The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 8 – Part 6

Lu Wushuang dimly saw her master give a faint, cold smile, clearly she was contemplating some vicious scheme. During her flight, she had been constantly on edge, terrified that her master would catch up. Now that she had actually been caught, she was not as afraid as before. A thought suddenly struck her: Where has that fool gone? In this moment when her life hung by a thread, thinking of that filthy, foolish cowherd, she felt, without quite knowing why, a sense of warmth and closeness. Suddenly there was a flash of firelight and the thunder of pounding hooves.

Li Mochou and her disciple turned around. A great bull was charging through the door. Tied to its right horn was a broadsword, and to its left horn, a bundle of blazing firewood. The bull’s charge was ferociously powerful. Li Mochou immediately dodged aside. The bull circled the temple and then charged back out. It had come in ramming and crashing, and it went out at full gallop, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye. Li Mochou stared after the bull’s retreating form. At first she was slightly puzzled, but then a thought stirred. Who tied firewood and a blade to the bull’s horns? She turned around, and master and disciple cried out in unison. Lu Wushuang, who had been lying on the table, had vanished without a trace.

Hong Lingbo searched the front and back of the ruined temple, then leapt onto the roof. Li Mochou was certain the bull was behind it and immediately chased it out of the temple. In the darkness she saw the firelight on its horns flickering as it entered the woods ahead. By the firelight, she could see that there was no one on the bull’s back. Lu Wushuang had apparently not escaped on the bull. She reconsidered: Yes, someone must be helping her from outside, driving this strange bull to distract me while taking advantage of the chaos to rescue her. But for a moment she did not know which direction to pursue. She quickened her pace and caught up to the bull in moments. She vaulted onto its back, but found no clues. She immediately jumped down, kicked the bull in the rump, and whistled low to signal Hong Lingbo. One swept from north to south, the other from west to east.

The bull, of course, had been driven into the temple by Yang Guo. The moment he heard the voices of Li Mochou and her disciple, he had slipped out the back door and stood listening beneath the window. After a single sentence, he knew Li Mochou had come to take Lu Wushuang’s life. An idea struck him. He ran to the bull, picked up Lu Wushuang’s broadsword, which the iron whip had knocked to the ground, gathered some dry branches, tied them and the blade to the bull’s horns, lit the branches, and crouched beneath the bull’s belly, gripping its body with his hands and feet. He drove the bull charging into the temple, scooped up Lu Wushuang in one motion, and fled the temple still hidden beneath the bull’s belly. His movements were swift and fluid, and with the bull presenting such a bizarre spectacle, even someone as sharp as Li Mochou, caught off guard, failed to see through the ruse. By the time she caught up with the bull, Yang Guo had already leapt into the tall grass with Lu Wushuang in his arms and hidden there.

The jostling had long since sent Lu Wushuang into agony, and she had been hazy about how Yang Guo had rescued her, how he had carried her hidden beneath the bull’s belly, and how he had jumped into the grass. After a long while, her senses gradually returned. She let out an “Ah!” Yang Guo hastily clamped his hand over her mouth and whispered in her ear, “Don’t make a sound!” They heard footsteps and Hong Lingbo’s voice: “Strange, how could she vanish in the blink of an eye?” In the distance, Li Mochou said, “Let’s go. That little slut must have fled far away.” The sound of Hong Lingbo’s footsteps gradually faded. Lu Wushuang was stifled and in pain. Yang Guo still kept his hand pressed over her mouth.

Lu Wushuang struggled slightly and realised she was held in his embrace. She was both embarrassed and furious, and was about to strike him when Yang Guo whispered in her ear, “Don’t fall for it. Your master is trying to trick you.” The moment these words left his mouth, sure enough they heard Li Mochou say, “She really isn’t here.” The voice was extremely close, almost right beside them. Lu Wushuang was startled. If not for the fool’s quick wits, I’d be dead by now! Li Mochou had suspected she was hiding nearby, and though she said she was leaving, she had actually used her lightness skill to creep back soundlessly. Lu Wushuang had nearly fallen for the trap.

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Yang Guo listened carefully. Only when master and disciple had truly left did he release his hand from Lu Wushuang’s mouth and say with a grin, “All right, no need to be afraid now.” Lu Wushuang said, “Let go of me.” Yang Guo gently laid her flat on the grass and said, “I’ll set your broken bones right now. We need to get away from here quickly. Once daylight comes, there’ll be no escaping.” Lu Wushuang nodded. Fearing she would struggle and cry out in pain during the bone-setting and alert Li Mochou and her disciple, Yang Guo immediately sealed her numbness acupoint¹ and reached out to undo the buttons of her clothes. “Whatever you do, don’t make a sound,” he said.

After he undid her outer garment, a moon-white inner garment was revealed, and beneath that, an apricot-yellow undergarment.² Yang Guo dared not undo any more. His gaze travelled upward and he saw Lu Wushuang’s fine brows tightly knitted, her eyes squeezed shut, at once embarrassed and afraid, nothing like her usual overbearing manner. Yang Guo, just awakening to romantic feelings, caught the faint fragrance of a maiden’s body. His heart could not help but pound. Lu Wushuang opened her eyes and said softly, “Go ahead and treat me.” With these words, she closed her eyes again and turned her head away.

Yang Guo’s hands trembled slightly as he undid her undergarment. He saw her chest, smooth as cream, and did not dare touch it with his fingers. In his heart he told himself she was Xiaolongnü: If she were Gugu, lying here with her clothes open and her chest exposed, asking me to set her bones, would I dare look at her chest? Pei! Gugu’s chest is a hundred times more beautiful. As long as she wasn’t angry, of course I would look. His reverence and awe toward Xiaolongnü remained, but now when he thought of her, a romantic longing had inevitably mixed in with the reverence.

Lu Wushuang waited a long time. She felt the breeze on her bare chest, bringing a slight chill. She turned her head and opened her eyes, only to see Yang Guo staring at her in a daze. “You… what are you looking… looking at?” she said angrily. Yang Guo started. He reached out to feel her ribs, but the moment his fingers touched her skin, smooth as congealed lard, his body felt as though jolted by electricity, as if he had touched a burning coal. He immediately pulled his hand back. Lu Wushuang said, “Close your eyes! If you look at me one more time, I’ll… I’ll…” At this point, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Yang Guo hurriedly said, “Yes, yes. I won’t look. Don’t… don’t cry.” He truly closed his eyes and felt for the two broken ribs. Carefully aligning the broken ends, he quickly pulled her undergarment back over her chest. His mind settled somewhat. He broke four branches, placed two in front of her chest and two behind her back, bound them tightly with tree bark so the broken bones could not shift, then fastened the buttons of her inner and outer garments and released her acupoints.

Lu Wushuang opened her eyes. The moonlight fell on Yang Guo’s face, both his cheeks were flushed, his expression was bashful, and he was stealing glances at her expression. When their eyes met, he hurriedly turned his head away. Now that her broken bones were aligned, though it still hurt, the agony was greatly lessened compared to the grinding of the misaligned bones earlier. She thought, This fool actually has some skill. By now she could see that Yang Guo was no ordinary person, and certainly not a fool. But since she had mocked and scorned him from the very beginning, even now that he had saved her, she was unwilling to change her tone and show respect. She asked, “Fool, what do you think we should do? Stay here, or hide far away?” Yang Guo said, “What do you think?” Lu Wushuang said, “Leave, of course. Are we waiting to die here?” Yang Guo said, “Where to?” Lu Wushuang said, “I want to go back to Jiangnan. Are you willing to escort me?” Yang Guo said, “I need to find my Gugu. I can’t go that far.” When Lu Wushuang heard this, her face fell. “Fine, then go! Leave me here to die.”

If Lu Wushuang had pleaded with him in a gentle, soft voice, Yang Guo would certainly have refused. But seeing the anger in her eyes and the autumn frost on her brow, so like Xiaolongnü’s expression when she was upset, he found it impossible to refuse. He thought, Perhaps Gugu has happened to go to Jiangnan. If I escort Miss Lu there, as the saying goes, heaven takes pity on those with good hearts, and maybe I’ll be blessed enough to run into Gugu. He knew this hope was vanishingly slim, but he could not refuse what Lu Wushuang asked of him, so he could only make excuses to himself. He sighed, bent down, and picked her up.

Lu Wushuang said angrily, “What are you carrying me for?” Yang Guo grinned. “Carrying you to Jiangnan.” Lu Wushuang was overjoyed. She let out a puchi of laughter and said, “Fool, Jiangnan is so far away, can you really carry me all the way there?” But even as she spoke, she settled quietly into his arms and did not move at all.

By now the great bull had long since run off to who knows where. Fearing that Li Mochou and her disciple might spot them, Yang Guo took only the most remote and desolate paths. His feet moved swiftly, but his upper body remained perfectly steady, without the slightest jolt to Lu Wushuang’s injury. Lu Wushuang watched the trees receding on either side, this breakneck pace was like a galloping horse, even faster than when she ran at full speed on her own. His lightness skill was no less than her master’s. She was secretly amazed. So this fool possesses extraordinary arts. He’s so young, how could he have trained to this level? Soon the eastern sky began to lighten. She lifted her head and saw that although Yang Guo’s face was dirty, his features were refined and handsome, and his eyes were especially bright and spirited. Her heart stirred despite herself, and gradually she forgot the pain in her chest. After a while, she even fell sound asleep in his arms.

When it was fully light, Yang Guo grew somewhat tired. He ran beneath a large tree, gently set her down, and sat beside her to rest. Lu Wushuang opened her eyes and gave a faint smile. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?” Yang Guo said, “Of course I’m hungry too. All right, let’s find an inn and eat.” He stood and picked her up again, but after carrying her for half the night, his arms were slightly sore. He lifted her onto his shoulder and walked slowly.

Lu Wushuang’s two feet swung gently back and forth against Yang Guo’s chest. She smiled and said, “Fool, what is your name really? Surely I can’t call you Fool in front of other people.” Yang Guo said, “I don’t have a name. Everyone calls me Fool.” Lu Wushuang said crossly, “Fine, don’t tell me! Who is your master, then?” When Yang Guo heard her mention the word “master”, his respect for Xiaolongnü was so deep that he dared not treat it lightly or make jokes. He answered seriously, “My master is my Gugu.” Lu Wushuang believed him and thought, So his martial arts are passed down through his family. She asked again, “Which school or sect does your Gugu belong to?” Yang Guo said stupidly, “She lives at home. What school. I don’t know anything about that.” Lu Wushuang said angrily, “You’re playing dumb! I’m asking you, what style of martial arts did you learn?” Yang Guo said, “You’re asking about the style of my front door? Who says it’s made of paper, it’s clearly made of wood.” Lu Wushuang pondered silently: Could this person really be a fool? His martial arts are good, but his mind is slow? So she said gently, “Fool, tell me honestly, why did you save my life?”

Yang Guo found this difficult to answer on the spot. He thought for a while and said, “My Gugu told me to save you, so I saved you.” Lu Wushuang said, “Who is your Gugu?” Yang Guo said, “Gugu is Gugu. Whatever she tells me to do, I do.” Lu Wushuang sighed. This person really is stupid. She had begun to feel a slight tenderness toward him, but now her disgust returned. Yang Guo heard her stop talking and asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Lu Wushuang snorted. Yang Guo asked again. Lu Wushuang said crossly, “If I don’t feel like talking, I won’t talk. Fool, shut your mouth!” Yang Guo knew her expression right now must be a sight to see, but with her sitting on his shoulder, he could not get a look. He felt a twinge of regret.

Before long, they arrived at a small market town. Yang Guo found an inn and, after eating, Lu Wushuang took out some silver and told Yang Guo to buy a donkey. After paying for the meal, she mounted the donkey. But the moment she was on its back, her broken bones shot through with violent pain, and she could not help groaning. The donkey had a stubborn temperament. It sidled up against a wall and rubbed her body against it. Lu Wushuang had no strength in her hands or feet. With a startled cry, she tumbled off the donkey’s back. Her right foot touched the ground and she stood firm, but the jolt pulled at her injury, and the pain was unbearable. She said angrily, “You clearly saw me falling and didn’t help.” Yang Guo gave a few foolish laughs but said nothing. Lu Wushuang said, “Help me back onto the donkey.” Yang Guo did as he was told and helped her mount. The moment the donkey felt someone on its back, it prepared to cause trouble again.

Lu Wushuang said, “Hurry up and lead the donkey.” Yang Guo said, “No, I’m afraid the donkey will kick me. If only my big bull were still here.” Lu Wushuang was furious. This fool, say he’s stupid, but he’s not. Say he’s clever, but he is. He clearly just wants to hold me. She had no choice. “Fine,” she said. “You get on the donkey too.” Only then did Yang Guo grin and climb onto the donkey’s back. He wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed slightly with his legs. The donkey felt a sharp pain in its belly and dared not act up any longer. It walked obediently.

Yang Guo said, “Which way?” Lu Wushuang had long since inquired about the route. She had originally intended to travel east past Tong Pass, then through Zhongzhou³ and turn south, that was the main road. But she feared that on the main road she might easily run into her master or the Beggars’ Guild. It would be better to take side roads, passing through Bamboo Forest Pass, crossing Dragon Colt Stockade, then going south through Purple Jing Pass. Though the route was more circuitous, it would be much safer and even harder for her master to track. She considered for a moment, then pointed southeast and said, “That way.”

The donkey’s hooves clopped slowly along. Just as they were leaving the market town, a farm child ran up to the donkey and called, “Miss Lu, something for you.” He tossed a bunch of flowers at her, then turned and ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Lu Wushuang caught it, it was a bunch of rapeseed flowers, and tied to the stems was a letter. She hurriedly tore open the seal and pulled out a sheet of yellow paper. On it was written:

“Your honoured master will arrive in the blink of an eye. Hide at once, without delay!”

The paper was coarse, but the handwriting was rather elegant. Lu Wushuang let out a surprised “Yi!” and was seized by confusion and suspicion. Who is this child? How does he know my surname is Lu? And how does he know my master is about to catch up? She asked Yang Guo, “You know this child, don’t you? Was he sent by your Gugu too?”

Yang Guo, from behind her head, had already read the writing on the letter. He thought, This is clearly an ordinary farm child, surely sent by someone else to deliver the message. I just don’t know who wrote it, though it seems to be well-intentioned. What if Li Mochou really does catch up? What then? Though he had studied the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra and the Nine Yin Manual, possessing the combined secrets of the jianghu’s two great traditions, his training time was, after all, too short. He understood the profound mysteries but had not yet attained the corresponding level of cultivation, which made it futile. If Li Mochou caught up with him, he would absolutely be no match for her. In broad daylight, there was nowhere to hide. He was still pondering this dilemma without a solution when Lu Wushuang questioned him. He answered, “I don’t know that little fool. Doesn’t look like my Gugu sent him either.”

He had barely spoken these words when they heard the sound of wind and percussion instruments. Coming toward them was a bridal sedan chair, with several dozen people escorting it, it was a wedding procession. Though the music was the crude, rustic drumming of village folk, it was still filled with joyous spirit and possessed a stirring charm all its own. An idea stirred in Yang Guo’s mind. “Do you want to be a bride?” he asked.

: 尺 (Chǐ). A traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly equivalent to one-third of a metre or about 13 inches.

Footnotes

1. 麻软穴 – Máruǎn Xué. Literally numbness and softness. Fictional acupoint in martial arts fiction; sealing it suppresses pain and immobilises the victim. See Wikipedia. ↩

2. 肚兜 (Dùdōu). Traditional Chinese undergarment worn by women and children, similar to a chemise or bellyband, covering the chest and abdomen. It was the standard undergarment in pre-modern China. ↩

3. 中州 – Zhōngzhōu. Ancient name for the central plains region of China, roughly corresponding to modern Henan Province. ↩