Somewhere on Zhongnan Mountain…
A young man sat motionless, practicing his internal energy. Suddenly, the young man rose and began to drill the same martial techniques he always practiced.
The youth's moves were, at times, as violent as thunder and lightning, like a small hurricane; at other times, they were as soft as a gentle breeze or the fluttering of a small butterfly.
In other words, he was practicing a single set of techniques, but constantly transforming their execution and form.
Depending on the calculated application of force and timing, the violent techniques would sometimes manifest with a soft, pliable form, while at other times, they would be seen as multiple times more powerful than their original state. This young man was Little Monkey.
Living in this isolated mountain region, he had become one with nature. He had also been able to focus his mind completely on the essence of the Quanzhen Sect's internal energy cultivation method.
The Quanzhen cultivation was not based on martial forms; it was based on principle and essence.
It was built upon the fundamental philosophy that martial arts are limitless. The more one practiced, the more new principles and essences one discovered.
Because of its difficulty and complexity, this inheritance of Wang Chongyang had long vanished from the martial world.
Little Monkey finally managed to merge the ten techniques of the White Horse Fortress Master with the Quanzhen Internal Energy method, thereby creating a new martial art. His internal energy grew stronger by the day, and his martial skill surged like an incoming tide.
One day, Little Monkey thought to himself:
"I still have a historic duty to fulfill. I cannot remain hidden in this place forever. I must find out who my father is. I must also teach my grandfather and mother a lesson for what they did to the estate. I think it is time to leave this place.
"But I do not know what level my martial skill has reached. I need to wander the martial world and test my abilities to gauge the situation."
After this realization, he turned his back on Zhongnan Mountain and departed for the martial world.
Yellow Crane Mountain…
Yellow Crane Mountain was situated near Wuchang City. Wuchang, located at the confluence of the Han River and the Yangtze River, was a crucial transport hub for both land and water travel. Historically, this area was also a strategically vital military region.
At the foot of Yellow Crane Mountain was a small establishment called The Bear Restaurant. This was no ordinary eatery.
It was a central information exchange for the martial world. The Bear stored sources of information and would share them for a suitable fee with those who needed them.
Thus, if you wanted to sell news, you went to The Bear. If you wanted to buy news, you went to The Bear. However, if you were a seller, you shouldn't expect much money. If you were a buyer, you should take extra money with you.
The Bear's motto was: "I am running a business, not a charity."
The owner of The Bear was an old martial artist named Bear Tong Jian, who had retired from the jianghu.
He was not particularly brilliant when he was active in the martial world. After wandering for about fifty years, The Bear suddenly grew weary, announced his retirement with a hand-washing ceremony, and dedicated himself to business.
Because of his astuteness, shrewdness, smooth-talking nature, and patience, Bear Tong Jian became immensely wealthy within a few years and now had five concubines.
Today, Bear Tong Jian was quite annoyed. He was a heavy drinker. He habitually drank a pot of his special liquor—infused with honey and various tonics—before opening his shop to start his day.
He was highly irritated by the ill-mannered guest who had knocked on his door so early in the morning. His anger had even made him lose his desire for his morning drink.
The thoughtless intruder seemed to be a young man. A very ugly young man. He had a long, narrow face, like a monkey. With his stooped shoulders and bowed legs, he was a truly unpleasant creature to look at.
Tong Jian initially intended to throw him out, but observing the youth's demeanor, he quickly and wisely held his tongue. He had survived many years because of his shrewdness and ability to read the atmosphere.
The youth's eyes were piercing, blazing with fire. A chilling aura emanated from him, making Tong Jian get goosebumps despite the warm weather. The young man looked like a sword that had not yet been drawn from its sheath.
"Are you Bear Tong Jian?"
"Yes, young nephew. What can I do for you? The shop is not open yet, but if you wish to drink or eat, this old man will prepare something for you."
"I have a few questions. I hear you have comprehensive information."
"That is correct, young nephew. I am famous in the martial world for this line of work. But you must pay a suitable price for the questions. I am quite strict about business—I will die before reducing the price by a single copper. Buy only if you are satisfied."
"How do you price your questions, Old Master?"
"It depends on the type of question, nephew. Tell me your questions, and I will set the price."
"Twenty years ago, there was a major incident involving the Gongsun Family's young mistress, Gongsun Yong'e. What happened? Who was the perpetrator? That is question number one.
"The names of the ten highest-skilled martial artists in the current jianghu. That is question number two."
"For your first question, I will charge fifty thousand liang of silver. But I cannot answer it right now. Give me three months.
"For the second question, I will charge ten thousand liang of silver. In truth, this question can be answered by any martial artist, but it seems you have plenty of money, heh heh heh."
"No, I don't have a single coin. But wait for me until tomorrow. I will return to collect the answer to the second question. I want a thoroughly analyzed answer. Have it ready."
The young man finished speaking, turned swiftly, and walked out. Only after the youth vanished from his sight did Tong Jian exhale the breath he had been holding. He noticed that his knees were slightly trembling.
The next morning…
The young man returned. In his hand was a package containing sixty thousand liang of silver.
"Young nephew, you are prompt indeed! Very well, I have prepared a detailed list for the answer to the second question. The answer is in this envelope. Take it.
"For the first question, please wait for three months. Tell me how to contact you when the time is up."
"No need. I will return when the time is up. If I don't come back, assume I am dead. You can keep the money."
"Very well, young nephew."
The Bear's voice was warm with delight. He was already celebrating in his heart. How lucky I am! he might have thought. But his thoughts did not last long. A piece of news reached him, causing him to freeze in shock, and his drinking cup clattered to the floor.
The news was that Wuchang City's rich man, Yin Taibei, had been murdered the previous night, and the killer had only taken exactly sixty thousand liang of silver.
The young man, as everyone knows, was Little Monkey. Taking the envelope from The Bear, he walked calmly to the cemetery outside Wuchang City. Arriving at the cemetery pavilion, Little Monkey sat down on the floor and opened the envelope.
Several sheets of paper fell out. The first sheet read:
(Rank 10: Double Blade Ching Shaung)
Ching Shaung from Hubei Province holds the number ten spot among the ten greatest martial artists in the current jianghu.
He rose to fame about thirty years ago with his Petal-Plucking Sound technique, a dual-wielding sword art. He is a respected white-path master.
The Petal-Plucking Sound sword form is complex, with numerous variations and intricate moves. He was ranked tenth only because his internal energy was slightly weaker during the Huashan martial arts competition. Had his internal energy been complete, he would have been considered a potential member of the top five masters.
He currently resides with his disciples and family in Chongming Town, Hubei Province.
Reading the paper, Little Monkey smiled faintly.
"Hmm… I suppose I must make a trip to Hubei Province," he muttered to himself.
A Border Area in Hubei Province…
Little Monkey walked slowly and steadily. His steps were calm and deliberate, as if he were the only person in the world.
Suddenly, he heard the loud clatter of hooves. He looked up and saw a herd of wild horses gathering and galloping up the mountain.
Little Monkey was pleased to see the wild horses running free and unfettered.
A feeling of envy and admiration for the life of the free, wild horses suddenly surged within his heart.
"A man only needs to be able to live and travel freely according to his own will. Once my duties are done, I will build a small house at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, hunt, collect honey, and live out the rest of my life."
He was suddenly reminded of the peaceful life he had led on Zhongnan Mountain. Just then, he heard the noise of a carriage and the cracking of a whip.
A carriage was being driven along the small path at the foot of the mountain. The horse pulling the carriage seemed to have been a fine, purebred horse, but it was skinny, its ribs showing, due to a lack of proper feed.
The driver was a large, strong man, but also cruel, brutal, and seemingly unintelligent. He was cursing vulgarly and whipping the horse without cause.
Seeing the man needlessly abusing the animal, Little Monkey felt a surge of indignation.
He stopped in front of the carriage and said, "Hey, man! There's no need to beat that horse so hard."
The man looked at Little Monkey's appearance and clothes with contempt.
"Hey, you ghost-thing! You half-man, half-monkey creature! How did your father and mother give birth to you? You're so ugly! What does this have to do with you? Do you want to die?"
Little Monkey exploded. He leaped onto the carriage, grabbed the man by the nape of his neck with one hand, and flung him off the carriage. The man crashed to the ground, severely pained.
Little Monkey then spoke in a voice that seemed to escape through his clenched teeth:
"Do not even think about hurting this horse again! Run, if you don't want to die."
Little Monkey's voice was cold and terrifying. His eyes seemed to blaze and thirst for blood. The man scrambled to his feet, terrified, and ran away without looking back.
The horse, as if understanding, approached Little Monkey and gently rubbed his hand with its muzzle. It then whinnied loudly with apparent joy.
Little Monkey picked some fresh grass and fed the horse.
"Well, you have no companion, and I have no companion. Just follow me, then."
As if understanding human speech, the horse fell in close behind Little Monkey. From that day onward, the horse became Little Monkey's faithful companion.
A Horse and a Man…
They entered Chongming Town. Their destination was the residence of Double Blade Ching Shaung.
The Double Blade Residence…
When Little Monkey arrived at the gate of the Double Blade Residence, he stopped his horse and tied it to a small tree. He then walked with a steady stride toward the gate.
The gate was closed. Little Monkey seemed not to even see it; he continued walking, and the impact of his body shattered the gate into pieces.
"Who dares to destroy my residence gate?! What audacity!"
A shout erupted from inside the house. The voice was so loud it was nearly deafening. It was the voice of a man with powerful internal energy.
With the shout, a shadow flashed and instantly appeared before Little Monkey. What phenomenal Qinggong! The arrival of the figure was less than an eye-blink after the sound.
The person was about sixty years old and wore a worn white scholar's robe.
His dignified face was etched with a profound sense of authority. This was Double Blade Ching Shaung.
Ching Shaung was startled as he looked at Little Monkey. An indescribable feeling spontaneously arose within him. He instantly realized that this youth was living on hatred, and he felt a pang of sorrow.
Little Monkey stood silently three steps away from Ching Shaung. His face was pale as if drained of blood, and his eyes were blazing with a consuming fire. The chilling aura radiating from his body made the entire surroundings seem to grow cold.
"Who are you, young man? Why did you destroy my gate?"
Little Monkey answered Ching Shaung's question with a question of his own.
"Are you Ching Shaung? If you are Ching Shaung, draw your swords! I wish to challenge you to a fight."
Ching Shaung was astonished. Staring intently at Little Monkey, he asked, "Who are you? I have never met you before. What grudge do you hold against me, young man?"
He was a white-path master. In the course of upholding justice, he had sometimes accidentally killed black-path individuals. It was not strange for black-path masters to hold a grudge against him.
Eight years ago, he had been ranked tenth in the Huashan martial arts competition. Since then, challenges and attacks against him had become rare.
Now, this youth was challenging him. He was the first challenger in eight years. Why? It could not be for no reason.
Little Monkey replied:
"No grudge at all, sir. I just have a task to perform, and I need to test my martial skill."
Hearing Little Monkey's answer, Ching Shaung was left speechless, his mouth agape.
"Listen, young man. You and I have no enmity. A duel is a matter of life and death. You can be seriously injured, ruined for life, or even killed. You should test your skill by other means."
Little Monkey answered:
"I know it can lead to death. And death would be fine. I want to die."
Ching Shaung sighed when he heard the youth's words. It was clear that this young man was traumatized and radicalized. He was about to explain that martial arts should be used for the benefit of the people and the country.
But looking at Little Monkey's defiant posture, he realized he would not be easily persuaded, and he held his tongue.
"Draw your weapon! My technique is sometimes extremely powerful. Be careful."
"Very well. Since I cannot reason with you, I will accept your challenge," Ching Shaung said, drawing his two beloved swords.
Just then, Little Monkey's uncommonly long arms suddenly shot forward, seizing Ching Shaung's wrists as he was drawing his swords.
It was a perfectly executed maneuver. Ching Shaung was shocked and terrified, realizing his wrists would be broken before he could fully draw his blades. But he was not an ordinary martial artist. He was one of the most respected figures in the current jianghu.
Despite his momentary shock, Ching Shaung's vast experience paid off. He swiftly retracted the hands holding the swords, countered Little Monkey's arms with the Sky-Shaking Palm Technique, and leaped back five steps.
Ching Shaung's movements were fast: countering with the palm and leaping backward were executed simultaneously.
As their palms connected, Ching Shaung felt a sharp pain in his chest and a wave of nausea. This young man's internal energy is incredibly powerful! And his techniques are strange! he thought, shaken.
By the time he landed after his backward leap, his two beloved swords were ready in his hands. Ching Shaung launched his counter-attack. It was the grand offense of a top master.
Petal-Plucking Sound Sword Art. The two slender swords flashed like stars in the sky. It was a flawless, all-encompassing sword technique, a net of blades so tight it could steal the breath from onlookers.
The two blades struck at Little Monkey's vital points, sometimes like a lightning strike, sometimes like a raging hurricane, and sometimes like falling meteors.
Little Monkey's body looked like a small boat tossing and turning on a sea of violent waves.
The Petal-Plucking Sound sword form was being utilized to its fullest extent. Ching Shaung would later recall this instance as the most fulfilling execution of the technique in his entire life.
At that moment, Little Monkey performed a simple move. His movement was graceful, soft, and natural. It looked like the plain, straightforward action of having a meal or drinking water.
He took a step forward with his right foot and closed the distance to Ching Shaung's arms. At the same time, his right hand chopped down on Ching Shaung's left shoulder, which was slightly exposed and off-balance due to the momentum of his sword thrust.
Little Monkey's movement was fluid like flowing water. His focus and the precise timing of his force perfectly complemented the graceful execution of the technique.
Ching Shaung's left shoulder bone was shattered. Only a miracle from the Heavens could repair it. He would never be able to use his left arm again.
Such was the inevitable end for martial artists. Just as a drowning man dies by water, so too do martial artists…
The news that Double Blade Ching Shaung was humiliatingly defeated and crippled by an unknown nobody soon spread throughout the martial world.
It is said that good news travels on the wind, but human news travels through people. Soon after, another piece of news shocked the entire jianghu.
The youth was the same ugly young man who had murdered a Shaolin novice, a Golden Sword disciple, a Kongtong disciple, and a Southern Ocean Sect branch leader a few years prior.
Upon hearing this, the white-path martial artists began to worry: if the Nine Haven Master and this young man were to join forces, the martial world would surely be destroyed.
What were the Nine Haven Sect and the Nine Haven Master doing in the meantime? The Nine Haven Sect had remained ominously silent for about three years. Some rumored that the Nine Haven Master was practicing a further, deeper cultivation technique.
The hour of doom for the white-path martial artists was fast approaching. Some events cannot be averted. Some things are simply destined to be destroyed when their time comes.