THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong

School Merger Part 5

Yue Buqun shook his head. "Even though it's very difficult to do, it's actually still possible to do. I said before about the difference: hurried and gradual. As the saying goes, you botch it by rushing it. We must change our principle and the people from the orthodox path must also cooperate to go forward. If we do it in fifty years, or one hundred years, we'll definitely succeed."

Zuo Lengchan sighed before saying, "Fifty years, one hundred years, most of the heroes here would've turned into bones by then."

Yue Buqun replied, "We must do our best on this matter, and we don't have to worry whether we'll be able to actually complete this matter in our own generation or not. This is the same like planting trees for the later generations. We plant the trees and let the future generations enjoy some peace and calm. How can this be not a good idea? Also, fifty or one hundred years is the time that it would take to completely accomplish this. But if you actually want to see some slight accomplishment, then eight to ten years will be sufficient to see what have been achieved."

Zuo Lengchan said, "Eight to ten years to see a slight improvement... That's very good then. But how do we first start on this?"

Yue Buqun smiled slightly and continued, "Actually what Chief Zuo is doing right now is to the benefit of the orthodox path in Jianghu. We should first eliminate this view of many sects and schools in Wulin as it achieves nothing. First, we should get the sects and schools which are relatively near to each other, have similar martial arts, and are friendly to each to first combine as much as they can. Then within eight to ten years, the number of sects and schools would've been greatly reduced. Our five mountains sword schools should first combine to make the Five Mountains School to setup an example for the other sects. This would be a glorious achievement that would be praised throughout Jianghu for years to come."

When he finished saying this, the crowd started to call out, "So Huashan School approves of the merger."

Linghu Chong was greatly startled, and he thought, "I never expected that Master would actually approve of the merger. Since I've already said that Heng-Shan School will follow Huashan School's lead, then I can't eat my words and not go forward with the merger." He was feeling anxious and took a look towards Great Master Fangzheng and Priest Chongxu. They both were shaking their heads and were looking quite depressed.

Zuo Lengchan had always been worried that Yue Buqun would object. This person was good at debating. His reputation in Jianghu was also very good, and it was hard to force him into doing something. He had never expected that Yue Buqun would unexpectedly support the merger. He was elated as he said, "Songshan School approves of the merger. My reason for the merger before was originally 'Unity of will is an impregnable stronghold.' Together we're strong and alone we're weak. But after hearing Mr. Yue's reason, my view has now been broadened and I realised that this merger concerns the future of Wulin and will benefit more than just our five schools."

Yue Buqun replied, "After our five schools merged, if we want to actually extend our influence then we'll definitely be in competition with the heroes from the other sects. When this happens, not only would it result in problems throughout Wulin, it would also be very unbeneficial to our Five Mountains School. Thus, the merger would also be more disadvantageous than beneficial to all the heroes in Wulin. That's why the objective of this merger must be 'to stop the fighting and to resolve the disputes'. That way, after the merger of our five schools, no sect would be disadvantaged and everyone need not have any worries."

When the crowd heard him, there were some who breathed a sigh of relief, and there were also some who were still half doubting what he said. Zuo Lengchan said, "In that case, Huashan School approves of the merger?"

"That's right," Yue Buqun answered. He paused for a while before looking at Linghu Chong. "Heng-Shan School's Headmaster Linghu was previously in the Huashan School, so he and I have more than twenty years of master-disciple relationship. After he went out of the Huashan School, I didn't abandon him and have never forgotten our relationship. I've always hoped that we can be together again under one school. Today, I've already promised him that we will again be in the same school." He said till here when he revealed his smile. Linghu Chong was shaken and he immediately understood. Linghu Chong thought, "He promised me that I'll be able to return to his school, but he didn't actually mean to return to Huashan. He actually meant that after the five schools have merged, then Master, Master-Wife, and I would again be under one school. That's also very good." His thought continued, "Master just said how the merger of the five schools must be with the aim 'to stop the fightings and to resolve the disputes'. If that's true, then the merger of the five schools is a good thing and not a bad thing at all. Looking ahead, it seems that the future of the Five Mountains School is still undecided whether its aim is going to be what Master has said or what Zuo Lengchan has envisioned. If Huashan and Heng-Shan School ally together, and if we add Hengshan School as well as some of the priests from Taishan School to our alliance, then our three and a half schools would be able to withstand Songshan School and half of the Taishan School. Only then would we be able to win."

Linghu Chong still had this disquiting thought inside his heart when he heard Zuo Lengchan said, "Congratulations Mr. Yue and Headmaster Linghu! From today onwards, both of you are again under one school. This is a really happy event." From among the crowd, hundreds of them started to applaud this.

Suddenly, Peachtree Branch Fairy loudly said, "This is inappropriate, really inappropriate, really really inappropriate!"

Peachtree Trunk Fairy asked, "Why is it inappropriate?"

Peachtree Branch Fairy answered, "The headmaster position of the Heng-Shan School should've belonged to us brothers, isn't that right?"

Peachtree Trunk Fairy and the other four brothers answered together, "Yes!"

Peachtree Branch Fairy said, "But we were polite, so we let Linghu Chong do it, isn't that right? But when we gave Linghu Chong this position, there was a clause for him to take revenge for Dingxian, Dingjing, and Dingyi Shi Tai, isn't this right?"

When he asked this, his other five brothers replied together, "Yes!"

Peachtree Branch Fairy said, "But what if the people who killed the three Shi Tai were inside the five mountains sword schools? According to my opinion, if it's not that person surnamed Zuo (left), then it's that person surnamed You (right), or maybe if it's not left or right, then it's that person surnamed Zhong (middle). If Linghu Chong joined the Five Mountains School, then he would become martial brother with this person surnamed Zuo or You or Zhong. Then how is he going to take revenge for Dingxian Shi Tai?"

The other Peach Valley Five Fairies answered, "What you said isn't wrong at all."

Zuo Lengchan was furious and he thought, "You six chaps have insulted me. Now, you'll only live for a few more hours. After that none of you would be able to spout your nonsense anymore!" He then heard Peachtree Root Fairy said, "If Linghu Chong isn't going to take revenge for Dingxian Shi Tai, then he can't be the headmaster of Heng-Shan School anymore, isn't this right? If he's not the headmaster of Heng-Shan School then he can't make the decision for Heng-Shan School, isn't this right? If he can't make the decision for Heng-Shan School, then whether Heng-Shan School joins the Five Mountains School or not isn't Linghu Chong's decision to make, isn't this right?"

As he asked each question, the other Peach Valley Five Fairies answered each question with a resounding, "Yes!"

Peachtree Trunk Fairy said, "A school cannot be without a headmaster. Since Linghu Chong can't be the headmaster of the Heng-Shan School anymore, we must select a wise person to do it, isn't this right? In Heng-Shan School, there are six heroes whose martial arts are powerful with vast knowledge. At that time, Dingxian Shi Tai has already decided, and just then Five Mountains School's Chief Zuo has also said: 'The six of you have powerful martial art and vast knowledge. I've heard of your illustrious names for a long time already', isn't this right?"

As Peachtree Trunk Fairy asked each question, his five brothers again answered each question together with a, "Yes!" The person asking the question was getting louder and louder, while the people answering him were also getting stronger and stronger.

The crowd on the mountaintop found this to be really funny and they were also feeling happy that there were people here causing trouble for the Songshan School. Some people were laughing loudly at this, while tens of them were following the Peach Valley Five Fairies in answering, "Yes!"

After Yue Buqun approved of the merger, Linghu Chong's mind was in chaos. When he heard the Peach Valley Six Fairies spouting nonsense, he really liked it as it seemed that the six brothers were trying to get him out of trouble. But after hearing them for some time, he suddenly found it strange. He thought, "Peach Valley Six Fairies usually speak in an entangled manner, and what they say usually doesn't connect. But ever since we've arrived at Songshan, every single sentence they've said always has some deep meaning behind them. Just a moment ago what they were saying seemed to be for their own benefits, but those words they said actually had some hidden meaning behind them. And it's actually very hard to dispute what they were saying. It's really different from their usual way of randomly spouting nonsense. Could it be that there's a wise person who's directing them?"

He then heard Peachtree Flower Fairy said, "These six people in Heng-Shan School have outstanding martial arts and their knowledge and experience are just like those of grand heroes. Everyone's here not a fool, so you must know who these people are, isn't this right?" More than a hundred people laughingly answered, "Yes!"

Peachtree Flower Fairy said, "The world's right and wrong depends on people's opinion, and this depends on the people's heart. May I ask everyone, who are these six grand heroes?" More than two hundred people laughed loudly while they answered, "Of course these six heroes are the Peach Valley Six Fairies."

Peachtree Root Fairy said, "Ah, in that case, this headmaster position of Heng-Shan School; the six of us are forced to take responsibility for it, pushed into taking on this difficult job, of noble character and high prestige, is in favour with the public, successful, comes to light, drum the mountain, opens the door..." As he talked, the sentence was getting more and more unintelligible, and the crowd was clutching their stomachs laughing loudly. Songshan School's people were now shouting loudly, "What are you six chaps rambling about? Quickly scram down this mountain!"

Peachtree Branch Fairy said, "Strange! Your Songshan School was trying everything you can to merge the five schools together. But now you unexpectedly want the six big heroes of Heng-Shan School to go down the mountain. Once the six of us are gone, then the rest of Heng-Shan School's little heroes and female heroes will of course follow us down the mountain, and this merger of the five mountains school would fail. Great! Heng-Shan School, let's go down the mountain and let their four schools merge together. Zuo Lengchan loves to become the headmaster of the four schools, we'll just let him do it. We, Heng-Shan School, won't join this celebration."

Yihe, Yiqing, and the rest of the female disciples hated Zuo Lengchan deeply. When they heard the Peach Valley Six Fairies said this, they immediately shouted, "Let's go!"

When Zuo Lengchan heard this, he was worried. He said to Linghu Chong, "Headmaster Linghu, we're martial artists, and our words are like gold. You already said that you'll follow Mr. Yue's lead in this. So should we disregard what you said?"

Linghu Chong lifted his head and took a look at Yue Buqun. Yue Buqun's face was looking intense, and he was continuously nodding his head; Linghu Chong turned his head and looked at Great Master Fangzheng and Priest Chongxu. He saw they were continuously shaking their heads seeing that he had not done what he was supposed to do. Suddenly, he heard Yue Buqun said, "Chong'er, you and I are like father and son, and your Master-Wife is waiting for you. Could it be that you don't want to be together with us? To be like we were before?"

When Linghu Chong heard this, tears suddenly filled his eyes. Without thinking anymore, he loudly said, "Master, Master-Wife, Son actually hopes for this. Since you support the merger of the five schools, then Son doesn't dare to disobey you." He paused for a time, before continuing, "But, the deep enmity of the three Shi Tai..."

Yue Buqun loudly said, "Heng-Shan School's Dingxian, Dingjing, and Dingyi Shi Tai are the unfortunate victims of a plot, and everyone from the orthodox path regrets this deeply. From today onwards, after the merger of the five schools, Heng-Shan School's matter is also my business. Right now, the most important thing to do is to investigate this matter clearly. Then with the might of our five schools, and with the assistance of everyone from the orthodox path, we'll make minced meat out of this murderer. Chong'er, you don't need to be anxious. This murderer is our Five Mountains School's most hated enemy and we would never let him go." The way he said all this was full of righteousness and without any doubt. Heng-Shan School's female disciples cheered loudly. Yihe loudly called out, "Mr. Yue is right. If your honourable is able to preside over this and avenge our three honourable then everyone from Heng-Shan will be deeply grateful to you."