Chapter 28 The Guozhao Principle

With the help of Li Bingqing, Deming spent two years learning to read and write. He learned to play the guzheng and equipped the spell with the melody of the guzheng. He even learned to sew and cook. He likes the peaceful environment in Guzheng Sector. For the first time in his life, he finally had someone who respected him, and he felt that this was where he belonged. He decided to spend the rest of his life in Guzheng Sector as Dong Enlai. He allowed time to heal his wounds, and he might still have scars, but these scars were already integrated with his skin, and he couldn't tell where the initial incision was. He spent time learning the rules of different sectors, but what surprised him was that in the entire Guzheng library, there was no Guozhao Principle.

Li Bingqing walked into the small backyard and saw Deming was reading in the pavilion next to the small lotus pond. She walked to the pavilion and put a plate of desserts on the table. She smiled at Deming, "Enlai, these are for you."

Deming looked at her suspiciously, "For me?

Li Bingqing giggled and said, "Fool, tomorrow is your birthday. How can you forget your birthday?"

Deming, "Thank you. I completely forgot."

Li Bingqing said shyly, "I made it." She smiled at him. She picked up a biscuit with her right hand and stretched it to his mouth.

Deming stared at Li Bingqing and recalled the first time he met Guozhao Zhiqiang. The boss covered his eyes and he couldn't see, and Guozhao Zhiqiang have to feed him. The second time was when they were in a tavern, Guozhao Zhiqiang have to feed him because he couldn't use chopsticks to feed him. Li Bingqing smiled and nodded to him. Deming opened his mouth and bit the biscuit.

Li Bingqing smiled and said, "How is it?"

Deming smiled at her, "It's delicious, thank you."

Li Bingqing, "Good." She smiled at him. "I heard that you are making rapid progress."

Deming chuckled softly, "Thanks to you."

Li Bingqing, "Enlai, it will be the annual competition in three months. It seems that everyone is stepping up their practice"

Deming replied, "I will not participate."

Li Bingqing asked, "Why not? With your ability, you can be a team leader."

Deming shook his head and smiled at Li Bingqing. He asked, "Bingqing, I have read almost all the books in the library, but I haven't found a book on the Guozhao principles."

Li Bingqing smiled at Deming, "How can the principle of Guozhao Hunters be in our sector's library?"

Deming, "Other sector principles are here."

Li Bingqing, "Because the Guozhao Hunters never declares that they are a sector in front of others, they have always called themselves hunters, so the six main sectors do not recognize them, therefore, our library does not have their principles."

Deming, "Really? What if someone is interested and wants to learn?"

Li Bingqing nodded, "If you want to learn from them, you must go to Cloud City."

Deming asked, "Does Cloud City really exist?"

Li Bingqing, "Yes. I heard that when peach blossoms are in full bloom, you can smell the fragrance of flowers miles after miles away. Also, the mountains around Cloud City look like a painting from a distance." She put her hands on her chin. "I would like to go to Cloud City during peach blossoms season." She looked at Deming. "Do you want to go to cloud City?"

Deming looked at Li Bingqing, "No." He knew in his heart that he didn't want to go to Cloud City, because if he went to Cloud City, he would go straight back to the old footprints that he had forgotten by time.

Li Bingqing took Deming's hand and said, "Come with me. Although we don't have the Guozhao Principle, we have a lot of information about well-known hunters."

Li Bingqing took Deming to another library. Deming didn't know it existed in Guzheng Sector. She opened the door and Deming followed her in. She said, "Deming, if you want to learn about different well-known hunters, this is your place. We have saved information about all the well-known hunters."

Deming asked, "Can I study here?"

Li Bingqing said, "This is the open library for everyone in Guzheng Sector. Normally, this place is full of students, but because everyone only focuses on the annual competition, no one will come here until the competition is over."

Deming said, "Thank you."

Li Bingqing said, "You can stay here overnight, too."

Deming stayed in the library for half a month. He had read almost all the books in it, but none seemed to be of interest to him. He even read Hu Dingxiang's profile. Deming put a book he had finished reading back on the top shelf, but when he turned around, the book fell off the shelf and hit his head. He squatted on the ground until the pain subsided. He looked around for the fallen book, reached out to grab the book, but found another old book under the shelf. He grabbed the book and wiped the dust off.

Deming read, "Zhao Renshu." He began to read Zhao Renshu's profile. Deming found that Zhao Renshu's profile was more interesting than other profiles. Deming saw a drawing of Zhao Renshu when he was in his early twenties. He turned a page and saw a drawing of Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Staring at Guozhao Zhiqiang's drawing, the feeling Deming had been hiding for many years suddenly returned to his body. At this moment, he can still feel Guozhao Zhiqiang's face inside his hands.

Deming felt his heart beating faster and faster, reaching the point where he couldn't breathe. Then suddenly there were tears in his eyes. He murmured, "Zhiqiang...Zhiqiang...why can't I forget you?"

That night, Deming couldn't sleep at all, because all he had in mind was Guozhao Zhiqiang. Early in the morning, Deming knocked gently on Teacher Huang's door. Deming said, "Teacher Huang, it's me." He walked into Teacher Huang's study.

Teacher Huang is sitting at the desk reviewing students' score. He looked up and said, "Student Dong, what can I do for you?"

Deming approached teacher Huang and said, "Teacher Huang, I have read all the books in our library. There are many books written about Guozhao Hunters, but I cannot find their principles."

Teacher Huang said, "It wasn't there at the beginning, so how can you find one."

Deming, "Why not, Teacher Huang?"

Teacher Huang sighed, "It was the rule of six sectors. Those who have not participated in the annual competition will not be recognized by the six sectors and other clans."

Deming asked, "If the six sectors did not acknowledge their existence, why is the Guozhao Hunters is so well known?"

Teacher Huang, "There are three reasons why they are famous. The first is they stand for righteousness. The second is their powerful spell. The third is their swordsmanship. These three reasons make the Guozhao Hunters famous and stand out from the other hunters." He looked at Deming. "Student Dong, do you want to study the principles of Guozhao Hunters?"

To be honest, Deming does not care about the Guozhao Principle as he seems to be. He missed Guozhao Zhiqiang, and wanted to find an excuse to go to Cloud City to see Guozhao Zhiqiang. Deming glanced at Teacher Huang and nodded.

Teacher Huang, "Okay." He took out a piece of paper and started writing. After a while, he put the written letter in an envelope. He looked at Deming. "In two months, we will have our annual competition between our disciples. If you leave to Cloud City, you will not be able to return to the competition on time. This is a grand opportunity for many disciples."

Deming smiled and said, "Teacher Huang, I don't seek fame or fortune."

Teacher Huang, "Student Dong, here." He handed the envelope to Deming. "Take this recommendation letter to Cloud City and go learn."

Deming, "Thank you Teacher Huang." He took the envelope.

Teacher Huang stood up and sighed, "When I was younger, I was just like you." He patted Deming's left shoulder lightly. "I never like killing. I practice the guzheng and all its spells to help the frightened spirits and souls to move on. Student Dong, your guzheng craftsmanship is not bad. I am impressed." He laughed. "Maybe losing your memory is an advantage for you. Before you lose your memory, you learn very slowly." He walked back to his desk, opened a drawer, and handed Deming a white jade pendant. "Bring this to the finance department. They will give you money for your journey to Cloud City."

Deming smiled at the old teacher and said, "Thank you."

Teacher Huang looked up at Deming and said, "Perhaps, you can make some adjustments to our principles after you learn the Guozhao Principles."

The next day, Deming led the horse and walked along the small mountain road to the main road. He heard Li Bingqing calling him from behind. He stopped and waited for Li Bingqing.

Li Bingqing asked almost out of breath, "Enlai, you left without telling me."

Deming, "I'm sorry, I will be back in a few months."

Li Bingqing, "If I didn't happen to meet Teacher Huang this morning, I might not know you are going to Cloud City."

Deming, "I don't want to worry you. You can go back now. I'm leaving."

Deming turned around and was about to go down, but Li Bingqing grabbed Deming's waist and hugged him tightly.

Li Bingqing said softly, "Enlai, I'll wait for you." She let go of Deming and ran up the mountain.

Deming watched Li Bingqing run up the mountain road. He knew very well that if he hadn't completed the disciple contest, he would not be a complete disciple of the Guzheng Sector. His task now is to find Guozhao Zhiqiang, the rest is not important. He continued to walk towards the main road. When he merged with the main road, he turned around and gave Haven Mountain one last look. Deming jumped on his horse and rode away from Haven Mountain heading to Cloud.