Ode to gallantry, p.72
Ode to Gallantry, page 72
Zhang San again said: "Good sword skill!"
Two people started fighting in a lightning pace, Bai Wanjian was better in sword skills but Shi Potian had enormous internal energy. They fought for about twenty more moves, Shi Potian made a straight thrust towards Bai Wanjian, this move was extremely swift and fierce, Bai Wanjian was late to react but still managed to intercept the sword by making a horizontal sword swipe, suddenly he felt a great impact on his hand and he couldn’t manage to hold his sword and it fell on the ground unexpectedly.
Shi Potian withdrew his broadsword immediately and moved back few steps.
Bai Wanjian’s complexion turned pale, he immediately snatched a long sword from the snow mountain disciple hand and again attacked Shi Potian.
Shi Potian was actually fighting pretty comfortable using his internal energy and attacking Bai Wanjian unceasingly. It was getting pretty difficult for Bai Wanjian to resist each of his moves as every time the broadsword was accompanied by a strong incomparable strength. As they traded about four more move Bai Wanjian felt that it was getting more and more difficult to even hold his sword.
Bai Wanjian said loudly: "Your internal energy is far superior then me but I am not losing in terms of sword skills." As he said these words, he launched another attack on Shi Potian.
Shi Potian slanted his body to avoid his attack and hoped that Grandma Shi will issue an order and ask him to stop this fight but as he looked at her he actually saw her smiling and had a smug look on her face.
He looked at A’Xiu standing besides her grandmother and found her greatly concerned and worried. He immediately remembered her conversation with A’Xiu on the Azure mist island. She told him that a person shouldn’t be ruthless in the martial art world. She told him: "Elder brother, the people in the martial arts world are mostly good people. If you fight with a person and win against him than you can’t humiliate him as he will lose his face in front of other and will either try to take your life or give his life. This way a blood feud will start and killing some one never solves any purpose."
He saw with his own eyes that Bai Wanjian has a very dignified demeanor, he thought: "He is has great fame in the snow mountain sect and he is such a popular person. If I defeat him than he will be humiliated in front of everyone but if I lose to him, then master said that I can’t even say goodbye to A’Xiu, what should I do?
He again remembered that A’Xiu told him that if a person is losing to you than even though you are winning still acknowledge your defeat and give him a face. This way no one will lose and that person will also be deeply grateful and there won’t be any enmity. A’Xiu taught him a move called "to make a veiled attack"; He thought that he should execute that move."
He immediately made a sword move and knowingly left a big opening on his right side. Bai Wanjian was fighting with all his intensity and vigor, as soon as he saw this opening he immediately attacked at his right side.
This time Shi Potian delayed his sword move to intercept this move so that Bai Wanjian can at least connect his body. As soon as the point of long sword touched Shi Potian’s chest, Bai Wanjian felt a massive shock and if a thunder and lightning had struck him and immediately threw his sword away.
Shi Potian had drawn back two steps, he thought: "He has lost his sword now three times, I think I should also leave my broadsword."
He immediately applied a vigorous surge of internal energy on his broadsword and in a moment the broadsword broke in two sections.
A’Xiu felt extremely relieved, she called out loud: "Father, elder brother, you two are fighting for such a long time, I think it’s a draw, no one wins!"
She turned her head to look at Shi Potian and smiled, she thought: "You remembered my words and realized my intention." She couldn’t restrain her happiness and under her heart was delighted beyond measure.
Bai Wanjian’s face actually turned scarlet, he didn’t pick his sword this time and turned to Shi Potian and said: "You are yielding, how can I surnamed Bai accept that. You have given me face in front of everyone, I am really grateful for your kindness."
Grandma Shi was very self-satisfied, she said: "Child, don’t be sad. This sword skill is taught to him by your mother. I will also pass it to you. You have not lost to him but in fact you lost to your mother. What are you ashamed of?"
Formerly she was really angry and calling them "old bastard" and "young bastard" and scolded continuously but after he got defeated by Shi Potian and her Golden phoenix sect, she was really happy and comforted her son.
Bai Wanjian does not know whether to laugh or cry and only managed to say: "The sword skill of mother is really fierce; I only fear that the child is too stupid, and cannot learn."
Grandma Shi arrived at his side and stroked his hair gently and said: "if this dumb kid can learn it than how can you not learn?"
She turns her head to Shi Potian and said: "Kowtow in front of your wife’s father and ask for forgiveness quickly."
For a moment Shi Potian didn’t understood but suddenly he understood that she was asking him to kowtow in front of Bai Wanjian and was pleasantly surprised. He hurriedly knelt in front of Bai Wanjian.
Bai Wanjian moved sideways to avoid him and said fiercely: "Hold on a minute, this needs to be reconsidered."
He said to Grandma Shi: "Although mother, the martial art skill of this boy is high but he is actually a frivolous person with poor character, it will be a big mistake to marry him with A’Xiu."
He only heard Li Si saying in a loud voice: "It was good, really good! Whether you accept him as your son-in-law or not it does not matter but we will definitely drink a celebration drinks eventually. During this time no one in the Snow mountain sect managed to defeat our little brother here so obviously he is the new leader, isn’t it? Does anybody refuse to accept it?"
Bai Wanjian didn’t say anything neither did the other people from the snow mountain sect made any noise. Some were thinking that even if his martial art skills are inferior still if he becomes the leader than he has to leave for the island of heroes. everyone stayed silent in the hall and no one raised any objection.
Zhang San took out the two copper medals from his bosom and said with a smile: "Congratulation brother, you are now the leader of the snow mountain sect, take these two bronze medals too and keep with the one we earlier gave you in the past!" As he said these words he turned toward Shi Potian and winked him.
Shi Potian asked with surprise: "Did elder brother recognize me when I came out? I haven’t spoken anything until now?"
He knew that the martial art skills of Zhang San and Li Si were extremely high but their experience in the martial art realm was a cut above other people. Although Shi Potian did not make any sound and didn’t explicitly show any weakness in his behavior but when he started fighting with Bai Wanjian, he used his internal energy. The level of his internal energy was actually really rare and unheard in the martial art realm. Zhang San and Li Si had once already drank their medicated wine with him and were aware of his superior internal energy. Once they saw him fighting than it was not really difficult for them to figure out that he is in fact Shi Potian.
As Shi Potian moved forward to accept the bronze medals, he thought: "I have already accepted the bronze medals as the chief of the clan of eternal happiness. What difference it makes if I die once or twice so what’s the harm?"
He was just about to put out his hand to accept the medals, he heard Grandma Shi shouting suddenly: "Hold on a minute!"
Shi Potian drew back and turned his head to look at Grandma Shi and only listened her saying: "It was decided that the sect leader of the snow mountain sect will be decided on the basis of the martial art skills. However I saw that once the old bastard became the leader, he became conceited with all the power and prestige and became insufferably arrogant. I think this leadership is a kind of addiction. Child, it’s better to give the leadership of the sect to me!"
Shi Potian said in consternation: "what.....Do I give the leadership to you?"
Grandma Shi had really sincere feeling towards him and also he treasured A’Xiu more than anything else so she doesn’t want Shi Potian to go to the island of the heroes and waste his life. In her last few years, she has lived the life of several years and didn’t have any desire left. She thought it’s probably better to receive the bronze medals and let the young children live their life.
Of course she didn’t have any knowledge about matter of clan of eternal happiness. She got angry immediately and said: "What's wrong? Aren't you willing? Then we have to fight it out and decide who has the better martial art skills."
Shi Potian saw her to getting angry and did not dare to say again, he looked at her and said: "Yes, yes!" He bowed in front of her and withdrew.
Grandma Shi smiled and said: "Is there anyone else who declines to accept me as the leader of the snow mountain sect, tell me now if someone refuses to accept?"
The people look at each other in blank dismay, this came as another shock but no one said anything again.
Grandma Shi stepped forward to receive the two bronze medals from Zhang San’s hand and said: "I am the leader of the Snow mountain sect, many thanks for arriving at our sect and for the invitation to island of heroes."
Zhang San smiled and said: "Madame Bai Lao, Although you are accepting the bronze medals personally but if the "power and virtue gentleman" Bai Zizai come back and contend in martial arts with you and ask for the leadership of the sect, then who will be the leader? Good, you husbands and wife decide the victory or defeat based on your martial art skill and send the leader."
Zhang San looked at Li Si and smiled and suddenly both of them turned and move out from the front door. People only heard them laughing and moving leaving in flash.
Grandma Shi comes back to that large round-backed wooden armchair and sits on it, she had now calmed down, she said: "open the shackles for these people and free them."
Liang Zijin said: "Why should we follow your orders? The leadership of snow mountain sect is not some child's play that can be given and taken on anyone’s whim?"
Other people too started to get encouraged and said simultaneously: "You had not fought even a single fight. We can’t give the leadership of the snow mountain sect based because of your family members."
When Zhang San and Li Si were in the hall, various people thought only of somehow getting rid of those two people and only hoped that some person will take the leadership and go to the island of the heroes so they can be saved from the great misfortune. Now that the two people have gone back; everyone thought that now grandma Shi might investigate the issue related to old master Bai and they will all be implicated for the grave offence. Surely there will retaliation and it was directly a matter of life and death. Several people in the hall created a clamor immediately.
Grandma Shi said: "Good, you refuse to accept me to make sect leader; that is fine with me as well." She took out the two bronze medals from her bosom and threw it in front of them and said: "Whoever wants to be the sect leader and go to the island of the heroes, please come forward and accept those bronze medals. That fat person had said a moment ago, although I have accepted the bronze medal but the invitation is valid for the leader of the snow mountains sect depending upon the martial art skills."
As soon as Grandma Shi said these words, Qi Zimian, Liang Zijin and others moved back immediately one by one. Various people who were shouting quickly went silent and did not dare to touch those bronze medals.
Feng Wanli came forward and said: "Master wife, everybody has defied their own seniors and elders. We were disobedient to the master and have in reality committed a heinous crime but actually we all were in unavoidable circumstances."
As he said these words, he fell on both his knees and kowtowed in front of her again and again and said: "Master wife Shi is the sect leader of the snow mountain sect, this is good. Master wife, you must kill the disciple and disciple is willing to take the responsibility but I ask for amnesty for the crimes of other fellow disciples. If you will give punishment to all the people than it will be a great disaster for the sect and it will be pretty difficult to recover from that.
Grandma Shi said: "Your master has a bad temperament, how won’t I know? He broke your arm in anger when he shouldn’t. What is this matter all about, tell me in detail."
Feng Wanli looked at her and said: "master wife, After Bai Shige and numerous fellow disciples descended the mountain and went to central plains, master used to throw a fit every now and then. The disciples were beaten and scolded by him; this was of course a minor matter as everybody had received great graciousness from master so how dare could one complain against it? However about half a month ago, two old people came to visit the master suddenly. Those two brothers were called Ding Busi and Ding Busan"
Grandma Shi was startled and said: "Ding Busi......Ding Busi? What was that fellow doing in the Ling Xiao city?"
Feng Wanli said: "After these two old people came in the Ling Xiao city they paid visit to master and went to the study to talk in private. What was actually discussed, the disciple does not know but I only understood that those two old people somehow offended the master and the three people quarreled loudly. The people thought that the master and these two people are probably from the same generation. We were not sure about the origin of these two people so we did not dare to get inside the study and intervene.
We only waited for master to expel these people out of the place but we instead heard those Ding brothers actually abusing master and saying something about the "Azure conch mountain", some "Azure Mist island" and also talking about some female called "Xiao cui" (literally little green jade)."
The complexion of Grandma Shi changed suddenly. She was actually called "Xiao cui" but numerous people in the hall did not know about this and she didn’t want to share that so she asked: "what happened after that?"
Feng Wanli said: "Afterwards we did not how the fight actually started but we heard the sound of palm wind whistling and various sound of people fighting. Master had given us a verbal command, so we didn’t dare to go. After some time we heard the sound of the wall shaking and in fact the walls of study eventually collapsed. We understood that master is pressing both of these Ding brothers against the wall and they were some how resisting against his palm strength even though the wall collapsed. After some time even though two were fighting against one, master was still winning but Ding Busi managed to strike master on his chest and he spat blood."
Grandma Shi asked suddenly: "what?"
Feng Wanli continued: "Master was hit in his chest and she spat blood but he still pressed both of them and they didn’t manage to escape. After sometime master himself spoke: "The victory or defeat has actually no meaning but if someone gets seriously injured then it will lead to irreconcilable enmity? And he withdrew. Ding Busi and Ding Busan immediately left the Ling Xiao cit after that moment."
Grandma Shi nodded and asked: "After they left, later did they came back again?"
Feng Wanli said: "These two old people didn’t returned after that incident but there was a drastic change in master after that. Something happened with his intelligence and he started behaving abnormally. Sometimes he will laugh for a day and say aloud: "I have defeated that thief Ding Busi, he will remember his defeat this time? He said that Xiao cui had been in Azure Conch Mountain......"
Grandma Shi shouted angrily: "Nonsense, what does this matter have to do with this?"
Feng Wanli said: "Yes, yes, master also said that he was talking nonsense. He said that old thief was deceiving people, why would Xiao cui go to his Azure Conch Mountain? However.....he did not believed his honeyed words but still master looked really confused and concerned about that matter.....'"
The complexion of Grandma Shi turned pale for a while, she shouted: "Old bastard talked nonsense, why was he confused and concerned?"
Feng Wanli didn’t actually understand the matter and simply said: "Yes, yes!"
Grandma Shi also asked: "What else did that old bastard said?"
Feng Wanli said: "Are you talking about master?"
Grandma Shi said: "Obviously, who else is the old bastard"
Feng Wanli got ashamed and said: "Master was henceforth worried and said: "Has she gone to the Azure conch mountains? Certainly, she isn’t there. Perhaps she was bored in the martial art realm and might have been feeling lonely so she might have gone just to talk but it is really difficult to say ….really difficult to say. Perhaps the past friendship is not forgotten, old feelings remain even after a severed relationship."
Grandma Shi scolded: "Breaks wind!"
Feng Wanli kneels on the ground and felt really awkward, how he can acknowledge that his master is "breaking wind".
Grandma Shi said: "Hey, stand up and tell me more about what happened afterwards."
Feng Wanli kowtowed and said: "Many thanks master-wife."
He stood up and said: "For two days master laughed out loud and we thought that he probably in better mood but after that suddenly his temper changed. Whenever he saw any person, he will ask: "In all over the world, whose martial art is the best?"
Everybody will always answer: "Obviously, your martial art is the best in the entire world. You are leader of the snow mountain sect, who can be better than you. "
The facial expressions of master were really entirely different from his former days. Sometimes he also asked:"How is my martial art?"
Everybody will always answer: "master, your internal energy is already unparalleled in the world; your swordsmanship is the present age is invincible, actually you do not need to use the sword, and there is no rival to you in this world."
He listens to us to reply like this that then smiled but won’t make any sound and appeared really happy. That day he found one fellow disciple in the courtyard and asked him: "How is my martial art compared to the Shaolin school, if we compare it with their sect leader than whose martial art is high?"
