by Jin Yong
When they were on the road again, Guo Jing recounted how hospitable Squire Lu had been when he and Lotus had stayed at the manor.
“That man is a fraud. He clearly bought his place among the heroes of the jianghu with gold,” Yang Kang said sourly, still insulted by the treatment he had received at Zephyr Lu’s hands. “What he just did for us – I’m sure that’s how he became the leader of the pirates of Lake Tai.”
“He’s your martial uncle, isn’t he?” Yang Kang’s attitude took Guo Jing by surprise.
“Cyclone Mei did teach me some martial arts, but I can’t really say she’s my shifu.” The flippant answer was followed by a wistful muttered aside. “If only I’d known, I would have stayed away from such unorthodox kung fu. I wouldn’t be in such a sticky situation today.”
“What do you mean?”
Realising he had let his tongue run away with him, Yang Kang blushed and forced a smile. “Oh, I’ve always felt there was something not quite right about the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw and all that.”
Guo Jing nodded and said, “You’re right. Your shifu Elder Eternal Spring is a true master of the most orthodox school of martial arts. If you explain everything and promise to practise earnestly, I’m sure he’ll forgive you.”
Yang Kang made a point of ignoring his sworn brother’s words.
At sunset, the young men arrived at Jintan. Once again, the local inn had been informed of their arrival. The same thing happened in every town they stopped at for the next three days. On the fourth day, they crossed the Yangtze River and arrived at Gaoyou. The moment they rode into town, an innkeeper welcomed them.
“How far is Roaming Cloud Manor going to see us off?” Yang Kang scoffed.
But Guo Jing had long suspected it was someone else. There was always one or two of his favourite dishes at each meal. How would Laurel Lu know his tastes so well?
Once they finished eating, Guo Jing said, “I’ll go ahead to see who’s behind this.”
Guo Jing sped through the next three towns without stopping. When he reached Baoying, there was no innkeeper watching out for his arrival. He found the largest inn in town, asked for the room closest to the reception and waited.
At nightfall, he heard a peal of bells and a horse whinnying outside. Then footsteps approached the reception and he heard a voice asking for a room, and for a Master Guo and a Master Yang to be received the next day.
Guo Jing’s heart fluttered with joy to hear Lotus’s voice again, but he decided not to show himself yet: Lotus loves to play tricks; I’ll surprise her tonight!
He got out of bed quietly after the second watch was sounded and tiptoed to Lotus’s room. On his way, he caught a glimpse of a shadow hurtling across the rooftops.
Where’s she going, this late at night? He gave chase, using his lightness kung fu.
Lotus did not stop until she reached a stream, out in the countryside. She sat down under a willow tree and took a few things from the pocket inside her shirt.
“Now, sit nicely,” she muttered. “Face each other. Yes, that’s it.”
Nocturnal insects chirped over the sound of the babbling brook. The low-hanging moon cast its beams sideways through the night sky. A breeze wafted through the willow branches, ruffling Lotus’s sleeves.
Guo Jing stole closer and found shelter a short distance behind Lotus. On the ground before her were two clay dolls, a boy and a girl, chubby and full of life. He remembered her telling him about the earthen figures she’d had growing up on Peach Blossom Island. They came from a city called Wuxi, on the shore of Lake Tai. Even though they were children’s playthings, they were skilfully crafted and most lifelike.
Intrigued, Guo Jing crept forward a few steps to get a better look. Placed between the figurines were tiny clay bowls and plates, filled with flowers, grass and leaves.
“This one’s for Guo Jing and this one’s for Lotus. I made them just for you. Do you like how it tastes?”
“Very much so!” Guo Jing replied, running up behind her.
A glorious smile lit up Lotus’s face as she turned and threw her arms around Guo Jing. They held each other tight, refusing to let go. Eventually, they sat under a willow tree, shoulder to shoulder, telling each other all that had happened since they had parted. Though it was only a few days, it felt like months, nay, years.
Guo Jing listened intently, intoxicated by her laughter, her words, her presence. He remembered how Lotus had defied her father to protect him, jumping into Lake Tai to prove her point. But he did not realise that she had swum back after two hours to make sure he was out of danger, and had spent the night in the woods outside Roaming Cloud Manor to keep an eye on him; nor that she had lurked in the undergrowth by the manor’s entrance and watched him heading north with Yang Kang, before overtaking them to arrange their meals. He felt blessed that Lotus cared so much, but also a little uncomfortable with the rift he had caused between father and daughter. He could tell Lotus regretted her harsh words.
By now, the moon was high and the refreshing night breeze lulled Lotus into a languid contentment. Her eyes started to grow heavy and she began to slur her words. Soon, she fell asleep in Guo Jing’s arms, her breathing soft and light, her skin cool and smooth. Fearing he might wake her, he slowly leaned his weight against the tree, and he too dozed off.
When Guo Jing woke up, the morning sun was peeking over the horizon. The willow branches rustled to the oriole’s song and there was a sweet scent of Lotus in the air. He watched her sleep.
Her eyebrows, perfect crescents. Her cheeks, rosy and immaculate. Her lips, curved upwards in a smile. He decided not to interrupt this perfect image of sleep and turned his attention to counting her eyelashes.
“I scouted out Miss Cheng’s chamber. It’s behind the Tong Ren Pawnbroker, in the rear garden.” The speaker was only a dozen or so paces to the left of Guo Jing.
“Excellent. Let’s do it tonight,” came the hoarse, whispered reply.
Guo Jing was certain these two men could not be up to any good. Perhaps they were the lecherous flower thieves his shifus had told him about? He must thwart their plans.
Right at that moment, Lotus jumped up and ran away from him, calling, “Catch me if you can!”
Guo Jing was confused. What’s she doing? Why’s she waving at me from behind the tree? After a moment, he understood. She’s pretending to be playing in the woods! Chuckling, he ran towards her, making sure his footsteps were heavy and loud enough to disguise his martial training.
The two men were alarmed to find they had company so early in the morning. They relaxed a little when they saw it was a young couple frolicking in the forest, and slunk away in silence.
When the men were out of earshot, Lotus said, “What business do you think they have with Miss Cheng tonight?”
“They’re up to no good. We should help her!” Guo Jing replied.
“Do you think they’re Count Seven’s people? Their clothes were dirty and patched.”
“I doubt it, although Count Seven did say he’s the chieftain of all beggars. Maybe they’re rogues dressed as beggars?”
“No, they’re real beggars. You can’t fake boils like those on their legs, and their feet were bare and callused.” Lotus fell silent for a moment. “Count Seven may have amazing kung fu, but there’s only one of him. And there are tens of thousands of beggars under the blue sky. They can’t all be good; there must be some rotten ones. He can’t possibly keep every single one in line. We should discipline these two for him. I’m sure it’ll please him, and it’s the perfect way to thank him for being so kind to us, too.”
Guo Jing nodded, happy for a chance to repay Count Seven’s generosity, and impressed by Lotus’s sharp eyes. He certainly had not noticed their legs.
4
GUO JING AND LOTUS HUANG RETURNED TO THE INN FOR breakfast and spent the morning strolling around Baoying, searching for the pawnbrokers mentioned by the beggars. They eventually found it on the western side of the town.
The Hi
storical Tong Ren Pawnbroker was a grand structure. Its name was proudly painted on its white wall, each character taller than an adult man. Beyond this imposing façade was a garden, just as the beggars had described. Among the buildings in the grounds was one particularly ornate tower, its windows shielded by jade-green bamboo blinds. Pleased to have located Miss Cheng’s chamber, the young couple continued to explore the rest of the city, hand in hand.
That evening, they went straight to bed after dinner, napping until the first watch was sounded. Then they returned to the pawnbrokers and hopped over the garden wall. A faint light was visible from the tower. They climbed up to the roof, hooked their feet on the eaves and hung upside down to peer inside.
It was a warm night and the windows were all open. Through the slats of the bamboo blind, they could make out seven women in the room. One of them was reading. She looked no more than eighteen or nineteen. She must be Miss Cheng. Around her were six maidservants. Yet, instead of waiting upon their mistress with the usual trappings of a maiden’s chamber, they each clutched a weapon, ready for combat. Even their flowing garments were tied back to ensure ease of movement. From their demeanour, it was clear these young women had some kind of martial training.
Guo Jing and Lotus had thought they were here to deliver a young woman from trouble, but, since she was so well prepared, something else must be afoot. Sharing a smile, they swung back up to the roof and waited for the excitement to begin.
Half an hour later, a quiet pop sounded from beyond the garden wall. Lotus tugged Guo Jing’s sleeve and they ducked down, out of sight, behind an upturned corner of the roof.
Two dark shapes scaled the wall and one of them gave a short, low whistle as they hurried across the garden to Miss Cheng’s building. Their outlines very much resembled the beggars from that morning.
A maid lifted a corner of the blind. “Are you the heroes of the Beggar Clan? Please come up.”
Guo Jing and Lotus glanced at each other. They had been expecting a fight. Who would have thought the beggars would turn out to be friends with Miss Cheng?
When the two men entered her chamber, the young woman stood up and made a gesture of welcome. “Might I ask your names?”
“My family name is Li. This is my martial nephew, Prosper Yu.” Guo Jing and Lotus recognised his voice immediately – the second speaker that morning, the man with the hoarse voice.
“Master Li, Brother Yu, it is my honour to be acquainted with such revered names. The heroes of the Beggar Clan are admired throughout the wulin for their righteous sense of justice. Please take a seat.”
Miss Cheng’s words were a standard welcome in the dialect of the rivers and lakes. Yet she spoke in such a bashful, halting manner that it was clear to all that these martial courtesies fell outside her usual manner of speaking, and nor were her guests her usual conversational companions.
The young woman’s face was flushed crimson. Eventually, she mustered enough courage to lift her eyes for the first time since the men’s arrival. The mere sight of them sent her head sinking even lower in maidenly discomfort. “The Elder is the Serpent Lord of the Eastern Shores, Vigour Li?”
“The lady is most perceptive.” Li smiled. “I once had the pleasure of meeting your honourable teacher, the Sage of Tranquillity. I have always held her in the utmost respect and admiration.”
The Sage of Tranquillity? Could he mean Sun Bu’er the Faithful, one of the Seven Immortals of the Quanzhen Sect? Guo Jing wondered. If so, I’m martially related to both Miss Cheng and the beggars.
“I am immensely grateful for the heroes’ assistance,” Miss Cheng said. “I shall obey your instructions.”
“The lady is of such sanctity that it would be a disgrace if that despicable rake were to clap eyes on you even momentarily.” Vigour Li’s words caused the maiden to blush again. “Might I ask the lady to retreat to your mother’s room with the esteemed ladies here? I know just the way to deal with such a miscreant.”
“My martial skill is rudimentary, but I do not fear the ruffian. It would be improper of me to let the heroes take all the responsibility.”
“Our Chief Hong and Immortal Wang were great friends. We are one family – your troubles are our troubles too.”
A little part of Miss Cheng wanted to stay and take part in the action, but she was brought up to obey her seniors’ instruction. Accepting the decision, she bowed. “I shall entrust the matter to Master Li and Brother Yu.” With that, she hurried downstairs with her ladies-in-waiting.
Vigour Li lifted the embroidered quilt and planted himself – grubby clothes, dirty feet, unwashed body – onto Miss Cheng’s scented silk bedding.
“Go downstairs and keep watch with our men,” he ordered Prosper Yu. “No-one strikes before my signal.”
When his companion had left the room, Vigour Li blew out the candle, let down the gauze around the bed and pulled the quilt over himself, before turning to hide his face against the pillow.
Lotus chuckled silently. Miss Cheng will never want to use those bedclothes again. Looks like the chieftain’s mischievousness has rubbed off on his beggar followers. Who are they waiting for? This is going to be a fun night!
Lotus retreated further up the roof with Guo Jing. She could hear the men from the Beggar Clan positioning themselves around the garden.
Dik dok, dik dok, dong dong dong. The third watch.
A clattering stone broke the stillness of the night. Shadowy figures leapt over the garden wall in quick succession. Eight in total. They disappeared into the tower. The spark of flint and tinder flickered briefly in Miss Cheng’s room. Guo Jing and Lotus caught a glimpse of the intruders – they were dressed from head to toe in white – Gallant Ouyang’s disciples!
The women approached the bed. Stealth was their watchword. Two of them took up defensive positions as four more lifted the gauze, pulled the quilt over the sleeper’s head and pressed the covers down. Their bounty was then deftly bundled up into a large sack, held open by the last two accomplices, who yanked the drawstring tight the moment the silk-cocooned captive was rolled inside.
The abduction only took a few moments. They had clearly done it many times.
As the kidnappers made their way downstairs, Lotus restrained Guo Jing from intercepting them. “Let the beggars go first.”
Watching from their high vantage point, they made out four women darting across the garden, each holding a corner of the sack. The others guarded their flanks. A group of ten or so beggars set off after them with wooden staffs and bamboo canes in hand.
Once the two groups were some distance ahead, Guo Jing and Lotus jumped down from the tower and followed them all the way to a large house on the outskirts of the town. The women disappeared inside and the beggars scattered, surrounding the building.
Lotus led Guo Jing by the hand to the back of the house, where they scaled the perimeter wall. They tiptoed to the candlelit main hall and found a window to peer through.
This residence was not built for the living. Rows and rows of spirit tablets lined the walls. Horizontal wooden plaques, inscribed with the titles and ranks of illustrious forebears, covered the tie beams. This was a family temple, built to honour the dead.
A lone figure sat in the middle, illuminated by a handful of red candles. The flames flickered as he wafted his fan.
Gallant Ouyang. Just as Lotus and Guo Jing had expected.
They ducked and kept very still, lest he discover them.
The kidnappers entered and spoke in perfect unison as they set down their load: “My lord, Miss Cheng.”
Gallant Ouyang’s reply was addressed to those waiting beyond the confines of the room. “Why don’t you come inside, friends?” he said with a sneer.
The beggars stayed silent, waiting for their leader’s signal.
Tilting his head, the Master of White Camel Mount studied the sack. “I didn’t expect such a great beauty to come with so little effort.” He edged closer as he spoke, folding his fan slowly into an iron bru
sh.
Judging from his actions and his expression, it was clear that Gallant Ouyang knew the bag did not contain Miss Cheng. He was prepared to use force on the imposter. Guo Jing and Lotus both knew that he was not a man given to mercy. Lotus held three steel needles between her fingers, ready to help the beggar the moment Gallant Ouyang lashed out.
But before anyone made a move – whoosh, whoosh! – two sleeve arrows hurtled at Gallant Ouyang’s back. One of the beggars outside had deemed the situation too dangerous to wait for Vigour Li’s sign.
The libertine reached casually behind him with his left hand and caught the first arrow between his index and middle fingers. With a slight twirl of his wrist, he trapped the other arrow between the fourth and little fingers of the same hand. Moments later, the arrows clattered to the floor in four broken pieces.
“Come out, Uncle Li!” Prosper Yu cried.
The sack containing Vigour Li ripped open and out flew two glinting daggers. The beggar rolled out and leapt to his feet, whipping the bag around him to create a soft shield.
Vigour Li knew it was unlikely he could subdue Gallant Ouyang through force alone. He had hoped the element of surprise would play to his advantage, but the Master of White Camel Mount had seen through his ploy.
“What an excellent transformation trick!” Gallant Ouyang jeered. “A young beauty turned into an old beggar!”
“In the last three days, four maidens have gone missing in this town. These were your fair deeds, were they not?”
“Surely the constables of a town as wealthy as Baoying aren’t forced to beg on the side?”
“This town isn’t my patch, but a little beggar told me about the abductions yesterday. I must say, it rather piqued this busybody’s curiosity.”
“Well, those girls weren’t anything special. Since we’re both martial men, if you want them, you can have them. I hear beggars find dead crabs delicious, so I’m sure you’ll treasure them.”
At Gallant Ouyang’s signal, several of his women slipped out of sight and returned dragging four young women with them. The girls were visibly distressed, their clothes in disarray, their eyes bloodshot and swollen from crying.