The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 10 – Part 4

Hearing the gentleness in her tone, Yang Guo placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “Little Sister, I have a request.” Wanyan Ping’s heart pounded wildly. She had already guessed three parts of what he was going to say. “What is it?” she asked softly.

Yang Guo said, “I want to kiss your eyes. Do not worry. I will only kiss your eyes. I will do nothing else to you.”

At first, Wanyan Ping had thought he was about to propose marriage, or that he wanted physical intimacy. If she refused, and he used force, even the slightest force, how could she be his match? Besides, in her maiden’s heart, with her hand held in his strong, rough palm, she was already lost in confusion. Even if he did not use force, it would be difficult to refuse him. To learn that he only wanted to kiss her eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief, yet at the same time felt a faint, inexplicable disappointment, even some surprise. Truly, her heart was a tangled skein of silk.

Her lovely eyes rippled as she gazed at him, a trace of shyness in her look. Yang Guo stared into her eyes, and suddenly he remembered Xiaolongnü, how, at their final parting, she had looked at him with that same mixture of shyness and deep affection. He could not stop himself from crying out and leaping to his feet. Wanyan Ping was startled, but could not bring herself to ask what was wrong.

Yang Guo’s mind was in turmoil. Before his eyes, Xiaolongnü’s gaze flickered everywhere. The day he had seen that look, he had been an unawakened youth, and toward Xiaolongnü he had always been respectful, so much so that he had not understood its meaning at all. But since descending the mountain, spending days with Lu Wushuang, and now in this intimate moment with Wanyan Ping, a sudden flash of illumination had burst through his mind. He understood at last. He understood the tenderness and affection Xiaolongnü had held for him, and he was overcome with such bitter regret that he nearly dashed his head against the great tree and ended his life. Gugu felt such deep love for me, he thought, and said she would be my wife. I failed to understand her feelings, and now, where can I find her? Suddenly he gave a great cry, threw himself forward, and seized Wanyan Ping in his arms, pressing fierce kisses to her eyelids.

Yang Guo was by nature somewhat frivolous and wayward. Only because he both revered and feared Xiaolongnü, and loved her with all his heart, had he never, in all their time together in the stone chamber, dared show the slightest impropriety. But now, as he grew older and the fires of desire kindled, he felt neither reverence nor restraint toward Lu Wushuang and Wanyan Ping. In his heart, he treated them only as incarnations of Xiaolongnü, embracing them, kissing them, to ease the ache of his longing.

Wanyan Ping saw that he seemed half-crazed, half-delirious. She felt both startled and stirred. His arms were like iron bands locked around her waist. She closed her eyes and let him savour that tender pleasure as he wished, aware that his lips moved back and forth but never left the vicinity of her left and right eyes. This man may be wild, she thought, but he keeps his word. Yet why does he only kiss my eyes, and never my lips? Suddenly she heard Yang Guo cry out, “Gugu! Gugu!” His voice was feverish with passion, yet laced with the most terrible anguish. Wanyan Ping was about to ask what he was calling when a woman’s voice spoke from behind her:

“Sorry to interrupt you two.”

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Yang Guo and Wanyan Ping both started and leapt apart. Standing beside the great tree was a person in a green robe. Wanyan Ping’s heart hammered wildly, her face burning red. She lowered her head and fidgeted with the hem of her robe, not daring to glance at the newcomer. But Yang Guo recognised her at once, it was the very person who had stolen the donkey to draw Li Mochou away at the inn, the one to whom he and Lu Wushuang owed their lives. He saw that she wore her hair in twin coils, a young woman. He bowed deeply. “A few days ago, I was indebted to you for your timely aid, Miss. I shall never forget such great kindness.”

The young woman returned the salute with the utmost respect. “Does Master Yang still remember the companion who shared life and death with him?”

Yang Guo said, “You mean…”

The young woman said, “Li Mochou¹ and her disciple captured her just now!”

Yang Guo was horrified. His voice trembled. “Truly? Is she… is she all right?”

The young woman said, “For the moment, she is in no immediate danger. Miss Lu insists that the secret manual fell into the hands of the Beggars’ Guild,² so the Scarlet Serpent Demon has taken her along to demand its return. Her life should be safe for now, though she will certainly suffer some torment.”

Yang Guo cried, “We must go save her at once!”

The young woman shook her head. “Master Yang’s martial arts are high, but I fear you are still no match for the Scarlet Serpent Demon. We would only throw our lives away, to no avail.”

In the faint starlight, Yang Guo saw that this green-robed young woman’s face was indescribably strange and ugly. Her facial muscles did not move at all, she resembled a corpse. The sight sent an involuntary shiver of dread through anyone who looked upon her. After a few glances, Yang Guo dared not look directly at her. He thought, This young lady is so kind-hearted, yet she has been born with such a strange face. What a pity. If I keep looking at her features, I will surely reveal my shock, and that would offend her. He asked, “May I have the honour of knowing the young lady’s name?”

The young woman said, “My humble surname is not worth mentioning. Master Yang will learn it in due course. Right now, we must think of a way to save her.” As she spoke, the muscles of her face did not stir in the slightest. Had her voice not clearly emerged from her mouth, one would have thought her a walking corpse, a zombie. Yet strangely, her voice was exquisitely soft, delicate, and clear, a sound that could rouse the weary and banish all care. Yang Guo said, “In that case, I will defer entirely to your plan for the rescue, Miss. This humble one awaits your command.”

The young woman was perfectly courteous. “Master Yang, you need not be so modest. Your martial arts are ten times greater than mine, and in intelligence and wisdom, I am not even worthy to behold your dust. You are older than I, and a man of grand bearing. Whatever you decide, I shall carry out. This humble woman awaits your orders.”

Yang Guo, hearing these words, so modest, so sincere, felt an indescribable comfort in his heart. This young lady’s face is so frightful, he thought, yet her speech is so gentle and gracious. Truly, one cannot judge a person by appearance. He thought for a moment and said, “Then we shall quietly follow behind and wait for an opportunity to rescue her.” The young woman said, “That is very good. But what does Miss Wanyan think?” So saying, she walked a distance away, leaving Yang Guo and Wanyan Ping to confer.

Yang Guo said, “Little Sister, I must go rescue a companion. We shall meet again.”

Wanyan Ping lowered her head. “My skills may be modest, but perhaps I can be of some small use. Big Brother Yang, let me go with you to save her.”

Yang Guo was overjoyed. “Good, good!” He raised his voice and called to the green-robed young woman, “Miss, Miss Wanyan wishes to help us rescue her.”

The young woman approached and said to Wanyan Ping, “Miss Wanyan, you are of noble lineage, you should think carefully before acting. Our adversary is vicious beyond measure. In the jianghu she is called the Scarlet Serpent Demon, she is not someone to provoke lightly.” Her manner was refined and courteous. Wanyan Ping said, “Never mind that Big Brother Yang has shown me kindness, his affairs are my affairs. But just on the strength of having met you, Elder Sister, I, Wanyan Ping, very much wish to be your friend. I will go with you, Elder Sister, and be careful in all things.” The young woman came over and took her hand, saying softly, “Nothing could be better. Elder Sister, you are older than I am, you had better call me Little Sister.”

In the darkness, Wanyan Ping could not see her ugly features, but hearing her sweet voice and feeling the soft, tender hand that held her own, she assumed she was a beautiful young woman and felt a surge of fondness. “How old are you?” she asked. The young woman gave a light laugh. “Let us not worry about who is older now. Master Yang, saving the person is what matters, do you not agree?” Yang Guo said, “Yes. Please show us the way, Miss.” The young woman said, “I saw them heading southeast. They are surely making for Dasheng Pass.”³

The three immediately deployed their lightness skills and sped southeast. The Ancient Tomb School⁴ had always excelled in lightness skill, it could claim to be the finest under heaven. Wanyan Ping’s martial arts were nothing remarkable, but her lightness skill was genuinely impressive. Yet the green-robed young woman followed behind Wanyan Ping with unhurried ease. When Wanyan Ping ran fast, she kept pace, when Wanyan Ping slowed, she too slowed, always maintaining a distance of one or two paces. Yang Guo was secretly astonished. Which school does this young lady belong to? Her lightness skill is clearly superior to Wanyan Meizi’s. Not wishing to show off before the two young women, he deliberately kept to the rear.

When the sky brightened with dawn, the young woman took dried provisions from her pouch and shared them with the other two. Yang Guo noticed that though her green robe was made of plain cloth, the stitching was exquisite and the cut perfectly fitted, worn on her body, it accentuated her slender, graceful figure far better than any brocade or embroidered silk could. Her dried rations, water flask, and every other item were all impeccably arranged, revealing an attention to detail as fine as a hair. Wanyan Ping, seeing her features, was deeply unsettled and did not dare look at her much. She thought, How can there be such an ugly woman in the world?

When the two had finished eating, the young woman said to Yang Guo, “Master Yang, Li Mochou knows your face, does she not?” Yang Guo said, “She has seen me several times.” The young woman took out a thin, silk-like object from her pouch. “This is a human-skin mask. Once you put it on, she will not recognise you.” Yang Guo took it and saw that it had four holes cut for the eyes, nostrils, and mouth. He pressed it onto his face, and it conformed perfectly to every contour, as if it had grown there. Delighted, he thanked her profusely.

When Wanyan Ping saw that Yang Guo’s appearance had suddenly transformed into something hideous, understanding dawned on her. “Little Sister,” she said, “so you are also wearing a human-skin mask. How foolish of me. I thought you were born with those strange features. I am so sorry.” The young woman smiled. “Master Yang’s handsome face, wearing a mask does it an injustice. As for my appearance, with or without the mask, it is much the same.” Wanyan Ping said, “I don’t believe it! Little Sister, take off the mask and let me see. Will you?” Yang Guo too was burning with curiosity to see her real face, but the young woman retreated two steps and laughed. “Don’t look, don’t look. My strange face will frighten you.” Seeing that she was determined not to reveal herself, Wanyan Ping had to let it go.

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Around noon, the three passed through Shangzhou⁵ and reached Wuguan.⁶ They chose a table in a tavern in town and sat down to eat. The innkeeper, seeing Yang Guo dressed as a Mongol officer, dared not be negligent and served them with extreme deference.

Halfway through the meal, the door curtain lifted and three women entered. Li Mochou and her disciple, escorting Lu Wushuang. Yang Guo thought that although Li Mochou could never recognise him now, such a bizarre face might still arouse her suspicion and cause trouble. He turned away and concentrated on his rice, listening to Li Mochou and the others talk. But Lu Wushuang, unsurprisingly, remained silent, and Li Mochou and Hong Lingbo,⁷ once they had ordered their food, also said nothing.

Wanyan Ping, having heard Yang Guo describe the appearances of Li Mochou and her disciple, grew anxious. She reversed her chopsticks, dipped them in the soup, and wrote on the table: “Strike?” Yang Guo thought, With the strength of us three, plus my wife, we are still no match for the master and disciple. This must be handled with cunning, not force. He slowly shook his chopsticks.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Two people ascended. Wanyan Ping glanced sideways, it was Yelü Qi and his sister Yelü Yan. The two were startled to see Wanyan Ping here and nodded to her, then found seats. Since Wanyan Ping had left, the siblings had known she would not attempt another assassination. They had bid farewell to their father and elder brother and set out to travel and enjoy the scenery. Encountering her here again brought them even greater peace of mind.

Li Mochou, distressed that the Secret Manual of the Five Venoms⁸ had fallen into the Beggars’ Guild’s hands, had eaten little these past few days. Now, after only half a bowl of noodles, she set down her chopsticks and gazed idly out the window. Suddenly she noticed two beggars standing at the street corner, each carrying five pouches on his back. Five-Pouch Disciples of the Beggars’ Guild.⁹ A thought stirred. She went to the window and beckoned. “Two heroes of the Beggars’ Guild, please come upstairs. This humble Daoist has a message that I must trouble you to convey to your guild master.” She knew that if she simply called out to them without reason, the two might not come. But if she claimed to have a message for the guild master, Beggars’ Guild disciples could not refuse.

Footnotes

1. 李莫愁 – Lǐ Mòchóu. Her name meaning “do not sorrow”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 丐帮 – Gàibāng. Largest martial arts organisation in the jianghu, continued from LOCH era. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 大胜关 – Dàshèng Guān. Strategic pass between Henan and Hubei; site of Lu Manor and the Hero Assembly. ↩

4. 古墓派 – Gǔmù Pài. Mysterious martial arts school founded by Lin Chaoying, located in the Ancient Tomb beneath Zhongnan Mountain. Known for techniques designed to counter Quanzhen martial arts. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 商州 – Shāngzhōu. Historical prefecture in present-day southeastern Shaanxi Province, on the route from the Central Plains to the Han River valley. ↩

6. 武关 – Wǔguān. One of the four great passes of the Qin region, in present-day Danfeng County, Shaanxi. ↩

7. 洪凌波 – Hóng Língbō. Her name meaning “treading the waves”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 五毒秘传 – Wǔdú Mìchuán. Secret Manual of the Five Venoms, a handwritten compendium recording the preparation and antidotes for various poisons used by Li Mochou. ↩

9. Five-Pouch Disciple (五袋弟子). In the Beggars’ Guild hierarchy, disciples wear pouches indicating their rank. Five pouches denotes a mid-level disciple with significant experience and authority. ↩