Chapter 168 The Chief of Clan Zhang (1/2)
One way or the other, Yan Jishi was not only a talker, but also a curious one, albeit with his regular bursts of expletives. What he pointed out quickly piqued the interests of Lu Bugong and Zhang Zhigui, all of whom began to stare at me strangely.
I merely smiled and slowly reached for my glass, and called for another toast. Another quiet round of cigarettes ensued before I finally began my tale, ”I think Old Man Xie might have forgotten to tell you that my father, Murong Hai, is not my biological father. Of course, my mother is not my biological mother as well.” All three of me fixed me with a dumb and bewildered look. But a dawning expression formed on Lu Bugong's face, then he asked hesitantly, ”Shiyan, are you... are you a fox demon in human form?”
”Cough!” I almost choked from the fumes of my cigarette when I heard him. ”What in the world had led this dumb fool to think of this?” But Yan Jishi and Zhang Zhigui wore the exact same expression as Lu Bugong, obviously sharing the same notion that they thought I was a non-human masquerading as one.
Edelweiss was already stifling her urge to burst out laughing, and so was Chongxi and Lin Feng, who were all equally entertained by the notion that I was a demon. All three of them merely giggled, instead of trying to help explain, leaving me to face my predicament alone. But their wry demeanor led Zhang Zhigui and his companions back into a state of daze and bewilderment again, wondering if they had spoken out of turn. At last, I spoke, ”I am a human through and through. For real. But... but my parents are not.” ”HUH?!” Yan Jishi cried, his mouth hanging open in shock. ”There's no need for such surprise,” I said, grinning, ”My father was once human. But, by his words, he had attained immortality for Heaven knows how long. As is my mother. But she was not formerly human, but a white fox. Hence, in the eyes of the foxes today, she is a living ancestor; a matriarchal ancestor whom they still worshipped, so that makes me their 'lordling'.”
I paused just in time to see Zhang Zhigui and his friends taking a long deep breath with their eyes wide opened. Despite their being fellow practitioners of arcane magic and sorcery like us, they clearly did not take what I said well, wrestling with their beliefs and realities pertaining to the truths about demigods, immortals, and demons. Seconds passed in stiff silence, and I decided to shatter the ice. ”Actually, I am beginning to have some ideas about my history.” I got up and took my sword, unsheathed it, and placed it on the table for everyone to see. ”Look at these two runic words that said ”Shiyan.” My father told me that he met a gravely-injured Taoist priest, during one of his pilgrimages with Mother. It was then when he first found me. I was still a baby then. A toddler wrapped in a bundle of cloth, carried on the priest's back, along with this sword...”
Zhang Zhigui interjected suddenly. ”Wait a minute. I am hardly a true student of lore and legends, but I did notice something in the archives of my family... something about the word ”Shiyan.” According to legend, the five Wufang Shangdis – collectively, Qing Di of the West, Bai Di of the East, Yan Di of the South, Xuan Di of the North, and Huang Di of the Center – each of them have magical swords of their own. Each were named after the color they represent. The swords were named...” I interrupted this time, continuing in his stead, ”Shiqing, Shibai, Shiyan, Shixuan, and Shihuang.” That left Zhang Zhigui's mouth hanging wide open again, but he quickly nodded.
We looked around and everyone else were dumbstruck; stunned by our exchange and the revelation we shared. Yan Jishi's and Lu Bugong's eyes were threatening to pop out of their sockets, when Zhang Zhigui hesitantly went on, ”Shiyan. If my guess is true... It's possible that... it's possible that might be a descendant of Yan Di of the South, a son from the lost ancient clan Shennong.” I nodded. It was something that I came to know not long ago, and I too suspected that it might be true.
Zhang Zhigui cleared his mouth with a gulp of liquor. ”It is either coincidence or providence that there was some information about these five swords kept in the archives of my family, especially the two ancient monarchs Yandi and Huangdi. According to Chinese mythology, Yandi and Huangdi together joined their powers to defeat the tribal leader of the ancient Nine Li Tribe, Chiyou. With the swords Shiyan and Shihuang, the monarchs slew Chiyou by beheading him. And yet here we are, with this sword name Shiyan in our presence. Could it actually be the very same sword from the legends...” Zhang Zhigui's eyes slowly wandered to the Shiyan Blade. I turned it over, handing the hilt to him, allowing him to have a closer look.
Zhang Zhigui received the sword and began studying it. With his companions, they began examining it intently, muttering nonstop about how handsome the sword looked, despite its ancient design. Knowing nothing about archaeology, I could scarcely deduce the age of the Shiyan Blade. But Lu Bugong knew a little about the study of ancient and intrinsically valuable items. He inspected the sword with great detail, swinging it around and weighing it, before he finally nodded to Zhigui, indicating his satisfaction that Zhigui's deductions could well be true.
However, I might be the only one hardly taken aback by the background story, for I have discovered them myself some time ago. Rather, Zhang Zhigui and his friends have never stopped drowning in waves after waves of astonishment and epiphany, since they sat down. Then I noticed Lao Tao. He had never once uttered a word since we began recounting our stories, and sharing about what we know about my sword. But I would then discover some time later that Lao Tao must have had knowledge pertaining to my identity, although he must have his reasons for keeping quiet. What a fool I was then!
Suddenly, Lin Feng asked Yan Jishi. ”Yishi, I have something that I do not understand.” The latter turned, and said, ”What is it, Lin Feng?” Lin Feng fell silent, wondering how he should piece his question together and asked, ”The humanoid golems and huge black hounds are all your magic, are they not?” Yan Jishi responded with a nod. ”We know that they have no corporeal bodies of their own, and they crumble to dust at the slightest impact. But we encountered a black tiger when we were running back uphill. That tiger was a true tiger. Despite a strong kick from me, it did not crumble into dust like your paper golems and familiars. What magic did you cast on that tiger?”