Chapter 4-Scimitar
The basket of flowers tumbled down from the top of the bluestone, scattering the flowers like colorful rain.
It was floral rain, not spring rain.
There was no spring rain here, only the moon, the full moon.
Why did they have such a strange reaction to hearing this line of poetry under this full moon?
Qing Qing’s hand tightly grasped the curved hilt of the green scimitar.
The old man kept his eyes on her hand.
He no longer needed to ask. She never would have reacted this way if the seven words hadn’t been on the saber.
There was an extremely strange look in the old man’s eyes. Was it surprise, joy or fear?
He suddenly looked up at the sky, laughing manically, “This is indeed the saber. Heaven has eyes*. I have finally found this saber.” He unsheathed his sword while laughing maniacally.
*(there is justice, justice has been done)
A three-foot man with a four-foot long sword, but there was absolutely nothing funny about the sword in this man’s hand.
Once this sword made its move, absolutely no one would still notice that he was a dwarf.
For as soon as this sword was unsheathed, a powerful aura of compelling sword energy (qi) was unleashed.
Even at the bottom of the rock, Ding Peng could already feel this sword qi. The bone-chilling, murderous sword qi forced him to shut his eyes. When he opened is eyes again, all he could see was the sword light flying everywhere. The sword light enveloped Qing Qing. The sword whistled as the sword qi split the air.
The old man’s voice could still be heard could amid the whistle of the sword wind. He heard him say word for word, “You are not going to draw your saber (now that I’ve drawn mine).” Qing Qing had yet to draw her saber.
With Qing Qing’s scimitar still in its curved scabbard, the old man suddenly shouted, “Kill!” The shout was like thunder, the sword light like lighting, but even lightning was not so bright, so fast! In the instant the sword flashed, Qing Qing’s body dropped from the top of the rock, like a flower petal that suddenly withered and fell from the stem. She dropped to the ground from the top of the ten-foot rock and collapsed. The old man didn’t let her off. He dropped down from the rock as gently and slowly as a leaf. He wielded his unsheathed sword, pointing the tip right at Qing Qing’s heart. This move was absolutely a deadly move, accurate, vicious, fast and merciless. Ding Peng never would have thought that such swordsmanship could exist in the mortal world. This old man was definitely not human. He was a god. A god of death. Qing Qing lay fallen beside him. She had absolutely no ability to resist or dodge. When he saw the sword coming down, Ding Peng had suddenly leapt over and threw himself across Qing Qing’s body. “I already want to die, I might as well die already.” He had suddenly felt an uncontrollable urge. No matter what, he and Qing Qing came here together. Regardless of whether she was a human or a fox, in the end, she was good to him. How could he possibly watch her die under someone else’s sword? But there was no harm in him dying under another person’s sword. Since he already intended to die, what did it matter how he died. He threw himself across Qing Qing. He was willing to take a sword for her. The sword light flashed and pierced his back, but he did not feel any pain. Real pain, on the contrary, does not cause people to suffer. He only felt very cold; an irresistible chill suddenly pierced his back and penetrated to his marrow. Just then, he saw Qing Qing pull out her saber. Qing Qing’s scimitar was green. By the time the green sword light flew up, Ding Peng’s eyes were already closed. He did not see her scimitar, he only heard the old man cry out in alarm. Then he fell into darkness, vast, bottomless, infinite darkness.
Suddenly there was a light in the darkness, moonlight, a full moon. When Ding Peng opened his eyes he saw a full moon like a circle of ice. He also saw Qing Qing’s eyes, which were even gentler than the moonlight. Whether in heaven or on earth, there would never be a second pair of eyes this beautiful. He was still beside Qing Qing. Regardless of whether he was dead or alive, in heaven or on earth, Qing Qing was still beside him, her eyes glistening with tears. She was crying for him. Ding Peng suddenly laughed and said, “It seems like I no longer need the Forgetfulness Grass, but I feel like this is a much better way to die anyway.” He reached out his hand to gently wipe the tearstains from her face. “I never thought that there would be someone to cry for me when I died.”
Qing Qing’s expression changed, however, even her body began to tremble and she suddenly asked, “Am I really crying?”
Ding Peng said, “Really. Not only are you crying, you are crying for me.”
Qing Qing’s expression became even stranger, as if she’d become unspeakably afraid. It seemed like, to her, shedding tears was akin to something terrifying. However, it seemed that in the midst of her fear were born seeds of indescribable joy. This was an extremely strange reaction. Ding Peng could not guess why she had reacted this way. He couldn’t help but say, “No matter what, I will always die for you, you weep for me…”
Qing Qing suddenly interrupted him and said, “You have not died, nor will you die.”
He asked, “Why?”
“Because you already died once,” she said. “Now that you’re already here, you will not die again.”
Ding Peng finally realized that this was not the beautiful Valley of Sorrow, but somewhere even more beautiful. The full moon was outside the window, which was full of fresh flowers. He was lying on a bed that was softer than snow. A pearl hung before the bed, so bright, its light outshined the moonlight. He felt as if he had been here before, but he also knew that if he had been here, it must have been in a dream. For there was never such a magnificent palace on earth, much less such a pearl.
“What is this place?”
Qing Qing bowed her head and quietly said, “This is my home.”
Ding Peng finally realized why he’d just had a feeling of déjà vu about this place. He had seen this place before. He had seen it in the pictures. The four walls of the cave had been covered in murals, not of earth, but of heaven. He couldn’t help asking, “Are you the only one here?” Qing Qing didn’t answer.
“There is no one here," said someone outside the little door with the beaded curtain draped over it. A grannie* with hair so white it looked silver lifted the beaded curtain with a cane and slowly walked in. She was tall with a dignified and noble manner. Her hair was completely white, but her back was still straight and her eyes still bright. *(lǎopópo-term of endearment for an old woman)
Qing Qing stood up with her head hanging down and quietly cried out, “Grandma!”* This grannie was Qing Qing’s paternal grandmother (zǔmǔ). A young and beatuful fox lady^ returns to her fox den with a down and out young man to meet her strict and eccentric grandmother… This kind of thing was only supposed to happen in mysterious folk tales, but it actually happened to Ding Peng. What else will happen in the future? What will they do to him? Ding Peng could not predict? A mortal like him was helpless in a place like this.
*(Nǎinai-informal address for paternal grandmother)
^ (húnǚ-fox lady- in folk stories, a beautiful girl who will seduce you then reveals herself as a ghost)
Grannie looked at him coldly and added, “You should know that there isn’t even a single person here, because none of us are human, we’re foxes.”
Ding Peng only acknowledged, “I know.”
Grannie said, "Do you know that this is not a place where mortals should come?
Ding Peng said, “I know.”
“Now that you’ve come, you don’t regret it?” asked the old woman
Ding Peng said, “I don’t regret it.”
He was telling the truth.
What was there to regret for someone who was already about to die?
The only way he could remain on earth was to be bullied and wronged. So why shouldn’t he come to this other world?
Although they were foxes, they treated him much better than those who considered themselves to be gentlemen.
Grannie asked, “If we want you to stay, will you stay?”
“I will.”
She asked, “Have you really grown weary of the world of men?”
“Really.”
Grannie asked, “Why?”
He replied, “I…I have neither friends nor loose acquaintances out there. Even if I die in the gutter, no one will collect my body or shed a tear for me.” The more he talked, the worse he felt, until even his voice was all choked up.
Grannie’s gaze gradually softened and she said, “You took that sword on Qingqing’s behalf, and you did it willingly?"
“Of course I’m willing to die,” Ding Peng said, “even if she wants me to die for her now, I’ll still die.”
“Why?”
Ding Peng said, “I don’t know why. I only know that after I die, at least she will shed tears for.”
She had a strange look in her eyes, and suddenly asked Qing Qing, “You have already shed tears for him?” Qing Qing nodded silently, and a faint red blush actually rose on her pale face.
Grannie stared at her for a long time, and then turned her head and stared at Ding Peng for a long time as well.
Her stern gaze gradually softened, and she suddenly heaved a long sigh and murmured, "Is this fate, or is it evil?.. Is this fate, or is it evil?..” She tossed the words around and said them who knew how many times, as if even she didn’t know the answer to that question herself.
She sighed deeply and said, “You have now died once for her, and she has shed tears for you.”
Ding Peng said, “But I…”
Before he could speak, grannie suddenly shouted, “You come with me!” Ding Peng stood up, only to find that his wound had been bandaged, and a refreshing medicinal smell emanated from the clean white cotton cloth.
That blow should have been absolutely fatal, but now was he able to not only stand up, he didn’t feel any pain.
He followed the old woman out of the small door with the beaded curtain. He couldn’t help but look back.
Qing Qing was also watching him furtively, with an even stranger expression in her eyes. He didn’t know whether she was shy or happy he was being scolded.
Outside was a garden, an enormous garden.
The full moon was hanging high and all kinds of flowers were in full bloom. The flowers that should bloom in the seventh month were all here and in full bloom. The flowers that shouldn’t bloom in the seventh month were also here and in full bloom.
The paths between the flowers were lined with glittering jade cobblestones. At the end of the path was a small house.
Grannie took Ding Peng up to the small building. A man in black stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He was staring at a scroll* hanging on the wall, lost in his thoughts.
*(tiáofú- wall scroll {for painting or calligraphy})
There were only seven words on the banner, and each character was written in a solitary and refined manner: ‘Listen to the Spring Rain All Night in the Small House’ When she saw the back of this man in black, grannie’s eyes became tender.
When the man turned around, Ding Peng was taken aback by what he saw.
If he were not a man, if he was not older, Ding Peng would absolutely believe this was Qing Qing.
His brow, his eyes, his mouth, his nose and his expression were all identical to Qing Qing.
Ding Peng was thinking, “If this man is not Qing Qing’s father, he must be her older brother.” He seemed a little too old to be Qing Qing’s big brother, and a little too young to be her father.
Ding Peng couldn’t actually tell how old he was.
His complexion was exactly like Qing Qing’s, so pale it was almost transparent.
He was not as respectful as Qing Qing when he saw the grannie. He merely smiled faintly and said, “Well?”
Grannie sighed and said, “I don’t know what should be done. It’s up to you.”
He laughed, “I knew you push this matter off on me!”
She also laughed, “If I can’t push it off on you, who can I push it off on?” Even though they were conversing lightly, their expressions seemed to carry an overwhelming affection.
Their manner seemed like neither that of mother and son, nor grandmother and grandson.
This surprised Ding Peng.
Grannie then said something that surprised him even more, “You are Qing Qing’s grandfather and the head of the family. So it is natural to yield to you to decide in a matter like this.” This man was actually Qing Qing’s (zǔfù-paternal) grandfather.
At most, he seemed to be no more than close to middle aged. Ding Peng would never have dreamed that he and this grannie were a married couple.
The man was looking at him as if he could clearly see what was going through Ding Peng’s mind. With a smile he said, “You should know by now that we are foxes. So you should not be too surprised by anything you see here.” He smiled pleasantly, “Because we do have some remarkable abilities* that mortals couldn’t dream of.” Ding Peng was also smiling.
*(shéntōng-magical powers, remarkable abilities)
He seemed to have gradually grown accustomed to being around them. He realized that these foxes weren’t as scary as the legends made them out to be.
Although they were foxes, they had humanity, and were even gentler and more kind-hearted than most people.
The man in black was clearly satisfied with his attitude and said, “I never thought I would marry Qing Qing to a mortal. But once you died for her, she shed tears for you.” His smile faded, “You must understand: Foxes never shed tears. Fox tears are more precious than blood. She wept for you, which means she was genuinely moved by your true love. If you were able to meet her, it means that you two are fated* for each other." In both the human world and the fox world, ‘true love’ and ‘fate’ are inseparable.
*(yuan-fate, karma, predestined affinity)
The man in green said, “This is why I am unwilling to break up this fated love* between you.” Grannie suddenly butted it, “You’ve promised to allow Qing Qing to marry him?” He said, “I promise.”
*(qíngyuán-predestined love, love affinity)
Ding Peng hadn’t said a word because he was completely bewildered.
He never thought he would come to a fox world, much less that he would marry a fox girl. —
What would happen to a mortal who took a fox girl as his wife? —
Was it possible for a mortal to survive in the world of foxes? —
Could the fox’s magical abilities help this mortal?
These questions had never crossed his mind before, and were now simply unimaginable.
All he knew was that his destiny was undoubtedly going to change from then on.
Whatever future fate had in store for him, he had nothing to complain about.
Because he had been at the end of his rope, a dead man.
Most importantly, he was convinced that Qing Qing did indeed have true feelings* for him.
*(zhēn-true qing-love, feelings, affection; ie-True Love)
Amidst his confusion, he seemed to hear the man in black explain, “Although you may enjoy many things a mortal could never dream of after you become our granddaughter’s husband, and although we have always been carefree here, we also have one taboo.” “If you become our granddaughter’s husband, you can never again return to the mortal world.” “It is only because we know that you are tired of the human world that we have taken you in.” “As long as you promise that you will not violate our taboo, you are now our grandson-in-law." He no longer had any family or friends in the world of men. He had only been insulted, bullied and humiliated in the world of men.
But this fox girl had true feelings* for him.
*(zhēnqíng)
“I promise!” Ding Peng heard himself saying, “I promise.”
Grannie also smiled and came over to hug him, “We don’t have anything for you either, so considered this our engagement gift to you.” What she gave him was a scimitar.
A green scimitar.
A green scimitar with a blade that was also green, as green as the distant hills, as green as the spring trees, as green as a lake in the eyes of lovers.
Sure enough, there were seven characters engraved on the green scimitar: ‘Listen to the Spring Rain All Night in the Small House’. This was a deep valley, serene and secluded, bounded by unattainable precipices. It seemed as if there was simply no way out.
Even if there was a way out, it was by no means accessible to mortals.
The valley was not large, even though there were palaces, gardens and pavilions. Although the scene was the same as the one in the cave murals, it was only a fraction of what was in those paintings.
Qing Qing’s parents had both passed away. ----
Foxes can also die?
Qing Qing had a clever servant called Xi’er who liked to smile, revealing two very deep dimples. ----
Was Xi’er a fox too?
They had eight devoted servants, all with grey hair, that were nevertheless vigorous and spry. ----
Were they all foxes?
They were the only people in the valley. No stranger had ever steeped foot in the place.
Life in the valley was comfortable and peaceful, far more than in the human world…
Now that Ding Peng had become accustomed to life in the valley, he became accustomed to the habit of carrying the scimitar on his waist.
He always carried the scimitar in his belt, except when he was sleeping.
It was a belt made of gold and white jade.
But he knew the scimitar was far more precious than this belt.
On their third day as newlyweds, Qing Qing said to him, “Grandma must be really fond of you, that’s the only way she would give you this scimitar. You must cherish it.” He also hadn’t forgotten what Qing Qing had said to that mysterious old dwarf in the Valley of Sorrow that day, “This saber must absolutely not be looked at. Anyone who has seen this saber has died under it.” That old dwarf had certainly died under the saber as well.----
Was he a man, a ghost or a fox?----
How did he know that the saber was engraved with the words, ‘Listen to the Spring Rain All Night in the Small House’? —
What exactly was the mysterious origin or this saber, its mysterious power?
It wasn’t that Ding Peng hadn’t asked these questions, but Qing Qing always cautioned him, “This is something you’re better off not knowing. There’s bound to be disaster if you know.” Now, he had not only seen the saber, he possessed it.
He should have been quite content.
However, one day he wanted return it to Qing Qing.
Qing Qing was baffled, “Why don’t you want this saber?”
“Because it’s useless to me!" He said, “This saber is basically just scrap metal in my hands.”
“Why?”
“Because I have not learned your saber technique!”
Qing Qing finally understood what he meant.
“If you want to learn my saber technique, I will teach you!”
She didn’t really want to impart this saber technique to him, because she knew there was no benefit to a mortal in mastering it.
Although this saber technique could bring a man infinite power, it could also bring him disaster.
Yet, in the end, she still taught it to him, because she never refused him, never disappointed him.
Although she was an orphan, she was far more virtuous* and tender than most men’s wives in the mortal world.
*(xiánhuì-perfect in traditional roles of a wife)
Anyone with a wife like her should be content.
This kind of saber technique was not of the human world. It’s variations and power was beyond the dreams of mortals.
It never crossed Ding Peng’s mind that he would be able to train in such a miraculous, exquisite saber technique. But he had perfected it.
In terms of practicing martial arts, even Qing Qing had to admit that he was a genius in this respect.
She trained for seven years to perfect this technique. He accomplished it in three.
Life in the valley was not only comfortable and peaceful, not to mention the smell of flowers in all four seasons and fresh fruit for the taking.
The rarest treasures of the human world would seem worthless here.
There was a cellar in the small house* filled with silk from Tianzhu, gems from Persia, pearls and antique jade; all kinds of unimaginably rare and exquisite objects.
(小楼, xiǎo-small lóu- a {storied} house; like in the poem)
Qing Qing was not only a gentle, beautiful and virtuous* wife, she was also docile and obedient to her husband.
*(xiánhuì)
He should be very content.
However, he had lost weight.
Not only had he lost weight, his complexion was pallid and he was often melancholy and distant.
And he also had frequent nightmares.
Every time he woke up from a dream, he would suddenly jump out of bed covered in cold sweat.
Qing Qing questioned him repeatedly before he finally said, “I dream about my father. He wants to strangle me with his own hands.”
“Why does he want to strangle you?”
“He said I was unfilial and useless” his expression was sad and pained “because I was able to completely forget the last words of a dying old man*.”
*(lǎorénjiā-polite address for an old man/woman)
“Actually you haven’t forgotten!”
“I haven’t!” Ding Peng said, “In fact, I always keep them in mind.”
“What was his final request?”
“Ding peng clenched his fist and said, word for word, “He wanted me to make a name for myself* and fight for him^.”
*(chūréntóudì)
^(iow-do what his father couldn’t & bring honor to his name)
Of course, Qing Qing understood what he meant. But she didn’t know that this wasn’t the only nightmare he was having. The other one was even more terrifying. But he could not speak of it, he dared not speak of it. He dreamed that he suddenly fell into a fox den, and his wife, his father-in-law and his mother-in-law, all transformed into a pack of foxes, tearing him apart and devouring him piece by piece. He desperately wanted to forget they were foxes, unfortunately he couldn’t. The soft light of the pearl gently shone on Qing Qing’s pale beautiful face, illuminating the glistening tears on her cheeks. “I know what you are saying!” She burst into tears, “I have always known that sooner or later there would come a day when you would want to leave. You wouldn’t be able to live here forever because eventually you could not not live like this anymore.” Ding Peng couldn’t deny it.
With his current skill* in swordsmanship, Liu Ruosong, Zhong Zhan, Hong Mei and Mo Zhu were not even worth the effort.
*(wugong-martial arts skill/ability)
Relying on this sword on his waist, it would be very easy to roam jianghu and make a name for himself*.
*(chūréntóudì)
All he had to do was think about these things and his blood would boil!
He couldn’t be blamed for this. He wasn’t at fault.
Everyone had the right to fight for their future, no matter what anyone else thought.
Ding Peng said sadly, “Unfortunately, I know that your grandfather and grandmother would never let me leave.”
Qing Qing, hesitating, lowered her head and asked tentatively, “Do you want to go alone?”
He said, “I want you to come, of course!”
Qing Qing’s eyes lit up and she held his hand tightly. She said “You’ll take me with you?”
Ding Pend replied gently, “We are already husband and wife, no matter where I go, I’ll take you with me!”
She asked, “Do you really mean it?”
“Of course I do!”
Qing Qing was biting her lip, finally she made up her mind, “If you are determined to leave, then we will go together.”
He asked, “How do we do it?”
She said, “I’ll think of something.”
She hugged him tightly, “As long as you are true to me, I am willing to die for you if I need to.” Of course, in order to leave they needed a plan. So they discussed it quietly in the middle of the night, when no one was around.
They were most of afraid of Qing Qing’s grandfather.
“Except for the great Da Luo Jinxian*, this laorenjia’s abilities are unmatched on heaven and earth.” Ding Peng was unconvinced. After all, he had also perfected the same magical sword technique.
*(Dà Luō Jīnxiān-great golden immortal Luo- a Taoist immortal)
^(laorenjia-polite term for old man/woman)
But Qing Qing said, “Even with your ability, he (laorenjia) only has to stretch out his hand and you’ll fall before you can make a single move.” Ding Peng was of two minds about it.
She went on, “So if we’re going to leave, we have to slip away while he’s gone.”
He said, “He never seems to go out.”
Qing Qing said, “But every year on the night of the fifteenth day of the seventh month, he locks himself in that little room of his. No matter what happens outside during that time, he wouldn’t care!”
Ding Peng said, ““But he’ll still chase us once he knows we’ve gone.”
She said, “He can’t!”
Ding Peng asked, “Why?”
She said, “Because he made a heavy vow. He will never step foot outside of this valley.”
He added, “Your grandmother also seems like she isn’t an easy person to deal with?”
Qing Qing said, “I actually have a way to deal with her.”
He asked, “How?
She said, “Even though she (laorenjia) seems strict, she actually has a soft heart. Also…” She suddenly changed the topic, “Do you know how my parents died?” He didn’t know. He had never asked and they had never brought it up. It was undoubtedly a secret, a memory filled with sadness.
Indeed, the sadness was already visible on her face as she said, “My mother was also a mortal and like you. She always wanted my father to take her away from here.” She sighed softly, “She died before my first birthday. But I know that she had not only been an extremely famous hero in jianghu, but also a famous beauty. She certainly couldn’t live an ordinary life like this one."
Ding Peng said, “Your father refused to take her away?”
Qing Qing said, “Although my father promised her, my grandfather and my grandmother were adamant that they could not leave. They ran twice but were unable to get away, so my mother…” she didn’t continue, but Ding Peng had gotten the picture.
If her mother hadn’t died of depression and despair, she must have quietly killed herself.
Qing Qing said, “A few months after my mother died, my father also fell gravely ill.” Although they were foxes and had supernatural abilities, there were some illnesses that are beyond any abilities, especially those of the heart, which are caused by guilt and grief.
Ding Peng could also picture this.
Qing Qing said, “Although my grandmother never mentions this, I know she must be heartbroken. When push comes to shove, all I have to do is mention this incident and she’ll definitely let us go.” An old woman in her twilight years certainly couldn’t bear the thought of her granddaughter and her husband suffering the same tragic fate of the previous generation.
The fact that Qing Qing was able to bring such a thing up meant that she and Ding Peng had the same profound feelings for each other as her parents did.
Ding Peng’s eyes sparkled with excitement eyes as he said, “So it seems that there might be hope for us yet”
She said, “But we also have problems, at least eight of them."
He asked, “Eight problems?”
Qing Qing said, “No more, no less, exactly eight.” Ding Peng finally realized that she must have been talking about their eight loyal servants.
Not only did they rarely speak, they had always kept Ding Peng at arm’s length.
It seemed like they didn’t want to be anywhere near a mortal, even their master’s grandson-in-law was no exception.
They all seemed to harbor deep pain and a great secret in their hearts.
“Are they also very difficult to deal with?” Ding Peng asked.
Qing Qing said, “You must absolutely not take them lightly. Even if they don’t have my grandfather’s remarkable ability*, if they ventured into the human world, on the basis of their wugong alone, they would rank as the top experts in jianghu.” She went on, “I know there are many famous heroes and swordsmen in jianghu, and I’ve seen a few of them, but none of them can compare to those eight.”
*(shéntong)
Ding Peng asked, “Who have you seen?”
She answered, “I have seen those two that you mentioned, Hong Mei and Mo Zhu.”
He said, “They can’t compare to them?”
Qing Qing said, " Any one of them can defeat these two within ten moves." Ding Peng frowned.
Hong Mei and Mo Zhu were undoubtedly first-class experts in jianghu. It was inconceivable that someone could defeat these two within ten moves. No one would believe it.
But Ding Peng believed it.
Qing Qing said, “Fortunately, every year on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, they drink a lot of alcohol.”
“Do they get drunk?” he asked.
Qing Qing said, “Sometimes they get drunk, sometimes they don’t. They all have a large capacity for alcohol.” She laughed and said, “But I happen to know of a kind of alcohol that no matter how good the drinker is, they always get drunk.”
Ding Peng said, “Do you also happen to know where you can find some of this alcohol?”
“I can find it,” she said.
Ding Peng’s eyes lit up again, “What day is it today?”
“The 30th of the sixth month.”
In half a month’s time, it would be the fifteenth of the seventh month. In half a month’s time, Ding Peng would have been here for exactly four years.
Ding Peng couldn’t help but sigh, “The days have passed so quickly. I never thought that four years would have passed in the blink of an eye. I never thought that I would live for another four years.”
Qing Qing caressed his face and said softly, “You will continue to live, I don’t know how many more four years you will live, because if I live, you can’t die, and if you live, I can’t die either. There is no me without you, there is no you with me.”