Chapter - 300 Starting a Fire to Light the Sky So Brilliantly (5)

'The golden box has two compartments

one of which has contained the efficacious paste for long,

The pearl hairpin is hollow

which has the remedy for the poison inside

Those two things were offered to the gentleman long ago

why are you so exhausted and worried?

Though they are just tiny things

which are not worthy being taken into consideration

why did you give them to a maidservant?

why did you regard them just as dirt and dust?

They are not counted as my sincere wishes are they?'

(Foxs, edited by Eliza Bennet)

Zhang Wuji read this note three times; he was pleasantly surprised but also ashamed. Hastily he examined the pearl head ornament and tried to twist the pearls one by one. Finally he found one he could unscrew and remove completely. The golden stem was hollow and inside it was a little white scroll. Zhang Wuji took out a golden needle from his pocket, the one he usually used for acupuncture, and fished the scroll out. The paper was very thin; on it the list of seven poisonous insects and seven poisonous flowers, plus the recipe of the antidote, were indeed written, everything was explained clearly one by one. Actually, Zhang Wuji only needed to know the seven insects and seven flowers, since he did not need other people's direction on how to detoxify it. He looked at the recipe and found it to be correct, so he knew Zhao Min was not trying to swindle him. Hastily he rushed to the inner courtyard and prepared the antidote. Sure enough, a little over two hours later Yu and Yin two people were in a much better condition, the itch inside their bodies stopped and the various colors they saw in their vision disappeared.

Zhang Wuji took out the golden case in which Zhao Min delivered the pearl head ornament. After examining it carefully he found the secret compartment on the box's wall, with black paste pressed in between. The paste smelled fragrant and cool. This time he did not dare to act recklessly, thereupon he caught a dog and broke its hind leg, then spread the paste on it. Early morning the next day that dog was running around without any sign of poisoning, and its broken leg was healed.

By the third day the poison inside Yu and Yin two people was completely eradicated; thereupon Zhang Wuji applied the 'hei yu duan xu gao' [black jade break connecting (or fracture healing) paste] on their four limbs. This time nothing strange happened. The 'hei yu duan xu gao' was marvelously effective; after about two months Yin Liting's hands could move freely. It looked like very soon not only he would be able to move his hands and feet, but also his martial art was not damaged too much. Too bad Yu Daiyan had been disabled for too long, it would be difficult for him to fully recover. But looking at his condition right now, there was a great chance that within half a year he would be able to walk with crutches. He would still be handicapped, but he would be able to move around and not be crippled anymore.

Because Zhang Wuji was delayed on the Mount Wudang, he dispatched the Five-Element Flags to go down the mountain ahead of him. Upon their return they brought some rather disturbing news. Not a single one of the people from Emei, Huashan, Kongtong and Kunlun Sects who went to the Brightness Peak returned to their respective sect. The Jianghu world was shaken. Everybody said that the Devil Cult had annihilated all experts from the six major sects who went on the expedition to the western region, and then extinguished each sect separately one by one. The sudden-disappearing Shaolin monks had created an unprecedented wave in the Wulin world. Luckily each flag leader and his second-in-command carried the letter written by Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang Sect; they also did not reveal their true identities, otherwise they would be torn to pieces by each sect they visited.

All flag leaders and his second-in-commands also reported that by that time in Jianghu world every sect, clan and society, as well as expedition companies, robbers, pirates, harbor gangs, and so on were on the highest level of alert since they were afraid the Ming Cult would launch a large scale attack.

A few days later Yin Tianzheng and Yin Yewang father and son had also returned to Wudang, reporting that the completion of the reorganizing effort of the Heavenly Eagle Flag; it is now part of the Ming Cult. They also reported that the warriors of the southeast raised their arms to fight the Yuan invaders; the world was in great tumult. In the meantime the Yuan army was still too strong, furthermore each rebellion was staged individually, without any contact with each other; therefore, they were easily crushed.

That same evening Zhang Sanfeng held a vegetarian banquet at the rear hall in honor of Yin Tianzheng father and son. During the banquet Yin Tianzheng narrated the cause of each defeat, and how in each insurrection the Ming Cult and the Heavenly Eagle Sect disciples always took part in it, and that many of them were captured or even killed by the Yuan soldiers; making an ultimate sacrifice in the process.

As the group of warriors listened to his narration, they all sighed in grief and anger. Yang Xiao said, "The people's suffering is already very deep. Their hearts are changed; they want to drive the Tartar and capture back our river and mountain ['he shan' – country or land]. When Yang Jiaozhu was still alive, day and night it was his sole concern. It's a pity that our Cult used to handle matters differently that for the last hundred of years we are always involved in feud against various Wulin sects of the Central Plains; making it difficult to join hands to fight the enemy. With the Heaven's blessing we now have Zhang Jiaozhu to handle the Cult's affairs, gradually solving our enmity with each sect. The time is ripe to work together and drive out the invaders."

"Yang Zuoshi," Zhou Dian said, "What you said was not wrong, but it was a pile of rubbish, it was like a fart."

Yang Xiao was not angry, "Then I am waiting for Zhou Xiong's advice," he said.

Zhou Dian replied, "The Jianghu people all say that our Cult has killed the experts of six major sects. Once they heard the word 'Ming Cult' their hatred is going deep into their bones and marrows. What do you mean by 'working together and drive out the invaders'? It was pleasant to the ears, but how do we do it?"

"It's true that we have a bad name," Yang Xiao said, "But the truth will always be revealed in the end; moreover, we now have Zhang Zhenren [lit. true/real person – a respectable term to address a Taoist Priest] as our witness."

Zhou Dian laughed, "Supposing that it was really us who killed Song Yuanqiao, Old Nun Mie Jue, He Taichong and the others, how would Zhang Zhenren know that he was not being deceived?"

Tieguan Daoren [Iron Hat Taoist Priest] reprimanded him harshly, "Zhou Dian, don't talk nonsense in front of Zhang Zhenren and Jiaozhu!"

Zhou Dian stuck out his tongue but did not reply. Peng Yingyu said, "What Zhou Xiong said was not without reason. According to pinseng's [lit. impoverished monk – he was referring to himself] opinion, we should hold a general assembly of the Ming Cult's leaders, where we will make known Zhang Jiaozhu's intention to repair our relation with the Wulin world's various sects. At the same time, more people means broader horizon; we can discuss these matters and investigate Song Daxia [great hero Song], Mie Jue Shitai and the others' whereabouts during the assembly."

"If you want to find Song Daxia and the others' whereabouts; that is very easy. I might say as easy as blowing off the dust on top of this table," Zhou Dian said.