The Legend of the Condor Heroes

"It is master Jebe who taught me."

"The master is Jebe," said Temujin while laughing, "the disciple is also jebe.

"Father," Tolui said, wanting to help his sworn brother, "you promised a reward to the one that could bring an eagle down. My anda killed two of them with one shot. What reward will you grant him?"

"Whatever he wants," answered Temujin still smiling. "Guo Jing, what do you want?"

"Is it true?" insisted Tolui, delighted. "What ever he wants?"

"Do I have the habit of lying… even to children?"

During all these years, Guo Jing had lived under the Khan's protection. Everyone in the tribe liked him for his simplicity and his kindness, and no one rejected him even though he was Chinese. Seeing the Khan in such a good mood all had turned towards the young man, hoping that he would get a good reward.

"The Khan is so good to me," said Guo Jing, "and my mother has everything that she needs, you don't need to trouble yourself giving me a reward…"

"That is a good example of filial piety," Temujin said. "You always think about your mother first… But for yourself, what do you wish? Speak without fear."

Guo Jing thought an instant, and then knelt before Temujin. "I don't want anything for me, but I have a wish for someone else."

"What is it?" asked Temujin.

"Dukhsh, the son of Senggum, is cruel and mean. If Hua Zheng marries him, she will be very unhappy. I implore the Khan to not give her in marriage to that dishonorable man."

Temujin was disconcerted at first, but then exploded in laughter. "These are indeed the wishes of a child! How could this be possible? I am going to give you a very precious object." From his belt he removed a dagger which he handed to Guo Jing. All the officers displayed their admiration and appreciation noisily; it was Temujin's favored weapon with which he had killed innumerable enemies. If he had not made a solemn promise, he would never have parted with it. "Take my golden dagger," Temujin said, "and kill some enemies for me."

"I will," Guo Jing answered. Guo Jing thanked him and took the dagger. He had often seen it on the Khan's belt, but it was the first time that he examined it closely. The girdle was of pure gold, and the end of the handle was decorated with the grinning head of a tiger also in gold.

Hua Zheng, exploding in sobs, bounded onto her horse and left at full speed. Temujin had a hard heart, but he could not stop sighing while thinking of his daughter's pain. He then took the eagles to the camp, followed by his officers and soldiers.

After the crowd dispersed, Guo Jing drew the dagger and felt the coldness of the blade. He had the impression he could see traces of blood on it. It was a short massive weapon, and it impressed him because it had killed many people! He moved it about for a moment and then put it back in its sheath, which he attached to his belt. Then he drew his sword and started practicing the 'Sword of the Yue Maiden' again. In spite of all his efforts, he didn't succeed in executing the movements of 'Branch Hits the White Gorilla' correctly. He either didn't jump sufficiently high or he didn't have the time to make the turns. The more frustrated he got, the less he controlled his breathing; the result was catastrophic and he was sweating heavily. Suddenly, he heard a galloping horse; it was Hua Zheng coming back.

She stopped not far from him, got off the horse and lay down on the grass with her chin on her hand, to watch Guo Jing train. Seeing that he seemed to be suffering a lot, she shouted to him, "Stop, rest for a while."

"Don't disturb me," Guo Jing retorted, "I don't have the time to chat with you."

Hua Zheng didn't say anything else, but observed him while smiling. Then, she took a handkerchief from her pocket, made two knots in it, and threw it to him. "Wipe off the sweat with it!"

Guo Jing grumbled, but didn't look up to catch it, and continued to train.

After a little while, she asked, "You asked dad to not marry me to Dukhsh. Why?"

"Dukhsh is very mean. He once released leopards so that they could devour your brother Tolui. If you marry him, maybe he will beat you…"

"If he beats me, you will come to defend me!"

"But," thought Guo Jing, speechless, "how would that be possible?"

"If I don't marry him, who WILL marry me?" Hua Zheng said with a tender look.

"I don't know," Guo Jing said, shaking his head.

"Pah!" Hua Zheng said, while the face that had blushed earlier became suddenly furious. "You never know anything!"

Some moments later, she softened her attitude. Then they heard the eaglets, on the summit of the cliff, calling. Loud screeches sounded in the sky; it was the second white eagle coming back after having been drawn afar by the black eagles. From the heights, it saw its beloved companion dead on the cliff; then it flew like a white cloud in concentric circles.

Guo Jing stopped and raised his head. The white eagle didn't stop whirling, still uttering screeches of pain.

"Watch," Hua Zheng said, "the eagle is unhappy!"

"Yes," Guo Jing agreed, "it must be very sad."

The eagle uttered a long call and suddenly flew off up towards the highest clouds.

"Why does it go up so high?" Hua Zheng wondered.

Suddenly the eagle came down again like an arrow and dove onto the cliff, where it smashed itself. Horrified, Guo Jing and Hua Zheng uttered a scream of surprise, and didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, they heard a loud voice behind them saying, "Admirable…admirable."

They turned around and saw a white-haired Taoist and with a red-face. His clothing was strange and to his hair were attached three high adornments. He wore the immaculate dress of a Taoist, which was a surprising sight on this windy and dusty plain. Since he had spoken in Chinese, Hua Zheng didn't understand him and lost interest.

"The two eaglets lost their father and mother," she said, looking up at the top of the cliff, "how will they survive now?"

The extremely steep cliff reached up into the sky, and it looked nearly impossible to climb. Obviously, the two eaglets, which had not yet learned to fly, were going to die of hunger in their nest.

"Unless," said Guo Jing, "someone has wings and flies there, it is the only way to save them…" He collected his sword and started to practice. In spite of all his efforts, he still didn't manage to execute the movements; just as he began to despair, he heard a voice behind him say coldly, "If you keep doing it that way, you will still be dragging your sword a hundred years from now, and you won't progress as much as a hair!"

Guo Jing turned around; it was the Taoist with the three adornments.

"What did you say?" he asked.

The man smiled, didn't answer, and suddenly advanced. Guo Jing felt like his arm was paralyzed and, without knowing how, saw his sword, that he had held firmly, in the hand of the Taoist! Zhu Cong had already taught him the technique 'To Seize a Blade with the Bare Hand'; even though he hadn't mastered it entirely, he had assimilated the principles of it. However, this time, he didn't have the slightest idea as to how the Taoist did it. Frightened, he moved back three steps. He stood in front of Hua Zheng to protect her and drew Temujin's knife.