Dali, Longmen Inn.
Jiumozhi sat cross-legged on the bed, seized by a sudden unease he could not account for.
He had come to Dali this time on the pretext of fulfilling Murong Bo's last wish, intending to seize the divine manual of the Duan clan of Dali, the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
But Tianlong Temple was famed far and wide. Masters crowded the temple, and the long-renowned Master Kurong was there to hold it. Confident as he was that his martial arts were inferior to no one's, he still had no full certainty of success.
He was just pondering how to meet whatever sudden trouble tomorrow might bring when the sound of cleaved air swept past his window, and an icy voice rang out outside.
"Dugu Qiubai, prepare to die!"
Jiumozhi pushed the window open and saw a green-robed man treading the empty air. Like a streak of green lightning slashing across the night sky, he vanished before Jiumozhi's eyes in an instant.
Jiumozhi's body shuddered, and he blurted out in spite of himself, "What swift movement!"
Never in his life had he seen a master with lightness skill so formidable. Even using all his strength, he feared he could not catch so much as the man's shadow!
Curiosity drove him after the green-robed man. Before long he came into a wood.
There stood the green-robed man from before, long sword in hand, facing the wind. Where the sword tip pointed, a wounded old man sat slumped on the ground.
The old man's hair and beard were entirely white, and he bore an extraordinary presence that awed without any show of anger. Badly wounded as he was, his face showed not the slightest fear. Instead, his face full of rueful sighs, he said, "This old man is Dugu Qiubai. For more than thirty years I have swept the jianghu, slain every foe and villain, and defeated every hero and champion. No one under heaven can stand against me.
"After Duan Siping, Xiaoyaozi, and the others were defeated at my hand, they spared no effort to create supreme arts such as the Six Meridians Divine Sword and the Minor Formless Skill. They came again to challenge me, and still could not withstand a single exchange from this old man.
"Alas. All my life I sought one worthy opponent and could not find one. I thought this life would end in regret. I never imagined that today I would be defeated at your hands. This old man may count it a fitting death."
Hidden in the shadows, Jiumozhi was shaken beyond anything he had known. Only by straining with all his might did he force down his wildly pounding heart.
The creators of the Six Meridians Divine Sword and the Minor Formless Skill could not last a single exchange against this old fellow?!
He had never seen the might of the Six Meridians Divine Sword, but the Minor Formless Skill—he had cultivated that!
Years ago, by a chance coincidence, he had obtained an incomplete copy of the Minor Formless Skill, and with it he could mimic the internal-energy methods of any sect under heaven and perform any martial art in the world.
Now he was suddenly told that even Xiaoyaozi, who had created this divine art, could not last a single move under Dugu Qiubai. It was simply inconceivable!
While his heart was still full of shock, Dugu Qiubai spoke again. "Before I die, can you tell this old man what martial art you have actually trained, that one sword stroke of it could defeat me?"
The green-robed man gave a cold laugh. "I don't mind telling you. What I cultivate is no martial art of the mortal world, but the Sunflower Manual, written by an immortal of ancient times. There is no injustice in your losing to me."
With that, he hoisted the old man up in one hand, displayed that uncanny lightness skill once more, and vanished from the wood in the blink of an eye.
Jiumozhi gazed after the green-robed man, forlorn, and murmured, "The Sunflower Manual, the Sunflower Manual... To think such a divine art exists in this world. If only I could behold the splendor of this peerless skill..."
Having learned of the Sunflower Manual, Jiumozhi returned to the inn full of regret. He lay on the bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, his mind filled with longing for the Sunflower Manual. Before he knew it, day had broken.
When morning came, an attendant pushed the door open, saw him, and started in fright at his haggard face and bloodshot eyes.
"Ah... State Preceptor, it is time to wash and eat, then set out for Tianlong Temple."
Only then did Jiumozhi remember that he still had proper business today. He nodded, sat a while in meditation to settle his breathing, composed himself, washed and changed, and set off for Tianlong Temple with his attendants.
At the same time, Duan Yu, Qin Zheng, and the others had already arrived at Tianlong Temple.
On entering the Buddha hall, Duan Yu saw that his uncle, Emperor Baoding, was there as well, and hurried forward to bow. "Uncle, how is it you are here too!"
At the sight of Duan Yu, Emperor Baoding's face lit with joy. "Yu'er, you are back at last. Do you know how worried we have been these days since you ran away from home?"
Duan Yu flushed and said in shame, "It was thoughtless Yu'er who made Uncle worry. Oh—Uncle, today Jiumozhi, the State Preceptor of Tubo, is coming to Tianlong Temple to seize the Six Meridians Divine Sword. I came specially to bring word!"
Emperor Baoding patted his shoulder, his face full of gratification. "Good child, I already know of this. You know no martial arts, yet you still dared to brave danger to bring the message. You truly live up to being a fine young man of my Duan clan!"
Duan Yu gave a dry laugh, then introduced him. "Uncle, this is Qin Zheng, the Great Hero of Guanzhong. A few days ago, villains of the Shennong Gang did me harm, and I was poisoned with Intestine-Severing Powder. It was Hero Qin who saved me."
Emperor Baoding was mildly surprised. He looked over this legendary Bandit King, then cupped his fist in the manner of the jianghu and said, "Duan Zhengming of Dali thanks Hero Qin for righteously stepping in to save my nephew's life.
"The Duan clan of Dali owes you a favor. Should Hero Qin have any command in days to come, our Duan clan will not refuse, though it cost us ten thousand deaths!"
Qin Zheng smiled and returned the courtesy. "Emperor Duan, there is no need to be so polite. Brother Duan and I took to each other at once like old friends; we need not treat one another as strangers. Besides, Brother Duan is blessed with great fortune and a great fate. Even if I had not stepped in, he could have turned peril into safety.
"You had best go deal with the matter of Jiumozhi first. From what I know, this State Preceptor of Tubo has formidable martial arts. In single combat, even Master Kurong is no match for him."
Emperor Baoding smiled and nodded. "Master Kurong says the same. I must go cultivate the Six Meridians Divine Sword now and face the enemy together with the senior brothers of Tianlong Temple. When the time comes, I will surely have no leisure to look after Yu'er. I ask Hero Qin to watch over him for me."
Qin Zheng said with a perfectly solemn face, "Set your mind at ease, Emperor Duan. I did take the silver, so I will certainly keep him safe. If anything happens to Duan Yu today, tomorrow I will go slaughter every prince of Tubo and use their heads to hold a memorial for Duan Yu!"
The smile on Emperor Baoding's face froze at once. "Ah?!"
Seeing his uncle dumbstruck, Duan Yu could not help a wry smile. "Uncle, don't mind him. Hero Qin likes to joke. You'll get used to it..."
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Emperor Baoding said a "thank you" to Qin Zheng, then walked into the rear hall.
Qin Zheng glanced at Duan Yu and said with a smile, "If you don't want to see Dali and Tubo slaughter each other until blood runs in rivers, then in a little while you had better protect that little life of yours.
"Of course, you can also bet on whether or not I am joking."
Duan Yu rolled his eyes helplessly. "..."
Win the bet, and I lose my life. Lose the bet, and blood runs in rivers. Why in the world would I bet with you?
To be counted as your friend—what a 'blessing,' earned over eight lifetimes!!
Duan Yu sighed helplessly, then asked, a little curious, "Hero Qin, do you know what is so wondrous about our Dali's Six Meridians Divine Sword, that even the State Preceptor of Tubo, so profound in the Buddhist dharma, should set his heart on it?"
Qin Zheng said, "The Six Meridians Divine Sword can condense formless sword qi, slay an enemy unseen, and keep foes from closing in. When internal energy is sent outward, it is more concentrated than the Beggar Gang's Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, and the Murong family's Star Transposition cannot answer it either.
"Taken together, this art ranks at least in the top five of the jianghu. Would you say that's formidable?"
Duan Yu said in surprise, "Put that way, the Six Meridians Divine Sword truly is formidable! If the Six Meridians Divine Sword is so formidable, how does Jiumozhi still dare come to Tianlong Temple to seize the manual?"
Qin Zheng smiled. "However formidable an art may be, it still depends on who cultivates it. In cultivating martial arts, talent and perseverance are both indispensable. For example, your father and your uncle both cultivate the One Yang Finger, but your uncle could thrash him hollow.
"And from what I know, the Six Meridians Divine Sword has only ever been mastered by Duan Siping, the founding emperor of Dali. After him, no one has been able to learn it. That must be why Jiumozhi dares to act so brazenly."
Chapter 8