Black Wind Bag

Xiao Nan nodded slightly, thinking the boy was teachable.

Zhu Ying's heart surged like rivers overturning seas. His little face flushed red, and a smile lurked at the corners of his eyes, but he said, "What nonsense are you saying? Make another request."

Little Bug dearly wanted to ask for an elixir of immortality for his mother, but his father had taught him since childhood: people's hearts were intricate! Those who understood them found all matters yielding with ease; those who did not found obstacles everywhere.

To oneself, one's closest kin and most treasured possessions were precious; to others, they were no more than rubble.

As for another's dearest kin and greatest treasures, even if one did not think much of them, one still had to tread carefully and with fearful respect before one could win their closeness.

Little Bug knew that, in Master Xiao's heart, Zhu Ying was a hundred times more important than his own mother, an ordinary mortal woman. That was why he had not hesitated in the slightest to ask for a magical treasure on Zhu Ying's behalf.

Xiao Nan laughed heartily. "Go on, then! Which of my magical treasures have you taken a fancy to?"

Little Bug said, "Mr. Xiao's magical treasures must surely be cherished and prized. They are for protecting oneself and warding off demons, and cannot be lightly bestowed. But you slew Old Demon Luo, so you surely would not care for the possessions of such a defeated foe..."

Xiao Nan smiled. "You certainly know how to scheme."

He glanced at his disciple and said with a smile, "Easy to find priceless treasures..."

A faint flush rose to Zhu Ying's face. He lowered his head, not daring to meet his master's eyes.

Xiao Nan found it amusing and thought, Though this disciple has studied under me only a short while, his family's learning runs deep and his six senses are keen. How could he let an ordinary youth trail after him without realizing it?

He deliberately brought this boy here, hoping to win him a stroke of fortune before me.

This boy truly is somewhat extraordinary, and his temperament is good as well. Alas, I truly cannot take on another disciple.

He looked at Wang Chong. Little Bug wore an honest, guileless expression; one glance was enough to tell that he was no sly fellow. After pondering for a long while, Xiao Nan tossed out a cloth bag. It landed in Zhu Ying's arms as he said, "Old Demon Luo's Black Wind Bag is here. I have not even opened it to look. Take it."

Having said this, Xiao Nan transformed into a sheet of clear light. The entire thatched hall blazed with radiance, and in an instant, he was gone.

Holding the treasure bag in his hands, Zhu Ying complained, "Master Xiao is a renowned sword immortal under heaven, born of an illustrious orthodox lineage. If you could have become his disciple, what an immense stroke of fortune that would have been! Why trouble yourself to ask for some magical treasure for me?"

"What treasure does my family lack...?"

Little Bug gave a simple smile. "Why should one be greedy in life?"

Zhu Ying was so angry that he did not know what to say. He reached out and rapped Wang Chong on the forehead. "From now on, you must listen to me." After saying this, rosy clouds bloomed across both cheeks, yet his mood was strangely excellent. Smiling sweetly, he tossed the Black Wind Bag to Wang Chong. "At least you have a conscience."

Little Bug stared blankly and pushed the Black Wind Bag back. "This is yours. How can you give it to me?"

Zhu Ying burst out laughing. "Old Demon Luo came from Black Wind Temple and learned nothing but unorthodox side paths. Though he cultivated for many years and possessed deep power, this young master truly does not care for the few magical treasures he carried with him."

"Besides... what treasure do I lack?"

Little Bug was somewhat at a loss. He truly was not someone skilled at calculating hearts; everything he had done was simply what his father had taught him, following the gourd to draw the ladle. Just as he was about to offer a few more words of persuasion and have his friend take the item back, Zhu Ying said, "Though I have given this thing to you, most of Old Demon Luo's possessions likely came by improper means and harm the harmony of Heaven. You must not use them recklessly. The Primordial Sword Formula that Master Xiao permitted you to learn is the proper art. It is far better than Old Demon Luo's scattered odds and ends. From now on, I will supervise your cultivation of this sword scripture."

Little Bug pondered for a long time and found himself speechless. He could only answer, "It must not interfere with my studies."

Zhu Ying could no longer hold it in. He laughed until he rocked back and forth, crisp as bells in the wind. Only after a long while did he say, "Do you know how many scholars, if they learned they could study the immortal arts, would willingly cast aside fame, rank, wealth, and honor?"

"Great General Fan of this dynasty, Imperial Uncle Li of the previous dynasty, Zhang Fang—the foremost of the three founding heroes of Great Han eight hundred years ago—and even the crown prince of the ancient Zhou Dynasty: each possessed boundless wealth and honor, yet all cast aside their worldly splendor, entered the deep mountains, and sought masters to learn the Dao. Their tales became fine legends among men. Yet you abandon the root to chase the branches. How very foolish."

Little Bug said softly, "My father said: these people beyond the world possess divine powers that reach through heaven and earth, yet they do not think of bringing blessings to the common people or serving their country. But whenever some treasure appears in the world, they fight for it with their lives."

"They are nothing but a pack of scourges."

"He taught me to study and sit for the civil examinations not for fame, rank, wealth, or honor, but to bring blessings to the people. When necessary, one must sacrifice oneself, casting aside honor and disgrace."

"If I master swordsmanship, it will likewise be to do something for the people under heaven, never for my own selfish sake."

Zhu Ying was slightly taken aback. After a long while, he said, "Your honored father and mother are no ordinary people."

Little Bug's expression turned a little strange. He did know that his father and mother were both extraordinary, but it was not easy to boast of them to Zhu Ying. He merely said, "My father and mother are nothing more than ordinary people."

Zhu Ying simply did not believe him. But given his family background, even the current prime minister would not seem particularly remarkable to him, so he did not take it to heart. With a smile, he said, "If there is time, I should pay a visit to your father and mother." As he said this, his face reddened again.

Little Bug said, "I had originally wanted to invite Brother Zhu to dinner, but we have lingered here with Master Xiao for so long that it is probably too late now."

Zhu Ying smiled. "Since it is too late to dine at the academy, let us leave the academy and find another restaurant. This elder brother will treat you today."

Little Bug raised the Black Wind Bag. "I will take this back to my lodging, then we can go together."

Zhu Ying cried, "Though I do not care for Old Demon Luo's things, the Black Wind Bag is still a treasure, and it holds Old Demon Luo's lifelong hoard—who knows how many items belonging to cultivators? How can you leave it elsewhere? If someone steals it and uses the unorthodox magical treasures inside to harm others, you and I will both bear the sin."

He stepped forward and took hold of Wang Chong's wrist, chanting softly, "Dimapulounayouda!" The Black Wind Bag immediately transformed into a faint black shadow like a birthmark and imprinted itself upon Wang Chong's wrist.

Little Bug had never seen anything so strange. He gently touched his wrist, surprise and something odd mingling on his face.

Zhu Ying said, "When we return tonight, I will teach you how to retrieve things from the Black Wind Bag. For now, let us go to the restaurant together."

After sealing the Black Wind Bag into Wang Chong's wrist, he did not let go. His five fingers gently held Little Bug's hand, and the two went down the mountain side by side.

Little Bug only felt that Zhu Ying's hand was warm, smooth, and delicate, exceedingly comfortable to hold. He thought, Master Xiao is a sword immortal, and he said he once asked Brother Zhu's father to bring rain and save disaster victims. Brother Zhu's family surely cannot be ordinary people. Could they be mountain gods charged with wind and rain, or perhaps... Dragon Kings?

Little Bug glanced once more at the hands he and Zhu Ying held together and thought, Could Brother Zhu be a little dragon?

He was not afraid. Instead, he found it interesting and thought, If Brother Zhu is a little dragon, then am I not holding a dragon claw?

Seeing him glance several times at his hand, a simple smile on his face, Zhu Ying could not help feeling embarrassed and annoyed. "What is so interesting about my hand?"

Little Bug did not hide what he had been thinking. "Master Xiao said he once asked your father to help bring rain. I thought Brother Zhu's family must be no ordinary people, perhaps a whole family of Dragon Kings. Thinking that I was holding a dragon claw, I could not help finding it rather amusing."