Another world

The man in gray carried the two of them as though they weighed nothing, his long legs eating up the ground. He left the inn, turned into an alley, and raced several hundred meters without stopping. The road ahead narrowed, houses packed together like scales on a fish. He had entered Chongwen Ward.

His feet scarcely seemed to touch the ground. Every so often, he leaped onto a rooftop and ran over glazed tiles as smooth as mirrors as though they were level ground.

Wind whistled past He An's ears, and buildings hurtled backward wherever he looked. Seeing Fan Dazhi's drooping head and tightly shut eyes, he could not tell whether his friend was dead or alive, and unease gripped his heart.

The man in gray raced straight out of Chongwen Ward. He only needed to leave the street ahead, turn past Changchun Road, and reach Crossflower Street. The grandest black-lacquered gates there belonged to the Cui Residence.

Most people living in this area were ordinary townsfolk. Filthy water flowed through the narrow streets, and two barred chickens pecked at something on the ground. Men's loincloths and women's undergarments hung from bamboo poles set at all angles.

Nearby, a dozen or so large vats filled with clean water stood in a jumble. The authorities had placed them there to fight fires among the disorderly cluster of houses. A tabby cat stood nimbly on the rim of one vat, stretching out its head and flicking its pink tongue rapidly as it drank.

It was noon, and the sunlight was somewhat dazzling. The man in gray never slowed. Even when townsfolk caught sight of him along the way, they saw only a gray blur flash past and vanish.

Just as the man in gray was about to leave the alley, he stopped abruptly.

A young man dressed like a scholar stood at the narrow entrance. Motionless, his hands clasped behind his back, he watched him coldly.

"Huang Daogong, you're a senior who's been famous for years. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you if word spreads that you bullied two young students from the Knowledge and Practice Institute?" Fang Yizhi stood in the sunlight, a crystalline gleam flickering in his eyes, his tone measured.

The man in gray was named Huang Daogong. He had once been a Dao Integration Realm expert of the Mountain-Watching Sect, but had been expelled for repeatedly harassing and molesting its female disciples.

Although his cultivation stood at the peak of the Dao Integration Realm, he was greedy, lustful, and utterly despicable in his methods. The other sects knew his character and refused to take him in, so he had attached himself to the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery, becoming a guest retainer at the Ministry of Revenue Vice Minister's Residence.

After Cui Mengshu had been severely injured, inquiries by the Cui Residence revealed that two youths named He An and Fan Dazhi were responsible. Huang Daogong figured that capturing them would earn him a handsome silver reward from the Cui Residence, enough to spend another few pleasurable days at the Fragrant Pleasure House.

He had encountered Fan Dazhi buying food on the street and thought the little fatty closely matched the description of one of the two culprits who had injured Young Master Cui. He followed him all the way back, captured He An and Fan Dazhi in one fell swoop, and was taking them to the Cui Residence to claim credit and collect his reward.

After leaving the Dingding Chancellor's Residence, Fang Yizhi had planned to visit the inn and tell He An and Fan Dazhi that he would soon lay down his brush and take up arms, encouraging them to devote themselves to their studies.

On the way, he spotted Huang Daogong racing along with He An and Fan Dazhi in his hands. Alarmed, he resolutely chose this alley to intercept him.

Huang Daogong threw back his head and laughed, then gave him a sidelong look. "Since you know your grandpa's name, you ought to know how formidable I am... oh, I remember. You're that fairly outstanding fellow from the Knowledge and Practice Institute... Fang... Fang..."

"Fang Yizhi! Though I hardly deserve to be called outstanding," Fang Yizhi replied, neither servile nor arrogant.

Huang Daogong sneered. "Since you know how little you weigh, don't stand in your grandpa's way-get lost!"

"They're both my students. Release them at once!" Fang Yizhi drew a deep breath and stepped forward.

The back of his long robe suddenly began to tremble violently. Strange sounds rose through the air, like a sudden wind, like sand shivering into flight, like countless ants rustling as they crawled...

The haphazard bamboo poles quivered gently, and the clothes hanging from them slipped silently to the ground. The pecking chickens stared warily with round eyes, every feather on their backs bristling like a hedgehog's spines.

The water in the vats rippled soundlessly, as though invisible hands were pounding their sides, raising wave upon wave. The tabby's slender body stiffened, and it abruptly sprang onto the eaves and disappeared. A deadly chill suddenly filled the entire alley.

Huang Daogong raised his sparse eyebrows. "How much Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy can you gather? A mere Spirit Refinement Realm cultivator dares to fight me? Are you worthy?"

"Put them both down!" Fang Yizhi's expression grew grave. He took another step forward and swept his broad right sleeve outward. The wind suddenly roared.

It was as though dark clouds had drifted across the sky, blocking the sunlight. The alley abruptly dimmed.

The bamboo poles that had stood at all angles to dry clothes suddenly tore free of the ground, becoming straight javelins that whistled toward Huang Daogong like lightning.

The clean water in the dozen or so vats churned violently as though boiling. Overflowing splashes scattered through the air and, in an instant, became countless rounded droplets. Glittering with dazzling light, they crashed toward Huang Daogong like the Milky Way pouring down...

He An was profoundly shaken by the sight. This inconceivable scene overturned everything he had previously understood about martial arts. Could this be... He suddenly remembered what Fang Yizhi had once told him: only by truly entering the Knowledge and Practice Institute could he see another world. Another world? Could he have meant this mysterious, unfathomable world of martial arts?

Countless thoughts surged through He An's mind. Never could he have imagined that Teacher Fang, who ordinarily looked so refined and scholarly, even too frail to withstand a breeze, would unleash such terrifying ferocity when he acted, enough to shatter stone and startle heaven.

A fierce gleam burst from Huang Daogong's sinister eyes. He threw Fan Dazhi to the ground and planted a foot on his calf to prevent him from seizing a chance to escape.

He traced a semicircle before his chest with one hand. With the gesture, the surrounding air surged, as though something indescribable had entered it. His tall, thin body leaned forcefully forward like a drawn bow.

The javelins whistling through the air were little more than ten feet from Huang Daogong when his body suddenly snapped back like a vibrating bowstring. All the oncoming javelins stopped at once, hanging motionless before him. The uncanny sight was as though everything in the world had suddenly fallen still, all of existence frozen in that instant.

The glittering droplets pouring from the sky came whistling after them. Without exception, they too were stopped a little over ten feet before Huang Daogong. Countless crystal-clear beads of water hung suspended in midair, forming an enormous curtain of water.

He An stared, dumbstruck. Fan Dazhi had already regained consciousness. He squirmed beneath the foot pinning him down and rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the sight before him.

A sharp, rapid series of firecracker-like cracks rang out. The bamboo poles turned javelins burst apart one after another, scattering fragments that became countless fine, fluffy bamboo fibers before falling limply and silently to the ground.

At the same time, the curtain of water fell like a torrential downpour, washing through the narrow alley with a great splashing rush.

Huang Daogong threw back his head and let out an eerie laugh like a night owl. Bending down, he scooped up Fan Dazhi, pushed off with his toes, and drifted away like a great kite.

Fang Yizhi's face was pale, his chest heaving violently. One of his arms would not stop trembling.

He watched the direction in which Huang Daogong had departed, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes. Afraid of distracting him, neither youth had called for help from beginning to end. He An was steadfast and resilient, and Dazhi exceptionally clever. Nothing could be allowed to happen to the two students he had always held in the highest regard. He turned and hurried toward the Knowledge and Practice Institute.

Cui Lishen was in an excellent mood today. A few days earlier, His Majesty the emperor had personally inspected the construction of the Dragon Gate Academy in the Capital's Southern Suburbs. At court today, he had lavishly praised Cui Yingtai, Director of the Imperial College. Cui Lishen, as Vice Minister of Revenue, had also received His Majesty's commendation for his public-minded loyalty, devotion to the state, and diligence in royal service.

As soon as he returned home, the steward who came to greet him brought another piece of good news: the two bastards who had injured his son had been caught.

The household's guest retainer, Huang Daogong, had captured them without the effort of blowing away dust and brought them back to be tied to a peach tree in the front courtyard. Looking at the two youths, one pressing his lips together in apparent resentment, the other struggling to remain composed despite the fear in his eyes, Cui Lishen wore a cold smile. He ordered the servants grimly, "Bring these two brats into the front hall. I'll deal with them myself."

Several maids attended Cui Lishen in the rear hall, removing his court robes and official hat and dressing him in comfortable clothes for home. They brought warm water and a face towel, helping the vice minister wash his hands and face. After drinking a bowl of tremella and bird's nest soup, Cui Lishen felt thoroughly refreshed and walked into the front hall with measured, dignified strides.

Several guest retainers, Huang Daogong among them, and the head of the household guards hurriedly rose from their chairs. Cui Lishen swept a stern gaze over He An and Fan Dazhi. Their bonds had been removed, and they now stood silently with lowered heads at the lower end of the hall.

"Rest assured, patron. With me here, these two brats couldn't escape even if they sprouted wings," Huang Daogong said smugly.

"Good! Daogong, your abilities are indeed remarkable. You've rendered a great service this time. Go to the accounts office later and collect a thousand taels of fine silver." Cui Lishen nodded in satisfaction and strode grandly to the chair in the center of the hall. Huang Daogong beamed and thanked him profusely.

Cui Lishen gave a light cough and was about to question He An and Fan Dazhi when the steward hurried in from outside and whispered something in his ear. Cui Lishen's expression changed. After a brief moment of surprise, he rose and went out to receive the visitor.

Wei Zhilin, Head of the Literary Institute at the Knowledge and Practice Institute, had come to visit. Cui Lishen immediately welcomed him inside. After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, Wei Zhilin came straight to the point and asked for the two captured youths.

Cui Lishen smiled bitterly to himself and had no choice but to invite him into the hall. Wei Zhilin entered with two instructors from the Knowledge and Practice Institute and glanced at He An and Fan Dazhi. Seeing their dejected expressions and the blood staining He An's arm, he could not help frowning.

While ordering the servants to bring tea, Cui Lishen angrily told Wei Zhilin how the two had injured his son and nearly killed him. He painted a picture of utter misery and unbearable injustice.

At Cui Lishen's signal, two servants carried a stretcher into the hall. Cui Mengshu lay on it, wrapped up like a rice dumpling. Once he clearly saw He An and Fan Dazhi standing there, he immediately perked up and roared, "You two little bastards! I'll slice you into a thousand pieces... Father! Why? Why aren't you having them beaten? Beat them to death!"

He waved both arms, clamoring as though someone had injected him with chicken blood. "Retainer Huang, didn't you catch them ages ago? Why haven't you broken their arms and legs?" Cui Mengshu's hysterical shouting aggravated the injuries to his chest and abdomen. His face twisted in pain as he clutched his violently heaving chest and struggled for breath.