The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 23 – Part 3

Wu Santong gripped his hands tightly, too moved to speak. In his youth, he had known nothing of the taste of love. He had married at his parents’ command, and afterward had been entangled in the sin of passion, unable to free himself. But since his wife’s death, recalling the profound debt he owed her for giving her life to save his, his obsessive love for He Yuanjun had gradually faded. In his old age, his love for his sons had only deepened. So long as his two sons lived in peace and harmony, he would gladly give his own life. Now, in the depths of despair, hearing these words from Yang Guo was like suddenly meeting a bodhisattva of salvation. His joy and gratitude were beyond measure.

Seeing his expression, Yang Guo’s heart ached. If my father were still alive, he thought, he would surely love me just the same. He said in a low voice, “You must not let them discover you, or my plan will fail.”

By now, the Wu brothers were fighting ever more fiercely. Both were using the Yue Maiden Swordplay,¹ passed down through the line of Han Xiaoying, one of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan.² The two had practised it together since childhood, they must have drilled it thousands of times. But this was a life-and-death struggle. Not half a move could be mistaken. It was entirely different from their usual sparring. Wu Xiuwen was nimble and agile, darting forward and leaping back, ceaselessly seeking openings to attack. Wu Dunru guarded his position tightly, occasionally thrusting a counter-strike, but his moves were vicious and ruthless, his power heavy and fierce.

Yang Guo watched for a while and thought, Uncle Guo’s martial arts are the strongest of our age, yet he seems to have failed in his method of teaching disciples. The Wu brothers are of mediocre aptitude to begin with. It looks as though they have not learned even one-tenth of Uncle Guo’s skill. Suddenly he burst into a long, ringing laugh and strode out at a leisurely pace.

The Wu brothers were badly startled. They leaped apart, hands on their swords, staring. When they recognised Yang Guo, they shouted in unison, “What are you doing here?” Yang Guo laughed. “And what are you two doing here?” Wu Xiuwen gave a hollow chuckle. “My brother and I had nothing to do in the middle of the night, so we thought we would practise our swordplay.” Yang Guo thought, Little Wu is quick-witted after all. To spin such a lie on the spot, as if nothing were amiss. He gave a cold laugh and said, “Practising swordplay to the point of risking your lives, heh heh, such dedication, such dedication!” Wu Dunru said angrily, “Get out of here. My brother’s business is none of yours.”

Yang Guo sneered. “If you were truly just practising, naturally it would be none of my business. But every move you make, your hearts are filled with thoughts of my Sister Fu. If I don’t intervene, who will?” When the Wu brothers heard the words “my Sister Fu,” their hearts shook, and both their swords trembled involuntarily. Wu Xiuwen said harshly, “What nonsense are you spouting?” Yang Guo said, “Sister Fu is Uncle Guo’s and Aunt Guo’s own daughter, is she not? Marriage is decided by the parents’ command, is it not? Uncle Guo long ago betrothed Sister Fu to me. You both know this perfectly well, yet here you are in secret, fighting a duel over my future wife. Do you two take me, Yang Guo, for a man or not?”

He delivered this speech with righteous fury, and the Wu brothers were instantly struck speechless. They did indeed know that Guo Jing had always intended to take Yang Guo as a son-in-law, but Huang Rong and Guo Fu did not care for him. Now, having their secret suddenly laid bare, the brothers exchanged a glance, at a loss for words. Wu Xiuwen, the quicker thinker, sneered, “Hah! Your future wife? You have the nerve to say it! Has there been a matchmaker? Have you exchanged betrothal gifts? Have you sent the formal notice?”

Yang Guo gave a cold laugh. “Oh, so the two of you have the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word, then?” In the Song dynasty, ritual and propriety were paramount. Marriage absolutely required the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word. The Wu brothers had originally planned that after their duel, the loser would take his own life and the winner would propose to Guo Fu. With no other choice left to her, she would naturally have to accept. Then together they would beg Guo Jing and Huang Rong for their blessing. Never had they imagined that Yang Guo would step in and interfere. Wu Xiuwen pondered for a moment, then said, “That Uncle Guo intends to betroth Sister Fu to you, perhaps there is some truth in that. But Mistress intends to betroth her to one of us brothers. Right now, the three of us are in the same position, none has any formal claim. Whom Sister Fu will belong to in the end is still hard to say.”

Yang Guo tilted his head back and laughed heartily. Wu Xiuwen said angrily, “Was I wrong?” Yang Guo laughed. “Wrong, wrong. Uncle Guo is certainly fond of me, but Aunt Guo is even fonder. How can you two compare?” Wu Xiuwen said, “Hah! You talk nonsense, and who believes it?” Yang Guo laughed again. “Haha, Aunt Guo privately promised her to me long ago. Otherwise, why would I go to such lengths to rescue my father-in-law and mother-in-law? It is all for the sake of my Sister Fu. Tell me, has your shifu³’s wife ever personally given her word to either of you?”

The two Wus exchanged a look of alarm. They thought, Mistress has indeed never given any definite word, not even the slightest hint. Could it be that she really did promise him? They had been about to fight to the death, but now a powerful rival had suddenly appeared. United against a common enemy, the two brothers unconsciously drew a step closer together.

Yang Guo had once overheard Guo Fu speaking with the two brothers. Deliberately trying to provoke their jealousy, he said with a sly smile, “Sister Fu once said to me: those two Brother Wus, they cling to her so tightly she has no way to refuse, so she can only say she likes them both. Haha, in this world, how could a good woman love two men at once? My Sister Fu is virtuous, modest, and chaste, she would certainly never do such a thing. Let me tell you the truth: ‘liking both’ means liking neither.” Then, mimicking Guo Fu’s tone from that night, in a soft, delicate voice, he said, “Little Brother Wu, you are so considerate to me, you cherish me so, you cannot know how difficult this is for my heart. Big Brother Wu, you are always so sullen and strange. What is it you want to say to me?”

The Wu brothers’ faces changed colour instantly. These were words Guo Fu had spoken to each of them separately. With no third person present, how could Yang Guo possibly know them unless she herself had repeated them? A pain like a knife twisting in the heart seized them both. They thought of how Guo Fu had always refused to promise herself, so this was the reason.

Yang Guo saw their expressions and knew his scheme had worked. Solemnly he said, “In short, Sister Fu is my future wife. In days to come, she and I will share a hundred years of happiness, grow old together with hair turned white, treat each other with the respect of honoured guests, and our descendants will flourish without end…” At this point, he suddenly heard a long, soft sigh from behind him. It was Xiaolongnü’s voice! Yang Guo blurted out, “Gugu!” But there was no answer. Then he realised it was Li Mochou in the cave. She must absolutely not be seen by the Wu father and sons. So he continued loudly, “You two brothers are indulging in wishful thinking, making yourselves laughingstocks for nothing. For the sake of my father-in-law and mother-in-law, I will not hold this against you. Go back to Xiangyang properly and help my father-in-law and mother-in-law defend the city. That is the right thing to do.” He was now calling Guo Jing and Huang Rong “father-in-law” and “mother-in-law” with every other breath.

The Wu brothers’ spirits were crushed. They reached out and clasped each other’s hands. Wu Xiuwen said wretchedly, “Very well, Brother Yang, I wish you and Guo shimei⁴ blessings… blessings without end. We two brothers will wander to the ends of the earth. It will be as if we never existed in this world.” Together they turned to leave.

Yang Guo secretly rejoiced. He thought, Now they hate me to the bone, and they must also deeply resent Guo Fu. But from now on, the two brothers will be as close and loving as their old father always wished.

Wu Santong, hiding behind the thicket, had heard Yang Guo’s words persuade his beloved sons to stop fighting. His heart swelled with joy. Seeing his two sons walking away hand in hand, he could not help but cry out, “Wen’er! Ru’er! Let us go together!”

The two Wus heard their father’s shout. Startled, they cried out in unison, “Father!” Wu Santong bowed deeply to Yang Guo and said, “Brother Yang, I will remember your kindness and profound goodwill for the rest of my life.” Yang Guo could not help but frown. How could these words be spoken in front of the two Wus? He tried to change the subject, but Wu Xiuwen was already growing suspicious. He said, “Big Brother, what this fellow says may not be true.” Wu Dunru was not skilled with words, but his shrewdness was in no way inferior to his brother’s. He glanced at his father, then turned to his brother and nodded.

Wu Santong saw that things were about to go wrong and said hastily, “Do not misunderstand. I did not ask Brother Yang to persuade you.” The Wu brothers had only been slightly suspicious before, but hearing their father’s words, which so transparently tried to cover up what had already been revealed, they suddenly remembered that Yang Guo had never gotten along with Guo Fu, and that his devotion to Xiaolongnü ran deep. Most of what he had just said was probably false. Wu Xiuwen said, “Big Brother, let us go back to Xiangyang together and ask Sister Fu ourselves.” Wu Dunru said, “Good! No matter what sweet words others spin, we must not be deceived.” Wu Xiuwen said, “Father, you come to Xiangyang too. Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo are old friends of yours. You should go see them.” Wu Santong stammered, “I… I…” His face flushed bright red, not knowing what to do. He wanted to assert the dignity of a father and scold his sons harshly, but he feared they would only pretend to obey in his presence while going off to fight to the death behind his back.

Yang Guo sneered. “Brother Wu the Second, ‘Sister Fu’, are those words you are permitted to speak? From this day forward, not only may you not say them, you may not even think them.” Wu Xiuwen raged, “Fine! Is there truly such an unreasonable man under heaven? I have called her ‘Sister Fu’ for seven or eight years. Not only will I say it today, I will say it in the days to come. Sister Fu, Sister Fu, my Sister Fu…” Suddenly. smack! Yang Guo had landed a solid slap across his left cheek.

Wu Xiuwen leaped back two steps, holding his sword crosswise. In a low, gravelly voice, he said, “Good, Yang. We have not fought in many years.” Wu Santong shouted, “Wen’er! Why fight for no reason?” Yang Guo turned his head and said solemnly, “Uncle Wu, whose side are you on, exactly?” By all reason, Wu Santong should have sided with his sons. But Yang Guo had stepped forward precisely to stop the brothers from killing each other. Wu Santong found himself tongue-tied, unable to speak. Yang Guo said, “How about this: you sit here quietly and watch. I will not harm their lives, and I expect they cannot harm mine. Just enjoy the show.” Though Yang Guo was far younger than Wu Santong, his words carried such authority that Wu Santong could not help but obey. He sat down on a rock as instructed.

Yang Guo drew the Gentleman’s Sword. Its cold light flickered. With a slash, he cut a large pine tree beside him clean in two. He pushed out with his left palm, and the upper half of the pine toppled to one side. The cut was smooth and even. The Wu brothers saw how razor-sharp his sword was and could not help but exchange a look of alarm. Yang Guo sheathed his sword and laughed. “This sword is not meant for dealing with the two of you.” He casually broke off a branch, stripped away the leaves, and shaped it into a wooden rod about three chi long. “You said my mother-in-law is partial to me, but I am sure you two refuse to believe it,” he said. “Very well, I will use only this wooden rod, while the two of you use your swords together. You may use the martial arts taught by my father-in-law and mother-in-law, or the Solitary Solar Finger taught by your Uncle Zhu. I, however, will use only the skills my mother-in-law taught me. If I use so much as one move from any other school, I will count it as my loss.”

The two Wus had originally feared his martial prowess. They had seen him fight Jinlun Guoshi twice, his moves bizarre and unorthodox, techniques they could not even recognise. But now, hearing him call Guo Jing and Huang Rong “father-in-law” and “mother-in-law” with every breath, as if Guo Fu had truly married him, how could they not be furious? What was more, he was arrogantly claiming he would fight one against two, using a wooden rod against sharp swords, and limiting himself to skills Huang Rong had privately taught him. The two brothers thought, We hold three advantages. If we still cannot win, we have no face left to live in this world.

Wu Dunru felt that winning this way would be no victory at all. He shook his head and was about to speak when Wu Xiuwen preempted him. “Fine! This is your own arrogance. It is not that we brothers want to take advantage of you. If you mistakenly use a single move from the Quanzhen Order or the Ancient Tomb School, what then?” He was thinking: True, this boy’s martial arts are strong, but only because he learned superior techniques from Quanzhen and the Ancient Tomb. Back on Peach Blossom Island, we two brothers beat him until he fled for his life. What was so remarkable about him then? So he used these words to corner Yang Guo.

Yang Guo said, “We duel today not for old grudges, nor for new hatred, but for Sister Fu. If I lose, then if I ever look at her again or speak a single word to her, may I be a beast lower than a pig or a dog. But if you lose?” These words, of course, forced the brothers to make the same vow.

At this point, Wu Xiuwen had no choice but to say, “If we two brothers lose, we too will never see Sister Fu’s face again.” Yang Guo turned to Wu Dunru. “And you?” Wu Dunru said angrily, “My brother and I are of one heart and mind. How could we speak differently?” Yang Guo laughed. “Good. If you lose today and break this pledge, then you are beasts lower than pigs and dogs. Is that right?” Wu Xiuwen said, “Correct. And the same goes for you. Take this!” With that, he thrust his longsword toward Yang Guo’s leg. Wu Dunru struck simultaneously, his blade guarding Yang Guo’s left flank. In a single exchange, they had already formed a pincer attack.

Yang Guo leaped straight forward, calling out, “When brothers are united in heart, their sharpness can cut through metal.⁵ You two brothers fighting together, truly formidable!” Wu Dunru raised his sword and pressed the attack. Yang Guo raised his wooden rod but only dodged and weaved, not yet striking back. He said, “‘A wife is like clothing, but brothers are like your own limbs. When clothing tears, it can be mended. When a limb is severed, it cannot be reattached.’⁶ Have you heard that poem?” Wu Xiuwen barked, “What are you babbling about? Why don’t you use the skills your shifu’s wife privately taught you?” Wu Dunru said nothing, only intensifying his sword power.

Yang Guo said, “Good, watch carefully! The exquisite techniques personally taught by my mother-in-law are coming now!” So saying, he flipped his wooden rod upward and hooked downward, using the “Tripping” formula of the Dog-beating Staff Technique.⁷ His left hand extended, finger pointing at Wu Dunru’s acupoint. Wu Dunru dodged backward. Wu Xiuwen let out a cry as the wooden rod tripped him and sent him sprawling.

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Yang Guo had first learned the moves of the Dog-beating Staff Technique from Hong Qigong⁸ on the summit of Mount Hua. Later, he had overheard Huang Rong teaching the staff formulae to Lu Youjiao and had pieced together about thirty percent on his own. After that, inside the stone formation, Huang Rong had instructed him in the core principles, and Yang Guo had resolved his lingering doubts through questioning, achieving a thorough understanding. By now he had grasped about seventy or eighty percent of the Dog-beating Staff Technique’s essence and application, lacking only in practice. Now that he deployed it, how could the two Wus possibly withstand him?

Footnotes

1. 越女剑法 – Yuènǚ Jiànfǎ. Swordplay associated with the Yue Maiden; taught to Guo Jing by Han Xiaoying of the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan. ↩

2. 江南 – Jiāngnán. Prosperous region south of Yangtze River, continued from LOCH era. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 师父 – shīfù. Teacher responsible for technical instruction and moral guidance. Shī means teacher. Fù means father. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 师妹 – shīmèi. Female junior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Mèi means younger sister. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 兄弟同心，其利断金 – “When brothers are united in heart, their sharpness can cut through metal”. Classical Chinese proverb from the Book of Changes (Yijing), emphasising the power of fraternal unity. ↩

6. “A wife is like clothing, but brothers are like your own limbs…”. Famous saying from the Three Kingdoms period, attributed to Liu Bei, though here used by Yang Guo with deliberate irony to manipulate the Wu brothers. Original reflects the patriarchal values of the era. ↩

7. 打狗棒法 – Dǎgǒu Bàngfǎ. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 洪七公 – Hóng Qīgōng. Literally Hong the Seventh Lord; the numeral seven marks seniority among sworn brothers. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩