531 The Tes (1/2)
A long black curtain draped the front of the brownish-yellow carriage. It shielded the insides of the carriage from the prying eyes outside. Images of deities drifted freely with grace on the curtain, suggesting an air of ethereality and remoteness.
The jet-black automaton drawing the carriage screeched and squealed incessantly as it galloped up the slopes of the mountains with ease. It was as if it was treading on level ground.
With their most strenuous effort, the martial artists kept their pace with the speed of the carriage relentlessly moving forward. Despite their struggles, they were unable to steal any glimpses of Meng Qi nor Jiang Zhiwei in the cabin.
The carriage pushed forward into the pits of the mountain, steadfast in its drudging toil as if being stalked by some unseen pursuer behind. The journey continued ceaselessly for several days until the carriage reached a barren wildernesses. The howling of beasts in the distance sounded now and continually, a terror in the which would have made one's heart race wildly.
”Where do Master Su and Lady Jiang intent to go?” Pain ran through their legs as the martial artists toiled with fatigue and soreness to follow the trail of the carriage. Doubt began to creep into their dismayed hearts.
”They have embarked on such a sudden excursion right after the visit by Immortal Yunhe of the Plenitude Sect,” the black-robed man with a knife scar on his forehead scowled as he panted for breath. ”They have traveled far into desolate wastelands, traveling only on the deserted and difficult terrain. Are they mounting an escape? Have their negotiations with the Plenitude Sect have gone sour?”
The more he reflected upon it, it seemed that his speculations were not far from the truth.
”Master... Master Su had offended Principal Zhu earlier. The Darkness Palace had insisted that they were recruiting them, to salvage whatever honor, it seems...” said the dainty woman.
Her voice trailed off into silence as the companions shared a look amongst themselves. ”The two mysterious strangers might not have anywhere else to flee from the wrath of the two most powerful factions in the land! Not when the Darkness Palace might be seeking to exact retribution and the bungled negotiations with the Plenitude Sect!”
Master Su and Lady Jiang might only be a cut above the strength of a common Principal. Yet, they were not be able to stand against the might of the Principal Elders and Immortals of both orders. The latter were rumored to have defeated common Principals with ease!
”Should... should we still follow then?”, the man with a squared-jaw asked hesitantly.
”Not even the accession of potent martial disciplines would deliver them from the furious vengeance of the two greatest factions in the land! They will live a worse life than before, fearing each and every moment of their lives like skittish rodents!”
”These are baseless speculations on our part,” interjected the female leader with stout features. ”Would Master Su and Lady Jiang need to escape in a horse carriage? They could have just taken to the skies easily if they were fleeing!”
”There might not have been anyone in the carriage after all! We've been tricked to follow behind them as a diversion for any pursuers behind!” exclaimed the man with a knife scar, his gaze fixed upon the carriage hell-bent on continuing its journey ahead. A sudden impulse had almost compelled him to catch up with the carriage and steal a glance inside, but he was fearful of a fatal reproach by its occupants within.
”Indeed! Never have they answered our pleas. Our beggings have fallen on deaf ears as if they had no intent to impart any teachings of martial disciplines to us! It would be folly for us to continue trailing behind!” Grim weariness and doubt had driven the dainty woman to slacken her pace.
The rigors of the cruel world left many in great distress despite several desperate pleas for help.
The female leader looked at her companions. Her expression turned grim and somber as she spoke quietly, ”I have failed in my learnings of the skills of automation, I have not the gifts and talents in learning to conjure talismans and charms. I have studied martial disciplines and have focused on the skills of the sword, only to be admonished that the path of the warrior is but a grueling and laborious endeavor. Only a few days before, I have lost all hope, like all the warriors around and before us. All of whom had traversed the Jianghu with swelling ambition only to be pummeled into despair and sorrow, relenting only to be a chaperone to defend residences like a common guard. Or I could be waiting for a husband of a similar and lamentable fate, hoping that our offsprings could fare better than us.”
”But when Master Su flicked off the Sword Ball with a snap of his fingers, he opened a whole new world to me. A world where we could attune ourselves with Nature, with Heaven and Earth. Our heads no longer drooped with anguish and despondency before architects of automation and conjurers of talismans and charms. With mere gestures, we could unleash wonders and amazing feats like deities and immortals.”
”For twenty and three winters, I, Fang Huayin have endured. For twenty and three winters, I have lingered with a forlorn melancholy. But no more. No longer shall I tread with grim despair. There is no telling how hard the road ahead might be. There is no telling how small the hope that might await me from a great distance. But, no matter how bleak a future that is in store, I will not give up. I will tread the path of pursuing the hope for greatness in my study of martial disciplines, Heaven forbid the pain of death that might await me!”
With ardent fervor, she spoke as her companions beheld her break of silence with awe. ”Wang Dong, Mo Yan, Lu Fengming, Wan Yu,” Fang Huayin addressed her companions, ”I shall not begrudge you if you are hesitant to continue in following my lead. But I shall persist, until the day Master Su and Lady Jiang would accept me.”
Mo Yan, the dainty woman pondered in silence. She first spoke, ”We have knelt for an entire night. Still, Master Su had given us no response. I do not want to prolong my efforts in a vain quest.”
”For days they have traveled. It looks as if they are fleeing from something. They are escaping. It would be nothing short of dangerous and perilous to continue behind them. Why should we endanger ourselves when there might be hope elsewhere?” asserted Wang Dong, with a knife scar on his forehead.
Lu Fengming, who had a squared jaw avoided Fang Huayin's gaze. His eyes flashed with doubt as he spoke, ”I... I have the same thoughts as well.”
”And what of you?” Fang Huayin turned to Wan Yu.
A foreboding dread grew within her. A fear that she had chosen a path where only loneliness, rejection and shame loomed ahead.
Desolation, hesitation, and unease seeped slowly into her.
The white-hair young man, Wan Yu had been quiet since their debate. He looked far ahead, at the view of the brown carriage departing out of view. Softly he spoke, ”I have never decided to leave, not since I saw Master Su had displayed the mystics of his powers and strength. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I shall continue, even if it costs my life. I would not live my later days regretting my decision today.”
Wang Dong and the other three of the company beheld Fang Huayin and Wan Yu morosely. Wearily, they clasped their hands and bowed their heads in respect, ”We shall hope that your wish comes true.”
Without a further word, they turned on their heels and left, their departing backs drifting out of view into the lush bushes and thickets of the wild.
Fang Huayin turned to Wan Yu. ”Let us push on, lest we lose the trail of the carriage,” she said quietly.
With a smaller group, the pair managed to gain a better headway in their pursuit of the carriage, following closely behind the carriage which was draped by a black curtain. Oddly enough, the carriage seemed to have lessened its pace.
A few more days passed quietly. Still, the automaton carriage continued its unfaltering climb over the ridges and hills of the rocky terrain. Despite persevering through the strenuous tribulations, soreness and fatigue continuously stabbed and stung at Fang Huayin's and Wan Yu's battered selves.
The carriage slowed to a halt. Seeing their chance, Fang Huayin and Wan Yu rushed to consume their dry rations and refreshed themselves with water hastily.
All of a sudden, a band of horsemen broke from the thick of the woods. Masked and armed with shiny swords and sabers, the marauding horsemen galloped menacingly as they aimed for the carriage.
The leader of the bandits set his sights upon the brownish-yellow carriage. He swallowed hard at the sight of the carriage, the posh and upscale-looking automaton beast drawing the carriage, and the embroidered illustration of immortals and deities on the black drapes hanging at the front of the carriage. Thoughts and imaginations of wealth and riches clouded his mind.
”Nothing moved from the other side of the curtains, it seemed to be empty, ” thought the leader, ”We would just have to kill the man and woman escorting the carriage and there shall not be any need to incur the wrath of any invincible architects of the Darkness Palace!”
”Let's go, brothers!” cried the leader, brandishing his saber.
Rapid clop-clop, clop-clop of galloping horses sped forth. The horsemen closed in on both Fang Huayin and Wan Yu.
Feeling amused and ludicrous, Fang Huayin and Wan Yu could not help but thought, you lot are courting death? The horsemen could barely summon enough strength to defeat both Fang Huayin and Wan Yu. Yet they dare to trespass before both Master Su and Lady Jiang?
The galloping of the horses drew closer, fueled by hunger and greed for wealth. Nothing moved from the other side of the curtains. Everything was silent and calm within. A dreadful fear began to slither into Fang Huayin and Wan Yu who were trailing behind the carriage: is the carriage really empty?
”Yet, holding the carriage to recurring pauses and driving the carriage again seemed hardly difficult for a man like Master Su even if he is not in the carriage...”
”The carriage might have been empty after all!”
”Should we leave the carriage to the marauders?” thought the pair, taking into account of their weary bodies and the sheer number of the onrushing bandits. Thoughts of a speedy retreat began to kindle in their minds.
The embers of her thoughts glowed brightly in red, urging her to flee. Instead, she gritted her teeth. She cursed herself for the indication of weakness. ”I have promised myself to persevere no matter the odds! How would I face Master Su and Lady Jiang if I fail to defend a mere horse carriage?”
A puff of dust lifted into the wind as she stomped hard and landed outside of the group of the attacking horsemen, freeing her from the surrounding circle of the bandits closing in on them. She dove to the ground and leaped into the air, slashing at the horses before attacking the riders.
Boldly, Wan Yu followed tightly behind, delivering blows as best he could by matching her attacks.
Still, fatigue took its toll on them, wearing them down as their movements slowed and turned sluggish. The bandits would never have proved to be a challenge should Fang Huayin and Wan Yu were in their best condition.
The bandits returned blows after blows at them. Fang Huayin sidestepped around, barely avoiding the blows of the blades that tried to sink their fangs into her as she leaped to safety. Still, the merciless exhaustion that she has endured for the entire journey overwhelmed her. Her legs gave way painfully in such grave a moment, Fang Huayin collapsed on to a knee.
Blankly she beheld the cold glint of blades boring down on her, the overture of her impending doom.
”Am I to perish here…”
”Is this the end of the pursuit of my path…”
”No! I yield not to Fate!”