On the mountain

Below the First Rank, so long as one was gifted and quick of mind, advancement in rank began like a waterwheel turning with the current, then slowed to the gentle pace of a village river; with enough diligence, most could usually reach the Third or Fourth Rank. Inner force, however, was truly difficult to cultivate. The greater part of martial men had no access to proper step-by-step breathing methods. They could only rely on the faintest thread of sensation toward the true qi within their bodies, striving to make it flow through their limbs and bones, along their meridians and vessels. Yet with all that halting progress, years often passed without their inner force growing by more than a few breaths.

Below the First Rank, inner force was hard to train; above the First Rank, the realm became misty and elusive. One only ever heard of those born with innate insight, people whose understanding of all things was singular and profound. Some even remained below the First Rank until the age of sixty before attaining completion, only to move thereafter as though fish returned to water, breaking through realms with effortless inevitability. This was the first time Zhang Ling had ever heard of someone opening six apertures while still only at the Fourth Rank.

Seeing that the two of them still found it hard to believe, Baili Huan’an explained further, “There is a thirteen-story tower on the mountain called the Courtyard Tower. The lowest four floors hold secret manuals gathered from all corners of the martial world, as well as texts Headmaster Song took a fancy to within the imperial clan and brought back. The higher one goes, the finer the collection. The very bottom level is mostly basic material, meant for disciples brought up the mountain from childhood. The middle eight floors contain hidden accounts of the world and various archives, most of them compiled and organized by Wu Zhi. As for the first twelve floors, academy disciples may browse them freely. The top floor, however, is what most distinguishes the academy from the Martial Pavilion and the Literary Tower. There are secret arts collected by the two headmasters from the various sects of the martial world. There may be omissions, but in terms of secret arts, the academy’s collection is the finest under heaven. Every disciple may enter and choose one secret art. Headmaster Song has already chosen one for you, Song Linjie. In a while, Zhang Ling, you may go up and choose one yourself. The secret art Li Dami selected is called Gathering Splendor. It requires inner force and the secret art to be used at the same time. Its results surpass ordinary breathing methods, but it is also far more demanding. Though the fields on the mountain require little tending once planted, the entire mountainside is under his care, so naturally his inner force advances with astonishing speed.”

Zhang Ling lowered his head and thought for a moment. “It sounds rather similar to Qin Yi’s Hundred Flowers Summons.”

Baili Huan’an said, “They do share a certain resemblance, but Gathering Splendor is a formation technique; it can only promote the growth of plants. Bright Hall’s Hundred Flowers Summons, by contrast, uses oneself as the catalyst, borrowing the power of heaven and earth to force plants into rapid growth. But what comes quickly also fades quickly. In less than an hour they begin to wither. And it belongs to the same tier as the illusion formation you encountered yesterday, with an enormous range. No one below the Origin Return Realm could achieve it.”

Zhang Ling asked carefully, “You can’t take more than one?”

Baili Huan’an shook his head. “Secret arts inherently run counter to the natural order. Only in the Origin Return Realm, when one transforms outer emptiness into inner substance, borrows the power of heaven and earth, and merges with it, can one cultivate secret arts without restraint. But at the level of the two headmasters, these illusion arts and strange techniques can be shattered with a single stroke. And since they offer no aid to the martial path, the headmasters cannot even be bothered to practice them. One can only say that the further one goes along the path of secret arts, the more tasteless it becomes. Truly powerful secret arts are exceedingly rare. Besides, the cost of using them is difficult to measure.”

After walking for about a quarter of an hour as they watched the sun sink lower, they at last began to make out a scattering of dwellings and little courtyards. Farther below, on a set of bluestone steps, stood a towering man holding an iron staff, guarding the mountain gate alone.

The giant barked, “Who goes there?”

Baili Huan’an covered his face with one hand in weary familiarity, then took out his waist token and showed it to him. “Yang Shanshu, didn’t I tell you to ask Jiang Huaiyi for a few portraits of the academy disciples? With your memory, don’t tell me you forgot again?”

Yang Shanshu scratched his head. Only then did he seem to remember, and he laughed. “Senior Brother Baili, this time I truly did not forget. Senior Brother Huaiyi said that drawing someone’s portrait without permission is discourteous, and using that to identify people is even more improper.”

At once Baili Huan’an understood what Jiang Huaiyi had really meant. It was not that he could not do it, but that he would not. Given the temperaments of certain people within the academy, how could Baili Huan’an not know better? That was why Jiang Huaiyi had found such an excuse.

He waved a hand. “All right, all right. Just stand your post.”

Baili Huan’an had only just led the others forward when Yang Shanshu called out, “Senior Brother, are the three behind you the disciples chosen this time? What are their names?”

Murong Wanxue covered her mouth and laughed. The two behind her were equally speechless. Zhang Ling said, “You big fool, you can’t even remember your own Senior Brother Baili. Even if we tell you, what good will it do?”

The simpleton Yang Shanshu shifted and blocked the way. “That won’t do. Since we are fellow disciples, it is Heaven’s arrangement. If I do not even ask your names, then in other words, I am showing disrespect to Heaven.”

Song Linjie jumped forward. “Big fool, my name is Song Linjie. You look pretty strong. How about we fight someday?”

Zhang Ling promptly pushed Song Linjie’s head aside and said, “I am Zhang Ling. Is that enough to let us pass?”

Yang Shanshu still shook his head and pointed at Murong Wanqing. “This junior sister still hasn’t given her name.”

To be stopped at the mountain gate by one’s own people when merely trying to go up was truly infuriating. Yet knowing full well that this was simply the man’s nature made anger feel hardly worth it. Only Murong Wanqing remained calm. She took off her waist token and showed it to him, and only then did he withdraw and let them pass.

They walked a little farther up, and the view suddenly opened wide. The houses stood separated at measured distances. From one solitary courtyard, neither too near nor too far, came the sound of pounding and hammering against walls. Baili Huan’an had Murong Wanxue go on ahead, while he and Zhang Ling remained outside to wait.

A short while later, a bronze-skinned man emerged from within. His body was packed with dense, solid muscle, and he still held a hammer in his hand, no doubt from years of smithing. Sweat rolled down his face; he wiped it away casually and walked toward the three of them, smiling as he cupped his hands in greeting. “Greetings, Senior Brother.”

Then he turned to the two behind him and said, “I am Hong Siyan. Junior brothers, your houses have been built. Zhang Ling, your courtyard is over to the west. I thought you would prefer quiet, so I had it built a little farther away.”

The two offered their thanks. Zhang Ling asked, “Is the academy short of money? Why does Senior Brother have to build the houses himself?”

Hong Siyan waved a hand. “Not at all. It’s just that all the silver is controlled by the headmaster. Unless there is real need, our daily expenses are usually handled by earning money ourselves. I normally forge weapons and farm tools, then take them down the mountain to sell. You two have only just entered the academy. If you do not have enough silver, I can lend you some.”

The moment he heard that academy disciples had no money, Song Linjie flew into a temper. This truly was a case of a single coin defeating a hero. Without the least bit of politeness, he said at once, “Then many thanks, Senior Brother Hong. I happen to be short on money. Might Senior Brother lend me a few taels?”

Zhang Ling, delighted to stir the pot, cut in, “Song Linjie, and how do you plan to pay it back? Go perform tricks at the foot of the mountain? Or help Li Dami farm?”

Song Linjie acted as though he had heard nothing. He borrowed two taels from Hong Siyan and used them to repay Zhang Ling, then kept three taels for food money. After saluting the other two in farewell, he entered his courtyard by himself.

Seeing there was no one left to tease, Zhang Ling could only let the matter drop. He bade the other two farewell as well.