The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 8 – Part 2

Wanyan Kang laughed. “This is the Young Master of White Camel Mountain, in the Kunlun of the Western Regions, Young Master Ouyang. His given name is the single character Ke.¹ Young Master Ouyang has never been to the Central Plains before. I believe this is the first time any of you have met?”

The man had appeared out of nowhere. Not only had Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing never seen him before, even Peng Lianhu, Liang Ziweng and the others did not know him. All of them were secretly impressed by the skill he had just shown, yet the name of White Camel Mountain in the Western Regions meant nothing to any of them.

Ouyang Ke cupped his fists and said, “I ought to have reached the Central Capital several days ago, but a small matter on the road held me up, and so I am late. Please forgive me, all of you.”

Guo Jing, hearing Wanyan Kang call him the Young Master of White Camel Mountain, had at once thought of the white-clad women who had tried to take his horse on the road. Now, hearing what the man said, he felt a chill. Can my six shifus² have fought him already? I wonder if any of them were hurt.

Wang Chuyi saw that every one of them was a formidable fighter. Judging by the way Ouyang Ke had pressed down just now, his neili³ must be about equal to his own, though the force behind it was decidedly strange. If things went badly and it came to blows, he could not be sure of winning even one against one, and if several of them came at him together, how could he hold them off? He asked Wanyan Kang, “Where is your shifu? Why not invite him out to meet his guests?”

Wanyan Kang said, “Yes!” He turned to an attendant. “Ask my shifu to come out and meet our guests!” The attendant answered and went. Wang Chuyi was much relieved. He thought, With Qiu shixiong⁴ here, however many strong enemies there are, the three of us can at least hold our own.

Before long there came the tramp of boots, and through the door of the hall walked a stout, well-fed military officer in brocade, a thick beard under his chin. He was in his forties and looked rather imposing. Wanyan Kang went up to him, said “Shifu,” and added, “This Daoist Elder very much wants to meet you. He has asked several times already.”

Wang Chuyi was furious. He thought, You young cur, how dare you make sport of me like this? Then he thought, From the way this officer walks, there’s no great skill in him. That boy’s uncanny martial arts were certainly not taught by him.

The officer said, “Daoist, what business do you have wanting to see me? I have never cared for monks, Daoists or nuns.”

Wang Chuyi was so angry that he laughed. “I have come to beg alms of Your Excellency. A thousand liang⁵ of silver, if you please.”

This officer was named Tang Zude,⁶ a captain of the personal guard under Prince Zhao Wanyan Honglie. He had taught Wanyan Kang martial arts for two years when the prince was a boy, and so everyone in Prince Zhao’s estate called him shifu. Now, hearing the Daoist open his lion’s jaws and ask for a thousand liang of silver at one go, he started and snapped, “Nonsense!”

Wanyan Kang broke in, “A thousand liang of silver? A trifle, a trifle.” He turned to his attendant and said, “Quick, prepare a thousand liang of silver and have it taken to the Daoist sir presently.”

At this Tang Zude’s mouth fell open and stayed open. He looked Wang Chuyi up and down, then down and up again, unable to guess who this Daoist could be that the Young Prince should treat him so handsomely…

Wanyan Kang said, “Please take your seats, everyone. Daoist Elder Wang is newly come, so please take the seat of honour.” Wang Chuyi’s protests were of no use, and in the end he took the seat of honour.

After three rounds of wine, Wang Chuyi said, “All of you are masters of great renown in the wulin.⁷ I ask you to say, in fairness, what should be done about the Mu father and daughter?”

All eyes turned to Wanyan Kang, waiting to see how he would answer.

Wanyan Kang poured a cup of wine, rose to his feet, and presented it to Wang Chuyi with both hands. “First let me drink to the Daoist Elder. Whatever the Daoist Elder says should be done in that matter, I shall obey in every respect.”

Wang Chuyi was taken aback. He had never expected him to agree so readily. He raised the cup and drained it at a draught. “Good! Let us invite this man Mu here and talk it over.”

Wanyan Kang said, “Just what we should do. Might I trouble Brother Guo to go and invite Master Mu?”

Wang Chuyi nodded.

Guo Jing left the banquet hall and departed the Prince’s estate, accompanied by two attendants. They arrived at the Gaosheng Inn and went to Mu Yi’s room, only to find it empty. Father and daughter were gone, and their bundles and clothes with them. When he asked the serving boy, he was told that someone had just come and taken them away. Their bill for room and board had been paid, and they would not be back. Guo Jing asked quickly who had taken them, but the serving boy could tell him nothing to the purpose.

Guo Jing hurried back to Prince Zhao’s estate. Wanyan Kang left his seat to greet him, smiling. “Brother Guo, I have given you a tiring errand. Where is Master Mu?”

Guo Jing told him. Wanyan Kang sighed. “Aiyo, then I have done them a wrong.” He turned to an attendant. “Take more men, quickly, and search everywhere. You must bring Master Mu back.” The attendant acknowledged the order and departed.

Now there was no one to bear witness either way, and Wang Chuyi could hardly say more. Suspicious, he thought, To fetch the man Mu, one or two attendants would have done. Yet this fellow wanted Guo Jing to go himself. Plainly he wanted him to see with his own eyes that the Mus were gone, so that he could bear witness to it. He said with a cold laugh, “No matter who is playing tricks, the truth will out in the end.”

Wanyan Kang laughed. “The Daoist Elder is right. I wonder what trick Master Mu is playing. Very strange indeed.”

Tang Zude had been sorely put out ever since he saw the Daoist cheat the Young Prince of a thousand liang of silver at a stroke, and it hurt him as if the money were his own. Now, seeing the Daoist sit there so sternly and treat the Young Prince with so little courtesy, he grew angrier still, and spoke up. “Which temple are you from, Daoist? What gives you the right to come sponging here?”

Wang Chuyi said, “And which country do you belong to, General? What gives you the right to hold office here?” He could see Tang Zude was plainly a Han man serving the Jin as a military officer and oppressing his own people, and he could not resist the gibe.

Tang Zude hated more than anything in his life having his Han origins brought up. He considered himself a man of fine martial arts who served the Great Jin with wholehearted loyalty, yet the Jin court had never let him command troops, nor given him a provincial post with any real power. After more than twenty years of hard service his rank was not small, but he still drew pay for an idle post in Prince Zhao’s estate. Wang Chuyi’s words had touched him on the raw. His face changed at once. With a roar like a tiger he leapt to his feet and, reaching past Liang Ziweng and Ouyang Ke, drove a fist at Wang Chuyi’s face with all his might.

Wang Chuyi stretched out his right hand with his chopsticks and caught Tang Zude by the wrist, laughing. “If you won’t speak, that’s that. Why resort to violence?”

Tang Zude’s fist froze in mid-air. He strained again and again, yet could not advance half an inch. Astonished and furious, he cursed, “You damned Daoist, you’re using black magic!” He pulled with all his strength to get his arm back, but he could not draw it in. His face swelled purple, and he was utterly mortified.

Liang Ziweng, who sat beside him, laughed. “Don’t be angry, General. Sit down and have some wine!” He reached out to press down on Tang Zude’s right shoulder.

Wang Chuyi knew the strength in his chopsticks was more than enough to hold Tang Zude’s wrist, but not enough to withstand Liang Ziweng’s press. At once he let go with the chopsticks and in the same movement pressed down on Tang Zude’s left shoulder. The shift was so swift that Liang Ziweng had no time to withdraw, and both forces landed on Tang Zude’s shoulders simultaneously.

Tang Zude’s forebears must truly have stored up virtue, and his name, which means ancestral virtue, was no idle boast, for two great masters were attacking him at once, and that was no small honour. His hands shot forward of their own accord, and with two plops his left hand sank into a dish of fish in wine-lees sauce, his right into a bowl of hot-and-sour soup. With a crunch dish and bowl shattered, fish bones and shards of porcelain stabbed into him together, and hot soup ran with his blood. Tang Zude howled and flailed his hands about, splashing grease and soup everywhere. Everyone roared with laughter and dodged hastily aside. Overcome with shame and fury, Tang Zude rushed off inside. The servants came forward, swallowing their laughter, to clear up, and it was a good while before all was put right.

Sha Tongtian said, “The might of the Quanzhen Order holds north and south in awe, and its fame is well deserved. I should like to ask the Daoist Elder about something.”

Wang Chuyi said, “You are too kind. Please speak, Esteemed Senior Sha.”

Sha Tongtian said, “The Yellow River Guild and the Quanzhen Order have always left each other alone. Why is the Daoist Elder throwing all his weight behind the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan to make difficulties for me? Your Quanzhen Order may be many and mighty, but I am not afraid.”

Wang Chuyi said, “Esteemed Senior Sha, there is some misunderstanding here. I know the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan by repute, but I am not acquainted with a single one of the seven. A shixiong of mine has even had a small quarrel with them. As for helping the Seven Eccentrics make trouble for the Yellow River Guild, there is no question of it.”

Sha Tongtian said in a strange voice, “Excellent. Then hand that boy over to me.” He sprang from his seat and his hand came down at Guo Jing’s neck.

Wang Chuyi knew Guo Jing could not dodge this grab. He placed a hand on Guo Jing’s shoulder and gave the slightest push. Guo Jing flew out of his chair as though his body were not his own. With a crack Sha Tongtian’s five fingers came down and the back of the chair snapped. A grip that tore wood as if it were rotten was a rare and ferocious skill indeed. Having missed, Sha Tongtian shouted harshly, “So you’re set on protecting the boy?”

Wang Chuyi said, “I brought the boy into the Prince’s estate, and naturally I shall see him safely out again. If Brother Sha cannot let the matter rest, why not take it up with him another day?”

Ouyang Ke said, “How has this young man offended Brother Sha? Let us hear it, so we may judge fairly between you.”

Sha Tongtian thought, This Daoist is certainly no weaker than I am. My shidi⁸ and I between us can hardly keep the little beast here. My worthy brother⁹ Peng will help me, but this Ouyang Ke is formidable, and I don’t know where he comes from. If he has thrown in with this ox-nosed Daoist, things will be awkward. He said, “I have four good-for-nothing disciples who went with Prince Zhao to Mongolia on a matter of great importance. Success was in sight when this Guo brat sprang out of nowhere and spoiled everything, and Prince Zhao was furious. Think about it, all of you. If we can’t even deal with a boy like this, did Prince Zhao invite us here just to eat and drink?”

His temper was violent, but he was no reckless fool. With those few words he made Guo Jing the target of every arrow. Apart from Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing, everyone at the table had been engaged by Prince Zhao with rich gifts, and Wanyan Kang was the Prince’s heir besides. Sha Tongtian’s words roused them all, and each one resolved to detain Guo Jing and deliver him to the Prince.

Wang Chuyi was secretly anxious, searching for a way out, but surrounded by formidable foes, he was genuinely at a loss. He had supposed that since Wanyan Kang was his shizhi,¹⁰ the boy would not dare do anything to him, Jin prince or not. He had never dreamed that he would not only show his shishu¹¹ none of the respect due to an elder, but would have so many masters lying in wait in his residence. Had he known, he would never have walked so rashly into the tiger’s den for a banquet. Even if he had to come and get to the bottom of things, he should not have brought a boy like Guo Jing with him. If he made his escape alone, he reckoned they could not stop him, but to save Guo Jing as well would be no easy matter. He thought, I mustn’t break with them openly yet. I must play for time and find out what each of them can do.

He said, “Your great names ring far and wide, and I have long admired them. To have the good fortune of meeting so many worthies today is a joy indeed.” He pointed at Guo Jing. “This boy knows neither the height of Heaven nor the depth of the earth, and he has offended Dragon King Sha. Since you all wish to keep him, this humble Daoist stands alone and weak, and though I know it is wrong, I can hardly go against you all. I only make so bold as to ask each of you to show a little of your skill, so that the boy may see it is not that I will not help him, but that I truly cannot.”

He said this partly to play for time, in the hope that things might take a turn, and partly to find out how strong each of them really was.

Hou Tonghai the Three-Headed Dragon had been fuming half the day. He left his seat at once, tucked up his long robe and shouted, “Let me sample your fine moves first.”

Wang Chuyi said, “With my paltry skill, how would I dare cross hands with any of you? I hope Brother Hou will show us his finest art and open my eyes. It will teach this boy a lesson too, so that he knows there is a sky beyond the sky and men above men, and will never again be so rash as to show off.”

Hou Tonghai sensed that the words seemed to carry a sting, though what the sting might be he could not fathom. He merely bellowed, “Right!”

Sha Tongtian thought, The Quanzhen Order is many and powerful, and dangerous to cross. Better not to fight him at all. He said to Hou Tonghai, “Shidi, why don’t you show us your Burying a Man in Snow, and ask Wang the Perfected One for his advice?” Wang Chuyi demurred repeatedly.

The flying snow had still not ceased. Hou Tonghai ran out into the courtyard, sweeping and scraping with both arms until he had piled a small snow mound some four feet high. He packed it firm by treading it with his feet, then stepped back three paces. Suddenly he leapt into the air, head down and feet up, and plunged headfirst into the snow mound with a muffled thud. His head buried itself in the snow, which rose to his chest.

Guo Jing watched, quite unable to understand what manner of skill this was. All he could see was the man standing upside down, his head planted on the ground and his body stuck in the snow, feet together, not stirring in the least.

Sha Tongtian said to Wanyan Kang’s attendants, “May I trouble you stewards to pack the snow down around Master Hou?” The attendants all thought this great fun, and grinning, they trod the snow hard all round Hou Tonghai’s chest.

The truth of it was that Sha Tongtian and Hou Tonghai had ruled the Yellow River, and and both were superb in the water. To know the water well is above all to swim beneath it without coming up for breath, and so Hou Tonghai could bury his head in water, snow or earth, hold his breath, and stay there for as long as it takes to eat a meal. It was something he practised every day.

The company drank and praised him. After a long while Hou Tonghai braced himself with both hands and, with a Carp Flip, pulled his head out of the snow and swung himself upright.

Footnotes

1. 欧阳克 — Ōuyáng Kè. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

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

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

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

6. 汤祖德 — Tāng Zǔdé. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

7. 武林 — wǔlín. Literally martial forest. Those who actually practise, teach or study martial arts. The wulin sits inside the jianghu and is narrower than it: every member of the wulin belongs to the jianghu, but a pedlar or physician of the jianghu who never trained is no part of the wulin. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

9. 贤弟 — xiándì. Literally worthy younger brother. A courteous address to a younger man, used between friends and sworn brothers. ↩

10. 师侄 — shīzhí. Lineage nephew. The disciple of one’s shixiong, shidi, shijie or shimei. Shī means teacher. Zhí means nephew. ↩

11. 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. ↩