Novel The Great Game - The Young Master (Ch.308) [finished]

Synopsis: A human was plucked from Earth and thrown across multiple dimensions and universes as part of an unimaginable game, becoming an inter-dimensional pawn of a celestial being. The newest world? He had taken over the body of the profligate youngest son of a general in an oriental setting...

Genre: Transmigration, Drama, Humour, Politics, Slice of Life

Influences: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Water Margin

Schedule: New chapters every Wednesday and Sunday (GMT+8 timezone), notice will be given if missed.

Thanks to the folks at LiberSpark and ScribbleHub, my story is now hosted at their sites:
https://liberspark.com/novel/the-great-game-the-young-master
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2917/the-great-game--the-young-master/

Table of Contents (NU Forums):
Prologue
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15
Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20
Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25
Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30
Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35
Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40
Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45
Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50
Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55
Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60
Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65
Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70
Chapter 71 Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Chapter 74 Chapter 75
Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78 Chapter 79 Chapter 80
Chapter 81 Chapter 82 Chapter 83 Chapter 84 Chapter 85
Chapter 86 Chapter 87 Chapter 88 Chapter 89 Chapter 90
Chapter 91 Chapter 92 Chapter 93 Chapter 94 Chapter 95
Chapter 96 Chapter 97 Chapter 98 Chapter 99 Chapter 100
Chapter 101 Chapter 102 Chapter 103 Chapter 104 Chapter 105
Chapter 106 Chapter 107 Chapter 108 Chapter 109 Chapter 110
Chapter 111 Chapter 112 Chapter 113 Chapter 114 Chapter 115
Chapter 116 Chapter 117 Chapter 118 Chapter 119 Chapter 120
Chapter 121 Chapter 122 Chapter 123 Chapter 124 Chapter 125
Chapter 126 Chapter 127 Chapter 128 Chapter 129 Chapter 130
Chapter 131 Chapter 132 Chapter 133 Chapter 134 Chapter 135
Chapter 136 Chapter 137 Chapter 138 Chapter 139 Chapter 140
Chapter 141 Chapter 142 Chapter 143 Chapter 144 Chapter 145
Chapter 146 Chapter 147 Chapter 148 Chapter 149 Chapter 150
Chapter 151 Chapter 152 Chapter 153 Chapter 154 Chapter 155
Chapter 156 Chapter 157 Chapter 158 Chapter 159 Chapter 160
Chapter 161 Chapter 162 Chapter 163 Chapter 164 Chapter 165
Chapter 166 Chapter 167 Chapter 168 chapter 169 Chapter 170
Chapter 171 Chapter 172 Chapter 173 Chapter 174 Chapter 175
Chapter 176 Chapter 177 Chapter 178 Chapter 179 Chapter 180
Chapter 181 Chapter 182 Chapter 183 Chapter 184 Chapter 185
Chapter 186 Chapter 187 Chapter 188 Chapter 189 Chapter 190
Chapter 191 Chapter 192 Chapter 193 Chapter 194 Chapter 195
Chapter 196 Chapter 197 Chapter 198 Chapter 199 Chapter 200
Chapter 201 Chapter 202 Chapter 203 Chapter 204 Chapter 205
Chapter 206 Chapter 207 Chapter 208 Chapter 209 Chapter 210
Chapter 211 Chapter 212 Chapter 213 Chapter 214 Chapter 215
Chapter 216 Chapter 217 Chapter 218 Chapter 219 Chapter 220
Chapter 221 Chapter 222 Chapter 223 Chapter 224 Chapter 225
Chapter 226 Chapter 227 Chapter 228 Chapter 229 Chapter 230
Chapter 231 Chapter 232 Chapter 233 Chapter 234 Chapter 235
Chapter 236

From Chapter 237 onward this story will be hosted on ScribbleHub.
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2917/the-great-game--the-young-master/
---
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rdawv

Fanart:
Cao Tianyun by sinyueliang http://forum.novelupdates.com/posts/318072/

 

PROLOGUE


In another dimension beyond our imagination, two cosmic entities were gazing at a board game of epic proportions. One was a hulking, muscular man in red armour, his hair a crown of fire. Opposite him was a woman, her face hidden by the hood of her black robe.


Spirals, lines and loops adorn the playing field of the game, a sea of stars sprinkled with nebulous gases. Innumerable pieces littered the space, a multitude of figures of various shapes and sizes, some familiar, others monstrous and beyond comprehension.


An observer might blink and miss the subtle movements on the board, the figures acting on their own accord under the intense gaze of the two deities. Across the arena, tiny figures crossed paths and battled, the winner taking over the contested position while the loser disappeared in a twinkle of light, only to reappear elsewhere.


A human-shaped statuette armed with a saber of light shuffled forward into the space occupied by a creature shaped like a hand made of tentacles. Wordlessly the two figurines battled.


A decisive stab, a choke hold.


Both pieces cancelled out each other, and disappeared into the cosmos simultaneously.


The deities looked up from the board to stare at their opposite number.


"Rematch," the man in red armour said, his voice like a rolling thunder.


The hooded woman merely nodded in reply.


Once more the two entities leaned forward to observe as two new but familiar pieces appeared on the chaotic game board to do battle...

***​

A flash of light, and then...


Consciousness flickered, and he woke up in a familiar white area devoid of features.


"Oh, it is you, Black."


"Hey, welcome back."


"You have returned."


"'Sup."


A multitude of voices assailed his mind.


'Ah, I have returned to the Waiting Area. I'm a wisp again,' Black thought.


He focused his consciousness, and 'saw' the ones who greeted him. He was surrounded by a bunch of his fellow Avatars, balls of fiery energy that shimmered with ghostly colours.


"Damn," Black transmitted in regret.


"What happened?" a yellow wisp asked curiously. A young voice.


"Killed each other in melee combat," Black explained.


"Again?"


To his annoyance, they laughed. Their colours pulsed in delight of his misery.


"I don't know if you're lucky or unlucky," Red wondered with her female voice.


Black sighed.


He took stock of the assembly of colours. "Did anyone ascend while I was gone?"


"Purple did," Yellow answered helpfully.


"Good for Purple," Black said enviously, and he could feel similar feelings from the others.


To ascend was to break away from the Great Game, to be a step closer to their Patron. Until then, they were stuck in an endless cycle of rebirth and transmigration, fighting the Avatars of their Patron's enemy across universes and dimensions. Mere pawns in what he and his fellow Avatars call the Great Game, with unfathomable scoring and unknown stakes.


Green chuckled. "You keep getting the 'draw' ending, which is why you haven't ascended yet."


"You are nearly there, you will get there next play," Blue said in his deep timbre.


"I’d rather go back home..." Black muttered. He had always resented the fact that he was suddenly plucked out to be a dimensional-traveling warrior.


Immortality was overrated.


"Forget it," Green said dismissively, "there’s no way back to your home."


Red sighed. "You Earthlings are all the same, always homesick."


Black started to say something but suddenly felt an immense force pulling him away at incredible speed.


"Not fair!" the other wisps exclaimed as they rapidly disappeared from view.


As Black's consciousness faded, he understood their indignation. He was being pulled into another setting, and they were annoyed that he went again for another go so quickly.


He was going to a new setting for a new adventure, a new life. He would not be told of his ultimate goal in the new world. He would not be given any assistance from his Patron. He would undoubtedly face an opponent similar to him.


All he can do...


...is to be the Main Character.

 

“Oh boy...”
--Dr. Samuel ‘Sam’ Beckett

Chapter One - Arrival


He suddenly woke up with a start, his body drenched and his silk garments sticky with sweat.


The pale-faced man gasped for air, his eyes wide as they roamed wildly over himself and his surroundings. His face scrunched in pain as a sudden influx of knowledge and information exploded in his mind.


“Young master! Are you alright?” A voice beside him called in alarm.


The young man turned to look at the source of the voice, and saw it was a young girl in red traditional undergarments. It was dark but her pale skin was like the moonlight, her undone hair like spilled ink that went below her shoulders. A pretty face, but perhaps too young for his tastes.


The young master smiled wanly at her.


“Just a drunken dream. Go back to sleep, Yu-er.”


His gentle tone made her wide-eyed in astonishment. It only grew when he gently motioned her to lie down and coaxed her to sleep.


The moment he was sure she had fallen back to deep sleep, the man massaged the temples of his head. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to delve into the memories of the original Huang Ming.


‘My name is... Huang Ming…,’ he groaned inwardly as his head pounded with the effects of alcohol. Apparently the original Huang Ming had died in his sleep due to binge-drinking, and he had taken over his body just in time to suffer the after-effects.


He glared at the ceiling of his new home, cursing at the Patron that had sent him here without so much as a second thought. Then he sighed in defeat. What's the point of raging at an inconceivable being that was far beyond his reach? He was merely an Avatar.


‘At least this time it's a new setting that I've never been before.’


He took a look at the dark surroundings. The first thing he noticed was an ivory sculpture on a table, depicting a naked woman. He smiled tiredly.


‘Well that was random...’


More details appeared as he went deeper into his mind.


He was aged 23 years. Third son and young master of the powerful Huang family that held sway over the city of Tianxin, a large frontier city in the state of Wu. The original Huang Ming had a reputation for a roving eye (‘that explains the statue’, he thought) and a wastrel who fancied himself as a poet and scholar. The sleeping Yu-er beside him was a 15-year old maid of his household; apparently the original had ordered her to accompany him that night. To his relief, the original Huang Ming had died in his drunken stupor before doing anything. Not knowing any better and probably relieved, she had simply crept in to share his bed. For a moment, the poor girl was accompanying a corpse before he arrived to take over the body.


He closed his eyes as images of the stereotypical young master of a powerful family colluding with his cronies surfaced in his mind.


...He had men drag away the daughter of an indebted man... roaring with laughter as another person was forced to crawl between his legs in humiliation... knocking over a grandmother who dared to cross his path in the marketplace... ordering his servants to seize the precious pigs of a farmer...


He was disgusted with the memories of the original host.


‘Wow, I was such a scumbag.’


He sighed.


‘I can't live like this. I have to change myself to be someone respectable, or else I'll end up causing my clan to be wiped out by someone seeking vengeance.’


His head throbbed, reminding him that he was still suffering from a massive hangover.


‘Tomorrow... I'll start tomorrow... Geh...’

 

“Which is more important, your honour or your life?
Which is more valuable, your possessions or your person?
Which is more destructive, success or failure?”
--The Tao Te Ching

Chapter Two - Are you ill?

Huang Ming greeted the next morning with a pleasant surprise. Apparently the host's martial background had conveniently cleansed the after-effects of the hangover, leaving him fresh and bright for the new day. His portion of the bed was still drenched with the fragrance of sweet alcohol.


“Good morning, young master Huang,” Yu-er murmured shyly as she sat up from the bed, her hands clutching the blanket around her for modesty.


Huang Ming nodded, slowly climbed out of the bed and stretched widely, giving Yu-er the opportunity to get dressed hurriedly behind him. From his memories he knew that Yu-er was surprised again, the original Huang Ming had always been a late riser.


She wondered if he was ill.


“I will be having breakfast. Tell the servants not to make my bed, leave it as it is,” her young master said.


Yu-er acknowledged with a bent knee and quickly went away.


Alone at last, Huang Ming went to a standing mirror of polished bronze to study his new body. He had a handsome face. A lean body, but strong. Muscular from martial arts training from a young age, yet with some flab as the original had neglected to maintain the routines. Signs of someone who preferred to enjoy life and relying on the fame of the family, rather than training further.


As he got dressed, his eyes swept around the traditional-looking room. A study table with the implements of calligraphy, an assortment of books, a flute as well as a zither... Huang Ming rolled his eyes when he saw the lewd ivory statue again. A wry smile on his lips as memories of the original flashed in his mind. The table represented a microcosm of the original.


He was a person of wide interests, but of no devotion. His parents hoped to instill a literary career in him and thus catered to his whims. But once the original Huang Ming had satisfied his curiosity with the basics, the interest would wane and eventually abandoned. He had so much, yet he did not appreciate what was given, easily diverted by sensual distractions.


The new Huang Ming shook his head.


‘Time to meet the family,’ he thought and took a deep breath.


The moment he stepped out of his room, he noticed a powerful presence near him.


“What's this? Little Brother waking up early?” A booming voice called him with humour.


Smiling, Huang Ming turned to greet him. “Good morning, Second Brother.”


This was his Second Brother, Huang Ke the Mountain Splitter. He was towering man with powerful muscles, ruggedly handsome with a square jaw and round eyes that burned with passion. Only two years older, yet the difference in their sizes were stark: Huang Ke was a full head taller than him. Huang Ming knew that this brother spent his time practisingwith the battle-axe that was his namesake and was fond of proving his strength. He neglected his studies and insisted in following the military path, eventually becoming an officer in his own right under their father’s command.


“Ha ha ha, good morning!” Huang Ke laughed good-naturedly and clapped heartily on Huang Ming's back. A simple gesture, but it still caused the younger brother to stagger a half-step.


“Don't be so noisy in the morning,” a new voice admonished from the side.


It was Huang Lang, the eldest son, just a year older than Huang Ke. In contrast to Huang Ming's lazy outlook and Huang Ke's brutish features, Huang Lang had a noble disposition. Groomed to be the heir of the family, Huang Ming knew that his eldest brother had a calculative mind and the prowess to back up his authority. Huang Ming could not recall the last time he saw his eldest brother smile. The man had no room for leisure; he was dedicated to managing the business inherited from maternal side of the family. People called him the Celestial Qilin for his calm and steady nature.


“Good morning, Eldest Brother,” Huang Ming greeted politely.


Huang Lang's dispassionate eyes gazed at him.


“You were out drinking again yesterday,” he said flatly. A statement, not a question.


Huang Ming smiled. "The last time. Never again."


‘Indeed, last night actually killed the original Huang Ming...’ He thought wryly.


“Are you ill?” Huang Lang's scepticism was obvious.


“Let’s just say something happened, and my eyes are opened.”


The elder brother frowned. “It would be good if it is so,”" he said, “It is time for you to grow up and take charge of your life.”


“I will be troubling my brothers for advice later,” Huang Ming said solemnly, cupped his hands and bowed to them both. This time Huang Lang's eyebrows rose in a rare slip of composure.


“Good younger brother!” Huang Ke exclaimed in approval.


The three brothers went to the dining hall together.


The parents were already seated around a round table made of marble. They were drinking tea and chatting quietly to each other while several maids stood in attendance, Yu-er among them.


Seated at the head was the father was a stern-faced person, powerful with the countenance of a person who was used to getting respect. Thick jade rings adorned multiple fingers on both hands. This was General Huang Zheng the Great Sword, patriarch of the Huang family, defender of Tianxin city and a bulwark of Wu. Sixty years of age, yet he could still pull the stiffest bow and twirl the heaviest glaive with ease, striking fear into his foes.


To his right was the mother, dressed in beautiful silk, a jewel-crusted phoenix pin in her hair, her eyes sharp and her bearing was imperious. No longer young, but still a beauty with unblemished skin. She was of the Li Clan, a famous merchant caravan family.


It was this marriage between the martial Huangs and the wealthy Lis that cemented their position as the most influential power in Tianxin city. Even the governor had to consider Huang Zheng’s ‘suggestions’ seriously even though he first rose as a common soldier.


Obviously, such prestige became the envy of others, and Huang Ming knew his family was always wary of those jealous of their strength. This was not helped in anyway by the original Huang Ming’s haughty attitude. He sighed inwardly, wondering at the amount of problems this young master had caused.


“Good morning, father, mother,” the three brothers intoned together and bowed.


“En,” Huang Zhen grunted and gestured for his sons to join them at the table.


Madam Li gave Huang Ming a smile. “You are early today,” she said. He returned her smile, taking the initiative to pick up the pot of tea to refill her cup. She raised an eyebrow but nodded in appreciation.


“I’m not giving you an advance,” Huang Zheng said immediately.


Huang Ming winced inwardly and he could feel his face flushing with embarrassment.


He filled Huang Zhen’s cup too before setting down the pot. Once more he bowed.


“Father, mother… I was wrong.”


This simple admission caused their eyes to widen further. Huang Ke especially enjoyed the shocked looks on his parents, but he too was somewhat curious and surprised. Younger brother was a spoiled child and never afraid to get his way, what brought on this sudden change?


Huang Lang said nothing but paid close attention to his youngest brother’s conduct.


“Are you ill?” Madam Li asked in concern.


From his memories Huang Ming knew the original was a reprobate and the parents had turned a blind eye to his various misdeeds because he knew how to suck up to them. Giving an elaborate lie to them would serve no purpose, Huang Zheng and Madam Li were doting parents but weren’t idiots. He might as well twist the truth.


“I had too much to drink last night, I nearly died from alcohol poisoning,” he sighed dramatically.


“What!”


The others listened with various degrees of shock. Death by binge-drinking was not unheard of, and with Huang Ming’s lifestyle it was somewhat believable.


Huang Ming raised a palm to forestall any questions about his well-being.


“I am fine now, but last night was really dangerous. I actually saw a sea of heavenly stars,” he said grimly, “but at the last moment I was pulled back and woke up.”


His family did not know what to say at this moment.


“I think I gave Yu-er a fright last night,” Huang Ming added as an afterthought and smiled. Yu-er who was nearby, blushed furiously. It was unseemly to have mentioned about a maid sharing his bed, but it was his way to indirectly mention that there was a witness to his words. He could see that Huang Lang had already mentally noted to question the maid later. Telling the servants to leave his bed undone to be inspected by his elder brother would corroborate his story even further.


“My son...” Huang Zhen uttered. Madam Li said nothing as she was still shocked.


“Father, mother… In those last moments, I saw myself. I saw myself like how others would see me, and I was disgusted. I... I want to change,” Huang Ming said, making sure to allow a slight tremor in his voice to enhance the effect.


His father stood up and saluted the heavens with a palm over a fist. “I thank the Heavens for returning my son!” he intoned solemnly. Madam Li smiled, and in Huang Ming’s mind it had been a long time since he had seen such a sincerely pleased look on her face.


“It is good that you are now with us, wiser and humbler,” she said.


Huang Zheng laughed as he sat back down. “My son, it is about time you be more serious about your future.”


Huang Ming nodded. “Eldest brother said the same thing. I want to learn... I want to... To find something that I am good at.”


This was no lie. Huang Ming wanted to find a purpose. As a transmigrated Avatar of his Patron, he had no idea what his role would be in this new setting. All he could do was to strive to the best of this mortal life before returning back to the Waiting Room, or ascend to another plane.


“If you are truly serious, first get rid of that obscene sculpture in your room like I had told you countless times,” Madam Li said dryly, causing him to flush again.


“Your son hears and will obey,” he said, keeping his tone level.


Huang Zheng turned to his two elder sons. “Ah Lang, Ah Ke, you two will teach him while I am away. Governor Cao has asked for increased patrols.”


They glanced at each and nodded.


Huang Ming heard the irritation in his father’s voice when the governor was mentioned, but thought nothing of it. He merely bowed in acknowledgement.


For the first time in a long while, the family enjoyed breakfast together.


The three brothers stood up as one and excused themselves after the meal.


Huang Lang looked meaningfully at his youngest brother. “I will make arrangements for you in a few days; there are some things I need to take care of first. Ah Ke, I’ll leave him to you in the meantime,” he said and left to start his duties, leaving his two younger brothers.


“I think elder brother isn’t convinced,” Huang Ke said.


“It’s my fault. I have been foolish and wasteful all this while. I want to right the wrongs,” Huang Ming replied. Then he saw a peculiar smile on Huang Ke’s face.


“That’s all well and good, younger brother, but what about the woman you brought back yesterday?” Huang Ke smirked.


“Eh?”

 

“Tall men come down to my height when I hit 'em in the body.”
-- Jack Dempsey

Chapter Three - She’s no wallflower


“What woman?” Huang Ming asked.


Huang Ke’s smile got broader as he revelled in his younger brother’s discomfort.


Indeed, Huang Ming was annoyed. The alcohol-fueled haze the previous night made it harder to recall short-term memories.


‘Ah… the one I dragged away,’ Huang Ming then remembered. His heart blanched as details of the deed came flooding back. He had taken a few guards and went to collect on a loan after being warned about the debtor’s flight.


“She’s the daughter of Smithy Liu, isn’t she?” Huang Ke asked, referring to the indebted man in Huang Ming’s memory.


“Yes, but it’s not what you think,” the younger brother replied.


“Oh?”


“Smithy Liu owed me money. Nangong Xie said they might flee without paying, he suggested that I hold her here until he could pay up,” Huang Ming explained, mentioning the name of one of his ‘friends’.


“What nonsense. His son Liu Xiang is a military officer, how could Smithy Liu just leave and sully his son’s future prospects?” Huang Ke said. His lips curled in distaste as he continued, “If you truly want to change, you need to rid yourself of people like that Xie fellow.”


“I understand, I know what to do,” Huang Ming nodded. He then started his way to the rear courtyard guest residence, where he knew the woman was being held. Then he stopped to look at his brother.


“Why are you following me?”


“I heard Liu Yuchun is no wallflower. How I can miss this show?” Huang Ke grinned.


Huang Ming grimaced but continued with his brother in tow. He recalled that he needed his guards to subdue her.


Those two guards were guarding the area. At first they smiled knowingly when they saw Huang Ming, but stiffened when they saw the towering Huang Ke behind him.


“How is she?” Huang Ming asked.


“She was unruly at first, but she quieted down and went to sleep early last night,” one guard replied.


“Open up.”


The guards nodded and opened the doors to the house.


Immediately a pillow made of silk and cotton flew out and struck Huang Ming on the face.


His neck jerked back from the force, but he said nothing as the pillow slid off and landed softly at his feet. The guards were horrified and were about to rush in to apprehend the pillow thrower when Huang Ke erupted in roaring laughter.


“Bwahahaha!”


“Huang Ming, you good-for-nothing! Let met go at once!” a female voice yelled.


They stepped into the residence to see the source of the voice.


“Hello, Ms. Liu,” Huang Ming greeted insipidly.


The said Liu Yuchun was a young woman, her lovely face flushed with anger. Her hair was styled short, her eyes flashed with defiance.


Huang Ming stood before her and bowed deeply. “I apologize for my transgressions, Ms. Liu. I hope you find it within yourself to forgive me.”


“Are you ill?” she asked, shocked.


Huang Ming frowned, while his brother’s face twitched as the same question had been asked thrice in the same morning.


“No, I have reflected on my actions yesterday and I am sincere in my apology,” he said with a straight face.


“Is this a joke?” she asked, still suspicious.


“No, it is not a joke. You can leave now, Ms. Liu,” he replied.


Liu Yuchun pursed her red lips into a thin line as her anger came rushing back.


“You expect me to leave just like that? After you had dragged me off in broad daylight? My reputation’s ruined!”


Huang Ming nodded as he understood her predicament. Nobody would believe that she was still pure, due to his own ill repute. He turned to his brother.


“Hit me.”


“What?” Huang Ke and Ms. Liu asked in one voice.


“I said hit me. So that people can see a bruise.”


“What?” they repeated.


“This is a rescue. You’re rescuing her. From me,” Huang Ming clarified.


Comprehension dawned on their faces.


“There’s no need for actually hitting you, is there?” his second brother asked hesitantly.


“Consider it my repentance. Just do it.”


“Let me do it!” Ms. Liu said suddenly. Before anyone else could react, she had winded up and buried a fist into Huang Ming’s stomach.


The blow was sudden and her fist was heavy as befitting a blacksmith’s daughter. Huang Ming felt bile rise up his throat and had to hold on to his brother to stop himself from falling. Huang Ke on his part looked at Ms. Liu appreciatively.


“I said people needed to see! Do you expect me to walk around shirtless?” The younger Huang gasped, glaring at the woman.


“I am sorry,” Liu Yuchun grinned, “let me do it again.”


“Wait-”


This time she swung at his face.


Huang Ming jumped back in time; the sound of her fist cutting the air gave him a fright. A bruise? She was going to break his jaw!


“Stop moving!” she complained.


“I changed my mind!” Huang Ming said hurriedly. “There’s no need! My Second Brother will escort you home!”


“I will?” Huang Ke asked bemusedly.


“Yes, yes you will,” Huang Ming sputtered and glared at him. “You’ll look like the hero who managed to save her just in time. Then you’ll get popular with the ladies.”


“Alright, I’ll do it,” the older brother smirked.


“Good.”


“Not good,” Ms. Liu interjected.


“Your father’s debt?” Huang Ming asked.


Ms. Liu nodded.


“That’s a separate matter. This is your reputation I’m saving here, not mine,” he reminded her.


“Do you know how difficult it is to get materials these days? What you’re charging us is usury!” she said indignantly.


Huang Ming pondered for a moment before turning to look at his brother again. “I don’t suppose you need a new weapon?”


“As a matter of fact, I do need a new axe,” Huang Ke said.


Huang Ming elbowed him.


“I mean an axe and a suit of armour.”


Huang Ming nodded and spoke to Liu Yuchun: “Have your father make some things to my brother’s liking and I’ll give a discount on the debt as well as an extension.”


“You two are scoundrels,” the smithy’s daughter sighed. Despite saying that, she cannot help but smile at them, her heart was tickled by their act.


“You have a nice smile,” Huang Ke commented, and she blushed maidenly.


‘Oh ho...’ Huang Ming thought.

 

Hmm....Good story. Nice flow.

 

Thank you.

Trying to find a way to fit you in, I already have Muge Jian (aka Arcadia Blade) written.

 

Eh! me?

 

Well, not 'you' you, just as a basis for a name and character's description.

 

“Oh, you're the best friends anybody ever had. And it's funny, but I feel as if I'd known you all the time, but I couldn't have, could I?”
-- Dorothy Gale

Chapter Four - The 1,000 Taels Statuette

After resolving the issue with Liu Yuchun and having Huang Ke to escort her home, Huang Ming went back to his room. He poured himself a cup of tea to soothe his aching stomach.


As he drank, he recalled the encounter with the woman that had punched him. There was something Liu Yuchun had said that piqued his interest. It was regarding the sky-rocketing prices of raw materials. Huang Ming recalled that it was the sudden climb in prices that had forced Smithy Liu to seek a loan from him in the first place.


Just as he was pondering on the matter, Yu-er came in and announced the arrival of Nangong Xie, nicknamed “The Handsome Scholar”.


Huang Ming frowned; it was unusual for the original Huang Ming to receive visitors in the morning as he would still be sleeping until late afternoon. Inwardly he was cautious. He recalled that it was Nangong Xie who had continuously plied drink after drink on the original Huang Ming.


He bade Yu-er to show the guest in and whispered some instructions to her. Yu-er’s eyes widened, but she hastened to obey.


"Hahaha, brother Ming!” a devilishy handsome man called in salutation. This young man looked every inch the stereotypical playboy scholar. Indeed, Nangong Xie was very wealthy and wasn’t shy to use his fine-looking features to entice women to one of his many homes for a tryst.


“You are early this morning, brother Xie,” Huang Ming gave him a fake smile and saluted him in return.


“You drank too much last night, I came to check up on you,” his friend said.


“Haha, you are too kind,” Huang Ming said and gestured for him to sit with him. He personally poured a cup of tea for his guest.


Nangong Xie the Handsome Scholar looked up and down at his host and was surprised. “For a person who drank so much and had to be sent home by carriage just the previous night, brother Ming looks remarkably well,” he said.


“My capacity isn’t small when drinking with friends, one thousand cups isn’t enough!” Huang Ming replied in humour.


“Well said!” Nangong Xie laughed. Then he looked around discreetly to confirm that Yu-er was standing far away before lowering his voice in a conspiratorial manner: “I heard you followed my advice and brought Liu Yuchun to your home?”


“Yes, I did,” Huang Ming replied. He kept his dawning realization off his face, waiting to hear more from his friend.


“Alas, I fear I have done you wrong!” the handsome scholar sighed dramatically.


“I did exactly as you have said. What’s wrong?” Huang Ming asked.


“I warned you about the possibility of Smithy Liu absconding without paying and told you to hold her to prevent it from happening. But I forgot to take into account that his son is serving in the city garrison. There is no possibility of Smithy Liu packing up and leave; it would destroy his son’s career!” Nangong Xie explained.


“Ah, that’s right. Liu Xiang is in the military,” Huang Ming said, continuing to play the fool.


“Did you...lay your hands on Ms. Liu?” Nangong Xie whispered, his eyes wide in insincere panic.


“Be at ease, I did not touch her. I was out cold last night,” Huang Ming replied. ‘You actually killed me,’ he added mentally.


His friend drew a deep breath, a satisfied smile on his lips. “Even so, Liu Xiang the Iron Tiger might not forgive you. People will talk about his sister spending a night at your home.”


“I don’t want any trouble with Liu Xiang! Or any tiger! What do you propose I do?” Huang Ming exclaimed in false alarm.


“This is easily remedied!” Nangong Xie laughed. “Let me meet Liu Yuchun, I will act as if I have rescued her from you. I will spirit her away so that when Liu Xiang comes looking for her, she would not be here!”


Huang Ming now knew that Nangong Xie cooked up this scheme to get Liu Yuchun for himself. As a playboy, Nangong Xie didn’t just want simple physical relations; he wanted to conquer the fiery woman’s heart as well, to make her willingly fall for him.


Huang Ming’s heart grew cold. The Handsome Scholar had forced the original Huang Ming to continuously drink to ensure that he was too drunk to have taken advantage of Liu Yuchun himself.


Huang Ming hid his cynical smile by making a show of slowly drinking his cup of tea. Yu-er who had been standing in a distant corner of the room and had remained silent all this while noticed his movements and quietly withdrew.


“This is hardly ideal, brother Xie! You get to look like the hero who rescues the damsel in distress while I’ll have a military officer tearing up my home!” Huang Ming said loudly after draining his cup of tea.


Nangong Xie blinked. He felt it was uncharacteristic of his friend to remain calm. The Huang Ming he knew would be frantic with worry and would beg for him to take Liu Yuchun away.


“Well, do you have a better idea?” he asked.


Huang Ming stood up and slowly made his way to the study table. “Ah, life is hard!” he lamented, “Not only did I not get a payment from Smithy Liu; I have invited trouble from his son! With my allowances cut, I’m going to need to sell my things for pocket money!”


Nangong was delighted and relieved that Huang Ming was only hinting for money.


“Fear not, brother Ming! It so happens that I’m looking to buy your-”


“My statue? How kind of you, brother Xie!” Huang Ming interrupted and beamed as he grabbed the lewd ivory statue from his table.


The smile on Nangong’s face froze, but he swallowed his immediate retort. “I am always happy to help you out, brother Ming,” he said instead. That statue had been a running joke in their social circle, a source of mockery and gossip behind the original Huang Ming’s back. Nangong didn’t want to be anywhere near it, but he was eager to get the issue over with.


“Pay now. After you get Liu Yuchun, who knows when will I get to see you again?” Huang Ming joked, winking at him knowingly.


Nangong Xie laughed, pushing his annoyance aside as he thought of Smithy Liu’s daughter. He withdrew several credit notes from his sleeve and showed them to Huang Ming.


“Here are notes for a thousand taels, I trust this is enough?” Nangong Xie said. It was a large sum, but for a wealthy person like him it wasn’t too significant.


“Enough, enough!” Huang Ming laughed. He took the notes and handed over the statue.


“What is enough?” Another voice queried just as the item changed hands. The two young men turned to see Madam Li walking in. She was attended by a few personal maids.


“Nangong Xie greets the esteemed Madam!” Nangong Xie said hurriedly.


Huang Ming’s mother nodded in acknowledgement, but her eyes were fixed elsewhere. Nangong’s soul almost left his body as he realized she was staring at the statuette in his hand. The maids too were staring at it, and one can feel that the Handsome Scholar’s image had taken a tumble among them.


“Mother, brother Xie here has bought that statue from me!” Huang Ming said. He discreetly shot a desolate look at Nangong, acting as if he was just as troubled as he was.


“Good, hand it over. You bought it with my money in the first place,” Madam Li said with satisfaction.


“You said my exact thoughts, mother,” Huang Ming mumbled and passed her the notes reluctantly.


Madam Li smiled. “You two can continue, I am going to the gardens,” she said and made her exit, her maids giggling behind her.


For a while, the two men stood there silently. Then they looked at each other and sighed.


Nangong did not expect such an event. Nangong was especially aggrieved, his reputation would take a beating after being witnessed holding the obscene piece of art. Despite this, he did not blame Huang Ming. In his mind he thought Huang Ming was just as unfortunate as him as the money went to his mother.


What he didn’t know was that Huang Ming had arranged for this little play. He had instructed Yu-er to ask for Madam Li after he had signalled for it by drinking tea. He knew his mother detested the statue and she who had indulged in his whims often was more than happy to play her role in the affair.


“Brother Xie--” Huang Ming began sorrowfully.


“Say no more,” Nangong interrupted. Then he laughed as he gestured with the statue in his hand, “At least I got something out of this!”


Huang Ming chuckled, but for very different reasons than Nangong.


“Well, let’s go meet Ms. Liu now,” Huang Ming said. Nangong Xie’s mood brightened as he followed his host to the guest residence.


Huang Ming acted as if he was puzzled when they reached the residence and saw only Yu-er sweeping the floor. “Why are you here? Where are the guards?” he asked in feigned astonishment.


“Reporting to the young master: The humble maid is cleaning the place. Master Huang Ke came by this morning and had already taken the guest back to her home,” she said with a curtsy.


“What!” Nangong Xie exclaimed and stared wildly at Huang Ming.


He in turn pretended to be in shock. Huang Ming spread his hands and shrugged in a gesture of helplessness.


For a moment Nangong was speechless. This blow was too much to bear, he glared at Huang Ming. He can’t even demand for the return of his money as it was taken by Madam Li. All traces of friendliness had vanished.


“Brother Xie--”


“I bid you farewell, no need to send me off!” Nangong Xie said as he angrily shook his sleeves and left in a huff.


After he had disappeared from view, Huang Ming grinned mischievously at Yu-er and rubbed the top of her head.


“Well done Yu-er!” he praised.


She blushed in delight.


“Here, take some money and buy something for yourself,” Huang Ming said and rewarded her.


“Yu-er is only following the young master’s order, how can I take this!” she said in astonishment.


“You deserve this,” Huang Ming insisted and pushed the money into her little hands. Then he added: “Master Nangong Xie would be in a terrible temper if rumours spread about how he bought the statue from me and immediately went home in an excited manner. Make sure not to say anything of the sort when you’re outside later. Tell the other maids not to gossip!”


He winked at her, and Yu-er knew that what her young master wanted was the exact opposite.


She clutched the money and grinned: “Yu-er knows what to do!”


A few days later, Nangong Xie would hear stories about how a gallant Huang Ke had saved Liu Yuchun from his wastrel younger brother, even going as far as to escort her home personally to explain the matter to Smithy Liu. The ladies of the city now whispered about Huang Ke’s chivalry.


As if it wasn’t enough, there were rumours about how Nangong Xie had went early in the morning and bought the obscene statue from Huang Ming at an exorbitant price. He even left quickly in great excitement after obtaining it. This piece of salacious gossip even eclipsed Huang Ming’s treatment of Liu Yuchun in the first place, as it was delicious irony for the playboy Nangong Xie to be smitten with an inanimate object.


It was enough to drive him ill with rage!

The Handsome Scholar,
Couldn’t contain his ardour,
In the morning he went,
A thousand taels he spent,
On a bawdy ivory idol,
To satisfy his lust, it became vital! ​

 

This is nicely written and funny.

 

Thank you!

 

Bravo!

 

Thank you!

 

“Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important.”
--Kesuke Miyagi

Chapter Five - Too Early

Huang Ke took Huang Ming to the martial hall, a large building within the Huang estate with spacious floor space. Various types of weapons adorn wooden racks. On one wall was a large scroll of calligraphy, written with powerful and graceful strokes.


‘Swift. Decisive. Persevere.’ Huang Ming read and nodded in agreement with the piece of art.


He saw that his brother was quite cheerful and decided to tease him.


“You’re in good spirits. Did something happen with Ms. Liu?” Huang Ming asked. He laughed when he saw his usually domineering elder brother turned red.


“Shut your mouth!” Huang Ke growled, “Don’t think you’re going to talk your way out of training!”


“I am not thinking anything of the sort. I’m ready to learn,” Huang Ming said solemnly.


“Good!” his brother said, content with his sincerity. He gestured for Huang Ming to sit on the ground, which he did dutifully.


“Pay attention, instruction begins,” his brother said.


“I shall do as you say.”


“You have slacked off for too long. Do you even remember the basics?” Huang Ke asked.


“Please treat me as a beginner,” Huang Ming smiled nonchalantly. There were countless martial arts within his experiences as an Avatar, but Huang Ming was always interested in learning more as he needed to tailor his skills to the conditions of his new body.


“Then I will start at the very beginning,” Huang Ke said as he assumed the airs of a lecturer. His eyes gleamed as he said: “Sit up formally.”


This meant sitting with his feet under his buttocks, or as Huang Ming remembered it, the Japanese seiza position. He reluctantly did so, and immediately he could feel his legs becoming numb. The original Huang Ming was more out of shape than he had thought.


To Huang Ming’s horror, his brutish-looking elder brother then proceeded to launch a spiel about martial art philosophies and long-winded explanations of natural forces, theories of attacking and counter-attacking, the different schools of thought and histories of their family martial arts, military applications of martial arts, chaos and harmony, yin and yang…


“…and that is how it all came to be,” Huang Ke finished half an hour later. He looked at the sweating Huang Ming with a raised eyebrow. “Do you understand?”


“It’s all shit,” Huang Ming muttered and immediately felt much better.


“What?”


“Nothing. I say brother, I thought we would be doing something practical like sparring,” Huang Ming said as his legs tingled with pins and needles, his toes curling.


“You want to spar with me?” Huang Ke said incredulously. He moved closer and without warning, stepped and grinded with considerable force on Huang Ming’s thigh.


Huang Ming cried out in pain as his brother’s heel rocked back and forth mercilessly. He may have travelled unknown number of worlds across unimaginable number of dimensions, but pain was pain.


“Ah! Stop! Stop!”


“10,000 years too early! You can’t even sit still for ten minutes and you want to spar? Don’t think I didn’t see you fidgeting and squirming!” his brother said in scorn as Huang Ming rolled around clutching his thigh. Huang Ke smirked as he relished seeing this side of his younger brother; they had not fooled around like kids for many years. Ever since the three brothers grew up, they have drifted apart with the passage of time.


“Alright, get up,” he said, offering a hand.


Huang Ming was of a patient disposition, but after the childish provocations he can’t help but feel fired up. He reached out and grabbed a handful of his brother’s shirt and pulled as well as kicking the ground for added momentum.


The formidable Huang Ke was taken by surprise. A tumble later, he found himself in an armbar hold from his younger brother. His entire right arm was being stretched in a vice, being gripped by the hands and knees of Huang Ming, one calf draped over his neck.


“What is this!” Huang Ke exclaimed, more in surprise than in pain. He was unfamiliar with such a method of combat.


“Sneak attack, mwahaha!” Huang Ming laughed as he pulled back on his brother’s taunt arm, stressing Huang Ke’s elbow and shoulders.


Then his laughter died. Indeed, Huang Ming grew pale as his brother laboriously shuffled back up even as he was holding on to his right arm. The difference in stature and strength was too great: in the end Huang Ke was standing upright while Huang Ming was dangling like a monkey with a deathgrip on his stretched limb.


He raised his arm and Huang Ming with it, and swept it down. The powerful movement was enough to shrug Huang Ming off and he crashed to the ground.


“You’re a monster,” Huang Ming groaned in pain.


“Nice move, but not very effective. Where did you learn it?” Huang Ke asked as he flexed his shoulder and elbows to ease the discomfort.


“Here and there,” Huang Ming muttered as he hissed and ached in pain to mask his reluctance to explain further.


“I bet it’s from those foreign books you waste your money on,” Huang Ke scoffed.


‘Foreign books? I’ll have to look through them later…’ Huang Ming thought.


Then his ears burned when Huang Ke said: “You should stick to our basics and not waste your time learning such disgraceful three-legged cat martial arts.”


Huang Ming felt his ears burn. “I’ll show you three-legged cat kungfu,” he snarled as he pulled himself up.


“Oh-ho, come at me, brother!” Huang Ke laughed as he lowered into stance, his fists clenched like huge boulders.


Grappling moves would be pointless due to Huang Ke’s size and strength, thus Huang Ke dredged up memories of other martial arts and remembered one from his native Earth that had speed as well as reach.


Huang Ming spun back on the ball of his foot, hooking a kick that launched at Huang Ke’s face. His brother was surprised but calmly parried the blow, only for Huang Ming to reverse the spin so that another kick came from the opposite direction.


This time Huang Ke had to take a step back to dodge but Huang Ming was relentless as he followed up with a double kick: one leg kicking forward after another at Huang Ke’s torso.


Huang Ke dropped his hands low to block it, his palms stinging with pain from the strikes. In that brief moment, his jaw was exposed and Huang Ming immediately jumped and kicked with the same leg, a so-called 540 degrees Bolley Kick.


All Huang Ke saw was a blurred ball when a foot came flying at his face. He barely brought one up arm in time to block it; otherwise he would have surely been knocked out by the sudden blow.


The moment Huang Ming landed, Huang Ke charged forward and launched a thunderous rising fist that aimed itself right at where Liu Yuchun had struck yesterday. Fortunately Huang Ming was able to brace himself and crossed his arms to take the blow.


It was so heavy that Huang Ming’s feet left the ground and he skidded back several steps away.


“I give! I surrender!” he said immediately when he saw his elder brother was preparing to close in again. Huang Ming collapsed onto the ground and panted as rivers of sweat poured. ‘This body is really too weak,’ he complained.


Huang Ke looked at his palms, reddened from his younger brother’s kicks and frowned. “That stings...” he said in annoyance.


Huang Ming can only muster a tired smile, satisfied in proving a point. It seemed like a backhanded compliment, but coming from his proud and martial elder brother it was sufficient.


“You can only go so far while barehanded,” his brother said as he helped him up. “What I meant is that you need to be proficient with weapons, and our martial arts will give you a base to work on. Your fancy kicks and wrestling moves will be of no use on the battlefield.”


“What battlefield?” Huang Ming muttered.


His brother’s eyes bulged. “Don’t be naive! The walls of our Tianxin city may be high, but the entire country is restless. The threat of war is always around us!”


“War?” Huang Ming repeated and frowned.


“Master Ke,” a voice suddenly called.


They turned to see a black uniformed man saluting at the entrance. He was wearing light leather armour embossed with a ‘Huang’ brand, an infantryman’s dao sheathed at his side.


“What is it?” Huang Ke asked.


“Sir, urgent missive from the general,” the soldier answered and handed over a sealed message.


‘The general? He means father,’ Huang Ming thought. He had questions, but waited patiently as his elder brother cracked the seal and read its contents.


Huang Ke frowned as he quickly scanned through the letter. He handed it back to the soldier and nodded. “Tell the men to prepare for march, I will be coming shortly,” he said. The soldier acknowledged with another salute and hurried away.


“Has something happened?” Huang Ming asked.


“Father wants me to bring reinforcements. We finally have a lead on the bandit hideout after all this time,” Huang Ke replied with a grin. Then he blinked and pointed at Huang Ming: “I shouldn’t have told you that. Keep it to yourself and don’t tell anyone else, not even mother,” he said severely.


“I’m not an idiot,” Huang Ming said. He knew the importance of secrecy in military affairs.


“I may be gone for awhile. Wait for eldest brother to call for you, father has already informed him,” Huang Ke continued.


“I understand, please take care,” Huang Ming said and bowed.


“You really have changed,” Huang Ke smiled as he left.


Left to his own devices, Huang Ming took the opportunity to cleanse himself after that morning exercise. Still sore but refreshed after a bath, he settled in to look through his collection for the ‘foreign books’ his brother had mentioned.


The first book title wasn’t promising. ‘Otherworldly Beauties of Ye,’ he read. He chuckled as he remembered: it was an erotic novel about a legendary alchemist seducing various women, including his beautiful mentors.


Huang Ming picked up another book and saw its title: ‘Beauty Catalogue of Shang Jing’. This one was actually illustrated: an oriental, hand-drawn version of a glamour pictorial featuring bewitching and buxom women in various states of undress.


He cussed under his breath, the original Huang Ming’s literary interests lay elsewhere entirely. Just as he was about to pull another book, Yu-er came in and curtsied.


“Young master, Master Lang is asking for you at the main hall,” she reported and blithely ignored the books.


He mustered what dignity he had left and nodded. “Clean this mess,” he coughed and went to look for his eldest brother.

 

Chapter 5 is my weakest effort, I feel I truly lack the ability to write close-combat scenes.

 

try copy Ze Tian Ji

 

Let's shake hands on that. I don't think I can either.

 

I like it better than drawn out combat scenes.

 

I feel Ze Tian Ji's languid, vague-but-descriptive style doesn't really fit in my style. I tried once and when I read it over I found myself thinking a reader might be imagining something else entirely.

/shakes hand

Thank you, I hope to improve in the future.