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

Desolated Inn In The Village Part 1

Huang Yaoshi laughed and said, "Guan Yin and this lady, stay." Lu Guanyin was aware that his grand-teacher had arrived earlier but when he saw Huang Yaoshi with his mask on, he was afraid that the former would not be willing to remove his identity and thus, didn't dare to address him properly. He decided to bow politely four times so as to greet Huang Yaoshi.

When Yin Zhiping saw how formidable Huang Yaoshi looked, he knew that his was of high status and bowed while saying, "Quanzhen Sect's Eternal Spring's disciple, Yin Zhiping greets senior."

Huang Yaoshi retorted, "Everyone has gotten lost and I did not ask you to stay on. Why are you still here? Are you tired of living?"

Yin Zhiping was taken aback, "Disciple is a student of Eternal Spring of Quanzhen Sect. I am not a criminal."

Huang Yaoshi answered, "So what if you're from Quanzhen Sect?" With that, he grabbed a corner of the table and removed a piece of wood before flinging it effortlessly at Yin Zhiping. Yin Zhiping quickly used his whisk to raise some dusts to block the attack but the small piece of wood seemed to be made out of metal and he felt a strong force charge towards him. He could not defend the force and the piece of wood and whisk slapped onto his cheek. Yin Zhiping felt a strong pain and there seemed to be some stuff in his mouth. He hurriedly spitted it out onto his palm before realizing that it was a few of his teeth, which laid on his bloody palm. He was shocked and frightened and didn't dare to make any sound.

Huang Yaoshi continued coldly, "I am the so-called Huang Yaoshi, Hei Yaoshi. What does Quanzhen Sect want so show me?" With these words, Yin Zhiping and Cheng Yaojia were taken aback.

Lu Guanyin was also shaken and thought to himself, "Grand-teacher must have heard me quarrel with that little Taoist quarrel just now. If he heard what I said to Prince Zao, then...then...I think father will also..." before breaking into cold sweat. Yin Zhiping rubbed his cheek and said, "You are a senior in the Wulin World but why do you behave so shrewdly? The 6 freaks of Jiangnan are heroic people, why must you force to them the corner? If not for my teacher spreading the news, won't the 6 of them be killed by you already?"

Huang Yaoshi was furious, "No wonder I couldn't find them. So it's a bunch of rascals poking their noses into this matter."

Yin Zhiping was agitated and shouted, "If you want to kill me, then do so. I'm not afraid of you."

Huang Yaoshi replied coldly, "Didn't you have fun scolding me behind my back?"

Yin Zhiping spared no thought for his life and shouted, "I'll scold in front of you as well. You demon, you weirdo!"

Ever since Huang Yaoshi became famous, no one, no matter good or bad, would dare to be offensive in front of him. He had never met someone as straightforward and disrespectful as Yin Zhiping. The latter had seen how cruelly he dealt with Hou Tonghai just now and yet, was still not afraid to offend him. Huang Yaoshi was surprised and thought that the little Taoist had backbone and was bold, like him was he was young. Huang Yaoshi could not help but compare Yin Zhiping to his younger self while he stepped forward and said in a cold voice, "If you dare, scold some more."

Yin Zhiping said, "I'm not scared of you and yes I want to scold you demonic weirdo."

Lu Guanyin thought secretly, "Oh no, the little Taoist is not going to be able to escape death." He yelled out, "Bold Bastard! You dare offend my grand-teacher?" With that, he raised his saber and made an attack for his shoulder. Lu Guanyin was actually secretly trying to help Yin Zhiping. He was sure that his Huang Yaoshi would show him no mercy after all the insults. If Huang Yaoshi attacked, even ten Yin Zhipings would not be able to escape alive. Lu Guanyin hoped that if he injured Yin Zhiping, his grand-teacher's anger would subside somewhat and let that little Taoist off.

Yin Zhiping evaded the attack with two steps and frowned angrily before shouting, "I don't want to live after today so I'm going to scold until I'm happy." Lu Guanyin was bent on injuring him so as to save his life and thus, made another attack with his saber. At the same moment, Cheng Yaojia unsheathed her sword and called out, "I'm also a disciple of Quanzhen sect. If you want to kill, then kill both of us!"

Yin Zhiping did not expect this and shouted, "Good, Apprentice Sister Cheng!" Both of them stood shoulder-to-shoulder and stared at Huang Yaoshi. Lu Guanyin could not attack anymore.

Huang Yaoshi laughed out, "Good, you have guts, have backbone. I, Huang Yaoshi am in fact a heretic demon, you didn't scold wrongly. Your teacher is my junior, how can I fight with a little Taoist then? Go then!" He suddenly stretched out his arm and grabbed Yin Zhiping's chest before flinging him outside. Yin Zhiping couldn't control himself and flew out of the door. He thought that he would fall badly but who would have thought that both his feet landed on the ground and he was still standing normally. He thought that Huang Yaoshi must have grabbed him and dropped him gently onto the ground. Yin Zhiping dazed for a second before thinking, "Close Shave!" No matter how brave he was, he did not dare go back into the inn to scold Huang Yaoshi. He stroked his swollen cheek and turned to leave.

Cheng Yaojia sheathed her sword and made to leave when Huang Yaoshi said, "Wait."

He stretched out his hand to remove his mask and asked, "Are you willing to be his wife?" while pointing at Lu Guanyin. Cheng Yaojia was shocked but her snow-white skin to turn red slowly.

Huang Yaoshi said, "Your apprentice brother scolded right. I am a heretic weirdo. Who doesn't know about Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, the owner of Peach Blossom Island? The thing Old Heretic Huang hates most this life is rules and conventions, especially saints and whatnots. These are just things to cheat dumb people. It's such a joke that people have been blindly abiding to these rules and conventions for generations! I, Huang Yaoshi don't believe in these nonsensical teachings. Everyone say I'm heretic, humph! At least a heretic is better than those jerks who talk about morals and principals but caused the deaths of so many!" Cheng Yaojia was silent but her heart beat wildly. She did not know how he was going to deal with her.

But she only heard him say, "Tell me properly. Do you want to marry my grand-disciple? I like people who are straightforward and have backbone. That little Taoist scolded me behind my back. If he didn't dare do that in front of me and kneeled down to beg me just now, do you think I would have killed him? Humph, you dared to help that little Taoist even though you knew it was dangerous, so it shows that your character is good and compatible with my Grand-disciple. Hurry up and answer me!"

Cheng Yaojia was willing with all her heart but she didn't even dare tell people like her parents, what more an outsider? Furthermore, Lu Guanyin was standing beside him. Huang Yaoshi saw that her pretty face was as red as a rose while Lu Guanyin also lowered his head and suddenly thought of his daughter. He let out a sigh and said, "If both of you love each other, I will give my blessings. Ah, even parents can't decide the marriage for their children for them. "

He knew that if he had agreed to his daughter and Guo Jing's marriage, his beloved daughter would not have died in the deep sea and was vexed. He raised his voice, "Guanyin, stop beating around the bush, do you want her to be your wife or not?"

Lu Guanyin was stunned and answered hurriedly, "Grand-teacher, Grand-disciple's afraid that I am not good enough for..." Huang Yaoshi cut in, "Good enough! You are my grand-disciple, you are good enough even for a princess!"

Lu Guanyin saw Huang Yaoshi's eagerness and knew that if continued hesitating, the situation would turn worse. He answered hurriedly, "Grand-disciple is willing." Huang Yaoshi smiled and said, "Good. What about you Miss?"

Cheng Yaojia felt a sweet sensation in her heart when she heard Lu Guanyin's words, when she heard Huang Yaoshi's question, she lowered her head and said softly, "I need father to help me decide."

Huang Yaoshi replied, "What parent's decision? All nonsensical rubbish, I want to be the one to make the decision! If your father is unwilling, ask him to come and duel with me."

Cheng Yaojia smiled, "Father only knows how to calculate accounts and do calligraphy, he doesn't know any martial arts." Huang Yaoshi thought for a while, "Then we'll compete using calculation! Humph, talking about calculations, who on earth can win me? Hurry up, are you willing or not?

Cheng Yaojia kept quiet and Huang Yaoshi said, "Alright, so you aren't willing then, it's up to you. We keep to our words and Old Heretic Huang never allows anyone to regret their decisions." Cheng Yaojia stole a glance at Lu Guanyin and saw that his expression had turned anxious. She thought to herself, "Father dotes on me the most. If I ask Auntie to talk to father and you ask someone to seek my hand, father will agree. Why are you so anxious?"

Huang Yaoshi stood up and shouted, "Guanyin, follow me to look for the 6 freaks of Jiangnan! If you ever speak to this lady again, I'll cut off both of your tongues,"

Lu Guanyin was shocked and knew that his grand-teacher was capable of such acts. He walked in front of Cheng Yaojia and cupped his palms into a greeting posture before saying, "Miss, Lu Guanyin is lowly skilled in martial arts and is untalented and uneducated. I live a wandering life and am not good enough for you. But I think it is fate that we should meet today..."

Cheng Yaojia answered softly, "Mister doesn't have to be humble. I...I...am not..." and she kept silent. Lu Guanyin's heart skipped a beat and he thought to make her answer by nodding or shaking her head, "Miss, if you do not find me up to par with you, please shake your head." After he said this, he heart pumped frantically as he looked at her delicate face, worried that she would shake her head.

After a while, Cheng Yaojia still kept still and did not even more a finger. Lu Guanyin was delighted and said, "Since Miss is willing to marry me, please nod you head." But Cheng Yaojia still did not move. Lu Guanyin ws anxious and Huang Yaoshi was exasperated and said, "You don't shake and you don't nod. What does that mean?"

Cheng Yaojia said softly, "If I don't shake my head, it...it...means that I nod my head..." These words were mumbled so softly such that only Huang Yaoshi, who had a high level of internal energy and sharp ears, could hear it. Had it been a few years earlier, he would not be able to hear anything but just see her lips moving slightly.

Huang Yaoshi laughed loudly, "Wang Chongyang has all along been a heroic and brave man. Who would have thought that his disciple would be so wishy-washy? That's just so funny. Alright, I will see through your marriage today." The couple was taken aback and stared at Huang Yaoshi speechlessly, who continued asking, "Where is that silly lady? I want to ask her who her teacher is." When the three of them were talking in the inn, Sha Gu had disappeared somewhere.

Huang Yaoshi continues, "Anyway, there's no rush to find her now. Guanyin, you will marry Miss Cheng here then." Lu Guanyin replied, "Grand-disciple is very grateful for grand-teacher's love but to marry here is somehow too plain..." Huang Yaoshi retorted, "You are a disciple of the Peach Blossom Island, do you want to abide to conventions as well? Come come, stand side by side both of you, and bow to the sky!" His tone was stern and serious and they did not dare disobey him. Cheng Yaojia had reached this stage and knew that she could not do anything but carry on the rituals with Lu Guanyin. Huang Yaoshi continued, "Bow to the earth!...Bow to your grand-teacher ah...good, good, happiness, happiness! Bow to each other!"

Huang Rong and Guo Jing watched Huang Yaoshi orchestrate the show and were surprised but delighted as well. They found it very funny while Huang Yaoshi continued, "Excellent! Guanyin, go and get a candle for your nuptial night." Lu Guanyin was stunned and said, "Grand-teacher!" Huang Yaoshi replied, "Why? After completing the ceremony, isn't it time for your nuptial night? You and your wife are pugilists, so you don't need a glamorous room with beautiful blankets right? Can't you also have your nuptial night in this broken inn?" Lu Guanyin didn't dare answer back but he was excited and delighted at the same time. He followed his grand-teacher's instructions and went to the village to get a pair of red candles, some wine and chicken, and prepared a meal with Cheng Yaojia in the kitchen before serving it to their grand-teacher.

After that, Huang Yaoshi was silent and raised his head, thinking about his daughter but hiding his sadness. Huang Rong saw his expressions and knew that he was thinking about her. She felt terrible and wanted to shout out but was afraid that once her father discovered her, would bring her back to Peach Blossom Island. Even if he did not kill Guo Jing, Guo Jing would not be able to survive. When she thought about this, she took back her hand from the door. Lu Guanyin and Cheng Yaojia stole glances at Huang Yaoshi and looked at each other, while feeling happy but awkward. Their faces and ears were both red and they did not dare to make a sound. Ouyang Ke was lying amongst the straws and wood and listened attentively. Although he was starving, he did not dare to make any noise.

The sky gradually turned dark. Cheng Yaojia's heart was thumping louder and louder. She heard Huang Yaoshi talking to himself, "Why hasn't that Silly Girl come back? Humph, that bunch of traitors better not give her any trouble." Turning his head to Lu Guanying he said, "Tonight is your wedding night; why don't you light some candles?"

"Yes!" Lu Guanying replied. He took a flint and lighted the candles. Under the bright candlelight he saw that Cheng Da Xiaojie's [Eldest Miss Cheng] hair on her temples were like a cloud of mist, her cheeks were as white as snow, her face showed a bashful and surprised feeling; it was truly hard to describe with words. Outside the door the insects were buzzing, the evening breeze swayed the bamboo trees; he felt like it was a dream!

Huang Yaoshi took a wooden bench and placed it on the doorstep, then he laid down on it. Soon afterwards he was snoring lightly; looked like he was sound asleep. Lu and Cheng couple still did not dare to move. After a long time the red candle burned out, the flame died down and the room became dark.

Lu and Cheng couple spoke to each other in low voices. Huang Rong leaned her head sideways trying to listen, but she could not hear what they were talking about. Suddenly she felt Guo Jing's body tremble, his breathing has quickened. Apparently his internal energy flow had reached a branched passage, so she busily helped him to overcome this obstacle. After his breathing turned normal she turned her attention to the room one more time. She saw the moonlight slanted down from the broken window outside. Lu and Cheng couple was still sitting side by side on the bench. She heard Cheng Yaojia speak in low voice, "Do you know what day is today?"

"Today is our happiest day," Lu Guanying replied.

"That goes without saying," Cheng Yaojia said, "Today is the second day of the seventh month, my third [maternal] aunt's birthday."

Lu Guanying smiled, "Ah, you must have many relatives," he said, "It must be difficult to remember all those birthdays."

Huang Rong thought, "Your wife belongs to a big clan in Baoying; her maternal aunts', her paternal aunts', her nephews' and nieces' birthdays will come and go; but can they be compared to you, the Great Leader Lu of the Lake Tai's stronghold?" Suddenly she recalled something, "Today is the second day of the seventh month, Jing Gege will need until the seventh to recover. The Beggar Clan's general assembly is on the fifteenth at Yueyang City. We have a very tight schedule."

Suddenly there was a long whistle outside, followed by a loud laughter, shaking the roof tiles; it was precisely Zhou Botong's voice. He called out, "Old Poison, you have been chasing me from Lin'an to Jiaxing and from Jiaxing back to Lin'an, one day and one night, throughout you can't overtake the Old Urchin. Victory or defeat between us two has already been decided. What else do you want to compete in?"

Huang Rong was startled, "From Lin'an to Jiaxing and back is more than five hundred 'li's; these two men's feet are truly fast."

Ouyang Feng's voice was heard replying, "Even if you run to the end of the earth I will still chase you."

Zhou Botong laughed, "We won't eat, we won't sleep, we won't even urinate or defecate; let's see who can run the longest. Do you dare to compete with me?"

"Why not?" Ouyang Feng replied, "I want to see who will drop dead of exhaustion first!"

"Old Poison," Zhou Botong said, "You won't be able to compete with me in not urinating and not defecating."

They both stopped talking and let out a long laugh instead, but the laughter seemed to come from more than a dozen of 'zhang's away already. Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia did not know what kind of people these men were, who swiftly came and went in the middle of the night. They looked at each other in astonishment; then hand in hand they walked to the door to take a look.

Huang Rong thought, "If these two are competing their feet power, then father will surely want to watch." Sure enough, she heard Lu Guanying's surprised voice, "Ah, where is Grandmaster?"

"Look over there," Cheng Yaojia said, "There are three shadows; the last one looks like your Grandmaster."

"That's right," Lu Guanying said, "Ah, they are that far already. I wonder what kind of experts those two are. Too bad we did not have any chance to meet them."

Huang Rong thought, "The Old Urchin is all right, but you'd better not meet the Old Poison."

As Huang Yaoshi left, Lu and Cheng two people thought that they were alone in that inn; their hearts started to get devious. Lu Guanying circled his arm around his newly-wed wife's waist and asked in a low voice, "Meizi [Little sister – term of endearment], what is your given name?"

Cheng Yaojia said with a chuckle, "I won't say it, you guess."

Lu Guanying smiled, "If not Xiao Mao [kitten], then it must be Xiao Gou [puppy]."

Cheng Yaojia laughed, "Neither. It's Mu Da Zhong [mother big bug]."

"Ah," Lu Guanying laughed, "Then I must catch you."

Cheng Yaojia wriggled and leaped over the table. Lu Guanying laughed and chased her. One ran, the other chased, they were both laughing and giggling, running around the inn. The starlight was dim, Huang Rong was unable to see these two clearly, but she could hear their laughter clearly. Suddenly Guo Jing whispered in her ear, "Do you think he can catch Cheng Da Xiaojie?"

With a light chuckle Huang Rong replied, "Certainly."

Guo Jing asked again, "After he catches her, then what happen?"

Huang Rong's heart skipped a beat; she did not know the answer. She heard Lu Guanying had succeeded in catching Cheng Yaojia, the couple then sat on the bench, hugging each other and talking in low voices.

Huang Rong's right hand was holding Guo Jing's left. She felt his palm was getting hotter and hotter, while his body trembled faster and faster. She was frightened, busily asked, "Jing Gege, what happened?"

After Guo Jing suffered a heavy injury, his internal strength considerably decreased, practicing this Nine Yin energy cultivation method required a clean heart, free from any devilish thought. Right now he heard that Lu and Cheng couple was talking and laughing intimately; at the same time right next to him was his own beloved beautiful girl. Gradually he lost control, his blood warmed up to the point of boiling. He turned around and stretched out his right hand to embrace her shoulder. But as she heard his rushed breathing and felt his burning hot palm, Huang Rong was frightened and busily said, "Jing Gege, be careful, quickly calm your heart."

Guo Jing's heart was shaken, anxiously he said, "I can't. Rong'er, I ... I ..." He wanted to stand up.

Huang Rong was very anxious, "You must not move!" she said.

Forcing himself Guo Jing sat down; he tried hard to control his breathing, but his chest felt like it will almost burst open. "Rong'er, help me," he begged. Once again he wanted to stand up.