Supreme Courage - Part One is the fifty-first chapter of Mo Dao Zu Shi.
Synopsis []
In the past, the young Wei Wuxian shoots kites over Lotus Lake while living at Lotus Pier, residence of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Jiang Cheng shoots his kite first, waiting until it is nearly out of range. Wei Wuxian waits even longer, but still manages to hit the "one-eyed monster" kite.
As usual, Wei Wuxian wins, Jiang Cheng is second, and their Sixth Shidi is last. Suddenly, two maids, Jinzhu and Yinzhu, arrive, holding a kite and an arrow.
The boys curse their luck, as behind the maids is the woman whose side they never leave: Yu Ziyuan, Jiang Cheng's mother and wife to Jiang Fengmian. Instead of going by Madame Jiang, she goes by Madame Yu, and stays in separate quarters from Jiang Fengmian.
Yu Ziyuan examines Jiang Cheng before slapping him, lamenting that even at seventeen, his cultivation has not improved. She then scolds Wei Wuxian for leading her son astray.
Jiang Cheng insists that they cannot night-hunt, as the Qishan Wen Clan has declared much of the surrounding area off-limits while they night-hunt. Madame Yu replies cryptically that they will leave anyways, but says no more.
Wei Wuxian joins the Jiang family at dinner, where it is announced that, for the reason that other clans taught badly and wasted talent, the Wen Clan has demanded all of the clans to each dispatch at least twenty disciples to Qishan within three days, so that they could let experts teach them.
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng are appalled, but Jiang Fengmian tells them to watch their words and eat. Jiang Yanli passes Wei Wuxian freshly peeled lotus seeds.
Infuriated, Yu Ziyuan wonders if they should starve themselves now, as Qishan might not feed them. When Jiang Fengmian asks why they should fret about it, his wife's patience runs out.
Yu Ziyuan slams the table, recalling that even the Wens' maidservant envoy considered herself above her. She adds that the Wen Clan has specified that at least one blood relation of the main house be included, and insists that the Wens must plan to hold them hostage.
Jiang Cheng assures his mother that he will go, and Yu Ziyuan responds by scolding Jiang Yanli for peeling lotus seeds like "somebody's servant."
She then turns her ire on Wei Wuxian, irate that he can choose to go or not, while her son must go. She sarcastically praises Jiang Fengmian for his kindness in raising another person's child.
Jiang Cheng interrupts, and Yu Ziyuan erupts at her son for defending Wei Wuxian. She insists that Jiang Cheng will never be as talented as his shixiong, and that she only feels injustice for him.
After she storms away, Jiang Fengmian says they will leave the next day, and advises them to recall their clan motto: "Attempt the impossible." Jiang Cheng quickly warns Wei Wuxian that it does not mean to stir up trouble.
Before leaving, Jiang Fengmian also advises them not to "crack" under "one of the world's waves," and Jiang Yanli hands out food for everyone.
When they arrive in Qishan, Wei Wuxian notices the pallid look of all of the boys from the Gusu Lan Clan, especially Lan Wangji.
Suddenly, a person shouts from a platform. The boy is Wen Chao, Wen Ruohan's youngest son. Behind him stand two people: a glamorous girl on the left, and a tall, indifferent man on his right.
Wen Chao demands that everyone hand over their swords with which they practice cultivation. Jiang Cheng warns Wei Wuxian to obey, citing Wen Zhuliu, known as the "Core-Melting Hand" and Wen Chao's personal bodyguard. Jiang Cheng explains that Wen Zhuliu is an aid to the tyrant, but cuts off when Wens approach.
Wei Wuxian promises to obey, though he is surprised that Lan Wangji hands over Bichen without incident.
The food given by Jiang Yanli is taken, and the trainees are fed only bland sustenance. Wen Chao insists that they memorize the Quintessence of the Wens, and gives daily speeches during which he insists on the crowd cheering. During night-hunts, he forces the sword-less disciples to first find and nearly subdue their prey, before killing it himself to take all the credit.
He also targets three disciples to publicly scold on the regular: Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and Jin Zixuan. Wei Wuxian deduces that the reason for this is that, during the Qishan Wen Clan's Discussion Conference the previous year, those three and Lan Xichen were the four winners of the archery competition. Wen Chao had been certain that he would win, but shot the wrong Paper Effigy, and threw a fit, refusing to exit despite his disqualification. As Lan Xichen is not present at the training, only he is spared Wen Chao's lingering resentment.
Thanks to Madame Yu's frequent scoldings, Wei Wuxian is able to laugh it off. Jin Zixuan, however, had to be held back by the Lanling Jin Clan on the first day from killing Wen Chao and himself.
One day, Wen Chao orders the disciples to hunt an unknown creature on Dust-Creek Mountain. Wei Wuxian notices with concern that, although Lan Wangji tries to hide it, he cannot help but favor his right leg.
Wei Wuxian approaches Lan Wangji to ask what happened.[1]
Characters []
in order of appearance:
- Wei Wuxian
- Jiang Cheng
- Sixth Shidi
- Jinzhu and Yinzhu
- Yu Ziyuan
- Jiang Fengmian
- Jiang Yanli
- Lan Wangji
- Wen Chao
- Wang Lingjiao
- Wen Zhuliu
- Wen Ruohan (mentioned)
- Jin Zixuan
- Lan Xichen (mentioned)
Events []
- Discussion Conferences (mentioned)
- Night-Hunt of the Xuanwu of Slaughter
Locations[]
- Yunmeng
- Lotus Pier
- Qishan
- Mount Muxi
Cultivation Abilities[]
- Core Melting Hand (mentioned)
Cultivation Tools[]
- Suibian
- Sandu
- Bichen
- Quintessence of the Wens
- Paper Effigies (mentioned)
References[]
- ↑ Novel, Chapter 51