The Crying Bird Scatters the Clouds is a wuxia novel by Han Shuang serialized weekdays in 1,000 word installments. You can access the index with links to all parts of the novel here.

The big man was hesitant now, eyeing his opponent and flexing his grip on his sabre as he went over different openings in his mind looking for the one that would work best against a member of the renowned Thunder Cloud School. Hong Jielong held his shoulder pole lightly in his hands. The big man moved forward slowly, a smart choice, hoping to draw Hong Jielong out and make the first move for him. But Hong Jielong remained motionless. The big man raised his sabre and thenslashed laterally, aiming for the throat. Hong Jielong blocked and used his pole to push the sabre down, then countered with the other end of his pole, striking a blow against the big man’s left temple.

He staggered back, but regained his stance just as Hong Jielong attacked again, his pole sweeping in from the left in an arc. The big man used the flat of his blade to ward off the blow, but he was met with the other end of the pole as Hong Jielong pivoted it around, the end thrusting out and catching the big man in the chest. He went down with a heavy huff as the air exited his lungs as he hit the ground. The big man made to get up, but he winced and grabbed his chest as he panted for air. He let his head fall back to the ground and he lay there catching his breath and holding his chest.

Hong Jielong went up to him. “If that had been a spear point instead of the end of my carrying pole you would be dead right now.”

As the three robbers lay there in pain, a contingent of troops arrived, apparently called for by the onlookers. Hong Jielong turned his head when he heard them approach and he immediately dropped his pole. The soldiers went for him until one of the onlookers said, “No, it was the three men on the ground. They were beating up that man over there when this young man stepped in and subdued them.”

The leader of the guards looked over the scene and then at his men. The man in back clutching the silver, the one who had been assailed to begin with, spoke up. “That’s right. These three attacked me and were going to rob me, but this man saved me.”  (more…)

Filed under: Uncategorized by JohnD
No Comments »

The Crying Bird Scatters the Clouds is a wuxia novel by Han Shuang serialized weekdays in 1,000 word installments. You can access the index with links to all parts of the novel here.

The big man in center pulled the man they had surrounded up by his collar. “We know who you are and we know you have more silver on you.”

The guy on the left said, “A rich man like you always carries a lot.”

The figure in the big man’s grip said, “I already gave you what I have with me. I really don’t have any more on me.”

The big man threw the cowering man down and tossed a few ingots of silver on him. The man on the ground flinched from the impact. “You only have fifteen ounces on you, a rich man like you? Heh.”

The man on the right said, “I suppose there’s more back at your manor, right old man?”

The man on the ground looked up, his eyes wide. But he said, “Yes. Of course there is more at my manor.”

The big man said, “Well, then I guess we’ll have to pay you a visit so you can get it for us.”

The man on the left said, “We can’t let him go. He’ll run straight to the authorities.”

The big man said, “That’s all right. You two can go with him to his manor while I round up the others.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

The three men turned to see Hong Jielong standing at the mouth of the alley.

The big man said, “Who asked you? This doesn’t concern you, so you’d be wise to mind your own business.”

“It does concern me now.” Hong Jielong eyed the three men. The one in the middle was the biggest, burly, but the other two were strong as well. These were no vagrants-turned bandits. They all wore goose-feather sabres at their waists, and now they all looked at Hong Jielong with eyes glinting a fierce light. Hong Jielong bent down and removed his two baskets from his shoulder pole. “Because if you want to leave this alley you’re going to have go a few rounds with me first.”  (more…)

Filed under: Uncategorized by JohnD
No Comments »

The Crying Bird Scatters the Clouds is a wuxia novel by Han Shuang serialized weekdays in 1,000 word installments. You can access the index with links to all parts of the novel here.

At the foot of the mountain the trail led into the forest and Hong Jielong continued on. It was still not yet light out. The road was wide enough for an ox-cart to pass through easily, the trees set back a few feet from the edge of the road. He passed a crossroads further down. The eas-west road crossing his path led to other villages, but he kept straight ahead toward Nine Rivers.

Nine Rivers was a bustling commercial town situated on the southern shore of the Long River. The streets were already busy when Hong Jielong passed through the gates, the sun just coming up over the horizon. Today he was tasked with buying food, fresh fish and meat as well as rice and other things. Carrying the heavy baskets hung from his shoulder pole back up the mountain would be a task, but Hong Jielong always thought of it as physical training so he relished the opportunity to exert himself. Since he had volunteered for these trips so often, his body was already well-conditioned. He made it to Nine Rivers with his empty baskets without breaking a sweat once.

After buying rice and other things, he stopped at Butcher Wang’s shop at the south-east end of the market square. Butcher Wang was tall and skinny, rumored to be a vegetarian, rumored to have come from a family of Buddhist monks. Butcher Wang never talked about his family or his past unless he was lying, which he did often as a joke, small lies to see if others would believe it. So no one really knew.

He smiled when he saw Hong Jielong walk up with his laden baskets. “Ah, so you’ve come! I thought it would be this morning or the next.”

Hong Jielong said, “Good morning Uncle. The usual.”

As Butcher Wang went about preparing Hong Jielong’s order, he said, “So how are things now that Su Guangzhi is in……Nanchang was it?”  (more…)

Filed under: Uncategorized by JohnD
No Comments »

The Crying Bird Scatters the Clouds is a wuxia novel by Han Shuang serialized weekdays in 1,000 word installments. You can access the index with links to all parts of the novel here.

Chapter Two

As the drum beat called out the beginning of the fifth watch, still dark out, Hong Jielong padded along the corridor. He yawned and wiped the sleep from his eyes with one hand, the other stabilizing the pole slung over his shoulder, a hanging basket attached at either end. He stopped in front of Deng Yan’s room and knocked lightly before opening it a crack.

Deng Yan was already awake, sitting at a low table with an oil lamp and an open book before him. He looked up at the sound of knocking. Hong Jielong said, “Sorry to disturb you brother, but I saw your light on. I’m heading out, do you need anything?”

Deng Yan said, “No.” And he went back to his book, his brow creased.

“Want to go with me?”

Deng Yan looked up. “No, thanks. Walk safely.” He lowered his head again and Hong Jielong took the hint and closed the door and made his way down the hall.

Outside, lanterns hung from the eaves lit the path to the courtyard where more lanterns illuminated the darkness enough for a person up and about before sun-up. Hong Jielong knew his way around even without light. Having lived at the school so long, he knew where everything was. He boasted that he could make it all the way to Three Wine Gourd Temple without a lantern, and this morning he started in on doing just that, shutting the main gate behind him and stepping out in to the dark morning.  (more…)

Filed under: Uncategorized by JohnD
No Comments »

The Crying Bird Scatters the Clouds is a wuxia novel by Han Shuang serialized weekdays in 1,000 word installments. You can access the index with links to all parts of the novel here.

So it was no surprise to Hong Jielong that Master Lei had said nothing to him about his own role once Elder Brother was off on his trip. No instructions left for which tasks Hong Jielong was meant to take over, no word of encouragement or warning. It was Master Lei’s way, expecting the next man to step up into the vacant position. Hong Jielong knew what was expected of him despite the lack of instruction, yet he was still not sure if he could fill the role of his elder brother adequately. He just kept telling himself that it was nothing special. Lead some drills, instruct some juniors; he had done these things already, yet somehow it felt different not having Elder Brother around for guidance.

He was startled out of his reverie at the sound of a creaking floorboard. He turned to see his junior martial sister Cai Wenting. She said, “Somehow I thought you would be here.”

Hong Jielong said, “I was just taking in the beautiful sunrise.”

Cai Wenting smiled. “You were hoping to catch a glimpse of Elder Brother.” She knew him better than most at Thunder Cloud School. Aside from Elder Brother, Cai Wenting was his closest companion at the school. She had been a student here almost as long as he had. She had no family to stop her from coming here, having made the decision to join the school after her mother, her sole-remaing parent, had passed away from an illness. She had avoided poverty by helping out with chores and in the school kitchen before being officially accepted as a disciple herself. Her lack of family made her a natural friend to Hong Jielong, who could relate. He had no family to speak of either.

Cai Wenting was proficient in the Thunder Sword, less so with the Cloud Spear, which she practiced more now as a result. She was light on her feet, though, and her agility made her a good fit with the style of martial arts at Thunder Cloud School. She was as yet, though, still an ordinary student, not having distinguished herself in anyway from the bulk of students. She was competent, but not extraordinary. She had often complained to Hong Jielong that she lacked the natural ability to improve, yet Hong Jielong had insisted that practice was more important, that she would get there. In truth, he didn’t know why he had somehow risen above the rest of the school as an exceptional swordsman, second among the students only to Elder Brother. He wondered to himself if natural ability didn’t play a larger role than he had argued to Little Sister.

Hong Jielong said, “You’re right as usual. The mist is getting in the way, though.”

Cai Wenting said, “He’ll be back soon enough. There’s no need to worry.”

“I’m not worried about him.”

“You’re worried about yourself? Think you can’t fill his shoes.”

Hong Jielong shrugged. “I guess. It’s not just being leader around here, though. I guess Elder Brother’s trip has made me realize that his time at Thunder Cloud School is coming to a close.”  (more…)

Filed under: Uncategorized by JohnD
No Comments »