Heartbroken Arrow

CHAPTER 2
AMBUSH

The stove’s flame wavered, and although the smoke from the flame seemed normal, yet there was also about it a cold, lonely quality; if the person in front of the stove could feel it, how could Fan Kuzhu, standing outside the doorway, not feel it too?

Softly, Fan Kuzhu said in a low voice, “Little Croton…”

The person suddenly stiffened, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. He shook his head, and resumed his business, extending his hand to lift the lid of the pot.

Entering the room, Fan Kuzhu raised his voice slightly, and again said, “Little Croton, it’s me.”

The person’s arm froze in mid-air, and he slowly turned around. He stared blankly for some time at Fan Kuzhu before suddenly bursting into sobs. He fell down before Fan Kuzhu and, holding onto Fan’s legs, said, “Master, Master, it’s really you. I thought I would never see you again… Master, without you, this house is on its way to ruin…”

Fan Kuzhu helped Little Croton to his feet, and looking at the young man’s still childish face, he saw now a face tearstained, revealing the desperation and joy from having been rescued. Yet this face was much thinner than before, more pallid. Fan Kuzhu sighed and said, “Where is everyone? Except for you, I haven’t seen anyone else here.”

Little Croton wiped his tears with his sleeve, and said hoarsely, “Madame sent everyone away, only leaving me to look after the house; five or six days ago Uncle Tong suddenly showed up. He told Madame that your case took a sudden turn for the worse, that the Taichang government had already decided to execute you in the fall. They were just waiting for the document to be sent down from the Ministry of Punishments. Madame was afraid the whole family would be implicated…”

Fan Kuzhu said quietly, “Then, where did my wife go?”

Little Croton shook his head. “She went with Uncle Tong. She didn’t say where to, and I didn’t dare ask. But before he left, Uncle Tong made it clear that he was still going to do all within his power to rescue you from prison…”

Fan Kuzhu crossed his arms, his face locked in thought. He had no words.

Little Croton asked timidly, “Master… Your escape from prison, did Master Tong think of a way to get you out?”

Fan Kuzhu said clumsily, “You could say that he thought of a way…”

Did he, did he not, what did this ambiguous “you could say that” mean? Little Croton was perplexed, but he didn’t dare probe further. With drooping hands he said, “Master, have you eaten yet? Why don’t you have a seat. I’ll bring you some food right away…”

Fan Kuzhu did as he said in a daze, walking along the small slabstone path leading to the hall, his mind a disorderly mess, his heart a tangle of innumerable doubts. This maze of doubts must, one by one, be sorted out and made clear.

At that very moment, without warning, a flash of dazzling blue cold light suddenly shot out from the shadows of the trees, quick and powerful, swiftly flashing for his throat!

Fan Kuzhu tilted his head back. That blue cold light scraped his Adam’s apple—it was a double-edged dagger. Judging from its luster, it was likely dipped with poison.

Only a light sound broke the air, and again three more violent burst of blue light followed. Fan Kuzhu sneered and he darted and curled his body like a snake, letting each sharp dagger pass by one by one.

Then, two human figures, like owls, sprang forth. They broke off and came for him in a pincer attack!

Fan Kuzhu didn’t wait for them to secure their positions. He jumped up—brandishing both hands and chopping down. He danced in the air like a hawk, so fast words could not express it, and so strange one could not believe it, using angles to flank his opponent from the rear. Then, using his left foot, he shot out a lightning-like kick. There was a grunt and one of them dropped hard to the ground.

The other enemy reached up, his tiger-headed hook sword aimed horizontal, now dropping down, his reaction definitely not slow. But Fan Kuzhu shot past him three spans and in a flash he was around his enemy, and with a single palm knocked the tiger-headed hook sword out of his enemy’s hands, sending it scattering a stave1 away.

For someone, while in mid-air, to be able to execute such fast and varied moves, and with such beautiful form, and to do it so easy and smooth and naturally, was really difficult to believe; to see his skill displayed like this caused one to think of fish swimming in the water, or birds circling in the sky, so natural and suitable were his movements, that it seemed like he was born to float through the air!

Fan Kuzhu came down and landed on the dry leaves without a sound. Those two uninvited guests were still lying in a daze on the ground, unable to move a step. Fan Kuzhu raised his hands, and ready for action, strode forward. From a corner of the wall, from the shadows, came a low and hoarse voice. “Such great skill, Fan Kuzhu. Definitely worthy of being leader of the Magic Wing Sect!”

Still and quiet, Fan Kuzhu faced the direction the sound had come from and watched attentively, but he said nothing.

A person slowly emerged from the gloom. He was bony, and in the gloomy light of dusk his complexion was like wax, his eye sockets like deep pits, his eyes suffused with a strange dark green brilliance. Wrapped in his black gown, he looked like a corpse that had just crawled out of its grave.

Fan Kuzhu remained silent, only looking at the man opposite.

The man’s hair was sparse, bald on the top, his few strands of hair hanging down from the sides to his shoulders. His whole appearance making him look like someone not of this world—he came forward, stopping five steps before Fan Kuzhu, both eyes shining green.

“Fan Kuzhu, do you know who I am?”

Fan Kuzhu said indiferently, “You’re very unfamiliar.”

With a rustling laugh, the man said, “In the remote Mongolian highlands, there is a place filled with yellow sand. At this place there is only one small lake, a saltwater lake. The sand is not strange, and the lake is also ordinary. However, because there is an esoteric master living in seclusion on the bank of the lake, this place can be considered very much out of the ordinary. Fan Kuzhu, that esoteric master’s name is Maka, though those who know him respectfully address him as ‘Bloody Handprint’ Suzerain Maka.”

The way he told the story, it lacked something; it ought to have had a relaxed feeling; the person laughed and laughed, then said, “Suzerain Maka once founded a religious sect, called the ‘Far West Sect’, which never spread into the Central Plains. But there was one member who has lived in and out of the Central Plains for twenty years. This person is the only representative of the Far West Sect within the Central Plains. Fan Kuzhu, have you ever heard the words from this song? ‘Yellow sand boundless, lake water clear, glittering green-eyed Celestial Scorpion Star…’”

His cheek muscles twitched, and Fan Kuzhu said slowly, “Celestial Scorpion Star Chai Jia?”

That sallow dried up face cracked into an odd smile, and the man said, “I am pleased. At least you know that within the martial world of the Central Plains there is the one called Chai Jia.”

Fan Kuzhu, his face expressionless, said, “So you came here to tell me your background and announce that you are Chai Jia?”

Chai Jia said, “Of course it’s not that simple. To tell the truth, I came here for only one reason, to take your life!”

Fan Kuzhu said emotionlessly, “So my calculations are not far off. Ever since you showed up I knew your intentions were evil!”

Raising his head and gazing at the gloomy sky, Chai Jai said, “I brought two disciples with me and told them to go first in order to test just how skilled you were. Fan Kuzhu, you did not disappoint me. If you had not been able to defeat these two disciples within three moves, my trip here would not have been worth it!”

Fan Kuzhu said gravely, “Is there some past enmity between us?”

Chai Jia shook his head. “We have never met, how could there be any enmity between us?”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Then, you were sent by someone?”

With a flick of his sleeve and a forced smile, Chai Jia said, “You could say that.”

Fan Kuzhu dropped his eyes. He looked like he was absorbed in contemplating his old, outdated cloth shoes. “Who?”

Chai Jia said, “I can’t tell you that; though even though I can’t tell you, Fan Kuzhu, I really feel sorry for you, and I really sympathize with the injustice you’ve faced. You put too much trust in others, always believing they are good, kindhearted people.”

Fan Kuzhu said, “You flatter me. But, reason and reality must be separated. You can’t combine them, right?”

Chai Jia nodded. “Quite right. Fan Kuzhu, you see things clearly. It makes me feel a bit warm towards you.”

By this time the two disciples were already on their feet and took a few falteringly steps forward. Chai Jia did not even look up at them. “This concerns neither of you. You two can go.”

The two disciples readily obeyed and stumbled out the gates—Chai Jia said calmly, “Those two put themselves at great risk; I feel bad for them. I never told them who their target was, and I never told them the reason for attacking you.”

Fan Kuzhu said frankly, “That’s the plight of the nobody. They can only do it, and would never dare question why they had to do it. Chai Jia, the nobodies of the world are all like this…”

How could Chai Jin not pick up on his implied meaning? His green eyes flashed, yet he said without anger, “I am second of the nine masters of the Far West Sect, certainly not a nobody. If I don’t want to do something, no one can force me to. I only do the things I wish to do, such as come here to find you. You can rest assured this was my decision!”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Perhaps there is some other reason motivating you?”

Chai Jia’s manner suddenly sitffened. “Maybe there is, but it is no concern of yours. Fan Kuzhu, right now you should be worrying about how to hold onto your life. Other minor matters you should not worry about!”

Fan Kuzhu looked at his opponent and softly said, “Very good. Now we can begin.”

Chai Jia took three steps back, and both hands retracted back into his broad sleeves. When they came back out, each was grasping a glittering short crescent moon sabre. He said in a low voice, “Show your weapon, Fan Kuzhu.”

Fan Kuzhu laughed. “I don’t have my weapon with me. It was put in storage before I was met with this unfortunate mishap. I think, you probably don’t want me to go get it?”

Chai Jia hesitated, then said, “That’s right. I would feel uneasy… Usually, I never use weapons to deal with an unarmed opponent, but you are no ordinary enemy. Fan Kuzhu, don’t think I am taking advantage. Blame yourself for not being more vigilant!”

Fan Kuzhu sneered, “Yes, I certainly lack vigilance. I never thought I would have to keep my weapon with me at all times even when at my own house. On the other hand, you only show up once prepared. Naturally, you must have a wary heart!”

Chai Jia said, “I by no means believe I have an advantage over you, and I also won’t be roused; since ancient times, matters of life and death have never been all that fair.”

Fan Kuzhu spread his hands out in a helpless gesture──but just as his hands began to spread out he suddenly flew in a rage toward Chai Jia as if launched by an invisible spring!

Chai Jia had been ready for him, dropping down at the first sign of Fan Kuzhu’s movement, his short-handled crescent moon sabre slashing out as he sprang back up from the ground. Fan Kuzhu suddenly leapt up, flipping over in the air nineteen times, somersaulting and flipping from nineteen different angles, his hands and feet working together quick as lightnng. Even more amazing was that during those nineteen flips his feet never once touched the ground!

Chai Jia, the so-called Celestial Scorpion Star, was a powerhouse himself. His black robes flapped through the air as he went after Fan Kuzhu, whirling and fluttering in the air as he attacked, like ashes from burned paper money circling in the wind, or like a crow flapping its wings. Occasionally he would strike, his crescent blade winking in and out, not yielding one bit!

One was darting like a winged hawk or peng,2 one was floating like a formless specter. Sparks flew when they came in contact, sparking seventeen times, seventeen moves without either taking the advantage.

Suddenly, Chai Jia pressed in close as Fan Kuzhu swiped out six hand chops, dodging each as it came, the crescent moon sabre in his right hand sweeping out in a crosscut as he moved hard a couple spans, the sabre in his left hand blocking off his opponent’s retreat.

As Chai Jia risked darting through the gaps in Fan Kuzhu’s palm strikes, Fan Kuzhu realized his enemy was risking it all to get the upper hand. Chai Jia’s tumbling was a feint while his sabre slashed at his chest; Fan Kuzhu couldn’t dodge to the side just then──he didn’t retreat, nor did he clash from the sides, but flew forwards instead, causing Chai Jia’s attacks to miss their mark!

Fan Kuzhu was just out of danger, his body spinning in the air urgently, and suddenly he was behind Chai Jia, his hand chopping down like a demon’s curse viciously and precisely toward Chai Jia’s spine.

It was too late for him to dodge, and he couldn’t turn back the sabre in his left hand in time. He suddenly howled madly, his right hand coming at Fan Kuzhu, swollen and reddened.

Yep, the Esoteric Sect’s unrivaled “Bloody Handprint”.

Fan Kuzhu knew full well what would happen if he met the Bloody Handprint head on. He raised his shoulders and hooked his leg around Chai Jia’s elbow just as the Bloody Handprint was about to release its energy. He flicked his toes up and there was a sharp crack of bones colliding and Chai Jia fell back three steps, nearly knocked flat on his butt!

The kick hit Chai Jia right in the chin, nearly dislocating his jaw. The pain was secondary to the fact that Fan Kuzhu’s kick had destroyed the confidence and honor he had held for half his life!

Fan Kuzhu didn’t follow up with another strike but just stood there quietly, calmly awaiting Chai Jia’s response.

Chai Jia struggled to hold back the tears stinging his eyes; his whole lower jaw was numb, as if his jaw had been kicked clean off. In fact, he felt disheartened and resentful as if he really had lost half his face. He shook his head hard, the pupils of his green eyes contracting. “Fan Kuzhu, I’ll say it again, that’s some fine martial arts!”

Fan Kuzhu said seriously, “You lost, Chai Jia. What does it mean to you to lose?”

Chai Jia was almost speechless. “First, I’ll have to return the payment I accepted, then I will wipe clean tonight’s humiliation and reclaim my face and self-respect. Fan Kuzhu, I’ll stop at nothing to do it…”

Fan Kuzhu sighed softly. “This feud between us is not worth it──Chai Jia, we’re both victims.”

His temples pulsed a few times. Chai Jia said cryptically, “Yes, we’re both victims. But what’s done is done. Fan Kuzhu, in the past twenty or thirty years, I’ve never suffered a humiliation like I have tonight!”

Fan Kuzhu said, “I’m really sorry, but it’s not my fault. Chai Jia, you said yourself I ought to protect myself.”

Chai Jia’s breathing became a bit heavier. He was annoyed. “When Heaven sends calamities you might get through it, but when you bring ruin on yourself, there is no escape. I’m really mad and regretful, why did I want to show off and accept this assignment?”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Still can’t tell me whose assignment it was?”

Chai Jia stamped his feet hard, then leapt over the wall without looking back, gone like a gust of wind.

Gazing out at the dense blackness beyond the wall, Fan Kuzhu mumbled to himself, “Yellow sand boundless, lake water clear, glittering green-eyed Celestial Scorpion Star… sigh!”

By the slabstone path, Little Croton was coming this way, jittery, looking around left and right, still scared. “Master, Master, that just about scared me half to death. Where did that wretch come from? Why did he just rush you and attack you like that for no reason?”

Fan Kuzhu gave a wry smile. “Little Croton, is there anything that happens for no reason? Especially a life and death conflict like that, such a thing would never happen without reason. Those people are really vicious!”

Little Croton was dumbstruck. “Those people? Master, who are you talking about?”

Fan Kuzhu’s face darkened. “You’ll know sooner or later. Little Croton, it’s almost time to snatch the fox’s tail.”

Little Croton gasped, concerned. “Master, were you hurt? That was a fierce battle just now!”

Fan Kuzhu said, “I’m fine. Right, so is the food ready yet? Now I’m feeling a bit famished.”

Little Croton just then remembered his unfinished work. He spun around and ran back to the kitchn; Fan Kuzhu turned and headed back to the front hall. In that short amount of time, his steps had grown heavier, and his blood ran cold…

* * *

Now, on the second floor of the small, elegant guesthouse, Fan Kuzhu was facing his third senior brother, Zhan Yuxiu. Over fifty, Zhan Yuxiu had a lean but healthy face, a cold, serious expression on it. And when he was sunk deep in thought his expression grew colder so that no one dared come near him.

Finally, Zhan Yuxiu cleared his throat and with an unhurried voice, said, “Of the seven disciples in our Magic Wing Sect, you and Little Tong are the closest. And you dote on him the most. Us old timers rarely see him except when he comes to visit during New Year or other festival times. He handled your matter himself. We don’t know what he did, and Little Tong never mentioned it. Sect Head First Brother sent people to inquire a few times, and Second Brother and I went several times ourselves. It’s not that we didn’t see him, it’s just he kept on pounding his chest saying he was taking care of it, but he wouldn’t say exactly why he was so sure of that. Kuzhu, this whole disaster of yours made us realize that Little Tong has drifted apart from us, he… He’s a bit impenetrable, kind of odd, more aloof than he ought to be.”

Fan Kuzhu was downcast. “He’s the youngest, after all, the age difference between everyone is significant; maybe his thinking and interests are just not compatible. Besides, Little Tong’s always in awe of you seniors when he’s around you, his words and actions clearly restrained…”

Zhan Yuxiu shook his head. “No, he wasn’t like this a few years ago. Although he’s always been intelligent and thoughtful, on the surface he seems pure and innocent.”

Fan Kuzhu asked doubtfully, “Seems pure and innocent? Third Brother, you mean—?”

Zhan Yuxiu seemed unwilling to talk about it. He changed the topic, “You said you’ve already been to Little Tong’s place?”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Yeah, that brick-tile house under Three Mushroom Crag where he lives by himself. I went early in the morning the second day after I got back, but I checked all the rooms and there was no one there. He doesn’t even have any neighbors nearby, so there was no one to ask.”

Zhan Yuxiu’s face was heavy, very circumspect. “Kuzhu, are you sure your wife was picked up by Little Tong?”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Of course, Little Croton has been with me for many years, why would he lie to me?”

Zhan Yuxiu tapped his knee with his finger, muttering to himself. “Your case, who told you that you had been found guilty?”

Watching his senior brother’s finger tapping his knee, Fan Kuzhu said woodenly, “When I first turned myself in, Little Tong and I decided that if the officials couldn’t clear my name, he’d think of a way to help me escape prison. Third Brother, you got word from Little Tong, didn’t he spell it out clearly? Besides, he told Little Croton himself that my case was lost, and I had been sentenced to execution.”

Zhan Yuxiu said, “So, did you inquire with Taichang prefecture how your case was decided?”

Fan Kuzhu said, “I haven’t had time to do it yet. Besides, I don’t want to fall into a trap.”

Zhan Yuxiu stood up from his big armchair and strolled to the window with his hands behind his back, facing away from Fan Kuzhu. “The night before last when you returned home, Chai Jia from that Far West Sect led his men to jump you. Kuzhu, don’t you feel the timing was too coincidental? Who could have known that you would be coming back around that time?”

Fan Kuzhu was silent for a time, then he said, strained, “Aside from the Taichang prefecture prison sending out an arrest order once they found I had escaped, no one else should have known!”

Zhan Yuxiu still stood with his hands clasped behind his back. “The authorities have their protocol for capturing wanted criminals. They would never hire hitmen to go take you out. That would be way too off limits. Kuzhu, you’ve always been wise and farsighted, can you really not make the connection?”

Like a slipknot tightening, the more you pulled the tighter it got, or like unraveling a silk cocoon, the more you pull the closer you come to the end. Zhan Yuxiu was in pain. Fan Kuzhu was in even more pain.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t make the connection, he just didn’t want to think about it, couldn’t bear to.

The air in the room grew stuffy and somber. After a moment, Zhan Yuxiu turned around. He looked like he had aged a lot in the span of a few minutes. “Kuzhu, I’ll go see Sect Head First Brother right away and find a way to get in touch with Taichang prefecture and get to the bottom of your case from start to finish. Until this is resolved, you have to be extremely careful. I feel someone is framing you, and they won’t stop until they’ve achieved their aims!”

With a bleak look on his face, Fan Kuzhu said, “Thank you, Third Brother. I will be careful.”

Zhan Yuxiu said, “Better not stay at your home, it’s an obvious target.”

Fan Kuzhu nodded but said nothing.

Zhan Yuxiu seemed to be thinking of something. Finally he said it, “Also, don’t trust anyone, not even the ones you were once closest too.”

Fan Kuzhu felt a jolt run through him and he almost groaned. He knew what his senior brother meant. The key lied in the word “once”. It was unbelievable how blood relations, grudges, conflicts could take such an ugly turn. Was nothing sacred?

Up until now, Fan Kuzhu had been keeping something from Third Brother──the fact that the road to his escape led to a trap!

* * *

When he got to the crossroads, Fan Kuzhu felt a vague, desolate feeling that there was no coming back from. His home was in Fuquan Town was only twenty miles from here, but he couldn’t go back. Yet he still had to find a place to take shelter for a while, didn’t he?

The autumn wind blew. It was quite chilly. He pulled the front of his purple lined gown closed tighter and was prepared to set off down the trail heading north when he heard the sound of hurried steps behind him, followed by a low, familiar voice. “Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, wait up a moment…”

Fan Kuzhu turned. It was Fifth Junior Brother Ouyang Chun running toward him──a stout, simple-faced young guy. Among the seven disciples of the third generation of Magic Wing Sect, he was the weakest.

Ouyang Chun stopped before Fan Kuzhu, panting, and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Fourth Brother, what’s the matter? You coming back after that mishap is happy news, but you didn’t tell us. Luckily I happened to be in Wang Family Market Town and chanced to see you in the distance, otherwise who knows when I would get to see you. Fourth Brother, when did you get back?”

Fan Kuzhu smiled. “A few days ago. I was just visiting Third Brother to discuss some things. Fifth, did you see Third Brother in Wang Family Market Town?”

Ouyang Chun’s eyes bulged and his thick lips hung open. “Do you need to ask? Third Brother’s place in Wang Family Market Town is just five or six miles from me. Fourth Bro, you came all the way to see Third Brother but couldn’t stop over and pay me a visit? We’re fellow disciples, as close as brothers. I will lose face when people start saying how distant you’ve become!”

Fan Kuzhu said evenly, “Fifth, you have to understand, I just escaped from prison. I have to see justice done. Right now I’m still a wanted man. I’m not returning home with high honors or anything, why do I need to go bothering you all? One mistake and it could be trouble for you all. We really can’t be together. I wasn’t playing favorites…”

Ouyang Chun looked around and dropped his voice, “So you did escape from prison. Fourth Brother, was it Little Tong who helped you out?”

Fan Kuzhu felt a prick in his heart, but he forced a smile. “That’s right.”

Ouyang Chun clapped his hands and chuckled, delighted. “Nice, that guy is something else, he’s got brains and a lot of schemes and clever tricks. Fourth Brother, Little Tong boasted that if the authorities had no conscience and tried to put the blame for that murder-robbery on your head, then he’d think of a way to rescue you for sure. He sure was true to his word. Remarkable.”

Fan Kuzhu said tentatively, “Fifth, have you seen Little Tong recently?”

Ouyang Chun was struck dumb for a moment. “Fourth Bro, did you not see Little Tong yourself?”

Fan Kuzhu said, “No, since I got back I haven’t seen him. There’s no one at my home, and there’s no one at his house at Three Mushroom Crag either. Third Brother hasn’t see him in some time as well.”

Ouyang Chun scratched his head. “Now that I think about it, a few days ago we were all drinking and he told me that Taichang prefecture was not trying your case fairly, forcing him to use his own method to rescue you… I haven’t seen him since that day.”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Fifth, have you been to my house recently to visit Fourth Sister?”

Ouyang Chun nodded at once. “Yeah, I’ve went about a dozen times. Fourth Sister was very worried about something. I told her not to worry, Fourth Brother didn’t really do it, plus he turned himself in so that justice could be served, so there’s nothing to be afraid of. The authorities aren’t idiots, they can tell justice from injustice can’t they? It’s actually rare for them to torture someone into making a false confession…”

Fan Kuzhu said, “Fourth Sister is not at home either. From what Little Croton told me, she was picked up by Little Tong and all the servants were dismissed except for Little Croton. Fifth, I need to find Little Tong and find out what’s going on. Think, what places could I maybe find him?”

Ouyang Chun said softly, “In that case, Fourth Bro, your case must be lost. You can’t go back now, otherwise it will be like catching turtles in a jar. The way I see it, Fourth Bro, you should come lie low at my place for a while. Let me go out and find Little Tong, and then we can all think up a way out of this together. Besides, then you’ll be reunited with Fourth Sister as well…”

Fan Kuzhu knew that Ouyang Chun lived in White Poplar Grove not far from here with his widowed aunt. It was a secluded place, a suitable spot to lie low. So he didn’t stand on ceremony and said, “Alright, I’ll stay with you and wait for this to blow over a bit.”

Ouyang Chun was delighted. “That’s my senior bro. Fourth Bro, if you had made an excuse and refused it would have meant you considered me a stranger…”

They turned back together, Fan Kuzhu on high alert. “Stay off the main road, Fifth. We’ll take the footpath.”

Ouyang Chun said hurriedly, “I rode a horse over here. Fourth Bro, you can ride and conserve your energy.”

Fan Kuzhu said, “No, put the horse up here and ride it back the next time you come out here. Fifth, I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks!”

Ouyang Chun didn’t say anything more. He seemed to have been infected by Fan Kuzhu’s caution. He led the way, picking the small remote trails to follow. It was just past noon, the sun obscured by a gloomy, murky haze…

 

NOTES

My translation of 丈, which is cognate with 仗, which means staff, stave, walking stick. So I went with stave. Ten spans equals a stave. Equivalent to about 3.33m.Huge mythological bird mentioned in the first chapter of Zhuangzi. It transforms from a kun fish 鯤. Often translated as “roc” because of that bird’s hugeness, but they are not related at all. So I am just sticking with the pinyin, as this is a unique animal.