Chapter 7, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

The three of them walked back helplessly. Linghu Chong attempted several times to return the music score to Yue Po, but was repeatedly blocked, so he gave up. However, halfway through, they heard a mournful sound of a huqin. Yue Po casually remarked, "The person playing this tune must have lost his wife in his early years, his child in middle age, and..." As he spoke, a figure emerged from behind a tree, drawing a thin and narrow long sword from beneath the qin and attacking. The speed of the sword was swift, almost dreamlike. Yue Po was greatly alarmed and could only roll like a lazy donkey, rolling again and continuing to roll. Finally, it was Linghu Chong who spoke, "Please hold on, Master Mo."

Three people went out to buy gifts, which is a specialty of Yue Po. After a round of shopping, they spent two hours and a bit of cleverness to acquire everything, and all the items were quite unique and distinctive, earning the admiration of Linghu Chong and Yue Ling Shan. Just as the three were about to return, a girl in green, around fourteen years old, ran out and said, "My grandfather wants to see you." Linghu Chong, puzzled, asked, "Who is your grandfather? Why does he want to see us?" The girl did not answer but blocked their way, insisting they follow her. Yue Ling Shan, charmed by the quirky little girl, said, "Since we have nothing else to do, why don't we go take a look?"

Mr. Mo was astonished; he had originally unleashed ten strikes against Yue Po but could only counter one. Now, he unleashed ten strikes, yet could counter five. He observed Yue Po moving like a snake, his palms swift as an eagle, and his footwork both varied and stable. However, he chose to abandon his foot-based attacks and engaged in a full-on hand-to-hand combat. Linghu Chong and Yue Ling Shan watched in a daze as Yue Po consistently evaded Mr. Mo's strikes at critical moments, countering with precision. As the exchanges continued, they engaged in over a hundred moves. Initially, Mr. Mo had the upper hand while holding back, but later, he had to exert all his strength just to maintain a stalemate.

As everyone dispersed, Yue Buqun took his disciples to the inn to rest. Upon arriving at the room, Yue Buqun asked, "Po'er, how did you learn the Zixia skill?" Yue Po replied honestly, "Master said I cannot tell you." Yue Buqun had already guessed this; feeling helpless, he could not strike his own wife, so he had no choice but to recite the rules of the sect again, considering it a form of instruction. Yue Po then said, "Respectfully reporting to the sect leader, I have not yet prepared gifts for Master and the senior sisters. How about we go buy them now?" Yue Buqun happily replied, "It is rare to have such filial piety; Chong'er, you accompany him out." However, Linghu Chong said, "Master, can I not go?" Yue Buqun was puzzled as to when this little request had become a refusal from Linghu Chong. "Of course not, you are the eldest senior brother, and Shan'er should also go to help pick out gifts." (The following time may have discrepancies, please do not mind)

Linghu Chong felt a deep resentment upon seeing this: he vowed never to go out with Yue Po again in this lifetime, and hurriedly approached to greet him. The two sighed and said, "You arrived so quickly; if only we could finish this piece before the books are taken away. How did you know this piece is 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'?" Yue Po replied, "I guessed it." Liu Zhengfeng introduced, "This is my old friend from the Demon Sect, Qu Yang. We are going to retreat to the mountains and no longer concern ourselves with the affairs of the martial world. I am giving you this score." Yue Po took it and handed it to Linghu Chong, saying, "I cannot understand this piece; you are going to live in seclusion?" Qu Yang nodded and said, "For now, it can only be this way." Yue Po continued, "If Master Liu is also going to retreat, why not..."

Mr. Mo sighed, "The younger generation is formidable; this can be said to be your own creation, and I, Mo, am in admiration." Yue Po did not dare to accept such praise and hurriedly replied, "Senior, you flatter me; I cannot accept such compliments." Mr. Mo continued, "Is there any aspect of Chinese martial arts that is not created by people? What is there to not accept? Enough of that, I am here to thank you for helping my junior brother out of a predicament." Linghu Chong quickly said, "Mr. Mo, you are too polite; there is no need for you to personally express your gratitude." Mr. Mo smiled, said nothing, and began to play the huqin.

Yue Po is now completely immersed in the moment, executing various simple techniques with ease, yet infused with numerous variations—luring the opponent while striking at the right moment, leaving a backup for defense during attacks, and vice versa. Mr. Mo feels the pressure brought by Yue Po; no matter how he attacks, he cannot inflict any more damage. Yue Po transitions swiftly between defense and offense, and what is even more infuriating is that what initially appeared as a punch suddenly transforms into a palm strike, then shifts to a finger jab targeting the acupoints. The only constant amidst these changes is the overwhelming force behind each move. Mr. Mo senses the pressure from Yue Po; regardless of his offensive efforts, he cannot inflict further harm. The transitions are rapid, and the initial punch morphs into a palm strike, then into a finger jab aimed at the acupoints, with the only unchanging aspect being the immense power. The punches can be evaded, the palms can be blocked, and the fingers can be redirected, yet defending against all three is exceedingly difficult. Fortunately, he still maintains the initiative with his attacks, but if this continues, it will surely lead to mutual destruction. In a moment of urgency, he shouts "Stop!" and attempts to retreat, but Yue Po, not paying attention, seizes the opportunity. Like a snake, he strikes out, changing from a punch to a finger jab, targeting Mr. Mo's Yongquan acupoint.

The young girl led everyone to a waterfall in the countryside, where two individuals were playing music. One was Liu Zhengfeng playing the xiao, while the other, an elderly man, was playing the guqin. The melody was soaring and harmonized perfectly. Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan were entranced. Upon hearing it, Yue broke the silence and exclaimed, "Wow, 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.'" Finally, he encountered something familiar. He stepped forward to interrupt and asked, "Why are you two not singing while playing?" In his memory, the two had been on a boat, one playing and the other blowing, singing loudly. The location had changed, but the quality should not. He stepped forward to interrupt and asked again, "Why are you two not singing while playing?" In his memory, the two had been on a boat, one playing and the other blowing, singing loudly. The location had changed, but the quality should not.

Linghu Chong hurriedly flew forward and tightly embraced Yue Po, saying, "This is Master Mo, the head of Hengshan." Only then did Yue Po realize that Mr. Mo had already released his acupoints and stood up, saying, "Young man, I must say, I did not expect that Master Yue's swordsmanship is so good, and his fists and feet are also so sharp." Yue Po quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "It’s a misunderstanding! My master is the great heroine Ning Zhongze." Only then did Mr. Mo and the scholar notice Yue Po's four fingers on his right hand, saying, "So that’s how it is, but I haven’t heard that the heroine Ning is skilled in fists and feet." Linghu Chong said, "My little junior brother has developed many of these skills through hard practice." Mr. Mo nodded and took Yue Po's hand, noticing the thick calluses on it, which could only be formed by repeatedly breaking and healing blood blisters. He praised, "Most people would take twenty years to walk this path and might not have such thick calluses. No wonder your foundation is so solid. But what techniques did you use later? How did you manage to coordinate your footwork?"

Yue Po helplessly said, "It is better for you to remain in seclusion; let us depart!" His unsteady steps filled the two with guilt. Qu Yang, unable to bear it, said, "Please wait a moment." Yue Po, invigorated, turned back and asked, "What is it?" Qu Yang replied, "This zither of mine is..." Yue Po waved his hand and said, "You can keep it for yourself; we are leaving." He muttered softly, "Both of them are so stingy. I just made it very clear, yet they can't even spare a bit of their wealth, at least enough for us to take a carriage." Linghu Chong and Yue Ling Shan broke into a sweat. Linghu Chong said, "People in the martial world regard wealth very lightly; he is afraid that giving you money would insult you. Junior brother, do not place too much importance on these external possessions." Yue Po thought to himself: I would gladly endure such an insult! Yue Po waved his hand again and said, "You can keep it for yourself; we are leaving." He muttered softly, "Both of them are so stingy. I just made it very clear, yet they can't even spare a bit of their wealth, at least enough for us to take a carriage." Linghu Chong and Yue Ling Shan broke into a sweat. Linghu Chong said, "People in the martial world regard wealth very lightly; he is afraid that giving you money would insult you. Junior brother, do not place too much importance on these external possessions." Yue Po thought to himself: I would gladly endure such an insult!

Yue Poda said, "The master mentioned the Eagle-Snake Life-and-Death Duel, and the footwork also moves accordingly." Mr. Mo nodded, "I have records in the Hengshan classics. Mount Huashan has two unique martial arts, one of which is 'Eagle-Snake Life-and-Death Duel.' The other is unknown, but hasn't it all been burned?" Yue Poda replied, "I have witnessed the battle between the eagle and the snake, and the essence of martial arts has always eluded me. It is thanks to Master Mo's guidance that I have finally grasped it between life and death."

Linghu Chong threw Yue Po aside and said, "Why have you two esteemed seniors brought us here?" Liu Zhengfeng replied, "Your junior apprentice saved my entire family, and we wish to present this precious musical score to him; there is no other matter at hand." Yue Po got up and said, "I have already passed that musical score to my senior brother, so is there nothing else?" Qu Yang, puzzled, asked, "Indeed, there is nothing else." Yue Po, exasperated, exclaimed, "You made us walk for nearly an hour, and soon we will have to walk back for another hour, just for this?" Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang both nodded affirmatively.

Yue Po stood up, his clothes riddled with several sword cuts, now in tatters. These garments were personally sewn by his master, whom he had always cared for diligently. In a fit of anger, he raised his fist to strike. The person before him was none other than Master Mo Da, the leader of Hengshan. With a smile, Master Mo began to exchange moves with Yue Po. Master Mo's swordsmanship was peculiar, and his speed was astonishing. After a few exchanges, Yue Po felt discomfort, yet he finally grasped the essence of the life-and-death struggle of the eagle and the snake. Yue Po had always struggled to comprehend this, only recalling it when faced with a move. The key lay in the two words: life and death. Now, he shifted from fist to palm, engaging in a counterattack against Master Mo.