Chapter - 7 Thinking of the Unforgettable Man Far Away (7)

She rode her mule and wandered a bit on Mount Shaoshi and was feeling melancholic.

She heard music sounds, she was surprised to hear someone playing the zither. She learnt the arts of zither, chess, literature and painting from her mother. Although she learnt only the basics, she is intelligent enough to give her own unique perspective on matters. Frequently, she discussed these arts with her mother. She tied her mule to a tree and walked towards the music.

She heard the music was mixed by the singing of birds and it seemed that the birds were singing along. Guo Xiang thought, "According to mother there is a song called "Empty Mountain and Songs of Birds." But this song was lost for may ages, is it possible this is that song?"

The music became more and more interesting. Guo Xiang was surprised and thought, "This man can lure birds with his music, this song must be "A Hundred Birds Admiring the Phoenix." And thought if her grandfather was here, both of them could play this song together. Because Huang YaoShi's flute was unequalled at this time.

The music became softer and the birds flew away and suddenly the music stopped. The man sighed and said he couldn't find a soul mate and drew his sword and started carving on the ground.

Guo Xiang thought, "This man is both well versed in artistic fields and martial arts, let's see how his swordsmanship is."

She saw that this man was drawing a chessboard with his sword and started playing chess (Go) with himself.

Guo Xiang thought, "This man is lonely too and can't find a soul mate either, so he's playing chess with himself."

After awhile she saw that the man trapped himself in the western side of the chessboard and leaving the central open.

Guo Xiang couldn't help herself and spoke, "Why do you take the western borders? While the central plains are open."

The man saw what he did and took the central plains causing a draw. The man laughed and said, "Good, good!" and continued to play and realised that someone was present. He tossed his sword away and said, "Thank you for your help. May I ask who helped me?"

Guo Xiang saw that he had a long face and dark eyes and was quite skinny. He was about thirty years old. She walked towards him and smiled, "I was very much enchanted by your music, Sir. And when I saw that you're losing to yourself I couldn't help pointing out. Please forgive me for my bluntness."

The man was surprised to see a young girl and when he heard her talking about his music, he was very happy and said, "Miss, is a musician too? Would you please play a piece for me?"

Guo Xiang smiled and said, "My mother taught me some basics, compared to your divine music I'm very bad. But since I heard your song it's only natural that I return a song back. But you musn't laugh."

The man said, "I wouldn't dare."

And handed the zither to Guo Xiang.

Guo Xiang saw that this zither was an antique. She started to play the zither and her playing was not very spectacular but the man was very happy and surprised.

The song was about a hermit and he lived alone on a mountain and felt lonely. Because he didn't have a soulmate he looked sickly but his aspirations will always be very high.

The man heard his feelings in the music of Guo Xiang and was very grateful and when the music stopped, he just stared into the blank.

Guo Xiang gently put the zither on the ground and turned around and left again. Reciting the poem that matched this song:

A gentleman is exploring the mountainside

Close to a stream, all alone

Although he is forlorn, although he is unaware

But he is wise, and will never change

And this piece is the gentleman's song:

The day is so short, a hundred years is so long

The earth is so wide, one hundred incarnations approaches the Tao

An angel releases the reins, one half is as white as snow

The Creator meets the Jade Lady laughing, I wish for the dragon's embrace

Turning towards Phu Tang, to buy good wine at Bac Bau

Inviting the dragon to riches which I scorn,

That throughout the year beautify only the being.

Guo Xiang roamed the realm for three years now, and encountered many strange incidents. So she forgot all about the man who played the zither and chess. Another two days, The Three Saints of Kunlun will challenge Shaolin. She was thinking of a way to sneak in and watch but couldn't think of anything. She thought, "My mother can think of eighteen plans in a blink of an eye. I'm just too stupid and I can't even think of one plan. Never mind, I'll just go to Shaolin and perhaps they are too busy fighting of the intruders that they forget to stop me from entering."

She ate some rations for the journey and proceeded to Shaolin. After riding for some time, she saw three horses riding towards her. And in short while they passed her and were headed towards Shaolin. The riders were all men in their fifties and were green robes and weapons hung to the saddles.

Guo Xiang thought, "These three men are martial artists and they are carrying weapons. They must be The Three Saints of Kunlun. If I don't hurry up, I'll miss out on a good fight."

She gave her mule a clap and he quickly pursued them. The three riders whipped their horses to increase speed. One of the old man turned back and gave a strange look.

Guo Xiang's mule gave chase for a short distance. The three horses were out of sight. The mule looked exhausted. Guo Xiang scolded, "Lazy animal! Normally you never listen to me and keep running about. When I need you to run, you can't keep up." She pulled the mule to a small stone pavilion and gave the mule to rest. After awhile the three riders came back. Guo Xiang was surprised and thought, "Could it be that they are really that useless and were defeated in one blow?"

The three riders dismounted, Guo Xiang looked at them and saw that one of them had a cinnabar coloured face. The other had a really red face and looked very friendly. The third one was very tall and skinny and looked very pale, but in his paleness there was a touch of green.

These three old men looked very normal except for their strange skin complexion. She was very fascinated and asked, "Could I ask you whether you went to the Shaolin Monastery or not? Why did you return when you just when up there?" The pale-looking man gave her a stern look, like scolding her for asking questions.

The red-faced man smiled and said, "How did you know we are headed for the monastery?" Guo Xiang said, "If you go up there, you'll go to the Shaolin Monastery."

The red-faced man nodded and said, "That's true, and Miss where are you going?" Guo Xiang said, "You're going to Shaolin, and I'm going too."

The pale-faced man said, "Shaolin doesn't allow women to enter and carrying weapons is also forbidden." He sounded very arrogant, and because of his height he looked over Guo Xiang's head ignoring her completely.

Guo Xiang was annoyed and said, "Well you're carrying weapons too. Or aren't those weapons?"

The pale-faced man coldly said, "How can you compare yourself with us?"

Guo Xiang scoffed, "What about the three of you? Are The Three Saints of Kunlun fighting with the old monks of Shaolin yet? Who won and who lost?"