The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 5 – Part 3

Granny Sun did not recognise the formation. After exchanging only a few moves, she immediately sensed its danger. She could only fight with one hand, and by the twelfth or thirteenth exchange, she was already in grave peril. Every one of her attacks was neutralised by Zhen Zhibing’s manipulation of the formation, while the Northern Dipper Formation’s assaults came in an unending stream. After another ten-odd exchanges, Granny Sun’s right palm was tied up by two Daoists, and two more attacked from the left. She had no choice but to set Yang Guo down and use her left hand to defend. A whistle sounded from within the Northern Dipper Formation, and two Daoists rushed forward to seize Yang Guo.

Granny Sun was secretly alarmed. These stinking Daoists really do have some skill. This old woman can’t handle them. While using her skirt-leg kick to drive back two of them, she began humming softly. At first, the humming was extremely faint and the Daoists paid it no mind, but her hum layered upon itself, each note overlapping the last, growing louder and louder.

Zhen Zhibing had been on full alert from the moment he began fighting Granny Sun. He knew that the senior who had once lived in this tomb possessed martial arts that could rival their own founding patriarch, and her descendants would naturally be no ordinary opponents. Hearing the humming, he assumed it was some kind of sound-transmission heart-confounding technique and immediately held his breath and steadied his mind to guard against it. He listened for a while as her humming grew steadily louder, yet his heart remained completely unshaken. Just as he was wondering why, a thought suddenly struck him and his face went pale with alarm. He was about to order the Daoists to retreat when the distant humming merged with Granny Sun’s into a single sound. Zhen Zhibing shouted, “Everyone, fall back!” The Daoists hesitated, thinking, We already have the upper hand. Soon we’ll capture the old woman and the child. What’s there to fear from her senseless wailing? Suddenly, grey shadows flickered in the forest as a swarm of jade bees burst forth, swooping towards the crowd. The Daoists had seen what Zhao Zhijing had suffered and were terrified out of their wits. They turned and fled. The swarm pursued them at full speed.

Just as it seemed none of the Daoists would escape the bees’ stings, Granny Sun burst out laughing. Suddenly, an old Daoist dashed out from the forest, holding two torches high. Thick smoke rose from the torch heads as he waved them at the swarm. Struck by the black smoke, the bees fell into disarray and fled far away in panic. Granny Sun was startled. She looked at the old Daoist and saw white hair, white brows, and an extremely long face, clearly an eminent figure of the Quanzhen Order. She demanded, “Hey, old Daoist, who are you? Why are you driving away my bees?”

The old Daoist laughed. “This humble Daoist is Hao Datong.¹ I pay my respects to Granny.”

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Though Granny Sun had never interacted with the jianghu, living so close to Chongyang Palace, she knew that Hao Datong, the Master of Broad Peace, was one of Wang Chongyang’s seven great disciples. She thought to herself that even minor Daoists like Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhibing were already formidable, and this old Daoist would naturally be even more troublesome. The stench of the smoke from his torches made her want to vomit, and she guessed the torches were made from herbs specially designed to repel venomous insects. With no more jade bees to rely on, she decided to cut her losses. She barked, “You’ve smoked and ruined our Miss’s bees. We’ll settle accounts with you later!” Scooping up Yang Guo, she leapt into the forest.

Zhen Zhibing asked, “Hao shishu², do we pursue?” Hao Datong shook his head. “The founding patriarch laid down a strict rule: we must not enter this forest. Let us return to the temple, deliberate at length, and decide on a course of action.”

Granny Sun led Yang Guo by the hand back into the tomb. Having shared this ordeal together, the two had grown even closer. Yang Guo worried that Xiaolongnü would still refuse to take him in. Granny Sun said, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she agrees to keep you.” She told him to rest in a stone chamber while she went to plead with Xiaolongnü.

Yang Guo waited a long time, but Granny Sun did not return. He grew more and more anxious, thinking, Aunt Long probably won’t agree to take me in. Even if Granny forces her to say yes, staying here against her will would be meaningless. After thinking it over, he made up his mind and quietly walked out.

Just as he stepped out of the chamber, Granny Sun came hurrying towards him. “Where are you going?” she asked. Yang Guo said, “Granny, I’m leaving. When I’m older, I’ll come back to see you.” Granny Sun said, “No, I’ll take you somewhere where no one can bully you.” Hearing this, Yang Guo knew Xiaolongnü had indeed refused to keep him. His heart ached, and he lowered his head. “That won’t be necessary. I’m a troublesome child. Wherever I go, no one wants me. Granny, don’t trouble yourself over me.” Granny Sun had argued with Xiaolongnü for half the day, and seeing her stubborn refusal, had grown angry herself. Now, seeing how pitiful Yang Guo was, hot blood surged in her chest. She cried out, “Child, if others don’t want you, this old woman does. Come with me. Wherever we go, Granny will always stay with you.”

Yang Guo was overjoyed. He reached out and took her hand, and the two walked out of the tomb gate together. In her anger, Granny Sun did not turn back to gather her belongings. Reaching into her robe, her hand touched a small bottle, and she remembered it was the bee honey meant to treat Zhao Zhijing’s wounds. She thought that although the stinking Daoist was detestable, he did not deserve to die. Without this honey, he would suffer endless consequences. Taking Yang Guo with her, she headed towards Chongyang Palace.

Seeing her approach Chongyang Palace, Yang Guo was startled. He whispered, “Granny, what are you doing now?” Granny Sun said, “Delivering medicine to your stinking shifu.” In a few bounds, she had drawn near the temple. She leapt onto the wall and was about to jump into the courtyard when, in the darkness, bells suddenly clanged urgently, and whistles sounded from near and far. Amid the dead silence, a cacophony of noise erupted all at once.

The Quanzhen Order was one of the foremost great sects of the wulin, and its usual defensive arrangements were already exceptionally tight. With trouble having occurred repeatedly that day, guards had been posted in every direction. Seeing someone break into the temple, they immediately sounded the alarm and transmitted the signal. The disciples within the temple split into groups to meet the enemy. Squad after squad of Daoists fanned out into the distance, both to surround the attackers and to block any reinforcements.

Granny Sun cursed under her breath. This old woman didn’t come to fight. Who are you trying to intimidate with all this posturing? She shouted, “Zhao Zhijing, come out! I have something to say to you.” A middle-aged Daoist emerged from the main hall in response, saying, “What business brings you trespassing into our temple in the dead of night?” Granny Sun said, “This is medicine for his bee-venom wounds. Take it!” She tossed the bottle of jade bee honey over. The Daoist caught it, half-believing and half-doubting, thinking, Why would she be so kind as to deliver medicine? He said clearly, “What kind of medicine is this?” Granny Sun said, “No need to ask so many questions. Have him drink it all, and you’ll see the effect.” The Daoist said, “How do I know this is goodwill or malice, antidote or poison? Zhao shixiong³ is already in such a terrible state because of you. How is it you’ve suddenly grown a bodhisattva’s heart?”

Hearing his insolent tone, twisting her good intentions into an accusation of poisoning, Granny Sun could no longer contain her fury. She set Yang Guo down on the ground, rushed forward, snatched the jade bee honey back, pulled out the stopper, and said to Yang Guo, “Open your mouth!” Yang Guo did not understand her intention but obeyed and opened wide. Granny Sun tilted the porcelain bottle and poured the entire contents into his mouth, saying, “There. Now they won’t suspect it’s poison. Guoer, let’s go!” She took Yang Guo’s hand and headed towards the wall.

This Daoist was named Zhang Zhiguang,⁴ Hao Datong’s second disciple. He now secretly regretted his groundless suspicion. It seemed the medicine she had brought was indeed the antidote. Without it, Zhao Zhijing might not survive. He rushed forward, spread his arms to block them, and said with a smile, “Venerable Elder, why such a temper? I was just making a casual joke, and you took it seriously. We’ve been neighbours for so many years. Surely there’s some goodwill between us. Haha, since it’s the antidote, please bestow it upon us.”

Granny Sun laughed coldly. “There was only one bottle of antidote. There isn’t any more. You’ll have to figure out how to treat Zhao Zhijing’s wounds yourself!” Zhang Zhiguang said, “I don’t believe there was only one bottle. This humble Daoist will just follow you to get more.” He winked and grinned slyly. Granny Sun despised his glib tongue and frivolous manner. She backhanded him across the face, snapping, “You show no respect to your elders. Let this teach you a lesson.” The slap was astonishingly fast. Zhang Zhiguang could not dodge in time. Smack! It landed squarely on his cheek, crisp and stinging.

The two Daoists by the door changed colour and said in unison, “Even if you are a senior, we cannot allow you to run wild at Chongyang Palace!” One thrust out a left palm, the other a right, attacking from both sides in a pincer movement. Granny Sun had already experienced the Quanzhen Order’s Northern Dipper Formation and knew it was not to be trifled with. Now deep in enemy territory, how could she afford a prolonged fight? She slipped through the gap between their palms, scooped up Yang Guo, and leapt towards the top of the wall.

The wall seemed unguarded, but just as she was about to land on it, someone outside leapt up and shouted, “Get down!” Both palms thrust towards her face. Granny Sun was in midair with no way to borrow force. She could only counter with her right palm. Single palm met double palms, and both were pushed back, landing on opposite sides of the wall. Six or seven Daoists whistled in succession, hemming her into a corner.

These six or seven were all elite fighters of the Quanzhen Order’s third generation, specially selected to defend the main hall of the temple. In an instant, they attacked in waves, one advancing as another retreated, then retreating as another advanced, surging against her several times. Granny Sun was forced into the corner. She tried to break out with Yang Guo, but the human wall formed by the Daoists blocked her firmly. Charge after charge, she was driven back.

After another ten-odd exchanges, Zhang Zhiguang, who was commanding the defence of the main hall, saw that the enemy was now powerless and ordered candles to be lit. More than ten enormous candles flared to life around the great hall, illuminating Granny Sun’s ashen face, her ugly features sinister and terrifying in the light. Zhang Zhiguang called out, “Hold the formation and cease attacks.” The seven Daoists who had been exchanging palms with Granny Sun simultaneously leapt back, palms held before their chests, each guarding their position. Granny Sun caught her breath and laughed coldly. “The Quanzhen Order’s fame shakes the world, and well-deserved it is. Several dozen young, strong Daoists ganging up to bully one old woman and one small child. Heh heh, impressive. Truly impressive.”

Zhang Zhiguang reddened. “We are merely capturing an assassin who has trespassed into Chongyang Palace. Whether you’re an old woman or a grown man, if you walk in tall, you’ll have to crawl out short.” Granny Sun sneered. “And what does ‘crawl out short’ mean? You want this old woman to crawl out of your temple gate on all fours, is that it?” Zhang Zhiguang’s face still stung painfully from her slap, and he was not about to let the matter drop easily. “If you want us to let you go, that’s not difficult. You only need to agree to three conditions. First, you set your bees on Zhao shixiong, so you must leave the antidote. Second, this child is a disciple of the Quanzhen Order. Without the zhangmen’s permission, how can he arbitrarily rebel against his sect? You will leave him here. Third, for trespassing into Chongyang Palace, you must kowtow and beg forgiveness before the patriarch Chongyang’s image.”

Granny Sun burst out laughing. “I told our Miss long ago that the Daoists of the Quanzhen Order are all worthless. When has this old woman’s word ever been wrong? Come, come, I’ll kowtow and beg your forgiveness.” So saying, she bent forward as if to kneel.

Footnotes

1. 郝大通 – Hǎo Dàtōng. His name meaning “great penetration”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 师叔 – shīshū. Junior lineage uncle. Shidi or shimei of one’s shifu. Shī means teacher. Shū means father’s younger brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 师兄 – shīxiōng. Male senior. Both apprenticed to the same shifu. Shī means teacher. Xiōng means older brother. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 张志光 – Zhāng Zhìguāng. Quanzhen Daoist whom Grandma Sun attacked using the “Forward Respect, Backward Crouch” technique. He was nearly blinded when she threw a porcelain bottle at him. ↩