Death of a Martial Artist, Junior Guardian of the Realm

... "What is it that you want?" Lian Youming walked ahead of the group down the long passageway. The woman smiled and said, "Aged medicine that extends lifespan, of course... and that treasure." Torches flickered all around, casting shifting light over the carvings on the stone walls and the bizarre script inscribed across the steles. Lian Youming felt a spark of curiosity. Since he had already been captured, he had calmed down, strolling along without the slightest hint of tension on his face. "You people all live by licking blood off the blade. Are you actually afraid of dying?" A burly, bearded man wearing a blue People's suit scoffed. "Does a brat like you truly not understand, or are you just playing dumb with us? Has Li Da never told you about the death of a martial artist?" Lian Youming shook his head. "I don't have a master." The richly dressed, glamorous woman giggled coquettishly. "Very well. Since you're not unpleasant to look at, this auntie will enlighten you. In the eyes of a martial artist, the hundred bones of the human body are all shackles. Everything we do is nothing more than transforming clumsiness into skill, a process of shattering those chains. When ordinary people grow old, their limbs naturally turn stiff and clumsy, all because their qi weakens, their strength fades, and their vital essence scatters. Cultivating martial arts, in a sense, is meant to preserve that vital essence, strengthen it, and even reverse aging." The woman crossed her arms. Though she wore short boots, her steps were completely noiseless and remarkably light. "Reversing aging has never referred to years; it refers to the accumulation of vital essence. A person's vital essence is at its peak in their youth and prime. What a martial artist does is climb higher from that foundation, strengthening and prolonging it. As long as you can extend that state into your sixties or seventies, you too can reverse your age." At this point, the woman countered with a question: "When we martial artists breathe in and out, our blood vessels naturally swell, our body heat surges, and the flesh becomes like a smelting furnace. Do you think that state is good or bad?" Lian Youming strolled forward at an unhurried pace. After a moment's thought, he gave an indirect answer: "Is that why you need to temper the bones and sinews and use internal breath to refine the five organs—so you can endure such a burden?" "Not a bad answer," the woman praised, "but still somewhat shallow. It is not about enduring; it is about harmony. The more vigorous your vital essence, the fiercer the fire in the furnace burns. Yet the physical body is a cage and a shackle, just like that smelting furnace. If the fire grows too fierce, it harms the body, yet you cannot let the fire die out. If an ordinary person's vital essence surges too sharply, they might fall gravely ill. But what of a martial artist? They require the aid of the spirit. Whether the furnace fire burns high or low depends entirely on the command of one's intent—sometimes coaxing it, sometimes suppressing it, sometimes letting it flow like drifting clouds and flowing water, until the samadhi of essence, qi, and spirit blend seamlessly, indivisible from one another." Lian Youming looked thoughtful. "So having vital essence that's too vigorous isn't good either?" The woman sighed. "It's not that it's bad. Practicing martial arts is, in the end, about mastering oneself. But people grow old. Vital essence can be replenished and strengthened from outside, but how can one's spirit be strengthened? Once the body ages and the spirit declines, once the heart turns to cold ash, the fire in the furnace spirals out of control. When that happens, the vital essence inside will burst outward and scatter like a raging inferno. That is the death of a martial artist—the tribulation of cultivation dispersal." Another person chimed in, "You must have heard of Du Xinwu, haven't you? He was a supreme master, yet he too died from cultivation dispersal. Before his death, his body shriveled down to the size of a monkey because every bone in him was crushed by the vital essence bursting outward. Once the vital essence is lost, the sinews and flesh contract inward, as if an invisible pair of massive hands were kneading you to pieces." Lian Youming's eyes flickered. "Then if I simply keep my spirit vigorous at all times, won't I avoid that calamity?" "Easier said than done," the woman sighed repeatedly. "The decline of the spirit alongside the aging of the body does not mean your spirit simply withers with your flesh. Rather, it is the myriad vicissitudes of this mortal world—birth, old age, sickness, death, and all manner of agonizing sorrow—that act as blades and swords hacking away at your spirit and severing your intent. When you grow up, when you grow old, when kin are parted, lovers pass away, and close friends die, can you truly remain unaffected? Once a single thought is stirred, if you fail to guard your mind, a mortal calamity may fall upon your head." The bearded man joined in enthusiastically, interjecting, "Brat, forget martial artists—even ordinary people who encounter parting in life and separation by death can die of a broken spirit. Some fall gravely ill, and some turn white-haired overnight; those are all the result of vital essence bursting out and scattering. A martial artist's vital essence is far more overbearing. Once it breaches its banks, it's like a great river bursting a dam, instantly draining away every drop of life within a person... Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Having reached this point, everyone present showed a deep dread and apprehension toward this 'death of a martial artist.' Lian Youming was somewhat skeptical. It all sounded far too fantastical. "Have any of you seen it with your own eyes? Or experienced it yourselves?" The group fell silent again. "No, we've only heard of it. The tribulation of cultivation dispersal only befalls supreme masters who have guarded their fierce vital essence well into old age. Although we're all formidable hands in our own right, we're still quite a distance away from being supreme masters." Lian Youming rolled his eyes. Every one of them had spoken with such absolute certainty, as if swearing an oath, yet after all that fuss, it was nothing more than hearsay. He suddenly thought of the Old Man Who Guards the Mountain, recalling the strange sight when he first met him last autumn: the old man spitting gray vapor, his skeleton collapsing abruptly. Could that have been a manifestation of 'cultivation dispersal'? "Then why are you trying to snatch it?" The woman sneered. "Li Da took that dose of aged medicine to save someone. How could we let him have his way? Besides, while that thing might be useless to ordinary folk, to a supreme master, it is an invaluable treasure. What the hell do you know?" Lian Youming's thoughts shifted slightly. "You seem very afraid of Li Da?" The bearded man let out a cold laugh. "If you belonged to the White Lotus Sect, you'd be scared too. That's the 'Junior Guardian of the Realm.' When the rest of us practice martial arts, we temper our sinews and bones first. That kid observed first before he ever trained. Before he even turned ten, he traveled across the North alongside an extraordinary grandmaster, carving out a reputation. The elder went around picking fights while the younger watched from the side, taking in every single fighting style across all the sects." Lian Youming clicked his tongue. "That impressive?" The group talked as they walked, progressing deeper into the tunnels. Twisting and turning, they walked for about fifteen or twenty minutes before passing through a wide-open stone doorway. The view before them opened up dramatically. A massive natural cavern appeared in their sight. Countless wooden crates were either stacked high or scattered about, alongside an abundance of Kwantung Army equipment and supplies—canned goods, military coats, steel helmets—piled haphazardly into a small hill. Seeing the people behind him staring in a daze, Lian Youming swung his foot. A crate fell and shattered on the ground with a loud crash, spilling out individually wrapped silver dollars, gold bars, and silver ingots. Beneath them lay numerous wooden boxes preserving antique calligraphy, paintings, and ancient tomes. Lian Youming glanced over casually, and his eyelids immediately gave a violent twitch. On a moldering volume, the archaic characters for 'Yongle Encyclopedia' were written in plain sight. Around them were traces of a fierce, desperate battle—fist indentations and footprints—yet they seemed to have been left long ago. Cobwebs tangled everywhere, and dust lay thick. The moment they stepped inside, dust swirled into the air. Furthermore, many skeletons lay scattered around the wooden crates. Aside from Japanese soldiers, there were several figures clad in Manchu attire, as well as some in tight-fitting martial robes and long gowns, looking very much like styles from the Republican era. Just as they arrived, another group rushed out from another tunnel on the far side of the cavern. Lian Youming cast his gaze over and saw that the two from the Xingyi Sect were among them, clearly representing forces from the various martial sects. The two sides instantly locked into a tense standoff, swords drawn and bows bent, murder in the air. Lian Youming shouted, "What are you standing around for? Grab the stuff!" With his shout, the entire crowd surged toward the crates. Having entered a mountain of treasure, how could anyone return empty-handed? Lian Youming wasn't faking it; he genuinely wanted to take something. Bulky items were hard to carry, and gold was too heavy, so he stole glances around while rummaging through the piles of antiques. Cultivating and nourishing his body required money, and taking a wife and having children required money too. If he ended up marrying a gluttonous wife, how could he afford to feed her if his family fortunes were meager? Then, hunching his back, he began slipping toward the exit. "So long, folks!" Yet several figures suddenly blocked his way. It was that glamorous woman again, speaking with a sweet smile, "Brat, don't try those little tricks on us. Be a good boy and turn back. Don't force us to whip you. When the time comes, we'll pull down your trousers and whip your backside." Just as Lian Youming straightened up, his eyes suddenly brightened. He sidestepped right past them and shouted, "Li Da!" "Stop making a fuss. Li Da is... Li Da!" The woman had looked at Lian Youming with disgust, assuming this was another of his petty tricks. But when she glanced back, she saw a tall, slender figure strolling out of the tunnel. Her face drained of color, and her voice turned shrill. Li Da walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his tone light and airy. "Let him go. You may pick any two items here to take with you, and I can act as if nothing happened. Otherwise, don't blame my fists for being merciless." "You got that thing?" The woman looked between shock and suspicion, then sneered. "That saves us the trouble of hunting you down." Li Da looked as though he had just been through a grueling fight; the hem of his robe was slightly dirty, and blood was smeared across his cheek. Yet the expression on his face remained unchanged, as innocent and unbothered as ever. Without even bothering to lift his hands, he took step after step forward. "Kill!" As the battle cry rang out, several White Lotus Sect experts darted like startled hares and swooping falcons, kicking off walls and scaling stone, unleashing a flurry of strikes. Every fist and foot flew with lethal intent, killer techniques pouring out in succession. The playful smirk vanished from Lian Youming's face. His pupils shrank to the size of beans as he stared blankly at Li Da, overwhelmed with disbelief. At this moment, he finally understood what a true grandmaster was. Facing that torrential downpour of relentless attacks, Li Da pivoted left, looped right, hopped forward, and bounded back, as though his entire body were covered in eyes. He literally walked straight through their impenetrable wall of lethal strikes, slipping around several opponents, evading flurry after flurry of fists, dodging wave upon wave of kicks. Finally, amid the gasps and cries of the stunned crowd, he came to a stop right in front of the woman. Absolute silence filled the cavern. "Could it be... that you've already reached that realm?" The woman's expression was ghastly, her mouth parched. Li Da replied mildly, "Still far from it... Let's withdraw for now. There is something strange buried inside this fortress, and the map falls short. Going any deeper might bring tremendous danger." Lian Youming couldn't resist speaking up. "Is the map wrong?" Li Da sighed. "It only has the map for the Kwantung Army underground fortress. Deeper in, there's another path, and it seems to conceal a massive ancient tomb." Hearing this, Lian Youming immediately thought of the other leather map inside the jade box—it was also of the Changbai Mountains. Could that be the map to the tomb? So that was it. This underground fortress actually connected to an ancient tomb. No wonder navigating it was so difficult. He asked curiously, "Did you get the thing?" Li Da smiled. "You want it too?" Lian Youming shook his head. "If you didn't get it, wouldn't my stint as bait have been for nothing?" Li Da gave a faint smile. "Fortunately, yes. I suppose certain entities inside the tomb didn't want me going any deeper either. It took a bit of effort... Let's go. We're heading out first." Hearing that they could leave, a flash of joy crossed Lian Youming's face, followed immediately by a hint of doubt. Li Da had gone to such great lengths to draw these White Lotus Sect members out. Shouldn't he have wiped them out in a grand confrontation? Yet they were just leaving like this? And what about all these experts from the various sects...? For a moment, Lian Youming quickly pieced together everything that had happened so far. He suddenly recalled a title he had heard someone mention outside the wooden cabin earlier. Vice Sect Master. Lian Youming raised an eyebrow. While following Li Da toward the exit, he glanced toward the White Lotus Sect scoundrels. Moreover, along the draft flowing through the tunnel, he caught a faint, rancid stench—the exact same scent he had smelled outside. Tracing the source of that foul breeze with a sly glance, Lian Youming noticed a cold-faced woman dressed in black walking beside two Xingyi Sect experts. A beast-driving technique? He had mulled over this art before, asking elders in several villages about it. The methods boiled down to three: acoustic stimulation, rearing the beast from infancy, or luring it with scent. Earlier, when that fierce tiger appeared outside, that very same rancid smell had been in the air... Just as his thoughts were racing, Li Da said softly, "You walk ahead first." Lian Youming's heart leaped, immediately understanding what was about to happen. Adjusting his stride, he quickened his pace toward the front. Just as Li Da spoke and Lian Youming sped up, the Xingyi Sect expert who moved with the agile leaps of a monkey suddenly cackled strangely. "I told you we couldn't fool this man. A sneak attack really is a bit cliché... But you're truly arrogant, daring to lure us out all on your own. Junior Guardian of the Realm, do you think you're Sun Lutang? Trying to uncover our Vice Sect Master's identity? In your dreams!" They truly were plants from the White Lotus Sect. Lian Youming, up ahead, suddenly turned back and hollered, "It's the woman in black!" Li Da chuckled. "I know. Run along now, get further away." Knowing he couldn't be of any help and that staying would only cause trouble, Lian Youming intended to crouch behind cover and fire potshots with his pistol. Yet before he could even draw his handgun, having just reached a corner in the passageway and barely catching two breaths, a vile stench rushed at him amid a blast of foul wind. Right before him, a colossal beast strode forward, fangs jutting outward, saliva mixed with blood dripping along its path from the corners of its mouth. The sickeningly thick stench of blood was enough to turn anyone's stomach. Its heavy footfalls seemed to stomp directly upon Lian Youming's chest, pressing down until he could scarcely breathe. What met his eyes was a massive, striped tiger, its blood-red jaws gaping wide. "Roar!" ... Hearing the tiger's roar from the other end of the tunnel, the black-clad woman stepped out from the crowd. Her features were cold and delicate, her brow tinged with murderous hostility as she said coldly, "I sprinkled beast-luring powder on that brat. He's dead meat... I am Gu Yutong, Vice Sect Master of the White Lotus Sect. Let us exchange moves!" Li Da finally let his hands drop to his sides. "This path through the martial world was never an easy one. It is fraught with fickle fortunes and treacherous deceit. Fierce as that tiger may be, it cannot surpass the cruelty of human hearts. He must forge his own way through... Besides, whether he dies remains to be seen, but you are certainly in grave danger." As the words fell, within inches of ground, killing intent erupted.