1st Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang The floodwaters have begun to recede. Seeing Feng Nengqi's…
1st Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
The floodwaters have begun to recede. Seeing Feng Nengqi's uncommon gifts, I thought I might take on a disciple after all. Yet the brat dares call my martial skill mediocre?
Very well. He may keep his fish.
2nd Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
My belly was empty, so I went to the river to fish. Before even half a quarter hour had passed, something had taken the hook.
Had that brat been here, I would have shown him what I caught... a baby?
3rd Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
How does one feed an infant? Mohist Hill never taught such things.
Would fish broth do?
4th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
With one child in each arm, I can no longer fish.
I can only follow the river upstream. Perhaps I may find their parents.
5th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Reached a deserted village. Found someone about to drown his child in the river, and managed to talk him out of it.
That night, I heard an infant crying outside the house. Its parents had already taken their own lives. Has the world truly fallen so far?
7th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
The three little ones were starving. With no other choice, I went to ask a woman for milk. I was rewarded with a beating.
To no use.
8th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Reached Heavenfall. Asked a village women for milk again. Was beaten again.
Still nothing. I am nearly beside myself.
9th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Still nothing. Beaten yet again. Then I suddenly heard a child's voice say, "Why not use beast's milk?"
It struck me like thunder. A revelation from Heaven.
10th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Went out in search of leopard's milk, leaving the three children in that child's care.
When I returned, the little three looked bright and full of life. Is he some kind of prodigy? I must get to know him properly.
11th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Learned that the child is called Wanshi. His family has managed the waters for generations, and he is utterly obsessed with mechanisms.
Excellent. How could I fail to take such talent as a disciple?
12th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Matched my skill in mechanisms against his and defeated him, thus taking him into my school.
The victory may not have been entirely honorable, but to let such fine material vanish into the dust would be a terrible waste. Let him hate me for it.
15th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
At last, a little leisure. Using the method of nine joints, I made a fishing rod and blunted away its sharp edge. It sits very well in the hand.
Only my disciple, when helping feed the three children, looks rather aggrieved.
16th Day of the Tenth Month, third year of Tongguang
Wanshi has had a hard time of it. I feel somewhat ashamed, so today I resolved to catch a fat fish and nourish him properly.
Who would have thought that the moment the line touched water, I would catch yet another child... Disciple, once we return to the mountain, things will surely be better.