Chapter Four: Leaving Seclusion! Luoyang!

“Disciple obeys Master’s orders!” Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Li Yi could only nod in agreement, though his bloodshot eyes betrayed the deep reluctance in his heart.

“Ha! No need for such sentimentality! Today is the day you come of age, but here on Mount Mao we don’t stand on ceremony. I’ll grant you a courtesy name, you kowtow three times to Heaven, and the rite will be complete.” Seeing Li Yi’s agreement, Wang Yuanzhi finally broke into a smile. After a moment’s thought, he straightened his posture and said, “From this day forth, your courtesy name shall be Wenyong. I hope you will possess both wisdom and martial prowess, and that you’ll conceal your edge beneath ordinary appearance.”

Li Yi nodded solemnly, turned, and knocked his head three times on the ground toward the sky, then faced Wang Yuanzhi and said, “Li Wenyong thanks Master for the name. I swear never to disappoint you!” He then kowtowed three more times to Wang Yuanzhi.

“Good, good! Wenyong, rise!” Wang Yuanzhi’s face blossomed with joy. He stood and helped Li Yi to his feet, then signaled to Pan Shizheng, who nodded and left the room. Li Yi shot a questioning look at Wang Yuanzhi, who only smiled and gestured for patience. Before long, Pan Shizheng returned, carrying a purple box over a foot long and half as wide, as well as a white cloth bundle some three feet in length.

Wang Yuanzhi took the box and said, “Yi’er, do you remember a year ago when I asked what kind of weapon you liked, and you gave me a drawing?”

Li Yi searched his memory, and suddenly his eyes lit up with excitement. “Master, you mean the triangular bayonet—could it be…”

Wang Yuanzhi smiled. “Exactly! Today you come of age, and tomorrow you will leave the mountain. Such an occasion cannot go without a gift. The first gift is the very triangular bayonet you described!” With that, he opened the box. Li Yi looked in, and his eyes were instantly captivated. Inside lay three identical triangular bayonets, each just over an inch long, their surfaces pitch-black, blade and hilt forged as one. The blade was prismatic with three blood grooves, exuding a chilling aura.

“When I traveled the world, I once chanced upon a piece of meteorite iron. I originally meant to forge you a longsword, but since you insisted on this triangular bayonet, I found a renowned swordsmith to craft them to your specifications. Because the bayonet is so short—more like a dagger—all the meteorite was used up, making exactly three. Keep them all, and don’t give away the other two lightly. I have divined your fate: when you find your kin, the other two bayonets will also find their destined owners.”

Li Yi received the box with both hands, replying in a deep voice, “I will obey Master’s instructions.”

Wang Yuanzhi nodded, then took the cloth bundle from Pan Shizheng. After a brief pause, he unwrapped it to reveal a longsword, over three feet in length.

Li Yi accepted it and unsheathed the sword. The blade was seamless and jet-black, appearing indestructible. Yet its impression was not one of sharpness, but of depth and benevolence.

“What is this?” Li Yi, though no expert in swords, could instantly tell this was a peerless weapon.

“This too I found in my younger days, by chance at the same place as the meteorite for your bayonets. I could sense this sword was extraordinary, but I never learned its true name or history. It’s not a weapon for ordinary hands; misfortune would follow if it were. So, I kept it hidden all these years. Some days ago, on a sudden impulse, I divined again and found that your fate is entwined with this blade. So today, I give it to you as well.”

“Isn’t that a bit mystical?” Li Yi looked incredulous.

Wang Yuanzhi only chuckled, offering no further explanation. It was only natural—Li Yi had never studied the Dao.

Seeing that Wang Yuanzhi had no more to say, Li Yi asked no more questions. He opened the box, selected the bayonet he liked best, and fashioned a simple scabbard for it from the white cloth that had wrapped the sword. After a moment’s thought, he said, “From now on, you shall be called Cold Edge Dagger. May you help me make a dazzling entrance!” Then, looking at the sword, he continued, “I don’t know your origin, but since you are now with me, you shall be called Ancient Ink Sword—help me win the affection of fair maidens!”

“You rascal! So serious one moment, irreverent the next—making a spectacle and chasing girls! Have you no sense of decorum?”

“Heh, Master! If I were all decorum, how would others survive around me? It’s good to have a few flaws, isn’t it?”

“Haha! I always said you were cunning as a fox. I worried your brilliance might burn too bright, but clearly you understand better than anyone. That reassures me.”

“Master, what are you talking about? I don’t understand. Cunning as a fox? My intentions are pure—don’t make me out to be so complicated!”

“Don’t banter with me! It’s late. Eat and get some sleep—we’ll see you off in the morning.” With that, Wang Yuanzhi and Pan Shizheng left, not looking back at the now downcast Li Yi.

The next day, Li Yi rose early, cleaned the little hut where he had lived for fifteen years until it was spotless, changed into a fresh white robe, hid the Cold Edge Dagger in his left leg’s trouser, hung the Ancient Ink Sword at his left hip, slung the purple box containing the bayonets on his back, took a last look at the thatched cottage, and then turned toward the main peak of Mount Mao.

Half an hour later, as the sun was just rising, Li Yi arrived at the main peak. At the foot of the mountain, he saw Wang Yuanzhi, Pan Shizheng, and several other disciples.

“Master!” Li Yi greeted Wang Yuanzhi with a calm expression. No matter how sad he felt, he could not reveal a trace before his teacher.

“Good, good! Come, see the third gift I have for you!” Leading Li Yi forward, Wang Yuanzhi stopped before a white horse. The horse measured twelve feet from head to tail, stood over eight feet at the shoulder, had slender fetlocks, pointed ears like bamboo, a mantis-like neck, sturdy bones, a broad chest, an orchid-shaped mark on its left ear, four whorls on its belly, and was pure white from head to hoof, with a mane around its neck as magnificent as a lion’s.

“This horse is the famed Thousand-Mile Jade Lion, which I rescued three years ago during my travels in the north. It had just been born and was injured for reasons unknown, so I saved it. At this Daoist temple, only you are worthy of such a horse, so from now on, it is yours.”

“Master…” Li Yi couldn’t hold back; his voice caught in his throat.

“What are you crying for? Don’t embarrass me here. Now, here’s travel money and a travel permit prepared by your senior brother, and two letters—one for the current Tang Emperor to prove your identity, and the other for a Daoist in Chang’an named Yuan Tiangang. Give him the letter, and he’ll offer you some help.”

“Yuan Tiangang? Master, you know Yuan Tiangang?” The name brought Li Yi to life—Yuan Tiangang was a legendary figure.

“You’ve heard of Tiangang?” Wang Yuanzhi asked, puzzled.

Li Yi realized he’d slipped and hurriedly shook his head. “Never heard of him—not a clue!”

Wang Yuanzhi eyed him suspiciously but let it go. “Yuan Tiangang is my junior’s disciple. By seniority, you should call him senior brother. Your Brother Yuan is an expert in physiognomy and well regarded by the Tang Emperor. In Chang’an, heed his advice and don’t act rashly.”

Relieved that Wang Yuanzhi wasn’t pressing further, Li Yi breathed a silent sigh of relief—only to be startled by the thought that, as Yuan Tiangang’s junior, he was now a little fortune-teller himself. His mind in turmoil, he nodded blankly.

Seeing this, Wang Yuanzhi assumed Li Yi was still reluctant to go and said sternly, “Wenyong, after you leave Mount Mao today, don’t come back unless you return in glory as a marquis. Otherwise, even if you come, I won’t see you. Now, go!”

Li Yi was stunned. “Master!”

But Wang Yuanzhi turned coldly away, showing only his back.

Seeing his master’s resolute manner, Li Yi calmed, knelt, and kowtowed three times. Without another word, he turned and led the Jade Lion away at a slow walk.

Only when Li Yi had gone did Wang Yuanzhi turn around. A single, glistening tear was clear upon his aged face.

Beside him, Pan Shizheng spoke with some concern. “Master, isn’t this too harsh on little brother?”

Wang Yuanzhi’s expression was calm. “I know that rascal too well. He knows my days are numbered—if I didn’t say this, he’d circle back at the first chance. That’s not what I want for him, nor is it his path. If he’s to achieve greatness, he must endure all hardships alone. That’s the price of growth—no one else can bear it for him.”

Pan Shizheng nodded in understanding.

At the exit of Mount Mao, Li Yi stood long in silence, gazing back at the mountain. After a time, he whispered, “Master, I understand it all. Don’t worry—I won’t let you down. Wait for me at Mount Mao. When this salted fish turns over, I’ll bring you a whole cart of beggar’s chicken and chicken butts—let you eat your fill!”

With that, Li Yi turned, his mood shifting to irritation. He scolded the Jade Lion, “You really have no sense! Don’t you know your brother is destined for greatness? Just look at this sword—it’s the very blade Jing Ke used to attempt to assassinate the King of Qin. He may have failed, but he became famous! Later, that old rogue Liu Bei used it to cut a snake, and then he became emperor! This is a peerless sword, and even such a treasure recognizes my bright future. Why can’t you? Won’t even let me ride? You think I care? Hmph!” He turned away, pretending to ignore the horse.

Li Yi had never ridden a horse and didn’t know how to train one. Though he was strong, the Jade Lion surpassed him in endurance, so he had to find another way. Yet the Jade Lion stood aloof, completely ignoring Li Yi.

After a stick of incense’s time, Li Yi, seeing that force wouldn’t work, tried a softer approach. “Horse brother, how about we make a deal? If you submit to me, I’ll give you the best stable, the fattest grass, and the prettiest mare. How’s that sound?”

He waited, hopeful, but the Jade Lion seemed even more impatient now. With a snort, it turned and trotted away, leaving Li Yi behind.

“Damn it, don’t go! Wait for me! Not even pretty mares can tempt you—are you a female? How about a dashing stallion then? Damn, now you’re running away! Not even interested in stallions? Don’t tell me you like hermaphrodite horses—now that’s a bit extreme!”

Over ten days later, Li Yi, having journeyed day and night with the Jade Lion, finally arrived at the gates of Luoyang. Whatever had happened between man and horse along the way, none could say, but from the Jade Lion’s look of utter contempt, it was clear their negotiations had not gone well.

Li Yi dismounted with a flourish. Gazing up at the towering city walls of Luoyang, he was struck by emotion and let out a loud cry, intending to recite poetry and express his ambition. But before he could begin, a stern shout interrupted him.

“Hey! You there, what are you yelling for? Are you coming in or not? If you want to enter the city, pay the entrance fee!”