NEW PACTS AND OLD ALLIANCES

1

Apothecary Huang could not quite understand how he had come into conflict with the Quanzhen Sect, nor how such hatred had grown between them so quickly. There was no reason for it. Meanwhile, Cyclone Mei's breathing was deteriorating. For over a decade, he had held a grudge against her. The thought of it pressed on his heart with an unbearable weight and tears began to roll down his cheeks.

The slightest smile graced Cyclone Mei's lips. "Master," she began, "please take me back as your pupil. I wronged you, beyond all limits. Let me return to your side. I am dying. Let me serve you … forever…" Her eyes implored him.

"Yes, yes," Apothecary Huang said, fighting back yet more tears. "Just like when you were a little girl. From now on, you must obey your teacher, Flora."

Of all the evil she had done in her life, betraying her Master was her biggest regret. Now, she finally had his forgiveness. Hearing him use her childhood name made her heart flutter. Trembling with joy, she clasped his hand.

"I will always obey my Master … If only I could be twelve years old again. Teach me, Master, teach me…"

With difficulty, she knelt down and began kowtowing three times. Then she collapsed to the floor, never to move again.

Lotus had witnessed the entire, heart-wrenching scene from the secret room. If only Papa would stay a little longer; she could come out the moment Guo Jing's breathing returned to normal. She watched as her father bent down to lift Cyclone Mei into his arms.

The braying of a horse outside broke the contemplative mood.

"This is Ox Village, yes," they heard the Qu girl say. "How should I know if there is a man by the name of Guo here? Are you called Guo?"

"This is not a large village. Don't you know everyone who lives here?" an exasperated voice replied.

At this, the door to the inn burst open and a motley group trooped inside.

Apothecary Huang slipped behind the door, his expression grim. Here they were, the Six Freaks of the South. He had been searching for them everywhere.

Just as they entered, Flying Bat Ke Zhen'e stopped dead and then hissed, "There's someone here!" He had heard breathing behind the door. The Freaks turned. Apothecary Huang! And, in his arms, Cyclone Mei. She seemed to be dead.

The Heretic of the East had stepped out from his hiding place and was now blocking the door.

"Master Huang," Zhu Cong said, then cupped his hands and bowed. "It is our honor! The Six Heroes of the South obeyed your summons to Peach Blossom Island and went to pay our respects in person, but it seems that the Master was otherwise engaged. How fortunate that we should find you here instead."

Upon arrival on Peach Blossom Island, they had searched and searched for Apothecary Huang's residence, but they could not find it. In the end, they chanced upon one of the many mute servants on the island, who managed to convey to them that the Master had left. At that moment, they came across Ulaan, grazing in the forest, by himself. Ryder Han had brought him back across the sea and on to Ox Village in their search for Guo Jing.

Apothecary Huang had been intending to strike quickly and kill the Freaks himself, but one glance at Cyclone Mei's white cheeks dissuaded him. The Freaks were her mortal enemies. I will let her finish them. It will be a comfort to her in the netherworld that she was the one to do it.

He took her wrist with his left hand and launched himself at Ryder Han, channeling his inner strength through Cyclone's claws.

Ryder Han tried to move out of the way, but he was too late. A loud crack resounded from his arm, and he felt a tingling surge through his body. He could barely move for the pain.

The Freaks were astonished. Such a vicious attack, and without a word of warning. And to use Cyclone Mei's corpse as a weapon? With a chorus of howls, they drew their swords.

Apothecary Huang held Cyclone Mei high and charged at Jade Han.

Jade watched as Cyclone's round blank eyes, long black hair and terrifying blood-soaked grimace came straight at her. Cyclone's right hand was aimed straight at her head. Frozen with fear, Jade did not move.

A long pole and a counterpoise came flying toward Apothecary Huang, who pulled back and swung with Cyclone's other arm, landing it with a thud in Jade's stomach. Jade doubled over. Ryder jumped, releasing the might of his Golden Dragon whip, but Apothecary Huang stepped forward and trapped the tip beneath his foot. Ryder Han tried to tug it free, but it was stuck. At that moment, he saw Cyclone Mei's claw coming at him. He let go of the whip and rolled backward.

At a safe distance, he felt his smarting cheek: blood. Five scratches. Fortunately for him, the deadly poison usually released from the tips of her nails had evaporated with her last breath, otherwise he would be dead by now.

The other Freaks were still fighting. They would have been defeated already, had it not been for the fact that Apothecary Huang wanted to let Cyclone Mei take revenge herself, even in death.

Guo Jing was listening with bated breath. His shifus were in grave danger—he could tell by their grunts and their strained, panicked breaths. He had yet to stabilize the qi in his Elixir Field, but he owed a filial debt to his Masters, no different to the one he felt with regard to his own parents. Holding his qi, he sent out a palm.

Lotus was horrified. "No! Not yet!"

Bang! The door to the secret room broke into several pieces.

The moment his palm made contact with the door, Guo Jing felt a surge of qi in his Elixir Field, sending a wave of heat through his internal organs. He forced his inner breath back down in an attempt to block it.

Apothecary Huang and the Freaks leaped back and turned in the direction of the sound. They were astonished, and delighted, to see the young couple sitting inside the cupboard.

At first, Apothecary Huang was unsure if he was dreaming. "Lotus, my darling Lotus, is it you?" he cried, rubbing his eyes.

Still holding Guo Jing's hand, she smiled and nodded. Apothecary Huang placed Cyclone Mei's body down on a bench, approached his daughter and sat before her on the floor. He crossed his legs and reached for his daughter's wrist. Her pulse was strong and her breathing steady. He then reached behind her for Guo Jing.

Guo Jing's qi had been sizzling and roiling. The sensation was so strange that he had the urge to jump up and shout to relieve the pressure building inside him. But, the moment Apothecary Huang's palm touched his, he felt the force of his senior's inner strength calm and settle his. Apothecary Huang then used his other hand to massage Guo Jing's pressure points. Within minutes, he had recovered in full.

Guo Jing jumped to his feet, scrambled out of the cupboard, bowed to Apothecary Huang and then kowtowed before his six shifus.

He began to tell his Masters about all that had happened since they had parted at Roaming Cloud Manor, while Apothecary Huang held his beloved daughter's hand and listened to her giggle and chatter. The Freaks tried to follow Guo Jing's story, but he was struggling to put his experiences into words. Lotus, by contrast, was a skilled storyteller. Before long, they had all slipped away to listen to her version of events, with all its dramatic twists and breathtaking turns. Guo Jing gave up and joined them instead. An hour passed in this way, as Lotus punctuated her story with witticisms and little asides, her audience drinking in every moment, as though savoring a vintage wine.

Apothecary Huang was astonished to hear that his daughter had been made Chief of the Beggar Clan. "What an odd thing for Brother Hong to do!" he said. "Maybe he is after my nickname? Does he fancy himself the Heretic of the North? Would that make me the Beggar of the East?"

Finally, Lotus brought them up to the fight that Guo Jing had interrupted. "And that's the end," she said, and laughed. "You don't need me to tell you what happened next!"

"They are scoundrels, all of them: Viper Ouyang, Lama Supreme Wisdom, Qiu Qianren, and Yang Kang. I will kill them. Come, child, you can watch the fun." Apothecary Huang's expression was tender, despite the ferocity of his words. He could not help himself; his daughter was returned to him, safe and sound.

He then looked up at the Freaks and a wave of remorse came over him. He knew he had wronged them, but still he could not admit it. "Luck was on our side. At least none of us was badly hurt," was all he could offer.

In her heart, Lotus had long felt resentful that the Freaks disapproved of her betrothal to Guo Jing. But now that Yang Kang and Mercy Mu were to be wed, their objection was moot. "Papa," she began, "why don't you apologize to the Six Heroes of the South?"

Apothecary Huang snorted. "I am off to find the Venom of the West," he announced instead. "Guo Jing, come with me."

He was not exactly thrilled to be lumbered with this dunce of a boy. Am I, Lord of Peach Blossom Island, intelligent and sharp-witted as I am, to have such a blockhead for a son-in-law? I will be the laughing stock of the wulin. Not only that, but Zhou Botong had let slip in a moment of characteristic recklessness that Guo Jing had stolen Cyclone Mei's Nine Yin Manual and made a copy. This had made Apothecary Huang furious. What a dirty trick to play on his blind disciple. But, after some reflection, he realized that Zhou Botong could not have been telling the truth. The version of the second volume Guo Jing had memorized was in fact far more complete than the one that had been in Cyclone Mei's possession. There was no way Guo Jing had obtained the text from her. Zhou Botong was famous for his distortions of the truth. Huang also had to admit that he was easily deceived; Lama Supreme Wisdom had tricked him into thinking his own daughter was dead.

All ill will he had felt toward the Freaks now dissipated. And yet, to apologize and admit to his own mistakes was unthinkable. He would have to make it up to them some other way—by helping them, if they ever found themselves in danger.

He glanced over at his late disciple, Cyclone Mei. She had sacrificed her own life to save his, out of a feeling of debt to her Master. She and Hurricane had loved each other so deeply. If they had come to him and asked him to let them marry, he might have allowed it. There was no need to run away. But he had to admit that his moods were unpredictable. He swung from joy one moment to rage the next. They must have considered this and, ultimately, been too frightened to tell him. What if his daughter were to suffer the same fate as Flora, all because of his temper…? He shuddered at the thought.

No, asking Guo Jing to join him was his way of showing that he now accepted the marriage.

Lotus had understood this and was delighted. She glanced across at Guo Jing, but he appeared entirely unaware of the implication of her father's demand. "Papa," she said, "let's first go to the palace and get Shifu Hong."

Ke Zhen'e turned to Guo Jing. "You have persuaded the Divine Vagrant to be your Master and the Lord of Peach Blossom Island to take you as a son. We are delighted, of course. Why would we refuse? But what about the Great Khan of the Mongols…?"

His betrothal to Khojin was a delicate matter that, if brought up in front of Apothecary Huang, would surely provoke his wrath. How was he to deal with it?

Just then, the door creaked and in came the Qu girl, holding a piece of parchment folded into the shape of a monkey.

"Sister, have you finished the watermelons? An old man asked me to give you this."

Lotus took the monkey without thinking too much about it.

"He told me to tell you, don't be angry, he will find you a new teacher."

Zhou Botong! Lotus glanced down at the parchment and saw that he had written something on it. She unfolded it and began reading his crooked scrawl:

The Old Urchin was a very good boy. But he couldn't find the Old Beggar.

"Why didn't he find him?" Lotus knitted her brow with worry.

Apothecary Huang was thinking. "The Hoary Urchin may be mad," he began, "but he is an accomplished fighter. As long as Count Seven Hong is still alive, he will find and rescue him. Right now, the more pressing problem is that of the Beggar Clan."

"What about them?" Lotus asked.

"Yang Kang took the Dog-Beating Cane. He may not be much of a fighter, but he's a nasty, cunning boy. He even managed to kill Gallant Ouyang. As long as the cane is in his possession, he will stir up trouble for the Clan. We should find him and retrieve it, or else the consequences could blight the Clan for generations. And it won't reflect well on you, as the chief."

Normally, Apothecary Huang would not give the Clan and their troubles a second thought. On the contrary, he would take pleasure in their misfortune. But, now that his daughter was their chief, he had no choice but to act.

The Freaks nodded in agreement.

"But we haven't seen him for days," Guo Jing said. "I fear it will be no easy task."

"Your horse," Ryder Han said, pointing at Ulaan. "Right when you need him!"

Grinning, Guo Jing ran outside and whistled. Ulaan caught sight of his master and bounded over, then rubbed his muzzle against him in delight.

"Lotus, you and Guo Jing must hurry and retrieve the cane," Apothecary Huang said. "You will soon catch up with him on that fine horse."

He turned and suddenly noticed the young woman who had just entered. There was something in her features that seemed familiar. Tempest Qu, his own disciple! "Is your surname Qu, by any chance?" he asked.

The girl laughed. "I don't know!"

Apothecary Huang had long known that Tempest Qu had sired a daughter. She should be around eighteen years of age, by now.

"Papa," Lotus cut in, "come and look!" She took him by the hand and led him inside the room behind the cupboard.

Apothecary Huang looked around and observed that its arrangement was in full accordance with his own teachings. This was surely the work of Tempest Qu.

"Papa, the chest. Look inside. I'm sure you know what they are."

But Apothecary Huang was distracted by a sideboard located in the southwesterly corner of the chamber. Behind it was a hole. He reached inside and removed a scroll. Instantly, he leaped back out.

Lotus scurried after him and peered down at the paper in her father's hands. It was tattered and covered in dust, but she could make out a few shaky lines. She began to read.

To the most venerated Lord Huang of Peach Blossom Island:

Your disciple has acquired a collection of assorted pieces of calligraphy, painting, and other precious artifacts from within the Imperial Palace, which I wish to present to thee, Lord, for your appreciation.

I call thee Lord, not wishing to be so presumptuous as to use Benevolent Teacher, even if I do so in my dream-filled slumbers.

I have had the misfortune to be surrounded by palace guards, but I am survived by a daughter.

That was all he had written. The page was otherwise blank, apart from a few dark patches that looked like bloodstains.

By the time of Lotus's birth, all the disciples of Peach Blossom Island had been expelled. Tempest Qu had been the first. Lotus knew that they had all been accomplished scholars and martial artists, each in their own way. This note troubled her.

Apothecary Huang understood at once how hard his disciple had taken his banishment, and that stealing the artifacts from the palace was part of a plan to regain his Master's affection. He had taken great risks because he knew how much Apothecary Huang valued such items. Indeed, in the end, it had been his undoing. Having sustained a grave injury, he had returned home to write his will, but never finished it. A guard had followed him, and, in this hidden chamber, they had fought and killed each other.

Apothecary Huang had felt regret at his recent reunion with Zephyr Lu, and, with the death of Cyclone Mei and this new revelation, his feelings of guilt were overwhelming. He turned to face Tempest's daughter.

"Did your father teach you how to fight?" he asked gravely.

The girl shook her head, then ran to the door, closed it, and peered through the crack. Satisfied, she turned and launched into a sequence of some half a dozen moves from Jade Ripple Palm.

"Papa, she taught herself by watching Brother Qu as he practiced."

Apothecary Huang nodded and then murmured, "Tempest would never have dared to pass on what I had taught him, as long as he was cast out from Peach Blossom Island." He paused and then added, "Lotus, try tripping her."

Lotus approached the girl and smiled. "Let's play together. Watch out!" She feinted left and then launched two rapid-fire kicks, in a move known as the Mandarin Duck. The girl was dumbstruck. One of Lotus's feet was about to connect with her right hip. She stumbled out of harm's way, only for the other foot to greet her back. The girl fell, face-first.

Seconds later, she was back on her feet. "Cheat! Let's go again, little sister," she cried.

Apothecary Huang's expression darkened. "Little sister? She is your martial senior."

The girl laughed, not understanding what he meant.

Lotus realized that her father was testing her footwork. Brother Qu's legs had both been broken, therefore she could not have picked up any such skills from him, just by watching. But, if he had trained her, he would have included such fundamental techniques.

And yet, by referring to Lotus as her martial senior, he was accepting the girl into his tutelage.

"You are a silly girl," he could not help but say.

"Call me Silly!" she exclaimed, and laughed.

Apothecary Huang scowled. "And what about your mother?"

The girl pretended to cry. "She's gone to be with Grandma."

Apothecary Huang continued to ask questions, but her answers gave him little to go on. Eventually, he sighed and gave up.

2

Together, they buried cyclone Mei in the courtyard of the inn. Then, Guo Jing and Lotus carried out Tempest's skeleton and interred him next to Cyclone. The Freaks considered Twice Foul Dark Wind their mortal enemies, but even they paid their respects.

Apothecary Huang stood in silence before the two graves, a hundred different feelings washing over him. "Lotus," he began sadly, "why don't we take a look at the treasures your Brother Qu collected?"

Father and daughter walked back inside and into the secret chamber.

One by one, they pulled out the items and examined them. Apothecary Huang was silent. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Eventually, he spoke: "Of all my disciples, Tempest Qu was the best fighter, with the most brilliant mind. Had his legs not been broken, not even a hundred palace guards could have bested him."

"Of course. Are you going to teach his daughter?"

"I will teach her to fight. But I will also teach her to write poetry, play the qin, and I'll teach her the mysteries of the Five Elements … All the things that your Brother Qu wanted to learn but never did. I will teach her everything."

That will not be easy, Lotus thought.

Apothecary Huang opened each layer of the chest. The more valuable the items he uncovered, the deeper the grief he felt. "These items make for pleasing diversions, to be sure, but they must never be allowed to get in the way of what is really important—that is, real ambition. Emperor Huizong was a fine painter of mountains and rivers, but he rolled them up and gifted those landscapes straight to the Jin." He took out another scroll. "Huh?"

"What is it, Papa?"

"Look at this."

The painting depicted a mountain with five sharp peaks, among which one in particular towered at a dizzying height above a ravine below, piercing the clouds overhead. A row of pine trees clung to the slope, their trunks reaching for the sun in the south, their branches laden with snow. On one side, a lone pine stood against the northern winds, old and brittle, but majestic nonetheless. Beneath it, a few vermillion brushstrokes depicted a general, practicing with his sword. His features were obscured as his sleeves danced on the wind. From his posture, it was evident that he was an extraordinary fighter. He was the only dash of color in an otherwise monochrome landscape.

There was no signature, only a poem:

In uniform beclad in years of dust

I take in the perfume

of the Emerald Hills.

Never could I tire of such beauty

but the moon and the hooves urge me on.

Lotus recognized the poem from the Pavilion of Emerald Hills.

"Papa, this is the calligraphy of Han Shizhong. The poem is by the great Yue Fei."

"That's right, dear Lotus! You're so clever. The poem is written about the Emerald Hills, but the landscape there is most treacherous and is far from the paradise he describes. The painting is assured, but it lacks subtlety. It is not the work of a master."

That day, in the Pavilion, Guo Jing had traced his fingers over Han Shizhong's calligraphy. Lotus knew he would like this painting very much. "Papa, can Guo Jing have it?"

"Your heart belongs to him, now," her father said with a laugh. "Very well."

He gave it to her and then reached once more into the metal chest, picking out a necklace. "Every pearl is of exactly the same size. Most unusual." He handed it to Lotus so that she might wear it. Delighted, Lotus threw her arms around him. He pulled her close, and there they took comfort, cheek to cheek.

Lotus had just rolled up the painting for Guo Jing when she heard the urgent screech of two birds outside.

Her white condors! They were back. She bounded outside to greet her friends.

Once outside, she spotted Guo Jing standing beneath a large willow tree. One of the condors was tugging at the shoulder of his robe with its talons, trying to get him to follow it. The other was circling above, screeching. Tempest Qu's daughter was dancing around Guo Jing, clapping her hands and laughing.

"Lotus!" Guo Jing cried, as soon as he saw her. "They're in trouble; we have to save them!" He looked very agitated.

"Who's in trouble?"

"My sworn brother and sister!"

Lotus pouted. "You can go on your own."

"Lotus, don't be so childish. They need us! Come on." He ran over to Ulaan and jumped up into the saddle.

"Do you still want me, or not?"

Guo Jing was baffled. "Of course I want you. I want you more than life itself."

Clutching the reins with one hand, he reached out toward her with the other.

Lotus flashed a dazzling smile and cried out, "Papa! We're off on a rescue. Why don't you and the Six Heroes come too?" She jumped up and landed behind Guo Jing, on the back of the horse.

Guo Jing bowed to Apothecary Huang and his shifus, before spurring his horse on. The condors were already up ahead, crying out to show the way.

3

Ulaan and Guo Jing had been separated a long time, but feeling the weight of his master on his back brought the little horse nothing but joy. On he galloped, as if his hooves were powered by the wind. The condors were swift on the wing, but Ulaan had no trouble keeping up with them.

Before long, the birds dropped down through a dense tree canopy and into a dark forest. Ulaan sped straight for them.

Just as they drew close, a voice came booming from between the trees.

"Brother Qiu." It was Viper Ouyang. "Your reputation precedes you, of course. I am honored to meet you and witness firsthand your consummate skill and virtuosity. What a shame you could not take part in the Contest of Mount Hua, all those years ago. May I invite the Master to demonstrate his awesome Iron Palm by offering a few of my own paltry skills?"

A howl. The treetops swayed. Then a crash echoed around them as a large tree fell.

Guo Jing jumped down from his horse and ran toward the sound.

Lotus dismounted and patted Ulaan on the head. Then she pointed back in the direction from which they had come. "Go and find my papa and bring him here."

Ulaan snorted and galloped off.

I hope Papa gets here quick, Lotus thought. Otherwise, we will have to confront Viper Ouyang on our own, once again.

She slipped between the trees, being careful not to be heard or seen. The scene that waited for her was a surprise indeed: Tolui, Khojin, Jebe, and Boroqul had each been tied to a separate tree, while Viper Ouyang and Qiu Qianren were standing facing each other. There was another man too, dressed in scale armor and bound to a tree that had recently been felled. It was the Song general who had been sent to escort Tolui. By the look of it, he had met with the force of Viper Ouyang's palm. His armor was bright with blood, his eyes were closed and his head hung limply to one side. He was dead.

Lotus looked around. The other soldiers had clearly fled.

Qiu Qianren had no desire to fight Viper Ouyang and was still racking his brains for a little trick to get himself out of it when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and, to his delight, saw Guo Jing. Just in time! Surely he could contrive to make Viper Ouyang turn his wrath on the boy instead.

Viper Ouyang was just as surprised as Qiu Qianren. Guo Jing had been given the full force of his Exploding Toad kung fu and yet here he was, standing before them, seemingly unharmed.

"Guo Jing!" Khojin cried. "You're still alive! How wonderful!"

Lotus, too, was making her own plans. I must slow things down to give Papa time to get here.

"Scoundrels!" Guo Jing cried suddenly. "What are you doing here? Hasn't enough blood been shed today?"

Viper Ouyang smiled, but did not say anything. This would be his chance to assess the extent of Qiu Qianren's martial skills.

"Won't you show Master Ouyang the respect he is due?" Qiu Qianren piped up.

Guo Jing had listened to Qiu Qianren stir up all kinds of trouble with his lies, and this time, he assumed, would be no different. He stepped forward, bellowed, and threw a Haughty Dragon Repents.

He was now well-practiced in the Dragon-Subduing Palm, and this particular move was four parts release and six parts restraint; its power, once unleashed, was instantly withdrawn. Qiu Qianren tried to lean out of the way, but he was too slow and fell on his face instead.

Guo Jing roared and aimed a reverse palm straight at Qiu's wagging tongue. He wanted nothing more than to knock the chicanery out of him.

His hand moved slowly, but his aim was true. Qiu Qianren was powerless to fend it off. But, just as it was about to meet with his face, a voice cried, "Stop!"

It was Lotus. Guo Jing grabbed Qiu Qianren by the neck instead, lifted him up and then turned to face her. "What is it?"

Lotus was worried that, if Guo Jing hurt Qiu Qianren, Viper Ouyang might go on the attack.

"Let go! If you hit his face, the force will rebound on you and you will be injured. He is famous for this facial kung fu!"

Guo Jing, incredulous, did not realize that she was mocking the old trickster. "Facial kung fu? What nonsense!"

"Master Qiu can strip the hide from an ox with his breath alone. Quick, get out of the way!"

This only angered Guo Jing even more, but he knew better than to question Lotus, so he dutifully placed the old man back on his feet and let him go.

Qiu Qianren chuckled. "The girl knows danger when she sees it! But I have no grievance with you two youngsters. Why would I, your senior, seek to injure those beneath me?"

"Very well, then," Lotus said, and smiled. "I am a great admirer of yours, Master Qiu. I would be honored if you might share with me some of your famed kung fu. Just try not to hurt me!" She then raised her left hand, curled it into a tube, put it to her lips and blew. "This move is called Blowing One's Own Conch."

"The young lady is most bold!" Qiu Qianren said. "Master Ouyang is a great master of the wulin; how dare you ridicule him!"

Slap! Lotus's hand met squarely with the side of his face. "And this one is called Brazen Cheek!"

A burst of laughter echoed from the woods. "Excellent! Another!"

It was her father. His arrival only emboldened her further. As she made as if to slap Qiu Qianren with her right hand, he ducked, only to be met with her left. He tried to block with a swipe of his arm, in a move from Palm of Connected Arms and Six Unions, but her palms fluttered before his eyes like two beautiful butterflies. Thus distracted, he left his right cheek open to another whack.

The situation was close to getting out of his control, so Qiu sent out two punches, forcing the young girl back. Then he leaped to the side and cried, "Stop!"

"What is it? Have you had enough already?" Lotus replied with a grin.

Apothecary Huang and the Six Freaks had now arrived. The sight of Tolui and the others tied to tree trunks puzzled them.

Viper Ouyang knew full well of Qiu Qianren's legendary abilities. He had, in years gone by, laid waste to the mighty Hengshan School with the use of nothing but his Iron Palm kung fu. The Hengshan fighters never again recovered their position in the wulin. So, how could it be that he was unable to prevail against Lotus? Was there really such a thing as facial kung fu? Viper had never heard of it, and judging by the fight taking place before his very eyes, it did not appear to be too impressive if it did indeed exist.

Viper looked up and spotted a white pouch, made from Sichuan silk, slung across Apothecary Huang's shoulders. There was a camel embroidered on it. He recognized it as his nephew's. Dread filled his heart. He had returned to the inn to find Gallant, only to stumble upon Apothecary Huang's struggle with the Quanzhen Sect. But could the Old Heretic have killed him as revenge for the death of Cyclone Mei?

"Where is my nephew?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"The same place as my disciple."

Viper Ouyang felt his body turn to ice. Gallant Ouyang had been born of an illicit encounter between the Venom and his sister-in-law. He had always referred to the young man as his nephew to save face, but in truth he was of his own flesh, his most beloved son. Gallant had been helpless, his legs injured; there was no way he could have caused Apothecary Huang or the Quanzhen Taoists any trouble. They were honorable men of the jianghu. Surely they could not have gone against the code of xia.

Apothecary Huang watched and waited. He knew the Venom would soon attack, that he would mete out upon him a righteous fury that could move mountains and shake oceans. He prepared himself for an unstoppable force.

"Who did it?" Viper Ouyang snarled. "One of yours? Or one of the Taoist dogs?" Apothecary Huang would not have lowered himself to kill a man thus incapacitated, Viper told himself. He must have had someone else do it for him.

"A young squirt who has studied the skills of both the Quanzhen Sect and Peach Blossom Island. You know him well. I suggest you go looking for him."

Apothecary Huang meant Yang Kang, of course. But Viper Ouyang turned and locked eyes upon Guo Jing. Rage was bursting from his eye sockets. He then turned back to Apothecary Huang. "Why do you have my nephew's pouch?"

"He had a map of Peach Blossom Island, which, as I'm sure you understand, belongs to me. It pains me to admit it, but your nephew was forced to have daylight on his face once again. Unfortunately, when I recovered the pouch, there was no map to be seen. What a waste of my efforts! Still, I did make sure that your nephew was given a proper resting place. Of that, I can assure you."

"Is that so?" Viper Ouyang said bitterly. He knew full well that a fight with the Lord of Peach Blossom Island would take a thousand blows or more, and there was no guarantee he would prevail. But he had obtained a copy of the Nine Yin Manual, so he would have his revenge eventually, if not today. And yet … if Qiu Qianren were to take care of the Freaks, Guo Jing, and Lotus, and then join him against Apothecary Huang … well … they might just succeed. The fact that he could assess the nature of the situation before him so coolly having just learned of his son's murder was itself remarkable. He must make use of Qiu's presence.

"Brother Qiu," he said. "You deal with the others. I will kill Heretic Huang."

Qiu Qianren laughed and fluttered his fan. "Very well. I will help you with Old Huang as soon as I am finished with the others."

"Excellent," Viper said, his eyes already fixed on Apothecary Huang. Slowly, he began to squat down. His adversary planted his feet in the second Heavenly Stem position.

"Kill me first!" Lotus broke in.

Qiu Qianren shook his head. "Miss, you are so adorable. It is almost unbearable…" Suddenly, he clutched his stomach. "Oh no, not now! What timing!"

"What is it?" Lotus asked.

"Wait a moment," Qiu replied, his face strained. "I've got the most terrible stomachache. Excuse me!"

Lotus was stunned into silence. Qiu Qianren, meanwhile, groaned and limped away. Was it a ruse? Lotus wondered. She did not dare go after him, just in case.

Zhu Cong took a piece of rice paper from his pocket and caught up with Qiu Qianren, tapping him on the shoulder. "You'll be needing this."

"Thank you!" Qiu Qianren said, and ducked behind some bushes.

Lotus picked up a stone and threw it toward the small of his back. "Go farther in!"

Qiu Qianren caught it at the last moment. "Is it the smell?" he called, and laughed. "You had better all wait for me! Don't be taking the chance to run away, now." He pulled up his trousers, shuffled a few dozen meters farther into the woods and ducked behind a row of low bushes.

"Master Zhu, the scoundrel is trying to escape!" Lotus said.

Zhu Cong nodded. "He may be brazen, but he's not quick on his feet. There's no chance of him getting away. Here," he said, and threw her a sword and a palm-shaped metal token that he had stolen from Qiu Qianren using his famed sleight of hand. Lotus had watched Qiu plunge the sword into his stomach and had known at once that it was a trick, but she had been unable to work out how he had done it. She examined it and found that the blade was retractable, made up of three parts that slid into each other. She shook with laughter. She could use this to toy with Viper, she realized.

Lotus ran up to the Venom and cried, "Uncle! I cannot take it anymore!" Then, raising the weapon in her right hand, she thrust it hard into her stomach.

Viper Ouyang and her father had been concentrating on summoning their internal strength in preparation for their duel, and had therefore missed the whole tawdry exchange between Qiu Qianren and Zhu Cong. Both men watched in shock as the young girl doubled over before them.

Just then, Lotus stood up, raised the sword once more and showed them how it worked.

Viper Ouyang's mind was racing. Was Qiu Qianren's mighty reputation built on a foundation of lies?

Apothecary Huang watched as the Venom slowly straightened his legs. He could guess what he was thinking. He then took the Iron Palm token from his daughter. The character Qiu was engraved on the back, along with a wave pattern. This object was the symbol of the Chief of the Iron Palm Gang, which had its base in the depths of the inland mountains of the south. For twenty years, the bearer of this object had controlled those vast swathes of untamed land, stretching from the Nine Rivers in the east, all the way to Chengdu in the west. Was this shameless old man really the leader of such a mighty brotherhood? Still doubtful, Huang returned the object to his daughter.

Viper Ouyang peered at it from the corner of his eye, trying to hide his surprise.

"This strange thing could turn out to be a lot of fun," Lotus said with a wide grin on her face. "I'm going to keep it! That old man can't have any use for it. But this?" she added, hefting the trick sword. "I'm bored with it already. Catch!" She raised the sword as if to throw it at Qiu Qianren, but realized that it was too heavy. Instead, she handed it to her father. "Papa, you throw it to him."

Like Viper, Apothecary Huang had begun to suspect that Qiu Qianren's reputation was undeserved, and he had been intending to test the old man's skills. He placed the sword flat across his left palm, the tip pointing away from him, and flicked the handle with the middle finger of his right hand. The weapon shot forth, faster and with more force than if he had used a bow.

Lotus and Guo Jing let out a cheer and clapped. Even Viper Ouyang was secretly impressed at such a fine display of Divine Flick kung fu.

Meanwhile, the sword continued to roar straight toward Qiu Qianren as he squatted in the bushes. Moments later, it had plunged into his back, retracting shaft, handle and all.

Using his lightness kung fu, Guo Jing dashed over to take a look. He gasped, then lifted up Qiu Qianren's arrowroot shirt and waved it at the others. "The old crook is already gone!"

Using the bushes as cover, Qiu Qianren had slipped out of his jacket and hung it from a twig. Apothecary Huang and Viper Ouyang had been focused on each other, and the others had had their eyes fixed on the impending fight between the two greats of the wulin. He had tricked them all, once again. The Heretic of the East and the Venom of the West exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Deep down, they both felt relieved to have one less powerful opponent to have to deal with.

Viper Ouyang knew that Apothecary Huang was quick and far less gullible than Count Seven Hong. But it was rare indeed to see him relax his guard like this. How could Viper not try to take his advantage? He guffawed three times, fell silent, and then, quick like lightning, bowed.

Still laughing, his face raised to the sky, Huang promptly clasped his hands and returned the gesture.

Both men trembled almost imperceptibly.

Viper's attack never materialized. Still bowed down, he took three steps back. "Heretic Huang … Until we meet again!" With a flick of his sleeve, he turned.

There was a tiny twitch in Apothecary Huang's face. His arm shot out, blocking off his daughter from the Viper's sudden attack.

Guo Jing had noticed it too: Viper Ouyang had launched a secretive move similar to Splitting Sky Palm at Lotus. Guo Jing howled and threw a double punch straight at Viper's stomach.

Apothecary Huang had sent back the force of Viper's attack, but this only amplified the power in Viper's palm, which he then aimed at Guo Jing, who ducked and rolled out of its path.

Back on his feet and at a safe distance, Guo Jing gasped for air, his cheeks white with shock.

We've only been apart for a few days, and yet his kung fu has improved yet again, Viper Ouyang thought, in wonder.

The Six Freaks of the South hurried into the fray, forming a semicircle around Viper. But the Venom merely charged through their formation. Gilden Quan and Jade Han stumbled back and out of his way. They could only watch as he strode away and out of the forest.

Apothecary Huang could, of course, have joined forces with the Freaks and avenged Cyclone Mei's death, there and then. But he was proud, not to mention vain. He did not want it known in the wulin that he had needed their help to defeat Viper. He would rather do the deed alone. His eyes followed the Venom as he disappeared, a cold grin on his face.

Guo Jing and his shifus untied Khojin, Tolui, Jebe, and Boroqul. Together, they cursed Yang Kang and his deceitful, lying tongue.

"He said he had urgent business in Yuezhou," Tolui grumbled. "I gave him three of my finest horses as a gift. What a waste!"

Yang Kang had traveled with Tolui and the escort, stopping that evening at an inn north of Lin'an. In the dead of night, Yang Kang got up, intending to stab Tolui, only to find the two beggars were taking turns patrolling outside his window. Several times, he had been foiled by one of the men rounding the corner and appearing at just the right moment. He waited until dawn before finally giving up. At breakfast, he had cheated Tolui out of three horses and had ridden off with the two beggars in the direction of Yuezhou.

Unaware of what had nearly befallen them during the night, the rest of the group were about to continue northward when the two white condors turned and flew off in the opposite direction. They waited, but the birds did not return. They were intelligent creatures, and they must have flown south for a reason, so Tolui gave the order to wait until they came back. There was no urgent reason for them to set off that morning. On the third day, the condors suddenly reappeared and began shrieking at Khojin. The group packed up and followed the birds back the way they had come. That was when they had chanced upon Qiu Qianren and Viper Ouyang in the forest.

The Jin had entrusted Qiu Qianren with a mission: sow discord in the jianghu, so that the martial men of the south are too divided and distracted to block the Jin army's advance. Qiu Qianren had been working his magic on Viper Ouyang when he spotted Tolui beyond the trees. Recognizing him as an ambassador of the Mongols, he had joined forces with Viper and attacked him. The Mongols tried to fight back, but they were no match for the Venom.

The condors had spotted Ulaan's tracks and unwittingly led their masters straight into the jaws of disaster. Fortunately, they went in search of Guo Jing and Lotus just in time.

Khojin clasped Guo Jing by the hand and related what had happened to her over the previous few days, while Lotus watched, jealousy bubbling up inside her. She could not understand what they were saying, and it made her feel like an outsider.

Apothecary Huang noticed the strange expression on his daughter's face. "Lotus, who is this young barbarian girl?"

"Guo Jing's betrothed," she said glumly.

Apothecary Huang could not believe what he was hearing. "What?"

"Go and ask him yourself, Papa."

Zhu Cong could sense the tension in the air. He rushed forward and delicately explained to the Heretic the circumstances of the betrothal.

Unable to hold back his fury, Apothecary Huang glowered at Guo Jing. "So, the boy was already engaged before coming to Peach Blossom Island to ask for my daughter's hand?"

"We ought to come up with a plan … to satisfy everyone," Zhu Cong said.

"Lotus, leave this to your father. Don't get in my way."

"Papa, what are you going to do?" There was a tremble in her voice.

"I am going to kill them both! I will not allow them to humiliate us."

Lotus grabbed her father's hand. "Papa, Guo Jing says that he really, truly loves me. He never felt that way about her."

"Very well," Apothecary Huang snorted. "Boy! Kill the barbarian girl! Let us see where your loyalties lie!"

Guo Jing stared at him in disbelief. Never before had he been in such an impossible situation. What should he do?

"Already betrothed, and yet you came to me to ask for my daughter's hand? What do you say to that?"

Guo Jing's face was white. The Freaks could see that he was one small flick of Huang's finger away from fatal catastrophe. And yet, how would they be able to overcome the Heretic if he let his fury get the better of him?

Guo Jing had never been able to lie. He could only answer with the honest truth. "All I want is to be with Lotus. I can't live without her."

"Very well. Then, from this day forth, you must never meet with this barbarian girl again."

Guo Jing hesitated.

"You cannot make such a promise, can you?" Lotus said.

"She is like a sister to me. I would worry about her."

"I don't mind!" Lotus said, breaking into a gracious smile. "I know you don't love her. Of course, she cannot compare to me!"

"Then it's settled," Apothecary Huang said. "I'm here. The girl's family is here. Your six shifus are here. Let them all be my witness: you will marry my daughter, and not her!"

It was quite out of character for him to be so conciliatory, but there was little he would not do for the sake of his daughter. Besides, Cyclone Mei's sacrifice had also temporarily softened his heart.

Guo Jing hung his head, his mind racing. He glanced down at his belt and saw the golden dagger given to him by Genghis Khan, and the other dagger, bestowed on his father by Qiu Chuji.

My father wanted Yang Kang and I to be sworn brothers in life and death. But how can I keep this promise when he behaves as he does? Uncle Ironheart wanted me to marry his daughter, Mercy. But that can't possibly happen. The Great Khan wants me to marry Khojin. But maybe I don't have to follow my elders' wishes, after all? Why should they get to decide that Lotus and I be apart?

His mind made up, he looked up again.

Zhu Cong had finished translating Guo Jing's exchange with Apothecary Huang for Tolui. Tolui looked at Guo Jing. It was clear that he was struggling to reconcile his obligations with his heart's desire. Guo Jing did not love his sister, it was obvious. Furious, Tolui took a wolf-fang arrow from his quiver and held it in both hands.

"Brother Guo! To keep one's word, is that not the mark of a true man? You have treated my sister heartlessly. How can we, the offspring of the great Genghis Khan, trust you after this betrayal? The brotherly bond between us is broken. As for the kindness you showed in saving my father's life and mine, we will remember it and your mother will be looked after. If you prefer that she be sent south, we can arrange an escort for her. We will not neglect her, because we have given our word."

He then snapped the arrow in two and threw the pieces to the ground.

Tolui's words were testament to a steely determination and an iron will. Guo Jing felt a shiver go through him as memories of all the things they had done together on the steppe flashed before his eyes. I agreed to marry Khojin. I gave my word. What kind of man would I be if I break it? I can't, even if Apothecary Huang kills me and Lotus hates me for the rest of her days.

"Master Huang," he began, "my honored shifus, Brother Tolui, Masters Jebe and Boroqul: Guo Jing is a man of his word. I must marry Sister Khojin."

He made the announcement first in Chinese and then again in Mongolian. No one had been expecting this. The Mongolians were surprised, but delighted. The Six Freaks secretly admired their disciple for staying true to his promise—it showed backbone. Apothecary Huang, however, raised his eyebrows and smiled grimly.

Lotus was heartbroken. She paused, then stepped toward Khojin, assessing her. She had an athletic build, big eyes and well-defined features. Lotus sighed. "Guo Jing, I understand. You two are a pair of white condors from the steppe. I am merely a swallow who has grown up among the willow trees of the south."

"Lotus"—Guo Jing went to her and clasped her hands—"in truth, I don't know who is right. In my heart, I carry only you. You know that! It doesn't matter what anyone else says, I will think of you until my body is burned and my ashes are carried away on the wind!"

"Then why are you marrying her?" The tears welled in Lotus's eyes.

"Because I'm stupid. I don't know what to think. All I know is, I cannot go back on my word. But they can't change what is in my heart. I'd rather die than be parted from you!"

Lotus was deeply confused. His words pleased her and pained her in equal measure. She smiled faintly. "Dear Guo Jing, if I had known things would turn out this way, I would have suggested we stay on Rosy Cloud Island."

Apothecary Huang flicked a sleeve and gave Khojin a menacing look.

Lotus understood at once her father's intentions, and had launched herself at Khojin before he could make his attack. Apothecary Huang started to pull back as Lotus tugged Khojin from her horse.

Thwack! Apothecary Huang's hand met with her saddle.

At first, the horse did not react. Then its head sagged, its legs buckled and it fell to the ground, dead.

This was a mount bred from the finest beasts of the Mongolian steppe: muscular, robust and tall. And yet, all it had taken was one strike of Apothecary Huang's palm to kill it. The others watched in amazement, their hearts thumping. What if he had struck Khojin, as he had intended?

Apothecary Huang was stunned. Had his daughter saved her rival? If he killed the Mongolian girl, however, he knew that Guo Jing would surely turn against his beloved Lotus. So what if he does? Why should I be scared of a mere boy!

He glanced over at Lotus and saw the misery etched on her face. Yet, her expression was also tender. He could detect a hundred emotions, all mixed together. She looked just like her late mother. Losing his wife had brought on a madness in him, and, even though it had been fifteen years now, he saw her in his daughter just as clearly as if she were still with him. Lotus loved Guo Jing deeply, down into the very core of her being. She had inherited this passion from both of them. There was no changing it. He sighed.

"Heavens and Earth they are the furnace," he began to chant, "and Nature mans the grate. Yin and Yang they are the charcoal, ten thousand objects copper does create."

The tears rolled down Lotus's cheeks.

Ryder Han tugged at Zhu Cong's robe and whispered, "What is he singing about?"

"It's from a poem written in the Han dynasty," Zhu Cong replied. "Existence, for all creatures, is pain and suffering, like being burned in a furnace."

"A master of such martial arts, what pain can he know of?"

Zhu Cong merely shook his head.

"Lotus," Apothecary Huang said softly, "let's go home. You are never to see this boy again."

"Papa, no! I must go to Yuezhou. I'm the Chief of the Beggar Clan, now—Shifu said so."

"Being the chief of a bunch of beggars will only bring you trouble. There is not much fun to be had, believe me."

"I made a promise," Lotus said.

"Try for a day or two, if you must. Then, when you're sick of it, you can hand the role on to someone else." He then paused, and continued, "And what about the boy?"

Lotus glanced at Guo Jing and caught his eye. His expression was one of tenderness and love. She turned back to her father.

"Papa, if he is going to marry someone else, then so shall I. But I will only ever love him, and he will only ever love me."

Apothecary Huang smiled. "No daughter of Peach Blossom Island will be prevented from getting what she wants. Very well. But what if the man you marry doesn't let you see him?"

"Who would stop me?" Lotus replied with a snort. "I am your daughter, after all!"

"Silly girl. Your father won't live forever."

"Papa!" The tears flowed faster. "I cannot live without you!"

"So, you still accept this callous young boy?" Apothecary Huang pressed.

"Every day spent with him is a day of pure happiness," Lotus said, but her voice betrayed her heartache.

The Freaks listened in utter bemusement. Father and daughter spoke with no thought for propriety. Apothecary Huang was not known as the Heretic of the East for nothing. He cared little for the traditions passed down by the rulers of the Shang and Zhou, and despised the rites as laid out in the texts by the Duke of Zhou and Confucius. As for Lotus, she was a product of her upbringing. That she could speak so openly of marriage as nothing more than a contract, and love as love, would shock most people who heard it. Did she not understand the importance of chastity and modesty? The Freaks were more open-minded than most, but even they could only shake their heads upon overhearing such a candid conversation between father and daughter.

Guo Jing felt terrible and wished for nothing more than to offer some words of comfort to Lotus. But he was not known for his skill with words. He had no idea what to say.

Apothecary Huang looked at his daughter and then at Guo Jing. Then he raised his head to the heavens and let out a long, anguished roar. His wail echoed around the valley, startling a flock of magpies and sending them screeching up into the sky.

"Oh, magpies, build your bridge faster, so that the cowherd may see his beloved weaver girl tonight!" Lotus said.

Apothecary Huang grabbed a handful of stones and started throwing them at the birds. One by one, they fell from the sky. "What bridge?" he cried. "Passion? Love? They are nothing but fantasies. Better they die an early death!"

At this, he spun on his heel and sped off. Moments later, his dark green robe had disappeared into the woods.

Tolui had not been able to understand what had been said, but he knew that Guo Jing was standing by his promise. "Brother!" he cried out, a broad smile on his face. "You finish your business here, and we will see you once again, back in the north!"

"Keep the condors by your side," Khojin added. "Come back soon!"

Guo Jing nodded. "Tell my mother that I will avenge Papa's death."

Jebe and Boroqul also said their goodbyes, then the Mongolians mounted their horses and left.

Jade Han turned to Guo Jing. "What are you going to do?"

"I … I must find Shifu Hong."

"Yes, that is proper." Ke Zhen'e nodded. "I hear that Apothecary Huang visited our families. We must return to them as soon as possible to set their minds at rest. When you see Chief Hong, pass on our sincerest wishes for his good health, and tell him he is most welcome in Jiaxing. We will look after him, be assured of it."

Guo Jing nodded and bade his shifus farewell. Then he and Lotus mounted Ulaan and set off in the direction of Lin'an.

4

That evening, Guo Jing and Lotus returned to the palace. They began their search in the imperial kitchens, but there was no sign of Count Seven Hong anywhere. They interrogated some eunuchs, all of whom claimed that there had been no intruders over the past few days. This put their minds at ease somewhat. Count Seven may have been injured, but he was still in possession of his wits. Surely he had come up with an escape plan and was on his way to Yuezhou to meet with the rest of the Beggar Clan.

Thus satisfied, they set off westward early the next morning.

Half of China was now occupied by the Jurchen. In the east, the River Huai drew the boundary separating the Jin-controlled northern territories from the south, which remained under the rule of the Song Emperor; in the west, the two states were divided by the military stronghold Dasan Pass in the Qin Mountains.

The Song Empire, once in control of all of China, now had dominion over just seventeen provinces: East and West Zhe, the two Huais, East and West Jiangnan, North and South Jinghu, South Jingxi, the five territories of Bashu, Fujian, and finally East and West Guangnan.

Before long, Guo Jing and Lotus Huang had arrived in West Jiangnan. They were traveling along an exposed path, over a mountain ridge. Dark clouds sped toward them from the east. Midsummer storms arrive with scant warning in this part of the country. Raindrops as big as soybeans were soon beating down on them, as thunder cracked over their heads. Guo Jing scrambled to open an umbrella over Lotus, but a gust of wind ripped the canopy away within seconds, leaving him clutching nothing but a bare pole.

The sight made Lotus chuckle. "You've found the Dog-Beating Cane already!"

Guo Jing smiled, but inside he was sighing. There's nowhere to take cover … He started to remove his outer robe so that he could use it to keep the rain from Lotus for a little longer.

Lotus was moved by the gesture. "It'll be wet through before long."

"We can go faster."

She shook her head. "Let me tell you a story. One day, on a country road much like this, the heavens opened. Everyone started to run, except for one man. He kept walking at the same leisurely pace. People were curious and asked him why he didn't hurry. 'The rain is also falling on the road ahead. I will get drenched, either way.'"

Guo Jing smiled at this obvious truth.

But the tale led Lotus's thoughts to a darker place—to Guo Jing's determination to honor his word in the matter of his betrothal to Khojin, against his own heart and hers.

Our future is destined to be full of grief and heartbreak, she told herself. Whichever path we take, we cannot run from it. Just like the storm, beating down on us here, on this exposed ridge.

They rode on in silence. It was only when they began their descent that they chanced upon a farmstead. They knocked on the door to ask for shelter.

They were soaked through, from head to toe. Luckily, the farmers had some dry clothes that they could borrow.

Lotus was greatly amused to be given the patched garb of an elderly peasant woman. As she dressed herself, however, she was startled by an exasperated cry from the room next door.

She rushed over. "What's wrong?"

Guo Jing's face was crumpled. He held out the painting her father had given him.

Lotus took the scroll and unrolled it.

"What a shame," she muttered.

The paper and the silk mounting were rubbed and torn in many parts. Much of the ink brushwork, if not altogether washed out, was irreparably damaged. Nothing could be done to remedy it.

She cast one last look of regret at the ruined artwork as she set it down. Her eyes settled on a few faint lines of writing, next to the poem inscribed by Han Shizhong. Quite certain that she had not seen them before, she brought the painting close to her face to examine the marks.

The characters were written on the lining that formed part of the backing, visible only because the painting itself had been rendered translucent by the rain. And yet, the hidden message had also been partially washed away …

Studying the indistinct traces, she mumbled to herself: "… Fei's final writings … iron palm … middle crag … in the second…"

However hard she tried, she could not make out the missing characters. The only thing she could deduce was that, altogether, there should have been four lines, each consisting of four characters.

"Did you say 'Fei's final writings'? As in, General Yue Fei?"

"It could very well be that! Remember Wanyan Honglie thought General Yue's writings were hidden behind the waterfall by the Hall of Wintry Jade, in the Imperial Palace, in Lin'an? He found a marble casket that was supposed to contain the manuscripts, but it was empty." Lotus repeated the characters to herself several times before continuing. "These four lines must be the key to where the writings are concealed … When we were in Roaming Cloud Manor, Brother Zephyr and your shifus mentioned that Qiu Qianren was the leader of the Iron Palm Gang. Papa has also told me that the Iron Palm Gang rules over Sichuan and Hunan. Could Yue Fei's final writings have something to do with Qiu Qianren?"

"I don't trust anything, when it comes to him." Guo Jing shook his head.

"Neither do I," Lotus replied with a smile.

With no clear answers, they tucked the scroll back in their packing and carried on toward Yuezhou.

5

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, they entered Yuezhou, in North Jianghu. After setting the condors free on the outskirts, they dismounted and asked for directions to Yueyang Tower, the city's most famous monument.

They found a tavern next to the tower and chose a table upstairs. Once they had ordered some food and wine, they cast their eyes over the vast expanse of Dongting Lake.

The surface of the water was still and shiny, as if made from a single piece of polished jade. Mountains soared on all sides, framing the wild majesty of the scene. It was quite unlike the elegant mists and gentle refinement of Lake Tai.

Before long, their meal arrived. The food was served in exceptionally large bowls and they were given chopsticks longer than any they had ever seen before. Though their tongues struggled with the sting of the chilies that characterized the cuisine of this region, the flavors were as bold as the view.

After picking at the dishes for a little while, they turned their attention to the verses inscribed on the walls of the dining hall. Guo Jing's eyes fell on a passage titled "Memorial to Yueyang Tower", by Fan Zhongyan. He read, mouthing silently until he reached the lines:

Be the first to bear the hardships of the world,

and the last to enjoy its comforts.

"What are you thinking?" Lotus asked.

Overwhelmed by the enormity of the statement, Guo Jing did not seem to hear her.

"The man who wrote this was given the posthumous title of the Duke of Wenzhong," Lotus explained. "He was more than just a man of letters. His military foresight kept the Tangut army at bay."

Guo Jing asked Lotus to tell him more. His respect for Fan Zhongyan grew as he learned about his difficult early life—Fan's father died soon after he was born, and his mother, destitute, was forced to remarry—and how he never forgot the struggles faced by the common man, even as he rose higher and higher in the Imperial Court.

Filling his bowl with wine until it was full to the brim, Guo Jing raised a toast to the great man. He then threw back his head and drank it in one long gulp.

"'Be the first to bear the hardships of the world, and the last to enjoy its comforts.' That is exactly how a hero should think!" he exclaimed.

Lotus found his passionate response endearing. "Of course, it's a very noble sentiment, but this world has too many hardships and too few comforts. Should a hero never enjoy life, even just for a moment? I wouldn't want to live like that." She fell silent for a moment, her brow furrowed. "I don't care about the world, I don't care about its comforts or its hardships. All I know is, if you are not by my side, I'll never be happy…"

Guo Jing, too, was thinking about their future and how they were destined to be apart. He lowered his head. There was nothing he could say to comfort her.

"I won't be happy, either," he eventually mumbled.

"It doesn't matter. It is what it is." Lotus looked up, sounding almost cheerful. "Fan Zhongyan also wrote a poem set to the tune of 'Trimming the Silver Lamp's Wick.' Do you know it?"

"Of course not! But I would like to hear it."

Lotus began to recite it:

"In the world of men, none reach one hundred.

In youth, sophomoric; in dotage, weak.

Only the time betwixt, those few short years,

For fleeting fame, endure,

Strung along by first in rank and gold.

From such fate how can I escape?

May you ask the old."

She then explained its meaning to a confused Guo Jing.

"He was right to remind us not to waste our prime chasing fame, fortune or rank," Guo Jing said.

Lotus continued to chant softly to herself, oblivious to Guo Jing's words:

"As wine courses through guts wrenched by sorrow,

Out pour tears of lovelorn woe."

"Was that also written by Fan Zhongyan?"

"Yes, even that great hero loved once."

They raised their cups in a mutual salute, and drank.

As Lotus placed her cup back down, three middle-aged men sitting around a table at the other end of the tavern caught her attention. Unlike the merchants and scholars that made up the general clientele, these men had the bearing of authority, and yet their freshly laundered clothes were covered in patches.

They're probably going to the gathering of the Beggar Clan tonight, she told herself, before the chattering cicadas in the willow tree outside distracted her.

"All day, cicadas cry, 'I see! I see!'" Lotus said. "But what do they actually 'see'? Maybe even insects claim to know things they cannot possibly understand. Just like our dear friend … I must say, I rather miss him." She smiled.

"Who?" Guo Jing was mystified.

"Who else but our favorite lying cheat, Qiu Qianren!"

Guo Jing chuckled at the memory of their last encounter.

"What prattle!"

Lotus and Guo Jing turned to see who had cut short their merriment. A man was squatting in a corner, against the wall, watching them with a grin on his face. They relaxed when they saw his begrimed rags and sun-scorched skin.

A member of the Beggar Clan, without a doubt.

Guo Jing cupped his hands in a gesture of esteem. "Master, would you like to join us for a drink?"

"Yes." The beggar shuffled over to their table.

Lotus, meanwhile, asked for another set of chopsticks and a bowl for their guest, then poured him some wine. "Please, take a seat and drink with us."

"Beggars aren't meant to sit on benches." With those words, he dropped to the floor, reached into a rough hemp pouch on his back and pulled out a chipped bowl and a pair of bamboo chopsticks.

"You can give me your leftovers," he said, thrusting his bowl forward.

"That would be disrespectful!" Guo Jing was aghast. "We shall order whatever our elder wishes from the kitchen."

"We beggars have our beggarly ways. If I'm only a beggar in name, but not in deed, then it will all be nothing more than an act. If you wish to give alms, go ahead. If not, I'll go elsewhere."

Lotus stole a glance at Guo Jing, then at the three men in beggar-like dress. "Very well! You're right." Smiling, she took his bowl and scraped all the uneaten food into it.

Meanwhile, the beggar had dug out a few cold balls of rice from another bag he carried on his person.

As the man wolfed down his meal, Lotus counted the number of sacks he was laden with. Nine altogether, in three neat groups. She looked over to the three men; they wore the same number of pouches. Yet, they had no problem sitting on benches and feasting on an elaborate spread prepared for them by the tavern.

She noticed that they made a point of not looking in her direction, pretending not to have seen their dirty comrade. Could she even detect a whiff of displeasure?

The wooden staircase creaked, and they heard footsteps ascending. Lotus and Guo Jing turned, eager to get a glimpse of the new arrivals. Two beggars appeared—one corpulent, one skinny. The Beggar Clan members who had been so respectful to Yang Kang in Ox Village!

Right on cue, Yang Kang appeared on the landing. He caught sight of Guo Jing, hissed an order and ran back down the stairs. The plump one hotfooted it after him, while the gaunt one went up to the three men in patched clothes and whispered a few words. The men hopped to their feet and rushed after them.

All the while, Lotus and Guo Jing's guest did not lift his eyes from his bowl.

Lotus left the table and leaned out of the window, intrigued.

Surrounded by a dozen beggars, Yang Kang was being ushered westward with great deference. Once he was some way from the tavern, he glanced back and caught Lotus watching him. Lowering his eyes, he scuttled away in haste, his entourage trailing behind him.

When Lotus sat down again, their guest was licking his bowl clean. Then he wiped the chopsticks on his grubby shirt.

Taking the opportunity to observe him more closely, she noted that his face was scored by wrinkles and colored by hardship. His hands, almost twice the size of an average adult man's, were covered in blue veins bulging angrily through the coarse skin—testament to a lifetime of toil.

Once the beggar had stowed his things in one of the sacks on his back, Guo Jing stood, put palm over fist and bowed his head once more. "Please, would the elder like to take a seat, so that it would be easier to converse?"

"I'm not used to sitting on benches," the beggar said with good humor. "I know you're disciples of Chief Hong, so we are of the same martial generation, but I think the extra years I've lived give me some rank, here. My name is Lu. Surefoot Lu."

Guo Jing and Lotus looked at each other, surprised that he knew who they were.

"Big Brother Lu, what an interesting name," Lotus said, beaming.

"I'm sure you know the saying, 'A poor man without a staff will be beaten by dogs.' Well, as you can see, of sticks, I have none, but, stinky feet—I have two of those. When dogs trouble me, I plant a foot right on their cursed heads. And off they scurry, tails between their legs."

Lotus clapped at the droll reply. "I dare say the mutts scamper off at the mere sound of your name!"

"Brother Vigor Li told me how you helped him in Baoying. Most admirable. 'The sense of vocation is not limited to youth, for, without it, one lives to a hundred in vain.' It's obvious why the chief values you so."

Guo Jing stood up to thank their guest.

"I overheard your conversation about Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Gang. It seems you are unfamiliar with his reach."

"Please, tell us more," Lotus said.

"Qiu Qianren's Iron Palm Gang wields great influence over Jinghu and Sichuan. Its members are not afraid to kill and loot. They used to join with local officials to commit their crimes, but now they bribe the government and play the overlords themselves. Still, all that pales in comparison to their dealings with the Jin. Helping the invaders of their own country? They are nothing but traitors!"

"That old clown Qiu Qianren is a common charlatan, to be sure, but is he capable of such great and damaging deeds?" Lotus could not link this description to the man she had met.

"Do not underestimate him. His reputation is fearsome."

"Have you met him?"

"No, but I've been told that, for the past decade or so, he has been leading a reclusive life, deep in the mountains, working on his Iron Palm kung fu."

"You've been fooled. I've met him a few times, even exchanged a few moves with him. As for this Iron Palm kung fu—" Lotus broke into laughter at the memory of Qiu Qianren faking an upset stomach just to get away from her.

"I've no idea what game he's playing, but the Iron Palm Gang's power is real and they mustn't be disregarded." An earnest warning from Surefoot Lu.

"Brother Lu is right," Guo Jing said humbly, in case they had offended their guest. "Lotus loves to jest."

"Am I jesting?" She bent over, cradling her tummy, as if in pain. "Aiiiiyaaaa, my stomach!"

Guo Jing chuckled at her impression of Qiu Qianren, but Lotus's expression instantly changed to one of perfect seriousness. "Brother Lu, do you know the three men who were feasting over there just now?"

Surefoot Lu nodded with a sigh. "Did the chief tell you about the two factions in our Clan? The Washed and the Unwashed?"

"No," Guo Jing and Lotus answered in unison.

"It bodes ill when a group is divided. The chief has tried everything to bring us back together, but so far in vain. You may have heard that Chief Hong is assisted by Four Elders—"

"Yes, Shifu has mentioned that before," Lotus cut in, though she was not going to tell him how she knew—that she had been appointed to be the Beggar Clan's next leader.

"I am the Elder of the West," Surefoot Lu continued. "Those men are the other three Elders."

"So, you lead the Unwashed, and they are part of the Washed," Lotus deduced.

"How did you work that out?" Guo Jing was full of admiration.

"Look at what Brother Lu is wearing!" She then turned to Surefoot Lu. "I don't see why anyone would choose to wear dirty clothes, though. It can't be comfortable. Why don't you wash your clothes more often? Then, you could all be the same. No more conflict!"

"You're born of wealth! Of course, you find us beggars repulsive!" Surefoot Lu stormed down the stairs before Guo Jing had a chance to apologize on Lotus's behalf.

"I know, I've offended Brother Lu. You don't need to tell me off." Lotus stuck her tongue out. "You know, I was rather worried about you, just now."

"Huh?"

"That he might kick you."

"Why would he do that? I wasn't the one who offended him."

Lotus sniggered, baffling Guo Jing even further. A moment later, she heaved a dramatic sigh.

"Remember the story behind his name?"

Guo Jing hopped up, fists raised, full of menace. "Are you calling me a dog?!"

Lotus giggled and ducked before he could tickle her.