act19mini

They must be trying to put on a show, the way they've drawn so many... what's the best place for a show in a town like this?

Do I hear some commotion outside?

I think this is the second time we've met, Mr. Yun.

I suppose it is fate that determined we should meet again. What a pleasure.

Young lady...

You can call me Mo Yi.

Why have you called for me, Miss Mo?

You are the Grandmaster's favorite student. No one knows him better. We would like you to appraise a certain artifact.

Tell me, is this book a product of his pen?

Intriguing...

All the troubles that have befallen this town over the tome were part of your plan, weren't they?

Let's just say... ask no questions and you'll be told no lies.

In any case, I must ask you to appraise the authenticity of this Book of Kung Fu for Mr. Liang here.

Mo Yi takes out the tome and hands it to Yun Qingping.

This is the second time that Yun Qingping has seen the book in this town. He saw the waiter steal the book in the teahouse, but now it has ended up in Mo Yi's hands.

(Flips through the pages)

Yes, this is the book that the Grandmaster dictated to me, which I put to paper with my pen.

This was a gift from the Grandmaster to General Zuo Xuanliao of Yumen. How did it end up in your hands?

We can talk about that later—is the master of Garden of Grotesqueries interested in this, Mr. Liang?

It is a remarkable feat, obtaining this book. I won't ask how you did it.

I shall communicate this to my master, for him to make a decision.

Will your master still not show himself, even though we've confirmed that this is the original manuscript?

It is not my place to judge on behalf of my master. He has his own standards for determining whether or not an item is truly <i>treasure.</i>

I will give you the answer once I've spoken to him.

What a shame...

Can I ask the question now, Miss Mo?

Why have you stolen the tome and spread such rumors through the jianghu?

You have one foot in the jianghu, don't you?

I accompanied my master on his travels in my early years, but I would not count myself as a kung fu master.

Neither would I. I'm just a jianghu nobody with no knowledge of kung fu.

But I love watching self-proclaimed kung fu masters kill each other like starving beasts for a tiny bit of fame, some ridiculously insignificant squabble.

The quarrels and bickering of real people is so much more interesting than staged plays.

Much blood will be spilt for this play of yours.

Isn't it a little... dishonorable?

What do heaven and earth know of honor? Why should I care?

Just sit back and relax. I'm sure you'll enjoy the show too.

All these things... what's going on?

Am I imagining things? Did all those chairs and tables on the street turn into people? Even the brooms?

No, you're not...

There's something strange about this town. Just think of the objects turning into people as some kind of illusion, and don't let it bother you too much.

Well, I've seen stranger things...

These abominations... could there be one of Miss Ling's siblings in this place?

...I'm afraid the situation is slightly worse than that.

But I've never seen them in an uproar like this. What happened?

Looks like they're heading in the same direction.

Are they... going up the hill?

The peak of Mt. Mang is packed with people, not just jianghu wanderers chasing rumors, but also the non-human residents of the town who have taken human form.

It's an honor to have so many heroes of the jianghu assembled here today.

I'm sure your time is valuable, so I'll get straight to the point. Here it is—!

Mo Yi raises the Book of Kung Fu up high, and many in the crowd begin to whisper to one another.

This is the legendary tome written by the Grandmaster defending the borders of Yan.

Not only does it contain the greatest secrets of kung fu to elevate your school above all others, it also reveals the secret to shedding your mortal hide and becoming a god in flesh, reaching the heights of the Grandmaster!

All who practice kung fu dream of elevating their schools above all others. For many in the crowd, however, they are more interested in the 'shedding your mortal hide and becoming a god' part.

Whatever they are seeking, Mo Yi's words are enough to send them into a frenzy.

With all the rumors flying around the jianghu lately, I'm sure one book would not be enough to convince you.

This is why I've invited Mr. Yun here.

Mr. Yun is the Grandmaster's record keeper. Perhaps some of you even recognize him, and know that I speak the truth.

He has attested to the authenticity of the book. There can be no greater assurance.

Mo Yi pauses to ensure that the crowd does not doubt her before continuing.

I'm young and unlearned, and it is not my place to keep this treasure for my own. That's why I'm hosting this 'Banquet of Heroes'.

All who have assembled here today—this tome shall belong to whoever manages to take it and keep it!

It is as though the crowd has exploded.

Everyone has weapons in hand, brandishing at the people around them. All they need is a cue to start killing.

Those who know better try back off quietly, but even more rush towards Mo Yi, drawn by her promise.

The geists who share the same thought join flesh-and-blood humans in the scrum.

Everyone! Hear me out! Please!

In the commotion, Yun Qingping walks to the front of the stage, and speaks to the crowd below.

Some of them hear his words, and one after another they stop doing whatever they were doing, curious to hear what this frail young man has to say.

My master says that testing oneself against another is the only path to self-reflection, and competing against others is the only path to self-improvement. Competition is a virtue for students of the martial arts.

But we must not forget the most basic rule of kung fu: hard work is the only path to mastery.

The study of the martial arts is, fundamentally, the improvement of oneself. To take shortcuts to make oneself stronger for the sake of fame and glory is to confound the end with the means to that end.

...What are you trying to say?

There is no doubt that this is the original manuscript of the Book of Kung Fu. However, what you should know is—

This book was dictated to me by my master, and put to paper by my pen. It is not imbued with any of the magical effects that Miss Mo claims.

If this book is, in fact, so wondrous, why is it that I, who wrote the words with my own hand, remain an ordinary man, with no kung fu to boast of?

His voice is not loud, but every word rings clear. A commotion of a different kind begins to spread through the crowd.

Mr. Yun, I suggest you refrain from making any wrong moves at a time like this...

Yun Qingping pretends not to hear the girl's threat and continues speaking.

The Book of Kung Fu contains the Grandmaster's understanding of kung fu accumulated over his vast lifetime, as well as key points often missed by martial artists during training. It is of great benefit to any practitioner of the martial arts.

Other than that, it has no unique properties.

If you don't believe me...

Yun Qingping takes out a printed copy of the Book of Kung Fu.

This Book of Kung Fu is no secret, and certainly not one-of-a-kind. There is no need to spill blood over it...

Watch out, Uncle Lee!

Ow...

You know, this is a sight that I didn't really need to see again...

There're too many of them...

Do these pots and pans turned humans have something to do with that 'secret tome' too?

These pots and pans must be headed in the direction of the culprit. We take them in custody, and everything else will become clear.

I would like to ask the two of you to help.

Of course, Master Lin! I'll clear a path for you.

What did you say...?

It was my master's most sincere wish to help more people go further down the path of kung fu. But teaching martial arts is a very personal thing, and the Grandmaster's time and energy are not unlimited.

What he could do was record his thinking and understanding in concise language, so that those who come after can avoid certain pitfalls without learning the hard way.

The Book of Kung Fu is certainly his labor of love, with countless generations of record keepers' archives that I had the honor of organizing.

The Grandmaster gifted this book to General Zuo in the hopes that its teachings would be known throughout the army, and eventually by all the people. He never intended to keep it secret.

In other words, if those present want to take their kung fu to a higher level, I am happy to request another print run. It would be trivial to get everyone a copy.

Profanities begin flying out from the crowd, after a brief moment of silence.

If one person took a step forward, the rest would follow, to throw this Liberi fraud from the mountaintop.

Good... very good...