Mount Hua’s Lofty Summit

After Tang Xuan buried Li Mochou, he took from her body the poisons and antidotes necessary to perform the Scarlet Serpent Palm. Master Xuan Zhi conducted rites to guide Li Mochou’s soul to peace. Gathered before her grave stood Guo Fu, Wu Dunru, Wu Xiuwen, Cheng Ying, Lu Wushuang, Wanyan Ping, Yelü Qi, and Yelü Yan.

Tang Xuan looked at this group of young people with amusement. The reason was simple: in the tale of the Divine Eagle, many among them would eventually become couples. For instance, Guo Fu, the eldest daughter of the Guo family, would one day marry Yelü Qi. As Huang Rong’s son-in-law, Yelü Qi would even inherit the position of chief of the Beggar Sect. Yet at this moment, Guo Fu’s gaze kept drifting, intentionally or otherwise, toward Tang Xuan. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this Guo family daughter had taken a liking to him?

The Guo family possessed treasures like the Nine Yin Manual, the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the Dog Beating Staff Technique, and even the ambidextrous skill and Void Fist passed from the ‘Old Mischief’ Zhou Botong to Guo Jing. If he were to win over Guo Fu, he might gain the opportunity to learn all these peerless arts. But recalling her headstrong temperament, Tang Xuan shook his head and decided against it.

Among the others, Wanyan Ping would later become Wu Xiuwen’s wife, bearing him two sons and two daughters; Yelü Yan would become Wu Dunru’s wife. Yet at this time, both Wu brothers were still wholeheartedly pursuing Guo Fu. Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan, however, were already captivated by the more skilled and handsome Yang Guo, never sparing the Wu brothers a second glance. On the contrary, the cousins Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang, devoted to Yang Guo, would remain unmarried, spending their lives as companions.

Just then, Master Xuan Zhi finished the rites for Li Mochou. He meant to ask the Guo family’s young lady whether Guo Jing and Huang Rong were nearby, or perhaps already at Dasheng Pass, so they might travel together and participate in the martial gathering there. But Tang Xuan spoke up, “Master, shall we make a trip to the summit of Mount Hua first? What do you think?”

“Mount Hua’s summit?” Master Xuan Zhi was taken aback, uncertain why his disciple would suggest such a detour. They had come to attend the gathering at Dasheng Pass, which was not far off. Yet, by his estimation, they had made swift progress from Shaolin Temple, reaching Dasheng Pass in just a few days. Even with a trip to Mount Hua’s summit, they would still be on time.

“Is there something urgent?” Master Xuan Zhi inquired. He thought highly of this extraordinary disciple, whose talents bordered on the demonic. Tang Xuan smiled, “You’ll know when we arrive, Master.” He looked forward to his master witnessing the dazzling duel between Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng at Mount Hua’s summit—it would certainly not disappoint.

After a moment’s reflection, Master Xuan Zhi nodded. “Very well, I shall accompany you to Mount Hua’s summit. Let’s just hope we don’t miss the gathering at Dasheng Pass.” With that, master and disciple bade farewell to Guo Fu, Yelü Qi, and the others, and departed.

Guo Fu, who had hoped to draw closer to the lay disciple of Shaolin who had slain the Scarlet Serpent Fairy, was left full of regret. After all, among the Shaolin lay disciples, there had already emerged a world-shaking hero—the Beggar Chief Qiao Feng! Even compared to Guo Fu’s own parents, his martial prowess and fame were not inferior, perhaps even greater. Tang Xuan, so young and already so accomplished, with his master had together defeated the Scarlet Serpent Fairy—a tale sure to be celebrated in the martial world. Surely, he too would become a great hero. Handsome and with remarkable bearing, how could Guo Fu not be moved? Compared to the Wu brothers beside her, he was leagues above...

Alas, she had not even had the chance to approach him before the master and disciple took their leave. Guo Fu and the Wu brothers, along with Cheng Ying, Lu Wushuang, Wanyan Ping, and the Yelü siblings, all went their separate ways as well.

Within the world of Grand Wuxia, there were two Mount Huas: one in the Song realm, one in the Ming realm. The geography of the Great Song and Great Ming was strikingly similar—their mountains and rivers, the Five Sacred Mountains, the Yangtze, and the Yellow River all alike. Mount Hua in the Ming realm was the renowned seat of both the Sword and Qi factions, famed throughout the land. Mount Hua in the Song realm, too, was well known, for it was there that, years ago, the Five Supremes—Wang Chongyang, Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong, Ouyang Feng, and Master Yideng—decided the fate of the Nine Yin Manual.

Now, Tang Xuan and his master sped along the mountain paths, making their way toward Mount Hua. The mountain was famed as the most perilous under heaven, its cliffs steep and treacherous.

With Tang Xuan’s consummate “Grass-Light Step” agility and Master Xuan Zhi’s own flying skills, the pair scaled the peaks with little difficulty. However, at this moment, thick snow began to fall from the sky, the wind howled, and the ground grew slick, making the ascent ever more hazardous. A single misstep could mean plunging into the abyss, one’s body dashed to pieces. Fortunately, both possessed deep reserves of inner strength and superb agility, and at last, they reached the summit.

“Benefactor Yang?” Master Xuan Zhi, having just set foot atop Mount Hua, saw before him the young hero Yang, whom he had recently parted with, and was momentarily stunned. Tang Xuan mused inwardly: so Yang Guo had indeed come here. The future Eagle Hero caught sight of the master and disciple who had slain Li Mochou and was himself taken aback. Earlier, overcome by emotion, he had fled in haste, only later realizing he still wore his deathly mask. Lu Wushuang and the others, unable to see his disfigured face, had not looked at him with any particular expression; it had all been in his mind. Even so, having already left, he was in no mood to return. Wandering aimlessly, he had ended up atop Mount Hua, wanting to take in the view. Who would have thought that no sooner had he arrived than he would encounter Master Xuan Zhi and his disciple? Such coincidence!

As Yang Guo prepared to greet them, a sudden whistling cut through the air. All three turned in unison to see a shadow darting up toward the summit. The figure moved with such speed it seemed to soar on the wind, crossing the abyss as if it were nothing. His martial skill was truly beyond imagining. In this manner he “flew” straight to the summit!

Once atop, he let out a booming laugh that echoed through the valleys and barked, “In this wind and snow, what business have you all here?” His question was directed at Tang Xuan, Master Xuan Zhi, and Yang Guo.

Hong Qigong!

At the sight of the newcomer’s attire, Tang Xuan did not even need to look for Hong Qigong’s famous missing finger to recognize the North Beggar.