The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Guo Jing was trying to get a strong foothold for fear that he might be internally injured by this Toad Stance force. Who would have imagined that the tremendous force pushing him down suddenly disappeared without a trace. Fortunately for him that his skill was improved; if not, he wouldn't be able to withstand Ouyang Feng's force which was suddenly getting stronger and suddenly disappeared. Luckily it was similar to the 72 moves of Vacant Fist he learned from Zhou Botong, in which a hard force contained a softness in it. Otherwise, he would be injured just like when he fought Huang Yaoshi at the Cloud Manor, where his hand was caught and broken. Nevertheless, because of this, he lost his balance and was thrown down from the tree head first.

Ouyang Ke fell down right side up, while Guo Jing fell upside down, both men saw the ground was approaching fast. Seeing Guo Jing falling beside him Ouyang Ke had an idea; he stretched his hands toward Guo Jing's legs. He wanted to use Guo Jing as a stepping stone, so he would be able to jump back up while Guo Jing would certainly fall faster to the ground. Or so he thought.

Huang Rong saw Guo Jing's precarious situation and called out, "Aiyo!" But then strangely it was Guo Jing whom she saw jumped back up to the tree, while with a loud crashing sound Ouyang Ke was hitting the ground. Guo Jing landed on a tree branch and was out of breath, panting profusely.

Huang Rong was extremely delighted. She did not see clearly how it happened; how in a critical moment Guo Jing was able to turn defeat into victory, but she was delighted nonetheless and was unable to restrain herself from crying out, "Aiyo!" But these two 'aiyo's carried entirely different emotions.

By that time Ouyang Feng and Hong Qigong have already come down. Hong Qigong was laughing hard, repeatedly uttering, "Wonderful! Wonderful!" Ouyang Feng's face was green from anger. "Qi Xiong," he gloomily said, "Your smart disciple's martial art is so diverse to include even the Mongolian wrestling skill."

Hong Qigong laughed, he said, "I don't know how to wrestle, so it wasn't me who taught him. You can't blame me."

What really happened was: Guo Jing was pushed down by Ouyang Ke, he fell faster down. He saw Ouyang Ke's legs flying up right in front of him. He did not have time to think. In that critical moment he instinctively stretched both arms to grab Ouyang Ke's calves; pulling himself up by twisting his body from the upside-down position to the upright on. It was precisely the wrestling technique the Mongolians practiced.

The Mongolians have trained and perfected their wrestling techniques for generations; they were considered one of the bests. Guo Jing grew up in the Mongolian desert. Before he even learned martial arts from the Six Freaks of Jiangnan he had played and wrestled everyday with Tuolei and his friends. So Mongolian wrestling to him was as natural as eating rice. Otherwise; by nature his was slow, he was falling down, fast; even if he knew Mongolian wrestling technique he would not have enough time to think. It was not like: when falling down and seeing a pair of legs in front of him, he thought, "Oh, a pair of legs, nice! Hey, why don't I use these legs to jump back up there." It happened so fast, that even after he managed to land his feet on the tree branch he still did not know what happened and that he had won against all odds.

Huang Yaoshi slightly shook his head, he thought, "This Guo Jing is a slow-witted kid. This victory is obviously because of sheer luck." He gave his decision, "The first test was won by Guo Xianzhi [Worthy Nephew]. But Feng Xiong please not to worry, you have taught your honorable nephew well. Who knows he will score victories for the second and third tests."

"Then please Yao Xiong present the second test," Ouyang Feng replied.

"The second test will be …" Huang Yaoshi started, but before he could finish Huang Rong had cut him off, "Father, obviously you are one-sided. Just a moment ago you said you would only test their martial arts skill, how come you want to test other subjects? Brother Jing, you might as well admit defeat and leave."

"What do you know?" Huang Yaoshi said, "After reaching certain level of martial art skill, do you still want to fight everyday? Yes, we are martial arts people; but unlike ordinary military people, we don't live on martial arts day by day. We don't amuse ourselves by jousting to find a spouse …" Listening to this part Huang Rong stole a glance toward Guo Jing. Guo Jing was also looking at her. They were thinking of the same thing: Mu Nianci and Yang Kang, who met each other at the capital by 'joust to find a spouse'. In the meantime Huang Yaoshi had continued his speech, "… My second test subject therefore is asking these two Xianzhis to listen to this old man playing a tune on my flute."

Ouyang Ke was ecstatic; he thought, "What did this stupid kid know about wind or string instrument? The victory is mine for sure."

Ouyang Feng on the other hand, was not so sure. He suspected Huang Yaoshi was going to test these two persons' internal energy strength by the flute sound. He knew Guo Jing's level of internal energy to be quite strong; his nephew not necessarily could exceed him. Also, he was afraid his nephew would be internally injured by Huang Yaoshi's flute sound. He said, "Juniors' internal energy cultivation is shallow, I am afraid they won't be able to listen to Yao Xiong's elegant melody. I wonder if Yao Xiong would consider …"

Huang Yaoshi did not give him a chance to finish, "My song is an ordinary one, without any high level of internal energy. Feng Xiong, set your heart in peace." Toward Ouyang Ke and Guo Jing he said, "Xianzhis please take a bamboo stick each; follow my music by tapping it to the rhythm. The one who can follow better will win the second test."

Guo Jing stepped forward and cupped his hands, "Island Master Huang, disciple is very slow and stupid. I know nothing about music; let me admit defeat for the second test."

"Don't be hasty; don't be hasty," Hong Qigong intervened, "In the worst case you will lose, why don't you try? Are you afraid that others will laugh at your face?"

Guo Jing thought his master made some sense; seeing Ouyang Ke took a bamboo stick he did the same.

"Qi Xiong, Feng Xiong," Huang Yaoshi smiled, "Younger brother will show off his inability." Lifted the jade flute to his lips he started to blow. This part of his song did not carry any internal energy and it wasn't any different than any ordinary person would play.

Ouyang Ke listened attentively, trying to follow the rhythm, and then he started tapping his bamboo stick correctly. Guo Jing did not have a clue; he held his bamboo stick high in the air but did not dare to tap it. Only after Huang Yaoshi had played about the time it needed to drink a cup of tea, he started to move his stick.

The Ouyangs, uncle and nephew were very smug. They thought that this time victory was guaranteed. Since the third subject would be another literary related, they were ninety percent sure they would win.

Huang Rong was anxious; she lightly tapped her right hand finger to her left knuckles; with the hope Guo Jing would follow. Who would have known that Guo Jing was staring blankly at the sky, lost in thought; obviously he did not see her signal.

Huang Yaoshi kept blowing the flute; Guo Jing raised his hand and struck the bamboo stick right in between two beats of the music. Ouyang Ke stifled his laugh, thinking that this stupid kid always strike on the wrong beat. Guo Jing struck again, still in between the two music beats. He had struck his bamboo stick four times, all were on the wrong places.