It’s true for any genre: when writing a novel you need a strong opening, something that piques the reader’s interest and keeps it and makes them want to read the next chapter. Well you won’t a much better example of such a chapter than Wolong Sheng’s 1965 novel Heavenly Sword, Supreme Sabre《天劍絕刀》.

Wolong Sheng 臥龍生 was a master at crafty interesting, intricate plots that kept the reader turning pages. There’s a reason he was called the “Mount Tai and Northern Dipper of Taiwan Wuxia” (台灣武俠泰斗) and was one of the “Three Swordsmen” 三劍客 of the Taiwan wuxia literary circle, along with Sima Ling 司馬翎 and Zhuge Qingyun 諸葛青雲. He is criticized for not taking his work seriously enough and allowing other authors to publish their work under his name, but I feel is strong points are too often overlooked in favor of repeating these same criticisms. It’s true his novels tend to suffer from having the “head of a tiger and the tail of a snake”, starting strong but then petering out by the end. But that’s true of many wuxia novels by many different authors, a product in part of the long serialization process (novels typically ran in newspapers for two to four years), and in Wolong Sheng’s case, also because he often wrote multiples novels for different newspapers at once. During his prime years, at one point he was concurrently writing Flying Swallow Startles the Dragon《飛燕驚龍》for Great China Evening News, Jade Hairpin Oath《玉釵盟》for Central Daily News, Red Snow, Black Frost《絳雪玄霜》for Sin Chew Daily, and Heavenly Whirlwind《天香飆》for Public Opinion Daily. Writing daily installments for all of those novels, it’s easy to see why he might have issues with consistancy. Keep in mind too that unlike Jin Yong 金庸, who spent years revising his entire body of work, Wolong Sheng’s novels that we have today still use the original text he published in the newspapers. He (and this is true for almost all wuxia authors) never revised his work.

Despite all that, Wolong Sheng still managed to produce some good work, great at times, and the first chapter of Heavenly Sword, Supreme Sabre is about a good an opening to a story as one could ask for.

But rather than just vaguely telling you why, I took the liberty of translating the first chapter so you can see for yourself. That chapter follows below. Afterward, I will discuss why I think this chapter is so effective.


Chapter 1: Enemies Everywhere

Murky gray sky, drizzling, the world permeated with gloomy clouds and miserable mists.

Five long-distance horses splashed through the mud, galloping in the wind and rain.

On the lead horse sat a youth of fourteen or fifteen dressed in tightfit blue silk and thinsoled swiftboots. From his saddle hung a treasured sword.

On the second horse sat a girl of eighteen or nineteen. She cut a pretty figure, but her face looked fatigued, her hair a mess, hairpin cockeyed. She was all muddy and a bandage was wrapped around her left arm, fresh blood seeping through the white gauze, but the rainwater and mud had stained it a dark reddish purple.

On the third horse sat a young man of twenty-two or twenty-three, soaked through with mud from head to toe, the color of his clothes n longer discernible.

On the fourth horse was a middle-aged woman, brows pinched, a look of sorrow on her face, white gauze wrapped around her neck stained with bright blood, clearly a recent wound.

On the last, big, tall horse was a man in his fifties wearing tight-fitting clothes and wearing a sabre, a grizzled beard hanging down to his chest, his tiger eyes wet with tears, and four blade scars crisscrossed his square face, two of them still new, clearly his most recent injury.

It was a dreary tableau, a fugitive’s disarray and distress the descriptors of this living scene.

Autumn wind and bitter rain, gloomy clouds and miserable mists, five exhausted horses, five people with clothes in disarray, painted such a scene of dreary, sorrowful people fleeing that even the best painter in the world could not depict such a dejected, heartbreaking scene!

Dark clouds thickened, and the sky became more gloomy as the rain gradually picked up.

The old man with the long grizzled beard scanned the terrain, flicked the reins, and his exhausted horse used its remaining energy to speed up and catch up to the middle-aged woman. He heaved a long sigh. “Let’s rest a while, then continue on! Your wound is not light…” Two lines of tears rolled down his cheeks, mixing with the rainwater so that one could not tell what was rainwater, what was teardrops.

Whoever says men don’t cry just hasn’t reached that point of grief.

The middle-aged woman held in the pain and worry in her heart and put on a happy face, smiling. “Nevermind me, I can endure this little wound. Ai! I just fear that Juan’er…”

The girl on the second horse suddenly looked back. “Mom, I’m fine.” Though she did her best to suppress the pain in her heart, she put on a happy smiling face, but her clear round eyes still spilled glistening tears.

The grizzled bearded old man sighed sadly. “Juan’er, no need to deceive me…”

“Dad, I’m really fine!” the girl made haste to say. She furtively clenched her jade teeth and raised her left arm and shook it. “Dad, look, it doesn’t hurt at all!”

That little shake aggravated her wound, hurting so much she broke out in a cold sweat and quickly turned around, furtively adding force to her legs to squeeze her horse’s belly to spur it on and she continued on ahead.

How sharp were this old man’s eyes. He long ago noticed that his daughter’s wound was really serious. If it wasn’t treated soon and they delayed, that left arm might become crippled. He suddenly felt like a knife was twisting in his heart and he looked to the sky and sighed. “To think that I, Zuo Jianbai, have nothing to be ashamed of before Heaven, nor anything to be ashamed of before men, yet how could such a fate befall me! Dragging my beloved wife and children into this so that they must accompany me as I flee to the ends of the earth…”

The middle-aged woman pulled the reins and got closer to Zuo Jianbai and slowly reached her right hand out and clasped his left hand, and with a gentle voice said, “My husband, no need to fret, Heaven helps good people. This misunderstanding, this gross injustice will be exonerated one day. Then, all of the martial world will be ashamed of their behavior.”

Zuo Jianbai shook his head and sighed, filled with grief and indignation. “Eight years we’ve traveled the rivers and mountains, the deserted and deserted wildernesses, but where is there a place for us to settle down and live our lives? Ai! Eight years, without so much as three days’ rest, just a long, arduous journey, trudging here and running there. This massive, gross injustice will never be exonerated. The rancor has piled up now for so long, all the martial world seems to be after us all. Ai! Even if I had the gifted tongue of Su Qin I would not be able to explain things clearly.”

The middle-aged woman gently consoled him, “My husband, no need to worry, there is plenty of time, it doesn’t have to be done all at once right now.”

Zuo Jianbai looked over at his beloved wife. The white gauze around her neck had already turned completely blackish red. Her wound must still be bleeding. He felt so ashamed he wanted to die. “We’ve already ran a night and half a day. If my calculations are correct, this Bridge of Life and Death is less than a hundred miles away. Let’s rest a while first and then continue on!”

The middle-aged woman nodded slowly. “Alright, Juan’er’s wound needs tending to as well. Ai! Pitiful, innocent children, suffering such hardship with us, eight years, with not a day of peace.”

Zuo Jianbai sighed with emotion. “This big seven-span frame, yet still can’t protect my wife or shield my children. It really pains me to think of it…”

The middle-aged woman said, “My husband, don’t blame yourself. If you think about it, it all started with your lowly handmaid.”1

Zuo Jianbai raised his head and heaved a deep sigh. “That looks like a little temple over there. We’ll stop here for a while and get out of the rain.” He flicked the rains and charged ahead. Five horse and riders used their remaining energy and galloped northwest.

The rain suddenly started to pour, the sky even darker now, the distant mountains hazy, as if they had merged with the cloudy sky.

This leg of the journey was not far, but the five horses were already spent, and it took no less than the time it takes to eat a meal before they finally reached the little temple.

It was an abandoned mountain god temple, only one room, but the walls were whitewashed, and the doors and rooftiles were intact, so it must have been renovated not long ago.

Zuo Jianbai dismounted first and went to help his wife down, but she had already leapt down. She said in a low voice, “Don’t worry about me, go check on Juan’er.”

Actually, the girl had leapt down the same time they had, and was walking slowly over to the boy. In a low voice she said, “Little Bro, get down and rest a bit!”

The youth was watching the sky, brows slightly knit, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind. Eight years of running had matured him a lot too early. A child of fourteen or fifteen, innocent joy already lost.

The girl reached out slowly with her right hand and lightly grabbed his right wrist and said gently, “Shaobai, what are you thinking about?”

Zuo Shaobai suddenly snapped back and leapt off the horse and smiled. “Nothing, Big Sis. We’re stopping again?”

The girl smiled bleakly. “We’ve been riding a night and half a day. Ai! The horses can’t run anymore.” She raised her right hand to measure her little brother’s height. Two lines of tears slowly rolled down. She thought back to the day they left their home and went on the run. Little Bro was only a child who knew nothing. Now, he was taller than she was.

Zuo Shaobai looked at his big sister. “I’m taller than you.”

The girl smiled weakly. “Mm! Taller, you’ve really grown up!”

Eight years on the lam, father and son, sister and brothers going through thick and thin together, a family always on the run, hungered and distressed, this miserable experience forced them to find a smile in the midst of pain and worry. Father and mother’s affection, love and respect between siblings, no matter how much one was suffering, it was held deep within one’s heart, not wanting to make father or mother, brother or sister share in the pain.

Now, the muddy young man of twenty-two or twenty-three suddenly came over and took the reins from his younger brother and sister and smiled. “Go inside the temple and rest with Father and Mother!”

The girl said gently, “Big Bro always has it the worst.”

The muddy young man smiled weakly and did not respond, just led the five horses by himself around to the meadow beside the temple.

The five horse had been running a night and half a day without being fed, so when they saw the plump, tender grass they immediately lowered their heads and began cropping.

Zuo Jianbai shook the rain off him and said, “Jibai, let the horses go and eat on their own, you ought to come in and rest too.”

Zuo Jibai said, “Dad, you ought to see to Mom and Little Sis’ wounds, don’t worry about me.”

Zuo Jianbai stroked his long beard and silently stepped inside the temple. Every time they stopped to rest, Zuo Jibai always went ahead and took care of everyone’s horses and didn’t stop to rest until all the horses had been fed and put away. Every day for eight years without exception.

The four of them sat in a circle inside the little temple. Zuo Jianbai opened the oilskin bag around his waist and took out some food. “Children, eat something. This is the last stop on our journey. After this, there probably won’t be anyone coming for us anymore.”

He slowly spread the food out, then took out a jade bottle. He pulled out the stopper and look at his beloved wife and gave a wry smile. “This is also the last… bottle…” His gaze shifted to the girl. “Juan’er, come here and let Dad take a look at that wound on your arm.”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Your daughter’s wound is not serious, Dad, see to Mom’s wound first!”

The middle-aged woman smiled weakly. “Your mom is old. This neck wound will only leave a scar even if you just ignore it. You’re young, if you lose an arm, you will regret it the rest of your life.”

Zuo Jianbai said, “There’s enough medicine in this bottle for the both of you.” He reached over and undid the white gauze bandage around his lovely wife’s neck. There was a blade cut about a fingerwidth deep going halfway around her neck, the wound still oozing blood. He couldn’t help but be shocked. He thought: With a wound this bad and yet not damaging the muscles or bones is a stroke of luck in the midst of adversity.

He very carefully poured some white powder out of the bottle and applied it to his wife’s wound, then rebandaged it. “Juan’er, come here.”

Zuo Wenjuan undid the white bandage on her arm and went over. Her wound was several days’ old and had not yet been treated, and had been blown by wind and soaked by rain and was already starting to fester.

Zuo Jianbai frowned and sighed. “Juan’er, if we waited two more days this wound would be completely festered, and your left arm would be a goner for sure.” He tipped out the rest of the medicinal powder in the jade bottle and applied it to his daughter’s wound, then tossed the bottle away and said sadly, “I just hope we won’t be chased by any more powerful foes on this final leg of the journey…”

Zuo Shaobai suddenly said, “Dad! There’s something I don’t understand, but I don’t know if it’s right to ask?”

Zuo Jianbai studied his beloved son’s face looked proud and angry. He heaved a long sigh. “Go ahead and ask! Ai, even if you didn’t ask I ought to tell you all.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “Ever since I can remember, our family has always been on the run…”

The middle-aged woman couldn’t help but weep sadly. “Child, when we went on the run you were only seven years old.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “How old am I this year?”

Zuo Jianbai said, “Fifteen.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “I went on the run at seven, and I’m fifteen now. On the run for eight full years, crossing rivers and hills, traveling all over the place, ice and snow beyond the Great Wall, sandstorms in vast deserts, yet nowhere had there been a place for us to get our footing. Everywhere we go we have iron hooves chasing after us. Dad! Just what is it you did wrong to make all the martial world become our enemies…” He’d had that question stuffed up in his chest for years and now let it all out at once. He was very worked up, his voice rising. “Every time it’s different people fighting with Dad and Mom, Big Bro, and Big Sis. Do you mean to tell me they all have some absolutely irreconcilable grudge against Dad, they all are violent, bad, evildoers?”

The middle-aged woman suddenly snapped, “Shut up, you dare talk to your father that way.”

Zuo Shaobai’s worked up mood suddenly flattened when he heard his mother’s rebuke. He looked at his father and wailed, “Your child was wrong.” He threw himself down onto his knees and groveled.

Zuo Jianbai looked at his beloved wife and sighed. “Don’t scold him. Ai! I’m useless, getting my wife and children involved, on the run with me to the ends of the earth…” He raised his hand and stroked Zuo Shaobai’s disheveled hair, grieved. “Child, you’re not wrong. Your father is unable clear up this misunderstanding, this gross injustice, and has smeared his children too with a sullied reputation.”

Zuo Shaobai slowly raised his head. “Dad, can you tell me about this gross injustice?”

Zuo Jianbai nodded and forced a smile. “Of course I’ll tell you all. This is also the last chance to do so. Child, even if you didn’t ask, your father would take this opportunity to tell you all.”

Zuo Wenjuan blinked her large round eyes. “Dad, don’t feel bad. We’ve been able to run for eight years without the enemy getting us, why can’t we keep on running? Big Brother’s martial arts is getting stronger and stronger, and your daughter also feels her swordsmanship has progressed a lot. Wait till my wound is better and I’ll be able to have it out with our pursuers! Ai! What your daughter doesn’t understand is, Dad, why would you rather be wounded by their blades instead of attacked and hurting them?”

Zuo Jianbai’s pained, bitter face split in consoling smile. “Your father cannot keep piling on errors. I’m already past fifty, whether I live or die is not a big deal, but how could I plant more mortal enemies for you all?”

Zuo Wenjuan was in tears. “Dad has such a merciful heart, yet those relentless, formidable foes aren’t willing to grant us a single step of leeway. Dad and Mom have been battling it out for eight years, have been injured again and again, but still cannot move those murderous pursuers. Dad’s heroic spirit seems to have been setback to its limit!”

Zuo Jianbai shook his head. “It’s not that your father’s heroic spirit has vanished. In fact, as this general trend continues, we are finding it harder and hard to win despite our coordinated efforts. Ai! The Nine Major Schools signed a joint letter proclaiming to the martial world that whoever captures your father alive can choose any three of the superlative techniques of the Nine Major Schools to learn. Whoever takes your father’s head can pick one of the superlative techniques to learn. Such a handsome reward is unprecedented since ancient times, and for those of the martial world, it’s actually more valuable than a reward of priceless jewels. Anyone who can learn three of the superlative techniques from each of the Nine Major Schools, twenty-seven in all, that person will be able to lord it over the jianghu and be magnificently seated as the head of the martial world.”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Your daughter understands. Those people, even if they have nothing to do with all of this, are going to come after us relentlessly just so they can learn the superlative techniques of the Nine Major Schools.”

Zuo Jianbai said, “That’s right. So, all the martial world has become our family’s enemy. How can we resist such a force…”

He heaves a long sigh, a grave look on his face. “Therefore, our family can only run for our lives. At first I thought the world is so big, how could we not find a place to settle down, but these eight years have proven that there is a difficult price to pay for that wish. We can only seek life in death and have a go down one final path.”

Zuo Wenjuan was about to ask what this final path was wherein they would seek life in death, but Zuo Shaobai spoke first. “Dad, what’s this all about? What could make the Nine Major Schools sign a joint letter and not be able to tolerate us?”

Zuo Jianbai looked at his beloved wife and smiled bleakly. “This life and death matter, we don’t know if it will be a blessing or a curse. If we don’t tell them, there might never be another day to tell them.”

The middle-aged woman said, “It’s all up to you, my husband!”

Zuo Jianbai looked up and heaved a deep sigh. “Child, this is all a big misunderstanding that’s difficult to explain. Till now your father is still not sure if someone was looking to shift the blame on us on purpose, or if it was just a coincidence, however, if not for the Nine Major Schools joining together to pursue your father, I believe I could have ferreted out the true culprit during these past eight years.” He seemed to know that if he told his children, it would still be hard for them to believe. He heaves a deep sigh and suddenly stopped talking.

Zuo Shaobai said, “Dad, what gross injustice have you sustained. Why don’t you say it?”

Zuo Jianbai said, “If I said it, I fear you all wouldn’t believe me…” He suddenly raised his voice. “Jibai, come in here, your father has something to tell you all.”

Zuo Jibai answered and ran into the temple and shook off the rainwater. “Dad, what is it?”

Zuo Jianbai stood up slowly. “Do you know why the Nine Major Schools signed a joint letter and spread it throughout the martial world, calling for our whole family to be put to death?”

Zuo Jibai sighed lightly. “I know Dad has suffered a gross injustice.”

Zuo Jianbai said, “Do you know for what reason?”

Zuo Jibai said, “It all started when four of the heads of the Nine Major Schools fell victim to a plot and were killed. They suspected Dad did it, but without getting to the bottom of it, and without allowing Dad to explain, they dispatched the crack disciples of the Nine Major Schools to surround White Crane Castle at night and bloodily slaughter the White Crane Sect, forcing our whole family to go on the run…”

Zuo Shaobai looked at his big brother and suddenly said, “Big Bro, why did they suspect Dad?”

Zuo Jibai was taken aback. “That, your brother is not clear on.” His gaze slowly moved to his father. “Apparently Dad just happened to go to Mists & Clouds Peak on White Horse Mountain just after the heads of Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, and Kongtong were killed.”

These words were without a doubt aimed at his father. Clearly, Zuo Jibai had some doubts as well.

Zuo Jianbai stroked his long beard and smiled bitterly. He looked at his beloved wife. “No wonder the Nine Major Schools signed a joint letter and spread it throughout the jianghu calling for people to come after me quickly. Ai! Even our own children doubt their father.”

Zuo Shaobai suddenly dropped to his knees, sobbing. “It’s not that I doubt Dad, but I hope Dad can explain what happened. In the future we will investigate this matter as well and clear this gross injustice Dad has had to bear.”

Zuo Jianbai’s face changed and he trembled all over, clearly undergoing some inner turmoil, but he did not speak for a long time.

The middle-aged woman suddenly said, “My husband, tell them. Ai! Things have come to such a pass, there’s no need to try to save your humble housemaid’s face.”

Zuo Jianbai sighed lightly. “Do you all know where we are going?”

Zuo Wenjuan, who had been standing to the side quietly all this time, cut in, “The Bridge of Life and Death.”

Zuo Shaobai’s maze of doubts had not been exonerated and he still wanted to ask more questions, but seeing the tears streaming down his mother’s face, he was forced to hold off asking more questions.

Zuo Jianbai said, “Do you all know why it’s called the Bridge of Life and Death?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Your daughter doesn’t know.”

Zuo Jianbai said, “It’s a dangerous, loathsome place, but in within the martial world it is widely known, do you know why? Your father doesn’t know all the details either, but thousands of fellows of the martial world have lost their lives there…”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “If it’s so dangerous and loathsome, why are we going there? Is there really know place in this vast world for us to take shelter?”

Zuo Jianbai said, “No, whether deep in the mountains or marshes, or out in the vast deserts and borderland wildernesses, there will always be iron hooves chasing us. Only at this dangerous, loathsome ‘Bridge of Life and Death’ can we possibly find a slim chance of survival.”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Dad, please forgive your daughter for asking so much, but why is it called the Bridge of Life and Death?”

Zuo Jianbai said, “It is said that it is a stone bridge. All year long it is trapped in a dark and gloomy black fog. When you step foot on the bridge your life is no longer in your own hands. In the last few decades, only two people have made it across the bridge, but no one knows what happened to them. Henceforth, who knows how many people of the martial world have hoped to cross the bridge, but no one has had their wish rewarded.”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Dad! Are we going to go across?”

Zuo Jianbai shook his head and laughed. “Your father doesn’t know, but given that two elder masters made it across, all things considered, there is life within death. The situation is forcing us, your father has no choice but to take you all and chance it…” His face suddenly became very serious. He said slowly, “If one among you can make it across and keep the Zuo family’s ancestral sacrifices going, that would be good enough…”

Suddenly they hears horses neighing in the distance.

Zuo Jianbai’s face sank. “Powerful enemies are after us again!”

The middle-aged woman darted out of the temple. “I’ll go get the horses.”

Zuo Jibai said, “How could I trouble Mother…” He was about to go out ahead of her when he was grabbed by Zuo Jianbai.

“Let your mother go…” His voice dropped even lower. “If father and son, mother and daughter are all buried together under the Bridge of Life and Death, then fine, but if we can get Heaven’s blessing and have one of you survive, then in the days to come that person can go to Elm Bend in Yueyang and look for one Blind Liu and ask him if he still has what his White Crane friend left with him. If he ask you ‘What times is it now’, just answer: ‘Evening at dusk when the setting sun is red’. If he responds with ‘There are no lodgings on the road to the Yellow Springs’ then you’ve found the right person. You can answer with: ‘This guest comes in the spirit of the Buddha from the Western Regions’ and you can get back what your father left with him…” having said this, they heard shouting in the distance. Zuo Jianbai stopped talking about darted out of the little temple.

Zuo Jibai grasped Shaobai’s right wrist and said, “Little Brother, in eight years you have never been harmed. Now the ‘Bridge of Life and Death’ is well within reach. You have to take care of yourself so that you can clear up our father’s gross injustice. Listen to Big Brother, get on your horse and go.” He stood in front of his littler brother, then went out the temple doors.

Zuo Wenjuan darted out with the move “Nimble Swallow Penetrates the Curtain” and stole past Zuo Jibai to the left and got in front of him.

Just then, the middle-aged woman was in the middle of a fight with a big, tall monk. The monk wielded a crescent moon upaya spade, the spade blade big as a moon, flashing and glinting in the rain, the metal wind whistling2, trapping the middle-aged woman within a sheet of spade light.

Zuo Jianbai shouted and with his right hand drew his goldbacked mountain-cleaving sabre,3 and with his left hand he reached into his robe and pulled out a coldly gleaming refined-steel dagger about a span in length and leapt up, landing a stave and four or five spans away, the gold sabre in his right hand flashing out crosswise, managing to block the monk’s nine-span eight-fingerwidth upaya crescent moon spade.

The metal spade shook with a clashing sound and the monk’s double-ended crescent moon spade was blocked by the gold sabre, while the dagger in Zuo Jianbai’s left hand stabbed with “Feeling for the Pearl”, forcing the monk to take a step back.

Zuo Shaobai drew his sword with a schwing and shouted, “They are too ruthless, leaving us no leeway, forcing us all to run all over the place, no place to settle down, running to the corners of the sea, roving to sky’s end. It would be better to fight to the death here and be done with it!”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Big Bro, Little Bro, hurry and mount up, I’ll go help Dad and Mom fend off the enemy.”

During that span of time, ten figures arrived, charging at them, but were held back by the combined efforts of Zuo Jianbai and his wife, Zuo Jianbai’s gold sabre in his right hand, dagger in his left, transforming into a sheet of blade light and cold-gleaming awns attacking them head on, together with his wife’s sword, managing to block the narrow seven or eight-span trail. Their opponents’ weapons clashed in a storming assault but still could not gain any ground.

Husband and wife have been on the run for eight years but still could not shake off their pursuers. They’d been through hundreds of battles and been wounded dozens of times, but their martial arts had improved by leaps and bounds, especially their skill in using sword and sabre in a concerted effort, a skill forged in the midst of life and death battle, utilizing the strong points of their respective martial arts, moves coordinated flawlessly. Although their opponents were many, with so many people fighting at once they ended up bungling into each other, making it difficult for them to put their best efforts into play.

Zuo Jibai undid a button on his waist with his right hand and took out his whip, his left hand drawing a gold short sword about a span in length from the leg of his boot. In a stern, forbidding voice, he yelled, “Little Sister Juan, halt.”

Zuo Wenjuan had already dropped the reins and drew her sword and was about to go reinforce Dad and Mom and fend off their formidable foes together, but when she heard Zuo Jibai’s stern shout she was stunned and stopped in her tracks. She looked back slowly and looked at Zuo Jibai. “Big Bro, what is it?”

In all her life, as far back as she could remember, she had never heard Zuo Jibai shout so sternly.

Zuo Jibai’s eyes were opened wide, gleaming, his eyes fixed on Wenjuan. He said coldly, “As your big brother I have never spoken to you in a harsh tone, but right now whoever doesn’t listen to what I say, as far as I’m concerned, is not my little sister or little brother…”

He paused, then continued, “You take Little Bro and mount up and go.”

Two lines of tears ran down Zuo Wenjuan’s face. She smiled bleakly. “Big Bro, Little Bro, you shoulder the heavy responsibility of exonerating our father’s gross injustice. It’s such a heavy task, and I’m just a girl. Even if I survive I won’t be of much use. Big Bro, forgive me for talking back, but you take Little Bro and go!”

Zuo Jibai bellowed, “Sister Juan, shut up, do you think your martial arts is better than your big brother’s?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Little Sis knows she can’t compare to Big Bro.”

Zuo Jibai said, “That’s right. This group of enemies chasing us are all masterhands of the Nine Major Schools. Even though you have a mind to sacrifice yourself, you won’t be of much help to Dad and Mom. Listen to me, take Little Bro and mount up and go!” His final sentence was spoken with a dejected expression, heroic tears streaming down his face.4

Zuo Wenjuan was crying. “Big Bro, you can’t…”

Zuo Jibai’s heroic spirit flared up and in a stern voice he said, “You’re not allowed to say any more! Are you going to listen to your big brother or not?”

Zuo Wenjuan saw the anger in his eyes, and the corners of her eyes split, blood flowing and mingling with her tears and spilling down her cheeks, and she was even more dejected. She slowly lowered the sword in her hand. “Little Sit, Little Sis… will do as you say.” Each word she spoke was choked with her miserable sobs.5

With tears in his eyes, Zuo Jibai said, “That’s my Little Sis. Look well after Little Bro, don’t wait for Dad and Mom and your big brother. Mount up and go! May Heaven take pity on you two and ferry you across the Bridge of Life and Death…” He slowly turned and reached out and took the sword from Zuo Shaobai’s hand and replaced it with the gold sword in his hand. “This gold sword is the symbol of our White Crane Sect. In the past, our maternal grandfather used this sword to found the White Crane Sect and vied for a spot in the martial world. Hence, our White Crane Sect is also called Gold Sword Sect. Our maternal grandfather passed this sword on to Dad, and Dad relied on this sword to carry our White Crane Sect forward and soon our base was established. But the Nine Major Schools, acting in concert with the Four Sects, Two Societies, and Three Major Gangs of the martial world and nearly a hundred masterhands of the martial world, launched a night raid on White Crane Castle and in one night destroyed the White Crane Sect that had been established with the heart and blood of two generations. Thanks to Dad’s extraordinary bravery and Mother’s good fighting skills, they were able to take us brothers and sister and flee to the ends of the earth, running all over the place north and south for eight years, across vast deserts and borderland wildernesses, fighting innumerable ferocious, hair-raising battles, countless times squeaking survival out of the midst of death. Dad passed this sword on to me. Now I’m passing it on to you, Little Brother. May you take good care of this sword, and in the days to come restore our White Crane Sect’s mighty bearing.”

Zuo Shaobai took the gold sword. “Big Bro, I…”

Zuo Jibai waved him off. “Dad has been straightforward and upright all his life. He would never commit the surreptitious murder of four heads of four of the major schools. There’s something else behind it. Mount up and go!”

Zuo Jianbai’s stern shout was heard, “You all are so implacably ruthless, it’s really pushing it too far. I, Zuo Jianbai, today will break my prohibition against killing.”

Before his voice faded the first shriek of pain suddenly cried out and a man in tightfit clothes was cut in two by the goldbacked mountain-cleaving sabre.

Several savage screams and furious shouts sprang up, their opponents’ assault becoming more swift and fierce, sabre, iron whip,6 short spear, shining silver staff, crescent moon spade, etc., dozens of weapons assaulting Zuo Jianbai and his wife like a raging storm.

Evidently, Zuo Jianbai’s killing of one of theirs had roused them to fight to the death.

Zuo Jibai grabbed Zuo Shaobai and hoisted him onto the back of a horse and said to Zuo Wenjuan, “Hurry and take Little Brother out of here.”

Zuo Wenjuan raised her sleeve and wiped the tears from her face, raised a palm and slapped the rump of Zuo Shaobai’s horse. It whinnied and using what energy it had left, took off ahead. Zuo Wenjuan held her sword and followed closely behind her little brother’s horse to bring up the rear.

Zuo Jibai watched the two swift horses gallop a few dozen staves away, then he uttered a long, loud cry and grandly, heroically said, “Mother, please step back and rest, let your child hold them off for a while.” His whip danced and struck swiftly.

Now let us turn to Zuo Wenjuan and Zuo Shaobai, who rode nonstop for a dozen or so miles before their long-distance horses suddenly groaned and fell to the ground in unison.

These horses were the cream of the crop, but more than a month of night and day riding on their arduous journey had used up their energy long ago, and there had not been time to rest them. And this mad gallop was too much for them to endure and they dropped.

Zuo Wenjuan got off her horse and said in a low voice, “Are you hurt?”

Zuo Shaobai said, “No.”

Zuo Wenjuan looked up. A mile distant sat a soaring mountain. Even if their horses had spare energy, they would find it difficult to ascend the mountain. She let out a faint sigh and removed the saddles, stirrups, bridles, and reins from the horses and gently patted them twice. “Horse, horse, you all go on!” She took Zuo Shaobai by the right wrist and continued on forward.

Zuo Shaobai suddenly sighed. “Big Sis, do you think Dad, Mom, and Big Bro will be able to beat back the enemy?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “There’s a lot of them and they all have strong martial arts. It won’t be easy to beat them back, but Dad is extraordinarily brave and invincible, and Mother’s swordplay is refined. She’s already mastered the essence of the 72 White Crane forms, and Big Brother’s martial arts of late has improved even more. With Dad, Mom, and Big Brother together, getting away won’t be difficult. Little Bro, don’t worry.” Though in her heart she was brimming with the bitter sorrow of eternal separation, she had to put on a happy face in order to comfort her little brother.

Zuo Shaobai looked up to the sky full of dark clouds and said to himself, “Dad seems to have something bottled up inside he finds difficult to talk about. Ai! It’s obvious he could tell us what happened to make all the martial world come after us, but for some reason he just won’t say it…”

He turned his eyes to Zuo Wenjuan with a look of expectation. He knew Big Sis knew more about this than he did.

But unexpectedly, Zuo Wenjuan intentionally changed the subject, talking about something else entirely. “Little Bro, once we climb that towering mountain before us we’ll soon be at the Bride of Life and Death. From what Dad said, the Bridge of Life and Death is a really horrible place. For decades, hundreds of martial world people have died there. May Heaven bless and protect you, Little Bro, an enable you to safely cross the Bridge of Life and Death.” She seemed to want to evade Zuo Shaobai, turning away and avoiding his gaze.

Zuo Shaobai suddenly raised his right hand and shook off Zuo Wenjuan’s grasp, and all worked up said, “Don’t lie to me. Why won’t you let me know what Dad did wrong? The Nine Major Schools of the martial world have always had a good reputation, why would they all gang up and set themselves against our White Crane Sect?” He took a deep breath. “Big Sis, I know you know the details, so why won’t you tell me? If you don’t say it, I won’t consider you as my big sister!”

Brother and sister had always loved and respected each other. Zuo Wenjuan had never heard her little brother lose his temper, and now she was pained and anxious and couldn’t keep hot teats from spilling out.

Zuo Shaobai suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, then took off running ahead.

He was worked up and angry and couldn’t control himself. He ran full speed madly up the mountain.

Sheer peaks towered aloft, the trail slippery in this overcast and rainy day. Zuo Wenjuan watched her little brother running pellmell up the cliff and her mind jolted and she couldn’t help but cry out, “Little Bro, stop, Big Sis will tell you.” She cried out like crazy as she ran after him.

Zuo Shaobai heard his big sister’s blood-weeping cuckoo-like cries,7 and his heart softened, and he stopped.

Zuo Wenjuan leapt like she was flying to catch up to Zuo Shaobai. She grabbed his right arm and shook him violently. “Little Bro, your bone structure is the best out of you brothers. Dad always says: Whether or not our Zuo family can be exonerated lies entirely on you. How can you think so little of yourself like this and be so careless?”

Zuo Shaobai raised his sleeve and wiped away his tears. “Big Sis, if Dad really did do something unseemly, and we die bearing the blame for him, you can say we did out filial duty. If he didn’t do anything bad, why would he not tell us about this gross injustice?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Dad is chivalrous and rightminded, and always frank and upright, how could he do something unseemly? Little Bro, you mustn’t make wild guesses and besmear Dad.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “Then why wouldn’t he tell us about it?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Dad has his own difficulties, how can we children force him?”

Zuo Shaobai looked to the sky and thought for a short while. “Is it because of Mother?”

Zuo Wenjuan shook her head. “I… I don’t know.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “You know, you just won’t tell me…” He paused, then suddenly his tone became severe. “Big Sis, You are our parents’ daughter, am I not our parents’ son? You and Big Bro know, why won’t you tell me?”

Zuo Wenjuan was in an awkward situation. She held her little brother’s wrist but couldn’t speak, tears spilling one by one like pearls from a broken string.

Zuo Shaobai saw his big sister was simply crying and his doubts grew. He knew if he didn’t press her, she would never say it. He shook off Zuo Wenjuan’s hand forcefully and said seriously, “Big Sister, if Dad and Mom really did something bad to let down the whole martial world, then we’ll suffer with Father and Mother and stick our necks out and receive our execution and die with no regrets. But if they hatched some trumped up charge and put it on Dad and Mom, then we must keep one us alive and well to exonerate Father and Mother.”

Zuo Wenjuan, sobbing, said, “Little Bro, you’re right, you must remember that well.”

Zuo Shaobai raised his voice. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll let you watch me die in front of you!” He leapt up and sprinted up the cliff.

Grotesquely shaped rocks jutted out on the cliff, and they were overgrown with moss, plus the rain had rinsed them, making them slippery and hard to get a foothold. Plus, Zuo Shaobai intentionally picked a dangerous spot to climb. Overlooking a deep valley, one misstep and a fall and one’s body would be pulverized and their bone’s shattered for sure.

Zuo Wenjuan could only looked and her heart shattered. She called out, “Little Bro, get down from their quick, Big Sis will tell you.”

Zuo Shaobai turned and jumped down. When he was close to Zuo Wenjuan he quickly tried to plant his feet on the mountain rock.

Zuo Shaobai’s martial arts was the weakest of the siblings. Zuo Jianbai feared that passing on his martial arts skills to him would only hurt his future since his bone structure was unusually good, so he didn’t dare pass on any skills lightly, he just taught him some basic internal force breathing techniques and a few of the best sword techniques so that he could protect himself while they were on the run. But he never taught him any lightness skills, so just now when his impulsiveness burst and his ample internal strength, he was able to climb the treacherous mountain. But when he jumped down he didn’t use the right amount of force and landed on the mossy rocks and immediately lost his balance and slipped off and fell.

Zuo Wenjuan cried in fear and shot her right hand out and grabbed Zuo Shaobai’s right wrist.

Zuo Shaobai’s downward momentum was very strong, and though Zuo Wenjuan latched onto her little brother’s right wrist, the momentum yanked her, and she was not able to get a stable footing, and she slid down.

Hastily, Zuo Wenjuan suddenly shot her foot out and hooked onto the trunk of a pine tree a few spans away to stop her falling momentum. She pulled up with all her might and dragged Zuo Shaobai up.

Brother and sister had had a dangerous scare, and though they were both okay, Miss Juan was so frightened her face was pale and she had broken out in a cold sweat all over, her hands still gripping Zuo Shaobai’s right wrist, shaking violently, herself unable to speak.

Zuo Shaobai knew she was badly shaken, as if finding it difficult to decide what to do. He raised his voice, “Big Sister, are you going to say it or not?”

Zuo Wenjuan wiped the cold sweat from her brow. “I’ll say it, I’ll say it. But, this is all stuff I’ve pieced together over the years from listening to Dad. I’m afraid my knowledge is limited…”

Zuo Shaobai said, “Then just tell me what you know!”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “It has to do with Mother’s good name and integrity, so Dad didn’t ever talk about it in front of us.”

Zuo Shaobai’s face changed slightly, eyes widening. “How does it have to do with Mother’s good name? Hurry up and tell me!”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Don’t get excited, let Big Sis tell it slowly. Apparently Mother received a secret letter and left quietly. Dad went to look for Mother and came to Mists & Clouds Peak on White Horse Mountain and just happened to find four of the heads of the Nine Major Schools of the martial world slain, which led to a big misunderstanding and this gross injustice.”

Zuo Shaobai heaved a long sigh. “And then?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Dad was brought up and trained by Maternal Grandfather, whose kindness was like the mountains and the sea. He not only passed on all of his superlative skills to Dad, he also betrothed his only daughter to Dad and let him take over the White Crane Sect, inheriting his robe and almsbowl…”8

Zuo Shaobai said, “Yeah, Dad was grateful for Maternal Grandfather’s affection and could never bear to do the slightest harm to Mother. Even though he suffered this gross injustice cause all the martial world to pursue and try to kill him, yet he was not willing to spread the true story and hurt Mother’s reputation.”

Zuo Wenjuan nodded at first, then shook her head. “No, no, I’ve seen the love and affection between Dad and Mom. They’ve never had even the slightest quarrel. I fear there’s something else behind Mother leaving a letter and leaving.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “Why did Mother leave a letter and leave? Was there anything strange beforehand?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “At that time Big Sis was still little, just beginning to understand things, but so far as I remember, there wasn’t anything strange in the days leading up to that. I once asked Big Brother in secret, asking him to recollect how things were when Mother left, whether there were any strange omens…” She suddenly stopped talking.

Zuo Shaobai asked, “What did Big Brother say?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Big Brother said he… he saw a person dressed all in yellow give a secret letter to Mother’s personal handmaid. That evening, Mother left behind a letter and left.”

Zuo Shaobai looked to the sky and heaved a long sigh but kept silent.

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Little Bro, you mustn’t suspect Dad and Mom. Dad is frank and upright, of indomitable spirit. He would never plot to murder the heads of four of the major schools. Besides, those four heads are some of the best in the martial world. Dad could never be their match all by himself.”

Zuo Shaobai gazed at his big sister’s face but said nothing.

Zuo Wenjuan sighed lightly. “Mother is gentle and kind and virtuous, deeply in love with Dad. She would never do something to wrong Dad.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “Then it’s the Nine Major Schools who are in the wrong.”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Until the truth comes to light, Big Sis doesn’t dare engage in wild talk. Fortunately, Dad left behind a clue. In the days to come we can use the clues and it shouldn’t be hard to find out the truth.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “I want to ask Mother why she left a letter behind and ran out.”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “Little Bro, don’t be impudent, Dad must have his reasons for not explaining this matter to us. Ai! Right now the most important thing is for you to take good care of yourself. Dad and Mom have their hopes set on you, saying you are naturally bright and gifted. In the coming days, exonerating Dad and Mom and restoring the prestige of the White Crane Sect rests all on you, Little Brother!”

Zuo Shaobai laughed sadly. “The whole martial world is our enemy, how are we to requite such enmity?”

Zuo Wenjuan’s expression was serious. “Little Brother, as a man’s son, how can you slight and insult Dad and Mother?”

Zuo Shaobai said, “I know, in all the world, there’s no one who doesn’t have a father and a mother.” He felt his blood and qi surge up in his heart and couldn’t help but shed tears.

Zuo Wenjuan said gently, “Little Bro, Big Sis is a few years older than you. These eight years on the run has made me learn a lot of things. Dad is honest, Mother is virtuous and dignified, they would never plot against others…”

In the distance they heard a raging shout, “Little Sister Juan? What are you standing there for instead of taking Little Brother on ahead?” Though his words were tactful, his low voice was brimming with agitation and grief and indignation!

Zuo Wenjuan didn’t need to look up to know if was Zuo Jibai’s voice. In a low voice she said, “Little Bro, let’s go!” She led Zuo Shaobai and they climbed up the mountain.

They ran for a bit, but Zuo Shaobai couldn’t bear the anxiety in his heart. “Big Sis, let’s look back and see how things are, then go!”

How could Zuo Wenjuan not keep thinking about her parents and big brother, but she felt the weight of her responsibility to get her littler brother out of danger was heavy, so she forced down the anxiety in her chest. But with Zuo Shaobai’s suggestion, she couldn’t resist any longer. She stopped and turned back to look.

Amidst the wind and rain they saw blades flash, Zuo Jianbai in the middle, Mother on the right, and Big Brother on the left, gold sabre, sword, whip forming a detailed sheet of dazzling rays of light, fighting and falling back.

A dozen masterhands of the martial world hot on their tails, a big and tall monk leading the way, crescent moon spade in hand dancing and waving, attacking right up the middle, too bold to ward off.

On the monk’s left was a short person with an iron shield in his left hand, a short sabre in his right. He would leap up more than a stave then land and stick close to the ground and attack, flitting around like a nimble swallow, leaping between the mountain rocks, and loosing incredibly cunning strikes.

On the right was a middle-aged Daoist wielding a sword, his strokes unusually vicious.

The three of them led the group in the vanguard of a pressing attack.

Zuo Shaobai said, “Big Sis, is that monk from Shaolin?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “A year ago I fought with Big Brother against that person. I was almost wounded by his crescent moon spade. That monk is incredibly brave and fierce, one of Shaolin’s masterhands with the great reputation.”

Zuo Shaobai said, “That Daoist on the right and that shorty who looks like he’s flying, Big Sis, do you recognize them?”

Zuo Wenjuan said, “How could I not. They have all fought with Dad and Mom before. That Daoist’s religious name is Gold Bell, one of the masterhands of Wudang. His swordsmanship is superb and was famous for a time, That shorty is a masterhand of the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) Sect called Flying Elder Hu Mei. Ai! With those people all joined together, this battle will be hard for Dad and Mom and Big Brother to fend off.”

As she spoke, Zuo Jianbai had already fallen back three staves or so.

Zuo Wenjuan suddenly pulled Zuo Shaobai’s right wrist in alarm. “Little Bro, let’s go quickly!”

They heard a raspy voice shout, “Zuo Jianbai, why don’t you drop your weapons and submit to capture? Do you really want to end up a corpse on this desolate mountain?”

Zuo Wenjuan and Zuo Shaobai were running ahead, but they still heard everything clearly.

Zuo Jianbai brought his gold sabre in tight to block the monk’s crescent moon spade. “Us husband and wife, father and children, the whole family, have been hounded by you, on the run for eight years. Are you all really not willing slacken even one step?”

The big and tall monk laughed coldly. “My humble school’s abbot was killed by you. This grudge, this hate, should I not avenge it?”

In the din of voices a louder voice emerged, “Greatmaster, why bother wasting your breath on him? This person is impenetrably thickheaded and commits all kinds of evil, how could he ever bow his head in submission and admit guilt?”

Another voice followed, “Don’t take his life, we need to capture him alive.”

Yet another voice, “Killing him with one stroke would be too good for him.”

Right after that a voice roared like a bell, “If Zuo Jianbai dies, how can the mystery of the four headmasters’ murders ever be solved? It will be difficult to bring everything to light. Do not take his life no matter what!”

All these shouts and abuse, each word was like a knife or a sword piercing Zuo Shaobai’s heart. His blood was up and he was unspeakably pained and angered.

Zuo Wenjuan could feel her little brother’s wrist trembling uncontrollably. She drew in her perfected qi at once and exerted all her strength to pull Zuo Shaobai along as they ran ahead.

In one fell swoop they crossed two mountain peaks. Zuo Wenjuan was tired and drenched with sweat, panting nonstop. She pricked up her ears, but she could no longer hear the sounds of clashing weapons.

She turned to look and saw Zuo Shaobai’s face ashen, brows pinched in wrathful indignation, still trembling uncontrollably. Clearly he had not calmed down but gotten even more and more worked up.

Zuo Wenjuan was astonished and said gently, “Little Bro, what’s the matter?”

Zuo Shaobai said, “If I don’t ask what really happened I will not be able to die content…” He coughed up a mouthful of blood and flopped in Zuo Wenjuan’s arms, crying out and sobbing.

Zuo Wenjuan had long since stored up melancholy and pain and grief in her heart, but her desperate life of wandering on the run had taught her how to bear it. Now Zuo Shaobai’s sobs were too much and her stored up melancholy and pain and grief were too hard to suppress and the two of them weeped in each other’s arms.

Who knows how much time passed before Zuo Shaobai was pulled to his feet by a pair of hands and a low, affectionate voice sounded in his ears. “Child, how can a real man shed tears so easily. Don’t cry!”

Zuo Shaobai looked up and was dumbstruck.

Zuo Jianbai’s left cheek was badly mangled, blood dripping down and staining his upper robe through bloodred. His whole person was bloody.

Mother seemed to be seriously wounded, the robe at her left shoulder split open, blood and rain soaking her sleeve completely.

Zuo Jibai’s right arm had a blade wound, exposing flesh and blood, and his left thigh had a nasty cut that was bleeding nonstop.

It was a tableau of blood, bleak and miserable, tragic and stirring, shaking him to his core.


Commentary

Elmore Leonard cautioned to “never open a book with weather”, but wuxia authors never read his 10 Rules. Starting with describing the weather, what season it is, where the first scene is set, is probably the most common opening in all of wuxia fiction. It’s useful in this novel in setting the tone.

A gloomy, dismal overcast day, drizzling rain, perfectly matching how the characters we’re about to be introduced to feel. The words we use matter, the descriptions one decides to include in a piece of writing matter (or should anyway). I think it’s significant that Wolong Sheng has it drizzling to start off, rather than pouring down rain. There’s something about an overcast day just spitting rain that is more bleak and dreary than a downpour. I think it’s because if there is a downpour than you are quick to find shelter, to get in and out of the rain, but when it’s drizzling you can kinda just stay out in it, being miserable. And miserable is what Wolong Sheng is going for.

Then we have detailed descriptions of each of the five characters we will spend the chapter with. Again the details matter here. Notice how Zuo Jibai, the oldest son, is also the muddiest. He’s the one who we later learn always takes care of the horses when the family stops for a rest. He’s always trying to carry the load. His sister, Zuo Wenjuan, even states that he has it the worst out of them all. So it makes sense that he is the muddiest. She too, is quite filthy, and she is also just as committed to carrying a burden as her older brother. We see that especially toward the end of the chapter.

The mother, who is annoyingly never named, is wounded, as is Zuo Wenjuan, whose wound is quite serious though she tries to downplay it. The father, Zuo Jianbai, has a fresh cut or two as well. Meanwhile, there’s Zuo Shaobai in the front, not wounded, not even dirty. He’s wearing blue silk while we can’t even tell what color his older brother’s clothes are because of the mud. It’s easy to pass over this detail when you first read it, but Wolong Sheng knew what he was doing. Zuo Shaobai is spotless and unharmed because the family has always been protecting him. He’s not even been taught martial arts aside from a few defense moves. He’s the hope of the family, and so he rides in front because their enemies are chasing them—and therefore behind them—so Zuo Shaobai will be safer riding point.

As they ride and later when they rest in the temple, we learn through conversations what’s going on: they are being chased by pretty much the entire martial world 武林, and have been on the run for eight years. “Eight years” is repeated many times throughout the first chapter, repetitive and plodding, just like there long, arduous journey has been. The repetition of “eight years” emphasizes and reinforces how much they’ve been through. I found it really touching when Zuo Wenjuan sizes up her brother and comments on how much he’s grown. His entire remembered life has been on the run, so that he cannot remember anything else but running.

The interactions between the siblings and between husband and wife make us care about this family and what they’re going through. There’s something to be said for taking your time and letting the reader get to know the characters before introducing the inciting incident. In this case, we know what the inciting incident is. This is a wuxia novel after all, where revenge is one of the most common tropes, so we can guess what is coming. But if the novel had just opened with that deaths of Zuo Shaobai’s parents then it wouldn’t hit as hard as it will (in the next chapter).

Another piece of common writing advice is to avoid infodumps. You don’t want to just unload backstory on the reader, especially not at the beginning before the reader really has good cause to care about and want to follow along with the characters. Familiarizing the reader with the characters early as Wolong Sheng does here helps, but he still needs to find a way to tell us what is going without taking us out of the story—which an infodump can do if it’s just paragraph after paragraph of information interrupting a dramatic scene.

Wolong Sheng gives us the information through conversation, and this can be tricky. Another common flaw is having characters talk to each other about things they both already know and have no particular reason to be discussing. If they both already know it, why are they suddenly talking about it? Here, we have an out: Zuo Shaobai doesn’t know the full story behind why the martial world is after them, and not knowing the details for so long bothers him. Admittedly, it is a bit of a stretch that Zuo Shaobai has been going along all these years without asking for the details until now. That does feel a little bit “because plot that’s why”, but I can overlook that. But he doesn’t know the details and neither do we, the reader, so there’s some mystery there. His father is finally just about to tell us when the enemy arrives.

Speaking of mystery, we have the Bridge of Life and Death. Wuxia is full of strange locations, be it castles with a lot of booby traps, mysterious valleys, cliffs, tombs, etc. Here we have a bridge that is trapped in black fog and is impossible to cross aside from a lucky few. We will learn in the next chapter more about its lore, but we already know enough here to make us want to read the next chapter. The fact that it’s almost impossible to cross it alive makes the family’s journey even more desperate because it is almost doomed to fail. Except that this is a novel, and as the saying goes, “Without coincidences there is no story”, so we expect someone here to be able to cross the bridge, just like whenever a character jumps or falls off a cliff in wuxia novels you know they will live (and will probably miraculously cough conveniently cough land near some magical fruit or a cave with a secret martial arts manual or something, etc).

So this first chapter has just about all you could want. Sets the tone, giving us this serious, moody atmosphere, we get to know the family and therefore care what happens to them. Look at Zuo Wenjuan toward the end of the chapter. Responsible for taking care of her younger brother and seeing him to safety, yet also worried herself but having to suppress it, until can’t anymore and finally breaks down crying, this after shrugging off a wound that might cost her an arm, trying to be brave.

How can you not love her?

Or Zuo Jibai, forcing his younger brother and sister to go on ahead, then turning around to help his parents, knowing he’s not going to make it. Passing on the sect’s sword to his younger brother beforehand. Or the father not wanting to tell the secret and thus spare his wife’s reputation. We like this family and want them to make it out safely, despite knowing they won’t. This sense of tragedy makes the revenge theme mean something. We want Zuo Shaobai to get to the bottom of it and get justice for his parents and clear their names. We want the hypocrites doggedly chasing them to get what’s coming to them.

The Bridge of Life and Death adds another bit of mystery that we want to find out more about, and how about the little subversion of expectations at the end, when his parents and brother come back, bloodied but not dead? I didn’t expect that when I read it. I thought there were already goners. Ultimately we know what his parents’ fate will be (because revenge plot requires it), but seeing them still alive at the end of the chapter was a nice little surprise. It’s pleasurable to have expectations subvertd if done so plausibly.

We care about the characters.
We know their plight and what they will have to do in the future (therefore where the story is heading).
We have a bit of mystery with the bridge and the details of what his father and especially the mother did.

So we have a successful chapter. Who’s gonna read that first chapter and not want to read the second?

The novel keeps delivering too. The next few chapters are just the perfect revenge formula plot setup. The main character survives (obviously) and then has to learn martial arts, and the process of that is satisfying. You couldn’t ask for a better opening to a wuxia novel.

I think the lesson to take from this first chapter is:

Make the reader care about the character(s) and let the reader know what is going on and where the story is headed, so that they will want to follow.


Notes

  1. This is a self-address. She’s not his handmaid though, she’s his wife.
  2. 金風 (jinfeng), literally metal wind. Means the autumn wind, but since its being kicked up by the spade I decided to translate it literally as metal. Metal is one of the Five Agents along with wood, earth, fire, and water, and it symbolizes the west, autumn, and the color white.
  3. A single-edged sword with a broad blade similar to a machete. The back of the blade, the unsharpened side, is lined with gold.
  4. Heroic tears is just a descriptor for when men cry.
  5. Crying tears of blood is a metaphor for being especially grief-stricken, but here it is rendered literally.
  6. 鐵鞭 (tiebian). This is often translated as truncheon, mace, cudgel, rod, club, etc., but the Chinese word is unambiguously whip. It is a truncheon-like weapon, with protrusions like bamboo segments running down the shaft. It’s called a whip because Chinese horse whips traditionally were not soft flicky things like crops or dressage whips, but were rigid sticks. The Indiana Jones style whips, like the one Zuo Jibai uses, is called a “soft whip” 軟鞭 (ruanbian) in Chinese.
  7. 杜鵑 (dujuan), the large hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides), named after ancient Shu king Du Yu, whose soul was said to turn into the bird after losing his death and cry nonstop, and when its tears were exhausted it cried blood until it died. It has a russet-colored chest reminiscent of blood. It’s literary use usually refers to grief, as it is used here.
  8. 衣缽 (yibo), robe and almsbowl are the items a monk would hand down to his favored disciple as a symbol of the transmission of legitimate succession.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments