Chapter Thirty-Eight: Bamboo Porridge

Three days later, the aftermath of the banquet had already rippled through the entire martial world. Everyone in the realm of warriors now knew that the greatest swordsman under heaven, Zhou Xun, had taken on a disciple. This prodigy, blessed with extraordinary talent, had mastered swordsmanship to a considerable degree in a matter of days, defeating three young heroes—Wei Yue, Luo Yu, and Liu Rui—in succession. The first two could be dismissed, for their skills were said to be inherited from their ancestors. But Liu Rui was different; he was a true swordsman who had challenged the best across the land, rising from the crucible of life-and-death combat. Since perfecting his sword technique, he needed only a single strike to best his opponents, and countless famed young heroes had fallen to his blade. His swordsmanship was widely acknowledged as among the finest of his generation. Thus, the title “Young Sword Immortal” spread far and wide, and he became the object of envy and aspiration among the youth; at the same time, this brought Zhou Qian no small amount of trouble.

Zhou Qian sighed, withdrawing his sword from the boy’s neck. “You’ve challenged me three times now, and each time you’ve failed to last beyond ten moves. Wouldn’t it be better to devote that effort to practicing your swordsmanship?”

The boy lifted his chin stubbornly. “Just because I lost this time doesn’t mean I’ll lose next time. Sooner or later, I’ll defeat you, and claim the Three Talents Sword Manual and the Four Broken Sword Forms!”

A flash of murderous resolve flickered in Zhou Qian’s eyes as he suppressed the youth with an imposing presence, though his tone remained calm. “Then shouldn’t you return and train even harder? If you don’t practice, how could you ever surpass me?”

The boy felt a chill seep into his bones, terror and dread filling his heart, but he remained defiant. “You’re just lucky, that’s all! If I had a good master, I’d surpass you a hundred, a thousand times over. Heaven is jealous of talent, that’s why I never met a sword immortal for a teacher!”

Zhou Qian studied him in silence for a long moment before finally saying, “Go. Three times is enough—next time, I won’t hold back.”

Second Brother Li grinned, tossing aside his melon seeds and stretching lazily. “Why let him go this time? You saw the look in his eyes—he wanted to kill you right then and there!”

A hint of disdain flashed across Zhou Qian’s face. “If he knows his foundation is inferior, then he should work a thousand times harder at his swordsmanship. Instead, he wastes his effort resenting the heavens and cursing his fate. Even if he had a hundred years, he still wouldn’t match me. His blood would only sully my sword.”

“Well said!” Second Brother Li exclaimed. “You’ve grown up! In just a year, you’ve matured so much—your aura is formidable now. The foolish boy who always followed his elder brothers around is gone. Even the title of ‘Young Sword Immortal’—I heard the songstresses on the pleasure boats singing your name. Well done! And I hear our eldest brother is now highly regarded by that old beggar, already a branch master of the Beggars’ Sect. Of the three wandering knights, two are now living up to their names!”

Noticing the rare melancholy in Li’s tone, so different from his usual playfulness, Zhou Qian earnestly tried to encourage him. “You too, second brother. Don’t keep frequenting those brothels. Steward Sun said he could introduce you to some of the great martial families. If you like medicine, why not visit Doctor Lu? Haven’t you nearly worn out his medical manual? Even he praises your pills. And I heard you’ve recently taken a liking to carpentry. If you want to do it, do it seriously—whatever you choose, your brothers will support you. But you can’t keep jumping from one thing to another with only a little enthusiasm each time. That won’t do.”

Li Sanshan gave a wry smile. “Qian, I know what you mean. It’s not that I lack ambition; it’s just that nothing truly calls to me. I don’t care much for fame or fortune. If I want good food, I find you; beauty is a fleeting pleasure, not an obsession for me. So tell me, what should your second brother do?”

Zhou Qian frowned, thinking hard, but in the end could only say helplessly, “How about I ask my master on your behalf…”

Before he could finish, Second Brother Li suddenly erupted in anger, jabbing a finger at Zhou Qian’s nose. “Don’t give me that nonsense! So you’ve become cocky since mastering your swordplay, eh? I’ve never begged anyone in my life, and I won’t have my own brother begging for me. I may not be much, but I stand tall. Even when I was a brothel keeper, I never debased myself. Your master—I don’t dislike him, but I don’t particularly like him either. He’s grown crazier with age, sending his disciples off to risk their lives. I’ve already moved out of your Hu’er Manor, don’t eat his food nor drink his wine, so why would you have me lose face like this?”

Zhou Qian could only smile wryly. For all his glibness and cunning, Li Sanshan was the proudest of the three brothers. His pride was not the arrogant tilt of the head or a disdainful gaze, but an iron will forged in hardship. “The righteous are often found among those scorned by society”—that saying fit Li Sanshan perfectly. Zhou Qian had befriended him because they were kindred spirits; Zhou had suffered less, so his true nature was more deeply hidden, and outwardly he seemed a refined, gentle youth.

“But tell me—did you ever use the tricks I taught you on your Lady Zhao?” Li Sanshan suddenly turned lecherous, pursing his lips. “Not to criticize you, but those moves I taught you might work on innocent young girls, but with someone like Lady Zhao, who’s seen the world and carries herself with such allure, they’re useless. Now she avoids you, for three reasons. First, she sees you as a younger brother, while you want to undress her—she feels betrayed. Second, she may have feelings for you; after all, you’re handsome, charming, and attentive—what older sister wouldn’t like that? But your age is a barrier, making her sigh over the tragedy of meeting too late, and she feels guilty, as if corrupting a child. Third, by my experience, a resolute woman like her wouldn’t change her attitude so suddenly. I suspect your crazy master or someone else persuaded her, saying you’re too young, she’s just a maid, and she’d hinder your future; or that if you lost your innocence so young, you’d come to regret it, or become lost in passion. She thinks of herself as a disaster for you, and even if her heart aches, she won’t drag you down. Understand?”

Zhou Qian stared, stammering, “S-second brother, you’re like a living Zhuge Liang! What should I do, then?”

“The simplest way: wait for a dark, windy night, sneak into her room, and do what those infamous scoundrels do. I guarantee the next morning she’ll be utterly devoted to you. Women like her aren’t swayed by money or status—only by giving herself to you, since she already has feelings, will she resign herself to fate and be yours forever,” Li Sanshan said, shaking his head.

Zhou Qian hurriedly shook his head, smiling bitterly. “I couldn’t possibly do such a thing. As long as she talks to me, I’m satisfied. I’ve tried the tricks you taught me, and now she no longer avoids me. Seeing her every day is enough.”

“Ay, you want both to be a gentleman and have the girl,” Li Sanshan sighed. “I know you’d never do it, so here’s another way—it’s much harder, and may not even be possible. Your Lady Zhao fled to the capital with her brother during the war, right? But her brother starved to death along the way, far away in Tiandu Prefecture, didn’t he? If you find his body and bring it back, she’ll feel her last wish is fulfilled, and see you as the man she can rely on for life.”

Zhou Qian’s eyes lit up, bowing in admiration. “Second brother, you truly are cunning and wise!”

Li Sanshan was pleased rather than ashamed, modestly saying, “Not at all, I have a long way to go!” Suddenly he slapped his forehead. “Oh no! There’s a new pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River opening today. Want to come with me and have a look?”

Zhou Qian could only smile wryly. “Second brother, you’re at it again! What do you really want to do with your life?”

Li Sanshan laughed heartily, uncaring of the crowded street, and sang as he walked: “I wish to be a roc, soaring ninety thousand miles; to be a crane, drifting over the blue-green grass; I am but a common man, wandering the mortal world. Should I one day attain enlightenment, I shall ride my sword beyond the heavens!”

“Ride my sword beyond the heavens!” Zhou Qian’s eyes shone with longing. After a moment, he shook his head and smiled wryly. “Second brother wants to be an immortal! But do such beings really exist?” He sighed, preparing to seek out Master Hei at the Fragrant Tranquility Pavilion to learn more of the culinary arts.

Within Hu’er Manor, the slovenly Daoist’s eyes brightened as he thought, “This boy’s temperament is perfect for the Dao, and his natural endowments are superb. When this is settled, I must bring him to Qingcheng to learn the arts of sword-riding and immortality.” With a wave of his hand, a jar of the manor’s secret “Seven-Day Drunkenness” wine floated to him, and he began to drink heartily.

As Zhou Qian entered the Fragrant Tranquility Pavilion, Master Hei was nowhere to be seen. Heading to the backyard, he saw Zhang Fu stumbling out of the Yishan Kitchen, covered in soot. From within the courtyard came the furious roar of Master Yishan: “If you can’t make a proper Green Bamboo Porridge, don’t bring me this nonsense! Do you really think I won’t punish you seriously?”

Zhou Qian was taken aback. In his mind, Master Yishan had always been a kind and gentle elder, never displaying the slightest anger. To see him shouting at his dearest disciple now was decidedly out of character.

When Zhang Fu saw Zhou Qian, Zhou expected him to be embarrassed and angry at being seen in such a state. Instead, Zhang Fu silently gathered up the bowls and chopsticks discarded by Yishan, and turned to leave, a sadness on his face that Zhou had never seen before.

Master Hei hurried over from the front hall. Seeing the two, he paused, then said calmly, “Good, I had something to discuss with you both. Come to my room.”

Zhou Qian and Zhang Fu exchanged glances, both surprised.

Inside the small room, Master Hei motioned for them to sit and poured them each a cup of tea. After organizing his thoughts, he said, “You two, including Zhang Fu, only know me as old Hei. You don’t know my real name, do you?”

Before either could reply, Master Hei continued, “My true name is Hei Hantie Mu’er, and I was once the third prince of the previous dynasty.”

The two were dumbstruck by this revelation. Then, in simple, unadorned words, Master Hei recounted the decades of enmity and history between himself and Master Yishan…