As expected by Master Moonlight, the matter of the Black Wind Three Fiends' challenge ended without a fight — the three, losing their nerve, never appeared at the appointed time. The temple returned to its usual quietude; the morning bells and evening drums still resounded as always, yet without their disturbance, the air felt even more serene.
By noon, sunlight sifted through layers of bamboo leaves, falling onto the stone steps in a dappled pattern like a painting. Knowing that their business here was done, Wu Tong and Zhao Rou decided it was time to leave. They packed their belongings, saddled their horses, and prepared to depart.
Just as they were about to mount, Wu Tong noticed a young novice busily at work nearby. A thought came to him, and he called out, "Little Master, wait a moment. I have something to entrust to you."
The young monk hurried over, palms pressed together in greeting. "What would the benefactor have me do?"
Wu Tong's expression turned solemn. He drew a sealed letter from his robe. "Please, deliver this to the abbot after we have left. Can you do that?"
The boy hesitated, furrowing his brow. "If the letter contains valuables, I fear I cannot bear the responsibility."
Wu Tong chuckled softly. "It is nothing but a good deed for your temple; there is no ill intent. Just remember — only after we are gone may you give it to your master."
He then produced a small cloth pouch and opened it, revealing a crystalline block of stone honey, glistening in the sun and releasing a sweet fragrance.
The boy's eyes lit up at once, and he swallowed involuntarily. Wu Tong smiled faintly. "If you carry this out, the stone honey will be yours."
Youthful greed overcame hesitation, and the novice beamed. "Leave it to me, benefactor."
Wu Tong nodded in approval. "Once we've mounted, both the letter and the honey are yours." The boy nodded eagerly, barely able to hide his delight.
(Stone honey, an ancient delicacy made from boiled and sun-dried cane juice, formed into crystals as clear as ice, was treasured for its melt-in-the-mouth sweetness and loved by monks.)
In short order, Wu Tong and Zhao Rou went to bid farewell to Master Moonlight. The abbot wished to escort them, but Wu Tong insisted, "It is not fitting for a senior to see a junior off. Please, Master, remain."
Master Moonlight smiled and joined his palms. "The road is long. Take each step with care, and spread goodness wherever you go."
Bowing deeply, the two stepped beyond the temple gate. The sunlight stretched their shadows long across the ground. The novice hurried over; Wu Tong handed him the letter and the honey, saying in a low voice, "I leave this in your hands."
The boy clutched the honey and nodded firmly. "Rest assured, benefactor, I'll see it done."
With that, Wu Tong and Zhao Rou mounted their horses. A long, clear whistle split the air, and they galloped away like the wind, vanishing in moments.
The boy watched them go before hurrying to the main hall. "Master Abbot," he called, "a benefactor bade me give you this letter."
Master Moonlight, surprised, took it, broke the seal, and read. The handwriting was strong and flowing, the words filled with sincerity. The letter expressed deep gratitude for the abbot's gift of medicine, calling their meeting a union of Daoist and Buddhist fate. It declared that virtue commands the respect of all beings and enclosed two hundred taels of silver notes as incense money in token of their thanks.
The abbot's brows lifted at the generous gift. Smiling gently, he pressed his palms together and intoned, "Amitabha." Closing the letter, he thought, This youth's roots of wisdom run deep. Loyal and righteous… one day, he will achieve greatness beyond compare.
The two travelers rode on through verdant hills, the green slopes of Wuyi Mountain slowly receding behind them. The mountain road wound ever onward until it met the county town.
That night, under cover of darkness, they entered the city, exchanged some silver at a money house, and took rooms at a quiet inn. After a bath and a change of clothes, they rested well.
At dawn, they breakfasted, mounted up, and set off along the official road toward Sanqing Mountain.
Sanqing — majestic and awe-inspiring, with its three main peaks, Yujing, Yuhua, and Yuxu, rising like pillars into the clouds — took its name from the Three Pure Ones of the Daoist pantheon. Mist wound around its ridges, giving it a fairyland air, and it was famed as a sacred site of Daoism and a place long admired by roaming knights-errant.
Wu Tong and Zhao Rou's purpose was to visit the Sanqing Palace, study Daoist martial arts, and seek traces of immortal lore.
By noon, the sun high overhead, they came to a wayside pavilion, led their horses inside, and sat down to rest. This roadside pavilion for travelers was carved with flowers on its pillars, the eaves curling up like the wings of swallows. A cool breeze brought welcome relief.
They drank water, wiped the sweat from their brows, and looked out over the vast, open country, where distant peaks stood like painted screens.
Then came the rustle of grass and a faint vibration of the earth — the tread of approaching men. Wu Tong's senses sharpened. He raised his eyes and saw three figures closing in, their silhouettes all too familiar.
It was the Black Wind Three Fiends.
They advanced with cold, measured steps. The leader, Zhu Xie, smirked. His voice was low and sinister. "Well, well. Fate brings us together again."
Zhao Rou snorted. "What's your business? You failed to appear for the duel you demanded, and now you show up out of nowhere. Here to 'borrow' something again?"
Zeng Xie's face tightened, but he forced a laugh. "We had urgent matters that day. We've come now to borrow, as before. Surely you won't hold it against us?"
Zhao Rou's lips curved in a mocking smile. "Too late. The Bee Propolis Pills are already gone. We've taken them ourselves."
Hou Xie's face darkened. "Is that true?!"
Wu Tong leisurely flicked open his folding fan. "It's true. Better that we use them than wait for you to come 'borrow' them with no intent to return."
Hou Xie's fury boiled over. With a flash, he sprang forward, his palm slicing the air toward Wu Tong's face — a killing strike.
But Wu Tong was no ordinary opponent. His feet shifted lightly, and in an instant he slipped aside, executing the technique Shifting the Stars and Moving the Constellations. His body seemed to vanish right from within the arc of the oncoming palm.
Hou Xie's strike met only empty air. Stunned, he spun and drove a fierce punch toward Wu Tong's chest. Wu Tong's robe fluttered as he turned, using North and South, Come and Go, gliding out of reach. Then, with a sudden Counterstrike, he snapped his fan open and brought it down smartly on Hou Xie's forehead.
Smack! Hou Xie yelped in pain, clutching the swelling lump. "You arrogant brat! Zhu Xie, Zeng Xie — help me!"
The two leaped in, both palms striking for Wu Tong. But before they could land a blow, another figure whirled in like a storm, meeting their attacks with crushing force.
Bang! Bang! The shock of clashing inner force sent leaves spinning in the wind as all three were driven back.
Zhao Rou's eyes glinted coldly. "So, failing to get what you wanted, you've decided to vent your anger on us?"
The Three Fiends saw the marked improvement in their opponents' strength and knew the pills had done their work. Hou Xie snarled, "If you hadn't swallowed them, we could have settled this fairly!"
Wu Tong laughed. "We're not fools. Should we have waited for you to snatch them? Such banditry, dressed up in fine words — I've never seen the like."
Zeng Xie's gaze grew icy. "You think that with your newfound strength, you can speak to us like this? Do you truly believe the Black Wind Three Fiends are so easily dealt with?"
Zhao Rou's smile was edged with scorn. "You steal from others and then complain when they resist? That's folly of your own making."
The two sides stood poised, neither willing to yield — the quarrel far from over.