The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Ouyang Feng received Guo Jing's attack head-on, thinking that he was already familiar with this '18-Dragon Subduing Palms'. Besides, Guo Jing was Hong Qigong's disciple, so his strength should be a lot less than Hong Qigong. Hence, he did not put too much energy on his defense. But unexpectedly when their palms met he was shaken. If his internal energy was not strong enough, he would be seriously injured. He was being careless and nearly lost in Guo Jing's hand. He was shocked, "Perhaps this kid will already catch up with me before I grow old and lose my strength" he thought. Quickly he sent his left palm out.

Guo Jing again leaned sideways to evade, then returned the attack. This time Ouyang Feng did not dare to take it head on, he flicked his hand to redirect Guo Jing's palm. Guo Jing did not know Ouyang Feng's real intention, he thought Ouyang Feng simply parried his attack, who would have thought that inside that defensive move there was a hidden attack; Guo Jing felt a strong force surging toward his face, there was not enough time to evade, so he was forced to stretch out his right palm to block.

Speaking about internal energy strength, Guo Jing was still one level inferior to Ouyang Feng. The current situation was similar to the day at the imperial palace in Lin'an, inside the cave behind the waterfall; although Guo Jing would be able to hold his ground for a while, but in the end he would suffer a heavy injury or even death.

Ouyang Feng's movement resembled a gourd, enticing the opponent to enter; which Guo Jing did. Ouyang Feng was delighted, but suddenly sensed Guo Jing pulled his right palm slightly, like he was losing his strength. Ouyang Feng sent more force to his palm, pressing harder; who would have thought that Guo Jing's palm slid a little bit and thus avoid being crushed.

Ouyang Feng grunted ferociously, sending all his strength to his palm, thinking, "Today is the day you are going to die."

Seeing the opponent's fingertip swept to his chest, Guo Jing parried by sweeping his left palm horizontally while his right-hand index finger stretched out and fiercely went to Ouyang Feng's 'tai yang' [sun] acupoint. It was the 'Solitary Yang Finger' he saw Reverend Yideng used. However, what he learned was superficial, he only saw the form, but did not know the variations within. In this critical moment instinctively he used mutual hands combat technique.

'Solitary Yang Finger' was the 'Toad Stance's adversary, how could Ouyang Feng not startled when he saw it? He leaped backward to elude, shouted angrily, "Old Duan Zhixing wants to give me a hard time?"

Unfortunately Guo Jing's finger technique was not the real 'Solitary Yang Finger', hence it could not break the Toad Stance; but Ouyang Feng was scared away, without looking clearly he jumped back in shock. Only afterwards did he remember that the Solitary Yang Finger had an infinite variations; how could after launching an attack Guo Jing retracted his finger? Hence he knew Guo Jing had not learned it in its entirety. Without waiting for Guo Jing to launch the next stance both of his palms, one upward the other downward, one attack the other guarded, moved toward Guo Jing. This attack was so swift that Guo Jing did not have time to think, he simply jumped back to escape. 'Crack!' the small table behind him was smashed by the Western Poison's palms.

Since he was gaining an upper hand, Ouyang Feng continued his attack by successively sending his palms; but suddenly he felt a gust of wind coming from behind, somebody attacked him. Without turning around he sent his left foot kicking backward. Turned out the attacker was also using his leg, so two legs collided, the attacker was thrown backward; luckily his bone was not broken, it looked like he had anticipated Ouyang Feng's counterattack.

Ouyang Feng turned his head around only to see three old beggars standing on the tent's entrance, they were the Beggar Clan's three elders, Lu, Jian and Liang. Lu Youjiao swiftly moved toward Jian and Liang Zhanglao [Elders], then interlinked his arms with theirs. It was the Beggar Clan's technique of combining power to fight a superior enemy using the-weak-subdue-the-strong method. During the Beggar Clan general assembly at Mount Jun to elect the new Bangzhu [Clan Leader] the other day, the Beggar Clan disciples had formed a human wall, rendering Guo Jing and Huang Rong helpless against them.

Ouyang Feng had never fought these three people, but from his first contact with Lu Youjiao's leg he knew that Lu's internal energy was not weak. The other two beggars looked not much different. If he fight Guo Jing one on one, he was certain he would win; but with the addition of these three stinky beggars he knew things would not end too good for him. He laughed a big laugh and said, "Dumb kid, your martial art has improved tremendously."

He bent his legs and sat on the carpet, totally ignoring Lu Youjiao and the other two beggars. "What kind of agreement you want to make? Let me hear it," he said.

"You want Miss Huang to explain the Nine Yin Manual to you," Guo Jing said, "Whether she is willing to do that or not, it is entirely up to her; you must not harm even a single strand of her hair."

Ouyang Feng laughed, "If she is willing, of course I won't want to harm her in any way. Do you think it is easy to deal with the Old Heretic Huang?" he said, "But if she is not willing, how can it be that I can't use a little bit of persuasion?"

Guo Jing shook his head, "No, you can't."

"Well, you want me to agree to this, what is there for me?" Ouyang Feng asked.

"From now on, if you fall into my hand, I will spare your life three times," Guo Jing replied.

Ouyang Feng stood up, letting out a long laughter. His laugh was supported by a strong internal energy; it traveled far into the prairie. The horses were disturbed, they neighed and made commotion.

Guo Jing's gaze pierced Ouyang Feng's eyes, with a low voice he said, "This is not funny, and you know it. There will come a day you will fall into my hand."

Although he was laughing Ouyang Feng was actually scared. He realized this kid knew the secret of the Nine Yin Manual, his martial art was improving by leaps and bounds; he really must not underestimate him. While his mouth was laughing, his mind had made a decision. "I, Ouyang Feng, am going to ask you, a stinky kid, for mercy? All right, let's just wait and see," he said with a smile.

Guo Jing extended his hand and said, "Once a gentleman said a word."

Ouyang Feng smiled and replied, "Like a fast horse getting a whip." He also extended his hand and patted Guo Jing's hand three times. This was the way the people of Song Dynasty sealed their agreement; whoever broke it would be despised and disgraced for the rest of his life.

After sealing their agreement Ouyang Feng was about to interrogate Guo Jing on Huang Rong's whereabouts some more, but suddenly with the corner of his eyes he caught a shadow moving outside the tent. That shadow was very swift; Ouyang Feng's heart was stirred, quickly he went out the tent, but did not see anyone. He turned his head and said, "Within ten days I am going to visit you again. We'll see whether you will spare my life, or will I spare yours?" With a loud laughter he moved swiftly, and a sort moment later his laughter was heard dozens of 'zhang's away.

Lu, Jian and Liang three elders looked at each other in astonishment, they thought, "This man's martial art is really high. He is an extraordinary character, truly in par with our Hong Bangzhu."