Chapter 4 – Starting Rumors and Creating Trouble
In the restaurant, Ze Yue spoke in low voice, helplessly, “Tell me what should I say? Should I say that I do not support him?”
Curious, Kou Zhong asked, “Did your Ol’ Die really tell you to listen to his instruction?”
Smiling bitterly, Ze Yue replied, “He only told me to look for An Long and consult him, simply because Die thought that he would not willingly succumb under Rong Fengxiang. This time I am spinning a cocoon around myself [idiom: enmeshed in a trap of one’s own devising]. If I told him that earlier I was just being polite, won’t it be a big joke?”
Xu Ziling said, “This man An Long is really not simple; why did you say that his martial art skill is ordinary?”
Stunned, Ze Yue replied, “But everybody says so.”
Xu Ziling said, “With regards to identifying martial art masters, our school have a unique way, purely based on qi induction; it is very difficult to come up with any evidence.”
Ze Yue’s countenance changed, he said, “If it is true, than that is indeed a possibility. Do you think he is a Yin Gui Pai man?”
His heart moved, Xu Ziling said, “Within the demonic schools, apart from Yin Gui Pai, there are still a lot tributaries; for example, Zuo Youxian is from a sect called ‘Dao Zu Zhenchuan’ [lit. Dao/Tao ancestor’s handed-down teachings]. However, if they are lumped together as Yin Gui Pai, perhaps it won’t be totally wrong either.”
Kou Zhong’s pair of tiger-eyes lit up; he laughed softly and said, “Kid, you are messing up with those wicked people again!”
Naturally Ze Yue did not have interlinked-mind like they did; staring blankly at them, he asked, “What are you guys talking about?”
Remaining tranquil and calm, Xu Ziling said, “Ze Xiong need not mind what we are talking about. Tonight you must go to bed early, so that your spirit will be refreshed to deal with the Bai Ye general assembly tomorrow.”
Kou Zhong interrupted, “But there is one very important thing: is Ze Xiong really unwilling to join the Bai Ye She?”
Smiling bitterly, Ze Yue said, “All along I am just a businessman, everything depends on what’s at stake. If even An Long join the association, there will be no lack of people responding to his move, then we might be isolated. That would be very bad.”
Full of confidence, Kou Zhong said, “Ze Xiong is so forthcoming, you have enabled us to grasp the current situation so clearly. While we are at it, what is Ze Xiong’s impression on Yin Gui Pai?”
Ze Yue pondered for a moment before answering, “We are legitimate businessmen; what we are most afraid of is naturally swindlers and those who extort others. All Yin Gui Pai people seem to be full of hatred and have deep enmity toward everybody else, completely lacking comradeship, ready to harm others at the slightest pretext; nobody wants to provoke them.”
Kou Zhong relaxed; he said cheerfully, “As long as most people participating in the Bai Ye general assembly tomorrow are of the same opinion as Ze Xiong, it will work!”
Lightly trembling, Ze Yue said, “Two gentlemen are not going to expose Rong Fengxiang and An Long’s identity on the spot, are you? That’s not funny, especially … ay!”
Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Ze Xiong, don’t worry, we can’t possibly put your honorable Bang in difficult situation.”
Ze Yue was skeptical, “What good plan do the gentlemen have?” he asked.
Kou Zhong patted Ze Yue’s shoulder, and said with a laugh, “The less Ze Xiong know, the better. Don’t go around lobbying those of the same opinion either, to avoid Rong Fengxiang and An Long find out that you are not willing to join the association.”
Turning toward Xu Ziling, he said, “Xu Junshi, please point out the next step.”
In the small alley, the two boys sat side-by-side on a street corner, just like during their little-hoodlum’s day back in Yangzhou.
Puzzled, Kou Zhong said, “The sun has already gone down! What exactly are we going to do?”
Xu Ziling said, “First of all, I want to see if An Long has seen through us.”
Knitting his brows, Kou Zhong asked, “Do you have a feeling that we are being followed?”
Xu Ziling replied, “When we just left the bathhouse, I had that feeling, but it disappeared very quickly.”
Emotionally moved, Kou Zhong said, “Your unique ability has never been wrong; who might have the skill of following us without you discovering his track?”
Xu Ziling said, “Definitely martial art masters of Wanwan’s caliber or near that level; can’t say for sure, but it might be Wanwan herself.”
Kou Zhong let out a heavy sigh and said, “That possibility is too great! We can hide from anybody else, but we can never hide from this yaonu.”
Xu Ziling said, “Even if Wan yaonu could see it through, before the general assembly tomorrow morning, she won’t make any move against Longyou Bang, we can take advantage of tonight to stir up Rong Fengxiang and An Long’s nests.”
Slapping his thigh, Kou Zhong laughed and said, “These words fit with what I have in mind. How are we going to proceed? Would Ling Shao give direction?”
Xu Ziling said, “The first move is called ‘starting a rumor’.”
Staring blankly, Kou Zhong said, “We have only one night; are you saying that we ought to go everywhere and all directions to tell people?”
Xu Ziling laughed in spite of himself, “At the restaurant just now, didn’t you put an act like you completely understood? Turns out it was indeed just an act.”
Embarrassed, Kou Zhong said, “I thought you were going to assert that Rong Fengxiang was Yin Gui Pai man!”
Xu Ziling nodded and said, “You did not guess wrong. Right now let’s see if we could get a dozen or so jars of paint.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong said, “All the general stores are already closed; where could we buy some paint?”
Remaining calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos, Xu Ziling replied, “I said get, not buy. If we buy, people will be able to trace it back to us, but if we get it, the paint might just disappear with no reason.”
Kou Zhong’s eyes lit up, “Good boy,” he exclaimed, “You are surely an expert in starting a rumor.”
Xu Ziling elbowed Kou Zhong’s flank, sprang up, and said, “Let’s go!”
The two boys, carrying a pail of red paint in their left hand, a big paintbrush in their right hand, stopped in front of the outside wall facing the street of a house at the southern part of the city.
It was already past the third watch [between 11pm – 1 am], they saw no other pedestrian on the street; there was only the sound of dogs barking inside the houses.
Due to the bad weather, the dark clouds were hanging low; after nightfall, the city of Hefei fell into desolate darkness.
Putting down the pail of paint, Kou Zhong gesticulated in front of the wall, which was about a zhang and a half tall, and said, “With characters about a chi high, it should be enough to write ‘Rong Fengxiang is Pi Chen, yaodao [demon Taoist] of Yin Gui Pai in disguise’, fourteen characters [trust me, the original Chinese has 14 characters].”
Xu Ziling nearly laughed until his belly hurt, but he knew that he must not laugh aloud because he might disturb people from their clear dream, so he struggled hard to refrain from laughing. Chuckling softly, he said, “Why be superfluous? ‘Rong Fengxiang is Yin Gui Pai yaodao’ is enough. Who cares about his original name? No need to draw legs on a snake even more by adding ‘in disguise’ at the end, two redundant words.”
Fortunately, Kou Zhong was wearing his mask, so that his blushing face was not visible. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat and recited, “Rong Fengxiang is Yin Gui Pai yaodao, ha! Uh, it is a bit inappropriate. Yin Gui Pai is well-known as a Sect that produces yaonu [female demon], and not yaodao. Since this is a rumor anyway, why not give him a position? For example, ‘Rong Fengxiang is Yin Gui Pai’s secret Protector of the Law’, or something like that.”
Xu Ziling laughed so hard that he had to put his hand on Kou Zhong’s shoulder for support. Gasping for breath, he said, “Since there is secret law protector, there should also be secret sect leader. So what’s the difference between these secret law protector and secret sect leader with the ordinary law protector or ordinary Bangzhu?”
Distressed, Kou Zhong said, “Turns out starting a rumor is a special skill. You say it then! What his mother’s thing should we write on this snow-white virgin wall?”
Biting his lower lip, Xu Ziling pondered, “We must consider the words carefully; Bai Laofuzi [see Book 1 Chapter 1] only knew how to teach ‘four common characters of classical Chinese’, he never taught us how to start a rumor.”
A tender, gentle and sweet-sounding female voice suddenly rang out from behind the two boys, “Whatever you write is not a problem, as long as at the end you add ‘there is a Taichi [the Absolute or Supreme Ultimate, the source of all things according to some interpretations of Chinese mythology, the same Taichi of Zhang Sanfeng (Wudang)] mark on his chest as a sign’, that will do.”
The two boys’ soul nearly flew away and scattered. It should be noted that with the two boys’ acute senses, even though because they were laughing and joking their mind was distracted, they should not have let someone coming behind them quietly without they knowing it.
Turning around in shock, they saw the light-and-pure-as-a-fairy, wearing-men’s-clothing Shi Feixuan, standing gracefully behind them, with the indescribably touching beautiful appearance, in her simplicity and elegance, as well as distinguished and accomplished posture.
The two boys stared at her with blank expression on their faces, too stunned for words.
Shi Feixuan’s jade countenance was as tranquil as the surface of the water without any ripple. With a light movement and jade steps, she leisurely walked over to Kou Zhong’s other side. With a hidden smile on her face, she said, “It’s lucky that two gentlemen came up with a brilliant scheme of fighting poison with poison. Although Feixuan painstakingly thought about it, I still can’t do anything to him.”
Sniffing the sweet scent coming out of her body, Kou Zhong spoke in low voice, “Turns out Xianzi [goddess/fairy] already knew he is Pi Chen yaodao; therefore, you have been trying not to let him prevail. Am I right?”
Shi Feixuan calmly replied, “Although I felt that this man Rong Fengxiang is not simple at all, I did not know that he is Pi Chen in disguise, until I heard your discussion just now. And now I am starting to understand.”
Hearing her immortal-music like voice, Xu Ziling calmed down. Everywhere he looked, the dark and lone long street was immediately transformed into a wonderful place thick with immortal aura; everything ordinary, commonplace, unremarkable, has become not ordinary. Even the wall in front of his eyes became brimming with some kind of hard to describe significance, as if it contained endless possibilities.
While Xu Ziling was experiencing the change of mood, Kou Zhong elbowed his flank, and said proudly, “Did you hear that? Just now, if I did not say clearly ‘in disguise’, two words, how could Shi Xianzi know that Rong Fengxiang is Pi Chen ‘in disguise’?”
Anybody would know that Kou Zhong was cracking a joke. Shi Feixuan smiled and said, “All right, you get all the credit. But there is one thing I want to clarify: I am not a Xianzi, you may call me Shi Xiaojie [Miss], Shi Guniang [also Miss], but please stop calling me Shi Xianzi!”
‘Beating the snake following the stick’ Kou Zhong said, “In that case, can we call you Feixuan? Now, at least for the time being, we all can be considered partners, naturally we must not consider the other too much of a stranger.”
Shi Feixuan declined to comment; changing the subject, she said, “Aren’t you going to write on the walls all over the city? Why haven’t you started?”
Embarrassed, Kou Zhong said, “My calligraphy skill is too shameful, it would be better for you, Feixuan, to hold the brush, your persuasiveness will improve the sentence a thousand times, ten-thousand times.”
Shi Feixuan smiled and said, “I can only be a little accomplice, to be on the lookout for the two gentlemen.” Floating backward, in the blink of an eye she disappeared into the darkness of the small alley.
The two boys looked at each other. Their spirit was greatly aroused, with the new information ‘there is a Taichi mark on his chest as a sign’, the only thing Rong Fengxiang would be able to argue was whether he belonged to the ‘good way’ or the ‘demonic way’. Moreover, this kind of demonic sect’s symbol must have a very special purpose that it was imprinted on him. Naturally people with knowledge and experience would grow suspicious; even if he argue, it would not have too much of an impact.
Leaning toward Xu Ziling’s ear, Kou Zhong said, “You are too happy that you acted like a fool; meeting your sweetheart you did not say anything.”
Xu Ziling was at a loss dealing with him. Picking up the red paint, which had been set aside, he straightforwardly and neatly painted on the wall: ‘Rong Fengxiang is Yin Gui Pai yaoren [demon/sorcerer], if you don’t believe, just look at the Taichi demon mark on his chest’, in two lines, twenty-one words, in blood-red large characters, which were shocking the eye, astonishing the heart.
By the time Xu Ziling returned to Kou Zhong’s side, Kou Zhong was looking at the writing on the wall with rapt attention, “How long has it been since you wrote the last time?” he asked in astonishment.
Xu Ziling replied, “After leaving Yangzhou, I deal with saber, spear, sword and staff a lot, but never touched the shaft of a writing brush.”
Pointing to the two lines of characters on the wall, Kou Zhong said, “The first few characters are barely recognizable as your handwriting, which was previously nothing to be ashamed of, but the calligraphic style is continuously changing. By the last few characters, they look like someone else’s calligraphic style. No! I should say that it looks more like you now: graceful, proud and aloof. It really has a ‘coming-out-of-the-dust’ feeling.”
Xu Ziling nodded and said, “This is indeed very strange. When I moved the brush to write, unconsciously I was putting my martial art principle into it. I felt that the brush sweeping under my hand’s control received and transmit my heart’s intention; whatever style I wanted, that was the style being projected. It was extremely delightful.”
Kou Zhong lifted up the paint bucket. Eager to try, he said, “Xiongdi! The next one is my turn!”
The two boys stood in front of another wall and looked at another set of two lines of characters, critically examining their handiwork.
“How about that?” Kou Zhong asked in low voice.
Xu Ziling nodded and said, “Indeed, the more you write, the more it looks different; brimming with swords-drawn-and-bows-bent, showing-off-your-full-ability feeling. Evidently, when you said you cannot find the treasure trove and curbing your spiritual cultivation, giving up and not doing it, everything was just to deceive people.”
Kou Zhong smiled wryly and said, “You are teasing me again! As a brother, can’t you not do that?”
Xu Ziling laughed and said, “We don’t have much time, might as well practice our calligraphy skill. The last one will be the Zongguan Mansion perimeter wall. By daybreak, even if Jianghuai Army found out about it, they would not be able to scrub that many walls.”
Happy and excited, the two boys went around.
Whenever they heard Shi Feixuan’s warning them in their ears, they quickly hid into an alley, held their breath and waited.
This moment it was only a bit more than half a sichen before dawn, they had put their calligraphic masterpiece on approximately a hundred walls along the big streets everywhere; it was such a glorious accomplishment.
Firelight from afar came near, a squad of twelve city guards was patrolling this area, the lantern faintly illuminated the red characters on the wall, but the soldiers did not seem to see anything unusual, they simply walked pass the wall.
Like two little children, the two boys squealed in low voice, showing they were very pleased with themselves. After joking around for half a day, Kou Zhong said, “Should be enough! It would be ideal if we could write on both sides of the Zongguan Mansion’s main gate like a pair of antithetical couplets, so that our two brothers’ calligraphy work will reflect each other.”
Frowning, Xu Ziling said, “Aren’t we getting too greedy? We now have enough rumors to damage Rong Fengxiang’s reputation. Although the Zongguan Mansion’s gate is closed, there would be troops keeping watch over it both covert and undercover; if they discovered it was our handiwork, they might rush before daybreak to cover several most prominent walls, our hard work so far would be wasted.”
Kou Zhong’s heart was still unbearably itchy; he said, “If we don’t deface the Zongguan Mansion, I would feel that we have not fully expressed ourselves. How about if we wait until just a moment before daybreak before making our move? By the time the enemy found out, it would be too late to blot out our beautiful calligraphy.”
Xu Ziling’s childish nature was aroused; he accompanied Kou Zhong jumping onto the roof of a nearby building, and then jumped from roof to roof toward the house across the street from the Zongguan Mansion.
They were both extremely daring men to begin with, and now that they had Shi Feixuan watching their back, they had no fear even more.
A short moment later they reached a magnificent residential building. Crouching behind the roof ridge craning their neck, they were able to see the Zongguan Mansion towering ahead, dark, without any sign of light, and they did not detect any movement either.
Greatly delighted, Kou Zhong said, “This meal seems to be very easy to eat.”
Shi Feixuan noiselessly came over and landed on Kou Zhong’s other side. “So what’s your plan?” she spoke softly.
Kou Zhong laughed and said, “We are just waiting for daybreak; as soon as the Zongguan Mansion’s wall has become the media on which we spread the rumor, then we can stop satisfactorily.”
Shi Feixuan said, “I still have an important matter to attend to, I can’t accompany you till daybreak.”
Disappointed, Kou Zhong said, “We have some things we’d like to consult you, but you are in such a hurry to leave.”
Helpless, Shi Feixuan said, “I was also hoping to speak in details with two gentlemen, but I have to deal with important matters first; a bit later Feixuan will come to see you, all right?”
Her gaze flitted over Kou Zhong, and floated to Xu Ziling, “I’ll see you later!” she spoke gently.
Xu Ziling turned his head; with a bit of dejected gaze, he cast a deep glance at Shi Feixuan, and then hurriedly said, “The Eight Major Martial Art Masters of the Demonic Way, other than Zhu Yuyan, Pi Chen, You Wujuan and Zuo Youxian, who are the others?”
Slightly startled, Shi Feixuan said, “This matter is complicated and not easy to express succinctly, we’ll talk when we meet again!”
Just like that, she floated away.