Farewell and a New Path

“Go, child.” Seeing me trembling in place, his aging voice urged me on.

“No, Master, I, I… I don’t want to go, I have to find a way to save you!” I gritted my teeth, struggling to hold back my tears.

“Foolish disciple, the sea is vast, the sky is high, fish leap, birds fly. You have inherited my teachings, and you should be able to see through the trivialities of the world. Life and death are destined; no banquet lasts forever. Our master-disciple bond ends here. I have roamed the world, laughed at the江湖, and lived without regret, though I have lived a lonely life, with no kin or relatives. To have you as a student, even if only a convenient one, is my greatest fortune. I am content! Beyond that, I only wish for a noble death. Originally, I should have kept you by my side to attend to my final moments, but your nature is like Lin Qing’s, and if you truly witness my demise, who knows what changes it might bring! It’s better not to meet again, for even with feelings, it’s as if there are none! Go, and never return!” By the end, his voice seemed to waver slightly, but he struggled to maintain his composure.

When I heard “Go, and never return,” I could no longer hold back my tears. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. Finally, I managed to squeeze out four words.

“Disciple obeys.”

“Go, go. If you must go, go quickly!” He pressed his voice down, speaking softly.

I bit my teeth and suddenly rolled over, bowing deeply to the uneven ground of the cave, saying my farewell. Then, with a heavy heart, I gathered the clothes I had worn before, my own belongings, and the small package my master had given me, holding them to my chest. I didn’t care that I was naked, holding back my tears as I rushed towards the sloping exit, almost crawling and rolling out of the cave.

****

Distant sighs seemed to echo from behind me, a lonely and sorrowful sound.

The fading night wind was cool, blowing against my bare skin. I looked up at the sky, at the faint light in the east, determined not to look back.

But I hadn’t expected that as I took a deep breath, ready to speak, the ground beneath me suddenly trembled violently. It reminded me of the day my master and I first met, when I heard his thunderous laughter that shook the heavens and earth.

I realized it too late. By the time I turned back, the cave entrance, hidden behind the tall grass, had collapsed and was sealed shut, with no trace of the path left!

“Master!” I couldn’t hold back any longer, bowing deeply once more to the collapsed entrance.

My master must have feared that I wouldn’t be able to resist my cowardice and return, so he used his last bit of strength to seal the cave forever…

As I bowed, my tears flowed freely, mixing with the rising dust, a faintly pungent smell.

****

The clear spring water flowed gently, reflecting the face of a girl, her cheeks stained with dirt and dust. Her lively, hazel eyes seemed to hold an endless cycle of reflections.

This face, it was the girl I saw when my master used his mind-reading ability.

I sighed, a bitter smile on my face, and saw the girl in the water mirroring my expression, a long, sorrowful sigh.

So, it was true. I had become a girl.

As I thought about this with a mix of resignation and curiosity, I began to consider what to do next. I cupped water from the stream, washing the dirt and mud from my body.

I wasn’t far from the cave, and after such a sudden change, my mind was still in a daze. I hadn’t put on my old clothes, which made it easier to clean myself without having to undress again.

Amid the sound of flowing water, I suddenly remembered something Yang Laoer, from my dorm, had once summarized as one of the江湖’s clichés: a girl bathing alone in a secluded wilderness will always be spied on, and the spy is usually a wandering江湖 hero or a famous martial artist. There’s a good chance they’ll have a romantic encounter with the girl.

At the time, I had laughed it off as a joke, but now, as I was bathing in the wild, and as a girl, I began to worry. As the saying goes, “What you fear will come to pass.” Yang Laoer’s words were still fresh in my mind when I heard footsteps approaching from the bushes nearby.

I tried to stay calm, thinking it was just my imagination, that no one would be out here at this hour.

But that thought was quickly dispelled. The footsteps grew louder, and I could hear two men talking.

I was suddenly panic-stricken, looking over at my clothes and belongings scattered on the bank. The stream divided into two shores, but unfortunately, the side where I left my clothes was the same side the footsteps were coming from. This meant that even if I rushed to get dressed, there was still a chance the two men would see me naked.

I bit my lip, realizing I couldn’t stay put. Even if I rushed to dress, there was still a risk of being seen. I had to take a chance!

With that thought, I began to crawl out of the water, my hands and feet moving quickly. I prayed silently to the Buddha and Guan Yin for these two men not to come this way, or at least to come slowly.

They say, “Last-minute prayers may or may not be answered.” Today, it seemed the Buddha was not in a good mood, for my prayers went unanswered! The two men were not only coming this way, but they were moving quickly, as if rushing to their next life.

“Boss, this should be the stream. Damn, just seeing it reminds me of that little brat. We’ve searched for him for so long, and he’s probably been eaten by some wild beast out here.”

Before I even reached the shore, I heard one of them say. My vision blurred, and I couldn’t believe it—it was someone I knew…