The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 16

The Deep Enmity of a Father's Death.

When Yang Guo¹ and Lu Wushuang² learned that Blacksmith Feng was actually Cheng Ying³’s shixiong⁴, they were both astonished and overjoyed. A disciple of Huang Yaoshi⁵, surely his martial skills could not be lacking. To gain such powerful aid at a moment of desperate danger was fortune beyond all hope.

Li Mochou⁶ said coolly, “You have already been expelled from your shifu’s school. Clinging to it still, isn’t that absurd beyond measure? Today I intend to kill these three little ones and this foolish woman. You stand aside and enjoy the spectacle.” Feng Mofeng⁷ said slowly, “Though I once studied martial arts, I have never in my entire life raised a hand against another person. Besides, my leg is broken. I am no fighter.” Li Mochou said, “Indeed. Nothing could be better. There is no need for you to throw away your life.” Feng Mofeng shook his head. “I will not permit you to touch a single hair on my shijie⁸’s head. These people are her friends, do not think to bully them either.”

Li Mochou’s killing intent surged. She laughed. “Then all four of you come at once, that would be delightful.” She rose to her feet. Blacksmith Feng remained utterly composed. To the rhythm of his hammering, like an opera performer following the beat of gongs and drums, he struck once, spoke a few words, deliberate and measured: “I have been away from my shifu’s school for over thirty years. My martial skills have long since grown rusty. I must think carefully, sort them out in my mind.”

Li Mochou gave a cold laugh. “In all my years wandering the jianghu⁹, I have truly never seen anyone sharpen their spear only as the battle begins, clutch at Buddha’s feet only in desperation.¹⁰ Today I have broadened my horizons indeed. Feng Mofeng, in your entire life, have you truly never fought anyone?” Feng Mofeng said, “I studied martial arts but offended my shifu’s school, abandoned it midway, and lost all heart. Life itself seemed meaningless. Ever since, I have never dared offend another. If others beat me or cursed me, I did not contend with them. Naturally, no fights ever started.” Li Mochou sneered. “Heh heh. Old Heretic Huang truly picks only festering pustules as disciples, sent into the world to lose face for him.” Feng Mofeng said, “Please, do not speak ill of my honoured shifu.” Li Mochou smiled faintly. “He long ago cast you out as a disciple, yet you still go on about ‘honoured shifu’ this and ‘honoured shifu’ that. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh their teeth out?”

Feng Mofeng continued hammering, steady and unhurried. Slowly he said, “All my life I have been lonely and wretched. In this world, my sole family is my honoured shifu. If I do not revere and love him, whom else could I miss? Shimei, has our honoured shifu been well lately?” Cheng Ying said, “He has been well.” A joyful expression appeared on Feng Mofeng’s face. He said, “Shimei, the one wish of my life is to repay our shifu’s great kindness with this worthless old life of mine. To die today defending the honour of Peach Blossom Island, that is exactly as I would wish.”

Li Mochou saw the genuine emotion flowing from him and thought, Old Heretic Huang, a grandmaster of his generation, truly possessed surpassing qualities. He beat his disciple into this state, yet this man remains so loyal and devoted to him.

By now the wrought iron had gradually cooled. Blacksmith Feng tonged it back into the furnace to reheat. But his mind was elsewhere, what he thrust into the furnace was not the iron piece but the large iron hammer in his right hand. Li Mochou laughed. “Blacksmith Feng, take your time recalling your shifu’s teachings. No need to fluster yourself.” Feng Mofeng did not answer. He gazed into the red furnace flames, deep in thought. After a moment, he thrust the crutch braced under his left shoulder into the furnace as well. Yang Guo and Lu Wushuang cried out together: “Hey! That’s your crutch!” Cheng Ying also called out, “Elder shixiong!” Feng Mofeng still did not answer, his eyes staring dully at the furnace fire. But in the fierce flames, the crutch did not burn, it merely grew redder and redder. It was an iron crutch. After another moment, the iron hammer too had been heated to a glowing red, yet he held the hammer handle and crutch as though they did not burn his hands at all.

Only now did Li Mochou’s contempt shift to caution. She realised this shabby-looking blacksmith possessed something extraordinary. Fearing a sudden attack, she swept her horsetail whisk several times and leaped backward out the door, calling, “Blacksmith Feng, come!”

Feng Mofeng answered by striding out the door. His movements were agile and vigorous, nothing like a man with a crippled body. He shed his long gown, threw it to the ground, and planted the red-hot iron crutch in the earth. “You, immortal nun,” he said, “please do not curse my honoured shifu again, nor trouble my shijie. Then this wretched blacksmith will not contend with you.” Li Mochou said, “I will spare only you. If you are afraid, simply do not interfere.” Feng Mofeng ground his teeth and said in a heavy voice, “Very well. I was going to repay my shifu’s kindness anyway!” As he spoke, his whole body trembled, his teeth clenched.

Li Mochou raised her whisk and struck straight for his crown. Feng Mofeng leaped aside with remarkable agility, but his arms were shaking, and he dared not counterattack. Li Mochou pressed forward with three consecutive moves. He evaded each with clever footwork, still refusing to strike back.

Yang Guo and the other two stood watching, waiting for an opening to assist. They saw Li Mochou’s attacks growing tighter. Feng Mofeng seemed indeed never to have fought before. Combined with his naturally gentle nature, he could not bring himself to swing that red-hot iron hammer. Within a few exchanges, Feng Mofeng had already taken several hits and was staggering. Yang Guo thought this was dire. This reclusive martial master, for all his skill, had no heart for combat. He must be provoked into rage. So Yang Guo shouted, “Li Mochou! Why do you curse the Master of Peach Blossom Island as unfilial and disloyal, unrighteous and unkind?”

Li Mochou thought, When did I ever curse him like that? She intensified her attacks and did not answer. Yang Guo shouted again, “You say the Master of Peach Blossom Island violated men’s wives and daughters, abducted people’s children, did you witness this with your own eyes? You say he deceived his friends and betrayed his benefactors, is there truly such a thing? Why do you spread these rumors throughout the jianghu, destroying Island Master Huang’s pure reputation and good name?”

Cheng Ying was bewildered, but Feng Mofeng’s fury had already ignited. A fierce courage surged from his chest. Hammer and crutch struck out together. Standing on his left leg in the “Golden Rooster Stands Alone” posture,¹¹ he was as steady as if nailed to the ground. Hammer and crutch, carrying a wave of searing heat, pressed straight at Li Mochou.

Li Mochou saw the ferocity of his advance and dared not meet it head-on. She leaped and dodged, seeking openings to counter. Yang Guo shouted again, “Li Mochou! You curse the Master of Peach Blossom Island as a swindling charlatan, a shameless wretch. I say it is you who are shameless!” The more Feng Mofeng heard, the angrier he grew. Hammer and crutch swept horizontally and pressed vertically, irresistible in their ferocity. At first, his techniques were noticeably rusty, but as the fight went on, they grew smoother and smoother.

After leaving Peach Blossom Island, Feng Mofeng had practiced without pause for thirty years. His training time far exceeded Li Mochou’s. But Li Mochou had roamed the jianghu, fought hundreds of battles large and small, her experience and insight surpassed his a hundredfold. After twenty or thirty exchanges, Li Mochou knew Feng Mofeng’s power was not weak, but his experience was sorely lacking. Moreover, with only one leg, he would certainly lose if the fight dragged on. She resolved to fight a battle of attrition, waiting for his fierce momentum to flag before counterattacking. Sure enough, after another ten-odd exchanges, Feng Mofeng’s anger cooled slightly and his fighting spirit slackened. He gradually fell behind.

Yang Guo kept shouting, falsely accusing Li Mochou of slandering Huang Yaoshi everywhere she went. Feng Mofeng grew incandescent with rage. He bellowed, “You curse my honoured shifu. I will fight you to the death!” His face took several whisk strikes, blood streaming down, his expression terrifying. He paid no heed to his injuries. Brandishing the red-hot hammer and crutch, he charged at Li Mochou, heedless of his own life, determined to drag her down with him. Li Mochou saw his desperate, clinging assault and, faced with such reckless valor, could not help but feel fear. She retreated several steps, calling, “No more fighting! I do not wish to kill you!” Feng Mofeng roared, “I wish to repay my shifu’s kindness, that means I want you to kill me!” His courage swelled. He struck wildly and furiously. Li Mochou saw the danger and also feared Yang Guo lurking nearby. She thought, This boy’s martial skills have advanced greatly. He too is not to be taken lightly. Now seeking only escape, she swept her whisk at Feng Mofeng’s chest.

Feng Mofeng blocked with his hammer. The whisk curved around it, wrapping around the hammerhead. This was Li Mochou’s supreme technique for disarming an opponent, one pull and one flick, and Feng Mofeng’s iron hammer would certainly fly from his grip. But hiss, hiss, hiss, a soft sound, green smoke rising, and everyone smelled burning. The whisk’s bristles had been scorched clean off.

Thus Li Mochou not only failed to seize her opponent’s weapon but lost her own. Calm in crisis, she cast aside the whisk handle and switched to the Scarlet Serpent Divine Palm.¹² Though formidable, this palm technique required close-quarters engagement to be effective. Feng Mofeng, hammer in right hand and crutch in left, swung with howling wind, smooth and effortless. Between the two darting figures, green smoke kept rising. Li Mochou’s Daoist robe was brushing against the red-hot hammer and crutch, burning away piece by piece. She was enraged. She could clearly have won, yet this old blacksmith had gained the advantage through his weapon. She could not accept it and resolved to land one fierce palm strike to vent her fury.

This was Feng Mofeng’s first time fighting another person. Had he suffered repeated setbacks at the start, he would have immediately shrunk back. But now, with the upper hand, he wielded hammer and crutch with exquisite skill. Li Mochou tried to strike him with her palm, but several times she nearly touched the iron hammer or crutch, had she not dodged quickly, her palm would have been scorched. Suddenly Feng Mofeng cried out, “Hey! You, woman, this is far too indecent!” He hopped back half a zhang¹³ on his single leg. Li Mochou froze. A cool breeze blew past, and pieces of her clothing flew away in all directions. Her arms, shoulders, chest, and thighs, large patches of skin were exposed. She was a virgin. The shame was unbearable. Just as she turned to flee, a chill touched her back, and another large piece of her robe flew away.

Footnotes

1. 杨过 – Yáng Guò. His name meaning “fault or transgression”; his courtesy name Gaizhi means “to correct it”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 陆无双 – Lù Wúshuāng. Her name meaning “peerless” or “without equal”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 程英 – Chéng Yīng. Her name meaning “heroine” or “outstanding”. 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. 黄药师 – Huáng Yàoshī. His name meaning “medicine master”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

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

7. 冯默风 – Féng Mòfēng. Huang Yaoshi’s sixth disciple, the Smith. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 师姊 – shījiě. Female senior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Jiě means older sister. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

9. 江湖 – jiānghú. Literally rivers and lakes. Itinerant world beyond settled society and official reach, holding not only martial artists but the trades that travel with them, including pedlars, physicians, fortune-tellers, entertainers, boatmen, beggars, outlaws and the like. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 急来抱佛脚 – Clutch at Buddha’s feet only in desperation. Chinese idiom meaning to seek help only at the last moment, like someone who only prays to Buddha when disaster strikes. ↩

11. 金鸡独立 – Golden Rooster Stands Alone. Fundamental stance in Chinese martial arts, balancing on one leg with the other raised, named after the posture of a rooster. ↩

12. 赤练神掌 – Chìliàn Shénzhǎng. Li Mochou’s palm technique, infused with poison. Name links her palm strikes to her serpentine nickname, suggesting that her very touch is as deadly as a venomous snake’s bite. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

13. 丈 – zhàng. Traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.33 metres or 10.9 feet. ↩