Chapter 2 - TEN THOUSAND TONS OF ROCK

1

Viper Ouyang felt himself get hotter with each passing second. The deck beneath his feet was cracking and splintering; the boat was about to sink. Yet, Count Seven Hong's attacks were as furious as ever. If he did not use one of his special moves now, he might not come away from the fight alive. He pulled back his Serpent Staff and struck with his other hand. Count Seven aimed his bamboo stick at the weapon while blocking with his free hand.

Count Seven watched Viper Ouyang's arm bend and his fist come corkscrewing toward his right temple, the precise location of his Great Sun pressure point.

Viper had spent years developing his Sacred Snake Fist repertoire. He had been intending to save it for the second Contest of Mount Hua. He had not revealed even one of its moves while exchanging over a thousand blows with Count Seven on Peach Blossom Island. Mimicking the writhing of a snake's body, which moves as if it contains no bones, the arms twist and coil in all directions, enabling him to land punches even when his opponent believes he has successfully blocked an attack. Of course, it is not physically possible for the arms to move like a snake, but the effect of the style was to make it seem that way.

Normally, such a strange and unexpected move would have made it difficult for Count Seven Hong to defend himself. But Gallant Ouyang had already used something similar against Guo Jing in the temple in Baoying, and, though he had prevailed against the Beggar's disciple, in doing so he had revealed his uncle's secret and given Count Seven the chance to spot a vital weakness.

That night, he had not attended the usual feast with Vigor Li and the other beggars, but instead had spent his time contemplating how it could be overcome. And now it delighted him that Old Venom was giving him the chance to test his theory. Forming his hand into a claw, he reached out and caught hold of Viper's fist. His approach was quick and accurate—the perfect way to counter Sacred Snake Fist. It came across as a lucky strike, but in fact it had taken Count Seven many a restless night and thousands of failed attempts to come up with the move. This one technique was sufficient to overcome the entire repertoire. He had doubted it, but now, in the heat of the battle, he could see that its simplicity, speed, and the element of surprise gave him a considerable advantage.

Viper Ouyang was in shock. He had expected his opponent to be rendered helpless, allowing him to move in and make his killer attack. He stumbled backward. At that moment, a cloud of black smoke descended and he disappeared within it.

Count Seven Hong leaped back in surprise. A large sail that had been set ablaze had fallen on top of Viper Ouyang.

In normal circumstances, a falling sail would not have troubled Viper Ouyang. But he had just witnessed the fruits of years of practice and careful training being subdued in an instant. Stupefied by this daunting revelation, he did not move as the large, stiff sail, still attached to the mast, descended upon him. Viper tried to throw it off a few times, but it was too heavy. Despite the danger he was in, his mind was remarkably clear. He tried to raise his Serpent Staff in order to slash through the cloth, but it was trapped beneath the mast.

There it is, he sighed. To the heavens I shall return.

As he relaxed his body to submit to the inevitable, he felt a great weight lifted from him. He opened his eyes and saw that he was no longer covered by the sail. Count Seven had raised the anchor and used it to pull the cloth away. The Old Beggar had no desire to watch his opponent be burned alive.

Viper Ouyang's clothes, hair, and brows were on fire. He jumped up and rolled across the deck, desperately trying to put out the flames. Unfortunately, bad luck rarely comes but once, and, at that moment, the boat lurched to one side, causing the heavy metal chain of the anchor to hurtle toward him.

"Aiya!" Count Seven launched himself forward and grabbed the chain, which by now the fire had rendered red hot. His skin crackled and fizzed as it came into contact with the burning metal. Instantly, he cast the chain into the sea. He was about to follow behind it when he felt his back go numb.

I saved Viper, and now he attacks me with his venom? Can it be possible? He turned to find himself face-to-face with a snake, fresh blood dripping from its teeth. Enraged, he threw two palms at Viper Ouyang, who merely stepped aside and watched as Count Seven's hands slammed into the second mast, splitting it in two.

Viper Ouyang was delighted that his surprise attack had succeeded, but Count Seven Hong's thrashing and punching was getting ever more intense and so he slunk back.

"Shifu! Shifu!" Guo Jing shouted. He started climbing up onto what remained of the ship.

Suddenly, Count Seven, feeling dizzy, stumbled. Viper Ouyang charged at him and struck his palms at the Beggar's back. One of the snakes had sunk its teeth into the back of Count Seven's neck. Luckily, its normally deadly poison had been depleted only days before in the wager with Zhou Botong. It was enough, however, to scramble Count Seven's wits and leave him unable to summon sufficient internal strength to resist Viper's blow.

He spat blood and collapsed.

Viper Ouyang knew that it was not enough just to defeat a skilled martial artist such as Count Seven Hong. Given a few days of rest, he would be back to cause untold troubles. An attack, once made, had to be decisive.

2

Moments before, Guo Jing had pulled himself over the side of the crippled ship and was now standing on the deck. His shifu was in great danger. He thrust both palms at Viper Ouyang's lower back, in a Twin Dragons Skim the Water. The Venom of the West knew that the boy's martial skills were considerable, yet he paid him little attention at that moment. He blocked with his left hand, and he launched his foot at Count Seven Hong's lower back. Determined to save his Master, Guo Jing leaped up and grabbed Viper's neck, thus exposing his pressure points. With a pow! Viper jabbed him below the ribs, knocking him aside.

Viper did not put the full force of his strength behind the blow, but he knew he had the power to kill his opponent if he chose to. Had it not been for Guo Jing's considerable internal strength, he would have suffered great harm. He felt a sharp pain, then a numbness spread through the lower half of his body.

Undeterred, he leaped again and grabbed hold of the Venom's head.

Viper Ouyang was surprised by the boy's rash move; he had expected him to retreat. Now, they both risked being injured. He pulled back his foot before it could meet with Count Seven Hong and bent at the waist to hit out at Guo Jing. He was too close to use any Exploding Toad kung fu or his Sacred Snake Fist. Masters of the wulin rarely grappled at such close range.

Within moments, Guo Jing had both hands around Viper Ouyang's throat. Viper flailed his arms behind his back, but did not manage to land a single blow. Guo Jing's grip was tightening, and Viper Ouyang was struggling to breathe. The Venom thrust his elbow back.

Guo Jing ducked right, released his left hand, slipped it under Viper's armpit and then back onto his neck, and pulled. This was a move known as Camel's Twist, which he had learned from Mongolian wrestling. It owed its name to the fact that, when done effectively, the technique could be used to snap the neck of even a camel. It was brutal and sent an intense pain through Viper's body. Only the most skilled Mongolian wrestlers knew how to counter it. Viper had never come across anything like it, so he suffered the full extent of its power.

Viper flailed once more with his arms, trying to hit back at Guo Jing, who took his chance to let go with his right hand and repeat the move by slipping it under Viper's armpit, grabbing hold of his neck and twisting. Once again, Guo Jing had both hands around Viper's throat, in a move called Breaking Mountain Stranglehold. It was impossible to get out of it without snapping one's neck.

And yet, the Venom of the West was a master of the wulin, not some common Mongolian wrestler. Using lightness kung fu, he ducked down and rolled out between Guo Jing's legs.

To have to roll under the legs of a junior fighter like this was humiliating, to be sure, but Viper had been in dire straits. Once on his feet, he immediately launched his left fist at Guo Jing's back. He did not expect, however, that, before his hand met its target, his arm would be stopped dead.

Guo Jing knew his kung fu was no match for his opponent, but a combination of youthful enthusiasm and his knowledge of close-combat fighting and Mongolian wrestling meant that he was managing to keep the Master at bay.

But, before he could press home his advantage, the ship listed violently, knocking the two men off balance and into the flames, setting their hair and clothes alight.

3

Lotus caught sight of count Seven Hong's lifeless body slumped over the ship's railings. Was he alive? She could not tell. She looked up to see Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang still fighting without any sign of letup, their clothes now alight. Meanwhile, the Viper's nephew had got to his feet again after the injury he had suffered at Guo Jing's hands. Sensing the acute danger, she had no choice but to lift an oar and swing it in the direction of Gallant Ouyang's head.

Even with a broken arm, Gallant managed to dodge the oar. Then he reached out to grab Lotus's bracelet. Lotus responded by stamping her feet so that the small boat rocked and almost capsized. Gallant was unable to swim, so he let go of Lotus to steady himself. Before the boat had returned to an even keel, Lotus dived into the sea.

Within seconds, she was beside the Viper's ship, which was by now so low in the water that the deck was almost level with the sea. Lotus pulled herself quickly aboard, removed Guo Jing's dagger from her waistband and rushed forward to help him. Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang were twisted into a bundle, rolling around on the deck. At that moment, Viper Ouyang was on top, but Guo Jing had a firm grip on his opponent's shoulders, pinning his arms so there was little he could do to harm the young man.

Lotus cast herself, dagger first, at Viper's back. It was the very blade Qiu Chuji had given Guo Jing's parents, with his name carved on the hilt. It had been in Mercy Mu's possession, but Lotus had swapped it for the dagger with Yang Kang's name on it.

The dagger glanced off Viper's back. Surprised, he twisted violently, spinning so Guo Jing was on top. Lotus bent low and aimed for his head, but Viper once again managed to dodge. Three times she stabbed, and three times he evaded her, so that she plunged the blade into the deck.

A thick plume of black smoke blew over them, stinging Lotus's eyes. She closed them, then felt a pain in her leg and rolled over. Viper Ouyang's heel. She jumped to her feet, only to find her hair had caught fire. She raised the dagger once more, but, as she turned to face the Viper, Guo Jing shouted, "Shifu! Save Shifu first!"

Lotus ran to Count Seven, picked him up and jumped overboard, into the sea, extinguishing the flames that were consuming his robe.

She moved her shifu onto her back and began to swim toward the small boat. Gallant Ouyang watched her approach, raised the oar above his head and called, "Leave the beggar! I'll only let you on board if you come alone."

"Then we can meet in the water," she cried, and she began shaking the boat violently.

It felt as if the boat was about to capsize. Gallant began to panic and gripped the side. "No … Don't shake it! It's going to roll!"

Lotus laughed. "Then pull my shifu up. Be careful. If you try anything, I'll give you another good drenching."

Gallant Ouyang had no choice but to obey. He grabbed hold of the back of Count Seven's robes and heaved him up with his one good arm.

"I think that's the first noble deed I've seen you do since the moment I met you."

Gallant's heart leaped. He wanted to reply, but he could not find the words.

Just as Lotus was about to turn and climb back onto the burning ship, a deafening rumble echoed all around them. A wall of water was heading their way. She closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for it to hit, but, when nothing came, she opened her eyes again. She was astonished to see a large whirlpool drawing the ship, Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang into its churning maw.

Her mind went blank. She could not think, she did not feel; it was as if the skies and world around her had all disappeared. She did not know where she was. Suddenly, a rush of water filled her mouth and she felt herself sinking. Only then did her body jolt back into action. She began kicking her way to the surface. As she broke through to the air, she looked around. All she could see was water, and one lonely boat. Everything else had been swallowed by the waves.

Lotus dived down, kicking herself deeper. She was a powerful swimmer, but the strong current made it difficult to search for Guo Jing. She swam in circles, but there was no trace of him. Viper Ouyang, too, had seemingly gone down with his ship.

She was soon exhausted, but refused to give up. She prayed that the heavens would show mercy and deliver Guo Jing back to her, but the waves rose like mountains on every side. After an hour, she could continue no longer. She would rest for a while on the boat before resuming her search.

Gallant Ouyang reached out and pulled her on board. "My uncle? Did you see him?" He was similarly distraught.

But Lotus was too tired to answer him. Darkness suddenly drew a veil over her eyes, and she fainted.

When, finally, she regained consciousness, it felt as if her body was floating—not in the water, but up in the clouds. The wind and the waves continued to beat against her eardrums. She sat upright and noticed that the boat was moving, carried by the current. How far had they moved from where the ship was swallowed up? She would never find Guo Jing again. The realization made her heart physically hurt, which in turn caused her to faint once again.

Gallant gripped the side of the boat, fearing that the waves would fling him overboard. He did not dare move in case he destabilized the vessel.

Time passed and eventually Lotus awoke. The first thought that came to her was the pointlessness of her existence, now that her beloved was lying on the seabed. She looked across at Gallant Ouyang, his ashen cheeks and frightened expression, and felt nothing but disgust. Am I destined to die alongside this beast? was all she could think. Suddenly, she stood. "Into the water!"

"What?" Gallant replied in alarm.

"Aren't you going to jump? Then I'll capsize the boat."

She began to shift her weight from right to left. The boat lurched more violently with each movement. Gallant began to shout in terror, which only turned Lotus's grief into joy. She rocked the boat harder.

Gallant knew how close the boat was to rolling. He waited until Lotus moved left and threw himself right, his weight canceling out hers. The boat sunk momentarily deeper into the water, but bobbed back up again. Lotus tried twice more, but Gallant continued to counteract her efforts, until the boat began to stabilize.

"Very well, I will make holes in the boat instead. Then we'll see what you do."

She took out the dagger again and moved to the center of the boat. That was when she noticed her Master, lying in the prow. He had neither said anything nor moved a muscle since Guo Jing disappeared into the ocean, so she had completely forgotten about him. A bolt of shock passed through her. She bent over to check his pulse. It was weak, but still there. Relieved, she pulled him into a sitting position. His eyes were screwed tightly shut and his cheeks were white like paper. He no longer clutched at his chest. Pushing aside all thoughts of Gallant, she focused on her Master and unbuttoned his shirt to check his wounds.

At that moment, the boat lurched. "Land! Land!" Gallant Ouyang shouted.

Lotus looked in the direction he was pointing. There, in the distance, was the hazy outline of trees. The boat, however, had stopped moving. It had run aground on a shallow reef.

They were still far from the shoreline, but they could see the seabed. Gallant Ouyang jumped over the gunwale. The water only came up to his belly. He took a few steps, then looked back at Lotus. He returned to the boat.

Count Seven's back bore the bluish-black imprint of a hand. It seemed to have been branded into his skin. Lotus examined it in astonishment. Could the Venom's palm really be so powerful?

At that moment, she noticed two puncture wounds on his shoulder. Had she not been looking carefully, she would have missed them. She reached over to feel them, but a sharp pain seized her fingertips. She pulled them away. "Shifu, how do you feel?"

Count Seven's only answer was a groan.

Lotus turned to Gallant. "Give me the antidote."

Gallant Ouyang threw his hands up in the air. "My uncle has it."

"I don't believe you."

"Then search me." He began to undo his belt to empty his pockets and pouches of all the trinkets stored inside. There was no medicine bottle among them.

"Then you must help me carry Shifu onto dry land!"

Together, they each took one arm over their shoulders. Lotus then reached out and took Gallant's free hand, so that Count Seven could sit on their arms. He whimpered, but, wishing to appear brave before Lotus, bore the pain. Slowly, they waded to shore.

Count Seven was shivering violently, and Lotus was growing ever more concerned. Gallant, in contrast, was in a state of ecstasy as he felt her smooth skin in his hand. It was like a dream. He only regretted how quickly they made it to the shore.

Lotus squatted and placed Count Seven on the ground. "Go and drag the boat up onto land," she said to Gallant. "Don't let it be swept out to sea."

Gallant Ouyang did not go; instead, he touched his hand to his lips, as if in a trance. Lotus repeated her instructions, shouting this time, but he merely looked up at her blankly. He had not heard a word she had said.

Fortunately, Lotus was unaware of what he was thinking. She gave him a sideways glance and repeated her instructions a third time.

Gallant returned to the water and dragged the boat to shore. Lotus, meanwhile, had rolled Count Seven onto his back in the grass and was tending to his wounds.

Where are we? Gallant asked himself. He ran up a small hill so that he could assess their surroundings. What he saw was a pleasant surprise. In all directions, as far as the eye could see, the ocean stretched out to the horizon. They had landed on a small, remote island, lush with vegetation, but with no signs of human habitation. But then it hit him. With no food and no shelter, how would they survive? They had been lucky to find it, the heavens had surely arranged it, and he was alone with this beautiful goddess. Apart from the Old Beggar, of course, but he was severely injured. How could he not count this as a blessing? With the right person, even a deserted island like this could be paradise. Should death come quickly, it would still be an ending for which he owed a debt of thanks to the grace of the gods above. His whole body was jittery with the thought.

A pain in his shoulder suddenly reminded him of his broken bone. He approached a nearby tree and broke off two branches, then tore some cloth from his robes and fashioned himself a splint and sling.

Lotus was, at that moment, squeezing the venom from Count Seven's neck. She could not think how else to help him, other than moving him onto a large rock where he might get some rest. Fortunately, the lid to the bottle of Dew of Nine Flowers pills had been screwed securely shut, so no water had got inside. She took out two and fed them to her Master. Then she called over to Gallant: "Go and see where we are and if there is an inn nearby."

"This is an island, there is no inn. We'll be lucky if we find any other people."

Lotus was taken back. "Go and look," she replied.

Excited, he began to run east, using his lightness kung fu. All he could see were trees. There was no evidence of any human activity. He managed to kill two wild hares, however, as he completed his full loop of the island.

"It's deserted," he announced upon his return.

Lotus saw the trace of a smile on his face and felt irritation bubble up inside her. "Deserted? Why are you so happy?"

Gallant did not dare answer, and instead got to work skinning the hares. Lotus reached inside her robes for a tinderbox. It had been wrapped in oil paper, so there was still some tinder that was dry. She lit a fire and roasted the meat. She tossed one toward Gallant, tore a hind leg from the second and proceeded to feed it to Count Seven.

Count Seven was still feeling faint and confused, but the smell of roasting meat had revived his spirits. He opened his mouth wide, tasted the succulent flesh and then gestured for more. Delighted, Lotus tore off the other leg. Count Seven managed to finish half before he could resist sleep no longer, and, with his mouth still full of succulent flesh, he drifted off.

Lotus ate two mouthfuls before she remembered her poor beloved Guo Jing at rest at the bottom of the sea. The grief was overpowering, and she felt herself choke on the meat. She could stomach no more. The sky was turning dark blue. She found a cave and Gallant helped her to move Count Seven, laying him out carefully on a bed of dry grass. Lotus watched as he fixed bedding for them and settled down next to her.

She drew her dagger. "Get out!"

"Why does it concern you if I sleep in here too? Why are you so fierce?"

Lotus raised her eyebrows. "Are you going?"

"Go to sleep, there's a nice girl. Don't worry. I don't need to leave."

Lotus reached for a lit torch and set fire to the grass bedding under him. Within seconds, it had flared and burned down to ash.

Gallant laughed bitterly. He knew he had no choice but to leave. What if there were poisonous insects or vicious animals? He decided to climb a tree for safety. But he couldn't settle, and shinned up and down at least a dozen times to check on the cave. He could see that the fire at the mouth of the cave was still lit, but Lotus was fast asleep. Still, he could not bring himself to enter. A coward! He had stolen many moments amid the perfume and jade of a lady's private quarters, but he was scared of this particular young woman. In reality, he could overcome her with his one good hand. Count Seven was in a critical condition and would not be able to help her. And yet, still, every time he approached the fire, he ended up shrinking back.

Lotus did not sleep well that night, concerned over Count Seven's health and wary of Gallant returning to the cave. She managed a few hours' sleep just before dawn, during which she dreamed that Count Seven was groaning. She awoke with a start.

"Shifu, how are you?"

Count Seven pointed to his mouth and wiggled several of his teeth with his tongue.

Lotus laughed, fetched the leftover roasted hare from the night before and began feeding him. As the meat entered his stomach, he felt his strength return. He pulled himself into a sitting position and regulated his breathing. Lotus did not want to disturb him, so she watched in silence as his cheeks flushed red before once again turning ashen white. The color came and went a few times, until she saw a burst of steam come out of the top of his head. Sweat ran down his forehead like rain and his whole body began to shake.

Suddenly, a shadow passed across the mouth of the cave. Gallant Ouyang had stepped inside to see what was going on.

Lotus knew very well that her Master was calling on his inner strength to heal his injuries. With his life hanging by a thread, any disturbance would break his concentration and put him in real danger.

"Get out," she hissed.

"Let's talk," Gallant Ouyang replied. "We need to come up with a strategy to survive this deserted island. We might be here for a very long time!" He took a few further steps into the cave.

Count Seven Hong opened his eyes only a crack. "Deserted island?"

"Shifu, ignore him and concentrate on your kung fu." Lotus turned to Gallant Ouyang. "Come with me. We'll talk outside."

Her answer pleased him no end and he followed her out.

The weather was fine, but the blue skies did nothing to cheer Lotus. She looked out to where the sky met the vast open ocean and saw nothing, save for a few lonely clouds. There was no sign of land.

She walked toward the beach where they had waded ashore the previous day, and where Gallant had deposited their craft.

"Where's the boat?" she said, a tremble in her voice.

"Oh, yes, where is it? The waves must have taken it. What a shame! How terrible!"

One look at his face was enough to tell Lotus that he had pushed the boat out to sea on purpose. How despicable! Guo Jing was dead, and she had no desire to go on living. The boat was probably too flimsy to make it back to the mainland, anyway. But still, she feared she would not be able to keep this scoundrel contained for long enough to allow her Master to heal from his injuries. She stared at Gallant Ouyang, her expression frozen. In her heart, she was thinking of all the possible ways to kill him and save her shifu.

Gallant, in turn, looked away in shame.

Lotus jumped up onto a large rock at the water's edge, sat down and gazed out at the sea, clutching her knees.

If I don't try to get close to her now, when will I? Gallant Ouyang thought. He climbed up beside her and sat down close to her. He waited. She did not seem to be angry and did not move further away. He shuffled a bit closer. "Lotus, we could live out our days here. It could be our paradise. I must have done something wonderful in a past life to deserve such happiness!"

Lotus laughed. "There are only three of us on this island. Won't you feel lonely?"

There was something gentle in her tone and it boosted his confidence. "With you by my side, how could I be lonely? And with a few children, even less so."

This made Lotus laugh even harder. "Children? Who is going to have them? I don't know how."

"I'll teach you," Gallant said with a smile, and he reached out to touch her. He felt a warmth in his left hand. Lotus had already placed her hand in his. He felt a rush of blood and his heart started thumping wildly. He was dizzy with happiness.

Lotus removed her hand and gently touched his wrist. "I've heard rumors that you took Mercy Mu's chastity? Is that true?"

"That Mu girl didn't know what was best for her," Gallant said and laughed. "She refused me, and I, Gallant Ouyang, am not a man to force a woman."

"Then the rumors are just talk? She and her sweetheart fought because of them."

"What a pity that her reputation should be thus tainted!" was all Gallant Ouyang offered as a reply.

"What's that?" Lotus said suddenly, pointing out to sea.

Gallant Ouyang looked to where she was pointing. Just then, he felt his wrist tighten and his body go numb. He could not move. Lotus drew her dagger and stabbed in the direction of his abdomen.

Thus immobilized, how could he stop her?

And yet, he had spent a dozen bitter winters training at the summit of White Camel Mount. At the last moment, he managed to launch himself at Lotus's back. She jumped down from the rock, her blade instead scoring a foot-long gash in his leg. Gallant leaped after her. He saw her dagger and laughed. Pain filled his chest. He glanced down to find the front of his robes soaked in blood. The spikes of her Hedgehog Chainmail had torn through his skin.

"We were talking, just now; why did you try to charge at me?" Lotus said. "Well, no matter." With that, she turned and left.

Gallant Ouyang watched her leave in silence, his heart thumping with love and hate, surprise and joy.

4

As lotus walked back to the cave, she reproached herself for having allowed him to escape. It was thanks to her mediocre skills! Once inside, she saw Count Seven asleep and a black pool of blood on the ground.

"Shifu, how are you? Any better?"

"Bring me wine," came the reply through shallow breaths.

The request left the young woman feeling anxious; where was she going to find wine on this deserted island? "I will do my best. Your injuries are not serious, are they, Shifu?"

Tears collected in her eyes and a few tumbled down her cheeks. Lotus rarely cried, but, now that she had started, she could not hold it back. Burying her face in Count Seven's chest, she heaved and sobbed. Count Seven stroked her hair and gently patted her on the back. He had spent decades wandering the rivers and lakes, but this was the first time he had consoled a crying maiden. He was not sure what to do. "There, there, little girl," was all he could think to say. "Don't cry, your shifu will take care of you. Please don't cry. Shifu doesn't want wine anymore."

Presently, the tears stopped, and Lotus looked up to see her Master's clothes were damp from all her crying.

"Oh, why didn't I manage to kill that awful scoundrel?" She then began to relate the story.

Count Seven Hong listened in silence before eventually saying, "Shifu can't help you now. That rogue's skills are more advanced than yours. I'm afraid all you've got against him are your wits."

"All Shifu needs is a few days' rest, and then you'll be able to take him with one thrust of your palm!" Lotus replied.

"The Venom of the West got me with his deadly venom and his Exploding Toad kung fu. I've had to use all my strength to rid my body of the toxins, but still some remains. Even if I survive, my martial skills will be affected. I will be just like any other old man."

"Nonsense, Shifu!"

"My heart still beats, but even an old beggar must recognize when the time comes to look at life philosophically."

He paused, before continuing in a grave tone: "Child, your shifu has no choice. I must ask you a favor—a most difficult one! Will you do it?"

"Of course, Shifu! Just tell me."

He sighed, then said, "We've not had long together as Master and student; I didn't get to teach you much. But your opponent is skilled, so I must burden you with something of great weight, or I will never find peace."

Count Seven was usually so jovial and lighthearted, so, from the way he hesitated, Lotus knew that, whatever it was he was about to ask of her, it was important.

"Shifu, please tell me. You came to Peach Blossom Island for my sake and now you are gravely injured. I will never be able to repay you. I only hope that I am not too young to carry out your request."

"So, you accept?" A glimmer of joy passed across Count Seven Hong's face.

"Yes. Please tell me."

Shakily, Count Seven Hong rose to his feet, cupped his hands and bowed toward the north. "My beggar ancestors," he began, "the clan that you founded has passed into my hands. Unfortunately, I lack the virtue and the talent necessary for the task. Today, great misfortune has befallen me and I have no choice but to pass on my burden. Spirits in the heavens, bless this child so that she might turn calamity into fortuity. This I do for the good of all the Clan." At this, he bowed once more, while Lotus listened in shock.

"Now kneel, child."

Lotus did as she was told and Count Seven raised his bamboo stick, before lowering it into her hands.

"Shifu," Lotus began to stutter, "you want me to be the … the … Chief of the Beggar Clan?"

"Precisely. I am the eighteenth Chief of the Clan, and you shall be the nineteenth. Now, let us thank the ancestors."

Lotus did not dare disobey. Imitating her shifu's movements, she cupped her hands and bowed. At that moment, Count Seven spluttered and coughed a globule of phlegm, which landed on Lotus's skirt. Shifu's injuries are serious indeed, she said to herself sadly. He is too exhausted even to spit properly. She pretended not to have seen it.

"When it becomes official to the Clan, there will be a disgusting ritual, I am afraid. It will be hard on you."

Lotus smiled. Beggars were all rough and filthy; how could it be avoided?

Count Seven exhaled slowly. His cheeks were white, but it was clear that his heart had been relieved of a heavy rock that had been pressing down upon it. A smile came to his lips. Lotus helped him to lie down.

"Now that you are the chief," he began, "I am nothing but an elder of the Clan. While you must show me respect, you give the orders now. This was the way our ancestors decreed it, so you must obey. And, when you give your instructions, the Clan must obey."

Lotus at once felt anxious. She was stuck on a deserted island, with no way to get back to the mainland. Guo Jing was dead, and she had no desire to live without him, but now her shifu had made her chief of all the beggars in the world … How was she going to fulfill his wishes? She looked down at Count Seven. Given his condition, she could not reveal these thoughts to him, so she merely nodded.

"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month of this year, the Four Elders of our Clan will gather by the shores of Dongting Lake, in Yuezhou, where they will hear the new chief announced. You need only bring my bamboo cane and they shall understand my intentions. All matters within the Clan are dealt with by the Four Elders. It does pain me, however, to send such a pure and chaste maiden into the arms of a rabble of squalid beggars. Yet, for all their filthy clothes and manners, the beggars are at least pure of heart." He began to laugh, but was soon overcome by a hacking cough. Lotus massaged his back until he stopped.

"I am of no use to anyone now," Count Seven Hong sighed. "Who knows when I will be called on to make my final journey? I'd better start teaching you Dog-Beating Cane, before it's too late."

It was an awful name for a martial-arts technique, Lotus could not help but think. And, besides, she could kill any dog with one punch, so why should she waste her time learning a whole repertoire to achieve the same end? But her Master was very ill indeed, and it was his wish, so she could only comply.

"Becoming the Chief of the Beggar Clan does not require you to change who you are," Count Seven said. "If you like being mischievous, then it is mischievous you must be. This is why we live as beggars, so that we might be free to be ourselves, without restriction. Otherwise, why not become an official or a rich landowner? Or why not Emperor! If you think fighting with the Dog-Beating Cane is beneath you, then just say so!"

Lotus began to laugh. "I am merely wondering what dog could possibly be so fierce that it requires a special weapon and an entire fighting technique to overcome it."

"You are now chief of all the beggars and you must act accordingly. Dressed in your finery and with the airs of a nobleman's daughter, why, of course any dog will happily heel to you. Why would you need to hit it? But that is not the case for us beggars. As the old saying goes, 'A poor man without a staff will be beaten by dogs.' You've never been poor. You don't understand our struggles."

"Aha! Shifu, in this, you are mistaken!" Lotus said in delight.

Count Seven Hong looked puzzled.

"Just after Spring Festival this year, I escaped Peach Blossom Island and wandered the country, dressed as a beggar. There were many fierce dogs, but all I had to do was give them a kick and they instantly skulked away."

"And when a dog is particularly fierce, you have to beat it with a staff."

Do such dogs exist? Lotus asked herself. "Oh! I see!" she cried suddenly. "You mean other kinds of villains too!"

"You are clever," Count Seven Hong chuckled. "Unlike…" He was about to say Guo Jing, but he stopped himself as a pang of sadness filled his chest.

Lotus understood immediately what he had been about to say, and a well of pain and bitterness flooded her heart. She wanted to wail out loud, but her Master needed her. In many ways, she was the adult in their relationship, and the responsibility of the Clan now lay on her shoulders, so she merely turned her head so that he could not see the wet beads of salt tears falling down her cheeks.

Count Seven knew there was no use in trying to console her—he felt the same sadness, after all—so he drew the conversation back to the history of the technique. "Our ancestors invented the thirty-six moves that make up the repertoire. It is passed only between chiefs of the Clan—no one else is allowed to know. Our third chief greatly surpassed the Clan's founders and expanded its scope. For hundreds of years, now, the chiefs have used these techniques to defeat our toughest enemies."

Lotus's interest was now piqued. "Master," she almost breathed, "why didn't you use it against the Venom of the West when you were fighting him on the ship?"

"This is a most important and sacred repertoire for our Clan, and I had every chance of winning without having to resort to it. Who was to know that Viper Ouyang would be so underhand as to use venom against me, even after I had twice saved his life? He betrayed me."

Lotus could see his mood was sinking. "Master," she said, trying to distract him, "please teach me this great skill so that I might avenge you by killing him."

Count Seven smiled, then reached for a piece of firewood and leaned against the stone wall. He began to recite the instructions, executing each of the thirty-six moves with the stick as he did so. Lotus was of exceptional intelligence, this he knew, and he feared he was not long for this world. The name of the technique may have been coarse, but the movements and transitions were subtle, and, as a whole, it was deserving of its reputation as one of the finest of all the martial systems ever invented. Why else would it have been so jealously guarded by generations of Clan leaders?

And yet, for all her quickness of mind, Lotus was able to remember only the overall structure, but none of the finer details. How could she master such a complex technique in such a short time?

Count Seven paused to catch his breath as the sweat dampened his clothes. "I have not taught you well," he panted. "But that is all I can manage, for now…" He groaned, then fell to the ground.

"Shifu!" Lotus cried and rushed to prop him up, but his body was cold, his cheeks white and his breath was shallow. It was too late.

These last few days had been full of trials and misfortunes, but, as she lay against her Master's chest, the tears refused to come. She listened to his faint heartbeat and tried to massage his heart to aid his breathing.

Just then, she heard noises from behind. A hand reached out toward her.

She had been too consumed with tending to her Master to notice that Gallant Ouyang had entered the cave, and, when she did, she momentarily forgot that the man behind her was a wolf. "My Master is dying," she said, turning around. "We must save him."

The tears in her eyes and the depth of her despair sent a quiver through Gallant's heart. He bent down to examine the Old Beggar, and the sight of his pale cheeks and rolled-back eyes restored his good mood. He was so close to Lotus that he could feel her breathing and smell her sweet, floral fragrance. A few strands of her hair fluttered, caressing her cheek, and his chest began thumping so hard he could barely contain himself. He reached out and put his arm around her waist.

Taken aback, Lotus struck him and jumped away. Gallant Ouyang had been fearful of Count Seven Hong and thus had not dared to move to claim the young object of his desires, but, now her protector was dying, he was no longer deterred. "I had decided to restrain myself, but you are just too beautiful. Come, kiss me."

He approached her again. Lotus was terrified. She was in greater danger now than she had been in the Prince of Zhao's residence. I have to kill him, or I will never forgive myself. She reached into her robe and took out Guo Jing's dagger.

Smiling, Gallant Ouyang removed his long robe and came two steps closer. Lotus waited for him to take another step. Before his foot could touch the ground, she had thrown herself left.

Gallant followed. Lotus raised her arm. He whipped his robe and flicked the dagger aside. Lotus shot toward the mouth of the cave like an arrow.

But Gallant was faster. Lotus heard the rush of air behind her—his fist was coming for her back. She was wearing her Hedgehog Chainmail and she was not scared to die. In order to attack, she would have to leave herself vulnerable. She turned and jabbed her dagger at his chest.

Gallant had no intention of hurting her—his punch had a feint, nothing but a ruse designed to tire her out. But, with the flash of the blade, he grabbed at her wrist, pivoted and rushed past her, trapping Lotus inside the cave.

Lotus launched a fresh onslaught, fierce and fast, with no thought to her own defense. Gallant was far more accomplished in kung fu than Lotus, but, given his reluctance to cause her any real harm, he found it difficult, at first, to ward off her attack.

Yet, before long, they had exchanged over fifty moves, and Lotus was in trouble. She had learned her kung fu from her father, Gallant from his uncle. Apothecary Huang and Viper Ouyang were peers in the wulin, but Lotus was only fifteen and Gallant was in his fourth decade. This amounted to a twenty-year gap between them in training and practice, and that was without taking into consideration the difference in their strength, as governed purely by biology. Lotus was a less diligent student than her opponent. She had learned a few moves from Count Seven, to be sure, but she had not taken the time to truly master them. This all meant that, despite his injury, Gallant had the upper hand.

Suddenly, Lotus pounced forward and threw a handful of needles. Gallant blocked them with a flap of his robe. Lotus followed with a stab at his right shoulder. He tried to strike with his good palm, but the dagger in Lotus's hand twirled, changed directions, and with a huh! plunged toward his broken arm.

Lotus grinned, despite the numbing pain pulsing through her wrist. The dagger clattered to the ground.

Gallant had reached out and pressed on her Suspended Bell pressure point, three inches above her left ankle, then the Central Metropolis, seven inches above her right ankle, on the inside of her leg.

Lotus managed two more steps before stumbling and falling. Gallant rushed forward to place his robe beneath her.

"Aiya—careful!"

As soon as she hit the ground, Lotus threw more needles at Gallant and tried to propel herself back onto her feet, but, with no feeling in her legs, she fell again.

Gallant reached out to help her up, but Lotus returned the gesture with a punch from her remaining good hand. Her move lacked any strength, however, and Gallant merely laughed as he pressed the pressure point on her wrist.

Lotus coiled into a heap, as if she were a piece of rope. I should have turned the weapon on myself, she lamented. Now, I can't even beg for death.

A darkness descended over her eyes and she fainted.

"Don't be scared," Gallant said in a soothing voice. Just as he reached out a hand to touch her, a cold voice came from behind.

"Do you wish to live? Or die?"

Gallant twisted round and saw Count Seven Hong standing at the entrance to the cave, giving him a cold sideways look. Instantly, he recalled the story his uncle had told him about how Wang Chongyang had jumped out of his coffin and nearly killed him. The Old Beggar was only pretending to be dead; I'm done for. He knew he was no match for the old Master in a fight, so he knelt before him.

"Lotus and I were just playing. Don't be angry, Uncle Hong."

"Scoundrel!" Count Seven spat the word. "Are you going to release her, or shall I?"

Gallant nodded and rushed to press Lotus's pressure points.

"Come back and I will not show the same mercy. Now, go!" With that, Count Seven turned away.

Gallant ran off, disappearing like a puff of vapor.

Lotus came to slowly, as if waking from a dream. Count Seven Hong could bare the pain no more and collapsed to the ground. Lotus leaped up and rushed to support him. His mouth was full of blood and three of his teeth tumbled from his gums.

A master of his level, Lotus said to herself, and he is reduced to this, losing his teeth in a fall.

Count Seven spat the teeth into his hand. "My poor little choppers, you and I shall never again savor gourmet delights together. I never expected you to be the ones to say goodbye first."

The old man was gravely injured. The venom was still wreaking its havoc and Viper's blow to his back had damaged the vital meridians through which his qi flowed. That he was still alive was largely due to the years of kung fu training, but he was so weakened that a stranger would not have guessed he was a martial man at all. He would not even have had the strength to unlock Lotus's pressure points by himself. He looked at her concerned face.

"Don't worry. I may be weak, but I still have my reputation. That foul imp won't be back any time soon."

"True. But where will we get our food?" She was usually sharp-witted, but the shock of events had flustered her, and she could not think straight.

"You're thinking of ways to get food?"

Lotus nodded.

"Help me to the beach and we can sit in the sun."

Count Seven leaned on her shoulder and together they slowly walked toward the sea.

The weather was fine, and the sea stretched without limit, like a sheet of blue satin quivering in a breeze.

If only it were actually made of satin, Lotus thought to herself. So soft, so shiny. So nice to the touch.

The sun warmed their bodies and their spirits.

5

Gallant Ouyang was standing some distance away, beside a large rock. He saw them approach and quickly retreated, but they did not follow. So, he stopped to watch.

Gallant was cunning, both Count Seven and Lotus knew that, but he would reveal his weakness eventually. For now, however, they wished to distract themselves, so Count Seven sat on a rock and Lotus broke off a branch to make herself a fishing rod. She peeled the bark from another long stick to use as the line, and took one of her needles out of her robe, bent it and secured it as a hook. She found some small crabs and shrimp to use as bait. The water was teeming with fish and, before long, she pulled up three local mackerel, each weighing around a jin. Lotus then wrapped the fish in clay and cooked them slowly—the same method used to make beggar's chicken. Together, Master and pupil filled their bellies.

After they had rested awhile, Count Seven instructed Lotus to perform each of the moves that made up the Dog-Beating repertoire. He sat on the rock and gave her guidance. Lotus was beginning to get to grips with its techniques, its subtle changes and amalgamations.

By sunset, she was hot and dusty from training in the heat, so she removed her outer garments before plunging into the sea. As she felt the rush of water around her, a silly thought struck her: Deep at the bottom of the sea is where the Sea Dragon King lives in his Dragon Palace. Maybe Guo Jing is there and has been united with the beautiful Dragon Princess? A surge of jealousy coursed through her, and her expression turned sullen.

She kept diving down into the water until, suddenly, she felt a pain in her left ankle. She tried to tug it back, but it was caught. Lotus had been playing in the water since she was a young child, so she knew that her foot must be caught in a large clam. She was not alarmed, bending down to feel it with her hand. Wait! It was as big as a table! She had never come across such a large clam in these waters. She reached into the shell with both hands to prise it open. Try as she might, however, she could not make the shells part. The clam gripped harder in response and the pain in her ankle surged. She tried to lift the clam, but it occurred to her that it probably weighed as much as three hundred jin and had been growing there for years, cementing itself ever more securely to the reef below. How could she possibly lift it?

Lotus struggled a little longer, but the pain in her foot was becoming unbearable. In her panic, she managed to swallow a few mouthfuls of seawater. I didn't want to live, she suddenly realized. But if I die now, leaving Shifu all alone on this island, so that scoundrel can come back and torture him, I will never find peace.

She grabbed a large nearby rock and smashed it against the clam, but its shell was solid, and she could gather little momentum under the waves. After a few attempts, the clam merely tightened its grip once again, and Lotus swallowed yet more seawater.

Then it struck her. She dropped the stone and reached down to scoop up some sand from the seabed. Clams detest sand and small stones more than anything else, she said to herself as she threw it into the mouth of the creature. She felt its grip loosen slightly as it tried to spit out the sand. Instantly, Lotus pulled back her foot, quickly kicked her way to the surface and gasped a lungful of air.

Count Seven had been watching, growing ever more anxious that she had not resurfaced. He had tried to hobble to the water's edge, but he was too weak to go in, so all he could do was stare at the calm surface of the sea, wringing his hands. At that moment, Lotus's head burst up and he could not help but cry out with relief.

Lotus waved to her shifu and then dived beneath the surface of the water again. Making sure to plant her feet far away from the clam and not to put her hands near the edges of its shells, she took hold of it and shook it loose from the reef. Treading water, she then pushed the clam toward the beach. Once it was half out of the water, it was too heavy for Lotus to move, so she climbed up onto the shore and took a large rock, using it to beat the thick shell until it was broken into pieces. Only once her anger was sufficiently vented did she look down at the bloody wound on her foot and realize the danger she had been in. She paused as a shiver ran through her.

That evening, they feasted on a delicious meal of sweet, succulent clam.

6

Count Seven Hong woke the next morning to find that the pain had eased. He moved the qi around his body, noticing how strong the vital points on his chest and stomach felt compared to the day before.

"Ah," he sighed.

Lotus turned. "What's the matter, Shifu?"

"A good night's sleep seems to have done wonders."

"It was all that clam," Lotus said with a big smile.

"I don't think clam has any medicinal powers, but it was delicious," Count Seven said and laughed. "Although, I can't deny that my injuries are healed, so perhaps it has its uses, after all."

Lotus laughed, then ran out of the cave and down to the beach to fetch the last bits of clam from the previous day.

In her delight, she had forgotten all about Gallant Ouyang. Just as she was slicing two large chunks of clam flesh, she caught sight of an approaching shadow. Lotus bent down and picked up a piece of shell. Then, without warning, she threw it behind her and leaped toward the water line.

Gallant had spent a day watching them at a distance, observing Count Seven Hong's movements and growing ever more certain that his injuries were grave indeed. The Old Beggar could barely walk. And yet Gallant was not brave enough to enter the cave. Instead, he approached Lotus.

"Sister, don't go. I just want to talk."

"Well, I clearly don't, and you're respecting that." She pulled a face.

Gallant's face drained of all color. His heart was pounding. He moved two steps closer and smiled. "It's your fault, really. Who gave you permission to be so beautiful? Leaving you alone is quite impossible."

"Well, I don't want to talk to you, and I mean it. There's no point trying to compliment me."

Gallant advanced another step. "I don't believe you," he said with a wolfish grin.

Lotus's face grew darker. "If you come another step closer, my shifu will beat you."

"I doubt it," Gallant said and laughed. "Can the Old Beggar even walk? Shall I carry him out here and see?"

Lotus stumbled back a few steps in surprise.

"If you fancy diving again, be my guest. I'll wait here, on the shore. Let's see who lasts longer—you in the water, or me on the beach."

"You are a bully, and you'll never have my affection."

She turned to run, but tripped and fell.

Gallant spluttered with laughter. "The more you resist me, the more I like you." He removed his outer robe and held it up as protection against any needles she might throw, before advancing toward her.

"No closer!" Lotus cried. She struggled to her feet and started running, but tripped again after only a few steps. This time, the fall was harder, and she landed partially in the water before seeming to faint.

This girl is most cunning, Gallant thought. But I'm not so easily fooled. Why would someone of her skill keep falling, let alone faint like that?

He stood watching her for a few minutes. But she lay perfectly still as the tide began to swallow her upper body and head.

Maybe she really did faint? Gallant said to himself, growing more concerned. If I don't save her, the beauty will drown.

He ran toward her and tried to tug at her legs, but, the moment his hand touched her skin, he felt a shock. Her body was stiff. He reached down and took her in his arms, and, just as he hoisted her out of the water, she grabbed his legs and held them tightly.

"Down you go!"

Gallant's footing was unsteady to begin with, so all it took was a sharp tug from Lotus and they both tumbled into the water.

Gallant's martial skills were of no use to him submerged. Despite my caution, the girl tricked me! And now I'm doomed, he thought.

Lotus, on the other hand, was delighted that her ruse had worked. All she had to do was get him into deeper waters and push his head under the surface.

As the water rushed into his mouth, Gallant felt his body spin, as if caught in a whirlpool. He did not know if he was facing up or down. He began thrashing, trying to grab hold of Lotus.

Lotus swam around him, just out of reach.

Gallant Ouyang swallowed a lungful of water and his body grew heavier until his feet sunk down and met the seabed. At the touch of solid ground, he felt his mind clear momentarily. Before his body started to float up again, he grabbed at a rock on the ocean floor and tried to pinpoint the direction of the shore. The water was murky, however.

He felt with his feet and noticed a ridge of higher ground, where the water was shallower. The craggy reef was not easy to navigate, but he moved as quickly as he could across it, using his internal strength, his head still submerged.

Lotus, meanwhile, waited for him to emerge. She dived down to check, only to discover him walking through the water, much to her surprise. She swam up behind him and drew her dagger.

Feeling the water at his back move, Gallant jerked sideways, before urging his body faster through the water. He was rapidly running out of oxygen, so he dropped the large stone and rushed to the surface, gasping for air. The shore was close by, so he dropped back down to the seabed and marched in its direction.

There was no stopping him now, Lotus realized, so she dived down into the water again.

Gallant crawled up onto the beach, his clothes drenched, his hearing muffled and his eyes a blur. He lay on the sand, exhausted, as his stomach convulsed, expelling the seawater until his belly was empty. He panted, the anger swelling inside him. "I'm going to kill that Old Beggar," he spat eventually. "Then we'll see if the girl listens to me!"

They were fine words, but the truth was that Gallant still feared Count Seven. He took a few deep breaths and tried to drive away his fatigue. He snapped a small branch from a nearby tree, with the intention of using it in lieu of his usual folding fan, which he used to strike out at his opponents' pressure points. Then he started walking toward the cave.

He did not approach so as to be visible from the entrance, but circled round to it from the side. He stopped and listened. All was quiet. After waiting some time, he poked his head around the rock and looked inside. Count Seven was sitting cross-legged on the ground, his face turned to the sun. He was meditating and he looked peaceful. There was no hint that he was in pain.

I'll test him, Gallant thought to himself, to see if he can walk.

"Uncle Hong!" he called out. "Help!"

"What?"

"It's Sister Huang. She was chasing a hare and fell down a steep ridge. She's hurt and can't climb up!"

"Run and save her, boy!" Count Seven cried, the shock evident on his face.

So, he can't, Gallant thought with a smile. Otherwise, he would go himself.

He entered the cave, the smile still playing across his lips. "She's been plotting to kill me. How can I save her? You do it."

Count Seven knew at once it was all a ruse. The dirty scoundrel thinks I'm too injured to fight, he thought. This does not bode well!

If he was destined to die, he was going to have to take the young man with him. It was the only way. Surreptitiously, he channeled his strength into his right arm and waited for Gallant to approach. But even this small movement sent pain shooting down his back. It felt as if his body was about to break apart.

Gallant grinned and began close in on him. Count Seven sighed quietly, closed his eyes and waited for what was about to come.

LOTUS WATCHED from underwater as Gallant climbed ashore. I won't be able to trick him again so easily, she thought. He'll be on his guard.

She swam a dozen or so meters farther out to sea, rose up to the surface and took a few breaths. Then she turned to her left and sunk back down to safety beneath the waves. From there, she spotted a patch of vegetation by the water's edge, beyond the beach. She was suddenly reminded of Peach Blossom Island and a sadness swept over her. I should find a place for Shifu and me to hide, so that villain won't be able to find us, she thought. It was not an inspired plan, but perhaps luck would shine on them and her Master would be able to recover in peace.

She waded ashore, but was careful not to stray too far from the water's edge. If only I had paid more attention to Father's Mysterious Gates and Five Elements instead of always playing, then maybe I would be able to defeat the villain myself. But it was no use thinking that way. Her father had given Gallant Ouyang the map to Peach Blossom Island. He was intelligent enough to be able to decode it.

Lotus was too lost in thought to notice where she was putting her feet. She tripped on a vine and a shower of pebbles fell on her head. She jumped aside. All around her were trees. She stumbled back and into the trunk of a tree, sending another hail of stones down on her shoulders. It was just as well she was wearing her Hedgehog Chainmail.

She looked up into the branches and what she saw gave her a terrible surprise.

Only a few paces behind her rose a sheer cliff, at the top of which was balanced a gigantic boulder, which was trembling above her head. Any slight movement could disrupt its perfect equilibrium and send it crashing down on top of her. It was wrapped in a tangle of vines, one of which extended down the cliff. The same vine she had tripped over. Who knew how many tons the stone weighed, but no doubt it would be enough to turn her into mincemeat.

Carefully, Lotus picked her way through the hanging vines and branches until she was a safe distance from the cliff. No people ever came to this island and there was not a bird in sight. Without anyone passing to yank on the wrong vine, the rock could have been precariously balanced like this for thousands of years, swaying back and forth. All but the gentlest of breezes was blocked by yet taller cliffs and peaks, otherwise a strong wind might have dislodged it by now. No doubt it would remain, trembling like that, for hundreds of thousands of years to come.

Lotus paused. She did not quite dare to go on, and instead turned back to return to her shifu. As she walked, a thought came to her: The heavens want this scoundrel dead, too. They are providing the perfect opportunity. Why did it take me so long to realize it? Her body felt lighter and she turned two somersaults in the air.

She hurried back to the cliff and examined the area. The ancient trees would provide a protection of sorts, she only really needed to jump a few feet—five, perhaps—in order to avoid being crushed. Without prior warning, however, even the birds and the squirrels would struggle to escape in time.

Cautiously, she approached the foot of the cliff, and, using her dagger, she found seven or eight vines that were directly connected to the boulder. She then cut away any that were not holding it in place. She held her breath with every slice, moving the blade quickly and steadily, sucking the air deep into her lungs after each one. If she used too much force, she could bring the rock crashing down. By the time she had cut the two dozen or so redundant vines, she was soaked in sweat. She felt more exhausted than she did after a fight. Then she gathered the cut vines into a bundle to make a marker for her return, before looking around her and committing the route to memory. She returned to her Master, whistling a tune as she went.

7

Just as lotus drew close to the cave, she heard an arrogant cackle come from inside.

"You claim to be unparalleled in the wulin, and yet I have you, now, in the palm of my hand! Fine—as you are my elder, I will let you have the first three moves. What do you say? Let me see your Dragon-Subduing Palm!"

Oh no, Lotus thought, realizing at once what was going on. "Father! Are you here? And Uncle Ouyang—you've come too!"

Gallant had been just about to strike Count Seven when he heard Lotus outside. His uncle? And the Old Heretic? What were they doing here? Oh, it's the girl, out to trick me again, he thought. Although, as the old man can't move, there's no harm in taking a look, he reasoned. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left the cave.

Lotus was waving toward the beach. "Papa! Papa!"

Gallant peered out to sea, but he could see no sign of Apothecary Huang.

"Sister, are you trying to trick me into coming out to play? Looks like you did it again."

"Trick you?" Lotus said with a twinkle in her eye. Then she began to run toward the beach.

"This time, I'm watching you," Gallant called, following her. "I dare you to try dragging me into the water again."

Thanks to his superior lightness kung fu, he was drawing close fast.

Oh no, Lotus said to herself. He might catch me before we get to the cliff.

She kept running, but Ouyang was nearly upon her. At the last moment, Lotus turned left, heading away from the beach.

Gallant Ouyang was actually making sure not to get too close. Instead, he called after Lotus: "Are we playing hide-and-seek?"

Lotus stopped suddenly and said, "There's a tiger up ahead. Keep following me and it'll eat you."

"I'm the tiger and I'm going to eat you."

He leaped toward her, but Lotus dodged, laughed and kept running.

Moments later, they were approaching the cliff.

"Come on!" Lotus called out as she ran faster.

Just as she reached her destination, she saw two figures on the beach. She was curious, but she did not have time to stop and look properly. She spotted the pile of cut vines and ran toward the rock face.

"And the tiger?" Gallant said and laughed. He ran like an arrow toward her. He did not suspect a thing, though it was noticeable that some of the vegetation had been cleared. He charged straight into the vines that remained … tugging the rock off balance.

There was a cracking sound and Gallant felt a rush of air press down upon him. He looked up. What he saw frightened him out of his wits. There, hurtling at full speed toward him, was a piece of rock as big as a mountain. The displaced air pushed down on him with such force that he could barely breathe. He tried to jump back, but he slammed into the trunk of a large tree, winding himself, and the force of his body snapped off a branch, which fell and pierced his back. At this critical moment, he felt no pain. He had to get out of the way.

He scrambled toward safety, but, in his panic, he only managed to move about a meter. The fear had petrified him.

At that moment, he felt a hand grab him and pull him back a few feet more.

But it was too late.

CRASH! Gallant howled, the world turned to mist, dust flew.

He had fainted.

Her plan had worked, and she was delighted. The only flaw was that she had not prepared for the deafening sound and the gust of air, which had blown her back to land on her rump. A rain of small stones pelted her head. She bent forward and covered it with her arms, before rolling onto her side. Only once all was quiet again did she open her eyes.

As the dust settled, she saw two figures standing close by.

She rubbed her eyes, as if waking from a dream. There, standing before her, was Viper Ouyang, Venom of the West. The other was her beloved Guo Jing.

Lotus yelped and leaped to her feet. Guo Jing was astounded to see her and he too lurched forward. They were reunited in each other's arms.

In their excitement, both forgot their enemy was nearby.

8

Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang had continued fighting as the boat around them went up in flames. Before they realized what was happening, the ship started to sink, drawing them down into the sea with it. As they sank deeper, the pressure grew more intense, and they felt the water forcing its way into their ears and noses. The pain was hard to endure, and they were forced to abandon their struggle against one another as they tried to cover their nostrils and eardrums.

A strong undercurrent was moving in the opposite direction to the surface waves, and, before they knew what was happening, they had been swept away. Guo Jing kicked his way to air, only to discover that the sky was dark and the wreckage of his ship was now very far away indeed.

Guo Jing cried out into the inky blackness. He did not know it, but, at that moment, Lotus was calling out for him too. But, as the waves carried them farther apart, how could they hope to find each other again? Guo Jing kept shouting until he felt something tug at his left leg. A head surfaced. Viper Ouyang. He may have been a master of the wulin, but he was not a strong swimmer, so he clutched Guo Jing's leg and refused to let go. Guo Jing tried to kick him away, only to have Viper grab his right leg too.

They wrestled in the water, but quickly began to sink.

"Let go of my legs! I won't leave you," Guo Jing managed to cry out when he resurfaced again.

Viper knew that, if he did not release the boy's legs, they would both drown, so he let go and instead took hold of Guo Jing's right arm. Guo Jing reached out and wedged his hand under Viper's armpit, and together the two men bobbed in the water.

At that moment, a large spar of driftwood came rushing toward them on a wave and crashed into Guo Jing's shoulder.

"Careful!" Viper cried.

Delighted by their luck, Guo Jing seized it. "Quick, hold on! Don't let go."

They had been saved by a length of what had once been the ship's mast.

The two gazed out into the vast expanse of water that surrounded them. There was no sign of any sails. Viper Ouyang had long since lost his Serpent Staff and was feeling queasy with worry. If we encounter any sharks out here, we'll have no choice but to fight like Zhou Botong. I saved him, but who is going to save me?

As they continued to float in the water, shoals of fish swam past. A sharp chop and together they could feast on raw fish.

As the ancients used to say: "Those aboard the same boat must share the same fate." Hours before, they had been fighting; now, they depended on each other for survival. Luckily, they encountered no great danger, and, without their knowing it, the current was carrying them toward the same usually deserted island that Lotus and Count Seven had landed on.

A few days later, they scrambled onto the beach and lay down in the sand, panting as they rested. But, before long, the sound of laughter reached them on the wind. Viper Ouyang jumped to his feet and began to chase after it. Staggered by the coincidence, he caught sight of his nephew. He rushed forward, just as the giant rock was hurtling toward Gallant, and, at the last moment, pulled him far enough out of its path that only his legs were crushed beneath the huge weight. Gallant had fainted before he felt the force hit him.

Viper glanced around anxiously, but could see no other obvious danger, so he began attending to his nephew. He checked his breathing—he was still alive. He tried to push the rock aside, but it refused to budge. He squatted, and, using his Exploding Toad kung fu, pushed with both palms and croaked three times in quick succession. And yet, nothing. He was strong, to be sure, but how could one man alone move some twenty thousand jin of rock?

He bent down just as Gallant opened his eyes.

"Uncle!" His voice was weak.

"Keep strong a little longer." Viper pulled the young man's upper body into his arms and tugged, but Gallant screamed and fainted again. He would not be so easily freed, and pulling in this manner would only injure him further. Viper had no shovel and no hoe—there was no way to dig him out. The old man stared, his mind blank.

9

Guo Jing took lotus's hand in his. "What about our Shifu?"

"Over there," she said, and pointed.

Guo Jing was delighted to hear that their Master was safe, and he was about to suggest they go to see him, when Viper let out a long and terrible wail. Guo Jing could not help but feel moved.

"Let me help you."

"Let's go and see Shifu," Lotus said, tugging on his sleeve. "They don't deserve our help!"

Viper Ouyang did not know it had been a trap set up by Lotus. No one could have placed such a heavy rock at the top of the cliff on purpose. But her words lit a spark of fury inside him, and he was just as startled as Guo Jing to hear that Count Seven was here on the island too. The Old Beggar took a hit to his back and he was bitten by one of my snakes, and still he lives? Well, he must be severely weakened, at least. Why should I fear him?

Still holding Lotus by the hand, Guo Jing knelt beside the rock and pretended to push. Then, just as they turned away, he said to Gallant, "Don't worry. I will think of something. Circulate your qi, that will protect your heart, and pretend those legs aren't yours. Just forget them."

The young couple left, affectionately clutching one another around the waist. Viper tiptoed behind them, his heart inflamed with rage. If I don't torture these two to the point that they beg for death, why, then my name is not Venom of the West.

Lotus led Guo Jing to the mouth of the cave. Guo Jing ran inside.

"Shifu!"

Count Seven was leaning back against the rocky inner wall, all color drained from his face, his eyes closed. His encounter with Gallant Ouyang had enraged him and aggravated his injury. Lotus loosened his outer robes, while Guo Jing massaged his hands and feet.

Count Seven opened his eyes to the sight of Guo Jing. "Lad, you're here!" The corners of his mouth pulled upward in a slight smile and his face lit up with delight.

Guo Jing was about to reply when a loud voice came from behind him: "So am I, Old Beggar."

Guo Jing turned quickly and thrust a palm toward the cave opening. Lotus grabbed her Master's bamboo stick and took her place beside Guo Jing.

Viper Ouyang laughed. "Come out, Old Beggar. If you don't, I'll come in."

Guo Jing and Lotus exchanged glances. They were thinking the same thing: he must not be allowed to touch Shifu, even if we must pay with our lives.

Viper Ouyang laughed again and leaped up like a monkey. Guo Jing moved to block him with his palm. Viper turned to avoid his strike, brushing past his right side, only to come face-to-face with a stick flying straight at him. It quivered as it split the air, almost as if it was aiming at both his upper and lower body at the same time. A shiver went through his heart. He flicked his hand and swept with a foot to meet whatever was coming his way. And yet, Lotus's bamboo stick plunged straight through his guard, into his abdomen.

Viper Ouyang jumped back in shock and looked her up and down.

It was the first time Lotus had used the Dog-Beating Cane in a fight, and the results left her flushed with pride. He had not been expecting her to possess such skill—indeed, he had never seen anything of the like before. He snorted, leaped forward and aimed for the stick. But Lotus jabbed and hit this way and that, turning it into a blur of dancing green. She was unable to land any blows, but it was enough to confuse the old Master and prevent him from snatching it from her.

"Well done, Lotus!" Guo Jing cried from the sidelines. Then he entered the fray with a palm from the left and a strike from the right. Viper Ouyang roared, crouched and sent two palm strikes in Lotus's direction, whipping up dust from the ground with the force of the thrust. Guo Jing watched in horror. She would be gravely injured if she took either blow head-on, so he leaped toward her and pushed her aside.

Viper Ouyang stepped forward and struck again with both palms. For all his legendary prowess, Count Seven had been unable to prevail against the force behind these moves when they had met, only a few days ago, on Peach Blossom Island. The young couple were forced back until Viper was able to enter the cave. He beat his palm against the stone wall, sending a shower of stones around them. Then he raised his other hand above Count Seven's head and paused, staring down at him.

"My shifu saved your life, and yet you threaten him?" Lotus cried. "Have you no shame?"

Viper Ouyang gently pushed Count Seven Hong's chest and felt his muscles shrink back. It was clear that Count Seven's injuries had severely impaired his martial capabilities. Before, his muscles would have rebounded instantaneously against the pressure. Viper was relieved. He grabbed hold of the old man and cried, "Save my nephew and I'll spare your life!"

"The heavens sent that rock down on him, you saw it with your own eyes," Lotus cried. "Who can save him? If you try any more of your tricks, the heavens will find a rock to throw down on you."

Guo Jing watched as, ignoring Lotus, Viper lifted Count Seven by his robes, as if he was going to throw him to the ground. But he felt it was just a threat—he would not really harm Count Seven in this way, surely. And yet, still, he was anxious. "Please, put him down. We'll help your nephew."

Viper was extremely concerned for Gallant and wanted nothing more than to rush to his side. But he kept his face still and, after a moment's hesitation, put Count Seven down.

"We will help you, but we must agree terms."

"What is it the young girl wants?"

"Once we've saved your nephew, and we've settled on this deserted island with our shifu, the two of you are never to return to do us harm."

My nephew and I cannot swim, so we will need their help to make it back to the mainland. He nodded. "Fine. As long as you stay on this island, I vow not to come and kill you. Should you leave it, however, I make no promises."

"In that case, we will come for you. My second condition: my father has already betrothed me to Guo Jing. You heard it with your own ears and saw it with your own eyes. Should your nephew harass me again, you two shall be known forever as lower than both pig and dog."

"Fie! Only on this island. Should you leave … we'll see."

Lotus smiled. "And the third condition: we agree to help you, but we are not gods. Should the heavens decide to take your nephew, then no man may help him and there shall be no consequences for us."

"If my nephew dies," Viper said, a flash of ire in his eyes, "you three can forget about living. No more nonsense—my nephew needs help now." He then left the cave and ran toward the cliff.

Guo Jing was about to follow when Lotus stopped him. "Brother Jing, when he's trying to move the rock, you hit him in the back. We can be rid of him once and for all."

"But, to strike someone like that? Why, it's dishonorable."

"He poisoned our shifu," Lotus said with a hint of displeasure in her voice. "Was that honorable?"

"We must keep our word. First, we save his nephew; then we may seek our revenge."

Lotus smiled and sighed. It was impossible to get Guo Jing to plot in this way. She had spent the last two days believing him to be lying dead at the bottom of the sea, but here they were, reunited, and she was so happy, her heart felt ready to explode. Guo Jing could say or do the most outrageous and unforgivable things and still she would not go against him. No, she would do as he said. His principles were a little tiresome, but they did show he would make a virtuous husband. She smiled again. "Fine. You are the sage; I listen to you."

They ran in the direction of the cliff, the sound of Viper's anguished groans already reaching their ears.

"Hurry!" he called toward them.

They took their positions next to him, all six hands placed on the rock.

"Heave!"

All three pushed as hard as they could. The rock shook slightly before slamming back into position. Gallant responded with a desperate wail and his eyes rolled back.

Viper rushed to his side. The young man's breathing was weak. He had bitten through his tongue due to the pain and his mouth and chin were covered in blood. Even a powerful master of the wulin such as Viper was powerless to shift the rock. He was going mad with anguish. By moving it only slightly, he had caused Gallant even more suffering. Viper began to pace up and down, but stopped in his tracks when he felt the ground beneath his feet turn soft. He lifted his foot, only to lose a shoe in the sand.

Viper bent down to retrieve his shoe and froze in shock; the tide was coming in and was now only fifty feet from the rock.

"Young girl, if you want your Master to live, you had better think of a way to save my nephew."

Lotus was already working on a plan. But the rock was so huge and there were only three of them. She had raced through at least ten different ideas, but none were viable.

"If only your Master wasn't injured," Viper said, interrupting her thoughts. "He could have moved it with his considerable external kung fu. Not to mention his palm technique. But now…" He threw his hands out in exasperation.

Perhaps it's fate, he found himself thinking. Had the Old Beggar not been injured, he would surely have helped, such is his righteous character. The heavens decreed it: by hurting him, I was as good as killing my boy.

Viper called Gallant his nephew, but in fact the young man was the result of an affair with his sister-in-law. He had always been hard of heart, but now he ached for his own flesh and blood. He turned to see the water was now a few feet closer.

Just then, Gallant cried out to his uncle. "Please, kill me with one blow. I … I can't bear it anymore."

Viper removed a sharp dagger from his robes and gritted his teeth. "Just a little longer. You can still live without your legs."

"No, no! Uncle! Use the blade to kill me instead."

"Have all these years of instructions been in vain? Are you so spineless?" Viper was angry now.

Gallant pulled his arms around his chest, shivering from the pain. He was too scared to speak.

Viper looked down at his nephew. The rock was in fact crushing his lower abdomen. Even if his legs were amputated, his chances of survival were slim. He hesitated.

Lotus watched their exchange turn to silence and her heart softened. Suddenly, she remembered how her father used to move large rocks on Peach Blossom Island. "Wait! I have an idea. But there's no guarantee it will work."

"Dear girl, what is it?" Hope had returned to Viper's face. "Your ideas are always excellent."

So, now that I have an idea, he calls me dear girl? Lotus thought. She smiled. "Fine, then listen to me. We're going to take some tree bark and wrap it around the rock, like a rope."

"Who will pull?"

"We'll do like we did with the anchor on the boat—"

"Yes," Viper cried, suddenly understanding the plan. "Like a winch!"

Guo Jing listened and, rather than question her, instantly took the dagger from her and began peeling a length of bark from a nearby tree. Viper and Lotus followed his lead. Before long, they had formed a considerable pile.

Just then, Viper looked across at Gallant and cried, "No need!"

"What's the matter?" Lotus said. "Don't you think it will work?"

Viper pointed at his nephew. By now, the tide had risen and submerged the lower half of his body. He would be drowned before they had gathered enough bark, tied it into rope and constructed the winch. Gallant lay still.

"Don't lose hope!" Lotus cried. "Get cutting!"

It was an odd sight to see the tyrant obeying her so meekly, but he went back to cutting bark. Lotus jumped down from her perch high up in the branches and ran over to Gallant. She wedged some stones underneath his back so that his nose and mouth were lifted farther out of the water.

"Miss Huang, thank you," Gallant began in a quiet voice. "If I die, at least I will be content knowing you tried to save me."

"Don't thank me," Lotus said, a wave of regret coming over her. "I set the trap, haven't you realized?"

"Shhh. If my uncle hears you say that, he will never forgive you. I am devoted to you. I have no regrets dying by your hand."

How tiresome, Lotus sighed to herself. But he treats me well—when he isn't trying to take advantage of me.

She returned to the others and began working on the bark. She braided three strips together to form one thin rope, then took six of these to form a thicker rope, before taking several of these and forming a strong cable. Viper and Guo Jing continued to slice bark from the trees for Lotus to weave together.

They worked fast, but the tide came in faster; before the cable was even halfway complete, the water had risen to Gallant's mouth. Soon after, only his nose was left proud of the surface.

Viper jumped down from his branch and looked at the young couple. "You can go," he began, his voice heavy, but his expression surprisingly calm. "I wish to speak with my nephew alone. You tried to save him, and I appreciate it."

Guo Jing saw that it was hopeless, so he climbed down from the tree and left with Lotus. After a few meters, Lotus whispered, "Let's hide behind the rock and listen."

"But whatever he has to say isn't our business. Anyway, he'll notice."

"Once Gallant is dead, he will turn on Shifu. We have to be prepared. If the Old Venom sees us, we can just say that we've come to pay our respects."

Guo Jing nodded. They slipped behind some trees, then crept back toward nephew and uncle, and hid behind the rock.

"Go now, boy; I know what is in your heart. You wanted to marry the Old Heretic Huang's daughter, and I will grant you your wish."

Lotus and Guo Jing both listened in surprise. What did he mean by "I will grant you your wish"? Gallant was about to die. What came next was just as bewildering—and enraging. Indeed, it sent shivers down their spines.

"I will kill Miss Huang, so you can be buried together and you will have peace."

Gallant's mouth was already submerged, so he could make no reply.

Lotus squeezed Guo Jing's hand and together they turned away. Neither wanted to watch Viper Ouyang mourn.

"It will be a fight to the death," Guo Jing growled, once they were at a safe distance.

"With him, it is best to use our brains, not our fists," Lotus replied.

"How?"

"I'm still thinking."

As they turned around a corner, they spotted a clump of reeds growing at the foot of the cliff.

Just then, an idea came to her. "I know a way to save his nephew!"

"How?"

Lotus took out a small knife and cut a reed pipe about two feet long. Then she put it between her lips, looked up to the sky and sucked the air through it, like a straw.

"Amazing!" Guo Jing said, clapping his hands. "How did you think of it? Are you going to save him or not?"

"Of course not. If Old Venom wants to kill me, let him. I'm not scared of him! I can run far, far away—he'll never catch me." She paused and thought about the old man's horrible ways. A shiver went through her. Not only was his kung fu exceptional, he was far more intelligent and cunning than his nephew. It would not be so easy to fool him.

Guo Jing merely watched in silence.

Lotus took his hand. "Don't say you want to save a scoundrel like that?" she said softly. "You're worried about me, aren't you? If we were to save him, they wouldn't necessarily repay the kindness."

"You're right. But I'm worried about you, and about Shifu. Old Venom commands a sect. What he says contains at least some credibility."

"Fine. Let's save Gallant and take the consequences as they come."

They turned back and approached the rock. As they rounded it, they saw Viper standing in the water, holding his nephew in his arms. He looked up and saw them coming. There was a brutal glint in his eye.

"I told you to leave. What are you doing here?" he cried.

Lotus sat on a nearby stone and laughed. "I've come to see if he's dead yet."

"What does it matter to you if he is dead or alive?"

"If he's already dead, then I'm too late."

Viper Ouyang leaped up. "Dear … Dear girl, he's not dead. If you can save him, tell me … Tell me how."

Lotus threw the reed pipe to him. "Put this in his mouth, and he might just live."

Grinning, Viper snatched it out of the air and knelt in the water to fit it between his nephew's lips. The water was just starting to cover Gallant's nose and he was down to his last lungfuls of air. He had been able to hear their conversation, however, and so, as soon as the reed was placed in his mouth, he sucked greedily for air. It felt so good that it made him forget the pain in his legs for a moment.

"Quick, let's keep making the ropes," Viper said.

"But, Uncle Ouyang, you're planning to kill me and bury me with your nephew, aren't you?"

Viper was startled. How did she hear that?

"If you kill me," Lotus said with a smile, "who's going to help you the next time you get in trouble?"

Viper Ouyang had no choice but to pretend not to have heard her mockery, and instead he turned his attention back to gathering tree bark.

They worked for more than two hours, weaving together a thick cable, over one hundred meters in length. The water had submerged the bottom half of the rock, and only the tip of Gallant's reed pipe remained above the surface. Viper was uneasy and repeatedly reached into the water to feel for his nephew's pulse.

As they continued, the tide began to recede, slowly revealing Gallant's head again. Lotus measured the rope and called, "We have enough, now! I need four large trunks to act as masts."

Viper Ouyang was skeptical. How could they find the tools on a deserted island to make a winch?

"How?"

"Never you mind. Just find me what I need."

Viper feared the young girl's temper, so he began searching for suitable trees. Once he'd selected them, he crouched and thrust his palms at the lower part of the trunk, in a move from his Exploding Toad repertoire. It took only a few strikes to fell each one. Guo Jing and Lotus watched this fearsome display of internal strength and exchanged glances. Viper then found a long, flat piece of rock. Once again, he gathered his qi and shaved the branches from the trunks, before bringing them to Lotus.

Lotus and Guo Jing tied one end of the long cable around three of the trunks, before looping it around the rock and tying it to a nearby pine, several hundred years in age and of such girth that it would take at least four men to stretch their arms around it.

"This tree should be able to take the weight," Lotus said, answering a question no one had asked.

Viper Ouyang nodded.

Lotus instructed them to take another length of their rope and tie the fourth trunk so that they formed a square shape around the rock. They then attached the cable to it.

"How clever, little girl! No one could doubt that you are your father's daughter!"

"I am nothing compared to your nephew," Lotus said and smiled. "Let's begin!"

The three began to pivot the trunks around the old pine. The ropes quickly tightened, and the rock started to rise.

The sun was setting, and half the sky was painted a bright red, its reflection staining the sea. It was a marvelous sight. The tide had long since pulled back, and Gallant was lying in the soft sand, his eyes fixed on the giant rock as it trembled on its upward trajectory. The ropes creaked as Gallant watched in anxious delight.

They had completed one revolution of their giant winch, but the rock had only lifted half an inch. The old pine shook ever so slightly, the strain becoming evident as its needles rained down to carpet the ground around it, and the rope carved a groove into its bark.

Viper was not usually one to call upon the gods for help, for he did not admit to believing in spirits, but at this moment he was praying quietly to himself.

Then the rope snapped and the rock crashed back down upon Gallant with a loud thud. Gallant tried to scream, but no sound came from his lips. The tree trunks spun back, slamming into Lotus and knocking her off her feet. Guo Jing rushed to her side to help her up.

Viper watched, grief overtaking him. No smile graced Lotus's lips anymore.

"Let's tie it back together with another rope, to make it stronger," Guo Jing said.

"There's no way. We give up."

"If only someone could help us," Guo Jing mumbled to himself.

"Huh!" Viper spat. He knew the boy was well intentioned, but, in his grief, he had no patience for such nonsense.

Lotus thought in silence. Then, suddenly, she jumped up and clapped her hands. A smile was spread across her face. "There is someone!"

"Who?" Guo Jing asked.

"The only problem is, Brother Ouyang would have to be patient for another day and wait for the tide to come in again before we could free him."

Viper and Guo Jing looked at her. Was someone going to come with the tide to rescue Gallant?

"We are all tired and hungry. Let's go and find some food," Lotus said.

"Young lady, please explain first," Viper said.

"This time tomorrow, Master Ouyang will be freed from under that rock. I'm afraid I am not at liberty to explain how."

Her confidence appeased Viper's doubts. He did not have a choice. He would stay by his nephew's side and wait.

Guo Jing and Lotus caught a few wild hares and cooked one for Viper and Gallant. They then returned to Count Seven in the cave, where they ate and talked about everything that had happened since they had parted.

Much to Guo Jing's surprise, Lotus explained that she had been the one to set the trap. Viper would not bother them during the night, so they lit a fire at the mouth of the cave to stop any animals entering and then settled down for a full night's sleep.