Chapter Seventy: The Pupil Surpasses the Master

After Old Master Yang's birthday banquet, a solemn ceremony to accept a disciple was orchestrated by the old man with great gravity. No one quite knew where he found portraits of the ancient masters of the Ghost Valley School—Wang Chan, as well as Su, Zhang, Sun, and Pang. Incense and offerings were prepared in full; only after Lu Liao-Liao led seven-year-old Bai Liangqi in bowing to the ancestral masters of the sect did the old master finally reveal a crafty, fox-like smile of satisfaction.

He proceeded to regale the three guests—Li Huaiguang and his companions—with tales of illustrious sages from the Ghost Valley lineage, leaving the newly sworn brothers awestruck and bewildered, while Lu Liao-Liao blushed red with embarrassment.

After bowing to their ancestors, it was time for Bai Liangqi to kowtow to his newly appointed master, Lu Liao-Liao, and his mistress, Emile.

Following three bows and nine prostrations, young Bai Liangqi fixed his gaze on Lu Liao-Liao. Emile, who had been somewhat nervous, reacted first, removing a white wolf tooth necklace from her neck and handing it to Bai Liangqi.

“When you grow up and meet a girl you love, give her this wolf tooth necklace. Anyone who sees it will know her husband is a true warrior.”

Bai Liangqi toyed with it briefly, then looked up with bright eyes at Emile. “Mistress, did Master give you this necklace?”

Emile shook her head with a smile. “My mother gave it to me. Your master has yet to give me anything.”

Lu Liao-Liao was inwardly distressed; he had nothing of value to give this unexpected disciple—a mere child. Hearing Emile’s words, his face grew awkward, and he involuntarily twitched.

Noticing a hint of contempt in Bai Liangqi’s eyes, Lu Liao-Liao’s temper flared. If he didn’t offer something, the child would truly look down on him.

Reluctantly and with great pain, he drew out the Chengying Sword, placing it before Bai Liangqi. “This Chengying Sword is famed for its elegance in the Spring and Autumn period—shadowless, formless, incomparably sharp. Master Taibai bestowed it upon me only three years ago. In less than a year, it has already dispatched four villains. Three were criminals from the Beggars’ Gang, who maimed children to send them begging. One was the notorious bandit leader ‘Sick Tiger’ Hua Lin, who terrorized the Northwest for years. Now I give this sword to you. I hope you grasp the meaning behind my words.”

Seeing the transparent Chengying Sword, Bai Liangqi eagerly accepted it, unable to let it go.

“Second Brother! ‘Sick Tiger’ Hua Lin was killed by you?” Li Huaiguang stared at Lu Liao-Liao in shock.

Lu Liao-Liao, still pained at parting with the sword, nodded.

“So you never showed your full strength when we sparred,” Li Huaiguang grumbled.

“Elder Cousin, now you’re my master’s sworn elder brother. What should I call you?” Bai Liangqi’s eyes darted, fixed on Li Huaiguang.

“Call me whatever you like,” Li Huaiguang waved impatiently.

“Grand Master-Uncle!” Bai Liangqi called out, extending his hand.

Li Huaiguang was stunned, staring incredulously at Bai Liangqi. “Are all Ghost Valley disciples so shameless?”

Bai Liangqi said nothing, persistently holding out his hand.

Han Yougui—the fat Han—wiped cold sweat from his brow, thinking fast. He smiled at Bai Liangqi. “I’m your third uncle. Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you a sword technique. How about it?”

Bai Liangqi considered for a moment and nodded.

Hou Zhongzhuang quickly chimed in from the side. “I’m your fourth uncle. I can teach you a spear technique.”

Bai Liangqi nodded, accepting both offers.

Li Huaiguang rifled through his belongings, finding nothing suitable to give. He was too embarrassed to offer spear lessons instead. Seeing Bai Liangqi’s wolf tooth necklace, inspiration struck.

“My little sister is young and very sweet. When she’s grown, I’ll give her to you as your bride—family ties strengthened. How about that?”

Bai Liangqi scrutinized Li Huaiguang and gently shook his head. “If I am to marry, I must find a woman as beautiful as Mistress.”

Li Huaiguang grew annoyed. “I’ll take you to become a general—that’s fair!”

Bai Liangqi finally nodded in satisfaction.

The next morning, Bai Liangqi came to pay his respects to Lu Liao-Liao, playing with the Chengying Sword in his hands.

Lu Liao-Liao felt a pang in his chest. This boy was something else. When he himself finished his training and descended the mountain, he hadn’t received as much as a fart; even the Chengying Sword had been traded for pills. Yet his new disciple, barely initiated, had already managed to extract gifts from Han Yougui and Hou Zhongzhuang, both penniless.

“Master, what will you teach me?” Bai Liangqi asked lazily.

“The Five Elements and Yin-Yang open the heavens, stratagem and diplomacy determine fate! Unfurled ambitions astonish the winds and clouds, a legacy shakes the cosmos for a thousand ages! The myriad schools of thought create a new era; strange arts and Ghost Valley are true scripture.” Lu Liao-Liao recited the ‘Ghost Valley Chant’ with pride.

He remembered how Master Taibin had once awed him with these words; now it was his turn to intimidate this child.

“Don’t bother with that fancy nonsense. I only want to learn swordsmanship and military strategy. Can you teach me?” Bai Liangqi replied impatiently.

Lu Liao-Liao grew angry—his authority as a husband was weak enough; would his authority as a master also falter?

“You wish to learn tactics and swordplay? Start by drawing your sword five hundred times!”

After dwelling at Yang Manor for nearly half a month, Lu Liao-Liao and his companions prepared to depart. Han Yougui truly treated Emile like an elder sister, crying rivers at the farewell—far more than Bai Liangqi, who was leaving home young to follow Lu Liao-Liao on his travels.

Having lost his Chengying Sword and gained a tiny shadow, Lu Liao-Liao was in a gloomy mood for some time. Driving the carriage gifted by the Yang family, the three slowly approached Youzhou’s Fanyang.

“Have you heard of the Sword Sage of the Great Tang, Pei Min? Word has it that after retirement, he lived in seclusion on Yunmeng Mountain. Though the Sword Sage has long passed, his ties with my master Taibai were deep. Since we’re here, I must pay my respects at his tomb.”

Lu Liao-Liao addressed the two in the carriage.

Emile had noticed that Lu Liao-Liao was deliberately delaying their journey, but she did not expose him. In her heart, she too wished the journey would continue endlessly.

Yunmeng Mountain was a place of shifting mist, deep ravines, strange peaks, and rocks, with countless waterfalls and springs. Hiking, the three marveled at the landscape, but also complained bitterly about the difficult roads.

At last, they encountered a woodcutter and learned the location of the Pei family’s secluded valley.

Resting on the mountain path, they saw a young girl, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, carrying a dead yellow ram and striding swiftly. In the blink of an eye, she was before them.

She threw the ram heavily to the ground, brushed her hair aside, wiped sweat from her brow with her sleeve, and stared straight at Lu Liao-Liao. “Who are you, and what business brings you here?”

Lu Liao-Liao saw the girl’s lithe and strong figure, her unadorned face, her heroic bearing, and even her direct questioning brimmed with boldness. He replied honestly.

“We have come to pay our respects at Pei Manor, to honor General Pei Min. May I ask your identity?”

“What a coincidence. I am Pei Wuniang, granddaughter of General Pei Min. There’s no one left at Pei Manor, but you’re lucky to have met me, or your journey would have been wasted.” The girl slung her hunting bow from her shoulder, took out a water flask, and drank deeply.

“Oh! So you are Miss Pei, my junior. Would you guide us to your ancestor’s tomb, so we may pay our respects?” Lu Liao-Liao bowed respectfully.

“What did you call me? Junior? Who are you, and what gives you the right to address me so?”

“My master, Taibai, once visited General Pei Min and exchanged sword techniques. The two became fast friends, kindred spirits. Calling you my junior is appropriate, is it not?” Lu Liao-Liao assumed the air of an elder.

“No, no!” Pei Wuniang waved her hands vigorously. “Your master Taibai sought guidance from my grandfather and served him as a disciple. So we should be considered peers.”

“I heard directly from my master that he and General Pei Min were equals, not in a disciple’s role. Don’t muddle the generations, junior.”

“If your master learned our family’s ‘General’s Sword,’ then he is a disciple.”

“I am practicing the ‘General’s Sword’ now,” Bai Liangqi announced proudly.

“And who is this?” Pei Wuniang pointed to Bai Liangqi.

“My newly accepted disciple, Bai Liangqi. Come and greet your senior sister.” Lu Liao-Liao, secretly pleased, patted Bai Liangqi.

“If even your disciple has learned our Pei family’s swordplay, how can you deny it?” Pei Wuniang glared at Lu Liao-Liao.

Emile shot Lu Liao-Liao an exasperated look. “You’re not much older than Miss Pei; why insist on her calling you uncle?”

Pei Wuniang laughed brightly. “So this must be my senior sister-in-law. You’re truly beautiful.”

Lu Liao-Liao, disgruntled, said nothing.

“Little brother, you’re so sweet. Call me ‘Auntie,’ and I’ll stew this ram for you. The best meat will be yours.” Pei Wuniang, unconcerned with contradictions, teased Bai Liangqi.

“Auntie!” Bai Liangqi swallowed, shamelessly betraying Lu Liao-Liao.

On the way to Pei Manor, Lu Liao-Liao rapped Bai Liangqi’s head. “Spineless brat, sold out for a meal.”

Bai Liangqi looked up. “She’s so muddled herself—calls me little brother one minute, the next claims to be my sister. Calling her ‘Auntie’ doesn’t cost me anything, and I get a delicious meal. What’s the harm?”

Lu Liao-Liao was stunned for a long moment. It seemed his reluctantly accepted disciple might indeed grow into someone extraordinary.