Chapter Forty-Seven: Tuoba Hui

Taoist Jade said, “While I was on the road, I heard that this man stole something of great importance from Shaolin Temple. I suspect, finding himself with nowhere else to go, he slipped in among us. If he were merely seeking refuge, as long as he returned what he stole, I would have gone to Shaolin myself to plead on his behalf. But he has gone so far as to sow discord and incite conflict—this proves his intentions are truly sinister.”

In the distance, a hoarse voice called out, “Sinister intentions? I don’t see it that way.” The speaker was a tall figure dressed in the attire of the northern tribes, holding a massive saber used to cleave horses.

Taoist Jade smiled and said, “Ah, so it is Lord Duanmu. You have my respects.”

The newcomer was none other than Duanmu Qiu, the Saber King of the Western Regions—a man known for his relentless ways and countless crimes. He had not been invited to this gathering, and no one knew when he had slipped in. Duanmu Qiu said coldly, “I’ve heard that Taoist Jade wanders the world, visiting all the mountains, strongholds, caves, and islands. I consider myself a notable figure, and thought for sure you’d pay me a visit. I even slaughtered cattle and sheep at home, waiting for your arrival. But it seems you don’t think much of me at all—never even sent a word, and instead ran off to this gathering on Blackstone Mountain. If not for running into Master Jianeng by chance, I might still be at home waiting like a fool while your meeting ended without me.”

Taoist Jade replied with a laugh, “So Lord Duanmu has come all this way to hold me to account for that? In truth, at first I did consider traveling to the Western Regions to pay my respects. But then I thought, when the great conflict between the righteous and the unorthodox broke out years ago, you kept your distance in the West, uninvolved with the martial world of the Central Plains. Thus, I had no reason to trouble you about this matter. That’s why I didn’t send word—please, do not take offense.”

Duanmu Qiu snorted, “So you’re still holding a grudge because I ignored the troubles of the Central Plains all those years ago?”

“You were far off in the Western Regions, your saber style unique and unconnected to the sects of the Central Plains. Even if you did stay uninvolved, there’s nothing to resent,” said Taoist Jade.

“Very well then. Though you seem to disregard me, I cannot disregard the friendships of the martial world. That’s why I came of my own accord, hoping to march to Tianshan and settle old scores. Yet you speak only of discussing grievances and reasoning things out. Do you really think that with a few words, you can settle the blood feuds of the past? Tell me, which hero present here has not lost a teacher or brother to the so-called orthodox sects? Who will answer for those debts of blood?” Duanmu Qiu pressed his challenge further.

Taoist Jade replied, “In that case, Lord Duanmu, each time you’ve entered the Central Plains over the years, you’ve left many dead behind—among them both righteous sects and fugitive outlaws. Who, then, will settle those debts with you?”

Duanmu Qiu laughed wildly, “Do I, Duanmu, need to care about who my victims are? Whoever I wish to kill, I kill! As for settling debts—well, I’m right here! If anyone thinks they can best me, let them take my life. But if they can’t, then they must pay with theirs!”

Around them stood others who had old grudges with Duanmu Qiu but, intimidated by his formidable skills, dared not make a move and could only glare in anger.

Taoist Jade asked, “Then what do you propose, Lord Duanmu?” Duanmu Qiu shouted, “Let us settle our scores as we see fit! First we’ll storm Tianshan, then wipe out Shaolin. From now on, we’ll be the orthodox sects, and they the heretics, forever cast down!”

Taoist Jade replied with a smile, “And if someone objects?”

Duanmu Qiu swung his enormous saber, splitting a massive boulder in two. “Then let’s see if they can withstand my blade!”

“And what if that opponent is me?” asked Taoist Jade.

Duanmu Qiu hesitated, then barked, “Taoist Jade! Don’t think your great skill frightens me—others may fear you, but I do not. If you wish to come at me, I’ll answer you with steel!”

Taoist Jade shook his head with a sigh. “The tree wishes to be still, but the wind will not cease. Very well, while these old bones can still endure, I’ll entertain you.” With that, he swept his sleeves and prepared to step forward.

Duanmu Qiu retreated a step. “In pure martial skill, I may not be your match, but if you wish to capture me, you’ll need at least twenty moves to do so.” Few had ever witnessed Duanmu Qiu’s true strength, but all knew he was famed as one of the “Twin Sabers” of the martial world. Still, everyone present had seen Taoist Jade’s extraordinary abilities. For Duanmu Qiu to claim he could withstand twenty moves was no idle boast—his skill was not to be underestimated.

“But though I do not fear you,” Duanmu Qiu continued, “I will not fight you now. You are the host of this gathering, and promised to help us outcasts seek justice. If you kill a friend before we even reach Tianshan, the others will not accept it. Besides, for a host to slay a guest is unjustified in both reason and sentiment.”

Taoist Jade pondered this and felt some hesitation as well. Yang Wujie shouted, “Enough! Taoist Jade must not kill him—I will!” He raised his golden-backed saber and stepped forward, but Song Changkong, Wu Ge, and Ma Beifang immediately blocked his path.

Song Changkong said, “If our uncle has business, let us disciples handle it. Uncle, please stand aside and allow me to engage this man.”

Duanmu Qiu was delighted and called, “Excellent! Today, I’ll see you buried here!”

Li Chongyuan noticed that Yang Wujie and the others looked haggard, with a faint blackness upon their faces—he realized that after being trapped in the Inferno Formation and suffering from poison, they were already exhausted both in body and spirit. Duanmu Qiu, however, was rested and ready. This duel would surely bode ill for them.

He leapt before Song Changkong. “Senior Brother, wait a moment. Let me, your junior, exchange a few moves with this Saber King of the Western Regions.” With that, his sword flashed from its scabbard. He silently mustered his primal energy, infusing it into the blade until it began to hum, sword energy condensing at the tip into a shimmering beam more than a foot long, flickering like a serpent’s tongue.

A cry erupted from the crowd: “Sword light! Sword light!” Taoist Jade was taken aback, and Yang Wujie and the others were astounded. Though the Tianshan Sect was famed for its swordsmanship, only the Sect Leader Dunan and Master Purple Wuzhu of Mingxin Cave were known to manifest sword light with their inner energy. Yang Wujie himself had trained in swordsmanship in his youth, but, unable to reach this level, realized he would never surpass Dunan or Purple Wuzhu at the art’s pinnacle. Thus, he had abandoned the sword for mastery in palm and saber techniques.

Li Chongyuan’s swordsmanship, it seemed, was now nearly on par with Purple Wuzhu’s. How his skills had advanced so greatly while confined to Ascension Peak was a mystery.

Duanmu Qiu’s heart quailed. He had assumed the Tianshan disciples, after days of hardship, would be easy prey, only to find another had stepped forward whose inner strength ran deep despite his youth. An old hand at the ways of the martial world, Duanmu Qiu calculated swiftly: though he could not judge the youth’s sword skills, his inner power was tremendous. Anyone with such reserves would surely possess formidable technique as well. Duanmu Qiu prided himself on his own reserves, but age was against him, and his opponent was in the prime of life—if their duel dragged on, he would likely be outlasted and defeated. His only chance was to end things quickly, before the youth could bring his full strength to bear. Yet to defeat such a foe swiftly—how could that be easy?

He shouted, “Wait! I will not fight you either!”

Li Chongyuan asked in surprise, “And why not?”

Duanmu Qiu replied, “You are young, and I am an established senior of the martial world. If I kill you, all will say I bullied the young—where is the honor in that? Moreover, you are a disciple of Tianshan Sect, and Taoist Jade has vowed to seek justice there. If you die by my hand, it will mean endless enmity between our factions, and what talk will there be of reason or reconciliation? And if I die to your sword, Taoist Jade will be reviled for aiding his enemy in slaying his friend—how then could he command the martial world?”

Li Chongyuan retorted angrily, “So nothing is acceptable unless you say so? Are all fights to be decided at your whim?”

Duanmu Qiu barked, “Do you take me for a coward? Patience! Let me consider carefully for a few days and devise a perfect solution. Then we shall fight.”

From afar, a long howl sounded, and someone laughed, “No need to consider—I have a solution. Let’s fight a good fight!”

At that moment the moon shone bright as day, and a man approached from the distance—his form bizarre, with legs so long they seemed over ten feet, making his body appear oddly short in comparison. With each stride, he covered more than ten feet, bounding like a celestial crane.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before them. Only then did everyone see that his legs were not truly so long: he was supporting himself with two long spears, one in each hand, gripping the spearheads and vaulting himself forward as if walking on stilts.

When he drew near, he thrust the spear shafts into the earth, embedding them deep in the rocky ground, and vaulted down, revealing a young man whose face radiated heroic spirit. He bowed to the assembly and called out in a clear voice, “Tuoba Hui greets the gathered heroes!” Many exclaimed in astonishment, “So it’s Tuoba Hui, the Twin Spear Master!”

Taoist Jade chuckled, “General Tuoba, invincible on the battlefield, before whom all enemies flee—who would have thought you’d fear a centipede?”

Tuoba Hui flushed with embarrassment. “I thought I was careful in my movements, but I see nothing escapes the master’s eye. I am truly ashamed.” He had been lurking in ambush some distance away, believing himself unseen, when Lan Wutong and Dao Jinmang summoned centipedes and scorpions during their contest of poisons. One centipede happened to crawl onto him, and he hastily brushed it off, but could not evade Taoist Jade’s notice.

Duanmu Qiu said, “You’ve always been stationed at Anxi and Beiting—what brings you here?”