IRON BLOODED HEART (Book 1 of Legend Of The Condor Heroes)

Two Killers In The Tempest Part 2

Disappointed and terribly unhappy about not seeing a man versus leopard fight, Wanyan Hongxi asked Ong Khan for two female slaves and retired to his own ger.

Next morning, Tolui and Guo Jing ran off to play. Hand in hand, they made their way far from the main camp. Suddenly a white rabbit ran by right in front of them. Tolui brought up his little bow and arrow, aimed, shot, and hit the rabbit squarely in the belly. Because he was so young the arrow lacked power, so even though it was a direct hit, it was not immediately fatal and the rabbit scuttled off screeching with the arrow imbedded in it. The two little kids, screaming at the top of their lungs, chased after the rabbit.

After running for quite a while, the rabbit finally collapsed. The two kids let out a simultaneous cheer and were just about to retrieve the rabbit when seven or eight kids suddenly came pouring out from the woods from one side. One particular kid, who was of about 12 years or so, was quick to recognize the situation and grabbed the rabbit. He pulled the arrow from the rabbit's belly, threw it on the ground, shot a fierce look in Tolui and Guo Jing's direction, before stomping off with the rabbit.

"Hey, I shot that rabbit, why are you taking it?" Tolui shouted. The kid whirled around and came back. "Who says that you shot it?" He laughed.

"Well, this arrow is mine isn't it?"

The older kid's eyebrows suddenly rose and his eyes bulged out. "This rabbit was my pet, you are lucky I'm not asking you to pay for it!" He shouted back.

"You are lying, this is obviously a wild rabbit." Tolui shot back.

The kid became even angrier and he walked up and shoved Tolui. "Watch out who you are accusing! My grandpa is the Ong Khan, my dad is Senggum; do you know that? Even if you did shoot this rabbit, I'm taking it anyway; what can you do?"

"My dad is Temujin!" Tolui proudly answered.

"Pei! So what if he's Temujin? Your dad's a coward! He's scared of my grandpa and scared of my dad!" The kid's name was Dukhsh and he was Senggum's only son. After having a daughter, Senggum had to wait several years before finally having a son; after him he had no other offspring. He had always spoiled his son, letting him bully as he pleased. Temujin, Ong Khan, and Senggum had not met for a long time; even though their sons had met before, this was, for all practical purposes, their first true meeting.

Hearing someone make fun of his father, Tolui was filled with anger and proudly shouted back: "Says who? My dad's not afraid of anybody!"

"When your mom was kidnapped, it was my grandpa and my dad who went and took her back for your dad. You think I didn't know that? So what's the big deal if I just take this measly little rabbit of yours?"

Even in the past, Senggum was envious of Temujin's fame. When they helped Temujin that one time, Senggum made sure to tell everyone about it; even his son had heard it many times.

Temujin had always viewed that event as an incredible embarrassment for himself, he naturally never told Tolui about it. Hearing this at this moment, Tolui was so mad that his face turned purple. "You're a liar! I'm going to tell my dad!" He angrily threatened before turning around and walking off.

"Your dad's afraid of my dad, so what if you tell him?" Dukhsh laughed at Tolui. "Last night, when my dad brought out his two leopards, your dad's 'Four Asses' were so afraid they couldn't even move!"

Of the 'Four Aces', Boroqul was Tolui's master. Hearing this only made Tolui even angrier. So angry he could barely speak. "My master isn't even afraid of tigers, why would he be afraid of leopards? He just didn't want to fight wild animals." He finally stuttered out.