Woodcutter Boy

The northern lands were sealed beneath ice for a thousand li, with snow stretching ten thousand li. Everything was a vast expanse of white. In the North Liang Kingdom, deep in the boundless mountains, birds and beasts had already become a rare sight. Most wealthy households had shut themselves inside, warming themselves by charcoal fires. Yet at the foot of the mountains east of Qingzhu County, a group of youths wore only black tunics and swung the long blades in their hands again and again despite the bitter cold.

A middle-aged martial artist stood atop the raised platform, watching the sect disciples training in the practice grounds with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Lu Xiaotian wore a gray fur coat, with a woodcutter's knife tucked into his belt. He watched the Thunder Blade Sect disciples practicing their saber techniques in the training grounds with envy.

"Hurry up and get moving! Stop dragging your feet. If you don't chop enough firewood today, you won't get any dinner!"

A middle-aged man in a gray padded coat stood behind him, putting on an imposing air as he shouted.

"What did you say? Say that again if you dare!" At that moment, a youth more than half a head taller than Lu Xiaotian strode over from the outer hall entrance. Hearing the middle-aged man's words, he snapped coldly.

"Big Brother Shi!"

Lu Xiaotian brightened at the sound. The newcomer was Shi Qingshan, also from Huyang Village. But Shi Qingshan was the pride of Huyang Village. At a young age, he had been chosen by the Thunder Blade Sect as an outer disciple, and thanks to his outstanding talent, he had become an inner disciple in less than a year.

Back in Huyang Village, no one had been closer to him than Shi Qingshan. Last year, the mountain village had suffered a drought, and his family had gained another younger brother and younger sister. Their scant farmland could not support so many people. Shi Qingshan had brought him to the Thunder Blade Sect. However, since he had no talent for martial arts, he became a servant in the sect, doing odd jobs such as carrying water, cooking, and entering the mountains to chop firewood. Though the work was hard, at least it allowed him to survive in these impoverished, chaotic times.

"So it's Senior Brother from the inner sect. I—I was disrespectful. I didn't know Little Tian was acquainted with Senior Brother. Please forgive me, Senior Brother, and Little Tian!" Manager Zhao, who usually threw his weight around among the servants, turned pale and hurriedly apologized to Shi Qingshan and Lu Xiaotian. Forget being an inner disciple—even he was merely a servant manager, and not one with any permanent standing. He could not afford to offend even a senior outer disciple.

"Big Brother Shi, Manager Zhao was only worried that I wouldn't chop enough firewood within the allotted time. He meant no harm. Don't blame him."

Lu Xiaotian pleaded on Manager Zhao's behalf. After staying in the servants' quarters for so long, he had no martial arts at all, but he was far more practiced than Shi Qingshan in handling people and situations. It did not matter if Shi Qingshan offended Manager Zhao, but Lu Xiaotian would have to work under him for a long time. If Manager Zhao were replaced, the next one might be even more petty and vicious, and then his days would become unbearable.

"Very well. Since Little Tian has spoken for you, I'll let it go today. But if I catch you bullying Little Tian again, you'll suffer for it. Now get lost." Shi Qingshan glared fiercely at Manager Zhao.

"Yes, yes! I'll never dare again!" Manager Zhao nodded repeatedly. In utter disarray, he fled as though escaping for his life.

"The Discipline Hall has been keeping a tight rein on me. I only broke through to the third layer of the Wind-Splitting Saber Technique, and my master finally let me out for two days of rest. That's why I've only had time to come see you now." After chasing Manager Zhao away, Shi Qingshan spoke to Lu Xiaotian with some guilt.

"That's wonderful! The stronger Big Brother Shi becomes, the fewer people over in the servants' quarters will dare bully me." Lu Xiaotian looked delighted.

"No one will dare. Whoever bullies Little Tian, I'll beat him until he kneels and begs for mercy!" Shi Qingshan declared with great bravado.

As they spoke, a youth and another especially beautiful girl, both dressed in white martial outfits, waved to Shi Qingshan from nearby. "Senior Brother Shi, why are you still standing there? Hurry up! We're going to stroll around the county town."

Seeing that someone was waiting for Shi Qingshan, Lu Xiaotian said, "Big Brother Shi, someone's waiting for you up ahead. Go on and attend to them. I'm going to chop firewood. I still have to finish today's task."

"I happen to be free today. I'll help you chop firewood." Shi Qingshan shook his head.

"No need. I have to go every day, and it won't take long. You only get two days off with difficulty, Big Brother Shi. Don't waste them on something as trivial as chopping firewood." Lu Xiaotian pushed at Shi Qingshan as he spoke, but Shi Qingshan had practiced martial arts for years and was strong and healthy. He was not someone Lu Xiaotian could push aside.

"All right, then I'll head out first. I'll bring you something tasty." Shi Qingshan was tempted as well. In the end, he was still a young man. He usually trained bitterly in martial arts, and now that he had some free time, he wanted to stroll around the bustling county town too.

"Good. Then thank you, Big Brother Shi."

Lu Xiaotian waved, then turned and trudged toward the rear mountains, one foot sinking deep into the snow and the next barely touching it. Looking back, he watched Shi Qingshan walk away laughing and chatting with the other junior brother and sister. The smile that had been hanging on Lu Xiaotian's face suddenly faded into loneliness. This was the difference between a martial artist and a servant: they lived in two entirely separate worlds.

But perhaps it was simply fate. He had no talent for practicing martial arts. No matter how hard he worked, he would remain only a servant. He had better think about how to chop more firewood and return to hand it in.

His monthly pay would be issued in a few days. Thinking of the two silver beans he had saved, a trace of a smile returned to his face. Every so often, he sent some money home, but he had also managed to save a little himself. Once he had enough, he would go into the city and learn a skill with which to make a living. Carpentry or blacksmithing would do. The Thunder Blade Sect was a good place, but a servant would forever remain a subordinate. Even if he could not become a martial artist, he did not want to spend his whole life as a servant who had to read other people's expressions.

With the two silver beans tucked against his chest, it was as though he carried his dreams there. Even the snowfield, usually so difficult to cross, seemed less treacherous. The mountains behind the sect were a boundless forest, with rolling peaks stretching beyond the horizon.

When Lu Xiaotian entered the mountain woods, he did not immediately chop firewood. Instead, he took a mended fishing net from a hidden stone cave and spread it between several trees. Then he pulled a packet of grain from his clothes and scattered it across the snow beneath the net.

After clapping his hands, he finally drew his woodcutter's knife. He walked for a while, found a somewhat rotten tree trunk amid the densely wooded mountains, and began hacking at it.

Thunk!

Thunk!

His sharp woodcutter's knife struck the not-too-thick trunk again and again. Snow piled on the branches fell from time to time. Lu Xiaotian repeatedly brushed the snow from his body, then swung his knife once more.

After more than two hundred blows, the not-too-thick trunk crashed to the ground, splashing the snow over his face.

Despite the bitter cold, repeated swings of the blade raised a faint mist of heat from his body. Nearly two hours later, Lu Xiaotian loaded the chopped firewood into his basket. He estimated that it was time to check the trap he had set.

During this period, he had been able to keep helping his family while saving some money. Aside from his usual frugality, he owed most of it to the small game he caught in the mountains. Though he could not bring down any large beasts, a few pheasants or mountain sparrows were enough to make him happy for quite a while.

"Coo-coo."

He heard the cries and flapping of pheasants from far away, and Lu Xiaotian's heart leaped. Judging by the sounds, there was more than one. It seemed today would be a bumper harvest indeed. The unexpected discovery gave Lu Xiaotian extra strength, and his steps became several notches lighter than usual.

But a faint growl suddenly made every hair on Lu Xiaotian's body stand on end as he hurried forward.

Lu Xiaotian gripped the handle of his woodcutter's knife with both hands, searching every gap between the trees with his eyes as he backed against the trunk of a large tree.

Before long, a blue wolf as large as a calf slowly emerged from the woods. Its eyes glittered with ferocity, and it bared a pair of sharp fangs. Growling low, it advanced toward Lu Xiaotian one step at a time.

With the blue wolf's appearance, the joy Lu Xiaotian had felt at catching pheasants vanished without a trace, replaced by an instinctive tension and fear. Even for a veteran hunter like his father, encountering such a giant wolf in the mountains would be extremely dangerous. And he was only a boy barely past ten.

Lu Xiaotian could not help regretting that he had not asked Shi Qingshan to come with him. If Big Brother Shi, a martial artist who had already entered the path, were here, he would at least have a chance to fight this blue wolf. Now, all he could do was wave his woodcutter's knife and shout at the lone wolf to frighten it.

No—it was not alone. On the right side of the forest, another blue wolf emerged, slightly smaller than the first. Despair surged through Lu Xiaotian's heart. Against one wolf, he could barely hope to escape alive. Now there was a second. He was doomed ten times over!