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

Iron Spear Damaged Plough Part 5

Guo Jing thought anxiously, "If I wait here by the wall it's only a matter of time before they find me. Consort Wang seems to have a kind nature, perhaps she will save me."

Given the critical situation he didn't have any time to think further so he quickly slipped inside the house. There he only found a lighted candle on the table in the middle of the room. Consort Wang must have been in another room. He quickly looked around the room and saw a wooden wardrobe in the east corner which he opened the door and slipped in before closing it leaving only a crack to see through. He then pulled out his golden knife and allowed himself to relax a little.

He heard footsteps and saw Consort Wang walk in slowly. She sat down by the table and looked at the candle as if in a daze. Before long Wanyan Kang entered and asked, "Mother, did some bad man come in and give you a fright?"

Consort Wang shook her head and so Wanyan Kang went outside again and continued searching elsewhere with Liang Ziwong.

Consort Wang then closed the door and looked as if she was going to bed. Guo Jing thought, "As soon as she blows out the candle I'll slip out through the window and escape. No – I had better wait a while first, in case I run into the young prince and that white haired fellow again. That crazy guy tried to bite my throat. That sure is some weird kind of Gongfu! My Shifu's never taught me anything like that before. I really must ask them about it next time I see them. Going around and biting people's throats! What's with that?" He then thought some more, "After fighting so much and being away for so long, Huang Rong must have gone by now. I had better get out as well other wise she might be wondering what's been keeping me."

Suddenly the window creaked open and someone leaped in. Both Guo Jing and Consort Wang had a shock. Consort Wang gave a gasp but Guo Jing noticed that the person who had just entered was none other than Mu Yi or now Yang Tiexin. Guo Jing couldn't be more surprised. He had assumed that He and his daughter had fled the palace long ago.

When Consort Wang recognized him she quickly said, "Please hurry and leave, before they find you."

Yang Tiexin replied, "Many thanks for Consort Wang's king concern. If I didn't come here to thank you in person I would regret it to my dying day." His words contained an element of sarcasm as if fully of bitter rancor.

Consort Wang sighed and said, "Please forget it. It is my son who has wronged you and your daughter. Yang Tiexin looked around and saw that beside a table, lamp, bed and wardrobe there was not much else. Everything seemed to be old, worn and familiar. He suddenly felt a wave of sadness and he could not suppress a tear as it trickled down his cheek. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and walked over to the wall where the lone spear was hanging. He took it down and saw that it was covered with rust. He could still make out the four characters "Tie Xin Yang Clan" written on the spear blade/shaft (???).

He gently stroked the spear shaft and sighed, "This iron spear is rusty. It has not been used for a long while."

Consort Wang spoke softly, "Please don't touch the spear."

"Why?" Asked Yang Tiexin.

"Because this is the most precious possession I have." she murmured.

Yang Tiexin was suddenly angry. "Really?" he asked bitterly. He paused before going on, "This spear used to have a matching partner, however today only one remains."

"What?" asked Consort Wang suprised but he didn't reply. He hung the spear on the wall and gazed at the broken plough tip saying absentmindedly, "This plough tip is worn (lah). Tomorrow you should call on Zhang Mu-er in the east village to take a catty of iron and see if her can repair it."