gown from her backpack and tore it into strips. With these, she first bandaged Radiant, then Century and his son, Peace. Curio was about to protest against this when Sign cast him a glance from the side of her eyes. Though he could not quite make out what she meant, he managed to check himself.
About half a mile further on, the ground on the other side of the mountain was covered with thicker, knee-high snow. Treading on snowy ground like this was strenuous work even though they were all skilled in martial arts, and they found it difficult to pull their legs from the thick snow. "I wonder how far away the Master's place is?" thought each to himself. The old monk seemed to have read their minds, and pointing to a towering summit on their left, he said, "It is not too far. It is up there."
Chapter Two: Summit
When the Company looked up in the direction of the summit, they all gasped in surprise. They shivered at the sight before them. Though it was not exceedingly high, the summit stood erect, like a tower amidst the neighbouring peaks, impassably steep and precipitous. Even monkeys would find it a task to climb to the top, not to mention human beings. They marvelled at the sight, wondering if it could be real: even if the most capable among them could make it to the top, could they really survive up there, on that sheer summit of summits?
The old monk gave a faint smile and led the way. After skirting two mountains, the Company entered an enormous pine forest. The pine trees were several hundred years old, with heavy, thickly overgrown branches and crisscrossing boughs, and every tree-top was laden with dazzling white snow several feet thick. This meant that there was not much snow inside the forest, which made walking much easier. The pine forest extended over a considerable area. It took an hour for the Company to thread their way through its heart. The minute they emerged they found themselves standing at the foot of the summit.
They all tilted their heads up and looked at the summit. It was more breath-taking and awe-inspiring at close proximity. They wondered if it would be possible to climb the summit even in summer. Now, at this time of the year when snow lay thick on the hilltop, anyone venturing to the peak would certainly run the risk of falling over the edge and being shattered to pieces.
A wind could be heard sweeping across the top of the cliff and the foliage murmured like an autumnal flood at dusk. All the members of the group were experienced hands who had roamed the world and experienced the vicissitudes of life. But with this impressively high rock structure towering over them, they all trembled with fear. The old monk drew a cylindrical-shaped missile from the front of his coat. He ignited it. Up it soared into the sky, discharging blue smoke which hung in the sky for some time afterwards.
They knew it was the signal used by the outlawry for sending messages. Yet seldom had they seen a missile soar so high and its blue plume of smoke stay as long. They lifted their heads and fixed their gaze upon the top of the summit, watching for any signs of action.
Presently, a black dot materialized high up on the cliff. This was the only sign they could see. The black dot began to roll down instantaneously, growing bigger as it moved closer, and after it had travelled halfway down the steep decline, it could be recognized as an enormous bamboo basket, fastened to a hawser also made of bamboo. This was the vehicle dispatched from the summit to transport the guests up the cliff.
The basket came to a standstill in front of the Company. "This basket will carry three," said the old monk. "Perhaps we should let the two ladies go first? It can seat another male. Who wants to accompany them? This monk does not have dealings with women, so I shall not go this trip. Ha! Ha!"
"This monk may be skilled in martial arts," thought each to himself, "but he talks rubbish!"
Sign helped Third into the basket. "If I go
About half a mile further on, the ground on the other side of the mountain was covered with thicker, knee-high snow. Treading on snowy ground like this was strenuous work even though they were all skilled in martial arts, and they found it difficult to pull their legs from the thick snow. "I wonder how far away the Master's place is?" thought each to himself. The old monk seemed to have read their minds, and pointing to a towering summit on their left, he said, "It is not too far. It is up there."
Chapter Two: Summit
When the Company looked up in the direction of the summit, they all gasped in surprise. They shivered at the sight before them. Though it was not exceedingly high, the summit stood erect, like a tower amidst the neighbouring peaks, impassably steep and precipitous. Even monkeys would find it a task to climb to the top, not to mention human beings. They marvelled at the sight, wondering if it could be real: even if the most capable among them could make it to the top, could they really survive up there, on that sheer summit of summits?
The old monk gave a faint smile and led the way. After skirting two mountains, the Company entered an enormous pine forest. The pine trees were several hundred years old, with heavy, thickly overgrown branches and crisscrossing boughs, and every tree-top was laden with dazzling white snow several feet thick. This meant that there was not much snow inside the forest, which made walking much easier. The pine forest extended over a considerable area. It took an hour for the Company to thread their way through its heart. The minute they emerged they found themselves standing at the foot of the summit.
They all tilted their heads up and looked at the summit. It was more breath-taking and awe-inspiring at close proximity. They wondered if it would be possible to climb the summit even in summer. Now, at this time of the year when snow lay thick on the hilltop, anyone venturing to the peak would certainly run the risk of falling over the edge and being shattered to pieces.
A wind could be heard sweeping across the top of the cliff and the foliage murmured like an autumnal flood at dusk. All the members of the group were experienced hands who had roamed the world and experienced the vicissitudes of life. But with this impressively high rock structure towering over them, they all trembled with fear. The old monk drew a cylindrical-shaped missile from the front of his coat. He ignited it. Up it soared into the sky, discharging blue smoke which hung in the sky for some time afterwards.
They knew it was the signal used by the outlawry for sending messages. Yet seldom had they seen a missile soar so high and its blue plume of smoke stay as long. They lifted their heads and fixed their gaze upon the top of the summit, watching for any signs of action.
Presently, a black dot materialized high up on the cliff. This was the only sign they could see. The black dot began to roll down instantaneously, growing bigger as it moved closer, and after it had travelled halfway down the steep decline, it could be recognized as an enormous bamboo basket, fastened to a hawser also made of bamboo. This was the vehicle dispatched from the summit to transport the guests up the cliff.
The basket came to a standstill in front of the Company. "This basket will carry three," said the old monk. "Perhaps we should let the two ladies go first? It can seat another male. Who wants to accompany them? This monk does not have dealings with women, so I shall not go this trip. Ha! Ha!"
"This monk may be skilled in martial arts," thought each to himself, "but he talks rubbish!"
Sign helped Third into the basket. "If I go
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