Chapter 126 — The Courtesy That Was Due

By the time Shen Mu woke, it was already afternoon. The youth was about to go out into the courtyard to draw water and wash himself; he had scarcely stepped through the door when he saw a dozen or more sword cases standing in the yard, lined up in perfect order. Besides the sword cases there was also a heap of jade pendants, hairpins, jewels, and trinkets of every sort. Puzzled, Shen Mu heard a voice from beyond the gate, speaking with an ingratiating smile: "Is that you, Sister Fox Immortal?

This humble one has come to redeem a few things for my young mistress. If you would be so kind. .

. " Xue Hu'er's voice answered: "There is not enough money here.

Your young mistress's sword case, her hairpins, her bracelets—none of them are common things.

This much Great Feng coin will not do. " "What is Ling'er up to? " Shen Mu wondered. Still bleary-eyed and unwashed, he did not care to go out, and so drew water to wash his face, while beyond the door the voice went on carefully, with an apologetic smile: "My young mistress gave this humble one only this one bag of coins, and truly there is no more to be had. Pray, Sister Fox Immortal, show some forbearance. This sword case is the academy's own sword, and the hairpins and bracelets were gifts from my young mistress's elders.

.

. " "Very well, then. Wait a moment. " The door opened, and Shen Mu saw Xue Hu'er come darting in like a puff of smoke, a bag of coins drifting along behind her.

The white fox worked her art: a whirlwind swept up a sword case and several ornaments, and she went running out in high spirits to hand them to the man at the gate.

The man was all gratitude; after giving his thanks he took his leave. Shen Mu finished washing his face and brushed his teeth with a chew-stick, and just then the little white fox came running back. Only now did she notice him, and she was startled and delighted at once: "Young Master is up? Young Master, we are rich!

" With that she opened the door of the west room, and Shen Mu looked: on the floor lay piled more than twenty money bags.

Xue Hu'er opened the bags, and the Great Feng coins poured out of them, spreading over the floor.

Shen Mu was struck dumb, and for a long while could not utter a word. Xue Hu'er was smug with triumph: "Young Master beat those scholars, and they have not the face to come redeem their things in person, so they had their servants come instead. We have made a tidy profit!

" Shen Mu rinsed his mouth and spat out a mouthful of foul breath, then shook his head: "Ling'er, this is hardly decent of us. I have already thrashed those men twice over. To strip them clean besides, and demand a ransom of them—that is going too far. Once they have paid, how am I ever to have the face to beat them again?

" Xue Hu'er stuck out her tongue, somewhat vexed: "You had beaten them once already? Last time you beat them, Young Master, you did not clean them out? Then we lost out badly! The ways of our Hidden Remnant—Young Master knows them better than anyone!

You used to say yourself: what is taken by skill is not called stealing. " Shen Mu shook his head: "You rob them, and then you take their money besides. I fear that once I take their money my hand will soften, that I shall grow fond of them, and next time I will not be able to strike properly. Very well—our money is nearly spent, and this will keep us going for a while. But no more robbing next time.

Wait until the money is gone, and then rob.

Only a thin trickle runs long. " Xue Hu'er nodded again and again: "Young Master is awake, so I will go and make something to eat.

" "Make what? We have money now. We shall go into the city and eat well—delicacies of mountain and sea, dragon liver and phoenix marrow, whatever you choose.

" Man and fox set off cheerfully toward the gate, the fox carrying the money bag on her back. Many scholars lodged in the Scholars' Lodge, and seeing Shen Mu and the fox pass by, they hurriedly shut their doors, not daring to meet his eye. Shen Mu wondered: these scholars said that the tale of his beating them was known to the whole of the Grand Academy, yet he had certainly never spread it about.

Then who had let it out? Next door to the Scholars' Lodge stood the Princely Garden, where dwelt the princes, the princesses, and the commandery princesses of the noble houses. The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping had laid down the rule that the sons of the imperial house need not sit any examination—so long as they had reached the age of fifteen, they might enter the Grand Academy. But the princes' rank was exalted, and they could hardly lodge together with ordinary scholars, and so a separate garden had been set aside for them. Wei Yong was laughing to several princes: "You have no idea—our Scholars' Lodge is in an uproar.

That Shen Mu has thrashed those scholars again, and pitifully at that. Mind you, do not go saying it was I who told you. . .

" A prince said in astonishment: "This fellow from the Hidden Remnant is that strong?

" "So-so.

" Wei Yong boasted: "His skill is about the same as mine; it is only that his moves are eerie. I say it is the fellows in the Scholars' Lodge who are too useless.

" Another prince laughed: "The fellows of the Scholars' Lodge have always been arrogant, thinking they got in on true merit. They have long looked down on us imperial scions. Now they have met their nemesis.

" As Shen Mu walked out of the Scholars' Lodge, a youth came toward him, travel-worn, bearing on his back a huge bundle, tall as a man and squarely built, with several weapons thrust into it. Though dusty from the road, he was strikingly martial, and he carried about him an air of slaughter that gave one a sense of aggression. The two came face to face. Assailed by the aggression the youth carried, Shen Mu's body of itself fell into a stance of defense and counterattack; drawn by the mutual pull of their vital auras, the youth too was forced to halt. For all his aura of slaughter, the youth's manner was courteous; he bowed in salute and said with a smile: "Are you a newly arrived junior brother?

" Shen Mu returned the salute: "I have only just entered. Has Senior Brother come back from afar? " "I took my leave and went to the front with the border troops.

" The youth smiled: "My name is Shen Wanyun. You are new here, junior brother; if there is anything you need, come to me without hesitation.

" Shen Mu gave his own name.

The two passed each other and went their separate ways, and only when their tangled auras had faded did each let out his breath and stride off.

"This new junior brother is very strong. .

. " Shen Wanyun looked back at Shen Mu descending the hill, and fell to thinking.

"Eldest Senior Brother is back! " The Scholars' Lodge erupted in joy; scholars came out of their dwellings one after another to welcome Shen Wanyun.

He laughed: "Gentlemen, we have been parted barely a month—surely there is no need for such longing?

Eh—why is every one of you carrying injuries? Senior Sister Qu, you too are hurt? What has happened? " The scholars of the lodge all wore looks of shame. That Senior Sister Qu was named Qu Ting, and she said, abashed: "Eldest Senior Brother does not know.

Recently a cast-off from the Hidden Remnant came to the academy, and he is very strong.

At the entrance examination he wounded Daoist Lingyun with a wooden sword and cut a great figure before the emperor, and the emperor permitted him to enter our Grand Academy. We could not stomach it, and so we sought to drive him out of the Grand Academy. How can a slave be a fellow student of ours. . . " Shen Wanyun said: "Daoist Lingyun is no ordinary man.

That he could wound Lingyun shows his skill is fearsome. You went to provoke him, so of course you were beaten. At the same cultivation realm, how could you ever be a match for Lingyun?