The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 22 – Part 3

Yang Guo began, “Uncle Guo…” Xiaolongnü shot him a sideways glance, her eyes full of reproach. Yang Guo knew she was angry at him for risking his life to save Guo Jing, and he fell silent at once. Huang Rong’s suspicions stirred. She asked, “Miss Long, Guoer has not yet fully recovered either. We can only rely on you and Brother Zhu Ziliu to repel the enemy.” Xiaolongnü had never learned to dissemble. Whatever she thought, she said. Flatly, she answered, “I will protect only Guoer. The life or death of others is no concern of mine.”

Huang Rong grew even more puzzled, but she thought it best not to press further. To Yang Guo, she said, “Your Uncle Guo told me that this time, everything depended on your efforts.” Yang Guo recalled how he had once resolved to harm Guo Jing, and shame filled his heart. “Your nephew is useless,” he said. “I have only brought Uncle Guo grave injury.” Huang Rong said, “Rest well now. When the enemy comes, if we cannot match them in strength, we will use cunning.” She turned to Xiaolongnü. “Miss Long, come. I have something to say to you.”

Xiaolongnü hesitated. “He…” Ever since Yang Guo had returned to Xiangyang, she had not left his bedside for a single moment. Hearing Huang Rong call her out, she feared Yang Guo might come to harm again. Huang Rong said, “The enemy has declared they will attack tomorrow, so tonight will surely be quiet. What I have to say concerns Guoer.” Xiaolongnü nodded. In a low voice, she told Yang Guo to be on his guard, then followed Huang Rong out.

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Huang Rong led her to her own bedroom and shut the door. “Miss Long,” she said, “you want to kill my husband and me, do you not?”

Xiaolongnü was pure-hearted by nature, but she was by no means a fool. She had resolved to kill Guo Jing and his wife to save Yang Guo’s life. If Huang Rong had tried to coax the truth out of her with words, how could she possibly have revealed it? But Huang Rong had read her character precisely and asked the question directly, like a blade thrust straight to the point. Xiaolongnü froze. Stammering, she said, “I… I… You have treated me so well. Why… why would I want to kill you?” Huang Rong saw the flush rising on her cheeks, the awkwardness in her manner, and grew even more certain. “You need not hide it from me. I already know. Guoer says my husband and I caused his father’s death, and he wants to kill us both in revenge. You love Guoer, so you want to help him fulfil this wish.”

Xiaolongnü had been struck to the heart. She could not lie, and besides, Yang Guo had already let something slip. She was silent for a long while, then sighed and said, “There is one thing I do not understand.” Huang Rong asked, “What do you not understand?” Xiaolongnü said, “Why, then, did Guoer risk his life today to bring Grand Uncle Guo back? He had made an agreement with Jinlun Guoshi and the others, they were to strike together and kill Grand Uncle Guo.”

Huang Rong was deeply shocked. She had guessed that Yang Guo harboured malicious intent, but she had never imagined he would go so far as to collude with the Mongols. She kept her composure, pretending she had known all along. “Perhaps he saw how deeply and righteously Grand Uncle Guo cares for him, and when the moment came, he could not bear to do it.”

Xiaolongnü nodded, her expression mournful. “There is nothing more to say now. He would rather give up his own life, that is his choice alone. I have always known he is the best person in the world. He would rather die himself than harm his enemy.”

In a flash, several thoughts raced through Huang Rong’s mind, but she could not unravel the meaning behind Xiaolongnü’s words. Seeing the deep sorrow on her face, she offered comfort: “The matter of Guoer’s father’s death, there are complications in between. We will explain it to him clearly in time. His injuries are not severe. A few days of rest and he will be well. You need not grieve.”

Xiaolongnü stared at her blankly for a moment. Then, suddenly, two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls slipping off a broken string. Sobbing, she said, “He… he has only seven days left to live. What… what rest are you talking about?”

Huang Rong was stunned. She asked urgently, “What seven days? Tell me quickly. We will surely find a way to save him.”

Xiaolongnü slowly shook her head. At last, she told the story of what had happened in Passionless Valley¹, how Yang Guo had been poisoned by the Passion Flower, how Qiu Qianchi² had given him only half a Passionless Pill,³ how she had set him a deadline of eighteen days to kill the two of them and bring back proof in exchange for the other half. She described how the Passion Flower poison caused such agony when it flared, and how the only thing in the world that could save Yang Guo’s life was that remaining half of the Passionless Pill.

The more Huang Rong heard, the more astonished she became. She had never imagined that the Qiu Qianzhang⁴ brothers had a younger sister, Qiu Qianchi, and that this had led to such a calamity. When Xiaolongnü finished, she said, “He has only seven days left. Even if he killed you both tonight, he might not make it back to Passionless Valley in time. Why would I still want to harm you? I only want to save Guoer. As for his father’s revenge or whatever else, none of it matters to me at all.”

Huang Rong had initially thought Yang Guo’s dark intentions were purely about avenging his father. She had never imagined there were so many twists behind it. Seen in this light, his desperate protection of Guo Jing was essentially self-destruction. Such a spirit of self-sacrificing chivalry was truly rare beyond measure. She rose slowly and paced back and forth across the room. For all her peerless cunning, trapped in this dilemma, she could find no good solution. In a few more shichen, the enemy’s top masters would launch their assault. She had reassured Yang Guo by saying, “If we cannot match them in strength, we will use cunning.” But what cunning? What cunning?

Xiaolongnü’s entire heart was consumed by her love for Yang Guo. Huang Rong’s heart, however, was split in two, half for her husband, half for her daughter. All she could think was: How can I keep Jing gege and Fu’er safe? Then a thought struck her: Guoer can sacrifice himself for others. Can I not do the same? She turned around and said with fierce resolution, “Miss Long, I have a plan that can save Guoer’s life. Will you agree to it?”

Xiaolongnü was overcome with joy. Her whole body trembled. “I… I… even if it means my death… Ah, what is death? Even if it were ten times harder than death… I… I would…” Huang Rong said, “Good. This matter must be known only to you and me. You must not breathe a word of it to anyone, not even to Guoer. Otherwise, it will not work.” Xiaolongnü agreed at once. Huang Rong said, “Tomorrow, you and Guoer will join forces to protect Grand Uncle Guo. Once the crisis has passed, I will give you my head. Let Guoer ride the Sweat-blood Horse and rush to exchange it for the Passionless Pill.”

Xiaolongnü stared blankly. “What did you say?” she asked, bewildered. Huang Rong said gently, “You love Guoer more than your own life, do you not? As long as he is safe and sound, you would be happy even if you died yourself, would you not?” Xiaolongnü nodded. “Yes. How did you know?” Huang Rong gave a faint smile. “Because I love my husband just as you do. You have no child, so you do not know that a mother’s love for her children is no less than the love between husband and wife. I ask only that you protect my husband and daughter. What else would I care about?” Xiaolongnü was silent, not answering.

Huang Rong continued, “Unless you and Guoer join forces, we cannot repel Jinlun Guoshi. Guoer has risked his life to save my husband and me several times. Can I not save him even once? The Sweat-blood Horse can cover a thousand li in a day. In less than three days, he can reach Passionless Valley. Let me tell you. Qiu Qianzhang and Guoer’s father were both wounded by me alone. It has absolutely nothing to do with Grand Uncle Guo. When Qiu Qianchi sees my head, even if she is not fully satisfied, she will have no choice but to give Guoer the antidote. After that, if the two of you can serve the nation and defend the people against the enemy, that would be best. Otherwise, you can retreat to some remote mountain valley and live in seclusion, and I would be grateful all the same.”

These words were spoken with perfect clarity. Beyond this, there truly was no other path. In recent days, Xiaolongnü had been thinking constantly about how to kill Guo Jing and Huang Rong to save Yang Guo’s life. But now, hearing Huang Rong speak these words from her own lips, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. She could only shake her head, saying over and over, “No! That cannot be!”

Huang Rong was about to explain further when she suddenly heard Guo Fu⁵ calling from outside the door: “Ma! Ma! Where are you?” Her voice was frantic. Huang Rong was startled. “Fu’er, what is it?” she asked. Guo Fu pushed open the door and entered. Ignoring Xiaolongnü’s presence entirely, she threw herself into her mother’s arms and cried, “Ma! Big Brother Wu and Little Brother Wu…” She burst into tears. Huang Rong frowned. “What now?” Guo Fu sobbed, “They… the two of them… have gone outside the city to fight.”

Huang Rong was furious. In a harsh voice, she demanded, “Fight? The two brothers are fighting each other?” Guo Fu had rarely seen her mother so angry. Trembling with fear, she said, “Yes. I told them to stop, but they would not listen to a word. They said… they said they would fight to the death. They… they said only one would come back. The loser, even if he survived, would never return to see… to see me.”

The more Huang Rong heard, the angrier she became. With a great enemy at our gates, the lives of everyone in this city hanging by a thread, these two brothers are fighting over a girl, killing each other. Her rage agitated the pregnancy within her, and the pain was so intense that sweat beaded on her forehead. In a low, controlled voice, she said, “You must have stirred up trouble between them. Tell me everything in detail. Do not hide a single thing.” Guo Fu glanced at Xiaolongnü, a faint flush rising on her cheeks. “Ma…” she said.

Xiaolongnü’s thoughts were with Yang Guo. She had no interest in hearing about the Wu brothers’ quarrel. She turned and left, returning to Yang Guo’s side. All the way, she turned Huang Rong’s words over and over in her mind.

Once Xiaolongnü had gone, Guo Fu said, “Ma, they went to the Mongol camp to assassinate Kublai. They were caught, and it was all my fault that Father was badly wounded. If I do not tell you about this, would I not have been unworthy of all the love you and Father have given me?” She then told the whole story, how the Wu brothers had both been courting her at the same time, and how she had told them to win merit by killing the enemy, and that would decide whom she chose. Huang Rong was filled with frustration and anger, but she could not vent it. She only shot her daughter a bitter glare.

Guo Fu said, “Ma, what was I supposed to do? Each of the brothers has his good points. How could I say which one I like more? I told them to kill the enemy and win merit, was that not exactly what you and Father wanted? Who could have known they would be so useless, getting captured the moment they went over there?” Huang Rong spat in disgust. “You knew perfectly well that the Wu brothers’ martial arts are not strong.” Guo Fu retorted, “Then what about Yang Guo? He is only a few years older than them. How is it that he can fight the Imperial Preceptor and charge through enemy camps without ever getting captured?”

Huang Rong knew her daughter had been spoiled by her since childhood. Even when Guo Fu knew she was wrong, she would argue stubbornly to justify herself. Huang Rong did not pursue the past. She asked, “They were released and came back. Why go outside the city to fight again?” Guo Fu said, “Ma, it is your fault. It was because you said they were the disciples of a worthless teacher.” Huang Rong was taken aback. “When did I ever say that?”

Guo Fu said, “I heard Big Brother Wu and Little Brother Wu talking. When Huodu came to deliver the challenge earlier, you ordered them to capture him, but he sealed their acupoints instead. Then you called them worthless.” Huang Rong sighed. “When your skill is not equal to the enemy’s, what can you do? The words ‘disciples of a worthless teacher’, those were Huodu’s words.” Guo Fu said, “That is exactly it. You did not argue with Huodu, so you tacitly agreed. The two brothers were furious. They kept talking about it, and then they began arguing with each other. One blamed the elder brother for being too slow when they tried to capture Huodu. The other said the younger brother had been in the way, blocking his movements. They quarrelled more and more fiercely, and finally drew their swords. I said, ‘You are fighting inside Xiangyang city, what will people think if they see you? Besides, Father is wounded. If you anger him, I will never look at either of you again for the rest of my life.’ So they said, ‘Fine, we will fight outside the city.’”

Huang Rong was silent for a moment, then said bitterly, “With a thousand tangled threads before my eyes, I cannot deal with these things now. If they want to make trouble, let them.” Guo Fu threw her arms around her mother’s neck. “Ma, what if one of them gets hurt?” Huang Rong said angrily, “If they were wounded fighting the enemy, then we would have reason to worry. They are blood brothers, and they are fighting each other. If they die, they deserve it.” Guo Fu saw how stern her mother looked, so different from her usual indulgence. She dared not say more. Covering her face, she ran out.

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By now, dawn was breaking. White light had appeared at the window. Huang Rong sat alone in the room. Though she was angry with the Wu brothers, she had raised them since they were small and could not help worrying about them. Thinking of the great peril that lay ahead, she could not hold back her tears. Then she remembered Guo Jing’s injuries and went to his room to check on him.

Guo Jing was seated cross-legged on the bed, quietly circulating his energy. His face was pale, but his breathing was even and steady. She knew that with a few days of rest, he would fully recover. Seeing him like this, she could not help recalling their youth, when the two of them had healed their wounds together in the secret chamber of the Niu Family Village in Lin’an.⁶

Guo Jing slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the traces of tears on his wife’s face, and the faint smile at the corner of her lips, he said, “Ronger, you know my injuries are not serious. Why worry? It is you who must rest properly.” Huang Rong smiled. “Yes. These past few days, the baby has been moving fiercely. Your Guo Polu, or Guo Xiang, will soon meet her father.”⁷ She was afraid Guo Jing would worry, so she said nothing about Huodu’s challenge letter or the Wu brothers leaving the city. Guo Jing said, “Tell the Wu brothers to intensify the patrols on the city walls. The enemy knows I am wounded and may seize this chance to attack.” Huang Rong nodded. Guo Jing added, “How are Guoer’s injuries?”

Before Huang Rong could answer, footsteps sounded outside the room. Yang Guo’s voice came through: “Uncle Guo, my injuries are only external. After taking Auntie Guo’s Nine Flower Jade Dew Pills, they are nothing at all.” He pushed open the door and entered, saying, “I have already made a round of the city walls. The brothers are all in high spirits. Only the Wu brothers…” Huang Rong coughed and shot him a look. Yang Guo understood at once and said, “The Wu brothers said that since you suffered grave injuries for their sake, when the enemy comes to attack again, they will fight to the death to repay your kindness.” Guo Jing sighed. “After this ordeal, those two brothers should have learned a lesson, not to treat the affairs of the world as too easy.” Yang Guo said, “Auntie Guo, is Gugu not with you?” Huang Rong said, “We spoke for a while. She must have gone back to rest. Since you were wounded, she has not closed her eyes once.”

Footnotes

1. 绝情谷 – Juéqíng Gǔ. Hidden valley ruled by Gongsun Zhi, known for its deadly Passion Flowers and the Passionless Divine Palm technique. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 裘千尺 – Qiú Qiānchǐ. Gongsun Zhi’s wife and Qiu Qianren’s younger sister; known as Iron Palm Lotus. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 绝情丹 – Juéqíng Dān. Antidote for passion-flower poison from the Passionless Valley. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 裘千丈 – Qiú Qiānzhàng. Qiu Qianren’s elder twin brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 郭芙 – Guō Fú. Her name meaning “lotus”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 牛家村 – Niu Family Village. Village near Lin’an (modern Hangzhou) where Guo Jing and Huang Rong once hid in a secret chamber to recover from severe injuries, as recounted in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. This was one of the most intimate and formative periods of their relationship. ↩

7. 郭襄 – Guō Xiāng. Daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩