The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 29 – Part 5

Guo Jing knew he had blundered without meaning to, and dared not talk back. He could only say, “Please calm your anger, Uncle. The fault is this lowly one’s. But what sort of strange fish was that?”

The fisherman cursed, “Are you blind? That’s a fish? That’s a golden salamander.”¹

Guo Jing endured the scolding without anger and said with an apologetic smile, “May I ask, Uncle, what is a golden salamander?”

The fisherman grew even more furious, shouting, “A golden salamander is a golden salamander, that’s what. What are you babbling about, you stinking little thief?”

Guo Jing needed him to point the way to Emperor Duan² and dared not offend him lightly. He kept bowing and making amends.

Huang Rong, standing to one side, could not contain herself and interjected, “A golden salamander is just a giant salamander that happens to be golden, the kind people call a baby fish. I keep several pairs at home myself. What’s so rare about that?”

The fisherman was slightly surprised to hear Huang Rong speak knowledgeably about the golden salamanders. He snorted, “Hmph, that’s big talk. Several pairs at home! Tell me, what use is a golden salamander?”

Huang Rong said, “What use? I thought it looked pretty, and it cries ‘ya-ya-ya’ like a small child, so I kept it for amusement.”

The fisherman, hearing her description was accurate, immediately softened. “Girl, if you truly keep them at home, then you must give me a pair.”

Huang Rong asked, “Why should I give you one?”

The fisherman pointed at Guo Jing. “I’d just hooked one when this oaf blundered in with a great shout, and that drew out another, and between them they snapped my rod. Golden salamanders are very clever. Once they’ve been caught out, you can forget about hooking them a second time. If I don’t make you pay, who should I make pay?”

Huang Rong laughed. “Even if you had landed it, you’d still only have one. Once you’d hooked the first, would the second have taken the bait?”

The fisherman had no answer and scratched his head. “Then just give me one.”

Huang Rong said, “If you separate a pair of golden salamanders, within three days both the male and female will die.”

The fisherman had no further doubts. He suddenly bowed three times in succession to Huang Rong and Guo Jing, crying, “All right, all right, call it my fault. Please, will you give me a pair?”

Huang Rong smiled slightly. “First tell me, what use do you have for a golden salamander?”

The fisherman hesitated for a moment, then said, “Fine, I’ll tell you. My shishu³ is from the country of Tianzhu.⁴ A few days ago he came to visit my shifu⁵ and caught a pair of golden salamanders on the road. He was extremely pleased. He said in Tianzhu there is a certain extremely venomous creature that harms people and livestock, and there is no good method to destroy it. But this golden salamander is that venomous creature’s natural enemy. He told me to raise them for a few days, and when he and my shifu have finished their discussions and descend the mountain, he would take them back to Tianzhu to breed. Who knew that…”

Huang Rong interrupted, “Who knew that through your carelessness, you let the golden salamanders escape into this waterfall!”

The fisherman was astonished. “Eh? How did you know?”

Huang Rong pursed her lips. “Isn’t that easy to guess? Golden salamanders are hard to keep at the best of times. I originally had five pairs, but two pairs escaped.”

The fisherman’s eyes lit up with joy. “Kind Miss, give me a pair. You’ll still have two pairs left. Otherwise, if my shishu blames me, I’ll be in no end of trouble.”

Huang Rong laughed. “Giving you a pair is no great matter. But why were you so fierce just now?”

Half laughing, half anxious, the fisherman said only, “Ai, it’s this rash, bad temper of mine. I really must mend my ways. Little brother, I beg your pardon. Kind Miss, where is your home? I’ll go with you to fetch them, shall I? It’s not far from here, is it?”

Huang Rong sighed softly. “Not close, yet not far either. Three or four thousand li,⁶ perhaps.”

The fisherman was startled. Every strand of his bristly beard stood on end. He cursed, “Little girl, so you were making a fool of me.” He raised a fist the size of a vinegar bowl, about to bring it down on Huang Rong’s head. But seeing her young and frail, he feared this blow might kill her. The fist hung in the air, not falling.

Guo Jing had already leapt to the side, ready to seize the fisherman’s wrist the moment he let the blow go.

Huang Rong laughed, “What’s the hurry? I’ve already thought of a plan. Jing gege, call the white eagles.”

Guo Jing did not understand her intention but followed her words and called the eagles.

The fisherman heard the call ring through the valley, full and deep-breathed, and was secretly alarmed. He thought, Lucky I didn’t come to blows just now, or this lad might have had the better of me.

Before long, the twin eagles flew over following the sound.

Huang Rong peeled off a piece of tree bark and with a needle pricked out a line of characters on the back of it, “Father, I want a pair of golden salamanders. Send them with the white eagle. Your daughter Rong kowtows.”

Guo Jing was overjoyed. He cut off two strips of sash and tied the bark firmly to the male eagle’s leg.

Huang Rong said to the twin eagles, “Go to Peach Blossom Island.⁷ Go quickly and return quickly.”

Guo Jing, fearing the twin eagles might not understand, pointed east and repeated three times, “Peach Blossom Island.”

The twin eagles cried out in unison, spread their wings and took flight, circled once in the sky, and, sure enough, flew east. In moments they had vanished into the clouds.

The fisherman was so shocked his mouth hung open and would not close. He muttered, “Peach Blossom Island? Peach Blossom Island? Huang Yaoshi, Old Mister Huang, what is he to you?”

Huang Rong said proudly, “He’s my father. What of it?”

The fisherman said, “Ah!” He did not continue.

Huang Rong said, “Within a few days my white eagles will bring the golden salamanders. Not too late, is it?”

The fisherman said, “Let us hope so.” He looked the pair up and down, his eyes full of suspicion.

Guo Jing bowed. “I have not yet asked your honourable name, Uncle.”

The fisherman did not answer but said, “What are you doing here? Who sent you?”

Guo Jing said respectfully, “I have business that requires me to see Emperor Duan.”

He had intended to follow Yinggu’s⁸ letter and say he came on Hong Qigong’s orders. But outright lying was something he simply could not bring himself to do.

The fisherman said harshly, “My shifu does not see outsiders. Why are you looking for him?”

It was Guo Jing’s nature to tell the truth. But fearing that would prevent them from seeing the Southern Emperor and cost Huang Rong her life, he had no choice but to deceive him for the moment. Just as he was about to speak, the fisherman saw his hesitant expression and Huang Rong’s haggard face, and guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. He barked, “You want my shifu to treat your injuries, don’t you?”

With his secret laid bare, how could Guo Jing hide it any longer? He could only nod in agreement, his heart filled with anxiety and regret, cursing himself for not being quick enough to lie first.

The fisherman said loudly, “As for seeing my shifu, you can put that out of your heads. I’d sooner take a scolding from my shifu and my shishu than have your golden salamanders, or your silver ones either. Now get off this mountain, quick!”

The words were flat and final, without the least room for give, and Guo Jing stood stunned for a long while, drawing a sharp breath. After a long time he stepped forward, bowed, and said, “The one injured and seeking treatment is the beloved daughter of Island Master Huang of Peach Blossom Island, and at present the Guild Chief of the Beggars’ Guild.⁹ I beg you, Uncle, for the sake of Island Master Huang and Guild Chief Hong, to show us the way and take us to pay our respects to Emperor Duan.”

When the fisherman heard the words “Guild Chief Hong,” his expression softened slightly. He shook his head. “This little girl is the Guild Chief of the Beggars’ Guild? I don’t believe it.”

Guo Jing pointed at the bamboo staff in Huang Rong’s hand. “This is the Dog-Beating Staff¹⁰ of the Beggars’ Guild Chief. I’m sure you will know it, Uncle.”

The fisherman nodded. “Then who is the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar to you?”

Guo Jing said, “He is the shifu of us both.”

The fisherman said “Ah,” and then, “So that’s how it is. You’ve come to find my shifu on the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar’s orders, then?”

Guo Jing hesitated and did not answer. Huang Rong quickly interjected, “That’s right.”

The fisherman lowered his head and mused to himself, “The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar’s friendship with my shifu is no ordinary thing. What should be done?”

Huang Rong thought, While he hesitates, I must press the advantage quickly. She added, “Shifu ordered us to seek an audience with Emperor Duan. Besides begging him to heal my injuries, we have important news to give him.”

The fisherman suddenly raised his head, his eyes like lightning, staring piercingly at Huang Rong. He said harshly, “The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar told you to seek an audience with ‘Emperor Duan’?”

Huang Rong said, “Yes!”

The fisherman pressed further, “Truly ‘Emperor Duan,’ not someone else?”

Huang Rong knew there must be some other story behind this, but she could not take back her words now. She could only nod.

The fisherman took two steps forward and shouted, “Emperor Duan has long since left this mortal world!”

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were greatly shocked and cried in unison, “Dead?”

The fisherman said, “When Emperor Duan left this mortal world, the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar was at his side. How could he then order you to come seek an audience with Emperor Duan? Who sent you? What plot have you come here to hatch? Out with it, now.” As he spoke he took another step forward, his left hand sweeping, his right hand reaching sideways to grab Huang Rong’s shoulder.

Guo Jing saw him pressing closer and closer and was already on guard. When the fisherman’s right hand was less than a foot from Huang Rong, his left palm curving with rounded force and his right driving straight, he used the move “Hidden Dragon, Do Not Act”¹¹ and set it before Huang Rong as a guard. This move was purely defensive, like erecting a sturdy wall between Huang Rong and the fisherman. If the enemy came, he blocked. If the enemy did not approach, the force dissolved into nothingness.

The fisherman saw him extend his palm, but the momentum slanted to one side, not striking at him. He was slightly surprised. His five fingers continued reaching for Huang Rong’s left shoulder, advancing another half foot. They did not touch Guo Jing’s palm, but suddenly met the force of Guo Jing’s move. A searing pain shot through his arm, his chest grew faintly warm, and his grab was flung straight back.

He feared Guo Jing would press the advantage and advance with a follow-up technique, so he quickly leapt back, his arm crossed before his chest, thinking, Years ago I heard Hong Qigong and my shifu talking of martial arts. This is his Eighteen Palms of Dragon Subduing,¹² no doubt of it. These two young people truly are his disciples. It won’t do to offend them lightly.

Seeing Guo Jing cup his fists, his manner respectful and humble, though this exchange had given him the advantage he showed not the slightest hint of smugness, the fisherman warmed to him a good deal more. He said, “You two may be the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar’s disciples, but you have not come here on his orders, have you?”

Guo Jing did not know how the man had guessed, but since the truth was spoken, he could not deny it. He could only nod.

The fisherman’s face was no longer as fierce as before. He said, “Even if Senior Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar himself were hurt as badly as this, I could not take him up the mountain to see my shifu. Please forgive me.”

Huang Rong said, “Truly not even my shifu?”

The fisherman shook his head. “No! Not if you beat me to death!”

Huang Rong pondered, He says Emperor Duan is already dead. He says our shifu Hong was at his side when he died. And he says that even if our shifu were hurt, he could not take him to see his own shifu, Emperor Duan. Unless he’s talking nonsense, there is so much here that is strange that I can make no sense of it. She considered further, His shifu is on this mountain, that is certain. No matter what, we must find a way to see him.

She raised her head and gazed up. The mountain peak pierced the clouds, extraordinarily steep, even higher than the Central Finger Peak of Iron Palm Mountain.¹³ The rocks were slick, without a single blade of grass. There was truly no path up the mountain. The great waterfall seemed to pour straight out of the sky. She thought, Li Bai¹⁴ wrote that the Yellow River’s waters come from the heavens. This sheet of water truly comes from the heavens.

Her gaze followed the waterfall downward as she planned how to ascend. Suddenly golden light flickered before her eyes, and something was moving beneath the water. She walked slowly to the water’s edge and peered carefully. A pair of golden salamanders were burrowing into the mountain rocks, their two tails wagging wildly outside. She quickly waved at Guo Jing, calling him over to look.

Guo Jing gave a cry. “I’ll go down and catch them.”

Huang Rong said, “Tsk! That won’t work. The water is so fierce, how can you keep your footing? Don’t be silly.”

Guo Jing thought, If I risk catching this pair of strange fish and presenting them to the fisherman, it might move his heart and lead him to take us to see his shifu. Otherwise, are we to stand by and watch while Rong-er’s injuries go untreated? He knew Huang Rong would certainly stop him, so without a word, not even removing his clothes, shoes, or socks, he leapt straight into the waterfall.

Huang Rong cried in alarm, “Jing gege!” She rose to her feet but could not steady herself, swaying as if about to fall.

The fisherman was also greatly startled. He reached out to steady her, then at once ran towards the thatched hut, apparently to fetch something to rescue Guo Jing.

Huang Rong sat back on the rock and watched Guo Jing. He stood firm on the bottom, enduring the waterfall’s wild pounding, his body not swaying. Slowly he bent to catch the pair of golden salamanders.

He grasped one in each hand, holding their tails and gently pulling outward, fearing he might injure the strange creatures and daring not use force. But the golden salamanders were covered in mucus, exceedingly slippery. With a few twists they escaped Guo Jing’s grasp and darted beneath the rocks one after the other. By the time Guo Jing lunged to seize them, how could he possibly be fast enough? In an instant they were gone without a trace.

Huang Rong cried out softly. Suddenly she heard a loud cry of alarm behind her. She turned her head and saw the fisherman standing behind her, a dark little boat on his left shoulder, two iron oars in his right hand, apparently about to enter the water to rescue Guo Jing.

Footnotes

1. 金娃娃 — jīn wáwa. Literally golden baby. A golden giant salamander, which is called 娃娃鱼 (wáwayú), baby fish, because its cry sounds like a baby’s. ↩

2. 段皇爷 — Duàn Huángyé. Literally Imperial Lord Duan. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 师叔 — shīshū. Junior lineage uncle. The shidi or shimei of one’s shifu. Shī means teacher. Shū means father’s younger brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 天竺 — Tiānzhú. The ancient Chinese name for India. ↩

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

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

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

8. 瑛姑 — Yīnggū. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

9. 丐帮 — Gàibāng. Literally beggars’ guild. The largest band in the jianghu, with members throughout the realm. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 打狗棒 — Dǎgǒu Bàng. The jade-green bamboo staff carried by the Guild Chief of the Beggars’ Guild as the token of his office. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

11. 潜龙勿用 — Qián Lóng Wù Yòng. Literally hidden dragon, do not act, the first line of the Qian hexagram in the Book of Changes. A move of the Eighteen Palms of Dragon Subduing. ↩

12. 降龙十八掌 — Xiánglóng Shíbā Zhǎng. Literally eighteen dragon-subduing palms. Hong Qigong’s palm technique. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

13. 铁掌山 — Tiězhǎng Shān. A mountain in Hunan, between Luxi and Chenxi, shaped like five fingers pointing at the sky; the stronghold of the Iron Palm Keep. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

14. 李白 — Lǐ Bái (701—762). The great Tang poet, renowned for his romantic and imaginative verse. The line recalled is from his “Bring in the Wine”. ↩