deep feelings for my shifu and wished to marry him. All those years of constant quarrelling and fighting. That was her way of drawing close to him. But she was proud and aloof and could never bring herself to confess her feelings first. Later, my shifu naturally understood, but he could never set aside the hatred between nations. He often said: while the Xiongnu³⁰ remain unchecked, what use is a home? He feigned ignorance of her deep affection, pretending not to notice. The senior thought my shifu looked down on her, and her resentment grew boundless. The two, who had turned from enemies to friends, now turned from love to hatred and agreed to settle the matter by combat here on Mount Zhongnan.”

Guo Jing said, “Surely that wasn’t necessary.” Qiu Chuji replied, “Indeed! My shifu knew her intentions were good and kept yielding throughout. But the senior had a perverse temperament and said, ‘The more you yield, the more you look down on me.’ My shifu had no choice but to fight her. It was right here that the two seniors duelled, exchanging several thousand moves. My shifu held back his heaviest techniques, and they could not determine a victor. The woman raged, ‘You’re not truly fighting me. What do you take me for?’ My shifu said, ‘If martial combat cannot decide it, let us compete in the literary arts.’ She said, ‘Very well. If I lose, I will never see your face again, so your ears and eyes may be clean.’ My shifu asked, ‘And if you win, what do you want?’ Her face reddened, and she could not answer. Finally, she clenched her teeth and said, ‘Then you will give me your Tomb of the Living Dead to live in.’

“These words of hers carried a deeper meaning: she meant that if she won, she and my shifu would live together in that tomb. My shifu was deeply troubled. He reckoned his martial arts were slightly superior to hers, but forced into this corner, he had no choice but to defeat her to avoid future entanglements. He asked how they should compete. She said, ‘We are both tired today. We shall decide the victor tomorrow evening.’

“The next day at dusk, the two met again at this spot. She said, ‘Before we compete, we must set a rule.’ My shifu asked, ‘What rule now?’ She said, ‘If you win, I will take my own life on the spot, and you will never see my face again. If I win, you must either give me the Tomb of the Living Dead to live in and obey my every command for the rest of your life, never opposing any wish of mine, or else you must leave the secular world: become a monk if you like, or a Taoist. Whether monk or Taoist, you must build a temple or monastery on this mountain and keep me company for ten years.’ My shifu understood in his heart: ‘Obey your every command for life’ meant she wanted him to marry her. Otherwise, he must become a monk or Taoist, meaning he could never marry anyone else. And how could he bear to defeat her and drive her to suicide? Yet keeping her company on this mountain for ten years. That too was difficult. He hesitated for a long time. In truth, this woman senior was outstanding in talent, beauty, and martial arts. Her deep feelings were not lost on my shifu. But somehow, when it came to marriage, the fate was simply not there. After long deliberation, my shifu made up his mind. He knew this woman meant what she said: if she lost, she would surely take her own life. So he resolved to sacrifice himself for her sake. Whatever the contest, he would lose to her. He said, ‘Very well. So be it.’

“She said, ‘Our literary contest is simple. Each of us will use a finger to carve characters on this stone. Whoever writes better wins.’ My shifu said, ‘How can one carve with a finger?’ She replied, ‘This is a contest of finger skill. We shall see who can carve deeper.’ My shifu shook his head. ‘I am no immortal. How could I carve characters on stone with a finger?’ She said, ‘If I can do it, will you admit defeat?’ My shifu was caught between a rock and a hard place. He thought such a thing was impossible in this world and saw it as a perfect way to step down, ending in neither victory nor defeat, letting the contest dissolve into nothing. He said at once, ‘If you have such ability, I will naturally admit defeat. If you cannot either, then we are evenly matched and need not compete further.’

“She smiled sadly and said, ‘Very well. So you are determined to become a Taoist.’ With her left hand, she stroked the stone surface for a long while, deep in thought. ‘What shall I carve? Ah, since ancient times, the greatest hero among those who left the secular world was Zhang Zifang. He resisted the tyrannical Qin, sought neither fame nor profit. He is your predecessor.’ Then she extended the index finger of her right hand and began writing on the stone. My shifu watched as stone chips fell away wherever her finger passed, truly carving out character after character. He was utterly astonished. The characters she wrote on the stone were the first eight lines of this poem.

“My shifu was filled with admiration and had nothing to say. That very night, he moved out of the Tomb of the Living Dead and let her live there. The next day, he left the secular world and became a Taoist, building a small Taoist temple near the Tomb of the Living Dead, the predecessor of today’s Chongyang Palace.”

Guo Jing was amazed. He reached out and carefully felt the characters again. Indeed, they were neither chiselled nor carved but truly made by a finger. He said, “That senior’s finger skill is truly astonishing.” Qiu Chuji threw back his head and laughed. “Jing’er, this matter fooled my shifu, fooled me, and fools you even more. But had your wife been present, it would never have escaped her eyes.” Guo Jing’s eyes widened. “You mean there was trickery?”

Qiu Chuji said, “Need you even ask? Think: in this world, who is number one in finger skill?” Guo Jing replied, “Naturally, it is Great Master Yideng’s³¹ Yiyang Finger.”³² Qiu Chuji said, “Exactly! With Great Master Yideng’s transcendent finger skill, even on wood he might not be able to carve characters, let alone on stone. Let alone anyone else. After my shifu became a Taoist, he brooded over this puzzle without solving it. Later, your father-in-law, Senior Huang Yaoshi,³³ visited Mount Zhongnan. My shifu knew his wisdom was profound and obliquely mentioned the matter, seeking his insight. Island Master Huang thought for a long time, then laughed heartily. ‘I can do this too. But I haven’t yet trained this skill. I shall visit again in a month.’ Laughing, he descended the mountain. A month later, Island Master Huang returned and came with my shifu to view this stone. The previous senior’s poem had ended at ‘Extraordinary men and extraordinary books, Heaven does not lightly bestow,’ meaning that my shifu should follow Zhang Liang’s example and leave the world behind. Island Master Huang stroked the stone surface with his left hand for a long while, then suddenly extended his right hand and began writing on the stone. He wrote from ‘Chongyang raised Quanzhen’ to ‘halls and towers rise through mist and cloud’, all words in praise of my shifu.

“My shifu saw the rock sink deep beneath his touch, exactly as before, and was even more astonished. He thought, ‘Huang Yaoshi’s skill is clearly a notch below mine. How can he possess such fearsome finger power?’ Full of doubt, he suddenly jabbed his finger at the rock. Strangely, the rock yielded and his finger pierced a hole. Right here.” He guided Guo Jing’s hand to a spot on the rock.

Guo Jing felt a small hole. He inserted his index finger, and it fit perfectly, like a mould. He thought, “Could this rock be unusually soft?” He exerted force with his finger and squeezed hard, but only made his fingertip ache. The rock, of course, did not budge.

Qiu Chuji laughed heartily. “I doubt even a simpleton like you could figure out the trick. Before that woman senior wrote with her right finger, she first stroked the stone surface for a long time with her left hand. Hidden in her left palm was a large piece of Fossil-Softening Elixir,³⁴ which softened the stone surface. For about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the surface would not harden. Island Master Huang saw through the trick, went down the mountain to gather herbs and compound the Fossil-Softening Elixir, then returned to do the same.”

Guo Jing was silent for a long while, thinking, “My father-in-law’s wisdom is truly not inferior to that woman senior’s. But I wonder where he has gone.” His heart was heavy with concern.

Qiu Chuji, unaware of his thoughts, continued, “At first, my shifu was resentful about becoming a Taoist. But the more he read the Taoist scriptures, the more he attained great enlightenment, understanding that everything is governed by fate. He also penetrated the wondrous essence of purity and emptiness, devoted himself to arduous cultivation, and brought glory to our sect. Tracing back to the source, had that woman senior not provoked him so, there would be no Quanzhen Sect in this world, no Qiu of today, and who knows where you, Guo Jing, would even be.”

Guo Jing nodded in agreement and asked, “But what was that woman senior’s name? Is she still in this world?” Qiu Chuji sighed. “When that woman senior roamed the jianghu performing heroic deeds, her movements were exceedingly secretive. Very few ever saw her true face. Aside from my shifu, I fear no one in this world knows her real name, and my shifu never spoke of it to anyone. She passed away before the first Huashan Sword Summit. Otherwise, with her martial arts and temperament, how could she have not participated?”

Guo Jing nodded. “Indeed. Did she leave any descendants?” Qiu Chuji sighed. “That is where the trouble lies. That senior never took disciples in her life, keeping only a personal maidservant to attend her. The two of them endured in that tomb, not emerging for over ten years. The senior passed all her astonishing martial arts to that maidservant. The maidservant never set foot in the jianghu, so naturally no one in the wulin knew of her. But she took two disciples. The elder is surnamed Li. You must know her: the jianghu calls her the Scarlet Serpent Immortal,³⁵ Li Mochou.”³⁶

Guo Jing let out an “Ah!” He said, “That Li Mochou is vicious beyond measure. So this is her origin.” Qiu Chuji asked, “You’ve met her?” Guo Jing replied, “A few months ago, I encountered her in the jianghu. Her martial arts are indeed formidable.” Qiu Chuji asked, “Did you injure her?” Guo Jing shook his head. “No. In truth, we never truly faced each other. I only saw her kill several people in succession, utterly ruthless, surpassing even the Iron Corpse Mei Chaofeng³⁷ of those days.”

Qiu Chuji said, “It’s just as well you didn’t injure her, or the trouble would be endless. Her junior sister is surnamed Long…” Guo Jing started. “That woman surnamed Long?” Qiu Chuji’s expression shifted slightly. “What? You’ve met her too? Did something happen?” Guo Jing said, “This disciple has not met her. But in coming up the mountain today, the fellow brothers repeatedly cursed me as a demon and a lecher, saying I had come for the woman surnamed Long. It left me utterly bewildered.”

Qiu Chuji laughed heartily, then sighed. “It was also fate that Chongyang Palace should suffer this calamity. Had it not been for a series of errors and coincidences creating this misunderstanding, not only would the Big Dipper Grand Formation have surely blocked those evil heretics, but had you arrived even a quarter-hour earlier, Junior Brother Hao would not have been so gravely wounded.” Seeing Guo Jing’s face full of confusion, he said, “Today is that woman surnamed Long’s eighteenth birthday.” Guo Jing echoed absently, “Ah, her eighteenth birthday!” But how a young woman’s eighteenth birthday could cause such a catastrophe, he still did not understand in the slightest.

Qiu Chuji said, “What that woman surnamed Long’s name is, outsiders naturally have no way of knowing. Those evil heretics all call her Xiao Longnü,³⁸ so we shall call her that too. Eighteen years ago, one night, the sound of an infant’s crying was suddenly heard outside Chongyang Palace. Disciples went out to investigate and found a baby wrapped in a bundle, placed on the ground. It would have been most inconvenient for Chongyang Palace to take in the infant, but those who have left the secular world take compassion as their foundation and could not simply ignore it. At that time, neither the zhangmen nor I were on the mountain, and the disciples were at a loss. Suddenly, a middle-aged woman appeared from behind the mountain and said, ‘This child is pitiful. Let me take her in.’ The disciples could not have asked for more and immediately gave her the infant. Later, when Senior Brother Ma and I returned to the palace, they told us of this. Hearing the description of the woman’s appearance and dress, we realised it was the maidservant who dwelt in the Tomb of the Living Dead. We Seven Masters of Quanzhen³⁹ had met her a few times but had never exchanged words. Though our two homes were close, because of the entanglements of the previous generation, it was truly a case of hearing each other’s chickens and dogs yet never visiting until death. We heard the story and thought no more of it.

“Later, her disciple, the Scarlet Serpent Immortal Li Mochou, emerged into the world. This woman was ruthless and cruel, her martial arts extremely high, and she turned the jianghu upside down. The Quanzhen Sect discussed the matter several times, wanting to deal with her, but out of respect for our neighbour in the tomb, we found it awkward to act. We wrote a letter and sent it into the tomb, the wording most courteous. But after the letter was delivered, it was like a stone sinking into the sea. No reply ever came. And she continued to indulge Li Mochou as before, making no attempt to restrain her.

“A few years later, one day a white mourning banner appeared, draped over the thorn bushes outside the tomb. We knew that our fellow practitioner had passed away. The six of us, shifu and disciples, went to the tomb to pay our respects. Just as we finished our obeisance, a girl of thirteen or fourteen emerged from the thorn bushes, returned our salute, and thanked us for our condolences. She said, ‘Before my shifu passed away, she instructed me to tell the venerable masters: that person’s evil deeds run rampant, but my shifu has her own method of controlling her. Please do not trouble yourselves.’ With that, she turned and went back inside. We wanted to ask more, but she had already entered the tomb gate. Our founding patriarch left a strict injunction: no member of the Quanzhen Sect may ever set foot beyond the tomb gate. Since she had gone in, we could only let it be. Still, we all wondered: with that fellow practitioner dead, what method could she possibly have to control her disciple? Seeing the young girl alone and pitiful, we sent some provisions and daily necessities, but each time she returned them untouched, sent back by a serving woman. It seemed this person had a perverse temperament, just like her grandmaster and her shifu. But since she had a serving woman to care for her, there was no need for others to worry. Later, we were occupied with affairs in all directions and were seldom at the palace, so we heard little news of this young lady. Somehow, Li Mochou suddenly vanished from the jianghu and caused no more trouble. We assumed that our fellow practitioner had indeed left behind a marvellous strategy and felt deep admiration.

“Last spring, Junior Brother Wang and I travelled to the northwest on business and stayed at the home of a great hero in Ganzhou.⁴⁰ There we heard startling news. It was said that one year hence, evil heretics from all directions would gather at Mount Zhongnan for some purpose. Mount Zhongnan is the root and foundation of the Quanzhen Sect. If they were coming up the mountain, it must be against our sect. How could we not take precautions? Junior Brother Wang and I feared the information might be unreliable and sent men out in all directions to investigate. The news proved true. However, they were not coming to Mount Zhongnan for our sect, but were scheming against Xiao Longnü in the Tomb of the Living Dead.” Guo Jing said, puzzled, “She’s just a young girl who never goes out. How could she have made enemies of these evil heretics?” Qiu Chuji replied, “As for the exact details, since it didn’t concern us, we needn’t have bothered. But once this mob of evildoers reached Mount Zhongnan, we could not remain uninvolved. So we made every effort to gather information and learned that this affair had been stirred up by Xiao Longnü’s senior sister.” Guo Jing said, “Li Mochou?”

Qiu Chuji said, “Indeed. It turned out that after their shifu had taught Li Mochou for a few years, she perceived her disciple’s inherently wicked nature and told her she had completed her training, ordering her to leave the mountain. While her shifu was alive, Li Mochou, though she committed evil, still had some restraint. Once her shifu died, she used the pretext of mourning to force her way into the Tomb of the Living Dead, intending to drive out her junior sister. She knew she had not fully learned the ultimate arts of her grandmaster and shifu and wanted to search the tomb for martial arts manuals and other relics. But the tomb was laid with many ingenious traps. Li Mochou exhausted every scheme and only managed to pass through two tomb gates. At the third gate, she found a letter left by her shifu. Her shifu had long anticipated that she would come and had left this letter waiting for her. It stated: on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, which would be her junior sister’s eighteenth birthday, from that day forward her junior sister would become the zhangmen of their school. The letter also urged her to sincerely reform her ways, or she would not meet a good end. This was to make clear that if she persisted in evil without repentance, her junior sister, as zhangmen, would cleanse the school of her.

“Li Mochou was furious and tried to force the third gate, but fell into a trap her shifu had set in advance. Had Xiao Longnü not treated her injuries, she would have died on the spot. She knew the danger and had to withdraw, but how could she accept defeat so easily? She tried several more times, each attempt ending in disaster. The last time, she actually fought her junior sister. At that time, Xiao Longnü was only fifteen or sixteen, yet her martial arts already far surpassed her senior sister’s. Had she not held back, taking Li Mochou’s life would not have been difficult…”

Guo Jing interjected, “I fear the rumours in the jianghu may be inaccurate.” Qiu Chuji asked, “How so?” Guo Jing said, “My benefactor, Hero Ke,⁴¹ has fought Li Mochou twice. He says her martial arts are truly exceptional. Even Great Master Yideng’s senior disciple, Brother Wu Santong,⁴² was defeated by her. If Xiao Longnü is not yet twenty, no matter how good her skills, she could hardly surpass Li Mochou.”

Qiu Chuji said, “That was something Junior Brother Wang heard from a friend in the Beggars’ Gang.⁴³ Whether Xiao Longnü truly defeated her senior sister Li Mochou. There was no third party present, so no one knows. It’s just that such rumours circulate in the jianghu. In any case, this made Li Mochou even more resentful. She knew her shifu had been partial, leaving the highest skills to her junior sister. So she spread word that on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, Xiao Longnü of the Tomb of the Living Dead would hold a martial arts contest to choose a husband…” At the words “martial arts contest to choose a husband,” Guo Jing immediately thought of what had happened to Yang Kang and Mu Nianci⁴⁴ in the capital all those years ago and could not help letting out a soft “Ah.”

Qiu Chuji understood his thoughts and sighed as well. “She proclaimed: whoever could defeat Xiao Longnü would not only win her hand in marriage, but also receive all the rare treasures and martial arts manuals within the tomb. Those evil heretics originally had no idea who Xiao Longnü was, but Li Mochou spread word everywhere that her junior sister’s beauty far surpassed her own. This Scarlet Serpent Immortal is said to be exceedingly beautiful. Her looks are rare not only in the wulin but even among the daughters of great houses.”

Guo Jing thought to himself, “What’s so remarkable about that? My Ronger is a hundred times more beautiful.”

Qiu Chuji continued, “Among the wicked figures of the jianghu, quite a few are infatuated with Li Mochou. But she favours none of them, and anyone who shows the slightest disrespect meets a vicious death. Now, hearing that she has a junior sister even more beautiful, and that she is openly holding a martial arts contest for marriage, who wouldn’t want to try their hand?”

Guo Jing suddenly understood. “So all these people came seeking marriage. No wonder the Taoist brothers cursed me as a lecher and a demon.” Qiu Chuji laughed heartily, then continued, “We also learned that these evildoers were not entirely without fear of the Quanzhen Sect. They gathered in force on Mount Zhongnan, and if we interfered, they planned to take the opportunity to wipe out the Quanzhen Sect altogether. Once we had this information, we resolved to deal with the evildoers. We immediately sent out summons, calling together Taoists of all generations of our sect to assemble at Chongyang Palace ten days early. Only Senior Brother Liu⁴⁵ and Junior Sister Sun⁴⁶ were in Shanxi and could not return in time. While drilling the Big Dipper Formation, we also sent a letter into the tomb, warning Xiao Longnü to be on guard. But once again, the letter went in with no reply. Xiao Longnü paid it no attention whatsoever.”

Guo Jing said, “Perhaps she is no longer in the tomb.” Qiu Chuji replied, “No. Looking out from the summit, every day we can see cooking smoke rising from behind the tomb. Look, it’s right over there.” He pointed west. Guo Jing followed his finger and saw the mountain lush and green to the west, over ten li⁴⁷ of dense forest. He could not tell where the Tomb of the Living Dead lay. He imagined an eighteen-year-old girl spending all year in a tomb chamber. If it were the lively and active Ronger, she would truly die of boredom.

Qiu Chuji continued, “We brothers spent days arranging our defences. Five days ago, our scouts returned one after another and reported that the two most formidable among the evildoers were two great demon heads. They had agreed to first gather at Puguang Monastery below the mountain, using a palm strike on the stone tablet as their signal. You inadvertently struck the tablet and displayed astonishing power, sending my useless disciples and grand-disciples into a panic. Those two great demon heads are both disciples of Mongolian Esoteric Buddhism. Their martial arts are not weak. In their few appearances in the Central Plains this year, they have shaken the wulin. Living in seclusion on Peach Blossom Island,⁴⁸ cut off from the world, you would not know of them. The nobleman is a Mongol prince, said to be a close descendant of the Great Khan Genghis Khan⁴⁹ himself. Others call him Prince Huo Du.⁵⁰ You spent a long time in the great desert and know the Mongol royal house well. Can you guess his origins?”

Guo Jing murmured “Prince Huo Du” several times, recalling the man’s appearance and manner, but could not think whose descendant he might be. He felt the man’s features were handsome and refined, his arrogance and cruelty mixed with considerable cunning. Genghis Khan had four sons: the eldest, Jochi, was fierce and heroic. The second, Chagatai, was hot-tempered yet shrewd. The third, Ögedei, now the Mongol Emperor, was generous and mild. The fourth, Tolui, was passionate and bold. None of them resembled this Huo Du in appearance.

Qiu Chuji said, “Perhaps he inflates his own status with wild boasts. That’s possible too. His martial arts belong to the Esoteric school. He came to the Central Plains early this year and immediately injured the Three Heroes of Henan. Later, on the Gansu-Liangzhou road, he single-handedly killed the Seven Tyrants of Lanzhou. His name instantly resounded across half the land. We never imagined he would involve himself in this affair. The other Mongol monk is called Da’erba.⁵¹ He possesses heaven-born divine strength, and his martial arts are entirely of the same school as Huo Du’s. He seems to be Huo Du’s senior brother or uncle-master. As a monk, he naturally hasn’t come to marry the girl. Most likely he’s here to help Huo Du.

“The rest of the lechers and villains, seeing these two take the lead, all gave up any thought of winning the bride. However, back then Li Mochou had loudly proclaimed that the ancient tomb held treasures piled like mountains and countless martial arts manuals: the manual of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms,⁵² the techniques of the Yiyang Finger, and so on, all complete. Though the villains were half-doubtful, they figured that as long as they followed up the mountain and opened the ancient tomb, they could at least share in some of the spoils. That’s why over a hundred people came to Mount Zhongnan. Originally, our Big Dipper Formation could have blocked all these second-rate characters at the foot of the mountain. Even if we couldn’t capture them, we could have kept them from taking a single step near Chongyang Palace. But it was fate that our sect should suffer this calamity. The misunderstanding arose for no reason at all. Enough said.”

Guo Jing felt deeply apologetic and stammered, trying to say words of contrition. Qiu Chuji waved his hand and laughed. “Step out the door and laugh, free of all hindrance: clouds over West Lake, the moon in the sky. Palaces and halls, pavilions and chambers are all external things. Even the body and its shell are not worth begrudging. Why care about these external possessions? You’ve diligently cultivated your neili for over ten years. Can you still not see through this?” Guo Jing smiled too and answered, “Yes!” Qiu Chuji laughed. “In truth, when I watched the rear courtyard of Chongyang Palace burning in fierce flames, I too raged and stormed. Only now have I calmed down. Compared to Senior Brother Ma, who was free of attachment in that very moment, my cultivation is far, far inferior.” Guo Jing said, “With these villains bullying their way in for no reason at all, it’s no wonder the venerable master was angry.”

Qiu Chuji said, “The Big Dipper Grand Formation was fully occupied dealing with you. The two demon heads led a band of villains and seized the gap to attack the front of Chongyang Palace. They set fires as soon as they arrived. Junior Brother Hao went out to fight Prince Huo Du. He was too careless, and Huo Du’s martial arts are of a unique style, bizarre and peculiar. Junior Brother Hao was somewhat rash in his opening moves and took a palm to the chest. We hurriedly formed our formation to protect him. But missing Junior Brother Hao, the disciple who filled his place was far inferior in skill and unfamiliar with the formation, so the formation’s power was limited. Had you not arrived in time, the Quanzhen Sect would truly have suffered utter defeat today. Thinking back now, even if the disciples at the foot of the mountain hadn’t mistaken you for an enemy, those second-rate villains could not have climbed the mountain, but Da’erba and Huo Du could not have been stopped in the end. If those two had joined forces against our Big Dipper Formation, we would not have lost, but we could never have won as cleanly and decisively as you did…” Just as he reached this point, they heard a long, drawn-out wail from the west: someone was blowing a horn. The horn’s call was desolate and stirring. Hearing it, Guo Jing’s heart flew to the Yin Mountains,⁵³ his spirit raced across the great desert, and he recalled the boundless yellow sands and endless plains of Mongolia.

Listening further, he suddenly sensed a faint murderous intent in the horn’s call, as though issuing a challenge. Qiu Chuji’s face showed anger. “Wretched creature, wretched creature!” He gazed at the forest to the west and said, “Jing’er, that villain made a ten-year pact with you, deluding himself that during those ten years he can run rampant as he pleases without your interference. Does he think the world works so conveniently? Let us go!” Guo Jing asked, “Is it Prince Huo Du?” Qiu Chuji replied, “Who else? He is challenging Xiao Longnü.” As he spoke, he flew down the mountain. Guo Jing followed behind.

The two men had travelled about a li when the horn sounded even more urgently. Amid the wailing notes came the clang of metal striking metal, clearly Da’erba had joined in too. Qiu Chuji raged, “Two renowned martial arts masters ganging up to bully a young girl. How utterly shameless.” His steps quickened. In moments, the two reached the mountainside and rounded a stone wall. Before Guo Jing’s eyes lay a vast, dark forest. Outside it stood over a hundred people, tall and short, the same evildoers who had just besieged Chongyang Palace. The two men concealed themselves behind the stone wall and observed.

Prince Huo Du and Da’erba stood side by side. Huo Du raised his horn and blew. Da’erba held a great golden pestle high in his left hand while striking a golden bracelet on his right wrist against it, producing clanging sounds that echoed the horn’s call, trying to lure Xiao Longnü out. The two made their noise for some time, but the forest remained utterly silent, without the slightest sound.

Huo Du lowered his horn and declared in a clear voice, “I, Huo Du of the Mongols, respectfully offer my congratulations on Miss Long’s blessed birthday.” As his words ended, three notes of a zither rang out from the forest, zheng, zheng, zheng, as though Xiao Longnü were answering with her instrument. Huo Du was overjoyed and continued, “I have heard that Miss Long has proclaimed to the world that today she will hold a martial arts contest to choose a husband. Though unworthy, I have come to seek your guidance and beg that you not begrudge me your instruction.” Suddenly, the zither’s notes grew fierce and agitated, thick with anger. Even those evildoers who understood nothing of music could tell that the player’s heart was far from calm and that she was sending them away.

Huo Du laughed. “I come from a noble and illustrious house, and my appearance is not unseemly. To win a fine match would hardly disgrace you. You are a heroine of this age. There is no need for shyness.” At these words, the zither’s melody rose even higher, carrying an unmistakable note of rebuke.

Huo Du glanced at Da’erba, and the monk nodded. Huo Du said, “Since the young lady refuses to show herself, I shall have to insist.” He put away his horn, waved his right hand, and strode boldly into the forest. The mob surged forward behind him, all thinking, “Even the renowned Quanzhen Sect couldn’t stop us. What can a lone young girl like Xiao Longnü possibly do?” But fearing that others might get ahead and seize the tomb’s treasures first, each man scrambled to be first, pouring into the forest.

Qiu Chuji shouted, “This is the former residence of the Quanzhen patriarch, the Chongyang Perfected One. Withdraw at once!” The crowd heard his cry and hesitated briefly, but their feet did not slow. Qiu Chuji raged, “Jing’er, let us act!” The two emerged from behind the stone wall and were about to charge into the forest when they suddenly heard the mob shouting and fleeing back out.

Qiu Chuji and Guo Jing froze. They saw dozens of men running for their lives, and then Huo Du and Da’erba also came rushing out, their discomfiture far exceeding their earlier retreat from Chongyang Palace. Both men were astonished. “What method did Xiao Longnü use to drive away the evildoers?” The thought had barely flashed through their minds when they heard a buzzing sound approaching from afar. Under the moonlight, they saw a white, hazy mass of something flying swiftly out of the forest, swooping towards the evildoers’ heads. Guo Jing asked in wonder, “What is that?” Qiu Chuji shook his head without answering, staring intently. Among the jianghu fighters, a few who ran slower were struck on the head by the swarm and collapsed at once, clutching their heads and howling.

Guo Jing cried in alarm, “It’s a swarm of bees! Why are they white?” Even as he spoke, the jade-coloured bees stung five or six more people. Over a dozen men rolled on the ground before the forest, their screams horrifying, chilling to hear. Guo Jing thought, “Even if stung by bees, it can’t be so painful as to make them squeal like slaughtered pigs. Could these jade bees carry an extraordinary venom?” He saw a grey blur shift, and the swarm of jade bees, like a plume of thick smoke, came rushing towards him and Qiu Chuji.

Seeing the ferocious approach of the swarm, impossible to withstand, Guo Jing was about to turn and flee when Qiu Chuji gathered his qi in his dantian,⁵⁴ opened his mouth, and blew a great gust of breath at the swarm. The bees, flying at full speed, suddenly met a powerful wind and faltered. As Qiu Chuji finished one breath, he immediately released a second. Guo Jing caught the technique and joined in, channelling his strength into his breath, merging it with Qiu Chuji’s into a single continuous stream. Both men used the supreme techniques of orthodox Xuanmen. The bee swarm could not withstand it. The foremost several hundred bees were deflected off course and swept past the two men, resuming their pursuit of Huo Du, Da’erba, and the others.

By now, the cries of the dozen or so people rolling on the ground had grown even more agonising, calling for their fathers and mothers, wailing in misery. Some even cried out, “This humble one knows his error! Please, Fairy Miss Long, save me!” Guo Jing was secretly horrified. “These men are all desperadoes of the jianghu. Even if you cut off an arm or a leg, they might not beg for mercy or cry out in pain. How can the sting of a tiny bee be so fearsome?”

Then the sound of a zither came from the forest, and a faint white smoke rose above the treetops. Qiu Chuji and Guo Jing caught an intensely sweet fragrance of flowers. Before long, the buzzing drew near again. The jade bees, smelling the floral scent, flew back into the forest. Xiao Longnü had burned incense to recall them.

Qiu Chuji had been Xiao Longnü’s neighbour for eighteen years and had never known she possessed such abilities. He felt both admiration and amusement and said, “Had I known our fair neighbour was so divinely capable, the Quanzhen Sect could have saved itself a great deal of trouble.” Though these words were addressed to Guo Jing, he projected them with his qi, intending Xiao Longnü to hear. Sure enough, the zither’s melody in the forest softened, becoming gentle and serene, clearly expressing gratitude for his noble sentiment. Qiu Chuji laughed heartily and called out, “Miss, no need for excessive courtesy. I, the poor Taoist Qiu Chuji, along with my disciple Guo Jing, respectfully offer congratulations on your blessed birthday.” The zither sounded twice in reply, as if acknowledging the greeting, then fell silent.

Guo Jing, hearing the pitiful cries of those men, said, “Venerable master, how can we save these people?” Qiu Chuji replied, “Miss Long will handle it herself. Let us go.”

The two turned and headed back east. On the way, Guo Jing again entreated Qiu Chuji to accept Yang Guo as a disciple. Qiu Chuji sighed. “Your Uncle Yang Tiexin⁵⁵ was a heroic man. How could he be without descendants? In Yang Kang coming to such an end, I too bear some fault. Rest assured, I will devote my heart and strength to raising this child to adulthood.” Guo Jing was overjoyed and knelt right there on the mountain path to give thanks.

Chatting as they walked, the two returned to the front of Chongyang Palace. The sky had already brightened. The Taoists were tidying the smouldering ruins of the rear courtyard, clearing away tiles and stones.

Qiu Chuji assembled the Taoists and introduced Guo Jing. Pointing to the long-bearded Taoist who had commanded the Big Dipper Grand Formation, he said, “This is Junior Brother Wang’s senior disciple, named Zhao Zhijing.⁵⁶ Among the third-generation disciples, his martial arts are the most refined. Let him guide Guoer’s training.”

Guo Jing had crossed hands with this man and knew his martial arts were indeed impressive. Delighted, he had Yang Guo perform the ceremony of taking a shifu before Zhao Zhijing, and he himself expressed his profound thanks to Zhao Zhijing.

He lingered on Mount Zhongnan for several days, earnestly admonishing and instructing Yang Guo, explaining in detail that the Quanzhen Sect’s martial arts were the orthodox school of wugong,⁵⁷ that back then Wang Chongyang’s martial arts had been number one under heaven, unmatched by any grandmaster of any school. The reason he himself had been able to defeat the Taoists, he explained, was simply that the Taoists had not yet trained to the highest level. It was not that the Quanzhen martial arts were inferior. But Yang Guo was convinced that Guo Jing and his wife simply did not want to teach him skills and were foisting him off on someone else. Moreover, he had witnessed with his own eyes the Taoists breaking their swords and falling in disarray. No matter how many times Guo Jing explained, Yang Guo nodded and agreed verbally, but in his heart he refused to believe a word. Guo Jing settled Yang Guo in, bade farewell to everyone, and returned to Peach Blossom Island.

Qiu Chuji reflected on how, all those years ago, he had taught Yang Kang martial arts while allowing him to live in comfort and luxury in the prince’s mansion, ultimately leading to grave error. He thought, “Since ancient times, strict teachers produce outstanding disciples, and the rod produces filial sons. This time, I must be strict with Guoer in discipline and instruction, so as not to repeat his father’s mistakes.” He summoned Yang Guo and delivered a stern lecture, ordering him to endure hardship, obey his shifu in all things, and not be the slightest bit negligent.

Yang Guo had already been deeply unwilling to remain on Mount Zhongnan. Now, receiving an undeserved scolding for no reason, he was filled with indignation. Holding back his tears, he agreed at the time, but as soon as Qiu Chuji walked away, he could not help bursting into loud sobs. Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind him. “What’s this? Did Grandmaster say something wrong?”

Startled, Yang Guo stopped crying and turned. Standing behind him was none other than his shifu, Zhao Zhijing. He quickly lowered his hands and said, “No.” Zhao Zhijing asked, “Then why are you crying?” Yang Guo replied, “This disciple was thinking of Uncle Guo and felt sad.” Zhao Zhijing had clearly heard Grandmaster Qiu’s stern lecture, yet the boy claimed he was crying over Guo Jing. Displeased, he thought, “This child is so cunning at such a young age. If I don’t punish him severely, how will he ever reform?” His face darkened as he barked, “You dare lie to your shifu?”

Yang Guo had seen the Quanzhen Taoists beaten to a pulp by Guo Jing and had watched Qiu Chuji and the others driven to desperation by Huo Du’s band of evildoers, saved only by Guo Jing’s intervention. In his heart, he was convinced that these Taoists’ skills were all mediocre. He didn’t even respect Qiu Chuji, let alone Zhao Zhijing. Seeing his shifu’s unpleasant expression, he thought, “I only took you as my shifu because I had no choice. Even if I trained my martial arts to be exactly like yours, what use would it be? You’d still be one big worthless lump. Why are you acting so fierce?” He turned his head away and did not answer.

Zhao Zhijing flew into a rage and raised his voice even higher. “I asked you a question. How dare you not answer?” Yang Guo said, “What does Shifu want me to answer?” Hearing this insolent reply, Zhao Zhijing could no longer contain his fury. He swung his hand back and slapped Yang Guo across the face, making his cheek red and swollen. Yang Guo let out a wail and broke into a run. Zhao Zhijing chased after him, grabbed him, and demanded, “Where are you going?” Yang Guo said, “Let go of me! I’m not learning martial arts from you anymore.”

Zhao Zhijing grew even angrier and barked, “You little bastard, what did you say?” By now, Yang Guo had thrown caution to the wind and cursed, “Stinking Taoist! Dog Taoist! Go ahead and beat me to death!” In those days, the bond between shifu and disciple was regarded as the most solemn of ties. In the wulin, the shifu-disciple relationship was like that of father and son. Even if a shifu decided to execute a disciple, the disciple often dared not resist. For Yang Guo to dare curse his shifu was an act of unfilial rebellion rarely seen or heard of. Zhao Zhijing’s face turned sallow with rage. He raised his palm to strike Yang Guo’s face again. Yang Guo suddenly leapt up, wrapped his arms around Zhao Zhijing’s arm, opened his mouth, and bit down hard on his right index finger, sinking his teeth deep into the flesh.

Ever since Ouyang Feng⁵⁸ had taught Yang Guo the secret formula of neili, Yang Guo had practised it regularly and had already built some foundation. Zhao Zhijing, in his towering rage, and thinking him just a small child, had taken no precautions whatsoever. Now, with Yang Guo clinging tightly and biting fiercely, he could not shake him off. The fingers connect to the heart. Pain in the fingers is the hardest to bear. Zhao Zhijing struck Yang Guo’s shoulder heavily with his left fist and shouted, “Are you courting death? Let go!” But Yang Guo, his heart filled with mad fury, was determined not to release his grip even if blades and spears were brought against him. Feeling the intense pain in his shoulder, he bit down even harder. With a crack, his teeth reached the bone. Zhao Zhijing screamed, “Aiyo!” He drove his left fist hard onto the crown of Yang Guo’s head, knocking him unconscious. Only then did he pinch Yang Guo’s jaw and extract his right index finger. His hand was covered in fresh blood, the finger bone broken. Though the bone could be set and healed, that finger would never have the same strength as before, and his martial arts would inevitably suffer. In his fury, he kicked Yang Guo several more times.

He tore a strip from Yang Guo’s sleeve, bandaged his finger wound, and looked around. Fortunately, no one was nearby. If this matter became known and spread through the jianghu, that Zhao Zhijing of the Quanzhen Sect had his finger bone bitten through by a young disciple, his face would be utterly lost. He fetched a basin of cold water and splashed it over Yang Guo to revive him.

As soon as Yang Guo regained consciousness, he lunged at Zhao Zhijing again like a madman. Zhao Zhijing seized him by the chest and barked, “Animal! Do you truly not want to live?” Yang Guo cursed, “Dog thief! Stinking Taoist! Long-bearded goat! Useless wretch who got beaten crawling on the ground and eating dirt by my Uncle Guo! You’re the animal!”

Zhao Zhijing struck him again with his right palm. This time he was on guard, and no matter how Yang Guo tried to retaliate, he could not get close. In the blink of an eye, Zhao Zhijing sent him tumbling with several kicks. If Zhao Zhijing had wanted to injure him, it would have been easy. But he considered that the boy was, after all, his disciple. If he struck too heavily, how would he answer to his shifu and uncle-masters? Yet Yang Guo fought blindly and ferociously, as if locked in a life-or-death struggle, as though he and Zhao Zhijing shared an irreconcilable hatred. Though his body took punch after punch and kick after kick, the pain unbearable, he showed not the slightest sign of retreat.

Zhao Zhijing rained punches and kicks on Yang Guo, but in his heart he deeply regretted it. He watched as Yang Guo, though wounded all over, grew fiercer the longer he fought. Finally, with no other choice, Zhao Zhijing extended his left hand and pressed a finger into Yang Guo’s side, sealing his acupoint. Yang Guo lay on the ground, unable to move, his eyes filled with fury. Zhao Zhijing said, “You rebellious disciple, do you submit or not?” Yang Guo glared at him, showing no sign of yielding. Zhao Zhijing sat on a large rock, panting heavily. Had he been fighting a skilled opponent, he would not have been out of breath after such a short exchange. His limbs were not tired. It was the rage in his heart, impossible to calm.

Shifu and disciple glared at each other. Zhao Zhijing could think of no good way to handle this stubborn child. As he fretted, the clang of bells suddenly rang out: the zhangmen was summoning all disciples. Zhao Zhijing was startled. He said to Yang Guo, “If you stop being rebellious, I’ll release you.” He reached out and unsealed Yang Guo’s acupoint.

But Yang Guo sprang up and threw himself at Zhao Zhijing again. Zhao Zhijing stepped back two paces and said angrily, “I’m not hitting you. What more do you want?” Yang Guo said, “Will you hit me again in the future or not?” Zhao Zhijing heard the urgent ringing of the bells and dared not delay. He could only say, “If you behave, why would I hit you?” Yang Guo said, “Fine then. Shifu, if you don’t hit me, I’ll call you Shifu. But if you hit me even once more, I’ll never acknowledge you again.” Zhao Zhijing was so angry he could only laugh bitterly. He nodded and said, “The zhangmen is summoning the disciples. Come with me quickly.” He saw that Yang Guo’s clothes were torn and his face was bruised and swollen. Fearing questions from others, he tidied him up a little, took his hand, and ran to the assembly before the palace.

When Zhao Zhijing and Yang Guo arrived, the Taoists had already formed their ranks. Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and Wang Chuyi sat facing outward. Ma Yu clapped his hands three times and declared in a clear voice, “The Perfected One of Long Life and the Pure and Tranquil Loose Immortal have sent word from Shanxi that the matter there is extremely difficult. After consulting with my two junior brothers, we have decided that the Perfected One of Long Spring and the Perfected One of Jade Sun, leading ten disciples, will depart immediately to provide reinforcement.” The Taoists looked at one another, some shocked, some indignant. Qiu Chuji then called out the names of ten disciples and said, “Each of you, make your preparations. Tomorrow morning, follow the Perfected One of Jade Sun and me to Shanxi. The rest of you are dismissed.”

As the Taoists dispersed, they murmured among themselves. “Li Mochou is just a woman. How can she be so formidable that even Uncle-Master Liu the Long Life couldn’t subdue her?” Some said, “Isn’t Uncle-Master Sun the Pure and Tranquil Loose Immortal a woman too? This shows there are capable people among women. They can’t be underestimated.” Others said, “With Uncle-Master Qiu and Uncle-Master Wang going, Li Mochou will surely be captured.”

Qiu Chuji walked over to Zhao Zhijing and said, “I had meant to bring you along, but I feared it would delay Guoer’s training. You need not go on this trip.” Catching sight of Yang Guo’s face covered in injuries, he started. “What’s this? Who have you been fighting?” Zhao Zhijing panicked, knowing that if Grandmaster Qiu learned the truth, he would be severely reprimanded. He frantically signalled Yang Guo with his eyes. Yang Guo had already made up his mind. Seeing Zhao Zhijing’s anxious expression, he pretended not to notice and hemmed and hawed without answering. Qiu Chuji said angrily, “Who beat you into this state? Whose fault was it? Speak!” Zhao Zhijing grew even more frightened at Grandmaster Qiu’s stern tone.

Yang Guo said, “It wasn’t a fight. This disciple fell and tumbled into a mountain pit.” Qiu Chuji did not believe him and said angrily, “You’re lying. How could you fall for no reason? Those injuries on your face aren’t from a fall.” Yang Guo said, “Just now, Grandmaster was teaching this disciple to study martial arts obediently…” Qiu Chuji said, “Yes, and then what?” Yang Guo continued, “After Grandmaster left, this disciple thought that Grandmaster’s teachings were right and that from now on I must strive to improve, so as not to disappoint Grandmaster’s expectations.” At these smooth words, Qiu Chuji’s expression gradually softened, and he grunted in acknowledgment. Yang Guo went on, “But then, out of nowhere, a mad dog appeared. Without any reason, it pounced and started biting. This disciple kicked it and tried to drive it away, but the mad dog only grew fiercer. This disciple had no choice but to turn and run. Carelessly, I fell into a mountain pit. Fortunately, my shifu came and rescued me.”

Qiu Chuji was half-doubtful and looked at Zhao Zhijing, silently asking whether this was true. Zhao Zhijing was furious, thinking, “Fine, you little brat, daring to call me a mad dog?” But trapped by circumstances, he had no choice but to cover for the boy. He could only nod and say, “It was this disciple who rescued him.”

Only then did Qiu Chuji believe it. He said, “After I leave, teach him our school’s profound arts well. Every ten days, the zhangmen will check his progress and give guidance on the essentials.” Zhao Zhijing was deeply unwilling, but how could he defy his uncle-master’s command? He could only bow and agree. Yang Guo, at that moment, was still savouring the pleasure of having forced his shifu to admit to being a mad dog and had not heard a word of Grandmaster Qiu’s instructions. When Qiu Chuji had walked a dozen paces away, Zhao Zhijing’s anger surged, and he could not resist reaching out to strike the top of Yang Guo’s head again. Yang Guo shouted, “Grandmaster Qiu!” Qiu Chuji turned back in surprise and asked, “What is it?” Zhao Zhijing’s hand hung in mid-air, unable to fall. The situation was extremely awkward. He forced his arm into a motion of scratching the hair at his temple. Yang Guo ran to Qiu Chuji and cried, “Grandmaster, after you leave, there will be no one to look after me. So many uncle-masters here all want to beat me.” Qiu Chuji’s face hardened. “Nonsense! How could such a thing happen?” Outwardly stern, he was inwardly kind and, thinking of the orphan’s pitiful state, declared loudly, “Zhi Jing, take good care of this child. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable upon my return.” Zhao Zhijing could only agree once more.

After dinner that evening, Yang Guo shuffled slowly into the meditation chamber where his shifu stayed. He lowered his hands and called, “Shifu!” This was the time for teaching martial arts. Zhao Zhijing sat cross-legged on the couch, having pondered the matter at length. He thought, “This child is so unruly. Already he is defiant and stubborn. Once his martial arts improve, who will be able to control him? But Grandmaster Qiu and my shifu have ordered me to teach him. I can’t refuse.” He turned the problem over and over, unable to decide. Watching Yang Guo enter slowly, his eyes darting, wearing an expression that was half smile and half smirk, Zhao Zhijing grew even angrier. Suddenly, an idea struck him. “I have it. He knows nothing of our school’s martial arts. I’ll only teach him the oral formulas of the profound arts and not a single word about how to practise them. What use is memorising a few hundred lines of verse? When my shifu and uncle-masters ask, I can always say he refused to work hard.”

His scheme settled, he said amiably, “Guoer, come here.” Yang Guo asked, “Are you going to hit me?” Zhao Zhijing said, “I’m going to teach you martial arts. Why would I hit you?” Seeing this unexpected attitude, Yang Guo was taken aback. He approached slowly, on full alert against any trick. Zhao Zhijing saw this but pretended not to notice. He said, “Our Quanzhen Sect’s martial arts are cultivated from the inside out, unlike external schools that work from the outside in. Now I will teach you our school’s mental method. You must memorise it firmly.” He then recited the Quanzhen Sect’s introductory neili formula once.

Yang Guo memorised it after hearing it just once. He thought, “This long-bearded old goat hates me and resents me. How could he sincerely teach me martial arts? He’s probably giving me some useless fake formula to toy with me.” After a while, he pretended to have forgotten and asked Zhao Zhijing again. Zhao Zhijing repeated it exactly as before. The next day, Yang Guo asked his shifu once more and found the words identical to the previous two times. Only then did he believe it was genuine, reasoning that if Zhao Zhijing were making it up, he could not recite it word for word the same three times in a row.

Ten days passed like this. Zhao Zhijing taught him only the oral formulas, never saying a word about the actual methods of cultivation. On the tenth day, Zhao Zhijing took him to see Ma Yu, saying he had already taught the school’s mental method, and ordered Yang Guo to recite it for the zhangmen. Yang Guo recited it from beginning to end without a single mistake. Ma Yu was delighted and praised the child’s intelligence repeatedly. He was a sincere, modest, and virtuous man of the Way. An honourable man can be deceived by what seems proper, and he never imagined Zhao Zhijing had another scheme.

Summer ended and autumn arrived. Autumn passed and winter came. In the blink of an eye, several months went by. Yang Guo had memorised a bellyful of formulas but had learned not a shred of real skill. In terms of martial arts and neili, he was no different from the day he had come up the mountain. Within days of beginning to memorise the formulas, Yang Guo had already realised his shifu was toying with him. But since Zhao Zhijing refused to teach, there was nothing he could do. He could see that the zhangmen was kind and gentle. If he complained, Ma Yu would at most scold Zhao Zhijing a few times, and then the long-bearded goat would likely devise even crueller schemes to torment him. He could only wait for Grandmaster Qiu to return. But month after month, Grandmaster Qiu did not come back. Fortunately, Yang Guo had never thought much of the Quanzhen Sect’s martial arts to begin with. Whether he learned them or not made no difference to him. He only thought, “These worthless skills, even if I learned them, what use would they be? The less I learn, the stronger I’ll become!” But Zhao Zhijing’s mistreatment filled him with growing hatred. Unwilling to suffer immediate consequences, he made his outward manner all the more respectful.

Zhao Zhijing secretly gloated, thinking, “You rebel against your shifu. In the end, we’ll see who suffers.”

In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth month. According to the rules handed down from Wang Chongyang, every year on the three days before New Year’s Eve, the disciples held a grand martial arts competition to assess each person’s progress over the year. As the competition date drew near, the disciples trained day and night without rest.

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, the disciples of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen held their separate competitions, called the Minor Competition. The disciples divided into seven groups: Ma Yu’s disciples and grand-disciples in one, Qiu Chuji’s and Wang Chuyi’s each in their own, and so on. Though Tan Chuduan⁵⁹ had died, his disciples and grand-disciples were still numerous. Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and the others, mourning his early death, gave special guidance to his disciples, so that in every year’s Grand Competition, the disciples of the Long Peace Master Tan never fell behind those of the other six masters. This year, with Chongyang Palace having suffered disaster and the Quanzhen Sect nearly facing destruction, everyone in the sect, from top to bottom, reflected that although the Quanzhen Sect was reputed as the orthodox school of martial arts under heaven, in truth, masters were emerging from every school and sect in the wulin, and their own reputation was in jeopardy. Thus, everyone trained with even greater diligence than in previous years.

The Quanzhen Sect was founded by Wang Chongyang, the founding patriarch. Ma Yu and the other six were his personal disciples, the second generation. Zhao Zhijing, Yin Zhiping, Cheng Yaojia,⁶⁰ and the others were disciples of the Seven Masters, the third generation. Yang Guo and his peers were the fourth generation. That afternoon, the disciples of the Jade Sun Master, Zhao Zhijing, Cui Zhifang,⁶¹ and the rest, gathered in the open ground at the southeast corner to compete in martial arts. Wang Chuyi was not on the mountain, so his senior disciple Zhao Zhijing presided over the Minor Competition. The fourth-generation disciples demonstrated fist and foot techniques, wielded blades and spears, threw concealed weapons, or displayed neili. Zhao Zhijing and the others critiqued each performance and assigned rankings.

Yang Guo, having entered the sect last, sat at the very end of the line. He watched as many young Taoists and lay disciples of his own age displayed refined martial skills, each with their own speciality. He felt no envy, only resentment. Zhao Zhijing, noticing the indignation on Yang Guo’s face, deliberately wanted to humiliate him. After two young Taoists finished competing with weapons, he called out loudly, “Yang Guo, come forward!”

Yang Guo froze, thinking, “You haven’t taught me a shred of martial arts. What do you want me to come out for?” Zhao Zhijing called again, “Yang Guo, did you hear me? Come out!” Yang Guo had no choice but to walk before the assembly. He bowed and said, “Disciple Yang Guo pays respects to Shifu.” Most Quanzhen disciples were Taoists, but there were a few lay disciples like Yang Guo, who performed lay etiquette.

Zhao Zhijing pointed to the young Taoist who had just won his match and said, “He’s not much older than you. Go and compete with him.” Yang Guo said, “This disciple doesn’t know the slightest bit of martial arts. How can I compete with my senior brother?” Zhao Zhijing raged, “I’ve been teaching you for over half a year. How can you say you don’t know any martial arts? What have you been doing all this time?” Yang Guo had no answer and lowered his head in silence. Zhao Zhijing said, “You’re lazy and fond of play, unwilling to work hard. Naturally, your fists and feet are rusty. Let me ask you: ‘What proof is there for the work of cultivating truth? When the heart dies, all passions cease.’ What are the next two lines?” Yang Guo answered, “When essence and qi are full, the work of cultivation is complete. The light of the spirit shines throughout the divine capital.” Zhao Zhijing said, “Correct. Let me ask you another: ‘The secret teachings passed from shifu to disciple reveal the original root. In coming there is no debt, in going no surplus.’ What are the next two lines?” Yang Guo answered, “The dust and grime of passing years are wiped clean. The luminous spirit shines through the great void.” Zhao Zhijing smiled faintly. “Very good, not a single mistake. Now use these formulas and go down to compete with your senior brother.” Yang Guo froze again and said, “This disciple cannot.” Zhao Zhijing, gloating inwardly but showing great anger on his face, barked, “You’ve learned the formulas but refuse to practise them. You just make excuses. Get down there at once!”

These verses were indeed the essential principles for cultivating neili, teaching one to rein in the heart and still the thoughts, to refine essence and nourish qi. But each line was paired with several fist and foot techniques, together forming a simple introductory Quanzhen boxing set. The Taoists had heard Yang Guo recite the formulas with their own ears, without a single error, and assumed he was merely suffering from stage fright. The kind-hearted offered words of encouragement. Those who took pleasure in others’ misfortune mocked and jeered. Most Quanzhen disciples were good-natured people. But because of the great battle when Guo Jing had come up Mount Zhongnan and beaten the Taoists to utter defeat, many had been offended. Quite a few who had suffered at Guo Jing’s hands now vented their resentment on Yang Guo, hoping to see him humiliated. Though not necessarily malicious, it was only human nature to want to vent their pent-up frustration.

Seeing everyone urging him on, some even sneering with cold words, Yang Guo’s anger swelled. He steeled his heart and thought, “Today I’ll stake my life on it.” He leapt into the arena, flailed his arms, and charged straight at the young Taoist, striking wildly up and down. The young Taoist was already surprised that Yang Guo had entered the arena without saluting or following the school’s rules of humble challenge. When he saw Yang Guo attacking like a madman, he was even more shocked and could only retreat repeatedly. Yang Guo had long since cast life and death aside and pressed his attack fiercely. The young Taoist retreated a few more steps, saw that Yang Guo’s lower body was unsteady, sidestepped, and swept his leg out in the move “Wind Sweeps Fallen Leaves,” aiming at Yang Guo’s legs. Yang Guo did not know how to dodge. He lost his footing and fell, blood streaming from his nose.

The Taoists laughed at his pitiful fall. Yang Guo scrambled up, not even wiping the blood from his nose, and charged headfirst at the young Taoist. The young Taoist saw the ferocity of his approach and sidestepped. Yang Guo’s moves followed no rules whatsoever. He wrapped both arms around his opponent’s left leg. The young Taoist’s right palm sliced diagonally at Yang Guo’s shoulder. This move, “Wiping Away Dust and Grime,” was precisely the correct counter when one’s lower body was seized. But Yang Guo had learned no martial arts on Peach Blossom Island and had received no practical instruction at Chongyang Palace. He had no idea what move was coming. With a thump, a searing pain shot through his shoulder. He had taken a heavy punch. The more he lost, the fiercer he became. He drove his head into his opponent’s right leg, and the young Taoist, unable to keep his footing, was pinned beneath him. Yang Guo raised his fist and rained blows on the young Taoist’s head.

The young Taoist sought victory in defeat. He drove his fist hard into Yang Guo’s chest and, taking advantage of Yang Guo’s pain, pushed off and leapt up. With a reverse push and throw, he sent Yang Guo tumbling heavily. The move was precisely “No Debt, No Surplus.” He made a respectful bow and said, “Junior Brother Yang, you were gracious!” In contests between fellow disciples, one was supposed to stop once victory and defeat were decided. But Yang Guo, like a mad tiger, charged again. In two or three exchanges, he was thrown again, yet he grew fiercer with each bout, his fists and feet flying faster and faster.

Zhao Zhijing shouted, “Yang Guo, you lost long ago. Why are you still fighting?” Yang Guo paid no attention, kicking sideways and punching straight without the slightest retreat. At first, the Taoists had found it amusing, all thinking, “Since when does our Quanzhen Sect have such crude, reckless fighting techniques?” But later, seeing him fight with desperate, life-risking fury, they feared an accident and called out one after another, “Enough, enough. Fellow disciples exchange skills. No need to be so serious.”

After fighting a while longer, the young Taoist had grown thoroughly timid. He only dodged and evaded, no longer daring to let Yang Guo get close. As the saying goes: one man fighting for his life is a match for ten thousand. Yang Guo had endured over half a year of resentment on Mount Zhongnan, and now he could not help venting it all. The young Taoist’s martial arts far surpassed his, but where could he find such fierce fighting spirit? Seeing he could not hold out, he could only run in circles around the arena. Yang Guo chased after him, cursing, “Stinking Taoist! You beat me well. Now that you’ve beaten me, you think you can run?”

By now, eight or nine out of ten of the spectators were Taoists. Hearing him curse “stinking Taoist” and “thieving Taoist,” they were both angry and amused. Everyone thought, “This boy needs a good lesson.” The young Taoist, driven to desperation, cried out, “Shifu! Shifu!” hoping Zhao Zhijing would call a halt. Zhao Zhijing shouted repeatedly, but Yang Guo paid no attention.

Just when no one knew what to do, an angry roar came from the crowd. A portly Taoist burst out, leapt forward, grabbed Yang Guo by the back of the collar, and lifted him up. Slap, slap, slap, three heavy blows landed, and half of Yang Guo’s face immediately swelled. Yang Guo was nearly knocked unconscious by the three strikes. When his vision cleared, he saw it was none other than his old enemy, Lu Qingdu. On Yang Guo’s first day on the mountain, Lu Qingdu had nearly been burned alive by Yang Guo’s trick. Ever since, he had endured the mockery of his fellow disciples, who said he was less capable than a small child. He had nursed this grudge all along. Now, seeing Yang Guo causing trouble again, he could not resist stepping in.

Yang Guo had already thrown caution to the wind. Seeing it was Lu Qingdu, he knew even more that there was no hope. But with his collar seized from behind, he could not move. Lu Qingdu gave a savage grin and delivered three more slaps. “You don’t obey your shifu’s words. That makes you a traitor to our school. Anyone can beat you.” He raised his hand to strike again.

Zhao Zhijing’s junior brother Cui Zhifang had noticed that Yang Guo’s moves showed no trace of their school’s martial arts. Knowing Zhao Zhijing’s narrow-mindedness, he suspected there was more to the story. Seeing Lu Qingdu striking with brutal force, he feared the boy would be injured and shouted, “Qingdu, stop!”

Though unwilling, Lu Qingdu had to obey his uncle-master’s command. He set Yang Guo down and said, “Uncle-Master, you don’t understand. This boy is cunning and shameless beyond measure. If we don’t teach him a heavy lesson, what rules will our sect have left?”

Cui Zhifang ignored him and walked over to Yang Guo. He saw that both sides of the boy’s face were swollen high, black and purple, with blood around his nose and mouth, a pitiful sight. He said gently, “Yang Guo, your shifu taught you martial arts. Why don’t you practise diligently instead of brawling recklessly with your senior brothers?” Yang Guo said bitterly, “What shifu? He hasn’t taught me a single bit of martial arts.” Cui Zhifang said, “I clearly heard you recite the formulas without a single mistake.”

Yang Guo thought of how Huang Rong had made him memorise the Four Books and Five Classics on Peach Blossom Island and assumed that what Zhao Zhijing taught was similarly unrelated to martial arts. He said, “I’m not trying to pass the imperial exams and become a top scholar. What use is memorising this rubbish?” Cui Zhifang decided to feign anger and test whether Yang Guo truly knew none of their school’s martial arts. He hardened his face and said, “How dare you speak so rudely to your elders?” He suddenly reached out and pushed Yang Guo’s shoulder.

Cui Zhifang was one of the top masters among the Quanzhen Sect’s third generation. Though his martial arts were not equal to Zhao Zhijing’s, he had cultivated both internal and external skills and possessed considerable power. This push was perfectly calibrated in force and speed. At his touch, he felt Yang Guo’s shoulder shift slightly as neili arose of its own accord, deflecting a small portion of the push. Though Yang Guo stumbled back several steps, he did not fall. Cui Zhifang was startled, and a cloud of doubt rose in his mind. He wondered, “He’s so young and has been in our sect barely half a year. How can he have such power? If he possesses this neili, he should never have fought so chaotically in the match just now. Could there truly be deception?” What he did not know was that Yang Guo had been practising the neili technique taught by Ouyang Feng and had unwittingly made considerable progress. The neili of the White Camel Mountain⁶² school was easy to begin and advanced rapidly, unlike the Quanzhen Sect’s neili, which sought a solid foundation. In the first ten years of training, a White Camel Mountain disciple’s power would far exceed a Quanzhen disciple’s. Only after ten years would the Quanzhen disciple gradually catch up. The two schools’ internal energies were fundamentally different, and Cui Zhifang’s casual push could hardly distinguish between them.

The push left Yang Guo gasping for breath. He assumed Cui Zhifang was also beating him. By now, he feared neither heaven nor earth. Even if Qiu Chuji himself came, he would still fight. How could he fear some Cui Zhifang or Cui Zhiyuan? He lowered his head and charged straight at Cui Zhifang’s stomach. Cui Zhifang could hardly lower himself to tussle with a child. He smiled faintly and sidestepped, intent on observing Yang Guo’s true skill. He said, “Qingdu, exchange a few moves with Junior Brother Yang. Hold back a little, don’t be too heavy!”

Lu Qingdu could not have asked for more. He immediately blocked Yang Guo’s path and feinted with his left palm. Yang Guo dodged right, and Lu Qingdu’s right palm struck out. This “Tiger Gate Hand” carried considerable force. With a thump, it landed square on Yang Guo’s chest. Had Yang Guo not already cultivated the White Camel Mountain neili, he would have spat blood on the spot. Even so, his chest ached unbearably, and his face turned white as paper. Lu Qingdu was secretly surprised that one palm had not knocked him down. He threw a right punch at Yang Guo’s face. Yang Guo raised his arm to block, but, not understanding boxing principles, he did not know even the most basic parries. Lu Qingdu’s right fist feinted, and his left shot out. With a thump, it struck Yang Guo’s stomach. Yang Guo doubled over in pain. Lu Qingdu showed no mercy. The edge of his right palm chopped down fiercely, striking the nape of Yang Guo’s neck. He had aimed this chop at a vital point, expecting to knock Yang Guo unconscious immediately and avenge his past humiliation. But Yang Guo’s body swayed several times. He held on desperately and still did not fall, though his head spun and he had completely lost the ability to fight back.

By now, Cui Zhifang knew for certain that Yang Guo truly did not know martial arts. He shouted, “Qingdu, stop!” Lu Qingdu said to Yang Guo, “You little brat, do you submit to me now?” Yang Guo cursed, “Thieving Taoist! One day I’ll kill you!” Lu Qingdu flew into a rage and struck Yang Guo’s nose bridge with two rapid punches.

Beaten senseless, Yang Guo swayed and was about to collapse. But somehow, a surge of hot qi suddenly rushed up from his dantian. He saw Lu Qingdu’s third punch coming at his face. There was no dodging it, no blocking it. Instinctively, his legs bent, a strange cry burst from his throat, and his palm shot out, striking Lu Qingdu square in the stomach. The crowd watched as Lu Qingdu’s massive body suddenly flew flat through the air. With a crash, dust flew up, and he lay motionless over eleven feet away, never to move again.

The watching Taoists had all felt indignant at Lu Qingdu’s bullying of the younger and weaker Yang Guo. All the senior disciples except Zhao Zhijing had been calling for him to stop. Then, in a sudden and bizarre turn, Lu Qingdu was sent flying by Yang Guo’s palm force and lay there rigid. Everyone was astonished and rushed over to examine him.

Yang Guo had never known how to use the neili of the Toad Stance.⁶³ It had only erupted instinctively in a moment of desperate crisis. The first time, on Peach Blossom Island, he had knocked out Wu Xiuwen. Several months had passed since then, and his neili had grown considerably. Moreover, his hatred for Lu Qingdu far exceeded anything he had felt towards the Wu brothers. Strength born of emotion: he had sent Lu Qingdu flying. The Taoists cried out in confusion: “Aiyo, this is bad! He’s dead!” “He’s not breathing! His internal organs must be shattered!” “Quick, report to the zhangmen!” Yang Guo knew he had caused a terrible disaster. In his dazed panic, he did not stop to think. He turned and ran.

The Taoists were all checking whether Lu Qingdu was dead or alive. Yang Guo slipped away quietly, and no one noticed. Zhao Zhijing saw Lu Qingdu’s eyes rolled back, his fate uncertain, and was both terrified and furious. He shouted, “Yang Guo! Yang Guo! What sorcery have you learned?” Though his martial arts were strong, he had spent most of his time guarding Chongyang Palace and had little experience of the wider world. He did not recognise the Toad Stance technique. He called several times, but Yang Guo did not answer. The Taoists turned around and found him gone. Zhao Zhijing immediately issued orders for everyone to split up and search, confident that a small child could not have gone far in such a short time.

Yang Guo fled in panic, crashing through wherever the trees grew thickest. After running for a while, he heard shouts rising behind him. From every direction came cries of “Yang Guo! Yang Guo! Come out!” His panic grew. He stumbled wildly over uneven ground. Suddenly, a figure flashed before him: a Taoist had spotted him and was rushing over. Yang Guo turned and fled, but another Taoist appeared to the west, shouting, “He’s here! He’s here!” Yang Guo ducked low and scrambled under a thick bush. The Taoist was too large to squeeze through. By the time he circled around the bush, Yang Guo had vanished.

Yang Guo burst through the bush and sprinted forward. After running for some time, the shouts of the Taoists grew distant, but he dared not stop. Avoiding the paths, he ran madly through grass and over rocks until his whole body ached and he could run no more. He sat on a rock, gasping for breath. After sitting a while, his mind repeated only: “Run, run.” But his legs felt as heavy as a thousand jin, and no matter what, he could not stand. Suddenly, he heard a cold laugh behind him. Yang Guo jumped in terror and turned his head. His heart nearly leapt out of his mouth. Standing behind him was a Taoist with fierce brows, furious eyes, and a long beard hanging down his chest, none other than Zhao Zhijing.

The two glared at each other in silence for a long moment, neither moving. Yang Guo suddenly let out a great cry, turned, and fled. Zhao Zhijing lunged forward, reaching for Yang Guo’s back. Yang Guo threw himself forward desperately. The hand missed by inches. He snatched up a stone and hurled it backward with all his strength. Zhao Zhijing sidestepped and quickened his pace. The distance between them shrank. Yang Guo ran madly for a dozen more paces when a deep gully suddenly appeared before him. There was no path forward. Not knowing whether it was a deep valley or a mountain stream below, he did not hesitate. He threw himself over the edge.

Zhao Zhijing reached the cliff’s edge and peered down. He watched Yang Guo roll down a grassy slope and disappear into the undergrowth. The drop from where he stood to the slope below was at least about seventy feet. He dared not jump. He quickly detoured around to the grassy slope and followed the trail Yang Guo’s body had flattened through the grass into the trees. But Yang Guo was nowhere to be seen. The deeper he went, the denser the forest grew, until the sunlight was completely blocked. He walked well over a hundred feet further when it suddenly struck him: this was the site of the Tomb of the Living Dead, where the Chongyang Patriarch had once dwelt. The sect had a strict prohibition: no one was to take a single step inside. Yet if he let Yang Guo escape like this, he could not bear the frustration. He raised his voice and called, “Yang Guo! Yang Guo! Come out!”

He called several times. The forest was utterly silent, without the slightest sound. Plucking up his courage, he advanced a few more steps. In the dim light, he saw a stone tablet standing in the ground. Looking down, he read four large characters carved upon it: “No Entry for Outsiders.” Zhao Zhijing hesitated for a long while, then raised his voice again. “Yang Guo, you little thief! If you don’t come out, when I catch you I’ll beat you to death!” As his shout ended, a strange buzzing arose from the forest. Then grey shapes flickered, and a swarm of white bees flew out from among the leaves, rushing towards him.

Zhao Zhijing was horrified. He flailed his sleeves, trying to drive the bees away. His neili was profound, and the force in his sleeves was considerable. But after a few waves, the swarm suddenly split in two: one group attacked from the front while the other struck from behind. Zhao Zhijing grew even more alarmed. Not daring to be careless, he whirled both sleeves, protecting his entire body. The swarm scattered, attacking from above, below, left, right, from all eight directions. Zhao Zhijing no longer dared to resist. He covered his head and face with his sleeves, turned, and fled from the forest.

The jade bees buzzed in pursuit. Though they did not fly especially fast, they clung stubbornly and would not retreat. When Zhao Zhijing fled east, the jade bees pursued east. When he fled west, they pursued west. The moment his sleeves slowed even slightly, two bees darted through a gap and stung him, one on each cheek. In moments, Zhao Zhijing felt an unbearable itching, as though even his internal organs itched. He thought, “Today, my life is over!” Before long, he could no longer keep his footing. He collapsed on the grassy slope at the forest’s edge, rolling back and forth, howling loudly. The bee swarm circled and hovered above him. A few more bees took the opportunity to sting him again before returning to the forest.

郭靖 – Guō Jìng. His name meaning “tranquillity” or “pacification”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
重阳宫 – Chóngyáng Gōng. Main temple of Quanzhen Order on Zhongnan Mountain. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
全真教 – Quánzhēn Jiào. Daoist martial-monastic order founded by Wang Chongyang, one of the most influential orthodox factions. Same as LOCH reference. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
天罡北斗阵 – Tiāngāng Běidǒu Zhèn. Quanzhen battle formation based on the Northern Dipper. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
马钰 – Mǎ Yù. His name meaning “precious jade”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
丘处机 – Qiū Chǔjī. His name meaning “dwelling in opportunity”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
王处一 – Wáng Chùyī. His name meaning “dwelling in oneness”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
Yin Zhiping (尹志平). In the original editions, the third-generation Quanzhen disciple who violated Xiaolongnü. In the third edition, this role and name were changed to Zhen Zhibing (甄志丙). Yin Zhiping remains a separate, more honourable character in the revised canon. ↩
千斤坠 (Qiānjīn Zhuì). “Thousand-Catty Anchor.” An neili technique that roots the practitioner to the ground with immense weight. ↩
魂门穴 – Húnmén Xué. Literally gate of the ethereal soul. Acupoint on the back below the shoulder blade on the bladder meridian; striking it can numb the arm. See Wikipedia. ↩
中原 – Zhōngyuán. Central Plains, the historical heartland of Chinese civilisation along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. ↩
牛鼻子 – niú bízi. Literally ox-nose, a derogatory term for Daoist priests, alluding to the topknot that resembles an ox’s nose. ↩
灵芝 – língzhī. Rare fungus prized in traditional Chinese medicine; specimens of a thousand years or more were believed to greatly increase neili. ↩
密教 – Mìjiào. Esoteric school, referring to Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism (Vajrayana), associated in wuxia fiction with distinctive martial arts. ↩
江湖 – jiānghú. Literally rivers and lakes. Term refers to the jianghu: the subculture of wandering knights-errant, martial artists, and sect members who live outside mainstream society, governed by its own codes of honour, loyalty, and vengeance. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
郝大通 – Hǎo Dàtōng. His name meaning “great penetration”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
大手印 – Dà Shǒuyìn. Great Hand Seal, a martial art of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, also known as Mahamudra. In Jin Yong’s novels it leaves a distinctive purple handprint on the victim. ↩
玄门 – Xuánmén. Literally mysterious gate, a term for the Daoist schools and their orthodox methods of neigong. ↩
杨过 – Yáng Guò. His name meaning “fault or transgression”; his courtesy name Gaizhi means “to correct it”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
鹿清笃 – Lù Qīngdú. His name meaning “pure and sincere”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
杨康 – Yáng Kāng. His name meaning “health” or “peace”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
张良 – Zhāng Liáng. Courtesy name Zifang (c. 251–189 BCE), one of the Three Heroes of the early Han dynasty. Legend says he received a military treatise from an immortal after humbly retrieving the old man’s shoe from beneath a bridge. ↩
赤松子 – Chìsōngzǐ. Master Red Pine, a legendary Daoist immortal. Zhang Liang was said to have followed him into reclusion after helping found the Han dynasty. ↩
王重阳 – Wáng Chóngyáng. His name meaning “double yang”, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
终南山 – Zhōngnán Shān. Sacred Daoist mountain housing both Quanzhen Order and Ancient Tomb School. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
武林 – wǔlín. Literally martial forest. Martial arts community and its schools and practitioners. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
黄蓉 – Huáng Róng. Her name meaning “lotus” or “hibiscus”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
华山论剑 – Huàshān Lùnjiàn. Literally sword discussion at Huashan. Use of discussion is key as the participants were engaged in a martial arts exchange and a philosophical debate on mastery, rather than just a physical contest. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
四大宗师 – Sì Dà Zōngshī. Four Great Masters, the foremost martial artists of their generation after Wang Chongyang: the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, the Western Poison Ouyang Feng, the Southern Emperor Duan Zhixing, and the Northern Beggar Hong Qigong. ↩
匈奴 – Xiōngnú. Confederation of nomadic peoples of the eastern Eurasian Steppe. Wang Chongyang’s words echo the Han general Huo Qubing, who famously refused to marry until the Xiongnu threat was eliminated. ↩
一灯大师 – Yīdēng Dàshī. Literally one-lamp master; a Buddhist honorific title. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
一阳指 – Yīyáng Zhǐ. Literally One Yang Finger. Dali Duan family’s signature finger technique. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
黄药师 – Huáng Yàoshī. His name meaning “medicine master”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
化石丹 – Huàshí Dān. Fossil-Softening Elixir, a compound that temporarily softens stone so that it can be carved as though it were clay. ↩
赤练仙子 – Chìliàn Xiānzǐ. Literally scarlet chain immortal. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
李莫愁 – Lǐ Mòchóu. Her name meaning “do not sorrow”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
梅超风 – Méi Chāofēng. Her name meaning “surpassing the wind”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
小龙女 – Xiǎolóngnǚ. Literally little dragon maiden. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
全真七子 – Quánzhēn Qī Zǐ. Seven Masters of Quanzhen, the seven personal disciples of Wang Chongyang: Ma Yu, Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Hao Datong, and Sun Bu’er. ↩
甘州 – Gānzhōu. Old name for the area around present-day Zhangye in Gansu province, a key city on the Silk Road. ↩
柯镇恶 – Kē Zhèn’è. His name meaning “subduing evil”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
武三通 – Wǔ Sāntōng. His name meaning “three penetrations” or “three communications”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
丐帮 – Gàibāng. Largest martial arts organisation in the jianghu, continued from LOCH era. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
穆念慈 – Mù Niàncí. Her name meaning “cherishing kindness”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
Liu Chuxuan (刘处玄). One of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, a disciple of Wang Chongyang. ↩
孙不二 – Sūn Bùèr. Her name meaning “not two”, signifying non-duality. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
里 – lǐ. Traditional Chinese unit of distance, approximately one-third of a mile or five hundred metres. ↩
桃花岛 – Táohuā Dǎo. Huang Yaoshi’s island stronghold, continued from LOCH era. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
成吉思汗 – Chéngjísī Hán. Founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire (c. 1162–1227). Guo Jing spent his youth among the Mongols and once served as a trusted general of Genghis Khan. ↩
霍都王子 – Huòdū Wángzǐ. Literally Prince Huo Du; a Mongol princely title. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
达尔巴 – Dá’ěrbā. Golden Wheel National Preceptor’s second disciple. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
降龙十八掌 – Xiánglóng Shíbā Zhǎng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
阴山 – Yīn Shān. Mountain range in Inner Mongolia and northern China, historically the frontier between agricultural China and the nomadic steppe. ↩
丹田 – dāntián. Cinnabar field, a key energy centre in the body in Daoist internal alchemy and Chinese martial arts. Lower dantian, below the navel, is the primary centre for storing and cultivating qi. ↩
杨铁心 – Yáng Tiěxīn. His name meaning “iron heart”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
赵志敬 – Zhào Zhìjìng. His name meaning “aspiring to reverence”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
武功 – wǔgōng. Martial arts skill, the general term for martial techniques and the cultivation of martial ability. ↩
欧阳锋 – Ōuyáng Fēng. His name meaning “blade” or “cutting edge”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
谭处端 – Tán Chǔduān. One of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, known as the Perfected One of Long Peace. He was killed by Ouyang Feng in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
程瑶迦 – Chéng Yáojiā. Her name meaning “jade” combined with a transliterated Buddhist name element. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
崔志方 – Cuī Zhìfāng. Third-generation Quanzhen disciple in Wang Chuyi’s lineage, junior to Zhao Zhijing. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩
白驼山 – Báituó Shān. White Camel Mountain, home of Ouyang Feng in the western regions, known for its distinctive school of martial arts and its venomous snakes. ↩
蛤蟆功 – Hámá Gōng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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