The Legend of the Condor Heroes

The young girl ignored them and smiled at Guo Jing, "I am your brother Huang, why, don't you care about me anymore?"

Guo Jing studied her face and saw that her features were exactly the same as Huang Rong's and stuttered, "You………you…………" he only managed to say the word, 'you' before stopping.

Huang gave a little laugh and said, "I am actually a girl, who asked you to call me brother Huang? Hurry, come onto the boat."

Guo Jing felt like he was dreaming, he move forward a little and tripped onto the boat. On the other hand, the four demons kept making a whole lot of noise in the background, raising the price of their reward higher.

Huang Rong rowed the boat to the middle of the lake, brought out some dishes and wine and giggled, "And don't you call me sister Huang, call me Rong'er. My dad always calls me that."

Guo Jing suddenly remembered something and said, "I brought some cakes for you." He took out the cakes that Wanyan Kang gave earlier on but because he had carried Wang Chuyi, took care of the latter and ran all around finding medicine that the cakes were already smashed up into little pieces.

Huang Rong saw the smashed up cakes and laughed softly. Guo Jing reddened and said, "It can't be eaten now" and was about to throw the smashed cakes into the water when Huang Rong stretched out her hand and took the cakes from him before saying, "I like to eat it."

Guo Jing was surprised but she had already placed a small piece into her mouth and started eating. After watching her eat a few mouths, his eyes grew red and tears started forming slowly, he didn't understand her actions.

Huang Rong said, "My mother died ever since I was born, no one has ever remember my likes and habits so well before……." And a few tears flowed from her eyes. She took out a clean handkerchief, Guo Jing thought that she was going to dry her eyes but she used it to wrap the smashed cakes instead, and placed it in her pocket, before turning back to him with a smile, "I'll eat it slowly."

Guo Jing did not know much about romantic relationships, but he felt that 'brother Huang's' actions were very special and unique. He asked her, "You said you had something important to tell me, what is it?"

Huang Rong giggled, "I wanted to tell you that I'm not brother Huang but Rong'er, isn't this important?"

Guo Jing smiled and said, "You are so pretty like this, why disguise as a little beggar?"

Huang Rong turned her head slightly and said, "You say I'm pretty?"

Guo Jing replied, "Yes, very beautiful, like the fairy on top of our snow mountain."

Huang Rong laughed and said, "You've seen a fairy?"

Guo Jing said, "Of course not, if I've seen one, how can I still live?"

Huang Rong asked, "Why?"

Guo Jing replied, "The elders in Mongolia always say that whoever sees the fairy would never want to return back to the grasslands again, he would just stay in a daze and freeze to death after a few days."

Huang Rong laughed and asked, "Then do you feel dazed after seeing me?"

Guo Jing reddened and quickly answered, "We are good friends, so it's different."

Huang Rong nodded and said seriously, "I know you sincerely care for me, regardless whether I'm a girl or a guy, pretty or ugly. If I dress up like this, it's not surprising if people are good to me, but you were nice to me even when I dressed up like a little beggar, so you are truly good to me." At this point, Huang Rong was in high spirits and smiled, "I'll sing a tune for you, alright?"

Guo Jing replied, "Can you sing tomorrow instead, we have to get the medicine for Taoist Wang first." With that he related how the story of how Wang Chuyi got injured and how the medicine was all bought up by Wanyan Kang.

Huang Rong replied, "Ah, no wonder you were anxiously going to one medicine shop after another."

Guo Jing thought, "She was following behind me, that's why she knew where I stayed."

He said, "Brother Huang, may I ride your little red horse to buy the medicine?"

Huang seriously said, "Firstly, I am not your brother Huang. Secondly, the horse is yours; do you think that I would actually take it? I just wanted to test you. Thirdly, you may not be able to get the medicine even if you travel to the nearby cities."

Hearing what she said, Guo Jing felt anxious. Huang Rong smiled a little and said, "I am going to sing now, listen well." Huang Rong gently turned her head, rowed the boat and started singing in a crystal clear voice. ( sorry, I can't translate the lyrics)

Guo Jing listened carefully to each and every word. Although he didn't know the meaning, but Huang Rong's voice was gentle and sweet such that he felt like he was in a daze. The beautiful scenery gave him a feeling of warmness, one that he had never felt before.

Huang Rong finished singing and said in a low voice, "This is a song composed by official Xing, which describes the plum flower which blooms after winter, is it good?"

Guo Jing replied, "I don't know all these, but the song sounds very nice. Who is official Xing?"

Huang Rong answered, "Official Xing is Xing Qiji. My father says that he is a good official who loves his people. When the Jins captured the north, and after villains harmed mister Yue, official Xing was the only one left struggling to restore our lost lands. Although Guo Jing often listened to his mother talk about how violent the Jins were, and how they mercilessly kill many Chinese, he grew up in Mongolia and so, did not feel so strongly towards the Jins.

Guo Jing replied, "I have never been in the central plains before, you have to tell me stories slowly another time, the most important thing now is to save Taoist Wang."

Huang Rong said, "Listen to me, let's play a little while more, don't worry.'

Guo Jing replied, "Taoist Wang said that if he doesn't eat the medicine in twelve hours time, he will be crippled!"

Huang Rong retorts, "Let him be crippled then, anyway it's not you or me who will be crippled."

Guo Jing let out an "Ah" sound and jumped up saying, "This…..this……" his face turned furious.

Huang Rong giggled, "Don't worry, I'll make sure that you get the medicine."

Guo Jing heard the confidence in her tone and thought, "She is way smarter than me and besides, I don't have any brilliant ideas, so I should listen to her." So he had no choice but to succumb to her wishes for the time being. They both clapped in laughter when Huang Rong talked about how she tricked the four demons of the yellow river and how she disturbed Hou Tonghai. The colours of white snow, water in the lake and plum flowers were beautiful, Huang Rong slowly stretched out her hand into Guo Jing's and whispered, "I'm not afraid of anything now."

Guo Jing asked, "Why?"

Huang Rong replied, "Even if my father doesn't want me anymore, you will also want me to follow you right?"

Guo Jing answered, "Of course. Rong'er, I…I…like…like being with you."

Huang Rong leaned gently on his chest and Guo Jing felt a sweet scent surround his whole body, surround the whole lake, surround the whole earth, he didn't know whether it was the plum flower scent or was it coming from Huang Rong. The two just held hands silently. After a very very long while, Huang Rong sighed and said, "It's so nice here, such a pity that we have to go."