Susu pushed her way out of Xing’s arms, running towards Zhu Zixin. She hit the acupoints in his legs, chest and shoulders. She turned to Xing with tears forming in her eyes “BROTHER XING WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HELP ME SAVE HIM!”
She ripped off Zhu Zixin’s hanfu, exposing his pale heavily scared chest. Xing knelt, and saw the chest. It left him speechless.
A piece of Chief Zixin’s stomach was ripped off, whilst his chest had eight contusions. Susu touched one of them and the old chief wailed, making the baby cry as well.
“I’ll handle his left side, you take off the right.” Xing said firmly.
“I can’t! My Qi’s been tainted, I can’t help you push the poison out of him!”
Neither can I, my meridian pathways have shrunk, Xing thought but didn’t have the strength to utter the words to Susu. “That’s fine, I’ll handle it then.”
Xing knelt right beside the old man Zixin, lifting him on his right side, then channelled his Qi into his palm. Then placed his hand against Zhu Zixin’s bare chest, right above the heart, hoping to help mitigate the poison that was riddled throughout his body.
Beads of sweat dripped off from both of their faces hitting the ground as though rain was falling.
The Ping’an Shrine Main Hall looked as though it had seen better days, but with silence finally settling in, the hall was finally living out its purpose, to place a solace pray and tranquillity.
Zhu Zuxin’s chest felt as cold as a slab of concrete. Xing continually sent his Qi through his body, his body began to warm from the Qi he began pouring into his body.
He tweaked the ratio between his Yin and Yang as he realised the poison began eating away at the Yin, forcing him to push more Yang Qi than he had originally intended. The poison is Yin based, if Su’er would use her own Qi, it wouldn’t help by much, because Yang’s energy would also shrink her meridians.
Xing tried to force Yin’s energy away with his Yang, but the cold essence of the poison was just too strong.
A few minutes and colour finally returned to Zhu Zixin. He grabbed Xing’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry I got you caught up in my internal conflicts lad, but please, you’re wasting your Qi on me, several of my internal organs were damaged in that last-ditch effort. The poison that bastard has been feeding has already reached my arteries, I’m good as dead.”
Xing ignored the old man’s plea and surged another bout of Qi into Zhu Zixin, but the old man tapped Xin’s acupoints, pushing him over with a grunt. “I said that’s enough!”
Susu sat there, cradling the child then forced herself up. “Chief Zixin, let Brother Xing finish what he was doing, we can help!”
“Brother Xing?” Zixin coughed, “I thought your name Qiu, or are my ears going as I am about to die?”
“Senior Zixin, please, let me finish excising the poison from your body, I’m halfway there.”
“Child.” Zhu Zixin said firmly, “That manoeuvre you did to expel the Lion Pride Formation shrunk your meridian pathways didn’t? You’ve spent ten minutes channelling your Qi into me, that’s more than enough time for sixty per cent of the poison to be filtered to one side of my body, yet I only feel twenty per cent.”
Zhu Zixin turned around, showing his heavily scared back and paste-like skin, with yellow and purple contusions which warped his skin. “Carthis Poison” Susu muttered.
“Indeed. It has melded with my meridians and penetrated my Soul Dantian. I don’t have much time to live.” Zixin said softly.
“That’s not true Elder, We can expunge it in time. You just take the antidote!” Xing pleaded.
“That’s not how Carthis Poison works Brother Xing.”
“What…what are you talking about?”
“That bastard has been feeding Chief Zixin the poison for a while.”
“What do you mean awhile?”:
“Carthis Poison doesn’t have any taste.
“The antidote doesn’t work after twenty minutes either,” Zixin said.
“We still have five minutes!”
“Eighty per cent of the poison has to be purged Brother Xing for it to work.”
Zhu Zixin hit Xing’s acupoints, he dropped to the ground breathing heavily. “Senior Zixin at least let me try!!” Xing shouted.
“Enough! Tend to your daughter she’s been crying for some time.” Zixin said, looking at the baby smiling gently.
Xing tried to plead once more, but Susu held his hand and ushered the crying child into his arms. “Let us listen to Chief Zixin.”
“But Su’er.”
“Brother Xing, ” She answered sternly.
Xing didn’t say anything, he knew when to shut up, and this was the time to do so. He sat on the broken arm of the Bodhidharma statue and looked up at the crack in the roof. His eyes drifted back down to the child and sighed. “She’s probably, I’ll get her something to eat,” Xing said
Susu watched Xing leave with the crying child. She knew what to expect in the coming days. It won’t be easy, but whenever someone died Xing would brood, and snap at everyone around him.
“It is said whenever you enter the Jianghu, two things are certain. Death or the loss of a limb.” Zhu Zixin said with a laugh. “I disagree with that statement. In life death is certain, but losing a limb? Only the weak would lose an arm or leg.”
“You two are fine Martial Artists…Su’er is it?” Zixin said.
Oh no…he knows we lied. Susu thought. She bowed immediately cupping her hands, “Apologies Senior Zixin. We had no choice but to lie, we weren’t sure if we could trust you.”
“That’s fine Ban Susu, I already knew who you are.” He answered.
“What?” Susu said raising her head. “You already knew.”
“Of course, everyone knows that Susu the Scorpion Maiden is the martial sister of Shredding Claw Xing.”
Susu didn’t speak, she was dumbstruck. Her mouth was open, but words couldn’t form. He knew who we were?
Zhu Zixin turned to Susu and smiled gently. He sat down and agonised as he did so. Susu grabbed him by the arm to cushion him and straighten him whilst he sat. “Thank you my dear, but you don’t worry, you did fool me well, until you defended yourself again Dai Li.”
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“Defend me?”
“Yes, I saw that defensive pattern before, during the Grand Martial Arts Tournament, three years ago. It didn’t help either when you Xing used his Iron Shredded Claws to dismantle my Lion Pride Formation.”
Susu laughed nervously, feeling shame bubbling in her stomach. “We didn’t mean to lie, Senior, it’s just that…”
“…just that?” Zixin asked. “Is this related to the child?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Does your Master Chaoxiang know of its existence?”
“You know our Master?”
“Of course, I know your Master,” Zixin said shaking his head. “Master Chaoxiang is renown for his gentlemanly heroics. Any fool would know him.”
Susu bowed reverently hearing such words from a famed man such as Chief Zixin. Her master never called himself renowned, nor did he consider himself a hero. He was a patron of the people. He would help in any way he could.
He believed that if the peasants weren’t protected, then Huaxia would cease to exist, in a heartbeat. Susu thought him and tried her best to follow in his footsteps, footsteps that felt like a void despite his reclusive lifestyle.
“Thank you Chief Zixin, thank you for speaking such kind words of my master.”
“He deserves much face Su’er, especially with strong disciples such as yourself and Xing, but I have a concern.”
“Concern?”
“Yes…does he know of the child between you and your Martial Brother?”
“No!” She said, cheeks flushing red.
“I see, so let me get you a question, can a Parsonian and a Huaxian make an Axsumite?“
Susu froze and felt her heart stop. What did he just say? Susu’s eyes drifted towards Chief Zixin who returned a gent smile. He didn’t say anything, but his gentle smile could mean anything.
She steeled herself preparing herself mentally for what she was about to do. It wasn’t what she wanted. Chief Zixin had been a good host to her on their way to Longyan…now, was he threatening the child? She didn’t know, but it wasn’t worth the risk to find out!
“Such strong killing intent, despite being poisoned. You truly are a marvel Ban Susu. I see why Yan Fan would always speak up for you when dissidents spoke ill of your Parsonian heritage.”
“You’ve met Sister Fan?”
“I’ve met many people of Jianghu, my dear, I’ve roamed it for over fifty years. There’s no need for your to show your killing intent to me. I have no ill intentions to harm the child. I was simply curious.”
“You promise you won’t hurt her?”
“By my dying breathe my dear, I won’t hurt your daughter.”
“Thank you,” Susu said softly, dropping to the ground tears forming in her eyes. She didn’t want to kill Chief Zixin before his time. but if dared to hurt her then he would have to forgive me for being rude in the next life!
“How do you know she’s an Axsumite?”
“She kept pulling off your veil, I was bound to see the colour of her hands eventually.”
“I see, I will remember that.”
“Where did you find her?” Zixin asked.
“On the Red River, Bandits were slaughtering Axsumite refugees. Brother Xing and I fought them off thinking they were normal folk but eventually found out they were Axsumites. Everyone on the ship died but her.”
“You plan to raise her?”
“…yes,” Susu said nodding.
“You know that’s impossible with your strength?
“I do…”
“Then you know what you must do.”
“Yes Chief Zixin, I do.”
“Good, I wish you luck and I hope she’ll have a peaceful life.”
“SU’ER!” Xing shouted, leaping across the main hall. He floated back to the ground, running back towards the Susu and Chief Zixin. His face was still agonising about what was to happen, but at least he seemed a little preoccupied with the child. “Chief Zixin, I have no wine to offer, but I do have milk for now.”
“Hooo, I don’t think that’s a good idea, Zhao Xing. Ms Susu would have a fit if you were to share you daughter’s milk with me.” He said with a laugh.
“Xing? Chie—“ Xing tried to say.
“He knows who we are Brother Xing, there’s no need to lie any further.”
Xing fell to his knees, and give a deep bow as he held the child up. “I apologise for lying Elder Zixin, but we had our reasons.”
“I understand…can allow me to hold her?”
Xing raised his shaking his head profusely. “I’m sorry—“ Xing tried to say, but Susu stopped him placing her hand on his shoulder. “He already knows who she is Brother Xing.”
Xing turned to Susu, confusion written across his face. This was the first time she saw Xing openly care for the child, and it made the anxiety that was building within her subside somewhat but now Xing, he would get distracted or bury himself in a bottle of wine soon.
“I’m not a monster lad, I won’t hurt her. I promise.” Chief Zixin said. Xing held out his hand, qi swirling around his hand. Zixin could sense his reservation through his Qi, but he ignored it taking the child from his hand.
The old Lion Cub Escort Chief pulled the garment from the child’s face and finally saw the Axsumite child for the first time. He squinted, confused by the sight, as he’d never seen such dark skin before, but her emerald-coloured eyes, it made him slightly jealous. “I didn’t expect this.” He said softly. “From all the stories I've heard as a lad. I was told that all Axsumite have demonic eyes and ears. She looks just like us, the only difference is the colour of her skin.”
“Pretty isn’t she?” Susu asked, pulling her veil off, and showing him her face.
“I don’t know, I can’t express it properly. I've never seen someone like her before.”
“But you’ve seen someone like me before, haven’t you?”
“no...I haven’t, but I have heard of your exotic looks.” He said with a smile.
“that’s fine,” Xing said, “Once there’s no malice in your heart, that’s all that matter.”
Zixin nodded and cradled her in her arms. The child didn’t cry, but she looked up at him, waving her hands, trying her best to grab his whiskers of a moustache. “She likes to pull things, doesn’t she?”
“Very much so,” Susu said.
Zixin handed her back to Xing, but Susu took her from him. The old rested his back on the shattered statue behind him, and ripped the sleeve of his robe, fishing into the sewing, pulling out a fine white silk scarf with golden embroidered edging.
He unrolled it, tossing it at Xing whose eyes bulged from shock. “My Unrelenting Lion Style.” Zixin said, “Your Iron Shredding Claws technique would complement my Unrelenting Lion Style quite well. It would be good to also understand the basics of the Lion Pride Formation.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Xing said looking at the white silk cloth. Zixin bellowed a hearty laugh, which made him cough. He waved off Susu and Xing before they tried to coddle him. “Just accept it.
He then turned to Susu, ripping his other sleeve and pulling a black silk cloth, with golden embroidered edges pushing it toward her. She eyed him, confused, and then handed the child over to Xing. “Elder Zixin?” She asked him.
“This is an Internal Arts Manual an old friend gave me.”
“An old friend? Where are they? I can return it to them.” Susu said.
“The dead don’t need Internal Arts manuals, my dear.”
Susu froze, as much as she hesitated she wanted it. The Internal Arts her master lacked a certain understanding she couldn’t decipher but that was down to Master Chaoxiang’s understanding of how Qi flowed back and forth from the dantians up to the arms, working in unison.
She never showed frustration in her cultivation obviously, but at times, she wish she could see things differently. “The Manual’s called the Yang Defiant Manual.”
“Yang Defiant Manual? I've never heard of it before.” Susu said looking to Xing.
“Neither have I” He added.
“I’ve never heard of it either, but she left it to me,” Zixin said.
“Left it to you?”
“Yes...I don’t know where she got it from, but her martial arts style didn’t cobberate with her fighting style either.”
“She didn’t use it?” Xing asked.
“She did not,” Zixin said
“Were you able to use your style?
“No,” Zixin said, “I couldn’t utilise it either. Furthermore, the power output from my dantians whenever I used my Unrelenting Lion Fist. She ascended two Martial Realms within six months allowing her to step into the Mind Awakening Realm.
“...and then she tried to learn your Unrelenting Lion Fist,” Xing said.
“Which crippled her.” Susu finished.
“Yes.” Zixin said softly, “The girl to read it, hoping it would help her a bit. Little did I know she remembered what little she saw and began practising, which destroyed her meridians.”
“This sound Manual sounds too dangerous for me to practice.”
“It does, but it might prove useful for you. If it doesn’t add value to your martial arts, you can just pass it on as I have to you.”
Susu stared at the black silk cloth for a long while. Thinking about whether to take it or reject Chief Zixin’s manual. “Take it Su’er, between Guo’er, Ying’er and I, you’re Dance of the Scorpion Queen lacks in power when you’re immobilised. This could help diminish that weakness.”
“I'm not worried about my lack of power Brother Xing, I more than makeup for it with my speed.”
“Speed and power are a great thing to have Ban Susu. When Cao Song ascended, her power and speed also increased, you’re off the Divination Realm. If the Sun Defiant Manual coincides with your style, the benefits will be boundless.”
“But If it doesn’t coincide, I might become a cripple.”
“No Risk, No Reward” Xing said coldly.
Xing coughed in agreement.
Susu closed her eyes and thought for a quick moment. She wasn’t sure, but what could she lose? Nothing...and everything. I need the strength to be able to protect her, strength that’s more than the Divination Realm.
“Thank you for your kindness Chief Zixin, I humbly accept the Yang Defiant Manual from your care. If I'm unworthy of its power, then I will pass it onto someone else.”
Chief Zixin’s lips curled into a knowing smile, and then he bit his bottom lip, where blood had dried. “I leave the Yang Defiant Manual in your care Ban Susu.”