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

Decoy Deployment On The Cliff Part 2

Guo Jing then realized that Zhu Cong and Quan Jinfa had seized his wrists! He didn't understand anything anymore.

"Where is the person who teaches you neigong?" Ke Zhen'E asked with severity.

"Him... He..." Guo Jing stammered. "He is... there... outside... He asks to to see you..."

Surprised at Mei Chaofeng's coming to find them in daylight, the 'Six Freaks' hurried outside, weapons in hand. But all they saw was a white-haired Taoist, hands joined in salute. There was no Mei Chaofeng!

"Where is the witch Mei Chaofeng?" Zhu Cong shouted, without releasing Guo Jing's wrist.

"I first saw her last night," the Taoist answered, "I fear that she may come soon!"

The Six looked at Ma Yu with puzzlement. He advanced briskly and greeted them. "For a long time I've admired the 'Six Valiant Heroes of Jiangnan'. Today, I finally meet them; it is a huge honor for me."

Zhu Cong, still holding Guo Jing, nodded his head in answer to the salute and said, "We don't dare to ask for the respected name of the Taoist master."

Guo Jing remembered that he had not announced the visitor and hastened to say, "He's Ma Yu, of the Quanzhen Sect."

The Six Freaks were hugely surprised. They knew that Ma Yu, who had the nickname 'Scarlet Sun', was the first disciple of the founder of the Quanzhen Sect, Wang Chongyang. After the death of the founder, Ma Yu became the Elder Master of the Sect. Qiu Chuji, 'Eternal Spring', was his younger martial brother. Since he usually lived a reclusive life in the temple, dedicating himself to meditation, he hardly ever set foot in the 'Rivers and the Lakes' region [Jianghu]. For this reason, his reputation in the world of the martial arts didn't equal Qiu Chuji's. As for the power of his kung fu, no one had ever seen him in action and could not judge how strong he was.

"We meet the Elder Master of the Quanzhen Sect," Ke Zhen'E said. "We are much honored. What brings the Taoist Master up into the steppe of the north? Does it relate to the competition in Jiaxing and our challenge with your martial brother?"

"My impetuous younger brother, when he should be dedicating himself to the practice of the Way, likes to duel with others. He often tries to win and impose his viewpoint; that is quite contrary to our principles. I've reprimanded him time and time again about this. I don't have any intentions of interfering in his bet with you, the 'Six Valiant Heroes', since it doesn't have anything to do with me. Two years ago, I met this child by chance. Finding him to have a pure and good heart, I took the liberty of teaching him some ritual formulae to fortify his body and to feed his character. This also has the virtue of encouraging longevity. It is true that I took this initiative without having asked for approval from the 'Six Valiant Heroes' beforehand; I hope they won't be angry because of it.

I didn't teach him any martial techniques and we don't have a master – disciple relationship. We could say that I merely made myself a young friend and that we never broke any rules of the martial world." After saying this, he smiled warmly.

The Six were very surprised, and could only accept his explanation. Zhu Cong and Quan Jinfa then released Guo Jing's wrists.

"So my pupil," a happy Han Xiaoying said, "it was the Senior Taoist who gave you some lessons? Why didn't you tell us about him earlier? We judged you wrongly!" She tenderly patted him on the shoulder.

"He..." Guo Jing stammered, "It was him who told me not to say anything..."

"How can you say, 'he', 'him'?" Han Xiaoying reprimanded. "Jing'er, that is very disrespectful, you need to say 'Senior Taoist'..." She scolded him, but her happy face showed her true feelings.