"Good!"
Li Jian turned his head and saw Wu Tong and Han Zhen approaching with smiles. He quickly said,"This junior is unworthy. The Sixteen Palms of Beiming are profound and intricate—I still require time to refine my mastery."
Han Zhen, known as Scarlet Heart of Loyal Blood, praised him,"Your Uncle Wu said you possess remarkable insight. Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it."
Though Han Zhen had long withdrawn from the martial world, his body wandered the rivers and seas while his heart remained tied to the imperial court. Turning to Wu Tong, he said,"You are no longer young. It is time to consider passing the mantle. The waves behind drive on those before; every generation brings forth new talent. I believe this lad is ready—what say you?"
Wu Tong replied,"I had long intended to pass the position to him. That is why I taught him the Beiming Palm. Yet he has only just entered the jianghu—he does not yet understand its dangers. I planned to wait a little longer… but since the moment has come, today shall be the day."
Wu Tong turned to Li Jian."Jian'er, the senior has brought out his treasured Cistanche. Not only did it heal your internal injuries, it also granted you five years' worth of cultivation. Why do you not thank him?"
Li Jian immediately knelt and bowed."Many thanks, Senior. I fear I have nothing with which to repay such kindness, but whatever lies within my power, I shall obey without hesitation."
"Rise," Han Zhen said. Then, with solemn expression, he continued:"The realm stands in troubled times. Though the An Lushan Rebellion has been quelled, foreign powers still encircle the Western Regions. All who possess ambition should follow Ban Chao's example—bring awe to distant lands and restore the glory of the Great Tang!"
Wu Tong added,"So it should be! Jian'er, you have experienced much these days. My jianghu may not be your jianghu. I began roaming at seventeen and have spent over a decade within it. It is time I retired and lived my own life… yet my identity does not permit such freedom. I am the Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, overseeing covert operations across the Western Regions."
Han Zhen said,"I was the previous Hall Master. Wu Tong succeeded me at eighteen. Time truly flies—fifteen years have passed. You may not know this, but the Sixteen Palms of Beiming is a secret art of our Hall, passed only to its heir."
Wu Tong spoke firmly,"Jian'er, today I intend to pass the position of Hall Master to you. What say you?"
Though Li Jian had anticipated this, he was still overwhelmed with joy. Dropping to one knee and clasping his fists, he recalled a line from the Book of the Later Han and declared with solemn fervor:"A true man should emulate Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian—achieve merit in the Western Regions and earn honor. How can he remain forever buried in ink and brush?"
Wu Tong, stirred to the core, replied with a choked voice,"Well said! I did not misjudge you. Rise! Though you are a scholar, you cultivate both civil and martial virtues. With loyalty in your heart and the will to serve the nation—you embody true righteousness!"
Han Zhen praised,"A fine young man! The Hall of Loyalty shall never shame its name."
He continued,"The Hall was founded under Emperor Taizong's grand vision. It has long operated across the Western Regions, gathering intelligence and aiding the court and Protectorate. In times of peace, it befriends heroes and aids the weak. In times of crisis, those same heroes rise to serve the nation."
Wu Tong added,"Emperor Taizong took a line from Ban Chao's biography as our code."
Han Zhen called out loudly:"A man should achieve merit beyond the borders—how can he remain with brush and ink? What should one with ambition do?"—this was the first signal.
Wu Tong answered:"If one does not enter the tiger's den, how can he catch the tiger's cub?"
Han Zhen called again:"Those who offend the Great Tang—"—this was the second signal.
Wu Tong responded with imposing force:"Though distant, they shall be slain!"
At that moment, Yang Mi entered with a radiant smile, a young girl following behind her.
"Everyone, come look—what a beauty! Jian'er, see who this is!"
The three men were instantly stunned, standing as if struck by lightning.
Han Zhen exclaimed first,"What celestial maiden is this? If only she were my daughter!"
Wu Tong said,"Is it Wei'er? I knew it—had she not eaten that wild fruit, she would surely be a beauty of this age!"
Tan Wei blushed deeply under their gazes, her delicate features growing even more charming.
Yang Mi turned to Li Jian teasingly,"Well? Is this the Wei'er you remember?"
Li Jian stared in disbelief. The crooked-eyed, misshapen girl was gone—before him stood a flawless maiden, radiant as a celestial being. His face flushed, and he stammered,"It truly is Wei'er… her form is the same, but her beauty… it's beyond words!"
Yang Mi smiled knowingly."The poison from the wild fruit has not yet fully cleared. She must eat Ironback Fish from Crescent Spring for seven more days to recover completely."
Tan Wei lowered her head shyly under Li Jian's gaze, her cheeks glowing like rosy clouds.
Wu Tong coughed lightly, smiling."Breakfast! Breakfast!"
Snapped back to his senses, Li Jian felt deeply embarrassed. During the meal, he kept his eyes down, not daring to glance at Tan Wei again.
Afterward, they lit incense, burned offerings, and paid homage to their ancestral master—Ban Chao. Only then did Li Jian formally join the Hall. Wu Tong handed him the Hall token.
Han Zhen and his wife also adopted Tan Wei as their goddaughter.
Over the next few days, the three generations of Hall Masters gathered, their spirits aligned as though long acquainted. Under the guidance of Wu Tong and Han Zhen, Li Jian gained profound insight into martial arts, advancing at remarkable speed.
Born of humble origins, Li Jian had now entered the jianghu and encountered extraordinary fortune—learning the Sixteen Palms of Beiming, gaining power from the sacred herb, and inheriting the leadership of the Hall.
Yet ahead lay the vast Western Regions—desolate lands, endless deserts, and uncertain fate.
A verse concludes:
A man casts aside his brush and ink,And fears not entering the tiger's den;With talent forged in distant lands,His heart devoted to Great Tang.