Crane in the Clouds; Discussing the Past in the Deep Mountains; A Multi-Armed Bear Blocking the River Meets a Hero. - Sword Xia of the Shu Mountains

Upon hearing Yan'er’s words, Zhou Chun was taken aback and exclaimed, “That was close! Yan'er, you are quite daring. I’ve always told you, the most dangerous to provoke in the martial world are monks, priests, beggars, and lone women travelers. One must be cautious when encountering such individuals. Fortunately, someone guided you, or else you might have already met your untimely end.” Li Ning then added, “I didn’t quite understand what was written in the letter. When did you say you had a grudge with a monk? Why don’t you tell us so I can understand better?” Zhou Chun replied, “Do you know who that monk is? He’s none other than Duo Bi Xiong Mao Tai, the infamous rogue of Jiangnan from ten years ago!” Li Ning was shocked, “If it’s him, that indeed complicates matters.” Zhou Chun sighed, “It was my negligence at the time, failing to eliminate the problem completely, and now it has come back to haunt me. Just when I’ve found a place to settle, I’m forced to flee again. It’s truly frustrating!” Before anyone could respond, Ying Qiong and Yan’er, who were still young and fearless, harbored discontent in their hearts. Yan'er dared not voice her thoughts immediately, but Ying Qiong, her face flushed with anger, spoke out, “Uncle, you’re belittling yourself and boosting the enemy’s morale! Even if he is formidable, he’s still just one person. There are four of us here; why should we fear him and be forced to flee?” Zhou Chun responded, “Dear niece, you’re not aware of the whole situation. It’s been years, and even if your father knows of these events, he might not remember clearly. Let me recount those past events so you young ones can learn from them. Over a decade ago, I, alongside your father and your Uncle Yang, were well-respected throughout the northern provinces. Your father was the best with the sword and proficient with secret weapons, earning the nickname ‘Divine Ape with Long Arms.’ Your Uncle Yang wielded a saber and chain dart, and was known as ‘Divine Saber Yang Da.’ We were as close as brothers, training and practicing martial arts together. Admiring your father's lightness skill, I ingeniously crafted two wing-like contraptions from white silk, which I would tie to my arms. Even climbing a hundred-zhang high mountain was no trouble with these silks assisting me in catching the wind. I was a man of integrity and righteousness, known for my nightly travels in white attire, earning the title ‘Flying Crane of the Clouds.’ Together, we were hailed as the ‘Three Heroes of Qi and Lu.’ We dedicated ourselves to chivalrous deeds, seeking justice for those in need. “That year, during the rebellion led by Zhang and Li, a friend of mine, a merchant, sought protection on his way back to Yangzhou. Accepting was a matter of course for me. Little did I know, rumors along the road spoke of a one-legged bandit advancing from the south, named Duo Bi Xiong Mao Tai. According to the code of the greenwood, unless victims resist or there are previous grievances, killings are rare during robberies or thefts, and violating women is strictly forbidden. Yet, Mao Tai was ruthless, leaving no one alive wherever he went, and as for any woman of beauty, his cruelty extended to violation and murder. Upon hearing this, I was naturally on high alert. “Unexpectedly, while stopping at an inn north of Nanjing for a break, someone delivered a calling card devoid of signatures, merely depicting a bear with eight arms. I knew at once it was Mao Tai, so I prepared my weapons and met him. As I expected tension, I was surprised to see this immensely fearsome man carrying no weapons. His intention, however, was to seek an alliance. Despite my disdain for such a villain, I politely declined, and he didn’t insist. After exchanging pleasantries about future camaraderie, he gracefully took his leave. Observing his movements, I could tell his skills were profound, though likely weakened by indulgences in vice. As he left, a gust drove a door ajar, which he casually pushed, leaving his handprint on the wood. Even seeing his blatant display of strength, I played along, feigning ignorance. Then, I noticed two roof tiles precariously dangling and used my internal strength to spit at them, shattering them into pieces. This finally won his respect, and he left acknowledging our reputation, reminding me of our earlier conversation about loyalty. “Once he left, we embarked on our journey to Yangzhou, hiring a ship and moving our luggage and family aboard. Our ship moored beside a large official vessel, where later in the night, I heard a woman cry out. As the region was unstable, I slept fully dressed with weapons at hand. Leaping onto the other ship, I discovered a scene of chaos. Looking through a crack, I saw Mao Tai wielding a sword, a bound young woman inside the cabin, already fainted and barely clothed. Enraged, I hurled a throwing dart at him. Reacting swiftly, he dodged and returned the dart, facing me in battle. I fought valiantly to a standstill, concerned my boat was unguarded against his associates. Our ferocious duel reached a climax when I severed two of his fingers. Yet, influenced by his earlier gesture and seeing the potential in his martial prowess, I spared his life, extracting an oath to reform, letting him go lightly. Thankfully, he hadn’t harmed others but merely incapacitated them. I revived them, returned to my ship, and thereafter, Mao Tai became a monk under the Golden Arhat Fa Yuan of Mount Wutai, mastering a flying sword technique that could claim heads from afar. Fully aware of his intent for revenge, I fled with my daughter Qing Yun to Sichuan. Despite our skills, it’s near impossible to contend with a sword immortal.” As they talked, a sudden crane’s call pierced the sky, startling everyone out of their reverie. Zhou Chun quickly dashed outside before returning after some time. Yan'er asked, “Why did you rush out upon hearing that crane’s call, teacher?” Zhou Chun explained, “You don’t understand. This cave is on the summit of Emei, perpetually shrouded in mist, making it impassable for most birds. The sound from above was peculiar, yet upon inspection, I found nothing. Truly strange.” Ying Qiong inquired, “Uncle Zhou, is Mao Tai really that formidable? Is there no other way besides running?” Zhou Chun replied, “Though his sword skills are advanced, his impure heart keeps him from reaching his potential. There are many stronger than him, such as my daughter Qing Yun’s master, Master Huangshan Canxia, who would easily overpower him. Unfortunately, Huangshan is far from here, making it challenging to find him quickly.” Li Ning suggested, “Continuously avoiding him isn’t a solution; perhaps it’s time to devise a strategy.” Zhou Chun agreed, “Indeed. I intend to discuss with Yan'er’s mother and ask Ma Xiang to look after Yan’er. Instead of waiting for him to find me, I’ll seek him out, propose a duel date to stall for time, and use this period to locate Master Canxia at Huangshan. It may be embarrassing, but it’s necessary.” Li Ning agreed with this approach and expressed his intention to accompany Zhou Chun. Zhou Chun declined, “This isn’t a battle, so having too many people could be detrimental. Your daughter’s studies are progressing well and shouldn’t be neglected. It’s best you stay here.” After settling their plans, Zhou Chun bid farewell to Li Shi and her daughter, and set off with Yan'er down the mountain. By then, it was late autumn transitioning into early winter, with the chill wind biting their faces and all the leaves fallen from the trees. As the master and disciple walked, they chatted along the way, taking half a day to reach the base of Mount Emei. Suddenly, they noticed a Taoist lying on the ground, wearing only a thin garment, looking quite ragged, with a large red lacquered wine gourd beside him. Clearly intoxicated, the Taoist slept deeply. Yan'er remarked, “Teacher, look at this Taoist. He’s so impoverished yet still so fond of drinking. He truly embodies the term 'drunken fool.'” Zhou Chun replied, “You’re still young and don’t understand. Many patriots of our great land, unwilling to serve conquerors, live incognito, hidden from view. His carefree demeanor could mean he’s one of us. However, the cold weather might lead to an illness in his inebriated state. I've grown a bit hungry from our walk. Let me wake him, invite him for a meal, and offer him some silver for goodwill.” With that, he approached the Taoist, gently calling out, “Venerable Daoist, please wake up.” But even with gentle nudges, the Taoist's snoring only grew louder, remaining oblivious to his surroundings. Noticing the Taoist’s unkempt appearance but his arms white as jade, Zhou Chun suspected he was no ordinary person. Yet, eager to return home with Yan'er and unable to wake the Taoist, Zhou Chun retrieved a semi-new lake silk cotton robe from his bag, draping it over the Taoist. After one last attempt to wake him, Zhou Chun gave up and hurried to a nearby eatery with Yan'er for a quick meal before continuing on their journey. Upon reaching a deserted area, the master and disciple utilized their swift land-traversal skills, heading towards Wuyazi, covering great distances in under two hours. As they neared the village, Zhou Chun, knowing that Yan'er’s mother was exceedingly hospitable, didn’t want to inconvenience her with their unexpected arrival. Moreover, with night approaching, he decided they should eat first and continue afterward, leading Yan’er into a newly opened tavern, Zhimei Lou, noted for its well-prepared food and bustling patrons. Intent on returning home, they paid little heed to the other guests, following the server to a private table. Suddenly, Yan'er spotted something familiar, startling her greatly. Quickly, she called Zhou Chun over to look. To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the following chapter.