Chapter Three: Concealment

After learning the direction from the gate guards, she, impatient to wait, immediately displayed her light-footed skills, leaping into the air, pressing lightly with a single palm upon a slender branch, and then vaulting even higher. In this manner, borrowing strength from the grass and trees, she scaled the sheer cliff—over thirty zhang tall—beside the city wall with nothing but a few effortless movements.

The sight left the Chu soldiers on the walls gaping in astonishment.

“As expected of a martial venerable!”

“The Flying Immortal Sect truly produces heroines—such a steep cliff, and she scaled it by pressing so lightly on a branch…”

Autumn Leaf reached the summit, followed the tracks, and at last found four of her fellow disciples immobilized by pressure-point strikes. She shook her head in silent vexation, then went over to undo the technique on each in turn. Realizing one of them was injured, she listened to the explanation and, reassured the wound was not serious, hastily asked where July had gone. They pointed toward the trees.

She hurried over with them, and only when she saw that July was not in mortal danger did she breathe a sigh of relief.

“What happened to you all? Look at you—a disgraceful mess! Have you no shame?”

The four disciples, chastened, bowed their heads in embarrassment.

“Elder, the enemy feared our sect’s reputation and dared not kill us. The two that July killed with her internal force were both warriors capable of facing a thousand men. And that seemingly reckless Zuo An was, in truth, cunning and treacherous…”

“That’s enough! All of you, return at once.”

“Yes!” The four disciples departed in shame, but one turned back.

“What is it?”

Bu Jingxian had just cradled July behind the tree, and from her vantage, she had seen some of what transpired. The other three’s view was blocked; they misunderstood, thinking Zuo An had behaved inappropriately.

After hearing her explanation, Autumn Leaf pondered for a moment before instructing, “Before we set out today, I told you: if July loses control and becomes dangerous, you are to save her with your own blood.” As she spoke, she used her fingernail to make a small cut on her fellow’s arm. The disciple listened carefully and nodded repeatedly. “…Tell the other three not to speak of this. Say only what I have told you. As for Zuo An, erase that part—mention it to no one, or you will answer to me.”

“Yes!”

“Go, then.”

After the disciple left, Autumn Leaf frowned deeply. Only after a moment did she massage July’s limbs to release the pressure-point hold. July awoke crying, at first dazed, then recognizing her and clinging to her arm, sobbing, “Autumn Leaf, Autumn Leaf, I dreamt of Brother Bu again! He fed me blood once more, telling me not to waste it…”

“You were dreaming again. It was Sister Lin who cut her arm to feed you blood and save you.”

“It was… Sister Lin…” July stared blankly for a moment, then gradually regained clarity and hurriedly asked, “Are the others all right?”

“They’re fine.”

“And that scoundrel Zuo An?”

“He escaped. But he dared not harm you, fearing our sect’s revenge.”

July lowered her head, tears brimming. “Autumn Leaf, I’m useless. I wanted to help, but had no ability. When I saw my sister stabbed, all I could do was go mad and lash out…”

“It’s good that you know. July, I’ve told you before: next time you lose control, try to steady your mind. Your power when frenzied is immense, but if you lose your senses and seek only to kill, how can you hope to win against true masters?” Autumn Leaf sighed. “But I won’t force you. Take your time, but train your mind diligently. I’ve said this before: if you can cultivate your Supreme Sovereign Heart Technique to the tenth level, you’ll become truly powerful! But if you can’t, you’re not ready for great responsibility. Today, you let anger rule you, chasing after Zuo An and nearly endangering your sisters—do you understand?”

“I’ll work hard from now on. I won’t act recklessly again until I’ve mastered my skills!”

“Remember your own words. Once your skills are truly honed, even if you act willfully and ignore my advice, so be it.” Autumn Leaf helped her up, seeing she had not yet recovered her strength, and took out a piece of dried meat from her robe. “Eat this for now. When we’re back, thank Sister Lin properly before you have a full meal.”

Inwardly, Autumn Leaf made a plan. Since her fellow disciples could provoke July’s frenzies, she would have them stage scenes more often in the future—perhaps July could learn to maintain her reason through repeated trials. Devoted to food and drink, July could never have guessed such a cruel scheme was taking shape in Autumn Leaf’s mind.

Bu Jingxian caught up with the disciples of the Evening Glow Sect, only to find Ghost-Fears-None was missing. When he asked, none knew where he had gone. Just as he was growing concerned, Ghost-Fears-None and Bi Lian returned.

With everyone gathered, they hurried on, fearing pursuit.

On the road, as they discussed their next steps, Ao Pan spoke up: “I must be frank, my friends. I was originally bound for Zhou. In truth, I am of the Moon Clan, and I journey to the capital to inherit the throne. Zheng seeks to disrupt this and has sent assassins. Without the help of Hero Zuo An, I would not have survived—my deepest thanks!” He bowed, then continued, “If any of you are homeless now, why not journey with me to the capital? My martial skills are modest, and I must rely on your protection. If one day I ascend the throne, I will never forget your aid.”

Bu Jingxian smirked inwardly. Even if they reached the capital, how would they enter? The city was full of Zheng’s troops; Ao Pan would never be allowed to set foot in the palace alive. Yet his own goal was northward, toward the territory of the Black Wolf Army. In truth, Zhou lay just across the river from his destination. It was rumored that Zheng had deliberately left the northern lands unconquered, waiting for the Black Wolf Army to invade Zhou, so that after Zhou’s fall, Zheng could send troops to destroy them both.

Truth or not, the Black Wolf Army had, for years, refrained from attacking Zhou, as if they knew that conquering Zhou would only benefit the Seven Powers.

“My intent is to go to the territory of the Black Wolf Army.”

His words surprised the others.

“They’re all barbarians—why go there?” Bai Yue was baffled by his reasoning.

“Indeed, the Black Wolf Army is an alliance of many barbarian tribes, far inferior to the Seven Powers. But precisely for that reason, it’s worth going.”

Ao Pan was intrigued. “I would like to hear your reasoning.”

“If you wish only for a place to settle and a peaceful life, I would never suggest this. But you all bear a bitter enmity—Chen is a mighty state. How can you hope to take revenge? Even if you founded a sect as renowned as the Flying Immortal, taking vengeance on the King of Chen would hardly be easy. Moreover, within the Seven Powers, survival is simple, but climbing to the top is all but impossible. It is as though a great tower has already been built, and we are left at the bottom, forced to ascend step by step. The King of Chen sits at the pinnacle; only by reaching the top can we act. But the tower is crowded with others like us, each striving upward, each hindering and suppressing the others in hopes of reaching the summit first.”

“A fine metaphor! But what of the Black Wolf Army?” Ao Pan pressed.

“The Black Wolf Army is building a tower of their own—so far, only the foundation is laid, and they lack the skill to build higher. Or perhaps they lack enough master builders. We are those skilled builders; if we help raise this tower, then when it is complete, we may find ourselves already near the top. And if it rises high enough, we may even be able to look down upon the King of Chen.”

He went on, “The Black Wolf Army’s tribes live together, generally united in great matters, but otherwise independent, often in conflict, with shifting internal powers. There, we would have room to grow and a place to carve out our destiny. Not so among the Seven Powers—what can we do? Even if we raised an army in rebellion, no one would rally to our cause. Hope to rise step by step, winning power and status? At best, you become a minister or general, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops. Yet those troops serve another’s will; they will never fight for ours.”

Finished, Bu Jingxian looked around at the Evening Glow Sect members. “If you have no objection, we’ll head north through Han. If you don’t wish to suffer in barbarian lands, I won’t force you.”

Ao Pan clapped in delight, half for Bu Jingxian’s ambition and vision, half in the hope that all would join him on the journey north.