Swordsman: Sovereign

This FanFiction is loosely based on Jin Yong's Smiling Proud Wanderer and the new 2012/2013 series.

" Speech "

' Thoughts '

Chapter: 4

-xXx-

What does it mean when one is mature?

It is said that maturity has different definitions across legal, social, religious, political, ual, emotional, and intellectual contexts.

To become a good husband takes effort, time, patience, wisdom, and perhaps most importantly a good wife, encouraging and supporting in love, no matter what happens.

What should a newly married man focus on to be everything to the one he loves?

'Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.A mature person’s decisions are based on character not feelings. Their character is master over their emotions.'

'A mature person seeks wisdom before acting. A mature person is teachable. They don’t presume they have all the answers. The wiser they get the more they realize they need more wisdom...'

This is what Linghu Chong was currently contemplating. Dressed in his white robe, he stood alone by the entrance of the cave, gazing up at the night sky. He and his wife would start traveling in the morning; hoping to reach their destination in a couple of days. He wanted to soak in the peaceful night, not knowing if the tranquil scene would be the last one he would see.

'I think about some of the virtues Master and Mistress tried to instill in me over the years. Yet they are the ones, no, Master is the one who expelled me...'

Another sign of maturity is telling it like it is, with love, and not running away from the truth no matter how painful.

Linghu Chong hated to admit this truth, one which pained his heart deeply.

'Yue Buqun is not trust worthy. He cast you out for what? And before he cast you out, how did he treat you once your martial arts became better then his? He claims righteousness, he has the title of gentleman swordsman. But does he practice what he preaches?'

Linghu Chong recalled Feng Qingyang words. They haunted him, they pained him. And as much as he tried to make excuses for his Master's behavior he always found himself coming back to one undeniable fact.

'But they are the truth...' he thought distressed.

He even had gone so far as to berate himself, thinking that if he had been a better disciple that perhaps his expulsion would not have happened. Frankly, a pipe dream and he knew it.

'You don't spend years with someone and don't know their ways. And to make matters worse, eventually everyone will know that Miss Dongfang is my wife. I can only imagine what Master's reaction will be then.'

Linghu Chong gave a small shutter just thinking about the disparaging things his master will say to him if they ever saw each other again in the future. But he also became angry. A man must cherish and protect the wife of his youth. He would not let anyone bring her harm, nor insult her, not even his Master.

'I've been betrayed and abandoned by everyone in Mt. Huashan, save for Mistress and possibly little sister. Yet even Yue Lingshan broke my heart, and has yet to even acknowledge her betrayal. She just laughed and acted like there was no need to even mention it,' he thought bitterly.

Though his anger soon calmed as he thought about his pseudo adopted mother.

'She has always been kind to me; even spoiled me in some ways. But will she side with me a second time like she did in the Forrest? Now that she knows who Miss Dongfang really is will she side with Master or me?'

Linghu Chong had no answer.

He will always be fun loving and care free. But for the people he loved; especially for the one who was sleeping a few feet away. He had to mature, he had to change for the better. He knew he couldn’t be carelessly care free his whole life. Now a husband and perhaps someday even a father; especially the way he and Dongfang Bubai were enjoying being married, he was sure he would be a father sooner rather then later.

'And on top of that, if things go the way I have a feeling they will with the Sword Sect, maybe even a sect leader.'

Life is a series of choices. Only you can make the decision and you have to live with that choice. What kind of future do you want? Will you be happy with it. Will you be unhappy with it? Decisions made in a split second determine your future. Some choices turn your life around completely. Do you think you've made the right choices in those moments?

'Linghu Chong, when did you start thinking so profoundly?' he thought shaking his head in amusement.

“What are doing up Linghu Chong?”

Linghu Chong was startled when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped themselves around his waste. But in seconds his nerves calmed as he recognized his wife's voice.

“Nothing just thinking...” he said gently.

“Must be something important to keep you up,” Dongfang Bubai said as she nestled her head into his back.

“Perhaps...”

'He must be thinking about what might happen in the future.'

“I understand you hesitant but as we discussed your Grand Uncle is correct. If we abandon everything, that may benefit us in the short term, but what about others? What about Yi Lin, your adopted mother, even your little junior sister? If we abandon this world and let your master, Ren Woxing, or Zuo Lengshan, or whomever else get their way it will only ensure those we care about will either be hurt or end up dead.”

“We cannot run away from life. We must be the strong ones...” she said recalling her own masters words to her.

Though he remained silent. Linghu Chong was overjoyed to hear his wife’s reassuring words.

“Whatever we do we do together. Whatever fate befalls one, we will share it together. Even death, you die I die. If someone insult one then they insult both of us,” she said her eyes ablaze with passion.

Dongfang Bubai released her grip, causing her husband to turn to face her. The emotions on his handsome face was a mixture of shock and gratitude.

“I cant ask you to just suddenly turn off the feelings you have for your master. That's not fair or realistic. Just know that he doesn't control you. You are not his slave. He took you in and raised you when no one else would. It's only natural to be appreciative of that. But... gratitude only goes so far.”

As he gazed into her eyes. His heart swelled as the love for her grew even more. Confirming and strengthening the decision to spend the rest of their lives together.

'Though not perfect by any means she is hardly the monster the Martial world made her out to be. Or even what I thought she was after I found out who she really was.'

Linghu Chong thoughts turned to sadness, caused from the guilt he still carried for how wrongly he had treated his love up until she fell of Blackwood Cliff. The thoughts pained him. If they didn't get a second chance to make things right, he could have easily seen himself drinking himself into an oblivion if he would have just shed tears atop of the cliff and not gone after her.

'I could have even seen myself ending up with Ying Ying in an attempt to cover up the pain. But that would have been unfair to her; since I could never be fully in love with her. What woman would want to be the runner up when it comes to love?'

“Linghu Chong are you alright?” his wife asked with concern, after seeing his eyes become distant.

“Sorry, sorry just doing more thinking,” he said with a warm smile.

Dongfang Bubai knew he was hiding something. But decided not to push it. If anything she learned from plotting and scheming most of her life was that patience is a virtue, and to let things come in there own time.

“You know... Mistress use to say that this is the honeymoon phase. We may get sick of each other soon. Well, until we get use to living together,“ he said playfully.

Dongfang Bubai simply snorted. Easily seeing through his attempt to lighten the mode.

“I waited my whole life for this. I highly doubt that I will ever get sick of being with you. Unless you are already bored with me?” she said in mock hurt.

“Never...”

When Feng Qingyang first came back with the Tendon-Altering Sutra Linghu Chong at first thought about resisting learning the technique. He was still clinging to the idea that such a precious art would be wasted on someone like himself. If a man cannot even stand on his own feet and has to rely upon another school's skills he would live his life in shame. But after looking at his love and thinking about all that had taken place. He quickly realized how foolish that idea was. He wanted to see what it would be like to be with her. He wanted to repay her kindness and not dieing when he had a chance to live would have been a good start.

“The moment we met outside of the brothel. I should have guessed our lives would be forever intertwined,” he said softly.

“Lecher...Trying to get me in bed again?” she teased.

To this they both laughed heartily though getting in one more night of passion before their journey started seemed like a good idea to them both.

-xXx-

“No...” Linghu Chong said defiantly.

“What do you mean no, you haven’t even heard what I will say!” Dongfang Bubai replied angrily.

“I know you well enough. You want me to marry Yi Lin,” her husband said with equal anger.

It was the next morning right before their journey would begin. The pair had been packing the few things they would need on the trip; mainly some food, water and extra blankets. When his wife had suddenly said that in the future she wouldn't mind if he took a second wife. A strange statement to say the least, especially from who it was coming from. Linghu Chong though knew something like this would pop up eventually, and knew who this other wife would be and vowed to fight it until his dieing breath.

“She loves you...”

“So? That is her problem. I never once showed the slightest bit of attraction for her,” he said in annoyance.

“In time you will learn to!”she retorted angrily.

From the way Dongfang Bubai carried herself, one could sense that she carried an air of authority. Her voice was voice full of authority and power and was use to getting her way. But this was something that Linghu Chong would not give in to.

“Miss Dongfang...My love...How can you share your husband with another woman?” he asked in disbelief.

Dongfang Bubai saw the pained looked in her husbands eyes and began to reconsider the wisdom in bringing up the idea.

“Normally never, but this isn't a normal case. I...I will do anything within my power to make sure she's happy,” Dongfang Bubai said softly.

Linghu Chong's anger slowly began to recede. Knowing that his beloved wife was just overcome by her emotions; or so he hoped.

“Including sacrificing me?”

Dongfang Bubai was taken aback. Every since getting married the guilt from what she termed as her sisters plight of love, was growing day by day until she eventually decided to mention the idea to Linghu Chong. She had scolded herself for forgetting about Yi Lin's feeling's. Beratating herself about how could she be so selfish as to take away the man her sister desired.

'How can I explain my marriage to her?'

Looking completely panicked Dongfang Bubai was at a loss as what to do. She was use to having all the answers and plans within plans to accomplish her goals. Now though, the once mighty ruler, seemed lost and helpless about how to solve her dilemma.

'But Linghu Chong is right. I'm thinking about what will make Yi Lin happy but what about him? What about myself?'

“Look...”

Linghu Chong gently held her hands in his own, opting that gentleness was needed to handle the situation instead of harshness.

“I know you love your sister and want to make sure she's happy. But this is not the way. I promised before that I will set things right with her and I will keep my promise. I will clearly explain everything and Yi Lin is not an unreasonable person. She has to clearly see that there will never be anything between us.”

Linghu Chong smiled at his wife, hoping to reassure her.

Dongfang Bubai's fear began to melt away. If anything, her husband had a away of making all of her fears and worries melt away.

-xXx-

After a few days the pair finally made it to the area where Feng Qingyang indicted on the small map he gave them, which outlined the location of the Sword Sect remnant. The trip was thankfully uneventful, which was something both husband and wife were thankful for. But for Linghu Chong it also reenforced the benefit of having ones own clan. Having to catch ones own food and bath in ponds was good and fun at first but quickly got tedious.

'Good to do once in a while, something to change the monotony of life. But not as a everyday thing,' Linghu Chong thought to himself.

“It's still not too late to run. I know what its like to lead a sect. Sometimes things can get overwhelming Too much responsibilities. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just roam the central plains, drink all the good wine, eating all of the delicious food, pillaging, enslaving and terrifying the villagers...”

Linghu Chong was stunned at her statement, until he saw the playful smile on her face which caused him to laugh heartily at her apparent cold feet.

“I thought you were the confident one in this relationship?” he playfully mocked. “No...A man must face life head on and not back away from fear or the difficulties of it,” he said reciting another lesson his Master and Mistress taught him.

Dongfang Bubai looked impressed with his thoughtfulness.

“As you said when trying to convince me before. Lets first meet them, then I believe what we should do will be made clearer,” he stated confidently.

“Demoness pay for your crimes!” a male voice suddenly yelled.

Thinking they had been ambushed, Linghu Chong and Dongfang Bubai quickly readied themselves for combat, yet strangely no attack came.

“Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun how dare you show your faces! Prepare to receive righteous judgment from the other end of my sword!”

Looking around both husband and wife were confused as to what was going on.

“Take this and that, taste my blade of justice you vile fiends!” the voice once again screamed.

Finally realizing what was going on. The pair tracked the voice back to the source and after a few seconds came to a small clearing in the woods where a well built, handsome young boy, wearing a brown and white robe, was practicing his swordplay.

“Scum, how dare you smear the good name of Huashan Sect! How dare you bring harm on the disciples by teaching them to overly concentrate on Qi and neglect their sword skills!” the young man said stabbing at an imaginary foe.

Linghu Chong and Dongfang Bubai had to stifle their laughter. The two hid behind a large tree which helped to completely conceal their presence.

“Do you think our children will be like him?”

“Probably...” she said softly.

The young man, who could not have been older then fifteen continued his mock fight to the amusement of his two onlookers.

'I was so much like that at his age. Who am I kidding I am still like that,' Linghu Chong thought to himself.

Suddenly a mischievous idea popped into his mind. Dongfang Bubai saw the look on his face and knew that he was up to no good.

“What's with that look? What are you planning on doing?” she asked suspiciously.

“Wait and see,” he said pulling out a white cloth from his sleeve and tying it around his mouth; covering the lower half of his face.

Before she could voice her disapproval Linghu Chong gave her the small sack holding the blankets and food, and jumped from his hiding spot and into the clearing right in front of a now startled young man.

“W-Who...Who are you?!” he said from his seat on the ground as the intruders sudden entrance caused him to panic and lose his balance.

“Me? Foolish boy, I see you are too young to have heard of the mighty Sovereign; King of the Martial World,” Linghu Chong said arrogantly, while puffing out his chest.

“Sovereign?! But Master always says that Dongfang Bubai is the number one in the whole world,” he said doubting Linghu Chong's claim.

“Foolish boy, who is Dongfang Bubai compared to me?” he said as arrogantly as he could.

As he spoke Linghu Chong could feel the eyes of his love boring right through him.

“Impossible! You are greater then Dongfang Bubai?!” the young man said still not convinced.

“Humph, if that weirdo were here right now I would show him who is the true number one in the world! Do you know he likes to dress in women's clothing and fool unsuspecting young men? Deranged indeed,” Linghu Chong said with a heavy sigh while shaking his head.

Suddenly a wave of killing intent hit Linghu Chong like a strong breeze causing him to gulp in slight panic.

'She is going to kill me later, but this is too much fun,' he thought, trying to come up with further ways to have fun with the situation and annoy his wife at the same time.

“By the way you move and your sword style. I would say you are Feng Buping's disciple, correct?” he said knowingly.

“Y-you know Master Feng?!” the young man asked in shock.

“Yes... You can say that. We've fought before. He has great skill, but even he cannot stand before Sovereign,” Linghu Chong said trying to sound arrogant.

After hearing the mystery man in white claim to know his Master and even had fought him. The boy suddenly sprang to his feet and pointed his sword at Linghu Chong.

“Don't think you can fool me. By saying you are stronger than Dongfang Bubai then you are saying you defeated my Master. My Master would never lose to a deranged person like you!” he said defiantly.

Linghu Chong could hear his wife’s snickering in the background.

“Okay... why don't we have a little contest then? The loser must kowtow to the winner three times while calling him grandfather.” he said with a smirk.

“What is your name boy?”

“Beat me and I will tell you?!”

The young man suddenly charged with his sword extended.

In a flash Linghu Chong knocked the sword out of his opponents hand and gently struck him in the chest knocking him first back on the ground.

“Hold on don't be so impulsive. Let me offer you some advice. Use The Rainbow passes through the sun, then Phoenix makes its appearance, wild goose blocks the sky, and finally the Cut Sword Style,” Linghu Chong said smirking, remembering how Feng Qingyang had instructed him to use the same movements against Tian Boguang.

The young man gazed at Linghu Chong strangely before slowly getting back on his feat and giving him a respectful bow.

“I’ll give it a try senior,” he said before walking about fifteen feet away to have some room to practice.

The Sword Sect desciple performed a few sword moves but got stuck half way through. The young man then lowered his sword and stormed back towards his opponent angrily.

“You trickster! The Rainbow passes through the sun and the Phoenix makes its appearance don’t seem to connect at all. There’s no way this is going to work,” he uttered in annoyance.

Linghu Chong hummed agitatedly, though it was only for appearance sake as he was truly enjoying playing the role of opponent/teacher.

“I shall quote the words of a great Master from Huashan Sect... Idiot! Idiot! When your sword arts are rigid of course it wouldn’t work. The essence of swordplay is to be dynamic and flexible. After you’ve finished The Rainbow passes through the sun and had your sword tip pointing up, couldn’t you just follow the flow and slash it downwards? Even though there’s no such movement in the sequence be more innovative and adjust to the circumstances? Let your swordplay be like flowing water. Change and adapt given the situation.”

The young man gave Linghu Chong a look of wonder and respect.

“Mister who are you exactly? You possess such great skill and knowledge about our Huashan Martial Arts.”

“Don't change the subject or do you admit defeat to your grandfather,” Linghu Chong said smugly.

The taunt seemed to work as determination sprang up in the young man's eyes.

“I will disgrace Master and the good name of the Sword Sect if I don't at least try,” he said passionately.

Linghu Chong could see the fire in his eyes and was reminded of himself at that age. Refusing to give up no matter how many times he was defeated by his Master and Mistress during sparring.

'I loved those times. When everything seemed so simple, before...'

Linghu Chong tried to snap himself out of daydreaming and back into paying attention to his opponent.

The two began exchanging numerous stances. The boy attacking with his sword and Linghu Chong just using his bare hands. To any experience person watching it was clear that the young man was clearly outclassed and was only able to hold out as long as he did because his opponent let him.

“Take this!!”

The young man suddenly jumped back ten feet, then in a flash shot towards Linghu Chong spinning like a corkscrew with his sword extended. Linghu Chong easily saw though the move and was about to retaliate and gain victory, until he suddenly had a foreboding sense of danger coming from behind him.

'Don't tell me...'

Linghu Chong jumped over the youth's oncoming attack, just as a pebble almost hit his lower back. The stone though impacted with the young Sword Sect disciple and stopped his attacked dead in it's tracks as he was flung down to the ground.

'What a ill tempered minx I married,' he thought while shaking his head as his opponent scrambled to his feet.

For the next few minutes, Dongfang Bubai shot rocks at her husband trying to distract him. Nothing lethal, but just something to have him lose his concentration and lose the bet.

Linghu Chong to his credit used his arms and legs to deflect the rocks and at the same time not have them hit his opponent, while fending off the young man's strikes.

Knowing that it was a dangerous situation forming; more so for his pride if the fight continued. He dodged all of his opponents attacks in lightning speed and subsequently returned a forceful palm strike to the young man's abdomen. The attack was executed with little inner force so that it only caused him to fly back ten or so feet before crashing back on the ground.

“You've lost...” Linghu Chong said triumphantly.

Though hesitant and it hurt his pride. The young boy let out an exasperated sigh, knowing that a man must keep his promises. Getting down on his knees he began to kowtow to Linghu Chong while calling him grandfather.

Linghu Chong merely laughed and before the young man could finish paying off the terms of the bet he told him to rise.

“What is your name young man?”

“It is Xióng... grandfather...” he said respectfully while bowing.

Linghu Chong laughed and patted his new young friend on the shoulders. Though he noted how Xiong was still cautious of him, since he only told him his given name and not his family name.

“Don't worry about our bet young friend. I was mainly teasing you anyway. I hope unlike some people you can take a joke?!” he said extra loud, hoping his wife would get the hint.

Seconds later a pebble hit a fifteen foot tall tree about twenty feet away causing it to fall to the forest floor as the base had been completely obliterated.

Linghu Chong started laughing at his love's antics.

'Yup a violent, ill tempered woman...' he thought with a smile.

Xiong though was not in the mood to laugh, as he pointed at the tree staring at it in shock.

“So tell me how long have you been a student of the Sword Sect?”

“B-but the tree. How did it suddenly fall?!” he asked frantic.

“Don't worry about that. The tree was probably old and couldn't hold up to our battle,” Linghu Chong said trying to sound reassuring.

Xiong for his part wasn't completely convinced.

'What he said kind of makes sense, but I get the feeling there is something he is not telling me. But given I'm no where near his match I can't force an answer out of him.'

“Master has been teaching me since I was little. I believe about ten years,” he responded breaking out of his shock.

“Before you were scolding Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun and a Demoness. What issue's do you have with them, who is this Demoness?”

Xióng was hesitant before he spoke but he sensed he could trust the stranger before him; though he didn't know why.

“Because they are wicked fiends! One is the hypocrite sword, the other a good for nothing who associates with those wicked people of the evil Sun Moon Cult and the Demoness is who killed brother Chen Buyou.”

Linghu Chong looked at Xiong with a bit of pity. If things stayed the way they were he could see him having the same level of hatred for the Qi Sect and become like Feng Buping or worse yet, his Master Yue Buqun.

“I think I know what you have been taught and I have an idea of who this Demoness is. Though sometimes things aren't just black and white in the Martial World. Learn this lesson and learn it well. Judge by actions and not by sect affiliation.” he said sternly.

Linghu Chong took off the piece of cloth from his face so it could be seen clearly; the gesture also serving as an act of trust.

Xiong was a little taken aback once he saw Linghu Chong's youthful face. He knew his opponent was older then him. But given his skill level and the boasting he assumed it was someone in their thirties or forties, not someone who was a mere ten or so years older then himself.

“Do you want me to tell you the truth of why the Sword and Qi branches are in dispute?” Linghu Chong suddenly said.

“Truth?...But Master already said why...”

“Perhaps your master is not telling you the whole story. Or even he may not know it all himself,” he said interrupting his young friend.

Xiong was going to retort but decided it was best to remain silent and hear what else was said.

“Both branches consider each other unorthodox, but in reality neither is really evil or unorthodox. They each still use the same martial arts skills, but they have a different focus in their training. Do you still remember the first skill that you need to learn when you enter Huashan Sword Sect?”

“The first thing we had to learn is the methods and techniques on how to master sword skill. Master said that once the sword skills are developed, even with ordinary level of inner energy, a person can still defeat the enemy,” Xiong stated proudly.

“Very good,” he said praising the young man's thoughtfulness. “In the Qi they are taught how to control and manipulate inner energy at first. They believe that regardless of what you use as your weapon, whether its your fists and legs, or knives and swords, you will always be victorious.”

Linghu Chong paused for a moment as a bit of nostalgia hit him.

“The main divergence between the two branches lay right here. The main problem was that they had differing ideas in martial arts practices and not just normal disagreement which can occur between martial arts brothers. The internal conflict between martial brothers that year led to a major bloodshed. By right martial brothers of the same sect should treat each other like family. But at the end they started killing each other. It was truly horrible brutality. Doesn’t it sound ridiculous to fight over such a thing? We as humans can be so stupid at times. The best would have been to combine both and train both equally.”

Xiong was silent but had to agree that neither side sounded evil. And that it did seem foolish to fight over what the emphasis of training was.

'If senior here is telling the truth. Then Huashan has been fighting and harming itself over something completely silly,' he thought sadly.

“But...There is something more to the story. What if I told you what I said was only half the truth would you believe me? If I said the original dispute started over the thievery of two brothers, would you believe me?”

“What?!” Xiong said out loud.

This news also greatly surprised Dongfang Bubai who herself had never heard of a theft causing the Huashan internal conflict.

'I must make sure to ask more about this later,' she thought to herself.

“Xióng'er where are you?” a male voice suddenly yelled.

Linghu Chong recognized the voice as Feng Buping and decided it was best to make himself scarce. Though he was the person he came to meet, Linghu Chong decided now was not the best time to reveal himself.

“Master I'm here!” Xiong replied joyfully, as he turned his head towards the direction he heard his masters voice coming from.

“Hey senior brother Sovereign. Master is co..Huh, where did he go?” Xiong said perplexed as once he turned back around, Linghu Chong had suddenly vanished.

-xXx-

A/N:  Well I hope you guys enjoyed it. Let me know your thoughts. :)