by Jin Yong
3
GUO JING WENT WITH THE HOUSEKEEPER AND THE SERVANT boy to fetch the medicine, to make sure the housekeeper had no opportunity to explain to the young boy what they had done to him. They hobbled down a long corridor, passing many doors before arriving at Old Liang’s storeroom. The boy unlocked the door, entered and lit a candle.
Guo Jing stepped inside. His nose was assaulted by the aromas of hundreds of different medicines. The table, bench and floor were all covered with bottles of strange dried plants, seeds, tree bark and insects, jars big and small, bowls, vats and barrels. Old Liang may have only been a guest at the palace, but he had built up a considerable collection with which he could concoct all kinds of tinctures to treat every ailment. The boy knew exactly what he was looking for. He measured the herbs and divided them into packets wrapped in rice paper. He then gave them to the housekeeper.
The housekeeper reached out and took them, before turning to leave. Now he had the medicine, he wanted to get out. Guo Jing made to follow, but suddenly the housekeeper pushed the door shut, locked it and started shouting, “Thief! Thief!” Guo Jing threw his weight against the door, but it would not budge. The housekeeper then thew the medicine packets out of a small window and into a pool of water outside.
Guo Jing was panicking now. He placed both palms against the door and, using his internal energy, pressed against it. The bolt cracked and the door flung open. Guo Jing rushed out and jabbed at the housekeeper’s jaw, splitting it. Luckily the storeroom was so far out of the way no-one in the palace could hear what was going on.
The boy had followed Guo Jing out into the corridor and was making for the banqueting hall. Guo Jing gave chase and caught the boy by the neck. The boy aimed a low sweeping kick. Clearly he had experienced many a fight while travelling with Old Liang.
Not only had Guo Jing lost the medicine, but he was now in danger of alerting the palace to his presence. Lotus, too, would be in mortal danger. He used a move from his Split Muscles technique in an effort to control the boy.
Within moments he had managed to render the servant unconscious. He hid him in some nearby bushes and then hurried back to the storeroom, lit a candle and looked inside. The housekeeper was still lying on the floor.
Which jars had the boy taken the medicine from? Guo Jing cursed himself for not having paid more attention. The bottles were marked with strange symbols, but no Chinese characters that he could decipher. Perhaps he should just grab a small amount from as many as he could. That way, Elder Wang could choose for himself. The boy had been standing here when he made his selection. Guo Jing grabbed a pile of paper packets and began filling them with handfuls of herbs.
But just as he finished folding a wrap, he turned and knocked a large bamboo basket over. The lid rolled clear and a loud hissing sound filled the storeroom.
A blood-red snake launched itself at Guo Jing’s face.
Guo Jing jumped back.
Most of the snake’s body was still curled up inside the basket and there was no knowing how big it was. It flicked its tongue at him. Guo Jing had never seen such a large snake before; the ones in Mongolia had been stunted by year after year of cold winters. He stepped back and banged into the table. The candle went out with a poof! The darkness was instant and absolute.
He turned to the door, but just as he reached the handle he felt something wrap itself around his leg. He tried to jump clear, but at that moment, a cold sensation went through his arm. He could not move it!
With his free hand he fumbled for the little dagger Temujin had given him. A bitter stench filled his nostrils and something cold moved across his cheek. The snake’s tongue! He grabbed it by the neck, but it pulled closer. Guo Jing squeezed as hard as he could, amazed at the animal’s power.
Guo Jing was growing weaker and he was having difficulty breathing. The snake was now wrapped around his chest and pulling tighter all the time. He pushed back with what he had left of his internal energy, gaining a moment of relief before the snake tightened again around his lungs. He had barely any strength left in his good arm now. The snake’s breath was making him feel nauseous. He would not be able to hold on much longer.
Meanwhile, the servant boy awoke in the bushes. Where was the intruder? He ran back to the storeroom, but all looked dark and silent. The young man must have fled. He ran back towards the Hall of Perfumed Snow to report to his master.
4
LOTUS LISTENED IN SHOCK AS THE BOY RELATED WHAT HAD just happened. She dropped back to the ground silently in a Goose Lands on the Sandy Bank. Everyone had been too enraptured with the Prince’s story to pay attention to what had been going on outside the hall, but now they were on the alert.
Old Liang had heard her. Seconds later, he was standing before her, blocking her way. “Who are you?”
Lotus could see Old Liang’s kung fu was more accomplished than her own, and he had a room full of companions also famed for their martial arts. “Isn’t this plum tree beautiful? Could you break off a small branch for me?”
Old Liang had not expected to be confronted by such a pretty young girl. Her smile was radiant, like a string of pearls. He reasoned that she must be a lady of the palace, perhaps even the Prince’s young betrothed, and so he did as she requested.
“Thank you, sir,” Lotus replied with a shy smile.
The others were already standing at the entrance to the banqueting hall, watching the exchange.
“Your Highness, is she a lady of the palace?” Tiger Peng asked the Prince.
“No indeed,” Wanyan Honglie replied.
“But she must have heard the Prince’s story just now.”
Tiger Peng rushed forward. “Wait! Young lady! Please let me break off a branch for you too.” He reached out, but made a grab for her wrist instead. Then he formed a claw and lunged at her throat.
Lotus had intended not to reveal her kung fu skills, but Tiger Peng had already seen through the pretence. She had no time to duck the move and instead blocked him with her right hand, which she shaped like a flower in bloom, her thumb and index finger touching and the remaining fingers splayed. It was a beautiful move.
Tiger Peng’s elbow went numb, followed by his whole arm. But he had barely felt any contact. How did this pretty young girl know about such an obscure pressure point? And how was she able to hit it so quickly and precisely? He had never, in all his years in the wulin, seen anything like this Orchid Touch kung fu, a technique that emphasised speed, accuracy, surprise and clarity. It was this last aspect, clarity, which really distinguished the accomplished practitioner, as it principally required a stillness of the heart, graceful movement born of an unhurried mind. Too urgent, too brutal, and the move would be clumsy and unbefitting of Orchid Touch style. Clarity: that was the hardest part to master.
Everyone had noticed it and all were watching in amazement.
“Young lady, may I ask your name?” Tiger Peng said. “Who is your shifu?”
“This plum blossom is most beautiful. I’m going to put it in some water,” came her reply.
This made the men even more suspicious.
“Didn’t you hear Brother Peng’s question?” Browbeater Hou snarled.
“What question?” she replied with a smile.
That smile, that laugh. She was the dirty little beggar boy that had so tormented Browbeater Hou the day before! Tiger Peng realised.
“Old Hou, don’t you see who this is?”
This startled Browbeater Hou, and he looked her up and down.
“You played hide-and-seek together for most of yesterday. Have you forgotten?”
Browbeater Hou looked even more shocked. “It’s you, you stinky little rascal!” He charged forward, but Lotus dodged his clumsy hands, and all he managed to grab was a fistful of air.
At that moment, Dragon King Hector Sha rushed at her, seized her wrist and snarled, “Where do you think you’re going?”
Lotus scratched at his eyes with her free hand, but Hector Sha caught the move in time.
“Shameless brute!” she spat in his face.
“Shameless? Who are you calling shameless?”
“Bullying a child. A young girl!”
This hit right at Hector Sha’s sense of pride; it did seem like an uneven fight for someone of his reputation. He relaxed his grip somewhat. “Let’s go inside and talk instead.”
Lotus realised she had no choice and followed them inside.
“Let me give the stinky little rascal a good beating first,” Browbeater Hou said, preparing to strike again.
“Let’s find out who her Master is, who sent her,” Tiger Peng said. Her level of kung fu and rich clothing were enough to tell him it had to be someone very influential. They had to know who they were dealing with before making any rash decisions.
But Browbeater Hou could not contain himself, and launched his fist at Lotus. She dodged again. “You really want to fight?” she asked.
“You think I’m joking? You won’t get away this time.” He did not want to have to chase her again, knowing he would be unable to keep up.
“Fine, let’s fight to see who has the better skills.” She picked up a bowl filled with wine and placed it on her head, then took two more, one for each hand. “Want to try?”
“What is this nonsense?”
Lotus turned to the others and smiled. “This old uncle with the horns and I have no long-standing grudge to speak of. Surely it would cause the rest of you gentlemen great offence, were I to beat him in a fight?”
“Beat me?” Browbeater stepped forward in anger. “How dare you? And these are not horns, they’re cysts! See?”
Lotus ignored him and continued to address the other men. “We each take three bowls of wine, and whoever spills the first drop loses. How does that sound?”
Old Liang, Tiger Peng and Hector Sha were all much better fighters than her, she knew that, but this old man with the horns on his head was slow. She only needed to rely on her lightness kung fu, and her wits, and she was confident she could humiliate him. But what if she were overestimating her own abilities? Her best tactic was to continue playing the fool. That way they would not take her seriously.
“I’m not here to play parlour games!” exclaimed Browbeater Hou angrily, and he ran at her with his fists raised.
Again, Lotus dodged out of his way. “Fine, we’ll do it like this. I’ll have the three bowls of wine, you fight empty-handed.”
Browbeater Hou had never been able to claim a reputation equal to his martial brother Hector Sha, but he was a well-regarded fighter, nevertheless. He did not take kindly to being humiliated like this, so, without pausing for thought, he placed a bowl of wine on his head and grabbed two more, one for each hand. He then bent his left leg and kicked with his right.
“That’s more like it!” Lotus called out, before flying across the room in a graceful display of lightness kung fu. Browbeater Hou followed, kicking wildly, but he was never even close to hitting her. The hall erupted in laughter. Lotus kept her focus steady and her body balanced, her robes fluttering after her. She looked as if she were floating on clouds, or had wheels attached to her feet. Browbeater Hou’s strides were clumsy where hers were delicate and smooth. He puffed and clattered. She danced around him, aiming at his wine bowls with her elbows, forcing him to lurch out of her way.
The girl has skill, Old Liang thought to himself. But I still fancy Browbeater Hou the better fighter. But Greybeard Liang’s main concern was protecting his store of medicines, so while the others remained transfixed by the fight, he slipped towards the door. If I’m missing cinnabar, resina draconis, notoginseng, bear’s gall bladder and myrrh, then I’ll know Wang Chuyi sent her. The medicines Wang Chuyi needed weren’t expensive, but Old Liang had many valuable ingredients in the storeroom that had taken him years to collect.
5
THE SNAKE WAS PRESSING TIGHTER AROUND GUO JING’S chest and he was about to faint. The strange smell attacked his nostrils again. The snake was getting closer to his face. If it were to bite him, would he survive? He could feel its body brushing up close to his mouth, nose and brow.
He strained to reach for the snake’s neck, and using the last of his strength, he bit into its taut flesh just below its head. The snake hissed and writhed in pain, pulling tighter around him. Guo Jing kept biting, until he felt a burst of bitter blood flood his mouth. It tasted disgusting. Was it poisonous? But he did not want to let go either, in case the snake got free and attacked him again. If he could make it lose enough blood, it just might loosen its grip. He kept clamping his teeth down harder, until he found it easier to breathe. A few spasms, and the snake dropped to the floor. Dead.
Guo Jing was exhausted, his body ached. He grabbed hold of the table, but his feet were too numb for him to make his escape just yet. He took a moment to rest like this while a warm sensation flowed through him. He was a piece of meat roasting by the fire. He began to panic. To his surprise, he found movement returning to his arms and legs, but his body temperature did not seem to be going down. He placed the back of his hand against his cheek: scalding hot.
He felt for the herbs tucked inside his robes. I’ve got the medicine, I can still save Elder Wang, he said to himself. But Mu Yi and his daughter need my help first. Who knows what the Prince will do with them?
He stumbled out of the storeroom and looked around him. He then hobbled in the direction of the cage where father and daughter were being held captive.
6
JUST AS BEFORE, THERE WERE GUARDS KEEPING WATCH OVER Mu Yi and his daughter Mercy. Guo Jing waited, but could sense no opportunity presenting itself as it had last time. He moved round to the back and waited for the patrol guards to walk past, before jumping silently onto the roof and down into the courtyard. He leaned against the wall and listened. Once he was sure there were no guards inside, he slipped through the door and hissed, “Mr Mu, I’ve come to help you escape.”
“Sir, who are you?” Mu Yi was shocked to see the young man.
“My name is Guo Jing,” he replied.
Guo Jing? When the name had been spoken the day before, exhaustion and injury had prevented him from making the connection, but now the name struck at his eardrums. A sharp jolt shot through his body.
“What? Guo Jing? Your . . . family name is Guo?”
“Yes, I was the one who fought with the Prince yesterday.”
“What is your father’s name?”
“My father was Skyfury Guo. But he’s dead now.” Guo Jing had learned his father’s name from Zhu Cong, not his mother.
Tears flooded Mu Yi’s eyes. He looked up and sighed. “Heavens above!” He then reached though the bars and grabbed at Guo Jing’s hands. Guo Jing could feel the old man shaking, and a few drops of hot, salty tears fell on his skin.
“I have a small dagger. We can use it to pick the lock, then sir will be able to escape. Pay no attention to what the Prince was telling you before. I overheard him, it’s all lies.”
“Your mother,” Mu Yi continued. “Is her family name Li? Is she still alive?”
“Oh, you know my mother? She’s in Mongolia.”
Mu Yi was even more excited now. He clutched even tighter at Guo Jing’s hands.
“Sir, please, I should break the lock.”
But Mu Yi gripped on to the young man’s hands as if they were the most precious treasure he had ever had the pleasure to hold. “You’re . . . I only have to close my eyes and I can still picture your father.”
“Sir knew my father?”
“We were brothers-in-arms, we took an oath together. A bond closer than blood. We are not really looking for a husband for my daughter; we came looking for you, dear boy. This silly competition was just a ruse.” At this point, Mu Yi started choking on his sobs and was unable to continue.
Guo Jing’s eyes were blurred with tears.
Mu Yi was, in fact, none other than Ironheart Yang. That fateful day, eighteen years previously, in Ox Village, he had taken a spear to the back, but the horse had carried hi
m many li until he fell into some long grass. When he awoke by the first light of the following day, he managed to crawl to a nearby farm, where they fed and nursed him for a month until he was well enough to get out of bed and move around with the aid of a walking stick. He had ended up in Lotus Pond Village, fifteen li from Ox Village, and had been most fortunate to encounter such a kind family, whose young daughter had been particularly doting. Once strong enough, Ironheart was keen to go back to Ox Village to look for his wife, but dared only return by cover of darkness for fear that it was under watch. As he approached their old house, he saw the door was ajar. His heart clenched tight as if seized by a cold hand. He pushed open the door and entered. He saw, laid out on the bed, the clothes his wife Charity had been sewing for him the night Justice Duan’s men had arrived. He looked up at the spot where the two spears had hung on the wall. One had been lost in battle, but the other remained, lonely and abandoned just like Yang himself. Everything else was as it had been that night. His wife had not been back. And neither had the Guos.
Perhaps she had returned to her parents in Plum Blossom Village? On his way, he passed Qu San’s inn, but it was locked, with no-one in sight. He arrived at his parents-in-law, only to discover Charity’s mother alone with Qu San’s daughter. They had heard nothing from Charity and her father had died from the shock. With Qu San also missing, Charity’s mother had taken the young girl in.
In despair, Ironheart turned back to the family that had been looking after him in Lotus Pond Village. But misfortune never strikes just once, and by the time he had returned, an epidemic of the plague had broken out. Within days it had taken three members of the family, leaving only the little girl. Yang decided he would raise her as his own daughter. Wherever he went, so did she, following him on his searches for Skyfury’s wife and his beloved Charity. But one had ended up on the steppes and the other was lost somewhere in the north, and despite years of searching, he had been unable to locate either.
Until now.
In all these years, Ironheart had dared not use his real name, adopting instead the name Mu Yi, whose meaning in Chinese was “Change”, an oblique reference to his previous identity. For more than ten years, father and adopted daughter had travelled around the rivers and lakes of the south, during which time Mercy Mu had blossomed into the young woman and capable fighter she was today. He had come to accept that his wife had probably not survived, but still hoped that the heavens had been good enough to bestow their mercy on the Guo family at least. It had always been his dearest wish that their little competition would uncover his sworn brother’s son and that he might be able to join the families in marriage, finally fulfilling the promise he had made Skyfury Guo that day as they drank by the fire. But over the years, many men had taken up the challenge, and Mu Yi’s hopes had begun to fade. He had had no indication that Lily had survived, let alone borne a son all those years ago. He would have been content with any decent man of the wulin, so long had they searched in vain. And yet the young fighter who had come to his daughter’s rescue the day before was just the man he had been looking for all these years. It was almost too much for the old man to take in.