Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 317 The Ruins of the Epang Palace and the Desolate Hills of Han

Chapter 317 The Ruins of the Epang Palace and the Desolate Hills of Han

Lin Chaosheng, the leader of the rattan shield gang, was a thin, dark-skinned man.

Because of his heavy accent, he usually wore a bamboo hat and carried a rattan shield. He didn't like to interact with people, but only when a fierce glint occasionally flashed in his eyes could people tell that he was not a good person. At this moment, he cupped his hands to Jiang Wen and signaled his men to carry the corpse away.

The rattan shield style originated from a special group of people in Fujian. They used rattan shields and long knives as equipment and were active on the battlefields of Fujian and Zhejiang. The "Wubei Zhi" (Treatise on Military Preparedness) records: "The old and coarse rattan is like a finger and is used as the bone. The rattan strips are intertwined and connected, with the center protruding outward. The inside is hollow and sparse, so that arrows cannot penetrate to the wrist. The eaves are high, so even if an arrow arrives, it cannot slip and reach a person. The inside is made of rattan in two rings, upper and lower, to accommodate the hand and arm to hold it."

They were originally local militia members and had served in Qi Jiguang's army. The local martial arts culture was quite strong, so over time a group of people made a living from it and even formed a martial arts sect. They usually served as guards, bodyguards, and deliverymen. When they banded together, they could act tyrannically, taking advantage of the fact that rattan shields were not considered armor or military equipment.

The Wuyi Mountains may seem remote to others, but they are not entirely unfamiliar to these bandits who frequently traveled to and from Jiangxi along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. They had traversed Tongmu Pass, Tongzi Pass, and Fenshui Pass multiple times. Their purpose in attending this meeting was to see if there were any profitable opportunities arising from the trade route.

These people were often recruited from the villages around Zhangzhou, and therefore they were particularly united and exclusive. For example, the "Compilation of Maps for Coastal Defense" states that "General Yu Dayou said that infantry combat is a Chinese specialty. Now, we can teach and use both hooks and tiger forks at any time. However, rattan shield users come from Longxi County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, in places such as Haicang, Xulin, Songyu, Changyu, Chishi, Dianwei, Yuegang, Aotou, and Shaban. The local people in these places are brave, good at fighting, and value righteousness over life."

Chinese people have always valued subtlety. The eight characters "courageous and brave, loyal and righteous" are the formal expression. Anyone who has watched the Young and Dangerous movies knows that the correct translation should be: I, Chan Ho-nam, have been able to survive for so long because of three things—ruthlessness, loyalty, and many brothers.

However, just because he, as the sect leader, could be patient doesn't mean his subordinates could hold their tempers. Moreover, the members of the rattan shield sect are often related by marriage, making many things difficult to control.

"Damn it! This...this must be a vendetta!"

A young disciple, his face ashen, pointed at the charred and unrecognizable corpse on the stretcher, his voice trembling with sobs and barely suppressed rage, “Just a few days ago, I fought those bastards from the Innate Fist School on the street, and beat them to a pulp! They must have held a grudge and attacked me under the cover of night!”

An older disciple with a scar on his face spat out, his eyes sweeping fiercely over the other sects present, lingering for a few moments in the direction of the Drunken Eight Immortals, Duck-Shaped Sect, and Innate Fist Sect.

"Hmph, it's not just the Innate Fist! Those old drunkards from the Drunken Eight Immortals tried to take our spot in the dry corridor of the martial arts school because they outnumbered us, but we pushed them back with rattan shields and they lost face! And those lame ducks from the Duck Formation Sect argued with us at the entrance of the tavern over a roast chicken. If it weren't for... that evil god passing by, we would have beaten them to a pulp!"

The disciples became more and more agitated as they spoke, and a sense of grief and indignation spread through the crowd. They reminded each other of the grudges they had formed in the past few days, pointing the finger at the Drunken Eight Immortals and the Duck-Shaped Sect, with whom they had clashed, and especially the Innate Fist Sect, with whom they had "fought fiercely" in the street just a few days ago.

The air was thick with the stench of burning and a strong sense of suspicion and hatred. The disciples of the Tengpai Sect gathered around the stretcher, their eyes filled with hostility as they looked at the other sects, as if they were about to pounce on them and find the murderer.

Perhaps it was the excited emotions of the rattan shield sect disciples that stirred up the already tense atmosphere, causing the disciples of the Drunken Eight Immortals, Duck Form Sect, and Innate Fist Sect to also change their expressions drastically, standing up and glaring angrily.

Sect leader Lin Chaosheng had a gloomy face, and his gaze under his bamboo hat was sharp as a knife. He swept his eyes between his grief-stricken disciples and the crowd of astonished heroes. It was unclear whether he wanted to discipline his subordinates or also had doubts about everyone. His left hand was tightly gripping the edge of the rattan shield, and his knuckles gradually turned white from the force.

"Fuck your mother's fart!"

One of the elders from the Drunken Eight Immortals, with a ruddy face, slammed his hand on the table, causing the cups and saucers to rattle. Although he appeared drunk, his eyes were gleaming with a sharp light.

"I, the Drunken Eight Immortals, act with integrity and uprightness. If I wanted to teach you rattan shield bastards a lesson, would I need to set fire to your place in the middle of the night? Back in the martial arts hall corridor, if that evil spirit hadn't arrived quickly, I would have torn your lousy rattan shields apart and burned them for firewood on the spot!"

"Exactly! Is it worth killing someone over stealing a roast chicken?"

A man from the Duck-Shaped Gate chimed in sharply, "Your Rattan Shield Gate acts suspiciously, and your dialect is so incomprehensible that nobody can understand you. Who knows if it was caused by infighting among your own people? Stop making baseless accusations!"

“That’s right!” The leader of another small sect also seized the opportunity to interject, pointing at the members of the Rattan Shield Sect.

“You people always gather together and whisper amongst yourselves, speaking a dialect that no one can understand. At night, you always like to sneak into the depths of that abandoned Sanliting, acting all mysterious! Who knows if you've violated some taboo yourself, and now you're blaming others?”

"Gan Yi Niang! What did you say?!"

A young disciple of the Rattan Shield Sect, his blood boiling and eyes bloodshot, suddenly drew the short sword from his waist, shouting, "Say that again if you dare!"

"I'm afraid you won't succeed!"

The disciples of the Drunken Eight Immortals and the Duck-Shaped Sect also drew their weapons, and the scene instantly became tense, with a strong smell of gunpowder filling the air, and it looked like it was about to turn into a big melee.

"Gentlemen! Fellow practitioners! Hold your fire!"

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Zhou Long, the leader of the Vajra Sect, suddenly stood up, his towering frame towering over the crowd. His voice boomed like a bell, attempting to quell the chaos, "Listen to me, Zhou Long! The matter hasn't been investigated yet, don't fall for the real culprit's divisive tactics! We're all here to participate in the martial arts tournament, let's talk things out and not ruin the harmony!"

However, his words of peacemaking seemed pale and powerless in the face of the crowd's indignation.

"Sect Leader Zhou, it's not that we're not giving you face!"

Lin Chaosheng, the leader of the Rattan Shield Sect, was also provoked. His voice was hoarse, and his gaze under his bamboo hat was as cold as a venomous snake. "Three brothers died! Burned to a crisp! The Rattan Shield Sect will not swallow this insult! If such idlers slander us like this, don't blame us for turning ruthless if we don't give them an explanation!"

"Hmph, if you want to fight, then fight! Do you really think I'm afraid of you card-playing bastards?"

Elder Zui Baxian was not to be outdone. He hung his wine gourd on his waist and assumed a fighting stance.

Just as conflict was about to erupt, a clear and melodious whistle rang out from the high platform, seemingly carrying an invisible force that instantly pierced through all the noise.

"enough!"

Jiang Wen's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable authority. He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping across the entire area like cold lightning. A profound and imposing aura spread out, causing those who had drawn their weapons and were shouting incessantly to freeze in their tracks.

"I feel deeply for the tragic deaths of the three brothers from the Rattan Shield Sect."

Jiang Wen's voice wasn't loud, but his tone was resolute. His gaze first fell on Lin Chaosheng. "Sect Leader Lin, as the leader of the Wuyi Sect and the host of the Martial Arts Conference, I swear that within three days, I will find out the truth, capture the real culprit, and give an explanation to the Tengpai Sect, to our fallen brothers, and to all the comrades present here! If I break this oath, may this case be punished!"

He pointed his fingers like a sword and slashed, and a deep crack appeared in the blue stone in front of him. Then, he picked up the blue stone with one hand and casually threw it out of the courtyard. He shocked everyone with his strength and decisiveness.

"This banquet is now adjourned!"

Jiang Wenyi flicked his sleeve, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Everyone, please return to your residences and keep your disciples in check. In the next three days, anyone in Sanliting who privately provokes trouble, leaves their post without permission, or causes any unrest will be dealt with according to the rules by the Wuyi Sect!"

"Sect Leader Zhou, Chief Fan, I would like to ask for your assistance in maintaining order and calming the emotions of the various factions." Jiang Wen nodded to Zhou Long and Fan Xinghan.

Zhou Long quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Sect Leader Jiang, don't worry! I've got it covered!"

Fan Xinghan replied in a deep voice, "I understand."

Jiang Wen forcefully suppressed and intimidated them. Although the disciples of the Tengpai Sect were still filled with grief and indignation, Lin Chaosheng finally ordered his men to take away the corpses with a sinister look in his eyes. Even though the Zui Baxian, Yaxingmen, and others were also resentful, no one dared to be the first to speak out.

With their own thoughts and feelings, the crowd dispersed one after another in the oppressive atmosphere, some cursing and some remaining silent. The once noisy Zhizhi Nunnery quickly became deserted, leaving only a mess and the lingering smell of burning.

Jiang Wen had just breathed a sigh of relief when he smelled a faint, ethereal fragrance wafting closer, and a purple figure appeared silently beside him like smoke.

"Sect Leader Jiang, are you really confident that you can solve the case within three days?"

"If it can bring justice to people, why wouldn't I do it? It's enough to have a clear conscience."

Jiang Wen ignored her teasing and glanced at her sideways: "Does Miss Yuan have some brilliant ideas?"

"It's out of the question."

Upon hearing this address, Yuan Ziyi tilted her head, her hair swaying gently. "I just feel that this murderer is ruthless and strange, and the timing of this attack clearly indicates that he is after you and this martial arts tournament."

She took a step closer to Jiang Wen, her voice low and sly: "How about it? Take me with you on this investigation? When it comes to tracking, investigation, unorthodox methods, and dealing with those charlatans, I'm way better than the average person."

“What you said makes a lot of sense, but I’d like to make a slight modification…”

After pretending to ponder for a moment, Jiang Wen said, "When it comes to unorthodox methods and superstitious practices, the Red Sun Sect is the real expert. I might as well invite the Holy Mother Red Lotus to investigate together."

Yuan Ziyi, who had been standing with her arms crossed and a familiar, slightly mocking smile on her lips, looking at Jiang Wen with bright almond-shaped eyes, suddenly froze on her face and quickly changed her expression.

"Don't look for her!"

Yuan Ziyi blurted out these words in a flash, and then immediately added, "I mean, I've helped you so much, so you can only take me with you on this trip."

Jiang Wen's eyes darted around. "Then I should find Ding Dian?"

"Neither."

Jiang Wen sighed. Yuan Ziyi had indeed played a significant role in persuading Yuan Chengzhi to come out of retirement, and remarkably, she hadn't made any demands. Moreover, it was thanks to her intelligence and wit in deliberately making her surname's origin ambiguous and using various suggestive methods that she had managed to break down Yuan Chengzhi's defenses.

Otherwise, her mother's name is Yuan Yingu. If she doesn't have the surname Yuan, would she take the surname of her real biological father, Feng Nantian?

"Alright. But you must follow my instructions. Do not act on your own, and do not alert the enemy."

Jiang Wen said in a deep voice.

According to the rules of detective work, it is customary to have a layman by your side, so he agreed to let her join.

To be honest, with so many wandering martial arts practitioners gathering in Wuyishan these days, it's not surprising that some accidents happen. Whether these three encountered a revenge killing, suffered an accident, or had an internal conflict, no one can say for sure. Without an on-site investigation, it's difficult to know the truth.

Since he promised the martial arts figures that he would find out the truth within three days, he couldn't just rush through it! At the very least, he should close the case by stating that he committed suicide after being shot five times in the back by the end of the three days!

………………

From the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period to the Song Dynasty, the Central Plains region suffered from constant warfare, which led to several waves of migration to Wuyi Mountain. Most of them settled in the county town, bringing with them the customs, etiquette, and advanced production tools of the Central Plains region. They also worked alongside the locals to cultivate wasteland and plant crops, and over time they completely integrated into the local population, gradually disappearing without a trace.

However, some people chose to hide in the Wuyi Mountains to avoid contact with others, especially during the chaotic late Yuan Dynasty. People like Xie Fangde, who were determined to resist the Yuan, were forced to flee to Fujian under assumed names and hide in the Wuyi Mountains. Therefore, although the Wuyi Mountains are sparsely populated, traces of past human habitation can still be found everywhere.

The Sanliting Pavilion is a prime example of this.

Located five miles south of the city in a deserted area, the original houses were dilapidated, with only a dozen or so ruined farmhouses remaining. The walls in front of the houses were buried with half-exposed round stones, and inside the houses were stone stoves, stone mills, and other items. There were no traces of fire. The land temple next to the ancient village tree at the entrance of the village was only enshrined with stones, which was different from the customs of other places.

According to local legend, the village was built at an unknown time, but it has always been inhabited by people who were descendants of the former Song Dynasty. They rarely interacted with outsiders until it was completely abandoned due to floods, famines and plagues at the end of the Ming Dynasty. When Jiang Wen last came here, he felt that the ruins and dilapidated walls amidst the overgrown weeds were quite terrifying.

The next morning, before the mist had dissipated, Jiang Wen and Yuan Ziyi had already arrived at Sanliting on horseback.

In Jiang Wen's memory, the dilapidated farmhouses in Sanliting resembled the bones of a lurking beast, the stone foundations looked like skulls half-buried in the weeds, and the exposed round stone foundations and the empty, imageless earth god temple were all excellent locations for ghost stories.

Looking out this morning, the abandoned village, hastily repaired by the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus, still exudes a desolate atmosphere, but the houses have been largely restored to their former appearance, and the roads are brand new. In addition, some martial arts practitioners are cooking at their doorsteps in the early morning, with wisps of smoke rising into the air, creating a sense of tranquility and peace.

Jiang Wen arrived outside Sanliting and stopped several wandering martial artists who were clearing weeds and gathering firewood at the village entrance. He directly revealed his identity and asked about the location where the Tengpai Sect disciples had been killed. He also inquired about the usual conduct of these people and whether they had any grudges against anyone.

The group looked at each other, until a man wrapped in an old cotton-padded coat, whose sect and aura were unclear, rubbed his hands and whispered with shifty eyes, "Sect Leader Jiang, I think those three rattan shield sect members... are just pretending to be on night watch, they're really digging for treasure."

He pointed to a more secluded mountain valley behind the village, “Every night they would go to that old ancestral hall that was half collapsed, carrying rattan shields, shovels and pickaxes... clanging and banging, making so much noise that it kept people awake.”

A skinny swordsman nearby chimed in mysteriously, "You're right! I bumped into them once when I got up in the middle of the night. It was pitch black, and I saw them bent over digging in the dirt against the back wall of the old ancestral hall, muttering in their Zhangzhou dialect like they were chanting incantations!"

Another江湖人士 (jianghu figure) added, "I heard people gossiping that they're looking for a secret map to some 'Western Lu Kingdom' treasure, digging up relics from a previous dynasty here!"

“The Kingdom of Xilu?” Yuan Ziyi raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of interest flashing in her almond-shaped eyes. “That’s a strange name. It sounds like a foreign land.”

When the swordsman saw the beautiful woman strike up a conversation, he immediately perked up: "Who knows if it's true or not! Anyway, there's been a lot of rumors lately, saying that some prince from the late Tang Dynasty, fleeing from disaster, has taken mountains of gold and silver to hide in the Wuyi Mountains..."

"Yes, that's what I heard too. Didn't the Heaven and Earth Society recruit a group of martial arts experts last year and plunge into Wuyi Mountain? Rumor has it that they came for this treasure, but unfortunately they suffered heavy losses and failed to retrieve it. Those who returned all kept silent about it."

"These people from the Rattan Shield Sect are acting so mysteriously, probably because they heard about this. You tell me, they only go to desolate graveyards and wilderness, what else could they be but tomb raiding and treasure hunting? This time, if something went wrong, it's very likely that they touched something they shouldn't have and got their comeuppance, or... it's because they had a fight over the loot!"

Jiang Wen remained silent.

He recalled that last night, when the disciples of the Rattan Shield Sect were angrily accusing each other of the murder, a sect leader had indeed accused them of "always venturing deep into Sanliting" and "muttering in their local dialect."

Jiang Wen looked at the curious and eager light in Yuan Ziyi's eyes and knew that she suspected that the three of them were up to no good. After all, if it really involved treasure, the motive for the murder would be far more complex than a simple sect feud—greed, betrayal, or silencing were all possible.

Jiang Wen knew very well that outdated news could be deadly. The so-called Wuyi Mountain treasure, Minyue Kingdom treasure, and Xilu Kingdom treasure were all just smokescreens released by Abbot Zhishan of the Southern Shaolin Temple.

All things considered, the only remaining treasure of the Minyue Kingdom is that ancient bronze sword, which Jiang Wen carries with him; the Xilu Kingdom itself is slumbering within the Haoli Ghost Kingdom, and unless one seeks death, it is absolutely impossible to see it; the "Wuyi Mountain Treasure" is now buried deep within the mantle, and if these three actually manage to dig through the mantle with hoes, then good fortune is yet to come.

Jiang Wen took Yuan Ziyi away without comment. Most of the information circulating among people in the martial arts world was vague and unreliable. Asking for more details would only waste time. Their first stop was the place where the three bodies were found.

Following the directions, the two saw ancient tombstones scattered all over the mountains outside the Sanliting Pavilion. Broken pieces of bowls, plates, dishes, stemmed cups, jars, and pots were scattered everywhere in the weeds. These were probably household utensils that had turned into waste over the years.

Not far away stands a solitary stone tower, lying amidst the overgrown weeds and scattered graves; that is the stone tower in Caoxie Gorge that shelters the skeletons.

As Jiang and Wen passed by, they saw that the stone pagoda was ancient. The sharp edges of the pillars supporting the pagoda had long been worn smooth by time, barely supporting the layered eaves. Each side had a pointed arched niche, but most of the statues inside were damaged, with only the outline of the robes of the lower half of a Bodhisattva statue remaining. The exquisite craftsmanship of the original carving was almost unrecognizable.

The bottom layer shows signs of later renovations, as the sandstone that was replaced is slightly lighter in color than the old gray-blue stone below, and the chisel marks on the stone surface are still clearly visible. The old and new stones blend together on the tower.

The three members of the rattan shield gate were found in a cave dwelling that had been abandoned since the pre-Song Dynasty. Judging from the degree of charring of the bodies, if they had been placed in Sanliting and burned, none of the neighboring houses would have survived.

As Yuan Ziyi walked along the path, she lifted the hem of her trousers and carefully made her way through the rocky path. Scattered around her were irregular objects, all fragments of kiln furniture such as large and small saggars, ring-shaped clay pads, round pads, and refractory bricks, which rustled under her feet.

However, a few porcelain shards had sharp edges and could not be stepped on easily. The two cautiously stepped over them. The porcelain shards still had the special yellow-green and blue-green glaze of the Song Dynasty. A few black glaze fragments had a calm and matte finish. The incised lines on the body were still clear. On the occasional broken bowl, the molded "吉" character mark could still be identified.

"It's right up ahead."

Jiang Wen was the first to step into the abandoned kiln from the former Song Dynasty. A strong, pungent smell of burning flesh, mixed with the musty stench of decay, hit him. It was the smell of burnt corpses mixed with the lingering stench of rotting bodies, making him feel nauseous.

The cave was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the entrance, barely illuminating the mess on the ground. Yuan Ziyi followed in cautiously, afraid that her clothes would get dirty.

She covered her mouth and nose, and was about to ask Jiang Wen a question when she saw Jiang Wen suddenly squat down on the ground, facing the spot next to the human-shaped mark, frantically digging at the dirty soil mixed with corpse oil, moss and charcoal dust, as if he wanted to put it into his mouth!