The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 15 – Part 1

Divine Dragon Sweeps Its Tail

Lu Guanying helped Wanyan Kang up and saw that his acupoints had been sealed. He could not stir a limb, and only his two eyes rolled bright and restless. Lu Chengfeng said, “I gave your shifu my word that I would let you go.” He could see that the sealing was not done by any technique of his own school. He could have released it himself, but that would be a discourtesy to whoever had sealed it, and he was about to ask when Zhu Cong came over, pinched a few times at Wanyan Kang’s waist, and patted him lightly on the back several times, freeing the acupoints. Lu Chengfeng thought, This man’s hands are formidable indeed. Wanyan Kang is no weakling, yet I never saw him return so much as a single move before he was sealed. In truth, had they fought it out, Wanyan Kang was no match for Zhu Cong, but he would not have been beaten at once. It was only that the hall’s collapse had thrown everyone into confusion, Wanyan Kang had been leading the officer surnamed Duan by the hand, and Zhu Cong, who excelled at striking when an opponent’s mind was elsewhere, had hit his mark at the first move.

Zhu Cong said, “And whatever sort of official this is, you’d best take him along too.” He freed the officer’s acupoints as well. The officer had been sure he was going to die. To hear that he was to be let go was more than he had dared hope for, and he bowed low in haste and said, “Great… great hero, for the gift of my life I… I, Duan Tiande,¹ will be grateful to the end of my days. If any of you should come to the capital for your amusement, I shall do my utmost to entertain you…”

When Guo Jing heard the name “Duan Tiande,” his ears rang as if struck. He asked in a trembling voice, “You… you are called Duan Tiande?”

Duan Tiande replied, “Indeed I am. What does the young hero wish of me?”

Guo Jing said, “Eighteen years ago, were you not a military officer in Lin’an?”

Duan Tiande said, “I was. How does the young hero know?” A little earlier he had heard Lu Chengfeng say that Lu Guanying was a disciple of Great Master Kumu,² and now he turned to Lu Guanying and said, “Great Master Kumu is my uncle, from before he left the household life. So you and I are practically family, ha ha!”

Guo Jing looked Duan Tiande over from head to foot, then from foot to head again, without speaking a word. Duan Tiande could only keep up an ingratiating smile. After a long while, Guo Jing turned to Lu Chengfeng and said, “Manor Master Lu,³ this humble one should like to borrow the rear hall of your honourable manor for a moment.”

Lu Chengfeng said, “By all means, by all means.”

Guo Jing took Duan Tiande by the arm and strode off towards the rear hall.

The faces of the Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan⁴ lit up with joy. Heaven’s net was wide indeed, they each thought, to bring them up against the villain here of all places. Had he not given his own name, how would they ever have known that this was the man the seven of them had once trailed across ten thousand li?⁵

Lu Chengfeng, his son and Wanyan Kang had no idea what Guo Jing meant to do, and they all followed him into the rear hall. A servant brought candles. Guo Jing said, “May I trouble you for paper and a brush?” The servant fetched them. Guo Jing said to Zhu Cong, “Second Shifu,⁶ please write out a spirit tablet for my late father.”

Zhu Cong took up the brush and wrote eight large characters on a sheet of white paper, Spirit Tablet of the Righteous Guo Xiaotian,⁷ and set it in the middle of the table.

Duan Tiande had supposed that the rear hall most likely meant a late supper. When he saw Guo Xiaotian’s name, he was frightened out of his wits. He turned his head, caught sight of Han Baoju’s squat, tubby frame, and in fright upon fright he wet his trousers. Eighteen years before, when he had fled north dragging Guo Jing’s mother with him and the Seven Eccentrics hard on his heels, he had stolen a few looks at Han Baoju through the crack of an inn door, and that strange, squat, tubby figure was not one a man forgot. In the great hall just now his own wits had been in such turmoil that he had paid no attention to anyone else. Now, seeing them plainly by candlelight, he could only shake.

Guo Jing thundered, “Would you rather die quickly and cleanly, or would you prefer to suffer a little first, piece by piece?”

Brought to this pass, Duan Tiande dared not hide anything. All he hoped was to push the blame elsewhere, and he said, “Your honoured father, the righteous Guo, had the misfortune to lose his life, and though it had a little to do with me, still… still, I was acting under orders from above. It was none of my choosing.”

Guo Jing barked, “Whose orders? Who sent you to harm my father? Out with it, out with it.”

Duan Tiande said, “It was the Sixth Prince of the Great Jin, His Highness the Sixth Prince, Wanyan Honglie.”⁸

Wanyan Kang cried in alarm, “What are you saying?”

Hoping to drag one more man into the water with him and lighten his own guilt, Duan Tiande told the whole tale from beginning to end, in every detail: how Wanyan Honglie had set his heart on Yang Tiexin’s wife, née Bao,⁹ how he had bribed Song officials with gold and silver to send soldiers to Niu Family Village to murder Yang and Guo, how he had then played the gallant rescuer, fought his way in and carried her off, how Duan Tiande himself had fled to Zhongdu only to be seized by Jin soldiers for a porter and hauled off to Mongolia, how he had lost Guo Jing’s mother in the confusion of battle, and how he had made his way back to Lin’an and risen in rank ever since. Having told it all, he went down on both knees and said to Guo Jing, “Hero Guo, Your Honour Guo, truly none of this can be laid at this humble servant’s door. When I saw your honoured father that day, so commanding, so noble in his bearing, I was quite resolved to spare him. I even hoped to make a friend of him. Only… only… I am a very petty official, and the decision was never mine to make. I admired him, and I had the virtue that cherishes life, but it was all in vain… My name is Duan Tiande,¹⁰ and that Heaven’s virtue lies in cherishing life is a truth I have understood since I was a little boy…” From the corner of his eye he saw Guo Jing’s livid face, not moved in the least by anything he said, and at once he threw himself down before Guo Xiaotian’s spirit tablet and knocked his head on the floor again and again, crying, “Master Guo, may your spirit in Heaven understand. The enemy who harmed you was the Sixth Prince of Jin, Wanyan Honglie. It was that beast, not a creature like me, lower than an ant. Your son the Young Master has grown into such a hero today, your spirit in Heaven must be glad of it. Protect me, old sir, and let him spare the dog’s life of this lowly one…”

He was still babbling on when Wanyan Kang sprang up without warning and struck down with both hands. There was a dull crack, and Duan Tiande fell dead with his skull shattered. Guo Jing slumped over the table and wept aloud.

Lu Chengfeng, his son, and the Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan each paid their respects before Guo Xiaotian’s spirit tablet in turn. Wanyan Kang too went down on his knees and knocked his head on the floor a few times, then rose and said, “Brother Guo, only today have I learned that my… that Wanyan Honglie is your great enemy and mine. Not knowing it, this younger brother did everything against all right, and deserves to die ten thousand times.” Thinking of the suffering his own mother had endured, he too wept bitterly.

Guo Jing said, “What do you intend to do?”

Wanyan Kang said, “Only today did I learn that my true surname is Yang. The name Wanyan has nothing to do with me. From now on, I am Yang Kang.”

Guo Jing said, “Good. Spoken like a brave man who does not forget his roots. Tomorrow I go to Yanjing to kill Wanyan Honglie. Will you come or not?”

Yang Kang thought of all the care Wanyan Honglie had lavished on raising him and hesitated, giving no answer. Seeing displeasure already showing on Guo Jing’s face, he said hastily, “I’ll go with you, Big Brother, and take our revenge.”

Guo Jing was greatly pleased and said, “Good. Your late father and my mother both told me that in years past your father and mine made an agreement that we two should swear brotherhood. What say you?”

Yang Kang said, “I could wish for nothing better.”

They compared their ages, and Guo Jing proved the elder by a month. Before Guo Xiaotian’s spirit tablet the two bowed to each other eight times and became sworn brothers.

That night they all rested at Returning Clouds Manor.¹¹ The next morning the Six Eccentrics, Guo Jing, and Yang Kang took their leave of the Manor Master and his son.

The Manor Master gave each of them a generous travelling purse.¹² Guo Jing had already accepted the Manor Master’s congratulatory gift of gold, and when more was offered he thanked him and declined it.

Mei Chaofeng¹³ remained at Returning Clouds Manor. Lu Chengfeng and his wife assigned estate servants and maids to attend her well.

Once outside the manor, Guo Jing said to his six shifus, “Brother Yang and I are going north to kill Wanyan Honglie. I beg my shifus for their guidance.”

Ke Zhen’e said, “The Mid-Autumn appointment is a long way off yet, and we have nothing else to do. We’ll take you there and see this great deed done.”

Zhu Cong and the others all agreed. Guo Jing said, “Shifus, your kindness to me weighs as heavy as a mountain. Wanyan Honglie’s martial arts are ordinary, and with Brother Yang to help me, killing him should not be hard. For my sake you have not been back to Jiangnan in more than ten years, and now you could be home in a few days. I dare not put you to any more trouble.”

The Six Eccentrics thought there was truth in this. They had seen how far his martial arts had come, and they could let him go without worry. So they gave him a great deal of careful advice, and Guo Jing promised to heed every word.

At last Han Xiaoying said, “You need not keep the Peach Blossom Island engagement.” She knew Guo Jing was honest and steadfast and always kept his word, but Huang Yaoshi was strange and cruel by nature, and if Guo Jing went to Peach Blossom Island¹⁴ to keep the appointment, it was bound to bring more harm than good.

Guo Jing said, “If I don’t go, won’t I be breaking faith with him?”

Yang Kang broke in, “What faith do you owe a demonic heretic like that? You’re far too rigid, Big Brother.”

Ke Zhen’e gave a snort. “Jing-er, how can men who walk the way of the xia say a thing and not stand by it? Today is the fifth day of the sixth month. On the first day of the seventh we meet at the Drunken Immortal Wineshop¹⁵ in Jiaxing and go to Peach Blossom Island together, and that is not a month away. Take your little red horse to Zhongdu now and have your revenge. Your sworn brother need not go with you. If you get what you want, so much the better. If not, a junzi¹⁶ can take his revenge ten years on and still not be late. Leave the Wanyan traitor for later and kill him with your own hand then.”

When Guo Jing heard his eldest shifu say that they would go into danger with him, he was overcome with gratitude and threw himself down to bow.

The Six Eccentrics waited until Yang Kang had gone off elsewhere, and then Quan Jinfa said, “Your sworn brother was raised in wealth and rank, and he doesn’t strike me as an upright junzi. You must be careful of him.”

Guo Jing replied, “Yes.”

Zhu Cong laughed. “Huang Yaoshi’s daughter is quite different from her old man. There’s no need for us to stay angry with her any longer. Isn’t that so, Third Brother?”

Han Baoju stroked his moustache. “That little brat called me a dumpy winter melon. Does she think she’s such a beauty herself? Well, she’s better-looking than I am, I’ll grant her that much.” And he could not help laughing.

Guo Jing was delighted and much comforted to see that his shifus no longer bore Huang Rong any ill will. Then it came to him that he had no idea where she was now, and he felt miserable again.

Quan Jinfa said, “Jing-er, go quickly and return quickly. We shall wait for good news in Jiaxing.”

The Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan raised their whips and rode south. Guo Jing led the red horse and stood by the roadside until the six had ridden beyond sight. Only then did he mount and go to find Yang Kang. “Worthy Brother,” he said, “this horse of mine is extremely fast. It can take me to Yanjing and back in ten days or so. I’ll ride with you for a few days first.”

The two of them rode north side by side at an easy pace.

A host of feelings stirred in Yang Kang’s heart. A month ago he had come south with guards on either hand, an imperial envoy of the suzerain state, and what grandeur that had been. Now he was going north without a sound, and all his wealth and glory had turned overnight into a spring dream. That Guo Jing no longer wanted him to go to Zhongdu for the assassination at least spared him an awkward choice. But should he find some way to warn Wanyan Honglie in secret, so that he could be on guard and hide? Over that he agonised long and hard. Guo Jing, seeing him so unsettled, supposed he was mourning his dead parents and kept trying to console him.

At midday they reached Liyang. They were about to look for an inn to eat at when a serving boy came up to them, smiling. “Would you be Master Guo and Master Yang? Your wine and food have been ready for some time. Please come in and eat.”

Guo Jing and Yang Kang were both puzzled. Yang Kang asked, “How do you know us?”

The serving boy smiled. “Somebody came by early this morning and left instructions. He described what Master Guo and Master Yang look like and had our humble inn get wine and food ready for you.” With that he led their horses away to be fed.

Yang Kang gave a snort. “Manor Master Lu of Returning Clouds Manor is very attentive.”

The two went in and sat down, and the serving boy brought the wine and food. It was the finest huadiao wine and dainty pastries, and the dishes were elegant too. There was even a bowl of chicken stewed with Mongolian mushrooms, Guo Jing’s favourite of all. They ate with great relish and rose to settle the bill. The innkeeper smiled. “Don’t trouble yourselves, sirs. The bill has been paid.” Yang Kang smiled and gave a liang¹⁷ of silver as a tip, and the serving boy thanked them over and over and saw them all the way out of the door.

At dusk they reached Jintan, and there too the inn had wine and food ready. It was the same for three days running. That day the two crossed the river to Gaoyou, and again someone came from an inn to meet them. Yang Kang said coldly, “Let us see how far Returning Clouds Manor sees its guests off.”

But Guo Jing’s suspicions had long been roused. In these three days every inn had prepared one or two dishes among the rest that he particularly liked. If Lu Guanying had sent someone to arrange it, how could he know Guo Jing’s tastes so well? After the meal Guo Jing said, “Worthy Brother, I’ll go on ahead and take a look.” He spurred the red horse, and in the space of a breath had galloped past three staging points to Baoying. Just as he had suspected, no one was waiting for him there.

Footnotes

1. 段天德 — Duàn Tiāndé. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 枯木大师 — Kūmù Dàshī. Literally Great Master Withered Tree. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 陆乘风 — Lù Chéngfēng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

5. 里 — lǐ. A traditional unit of distance, about 500 metres or one-third of a mile. ↩

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

7. 郭啸天 — Guō Xiàotiān. His name meaning “roaring at the sky”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

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

10. 天德 — Tiāndé. His name meaning “Heaven’s Virtue”. ↩

11. 归云庄 — Guīyún Zhuāng. Literally returning clouds manor. The Lu family manor on Lake Tai. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

12. 程仪 — chéngyí. A gift of money to a traveller for the expenses of the road. ↩

13. 梅超风 — Méi Chāofēng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

14. 桃花岛 — Táohuā Dǎo. Huang Yaoshi’s island in the East China Sea. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

15. 醉仙楼 — Zuìxiān Lóu. The Drunken Immortal Wineshop, on the shore of South Lake in Jiaxing. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

16. 君子 — jūnzǐ. Literally noble man. The Confucian ideal of the morally cultivated man. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

17. 两 — liǎng. A traditional unit of weight, one-sixteenth of a jin, and the unit in which silver was reckoned. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩