The Ten Canvases

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It was a hot summer in Zhao County. During his journey, Xiang Yang stopped at a pavilion for a quick rest. After unpacking his wine bag, he enjoyed the view as he drank. Noticing a spectacularly-designed stone arch bridge across the river to his north, Xiang Yang turned to a scholar beside him and asked, “What a beautiful bridge! Brother, do you know what it is called?” The scholar replied, “This is the Zhaozhou Bridge. It was built by Li Chun in the Sui Dynasty. Look at how well-designed it is! It is thicker at both ends and thinner in the middle for minimal slopeness. Horses and carriages can pass the river on the bridge while boats can go through underneath it as well. Look at the two holes in the two stone arches at each end, do you know what these are? The open-spandrel arch! It is beneficial for…”

Listening to the scholar’s enthusiastic chatter, Xiang Yang laughed and exclaimed, “Seems like the person who built the bridge was quite reputable.” Without listening further, Xiang Yang advanced onto the bridge. There were carvings on each of the bridge’s railings, including landscape figures, dragons, tigers, and beasts. The pillars had a variety of different patterns such as coiled dragons, bamboo stalks, and double jewels. Although Xiang Yang was not an expert, he could tell that they were exquisite works of art.

Some hoofbeats came from afar when he was about to get off the bridge. The crowd started clamoring, “The tyrant is here! The third leader of the White Tiger Camp is here!” The people on and off the bridge instantly paled in fear as they hastily scampered away. Xiang Yang distanced himself from the bridge and grabbed the scholar who was about to run, “What White Tiger Camp? Are they bandits?” The scholar replied as he shivered with fear, “Yes... Yes...”

“Look at you, you scaredy-cat. It’s alright, run quick!” Xiang Yang laughed and let him go. However, the scholar went limp from fear and merely sat on the ground, seemingly in a daze. After a small pause, only then he ran away screaming.

Xiang Yang stood on the bridge and noticed a yellow fog approaching from a distance. This is great, a large number of bandits coming out in broad daylight. Is this White Tiger Camp really that capable? In seconds, dozens of horses rushed toward the bridge, as the sound of their galloping hooves thundered through the air. Xiang Yang let out a thunder-like roar, “Where is your leader? Stop right now!” The startled bandits instantly reared their horses in surprise. When they realized that it was merely a young man on the bridge, they shouted furiously, “Who do you think you are to yell at us? Mongrel!” “Make way for us!” “Get off the bridge or you'll be run over!”

Xiang Yang ignored all of them. Instead, he pointed to a fat man with a ragged woman in his arm and asked, “Are you the Third Chief of the White Tiger Camp?”

The fat man threw him a glance while caressing the woman with his left hand and asked, “What’s the matter? Which gang are you from?” Just from the vigor in Xiang Yang’s shout, he could tell that the young man possessed extraordinary inner power based on his vast experience. However, he was not threatened at all, as he was also an extremely skilled martial artist. Instead, he continued teasing the woman in his arms. The woman was sobbing silently and shivering, not daring to make a sound.

Xiang Yang nodded his head and exclaimed, “Good, drop your looted treasures and the women. Then, scram back to your hideout!” The Third Chief glared at him furiously and bawled, “B*stard…” However, Xiang Yang had already lunged at him with his right palm out before he could finish speaking. The Third Chief tried to resist and extended his hand, but Xiang Yang’s palm swiftly formed into a claw which immediately seized his wrist. With a wave and a throw, his huge torso was thrown into the air and fell into the river with a loud splash. By then, the woman was already being carried in Xiang Yang’s arms.