Master and Disciple

After classes, Zhu Ying thought of Wang Chong. Rather than going to the dining hall first, he returned to the storeroom to find him.

Before he had even reached the door, he called out, "Little Brother Wang Chong, come down quickly. Let's go eat together."

Little Bug had just finished memorizing a scroll and was somewhat tired. He immediately set down the book in his hands, answered, and went down from the loft with Zhu Ying to the dining hall.

Though they had known each other for only a day, Wang Chong and Zhu Ying already felt like old friends at first meeting, very familiar with one another.

After dinner, the two returned to the storeroom and each memorized books in the loft. Spurred on by Wang Chong, Zhu Ying worked ten times harder than usual. Yet before he had even finished half a scroll, he heard that Wang Chong had already memorized another whole scroll. Greatly discouraged, he secretly cried, "Little Brother Wang Chong, you truly are no son of man."

Several days passed. Black clouds swept in, and the matter of Master Xiao's exposed identity gradually faded at Egret Academy. Fewer and fewer people went each day to wait outside Master Xiao's courtyard in the back mountain.

Little Bug had entered Class B and gradually grew accustomed to life at the academy. He was gentle and honest by nature, and having long been used to his mother's strict discipline, he did not mind the hardships of study.

That day, Little Bug rose as usual and was about to go study with Zhu Ying when he saw the old man assigned to attend him arrive with Liuzi. He called out and asked, "What is it?"

Liuzi had spent a long time in the countryside and had never seen much of the world. Everywhere in the academy were scholar-students, whose speech and conduct differed from those of children his own age back home. Everything he saw along the way was fresh and astonishing. Hearing his young master call, he hurriedly replied, "Mistress has sent a letter home."

Little Bug was delighted. "Give it to me quickly." He took the letter, but mindful that he still had lessons to attend, said, "Wait for me outside the academy. I'll write a letter to Mother later."

The old man led Liuzi back out again. Unrelated people were not permitted to wander about the academy, so Liuzi could not wait inside.

Having lived with Wang Chong for several days, Zhu Ying knew a little of his family circumstances. He thought, I wonder what kind of person Madam Wang is, to have raised someone as outstanding among his peers as Little Brother Wang Chong.

Little Bug's family discipline was strict. He did not dare mention that his father was a Vice Minister at court, saying only that he was an ordinary minor official. Nor did he say that his parents were not on especially good terms, merely that his father held office away from home while his mother had raised him alone through great hardship.

Smiling, Zhu Ying said, "Auntie must be worried about you. How about I ask leave for you, and you go back to read the letter first?"

Little Bug shook his head. He opened the letter and glanced through it, his eyes racing over ten lines at a time. "Mother did not say much. She only had the old family servant bring some clothes."

He put away the letter without changing expression, but inwardly, he was faintly worried.

The letter from Wang Chong's mother was not about ordinary matters. Strange incidents had occurred in the village again. Dozens of villagers had suddenly died in their dreams, while seven or eight wandering martial artists from elsewhere had died as well, each in a different manner. They had invited many monks and Daoist priests, but none had been of any use.

Little Bug's mother wrote that she had already returned to her natal family in a neighboring county to take shelter for the time being, telling her son not to worry.

Little Bug secretly thought, Fortunately, Mother has returned to Grandfather's home. Otherwise, as her son, I would not know how deeply I ought to worry.

Why were the villagers dying suddenly in their dreams? Why did the wandering martial folk die in different ways? Could it still be connected to the stone stele in the mountains?

His mother had also instructed him in the letter to focus closely on his studies and prepare for next year's examinations. She forbade him from visiting her in the neighboring county. Naturally, Little Bug did not dare disobey his mother, but the worry in his heart was hard to bear.

What a pity that mass of black cloud is only a few scraps and fragments, and cannot match the wondrous uses it had in its original master's hands. Otherwise, how wonderful it would be to ride it a thousand miles in a night to visit Mother.

Little Bug let out a faint sigh. Seeing that he was unhappy, Zhu Ying offered a few words of comfort, but Little Bug remained in low spirits.

When classes ended at noon, he wrote a letter and gave it to Liuzi, who was waiting outside the academy. Liuzi and Crescent were one a book boy and the other a personal maid, both still young, so Uncle Wang had to run back and forth to deliver their letters.

The last time Uncle Wang had gone back was to report that Little Bug was safe. This time, he had brought a letter, and after receiving Wang Chong's reply, he would have to travel again to deliver it to Mistress at her parents' home in the neighboring county. It was truly arduous.

After listening to lectures all day, Little Bug was distracted. He gathered up his books, intending to find Zhu Ying, but after calculating the time, it seemed he might be too late. He thought, I'll go take a look at Class A. If Senior Brother Zhu is not there, I'll return and memorize my books.

Little Bug had no close friends in his hometown. He studied bitterly all day, while the other children in the village preferred to play, so they could never get along. Now that he had finally found a like-minded classmate such as Zhu Ying, he often wished to be with him.

He detoured to Class A and, as expected, found the classroom empty. Neither the teacher nor the students remained.

Little Bug had expected as much and was not disappointed. Just as he was about to head back, he suddenly saw Zhu Ying hurrying over in the distance. Before he could call out, Zhu Ying had already headed toward the back mountain.

Little Bug secretly found it amusing. So Senior Brother Zhu also wishes to become Master Xiao's disciple. I have never heard of anyone else living in the academy's back mountain.

His curiosity stirred, and he followed behind his friend on tiptoe, intending to give him a fright.

Zhu Ying seemed to have something on his mind and did not notice him. He left the academy through a side gate and went up the mountain. After less than half an hour, he arrived at a thatched cottage.

A tall, jade-like young man stood outside the cottage, idly watching the winds and clouds.

Zhu Ying clasped his hands in greeting, his manner respectful. "Master, are you leaving?"

Little Bug was greatly astonished. So this is Master Xiao!

I never expected Senior Brother Zhu to be so close to this teacher. He already bears the name of disciple.

While his thoughts ran wild, he heard the young man laugh. "Why have you brought a young friend along?"

"Young man behind the tree! I heard about you from my disciple. There is no need to hide."

Little Bug was slightly startled. After a brief hesitation, he stepped out from his hiding place, bowed deeply, and said somewhat bashfully, "This boy followed Brother Zhu here out of momentary curiosity. I had no intention of prying into private matters."

He bowed deeply to Zhu Ying again. "I had only meant to startle Brother Zhu. It was most improper, so I offer Brother Zhu my apologies as well."

Zhu Ying lightly covered his mouth, but said nothing. He lowered his head, and no one knew what he was thinking.

The young man smiled. "No matter. I have already exposed my whereabouts, so it would not do for me to remain long. I returned this time only to give my disciple a few instructions before leaving."

Little Bug bowed deeply once more. His previous bow had been an apology; this one was a formal greeting. "Wang Chong, a student of Egret Academy, greets Master Xiao."

The young man smiled. "From this day onward, I will no longer teach at Egret Academy, so you need not call me Master. Calling me Mister Xiao will do."

"I happen to have matters to instruct my disciple about, and there is no need to hide them from others. Come over and listen as well."

Master Xiao strolled leisurely into the thatched cottage. Little Bug moved close to Zhu Ying and whispered, "I truly did not mean anything by it. Do not be angry."

Zhu Ying whispered back, "I'm not angry."

Only then was Little Bug relieved, but Zhu Ying lightly tugged his sleeve and led him straight into the cottage.

There was very little furniture inside the thatched cottage. In the center stood an exceedingly broad straw couch, with a low table upon it. Other than that, there was nothing.

Master Xiao sat upright behind the low table and pointed at the straw couch. "Sit properly."

Zhu Ying led Wang Chong to sit obediently beside the low table, facing Master Xiao.

Master Xiao paid Wang Chong no heed and said to his disciple with a smile, "A handsome youth in blue, a jade tree before the wind; by morning, a thousand poems composed, and drunk, he loved to flee from Zen."

"Fleeing Zen, perhaps not. But running away from home was certain."