Chapter Nine: The Beginning of All Things

The next day, Qin Shuang came to pay respects to Xiong Ba. Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng stood nearby.

“Greetings, Master! We have worried you, Junior Brothers!” Qin Shuang said, then obediently stood aside. Was it necessary to explain the backstory?

“As long as you’re safe, that’s what matters. In the one or two months you were gone, the Underworld Association was in turmoil!” Xiong Ba looked at Qin Shuang with joy, though a coldness and suspicion lingered deep in his eyes.

“To stabilize the association, I have decided to adopt Kong Ci as my sworn daughter!” Xiong Ba smiled as he addressed his three disciples.

Kong Ci, who had grown up caring for the three senior brothers, was now the young lady of the Underworld Association. Naturally, the three were pleased.

However, unlike Qin Shuang, who knew the true circumstances behind this, Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng were genuinely happy for Kong Ci, while Qin Shuang merely accompanied them in their joy.

“Kong Ci, do you agree?” Xiong Ba turned to the girl who had just brought in tea.

Kong Ci hadn’t expected to become Xiong Ba’s adopted daughter and was filled with surprise and panic.

“Kong Ci, please agree quickly!” Nie Feng, seeing her stunned, gently urged her. Bu Jingyun’s inner turmoil was hidden from others, and Qin Shuang, aware of Kong Ci’s scheme, felt reluctant to see her step so far in, yet found no reason to stop it.

Kong Ci regained her composure; hearing Nie Feng speak, she answered without hesitation, “Thank you for your kindness, Master Xiong, your servant…”

“Hey, still calling me Master Xiong?” Xiong Ba stroked his beard, clearly pleased, though inwardly growing colder.

“Greetings, foster father!” Kong Ci bowed lightly, but Xiong Ba helped her rise.

“Ha ha ha… Good, good, good! I haven’t been this happy in a long time!” Xiong Ba laughed heartily. Whether he was glad to have a foster daughter or delighted that his plan was succeeding, only he knew.

“Congratulations, Boss, on your new foster daughter!” Wen Chouchou congratulated earnestly, having watched the group grow up.

“This is a joyous occasion, but I want to double the joy so everyone can celebrate properly!” Xiong Ba smiled, scanning them all.

“I have decided to betroth Kong Ci to one of my three disciples.”

Qin Shuang understood Xiong Ba’s intention and remained calm.

Kong Ci had long been seen by Bu Jingyun as belonging to him, but now her fate was arranged by Xiong Ba. Although Bu Jingyun’s heart was troubled and tense, his expression betrayed nothing.

Nie Feng, having recently endured the ordeal with Ming Yue, only offered blessings to Kong Ci and never considered that she truly loved him.

The three disciples said nothing. Wen Chouchou, fanning himself lightly, asked, “Master Xiong, to which favored disciple do you intend to betroth your foster daughter?”

Wen Chouchou looked at the three favored disciples, pondering Xiong Ba’s thoughts.

Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng were all unmarried. Xiong Ba’s move could be seen as establishing an heir for the Underworld Association. Whom did Xiong Ba favor?

“Shuang’er!” Xiong Ba’s gaze shifted to the already chosen target.

“Present!” Qin Shuang’s eyes were deep, unreadable.

“I betroth Kong Ci to you!” Xiong Ba pointed at Qin Shuang with joy and imposing authority, as if saying, “You must accept, whether you want to or not!”

“Congratulations, Senior Brother Shuang!” Nie Feng, pure-hearted, quickly congratulated Qin Shuang.

“Congratulations, Master Shuang!” Wen Chouchou also congratulated, as if witnessing his nephew’s wedding.

“Hmph!” Bu Jingyun, harboring dissatisfaction, dared not act and turned to leave.

Qin Shuang glanced at Bu Jingyun’s departing back. Except for Qin Shuang and Xiong Ba, everyone thought Bu Jingyun was merely temporarily upset; after all, this was typical of him.

Qin Shuang’s expression was unreadable, neither joyful nor sorrowful, somewhat mirroring Bu Jingyun’s demeanor.

Xiong Ba glanced briefly at the departing Bu Jingyun, then at Nie Feng, and finally back at Qin Shuang.

“Well? Shuang’er, do you have any objections to Kong Ci?”

Under Xiong Ba’s pressure, Qin Shuang bowed his head and replied calmly, “Thank you for your kindness, Master!”

What Xiong Ba did not know was that this scheme ultimately wounded affections. Qin Shuang was no longer the loyal character of the original story.

Even that slightly naïve Qin Shuang of the original tale eventually walked a path of opposition. How much more so this Qin Shuang now.

“Ha ha ha…” Xiong Ba’s laughter echoed throughout the Underworld Association. Everyone knew their leader was in high spirits today, and soon, with Wen Chouchou’s announcement, all understood: Qin Shuang and Xiong Ba’s foster daughter Kong Ci were to be married.

To the world, the next generation of the Underworld Association was represented by Shuang, Feng, and Yun, with Shuang leading the association’s power.

At this moment, no one realized this was not a step forward for the Underworld Association, but the beginning of internal strife.

...

In the Jingyun Hall, Qin Shuang and Bu Jingyun stood facing each other. Bu Jingyun wore a scowl.

“What are you thinking, Junior Brother Yun?”

Qin Shuang had no intention of idle chatter. Bu Jingyun was torn between staying in the association to seek revenge or fleeing with Kong Ci. He greeted Qin Shuang’s arrival with ill temper.

Bu Jingyun stared coldly at Qin Shuang, silent. He could not guess what Qin Shuang intended.

“Do you still remember what I said when we went to see the mud Buddha?” Qin Shuang reminded him. Bu Jingyun frowned, recalling their conversation from months ago.

“So Xiong Ba already knew Kong Ci was yours? You knew it too? Then why did Xiong Ba marry Kong Ci to you? And why did you agree?”

Bu Jingyun suddenly understood Qin Shuang’s subtle suggestion back then.

“So you had this in mind all along. What are you plotting? You can even see through Xiong Ba’s thoughts!”

The more Bu Jingyun thought, the more shocked he was. Even the so-called inscrutable “Unweeping Death” felt the terror of Qin Shuang’s mind.

“Have you ever heard the story of two peaches killing three warriors?” Qin Shuang began to tell the tale.

“Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi once served Duke Jing. Known for their bravery and strength, they fought tigers. When Yan Zi passed by and hurried to see the Duke, the three warriors did not rise.

Yan Zi entered and said, ‘I have heard that a wise ruler values brave warriors. Above, there is loyalty between lord and minister; below, there is order between elder and younger. Within, they can restrain violence; without, they can intimidate enemies. This grants honor and rewards. Now, your brave warriors lack loyalty above and order below. They neither restrain violence within nor intimidate enemies without. Such men are dangerous to the state. It is better to remove them.’

The Duke said, ‘These three warriors are skilled in wrestling and stabbing, but I fear they cannot succeed.’

Yan Zi said, ‘They are men who rely on force and attack without respect for elders.’

He then asked the Duke to send two peaches with a message: ‘Why do these three eat peaches without considering merit?’

Gong Sun Jie looked up and sighed, ‘Yan Zi is wise! If I, by your order, refuse the peach, it means no bravery. When there are many men but few peaches, why not eat peaches according to merit? I once fought a leopard and a young tiger twice; my merit entitles me to this peach alone.’ He took a peach and stood.

Tian Kaijiang said, ‘I once led soldiers to rout three armies twice. My merit also entitles me to this peach alone.’ He took a peach and stood.

Gu Yezi said, ‘I once crossed a river with the Duke. A giant turtle bit the left chariot, and I swam upstream a hundred steps, then downstream nine miles to kill it, holding its tail and head as I emerged. The locals said, “It was the River God!” My merit entitles me to this peach alone.’ He drew his sword and stood.

Gong Sun Jie and Tian Kaijiang said, ‘Our bravery is no less than yours, and our merit no less. To take peaches without yielding is greed; yet to die not is no bravery.’ They returned their peaches and died bravely.

Gu Yezi said, ‘The two died while I alone live—unfeeling; ashamed to be spoken of and boasting—unjust; regretting actions but not dying—no courage. Though the two shared peaches and loyalty, and I alone had the peach, it was fitting.’ He also returned his peach and died.

The messenger reported, ‘They have died.’ The Duke dressed them in proper clothes and buried them with martial honors.”