Chapter Nineteen: Searching for Zǐ Péng, Falling Ill in Xiangzhou City

  The old man recalls his youthful frenzy, with yellow and blue ribbons in hand, wearing a brocade hat and sable cloak, leading a thousand horsemen galloping across the plain. To repay the city's surrender to the governor, he personally shoots a tiger, watching Sun Lang.

  Wine warms the chest and gallbladder, still open and unrestrained. A hint of frost on the temples, what's the harm? Holding a banner in the midst of clouds, when will I send for Feng Tang? Together we'll draw the carved bow like a full moon, gazing northwest, shooting at the heavenly wolf.

  This is Su Shi's "Jiang Cheng Zi · Mi Zhou Chu Lie", which was especially admired by Zhou Tong. Although he was physically and mentally exhausted, he still couldn't help but recite it loudly.

  "Alas! An old steed may be stabled, but its spirit remains a thousand miles away. A heroic warrior in his twilight years still has an unyielding heart. Now, although I am old and cannot take to the battlefield to slay enemies, I can still nurture the younger generation, teach them the arts of war, and have them serve the country. Even if I were to pass on, seeing them charge into battle one by one from beneath the nine springs would bring me peace in death. I wonder where Wang Ziyu is; he's a talent worth cultivating, and with proper nurturing, his abilities will surely be on par with Yue Fei. My only hope now is to find Wang Ziyu as soon as possible and pass on the sword manual to him. Wang Ziyu's old home is in Tangyin; might he return there? I must hurry over and take a look." Zhou Dang thought this, and without regard for his exhaustion, propped himself up and set off straight for Tangyin along the path he had taken before.

  Zhou Dang arrived in Tangyin and asked locals about the address of Wangjiazhuang Village, Yonghe Township. After asking several people, he finally got the detailed address. He rushed to Wangjiazhuang Village, Yonghe Township, and met an old woman washing clothes by the river at the village entrance. Zhou Dang walked over and asked kindly, "Sister, I'm looking for someone, do you know if he's at home?"

  "Excuse me, brother, who are you looking for? Is it someone from our Wangjiazhuang village?" The old lady asked with a puzzled expression after glancing at Zhou Dong.

  "What I want to ask is about a young man named Wang Zipeng."

  "Prince Peng?" The old lady suddenly looked at Zhou Tong with a surprised gaze, asking: "What is your relationship with him? Why are you looking for him?"

  "Elder sister, I only met Wang Ziyu once, and at that time, he was just an ordinary beggar. I saw that he had a majestic aura and extraordinary demeanor, and I thought he would definitely have a bright future. However, if someone like him is not properly cultivated, it will be a waste of talent. I am Zhou Dang, and I promised to teach him martial arts, but for some reason, he quietly left." Zhou Dang explained his intentions.

  "You're Zhou Tong? The same Zhou Tong who used to be the master of Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen? How impressive, really impressive. If Wang Ziyu had met a master like you, it would have been his good fortune." The old lady said excitedly.

  "Excuse me, miss. Has Wang Zipei returned to Wangjiacun? Would you mind taking me to see him?" Zhou Tong asked eagerly.

  "What a pity! Zi Peng hasn't come home since he left two years ago, I don't know how he's doing outside. Alas... poor child, it's really hard for him." The old mother said with regret.

  After listening to his mother's words, Zhou Dang felt extremely disappointed. He had finally arrived at Wangjiazhuang, thinking he could see Zipei and fulfill his wish, but who knew that Wang Zipeng hadn't returned home? Nobody knew where he was now. Trying to find someone in the vast crowd was like looking for a needle in the ocean.

  "Sister, I heard from Zǐ Péng that his parents were sixty years old when they gave birth to him. I find it very puzzling: after being married for so many years, why did they only have a child at the age of sixty? Is this child adopted?" Zhōu Táng asked curiously.

  "Old brother, you were right. This child was indeed picked up. It was on a night fourteen years ago that the old couple Wang, who lived at the entrance of the village, heard the cry of an infant coming from the river and came to the riverside with lanterns to take a look. They saw an infant crying in a basin, rescued him, and upon seeing it was a boy, they were overjoyed. The old couple said that he was sent by the Child-Giving Guanyin and kindly raised him. This matter had never been mentioned to Zi Peng before, but now that the old couple has passed away and Wang Zi Peng is nowhere to be found, there's no need for the villagers to keep this secret anymore."

  Zhou Tong was shocked upon hearing this.

  "No wonder Wang Ziyu looks so similar to Yue Fei, it turns out he might be Yue Fei's twin brother Yue Teng. I wonder where Ziyu is now? I want to find him as soon as possible and tell him the truth, let them recognize each other as brothers, and also let Madame Yue enjoy family happiness." Zhou Dang thought of this and immediately bid farewell to the old mother, hastily leaving Wangjiazhuang.

  Zhou Cong inquired all the way from Wangjiacun to Tangyin County, and then from Tangyin County to Xiangzhou City. He visited every temple and Taoist monastery in the mountains, but still couldn't find any news of Wang Zipeng.

  After days of rushing, Zhou Dang finally collapsed in Xiangzhou City. He had a close friend in Xiangzhou named Wang Yushan, who was a former fellow martial artist and now ran a pawnshop after retiring from the Jianghu. After resting at Wang's place for a day without seeing any improvement, Zhou felt that his energy was dwindling away.

  "Wang, my younger brother, I think this illness of mine is incurable. I still have many unfulfilled wishes, and I want to return to Neihuang County's Qilin Village, where several of my disciples are. I want to see them one last time and entrust some matters to them in person. After I die, I also want to be buried near Lishan Mountain in Qilin Village, which is a Buddhist site where an old friend has been meditating for many years. However, now that I've fallen ill, my legs can't move, and my hands can't lift anything. Even if I wanted to go back, it's impossible. Can you, older brother, escort me on this journey? Just taking me to the Neihuang County government office would be enough." Zhou Dou said with a bitter smile as he sat up in bed, addressing Wang Yushan.

  "Alright! It's only natural for brothers to help each other out with such a small matter. I'll go prepare the sedan chair to send you back to Neihuang." Wang Yushan agreed and went to make preparations.

  Before long, four sedan bearers came to the courtyard with a sedan chair. Wang Yushan helped Zhou Tong out and sent him into the sedan chair. He repeatedly instructed the four sedan bearers before he reluctantly parted ways with his brother.

  "Take care on your way, big brother." Wang Yushan waved goodbye.

  "Little brother, thank you. If I survive this great calamity, I will definitely come back to visit." Zhou Tong said sincerely.

  Leaving Xiangzhou, Zhou Dang rushed all the way to Neihuang.

  On the road, Zhou Dang lifted the curtain of his sedan chair and looked at the surrounding mountains and waters. He responded casually: "Green water and green mountains are misty. The affairs of Jianghu are the hardest to forget. A thousand miles of lonely graves, where can one speak of desolation? Today's reunion is not like yesterday's, dust fills my face, and my temples are like frost. Last night's dream suddenly returned home, in my youth, it was not the same. Past events are like smoke, only tears flow in thousands of lines. How could I have expected that time would pass so quickly, on an autumn night, my heart is broken."

  Several sedan bearers respected Zhou Tong's character and also respected him as a great hero who stood tall. They were very concerned about Zhou Tong along the way, fearing that Master Zhou could not withstand the bumps, so they carried the sedan with care. Master Zhou saw through the thoughts of the sedan bearers and urged: "Several young men, time is not waiting for people, you speed up your pace, don't worry about my body." The sedan bearers had no choice but to hurry along the way to Neihuang County.