The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 11 – Part 5

Just as Yang Guo was eating, a sudden brightness flashed before his eyes. Guo Fu walked gracefully into the hall, all smiles, with the Wu brothers flanking her. Wu Xiuwen was saying, “Good. We will travel by night and press on to Dasheng Pass tonight. I will bring out your red horse.” The three of them chattered among themselves and did not so much as glance at Yang Guo, who sat on the floor eating his meal. They walked into the rear courtyard, gathered their packs and weapons, and left the dilapidated temple. The clatter of hoofbeats sounded, they had mounted and ridden away. Yang Guo’s chopsticks stood planted in his rice bowl. He listened as the hoofbeats faded into the distance. A hundred feelings mingled in his heart, was it sorrow or hatred? Anger or grief?

The next day, Wang the Thirteenth called him to set out together. Along the road, besides Beggars’ Guild members, there were many other martial artists, some on horseback, some on foot, all apparently heading to the Hero Assembly. Yang Guo still had no idea what the Hero Assembly or hero invitations were about, and he figured Wang the Thirteenth would not tell him even if he asked. So he played dumb and kept up his act of misery and foolishness.

As evening approached, they arrived at Dasheng Pass.¹ Dasheng Pass was a strategic stronghold between Henan and Hubei, well-situated geographically, though its markets were not particularly prosperous. North of here lay territory occupied by the Mongol army. Wang the Thirteenth led Yang Guo past the market town and another seven or eight li until, ahead of them, several hundred ancient locust trees surrounded a grand manor. Many heroic figures were making their way toward Lu Manor. Inside, building followed building in overlapping tiers, at a glance, one could not take it all in. It seemed more than capable of hosting several thousand guests.

Wang the Thirteenth was only a low-ranking disciple of the Beggars’ Guild. He knew the Chief was busy with important matters at the moment and would never dare disturb her over something as trivial as borrowing travelling money. He arranged a place for Yang Guo to stay and went off to talk with his friends.

Yang Guo saw how imposing the manor was, with servants bustling back and forth attending to guests in an endless stream. He wondered quietly who the host was, to command such prestige. Suddenly, three signal shots rang out: peng, peng, peng, and musicians struck up a tune. Someone said, “The manor lord and his lady are receiving guests in person. Let us go and see. I wonder which hero has arrived.” The ushers and servants formed two lines. The crowd parted to either side. From behind the great hall’s screen, a man and a woman walked out side by side, both around forty years of age. The man wore an embroidered robe, had a slight beard, and carried himself with dignity and authority. The woman had fair skin and a refined, genteel air, like a noble lady. The guests murmured among themselves: “Manor Lord Lu and Lady Lu are personally going out to welcome an honoured guest.”

Behind them came another couple. The moment Yang Guo saw them, his heart tightened, and his face grew hot. It was none other than Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Several years had passed. Guo Jing’s bearing was even more composed, while Huang Rong wore a faint smile, her beauty undiminished from before. So Auntie Guo was this beautiful, Yang Guo thought. I never noticed it when I was young. Guo Jing wore a plain, coarse cotton robe, while Huang Rong was dressed in pale purple silk. As the Beggars’ Guild chief, she had no choice but to sew a few inconspicuous patches onto her garment. Behind Guo Jing and Huang Rong came Guo Fu and the Wu brothers. Countless bright red candles now blazed in the great hall, their light illuminating the scene. The men were heroic and handsome, the women delicate and beautiful. The guests pointed and remarked, “That is Hero Guo. That is Chief Huang, Hero Guo’s wife.” “Who is that flower-like maiden?” “Hero Guo and his wife’s daughter.” “Are those two youths their sons?” “No, disciples.”

---

Yang Guo had no wish to meet Guo Jing and his wife in the middle of such a crowd. He shrank behind a tall, burly man and peered out. To the sound of drums and music, four Daoists entered from outside. The moment Yang Guo saw them, fury surged from his heart. The first was an old Daoist with white hair and white brows, his face suffused with a purple glow, none other than Hao Datong,² the Broad Serenity Master, one of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. Behind him came an elderly Daoist nun with greying hair whom Yang Guo had never seen before. Following them, walking side by side, were two middle-aged Daoists: Zhao Zhijing³ and Zhen Zhibing.⁴

Manor Lord Lu and his lady knelt together and addressed the elderly Daoist nun as “Master”. Then Guo Jing and his wife, Guo Fu, the Wu brothers, and the others came forward one by one to pay their respects. Yang Guo overheard an old man in the crowd quietly telling someone, “That elderly Daoist nun is the Swordswoman of Quanzhen, surnamed Sun, given name Bu’er.”⁵ The other man said, “Ah, that is the Pure Tranquillity Wanderer,⁶ famed across the Great River’s north and south.” The old man said, “Exactly. She is Lady Lu’s master. Manor Lord Lu’s martial arts, however, were not taught by her.”

It turned out that Manor Lord Lu’s full name was Lu Guanying.⁷ His father, Lu Chengfeng,⁸ had been a disciple of Huang Rong’s father, Huang Yaoshi.⁹ By this reckoning, Lu Guanying was a generation below Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Lu Guanying’s wife, Cheng Yaojia,¹⁰ was Sun Bu’er’s disciple. The couple had originally lived at Guiyun Manor¹¹ on Lake Tai, but after Ouyang Feng burned the manor to ashes, Lu Chengfeng, in a fury, ordered his son to give up leadership of the Lake Tai bandits. The family had moved north and settled at Dasheng Pass. Lu Chengfeng had died young, in his middle years. Years ago, before she was married, Cheng Yaojia had faced mortal danger and been rescued by Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and members of the Beggars’ Guild. For this, she had always been grateful to the clan. Now that the Beggars’ Guild had widely distributed hero invitations to gather the jianghu’s heroes, Lu Guanying and his wife, being wealthy, had taken full responsibility and set the Hero Assembly banquet at Lu Manor.

After Guo Jing and the others finished their formal greetings, they accompanied Hao Datong and Sun Bu’er toward the great hall to introduce them to the assembled heroes. Stroking his beard, Hao Datong said, “The four shixiong¹² Ma, Liu, Qiu, and Wang¹³ all said they should answer Chief Huang’s summons upon receiving the hero invitation. However, Ma shixiong has been unwell recently, and Liu shixiong and the others are helping him circulate his energy for treatment and cannot get away. They can only beg Chief Huang’s forgiveness.” Huang Rong said, “Not at all, not at all. The seniors are too courteous.” Young as she was, she was the chief of the greatest clan under heaven, and Hao Datong and the others naturally treated her with the utmost respect. Guo Jing had known Zhen Zhibing’s junior fellow disciple Yin Zhiping¹⁴ since their youth and had also met Zhen Zhibing before. Guo Jing inquired after Ma Yu’s¹⁵ health, and upon learning it was a common ailment of the elderly, he was reassured.

The banquet opened in the great hall. Voices swelled into a din, and candlelight glowed red, a scene of bustling festivity. Zhen Zhibing glanced about restlessly, as though searching for someone in the crowd. Zhao Zhijing gave a faint, cold sneer and said in a low voice, “Zhen shidi¹⁶, I wonder if that one from the Long family will honour us with her presence?” Zhen Zhibing’s face changed colour, and he did not reply. Guo Jing, not knowing they were speaking of Xiaolongnü, chimed in, “Which hero surnamed Long is that? A friend of the two shixiong?” Zhao Zhijing said, “A good friend of Zhen shidi’s. This humble Daoist would not presume to make such an acquaintance.”

Suddenly, Zhen Zhibing spotted Yang Guo in the crowd. His entire body jolted as though struck by thunder and lightning. He had assumed that if Yang Guo was here, Xiaolongnü must be here too. Zhao Zhijing followed his gaze, and in an instant his face turned deathly pale. “Yang Guo!” he snarled. “It is Yang Guo! This… this little… is here too!”

Guo Jing heard the name “Yang Guo” and hurriedly turned to look. The two of them had been separated for several years. Yang Guo had grown up, and dressed as he was in abject destitution, Guo Jing might not have recognised him under normal circumstances. But hearing Zhao Zhijing’s cry, he knew at once. Joy and surprise mingled in his heart. He strode quickly over, seized Yang Guo’s hand, and said warmly, “Guoer,¹⁷ you have come too! I was afraid of disrupting your studies and did not invite you. Your master bringing you along, truly, nothing could be better.” Yang Guo’s rebellion and flight from Chongyang Palace was regarded by the entire Quanzhen Order as a disgrace to their school. No one had breathed a word of it to the outside world, and Guo Jing, living on Peach Blossom Island,¹⁸ had remained completely unaware. He had worried about Yang Guo constantly but, fearing the Quanzhen Daoists might take offence, had neither visited nor sent anyone to inquire. Meeting him now, he was deeply happy.

Zhao Zhijing had come to this Hero Assembly precisely to tell Guo Jing about the matter. He had not expected to run into Yang Guo here. Afraid that Guo Jing would be prejudiced by hearing only Yang Guo’s side of the story, and now hearing Guo Jing speak as though this were their first meeting, his face turned ashen. He raised his eyes to the ceiling and said, “What virtue or ability does this humble Daoist possess, to dare call himself Master Yang’s teacher?” Guo Jing was greatly alarmed. “What does Zhao shixiong mean by this? Has the boy been disobedient?” Zhao Zhijing saw that the great hall was filled with heroes from every corner of the jianghu. If he brought this up now, it would inevitably lead to an argument with Yang Guo, and Quanzhen would lose face. He merely gave a cold, humourless laugh and said nothing more.

Guo Jing studied Yang Guo carefully. The boy’s eyes were swollen, his nose bruised, his face crisscrossed with bloody scratches. His clothes were in tatters, his body caked with mud. He had clearly suffered greatly. A pang of sorrow struck Guo Jing’s heart. He wrapped both arms around the boy and held him close. The moment Yang Guo felt himself embraced, he secretly circulated his neili to protect his vital points. But Guo Jing was embracing him out of pure affection, there was not the slightest intent to harm. He gently wiped the mud from Yang Guo’s face and called out to Huang Rong, “Ronger,¹⁹ look who is here!” Huang Rong saw Yang Guo and was also taken aback. She was not as delighted as Guo Jing. Flatly, she said, “Oh. You have come too.”

Yang Guo gently pulled free of Guo Jing’s embrace and said, “I am filthy. I would not want to soil your honoured clothes.” These words were cold and detached, carrying a clear edge of sarcasm. Guo Jing felt a small sting of hurt, then thought, This child has no father or mother, and it seems his master does not care for him either. He took Yang Guo’s hand, wanting him to sit at the same table. Yang Guo had originally been assigned to a corner table in the hall, seated among the least significant guests. Coldly, he said, “I will sit here. Uncle Guo, you should go attend to your honoured guests.” Guo Jing also felt that there were too many distinguished visitors to neglect the others. He patted Yang Guo lightly on the shoulder and returned to the head table to offer toasts.

After three rounds of wine, Huang Rong rose and declared in a clear voice, “Tomorrow is the main day of the Hero Assembly. Many heroes from various paths have yet to arrive. Tonight, please drink freely without restraint, do not stop until you are drunk. We will discuss serious matters tomorrow.” The assembled heroes roared their assent. On the banquet tables, meat was piled like mountains and wine flowed like streams. The heroes played drinking games and reminisced about old times. Lu Guanying, from his days commanding the Lake Tai bandits, had accumulated great wealth, and he was generous by nature. That day at Lu Manor, no one knew how many pigs and sheep had been slaughtered or how many jars of fine wine had been drained.

When the meal was finished, the manor servants attended to the heroes from every path, assigning them rooms to rest.

Zhao Zhijing quietly reported a few words to Hao Datong, who nodded. Zhao Zhijing rose, clasped his hands toward Guo Jing, and said, “Hero Guo, this humble Daoist has failed your trust. I am deeply ashamed. Today I have come to offer a thorned branch and beg forgiveness.”

Footnotes

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

2. 郝大通 – Hǎo Dàtōng. His name meaning “great penetration”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 赵志敬 – Zhào Zhìjìng. His name meaning “aspiring to reverence”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 甄志丙 – Zhēn Zhìbǐng. His name meaning “aspiring to the third stem”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 孙不二 – Sūn Bùèr. Her name meaning “not two”, signifying non-duality. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. Pure Tranquillity Wanderer (清净散人). Daoist title of Sun Bu’er, reflecting her ascetic cultivation and aloof temperament. ↩

7. 陆冠英 – Lù Guànyīng. His name meaning “crowned hero”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 陆乘风 – Lù Chéngfēng. His name meaning “riding the wind”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

9. 黄药师 – Huáng Yàoshī. His name meaning “medicine master”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 程瑶迦 – Chéng Yáojiā. Her name meaning “jade” combined with a transliterated Buddhist name element. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

11. Guiyun Manor (归云庄). Lu Chengfeng’s manor on Lake Tai, originally built by him after his exile from Peach Blossom Island. It was burned to the ground by Ouyang Feng. Name suggests “returning clouds,” evoking the misty, ethereal beauty of the Lake Tai region. ↩

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

13. Masters Ma, Liu, Qiu, and Wang (马刘丘王). Four senior Masters of Quanzhen: Ma Yu (马钰), Liu Chuxuan (刘处玄), Qiu Chuji (丘处机), and Wang Chuyi (王处一). Along with Hao Datong, Sun Bu’er, and Tan Chuduan (谭处端, deceased), they form the Seven Masters. ↩

14. Yin Zhiping (尹志平). In the original editions, the third-generation Quanzhen disciple who violated Xiaolongnü. In the third edition, this role and name were changed to Zhen Zhibing (甄志丙). Yin Zhiping remains a separate, more honourable character in the revised canon. ↩

15. 马钰 – Mǎ Yù. His name meaning “precious jade”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

17. 过儿 – Guò’ér. Affectionate diminutive of Yang Guo’s name, with the diminutive suffix -er indicating affection or familiarity. ↩

18. Peach Blossom Island (桃花岛). Huang Yaoshi’s island domain off the coast of Zhejiang. Place of breathtaking beauty, filled with peach trees that bloom in perpetual spring, it is also a labyrinth of deadly traps and formations designed by Huang Yaoshi’s genius. ↩

19. 蓉儿 – Róng’ér. Intimate nickname for Huang Rong, with the diminutive suffix -er indicating affection or familiarity. ↩