Regarding the memory of that elusive Buddhist monk... this tale harks back to the days when Chen Shuyuan's mother still walked this earth. At that time, he was but a child who loitered about and played as his young nature dictated, eventually discovering a dilapidated and deserted shrine at the edge of town, which he claimed as his secret lair. The structure had been neglected for many years, its portals and windows boarded shut with wooden planks to ward off vagrants, and whispers of ghastly hauntings kept others at a distance. Yet the young lad, indifferent to such fears, sought only a tranquil sanctuary to dwell in solitude.
He gained entry through a crevice in a weathered wall concealed by a thicket of tall grass. One day, while venturing within the shrine, he stumbled upon a monk lying inside, his breathing but a faint and weary rasp. Though initially terror-stricken by thoughts of specters, curiosity compelled him to draw near, realizing then it was indeed a mortal man. He marveled at how this bald figure arrived there until his gaze drifted upward to the shattered roof tiles scattered across the earth floor. In his innocence, the boy surmised the monk might possess the ability to soar, yet had tragically fallen, much like a fledgling bird he had once rescued from its nest.
The man appeared more pallid and feeble than any fledgling, each breath a laborious struggle. Steeped in the moral virtues imparted by his father and the compassion shown by his mother, the boy chose to render aid. He secretly brought water and morsels of sustenance, however meager, from his home to nourish the monk.
As the days passed, the monk's strength was restored, and he offered profound gratitude and congenial conversation. Upon regaining his footing, the monk instructed him in two or three fist stances for self-defense and imparted the techniques of breath regulation to fortify his constitution. Cultivating his internal energy from such an unblemished age provided an exceptional foundation for Chen Shuyuan, allowing his martial prowess to advance with remarkable speed. Internal strength is an essence one may accumulate over time; his "Ocean of Qi" (气海 : qì hǎi) had begun its cultivation before he had even reached the age of ten.
The lad possessed penetrating wisdom and learned with remarkable speed, much to the monk's satisfaction. Although the monk never divulged his name, surname, or origins, it was evident he felt a profound sense of gratitude for the child's assistance. Nevertheless, a child is but a child, and naturally, he was filled with insatiable curiosity.
One day, after concluding the lesson in martial prowess and the methods of breath regulation, the monk soared over the roof and departed to attend to his private needs and cleanse his body at a river some distance away. The child, being mischievous and idle, loitered about until his inquisitive nature drove him to furtively search through the monk's bundle of belongings.
He chanced upon a bizarre object: a sheet of jet-black scales linked together, which, upon his touch, undulated as if possessed of life. Finding great amusement in this, the boy poked and prodded at it, laughing merrily without a care in the world.
When the monk returned and beheld this, he was consumed by a towering rage. He snatched the lad and flung him away so violently that he nearly struck the wall. The monk's countenance became fierce and menacing; he lunged forward, raising his arm as if to strike a lethal blow and end the boy's life right then and there.
Yet, suddenly remembering the debt of gratitude he owed the boy for saving his life, he stayed his hand. He instead ordered the child to depart and began gathering his things, announcing his immediate departure. Terror-stricken, the child wept bitterly and prostrated himself incessantly, begging for forgiveness and entreating the monk to stay. He even vowed that should the monk leave, he would follow him to the ends of the earth, willing even to have his head shaved and enter the priesthood as a novice.
Touched by the child's innocence and his own unresolved debt, the monk's wrath subsided, yet he remained silent as the grave. Eventually, feeling that the encounter had turned dull and tasteless, the boy had no choice but to bid a dejected farewell and return home.
Upon returning to the dilapidated shrine the following morn, the boy found the monk nowhere to be seen. For Chen Shuyuan, this was another day cast into the zenith of wretchedness; it was the second time he felt utterly abandoned, following his father's departure years prior, never to return.
Nonetheless, the martial techniques and the method of breath regulation imparted by the monk remained distinct in his memory. These proved to be a lifeline in his life as a destitute wanderer, allowing him to overcome ruffians of far greater stature and providing essential utility during his days of vagrancy.
Thus, when the Hu Bing vendor rained down fists and kicks, an instinctive reaction surged within him. His internal energy (Qi : 海) circulated through both arms as he sprang upright, his two feet planting firmly upon the earth; he pivoted his body and unleashed a double-punch that sent the large-framed proprietor hurtling backward like a weightless hemp sack.
At that precise moment, Lin Xiu, known in the martial world as the "Golden Eagle" and the previous Sect Master of the Divine Eagle Sect, chanced upon the market. Beholding a mere child capable of counter-attacking a grown man, he felt a sudden admiration for his courage and marveled that a vagrant possessed such extraordinary martial prowess. Seeing the boy besieged by the mob, he intervened to grant him salvation.
After cleansing the boy's wounds and providing him sustenance, Master Lin observed that the lad possessed penetrating wisdom and refined manners. The boy spoke with a sharp wit, quoting the ancient sages and carrying the dignified bearing of a little literatus; profoundly pleased, Master Lin decided to nurture and provide for him within the Divine Eagle Sect, appointing him as his personal attendant.
In his spare moments, Master Lin personally imparted his profound knowledge to him; from that day forth, he grew within the sect's fold until reaching his current standing.
Thus, one might say that the entire saga of Sect Master Chen Shuyuan truly began with nothing more than a simple 'Hu Bing'.
Lin Xiu was the second Sect Master of the Divine Eagle Sect, succeeding his father to the position. The reason he was compelled to assume the mantle of leadership in his youth was that Lin Feirong had exhausted himself through the painstaking labor of founding the sect. At just over fifty years of age, he fell ill and passed away, leaving the fledgling organization to his son's care.
And as the ancient adage goes, "A father who is a tiger will not have a son who is a dog."
Lin Xiu did not disappoint his departed father or the experienced Elders who had co-founded the sect. Though he bore a heavy burden from an unblemished age, he possessed a resolute spirit and was a virtuous hero in his father's image. He was tall and slender with a dignified bearing; his eyes shone with penetrating wisdom, and his features were handsome, for his mother had been one of the foremost beauties of the martial world.
Sect Master Lin Xiu favored pristine white robes, which accentuated his tranquil and gentle temperament. Nevertheless, his courage was equal to his father's; he inherited the lofty aspiration to aid those in distress and uphold justice. Though he himself had never tasted the bitterness of hardship, he remained benevolent to the destitute. Possessing profound martial prowess, he never bullied others; he was a true hero in every sense, and all within the sect revered and doted upon him.
Regarding the tales of the Lin father and son, Chen Shuyuan had not witnessed them personally—having joined only after Lin Xiu became Master—yet he had heard multitudes of these accounts.
Lin Xiu's virtues were many, yet at times they manifested as flaws. While he inherited his father's heroic spirit, he lacked prudence. Having begun his life where his father had already laid the foundation, he lacked his father's vigilant caution. However, he compensated for this by heeding the counsel of the experienced Elders close to him. Furthermore, regarding his compassion for subordinates and the weak: having seen his father always rendering assistance, he cherished this ideal. Often, the Elders reprimanded him, saying a Sect Master need not intervene personally in every matter, yet he would not listen. He believed that a true leader must show diligent concern for all affairs, rather than merely issuing commands.
In terms of martial arts, his abilities were superb. He was able to fully inherit the skills established by his father, mastering the "Sky-Soaring Eagle Blade" and the "Thunderous Eagle Claw" without a single deficiency. However, he fell short of his father, Lin Feirong, in the art of creation. Because he could only master what was taught and was unable to innovate or devise new stances of his own, his prowess reached a standstill. Nevertheless, relying solely on the heritage skills of the Divine Eagle Sect, he could soar through the martial world with a resounding reputation.
Once, the Imperial Court intended to invite him to serve as a military instructor, but he was a man of the jianghu who cherished his liberty. His greatest delight was to wander the world, performing chivalrous deeds as a valiant hero, aiding the weak and suppressing the wicked; thus, he declined the official rank.
The illustrious exploits of Sect Master Lin Xiu are many, and most are beloved by storytellers who embellish them, for they tell of a hero reaching out to help those in distress. Such tales greatly satisfy the common folk, who love to hear the legends of great champions.
Among his renowned legends is the clash between Sect Master Lin Xiu and the "Poison Scholar of the Iron Fan," Guan Cheyun (关哲文). This individual was of a lecherous character, abducting women regardless of their status. He was self-conceited, relying on his martial skill, lightfoot technique, and expertise in using poison, earning the reproach and condemnation of the martial world as a wicked scoundrel. On that occasion, the Poison Scholar abducted a bride from the midst of her wedding ceremony; he discharged his poison at the banquet, rendering dozens unconscious, and stole the bride away. Sect Master Lin, who chanced to be sightseeing in the vicinity, heard the news and intervened to grant her salvation.
Guan Cheyun was so enthralled by the beauty in his arms that he failed to mind his path, entering the very alley where Sect Master Lin Xiu stood in wait. Seeing the way blocked, he unfurled his iron fan and lunged, yet Lin Xiu's "Eagle Wing Blade" shattered the steel fan with a mere sweep of his arm. Furthermore, with a sudden flick of his great blade, Lin Xiu created a formidable gust of wind that reflected the "Soul-Dazing Powder" back upon the Poison Scholar who had discharged it.
Ultimately, the wicked scoundrel met his end beneath the blade of Sect Master Lin Xiu. In the tales of storytellers, the account ends with the hero conquering the villain and returning the bride to her chamber, but the truth was far more wretched. The unfortunate bride had been struck by a double dose of the neurotoxin, causing her to bleed from the seven apertures and perish on the spot.
Consumed by a towering rage, Sect Master Lin delivered a lethal strike to the Poison Scholar, beheading him in the "Split Gourd" (砍葫芦 - Kǎn Húlú) fashion. The blade sliced through the skull, splattering blood and brain matter in a gruesome display as Guan fell into the Underworld. This "Split Gourd" method is one that even a common executioner refrains from, as it is designed to leave the remains incomplete.While a standard execution allows the head to be sewn back to the frame for a complete burial, a "Split Gourd" strike destroys all hope of an intact corpse, thereby tormenting the soul and hindering its chance at a perfect reincarnation.
This final blow was intended by Lin Xiu to damage Guan Cheyun's very soul out of the agonizing grief he felt for his own failure. By creating the wind to deflect the powder, he had unwittingly dealt the fatal dose to the bride he meant to save, causing her to lose her life. Sect Master Lin revealed this agonizing memory to the young Chen Shuyuan through tears after drinking many jars of wine.