The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Huang Rong shook her head in dismay, "My stupid brother does not understand anything about music," she thought, "Father shouldn't have tested him." Having had this thought, she racked her brain, trying to find a way to disrupt the test. But when she turned her gaze toward her father she was surprised; her father showed astonishment in his face. She heard Guo Jing tapped several more times; the flute sound suddenly became a little bit sluggish, but it went back to its original tempo immediately.

Guo Jing kept tapping his bamboo stick, always off-tempo: sometimes faster, sometimes slower; sometimes he drove the tempo faster, sometimes he dragged the tempo slower. On several occasion the music from the flute almost could not hold its steady rhythm and was almost dragged to follow the bamboo stick's erratic tempo. Huang Yaoshi was not the only one who was astounded, Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng also felt something strange was going on.

Actually Guo Jing remembered listening to the battle among three people earlier: the flute, the zither and the whistle. He noticed that the sounds were fighting each other systematically, like battle strategy in a war. He did not have the slightest degree of comprehension toward music theory, but listening to Huang Yaoshi's flute he wanted to try to battle that sound; thus he struck the bamboo erratically to disrupt the melody.

He tapped the bamboo stick against an old bamboo tree, creating a loud 'bonk, bonk' sound. The sound made Huang Yaoshi felt like he was inside a hot furnace and the fire was glowing white, forcing the flute to surrender and follow the erratic tempo of the bamboo.

Huang Yaoshi's spirit was roused; he thought that this kid unexpectedly possessed this kind of ability. The flute sound changed again, this time it turned faster and slower seemingly having infinite variations. Ouyang Ke only stopped to listen for a moment, but he could not resist lifting his bamboo stick and brandishing it erratically in the air. Ouyang Feng heaved a sigh and quickly pulled his nephew hand, pressing the main artery on his wrist. Then he took out a silk handkerchief, torn it into two parts and stopped Ouyang Ke's ears. After a while Ouyang Ke started to calm down and Ouyang Feng let his hand go.

Since her childhood Huang Rong had used to listen to her father's 'jade-colored tidal wave song'; once Huang Yaoshi even explained in detail every variation there was. Their minds, father and daughter's were like one; so this song did not affect her at all, but she was fully aware that her father's flute carried an enormous supernatural power; therefore, she worried that Guo Jing would not able to defend himself.

This song simulated the vastness of the ocean with its thousands of miles waves, coming slowly from afar, then come crashing down the shores. The wave was foamy white, high as a mountain; but in the tide the fish leaped and the whale floated; while above the water seagulls flew. A moment later the water turned wild, like a flock of devils were stirring it up; the weather turned cold, with icebergs came floating by. Another moment it turned hot, extremely hot that the sea was rippling and bubbling like boiling water. The next moment, just as quick, the sea became calm and the surface was smooth as a mirror. The water flowed strongly, yet quietly, but beneath the surface there laid a very strong current threatening those who unwittingly brave enough to enter and challenge its power. Such was the complexities of the song.

Guo Jing sat cross-legged on the ground, he was exerting the Quan Zhen Sect's internal energy to suppress his turmoil heart and refresh his spirit while resisting the temptation of the flute sound; at the same time he kept tapping the bamboo stick disrupting the flute sound.

When Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng were battling each other with sound earlier, they were on offensive and defensive alternately. They had to guard their own heart and mind while looking for an opportunity to launch a counterattack, trying to subdue the other's hearts and minds. Guo Jing's internal energy was far inferior to those three; he was only able to put on a strong defensive line, without being able to launch a counterattack; but Huang Yaoshi was also not able to penetrate his defense either.

After half a day, the volume of the flute gradually decreased, make it difficult to be heard. Guo Jing stopped the bamboo tapping to listen. Unexpectedly to him, this was the moment Huang Yaoshi was waiting for; the softer the sound, the stronger the energy it carried. Because Guo Jing was listening attentively, his heart began to follow the beat of the flute. If it happened to other people, they would fell into the trap and would not be able to escape; but Guo Jing was different. He had learned the left/right mutual hands combat; he was capable of dividing his mind. So he used his left hand to take the shoe from his left foot to knock on the bamboo. "Knock! Knock! Knock!" again, disrupting the flute sound.

Huang Yaoshi was startled, "This kid possesses some extraordinary skills, truly cannot be underestimated." He started to walk around according to the Eight Diagram while his mouth continued blowing.

Both of Guo Jing's hands were striking the bamboo pole in an erratic tempo incongruous with the flute rhythm. These two hands of his were like two people joined forces to defend against Huang Yaoshi's attack. "Bonk, bonk, bonk! Knock, knock, knock!" His defensive power was doubled.

Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng were quietly focusing their own attention and energy to guard against the internal energy battle between these two people. Even though one party was only on the defensive, but they did not dare to carelessly ignore the offensive energy from the flute.

The flute sound was suddenly turning high and low; ever changing, strange yet wonderful. Suddenly Guo Jing felt a burst of cold air flying in, carried by the flute sound. He felt like his body was wrapped by a thick layer of ice, which sent him shivering profusely.

The flute sound gently climbed up the hill, getting more and more intense. Guo Jing felt cold to his bone. He struggled hard to divert his mind into thinking about a burning sun in the sky, or touching an iron exposed to the heat of the day, or holding a burning coal in his hand, or that he was entering a very hot stove; in short, all kinds of heat inducing thought. He succeeded. Huang Yaoshi saw Guo Jing's left side was blue, shivering from the cold, while his right side was red, sweltering from the heat.

Huang Yaoshi was secretly amazed. Once again he changed the flute sound, now the winter had passed, and the summer came around. Guo Jing struggled hard to resist, but his clapping tempo started to follow the flute rhythm. Huang Yaoshi said in his heart, "If this kid keep on resisting like this – even though he is still young, he won't be able to withstand hot and cold successively; he will suffer a severe illness in the future." The flute sound turned graceful, dispersed into the forest, and stopped.

Guo Jing exhaled a long breath, stood up and staggered; nearly fell again to the ground. Only after taking several deep breaths did he manage to steady himself. He knew Huang Yaoshi was showing mercy; so he stepped forward, bowed and thanked him. "Thank you very much for showing mercy, Island Master Huang," he said, "Disciple is very grateful."

Huang Rong noticed Guo Jing's left hand was still holding his shoe; could not stifled her laugh, "Brother Jing, put your shoe back," she said.

"Yes," Guo Jing replied, finally put the shoe back on his left foot.

A thought suddenly came into Huang Yaoshi's mind, "This kid is so young, yet his martial art is actually quite profound. Could it be that he was just pretending to be a fool, but in reality is a very intelligent person? If that's the case, what would hinder me if I want to give my daughter to her?" A faint smile appeared on his face and he said, "You are very good, why do you still call me Island Master Huang?" Obviously he was saying that since Guo Jing had won two out of three tests, then Guo Jing should call him 'Father-in-law'.