Horizon, Bright Moon, Sabre

by RWX

  Fu Hongxue’s hand tightened around his sabre. “Who exactly are you? What right do you have to command me?”

  The old man laughed. His laughter was still mysterious and cunning.

  Just as his laughter emerged, his face disappeared into the darkness, as though it had never emerged from it.

  Fu Hongxue passed through all of the piles of gems. Without even looking back, he walked out. In his eyes, these priceless gems were nothing more than piles of garbage.

  After he walked out of the room, he immediately turned left, three times in a row. He really did see a door.

  It was an empty room. The only thing in it was a coffin. It was an excellent coffin of nanmu wood. In length and in width, it seemed to have been made based on measurements of Fu Hongxue’s body. There was a set of black trousers placed on top of the coffin as well. Its measurements were, of course, perfectly matched to his body frame.

  These had all been prepared especially for him. Every aspect was prepared meticulously. This wasn’t the first time they had done this, after all.

  He could even imagine how, after he died, a new page would be added to that ledger.

  Fu Hongxue was too tired and exhausted, arrogant and stupid, on X day of X month. The young master was overjoyed.

  On X day of X month, Fu Hongxue died to his sword.

  He naturally wouldn’t see this ledger entry. The people who could see the entry would surely be very happy and cheerful.

  The coffin was cold and hard. The newly applied black paint glimmered slightly.

  He suddenly turned around, first returning to that gem-filled treasury. Once again, the dull, monotonous sound of a sword being drawn could be heard from within.

  But he didn’t stop. He took three right turns in a row, then pushed open a door on the left.

  Inside, the room was dark. Nothing could be seen, but a light fragrance could be smelled.

  He walked in and closed the door. He knew where the bed was. He could already hear his own heart begin to jump.

  Was there really someone on the bed? What type of person?

  He was incapable of treating a living person as a tool. But he also knew that what that old man said was the truth.

  If a person wanted to make himself relax, this definitely was the most efficacious method.

  The room was very quiet. He finally heard a person breathing. It was a light, yet evenly spaced sound, like a gentle spring breeze blowing over the plains.

  He couldn’t resist testing a question. “Who are you? Why are you waiting for me?”

  No response.

  He could only go over. The bed was warm and soft. Stretching his hand out, he found something which was even warmer and even softer, as smooth and as glossy as satin.

  She was already totally nude. His finger gently stroked her smooth, sleek underbelly. The breathing sound immediately became rapid.

  He asked again, “Do you know who I am?”

  Still no response, but a pair of hands suddenly gripped him.

  A long life of abstinence had made him extremely sensitive and easily excited. He was, after all, a man in the prime of his life. His body had already begun to change.

  The urgent breathing sounds had already become overwhelming groans, gently drawing him in. He suddenly sank into a deep, warm joy.

  Her body was as sweet, as warm, and as refreshing as the grasslands on a sunny spring day. Not only did it endure, it gave back.

  In the midst of his obsession, he suddenly, dimly thought of the first time he had accepted this sort of joy. That time, it was in the dark as well. That woman was just as ripe and just as much to be longed for. But what she had offered, she had offered not for love, but to change him into a man, because it was the eve of the day when he was going to take revenge.

  The next day, when he awoke, he really did feel filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, as well as a greater sense of vigour.

  Life really is such a marvelous thing. Some times, ‘expenditures’ could actually make a person more ‘replenished’.

  The moist grassland was wriggling.

  He stretched his hand out. He suddenly realized that this totally naked woman was wearing a piece of satin on her head.

  What was that for? Can it be that she didn’t want for him to caress her hair? Or was it because she didn’t have any hair at all?

  When he thought of the pure white back of the girl in the bath, he once more felt as though he were committing a sin, but this sinful sensation made him feel all the more stimulated.

  And thus, he totally let himself sink into a sort of carnal pleasure which he had never let himself indulge in before. He finally managed to totally relax himself and extricate himself.

  He finally woke up.

  It had been many years since he had slept so sweetly. By the time he woke up, the person by his side had already gone, but her fragrance remained on the pillow. The music had disappeared, as though it was like a spring dream which no one could ever catch.

  There was actually a light in the room, and the table was covered with dishes. On a banister in the pool inside, there was even a snow-white robe.

  Can it be that the woman really was…

  He forbade himself from thinking further. He soaked in the warm water for an hour, then ate some food. He then once again felt feeling of satisfaction, of vitality. He felt as though he had enough strength to deal with everything.

  Just at this moment, the door opened.

  Madame Zhuo was standing at the doorway, coldly staring at him. Her beautiful eyes were filled with cynicism. She coldly said, “You are already prepared?”

  Fu Hongxue nodded.

  Madame Zhuo said, “Good. Come with me.”

  The sound of the sword being drawn was gone now. The hallway was as silent as a tomb.

  Madame Zhuo was right in front of her. Her waist and her limbs were slender, and her bearing was graceful and charming, making her appear noble and mesmerizing.

  But right now, in Fu Hongxue’s eyes, she was only an ordinary woman, no different from any other woman in the entire world.

  Because he was totally calm, now. As cold as a sabre blade. As steady as a rock.

  He had to be calm. Gongzi Yu was waiting for him past the door in front. This door could be the very last door he would cross.

  Madame Zhuo had already stopped. Turning to look at him, she suddenly laughed. “Right now, if you wish to flee, I can still give you a few pointers on how to escape.”

  Her laughter was graceful and elegant, her voice was sweet and warm.

  But Fu Hongxue could neither see her nor hear her. He pushed the door open, walked in standing straight as a ramrod, but his walking posture was still as clumsy and laughable as ever.

  But there was already nothing in the world which could hold him back. His hand naturally was still tightly gripping his sabre.

  A pale white hand! A pitch-black sabre!

  Gongzi Yu did not have his sword in hand. The sword was by his side, on top of the stone platform.

  A scarlet red sword, as red as blood.

  He was leaning against the stone platform, quietly watching as Fu Hongxue walked over. He still wore the terrifying bronze mask on his face. But his grim, callous eyes were even more terrifying than the mask.

  But Fu Hongxue didn’t seem to notice, as though he had never before seen either this person, or this sword. He had already reached the state of forgetting the self, forgetting the world. These, at least, were the demands he made of himself: No life and death, no victory or defeat, no others, no self. This wasn’t just the highest level of understanding in being a person. This was also the highest level of attainment in martial arts. Only when the mind was totally clear and calm could one execute a sabre technique which surpassed everything. Not only would he surpass the boundaries of form, he would surpass the limits of speed.

  Could he really achieve this? Out of the many master craftsmen and artisans from antiquity til now, how many
were able to achieve this?

  The flames of the torches rose high in the air.

  Underneath the flickering light of the torches, Gongzi Yu’s bronze mask seemed to be alive, and the expressions on that mask seemed to be changing as well.

  But his gaze was absolutely calm. He suddenly said, “Are you already determined to give it up?”

  Fu Hongxue said, “Give what up?”

  Gongzi Yu said, “Give up the right to choose your own witnesses!”

  Fu Hongxue was silent. After a long time, he slowly said, “I only want to find one person.”

  Gongzi Yu said, “Who?”

  Fu Hongxue said, “An old man in a metal cabinet.”

  A strange change appeared in Gongzi Yu’s eyes, but they immediately returned to its earlier calmness. “I don’t know who you are speaking of.”

  Naturally, of course he knew. But Fu Hongxue didn’t argue with him. He immediately said, “Then I give it up.”

  Gongzi Yu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Since that is the case, the only option is for me to take the power to choose all six witnesses.”

  Fu Hongxue said, “Very well.”

  Madame Zhuo said, “The first person is me. Do you object?”

  Fu Hongxue shook his head.

  Gongzi Yu said, “The second man is Boss Chen.”

  There immediately was a loud cry from outside the door.

  “Boss Chen, please enter!”

  People who could serve as witnesses for this battle would naturally be people of great status. The number of qualified people weren’t many.

  But this Boss Chen looked like an ordinary, common person. Although there was a very friendly look on his fat, round face, he still couldn’t hide the terror he felt. Gongzi Yu said, “Naturally, you will recognize this Boss Chen.”

  Fu Hongxue said, “This Boss Chen recognizes you as well.”

  Boss Chen immediately smiled obsequiously. “I recognize you. We met a year ago at the Phoenix Market.”

  A bleak and desolate ghost town. An old and shabby shop sign, waving in the wind.

  Chen Family Winery.

  Chen Family Inn.

  Fu Hongxue naturally remembered this person. But he seemed to have become totally deaf and blind.

  Gongzi Yu didn’t seem to care. He dully asked Boss Chen, “You are very familiar with each other?”

  Boss Chen said, “Not very familiar. We’ve only met one time.”

  Gongzi Yu said, “You can remember him after seeing him just one time!”

  Boss Chen hesitated. “Because right after this guest entered my store, my store was destroyed. The Phoenix Market was wrecked as well. I…”

  He seemed to suddenly feel that his throat was dry. He started to cough nonstop, to the point where all the veins on his head stuck out. It seemed as though tears were about to roll out of his eyes.

  Fortunately, Gongzi Yu waved him in. “Please come in.”

  Madame Zhuo immediately supported him. In a warm, gentle voice, she said, “Let’s sit over here. Where there is life, there is hope. There’s no need to let past events weigh so heavily in your heart.”

  Boss Chen said, “I w-…won’t…”

  Before he finished even a single phrase, he began to bawl loudly.

  The two most peerless, undefeatable masters were able to do battle, but one of the witnesses was crying loudly. This was very rarely seen as well.

  Gongzi Yu was unaffected. He dully said, “Not only is Boss Chen honest and sincere, he is also experienced and knowledgeable. He really is the perfect person to be a witness!”

  Fu Hongxue said, “Yes.”

  He spoke very calmly, as though all this was perfectly normal and natural.

  Gongzi Yu didn’t reveal any trace of disappointment either. “The third witness is the Master of the Pavilion of Hidden Treasure, elder Ni Baofeng, Elder Ni.”

  Once again, there was an immediate loud cry from outside!

  “Elder Ni, please enter!”

  An old man with splendid clothing walked in with his head high. Upon seeing Fu Hongxue, his eyes became filled with hatred and enmity.

  No matter what type of person you are, if you could sit down silently when you see the man who killed your son and daughter standing before you, you will have done a very difficult task.

  Ni Baofeng had sat down as well. He was seated next to the still-blubbering Boss Chen, but his eyes were still fixed on Fu Hongxue.

  Gongzi Yu said, “Elder Ni is an elder of the martial world. Not only can he know treasures, he also knows people.”

  Fu Hongxue said, “I know.”

  Gongzi Yu said, “It is truly our great honor to be able to invite Elder Ni to come here and serve as our witness.”

  Fu Hongxue said, “Yes.”

  Gongzi Yu said, “Do you object to any of my three witnesses?”

  Fu Hongxue shook his head.

  Gongzi Yu said, “Masters doing battle is just like national chess masters competing. A single wrong move will lead to total defeat across the board. Thus, not even one’s frame of mind can be disturbed in the slightest.”

  Fu Hongxue said, “I know.”

  Gongzi Yu said, “None of them disturb you?”

  Fu Hongxue said, “No.”

  Gongzi Yu looked at him. His eyes still actually did not reveal even a slight hint of disappointment.

  Fu Hongxue’s face was totally expressionless as well. It didn’t matter if these three were his enemies, or his loved ones. If they were crying, or laughing. He didn’t care at all, because he had reached the point of listening but paying no attention, looking upon but not seeing.

  Whether this battle was fair or unfair, he no longer cared anymore either.

  Madame Zhuo looked at him from afar. Ni Baofeng and Boss Chen looked at him as well. Each of them had a strange expression on their face. It wasn’t just surprise. It was also dread, and also admiration.

  But Gongzi Yu didn’t seem moved in the slightest. “The fourth is Master Ruyi of Mt. Jiuhua.”

  There of course came a loud cry from outside!

  “Master Ruyi, please enter.”

  When he saw this person slowly walk in, Fu Hongxue’s expression changed. It was as though a dam which had never before failed suddenly collapsed.

  Chapter 24 - The Last Battle

  In the past, on the nine rivers, I gazed at the peak of Mt. Jiuhua,

  The Milky Way hung within black waters, with nine lovely lotuses appearing within.

  I wish to wave my hand about, who is willing to follow me?

  Sir, you are the host of this party, and thus now I lie relaxed amidst the clouds.

  Li Bai

  Mt. Jiuhua was forty li southwest of Anhui province’s Qingyang city. It was next to where the two cities of Jingxian and Lingyang were during the Han dynasty.

  In the Three Kingdoms period, the Eastern Wu kingdom established the Lincheng county. After the Sui dynasty collapsed, the Tang dynasty created the Qingyang prefecture. The mountain had already become famous and was considered part of Chizhou prefecture. The mountain was five li north of the county, past the Plum Family Ridge and bordered by Guichi province.

  Mt. Jiuhang was north of Linyang, east of Qiupu, was five small streams south of Datong, and bordered the Twin Dragon-Mouth Peaks to the west. In ancient days, it was named Mt. Jiuzi.

  The Tang dynasty’s Li Bai toured Mt. Jiuzi. When he saw the mountain peak, which appeared like a blooming, nine-petaled lotus, he changed its name to Mt. Jiuhua.

  It is recorded in books that “the old name was Mt. Jiuzi. The Tang dynasty poet saw that the nine peaks of the mountain appeared like they had been whittled into the shape of lotus petals, and thus changed the name to Mt. Jiuhua.”

  It is also recorded in the annals of Qingyang province that “the mountain is forty li west of the county. There are forty eight famous peaks, fourteen crags, five caves, eleven ridges, eighteen springs, and two river sources. There are a number of other different, unique stone platfo
rms, ponds, ravines, and brooks.”

  ‘Knowing and Doing Becoming One’, Wang Yangming, once studied within the reaches of this mountain. Throughout the ages, the place has held equal fame with Li Bai’s study.

  The god of poetry, Li Bai, ‘changed Mt. Jiuzi to Mt. Jiuhua’ in an orderly fashion.

  “…the Grand Historian’s tour of the south was described but not recorded. This matter definitely happened as the old men say, but no virtuous man of ability recorded it. Celestial spirits inspired and moved his pen, causing him to scratch out the old name and bestow the new one, Mt. Jiuhua. Next, he paid a visit to the men nearby, travelling with them to Xiahou Hui’s home. They sat down upon the snow from the pines, and left behind two or three lines for posterity.”

  This was their poem.

  “The amazing west is divided in two, Mt. Lingshan opens to Mt. Jiushan.” – Li Bai.

  “The layered mountain holds back the tardy sun, half the cliffs are covered with bright, rosy clouds of dawn.” – Gao Ji.

  “The accumulated snow gleams across the gully, and the joyful sun flies across the cliff.” –Wei Quanyu.

  “The dazzling, jade-like trees, a vast mist floats about.” – Li Bai

  But Mt. Jiuhua wasn’t just a place for poets. It was also chief amongst the places where Buddhists held their sacred rites to honor Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha.

  The Sutra of the Ten Wheels of Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha: “Tranquil endurance as still as the earth. Quiet pondering as deep as a deep depository.” Thus, the name taken was ‘Ksitigarbha’, meaning ‘earth depository’.

  This was recorded in the Mahayana sutras: “Upon a request by the World Honored One, Ksitigarbha pledged that until he had saved all the living things of the Six Paths, he would not become a Buddha. He often submerged his own body into hell, and had saved countless lives from torment. Thus, he is called the ‘Patriarch of the Nether World.’”

  There were two rolls to the sutra of the Original Vows of the Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha. It is very difficult to interpret this Tang scripture, but within it, this was recorded: “The Buddha ascended to Trayamatrimsa Heaven to expound on the dharma to his mother. Next, he called Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha to him and made him the eternal ‘Patriarch of the Nether World’, so as to eventually bring all the people in the world to ascend to the highest joy.”