by Jin Yong
Then it struck her. She dropped the stone and reached down to scoop up some sand from the seabed. Clams detest sand and small stones more than anything else, she said to herself as she threw it into the mouth of the creature. She felt its grip loosen slightly as it tried to spit out the sand. Instantly, Lotus pulled back her foot, quickly kicked her way to the surface and gasped a lungful of air.
Count Seven had been watching, growing ever more anxious that she had not resurfaced. He had tried to hobble to the water’s edge, but he was too weak to go in, so all he could do was stare at the calm surface of the sea, wringing his hands. At that moment, Lotus’s head burst up and he could not help but cry out with relief.
Lotus waved to her shifu and then dived beneath the surface of the water again. Making sure to plant her feet far away from the clam and not to put her hands near the edges of its shells, she took hold of it and shook it loose from the reef. Treading water, she then pushed the clam toward the beach. Once it was half out of the water, it was too heavy for Lotus to move, so she climbed up onto the shore and took a large rock, using it to beat the thick shell until it was broken into pieces. Only once her anger was sufficiently vented did she look down at the bloody wound on her foot and realize the danger she had been in. She paused as a shiver ran through her.
That evening, they feasted on a delicious meal of sweet, succulent clam.
6
Count Seven Hong woke the next morning to find that the pain had eased. He moved the qi around his body, noticing how strong the vital points on his chest and stomach felt compared to the day before.
“Ah,” he sighed.
Lotus turned. “What’s the matter, Shifu?”
“A good night’s sleep seems to have done wonders.”
“It was all that clam,” Lotus said with a big smile.
“I don’t think clam has any medicinal powers, but it was delicious,” Count Seven said and laughed. “Although, I can’t deny that my injuries are healed, so perhaps it has its uses, after all.”
Lotus laughed, then ran out of the cave and down to the beach to fetch the last bits of clam from the previous day.
In her delight, she had forgotten all about Gallant Ouyang. Just as she was slicing two large chunks of clam flesh, she caught sight of an approaching shadow. Lotus bent down and picked up a piece of shell. Then, without warning, she threw it behind her and leaped toward the water line.
Gallant had spent a day watching them at a distance, observing Count Seven Hong’s movements and growing ever more certain that his injuries were grave indeed. The Old Beggar could barely walk. And yet Gallant was not brave enough to enter the cave. Instead, he approached Lotus.
“Sister, don’t go. I just want to talk.”
“Well, I clearly don’t, and you’re respecting that.” She pulled a face.
Gallant’s face drained of all color. His heart was pounding. He moved two steps closer and smiled. “It’s your fault, really. Who gave you permission to be so beautiful? Leaving you alone is quite impossible.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk to you, and I mean it. There’s no point trying to compliment me.”
Gallant advanced another step. “I don’t believe you,” he said with a wolfish grin.
Lotus’s face grew darker. “If you come another step closer, my shifu will beat you.”
“I doubt it,” Gallant said and laughed. “Can the Old Beggar even walk? Shall I carry him out here and see?”
Lotus stumbled back a few steps in surprise.
“If you fancy diving again, be my guest. I’ll wait here, on the shore. Let’s see who lasts longer—you in the water, or me on the beach.”
“You are a bully, and you’ll never have my affection.”
She turned to run, but tripped and fell.
Gallant spluttered with laughter. “The more you resist me, the more I like you.” He removed his outer robe and held it up as protection against any needles she might throw, before advancing toward her.
“No closer!” Lotus cried. She struggled to her feet and started running, but tripped again after only a few steps. This time, the fall was harder, and she landed partially in the water before seeming to faint.
This girl is most cunning, Gallant thought. But I’m not so easily fooled. Why would someone of her skill keep falling, let alone faint like that?
He stood watching her for a few minutes. But she lay perfectly still as the tide began to swallow her upper body and head.
Maybe she really did faint? Gallant said to himself, growing more concerned. If I don’t save her, the beauty will drown.
He ran toward her and tried to tug at her legs, but, the moment his hand touched her skin, he felt a shock. Her body was stiff. He reached down and took her in his arms, and, just as he hoisted her out of the water, she grabbed his legs and held them tightly.
“Down you go!”
Gallant’s footing was unsteady to begin with, so all it took was a sharp tug from Lotus and they both tumbled into the water.
Gallant’s martial skills were of no use to him submerged. Despite my caution, the girl tricked me! And now I’m doomed, he thought.
Lotus, on the other hand, was delighted that her ruse had worked. All she had to do was get him into deeper waters and push his head under the surface.
As the water rushed into his mouth, Gallant felt his body spin, as if caught in a whirlpool. He did not know if he was facing up or down. He began thrashing, trying to grab hold of Lotus.
Lotus swam around him, just out of reach.
Gallant Ouyang swallowed a lungful of water and his body grew heavier until his feet sunk down and met the seabed. At the touch of solid ground, he felt his mind clear momentarily. Before his body started to float up again, he grabbed at a rock on the ocean floor and tried to pinpoint the direction of the shore. The water was murky, however.
He felt with his feet and noticed a ridge of higher ground, where the water was shallower. The craggy reef was not easy to navigate, but he moved as quickly as he could across it, using his internal strength, his head still submerged.
Lotus, meanwhile, waited for him to emerge. She dived down to check, only to discover him walking through the water, much to her surprise. She swam up behind him and drew her dagger.
Feeling the water at his back move, Gallant jerked sideways, before urging his body faster through the water. He was rapidly running out of oxygen, so he dropped the large stone and rushed to the surface, gasping for air. The shore was close by, so he dropped back down to the seabed and marched in its direction.
There was no stopping him now, Lotus realized, so she dived down into the water again.
Gallant crawled up onto the beach, his clothes drenched, his hearing muffled and his eyes a blur. He lay on the sand, exhausted, as his stomach convulsed, expelling the seawater until his belly was empty. He panted, the anger swelling inside him. “I’m going to kill that Old Beggar,” he spat eventually. “Then we’ll see if the girl listens to me!”
They were fine words, but the truth was that Gallant still feared Count Seven. He took a few deep breaths and tried to drive away his fatigue. He snapped a small branch from a nearby tree, with the intention of using it in lieu of his usual folding fan, which he used to strike out at his opponents’ pressure points. Then he started walking toward the cave.
He did not approach so as to be visible from the entrance, but circled round to it from the side. He stopped and listened. All was quiet. After waiting some time, he poked his head around the rock and looked inside. Count Seven was sitting cross-legged on the ground, his face turned to the sun. He was meditating and he looked peaceful. There was no hint that he was in pain.
I’ll test him, Gallant thought to himself, to see if he can walk.
“Uncle Hong!” he called out. “Help!”
“What?”
“It’s Sister Huang. She was chasing a hare and fell down a steep ridge. She’s hurt and can’t climb up!”
“Run and save her, boy!” Co
unt Seven cried, the shock evident on his face.
So, he can’t, Gallant thought with a smile. Otherwise, he would go himself.
He entered the cave, the smile still playing across his lips. “She’s been plotting to kill me. How can I save her? You do it.”
Count Seven knew at once it was all a ruse. The dirty scoundrel thinks I’m too injured to fight, he thought. This does not bode well!
If he was destined to die, he was going to have to take the young man with him. It was the only way. Surreptitiously, he channeled his strength into his right arm and waited for Gallant to approach. But even this small movement sent pain shooting down his back. It felt as if his body was about to break apart.
Gallant grinned and began close in on him. Count Seven sighed quietly, closed his eyes and waited for what was about to come.
* * *
LOTUS WATCHED from underwater as Gallant climbed ashore. I won’t be able to trick him again so easily, she thought. He’ll be on his guard.
She swam a dozen or so meters farther out to sea, rose up to the surface and took a few breaths. Then she turned to her left and sunk back down to safety beneath the waves. From there, she spotted a patch of vegetation by the water’s edge, beyond the beach. She was suddenly reminded of Peach Blossom Island and a sadness swept over her. I should find a place for Shifu and me to hide, so that villain won’t be able to find us, she thought. It was not an inspired plan, but perhaps luck would shine on them and her Master would be able to recover in peace.
She waded ashore, but was careful not to stray too far from the water’s edge. If only I had paid more attention to Father’s Mysterious Gates and Five Elements instead of always playing, then maybe I would be able to defeat the villain myself. But it was no use thinking that way. Her father had given Gallant Ouyang the map to Peach Blossom Island. He was intelligent enough to be able to decode it.
Lotus was too lost in thought to notice where she was putting her feet. She tripped on a vine and a shower of pebbles fell on her head. She jumped aside. All around her were trees. She stumbled back and into the trunk of a tree, sending another hail of stones down on her shoulders. It was just as well she was wearing her Hedgehog Chainmail.
She looked up into the branches and what she saw gave her a terrible surprise.
Only a few paces behind her rose a sheer cliff, at the top of which was balanced a gigantic boulder, which was trembling above her head. Any slight movement could disrupt its perfect equilibrium and send it crashing down on top of her. It was wrapped in a tangle of vines, one of which extended down the cliff. The same vine she had tripped over. Who knew how many tons the stone weighed, but no doubt it would be enough to turn her into mincemeat.
Carefully, Lotus picked her way through the hanging vines and branches until she was a safe distance from the cliff. No people ever came to this island and there was not a bird in sight. Without anyone passing to yank on the wrong vine, the rock could have been precariously balanced like this for thousands of years, swaying back and forth. All but the gentlest of breezes was blocked by yet taller cliffs and peaks, otherwise a strong wind might have dislodged it by now. No doubt it would remain, trembling like that, for hundreds of thousands of years to come.
Lotus paused. She did not quite dare to go on, and instead turned back to return to her shifu. As she walked, a thought came to her: The heavens want this scoundrel dead, too. They are providing the perfect opportunity. Why did it take me so long to realize it? Her body felt lighter and she turned two somersaults in the air.
She hurried back to the cliff and examined the area. The ancient trees would provide a protection of sorts, she only really needed to jump a few feet—five, perhaps—in order to avoid being crushed. Without prior warning, however, even the birds and the squirrels would struggle to escape in time.
Cautiously, she approached the foot of the cliff, and, using her dagger, she found seven or eight vines that were directly connected to the boulder. She then cut away any that were not holding it in place. She held her breath with every slice, moving the blade quickly and steadily, sucking the air deep into her lungs after each one. If she used too much force, she could bring the rock crashing down. By the time she had cut the two dozen or so redundant vines, she was soaked in sweat. She felt more exhausted than she did after a fight. Then she gathered the cut vines into a bundle to make a marker for her return, before looking around her and committing the route to memory. She returned to her Master, whistling a tune as she went.
7
Just as lotus drew close to the cave, she heard an arrogant cackle come from inside.
“You claim to be unparalleled in the wulin, and yet I have you, now, in the palm of my hand! Fine—as you are my elder, I will let you have the first three moves. What do you say? Let me see your Dragon-Subduing Palm!”
Oh no, Lotus thought, realizing at once what was going on. “Father! Are you here? And Uncle Ouyang—you’ve come too!”
Gallant had been just about to strike Count Seven when he heard Lotus outside. His uncle? And the Old Heretic? What were they doing here? Oh, it’s the girl, out to trick me again, he thought. Although, as the old man can’t move, there’s no harm in taking a look, he reasoned. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left the cave.
Lotus was waving toward the beach. “Papa! Papa!”
Gallant peered out to sea, but he could see no sign of Apothecary Huang.
“Sister, are you trying to trick me into coming out to play? Looks like you did it again.”
“Trick you?” Lotus said with a twinkle in her eye. Then she began to run toward the beach.
“This time, I’m watching you,” Gallant called, following her. “I dare you to try dragging me into the water again.”
Thanks to his superior lightness kung fu, he was drawing close fast.
Oh no, Lotus said to herself. He might catch me before we get to the cliff.
She kept running, but Ouyang was nearly upon her. At the last moment, Lotus turned left, heading away from the beach.
Gallant Ouyang was actually making sure not to get too close. Instead, he called after Lotus: “Are we playing hide-and-seek?”
Lotus stopped suddenly and said, “There’s a tiger up ahead. Keep following me and it’ll eat you.”
“I’m the tiger and I’m going to eat you.”
He leaped toward her, but Lotus dodged, laughed and kept running.
Moments later, they were approaching the cliff.
“Come on!” Lotus called out as she ran faster.
Just as she reached her destination, she saw two figures on the beach. She was curious, but she did not have time to stop and look properly. She spotted the pile of cut vines and ran toward the rock face.
“And the tiger?” Gallant said and laughed. He ran like an arrow toward her. He did not suspect a thing, though it was noticeable that some of the vegetation had been cleared. He charged straight into the vines that remained … tugging the rock off balance.
There was a cracking sound and Gallant felt a rush of air press down upon him. He looked up. What he saw frightened him out of his wits. There, hurtling at full speed toward him, was a piece of rock as big as a mountain. The displaced air pushed down on him with such force that he could barely breathe. He tried to jump back, but he slammed into the trunk of a large tree, winding himself, and the force of his body snapped off a branch, which fell and pierced his back. At this critical moment, he felt no pain. He had to get out of the way.
He scrambled toward safety, but, in his panic, he only managed to move about a meter. The fear had petrified him.
At that moment, he felt a hand grab him and pull him back a few feet more.
But it was too late.
CRASH! Gallant howled, the world turned to mist, dust flew.
He had fainted.
Her plan had worked, and she was delighted. The only flaw was that she had not prepared for the deafening sound and the gust of air, which had blown her back to land on her rump. A rain o
f small stones pelted her head. She bent forward and covered it with her arms, before rolling onto her side. Only once all was quiet again did she open her eyes.
As the dust settled, she saw two figures standing close by.
She rubbed her eyes, as if waking from a dream. There, standing before her, was Viper Ouyang, Venom of the West. The other was her beloved Guo Jing.
Lotus yelped and leaped to her feet. Guo Jing was astounded to see her and he too lurched forward. They were reunited in each other’s arms.
In their excitement, both forgot their enemy was nearby.
8
Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang had continued fighting as the boat around them went up in flames. Before they realized what was happening, the ship started to sink, drawing them down into the sea with it. As they sank deeper, the pressure grew more intense, and they felt the water forcing its way into their ears and noses. The pain was hard to endure, and they were forced to abandon their struggle against one another as they tried to cover their nostrils and eardrums.
A strong undercurrent was moving in the opposite direction to the surface waves, and, before they knew what was happening, they had been swept away. Guo Jing kicked his way to air, only to discover that the sky was dark and the wreckage of his ship was now very far away indeed.
Guo Jing cried out into the inky blackness. He did not know it, but, at that moment, Lotus was calling out for him too. But, as the waves carried them farther apart, how could they hope to find each other again? Guo Jing kept shouting until he felt something tug at his left leg. A head surfaced. Viper Ouyang. He may have been a master of the wulin, but he was not a strong swimmer, so he clutched Guo Jing’s leg and refused to let go. Guo Jing tried to kick him away, only to have Viper grab his right leg too.
They wrestled in the water, but quickly began to sink.
“Let go of my legs! I won’t leave you,” Guo Jing managed to cry out when he resurfaced again.
