chyue

Keep going. You have only a few more shovel loads to go.

And you'll merely stand and watch?

As the saying goes, 'be a passive observer.' I'd love to help you, but I'm sure you remember how my arm got hurt?

Very well...

General, I have the wine you requested.

What took you so long?

The locals are all celebrating the news of our victory. A number of inns are booked out, and every last one is short on staff. The streets are lined with their delivery burdenbeasts.

I had to work as a waiter for half a day and then help them unload their wares before I could make it back.

In addition to fighting gallantly on the battlefield, a Yumen soldier must always be prepared to help the local citizens. Fine work.

Thank you, General.

Let me see.

'Knife-Edge,' 'Five Bowls,' 'Bridges Ne'er Crossed'... Hmm...? And a jar of Husong from Jiangnan.

Master Zuo, you mustn't use official business as an excuse to let these fine wines go to waste again.

...Naturally.

Greetings, Grandmaster.

Good work, Brother Dajiang.

I-I simply did what I should've.

The officer stops pushing the cart loaded with wine and lifts his head to scan the courtyard in front of him.

Chengnan Bladesmiths, the most reputable bladesmiths in Yumen. The Patrol Battalion contracted them to produce much of their military equipment. Its owner, Meng Tieyi, is also a good friend of both the Lord Exorcist and the Grandmaster.

On days when they are off duty from the garrison, they often gather at the workshop with warriors from all over to spar, drink, and share stories.

He, too, comes every now and then, but something is different about the courtyard here today—

A few dozen bricks by the gate have been removed, and a old pagoda tree has been planted in the resulting pit. With its branches extending in all directions, it has taken up a considerable amount of space in the courtyard.

The tree's trunk is as wide as two lovers sharing an embrace. The grooves on its bark are lightly covered in small grains of sand, and coarse like an old man's palm.

Look at this old pagoda tree. It must be at least a hundred years old, yet it was so hastily replanted in this nomadic city. Who can even say whether it will manage to adjust to the climate here?

Surely it's better than your habit of carving your achievements into it like the warriors of old, is it not? The worst thing you can do an old tree is harm its bark. If we'd left it there in the sands, it could very well have withered away.

True enough...

It was our heroine who came up with the idea of bringing it here. I can already picture her throwing a fit, once she arrives and catches you harping on about that.

Besides, a tree is not much different from a man. Having survived in the desert for so long, we mustn't underestimate its vigor.

And with Tieyi taking care of it, no doubt we'll have a whole tree's worth of new leaves to shade ourselves under by this time next year.

You're right about that.

All of you just love giving me more work to do, don't you?

I should never have let you bring that tree... All the sunlight glaring down on me here must've stolen my wits.

There are nothing but forges and weapons here. Adding a touch of life isn't such a bad idea, is it?

Forget it. There's no arguing with any of you.

Oh? The wine is here? Perfect. The food is ready too. The tree's been planted, yes? Come on, let's head inside!

Then I shall be taking my leave, General, Grandmaster, Master Meng. Please excuse me.

Why in such a hurry?

Because this is a gathering for gentlemen of your stature...

Your General Zuo has yet to award you for your achievements. He wouldn't have had you purchase his alcohol without intending to let you join in on the celebration.

...The Grandmaster is right.

Okay....

Then I'll carry the wine in for now.

Huh...?

How could the moons in the sky be so much higher than the pagoda tree? How bizarre.

Tieyi, you've had too much to drink. Your eyes are deceiving you.

Had too much to drink?

No, no, no. The night is still young. Why do you think I always set aside some wine when I forge my blades? A single gulp can increase the strength of my hammer strikes threefold!

Lord Exorcist, as the general of the Yumen army, no one here can best you when it comes to leading an army, but when it comes to alcohol and kung fu... hoh...

Oh really now? Keep going. What was that about my kung fu?

Was I not at the very front line when we pursued the bandits into the desert? Both the enemies I've vanquished and the scars on my body may well outnumber yours!

Oh?

Look at my left arm. This injury. Just half a cun deeper, and it would've cut into my meridians.

Stop rolling up your sleeves, Lord Exorcist. Perhaps you should have a look at the wound on my back. Which I took for <i>you</i>, need I remind you!

What time is it?

It is the Hour of Tzu, Grandmaster.

The workshop's main room is packed with people, and there are a number of tables between the officer and the Grandmaster. He raises his voice, but has no way of knowing whether it has been heard.

The floor is lined with rows and rows of empty jugs, and the more there are, the rowdier the crowd gets.

A drunken, loud-mouthed arena champion and a Yumen general injured in a bout against a practitioner of the martial arts... The officer tries to recall how they looked on the battlefield earlier in the day, only to be reminded of how inebriated he is.

Why ask the time? Are you drunk?

Your alcohol tolerance is no match for that sister of yours.

The voice is melodious and crystal clear, yet the words it carries cannot be more casual.

The officer can tell it belongs to the heroine who often sits by the Grandmaster's side. He has no idea when she joined the celebrations. She is sitting opposite the Grandmaster this time, so he can only see her from behind.

No one knows what she came to Yumen for. All they know is that she is on very friendly terms with the Grandmaster, the Lord Exorcist, and Master Meng. Supposedly, she and the Grandmaster had a friendly bout together—it takes a fight to truly know one another, or so it is often claimed—and stayed afterwards.

All his brothers on the squad have sparred with her. They usually have nothing but good things to say about her, too. Her swordsmanship, her alcohol tolerance, her carefree and straightforward personality, and just how likeable she is overall.

But as luck would have it, he has never even gotten to see what she looks like.

He finds himself curious and stands up, but the armed escort sitting next to him notices his empty bowl and fills it with wine.

You mean Ling? Ah, yes, the two of you met the last time she ventured here.

She is always awake within her dreams and befuddled without. Drunk or not, it matters to her not one whit.

Look at you rambling again. So you really are drunk.

We lost quite a few men to this battle, and just about everyone who made it back is injured in some way.

Right.

There's a question I've been meaning to ask you.

To go a hundred battles without suffering a single wound, you must be far, far too good at kung fu.

And your name too—'Shuo.' What does it mean? Who has a single word for their name, anyway? Rather than a person's name, it sounds more like an alias.

Another baby sister of mine gave it to me.

I've heard of names given by parents, by elders, by teachers, and even by fortune tellers... but by your sister? And younger, at that? That hardly makes any sense.

That's just how things are between us siblings... It's a long story.

Look at you, Grandmaster. You've had too much to drink.

And now you're helping him dodge the question...

You know what? Never mind.

In that case...

Would any of you care to grant me a proper name, befitting a person?

Grandmaster?

General Zuo, given the celebratory mood, wouldn't you agree there is no better time?

Very well then!

Ever since the Yumen Arena Board of Fame was established, the top of the list has been left blank. The whole city knows whose name goes there, and even I, second place on the list, can't last ten moves against you.

Your kung fu is unparalleled. How about we name you 'Wudi,' the 'Invulnerable'?

Listen to yourself. Does that sound like a proper name to you?

If we must give him a name, it has to be 'Dinglan,' meaning 'smooth tides.' Representing the peace and tranquility he has brought our citizens.

Or perhaps 'Ancang,' 'tranquil blue.'

What is this, a poetry club? I can barely make sense of either of them.

Let's call him 'Qianjun.' Remember the moves he showed us last time? When his fist landed on me, it felt like it weighed a thousand tons.

No, it should be 'Qingyan,' for 'clear skies.'

They frown. The Lord Exorcist, the workshop owner... everyone in attendance frowns at once.

The men's gazes all land on him. Halfway done with his cup of wine, the officer sets it down.

Grandmaster...

Brother Dajiang, do you perhaps have a suggestion?

I... I... I...

Where I'm from, we name our children after whatever our eyes happen to land on.

I never had an education. I... I can't help you much here...