Three Passes

Xu Qing did not head straight home after killing them.

He detoured to a river bend downstream from the docks, plunged the fish-killing knife into the water, and swished it back and forth until the blood was washed from the blade.

Then he reached into the river and scrubbed his hands, picking the blood and grime from beneath his nails bit by bit.

Blood had splashed onto his outer garment, so he took it off as well, kneaded it clean in the river water, wrung it dry, and wrapped it around his wrist.

After washing up, he crouched by the river and went over the entire affair. He had acted only after night had fallen completely. He had met no one on the road. The three people in the house had died cleanly and swiftly, without drawing outsiders over.

The murder weapon was the fish-killing knife from home. Every household in Blackwater Bay had one; they were everywhere in the streets.

There were no markings on the blade. Once wiped clean, it was just an ordinary knife.

The blood on his clothes had been washed away too. The outer garment was wet, but it would more or less be dry by morning.

A motive for murder?

Which fishing family in Blackwater Bay had not suffered at the hands of Liu San and his gang?

There were no loose ends.

No one would suspect him.

He rose to his feet, tucked the knife back into his belt, and turned to look in the direction of Liu San's mud hut.

He recalled Liu San's final words: "Your second uncle, your second aunt, that little sister of yours! Not one of them will get away!"

That had not been a threat. It had been the truth.

As long as Liu San lived, Second Uncle would never know another peaceful day. Today they would steal silver; tomorrow they would kick him once. What about the day after tomorrow? And the day after that? With Second Uncle's frail body, how many times could he endure it?

He did not regret it.

If he had to do it again, he would still do the same.

Xu Qing drew a deep breath, tightened the wet clothes around his wrist, and headed home.

Xu Qing returned the fish-killing knife to its original place and entered the house in the dark.

He took off his outer garment and lay down on the bed.

The quilt was somewhat damp and smelled of mildew, but it made him feel secure.

When he closed his eyes, Liu San's twisted face flashed through the darkness, then vanished.

He turned over and soon fell asleep.

He slept dreamlessly through the night.

"A-Qing, get up and eat." Before dawn had fully broken, Second Aunt's voice drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by the crisp clang of a spatula against an iron wok.

Xu Qing opened his eyes, sat up, and stretched. His whole body felt at ease, as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

When he stepped outside, Second Uncle was sitting on a little stool by the kitchen door, holding a bowl and drinking porridge. His complexion was much better than yesterday's. Though still sallow, his eyes had regained some life. He was barely coughing now, and his breathing had evened out.

"Second Uncle, feeling better?" Xu Qing smiled.

Xu Erniu looked up and smiled as well. His voice remained somewhat weak, but it carried far more strength than yesterday. "I took the medicine and slept through the night. My chest doesn't hurt as much anymore. I reckon I'll be fine after another couple days of rest."

Second Aunt chimed in from the side. "When he got up this morning, your second uncle said he wanted to see if he could walk, so I helped him out. He came out on his own, without even using a cane!"

There was a rare lightness in her voice. At last, the stone weighing on her heart had fallen to the ground.

Breakfast was thick porridge paste, and Second Aunt had boiled an egg as well.

The egg rolled along the edge of the bowl. Second Aunt peeled it, revealing its tender white flesh, and placed it into Xu Qing's bowl.

Xu Qing stopped her and moved the egg into Xiuer's bowl.

The little girl was cradling her porridge bowl and drinking with loud gulps. When she suddenly saw the egg drop into her bowl, she looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Brother, you're not eating?"

"Your brother eats meat every day at the martial hall. I don't care for this." Xu Qing scraped her little nose. "You eat it. Eat it and grow taller."

Xiuer gave an "Okay," then held the egg and took small bites, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster's.

After breakfast, Xu Qing helped Second Aunt clear the dishes and stood in the courtyard for a while.

Second Uncle leaned against a chair in the main hall, squinting as he dozed.

Xu Qing walked over and crouched before him.

"Second Uncle," he called.

Xu Erniu opened his eyes and looked at him.

"The doctor said that even with the medicine, you need another seven or eight days of rest. Wait until you're completely healed before you go fishing again." Xu Qing's voice was quiet, but earnest. "Otherwise, if it gets worse again, the money will have been spent for nothing."

Xu Erniu opened his mouth. He wanted to say that the household could not go without income, that a family of three needed food and drink, that Xu Qing needed silver to practice martial arts, that money was needed everywhere. But looking into Xu Qing's eyes, those words lodged in his throat and would not come out.

Xu Qing took out three taels of silver from his clothes and pressed them into Xu Erniu's hand.

Xu Erniu lowered his head, and froze when he saw them.

The silver weighed heavily in his palm, its gleam dazzling.

He looked up, his eyes wide. "A-Qing, th-this... where did this come from?"

"My master at the martial hall gave it to me." Xu Qing smiled. "My training has progressed quickly. Master was pleased, so he rewarded me."

Xu Qing said it naturally, as though it were true.

"The martial hall gives money too?" Second Aunt poked her head out of the kitchen, still holding a rag, her face full of disbelief.

"They do." Xu Qing nodded. "Master said that the martial hall will cover all the meat and medicinal supplements I need for training. The family won't need to spend a single coin. This money is an extra reward, for me to help support the household."

"But Master told me to keep the reward a secret. Otherwise, if the other brothers at the martial hall find out, they'll say Master is playing favorites." Xu Qing looked at his uncle and aunt and spoke seriously. "Uncle, Aunt, you must not tell anyone about this."

The two nodded heavily. Even without Xu Qing's warning, they would not have dared tell anyone.

In times like these, wealth could not be flaunted. Too many eyes were watching.

Xu Qing paused, then looked into Xu Erniu's eyes and said each word distinctly, "Second Uncle, you don't need to work so hard anymore. You have me from now on."

Xu Erniu's hand began to tremble.

He lowered his head and stared at the three taels of silver in his palm for a long time.

When he raised his head again, his eyes were red.

His lips quivered. He wanted to say something, but it was as if something clogged his throat, and he could not force out a single word.

Second Aunt turned away too, covering her face with her apron as her shoulders shook.

"Good, good..." Xu Erniu wiped his eyes with his sleeve and finally squeezed out two words. His voice was hoarse as a broken bellows. "A-Qing has made something of himself... made something of himself..."

Xu Qing stood, his heart both aching and warm.

He looked at the sky. It was fully light now. Time to return to the martial hall.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm leaving. I'll come see you again on my next rest day."

"Alright, alright." Second Aunt hurriedly wiped her eyes and packed several coarse-grain flatbreads for him from the kitchen. "Eat them on the road. Don't go hungry."

Xiuer ran over, hugged his leg, and tilted up her little face. "Brother, when are you coming back?"

"Soon." Xu Qing patted her head. "Be good and listen at home."

Xiuer nodded hard.

Xu Qing walked out through the courtyard gate, then looked back once.

Second Uncle stood there waving to him. Second Aunt's eyes were red, while Xiuer grinned at him.

The sun had risen, its rays falling warmly over the little courtyard.

He turned around and strode toward the county town.

By the time he reached the martial hall, the sun was already high.

On the training ground, the outer-court disciples had gathered together.

Master Zhao Yan was teaching Stake Training.

Xu Qing quietly approached and took his place at the back of the crowd.

"...Practice martial arts without practicing skill, and you'll end up empty-handed in old age. By 'skill,' I mean Stake Training."

Zhao Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm and unhurried.

He walked to the center of the training ground and planted his feet in a neither-square-nor-eight stance. Without seeming to exert any force, his whole body resembled an ancient pine rooted in the earth, utterly unmoving.

"Stake Training tempers the sinews and bones, and refines Qi-Blood. Without tempering your sinews and bones, you cannot hold open your frame. Without refining Qi-Blood, you cannot strike with force."

"When you stand the stake and feel your legs ache, your waist hurt, your whole body tremble, that is not merely suffering. It is your sinews and bones holding firm, your Qi-Blood moving. Endure it, and your skill will grow. Fail to endure it, and you have stood for nothing."

He withdrew from the stance and stood with his hands behind his back.

"There are three great passes in martial arts: Bright Force, Hidden Force, and Force Transformation. These three passes correspond precisely to the minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and perfected realms of Stake Training. If your Stake Training is lacking, your force cannot rise. Once your Stake Training reaches the mark, force will naturally flow into place as water channels form."

"After entering the gate, once your stake frame is steady, you must begin sensing Qi-Blood. When you stand the stake, have you ever felt your lower abdomen grow warm, your fingers swell, or something crawling across your back?"

Several disciples nodded again and again.

"That is Qi-Blood." His voice sank. "Qi-Blood is not some illusory, intangible thing. It travels through your sinews and veins, and moves through your flesh and blood."

"When standing the stake, keep your intent on the dantian and breathe into your abdomen. Then Qi-Blood will slowly gather. At first, it is scattered—warmth here, a throb there—impossible to grasp. Stand long enough, and you will feel it flowing through your body like a stream."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Being able to sense Qi-Blood only means you have entered the gate of Stake Training. Only when you can control Qi-Blood, gathering it when you wish and moving it when you wish, can you be considered to have reached minor accomplishment. By then, your Qi-Blood will be abundant and your sinews and bones strong. When you throw a punch, it will no longer be brute strength, but Bright Force."

Hearing this, Xu Qing's heart stirred slightly.

He recalled the surge of heat that had risen within him while standing the stake. So that was Qi-Blood.