by Jin Yong
“He said, ‘I have another idea. I could make his uncle my master. The idea first came to me a while ago. But his school of martial arts has a very strict rule: only one student per generation. Now that his disciple is dead, however, he might consider taking me on.’”
Lotus had not said outright who the speaker was, but, from her tone and accent, it had to be Yang Kang—a mix of northern and southern sounds: that of Daxing in Zhongdu, where he grew up, and the melody of Lin’an, where his mother Charity Bao was born.
Chuckling, Viper turned to where Yang Kang had been sitting, but he was nowhere to be seen.
A smack sounded, followed by a howl of pain.
Yang Kang, standing in the moonlight, his right hand bloody, his face drained of all color.
When Lotus began to mimic his way of speaking, he knew he had to silence her at all costs. He leaped up and plunged his talons down at her head. Needless to say, Lotus had been expecting this very reaction and had been on her guard, her senses attuned to the slightest change in the air. The instant she sensed him above her head, she sheered off to the right. His fingers dug instead into her left shoulder, and were pierced all the way through by the prickles of the Hedgehog Chainmail. The pain had almost knocked him out cold.
In the gloom of the main hall, no one was sure what had happened. They only knew that Yang Kang was hurt. Whether by Lotus Huang or Viper Ouyang, they could not tell, but they all decided it was best to keep quiet, in case the Martial Great was responsible. All but Wanyan Honglie, who rushed up to steady his son.
“Kang, what happened? Where are you hurt?” He pulled out his saber and put it in his son’s hand. He knew Viper Ouyang would not let his nephew’s murder pass, but he had numbers on his side—perhaps he and his son still had a chance.
“I’m fine,” Yang Kang replied, clenching his teeth against the pain as he closed his fingers around the saber’s hilt. It slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor. He stooped to pick it up, only to find his arm hanging stiff and unresponsive. He pinched the back of his hand. Nothing. He could feel nothing on one side of his body.
He looked up at Lotus. “You—you poisoned me!”
Tiger Peng and his fellows had instinctively held back, daunted by the idea of standing in opposition to Viper Ouyang. Yet, having considered the situation, they all came to the conclusion that, as a prince of the Great Jin Empire, Wanyan Honglie would have the power and resources to resolve the unfortunate incident involving Gallant Ouyang, and they should really be seen acting on the young Prince’s behalf. So, some of them rushed to Yang Kang’s side with reassuring words, while the others bullied Lotus for the antidote, all making sure to give Viper Ouyang a wide berth.
“The Hedgehog Chainmail has never been laced with poison,” Lotus shot back. “And, considering the company we are in, there are others who are more keen on seeing the back of you than I am.”
“I … I … can’t move!” Yang Kang’s knees gave way and his body drooped. An animalistic growl rumbled in his throat.
Lotus could not fathom how her Hedgehog Chainmail could have elicited such a reaction. And yet there was no mistaking the surprise on Viper’s face. By now, Yang Kang’s features were twisted by merriment rather than pain. His spine-chilling countenance was accentuated by the silvery moonbeams. She had seen that same grotesque expression once before.
“It must have been Uncle Ouyang…” she said.
“Well, it does look like the venom of my serpent.” There was a note of astonishment in his voice. “I was thinking of giving him a taste of the very same poison, so I must thank you for doing the hard work, young lady. Tell me, how did you get hold of it?”
“You’re the poisoner, not me, but you might not be aware of it.”
“How can that be?”
“Uncle Ouyang, remember your bet with the Hoary Urchin? You fed your serpent’s venom to one shark. When a second shark ate the poisoned carcass, it too succumbed to the toxin. When a third shark came to feast on the second victim, it fell prey to the same fate. This bane you’ve created can spread its lethal effects without losing any of its power. Am I right?”
“Why else do you think I am called the Venom of the West?”
“Indeed, and Woodcutter Nan was the first shark.”
Yang Kang was in a frenzy, rolling back and forth on the floor. Graybeard Liang wanted to restrain the young man, but he was flinging himself about so wildly that no one could get close.
Viper pondered her words, his brow furrowed. “Can you elaborate?”
“You said you set your serpent on Woodcutter Nan, and, when we found him on Peach Blossom Island, he punched me. On my left shoulder. His poisoned blood was left on the prickles of my Hedgehog Chainmail, and so the steel shirt became the second shark. Just now, when His Highness struck me, by some divine justice, he was pricked by the very spikes stained with Woodcutter Nan’s blood. So, he’s is the third shark.”
A chill passed through the temple. The hardened martial men grew ever more wary of Viper Ouyang, having witnessed the horrifying effects of the venom. They also noted how fast retribution came—it was just days since Yang Kang had plotted to butcher five of the Freaks, and now he was tainted with Woodcutter Nan’s contaminated blood …
Wanyan Honglie approached Viper Ouyang and fell to his knees. “Master Ouyang, please spare my son’s life. I shall be forever in your debt.”
Though Yang Kang was no kin of blood, the boy had called him Papa all his life, and Wanyan Honglie had doted on him, treating him as his own issue. He had been so captivated by Charity Bao that his love extended to those dear to her.
“Are you saying your son’s life is worth more than my nephew’s?” Viper cackled, sweeping his eyes over the Prince’s entourage. “If any of the heroes gathered here disagree with me, let them make themselves known.”
Silence. Just then, Yang Kang vaulted up from the temple floor and—pang—punched Graybeard Liang, sending the old man flying in a somersault.
Wanyan Honglie had also climbed to his feet. “We leave for Lin’an now. We will find the best physician for the young Prince.”
“Do you think a doctor—even the very best—could find a cure for my poison? Do you think a medical man would risk his life to thwart my will?”
“Help His Highness!” Wanyan Honglie ordered his guards.
Yang Kang hopped away from the hands reaching for him, jumping so high that he almost hit the rafter above. He jabbed his finger at Wanyan Honglie. “You’re not my father. You killed my mother. Now you want to kill me.”
The Jin Prince recoiled, stumbling several steps back.
“Your Highness, focus your mind!” Hector Sha cried, striding up to take Yang Kang by the arms.
The young man, with faster reflexes than anyone knew he possessed, flipped his right hand into a backhand hook and seized Sha’s left wrist, digging his nails deep into the exposed arm. Stunned by the uncalled-for violence, the Dragon King’s only thought was to free himself from Yang Kang’s grip. Until the pain struck him. A numbing itch began to spread across his skin.
“The fourth shark.”
Tiger Peng, a skilled user of poison himself, caught on to Lotus’s meaning. He pulled his saber free from his belt and—sha!—hacked off his good friend’s left arm.
Browbeater Hou lunged at Tiger Peng. “I’ll kill you!”
“Stop! He saved me!” Hector Sha yelled at his martial brother.
Yang Kang’s mind was completely gone now, leaving him a pointing, striking, kicking, biting, maddened thing. Not one man dared approach him after what had happened to Hector Sha. Shrieking, they all fled. The commotion woke the crows once more, and they circled the pagoda, casting ominous shadows on the clearing outside the temple, their caws clashing with Yang Kang’s growls.
Wanyan Honglie was ushered into the open by his guards, though they could not prevent him from looking back and calling for his son. “Kang! Kang!”
Somehow, his cries managed to get through to
the young man. “Father! Father!” he wailed as he ran toward the Jin Prince.
Overjoyed by the lucid response, Wanyan Honglie folded his arms around his boy. “Son, are you feeling better?”
A gnarled face and snapping white teeth answered his question. Terrified, Wanyan Honglie flung his son away from him and Yang Kang toppled to the ground, all strength drained from his body. There, he flailed on his back, unable to get up again. Wanyan Honglie could not bear to watch his son suffer any longer. He leaped on his horse and galloped into the night, his retinue straggling behind him.
Viper and Lotus watched Yang Kang writhing on the ground, each lost in their own thoughts. Before long, a final spasm seized the young man and then he was still.
It was Viper who broke the silence. “It’s almost dawn. Let’s see how your father fares.”
“What’s there to see? He must be back on Peach Blossom Island by now.”
It took a moment for the Venom to collect himself. The smirk returned to his face. “So, the little wench has been lying all along.”
“Well, only at first. Do you honestly think those stinking Quanzhen Taoists could trap my papa? Would you have let me question the Qu girl if I hadn’t mentioned the Nine Yin Manual?”
Ke Zhen’e now had a new admiration for Lotus. He almost felt protective of her, and he prayed that she would come up with a clever ploy to get away from Viper Ouyang.
“Your lies were rooted in truth, or else I would never have fallen for them. Now, recite for me your father’s translation of the final passage in the Manual—every last word.”
“What if I don’t remember it?”
“It’d be a shame if my snake were to bite a pretty girl like you.”
Lotus had been prepared to die when she stepped out from the statue, and yet, having witnessed Yang Kang’s agonies, she was not so certain anymore.
He might not let me go, even after I’ve told him everything Reverend Sole Light has shared with us, she realized, but she had no better plan right now than trying to string him along for as long as possible.
“If you recite the original, it may remind me of the translation. Give me the first line.”
“Don’t try to hoodwink me. Who on earth can remember such gibberish?”
Hang on … If he can’t remember that passage, then he must value the manuscript as highly as his own life, she concluded. Yes, I can use that to my advantage.
“In that case, read it out and I’ll translate it for you.”
Viper Ouyang went back inside the temple and lit a candle stump from the altarpiece. Then he produced a parcel, carefully wrapped in three layers of oilpaper, from the inside pocket of his shirt, eager to at last make sense of the Manual’s final pages.
Lotus suppressed a giggle. Look how he treasures the nonsense Guo Jing put down for him!
Viper read aloud: “Mahaparas gatekras … habhaya kazidada sagalopa.”
“Herein lies the key to the Manual: make good use of the observation of appearance in order to channel twelve kinds of suspiration.”
Excited, the Venom continued, “Jaramanas haho.”
“Able to overcome a multitude of maladies, gradually enter the mystic marvel.”
“Siddhabhasita aneka.”
Lotus pondered for a few moments, then shook her head. “That’s not right. You’ve got it wrong.”
“That’s how it’s written down.”
“But it makes no sense…” She rested her chin in her hand, as though deep in thought.
Impatience screamed inside the Venom, but he dared not interrupt her.
At length, she said, “Guo Jing must have got it wrong. Can I see?”
He handed the manuscript over obediently. She took the pages and grabbed the candle to take a better look in its flickering light. Without warning, she jumped back a dozen paces, letting the flame lick close to the pages.
“Uncle Ouyang, this is fake!”
“Oi! What are you doing? Give it back!”
“Do you want to take the Manual or take my life?” She grinned, threatening to set fire to his treasure.
“What am I to do with your life? Give it back!” he snapped, ready to pounce on her and take the papers by force.
“Stay where you are!” She held the pages even closer to the flame. “One tiny movement and I’ll burn them all!”
“Huh! I can’t outwit you, you little imp. Put it down and go!”
“As a Martial Great, you’ll honor your word, won’t you?”
“I said, put it down and go,” he repeated darkly.
Lotus set the Manual and the candle on the floor with a chuckle. “Sorry, Uncle Ouyang.” With the Dog Beater in her hand, she turned to leave.
Though entirely unscrupulous, Viper did care deeply about losing face, so he stuck to his word and let her go. But, as she walked out of the temple’s main hall, he leaped up and swung a vicious backhand. Pang! The statue of Wang Yanzhang the Iron Spear broke in half.
“Blind Bat, come out!”
Lotus whipped around and saw Ke Zhen’e jump out, twirling the spear shaft in an arc of protection. She realized her oversight. Anyone with the Venom’s martial abilities would have heard Master Ke’s breathing. He had not mentioned it because the Freak was too minor an opponent to be worthy of the trouble. She rushed back and reached out with the Dog-Beating Cane in Ke’s defense.
“Uncle Ouyang, I’m staying, let him go.”
“No, Lotus, go!” Ke cried. “Find Guo Jing. Tell him to avenge his shifus.”
“He won’t listen to me, Master Ke. If you won’t go, Papa and I will forever be wronged. Tell Guo Jing, I don’t blame him. Tell him, don’t dwell on the past.”
But how could Ke Zhen’e let her risk her life a second time to save his? He stood his ground.
It was Viper Ouyang’s turn to show impatience. “Wench, I agreed to let you go. Why did you come back?”
“I’ve decided I prefer your company, Uncle Ouyang. Let’s be rid of this blind old fool. I’ll stay with you, but you mustn’t hurt him.”
Viper was pleased by Lotus’s suggestion, since he could not care less whether Ke Zhen’e lived or died. He strode forward and grabbed the front of the Freak’s robe. Ke swung the spear shaft sideways to protect himself. Viper pushed back, his force numbing Ke’s arms as a dull pain gripped the Freak’s chest. With a clang, the spear shot upward through the roof.
Ke Zhen’e jumped back, but, before his feet touched firm ground, he felt his collar tighten and his body was lifted once more into the air. But he had been in enough fights to know this was not the time to panic. With a flick of his left wrist, he let fly with two poisoned devilnuts aimed straight at the Venom’s face.
Viper had not imagined the Freak would have the skill to retaliate so effectively from such a compromised position. The projectiles were shooting toward him at great speed. At such close proximity, the only way he could dodge them was to bend backward. He used the momentum generated by his evasive maneuver to flip the blind man overhead and hurl him away, sending him through the temple doors. In fact, he was now flying faster than his own secret weapons, which had sailed just above Viper Ouyang’s head.
“Aiyoo!” Lotus gasped. Any moment now, the poisoned darts would hit Ke Zhen’e.
Somehow, the Freak twisted his body midair and caught the two devilnuts in his palm. He could indeed see better with his ears than most people can with their eyes.
Viper applauded his display. “Impressive. I’ll let you go, this time, Blind Bat.”
Ke Zhen’e landed on his feet, but gave no response.
“Master Ke, Uncle Ouyang is going to bow to me, so I’ll be his shifu and teach him from the Nine Yin Manual. Why are you dallying? Do you want to call me Shifu too?”
Ke was still standing, dazed, on the spot. He knew, despite her jovial tone, what grave danger she was in. He could not desert her.
But then, he heard Viper’s voice. “The sky is light. Let’s go.” The Martial Great took Lotus’s hand and
pulled her along after him.
“Master Ke, remember what I wrote on your palm.” Lotus’s fading voice drifted back to him, already several zhang from the temple.
Flocks of crows rushed past Ke Zhen’e. The sound of them pecking and squawking over Yang Kang’s body jolted him out of his stupor. He hopped onto the temple roof and groped around for the iron spear shaft.
Where should this blind old fool go? he asked himself when he had found his makeshift weapon.
Before he could come up with an answer, a wave of desperate screeching assaulted his ears, followed by a scramble of flapping wings. Then, thud, thud, thud, crows were dropping out of the air, one after another. The first group that had been feasting on Yang Kang’s remains were now dead. Killed by Viper Ouyang’s poison.
The Freak let out a long sigh and jumped down from the slanting tiles. He would head north, for now.
2
Ke Zhen’e had been on the road for three days when he picked out the caws of the condors. His disciple must be nearby.
“Guo Jing, my boy!” he called. “Guo Jing!”
Soon, the clatter of hooves echoed in the empty wilderness.
“Shifu!” Guo Jing cried, elated to see his Master unharmed. Almost a week had passed since they were separated in the skirmish with the Song army, near the Tower of Mist and Rain, in Jiaxing. The young man leaped from the saddle before Ulaan had come to a stop. Just as he was about to embrace his mentor, he felt a box on the ear. And then another.
Guo Jing’s arms fell slack at his sides. He made no move to dodge the blows, letting his shifu hit him again and again. The next thing he knew, Ke was slapping himself on the face too.
“Shifu?” he asked, mystified by his teacher’s actions.
“You are a young fool and I am an old idiot!” Ke Zhen’e struck Guo Jing and himself a dozen more times, until their cheeks were red and swollen. Then he cursed their stupidity once more, before recounting in detail how, in the Iron Spear Temple, Lotus had staked her life on revealing the truth behind the massacre on Peach Blossom Island.
