Faraway Wanderers - V1C8
Chapter 8
Coincidence... I think not!
Zhao Jing, from Tai Hu and known as the Swordsman of Qiu Shan, was once a well-known figure.
Before reaching Tai Hu, Zhou Zishu eagerly anticipated meeting the elusive hero whose reputation had already preceded him. His anticipation increased upon hearing that Yu Tianjie — Hua Shan Sect’s only son — along with Mu Yunge, lord of Duan Jian Mountain Manor, and Sir “One-Eyed” Jiang Che would also be there.
Zhou Zishu was familiar with their status and background: to prevent any offense, Tian Chuang maintained a separate archive of every event and figure in jianghu over the past fifty years.
For example, Zhou Zishu knew that Zhao Jing, the heroic Qiu Shan Swordsman, was once exiled from his family and endured great suffering. To earn money, he committed crimes similar to those of "Enchanted Song” Qin Song. He only reverted to using his real name, Zhao Jing, at age twenty-seven, when he married the only daughter of the Feng family that owned Tai Hu, leveraging nepotism to amass wealth. He also secretly eliminated those who knew of his past, and after the marriage, he was accepted back into the Zhao family.
Another example was the well-known young Sir Yu Tianjie: it was said that he once had an affair with a maiden from the E Mei Sect but betrayed her afterward, leading the girl to commit suicide with their three-month-old unborn child. Of course, she was honorable enough not to reveal the name of her despicable lover.
Zhou Zishu was very interested in them because he knew what kind of people they were. He was also easily convinced by Zhang Chengling’s pleas, so he chose to stay at the Zhaos’ for another night.
Despite his past, Zhao Jing maintained a noble aura; he didn’t look down on the rough Zhou Zishu, who could barely walk. However, his experience made him wary, and after hearing Zhang Chengling’s stories about the dangers faced during their journey, he started to doubt this beggar-like man’s true background.
That day, after helping the two settle in, enjoy a proper shower and meal, Zhao Jing called Zhang Chengling to the study to inform him about what had happened over the past few days.
Zhang Chengling, after all, was still a child — it was hard enough for him to find someone he could call family; so he told the elder everything, even things he didn’t yet understand. Zhao Jing listened to him in terror; after a moment of contemplation, he couldn’t help but ask, “This… Zhou gentleman, do you know who he really is?”
Zhang Chengling candidly explained what transpired at the abandoned shrine.
Zhao Jing narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard. He briefly comforted the younger before sending him to bed.
During the ten days of travel, Zhou Zishu got to know the child Zhang Chengling. Although he was somewhat naive due to being spoiled from a young age, he was kind-hearted and resilient, never complaining even in difficult moments. Because Zhao Jing wanted to speak with him, Zhou Zishu was certain that the cunning old fox had likely tricked Zhang Chengling into unintentionally revealing details about him.
He chuckled. Whether he was Zhou Xu or Zhou Zishu was of little consequence, as both names retained an air of mystery. Even someone with broad knowledge and access would only know the superficial details about Tian Chuang, with nothing additional, particularly about its leader.
If one investigated "Lord Zhou," one would only find a nominal general responsible for managing the inner court’s royal guards. He was someone worth currying favor with, but not significant enough to warrant a second look.
He had no option but to greet and bid farewell to each of them individually.
Ah, Sir Zhao, it is truly an honor to finally meet you. Seeing is believing, and your presence exudes a prosperous aura. You’re inquiring about who taught me. Well, I'm just a lowly individual, hardly worth mentioning at all.
Ah, Sir Qian, it is truly an honor to finally meet you as well. Your appearance brings such a prosperous aura. As for where I’m from, I’m just a humble beggar; it’s not worth discussing. No, no, I’m not from the Beggar Sect[1]! How could I ever claim to be deserving of joining them? I really am just a nobody.
Ah, Sir Sun, it is an honor to meet you finally! Your presence radiates a prosperous aura. I'm just a nobody, so it's understandable if you’ve never heard of me.
Ah, Sir Li, it is indeed an honor to finally meet you. Your appearance brings such a prosperous aura. No, I’ve never known that other Sir Li well; our relationship was merely mutual assistance during difficult times. Which sect do I belong to? I belong to none, just a nobody, truly not worth mentioning at all.
As night approached, Zhou Zishu smiled so much and so wide that his face became stiff, requiring extensive massaging to relax. He firmly believed that if he endured another day of this, he would soon be completely paralyzed, prompting him to decide to leave immediately.
Given their persistent curiosity about others' affairs, these jianghu heroes resembled meddlesome gossipers at markets. It was as if they wanted to stick their heads into others' homes and use their sharp eyes to scan everything, seeing beneath the surface to tell if someone was a human or a ghost.
If someone claimed to be from one of the Eight Big Sects and mentioned being a disciple of a certain individual, the other could reply, "Oh, truly an honor to finally meet you, shishu. Your Master and I knew each other long ago."
Otherwise, they would be viewed as an outsider, and more time would be needed to assess their character.
It was nighttime. Under the diminishing moon, Zhou Zishu opened his eyes. He had gone to sleep early because this was when the Nails typically caused trouble. However, the pain was minor, and he just needed to rest.
He hesitated briefly before standing up; leaving without saying farewell felt somewhat rude. He left two letters: one for Zhang Chengling, which read, “Mountains are still green, waters will still flow long and far,” and a sense of incredible satisfaction flooded over him after writing it, as he felt he had truly become a jianghu wanderer. The other was for Zhao Jing, simply saying: 'Ever grateful for the welcoming stay.'
He put them under the teapot and then gracefully jumped onto the roof.
A small dragon-like cat[2] was strolling on the roof. It sensed a fleeting shadow and paused, alert with wide eyes, but saw nothing unusual. Confused, it tilted its head and then ran toward the kitchen.
Zhou Zishu quietly left the Zhaos, confident no one noticed. He never expected that someone seemingly predicted his actions and was already waiting for him in a small forest about a mile from the Holdings.
Zhou Zishu felt a pang of annoyance as he looked at that person. He saw Wen Kexing smiling and saluting him, saying, “Ah, what a coincidence, Brother Zhou. It seems we are truly fated; only soulmates keep crossing paths under the moonlight like this.”
Zhou Zishu returned the smile and said, “It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it, Brother Wen?”
Coincidental, my ass. You pestilence. He thought.
He tilted his head and asked, “Young Miss Gu isn’t here?" after not seeing Gu Xiang.
Wen Kexing responded plainly, "That girl is an obstacle; she moves too slowly and will only hinder me as I search for this key, elusive person—which is... you.”
Zhou Zishu's smile froze on his face. He looked at Wen Kexing and, after a moment, said, “If this useless one were an important figure, what would happen to Monk Gu of Mount Chang Ming, the Poison King of the Southern Sea’s Guanyin Palace, or the Ghost Lord of Qingzhu Ridge?”
Wen Kexing looked back with significance. “Monk Gu cares little for mortals; he is solely focused on the path of cultivation. The Poison King is believed to have merged into the extensive jianghu world, making him difficult to locate. The Ghost Lord is equally elusive; I have never had the chance to meet him. As for whether he is human or not, that remains a story for another day.”
They exchanged glances afterward, smiles hinting at mischievous intent.
Zhou Zishu was the first to look away. “Zhou-mou[3] is just a passerby; why is everyone focusing on me?”
Wen Kexing responded casually, as if reconnecting with an old friend on a spring hike. “Then why doesn’t Brother Zhou stay with the Zhaos a bit longer? Tai Hu is renowned for its beautiful scenery, so why leave so soon without exploring more?”
“This insignificant one has already seen Tai Hu’s breathtaking view; staying will only cause unnecessary trouble for Sir Zhao. Besides, we don’t know each other well; I did the favor for two silvers, and it’s not worth risking my life over them.”
Zhou Zishu paused, then added, “Escorting young master Zhang is mainly to earn merits, so I won’t face any tortures in the Underworld after I die. That’s all there is to it.”
“Earn merits.” Wen Kexing repeated in agreement, head nodding. “Correct, Brother Zhou truly shares the same mind with me; and as only beautiful people can do that, it is clear…”
Zhou Zishu’s temples throbbed at the phrase “it is clear”; he was about to speak when, suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from deep within the forest behind Wen Kexing.
They both stopped temporarily.
Wen Kexing indicated the source of the scream, saying, "Look, my dear soulmate, another opportunity to accumulate merit has surfaced."
Zhou Zishu hesitated but ultimately chose to move towards the sound, reluctantly responding, “Eye problems are serious, Brother Wen. You should see a doctor soon.”
Wen Kexing kept close behind. Zhou Zishu’s qinggong had advanced to the point that he could move without leaving a trace, yet Wen Kexing kept pace effortlessly, always maintaining a small gap. Normally, travelers remain silent to conserve vital energy, but Wen Kexing seemed unconcerned. “Brother Zhou is very correct; I really need to see some renowned physicians for proper treatment. Until now, I still can't detect any flaws in Brother Zhou’s disguise. My eyesight is getting worse each day, and I’m not even that old. How shameful, how shameful.”
Zhou Zishu was eager to eliminate the eyes that supposedly "worsen each day."
However, he realized he didn’t know enough about this man. With the intelligence and self-control of a former Tian Chuang leader, he would avoid doing something reckless like that.
They quickly advanced into the deeper part of the forest, where they soon encountered a corpse.
The individual met a gruesome end: wearing black clothes, his mask fallen aside, exposing wide-open eyes. Zhou Zishu felt a sense of familiarity even before seeing the body clearly, prompting him to bend down for a closer look. He then couldn’t help but frown and say, “Isn’t this… Sir Mu, the lord of Duan Jian Mountain Manor?”
This morning, he was rambling aimlessly for an hour. No one would have guessed that he had also become a “night owl” like Zhou Zishu, only to turn into a dead owl, sadly.
Wen Kexing also moved closer, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, and said, "Moonlit night, black clothes, it’s possible that…”
Zhou Zishu shifted his gaze to the other, eager to listen to his conclusions.
Only for Wen Kexing to continue his brilliant train of thought: “…that Lord Mu is out here picking flowers[4]?”
Zhou Zishu turned away with an expressionless face, internally congratulating himself on maintaining his composure.
Mu Yunge’s body and the area around him showed no blood, but his lips had turned bluer. After some contemplation, Zhou Zishu unbuttoned the front of his shirt, revealing only a black hand-shaped mark on his chest.
Before reaching Tai Hu, Zhou Zishu eagerly anticipated meeting the elusive hero whose reputation had already preceded him. His anticipation increased upon hearing that Yu Tianjie — Hua Shan Sect’s only son — along with Mu Yunge, lord of Duan Jian Mountain Manor, and Sir “One-Eyed” Jiang Che would also be there.
Zhou Zishu was familiar with their status and background: to prevent any offense, Tian Chuang maintained a separate archive of every event and figure in jianghu over the past fifty years.
For example, Zhou Zishu knew that Zhao Jing, the heroic Qiu Shan Swordsman, was once exiled from his family and endured great suffering. To earn money, he committed crimes similar to those of "Enchanted Song” Qin Song. He only reverted to using his real name, Zhao Jing, at age twenty-seven, when he married the only daughter of the Feng family that owned Tai Hu, leveraging nepotism to amass wealth. He also secretly eliminated those who knew of his past, and after the marriage, he was accepted back into the Zhao family.
Another example was the well-known young Sir Yu Tianjie: it was said that he once had an affair with a maiden from the E Mei Sect but betrayed her afterward, leading the girl to commit suicide with their three-month-old unborn child. Of course, she was honorable enough not to reveal the name of her despicable lover.
Zhou Zishu was very interested in them because he knew what kind of people they were. He was also easily convinced by Zhang Chengling’s pleas, so he chose to stay at the Zhaos’ for another night.
Despite his past, Zhao Jing maintained a noble aura; he didn’t look down on the rough Zhou Zishu, who could barely walk. However, his experience made him wary, and after hearing Zhang Chengling’s stories about the dangers faced during their journey, he started to doubt this beggar-like man’s true background.
That day, after helping the two settle in, enjoy a proper shower and meal, Zhao Jing called Zhang Chengling to the study to inform him about what had happened over the past few days.
Zhang Chengling, after all, was still a child — it was hard enough for him to find someone he could call family; so he told the elder everything, even things he didn’t yet understand. Zhao Jing listened to him in terror; after a moment of contemplation, he couldn’t help but ask, “This… Zhou gentleman, do you know who he really is?”
Zhang Chengling candidly explained what transpired at the abandoned shrine.
Zhao Jing narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard. He briefly comforted the younger before sending him to bed.
During the ten days of travel, Zhou Zishu got to know the child Zhang Chengling. Although he was somewhat naive due to being spoiled from a young age, he was kind-hearted and resilient, never complaining even in difficult moments. Because Zhao Jing wanted to speak with him, Zhou Zishu was certain that the cunning old fox had likely tricked Zhang Chengling into unintentionally revealing details about him.
He chuckled. Whether he was Zhou Xu or Zhou Zishu was of little consequence, as both names retained an air of mystery. Even someone with broad knowledge and access would only know the superficial details about Tian Chuang, with nothing additional, particularly about its leader.
If one investigated "Lord Zhou," one would only find a nominal general responsible for managing the inner court’s royal guards. He was someone worth currying favor with, but not significant enough to warrant a second look.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
Starting early the next day, Zhou Zishu quickly became the latest trending topic among Tai Hu Holdings' residents, as he couldn’t leave the guest’s room due to the constant visitors.He had no option but to greet and bid farewell to each of them individually.
Ah, Sir Zhao, it is truly an honor to finally meet you. Seeing is believing, and your presence exudes a prosperous aura. You’re inquiring about who taught me. Well, I'm just a lowly individual, hardly worth mentioning at all.
Ah, Sir Qian, it is truly an honor to finally meet you as well. Your appearance brings such a prosperous aura. As for where I’m from, I’m just a humble beggar; it’s not worth discussing. No, no, I’m not from the Beggar Sect[1]! How could I ever claim to be deserving of joining them? I really am just a nobody.
Ah, Sir Sun, it is an honor to meet you finally! Your presence radiates a prosperous aura. I'm just a nobody, so it's understandable if you’ve never heard of me.
Ah, Sir Li, it is indeed an honor to finally meet you. Your appearance brings such a prosperous aura. No, I’ve never known that other Sir Li well; our relationship was merely mutual assistance during difficult times. Which sect do I belong to? I belong to none, just a nobody, truly not worth mentioning at all.
As night approached, Zhou Zishu smiled so much and so wide that his face became stiff, requiring extensive massaging to relax. He firmly believed that if he endured another day of this, he would soon be completely paralyzed, prompting him to decide to leave immediately.
Given their persistent curiosity about others' affairs, these jianghu heroes resembled meddlesome gossipers at markets. It was as if they wanted to stick their heads into others' homes and use their sharp eyes to scan everything, seeing beneath the surface to tell if someone was a human or a ghost.
If someone claimed to be from one of the Eight Big Sects and mentioned being a disciple of a certain individual, the other could reply, "Oh, truly an honor to finally meet you, shishu. Your Master and I knew each other long ago."
Otherwise, they would be viewed as an outsider, and more time would be needed to assess their character.
It was nighttime. Under the diminishing moon, Zhou Zishu opened his eyes. He had gone to sleep early because this was when the Nails typically caused trouble. However, the pain was minor, and he just needed to rest.
He hesitated briefly before standing up; leaving without saying farewell felt somewhat rude. He left two letters: one for Zhang Chengling, which read, “Mountains are still green, waters will still flow long and far,” and a sense of incredible satisfaction flooded over him after writing it, as he felt he had truly become a jianghu wanderer. The other was for Zhao Jing, simply saying: 'Ever grateful for the welcoming stay.'
He put them under the teapot and then gracefully jumped onto the roof.
A small dragon-like cat[2] was strolling on the roof. It sensed a fleeting shadow and paused, alert with wide eyes, but saw nothing unusual. Confused, it tilted its head and then ran toward the kitchen.
Zhou Zishu quietly left the Zhaos, confident no one noticed. He never expected that someone seemingly predicted his actions and was already waiting for him in a small forest about a mile from the Holdings.
Zhou Zishu felt a pang of annoyance as he looked at that person. He saw Wen Kexing smiling and saluting him, saying, “Ah, what a coincidence, Brother Zhou. It seems we are truly fated; only soulmates keep crossing paths under the moonlight like this.”
Zhou Zishu returned the smile and said, “It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it, Brother Wen?”
Coincidental, my ass. You pestilence. He thought.
He tilted his head and asked, “Young Miss Gu isn’t here?" after not seeing Gu Xiang.
Wen Kexing responded plainly, "That girl is an obstacle; she moves too slowly and will only hinder me as I search for this key, elusive person—which is... you.”
Zhou Zishu's smile froze on his face. He looked at Wen Kexing and, after a moment, said, “If this useless one were an important figure, what would happen to Monk Gu of Mount Chang Ming, the Poison King of the Southern Sea’s Guanyin Palace, or the Ghost Lord of Qingzhu Ridge?”
Wen Kexing looked back with significance. “Monk Gu cares little for mortals; he is solely focused on the path of cultivation. The Poison King is believed to have merged into the extensive jianghu world, making him difficult to locate. The Ghost Lord is equally elusive; I have never had the chance to meet him. As for whether he is human or not, that remains a story for another day.”
They exchanged glances afterward, smiles hinting at mischievous intent.
Zhou Zishu was the first to look away. “Zhou-mou[3] is just a passerby; why is everyone focusing on me?”
Wen Kexing responded casually, as if reconnecting with an old friend on a spring hike. “Then why doesn’t Brother Zhou stay with the Zhaos a bit longer? Tai Hu is renowned for its beautiful scenery, so why leave so soon without exploring more?”
“This insignificant one has already seen Tai Hu’s breathtaking view; staying will only cause unnecessary trouble for Sir Zhao. Besides, we don’t know each other well; I did the favor for two silvers, and it’s not worth risking my life over them.”
Zhou Zishu paused, then added, “Escorting young master Zhang is mainly to earn merits, so I won’t face any tortures in the Underworld after I die. That’s all there is to it.”
“Earn merits.” Wen Kexing repeated in agreement, head nodding. “Correct, Brother Zhou truly shares the same mind with me; and as only beautiful people can do that, it is clear…”
Zhou Zishu’s temples throbbed at the phrase “it is clear”; he was about to speak when, suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from deep within the forest behind Wen Kexing.
They both stopped temporarily.
Wen Kexing indicated the source of the scream, saying, "Look, my dear soulmate, another opportunity to accumulate merit has surfaced."
Zhou Zishu hesitated but ultimately chose to move towards the sound, reluctantly responding, “Eye problems are serious, Brother Wen. You should see a doctor soon.”
Wen Kexing kept close behind. Zhou Zishu’s qinggong had advanced to the point that he could move without leaving a trace, yet Wen Kexing kept pace effortlessly, always maintaining a small gap. Normally, travelers remain silent to conserve vital energy, but Wen Kexing seemed unconcerned. “Brother Zhou is very correct; I really need to see some renowned physicians for proper treatment. Until now, I still can't detect any flaws in Brother Zhou’s disguise. My eyesight is getting worse each day, and I’m not even that old. How shameful, how shameful.”
Zhou Zishu was eager to eliminate the eyes that supposedly "worsen each day."
However, he realized he didn’t know enough about this man. With the intelligence and self-control of a former Tian Chuang leader, he would avoid doing something reckless like that.
They quickly advanced into the deeper part of the forest, where they soon encountered a corpse.
The individual met a gruesome end: wearing black clothes, his mask fallen aside, exposing wide-open eyes. Zhou Zishu felt a sense of familiarity even before seeing the body clearly, prompting him to bend down for a closer look. He then couldn’t help but frown and say, “Isn’t this… Sir Mu, the lord of Duan Jian Mountain Manor?”
This morning, he was rambling aimlessly for an hour. No one would have guessed that he had also become a “night owl” like Zhou Zishu, only to turn into a dead owl, sadly.
Wen Kexing also moved closer, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, and said, "Moonlit night, black clothes, it’s possible that…”
Zhou Zishu shifted his gaze to the other, eager to listen to his conclusions.
Only for Wen Kexing to continue his brilliant train of thought: “…that Lord Mu is out here picking flowers[4]?”
Zhou Zishu turned away with an expressionless face, internally congratulating himself on maintaining his composure.
Mu Yunge’s body and the area around him showed no blood, but his lips had turned bluer. After some contemplation, Zhou Zishu unbuttoned the front of his shirt, revealing only a black hand-shaped mark on his chest.
[1] Also known as the Beggar Clan, it’s one of the most common sects in a wuxia setting. It’s made up of beggars and is famous for intelligence gathering.
[2] A Chinese breed of domestic cat.
[3] 某 (mǒu) is an old-fashioned honorific used to refer to oneself formally.
[4] Slang for sexual harassment, looking to rape someone
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