The Legend of the Condor Heroes

"Tomorrow," She replied, "Let's talk tomorrow. I'm very tired now and want to sleep"

When Wanyan Kang saw that his mother was not willing to open the door, his suspicions only increased. "I just want to have a few words, then I'll go."

Yang Tiexin knew that Wanyan Kang was intent on coming in, so he went over to the window with the intention of making a quick get away. He tried to push open the shutter, but to his surprise he found that it wouldn't budge. Someone had locked it from the outside! Bao XiRuo was in a panic. She thought she would play for time and keep talking whilst Yang Tiexin found a place to hide. She hurriedly pointed to the wardrobe and motioned for her husband to hide inside. Imagine their surprise when they opened the door and found Guo Jing inside! Bao XiRuo couldn't help but let out a little scream.

When Wanyan Kang heard this he became extremely worried. He thought someone was trying to harm his mother so he started trying to break open the door with his shoulder. There was no time to lose, Guo Jing grabbed Yang TieXin and pulled him into the wardrobe and closed the door just as the wooden bar on the bedroom door gave a loud crack and flew open.

In rushed Wanyan Kang. He saw his mother's face was pale with fear and her cheeks were wet with tears but apart from her, there was no one else in the room.

"Mother, what's wrong? What has been going on?" he asked anxiously.

Bao XiRuo made an effort to compose herself before saying, "Nothing. I just am not feeling well."

Wanyan Kang rushed over to her and said, "Mother, I promise I wont doing anything stupid again. Please don't be worried. I've been a bad son to make you so worried."

"OK." She said in a comforting way, "Now I'm feeling so tired. Please let me go to bed. I'm very tired and want to sleep."

But Wanyan Kang heard a waver in her voice and asked, "Mother, are you sure that no one has been here recently?"

"Who?" she asked.

"Just recently a couple of bandits entered the palace."

"Really?" She replied. "You really should be going off to bed. Don't let these things concern you."

Wanyan Kang said, "Yeah, I'm sure the guards, even though their a useless bunch, will be able to take care of them. You need not worry. Please go and have some rest."

He was just on the point of leaving when he noticed a slip of a man's robe sticking out from a crack in the wardrobe door. Now he knew that something strange was really going on. He didn't say anything but instead sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea which he began to drink slowly whilst he mulled over what to do. "In the wardrobe a man is hiding, but I don't know if my mother knows this or not."

He took a few more sips of tea before standing up and slowly walking over to the wall where the spear was hanging. "Mother, what do you think of your son's spear skill that your saw earlier today."

"I have already told you that I don't like you using your skills to bully other people." Bao XiRuo said in a disapproving tone.

Wanyan Kang replied in a hurt tone, "Bully people? I was merely competing one to one in a fair competition with that stupid boy." He then grabbed the spear off the wall and playfully try a few strokes. The red tassel on the spear danced about as he executed the 'Rising Phoenix Soaring Dragon' strike aiming straight at the wardrobe. If this stroke went through the wardrobe, Yang TieXin and Guo Jing, who were not able to see what was happening, would have no hope of fending off the attack. They would be dead for certain. Seeing this Bao XiRuo immediately fainted!

Wanyan Kang stopped short with his strike. Seeing his mother's reaction he immediately knew that she knew about the man hiding in the wardrobe. Propping the spear down beside him, he lifted up his mother, but watched the wardrobe for any signs of movement all the time.

Slowly Bao XiRuo regained consciousness and when she saw the wardrobe still intact with no spear hole she immediately felt immense relief. Having been through so many extreme highs and lows of emotion over the past hour she felt very weak all over.

Wanyan Kang was very angry, "Mother, am I your son or not?" he demanded.

"Of course you are my son. Why do you ask?"

"Well then, why do you keep so many things secret from me?"

Bao XiRuo thought to herself, "I must tell him about today's events and let him be reunited with his true father. After that I will take my life since I have lost my chastity and thus deeply wronged my husband. This life I can never be reunited with my husband TieXin…" At this thought she again burst into tears which now flowed freely.

When Wanyan Kang saw how his mother was acting so strangely today he didn't know what to think. Finally Bao XiRuo said, "Please take a seat and listen to what I have to say very carefully."

Wanyan Kang sat down as told but he stayed near the spear and continued to watch the wardrobe.

Bao XiRuo asked, "Do you see the four characters written on the spear?"

"When I was a small boy I asked you about those characters, but you refused to tell me what 'Yang Tie Xin' meant."

"Well now I am going to tell you what they mean."

Yang TieXin hiding in the wardrobe could clearly hear every word that was being said between mother and son. Having an impulsive nature he thought to himself, "She is a Prince's Consort now. How could she possibly want to live with me again in a shabby hut in the wilds as a village wife? She is about to leak out my identity, could she actually be planning to have her son kill me?"

He heard her continue, "This spear is originally from a place call Ox Village in JiangNan near the Song city of LinAn(??) I sent men to journey far away to fetch this for me. That plough, this table, lamp, bed, wardrobe, everything in this room has been brought here from Ox Village."

Wanyan Kang interrupted, "I really don't understand why you insist on living in the old shabby shack. I can get you the most beautiful furnishings but you always refuse!"

"You say that this place is a shabby shack. But to me it is better than the most intricately decorated palace! Child, you are not fortunate. You have never lived with your true mother and father in such a shabby place."

When Yang TieXin heard this he felt a sudden wave of emotion and could not keep himself from shedding tears.

Wanyan Kang laughed, "Mother, the more you talk the more strange you become. How can father possibly live in this place?"

Bao XiRuo sighed, "Such a pity he wandered all over the country for eighteen years, living amongst the rivers and lakes. If he could have just lived here for half a day that would be more than comfortable enough for him." (??Not sure if I have the correct translation here??)

When Wanyan Kang heard this he opened his eyes wide and asked in a trembling voice, "Mother, what are you saying?"

Bao XiRuo asked in a sharp voice, "Who do you think your real father is?"

Wanyan Kang said mystified, "My father is the great Jin Prince Zhao. Mother, why are you asking me this?"