The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 40 – Part 4

Ouyang Feng threw back his head with a long laugh, his arms flailing wildly in the air, and said to Huang Yaoshi,¹ “Emperor Duan, do you concede or not?” Huang Yaoshi seethed inwardly, and thought, So a madman takes the title of greatest martial artist under heaven. Won’t the brave men under heaven laugh the Old Beggar and me to scorn? Yet if he stepped forward to fight again, he judged he could hardly win, and could only nod.

Ouyang Feng said to Guo Jing, “My boy, your father’s martial arts are matchless, and no one under heaven can beat him. Are you pleased or not?” Ouyang Ke was the child of his affair with his sister-in-law. In name they were uncle and nephew, in truth father and son. At this moment his mind was half-lost, half-awake, and he took Guo Jing for Ouyang Ke, blurting out a secret he had carried hidden in his heart for decades. Guo Jing thought that none of them here was a match for him, and the title of first under heaven was his by right. He said, “None of us can beat you!”

Ouyang Feng giggled like a fool and asked Huang Rong, “Good daughter-in-law, are you pleased or not?” Huang Rong had watched her father, her shifu, and Guo Jing lose one after another, and had long been racking her brains for some way to deal with this madman. But try as she might, she could think of nothing. Hearing his question now, and seeing him caper and dance, his manner bizarre, the sunlight shining behind him so that even his shadow lurched and swayed, a sudden inspiration struck her. She said, “Who says you’re first under heaven? There’s one person you can’t beat.”

Ouyang Feng was furious. He pounded his chest and cried, “Who? Who? Tell him to come and fight me.” Huang Rong said, “His martial arts are formidable. You certainly can’t beat him.” Ouyang Feng said, “Who? Who? Tell him to come and fight me.” Huang Rong said, “His name is Ouyang Feng.” Ouyang Feng scratched his scalp and said hesitantly, “Ouyang Feng?” Huang Rong said, “That’s right. Your martial arts may be fine, but you can’t beat Ouyang Feng.”

Ouyang Feng grew only more confused. The name “Ouyang Feng” seemed so familiar that it must belong to the person closest to him. But then, who was he himself? He blurted out, “Who am I?”

Huang Rong gave a cold laugh. “You are you. Think hard now. Who are you?”

A chill ran through Ouyang Feng. He tilted his head and strained to think, but his mind was a tangle of confusion. The harder he tried to grasp who he was, the less he could make of it. People of exceptional intelligence, sitting alone deep in thought, will often wonder, Who am I, in the end? What was I before I was born? What will I be after I die? Since ancient times, philosophers have often tormented themselves with such questions. Ouyang Feng’s intellect was outstanding, and these doubts had at times flickered through the corners of his own mind. Now, after defeating three great masters in succession, his meridians running forward and backward without order, his mood swinging between joy and rage, he heard Huang Rong’s words and could only gaze about him in bewilderment, murmuring, “I, who am I? Where am I? What has happened to me?”

Huang Rong said, “Ouyang Feng wants to fight you. He wants to steal your Nine Yin Manual.²” Ouyang Feng said, “Where is he?” Huang Rong pointed at the shadow behind him and said, “Look, he’s right behind you.” Ouyang Feng whipped his head round and saw his own shadow cast on the rock face. Behind him there happened to be a flat, smooth stretch of white cliff. He turned to face it, the sunlight at his back throwing his shadow clear upon the stone. He threw a punch, and the shadow punched. He kicked out, and the shadow kicked. His foot slammed into the cliff, and it hurt badly. He snatched his foot back, stood dazed for a moment, and said in astonishment, “This… this… he… he…” Huang Rong said, “He’s going to hit you!”

Ouyang Feng crouched low and struck at the shadow with a palm. The shadow struck too, palm against palm. Ouyang Feng felt a firm force in the answering palm, which did not give an inch before the fierce power of his own. He grew frantic, striking left palm, right palm, blow after blow, and the shadow answered each in kind. The harder his force, the harder the reply, never yielding. Seeing how fierce his opponent’s attack was, Ouyang Feng turned aside to avoid it. Now he faced the sun, and the shadow fell behind him. Finding his foe suddenly gone, he bellowed, “Where are you running to?” and dashed several steps to the left.

The left side too was bare, smooth cliff. The sunlight cast his shadow upon the rock, very like an upright enemy. Ouyang Feng swung his right palm hard, striking the stone. The pain was so great that his knuckles felt as if they would shatter. He cried, “Formidable!” and at once lashed out with his left foot. The shadow on the cliff raised a foot to meet him. Their feet collided, and Ouyang Feng, unable to bear the pain, dared fight no more. He turned and fled.

This time he was running towards the sun, and indeed saw no foe. He sprang more than ten feet, then looked back, and there was the shadow, close on his heels. By now the shadow lay flat along the ground, no longer shaped like a pursuing man, but his muddled mind terrified him into crying, “You can be first under heaven. I admit defeat.” The shadow did not move. Ouyang Feng turned and ran again, and when he glanced back, the shadow still followed close. He could not drive it off, and he could not beat it. Frightened out of his wits, howling and shrieking, he fled straight down the mountain. After a short while his voice came faintly back from the slopes, still crying, “I’ve lost! Don’t chase me, don’t chase me!”

Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong watched the great martial master of his generation come to such an end, and could not help exchanging a sigh. Ouyang Feng’s cries came in broken snatches now, already several li³ away, but the valley walls threw the echoes back, like the howling of wolves and the wailing of ghosts. Though bright sunlight surrounded the four of them, a faint chill settled in their hearts. Hong Qigong sighed and said, “This man will not live long.”

Guo Jing suddenly muttered to himself, “I? Who am I?” Huang Rong knew him for a straight and simple man, and feared he would brood over the question until it drove him mad. She said quickly, “You are Guo Jing. Jing gege, don’t think about yourself. Think about other people’s affairs instead.” Guo Jing started and came to his senses. “That’s right. Shifu, Island Master Huang, let’s go down.”

Hong Qigong cursed him, “Silly boy, you still call him Island Master Huang? I’ll give you a few good boxes round the ears.”

Huang Rong’s cheeks flushed. Half smiling, she said, “Jing gege, you just called him that. Call him again!” Guo Jing started, then shouted at the top of his voice, “Father-in-law, Father!”

Huang Yaoshi roared with laughter. With one arm round his daughter and the other round Guo Jing, he said to Hong Qigong, “Seventh Brother, the way of martial arts is boundless. Seeing Old Venom’s martial arts today has left me both amazed and ashamed. Since Chongyang the Perfected One⁴ passed away, there has been no one first in martial arts under heaven.”

Hong Qigong said, “Rong-er’s cooking is first under heaven. That much I’ll vouch for.”

Huang Rong pressed her lips together and smiled. “No need for praise. Let us hurry down the mountain. I’ll cook you several fine dishes.”

Hong Qigong, Huang Yaoshi, Guo Jing and Huang Rong came down from Mount Hua together. Huang Rong chose rare delicacies with care and cooked them with exquisite skill, and Hong Qigong ate to his heart’s content. That night the four lodged at an inn. Huang Yaoshi and his daughter took one room. Guo Jing and Hong Qigong shared another.

When Guo Jing woke the next morning, Hong Qigong’s bed across the room was empty, and the old man was gone without a trace. On the table were scrawled three great greasy characters: “I’m off,” written, who could tell, with a chicken drumstick or a pig’s trotter.

Guo Jing felt a pang of loss and went at once to tell Huang Yaoshi and his daughter. Huang Yaoshi sighed. “Seventh Brother has gone through life like the divine dragon, whose head is seen but never its tail.” He looked at Guo Jing and Huang Rong for a moment, then said, “Jing-er, now that your mother is gone, the person closest to you in this world is your eldest shifu, Ke Zhen’e. Come back with me to Peach Blossom Island, and we’ll ask your eldest shifu to preside over your marriage to Rong-er. How does that sound?”

Guo Jing was overwhelmed with joy and grief, unable to speak. He could only nod again and again. Huang Rong pressed her lips together, half smiling. She wanted to call him “stupid” to his face, but glancing at her father, held her tongue.

Huang Yaoshi was a man of few words and had no taste for idle chatter with the young pair. After travelling together for a day or two, they parted. Guo Jing gave the little red horse to Huang Rong to ride, and bought a white horse for himself. The two rode side by side at a gentle pace.

Huang Rong said, “Daddy is wonderful. He’s let the two of us, a little husband and wife, run wild as we please. What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t fret over.” They talked over their route. Huang Rong wanted to see the sights along the way, travelling from west to east, from the Jingzhao Circuit east through the Nanjing Circuit to Luoyang and Kaifeng, then south through Huainan and Jiangnan to Zhexi. Huang Rong said, “It’s rare to have nothing on our minds. Let us enjoy ourselves and travel the world with Jing gege. What greater joy in life could there be? Jing gege, what do you say?” Guo Jing naturally said, “Yes!” This route would take them through Jin territory, but the Jin had lost every battle against the Mongols in recent years. East of Tong Pass, their writ no longer ran. The two rode on without a single Jin soldier or clerk to question them.

Before many days had passed they were through Guangde in the Jiangnan East Circuit. Suddenly a sharp cry of eagles rang from the sky. Two white eagles came flying fast from the north. Guo Jing was overjoyed. He gave a long whistle, and the two eagles swooped down, alighting on his shoulders. Seeing Huang Rong beside him, they were still more delighted, pecking gently at the pair’s bodies and arms in great affection. Guo Jing had left Mongolia in such haste that he had not been able to bring the eagles, and now, to see them again, his joy was boundless. He reached up and stroked their backs, when suddenly he noticed a small leather tube bound to the male eagle’s foot. He untied it at once and opened it. On the leather, scratched with the point of a knife, were several lines of Mongol script.

“Our army marches south and will attack Great Song. Though my father knows you have gone back south, he has not abandoned his plan to attack Song. Knowing your utter loyalty to your country, I risk death to bring you word. I brought about your mother’s terrible death and have no face to see you again. I go west to the far lands to live with my eldest brother and will never set foot on my native soil again. The proverb says that strong as a camel is, it cannot carry a thousand men. To stand up under such a load is to die for nothing. Take good care of yourself, and may your blessings and years be without end.”

There was no signature on the leather, but Guo Jing knew at once it was Princess Huazheng’s⁵ hand. He translated the Mongol words for Huang Rong and asked, “Rong-er, what should we do?”

Huang Rong asked, “She says a camel cannot bear the weight of a thousand men. What does that mean?” Guo Jing said, “It’s a Mongol proverb, like our saying ‘A single beam cannot hold up a great hall.’” Huang Rong said, “We already knew the Mongol army planned to attack Song. Still, sending word by eagle shows she means you well.”

One day the pair entered the Liangzhe West Circuit, not far from Changxing. Though this region was fertile land on the southern shore of Lake Tai,⁶ it lay close to the Huai and Yangtze war zone, and many common folk had fled, leaving their fields untilled. As they rode into the hills, the long grass on the path brushed the horses’ bellies, and there was no sign of anyone. Ahead lay a dark, dense forest.

As they rode on, the two white eagles suddenly shrieked angrily overhead and dived down steeply, vanishing behind the trees in an instant. Guo Jing and Huang Rong, knowing something was amiss, spurred their horses forward. Rounding the edge of the wood, they saw the pair of eagles circling and wheeling, locked in fierce combat with a single man. When they looked at him, it was Elder Peng⁷ of the Beggars’ Guild. He was swinging a steel dao, guarding his whole body, his bladework swift and ruthless. Brave as the eagles were, they could not get the better of him.

After some time of fighting, the female eagle suddenly threw caution aside and swooped down, snatched Elder Peng’s head-cloth and pecked hard at his head. Elder Peng slashed upward with his dao and sheared off a good many of her feathers.

Huang Rong saw that half of Elder Peng’s scalp was bare and bald, a great patch without a single hair, and the truth dawned on her at once. She thought, So when this eagle took a short arrow in the breast that day, it was this villainous beggar who shot it. And later, when the eagles fought a savage battle beside the Azure Dragon Shallows and tore away a patch of scalp, it was this wicked beggar’s. She shouted, “You there, Peng. See who we are.”

Elder Peng looked up, saw the pair of them, and was frightened out of his wits. He turned and ran. The male eagle swooped down hard, aiming for the top of his head.

Elder Peng whirled his dao to guard his crown, but the female eagle darted in from the side. Her long beak shot out and pecked his left eye blind. Elder Peng gave a great cry, flung away his dao, and threw himself into a thicket of thorns beside the path. The thorns grew very dense, but Elder Peng cared only for his life. Heedless of the thorns tearing his flesh, he rolled and crawled deep into the heart of the thorn-brake. There the eagles could not get at him, but they would not let the matter rest and kept circling above the thicket.

Guo Jing called the eagles back and said, “He has lost an eye. Let him be.” Suddenly a baby’s cries came from the long grass behind him. Guo Jing cried, “Ah!” He leapt from his white horse. Parting the long grass, he saw a baby sitting on the ground, and beside it a woman’s legs and feet showing. He pushed the grass aside further and saw a woman in black clothes, lying unconscious. It was Mu Nianci.⁸

Huang Rong cried out in joy and surprise, “Sister Mu!” She bent to raise her. Guo Jing picked up the infant. The baby stared at him with bright, steady eyes, showing no fear of strangers. Huang Rong pressed and kneaded Mu Nianci’s body at several points, then pinched hard at the acupoint beneath her nose.

Mu Nianci came slowly to. Opening her eyes and seeing the two of them, she could hardly believe it was not a dream. She said in a trembling voice, “You… you’re Big Brother Guo… Huang meizi⁹…” Guo Jing said, “House Sister Mu,¹⁰ how did you come to be here?” Mu Nianci struggled to rise, but before she could straighten herself she collapsed again. Her hands and feet were both bound with rope. Huang Rong hurried over and cut the bonds away.

Mu Nianci took the baby from Guo Jing’s arms at once. She steadied herself for a long moment, then, half-ashamed, half-embarrassed, told them what had happened. On Iron Palm Peak she had lost her virtue to Yang Kang,¹¹ and to her astonishment had found herself with child. She had hoped to return to her old home in Lin’an, but after a journey of bitter hardship eastward to the outskirts of Changxing, she could go no further. In the forest she had taken shelter in a ruined, abandoned house, and there given birth to a son. Unwilling to see anyone, she had lived by hunting and gathering fruit in the woods. Fortunately the child was bright and clever, and he eased no small part of her loneliness and sorrow.

Footnotes

1. 黄药师 — Huáng Yàoshī. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 九阴真经 — Jiǔyīn Zhēnjīng. Literally true scripture of the nine yin. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

4. 王重阳 — Wáng Chóngyáng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 华筝 — Huázhēng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 太湖 — Tàihú. Literally great lake. Lake Tai, on the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. See Wikipedia. ↩

7. 彭长老 — Péng Zhǎnglǎo. Literally Elder Peng. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 穆念慈 — Mù Niàncí. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

9. 妹子 — mèizi. The colloquial form of 妹妹, little sister; after a name it marks affection, not kinship. ↩

10. 世姊 — shìzǐ. Literally generational elder sister. A courteous address to an elder daughter of a family bound to one’s own by long friendship. ↩

11. 杨康 — Yáng Kāng. His name meaning “well-being”; paired with Guo Jing’s 靖 it recalls the Jingkang Shame of 1127. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩