Chapter 25: Roaming the World with Sword in Hand (Part Seven)

“You mustn’t speak of me like that, miss. As the saying goes, men die for wealth, birds perish for food—without money, nothing can be done.” Hua Chuer argued slyly after eavesdropping.

“Have you forgotten your pain as soon as the wound healed?” Wu Yueling shook her head, utterly helpless.

“Alright, alright, rest assured, miss. I won’t be greedy again. Just listening, no wicked intentions,” Hua Chuer stood up, laughing mischievously.

“Only a fool would believe you.”

“Miss, it was just an itch in my hands a few days ago. Who knew the sleeve would tear and couldn’t hide so many heavy things? That’s why I caused you trouble. Don’t despise me, please.”

Wu Yueling refused her explanation, “Ha, you have no credit left with me now.”

Hua Chuer could only sit sulkily on the bear fur, obediently stroking the little lynx, then changed the subject, “Miss, what technique are you practicing? I noticed the set of fists you used before seemed incomplete—halfway through, it abruptly stopped, quite abrupt.”

“Hm? What?” Wu Yueling’s interest was piqued, and she asked back.

“Your boxing is proper and conventional, lacking any offensive force—entirely defense and neutralizing power. Moreover, it’s interrupted midway. Though it doesn’t matter much, in a contest between experts, carelessness isn’t allowed. A single mistake could push you into an abyss,” Hua Chuer said seriously, her tone solemn.

“Oh? What internal skill do you cultivate? Can women practice it?” Wu Yueling, already versed in one skill, hadn’t cared much for others, but now, Hua Chuer’s words stirred her curiosity.

“Hua Chuer’s internal skill was originally for men. My master was an old lecher, exceedingly lustful—” Hua Chuer stopped, realizing she’d said too much.

“So…” Wu Yueling deliberately paused, her eyes teasing, “Did your master do anything atrocious to you…”

“Not at all. He liked to spy on women bathing, especially the widows in the village outside the valley… Ahem, miss, we’re off topic.”

“Hahaha, well then, your skill was intended for men, but you have no discomfort practicing it?”

“None. This internal skill leans towards the gentle, called Hundred Flowers Art. It’s top-tier. It doesn’t focus on explosive power to defeat enemies, but makes the body move as lightly as petals, emphasizing speed,” Hua Chuer smiled.

“How long have you practiced? You look barely twenty, yet you’ve reached the master’s realm so quickly?”

“I was raised by my master since childhood—abducted, really. From age three, I began horse stance training; at six, formally started Hundred Flowers Art. At your age, miss, I was already a skilled fighter. Now, past twenty-four, time flies,” Hua Chuer recalled with a touch of sadness. “Miss, you’re probably fifteen, ready to marry, unlike Hua Chuer—a woman past her prime.”

“Heh, then prepare to be a chamber maid! Actually, you’re just a year older, still in your prime, why call yourself old?” Wu Yueling stretched with a laugh, and outside, the thunderstorm had ceased, the sky brightening.

“Ordinary girls, fourteen, remain in the boudoir; fifteen or sixteen, they marry. By that count, Hua Chuer is old, so I can’t be a chamber maid,” Hua Chuer stuck out her tongue, smiling.

“Enough, let’s not argue age. Can I learn your skill?” Wu Yueling continued.

“Naturally, if miss wishes, I’ll teach you all I know. But how long have you trained your own internal skill? If you switch midway, you might suffer inner turmoil.”

“Half a year. A monk taught me both internal skill and fist technique—I practice every morning,” said Wu Yueling.

Hua Chuer eyed her, “A monk? Shaolin internal skill?”

“What of it?”

“What’s the name of the technique? No wonder you could learn it. Shaolin skills are said to be the best. What’s yours called?”

“Clear Heart Sutra,” Wu Yueling answered truthfully.

Hua Chuer hadn’t heard of it, so Wu Yueling explained its breathing method—not about channeling energy for explosive force, but keeping balance within. So, when she tries to exert force with qi, she can’t achieve her desired effect.

Hua Chuer was astonished. To maintain internal balance through breathing rather than bursts of energy was unheard of.

“Perhaps it’s a mysterious art…” Hua Chuer replied uncertainly. “But don’t worry, miss, it’s not too late to change. Why not try Hundred Flowers Art? Then we can rob the rich to aid the poor, a pair of carefree thieves roaming the land.”

Wu Yueling turned her head and chuckled, realizing this was Hua Chuer’s true aim. She replied bluntly, “No thanks.”

A few days later, the weather cleared. Wu Yueling followed Hua Chuer out of the city to dig for treasure.

According to Hua Chuer, she buried her valuables by a small cliff at the river’s edge. Wu Yueling came to the banks of the Han River, where the wind was at first cool, then increasingly cold. Waves surged, crashing against the rocks. On the river, fishing boats abounded, along with mid-sized merchant ships. Large vessels were rare, but at one wharf, they saw two government ships.

The wharf, built by the Xiang County authorities, was crowded with merchant ships loading and unloading cargo under the supervision of labor overseers, men queued up to carry goods.

Passing the main wharf, they reached a secluded spot by the river. Wu Yueling followed Hua Chuer, who suddenly signaled for silence. They crouched, sneaking behind a large stone. The stone, eroded by frequent river surges, was riddled with grooves, some holding small clams.

“Han River’s Little Dragon King! My father respects you as a man, and that’s why he risked coming to see you—don’t be ungrateful…”

“Qing’er!”

“So, Chief Lu, you’re not going to tell me the news?”

“Little Dragon King, let me advise you—the silverware is tribute for the Emperor. I can’t risk my entire Lu Escort Agency for your selfish gain! The court already knows you plan to rob the tribute.”

“Boss, let’s do away with the father and son, sink their bodies in the river!”

“Monkey, we Han River bandits don’t commit acts without honor. Since Chief Lu refuses to cooperate, so be it. Just remember, when our five hundred river ghosts come, watch closely! Let’s go!”

Moments later, Wu Yueling heard Chief Lu’s voice, discussing how the Little Dragon King was planning trouble—he departed with a young man whose tone was quite assertive.

“What’s going on?” Wu Yueling pondered. “Are they really going to rob that silverware?”

“You don’t know, miss. The Little Dragon King is famous on this river. If you meet him, you must pay the crossing fee, or risk your ship being sunk or plundered. Yet he’s principled—never kills indiscriminately, nor troubles poor fishermen. Rumor has it, once a fisherman’s boat was overturned by a storm, rescued by the Little Dragon King, and so a marriage was arranged—the fisherman’s beautiful daughter given to him. Everyone in Xiang County knows this tale,” Hua Chuer said, admiringly.

“This is your ideal of chivalry?” Wu Yueling asked.

“Isn’t it?”

“No!” Wu Yueling declared.

“Then what do you think counts as chivalry, miss?”

“Chivalry has many meanings. At the least, theft and robbery are not among them, no matter the reason. A true knight, in small things, maintains virtue, honors parents, supports family—in greater matters, benefits the nation and its people. That’s true chivalry. You and I are just ordinary folk—not worthy of the name. I am but a drop in the vast sea,” Wu Yueling said.

“Oh,” Hua Chuer replied, not quite understanding, her mind spinning with thoughts. The miss’s ideas were so profound, impossible to grasp. After a long silence, she recalled their purpose, “Never mind, such deep reasoning is beyond me. Miss, let’s hurry and dig up the treasure chest.”

At night, at the Noon Guest Inn, Hua Chuer held a candle as the two, like thieves, opened the chest. Inside were countless gold and silver treasures. Wu Yueling took out a silver hairpin, examined it by candlelight, and learned it was merely silver-plated, not real silver.

But there were over twenty gold ingots, and many women’s items—rouge, powder, lip silk, even a tiny copper mirror. Wu Yueling was stunned; if not for the gold, this was simply a makeup box, hardly a treasure chest.

Hua Chuer expertly took out the cosmetics, made herself up beautifully before the little mirror, adorning herself with gold and silver ornaments, becoming a picture of lavish elegance.

Wu Yueling stared in astonishment, hardly believing her eyes. At this moment, Hua Chuer, with rosy lips and powdered cheeks, delicate brows, shining silver pins in her hair, could not hide her feminine grace even in male attire.

Wu Yueling gave a thumbs up, indicating her beauty. Hua Chuer smiled shyly.

After finishing her own makeup, Hua Chuer began to decorate Wu Yueling’s face. As Wu Yueling resisted, she watched her reflection in the copper mirror, soon transformed to look just like Hua Chuer.

Seeing her appearance enhanced by rouge and powder, with lips slightly parted, Wu Yueling realized she was quite pretty. After some playful moments, she wiped her face clean, washed up, and returned to her natural look.

Wu Yueling’s first experience with makeup left her feeling quite good. Hua Chuer was regretful that the carefully applied makeup was washed away, saying all the items in the chest were for the miss, since she’d have no use for them as a servant in the future.

Seeing Hua Chuer’s reluctant expression, Wu Yueling declined the offer.