Li Shuwen - Old

Perseverance Will Prevail

Narration: It is inherently difficult for humans to prevail against evil. The notion that they could defeat a god is similarly dubious.

Narration: But when a human is summoned as a Servant, such lamentations should no longer be given voice.

Narration: In China, there are two expressions that convey this idea well: “Shéng jù mù duàn,” and “Shuǐ dī shí chuān.”

Narration: Roughly translated, they mean “Little strokes fell great oaks” and “Dripping water penetrates stone.”

Narration: Therein lies the essence of human progress.

Inshun: Interesting. So that is how the older and wiser Lord Shuwen sees things.

Inshun: You are quite a change of pace from your Lancer counterpart.

Li Shuwen: Did he do something to upset you? ...Aha, I see. You challenged my younger self to a duel.

Inshun: I did try to control myself, but I am afraid my excitement got the better of me while I was training.

Inshun: It seems I still have a long way to go.

Li Shuwen: I suppose it would be uncouth of me to apologize for instigating it then.

Li Shuwen: That said, Houzouin...

Li Shuwen: Surely a man with your spirit and virtue could have resisted the temptation.

Li Shuwen: Is that not what being a Servant entails?

Inshun: I am afraid it is not as easy as you might think.

Inshun: Although I lived to the age of sixty, and still retain memories–or rather, records of that time, I do not have any of the more temperate sensibilities I gained with age.

Inshun: I have no fondness for fighting to the death, but I do get a bit hotheaded from time to time.


Fujimaru 1: I'll say! You guys came dangerously close to killing each other, you know!

Inshun: Haha, I am sorry about that, Master. I knew I should stop, but I simply couldn't help myself.


Fujimaru 2: I'm just glad I stopped you guys in time. It wasn't easy...

Li Shuwen: Knowing what I was like in my youth, I'm sure this younger me must have caused a lot of trouble for you.


Inshun: Come to think of it, Lord Shuwen, have you not met your younger self yet?

Li Shuwen: No, I haven't. If I did, there's no doubt in my mind that we would end up killing each other.

Li Shuwen: I'm sure my younger self knows that as well as I do. That's why we've made it a point to never be in the same place.

Inshun: Why would you end up killing each other?

Inshun: Is it because he would not want to see what he is like when he is older?

Li Shuwen: Hardly. If anything, it's the other way around.

Li Shuwen: I've devoted my life to perfecting my martial arts. If I'd come across an older version of me when I was young, I'd want to fight him too.

Li Shuwen: I'm sure he sees me as either the culmination or the conclusion of everything he's worked towards.

Li Shuwen: And as a young man, he would have no reason not to see how he measures up to that as he is now.

Inshun: Indeed. I could not agree more.

Inshun: After all, it would be impossible for anyone besides a Servant to truly fight against oneself.

Inshun: And if that other self is a more mature version...

Inshun: ...the urge to resist seeing whether your current self is stronger than your future self would be irresistible.

Li Shuwen: Yes, precisely.


Fujimaru 1: But you're not going to fight each other?

Li Shuwen: I will if you ask us to, Master...but I know you never would.

Inshun: Very true. It would be one thing if you were on opposing sides, but in any other circumstance...

Inshun: Nonetheless, I would also be very interested to learn which of you is stronger!

Li Shuwen: Hm?

Li Shuwen: Isn't it obvious? It would be my Lancer self.


Fujimaru 2: So, which of you IS stronger?

Li Shuwen: My younger, Lancer self would say he is.

Li Shuwen: And I would agree with him.


Li Shuwen: ...That said...

Li Shuwen: ...I would still win.

Li Shuwen: And as long as I know that for certain, I personally have no desire to fight my younger self.

Li Shuwen: ...But, if you'd still like us to fight even knowing that, Master, I'd be happy to oblige.

Inshun: ...Oho. Now I see.


Fujimaru 1: Huh? I don't understand.


Li Shuwen: I mean that strength alone is not the sole factor in deciding the victor.

Li Shuwen: For me, it is not the pinnacle of strength that I seek.

Li Shuwen: ...It may sound like I'm just an old wolf that's lost his fangs, but this is a domain the Lancer can never reach. Kaka!

Li Shuwen: Though of course, if he has, that's all well and good too.

Li Shuwen: It would just mean my victory is even more assured.


Fujimaru 1: ???


Fujimaru 2: I'm still totally lost...


Li Shuwen: Heh...

Li Shuwen: Don't you worry about it, [♂ son /♀️ sport}. As a Master, you have your own path to focus on.

Li Shuwen: Hmm. But if that alone doesn't convince you, there's an old story I know that might change your mind.

Narration: ...A long, long time ago...

Narration: ...there was a man with fearsome good looks and two viciously powerful fists.

Narration: The man desired strength above all else, and fought anyone who would accept his challenge.

Narration: The man won each and every fight, as if that were the only natural outcome.

Narration: Whether it was through innate talent, or countless hours of diligent training...

Narration: ...the man kept winning so much that he came to be regarded as an invincible legend...

Narration: ...even as he left a trail of corpses in his wake.

Narration: Not even stray dogs liked him. And why would they?

Narration: The intense bloodlust he gave off frightened all living creatures who encountered him.

Narration: Although the man had a teacher, and peers he once studied alongside...

Narration: ...he always preferred solitude.

Man: The way I'm going, I'll surely end up dead in a gutter.

Narration:

The man figured this is what fate had in store for him, and accepted it.

Narration:

The life of violence he led could only ever result in his own destruction.

Narration:

One day, he would fall. But that day would not be today...

--BATTLE--:

Narration: ...Another day, another pile of corpses.

Man: Tch...

Narration:

That said, the man did not always finish his battles unharmed.

Narration:

Bruised, bloodied, a ferocious crimson tiger... Even the moon seemed to try to avoid shining its light upon him.

Narration: Naturally, there was no one around who would ever try to talk to hi–

Child:

Hey, what're you doing?

Man: Hm?

--ARROW--:

Child: Hey, what're you doing?

Man: Hm?

Child: Yikes, so many dead bodies. Did you kill them, mister?

Man: I would be lying if I said I didn't.

Man: I've resolved to kill no more than one person per day in duels, but this was nothing so honorable as that.

Child: Gotcha. Are you gonna kill me too?

Man: Of course not. You're hardly worth raising my fists over.

Child: Aww, you're no fun.

Narration:

The man frowned. He had no intention of preaching about morality...

Narration:

...but he still felt that was not something a child should say.

Man: Go away. This is no sight for children.

Child: What's the big deal? Besides, they killed my brother.

Man: ...I see. So they were bandits.

Child: Uh-huh.

Man: Then you should be satisfied now. Go home.

Child: But, there's still more of them.

Man: Oh?

Narration: According to the child...

Narration:

...these bandits had built a hideout nearby, and struck out from there, raiding nearby villages.

Narration:

And since this area was too remote for the authorities to help, there was nothing the villagers could do.

Narration:

He also told the man how his brother was killed for daring to fight back...

Narration:

...keeping his voice calm and measured all the while.

Man: I see.

Narration:

The man had no interest in fighting injustice.

Narration:

But he knew that if he did nothing, the child would soon end up following in his brother's footsteps.

Narration:

He could see the determination in the child's eyes, could see that he was willing to fight the bandits no matter what.

Narration:

The man had no obligation to help the child, and no quarrel with the bandits.

Narration: ...Still...

Man: ...Do you mean to go kill them yourself?

Narration:

The man then noticed the child was holding a small dagger close to his chest.

Child: Yeah, that's right. I've gotta avenge my brother.

Man: You won't survive.

Child: Fine by me.

Man: ...You're too young to decide the manner of your death.

Child: But if I don't do it, who will!?

Child: Somebody's gotta make them pay!

Man: Somebody, hm. So you don't care who that someone may be.

Man: If a perfect stranger can go in your place–if it is not necessary that they be desirous of revenge–then there is no reason that someone cannot be me.

Man: Give me that dagger. I'll bury it in their hearts myself.

Child: ...!

Narration:

The man continued, falteringly.

Man: The truth is that I have no reason to seek vengeance myself. That's why I go around searching for opportunities.

Man: It makes no difference to me if these bandits end up rich, or if a kid ends up throwing his life away.

Man: But, as luck would have it, our fates have intertwined today.

Man: I will honor that entangling and serve as a weapon in your stead. I'll be your spear, your fists.

Man: If you can swear to yourself that your anger and hatred are justified...

Man: ...then I will use these fists of mine to crush those bandits.

Child: ...You mean it?

Narration:

Crouching down, the man looked the child straight in the eye.

Narration:

The child then handed the man his dagger, tears spilling down his face.

Child: Please...avenge my brother.

Man: Very well. Your life is now in my hands.

Narration:

As the man walked towards the bandits' hideout, he let his fighting spirit grow hotter and hotter.

Narration:

Not even a starving tiger would dare attack him now.

Narration:

His bloodlust and delight in battle surged to their boiling points, and he made no effort to hide either.

Narration:

Even the sleeping birds were startled awake by his murderous aura.

C:Bandit: Hah? Why're the birds makin' so much noise this late at night?

Man: Hmm. Which of you will be the first to die? It makes no difference to me.

D:Bandit: Huh? Who the hell do you think you–

C:Bandit: A-aaaaaah!

Man: There is nothing to discuss. No need for words. Bring all your comrades here. Quickly.

C:Bandit: S-somebody help! Hurry!

E:Bandit: What's goin' on? The village hire some martial artist or something?

C:Bandit: What're you so afraid of? He's just one man!

Man: Now, now, go easy on him. He did well, at least for a bandit.

Man: I'm glad you're all here now. It would be much more trouble to track you all down myself.

Man: I've counted all of you. If the number of corpses fails to match that count when this is over, I'll know how many of you turned tail and ran.

Narration:

The man's words stoked the bandits' murderous rage further.

Narration:

But it was too late. The man knew that if they truly meant to kill him...

Narration:

...they should have attacked before surrounding him.

Man: None of you will leave here alive. Now fight me.

Narration:

The man smiled like a wolf baring its fangs.

--BATTLE--:

G:Bandit: He's...a monster...!

Narration:

The bandits' lifeless bodies were strewn across the ground, just as the man's own body was now bruised and battered.

Narration:

But that made little difference to either his feet or his fists.

Bandit Leader: A-aaaaaah! Please! Spare me!

Bandit Leader: I promise I'll do anything you want! I'll never kill again as long as I live!

Man: Too bad you didn't have your change of heart sooner. This is payback for all the villagers you and your men killed.

Narration:

Blood stained the blade a vivid red. The man continued on his spree, mercilessly felling bandits left and right.

Man: ...Guess I should go give the dagger back.

Man: But I'd better wash the blood off somewhere first...

Narration:

The man made his way down the gloomy mountain, back to the boy's village.

Narration: But...

Man: What the...

Narration: There was no one there to be found. Not even a sign that anyone had lived there recently.

Narration: It was clear to see that the area had been abandoned for years.

Man: ...I see. I knew retribution should be carried out swiftly...

Man: ...but I never considered that I'd missed the chance entirely. I truly am useless.

Narration:

Taking the dagger out from his shirt pocket, he found it had already half-crumbled to dust.

Man: ...I wonder whose vengeance I carried out.

Man: Whoever you are, I bet you would have liked to do it yourself.

Narration: ...And so, the man left the deserted village behind, with only the wind howling in his wake.

Li Shuwen: ...Strong as I was back then, I still couldn't make a difference.

Li Shuwen: It doesn't matter how strong you are, you still can't change the past.

Inshun: Hmm. Still, it sounds like there was nothing you could have done about that. Sometimes, people just die for no reason.

Inshun: In fact, neither life nor death carries any special meaning.

Inshun: Those villagers do deserve to be mourned, but to try to save all of them...

Li Shuwen: Kaka. I am well aware.

Li Shuwen: I am far from the Buddha. I've never thought to even try to save all lives in this world.

Li Shuwen: That said...

Li Shuwen: There are things I can teach, and lessons I can convey.

Li Shuwen: What I lacked back then was the composure to realize that.

Li Shuwen: I am neither a hero, nor a villain.

Li Shuwen: So I thought, at the very least, I should leave what I've learned behind for others to study.

Li Shuwen: Even I have something I want to protect. These fists can be quite useful at getting to the crux of certain matters.

Inshun: ...Still, Lord Shuwen, what you describe is nothing less than a break with your past self.

Inshun: Is there nothing about that you regret?

Li Shuwen: Regret? Of course.

Li Shuwen: Seeing myself grow weaker by the day... Seeing my fists grow dull and ineffective...

Li Shuwen: It would be stranger if I had no regrets at all.

Li Shuwen: But, all those regrets are gone, now that I'm here.

Inshun: ...Aha, I see. You make an excellent point!

Inshun: Late though it may be for me, perhaps that is what I should strive for too.

Li Shuwen: All right, I think that's enough idle talk for now. Shall we get going, Master?


Fujimaru 1: Sounds good!

Li Shuwen: Very well.

Inshun: Indeed! I'm glad we had this talk.

Inshun: Now I am more eager to wield my spear than ever!


Fujimaru 2: So you're all set then?

Li Shuwen: Of course. These fists are yours to command as you see fit.


Narration: ...His body grows weaker by the day, and with it, his fists grow duller.

Narration: One can easily imagine his younger self mocking him, saying something like...

Narration: “What were you doing with your life up till now, old man?”

Narration: But the old man would just laugh it off.

Narration: He knows now that his fists are no longer a weapon he wields solely for his own sake...

Narration: ...but one that cuts a path forward for those who follow behind...