Chapter Nine: The Difference Between Heaven and Hell

He had gone through countless hardships to reach North Spirit Mountain, all for the sake of mastering superior martial arts. Yet now, he had missed his opportunity with destiny, and could blame no one but himself.

Several days later, guests began to arrive at North Spirit Mountain. They were all seeking to become disciples and learn martial skills. Many managed to ascend, but even more were stranded at the base of the steep cliff, unable to climb up. No matter how loudly they called for the Elder of North Spirit, he paid them no heed, as if he cared nothing for the treasures they brought. Only later did Bu Jingxian learn that the Elder had many strict rules.

Price was one matter; whether you could climb the mountain and meet him was another. There were other rules as well: regardless of their background, all who came to learn were subject to the Elder’s authority over life and death during their stay. No servants were allowed. Disciples were forbidden to leave the mountain without permission, or to fight among themselves. Anyone who broke these rules would, at best, be expelled, and at worst, have their martial arts crippled or even face execution.

If anyone could not accept these rules, they were refused from the start. No matter who you were or what fame or status you commanded, there was no room for negotiation.

Despite such severity, those bearing riches still came in an endless stream to seek admission. Bu Jingxian could hardly believe there were so many wealthy people in the world.

Most were children of high ministers and nobles from various kingdoms, followed by the sons of wealthy merchants, and then young military officers sent to learn martial arts. Many houses atop the mountain remained empty, but halfway up, numerous buildings had been constructed. Most newcomers were registered disciples and could only live on the mountainside.

On Bu Jingxian’s tenth day as a disciple, during the founding ceremony of the North Spirit Sect, there were one hundred and nine disciples living at the summit, and five hundred and sixty-seven on the mountainside. Over three hundred martial sects came to offer congratulations or send gifts.

With so many disciples, Bu Jingxian wondered whether the Elder could manage to teach them all, but what he did know was that, in just ten days, his master had become a man whose wealth rivaled that of a nation.

Only after the founding ceremony did martial training begin. The bodyguards who accompanied the wealthy disciples had to leave the mountain. Some young children who had never been away from home before cried loudly.

Qiyue also left with Zheng Feixian, weeping in thin streams of tears. Bu Jingxian felt reluctant, but took it more calmly than she did, shedding not a single tear. On North Spirit Mountain grew gurgle trees, and as they parted, Bu Jingxian chose the largest one as a parting gift for Qiyue.

“Let it keep you company and talk with you. Think of it as my farewell present,” he said.

He had no idea that on the very first night Qiyue arrived at Flying Immortal Sect, she was beaten.

That night, Qiyue snuck into the kitchen for food and was caught. She was brought before Zheng Feixian, who ordered her to be struck with a paddle. After ten strokes, Zheng Feixian asked, “Do you know why your master is punishing you?”

Qiyue, already crying out in pain, hurried to admit fault, “Because I ate too much…”

Before she finished, Zheng Feixian ordered another round of blows. Ten more strokes left Qiyue’s skin broken and bleeding.

“Do you know why your master is punishing you?” Zheng Feixian asked again.

Qiyue quickly replied, “I shouldn’t have stolen food.”

Zheng Feixian’s face was cold. “Is it wrong to steal food, or to steal?”

“It’s wrong to steal food…”

“Again!”

After another ten strokes, Qiyue finally answered, “I shouldn’t have stolen.”

At last, Zheng Feixian dismissed the disciples, then personally carried Qiyue to the infirmary, carefully peeled away her bloodied clothing from her wounded back and hips, and applied medicine. With a gentle, loving expression, she said, “Since I’ve accepted you as my disciple, I am not afraid of how much you eat. Whenever you’re hungry, tell your senior sister. How could you steal? As the beloved disciple of the Head of Flying Immortal Sect, how could you stoop to thievery? You bring shame upon your master!”

Still sobbing, Qiyue explained, “I eat too much and was afraid of waking my senior sister in the night to cook, so I went to the kitchen myself…”

“That’s thoughtful of you, but next time you must walk in openly through the door. No climbing through windows!”

“But, Master, the door was locked…”

“Then ask your senior sister for the key, or if need be, break the lock with a sword. I won’t blame you for that, because you would be acting forthrightly. What is breaking a lock to my disciple? But to be called a little thief sneaking into the kitchen at midnight would make a laughingstock of me throughout the world!”

“Master, I know I was wrong. I’ll never steal again…”

Though Zheng Feixian had ordered her beaten, she had already signaled to go easy, or else ten strokes would have killed Qiyue, and she wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed for days.

In the days that followed, Qiyue was still hungry at night. As soon as she recovered, she made her way to the kitchen again. Unable to find which room her senior sister lived in to get the key, she thought of returning, but hunger overwhelmed her. Remembering Zheng Feixian’s words, she fetched her sword, leapt up, and hacked away at the lock until it broke.

The noise woke the senior sister in the kitchen, who came running to see Qiyue and the broken lock. Both amused and exasperated, she cried, “Little sister, what are you doing?”

“I couldn’t find you, and Master said as long as I go through the door, it doesn’t matter if I break the lock.”

The senior sister gave a wry smile. “It doesn’t matter to you, but I’ll have to pay to replace the lock. I live right next door—next time you’re hungry at night, just knock.”

“I can’t bear to have you get up in the middle of the night to cook so much food for me.”

“Can you cook by yourself? Can you lift those heavy kitchen wares and reach the high stove?”

“I can! I’ll climb up.”

Her senior sister watched in bemusement. “Fine, I’ll watch you. If you manage, tomorrow I’ll buy a new lock and give you a spare key.” She sat and watched as Qiyue, strong beyond belief, lifted the heavy water-and-rice cask, chopped meat and vegetables upon the stove, and busied herself until sleepiness overtook her senior sister, who then returned to bed.

By the time Qiyue finished eating her fill, dawn was breaking. Stretching contentedly, she returned to her room to rest, realizing that her master’s way was right—eating openly without fear of being discovered was far better than sneaking around. She deserved that beating for not choosing the easier way.

No longer worried about hunger and more devoted than ever to Zheng Feixian, Qiyue grew happier each day at Flying Immortal Sect.

Years later, she would still recall Bu Jingxian on North Spirit Mountain, though she never knew his fate. Many times she pleaded with Zheng Feixian to take her there, but her requests were never granted.

Qiyue could never have imagined that, while she lived in daily luxury at Flying Immortal Sect, Bu Jingxian had suffered years of torment as if in hell.

During their journey to North Spirit Mountain, both Bu Jingxian and Qiyue had avoided washing their clothes, faces, and hair to garner more sympathy, but when conditions allowed, they always washed themselves. Though the Divine Soul Sect was poor, it was not slovenly; in fact, it valued cleanliness highly. Though they wore coarse hemp garments, they kept them spotless.

For Bu Jingxian, the idea of bathing only once every ten days was unimaginable.

Yet, during his five years as a disciple at North Spirit Mountain, he was allowed to wash himself only once every ten days. After bathing, he was required to find a patch of dirt and roll in it until he was covered in dust before going about any other business. He never understood why his master enforced such a peculiar rule, especially since the Elder imposed it on him alone.

If it had been for martial training, he could have accepted it, but it was not. In five years, the Elder of North Spirit Mountain never taught him any martial arts—only a single soul cultivation technique to practice. While the others trained daily in forms and techniques, he had none. Aside from being forbidden to leave the mountain, he could do anything: daydream, sleep, watch others practice, even shout or sing loudly in the martial arts field.

He had done all these things, driven nearly mad with boredom, but it made no difference. The Elder continued to ignore him, and the others left him alone as well. According to sect rules, only Senior Brother Ling Luo and Second Brother Chu Gaoge had authority over him, but they had been specifically instructed to let him be, and everyone else had to call him Third Brother and had no right to discipline him.