The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 6 – Part 7
Translation by Jenxi Seow
Suddenly he heard the whistle of a sword behind him, a thrust was coming. Zhen Zhibing shouted fiercely, “You dare to kill your own shifu?” This strike was an attack that Yang Guo had to defend against. Amidst the twin onslaughts of great shock and great fury, Yang Guo could still assess urgency and priority. He immediately turned his sword back to block. Clang! The two swords met. Zhen Zhibing saw that Yang Guo’s returning sword was both fast and accurate and could not help but inwardly admire it. Then he suddenly felt his own long sword extend forward of its own accord, it was being pulled over by the opponent’s sword. Startled, he urgently circulated his neili to pull it back. His neili was naturally far deeper. As the two forces contested, Yang Guo’s long sword was instead pulled across. But to Zhen Zhibing’s surprise, this was exactly what Yang Guo wanted, to lure him into using this move. After only a moment’s resistance, Yang Guo suddenly let go of the sword and thrust both palms forward, striking fiercely at Zhen Zhibing’s chest. At the same time, the sword hilt rebounded upward. Two palms and one sword, three attacks arriving together. Even if Zhen Zhibing’s martial arts were higher, he could not block this bizarre and extraordinary assault.
At this moment, Zhen Zhibing had no choice but to let go of his sword and pull back his palms, crossing his hands horizontally before his chest to block in desperation. But his arms were bent too far inward and could not generate force. Fortunately, Yang Guo’s internal power was not strong, so he could not break Zhen Zhibing’s arms. Still, the impact shook Zhen Zhibing’s chest with severe pain and left both arms sore and numb. He hurriedly retreated three steps. Zhao Zhijing had seized the opportunity to leap up and now stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhen Zhibing to face the enemy. Yang Guo held both swords and attacked the two men.
Within a few moves, Zhao and Zhen found themselves thrown into chaos by a youth who had just begun to make his mark. They were both shocked and enraged, and no longer dared to be careless. The two stood side by side and used palm techniques, only defending and not attacking, wanting first to figure out the opponent’s martial arts style. In this way, although Yang Guo held sharp weapons in both hands while his opponents were bare-handed, the two defended with such tight precision that he could no longer catch them off guard as he had at the start of the fight. Lin Chaoying had only sought to surpass Wang Chongyang. If she used a sharp sword to subdue an opponent’s bare hands, not only would victory be unworthy, but she would also lose stature. She naturally disdained to waste thought on such matters. Therefore, among the sword techniques of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, there were no moves for countering the fist and kick techniques of Quanzhen. Add to this that Zhao and Zhen were far superior in both skill and power, and that they were fighting together defensively, seeking only to hold an invincible position, Yang Guo’s twin swords flashed and danced, sweeping and thrusting, but he could find no opening. Eventually he even began to lose ground. Zhao Zhijing’s palm force was deep and heavy. He continuously pressed his energy forward, bearing down on Yang Guo’s swords.
Zhen Zhibing steadied his mind and thought: two elders joining forces to fight a single youth, what kind of conduct was that? Seeing that victory was already within their grasp, and still concerned for Xiaolongnü’s safety, he shouted, “Yang Guo, hurry and help your gugu back! Why are you blindly tangling with us?” Yang Guo said, “Gugu hates you for talking nonsense. She told me I must kill you both.” Zhen Zhibing struck out with a whooshing palm, knocking Yang Guo’s left-hand sword askew. He leapt three steps to the left and called, “Hold!” Yang Guo said, “Trying to run?” Zhen Zhibing said, “Yang Guo, your desire to kill the two of us, this is what they call extremely difficult. But to set your gugu’s mind at ease: regarding today’s events, if I, Zhen, let slip even half a word, I will immediately cut my own throat in recompense. If I break this oath…” He raised his left palm to the sky. “May I, Zhen Zhibing, die a death too horrible to describe, and after death fall into the eighteen levels of hell. In my next life may I be a dog or a pig, a beast forever!”
Yang Guo was stunned for a moment. Hearing the sincerity in his words, he knew this oath came from the heart. He shouted, “Zhen, being a dog or a pig suits you well enough!” He took two steps forward, then suddenly thrust his sword behind him, pointing straight at Zhao Zhijing’s chest.
This move, “Magnolia Shoots Back,” was sinister beyond measure. Zhao Zhijing was wholly absorbed in listening to the two speak, how could he have expected this sudden sneak attack? By the time he sensed it, the sword tip had already pierced his lower abdomen. Zhao Zhijing felt only a slight prick of pain. He immediately circulated his qi to his dantian, and his lower abdomen suddenly shrank back by half a chi. He shot out his right leg and actually kicked the long sword out of Yang Guo’s hand. Before Zhao Zhijing could pull back his right leg, Yang Guo extended his finger and struck the hollow of his knee, hitting the acupoint precisely. Though Zhao Zhijing had escaped with his life, he could no longer stand. His right knee buckled, and he knelt before Yang Guo.
Yang Guo reached out and caught the long sword as it fell from the air. He pointed it at Zhao Zhijing’s throat. “I once took you as my shifu and kowtowed to you eight times. Now you are no longer my shifu. Kowtow those eight times back to me, and be quick about it.” Zhao Zhijing was so furious he nearly fainted. His face swelled purple, almost turning black. Yang Guo pressed the sword slightly harder, and the tip sank into the flesh of Zhao Zhijing’s throat. Zhao Zhijing cursed, “If you want to kill me, then kill me. What more is there to say?” Yang Guo raised the sword, about to thrust, when he suddenly heard Xiaolongnü behind him say, “Guoer, you mustn’t kill your shifu. Make him swear not to speak of today’s events, and then… then spare him.”
Yang Guo treated Xiaolongnü’s words as sacred commands. Hearing her speak thus, he said, “Swear an oath.” Though Zhao Zhijing was furious beyond measure, his life was more important after all. He said, “I won’t speak of it, what oath is there to swear?” Yang Guo said, “That won’t do. You must swear a venomous oath.” Zhao Zhijing said, “Fine. Regarding today’s events, only the four of us here know. If I tell a fifth person, may I be ruined and disgraced, expelled from my sect, despised by all fellow members of the wulin, and in the end die a terrible death!”
Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo were both ignorant of the ways of the world and thought he had truly sworn a venomous oath. Zhen Zhibing, however, heard the hidden meaning within his oath and was about to warn Yang Guo, but felt it would be improper to openly aid an outsider. He watched as Yang Guo lifted Xiaolongnü and, with swift steps, rounded the mountain waist and disappeared.
Yang Guo carried Xiaolongnü back to the ancient tomb and laid her on the Cold Jade Bed. Xiaolongnü sighed and said, “I have suffered severe internal injuries. How can I still resist the cold?” Yang Guo cried out in alarm, his heart sinking further. He thought: “So Gugu’s injuries are this severe.” He carried her to the adjacent chamber, her own bedchamber. The moment Xiaolongnü lay down, she gave a retching sound and spewed a great mouthful of fresh blood. Yang Guo’s bare chest was sprayed with blood. She gasped a few times, then spewed another mouthful of blood. Yang Guo was so frightened he did not know what to do and could only weep.
Xiaolongnü smiled faintly and said, “Once I’ve spewed out all my blood, I’ll stop spewing. What is there to be sad about?” Yang Guo said, “Gugu, don’t die.” Xiaolongnü said, “Are you afraid of dying yourself, is that it?” Yang Guo said, stunned, “Me?” Xiaolongnü said, “Before I die, naturally I will kill you first.” She had said these words once before, over two years ago. Yang Guo had long since forgotten them. He never expected her to bring them up again now. Seeing the astonishment on his face, Xiaolongnü said, “If I don’t kill you, how could I face Granny Sun after death? And who would take care of you, all alone in this world?” Yang Guo’s mind was a chaos of panic. He did not know what to say.
Xiaolongnü continued to spew blood without stopping, yet her expression was remarkably calm, as if nothing were wrong. A thought struck Yang Guo, and he ran to scoop out a large bowl of Jade Bee honey paste and fed it to her to drink. The honey paste was indeed miraculously effective for treating injuries. Before long, she finally stopped spewing blood and lay on the bed, sinking into a deep sleep. Yang Guo’s heart settled somewhat. Exhaustion and fear overtook him, and he could hold out no longer. He sat on the ground and fell asleep leaning against the wall.
He did not know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt a cold sensation at his throat and awoke with a start. He had lived in the ancient tomb for many years. Though he could not see in the dark as clearly as Xiaolongnü, as if it were broad daylight, he could come and go through the tomb without needing to carry a candle or lamp. He opened his eyes and saw Xiaolongnü sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a long sword, its tip pointed at his throat. Startled, he cried, “Gugu! You…”
Xiaolongnü said coolly, “Guoer, this injury of mine cannot be healed. I will kill you now, and we shall go together to see Granny Sun.” Yang Guo could only cry out urgently, “Gugu!” Xiaolongnü said, “You’re afraid in your heart, aren’t you? It’s very quick, just one sword stroke and it’s done.” Yang Guo saw a strange light suddenly flash in her eyes and knew she was about to strike the killing blow. The will to survive burned fiercely in his chest. He could care about nothing else. He rolled away and kicked out with his leg to knock the sword from her hand.
Though Xiaolongnü’s internal injuries were severe, her body was as swift as ever. She sidestepped to avoid his kick, and the sword tip was once again pointed at his throat. Yang Guo changed moves several times in succession, but every move and every stance he used was something Xiaolongnü had taught him, how could they not be within her expectations? The long sword followed him like a shadow, never leaving the space three cun from his throat. Yang Guo was so frightened that sweat poured from his entire body. He thought to himself: “Today I cannot escape with my life. Gugu is determined to kill me.” In his desperation, he brought both palms together and struck out at empty air, gambling that after her injury she would be weak. Though her moves were exquisite, she should lack the strength to exchange palms with him.
Xiaolongnü understood his intent. She tilted her upper body slightly to evade. If Yang Guo had only brought his palms downward, he could have knocked the long sword from her hand. But he could not bear to lift even a single finger against his shifu. His palm force shifted slightly and swept past Xiaolongnü’s shoulder. Xiaolongnü called, “Guoer, stop struggling!” She thrust the sword forward slightly, and the tip trembled a few times. With an exquisitely ingenious move called “Parting Flowers, Brushing Willows”, appearing to go left but actually going right, the tip was already pointed at Yang Guo’s throat. She pushed her strength forward, about to pierce his throat, when she saw the pleading look in his eyes. Suddenly a great surge of pity rose in her heart. Her wrist went limp, her whole body turned weak, and with a clang, the long sword fell to the ground.
When this sword thrust came, Yang Guo could only await death. He never expected she would drop the sword and not strike. He froze for a moment, then turned and fled. As he was going out the door, he glanced back at Xiaolongnü. He saw her half-collapsed on the ground, the long sword fallen beside her, two streams of blood slowly trickling from the corners of her mouth, her eyes tightly shut. In the dim light, her face, which had always been as crystalline as white jade, seemed to have turned somewhat ashen. A great grief seized Yang Guo’s heart: “Gugu is about to die. No matter what, I will not leave her! If she wants to kill me, let her kill me.” He rushed back, sat down against the wall, gently lifted Xiaolongnü’s body, and leaned her against his chest. He reached to the stone table for the bowl of Jade Bee honey that had not yet been finished, parted Xiaolongnü’s lips with his left hand, and slowly poured the honey into her mouth.
Xiaolongnü drank a few mouthfuls of honey and slightly opened her eyes. Realising that Yang Guo was holding her upper body, a great joy rose in her heart, and her face bloomed like a spring flower. She asked, “I was going to kill you, why… why didn’t you run away?” Yang Guo said, “I couldn’t bear to leave you! It doesn’t matter if you kill me. If you really died, I would kill myself. Otherwise, when you reached the underworld, there would be no one to keep you company, and you would be afraid.” Hearing these words, so boundless in their deep affection and utterly without falsehood, Xiaolongnü’s heart grew calm, and her breathing became smooth. In a daze, she seemed about to fall asleep. Yang Guo lifted her up, gently laid her on the bed, and pulled a thin quilt over her. He struck a flame, lit a candle on the stone table, and saw that a faint blush had returned to Xiaolongnü’s face, and a hint of a smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. The deathly pallor of her earlier critical state had greatly improved.
Xiaolongnü opened her eyes slightly and said, “I suffered this injury from the shock and began spewing blood. My shifu once said that in such cases, one should find ginseng, notoginseng, safflower, dong quai, and similar herbs to take, and recover slowly. Otherwise, if the bleeding does not stop, the injury will be hard to heal.” Yang Guo said, “I’ll go out right now to find the medicine. You lie still and rest.” Xiaolongnü closed her eyes and said softly, “Be careful.” Yang Guo said, “Yes. Gugu, I don’t feel at ease leaving you.” Xiaolongnü said, “Just go. Even if I am going to die, I will wait until you return to die.”
Yang Guo thought to himself that there was no silver in the ancient tomb to buy medicine. When he reached the shops at the foot of the mountain, he would either steal or rob, depending on the situation. He then left the ancient tomb. Outside, the sun blazed brightly, a clear breeze brushed his face, and fine birds sang in the trees. How different this was from the gloomy, sorrowful scene inside the tomb!
He returned to the place beside the red flower clump where they had trained earlier. Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhibing had vanished without a trace. He immediately unfolded his qinggong and raced down the mountain. By noon, he had reached the foot of the mountain. He slowed his pace and walked to a stream, where he washed the bloodstains from his body as best he could. After walking a while longer, his stomach growled with hunger. Having roamed the jianghu since childhood, his ability to find things to eat was truly impressive. He looked around and saw a large patch of corn growing on the western hillside, so he went over and picked five ears. The corn was not yet ripe, but it was edible. He gathered some dry firewood and was about to start a fire to roast them, he would eat three ears himself and take the remaining two back to his shifu. Suddenly he heard the rustle of light footsteps behind a tree: someone was approaching.