Little Five Righteousness

Author: Anonymous (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Now, Zhi Hua reached the rear of the royal mansion and took out the Fei Cao Bai Lian Su from his treasure pouch. He hooked the Ruyi hook onto the wall, climbed up using the rope. Upon reaching the rooftop, he released the Fei Cao, coiled the rope, and put it back in the pouch. He then used the "road-seeking stone" to strike the ground—first, no voices were heard; second, no barking from dogs. He floated down and landed, taking a look around in the dark under the stars, finding it utterly empty and silent. He took a double-character step, bent his knees like an archer, moved like a deer crouching and a crane walking, looking left and right, and kept glancing back. Suddenly, he looked up and saw a dark, towering wooden wall with linked boards and an eight-trigram linked fortress. Zhiye took a look and noticed that the wooden wall in the northwest was extremely tall. According to Zhang Hua's account, it was guarded by "sky-shooting crossbows," making it impossible to enter from the rooftop. If one did, they would be shot by the poison crossbow and suffer a slow, death. Below, there were two large doors arranged according to the eight directions, each with seven smaller doors inside, following the 64 hexagrams and 384 lines of the I Ching. The inner doors were divided into auspicious and inauspicious hexagrams, as well as the Six Combinations, Six Conflicts, Returning Souls, and Wandering Souls. Walking through auspicious hexagrams would bring fortune and no obstacles, while walking through inauspicious ones would trigger flipping boards, with the "family" (likely guards) entering and exiting through underground passages, leaving the intruder trapped and unable to turn back. The footprints had to be placed in the center of the "" pattern; if one stepped off-center, they would land on the rolling boards and fall into a pit filled with plows, sickles, poison crossbows, and arrows, leading to instant death. Therefore, Zhiye examined the wooden linked eight-trigram linked fortress from all angles, looking and looking. After pondering, he reached for his sword and pointed it at the main gate. There were no crossbars or locks inside, and it opened with a single touch. Indeed, it was a linked door with seven smaller doors slanted and angled. He thought to himself, "The main gate represents the Heaven trigram (), which corresponds to Wind-Dust Heaven (), Mountain-Deception Heaven (); Earth trigram () corresponds to Wind-False Earth (), Mountain-Viewing Earth (), Peeling-Fire Earth (); and Fire trigram () corresponds to Fire-Sky Greatness ()." Zhiye, being a meticulous person, still hesitated and did not enter. He then headed straight north, where there were also two large doors. Using his sword, he opened them, revealing smaller doors. Zhiye noticed that the main gate represented the Water trigram (), with seven smaller doors corresponding to Water (, Thunder-Water) and Fire (Prosperous Water, Revolution-Thunder Fire, Abundance Earth Fire, Mingyi Earth-Water Teacher). Zhiye, still cautious, continued to the northeast. His sword struck the double doors, which represented the Mountain trigram (), with smaller doors corresponding to Mountain (, Disunion Heaven, Treading Wind) and Water (, Disunion Heaven, Treading Wind). Zhiye still refused to enter and moved to the east. His sword struck the double doors, which represented the Thunder trigram (), with smaller doors corresponding to Thunder (, Earth-Yielding Thunder, Water-Dissolving Thunder) and Wind (Perseverance Earth, Rising Water, Well-Zealand). Great Crossing Zealand-River Follow. Zhiye then went to the southeast, without opening the doors, knowing it represented the Wind trigram (). Wind (Sky-Small Cattle Wind, Fire-Family Wind) and Thunder (Benefit Sky, Misfortune Fire, Chewing Thunder) and Mountain (). South represents the Fire trigram (), with Fire (Mountain-Travel Fire, Wind-Dragon Fire) and Water (Unprosperous Water, Youthful Water, Scattering Sky Water, Suing Sky Fire). Southwest represents the Earth trigram (), with Earth (Thunder-Recovery Earth, Zeeland-Approaching Earth) and Sky (Peace Thunder, Great Strength Zeeland, Firm Sky Water). Need Water Earth Compare). Zhiye then went to the west, struck the double doors, and examined them carefully, recognizing them as the Lake trigram (), with smaller doors corresponding to Lake (Water-Trapped Lake, Earth-Gathering Lake) and Mountain (Salt Water, Hard Earth, Humble Thunder). Small Crossing Thunder Lake Return. In his mind, he considered entering through the Earth-Mountain Humble trigram, as the hexagram and line said, "Encountering Humble brings fortune, meeting Peace brings prosperity." He counted and calculated the Earth-Mountain Humble trigram again and again. It was clear that Zhiye was both bold and meticulous, wise yet methodical. Zhiye had been testing himself ever since he arrived here. Entering from the west, the Metal trigram () of the west could generate water, and Zhiye wore all-black night clothes, which belonged to water. The Water trigram () of the north could also generate water, further enhancing his fortune. Entering the Earth-Mountain Humble trigram, which was auspicious, also benefited him, making it a lucky choice. He stood in the center of the "" pattern, his mind focused, ensuring he didn’t deviate. As he moved to the center, he saw a towering three-story "Sky-Shooting Tower" in the north, with five-element railings. To the left stood a stone elephant carrying a treasure vase; to the right stood a stone dragon carrying a treasure cauldron. Between the vase and cauldron, two braided iron chains crossed like a cross, attached to the eaves of the three-story tiled tower. The three-story tower followed the three directions, the railings below the five elements, and the outer linked eight-trigram linked fortress represented the upper, middle, and lower realms, dividing the heavens, earth, and humanity. The five elements generated father and son, while the eight trigrams determined ruler and subject. In front were two round pavilions: the left one was "Rising Sun" (), and the right one was "Perpetual Moon" (). The "Copper Net Formation" was below the tower. Zhiye, having seen it all, decided to head for the tower. He thought, "The top of the three-story tower holds the alliance list of the prince and his men. Since I’ve come this far, why not steal it and show it to my younger brother tomorrow? If he doesn’t believe the prince’s power, the alliance list will serve as proof." Zhiye was about to move forward when he heard a whoosh from the southeast, where a shadow entered through the Wind-Fire Family formation. Zhiye was startled and crouched to take a closer look. It was a person rushing toward the center, dressed in all-black night clothes, with a pale face and a single sword on his back. He moved like a monkey, light and fast, walking in the center of the "" pattern. Zhiye sheathed his sword and clapped twice. The person opposite replied, "Why are you here, Second Brother?" Zhiye realized it was indeed his younger brother, Bai Wu. Zhiye knew the secret handshakes of the five brothers from the Empty Sky Island. At night, when they met, the eldest brother would slap once, the second brother twice, and so on. Therefore, he pretended to be the second righteous man, Han Zhang. P4-5