Chapter Thirty-Four: The Path of Humanity

For the past few days, Zhou Qian had been reporting to the Tranquil Fragrance House every day. Old Hei seemed disinclined to explain much, instead teaching him the most bizarre things: treading on iron sand, shaving wooden slivers, identifying ingredients while blindfolded. The stranger the method, the more diligently he taught. To outsiders, these exercises seemed utterly useless. Even Zhang Fu would sometimes mock him, saying that Master Hei truly taught according to each student’s nature. Yet Zhou Qian paid no mind, carrying out every task with utmost dedication, so much so that even Old Hei was secretly amazed—his pre-prepared explanations never even came into play.

He had no idea that the trials Zhou Qian had endured were far harsher. Zhou Xun’s style of teaching was one of complete laissez-faire: indulgence in food, drink, or vice was no concern, but the lessons had to be mastered on time. Fail, and you forfeited the right to learn the clan’s swordsmanship. He would teach a single sword form and demand it be practiced until water could not penetrate the stance and the sword’s light enveloped the whole body—all in half a month. Zhou Qian, once famed for traversing the land alone with his sword, was a man both arrogant and unruly, only mellowed by age. How could such a man teach his disciples by ordinary means? To reach such a state, Zhou Qian had once gone seven days and nights without sleep, his palm blistering and healing over and over again until thick calluses formed, making Zhao'er weep in distress.

Only an eccentric master like Zhou Qian could be endured by such an odd disciple, so Zhou Qian never complained nor asked questions. Since Old Hei chose such methods, there had to be purpose behind them; it was much like how his own master had once made him break five heavy blackwood swords before teaching him swordplay. Principles are never just spoken—they must be lived and experienced.

With the sun sinking in the west, Zhou Qian kneaded his aching arms and returned to the Hu’er Manor. Though famed as the Hundred-Armed Sword Immortal, Zhou Xun detested social gatherings, and none dared disturb him, leaving the gates rather deserted. As Zhou Qian entered, he ran into Song Ci heading out. Zhou Qian started with surprise, then greeted him with delight, “I didn’t expect to see you here, sir! It’s been days since you last visited—what brings you today?”

Song Ci was equally surprised. He glanced about before lowering his voice, “I've found some clues about that severed arm.”

“Oh?” Zhou Qian was intrigued.

“This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go to your room,” Song Ci said mysteriously.

Once they had retreated to Zhou Qian’s room and secured the door, Song Ci continued, “That creature called Jie—its bones and skin are unlike any human’s, and its scales are impervious to blades. It took me a great deal of effort to uncover even a sliver of a clue!”

“What clue?” Zhou Qian pressed.

“Obsidian jade! That fiend’s arm contains traces of this stone. The tendons of its index and middle fingers are entirely composed of it!” Song Ci’s eyes shone with excitement.

“What is obsidian jade?” Zhou Qian asked.

“It’s a rare stone found only at the Quarry Bluff in the Lianyun Mountains! With secret techniques, it can be forged hard as bone or soft as sinew, even to replace a person’s own!”

“And what of it?” Zhou Qian was puzzled.

“Master Zhou Xun once told me that the First Emperor’s treasure vault is sealed by six keys, each corresponding to an outer gate. Within those gates lie six parts of a mysterious artifact—only by gathering all six can the true Golden Key of the First Emperor be assembled to unlock the final inner gate. The six keys are scattered among ninety-nine subsidiary tombs and three hundred sixty-five false tombs. Where Linghu Ye found his key remains unknown. The current emperor’s key was discovered after the Six Gates and the Inner Guard searched and excavated dozens of tombs, finally uncovering it in the tomb of the emperor’s favorite concubine. The leader of the Red Lotus Sect acquired her key from the ruins of an immortal, which is why she practices such unorthodox arts. The last known key was found when Princess Qing, daughter of the Prince of Sansi, stumbled into a perilous place and was saved by a mysterious nun, who retrieved it from the jaws of a monstrous serpent. The remaining two keys are lost. If Physician Lu’s deduction is correct, one of them is likely at the Quarry Bluff in the Lianyun Mountains!”

“Oh? What treasures lie inside that vault to make both righteous and villainous factions, even the court, care so much?” Zhou Qian wondered.

“In his time, the First Emperor swept away all rival states and established a unified empire, amassing the wealth of the world. Ten years after unification, he devoted the nation’s resources to seek immortality, gathering all weapons to forge the Twelve Golden Men, and assembling thousands of magicians to concoct elixirs. Such grandeur, yet it failed. The elixirs, enchanted armors and swords, gold, and jewels—all remain within the First Emperor’s vault. Should the remnants of the Hu people or heretical cults gain them, chaos would be inevitable. Thus, heroes and officials alike are determined to avert the greatest crisis since the founding of the dynasty. Conversely, if the court secures the treasure, the dynasty’s reign could easily extend by another century—hence the emperor’s keen interest,” Song Ci declared with fervor.

“No wonder Qin’s might was so formidable, its new dynasty rising like the sun, and yet, after only twenty years, it vanished. So that’s the true story,” Zhou Qian finally understood why history described the Qin as inheriting the might of six generations and five wise rulers, yet perishing in an instant. But a new doubt arose: if an emperor as talented as the First Emperor failed to become immortal, could anyone truly succeed?

“Young hero Zhou, you must persuade your master to claim that key! It is for the sake of the people, to save them from war!” Song Ci pleaded earnestly.

“My master would never stand by idly!” Zhou Qian thumped his chest with youthful bravado.

“Vying for the First Emperor’s key? Why must I personally get involved? What does this have to do with me?” Zhou Xun lounged lazily on a bamboo chair, twirling a jade scepter in his right hand, his eyes half-closed and fixed on Zhou Qian with interest.

“But master, it’s for the sake of the common people…” Zhou Qian protested, his youthful blood running hot, especially now with such a grand cause. After seeing Song Ci off, he had rushed in, expecting his master to be just as eager. To his surprise, Zhou Xun was entirely indifferent.

“Among these common people, are there not those who rape and plunder? Are there not cheats and scoundrels? Do you expect me to draw my sword for their sake?” Zhou Xun retorted.

“But master, most people are good, honest folk, leading peaceful lives! You’d be protecting them!” Zhou Qian argued.

“But have you asked whether they wish for my protection? Or are they truly incapable of protecting themselves? You underestimate those who strive to survive in this world!” Zhou Xun chuckled.

“But master, but…” Zhou Qian found himself completely at a loss, unable to refute his master’s twisted logic, and felt incredibly frustrated.

“Hahahaha…” Zhou Xun suddenly burst into laughter. “You rascal, it seems you haven’t suffered enough these past years—your youthful fervor still burns bright. But do you understand? The world is ever-changing, good and evil are myriad. What you see as noble and grand may not be appreciated by those you help. The world is chaos: to you, white is white and black is black. If only it were so simple! But why is it that even saints and great emperors can only stand tall for a moment, unable to make the world a paradise? Why do immortals seek only their own liberation, rather than save all beings? Even in times of peace, filth is no less than during war.”

“Master—” Zhou Qian was dumbfounded. “Don’t you always say that to draw your sword against injustice is the way of a true hero?”

“Drawing the sword for justice is only to find peace of mind! Do you really believe you can right every wrong in the world?”

Zhou Qian’s mind was thrown into turmoil by this radically different philosophy. He couldn’t help but ask, “Then master, how should I act in the future? How should I walk my path?”

“Whether it’s the righteous path, the demonic path, the magical or the monstrous, you must walk your own way. Remember three things: on your path, you must be free and unbound; on your path, you must never betray your heart; on your path, you must never regret your actions.”

Zhou Qian wandered out of the study in a daze, then turned and asked, “So, master, will you help the court seize the First Emperor’s key?”

“Of course I’ll go!” Zhou Xun replied with a sly grin. “There are things in the First Emperor’s tomb that I seek as well!”