Faraway Wanderers - V1C5
Chapter 5
The Butterfly Bone
No one made a sound. The group quickly exchanged looks, ignoring Zhang Chengling, as they slowly circled around Gu Xiang and Zhou Zishu.
Gu Xiang sighed and said, "What an unfortunate situation. I haven’t performed any good deeds in a long time, and naturally, troubles arise when I finally do. Brother Zhou, I’m just a fragile maiden who's never faced so many dangers before. I’m very scared. Please protect me.”
That final sentence could genuinely frighten people out of their wits. Zhou Zishu almost struggled to breathe clearly, giving Gu Xiang an annoyed look, while the girl maintained her best poker face.
She then looked back at him witheringly.
The group of assassins seemed somewhat out of place during this tender staring contest. It was unclear who had ordered others to advance, but they quickly formed a web-like formation, trapping the two inside.
Only now did Gu Xiang softly say “Ah,” with a stern face and keen interest. She abandoned the subtle act, ignored Zhou Zishu, and drew a small dagger, prepared for the approaching attack.
She trusted in her own ability, but soon realized the formation was very challenging as the fight began. With fourteen enemies present, she knew not all would necessarily be stronger individually, but together they applied constant pressure from all directions, making the situation more dangerous. She was eventually forced to retreat while fighting, as the formation closed in around her, blocking any escape routes.
Doubt grew in Gu Xiang as she moved closer to Zhou Zishu. They stood back-to-back; Zhou Zishu’s expression darkened as he stared at their enemies without blinking, saying, “I’ve underestimated them.”
Gu Xiang initially couldn’t understand. Her forehead glistened with light sweat. "What... is this formation?”
Zhou Zishu responded, “I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve heard of something called the Formation of Far and Wide[1]. It’s constantly shifting and perfectly coordinated. Each person’s gaps are quickly and seamlessly filled by others, forming an impenetrable barrier...”
Gu Xiang shouted as Zhou Zishu used his bare hand to block an oncoming blade and deflect it.
“Then what do we do now?”
Zhou Zishu offered no response, eyes fixed entirely. Suddenly, he leapt up, using the altar as a springboard to shoot higher into the air; the dusty table stood firm without shaking. Three masked men swiftly pursued him, swords blocking all exits, but Zhou Zishu unexpectedly retreated, slipping past their defenses like a fish to reach the Buddha statue. He made a noise and, with unknown force, pushed the statue forward using his hands, muttering, “Buddha, have mercy and help me this time.”
The stone statue charged at the masked men with full force; Gu Xiang quickly ducked to dodge, feeling the wind whip past her hair. The three Zhou Zishu behind it in midair were relatively slow and didn't expect such a quick retaliation. Facing it head-on was the only option, as dodging or calling for help was impossible, knocking them back and creating a sizable gap in the formation.
Gu Xiang chuckled, saying, “Interesting.”
She didn’t waste this momentum; with a swift arm movement, she released an arrow from her sleeve. The opponents directly in front of her took the full impact to the face and fell back silently.
The others lost their courage entirely. Gu Xiang’s murderous instincts resurfaced, and she started charging at them recklessly.
Zhou Zishu, after using all his strength in that move, felt his limbs, still recovering, become temporarily numb. He sat quietly on the incense table, showing no further intention to display his power.
Gu Xiang only realized after some time. She looked at him with an accusatory tone and asked, “Zhou Xu, what are you doing?”
Zhou Zishu responded calmly, “Little Sister Gu, I’m just a fragile beggar who's never faced so many attacks before. I’m very scared, please protect me.”
Gu Xiang’s hands trembled with anger. Her knife was driven so deeply into someone's chest that it became stuck in their ribcage and couldn't be extracted.
Gu Xiang was agile but lacked endurance for prolonged combat. After losing her weapon, she panicked, stepping back three times and desperately trying to defend herself. Zhou Zishu, having rested for a while, did not immediately join the fight. Instead, he observed them with a chuckle, picking up small rocks and playing with them until suddenly hurling one at the forehead of someone aiming to ambush the girl.
“That’s no good, no good at all; your moves lack structure," he said as he offered her some guidance.
He moved with lightning speed, flicking another stone at Huantiao point[2] to destabilize them, causing them to stumble forward right beneath Gu Xiang’s feet. She quickly lifted her leg, a glint of light reflecting off her shoe to reveal a small blade intended for throat stabbing. Zhou Zishu continued calmly, “Foundation is crucial. If your phases lack roots and you move without a solid basis, how can you truly control yourself in such moments?”
Gu Xiang was clever. She dodged a sword by bending backward, then kicked at the enemy’s leg. Using their falling forward to restrain their pulse, she quickly took their weapon and struck their Baihui point[3] to ensure their death.
Another stone was shot at one’s Jianjing point[4] while they were in the middle of attacking, freezing their upper bodies and causing them to fall. Gu Xiang heard the beggar complain equivocally, “No good, still no good, the formation has been broken, but that’s not an excuse to take risks, stop underestimating things.”
As she heard those words, the lotus shape formed by her footwork grew livelier and more flexible. She dodged another attacker, who instinctively shifted his strategy, holding his sword horizontally and revealing a weak spot Gu Xiang could exploit. She quickly defeated two more enemies using this opening.
Bodies quickly scattered across the ground. The remaining masked individuals exchanged glances and retreated, aware that continuing would be unwise. Zhou Zishu frowned; these people were far too problematic. He agreed to escort the boy to Tai Hu Holdings or whatever it was called, but he wouldn’t tolerate potential hordes of attackers along the way. If he let them go now, they would likely return later during the journey.
These killers with unclear identities, who aimed to eliminate everyone in the boy’s family, were the true scum of the earth.
A sudden movement dizzying Gu Xiang, who was just at the table now stood at the shrine’s entrance. The closest masked individual only managed a slight lean aside before their shoulder was forcefully dislodged with a cracking noise. Zhou Zishu’s hand was around their throat, twisting gently; simultaneously, he lifted their fallen weapon with the tip of his toe.
A smile played on his pale face, embodying the full extent of the world’s demonic energy.
Gu Xiang was staggered by how quickly things changed; suddenly, the assassin group was wiped out completely. She blinked in disbelief. Despite the ragged man’s senseless ramblings, his fighting skills were some of the most accurate and savage she had seen. It really made her curious about who he truly was.
Zhou Zishu was not holding on as well as she believed; her legs were shaky like jelly, and her body was struggling to recover after touching the ground again. He was a bit unsteady after completing all his tasks, but he didn’t want Gu Xiang to notice, so he retreated a few steps as much as his strength permitted. His walk appeared light as a feather, yet in truth, he was in a dire state, desperately seeking something to support him.
A pair of arms suddenly appeared behind him out of nowhere, supporting him steadily. Zhou Zishu was startled; he couldn’t sense this person approaching at all, causing his hair to stand on end. Luckily, the person only intended to help, with no ulterior motives.
Gu Xiang’s eyes sparkled as she hurriedly called out, “Master!”
Zhou Zishu let out a sigh of relief and straightened up. The person behind him was the man in gray he had seen at the tavern, appearing to be around thirty years old. He was undeniably handsome, although his piercing stare would unsettle most people.
Those fierce eyes were currently locked on Zhou Zishu, brimming with boldness, as if they sought to discover what lay beneath his mask.
Zhou Zishu coughed, “Thank you…”
“Wen, Wen Kexing.” The man responded, his face shadowed with unsure doubt. His eyes moved to Zhou Zishu’s neck and hands, suspicion growing stronger.
Although Zhou Zishu couldn’t perceive the man’s true intent, he trusted his own abilities. He was confident in his skills, knowing that if he had failed this simple disguise, he would have been eliminated on a past mission years ago. “Ah, thank you, Brother Wen," he said smoothly.
The man finally looked away after a moment, nodding and saying, “It’s nothing.” He then walked into the shrine. Gu Xiang was busy kicking away the bodies and making a seat for her master with hay. Wen Kexing looked at Zhou Zishu again and said, “I didn’t mean to do it,” to clarify any misunderstandings.
Zhou Zishu quickly realized the source of Gu Xiang's unusual attitude. He took a seat and began meditating.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
After about two hours, he opened his eyes to find Wen Kexing leaning against a wall with his legs crossed, watching him intently. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is there something on my face? Why do you keep looking at me, Brother Wen?”Wen Kexing asked seriously, “Are you in disguise?”
Zhou Zishu's expression remained calm as he asked, “What do you mean?”
The other person paid it no attention, muttering quietly, “How strange... Truly, really strange. I can’t tell if you’re wearing a mask or not, can’t be certain that you aren’t, hm...”
He rubbed his chin, hesitating slightly, and said, "I’ve never been wrong before; the moment I saw your butterfly bone[5], I knew you had to be a great beauty.”
Zhou Zishu was completely unprepared for that response.
Wen Kexing nodded, affirming to himself, “I’m sure I'm not mistaken this time; of course you’re in disguise.”
Nothing could have prepared Zhou Zishu for this answer, either.
Wen Kexing kept gazing at him without stopping, only pausing after a long moment. “Though I can’t see anything on you that suggests that," he said, tilting his head back. "How skilled must you be for me to not see through your tricks? Can someone like you truly exist? This is really, really impossible..."
Gu Xiang said coldly, “Master, do you recall the last time you said a butcher looked pretty just by his back?”
Wen Kexing’s voice grew gentler. “He may be a butcher, but his watery, shining eyes clearly show his charm. People usually overlook a hero’s background, so why shouldn’t that apply to a butcher, too? But what would an unrefined kid like you understand anyway?”
Gu Xiang sighed, “Watery, shining eyes? He was teary from yawning! Besides that, his nose, mouth, head, and ears..."
Wen Kexing’s voice was firm as he said, “Gu Xiang, you are very blind.”
Zhou Zishu had nothing else to do but check on Zhang Chengling’s well-being.
[1] 四面八方 (sì miàn bā fāng): Literally meaning "four sides and eight directions," this is the most common equivalent for "far and wide" when referring to people or things coming from or spreading to all directions.
[2] Huantiao is located in the gluteal region (the buttock).
- Sciatica Specialist: It is considered one of the most powerful points for relieving sciatica, lumbar pain, and numbness in the lower extremities.
- Hip and Leg Mobility: It "disinhibits" the joints, helping to treat hip pain, stiffness, paralysis, and hemiplegia (weakness on one side of the body).
- Energy Flow: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is used to clear blockages of Qi and blood, dispel "wind-damp" (a cause of joint pain), and activate the meridian channel.
- Ma Dan-yang's "Heavenly Star Point": It is historically categorized as one of the 12 most vital acupuncture points for treating major illnesses.
[3] Baihui translates literally to "Hundred Convergences" or "Hundred Meetings"
- Lifting Qi: Used to treat "sinking" conditions like fatigue, depression, diarrhea, and organ prolapse (e.g., uterine or rectal).
- Calming the Spirit (Shen): It has a powerful calming effect used to treat anxiety, stress, insomnia, and agitation.
- Clearing the Head: It is a primary point for treating headaches (specifically vertex/top-of-head pain), dizziness, and vertigo.
- Cognitive Support: Enhances mental clarity, memory, and focus by improving brain circulation.
[4] Jianjing is a major acupuncture and acupressure point located on the shoulder. Its name translates to "Shoulder Well" (Jian meaning shoulder, Jing meaning well.
- Significance: It is a meeting point for several meridians, including the Gallbladder, Triple Burner, and Stomach, as well as the Yang Linking Vessel.
- Physical Tension: It is the primary "stress point" where physical burdens and emotional tension are held. It is highly effective for relieving neck stiffness, shoulder pain, and tension headaches.
- Downward Flow of Energy: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Jianjing is known for its strong "descending" action. This makes it useful for:
o Inducing labor and assisting with the delivery of the placenta.
o Treating mastitis or promoting breast milk flow (lactation).
o Counteracting "rebellious Qi" that moves upward, such as dizziness or high blood pressure.
o Treating mastitis or promoting breast milk flow (lactation).
o Counteracting "rebellious Qi" that moves upward, such as dizziness or high blood pressure.
[5] "Butterfly bone" most commonly refers to the sphenoid bone, a crucial, butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull that connects facial and cranial bones—the "Butterfly-Boned Beauty Feast" in Chinese novels, referring to a mythical race with unique traits.
- "Beauty Bones" (Slang): In some East Asian cultures (notably China), protruding scapulae (shoulder blades) are referred to as "butterfly bones" and are often considered an aesthetic ideal of slenderness, though medically this can sometimes be a sign of a "winged scapula" condition.
- Symbolism: In art and spiritual contexts, a "skeleton with butterfly wings" is a common motif symbolizing the paradox of mortality and rebirth. The butterfly represents the soul (psyche in Greek) escaping the mortal shell of the body.
- Pop Culture: In the Chinese web novel The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, "Butterfly-Boned Beauty Feasts" are a fictional race of half-demons known for their extreme beauty and golden tears.
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