Three people were conversing in a corner of the great hall. Shen Dexian was saying: “…This year there have been endless floods and droughts. So many people have starved to death outside the city. The believers throughout the city only hope for divine protection from gods and Buddhas, and to transcend the souls of the dead. How could they possibly…”
Master Duanchen said: “This matter was never in accordance with proper law… What were the traditional rules for the city procession… Others may have forgotten, but this old nun has not.”
Shen Dexian said: “Don’t be too bound by old customs and traditions… Besides, in the past… No matter what the rules were, everything must have a beginning… In a few years, the new will become the old tradition… Not to mention the common people throughout the city – Master, would you bear to disappoint these faithful pilgrims who come to worship at Changqiu Temple?”
Master Duanchen snorted coldly: “Do you think I’m the kind of person who covets incense offerings and donations?”
Shen Dexian said: “Master is naturally transcendent and otherworldly, viewing money as dirt… But the guild has several hundred people, with families totaling over a thousand mouths to feed – they all need to eat!”
Master Duanchen seemed not very skilled at argument. She looked toward the other man and asked: “What does Guild Leader Cao say? You are also one of the Ascension Families.”
That man had his back turned outward, with a pair of short swords at his waist. Hearing Master Duanchen’s question, he turned his head toward the Guanyin statue and said indifferently: “This year is already the eighth year.”
The hall was filled with clamorous voices, and Baozhu couldn’t hear clearly what they were discussing. But her eyesight was excellent, and she saw the man’s profile – there was a faint scar on his left eyebrow. Baozhu felt suspicious and couldn’t help but grasp Wei Xun’s hand.
Wei Xun sensed something was wrong and immediately gripped her hand in return, asking: “What’s the matter?”
Baozhu pointed toward the corner of the hall, frowning as she said: “This man with the scar on his eyebrow once approached me on Xinzhong Bridge. I was afraid he was a bad person, so I spoke as you taught me, and he left. But then later…”
Later she had been deceived by the villains disguised as a pregnant woman. Wei Xun became suspicious, not knowing what connection this person had with those human traffickers. Recalling how she had nearly been abducted, his heart filled with hatred, and he glared coldly toward the three people in the corner.
That man and Duanchen felt a wave of unobstructed, piercing killing intent attacking them. Both possessed martial arts skills, and though they couldn’t see their enemy, their bodies instinctively reacted. The man turned and stepped back, raising his palm to block, while Duanchen drew a whisk from her wide monk’s robe. Only Shen Dexian was bewildered, looking around in panic with a confused expression.
The cold gaze of the man in blue pierced through the crowd like a sharp sword, pointing directly at the corner of the hall. The two knew that trouble was coming. With so many people present, it was inconvenient to take action. They exchanged glances and slipped out through the back door to the secluded rear courtyard. They each had subordinate disciples and followers, and seeing their leaders leave, four or five people followed them out.
The atmosphere was tense, both sides ready for battle. The followers didn’t know what grievances existed between them – the other party was merely two young people, yet veterans like Duanchen were prepared for serious combat.
Shen Dexian recognized the appearances of Baozhu and Wei Xun. Having encountered them yesterday at Jinbo Pavilion, he had thought this man in blue was an arrogant servant. Today, seeing everyone’s expressions, he guessed the man’s origins were extraordinary. He quickly put on a smile and tried to mediate: “The two of you are acquaintances. Any misunderstanding can be slowly clarified. It’s better to resolve feuds than to intensify them – why resort to armed conflict? This humble person would be willing to host a reconciliation banquet at Jinbo Pavilion…”
Wei Xun rudely interrupted him: “You shut up.” He confronted the man with the scar on his eyebrow: “What did you say to her yesterday on Xinzhong Bridge? Were that mother-and-daughter-in-law pair of kidnappers your subordinates?”
That man was baffled. When Xinzhong Bridge was mentioned, he finally recalled Baozhu and said: “I saw a young girl standing alone on the bridge crying, which didn’t seem like a good omen, so I asked out of concern. What does this have to do with kidnappers?”
Shen Dexian quickly said: “Guild Leader Cao is the master of the Luoqing Guild, engaged in water escort business. He operates openly and has always been chivalrous and righteous, hating evil like an enemy. He would never engage in the dirty business of kidnapping and human trafficking.”
Wei Xun sneered: “Carters, boatmen, innkeepers, porters, and brokers – even if innocent, they deserve death. You’re all old hands in this trade, no need to pretend to be good people. You left first, and the kidnappers followed right after – weren’t you the one who came first to scout and explore?”
Cao Hong had originally acted out of good intentions, but being questioned and accused by this man in blue, he also lost his good temper and sneered: “It was my mistake to meddle in others’ affairs. If this young lady had been despondent and jumped from the bridge to commit suicide, her corpse would have swollen in the water, and our Luoqing Guild would have had to work to retrieve it. Since you care about her, why didn’t you stay by her side at all times to protect her? When something happened, you instead blame outsiders.”
Master Duanchen had been listening silently. Sensing there was a misunderstanding between both sides, she put away her whisk, waved both hands, and called out loudly: “Stop! This is a pure Buddhist sanctuary. Even if you want to compete, you must give the Bodhisattva some face. This old nun is Duanchen, the abbot of Changqiu Temple. Everyone please state your names first, then slowly clarify matters.”
Master Duanchen had considerable reputation in the Central Plains martial arts world and was also the temple’s leader. When she called for an end to the conflict and mediated, others should rightfully comply.
Cao Hong was unwilling to fight on someone else’s territory. He snorted coldly and introduced himself: “Master of Luoqing Guild, ‘Ferry Boat’ Cao Hong.”
Shen Dexian said: “We met yesterday already. I am Shen, the guild leader of the City Patrol Guild. Although Master Duanchen and Guild Leader Cao are not guild members, they both come to help during city patrols.”
Wei Xun’s gaze rolled across the faces of these three people. After a moment of silence, he proudly uttered a few words: “Blue-robed Guest Wei Xun.”
At these words, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.
This name had spread throughout the Central Plains martial arts world after the legendary wedding in Jade City. Cao Hong’s junior brother Yue Laosan had once respectfully offered wine during an escort mission and returned claiming to be greatly enlightened and completely convinced. It was said that this person was extraordinarily talented, stunning all at the age of twenty, and given time, would surely be able to stand alone in the world like his master Chen Shigu.
What worried the people of the Central Plains martial arts world was that this sect with strange behavior had emerged from seclusion to come to the Central Plains for unknown reasons. The Rakshasa Bird of Jiannan Province had publicly claimed in Jade City that Canyang Academy had intentions to “bring chaos to the world,” but their new leader had single-handedly exterminated the entire sect.
Cao Hong and the others were both wary and puzzled, while the more impetuous subordinates were already reaching for their weapons. They had heard that the leader was a mysteriously powerful young woman – could it be the one behind him? But if this was the legendary Donkey-riding Lady, how could she have been kidnapped by ordinary human traffickers?
Baozhu struggled for a long time but ultimately felt too embarrassed to announce the name “Donkey-riding Lady” in public, so she deliberately didn’t mention it. Since this matter arose because of her, she briefly described the situation at the time, only omitting Wei Xun’s violent elimination of the threat.
Everyone was shocked and indignant upon hearing this. Such a vicious scheme would trap anyone who harbored even a bit of kindness into their ambush. Master Duanchen showed an angry expression and was the first to condemn: “To actually disguise as a pregnant woman seeking help – these are truly evil thieves who deserve heaven’s punishment!”
Cao Hong frowned and said: “This kind of ‘Receiving Guanyin’ underworld trick is the first I’ve heard of – truly vicious. Even I would have fallen for it.”
Shen Dexian clapped his hands: “This is truly a case of flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple – a complete misunderstanding! Guild Leader Cao’s past inquiry was both well-intentioned care and because Xinzhong Bridge spans the Luo River, which is considered Luoqing Guild territory. The subsequent contact by human traffickers with the young lady was purely coincidental.”
Master Duanchen continued: “Gang conflicts resulting in casualties are common occurrences. Cao Hong has never shown mercy – that was in open combat. But the corpses that fall into the Luo River and drown in the city have always been retrieved by his men using boats to salvage the bodies. If family members claim them, they’re sent back; unnamed corpses are collected and buried. This is a meritorious deed – people in the martial world call him ‘Ferry Boat.’ With such conduct, I don’t believe he’s connected to sinister kidnappers.”
Wei Xun was half-believing and half-doubting, saying nothing. After hearing these people defend Cao Hong, Baozhu guessed she had probably misunderstood and felt somewhat ashamed. She was thinking about how to find a way to step down gracefully when she saw a woman and a man hurriedly arriving at the rear courtyard.
The leader was a young woman – the dancer who had performed the Green Waist Dance at Jinbo Pavilion yesterday. Now with her heavy makeup removed, she revealed a beautiful, plain face tinged with fatigue. Following behind her was the Sogdian dancer Mi Falan, also dressed simply.
Both first pressed their palms together and bowed to Master Duanchen, then greeted Cao Hong and Shen Dexian, their manner showing some of the fawning servility typical of entertainment industry workers.
Duanchen maintained her dignity and was unwilling to converse with them, while Shen Dexian broke into a lewd smile, saying: “Isn’t this Troupe Leader Yao? You’re here so early.”
The woman smiled slightly, her eyes flowing charmingly as she said softly: “The troupe is short-handed. Jiangthen was busy yesterday and couldn’t go upstairs to offer wine. Today I’ve come first to pay respects – please forgive me, Master Shen.”
Shen Dexian gestured toward the Sogdian dancer: “This boy still won’t give up? In a couple of years when he grows a beard, he won’t be able to participate in the selection anymore.”
Mi Falan said: “As long as I practice devotion, someday the Bodhisattva will choose me.” His eyes were filled with eager anticipation.
Yao Jiangthen said: “Though we are of lowly status, in the eyes of Buddha and Bodhisattva all beings are equal. The Yao family troupe is honored to be part of the ‘Ascension Families,’ making us different from other music and dance troupes in the city and earning us more respect. My younger brother is devoted to Buddha, so naturally as his older sister I support him.”
Baozhu thought to herself that this Sogdian dancer wanted to become a Guanyin servant. With his good looks, if he wore the brocade celestial robes and portrayed Guanyin, he would surely be exceptionally graceful and charming.
The arrival of the two from the Yao family troupe interrupted the earlier conflict, and the atmosphere was no longer so tense.
Wei Xun had always been proud and never associated with martial artists, much less condescended to exchange pleasantries with strangers. With the misunderstanding cleared, he said no more and directly took Baozhu’s hand to leave. The others all thought that feuds should be resolved rather than intensified. Though they currently had superior numbers, who knew if the Seven Absolutes of Canyang were nearby? Therefore, they didn’t voice any objection.
When they reached the corner, Baozhu looked back and saw from afar that after Yao Jiangthen had met with the important temple figures, she was preparing to leave with Mi Falan. As she brushed past Shen Dexian, her fingertips stained with balsam juice traced several red marks in the air, quickly slipping something into his wide blue sleeves, seeming to squeeze his hand while also passing him something. Shen Dexian’s face showed a barely perceptible smile.
Private relations between patrons and dancers were quite common, so Baozhu didn’t take it to heart and turned to walk away.
She said to Wei Xun with a smile: “Though I won’t participate in this Guanyin servant selection, I could also be considered an ascended immortal. If idle people were to open my tomb now and see the empty coffin in the underground chamber, they would surely be greatly startled, thinking I had achieved bodily transformation and ascended to immortality.”
Wei Xun smiled: “Before carrying you away then, I used tomb bricks to block up the tunnel. Unless there’s an official excavation with complete uncovering, no one will notice any flaws.”
As he spoke these words, his heart stirred – he felt something was not right. At this moment, Yang Xingjian, who had been dispersed by the crowd, was loudly calling for “Fangxie,” while Shisan Lang emerged from the crowd covered in sweat. The sense of discord flashed by, and the four of them regrouped, deciding to first go out to find a place to eat and rest, then return later to observe the Guanyin servant selection.
—
*Author’s Note: “Carters, boatmen, innkeepers, porters, and brokers – even if innocent, they deserve death” is an ancient saying. Carters are cart drivers, boatmen are boat operators, innkeepers run lodgings, porters are laborers and workers, and brokers are middlemen, similar to agents and also an alternate name for the human trafficking trade. Black inns and black boats murder for money, engage in human trafficking, and steal property – these were the most dangerous professions encountered on ancient journeys, and common NPCs in legendary tales and strange stories.*