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

Changchun Admits Defeat Part 1

Seeing his Disciple Brother in critical danger, Sha Tongtian leapt over to quickly try and break Mei Chaofeng's grip. As soon as their hands met they were both felt their arms struck by a sudden ache. Meanwhile over to their left came the sound of darts whizzing through the air. Peng Lianhu was throwing his darts directly at Mei Chaofeng. She deftly shifted her arm and threw Hou Tonghai straight towards the stream of darts.

"Ai Yo!" yelled Hou Tonghai as the darts smacked into his body.

Huang Rong called out "Congratulations Three Horned Dragon! You have managed to catch so many darts!"

Sha Tongtian, seeing the amazing power of Mei Chaofeng's throw and his disciple brother down on the ground seriously injured, leaped over towards Hou Tonghai and with a stretch of his hand pulled him upright. Hou Tonghai flew up like a paper sparrow but almost immediately looked as if he would collapse again. There was no strength left in his body.

(Not sure of the next line: I think some how Sha Tongtien managed to accidently hit Hou Tonghai when he reached out to grab him and ended up hitting on his three carbuncles???)

All these events happened within a blink of an eye. Whilst this was going on Ouyang Ke and Liang Ziwong were attacking Mei Chaofeng from the front and rear in concert with Sha Tongtian who was attacking from the right.

Mei Chaofeng was able to judge by the sound of the darts in the air where they were and sent them flying back in four directions towards Ouyang, Liang, Sha and Peng. She asked "What does (Gather the five bunches???)' mean?"

Guo Jing replied "The eastern ghost's wood, western soul's metal, southern spirit's fire, northern essences water, central will's earth."

Mei Chaofeng called out "Ai Yo! I might have guessed earlier! What does the 'Perform the four harmonious signs' mean?"

Guo Jing replied "Hide the eyes, Concentrate the hearing, Regulate the breath, Seal the tongue Qi."

Mei Chaofeng sighed "Ah, so this is the original meaning. What about the 'Five primary chambers' (or courts of the palace???)?"

Again Guo Jing replied "Don't use your eyes to see, rather locate your soul in the liver; Don't use your ears to listen, rather locate your essence in the kidneys; Don't use your mouth to chant, rather locate your spirit in the heart; Don't use your nose to smell, rather locate your soul in your lungs; Don't move with your four limbs, rather locate your mind/concentration in your spleen. These are 'Five primary chambers'."

The 'four harmonious signs' and 'Five primary chambers' were key techniques contained in the 'Nine Yin Scripture' practiced by monks. Not having anyone to explain the meanings of these key phrases to her, Mei Chaofeng had struggled without success for over ten years to understand them. Now with Guo Jing's explainations she suddenly understood everything and was extreamly pleased.

Again she pressed for more information "Now, how do I perform the 'Gathering Three Flower Top's'. This technique was the crucial key to putting everything together. She had strived all those years for just this key point so she listened intently for Guo Jing's answer.

Guo Jing replied "Essence is transformed into Qi, Qi is transformed into Spirit....."

Mei Chaofeng, by concentrating on Guo Jing's words, became less attentive to the fight and her four opponents. Just as Guo Jing was saying the two sentences she was struck on her left shoulder and right side by Ouyang Ke and Sha Tongtian's fists. She felt a severe pain that was hard to bear.

Originally Huang Rong had planned to have Mei Chaofeng detain their enemies in a fight whilst she and Guo Jing took the opportunity to slip away. She never expected that Guo Jing would be dragged into the fighting as well becoming a steed carrying a mount into the battle, making it impossible for them to get away. Now she became both worried and angry.