SWORDS FIGHTS ON MOUNT HUA (Book 3 of Legend Of The Condor Heroes)

In Front Of The Xuan Yuan Platform Part 3

Huang Rong and Yang Kang were both very astonished that Guo Jing unexpectedly did not want to take this good opportunity to clear up his name, only one was sad, the other joyful; their feeling was a world apart.

Yang Kang waved his hand and Peng and Liang lifted up their weapons. Suddenly they heard swishing noise, a violet spark swept through the lakefront. Peng and Liang two people were startled and turned their heads to look up and saw two blue flames streaked up to the sky. These flames were several 'li's away from Mount Jun, seemed like they were released from the middle of the lake.

Jian Zhanglao said, "Bangzhu, we have a guest."

Yang Kang was startled, "Who is it?" he asked.

"The Clan Leader of the Iron Palm Clan," Jian Zhanglao replied.

Yang Kang did not know the Iron Palm Clan's origin. "Iron Palm Clan?" he asked.

"The Iron Palm Clan is a big clan in the Sichuan and Hunan area," Jian Zhanglao explained, "Their clan leader is paying us a visit, we'd better receive them well. We can deal with these two thieves later."

"That's fine," Yang Kang said, "Jian Zhanglao, please welcome the guests."

Jian Zhanglao conveyed the order. 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' from the Mount Jun's island three red rockets were shot out. Not too long afterwards a boat came ashore. The beggars lit torches up and stood to welcome the guests. The Xuanyuan Platform was located at the peak of Mount Jun. It was quite a long way from the foot of the hill to the peak, so that although the guests used their 'qing gong' [lightness kungfu], half a day had passed before they arrived.

Jing and Rong two people were taken into the crowd, guarded by Peng Zhanglao's disciples. Huang Rong tried to assess Guo Jing's condition; she saw he was expressionless, eyes looking at the sky, mumbling nonstop about who-knows-what. She was extremely shocked; she thought his mind must be confused because of the great injustice he received. She further thought that no matter who the guest was, there was always opportunity to be exploited.

While she was still thinking the guest had already arrived. Under the torch light she saw about a dozen men dressed in black escorting an old man walking toward the platform. This old man wore a short yellow robe, with a large leaf fan in his hand; who else but Qiu Qianren? Huang Rong was angry, but also amused and disappointed at the same time; this man certainly would not do her any good.

Jian Zhanglao stepped forward to welcome the guests, extending some Jianghu pleasantries. He was very respectful. Afterwards he introduced the guests to Yang Kang, he said, "This is 'tie zhang shui shang piao' [iron palm floating on the water] Qiu Lao Bangzhu [old clan leader Qiu]; his divine palm matchless, his prestige shakes the world. This is our newly elected Clan Leader, the young hero Yang Bangzhu. I am glad you two can be acquainted."

At the Cloud Village of Lake Tai Yang Kang had witnessed Qiu Qianren's trick being shamefully exposed; in his heart he looked at him condescendingly. He thought that it turned out that this swindler was a clan leader of some big organization. An idea came into his mind; he pretended he did not know the guest, and said with a smile, "Fortunate meeting, fortunate meeting!" Extending his hand he meant to shake Qiu Qianren's hand.

Both palms met, Yang Kang exerted all his strength into his palm, deliberately wanted to crush Qiu Qianren's palm, thinking, "Everybody believes you have an outstanding martial art skill, I want you to fall in my hand. This truly a heaven-sent opportunity that this old man is here today, so I can show my martial art prowess in front of this crowd of beggars." Who would have thought that as soon as he exerted his strength he felt scalding heat on his palm; as if he was grasping a red-burnt coal. Hastily he withdrew his hand, but the opponent just grabbed his hand firmly, so he felt like his hand was continuously burning. He could not restrain from crying out, "Aiyo!" His face was deathly pale, tears streaming from his eyes, his body doubled from pain, he almost fainted.

The Beggar Clan's four elders were startled; they rushed forward together to protect their clan leader. Jian Zhanglao was the chief among the Elders. He struck the steel staff in his hand to a rock. 'Clang!' sparks flew everywhere. "Qiu Lao Bangzhu!" he said angrily, "You've come from afar to be our guest. Our Yang Bangzhu is young; how can you test his skill like that?"

Qiu Qianren coldly said, "Nicely I shook his hand; it was your precious Bangzhu who tested the Old Man first. Yang Bangzhu deliberately wanted to crush my old bones." While his mouth was talking, his grip did not loosen up; while Yang Kang kept crying out, "Aiyo!" By the time he finished speaking, Yang Kang's voice weakened and he passed out.

Qiu Qianren loosened up his hand and waved it away; Yang Kang had already fainted, he tumbled down to the ground. Lu Youjiao hastily rushed forward to pick him up. Jian Zhanglao angrily said, "Qiu Lao Bangzhu, you ... you ... What's the purpose of this? Isn't this outrageous?"

"Humph," Qiu Qianren sneered; his left palm slapped Jian Zhanglao's face. Jian Zhanglao lifted up his steel staff to fend off. Very quickly Qiu Qianren changed his slap into slicing down to grab the head of the staff. As the edge of his palm touched the head of the staff, he pulled the staff inward before even grabbing it.

Jian Zhanglao's battle experience was vast; he was startled, but did not release the staff in his hand. Qiu Qianren indeed did not snatch his staff; quick like a wind his right palm swept away to the left. 'Clang!' it hit the middle of Jian Zhanglao's staff. Jian Zhanglao's palm was chaffed, blood flowed out and he could not hold his staff anymore; it was snatched by Qiu Qianren. Qiu Qianren swept the staff horizontally to parry Peng and Liang two Elders' saber and sword while his right elbow struck toward Lu Youjiao's face. Hence in a short period of time he compelled all four Elders of the Beggar Clan to step back.

The crowd of beggars watched with amazement. They unsheathed their weapons; they would fight the Iron Palm Clan as soon as their Clan Leader issued his command.

Qiu Qianren's left hand gripped the steel staff's head, his right hand held its tail; he let out a loud and long laugh and secretly sent his strength to both hands. With a shout he wanted to break the steel staff into two. He did not know that Jian Zhanglao's steel staff was made of a specially treated metal, it was very ductile; the staff did not break. It stubbornly resisted his arms' supernatural power. Qiu Qianren exerted more strength and the steel staff slowly curved into an arc.

The crowd of beggars was astonished and angry. Suddenly they saw Qiu Qianren swung his left arm back and immediately wield forward, hurling the arched steel staff flying to the sky, toward the mountain rock at the opposite side. With a loud 'Clang!' the staff's head struck the rock; the noise reverberated for a long time.

As Qiu Qianren demonstrated his hands' power, the crowd of beggars was amazed and frightened. Huang Rong was even more astonished, she thought, "This old man is obviously a useless swindler; how can he become so fierce all of a sudden? Could it be that he colluded with Yang Kang and Jian Zhanglao to perform this trick? Perhaps there is some secret on that steel staff."

The moon had reached the middle of the sky, all around the torches adding up its brightness. Huang Rong looked clearly, it was really the Qiu Qianren she saw at the Cloud Village and the Ox Village. She turned her head toward Guo Jing. He was still looking up to the sky, mumbling intelligibly. Could it be that he was so scared and angry he turned insane? She was deeply concerned about Guo Jing, so she no longer watched Qiu Qianren's acrobatic play; her pair of beautiful eyes watched Guo Jing's expression closely.

Qiu Qianren said with a cold voice, "The Iron Palm Clan with your precious Beggar Clan is usually like the water of the river, does not mix with the water from the well. Upon hearing that your precious Clan is having a general assembly at Mount Jun I come to pay a visit with a good intention. Why did as soon as we met your precious clan's Bangzhu demonstrated his power?"

Jian Zhanglao was intimidated by Qiu Qianren's power and reputation, he was already scared; hearing the hostility in Qiu Qianren's voice he busily said, "Qiu Lao Bangzhu misunderstood. Lao Bangzhu's prestige has shaken the four corners of the world; we always admire you. Today we are very honored to have Lao Bangzhu shines your glorious light upon us."

Qiu Qianren looked up to the sky without saying anything; his demeanor was very arrogant and threatening. After a long while he said, "I heard Hong Lao Bangzhu passed away. We have one less great hero of this world. Pity! It is a pity! Your precious clan also elected this kind of new Bangzhu. Ay! Pity! It's a pity!"

By this time Yang Kang had regained his consciousness; he heard he was being ridiculed at his face, he was angry but did not dare to say anything. He felt his right hand was still burning hot; his five fingers were so swollen they looked like five Chinese yams. The Four Elders of the Beggar Clan did not know how to respond.

Qiu Qianren said, "My visit today is to ask an important favor from your precious Clan; in return, I am going to offer something to you."

"We don't dare," Jian Zhanglao replied, "But please Qiu Lao Bangzhu tell us."

Qiu Qianren said, "Recently some brothers from my clan received the Old Man's order to take care of some business. I don't know how they had provoked two friends from your precious Clan that they were beaten and suffered heavy injuries. My brothers' skills were unrefined, so there is nothing I can say; but if this matter is spread out within the Jianghu, the Iron Palm Clan will certainly lose our face. Old Man does not know the good from evil; I want to ask for some lessons from the two friends from your precious Clan."

From the start Yang Kang did not have the slightest bit of care toward the Beggar Clan; how could he dare to offend Qiu Qianren for the sake of two Beggar Clan disciples? Immediately he said, "Who has dared to cause trouble and fight with friends from the Iron Palm Clan without authorization? Quickly come out and apologize to Qiu Lao Bangzhu."