Chapter Sixty-Six: Hundred Flowers Valley of Jiangxi

The beautiful nun retorted, “Why shouldn’t I be here?”
He Zhixing hurried to explain, “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just wondering how you knew I was here, and how you managed to find me. And what about Master Jin Yun? Didn’t he come with you?”
The nun replied, “Heh, I happened to see you on television, so I came. By the way, Ah Da asked me to tell you: set out for Wuyuan in Jiangxi immediately!”
He Zhixing was utterly astonished. Master Jin Yun suddenly asking them to go to Wuyuan must mean something was up. He had no choice but to explain things to the four women and Lai the Madman, instructing them to watch over the house and the shop. Since the business had only just opened and needed a man to oversee matters, Lai the Madman would have to stay behind.
While He Zhixing was making arrangements, the nun caught sight of the painting he had done. For the first time, she showed a look of surprise and gazed at the artwork for a long while.
After everything was set, they bought tickets and boarded a train to Shangrao in Jiangxi. The two of them rode toward Shangrao.
Upon disembarking at Shangrao, they spotted Master Jin Yun right away. Leaving the station, they took a car and found a hotel to rest.
In the master’s room, the three of them drank tea and chatted. Master Jin Yun spoke first: “Little Ni told me that Xiao He, your painting skills have already surpassed hers. Is that true?”
He Zhixing replied respectfully, “Master, I’m not nearly that skilled. Perhaps it’s because she saw the painting I did in the Miao village, ‘Portrait of the Exotic Beauty.’ Maybe I found good inspiration at the time and couldn’t help but paint it.”
Master Jin Yun said, “That’s good. Painting is also about reaching a certain state of mind. When you carry the image in your heart, painting becomes much easier. Zhu Da and Zheng Banqiao set such examples in the past. The highest realm of a master is when every stroke comes naturally from within.”
He paused, then continued, “This time I called you here not for any particular reason, but simply to let you appreciate the charm of this historic city, renowned for its tea and books. Along the way, you can learn about cultural figures like Zhu Xi, Jiang Yong, and Zhan Tianyou, and see how this place produced such brilliant minds. There is another matter: I’ve heard that treasures have been discovered in Wuyuan, and many martial artists are gathering here.”
He Zhixing’s interest was piqued. With a smile, he said, “Perfect! I was afraid the journey would be dull—now we have some excitement.”
Master Jin Yun said, “Xiao He, I don’t mean to discourage you, but do you think it’ll be as easy as last time? The treasure is said to be hidden in the mountains, guarded by five or six nests of imperial hornets. Their hives are right at the treasure site. These hornets are much larger than ordinary yellow wasps—three or four times the size. Many who’ve approached the site have been stung half to death and ended up in hospital. It’s not as simple as you imagine.”
He Zhixing’s spirits fell. “Doesn’t that mean there’s no chance? Who would dare provoke thousands of venomous hornets? That’s suicide!”
Master Jin Yun said, “A few days ago, someone tried attacking with poison or smoke, but before they even got near the hives, the hornets stung them. These hornets have become a force of nature. Maybe there’s some rare, spiritual treasure at the site.”
He Zhixing exclaimed, “Ah… Surely a lot of people want it, then? If the government finds out and sends troops to protect the forest, what happens?”
Master Jin Yun replied, “Those people are acting in secret. The news came from martial artists I met nearby—the government doesn’t know yet.”
He Zhixing was finally reassured. “That’s better. Looks like Wuyuan is about to get lively. No wonder I felt a lot of martial artists around when we got off the train at Shangrao—it turns out my instincts were right.”
Master Jin Yun said, “For the next couple of days, we’ll explore the area, admiring the beauty of the rapeseed flowers in Hundred Flowers Valley and visiting historical and cultural sites. When the martial artists gather, we’ll see if we can seize the opportunity amidst the chaos…”
“Mm, alright,” the two replied in unison.