The mountains were very still at night. There were few calls from birds or insects; now and then, a wolf's howl from nowhere tore through the darkness, making the wilderness seem all the more dangerous. Tonight was overcast. The moon had long hidden behind the clouds to sleep, and looking at the pitch-black clouds overhead, no one knew when the tender crescent moon would poke out its head. Fortunately, Situ Ping and Young Master Ma were martial artists with keen eyesight, and could travel as swiftly as flying through the black night.
When they arrived before Five Claw Peak, there was dead silence before them, with only the wind blowing past. Thumb Mountain of Five Claw Peak was a short, squat hill, and in the darkness it was impossible to tell how high it was. To the east of the peak lay a flat stretch of land several acres across, covered in fallen leaves and withered grass that rustled beneath their feet. Young Master Ma looked around and said to Situ Ping, "This is the place. Let's wait here." He then crossed the dead grass and came to a huge rock jutting up from the clearing, as large as a crouching ox. He sprang onto it, sat down cross-legged, and said no more, seeming to enter meditation. Situ Ping followed him to the rock, but rather than leap up onto it, she stood leaning against it, one hand gripping the treasured sword at her waist. Her eyes swept the surroundings, studying this familiar place beneath an unfamiliar night.
The wind howled on. Neither of them seemed to move, and so the time it took to drink a cup of tea passed.
Suddenly, Young Master Ma opened his eyes and looked toward the woods to the north. Sensing his movement, Situ Ping turned as well and looked toward the forest, listening closely, yet she detected nothing. Just as she was wondering about it, she heard someone using lightness kung fu to race toward them at top speed from the northern woods. Situ Ping could not help but sigh inwardly. As expected of a Disciple of a Renowned Sect.
Before long, the night travelers arrived. They were Wen Wenhai and his junior sister. Judging by their appearance, they too had abandoned their horses at the foot of the mountain and run up on foot. Wen Wenhai did not immediately leap down from the tree. He first surveyed the situation below from above, then called for his junior sister to jump down from the treetop. Without greeting those in the clearing, he sat cross-legged beneath a tree like Young Master Ma and closed his eyes in meditation. His junior sister did not remain standing either. She took a cushion from her pack, laid it on the ground, and sat upon it, apparently resting.
Young Master Ma closed his eyes again, as though he had not seen anyone arrive. Situ Ping could only continue standing there in silence.
After a while, several people opened their eyes at the same time and looked toward the path opposite the peak. Footsteps came from the far end of that path. In this silent wilderness, where only the wind could be heard, those ordinary footsteps somehow sounded eerie. The footsteps approached at an unhurried pace, drawing nearer and nearer, yet no figure could be seen. All four waited expectantly, wanting to see who this person walking the mountain path might be.
When the people drew near enough to be seen clearly, everyone was even more astonished. There were actually two of them, walking side by side with identical strides, identical builds, identical movements. In the night, it was impossible to tell whether their clothes and faces were the same as well. Yet seeing that each of their steps was half again as long as an ordinary person's, everyone already knew the answer. Without prior agreement, they all thought, So the other party is them.
The two came to the edge of the clearing and looked at the two groups within. They made no sound and did not proceed farther in, merely standing there ramrod straight and motionless.
Seeing the two standing without moving, the four people in the clearing once again closed their eyes to rest their spirits. Apparently, someone else had yet to arrive.
Another cup of tea's time passed. Just as everyone was beginning to grow impatient, a voice suddenly descended from the sky: "The cicadas were mournfully cold; facing the evening at the long pavilion, the sudden rain had just ceased." A figure abruptly appeared in the center of the clearing. The six people present opened their eyes together. None seemed to notice how this person had appeared, yet all cried out in unison, "Hermit Yanming?"
The newcomer in the clearing was tall and lean. The colors of his clothes and headscarf could not be discerned, but his gaunt face and several long strands of beard beneath his chin were a familiar sight to those of the martial world. No one hesitated any longer. They stepped forward and greeted him, "Hermit Yanming, this junior pays respects."
Hermit Yanming stroked his long beard with his right hand and said with a smile, "This old man arrived late and kept you waiting. You are not yet acquainted with one another, are you? Let us first introduce ourselves. Later, in our task, you will need to support one another."
Young Master Ma of the Brocade Clothes cupped his fists to everyone. "I am Ma Xiangyang of Ten Thousand Sword Peak. This is Gang Leader Situ Ping of the Fierce Tiger Gang." Fearing that everyone might misunderstand, he added, "The Fierce Tiger Gang is local. She is my subordinate and has come to serve as our guide."
Hermit Yanming smiled. "Young Hero Ma has considered matters most thoroughly. Then we shall trouble Gang Leader Situ."
Situ Ping hurriedly saluted. "To be able to serve all of you is a blessing earned in three lifetimes."
Wen Wenhai then cupped his fists in salute as well. "I am Wen Wenhai of the Misty Sect. This is my junior sister, Xue Qing." Only then did Xue Qing remove the veil from her face, revealing her true features, lovely whether in anger or delight. Yet in the blackness of night, no one could see them clearly. She said nothing, merely cupping her fists to the others.
Hermit Yanming said, "I have long heard of Young Hero Wen and Heroine Xue of the Misty Sect. To meet you now, I see your reputations are well deserved. It gladdens my heart."
At last, the two silent figures standing there cupped their fists and spoke to the others at the same time. "Tan Family, Tan Wen." "Tan Wu." Their rough voices sounded one after the other, and paired with their towering builds, they cut imposing figures.
After everyone had introduced themselves, Hermit Yanming's smile vanished. "Good. I shall introduce myself as well. I am Hermit Yanming, master of Yanming Villa. From this moment on, everyone knows one another and knows who the four forces participating in tonight's affair are. Our operation now begins."
"When you came, the elders of your sects must have instructed you as well. Everything tonight will be under my command. I have also reached agreements with your sects. We can discuss the particulars as we travel. Now, take out your tokens."
With that, Hermit Yanming took a square piece of hide, one foot on each side, from his robe. Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen also took identical items from their robes. Hermit Yanming handed his piece to Ma Xiangyang. "Put them together." The others handed their hides to Ma Xiangyang as well. Hermit Yanming then took a Luminous Pearl from his robe and gave it to Situ Ping. "Gang Leader Situ, please examine this diagram."
Situ Ping accepted the Luminous Pearl. Beneath its glow, Ma Xiangyang swiftly pieced together the four pieces of hide. In the faint light, everyone saw a map drawn upon the hide, shaped like five fingers, with a circle marked in the middle of the Nameless Finger. Situ Ping scrutinized the map carefully, exchanged a look with Ma Xiangyang, and said, "That's right. This map depicts Five Claw Peak. The proportions of these five claws are all correct. Look—this thumb is longer than the index finger, and the Nameless Finger is the longest."
After hearing this, everyone looked toward Hermit Yanming. He said, "Excellent. Everyone, take back your own belongings." Ma Xiangyang did as instructed and returned the four pieces of hide to their owners. Situ Ping also returned the Luminous Pearl to Hermit Yanming. Taking it, he asked, "Gang Leader Situ, do you know what place the circled spot is?"
Situ Ping said, "It is a forest of wild jujube trees. I have been there before. Once, I released a wolfdog into it, but never saw it come out again."
Hermit Yanming said, "Excellent. Then we shall trouble Gang Leader Situ to lead the way."
Situ Ping said, "Very well. Please follow me." With that, she deployed her lightness kung fu and sped ahead.
Hermit Yanming's gaze passed in turn over Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen. Understanding his meaning, they nodded and followed after her in that order, each using lightness kung fu.
At last, Hermit Yanming carefully surveyed the surroundings. Finding nothing unusual, he rose and shot after them like lightning. Only that lonely Wo Niu Stone remained where it was. The wind blew past, stirring fallen leaves and dead grass. Before long, all traces were covered, as though no one had ever come to such a remote place on such a night.
Now, the group of seven followed Situ Ping through the pitch-black night, using lightness kung fu to streak forward like wind and lightning. After roughly the time it took to burn two incense sticks, they arrived at the wild jujube forest they had mentioned. The moon had already set in the west, while thick black clouds still blanketed the sky. Dawn might come soon, but this was the darkest hour of the entire night.
The wild jujube forest could not be seen clearly in the darkness. It was like a colossal beast crouching on the mountainside. Looking at this place she had visited before, Situ Ping unexpectedly felt a trace of unfamiliarity. Day and night could differ so vastly. Yet what secret did this mysterious wild jujube forest conceal, that it had drawn people from four sects to come through the night and cooperate in such a manner?
Situ Ping stopped and waited until everyone had arrived. Then she said, "Everyone, this is the wild jujube forest marked by the circle on the map. Judging by the comparison of elevations, this should be the place."
Hermit Yanming said, "It should be correct." Rather than go forward to inspect it, he sat down on the ground. Seeing everyone's puzzled expressions, he smiled. "There is still some time before we act. Rest for a while. I will explain things to you as well; otherwise, you are all still muddleheaded. I dare say that if you go in like this, trouble is guaranteed."
The other six sat down on the ground as well, forming a semicircle around Hermit Yanming.
Hermit Yanming gathered his thoughts, looked at the younger generation seated around him, and asked, "Have you heard of the One-Armed Sword God from three hundred years ago?" Everyone shook their heads.
Hermit Yanming continued, "Before the Second day of the second lunar month last year, I did not know of him. Neither did your masters."
"On the Second day of the second lunar month last year, when the dragon raised its head, my wife and I went to Dragon God Temple in Yucheng to burn incense. There, we unexpectedly encountered Wan Chengjiu, Myriad Sword Master of your Ten Thousand Sword Peak, along with his family; Great Sect Master Ou Peng of your Misty Sect; and Tan Yefeng, head of the Tan Family. The four of us had admired one another in spirit for a long time, yet had never met. At last, we encountered one another, and without prior agreement, we left our families behind and found a place to exchange martial arts and compete in drinking."
"We brought swords and wine to Wutong Mountain beside Yucheng, intending to spend several carefree days there. Yet unexpectedly, the moment we reached the summit, we came upon something strange."