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Chapter 06 Part 07 - Farewell
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“Huh, who told you that?” ZiChuan Xiu sounded surprised, as if someone had just found out about his darkest secret.
“Don’t even try to deny, Sir. Lady Ning told us everything. You are secretly the fifth generation disciple of the Number One fighter of all time – Duke Zuo Jia Ming. You’ve also mastered every technique he taught you, such as the ‘Wave technique’, ‘Lightning Blade’, ‘Thunder Kick’, ‘Iron Head’[[1]], ‘Nine Swords of DuGu’[[2]], ‘Buddha’s Palm’[[3]], ‘Sunflower Manual’[[4]] and even the legendary ‘Hamehamea’[[5]]… anyway, you knew all the kicka.s.s stuff~!”
“Sigh, I told Ning many times to keep it a secret…” ZiChuan Xiu knew woman could be like children sometimes. If you wanted her to help you spread certain rumours around, the best way was to keep reminding her: “Don’t tell anyone!” And as expected, the result was impressive. It didn’t even take a full day before the trio came to him like dogs wiggling their tails, hoping to catch their master’s attention. All rumours naturally had the tendency to ma.s.s produce and mutate each time it did. In the end, ZiChuan Xiu was “confirmed” as Duke Zuo Jia Ming’s favourite disciple!
“Very well. I admit. That is the truth! I’m Duke Zuo Jia Ming’s fifth disciple!”
“Sir, don’t worry. We’ll guard your secret with our lives! We just… have a very small favour to ask…”
“Oh. I see. You want me to teach you some martial art techniques!” ZiChuan Xiu appeared to have come to a realization.
The trio nodded rapidly.
“But you should know, it is not like I don’t want to…”
Bai Chuan quickly pulled out a bag of coins, and Luo Jie dragged a box of p.o.r.n Mags behind him. ZiChuan Xiu exhaled in defeat: “Why do you guys keep doing this to me, what do I even say to that? Fine, since you all asked so sincerely, I’ll teach you the highest form of martial technique of Zuo Jia Sect, the Universal Invincible Thunder Palm Manual! For two thousand only! Anyone interested?”
Bai Chuan asked curiously: “So cheap?” She immediately paid him in cash and ran away as fast as she could with the manual.
Luo Jie and Chang Chuan realized too late what had just happened, crying like lost sheep: “Sir, help us! If that evil b.i.t.c.h masters the Thunder Palm technique, we’d all end up as her slaves for sure!”
“Hoho, worry not! Her Thunder Palm Manual is in fact incomplete, it has several weaknesses! I have another Great Sun Technique Manual here for sale. It is specifically designed to counter the Thunder Palm Technique, only for eight-thousand-and-eighty-eight and it is all yours! If you master this technique, I guarantee your victory over her! Also, when you do, will you ask her for me if she would be interested in the upgraded version of the Thunder Palm Manual, this time complete with all the extra’s, it will only cost her another ten thousand!”
……
Next morning, Red Banner Master – Li Qing came to visit ZiChuan Xiu on behalf of the High Command. The first thing she saw after arriving at Xiu’s Company’s camp however, was Luo Jie crawling over the floor like a toad, with his head tilted in the direction of the sun and his mouth gaping wide. It sounded as if he was chanting some mnemonic phrase: “I’m an idiot… I’m an idiot… I’m an idiot…”
“Master Luo, what are you doing?”
“I’m an idiot… Please don’t interrupt me. I’m practising the Great Sun Technique by absorbing the essence of the sun. I’m an idiot… Once I master this, I’ll be invincible!”
Li Qing frowned at him, asking:”If I may ask, where can I find Sir Xiu?”
“I’m an idiot… Go through the front gate then turn right. I’m an idiot… The door with the naked girl poster hanging outside leads to his office!”
“Thanks.” Even after Li Qing had pa.s.sed through the gate, she could still hear Luo Jie’s shout clearly from a distance: “I’m an idiot!” In fact, he was being so loud the whole camp heard him.
“I know! You don’t have to keep repeating it!” Li Qing shouted back without so much as a backward glance.
……
ZiChuan Xiu quickly got up and greeted Li Qing as she came through the door. They had known each other and were friends for a long time.
Li Qing studied Xiu’s Company’s headquarter for a moment, posters of naked girls hanging on every wall, piles of stinky trash all over the floor, and more behind his old desk, dirty clothes, empty bottles, and even a few dead mice from several days ago.
She coughed slightly, complaining: “Xiu, what a nice bunch of soldiers you have! Did all of them just come out of prison?” She had made up her mind, without a brigade or a bigger contingent of guards, she would never again walk through Xiu’s Company’s front gate. Those lecherous gazes from the soldiers outside was short of nerve racking.
ZiChuan Xiu spoke with a playful smile: “What are you talking about? Don’t I look normal to you?”
Li Qing replied with a smile without smiling: “Right, so reading an adult magazine right after the sun comes up is somehow considered normal here?”
ZiChuan Xiu hurriedly ditched the book underneath his bed, clearing his throat: “So what brings you here, Master Li?”
Li Qing retracted her smile: “Sir Xiu, by High Command’s order, you are to gather your men… Hey! Let me finish… Stop, give me my orders back! Wait, don’t open it… Sigh!” She complained: “I’m supposed to be the envoy here, show some respect, will you?”
“Xiu’s Company will be placed under Commander Fang Jing’s command, and shall depart immediately for Fort Warren.”
“Strange, didn’t they promise the new recruits a month to train? We barely have had two weeks! Not to mention we are still missing half of our equipments. Several of our squads don’t even have the tents to weather the winter with.”
“It is Supreme Commander’s idea. The official reason is, the sudden development at the Far Eastern Front has demanded urgent reinforcement for Stirling. The real reason however, is Di Du’s Police Corp. Their chief cried his eyes out to Luo Ming Hai, saying: “The City of Di Du will never have peace as long as Xiu’s Company remains here.” He demanded your immediate removal. Xiu, do you even know what the people of Di Du think of your unit?”
ZiChuan Xiu answered with all the seriousness in the world: “Whenever the people of Di du see the magnificent banner of Xiu’s Company, they would always show their respect and admiration: They are men of strength, the embodiment of righteousness… Such disciplined force, as expected from the young hero, ZiChuan Xiu!”
Li Qin smiled lightly: “Do you even believe that yourself? You know it better than anyone. Everyone calls you the three plagues of Di Du: c.o.c.kroach, rats and Xiu’s Company!”
Li Qing stood up and said her goodbye: “All right, that settles it. If there is anything you still need to do but haven’t, I suggest that you make haste. Meanwhile, I can help you with your equipment problems. As you may or may not know, in order to get rid of you and your men as quickly as possible, the Logistic Corp has gone all out. You should take this opportunity and grab what you can from them.”
“Oh, there is one more thing. I have a letter for Stirling. Since you are headed for the Far East, would you deliver it to him?” ZiChuan Xiu felt a jolt going through him. It had been so long since he kept the secret from her how Stirling loved Princess Ka Dan. If she hadn’t mentioned it, he almost forgot that officially, Li Qing was still Stirling’s fiancé.”
“Remember, deliver my letter to him in person!”
ZiChuan Xiu quietly took the letter: “Ok.” But his heart lamented: Woman are such fools sometimes, they think going to the Far East is like going to their backyard. How do they not understand the Far Eastern Front is an area stretching across hundreds of thousands square kilometers? Stirling’s Army isn’t a garrison unit either. How is he supposed to run into Stirling’s forces in a huge area like that?”
He escorted her to the gate. Li Qing turned to him, staring deeply into his eyes as she spoke with deep sincerity: “Take care, and for Ning, please be safe.”
ZiChuan Xiu felt another jolt going through him, but he kept a straight face: “Right, for our future Headmaster, we need to take care of ourselves.”
Li Qing pushed her fine long brows together, as if she didn’t approve of his answer. But without another word, she turned around and left.
……
“Brother, you are back?” ZiChuan Ning seemed especially happy today seeing his unexpected return. “You even brought me flower… Woah, brother. That is so nice of you! I almost thought you forgot about my eighteenth birthday!”
“Today is your birthday?!” ZiChuan Xiu was shocked: He only bought the flowers in preparations for what he was about to tell her. He did not expect to stumble onto her birthday… Seeing how overjoyed she was holding the flower he gave her, he couldn’t say a word of what he had planned: Should I really say those things to her right now?
Ka Dan came out of the room: “Let me see… Is it normal to give yellow daisies[[6]] to someone as birthday gift?”
“Ah, you are right! He is always a bit dim-witted that way!” Even though ZiChuan Ning complained, her face told a different story: As long as ZiChuan Xiu remembered her birthday, she would be just as happy even if he had given her nothing at all.
Luo Jie, Bai Chuan and Chang Chuan attended her birthday party as well. They kept saying: “We are here to cherish our friends.h.i.+p with Her Ladys.h.i.+p and congratulate her on her birthday!” But ZiChuan Xiu quickly saw through their disguise, they came here for the free and expensive gourmet. Bai Chuan brought her a cute makeup box, while Luo Jie and Chang Chuan, “two idiots who never had more than a nickel left in their pocket by the end of the month”, brought her a bag of sunflower seeds together.
Luckily, ZiChuan Ning was in a great mood, she gave her sincere thanks to anyone who brought her anything. ZiChuan Xiu knew however, that she was usually very picky; she rarely cared for stuff made of common quality.
The meal was quite extravagant; it was a great eye-opener for the couple commoners from the Far East. Ka Dan smiled: “This reminds me of the Royal dinner back at the Imperial Palace.”
During dinner, ZiChuan Ning raised her cup to ZiChuan Xiu, giving him her blessing: “I wish you ever victorious and a safe return.” Only now did ZiChuan Xiu realize, Li Qing had to have told her of his new a.s.signment already. He emptied his cup without another word, and everyone else quickly followed suit. Even Ka Dan and Bai Chuan who usually never drink had their cheeks flushed that night from the alcohol.
Everyone was having a good time. Luo Jie however, only sought out pretty girls to drink with. Sometimes he raised his cup in honor of Stirling fighting in the Far East, sometimes he did it hoping the peace would soon return to House ZiChuan, and every so often he gave his blessing to everyone who was about to depart for the frontline. He was being so overly courteous, even ZiChuan Xiu started to doubt whether he had any ulterior motives.
Was he trying to get the girls drunk, hoping to take advantage of them that way? Then again, it didn’t seem all that possible. Luo Jie was so simple-minded; he couldn’t possibly think that far ahead. It would have been a lot more suspicious if it was Chang Chuan.
The conversation kept going around the war in the Far East. Since ZiChuan Ning had a good friend like Li Qing working inside the High Command, she knew a lot about what was going on in the Far East.
Like how the High Command had plans to establish an unified command structure in the Far Eastern Theater, but they weren’t able to agree on the candidate who was supposed to be in charge.
Based on merits alone, both the High Command and the Headmaster supported Stirling, but Stirling had only been promoted to Commander recently. If they put him in charge, he probably would have a hard time controlling the old fox, Ming Hui who held the same rank. If they had to find someone else other than Stirling or Ming Hui, then the only suitable candidate would be the Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai.
When his name was mentioned, all the officers laughed. Luo Ming Hai was known for his lack of understanding for warfare.
Chang Chuan told the party a story of Luo Ming Hai: Once, he was put in charge of a battle. He could see House Liu Feng’s lancers coming his way. Yet, he just stood there, not saying a thing. When his men saw how calm and how fearless he was, they instantly felt empowered by him and were able to repel the enemy attack. After the battle, when everyone started cheering, Luo Ming Hai dragged an orderly to the side in secret and asked: “Did we win or lose?”
It was a terrible joke, but everyone laughed hysterically.
…
Meanwhile, Ka Dan tugged at ZiChuan Xiu’s sleeves without anyone looking and he understandingly followed her outside to the hallway.
Ka Dan handed ZiChuan Xiu a letter: “Please, deliver it to him…” Obviously, she meant Stirling.
ZiChuan Xiu numbingly took the letter from her, sighing. He had finally made up his mind: “Would you tell Ning to come out for a second?”
Ka Dan gave him a dubious look, and seemed amused: “I see, it is time for the quiet talk! Ok, I will go get her.”
A moment later, ZiChuan Ning came out: “Brother, what is with the secrecy?” Not sure whether it was the alcohol or something else, her cheeks were flushed.
ZiChuan Xiu smiled but didn’t answer her directly, saying: “Hold on.” He unsheathed the sabre on his side and flipped it in an arc behind him. The blade effortlessly penetrated the wooden door, and Luo Jie and Chang Chuan’s scream quickly followed.
After realizing she was being eaves dropped on, ZiChuan Ning laughed with delight.
ZiChuan Xiu channelled his acute senses as he scanned his surroundings. Once he was absolutely certain that no one else was around, he inhaled deeply, for what he was about to say required all the courage he could muster.
Under the clear sky, the sea of s.h.i.+ny stars watched the world in silence like countless pair of eyes. When the softening breeze of the nightly gale washed pa.s.sed him, he could feel his senses sharpen as the dizziness of the alcohol slowly began to wear off.
“Brother, you seem troubled tonight. You barely said anything.” ZiChuan Ning’s voice sounded clearer.
ZiChuan Xiu slowly began: “Ning, I still remember. You were scared of dark when you were young. You cried a lot, and often for hours on end. Before your father ZiChuan Yuan Xing pa.s.sed away, he told me to take care of you. But I’m a failure of a brother, in the end it was you who ended up taking care of me most of the time.”
“Brother, we are family. We are supposed to take care of each other. I know you have always protected me, even when I cannot see you. Do you really think I don’t know? That year, Di Du was in turmoil and Father wasn’t around. When the angry rebels bashed through the doors and scared the guards away, I was so scared I cried hiding myself under the blanket, it was you guarding at my bedside with a sword in hand. You were only eight years old. I remember, because I keep peering from under the blanket, and each time I saw your brave shadow in front of me. You made me feel safe.”
ZiChuan Xiu rubbed the back of his head: “Let’s not talk about that, I attacked the first person coming through the door, and he sent my a.s.s flying. As it turned out, it was your father. I ended up spending the next week in bed.”
ZiChuan Ning chuckled: “But I think you look just as good when you got your a.s.s kicked!”
The memories of their childhood filled them with emotions. ZiChuan Xiu smiled: “And now look at you, that fragile crying little girl has all grown up now. I have at least fulfilled that part of my promise to Sir ZiChuan Yuan Xing. Ning. We will forever be brother and sister, what do you say?”
ZiChuan Ning’s eyes widened: “We are brother and sister!”
ZiChuan Ning clearly didn’t understand what he meant; ZiChuan Xiu sighed in defeat, and tried again: “Ning, I’m leaving for the Far East soon and I may be gone for a long time.”
ZiChuan Ning replied calmly: “No matter how long it takes, I will wait right here.”
ZiChuan Xiu could feel the pressure mounting: “I may never come back.”
Her pair of eyes was as bright as the stars. She stared intensely at ZiChuan Xiu’s handsome face: “You will, and I will wait.”
ZiChuan Xiu was getting so desperate he wanted to kill himself: Why doesn’t she get it?! He hesitated slightly but continued: “Yes. We are brother and sister, so of course you will wait for me! But what I meant was, while waiting for someone, you can do other things too, like hmm, like…”
ZiChuan Ning looked at him, slightly confused. In her memories, her carefree brother had never once been so lost for words.
ZiChuan Xiu mustered every last ounce of his courage: “For example, going out, get to know other boys of your age. That is right. I just realized you don’t have any male friends. That is totally weird for a girl at your age.”
ZiChuan Ning seemed surprised: “I have many male friends! Like Stirling, Luo Jie, Chang Chuan. I’m good friends with all of them”
ZiChuan Xiu didn’t know if he should laugh or cry: “I’m not saying all guys are also friends… Hmm, wrong, what I meant is, not all male friends are also that kind of “friends’.”
He tried his hardest to come up with something, he finally thought of a good example: “Like, Ka Dan and Stirling that kind of ‘friends’.”
ZiChuan Ning’s eyes widened even more: “That kind of ‘friends’?”
ZiChuan Xiu sounded certain: “Yes, that kind of ‘friends’!”
“You want me to find that kind of ‘friends’?”
ZiChuan Xiu nodded in silence.
ZiChuan Ning stared at him; she had no words. Slowly, sparkling bubbles began to appear in her eyes. It was a feeling too difficult to describe. As if she was about the cry, her elegant form began to tremble slightly in the dark.
ZiChuan Xiu steeled his heart and pretended to not notice. He turned and looked down at the roses planted in the garden behind him, as if he had suddenly developed a keen interest in botany.
The endless silence seemed as if it would stretch to the end of the universe. Just when ZiChuan Xiu was about to give up and turn around, footsteps sounded from behind him, moving further and further away. Leaving together with the sound, was also his most precious first love.
By the time he turned around, the white dress had slowly disappeared from sight, vanis.h.i.+ng behind the darkness at the end of the hallway.
He just stood there, unmoving. The girl’s face from moment earlier kept flas.h.i.+ng before his eyes. It was filled with untold sadness.
He laughed as if he mocked himself: “ZiChuan Xiu, you are the worst that ever was, there is nothing but h.e.l.l for you now.”
Looking up, in the midst of the s.h.i.+ning stars far in the distant sky, it was as if a pair of angry eyes stared at him. The pa.s.sing of time had not diminished its power over him one bit. And once again, the thunderous shout sounded next to his ears: “Ling He, don’t you dare forget who you are!”
ZiChuan Xiu t.i.tled his mouth slightly: Yes. I know; she is royalty. She is not meant for a fatherless b.a.s.t.a.r.d like me. I also know; the name ZiChuan is but a layer of gilded gold. With the slightest touch, the smallest hole, it would expose the ugly and cheap bronze underneath. In the end, when it comes to the honourable name of ZiChuan, I will always be an outsider.
Why else, after seeing me and Ning getting along, did you send the nine year old me to the distant Far Eastern Army Academy without a second thought? If they really saw me as one of your own, would Yang Ming Hua really have dared to arrest me back then without elder’s permission? And given my abilities, why is ZiChuan Shen Xing now the Headmaster of the House and not me?
In the end, gilded gold is still not real gold! Sir Yuan Xing, father, is this the outcome you have always intended for me?
The s.h.i.+ny stars looked again like ZiChuan Ning’s teary eyes. I’m so sorry. Ning. Today is your eighteenth birthday. I shouldn’t have made you cry. From this day forth, begins the most beautiful and dazzling moment a woman can have. But a woman’s beauty is always fleeting. I don’t want you to waste your precious youth on waiting for something that wasn’t meant to be.
Goodbye. Ning. Forgive me for my heartlessness. When your vision is now longer limited by my shadow, you will realize the world has many more fine men out there worthy of your love. If the day comes, when you truly become the Headmaster, I wonder, will you know how I have felt at this moment? And if the day comes, when you and your beloved walked down the aisle hand in hand, will you still remember the kid you used to love?
By then, I would probably be in a place far away, silently watching you from afar. You would only need to call out my name, and I would instantly appear before you, no matter how many mountains or seas I had to cross.
My beloved lady, may you live forever and your beauty everlasting.
And I, would protect you till the end of days. My life is yours and my heart as well.
Eight thousand soldiers and officers from “Xiu’s Company” departed from Di Du that night, heading for the Far Eastern Front.
When ZiChuan Xiu left ZiChuan Ning’s Mansion that night, he did so quietly and didn’t wake her, leaving only his house key and over a year worth of rent behind on the table in the Guest Hall.
Looking back, ZiChuan Ning’s room was pitch-black.
He sighed. Racing forth on horseback, he left the place he had called home for over a year.
Behind her pitch-black window, the curtain was secretly pulled to a gap, a pair of bright eyes closely followed the shadow casted by his broad shoulders, all the way until his dark blue officer uniform completely merged with the sea of light brown soldier's uniform in the background.
ZiChuan Ning prayed silently: “G.o.d, my only wish for my eighteenth birthday is – please keep him safe.”
And her tears rained.
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[[1]]Iron Head, a Shaolin martial art technique.
[[2]]Nine Sword of DuGu, a martial technique utilized by the main character in the martial art novel “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” by Jin Yong.
[[3]]Buddha’s Palm, a fictional martial art technique commonly found in the sixties HK martial art culture.
[[4]]Sunflower Manual, a controversial technique found in the martial art novel “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” by Jin Yong.
[[5]]Hamehamea, a famous fictional technique from the manga/anime series, Dragon Ball.
[[6]]Yellow Daisy is traditionally used for sending soldiers into battle in Ancient Chinese culture.
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“Huh, who told you that?” ZiChuan Xiu sounded surprised, as if someone had just found out about his darkest secret.
“Don’t even try to deny, Sir. Lady Ning told us everything. You are secretly the fifth generation disciple of the Number One fighter of all time – Duke Zuo Jia Ming. You’ve also mastered every technique he taught you, such as the ‘Wave technique’, ‘Lightning Blade’, ‘Thunder Kick’, ‘Iron Head’[[1]], ‘Nine Swords of DuGu’[[2]], ‘Buddha’s Palm’[[3]], ‘Sunflower Manual’[[4]] and even the legendary ‘Hamehamea’[[5]]… anyway, you knew all the kicka.s.s stuff~!”
“Sigh, I told Ning many times to keep it a secret…” ZiChuan Xiu knew woman could be like children sometimes. If you wanted her to help you spread certain rumours around, the best way was to keep reminding her: “Don’t tell anyone!” And as expected, the result was impressive. It didn’t even take a full day before the trio came to him like dogs wiggling their tails, hoping to catch their master’s attention. All rumours naturally had the tendency to ma.s.s produce and mutate each time it did. In the end, ZiChuan Xiu was “confirmed” as Duke Zuo Jia Ming’s favourite disciple!
“Very well. I admit. That is the truth! I’m Duke Zuo Jia Ming’s fifth disciple!”
“Sir, don’t worry. We’ll guard your secret with our lives! We just… have a very small favour to ask…”
“Oh. I see. You want me to teach you some martial art techniques!” ZiChuan Xiu appeared to have come to a realization.
The trio nodded rapidly.
“But you should know, it is not like I don’t want to…”
Bai Chuan quickly pulled out a bag of coins, and Luo Jie dragged a box of p.o.r.n Mags behind him. ZiChuan Xiu exhaled in defeat: “Why do you guys keep doing this to me, what do I even say to that? Fine, since you all asked so sincerely, I’ll teach you the highest form of martial technique of Zuo Jia Sect, the Universal Invincible Thunder Palm Manual! For two thousand only! Anyone interested?”
Bai Chuan asked curiously: “So cheap?” She immediately paid him in cash and ran away as fast as she could with the manual.
Luo Jie and Chang Chuan realized too late what had just happened, crying like lost sheep: “Sir, help us! If that evil b.i.t.c.h masters the Thunder Palm technique, we’d all end up as her slaves for sure!”
“Hoho, worry not! Her Thunder Palm Manual is in fact incomplete, it has several weaknesses! I have another Great Sun Technique Manual here for sale. It is specifically designed to counter the Thunder Palm Technique, only for eight-thousand-and-eighty-eight and it is all yours! If you master this technique, I guarantee your victory over her! Also, when you do, will you ask her for me if she would be interested in the upgraded version of the Thunder Palm Manual, this time complete with all the extra’s, it will only cost her another ten thousand!”
……
Next morning, Red Banner Master – Li Qing came to visit ZiChuan Xiu on behalf of the High Command. The first thing she saw after arriving at Xiu’s Company’s camp however, was Luo Jie crawling over the floor like a toad, with his head tilted in the direction of the sun and his mouth gaping wide. It sounded as if he was chanting some mnemonic phrase: “I’m an idiot… I’m an idiot… I’m an idiot…”
“Master Luo, what are you doing?”
“I’m an idiot… Please don’t interrupt me. I’m practising the Great Sun Technique by absorbing the essence of the sun. I’m an idiot… Once I master this, I’ll be invincible!”
Li Qing frowned at him, asking:”If I may ask, where can I find Sir Xiu?”
“I’m an idiot… Go through the front gate then turn right. I’m an idiot… The door with the naked girl poster hanging outside leads to his office!”
“Thanks.” Even after Li Qing had pa.s.sed through the gate, she could still hear Luo Jie’s shout clearly from a distance: “I’m an idiot!” In fact, he was being so loud the whole camp heard him.
“I know! You don’t have to keep repeating it!” Li Qing shouted back without so much as a backward glance.
……
ZiChuan Xiu quickly got up and greeted Li Qing as she came through the door. They had known each other and were friends for a long time.
Li Qing studied Xiu’s Company’s headquarter for a moment, posters of naked girls hanging on every wall, piles of stinky trash all over the floor, and more behind his old desk, dirty clothes, empty bottles, and even a few dead mice from several days ago.
She coughed slightly, complaining: “Xiu, what a nice bunch of soldiers you have! Did all of them just come out of prison?” She had made up her mind, without a brigade or a bigger contingent of guards, she would never again walk through Xiu’s Company’s front gate. Those lecherous gazes from the soldiers outside was short of nerve racking.
ZiChuan Xiu spoke with a playful smile: “What are you talking about? Don’t I look normal to you?”
Li Qing replied with a smile without smiling: “Right, so reading an adult magazine right after the sun comes up is somehow considered normal here?”
ZiChuan Xiu hurriedly ditched the book underneath his bed, clearing his throat: “So what brings you here, Master Li?”
Li Qing retracted her smile: “Sir Xiu, by High Command’s order, you are to gather your men… Hey! Let me finish… Stop, give me my orders back! Wait, don’t open it… Sigh!” She complained: “I’m supposed to be the envoy here, show some respect, will you?”
“Xiu’s Company will be placed under Commander Fang Jing’s command, and shall depart immediately for Fort Warren.”
“Strange, didn’t they promise the new recruits a month to train? We barely have had two weeks! Not to mention we are still missing half of our equipments. Several of our squads don’t even have the tents to weather the winter with.”
“It is Supreme Commander’s idea. The official reason is, the sudden development at the Far Eastern Front has demanded urgent reinforcement for Stirling. The real reason however, is Di Du’s Police Corp. Their chief cried his eyes out to Luo Ming Hai, saying: “The City of Di Du will never have peace as long as Xiu’s Company remains here.” He demanded your immediate removal. Xiu, do you even know what the people of Di Du think of your unit?”
ZiChuan Xiu answered with all the seriousness in the world: “Whenever the people of Di du see the magnificent banner of Xiu’s Company, they would always show their respect and admiration: They are men of strength, the embodiment of righteousness… Such disciplined force, as expected from the young hero, ZiChuan Xiu!”
Li Qin smiled lightly: “Do you even believe that yourself? You know it better than anyone. Everyone calls you the three plagues of Di Du: c.o.c.kroach, rats and Xiu’s Company!”
Li Qing stood up and said her goodbye: “All right, that settles it. If there is anything you still need to do but haven’t, I suggest that you make haste. Meanwhile, I can help you with your equipment problems. As you may or may not know, in order to get rid of you and your men as quickly as possible, the Logistic Corp has gone all out. You should take this opportunity and grab what you can from them.”
“Oh, there is one more thing. I have a letter for Stirling. Since you are headed for the Far East, would you deliver it to him?” ZiChuan Xiu felt a jolt going through him. It had been so long since he kept the secret from her how Stirling loved Princess Ka Dan. If she hadn’t mentioned it, he almost forgot that officially, Li Qing was still Stirling’s fiancé.”
“Remember, deliver my letter to him in person!”
ZiChuan Xiu quietly took the letter: “Ok.” But his heart lamented: Woman are such fools sometimes, they think going to the Far East is like going to their backyard. How do they not understand the Far Eastern Front is an area stretching across hundreds of thousands square kilometers? Stirling’s Army isn’t a garrison unit either. How is he supposed to run into Stirling’s forces in a huge area like that?”
He escorted her to the gate. Li Qing turned to him, staring deeply into his eyes as she spoke with deep sincerity: “Take care, and for Ning, please be safe.”
ZiChuan Xiu felt another jolt going through him, but he kept a straight face: “Right, for our future Headmaster, we need to take care of ourselves.”
Li Qing pushed her fine long brows together, as if she didn’t approve of his answer. But without another word, she turned around and left.
……
“Brother, you are back?” ZiChuan Ning seemed especially happy today seeing his unexpected return. “You even brought me flower… Woah, brother. That is so nice of you! I almost thought you forgot about my eighteenth birthday!”
“Today is your birthday?!” ZiChuan Xiu was shocked: He only bought the flowers in preparations for what he was about to tell her. He did not expect to stumble onto her birthday… Seeing how overjoyed she was holding the flower he gave her, he couldn’t say a word of what he had planned: Should I really say those things to her right now?
Ka Dan came out of the room: “Let me see… Is it normal to give yellow daisies[[6]] to someone as birthday gift?”
“Ah, you are right! He is always a bit dim-witted that way!” Even though ZiChuan Ning complained, her face told a different story: As long as ZiChuan Xiu remembered her birthday, she would be just as happy even if he had given her nothing at all.
Luo Jie, Bai Chuan and Chang Chuan attended her birthday party as well. They kept saying: “We are here to cherish our friends.h.i.+p with Her Ladys.h.i.+p and congratulate her on her birthday!” But ZiChuan Xiu quickly saw through their disguise, they came here for the free and expensive gourmet. Bai Chuan brought her a cute makeup box, while Luo Jie and Chang Chuan, “two idiots who never had more than a nickel left in their pocket by the end of the month”, brought her a bag of sunflower seeds together.
Luckily, ZiChuan Ning was in a great mood, she gave her sincere thanks to anyone who brought her anything. ZiChuan Xiu knew however, that she was usually very picky; she rarely cared for stuff made of common quality.
The meal was quite extravagant; it was a great eye-opener for the couple commoners from the Far East. Ka Dan smiled: “This reminds me of the Royal dinner back at the Imperial Palace.”
During dinner, ZiChuan Ning raised her cup to ZiChuan Xiu, giving him her blessing: “I wish you ever victorious and a safe return.” Only now did ZiChuan Xiu realize, Li Qing had to have told her of his new a.s.signment already. He emptied his cup without another word, and everyone else quickly followed suit. Even Ka Dan and Bai Chuan who usually never drink had their cheeks flushed that night from the alcohol.
Everyone was having a good time. Luo Jie however, only sought out pretty girls to drink with. Sometimes he raised his cup in honor of Stirling fighting in the Far East, sometimes he did it hoping the peace would soon return to House ZiChuan, and every so often he gave his blessing to everyone who was about to depart for the frontline. He was being so overly courteous, even ZiChuan Xiu started to doubt whether he had any ulterior motives.
Was he trying to get the girls drunk, hoping to take advantage of them that way? Then again, it didn’t seem all that possible. Luo Jie was so simple-minded; he couldn’t possibly think that far ahead. It would have been a lot more suspicious if it was Chang Chuan.
The conversation kept going around the war in the Far East. Since ZiChuan Ning had a good friend like Li Qing working inside the High Command, she knew a lot about what was going on in the Far East.
Like how the High Command had plans to establish an unified command structure in the Far Eastern Theater, but they weren’t able to agree on the candidate who was supposed to be in charge.
Based on merits alone, both the High Command and the Headmaster supported Stirling, but Stirling had only been promoted to Commander recently. If they put him in charge, he probably would have a hard time controlling the old fox, Ming Hui who held the same rank. If they had to find someone else other than Stirling or Ming Hui, then the only suitable candidate would be the Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai.
When his name was mentioned, all the officers laughed. Luo Ming Hai was known for his lack of understanding for warfare.
Chang Chuan told the party a story of Luo Ming Hai: Once, he was put in charge of a battle. He could see House Liu Feng’s lancers coming his way. Yet, he just stood there, not saying a thing. When his men saw how calm and how fearless he was, they instantly felt empowered by him and were able to repel the enemy attack. After the battle, when everyone started cheering, Luo Ming Hai dragged an orderly to the side in secret and asked: “Did we win or lose?”
It was a terrible joke, but everyone laughed hysterically.
…
Meanwhile, Ka Dan tugged at ZiChuan Xiu’s sleeves without anyone looking and he understandingly followed her outside to the hallway.
Ka Dan handed ZiChuan Xiu a letter: “Please, deliver it to him…” Obviously, she meant Stirling.
ZiChuan Xiu numbingly took the letter from her, sighing. He had finally made up his mind: “Would you tell Ning to come out for a second?”
Ka Dan gave him a dubious look, and seemed amused: “I see, it is time for the quiet talk! Ok, I will go get her.”
A moment later, ZiChuan Ning came out: “Brother, what is with the secrecy?” Not sure whether it was the alcohol or something else, her cheeks were flushed.
ZiChuan Xiu smiled but didn’t answer her directly, saying: “Hold on.” He unsheathed the sabre on his side and flipped it in an arc behind him. The blade effortlessly penetrated the wooden door, and Luo Jie and Chang Chuan’s scream quickly followed.
After realizing she was being eaves dropped on, ZiChuan Ning laughed with delight.
ZiChuan Xiu channelled his acute senses as he scanned his surroundings. Once he was absolutely certain that no one else was around, he inhaled deeply, for what he was about to say required all the courage he could muster.
Under the clear sky, the sea of s.h.i.+ny stars watched the world in silence like countless pair of eyes. When the softening breeze of the nightly gale washed pa.s.sed him, he could feel his senses sharpen as the dizziness of the alcohol slowly began to wear off.
“Brother, you seem troubled tonight. You barely said anything.” ZiChuan Ning’s voice sounded clearer.
ZiChuan Xiu slowly began: “Ning, I still remember. You were scared of dark when you were young. You cried a lot, and often for hours on end. Before your father ZiChuan Yuan Xing pa.s.sed away, he told me to take care of you. But I’m a failure of a brother, in the end it was you who ended up taking care of me most of the time.”
“Brother, we are family. We are supposed to take care of each other. I know you have always protected me, even when I cannot see you. Do you really think I don’t know? That year, Di Du was in turmoil and Father wasn’t around. When the angry rebels bashed through the doors and scared the guards away, I was so scared I cried hiding myself under the blanket, it was you guarding at my bedside with a sword in hand. You were only eight years old. I remember, because I keep peering from under the blanket, and each time I saw your brave shadow in front of me. You made me feel safe.”
ZiChuan Xiu rubbed the back of his head: “Let’s not talk about that, I attacked the first person coming through the door, and he sent my a.s.s flying. As it turned out, it was your father. I ended up spending the next week in bed.”
ZiChuan Ning chuckled: “But I think you look just as good when you got your a.s.s kicked!”
The memories of their childhood filled them with emotions. ZiChuan Xiu smiled: “And now look at you, that fragile crying little girl has all grown up now. I have at least fulfilled that part of my promise to Sir ZiChuan Yuan Xing. Ning. We will forever be brother and sister, what do you say?”
ZiChuan Ning’s eyes widened: “We are brother and sister!”
ZiChuan Ning clearly didn’t understand what he meant; ZiChuan Xiu sighed in defeat, and tried again: “Ning, I’m leaving for the Far East soon and I may be gone for a long time.”
ZiChuan Ning replied calmly: “No matter how long it takes, I will wait right here.”
ZiChuan Xiu could feel the pressure mounting: “I may never come back.”
Her pair of eyes was as bright as the stars. She stared intensely at ZiChuan Xiu’s handsome face: “You will, and I will wait.”
ZiChuan Xiu was getting so desperate he wanted to kill himself: Why doesn’t she get it?! He hesitated slightly but continued: “Yes. We are brother and sister, so of course you will wait for me! But what I meant was, while waiting for someone, you can do other things too, like hmm, like…”
ZiChuan Ning looked at him, slightly confused. In her memories, her carefree brother had never once been so lost for words.
ZiChuan Xiu mustered every last ounce of his courage: “For example, going out, get to know other boys of your age. That is right. I just realized you don’t have any male friends. That is totally weird for a girl at your age.”
ZiChuan Ning seemed surprised: “I have many male friends! Like Stirling, Luo Jie, Chang Chuan. I’m good friends with all of them”
ZiChuan Xiu didn’t know if he should laugh or cry: “I’m not saying all guys are also friends… Hmm, wrong, what I meant is, not all male friends are also that kind of “friends’.”
He tried his hardest to come up with something, he finally thought of a good example: “Like, Ka Dan and Stirling that kind of ‘friends’.”
ZiChuan Ning’s eyes widened even more: “That kind of ‘friends’?”
ZiChuan Xiu sounded certain: “Yes, that kind of ‘friends’!”
“You want me to find that kind of ‘friends’?”
ZiChuan Xiu nodded in silence.
ZiChuan Ning stared at him; she had no words. Slowly, sparkling bubbles began to appear in her eyes. It was a feeling too difficult to describe. As if she was about the cry, her elegant form began to tremble slightly in the dark.
ZiChuan Xiu steeled his heart and pretended to not notice. He turned and looked down at the roses planted in the garden behind him, as if he had suddenly developed a keen interest in botany.
The endless silence seemed as if it would stretch to the end of the universe. Just when ZiChuan Xiu was about to give up and turn around, footsteps sounded from behind him, moving further and further away. Leaving together with the sound, was also his most precious first love.
By the time he turned around, the white dress had slowly disappeared from sight, vanis.h.i.+ng behind the darkness at the end of the hallway.
He just stood there, unmoving. The girl’s face from moment earlier kept flas.h.i.+ng before his eyes. It was filled with untold sadness.
He laughed as if he mocked himself: “ZiChuan Xiu, you are the worst that ever was, there is nothing but h.e.l.l for you now.”
Looking up, in the midst of the s.h.i.+ning stars far in the distant sky, it was as if a pair of angry eyes stared at him. The pa.s.sing of time had not diminished its power over him one bit. And once again, the thunderous shout sounded next to his ears: “Ling He, don’t you dare forget who you are!”
ZiChuan Xiu t.i.tled his mouth slightly: Yes. I know; she is royalty. She is not meant for a fatherless b.a.s.t.a.r.d like me. I also know; the name ZiChuan is but a layer of gilded gold. With the slightest touch, the smallest hole, it would expose the ugly and cheap bronze underneath. In the end, when it comes to the honourable name of ZiChuan, I will always be an outsider.
Why else, after seeing me and Ning getting along, did you send the nine year old me to the distant Far Eastern Army Academy without a second thought? If they really saw me as one of your own, would Yang Ming Hua really have dared to arrest me back then without elder’s permission? And given my abilities, why is ZiChuan Shen Xing now the Headmaster of the House and not me?
In the end, gilded gold is still not real gold! Sir Yuan Xing, father, is this the outcome you have always intended for me?
The s.h.i.+ny stars looked again like ZiChuan Ning’s teary eyes. I’m so sorry. Ning. Today is your eighteenth birthday. I shouldn’t have made you cry. From this day forth, begins the most beautiful and dazzling moment a woman can have. But a woman’s beauty is always fleeting. I don’t want you to waste your precious youth on waiting for something that wasn’t meant to be.
Goodbye. Ning. Forgive me for my heartlessness. When your vision is now longer limited by my shadow, you will realize the world has many more fine men out there worthy of your love. If the day comes, when you truly become the Headmaster, I wonder, will you know how I have felt at this moment? And if the day comes, when you and your beloved walked down the aisle hand in hand, will you still remember the kid you used to love?
By then, I would probably be in a place far away, silently watching you from afar. You would only need to call out my name, and I would instantly appear before you, no matter how many mountains or seas I had to cross.
My beloved lady, may you live forever and your beauty everlasting.
And I, would protect you till the end of days. My life is yours and my heart as well.
Eight thousand soldiers and officers from “Xiu’s Company” departed from Di Du that night, heading for the Far Eastern Front.
When ZiChuan Xiu left ZiChuan Ning’s Mansion that night, he did so quietly and didn’t wake her, leaving only his house key and over a year worth of rent behind on the table in the Guest Hall.
Looking back, ZiChuan Ning’s room was pitch-black.
He sighed. Racing forth on horseback, he left the place he had called home for over a year.
Behind her pitch-black window, the curtain was secretly pulled to a gap, a pair of bright eyes closely followed the shadow casted by his broad shoulders, all the way until his dark blue officer uniform completely merged with the sea of light brown soldier's uniform in the background.
ZiChuan Ning prayed silently: “G.o.d, my only wish for my eighteenth birthday is – please keep him safe.”
And her tears rained.
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[[1]]Iron Head, a Shaolin martial art technique.
[[2]]Nine Sword of DuGu, a martial technique utilized by the main character in the martial art novel “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” by Jin Yong.
[[3]]Buddha’s Palm, a fictional martial art technique commonly found in the sixties HK martial art culture.
[[4]]Sunflower Manual, a controversial technique found in the martial art novel “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” by Jin Yong.
[[5]]Hamehamea, a famous fictional technique from the manga/anime series, Dragon Ball.
[[6]]Yellow Daisy is traditionally used for sending soldiers into battle in Ancient Chinese culture.
