This entry continues my re-telling of the events that occur before Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The first part of the story is in yesterday's entry. The third part (and the final part, for now) will probably be in tomorrow's entry.

I encourage you to purchase the graphic novels from which I'm adapting this summary.

The Death of Grand Yu
Li Mu Bai has decided to forego a life of kung-fu, and is riding to Beijing to take a job with the government. As he travels, he is suddenly passed by three galloping horses. Li can feel the killing spirit of the riders, especially from one young woman. He wonders where they are heading.

After traveling several miles, Li reaches Elm Town. As he is taking his repose, drinking tea under an awning, Grand Yu and his family happen past. Li and Shu Lien exchange a passionate glance. Li greets Grand Yu and learns that the family is traveling to Mau Ding. Yu begins to say something to Li, but thinks better of it.

Li Mu Bai senses danger, and he follows the family at a distance. In the midst of a forest, the Yu family is attacked by Iron Tower, Purple Ghost, and Jeng Ho, Long Ho's vengeful children. Again, Shu Lien comes to her father's aid.

The young women fight. Jeng has been taught by her husband, Golden Spear, and can handle her blade with great skill. Shu Lien has her hands full. She counterattacks with twin blades and deals Jeng a critical blow.

Meanwhile, the Ho brothers have defeated Grand Yu and are preparing for the death strike. Shu Lien watches in horror. Suddenly, Li Mu Bai appears, chopping the nearby plants and hurling the leaves at the attackers. Li chides the Hos for attacking an elderly man. They tell him to get lost, it's none of his business, it's not his fight.

"Their business is my business," says Li Mu Bai.

The Ho family attacks Li Mu Bai, but he is the calm at the center of a storm, deflecting their attacks, turning their own weapons against them. The eldest son, Second Tiger, is wounded by his brother's weapon.

Meanwhile, Shu Lien and Jeng clash. Shu Lien is light and agile, Jeng is strong and subtle. They are nearly even in skill. Li uses his chi to come to Shu Lien's aid and Jeng is defeated. Shu Lien moves in for the kill, but Li restrains her.

Suddenly the law enforcers appear, and the entire party, the Hos and the Yus, are arrested. The Yus are accused of being raiders, of fighting in public. The Hos are released, though, because Jeng's husband is the legendary Golden Spear, well-respected by everyone, both good and evil.

Grand Yu is upset. He drinks. He is about to ask Li Mu Bai for a favor when he is summoned before the judge. He is sentenced to jail. His wife and Shu Lien are distraught, but Li Mu Bai senses that Grand Yu will be released if they will pay an extortion fee.

Li Mu Bai ponders the corruption of the government. What will happen if he takes a job in Beijing? Can he stop the depravity?

Shu Lien says they have a small amount of money, and that she will return home to retrieve it. Li Mu Bai refuses; it is too dangerous, he will take care of it. Li escorts the women home, takes their money, frees Grand Yu, and then drives him home. This takes weeks. Yu has deteriorated. He is old and he looks it. Shu Lien is shocked.

Suddenly, Grand Yu falls from his horse. His family rushes to his side. His pulse is weak, and Li tries to stabilize Grand Yu's heart with his own chi, but Yu does not respond. Yu's requests that Li Mu Bai escort Shu Lien to Shuen village to complete her arranged marriage to Head Guard Mong. Though it is the last thing he wants to do, Li agrees. Yu also commands Shu Lien not to seek revenge. As he dies, Yu laments that he ever arranged his daughter's marriage. He thinks that Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien would have made a very good couple.

Grand Yu dies.

Chou Mong
Grand Yu's family buries him at a temple, offering the monks a donation. Then Li Mu Bai escorts them to Shuen village, over green summer fields. As they journey, the travelers keep to themselves, reflecting over what might have been. Li pines for Shu Lien. Shu Lien pines for Li. However, they are both bound by duty, and reluctantly uphold their honor.

The group arrives at the Mong Mansion. Master Mong is aggrieved to hear of Grand Yu's death. He declares that the Ho family is pushing its luck, and he thanks Li Mu Bai for his assistance. He then informs Shu Lien and her mother that the wedding cannot take place. His second son, Chou Mong, Shu Lien's fiancée, has run away from home.

Chou Mong is smart but arrogant. Though he is a good fighter, he is always getting into trouble. He is a wanderer, traveling everywhere and rarely staying at home. In the past year, though, it had looked as if he might be ready to settle down.

There was a rich man in Shuen village who always bullies others. Even the law officials were afraid of him. The rich man was a pervert; he had many wives, yet he coveted every pretty woman he saw. He killed a villager in order to take the man's wife. When Chou Mong heard of this, he went to confront the rich man and, without hesitation, he chopped off the man's legs. Then Chou Mong left home without a trace. Master Mong had to spend a lot of money to settle the incident, otherwise he would have had to close his business.

Master Mong apologizes for his son, and for being such a poor father. Li Mu Bai thinks that Chou has a good heart and that he is a great martial artist. He believes Chou would be a good match for Shu Lien. He declares that if he finds Chou, he will either force him to return home or else take Shu Lien to him. Mong doesn't want Shu Lien to suffer with Chou. He offers to treat Shu Lien as his own daughter; if Chou doesn't return, he will find her a good husband.

Li Mu Bai vows that he must be on his way to Beijing. On the night before he leaves, Shu Lien creeps into his room. She is crying. She tells Li that Chou's story is more complicated than his father had explained. Master Mong's eldest son wants to get rid of Chou so that he can keep the entire inheritance to himself. Li vows that he will bring Chou to Shu Lien. She is grateful. From her hair she pulls a golden hairpin and she presents it to Li Mu Bai as a token to remember her by. He promises to treasure it, and to bring back her happiness. They part, their true feelings unspoken.

Phoenix Wei
Li Mu Bai travels on horseback toward Beijing. He arrives at the beautiful Zong Gate, or Green Mountain, one of the eight wonders of Beijing. Zong Gate is the paved path to Beijing. People are everywhere.

Li is overtaken by a couple of carriages posing as members of a convoy. The people in the carriages warn him against traveling alone: there are raiders on the path to Beijing, and they attack individuals and small groups. They invite Li to join their convoy. He declines.

The people tell Li he is a fool. The leader of the raiders is the legendary Little Lu Bu, Phoenix Wei. He wields a lance and is undefeated.

Phoenix Wei was the most famous courier in Beijing. He had a conflict with the elder Hwang, the Skinny Buddha, and the two came to blows. For three rounds neither could get the upper hand. Elder Hwang begged for assistance from the Silver General, Kwang Chu. Combined, the two proved to be more than Phoenix Wei could handle. He retreated to the Zong Gate where he became a raider. Since he was originally in the convoy business, Wei would not attack anyone associated with convoys, but he would not suffer any of the associates of Elder Hwang to pass.

Li Mu Bai condemns Phoenix Wei: he is too bold to pillage and cause strife just because he was defeated. He continues his journey, riding next to the convoy.

The convoy is ambushed by six raiders. The couriers present a bribe for Phoenix Wei and they are allowed on their way. Li Mu Bai is not pleased. This is an important passage, and he believes it is unjust for Wei to use this checkpoint to make money. He breaks from the convoy and declares himself.

"Who are you?" ask the raiders. "I am Li Mu Bai, Phoenix Wei's worst nightmare," he replies. The raiders attack, but Li defeats them and issues a challenge: he wants to fight Phoenix Wei by the next checkpoint or he will declare to all that Wei is a coward.

Li continues his journey. It begins to rain, so he stops at an inn for tea. As he drinks, Phoenix Wei arrives with some of his gang. He is pleased that Li has challenged him; he is interested in fighting someone who is his equal. But, he says that if he defeats Li Mu Bai, Li must get on his knees and apologize. "Will you do the same for me?" Li asks. Wei says that he will, and the duel begins.

More tomorrow. Maybe.

I encourage you to purchase the graphic novels from which I'm retelling this story.

On this day at foldedspace.org

2002 — You Ride   You had forgotten that when you pull into the driveway after biking to work you are awake, alert, alive.