The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 8 – Part 1

Each shows his prowess

Wang Chuyi’s strides were swift. Before long he had led Guo Jing beyond the city walls, and after several more li they came round behind a mountain peak.¹ He kept lengthening his stride, meaning to test Guo Jing’s skill, and ran faster and faster. Guo Jing had studied the art of breath-control under Danyangzi Ma Yu,² and for two years had climbed down a cliff and back up again every night. So although he had just come through a fierce fight, he could bear this hard run well enough. A biting wind drove the snow into their faces. Wang Chuyi made for a small hill whose slopes lay deep in snow, slippery underfoot, and at the end he suddenly struck up a steep bank. But Guo Jing was well practised. His face did not so much as redden, his heart beat no faster, and he followed Wang Chuyi up the slope as if on level ground.

Wang Chuyi let go of his arm, a little surprised. “Your foundations are not at all badly laid. So how is it you couldn’t beat him?”

Guo Jing did not know what to say, and only smiled blankly.

Wang Chuyi asked, “Who is your shifu?”

Guo Jing had once been ordered to impersonate Yin Zhiping atop the cliff to deceive Mei Chaofeng, and he knew that one of Ma Yu’s shidi was this very Wang Chuyi. So he held nothing back, and told him briefly how the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan and Ma Yu had taught him. Wang Chuyi was delighted. “My eldest shige³ has taught you? Excellent! Then what have I to hold me back? I needn’t fear Qiu shige blaming me for helping you.”

Guo Jing stared at him, round-eyed and uncomprehending.

Wang Chuyi said, “That young prince, or whatever he is, that you were fighting, Wanyan Kang, is a disciple of my shixiong⁴ Changchunzi Qiu Chuji. Did you know that?”

Guo Jing was taken aback. “Is that so? I had no idea at all.” Danyangzi Ma Yu had instructed him in certain fundamentals of neigong, and the qinggong for going up and down cliffs known as the Golden Wild Goose Skill,⁵ and had given no little time to it. But he had never once coached him in fistwork or weapons, so Guo Jing knew nothing at all of the Quanzhen Order’s martial lineage. Hearing Wang Chuyi’s words, he remembered his bout that night with the young Daoist Yin Zhiping, whose moves did seem very like Wanyan Kang’s, and he could not help feeling alarmed. He bowed his head. “This disciple did not know the young prince was Daoist Elder Qiu’s disciple. I was rough and offended him. I beg the Daoist Elder’s forgiveness.”

Wang Chuyi roared with laughter. “You have a chivalrous heart, and I like that very much. How could I blame you?” Then his face grew stern. “The rules of our Quanzhen Order are very strict. When one of our disciples does wrong, he is punished twice as hard, and no favour is ever shown. This fellow is wild and reckless. I shall see to it with Qiu shixiong that he is properly punished.”

Guo Jing said, “If he is willing to marry Miss Mu, Daoist Elder, will you let him off?”

Wang Chuyi shook his head and said nothing. He saw that the boy was kind-hearted and dealt with others in a forgiving spirit, and this pleased him all the more. He thought, Qiu shixiong has always hated wickedness like a personal enemy, and the Jin most of all. How could he take the son of a Jin prince as a disciple? What Wanyan Kang has learned of our Order’s martial arts is already no shallow attainment. Clearly Qiu shige has spent a great deal of time and care on him. Yet there are strange, unorthodox methods in his martial arts as well, so he must have another teacher besides. That is harder still to make sense of. He said to Guo Jing, “Qiu shixiong has arranged to meet me at Daxing Fu.⁶ He will be here within the next few days, and we can talk it all over then. I hear he has taken a disciple surnamed Yang, who is to go to Jiaxing for a contest with you. I don’t know how good this Yang is. Set your mind at rest. While I am here, I will not let you come off the worse.”

Guo Jing had been charged by his six shifus to reach Jiaxing Fu in the Liangzhe West Circuit before midday on the twenty-fourth day of the third month, though to what end his six shifus had never once explained to him. He asked, “Daoist Elder, what sort of contest is this?”

Wang Chuyi said, “Since your six shifus have not yet told you plainly, it is not my place to speak for them.” He had once heard Qiu Chuji speak of the whole matter, and felt a deep respect for the righteous deed of the Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan. He and Ma Yu were of one mind: both hoped the Six Eccentrics would prevail. But he was the shidi,⁷ and it was not his place to urge Qiu shige outright to give way. Now that he had seen what sort of man Guo Jing was, he was quietly turning over how to lend him a hand without denting Qiu shige’s renown. He resolved to go to Jiaxing when the time came and act as circumstances allowed, mediating between the two sides.

Wang Chuyi said, “Let us go and see that Mu Yi and his daughter. The girl has a fiery temper. I only hope it doesn’t end in a death.” Guo Jing was alarmed. The two of them went directly to the Gaosheng Inn on the main street of the western city.

As they reached the inn door, more than a dozen retainers in brocade came out, bowed, and said to Wang Chuyi, “Our young master has sent us to invite the Daoist Elder and Master Guo to a banquet at the residence.” With that they presented a large red visiting card bearing the words This disciple, Wanyan Kang, respectfully kowtows. On the card presented to Guo Jing he styled himself your younger brother, awaiting your instruction. Wang Chuyi took the card and nodded. “We shall come presently.”

The lead retainer said, “Our young master asks the Daoist Elder and Master Guo to make do with these pastries and fruits. Where are you both staying? We will take them there at once.” The other retainers held up the boxes and lifted the lids. In the twelve boxes lay fine pastries and fresh fruit of every kind, most exquisitely made.

Guo Jing thought, My worthy brother Huang Rong loves fine pastries. I’ll keep plenty for him.

Wang Chuyi disliked Wanyan Kang’s character and intended to wave them away, but seeing Guo Jing’s pleased expression, thought, Young people have a sweet tooth. Small wonder! He smiled faintly and had the boxes left on the counter in the front hall. He asked which room Mu Yi was in and went in. Mu Yi lay on the bed, his face as white as paper, while his daughter sat on the edge of the bed, weeping without stop. When they saw Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing come in, both cried out at once, much taken by surprise. The girl rose at once, and Mu Yi sat up in bed.

When Wang Chuyi examined Mu Yi’s injuries, he saw that on the back of each hand were five finger-holes, deep enough to show bone, as though made by a weapon. Both hands were badly swollen. Golden-wound salve had been spread on the wounds, but for fear they would fester no one had dared bind them. He thought, baffled, Who can have taught Wanyan Kang so vicious and cruel a technique? A technique that wounds a man this badly takes long training, not a day or two. How could Qiu shige not know? And knowing, how could he let it be? He turned to the girl. “Young lady, what is your name?”

The girl said softly, “This humble woman is named Mu Nianci.” She glanced at Guo Jing, her eyes full of gratitude, then lowered her head again. Glancing round, Guo Jing saw the pole of the brocade banner propped against the foot of the bed, but the banner itself, embroidered with the four characters Martial Contest to Choose a Husband, had been cut to shreds. He wondered blankly, Does this mean she will never hold a contest for a husband again?

Wang Chuyi said, “Your father’s injuries are not slight. He must be properly treated.” Seeing how little baggage father and daughter had, he guessed they were short of money and would be hard put to pay for medicine. He took two ingots of silver from his robe and set them on the table. “I shall come and see you again tomorrow.” Without waiting for Mu Yi or Mu Nianci to thank him, he drew Guo Jing out of the inn.

Four of the brocade-clad retainers came up to meet them again. “Our young master is waiting for you at the residence. Please, Daoist sir and Master Guo, come over now.” Wang Chuyi nodded. Guo Jing said, “Daoist Elder, wait a moment for me.” He ran into the front hall, lifted the lids of the boxes Wanyan Kang had sent, chose four pastries, wrapped them in his handkerchief and tucked them inside his robe, then ran out again. He followed the four retainers with Wang Chuyi straight to the prince’s estate.

Before the gate Guo Jing saw tall pennant-poles on either side of the vermilion door, a pair of fierce, imposing jade lions crouching beside the gate, and a flight of white jade steps running straight up to the front hall. It was a seat of great power and pomp. In the middle of the main gate were written the three golden characters Prince Zhao’s Estate.⁸

Guo Jing knew that Prince Zhao was the sixth prince of the Great Jin, Wanyan Honglie, and his heart gave a lurch. So the young prince is Wanyan Honglie’s son. Wanyan Honglie knows me. If we meet here, I’m in trouble.

He was still hesitating when he heard a burst of drums and music. The young prince Wanyan Kang came hurrying out to greet them, a golden crown binding his hair, a red robe on his shoulders and a golden belt at his waist. But his eye was blackened and his nose swollen, the marks of their fierce fight still on him. Guo Jing’s left eye too was puffed up high, the corner of his mouth was badly split, and his forehead and right cheek were black with bruises. Each knew he cut a sorry figure, and they could not help smiling at each other.

Wang Chuyi frowned slightly at his rich dress, but said nothing and followed him into the hall. Wanyan Kang invited Wang Chuyi to take the seat of honour and said, “That the Daoist Elder and Brother Guo should honour me with a visit is the good fortune of three lifetimes.”

Wang Chuyi saw that he neither knelt nor kowtowed, nor called him shishu, and he grew angrier still. “How many years have you studied martial arts under your shifu?”

Wanyan Kang laughed. “What would this junior know of martial arts? I have only trained under my shifu for a few years. The Daoist Elder and Brother Guo must find my half-baked tricks laughable.”

Wang Chuyi snorted and said coldly, “The Quanzhen Order’s martial arts may not be much, but they are not half-baked. Your shifu will be here in a few days. Did you know that?”

Wanyan Kang smiled. “My shifu is right here. Does the Daoist Elder wish to see him?”

Wang Chuyi was taken aback. “Where?” he asked at once.

Wanyan Kang did not answer. He clapped his hands lightly twice and said to the retainers, “Set out the feast!” The retainers passed the order along. Wanyan Kang escorted Wang Chuyi and Guo Jing towards the flower hall.

They went along winding corridors and round painted pavilions, a long way. Guo Jing had never seen such luxury and magnificence, and his eyes were dazzled. All the while he was wondering how he would handle it when he met Wanyan Honglie, and he thought too, The Great Khan ordered me to assassinate Wanyan Honglie. But his son is Daoist Elder Ma’s and Daoist Elder Wang’s shizhi. Ought I to kill his father? He was deeply perplexed.

They reached the flower hall, where six or seven people were already waiting. One of them, with three lumps bulging on his forehead, was none other than Hou Tonghai the Three-Headed Dragon, hands on hips, glaring at him. Guo Jing started, but reasoned that with Daoist Elder Wang beside him the man would not dare do anything to him. Still, he was a little afraid, and turned his head so as not to meet his eyes. Then he remembered Hou chasing Huang Rong, and had to stifle a laugh.

Wanyan Kang beamed and said to Wang Chuyi, “Daoist Elder, these guests have long admired your great name and all wished to meet you.” He pointed to Peng Lianhu. “Chief Peng, you two have already met.” The two exchanged courtesies.

Wanyan Kang held out a hand towards a ruddy-faced, white-haired old man. “This is the Ginseng Immortal of the Changbai Mountains, Esteemed Senior Liang Ziweng.” Liang Ziweng cupped his fists. “Now that I have met the Iron-Foot Immortal, Wang the Perfected One, I can say this journey through the pass has not been wasted. And this is the Five-Finger Secret Dao, Venerable Lingzhi of the Mudra School of Qinghai. One of us from the north-east, the other from the south-west, ten thousand li apart, and here we meet. It must be a bond from a former life.” Wang Chuyi saluted to Venerable Lingzhi, and the monk pressed his palms together in reply.

Suddenly a hoarse voice said, “So the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan have the Quanzhen Order backing them. That is why they dare run rampant.”

Wang Chuyi turned and looked the man over. He had a glistening bald head without a single hair, his eyes webbed with red veins and bulging from their sockets. At so outlandish a sight a name came suddenly to mind, and he asked, “Might you, sir, be Esteemed Senior Sha, the Dragon King of Devil’s Gate?”

The man said loftily, “I am. So you know who I am, then.”

Wang Chuyi thought, We have always kept out of each other’s way, river water and well water. How can I have offended him? He answered mildly, “Esteemed Senior Sha’s great name is one this humble Daoist has long admired.”

The Dragon King of Devil’s Gate was named Sha Tongtian. His martial arts were far superior to his shidi Hou Tonghai’s, but he had a violent temper and would fly into rages while teaching, so of all his profound skill his four disciples had learned scarcely two or three parts in ten. The Four Ghosts of the Yellow River, in their fight in Mongolia, had gained no advantage at all over Guo Jing and lost face badly before Prince Zhao Wanyan Honglie. Thereafter the prince took far less notice of them. When Sha Tongtian heard of it he flew into a towering rage and beat all four of them savagely with fists and feet, until the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River very nearly became ghosts in earnest. Then he sent his shidi Hou Tonghai to seize Guo Jing, but Hou had been made a fool of by Huang Rong again and again and had lost all face. The more Sha Tongtian thought about it, the angrier he grew, and heedless of propriety before the company, he reached out suddenly and grabbed at Guo Jing.

Guo Jing sprang back two steps, and Wang Chuyi raised his sleeve and put himself in front of him.

Sha Tongtian snarled, “Very well. So you really are shielding this little beast?” With a whoosh his palm drove at Wang Chuyi’s chest. Wang Chuyi, seeing the viciousness of the attack, had no choice but to raise his own palm to meet it. A soft crack sounded as the two palms collided. Both were about to channel their neili⁹ and push, when suddenly a figure stepped out from beside them. A left hand pressed down on Sha Tongtian’s wrist, a right hand pressed down on Wang Chuyi’s wrist, and forced them apart with a splitting motion. Both men felt a jolt through their palms and drew back at once. Wang Chuyi and Sha Tongtian were both famous figures in the wulin of their time, each well aware of the other’s prowess. One had struck and the other had met the blow, and both had already gathered their force. Who would have thought anyone could step in so suddenly and shake both their palms apart? The man was dressed all in white, in light furs with a loose sash, his manner easy and assured. He looked thirty-five or thirty-six, with eyes that slanted upwards at the corners and handsome, refined features, yet he had a bold and commanding air. From his dress and bearing he was every inch the son of a rich and noble house.

Footnotes

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

2. 吐纳 — tǔnà. Literally expel and take in. A Daoist breathing practice, exhaling the stale breath and drawing in the fresh. ↩

3. 师哥 — shīgē. Male senior, the colloquial form of shixiong. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Gē means older brother. ↩

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

5. 金雁功 — Jīnyàn Gōng. Quanzhen qinggong that allows climbing up and down cliffs. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 大兴府 — Dàxīng Fǔ. Literally Daxing Prefecture. The Central Capital of the Jin, in modern Beijing. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

8. 赵王府 — Zhàowáng Fǔ. Wanyan Honglie’s residence in Zhongdu. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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