Chapter 17 – The cold aura of a sword (1/2)

Chapter 17: The cold aura of a sword

Part 1

The second month, the twenty-sixth.

Chang’an.

Gao Jianfei waited.

Zheng Cheng told him, “Mr. Zhuo can’t see you at the moment, but he said that you can wait here.”

Little Gao laughed, his smile gentle and calm. “I can wait. I guarantee you, you’ve never seen someone who can wait like me.”

“Oh?”

“I’m more patient than anyone, maybe even more patient than an eighty-year-old man. I used to live in the deep mountains, and once, I waited to see a camellia bloom. Can you guess how long I waited?”

“How long?”

“No less than three days.”

“Then you picked the flower and pinned it onto your coat?”

“No,” said Little Gao. “Once it bloomed, I just left.”

“You waited three days just to watch the few seconds of a flower blooming?” Zheng Cheng was also a patient person, so he understood Little Gao’s deeper meaning. “No matter what you are waiting for, you have a reason for waiting. Even though you didn’t pick the flower, you still achieved your purpose. And it wasn’t simply to watch the camellia bloom.”

“What other purpose would I have?”

“A flower is also a life, and the instant that it bloomed, it was the birth of a life. When a life is born into the world, it is profound and miraculous. Nothing in the world can compare to it.”

He stared at Little Gao “I think that the three days you spent were not wasted. After your observation concluded, your sword technique would have improved significantly.”

Little Gao looked at him, surprised. This ordinary, square-jawed young man was much more intelligent than he appeared.

“It’s even more important to have a purpose when waiting for people. You surely won’t wait for Mr. Zhuo to arrive and then just leave.” Zheng Cheng calmly asked, “What is your purpose this time?” He didn’t let Little Gao respond. “There’s no need to answer the question. I don’t want to know.”

“You asked me. Why don’t you want an answer? Why don’t you want to know?”

“Because the less one knows, the better.”

“If you didn’t want to know, then why did you ask?”

“I just wanted to give you a reminder: if I say something like this, then Mr. Zhuo is also thinking it. And when he asks you the question, you’d better have a good response, a reason that will satisfy him. Otherwise, it would be better not to wait for him.” He was very solemn and sincere. “There are not many people alive who have left Mr. Zhuo unsatisfied.”

When he finished speaking, he began to leave. He didn’t want to see Little Gao’s reaction to his statement.

But when he reached the door, he looked back. “There’s something else I forgot to tell you.”

“What’s that?”

“Mr. Zhuo instructed me to give you anything you want, regardless of what it is.”

“He really said that?”

“Yes.”

Little Gao laughed. His laugh was extremely joyful. “That’s wonderful. Extremely wonderful.”

Part 2

When Zhuo Donglai called Zheng Cheng in, it was already almost noon.

Zheng Cheng couldn’t see anything different about him. It was as if all the tragic and fearsome things that had happened yesterday had nothing to do with him. What had Zhuo Qing done to exact revenge? He didn’t mention or ask about it at all.

He just asked Zheng Cheng, “Is Gao Jianfei still waiting?”

“Yes. He’s still waiting,” said Zheng Cheng. “But his request was impossible to completely fulfil.”

“What was his request?”

“He wanted me to in two hours time arrange for twenty tables of the finest food and drink, all prepared by cooks from Chang’an Restaurant and Brilliant Lake Spring restaurant. He also wanted me to in two hours time find all the finest professional working girls in Chang’an to drink with him.”

“How many did you get?”

“I found 72, at least half of which were already in bed with a man and had to be pulled out.”

Zhuo Donglai laughed. “At that hour, any girl who isn’t it bed with a man surely isn’t a professional. You did well. It must have been quite a lively morning here.”

“Extremely lively. All the Agency brothers who can drink ended up joining him. He wanted everyone to celebrate with him.”

“Celebrate? Celebrate what?” asked Zhuo Donglai. “What is it about today that he thinks is worth celebrating?”

“He didn’t say. But I’ve always said, many people act like this when they think they will die soon.”

Zhuo Donglai thought for a moment, and his pupils suddenly began to constrict. After a very long time he said, “Unfortunately, I happen to know that for the moment, there is no way that he will die.”

Part 3

The wine had been drunk, the guests departed. In the courtyard and the hall were a few broken hairpins and discarded necklaces, some belts and gauze stockings along with broken snuff bottles and rouge boxes as well as some other unidentifiable objects. It seemed as if they had all been especially placed so that the host would know that everyone was thoroughly drunk.

And the host?

If the host wasn’t drunk, how could the guests truly enjoy themselves?

Little Gao looked like he was dead, laying face down on a long table. But when Zhuo Donglai arrived, the dead person awoke, and let out a long sigh.

“Why do you always wait until everyone is gone before you show up? Do you really hate seeing people enjoy themselves?”

Zhuo Donglai looked at him coldly. “I definitely don’t like it. There’s nothing amusing at all about waking up and seeing drunk people.”

He stared at Little Gao. “Thankfully, you’re not drunk. The others are drunk, but not you.”

Little Gao’s eyes held not the slightest fraction of intoxication.

“I can see you are quite sober,” said Zhuo Donglai. “More sober than a rabbit in spring.”

Little Gao laughed, a hearty laugh. “You’re not mistaken. Not mistaken at all.” Laughing, he said, “Your eyes are sharper than the eyes of a fox in autumn.”

“You get others drunk. Why aren’t you drunk?”

“Because I knew the fox would be coming sooner or later. When a fox is coming, the rabbit needs to stay sober.”

“If a fox arrives, it won’t help the rabbit to be sober.”

“Oh?”

“If a rabbit knows a fox is coming, the best thing to do is run away as fast as possible.” Zhuo Donglai laughed. “Unless, of course, the rabbit isn’t afraid of the fox!”

“How could a rabbit not be afraid of a fox?”

“Because behind the rabbit is a spear, a spear pointed at the fox’s heart. The spear could pierce the fox’s heart at any time.”

“Spear?” Little Gao blinked. “Where is a spear?”

Zhuo Donglai laughed. “Obviously it comes from within a solitary box. A solitary box, once lost, but then found again.”

Little Gao laughed. He did not blink again, and in fact a look of heartfelt admiration filled his eyes.

“You found out?” he asked Zhuo Donglai. “How did you find out?”

“What do you think I found out? I just know that there is a type of person in the world, who, when they lose to someone, will find a way to repay the debt tenfold. I know that Xiao Leixue just so happens to be that type of person, and he just so happens to have found you already.” He laughed. “I know this little bit.”

Little Gao looked at him for a long time, and then sighed. “That’s not just a little bit, that’s a lot. No wonder Xiao Leixue told me that doing business with Mr. Zhuo is not fun. Often there are things you don’t need to say, because he knows already.”

Zhuo Donglai’s smile was beginning to seem forced. “Unfortunately, I don’t know how much I actually know.”

“Do you know that I was sent here by Xiao Leixue?” Little Gao answered the question himself. “Of course you know. And you most certainly know that what he sent me here to discuss isn’t something good.”

“There are many types of bad things. What type did he send you here to discuss?”

“The worst type, basically.” Little Gao sighed again. “If it weren’t for the fact that I owe him a favor, I wouldn’t have been willing to come talk with you about it at all.”

“Wrong!” Zhuo Donglai smiled again. “In this point, you are wrong.”

“What point?”

“In some aspects, the best types of things turn out to be the worst. And in some ways, the worst types of things turn out to be the best. In the world of men, many situations are like this.” He continued to explain, “If Mr. Xiao had decided not to send someone to talk with me, but instead decided to come in the middle of the night when no one is around, and bring along his box… Well, that would be the worst type of thing.”

“So no matter what it is he sent me here to talk with you about, you won’t be too upset?”

“I won’t.”

“Well, that’s excellent.”

And yet, Little Gao’s expression became very solemn. Imitating Zhuo Donglai’s own tone, he said, one word at a time, “He wants me to take over Sima Chaoqun’s position. To bear the standard of the Great Protection Agency, and to be its ultimate leader.”

Anyone would expect Zhuo Donglai to leap up upon hearing this.

But he didn’t even blink. He just coolly asked Little Gao: “That’s what Xiao Leixue wants?”

“Yes.” And then Little Gao asked, “What do you think?”

Zhuo Donglai didn’t even take a moment to consider. He simply responded with two words. “Very good.”

“Very good?” Little Gao was shocked. “What do you mean by ‘very good?’”

Zhuo Donglai smiled, and then bowed toward Little Gao.

“Very good means that your excellency has already become the head of the Great Protection Agency. You hold the number one seat.”

Little Gao was flabbergasted.

Zhuo Donglai’s attitude was already becoming more respectful.

“From today on, the brave leaders of the thirty-six routes are under your command. If anyone does not comply, Zhuo Donglai’s blade will be the first to chop them down.”

He stared at Little Gao with his dark, grey eyes. “But from today on, you are part of the Great Protection Agency. The Agency follows the course set by the leader. You must be utterly loyal and spare no efforts in your service. The troubles of the Great Protection Agency are your troubles, its enemies are your enemies.”

Little Gao finally let out a sigh. “I understand what you mean.” He laughed bitterly. “At first I didn’t understand why you would agree so quickly. But now I get it.”

“It was always this way. Just like the two edges of a treasured sword.” Zhuo Donglai’s voice was solemn and calm. “If you wish to gain something, you must pay a price.” His voice suddenly became hoarse. “I think you know what price Sima Chaoqun paid in the past.”

“And you?” asked Little Gao. “What did you pay?”

Zhuo Donglai laughed. “What did I pay? What did I gain?” Pain filled his laughter. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question, because even I don’t know.”

He was not lying, and his words really were filled with emotion. So much so that even Little Gao had begun to feel sorry for him.

Thankfully, Zhuo Donglai quickly regained his rock-like calm. And then he raised a question sharper than a blade.

“I’m willing to let you lead the Great Protection Agency. And I’m willing to swear my loyalty and my service to you. I believe that we understand each other, and can benefit from this kind of arrangement. But, what about others?”

“Others?”

“The Great Protection agency is comprised of forces on thirty-six routes. To get them to sincerely support your leadership will not be easy. What are you willing to do?”

“What do you think I should do?”

“First you must gain prestige, and then you can have trust. When you have trust, you can command the heroes and make people obey you. For you to assume this position, you of course must first gain prestige.”

“Gain prestige? How do I gain prestige?”

“Sima and I have gone our separate ways. He’s already disappeared in a rage.”

“I know.”

“If you know, then I’m quite certain many others know. Before his death, Zhuo Qing would not have forgotten to dispatch people to carry the news.”

“As long as it didn’t interfere with his revenge, and he had the means, I’m sure he wouldn’t forget. I think he could do a lot of things.”

“Definitely.”

“When you heard that Xiao Leixue sent me to take over leadership of the Great Protection Agency, you had no inclination to oppose. Because you need my help.”

Zhuo Donglai didn’t deny this point. “Right now, our circumstances are not stable. Mr. Xiao presumably understands the situation well, and so he sent you here.” He continued, “Mr. Xiao and I understand each other, and I would never have considered refusing.” He looked at Gao Jianfei and said, one word at a time, “To gain prestige in these circumstances, you must use the most effective and direct method.”

Little Gao looked at him. After a long time, he asked, one word at a time, “Are you saying I must kill Zhu Meng?”

“Yes.”

“This is your requirement?”

“It’s not a requirement, it’s an inevitability,” he said coldly. “Faced with this kind of inevitability, we really have no other choice.”

Gao Jianfei suddenly stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the snow had not yet melted. The weather was clear and sunny, but everything was still covered in white. The sky had become an azure blue. Far in the distance, a white cloud floated past. It came to a stop, and then flew again.

A long time passed. Zhuo Donglai sighed. “I understand. You and Zhu Meng are men of Jianghu. You take promises very seriously, and you don’t care about death. You know that living and dying can be determined by the snap of a finger.” His words were sincere. “You met by chance, but instantly got along. You will be together until death.”

He sighed, a sigh truly filled with emotion. “In the eyes of those ‘gentlemen’ who don’t truly understand friendship, perhaps you don’t count as friends. But I understand.”

He continued: “So I also understand that to ask you to kill Zhu Meng is truly grievous. Not just for you, or for him, but for everyone.”

Little Gao was speechless.

“So I hope that you understand something,” said Zhuo Donglai. “If you don’t kill Zhu Meng, someone else will. If he doesn’t die by your hand, he will die by someone else’s.”

“Why?”

“When the Qin State lost the support of the people, everyone under heaven vied for power. Sima Chaoqun lost his position in exactly the same circumstances. And therefore, Zhu Meng’s head has already become the target of any hero among the 36 routes of the Great Protection Agency who wishes to seize power.”

He continued to explain: “Zhu Meng is the hero of a lifetime, and he is the archenemy of the Great Protection Agency. Anyone in the Agency who can take his head will gain enough prestige to assume Sima’s place. At the least, there are three people who have a chance.”

“And you fear them!”

“What I fear is not them.”

“Then why don’t you seize the position?”

“Because of you,” said Zhuo Donglai. “I don’t fear you, but when you add Xiao Leixue into the mix, it is an unstoppable force.”

Yet again, he spoke the truth.

“The reason I didn’t kill Zhu Meng before was because I wished to leave him for Sima. And the reason I don’t kill him now is because I wish to leave him for you. It would be better for him to die by your hand than another’s. In any case, he is a dead man.”

Little Gao suddenly turned around and stared at him. His eyes were bloodshot, his face colorless.

“The three people you mentioned. Have they already arrived in Chang’an?”

“Most likely.”

“Who are they?”

“A ruthless sword, a deadly spear, and a hidden weapon coated in barkcloth tree poison (1). Each one is qualified to be listed among the 70 most fearsome weapons under heaven.”

“I asked you who they are, not what weapons they use.”

“They are all killers, and they all have informants in Chang’an. They should be able to locate Zhu Meng within three or four hours. That is all you need to know.”

“Why don’t you tell me their names?”

“Because if you heard their names, it would most likely affect your will to fight.”

“Can we find Zhu Meng before they do?”

“You can’t, but I can.”

“Where is he?”

“In my grasp,” said Zhuo Donglai casually. “He’s always been in my grasp.”

Part 4

Evening clouds covered the sky. Mountains and hills stood in the boundless twilight, as did Zhu Meng. He stood before a pile of yellow earth.

It was a freshly heaped pile of yellow earth. No spring grass grew on the grave, and no stone tablet had been erected. Perhaps the person inside the grave had already transformed into a butterfly and flown away.

Perhaps what was buried in the tomb was actually the lost years of a hero, or the tenderness of youth.

But Zhu Meng was still there. And Sima was still there.

And so the tangled web of resentment and hatred was still there. No one could untangle this knot.

Dusk grew deeper.

Zhu Meng stood there mutely. A long time had passed. Those who remained from among his brothers also stood there looking at him mutely. Who knew what he was thinking in his heart? Who knew what they were thinking?

What they did know in their hearts was that if life was like a play, and if his life was a play, then the time had undoubtedly come for the curtain to fall.

Regardless of how tragic and moving the play was, it was time for the curtain to fall.

Die Wu had taken the first step, and they must complete the path.

No matter how arduous, it must be completed, and they only wished to be able to sprinkle their path home with the blood of the enemy.

Zhu Meng finally turned around and faced his brothers, who had been with him through thick and thin. He looked at each one of them with his large, bloodshot eyes. He stared at each face slowly, looking at them as if it might be his last chance to do so.

And then, his voice hoarse, said, “In life, there is no banquet which lasts forever. Even children and parents will eventually part. Right now, we have reached the time to part.”

The faces of his brothers twisted, but Zhu Meng pretended not to see.

“So now, I want you all to leave. The best would be to take different roads, no more than two of you per road. I want you to stay alive. If even one of you lives, then the Lion Clan has hope.”

No one left. No one moved.

Zhu Meng jumped forward, shouting hoarsely:

“F*ck your ancestors! Didn’t you hear what I said? Do you want every last person in the Lion Clan to be wiped out and exterminated?”

Still, no one moved. No one said anything.

Zhu Meng forcefully ripped the belt off his waist, a leather strap as wide as a hand. He charged toward them.

“If you don’t want to leave, if you want to die, then fine, I’ll beat you to death right here so that I don’t get pissed off!”

The belt descended, leaving a strip of purple, a strip of blood.

But these men, who disregarded life and death, pain and suffering, only closed their mouths, gritted their teeth, and remained motionless.

Sima Chaoqun stood at a distance, watching. It seemed as if he had no feelings whatsoever regarding what was happening.

And yet, fresh blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

He was grinding his teeth too hard, and had bitten himself.

The wind blew. It was unclear when the wind had sprung up, but it gusted against their bodies, cold, cutting like small knives.

Zhu Meng finally dropped to the ground.

“Fine. If you wish to stay behind to die with me, then I’ll let you stay. But,” he said harshly, “you must not forget, whether it is me or Sima Chaoqun who prevails in this battle, it has nothing to do with you. You must not make a move against him.”

Sima Chaoqun suddenly gave a cold laugh. “It’s useless. No matter what technique you use to try to stir my emotions, they will all be useless.”

“What?” asked Zhu Meng hoarsely. “What are you saying?”

“I just want you to understand that even though my family is gone, it doesn’t mean that I will intentionally help you achieve your goals. I won’t let you kill me and use my head to revive your prestige, to revive the Lion Clan.” Sima Chaoqun’s voice was completely hoarse. “If you want to take this head from this neck, you’ll need to use real kung fu to do it.”

“Your mother’s dog farts!” raged Zhu Meng. “Who said anything about asking you to let me off? I still view you as a person, who would have thought that you fart like a dog?” (2)

“Well said. Well cursed.” Sima looked up to the heavens and laughed. “If you have the guts, then come on over!”

Zhu Meng was just about to charge forward, but then he suddenly stopped. The thunderbolt-like fury suddenly subsided into calm. He looked at Sima Chaoqun with a very strange expression on his face, as if he had just seen him for the first time.

“You don’t dare to approach me?” taunted Sima. “Could it be you only have the guts to attack your brothers? Could it be that ‘Fierce Lion” Zhu Meng is nothing more than a coward?”

Zhu Meng suddenly laughed, a wild laugh.

“Well said. Well cursed. Cursed really freaking well.” He laughed like a shrieking ape. “Sadly, it’s really useless.”

“What?” Sima Chaoqun was still laughing coldly. “What are you farting about?”

This time, Zhu Meng was not angry. In fact, he let out a long sigh. “Sima Chaoqun, you are a true man. In my whole life of roaming, I’ve never admired anyone. Yet now, I have to give you a little admiration. But if you think that Zhu Meng is just a boorish man who doesn’t know right from wrong, then you’re mistaken. I understand what you’re thinking.”

“What do you understand?”

“You don’t need to try to provoke me into killing you. And you don’t need to use these methods to try to piss me off. I’m defeated. I’ve lost my soul like an idiot, because of a woman; I am more heart-broken than if my own mother died.” He suddenly slapped his chest. “But as long as I have breath left in my body, I’ll fight to the bitter end. You don’t need to provoke me, I will definitely keep going all the way to the finish.”

“Oh?”

“Zhu Meng’s head isn’t here for just anyone to take. Not even to help you achieve your aims. And I don’t need your help to achieve my aims.” His large eyes stared at Sima Chaoqun. “Our battle today is not about life and death, victory and defeat. I don’t care about that. However, it seems like you are trying to help me.” His voice became more harsh. “If you try to do that, then you are not a person raised by loving parents, but a person raised by dogs. If you hold back even one move or stance, then I will die here and come back as an evil spirit to haunt you.”

Sima Chaoqun looked at him, at his large bloodshot eyes, at his frame, which, although gaunt, still carried the spirit of a fierce lion. After a long time, he said, “Very well. I promise you. No matter what, in today’s battle I will use all my power and fight to the death.”

Zhu Meng looked at him, this man who had once been the most outstanding figure in the world, the greatest hero under heaven, and yet who had fallen deep into the muck. He let out a sigh. “You and I are doomed to be enemies. I only wish that in my next left, we can be friends. Regardless of who wins or loses today, who lives or dies, this is my wish.”

Part 5

The wind grew colder.

The distant mountains were cold, the dark grave was cold. The men stood in the cold wind, but their hearts were filled with hot blood.

This hot blood would never grow cold.

It is because the world has people like this whose blood will never grow cold that we should never have fear in our hearts, because as long as people like this exist, then righteousness will also exist.

This point must be emphasized, because this is the essence of spirit.

Dusk grew deeper.

Standing there in the twilight, Sima Chaoqun and Zhu Meng had become two indistinct shadows.

But in the eyes of the men, their blood boiling, these two shadows were more brilliant, greater and stronger than anyone else in the world.

This was because theirs was not a struggle of life and death, of honor and glory, of victory and defeat.

They gave no regard for the life and death, the glory and honor that others in the world could never abandon. They were simply doing something that they believed must be done.

It was because of their principles of conduct.

Heads can be lopped off, blood can be spilled, riches and honor and glory can be discarded like old shoes. But principles can never be discarded.

—Isn’t it true that some people will say they are too foolish to act in this way?

—What kind of person would say such a thing?