A Bond Undone Read online

  “But what if he hits me with it? I can’t block a move like that!”

  “I’d never do that!” Guo Jing protested.

  “What do you propose, then?” Count Seven knew that Lotus was tricking him into teaching them more kung fu. And yet his stomach overruled his rational brain.

  “Teach me how to beat him. Then I’ll cook for you.”

  “It would be my pleasure! I’ll teach you a set of moves I call Wayfaring Fist.” Count Seven leapt into the air, darting high and low with grace and ease, his sleeves fluttering in a breeze of his own making.

  Lotus watched intently, committing a good half of Wayfaring Fist to memory during Count Seven’s initial demonstration alone. A couple of hours later, she had mastered all thirty-six moves. Now she tried the whole set together, with Hong. One started from the left and the other from the right. One light and elegant, like a swallow, the other fierce and quick, like an eagle. At the end of the thirty-sixth move, they landed at the same time, to loud cheers from Guo Jing, and exchanged a smile.

  “The lass is a hundred times sharper than you!” Count Seven said.

  “How does she memorise so much in a few short hours?” Guo Jing scratched his head. “If I try to learn a new move, the previous one immediately disappears out of my head.”

  The beggar chuckled. “This kung fu wouldn’t suit you, it’s true. You could memorise the moves, I don’t doubt, but I imagine, when put together, they would better resemble the Distress Crawl. All bogged down and lumbering.”

  Guo Jing laughed in agreement.

  “I learned the Wayfaring Fist in my youth. I dug it out now, for the lass, because it matched her style, but it doesn’t fit with my current martial practice. I haven’t used it in more than a decade.”

  “Poor Guo Jing,” Lotus said. “Now I have the tools to beat him again, he must be very upset. Perhaps you could teach him a few more moves?”

  “This simpleton hasn’t even mastered the move I taught him this morning. Don’t make him bite off more than he can chew. But, if you keep cooking for me, your wish may come true.” Count Seven Hong laughed and headed back to the inn, leaving Guo Jing to practise in the woods until nightfall.

  That evening, Lotus made stir-fried pak choi and steamed tofu. She hand-picked the most tender shoots of pak choi from the core and sizzled them in a hot wok with chicken fat and finely diced, deboned duck feet. She then sliced a whole leg of dry-cured ham in half and carved twenty-four holes into the flesh and filled them with perfectly sculpted balls of beancurd, before placing the tied ham into a steamer. Once it was cooked, the meat was discarded, since its flavours were infused into the tofu. Count Seven was dazzled by the depth of flavour in this simple dish, the name of which, Twenty-Four Bridges on a Full Moon Night, referenced a Tang-dynasty poem.

  The Orchid Touch kung fu invented by Apothecary Huang had made Lotus’s hands nimble and strong. Without such dexterity, it would be impossible to craft such tender tofu, which was liable to disintegrate upon touch, into perfect balls. Such a skill was comparable to the traditional craft of engraving an essay onto a grain of rice, or carving an olive pit into the shape of a boat. Of course, it would have been easy to simply cube the beancurd, but who ever heard of a square moon? The meal was a demonstration of martial skill as well as gastronomic flair.

  3

  SINCE GUO JING AND LOTUS HUANG HAD SET OUT ON THEIR wanderings, they had often shared the same room. However, now that they were in Count Seven Hong’s company, they took separate chambers. Their sleeping arrangement piqued the beggar’s curiosity. “Why aren’t you sleeping side by side? Isn’t that what couples do?”

  “One more silly question and I won’t cook for you,” a blushing Lotus threatened.

  “What? Did I say the wrong thing?” Count Seven laughed. “Oh dear, what an old fool I am. You’re still dressed as a maiden. You two arranged your future together without your parents’ consent or a matchmaker’s promise, am I right? I bet you haven’t even bowed to the heavens and earth! Don’t worry, this old beggar will be your marriage broker. If your father refuses you, I will fight him for seven days and seven nights, or until he gives you his blessing.”

  Lotus had been worrying that her father would not like Guo Jing, but with Count Seven as go-between, their future together felt more secure. Thanking the martial master profusely, she resolved to put even more care into crafting the most exquisite dishes for him.

  The next day, Guo Jing was back in the pine forest at the break of dawn to practise Haughty Dragon Repents. After twenty or so repetitions, he was drenched in sweat. Just as he was beginning to feel pleased with his progress, a voice broke his concentration.

  “Shifu, we must have travelled more than thirty li by now.”

  “Indeed, both the strength in your legs and your pace have improved.”

  Guo Jing thought the second voice sounded familiar.

  Four men burst through the trees, and Guo Jing’s stomach sank. Striding at the head of the group was a white-haired man with a jarringly youthful face. Greybeard Liang, the Ginseng Immortal.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Old Liang spotted Guo Jing trying to get away, and dashed after him. His three disciples spread out to close off Guo Jing’s escape.

  Guo Jing started to run using his fastest qinggong. I’ll be fine if I can get to the inn, he told himself.

  But Greybeard Liang’s lead protégé was faster.

  “Kneel, thief!”

  He grabbed Guo Jing by the chest in a Power Grapple technique usually only found in China’s north-eastern borderlands.

  Guo Jing bent his left knee and raised his right arm until not quite straight. He traced a circle with his right hand, exhaled and pushed.

  He aimed the Haughty Dragon Repents at his attacker’s torso.

  The man pulled back to block.

  Crack! The bone in his arm snapped. The force of the thrust threw his body back several paces, where he crumpled in a heap.

  The result amazed Guo Jing. He had not even used half of his strength.

  He turned to run, but Greybeard Liang had already planted himself in his way. Guo Jing bent his knee and raised his arm again. Another Haughty Dragon Repents.

  The older man ducked and rolled. The move was too powerful to counter head on.

  While Old Liang was finding his footing, Guo Jing grabbed the chance to make one last dash for it. The inn was now in sight.

  “Lotus, help! That man is here! The one who wants to drink my blood!”

  “Don’t worry! We’ll teach him a lesson!” Lotus was keen to try out the Wayfaring Fist.

  Before Guo Jing could chide Lotus for openly slighting their opponent, Greybeard Liang lunged with fearsome might. Guo Jing scrabbled together another Haughty Dragon Repents, forcing his attacker to twist left.

  The Ginseng Immortal managed to dodge Guo Jing, but he still caught a glancing blow to his right arm. The pain halted him.

  How can this boy’s kung fu have improved so much in just a few weeks? My python’s blood! Incensed by the thought, Greybeard Liang dived at Guo Jing again. He could not have known that Guo Jing was receiving guidance from one of the greatest martial masters of their day.

  Guo Jing fought back with the same formidable thrust of his palm.

  “Is that your only move?” The older man’s confidence was returning.

  “It’s enough to hold you back!” Guo Jing responded, with another Haughty Dragon Repents.

  Satisfied that the boy had revealed the extent of his kung fu, Greybeard Liang hopped to one side, then shifted his weight in the opposite direction, whirling around to land securely behind Guo Jing.

  Guo Jing spun to face his attacker and settled into his opening stance. He was ready to launch another Haughty Dragon Repents, but his target was gone.

  Old Liang was already behind him again. His fists shot towards the young man’s back. Guo Jing turned. Within just three moves, the old man had Guo Jing spinning in circles.

 
The young man flapped his arms this way and that in a feeble attempt to protect his exposed back, then torso. There was no chance for him to launch another Haughty Dragon Repents.

  “Let me deal with him!” Lotus flew up and landed between them, simultaneously thrusting with her left palm and kicking with her right foot. Guo Jing took two steps back to catch his breath.

  Old Liang pulled in his chest and retaliated with a double punch. Lotus fought back with the Wayfaring Fist. Her interpretation was full of unexpected feints and twists, and yet she was unfamiliar with its power and unable to tap into the technique’s full potential. Soon, she began to struggle. After all, Greybeard Liang had decades of combat experience. By this point, her Hedgehog Chainmail was her only real protection. Without it, she would have taken many punches and already be out of the fight.

  Greybeard Liang’s two remaining disciples, who had been helping their injured martial brother, cheered as their shifu steadily gained the upper hand.

  Guo Jing was about to come to Lotus’s aid when Count Seven Hong called from inside the inn, “His next move will be Rabid Dog Blocks the Way!”

  Greybeard Liang had lowered himself into the horse-riding stance, with his feet apart and his fists raised. Count Seven Hong was right, he was about to launch a move known in the wulin as Fearsome Tiger Blocks the Way.

  Count Seven knows the move before he even makes it! How does he do it? Lotus asked herself.

  “His next one is Rancid Snake Fetches Water!” Hong’s voice again.

  Lotus knew he meant Blue Dragon Fetches Water, a forward punch that left the upper back unprotected. Armed with this knowledge, she darted in behind Old Liang and aimed a fist at his spine.

  Already more than a foot off the ground, the older man threw himself forward at the last moment. If he had been a less experienced fighter, he would not have been able to dodge the blow.

  The Ginseng Immortal tapped the ground with the tip of his foot and flipped upright. “Who presumes to predict my kung fu? Show your face!”

  No answer.

  Now that Count Seven Hong was watching over her, Lotus attacked with renewed confidence. Greybeard Liang fought back with his deadliest moves. Lotus quickly found herself in a tight corner once more.

  “No need to fear!” the beggar called from his room. “The Bare-Arsed Monkey is Mounting the Tree!”

  Chuckling, Lotus raised both fists over her head and smacked down hard. Greybeard Liang was about to vault high and strike in mid-air. But, if he followed through on his move, Gibbon Climbs the Tree, he would be jumping head first into her punch, so he wrenched sideways awkwardly.

  When an opponent can predict one’s kung fu in a fight, mortal danger awaits within a handful of moves. Luckily for Greybeard Liang, he was fighting a novice.

  “Show your face, sir! Or I won’t show mercy!” Greybeard Liang rained down a torrent of overlapping attacks, each move launched before the last one had connected, too fast for Count Seven to call them out. Even if he were able to, there would be no time for Lotus to react.

  Hard pressed, Lotus’s responses became jumbled as she scurried and scrambled out of harm’s way. Guo Jing stepped up and launched a Haughty Dragon Repents.

  Old Liang tapped his right foot and hopped away from Guo’s thrust.

  “Give him three more like that!” Lotus shouted as she ran back to the inn.

  Guo Jing lowered into the opening stance once more and waited. The Haughty Dragon Repents was only set loose midway through one of Greybeard Liang’s attacks.

  Has he only got one move? The Ginseng Immortal was infuriated by the absurdity of the situation. And yet, it was enough to keep him at bay. There was no obvious way to overpower the young man.

  Frustrated by this impasse, Greybeard Liang had an idea. He sprang with a roar of defiance, knowing Guo Jing would answer with his only move. Yet, this time, the older man spun mid-flight and flicked with his right wrist.

  Three Bone-Piercing Needles. Coming straight at Guo Jing’s chest, abdomen and hip.

  The young man managed to scuttle out of the way, but his panicked retreat gave Liang the chance to charge. With lightning speed, he pinched the back of Guo Jing’s neck.

  Guo Jing elbowed back at him. But, somehow, Old Liang’s chest was as soft as a bale of cotton.

  Greybeard Liang had at last caught the boy who killed his precious python. He could take back what was his. He raised his arm, ready to discharge the death blow.

  “Ginseng Codger, look what I’ve got!” Lotus cried from the inn.

  Knowing that the young woman was full of tricks, he immobilised Guo Jing by jabbing his Shoulder Well pressure point, then looked up.

  She had raised in one hand a bamboo cane as green and glossy as jadeite.

  “Let him go!” Lotus demanded as she ambled over.

  “Chief Hong . . .”

  The old man was visibly dismayed. His arms dropped to his sides.

  Guo Jing was free!

  It had badly shaken Greybeard Liang to have his moves called out before he even initiated them. Now, the bamboo cane confirmed that the voice belonged to the one man he feared the most.

  “The Divine Vagrant Nine Fingers Count Seven Hong wishes to know why you insist on behaving in such an abominable manner.” Lotus held up the bamboo cane with both hands. “Explain yourself!”

  The Ginseng Immortal sank to his knees. “Your humble servant had not realised that Chief Hong had graced this region with his presence. Your servant would never dream of attempting anything that might displease the chieftain.”

  Why is he so frightened? And why does he call him Chief Hong? Lotus tried to hide her surprise.

  “What should be your punishment?”

  “I entreat my lady to speak a few kind words on my behalf. Greybeard Liang regrets his trespasses and begs Chief Hong for mercy.”

  “I will say one kind word and no more. You must never trouble the two of us again.”

  “Your humble servant has offended my lady and lord out of ignorance. Rest assured that I shall never be so reckless again.”

  Satisfied, Lotus took Guo Jing’s hand and disappeared inside the inn. Count Seven Hong was seated at the table, wine cup and chopsticks in hand, busying himself with four plates piled generously with the finest food.

  “His knees are nailed to the ground,” Lotus reported gleefully.

  “Do what you want with him. He won’t fight back now.”

  Guo Jing looked out of the window. Greybeard Liang was kneeling stiffly; his three disciples had joined him in this show of repentance. Guo Jing was starting to feel sorry for them. “We should let him go.”

  “Heavens, what’s the matter with you? You were defeated and I rescued you. And now you want to let him go?” Count Seven Hong fell into a thoughtful silence. “Actually, forgiveness is the higher virtue. It is the underlying idea of Haughty Dragon Repents.”

  “I’ll send him away.” Lotus picked up the bamboo cane and headed outside once more.

  Greybeard Liang was still on his knees, his deferential stance barely hiding the whiff of panic.

  “Count Seven Hong would have taken your life today for your misdeeds, but Guo Jing is merciful and he entreated on your behalf.” At this, she smacked his backside with the cane. “Shoo!”

  “Chief Hong, please grant me an audience. Please allow me to thank you personally for your magnanimity,” Greybeard Liang called out in the direction of the inn.

  Silence.

  Eventually, Guo Jing stepped outside, waving for him to be quiet. “Count Seven Hong is sleeping. He should not be disturbed.”

  Greybeard Liang glared at the young couple, climbed back onto his feet and left with his disciples.

  Count Seven Hong was snoring, face down on the table, by the time Guo Jing and Lotus returned inside. Lotus shook him lightly by the shoulder. The beggar yawned and stretched.

  “Your little bamboo cane is very powerful. Can I have it? You don’t use it, anyway.”

  He grin
ned. “A beggar can’t do without his cane. Or else how do I chase the dogs away? Not for nothing does it have the name Dog-Beating Cane.”

  Lotus would not be brushed off so easily. “Your kung fu is so strong, and your voice alone instills fear. What do you need the cane for?”

  “Make something nice for me and I’ll tell you the whole story.”

  Lotus disappeared into the kitchen and soon re-emerged with three more delicious plates.

  “You’ve heard the saying, ‘Things gather by kind and people band together by groups’, haven’t you?” Hong began, waving his wine cup while chewing a mouthful of dry-cured pork knuckle. “Landlords belong to one class. Highwaymen another. Beggars—”

  “You’re the Chief of the Beggar Clan!”

  “Indeed! Beggars are abused and looked down upon, even by dogs. If we don’t work together, we can’t survive. There are very few of us who don’t need to belong, deep down. Grand figures, like your father. He can get by on his own and no-one dares cross him. Our northern folk are ruled by the Jin, for now, and those in the south by the Song Emperor, but beggars of both realms are—”

  “Ruled by you!” Lotus completed the sentence for him.

  Count Seven nodded, with a smile. “This cane is the emblem, the sign that I am Chief of the Beggar Clan, like the Emperor’s jade seal or an official’s golden stamp. It’s several hundred years old, passed down through generations of chieftains since the end of the Tang dynasty.”

  “Thank the heavens you didn’t give it to me, then.” Lotus stuck her tongue out. “It would be horrible if the world’s beggars came after me, pestering me with all their troubles.”

  “You have the right of it. I love food and I hate dealing with all their petty complaints. It’s a burden, being the chieftain, but I can’t find anyone to take my place.”

  “That’s why Greybeard Liang was so afraid of you. If every beggar put a flea into the old Codger’s hair, he’d scratch himself half to death!”

  The room erupted in laughter.