The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 16 – Part 5

Da'erba had watched from a distance as Yang Guo seemed to go mad, gesticulating wildly. He had no idea what was happening. When he suddenly saw Yang Guo collapse, he was badly alarmed and moved to help. State Preceptor Jinlun laughed. "Do not go disturb his thoughts. It is only a pity your intellect is too mediocre to understand the principles at work here."

Yang Guo slept half the night, then rose early the next morning and resumed his contemplation. Over seven days, he lost consciousness five times. To speak of synthesizing the various schools and creating his own, how could that be easy? With his current level of understanding and cultivation, it was absolutely impossible to succeed, and certainly not a matter of ten days or half a month. But after thinking continuously for several days, he suddenly had a flash of insight. He understood that all martial arts could be used by him. Since they could not be merged into one, there was no need to force it. In future combat, he would use whatever was appropriate, apply whatever suited the moment, without needing to consider its origin or lineage, and that would already be little different from founding his own school. Having grasped this point, his heart was immediately at ease.

By now, State Preceptor Jinlun had spent several days circulating energy to heal himself, sometimes aided by Yang Guo. His injuries were eighty to ninety percent healed, and he could move about normally. This day, seeing Yang Guo’s expression suddenly calm and composed, with an air of complete confidence, he knew the youth had advanced another level in the way of martial arts. He said, “Brother Yang, let me take you to meet someone. This man possesses heroic talent and grand vision, broad-minded and magnanimous. I guarantee you will be impressed.” Yang Guo asked, “Who is it?” The State Preceptor said, “The Mongol prince Kublai. He is the grandson of Genghis Khan, the fourth son of Prince Tolui.”

Yang Guo, having witnessed the Mongol soldiers’ savage brutality, felt deep loathing for the Mongols. He frowned and said, “I am anxious to avenge my father’s death. There is no need to meet this Mongol prince.” The State Preceptor laughed. “I have promised to aid you, how could I break faith? But I was assigned by the Empress Dowager to serve under Prince Kublai in the lands south of the Gobi. I must report to him. His royal tent is not far, a day’s journey.” Yang Guo had no choice. He knew he was absolutely no match for Guo Jing and Huang Rong, whether in cunning or in martial prowess, the gap was immeasurable. Without State Preceptor Jinlun’s aid, this revenge could never be taken. He had no choice but to accompany him.

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State Preceptor Jinlun had been invested as the Mongol Empire’s first State Preceptor, and the Mongol soldiers and officers held him in the highest reverence. The moment they saw him approach, word was sent to the prince. The Mongols had lived in tents for generations. Even when entering cities, they were unaccustomed to palace buildings, so Kublai too resided in a military tent.

The State Preceptor led Yang Guo by the hand into the royal tent. Yang Guo saw that this tent was more than twice the size of an ordinary Mongol tent, yet its furnishings were remarkably simple. A young man, bareheaded and dressed in plain cloth, sat reading a book. Seeing the two enter, he quickly rose from his seat to welcome them, saying with a warm smile, “I have not seen the State Preceptor for many days and have thought of you often.” State Preceptor Jinlun said, “My prince, allow me to introduce a young hero. This Brother Yang, though young in years, is a remarkable man of outstanding talent.”

Yang Guo had imagined that Kublai, grandson of Genghis Khan, would be either magnificently noble and imposing or fiercely martial and stern. To find instead a young man who spoke Chinese, humble and amiable, surprised him greatly.

Kublai gave Yang Guo a brief appraising look, then took the State Preceptor’s hand with his left and called to his attendants, “Bring wine! I must drink a bowl with this brother.” Attendants brought three great cups and filled them with Mongol mare’s-milk wine. Kublai drained his in one draught, and the State Preceptor did the same. Yang Guo rarely drank, but seeing the host’s complete lack of ceremony, he could hardly refuse. He raised his cup and drained it too. The wine was fiercely pungent, with a sour tang. Kublai laughed. “Young Brother, is this wine to your liking?”

Yang Guo said, “This wine is pungent, spicy, sour, and harsh, it enters the mouth like a blade. The flavor is not pleasant, but it is the true character of a man among men.”

Kublai was overjoyed and called repeatedly for more wine. The three each downed three great cups. Yang Guo, relying on his profound neili, drank without the slightest change in expression. Kublai said delightedly, “State Preceptor, where did you find such a fine talent? This is truly a blessing for our Great Mongol nation.” The State Preceptor then gave a brief account of Yang Guo’s experiences, elevating his status considerably in the telling, hinting that he was a major figure in the Central Plains jianghu. He did not conceal the fact that his own bid for Wulin Alliance Chief had been thwarted by Yang Guo’s interference. With such praise, Yang Guo could not help feeling a slight swelling of pride.

Kublai had been ordered to conquer the Song realm southward. Having spent long in the Central Plains, he admired Han culture and daily kept company with Confucian scholars, reading the classics and studying the texts.¹ He had also widely recruited martial arts experts, cultivated guests and retainers, and planned the southern campaign against the Song. Another man, seeing Yang Guo so young, would have found him hard to believe. But Kublai possessed surpassing intellect and a magnanimous spirit, and he trusted State Preceptor Jinlun without reservation. Overjoyed, he immediately ordered a grand feast prepared.

Before long, the feast was laid out, wine and meat covered the tables, Mongolian and Han dishes in equal measure. Kublai said to his attendants, “Invite the heroes of the Recruitment Hall to join us.” The attendants left the tent. Kublai said, “These past few days, several more guests have arrived at the Recruitment Hall, each possessing unique abilities. They are truly a blessing for the nation, though none can match the State Preceptor and Master Yang in possessing both civil and martial perfection.”

As they spoke, the attendants announced the guests’ arrival. The tent flaps opened and four men walked in. The first was tall and gaunt, his face bloodless, his form like a walking corpse. Kublai introduced him to the State Preceptor and Yang Guo as Xiaoxiangzi, a renowned master from western Hunan.² The second man was short and dark. Nimoxing, an expert from India. The two behind him: one stood eight feet tall, thick-limbed, with a foolish grin and vacant eyes. The other had a high nose and deep-set eyes, curly hair and a yellow beard, a westerner, though dressed in Han clothing, with bright pearls at his neck and jade bracelets at his wrists, glittering with jewelled brilliance. Kublai introduced them in turn: the giant was a man from the Muslim regions named Ma Guangzuo.³ The westerner was a Persian merchant of great wealth. His family had traded jewels for three generations in Bianliang, Chang’an, and Taiyuan. He had taken the Chinese name Yin Kexi.⁴

Nimoxing and Xiaoxiangzi, hearing State Preceptor Jinlun called “the Mongol Empire’s first State Preceptor,” studied him coldly from head to toe, their faces showing unconcealed disdain. Seeing Yang Guo so young, they assumed he was merely the State Preceptor’s disciple or grand-disciple and paid him even less mind. After three rounds of wine, Nimoxing could contain himself no longer. He said, “My prince, the Great Mongol land is very very big. This big monk is the first State Preceptor, his martial prowess must be very very great. We wish to see it.” Kublai smiled and said nothing. Xiaoxiangzi added, “This Brother Nimoxing comes from India. We have always heard that the martial arts of Tibet and Mongolia were transmitted from India. Can there truly be such a thing as the pupil surpassing the master? I find it somewhat hard to believe.”

State Preceptor Jinlun saw the fierce gleam in Nimoxing’s eyes and the faint bluish tinge underlying Xiaoxiangzi’s complexion. He knew both possessed deep neili. As for Yin Kexi, grinning and chattering, straining to project a vulgar mercantile air, he thought of the Han saying: A good merchant hides his wealth as though he had none. The more this man feigned ineptitude, the deeper his foundations might be. He could not be underestimated. The giant Ma Guangzuo, however, required no concern. The State Preceptor smiled faintly and said, “This old monk’s investiture as State Preceptor was the gracious favour of the Empress Dowager, the Great Khan, and His Highness the Fourth Prince. This old monk is truly unworthy of it.”

Xiaoxiangzi said, “Then you ought to yield the position to a worthier man.” He glanced sidelong at Nimoxing, a cold smirk at the corner of his mouth.

The State Preceptor extended his chopsticks and picked up a large piece of beef. He laughed. “This piece of beef is the fattest and largest on the platter. This old monk had no particular desire to eat it, but I happened to stretch out my chopsticks and happened to pick it up. In the Buddha’s teaching, this is called affinity.⁵ If any of you gentlemen are interested, you are welcome to take it.” He held his chopsticks poised above the platter, waiting for someone to make a move.

Ma Guangzuo did not understand that State Preceptor Jinlun was speaking in veiled terms, the fatty beef representing the high position of Mongol first State Preceptor. Seeing him holding the beef as an offering, Ma Guangzuo immediately stretched out his chopsticks to take it. Just as his chopstick tips were about to touch the meat, one of the State Preceptor’s chopsticks suddenly darted sideways and lightly tapped his. Ma Guangzuo felt a violent jolt shoot through his arm. Unable to maintain his grip, his chopsticks clattered onto the table. The State Preceptor’s chopsticks released the beef, but before the meat could touch the table, his chopsticks had already snapped back and caught it. Everyone stared at one another in shock. Ma Guangzuo still had not understood. He picked up his chopsticks and gripped them tightly with all five fingers, thinking, This time you won’t be able to knock them away. He stretched out his chopsticks to take the meat again. Once more, the State Preceptor’s chopstick darted sideways. This time Ma Guangzuo’s grip was iron-tight, indeed the chopsticks were not knocked away. But there was a soft crack, and the chopsticks snapped into four pieces as though sliced by a blade, two halves falling onto the table.

Ma Guangzuo flew into a rage. With a great roar, he lunged at the State Preceptor to grapple. Kublai laughed. “Valiant Ma, no need for anger. If you wish to compete, it can wait until after the meal.” Ma Guangzuo, in awe of the prince, returned to his seat resentfully. He pointed at the State Preceptor and bellowed, “What sorcery did you use to break my eating tools?” The State Preceptor merely smiled, his chopsticks still holding the beef before him.

Nimoxing had also initially dismissed State Preceptor Jinlun. But having witnessed the depth of his neili, he no longer dared underestimate him. He was Indian and did not eat with chopsticks, only with his hands. He said, “Fat beef, the big man cannot grab it. I want to eat it.” Suddenly his five fingers became like iron claws and shot toward the meat. The State Preceptor darted out the chopstick in his right hand, quivering several times with lightning speed, striking at five acupoints on Nimoxing’s hand: the centre of the palm, the wrist, the back of the hand, the tiger’s mouth, and the tip of the middle finger. Nimoxing flipped his palm with a whoosh, chopping at the State Preceptor’s wrist. The State Preceptor’s arm did not move. He inverted the chopstick and quivered it several more times. Nimoxing suddenly felt the chopstick tip touch his tiger’s mouth and hastily pulled back. The State Preceptor’s chopstick swung back and still held the beef. His acupoint-striking with the chopstick was swift beyond compare, several quivers and back, and the beef still had not fallen.

Yang Guo and the others saw it clearly. In that instant, the two had exchanged several moves. The State Preceptor’s chopstick thrusts were certainly fast, but Nimoxing’s ability to pull back and evade in that hair’s-breadth moment showed his martial prowess was truly formidable. Xiaoxiangzi said darkly, “Fine skill!” Kublai knew they were testing each other with high-level martial arts, but what techniques they were using he could not discern. Ma Guangzuo stared with his copper-bell eyes, looking at one, then glaring at the other, completely baffled.

Yin Kexi said with a broad grin, “Everyone is far too polite! Pushing and yielding, you won’t eat and I won’t eat, the food is getting cold.” He stretched out his chopsticks with deliberate slowness. The jadeite bracelet and gold-inlaid jade bracelet on his wrist clinked and jangled against each other. Before his chopstick tips touched the beef, the State Preceptor’s chopsticks were already faintly vibrating from his neili. Yin Kexi had seized the initiative, using neili to prevent the State Preceptor from extending his chopsticks. The State Preceptor simply pushed his chopsticks forward, letting him clamp down, then transmitted force through the chopsticks toward Yin Kexi’s arm. Yin Kexi hastily countered with his own energy. But the State Preceptor’s neili erupted and withdrew in an instant. The beef, which Yin Kexi had already taken, was propelled back by his own returning force onto the State Preceptor’s chopsticks. The State Preceptor laughed. “Brother Yin insists on yielding, truly too polite.” This was victory through cunning. Yin Kexi had fallen for the trick, but he had also tested that his opponent’s neili far surpassed his own. Fortunately, he had not been humiliated. He smiled faintly, turned his chopsticks to the platter and picked up a small piece of beef, saying, “All my life, what I love is only jewels, treasures, and wealth. Fatty beef I do not much care for, better to eat a small piece.” He put the meat in his mouth and chewed slowly.

State Preceptor Jinlun thought to himself, This Persian’s bearing is not ordinary after all. He turned to Xiaoxiangzi and said, “Since you are so deferential, I shall take it myself.” With that, his chopsticks drew inward by half a chi. He suspected Xiaoxiangzi’s neili was not weak and dared not be careless. Drawing back his chopsticks half a chi meant his own neili was half a chi closer when he struck out, while his opponent was half a chi further away. Xiaoxiangzi gave a cold snort, his chopsticks rising slowly, then suddenly darting out to clamp the beef. Borrowing the momentum, he pulled it back toward himself, dragging it fully half a chi.

State Preceptor Jinlun had not expected his technique to be so swift. He hastily channelled neili to pull back, and the beef moved inch by inch toward himself again. Xiaoxiangzi rose to his feet, his left hand braced against the table, shaking it so hard it clattered and groaned, but could not halt the beef’s steady advance toward the State Preceptor. Seeing State Preceptor Jinlun’s expression still at ease, while beads of sweat burst out on Xiaoxiangzi’s forehead, the balance of power was plain.

Suddenly a loud voice rang out from afar: “Guo Jing! Brother Guo Jing, where are you? Come out at once! Guo Jing, you little brat surnamed Guo!” The call came first from the east, but in the blink of an eye had shifted to the west. The two points lay almost a li apart, as though one man had finished calling before the next took up the cry, yet the voice was the same—a single unbroken thread from east to west. The swiftness of this man’s movement and the depth of neili in his shout were both the equal of few in the world.

Everyone stared at one another in astonishment. Xiaoxiangzi loosened his chopsticks and slumped back into his seat, spent. State Preceptor Jinlun laughed. “I am grateful for your concession, grateful for your concession!” He was just about to place the beef in his mouth when suddenly the tent flap rose and a figure flashed in. Someone snatched the fat piece of beef from the State Preceptor’s chopsticks, bit off half of it, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing noisily.

This startled everyone. They rose as one and saw a white-haired, white-bearded old man, his face glowing with health, smiling broadly. He sat down on the felt carpet beneath him, brushing aside his white beard with his left hand while his right hand raised the remaining half of the beef to his mouth, munching it with audible relish.

The guards at the tent entrance had not stopped the white-bearded old man. They shouted loudly, “Seize the assassin!” Four long spears thrust together toward his chest. The old man reached out with his left hand and caught all four spearheads in a single grip. He said to Yang Guo, “Young brother, bring me some more beef to eat. I am truly famished.” The four Mongol warriors strained forward with all their strength, yet could not move him an inch. They pulled back with equal force, their faces flushed crimson, but the four spears seemed fused into an iron mountain, and not half an inch could they retrieve them.

Yang Guo found the spectacle entertaining. He picked up the platter of beef from the banquet and sent it flying level toward the old man, saying, “Please help yourself!”

Footnotes

1. Kublai Khan’s sinicization. Historically, Kublai Khan (1215—1294) actively sought out Han Chinese advisors and adopted many Chinese administrative practices. His chief strategist Liu Bingzhong (子聪/刘秉忠) was a Han Chinese Buddhist monk who played a crucial role in designing the Yuan Dynasty’s capital at Dadu (present-day Beijing) and shaping its governance. Kublai’s embrace of Chinese culture and governance methods was instrumental to his success in conquering and ruling China. ↩

2. 潇湘子 – Xiāoxiāng Zǐ. Literally Master of the Xiao and Xiang rivers. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 马光佐 – Mǎ Guāngzuò. His name meaning “bright assistance”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 尹克西 – Yǐn Kèxī. His name meaning “overcome the west”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 缘法 – yuánfǎ. Buddhist concept referring to the karmic connections and conditions that bring beings and events together. ↩