The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 22 – Part 4

Yang Guo grunted in acknowledgement. He thought that after Xiaolongnü had spoken with Huang Rong, she would surely have come to tell him about it. But when she returned, he must have been making his rounds on the city walls. The truth was that when he had first entered Xiangyang, his single-minded purpose had been to assassinate Guo Jing and his wife. But after spending several days in their company, witnessing how they served the nation with utter sincerity, risking their lives at every turn, he had been deeply moved. Then, during the battle in the Mongol camp, when Guo Jing had risked his own life to save him, Yang Guo had completely and irrevocably cast aside all thoughts of killing him. Instead, he had resolved to do everything in his power to repay him. He knew that in seven days, the Passion Flower poison would erupt. He might as well set everything else aside. If he could do one or two good deeds in these seven days, his life would not have been lived in vain. He had also anticipated that with Guo Jing gravely wounded, the enemy would surely strike while they were weak. That was why, as soon as he had recovered some strength, he had gone to inspect the defences on the city walls.

Now, thinking of Xiaolongnü, he was about to go look for her when he suddenly heard someone give a long, ringing laugh from a rooftop some ten zhang away.¹ It was followed by two resounding clangs, metal striking metal. Jinlun Guoshi had arrived.

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Guo Jing’s expression flickered. He reached out to pull Huang Rong behind him, wanting to shield her with his body. Huang Rong said in a low voice, “Jing gege, which matters more, the city of Xiangyang, or the love between you and me? Your body, or my body?”

Guo Jing released Huang Rong’s hand. “You are right,” he said. “The nation’s affairs come first!” Huang Rong took out her bamboo staff and stood blocking the doorway. She was thinking about the words she had spoken to Xiaolongnü just moments ago, had Xiaolongnü yet relayed them to Yang Guo? She did not know whether he would step forward to fight the enemy, or whether he would seize this moment of crisis to exact private revenge and obtain the antidote at the same time. This young man’s heart was volatile, his nature hovering between good and evil. If he truly turned against them, all would be lost. So although she stood guard at the door with her staff, her eyes were fixed on Yang Guo.

Those few brief words that Guo Jing and his wife had exchanged fell upon Yang Guo’s ears like a thunderclap that shook the heavens. He had resolved to help Guo Jing, but it had only been out of admiration for his great benevolence and righteousness, the idea of repaying a kindred spirit with his own death. But now, suddenly hearing the words “the nation’s affairs come first,” and recalling what Guo Jing had said outside Xiangyang a few days ago. “For country and for people, that is the mark of a true hero,” and “Serve with utmost devotion until the last breath, and only in death shall his duty end”, his heart suddenly opened wide.² He saw how deeply this husband and wife loved each other, yet in the face of mortal danger, they put the nation before everything. And what of himself? He had been consumed by his father’s death, by private grudges, by his love for Xiaolongnü. When had he ever given a single thought to the great affairs of the nation? When had he ever thought of the suffering of the common people? Compared to them, he was utterly contemptible.

In that instant, the lessons Huang Rong had taught him as a child on Peach Blossom Island came flooding back, phrases like “sacrifice oneself to fulfil benevolence” and “give one’s life to achieve righteousness”³, they became startlingly clear in his mind. He was drenched in shame, yet at the same time his spirit soared. Facing the onslaught of a powerful enemy, with life and death hanging by a single thread, many thoughts he had never entertained, never considered before, suddenly crystallised with perfect clarity. As his aspirations rose, his entire being seemed to grow taller. A radiance suffused his face, as though he had become a different person entirely.

Though many thoughts raced through his mind, only an instant had passed. Huang Rong watched his expression shift from confusion to shame, from agitation to calm resolve, though she could not fathom what he was thinking. Then she heard him say in a low voice, “Rest assured.” With a clear, ringing cry, he drew the Gentleman’s Sword and rushed to the doorway.

Jinlun Guoshi stood at the edge of the roof, holding one wheel in each hand. Smiling, he said, “Brother Yang, you sway east and lean west, changing sides morning and night, a man who cannot keep his word. Tell me, how does that taste?”

In the past, Yang Guo would have flown into a rage at such words. But now his thoughts were lucid, his heart clear. He said to himself, What you say is true. Only today have my intentions become firm. From now on, whether I live to be a hundred or have only one shichen left, I will never waver again. Aloud, he laughed and said, “Imperial Preceptor, you are quite right. I do not know what demon possessed me, but I actually helped Guo Jing escape back here. The moment he reached Xiangyang, he vanished. I have no idea where he is hiding. I have been regretting it ever since. Do you know where he might be?” As he spoke, he leaped onto the roof, landing just a few chi in front of the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor eyed him sidelong, thinking: This boy is full of tricks. I cannot tell if his words are true or false. Smiling, he asked, “And if you did find him, what then?” Yang Guo said, “I would run him through with one stroke of my sword.” The Imperial Preceptor said, “Ha! You would dare kill him?” Yang Guo said, “Who said anything about killing him?” The Imperial Preceptor was baffled. “Then who would you kill?”

With a hiss, the Gentleman’s Sword thrust toward his left flank, carrying fierce wind-force. Yang Guo laughed as he struck. “You, of course!” Amid bantering words, he had suddenly launched a sword strike, the move was not only ferociously sharp but also a surprise attack delivered at close range. Had the Imperial Preceptor’s martial arts been even slightly weaker, had he been on par with Nimoxing or Xiaoxiangzi, this single stroke would have ended his life. As it was, his reflexes were swift. In that critical moment, he channelled force into his left arm and swept it outward, deflecting the blade. But the Gentleman’s Sword was piercingly sharp, and it still carved a long gash along his arm, nearly an inch deep. Blood flowed freely.

The Imperial Preceptor had known Yang Guo was cunning, but he had never imagined the boy would strike at this particular moment. To be wounded the instant he entered Xiangyang, his edge was blunted. Furious, he swung his right-hand golden wheel twice in rapid succession, attacking with two moves, while his left-hand silver wheel thrust forward at the same time. Yang Guo did not retreat a single step. For every three moves the enemy launched, he returned three sword strokes. Laughing, he said, “In the Mongol camp, you wounded me with your golden wheel. Only now have I returned the favour with one sword stroke. There is something peculiar about this sword of mine, do you know what it is?” The Imperial Preceptor pressed his attack with the silver wheel, unable to resist asking, “What peculiarity?” Yang Guo laughed. “This peculiarity, you cannot blame me for it.” The Imperial Preceptor said, “Glittering words, deceitful brat! What do you mean, I cannot blame you?” Yang Guo said with an air of satisfaction, “I took this sword from Passionless Valley. Gongsun Zhi⁴ is an expert in poisons. If by some stroke of luck you survive the poisoning, you can go settle accounts with him.”

The Imperial Preceptor was secretly alarmed. He had seen with his own eyes that this sword had indeed been taken from Passionless Valley. Had that old man Gongsun coated the blade with poison? His attacks slowed as suspicion and uncertainty gnawed at him. In truth, there was no poison on the sword at all. Yang Guo, remembering how Huang Rong had frightened Huodu with hot tea, knew his own martial arts were no match for the Imperial Preceptor. So he seized this chance to disturb the enemy’s mind with words. Seeing that his words had taken effect, he focused on defence, returning a stroke whenever an opening appeared, determined to prevent the Imperial Preceptor from finding a moment to bandage his wound. The injury to the Imperial Preceptor’s left arm was not severe, but the blood would not stop flowing. Even if the sword carried no poison, over time his strength would inevitably wane. He assessed the situation and concluded that speed was essential. He urged his twin wheels into a furious onslaught.

Yang Guo understood his intent. He wielded his longsword with extraordinary tightness in defence. The force behind the Imperial Preceptor’s wheels grew greater and greater. Suddenly, the golden wheel struck upward while the silver wheel swept across. Yang Guo saw he could not withstand it and leaped away. The Imperial Preceptor tore a strip from his robe to bind the wound, but Yang Guo immediately thrust his sword forward again. This pattern repeated several times. Then a scheme came to the Imperial Preceptor. When Yang Guo leaped back to evade, the Imperial Preceptor leaped back at the same time, then hurled his silver wheel, forcing Yang Guo to retreat even farther. With the distance between them widened, by the time Yang Guo attacked again, the Imperial Preceptor had used that fleeting instant to wrap the torn cloth around his left arm, binding the wound. He also noticed that the wound merely ached, there was no numbness or itching. It seemed the sword carried no poison after all. His heart settled.

Just then, from the southeast corner came the urgent clashing of weapons, blade striking blade in rapid succession. Yang Guo looked over and saw Xiaolongnü wielding her longsword, locked in combat against both Xiaoxiangzi and Nimoxing. Xiaoxiangzi’s Mourning Staff had been seized by Yang Guo during the battle in the Mongol camp. In his stupor, Yang Guo had lost it somewhere. Now Xiaoxiangzi held a different staff, identical in shape to the previous one. Yang Guo could not tell whether this one also contained poison sand. He thought that Guo Jing and his wife were in the room below. If the Imperial Preceptor discovered them, the consequences would be dire. He needed to lure him as far away as possible, but he had to do it without leaving the slightest trace, or the scheme would backfire. He called out, “Gugu, do not panic! I am coming!” In a few bounds, he reached Nimoxing’s rear and thrust his sword at him.

The Imperial Preceptor was furious at having fallen for Yang Guo’s sneak attack, but he reminded himself that the purpose of this mission was to assassinate Guo Jing. Revenge for this cunning boy’s sword stroke could wait. He bellowed, “Guo Jing! Great Xia Guo! This old monk has come to call. Why do you not receive your guest?” He called out several times, but no one answered. Only from the northwest came the sounds of shouting and combat, his two disciples, Da’erba⁵ and Huodu, were besieging Zhu Ziliu. He could see that the battle between Yang Guo, Xiaolongnü, Xiaoxiangzi, and Nimoxing would not be decided quickly. Below, the noise of human voices was growing denser, the garrison troops had learned that enemies had infiltrated the city and were rushing to capture the spies.

The Imperial Preceptor thought that these common soldiers could not leap and bound as the martial artists could, so they could not harm him. But once their numbers swelled, they would get in the way. He called out again, “Guo Jing! Oh, Guo Jing! For all your lifetime of heroic fame, how is it that today you have become a turtle hiding in its shell?”

He shouted challenge after challenge, trying to provoke Guo Jing into showing himself. His insults grew more and more vicious, but still there was no sign of Guo Jing. He thought, Xiangyang has tens of thousands of households. How am I supposed to know where he is hiding? If this man is willing to endure humiliation until his wounds heal, killing him afterward will be far harder. After a moment’s thought, a vicious scheme came to him. He leaped down from the roof, found the firewood pile in the rear courtyard, took out his flint and steel, and started a fire. Leaping east and west, he set four or five fires in quick succession, then returned to the rooftop. Once the fire spreads, he thought, you will have no choice but to come out.

Yang Guo was engaged with Xiaoxiangzi and Nimoxing, but his eyes kept darting toward the Imperial Preceptor. Suddenly, he saw him setting fires. Smoke and flames were already rising from both the north and south sides of Guo Jing’s quarters. His heart jolted, and he barely avoided Nimoxing’s iron serpent as it swept toward his chest. He sucked in his chest just in time. Uncle Guo is gravely wounded, and Auntie Guo is about to give birth. Once this fire spreads, if they do not come out, they will be trapped in the flames. But if they flee outside, they will run straight into that bald villain Jinlun. He judged that Xiaolongnü, fighting two top masters alone, could hold out for now. He thrust two swift strokes at Xiaoxiangzi, then leaped off the roof. Through smoke and flame, he searched for Guo Jing and his wife.

He found Huang Rong sitting by Guo Jing’s bed. Thick smoke was pouring in through the window. Guo Jing sat with his eyes closed, circulating his energy. Huang Rong’s brows were slightly furrowed, but her expression was perfectly composed. Seeing Yang Guo enter, she merely smiled faintly. Yang Guo’s heart settled a little at the sight of their calm. In a flash, an idea came to him. He said in a low voice, “I will draw the enemy away. Quickly help Uncle Guo to a safe place to hide.” As he spoke, he reached out and gently lifted the hat from Guo Jing’s head, then leaped out the window.

Huang Rong was puzzled. She had no idea what trick he was up to. The smoke and fire were closing in. She reached out to support Guo Jing and said, “Let us move somewhere else.” But the moment she began to exert force, a sudden, searing pain tore through her belly. She could not help crying out. “Ai-yo!”, and sank back onto the bed. Inwardly, she cursed: Little brat! Not early, not late, you have to choose this very moment to come into the world. Are you trying to get your parents killed? Her due date was still several days away, but the constant shocks and disturbances of recent days had agitated the pregnancy, forcing the child to arrive ahead of time.

The moment Yang Guo was out the window, he saw soldiers everywhere, shouting at the tops of their lungs. Some carried buckets to fight the fires. Some shot arrows at the rooftops. Others brandished weapons on the ground, stomping their feet and cursing. He leaped beside a small soldier in grey, sealed his acupoint with a touch, clapped Guo Jing’s hat onto the soldier’s head, then hoisted him onto his back. Flourishing his sword in a spray of flashing light, he leaped onto the roof.

By now, Xiaoxiangzi and Nimoxing were fighting Xiaolongnü two against one, while Da’erba and Huodu had joined forces against Zhu Ziliu. Both pairs already held the upper hand. Jinlun Guoshi had trapped Guo Fu between his two wheels, the sharp edges slicing back and forth just inches from her face, as he relentlessly demanded to know where her parents were. Guo Fu’s hair was dishevelled, the tip of her longsword had been smashed off by the golden wheel, but she clenched her teeth and fought on fiercely, ignoring the Imperial Preceptor’s questions as though she had not heard them. Inwardly, she was seething: If Big Wu and Little Wu had not gone off to kill each other, the three of us could face this bald villain together. Why should we fear him? The words burst from her lips before she could stop them: “Fine! The two of you keep fighting over me! No matter who wins, when you come back, all you will find is my corpse!” The Imperial Preceptor said, puzzled, “What are you saying? Where is Guo Jing?”

He was waiting for Guo Fu’s answer when he suddenly saw Yang Guo fleeing toward the northwest with someone on his back. The figure on Yang Guo’s back was motionless, it had to be Guo Jing. The Imperial Preceptor immediately abandoned Guo Fu and gave chase. Xiaoxiangzi, Nimoxing, Da’erba, and Huodu all saw this and likewise abandoned their opponents, racing after him. Zhu Ziliu did not hesitate, he followed to help Yang Guo protect Guo Jing.

Footnotes

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

2. 鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已 – Jūgōng Jìncuì, Sǐ Ér Hòu Yǐ. Zhuge Liang’s most famous phrase, from his “Second Memorial on Sending Out the Troops.” It expresses the ideal of serving one’s cause with total commitment, regardless of outcome. ↩

3. 舍生取义 – “Sacrifice oneself to fulfil benevolence” (杀身成仁) and “Give one’s life to achieve righteousness”. Core Confucian concepts from the Analects and Mencius respectively. They represent the highest moral ideal: giving up one’s life when necessary to uphold moral principles. ↩

4. 公孙止 – Gōngsūn Zhǐ. His name meaning “to cease” or “to stop”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 达尔巴 – Dá’ěrbā. Golden Wheel National Preceptor’s second disciple. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩