Golden Talisman

Oh no, my box! Wang Wu cried inwardly, spinning around and lunging for the box on the ground.

The masked man beat him to it and attacked Wang Wu. Wang Wu's fingertips had barely brushed the box when the man was already before him, raising his palm and chopping down.

Wang Wu felt a sharp pain explode at the back of his head. Then his vision went black, and he knew nothing more.

The masked man watched Wang Wu slowly collapse and let out a long breath. He tore off the cloth covering his face and panted softly. This person was, of course, Liu Yuanzhou.

Let us turn back to before this happened. When Liu Yuanzhou saw Wang San enter Thousand Buddha Cave again, he could no longer suppress his curiosity and decided to follow him inside to investigate.

I need to cover my face, or they'll recognize me and bring trouble upon me, Liu Yuanzhou thought. Then he became troubled. He had no spare cloth on him to cover his face with. He could not exactly tear up his clothes—they were new.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Bedsheets and quilts were hanging out to dry on wooden poles in the open space inside the courtyard wall. Isn't that the finest material?

No longer hesitating, Liu Yuanzhou flipped down from the tree and swiftly ran to the base of the wall. Crouching low, he gripped the cracks in the wall with both hands. With his hands and feet exerting force together, he shot over the wall like a civet cat, easily clearing the top in a single bound and flipping into the yard. The entire sequence flowed in one breath, smooth as drifting clouds and running water. With the house blocking his view, Li Fuguang on the other side did not notice anyone entering the courtyard.

Liu Yuanzhou rested for a moment in the corner, then bent low and crept over to the drying sheets. Carefully, he tore off a corner of one sheet and covered his nose and mouth with it. After some thought, he tore off another piece and wrapped it around his head as well, leaving only a slit for his eyes. Once his face was covered, Liu Yuanzhou immediately felt reassured. It was as though that thin layer of cloth had cut off every trace of him from the outside world. No one would know he was Liu Yuanzhou of Liu Li Village. Casting aside every misgiving, his courage surged forth.

Liu Yuanzhou straightened his back and quietly circled around the house. He saw Li Fuguang standing facing the cave entrance, still more than ten zhang away from it. Perhaps Li Fuguang had heard something, for he turned toward Liu Yuanzhou. Surprise instantly appeared on his face, his eyes opening wide.

Seeing that he had been discovered, Liu Yuanzhou did not panic in the least. Instead, excitement filled his heart. He charged at Li Fuguang and swung his fist at Li Fuguang's face. Li Fuguang did not even have time to react before his forehead took a heavy blow, and he fainted.

Liu Yuanzhou looked at his right fist, a rush of excitement welling up within him. He was no longer an ordinary person after all. Ordinary people were simply unable to withstand a single blow before him. He rubbed his slightly aching fist and slipped toward Thousand Buddha Cave.

Upon entering the cave, he found Wang Wu pasting up talismans. He then used the same method to knock him unconscious.

Liu Yuanzhou untied the yellow cloth and found a locked box wrapped inside. He thought that this box must be what Wang Wu had come looking for. They had gone to such lengths just to retrieve it, so what lay inside could not be ordinary.

His heart burned with anticipation as he imagined gold, silver, treasures, or perhaps martial arts manuals inside. He picked up a stone from the ground and smashed it hard against the lock. After several blows, the lock broke apart. Liu Yuanzhou opened the box with great excitement, only to be immediately disappointed. There were no gold, silver, treasures, or martial arts manuals inside—only a talisman paper.

Liu Yuanzhou picked up the talisman. It was thin and light, as though a gust of wind could blow it away, yet it felt metallic to the touch. It was the size of a palm, golden all over, and covered in intricate patterns.

Liu Yuanzhou wanted very much to put the talisman back. It was useless in his hands anyway. But then he thought again: just because he did not know its purpose now did not mean he would never learn it. This Golden Talisman looked extraordinary. Keeping it might prove greatly useful someday.

Liu Yuanzhou tucked the Golden Talisman into his chest. Only then did he have time to examine Thousand Buddha Cave. The interior was a complete mess, and one wall had even been blasted open with a huge crack. He could not help growing even more fearful of the White-Haired Taoist.

I must keep this Golden Talisman safe. I can't let anyone see it. If he learns that I was the one who took his Golden Talisman, it will surely bring disaster—and drag my family into it as well. With that thought, Liu Yuanzhou did not dare remain in the cave for even a moment longer, afraid that the White-Haired Taoist would burst in at any instant.

Liu Yuanzhou covered his face again and ran out of the cave. Li Fuguang was still lying prone on the ground, and no one else had come into the yard. Letting out a long breath, he jumped down from the cave entrance, flipped over the courtyard wall, and ran into the forest. Before long, he vanished without a trace.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raised its head.

Liu Yuanzhou sat on the edge of the kang with his hair hanging loose. He held a book in one hand while continuously running the other through his hair. The fire in the stove burned brightly, filling the entire cave dwelling with warmth.

Today was the second day of the second lunar month. His mother, Zhang Shi, had risen early and boiled a huge pot of hot water. Liu Da, Liu Yuanbo, and Liu Yuanzhou—the father and his two sons—took turns washing their hair. Zhang Shi then trimmed each of their hair in turn. On the day when the dragon raised its head, getting a haircut was said to bring good fortune.

After washing and cutting his hair, Liu Yuanzhou felt as if his whole body had become two liang lighter, incomparably refreshed. Once his hair was nearly dry, he put down his book, picked up a comb, gathered his hair into a bun at the back of his head, and tied it with a strip of cloth. At once, he looked full of spirit.

Liu Yuanzhou stepped outside. The sun had already risen high, and the cloudless sky stretched blue for ten thousand miles. Standing at the doorway, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the light and warmth of the winter sun.

"Second Child, take this wooden basin to your eldest grandaunt." Zhang Shi lifted the door curtain and came out carrying a large wooden basin.

"Okay." Liu Yuanzhou opened his eyes and saw that Zhang Shi's hair was still wet, clearly having been washed not long ago. "Mother, hurry back inside. Don't catch a chill." He took the wooden basin from her and spoke with concern.

"I know. Hurry and take it over." Zhang Shi lowered the curtain as she spoke and turned back inside.

After delivering the wooden basin to his eldest grandaunt's home, Liu Yuanzhou did not return home. Instead, he turned and headed for Third Master's home.

"Third Master should be back soon, right? It's been three or four months since I last saw him. I wonder if he's well." Liu Yuanzhou lit the kang fire in Third Master's cave dwelling and cleaned the place inside and out. Once everything was done, he stood in the training ground and could not help missing Third Master.

"Hehe, if Third Master knew that I'd learned true kung fu, and that becoming a martial master was just around the corner, his jaw would probably drop to the ground in shock."

"It's a pity I can't share such joy with anyone. It really is stifling. If only Miss Qin were still here."

"And Er Ni... sigh, it's been so long since I last saw her. I wonder if she's doing well."

Liu Yuanzhou let his thoughts run wild like a heavenly horse soaring through the sky. "Sigh, enough thinking. Time to train." He shook his head and gathered his scattered thoughts.

He assumed the Limitless Stance and circulated his breathing method. Before long, he entered stillness.