They gathered later in the Great Hall to discuss the

situation.

Chen said to Wei: "Ninth Brother, send the vase to

Commander Li. We cannot betray our word." Wei bowed

and left.

Master Ma's son entered the hall and walked over to

Chen. "Great Helmsman, Zhang Zhaozhong has sent a

letter to you," He said.

"Zhang? That is strange. I wonder what he has to say?"

He opened the letter and found it angrily accused him

of deception and plotting, of behaviour unbefitting an

honourable man, and challenged him to a duel at a time

and place of his choice. "He wants to get revenge for

last night," Chen told the others. "Huh, a duel! Does

he think I'm scared?"

"We have to rescue Fourth Brother in the next two

days," said Xu. "Why don't you ask Zhang to postpone

the meeting for a few days? We should not allow this

matter to interfere with our real purpose."

"That is true," said Chen. "Today is the twentieth, so

I will set the meeting for noon on the twenty-third."

He immediately wrote a letter inviting Zhang to meet

him alone on that day and ordered an attendant to take

it to the Commander-in-Chief's Yamen.

An attendant entered and said to Master Ma: "Master,

the old man Wang Weiyang still refuses to eat and does

nothing but curse."

"Who does he curse?" Ma asked.

"The Imperial Bodyguard for their lack of sense. He

says he doesn't understand why they have imprisoned

him."

"The North China Earth-Shaker," Priest Wu Chen

chuckled. "As soon as he comes down to the south, he

has to put up with some hardship."

Xu's face suddenly brightened. "I have a plan that

should make it easier for you to deal with Zhang,

Great Helmsman," he said. He told them the plan and

they all clapped and laughed in delight.

"Excellent, very cunning," said Priest Wu Chen. Zhou

Qi smiled and shook her head.

"Mistress Zhou once again thinks that Seventh Brother

is not being straightforward enough," Chen said with a

smile. "But when dealing with dishonourable men, one

does not have to be completely honourable. Brother

Meng, go and have a talk with the North China

Earth-Shaker."

In forty years, Wang Weiyang had never suffered a

setback. Now, on his first trip to the south, he was

in dire straights. He yelled and shouted, insisting

that he should be allowed to see the Imperial Guard

Commander to settle the matter. As he ranted, the door

to his cell opened and Meng walked in wearing the

uniform of an Imperial Guard officer.

"So you are the North China Earth-Shaker?" he said

unceremoniously.

Wang raged inwardly. "Yes," he said. "It is a nickname

given to me by my friends. If Commander Fu finds it

unpleasing, I will change it immediately."

"Commander Fu is a confidante of the Emperor," said

Meng coldly. "He has no interest in such things."

"I am escorting a quantity of precious articles to

Hangzhou for the court. Why are you detaining me

here?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Of course!"

"I am just afraid that at you age, you may not be able

to stand the shock."

Wang hated references to his age more than anything.

In a rage, he struck the corner of the table with his

fist and splinters flew.

"I may be old, but my heart is still strong," he

shouted. "What shock have I to be afraid of?"

Meng laughed. "Your're truly remarkable, Master Wang.

There is a saying in the fighting community. 'Meeting

the Devil is preferable to meeting old Wang, bumping

into a spear is preferable to bumping into Zhang

Zhaozhong', isn't that right?"

"That's the reputation I have amongst bandits."

"Why does 'old Wang' come before 'Zhang'? Could it be

that old Wang's kung fu is better than Zhang's?"

Wang stood up. "Aha!" he exclaimed. "So the Fire Hand

Judge wants to test me. I'm getting too slow in my old

age. I never thought of that."

"Master Zhang is my superior, did you know that?"

"I knew that Master Zhang was in the Imperial Guard."

"Would you recognize him?" asked Meng.

"We both live in Beijing, But he is an official and I

am an ordinary citizen. I have heard much about him,

but have never had the good fortune to meet him."

"Master Zhang has also heard much about you," said

Meng. "He says there are three matters he wants to

raise with you. If you agree to them, you will be

allowed to leave immediately."

"Well?"

"Firstly, he wants you to abandon the nickname 'North

China Earth-Shaker."

"Huh! What's the second thing?"

"Please close down the Zhen Yuan Bodyguard Agency."

"My Bodyguard Agency has been operating for more than

thirty years," Wang protested angrily. "Never have I

suffered a loss at the hands of our friends in the

fighting community, yet Master Zhang wants me to

retire! And the third thing?"

"The third thing is to ask you to issue a proclamation

asking members of the fighting community to reverse

the order of the saying about you and Master Zhang.

Master Zhang also says that as you are now getting on

in age, your Eight Diagrams sword is probably no

longer of much use to you, and suggests that you

donate it to the Imperial Guard."

Wang's anger surged. "Zhang Zhaozhong and I have

nothing against one another. He's carrying this too

far!" he shouted.

"You have enjoyed a great name for forty years.

Perhaps you ought to retire. As the saying goes, one

mountain cannot contain two tigers. Surely you

understand the sense of that?"

"So he wishes to humiliate me to promote his own name.

Huh! And what if I don't agree. Will he continue to

hold me here?"

"Master Zhang is an honourable man. He would not do

such a thing," said Meng. "He invites you to duel with

him at noon today on Lion Peak. If you win, the three

conditions will not be mentioned again. If you lose,

then he asks you to agree to all three. He says it

would be rather inconvenient if the Emperor found out

about this, and asks you to go alone. That is, if you

dare."

Wang spluttered with rage. "Even if I was to die

there, I would still go alone."

"Then please write out a letter and I will take it

back to Master Zhang," said Meng. He pulled out some

paper and a writing brush.

Wang, his hand shaking in anger, wrote out a short

note:

"To His Excellency Master Zhang Zhaozhong. Your words

and behaviour have gone too far. I will meet you today

at noon on Lion Peak. If I lose, I will be at your

disposal. Wang Weiyang."

Meng smiled, picked up the letter and walked out,

closing the door of the cell behind him.

That morning, Master Han, the original owner of the

white horse, was moved from one cell to another.

Having fallen into the hands of Red Flower Society

once again, he was afraid he would not be able to

escape so easily again. As he morosely considered his

dilemma, he heard someone shouting in the cell next to

his, and recognized the voice of Wang Weiyang. He

could hear he was cursing Zhang Zhaozhong. Greatly

curious, he was just about to call out to Wang when

the door opened and two men walked in.

"Please come with us to the Great Hall for a chat,

Master Han," one of them said.

As they entered the hall, Han saw three men sitting on

the left. In the middle was the Red Flower Society's

Great Helmsman Chen, while on either side of him sat a

dwarf and a man with a flowing white beard. Han bowed

silently and sat down.

"Brother Han, I never thought that we would meet again

here," said Chen. "Our fates seem to be tied."

Han hesitated for a moment. "I know I agreed to give

up my sword and return home," he said finally. "But

Master Wang insisted that I do this job. Out of

feelings of friendship and because I knew the

valuables belonged to your family, I..."

"Brother Han," Xu interrupted harshly. "We of the

fighting community are very particular about two

things: trust and honour. By your own word, you have

proved to be untrustworthy. How do you think you

should be dealt with?"

Han steeled himself. "What is there to say? If you're

going to kill me then kill me."

"There's no need to talk like that," Chen said.

"Master Wang has been grossly insulted by Zhang

Zhaozhong, and says that no matter what, he must fight

it out with him. We of the fighting community are very

annoyed over this affair. What is your relationship

with Zhang Zhaozhong?"

"I've met him a few times in Beijing, but we are from

two different worlds. You couldn't say we had any

relationship."

"As I thought. Have a look at this letter," said Chen,

and handed him the note Wang had written.

Han knew that Wang always showed the greatest respect

for officialdom. But if Zhang really had been that

insulting, he would have been unable to swallow it.

Having himself heard Wang cursing and now seeing the

letter, there was no room for doubt.

"I would like to see Master Wang and discuss the

situation with him," he said.

"There is not enough time," Chen replied. "I would

like you to take this letter to Zhang now and you can

see Master Wang when you return. Twelfth Brother,

please come here," he called. 'Melancholy Ghost' Shi

emerged from an inner chamber and Chen introduced him

to Han. "Brother Shi will accompany you to see Zhang

Zhaozhong. You are unaware of how Zhang has caused

Master Wang to lose face, but there is no time to give

you the details now. When you see Zhang, you can say

that Brother Shi here is a lead escort with the

bodyguard agency. Do exactly as he says."

Han's suspicions rose again and he hesitated once

more.

"Do you have any doubts, Brother Han?"

"No, no," he answered hastily.

Xu knew that Han suspected. "Please wait a moment," he

said. He left the hall for a moment, returning with a

flask of wine and a wine cup into which he poured some

wine.

"I was too abrupt in what I said just now," he said,

offering the cup to Han. "Please accept this as a

token of my apology. Let there be no hard feelings."

"Well said!" Han replied. He drained the cup, picked

up the letter and walked towards the door.

"Oh no!" Xu suddenly exclaimed. "Brother Han, I've

made a mistake. That cup of wine had poison in it!"

Han went pale, and he turned back towards them.

"I am truly sorry," said Xu. "That flask was poisoned

for use whenever needed and one of the servants gave

it to me by mistake. I didn't realize it until I smelt

it. You've already drunk a cupful. Brother Han, oh

dear, oh dear. Get the antidote quickly," he added to

an attendant.

"The antidote is in the east city residence," the

attendant replied.

"You fool. Ride over there and get it!" Xu shouted at

him. The attendant bowed and left.

"I have been neglectful," Xu said apologetically to

Han. "Please deliver the letter first. If you do

exactly as Brother Shi says, you can take the antidote

when you get back, and everything will be fine."

Han knew he either did as the Red Flower Society

ordered or he was a dead man. He gave Xu a look of

hatred, then turned and walked out without a word. Shi

followed him.

Lord Zhou frowned as the two left. "Han doesn't appear

to me to be all that evil," he said. "Poisoning him

like that was not a very honourable thing to do."

"But there was no poison in the wine," Xu replied.

"No poison?"

"None." Xu poured himself a cup and drank it down.

"I was afraid he might mess up our plan in front of

Zhang, so I scared him a little. When he comes back,

he can drink another cup and it will all be over."

The others laughed.

Zhang was sitting beside Wen Tailai keeping watch when

the cell door opened and a guard came in with a

visiting card inscribed with the words: 'North China

Earth-Shaker Wang Weiyang.'

"Go and tell him that I cannot see visitors," he said.

The guard left, but returned a moment later to say:

"The visitors won't leave. They have a letter for

you."

Zhang read the letter, and was both angered and

perplexed by it. He had never had any disputes with

Wang and wondered why the old man should challenge him

to a kung fu duel.

"Tell Commander Li that I have to see a visitor and

ask him to send someone to stand watch in my place,"

he said to the guard.

Four bodyguards arrived to replace him, and Zhang went

to the reception hall. He recognized Lead Escort Han

and saluted him with his fists.

"Isn't Master Wang here?" he asked.

"This is Lead Escort Shi of our bodyguard agency," Han

replied, pointing to his companion. "There are a

number of things Master Wang wants him to say to you."

Zhang threw Wang's letter onto the table. "I have

respected Wang from afar for a long time, but I have

never had any dealings with him whatsoever," he said.

"How can he say that my words and behaviour have gone

too far? There appears to be some misunderstanding

here."

"Master Wang is a leading member of the fighting

community," said Shi coldly. "When the community

produces scum, he considers it to be his business

regardless of whether there is a direct connection."

Zhang stood up, absolutely furious. "So Wang Weiyang

says I am scum, does he?"

Shi said nothing in silent confirmation.

"Please enlighten me as to just how I have dishonoured

the fighting community," demanded Zhang.

"Members of the fighting community abhor disrespect

for superiors above all else," Shi replied. "You,

Master Zhang, are a senior member of the Wudang

School. It is said that you have not only turned

hostile towards your own martial brothers, but have

also attempted to arrest one of them for the Manchu

court. Is this true?"

"The affairs of my martial brothers and I are of no

concern to anyone else," Zhang said angrily.

"Secondly, there is no personal emnity between

yourself and the Red Flower Society and yet purely for

the purpose of your own career and enrichment, you

seized Master Wen Tailai, and caused the death of the

young son of Lord Zhou of Iron Gall Manor. Is your

mind at ease over such things?"

"I am employed by the Emperor and I am loyal to him.

What has that got to do with the Zhen Yuan Bodyguard

Agency?"

"Did you not work to implicate the Zhen Yuan Bodyguard

Agency in your schemes, as a result of which many of

our men were killed and wounded?" said Shi.

"You really did do wrong there, Master Zhang," Han

added. "You can't blame Master Wang for being angry."

"We will ignore other examples for the moment," Shi

continued coldly. "How do you think these three

questions should be handled?" He rolled up his eyes

and struck an expression of dignified authority.

Zhang was incensed at being treated like a criminal in

the dock. "All right, you," he shouted, striding

forward. "You're obviously looking for trouble!"

Shi retreated a pace. "What's this?" he asked. "You

want to take me on because you don't dare to accept

the North China Earth-Shaker's challenge, is that it?"

"Who says I don't dare?" Zhang roared. "I will be

there on Lion Peak at noon today."

"If you decide not to go, then never again consider

yourself to be a member of the fighting community,"

Shi said. "Master Wang says that if you have any guts

at all, you will go alone. There will be no one else

from the Bodyguard Agency there."

"Why should I need help? Do you think I am afraid of

this egotistical, stupid old man?"

"Master Wang is not a great orator," Shi continued,

ignoring Zhang's comment. "When you meet him, the

issue will be decided by kung fu alone. If you want to

curse and swear, please feel free to do so now."

Zhang was speechless with rage.

Shi laughed coldly, then turned on his heel and left

with Han following.

While the two had argued, Han's mind had been on the

poison he had taken, and wished that Shi would hurry

up and finish so that he could get back and take the

antidote.

"We agreed to meet at noon," Shi reported on their

return to the mansion at Solitary Peak.

Han collapsed on a chair with what appeared to be

stomach cramps. Xu poured out a cup of wine and handed

it to him.

"This is the antidote. Drink it up, Brother Han."

Han quickly stretched out his hand to take it, but

Lord Zhou snatched the cup away first and drank it

down at one draught. Han stared at him an amazement.

"We have joked with you enough, Master Han," Zhou said

with a smile. "You didn't take any poison at all. He

was just playing with you. Master Xu, come and

apologise."

Xu walked over, grinning and bowed. "Please forgive

me, Brother Han," he said.

Meng went in once more to see Wang Weiyang. "Master

Zhang has agreed," he said. "You can go now. And by

the way, he does not like naggers, so if you have

anything to say, say it now. When you get to Lion

Peak, the matter will be decided with fists and

blades. If you try talking to him even to beg for

mercy, I doubt if he will listen to you. If you are

afraid, there is still time to pull out."

"I am prepared to die today if need be," Wang shouted,

huffily stroking his beard. He stood up and strode

out. Meng motioned with his hands to an attendant who

handed Wang his sword and a bag of projectiles.

Han was standing by the door. "Please be careful

Master Wang," he said.

"You know about this too?"

Han nodded. "I have seen Zhang."

"What did he call me?"

"It was demeaning. You would not wish to hear it."

"Speak," ordered Wang.

"He called you ... an egotistical, stupid old man."

Wang grunted. "We shall see whether or not I am

egotistical.

They gathered later in the Great Hall to discuss the

situation.
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