Legend of Fu Yao

Hanging upside down on the city gates, he waited for his target, making his move once the target presented his token and entered the gate. In the mere minutes when the guard checked the token to the target’s entrance into the city, he leaped down and assassinated him, skinning him and nailing the body at the same time. He completed these actions in one fell swoop, making the act almost seem like a form of art.

The most wondrous part was nailing the body, completely making use of one’s logical blind spot. Because there were no other possible places to hide a body, no one would expect to just look up and see a whole corpse nailed onto the city gates itself.

One could expect the shock when Xuanyuan discovered a body nailed onto the city gates the next day.

This beautiful assassin was not only highly skilled in assassination techniques, but also seemed to be very knowledgeable of Xuanyuan’s internal affairs. One could tell that he already knew that this “Holy Palace Special Envoy” would enter the city overnight, and thus specially waited to intercept his token. Needless to say, the token he stole was definitely something very valuable.

This guy definitely did not come with peaceful intentions. Looks like something was about to happen within the nation of Xuanyuan.

Meng Fuyao recalled the look he gave before leaving. That man, he probably noticed her. ‘What did he mean with that look? That I should learn from him?’

So she did.

She didn’t imitate him well though – his face-skinning technique was too exquisite, and she was unfamiliar with it, so she just drew a large cross instead.

Very soon, the intelligence reports from the various kingdoms made the following announcement— On X year X month X day, Xuanyuan had been infiltrated. The infiltrator was vicious and bold, hanging three corpses on the city gates, one of them was faceless, and the other two had crossed on their faces. Allegedly a demonstration of power from neighboring kingdoms, Xuanyuan was now going around searching for the perpetrator… the peace amongst the five kingdoms might possibly be disrupted and result in war again…

This intelligence report naturally caught the attention of the Dahan intelligence agency, but unfortunately, everyone was out busy trying to find undercover agents, and no one had time to return to the agency. Therefore, by the time the Dahan Emperor saw this extremely important report, he would have very, unfortunately, missed the initial critical moment…

The Kunjing Nation Protecting Temple of Xuanyuan had always been Kunjing’s most popular area, with a bridge that resembled that of today’s Old Beijing’s sky bridge and street vendors selling food or reselling cultural items all around the place. Of course, these were just low-quality products, like cooking dishes, brooms, and bamboo dustpans by the mountain walls, and these items could be thrown away after just three uses. The fragrant noodles would lose their fragrance by the time it reached home, the wooden combs would break after several uses, the pepper and salt were mixed with flour, and the textile store sold mainly coarse cloths in blue, moon white, grey, light blue colors, fabrics for the peasants that were usually stored for long periods of time in the storage rooms and rotted away after several washes.

In summary, it was a place where profiteers and cheats gathered. Yet also because it was so chaotic, there held a possibility of finding something new and unexpected.

The West wall of the Nation Protecting Temple was usually the area for street performers and martial artists, and it operated on a first come, first serve basis.

Early that morning, the sound of the gong thundered through the air.

“Uncles and aunties, brothers and sisters, fellow countrymen… clang, clang, clang, clang…” The Gong striker used rope and white cloth to encircle the area as pockets of passersby started to gather curiously.

“Those walking by, don’t miss this… clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang…” The performer stuck a dog-skin plaster onto their forehead, walking about arranging several stools. The crowd was beginning to grow.

“We brothers have come to your land… clang, clang, clang…” Having said that, the performer climbed atop a stool as the crowd yawned.

“Failing to find our relatives and having no money on us, Big Brother lies in bed ill with no money for treatment…” The performer wiped a tear as the crowd continued to yawn.

“The landlord threw us out…” Another tear wiped, the crowd indifferent.

“Fell into a drain as we came out of the front door…” Tears were wiped again while the crowd remained indifferent.

“Smashed into a bone inside the drain, and two dogs fighting over it thought that I was also here for it and leaped at me and bit me…” The performer held tears in their eyes as they made a show of removing their pants to reveal the wound as the crowd shushed in response.

“As we clambered out of the drain, a horse carriage ran over Big Brother’s hand…” The performer cried out, displaying “Big Brother”‘s heavily bandaged hand. The crowd was finally moved – these two damn kids were way too unlucky.

“Big Brother tried to claim medical fees from the carriage owner and was kicked in the groin instead by the Mistress…” Tears were now streaming down, and Big Brother silently trembled with clenched teeth as the crowd sympathized with the indignant-looking boy.

“We went to the medical hall for treatment, but because we didn’t have money for good medicine, the black-hearted physician gave us some unknown damaged products which stank, if you don’t believe me just smell this…” The performer made a show of undoing Big Brother’s pants while the crowd stuck out their necks excitedly to watch when “Big Brother” grasped onto his pants and said through gnashed teeth, “Master, can you have some limits?”

“… And then we ran into Kunjing’s street bullies…”

“Alright, here’s some money,” An aunty with tears in her eyes undid her clothing, then undid the three buttons within, took out a small bag, opening up thirteen layers of handkerchief wrapped on it, revealing a double wrapped wallet, and from within she fished out with trembling hands… a single copper coin.

A single copper coin!

Everyone turned to look admirably at the lad hitting the gong – Heavens, such a silver tongue! This “Iron Hen” who hadn’t been charitable in thirty years actually did charity for the first time today!

Xuanyuan’s Kunjing Iron Corner Street Persimmon Alley’s Aunty Li, also known as Kunjing’s number one Iron Hen; it was said that it was harder to get her to give an extra copper coin than for Xuanyuan’s manor’s little master at hiding a man in her bedroom.

What happened next was even more jaw-dropping.

The gong striker didn’t seem to understand what record-breaking and historical symbolism this copper coin held as he moved to reject the coin, solemnly saying, “One does not get rewarded without reason, even though us brothers are poor, we aren’t here to receive empty-handed. Today we are here to show our skills, using our skills to earn money, honorably, or else we would really just be mere beggars.”

“This child has backbone!” The lady looked benevolently at the Gong player…’What a good looking lad, he would probably fetch at least an ounce of silver at the men’s brothel…’

“Stop shooting your mouth off!” Someone said impatiently, “Can you play with knives? Crescent spades? Or will you walk on a tightrope? Or can you wave banners…”

The gong performer smiled, held up a finger, and shook his head.

“How is any of that considered refreshing? Since it’s my first time here, naturally I’ll have to show you something interesting such that we will live up to the name of this brilliant capital. And of course, to let you folks see what’s out there, look at my… clang, clang, clang!” Striking the gong hard, the performer announced, “Unrivalled, magnificent, beautiful, universe-startling, heaven-moving, unique from the skies to the underworld—the one and only, Magical Rabbit!”

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

The “Magic Rabbit” made its appearance.

Covered from head to toe in black fur—a disguise, wearing a red robe—from her own bag, four short legs—they were Lord Yuan Bao’s.

The “Magic Rabbit” gracefully leaped onto a large red painted crate on the stage, flashing an appropriate smile that revealed its four shiny front teeth and well-manneredly waving its paws at the audience.

If the original owner of this “rabbit” were here, he would probably end up spitting out blood—a precious mythological pet, a rare, treasured rodent with intelligence on par with humans, after landing in Meng Fuyao’s hands has fallen so far that it would have to make a living by selling skills in a third rate marketplace.

The “mythological pet” itself did not have much awareness of its lineage, instead enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention, taking its time to turn around to smile, showing off its teeth charmingly…

“Ah! Small black rabbit!”

“Rat!”

“Raccoon!”

“Weasel!”

Lord Yuan Bao’s face darkened as it glared at Meng Fuyao hatefully. ‘Who let you dye my fur black? It’s ruining my dashing image!’

“Fellow countrymen, come and look!” Meng Fuyao hit on the gong hard and continued, “A magical rabbit that can recognize words…”

“Able to recognize words?”

“That’s not possible, stop boasting.”

“This lad is spouting nonsense! Careful not to get tricked!”

Meng Fuyao waved her hand and laughed. “True gold fears no fire. Whether it’s a donkey or a horse, a rabbit or a weasel, you will know once we take it out for a spin!”

She continued to strike the gong, successfully attracting the attention of the crowd around. She watched as a few plainly dressed, but calm-looking men made their way over, her eyes gleaming as she smiled and said, “Speaking of this magical rabbit of mine, there’s nothing particularly special, just that it is able to recognize couplets.”

There was a wild outburst in the crowd – the ability to recognize words was rare enough, much less the ability match couplets! Immediately someone yelled out excitedly, “And what if it can’t?”

“I will send my Big Brother to be your slave!” The black-hearted Meng Fuyao pointed at her poor “Big Brother” Tie Cheng and said, “After treating his illness, he’s still a considerably well-built man who can do hard work!”

“Fine, I’ll come up with one first, Red Flower!”

Lord Yuan Bao glared at the man with despise, ignoring him—this man was clearly belittling its intelligence.

“Come on, can we have something with more than five words?” Meng Fuyao sighed. “Don’t insult my Lord Magical Rabbit’s intelligence.”

The crowd started to think hard for a couplet, a truly difficult task for the less educated lower class. One of the men scratched the back of his ear as he pondered, catching a flea and then biting on it in his mouth. The flea was bigger than usual, and it caught on his teeth. While regretting the early aging of his teeth, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he yelled out, “This rabbit’s front teeth are very big!”

Lord Yuan Bao was immediately enraged and spat out a sequence of phrases.

“Your mother has fat thighs!”

“Your father strikes luck when he leaves the house.”

“Your mother deserted you at birth.”

“This place is outstanding with beautiful mountains and waters,” said a poor man excitedly, rocking his head back and forth.

“Your mother’s steps create valleys and sand flies everywhere; she creates miracles of nature.”

“Utter rubbish! How can a rodent’s intelligence compare with a human’s!” exclaimed the poor man angrily.

“Utter rubbish! Your mother’s dumber than a mouse!”

Aunty Li dimly asked Meng Fuyao, “Why is it scolding your mother in every sentence?”

Meng Fuyao replied with deep sentiment, “Because it lacks motherly affection…”

Aunty Li continued dimly, “It… it… it really is a rabbit?”

“Actually…” Meng Fuyao dragged her sentence meaningfully as Aunty Li and the surrounding crowd strained their ears to listen.

“It’s just a rabbit.”

“Amazing!”

Instantly there was an outburst of exclamations and everyone wandering about the Nation Protecting Temple made their way over and copper coins showered through the air—magical rabbit, truly a magical rabbit!

Lord Yuan Bao puffed out its chest proudly and smiled, fully immersing into its character while biting a copper coin it personally picked out and throwing it into the bamboo basket—it was truly an honorable feeling to earn money with its own labor, even though these copper coins wouldn’t even be able to pay for a single button on its robes…