A Snake Lies Waiting

by Jin Yong

  The girl kicked her horse and rode in the direction of the approaching riders. Once they had drawn to within ten meters of each other, they jumped from their saddles, joined hands in mid-air and landed together on the ground.

  With such horsemanship, it is no wonder the Jin are being defeated by the Mongolians, Yang Kang thought. Even their young women are expert riders. As the new arrivals left their mounts in the courtyard and made for the inn door, Yang Kang led Mercy to the kitchen, where they could listen to what unfolded without being seen.

  7

  Lotus and Guo Jing had heard the screeching of condors and the pounding of hooves from inside the secret chamber. Moments later, they heard voices, as several people entered the inn.

  Guo Jing sat up in surprise. How did she get here? How wonderful!

  The Mongolian girl was none other than Khojin, the daughter of Genghis Khan to whom he had been betrothed. The other three riders were Tolui, Jebe, and Boroqul.

  Lotus could not understand them, of course, but Guo Jing listened to their laughing and joking, his face green one moment and white the next. His initial delight quickly gave way to anxiety. My heart belongs to Lotus; I can’t marry Khojin. But, if she has followed me all this way, how can I turn my back on a promise? What should I do?

  “Guo Jing,” Lotus whispered, “who is she? What are they saying? Why do you look so pale?”

  Many times, Guo Jing had meant to tell Lotus, but every time the words had got as far as his lips, he had swallowed them back down again. Now she was asking him straight out, he could no longer conceal the truth from her. “She is the daughter of the Great Khan of the Mongolians. And we are promised to one another.”

  Shock registered on Lotus’s face, and tears filled her eyes. “You … You … You’re promised to each other? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to upset you. And sometimes, well, I even forgot about it myself.”

  “She will be your wife one day. How could you forget such a thing?”

  Guo Jing did not know how to answer this. “In my heart, I have always regarded her as a sister. I don’t want to marry her.”

  A flicker of hope registered on her face.

  “The Great Khan decided it,” he went on. “I wasn’t upset at the time, but neither did the thought please me. I merely thought, Whatever the Great Khan decides must be right. But, Lotus, how can I marry a woman who is not you? If I cannot marry you, I cannot go on living.”

  “Then what should we do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Lotus sighed. “As long as you are true to me in your heart, then I don’t mind if you marry her.” She paused a moment, then continued, “Actually, don’t marry her. I can’t bear the idea of you and another woman together from morning till night, and I’m no good at controlling my temper. I might stick a blade in her heart, and then you would curse me till the end of your days. Let us not talk about this anymore. Concentrate on what they are saying.”

  Guo Jing pressed his ear to the small hole and heard Tolui and Khojin talking about all that had happened since they had left. It seemed that, after Lotus and Guo Jing took to the sea, the white condors had circled in the wind and rain looking for them. But, with nowhere to rest, they had given up and returned to land. They then flew north to find their other master, Khojin.

  Khojin had been surprised by their return. She noticed one of the condors had a piece of cloth tied to one foot, upon which was scratched two Chinese characters. Unable to read this foreign script, she took it to some Han Chinese who were fighting alongside the Mongolians, and they translated the message for her: HELP. Concerned, she immediately rode south.

  By this time, her father was fighting against the Jin. Each day brought new battles on both sides of the Great Wall. With the Great Khan’s attention fixed on the enemy, it was easy for her to slip away.

  The condors understood their master’s intention and led her south. By day, they would fly ahead several hundred li, looking for Guo Jing, before returning and guiding Khojin on. This they did until they reached Lin’an, where, instead of finding Guo Jing, they came across Khojin’s brother, Tolui, instead.

  Tolui had continued his journey to Lin’an after Guo Jing had rescued him from Wanyan Honglie’s attack in Baoying, to carry out his father’s misson of convincing the Song to join forces with the Mongolians in an attack against the Jin. But the Song officials were at last enjoying peace and prosperity in their new capital, and they feared entering into yet more hostilities with the Jurchen forces. Every day of peace was a gift from the heavens above and the earth below. Why would they risk pulling the tiger’s tail? The Song court barely deigned to receive him officially, and Tolui was housed in the guesthouse—an insult, indeed. It was pure luck that the Jin Prince had been captured by the Masters of Roaming Cloud Manor at Lake Tai, else Wanyan Kang would have delivered the order to the Song to kill Tolui.

  News followed that the Mongolians were advancing at speed and that the Jin capital, Yanjing, had fallen. These tidings compelled the Song officials to change their attitude to Tolui, and he was suddenly addressed as the Fourth Prince of Mongolia. They flattered him and fawned on him. They even agreed to an alliance against the Jin. If they could win back what they had lost at the hands of the northern invaders, at little cost to themselves, then why not?

  The ministers and officials rushed to prepare the agreement, but Tolui still smarted at their initial treatment of him. He signed it, nevertheless, and on the same day returned north. He was sent off with great fanfare, but Tolui had no stomach for their hollow rituals, and instead spurred his horse and galloped into the distance.

  He had yet to make it beyond the outskirts of the city, however, when he spotted a pair of fine, white condors in the sky. Guo Jing is here!

  To his surprise, however, he was instead greeted by his very own sister, Khojin.

  “Have you seen your anda?” she asked, now, cutting off her brother’s story.

  Before Tolui could answer, a noise came from outside. The clanging of metal. Horses’ hooves.

  The Song escort, courteous to a fault, had finally caught up with him.

  Yang Kang watched in silence from his hiding place. The Song men were carrying a large banner, upon which had been painted the words: WISHING THE FOURTH PRINCE OF MONGOLIA A SAFE RETURN NORTH.

  A disquieting thought seized Yang Kang. Before he was captured on Lake Tai, he too had been regarded as an honored envoy. But, now, he was nobody. He had enjoyed the gilded life of royalty, lauded to the skies and waited on hand and foot. It was not easily relinquished.

  Mercy Mu watched him coldly. She saw the wistful look on his face and, though she did not know what he was thinking, she could not easily forget that he had so willingly lived among the enemy, even after he had learned of his true heritage.

  The leading officer of the Song escort entered the inn and bowed before Tolui. They exchanged a few words. Then the officer went outside again and cried to his men: “Go to each house and ask if they know the whereabouts of a gentleman named Guo Jing!”

  The soldiers spread out at once. Before long, the sounds of clucking chickens and barking dogs filled the village. Men shouted. Women cried. Having failed to obtain the information they were looking for, the soldiers had started helping themselves to the villagers’ belongings. How else were they to penalize them for their reticence?

  From the kitchen where he and Mercy had taken shelter, Yang Kang watched the scene play out before them and an idea struck him. If the Song soldiers used this opportunity to steal from their own people, would it really be a betrayal if he befriended the Mongolians? I will go with the Fourth Prince north, and, on the way, I will kill him. It shouldn’t be too difficult. Genghis Khan will assume it to be the work of the Song, and their alliance will be shattered before it has truly begun. It will be a great favor to the Jin.

  He turned to Mercy and said, “Wait here.” Then he went into the main room of the inn. The leading
Song officer barked at him and tried to halt him with a hand. Yang Kang merely tossed him into a wall. The officer collapsed in a heap and lay still.

  Tolui and Khojin were startled. Yang Kang now took up a position in the center of the room. He took the broken spearhead from his robes and raised it above his head, before bowing and placing it on the table. “Brother Guo Jing, Brother Guo Jing,” he wailed. “What a miserable way to die. I will avenge you, Brother Guo Jing.”

  Neither Tolui nor Khojin understood Chinese, but they did understand Guo Jing’s name. They turned to the Song officer, who was groggily getting back to his feet, and asked him to translate the young stranger’s words.

  Through tears, Yang Kang spoke: “I am the sworn brother of Guo Jing. A bastard killed him with this spearhead. A Song soldier. I think it came as an order from Chancellor Shi Miyuan.”

  The Song officer dutifully translated. Brother and sister listened, their faces falling. The other Mongolian riders, Jebe and Boroqul, recalled their friendship with the young Chinese boy who had grown up among them, and together they wept.

  Yang Kang reminded them of how Guo Jing had defeated the Jin soldiers at Baoying, saving Tolui and the others in the process. At this, Tolui was fully convinced by the stranger’s tale. How had their friend died and who had done the deed? Yang Kang told them his sworn brother was killed by a Song official by the name of Justice Duan. He knew the bastard’s whereabouts and he was in fact on his way to seek revenge. It would be a difficult task to complete without help. He spoke with such feeling that the others had no doubt he was telling the truth.

  Guo Jing listened from the secret chamber in deep frustration. He watched as Khojin drew her sword and held it to her neck.

  “Sister!” Tolui rushed forward and grabbed the weapon. “You mustn’t kill yourself. We must avenge Brother Guo’s death instead.”

  It’s working, Yang Kang thought with delight. He lowered his head and blinked out yet more tears. At that moment, he caught sight of the bamboo stick that Gallant had snatched from Lotus, lying on the ground. It was dark green and shone like crystal, a most unusual object. He went to retrieve it. Lotus watched in horror, but there was nothing she could do.

  The soldiers returned with food and wine, though they found the Mongolians in no mood to eat. Instead, they urged Yang Kang to lead them to Guo Jing’s killer. Yang Kang nodded and, still holding the bamboo staff, moved toward the door. He turned back and called to Mercy to join them, but she stayed put. This was not an opportunity Yang Kang could pass up, so he decided to leave without her. Affairs of the heart could wait.

  8

  “Didn’t he kill justice Duan at roaming cloud manor?” Guo Jing whispered to Lotus.

  “I don’t understand it either. Wasn’t he the one who stabbed you at the waterfall? He’s a devious and wicked young man. What does he want?”

  Just then, they heard a voice outside: “Unbridled heart I am not weighed, by either shame or glory … Ah! Miss Mu! What brings you here?” It was Eternal Spring Qiu Chuji.

  Mercy had come outside to see if the soldiers had left. Before she could reply, Yang Kang appeared in the doorway. At once, he spotted his shifu. His heart started thumping wildly. There was nowhere for him to hide—they had been brought face-to-face. He had no choice but to kowtow and greet Qiu Chuji with customary deference.

  Beside his Master stood Scarlet Sun Ma Yu, Jade Sun Wang Chuyi, the Sage of Tranquility Sun Bu’er, and another of Qiu Chuji’s disciples, Harmony Yin.

  After having had most of his teeth knocked out by Apothecary Huang the previous day, Harmony Yin had rushed back to Lin’an to report back to his Master. Qiu Chuji had listened in shock and anger; he wanted nothing more than to go and find the Lord of Peach Blossom Island at once. But Ma Yu had tried to dissuade him.

  “Many years ago, Old Huang shared the same honor as our late Master,” Qiu Chuji said. “Among us, only our martial brother Wang Chuyi has had the pleasure of meeting him, when they fought at Mount Hua. I have long admired the man and have no desire to fight him.”

  “I have heard that Apothecary Huang is of strange temperament,” Ma Yu said. “And you can be quite rash and prone to outbursts yourself. I doubt that a meeting between you would go well. May I remind you that he spared Harmony’s life. There was no obligation to do so.”

  But Qiu Chuji was insistent, and Ma Yu could not stop him. It just so happened, however, that all seven Masters of the Quanzhen Sect were in or around Lin’an, so letters were sent out summoning them to meet in Ox Village the next day.

  9

  The seven masters were quick to realize that, despite their considerable prowess, they would find in Apothecary Huang a formidable opponent. They had to be careful. Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Sun Bu’er, and Harmony Yin would enter the village first, while Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, and Hao Datong waited on the outskirts.

  Yet they found no sign of Apothecary Huang. Instead, they were greeted outside the inn by Yang Kang and Mercy Mu.

  Qiu Chuji watched his disciple kowtow, then snorted and turned away.

  “Master,” Harmony Yin spoke, “this is where the Lord of Peach Blossom Island attacked me.”

  Ma Yu had scolded them for referring to him as the Old Heretic, so now they were all careful to use the more respectful title.

  “All seven disciples of the Quanzhen Sect have come to pay their respects to Lord Huang,” Qiu Chuji cried, his voice echoing around the courtyard.

  “The Masters have come to the wrong place,” Yang Kang said. “He’s not here.”

  “What a shame.” Qiu Chuji’s tone was exasperated, and he even stamped his foot a little in annoyance. “What are you doing here?” he said finally, to his student.

  Yang Kang was too scared to reply.

  Khojin, meanwhile, was staring hard at Ma Yu. Suddenly, she ran forward. “You’re the uncle with the three buns who helped me capture the white condors! They’ve grown up to be so big!” she said, stretching out her arms. She whistled and two huge white birds suddenly came into view and landed next to her.

  “You too have come south,” Ma Yu said with a smile.

  “Sir, Guo Jing has been killed. You must avenge him!”

  Ma Yu’s body twitched. He translated what the young girl had said into Chinese. Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi were visibly shocked. They bombarded her with questions, but she merely pointed at Yang Kang. “He saw it happen with his own eyes—ask him.”

  Yang Kang had not known that Khojin knew Ma Yu. Now, he was scared to say too much, in case his story aroused suspicion, dashing his hopes of tricking the Mongolians. And yet, he could not lie to his Master and martial uncles. He turned to Tolui and Khojin and said, “Go ahead and wait for me outside the village. I need a few moments to speak with the Taoists.”

  Tolui listened as the Song officer translated what Yang Kang had said. He then nodded and led Khojin out of the village and on to the road north.

  “Who killed Guo Jing?” Qiu Chuji barked. “Come on! Tell us.”

  Yang Kang paused for a moment to think. I was the one who killed him, but what should I say? Then it hit him. He could place the blame onto a master of the wulin, someone with the power and skill to kill Qiu Chuji in a fight. That way, his dilemma would be resolved.

  “The Lord of Peach Blossom Island.”

  Apothecary Huang was known to be searching for the Six Freaks of the South, so it made perfect sense that he had killed their disciple. This explanation aroused no suspicion.

  Qiu Chuji cursed the Old Heretic under his breath and swore that he would have revenge. Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi, in contrast, nursed their sadness in silence.

  Just then, laughter echoed in the distance. A different voice followed, harsh like clashing cymbals, and then another, this one softer. They were some distance away, but everyone heard them clearly. Three men, on the outskirts of the village.

  “That was Martial Uncle Zhou!” Ma Yu exclaimed in delight. “He’s still alive!”

  Three whistles
came from the east. It sounded as if they were getting progressively farther away.

  “The other two appear to be chasing Uncle Zhou,” Wang Chuyi said.

  “They must have excellent lightness kung fu, if they’re able to keep up,” Ma Yu said, a concerned look on his face. “I wonder who they could be. And why are they chasing him?” He shook his head.

  The four Quanzhen Masters strained their ears as the voices faded into the distance.

  “Perhaps Brother Tan and the others have managed to catch up and provide assistance,” Sun Bu’er said hopefully.

  “I doubt it,” Qiu Chuji countered. “If only Unlce Zhou knew we were here, he might come back this way.”

  Lotus listened in amusement. My father and Old Venom are merely playing with the Urchin, not fighting. If they were, do you really think a gang of stinking cow muzzles like you would be a match for them?

  She had listened with displeasure to Qiu Chuji’s cursing of her father. And yet, she did not mind so much that Yang Kang had falsely accused him of killing Guo Jing, if only because her beloved was sitting beside her at that very moment.

  Ma Yu gestured for everyone to go inside and sit down.

  Qiu Chuji turned to his student and said suddenly, “Are we to call you Yang Kang, or Wanyan Kang, these days?”

  Yang Kang saw the glint in his Master’s eyes and noticed his jaw twitch with menace. If he said the wrong thing, he could be killed.

  “Had it not been for the illumination of my Master and martial uncles Ma and Wang, I would have still believed myself to be Jurchen, and thus be a traitor to my own blood. Now, I go by the name Yang, of course. Last night, Sister Mu and I gave my mother and father the burial they deserve.”

  This pleased Qiu Chuji and his expression instantly became softer. Wang Chuyi’s displeasure at Yang Kang’s treatment of Mercy dissipated too, as he assumed the young man had resolved to honor his promise.

  Yang Kang held out the broken spearhead he had used to kill Gallant Ouyang. “This is all that is left of my late father’s belongings. I treasure it.”