An Ping felt that if he truly were dreaming, he would have likely tumbled out of bed in shock by now.
He couldn't have misheard—this person was called Mu Gesheng? The same Mu Gesheng he knew?
He had thought "Old Fourth" looked somewhat familiar earlier, but hadn't paid it much mind. This youth appeared to be thirteen or fourteen, whereas the Mu Gesheng he knew had been held back for three years and was at least in his early twenties.
Their features might have been similar, but their temperaments were worlds apart. An Ping studied the youth beneath the moonlight; his eyes were bright and his spirit was soaring. How on earth did this person grow up to be such a money-grubbing charlatan?
Well, he was certainly just as stingy back then.
Silver light flashed as the two figures collided in battle, shattering the reflection of the moon upon the lake into a thousand shimmering shards.
Mu Gesheng and Chai Shuxin seemed evenly matched. The water of the pond was whipped into a frenzy, surging like a stormy sea. An Ping watched, enthralled, only realizing after a moment that despite the massive commotion, no one from the Chai residence had come out to intervene. Did this family simply have incredible sleep hygiene?
Mu Gesheng voiced his doubt almost immediately. "We’re making such a racket; won't someone report you for disturbing the peace in the morning?"
"The Nine-Fold Corridor of the Chai Residence keeps out both gods and ghosts," Chai Shuxin said coldly. "Within these corridors, there is only entry, no exit. No sound can escape."
Upon hearing this, Mu Gesheng pulled out a copper coin and flicked his wrist, throwing it toward the long corridor by the lakeshore. "What about now?"
The coin tore through the wall with a thunderous crash, and half the corridor instantly collapsed.
"There, now it’s an Eight-Fold Corridor," Mu Gesheng said, clapping his hands. "The soundproofing is bound to be weaker now. Disturbing the neighbors late at night is hardly the behavior of a gentleman. I’ve heard Young Master Chai is a man of gravity; are you sure you want to keep fighting?"
An Ping was stunned by this casual act of demolition. Chai Shuxin froze for a moment before his face flushed with sudden fury. "The Tiansuan Sect passes down only forty-nine Mountain Ghost Flower Coins to each successor, and you’re using them to smash walls?"
An Ping pressed a hand to his forehead. *Brother, your priorities are all wrong. You shouldn't be worried about Mu Gesheng’s money; you should be worried about your house.*
"Money can’t buy my happiness," Mu Gesheng replied, sounding quite generous for once. "This is called 'spending money to buy peace.'"
Chai Shuxin snapped his long sleeves, seemingly finding the man beyond words. Silver needles fell like a torrential rain, but Mu Gesheng refused to engage head-on, turning tail and bolting.
A moment later, another loud crash echoed. Another room had collapsed.
The two fought from the dead of night until dawn, one fleeing and the other pursuing. In just a few hours, Mu Gesheng had dismantled three corridors and nine rooms. When Old Second arrived in the morning to pick him up, he stared at the bare entrance of the Chai residence. "Where did your front gate go?"
"Good morning to you, sir," the servant bowed. "Young Master Mu smashed it with his money."
"Nonsense," Old Second said without hesitation. "Old Fourth isn't that generous."
The servant: "..."
Old Second was led inside, stopping before a small building—the same infirmary from the day before. Pushing the door open, he found Mu Gesheng lying on a couch being bandaged, wrapped up like a half-finished zongzi. "Yo, Old Second, morning." Despite being covered in bruises, the boy was still grinning. "I'm hungry. Is that wonton stall at the East Gate open yet?"
"I sent him here to be treated for injuries." Old Second paused, looking at the servant nearby. "Did your household give him another beating?"
"Hey, no, no, don't make things hard for them," Mu Gesheng said through the bandages he was biting, his voice muffled. "I just had a bit of a scrap with someone. Feeling bad for me? Then buy me dinner."
"Serves you right," Old Second said bluntly. "You’ve always been asking for a beating."
"You’ve got it all wrong," Mu Gesheng said triumphantly. "That little doctor is hurt worse than I am. They just dug him out of the rubble; he took quite a hit. I doubt he’ll be up and about soon."
"Little doctor?" Old Second narrowed his eyes. "Who did you fight?"
"Take a guess."
"You bastard... you didn't fight Chai Shuxin, did you?"
The window snapped open as a burst of laughter erupted, startling the birds in the corridor into flight.
"Hahahahaha! You should have seen the look on that little doctor's face!" Mu Gesheng slammed the table, howling with laughter. "It was as cold as the dead of winter! Hahahaha, that guy is too much fun!"
"Fight if you must, but why did you tear down his house?" Old Second sat opposite him with a cold snort. "Pathetic."
"Our skills are about the same. If we fought seriously, a quick skirmish would be fine, but I couldn't win a war of attrition," Mu Gesheng said, swaying with laughter. "In a normal fight, I’m fine, but that little doctor is from the Chai family of the Medicine School. Their school isn't a martial one, but their needle-flicking techniques aren't something ordinary moves can defend against. I only have seventeen Mountain Ghost Flower Coins on me, while he has hundreds, if not thousands, of silver needles in his sleeves. Wouldn't I be seeking death by going head-to-head? I had no choice but to find other ways to annoy him."
"Underhanded tactics. A hollow victory."
"I was an injured patient; him chasing me down was the real hollow victory." Mu Gesheng flopped back onto the couch. "Forget it, neither of us gained anything. But that little doctor is interesting. I’ll have to find him to play again next time."
"You tore down half the Chai residence and you think there’ll be a next time?"
"Heaven always leaves a path. At worst, I’ll just cast a hex before I come to see which door to enter." Mu Gesheng pulled out a copper coin, tossing it idly in his hand. "By the way, Old Second, if that little doctor fought you, how many rounds could he last?"
"Without my blade, within twenty rounds."
"That’s perfect!" Mu Gesheng slapped his thigh. "Next time you come with me, he won't dare fight me!"
"Keep dreaming your idiotic dreams," Old Second refused flatly. "I’m not fighting him."
"Huh?" Mu Gesheng blinked in surprise. "That’s rare. Is there actually someone in this world that Song Wentong is afraid to fight?"
"He is of the Medicine School. The Seven Houses of the Philosophers are forbidden from internal conflict."
"Don't you start acting like the high-and-mighty Mohist Successor now. Where was all this 'solidarity and love' when you were chasing me around to beat me up?"
"That’s because you deserve it," Song Wentong said. "You know who Chai Shuxin is, right?"
"I know. One of the Seven Houses, the Chai family of the Medicine School. He’s the head of the Chais, the current Lingxuzi, presiding over the Medicine School and ranked among the Philosophers."
Song Wentong snorted. "Of the Seven Houses, only six have endured through the ages: the Tiansuanzi of the Heavenly House, the Changshengzi of the Immortal House, the Xingsuzi of the Star House, the Lingxuzi of the Medicine House, the Wuchangzi of the Yin-Yang House, and the Moji of the Mohist House. Among them, the Chai family’s medical skills are peerless. Three thousand years ago, they took leadership of the Medicine School, and since then, every head of the Chai family has been one of the Philosophers. Even the Master has to address him as 'Lingxuzi.' You bloody well beat him up—do you think the Master won't punish you?"
"You don't need to rattle on like that. You just want to say he’s a big deal, right? Of the Seven Houses, I hang out with two of them every day," Mu Gesheng said recklessly. "Besides, aren't you, the grand Mohist Moji, always getting punished by Master too? Are you scared?"
"I can beat Chai Shuxin, and I’m not afraid of the Master’s punishment," Song Wentong said. "But in the entire Ginkgo Academy, no one except you would provoke him."
"Why?"
"Overthrowing a king is a small matter; beating a member of the Medicine School to death is a death wish. If your fate isn't strong enough, don't provoke the person who can save your life." Song Wentong smacked Mu Gesheng on the head. "You’ve been dragged back from the gates of hell several times. Who the hell do you think had the ability to save your half-dead hide?"
Mu Gesheng froze, looking incredulous. "The person who saved me those times... was that little doctor? For real?"
Song Wentong met him with a cold stare.
Mu Gesheng pondered for a moment. "Am I screwed? Is it too late to apologize?"
"Too late."
"What if I cling to his leg and beg?"
"He’d probably give you another thrashing."
"Then forget it. Why should I go looking for a beating? I’ll find a chance to make it up to him later." Mu Gesheng didn't dwell on it, standing up casually. "Give me a hand."
"Stop being so damn delicate. Don't touch me." Song Wentong stepped back and handed over his sheathed blade. "Use this as a crutch."
"Sigh, look at me—no father to love me, no mother to care, and even my brother can't stand me." Mu Gesheng hugged the blade and sighed. "Provoking people outside, only to have to travel miles back to the mountain to complain to Master."
"Are you done talking nonsense?"
"Not yet. Listen or don't." Mu Gesheng rolled his eyes. "You’d better find some cotton to plug your ears. Once we see Master, I’ll have even more to say... Hey, what are you doing? I’m warning you, I’m an injured patient!"
"Shutting you up."
As the saying goes, there is always a higher mountain. Their skills were simply not on the same level. Mu Gesheng, who had run wild in the Chai residence all night without being caught, was flipped over in a single move by Song Wentong and carried out like a piece of luggage.
Song Wentong carried him without slowing his pace, heading straight out of the city.
Outside the city was a mountain; on the mountain was a temple; and within the temple was an academy.
The courtyard was filled with ginkgo trees, their ancient branches high and the ground covered in gold. Four characters were inscribed on the plaque above the vermilion gates: *Ginkgo Academy*.
The academy didn't look large from the outside, but inside, the corridors were deep and winding. Song Wentong navigated the turns, finally stopping before a water pavilion. He bowed behind a curtain. "Master, your student has returned."
"It is good that you are safe. What trouble have you brought back from the mountain this time?" a voice tinged with amusement drifted out. "My, such a large piece of luggage. Is it a local specialty bought from the city?"
The bamboo curtain was half-rolled, revealing a man in white sitting by the water. He was elegant and refined, like a transcendent immortal.
Unfortunately, the immortal was partially crippled.
An Ping watched with a sigh. Truly, no one was perfect; even the beautiful ones had fatal flaws. Song Wentong was full of profanity, Mu Gesheng was obsessed with money, Chai Shuxin was unapproachable, and this Master of the Ginkgo Academy, who looked no older than thirty, had hair as white as snow and sat in a wheelchair.
Song Wentong knelt. "Old Fourth has erred. I have brought him for Master’s punishment."
Mu Gesheng, who was tied up like a bundle, let out a series of muffled protests.
"Enough, you lot are always taking turns filing complaints." The Master smiled. "It seems Gesheng was the one caught this time. It’s rare to see you down on your luck. Tell me, what did you do?"
Mu Gesheng glared at Song Wentong.
Song Wentong tsked and untied him. Mu Gesheng spat out the cloth gag and immediately threw a kick, which was blocked by the other’s blade.
He took the opportunity to kneel, his expression changing instantly into that of a wronged little wife. "Greetings, Master."
"Since you’ve erred, stay kneeling for now," the Master chuckled. "What mess did you get into this time?"
Mu Gesheng was uncharacteristically well-behaved, kneeling properly as he recounted the facts. "Your disciple knows his mistake. Master may punish me however he wishes, as long as I don't have to pay money."
"Oh? And if I make you pay?"
"Then your disciple has no choice," Mu Gesheng said honestly. "I’ll just have to steal Old Second’s blade and pawn it."
Before he could finish, Song Wentong’s blade slid an inch out of its scabbard with a *clack*, his face expressionless.
"...So, to avoid the tragedy of brothers killing each other, please reconsider, Master," Mu Gesheng added smoothly.
"Not a good plan. Wentong’s Shihong Blade is fine, but it’s not worth as much as his face," the Master said, waving a hand with a smile. "If you had the ability to sell him into the Guanshan Yue brothel, that would be a truly lucrative venture."
An Ping was speechless. Like master, like disciple; the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Song Wentong seemed used to such talk, his face sour. "Master, you joke."
"It’s no big deal. Shuxin is not an unreasonable person; just find a chance to clear the air," the Master waved them off. "Gesheng, go kneel in the Incense Hall for ten double-hours. Once you’re done, cast a hex."
"Your disciple understands." Mu Gesheng bowed his head to accept the punishment. "May I ask Master, what should I calculate?"
"Calculate a destiny, find a time. See when it is appropriate for you to go and apologize."
"The Chai residence is still in ruins. Isn't Master afraid Old Fourth will be beaten out with clubs?"
"That depends on whether Gesheng’s hex is accurate," the Master laughed. "A successor of the Tiansuan Sect who cannot cast an accurate hex deserves to be beaten and punished."
***
Midnight.
Mu Gesheng was still kneeling in the Incense Hall. Though called an Incense Hall, it held no statues of gods or Buddhas. The four walls were covered in white paper. On the wall facing the door hung a couplet: the right side read "Small Hex: Ten Coins," the left side read "Medium Hex: Two Taels," and the horizontal scroll above read "Pay Up."
The window opened quietly, and Song Wentong hopped inside. "You’re not done kneeling?"
"Begone, monster," Mu Gesheng muttered, eyes half-closed as he dozed. "Do not disturb a poor monk’s pure dreams."
"It seems you haven't knelt long enough."
"Thanks for the concern, but there’s still half a double-hour left." Mu Gesheng stretched. "Master really doesn't pull his punches. Ten double-hours right off the bat. I’ve already woken up three times."
"You deserve it." Song Wentong looked at the couplet on the wall. "Did you write this damn thing? How has Master not beaten you to death yet?"
"Just hung it up. Classy, right? It’s called 'Prosperity begins with me.'"
Song Wentong ignored him. "Small Hex is ten coins, Medium Hex is two taels. What about a Great Hex?"
"I don't do Great Hexes." Mu Gesheng yawned. "Is this how you visit someone? You didn't bring anything to show your respect?"
"I did." Song Wentong opened the bundle on his back, and a rich aroma immediately filled the room. "I specifically asked someone to go down the mountain for these. Beef fried dumplings from the East City stall, tofu skin buns with bamboo shoot filling, and a final pot of crispy fried duck tongues from Baiwei Restaurant..."
"Not bad, not bad. It’s rare for you to be so thoughtful, Old Second." Mu Gesheng’s face lit up, and he reached out to take some. Song Wentong suddenly stepped back, leisurely walking to the other side of the room. "I didn't bring these for you."
"What?"
"I’ll eat standing up," the other said, picking up a bun. "You watch while kneeling."
"...Song Wentong," Mu Gesheng said with a pleasant smile. "You motherfucker."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 诸子七家 | Seven Houses of the Philosophers | A group of seven influential families/sects based on the Hundred Schools of Thought. |
| 天算门 | Tiansuan Sect | The "Heavenly Calculation" sect, specializing in divination and fate. |
| 墨家 | Mohist School | One of the Seven Houses, known for craftsmanship and martial skill. |
| 药家 | Medicine School | One of the Seven Houses, the Chai family's sect. |
| 山鬼花钱 | Mountain Ghost Flower Coin | A type of numismatic charm/talisman used by the Tiansuan Sect. |
| 灵枢子 | Lingxuzi | The title for the head of the Medicine School (Chai family). |
| 墨子 | Moji | The title for the head of the Mohist School. |
| 天算子 | Tiansuanzi | The title for the head of the Tiansuan Sect. |
| 长生子 | Changshengzi | The title for the head of the Immortal House (Xianjia). |
| 星宿子 | Xingsuzi | The title for the head of the Star House (Zhujia). |
| 无常子 | Wuchangzi | The title for the head of the Yin-Yang House. |
| 银杏书斋 | Ginkgo Academy | The school where the protagonists study. |
| 舐红刀 | Shihong Blade | Song Wentong's weapon; literally "Crimson-Licking Blade." |
| 关山月 | Guanshan Yue | A brothel/entertainment house mentioned in the text. |
| 粽子 | Zongzi | Sticky rice dumplings; used here to describe someone wrapped tightly in bandages. |
