Chapter 7 : Heading to the Heavenly Pole
7: Heading to the Heavenly Pole
"Did you hear? The Martial Arts Alliance led by the Heavenly Pole Sect stormed the Falling Shadow Sect yesterday and destroyed that Demonic Sect's headquarters. But unfortunately, the demon Shi Qinghan escaped."
"I heard about it early. The heavens cycle around. Evil people get what they deserve. Those Demonic Sect members killed so many innocent lives. Even if they go down to the Yellow Springs, the King of Hell will cast them into the hell of hungry ghosts."
"The martial world will be peaceful from now on. We can live quiet lives."
"Don't get your hopes up too high. Even though the Falling Shadow Sect is gone, who knows if some Eastern Shadow Sect or Western Shadow Sect will pop up later. These Demonic Sect people truly can't be eliminated no matter how many you kill over a hundred years. Truly hateful."
"Probably not. The Heavenly Pole Sect released an announcement saying they'll send sect disciples to guard the northwest."
"Easier said than done. Among these righteous sects, things aren't as bright and honorable as you think. Once they finish fighting external enemies together, they'll start fighting among themselves."
"Enough, enough. Let's eat noodles." After conversing, several men buried their heads in their bowls.
At another table, Fu Peibai also withdrew her attention and focused on eating. A bowl of plain noodles quickly disappeared in her hands. She picked up the bowl and drank the broth clean before setting it down. She fished out ten copper coins from her chest, placed them on the table, and left the noodle stall.
This was her tenth day since departing from Xingyang City. She had covered roughly half the journey. She couldn't afford to rent a horse carriage, or even a donkey cart. She could only watch for farmers passing by and politely ask for a ride. Most farmers, seeing she was a ragged youth, would take her along. On stretches where no farmers passed, she had to walk on her own. Fortunately, her straw sandals had been thickened, so they hadn't worn through. Later, when she took out dried rations from her pack to eat, she discovered that heavy money pouch. She didn't need to think to know who had put it there.
Fu Peibai roughly calculated the number of copper coins in the pouch and planned how to use them. Every single coin had to be carefully accounted for. But today, she might have to be "extravagant" once.
She decided to buy a donkey cart. Based on her current walking pace, she wouldn't make it to Jinyun Mountain by the fifteenth of the sixth month.
After haggling with the owner for a long time, he finally gave in and sold a donkey cart to Fu Peibai at seventy percent of the original price.
She happily patted the little donkey's head, gave a whistle, and boldly drove the donkey cart toward the southeast.
With the donkey cart, her pace quickened considerably. She successfully arrived at the foot of Jinyun Mountain, the foremost mountain in Jiangnan, on the fifteenth of the sixth month.
This was her first time coming to the Jiangnan region. Before, she had only read in books that Jiangnan had many mountains and rivers. Seeing it now, she was greatly shocked. What met her eyes were peaks towering into the clouds. Halfway up the mountain, mist swirled and white cranes cried, like a celestial realm.
At the foot of the mountain, an enormous open space had been cleared and paved with fine stone. A steep flight of stone stairs wound upward along the mountainside until it disappeared into the mountain mist. At the beginning of the stone stairs stood a marble archway several zhang high. On the horizontal tablet were carved three vigorous, powerful characters: Heavenly Pole Sect.
By now, quite a few young men had already gathered on the open ground. All were dressed in fine silks and satins, wearing precious jade and famous swords. They clustered together in groups of three or three. Amidst this scene, Fu Peibai's appearance seemed particularly conspicuous.
Someone noticed this farm boy wearing coarse hemp clothes and driving a donkey cart. He quickly pointed it out to those beside him. One told ten, ten told a hundred. Gradually, all eyes turned toward Fu Peibai with scrutinizing gazes. Some people began pointing and whispering about her, their words laced with contemptuous laughter.
Fu Peibai removed the bamboo hat from her head and walked toward the crowd neither humbly nor arrogantly. But those people treated her like the plague, retreating one after another with expressions of clear distaste.
As the crowd dispersed, they revealed the registration desk beneath the stone archway. Two men in identical clothing and headgear sat there, with registration ledgers spread on the table. Fu Peibai walked straight over and said in a clear voice, "Hello. I've come to register for the entrance examination."
One of the men was drinking tea. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Fu Peibai and nearly sprayed the tea from his mouth. But out of upbringing and manners, he held it back. He wiped the tea stains from his lips and asked, "Young brother, have you made a mistake? This is the Heavenly Pole Sect. We teach martial arts."
"I know. Is there a problem?"
The man's expression went blank for a moment. He turned his head to look at his companion. The other man was clearly more experienced. He asked as if nothing were amiss, "No problem. But young brother, do you have all the required items for registration?"
Seeing Fu Peibai's puzzled look, he explained, "First, you need a letter of recommendation from a Heavenly Pole Sect disciple or someone from another sect. Second, you need the registration fee of one hundred taels of silver."
Fu Peibai shook her head. Immediately, mocking laughter rose from all around. But the laughter soon stopped, because Fu Peibai pulled a jade pendant from her chest and placed it on the table. The expressions of the two Heavenly Pole Sect disciples in charge changed instantly. They became extremely respectful and asked for Fu Peibai's birth year, hometown, name, and other information, then recorded it in detail in the registration ledger.
Everyone looked at each other, not understanding how a jade pendant could be so powerful. Could this country bumpkin have some significant background? Soon, some fawning individuals stepped forward to bow and strike up conversation with Fu Peibai.
"I am a scion of the Mo family of Wancheng, Mo Qingyuan. Meeting you today, I feel quite a kinship. May I ask how to address you, brother?"
Fu Peibai raised her eyelids and paid no attention to him.
That Mo family scion's hand remained raised in the air, receiving no response for a long time. Whispers rose around them. He grew so awkward he didn't know where to put himself. He lowered his hand and walked away with a sweep of his sleeve. After this incident, no one else came to talk to Fu Peibai either.
After a short while, the crowd grew excited again. A tall, handsome man in black appeared on the road, slowly approaching on a dark horse with a green tint. His spine was straight, his brows spirited. Truly, he cut an extraordinary figure.
"Isn't that the second young master of Red Feather Villa? Why is he here?"
"Exactly. Not entering his own villa, but coming to the Heavenly Pole Sect to be a mere disciple. What's going on?"
"Brother He, Brother He! Long time no see!"
The man on the fine horse heard someone calling him loudly. He tugged the reins and quickened his pace. Then he saw the donkey cart stopped by the roadside. He frowned and pulled his horse to the other side with evident distaste. After dismounting, he embraced and exchanged greetings with the friend who had called out to him.
"Brother He, since we parted last year, it's truly been a long time."
"Yes, this is a rare reunion. You and I must drink to our hearts' content."
"Hahaha, no problem. After today's examination ends, we'll have a proper gathering." As they spoke, they walked toward the registration desk and naturally saw Fu Peibai standing to the side.
The black clad man took one look at Fu Peibai's attire and understood that this person was the owner of the donkey cart. He made no effort to hide his disdain as he asked the Heavenly Pole Sect disciples in charge, "What's going on with this person? Has your sect's talent dwindled to the point where farmers who work the fields can come participate in the entrance examination?"
His words were extremely unpleasant, mocking both the Heavenly Pole Sect and Fu Peibai.
The faces of the two disciples in charge immediately became unsightly. They didn't know how to explain. Finally, the slightly older disciple replied, "Young Master He, this young master didn't register through the normal requirements to participate in the examination. He was granted an exception by the Peak Master of Chaoquan Peak."
The black clad man's eyes changed when he heard the three words "Chaoquan Peak." He turned to face Fu Peibai and stepped closer, stopping two paces before her. He looked down at this scrawny youth and asked coldly, "Who are you?"
Fu Peibai retreated two steps. She raised her head slightly to meet the man's gaze, her expression unchanged.
"I'm asking you a question. Who are you?" The black clad man clearly wasn't someone with a good temper. Fu Peibai just stared at him without speaking. To him, it seemed like provocation.
He was just about to make a move to test this person's skills when a heavy, enduring bell tone rang out from halfway up the mountain.
The two disciples in charge were so frightened they nearly broke out in cold sweat watching this scene. On one side was a mysterious youth holding the personal warm jade of the Chaoquan Peak Master. On the other was the second young master of Red Feather Villa, currently at the height of his fame. They didn't dare offend either side. Fortunately, the bell rang at this moment. So they quickly stood up and shouted, "Open the mountain gate!"
"Open the mountain gate!"
"Open the mountain gate!"
They channeled their inner energy, and their voices rang out loudly, startling flocks of forest birds into flight.
The crowd began to arrange themselves into two columns and proceeded up the winding mountain path. Fu Peibai moved to the very back. Beside her was a youth about her size, dressed expensively, clearly a young master accustomed to fine food and clothing. Yet his expression was extremely nervous. He gripped his sword hilt tightly, his face panic stricken as if he were walking to his doom.
Fu Peibai glanced at him once, then withdrew her gaze. Actually, she wasn't much better off herself. Her face showed no concern, but inside she was also quite nervous.
They continued walking upward like this. She didn't know how long they had been walking. The mountain path grew increasingly steep, until they practically had to climb with hands and feet. People began constantly falling behind, sitting on the stone steps and panting heavily. Among them were some who couldn't persist and simply gave up, heading back down the mountain.
Fu Peibai also began to lose strength, breathing heavily. Large drops of sweat rolled down her face. She looked at the youth beside her and saw that he too was gritting his teeth and persisting.
After climbing for approximately another quarter of an hour, more and more people fell behind. Fu Peibai had originally been at the back of the group, but now she was in the middle position. There was still no telling how much longer they had to walk. Complaints rose from within the group.
"How much longer do we have to climb? By the time we get up there, we won't have any strength left. How will we compete?"
"You don't understand. Though they publicly announce three rounds of examination, this climb up the Heavenly Ladder is actually the first test. For martial artists, if you can't even climb these several thousand steps, how can you enter the Heavenly Pole Sect?"
At these words, those who had been planning to give up gritted their teeth, shook out their legs, and rejoined the group. After all, entering the Heavenly Pole Sect to study was the dream of every young martial artist.
When they finally climbed to the mountainside, only about thirty percent of the group remained. Fu Peibai's lips had lost their color. Her legs were so heavy she could barely lift them. But looking at the lush green mountainside, she made up her mind. She gritted her teeth and quickened her pace, passing everyone and moving to the front of the group, leaving the others behind.
Everyone was surprised. Isn't that the farm boy? He actually dares to run ahead of them? All these pampered young masters who were usually the center of attention couldn't accept being shown up by a farm boy. Their fighting spirits rose, and they lifted their legs to climb.
After climbing for approximately another hour, Fu Peibai finally saw the end. She was the first to step onto the final stair. Her legs went soft and she knelt on the ground. Someone came to pull her up. She waved her hand, indicating it wasn't necessary. She rubbed her own legs and walked to a shaded area to the side to rest.
But soon she felt measuring gazes falling upon her. She looked up and saw a platform set up on the other side of the open ground. Four middle aged men sat there. Two younger men stood on either side of the platform. The measuring gazes came from those four men.
The four men were currently whispering among themselves about her. Fu Peibai ignored those gazes and continued rubbing her arms and legs to relax her tense muscles.
After a short while, others gradually made it up. Some collapsed as soon as they arrived. Some loudly cried out for water. Some were dizzy and stumbling. The four men looked at the group of youths, some fainting and some collapsed, and shook their heads repeatedly.
Once everyone had made it up, the young man on one side of the platform called out loudly, "Welcome, everyone, to the Heavenly Pole Sect to participate in the entrance examination. The examination at this location is the first round. Those who pass this round may continue climbing upward to the location of the second round. Next, I will announce the rules for the first round."
"Everyone present will be divided into four groups based on age. Each group will conduct combat matches. The top eighteen from each group will qualify to advance to the second round. The matches for the four groups will take place simultaneously in the four directions of the drill ground. Each match will last no longer than the time it takes to burn one stick of incense. Both sides will hold wooden swords, with the tips coated in red mud. The content of the match will be treated as actual combat. Attack your opponent as much as possible. When time is up, each person will report the number of red mud marks on their body. One strike to a vital area counts as two points. One strike to other areas counts as one point. Finally, the total score will be tallied and the rankings announced. Has everyone understood clearly?"
"Understood!" With the examination imminent, everyone regained their spirit and replied in unison, startling another flock of forest birds to shoot straight into the clouds.