Eagle Shooting Hero 1(83)
Guo Jing rejoiced, “Ah, where do we go then?”
Huang Rong asked, “Where have all the medicines in the shops gone to?”
Guo Jing answered, “The medicines have been bought up by people in Prince Zhao’s residence.”
Huang Rong said, “Yup, that’s right, so we’ll go to his residence and take it.”
Guo Jing was shocked, “To Prince Zhao’s residence?”
Huang Rong replied, “That’s right!”
Guo Jing said, “We can’t go there, we’ll only lose our lives.”
Huang Rong said, “Then you can bear to see Taoist Wang crippled? Or if his injuries take a turn for the worse, do you want to see him dead?”
Blood rushed up to his face and Guo Jing replied, “Alright, but you can’t go.”
Huang Rong asked, “Why?”
Guo Jing answered, “Just promise me that you won’t go.” But he couldn’t find a reason.
Huang Rong lowered her voice and said, “I won’t be able to stand it if you continue to worry for me. If you meet with any danger, how do you expect me to live alone?”
Guo Jing’s heart gave a leap and gratitude, happiness, and love dashed into his mind; he suddenly felt a hundred times braver and wasn’t the least afraid of people like Sha Tongtian and Peng Lianhu.
It was as if nothing was impossible in the world. He said, “Alright, we will both go to get the medicine.”
They rowed the boat to the bank and started towards the city. Halfway there, Guo Jing suddenly remembered that the ‘Four Demons of the Yellow River’ were still stuck in midair and said, “Hey, do you want to release those four people?”
Huang Rong giggled, “Those four fellows call themselves ‘Iron Strong Heroes’ so they are very powerful; they won’t freeze or starve. Even if they do starve to death, ‘Four Demons of the Plum Forest’ is superior to the ‘Four Demons of the Yellow River’.”
End of Chapter 8.
Eagle Shooting Hero
237
Chapter 9 – Iron Spear, Broken Plow
Translated by James Worsley and SunnySnow
Yang Tiexin took down the rusty iron spear hanging on the wall; he gently stroked the spear shaft and sighed, “This iron spear is rusty. It has not been used for a long while.” Consort Wang spoke softly, “Please don’t touch the spear, it is the most precious possession I have.” “Really?” Yang Tiexin asked, “This spear used to have a matching partner, however today only one remains.”
Guo Jing and Huang Rong went to the back of Prince Zhao's palace and leaped over the wall into the courtyard. Huang Rong whispered to Guo Jing in a soft voice, “Your lightness kung fu is excellent!” Guo Jing, crouching by the foot of the wall watching out for any movement in the courtyard, felt ecstatic hearing such praise from her.
After a moment they heard footsteps approaching; two men were laughing and talking as they walked towards them. One man was saying “What do you think the young prince has in mind for the young lady?”
The other man laughed and said, “It's obvious isn't it? Although she is a pretty woman, after giving birth who would give her another glance?”
The first man retorted, “With your dirty mind, you had better be careful that the young prince doesn't cut your head off. Although this girl is pretty, she cannot compare with the princess.”
The second man exclaimed, “She’s peasant girl! How can you mention her and the princess in the same breath?”
The first man replied, “The princess, you said she...” He suddenly stopped, coughed twice and changed the subject saying, “The young prince really suffered a loss at the hands of that big fellow today, you’d better be careful not to give him any cause for taking offence or you’ll surely get a beating!”
The second man said, “If the young prince tries to beat me, I'll simply dodge - and return with a kick...”
The first man laughed, “Stop talking bull shit.”
Guo Jing thought to himself "So Wanyan Kang already has a pretty sweetheart, no wonder he cannot marry the Mu girl. But if this is true, then he shouldn't have taken up the challenge in the first place let alone grab her shoe. Why would he concern himself with other people's affairs? Is it possible that a person, unwilling to agree to something, would use force to coerce them?”
At this point the two men had walked very close to Guo Jing and Huang Rong. One was carrying a lamp and the other a basket of food. They were servants wearing green clothes and caps. The man with the basket laughed and said “Speaking of other people, I fear that someone has become very hungry, we had better deliver these vegetables quickly!”
The other man replied “How can he win a young girl’s heart if he doesn't gain her sympathy?” Both men laughed as they walked away into the night.
Huang Rong became very curious. She whispered to Guo Jing “Let's go and see what type of pretty girl they’re talking about.”
Guo Jing asked “What about getting the medicine, isn't that more urgent?”
“I want to see the girl first!” Huang Rong said stubbornly as she started off after the two servants.
Guo Jing thought “What's so interesting about seeing some girl? That’s really strange.” What he didn't know was that when a woman hears about another beautiful woman, she will never be Eagle Shooting Hero
239
satisfied until she has seen her with her own eyes. If the women that hears about this other woman is herself especially beautiful, then the greater is the desire to see that other woman so she can compare herself with her! Guo Jing, however, did know enough about girls to know that they can be extremely difficult at times so he had no alternative but to follow.
The Zhao residence was huge. Guo Jing and Huang Rong followed the two servants for quite some time before arriving in front of a big building. At the entrance a few guards stood with weapons in hand. Guo Jing and Huang Rong hid behind a corner and heard the two servants whispering something to the guards before the guards opened the door and allowed them in. Huang Rong picked up a stone and threw it at the torches to put them out, before pulling Guo Jing along to follow the servants inside. Huang Rong was so swift that she and Guo Jing overtook the servants and were in front of them in a flash. The servants and guards didn’t notice that they’d slipped in and cursed and joked while re-lighting the torches. The servants entered a large room, opened a small door in the corner, and walked in. Guo Jing and Huang Rong silently followed them and saw rows of iron bars forming a large prison cell. Behind the bars sat a woman and a man.
One of the servants lit a candle and placed it on a prison table. In the candlelight, Guo Jing saw the man’s anxious and angry face; it was none other than Mu Yi. The young girl sitting beside him was his daughter, Mu Nianci. Guo Jing was suspicious and thought, “How did they end up here? Ah, Wanyan Kang captured them. What does he intend to do with them? Does he love this lady or not?”
The two servants took out some wine and dishes from their basket and pushed them into the cell.
Mu Yi picked up a plate of snacks and threw it out before yelling, “I have already fallen into your trap, so kill me if you want to. Why pretend to be nice?”
Amidst the commotion, the guard outside suddenly said, “Greetings, young Prince!”
Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged glances and hurriedly hid behind the door and saw Wanyan Kang rushing in and scolding, “Who made Hero Mu angry? Let’s find out whether or not I will break your legs when I leave.”
The two servants were frightened and dropped to their knees, “We dare not.”
Wanyan Kang answered, “Hurry up and get out of here!”
The two servants replied, “Yes, yes.” and turned to leave; but when they reached the door, they stuck their tongues out at each other and made funny faces as they left.
Wanyan Kang waited until they closed the door before saying gently, “I invited Hero Mu and Miss here for a different reason. Please don’t be offended.”
Mu Yi was furious, “You lock us up like prisoners and you dare use the word ‘invite’?”
Wanyan Kang said, “I’m so sorry. Please bear with it for the time being. I really am sorry.”
Mu Yi retorted angrily, “You can use this kind of talk to fool a three year old, but I’ve seen enough vicious officials to know better.”
Wanyan Kang tried to speak several times but was shut up by the angry Mu Yi. Yet, he still remained good natured and laughed good humoredly without a hint of anger. Mu Nianci listened to 240
Eagle Shooting Hero
the argument and whispered to her father, “Father, let’s hear what he has to say.” Mu Yi grunted before becoming silent.
Wanyan Kang said, “Your daughter has rare talents and beauty. I’m not blind so how can I possibly not like her?” Mu Nianci blushed deeply and lowered her head. Wanyan Kang continued,
“However, I am the heir of Prince Zhao and my family rules are very strict. If people find out that I married a commoner, my father will be furious and face a lot of trouble.”
Mu Yi replied, “Then what do you plan to do?”
Wanyan Kang replied, “I was thinking of letting Hero Mu and Miss stay here for a few days to recover from any injuries, before going back home. After a year and a half, when the situation is better, I will come to you and ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, or Hero Mu may send Miss to me so as to complete the marriage. Isn’t that a perfect solution?”