Stranger Danger

“Strangely, the mountain did not move, and the clouds were still there, but when the next time the shepherd boy tried to scale the mountain, he could no longer find the temple or the man anymore.”

“Since then, the village lost a shepherd boy, but gained a humble Sage who was a master in all the arts. It was said that his qin left a pleasant haze in one’s mind for days, his white and black stones won countless worlds[1], his brushmanship looked like swimming dragons on paper, and his art brought fantastical mountains, waters, flowers and birds into reality.”

“To put it in more secular terms, his music was one-of-a-kind, his mastery in go was unmatched, his writings could not be bought even with ten thousand gold, and his paintings went passed down through the ages as masterpieces.”

Ye Qing frowned a little. He wondered why, but Feng Qingyou’s story felt familiar to him for some reason.

Feng Qingyou continued, “Six hundred years ago, a washerwoman accidentally happened upon ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ and fell asleep using it as a pillow. In her dreams, she found a temple and encountered a scholar who asked her if she was willing to learn how to read and write with him. She agreed.”

“A thousand years, a Nanke dream. In her dream, the washerwoman eventually read ten thousand scrolls, walked ten thousand kilometers, and learned everything there was to learn in the world.”

“When she finally awoke, the painting was gone. However, the world welcomed a new literary Sage. The poems she composed were passed down through the ages, her plans and stratagems had rejuvenated the nation, and the books she authored had benefited everyone.”

Ye Qing did not say anything, so Feng Qingyou continued, “Three hundred years ago, a fisherman picked up ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ by accident. During a fishing trip, he somehow lost his way in a fog and found himself standing before a huge mountain. When he ventured inside, he found a temple and met a man who was practicing his swordsmanship.”

“When the man saw the fisherman, he said, ‘Your talent is lacking, but it is enough to practice the sword’. So, he taught him a sword art.”

“When the fisherman woke up, he discovered that he was still on his boat. The fog had faded, and the mountain he was at was nowhere to be found. However, he knew he wasn’t dreaming because he could remember the sword art as clear as day.”

“Since then, the rivers lost a fisherman, but the jianghu and wulin gained a swordsman.”

“The swordman’s techniques were beyond profound. It was said that each time he swung his sword, one could see celestials and Buddhas within the span of a meter, and the air of divinity within inches. If he had an audience, his sword art would steal their souls as surely as the reaper takes everyone’s, and there was no one across the fourteen provinces who weren’t chilled by his sword. His reservoir of sword qi was immense, his intent was lofty, and his will lasts eternal.”

“With one sword and one jar of wine, the swordsman had slain the demons and monsters of the eastern sea, killed the Strangers of the West Pole, suppressed the evil Buddhas at Nanman, and eliminated the spirits and demons at Bei Mo. He became invincible throughout the world with just one meter of steel in his hands.”

“You know, all your stories sound familiar to me for some reason,” Ye Qing finally spoke up.

“That’s because I’m narrating the story of Mister Four Arts, the Feng Sage, and the Wine Sword Celestial. Of course you have heard about them.” Feng Qingyou chuckled.

“I see! I knew I wasn’t imagining things,” Ye Qing exclaimed in realization.

Mister Four Arts, the Feng Sage and the Wine Sword Celestial were all famous figures from many centuries ago. Mister Four Arts’ real name was Gong Yangzi, and he was a legend from nine hundred years ago. He was a man who reached the pinnacle in qin, go, literature and art, and he was rivaled by no one at the time. He was also nicknamed the Pinnacle of Four and the Eternal Eminence.

The Feng Sage Feng Weiwu was a legendary woman of Yan from six hundred years ago. Despite being a washerwoman, she was familiar with the scriptures of many schools of thoughts and proficient in the principles of the sages. A master in both literature and martial arts, she strived to improve both her people and her country. The poems she composed were passed down through the ages, her plans and stratagems had rejuvenated the nation, and the books she authored had benefited everyone. As a woman, she had singlehandedly created a golden age for literature that is still prevalent to this day, and for that feat, they honor her as a Sage. She was the role model for all women who came after her, which was why she was called the Feng Sage.

The Wine Sword Celestial’s true name was Zhong Mubai, and he was a swordsman from three hundred years ago. It was said that he was a distinguished and accomplished swordsman who sported an outstanding sword art and a confident and free personality. He met enemies with his sword and friends with his wine. He took pleasure in exploring the nooks and crannies of the red dust and enjoying all that humanity has to offer, and his adventures had left behind countless legends and stories in the jianghu. They said that, “One dirty wine and one sword is all he needs to live freely in the red dust,” and he remained an after meal topic and conversation to this day.

It was at this moment Ye Qing finally understood why Feng Qingyou had gone through the trouble of narrating these warriors’ life stories and asked, “Are you saying that Mister Four Arts, the Feng Sage and the Wine Sword Celestial all became who they were because they entered the Impenetrable Clouds and learned from the celestials?”

The trio were famous figures in history, so of course Ye Qing was somewhat familiar with their origin and story. However, he had always thought that some parts of their legends were exaggerated to enhance their mysticism. It would seem that Feng Qingyou was saying that that wasn’t the case.

“That is correct,” Feng Qingyou confirmed.

Despite Feng Qingyou’s certainty, Ye Qing remained somewhat skeptical. “Does such a miraculous place really exist?”

“Of course it’s real,” Feng Qingyou declared with certainty. “Mister Four Arts, the Feng Sage and the Wine Sword Celestial all mentioned ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ in their biography, nor had they tried to obfuscate that fact. This was especially true for the Feng Sage who mentioned the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ repeatedly in her books and poems. Therefore, it has to be the truth.”

“Has anyone else besides Mister Four Arts, the Feng Sage and the Wine Sword Celestial entered the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’?” Ye Qing asked.

“I do not know. Maybe there is, or maybe there isn’t,” Feng Qingyou said uncertainly. “If I have to give an answer, then my answer would be no.”

“And why’s that?” Ye Qing asked curiously. There must be a reason behind her answer.

“Because Mister Four Arts was a person from nine hundred years ago, the Feng Sage was a person from six hundred years ago, and the Wine Sword Celestial was a person from three hundred years ago. Since the painting that can supposedly lead one to ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ has reappeared today, we can confirm a pattern and deduce that ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ appear once every three hundred years.”

Feng Qingyou explained, “Besides that, Mister Four Arts, the Feng Sage and the Wine Sword Celestial all entered the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ because they somehow happened upon the painting. Every time, the painting would somehow disappear after they left the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ for three hundred years. We know this because nowhere in history was it recorded that ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ had reappeared during this three-hundred-year period. From this, we can conclude that ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ only appear once every three hundred years, and only one person may enter it and receive their fortune.”

“Makes sense.”

Ye Qing nodded. “Has anyone tried to find the place, the pattern be damned?”

“Yes, but no one has ever succeeded.”

Feng Qingyou answered, “Legend has it that only one who bears a celestial fortune may enter the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’. As for what exactly this ‘celestial fortune’ is, I cannot say.”

“Could it be referring to the painting?” Ye Qing guessed. “Everyone who obtained the painting has entered the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

Feng Qingyou shook her head. “The painting is a prerequisite to enter the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’—it is a fact that only one who has gotten the painting would have a chance to enter the place—but it is not all there is to it.”

“It is said that Mister Four Arts used to be a down and out scholar who was so poor he couldn’t even fill his belly, and he had bought the Impenetrable Cloud painting from a trader. The Feng Sage was washing clothes by the riverside when she saw a drowning kid and rescued him. Later, the kid’s parents gave her the painting as thanks for saving their child. Finally, the Wine Sword Celestial had received the painting from a friend after winning a bet.”

“Clearly, the painting was in another person’s possession before it was given to Mister Four Art, the Feng Sage and the Wine Sword Celestial. However, those people weren’t able to enter the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ and receive their fortune. From this, we can deduce that just because you own the painting does not mean that you will enter the ‘Impenetrable Clouds’ for sure.”

“Makes sense.” Ye Qing nodded in agreement.

1. It is said that a go board represents a world. ☜