Dad told me that the River links the entire world. Build a good boat, and you can go anywhere.
Dad hated the snow. People can't go out when it snows, so 'business' stops and the whole family starves. That's how I got my name.
I didn't know what 'business' was, only that Dad would come home at the end of each month with a sword in one hand and stuff for the family in the other, including a present for me. Mom would sort the stuff and wash dad's bloody clothes without a word.
Then one day, a group of people wearing armor broke into the fort. Dad lived on the River all his life, and that's where he died.
I only remember the leader. He didn't look happy at the total victory he'd just won, he only gazed at the River dyed red with blood, lost in thought.
There was only one thought on my mind.
I wanted to take revenge.
I found out where he lived. I left home, going from the easternmost edge of Yan to the westernmost.
I learned that the land was more than just the River. There were mountains, streams, forests, plains.
People lived in many different ways, and dealt with many different hardships.
The river fort was too small. Dad might have chosen a different path if he had came out and seen all the land under Heaven.
Dad was wrong. There were only so many places you could go in a boat.
Finally, I came to Yumen. He stood atop the walls with that same expression. I began to understand.
Huai has the sword. The kung fu lunatic is too much for Zuo Le to deal with.
Chongyue
He waited three years just to fulfill the promise... interesting man.
Chongyue
How are Taihe's injuries?
Qiubai
He's still unconscious.
Qiubai
The one who wounded Taihe was the same one who attacked Wei Yenwu. She got away in the chaos and was too fast for me to catch.
Qiubai
Zuo Le closed the Sword Forge. Many martial artists are... under observation.
Qiubai
Catastrophe lies before us, while the relationship between the military and jianghu has broken down. Yumen is only going to face even more chaos.
Chongyue
I could hardly reproach him for being impetuous.
Qiubai
You must take action yourself.
Chongyue
General Zuo entrusted the garrison to me. I can't very well openly defy him.
Qiubai
You know I'm not just talking about what happened these few days.
Qiubai
You'll be leaving soon. You must answer to those who looked up to you before you leave.
Qiubai
Or did you think you could dodge the questions that you cannot answer clearly?
Chongyue
......
Chongyue
People think that you're my student. Sometimes even I forget where you came from and treat you like I would Zuo Le and the Record Keeper.
Qiubai
I've never called you 'master.'
Chongyue
I'm not your master.
Chongyue
You're a natural. Most of what you could do with a sword, you learned on your own. There was little I could teach you.
Qiubai
You hid my identity from the others, allowing me to stay at Yumen.
Chongyue
I can't very well abandon a child to the barrens...
Qiubai
You never thought I would try to kill you? Or did you think I could never defeat you?
Chongyue
You didn't have to beat me, if you wanted revenge.
Chongyue
Just slip some poison into my food, or push me off the wall.
Chongyue
I worried that you wouldn't be able to let it go, even after killing me.
Qiubai
...I would have called you a hypocrite, if I hadn't hung around you for five years.
Chongyue
Five years. It's been that long?
Qiubai
Not so long from your point of view, is it?
Chongyue
Why would you say that?
Qiubai
Your appearance hasn't changed the slightest, and you still have that sad, depressed expression on your face, as though you've grown tired of seeing everything that happens in the world. The slowest burdenbeast would realize that you're no ordinary man.
Qiubai
I always thought the stories about long-lived races were a myth. Turns out there's one right next to me.
Chongyue
You knew.
Qiubai
I just never cared.
Qiubai
I wanted revenge. How long you could live didn't matter.
Qiubai
And thinking about you not being an ordinary mortal is just looking for excuses.
Qiubai
Like you said, climb the mountain one step at a time. All other thoughts are just distractions.
Chongyue
Can one truly let go of one's obsession with vengeance, one's obsession with victory and defeat, even when one's wish is fulfilled?
Chongyue
Distractions make your sword slow.
Qiubai
We mortals need our obsessions in order to keep living... you know that.
Chongyue
You weren't so forceful when we first met.
Qiubai
You taught me a lot these five years.
Chongyue
Only the basics of kung fu.
Qiubai
As you said, you can only teach so much, but how much one learns is up to oneself.
If you're not in league with those criminals, why did you steal the sword? What is your connection to the man at the clinic?
Jieyun
I don't know them, and I don't know who he is.
Zuo Le
You don't understand what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself in.
Zuo Le
You've never lived in a nomadic city, and you know nothing about Yumen. Someone told you where the sword was and got you to steal it.
Zuo Le
But you don't understand what kind of trouble it would bring.
Zuo Le
Tell me. Things may still be salvageable.
Jieyun
I told you, I'm not acting under anyone's instructions. I'm just repaying a debt.
Zuo Le
Even if the price is your life?
Jieyun
Stop following me.
Zuo Le
Whatever the truth is, I can't sit aside and let you put yourself in danger.
Zuo Le
I'm trying to help you.
Jieyun
......
Jieyun
All your words won't change anything. You're not a good person.
Zuo Le
I'm under orders to investigate. You're the one who stole the sword. You may have your reasons, but that's no excuse for distorting the truth.
Jieyun
The man who arrested all the smiths at the forge can't be trusted.
Zuo Le
They tried to cover the Shanhaizhong's escape.
Jieyun
They were there to protect it!
Zuo Le
All involved must be investigated until they are cleared of suspicion. We face the double threat of Catastrophe and criminals. I must abide by my duty to Yumen.
Jieyun
My clan only makes weapons for strong and healthy Anasa who have reached the age of sixteen.
Jieyun
Those who receive a weapon swear to protect the young, the elderly, and the sick of the clan.
Jieyun
You say things about not letting me put myself in danger, about protecting a city, but you point your weapon at the common people.
Zuo Le
This is my duty...
Jieyun
Shifu was right. You people think that you're always right, just because of your lofty justifications.
Zuo Le
......
Huai Tianpei
I slowed down on purpose, only to find that no one was following.
Huai Tianpei
You two started chatting while I still have the sword?
Zuo Le
There's been a misunderstanding, sir. I ask that you return the sword to its rightful master.
Huai Tianpei
I heard you two arguing and more or less have an idea what's going on.
Huai Tianpei
This sword belonged to the Grandmaster, but this girl sneaked it out.
Huai Tianpei
I'm sure he doesn't rely on any single weapon. Don't tell me he sent you after it because he missed it so much.
Zuo Le
I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say.
Huai Tianpei
Causing trouble for him would delay his retirement even more... but I promised to help this girl here.
Huai Tianpei
What a headache.
Zuo Le
......
Huai Tianpei
Ah-ha.
Huai Tianpei
I can't really be bothered with complicated questions, but I have a quick and simple solution.
Huai Tianpei
Both of you have some kung fu. Why don't you two fight it out, here and now, and whoever wins gets the sword. No weapons, hand-to-hand only.
Zuo Le
Ridiculous! How can something so important be determined so callously?
Fist and foot as one in points of five; catch and parry, barrage to open.
Even within an inch there lies right and wrong; focus elsewhere only negates effort.
Lee
Oh?
The day has barely begun to break. The inn's workers wipe down the tables and prepare food for the day in the kitchen.
Lee rises to the call of fowlbeast in the backyard—and the sound of fists cutting through the air.
Lee
Like father, like daughter.
Lee
Nice.
Waai Fu
Uncle Lee...
Lee
It's been a while since I've seen you practice this form. I thought maybe you had some sort of divine inspiration that helped you rise above forms and moves.
Waai Fu
Don't tease me like that.
Waai Fu
The only way to get better at martial arts is to practice. There are no magical secrets.
Lee
You're right.
Lee
I remember how you got on the wrong side of a gang the first time you went out on an errand for the company.
Lee
When I arrived, all I saw was Triads lying unconscious on the ground, while you stood there like nothing had happened.
Lee
You were only sixteen...
Waai Fu
I started learning kung fu before I learned to talk.
Lee
You remember?
Waai Fu
He told me...
Lee
At least he taught you well in that regard.
Waai Fu
Like they say, your teacher can show you the door, but you have be the one to walk through it.
Waai Fu
Well, I suppose being shown the door is important too.
Lee
Maybe this was the only thing that he felt he could do as a father.
Waai Fu
......
Lee
I'm not trying to defend him. He wasn't a good father, but you shouldn't let that stop you from living the life that you want.
Lee
Consider your kung fu a gift. You can always tuck it away if you don't like it.
Lee
Pursuit of kung fu mastery was his path, but it doesn't have to be yours.
Waai Fu
I have nothing against kung fu, and of course I have my own life.
Waai Fu
I graduated magna cum laude with a degree in mechanical engineering from the Lungmen University of Science and Technology. I'm an employee of Lee's Detective Agency, and field operator for Rhodes Island.
Lee
But not the first hero of justice to graduate from LMUST.
Waai Fu
I could be, if needed!
Lee
Then tell him the next time you see him.
Waai Fu
Uncle Lee, you...
Lee
You wouldn't just pick up a form that you haven't practiced for a long time for no reason.
Lee
Considering his irresponsible behavior all these years, it would be more than understandable if you wanted to pick a fight with him.
Lee
It's okay if you lose. I doubt he was any better at your age.
