Swords Whizzing, Zither Notes Drifting

An introduction to the traditional wuxia novel The Heart of the Zither, the Courage of the Sword: Once crowded with pilgrims, the mountain path is now buried beneath several feet of snow. The ancient temple, once bustling with worshippers, now sits with its gates firmly shut, empty and silent. Yet at this moment, anyone who makes their way to the peak of Zhongtai might spot signs of human presence. On Zhongtai’s precipitous summit, where the north wind howls and snowflakes whirl through the bitter cold, several old plum trees are on the verge of blooming. Their branches quiver as they send out a faint fragrance. Beside them stands a small, octagonal pavilion. Snow covers the glazed tiles on its roof, but its four red pillars stand out brilliantly, adding a vivid splash of color to the silver-white landscape. At this moment, three people are inside the pavilion. Two are old, one is young; two are seated, and one is standing. The two seated elders are a monk in a robe and cloth shoes, and a layman dressed in white. The monk is lean and gaunt, with long, slanting brows and phoenix eyes with double pupils. Though dressed as a Buddhist disciple, he clearly has the bearing of an enlightened master. Yet an air of stately grace and nobility occasionally shines through, almost too imposing to look at.