EASTERN HERETIC, WESTERN POISON (Book 2 of Legend Of The Condor Heroes)

Mutual Hands Combat Part 3

Guo Jing was shocked. Immediately he held Zhou Botong's body. His expression had changed; he leaned on Guo Jing's shoulder and slowly walked back to the cave. Guo Jing quickly tore a piece of his clothes and tightly wrapped it around Zhou Botong's thigh to prevent the venom from entering the heart.

Guo Jing took a flint from his pocket and lighted a paper fire. Under the bright firelight he could see more clearly. His heart jumped to his throat. Zhou Botong's calf was swollen really bad.

"This island does not have this kind of green venomous viper. I wonder where it came from?" Zhou Botong weakly said. "The snake wouldn't be able to bite me when I practice regularly. But this time I was practicing two sets of fist technique; I put all my attention to my movements ... Ay!"

Guo Jing heard his voice trembled, he knew the poison was severe. If Zhou Botong did not possess a profound internal energy he would have died early on. Nervously he bent his waist and sucked at the wound.

"You can't do that!" Zhou Botong cried out. "The snake's venom is extraordinary. It will kill you."

But Guo Jing was only thinking of saving his life; he did not even care of his own safety. His right arm held Zhou Botong's body firmly, while his mouth continued sucking. Zhou Botong tried to struggle, but his body was weak; he could not move. A little while later he passed out.

Guo Jing kept sucking the venom out and spat it to the ground. With the poison drained out of his body, plus his profound internal energy Zhou Botong slowly regained his consciousness. His eyes were still heavy. Half awake he said, "Brother, your big brother is going to return to the heaven today. But before leaving this world I can make your friendship, my heart is extremely happy."

Even though Guo Jing crossed Zhou Botong's path only a short while ago, but they were of the same straightforward and honest type, so they hit it off immediately. He felt like they have known each other for dozens of years. Right now he saw his dying face and he couldn't restrain tears from flowing down his cheeks.

Zhou Botong smiled sadly and said, "That Nine Yin Manual was hidden inside a box beneath the stone where I usually sit. I was going to give it to you, but you have sucked deadly venom from the snake, so you will not live long. We two people will walk hand in hand to the underworld. No need to fear we won't have someone to play with. We will play as four people in the cloud ... No, as four ghosts ... that would be interesting. The bigheaded ghost and the grim reaper will be baffled looking at us. The ghost world won't be the same." Speaking thus he was quite happy.

Guo Jing heard Zhou Botong said that he was going to die, but he did not feel anything unusual. He took the fire to examine himself. The paper fire was about to be burned out, so he took Huang Rong's letter and burned it. He then looked round the cave entrance to find a dried branch or grass, but amidst the hot summer weather the vegetation around him was green and lush.

He was getting more and more anxious. He groped his pocket to find something that would be used as a torch. But he found nothing, except that leather-like thing wrapped around his dagger that came from Mei Chaofeng. Without giving a second thought he lighted that thing and extended it to examine Zhou Botong's face. He saw the face was turning gray, no longer ruddy like a child as usual.

Zhou Botong saw the flickering fire, he gave a faint smile. He saw Guo Jing's countenance did not change, no sign of poison at all. He was confused. He blinked his eyes and looked at the fire. He saw the thing that Guo Jing used as a torch had some characters written all over. He squinted trying to read what was written, but after reading about ten characters or so he was so startled. He recognized the words as taken from the Nine Yin Manual. He didn't have time to ask any question so he just raised his hand and struck the fire; asking, "Brother, what kind of medicine did you take? How come this deathly poison did not affect you?"

Guo Jing guessed it was because he drank the blood of Liang Ziwong's ginseng-fed big snake; so he said, "Once I drank a big snake's blood; perhaps that was why I can resist snake's venom."

Zhou Botong pointed to the leather on the ground, "That is a very precious thing, absolutely can't be destroyed ..." he passed out before he could finish his sentence.

At this time Guo Jing did not care about any precious object; he was busy sealing Zhou Botong's 'gong guo' [palace crossing] acupoint, but it did not help. He tried to feel Zhou Botong's calf; it was hot and swelling big.

"Four weaving machines, the weaving of mandarin ducks desiring to fly together right away ..." he heard Zhou Botong muttered indistinctly.

"What did you say?" Guo Jing asked.

"It's a pity not yet old but the hair on the head has turned white; it's a pity ..." Zhou Botong sighed.

Guo Jing knew he was delirious from the illness; he was very anxious. He dashed out of the cave and climbed a tree outside, shouting loudly, "Rong'er! Rong'er! Island Master Huang! Island Master Huang! Help! Help!" But Peach Blossom Island encompassed an area of more than ten li's across; it was a big island. Huang Yaoshi's residence was located at the other side of the island. Guo Jing's shout was in vain. The only response he heard was his own voice echoed from the mountain and valley ahead, " ... Island Master Huang! Help! Help ...!"

Guo Jing jumped down, he was at a loss. In that critical time an idea came flashing into his mind, "Snake's venom cannot harm me, perhaps my blood contain some antidote to the snake's poison." Without wasting another second he fumbled about the ground, looking for the big green bowl that Zhou Botong used to drink tea everyday. He took his dagger and without hesitation sliced his own left arm and let his blood dripped into the bowl until the drip stopped by itself. He made another cut and again filled the bowl; then he propped Zhou Botong up on his knee. With his left hand he force Zhou Botong's mouth open and with his right hand fed him the blood.

Although he was young and his body strong, losing that much blood drained his energy. After feeding Zhou Botong he leaned against the cave wall and closed his eyes; he fell asleep not long afterward.

He did not know how long had he slept, but he felt someone was tending his wound. He opened his eyes and saw Zhou Botong's white hair and beard. Guo Jing was delighted. "You ... you ... are you well?" he called out.

"I am well, brother. You have sacrificed yourself to save my life," Zhou Botong said. "I am sure the grim reaper was greatly disappointed; I am not that easy to die."

Guo Jing looked at Zhou Botong's calf and saw that the dark swelling was no longer there, only red inflammation which was not life threatening.