by Derek Dorris
Looking back at his forces, Rui'In was furious. “I've lost the majority of my siege machinery and now five thousand of my best troops have been felled by my own weapon!” he roared to the heavens. Those in earshot faltered. These losses were, of course, on top of Rui'In's earlier losses to his cavalry and kung fu experts so he was right to be unsettled. Yet remaining composed in front of one's men was a cardinal rule of war. That outburst was simply unacceptable not to mention uncharacteristic. He allowed his insides to settle before straightening himself and projecting his voice across the battlefield as he had done countless times before, “Order all troop commanders to withdraw their troops to base camp. And have my senior staff report to the command tent at once.”
Yu Guo Wei strode into the tent malevolently. By now, it was obvious the king knew he switched the poison but, with one eye torn out of its socket and a severe head wound, he couldn’t care less. Furthermore, he no longer had Wangchuk Drup to worry about. He glowered at Rui'In, daring him to say something.
The Qui king was too clever to take the bait. So long as Gongsum stands, I still need that treacherous bastard’s help, he thought. Yet I can't afford to look weak either. Without asking after his injuries, the king got straight to business. “We still have a force of forty-five thousand troops, what are your suggestions, hunchback?”
The Eight Knives moved imperceptibly in preparation for a reaction.
Noticing this, Yu Guo Wei scoffed at them as well as their king. Before he made his way over to the tent, he ingested a copious amount of a secret compound he had been using these last few months to raise his internal energy. Inside his smelly cloak, his muscles felt like they were rippling He felt ready for anything. “This is your mess;” he replied disinterestedly and then waving a hand at the King's eight bodyguards, he added, “Why don't you have your dogs lick it up? What else are they good for?”
Having just entered the tent, the remaining three grandmasters were not only thrown by the tension between the king and the Old Alchemist but also by the apparent fearlessness of the Eight Knives. Yu Guo Wei had informed nobody of what he saw at Shaolin Temple.
Rui’In was on edge. If violence erupts between us now, I'm not sure which way the other grandmasters will sway, he thought. He was more than confident in the Eight Knives’ ability to protect him but, for the time being, he wanted to maintain peaceful relations with these masters—for a variety of reasons. “My dear Senior Du,” Rui'In said, this time more congenially, “the last thing we need is tension between us.”
Grunting dismissively, Yu Guo Wei merely turned his back, allowing his challenge to the king of Qui hang in the air a little longer.
“Why don't we figure out what the next step is?” Rui'In continued. “Nobody wants a drawn out siege so allow me to suggest a way to finally break this rabble. Follow me.”
Considering the serious insult Yu Guo Wei just levelled at him, the other grandmasters were surprised the Qui king was being so forgiving. However, they were more than eager to see what he had in mind for the city. Following him out of the tent, they found the Qui forces had assembled in a peculiar semicircular formation with the open side facing the walls of Gongsum. Rui'In waved to someone on his right as he walked towards a makeshift stage. As he ascended the stairs to the three meter high stage, the Eight Knives and four grandmasters followed behind. Rui'In nodded at Yu Guo Wei, “Are you too injured to get their attention my friend?”
Yu Guo Wei didn't even answer, he just stomped forward to the front of the stage, pugnaciously planting his feet and sucking a lungful of air down into the pit of his stomach. His voice rang like a giant bell. “Heroes of Gongsum, there is no strength left in Liu. Watch closely.”
Li Jing was being congratulated by a multitude of experts and soldiers as they continued to cheer the Qui retreat. It was Xun Da and Li Jing together who planned the disguised ditch but Li Jing alone had come up with the idea of using Yu Guo Wei's poison against the Qui soldiers. When Wong Shi Hong arrived at the wall with Bai Feng, Fu Xiaoli, and Tao Huiqing, the gathering experts erupted into even greater cheer. However, they were soon interrupted by the ringing voice of Yu Guo Wei. Wong Shi Hong looked at his two senior comrades. “He sounds more powerful now than he did before the injury,” he said quietly.
Moving to the edge of the wall, they saw the enemy had regrouped only two hundred meters out from the city around a large stage. Soon enough, seven people bound and blindfolded were led to the centre of the stage. Xun Da, Li Jing, nor Wong Shi Hong needed to look—the rest did. As they allowed their eyes adapt to the early morning light, their faces turned white. There, paraded in front of Wulin’s orthodoxy was the Abbot of Shaolin Temple, Reverend Tai and the Earthly Three. Behind them were the three captured guardians.
Wong Shi Hong knew the significance of this. If they allowed Wulin’s figureheads to be executed in front of the city walls, his forces would be thrown into disarray. They would be fodder for the Qui troops. Furthermore, word of the event would flood the country and the fighting spirit of every person in the Liu Empire would be crushed. He couldn't let either of those things happen.
Dropping his head, he sighed and with it, the weight he had felt these last few months seemed to slide from his shoulders. He actually felt grateful—if only for a second. “Da’er,” he said gently.
“Yes Shifu?”
“You have been a worthy apprentice. I'm sorry I didn’t teach you as much as you deserved. However, you will outlast and outshine me. Create your own school in the future.”
Knowing what his master was going to do, tears began to stream down Xun Da’s face.
Without another word, Wong Shi Hong dashed down the stairs and jumped on the strongest horse he could see. Digging his heels into its side, he raced out of the main gate, his black cloak billowing.
However, Xun Da had also decided. “Shifu!” he screamed before following his master out of the city on the first horse he could find, also into certain death.
Tao Huiqing and Fu Xiaoli held each other's hand and looked at each other. With a soft smile, they were gone too.
Moved by the sacrifice he was witnessing, Bai Feng didn't wait either—nor did the four Guardians.
The nine heroes of Wulin rushed towards the Qui lines committed. Wong Shi Hong knew they were playing right into Rui'In's trap but there was nothing else to do. “That Qui bastard might topple the pillars of Wulin today but with this act, our effort will be immortalised,” he shouted. “No matter what the Qui forces do from here on, Rui'In is going to die.”
As they galloped at their lines, the Qui troops felt like they were looking at the nine demons of vengeance. The Qui lancers readied themselves, the archers explicitly commanded to hold their bows. Rui'In wanted to make this as dramatic an example as possible. He knew they would bank everything on getting to him. His fail safe was, of course, the Eight Knives. No matter how many of the nine got through, his bodyguards would cut them down. He tightened his fists in the anticipation of what was to come. “These kung fu experts are the most valiant foes I've ever faced,” he said to nobody in particular. “I'm thankful to have met them in battle like this. But their time has come.”
Nine horses crashed into the front lines and, immediately, three of the nine masters flew straight off their horses. The first was Wong Shi Hong as he made straight for the stage. After shooting high and forward, the ancient and truly majestic fighter somersaulted three times before landing into a large group of Qui soldiers who were expressly told to stop him of all people from getting to the stage. Immediately, four of the nearest soldiers flew up and out while Wong Shi Hong swung his arms like wings and swept two or three more fighters with every movement. Nobody could get near him. Lancers lost their lances or had them sent back to them like burning hot projectiles, foot soldiers had their limbs broken or torn off completely. The deeper the crowd of soldiers he disappeared into, the more successful was his camouflage. After a while, nobody knew where he had gone. Soldiers began dropping suddenly and s
poradically, in no discernible pattern.
Tao Huiqing and Fu Xiaoli also flew straight off their horses and onto the very stage where the hostages were being kept. None of the readied soldiers expected the couple to clear so much distance in one leap. As such, the Wen siblings scrambled up the steps to engage them ahead of the soldiers. The two pairs of fighters picked up where they left off earlier, a wincing collision of skill and power. Dominating the exchanges with lightning fast and iron-thunking kicks, Tao Huiqing began to drive Wen Zhu towards the edge of the stage. Fu Xiaoli went one step further and drove Wen Weisheng right off it. Then she decided to show the world why Shrieking Blade got its name as it pierced as many eardrums as it did oncoming soldiers. However, as the soldiers arrived in numbers, Tao Huiqing, Fu Xiaoli, and Wen Zhu were all driven off the edge of the stage and into the crowd.
Xun Da stayed on his horse and so, therefore, did Bai Feng who protected Xun Da's rear while fighting his own two flanks and rear. Using every opportunity to survey the scene in front of him, Xun Da spotted a gap. “Feng'er,” he pointed to the rear of the stage. “Throw me over that way and follow.”
Bai Feng sucked in his breath and funnelled all his inner power into his back, arms, and chest and then flung Xun Da clear across the stage. Then, with a kick of his legs, he was off his horse and running across the shoulders of the Qui soldiers—following his friend, determined not to let him out of his sight. However, whilst jumping over the stage, he was intercepted midair by none other than Jade Zither.
Coming at him with the whistle end of her iron xiao, she quickly reversed it and flicked three lethal projectiles from the hollow end. Waving his arm at the projectiles, they disappeared off into the desert allowing Bai Feng to land in front of the famed Madam Zither. To the young master of Earthly Dragon, this entire fight would happen in slow motion. He was certain he could hear the blood flowing to and from his heart. He turned sideways as he inhaled and allowed another succession of darts to fly by him. He turned back as he exhaled and bolted forward as he inhaled. He made contact with Jade Zither’s weapon as he exhaled and, feeling its intent with his arm, he stripped her of it as he inhaled. He flung it at a single Qui soldier. Two fell.
Now he was in contact with Jade Zither’s arms. She tried to hit him. His arm followed her fist and told his body to turn. She withdrew her fist. His arm followed her fist and told his body to follow. She was hit. His arms stayed on hers only shooting forwards when she presented an opening. The more power she put into her attacks, the more she felt it coming back at her. He was simply besting her, time and again. Bai Feng was untouchable.
From their vantage point, the Earthly Three and Reverend Tai had been watching the assault with heavy hearts. This was no way for great kung fu geniuses to die. But after Bai Feng landed on the stage, they were increasingly awestruck. As the young man moved in total unison with the great Jade Zither, shaping her movements as hers shaped his, striking her imperceptibly and evading her majestically, they were witnessing the purest manifestation of Earthly Dragon principles they had ever seen. It had been achieved! Even to Infinite Sky, it was like watching the sun rise on the martial world for the first time.
However, in the distraction, the numbers of Qui soldiers had swelled around each of the Liu grandmasters. Rui’In gave the outside rings of soldiers the order to push inwards and slowly but surely, the centre of each group began to feel enormous pressure. The grandmasters were struggling to breath. Rui’In gave the second order and arrows rained down on the most interior ring of soldiers. The dead weight of armoured soldiers further pressed in on Wong Shi Hong, Fu Xiaoli, Tao Huiqing, and even Wen Weisheng and Wen Zhu.
Standing a few meters behind the Qui king, Yu Guo Wei was not aware of this plan and noticed that even the marital siblings were being crushed. He always intended to assassinate the Qui leader but his opportunities were fast disappearing. Now was his moment. However, he was delayed by what Bai Feng was doing. After all, he was a former Earthly Dragon master and unavoidably struck by what he was witnessing. Only after Jade Zither was defeated, did he make his move. “Brother Feng. Our martial brothers and sisters are being massacred. The Qui king is vulnerable. Let’s work together.” He darted for the first of the Eight Knives and engaged him.
Bai Feng held his fists and looked at Jade Zither. He had not wounded her badly but she was exhausted and beaten. Bai Feng didn’t trust Yu Guo Wei for a second yet it was clear that every one of them was in trouble. Cutting the head off the snake was the only option now. So he flew forward. To his surprise, so did Jade Zither but not to fight against him—to fight with him.
This is it, he thought. We're going to prevail. Of course, he hadn't accounted for the Eight Knives. Within seconds of engaging Rui'In's protective circle, Bai Feng, Jade Zither, and even Yu Guo Wei were in serious trouble. The Eight Knives moved like gods. After trading only half a dozen stances, Jade Zither was struck. She flew out of the melee and landed unconsciously. Bai Feng moved like the wind but he was surrounded by four fighters, all as powerful as Yu Guo Wei or Wong Shi Hong. He was being overcome and, sure enough, he too was struck badly.
Yu Guo Wei was now alone but as the Eight Knives joined forces, they were forced to look within themselves for the Divine Alchemist was to put up a spectacle that would be recounted for centuries. Holding two to three of them at bay with his left hand he caught two or three more with knife-hand strikes and palms. A turn and a step later and he was on their outside smashing his shoulder into the back of the nearest opponent who, in turn, fell forward into two more of his brothers allowing Yu Guo Wei to stage a fresh attack on the others. Unfortunately, it was all too brief. Within moments, the Knives coordinated their actions around the old hunchback and he was sucked into a wave of red peril. A small stumble was all they needed and they were in. Two of them struck his right chest, while another two struck his left. A dagger sang out of its scabbard and went through his remaining eye. It kept going.
From within the crush of soldiers, Wong Shi Hong watched as Yu Guo Wei was slain. He didn’t know who these Eight Knives were and could barely work his mind to make a guess. He was slowly fading into unconsciousness and beyond. All he knew, was they had failed.
Fu Xiaoli and Tao Huiqing had found each other in the madness and were embracing. If they crushed each other’s body, then it was a somewhat fitting, even amusing end to their unusual lives as wife and husband.
The marital siblings were doing the same. Holding each other, they resisted the press as defiantly as their reputations demanded, their immaculate clothes ripped to shreds, their headscarves gone, and their hair… blue.
Bai Feng’s return to consciousness was a despairing experience. Who do I help? He pulled himself up onto one knee and attempted to get his bearings. The Qui king was standing amongst his bodyguards in an imperious manner. Bai Feng looked over at Xun Da and recalled how he fought with the easy grace that defined his style. He looked at Wong Shi Hong and marvelled at how he had dismantled dozens of soldiers with a sweep of his limbs. He thought about Folding Wind, the Blue Lady, Jade Zither and even the marital siblings. They were all so imperious and suddenly he was overcome with the sense of gratitude. Lastly, he thought of Yu Guo Wei and his last stand. “Divine” was no exaggeration, he thought.
Smiling without regret, he laughed aloud and bellowed to the heavens, “Defeat and victory—imposters both. We are Wulin and that's what matters.”
As he fell back against a slumped soldier, his vision settled around the Qui command tent behind them. Something was drawing his eyes there—pulling them. So he sat there with a numb mind and watched; he watched as the tent flew straight into the air and exploded into shreds; he watched as an ancient man burst forth from within—an ancient man dressed in tattered yellow robes and wearing a three foot staff on his back—an ancient man with a giant head of white hair and a bushy blue beard.
Soaring through the air and eating what appeared to be a leg of chicken, the old man's voice rang the ears of every sing
le person present. “Brother Feng? Where are you?”
“First Brother,” Bai Feng heard himself calling through his daze. “I'm… I'm here!” His delight at seeing his old friend Liao Quan alive and well distracted him for only the briefest of seconds, as his mind snapped back into perspective. He extended his arm and pointed a weary finger straight at Rui'In. “That bastard over there, he has offended your brother. Punish him for me, would you?”
As the Old Fool landed on the ground, his voice rippled with energy. “Don't fret Third Brother; I will box his ears off his head.” Liao Quan leapt again, this time even higher than before, like he was shot skyward from some divine catapult. All eyes moved skyward, waiting vacantly for his descent.
Surrounding their leader in a circular formation, the bodyguards removed their daggers in anticipation of Liao Quan's landing but, as he descended on them, all they could see was a yellow blur. What they heard, however, sent them straight to their knees with a dreadful force.
The old lunatic had channelled his peerless internal energy into an almighty whistle which he aimed straight for the Eight Knives below. As they fell to their knees, Liao Quan landed on top of the Qui king like an eagle on a field mouse, shooting his arms out laterally so that every one of the flailing bodyguards was blown sideways. In the same movement, Liao Quan’s legs kicked one more time and he exploded off the stage, over the heads of the Qui soldiers -holding Rui’In with his right hand as he flew. The soldiers’ heads arched up and back so the pressure on the other grandmasters was lifted for a split second and, as Liao Quan landed thirty meters beyond their ranks, the soldiers saw their beloved king driven a full meter into the ground.