Chapter 3
Open Fighting
(1)
News of the death of Ouyang Changshou and his son and daughter-in-law rocked the marital world north of the Yangtze.
Word went around one after another, and in the rumors, Sima Qianjun and his son Sima Cheng were the murderers.
Sima Qianjun and Ouyang Changshou didn’t have a good relationship, but there had never been any enmity between them. In fact, Sima Qianjun was always very upright and decent to others, and his son has something of a reputation as a xia, so those who heard the rumors didn’t quite believe it. Yet those who spoke it did so on good grounds, as if they had personally witnessed it, and so those who heard it were convinced, and the entire Jiangbei area was watching for events to unfold.
The Sima family had no small power and influence, but it was a cut below the Ouyang and Zhao families, all the more so since the Ouyangs and Zhaos were allied together.
Sima Qianjun’s friends were all worried for him.
But Sima Qianjun lay in his sickbed.
Very few knew the Sima family’s situation, so no one knew what Sima Qianjun thought of all this. However, friends of the jianghu all knew that Sima Qianjun was a man of iron. If he had done it he would never equivocate, and if he hadn’t done it he would just say one thing: “I never did such a thing!” He would never back down because his adversary was powerful.
What the jianghu knew was that Sima Qianjun was not one to run away or hide. He wouldn’t do that, and neither would his son.
Though it was a clear, crisp autumn day, clouds of war brewed over the Jiangbei region.
This war was likely to be a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering war. There were many busybodies in the jianghu, and they hurried from all over to the Luoyang and Zhongzhou regions for fear of missing out on this big battle the likes of which had not been seen in years.
(2)
Ouyang Changshou’s body had not yet been buried, but adepts of the Zhao family of Hebei had already converged at Ouyang Manor, not just Zhao Rongguo’s seven disciples, but also his four daughters and three sons-in-law.
Ouyang Manor hadn’t as much manpower as the Zhaos, but the manor was full of adepts, but a force is maintained for a thousand days to be used in just one hour and as soon as they were loosed it would be like a ferocious tiger freed of its cage, and let loose in the jianghu it would be a force not to be ignored.
Not even the major sects of the jianghu could say they could win an easy victory over the combine forces of the two families, much less the minuscule Sima Manor.
At Ouyang Manor, everyone was totally confident. What was even more frightening was that they were in high fighting spirit and were an intimidating presence.
What else in the world had more power than the thirst for revenge powered by grief and indignation? On the fourth day after Ouyang Changshou was buried, a contingent of troops was mustered at Ouyang Manor to set out on an expedition.
Among them was Peng Gongzhi, Zi Cuique, “Wind & Cloud Sabre” Gu Yipiao, “Soul-severing Spear” Mai Hao, and Cui Yishan. On the road, Peng Gongzhi laughed and chatted with Mai Hao. only Cui Yishan was melancholy. He was like his name, seemingly keeping a mountain within himself.
Sima Qianjun’s manor house was situated in the east of Zhengzhou City. The army entered the city through the western gates and advanced eastward in formidable array.
“Great Xia of Zhongzhou” Cui Yishan didn’t stop when he passed by his own home. All the way he brought up the rear, but once in Zhongzhou he gradually picked up the pace and was quickly in the front.
Now he was in the vanguard, like the commander of an army.
Sima Manor was obviously inferior to Ouyang Manor, but there were still at least over a hundred people living there, though now it unusually quiet.
The tiger sun of autumn brought out its sweltering heat to the fullest and just after noon the sun seemed about to burn everything and everyone to death.
When the army arrived in Zhengzhou it stopped at various spots in the city to recruit doughty warriors to add to its ranks and formed a long stream of people.
This stream of people surged toward Sima Manor. Cui Yishan’s steps gradually slowed, as if his feet weighed a thousand catties, and the sweat on his forehead dripped like a rivulet.
Finally they arrived at Sima Manor. Everyone was keyed up. They all knew that ever since this incident had transpired, Sima Qianjun and his whole family, from the man himself on down to his servants, had not stepped one foot out of the main entrance. No one had even seen one of the Sima Manor servants buying provisions out on the street.
Like they were all lying at home waiting for death.
Zhao Rongguo, as a matter of course, was the commander-in-chief of the two families’ force. He nodded a signal to Zhan Tianhong, who immediately stepped out of the crowd.
“The family of the deceased of the Ouyangs of Luoyang have called to punish the criminal. We ask Sima Qianjun to come out and accept his punishment!” He used his internal energy to boost his voice, which was loud but not shrill and carried a long way.
The main gates creaked open and a young family servant came out and said loudly, “Master has been bedridden in recent years. He says that the jianghu rumors are in grave error! Master has not stepped one foot outside this manor since last autumn, may we ask how he could have gone to Luoyang and killed someone?”
Zhao Rongguo said sternly, “Who knows if he’s really sick or not!”
Blue veins bulged in the young man’s forehead and it was some time before he calmed down. “Whether or not Master is really sick can be verified by ‘Bian Que’s Rival’ Lu Santie here in the city!”
Lu Santie was not only a celebrated national champion, but was also partly a man of the jianghu. Of course his martial arts was good, but more importantly he was a paragon of medical ethics. Not a few men of the martial world had paid him a visit seeking treatment and none had left emptyhanded, so he was quite prestigious.
Zhao Rongguo said, “Maybe he stole out once his condition improved, went to Luoyang, and killed someone and came back.”
The young man’s expression turned somewhat angry. “Manorlord’s status within the martial world is not ordinary. Your forced, fallacious argument is disappoint to youngsters like me!”
Zhao Rongguo’s face reddened, but he said calmly, “Boy, I didn’t come here today to squabble with you. Run along and get an adult out here!”
“I a word, the entire manor is sorry about the deaths of the Ouyang manorlord and his son. But it was not Manorlord Sima’s doing!”
Zhan Tianhong suddenly cut in, “Sima Qianjun is bedridden, you said Senior Lu can testify to that. For now we’ll believe you, but Sima Cheng is not sick! Why did he leave without bidding farewell if not because of a wicked heart’s guilty conscience?”
The young man said angrily, “If others left without bidding farewell would your esteemed manor go off to kill them as well? All I know is that Ouyang Changshou is a senior of the marital world, but he’s not the ole emperor himself. You telling me that leaving without bidding farewell is punishable by extermination of the nine generations?”
Zhan Tianhong was taken aback, then he suddenly got angry. “Alright, you’re a smooth talker alright, so then why does your family head not come out and see us? Is that how your esteemed manor treats its guests? You see, these people here are less than 1/4 of the Ouyang Manor and Zhao Manor!”
The young man was still neither haughty nor humble. “Our humble manor has always acted as you give us one span we’ll give you back a stave. Master says your esteemed manors are stirring up trouble willfully, too quick to lose your heads. Such people are not suitable to see! The others are just here to help the strong eliminate the weak, playing bit roles, watching the spectacle, getting their kicks from watching others fight against each other!” He scoffed twice and continued, “Master says that this sort of person is even more not worth him hobbling out on crutches to see. That’s what he said, you all are advised to go on back!” With that, he darted inside the doors and slammed them shut with a bang.
Zhan Tianhong leapt forward but snatched only air!
Everyone wore looks of shame at the young man’s words, Zhao Rongguo in an even more awkward position. He fumed and his bullish temper flared up and he without any scruples at all turned to his eldest son-in-law, Wu Changle, and said, “Changle, open that door for me!”
Wu Changle was in his thirties. He called over a few underlings and they all went up and smashed open the doors of Sima Manor.
The door planks fell to the ground in a loud clatter.
Zhao Rongguo yelled, “Charge! Don’t let any Sima slip away!”
Cui Yishan said, “Manorlord Zhao, this crime has a chief culprit. Right now it’s best to find Sima Qianjun and make him explain everything clearly, we can’t slaughter innocents at will.”
Zhao Rongguo looked at him, then turned and yelled, “Surround the place first, just don’t let anyone leave!”
“Thank you, Manorlord, for your kindheartedness!”
Zhao Rongguo gave a wry smile, “Great Xia Cui, don’t thank me yet, this old rotter doesn’t want to kill innocents, but once we get that old fool Sima out here, don’t blame this old rotter for being merciless!” With that, the two of them entered the courtyard.
The flowers and plants in the courtyard were withered. Clearly no one had watered them in a while. Zhao Rongguo blurted out, “Don’t tell me the old fool abandoned his family and fled!”
As soon as he said that a hoarse voice sounded from inside, “Zhao Rongguo, don’t you look down on me, Sima Qianjun fears nothing!” A towering old man with white hair and beard emerged from the inner hall, supported by a woman in her fifties.
Cui Yishan stepped forward and said acridly, “Brother Sima, what… what about your illness?”
Anyone could tell that Sima Qianjun was severely ill, especially Cui Yishan. In the past Sima Qianjun had been as majestic as a lion, really possessing the strength to lift a thousand thirty-weights,1 but now he was like a guttering candle in the wind.
Sima Qianjun said coldly, “It hasn’t killed your old Brother Sima yet!”
“Brother Sima go back and rest!”
Sima Qianjun threw his head back and laughed, but he was stopped short by hacking coughs. Sima Qianjun just about coughed himself to death. All present feared that he would bust a gut coughing. His wife quickly smacked his back with her fist.
“Unfortunately someone won’t let me rest!” When his coughing finally stopped, Sima Qianjun could finally speak again.
Zhao Rongguo cleared his throat. “Sima Qianjun, you and I have been good friends for decades, we know each other’s personality. If I didn’t strongly suspect your son, I would never waste the manpower on this.”
Sima Qianjun burst out scoffing. “I’ve long held Manorlord Ouyang’s martial arts in high regard and have wanted to have a test of arms with him, but I never had the confidence of winning, so there was never an opportunity. My pup is ignorant and incompetent and has the mediocre kungfu of a three-legged cat, how could he be able to enter Ouyang Manor? To put the suspicion of murder on my pup’s head, not even a three-year-old would believe it!”
Zhao Rongguo said coldly, “I gather that even if he began practicing martial arts as soon as he was out of the womb he’d still be only half as good as my grandson.” He paused, then said sternly, “I’m here today to call him to account for the murder of my grandson and his wife!”
“What a joke! Would my pup have any reason to kill your grandson?”
“Yes! He courted my daughter’s daughter-in-law without success, so his malice rose and he hid away in the bridal chamber in the middle of the night and stabbed them with a sword without warning!”
“Too bad my pup has never used a sword.”
“Normally doesn’t use a sword, but does when he murders, so it’s not suspicious? Where is he now? Get him out here, or else don’t blame this old man for being impolite!”
Sima Qianjun went through another bout of coughing, then said plainly, “Manorlord is already being impolite, am I supposed to be afraid? My son is a gentleman, how could he come out and meet a bunch of lunatics?”
“Bah!” Zhao Rongguo raged. “Old fool you’re just covering for your son while snapping at people. I’m not about to go back emptyhanded!”
Sima Qianjun burst out laughing again. “Sima Qianjun’s life is right here, come take it if you can!”
Zhao Rongguo said in clear, loud voice, “Since you’re ill, if I can’t beat you within fifty moves I will go back home and never get involved in this matter again!”
“Old fool Zhao, don’t get arrogant! I may be sick, but you still don’t have the ability to defeat me!”
Cui Yishan said urgently, “Manorlord Zhao and Brother Sima, please listen to me for a moment. Lordson Sima no doubt is a suspect in Lordson Ouyang’s death, but there’s no conclusive proof yet. Can’t we investigate first, and when that’s done, if Lordson Sima really is the killer, then it won’t be too late to deal with it then.”
Sima Qianjun’s wife, Han Xuexiang, heard this and said, “Great Xia Cui is right. The Zhaos are using their power to bully others and spreading a pack of lies. Might we not ask what evidence they have, what witness testimony, to prove that my son is the murderer?”
Zhao Rongguo said, “The reasoning couldn’t be simpler. He killed out of jealousy, what could be more cause for suspicion than that? If everything needed witnesses and proof, then this would become a world of murderers!”
“If you don’t demand proof, then the world will become the Land of Unjustly Died!”
“If you believe your son is not the murderer, then why don’t you call him out here so it can be verified in person?”
Han Xuexiang was tongue-tied at that. Zhao Rongguo roared with laughter.
“I won’t let my pup see you all,” Sima Qianjun said. “The reason is what this old man just said. Zhao Rongguo, did you heed Great Xia Cui’s suggestion or not?”
“I won’t!” Zhao Rongguo said to Cui Yishan, “Brother Cui you’ve a noble character, I’ve always admired you, but today there’s no saving the situation, unless Sima Qianjun hands Sima Cheng over!”
Sima Qianjun raged, “No more idle talk, this old man means what he says, I’ll never alter it! Today if you have something good to say or ask, this old man can think it over, but if I were to agree to your demands now with you provoking me at my door, people will laugh and say Sima Qianjun is a turtle shrinking into his shell.”
“In that case, let me help you out!”
Sima Qianjun pushed his wife away and stood supporting himself with his left hand on his crutch.
Han Xuexiang was in tears and fidgeting. She whispered, “Qianjun, you…”
“Don’t say anything, this is about my reputation!”
Han Xuexiang knew his temper. Once he’d decided on something he wouldn’t change his mind if he were struck by lightning. With a sigh she took a few steps to the side.
Zhao Siniang just then stepped out of the crowd. “Bitch, don’t just stand there, give me my son’s life back!” She drew her willowleaf sabres and assumed an attacking stance.
Han Xuexiang said angrily, “Shrew, with your malicious slander, you’re no better than a rabid dog!” She drew her short swords and held them defensively before her chest.
The air became tense and thick, no one dared even take a deep breath.
(3)
“Hyah!” Zhao Rongguo attacked first. His nickname was “Iron Palm, Golden Sabre” and now before the crowd he was facing a gravely ill old man, so he really didn’t have the nerve to use his famous weapon but he was confident that only using his two iron fists was enough for him to beat Sima Qianjun within fifty moves.
When he yelled out, Sima Qianjun also yelled out and his right hand formed a fist that he sent toward Zhao Rongguo’s oncoming palm forcewind.
In an instant the two streams of strong, forceful qi collided in midair with a muffled thwump, Zhao Rongguo’s hair at his temples flapping along with his sleeves as he stood straight as a javelin. Sima Qianjun tottered like a swaying willow in the wind.
Zhao Rongguo’s confidence grew and he rapidly shot out another palm strike, this time using nine-tenths of his his true strength. Sima Qianjun could not withstand it even using all his body’s strength, and he staggered back three steps, his viscera churning, qi and blood in turmoil. He tasted something sweet in his throat and blood surged up into his mouth.
He forced the blood back down and swallowed it, not wanting to let Zhao Rongguo see that it would be difficult for him to continue fighting.
Zhao Siniang and Han Xuexiang was another matter. Two blades and two swords, rolling and tumbling over one another, advancing then retreating. They fought to a draw, but no one was watching them. They were all fixed on Zhao Rongguo and Sima Qianjun.
After the two palm strikes, Zhao Rongguo stole forward, left hand in a slashing cut at Sima Qianjun’s left arm, right hand flying forcefully at his chest.
Sima Qianjun couldn’t retreat, couldn’t dodge, but since he couldn’t retreat or dodge he tightened his left fist and shot it pounding straight out at Zhao Rongguo’s chest, fierce and violent and heedless of everything.
This was a technique for mutual defeat, the saying that one man risking his life cannot be stopped by 10,000 men! Zhao Rongguo hmphed angrily and darted back.
Victory was in his grasp, why would he meet mutual destruction with Sima Qianjun?
After retreating he advanced again at once, right palm still striking ferociously at Sima Qianjun’s chest, left hand guarding his own.
Sima Qianjun’s expression changed and his right fist shot straight out and his crutch suddenly came up at an angle changing now to hit Zhao Rongguo’s “Sun Acupoint” on his temple.
Zhao Rongguo’s right palm didn’t alter course as his left hand came up to block. Just then, Sima Qianjun’s crutch suddenly flew up from the ground and swiftly struck his opponent’s “Jade Armillary Acupoint” in a whoosh of strong wind.
Though he was a bit slow raising his hand, the crutch was longer than an arm, and it reached Zhao Rongguo’s chest just has Rongguo’s hand reached his.
Zhao Rongguo was caught off guard and tool a deep breath and moved back again.
After moving back he advanced once more, this time not attacking fiercely but taking a kiting approach, which Sima Qianjun promptly dealt with, with some difficulty, beads of sweat as big as soybeans streaming down his forehead.
Zhao Rongguo launched thirty moves and Sima Qianjun dealt thirty punches, each one the same, every one striking at a place Zhao Rongguo needed to save.
Han Xuexiang was concerned for her husband’s safety and kept looking over at him so that she couldn’t concentrate. Zhao Siniang’s sabrelight was all over her as she advanced step by step, taking the upper hand.
After ten more moves, Sima Qianjun was in imminent danger. Zhao Rongguo suddenly hmphed, left palm imprinting itself on Sima Qianjun’s chest, right hand grabbing the old man’s crutch.
Sima Qianjun forced up a mouthful of perfected qi and circulated his remaining energy, still battering straight ahead at Zhao Rongguo’s chest.
As soon as he attacked he saw a blur before him, Zhao Rongguo already dodging to the side, left wrist turning and coming on as before.
Sima Qianjun hurriedly turned around, but he was just not as quick as Zhao Rongguo, so to make up for it his crutch angled at his opponent’s ribs.
Zhao Rongguo stuck his left foot out, right hand following with a slanting chop, knocking the crutch away, at the same time his left foot hooking forcefully and Sima Qianjun nearly lost his footing, tottering, shoulder hit by Zhao Rongguo’s left palm strike and he was knocked away!
Cries of alarm came up from the crowd and Cui Yishan said urgently, “Manorlord Zhao, have mercy!”
Sima Qianjun hit the ground and he immediately spat out a big mouthful of blood. Though he didn’t die immediately, he had no more strength to continue fighting.
He cried out savagely and circulated his last remaining shred of energy and slammed his fist into his own head and brain matter burst out.
Again cried of alarm from the crowd. Sima Qianjun’s staunch temper was true to its reputation. He’d rather die on the spot than be humiliated.
When cries of alarm rang out, Han Xuexiang unconsciously turned to look, and because her hands therefore slowed, Zhao Siniang’s sabre chopped into her left shoulder with immense force, and Han Xuexiang’s whole arm fell to the dust.
She didn’t feel any pain at all and forgot that her opponent’s other sabre was closing in.
A long shout erupted from Han Xuexiang’s mouth and she ran over and threw herself on Sima Qianjun, dead on the ground. “Qianjun, wait for me!”
Zhao Siniang was stunned and forgot to go intercept her.
Han Xuexiang sat by Sima Qianjun’s body, no tears staining her face, no pain, just grief and indignation. The crowd had not yet calmed down when the short sword in Han Xuexiang’s right hand sank into her heart!
× × ×
The sunlight was getting redder and redder, red as blood.
The ground was like a rug dyed with blood, and on the western horizon the setting sun was also like a hanging bloodred rug.
The battle between Zhao Rongguo and Sima Qianjun was not the amazing spectacle everyone had expected. On the contrary, it had a desolate, lonely feel to it.
Sima Qianjun’s words and deeds made the group ashamed, and with Han Xuexiang dead, they left hastily.
Cui Yishan had a heavy heart. He sighed and said, “Manorlord Zhao, you’ve had your revenge. Can I bury Brother Sima and his wife?”
Zhao Rongguo watched everyone leaving one after another and slowly nodded.
Cui Yishan picked up the bodies of Sima Qianjun and his wife and left.
Once he left, Gu Yipiao left as well, then Zi Cuique, and Peng Gongzhi.
In the blink of an eye everyone was gone except for the Zhao and Ouyang families.
Zhao Rongguo didn’t feel the joy of victory. His heart was heavy, he didn’t know if he had done the right thing or not!
Wu Changle said coldly, “Once the spectacle is over those people just leave!”
Zhao Siniang said, “It’s better they did leave, lest they become a hindrance.”
Zhao Rongguo walked slowly back to the manor. He turned and said, “You all go in and investigate thoroughly, see if that boy is hiding in there!” He paused and said sternly, “But, whatever you do, don’t bother the servants, lest we give them reason to attack us back!”
Wu Changle assented and led the group inside.
× × ×
There was no one in the inner chambers, and no one surrounding the place has discovered anyone leaving the manor, indicating that there must be a secret tunnel somewhere in the manor that led outside, but they couldn’t find the entrance to it.
Zhao Rongguo’s heart was in turmoil, much different than when he had arrived. He commanded in a low voice, “Let’s go” and turned and left.
Not long after they left, a column of dense smoke suddenly billowed out from within Sima Manor, and soon the entire estate was swallowed up in the flames.
Unfortunately, they never looked back and so never saw this.
The fire burned for one day and one night before stopping. By then, Zhao Rongguo was already more than a hundred miles away from Zhongzhou.
