Swords and Cudgels

Huajun managed to ward him off with a blow that glanced off the side of his head, and he stumbled. "Quick, hit him again! Hurry!" cried Granny Hong, hurling her last stone grimly. For once, it hit the mark, and as he winced Huajun brought the cudgel up in a swing as if it was a bat, hitting him smartly between the legs.

As the bandit keeled over with a groan of agony Granny Hong hurried up and kicked him over the edge, so enthusiastically she lost her own balance and fell over in the process. Suzhen's words echoed in her mind. Once down the slope it would be a while before they could make their way up to the main road again, and by then they would have safely gotten away.

Panting, she and Huajun turned to look at Suzhen fighting with the last bandit. The swords flashed; Suzhen managed to slash his tunic, and leaped back just in time. Startled, the bandit fell back, realizing that she was no simple opponent to deal with. They circled each other warily, eyes locked, neither making a move.

Huajun helped Granny Hong up and they watched on nervously.

"Madame Xu, look out!" blurted Huajun in terror as the bandit suddenly lunged forward with a snarl, driving his sword towards her.

Suzhen bent over backwards in a smooth, fluid motion, sliding under his blade as he lunged, and snatching up her own sword with a flick of her wrist, drove it under his arm into his chest.

The bandit's sword clattered to the ground and he made a spluttering, choking sound. Suzhen let go of the blade as it pierced through him, and jumped aside as he fell to the ground.

She dealt him a quick blow to the chest, knocking him off the edge as well, and sent the sword on the ground clattering after him with a nudge of her foot. Breathing heavily, she turned around to see Granny Hong and Huajun staring at her speechlessly.

There was a stunned silence, and then they burst out clapping feverishly.

"Suzhen, that was amazing!" Granny Hong shrieked. "We were all amazing! We beat the three of them, we beat all three of them!" She grabbed Huajun and shook her back and forth in her excitement.

"We didn't have any weapons, but we still managed to beat them!" Huajun shouted incredulously, waving the cudgel wildly.

Suzhen smiled as they grabbed her arms and pulled her into a riotous group hug, jumping up and down in a kind of dance for joy. "We didn't get robbed!" sang Granny Hong fervently. "We didn't get killed!" Huajun added, twirling the cudgel.

They looked expectantly at Suzhen. "Let's pick up our money," she suggested instead, pointing at the coins scattered over the ground.

"Oh yes, the money," muttered Granny Hong, and they hastily crouched down to gather up the coins.

"I love this," Huajun said, smacking the cudgel experimentally against her palm in much the same way the bandit had earlier. "Did you see how I knocked him over the side? Just like that! And that!" She swung the cudgel enthusiastically, nearly knocking out Granny Hong's teeth in the process.

Suzhen nodded approvingly. "You did very well! If you hadn't gotten rid of the first one so quickly, we might not have been able to beat all three of them. For a moment there I really wasn't sure if we could."

"And I never from the first imagined we could," added Granny Hong, shaking her head. She put her coins back into her worn little purse, carefully, and heaved a tremulous sigh. "You know, I thought our lives were over--for me, at least, and that you two poor young things were about to be raped, or sold as slaves, or sold to a brothel. Everyone knows what these bandits are like, the bastards. How could three women like ourselves expect anything else?"

She wiped the dust off her hands; they were still trembling slightly from the excitement. "But when I saw how the two of you worked so well together and were so brave, I realized perhaps we weren't doomed after all, and that thought gave me so much strength, I declare I felt stronger and younger than any of Physician Xu's medicine could possibly make me feel." She laughed, and proudly took their arms. "No one would believe us, but we actually beat three bandits! What a miracle. Huajun, my dear, I've never been so proud of your strong arms. If only your mother saw you just now dealing blows left and right, she would never complain again. And Suzhen--" she patted Suzhen's hand affectionately, "we would be dead or worse if not for you. Where did you learn to fight, and how did you know how to use a sword?"

Suzhen hesitated, and to her relief Huajun answered for her. "Don't you remember, Granny Hong, Miss Qing said that they were of highborn parents, it's not uncommon for people of their station to teach their daughters wushu! Madame Xu, you looked so impressive just now." she said warmly. "Like a true swordswoman of the martial arts world, a heroine of the jianghu! Wait till we tell everyone what happened. Oh, they won't believe us." She giggled. "Looks like I might have to demonstrate with this for them to see." Tenderly, she tucked the cudgel into her belt, the way the bandits had.

"You didn't get hurt by any chance, did you, Suzhen?" Granny Hong asked anxiously. Suzhen shook her head and smiled. "No. I'm just rather hungry now after all that."

Huajun's face lighted up. "Just the thing. Let's have a good meal to celebrate when we get to town--who cares about the cost at a time like this! It's not everyday that you beat three bandits. What should we have?"

Granny Hong tossed her head. "After such an amazing victory, we should eat whatever we want! I don't care what Yuanzheng will say. His old mother beat three bandits, and if he dares to nag me I'll--I'll throw a stone at him!"

They burst out laughing and set off again, shouldering their bundles once more.