A/N: Four things:
1. I have decided to revise the Prelude, add a new chapter after the Prelude, and will accordingly be revising "The Fall of Gao" chapter as well. So the next update you can expect in this story will be a new "Chapter 1" following the Prelude and a revised "Chapter 2." Doing so will make the beginning of the story more congruent with the rest :D. After that, I'll resume writing the events following this chapter.
2. I will be going to China from August to September, so I may not be able to update this fic for a while.
3. I finally have a Tumblr now! The url is (eliminate the spaces): rivvyelf. tumblr. com . Go ahead and see my Tumblr, ask me questions, etc. I don't have a regular timetable for posting chapters. But on my Tumblr, you get to read my daily chapter progress. Just keep in mind that in China if I don't have a VPN, Tumblr is blocked, so there might be radio silence in August.
4. You might need a box of tissues for this chapter.
Chapter 28: The Tale of Shi Jin- The Departure of Instructor Wang (Part 3)
Later that Day
Cangzhou, Third Age Year 1934
Lord Chai's Courtyard
His master somehow regained her composure to continue training him. This would've been unbelievable merely a few hours ago when they returned to the manor. When Wang Jin took off her mask, her face was covered in a mixture of sweat and tears. She called the One Above a "Lonely Bastard," labeled Song Jiang a "short suck-up, bookworm, brown noser, and snake to the tenth degree," cursed Wu Song for even talking with him, called Shi Jin a dumbass for both revealing himself to Clerk Song, as well as not informing her of his prior meeting with the clerk, and ordered Shi Jin not to disturb her as she took her mother to Lord Chai's baths. Wang Sheng, of course, tried to remonstrate with her daughter, but nothing could stop incoherent screams of curses and complaining until he heard a door slam.
After Shi Jin shook his head at his master's ranting, he concentrated on his own thoughts.
He wasn't sure about Song Jiang. He wanted to think of Clerk Song as a genuinely kind-hearted person, but things weren't adding up. For such a seemingly insightful person, how could he fail to recognize Wang Jin? Or did he recognize Wang Jin and chose not to arrest her then? Why? The other troubling part was the large number of constables and armed people outside of the manor. Why did Clerk Song not ask them to leave? Lord Chai had Wang Jin and the others under his protection, but why hadn't Clerk Song sent one of his people to eavesdrop on them by climbing the wall? Was he trying to play both sides? Whose side was he on anyways?
Clerk Song also heard some bad rumors about his village. What happened? Shi Jin hoped they were just rumors. He did not want his worst fear to come to pass: the discovery of his mom's body. But Lord Chai surely would've informed Shi Jin; that elf seemed to know about events before most others did.
He did not think anymore about those troublesome subjects. While his master bathed, Shi Jin traveled to the courtyard, noticing a large amount people leaving the manor, and began practicing Wang Jin's running arrow-blocking technique. Or rather... the arrow-blocking technique first. He wasn't confident at all that he could do it while running.
Time passed and to his surprise, not only did a much more subdued Wang Jin show up, but her mother did as well. Wang Sheng, with sharp and lucid eyes, was in a wheelchair and Wang Jin slowly guided it to the courtyard.
"You sure you want to see me teach, Ma? I thought you were 'bored of this nonsense,' or however you put it," he heard Wang Jin ask.
"Yes. I don't like it anymore," Wang Sheng replied, her voice clearer than in the morning. "The fighting, the weapons, the violence. What a waste of time! We're supposed to grow wise and enjoy our time here, not kill each other for stupid reasons. But you find value in it, and through teaching, you're a better person now. You're wiser. Why should I not spend my last hours seeing my child grow?"
"Why not spend more? Can you not stay until my hair is gray?"
"Child. As I said before, while my eyes could see you, I would not. I would be trapped in my own body; body prisons don't allow much light in, you know?"
"Fine fine. I've already cried enough in front of my student," Wang Jin said with gritted teeth, her voice reaching an octave higher in the end. "Just... see me teach and help me with this dumbass, will you?"
As much as Shi Jin wanted to say that he wasn't a dumbass, he knew that at the end of the day he needed to show it.
To his concern, Wang Jin explained that she was in no condition to do a proper demonstration. She had little sleep, was physically weaker after carrying the sedan chair and her mother for hours and wasn't going to risk losing an arm with actual blades, even with lamellar armor on.
"Now would be the perfect time if you wanted to kill me. I probably can't even kick your ass if I wanted to," she muttered.
"Shi Jin no longer wishes to kill you," he muttered back, hoping her mother did not hear this exchange. Shi Jin had long since calmed down. Seeing his master's emotions outside the manor cooled his anger and increased his understanding of how she was suffering.
He peeked over at Wang Sheng, who seemed fixated on the state of her fingernails.
"Even if I killed myself, Ma said that wouldn't dissuade them from dying today. Said they'd immediately die just so their spirit could yell at mine up until we enter our next life. Don't know how long that transition takes, so better not risk that," she added.
The passing mention of her threatening to kill herself made Shi Jin's mouth twitch, but he chose not to venture on that subject.
"Now," Wang Jin announced as she held two wooden blades in the air, "back away and let me show you my technique!"
Like last night, Wang Jin twirled her swords to and fro, but unlike last night, the sounds, as the wood slashed the air, did not become one continuous note. Her master's arms moved slower, each arm going in opposing directions. While doing so, she slowly walked forwards a few paces. Then she stopped, and her arms slowed, going in the reverse direction. She then walked backward a few paces. In between the flashes of brown, his master panted, her eyes straining and shoulders moving up and down.
"Watch... carefully," Wang Jin gasped in-between breaths. She took a few steps forward, swirling her swords faster as the wooden blades moved like a blur, their two sounds becoming more unified. Her legs moved faster until she was jog-
THUD!
"ARGH!" She screamed, falling front-first, the wooden swords clattering to the floor. Wang Jin immediately turned over to her back, eyes bulging and gasping for air.
"Master!" He cried, running over to her.
"I'm... fine! I'm... fine!" She gasped out. "That's... that's why you wear clothes when you train with weapons!" Shi Jin winced, knowing that this was a reference to his past habits.
"Daughter!" Shi Jin heard Wang Sheng shout, "Take a nap. I'll handle the training from here."
"Huh? B-but Ma! Ugh!"
"No buts! You braced yourself this time, but do you want to crush your chest next time? Sprain an arm? Tear a tendon? Break your neck? I know you... Getting injured, trying to get arrested with your horrid acting, losing composure and almost getting us all sent to the mines, trying to delay my final words to you. I won't have you in the infirmary or half-asleep when I'm dying!" Wang Sheng rebuked. Her anger shocked Shi Jin. What happened to the weakening old woman from last night that couldn't tuck herself in? Now she was verbally undressing Dongjing's former Head Arms Instructor! Her face de-aged 10 years, and for a moment he imagined a younger, brawnier Wang Sheng with a shining helm, shield in one hand and a halberd in the other, roaring and charging into a host of terrified warriors.
"That's not... I would not," Wang Jin stuttered, "... Fine you old scumbag egg."
"... Say that louder!" Wang Sheng replied, shaking her fist. "You want to continue our discussion from the bath?!"
"Fine! I'll go nap nearby. See if you can teach this dumbass!" Wang Jin then slowly got up, dusted herself off, winced as she stretched her arms and legs, began walking, then turned around to face her mother, tears in her eyes.
"If you die before I wake, I'll drag your ass from that Lonely Bastard and dote on you for 30 years!"
"Well isn't that the sweetest thing," Wang Sheng sneered. "You'll get killed by lightning with your blasphemy! Go to sleep!"
"Fine!"
Wang Jin stormed off, stomping her feet along the way.
Wang Sheng sighed, closing her eyes. "Bah, should've spoken in our dialect. What will your student think? I swear! Annoying brat! Acting half their age. " She then breathed. A soft smile replaced the fury on her face. "Now come, tattooed student of my daughter. Let the real Instructor Wang teach you how to... Wait. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Hmm, that's no good. You won't quickly master it," Wang Sheng concluded. Shi Jin slumped his shoulders.
"You could potentially master my husband's technique." She added. "Harder to do though while running. That's why my daughter made a variation. The way the arms move in reverse directions also makes it supremely more difficult to get hit by arrows; we don't have 8 arms to cover all of our body parts with shields. The noise scares off horses too, but that's the same with my husband's technique."
"How can I do this... this... moving my arms in opposing directions as my master does?"
Wang Sheng glanced at Wang Jin, who wore Instructor Luan's fish fin hat as she lay down on a bench in the shade, straw hat over her face. Wang Sheng then looked back at Shi Jin and smirked. "Get hit enough times in the head to turn your brain into two? If not my villagers or Luan Tingyu, then cannibalistic tavern owners. I swear. Worrying for them took years off my life."
"... Shi Jin does not desire that."
"Me worrying about my daughter? Or them getting hit in the face?" She asked. "Bah! Doesn't matter. Drop your weapons, come closer, and sit so you're near my level."
Obeying, Shi Jin did so. As soon as he did, Wang Sheng slightly raised her hands, then pointed her two index fingers closely at each other.
"Watch closely and follow my lead," she said.
He mirrored her. She then had her index fingers revolve around each other. Shi Jin matched the movement. She then stopped and reversed the motion, as the index fingers revolved around each other in the opposite direction. Shi Jin matched the movement. Next, she stopped, had her index fingers begin to revolve around, but halted.
Wang Sheng tsked. "Been a while since I did this. Hopefully, I still can. Bear with me here." Her index fingers began moving but stopping separately as if she was tinkering with her finger like a tool. She closed her eyes and wrinkles appeared on her forehead. Then slowly, she did something Shi Jin raised his eyes at.
Her index fingers revolved around each other, but each moved in a separate direction! She did it slowly at first, but soon her speed picked up until what he saw was a blur. Wang Sheng's breathing grew louder, and she slowed down and eventually stopped.
"Though my mind is clearer my body is weak," she said ruefully, sighing. "Would've loved to feel physically strong on my last day. Oh well! Better mentally sound, I guess. The fog has finally lifted from my brain!
"You try now."
Shi Jin did. And he failed miserably. Even when he forced one finger to move in the opposite direction, when he used the other index finger, it moved in the same direction. Despair filled his heart! If he could not do this simple exercise, how could he do it with his arms?
"Do you play an instrument?" Wang Sheng suddenly asked.
"... No?" Shi Jin replied. That was more of his dad's and mom's expertise. Often, the soft melody of her mother's guqin was a sign of her not studying, and that was when he delivered food to her room and talked with her. They wanted her to succeed in her studies but still wanted her to eat. As the moons passed, the conversations became briefer. Their interests diverged, she would talk about some esoteric topics like 'logistics,' 'market derivatives,' 'currency debasing,' or 'supply line infrastructure' that he had no clue about. She simply nodded and smiled at him when he bragged about his martial arts progress.
"Well aren't you the moody one," Wang Sheng commented. Shi Jin blinked, focusing his attention back on her.
"Get a guqin and practice playing it separately with your hands as if you're playing two different songs at the same time," she continued. "Hire a musician to help you. Bribe them to have you practice this way. The music probably will sound ugly and chaotic."
"Chaos? Ugly? Is there no other way? I do enjoy hearing music," Shi Jin commented. Sometimes he listened outside her mother's door as she played.
Then Wang Sheng sighed again. "I shall tell you a tale that I learned from Mori's scrolls. Are you familiar with the embodiment of the Dark?"
Shi Jin shook his head, though that did sound familiar. Was it the being that would prod and poke one back to the village to enforce a curfew and prevent someone from being mauled by beasts?
"... Also known as 'Bitter Rice'?"
Shi Jin nodded. He remembered the folktales he was told as a child. 'Bitter Rice' was the nickname given to the former Agricultural God, the being responsible for ruining Middle-earth. Upset at being just a primordial floating rice bowl, he filled the land with his own seeds that sprouted evil and permanently marred the earth. But because he used much of his original rice, he ended up being weaker after he formed his body. This was why Shi Jin was told he needed to eat every peck of rice in his bowl because wasting it would be like throwing away rice, making him weak.
"You inner Empire folk... I don't care if the elves find it utterly amusing, it's the only thing I didn't like about Mori's scrolls," muttered Wang Sheng. "Bitter Rice is a ridiculous nickname and an even more ridiculous tale! A giant bowl of rice as a god?! For one, Bitter Rice and the embodiment of the Dark are one and the same!"
He blinked at her, tilting his head. Those Worshippers of the Dark worshipped this 'embodiment,' didn't they not? Then why did they sacrifice humans instead of just burning up regular rice until it was 'bitter'? This made no sense.
"The embodiment of the Dark despises laughter. Bitter Rice and the imagery of a rice bowl monster make people laugh. Ugh, I don't have time for this... Anyways, back to my point..."
Wang Sheng coughed a little and spoke: "The embodiment of the Dark, Bitter Rice, wove unto the Great Music a discordant theme to supplant the One. And just when it seemed that the discord would achieve hegemony, the One used its most triumphant notes and blended them into the Great Music, so that when the One suddenly arose and raised their hands, a chord deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, piercing as the light of their eyes issued forth. The music stopped.
The One said, 'Mighty are the Gods, and mightiest among them is Bitter Rice; but that Bitter Rice may know, and all the Gods, that I am The One, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Bitter Rice, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For they that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which they themselves hath not imagined.' "
Shi Jin nodded but frowned. The old bits of language somewhat confused him, but he thought he got what she was saying. So Bitter Rice was part of The One's... heavenly music troupe and got upset because he couldn't play the music he wanted? Then The One told him that no matter what garbage he played, it would only make The One's music more awesome.
He didn't get it. What did this have to do with anything?
As if sensing his confusion, Wang Sheng clarified, "This 'Great Music' was the creation of everything. Everything under heaven, heaven itself, and everything beyond heaven. Bitter Rice tried to supplant The One and take over the creation with chaos and discord. The One not only stood strong but used BItter Rice's own chaos to strengthen the creation. Then The One told everyone that no matter what harm anyone did, it would only make The One's creation stronger."
Shi Jin nodded, understanding a bit more. "But what does this have to do with my training?"
"... To you, your body sees it as disorderly and unnatural that you're trying to force fingers and arms to do two opposing things at once. When training using musical instruments, the music you'll produce may sound chaotic and discordant. It's tempting to run away from it or try to eliminate it altogether, but like the tale that I told you earlier, as we are all Children of the One, you can use chaos and discord to enhance your martial ability and better yourself."
So that was why! Memories of Wang Jin discussing the importance of using deception in his fighting surfaced. That no doubt was another example of turning a negative into a positive! He understood it now! Shi Jin ketoued to Wang Sheng multiple times. "Thank you for your wisdom, Instructor Wang."
After Wang Sheng successfully got him to stop bowing, Shi Jin asked, "How long did it take my master to do this? What instrument did they practice?"
Wang Sheng's eyes furrowed, staring at Shi Jin until he felt uncomfortable. She then turned and glanced at her daughter, whose body rose and fell as she rested. She gestured for him to move closer.
"When my daughter first tried, I, my husband, and nine others saw their progress: Xiahou Jie, Yun Ying, Deng Mao, Pan Feng, Fang Yue, Luan Tingyu, Liu An, Meng Tan, and Chunyu Dao. By the time Jin'er finally mastered the technique, only two people saw it first happen: Luan Tingyu and me. It took more than a decade for my daughter to almost lose everything they held dear."
She paused as if waiting for him to respond. But Shi Jin could not muster a response... What could he say to that? He felt awful for Wang Jin. How could one celebrate an accomplishment when most of the people one loved were no longer there to see it?
"Jin'er didn't play instruments, saw it as a waste of time. Said that those who played instruments would've lived longer or been stronger had they used the time to do one more chin-up, another mile of running, extra sparring, a quick game of Weiqi, or rest. When I pointed out war drums and war horns, we argued for the entire night on whether those counted. What an asinine argument that was! Even dancing... Took so long to teach them how to dance. Hmph! Had to literally show them pictures of warriors in full armor dancing to master footwork. Jin'er claimed I drew them myself. Bah!"
He did not voice aloud how he thought instruments were a waste of time too. Well, unless they were good at it like his mom was. But if Wang Sheng said that playing one (rather awfully) could help him move in two different directions at once, then as soon as he could, he would get a guqin and practice. It also could work as a makeshift weapon too in an emergency.
"Shi Jin will not make that mistake," he declared. "Thank you for your insight, Instructor Wang."
She waved off the compliment. "You won't thank me for what I'm going to ask next."
He did not look forward to what she was going to say, but he wasn't going to just walk away and end the conversation.
She whispered, "Remember when I asked you to not let my daughter do something stupid after my death?"
After his affirmation, she continued, "Ignore my request. Do not get in their way. If you try to stop it, you'll make it worse."
His mouth opened like a fish and his eyes widened the furthest they ever did. "Shi Jin cannot ignore your request!"
"Lower your voice! My daughter is napping!" she snapped, quickly turning to look at Wang Jin. Shi Jin did as well, noting that his master's body stilled.
One awkward pause later, Wang Sheng whispered, "I've been around you all day. It doesn't take an elf to read your every thought. You suck at acting. You suck at keeping secrets. For my daughter's safety and yours, let Wang Jin do what they will after I pass. Understand?"
"No."
A part of him wanted to punch her in the face, elder be damned! How dare this old lady dare tell him what to do?! Who did she think she was? Insulting him like this, treating him like he was fodder. Wang Jin was his master, not Wang Sheng's!
In response, Wang Sheng rolled her eyes to the back of her head, closed them, became expressionless, leaned her head back, and responded, "Fine, your choice. Guess I'll die now. Good luck!"
Oh no!
"Shi Jin apologizes! Shi Jin will do what you ask," he replied, ketouing desperately.
Wang Sheng's head snapped back, and she greeted him with open eyes and a cheery smile. "Good boy. Now, while there's still sunlight left, I think it's time I evaluate your prowess in the 18 Weapons."
"Wait, is that not my master's responsibility to do so? And I have not mastered all 18 yet..."
"My daughter is a criminal of the Empire. I discussed this with Jin'er in the baths. You hand anyone a scroll containing their name, and you'll be automatically rejected from any job once they do their research. You'll probably be arrested too. However, I have paid the lifetime licensing fee for Arms Instructor, so I am still qualified to evaluate you. Besides, my calligraphy is much better than my daughter's. Now go, gather the 18 weapons and I shall write a recommendation letter for you."
Shi Jin peeked at the sun. There were only a few hours of daylight left! He had to hurry...
His evaluation and performance of the 18 weapons, the annoyance of Wang Jin at being woken up by the prattle, the wry remarks made by Wang Sheng, and the property damage to Lord Chai's Estate when Shi Jin accidentally let go of his meteor hammer shall not be written here.
As the Sun Approached the West
Lord Chai's Office
"Based upon the damage estimates to that particular goose statue, I believe you owe me 1,000 strings of silver taels. I will also accept paper money," Lord Chai remarked without looking at Shi Jin. As usual, the pearl on the elf's topknot crown sparkled from the setting sun. Lord Chai's concentration, though, was on a desk littered with open scrolls. His eyes wandered from one to the next, cross-referencing a giant poster of scribbles and house-looking shapes that Shi Jin guessed was a map.
"... Shi Jin apologizes. I do not have such wealth." He certainly did not have paper money either; only the rich had that.
The evaluation of his weapons' mastery was so-so. He knew he did well on some weapons and not so well on most of the others. It was very easy to see Wang Jin's opinion as she either shook her head or placed her hands on her face as if in humiliation at his performance. Wang Sheng looked bored, yawning multiple times, but still managed to write down everything in the scroll. He couldn't help but overhear his master give input to Wang Sheng as well, either saying that he was either better at a certain weapon than the initial evaluation or was far more dreadful than what Wang Sheng's evaluation stated. They both agreed that Shi Jin should never use a chained weapon like a meteor hammer ever again.
"Maybe if you accepted my offer of transferring you to Instructor Luan, you'd become the Chain Instructor of Dongjing's 80,000. Don't worry though. Your current weapons proficiency should qualify you to become a professional wrestler! Gwahahaha!"
"Jin'er! What did I say about not disparaging your students? Just look at their face!" Wang Sheng protested.
Why was his master such an asshole?!
After the evaluation was done, Shi Jin asked either of them to say aloud his results as he was illiterate, but both of them refused. They wanted some private time before Wang Sheng was going to publicly die inside Lord Chai's Manor.
"I want an audience for my death!" She proclaimed. "You will witness something you may never see again!"
... The more Shi Jin hung around Wang Sheng, the more he thought she was an unhinged weirdo. Maybe that's what dying did to a person, give them reckless courage and weird perspectives on scary topics like death.
He then quickly went to Lord Chai's office, where he thankfully was there, and reported the damages.
Now he was inwardly cursing at his stupidity for letting go of the meteor hammer. 1,000 strings of silver taels? For a sculpture of a goose?
"Worry not," Lord Chai waved offhandedly, "I shall file it as an expense to your master."
This made Shi Jin very worried.
"Is there anything else you would like to request of me? I am a little busy currently managing the housing situation of my retainers. There are important emissaries from Dongjing visiting, led by Generals Dong Ping and Zhang Qing."
Those two names intrigued Shi Jin. Their mere mention seemed to scare Wang Sheng earlier today. And if they could scare a person unafraid of death...
"Can you tell me more about General Dong and General Zhang?" Shi Jin inquired.
He wasn't sure the elf heard him, as Lord Chai didn't even acknowledge Shi Jin. The elf had closed a scroll, pulled out a new one, and laid it on the table. Just when Shi Jin was going to ask again though, Lord Chai answered his question.
"I have heard many great things of General Dong Ping. They say that during the day of their mother's labor, an auspicious rainbow appeared above the sky, yet no rain graced the city. In the evening, a giant moon lit the night so that roosters crowed all throughout the evening, yet the waves of the four seas remained calm. It is said that a golden cat, bearing a golden yuanbao on its head and a golden pearl necklace, wandered into the Dong family residence, waving a paw at the mother. The cat was promptly shooed off by the elven midwife. All these signs provided no comfort to their mother at the time, but upon further interpretation, it was concluded that the child, later named Dong Ping, would be destined for greatness..."
And on Lord Chai spoke for quite a while, as the sun continued its descent. Dong Ping apparently was a prodigy at everything: writing, speaking, painting, music-playing, cooking, accounting, managing, engineering, gardening, healing, stitching, anything athletic, and finally the martial arts. She had the memory of an elf, being staunchly loyal to those who treated her well. Yet she was magnanimous to the needy. She constructed homes and homeless shelters for the unfortunate, gave and served food to the starving, and continually used much of her allowance to help the unfortunate. But above all else, her main passion was serving the Empire with glory. That was why she trained in the martial arts and enlisted in the military, quickly ascending to the high rank of 'General.' While she was proficient in all weapons, her expertise was in the spear. Ambidextrous, she was known as the 'Debonair Double-Speared General.' She constantly carried two flags that contained her inscribed nickname.
Shi Jin listened to every word. No wonder Wang Sheng was afraid, this general sounded like a hero of old! He wondered who would win in a fight: Wang Jin or Dong Ping? Hopefully, it did not come to that.
"What do they look like?" Shi Jin asked. He needed to know what she looked like in case he needed to avoid or confront her. He imagined someone as tough and rugged-looking as Instructor Luan with the generous personality of Clerk Song.
This time Lord Chai paused, then he stood up and dug around a pile of scrolls, choosing one and opening it.
He responded, "Years ago, an acquaintance informed me that Dong Ping reminded them of an elf-child, an echo of the Elder Days. Happy was Dong Ping's childhood, in the care of loving parents, and their laughter made flowers bloom earlier, grass grow eagerly, and trees rise taller. An exaggeration, perhaps? Regardless, it is said that as Dong Ping entered their adolescence and adulthood, their visage rivaled the great beauties of the past: Xi Shi and Wang Zhaojun.
"I heard that this anecdote provided support for such a claim: One day, Dong Ping went on a fishing trip with their mother. They saw fish jump out of the water in the distance, but when they approached, they could not catch any. They saw another area with jumping fish. But they caught nothing when they rowed to that area. It seemed as if the fish were hiding from the pair. Suddenly, two geese fell from the sky, landing on the boat. That night they dined on roasted geese instead of fish. Everyone marveled at this, for such a blessing befit only the likes of Xi Shi and Wang Zhaojun. For fish forget to swim and geese forget to fly upon seeing such beauty."
Shi Jin's thoughts veered in a very different direction; this will not be elaborated on.
Lord Chai smiled at the unfocused daydream-like glaze that came over Shi Jin's eyes. The elf continued, "I received a poem that someone wrote about General Dong. I shall recite it:
'The one beauty that makes me sing
is none other than General Dong Ping.
A glance of the eye, a gesture of the hand
The thrust of twin spears, their feet on the land,
What I'd give for acknowledgment!
Alas! There will be no engagement
For I am no woman, but a mere man.' "
Like a popped bubble, Shi Jin awoke from his daydream. "Eh?" He remarked, then his face fell. "Oh," he muttered in disappointment.
The elf chuckled and shook his head at him, then went back to his work, closing more scrolls and opening a few others. "As for Zhang Qing, they are nicknamed 'the Featherless Arrow' for their expertise in stone-throwing. I do not know if this imagery will help you, but imagine a handsome fellow with a wolf's waist, an ape's arms, and a tiger's body."
Shi Jin nodded. It was a much more succinct description compared to Dong Ping's but that gave enough information.
The flaps of black wings flew and perched on Lord Chai's open window. Rapid series of sounds like drops of water falling on the ground came from the bird.
Lord Chai responded with a series of clicks that amazed Shi Jin. How did the elf make those noises?
"Wu Song is done helping my retainers to their temporary housing for the night," the elf translated. "Your friend will be back soon."
"... Thank you for the information, Lord Chai." Shi Jin replied, bowing and clasping his hands. He would never get used to Lord Chai speaking in 'animal' or being referred to as Wu Song's friend.
"Hello," the bird greeted Shi Jin.
"Hel-lo" Shi Jin awkwardly replied, still bowing at Lord Chai.
"You have made another friend. I congratulate you," remarked Lord Chai. "But before you leave, when you entered my office, I was reminded of my lovely walks around marshes and swamps. I fear that others may not enjoy such nostalgia, however. I would advise you to take a bath. If you tarry too long, your new friend will warn you before Wang Sheng leaves Middle-earth. Meet us at our private dining room."
Shi Jin did not object, saying farewell and running to the baths.
As the Sun Set in the West
Lord Chai's Private Dining Room
No bird disturbed him, as Shi Jin swiftly put on clothes after bathing. His long hair, formed in a topknot, was still drying as he entered the dining room of Lord Chai's manor, where Wang Sheng was in the middle of a conversation.
"You will let Xini- oh. There you are," he heard Wang Sheng say.
There were seven people including Shi Jin in the room. Two stood: Dai Zong and his wife. Shi Jin spotted the only empty chair and sat. Five, including Shi Jin, sat at a round table: Lord Chai in the east, Wu Song in the north, Shi Jin in the south, and the Wangs in the west. Wang Sheng sat in a padded wheelchair, and her daughter sat next to her. His master's eyes were puffy and red.
"I'll speak my last words to you, first," she began. Shi Jin looked around, everyone just staring at him. What was going on here?
"You're a good kid," she continued, "but you remind me of my daughter when they were younger. And not in the good ways!"
"Hey!" Protested Shi Jin. He looked to his master for some moral support except that to his alarm she looked exhausted. Much like earlier in the morning, Wang Jin looked at the table as if lost in her own universe.
"My daughter's told me all about you. Says all these good things like how you've improved leaps and bounds, how you're mentally sharper than when we first met you, that you're learning. Well since you're not my student, I'll lecture you all I want. You're thin-skinned. You're so simple I can wrap your mind around with my pinky. Get used to being degraded and insulted, because if they're not saying it to you directly, they're thinking it. You can't do anything outside of martial arts and all you think about is fighting, training, fighting. Learn to cook! Be literate! Be filial! When was the last time you contacted your father?"
"I'm not your son!" Yelled Shi Jin, her anger at Wang Sheng returning. "I'm illiterate! I can't write letters! You can't tell me what to do! And why are you saying this in front of everybody? Why not tell me this in private earlier?" All his sadness at her passing evaporated. He just wanted her to shut her stupid mouth! How dare this old egg treat him like this?!
"Because when you're training, you focus on training. When you're evaluating people's skills, you're evaluating people's skills. When you're cooking, you're focused on cooking. When you're giving others your last words, you give them your last words. And guess what? Sometimes those last words suck! You're just like the rest of my daughter's students, using their fists instead of their words. I knew something was off when I saw my daughter in the baths! They told me about what happened last night and this morning. I told you to yell at my daughter, NOT THREATEN MURDER AND KICKING THEM IN THE CHEST!"
"Why do you call Wu Song a brute if you can't hold your anger?" Wu Song rhetorically asked, glaring.
"You'resuchastupididiot," commented Dai Zong.
"I agree," concurred his wife.
Lord Chai stayed silent, however. His eyes were pensive as if reminded of something in the distant past.
Not that Shi Jin noticed. His mind raged, lips moving on their own: "Your daughter hit me first! You saw it last night! What? They said I deserved to have my mom desert me! Yeah, that's right, doesn't matter if it was hours later, I was right to do it! You expect me not to fight back? Not to hit them? What? Because I'm not your son you can pick on me? Hey! Master, say something! Say what you said earlier!"
"Just shut up for your own-" Wang Jin began to say, eyes still focused on the table.
Wang Sheng interrupted, her face turning red as she glared at him. "You are worth nothing to me compared to my daughter! Are you insane? You clearly never had children before! And for your own information, I did yell at them. Now it's your turn! And you are just like my daughter when they were a teen! An ingrate! Scum! I should have put failing marks all over your weapon proficiencies. I'll embarrass you in public, so you'll remember every word I say to you for the rest of your life! Because otherwise, I'd flay your skin and use it as a blanket! Wait, your skin is too thin for that. Wake up! Grow up! If you faced an army and they taunted you about your mother would you charge them? You'll receive much worse insults in your life. The bigger you get; the more people are going to verbally eviscerate you. Do you even know what that word means? So, what are you going to do then? Be my daughter and try to beat them all up? And what happens when you lose or almost get killed? Not everyone gets to become an Arms Instructor in the capital!"
"I don't need to hear this," Shi Jin said, folding his arms, "No. I'm done talking to you. This is stupid. This conversation is over!"
"You'll learn the hard way then, heh. I'll waste no more words on you. Good luck in life; you'll need it," she smirked.
If that old prune wasn't dying today, he would've punched her in the face! Shi Jin looked at Wang Jin, who stared back and gestured with her arms for him to calm down.
... Shi Jin mentally yelled at himself for losing control. Of course, Wang Sheng was going to yell at him! Wang Jin was her daughter. He needed to remind himself that not everyone was in the same situation as him. He doubted his father would so easily come to Shi Jin's defense, for one. His mom though... ugh, his mom better be alive!
Naturally, Wu Song used this as an opportunity to badmouth him. It took a brute to know a brute. Dai Zong though was right... kicking Wang Jin was not smart. It was his luck that it was not 10 years ago, otherwise, his master would've torn him limb from limb.
He shelved his thoughts away. This was Wang Sheng's last day... he needed to concentrate on her parting wisdom to everybody else.
After Wang Sheng took a few calming breaths, and as Shi Jin continued mentally berating himself, Wang Sheng asked Lord Chai if he would send notice to her old home, Xining Village.
"Yes," Lord Chai replied, no smile on his face. The pearl on his topknot crown did not shine. "I gave Dai Zong your letters. They will let Cangzhou officially know of your passing, drop off the letter for Luan Tingyu at the foot of the Western Mountains, and will travel to Xining to let them know."
"To see you leave so soon..." Dai Zong remarked. "The fate of humanity is sad indeed. A short stay, leaving us all to grieve for your brief time."
Shi Jin, calmer now, found it strange the fleet-footed elf spoke slower. Perhaps he respected Wang Sheng that much?
"Oh, fleet-footed Dai Zong, for every one of me, there will be 100 humans that you'll gladly slam the door on. I'm glad to have known you from all your work with us. I wish you hope that after the earth passes, you'll live in a world unmarred by the Dark. Please do not bow!"
But bow Dai Zong did, to Shi Jin's surprise. And though Wang Sheng protested, the fleet-footed elf bowed again, a smile on his face.
She sighed, and turned her head to Dai Zong's wife, "You better not bow too! We are guests of this world; you are the Firstborn; we should bow to you!"
Dai Zong's Wife shook her head. "You are our siblings, as we are all Children of the One, and we do not speak that name lightly! My healer friends told me of you, Lady Wang. You never took us for granted and you always made sure everyone in Xining, from the eldest to the youngest, treated us as family. On behalf of them, I thank you."
She then curtsied to Wang Sheng, much to the latter's objections.
"I should be the one thanking you!" Wang Sheng replied. "You and the other orderlies taking care of my weak body when my daughter was busy! So, thank you, uhh, what is your name? Surely it is not 'Dai Zong's Wife'? "
"In your language, I have not chosen a name. I shall do it soon, within the next ten years. But as for my elven name," she then hurried to Wang Sheng, whispering something in her ear.
"... A beautiful name," Wang Sheng remarked. "Thank you, again."
"Of course, Lady Wang."
After Dai Zong's Wife returned to her husband's side, Wang Sheng looked to the east at Lord Chai.
"You have done so much for our family. For my husband, myself, and my daughter. I've said much to you already, but do not grieve too hard. Though we will never meet again, your memory is long and will not have the curse of forgetting the cherished ones."
Lord Chai sighed, his hands resting on his forehead. "Our memory is long, and we grieve for the departure of many. Animals, plants, and even the non-living. Grievous of all is our parting with you, the Secondborn. We know what the word 'cherish' means, for to cherish is to know that one day it shall leave, never to return. Though I have witnessed countless humans pass from the circles of this world, I grieve for each friend. I will never become used to it, though I am surrounded by it. Such is the curse of long memory in this world."
All was silent, save for the flames flickering to keep the room alight. Shi Jin found it hard not to cry.
Wang Sheng replied, "You do not believe in this Middle Path then, the idea espoused by your wife?"
The elf shook his head. "I believe that this world will be destroyed in the far future, and it shall be remade. Despair and hope, loss and gain, tragedy and comedy, failure and success, elf and human, these pairs go together. There are some that try to create objects that slow our and the Earth's decay, for though we are immortal our bodies are not. But what is the point of those objects if we lose our siblings regardless? Yet I trust in the One's designs and will accept my fate."
Wang Sheng's eyes shone, and tears fell from both. "Then this is goodbye forever then, Lord Chai. I hope you will see the world remade and remember us through song."
Following Wang Sheng and Lord Chai's farewell and after Wang Jin wiped the tears from her mother's eyes, the dying woman looked north at Wu Song.
"I don't quite know you, Wu Song, but my daughter told me about your potential. You have the body of a god, the agility of a gazelle, and the strength of a bear. How I wish I were younger, and you were my student!" She proclaimed.
"Wu Song thanks you, Instructor Wang," he replied, clasping his hands, and bowing.
"But something does not add up. You said you're a murderer?"
Without looking at her, Wu Song did not immediately respond. Eventually, though...
"Yes. I killed someone in a drunken rage and fled."
"With what exactly?"
"My bare hands."
"And you know for certain you killed them?"
He shook his head. "I could not check. One of their friends screamed that I killed them and called me a murderer. I ran away before they could catch me."
Shi Jin's eyes narrowed. How exactly was Wu Song not arrested yet? Wang Jin told him Lord Chai's Iron Certificate did not protect people who had capital crimes.
"Mmm, I thought that may have been the case," said Wang Sheng. "It doesn't make sense that you're not in jail. Lord Chai cannot protect murderers for long. If it's discovered that you just beat them unconscious like my daughter tended to do in my village, would you return?"
Surprisingly, Wang Jin did not even turn her head at the reference to her past actions. She probably no longer was in the mood to snap at her mom.
Wu Song, meanwhile, replied, "If not for what you and Lord Chai spoke about just now, I would say 'Wu Song could not bear the shame of returning to my brother after deserting them.' But you have given me some insight that I will think greatly of. Thank you, Instructor Wang."
"Eh, no use in hoarding my wisdom, now! Speaking of that..." Wang Sheng then turned to Shi Jin. "I changed my mind. Here are my actual last words to you. I still mean every word from before. Improve yourself as a person. You are young, but youth flies away quicker than you can grab it. There's a life outside of fighting, and I want you to learn what that life is."
"Thank you, Instructor Wang," Shi Jin replied, bowing. While a part of him still seethed at the criticism, he knew that Wang Sheng spoke the truth.
Wang Sheng clasped her daughter's hands.
"Jin'er... Mama's time is coming soon. Mama wants you to listen well."
The tears already were falling from Wang Jin's eyes.
"I will say this again so that everyone in this room can hear," Wang Sheng began. "When you chose to have the family name of 'Wang (王)' instead of 'Zhou (周),' I was shocked. You always were closer to your father than me before that day; I thought for certain you'd adopt the name of the last dynasty before the Empire. I remember you saying, 'The Zhou were losers! I want to be like General Wang Jian, my ancestor!' I accepted that even though I was your first home. I wanted you to say that you adopted the name 'Wang' because you loved me, but oh well."
"Ma," interrupted Wang Jin, "I-"
Wang Sheng put her hand up. "I regret that you had to suffer so much in your life. Losing your grandparents, losing your friends one by one, taking your sadness and anger out on everyone else, saying goodbye to your father, and that duel with Luan Tingyu. How you even managed to recover from that physically and mentally, I do not know. But no matter what stupid crap you did, no matter how many times I had to visit you in the infirmary, I put that all aside eventually. Because you are my child. You will always be my child and I'm proud of you."
"Ma..."
"When I pass, feel free to do what you wish. Go to jail, beg for forgiveness in Dongjing, become Lord Chai's retainer, exile yourself to the West, etc. Marry whoever you want. I'll give you my blessing to marry Luan Tingyu. Don't screw that up again. I'm sure if your father were alive, they'd say the same thing."
Shi Jin's mouth opened. How did she-?
"... How did you know, Ma? About Dad's death?"
Wang Sheng scoffed; her eyes wet. "So, they are dead then... It was a guess! Even on my last day, you keep secrets from me, daughter. I-... I-... If my beloved were alive, they'd be here already. The... the... my love said to me before they left for that stupid desert, 'Love, the only obstacle standing between us is death, and if your time comes before mine, I will be there for you.' Where? Where are they? Liar... liar! I shall cross that obstacle soon enough, but could we not have done so together? No need to tell me how they died. I'll ask them myself soon enough, that... that..."
The cracking dam burst; Wang Sheng wept. Her sobs echoed throughout the hall as everyone did their best to comfort the grieving widow.
Eventually, Wang Sheng composed herself, repeatedly muttering that she would meet her husband soon. So, Wang Sheng blew her nose and continued.
"I am sorry, daughter, to leave so soon... With no mother or father, I can't help but feel guilty."
Wang Jin opened her mouth, but Wang Sheng raised her hand again.
"I know what you're going to ask. For me to stay longer. But I can't. I haven't felt this awake in a long while. Yeah, I can't lift a damn thing. But this gift that the One has offered, the ability to choose when to pass from this world, it's a present that our ancestors abjured by listening to other voices rather than our own. If I tarry even one day farther, the gift will escape me, and though you may dote on me, child, you'd be doting a husk. My body is already leaving me, and my mind will leave me too, whether it would be in a year, a month, or tomorrow. Either that or we'd be separated, you and I in different jail cells, and then my fate would be sealed. Or me seeing you be ripped limb from limb by the likes of that Dong Ping."
"As if I'd lose to that Debonair Dumbass!" Wang Jin indignantly replied. "Again, Ma, let me fulfill my filial duty... I beg you. I can't do it for Dad, let me do it for you! Please don't go. Don't leave me!"
"Oh, even though we've had this same conversation countless times, I still am so happy that you'd say such a thing. But death is an adventure only one of us can take at a time. And I best start it when I can choose!"
"But Ma!"
"You can't dissuade me, daughter."
"But listen to me," Wang Jin said, sniffling. "If you are right... If we do move on to a different life after this one...
"What if you're not my Ma in the next life? What if we never meet again?"
Wang Sheng did not speak, and for a moment Shi Jin saw fear in her eyes.
It was only a short moment.
"We will meet again in the next life," she spoke firmly, "And you cannot... well you can just be known as my daughter. But I want you to be your own person, Wang Jin. I know you don't want to leave the world as only 'Wang Sheng's daughter' or 'Zhou Tong's daughter.' You are Wang Jin, Head Arms Instructor of Dongjing's 80,000, a hero that can defeat 10,000 soldiers, a teacher to countless others who will make their name in the annals of time. And you will have many more titles long after I've passed.
"Still, let us put aside talk of your success. Even if I am not your mother, sister, father, brother, or other family member, we will still meet again. Though we might not be relatives, our hearts will be closer than one, enemy or friend. If I am your enemy, kick my ass. But if not... I hope that you and I be comrades-in-arms in the next life."
Shi Jin nodded, but Wang Jin did not. As if her mother said the very last thing that she wanted to hear, a second later, despair filled the daughter's face, and tears streamed down, falling to the floor. Now it was Wang Jin's sobs that echoed through the hall as she embraced her mother, as if letting go would drag her into a bottomless sea of misery.
He tried to rise and comfort his master, but Lord Chai gestured for him to stop. Shi Jin slowly sat back down.
Wang Sheng fared little better, her eyes shut, fresh tears spilling from her eyes.
"It will not be okay, daughter... It will not be alright. I won't give false hope or empty comfort. You will suffer from my decision for years to come. You'll never fully heal, just as you'll never fully heal from the loved ones you lost. But I want you to live on, to always remember Mama, to always remember Papa, and I hope you will not follow me for many years to come."
The two embraced, mother and daughter, for how long Shi Jin did not know. He looked around, his face wet with tears. Wu Song stared at the pair, crying as well. Dai Zong had sought comfort on his wife's shoulder, as she looked sorrowfully at both Wang Sheng and Wang Jin. Lord Chai's face looked grave, his eyes dim, the youth of the elves seemingly vanishing from his face. Yet as time passed, to Shi Jin's horror, Wang Sheng's grip around her daughter's body weakened. Wang Jin clutched tighter still.
"Jin'er... Mama's body is failing. Mama will leave soon... This is goodbye... Bring the wine."
"Ma..."
"Bring the wine."
Finally, Wang Jin let go, kissing her mother's forehead. She scurried out of the dining room. Wang Sheng heaved out breaths, but gradually she calmed herself, dried her tears, and put on a smile for everyone.
Wang Jin soon returned with a white jade wine cup filled to the brim, offering it to her mother.
Wang Sheng grabbed it, her fingers shaking. Wang Jin, however, held on, guiding it to her mother's lips.
The mother drank it, giving a satisfied sigh. The daughter retrieved the cup, placing it on the round table.
Wang Sheng's eyes closed, and for a moment Shi Jin thought that she had passed. Then her eyes opened again, and she smiled.
"I am not a poet... but I thought of one just now. Let me... speak it:
'I taught... and fought... most of my life.
Then I married... and became a wife.
Oh, as the sun sets... in the west,
I too shall depart... no longer a guest.
For finally... I realize... that... I am... what... I... am!' "
Thus passed Wang Sheng as the sun set in the west, leaving the circles of the world forever, never returning.
Sometime Later
The room was silent, save for the echoed weeping of Wang Jin throughout the manor. She had forbidden them from helping her move Wang Sheng's corpse; Shi Jin presumed she was preparing her mother's body for the funeral.
Dai Zong and his wife left to perform their duties. Wu Song, Lord Chai, and Shi Jin stayed seated. Shi Jin was absorbed in his own thoughts, and he guessed that the others were as well. Lord Chai had not said a word, as he had on the same grave expression when he witnessed Wang Sheng's death. Wu Song had his eyes focused on the table. He had lost his parents, had he not? Perhaps that was what the large man thought about.
Shi Jin still berated himself over how he acted earlier. If only he had just shut up and accepted it, maybe Wang Sheng could have lived for a few more minutes? Then Wang Jin could have had a few more moments with her mother. He thought back further, wondering if there was anything he could've done that would've given his master some more time. Maybe threatening to use the axe during her fight with Gu Dasao so that Wang Jin's face would not have broken? Then his master would've had more time to prepare for Instructor Luan, possibly defeating them and not be bedridden from injuries for an entire day. Maybe if Shi Jin had just gone back to his room and fell asleep last night his master would've had one less thing to lose sleep about? Then they didn't need to waste time napping today.
As for his master... how could he not feel sorry for her? Her grief shook the foundations of the manor, yet she refused the comfort of everyone, telling them to leave her alone. Why? Why suffer alone? Shi Jin could not understand, but he had never lost anyone before. So, he let her be.
Come to think of it, she reacted similarly to Shi Jin after her father passed. Maybe this time he could help her not drink so much. His dad always told him that drinking was bad for one's health.
There the three sat, with the western seat being empty. Then Wang Jin entered again, and she had completely changed her clothes.
She was dressed in an all-white garment, the clothing of a mourner. Around her forehead was tied a white cloth. A white hood, covering what he presumed was Luan Tingyu's fish fin hat covered the top of her head. Shi Jin dared not look at her face. He noted, though, that she bore a tray with four golden wine cups and a teapot in the shape of an old man. To Shi Jin's gladness, she was able to carry the tray without spilling any of the wine inside the cups. Wang Jin placed the teapot near her seat in the west, as she most likely would drink most of it. Then she walked around the table, handing a wine cup to Lord Chai, Wu Song, and himself without a word.
Lord Chai idly held the wine cup aloft, as if he was going to drink it and then resume brooding. Wu Song also lifted his cup and looked expectedly at Wang Jin. Shi Jin mirrored the two.
Wang Jin raised her cup of wine, and without a verbal toast, the four drank.
Bitter! His throat burned; the alcohol much stronger than anything he ever tasted. Yet there was a pleasant honey-like aroma and a sweet aftertaste that left him feeling happier. Was this Du Kang wine? No wonder Wang Jin drank it so mu-
The world shut itself from him; he could barely hear anything! Shi Jin's vision blurred, and each panicked blink took more effort and energy. He tried to rouse himself. He saw Lord Chai's head slamming on the table, his eyes open and frozen. Wu Song somehow managed to stand up but stumbled, pointed at Wang Jin, until he collapsed underneath Shi Jin's view.
No... No... Why?... Why? Shi Jin thought vainly as his head rested on the side of the table, his eyes on Wang Jin. She looked back at him, but he couldn't see her expression as his vision began failing him.
Wang Jin (王進) rose, grabbed the teapot and her wine cup, departed the dining room, and left the remaining three in darkness.
[End of Volume 2]