Chapter 48 Assassin

　　—The world itself has neither good nor evil; good and evil both reside in the human heart. All things are created by the mind; all affairs have their cause and effect.

　　Earlier Old Wu’s guess had been correct: the official responsible for coming to the edge of the forest to receive Gongdian was precisely Lian Shan.

　　After a simple reception ceremony the parties of the two great human clans set out in the direction of Junma City.

　　On the road Lian Shan and Gongdian rode side by side. Lian Shan asked: “Great Chieftain Gongdian, where shall we lodge tonight?”

　　“What good suggestion has Young Master?”

　　“At present there are two plans. One is to lodge in Shexiong City of our Roc Tribe, though Shexiong City does not lie on the direct road to Junma City and would require a slight detour.”

　　“And the other plan?”

　　“The other plan is not to detour. Along the road nearby there is a town called Blacksmith Town; the town has a tavern but no inn, so we would need to camp outside.”

　　“Then let us make camp near Blacksmith Town.”

　　Shexiong City was the city of the Roc Tribe of the FireWorship Clan, closest to the Nanyu Forest and near Stone City of the Bear Tribe of the Gongyou Clan.

　　The Roc Tribe and the Bear Tribe had for many years been in continual dispute and had always been hostile to each other; therefore Gongdian preferred to make camp in the open rather than lodge in Shexiong City.

　　Toward dusk the embassy party and Lian Shan’s group arrived at Blacksmith Town. At Lian Shan’s invitation Gongdian took Gong Yi, Gong Wei, Yi Wu, Lü Jin and other highranking members of the clan to drink at the small tavern in the town.

　　It was a twostory tavern. At the entrance on the ground floor hung two lanterns for illumination; a waiter stood at the door. Seeing Lian Shan and Gongdian’s party approach he at once invited them into the tavern.

　　At that moment the proprietor also came forward with a smiling face.

　　“Honored guests, what would you like to eat?”

　　“Proprietor, drive out all the other guests in your tavern—we wish to reserve the whole place.” Lian Shan spoke while drawing out a gold coin and handing it to the proprietor.

　　“Well, honored guest, I fear the other tables of guests may be unwilling. All who come are guests; I cannot forcibly drive them away.” The proprietor held the gold coin to his lips, blew upon it, then held it to his ear to listen for the ring.

　　“Is that so? Who is unwilling to leave?” Lian Shan called in a loud voice.

　　“Who are you? We are eating and drinking here without offending you—why should we leave?” A man at a neighboring table shouted discontentedly.

　　“By virtue of this.” Lian Shan drew his precious sword and laid it upon that table.

　　“You have a sword—do you think I have none?” The man was about to draw his own sword.

　　The man sitting beside him hurriedly restrained him and whispered: “Hush—speak softly. Do you know who he is? He is Eldest Young Master Lian Shan, son of Great Chieftain Lian Kui; the one beside him is Great Chieftain Gongdian of the Gongyou Clan.”

　　Hearing these words the several men at that table and those at the other tables all rose, hurriedly settled their accounts, and fled the tavern in a flash.

　　The proprietor led Lian Shan and the others to a private room on the second floor and, bowing and scraping, said to Lian Shan: “Honored guests, what would you like to eat and drink?”

　　“Less idle talk—bring the best wine and meat.”

　　“At once, honored guests—please wait a moment.”

　　Before long a woman carried trays filled with various meats, fruits and vegetables and set them upon the table; Lian Shan, Gongdian and the others began to exchange cups.

　　While everyone was eating with great gusto the woman again carried up a steaming covered steamer. The vessel had three legs; the steam rising from the pot carried a fragrance that filled the nostrils.

　　“My lords, this dish is the specialty of our house—steamed pork knuckle—reserved specially for the most honored guests.” She walked before Great Chieftain Gongdian, set the steamer upon the table in front of him, and slowly lifted the lid with her left hand.

　　Just as everyone opened their eyes wide and looked toward the delicacy inside the pot, the woman’s right hand, swift as lightning, drew a dagger from beneath her clothing and stabbed straight at Gongdian’s throat.

　　Everything happened so suddenly that Gongdian and the masters beside him were all caught unprepared and had no time to draw their swords; it seemed Gongdian was about to lose his life on the spot.

　　Yet at that critical moment, for reasons unknown, the woman suddenly flew like a kite whose string had been cut and crashed headlong into the secondstory window.

　　The force of the impact was so great that the woman, together with the window lattice, was flung entirely out of the window.

　　Only then did the people at the table react; with a clatter they drew their precious swords and, following the woman, leapt down through the empty secondstory window.

　　Just before striking the ground the woman suddenly gathered her breath, adjusted her falling posture, and managed to land in a standing position.

　　By then Gong Yi, Gong Wei and Yi Wu had also leapt to the ground. Gong Yi pointed his sword at the woman and called in a loud voice: “Who are you? Why did you attempt to assassinate my father?”

　　The woman made no reply; from her waist she drew hidden weapons and flung them at the company. At the same time she turned and fled in the opposite direction, only to find her path blocked by a person.

　　By the dim light leaking from the windows of the houses along the street she saw that the figure standing before her was a short, fat little old man. The old man’s long beard floated upon his chest; emptyhanded he stood there, blocking her escape.

　　Seeing blockage ahead and pursuers behind, with no path of flight, the woman nevertheless remained calm and, dagger in hand, stabbed at the fat old man.

　　Little did she know that the one blocking her path was precisely Chief Instructor Lü Jin of the Guard of the Gongyou Clan, master of the two brothers Gong Kang and Gong Yi.

　　After dodging her attack Lü Jin’s right hand shot out in a seizing grip, twisting the wrist that held the dagger behind her back. With a surge of force the woman’s wrist was racked with unbearable pain; the dagger fell to the ground. Then Lü Jin kicked the back of her knee, forcing her to kneel.

　　The two Gongyou guards standing watch at the entrance of the tavern hurried forward and bound the female assassin with rope.

　　At that moment Gongdian and Lian Shan also leapt down from the upper floor.

　　Lian Shan felt extremely awkward. Upon the territory of their FireWorship Clan, right before his eyes, an assassination attempt against Gongdian had occurred. He too wished to investigate thoroughly what had happened so as to clear himself of suspicion.

　　Therefore Lian Shan, before the company, granted Gongdian the right to take all necessary measures within Blacksmith Town upon FireWorship territory.

　　Having obtained the host’s consent, Gongdian ordered Gong Wei and Yi Wu to return at once to the embassy party: Yi Wu was to lead soldiers to seal the entrances and exits of Blacksmith Town to prevent the woman’s accomplices from escaping; Gong Wei was to lead soldiers to arrest the proprietor, the waiters and others of the tavern.

　　Gongdian and Lian Shan interrogated the proprietor, the waiters and the others that very night. All of them cried out that they had been wronged, saying that the woman had come to the town alone four years earlier; the proprietor, pitying her lonely and friendless state, had taken her on as a serving maid in the tavern.

　　Ordinarily the woman was responsible for carrying trays in the shop. She was clever and also talented; sometimes she played a tune or sang a song for the guests, bringing the little shop many repeat customers.

　　After the proprietor learned the identities of the honored guests from the departing customers, he had specially instructed the waiter and the woman to entertain Lian Shan and Gongdian well. Who could have imagined that this traycarrying woman would attempt to assassinate the Great Chieftain of the Gongyou Clan?

　　Gongdian and Lian Shan then interrogated the woman that same night.

　　Only then, by the dim lamplight, did Gongdian clearly see the appearance of the woman who had attempted to kill him.

　　The woman appeared about thirty years of age, her hair coiled, willowleaf eyebrows, sharp eyes, figure neither fat nor thin, a red apron tied about her waist—at first glance she looked like an ordinary serving maid.

　　“Speak—who exactly are you? Why did you attempt to assassinate me?” Gongdian demanded.

　　“Less idle talk. Today this old woman came to assassinate you; whether successful or not I never expected to return alive. Kill me or slice me as you please.”

　　“Haha—truly a fierce woman, daring to act and daring to take responsibility. What I, Gongdian, have always most admired are heroes and heroines. Give me a reason for your attempt to assassinate me; so long as your reason is sufficient I, Gongdian, can overlook the past and release you at once.”

　　Hearing Gongdian speak thus, Lian Shan could not help starting.

　　The woman raised her head and looked at Gongdian: “Is that true? Gongdian, do you truly wish to hear why I attempted to assassinate you?”

　　“Young Master Lian Shan, eldest son of Great Chieftain Lian Kui of your FireWorship Clan, is here and can bear witness; the spirits of the celestial gods can also bear witness. If I, Gongdian, have done any evil, may I die a miserable death. So long as the reason for your attempt to assassinate me is reasonable and sufficient, I can overlook the past.”

　　“My husband Wu Tian died miserably at the hands of your son Gong Kang. The father’s debt is paid by the son—is that reason sufficient?”

　　“Ah—you are the wife of Wu Tian? Great Chieftain Gongdian, Wu Tian was once the foremost warrior of our clan; four years ago at the humansacrifice combat tournament he died at the hands of Gong Kang.” Lian Shan explained to Gongdian.

　　“So that is it.” Gongdian also recalled the humansacrifice combat tournament of four years earlier. That year Gong Kang first represented the Gongyou Clan in the combat and became famous in a single battle.

　　“You seek revenge for your husband—that reason is fully sufficient. Someone—untie her and release her.”

　　“Gongdian, you… you truly mean to release me?”

　　“Of course. From your point of view my son killed your husband; you come to assassinate me in revenge for your husband—that reason is fully sufficient. Whoever it was would do the same.”

　　“If you release me you must not regret it. Are you not afraid I shall come again to assassinate you?”

　　“I am not afraid. If hereafter you still wish to come and assassinate me, then come. Yet before you leave I have a few words that must be made clear to you. Human sacrifice and labor service were imposed upon our two clans by the Green Clan celestial gods; the humansacrifice combat tournament was also established by the Green Clan celestial gods.”

　　Gongdian pointed at Lian Shan and continued: “More than ten years ago I and the father of Young Master Lian Shan—that is, Great Chieftain Lian Kui of your FireWorship Clan—went together to the capital. It was the Green Clan celestial gods who decided that our two clans should determine by combat who would bear the sacrifices and labor. If you do not believe it you may ask this Young Master Lian Shan of your own clan who sits beside me.”

　　Hearing this, Lian Shan nodded: “It is indeed so.”

　　“The combat is held openly, fairly and justly; both sides sign a lifeanddeath agreement. If one loses one’s life upon the field one can only blame one’s own inferior skill and cannot blame others. Therefore your husband’s death cannot be laid at the door of our Gongyou Clan.

　　“Yet the origin of the matter is after all the humansacrifice combat tournament; you are the widow of Wu Tian and also a victim of that tournament. This time our two clans are jointly going to the capital for the purpose of petitioning the Green Clan celestial gods in the hope of abolishing future sacrifices and labor. If our wish is fulfilled there will hereafter be no more humansacrifice combat tournaments.”

　　Before leaving, Wu Tian’s wife stopped at the entrance of the great tent and said: “Great Chieftain Gongdian, there is one matter I do not quite understand.”

　　“Please speak.”

　　“My dagger had clearly almost reached your throat; I saw no movement from you, yet I was inexplicably flung outward by a tremendous force—a force I had never before felt. Do you possess some secret technique of divine protection?”

　　“That… that I have no need to tell you. While I have not yet changed my mind, leave at once. Next time if you dare come again to assassinate me and are caught by me, you will not be allowed to leave so cheaply.”

　　In fact Gongdian himself was greatly puzzled. At that moment the dagger had clearly reached the place of his throat; it was already too late to dodge. He had closed his eyes and silently cried “It is over!”

　　Yet he only heard a crash beside his ear; when he opened his eyes again the figure of the female assassin had already vanished and the lattice of the opposite window was gone, leaving only an empty window frame.

　　Watching the departing back of Wu Tian’s wife, Gongdian thought to himself: “This must be the spirit of the Yellow Clan Celestial Gods in heaven protecting me!”