A Snake Lies Waiting

by Jin Yong

  “Laughing, I leave home and am free,” Sun Bu’er said, before Ma Yu finished the poem: “As in West Lake the clouds are reflected and the Moon hangs high above me.”

  Cyclone Mei listened. Each voice was propelled by an incredible burst of qi. Are all seven Quanzhen Masters here? she asked herself, in shock. They can’t be. Ma Yu is here, to be sure, but the other voices do not sound right.

  Cyclone Mei had last encountered the Quanzhen Masters on top of a desolate cliff on the Mongolian steppe. Or, at least, that is what she thought. In fact, she had overheard Ma Yu and the Six Freaks pretending to be the Seven Immortals of the Quanzhen Sect.

  “Reverend Ma,” she called out. “Are you still well? It has been some time since we last met.” Cyclone Mei may have had a reputation for cruelty, but she could not deny that Ma Yu had shown her mercy back in Mongolia.

  Unable to find Zhou Botong, Tan Chuduan had given up on his search. On his way back to the inn, however, he came across Cyclone Mei. He knew that Twice Foul Dark Wind had turned to evil, but he was unaware of Hurricane Chen’s death and that Cyclone Mei had been accepted back to Peach Blossom Island. He ran straight at her and attacked, only to find that he was no match for her. Luckily, Cyclone Mei had realized that he was a member of the Quanzhen Sect and refrained from hurting him, out of respect for Ma Yu. Instead, she let him go, and followed him to Ox Village.

  “Why, I am very well, thank you!” Ma Yu exclaimed. “The Quanzhen Sect and Peach Blossom Island bear each other no ill will. Is your honored Master on his way?”

  “Are you expecting my shifu?” Cyclone Mei replied, somewhat startled by his question.

  “Vixen!” Qiu Chuji suddenly interjected. “Bring him to us, so that we might show him the almighty strength of the Quanzhen!”

  “Who are you?” she snarled.

  “My name is Qiu Chuji. Surely you have heard of me, harlot?”

  The blind woman howled and cast herself in the direction of Qiu Chuji’s voice. She held her left palm in defense, her right hand shaped in a claw.

  How would Qiu Chuji hold off her attack? Guo Jing watched with bated breath. But the Taoist did not move, and remained seated on the floor. Oh no, Guo Jing just had time to say to himself, as Cyclone Mei’s claw flew straight at Qiu Chuji’s head.

  Just then, Liu Chuxuan and Wang Chuyi sent out their palms, one from each side. Cyclone Mei swiped at both and blocked. But little did she realize that the two men had harnessed their internal strength in a complementary fashion, yin and yang, creating a force that sent her body up like a cannonball. She struck down with her right hand and flipped into a backward somersault, landing back at the threshold to the inn.

  She was in shock. Whoever these men were, they were far more accomplished than the Taoists of the Quanzhen Sect. “Count Seven Hong? King Duan?” she cried out.

  Qiu Chuji laughed. “Count Seven Hong? King Duan? We are the Masters of the Quanzhen.”

  This confused Cyclone Mei. If Master Tan had not been her match, how could his martial brothers be so much more powerful? Could there be such a gulf in skill within one school?

  Guo Jing was also puzzled. Masters Liu and Wang were excellent fighters, to be sure, but how could they overcome Cyclone Mei so easily? The only masters he knew that should be capable of such a feat were Zhou Botong, Count Seven Hong, Apothecary Huang, and Viper Ouyang.

  Cyclone Mei feared only her own Master. The more she was challenged, the more reckless she became. Ma Yu had been courteous and respectful. But Qiu Chuji had just been told that Apothecary Huang had killed Zhou Botong and Guo Jing. His hatred of Peach Blossom Island and all who belonged to it was lodged deep in his bones.

  Cyclone Mei knew that she was outmatched, here, but she would not give up. She hesitated only a moment, before reaching into her robes and pulling out her White Python whip.

  “Reverend Ma! Forgive me!”

  “You flatter me,” he replied.

  “Draw your weapons!”

  “There are seven of us,” Wang Chuyi began, “and only one of you. And, on top of that, you are blind. The Quanzhen Sect cannot possibly use weapons against you—that would be a dishonor. We shall remain sitting. You may attack!”

  “You will take my Python whip sitting?”

  “You will die tonight, witch!” Qiu Chuji snarled. “Or are we here merely to exchange pleasantries?”

  Cyclone Mei snorted. She flicked her wrist and her weapon uncoiled as if in slow motion. Its barbs sailed gracefully through the air.

  Lotus was listening. Cyclone Mei’s Python whip was notorious. How could the Quanzhen Masters take it sitting down? She pulled Guo Jing aside and pressed her eye against the hole.

  The Quanzhen Masters were indeed sitting perfectly still. The Heavenly Northern Dipper! That was what Reverend Qiu had said, wasn’t it?

  Her father was an expert in the study of the stars. She had spent many a night sitting in her father’s lap as he explained to her the constellations in the night sky. She looked again at where the Taoists were sitting, and immediately she understood.

  Ma Yu assumed the Heavenly Pivot position, Tan Chuxuan the Heavenly Jade, Liu Chuxuan the Heavenly Pearl, and Qiu Chuji the Heavenly Power, thus together forming the head of the constellation. Wang Chuyi took the Jade Scales, Hao Datong the Manifest Sun, and Sun Bu’er the Shimmering Rays. These made up the handle of the Dipper.

  Of all the stars that made up the Northern Dipper, the Heavenly Power was the dimmest. Yet it also connected the head with the handle, and was therefore the most important. Being the strongest fighter, Qiu Chuji took this position. In the handle, Wang Chuyi was most vital to the overall formation.

  A flick of Cyclone Mei’s wrist sent the whip unfurling in the direction of Sun Bu’er. The Sage of Tranquility had time to move out of the way, but she did not even try. Lotus followed the movement of the whip’s silver barbs. As her eyes shifted onto Sun Bu’er, she noticed a skull embroidered on her robes. It looked like something Cyclone Mei would wear! But the Quanzhen were Taoism’s greatest orthodox sect. What she did not know was that Wang Chongyang had drawn Sun Bu’er a skull when she became his disciple. It was supposed to remind her that life was short, death could come quick, and that all humans would one day be no more than dust and bones. The only way out of this cycle was to cultivate the Way. Sun Bu’er had the image sewn onto her clothes to remind her of her late Master and his wise counsel.

  Just as the barbs reached to within a couple of inches of Sun Bu’er’s embroidered skull, causing the air to shriek as they tore through it, they suddenly lurched back, as if startled. Quick as an arrow, the whip recoiled.

  Indeed, it was so quick that Cyclone Mei felt only a tremble in her hand and a rush of air at her cheek. She ducked. The barbs flew over her head, gently brushing her hair.

  That was close! She panted, flicked her wrist to bring the whip back under her control, then launched it again. This time, it lashed at Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji. Neither moved. Instead, Tan Chuduan and Wang Chuyi raised their hands and blocked.

  Lotus watched the fight unfold. The Quanzhen Masters were each knocking the whip away with one hand, while they kept the other placed firmly on the shoulder of the person next to them. Then she realized: this was the same technique of passing qi between them that she and Guo Jing had been using for the last seven days and seven nights. They were combining the strength of seven into one. How could Cyclone Mei possibly prevail?

  The Heavenly Northern Dipper was the Quanzhen’s most accomplished and mysterious formation, and had been developed by their Master, Wang Chongyang. It combined the strength of all seven Masters, while allowing for infinite variations, making it perfect for battle. When an opponent launched an assault, the individual who was being attacked could remain still, relying on the other Quanzhen disciples to fend it off.

  Panic was rising in Cyclone Mei. She could feel that her whip was being forced into a diminishing circle of movement, and, before long, she found herself unable to pull it back. If s
he were to let go, she might escape unharmed. But that would mean surrendering her weapon. How could she? It had taken her years of training to be able to fight with it like this.

  She hesitated, and, in those moments, lost her chance. Now, the Northern Dipper formation was on the move, all seven stars in the constellation as one. Only the member in the Heavenly Power position could stop it. And it was too late for Cyclone Mei to retreat.

  Liu Chuxuan’s palm met the whip. Cyclone Mei was yanked forward. Pang! The walls shook. Tiles crashed to the floor in a cloud of dust.

  Had she let go of the whip sooner, Cyclone could have escaped. But now she had been pulled closer in. She sent her palms out on both sides and met the force of Sun Bu’er and Wang Chuyi. Ma Yu and Hao Datong attacked from behind, forcing her to stumble yet another step forward. Somehow, she regained her footing, shrieking and kicking, knocking them back again.

  “Excellent!” Qiu Chuji cried.

  Qiu and Liu Chuxuan struck—one from the front, one from behind. Before Cyclone could plant her right foot, her left was kicking out at both men’s palms. As she landed, however, she was sent forward yet another step. This drew her deeper into the formation. Her only hope of escape was to knock one of the masters out of position.

  Lotus’s heart was beating fast. By the light of the moon, she watched Cyclone Mei’s long hair flapped like wings as she fought back. Her limbs leaped and pounced like tigers clawing at their prey.

  The Quanzhen Masters remained in their sitting positions as they hit back at Cyclone Mei, never letting her out of the formation.

  Cyclone Mei tried her Nine Yin Skeleton Claw and Heartbreaker Palm, but to no avail. Frustrated, she let out a strange and terrible wail.

  The Quanzhen were now in a position where they could easily kill her, but they held back.

  Now, at last, Lotus understood: They are using the fight to practice the formation! There were not many in the wulin who could resist it for so long. They are going to tire her to death.

  She was only half right, however. They were indeed practicing, but they were Taoists. They did not believe in needless killing.

  Lotus did not hold Cyclone Mei in high regard, but there was something affecting about seeing her being humiliated like this. Indeed, Lotus was starting to feel angry. Disgusted, she moved aside to let Guo Jing watch instead. Still, the sound of rushing air told her when the fight was intensifying and when it was abating. There was no sign of it coming to an end.

  Guo Jing was puzzled. Why were the Quanzhen fighting while sitting down?

  “It is called the Heavenly Northern Dipper formation,” Lotus whispered. “It connects their inner strength. Do you see?”

  Yes, the second part of the Nine Yin Manual made frequent mention of the Northern Dipper. He had memorized it, but had no idea of its meaning. Watching the Seven Masters, he understood. The more he saw, the more excited he became, and he started to scramble to his feet.

  Lotus yanked him back before their palms lost contact. Guo Jing sat down again, and together they trembled in shock at how close they had come. And yet, he could not contain himself. He pressed his eye to the hole once more. The essence of the method was more or less clear to him, but he still did not know how to use it. The author of the Nine Yin Manual had been an expert in the Taoist canon. Wang Chongyang had developed the Heavenly Northern Dipper independently, but they were both rooted in the same ideas. The variations that Guo Jing was observing, therefore, corresponded more or less exactly with the descriptions in the Manual.

  Cyclone Mei was in danger, he could tell, but the Quanzhen were also tiring.

  Just then, a voice came from the door: “Brother Huang, do you want to go first, or shall I?”

  It was Viper Ouyang! How long had he been outside? The Seven Masters were just as startled; they turned and saw two men standing side by side in the doorway, one wearing a long, dark green robe, while the other was dressed in white. It was the two men who had been seen chasing the Hoary Urchin the previous night.

  Together, the Quanzhen Masters made a low whistling noise, stopped fighting and stood up.

  “What a sight!” Apothecary Huang cried. “Seven Taoist dogs pitted against my one disciple. Brother Ouyang, if I were to teach them a lesson, would you think me a tyrant?”

  “They were the ones to insult you first,” Viper replied with a smile. “If you don’t show them the error of their ways, they might never know the might of Peach Blossom Island.”

  Wang Chuyi had met the Heretic of the East and the Venom of the West at the summit of Mount Hua, all those years ago. He was about to step forward and greet them, when Apothecary Huang’s palm suddenly came at him. Wang Chuyi staggered back, but he was too slow. With a loud slap, it connected with his cheek, and he fell.

  “Resume formation!” Qiu Chuji cried.

  Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

  Tan, Liu, Hao, and Sun were all struck.

  Only Qiu Chuji spotted the smudge of dark green approach. He saw the palm sail toward him. Qiu Chuji flicked his sleeve, aiming for Apothecary Huang’s chest.

  Apothecary Huang felt a sharp pain. He had underestimated Qiu Chuji’s strength. He placed one hand to his chest and grabbed Qiu Chuji’s sleeve with the other, tugging and ripping it. Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi hit out, but Apothecary Huang had already leaped behind Hao Datong and kicked him, sending him rolling into a somersault.

  Lotus had reclaimed her position at the hole. Her father’s magnificent display pleased her no end. Were she not aware that Guo Jing still needed a few more hours before his recovery was complete, she would have jumped up and clapped.

  “Wang Chongyang took these carbuncles for his disciples?” Viper Ouyang scoffed.

  Qiu Chuji had never suffered such a humiliation in all his years in the wulin. “Return to your positions!” he kept shouting. But Apothecary Huang had already swept into a series of more than half a dozen quick-fire attacks. The Quanzhen Masters were struggling to hold him back and could not resume the formation. Instead, they drew their swords.

  Two loud cracks echoed around the small inn. Huang had snapped Ma and Tan’s weapons and cast them to the ground.

  Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi continued to deploy the Quanzhen Sect’s special sword technique, their power building. Apothecary Huang concentrated and launched his counterattack.

  Ma Yu, meanwhile, ran back to his position and sent out a palm. This allowed the other six to scramble into formation.

  With the Heavenly Northern Dipper re-formed, the dynamics of the fight quickly changed. Heavenly Power and Jade Scales attacked head-on, Heavenly Pearl and Manifest Sun sent out palms from left and right, while Shimmering Rays and Heavenly Jade circled round from behind.

  Apothecary Huang struck out in all four directions at once.

  “Brother Ouyang,” he cried out, “I didn’t know Wang Chongyang had such skills to pass on!” He knew he was in danger. The Quanzhen Masters each possessed immense power, and, when it was combined together, they were truly formidable. Apothecary Huang moved into his Cascading Peach Blossom Palm technique. His body spun gracefully as his hands danced through the air.

  When Papa taught me Cascading Peach Blossom Palm, Lotus thought, he only explained to me the principle of five feints to one solid strike, or seven feints to one strike. He said it could be used to lure one’s enemy into danger. I didn’t realize the feints could be used to hurt or cause harm.

  Lotus watched with bated breath, as did Viper Ouyang. He had had no idea Apothecary Huang possessed such levels of skill.

  Cyclone Mei listened to the rush of moving air, enraptured, but also terrified.

  “Huh!”

  Then came a thud.

  Harmony Yin had made himself dizzy trying to follow the fight, and was now lying passed out on the floor.

  The Quanzhen Masters held their positions. One mistake and they would all be killed, bringing about the demise of the best part of their Sect.

  Apothecary Huang, meanwhile, regretted not
having delivered the decisive blow, only moments before. He had only his own merciful nature to blame, and now victory would not come easy. But he could not be allowed to lose. Each side was riding the tiger, there was no way down, now.

  The roosters began to crow as the sun climbed above the horizon, casting its light into the dim room. Apothecary Huang had used thirteen different kung fu techniques and yet still he had not found a way to prevail.

  Inside the secret chamber, Guo Jing and Lotus were coming to the end of their seven days and seven nights of breathing practice. Guo Jing was at peace, despite the earth-shattering fight still in progress on the other side of the wall. His eyes were closed as he focused on the movement of his qi, starting in his Tail Bone Gate at the sacrum, moving up to his kidneys and his spine, through two more passes to the Heavenly Pillar and the Jade Pillow, and finally to the Hundred Convergences at the crown of his head. There, it paused for a moment, before descending down his face to the Divine Courtyard, then on to the Magpie Bridge on the palate of his mouth, moving slowly through his chest, until it arrived at the Elixir Field in his lower abdomen, thus completing the thirty-sixth revolution of his breath.

  Lotus observed his flushed cheeks. With a smile, she turned back to the spyhole, only to be startled by what she saw.

  Slowly, her father’s feet were moving through the positions of the Eight Trigrams. Lotus knew this was his last resort and most powerful move, one that he did not use lightly. This was a decisive moment that would have stark consequences—a matter of life and death.

  The Quanzhen Masters gathered all their strength. Their robes were wet with sweat as they let out one united, almighty howl from the depths of their beings. Hot steam blew from the tops of their heads.

  Viper Ouyang was watching intently. If only the Quanzhen Sect could injure Apothecary Huang, so that he might have one less opponent to worry about when the Greats met again on Mount Hua. But their victory was by no means assured. The Old Heretic is powerful indeed, he thought to himself.

  Movements on both sides slowed as the fight reached its most critical stage. Its conclusion was mere moments away.