by Jin Yong
“Is that so?” Viper Ouyang said bitterly. He knew full well that a fight with the Lord of Peach Blossom Island would take a thousand blows or more, and there was no guarantee he would prevail. But he had obtained a copy of the Nine Yin Manual, so he would have his revenge eventually, if not today. And yet … if Qiu Qianren were to take care of the Freaks, Guo Jing, and Lotus, and then join him against Apothecary Huang … well … they might just succeed. The fact that he could assess the nature of the situation before him so coolly having just learned of his son’s murder was itself remarkable. He must make use of Qiu’s presence.
“Brother Qiu,” he said. “You deal with the others. I will kill Heretic Huang.”
Qiu Qianren laughed and fluttered his fan. “Very well. I will help you with Old Huang as soon as I am finished with the others.”
“Excellent,” Viper said, his eyes already fixed on Apothecary Huang. Slowly, he began to squat down. His adversary planted his feet in the second Heavenly Stem position.
“Kill me first!” Lotus broke in.
Qiu Qianren shook his head. “Miss, you are so adorable. It is almost unbearable…” Suddenly, he clutched his stomach. “Oh no, not now! What timing!”
“What is it?” Lotus asked.
“Wait a moment,” Qiu replied, his face strained. “I’ve got the most terrible stomachache. Excuse me!”
Lotus was stunned into silence. Qiu Qianren, meanwhile, groaned and limped away. Was it a ruse? Lotus wondered. She did not dare go after him, just in case.
Zhu Cong took a piece of rice paper from his pocket and caught up with Qiu Qianren, tapping him on the shoulder. “You’ll be needing this.”
“Thank you!” Qiu Qianren said, and ducked behind some bushes.
Lotus picked up a stone and threw it toward the small of his back. “Go farther in!”
Qiu Qianren caught it at the last moment. “Is it the smell?” he called, and laughed. “You had better all wait for me! Don’t be taking the chance to run away, now.” He pulled up his trousers, shuffled a few dozen meters farther into the woods and ducked behind a row of low bushes.
“Master Zhu, the scoundrel is trying to escape!” Lotus said.
Zhu Cong nodded. “He may be brazen, but he’s not quick on his feet. There’s no chance of him getting away. Here,” he said, and threw her a sword and a palm-shaped metal token that he had stolen from Qiu Qianren using his famed sleight of hand. Lotus had watched Qiu plunge the sword into his stomach and had known at once that it was a trick, but she had been unable to work out how he had done it. She examined it and found that the blade was retractable, made up of three parts that slid into each other. She shook with laughter. She could use this to toy with Viper, she realized.
Lotus ran up to the Venom and cried, “Uncle! I cannot take it anymore!” Then, raising the weapon in her right hand, she thrust it hard into her stomach.
Viper Ouyang and her father had been concentrating on summoning their internal strength in preparation for their duel, and had therefore missed the whole tawdry exchange between Qiu Qianren and Zhu Cong. Both men watched in shock as the young girl doubled over before them.
Just then, Lotus stood up, raised the sword once more and showed them how it worked.
Viper Ouyang’s mind was racing. Was Qiu Qianren’s mighty reputation built on a foundation of lies?
Apothecary Huang watched as the Venom slowly straightened his legs. He could guess what he was thinking. He then took the Iron Palm token from his daughter. The character Qiu was engraved on the back, along with a wave pattern. This object was the symbol of the Chief of the Iron Palm Gang, which had its base in the depths of the inland mountains of the south. For twenty years, the bearer of this object had controlled those vast swathes of untamed land, stretching from the Nine Rivers in the east, all the way to Chengdu in the west. Was this shameless old man really the leader of such a mighty brotherhood? Still doubtful, Huang returned the object to his daughter.
Viper Ouyang peered at it from the corner of his eye, trying to hide his surprise.
“This strange thing could turn out to be a lot of fun,” Lotus said with a wide grin on her face. “I’m going to keep it! That old man can’t have any use for it. But this?” she added, hefting the trick sword. “I’m bored with it already. Catch!” She raised the sword as if to throw it at Qiu Qianren, but realized that it was too heavy. Instead, she handed it to her father. “Papa, you throw it to him.”
Like Viper, Apothecary Huang had begun to suspect that Qiu Qianren’s reputation was undeserved, and he had been intending to test the old man’s skills. He placed the sword flat across his left palm, the tip pointing away from him, and flicked the handle with the middle finger of his right hand. The weapon shot forth, faster and with more force than if he had used a bow.
Lotus and Guo Jing let out a cheer and clapped. Even Viper Ouyang was secretly impressed at such a fine display of Divine Flick kung fu.
Meanwhile, the sword continued to roar straight toward Qiu Qianren as he squatted in the bushes. Moments later, it had plunged into his back, retracting shaft, handle and all.
Using his lightness kung fu, Guo Jing dashed over to take a look. He gasped, then lifted up Qiu Qianren’s arrowroot shirt and waved it at the others. “The old crook is already gone!”
Using the bushes as cover, Qiu Qianren had slipped out of his jacket and hung it from a twig. Apothecary Huang and Viper Ouyang had been focused on each other, and the others had had their eyes fixed on the impending fight between the two greats of the wulin. He had tricked them all, once again. The Heretic of the East and the Venom of the West exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Deep down, they both felt relieved to have one less powerful opponent to have to deal with.
Viper Ouyang knew that Apothecary Huang was quick and far less gullible than Count Seven Hong. But it was rare indeed to see him relax his guard like this. How could Viper not try to take his advantage? He guffawed three times, fell silent, and then, quick like lightning, bowed.
Still laughing, his face raised to the sky, Huang promptly clasped his hands and returned the gesture.
Both men trembled almost imperceptibly.
Viper’s attack never materialized. Still bowed down, he took three steps back. “Heretic Huang … Until we meet again!” With a flick of his sleeve, he turned.
There was a tiny twitch in Apothecary Huang’s face. His arm shot out, blocking off his daughter from the Viper’s sudden attack.
Guo Jing had noticed it too: Viper Ouyang had launched a secretive move similar to Splitting Sky Palm at Lotus. Guo Jing howled and threw a double punch straight at Viper’s stomach.
Apothecary Huang had sent back the force of Viper’s attack, but this only amplified the power in Viper’s palm, which he then aimed at Guo Jing, who ducked and rolled out of its path.
Back on his feet and at a safe distance, Guo Jing gasped for air, his cheeks white with shock.
We’ve only been apart for a few days, and yet his kung fu has improved yet again, Viper Ouyang thought, in wonder.
The Six Freaks of the South hurried into the fray, forming a semicircle around Viper. But the Venom merely charged through their formation. Gilden Quan and Jade Han stumbled back and out of his way. They could only watch as he strode away and out of the forest.
Apothecary Huang could, of course, have joined forces with the Freaks and avenged Cyclone Mei’s death, there and then. But he was proud, not to mention vain. He did not want it known in the wulin that he had needed their help to defeat Viper. He would rather do the deed alone. His eyes followed the Venom as he disappeared, a cold grin on his face.
Guo Jing and his shifus untied Khojin, Tolui, Jebe, and Boroqul. Together, they cursed Yang Kang and his deceitful, lying tongue.
“He said he had urgent business in Yuezhou,” Tolui grumbled. “I gave him three of my finest horses as a gift. What a waste!”
Yang Kang had traveled with Tolui and the escort, stopping that evening at an inn north of Lin’an
. In the dead of night, Yang Kang got up, intending to stab Tolui, only to find the two beggars were taking turns patrolling outside his window. Several times, he had been foiled by one of the men rounding the corner and appearing at just the right moment. He waited until dawn before finally giving up. At breakfast, he had cheated Tolui out of three horses and had ridden off with the two beggars in the direction of Yuezhou.
Unaware of what had nearly befallen them during the night, the rest of the group were about to continue northward when the two white condors turned and flew off in the opposite direction. They waited, but the birds did not return. They were intelligent creatures, and they must have flown south for a reason, so Tolui gave the order to wait until they came back. There was no urgent reason for them to set off that morning. On the third day, the condors suddenly reappeared and began shrieking at Khojin. The group packed up and followed the birds back the way they had come. That was when they had chanced upon Qiu Qianren and Viper Ouyang in the forest.
The Jin had entrusted Qiu Qianren with a mission: sow discord in the jianghu, so that the martial men of the south are too divided and distracted to block the Jin army’s advance. Qiu Qianren had been working his magic on Viper Ouyang when he spotted Tolui beyond the trees. Recognizing him as an ambassador of the Mongols, he had joined forces with Viper and attacked him. The Mongols tried to fight back, but they were no match for the Venom.
The condors had spotted Ulaan’s tracks and unwittingly led their masters straight into the jaws of disaster. Fortunately, they went in search of Guo Jing and Lotus just in time.
Khojin clasped Guo Jing by the hand and related what had happened to her over the previous few days, while Lotus watched, jealousy bubbling up inside her. She could not understand what they were saying, and it made her feel like an outsider.
Apothecary Huang noticed the strange expression on his daughter’s face. “Lotus, who is this young barbarian girl?”
“Guo Jing’s betrothed,” she said glumly.
Apothecary Huang could not believe what he was hearing. “What?”
“Go and ask him yourself, Papa.”
Zhu Cong could sense the tension in the air. He rushed forward and delicately explained to the Heretic the circumstances of the betrothal.
Unable to hold back his fury, Apothecary Huang glowered at Guo Jing. “So, the boy was already engaged before coming to Peach Blossom Island to ask for my daughter’s hand?”
“We ought to come up with a plan … to satisfy everyone,” Zhu Cong said.
“Lotus, leave this to your father. Don’t get in my way.”
“Papa, what are you going to do?” There was a tremble in her voice.
“I am going to kill them both! I will not allow them to humiliate us.”
Lotus grabbed her father’s hand. “Papa, Guo Jing says that he really, truly loves me. He never felt that way about her.”
“Very well,” Apothecary Huang snorted. “Boy! Kill the barbarian girl! Let us see where your loyalties lie!”
Guo Jing stared at him in disbelief. Never before had he been in such an impossible situation. What should he do?
“Already betrothed, and yet you came to me to ask for my daughter’s hand? What do you say to that?”
Guo Jing’s face was white. The Freaks could see that he was one small flick of Huang’s finger away from fatal catastrophe. And yet, how would they be able to overcome the Heretic if he let his fury get the better of him?
Guo Jing had never been able to lie. He could only answer with the honest truth. “All I want is to be with Lotus. I can’t live without her.”
“Very well. Then, from this day forth, you must never meet with this barbarian girl again.”
Guo Jing hesitated.
“You cannot make such a promise, can you?” Lotus said.
“She is like a sister to me. I would worry about her.”
“I don’t mind!” Lotus said, breaking into a gracious smile. “I know you don’t love her. Of course, she cannot compare to me!”
“Then it’s settled,” Apothecary Huang said. “I’m here. The girl’s family is here. Your six shifus are here. Let them all be my witness: you will marry my daughter, and not her!”
It was quite out of character for him to be so conciliatory, but there was little he would not do for the sake of his daughter. Besides, Cyclone Mei’s sacrifice had also temporarily softened his heart.
Guo Jing hung his head, his mind racing. He glanced down at his belt and saw the golden dagger given to him by Genghis Khan, and the other dagger, bestowed on his father by Qiu Chuji.
My father wanted Yang Kang and I to be sworn brothers in life and death. But how can I keep this promise when he behaves as he does? Uncle Ironheart wanted me to marry his daughter, Mercy. But that can’t possibly happen. The Great Khan wants me to marry Khojin. But maybe I don’t have to follow my elders’ wishes, after all? Why should they get to decide that Lotus and I be apart?
His mind made up, he looked up again.
Zhu Cong had finished translating Guo Jing’s exchange with Apothecary Huang for Tolui. Tolui looked at Guo Jing. It was clear that he was struggling to reconcile his obligations with his heart’s desire. Guo Jing did not love his sister, it was obvious. Furious, Tolui took a wolf-fang arrow from his quiver and held it in both hands.
“Brother Guo! To keep one’s word, is that not the mark of a true man? You have treated my sister heartlessly. How can we, the offspring of the great Genghis Khan, trust you after this betrayal? The brotherly bond between us is broken. As for the kindness you showed in saving my father’s life and mine, we will remember it and your mother will be looked after. If you prefer that she be sent south, we can arrange an escort for her. We will not neglect her, because we have given our word.”
He then snapped the arrow in two and threw the pieces to the ground.
Tolui’s words were testament to a steely determination and an iron will. Guo Jing felt a shiver go through him as memories of all the things they had done together on the steppe flashed before his eyes. I agreed to marry Khojin. I gave my word. What kind of man would I be if I break it? I can’t, even if Apothecary Huang kills me and Lotus hates me for the rest of her days.
“Master Huang,” he began, “my honored shifus, Brother Tolui, Masters Jebe and Boroqul: Guo Jing is a man of his word. I must marry Sister Khojin.”
He made the announcement first in Chinese and then again in Mongolian. No one had been expecting this. The Mongolians were surprised, but delighted. The Six Freaks secretly admired their disciple for staying true to his promise—it showed backbone. Apothecary Huang, however, raised his eyebrows and smiled grimly.
Lotus was heartbroken. She paused, then stepped toward Khojin, assessing her. She had an athletic build, big eyes and well-defined features. Lotus sighed. “Guo Jing, I understand. You two are a pair of white condors from the steppe. I am merely a swallow who has grown up among the willow trees of the south.”
“Lotus”—Guo Jing went to her and clasped her hands—“in truth, I don’t know who is right. In my heart, I carry only you. You know that! It doesn’t matter what anyone else says, I will think of you until my body is burned and my ashes are carried away on the wind!”
“Then why are you marrying her?” The tears welled in Lotus’s eyes.
“Because I’m stupid. I don’t know what to think. All I know is, I cannot go back on my word. But they can’t change what is in my heart. I’d rather die than be parted from you!”
Lotus was deeply confused. His words pleased her and pained her in equal measure. She smiled faintly. “Dear Guo Jing, if I had known things would turn out this way, I would have suggested we stay on Rosy Cloud Island.”
Apothecary Huang flicked a sleeve and gave Khojin a menacing look.
Lotus understood at once her father’s intentions, and had launched herself at Khojin before he could make his attack. Apothecary Huang started to pull back as Lotus tugged Khojin from her horse.
Thwack! Apothecary Hu
ang’s hand met with her saddle.
At first, the horse did not react. Then its head sagged, its legs buckled and it fell to the ground, dead.
This was a mount bred from the finest beasts of the Mongolian steppe: muscular, robust and tall. And yet, all it had taken was one strike of Apothecary Huang’s palm to kill it. The others watched in amazement, their hearts thumping. What if he had struck Khojin, as he had intended?
Apothecary Huang was stunned. Had his daughter saved her rival? If he killed the Mongolian girl, however, he knew that Guo Jing would surely turn against his beloved Lotus. So what if he does? Why should I be scared of a mere boy!
He glanced over at Lotus and saw the misery etched on her face. Yet, her expression was also tender. He could detect a hundred emotions, all mixed together. She looked just like her late mother. Losing his wife had brought on a madness in him, and, even though it had been fifteen years now, he saw her in his daughter just as clearly as if she were still with him. Lotus loved Guo Jing deeply, down into the very core of her being. She had inherited this passion from both of them. There was no changing it. He sighed.
“Heavens and Earth they are the furnace,” he began to chant, “and Nature mans the grate. Yin and Yang they are the charcoal, ten thousand objects copper does create.”
The tears rolled down Lotus’s cheeks.
Ryder Han tugged at Zhu Cong’s robe and whispered, “What is he singing about?”
“It’s from a poem written in the Han dynasty,” Zhu Cong replied. “Existence, for all creatures, is pain and suffering, like being burned in a furnace.”
“A master of such martial arts, what pain can he know of?”
Zhu Cong merely shook his head.
“Lotus,” Apothecary Huang said softly, “let’s go home. You are never to see this boy again.”
“Papa, no! I must go to Yuezhou. I’m the Chief of the Beggar Clan, now—Shifu said so.”