A Snake Lies Waiting

by Jin Yong

  The young girl took another step back, then pointed at his shiny pate and laughed.

  This caught everyone by surprise, not least Graybeard Liang, who stopped dead for a few moments. Then he launched himself at her. The girl raised her hands while retreating. Knowing she was in danger, she turned and tried to escape. But the Ginseng Codger was in no mood to be generous. He stretched out his leg to block, while striking with his elbow, then fist. The girl felt a sharp pain to her nose and the room started spinning.

  “Sister, eating the watermelon! Come out and help me!”

  Lotus froze. I should have killed her while I had the chance, she thought. She is going to be the death of us. Just then, she heard the faintest snort, barely audible. Her heart leaped in delight. Papa has come! She leaned closer to look through the hole and saw Apothecary Huang, dressed in a mask made of human skin, standing at the door to the courtyard.

  Nobody else had noticed him arrive. He stood, still as a tree trunk. At last, the others turned to look, and shuddered. His face was not green, he bore no fangs, he was neither fierce nor ugly. But it was clear to all that this face did not belong to a living being.

  Apothecary Huang had witnessed the whole brief exchange between the young girl and Graybeard Liang, and he could tell at once that she had been trained in the martial arts of Peach Blossom Island.

  “Young miss, who is your Master? Where is he?”

  The girl shook her head. The sight of this strange face had struck her dumb. Then, suddenly, she clapped her hands and laughed.

  Apothecary Huang frowned. She had to have some connection to Peach Blossom Island, and he would never let the disciple of a disciple be bullied. He had even come to Cyclone Mei’s defense when she was mistreated by Guo Jing. “Silly girl, why didn’t you strike back when that old man hit you?”

  The men gathered had not realized who this was, until he opened his mouth. Wanyan Honglie, Yang Kang, and Tiger Peng recognized his voice at once. Was this the man they had encountered in the palace, the night before? Tiger Peng wondered. If so, there was no way they could overcome him. They would have to use Sun Tzu’s thirty-sixth strategy: if all else fails, run.

  “I can’t hit him,” the girl said.

  “Says who?” Apothecary Huang replied. “If he hits your nose, you hit his nose. If he hits you once, you hit him three times.”

  “All right!” It had not occurred to her that there was a mismatch in their skills. “If you hit my nose, I must hit your nose. If you hit me once, I must hit you three times.” At that, she sent her fist toward Graybeard Liang’s nose.

  The Ginseng Codger moved to block, but instantly felt the Pool at the Bend pressure point at his elbow go numb. His forearm froze. Thump! The girl hit him squarely in the face.

  “Number two!” she cried, and punched again.

  Graybeard Liang bent his knees, his back straight and chest pulled in, and reached out in a move from his famous Grapple and Lock technique. He was aiming to dislocate the girl’s shoulder, but, just as his fingers made contact, his arm again went numb. Thump! Another blow to the nose. This time, his head was thrown back and he was rocked onto his heels, seething with fury.

  The others watched in amazement. How had she done it? Tiger Peng was an expert in secret projectiles; he was the only one who heard the faint swish that told him Apothecary Huang was throwing the tiniest of needles at Graybeard Liang’s pressure points. And yet, he never saw the great Master’s arm move.

  Apothecary Huang was in fact flicking his finger from inside his sleeve, sending the needles through the fabric of his robe. It was an invisible and almost inaudible attack. Who could possibly defend themselves against it?

  “Three!”

  With both arms locked, Graybeard Liang watched as the girl’s fist hurtled toward his face once more. He tried to step back, but, at that moment, the White Ocean point on the inside of his right leg went numb. A spark danced before his eyes, he felt a pain in them, and they began to brim with tears. This last punch to his nose had also hit the pressure point in his tear ducts. To be seen crying would be even more humiliating than defeat. He tried to wipe away the tears, but his arm would not move. Two fat drops rolled down his cheeks.

  “Oh, don’t cry!” the young girl said. “I promise I won’t hit you anymore.”

  These words were worse than the blows to his nose. Unable to bear it, Graybeard Liang bent forward and vomited a mouthful of blood.

  “Sir, who are you?” he said, looking up at Apothecary Huang. “Using such tricks, is that the behavior of a Master?”

  “Who are you to demand my name?” Apothecary Huang replied. Then he turned to address all the men gathered. “All of you, go!”

  Apothecary Huang’s order came as a relief. Nobody watching had any desire to join the fight. Tiger Peng was the first to leave, but, as he approached the door, he saw the great Master was blocking the way out. He stopped dead.

  “I told you all to leave, and yet you’re still here. Are you asking me to kill you?”

  Tiger Peng had heard all about Apothecary Huang’s strange moods. He wanted nothing more than to do as the Master said. So, he turned to the others and cried, “The great Master has instructed us to go. Let’s go.”

  By now, Browbeater had removed the cloth from his mouth. He ran straight at Apothecary Huang. “Let me pass!” he snarled.

  “Who are you to demand that I move aside?” he said firmly. “You may crawl between my legs. If you want to live, that is.”

  The men looked at each other in dismay. This man was humiliating them. Yet they were all considered accomplished fighters. Together, they might just be able to overcome him.

  Browbeater Hou launched himself at Apothecary Huang, but suddenly he found himself up in the air and felt a hand pulling at his left arm.

  Crrraaaack! Browbeater Hou’s arm was pulled clean from his body. Apothecary Huang tossed man and arm aside. Browbeater Hou fainted instantly from the pain, as blood poured onto the floor.

  Apothecary Huang glanced up at the ceiling, seemingly indifferent. The others were horrified, the color draining instantly from their cheeks.

  Slowly, Huang’s eyes swept over each of the men, one by one. Hector Sha, Tiger Peng—they had all killed plenty of men in their time, but they shuddered under Huang’s cold gaze. Goose bumps prickled their skin.

  “Are you leaving or not?” Apothecary Huang roared.

  Any thoughts of fighting back turned to dust. Tiger Peng hung his head and crawled out beneath Huang’s legs. Hector Sha released Harmony Yin and Laurel Lu and scrambled through next, dragging Browbeater Hou behind him. Yang Kang helped Wanyan Honglie, followed by Graybeard Liang and Lama Supreme Wisdom.

  As soon as they were outside, they ran like startled rats. Not one of them dared to glance over their shoulder as they fled.

  CHAPTER SIX

  A DESOLATED INN IN A DESOLATED VILLAGE

  1

  “Laurel, you and the young lady may stay,” Apothecary Huang ordered.

  Laurel Lu had of course recognized his Grandmaster, but, as he was dressed in the mask, he had not greeted him properly when he first entered the inn. Now, he bowed four times.

  Harmony Yin also bowed. “Disciple of Eternal Spring of the Quanzhen Sect, Harmony Yin is honored to meet you, sir.”

  “I did not ask you to stay. Why are you still here?”

  Apothecary Huang’s tone took him aback. “I am a student of Eternal Spring—I am not a criminal.”

  “What do I care if you are a member of the Quanzhen Sect?” Huang grabbed the corner of a nearby table, pulled a chunk of wood from it and, without the slightest movement of his arm or hand, threw it at Harmony Yin. The young man tried to block with his whisk, only to realize at the last moment that the projectile was hurtling at him with the might of a metal staff. He felt the gush of air. As he tried desperately to evade it, his whisk swung round and hit him at the side of his lips at the same time as the wooden block. The pain was sharp. There was also somet
hing in his mouth. He spat and looked down into his bloody palm, only to find a few of his teeth. Shocked and frightened, he said no more.

  “I am Apothecary Huang. Or you could call me the Black Apothecary. Now, tell me: what does the Quanzhen Sect want?”

  Harmony Yin and Emerald Cheng were stunned.

  Laurel Lu was similarly surprised. Perhaps the Grandmaster heard me fight with the Taoist, he thought. But what if he heard what I told the Kitchen God, too? The thought brought him out in a cold sweat. And what about Father…?

  Rubbing his cheek, Harmony Yin mustered the strength to speak through the pain. “You are a master of the wulin, and yet your behavior is so capricious? The Six Heroes of the South are just that—heroes. Why do you harass them? Had my shifu not sent out a warning, would you have killed them already?”

  “So, that’s why I’ve not been able to find them,” Apothecary Huang snarled. “You stinky Taoists have been meddling in business that does not concern you.”

  “If you desire to kill me, then do so!” Harmony Yin cried in agitation. “I am not afraid of you.”

  “Did you enjoy cursing me behind my back?” Apothecary Huang said coldly.

  “I am not afraid to curse you to your face, you demon! You freak!”

  Ever since he had first gained fame throughout the wulin, no one had ever dared insult Apothecary Huang directly in this manner. This young Taoist was the most unbridled, offensive man he had come across in more than a decade. Even after watching the way Apothecary Huang had dealt with Browbeater Hou, he dared to speak to him like this? Huang could not help but admire the young man’s courage. It reminded him of himself, in his younger years. “Keep going, if you dare,” he said, taking a step closer to the Taoist.

  “I’m not scared, you monster!”

  He will never get out of this alive, Laurel Lu thought. I must intervene.

  “You brazen swine! How dare you insult my Grandmaster!” Laurel raised his saber and aimed it at Harmony Yin’s shoulder. If he injured Harmony Yin first, perhaps Apothecary Huang’s fury might abate long enough to allow the young Taoist to escape.

  Harmony Yin leaped aside and then cried, “I am not scared of death, so I will curse until I am satisfied!”

  Laurel Lu hefted his saber once more, just as Emerald Cheng raised her sword and shouted, “I, too, am a disciple of the Quanzhen. If you would kill him, then kill us both!”

  This took Harmony Yin by surprise. “Excellent, Sister Cheng!”

  They stood shoulder to shoulder, facing Apothecary Huang. Laurel Lu could no longer risk attacking Yin, for fear of hurting the lady.

  “You certainly have guts and integrity—I admire these qualities in a man. I, Apothecary Huang, am indeed a demon and a heretic. You are not wrong, there. Besides, your shifu is my junior, so how could I lower myself to fight with you? Be off with you!” He reached out, grabbed the young man by the front of his robes and flung him outside.

  As Harmony Yin flew through the air, he had time to imagine how hard a landing he faced. But—who would have guessed it?—he alighted perfectly, with both feet touching the ground at the same moment. Apothecary Huang must have thrown him in such a way as to ensure he would not be injured.

  That was close! Harmony Yin thought to himself, in a daze. The old freak has been merciful. However much courage Yin had shown up to now, he was not going to go back inside that inn. With a stroke of his swollen cheek, he turned and left.

  Emerald Cheng sheathed her sword and started for the door.

  “Wait,” said Apothecary Huang. He reached up and removed the mask. “Will you consent to be this young man’s wife?” he said, pointing at Laurel Lu.

  Emerald Cheng’s snowy-white cheeks flushed a crimson red.

  “Your martial brother was correct,” Apothecary Huang continued. “I am a heretic, but who doesn’t know that? People even call me the Heretic of the East. The thing I hate most in this world is hypocritical social conventions, especially the words of false sages. They are mere tools for duping idiots. Generation after generation falls into their trap, taking their nonsense for truths. It’s laughable, really. I, Apothecary Huang, do not subscribe to such falsehoods. People may call me a demon and a heretic, and yet I have probably caused less injury to others than those bastards who talk day and night about righteousness and morality!”

  Emerald Cheng’s heart was beating wildly, but she said nothing. What did he want with her?

  “Tell me,” he continued. “You would like to marry my disciple’s son, isn’t that so? I like those with guts and backbone. That little Taoist cursed me behind my back, but, if he had knelt before me, polite and sniveling, I would have killed him. You defended him, despite the danger, which shows character. You would make a good match for this young man. Come on, answer me!”

  Emerald Cheng wanted to say yes with all her heart, but she would not have dared to tell her own parents, let alone a stranger she was only meeting for the first time—and certainly not while Laurel Lu was standing beside them. Her cheeks flushed pink, like petals of a rose.

  Laurel Lu hung his head.

  Apothecary Huang’s thoughts turned to Lotus and he sighed. “If you are both in love, I will give your union my blessing. But even parents cannot decide who their children should marry.” Had he agreed to his beloved daughter’s betrothal to Guo Jing, she would not be lying at the bottom of the ocean. The realization vexed him. “Laurel—speak up, boy—do you want to marry this young lady?”

  “Grandmaster,” he began with a stammer, “my only fear is that I am not good enough—”

  “Not good enough!” Apothecary Huang interrupted. “As the son of my disciple, you are worthy of the Emperor’s daughter!”

  Laurel Lu could see that his Grandmaster’s mood would worsen if he hesitated any longer. “I am most willing.”

  A rush of warmth filled Emerald Cheng’s heart.

  “Excellent,” the Heretic said, turning to address her. “And what about you, miss?”

  Without looking up, she answered, “My father must decide.”

  “Your father? Never mind him, nor the matchmaker. Let me make the decision. If your father doesn’t like it, he can challenge me to a duel.”

  “Father only knows how to use a brush and abacus,” Emerald Cheng said, a smile creeping across her lips. “He doesn’t know any kung fu.”

  Apothecary Huang considered this for a moment. “Then we can battle with brush and abacus, that is fine with me! There is no one on this earth better at doing calculations than me. And can your father’s calligraphy compare to mine? Now, give me your answer, girl. Will you marry him?”

  Emerald Cheng was silent.

  “Then it’s a no. Very well, it is your choice. Old heretic that I am, I always keep my word. I never allow anyone to go back on a decision.”

  Emerald Cheng stole a glance at Laurel Lu and saw the anxiety on his face. Father adores me, she thought to herself. If I ask Auntie to talk to him and arrange for a matchmaker, Father will say yes. Why do I feel so flustered?

  “Laurel,” Apothecary Huang suddenly cried and rose to his feet, “you’re coming with me. We are going to find the Six Freaks of the South. If you utter so much as a single word to this young lady ever again, I will cut out both your tongues.”

  Laurel Lu knew full well that his Grandmaster was capable of such an act. He turned to Emerald Cheng and bowed. “Miss, I am but a mediocre fighter, without talent or education. I live a wandering life and would not be an acceptable match for you. But I feel that fate has brought us together today…”

  “There is no need to be humble, young sir. I … I am not…” Emerald Cheng trailed off.

  The young man’s heart skipped a beat. If only he could make her answer with a nod or a shake of her head. “Miss,” he whispered, “if the man standing before you does not please you, please shake your head.” The blood was pumping so violently through his body that he could barely look at her.

  But Emerald Cheng did not move. Sensin
g a sliver of hope, Laurel Lu smiled and said, “If miss is willing to marry me, please nod.”

  But Emerald Cheng did not move.

  Apothecary Huang was losing patience. “You neither shake nor nod your head. What does that mean?”

  “If I do not shake my head,” Emerald Cheng began hesitantly, “then it means … I nod my head.” The words were spoken so quietly that only Apothecary Huang, whose hearing was enhanced by years of neigong training, could make them out.

  He threw back his head and guffawed. “Wang Chongyang is a brave and valiant man. Who would have thought that he would end up with such a meek disciple! How funny. You both belong to the best schools in the wulin; it is a suitable match. Come, come, let me make it official today.”

  The two young people looked up at Apothecary Huang in amazement.

  “Where’s that girl, the fool?” he continued. “I want to ask her who her shifu is.”

  But the Qu girl was nowhere to be seen.

  “Well, well, there is no hurry, I suppose. Laurel, you will marry Miss Cheng, here, today?”

  “I am most grateful for my Grandmaster’s magnanimity,” Laurel Lu began, “but to marry in this lowly inn seems a little hasty…”

  “You are a disciple of Peach Blossom Island. Don’t tell me you abide by such ridiculous societal conventions? Come, now, you two, let me see you bow to the heavens.” His tone was austere, and they did not dare go against him. Emerald Cheng knew she had no choice. Gracefully, she knelt before him.

  “Now, bow to the earth … And your Grandmaster … Excellent. Excellent! And now, to each other.”

  Lotus and Guo Jing watched the pageant as Apothecary Huang barked his orders. They were surprised, to be sure, but also amused.

  “Excellent. Now, go and get the candles for your first night together as man and wife,” Apothecary Huang continued.

  Stunned, Laurel Lu stared back at him. “Grandmaster!”

  “What? You have already made your promises to the heavens and the earth. All that awaits, now, is the bridal chamber. You’re both fighters of the wulin; you’re not expecting brocade sheets, are you? This crumbling inn isn’t good enough?”