A Pointed Head

The night had grown deep. Having finished comforting his aunt, Li Xiuwen said, "Uncle, do you have three hundred dollars? I need to pay the monthly fee tomorrow." "You've used up last month's thousand?" His uncle's face showed trouble. "Money's been so tight lately we can barely keep the pot boiling. I may not be able to keep supporting you even another half year." "Three hundred, is it? I'll borrow a little from the neighbors." His aunt wiped away her tears and pulled herself together. "My appetite's gotten so big these days. I meant to pay the monthly fee with that thousand—who knew I'd eat my way through it." Li Xiuwen scratched his head, embarrassed. He had bought two fish balls to make sure of killing Brother Ji, pushing his realm higher. "Let your aunt help you borrow the money... Ah, there's a boss outside the Walled City who still owes me three thousand for goods—half a year overdue now." His uncle said glumly. His aunt said, "A man can live without learning boxing, but he'd live like a coward, and sooner or later he'd work himself sick with anger. Thank goodness Ah Wen learned boxing—someday he'll be able to teach that Brother Ji a lesson too." Li Xiuwen asked, "Uncle, who owes us the payment for the goods?" His uncle shook his head. "Don't go prying. That boss keeps a whole pack of punks—we're no match for them. All we can do is wear our lips out talking and saying pretty words." Li Xiuwen asked no more. "We have an exchange tournament next month. There's a reward for winning. If all goes smoothly, I won't need your support anymore." His aunt said, her heart aching for him, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. We've just been on a run of bad luck lately. Under normal circumstances, your uncle can still cover your monthly fee." With that she left the house and went knocking on the neighbors' doors. A trained fighter's hearing is sharp. All night, Li Xiuwen could faintly hear the sound of his aunt smiling apologetically and speaking her flattering words. She had always lived quite respectably among the neighbors—she had always been the one people came to when they needed to borrow money. "The exchange tournament next month—I have to win!" "A three-month fee waiver, two fish balls, one movement technique... enough to carry me to the second-floor tournament." "Once I make it onto the second floor, I'll count as one of Old Huang's formal disciples. Not only would the monthly fee be waived—more resources would be steered my way." "With those, I'll have a hope of taking my shot at next year's crossing-river meet." "If I can win a crossing-river quota and get into the Academy, I'll be somebody above the common run of the Walled City—even gang bosses would have to treat me with courtesy when they saw me." Li Xiuwen had long since mapped out the road ahead. With the incense burner, walking it step by step—everything held hope. ... The next day. Night Heron Martial Arts Hall. A blonde, wavy-haired Western woman blew across the tea to cool it for a tall, thin old man. Master Ye sat where he was, his sharp bright eyes fixed on the four youths practicing boxing. "Gaojiao Qi, Heron Fist is all about endless variation—don't lock yourself into dead, fixed moves!" "Wen Wu, put your movement technique to use. Imagine you're a night heron at the water's edge." "Tian Er, mind the timing of your punches. Don't waste your strength." "Hei Gou, aren't you at Purple Membrane now, damn it? Why did you dodge that punch? You missed the best moment to attack!" "You four, come to me for special training every day from now on. All cultivation and no skill—your technique is so rotten it's a sorry sight!" Master Ye truly was strict. Gaojiao Qi, Wen Wu, Tian Er, and Hei Gou were the four finest disciples of Pine Hall at the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall, known as the "Four Talents of Pine Hall." All of them had trained their way to Purple Membrane within a few months of learning boxing. Not long ago, Gaojiao Qi had gone further still and reached Black Membrane. His innate physique was superb—the makings of a superior—and stake training came far more easily to him than to most. Wiping away sweat, Gaojiao Qi said, puzzled, "Master, aren't we challenging the Sea Sand Hall first next month? That lot are nothing but a bunch of misfits. You're taking it too seriously." Wen Wu said, "Huang Sihai takes anyone who brings money. Their best first-floor disciple is just Liu Chun, and even he's only middling aptitude. Any of us four could beat them easily." Master Ye said coldly, "With that attitude, sooner or later you'll capsize in a ditch. Even a lion fighting a rabbit uses its full strength. We're not just going to win—we're going to win beautifully!" Master Ye set a high bar for accepting disciples: no old ones, none of inferior aptitude. That was why the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall was full of "little geniuses." Their strength was high talent; their flaw was youth—hot-bloodedness was hard to avoid. He understood these youngsters. He had climbed up the same way, step by step. His strict demands were, above all, meant to temper their temperament, lest they stumble later on and lose their lives. The disciples on the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall's side were a notch lower in talent, but many had clawed their way up through hard knocks, and their temperament was a notch better. Master Ye said, "I've made some inquiries. Liu Chun needs no introduction—his talent is second only to Gaojiao Qi's, very close to the makings of a superior. "What's more, Pheasant Brother of Hesheng Tu has taken him on as a follower. He might reach Black Membrane next month too. We must be careful. "Gaojiao Qi, I don't care about the others. If the draw pits you against Liu Chun and you lose, I will not let you off." Gaojiao Qi grinned. "Rest easy, Master." Master Ye said, "The other few who might fight should be Li Shuzhen and Cheng Kuiqiang. "The former is a girl. Whoever loses to her might as well castrate himself—not fit to be called a man. "Watch out for this Cheng Kuiqiang. He has innate divine strength—before he ever trained in the martial arts, he could wrestle a Green Membrane fighter. Word is he's also practiced hard qigong under Lion-Head Buddha. "Wen Wu, you've been at Purple Membrane for a month now. If you're matched against him, find a way to keep moving and win by nimbleness. Never meet his strength head-on." Wen Wu nodded. "Rest assured, Master! Wen Wu will win!" Master Ye took a sip of tea. "As for the last one, I don't know whom Old Huang will send. In any case, at your level, whoever steps up should win for sure." ... Early morning. When Li Xiuwen got up, he found five hundred dollars beside his pillow. He put the money away, his heart glowing warm. Going downstairs, he saw his aunt already kneading dough, and said with a smile, "I'm off to learn boxing. If anything comes up, remember to call the martial arts hall." His aunt looked tired, her eyes bloodshot. She smiled. "Off you go." Brother Ji was dead, but the Thirteen Taibao were still out there. Li Xiuwen dared not relax his guard. Third Master might be a Purple Membrane expert. He had to race against the clock to bring the Sea Sand Stake to minor success and forge his Purple Membrane. ... Four Seas Martial Arts Hall. In the study, Huang Sihai finished off a goose leg and licked his fingers while Third Auntie kneaded his shoulders from behind. "Master," Third Auntie asked prettily, "next month Master Ye is bringing his people for a challenge visit. Can we win?" "We can't win. As long as we don't lose too badly, that will do." Huang Sihai didn't much care about the matter. The Sea Sand style had long been at the bottom of the orthodox styles; they were used to it. Knock, knock, knock. Someone rapped at the door. "Master Huang, it's me—Ah Wen." "Come in." Old Huang patted Third Auntie's bottom, signaling her out. Li Xiuwen came in and smiled. "Hello, Third Auntie." "Ah Wen, you've gotten a lot sturdier this month. Master Huang really does teach well." Third Auntie smiled and swayed her broad hips out of the room. "Master, I'm here to renew my monthly fee," Li Xiuwen said. "Finished those two fish balls?" Huang Sihai asked. Li Xiuwen nodded. Huang Sihai said gravely, "I know you want to win honor for the hall too. But I'll say it again: fish balls are best saved for breakthroughs. Don't lean on them too much. "I love money—no one wants to sell a few more fish balls more than I do... But I am your master, after all. I don't want you straying down the wrong path and falling into qi deviation." Li Xiuwen said, "It's all right, Master. I know my own measure." Huang Sihai sneered. "You don't know it at all... They say medicine is three parts poison—and the poison in these fish balls is far more than three parts. Guess why the Patriarch's statue has a pointed head?"