act19mini

Scatter! Get out of the way!

I call upon the Five Thunders—

Thunder hits the shadow, but it is as though it had struck the void.

It's no use?!

What under heaven is that thing...?

No... that's not the Grandmaster.

The Grandmaster's sword is not here. That is no more than an illusion reflected in the Book of Kung Fu.

I don't know how the girl did it, but there must be a way to break this spell...

If we can bypass the illusion and attack her directly—

Finally...

We meet again...

As the crowd scatters, this 'Shuo' greets its first challenger.

Stay back! It's dangerous!

Master Huai?!

Huai Tianpei does not answer, striding toward 'Shuo' with firm steps.

I lost the sword. I broke my promise. I should not have come to see you.

My dream has yet to be realized. My life is finite. I must come to see you.

(Menacing murmur)

The fist moves winds and clouds.

Huai Tianpei does not dodge or cower, letting the wake of the punch brush against him.

Another punch, heavy as a mountain, inexorable as the tide, falls upon Huai Tianpei.

Fist meets fist. Strength meets strength.

H-How is this possible?

It is the shadow of a god, the manifestation of kung fu itself, yet somehow it has met its match.

It is a duel between equals.

Yun Qingping takes out pen and paper by instinct.

The palm strikes, shattering heaven and earth.

Inhale, exhale, and let the breath be one with the cosmos.

Fist meets palm, still evenly matched.

Huai Tianpei matches 'Shuo' move for move, continuing to step forward. With each exchange, 'Shuo' becomes more corporeal, more real.

One round after another. Finally, Huai Tianpei stands at the summit, gazing up at the illusion's wrath.

...Eleventh rounds?

Yun Qingping flips open his Record of Martial Combat, to the page where he recorded that duel for the ages. He still remembers the final punch, which could not be described with language.

Master Huai has taken another step forward...

Simplicity is perfection. It is a simple thing to understand.

But with life and death on the line, how many could set aside their ego, set aside themselves, cutting everything down to its most simple elements: a single punch or kick at exactly the right time, be it in offense or in defense.

Kung fu has become an inherent part of him, in his limbs, in his muscles, in his viscera.

Thirty rounds have passed. Huai Tianpei still stands.

The power of the punches have left two deep ditches in the boulder beneath his feet.

But he can go no further forward. One more step, and he will fall off the cliff.

Huai Tianpei shows no intention of backing down.

No... he's in danger!

But who dares intervene in such a duel? Who can?

Dad!

The cry causes the man to pause for an instant, in the midst of a fight for life and death.

It's you...

Well...

...I remember now.

I remember now.

I made a forty-year promise.

I handed over the sword, because I could not abandon it...

I remember now.

I have a daughter to protect...

My name is... Huai Tianpei.

But I forgot.

I forgot all the moves I learned.

I forgot my opponents and enemies.

I have never lost. I am without equal under heaven.

Who am I fighting against?

I am only fighting against myself.

There is no path ahead. I must turn back.

Haah—!

Huai Tianpei leaps into the air, and sends his fists into the chest of 'Shuo'.

He cuts a ragged figure, but his eyes are crystal clear.

As the illusion dissipates...

Huai Tianpei falls from the cliff.

A wind blows by, and the sky is restored to its previous color. The battle that shook heaven and earth might as well have been a dream that everyone went through together.

The spectators continue to look up at the sky, forgetting to turn their gazes away.

Zuo Le?

Yun... Auntie Lin...

Thank goodness you're alright. I guess I wasn't too late...

Master Huai fell from the cliff in the fight with the illusion. Please send someone to search for him...

Master Huai is here too? What a coincidence...

Lieutenant!

Yes, sir.

Someone fell from the cliff. Send men to look for him.

Yes, sir.

I came with a platoon when I heard the thief who stole the Grandmaster's Book of Kung Fu from Yumen had been sighted causing trouble.

But the culprit—

Only now do they realize that the girl has disappeared without a trace.

She got away again.

All the routes in and out of the mountains are being watched. She won't escape.

As for the rest of you... ahem!

By imperial decree, those present are deemed to have been incited by an outlaw, and your culpability in this matter will not be pursued if you leave this place at once.

Those who do not comply will be dealt with harshly.

Many of those present have not always lived on the right side of the law, and their hearts sank like a stone when they saw the soldiers arrive. It is thus a massive relief to hear that they will not be prosecuted, and they bow in apology before leaving as quickly as they can.

Only the geists remain, not quite understanding the situation, looking lost and bewildered.

*pant* *pant* Made it just in time...

Look at you, acting like the worst of humanity, engaging in vanity and avarice! What did I teach you?

If you want to become human, you must learn humanity little by little, starting with right and wrong! You may have the body of a human, but if you don't have a conscience, then you're not human after all, just a beast wearing clothes!

You've seen how the book you longed for was just a dream...

Come with me back to the school, if you still want to learn...

Mr. Pu sees Lin Qingyan and seemingly bows in apology.

He turns around and leaves, in as much a hurry as he came. He is limping a little; perhaps the climb has taken a toll on his legs.

The geists linger for a little bit, then turn back into their original forms one by one, forming a long line as they follow the old man down the mountain.

Surrender now!

A crack of thunder knocks the girl's blade out of her hands and sends her to the ground.

Dark clouds hover above her head, ready to deliver an even more powerful thunderclap.

I suggest you don't move, unless you wish to be struck by lightning.

Persistent lot, aren't you, Master Lin and Candleholder Zuo?