The Legend of the Condor Heroes

The soldiers replied, "General has treated us with benevolence as high as the mountain; we won't forget that."

Guo Jing sighed. He raised his hands to say goodbye to the troops, then with the spear in his hand he leaped to the horseback. He was about to move when suddenly the dust rose ahead of him, another group of cavalry came approaching.

Jebeh, Guo Jing, and the troops' expression changed. Jebeh thought, "I have deliberately defied Khan's order by letting Guo Jing go; but if I fight these troops, that would be a blatant rebellion." Yet he did not change his mind, "Guo Jing, go!" he shouted. However, from the incoming army came a loud shout, "Don't hurt the Consort!" Everybody was stunned. They saw the rushing army bore the Fourth Prince's banner.

Amidst the rising cloud of dust Tuolei appeared and arrived in a flash; turned out he was riding Guo Jing's swift little red horse. He held his rein and jumped down from the horseback, anxiously asked, "Anda, are you all right?"

"I am fine," Guo Jing replied, "Master Jebeh is going to take me back to see the Great Khan." He was deliberately protecting Jebeh; so that the Great Khan would not find out the real story.

Toulei cast a sidelong glance toward Jebeh, he said, "Anda, take this little red horse and leave quickly." He also put a bundle on the saddle and continued, "Here is a thousand 'liang' of gold; we brothers will see each other again some other time."

They were both great warriors; in time like this there was no need to say another word. Guo Jing stood up and mounted his little red horse. "Tell Huazheng Meizi [little sister – term of endearment] to take a good care of herself. Tell her to marry another man, just forget about me."

Tuolei heaved a long sigh, "Huazheng Meizi will never agree to marry another. I think she is going to look for you in the south. At that time I will send somebody to escort her."

"No, don't come looking for me," Guo Jing hastily said, "Not to mention the world is big, but even if she can find me, that will only add to our agony."

Tuolei was silent; they looked at each other without saying anything. After half a day finally Tuolei said, "Just go, I will see you off for a while."

Two people rode fast to the south; very soon they have covered more than thirty 'li's. "Anda," Guo Jing said, " 'Even if one sees someone off a thousand 'li's, in the end they must part', you can go back now!"

"Let me see you off some more time," Tuolei answered.

About ten more 'li's later, both men dismounted their horses and said their goodbyes; tears rolling down their cheeks.

Tuolei gazed at Guo Jing's back, which became smaller and smaller; it looked like a dark shadow on the vastness of the desert, finally disappeared on the southern horizon. He stood motionless for a long time, then sadly mounted his horse and headed back north.