The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Guo Jing only stared at her, did not say even half a word. After a long time he opened his mouth, "Rong'er."

"Mmm?" Huang Rong answered.

Guo Jing was extremely joyful; he called again, "Rong'er."

Huang Rong smiled, "Haven't you called me enough?" she asked, "These past few days, even though I was not with you, haven't you called me dozens of times every day?"

"How did you know?" Guo Jing asked.

Huang Rong smiled again, "You could not see me, but actually I saw you quite often."

"You are always in our army, how come you did not let me see you?" Guo Jing asked.

"You still have a face to ask me?" Huang Rong was angry. "Once you found out I am alive and well, aren't you going to marry that Princess Huazheng? I'd rather not let you know my whereabouts. Do you think I am dumb?"

As soon as he heard she mentioned the name 'Huazheng' Guo Jing's delight was gone; his face looked so depressed that Huang Rong quickly looked around and said, "That crystal palace is so beautiful, let us go inside and find someplace to sit and chat."

Guo Jing followed her gaze and saw a bulk solid ice resembling a cavern; under the dim moonlight it glowed beautifully. It did look like a big crystal block carved into a palace. Two people walked hand in hand entering the cave, and then found someplace to sit on.

"Speaking about how you treated me on the Peach Blossom Island, tell me, should I forgive you?" Huang Rong said.

Guo Jing stood up and said, "Rong'er, let me kowtow to you a hundred times to apologize." He was serious, immediately knelt down and started kowtowing.

Huang Rong sweetly smiled, held out her hands to stand him up. "Let it be. If I haven't forgiven you, I wouldn't want to crawl to this peak even if you chop Lu Youjiao's head a hundred times!"

Guo Jing was really happy, "Rong'er, you are really good."

"What are you talking about good or not good?" Huang Rong said, "Originally I thought you wholeheartedly wanted to avenge your masters, certainly you don't have the least of me in your heart; naturally I was really angry! Later on I learned about how you strike an agreement with Ouyang Feng; you are willing to spare his life three times for my sake. Only then did I know that you still have me in your heart."

Guo Jing shook his head, "I can't believe it's only now that you know my heart."

Huang Rong pursed her lips and smiled, "Did you see what I am wearing?" she asked.

Thus far Guo Jing's eyes only looked at Huang Rong's face; only after Huang Rong mentioned it that he turned his gaze to her clothes. Turned out she was wearing the black sable fur coat that he gave her when they first met at Zhangjiakou [Kalgan?]. His heart was moved, he held out his hand and tightly hold Huang Rong's hand.

Two people sat leaning to each other for a moment. Finally Guo Jing broke the silence, "Rong'er, Da Shifu [First Master] said that you were captured by Ouyang Feng at the Temple of the Iron Spear; how did you manage to escape from his hand?"

Huang Rong sighed. "I feel sorry for Lu Shige's [Martial (older) Brother] nice Cloud Village. The Old Poison wanted me to explain the Nine Yin Manual for him. I said the explanation is not difficult, but I needed a good and quiet place. The Old Poison said if that was the case, we would find some secluded temple. I said Buddhist monks are disgusting, I don't like eating vegetarian food. The Old Poison then asked what I wanted. I said nearby Lake Tai there was a place called the Cloud Village; the scenery is beautiful, the food and wine are superb. The only thing is that the village master is my friend; it made him rather suspicious."

"That's right," Guo Jing said, "Did he decide not to go?"

"No, he is arrogant," Huang Rong said, "He is never afraid of other people. The more I told him, the more he wanted to go. He said no matter how many friends I have, the Old Poison would face them all. When we arrived at the Cloud Village, actually Lu Shige father and son were not home; they went north of the river to the city of Baoying, to visit their in-laws, Cheng Da Xiaojie's [Eldest Miss Cheng] family. You know that the Zhuangzhu [Village Master] had learned building technique from my father according to the 'wu xing ba gua' [five ways eight diagram]. As soon as the Old Poison stepped into the village, he felt something was not right. He wanted to pull me out of there, but I entered to the east and turned to the west, very soon he lost my track. Hard as he tried, he could not find me, and in his anger he burned the Cloud Village down."

"Ah!" Guo Jing gasped, "I did stop by the Cloud Village looking for you, but I found it in rubble. Turned out it was the Old Poison's doing."

"I knew he was going to destroy the village," Huang Rong said, "So I warned everybody to get out. Although he could not catch me, the Old Poison is really evil and cruel. He guarded the way toward the Peach Blossom Island, hoping to catch me there. Several times I was nearly caught. Afterwards I ran to the north, toward the Mongolian border, and he followed. 'Sha gege' [dumb big brother], luckily you are dumb. If you are as smart as the Old Poison, you two will surround me from both directions. I may not know where to hide."

Guo Jing simply blushed and smiled stupidly.

"But finally you are getting smarter, you knew how to push Lu Youjiao to think of something," Huang Rong said.

"Rong'er, it was you who taught me," Guo Jing said.

Huang Rong was astonished, "I taught you?"

"You taught me in a dream," Guo Jing replied. Then he told her the dream he had the other night.

This time Huang Rong did not laugh at him, in fact, her heart was moved. She said quietly, "The people of ancient times used to say that perfect honesty and sincerity could open up metal and stone. You think about me and miss me this much; I should've let you see me sooner."

"Rong'er," Guo Jing said, "Later on you will never leave me forever, won't that be good?"

Huang Rong swept her gaze around the marvelous structures cluttered on the peak. "Jing Gege, I am cold," she suddenly said.

Guo Jing hastily took his own fur coat off and wrapped it on Huang Rong's body. "Let us go down," he said.

"All right," Huang Rong said, "We'll come back here tomorrow night. I am going to explain the Nine Yin Manual in detail for you."

Guo Jing was astounded, "What?" he asked.

Huang Rong's right hand was still holding Guo Jing's left hand; she squeezed her hand and said, "My father has translated the last part of the manual, where the sentences were jumbled. I'll explain everything to you tomorrow night."

"This Sanskrit part is obviously translated by Reverend Yideng," Guo Jing thought, "Why did she say it was his father?" He was full of doubts, was about to ask again when Huang Rong squeezed his hand one more time. He knew there must be a reason, so he agreed without asking anymore questions. Two people went down the peak.

Once they were in his tent, Huang Rong whispered in his ear, "Ouyang Feng also climbed the 'bald wooden peak', he hid behind us as we speak, secretly listening to us."