The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Genghis Khan slightly squinted and looked at the pearls; those were big pearls, about the size of a fingertip each, surrounding a giant pearl in the middle of the tray. Just one pearl would worth a fortune, let alone a thousand of them. Except for the giant pearl in the middle, the rest of them were roughly of the same size. The pearls were gleaming brilliantly under the sun light; there was a layer of rainbow-like light above the jade tray.

On a normal day Genghis Khan would love this kind of gift; but that particular day he only raised his eyebrows and to his personal guard said, "Take it." The personal guard took the jade tray.

Seeing the Great Khan accepted the gift, the emissary's joy was unbounded. He said, "The Great Khan has accepted our humble gift; our lowly nation, from the ruler to the people, are very grateful."

Genghis Khan was indignant, "Who said I accept your gift? I am going to dispatch my army to attack the Jin dogs left and right. Seize him!" His personal guards immediately surrounded the emissary and his men.

"Even if there are a thousand more pearls, it is still difficult for me to live longer!" Genghis Khan sighed. He took the jade tray from his guard and threw everything high in the air; the pearls scattered everywhere. Everybody was startled.

Many of these pearls were later picked up by the Mongolian soldiers and people; but many more were still hidden among the tall grass that hundreds of years later lucky herdsmen would find them.

Genghis Khan was indifferent, he returned to his tent.

That evening just before dusk he told Guo Jing to accompany him for a stroll along the prairie. Two people on horseback had ridden for about a dozen of 'li's when they heard the cry of eagles high above their heads. They looked up and saw Guo Jing's pair of eagles circling in the air. Genghis Khan fetched his iron bow and aimed the arrow toward the female eagle.

"Great Khan, don't shoot!" Guo Jing cried out in alarm.

Although Genghis Khan was feeble, his hand was still quick; by the time Guo Jing cried, the arrow had already left the bow. Guo Jing secretly groaned, he was fully aware that Genghis Khan had an outstanding physical strength. Once the arrow left his bow his beloved eagle would be killed for sure. Who would have thought that the eagle was able to skew itself and sweep its wing to strike the arrow. The male eagle was angry, it let out a long cry and dived to strike Genghis Khan's head.

"Eagle, you want to die?" Guo Jing barked and raised his whip to hit the male eagle. The male eagle saw its master was angry flew back to the sky, letting out a loud cry a pair of eagles soared to the sky.

Genghis Khan was dejected, he threw his bow and arrow to the ground and sadly said, "For dozens of years this is the first time I could not shoot an eagle down; I guess my time is drawing really near."

Gou Jing wanted to console him but actually he did not know anything good to say. Suddenly Genghis Khan kicked his legs and his horse sped to the north. Guo Jing was afraid he would be lost, so he urged his horse to follow. The little red horse ran like the wind and in a blink of an eye they caught up with the Great Khan.

Genghis Khan held his rein; looking at all direction he suddenly said, "Jing'er, I built this great country; no other dynasty, past or future, can match its splendor. It will take one full year to travel from the center of my kingdom to the outermost part of it, east, west, south and north. Tell me, among the heroes of the world, who achieved more than I do?"

Guo Jing hesitated a moment before answering, "Great Khan's accomplishment is exceptional, no one can match it since time immemorial. However, for Great Khan one person to achieve this level of awe-inspiring power, I don't know how many bones have been piled up, how many orphans and widows out there, and how many tears have been shed?"

Genghis Khan's eyebrows were raised. He lifted his horsewhip high, ready to strike Guo Jing's head; but seeing Guo Jing imposingly looking at him without any trace of fear in his eyes, his whip stopped midair. He roared, "What did you say?"

Guo Jing said in his heart, "After today the days for me to say goodbye to the Great Khan are numbered; even if I provoke him to anger I have to make him understand what's in my heart." Therefore, fearlessly he said, "Great Khan, you raised me up and taught me, yet you also caused my mother's tragic death. This is personal grudge and gratitude; let us not talk about it. I only want to ask you: when somebody died and buried, how much land would he occupy?"

Genghis Khan was startled, but he answered anyway, "About this big," he made a circle with his whip.

Guo Jing said, "That's right. Then you killed so many people, shed so much blood, and invaded so many countries; in the end, what's the use of all that?"

Genghis Khan was silent.

"Are you saying that in all my life I did not do a single good deed?" Genghis Khan asked.

"Good deeds, certainly there are many, but you attacked the south and conquered the west, piling dead bodies like a mountain. Whether that act could be considered right or wrong, might be very difficult to say," Guo Jing answered. His natural disposition was simple and straightforward, he said what was in his heart.

All of his life Genghis Khan was a conceited man, nobody dared to tell him anything. This time he was scolded by a youngster, worse yet, he found it difficult to refute what Guo Jing had said. He looked back to his past, also looked around him on the horseback. He felt something is suddenly taken away from him. Half a day later, 'wah!' he spurted fresh blood to the ground.

Guo Jing was scared, he realized his tongue had been too sharp; busily he held out his hand to support the Khan and said, "Great Khan, let's go back and rest. I have been too bold and affronted you, I beg for your forgiveness."

Genghis Khan gave a slight wry smile, his face was pale like a yellow wax, he sighed, "Among the people around me, there is none who is as bold as you are, dare to tell me what you really think in your heart." Immediately his eyebrows were raised, put an arrogant face and proudly said, "I have wandered back and fro over the earth, crushing countless countries, yet in your opinion I can't be counted as a hero? Hey! It truly is childish talk!" He raised his whip and struck his horse's back, speeding back to his tent.

That very evening Genghis Khan collapsed inside his Golden Tent. Just before he died he mumbled, "Hero … hero …" Apparently he had been pondering in his heart what Guo Jing had said earlier.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong paid their final respect to the Great Khan; and after bidding Tuolei farewell, they headed south that very same day.