by Derek Dorris
Above them, on top of the temple, three earth shuddering laughs rolled down its rear wall. The six monks looked up collectively and saw Yu Guo Wei and the disturbing faces of Wen Weisheng and Wen Zhu standing on the roof of the temple peering down.
“My compliments to your deviousness Brother Wei,” Wen Zhu crooned loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Wen Weisheng continued his sister’s point. “In one fell swoop, you have secured the destruction of both the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the martial world. Now, Shaolin Temple and Earthly Mountain will have both fallen at your feet.”
Realising the danger they've put their sect in by coming here, the guardian monks felt a chill to the core of their collective being. And with the sudden arrival of the marital siblings, matters had taken an even more disturbing turn.
Truth be told, Yu Guo Wei had been no less surprised to see them arrive on his battlefield only hours earlier. In fact, the only person completely unmoved by their presence was Reverend Tai for he had been expecting a visit from them ever since he received the body of Liao Quan several weeks beforehand. Having read Tu Ling's explanation on how the Old Fool died, he knew the married siblings were in the area and he had told his disciples to be extra vigilant. It was this vigilance which ensured the Qui advance parties were detected, allowing the Shaolin to sufficiently prepare for the siege. However, as the Reverend began tending to Liao Quan’s body, as ritual demanded, he discovered something even more fortuitous. Not to mention, extraordinary.
Standing there in the open air alongside the Five Guardians, the effects of Yu Guo Wei's incense had more or less worn off and the Reverend was now feeling stronger. Raising his face towards the sky, he filled his lungs with air and spoke in a voice that seemed to shake the very heavens above, “Old friend. Have you slept enough?”
The Five Guardians were closest to the Abbot but his voice was thrown at the temple in such a way that it reverberated through the building. The three masters up top felt their feet vibrate and even winced as those vibrations made their way into their bones. However, what they heard next nearly threw them clear off the roof.
From inside the temple, a voice even more powerful than the Reverend’s rang out like a giant bell, “No.” This voice was thrown outwards so, this time, the guardian monks were forced to cover their ears too.
“I'm afraid I need to bother you now old friend,” Reverend Tai sent back. “You see, Wen Weisheng and Wen Zhu are here.”
An unmerciful rumbling rolled through the temple as its inside doors were ripped from their hinges and its walls were blown clean through—an incomparable sound that seemed to come closer and closer until, finally, something flew through the second floor window. Whatever it was, it was too quick for even the four grandmasters to see. Their heads followed the indistinct blur across the clearing all the way to the top of an adjacent building. As their eyes readjusted, the onlookers saw an old man of medium height with long white hair and big bushy beard. He wore a burnt, tattered yellow robe and carried a stick on his back. His beard was dyed blue.
Reverend Tai smiled with relief. While tending to Liao Quan's remains weeks earlier, he had discovered the body was not dead but surviving in a state of deep meditation. The Abbot’s internal strength was unparalleled in this world so he could detect even the faintest of breathing. He realised that Liao Quan had used some profound meditative technique to redirect his bloodflow towards the injured areas in his body. Only those injuries were so extensive that, with the exception of the deepest parts of his brain and body, the Old Fool had to shut down everything else. Not surprisingly, therefore, it appeared to the outside world like he was dead. Once committed, Liao Quan had to remain in that state until his internal injuries were healed. Reverend Tai immediately detected that Liao Quan’s internal structure had realigned but he hadn't left himself enough strength to re-establish normal bloodflow in his body. He was stuck in that state. The Reverend acted swiftly, opening up various pressure points around Liao Quan's body and channelling his own energy into the Old Fool’s internal reservoir.
Within a matter of minutes, Liao Quan was taking a deep breath and life flooded back to his body. Opening his eyes, a light flickered within them as he recognised the Shaolin Abbot. “Brother Tai,” he said weakly, “what… what do you… what do you think... of my beard…?”
Days later, Liao Quan was strong enough to recount what had happened to him but he still required weeks of careful meditation to fully regain his strength. Luckily, his recent mastery of the Five Yin Elementals and the Five Yang Modulations had given him just the tools he needed. When the temple was surrounded by Qui forces, the Reverend instructed his disciples to keep the old lunatic carefully hidden in a secret room where they kept their heirlooms and sacred scrolls, affording him the time needed to fully recuperate. Even as his Shaolin Temple was falling around his ears, he didn't attempt to wake him for fear he would do him another injury. But now, as the Shaolin and Earthly Dragon were facing mutual destruction and with them, the entire Wulin orthodoxy, he had no choice but to summon the help of the legendary Old Fool.
However, seeing him standing atop of the stone building, the Reverend could see now that Liao Quan was more than simply recovered. He possessed a glow and aura that indicated a level of inner strength that the ancient Abbot had never seen before. He knew the Old Fool had recently met an Earthly Dragon master who had instructed him on their unique meditative techniques and that was the reason he had been able to place himself in such a deep state of paralysis. However, it was suddenly clear to the Reverend that his now enormous reservoir of internal strength was also acting as an elegant basis for his external kung fu. An internal strength that worked in harmony with one's kung fu instead of choking it was unprecedented as far as the Reverend knew. But, then again, so was the Old Fool’s personality.
Liao Quan looked upwards at the marital siblings who stood in shock beside Yu Guo Wei. “You despicable perverts!” he roared. “Come, bow to your granny and apologise for your family sins.”
The one thing Wen Weisheng and Wen Zhu hated was someone mocking their love for each other. Instinctively, they reached for their weapons only to pause at the last second. They had seen Liao Quan growing in power during their successive battles with him and Bai Feng. And now here he was, back from the dead and almost pulsating with power. His voice alone was shaking their insides.
Liao Quan was brimming with energy; he felt he was going to explode. “Nothing to say, eh? Well I'll just fly up there and crease the incest out of you.” With a single bend of his knee, he shot at them like an arrow.
Watching all this unfold to his horror was Yu Guo Wei. As far as he was concerned, the Old Fool always had the potential to be the strongest of all the Greats. His Lightning Arms Technique was so subtle and profound that it worked more fluidly with his internal energy than any of the external kung fu the other Greats practiced. Yet, unlike the rest of the Greats, he placed no emphasis on developing profound internal strength. As such, the Divine Alchemist had always been confident in his ability to subdue the old maniac with his own abundant inner strength. But now, for some reason, Liao Quan’s internal energy had multiplied exponentially. And as a consequence of this, he was witnessing a fully actualised Liao Quan flying across the night sky like a thundering demon.
Yu Guo Wei leapt for safety just as Liao Quan collided with the marital siblings. The punches and kicks they shared rattled the tiles off the roof so those standing below had to duck for cover.
Without hesitation, Reverend Tai turned to the Nameless Monk and spoke quickly, “You need to return to Earthly Mountain with all the haste you can manage. They're moving in on your grandmasters. Liao Quan will keep me safe. Thank you for your assistance but go now.”
The Nameless monk glanced at his brothers, the Artless Monk in particular whose opinion he respected the most. With a fear in each other's eyes they had rarely seen, they agreed and moved like the wind.
With the protection of the Five Guard
ians gone, Reverend Tai sat down and began meditating. The Qui soldiers were under the command of Yu Guo Wei, yet he had disappeared from sight. They looked at each other with confusion. This hesitation gave Infinite Sky enough time to generate a wave of energy that began to replenish his physical strength.
Above him, Wen Zhu had just been kicked off the temple roof in an inglorious heap while Wen Weisheng was unleashing his needles in a last ditch effort to avoid similar treatment. Every one of Liao Quan's Lightning strikes was brimming with lethal energy.
Wen Zhu was quick of mind and seeing her beloved brother about to meet his end, she called out towards the roof, “Old Fool, if you ever want to see that young friend of yours again, you better not harm my brother.” With that she bolted down the mountainside.
Liao Quan was shocked. He knew Bai Feng and Tu Ling had escaped the two grandmasters but he also knew how tenacious they were. It was entirely possible they caught him and were holding him captive somewhere. Without even looking, he flicked his sleeve in the direction of the incoming needles to deflect them and, in the same movement, advanced on Wen Weisheng, grabbing by the scruff of his neck.
“Where did you take him? Answer me now and I'll only make you look like a frog. Fail to answer me and I'll see to it that you like look like a toad. As for her, I'll make her look like the ass-end of a pig!”
Wen Weisheng's mask contorted into a disturbing smile. “Kill me and you simply won't find out.”
“Argh!” Liao Quan flung Wen Weisheng from the roof, following him in a high leap. “I'm sorry Brother Tai; I have to go for a bit. But I'll be back to help you clean up.” Liao Quan wasn't one to stop and consider the larger picture. The strategic hole he was leaving Reverend Tai in was deep and dark.
The Qui soldiers began to move in on him, cautiously advancing with their two meter long lances pointing right at their target. In the absence of Yu Guo Wei, the experts stood back.
The great master was severely weakened but this immediate problem was a mere bunch of soldiers with no kung fu whatsoever. From his seated position, he raised one arm and grabbed the bladed end of the nearest soldier’s lance and swung the weapon and its owner against a wall. The next soldier received a short protruding knuckle to his solar plexus while the next few experienced a variety of disabling finger jabs. However, with the danger of Liao Quan suddenly gone, Yu Guo Wei had returned from the rear side of the temple.
Rui'In had left explicit instructions to keep the Reverend alive and transport him back to the western front. Yu Guo Wei wanted the Reverend eliminated and Rui'In originally agreed to that but, at the last moment, changed his mind. Yu Guo Wei didn't know for sure what the king's current plans were but he was certain that within them lay the intention to keep the Old Alchemist off balance. After the Five Guardians’ rescue attempt, he had a perfect excuse to wipe out the Reverend once and for all.
He rounded the temple and saw his men circling the Reverend. His eyes darted towards the stationary experts. “What are you waiting for? For him to recover? I guarantee you he won’t be so gentle then.” The lead martial expert blanched at this thought and moved in on the vulnerable Abbot. Weapons began to fly as the sitting Reverend defended with sweeping arms and his eyes closed.
Behind him, to the east, day was breaking. It was the twelfth day of the Qui siege.
The Twelfth Day
Despite his exertions, Reverend Tai had been getting stronger by the second against the soldiers. However, with the addition of the kung fu experts, his recuperation slowed again and eventually backtracked. Deflecting swords and daggers from all directions, he slowly drew one large breath and when the time was right he shot his two palms out in front of his chest. Three of four experts tumbled away, crippled in pain. The remaining fighters retreated.
One of the few who hadn't attacked him, a relatively young man in his twenties, spoke up, pointing indignantly at Yu Guo Wei, “You Alchemist! This is disgusting. I have no problem seeing this Abbot killed but look at him. He's in no shape to defend himself; and you stand there allowing others to do your dirty—”
His last word never made it out of his mouth. Yu Guo Wei was at his side in between blinks, striking him dead with a single finger to the back of his neck. None of the other experts dared say a word after that. Yet they remained reticent to attack the Abbot. After all, what the young man said was undeniably correct. Yu Guo Wei snarled at their fearful expression and marched toward the Reverend.
“I'll do it myself,” he muttered as he raised his hand to the Abbot and brought it down on his head. Surprisingly, given his condition, the Reverend Tai caught his hand in such a way that Yu Guo Wei was initially paralysed. The hunchback felt a powerful wave of scorching heat surging up his arm. “Argh!” he tried to pull away but the ancient monk’s grab was like hardened steel. Yu Guo Wei settled himself and re-circulated his internal energy so that eventually he could pull free. “There's still some power in you after all old monk. More than what resided in your old master at his end.”
Yu Guo Wei lifted his right foot with the intention of stomping down on the Abbot’s head with all his might. However, at that same moment, just above him, the brightening sky was pierced with a shrill whistling sound. Another master, the hunchback thought with alarm; and from the sound of his movements, one of immense ability and deep power. Goosebumps rose on Yu Guo Wei’s skin. He immediately thought of Liao Quan or Wong Shi Hong. But what he saw when he looked up defied all logic. Standing on top of the temple, where only moments ago he himself stood alongside the marital siblings, was a young man. The same young man he nearly killed in the bamboo forest outside Fu Xiaoli’s home. Yet there he stood, only weeks later, radiating power and with a hatred burning in his eyes that made Yu Guo Wei's hunch curl still further. Bai Feng had arrived.
The Reverend Tai had heard a lot about this young man since he had emerged on the Wulin scene only months earlier. People he deeply respected like Wong Shi Hong and Liao Quan had taken him under their wings and the latter even reciprocated from his great skills. He was the youngest Earthly Dragon disciple in history and had left their mountain retreat decades earlier than any of their previous disciples. And these were disciples who went on to roam Wulin as near martial deities.
Yet nobody expected him to play such a critical role so early into his training. This boy’s future and the hopes of orthodox Wulin are deeply intertwined, the Reverend thought suddenly. Looking up at the young hero, the Reverend could see that Bai Feng was practically overflowing with internal power. This was impressive but also dangerous to the young man's health. That and the look in his eyes indicated he actually needed help. The kind of help the Reverend could render. Only first, the Reverend needed his help.
“Hero Bai,” the Reverend said without standing or even altering his meditative position. “I've heard much about you. It's an honour to receive you here. I apologise for my state.”
Bai Feng sped to Mount Song with the intention of killing first and saving second. Yet now, looking down on this amazing personality of Wulin, he sensed an abundance of dignity within him. Temporarily, the hate subsided and he forgot about Yu Guo Wei. He dropped like a stone, landing right beside the Reverend in a kneeling position. The martial experts who had witnessed his arrival were now backtracking with increasing haste. Who on earth is this kid?
“Your eminence, please do not refer to me with so much respect. I am nothing compared to you.” Looking up at Yu Guo Wei, Bai Feng’s face darkened before continuing to address the Abbot from his kneeling position, “Please allow me to match with this person on your behalf. I won't be able to beat him but I'll batter him to a pulp whilst losing to him.”
“Good boy. Just guard against his tricks.” The Reverend went back to his meditation.
While Bai Feng spoke with the Reverend, Yu Guo Wei had watched the young man carefully. He noted his movements were calm and controlled. Yet his poise remained dangerous, his eyes firm and unblinking. As a warrior who spent his later years pursuing all form
of accelerated gains, the old alchemist couldn't help but admire his progress.
Readying himself with a subtle shift of his position, Yu Guo Wei spoke formally. “Young hero, I believe we started off on the wrong terms. All I'm trying up do is bring peace to the martial world. Are you against peace?”
“Frankly, I couldn't care less about it,” Bai Feng said not entirely truthfully. “Right now, all I want is to fight you.”
Realising he wasn't going to talk Bai Feng into a trap, Yu Guo Wei wasted no more time and attacked.
The younger man—unaccustomed to the fire of vengeful desire—attempted to clear his mind. Thus, he moved second. Normally, Bai Feng began every contest with a series of evasions but his kung fu had undergone a dramatic transformation. As such, he actually went toe to toe with Yu Guo Wei exchanging over forty stances in the space of seconds.
When the group of hired experts saw how ferocious the battle was, they turned on their heels and fled, afraid of getting in either Yu Guo Wei or Bai Feng's way.
Initially, Yu Guo Wei probed the young man’s kung fu only to quickly realise he couldn't play around with him. Bai Feng appeared to be attacking with a variety of different styles yet somehow managing to combine them cohesively. This made him extremely difficult to predict so the Divine Alchemist had to tread carefully. Seeing Bai Feng reach for the back of his neck, Yu Guo Wei turned his shoulder only to see Bai Feng's arm turn into a horizontal elbow and smash toward his solar plexus. Yu Guo Wei shot his palm to Bai Feng's face, forcing him to retreat.
Bai Feng duly obliged but pivoted on his rear leg and swung his free leg in a circle. This was similar to the Fifth Guardian’s signature move but instead of completing the arc, Bai Feng withdrew his foot and smashed his knee toward Yu Guo Wei's chest in a straight line, an attack straight out of the Silver Fire Form. But at the last second, he extended his leg towards the inside of Yu Guo Wei's knee.