The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 11 – Part 4

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats reached them. Several riders galloped towards them, the first two none other than Wanyan Honglie¹ and his son Wanyan Kang.²

Wanyan Honglie saw from afar his wife sitting on the ground and was overjoyed. He rushed forward, but suddenly a blade cut whistling through the air and a dao came hacking at his face. Wanyan Honglie twisted aside and saw that the one wielding it was a girl in red. His personal guards swarmed in and fell on Mu Nianci³ together.

Meanwhile Wanyan Kang had seen his shifu⁴ and was secretly alarmed. He called out loudly, “We’re all on the same side. Stop fighting, everyone!” Only after he had called several times did Peng Lianhu⁵ and the others leap back. The guards and Mu Nianci stopped too. Wanyan Kang stepped forward and bowed to Qiu Chuji,⁶ saying, “Shifu, allow me to introduce you. These are all Seniors of the wulin whom my father has invited here with due ceremony.”

Qiu Chuji nodded, and first went to look at his shixiong.⁷ He saw that Ma Yu’s⁸ right palm had turned completely black. He hastily pushed up his sleeve and saw that the black qi had already reached the middle of his upper arm. He was horrified, and thought, How can a poison be so virulent? He turned to Peng Lianhu and said, “Hand over the antidote!” Peng Lianhu hesitated, thinking, The man is plainly about to die, but offending the young prince would be unwise too. Do I save him or not? With the external enemies gone, Ma Yu focused his neili⁹ entirely on resisting the poison. The venom was blocked at the crook of his arm and could not spread further. Indeed the black qi even began to recede.

Wanyan Kang ran to his mother and said, “Mother, I’ve found you at last!” Bao Xiruo¹⁰ said sternly, “Go back to the Prince’s residence? Never, never!” Wanyan Honglie and Wanyan Kang both asked in alarm, “What?” Bao Xiruo pointed at Yang Tiexin¹¹ and said, “My husband is not dead. I will follow him to the ends of the earth.”

Wanyan Honglie was shaken to the core. He jerked his lips towards Liang Ziweng.¹² Liang Ziweng understood. His right hand flicked up and loosed three Midnight Bone-Penetrating Nails¹³ at Yang Tiexin’s vital points.

Qiu Chuji saw the nails fly. He could not reach Yang Tiexin in time to save him, Yang Tiexin could never dodge them, and he had no hidden weapons of his own. So he seized one of Prince Zhao’s guards and hurled him between Liang Ziweng and Yang Tiexin. The man let out a great cry as all three iron nails struck him. Liang Ziweng prided himself on these nails as the crowning skill of his life, and three loosed at once could not possibly miss. He had never dreamt that Qiu Chuji would foil them by so outlandish a method. He roared in fury and lunged at Qiu Chuji.

Seeing this fresh turn, Peng Lianhu made up his mind not to hand over the antidote. Knowing that what mattered most to the Prince was getting the Consort back, he suddenly darted out and grabbed for Bao Xiruo’s arm. Qiu Chuji’s jian hissed twice, one thrust at Liang Ziweng and one at Peng Lianhu, and seeing how fierce they were, both men had to fall back. Qiu Chuji shouted at Wanyan Kang, “Ignorant boy, you have taken a villain for your father and lived in a fog for eighteen years. Today your own father has come. Will you still not acknowledge him?”

Wanyan Kang had already believed eight tenths of what his mother had said earlier. Now hearing his shifu’s rebuke, he believed another tenth. He glanced at Yang Tiexin. The man’s clothes were worn and shabby, his face grimed with the dust of the road. Then he looked back at his father, in brocade and jade, handsome and refined. The difference between the two was as vast as heaven and earth. Wanyan Kang thought, Am I to abandon wealth and honour and follow this poor fellow to wander the jianghu?¹⁴ No, absolutely not! His mind made up, he called out loudly, “Shifu, don’t listen to this man’s nonsense. Please, quickly, rescue my mother!”

Qiu Chuji said furiously, “You still cling to your delusion. You are truly lower than a beast.”

Peng Lianhu and the others saw that master and disciple had fallen out and pressed their attacks even harder. Wanyan Kang saw that Qiu Chuji was in danger, yet said not another word to stop them. Qiu Chuji was enraged and cursed, “Little beast, you truly have the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a cur.” Wanyan Kang was deeply afraid of his shifu and secretly hoped that Peng Lianhu and the others would kill him and spare him trouble in days to come. They fought on a while. Then Liang Ziweng’s hoe caught Qiu Chuji’s right arm. The wound was not deep, but blood spattered his Daoist robe, and when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw delight on Wanyan Kang’s face, he howled with rage.

Ma Yu took a meteor flare from his robe, lit it with a tinder tube and let it go, and a streak of blue flame shot straight into the sky. Peng Lianhu guessed it was a signal by which the Quanzhen disciples called to one another, and shouted, “The old Daoist is calling for help.” They fought several more rounds when another blue flame rose into the sky from the northwest, not far away. Qiu Chuji was overjoyed and cried, “Shidi¹⁵ Wang is close by.” He switched his jian to his left hand and, slashing high on the left and low on the right, unleashing seven or eight killing moves in succession to drive his enemies back a few paces. Ma Yu pointed towards the blue flame in the northwest and said, “Head that way!”

Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci, father and daughter, wielded their weapons and protected Bao Xiruo as they rushed forward. Ma Yu followed behind. Qiu Chuji swung his jian and brought up the rear alone, fighting as he retreated. Sha Tongtian¹⁶ repeatedly used his Shifting Forms Changing Positions¹⁷ footwork, trying to slip past him and seize Bao Xiruo. But Qiu Chuji’s jian moved swift as the wind, and he could not get through.

They had not gone far when they reached the small inn where Wang Chuyi¹⁸ was staying. Qiu Chuji wondered, Why hasn’t Shidi Wang come out to help us? The thought had barely formed when he saw Wang Chuyi tottering towards them on a wooden staff.

When the three brothers of the Order came face to face, all three were shocked. They had never expected that the three strongest martial artists in the Quanzhen Order would all be injured.

Qiu Chuji shouted, “Fall back into the inn.” Wanyan Honglie barked, “Hand over the Consort unharmed and I will spare your lives.” Qiu Chuji cursed, “Who wants his life spared by a Jin cur like you?” He shouted curses and fought fiercely with his jian. Peng Lianhu and the others saw that he was exhausted and hard-pressed, yet still fought on unyieldingly. His jian arced like a rainbow, his moves bizarre and unpredictable. They secretly admired him whilst thinking that today they could surely slay the three Quanzhen masters, and felt pleased at the prospect.

Yang Tiexin thought, It has come to this. We shall not escape their hands in the end. I must not let the two of us cost Daoist Elder Qiu his life. He took Bao Xiruo’s hand, suddenly darted forward and shouted, “Stop, all of you. My wife and I will end our lives here, and there’s an end of it.” He reversed his spear and thrust it towards his own heart. There was a dull thud as blood splashed in all directions. He fell backwards. Bao Xiruo showed no grief. She gave a wretched smile, pulled out the spear with both hands, planted the butt in the ground, and said to Wanyan Kang, “Child, will you still not believe he is your real father?” And she threw herself onto the spearhead. Wanyan Kang went white with horror, cried out, “Mother!”, and rushed to save her.

Qiu Chuji and the others saw this sudden turn of events and all stopped fighting.

Wanyan Kang reached his mother. Her body had gone limp, and the spearhead was already deep in her chest. He burst into loud sobs. Qiu Chuji came forward to examine their wounds. The spear had struck vital points. Both were beyond saving. Wanyan Kang held his mother while Mu Nianci held Yang Tiexin. They wept together in grief. Qiu Chuji said to Yang Tiexin, “Brother Yang, what unfinished business do you have? Tell me and I will see it done, whatever it takes. I… I could not save you after all. I… I…” His heart ached, and his voice choked.

Just then, they heard footsteps behind them. They turned to see the Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan¹⁹ and Guo Jing²⁰ hurrying towards them.

When the Six Eccentrics saw Sha Tongtian and the others, they immediately drew their weapons. But as they drew near, they saw everyone staring at a man and woman on the ground, their faces full of astonishment. They turned their heads and suddenly saw Qiu Chuji and Ma Yu. The Six Eccentrics were even more surprised.

Guo Jing saw Yang Tiexin lying on the ground, covered in blood. He rushed forward and cried, “Uncle Yang, what’s happened to you?” Yang Tiexin had not yet drawn his last breath. Seeing Guo Jing, a faint smile touched his lips. He said, “Your father and I once made a pact. If one of us had a son and the other a daughter, our families would be joined by marriage… I have no daughter, but this adopted daughter is as dear to me as my own…” His eyes turned to Qiu Chuji. “Daoist Elder Qiu, bring this match about for me, and I… I can die with my eyes closed.” Qiu Chuji said, “That is easily done. Brother Yang, rest easy.”

Bao Xiruo lay beside her husband, her left hand holding his arm, as if afraid he might leave her again. In her dazed state, she heard him speak of the marriage pact made before their children were born. She struggled to draw a short jian from her bosom and said, “This… this is the token…” Then she said, “Big Brother, we die together at last. I… I am so happy…” She gave a faint smile and passed away peacefully, her expression as gentle and beautiful as ever.

Qiu Chuji took the short jian. It was the very one he had given them years ago. The words “Guo Jing” were carved on the hilt. Yang Tiexin said to Guo Jing, “I hope… I hope that for your late father’s sake you’ll be good to this daughter of mine…” Guo Jing said, “I… I can’t…” Qiu Chuji said, “Leave everything to me. You… go in peace!” When Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci raised the “Martial Contest to Choose a Spouse” banner, his only purpose had been to find the descendants of his sworn brother Guo Xiaotian. In this single day he had been reunited with his beloved wife, had seen his sworn brother’s posthumous son grown to manhood, and had seen his adopted daughter’s future settled. He had not the slightest regret. He closed his eyes and passed away.

Guo Jing was grieved and troubled. He thought, Rong-er has such deep feelings for me. How can I marry another? Then a new thought gave him a jolt, and he thought, How could I have forgotten Huazheng?²¹ The Great Khan has already promised me his daughter. This… this… what am I to do? In recent days he had often thought of his friend Tolui²² but rarely of Huazheng. Zhu Cong and the others immediately thought of Huazheng instead. They knew this was a difficult situation, but seeing that Yang Tiexin was dying, they could not bear to cross his wishes and remained silent.

Wanyan Honglie had used every scheme to marry Bao Xiruo, but her heart had never forgotten her first husband. For over ten years he had treated her with deep affection and cherished her dearly. When she wished to have the old things from her former home in Jiangnan brought north, he had done it all just as she wished, hoping his sincerity might move her heart. And yet in the end it had come to this. Now even in death, her face showed satisfaction and joy. In all the eighteen years of their marriage, when had she ever looked at him with such an expression? For all that he was an imperial prince, in her heart he had never come close to a country bumpkin. His heart broke with grief. He turned and walked away.

Sha Tongtian and the others thought that though the three Quanzhen masters were wounded, with the Six Eccentrics added the odds were reversed, and a fight against the five of them would be hard to call. Seeing the prince turn away, they followed.

Qiu Chuji shouted, “Hey, San Heimao, leave the antidote behind!” Peng Lianhu laughed. “This stockade chief is surnamed Peng, and in the jianghu they call me the Butcher of a Thousand Hands. Has Daoist Elder Qiu lost his eyesight?” Qiu Chuji started, and thought, No wonder the man fights so well. So it’s him. Seeing that his shixiong was deeply poisoned and could be saved only by Peng’s own antidote, he shouted, “Three-legged cat or thousand hands, I don’t care. Leave the antidote, or you won’t get away.” His jian flashed like a rainbow, a green gleam shooting towards Peng Lianhu. Though Peng Lianhu had only one Judge’s Brush left, he was undaunted, and swung it up to parry.

Zhu Cong saw Ma Yu sitting on the ground circulating his neili, his right hand gone completely black, and asked, “Daoist Elder Ma, how were you hurt?” Ma Yu sighed. “That man Peng clasped hands with me. How was I to know he had poisoned needles hidden in his palm?” Zhu Cong said, “Hmm, that’s nothing to worry about.” He turned to Ke Zhen’e and said, “Big Brother, give me one of your caltrops.” Ke Zhen’e did not understand his purpose but took out a poisoned caltrop from his deerskin bag and handed it over. Zhu Cong took it and saw that Qiu Chuji and Peng Lianhu were fighting fiercely. With his own martial arts, he certainly could not separate them. He said, “Big Brother, let’s you and I go and part them. I have a way to save Daoist Elder Ma.” Ke Zhen’e nodded, and Zhu Cong called out loudly, “So it’s Chief Peng, the Butcher of a Thousand Hands. We’re all on the same side. Stop, quickly, I have something to say.” He pulled Ke Zhen’e along and the two darted forward, one with his fan, one with his staff, and parted Qiu Chuji and Peng Lianhu.

Footnotes

1. 完颜洪烈 — Wányán Hóngliè. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 完颜康 — Wányán Kāng. See Wuxia Wiki (spoiler). ↩

3. 穆念慈 — Mù Niàncí. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 师父 — shīfù. Teacher responsible for technical instruction and moral guidance. Shī means teacher. Fù means father. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 彭连虎 — Péng Liánhǔ. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 丘处机 — Qiū Chǔjī. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

7. 师兄 — shīxiōng. Male senior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Xiōng means older brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 马钰 — Mǎ Yù. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

9. 内力 — nèilì. Literally internal force. The kinetic manifestation of cultivated qi. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 包惜弱 — Bāo Xīruò. Her name meaning “cherishing the weak”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

11. 杨铁心 — Yáng Tiěxīn. His name meaning “iron heart”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

12. 梁子翁 — Liáng Zǐwēng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

13. 子午透骨钉 — Zǐwǔ Tòugǔ Dīng. A poisoned Bone-Penetrating Nail. 子午 is the midnight hour, by which its poison is said to take effect. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

14. 江湖 — jiānghú. Literally rivers and lakes. The world of martial artists, outside mainstream society. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

15. 师弟 — shīdì. Male junior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Dì means younger brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

16. 沙通天 — Shā Tōngtiān. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

17. 移形换位 — Yíxíng Huànwèi. An art of shifting position without bending the knees or taking a step, as Sha Tongtian does. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

18. 王处一 — Wáng Chǔyī. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

19. 江南六怪 — Jiāngnán Liù Guài. Literally six eccentrics of Jiangnan. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

20. 郭靖 — Guō Jìng. His name meaning “to pacify”; paired with Yang Kang’s 康 it recalls the Jingkang Shame of 1127. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

21. 华筝 — Huázhēng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

22. 拖雷 — Tuōléi. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩