Sword of Coming

She is surprisingly fine with it.

The young taoist could not help but chuckle. 

Suddenly, it dawned upon him that this was not appropriate for the situation. He quickly changed the subject. “Pool Scale leaves, eh, around here, they’re called tamarisk leaves. These leaves are no good, picked around seven days too late. This bunch of Dragonfly grass is also prepared crappily. Also, what was Yang’s shop thinking when they sold us these flowers? Scammed us out of money.”

The taoist mercilessly pointed out all the problems with the herbs. It was like he had some bad blood with the herb shop. Finally, he came to a verdict. “Although the head of the shop has no conscience, these herbs are enough to save her life after some preparation. But, this is mainly because of the resilience of Miss Ning Yao’s body. That shop owes us some copper.”

The taoist suddenly slapped his head. He spread out a piece of plain white paper and said, while writing, “I almost forgot. I have to write you the instructions for making the medicine. One must be very careful with this, Chen Pingan. It’s very valuable. This taoist’s method can not only heal injuries, but it can also consolidate one’s cultivation base. It’s a treasured thing for any army, a thing that can fuel wars. It also doesn’t have many drawbacks. Just takes some time to buy the herbs, which can be bought with silver. I’m writing all the instructions to make it, to the finest detail. Chen Pingan, I know you’ve already worked hard, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s got to do. That’s what makes a great man, a free man. Don’t shirk your responsibility. Don’t let down Miss…”

When the taoist said “free man,” he shook his head subtly.

The prescription for the herbs was only half a sheet of paper, but two sheets of paper were used to describe how to make the medicine. The handwriting was neat.

A little anxious, Chen Pingan asked, “Is taoist not going to be around? Isn’t it safer for taoist to oversee such a serious matter in person?”

Taoist replied, “This taoist is about to leave this small town. A sect related to me resides in Nanjian. A ceremony is to be held, and I want to witness it.”

“But I can’t read!”

The taoist paused for a moment before smiling. “No problem, Miss Ning can read. Before making the medicine and decocting the herbs, just talk to her about it.”

The girl nodded.

Chen Pingan wanted to speak up, but the taoist suddenly took out a small jade sigil from his sleeve. He blew on the surface and pressed it down on the paper that he was writing on. After he lifted it up, he put it back in his sleeve, satisfied. The taoist handed the papers to Chen Pingan. “Take good care of it. Most of the books in this town are unavailable to the public. It’s not easy for you to get your hands on something like this. If you want to learn how to read, feel free to use these papers.”

The taoist smiled at the girl and said, “Life is full of mysteries, our paths may cross once more, Miss Ning. What do you say, shall we meet again?”

Dressed in black, the girl replied, “Taoist Lu, we will meet again. I don’t go back on my debts. In the future, if you need help from me, send a letter to Upturned Sect with a flying sword. Remember to sign it with your name, “Lu Chen.” Otherwise, they won’t allow a flying sword through the sect gates.”

Upon hearing the sect’s name, the taoist showed an obvious look of surprise, wanting to say something. The girl shook her head. He quickly understood her intention and did not ask any more questions. Some things were better left off unsaid. They were not alone.

Before leaving, the taoist grabbed the boy’s arm. “Chen Pingan, I have something to say to you before I leave.”

Chen Pingan put down the bag on the bed and then told the girl he bought some clothes for her.

The pair came to the yard. The taoist said in a low voice, “You must have recognized the words on the prescription with herbs. You also have a scholar-to-be as your neighbor. Saying you can’t read, isn’t the real reason for you to try to stop me from leaving.”

Chen Pingan replied, “Knowing taoist’s capabilities, you must have figured out the reason.”

The taoist could not help but chuckle. “Think you’re going to die so soon? Are you afraid no one will be there to take of Miss when you pass?”

Chen Pingan nodded. “Since I opened the door for her back then, I have a duty to carry it out to the end.”

The taoist stood beside the cart. He put his fingers together. The white-sheathed long sword that Qi Jingchun imbued with words whooshed into the house. The taoist thought for a bit. While thinking about this dilemma, he would subconsciously stretch out his finger and tap the hat on his head. Finally, he said, “Before I came here, I heard from a senior that you must act with reason, act with compassion… it isn’t good for this taoist to adhere to the rules so strictly. Although everyone in this world has their own fate, the fundamental teachings of the sect that this one belongs to deviate from the tenets of the orthodox sects… us meeting has already been dictated by fate. If it is a good fate, that is hard to say. However, this taoist might as well follow this fate. The 108 fortune sticks, I am unable to give to you as a gift. The karma is too messy. Once it becomes murky, unable to cut, it’ll be trouble. That sigil, it’s a bit heavy. If I give it to you, once the restrictions on this town are lifted, it will become exposed. It may do more harm than good. Aye, perhaps I can give you some gold or silver? But, that is too unrefined, tacky, to think this Toaist—”

Chen Pingan cut in. “Taoist Lu, giving money is refined, not tacky!”

Taoist revealed a playful smile. “You might not know the specifics about the two things from before, but you must have some idea of their value. Why not ask for them?”

The boy said slowly, “A white bowl that can hold an unending amount of water, a taoist who has talismans that can be burned for the deceased, a seriously injured girl, a bag of copper coins worth gold, Yao used to say this town is strange, and now I have seen this strangeness with my own eyes. If it wasn’t for meeting those foreigners and that woman, I would have avoided all of this. No door would open today.”

The taoist leaned on the cart and said in a solemn voice, “When that foreign woman poked between your eyebrows, she performed a low-level art that forcibly opens one’s acupoints. In martial arts, it’s called a “pointer.” Many different forms, performed with good or bad intentions. Think of it like she smashed the door of your house with a hammer. A part of the house is now damaged. The perpetrator ran away and left you, the owner of the house, to live in a broken house. Wind, rain, snow, how are you going to deal with it all?”

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment. “I can endure.”

When he saw the resolve on the boy’s house, the taoist grimaced. “If you have a good body, it will not be difficult to live till your thirties. However, that was only her first attack. Her striking your heart with her palm was the fatal injury. Ignoring the damage to your body, she also cut off your path to immortality… although to be precise, there is still a sliver of chance left for you. Given a heavy-defying fortune, it is not necessarily impossible for you to pursue the path of Dao. There are countless fish, shrimp, even dragons in the river. Lucky ones will of course get their share, but that’s not to say unlucky ones can’t catch small fish or shrimp either.” 

Chen Pingan did not seem to panic. He just stood there quietly.

The taoist looked at it with mixed emotions and sighed. “Chen Pingan, you are still young. Looking at death straight in the face so calmly isn’t good. You think being alive is best, but, to you, if you are really left with no other choice, if even the heavens themselves don’t want you to live, death is simply death, so be it. You are not afraid, correct? Because death is actually a chance for you to meet them?”

Chen Pingan did not deny the taoist’s words.

The taoist suddenly growled, “Then, even on the off chance you end up meeting your parents in the depths of the underworld, have you ever thought what your parents might feel if they see you?”

The young taoist voice began to raise as he spoke, getting angrier and angrier. His finger poked the boy’s forehead hard, as if he was poking at a tree. “Legend has it, the messenger of the underworld, Bai Wuchang, whenever he comes to lead the souls of the dead, the dead would see his large white hat with four large words written on it: ‘you are here too’! Let me ask you, Chen Pingan, when your parents see you, will they say with joy, “You are here too, son?” Will they be happy? How many people in this world do you think are deserving of the great blessing of living with their spouse, their children, life after life?! Lay your thoughts to rest! Even the sect masters don’t have such absurd capabilities, let alone you, Chen Pingan, a poor bastard who can’t even feed himself!”

At the end, the taoist spoke in a harsh, piercing tone.

The boy was in a daze.

This was the first time in this boy’s life that he was overcome with such dread. His hands and feet went cold.

The boy squatted down and clutched his head in his hands.

The taoist looked at the thin boy. “Enough… I am in your debt for saving her. At first, I thought it may be best to not pay it back, but I’ve changed my mind. I will pay it back in full right now by telling you three things. Remember them well. First, once Miss Ning recovers, take her to the south side of the town by the stream and find a father and daughter with the last name Ruan. Remember to take her with you, otherwise, no matter how many times you go there, it will be futile. Once you arrive, even if you have to make a scene, try to be their apprentice. Dig wells, move rocks, forge swords, just try to get under their care. This way, you will have a place to stay. Also, this is Miss Ning’s way of paying off her debt to you. Don’t think you’re taking advantage of anyone here.”

“Second, after the fifth lunar day of the fifth lunar month, you must go to the creek under the covered bridge regularly. Pick up stones, catch fish, do whatever, it’s up to you. Go there whenever you feel your mind is a mess or your emotions surge. Then, maybe, you can obtain something. Remedy your weaknesses with hard work. If you still get nothing, then that’s just fate.”

After the taoist finished saying those two things, he began to push the cart. He saw the boy still in place and said, “Get up and help!”

Upon getting up, Chen Pingan walked toward the cart and asked, “Didn’t you say you’ll tell me three things?”

The taoist grumbled, “I told you the third thing long ago. That one’s up to you to figure out!”

The boy paused.

The taoist gave some last words of advice. “These copper coins are very valuable, keep them safe. Also, don’t go out for a while. You need to smile more, why so cold? Trying to impress a girl?”

Nagging.

The young taoist acted like one of the elderly.

After getting the cart out of the yard, the boy offered to push it out of Muddyrun. The taoist obliged.

While walking in the alley, the taoist said, “I must say, according to this taoist’s calculations, it is not your fault your parents died young.”

The taoist paused for a long time. Once the cart was about to leave Muddyrun, he whispered, “This dismal life of yours, is something your parents played a part in.”

The boy went silent.

The taoist pushed the cart to the east gate alone, getting farther and farther away.

He looked back and saw that the boy was still staring at the entrance of Muddyrun. The boy waved back at the taoist with a bright smile.

Unlike someone on their last breaths.