Chapter 5

After all, the dream of the Jianghu (the world of martial arts) is just a dream (Douban\Gray).

There's no need to dwell on whether Lin Qingxia made Dongfang Bubai or Dongfang Bubai made Lin Qingxia. This person has long transcended the aesthetic framework defined by gender, leaving me only with one surprise after another, never repeating. Years later, when I read the original work, it was clear that Mr. Jin did not have deep feelings for Dongfang Bubai, and the few strokes he used to sketch him were even more disappointing.

In the end, we must thank Tsui Hark. Without his genius and meticulous refinement, how could there be such a film, such a character leaving a significant mark in the history of Hong Kong cinema, with its aftertaste lingering to this day.

Watch as several people fight fiercely on Hei Mu Cliff. Dongfang Bubai moves a boudoir to a high platform, focuses on embroidery, and softly recites, "In laughter, the empire and hegemony are discussed; in the end, it's just a drunkenness in the human world." At this moment, victory is in hand, and he is in high spirits, with his black hair flowing like a waterfall (before Lin Qingxia, there was Katherine Moennig, the famous butch T from THEL). If not for Linghu Chong's appearance, Dongfang Bubai would have remained the unchallenged master of the Jianghu, invincible. A person like him, with unparalleled martial arts and the support of the Fusang forces, should have swept through China, unstoppable. But he fell in love with Linghu Chong, which became his fatal flaw.

Later, we all saw that he launched several needles at once, each capable of killing Linghu Chong. The man who had killed countless people was suddenly flustered and hastily retracted his hidden weapons, giving Linghu Chong the upper hand and striking his right chest. I think that sword must have pierced through the heart of the invincible Dongfang Bubai, who was protected by divine powers. At that moment, Dongfang Bubai was no longer the terrifying martial arts genius. His blood-soaked red sleeves and faded beauty clearly showed a woman wounded by love, full of resentment. The blood gushing from Dongfang Bubai's chest years later has always been a striking image in my mind, like the uncontrollability of emotions. Once the defenses break down, he is hurt more deeply than anyone.

Then came that historic moment. As he fell rapidly from the cliff, Dongfang Bubai, weightless, softly collapsed in Linghu Chong's arms, boneless and soft. "I won't tell you, I'll make you regret it for life, and remember me forever." Even on the brink of death, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. Well, I, Dongfang Bubai, had everything planned out, and my grand ambitions were within reach. Who would have thought you would come out of nowhere? Today, I am defeated by you alone, but there is one thing I am certain of: you will forever associate the tender body that shared a night with you with me, Dongfang Bubai. I won't tell you if I am Shi Shi, just to make you angry, so you will never forget me, always remembering that night of passionate entanglement and tender affection.

He used his last strength to push Linghu Chong back to the cliff, watching this woman in red, like a phoenix in blood, die so gracefully, ending with the posture of a victor. Years later, when Miss Zhang spread her limbs in a "big" shape and plunged from the cliff, I felt a sour taste in my stomach.

Whether in the original work or the film, the message is clear: throughout history, changing dynasties is just a change in form, with the core of political life always being power struggles. In the original, Dongfang Bubai was obsessed with embroidery and had not been seen in the sect for a long time. His male favorite, Yang Liangting, brought back the leader of the Fenglei Hall, Tong Bai Xiong, to Hei Mu Cliff for criticism, making his family and children participate in the struggle, and ordered a ten-year-old boy to recite the teachings of the sect leader, "Be ruthless to the enemy, cut the grass and roots, leave no one alive, regardless of gender or age." "If you don't read the teachings of the sect leader, you can't eat or sleep. Reading the teachings of the sect leader improves your martial arts and gives you strength in battle." This passage is worth pondering, with a clear intention to criticize the present through the past. In the film, when Ren Woxing took power, his first move was to ruthlessly eliminate his opponents, even targeting Linghu Chong, who helped him regain the position of sect leader. Ren Woxing, a wise and adaptable person, united all possible forces to gain power, but once he secured his position, he strictly followed the principle of "those not of our kind must have different hearts." He learned the true art of "disposing of the bow after the birds are gone" from the Ming and Mao dynasties. At this time, Ren Yingying's risking her life to inform and Xiang Wentian's cutting off his arm to show repentance were particularly valuable. After all, this is the Jianghu, where there are both ambitious wolves and loyal friends, and many things are beyond one's control.

The Huashan disciples, who were with Linghu Chong, were disheartened by their school and only wished to retreat to Niubei Mountain, away from the Jianghu's disputes. (Can this place be interpreted as a Niubei Mountain in everyone's heart?) They agreed to retreat together the next day, so they used their swords, which were usually for protection, to skewer wild game or as convenient hooks for clothes. Xiang Wentian was shocked, "Wushu practitioners value their swords as their lives. How can you treat your precious swords like this?" The Huashan disciples replied, "We are going to leave the Jianghu tomorrow! What do we need the swords for?" Well, let's hope we can sing "Smiling Proudly in the Jianghu" until dawn. But before dawn, everyone must face their destiny. If you don't use others' blood to sharpen your sword, your neck will be the target of others' blades. The Huashan disciples, without hesitation, knowing their martial arts were inferior, still could not resist the call of righteousness. Sadly, they were drinking and singing in a wild inn one moment, and the next, they were wandering spirits in the wilderness, dead without a trace. Plans often fail to keep up with changes.

Speaking of the film, the music cannot be overlooked. In the prequel, the harmonious singing of Liu Zhengyang, Qu Feng, and Linghu Chong on a small boat is the most passionate. The sequel, "Fengyun Zaiqi," is a poor addition, but Dongfang Bubai's disguise as a courtesan and his performance of "Xiao Hongchen" is worth mentioning, elegant and transcendent, unmatched before or after. In this part, Ren Yingying and Linghu Chong, knowing they would never meet again, held hands at the dock. Due to the urgent situation and the pursuit behind them, they could not linger. Ren Yingying chose loyalty and filial piety, and the music appropriately played a tight drumbeat, one after another. The boat sailed away, gradually disappearing into the mist. Ren Yingying held the zither she had not yet given, thinking of the indefinite future, which made me feel a deep sorrow. Leaving the disputes of the Chinese territory, but who knows what they will encounter in Fusang? It always leaves room for imagination. Desperately trying to escape the Jianghu, but not realizing that they are part of it, how can they escape? Pitifully, they are in the mountain, unable to see the way out!

In reality, it is hard to find like-minded fans of Hong Kong films. The reason I am willing to indulge in the old times of swordsmanship and heroic mountains and rivers is because of my attachment to the so-called order of the Jianghu. Though there are no black-and-white rules, it relies on the righteous spirit of heaven and earth, naturally formed, with the sun and moon as witnesses. Even if evil, it is done openly and honestly, and if there is a violation, there are martial arts practitioners who will spare no effort to uphold justice. But times have changed. It is no longer the era of "A Man with a Sword" or "A Man with a Gun," but the era of "A Man with Cash." We live in a society with laws, but we dare not drink milk, go to the hospital, stand up for justice, or be Chinese, because the clear rules in the law are filled with hidden dangers. We never know how deep the water is.

After all, such a Jianghu is just a dream. In the end, after washing and brushing, I worry about whether the melamine in tomorrow's eggs exceeds the limit, and I fill a bottle of soy sauce, passing by beggars with ambiguous expressions on the roadside... After all, the real world is the inescapable Jianghu, which wears down youthful enthusiasm, undermines faith in eternity, and reshapes cognition. This is the ultimate "Absorbing Star Technique," with no one unifying the Five Mountains, and no one escaping unscathed, because we are all genuine copies of an army.

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