Living to Suffer

IV

The temperature had yet to drop as lich’iupa.s.sed, and it came time again for Ch’in Ching’s quarterly suffering.

Hisinborn heart condition did not prevent him from functioning normally, merelylimiting him to weaker forms of martial arts and a minimal level of neikung. However, four times each year,at the turn of the seasons, it was as though two masters were battling to theirdeaths within Ch’in Ching’s heart, paying no mind to whether Ch’in-taifu’s mortal organ could withstandsuch a duel.

As thesaying goes, a healer cannot heal himself. Ch’in Ching’s shifu had some expertisein medicine, and Ch’in Ching excelled even further in the field. But neither ofthem could do anything about this strange disease. Not only were painkillingherbs ineffective, the pain would tear Ch’in Ching from his slumber even whenhis sleeping points weresealed with silver needles.

Ch’in Chinghad been following his shifu,visiting all the mysterious and unknown corners of the land, until four years agowhen they came upon a certain medicinal spring hidden in the mountains. Duringthose changes of season when his heart began to ache, he would enter the springand the pain would become more bearable.

Ch’in Ching still recalled the conversation with his shifu four years ago as he lay soaking inthe pool, oblivious to night and day.

“If youask me, you should not have found this delightful treasure for me. Before, Ihad to suffer four times a year, so living meant nothing good to me. A quickerdeath meant a quicker reincarnation. But now that you’ve found such a place, Imight just start to cherish my life and fear death.”

“Arethose words true?”

“Whichones? Cherish life and fear death? Certainly.”

“Nay,the previous ones. You said there was nothing good about living.”

“…”

“Hengsu,lie not to thyself.”

“…”

“I wishfor your total consent. If not, I will not force you.”

“Arethose words true?”

“…”

“Thisis what you call ‘the apple does not fall far from the tree,’ Shifu. Lie not to thyself.”

A deep rumble of thunder sounded from the horizon, andimmediately, rain began pouring down in buckets. Soaking in the spring, Ch’inChing had his eyes closed while resting his head on a hand. Suddenly, the coldrain ceased to hit his head. He blinked open his eyes to find Shifu on one of his expected quarterly visits. The manstood by the pool with an umbrella, dressed in black, the same old ethereal figure.

“I havebeen most disrespectful, Shifu. Ilost the umbrella you painted for me last time.”

“It isof no concern. I can simply paint another one for you.”

“Couldyou paint a fan this time?”

“Theweather is becoming colder. You will not be an embarra.s.sment and wave around afan in winter.”

“Hah.”

“…Hengsu,two months ago an intruder entered the ShaolinTreasure PaG.o.da.”

“Mhm.”

“Theabbot had made preparations. Skilled persons of Wutang,Songshan,O-mei,and Ch’ing-ch’eng hadgathered in the paG.o.da and created powerful formations.”

“Andthe results?”

“Withinan ace of victory.”

“Isee.”

“Huisheng-tashichanneled all his cultivation into one ultimate strike, but not even that couldend the life of the intruder.”

“Andwhat of the tashi?”

“Goneto meet his maker.”

“…”

“Hengsu…theident.i.ty of the intruder…”

“I’vegot an idea.”

“…Newscame one month ago that the hufa ofthe Hsing Sect had returned safely.”

“Iknow. It was I who saved him.”

Ch’in Ching witnessed a rare display of speechlessnessfrom his shifu and chuckled aloud.

“Howcomes it that you did not foresee it this time, Shifu? I thought your divinations had already reached asupernatural level.”

“…So beit. All is predestined. Heaven’s will–”

“Heaven’swill shall not be violated. Say, could you tell me something new for once?”

“…”

“Youshouldn’t linger on that thought. Let us discuss the key issue. Is the HsingSect in possession of the last two pages?”

“Theyshould not be. That the pages were in Shaolin was a lie to begin with. ‘Tis apity however…”

“Noneed for pity now. It is fine that they have not obtained the pages. I haveplans of my own.”

“…”

“Shifu?”

“Do nottire of my wordiness, Hengsu… I simply want to ask you one more time, have youany resentment?”

“Sowhat if I do?”

“…”

“Shifu, I’ve long forgotten words ofhypocrisy.

Ch’inChing let his smile fade and straightened his pose and expression.

“For theland, for humanity, I have no resentment.”

After lich’iucame chungch’iu.Ch’in Ching had no family other than his shifu,so the festivities were of little interest to him. Rather his dice hand wasitching for some long-awaited action. Seeing that litung was still some fortnightsaway, he hopped on a boat to Chinlingand dove head first into the largest gambling house in town, staying from duskto dawn. By the time he stepped out of the establishment, his steps were wobblyand his eye bags dark.

Theonly game that Ch’in Ching played was sicbo.Simple and painless, one could win big or lose everything, and the delight wasall in the transition between those two extremes.

Ch’inChing had never concerned himself with money. When he became swept up by thegame, he went all in, betting and losing all of his silver. He made a ‘tsk-tsk’ sound without appearing verytroubled at all and ambled out of the gambling house empty-handed.

Onlywhen he left did he realize he might not even be able to pay for the boat ridehome. Then he took a look at himself – a blue cotton robe that was faded whitefrom numerous washings and a plain old peachwood hairpin – and found nothing hecould even p.a.w.n for money.

Searchinghimself all over, he dug out a few pieces of copper. Although it was notsufficient for the boat, it was for a few hearty shaoping.He thought Chinling was not terribly far from his dwelling, a three day walk,and he could pick some wild fruits for sustenance along the way. With that, hebegan his trip with the shaoping inhand, strolling towards the city gates.

The state roads were safe, but that route was longer.After half a day of walking, Ch’in Ching turned onto a tiny path cuttingthrough the hills. With the sky dimming, it became prime time for monetary ands.e.xual hara.s.sment.

Perhapsthe heavens knew Ch’in Ching was lacking in both departments and did not sendany bandits or lechers his way. However, karma did send trouble his way, of anorigin even Ch’in Ching had forgotten.

Ch’inChing eyed the three a.s.sailants before him. They looked somewhat familiar, buthe could not recall the time he had last met them.

“Myfriends…could it be that I had the honour of saving an adversary of yours?”

“Ad.a.m.nable honour, all right!” The bulky man who was the least familiar to Ch’inChing spat in disgust at the lack of shame displayed. “You simple-minded lad,you held a candle to the devil!”

“So youcome looking for trouble with the doctor instead of the actual villain…” Ch’inChing sighed. Thinking this trip was going to be one of relaxation, he did noteven bring the soft sword that he received as a gift from his shifu, so he picked up a dead treebranch from the ground. “After you.”

Although Ch’in Ching had a much higher mastery ofmedicine and circles and formations compared to the art of the sword, he wasconsidered strong amongst the second-raters. If not for his heart condition andits subsequent restriction on his neikung,he might have had more luck with climbing the ranks of the chianghu.

Usingthe opponent’s force against him, turning solid into hollow, Ch’in Chingappeared rather at ease with the dried branch, but regardless of his successagainst swords and knives, he could not defend against concealed weapons – poorneikung equaled poor ch’ingkung. Even though his eyesrecognized the threat, his feet could not react quickly enough.

Thegirl who looked the most familiar threw a handful of caltrops, two of whichCh’in Ching deflected, two of which he evaded and two of which hit him. Hedropped his stance and surrendered. “M’lady, if you have vented your anger, Ibelieve it is time to let me go. I, Ch’in, promise to ask for their full name,their patzu,whether they are betrothed before I save anybody else in future!”

The girl did not hold a great grudge, and Ch’in Chinghad learnt his lesson. Although the girl was thin-skinned and disliked histongue-in-cheek comments, she did not bother to stoop to his level and left withher gang after shooting him a deadly glare.

Ch’inChing found a tree to sit against while appreciating how proper the pupils ofthe orthodox sects were. They might have been a little arrogant, but they knewthe boundaries. The concealed weapons had not been coated with poison, onlywith monkshood extract and one extra ingredient, orange jessamine. It was ananesthetic that also reduced swelling and hastened the healing process offlesh.

Butcoincidentally and unfortunately, the harmless orange jessamine spelleddisaster for him.

“Hail to you, Ch’in Ching.”

As daylight faded away, the orange jessamine beganreacting with the medicines Ch’in Ching had been taking since an early age, andhis temperature spiked. In his feverish state, he heard a familiar voice greetinghim and answered wryly, “What a coincidence, Shen-hufa.”

“Many days have pa.s.sed. Have you decided what it isthat you desire?”

“Shen-hufa, I know no action of mine canescape your eyes. But I won’t die here even if you leave me be. You will getnothing out of this.”

“Youoverthink, Ch’in-taifu.”

“Hah…WhatI do think is that the heavens must have taken pity on my craven self…” Ch’inChing opened his eyes and looked at Shen Liangsheng smilingly. “Too afraid togo to that h.e.l.lish place to find you, but still wanting to see you again… Andlo and behold, the mountain cometh to me.”

“The yin pa.s.s is in your hands. I had to cometo you sooner or later, so no need for impatience.”

“Indeed…”Ch’in Ching chuckled softly before closing his eyes again. “Then let us talkafter my sleep.”

Author’scomment:

Shen-hufa is twenty-six, not a small number.Other parts of him are not small either.

Iappreciate the comment “waiting for the continuation.” The truth is this storyis just for self-entertainment purposes, to fight the loneliness when I getbored. I almost wanted to drop this because n.o.body was reading and I have notime to be all wistful and lonely. Thank you to the madam up there. Seeing theword “waiting” made me realize I do want to finish writing this.

There’ssomeone waiting, and although it’s for a lame story, it’s still heart-warming.

ThereforeI decided to say a few more words to express my grat.i.tude – unlike thebottled-up Shen-hufa whose habits arenot good for the mind and body -.-

PS. Isaid I’d write s.m.u.t, but it’s been 14k characters and the uke has only beenable to entertain himself. How sad orz