Chapter 50: teor Hamrs
The Pure Phoenix Sect had always been a bit smaller than the Golden Dragon Sect. Before the siege of Daolu, the Golden Dragon Sect numbered a bit over 200 mbers, whereas the Pure Phoenix Sect only had about 150 or so.
Casualties during the fighting were significant but not heavy. After camping at the foot of Mount Zhifu Shan, a census revealed that the refugees included 156 Golden Dragons, 126 Pure Phoenixes, 23 constables, roughly 300 soldiers, and hundreds of commoners. The majority of the constables and soldiers expressed interest in joining one of the sects or the other, but only about half of the commoners.
There was so disagreent among the leadership of the two sects regarding how to split up the new recruits. The Golden Dragons, of course, wanted to retain the edge they had in Daolu, whereas the Pure Phoenixes were pushing for an evening of the numbers.
Even after squabbling for the better part of the morning, Mao Yun and Sun Mai couldn’t co to an agreent.
Mao Yun slapped his thigh. “Our sects should be on equal footing, Brother Sun Mai! Even Kong Zhi said, have no friends who are not your equals!”
Sun Mai chuckled coldly. “Please, Brother Mao Yun. Are you really trying to match wits with ? Quoting Kong Zhi? Even children know that quote. However many quotes of Kong Zhi you know, I know ten tis as many. No. A hundred tis. Maybe a thousand! For example, Kong Zhi also said, never impose upon others what you would not choose for your own self.
“Would you choose to intentionally make yourself weak? I think not! Besides, Kong Zhi also said, the beginning... er, um... the beginning state is the perfect state! In the beginning, the Golden Dragon Sect was roughly thirty percent larger than the Pure Phoenix Sect. That ratio should be maintained, don’t you think?”
Mao Yun narrowed his eyes. “The beginning state is the perfect state? I’ve never heard that before. Did you just make that up? You did, didn’t you! That’s not a saying of Kong Zhi.”
Sun Mai snorted coldly. “A little test, Brother Mao. Thankfully, you passed it.” His eyes suddenly turned up in thought. “That is a great statent, though. Perfect for my classic scripture.” Looking at one of the nearby Golden Dragons, he said, “Quick, go write that down! I need to rember it!”
Even as the man hurried off to find writing utensils, Bao and Sunan entered the tent.
Both sides laid out their argunts, and in the end, Sunan insisted that the sects’ numbers be equal.
“Now is not the ti to vie for superiority,” he said. “Our two sects need to work together, not compete with each other.”
Sun Mai and so of the other Golden Dragons grumbled a bit, but abided by his wishes.
Those among the new recruits who wished to join one sect or the other were allowed to do so. Those who had no preference were divided up to ensure that both sects had roughly 300 mbers.
The Golden Dragon Sect now had six major divisions, the leaders of which were referred to as Dragon Lieutenants. One of those lieutenants was Mao Yun’s sister Mao i. One of the previous lieutenants was promoted to Dragon Lord, with each Dragon Lord holding command over two divisions. Sun Mai retained his title as Chief Minister, and of course, Sunan was still the Sect Leader.
The Pure Phoenix Sect was organized into four vanguards, with each vanguard led by one of the Claws of the Phoenix. The only surviving mber of the original Claws was Flying Death Liu Jiahui. One of the newly promoted Claws was Wang Tian, who had distinguished himself during Bao’s hunt for the Fei Beast. Mao Yun was given the title Phoenix General, with powers and responsibilities similar to Sun Mai’s. Bao, of course, remained as Chieftess.
Of the commoners, only so showed talent in terms of Qi cultivation, and were allowed to officially join one of the two sects. Most others had skills that were not martial in nature, but were valuable nonetheless, and were organized into a large outer sect that was officially seperate from either of the two main sects. Among that group were cooks, blacksmiths, tailors, and even a fan-maker nad An Jian.
The necessary formalities, ceremonies, and rites, took an entire day. The following morning, the newly reorganized Golden Dragon and Pure Phoenix Sects broke camp and headed south. Their destination was a cave sowhere at the foot of Mount Fohe.
The ordinary sect mbers weren’t privy to the details, but the Dragon Lords, the Claws of the Phoenix, and other higher-ranking leaders were told that they sought a skilled blacksmith nad Ruan the Flamingo.
The journey south was relatively uneventful. Master Wang Tian, newly promoted Claw of the Phoenix, had originally been a hunter, and had also been to Ruan’s cave before. He led the way as they left the shadow of Mount Zhifu Shan and headed toward the towering peak that was Mount Fohe.
A few days later, they made camp on a plateau that jutted out from the foot of Mount Fohe, which was only about an hour’s ride from the location of Ruan’s cave. They had decided that showing up at his doorstep with a small army wouldn’t be the best impression to give.
After camp was set and lunch eaten, a small group headed toward the cave, including Sunan, Bao, Mao Yun, Sun Mai, Mao i, and Wang Tian, as well as about ten ordinary mbers of each sect.
As the sun shone down, they threaded their way through the mountain foothills, keeping a moderate pace.
When they arrived at the cave, Bao imdiately sensed that sothing was off. Things looked different than before.
“Chieftess Bao,” said Wang Tian. “Look. The door.”
When Bao turned to look at the door leading into the cave itself, she realized it was open. In fact, a mont later, a gust of wind caused the door to swing wide open, then slam shut montarily before opening again.
The group imdiately tensed up, and the sound of swords being drawn could be heard, as well as spears being unstrapped and arrows nocked.
“Bao?” Sunan said.
Bao slid out of her saddle and pulled two long daggers out from her belt. “Sothing’s off. Mao Yun, you stay here. Wang Tian, you’re with .” Making quick eye contact with three of the other sect mbers, she continued, “You three as well.”
Sunan picked three Golden Dragons. Leaving Mao i with her brother, he and Sun Mai joined Bao as she padded cautiously up to the door.
Once inside, they found that the corridor was well-lit, just the way it had been last ti Bao ca. Keeping her daggers in a ready position, Bao led them slowly down the corridor toward the main room, where she had t with Ruan previously.
Nothing seed out of the ordinary about the corridor or the room, and yet sohow, the strange feeling that prickled at the base of Bao’s neck wouldn’t go away.
“This all looks the sa,” she said quietly to Sunan, “but my feelings tell that sothing’s wrong. Where is Ruan?”
Sunan gripped his Ox-Tail Dao with two hands as he looked around. “No signs of a fight....”
Before they could confer any further, a voice echoed out from one of the doors at the other end of the room. “Well, what have we here?”
A man erged, tall and well-built. He was dressed in red robes, and his head was shaved clean. A chain was wrapped around his right forearm, at either end of which was a tal ball carved into a monstrous face. Even as the man entered the room, others followed, n and won of varying ages and builds, all of whom wore red robes and had shaved heads. The entire group seed to be ard with the chain-like weapons.
Before Bao or Sunan could react, eight red-robed n and won were facing them.
“Are you friends of Ruan?” Bao asked, gripping her daggers.
“Friends?” the man said. He chuckled. “I think not. Ruan has committed cris worthy of death. However, he managed to scuttle away before he could be punished. What of you people? Are you friends of this Ruan?”
Bao imdiately cursed the fact that she had left her Phoenix Crown in her saddle bag.
“We’ve never even t Ruan,” Sunan said. “We’ve only heard of him by reputation. If he’s not here, then we’ll just take our leave.” He took a step back, as did everyone else, including Bao.
“You’ll not take another step,” the man said. He suddenly sniffed the air. “Is that... the stench of blood? And of Demons? Who are you people exactly?” He slowly began to swing the chain back and forth with his right hand.
Sun Mai took a step forward and clasped hands formally. “I am Chief Minister Sun of the Golden Dragon Sect. Friend, I like your hair-do, but considering I don’t know your na, I am unable to complint you properly. Would you please grace us with your honored surnas, and explain from whence you co?”
A cold glint flashed through the man’s eyes. “I am Blackleaf of the Hen-Shi Sect. We co from the Demon Maelstrom. Golden Dragon Sect you say? I’ve heard of you people.”
“We’re quite famous,” Sun Mai responded imdiately. “Brother Blackleaf, although I’ve never heard of your Hen-Shi Sect, I’m sure it’s a powerful organization. I am the highest-ranking Golden Dragon here. Since Ruan the Flamingo isn’t present, our group will now take our leave. Farewell!” With that, he clasped hands in formal fashion and then turned to leave.
“Do you take for a fool?” Blackleaf said. “It’s true, the Golden Dragon Sect is very famous, as is the Pure Phoenix Sect. There are even pictures of the famous leaders of those sects, Young Dragon Sunan and Heroine Bao. Do you really think I wouldn’t recognize those two most famous leaders who are standing directly in front of ?
“And do you really think that the Hen-Shi Sect, we, the most devoted followers of Hen-Shi, sworn to rid the world of all those who would kill or harm others, would possibly allow the blood-stained hands of people like you to remain within Qi Xien?” He extended his right hand, allowing the two monstrous iron balls to drop down until they almost touched the ground. “Our teor hamrs smite the wicked and cleanse the world of violence. And now, they will cleanse the world of you scum!”
Without another word, he swung the teor hamr through the air, launching it directly at Sun Mai.
**
Several days to the north, a horse entered a ravine. A camp had recently been set up in the ravine, and little had been done to erase evidence of its presence.
Seated on the horse was a hulking figure clad in bone-like armor. Flanking him were a few other n in similar attire.
After entering the ravine, he looked around, sniffed the air, and then said, “There’s no need to lurk about. I know you’re here.”
A flash of gold could be seen from a nearby tree, and a mont later, a man dropped to the ground a few ters away.
“Greetings, Bone General,” said the man, adjusting his golden robes.
“Greetings, Golden Immortal,” the Bone General replied. “So, you’re chasing them too?”
“Indeed.” The Golden Immortal’s eyes flashed. “I have unfinished business with that boy and that girl.”
“As do I. The King of the Pure Ones expressed a disturbing lack of concern, but has indicated that I may hunt them down to my heart’s content. I intend to destroy their rag-tag army, and then watch them die in tornt. Do you care to join ?”
The Golden Immortal grinned. “As long as I get to be there to watch them suffer.”
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