The Ironwood Fish Heralds an Old Foe; A Drunken Daoist Conceals Sword Secrets

Alarming News

Zhou Chun descended the mountain monthly to visit his disciple Zhao Yan'er. One day, as he reached She Shen Cliff, he saw Yan'er sprinting toward him, breathless, clutching a letter.

The letter, hastily scrawled by their village tutor Ma Xiang, read: "

Three days ago, a vicious monk claiming to be Miaotong from Mount Wutai arrived in the village. He carries a Muyu weighing over 300 catties and seeks someone named Zhou. A villager foolishly mentioned you. The monk sneered, 'Zhou Chun, the Soaring Crane of the Clouds—still alive?!' I lied, saying you went to Chengdu, but the monk has left the village. He may be tracking you. Be warned!"

Zhou Chun's face paled. He grabbed Yan'er's arm.

"Come! We must return to the cave!"

Nighttime Investigation

Back in the Cloud-Dwelling Cave, Yan'er bowed to Li Ning and Yingqiong, then recounted urgently:

"That night, I spied on the monk at the inn. At midnight, he pulled two shriveled fingers from his Muyu and took out a clay figurine—carved to look exactly like Master Zhou, but with wings on its back! The monk gnashed his teeth, cursing the effigy.

"I nearly leapt down to confront him, but someone grabbed me from behind and flung me to Sanguan Temple! When I returned home, a note warned: 'Go to Mount Emei at once. Do not meddle again!' My mother urged me to leave, so I took Tutor Ma's letter and came here through back trails."

Zhou Chun wiped cold sweat from his brow.

"You were lucky! Monks, Daoists, and beggars are the most dangerous in the jianghu. Had a hidden master not saved you, you'd be dead!"

Li Ning frowned. "Who is this monk?"

Zhou Chun sighed. "He is Mao Tai, the One-Armed Bear—from ten years ago!"

A Bloody Past

Li Ning gasped. "That demon?!"

Yingqiong and Yan'er, however, brimmed with youthful defiance.

"Why fear him?" Yingqiong scoffed. "The four of us can surely cut down a bald donkey!"

Zhou Chun shook his head. "He is no longer the Mao Tai of old! After the Battle of Yangzhou, he joined Mount Wutai's Fa Yuan , mastered flying swords, and now claims heads from ten li away! How can mortals oppose immortal arts?"

He gulped cold wine and continued:

"Years ago, while escorting a caravan south, I heard of Mao Tai—a one-legged bandit who slaughtered entire villages and defiled women. To my horror, he sought me out, demanding a sworn brotherhood. How could I ally with such filth?

"When I refused, he pressed his palm against an inn door. Moments later, wood splinters rained down, leaving five finger marks. A crude display of strength.

"Later, aboard a boat, he tried to assault a magistrate's daughter. Enraged, I hurled a golden dart. He dodged, caught it, and blew out the lamp. We fought fiercely on the deck.

"After dozens of clashes, I severed two of his fingers with my Six Harmonies Sword technique. I spared his life out of respect for his master, Fire-Eyed Lion Deng Ming.

"But he later shaved his head, joined Fa Yuan, and honed his flying sword. Now, he hunts me for revenge. I fled to Sichuan with my daughter Qingyun to escape."

Yan'er asked, "Master, why did the clay figurine have wings?"

Zhou Chun explained, "In my youth, I wore white silk wings on my arms, leaping cliffs with the wind's aid. My white attire and chivalry earned me the title 'Soaring Crane of the Clouds.'

As he spoke, a crane's cry pierced the sky. Zhou Chun rushed outside but found nothing.

Yingqiong pressed, "Must we let Mao Tai hunt us forever?"

Zhou Chun grimaced.

"Only a sword immortal like Master Canxia could stop him. Our only choice is to flee!"

Li Ning interjected, "Hiding solves nothing. We need a plan."

Encounter on the Mountain Path

After deliberation, Zhou Chun decided to take Yan'er down the mountain—first to challenge Mao Tai, then seek aid from Master Canxia on Mount Huangshan.

Li Ning offered to join, but Zhou Chun refused. "Yingqiong needs you here."

Autumn frost clung to bare branches as master and disciple descended.

At the foothills, they stumbled upon a disheveled, drunken Daoist sprawled beside the path. His tattered robe fluttered in the wind, a red lacquered wine gourd overturned nearby, his snores echoing.

Yan'er chuckled. "Look at this drunkard! Poor yet still a slave to wine."

Zhou Chun knelt for a closer look. Beneath grime and cracked nails, the Daoist's arms gleamed like jade.

"Do not underestimate those who wander the dusty world," he warned.

Unable to rouse the man, Zhou Chun draped his own coat over him and left silver pieces before moving on.

At Crow's Beak Village, they entered a bustling tavern named "House of Flavors." As Zhou Chun lifted the curtain to a private room, Yan'er froze. "Master! Look at that table!"