Chapter 05 Shooting Down The Dragon

The sun was a hammer high in the sky, beating down on the dusty path. Sweat and grime streaked the faces of the four weary disciples of Jinfeng Sect, their robes clinging to their sweat-slicked skin. Lungs burned, legs screamed with exhaustion, but a desperate, fragile relief surged through them as they saw the familiar markers – they had finally reached the territory of Yong Sword Village. They stumbled to a halt, gasping, shoulders slumping, clutching at the belief that the brutal chase from the south was over. But their moment of hope shattered like glass. Without a warning sound, or perhaps just a chilling silence that swallowed the wind, their five relentless pursuers – the shadows who had dogged them all the way from the humid southern border into the heart of the Central Plains – were suddenly, terribly, there.

Red Mice said, his voice sharp and demanding, "Hand over the seal."

Kuo Changchang scoffed, her chin held high, "As of right now, I believe the army seal had made its way to the Chang'an already."

The five men began attacking the four members of the chased group. When the man in blue was about to hit one of the female juniors, a flying sword strike caught the man in blue off guard. Ten young martial artists – nine men and one woman – rushed forward and surrounded them. The flying sword returned to its owner's hand.

Yong Taihua sheathed his sword. He gave a polite, firm nod to the Five-Colors Mice. "My apologies, I didn't know that the Five-Colors Mice had come to Yong Sword Village."

Yong Caixia added, her voice cool and unwelcoming despite the polite words, "Five-Colors Mice Seniors, if you wish to pay a visit, Yong Sword Village welcomes you five, but if..."

Red Mice interrupted, holding up a hand, "We are just passing by." He turned to the other four Mice. His tone shifted, urgent, "We are leaving now. Good day, young master Yong and Miss Yong."

The Five-Colors Mice knew that once they passed Mu village, it would become the territory of Yong Sword Village. The Five-Colors Mice turned and walked away quickly.

Kuo Changchang said, her voice filled with relief, "Yong ge."

Yong Taihua smiled warmly at her. "Changchang, is anyone hurt?"

Kuo Changchang shook her head. "This is Ah Chen," She pointed to Ma Jingguo. She gestured to the others. "My sister and I were to meet here."

Yong Taihua nodded. "Weqian had sent a message. She will meet you four in Shaolin in ten days. She also stated that it would be best for the four of you to travel to Shaolin with us."

Yong Caixia said, her voice gentle, "Let us go home and rest."

The group set off. They walked for about thirty minutes, leaving the scene of the confrontation behind. Soon, the landscape began to change subtly.

Yong Taihua said, his voice serious, "Pretty soon we will come across seventy-one tombstones. I have to warn everyone first so don't get creeped out."

Yong Caixia added, turning to Kuo Changchang, "Changchang, you always came from the other way, so you have not seen this site either."

A Female junior asked, her voice slightly apprehensive, "Yong shixiong, will it be scary-looking?"

Yong Taihua replied, a soft expression on his face, "No, uncle had taken a very good care of it."

Kuo Changchang asked, a look of understanding dawning, "You mean Senior Yong Hao?"

Yong Caixia nodded. "Yes. Hao da ye planted flowers on every tomb."

Ma Jingguo asked, his voice quiet, "Who were the people?"

Yong Taihua replied, his gaze growing distant, "They are deceased people of Mu village."

A single oil lamp lit up the dark room inside the cave. Mu Dishi and Ma Jingguo walked into the ancestral hall. Ma Jingguo put down the small bucket of water on the cement floor. He wetted the towel and began wiping the spirit tablets as Mu Dishi lit up some incense sticks. After Mu Dishi bowed, he stuck the incense sticks into the incense pot.

Ma Jingguo asked, his voice quiet and curious, "Xiao shushu, what did Mu Yin shushu do when he was still alive?"

Mu Dishi replied, his tone flat, "He was a farmer. His wife took care of the two grandchildren. His son was a teacher. His daughter-in-law worked on the farm with him."

Ma Jingguo asked, hesitantly, "How about Mu Da shushu?"

Mu Dishi said, without emotion, "He and his family grew tea."

Ma Jingguo asked, his voice filled with a growing unease, "Xiao shushu, they were farmers, teachers, and doctors... How did they die?" He looked at Mu Dishi, afraid Mu Dishi would be mad, so he added, quickly, "My mom once told me that many years ago, an entire village of people died due to the plague. Did they die from a plague?"

Mu Dishi did not answer. Instead, he walked toward the door and said coldly, his voice a dismissive command, "Finish wiping each spirit tablet and the floor." He walked out of the ancestral hall, leaving Ma Jingguo alone in the quiet, incense-scented room.

Noticing that Ma Jingguo stared unblinking at the tombstones, as if his spirit had left his body, Kuo Changchang gently patted his left shoulder and asked, her voice soft with concern, "Ah Chen, are you alright?"

Ma Jingguo sighed sadly and replied with a low tone, his voice heavy with lingering pain, "I am fine." He looked at Yong Taihua. His gaze was searching. "Yong-xiong, do you know why they died?"

Yong Taihua replied, a somber look on his face, "I don't know. Those who knew refused to say anything."

The group continued their walk. When they reached the gate of Yong Sword Village, there were many people there. The crowd was gathered around something stark and unexpected. Outside the Yong Clan residence stood four coffins.

Yong Taihua asked, his voice sharp with surprise and confusion, "What are these?"

The Gate disciple replied, his voice solemn, "Da shixiong, inside these four coffins are the bodies of Mo, Shui, Leung, and Wen Clan Leaders."

A stunned silence fell over the group. Yong Taihua said, his expression hardening with resolve, "Let's go inside."

The group arrived at the main guest hall, where they saw Mo Ehuang, Shui Jinhai, Shui Cong, Wen Zhen, and Leung Xiaoli seated in mourning clothes. The group sat across from the mourning people. A moment later, Yong Gui and Yong Hao walked in. Yong Hao sat next to Yong Taihua.

Yong Gui said, his voice solemn, "My condolences to the four of you."

Mo Ehuang said, her voice thick with grief, "Senior Yong, please help us avenge our father's deaths."

Leung Xiaoli added, her voice trembling with anger, "My father doesn't deserve to die like that."

Wen Zhen said, his voice pleading, "Senior Yong, give us some justice."

Yong Gui said, his expression grave, "Tell me."

Mo Ehuang began, her voice breaking, "A young man about thirty walked inside and threw some kind of map on the table. He started to attack my father and the three Clan Leaders."

Yong Gui asked, leaning forward slightly, "What did he use?"

Mo Ehuang replied, her voice strained, "He was fast. I could not really see what he was using... maybe some kind of string."

Yong Gui asked, his voice sharp with inquiry, "How many moves did he take to defeat the four Clan Leaders?"

Mo Ehuang said, her voice filled with horror, "A few moves, but he was toying with them. He stabbed my father seventy-one times." She burst out sobbing into her hands.

Shui Cong said, his voice grim, "I was not there, but my juniors told me he also used a very flexible sword from his waist."

Ma Jingguo heard this, and his heart squeezed. He knew the sword. Its name is Honglei.

Yong Hao stopped counting his fo zhu. He looked at Mo Ehuang, and his voice was shaken. He spoke slowly, heavily. "Did he... say anything else?"

Mo Ehuang wiped her tears. "He said, 'One stab for one life; it's a fair trade'." She hesitated, a look of confusion on her face. "He also said something like 'Shooting Down The Dragon'."

Yong Hao and Yong Gui were in shock. Yong Hao's face turned pale instantly as his fo zhu beads fell onto the floor with a clatter. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, muttering, "Amitabha."

Yong Caixia asked, her voice filled with concern, "Hao da ye, are you alright?"

Yong Hao sighed then said, his voice low and resigned, "If he is coming, no matter what lies in front of him, he will still come."

Yong Taihua asked, his voice tight with urgency, "Who is he?"

Yong Hao replied, his gaze distant, "The only survivor of the Mu household."

Ma Jingguo could not hold back anymore. He wanted to know why Mu Dishi was the only survivor. He stood up, then walked to Yong Hao, and asked coldly, his voice demanding, "What did everyone do?" He clenched his fists tightly. He raised his voice, the question ringing in the hall, "What did everyone do to make him hate everyone so much? What is 'Shooting Down The Dragon'?"

Yong Caixia said, her voice sharp, "Ah Chen, watch your language."

Kuo Changchang quickly grabbed Ma Jingguo's hand and sat him back down across from Yong Hao.

Yong Hao said softly, picking up his beads, "Amitabha..."

Yong Gui said, addressing the mourning families, "If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."

Yong Hao said, his voice gaining strength, a confession in his tone, "It's been long enough. My guilty conscience is eating me up piece by piece. If the four Clan Leaders were killed by Mu Dishi, then Yong Sword Village will not get involved. You four may leave."

Leung Xiaoli said madly, standing abruptly, "I thought that Yong Sword Village would give us some justice, but I was wrong."

Yong Hao said, his voice firm but sad, "If we gave you justice, then who will give justice to the innocent people of Mu Village? What we had done is what we will get in return. Amitabha."

Yong Gui said, rising slightly, "If you four wish to stay the night, you can."

Wen Zhen said madly, his voice bitter, "Since we are not welcome here, we will head to Shaolin." He looked at the other four. His voice was sharp. "Let's go."

The five mourners left the guest hall, their figures tight with grief and resentment.

Yong Taihua asked, his voice filled with disbelief, "Hao da ye, why would you be scared of just one man?"

Yong Gui replied, his gaze serious, "You should be. When he was fifteen years old, he defeated the four Clan Leaders with less than twenty moves." He looked at Kuo Changchang. His voice was heavy with the weight of history. "This Mu Dishi fought over three thousand moves with your father."

The six young martial artists murmured at once, their eyes wide with shock, "Three thousand moves?"

Yong Hao said, his voice calm despite the revelation, "He will be coming for me soon. When he comes, no one is to harm him."

Yong Taihua said, his voice firm, "We will never allow that."

Yong Hao said, his gaze distant, looking inwards, "I am preparing to stab myself seventy-one times to mend for my mistake."

Yong Taihua shouted, his voice filled with anguish, "Hao da ye! Why!"

Yong Hao replied, his voice heavy with the burden of his past, "Because I am one of the leaders who participated in the Shooting Down The Dragon Campaign."

Ma Jingguo asked, his voice quiet but urgent, "What is Shooting Down The Dragon?"

Yong Hao sighed heavily and explained, his voice low and somber, "We as martial artists do not associate with the government, but when it comes to the people, we will try to help them as much as we can. Ten years ago, there was a village called Mu Village. The Mu Clan were experts of medicine. They earned the name God Of Medicine. Many martial artists who were badly injured, as long as they made it to Mu Village, they would be saved. The Mu were well known throughout the land. Their fee was reasonable, too. They would charge more for the rich and charge less for the poor. For martial artists, the Mu would pick one item of their most valuable possession as the treatment fee."

Yong Taihua asked, his brow furrowed, "If they were this good, then why were they annihilated?"

Yong Hao replied, his gaze distant with painful memory, "One of the seven sect received an anonymous letter, indicating that the people of Mu village were actually a village in disguise. Their true identities were secret spies of the Mongol army. At that time, there was a secret meeting among the leaders of the seven sect and four Clan Leaders..."

Sitting inside a secret room, leaders from several sects and clans sat and began their discussion of how to proceed with the information they had received.

Suo Baojing said, his voice sharp and urgent, "This letter arrived at Tianshan two days ago."

Li Kong Bai took the letter and read it, then he passed the letter to Nun Chingmei.

Monk Ling asked, his tone calm, "Do you verify that everything inside this letter is accurate?"

Peng Boqin replied, confidently, "Two soldiers verified the information."

Yong Hao asked, his voice low, "Where are the two soldiers?"

Suo Baojing replied, his expression grim, "Sadly, they died shortly after they arrived in Tianshan."

Zu Minsheng said, his voice firm, "If they are truly spies, then Kongdong Sect will not back down."

Mo Jing Seng said, leaning forward, "Since they are up in the mountain, their defense will be strong."

Nun Chingmei asked, her voice sharp with disbelief, "We are already talking about attacking them?"

Suo Baojing replied, a dismissive wave of his hand, "Nun Chingmei, why are you always such a hot-head?"

Nun Chingmei said, her voice rising with conviction, "There is no solid evidence that they are truly spies for the Mongol Army. What if those soldiers lied, and we end up killing innocent people?" She looked around the room, her gaze challenging. "Who is going to be responsible for that?"

Tang Jianyu said, his voice thoughtful, "Nun Chingmei is correct. We cannot just believe a letter and two dead soldiers who we do not know if they are even truly soldiers of Song."

Monk Ling said, his voice gentle but firm, "Amitabha... Nun Chingmei and Leader Tang reminded this old monk that people can fabricate evidence. Everyone should calm down and do more investigation."

Peng Boqin asked, impatiently, "What more evidence do you need than the words of two dying men?"

Suo Baojing asked, his eyes narrow, "Or are you going to wait until the Mongol army are at our doorstep?"

Nun Chingmei said indifferently, standing up, "In this case, there is nothing more I will say. Emei Sect will take no part of this." She walked out.

Tang Jianyu said, rising as well, "Kunlun Sect will do the same."

Monk Ling said, sighing as he stood, "Amitabha... Shaolin Sect will not participate in any killing. All living beings are created equally in the eyes of heaven."

Seeing that Monk Ling and Tang Jianyu walked away with Nun Chingmei made Suo Baojing very angry.

Fu Susu said, her voice eager, "Leader Suo, don't be angry, my Mangsha Sect will participate. Since they don't want to be part of this, we can discuss this further ourselves."

Wen Xing Fu said, nodding, "I agree with Leader Fu."

Mo Jing Seng said, his eyes glinting, "Like I said before, Mu Village is easy to defend but hard to attack."

Yong Hao said, his voice quiet but firm, "I know a secret way."

Suo Baojing said, a cruel smile spreading across his face, "Excellent! Since Leader Yong knows a secret way up the mountain, then you can lead the four Clans with you. Then my sector, Mangsha Sect, Huangshan Sect, and Kongdong Sect will attack in the front with others. One group will attack in the rear, and one group will attack at the front... Even if Mu Jian Long had wings, he would not be able to escape."

Yong Hao, "We should call it 'Shooting Down The Dragon Campaign'."

Sitting inside the guest hall, the six young martial artists were speechless and at the edge of their seats with excitement, as this was a story they had never heard before.

Yong Caixia asked, her voice soft, urging him to continue, "Hao da ye, and then?"

Yong Hao continued, his gaze distant, lost in the memory, "We waited and made preparations. We waited until the celebration of Mu Clan's heir's fifteenth birthday. As the villagers were celebrating happily, unaware of what was going on, we attacked them." He paused, a heavy silence filling the hall. "Who would have known that the twenty people of the Mu Clan's skills were unmatchable. Nineteen men and one young teen defeated hundreds of our men, especially Mu Jiao Long, who was very skilled."

Yong Hao recalled, at that time, they were badly defeated by Mu Jiao Long and his disciples, so he and those who followed him up Mu Village had no option but to retreat.

Yong Hao shouted, his voice raw with urgency, "Retreat!"

Yong Hao continued, his voice now recounting the grim retreat, "Yong Hao and the four Clans led their disciples back downhill toward Suo Baojing and the rest. As they ran down toward the village entrance, they met with the Tianshan, Kongdong, Huangshan, and Mangsha Sects."

It appeared that Li Kong Bai, leader of Huangshan Sect, was arguing fiercely with Suo Baojing.

Li Kong Bai shouted angrily, his face red with fury, "Suo Baojing...!" Li Kong Bai left with his disciples, their footsteps loud on the path.

Yong Hao called out, a note of desperation in his voice, "Leader Li."

Suo Baojing asked, his voice cold, "Is Mu Jiao Long dead?"

Mo Jing Seng asked, his expression impatient, "He is not dead yet?"

Peng Boqin said, his voice hard, "Let's finish what we started."

When Yong Hao reached Peng Boqin and Suo Baojing, he saw dead people everywhere. Now he understood why Li Kong Bai had left with his disciples. He knew some of these people. He saw Mu Yu leaning onto the wooden house wall, holding his dead grandsons inside his arms. Yong Hao knew Mu Yu. Mu Yu was a farmer who always left fruits below the Mu Stone border for passing martial artists.

Yong Hao shouted madly, his voice filled with anguish, "Suo Baojing, what is the meaning of this? Why did you kill all these innocent people? You told me that we are here to kill only Mu Jiao Long." He madly grabbed Suo Baojing's front collar.

Suo Baojing slowly moved Yong Hao's hands away. His voice was flat, unfeeling. "Chief Yong, no one forced you. You even gave this mission a name. Now let's go and kill Mu Jiao Long."

Yong Hao slowly walked to Mu Yu and knelt down beside the dying man. Mu Yu coughed up a mouthful of blood and spit it onto Yong Hao's face.

Mu Yu said regretfully, his voice weak but clear, "Yong Hao, I shouldn't have shown you the secret back way."

Yong Hao cried, tears streaming down his face, "I am so sorry. I didn't know."

Mu Yu cursed hatefully, his eyes burning with a dying rage, "You led them up to kill my entire family. After I die... I will be a restless spirit and haunt you forever. I will never forgive you!"

Wen Xing Fu slit Mu Yu's throat. His voice was casual, cruel. "Stupid old man."

Suddenly, hundreds of different small clans and martial artists showed up. The gathered people went up the hill towards Mu Jiao Long's house with the three Sects and four Clans.