Chapter Forty-Five: Events of the Second Year of Heavenly Treasure

Dean Chen did not mention the incident of misusing the Marrow Cleansing Pool, nor did he bring up Du Fu's name. He simply chatted with Yu Lang about amusing events at the Moon Washing Academy, often bursting into laughter over things that weren’t particularly funny, utterly lacking the demeanor of a peerless master.

The conversation continued until the sun slanted westward, and only then did Dean Chen reluctantly see Yu Lang off.

“You’re letting me go already?” Yu Lang was baffled. He had expected Dean Chen to question him about the Earth-Stabilizing Stone and thought that the idle small talk was merely a psychological tactic. He never imagined that it was truly just casual conversation.

Dean Chen smiled. “I wanted to learn more about you, for one. And, secondly, I’m doing Du Zi Mei a small favor. By now, he should already be aboard a ship leaving Yangzhou. Though he appears lively, he is easily moved by the seasons and cannot bear farewells. He didn’t want you to see him off.”

Yu Lang’s heart suddenly sank; he hadn’t expected Du Fu to leave so abruptly, without even giving him a chance to say goodbye.

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Seasons passed, and three years slipped by in a flash.

Much transpired during those three years. At the end of the twenty-ninth year of Kaiyuan, local officials presented auspicious omens. Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji, believing his achievements complete, seized the moment to change the era name to Tianbao, a title drawn from Wang Bo’s “Preface to the Prince Teng’s Pavilion”: “Nature’s treasures, Heaven’s blessings; heroes emerge from sacred lands.”

On the first day of Tianbao’s inaugural year, Xuanzong ascended the Diligence Hall, receiving envoys from minor nations and the people of Chang’an, issuing a general amnesty. In that year, to resist incursions from neighboring unruly states, the court established ten regional military governorships along the frontier, recruiting soldiers to defend the borders. These border commanders grew in power, aggravating the imbalance between external strength and internal weakness.

At court, Li Linfu dominated alone, jealous of the capable and suppressing dissent. Fearing threats to his position from military leaders rising to ministerial rank, he promoted illiterate foreign generals and suppressed Han commanders. People said, “Li Linfu’s mouth drips honey, but his belly hides a sword.”

In the first year of Tianbao, Yangzhou was officially renamed Guangling Prefecture by Xuanzong, though only on official documents. Locals, merchants, and travelers still fondly called it Yangzhou City.

Tianbao, second year. Spring.

On this day, Yangzhou was particularly lively. A group of Tibetans had arrived, led by Qili Dongzan, the foremost disciple of the Tibetan state preceptor. He had brought his entourage to challenge the finest young talents of the Tang Dynasty. Along their eastward journey, they had defeated over seventy exceptional young men from prestigious families and major sects. Upon reaching Yangzhou, they heard that the Moon Washing Academy boasted many formidable youths and so came to challenge its best.

At that time, the Longyou military governor, Huangfu Weiming, was leading troops on the front lines against the Tibetan rebels. The Tang forces held the upper hand; just months earlier, the Tang cavalry commander Wang Nande had struck down the son of the Tibetan king, Lang Zhi, from his horse, shattering enemy morale. The Tibetans’ challenges throughout Tang territory were little more than attempts to boost their own nation’s prestige.

The Moon Washing Academy sent forth its youngest scion, Xie Zhiqian, only eighteen years old, whose cultivation was at the Sea-Wandering Upper Realm, famed across the south for his Xie Family Cloud-Gazing Sword.

Magistrate Xie specially set up a stage at the southern city training ground, issuing a notice: any youth under thirty in Yangzhou who could defeat Qili Dongzan would be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold. He had immense confidence in his nephew, believing that once he defeated Qili Dongzan, not only would he bring honor to the nation, but the reward would simply transfer from his left pocket to his right.

Unexpectedly, Qili Dongzan, after glancing at Xie Zhiqian, lost interest in dueling and instead sent his junior, Zhuobula, to fight.

Magistrate Xie, unfamiliar with the cultivation arts, saw this as disrespect toward Tang and was about to erupt in anger, but his advisor quietly counseled him: “Qili Dongzan is at the peak of Void-Breaking, just a step away from the first realm of the Upper Three Realms, Profound Comprehension. The young master, though outstanding, is still young and only at the Sea-Wandering Upper Realm, a whole major realm below Qili Dongzan. The Tibetans are actually showing us respect by sending Zhuobula, whose abilities are more evenly matched with the young master.”

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Magistrate Xie thus restrained his anger, though disappointment lingered in his heart. His nephew, the family’s most brilliant talent in decades, was still a realm below Qili Dongzan; it seemed the gold reward would stay unclaimed.

A crowd of Tang citizens surrounded the ring, cheering Xie Zhiqian on.

“Look at Zhuobula, the Tibetan. Broad-shouldered and stout, he must be strong. Can Young Master Xie, with his frail appearance, really defeat him?”

“Nonsense! Martial arts aren’t about brute force. Xie Zhiqian is an outstanding disciple of the Moon Washing Academy. If he can’t beat Qili Dongzan, so be it, but if he can’t handle this henchman, what face does our Tang Dynasty have?”

The spectators debated, each offering their opinion, unable to reach consensus.

Qili Dongzan sat leisurely in a chair, sipping tea, seemingly unconcerned with the outcome.

On the stage, Xie Zhiqian clasped his sword handle and bowed to Zhuobula, who merely grinned foolishly, unsure how to return the gesture.

The two stood ten paces apart, each drawing their weapon.

Zhuobula wielded a pair of nine-ring broadswords, heavy and imposing.

Xie Zhiqian held the family heirloom, the Cloud-Piercing Sword.

The thirty-six forms of the Cloud-Gazing Sword, paired with the Cloud-Piercing Sword, dazzled the eye; even civilians unfamiliar with martial arts couldn’t help but cheer.

Zhuobula was tall and burly, his swords heavy, yet his movements were agile, blade following sword, body following blade, methodically parrying each of Xie Zhiqian’s strikes.

Suddenly, Xie Zhiqian accelerated. The latter eighteen sword forms shifted from graceful and airy to bold and vigorous, each thrust aimed at Zhuobula’s left shoulder.

Qili Dongzan quietly praised the young man’s keen eye; with only the first eighteen sword forms, he had already spotted Zhuobula’s weak point.

Zhuobula was forced onto the defensive, his movements increasingly restricted by Xie Zhiqian’s impenetrable swordplay, and it seemed he would soon be driven off the stage.

Abruptly, Zhuobula shattered the stone beneath his feet, using internal energy to launch shards as hidden weapons, forcing Xie Zhiqian to retreat two steps. Zhuobula then unleashed his blade aura, ceasing to match moves directly and instead seeking to overpower Xie Zhiqian with the vast internal energy of his Qi Sea.

Xie Zhiqian was undaunted, channeling internal energy into his sword, firmly binding Zhuobula’s blades. This technique was learned from Nan Jiyun, though the Cloud-Piercing Sword was inferior to the revered Giant Que, and its power could not compare.

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Zhuobula felt his blades sink into a quagmire; his internal energy drained rapidly in the relentless struggle. Facing defeat, Zhuobula roared, abandoned his swords, and struck Xie Zhiqian’s chest with both fists.

Xie Zhiqian, caught off guard by this tactic, failed to respond in time and was knocked off the stage. The blows were fierce; he immediately coughed up thick blood.

“Well done!” Only a few Tibetans cheered, while the Tang citizens fell silent.

Zhuobula arrogantly surveyed the crowd atop the stage. “Moon Washing Academy, nothing special; Tang martial arts, nothing special!”

The Tang side could only respond with awkward silence. Though anger burned fiercely, not a sword was raised to defend their honor.

“Do you Tibetans not know that abandoning your weapon in Tang is a sign of surrender? Young Master Xie thought you conceded and showed mercy, but you took advantage—a despicable act.” A tall, handsome young man in a pale moon-white robe stepped out from the crowd.

Xie Zhiqian called out joyfully, “Lang, brother! Weren’t you out training?”

Yu Lang smiled at him. “That so-called ‘First Blade of Lingnan’ was hopelessly weak. I finished him off instantly, so we came back early.”

Zhuobula flew into a rage. “Who are you to call me a barbarian? Do you dare to fight?”

Moments later, Zhuobula was sent flying off the stage.

The spectators erupted in cheers.

Yu Lang disdained to linger, stepping down from the stage. “Tibetan martial arts are utter nonsense.”

“Who are you, sir? May I know your name?” Qili Dongzan rose to ask.

Yu Lang smiled lightly. “Moon Washing Academy, Yu Lang, Yu Ziyou.”

The girl fans in the audience shrieked.

On the high platform, Magistrate Xie shook his head with a wry smile. “That devil of chaos has returned.”

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