plumnovel Chapter 5: The Jin Kingdom Delegation Temporarily Departs for the North.
Chapter 5: The Jin Kingdom Delegation Temporarily Departs for the North.
The raft drifted on the sea for two days with the wind, which remained unchanged, coming from the east as always, pushing the simple raft westward.
By the third day, everyone was utterly exhausted. Days at sea had left them with almost no fresh water and no food; weariness was evident on everyone's face. That night, Guo Jing stayed behind to steer and keep watch, while the other four found their places and lay down fully clothed.
The sea was not calm that night.
The wind howled, the waves roared like thunder, and one giant wave after another surged in, crashing against the simple raft made of huge logs. The small raft bobbed up and down in the waves, sometimes soaring to the crest and sometimes plunging into the trough, like a fallen leaf drifting with the current, so fragile that it seemed as if it could be swallowed by the sea at any moment.
Although everyone was exhausted, they were not sleepy at all. Everyone kept their eyes open, gazing at the dark night sky, listening to the howling wind, and waiting for the raft to pass through this treacherous sea.
It wasn't until late at night, when the wind and waves subsided and the raft finally sailed out of the turbulent sea, that everyone drifted off to sleep.
……
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight fell on the raft, everyone woke up one by one.
Ouyang Ke opened his eyes and saw a magnificent sunrise on the horizon and shimmering waves on the sea, a stark contrast to the raging waves of the past few days. He took a deep breath and felt much better than before.
The raft continued westward, carried by the sea breeze. Around 3 PM, suddenly, Guo Jing pointed into the distance and exclaimed with delight, "Look! There's a boat over there!"
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing, and saw a faint black line stretching across the horizon where the sea met the sky. The black line became clearer and clearer, and it was indeed a large ship.
The wind was calm, though the sun was scorching and somewhat uncomfortable. But everyone was in high spirits; no one felt the sun's heat anymore, instead finding it warm and pleasant.
Everyone stared intently as a large dragon-headed ship, its sails billowing, sailed in, cutting through the waves. The ship was ornately decorated and imposing, clearly no ordinary vessel.
Before long, the large ship drew closer and closer, and everyone could see a person standing at the bow.
The man was dressed in an embroidered brocade robe, with a gold belt around his waist and a sable hat on his head. He had an elegant demeanor, and it was clear at a glance that he was either rich or noble.
Ouyang Feng and Hong Qigong looked at the man, finding him unfamiliar, and didn't pay him any mind. But Ouyang Ke recognized him at a glance—it was none other than Wanyan Honglie, the sixth prince of the Jin Kingdom.
The original owner of this body had been offered a high-paying job by Wanyan Honglie in Dadu, and the two had a close relationship, so he recognized her at a glance.
Huang Rong also recognized the man at the bow of the ship. Her expression changed slightly, and she whispered, "Brother Jing, it's Wanyan Honglie!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jing's body trembled violently, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot as he stared intently at the approaching ship. He gritted his teeth and said, "Heaven rewards the diligent! I have finally found my father's killer!"
It turns out that back in Taihu, Guo Jing had already extracted the truth from Duan Tiande, realizing that the massacre of his family was orchestrated by Wanyan Honglie. The hatred for his father's killer was irreconcilable, and he constantly plotted to avenge this villain. However, back in Jiangnan, Wanyan Honglie unexpectedly escaped, allowing him to flee.
Now that enemies have met, their eyes are filled with hatred.
Guo Jing clenched his fists, his blood surging, and he was almost unable to restrain himself, so he leaped onto the large ship.
Ouyang Ke witnessed all of this and sighed inwardly.
He was well aware of the deep-seated hatred between Guo Jing and Wanyan Honglie, and also knew that the large ship was teeming with experts. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly spoke, "Brother Guo, Wanyan Honglie has brought a great number of experts with him on his southward journey. Although I am unwilling to be your enemy, I was treated with courtesy by him before, and for now, I can only remain neutral. I hope that Brother Guo will consider my past relationship and refrain from attacking for the time being."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the large ship, and continued, "Elder Hong's strength has not yet recovered, and you and Miss Huang are exhausted from days of wandering. It would be unwise for you to fight Wanyan Honglie and his group now."
Upon hearing this, Guo Jing was filled with rage, but he also knew that Ouyang Ke's words made sense. He took a few deep breaths, suppressed his murderous intent, and looked up at the large ship.
Upon that glance, their gazes involuntarily sharpened.
At the bow of the large ship stood seven or eight people of varying heights. These were the same group of martial arts masters he had seen months ago at the Zhao Prince's mansion in Yanjing—the short, stocky man with piercing eyes was Peng Lianhu, the Thousand-Handed Butcher; the man with a gleaming, oily scalp was Sha Tongtian, the Ghost Gate Dragon King; the man with three tumors on his forehead was Hou Tonghai, the Three-Headed Flood Dragon; the man with a youthful face and white hair was Liang Ziweng, the Ginseng Immortal; and the man in the bright red kasaya was the Tibetan monk, the Great Seal Master Lingzhi. Several others were unfamiliar, presumably newly recruited masters by Wanyan Honglie.
Huang Rong glanced at the group of people, secretly calculating in her heart: "Ouyang Ke is right. My martial arts and Jing-gege's have improved a lot recently. If I were to fight Peng Lianhu and the others one-on-one, even if I still had no chance of winning, Jing-gege would definitely win. However, with so many people gathered together, it will be even more difficult to escape today."
She secretly rejoiced that Ouyang Ke had turned over a new leaf and refused to aid and abet evil. Otherwise, Ouyang Feng alone would have been enough to give them a major headache.
Guo Jing remained hesitant, his eyes a mixture of murderous intent and reason. Seeing this, Ouyang Ke said calmly, "You two should reconsider. But for now, survival is the most important thing."
Having said that, he gathered his inner energy and said loudly, "Chief Peng, Chief Sha, it's been a long time!"
The sound carried far and wide, reaching the large ship.
Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian were surprised to hear this. They recognized Ouyang Ke's voice and immediately replied, "So it's Young Master Ouyang!"
Upon hearing this, Wanyan Honglie's eyes lit up with joy. He immediately said, "Quick! Launch the sampan and bring Young Master Ouyang aboard!"
After escaping from the Liu Clan Ancestral Hall in Baoying, Wanyan Honglie, fearing Guo Jing's pursuit and revenge, dared not return north. Instead, he joined forces with Peng Lianhu, Sha Tongtian, and others, and headed south by sea. His purpose was to steal Yue Fei's last testament from Lin'an.
At that time, the Mongols launched a major invasion of the Jin Dynasty, and the capital, Yanjing, was besieged for nearly a month. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun had all fallen to the Mongols. The Jin Dynasty's power was waning day by day, and Wanyan Honglie was extremely worried. He saw that the Mongol soldiers were exceptionally fierce, and that the Jin army, despite having ten times the numbers, was defeated in every battle.
He racked his brains but found no solution, so he placed all his ambitions for the revival of the nation on the military treatise left by Yue Fei. He thought that as long as he obtained this military book, he would be able to use troops like a god and be invincible, just like Yue Fei in the past. Even the elite Mongol army would be routed at the mere sight of him.
This time, he led his men south with great secrecy, fearing that the Southern Dynasty would become aware of his presence and prepare defenses. Therefore, he changed his route to sea, determined to land undetected on the Zhejiang coast and secretly enter Lin'an to steal the book. On that day, he searched everywhere for Ouyang Ke without success. Although he knew Ouyang Ke was an extremely capable master, he had not heard from him for a long time and could not wait for him alone, so he had no choice but to set off on his own. Now, meeting him on this vast sea, he was naturally both surprised and delighted.
But before the joy in his eyes had faded, his gaze fell on Guo Jing on the raft, and his face immediately froze.
But by then the large ship had already lowered the sampan, and several sailors rowed closer, the sampan was already next to the raft.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ke said calmly, "Regardless of what you two do, let's get on the big ship first."
Hong Qigong chimed in, "That's right! Jing'er, for now, let's get on the big ship first. We can settle any grudges later."
They had been adrift at sea for three days and three nights, their fresh water and food long gone. If they didn't reach the shore soon, they would face the predicament of running out of ammunition and food. Even though they were not far from land, driven by hunger and exhaustion, no one was confident they could successfully land.
Guo Jing knew that boarding the boat was the only way out. He took a deep breath, suppressed his murderous intent, and helped Hong Qigong onto the sampan.
Huang Rong followed closely behind, while Ouyang Feng helped Ouyang Ke to sit down as well.
Before long, the sampan approached the large ship, and the group climbed the rope ladder onto the deck.
As Guo Jing stepped onto the deck, his gaze involuntarily fell upon Wanyan Honglie. With his enemy right before him, his heart swelled with rage, his fists clenched, and even surrounded by formidable foe, he still stared intently at Wanyan Honglie, his eyes bloodshot.
Wanyan Honglie felt a chill run down his spine from the murderous look in his eyes, but he remained gentle and polite, nodding with a smile.
Just then, a person hurriedly came up from the cabin, only showing half of their face before immediately retreating back inside.
Ouyang Ke saw it clearly—the man was dressed in brocade, like a cluster of flowers, with a face as beautiful as jade, and about eighteen or nineteen years old. Who else could it be but Wanyan Kang?
Seeing that he had retreated as soon as he appeared, Ouyang Ke naturally understood that he was avoiding Guo Jing. Back then, on the shores of Taihu Lake, Guo Jing and Huang Rong had clashed with him, and now, encountering him under these circumstances, he naturally did not want to show himself.
Ouyang Ke didn't make a fuss and pretended not to see it.
Guo Jing didn't notice this scene, but Huang Rong, who was standing nearby, saw it all clearly. She was incredibly clever and immediately guessed that the man was Wanyan Kang. However, she knew that now was not the time to reveal it, so she deliberately pretended to be oblivious.
Ouyang Ke stepped forward and introduced Wanyan Honglie, saying, "Your Highness, this is my uncle."
Ouyang Feng remained calm and simply cupped his hands in a slight gesture of respect.
Wanyan Honglie was unaware of Ouyang Feng's great reputation in the martial arts world. Seeing his arrogant expression, he was slightly displeased. However, out of respect for Ouyang Ke, he still bowed respectfully and smiled broadly.
However, upon hearing this, Peng Lianhu, Sha Tongtian, and the others bowed in unison and said, "We have long admired Mr. Ouyang as a towering figure in the martial arts world. It is truly an honor to meet you today!"
Living in the martial arts world, how could they not know the name of "Western Poison" Ouyang Feng? He was one of the Five Great Masters, on par with "Eastern Heretic" Huang Yaoshi, "Northern Beggar" Hong Qigong, and "Southern Emperor" Duan Zhixing. His martial arts skills were unfathomable. Seeing him in person now, they were naturally extremely respectful.
Wanyan Honglie was not a member of the martial arts world and had never heard of the "Five Greats." But seeing Sha Tongtian and the others so respectful, displaying both reverence and fear, even a hint of flattery—an expression he had never seen on their faces before—he immediately understood that this Mr. Ouyang was certainly no ordinary person.
Ouyang Feng bowed slightly in return, his expression remaining indifferent.
Only Master Lingzhi, who was accustomed to living on the Tibetan border and unaware of the name "Western Poison," was quite disapproving of the respect shown by everyone. He stood aside with his hands clasped together, saying nothing.
Just then, the youthful-faced, white-haired old monster Liang Ziweng, after hesitating for a long time, actually took the initiative to step forward and respectfully bowed to Hong Qigong: "This humble Liang Ziweng greets Chief Hong. Greetings, sir."
These words surprised everyone once again.
Everyone had long heard of the formidable reputations of the Western Poison and the Northern Beggar, but none had ever seen their true faces. Unexpectedly, these two great masters of the age had appeared here simultaneously. Just as everyone was about to step forward to pay their respects, Hong Qigong lazily waved his hand: "This old beggar has been adrift at sea for days, his stomach is growling with hunger. No need for formalities; why not bring some wine to satisfy this old beggar's craving?"
Upon hearing this, Wanyan Honglie quickly nodded to the people around him. Soon after, fine wine and delicacies were served. Hong Qigong didn't stand on ceremony, took the wine jug, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. The wine slid down his throat, and he exhaled a long breath, squinting his eyes and smiling, "Refreshing! Truly refreshing!"
Seeing that he had gained another powerful ally, Wanyan Honglie was overjoyed. He stepped forward, beaming, and said, "Today, I am not only fortunate to reunite with Young Master Ouyang, but also to have the honor of meeting two heroes of our time. It is truly an honor beyond measure. My great Jin Kingdom is currently in dire need of talented individuals. If you two are willing to serve, I will certainly treat you as pillars of the state..."
His words were sincere, and he displayed a courteous and respectful attitude. Unfortunately, whether this sincerity or pretense was genuine, it was nothing but a joke in front of Ouyang Feng and Hong Qigong.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke shook his head and smiled, pointing to his legs, and said, "Your Highness, to be honest, I am currently injured and both my legs are broken. I am unable to assist Your Highness's great cause."
Wanyan Honglie's gaze then fell upon Ouyang Ke's legs. His legs were strapped to wooden boards and wrapped in strips of cloth, clearly indicating severe injuries. A hint of regret flashed in his eyes as he sighed, "It is deeply saddening that Young Master Ouyang has suffered such a serious injury. I hope for your speedy recovery, and if you require my assistance in the future, I will certainly do my utmost to help you."
His words were sincere and heartfelt, leaving no room for criticism.
Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."
Wanyan Honglie then looked at Ouyang Feng and Hong Qigong, still maintaining his courteous and respectful demeanor: "I wonder about you two..."
Ouyang Feng said calmly, "I need to take Ke'er back to White Camel Mountain to recuperate, and I have no time to attend to anything else."
Hong Qigong laughed heartily: "This old beggar is used to a life of leisure and can't stand the slightest constraint. I appreciate Your Highness's kindness."
His Beggars' Sect disciples were scattered throughout the land, and for generations they had aided the Song army in resisting the Jin invaders. How could he, as the leader of the Beggars' Sect, possibly be recruited by Wanyan Honglie?
A hint of regret flashed in Wanyan Honglie's eyes, but there was no displeasure on his face. He nodded with a smile, demonstrating his profound composure.
His magnanimity greatly displeased the Venerable Lingzhi, whom he had recruited. He stepped forward and loudly proclaimed, "His Highness treats scholars with courtesy and respect, as if they were national treasures. Why are you two so rude?"
Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions.
Hong Qigong's eyes crinkled with amusement, while Huang Rong wore an expression of anticipation, her lips slightly upturned. As for Peng Lianhu, Sha Tongtian, and the others, the way they looked at Lingzhi Shangren was as if they were looking at someone who was tired of living—their eyes held astonishment, admiration, and a hint of schadenfreude.
Master Lingzhi, unaware of the meaning behind the crowd's gazes, simply assumed that he had finally outmaneuvered Peng Lianhu and the others in front of the prince. It turned out that although they had all been recruited by Wanyan Honglie, they harbored resentment towards each other, and open and covert struggles were commonplace. Now that he dared to stand up for the prince, he was naturally gaining considerable prestige.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke smiled faintly and said, "Is the Master dissatisfied with my uncle?"
Master Lingzhi's gaze swept over him, merely a fleeting glance. In the past, given Ouyang Ke's formidable martial arts skills, he would have been somewhat wary. But times had changed. Now, with Ouyang Ke's legs broken, he was nothing more than a cripple in his eyes, and naturally, he paid him no heed.
As for Ouyang Feng, in his eyes he was just an old man over seventy years old. Even if he had martial arts skills, how powerful could he be?
He raised his head and said, "I wouldn't call it dissatisfaction, but the two of you have been far too disrespectful to the Prince, so this humble monk must speak up."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke actually took the initiative to cup his hands in greeting to Master Lingzhi, and said earnestly, "I truly admire your courage, Master."
Master Lingzhi, unaware of the deeper meaning in his words, instead clasped his hands together and returned the greeting.
Seeing this, Huang Rong finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. She quickly covered her mouth, but she was already laughing so hard she was shaking. Although Guo Jing didn't laugh as much, he also felt that Ouyang Ke's words were very apt—this Lingzhi Shangren was indeed very courageous, daring to provoke Ouyang Feng.
The next moment, Ouyang Feng let out a cold snort.
His figure moved in a flash, as fast as a ghost. Everyone only saw a blur before their eyes, and the Lingzhi Master, dressed in a bright red kasaya, was grabbed by the back of the neck by Ouyang Feng, turned upside down, and lifted up with his head down.
The attack was incredibly fast; no one even saw what technique Ouyang Feng used. All they saw was Lingzhi Shangren's imposing body being lifted into the air with one hand, his legs kicking wildly, while his arms hung limply beside his ears, as if broken, utterly powerless to resist.
Ouyang Feng looked up at the sky and said casually, "Someone like you dares to question me? You really don't know what's good for you."
Master Lingzhi was both shocked and furious. He tried to break free several times, but to no avail. His face turned red, and he roared repeatedly, but there was nothing he could do.
Peng Lianhu, Sha Tongtian, and the others were all horrified by this sight. Although they knew that Ouyang Feng was highly skilled in martial arts, they never expected him to be this skilled—the Lingzhi Master's martial arts were no less than theirs, yet in Ouyang Feng's hands, he was as powerless as an infant.
Ouyang Feng snorted coldly, pulled his arm back and swung it forward, unleashing a burst of power from his palm. Lingzhi Shangren's burly body flew off the deck like a red cloud and landed in the sea with a "plop".
He thrashed about in the sea, swallowing mouthfuls of seawater and looking utterly pathetic.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ke cupped his hands to Wanyan Honglie and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me."
How could Wanyan Honglie dare to show the slightest displeasure at this moment? He secretly rejoiced that he had not offended this Mr. Ouyang. He quickly said, "Young Master Ouyang, you are too kind. This matter has nothing to do with you. It was all my inappropriate words that caused the conflict between the two of you."
As he spoke, he hurriedly ordered his men to lower the small boat and retrieve Master Lingzhi. Such magnanimity and breadth of vision truly befit a man capable of great things.
……
Although Wanyan Honglie could not persuade Ouyang Ke and his nephew to stay, he still hosted a banquet for them with impeccable manners. Ouyang Ke and his nephew were not shy about it and enjoyed a hearty meal with Hong Qigong, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong. After the meal, Wanyan Honglie ordered a small boat to be provided for the five of them to depart.
The small boat left the large ship and headed west towards land.
As the ship sailed at sea, Hong Qigong suddenly said, "Wanyan Honglie and his party must have ulterior motives for coming to Jiangnan by sea. I wonder what kind of evil deeds they are planning to commit."
He spoke with heavy breathing and difficulty. Although he had been cured of the snake venom and practiced the "Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening Technique," he had lost all his internal strength and had been adrift at sea for several days, so he could no longer withstand such exhaustion.
Huang Rong quickly comforted her, "Master, you should say less. Leave these matters to your disciple and Brother Jing."
Guo Jing nodded repeatedly, "Rong'er is right, Seventh Master, you should rest well."
Huang Rong fed him a few Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pills, which slightly reduced Hong Qigong's pain, but he was still breathing very heavily.
Ouyang Feng sat at the bow of the boat, his gaze sweeping over Hong Qigong, a complex expression flashing in his eyes before disappearing in an instant.
The relationship between the two sides, which had been eased thanks to Ouyang Ke's mediation, became delicate again as Hong Qigong's complexion worsened.
About half an hour later, the small boat reached the shore, and the group finally arrived at the coast of Jiangnan.
Ouyang Feng helped Ouyang Ke off the ship first. Hong Qigong, supported by Huang Rong and Guo Jing, leaned against the ship's railing.
Before parting, Ouyang Feng turned back to Hong Qigong and said in a deep voice, "Next year at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, we'll settle our differences."
Hong Qigong gave a wry smile, shook his head, and said, "Old Poisoner, this old beggar has lost all his skills. If I want to fight you again, I'm afraid I can only wait until the next life."
Ouyang Feng shook his head and said, "Although your injuries are severe, they are not incurable. As long as you speak to that person, you will surely be able to fully recover your strength."
The person he was referring to was none other than Emperor Duan Zhixing of the Southern Kingdom.
Hong Qigong shook his head and remained silent, clearly unwilling to use this method.
Ouyang Ke suddenly spoke up, "There may be more than one way to fully recover your power. I owe you a favor, and I will certainly repay it in the future."
The matter he mentioned was naturally the favor Hong Qigong had bestowed upon him on the isolated island not long ago.
Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong looked at him and smiled freely: "Your words are more agreeable than your uncle's. However, for now, you should focus on healing your old injuries."
Ouyang Ke returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then looked at Guo Jing and Huang Rong, saying, "Brother Guo, Miss Huang, it's time for us to part ways. I am a descendant of the White Camel Mountain lineage, while you two possess the martial arts heritage of both the Northern Beggar and Peach Blossom Island lineages. If I recover from my injuries, I will definitely come back to learn from you both."
He didn't turn back after he finished speaking.
Ouyang Feng helped him up, and the uncle and nephew quickly disappeared into the twilight by the sea.
……
Watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, Hong Qigong suddenly sighed, "Well done, Ouyang Ke. It seems that the old poisoner's skills will be entrusted to someone in the future."
Guo Jing gazed into the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Since he met Ouyang Ke, their relationship had evolved from hostility to wariness, and then to acceptance. Now, seeing Ouyang Ke depart so freely, he felt a surge of respect for him. But what concerned him more was something else entirely.
He looked at Hong Qigong and couldn't help but ask, "Master Qigong, who exactly is 'that person' that Mr. Ouyang mentioned earlier? How can you restore your martial arts skills?"
Huang Rong tugged at Hong Qigong's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Master, you said it. No matter how difficult it is, we must get it done. I'll go ask Father; he'll definitely have a way."
Hong Qigong shook his head and sighed, "Do you think your father is omnipotent? But that person is no ordinary person; even your father can't do anything to him."
Huang Rong asked curiously, "That person? Who is it?"
Hong Qigong remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Let alone that person's martial arts skills, even if he were powerless, this old beggar would never do such a thing that harms others for personal gain."
Huang Rong pondered for a moment and said, "Extremely high martial arts skills? Ah, I know! It's Emperor Duan of the Southern Kingdom! Master, we asked him to heal our injuries, how come it's all about harming others for personal gain again?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong simply shook his head, refusing to reveal the reason.
The sea breeze carries a salty, fishy smell. The setting sun paints the sky a golden-red hue, and on the shimmering sea, a small boat slowly sails towards the shore.
Huang Rong gazed into the distance, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.
The person she once loathed and avoided at all costs, the person who used to surround her and pester her relentlessly, has now left so freely, without a trace of regret.
She couldn't explain what that feeling was like.
It's not that I like it, nor that I'm reluctant to part with it, it's just... a little bit of melancholy.
But that's about it.
She turned her head and looked at Guo Jing beside her. The kind-hearted young man was quietly watching her, his brows full of concern.
In his eyes, there was only ever her.