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Temples across the land were always built after choosing their locations with great care. Those perched atop famous mountains or deep within remote valleys usually indicated a focus on the Dao, as they were cut off from the mortal world.
Those halfway up a mountain meant they had one foot in the secular world yet kept one foot in the immortal path. Those at the foot of a mountain practiced cultivation within the mortal realm, forming connections with people.
Lastly, those built within cities naturally relied on incense offerings and human presence. Thus, temples in cities were often surrounded by thriving commerce and bustling crowds.
***
In the west, along the old streets near the Fertility Goddess Temple.
Shops lined both sides of the street, but unlike the incense and funeral goods stores near the City God Temple, most of these stores were artisan shops.
They included leatherworkers, goldsmiths, carpenters, stonemasons, and even more specialized trades, including harness makers, shadow puppet craftsmen, furniture makers, and even instrument makers for performers.
Several men from the White Ape Gang strode through the street. Unlike the Iron Blade Gang, Yuan Qu had grown up around brothels and learned the importance of one’s appearance. His men were uniformly dressed in black jackets, boots, and thick leather belts.
They were big, burly and even more intimidating when in a group. Passersby quickly avoided their path, fear evident in their eyes.
Soon, they arrived at a secluded shop. Rows of lifelike wooden puppets dressed in opera costumes, faces painted in vivid masks, hung outside. These included Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou puppets[1].
It was clear it was a puppet-making shop. Puppet theater, also called “small opera,” originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty, till even Tang Dynasty emperors composed verses about it.
The reason it was called small opera was because these performances took place on miniature stages, hidden behind curtains. Within this small space, skilled hands and voices could bring entire stories to life.
Xianyang’s puppet shows were equally famous. A troupe of just a few performers could travel to village fairs, making it a common trade.
Inside the old shop, a middle-aged man dressed in white was carefully carving a puppet. He had long black hair, narrow eyes, and a cold expression as his slender fingers carefully shaved wood away. He seemed oddly out of place in the worn-down shop. Even when he heard footsteps, he remained fully focused.
The men of the White Ape Gang didn’t dare step inside, and instead, bowed deeply at the entrance.
“Master Chen, our chief requests your help.”
The man didn’t look up, simply grunting, “What about what I asked for?”
“Rest assured, Master Chen, only one item remains. Our chief says it’s crowded during the day. Everything will be delivered to your residence tonight.”
***
Four hours later, in the Yuan Family’s residence.
Unlike the Iron Blade Gang’s rough style, Yuan Qu lived like a wealthy noble. He had a grand house and landscaped gardens. Extravagance was on full display everywhere. Perhaps because he had grown up poor, he splurged wherever he could.
At the gate, a servant led a young man inside. “Master Zhou, this way.”
Tall and broad-browed, with bright eyes and dignified features, the young man carried an air of fierce vitality. He was dressed in fine robes, with a jade thumb ring adorning his finger.
This was Zhou Bai, the prodigy of the Zhou Family.
The moment he entered the courtyard, Yuan Qu rushed forward with a fawning smile on his face. “Zhou Bai, it's hard to invite you over these days. Have you learned your master’s true skills and started looking down on your Uncle Yuan?”
“Uncle Yuan jests.” Zhou Bai bowed slightly, but somewhat impatiently. Glancing around, he said, “Your garden’s grown even grander. My uncle once said if you weren’t so obsessed with luxury, you would be far stronger.”
“Hahaha!” Yuan Qu laughed. “I’m old now. Unlike you young ones who push forward endlessly, it’s time for me to live my life in contentment. Hearing your name resound in the jianghu is enough to satisfy me.”
Zhou Bai didn’t respond to his claims. Instead, he sighed, “Why did you call me over?”
Yuan Qu smiled mysteriously. “You’ll see inside.”
He led Zhou Bai into the hall. Inside, a large macaque sat on a chair, chained at the neck. It was tearing into a live chicken, blood dripping from its mouth. It looked almost human, but its eyes gleamed with ferocity.
Across from it sat the white-robed man from earlier, calmly fingering prayer beads with half-closed eyes. He barely glanced at them.
Yuan Qu introduced him quickly. “Zhou Bai, this is Master Chen Fakui, a master of the Nine Essence Sect.”
Zhou Bai was startled and bowed respectfully. “I greet Master Chen.”
In the jianghu, the merchants led trades, but those in the mystic path stood above all.
The Taixuan Orthodox Sect served as their state religion, but ordinary jianghu folk rarely encountered them, often only dealing with local ritual lineages. However, the Nine Essence Sect, originating from Mount Li, was ancient. They were said to descend from craftsmen who built Qin Shihuang’s tomb, and had inherited esoteric knowledge.
Their disciples bore the character “Fa” in their names. There was no question about it, from his introduction, Chen Fakui was a ritualist of the Nine Essence Sect!
Why involve a ritualist?
Zhou Bai frowned, then looked at the monkey. “Uncle Yuan, why is this beast here?”
Monkey Boxing existed in many forms, even within the Red Fist. In fact, Zhou Pan had mastered Monkey Boxing, eventually combining his techniques to reach the Jin Transformation Realm. He had learned the essence of Monkey Boxing by observing two macaques he captured from Zhongnan Mountain.
He cherished the creatures, even calling them “boxing beasts.” After becoming the leader of the Divine Fist Association, he required challengers to defeat the monkeys before facing him. It was part of his infamous reputation. Those monkeys were always by his side.
Zhou Bai was puzzled to see one in this courtyard.
“I requested it from your master.” Yuan Qu smiled. “The duel is near. You have the form, but lack ferocity. So I paid a high price to have Master Chen help you awaken your ferocity. Your master has already agreed.”
Zhou Bai frowned. “It’s just a bumpkin from the countryside. Do you doubt my skills?”
“I have full confidence in you.” Yuan Qu smiled. “But Zhang Yuanshang doesn’t move without reason. If that boy were weak, would he bother? So it is not just that you must win, but your victory has to be clean. If you kill Li Hu’s son decisively, your master may let you leave and make your name in the jianghu.”
Zhou Bai’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Yuan Qu revealed a sincere smile. “Of course.”
Chen Fakui stepped forward. He took hair from Zhou Bai and the monkey, wrapped them in talismans, and placed the talismans in their mouths.
Zhou Bai felt uneasy. He had learned as a youth to never give hair or personal essence to ritualists. But since Zhou Pan had approved, he could only endure it.
Meanwhile, Chen Fakui ignored his wariness. He took out a small drum painted with a diagram of the Eight Trigrams, shaking it while stepping in patterns around the cage. His hair whipped wildly, eyes rolling back, as he chanted rapidly in unintelligible language.
As the drum rattled, Zhou Bai felt the monkey’s aura seep into him. His body twitched and his knees bent. He started scratching his head, mimicking the monkey. Soon, man and beast began performing Monkey Boxing together. Every move was sharp and brutal.
Zhou Bai’s eyes soon grew wild.
Crack!
He grabbed a beam, leaving claw marks on them. Laughing wildly, he bounded like a monkey, baring his teeth.
“Excellent!” Yuan Qu applauded, with barely concealed mockery in his gaze.
***
Night fell.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Near the City God Temple, drumbeats still echoed. Each strike thundered like lightning.
Wang Daoxuan returned, lantern in hand. He stopped to watch Li Yan in the courtyard, lost in a near-mad trance.
Sha Lifei sat on the steps, holding wine and feasting on the snacks beside him. “Daoist Wang, want some?”
Wang Daoxuan shook his head. “No. Drinking now disrupts my cultivation.”
Sha Lifei muttered, “Who can cultivate with that noise?”
Wang Daoxuan sighed. “I’ve informed the neighbors. Anyway, they don’t mind.”
“I’m not complaining. I’m just worried.” Sha Lifei shook his head and continued, “He’s been at it all day without food. The duel’s in two days; what if something goes wrong?”
Wang Daoxuan studied Li Yan carefully before giving his assessment. “He’s in a trance now. He knows what he’s doing. Let’s just wait.”
***
That night, the entire street suffered. But strangely enough, by midnight, the drum no longer sounded harsh. It became… almost soothing.
For the first time in a long while, everyone slept peacefully.
1. These are the five traditional role categories in traditional Chinese theatre. You can find more information about them here: >https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Sheng,%20Dan,%20Jing,%20Mo,%20Chou/1477615 ☜
