Li Yuan settled into life in the little town. After breakfast buns each morning he’d lounge by the window, teasing the sparrows that perched there. When those birds flew off again, they were his eyes, circling high and scouting the countryside.1

Bai Lingshui got to work.0

She penned a letter and sent it through to the Holy Tree Temple’s third gate. Then she fanned the rumor-mill, but with a delicate touch.0

Speaking as Bubba’s friend, she described him as a reclusive youngster from the deep mountains, innocent of worldly ways, obsessed with martial arts. She also wrote that he’d already beaten a fifth rank master and now longed to test himself against the illustrious temple master Qing Hancheng. Should the temple master comment, the duel would take place at Flying Swallow Terrace on the night of the Mid Autumn full...0