In the province of Sichuan lies Mount Emei, a renowned scenic spot in the heart of Shu. People of old used to say that the mountains and waters of Western Shu are magnificent, and Mount Emei is especially splendid. This saying is not an exaggeration. The spiritual authority in Western Shu is particularly strong, with hundreds of temples and monasteries on the mountain. Every year, countless devout men and women make long pilgrimages, traveling from far and wide. The mountain, with its towering peaks and cascading waters, presents a majestic and ever-changing landscape, attracting not only the faithful but also many tourists. The scenery in the back mountains is particularly serene and mysterious. Since ancient times, deep forests and valleys have been home to dragons and serpents, as well as tigers, leopards, wolves, and other wild creatures. Many who ventured into the back mountains never returned, leading to various speculations some believed they were devoured by wild beasts or demons, while others thought they had been taken away by immortals or deities. Opinions varied, but no one could say for sure. Humans are, after all, fragile beings, and most people, mindful of past warnings, gradually refrained from exploring the back mountains. This left the area peaceful, allowing the recluses and sages who sought solitude there to enjoy the tranquil beauty without disturbance.
Since the chaos of Zhang Xianzhong at the end of the Ming dynasty, Sichuan had become desolate, with nine out of ten homes abandoned. The once prosperous "Land of Abundance" had been reduced to a place of eerie winds and ghostly silence. After the Qing dynasty took control, officials proposed relocating people from neighboring provinces, such as Hunan, Jiangxi, and Shaanxi, to repopulate Sichuan. The fertile land, abundant resources, and the availability of everything one needed soon made the new settlers feel at home, and over time, the region regained its population density.
I recall that in the second year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, a small boat was sailing upriver from Wuxia. Aside from the boatman, the only passengers were an elderly man and his daughter. Their luggage was minimal, consisting of only a single shoulder bag, giving them a rather poor appearance. Another bundle, unusually heavy, seemed to contain iron items. The elderly man, though just past fifty, had a head full of white hair, and his face was deeply lined with wrinkles, betraying a life of hardship. His gaze was sharp and penetrating. The girl, who looked to be about twelve or thirteen, was stunningly beautiful. She clung to the old man's side, innocently pointing out the surrounding scenery and asking curious questions, displaying her childlike wonder and affection. It was dusk, and the smoke from cooking fires had started to rise. A bright moon appeared from behind the mountain, casting its clear light over everything.
Suddenly, the old man spoke loudly: "How unbearable it is to look back at my homeland beneath this bright moon! Such mountains and rivers when will I ever return to my old home?" His voice was filled with sorrow, and tears streamed down his face. The girl said, "Father, you're sad again. Everything in the world has its destiny. Lamenting is useless. Please, take care of your health." As they spoke, the boatman came over and said, "Sir, it's getting late. Just ahead is the village of Wuyazui, where we can stop for the night. There's a town there, and we can buy some food and wine." The old man replied, "Very well, go ahead. I'm feeling a bit tired today and won't go ashore." The boatman agreed, and soon they reached their destination, where the boatman disembarked to restock supplies.
The moonlight was as bright as day, and the father and daughter, staying on the boat, set out their modest meal of wine and food to share. As they sat in boredom, they noticed a figure dressed in white emerging from the distant woods. Under the moonlight, they could see him clearly as he walked closer. The man was singing a song, his voice clear and powerful, resonating like metal and stone. As he neared the boat, the old man, feeling a surge of emotion, called out, "On such a fine night, with the bright moon and this scenery, it would be a shame not to enjoy it together. I have wine and food aboard why not join us for a few drinks?" The man in white was in high spirits and, upon hearing the invitation, thought to himself, "This area is full of people from Sichuan and Hunan; you rarely meet northerners. This man speaks with a Beijing accent he must be a fellow countryman. Since he has invited me, I'll accept his offer." Thinking this, he walked over to the boat and, upon seeing the old man up close, suddenly embraced him and began to weep.
The old man exclaimed, "It's been so long since we parted in the capital who would have thought we'd meet here! You are still the same, but the world has changed. How could this not break my heart?" The man in white replied, "I heard that after the fall of Yangzhou, you had perished. Who could have expected we would meet again in this foreign land? Now that I have found a kindred spirit, my wandering days no longer feel so lonely. This young lady must be your daughter?" The old man replied, "In my joy at seeing you, I forgot to introduce her. This is my daughter Yingqiong. Yingqiong, come and greet your Uncle Zhou." The girl obediently bowed deeply. The man in white returned half the bow and said, "I can see that your daughter is full of vitality, a true daughter of a warrior. She must be the one to inherit your skills." The old man sighed, "You don't understand. It was my knowledge of martial arts that led to the ruin of my family. When she was born, her mother died in the chaos of war, and we've been wandering ever since, with no place to call home. She's always asking me to teach her martial arts, but I believe that an ordinary life brings the most peace. Besides, this child's eyes burn with a fierce spirit. If I teach her martial arts, it will only lead to more trouble. I've barely mastered my own skills, and there are many more skilled people in the world. Learning imperfectly only invites disaster. She is my only child, and I can't bear to risk her life, so I haven't taught her anything. I only hope that she can marry a scholar and give me peace in my old age." The man in white responded, "Though you say this, I believe your daughter is destined for greatness. Time will tell." The girl, hearing this, could not hide her excitement, though she glanced at her aging father with a hint of sadness.
The man in white then asked, "What brings you to Sichuan?" The old man replied, "My country is in ruins, and fate has dealt me this hand. I have no goal but to escape calamity." The man in white smiled, "I've been in Sichuan for three years now. I found a secluded cave in the back of Mount Emei, where the scenery is exquisite. I've also been teaching a few local children. I returned just yesterday from the mountain to prepare for a long stay. Now that I've run into you, how about we head to the back of the mountain together and wait for better days? It's remote, but if you and your daughter don't mind the solitude, we can go together." The old man was delighted to hear of such a peaceful place and replied, "That sounds wonderful! How far is it from here?" The man in white responded, "It's about eighty or ninety li by foot. Why not rest here for a couple of days, and we can go together?" The old man said, "In that case, you go ahead. I'll stay on the boat tonight and come to your house tomorrow. By the way, have you changed your name while in hiding?" The man in white said, "I've only changed my given name, not my surname. Ask for Zhou Chun at the village, and they'll know where to find me." With that, the two parted ways.
After the man in white left, the girl asked, "Father, is this Zhou Uncle the same Zhou Lang you often spoke of, the one known as one of the Three Heroes of Qilu?" The old man replied, "Indeed, it is him! In the old days, I, Li Ning, along with your two uncles, Yang Da and Zhou Lang, were famous in Qilu and Yan Province. After the fall of the Ming, your Uncle Yang, who remained loyal to the old dynasty, was betrayed and killed by enemies. Now, only your Uncle Zhou and I are left. Who knows if we'll survive this calamity. But it is fortunate that we have such a good companion on our journey to Mount Emei. Now, my child, let's rest early and prepare to go ashore tomorrow."
At this moment, two boatmen, drunk, stumbled back in. Li Ning addressed them, "I recall a relative of mine lives nearby, and I intend to stay with them for a few months. Tomorrow morning, we will disembark. You've worked hard, and I will pay you the agreed fare, along with four taels of silver for drinks. Rest early." The boatmen hurriedly thanked him and retired for the night.
The next morning, Li Ning and his daughter Yingqiong woke up, carried their luggage, bid farewell to the boatmen, and headed toward the nearby village. After walking about half a mile, a young boy, about eleven or twelve, appeared from the roadside. His face was as delicate as jade, and his hair was tied in two buns. It was the seventh or eighth month, and the weather in Shu was hot, so he wore only a short green cloth outfit. As he saw the two approach, he walked up and asked, "Are you here to see my teacher, Zhou Chun?" Li Ning replied, "Indeed, we are here to visit Mr. Zhou. How did you know?" The boy bowed deeply and said, "Uncle, you may not know. My teacher returned last night, overjoyed, unable to sleep after meeting Uncle and Senior Sister at Wuya Point. He rose early this morning but had an appointment and couldn't come to greet you, so he sent me to lead the way. His humble home is just ahead. He'll return shortly, but please come in and rest for a while, and I'll prepare some breakfast for you."
Li Ning admired the boy for his well-mannered and articulate speech. As they conversed, they soon arrived at Zhou Chun's residence. Though it was a simple bamboo house, it was neat and clean. The boy brought out three sets of bowls and chopsticks, served a large plate of cured meat and a dish of blood tofu, and a pot of wine, inviting Li Ning and his daughter to sit. He then accompanied them at the side, saying, "Uncle, please enjoy some morning wine." As Li Ning was about to ask the boy some questions, he brought out three bowls of vinegar soup noodles and a plate of pickles. Li Ning, impressed by the boy's hospitality, asked, "What is your name, young friend? And how long have you been studying with your teacher?" The boy replied, "My name is Zhao Yan'er. My father was a Hanlin scholar in the Ming Dynasty, but he was killed by Li Chuang. My mother and uncle fled here, but my uncle also passed away. We live in poverty, and I had no choice but to herd cattle, while my mother does chores for wealthy families. Three years ago, Mr. Zhou came to this place, and out of pity for me, the son of a fallen official, he took me as his disciple, helping us out from time to time and teaching me both literature and martial arts. My teacher has no sons, only a daughter named Qingyun. Last year, an old Taoist nun visited our village and wanted to take me as her disciple. But I couldn't bear to leave my mother, so I refused. When the nun saw my junior sister, she met with my teacher, and after a long discussion, she took my sister away, saying she would teach her Daoism on Mount Huang. I was reluctant to let her go and have asked my teacher many times to retrieve her, but he always says it's not yet time. I even wanted to go myself, but my teacher wouldn't tell me the way to Mount Huang. I've made up my mind that once I'm older, I'll go find her. My junior sister looks just like Senior Sister here, except she doesn't have those two red marks on her eyebrows."
Li Ning listened with a smile and then asked, "What martial arts do you know?" Yan'er replied, "I'm not very talented, but I know a set of Six Harmonies Sword techniques and how to throw and catch darts. Teacher says that you, Uncle, are very skilled and that in a few days, he will ask you to teach me."
At this point, Zhou Chun entered. Yan'er quickly stood aside respectfully, and Yingqiong greeted her uncle. Li Ning said, "Congratulations, dear brother, on taking such an excellent disciple." Zhou Chun replied, "This child is bright and has good potential, but he talks too much. By now, I'm sure he's already told you his entire life story, so there's no need for me to repeat it." Li Ning laughed, "Yes, he has. But you, dear brother, are nearly fifty; why did you so readily send your niece to be raised by someone else?" Zhou Chun said, "See, I wasn't wrong about Yan'er being talkative, was I? Taking your niece away is actually her good fortune. Last year, Yan'er brought an old Taoist nun to see me. It turns out she's the renowned Sword Immortal, Master Canxia of Mount Huang. She saw your niece Qingyun and said she had immortal bones, asking me to allow her to take Qingyun as her last disciple. She wanted to take Yan'er too, but since he has an elderly mother to care for, she only took Qingyun. Such an opportunity is rare, so how could I refuse?" Li Ning nodded thoughtfully.
Yingqiong, feeling frustrated that her father had never taught her martial arts, perked up at Zhou Chun's words. Zhou noticed and said, "Are you interested in martial arts, dear niece? Your junior sister is indeed talented, but she's no match for you in terms of appearance and demeanor. If Master Canxia met you, she'd certainly take a liking to you. Don't worry; your time will come, and then your father won't be able to stop you." Li Ning said, "Dear brother, don't tease her. But speaking of serious matters, when do we depart for Mount Emei? Will Yan'er accompany us?" Zhou Chun replied, "I still have a few things to take care of, but we should be ready in ten days at most. As for Yan'er, with his mother to care for, he can't come this time." Hearing this, Yan'er began to cry. Zhou Chun said, "There's no need to be upset. No hero or immortal ever neglected their filial duty. We're not leaving forever, and I'll come back every month to teach you literature and martial arts. We just won't be together as often as before." Yan'er, realizing there was no other choice, reluctantly held back his tears. Li Ning asked, "Is Yan'er the only student in your school?" Zhou Chun replied, "I recently returned from Mount Emei with the intention of settling down there. On my way back, I saved a poor scholar named Ma Xiang, who is both talented and virtuous. I arranged for him to teach at the Wen Chang Pavilion, handing over all my students to him. Who would've thought I'd meet you that same evening?" Li Ning said, "So that explains why we didn't see any other students except Yan'er." Zhou Chun added, "Yan'er would have been sent there too, but since you're here, I've had him serve you instead."
As they conversed, the sun set, and they had dinner. Yan'er prepared their beds before leaving to sleep. However, Yingqiong, having heard so much during the day, lay awake, unable to sleep. Around midnight, she overheard Zhou Chun and Yan'er talking and then heard the door open. Quietly getting up, she peeked through a crack in the window and saw the two in the courtyard, each holding a sword, practicing together. Though Yan'er's sword was shorter, it was still about three feet long. At first, Yingqiong could make out their movements, but as they sped up, all she could see were two streaks of light. Suddenly, Zhou Chun said, "Watch closely, Yan'er." Before he finished speaking, he lunged toward a tall osmanthus tree in the yard, a flash of cold light slicing off a large branch. The shock sent a flurry of osmanthus petals falling like rain. When Yingqiong looked again, Zhou Chun and Yan'er were standing back in their original positions, as if nothing had happened. Zhou Chun then said, "That last move is called 'Piercing the Clouds and Grasping the Moon,' the most powerful technique in the Six Harmonies Sword. If you face a skilled opponent, this move can turn defeat into victory. I'm teaching you this because I admire your filial piety and sharp mind. Practice it diligently when no one is around. Now, it's time for me to rest. I'll instruct you again tomorrow night." After saying this, Zhou Chun returned to his room, and Yan'er also went to bed.
For two consecutive nights, Yingqiong got up to secretly watch. After several attempts, she finally asked her father to teach her swordsmanship. Li Ning, unable to resist her persistence and further persuaded by Zhou Chun, eventually said, "The sword is the ancestor of all weapons, and it is extremely difficult to master. First, you must practice with perseverance; second, you need to train your energy, focus your mind, and keep your heart as calm as still water. Once you have these two qualities, you also need a skilled teacher to instruct you. You have been pampered since childhood, never trained physically, so it will be very hard for you to start. If you are determined to learn, once we reach the mountains, you must first practice the art of nurturing your energy every morning, along with internal strength exercises. Only after two or three years can I teach you swordsmanship. With your hot temper, don't come bothering me again when the time comes."
Upon hearing this, Yingqiong felt a bit dissatisfied. Seeing that Yan'er, younger than her, had already learned quite well, she thought her father's words were deliberately trying to discourage her. Just as she was about to speak, Zhou Chun said, "What your father says is indeed correct. To learn superior swordsmanship, you must cultivate your energy as he says. You might think it's easy because you've been secretly watching me teach Yan'er, but you don't know the hardships Yan'er went through to learn. I've pleaded with your father numerous times in private before he agreed to let you learn. Your father's sword skills far surpass mine, so his words are absolutely true. Don't misunderstand his intentions, dear niece."
Li Ning added, "Qiong'er, don't think you're smart. Learning the sword is no easy matter; it requires concentration and energy control. Once you succeed, you'll be able to hear even the slightest sound within a distance of ten feet, such as dust falling to the ground. For instance, every time you secretly watched, how do you think your uncle knew? That's exactly it. If you can't be aware of what's right in front of you, how can you talk about swordsmanship? Fortunately, it was you who was spying. If someone else had been sneaking up on you while you were practicing, wouldn't you have been vulnerable to an ambush?"
Hearing their words, Yingqiong reluctantly accepted, though she was still not entirely convinced. She later secretly asked Yan'er and learned that he had endured much hardship and exerted great effort to master swordsmanship. Only then did she truly believe and submit.
Time passed quickly, and the day of departure arrived. All the students, along with their families and the new tutor Ma Xiang, came to bid farewell. Yan'er alone escorted them for more than twenty miles, and after several urgings from Li Ning, Zhou Chun, and others, he finally parted with tears in his eyes.