Chapter Fifty-Four: Scholar Liu

Yen Yunfei moved with remarkable agility, carrying Yang Ridan as he pursued the sound of the bamboo flute, chasing it all the way to Han Sand Lake on the eastern edge of Yanzhou City. This was a famed location in Yanzhou, where the Golden Thunder Pagoda pierced the clouds; even deep into the night, crowds still lingered along the shores.

Trailing the haunting melody, Yen Yunfei arrived at Han Sand Lake and then, invoking his Daoist arts, skimmed across the lake’s surface like a swallow, stepping lightly upon the waves until he reached a small island at its heart.

Just then, a gusty wind swept over the island, causing the wooden hut on its edge to sway dangerously. The bamboo flute’s music had vanished from the sky.

Yen Yunfei could not help but bellow, “Scholar Liu, come out and face me!”

His voice thundered across the lake, startling countless swallows into flight.

Yet, after his shout, not a soul appeared.

Yen Yunfei called again, “I am a rough and unrefined man—are you not afraid I’ll tear your temple apart?” He made as if to strike the wooden hut.

Immediately, a dry chuckle emerged from within, and out walked a burly man, tall and imposing, dressed in green robes and sporting a scholar’s cap. At his side stood a woman with luminous eyes and a spirited expression—a woman none other than Second Madam, whom Chu Youcai had met before.

The man in green said, “Wherever the great Yen appears, matters of grave importance follow, like mountains soaring into the clouds and descending with unstoppable force. I was just catching up with Second Madam and arrived a step too late.”

Yen Yunfei ignored the man, instead turning admiringly to Second Madam. “It is indeed you. To risk coming to Yanzhou City speaks to your heroic spirit. I am in awe!”

Second Madam smiled faintly. “The righteous valor of Hero Yen has always been a subject of my admiration. I have persuaded Scholar Liu to join us in stopping the locust demon. Will you come with us?”

“Excellent!” Yen Yunfei exclaimed with delight. “I detest empty formalities—Second Madam speaks true, let us go! Just point the way!”

The four of them set out southward. Second Madam leapt gracefully, as light as a feather, landing atop a wild goose in flight. Yen Yunfei, invoking his Daoist powers, parted the waters below with stormy vigor. Scholar Liu, reluctant and grumbling, was forced to follow, propelling a tiny boat forward at speed, while Yang Ridan sat inside.

After half an hour’s journey, they reached the southwestern road. Scholar Liu, with a flourish, stowed away the boat as if it were a mustard seed, then produced several copper coins. Aligning them with the stars, he muttered an incantation and tossed them high. A breath of energy from his lips struck the coins as they spun down, clinking on the ground with the resonance of gold and jade.

Scholar Liu glanced at the result, quickly pocketed the coins, and declared, “Fifty li to the south.”

“Good!” Yen Yunfei paid no heed to the strain on his arts and pressed on southward.

Scholar Liu shouted after him, “Yen Yunfei, are you charging to your death without even discussing tactics first? That locust demon is no simple foe!”

Yen Yunfei laughed heartily. “You’ve always been one for self-preservation. For Second Madam to move you out of seclusion, I suspect ten years’ worth of black ginseng would not suffice as reward—surely you have your own reasons. So what have I to fear?”

“You!” Scholar Liu fumed, his pride wounded. “Then you’d better shield me when the time comes!”

“Rest assured,” Yen Yunfei replied. “I am not one to shrink from danger. Unless you can step over my corpse, that locust demon won’t lay a finger on you.”

Relieved, Scholar Liu continued on with the group.

They journeyed another hour and covered more than twenty li. Now well past midnight, fatigue overcame them and they paused to rest. Scholar Liu conjured a tent from thin air and settled inside with a sigh of contentment. “Do as you please; let me have a cup of tea’s time to rest.”

“You lazy scoundrel!” Yen Yunfei growled.

Second Madam smiled gently. “Scholar Liu has practiced the Dao for thirty years, but the cursed artifact he bears is damaged. He must save half his strength to suppress it, which makes the use of its power more demanding and requires him to rest more than most. Hero Yen, do not hold it against him.”

Yen Yunfei was taken aback. “Second Madam, your insight is truly impressive.”

Second Madam replied with a smile, “It is Hero Yen’s exploits at the Inn of Heaven’s Blessings that truly inspire admiration.”

“You already know what befell me at the inn this noon? There can be few in the world whose intelligence networks rival yours, Second Madam.” Yen Yunfei laughed, but soon grew thoughtful. “I met a young friend there—just entered the Dao, has established his Daoist heart, but his path is one I’ve never seen. Do you know of it?”

“You must mean Young Master Chu,” Second Madam answered. “He is innately kind and blessed with Daoist talent. Though I cannot say what self-taught methods he uses, his future is boundless. Just last night, he laid his Daoist foundation.”

Yen Yunfei’s expression filled with astonishment. For Second Madam, famed across the land, to praise Chu Youcai so highly was remarkable. Even more shocking was her next remark: “He laid his foundation in a single night?”

At this, Yang Ridan’s face changed dramatically, a look of disbelief and envy upon him; such talent could soon rival even Chu Yuwei.

A thought struck Yen Yunfei, and he pressed further, “May I ask when you first met Chu Youcai?”

“Two days ago,” Second Madam replied.

“What?” Yen Yunfei was stunned.

Seeing his grave expression, Second Madam asked, “What is it?”

“A prodigy!” Yen Yunfei exclaimed. “He entered the Dao two days ago, but half a day past his foundation had already formed an icy valley within. If he takes one more step to the peak of the snow mountain, he could enter the Dao directly! Such aptitude is extraordinary!”

At these words, Yang Ridan clenched his fists, his resolve and unwillingness to yield written plainly on his face.

Second Madam paused, then suddenly understood. “When he spoke of unity between knowledge and action, it was clear he had profound insight. His current progress is only natural.”

Yen Yunfei’s gaze sharpened as he pondered the phrase “unity of knowledge and action,” deep in thought.

Just then, flames flickered in the distance, and a sudden commotion broke out.

A woman appeared, her hair coiled high, draped in a brown cloak, riding alone on an old donkey. Her pace seemed unhurried, yet she arrived at their tent in the blink of an eye.

She raised her hand, and a beam of light flashed; from her sleeve swarmed countless locusts, surging forth in a relentless tide toward the tent.

The locusts blotted out the sky, tens of thousands strong, filling the air with a murderous aura.