Chapter Forty-Six: The Bestowal of Skills

On Lion Island, Su He had finally recovered from his injuries, and Bu Gu took him once more to the cliff's edge.

Gazing at the surging waves, Su He recalled what Que Yunzi had told him the previous night.

Those who lay on the island to admire the moon felt the freedom of the sea breeze on their bodies, yet their hearts still bore the weariness and bitterness of the mortal world.

Que Yunzi, holding a wine jar, took a deep swig and, his spirits low, asked, “Are you sure about this? You truly wish to pass your sword techniques to that boy?”

Although he was fond of the boy, teaching one’s skills was no trivial matter—it must be taken seriously.

Bu Gu nodded. “Apart from this, is there any chance for us to avenge Old Fifth and Old Sixth ourselves?”

“No chance. If I could set foot on that wretched island, not to mention killing Huan, I’d tear the place apart myself.” Que Yunzi wiped his mouth, the old man’s graying hair making his sorrow all the more apparent.

The two of them had few companions on the island with whom their tempers agreed. Only Old Fifth and Old Sixth. The four of them were as close as real brothers.

Old Fifth and Old Sixth were not their original names, but they each had a “Wu” and a “Liu” in their names, so they were called by those numbers.

Alas, brotherhood proved fragile. In a battle on Emperor Island, both Old Fifth and Old Sixth were killed by Huan.

Over the years, they had not abandoned thoughts of vengeance. But after so long on the island, it was impossible to set foot on Emperor Island.

Even its outer territories allowed them only brief visits.

Now, hearing his old friend speak of passing his skills to Su He, how could Que Yunzi not feel stung? If there were any other way, they would not entrust this to another.

“Don’t be so down. Let Old Fifth and Old Sixth watch over us—they’re probably laughing at you, whether in heaven or beneath the earth.” Bu Gu turned aside, grabbed the wine jar, and drank with Que Yunzi.

Que Yunzi grew impatient at the words. “Enough, enough. You turn a moment of sorrow into something so gloomy.”

He paused, smacking his lips. “Even if you teach him the sword, Huan’s mastery of the wind is something we have never overcome. How could he possibly succeed?”

“Don’t worry about that. I have my ways. Drink—let’s drink our fill tonight.” Bu Gu gripped the jar’s mouth, clinked it against Que Yunzi’s, and drank deeply.

In moments, the wine had soaked the front of his robe.

“Drink.”

...

“Elder? Elder Bu?” Su He called out.

He noticed the elder seemed distracted today—was there something on his mind?

“Su He, this old man wishes to teach you the way to save lives. What do you think?” Bu Gu collected himself, gazing at the cliff beneath his feet, his mind turbulent.

“On what condition?”

“Ha, you’re straightforward. I won’t hide it from you—if I teach you my swordsmanship, you must take a life for me.”

“Whose life?”

“Rest assured, I’m not asking you to kill wantonly. There is only one I ask you to slay.”

“The name.”

“Huan.” Someone you know—a common enemy, you might say.

Su He was startled. Why him?

“You wonder, I suppose, why we don’t do it ourselves?”

“I do.”

Bu Gu turned, meeting Su He’s eyes squarely, his gaze open and unwavering.

He said, “Do you recall what I told you here before?”

“I do.”

“We are bound by our own limitations—we cannot go. Only you, who have not been on the island long, are untouched. So, to kill Huan, I must entrust this to you.”

Finishing his words, he lifted his robe and, to Su He’s astonishment, knelt.

Su He rushed to help him up, not daring to accept such a gesture from an elder. “Elder, what are you doing?”

“All my life, I have asked for nothing but vengeance for my two brothers. But I am powerless. If you can rid us of him, I would kneel and bow to you a hundred times.” And as he spoke, he bowed low.

“Please, listen to me,” Su He pleaded, quickly stopping Bu Gu. “I am already sworn enemies with Huan. Your guidance is a blessing—I could never accept such an honor. You would crush me with such a gift.”

Bu Gu trembled slightly, hope shining from his eyes. “So, you agree?”

“Yes. I thank you for your instruction.” As soon as the words were spoken, Su He bowed low in gratitude.

“Good, good, good! I did not misjudge you. Come with me—I will demonstrate the thirty-six forms of the Sovereign-Breaking Sword. Watch closely.”

...

“I will teach you the sword formula shortly.” With that, Bu Gu floated to an open space, sword in hand, moving as one with his blade.

Even without channeling his true essence, the elegance of his swordplay was evident. With true power, its might would be unfathomable.

Suddenly, Bu Gu spat a mouthful of crimson blood and fell from the air.

“Elder!” Su He shot forward like an arrow, catching the falling man.

Turning him over, Su He saw that the blood was black. How could this be?

Bu Gu caught his breath. Sensing Su He’s concern, he forced himself upright. “I’m old—these bones are failing me.”

“Let me take you to Elder Que—he will know what to do.”

“Wait—don’t tell him. That old man has never lost his habit of crying. I don’t want his tears to wake me in my grave.” Bu Gu gripped Su He’s hand, preventing him from leaving.

He motioned for Su He to help him to a nearby boulder, and Su He obeyed.

“Do you want to know what happened?”

Su He nodded, though he already suspected. But he dared not dwell on it.

In his life, he had held onto little, and lost it all. Those who cared for him were few, and all had left: his mother, Wu Shuang, his little sister, and now, this old man...

Bu Gu knew Su He carried his own burdens, and never pried. Yet now, at the end, he realized he still could not let go of this world.

But there would be no more tomorrows...

“In that battle, Old Fifth and Old Sixth were lost. I too suffered a hidden wound. Even Que never realized—no fault of his medical skills, but Huan’s methods were too devious. If I do not cultivate, I am unharmed. But if I do, it devours my essence.

“Since then, I sought out the finest spirits off the island, using the unique essence of immortal wine to suppress it. Que always thought I drank to drown my sorrows after losing my brothers.

“In truth, his medicine could help, but his cultivation is lacking. I am near my end—if you do not accept this task, I have no other way. Two of our brothers are gone; I am not long for this world. I cannot let him go, too.

“Come close—I will pass the sword formula to you.”

“Yes,” Su He replied, leaning in.

Soon, Bu Gu had finished teaching him, then said, “Once you master the sword, go to Yin Mountain Lake and retrieve the Wind-Settling Pearl. Only with this can you withstand Huan’s wind mastery. But to get it, you must cross the Bridge of Solitude. When the time comes, you must find your own way. I cannot help you.

“My time is short—I will leave Lion Island tonight. I’ll leave a letter for him. Promise me you’ll never reveal the truth, no matter what.

“I want him to live—let him blame or hate me if he must. That is all this old friend can do.”

Of the four of us, someone must survive.

“Elder...”

“Promise me—” Bu Gu coughed up more black blood, his face turning deathly pale.

“I promise.” Seeing this, Su He agreed at once.

Bu Gu, hearing his promise, finally relaxed, as if a huge weight had left his heart. “Good. Now, help circulate my energy so Que won’t suspect anything.”

“Yes.”

Su He moved behind Bu Gu, helping him restore his energy. In moments, Bu Gu’s pallor faded to a faint flush. Aside from some fatigue, nothing seemed amiss.

“Let’s go,” Bu Gu said, patting Su He’s shoulder, heavy-hearted, and led the way.

Su He sighed. He still could not bring himself to accept all this.

Back at the island hut, Que Yunzi had prepared a meal. Afterward, Su He, feeling troubled, feigned the need to meditate on sword techniques and went out seeking solitude, saying he would not return that night.

Que Yunzi suspected nothing and cheerfully saw him out.

That evening, he and his old friend drank until they were dead drunk. Bu Gu made sure Que Yunzi was sound asleep before carrying him back to the hut and leaving a letter.

Under cover of night, he vanished without a trace.

The next morning, Que Yunzi awoke, found the letter on the table, opened it, and wailed in despair.

“You old bastard, just up and left without a word! What’s the point of good wine if you’re not here to drink with me?”

The letter read:

Old friend, I have gone.

I’ve accompanied you on this island for a thousand years—I am weary. Hatred and vengeance, I let them go. It’s time I see the world again. Don’t look for me—I won’t see you even if you come. After a thousand years of your pestering, you owe me some peace.

By the way, I buried wine for you in the western forest—enough to last you a while.

Don’t grieve, don’t search.

Your friend, Bu Gu.

“Elder Que?” Su He returned to find this scene, and hurried to help him up.

Hearing Su He’s voice, Que Yunzi leapt up, grabbed Su He’s collar, and glared. “Tell me—did you know he was going to leave? How is it that you were out, I was drunk, and he slipped away?”

“I didn’t know. What happened to Elder Bu?” Su He lowered his gaze, letting Que Yunzi shake him.

“Hmph, what happened? That old bastard ran off! Damn you, Bu Gu—now what’s the point in living alone?” Que Yunzi clung to Su He’s sleeve, weeping as if in mourning, tears and snot soaking the cloth. When one sleeve was drenched, he switched to the other.

Veins bulged on Su He’s forehead—guilt gnawed at him, but that didn’t mean he could accept this.

Yet he could not push Que Yunzi away—no matter how much it tried his patience, he had to endure.

Just as Bu Gu had said, Que Yunzi truly was a crybaby. He wept from dawn to noon, then weakly said, “Su He, I have no strength left. Get me something to eat, and when I’m full, I’ll resume.”

“Yes.”

So it went for several days, until one day, Que Yunzi dug up two jars of wine from the western forest.

He returned to their old spot, set one jar in Bu Gu’s place, and kept one for himself.

This time, he didn’t drink. From sunset to sunrise, he waited, and at last seemed to accept that his old companion was really gone.

Su He fetched a coat and draped it over his shoulders. “Elder Bu’s cultivation is profound. Please, Elder, take care of yourself.”

Que Yunzi grasped the coat, uncharacteristically sober. “There’s no need to pretend. I know—he’s not coming back.”

In this world, there was no longer Bu or Que—only one old fool, Que Yunzi.

“Elder?” Su He looked up in surprise, unsure how he’d been found out.

“He thought he hid it well, but I always knew. Over the years, I tried everything, but I just couldn’t help him.

“He didn’t want me to know, so I pretended not to. I knew this day would come—I just didn’t expect it so soon.

“Perhaps it’s better that he left. Maybe he’ll find some fortune out there, and truly escape death.” He patted the seat beside him, inviting Su He to sit.

“Keep this old man company for a drink.”

Su He complied, sitting down, unsealing the wine, and toasting Que Yunzi. “Please, Elder.”

“Drink.”

They clinked jars and drank until they sprawled on the ground.

Gazing at the sky, Que Yunzi asked, “What will you do now?”

“I’ll follow Elder Bu’s wishes and go to Yin Mountain Lake. To retrieve the Wind-Settling Pearl...”