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

Discerning Good From Evil Part 3

At last Guo Jing understood why Ouyang Feng practiced internal energy cultivation right there; turned out he was anxious about the sword meet and wanted to get a quick result. He heard Huang Rong laugh, "You have made an agreement with my Jing Gege; he would spare your life three times in exchange of you not compelling me against my wishes. You have to wait until I am happy enough to teach you."

Hearing her say the word 'my Jing Gege' a sweet, happy feeling flooded Guo Jing's heart. He was almost unable to refrain from leaping out and shout his delight.

Ouyang Feng coldly said, "This is important, my business today takes precedence over all agreements I made in the past." After he said that, he moved his arms, flexed his body and stood right-side up. Then he walked toward the cave in big strides.

"You are shameless!" Huang Rong called out, "I am not going to teach you!"

Ouyang Feng grinned wickedly, "I want to see if you are going to teach me or not," he said in low voice.

Guo Jing heard Huang Rong cry out, "Aiyo!" then he heard Ouyang Feng's cold laugh, followed by a sound of ripping clothes. At a moment like this Guo Jing did not have any time to think whether it was appropriate to fight anybody using his martial art; he leaped out and shouted, "Rong'er! I am here!" With the left palm guarding in front of his body he rushed into the cave.

Ouyang Feng's left hand was grabbing Huang Rong's bamboo stick, while his right hand was just about to grab her left arm. Huang Rong launched the 'bang tiau lai quan' [carrying a skin-diseased dog on a stick] by slanting her stick in front of her body and with a jerk pulled the stick from Ouyang Feng's hand. Ouyang Feng shouted and was about to continue his attack when suddenly he heard Guo Jing's voice outside.

Ouyang Feng was the grand master of his martial art school; he had never broken his words to anybody. This time it was in his desperation that he used force against Huang Rong; when suddenly Guo Jing arrived. His face turned beet red, he was ashamed of breaking his own agreement. He flicked his sleeve to cover his own face then fast as lightning he darted through Guo Jing's side, went out of the cave in a hurry and in a moment not even his shadow was to be seen.

Guo Jing rushed forward to grip Huang Rong's hands, he called out, "I almost died thinking about you!" He was so agitated that his whole body shivered.

Huang Rong pulled her hands out and coldly said, "Who are you? Why are you holding my hands?"

Guo Jing was stunned. "I ... I am Guo Jing. You ... you are not dead. I ... I ..." he stuttered.

"I don't know you!" Huang Rong cut him off; and then she went out the cave.

Guo Jing followed her outside, repeatedly bowing in front of her. "Rong'er, Rong'er, please listen to me!" he begged.

"Hmm," Huang Rong snorted, "Do you think you can call Rong'er's name just like that? What are you?"

Guo Jing opened his mouth wide, but did not know what to say.

Huang Rong looked at him; she saw he was rather thin, his face haggard; for an instant she felt sorry for him. But immediately she remembered how he had dumped her over and over; her anger flared. She took a step forward.

Guo Jing was really anxious, he pulled her sleeve and said, "Please listen to me."

"Speak!" Huang Rong said.

"I saw your golden hair band and black sable fur coat on the marsh, I thought you ..." Guo Jing said. But Huang Rong cut him off again, "Very well, you wanted me to listen to you, and I did!" She pulled her sleeve and walked away.

Guo Jing felt awkward and anxious at the same time. He knew how exceptionally mule-headed Huang Rong could be; he was afraid he might lose her again but he did not know how to express himself. Seeing her sleeve floating while she was climbing the mountain, he had no choice but silently follow.

When she came across Guo Jing earlier, Huang Rong was overwhelmed with mixed feeling. She recalled how she deliberately threw Ouyang Feng from her trail by leaving her golden hair band and her black sable fur coat on the marsh. Then heartbroken she headed back to the east. Her intention was to go back to the Peach Blossom Island to see her father; unfortunately when she reached Shandong she fell sick with nobody to care for her. On her sickbed, while her body was either feverishly hot or cold, she lamented the fact that Guo Jing was a fickle lover; she regretted that her parents had given birth to her that now she had to endure pain and sufferings. When she recovered from her illness she came across Ouyang Feng on the southern Shandong road; and was compelled to follow him to Mount Hua to explain the manual to him.

Looking back to the past she hated everything that had happened. She heard Guo Jing was following her closely. When she walked quickly, Guo Jing also walked quickly; when she slowed down, Guo Jing also slowed down. After walking for a while she turned around abruptly and shouted, "Why are you following me?"

"I will forever follow you, I will never leave you as long as I live," Guo Jing said.

Huang Rong sneered, "You are the Great Khan's son-in-law, what do you want from me, a poor little girl?"

"The Great Khan has caused my mother's death, how can I become his son-in-law?" Guo Jing said.

Huang Rong was angry, her entire face turned red, "Good! I thought you still have a heart for me. Turned out the Great Khan has kicked you out! Now that you are not the Master Consort anymore you come looking for the poor little girl. Am I that cheap that you can bully me as you wish?" Speaking to this point she could not control her anger any longer and broke in uncontrollable sobs.

Seeing her bursting in tears Guo Jing was flabbergasted. He wanted to say some comforting words, but he was tongue-tied, did not know what to say. After stayed silent for half a day he finally opened his mouth, "Rong'er, I am here. You want to hit me or kill me; you can do what you want."

"Why would I want to hit you or kill you?" Huang Rong asked mournfully, "Let's just say that we have known each other in vain. Please, I am asking you, stop following me."

Seeing she was not willing to forgive him, Guo Jing's countenance paled. With a trembling voice he asked, "What do I have to do to make you understand what's in my heart?"

"Today you are good to me, but if tomorrow you see Huazheng Meizi or Huazheng Jiejie [elder sister], you will immediately shove me away from your brain," Huang Rong said, "Only if you die in front of me will I believe what you said."

The blood in Guo Jing's chest boiled; he nodded and turned around, walked in big strides toward the cliff nearby. It was actually Mount Hua's most dangerous place, called the 'she shen ya' [to give one's life cliff]; whoever jumped from this place would certainly meet a cruel death.

Knowing his strong-willed temper well, Huang Rong realized Guo Jing was capable of doing what he said he would do. Hastily she dashed forward to grab his clothes. Her hand pulled hard and she jumped over Guo Jing's shoulder that a moment later she was the one standing at the edge of the cliff. She was angry and anxious at the same time; with tears in her eyes she said, "Fine! I know you don't care about me one bit. I spoke thoughtless words out of anger and you didn't miss that opportunity. I am telling you: you don't need to get angry with me; just don't see me anymore."

Huang Rong's body trembled, her face was snow-white; she stood on the edge of the cliff, leaning against ice-covered rock. She looked like a white 'cha hua' [camellia] gently swaying in the wind.

Because he did not care about his own life, Guo Jing had exerted his strength to jump into the canyon below; but now seeing Huang Rong on the cliff edge he was afraid she might lost her footing. "Come over here," he hastily said.

Huang Rong could hear the affection in his voice, she was unable to restrain from feeling sad; she cried, "Who wants to hear your fake words? I was sick in Shandong, nobody cared for me; you didn't even come looking for me. I was captured by that old scoundrel Ouyang Feng and was unable to escape; you didn't come to rescue me. My mother did not want me; she died and left me to fend for myself. My father did not want me; he did not come looking for me. Worst of all, you obviously did not want me either! There is nobody in this world wants me, nobody loves me!" While saying that she stomped her feet and cried loudly; sounded like she was releasing all anger, sadness, and frustration pent-up for several days.

Guo Jing's heart was overwhelmed with love and affection, yet he realized what she said was not wrong; the more he listened to her, the more he hated himself.

A cold wind blew, Huang Rong felt cold, her body trembled a little bit. Guo Jing took out his outer coat and was about to drape it across her shoulder when suddenly someone shouted from the side of the cliff, "Who has such guts, dared to bully my Miss Huang?" A man with white beard and long hair appeared, climbing up the cliff. It was none other than the Old Urchin Zhou Botong.

Guo Jing's attention was focused on Huang Rong; he did not care who came toward them. Huang Rong was not in the mood to joke around, she shouted, "Old Urchin, I told you to kill Qiu Qianren. Where is his head?"

Zhou Botong giggled, he did not know how to answer her; so before she pursued further, he tried to shift the blame, "Miss Huang, who made you angry? The Old Urchin will vent your anger for you."

Huang Rong pointed her finger to Guo Jing, "Who else if not him?" she said.

Zhou Botong only knew he had to win Huang Rong's heart, so without saying anything his hand moved; once with the back of his hand, then another with his palm, 'Slap! Slap!' he whacked Guo Jing's ears twice.