Out the back of the tea house slipped a dark-hooded young woman, moving briskly but in small and delicate steps. The market and its fabulous treasures held no interest for she with a comb made of gold and ruby. Away from the fiery lights of the market and the patrolling Wardens she moved, to the crowds gathering on the edge of the Bamboo River. In the distance, the paper boats were slowly drifting from An Yung with mysterious gifts, and a crowd awaited them. The young could not resist removing their shoes and wading out into the summer water, to be the first to receive. An old woman with a wooden box clutched to her heart watched a single boat with a blue ribbon tied to its aft. The splashing, and the laughter, and the games started in earnest.<br/><br/>A single gold sycee splashed into the water off the docks, and a dozen farmer's sons and daughters dove in to discover it among the kelp and reeds and freshwater oysters. Farther still, and a shrewd man was introducing the great stone disc balanced artfully on a single spire over the river's water. "Many fanciful tales I have heard about Pai Sun as the birthplace of kung fu! To all comers, let such claims weigh upon the scales of truth, for whosoever is last standing is surely the greatest of all schools."<br/><br/>Before the steps could be laid, a nimble woman began hopping across the posts which measured the river's depth, one to the next, with perfect balance. With one final great leap, she landed in the center of the carefully balanced slab.<br/>"Xiang Xiao comes representing the Kongtong school." The man was proud to introduce her. "Who among you is skilled enough to challenge Kongtong?"<br/>Several tried to follow her across the posts, but each slipped and fell into the water. A narrow post splintered apart under a man's weight. At the sound of the crowd's laughter, Xiang Xiao began to remove her trailing silk to reveal an oiled body. bands of linen went threadbare pinning down her bosom. Vigilant wives covered their husband's eyes.<br/>"Well?"<br/><br/>The steps were laid for all comers to approach. Li Ling, representing Emei, Fen Fang, representing Shaolin, Hui An, representing Beggar Sect, Chan Pao, representing Imperial Kunlun, and many more. The stone shifted slow, back and forth, as the players arrived.<br/>"With the settling of old debts, the festival may truly begin."<br/><br/>The hooded young woman smiled brightly. She hurried to approach the steps, while there was still room on the disc.