act19mini

A plain-bound book lies where she stood. The wind blows its cover open—

'Book of Kung Fu'.

(The one who stole the Book of Kung Fu from Yumen might be here in this town. What is this person planning?)

(No use thinking about it. I'll just retrieve the Book of Kung Fu for now...)

There you are!

I've been looking for you!

...Huai Tianpei?

There is only the swordsman left on the street.

He stands there in a daze, staring silently into space.

Such commotion... is something the matter?

I...

I lost my sword.

It's time to go...

Once a year... and never again.

Excuse me, sir...

Y-You're...

Do you know me?

I...

I'm lost. I don't know how I got here. You're the first person to pass by in a while, and I wonder if you know the way.

(So that's what Tianshi Lin meant...)

In your heart, did you really throw away your sword?

I don't know the answer.

But what you're doing is heartless, Tianshi Lin.

Heartless, is it?

Are you still going to beg for mercy for her, even at this hour?

We saw each other one day of the year for seven years. I thought I was the one guiding her, but it turns out it was the other way around.

It's true, I was a fool. I had thrown away my sword, only to pick it up time and again.

I don't know what I'm clinging to, or what I'm afraid of... maybe it's something I should figure out, in a remote village somewhere, or in a prison cell.

I'll pay for all the damage she caused, then I'll turn myself in. Before that, though, please...

(Frenzied muttering)

Look at her. She can't hear you anymore.

She has engaged in too much violence to obtain the book. Malice will overcome her mind, even if the thunder of Heaven does not strike.

But she will never truly be human, even if Lei Fa manages to rid her of geisthood.

The living suffer much and think much. But the geists formed from inanimate objects are often simple of mind... it is difficult for them to truly become part of society.

Is it an act of kindness to bring them into this world, or an act of cruelty?

(Perhaps you should beg the Tianshi Bureaus' forgiveness when all is said and done, Lin Qingyan...)

But...

Enough talk. As both the Deputy Minister of the Judicial Review Office, and disciple of the Tianshi Bureaus—this thunder must strike!

What did you just say?

Don't you remember anything?

Remember what?

N-Never mind.

There's a town down this path. The Chidao's half a day's journey from there, which leads to many nomadic cities, Shangshu, Dahuang, Langyi...

Where are you going?

Where do you want to go?

Forward.

I'm not in great health, but I want to see those places...

Perhaps we can travel together, for a while.

What is this...?

That madman barged into the training grounds and just started brawling. I think he's the one who fought the Grandmaster in this same place six months ago.

We don't know what's wrong with him, but we tried to avoid hurting him. He knocked a few dozen guys out cold, and then just went away.

...Huai Tianpei?

What madness is this? What happened to the Grandmaster's sword...?

General!

Someone just broke into the armory!

What did we lose?

The Grandmaster's Book of Kung Fu.

Dear General Zuo,

War is on the horizon. The lives of your soldiers and the livelihoods of your people must be your priority.

The best strategy is to disrupt your enemy's strategy. Non-aggression is the essence of justice.

I have borrowed your book for a time. It will be returned to you in due course.

Mo Yi, Shanhaizhong

Best Regards

The contents of the armory are unmolested, except for an empty space on the bookshelf.

There is only a letter where a book should be.

Guards!

Yes, sir!

What are your orders?

Prepare a Messenger. I have a letter to be delivered to the Sui Regulator.

Yes, sir.

And... a second Messenger, to deliver a secret message to the Tianshi Bureau.

Understood.

Impressive, Master Huai. Stealing an army camp ten thousand strong and escaping without breaking a sweat... no one in Yan's history could have achieved such a feat, and it's unlikely anyone else ever will.

Huai Tianpei does not answer, striding around in circles, muttering under his breath.

No need to worry, Master Huai. You helped me obtain the book, and I'll help you in turn.

You will have a bout with the Grandmaster, in an arena with all eyes upon you.

I will prepare everything for you ten days hence, at the peak of Mt. Mang.

...Uh-huh.

But I want ask you, Master Huai... no mortal man is your equal, and you know that the Grandmaster is no mortal man. Why do you insist on defeating him?

Humans have not held their own against Beasts for thousands of years by pitting their own weakness against their foes' strength.

You're not making any sense.

If someone's stronger than me, I train until I beat them. If heaven and earth are stronger than me, I'll do whatever it takes to beat them.

This obsession of yours is not fit for a mortal man.

But you would not have been forced into your current circumstances by the 'merchant', if you'd completely forgotten your humanity.

Should I pity you, or laugh at you?

Interesting...

Dad came this way, Uncle Lee?

The footprints are widely-spaced, but the distance between them is consistent, and every print is equal in depth.

They could only have been left by a kung fu master.

This looks like a mangler's claws...

You're making fun of me again.

Hehe...

I caught one glimpse of him that time, and then he got away... this is the only way now, based on the clues that we have.

We deal with smart people in smart ways. But your dad is a kung fu-obsessed fool... so we handle him the foolish way.

Just keep looking...

Are you worried about him, or angry that he's making trouble again?

I just... don't understand.

No one would ever call him reliable, but he's always honest and upright when it comes to kung fu.

Never bully the weak just because you're strong, and never hurt the innocent. He raised me on these ideals.

I don't get it. What changed him?