A Hero Born--The Definitive Edition, page 19
Another double flash lit up the sky. Ryder Han saw the staff heading for his brother. He flicked his Golden Dragon whip and caught it.
“Now you, you dog!” Hurricane Chen cried, about to launch a flying kick. But Copper Corpse stumbled over something at his feet. He reached down with his claws and grabbed it: Guo Jing.
“Let me go!” the child shouted.
Chen snorted. Another flash of cold light.
Guo Jing looked up at the sallow face staring down at him, its eyes like hollow caverns. He pulled the dagger from his belt and plunged it through the man’s belly button until the blade was fully engulfed by his flesh.
A cry cut through the thick air and Hurricane Chen fell backward. Guo Jing had found Copper Corpse’s chosen vulnerable spot, the point he always tried to protect in a fight. A plain fruit knife would have been enough to kill him, let alone Guo Jing’s dagger. He had not thought to protect himself against a child. Their encounter at the foot of the hill had told him the boy was no expert in the martial arts. But it is as they say: the swimmer is the one to drown, the cart always breaks on flat ground. No one could have foreseen that a master of the wulin such as Copper Corpse would die at the hands of a boy with no training whatsoever.
Guo Jing was still just as terrified and now stood to one side, his mind a muddle. He opened his mouth to cry, but no sound came out.
Mei had started running at the sound of her husband’s pained cry. She stumbled, scrabbled, and crawled to get to him. “My loving bastard, big brother, what happened?”
“I can’t … Run, little sister.” His voice was faint.
“I will avenge you.” She spoke through clenched teeth.
“I don’t want to leave you, little sister, dear wife. I … I can’t look after you anymore. From now on, you must fight alone. Take care…”
And so Hurricane Chen rasped his last breaths and died.
Despite her distress, no tears fell down Mei’s cheeks. She took her husband in her arms. “Dearest filthy dog, I don’t want to leave you either. Don’t go!”
Morning’s first light was painting the sky a blue-gray. Now able to make out the faintest outlines around them, Ryder Han, Jade Han, and Gilden Quan rushed in to attack.
Mei was blind and dizzy from the poison. Ke Zhen’e’s iron devilnuts would have killed her long ago, were it not for the years Mei and her husband had spent learning Nine Yin Skeleton Claw, ingesting small quantities of arsenic to increase their internal strength, neutralizing the more toxic elements through regularized breathing techniques. It was a ridiculous method to be sure, but it had at least given her a certain level of immunity, which served her well now.
Thus agitated, she put up her last defense, swift and fierce. The Freaks could not get near her.
Ryder Han was becoming increasingly impatient. Our reputation will be good only for sweeping the floor if anyone finds out the Freaks cannot overcome Cyclone Mei, blind and injured, he thought to himself. He kept changing the speed and direction of his whip and cracked it three times against her back. Jade Han noticed her stumble. She and Gilden Quan moved in.
Just as they thought they had her, an angry gale rose, thrashing up the dirt and gravel into a wild dance. The black clouds above once again cut out all remaining light.
The Freaks dropped to the ground and waited for the storm to pass.
* * *
IT TOOK hours for the rain to grow lighter and for cracks of sunlight to break through the clouds. Ryder Han scrambled to his feet and howled. Mei had disappeared, along with her husband’s body. He looked around him; there, lying on the ground, his fellow Freaks were soaked through. He caught sight of Guo Jing’s face peeping out from behind a nearby rock.
Three of the Freaks were unhurt and they started tending to their brothers. Nan the Merciful had broken an arm, but thankfully that was the extent of his injuries. Ke Zhen’e and Zhu Cong had managed to fight off Copper Corpse’s attack with their inner strength, so they too were not too badly affected. But Zhang Asheng had been caught twice by the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw, as well as receiving a punch to the head. He was just about conscious, but his prospects looked bleak.
The Freaks were distraught, especially Jade Han. She had long known Zhang Asheng was in love with her. But she was a bold young woman more concerned with martial arts than immediate affairs of the heart and he had always laughed off his feelings. Thinking time was on their side, they had never admitted to each how they really felt. But now he was dying, and all because he had tried to protect her. Jade Han took Zhang Asheng into her arms and wept.
Zhang Asheng, normally so jovial, looked up at her and managed a smile. He opened his butcher’s hands, large like fans, and stroked Jade Han’s hair. “Don’t cry,” he said. “Sister, I’m fine.”
“Fifth Brother,” she said, choking on her tears, “let me be your wife.”
Zhang Asheng laughed, overcome by a moment of the purest joy, but the pain was turning his vision hazy.
“Fifth Brother, don’t worry, in my heart I am already wedded to you. I’ll never marry anyone else, as long as I live. And once I die we will be together, forever.”
“Sister, I have not taken care of you as I should have.” Zhang was struggling to speak. “I don’t deserve you.”
“You took the very best care of me, I’ve always known that. I’ve always loved you.”
Zhang Asheng smiled as if he had never smiled before.
With his eyes full of tears, Zhu Cong turned to Guo Jing. “Did you come to learn martial arts from us?”
“Yes.”
“Then from now on you must do as we say.”
Guo Jing nodded.
“We will be your shifus,” Zhu Cong said through his tears. “But your Fifth Shifu is about to return to the heavens, so go to him and pay your respects.”
Guo Jing did not understand what Zhu Cong meant, but nevertheless he approached the injured man and kowtowed before him, making sure to tap his forehead against the ground several times.
Zhang Asheng forced a smile. “That’s enough.” He grimaced. “You’re a good boy. I won’t be able to teach you my skills, but that’s just as well. They would have been no use to you. I’m big and clumsy and too lazy to practice. I relied on my strength. If only I’d put in more effort, I wouldn’t be lying here today…” He was losing consciousness.
Jade Han put her ear to his lips and heard him whisper. “Teach him well. Don’t let that stinking Taoist win.”
“Don’t you worry, the Seven Freaks never lose,” she whispered.
Zhang Asheng chuckled one last time, closed his eyes and departed.
The Freaks were overcome with sadness. They had spent the last few years in each other’s company, day in, day out, searching for Lily Li and her son. Now one of their brothers was lost, here, in a strange and cruel land. After the tears had run dry, they dug a grave and buried him. The sun was already high in the sky by the time they had covered his final resting place with a large rock to mark the site.
Gilden Quan and Ryder Han went looking for Cyclone Mei, but any footprints she might have left had been wiped away by the storm. They traveled for miles without finding any trace before returning to the hill.
“She can’t have got far in the desert without being able to see,” Zhu Cong said. “Big Brother hit her with his poisoned devilnuts; she’s probably dead by now. Let’s take the child home first and treat our wounds. Then those who were not hurt last night can take up the search.”
The Freaks nodded, shed their last tears on their brother’s grave, and left.
CHAPTER FIVE
DRAW THE BOW, SHOOT THE CONDOR
1
The Freaks were descending the hillside by side when they heard the roars of a wild beast up ahead.
Ryder Han snatched up his reins, jumped onto Wind Chaser and spurred him on. He peered into the distance and spotted a crowd gathered together. He pushed on a bit farther until he could make out what had drawn their attention: two leopards clawing at a dead body.
Ryder Han edged ever closer. It was Hurricane Chen. Zhu Cong drew up level with him. He looked as fierce in death as he had done in life. Had it not been for Guo Jing and his dagger, they might not have been standing there to witness this spectacle.
The leopards began eating the corpse. A small boy on a horse called to the leopard handlers to pull them away. He then turned and on seeing Guo Jing called out, “So this is where you’ve been hiding! Too scared to help Tolui fight? You call yourself his friend?”
Guo Jing recognized him—Senggum’s son, Tusakha.
“Have you been beating Tolui again? Where is he?” Guo Jing said.
“I’m taking the leopards to feed on him now. Surrender, or else I’ll set them on you too.”
But the sight of Guo Jing’s companions was enough to hold Tusakha back for now.
“What about Tolui?” Guo Jing asked again.
“Let the leopards eat him!” Tusakha spurred his horse and led the leopard handlers away.
But one of the men spoke up. “Master, that boy is Temujin Khan’s son.”
“Why should that frighten me?” Tusakha replied with a crack of his whip. “I can do what I want. Come now.”
The leopard handler dared not disobey his master and followed. But the other handler knew this could bring him trouble. “I’m going to tell Temujin Khan!” he called, and ran.
Tusakha did not stop him. “Fine,” he muttered, “but I’m releasing the leopards on Tolui all the same. By the time Uncle Temujin comes, it’ll be too late. What’s he going to do then?” He whipped his horse and forced them on.
Guo Jing’s concern for his friend’s safety eclipsed even his fear of these awesome beasts. “Shifu,” he said, turning to Jade Han, “Tusakha is going to release the leopards on my sworn brother. I’ve got to warn him, so he can get away.”
“But if you follow, the leopards might get you too. Aren’t you scared?”
“Yes.”
“And you still want to go?”
Guo Jing hesitated for only a moment before answering. “Yes!”
He then turned and began running as fast as his legs would allow.
Zhu Cong was still in pain and draped over his horse’s back. He looked across at Guo Jing and said, “The boy is not the most intelligent, but he’s brave all the same.”
“You’re right, Second Brother. We must save them,” Jade Han replied.
“If that little boy keeps leopards, he is surely the son of someone very important,” Gilden Quan began, trying to sound a word of caution. “We’d best not cause trouble, especially as three among us are injured.”
But Ryder Han was on his way and, using the best of his lightness kung fu, had already swiped Guo Jing up and onto his shoulders. Guo Jing felt as if he were flying. Ryder Han ran back toward Wind Chaser and, in one move, jumped up and into his saddle. Moments later, they were level with Tusakha and the leopard handler.
Up ahead, they caught sight of Tolui, surrounded by a gang of a dozen or so older boys. Tusakha had ordered them not to let Tolui escape.
Tolui had spent the night practicing the three moves Zhu Cong taught him the day before, but when in the morning he had been unable to locate his sworn brother, Guo Jing, nor persuade his brother Ogedai to help, he had gone to face Tusakha alone. Tusakha, in contrast, had backup in the form of eight loyal friends. He had been surprised to see Tolui come on his own, and when the boy had asked that they not attack all at once, Tusakha had agreed out of pity. The boy could not possibly win, after all. But Tolui’s moves beat each of Tusakha’s gang one by one. They were classics of the Empty Palms boxing and Tolui was quick to learn. Now he needn’t fear any of the other Mongolian boys on the steppe. Tusakha was knocked down twice, once from a punch square on the nose. Furious, Tusakha had gone to fetch his father’s leopards. Tolui, meanwhile, stood proudly, glaring at the boys he had just beaten.
There he had remained, unaware of the imminent danger.
Then, in the distance, he heard Guo Jing’s calls. “Tolui, Tolui, run! Tusakha is coming with his leopards!”
Fear shot through Tolui and he tried to escape the circle, but the boys would not let him out. The rest of the Freaks of the South had followed behind and they came thundering toward them, followed by Tusakha and the leopards. They had decided not to stop Tusakha, preferring first to assess if Guo Jing and Tolui were in danger.
At that moment, the drumming of hooves echoed around them. “Don’t release the leopards!” A shout broke through the noise. It was Temujin’s Four Great Generals.
The rogue leopard handler had reached them and told them of the news. They had ridden straight over while the handler continued in search of the Great Khan.
Temujin, Ong Khan, Jamuka, Senggum, and the others had been conversing with the Wanyan Princes back at the camp. They rushed to their horses at once.
“Send word—Tusakha must stop. That is my order,” Ong Khan said. “Temujin Khan’s son must not be hurt.”
Wanyan Hongxi was much excited by these latest developments, particuarly after the disappointments of the night before. “Let’s see what’s going on,” he cried, getting to his feet.
If Senggum’s leopards kill Temujin’s son, his brother the Sixth Prince of the Jin mused to himself, then a rift will grow between their families and they will probably end up at war. Fortune smiles upon the Jin Empire, if not upon the Mongols!
The Jin Princes followed the others to the scene of the dispute, only to find the leopards already unchained. The beasts were crouched and ready, their throaty growls reverberating around the crowd. And there, standing before them, were Tolui and his sworn anda, Guo Jing.
Temujin and his Four Generals aimed their bows at the leopards, their gazes fixed. Temujin knew his son was in danger, but these leopards were Senggum’s most precious possessions. He had caught them as cubs and raised them into the fearsome animals they were today. As long as they did not attack Tolui, Temujin would do his best not to have them killed.
Tusakha looked over at the crowd, which now included his doting father and grandfather, and grew in courage. He ordered the leopards to attack.
But his grandfather was most displeased. “Stop this at once!” Ong Khan cried.
Once again they heard horses’ hooves, and a beautiful chestnut horse came galloping into the camp. It was ridden by an older woman draped in fur. In her arms she carried a young girl. She jumped down.
This was Temujin’s wife, Tolui’s mother.
She had been chatting with Senggum’s wife in the camp, but came at once upon hearing of the scene unfolding on the grasslands. “Shoot!” she cried, placing her daughter on the ground and forgetting about her.
Khojin was only four years of age and had no conception of the danger up ahead. Giggling, she ran to her brother. The leopards’ fur was so pretty, just like her eldest brother Ogedai’s hunting dogs, and she reached out to pat one of the animals on the head.
A gasp rose from the crowd.
But it was too late.
The leopards roared.
The crowd cried out.
Temujin had his bow and arrow ready, but the speed at which it all happened caught even him off guard, and before he knew it the leopard was in the air. Khojin’s chubby body was blocking the spot on the leopard’s head at which Temujin would have aimed. A shot to the body would only injure it, aggravating it further and putting Khojin in even greater danger. Temujin’s Four Great Generals threw down their bows and drew their blades.
But Guo Jing was quicker, rolling forward and grabbing Khojin, just as a paw ripped at his shoulder.
The Generals ran toward the leopards, but they heard only a rapid whoosh! of air as the beasts fell backward, growled, rolled onto their backs and lay still.
Temujin’s wife ran to her children, fished the crying Khojin from Guo Jing’s arms and pulled Tolui to her bosom.
“Who killed my leopards?”
No one answered.
Ke Zhen’e, upon hearing the leopards’ growling, had launched four iron devilnuts tipped with poison. Everyone had been too focused on the scene unfolding before them to notice.
“Brother Senggum,” Temujin said, smiling, “I will buy you four of the best leopards to make up for it, as well as eight pairs of black condors.”
Senggum was furious, but gave no reply. Ong Khan, meanwhile, was roaring at Tusakha. Humiliated, the boy threw himself to the ground, where he unleashed a tantrum born of mortification. Ong Khan ordered him to stop, but the boy took no notice.
Temujin was still grateful for all that Ong Khan had done for him in the past and he felt it would be a great shame to sever ties between the families over such a trivial matter. He smiled, bent down, and picked up Tusakha. Tusakha was still clamorous and tried to struggle free, but was held fast.
“Dear Ong Khan, sir, the children were only playing,” Temujin said, still smiling. “Let’s not get upset. He is a good boy. I am thinking of betrothing my daughter Khojin to him. What do you say?”
Ong Khan looked at Khojin, her eyes filled with tears, clear like a winter’s lake, her skin soft as a lamb’s. “Why not indeed? Let our families be tied in ever closer bonds; why not unite my eldest granddaughter with your son Jochi?”
“Thank you, Father,” Temujin said, and turned to Senggum. “Brother, we are a proper family now.”
Senggum felt that by birth he was of a higher station than Temujin, but he had always been jealous and resentful. He was not pleased that their relationship would be further cemented with these marriages, but he could hardly go against his own father, so he forced a smile.
Wanyan Honglie looked around and noticed the Six Freaks of the South standing in the crowd and a shock rippled through him. What are they doing here? he said to himself. They’re chasing me. I wonder if that evil Taoist is with them? But this time he had a whole army of soldiers to protect him; all he had to do was give the order. The Freaks, however, seemed not to have even seen him. He slipped behind a group of bodyguards. He was so consumed in thinking of how to deal with the Freaks that he barely noticed the alliance being forged between the two Khans.
