Chapter 15 – Summit (2/2)

“You know about what happened?”

“I know. I knew a long time ago. The husband isn’t always the last one to find out. I also realized that soon it would all be in the past. She would still be my lovely wife, and she would still take care of our children.”

He went on coldly, “I always knew that there would be a price to pay if I went along with your idea to become the hero of the times.”

“And so you pretended that you knew nothing.”

“Correct,” said Sima Chaoqun. “If I knew, I would have to kill her. This kind of affair cannot occur in the household of a great hero, I would have no choice but to kill her. And so, I could only feign ignorance. Because it’s my house, and I couldn’t allow anything to tear apart my family. Actually, pretending not to know wasn’t enough, I had to make her believe that I suspected absolutely nothing. Only in this way could I preserve my family.”

Zhuo Donglai was completely shocked.

He suddenly realised that he didn’t completely understand Sima Chaoqun after all. He had never imagined that Sima had this side to his personality. He was such an emotional person, and yet after encountering this situation he was still able to take others into consideration.

“Most men would not be able to tolerate something like this,” said Sima. “But I came to a realization. If I waited for it to go away, waited for the children to grow up, we would still be like the other husbands and wives, relying on each other, spending the years growing old together.”

He turned and faced Zhuo Donglai. “If you hadn’t pushed her to her death, it would have been like that.”

“I pushed her to her death?” Zhuo Donglai’s voice was hoarse. “You really believe I pushed her to her death?”

“You not only pushed her to her death, you pushed Guo Zhuang to his death, and sooner or later you will push me to my death. Because you will always need people to do things your way.”

He stared at Zhuo Donglai. “Because you have a sickness in your heart. On the outside you seem like you think so much of yourself, but in your heart, you hate yourself. And so, you need me to go do all the things that you yourself should do. You need me to become the heroic idol, because in your heart, I am the embodiment of you. If someone gets in the way of your plans, you will do anything to destroy that person. And that is why Wu Wan is dead. Because you think that she impeded your plans.”

Zhuo Donglai stood in quiet contemplation for a very long time.

“You just told me that you had thought for a long time, and thought about many things.” Zhuo Donglai then asked, “Have you reached the point where you need to make a decision?”

“Yes.”

“And have you made your decision?”

“Yes.”

“What have you decided to do after this?”

“It’s not about what happens later, it’s about now,” said Sima Chaoqun. “Right now, I need you to leave, and never let me see you again. Never again have anything to do with me.”

Zhuo Donglai suddenly seemed like he might not be able to keep standing, as if he had suddenly been struck on the head with a stick.

“You can take anything with you, but you must leave,” said Sima Chaoqun resolutely. “Before sundown today, you must be far away from Chang’an.”

Zhuo Donglai suddenly laughed. “I know you really don’t mean it,” he said softly. “You’ve been hurt, and you’re very tired. You just need some rest, and then you’ll forget about everything you just said.”

Sima Chaoqun looked at him coldly. “This time, you’re mistaken. You will leave. You have no choice but to leave. Do you remember what I just said? You must kill people at the appropriate time, and never let the right opportunity slip by. This situation is the same.”

Zhuo Donglai’s pupils constricted again. “If I don’t leave?” he asked, one word at a time. “If I don’t leave, will you kill me?”

“Yes,” responded Sima Chaoqun in the same tone of voice. One word at a time he said, “If you don’t go, then I will kill you.”

Part 5

The sky had begun to grow light, but, in contrast, a furtive, ghastly horror filled the room.

Because, the light made more clear the horrible death that filled it.

Those who are exceedingly lovely in life, will be exceedingly horrible in death.

Zhuo Donglai and Sima Chaoqun faced each other. Cold wind blew in through the window, cutting at them like a knife.

“I could have left,” said Zhuo Donglai. “A person like me can go anywhere. But as of now, I can’t leave.”

His voice had suddenly become strangely calm.

“I’ve spent a lifetime of painstaking care creating the person that you are. I can’t let you be destroyed by someone else.” One word at a time, he continued, “You know what kind of person I am. There are things I would rather do myself.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Haven’t we always understood each other?”

“Yes,” said Sima Chaoqun. “And so I’ve prepared myself.”

“When?”

“Any time,” said Sima. “When killing people, you must be prompt. These words will forever be etched in my heart.”

“Where?”

“Here.” Sima looked around at the corpses in the room. They were the corpses of the people in his life he was most close to, and each one arose in him an unforgettable feeling. Their deaths had inflicted upon him a pain that made him regret his entire life.

Zhuo Donglai felt the same.

If Zhuo Donglai also died here, then everything important in his entire life would be dead.

“Here,” said Sima Chaoqun. “What other place could be better?”

“There is none.” Zhuo Donglai let out a long sigh. “There really is none.”

Part 6

There are special types of people in the world who, when you look for them, cannot be found, but when you need them, they will be close by, and will not disappoint you.

Zhuo Qing was this type of person.

“Zhuo Qing, please come in.”

It seemed Zhuo Donglai knew Zhuo Qing would be nearby, and that a soft call would summon him.

Zhuo Qing didn’t disappoint him. He never disappointed anyone.

From the time that he was very young, he never disappointed anyone. And yet today, he seemed to be somewhat tired. He was still wore the same clothes he had worn yesterday, and his shoes were caked with mud.

He usually was not like this.

Usually, no matter how busy he was, he would take the time to neaten up his appearance. He knew that Zhuo Donglai and Sima Chaoqun were very particular about those types of things.

Thankfully, Zhuo Donglai wasn’t paying attention to his appearance today, and simply ordered, “Kneel down and kowtow to Uncle Sima.”

Zhuo Qing kneeled, and Sima Chaoqun did nothing to stop him. His eyes were fixed on Zhuo Donglai.

“There’s no need for you to have him kowtow,” said Sima. “I know he’s your adopted child. You have no son, and you want him to carry on the name of the house of Zhuo. If you die, I’ll take care of him.” He couldn’t help but look at his own sons, and his eyes filled with sorrow and fury. “At the very least, I won’t take care of him the way you took care of my sons.”

“I believe you,” said Zhuo Donglai. “I truly believe you.” He watched Zhuo Qing finish kowtowing and stand up. Then he said, “You heard what Uncle Sima said. You should know that he never goes back on his word. He will take care you better than me.”

“I know.” Zhuo Qing’s voice was hoarse with gratitude. “But, I will never again take another surname.”

“Remember, if I die, you must treat Uncle Sima as if he were me.” Zhuo Donglai seemed to be moved by emotion. “No matter what happens between Uncle Sima and I, you must not allow resentment into your heart, and you must never tell anyone what you saw today.”

“I know,” said Zhuo Qing sadly. “I will definitely abide by your wishes, even if I die.”

Zhuo Donglai let out a long sigh.

“You were always a good child, you definitely have a bright future ahead of you.” He looked at Zhuo Qing. “Come here, there’s something I want you to have. Whether I live or die, you need to keep it safe.”

“Yes.”

Zhuo Qing walked over, slowly, his eyes filled with an unspeakable sadness, as if he had foreseen that some tragic and horrible thing would happen.

He did not flee, because he knew that fleeing was pointless.

Sima Chaoqun turned his head, refusing to look at them.

He had made a decision in his heart to never again allow anyone to stir his emotions, and to never allow anything to cause him to change his mind about something.

He then heard a very strange sound, like the sound of leather being pierced.

When he looked back, he saw that Zhuo Donglai had stabbed Zhuo Qing in the heart with his blade.

Zhuo Qing took half a step back and then toppled to the ground.

He didn’t cry out.

His pale white face contained no expression of surprise or pain, as if he had long ago known that this would happen.

—It was not that Zhuo Donglai’s blade had moved extremely quickly, but rather that he had prepared himself. It was as if when he began to walk forward, he was already completely prepared.

Sima Chaoqun’s face twisted in surprise.

“Why did you kill him?” His voice harsh, he said, “Are you afraid I would torment him after your death?”

“No,” said Zhuo Donglai. “Your heart has always been much more magnanimous and benevolent than mine. You wouldn’t do something like that.” His voice was very calm. “I killed him because I couldn’t leave him behind for you.”

“Why?”

“He was very dangerous. Somber, callous and dangerous. At this young age, I could kill him, but in a few years I think I wouldn’t be his match.” He slipped off his violet marten coat and gently wrapped up Zhuo Qing’s corpse. He looked just like a loving father covering his beloved son with a quilt.

But his voice was completely emotionless.

“He was already beginning to cultivate his power. While I’m alive I could control him, but if I died, he would achieve my position in a few years. And then he would kill you.” His voice was very calm. “If I left someone like this behind for you, I couldn’t die in peace.”

His voice was flat, as flat as if he was talking about squishing a mosquito for the sake of Sima Chaoqun.

It seemed as if he wanted to coneal from Sima Chaoqun that no matter how sinister, vicious and unfeeling he acted toward others, his feelings toward Sima were true.

No one could argue with this.

Sima Chaoqun’s fists were clenched, the blood in his veins boiled.

He knew that he had to control himself, and never again act like he had in the past. He was a flesh and blood person, not a puppet. His wife still hung from the roof. His two lively, cute, intelligent children would never again call him father.

Sima Chaoqun’s body suddenly flew into the air, and he flitted like a swallow over the crossbeams of the roof.

His sword lay on the roof beam.

The sword glittered, and then struck down like lightning.

Part 7

Everyone in Jianghu knew that Sima Chaoqun used a “Thousand Hammers Great Iron Sword.”

The refinement of a thousand hammer blows had forged it.

The power of its descending attack was like the power of a thousand falling hammers, swift and fierce. Ten thousand men together could not defend against it.

Four feet, three inches long, weighing ninety pounds, it had been forged using iron from Sichuan, the best iron collected from throughout the province, which was then thoroughly tempered and forged. (1)

But the sword was really too heavy.

Sword skill uses quick and flexible movements to create unpredictability, and therefore victory. When using a sword like this, many opportunities to injure one’s opponent would be lost in the rapid changes in stances.

In a battle between masters, those opportunities would be fleeting, and once lost, impossible to recover. But Sima Chaoqun must use a sword like this. Because he was Sima Chaoqun.

Only he would have a sword like this created, and only he could use it.

Everyone in Jianghu knew, Sima Chaoqun had been born with superhuman strength. He could lift tens of thousands of pounds as if it were nothing.

If he didn’t use a sword like this, surely everyone would be disappointed.

And how could the invincible hero Sima Chaoqun let down the heroes of Jianghu?

Ten thousand men could stand as his enemies, but not Zhuo Donglai.

They had fought side by side for so many years, and had been friends regardless of life or death. They weren’t enemies.

Whenever Sima Chaoqun won a brilliant victory, it had been because of Zhuo Donglai’s planning and scheming behind the scenes.

This was a different situation.

Sima Chaoqun had never fought Zhuo Donglai before, but he knew that he was more powerful than anyone he had faced before in his life. Perhaps even more powerful than he himself.

He knew that many people believed Zhuo Donglai to be weak, but when he knew that he would find himself in a life-and-death battle with him, he had prepared himself to die beneath his blade.

And therefore, this time, he did not use the Thousand Hammers Great Iron Sword. He could not afford to lose even the slightest opportunity to defeat his opponent.

This time, he used a short sword, a blade as short as Zhuo Donglai’s, and just as sharp.

The blades they used were just like the two of them, both forged in the same furnace.

The fire in the furnace was the same. It could forge iron into steel, and could make weak people strong.

The same furnace, the same cauldron, the same fire.

Who was burning whom? (3)

Part 8

The sword glittered, slashing downward like lightning.

This was the most powerful move of Sima Chaoqun’s renowned “Nine Thunderbolts Forms,” the fierce “Great Thunderbolt.” Who knew how many masters of Jianghu had been defeated by this sword form?

He wasn’t using his Great Iron Sword, and as such the descending attack lacked some of its power. But the sword was extremely sharp, and the speed and flexibility of attack variations made up for the lack of power.

However, Sima really should not have used this attack.

This attack utilizes strength to defeat weakness. It should be used when it has been calculated that the opponent’s heart has weakened, and their power depleted. Not when facing a formidable foe.

This attack was a complete release of power. If the blow did not land, one’s opponent would definitely be able to counterattack effectively.

There was no margin for error.

Why would Sima use such an attack against Zhuo Donglai? Did he underestimate him? Was he too confident?

When masters face off it is unforgivable to either underestimate one’s opponent or overestimate one’s own ability.

Sima Chaoqun should understand this.

No, he would not underestimate Zhuo Donglai, nor overestimate himself. He was someone who rarely made mistakes.

The reason he used this attack was because he understood Zhuo Donglai very well.

Zhuo Donglai was extremely cautious. Regardless of the circumstances, if he was not completely certain of victory, he wouldn’t make a move. When he did make a move, he would use a stance that was absolutely safe.

He would only make his move if he was certain that there was not even the slightest chance he would be harmed in doing so.

The unbeatable hero Sima Chaoqun was his creation. He had seen with his own eyes countless masters slaughtered with this move.

Seeing Sima Chaoqun and his “Great Thunderbolt” sword form together undoubtedly filled his heart with anxiety.

This was his weakness.

And his weakness was Sima Chaoqun’s opportunity.

Sima Chaoqun must take advantage of this opportunity. When Zhuo Donglai felt anxiety, he would hesitate, flinch, and the sword could penetrate his heart.

When masters face off, life and death, victory and defeat, are usually decided by one stance.

Because masters calculate all factors before attacking with their stance.

—The weather, the terrain, the opponent’s mood and strength, all will be considered in the calculation.

But everyone makes mistakes. The slightest miscalculation will lead to mistakes that will be regretted for a lifetime.

Part 9

The sword glittered, descending like lightning.

Zhuo Donglai did not hesitate, did not flinch. The lightning-like sword aura did not mesmerize him.

He had already located the tip of the sword within the flickering gleam.

The tip of the sword: the heart of the sword.

The power and variation of a sword’s attack follows its tip, and those variations are the sword’s life force.

He struck at the life force of the sword with his blade.

The glittering, heaven-encompassing sword aura suddenly vanished. Zhuo Donglai’s blade rested on Sima Chaoqun’s throat.

Sima had no energy left to evade or counterattack. The blade, which could cut through iron like mud, could also slice off his head in an instant.

He waited for the blade to strike, his eyes open.

His eyes were completely free of any sorrow, hatred or fear.

In an instant, he had become infinitely calmer than he had been just a moment ago. If his attack had succeeded, and Zhuo Donglai was dead, perhaps he would not be this calm.

Zhuo Donglai looked at him coldly, his eyes completely devoid of any emotion.

“You made a mistake,” he said. “And so, you are defeated.”

“Yes. I’m defeated.”

“You’ve always wanted to know which of us would win if we fought, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t. I never wanted to know.”

Unexpectedly, an indescribable heartbreak filled his voice. And yet, this did not stop the blade in his hand from chopping at Sima Chaoqun’s neck.

The blade glimmered, but no blood splattered.

The blow had struck with the dull back of the blade. With that, he left, not looking back, not even glancing at Sima.

“Why don’t you kill me?” blurted Sima hoarsely.

Zhuo Donglai did not turn his head. He just said, “Because you’re already dead to me.”

**

(1) The term here used to refer to Sichuan is 九府十三周 or nine prefectures, thirteen autonomous prefectures, which was a way to describe Sichuan in ancient times based on how it was split up into administrative districts.

(2) Literally it says he can life 130,000 pounds as if it were nothing.

(3) The actual Chinese says, “Who is the bean? Who is the beanstalk?” It’s a play on a common saying that comes from a poem by Cao Zhi. The saying basically means “burning beanstalks to cook the beans,” and means that two parties come from the same place, that they shouldn’t hurt each other. Here’s more details: