Chapter13 | Lone Journey of a Thousand Miles

The woman was none other than Xiao Qiong, junior disciple of the Fishermaiden of Wu Mountains. After fleeing the mountains, she had encountered wandering warrior Hua Qingfeng. Hua's dual motives of lusting after her beauty and coveting the Secret Tunneling Canon led to subsequent events: Hua's feigned allegiance to Gao Shengdao, the Jiangzhou Shipyard massacre, and the running battles with Lai Hu'er all the way to Wu Mountains.

It turned out Master Zixiao had long noticed his disciple's duplicity. When teaching Hua mechanical arts, the master withheld crucial techniques. Resentful Hua secretly poisoned his master's food, demanding the hidden skills. The dying master, regretting his misjudgment, devised final revenge - he fabricated tales of ancient texts hidden in Wu Mountain chambers and claimed all essential tunneling knowledge resided there. Though ignorant of the actual inscriptions, Zixiao knew Hua stood no chance against the Fishermaiden's martial prowess. As expected, Hua murdered his master but dared not approach Wu Mountains, until meeting Xiao Qiong who had escaped the mountain chambers. Their partnership of mutual exploitation began. Later when earthquakes struck Wu Mountains, Hua barely escaped using maids Yueqing and Yuehua as pawns, eventually hiding in Wen Zhongyuan's Qingjiang stronghold.

Still obsessed with the Canon, Hua continued searching while Xiao Qiong pressured Wen for assistance. A year prior, Wen's merchant caravan returned from Lingnan with news: the Feng family's impregnable tunnels could hide armies of hundreds thousands. Hua immediately resolved to investigate, with Xiao Qiong accompanying. Master Puzhao, retaining loyalty to former Liang royalty, volunteered as escort. Wen dispatched elite guards disguised as merchants for protection.

But a year passed without word from Hua or Puzhao. Three months ago, Wen sent five more experts - all vanished. Li Jing's arrival presented new opportunity. Wen remembered Li's heroic escort of Xiao Guxing to Shu years prior. If Li journeyed south, perhaps he could uncover the Canon's secrets. Hearing Li's return, Wen's eyes brightened. Turning to Xiao Qiong he said: "Princess, please withdraw. Let me sound his intentions first."

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Li Jing barged in, followed by panting Wen Shihong. Wen Zhongyuan rose smiling: "Brother Li returns in such haste - did you forget something valuable?"

No longer the naive youth, Li Jing knew bluntness served best now. "I apologize for this intrusion. But before boarding, I saw a man carrying someone into your stronghold - my mortal enemy. I beg you not shelter villains."

Wen Shihong, still catching breath, pointed accusingly: "You ungrateful wretch! My father treated you as guest, yet you dare..."

"Silence!" Wen Zhongyuan checked his son, then smiled calmly. "You must be mistaken. Who exactly do you mean?"

Li Jing gambled: "A vile criminal who massacred Jiangzhou Shipyard, desecrated Wu Mountain chambers, had his legs broken by the Fishermaiden, yet escaped during earthquakes using poison tricks!"

Wen stroked his beard: "Ah, Hua Qingfeng. True, he stayed here briefly but left for Lingnan over a year ago seeking the Canon. With Master Puzhao as escort. No news since."

Li Jing, unprepared for such candor, bowed apologetically. Wen laughed, ordering Shihong to prepare tea. The resentful son stormed out.

Over refreshments, Wen cut to the chase: "Your urgency betrays your aim. The Canon sought by all lies with Lady Xian in Lingnan's Feng family."

Li Jing had heard of Lady Xian's martial prowess surpassing even the Fishermaiden. Bowing he asked: "But the Mohist Canon belongs in Central Plains. How reach Lingnan?"

Wen sipped tea, beginning the tale: "After Five Barbarians chaos, Northern Yan King Feng Hong fled to Goguryeo but was betrayed. His son Feng Ye led 300 survivors by sea to Lingnan, submitting to Liu-Song Dynasty. Later serving Liang, Feng Rong became Luozhou Governor. To govern local Li people, he arranged his son Feng Bao's marriage to Li chieftain Xian Aying - the legendary Lady Xian who later aided Chen Baxian's founding of Chen Dynasty. The Fengs brought royal treasures from Yan - the Canon must be among them."

Li Jing marveled. "But why does Master Puzhao confirm this?"

"During his Lingnan travels, Puzhao noticed Lady Xian's defenses - seemingly crude but impregnable through underground tunnels connecting mountains and rivers. Only Mohist engineering could achieve this. The Fengs must possess the Canon."

Li Jing nodded. "Then Hua and Puzhao's fate?"

Wen sighed. "Likely doomed. My scouts all disappeared. The Li people switch between hospitality and savagery. Central Plains rulers never risked full conquest."

After contemplation, Li Jing asked: "What would you have me do?"

Wen stood solemnly: "Our Wen clan needs the Canon for survival. You seek glory - our aims align. I ask only this: if you find Puzhao, send word. The Canon is yours." He bowed deeply.

Li Jing returned the bow. "I depart for Lingnan immediately. Any news of Puzhao, I'll inform you."

At the stronghold gate, Wen pressed his ancestral jade token into Li Jing's hand. "Keep this. It ensures safe passage along the river, and represents my life-debt to you." Their hands clasped - Li Jing felt fatherly warmth from the warrior's grip.

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After Li Jing's departure, Xiao Qiong and Wen Shihong emerged. Wen Zhongyuan said heavily: "Princess, forgive me. Poisoning that honorable youth would shame my ancestors."

Xiao Qiong whirled to Shihong: "You didn't drug him?"

The young master stiffened: "I detest him, but won't stoop to poison."

Xiao Qiong stamped her foot. "Your mercy blinds you! That brat ruined our plans at Wu Mountains! Since you won't act, I'll pursue him to Lingnan myself!"

Wen concealed his disgust at this self-styled "princess". As she stormed out, he merely sighed - another storm was brewing in the south.

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After leaving Qingjiang by boat, Li Jing soon received a letter from Wen Zhongyuan warning of a skilled adversary plotting against him. Guessing Xiao Qiong's involvement and knowing his current limitations, Li Jing adopted erratic travel patterns - switching boats, alternating land and water routes. Passing Yueyang, Changsha, and Hengyang, he crossed into Lingnan via the ancient Qin passage at Yuecheng Ridge.

This nomadic life gradually transformed him into an adept mirror polisher. The constant travel honed his patience and allowed him to master local Chu dialects. At checkpoints, his authentic appearance and flawless accent saw him through effortlessly.

Beyond the Qin-era mountain pass, the climate shifted dramatically. Even in deep winter, thin clothes sufficed. Strange peaks pierced clouds like celestial spears, rivers wove through valleys like silver threads. Villages clustered in defensible positions - houses backing against cliffs, facing waterways. Some dwelled in caves, bare-chested farmers and fishermen moving with simian agility across impossible terrain. The Li people's singsong speech, melodic as spring warblers, contrasted sharply with northern tones. Thankfully, Li Jing's prior studies of southern dialects served him well.

Traversing Lingnan's ninety prefectures per Wen's guidance, Li Jing reached Gaozhou as winter deepened. Resting under coconut palms by a mountain path at noon, he noticed a bamboo-hatted figure materializing from the haze. The man covered fifty paces in breaths. Li Jing tensed - this was no ordinary traveler.

The attacker struck without warning. Li Jing blocked with his mirror-polishing tray, the parry ringing metallic as his opponent's finger strike sent him sprawling. Rolling upright, Li Jing engaged the blurring attacks. Thirty exchanges later, steel needles shot from the assailant's mouth. Dodging left him vulnerable - ice-cold fingers clamped his wrist like manacles.

"Princess Xiao, I presume?" Li Jing gasped through the pain.

The attacker's shrill laughter confirmed his guess. Xiao Qiong's disguise - sallow skin stretched over sharp bones - would fool most, but not one trained in subterfuge. "You've grown, brat. Made my chase tedious."

"What grievance binds us?"

"Grievance?" Her grip tightened. "Your meddling reunited that bitch with Zhang Yu! Your tricks nearly killed Hua Qingfeng! You charmed Princess Mei-niang, ruining her royal marriage! Now you seek the Canon!" Each accusation punctuated by cruel pressure. "These sins warrant death."

"Do your worst." Li Jing's defiance earned intensified agony. When a kick forced a cry, something flew into his mouth. A neck chop sent it down his throat.

Xiao Qiong released him with a sneer. "Western Regions' poison. No antidote? Your organs will melt."

"Grandmaster Sun taught me medicine. No such poison exists."

"Fool! That old quack never ventured beyond Central Plains. This venom killed even the Fishermaiden's master. Remember how she died?" Xiao Qiong's eyes blazed. "That hag withheld secrets - deserved worse!"

Li Jing's blood froze. Stories of the Fishermaiden's mentor dying mysteriously... His vision swam as icy tendrils spread through veins. Darkness claimed him.