The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Clearly he remembered his late martial brother's death wish; that no one from Quan Zhen allowed to learn anything from the manual. Who would have thought that in order to teach Guo Jing he had to recite the text everyday, his hands moved to give a clearer explanation; unexpectedly the manual was ingrained in his mind. Even in his sleep he would dream about the manual; so unconsciously he cultivated his energy based on the text. Basically his martial art was already high; his understanding of martial arts theory was also profound, plus the Nine Yin Manual was created based on Taoist principle, which he had already learned all his life. Unwittingly the manual was interlinked with his own basic knowledge. He did not want to learn the martial art, but it was the martial art which came to him.

He vented off his frustration by shouting loudly, "Bad! It's really bad! This is called once the ghost inhabits your body, you cannot drive it out. I wanted to play a big joke on Brother Guo; who knew that by smashing a big rock the debris hurts your own foot."

He was depressed for half a day and kept knocking his own head. Afterward an idea came to his mind; he peeled off some tree bark and made a rope; then with his teeth he tied his own hands; muttering loudly, "From now on, if I cannot forget the manual completely, I must not resort to violence toward anybody. Even if the Old Heretic Huang chases me, I cannot fight him; so that I won't disobey my martial brother's death wish. Ay, Old Urchin, Old Urchin, you reap what you sow!"

Of course Huang Yaoshi could not guess the reason, he only knew the Old Urchin was naughty and weird, so he simply said, "Old Urchin, this is Brother Ouyang, which I believe you have met, this is …" Before he could finished, Zhou Botong had walked around them all, sniffing here and there; and then he laughed, "This must be the Old Beggar Hong Qigong. I know. He is a good man. Heaven's nets do not miss; my stinky urine only drenched two people, the Eastern Heretic and Western Poison. Ouyang Feng, that time you fought with me, this time I soaked you with my urine; we are even now; nobody suffers any loss."

Ouyang Feng merely smiled but did not say anything. He came close to Huang Yaoshi and whispered in his ear, "Yao Xiong, this man's martial art is amazing; he's already surpassed both you and me. I think it best not to provoke him."

Huang Yaoshi thought, "We haven't seen each other for twenty years, how would you know my martial art is inferior to his?" To Zhou Botong he said, "Botong, I have asked you over and over, I want burn the Nine Yin Manual as a sacrifice in front of my late wife's memorial. As soon as you hand it down to me, I am going to let you go. Where do you think you are going now?"

"I am tired of living on this island," Zhou Botong said, "I am going outside to take a stroll."

"Then where is the manual?" Huang Yaoshi held out his hand.

"I have given that to you earlier," Zhou Botong said.

"Don't talk nonsense," Huang Yaoshi said, "When did you give that to me?"

Zhou Botong smiled, "Guo Jing is your son-in-law, is he not? Then he belongs to you, does he not? I have passed on the Nine Yin Manual from top to bottom to him; isn't that the same as giving the manual to you?"

Guo Jing was surprised, panicky he called out, "Big Brother, this … this … you taught me the Nine Yin Manual?"

Zhou Botong burst out in laughter, "So you think it was a fake?"

Guo Jing was dumbstruck, he looked like a fool. Zhou Botong was so happy. It was exactly for this moment that he was willing to spend innumerable effort to get Guo Jing memorizing the Nine Yin Manual; he wanted to see Guo Jing's expression when he found out that he did learn the Nine Yin Manual in spite of his refusal. Now that his goal was achieved, how could Zhou Botong be not happy as he was crazy?

"The first volume is always in your hands, but where did you get the second volume from?" Huang Yaoshi asked.

"Didn't your good son-in-law deliver it personally to me?" Zhou Botong smiled mischievously.

"I … I did not!" Guo Jing was taken aback.

Huang Yaoshi was really indignant, he thought, "This kid Guo Jing dares to deceive me; that poor blind Mei Chaofeng is still desperately looking for that book." He shot an angry glare toward Guo Jing, but then turned his head toward Zhou Botong, "I want the original manual."

"Brother," Zhou Botong called Guo Jing, "Help me take the book from my pocket." Guo Jing stepped forward and groping inside Zhou Botong's pocket he took a book about half an inch thick. Zhou Botong held out his hand to receive the book, and said to Huang Yaoshi, "This is the first volume manual, the second volume is folded inside it. If you have a skill, come and get it."

"What kind of skill are you talking about?" Huang Yaoshi asked.

Zhou Botong held the book tight in his hands, he leaned his head and said "Wait, let me think …" Half a day later he smiled and said, "Pasting skill!"

"What?" Huang Yaoshi was puzzled.

Zhou Botong lifted up his hands high in the air, and soon the book turned into a million pieces. A flurry of paper pieces flew from his hands like a flock of butterflies flying in all direction, carried by the sea breeze, floating to the east and scattered to the west. It was impossible to track them down.

Huang Yaoshi was startled and angry at the same time; surprised that Zhou's internal energy was so profound. In that short period of time the book has completely gone. Remembering his late wife Huang Yaoshi felt a stab of pain in his heart. "Old Urchin, you played trick on me! Don't ever think of leaving this island alive!" he shouted angrily. Flying forward his palm got very close to Zhou Botong's face.

Zhou Botong moved his body a little bit, like a pendulum he swung to the left and to the right. With a swish, swish sound Huang Yaoshi's palms danced in the air, very close to Zhou Botong's body, but were not able to touch him at all. It was Huang Yaoshi's specialty, the 'luo ying shen jian zhang' [fallen (flower) divine sword palm]; who would have thought that after about twenty stances the palm technique was useless against Zhou Botong.

Huang Yaoshi was puzzled because Zhou Botong did not launch any counterattack at all; while he had used all his strength to compel Zhou Botong to withstand his attack. Suddenly he was alarmed, "I, Huang Yaoshi, how could I fight someone who has both his hands tied up like that?"

Leaping back three steps he called out, "Old Urchin, your legs are healed; I have done something inappropriate to you. Quickly break the rope on your hands, let me fight your Nine Yin Manual martial art."

Zhou Botong looked dismayed, repeatedly he shook his head, "I don't want to lie to you, but I have my own difficulty. This rope in my hand, whatever happens I can't take it out."

"Then let me take it out for you," Huang Yaoshi said, immediately move forward to touch his hands.

"Aiyo! Help! Somebody help me!" Zhou Botong cried out and rolled around on the ground.

Guo Jing was shocked. "Father-in-law!" he called out. He was about to dash forward to block Huang Yaoshi when Hong Qigong held him back. "Don't act foolishly!" he hissed. Guo Jing halted and looked. Zhou Botong was rolling around on the ground; he was very agile. Huang Yaoshi grabbed and kicked but was unable to even touch his body.