The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 7 – Part 5

As for the secret map on the ceiling, it had been engraved there when the stone tomb was first constructed. It was originally meant as a contingency in case the stone tomb was besieged by Jin¹ soldiers for an extended period, allowing escape through the secret passage. Even Lin Chaoying did not know of this secret passage. Lin Chaoying had thought that once the Dragon Severing Stone was lowered, she would perish together with the enemy. She never imagined that when Wang Chongyang built the stone tomb, he was in the midst of planning a grand campaign to recover the Central Plains.² His heart was filled with towering ambition. How could he, after a single defeat, place himself in a position from which there was no escape? Later, when Wang Chongyang yielded the stone tomb, he deeply feared that Lin Chaoying would mock him for having reserved a path of retreat, that he lacked the spirit of a gallant man. And so he did not tell her. This too was born of a moment’s competitive pride.

Xiaolongnü dared not look at the map. Her gaze remained fixed on another corner. Suddenly, four small characters. “Method for Unsealing Acupoints”, flashed into her eyes like a bolt of lightning. Her heart jolted. She carefully read the secret method several times. For a moment, joy beyond all expectation surged through her. Had it not been for her habitual self-restraint, she would almost have cried out. The secret method explained the technique for opening one’s own sealed acupoints, if, while cultivating neili, one suffered a deviation and the acupoints became blocked, this method could be used to open them by oneself. This was because the neili cultivated through the Nine Yin Manual was extremely profound. If a practitioner’s internal breath went astray and sealed their own acupoints, even if a master of the highest skill were standing by, it would be difficult to open the acupoints on their behalf. Only the practitioner themselves could use this secret method to unseal the acupoints. Otherwise, if someone reached the level of practising the Nine Yin Manual, their martial arts would already have attained a first-class realm, and they would rarely ever have their acupoints sealed by another.

Among them, the three divine skills. “Method for Unsealing Acupoints,” “Method for Holding the Breath,” and “Soul-Shifting Art”³, were interconnected. A person’s acupoints and meridians, once sealed, could not be opened without external force. But if one could use the method of “holding the breath” to temporarily stop breathing, to halt the circulation of neili, then one could follow the flow and open the sealed acupoints and meridians. Yet “holding the breath” was extremely difficult. It required the use of the “Soul-Shifting Art’s” technique of freeing the heart and departing the soul, the spirit roaming beyond the body, the heart detached from the physical form, so that during the brief period of breath-holding, one would not suffocate and die. From freeing the heart and departing the soul came holding the breath. From holding the breath came unsealing the acupoints. The three skills were linked in sequence, forming a unified whole. The most advanced portions of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, where spirit and light intermingle, seeming to exist yet not, faintly appearing yet faintly vanishing, elusive and impossible to grasp, required the use of the technique of freeing the heart and departing the soul. Only then could the spirit roam beyond the body, unbound by the heart, acting as though nothing were happening, at once empty and solid, real and illusory, unfathomable, and thereby avoid being subdued. At that point, one could not say whether the Quanzhen Order’s martial arts were superior, or whether the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra was superior. It was simply that neither could subdue the other, and neither would be subdued by the other. Each would wander freely at ease. For Xiaolongnü in her present predicament, these three divine skills were truly life-saving wonders.

But then she thought again: Even if I unseal my acupoints, I still cannot defeat Shijie. It would still be useless. She immediately scrutinised the text on the ceiling, seeking a skill that could be learned instantly and applied immediately, something that would subdue Li Mochou in a single move. But as she glanced roughly over it, every item was abstruse and complex. She reckoned that even the easiest skill would require several dozen days to master. Yet she dared not look too long, fearing that Li Mochou might follow the direction of her gaze and look up, thereby discovering the map on the ceiling and the Nine Yin Manual. The “Soul-Shifting Art” took superior neili as its foundation. Xiaolongnü judged that her own internal cultivation was not yet equal to her shijie’s. If she used it rashly, she would likely be subdued instead. Her ears caught Yang Guo shouting and yelling, ceaselessly trading barbs with Li Mochou. Fortunately, because of this, her usually observant shijie had not paid attention to the direction of her gaze. Suddenly an idea stirred in her heart, and she thought of a plan. She raised her head and silently recited the “Method for Unsealing Acupoints,” “Method for Holding the Breath,” and “Soul-Shifting Art” once each, then lowered her mouth to Yang Guo’s ear and quietly taught them to him.

Yang Guo understood immediately. Xiaolongnü whispered, “First unseal the acupoints.” Yang Guo, afraid that Li Mochou and her disciple would notice, groaned loudly and kept up a stream of nonsensical chatter. “Aiyo, Li shibo, your hand is truly too vicious. You have wronged Founding Grandmaster, and even more wronged Founding Grandmaster’s grandmaster. Aiyo, Li shibo, you are quite young. Though your looks cannot compare with my master’s, you can still be counted as a rare beauty. With such a wicked heart, I fear the darkness will spread all the way to your face and ruin your flower-like features and moon-like countenance. That would be such a pity. How can you not fear wronging Grandmaster’s great-grandmaster…” His words were utterly disjointed as he seized the opportunity to let his spirit roam beyond the body, his soul departing its dwelling. The moment his mouth paused, he held his breath. Li Mochou had heard him earlier addressing her directly by name, which was rather impertinent, but later he switched to calling her “shibo” and praising her beauty. His rambling nonsense was quite amusing, and she listened with a smile.

Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo followed the “Method for Unsealing Acupoints” shown in Wang Chongyang’s legacy engravings, silently circulating their profound energy. Both had a foundation in internal power, and in a short time they had opened the two sealed acupoints on their bodies. Outwardly, there was not the slightest sign of movement. But Li Mochou still immediately sensed something was wrong. “What are you doing?” she shouted, and lunged toward them. Xiaolongnü leapt up and struck back with her palm, lightly tapping Li Mochou on the shoulder. It was precisely the superior martial art of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. Li Mochou had never imagined that she could unseal her own acupoints. In great alarm, she hastily leapt backward. Xiaolongnü said, “Shijie, do you want to get out or not?”

When Li Mochou heard this, she was overjoyed. She had always prided herself on her superior martial arts and her rare, unmatched intelligence. Yet now she had been toyed with like a puppet by a little shimei who had never seen the world. Fury and humiliation surged within her. But she thought it best to endure for now, to first escape the tomb, and then deal with her later. Though Xiaolongnü had a few strange moves, they carried no force when they landed. By now Li Mochou had sensed that it was not that Xiaolongnü was holding back out of mercy, but rather that her internal strength was genuinely insufficient, nothing to be concerned about. She immediately smiled and said, “Now that is a good shimei. I apologise to you. Lead us out.”

Yang Guo thought, This is an excellent opportunity to sow discord between master and disciple. He said, “My gugu says she can only lead one of you out. Tell us, should she lead you, or your disciple?” Li Mochou said, “You wretched little brat, shut your mouth this instant.” Xiaolongnü had not yet grasped Yang Guo’s intent, but she always protected him. She immediately said, “Exactly. I can only take one person. More than that will not do.” Yang Guo laughed. “Shibo, it would be better to let Hong shijie come out with us. Though Hong shijie is not as beautiful as you, you are getting on in years, you have lived long enough.” Li Mochou was furious, but she still held her tongue. Yang Guo said, “Fine! Let us go! Gugu leads the way, I go second. Whoever walks last cannot come out.”

By now Xiaolongnü understood the ploy. She laughed softly, took Yang Guo’s hand, and walked out of the stone chamber. Li Mochou and Hong Lingbo both scrambled to be behind them, the two squeezing through the doorway at the same time, each afraid that Xiaolongnü would indeed activate some mechanism and seal the last person inside the tomb. Li Mochou said angrily, “You dare compete with me?” Her left hand shot out and seized Hong Lingbo’s shoulder. Hong Lingbo knew her master’s strikes were lethal. If she did not stop, she would die beneath her palm on the spot. She had no choice but to let her master go ahead, her heart filled with both hatred and fear.

Li Mochou followed close behind Yang Guo, not daring to stray a single step. She felt Xiaolongnü turning east and winding west, descending lower and lower. At the same time, the ground beneath her feet grew gradually damp. She knew in her heart that they had long since left the ancient tomb, but in the darkness she could only vaguely make out branching paths everywhere. After walking a while longer, the path became extraordinarily steep, plunging nearly straight down. Had the four of them not all possessed high martial arts, they would have long since slipped and tumbled. Li Mochou thought to herself, Mount Zhongnan is not particularly tall. Walking downward like this, we will soon reach the base. Could we be inside the mountain’s belly?

They descended for roughly the time it takes to burn half an incense stick. The path gradually levelled, but the dampness grew heavier. Eventually they heard the sound of gurgling water, and the path was submerged up to their ankles. The further they walked, the higher the water rose, from their legs to their bellies, and gradually to their chests. Xiaolongnü asked Yang Guo in a low voice, “You remember the Method for Holding the Breath clearly, yes?” Yang Guo said quietly, “I remember.” Xiaolongnü said, “In a moment, hold your breath. Do not swallow the water.” Yang Guo said, “Mm. Gugu, you must be careful yourself.” Xiaolongnü nodded.

It turned out that when Wang Chongyang had built the underground storehouse of the stone tomb, he had placed it beside a small mountain stream, diverting a portion of the stream water into the tomb. The tomb’s inhabitants used the stream water for cooking, and for all their washing and cleansing as well, all relying on this stream. The stream originated high in the mountains, cascading downward. After use in the tomb, the water would pause briefly, then flow on and return to clarity. Now Xiaolongnü was guiding Yang Guo, Li Mochou, and the others out of the tomb via this small stream. They would have to plunge into an underground current before reaching level ground. After the stream water flowed into the underground current, it joined with other streams, and the flow grew greater and deeper.

Even as they spoke, the water had already risen to their throats. Li Mochou was secretly alarmed. “Shimei,” she called, “can you swim?” Xiaolongnü said, “I have lived in the tomb all my life and never been outside. How could I know how to swim?” Li Mochou felt slightly reassured. She took a step forward, but unexpectedly the ground suddenly gave way beneath her foot, and a surge of water rushed straight into her mouth. In great alarm, she hastily retreated. But Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo had already plunged into the water. At this point, even if what lay ahead were a mountain of blades and a sea of swords, she had no choice but to charge through. She suddenly felt a tug at her back, her clothing had been grabbed by Hong Lingbo. She quickly struck backward with a backhand blow. This strike was not light, but in the water, the force was impeded. Hong Lingbo was holding on tightly and could not be shaken off. The water roared with a deafening sound. Though it was an underground current, its force was still terrifying. Neither Li Mochou nor Hong Lingbo knew how to handle themselves in water. Swept by the current, they could not keep their footing and both floated up.

Though Li Mochou’s martial arts were superb, at this moment she could not help but be seized by panic. She flailed and clawed wildly. Suddenly she touched something and immediately gripped it with all her strength. It was Yang Guo’s left arm. Yang Guo was holding his breath, walking step by step along the bottom with Xiaolongnü, hand in hand. When Li Mochou suddenly grabbed him, he hurriedly used grappling techniques to shake her off. But now that Li Mochou had seized hold, how could she be willing to let go? Water poured into her mouth and nose in torrents until she lost consciousness, yet still she held on tight. Yang Guo tried several times to shake her off but could not. Afraid that if he used too much force he would swallow water, he let her hold on.

The four of them dragged and pulled through the water for roughly the time it takes to eat a meal. Though Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo were holding their breath according to the method, they were still unbearably stifled. From time to time they had to surface for a few breaths of air. Gradually they could barely hold on. Both swallowed a stomachful of water. Fortunately, the current gradually slowed and the ground rose. Soon they emerged from the water. They walked for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. The further they went, the brighter it became ahead. Finally they crawled out into a mountain cave. The two of them were utterly exhausted. First they circulated their energy to expel the water from their stomachs, then lay on the stream bank, gasping for breath.

At this moment Li Mochou was still gripping Yang Guo’s arm tightly. Only when Yang Guo pried open her fingers one by one did she let go. Xiaolongnü first sealed the acupoints on Li Mochou’s and Hong Lingbo’s shoulders, then placed them on a round boulder so the water in their stomachs could slowly drain from their mouths.

Yang Guo cast his gaze around. Dense shade covered the ground, and light danced among the flowers. His joy was boundless. He could only say, “Gugu, is it not beautiful?” Xiaolongnü nodded and smiled. The two of them thought back on the events of the past several days, it felt as though they had lived through another lifetime.

After a long while, Li Mochou let out several “ah, ah” sounds and was the first to regain consciousness. She saw dazzling sunlight, she had truly seen the light of day once more. Recalling the peril of being trapped in the stone tomb and the ordeal of the underground current, she still shuddered with lingering fear. Though her upper body was numb and paralysed, her heart was far more at ease than before. After another while, Hong Lingbo slowly came to. Xiaolongnü said to Li Mochou, “Shijie, you may go now.” Li Mochou and her disciple’s arms were paralysed, but their lower bodies could move freely. They rose to their feet and exchanged a wordless look, then left, one in front of the other.

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All around was silent, without a human voice. It turned out that this cave was located at an extremely remote spot at the foot of Mount Zhongnan. That night, Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo slept on the grass beneath the shade of the trees. The next morning when they woke, Yang Guo wanted to go out and explore at once. But Xiaolongnü had never seen the bustling world, and for some reason she was greatly afraid. She said, “No. I must first heal my injuries. Then the two of us must master the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra.” Yang Guo struck himself heavily on the crown of his head. “Damn it! Strike this muddled fool! I actually forgot about your injury.” He also thought that after descending the mountain, if he and his master were to remove their clothes and train together again, it would be extremely inconvenient. So he extended his palm to transmit energy, helping her circulate her power to heal. In less than half a month, Xiaolongnü’s internal injuries were fully healed.

The two of them built two small thatched huts beneath a great pine tree for shelter from wind and rain. The huts were covered in purple wisteria. Yang Guo loved rich, intense fragrances, so he planted roses, jasmine, and other fragrant flowers in front of his own hut. Xiaolongnü, however, loved elegant simplicity. She said the scent of pine needles far surpassed exotic flowers and rare plants. The area in front of her hut was left entirely to nature, with only wild grass.

Master and disciple slept during the day and trained at night. Several months passed. First Xiaolongnü mastered the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. After another month or so, Yang Guo also completed his training. The two tested it repeatedly and found no obstacles remaining. Yang Guo once again raised the matter of entering the world.

Footnotes

1. Jin Dynasty (金朝). Jurchen-led dynasty (1115—1234) that ruled northern China during this period. Wang Chongyang’s volunteer army fought against the Jin, who had conquered the Central Plains from the Song dynasty. ↩

2. Central Plains (中原). Zhōngyuán. Historical heartland of Chinese civilisation, roughly corresponding to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. In the Southern Song period, the Central Plains were occupied by the Jurchen Jin dynasty. “Recovering the Central Plains” was the rallying cry of Chinese patriots seeking to drive out the foreign invaders. ↩

3. 移魂大法 – yíhún dàfǎ. Technique from the Nine Yin Manual that allows the practitioner’s spirit to depart from the body, achieving a state of dissociation. ↩