Confession

“That thief chief Zhang Rui? Isn't this Xu Chang'an's master...? Did Master know about the bond between me and Xu Chang'an and specially ask for this manual for me?” Ding Songyan didn't stand on ceremony either; he thanked Tao Wenshu and accepted the two gifts. He casually scanned it and saw that the courtyard on the deed had three full compounds, and the cultivation art was titled the Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Faultless Mystic Art. Sounds impressive... With considerable interest, Ding Songyan skimmed through the manual. He noticed that the Dayan Realm was divided into three chapters: the first, “aperture crafting”; the second, “meridian condensation”; the third, “organ installation.” Much like I imagined. After creating foreign apertures, one must condense and refine the qi meridians to connect those apertures. If some foreign apertures have no real place to anchor them, one must implant non-human organs modeled on the corresponding divine monsters or strange beasts. So that step was called “organ installation”—the same term as the “organ installation” performed when shaping statues, though the meaning differs... Hiss, but the two have the same ingenious effect. Isn't cultivating the martial path just shaping one's own divinity, shaping a god of this present world? Combining this with his own state, Ding Songyan gained a sufficient grasp of the Dayan Realm. Flipping to the end, he found that the Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Faultless Mystic Art had no Dharma Realm chapter at all—only “stealing Heaven's secrets” and a few scant lines. His interest vanishing, he tossed the manual to Xu Chang'an: “Your master's legacy. It suits you well.” Palm techniques, movement techniques, methods for stealing fortune and Heaven's secrets, descriptions of extra lives—everything was especially suited to becoming a master thief. “I... Second Brother Ding... this...” Catching the Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Faultless Mystic Art, Xu Chang'an couldn't get out a complete sentence. When he heard Sect Master Tao mention “thief chief Zhang Rui,” he knew this was the divine art his master had spoken of, one that could take in everything he had learned. To say he wasn't tempted would have been a lie, but he had never imagined Second Brother Ding would simply hand him something so precious. Ding Songyan glanced at him: “If it's given to you, take it. It's your master's legacy anyway. “What you need to consider now is whether to cultivate this art or wait for a chance to join a great sect. Once you begin aperture refinement, there's no turning back.” As far as Ding Songyan was concerned, he already possessed the Hundun trait, and his cultivation had reached grandmaster. He no longer thought much of a manual that didn't even include a Dharma Realm chapter. Once he had fully mastered his own power, if he truly wanted to derive matching arts and abilities from it, would Xu Chang'an dare refuse to show it to him? Of course, the reason he could be so open and generous was also that the manual had come too easily, with no sense of reality to it. It felt worth less to him than the forty-odd taels of silver he had scraped together through hard work. Just now he had even worked himself into the bold, devil-may-care mood of “money scattered will come back again.” Seeing Ding Songyan so loyal and generous, ready to give away wealth for a friend, Tao Wenshu gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Zheng Zhuxi's approval grew a little more. At Second Brother Ding's words, Xu Chang'an's attention shifted from whether to decline or accept to whether to practice it at all. On one side was a martial art within reach and suited to him; on the other, a somewhat hopeful but uncertain chance to join a sect. Within a few breaths he had decided. Close to tears with gratitude, he said to Ding Songyan: “A teacher for a day is a father for life. I truly want to cultivate this art, but Second Brother Ding, I... I can't repay you for now.” This was no longer a matter of money. “Just mark it down for now,” Ding Songyan answered carelessly. Then Tao Wenshu spoke: “Songyan, will you stay in the prefectural city a few more days to deal with small matters and return to the sect with your senior sister, or pack today and return to Pinghu Mountain with me?” Without hesitation, Ding Songyan bowed with hands clasped: “This disciple wishes to return to the sect with Master.” Seeing both Tao Wenshu and Zheng Zhuxi look at him, he grinned: “This disciple can't wait to start practicing martial arts!” “A commendable spirit.” Tao Wenshu smiled and nodded. “But you must remember: in martial cultivation, haste makes waste. If your foundation isn't solid, every step will be a struggle later. The grandmasters that people like Zhen Qianfan and many sects have force-grown are a warning.” Ding Songyan answered, returned to his room, and dug out a travel case he could carry on his back. He loaded in his clothes, books, and money one after another, including The Esoteric Classic of Mountains and Seas. He had already checked the room yesterday and found that the personal belongings of the demoness, his make-do mother, Qiu Chen, and Li Zhi were all gone. He didn't know whether they had been destroyed or moved away in advance. That was also a warning to him. In this world, where the martial path ran to the strange and wondrous, there very likely existed secret arts that could track a person a thousand li by scent alone, to say nothing of gu witchcraft. Personal items used over a long stretch absolutely must not be carelessly discarded. With his pack ready and the wooden case on his back, Ding Songyan returned to the main room and pushed the Baoping Lane deed into Xu Chang'an's hands: “Take over that courtyard for me. Arrange for the servants there to keep it clean day to day and pay their monthly wages. I'll need a place to stay when I come back to the prefectural city. “If you're short of money, dismiss the servants and clean it yourself.” Xiaoming Sect would be helping with patrol duty in the prefectural city and several county towns, so Ding Songyan was sure to return here in the future. Having a place to land would certainly beat a guest room at the yamen. “All right, Second Brother Ding.” Xu Chang'an had been worrying about how to repay him. Ding Songyan pointed at the square table again: “You can write, can't you? Remember to finish copying The Legend of the White Snake for me and sell it to the storytellers' guild. Keep the original volume at your place; I'll come by for it later. “As for the pots and pans—wash what should be washed, sell what should be sold, and move whatever won't sell to the new courtyard. After that, tell the landlord for me that we won't renew when the lease is up.” “Ah...” Xu Chang'an looked a little lost. Ding Songyan laughed. “My Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Faultless Mystic Art isn't that easy to take, you know. It's worth at least...” With nothing to compare it against, Ding Songyan couldn't come up with a suitable price. “At least ten thousand-odd taels of silver,” Zheng Zhuxi helpfully filled in for her junior brother. Ten thou—ten thousand-odd taels? Ding Songyan froze. He had worked so hard for so long and saved only forty-two taels and eight mace of silver, plus six hundred and twelve copper coins. More than half of that was windfall money from Xu Chang'an, and of the smaller portion left, about nine parts in ten were Miss Xiaoqing's tips. And from the prices he had picked up in idle talk at the lane entrance, that three-compound house in Baoping Lane was worth a hundred and fifty taels at most. Zheng Zhuxi explained earnestly: “That manual has aperture-crafting methods. Reach a certain level and it's enough to found a sect anywhere outside the provincial and prefectural cities. Besides, completing the Dayan Realm alone gives a cultivator nine lives. Even if the Dharma Realm chapter is missing and you never reach ten lives, that's more than enough—plenty of people would envy it. “Ten thousand-odd taels is on the low side. Manuals like this have a price but no market.” Stop, stop, my heart hurts... Senior Sister, you're such an upright, honest heroine—why are you so good at stabbing me in the heart, and not even on purpose... Ding Songyan worked to keep his smile looking natural. “No, Second Brother Ding, I'm glad to help you with the small matters,” Xu Chang'an quickly explained. “I was only surprised—you won't be coming back to Chengyu Lane?” In his whole life he didn't know if he could ever save up ten thousand-odd taels. Ding Songyan chuckled. “What would I come back for?” It wasn't as if there was some “ten days of family play, a lifetime of Ding family affection.” “All right. Anything else you want me to do?” Xu Chang'an asked cautiously. “Nothing for now.” Ding Songyan, case on his back, walked out into the courtyard. “We'll talk when I come back to the prefectural city.” “Before you begin aperture refinement, you can go home for three days each season. Afterward, besides those three days away from the mountain, you'll also help with patrol duty for half a month each season, though not necessarily in the prefectural city.” As Zheng Zhuxi filled her junior brother in on the basics, she stuffed a small blue cloth bundle into his case. “What's this?” Ding Songyan asked. Zheng Zhuxi smiled faintly. “Manuals and cultivation arts recovered from Zhen Manor—Water Ape Divine Art, Northern Darkness Fish-Back Scripture, Wind Uncle's Three Secret Chapters, and the like. None of them has an aperture-crafting chapter, so they can only be placed in the Scripture Pavilion for fellow disciples to borrow and consult, so they can study the features of other sects' arts—their moves and routines.” “The yamen didn't take them?” Only then did Ding Songyan realize that a great sect's resources might be even greater and better than he had imagined. “They made copies of them all, and they took the aperture-crafting methods from Water Ape Divine Art and Northern Darkness Fish-Back Scripture as well.” Zheng Zhuxi stepped back two paces, a hint of a new senior sister's delight in her voice. “Junior Brother Ding, once I finish patrol duty, I'll come back to the mountain and guide your cultivation.” Her mother was busy with affairs and had taken few disciples. After Zheng Zhuxi began aperture refinement and earned a rank among the sect's disciples, her mother had not taken a single new one. Now she had finally caught one. “Thank you, Senior Sister Zheng.” Ding Songyan was glad enough to be on good terms with his master's own daughter. After bidding Xu Chang'an farewell, Zheng Zhuxi escorted her mother and junior brother all the way to the city's west gate. The Xiaoming Sect disciples on duty there led over two horses that looked a little unruly. “Can you ride?” Tao Wenshu looked at her newly taken disciple. “If not, I'll find a senior brother to share a horse with you.” Ding Songyan had been to an equestrian club back when he was socializing for business, but that was riding with an instructor guiding him every step of the way. Right now he didn't dare push his luck. As he approached the horse, he fell back on his soul-departure illness: “This disciple doesn't know whether he can...” Before he had even really touched the tan horse, it shuddered, and the somewhat unruly look in its eyes turned clear in an instant. Ding Songyan reached out and stroked it, and found the horse unusually docile. He tried swinging up into the saddle, pulled the reins, and trotted a small circle nearby. Seeing the tan horse cooperating so well, Ding Songyan let out a breath and said with a smile to his master: “Looks like this disciple can ride after all.” Tao Wenshu gave a slight nod and mounted her own black horse. With Ding Songyan, she rode west at an unhurried clop, and after half a shichen they turned south. When they reached a river, both slowed their horses and rode up onto the bridge. Ding Songyan glanced left and right, saw no pedestrians nearby, and suddenly tugged the reins to move up alongside Tao Wenshu. He said in a low voice: “Master, this disciple has one more matter to report.” “What is it?” Tao Wenshu turned her head. Ding Songyan weighed his words. “Yesterday this disciple did obtain a piece of Hundun's remains. Using my own ability to commune with the Netherworld, I hid it in the Netherworld, which is why the demoness didn't take it. After I got home yesterday, I already ate it.” He was following his own old trick—facing a master who would often instruct him in the martial arts, there was no way to hide his own cultivation and peculiarities for long. Better to confess up front. If his master accepted it, with a sect master helping to cover for him, the other members of the sect would have a hard time finding out. If his master didn't accept it, then this remote wilderness was just the place to flee far away.