Chapter 12 - SECRET ORDERS SEALED IN SILK

1

Eighteen of Qiu Chuji's disciples had accompanied him on his journey west, among them Li Zhichang, Yin Zhiping, Xia Zhicheng, Yu Zhike, Zhang Zhisu, Wang Zhiming and Song Defang. At Genghis Khan's request, Guo Jing showed them to their quarters, and, once they had rested, they joined the conqueror at the victory feast. Qiu Chuji answered his questions with patient courtesy, explaining in detail the Taoist methods for strengthening the body and extending one's years, while emphasizing that they were related to protecting the people and performing good deeds. By the time the banquet was over, the skies were beginning to grow light.

Lotus was waiting for Guo Jing at the palace gates with the Beggar Elders and her thousand clansfolk, all mounted on their steeds. She urged her horse forward the moment she saw him emerge.

"Did it go well? I was worried that the Great Khan would try to behead you in his rage, so I brought everybody here in case we needed to rescue you. What did he say? Did he agree?"

"… I didn't ask him."

"Why?"

"Don't be angry. It was because—"

"Guo Jing!"

Lotus blanched at the sound of Khojin's voice.

The Mongolian Princess sprinted from the palace, making straight for her betrothed. "Are you happy to see me?" She clasped her hands over his. "You didn't think you'd find me here, did you?"

Guo Jing nodded, then shook his head. He turned back to explain to Lotus what had happened, but she had slipped away, leaving her horse behind.

Khojin chattered away, telling him how much she had missed him. She did not realize that she had interrupted a conversation, or that Guo Jing was incapable of paying attention to what she had to say.

The young man was in turmoil. Lotus must think that I didn't ask to cancel the engagement because Khojin was there. What can I do to remedy the situation?

At last, Khojin noticed that Guo Jing was distracted. "What's wrong with you? I've come all this way to see you. Why are you ignoring me?"

"Sister, I have to see to an important matter now. We'll speak later."

Guo Jing pulled his hands away and rushed back to the camp. When he entered his ger, he asked his guards if they had seen Lotus.

"Miss Huang was here not long ago," one answered. "She took a painting and rode off with it."

"A painting?" Foreboding seized Guo Jing.

"Yes, the one you often look at."

She took her portrait … Does that mean she wants to cut all ties with me? Guo Jing thought with alarm. I'll leave everything behind and go south with her.

He scribbled a note for Qiu Chuji and vaulted into Ulaan's saddle. The swift Fergana horse took him beyond the walls of Samarkand in no time at all. Fearing he might already be too late, Guo Jing urged his steed on, again and again. Before he knew it, he was dozens of li from the city. The ground, no longer strewn with the bloody corpses of men and horses, was covered by a blanket of pristine white snow. He spotted a distinct trail of hoof prints heading eastward in a straight line.

No horse on earth is faster than Ulaan. It won't be long until I catch up with her, Guo Jing told himself to bolster his spirits. Then, we can fetch my mother and return to the South together. I don't care if the Great Khan and Khojin resent me for the rest of their days.

Another dozen li. The marks now led north, and appearing alongside them was a line of footprints that were unlike any Guo Jing had seen before. This person had an exceptionally long stride—each step spaced almost four chi apart—and yet, his tread was light, the indentations in the snow no more than a couple of inches deep.

No one but Viper Ouyang has this level of lightness kung fu out here, Guo Jing noted with apprehension. Could it be him? Is he tracking Lotus? A heavy sweat dampened his clothes, despite the wintry air.

Having followed the hoof marks for some time, Ulaan now understood what his master was seeking and galloped after the spoor left by Lotus's horse, without needing to be prompted. For several li, the footsteps stalked the horse's path, in a straight line at first, until both sets of tracks veered west, then south, twisting and turning.

Lotus must have discovered the Venom and tried to shake him off, Guo Jing concluded. But how can she lose him when her horse leaves such an obvious trail?

He shadowed the tracks for yet another dozen li before noticing that they had begun to merge with some other impressions in the snow. He dismounted to take a better look. A similar trail of hoof- and footprints heading in the same direction, but one set of marks seemed to have been made before the other.

Maybe Lotus's evasive maneuvers were based on her father's interpretation of the Mysterious Gates? And, here, she seems to have returned to her original course … This line of reasoning reassured Guo Jing somewhat, for he had faith in her knowledge and believed that it could help her confound the Venom, but, at the same time, he worried about losing track of her amid the confusion of prints. He stood rooted to the spot, trying to work out how he should proceed, until it occurred to him that, however roundabout her route, ultimately she would have to head east to get back to the Central Plains. He mounted Ulaan once more, double-checked his bearings and set off, riding resolutely east.

AFTER GALLOPING for some distance, he came upon footprints again and caught sight of the silhouette of a man where the blue sky met the white snow. He urged Ulaan toward it, and as they approached he realized that it was Viper Ouyang. The martial Master had also seen him. "Hurry!" he cried. "She's in trouble!"

Guo Jing tensed his legs and the Fergana horse darted forward like an arrow, yet, when they were within several hundred paces of the Venom, Ulaan's gait changed. His hooves seemed to be sinking into the snow, as though there was a swamp underfoot rather than solid ground; then, snorting in agitation, he took off at an angle before circling back.

Mystified by his mount's behavior, Guo Jing noticed something even stranger. Viper was running in circles around a small tree. Guo Jing tugged at the reins, urging Ulaan to stop so he could speak to the man, but, for the first time, his prized horse defied him, making another loop without slowing down.

Have we wandered into a marsh? Is that why both Ulaan and the Venom won't stop moving? Is it to avoid being dragged down? he asked himself. But what about Lotus? He said she was in trouble."Where's Miss Huang?" Guo Jing yelled in Viper's direction.

"I followed her prints here, then I lost all trace of her." The Martial Great pointed to the tree he was circling. "Look!"

Guo Jing spurred Ulaan over, managing to regain some control over him, and his attention was gripped by something hanging from a branch—it was glistening in the crisp sunlight. He snatched it up as they raced past. The golden band Lotus wore in her hair. Guo Jing's heart was in his throat. Not knowing what else to do, he headed east once more, galloping for several li, until he spotted a glint in the snow. Still in the saddle, he stretched his arm out, reached down, and picked up the gold and pearl brooch Lotus often pinned to her lapel. His despair intensified.

"Lotus! Where are you?"

A sea of white. In every direction. As far as the eye could see. He longed to catch a dark smudge speeding across this bleached expanse. He pushed on a few more li. And then he saw it.

Ahead of him, to the left, the black sable coat he had given her in Kalgan.

"Lotus!"

As Ulaan trotted around the coat, Guo Jing stood in the stirrups, his cries rippling out across the frozen plain. No reply. The flat terrain would not even grant him an echo. Sobs distorted his voice as he shouted her name.

Soon, Viper Ouyang drew up alongside him. "We'll look for her together. Let me rest for a moment and take a turn on your horse."

"She wouldn't be out here if it weren't for you!" Guo Jing tightened his thigh muscles and Ulaan took off.

Incensed, Viper flexed his back foot and sprang forward. In three great leaps, he was looming over the Fergana horse and reaching for his tail.

Unnerved by the Venom's explosive turn of pace, Guo Jing swung his right arm back in a Dragon Whips Tail, channeling his full strength. Palms clashed. He was sent shooting into the air, but thankfully Ulaan maintained a straight course. As Guo Jing fell, he stretched out and tapped his left hand on his horse's hindquarters, vaulting back into the saddle.

The force of Guo Jing's blow, meanwhile, had pushed Viper back by two steps. In a bid to counter the backward thrust, the martial Master planted one foot with a touch more force than was advisable. It was immediately gobbled up by the mud, leaving him shackled to the spot, with one leg knee-deep in the mire. Viper was well aware that, if he pulled the trapped limb out upward, he would end up driving his other foot down. Each fresh attempt to extract himself would only result in him being sucked in further, to the point where not even his superb martial skills could help. So, he drew himself up to his full height and tipped himself onto his back. As he touched the ground, he rolled sideways and swiped his free leg up in a Mandarin Duck kick. Drawing on the move's momentum, he dragged his other foot through the slurping mud in the same direction, plucking it out in a spray of sludge.

By the time Viper had extricated himself and flipped upright, Guo Jing had covered more than a li on his swift mount, shouting "Lotus! Lotus!" all the while. The Martial Great studied the horse's gait, which seemed to be getting increasingly balanced and even. Thinking that they must now be clear of the swamp, he hastened after Guo Jing, following the hoof prints, and yet the ground felt spongier with each step he took.

Viper suspected that he had been led from the edge of the marsh to its heart, and was reminded of the snares Guo Jing had laid for him in their last three encounters. The most recent of them was especially galling. The humiliation of exposing his unclothed body before the eyes of several hundred thousand men, no matter how awed they had been by his martial skills, was a burning shame he could not forget. He was determined to get retribution at all costs, so to find Guo Jing all alone in the wilderness was an opportunity too precious to miss. And he needed to ascertain if Lotus was still alive, for with her died his chances of discovering the secrets of the Nine Yin Manual. Gathering his qi, he deployed his fastest lightness kung fu, covering several li in an instant, swifter than a galloping horse.

The faint crunch of snow alerted Guo Jing. He looked back to find the Venom only a few zhang behind. Disconcerted, he urged Ulaan forward, and his pounding hooves had soon covered another dozen li.

All the way, the Fergana horse was keenly aware of the dangers lurking in the landscape. Feeling the soft ground give way beneath each thud of his hooves, he increased his speed, stretching his limbs as though he had taken flight and was coursing on the wind. The magnificent steed charged ahead, as quick as lightning, working up a coat of sweat the color of blood. Droplets of perspiration sprayed along his trail, splashes of crimson scattered like peach-blossom petals on the snow.

Viper Ouyang's lightness qinggong was exceptional, but, having maintained top speed for an extended period, he sensed his breathing getting ragged and the strength in his legs waning. Soon, his pace slackened.

Guo Jing continued to call for Lotus, his voice growing ever more hoarse and husky. The gloom of the night thickened. The chances of finding her were getting slimmer by the second.

IT WAS now pitch black. Ulaan had taken Guo Jing safely out of the swamp, leaving Viper Ouyang far behind.

A thought began to whirl in the young man's mind: I will give my life to find Lotus. Her horse can't compare to Ulaan. It probably got stuck half a li into the marsh.

On the one hand, Guo Jing understood that, if Lotus had indeed been swallowed by the bog, it was unlikely that he would be able to locate where it had happened, and, even if he succeeded, his only reward would be a cold body that was beyond all help, for he was painfully aware how long he had been searching. On the other, he found it comforting to cling onto the impossible idea that he could save her from the swamp.

Guo Jing dismounted and gave voice to his resolve, stroking the Fergana horse's back. "Oh, my trusty friend, I know it has been a hard day for you, but we have to turn back—even if it means death." He climbed wearily into the saddle and twitched the reins to indicate that they should return the same way.

Ulaan was frightened, unwilling to step into the marsh again, but Guo Jing insisted. Grunting, the celestial horse launched into his widest stride and headed back without further resistance. Knowing the great distance he had to cover, he built up his pace with every step, galloping faster and faster.

"Help! Help!"

Guo Jing had not long ventured back into the mire when Viper Ouyang's cries reached his ears. He followed the sound and saw, in the dim glow of the snow, two flailing arms raised high, grasping uselessly at the air. The bulk of the martial Master's body had been claimed by the bog, and the mud was creeping up his chest before Guo Jing's eyes. It would soon reach his mouth and nose, and, when that happened, his fate would be sealed along with them.

Guo Jing thought of Lotus suffering the same plight in her last moments, and hot blood surged and roiled in his breast. He almost jumped from Ulaan's back and plunged into the sludge himself …

"Help me! Quick!"

"My shifus died because of you. Lotus died because of you. I'll never help you!" Guo Jing spat the words out between gritted teeth.

"You swore to spare me three times."

"Lotus is gone! What's the point of our pact now?" Guo Jing yelled through his tears, riding off to a string of curses from Viper Ouyang. But, before long, he turned Ulaan around with a sigh. He could not steel his heart against a cry for help. The mud was already up to the Martial Great's neck.

"I'll pull you out, but I can't take you on the horse. We'll be too heavy and we'll sink."

"You can drag me along."

Guo Jing did not have a rope with him, so he took off his robe, dangled it from the saddle and galloped close to Viper Ouyang. The moment the martial Master grabbed the other side of the garment, Guo Jing squeezed his thighs and roared a command. Ulaan burst forward with all his strength and—plop!—pulled Viper out of the mire, onto its snowy surface.

If they were to head east now, they would soon be out of danger, but Guo Jing was not ready to give Lotus up and went west, farther into the swamp. Viper lay on his back and let himself be towed along at great speed, taking the opportunity to smooth his breathing and channel his qi.

Guo Jing had Ulaan traverse the bog through the night, only reaching the far side when the new day began to dawn. There, he found the hoof prints left by Lotus's mount when she had first chanced upon this dreadful place. Guo Jing leaped from his horse and stared at them, fresh tears pooling in his eyes.

Standing in the snow, he held Ulaan's reins in one hand and cradled Lotus's sable coat in the other. He gazed vacantly into the distance, as if in a trance. His heart ached so much that he forgot his arch enemy was directly behind him. All of a sudden, a light touch between his shoulder blades jolted Guo Jing back to the here and now, but, before he could twist away from it, the pressure increased by a fraction. He realized the Venom's hand was over his Kiln Path acupoint.

Viper Ouyang cackled wildly, ecstatic that he had Guo Jing's fate in his hands, just as he had been at the boy's mercy when he was buried in the sand at the Mongolian camp.

"Kill me if you like. You've never said you'd spare me."

Guo Jing's disregard for his own life unsettled the Martial Great. He had intended to humiliate the boy before dispatching him, but the despair in his voice surprised him.

I didn't realize their ties were so strong. He wants to die for love, but I won't grant him his wish … After all, he also holds the key to the secrets of the Nine Yin Manual.

His mind made up, Viper locked Guo Jing's acupressure points, slung the young man across his horse's back and rode the beast south.

2

By mid-morning, they came upon a deserted village choked with frozen corpses. Guo Jing could tell from their horrific wounds that they were victims of the Mongolian invasion.

Viper Ouyang urged Ulaan through the settlement, calling out to see if any villagers were left alive. No answer but the grunts and snuffles of cattle. Pleased that they were otherwise alone, he dismounted and dragged Guo Jing into a stone hut.

"You're my prisoner now, but I won't kill you. In fact, I'll let you go, if you can best me in a duel."

With that, he tapped the young man's pressure points to restore his movement and left the hut to look for food. Soon, he returned with a goat, slaughtered the animal and busied himself in the kitchen. When the meat was ready, he threw Guo Jing a shank.

"Fill your belly, then we fight."

"Why do you care if I'm hungry?" Riled by the Venom's self-satisfied expression, Guo Jing leaped up and hacked his palm at the martial Master's face.

Viper raised his arm to block and retaliated with a punch. The table and chairs in the house were sent flying in the blink of an eye.

After three dozen moves had been exchanged, Guo Jing, not yet recovered from the journey, began to feel stretched. Viper seized his chance, stole half a step forward and lashed out with his right palm. The strike threatened Guo Jing's abdomen, aimed at a point just under his rib cage. The young man knew he had no hope of evading this attack and forced himself to hold still, waiting for the burst of energy that would kill him, but all he received was a smirk.

"That's enough for today," the Venom said. "We'll resume tomorrow, after you've practiced a few moves from the Nine Yin Manual."

"Pah!" Guo Jing spat, righted a stool that had been flipped over during the fight and settled down to eat. He tore off a large mouthful of meat and pondered the Venom's words as he chewed.

You want me to show you moves from the Manual. Do you realize that will make me your shifu? Ha! He was amused by the thought. I won't fall for your tricks. You can kill me. I don't care! Because you'll never find out the Manual's secrets from me … Now, what can I do to fend off that move of yours, just now?

Guo Jing considered all the different palm- and fist-fighting systems he had learned, but none seemed capable of countering the move that had undone him. Then he recalled a technique called Willow Catkins, from the Nine Yin Manual, which was a method for ratcheting up one's strength. Maybe it could help neutralize the force contained within the Venom's vicious swipe?

But I'll practice it in my head, Guo Jing thought, aiming a silent jibe at his captor. You can try reading my mind, if you want to learn it! Once he had picked the mutton leg clean, he sat cross-legged on the floor and tried to visualize the relevant passage from the Manual, picturing the flow of energy in action. His familiarity with the Transforming Muscles, Forging Bones chapter in the martial tract had provided him with a solid foundation in advanced methods for controlling his body, and that understanding had been further augmented by the key tenets interpreted by Reverend Sole Light. In less than four hours, he was able to master the theory of Willow Catkins.

Guo Jing stole a sideway glance at Viper Ouyang, who was seated in a similar posture and appeared to be working on his neigong.

"Let's fight again!" the young man cried, leaping to his feet, the edge of his hand already slicing down at the Venom.

Viper Ouyang twirled his palm to parry the strike. After several minutes' back and forth, he repeated the same jab at Guo Jing's midriff. This time, his hand slipped as he made contact, and as a result, he was drawn forward. Sensing a palm chopping down at his neck, Viper let himself be carried by the momentum of his aborted attack, gliding out of reach.

"Excellent move! Is it from the Nine Yin Manual? What's it called?" The Martial Great was impressed by the effectiveness of Guo Jing's maneuver.

"Sacayotu amukta."

Unable to make head nor tail of Guo Jing's reply, the Venom assumed that the young man must be quoting the strange passage at the end of the Manual. This bull-headed boy won't bend to my will, he said to himself, suppressing a cackle of triumph, but I can trick him into revealing the Manual's secrets.

Spurred on by that thought, Viper altered the flow of energy to his palms and the contest resumed. Each time Guo Jing sensed that he was about to be overpowered, he halted their duel and sat down to practice a new skill. That night, he lay on his back and slept soundly, without a care, while the Venom tossed and turned, apprehensive that the boy might use the cover of darkness either to ambush him or to escape.

A MONTH flew by. Half the livestock in the village had ended up in the stomachs of Viper Ouyang and Guo Jing, as the pair continued to coexist in a delicate balance, sparring every day. Guo Jing had to admit that such close proximity to his arch enemy had forced him to practice kung fu as never before and learn new techniques.

As one of the greatest Masters of the age, Viper was able to glean much insight into the Nine Yin Manual by monitoring the young man's advancements, though when he compared his observations with the text in his possession, they never aligned. This greatly perplexed him. Indeed, the more he thought about it, the less it made sense, so he pressed Guo Jing harder. As a result, the young man improved by leaps and bounds in a matter of weeks.

At this rate, the boy's going to get the better of me before I've fathomed the secrets of the Manual, Viper realized with alarm.

In the beginning, Guo Jing had fought back full of resentment, but, as time went by, he was gripped by the desire to win and a determination to see their contest through to the bitter end. The young man wanted to dispatch the Venom using his martial knowledge, even if that seemed nigh on impossible. The challenge spurred him on, inspiring him to keep his anger in check and focus all his energies on his training. Nevertheless, the power of Viper Ouyang's signature Exploding Toad kung fu was founded upon a deep well of neigong, and such internal strength could only be built up little by little over a long period of time. Guo Jing knew that, for all the great progress he was making, he could not match Viper in that respect.

Their duel intensified when Guo Jing found an iron sword beside one of the dead bodies in the village and began practicing with the blade. Viper Ouyang's weapon of choice was his Serpent Staff, which housed two extremely venomous snakes in a secret compartment, but the original had been claimed by the waves during the duel at sea against Count Seven Hong, as they sailed from Peach Blossom Island, more than a year before. He had had a new one cast, sending his most trustworthy retainers to the Western Regions to seek out similar adders, but this replacement had been confiscated and later destroyed by Surefoot Lu some months ago. Now Viper was armed only with an ordinary iron staff, but, nonetheless, he was able to send the young man's sword flying again and again, thanks to his rich repertoire of moves. Had he still possessed the snakes, Guo Jing would have been undone in no time at all.

For the past few days, the peace of the deserted village had been disturbed by whinnying horses and boisterous soldiers, as the Great Khan's army marched home, eastward, but Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang were so engaged in their duel that they paid them no heed. At last, as dusk gave way to a crisp, clear night, the last troops passed through and tranquility returned.

Standing in a corner of the stone hut, Guo Jing tightened his grip on the sword's hilt as he watched the Venom. Nothing you do with your staff tonight will prise this blade from my hands, the young man silently promised his opponent. Though he knew he did not yet have the ability to get the better of the martial Master, he was eager to try out his newly acquired techniques.

"Scoundrel, where do you think you're going?"

Viper Ouyang and Guo Jing regarded each other in shock at the sound of a familiar voice. The same thought crossed their minds: What's Zhou Botong the Hoary Urchin doing this far west?

Guo Jing was about to rush out to greet his sworn brother when he heard hurried footsteps approaching the hut … Two people … One running ahead, the other stalking close behind.

With a wave of his hand, Viper whipped up a gust and extinguished the candle, plunging the room into total darkness. Presently, the door opened with a creak. A man charged inside, followed a moment later by Zhou Botong.

Viper noted with alarm that the first man, fleet and light on his feet, seemed to have outrun the Hoary Urchin, which meant his kung fu was comparable to that overgrown child's. Only a handful of martial masters were at the Urchin's level, and, if the man turned out to be Apothecary Huang or Count Seven Hong, then the Venom would need to formulate a plan of escape that very instant. The quietest ruffle followed by a barely audible tap interrupted Viper's thoughts. The man must have jumped up onto the rafters.

"I love hide-and-seek! Nothing makes the Hoary Urchin happier. You're not slipping away again."

The wooden door slammed shut, then a scuffle and a thump were heard. Viper Ouyang had been keeping a large rock by the doorway, which he used to secure the hut every night, for, if Guo Jing tried to move it out of the way, he was bound to make enough noise to wake the Venom from his dreams. It sounded like Zhou Botong had shifted the rock and propped it against the closed door.

"Oi, stinker, where are you?" Zhou Botong called, groping around in the pitch-dark room.

Guo Jing was about to point out where the man was hiding when a merry chortle rang out, then the scrambling of feet was followed by a whoosh, as grabbing hands parted the air. Zhou Botong had known all along that his playmate had leaped onto the roof beams; he had merely put on an act of fumbling around to lower the fellow's guard so he could mount a surprise assault.

The man on the rafters was truly agile. He flipped down in a somersault and crouched low in the north side of the room before Zhou Botong's fingers could reach him.

Muttering silly nothings to himself, the Hoary Urchin did not seem at all bothered that he had missed, though his movements were more cautious and considered than before. He listened intently, trying to determine the location of his prey. To his surprise, he heard three pairs of lungs at work, and recalled the light being put out as they approached the hut. Perhaps the people living here were too scared to reveal themselves? To reassure them, he yelled:

"Fret not, good folk. I'm here to catch a vagabond. I'll be out of your way as soon as I'm done."

Despite his jovial tone, Zhou Botong was paying close attention to the quiet murmur of the others' breathing. When it came to a martial man with advanced neigong skills, each breath was gentle but controlled, and, though each draw of air was effortless, it reached deep into the body. In comparison, an ordinary person's respiration sounded almost like a gasp—short, shallow and hoarse.

Zhou Botong noted the low, steady, measured exchange of air, coming from the east, the west and the north. Could there be two other kung fu masters in this tiny hut?

"You little cheat! You've placed your henchmen here!"

Guo Jing wanted to make himself known, but, when he considered how skilled the man being hunted was, he decided against it, mindful that the Venom was also skulking around. I'll keep quiet, for now, and offer help when Brother Zhou needs me, he said to himself.

The instant Zhou Botong detected the presence of other martial masters in the hut, he knew the situation was not to his advantage and started to tiptoe toward the door. "The hunter is now the hunted," he sighed.

Just then, war whoops and the thumping of hooves filled the air, like the surging high tide on mid-autumn night. Tens of thousands of soldiers, charging in the direction of the village.

"More of your lackeys? Pardon the Urchin for quitting our game—for now."

Zhou Botong picked up the rock that was blocking the door. But when everybody was expecting him to toss it aside and escape outside, the unpredictable man swirled around, lifting the stone higher with both hands, and hurled it toward the northern end of the hut.

By noting the path of the bluster whipped up by the flying rock, Viper Ouyang was able to determine the Hoary Urchin's precise position and deduce that he had left his right flank vulnerable. If he eliminated Zhou Botong now, he would not have to worry about the capricious Master joining forces with Guo Jing, and he could also rid himself a formidable rival before the Contest of Mount Hua. With that thought, Viper crouched low and thrust out both hands, sending a violent burst of Exploding Toad energy into Zhou Botong.

Though it was pitch black, Guo Jing recognized the whoosh of the wind accompanying the Venom's signature kung fu and knew that it was whipping into his sworn brother. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged, letting fly with a Haughty Dragon Repents.

The man pursued by Zhou Botong had assumed the horse-riding stance the instant he sensed the rock hurtling toward him. Feet apart and knees bent, he flipped his palms out and thrust, and a potent stream of energy sent the heavy projectile flying back at his foe.

Although the four martial men had all launched their moves at slightly different times, their inner strength was more or less equal. Struck by these opposing forces, the rock crashed down onto a table in the middle of the room, smashing it into pieces.

The deafening boom amused Zhou Botong, and he squealed in laughter, only to find that he was unable to hear his own voice. A storm of screeching horses, clanging weapons and yelling soldiers had descended on the village. Guo Jing could make out from the clamor that a Khwarazmian unit in retreat was trying to use the settlement to make a last stand, but the Mongolian cavalry had caught up with them before they could position themselves. Iron-shod hooves made the earth tremble. Banners flapped audibly in the wind. Rallying calls and battle cries rang out against the thick hum of arrows in flight. The clash of metal on metal and the sound of sharp spearheads tearing flesh. But it was impossible to tell from the din just how many men were fighting around the stone hut.

3

The door flew open and a soldier burst in. Zhou Botong grabbed the man, flung him out, slammed the door shut and blocked it with the rock again, in one fluid movement.

Viper Ouyang decided there was no point remaining silent now that his failed attack had revealed his presence. "Hoary Urchin!"

Zhou Botong caught the muffled voice, but could not tell what was being said above the chaos outside, so he held his left palm close in a protective stance and groped for whoever had spoken with his other hand. Sensing the shift in the air, Viper shot his right arm out, hooked his fingers around Zhou Botong's wrist, and swung his knuckles in a backhanded slap with his left.

"Old Venom! You're here too!" Zhou Botong blocked the blow, swaying a little from the impact. He then swerved left to better position himself against his opponent, but this movement opened his back to the martial Master he had been stalking, who took his chance to launch a palm thrust from his hiding place. Zhou Botong threw his left fist backward in retaliation as he fended off Viper Ouyang with his right hand. He was in a buoyant mood. This was the first time since he had dreamed up the Competing Hands technique on Peach Blossom Island that he had found himself pitted against two top martial Masters at the same time. At last, he could test his creation's potency.

Just as his fist connected with his attacker's hand, Zhou Botong sensed someone rushing toward him from the east, someone who pushed his opponent's follow-up aside, absorbing the force of the strike.

"Brother Guo!"

"Guo Jing!"

"Qiu Qianren!"

The names were called out at the same time.

DURING THE battle at the Tower of Mist and Rain, when Viper Ouyang set his serpents on Guo Jing, the Quanzhen Immortals and their allies, Zhou Botong, who was petrified of snakes, clambered up onto the Tower's roof to avoid the creatures, refusing to come down even when he came under fire from hundreds of Song and Jin archers. Tired of warding off the downpour of arrows by hand, he lay down flat and covered himself with roof tiles. He made it through the night without getting shot or bitten, but, by the time the sun had risen and the fog had dispelled, he was alone—snakes, soldiers and his martial nephews, all gone.

Bored and with nothing in particular to do, Zhou Botong wandered aimlessly for several months, until he was accosted by a member of the Beggar Clan, who handed him a letter. Lotus had written to remind him that he had promised to do anything she asked of him, and she would like him to take the life of Qiu Qianren, leader of the Iron Palm Gang. She explained that there was a deep enmity between this man and Consort Liu of King Duan's court. If he succeeded in his mission, Lotus promised that he would no longer be hunted by that woman. If he failed, Consort Liu would seek him out to claim his hand in marriage, even if he fled to the sky's edge and the sea's end. Lotus concluded the letter with detailed directions to Iron Palm Mountain.

Zhou Botong had a vague recollection of running and yelling the words, "I'll do anything you ask of me…" the last time he had seen Lotus. Besides, Qiu Qianren had been colluding with the Jin Empire, and was a therefore a traitor to his country, so he saw no harm in doing away with him. He thought of his ill-fated dalliance with Consort Liu and how it had haunted him all these years. He knew he owed her a great debt and he felt he ought to do something for her. If he could resolve her feud with Qiu Qianren, and if she could free him of any further obligation, that would indeed be a most happy outcome. So, with the letter to guide him, the Urchin went straight to the home of the Iron Palm Gang.

At first, Qiu Qianren managed to hold his own, but, from the moment Zhou Botong brought out the Competing Hands technique, retreat was Qiu's only option. A duel between martial masters usually concluded when one side admitted defeat, but the Hoary Urchin ignored established practice and continued to harass his opponent. When Qiu Qianren asked him to explain his relentless pursuit, the normally verbose man could only stare at him, tongue-tied, spluttering nonsense. Of course, Qiu had no way of knowing that Zhou Botong would rather lose his head than say Consort Liu's name out loud.

And so, the contest continued. One dodged and parried, while the other doggedly gave chase, in a prolonged duel that took them farther and farther away from where they had begun. Zhou Botong's kung fu was more accomplished than Qiu's, but, even so, it was no mean feat to injure the leader of the Iron Palm Gang, let alone take his life.

Qiu Qianren had tried thousands of ways to give the implacable Urchin the slip, when a desperate idea came to him. Perhaps he could run to the cold and barren wilderness of the west.

Needless to say, he had misjudged Zhou Botong's character. The instant the Urchin caught on to Qiu's plan, he was giddy with anticipation, curious to see just how far the Iron Palm Water Glider would travel to evade him.

Before long, the two men had passed the last stronghold of the Central Plains and entered the vast desert to the west. The flat terrain offered little shelter, allowing Zhou Botong to track Qiu Qianren with ease. By now, they had come to an agreement: they would not be so unsporting as to attack while the other was sleeping, eating or relieving himself. Nonetheless, no matter what trickery Qiu Qianren attempted, the Hoary Urchin was a lingering specter, incessantly haunting his every step.

For Zhou Botong, his mission to kill Qiu Qianren had turned into an elaborate game of wits and strength, and the chase had become so diverting that, although he had his quarry cornered several times, he could not bring himself to take the man's life, for he knew how rare it was to encounter such an accomplished opponent. And that was how, by sheer coincidence, the pair found themselves in the stone hut where Guo Jing and Viper Ouyang had taken residence.

CORRALLED TOGETHER in a pitch-black room no more than two zhang square, the four men were not just robbed of their sight, for the battle raging outside now overwhelmed their hearing. Although Guo Jing, Zhou Botong and Qiu Qianren had cried out each others' names when they recognized each others' kung fu, they were unable to make out what was being said. All Viper Ouyang knew for sure was that the man who had come in first was Zhou Botong's foe, whereas Qiu Qianren was under the impression that the two Masters they had barged in on were in league.

When Guo Jing identified the fourth man in the room as Qiu Qianren, he paused, considering his next move, aware that his martial abilities still lagged behind those of the other three. Now that Zhou Botong was here, Guo Jing knew that together they would have a good chance of dispatching Viper Ouyang once and for all, and decided that he would keep the Venom occupied so his sworn brother could deal with Qiu Qianren first.

With this plan in mind, Guo Jing sent both palms slicing into the darkness, masking firm strikes as feints. His right struck empty air, but his left was met by an opposing hand. He instantly knew it belonged to Zhou Botong—after all, they had sparred countless times on Peach Blossom Island. Guo Jing was about to clasp his sworn brother's arm to make himself known, when the hand that had blocked his attack jerked back. In that same moment, a right-handed jab stabbed at his shoulder. The blow contained no inner strength, but still, a dull ache throbbed at the point of impact.

Of course, Zhou Botong knew full well that he had just struck Guo Jing, but he could not resist the call of his impish nature, following up with a thrust of his left palm.

"Brother Guo, are you testing my kung fu? Here comes the next move!" His words failed to reach his sworn brother's ears, drowned out by the warring armies outside.

Having been caught unawares once, Guo Jing was on his guard this time, and warded off Zhou Botong's hand with a flourish of his arm. Within moments, a dozen moves had been exchanged. Much impressed by the advancement of his little brother's martial skills over the past year, Zhou Botong chuckled in admiration. "Where did you learn this amazing kung fu?"

But how could Guo Jing hear him over the fierce battle outside?

"Fine! Keep your secret! What do I care?" Just as he was throwing this little tantrum, Zhou Botong sensed a rush of air at his back. "You can deal with those two on your own!" he said, and he hopped up onto the rafters with a tap of his foot.

While the two sworn brothers were brawling, Viper Ouyang and Qiu Qianren had traded enough moves to be able to identify each other by them. The two men had no quarrel, but they knew they would be competing for the title of Greatest Martial Master Under the Heavens at the upcoming Contest of Mount Hua, and the same thought flashed through their minds: If I can injure him now, I'll have one opponent less to contend with.

Spurred on by that conclusion, the two martial Masters threw themselves at each other without holding back, but they were soon distracted by tussling blasts of neigong power. They were both familiar with the Hoary Urchin's whimsical ways, so neither was at all surprised when he turned on Guo Jing. Indeed, they were secretly pleased to be gifted a chance to ambush Zhou Botong while he was otherwise occupied.

Just as the two men turned their attention to their new target, they sensed a soft, momentary flurry overhead and deduced that it was the wake left by Zhou Botong's flowing sleeves as he leaped up onto the roof beams, leaving his sworn brother to deal with two martial Masters alone.

Extricating himself from Zhou Botong's nonsense had been a trying task for Guo Jing; he had switched between four or five martial repertoires without any luck. Just as he thought he was finally free of the Urchin's attentions and could catch his breath, he realized with a groan that he now had to face two supreme Masters at the peak of their martial learning, when just one of them was more than he could handle. He pulled himself together and made a stand using the Competing Hands technique, holding the Venom back with this left arm and fending off the leader of the Iron Palm Gang with his right.

Zhou Botong was letting his imagination run away with him, following the commotion below through movements of the air, when it suddenly occurred to him that Guo Jing could get hurt. He scurried along the rafters to the far end of the hut, slid down the wall, and groped wildly at the darkness with both hands. His fingertips made contact with someone's back.

"Hmm … He's crouching…" Zhou Botong muttered to himself. Must be the Venom!

Viper Ouyang had expected Guo Jing to quickly crumble under the joint assault, but the boy had somehow managed to hold his own, which forced the Martial Great to resort once more to his Exploding Toad kung fu. Just as he was gathering his inner strength for the attack, Viper sensed someone behind him and swept his arm back to defend himself.

Guo Jing felt the pressure ease on one side and seized the chance to put Qiu Qianren on the defensive. Carving out some breathing space with a few swift palm strikes, he then retreated into a corner of the room, thankful for Zhou Botong's timely intervention. He would not have been able to deflect Viper's signature kung fu.

The melee grew ever more intense in the deafening darkness. One moment, Qiu Qianren would find himself staving off Zhou Botong; the next, he would be up against Guo Jing or Viper Ouyang.

The Hoary Urchin scrimmaged around in high spirits, throwing punches and palm strikes indiscriminately at anyone within reach. The brawl was more exhilarating than any fight he had experienced in his life.

Keen to add to the fun, he decided to hound Guo Jing again. "Let's play a new game, Brother. You against the four of us! So, now your opponents are my two hands, the smelly Old Toad and the Iron Palm stinker!"

It goes without saying that Guo Jing did not catch a word of what Zhou Botong was saying above the noise of the battle surrounding them. All he knew was that three martial Masters were attacking him at the same time, and there was nothing he could do but dodge the onslaught as best he could.

"Fret not, fret not! I'll come to your aid when you're in danger," Zhou Botong cried cheerfully to encouraged his little brother. But, in a scuffle this volatile, involving such skilled martial artists who could only discern each other's movements through changes in the air, a stray foot or fist was liable to be lethal, and no help could come fast enough.

Guo Jing was exhausted. He had beaten back another few dozen moves, but now Viper Ouyang and Qiu Qianren were starting to channel more and more of their deep reserves of neigong power into their strikes. The young man scampered to and fro as he repelled the incessant barrage, hoping to find an opportunity to hop up onto the rafters for a brief respite, and yet Zhou Botong had him trapped within a force field of palm thrusts.

"Brother Zhou! What's wrong with you? Why do you keep attacking me?" Guo Jing hissed, but his voice could not compete with the racket of the warring soldiers outside.

He scuttled back a few steps and tripped over the rock, which was lying in the wreckage of the table. Crashing to the floor, he managed to vault back onto his feet, but, before he could straighten up, he sensed a rush of air coming his way. Qiu Qianren's Iron Palm kung fu. The young man twisted round and grabbed the rock, lifting it over his chest. The instant Qiu Qianren's hand struck its surface, Guo Jing channeled all the inner strength pooled in his arms and thrust outward, meeting Qiu's power head-on through the stone.

But now Guo Jing could sense the air parting to his left. He let out a roar, directed yet more energy to his arms, and hurled the stone upward. Then he swerved to the side, only just evading Viper Ouyang's vicious palm strike.

The rock smashed through the roof, bringing down a torrent of tiles and rubble. The faint glow of starlight entered the small hut.

Zhou Botong scowled. "Ugh! What fun is it now we can see?"

4

Bone-weary, Guo Jing stamped his feet, sprung up with what little strength he still possessed, and left the hut through the hole in the roof. Viper Ouyang immediately prepared to leap after him in pursuit, but a hand closed around his left shin just as he took off.

"Don't go! Stay and play with me!" Zhou Botong wailed.

Viper kicked out with his right foot and the grip loosened, but he had lost his momentum and could not prevent himself from being drawn back down to the floor.

Seizing a chance to attack Viper at his most vulnerable, Qiu Qianren aimed a kick at the Martial Great's heart. Viper hunched his back and tucked in his chest, jabbing his index finger at his attacker's ankle as he did so.

A three-way scrap broke out. There was now enough light to discern shapes in the dark, and the fighting in the village was no longer as fierce as before. For the Hoary Urchin, deprived of the thrills of fighting deaf and blind, the melee had lost all its appeal. He adopted a more ferocious kung fu style and took out his disappointment on Viper Ouyang and Qiu Qianren, lashing out in a series of lethal assaults.

Guo Jing sprinted through battling soldiers and cavalrymen charging around on their steeds, desperate to leave behind the ringing of clashing steel and the blood-curdling screams as metal ripped through flesh, not stopping until he found himself in a grove some distance from the village. His body was gripped by muscle-splitting pains after the exertions of the night. He lay on the ground, hoping that his sworn brother had the skills to get himself out of trouble, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

GUO JING was woken by a strange sensation. Something soft, warm and a little moist had settled on his cheek. Was he being licked? A joyous whinnying greeted him as he opened his eyes. He jumped to his feet and threw his arms around Ulaan, who nuzzled him affectionately. Both man and horse were thrilled to be reunited after their long separation. Ulaan had been grazing in the grasslands surrounding the village while Guo Jing was being held hostage by Viper Ouyang, and had only wandered further afield to avoid the clash between the two armies.

The deserted settlement was now full of broken bows and snapped arrows, dying soldiers groaning in agony, and the corpses of horses and men who were past all suffering. Guo Jing had seen his share of gory deaths on the battlefield, but, as he led Ulaan through the carnage, he thought of Lotus, lost forever to this wilderness, and his heart filled with pain. He picked his way back to the stone hut, careful not to make a sound. He could hear no voices coming from inside, so he peered in through the gap between the door and the jamb. The hut was empty. He searched the small structure inside and out, but Zhou Botong, Viper Ouyang and Qiu Qianren were long gone, and there was nothing to indicate which direction they had taken.

Guo Jing stood in a daze for a time, then mounted Ulaan and galloped east to catch up with Genghis Khan's army.

BY NOW, the great cities of Khwarazm had either surrendered or been taken by the Mongolians, and the country's army of several hundred thousand had been routed. The majority of Shah Muhammad's followers had abandoned the haughty and brutal monarch, and only a small and pitiful band remained to escort him as he fled west. Genghis Khan ordered Subotai and Jebe to lead two divisions of ten thousand men to pursue the unseated ruler, while he brought the main army home in triumph.

Subotai and Jebe hunted the Shah beyond Moscow, as far as Kiev, on the River Dnieper, where they annihilated the allied forces of the Rus and the Cumans. The captured Grand Prince of Kiev was crushed to death along with eleven Russian princes. After this decisive defeat, known to history as the Battle of the Kalka River, a significant portion of the grasslands of the Rus groaned for years under the iron hooves of the Mongolian cavalry. Shah Muhammad lived out his days in flight, until he succumbed to illness on an island in the Caspian Sea.

GENGHIS KHAN had feared the worst when he heard Guo Jing had gone missing the day after they took Samarkand—for a lone man had little chance against an army, however broken and demoralized it may be. The young man's safe return was a great relief, and, needless to say, Khojin was ecstatic too.

Qiu Chuji traveled by Genghis Khan's side throughout the army's return journey, urging the conqueror again and again to show mercy. This line of conversation did not please the Great Khan, but he respected Qiu Chuji as a wise and enlightened man, and tried to abide by the Taoist's advice. As a result, countless lives were saved.

The march home was long, and when at last the army arrived on the banks of the Onon River, having traveled the tens of thousands of li that lay between Khwarazm and Mongolia, a great feast was held to celebrate the victory. And, the following day, Qiu Chuji, Surefoot Lu and the Beggar Clan members said their goodbyes and went south, back to the Central Plains.

Guo Jing had been inconsolable since Lotus's disappearance. He often went on long solitary rides with Ulaan and the condors, wandering the grasslands in a stupor, not speaking to anybody for days at a time. Khojin tried to offer him words of comfort, but he did not seem to hear them at all.

Months passed. The harsh autumn wind blew across the steppes again. The army had rested well over the summer, and Genghis Khan turned his mind once more to the South, summoning his generals to the golden ger to discuss strategy. The conqueror was too preoccupied by the conquest of the Jin Empire to notice Guo Jing's mood. Even when every other general offered their thoughts on how to bring down the Jurchens, the young man's silence did not strike him as out of the ordinary.

After the meeting, Genghis Khan rode alone to a small hillock near the camp to contemplate his next move. The following day, he gave his generals their orders: they would lead his troops along three different routes to attack the Jin. His two eldest sons, Jochi and Chagatai, were still in the west, bringing order to the newly annexed territories, so responsibility for the conquest fell on his younger sons. His heir and third son Ogedai was to lead the main army, while his fourth son Tolui and Guo Jing were to command the left and right flanks respectively.

Genghis Khan dismissed the other generals and his personal guards, so he could speak with the three commanders alone. "The Jin's elite troops are garrisoned in Tong Pass, protected by the Qin Mountains to the south and the Yellow River to the north. It's not a stronghold we can seize quickly or easily. You've heard the different strategies presented. They all show promise, but, if we attack the pass head-on, we'll trap ourselves in a protracted siege. Seeing that we have formed an alliance with the Song Empire and seized the Jin's main capital, Zhongdu, I believe the best approach would be to enter the Jin's territory across the Song border at Tangzhou and Dengzhou, then make straight for their southern capital, Daliang."

Ogedai, Tolui and Guo Jing nodded in agreement at this shrewd plan.

Genghis Khan then turned to Guo Jing with a smile. "I've been very impressed with the way you drill and deploy your troops. What do you think we should do after we capture Daliang?"

Guo Jing gave the matter thought. After a long silence, he shook his head. "We don't attack the city."

Puzzled, Ogedai and Tolui stared at Guo Jing, waiting for further explanation, but it was Genghis Khan who spoke first. "Then what do we do?" A kindly smile hovered on the conqueror's lips.

"We attack by not attacking."

His answer left Ogedai and Tolui even more confused.

"We attack by not attacking," Genghis Khan repeated with a chuckle. "Very well put! Now tell your brothers what you mean."

"I believe the Great Khan's plan is to feign an attack on the capital to draw the Jin armies out of their strongholds, then crush them in one battle outside the city walls. The Jin Emperor lives in Daliang, but they don't have many soldiers stationed there. The moment they see our approach, they'll recall the elite forces at Tong Pass to relieve them.

"In Chinese military tactics, there is a saying: 'If an army marches day and night nonstop at double pace, journeying a hundred li to seize an advantage, it will merely result in the capture of the generals of the three main divisions. For the robust will arrive first, the weak will lag behind, and only one-tenth of the troops will reach their destination as planned.'

"Now, the distance between Tong Pass and Daliang is at least a thousand li. The relief force will be in a hurry, and they will be reluctant to stop for rest, so, by the time their men and horses get to the capital, they'll be worn out, whereas we would have been waiting in our camp outside the city walls. This one battle will destroy the Jin's best troops, and, with no one to defend the city, Daliang will open its gates. If we are impatient and try to place it under siege, then it is likely that we will end up trapped between the city's own garrison and the reinforcements from Tong Pass."

"Exactly!" Laughing, Genghis Khan applauded the young man's insight, then unfurled a map on his desk.

It was a survey of the area surrounding Daliang, with the anticipated movements of the two armies clearly marked out. It detailed how the Mongolian cavalry could attack from behind in order to strike at the core of the Jin forces, and how they could lure the troops out of Tong Pass, round up the weary reinforcements and annihilate them under the city walls—just as Guo Jing had described.

Ogedai and Tolui looked between their father and Guo Jing in amazement, while Guo Jing himself regarded the conqueror with admiration.

I wouldn't have come up with the strategy without The Secret to Defeating the Jin, which distills the wisdom of Chinese generals spanning several thousand years, he reflected. But, with the Great Khan, it's his innate brilliance as a commander that leads him to the same conclusion—he doesn't even know how to read or write.

"We will defeat the Jin on this campaign," Genghis Khan declared, taking three silk pouches from the inside pocket of his robe. "Take these and keep them safe on your person. After you've taken Daliang, the three of you are to meet at the Golden Chime Hall in the Jin Emperor's palace and open the pouches together. Then you must act according to the plans you find inside."

Guo Jing took the silk pouch, noting that the wax seal bore the Great Khan's insignia.

"You must not open them before you enter Daliang, and you are to check each other's pouches, to make sure the seal has not been tampered with, before you look at their contents."

The three young men bowed and said in one voice, "We shall obey the Great Khan's orders."

Genghis Khan turned to Guo Jing again. "Now, tell me how you manage to be so adept at marshalling troops, when you're so muddle-headed when it comes to everything else."

Guo Jing explained how he had studied every word of The Secret to Defeating the Jin on the long road to Samarkand. He then recounted Yue Fei's story at Genghis Khan's bidding, telling him how this patriotic General of the Song Empire had defeated the Jin forces in a decisive battle near the town of Zhuxian, and how his reputation on the battlefield had inspired such fear in the Jin soldiers that they referred to him as "Grand Lord Yue." He also told the conqueror that the legend of Yue Fei's military prowess was so rooted in the Chinese people's imagination that the saying "It is easier to crush a mountain than the Yue Family Army" was still in use.

Genghis Khan paced silently as he listened to Guo Jing, his hands clasped behind his back. "I wish I were born a hundred years earlier, so I could have met this hero on the field. Is there any adversary alive today that I can call an equal?" The conqueror heaved a lonely sigh.

5

Guo Jing left the golden ger and went to look for his mother Lily Li. He had been busy with the army and had not seen her of late, but, since he was due to set off for the South the next day, he wanted to spend at least a little time with her. He entered his mother's ger, only to find it empty, her clothes and belongings nowhere to be seen. He asked the old soldier keeping watch, and learned that she had moved to a different tent at the Great Khan's command.

When he reached her new home, he found a ger several times larger than the one he had just left. He parted the flies and was dazzled by the gilded and bejeweled decorations, for the colorful interior was filled with treasures plundered from the recent campaign.

Princess Khojin was sitting with Lily Li, who was sharing stories from Guo Jing's childhood. When she saw Guo Jing enter the tent, she stood up and greeted him with a shy smile.

"Ma, where do all these things come from?"

"The Great Khan said you earned him a great victory and they are your reward. I don't know what to do with them. We have always lived simply."

Guo Jing nodded at his mother's words as he noticed eight new serving maids in the ger—they must be slaves captured during the conquest.

Khojin stayed to chat for a short while before taking her leave. She imagined that Guo Jing must have many things to say to her before his departure and that he would soon come after her, but, though she waited and waited, he did not leave the ger.

Lily Li also found it odd that her son did not follow Khojin. "The Princess is waiting for you. Go and talk to her."

He mumbled a reply, but made no move to leave.

Sensing his indecision, she sighed. "I hope you will succeed in vanquishing the Jin. We've lived here in the north for twenty years, and, though the Great Khan has been very kind to us, I do miss my true home. When this campaign is over, we can return to Ox Village and live in your papa's house. I know you don't care for wealth or rank, so we don't need to come back here. The only thing that troubles me is the Princess. I don't know what would be best…"

"I've told Khojin everything. Lotus is dead, and I can never marry."

"The Princess may be understanding, but I'm worried about the Great Khan."

"What about him?"

"He has been exceptionally generous over the last few days, showering us with gold, silver and gems—more gifts than I can count. He says they're a reward for your contribution on the battlefield, but, having lived in his camp all these years, I'd like to think I'm familiar with his disposition. I sense an ulterior motive."

"What do you mean, Ma?"

"I'm a simple country woman and my world is very different from his … but he may be trying to coerce you into doing something."

"He wants to make me marry Khojin."

"I don't think the Great Khan knows you are against the match, so why would he pressure you? I suspect it has something to do with the campaign against the Jin. I think he fears you may turn against him."

"Why would I do that?" Guo Jing shook his head, unable to follow his mother's line of reasoning. "He knows I don't desire riches or power."

"Tell him I'm homesick and I'd like to go south with you tomorrow. We may be able to gauge his intentions from his response."

"Why didn't you say so earlier, Ma? I'd love to take you back to your home, and I'm sure the Great Khan will grant us permission."

Guo Jing rushed out of the ger, expecting to find Khojin waiting outside, but she was nowhere to be seen. Assuming that she had got bored of waiting, he headed for Genghis Khan's tent, but he returned soon afterward, utterly crestfallen.

"The Great Khan said no, didn't he?"

"I don't understand. Why does he want you to stay here?" Guo Jing waited for his mother's reply, but none came, so he went on. "First, he said, 'Wouldn't it be a fine thing to take your mother south in honor, after we've conquered the Jin?' So I told him you miss home very much and want to go back as soon as possible. Suddenly, he grew angry and kept shaking his head, refusing to hear any more on the matter."

Lily Li pondered this for a moment. "Tell me everything he's said to you today."

Guo Jing outlined the conversation in the golden ger earlier, telling her how they had discussed the invasion strategy and how Genghis Khan had given them the silk pouches.

"How I wish your second shifu or Lotus were still with us. They would figure out what's afoot. Something is making me uneasy, but I'm just a foolish old woman, I can't put my finger on it."

Guo Jing took out the pouch and turned it over in his hand. "The Great Khan did have an odd look on his face when he handed me this, but I doubt it has anything to do with him refusing to let you go south with me."

Lily Li examined the fabric, then dismissed her maidservants. "Let's see what's inside."

"We can't! It's a capital crime to break the seal!"

She looked at her son with a chuckle. "Have you forgotten that your ma is from Lin'an? Our city is known for producing the best silk brocade under the heavens. I can pick the fabric apart and darn it back together without leaving any trace—it's a skill I learned as a child. We don't have to break the seal."

Guo Jing watched as his mother separated each strand of silk with a fine needle to make an opening and removed the paper inside. She unfolded the note and showed it to him, her eyes locked on his. They had yet to read it, but they could already feel their blood growing cold.

It was a command from Genghis Khan, instructing Ogedai, Tolui and Guo Jing to hasten south with their armies to capture their next target: Lin'an. With the fall of the Song capital, Mongolia would have conquered all the known kingdoms under the heavens. If Guo Jing were instrumental in this conquest, the note promised, he would be named the Prince of the Song under the Great Mongolian Empire, and he would rule the current Song territory from Lin'an. If Guo Jing were to turn traitor, by defying orders or deserting his troops, Ogedai and Tolui had the authority to have him beheaded and his mother would be sentenced to death by flaying. The message was written in the new Mongolian script, which Guo Jing had learned to read.

Guo Jing relayed the note's content and a heavy silence filled the ger.

"Ma, if we hadn't seen this…" His voice faltered. He dreaded to think what would have happened, but, when he spoke again, he sounded confident and certain. "I am a subject of the Great Song Empire. I cannot betray my country."

"What should we do?"

"Head south. Tonight. It will be a tough journey, Ma."

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Go and get ready. Be careful—don't let anyone get wind of our plan."

Guo Jing returned to his ger, took off the rich robes of a Noyan commander and changed into an ordinary fur coat. He packed a few changes of clothes, leaving behind the valuables bestowed on him by Genghis Khan, including the golden dagger crowned with a tiger's head, from which his title Prince of the Golden Blade was derived. He then selected eight horses, in addition to Ulaan, for the journey, so they could switch mounts at regular intervals to maintain a swift pace and shake off any pursuing forces. On his way back, he passed by his mother's old ger and was struck by a pang of sorrow—he could never again set foot in the land of his childhood.

It was almost dark when Guo Jing arrived at his mother's new ger, and the scene he found inside made his heart leap into his throat. Clothes and personal belongings were strewn over the floor. His mother was nowhere to be seen and his calls went unanswered. A sense of dread rose in Guo Jing. He rushed out of the tent, only to be dazzled by countless torches.

"The Great Khan summons the Prince of the Golden Blade!" Guo Jing recognized Tchila'un's voice immediately.

Now that his eyes had adjusted to the torchlight, he saw a battalion of soldiers lined up behind Genghis Khan's most trusted general, each carrying a long spear. He appraised the situation with apprehension. His kung fu should allow him to break through, but how could he flee on his own when his mother had been taken by the Great Khan? And so he followed Tchila'un to the golden ger, which was protected by rows and rows of archers and guards armed with halberds.

"The Great Khan insists that you be restrained," Tchila'un added. "Please do not take offense, my Prince."

Guo Jing nodded and crossed his wrists behind his back. Once he was bound, he strode inside.

Dozens of giant tallow candles burned brilliantly, making the interior as bright as day. The moment Genghis Khan saw Guo Jing, he smacked the desk before him and roared, "I raised you and gave you my daughter. How dare you betray me!"

Guo Jing saw the open pouch and knew there was no denying his crime. Standing tall, he said, "I am a subject of the Great Song Empire. How could I follow your command and attack my own people?"

Incensed by his defiant stance, the conqueror bellowed, "Take him out and cut off his head!"

Guo Jing knew that, even with his martial knowledge, physical resistance was futile, since his hands were bound by thick ropes and he was watched over by eight executioners armed with sabers. "You made a pact with the Song to attack the Jin together, and now you're planning to renege on your word and break faith with an ally. Is that the behavior of a hero?"

Angered by Guo Jing's words, Genghis Khan kicked over his golden desk. "The alliance is over as soon as we crush the Jin. We can then take the Song without breaking our promise. Off with his head!"

Although the generals were on good terms with Guo Jing, they were too intimidated by the Great Khan to speak up for the young man. Guo Jing started to make his way outside, without waiting for the guards to manhandle him.

"Stop!" Tolui was galloping over, dressed only in leather trousers, his naked torso exposed to the night air—he must have been in bed when the news reached him.

"Father!" Tolui pleaded as he stormed into the golden ger. "My anda Guo Jing won a great victory for us. He has also saved your life and mine, over the years. He may have committed a capital crime, but we cannot behead him."

This reminder softened the conqueror's resolve somewhat. "Bring him back!" he barked, and Guo Jing was escorted into the tent again.

Genghis Khan eyed the defiant young man. "What good is holding the Song Empire close to your heart? You've told me the story of General Yue Fei. For all his loyalty, he ended up being executed by his own countrymen. If you subjugate the Song for me, I give you my word—with everyone here before us as witness—I shall name you the Prince of the Song and make you the ruler of all territory belonging to the kingdom. You are of the South, and, as the overlord of the South, you will treat your own people well. You won't be betraying your country or your blood by serving me."

"I dare not defy the Great Khan's orders, but, if you want me to attack my homeland, you can cut me with a thousand sabers and shoot me with ten thousand arrows, and still I will refuse."

"Bring his mother!"

At Genghis Khan's command, Lily Li was led from the rear of the tent by two guards.

"Ma!" Guo Jing managed two steps toward his mother before his path was blocked by sabers. For the first time, he wondered how they were found out, for there had been no one else in the ger when they made their plans.

"If you do as I say, you and your mother will enjoy prestige and honor. Otherwise, a saber will fall and she'll be cut in two—because of your choice—and you, her son, will be the cause of her death."

Genghis Khan's threat shook Guo Jing to the core. Staring at his feet, the young man tried to work out the right course of action. Then Tolui spoke again.

"Anda, you were born and grew up here in Mongolia. You are just like every other Mongolian. Your father was murdered because corrupt Song officials conspired with the Jurchens. It was they who made your mother homeless. If Father hadn't taken you in, would you be standing here today? You cannot be the cause of your mother's death. I urge you to think again. Accept the Great Khan's command, and you can make sure the people of the Song are treated well and have a chance to live in peace again."

The words of agreement were on the tip of Guo Jing's tongue, but, as he looked into his mother's eyes, the principles she had instilled in him flashed through his mind, followed by the scenes of carnage and destruction the Mongolians had left in their wake as they conquered the nations of the Western Regions. He did not know what choice he should make.

Genghis Khan fixed Guo Jing with tiger-like eyes, waiting for him to speak. The hundred or so gathered in the golden ger were also watching the young man with bated breath.

Guo Jing took a step forward and stammered, "I—I…" and then nothing else followed.

"Great Khan." It was Lily Li who spoke. "May I speak with my son? I think he is struggling to wrap his head around the matter."

"By all means!" Genghis Khan was delighted.

Lily Li made her way over to Guo Jing, took him by the arm, and together they sat down in a quiet corner of the golden ger. She pressed him close to her and said softly, "Twenty years ago, there was a blizzard in Ox Village in Lin'an. You were in my belly then. That day, your father met Reverend Qiu Chuji, and he gave us two daggers—one for your father, and one for your uncle Yang." She reached into the inside pocket of his robe, took out the blade and pointed at the two characters carved into its hilt. "Reverend Qiu named you Guo Jing, and Uncle Yang's son Yang Kang. Do you know why?"

"He wanted us to always remember the humiliation of the year Jingkang, when our capital Kaifeng was sacked by the Jurchens."

"That's right. It's a cruel shame Yang Kang grew up to call the Jin Prince his father. He brought ruin unto himself and tainted Uncle Yang's reputation as a hero and a patriot." She heaved a sigh. "Why do you think I put up with the bitter cold of these northern lands to bring you up? Do you think I endured disgrace and hardship to raise a traitor, so you can break your father's heart in the Yellow Spring below?"

"Ma!" Tears ran down Guo Jing's face.

Genghis Khan, Tolui and the generals did not understand Chinese, so they had no idea what Lily Li had said, but, judging from Guo Jing's reaction, they assumed, to their relief, that she had persuaded him to save her life.

"A lifetime passes in the twinkling of an eye," she went on. "It is a trifling matter how long we live or when we die. As long as we have no cause to rue our behavior or our deeds, then we have made a worthy journey through the world. If people disappoint us or let us down, dwell not on what they have done wrong. Remember what I have taught you."

Lily Li gazed tenderly into Guo Jing's eyes. "Son, take good care of yourself." She slipped the dagger behind Guo Jing's back, cut the ropes around his wrists, and then twisted it round, plunging its point into her own breast. She performed this series of actions with such swift determination that, by the time Guo Jing could move to stop her, the keen blade was buried in her flesh, all the way to the hilt.

"Seize him!" Genghis Khan shouted.

The eight executioners guarding Guo Jing cast their weapons aside and pounced on the young man barehanded. They were afraid of accidentally hurting the Prince of the Golden Blade as they tried to restrain him.

Overwhelmed with grief, Guo Jing clasped his mother to his bosom and swept his right foot at his assailants. Two were sent flying. He thrust his left elbow back, cracking it into another's chest. With a roar, the generals in the ger joined the tussle, launching themselves at Guo Jing. He stepped aside, grabbed the fabric of the tent and yanked. Half the ger collapsed in an instant, trapping everyone inside. All except Guo Jing, who fled into the night with his mother's body.

"MA!" GUO Jing cried again and again, but he received no answer. He held a finger under her nose and there was no movement of air.

A bugle sounded the call to arms. Soon, the camp was a boiling mass of shouting men and snorting horses. Torches flickered into life like so many stars. Guo Jing ran without thinking where he was headed, and, before long, he found himself surrounded. Despite his extraordinary kung fu, he was one man against an army of more than a hundred thousand. If he had Ulaan with him, he might have had a chance of breaking free, but, on foot and laden with his mother's lifeless form, he had no hope.

Unless … Guo Jing began to sprint at his fastest pace. If he could get to the cliffs, he could gain some time to try to devise an escape plan, for no one in the army knew lightness qinggong and none would be able to scale the sheer rock face. Suddenly, he heard soldiers chanting ahead of him, then a huge warhorse charged in his direction, carrying a ruddy-faced, white-bearded general. It was Tchila'un. Guo Jing swerved away from the warrior's swinging saber and ran full pelt into the waiting troops.

Surprised by Guo Jing's charge, the soldiers shouted in alarm, but the young man took no notice of them. Once he was among them, he grabbed the shin of the warrior closest to him, and, with a tap of his foot against the ground, flipped onto the man's horse. He then hurled the soldier from the saddle, snatched up his spear and laid his mother's body over the horse's back, in one fluid motion.

Leveling the spear, Guo Jing galloped away from Tchila'un's men, though in a direction that took him farther from the cliffs. With General Boroqul's men joining in the pursuit, he was not allowed a moment to think about his route, for he was quickly encircled again, with several thousand soldiers to the south closing off his escape options.

By the time Guo Jing had successfully charged through Boroqul's riders, he was covered in blood. He knew he was able to face down so many men by himself in part because the soldiers were unwilling to fight one of their own, but what he did not realize was that Genghis Khan had forbidden the use of arrows, insisting that he be taken alive.

Guo Jing pushed on, fighting back fresh tears brought on by the stiff, cold reality in his arms. He was at last making headway toward the South, but he was still in the heartlands of Mongolia, tens of thousands of li from the Central Plains, with just one spear and a standard warhorse for the journey. He could not see how he could shake off the pursuing troops and return to his homeland, especially as he would soon be robbed of the cloak of darkness.

As dawn broke, a plume of dust appeared in the distance and Guo Jing picked up the sound of horses thundering his way. He pulled at the reins and turned his mount east, but the creature, having battled and galloped through the night, buckled and went down on its forelegs, unable to stand up again. Guo Jing slipped out of the saddle and leveled the spear at the incoming soldiers, still clinging to his mother's body.

As the riders drew near, a hum penetrated the dust cloud and, the next thing Guo Jing knew, an arrow buried itself in the shaft of his spear, sending a numbing tremor up his arm. The spearhead fell to the ground as a second arrow sang through the air, aimed for his chest. He flung the spear shaft away and grabbed the bolt with both hands. Then he noticed that the arrowhead had been snapped off. He looked up to see a lone general riding over, the riders under his command hanging back. It was his old archery teacher Jebe.

"Shifu, have you come to take me back?"

"Yes."

Guo Jing knew he had little hope of getting away and he found some comfort in the thought that someone important to him would earn the reward for his capture.

"Allow me to bury my mother." He looked around and saw an earthen mound to his left. He carried her body over to it, dug a pit with the broken spearhead and laid her down tenderly. The dagger was still lodged deep in her chest and he could not bring himself to pull it out. He kowtowed several times, then scooped up earth with both hands and scattered it over her body. Even now, he was struggling to believe that his mother, who had sacrificed so much to bring him up, would be laid to rest in this wilderness, far, far away from her home … He crumpled to the ground and broke down in tears.

Jebe dismounted and knelt beside Guo Jing, bowing four times before the grave. Once he had paid his respects, he handed his bow, arrows and spear to the grieving young man, then went to fetch his horse and put the reins into his hands.

"Go! We will likely never meet again."

"Shifu!"

"You risked your life to save mine when you were just a child. Shouldn't I do the same? Am I not a man of honor?"

"But, Shifu, it's a grave offense to defy the Great Khan's command."

"I've won enough battles to keep my head on my neck—I'll just get a taste of the punishment staffs. Now hurry and go!"

Still Guo Jing hesitated.

Jebe gestured at the warriors behind him. "These men served under you on our campaign to Khwarazm. I didn't bring my own troops in case they had other ideas. Go and ask them—ask them if they'd exchange you for riches and glory."

The soldiers dismounted when they saw Guo Jing approach. Prostrating themselves before him, they spoke in one voice: "We wish the Noyan a safe journey south."

Guo Jing cast his eye around and recognized each and every face. These men had rushed headlong into death beside him on the battlefield, charging fearlessly through enemy lines without a second thought. "When the Great Khan learns that you have let me go, he will show no mercy."

"We will always be the General's men," a soldier shouted, to a chorus of agreement.

Sighing, Guo Jing waved them farewell and climbed into the saddle. Just as he was about to urge the horse forward, he noticed a cloud of dust moving furiously toward them.

All those present were alarmed by the new arrivals, Jebe in particular. He was already facing serious repercussions for letting Guo Jing go, and, if anything flared up between his men and those approaching, he would be responsible for causing a fight between brothers-in-arms.

"Guo Jing! Go!" Jebe urged.

"Do not hurt the Prince!" The cry from the incoming rider surprised everybody. They were now close enough for Guo Jing to make out the Fourth Prince's banner.

Tolui emerged from the swirling dust and made straight for Guo Jing. His mount was lathered in red sweat. It was Ulaan.

"Anda, they didn't hurt you, did they?" he asked as he jumped to the ground.

"No, Shifu was going to bring me in." The lie was for Jebe's sake.

Tolui shot the General a glare. "Take Ulaan and go, anda!" He pointed to the saddlebag. "In here are two thousand taels of gold. We shall meet again, Brother."

Guo Jing leaped onto Ulaan. "Please ask Khojin to take care of herself—I hope she'll find a suitable husband. She shouldn't to tie herself to me."

"She will never agree to marry anyone else." Tolui heaved a deep sigh. "I know she'll head south to look for you. I'll make sure she's safe on the journey—"

"No, she shouldn't search for me. How do you find one person under this vast sky? It will only bring sorrow if we meet again."

The sworn brothers regarded each other in silence. Eventually, Tolui said, "You should go, but let me ride with you for a while."

They turned their horses toward the south and traveled side by side for more than thirty li.

"Anda, you should turn back now," Guo Jing said, looking back over his shoulder. "'A send-off spanning a thousand li still ends in a parting.'"

"Just a little farther."

Ten li later, they dismounted and said their goodbyes with a tearful hug.

Tolui watched as Guo Jing rode away, until he was no more than a speck on the horizon, and continued to stare after him as he disappeared into the boundless desert. Haunted by sorrow and a sense of loss, the Mongol Prince could not tear his eyes away from the southern skies.