Spring Verse — Tang Dynasty, Li Jianxun
At high noon she strolls down the hall steps at ease,Fine grass of spring buries her embroidered shoes.She plucks a single rose in bloom,And bids it adorn her phoenix hairpin.
Whenever spring arrives, roses blush red upon the earth. A gentle breeze passes, and the blossoms nod softly, releasing a captivating fragrance. In such moments, the rose appears shy and alluring. Travelers, unable to resist its beauty, reach out to pluck it—only to be pricked by its thorns.
Yet the rose is not at fault. Its thorns exist only for protection. With but a measure of caution, beauty may endure.
But these three bandit chieftains, lustful as demons reborn, were utterly captivated by Ling Xian'er. Each was seized by desire, yearning to claim her. Little did they know—the rose bears thorns.
Reaching out, they would only wound themselves.
The three attacked at once, closing in like lightning and surrounding her.
Ruo Hu surged forward first, letting out a low shout as he drove a punch toward her. Ling Xian'er twisted lightly, evading with ease.
At the same instant, Qiang Jiang darted in from behind, swift as lightning, launching a sneak attack. But Ling Xian'er moved like a shadow—turning in a flash, her left hand rising, her palm striking outward.
A gale of force erupted.
Qiang Jiang hastily dodged aside. The palm strike struck the ground instead, sending sand and dust spiraling into the air.
Hu Yu leapt in next.
The three surrounded her, their palms striking in intricate succession. In a flurry of more than ten exchanges, attack and defense intertwined.
Then suddenly—
Ling Xian'er rose and fell twice, retreating over ten zhang in the blink of an eye.
She came to a stop, standing calmly, a faint smile upon her lips. Looking at the three, she said clearly,
"Stop. I have something to say."
Hu Yu, seeing her beauty, had no intention of letting her go. Believing she had grown fearful, he was overjoyed.
"Miss, your words are laughable. The three of us together are no ordinary foes. Even if the Heavenly King himself descended, he could not save you. Why not surrender and become our bandit wife? Would that not be delightful?"
The three exchanged glances and laughed.
Ling Xian'er rolled her eyes slightly, her voice turning cold."If you do not withdraw now, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
Qiang Jiang laughed loudly, stroking his chin with a sinister grin."Don't be afraid—I will treat you with tender care."
Ruo Hu bared his teeth, his gaze vulgar and greedy."My skills are quite… impressive."
Ling Xian'er had no prior grudge against them. Earlier, she had held back, sparing their lives. But hearing such shameless words, her anger rose.
Her voice dropped, calm yet sharp:"You call yourselves chieftains, yet have never seen true masters. Your arrogance knows no bounds. Very well—since fate brings us here, I shall let you witness it. Come."
The three exchanged looks, then attacked from left, center, and right.
In an instant, Hu Yu's punch came from the left. Ling Xian'er sidestepped. From the center, Ruo Hu's palm cleaved down—she slipped through the gap between them.
From the right, Qiang Jiang's palm struck toward her chest.
At that very moment, she executed—
"Half Yield, Half Advance."
Her hands opened and closed in a fluid motion as their palms met. Qiang Jiang exerted full strength, yet Ling Xian'er remained smiling, her force subtle and refined.
As they exchanged pushes, his strength was completely absorbed and redirected.
Hu Yu struck again.
In that instant, Ling Xian'er turned Qiang Jiang's force into her own, sending it out through her right palm. Qiang Jiang blocked, countering with his left—just as Ruo Hu's fingers stabbed in.
With a single guiding motion, Ling Xian'er redirected Ruo Hu's attack toward Hu Yu.
Thus the four fought—but she alone remained effortless, redirecting their power, borrowing strength to counter strength. What she used was not brute force, but intent.
Meanwhile, the three suffered from the rebound of their own power—like striking themselves through another's hand.
Suddenly—
Smack!
Ling Xian'er borrowed force and struck Hu Yu across the face.
Smack! Smack!
Qiang Jiang and Ruo Hu each received a slap as well.
She said calmly,"Strike with intent before form. Gather strength, nourish breath. Use intention, not force. Advance with intent, transform force into your own—that is the essence."
This was the principle of "Half Yield, Half Advance."
The three were enraged beyond measure.
Hu Yu roared,"Enough of holding back!"
Qiang Jiang and Ruo Hu signaled, and the two launched forward again, their attacks fierce and urgent.
Hu Yu thrust both arms forward, striking at her chest. Ling Xian'er blocked.
Ruo Hu's palm came down the center—she swayed aside and unleashed—
"Willow in Mist."
Qiang Jiang struck horizontally toward her chest. Her hand flashed like lightning, pressing down his strike before countering—
Smack! Smack!
Hu Yu was struck twice and sent flying, crashing to the ground.
The other two rushed to assist.
Ling Xian'er moved like flowing clouds, her steps smooth and effortless, her attacks continuous as riverside willows in drifting mist.
Swift—too swift.
Her figure blurred, palms striking left and right—
Smack! Smack!
Hu Yu and Ruo Hu were each struck and knocked to the ground.
Her eyes flashed coldly."Do not obstruct us any further. Commander Yang—let us go."
But these bandits, rebels against the court, had now lost both face and their prize.
Hu Yu struggled to his feet and shouted,"Not so easily! Brothers of Niutou Mountain—loose arrows!"
The Tang soldiers saw the bandits draw bows.
"Fire!"
Arrows flew like rain.
But Yang Gang immediately shouted,"Shields up!"
The Tang soldiers raised their shields. Arrows struck in rapid succession, but none penetrated.
Soon, the bandits exhausted their arrows.
Yang Gang then commanded,"Archers—ready! Fire!"
The Tang troops, well-trained, returned fire in unison. Arrows whistled through the air, striking their enemies. Though the bandits raised blades to defend, cries of pain rang out as they retreated.
At that moment—
Wu Tong suddenly shouted,"Cease fire!"
Yang Gang ordered the halt. The arrows stopped.
Wu Tong leapt forward to the front lines and declared coldly:
"You bandits gather in the mountains and dare block the imperial army. Stand aside at once—or be cut down without mercy!"