Chapter Forty-Four: Brothers Reunited

“Young master, everything has been taken care of.”

After tossing out Qi Tianbiao, Yun He, Guan Jiu Jia, and their disciples, Zhao Fan quietly returned to stand behind Yuanye, like a shadow.

“This must be Brother Zhao! I never imagined your martial arts would be so extraordinary. As for the other two Xiong brothers, I suppose they are even more formidable,” Song Yuanqiao praised sincerely.

“You flatter me, Master Song. My humble skills are only fit to perform errands at the young master’s side, hardly worth any mention,” Zhao Fan replied, bowing.

“Eighth brother, when you returned to the mountain this time, did the Xiong brothers come with you? I’ve always heard of their renown. The monks of Shaolin have always been so arrogant—over the years, we at Dragon Gate Escort Agency have suffered much from them. This time, even Elder Kong Xiang and Kong Zhi were defeated by the Xiong brothers. Truly, what a relief.”

“If I meet the Xiong brothers, I must have a good match with them.”

Mo Shenggu’s booming voice rang out as well. Yuanye often sent news back, and a month ago, Mo Shenggu had learned that Yuanye had bested the Shaolin monks on their own turf. He could not have been more delighted. Over the years, he had been infuriated by the monks more than once and was only too happy to see them get their comeuppance.

“Of course they’re back. They’re all up on the mountain. But, Seventh Brother, why don’t you want to spar with me?” Yuanye asked, rubbing his nose.

“Hmph! I couldn’t beat you even when you were eleven. Who wants to deal with a freak like you?” Mo Shenggu replied with a look of disdain.

How is that my fault?

Yuanye looked helpless, wondering what had become of this world—was even quick progress in cultivation something to be despised?

Only in front of these senior brothers would Yuanye reveal his childish side. Outside, no matter what, he was always the fearsome Young Lord of No Trace, whom all under heaven dreaded.

“By the way, Eighth Brother, did you return to the mountain this time only to celebrate our master’s birthday, or was it because you heard Fifth Brother had returned to the Central Plains?” Song Yuanqiao asked.

“Heh, First Brother, I’ve already seen Fifth Brother. Guess where he is now?”

Seeing his smiling face, Mo Shenggu and Song Yuanqiao exchanged glances and exclaimed in astonishment, “Did Fifth Brother return with you?”

“First Brother, Seventh Brother—”

Two voices called from behind them. Song Yuanqiao and Mo Shenggu were startled and turned around. Emerging from behind the screen was none other than the one they had longed for day and night—Zhang Cuishan!

Their reunion was filled with emotion as they poured out their hearts to one another. Zhang Cuishan then recounted how, years ago, he had been taken hostage by Xie Xun on Wang Pan Island, and how fate had led him to Ice-Fire Island in the North Sea.

When he spoke of pledging his life to Yin Susu atop the icy mountain, and how they became husband and wife on the island—

“What! Fifth Brother, you’re already married?” Mo Shenggu exclaimed in delight.

“More than just married—Fifth Brother’s child is already ten,” Yuanye said with a smile.

“That’s wonderful! Fifth Brother, where is my nephew? Take me to see him at once!” Mo Shenggu, with his full beard, was still as impetuous and childlike as ever. Zhang Cuishan laughed, “Seventh Brother, Wujie is off playing on the mountain with the Xiong brothers. You’ll see him tonight.”

Song Yuanqiao’s face glowed with joy. As the eldest and the senior brother, he had helped raise several of the others, caring for them as both brother and father. But ten years ago, the third brother had become a cripple and the fifth had vanished. He had always blamed himself for not protecting them.

Now, the long-lost Zhang Cuishan had returned, not only alive but with a family. The youngest, Yuanye, was back as well. He could not contain his happiness.

“Wujie is a good child. You’ll all like him,” Yuanye said with a smile.

“By the way, First Brother, when did Fourth Brother and Brother Liu return to the mountain?” Yuanye suddenly remembered that after Zhang Songxi and Yin Liting had left the mountain, if they had not met up on the road, they should have returned long ago. Why had they not appeared yet?

Just as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

They all looked up—wasn’t it Zhang Songxi and Yin Liting at the door?

“Fifth Brother!”

Zhang Songxi and Yin Liting, upon seeing the familiar figure in the hall, let out cries of joy, darted inside, and embraced Zhang Cuishan.

Zhang Cuishan shouted with delight, “Fourth Brother! Sixth Brother!”

Their reunion was one of unbounded joy. Yin Liting, so overcome that he wept, said, “Fifth Brother, I missed you so much!”

Zhang Cuishan laughed, “Sixth Brother, you’ve grown taller.” When they parted, Yin Liting had been only eighteen; ten years later, the once slender youth had become a tall, handsome young man.

Zhang Cuishan was truly fond of this youngest brother, who, though grown, still clung to him as before. He held his hand and would not let go.

After a brief exchange, Zhang Cuishan suddenly asked, “Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, why didn’t we meet you on the road as we returned to the mountain?”

Zhang Songxi released his hand and said, “Fifth Brother, as soon as we heard you had returned to the Central Plains, and that rumors said you knew the whereabouts of Xie Xun and the Dragon-Slaying Sabre, a few of us discussed it and figured your journey home would not be peaceful.”

“So I went down the mountain with Sixth Brother to meet you. But just as we reached Yunyang, we heard that the Three Rivers Gang and the Five Phoenix Sabre Sect planned to ambush you on your way.”

“So we split up. Sixth Brother went to deal with the Three Rivers Gang, I went to block the disciples of the Five Phoenix Sabre.”

“Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, I’m ashamed to have made you run all over the countryside,” Zhang Cuishan choked out.

“Fifth Brother, say no more! We’re brothers—what’s a walk through fire and blades to us?” Zhang Songxi consoled him.

“Fourth Brother, the men from the Three Rivers Gang and the Five Phoenix Sabre—I know them, and their skills are mediocre at best. How could they have held you up so long?” Yuanye asked.

“Haha, Eighth Brother, that’s thanks to you!” Yin Liting suddenly burst out laughing.

“My doing?” Yuanye looked puzzled.

“It’s like this,” Zhang Songxi explained, “Sixth Brother and I split up, but as we were chasing them, we unexpectedly met up again. We thought the two gangs must have joined forces and so we pursued them together.”

Yin Liting continued, “Yes, it’s funny looking back. We chased them all night and finally caught up to the group, then hid to watch them, planning to strike when they tried to ambush you.”

“But after following them all night, we realized they weren’t heading to Xiangyang to intercept you—they were running toward Henan, as if fleeing for their lives.”

At this point he couldn’t help but smile again before saying, “We couldn’t make sense of it. Finally, Fourth Brother guessed that perhaps they had dealings with the Shaolin monks and were planning to join up to cause you trouble. We figured a fierce battle was ahead.”

He paused, and everyone turned to look at Zhang Songxi, whose face flushed slightly.

“Sigh, who would have thought that after following them for another half a day, we still saw no sign of them joining forces with anyone else? Nearing the Han River, we decided to strike first. But as soon as we subdued them and they learned we were from Wudang, they all dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.”

“Yes, at that moment, Fourth Brother and I were baffled. After questioning them, we found out that the Young Lord of No Trace had put the word out: anyone who caused trouble in Hubei now would die a thousand deaths.”

“That’s why they were desperate to escape Hubei. When they heard we were from Wudang, they thought we were there to hunt them down,” Zhang Songxi added with a wry smile.

At this, all the brothers turned to look at Yuanye.

“Uh… Brothers, I just didn’t want those ignorant fools to ruin Master’s hundredth birthday celebration!”

“Eighth Brother, you were thoughtful. It’s our own incompetence—if not for you, Master’s centennial would have been utter chaos,” Song Yuanqiao sighed.

“That’s right! Eighth Brother, if you hadn’t helped, we’d probably still be fighting our way home,” Zhang Cuishan choked out again.

“It’s nothing. In all my years wandering the martial world, this is the only reputation I’ve made for myself. Fifth Brother, there’s no need to thank me,” Yuanye said, waving his hand dismissively.

“If that’s just a bit of fame, then I must truly be a nobody. After all, the Young Lord of No Trace never challenged Wudang’s Mo Shenggu!” Mo Shenggu replied with a melodramatic sigh.

Yet his expression was playful, clearly teasing Yuanye with the saying that “those not challenged by the Young Lord of No Trace are not even worth mentioning in the martial world.”

“Oh, Seventh Brother, how could I dare challenge you? Don’t worry, tomorrow I’ll spread the word that I lost to Wudang’s Mo Shenggu, the Seventh Hero, and make sure your name is renowned far and wide.”

Watching them banter, Zhang Cuishan could not help but smile as the brothers all laughed together, the hall filled with warmth and joy, the heavy matters weighing on their hearts momentarily forgotten.