The Legend of the Condor Heroes

"What are you going to do then?" Guo Jing lifted his head and asked.

"Little Brother found out today, that my surname is actually 'Yang', the name 'Wanyan' does not have anything to do with me. From now on, I will be called 'Yang Kang'," Wanyan Kang answered.

"Good!" Guo Jing exclaimed. "Finally you are a real man who does not forget your own origin. I am going to Beijing tomorrow to kill Wanyan Honglie. Are you coming with me or not?"

Yang Kang still remembered Wanyan Honglie's kindness in raising him since his childhood; he hesitated for a moment. But seeing Guo Jing's stern expression he hastily answered, "Little Brother will accompany Big Brother to seek revenge."

Guo Jing was delighted. "Good! You know that our late parents had become sworn bothers, and my mother told me that they have made a pact to make us sworn brothers too. What do you say?"

"That is precisely my wish," answered Yang Kang. So they asked each other their age, and turned out Guo Jing was born two months before Yang Kang was. They kneeled in front of Guo Xiaotian's memorial, bowed eight times toward each other and became sworn brothers.

With everything under control, they turned in to take some rest in the Cloud Village. Early the next morning the Six Freaks, Guo Jing and Yang Kang bade farewell to the Village Master Lu and his son. The Village Master presented each guest with generous amount of money as a farewell gift to cover the traveling expense.

Leaving the village Guo Jing said to his six Masters, "Disciple and Brother Yang are going north to kill Wanyan Honglie. I am asking Masters to give me some advice."

"The mid-autumn festival is still weeks away, while we do not have anything pressing to do. I think we'd better accompany you to take care of this important business," Ke Zhen'E said. Zhu Cong and the rest voiced their approval.

"Your kindness toward disciple is as heavy as a mountain. Wanyan Honglie martial art is mediocre. With Brother Yang's help, I am sure killing him will not be a difficult task. For your disciple's sake Masters have left Jiangnan for more than ten years. Now that you are back in your hometown, your disciple doest not dare to trouble Masters for my personal business."

The Six Freaks thought Guo Jing was very reasonable; also, they have seen it with their own eyes how Guo Jing's martial art had improved tremendously. Hence they did not press on and one by one they gave their blessing to him.

Finally Han Xiaoying said, "On the matter of Peach Blossom Island, I don't think you should go." She knew Guo Jing was uprightly honest while that Huang Yaoshi was hot-tempered and strangely cruel. If Guo Jing went to the Peach Blossom Island chances were he would meet some unfortunate events.

"If disciple did not go, wouldn't that mean I break my promise to him?" Guo Jing asked.

"When dealing with a monster we don't have to have a good faith," Yang Kang countered. "Big Brother, I think you adhere too rigidly to old-fashioned value and tradition."

Ke Zhen'E snorted and said, "Jing'er, as a chivalrous hero we have to keep what we say. Today is the fifth day of the sixth month, we will meet again on the first day of the seventh month at the 'zui xian lou' [drunken deity wine shop – actually, 'lou' means a building with more than one story] at Jiaxing [in modern day Zhejiang], then we will go to Peach Blossom Island together. Now you'd better rush to Beijing to seek revenge, riding your red horse. You don't have to always be with your younger brother. If you can achieve your goal, that would be great. If not, we can always look for Quan Zhen Sect's priests to help us kill the traitor. Their righteousness is as heavy as the mountain, they certainly will not turn down our request."

Guo Jing could comprehend his First Master's love toward him by willing to go with him in dangerous situation. His heart was overwhelmed and he kneeled and kowtowed respectfully.

"Your younger brother came from a rich and honorable family, you must be careful," Nan Xiren reminded him. Guo Jing did not understand, he only looked at his master. Han Xiaoying smiled, "You don't understand your Fourth Master's words. It's OK. You will understand later. Just be careful at all times," she said. "Yes," Guo Jing said.

Zhu Cong smiled, "Huang Yaoshi's daughter is actually very different from her father," he said. "We'd better not provoke her anymore, wouldn't we, Third Brother?"

Han Baoju twitched his moustache. "This little brat scolded me short as a winter melon, she thinks herself pretty?" Speaking thus he could not restrain his smile.

Guo Jing knew his masters no longer bear any grudge toward Huang Rong; he was delighted. But when he remembered her whereabouts were unknown, he couldn't help but feeling depressed.

"Jing'er," Quan Jinfa said, "The sooner you leave, the sooner you will be back. We will wait patiently in Jiaxing." With that the Six Freaks of Jiangnan headed south.

Guo Jing held his red horse's rein, following his masters with his eyes until he no longer could see them. Then he turned his head toward Yang Kang. "My 'xiandie' [lit. worthy younger brother], this red horse of mine is extremely fast; we can go to Beijing and back within ten days. What do you say I accompany you spending several days looking around?" Yang Kang agreed. Two young men mounted the horse and walked slowly to the north.

Yang Kang sighed with a heavy feeling. Only a month ago he lived a luxurious life. He came to Jiangnan with a great company as a special emissary of the Great Jin, with all the power and prestige that came with it. But now? He was traveling back to the capital quietly, with nobody pampered him along the way. It was like he was having a pleasant dream and suddenly woke up to the harsh reality of life. Even Guo Jing would not necessarily take him along to kill Wanyan Honglie; which made him more distressed. He contemplated on giving a warning to Wanyan Honglie, but could not make up his mind about it.

Guo Jing noticed his grim expression, but thought that he was mourning the death of his parents, so Guo Jing tried to console him.

Around noon they arrived in Li Yang and straightway tried to find a restaurant for some refreshments. Out of the blue somebody who looked like a restaurant worker came approaching. "Are you two gentlemen Mr. Guo and Mr. Yang?" he bowed and asked, smiling widely. "The table is ready, please come with me to dine."

Guo Jing and Yang Kang were baffled. "How did you know us?" Yang Kang asked.

"Earlier a guest arrived and asked us to prepare a meal for you. I was even given a detailed description on how Mr. Guo and Mr. Yang look," he said, still with a smile on his face. He then took over the horses' reins and led them to the stable.

Yang Kang snorted and cynically said, "The Cloud Village Master Lu is so kind." They entered the restaurant and sat down. Turned out the food was exquisite, the wine was superb. Guo Jing even found some chicken that he liked very much. They ate to their hearts' content and were about to pay the bill; but the restaurant worker simply smiled and said, "No need to pay gentlemen, everything has been taken care of." Yang Kang laughed and tipped him generously. He thanked them profusely and walked them out the restaurant, bowing and smiling all the time.

Guo Jing praised the Village Master Lu's generosity. Yang Kang however, still bore a grudge because he was captured and held prisoner. "I assume he uses this trick to befriend the Jianghu people; no wonder he can be the leader of the Lake Tai area," he said.