owlsbooks Chapter 3 "Father and Son" Heart-to-Heart Talk
Chapter 3 "Father and Son" Heart-to-Heart Talk
As Huang Yaoshi's uncle, Ouyang Feng was fully aware of the extent to which Ouyang Ke had been infatuated with Huang Yaoshi's daughter.
When Ouyang Ke sent a letter to White Camel Mountain, earnestly inviting his uncle to the Central Plains, his purpose was to propose marriage to Huang Yaoshi, the "Eastern Heretic," and ask for his beloved daughter, Huang Rong.
Although Ouyang Feng felt that his nephew was acting in a bit too hastily, he thought that Huang Yaoshi and he were both masters of the Five Greats, and that it would be a good thing for White Camel Mountain if the two families were to become related by marriage. So he came as suggested.
Who would have thought that once they arrived in the Central Plains, Ouyang Ke's appearance in front of Huang Rong was so unbearable for Ouyang Feng to witness.
That girl, Huang, was quick-witted and sarcastic, mocking and ridiculing him relentlessly. Anyone else would have been furious long ago.
But his nephew simply ignored the insults and, instead of being angry, seemed to enjoy it immensely, as if being able to stay by Huang Rong's side for even a moment longer was a great blessing.
What impressed Ouyang Feng even more was that before heading to Peach Blossom Island, Ouyang Ke actually offered to leave his several beloved concubines in the Central Plains and not bring them to the island.
It was said that they were worried Huang Rong wouldn't like it.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng immediately understood: his nephew, who was known for his womanizing ways and playing around with women, had truly fallen deeply in love this time.
Ouyang Feng was initially pleased with this arrangement. Huang Yaoshi was the master of an island, possessing exceptional martial arts skills; a marriage between the two families would be a perfect match. In the future, if Ke'er married a daughter of the Huang family, he would not only gain access to the martial arts of Peach Blossom Island, but Ouyang Feng himself could also gain insight into the profoundness of the Eastern Heretic's martial arts through this marriage. If this were to happen, his chances of dominating the competition and winning the title of "Number One Under Heaven" at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament next year would be greatly increased.
Unfortunately, the falling flowers were willing, but the flowing water was indifferent.
That young lady Huang already had someone in her heart, her affections falling for Guo Jing, the simple-minded boy under the tutelage of the Northern Beggar Hong Qigong. What's even more infuriating is that Huang Yaoshi set three tests for Ouyang Ke, and Ouyang Ke failed to pass a single one, losing every single one.
Although Ouyang Feng was ruthless and unscrupulous, he was also a man of his word. Seeing that the die was cast and Huang Yaoshi had personally betrothed his daughter to Guo Jing, he had no choice but to leave sadly with his nephew.
But he never expected that even in such dire straits, Ke'er would still be so attached to that girl Huang. Later, on the return journey by boat, he even witnessed Ke'er belittling himself and saying self-deprecating things in order to please Huang Rong. That scene greatly displeased Ouyang Feng—when had his nephew ever been so humble?
At this moment, inside the cave, Ouyang Feng stared at the calm-looking young man before him, his eyes filled with astonishment.
He had heard clearly that Ke'er said, "No need."
No need?
The Ke'er who was so infatuated with Huang Yatou that she lost her appetite and was completely obsessed with her, the Ke'er who traveled thousands of miles and endured humiliation just to see her, the Ke'er who was even willing to dismiss her concubines and lower her own status for her—she actually said "no need".
Ouyang Feng stared at him for a long time, then said in a deep voice, "Ke'er, are you really sure about this?"
Ouyang Ke raised his head, meeting his uncle's sharp, piercing gaze, a bitter smile playing on his lips: "Uncle, I've long understood. Forced relationships are never sweet; I only truly understand this now. Persistently clinging on will not only earn me contempt from others but also damage your reputation. How could a descendant of the White Camel Mountain lineage be so pathetic?"
He paused, his tone growing calmer: "Besides, since I arrived on Peach Blossom Island, my nephew has been plagued by misfortune. First, that man broke my ribs, then he broke my arm, and now even my legs are broken. If, after all this, he is still blinded by lust and remains stubbornly unrepentant, then he is truly beyond redemption and deserves this calamity."
These words were not empty words, but rather his heartfelt reflections after recalling his original experiences.
The original owner of this body was plagued by bad luck ever since he arrived on Peach Blossom Island. First, he took the initiative to ambush Guo Jing on the island, but was instead beaten by Guo Jing and had his ribs broken. Later, on the ship on the way back, he and his uncle plotted to force Guo Jing to write the Nine Yin Manual, and then tried to set the ship on fire. In the end, he was the one who was in danger, and his right arm was broken by Guo Jing. He was stranded on a deserted island with Huang Rong and Hong Qigong.
After being stranded on a deserted island, the original owner of this body still harbored lustful desires and attempted to take advantage of Huang Rong, only to be stabbed by her in a clever scheme. Even so, this did not diminish his wicked thoughts. To protect herself, Huang Rong devised a plan to lure him into the sea, but he managed to walk on a giant rock underwater, escaping danger. Finally, when he tried to harm Hong Qigong, Huang Rong tricked him into a trap, and he was unable to dodge, his legs crushed by a massive boulder.
Looking back on this past, Ouyang Ke felt nothing but absurdity.
Anyone else in her shoes, facing such a person who repeatedly attempted to commit evil, would likely have been a hundred times more ruthless than Huang Rong. The original owner of this body suffered such a fate entirely of her own making; she had no one else to blame but herself.
Hearing these words, Ouyang Feng's surprise gradually turned into relief. He nodded emphatically, his voice ringing out like metal striking stone: "Good! A true man has no shortage of wives! Your previous behavior, all that whining and sobbing, displeased your uncle. For the dignified young master of White Camel Mountain to bow down to a woman like that—what kind of behavior is that? Now that you've come to your senses, you truly are—"
His tone suddenly shifted, revealing a chilling undercurrent: "However, Ke'er, don't be discouraged. Since that girl Huang plotted to break your legs, your uncle will settle the score for you. Neither of the old beggar's two beloved disciples will get away with it!"
Ouyang Ke was taken aback upon hearing this: "Uncle, you already knew about this?"
Ouyang Feng snorted coldly, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Hmph, how could you hide your little schemes from me? You think you can cover for her and your uncle won't see through it? You have feelings, but that girl Huang might not appreciate them. My Ke'er's legs have been broken; if I just let it go like this, how will I, Ouyang Feng, maintain my standing in the martial world?"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke smiled bitterly to himself.
He finally understood. The reason the original owner of this body ended up in such a state was not only due to bad luck, but also because he was too infatuated. He was clearly a charming and philandering man who had seen it all, yet he stumbled on Huang Rong, unable to even see through the simple truth that "a forced relationship is never sweet."
Love is the most irrational thing.
No matter how outstanding or talented you are, in the eyes of someone who doesn't love you, all your efforts will be in vain, and you won't earn a genuine smile from her. Moreover, the original owner of this body was already infamous and had committed numerous evil deeds; hoping to gain favor with Huang Rong was nothing short of a pipe dream.
He composed himself and suddenly said seriously, "Uncle, I have a request to make."
Ouyang Feng raised an eyebrow: "Speak."
Ouyang Ke solemnly said, "My nephew's current predicament is entirely his own fault and has nothing to do with anyone else. I hope Uncle... will not make things difficult for them because of this."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng's face darkened abruptly, and his voice turned cold and sharp: "Ke'er, even now, you still want to plead for that little yellow girl?"
Ouyang Ke shook his head, his expression calm: "No, Uncle, you misunderstand. I'm not pleading for them, but rather... I want to settle this score myself."
Meeting Ouyang Feng's scrutinizing gaze, he said, word by word, "While it would be satisfying to rely on your uncle's help, it would also be too dull. I want to wash away this shame with my own abilities. When I have mastered martial arts, I will stand before them with dignity. At that time, whether they want to kill or punish me, whether they want to repay kindness or hold grudges, will be up to me. This is what a true man should do."
His personality and character were completely different from the original owner's. He transmigrated and inherited this body, but he did not inherit those unbearable memories and obsessions. He mostly disapproved of the original owner's actions. Moreover, if the original owner hadn't suffered that calamity, how could he have come to this martial arts world he had always dreamed of?
As a person from a later generation, he had longed for martial arts since childhood, and for the world of chivalry and vengeance. Now that he could experience it firsthand, he felt only joy.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light. He stared at Ouyang Ke for a long time, then suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly. The laughter echoed in the cave, causing dust to fall from the stone walls.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He exclaimed "Good!" three times in a row, his tone full of admiration: "Ke'er, you truly deserve to be a descendant of the White Camel Mountain Manor lineage! A real man should be born with such spirit!"
Ouyang Ke pressed his advantage, cupping his hands and saying, "Since Uncle has already promised his nephew, then please refrain from attacking Chief Hong and his group on this island. Your nephew knows what he's doing."
Although he also found Huang Rong beautiful, he was far from being as infatuated as the original owner of this body. The girl was intelligent, lively, and mischievous, indeed endearing, but since she was already in love with Guo Jing, the unspoken understanding and sweetness between them was obvious to everyone—a match made in heaven. Why should he make a fool of himself by becoming the villain who breaks up the couple?
Ouyang Feng pondered for a moment, then finally nodded slowly: "Alright, your uncle agrees. However—" He changed the subject, his gaze becoming profound, "Ke'er, if you want to surpass that silly boy Guo Jing, you can't continue practicing martial arts in the same carefree way as before."
Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat, and he solemnly replied, "Nephew understands."
He knew all too well that Guo Jing was no longer the same person he once was.
As early as Dadu (Beijing) in the Jin Dynasty, Guo Jing had already mastered the direct lineage of the Quanzhen Sect's internal cultivation methods. After meeting Huang Rong, he became a disciple of Hong Qigong and learned the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. At the Liu Clan Ancestral Hall outside Baoying County, Guo Jing, having only learned fifteen palms, was only slightly inferior to the original Guo Jing. After Hong Qigong taught him the remaining three palms, the two were now evenly matched.
Later on Peach Blossom Island, Guo Jing and Zhou Botong became sworn brothers. Guo Jing not only learned the martial arts from the Nine Yin Manual, but also acquired the Empty Fist created by Zhou Botong. At that time, Ouyang Ke was no match for Guo Jing.
The path of martial arts is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Guo Jing may seem dull-witted, but he is actually wise beyond his years, diligent and tireless, and encounters many extraordinary events. As for Ouyang Ke, his legs are now broken, and whether he can recover is still unknown. Even if he recovers, catching up with the soaring Guo Jing will be no easy task.
As a martial arts master, Ouyang Feng could naturally see the potential and progress of the old beggar's foolish apprentice. Under normal circumstances, he would have eliminated him as soon as possible to prevent future troubles. But seeing his nephew display such rare ambition, he was very pleased and did not want to dampen his spirits.
He gave Ouyang Ke one last look and said in a deep voice, "Ke'er, I'm happy to help you achieve your ambition. But you must remember one thing—"
He paused, then said, slowly and deliberately, "A man who is ruthless is no man at all. Being soft-hearted and soft-hearted will only harm others and himself."
Having seen countless people, he naturally saw that Ouyang Ke's words concealed some other intentions. He assumed that his nephew had not completely forgotten Huang Rong and was afraid that killing that foolish boy would incur Huang Rong's wrath.
Ouyang Ke was slightly taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "Nephew will remember Uncle's teachings."
……
Ever since the day the uncle and nephew made their pact, the atmosphere on this deserted island has quietly changed.
First, Ouyang Feng presented Hong Qigong with the antidote for the venomous snake on his snake staff, which cured Hong Qigong of the earlier snake venom, greatly improving his condition.
This scene left Hong Qigong, Huang Rong, and Guo Jing, the master and disciples who had been perched in the treehouse, somewhat bewildered, but they still noticed the change. In the past, Ouyang Feng's sinister eyes were always fixed on Guo Jing's every move, as if he were about to launch an attack at any moment. But in the past few days, he had suddenly relaxed his surveillance, allowing Guo Jing to cut down trees in the forest without interfering.
As for Ouyang Ke, he was consistent in his words and deeds, rarely appearing before Huang Rong. Occasionally, when they met, he would simply nod slightly and leave, no longer shamelessly trying to pester her as before.
This unusual behavior made Huang Rong, Guo Jing, and the others feel quite uncomfortable, and even somewhat confused.
Hong Qigong sat cross-legged on the treehouse, gazing at Guo Jing logging in the distance, then at the quiet cave below. He clicked his tongue in amazement, sighing, "Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual. Not only has that little poisoner Ouyang Ke changed his ways, but even the old poisoner has stopped harming people? Am I, this old beggar, dreaming?"
Hearing him say this, Huang Rong couldn't help but smile. Although she still had doubts, the past few days had been peaceful, and she no longer had to be constantly on guard against the uncle and nephew, which made her feel much more relaxed.
On this day, as the sun set, its golden rays bathed the island in light.
Guo Jing sweated profusely in the forest, unleashing the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, each palm strike knocking down pine trees as thick as bowls. The powerful palm strikes caused the tree trunks to rumble and branches to fall in a flurry, displaying astonishing might.
However, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms consume the most internal energy, and even an iron body cannot withstand such prolonged exertion. In less than half an hour, Guo Jing had already knocked down twenty-one pine trees. By the time he used his strength to knock down the twenty-second one, his arms were already aching unbearably. He unleashed a move called "Dragon Appears in the Field" with both palms, and the tree shook violently, its branches and leaves rattling, but the trunk only swayed and did not break.
The force of the recoil sent a jolt through Guo Jing's chest, causing his blood to surge and his body to stagger back two steps, his face turning deathly pale.
"Brother Jing!"
Huang Rong, who had been watching from the sidelines, was shocked to see this. She flew to his side, grabbed his arm, and asked anxiously, "How are you? Are you feeling unwell?"
Guo Jing took a deep breath, suppressing the churning in his chest, and smiled sheepishly, "Rong'er, I'm fine, I just need to rest."
Despite his words, large beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead and slid down his cheeks.
Suddenly, a calm voice came from not far away: "Foolish boy, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms are incredibly powerful. If used improperly, they will surely injure you. Why don't you sit down and regulate your breathing?"
Guo Jing and Huang Rong were startled by what they heard. They looked in the direction of the voice and saw Ouyang Ke leaning against a rock under a tree a few feet away, smiling at them.
The setting sun cast its warm glow upon him, adding a touch of warmth to his pale face. He was still unable to walk, but his spirits were clearly much better than they had been a few days ago.
"Brother Jing..."
Huang Rong, disregarding his use of the term "silly boy," quickly helped Guo Jing sit down. Guo Jing obeyed, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, concentrating on regulating his breathing. It took him a full half hour before he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and opened his eyes.
He stood up, still feeling weak all over, with sore arms and legs, and then he realized that what Ouyang Ke had said was true.
Guo Jing was broad-minded. Although he had a past grudge against Ouyang Ke, he sincerely cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Young Master Ouyang."
Ouyang Ke shook his head, his expression frank: "You don't need to thank me. If my nephew and I want to escape, we'll need your and Miss Huang's help. This island is desolate; if we can't build a raft, we'll all be trapped here and die, and no one will benefit."
His words were blunt, yet reasonable. Huang Rong, quick-witted as ever, glanced at him again upon hearing this, secretly thinking: This man's words and actions have truly changed.
Ouyang Ke, unaware of her thoughts, continued, "Chopping down a tree with your bare hands consumes too much internal energy. If you had a weapon and combined it with internal martial arts, it might be easier."
Guo Jing was taken aback by these words and before he could react, Huang Rong's eyes lit up and she hurriedly said, "Brother Jing, don't you have that dagger that Daoist Qiu Chuji gave you?"
"Not bad!" Guo Jing then remembered and took out a short dagger from his bosom. The dagger gleamed coldly and was extremely sharp; it was a gift from Qiu Chuji, the leader of the Quanzhen Sect.
Holding the dagger, he recalled the strange boxing technique taught by Zhou Botong on Peach Blossom Island. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he subconsciously reached out and patted a pine tree beside him.
The palm strike was extremely powerful, and the sound echoed through the valley, but the pine tree in front of it remained completely still.
Guo Jing stared blankly at his palm, seemingly understanding something. Huang Rong, seeing this, also seemed to be deep in thought.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ke said no more. With Huang Rong, a clever person, by his side, Guo Jing would surely grasp the essence of the Empty Fist in no time.
Sure enough, Huang Rong's eyes lit up, and she understood the key point. She leaned close to Guo Jing's ear and whispered a few words. Guo Jing nodded repeatedly, and once again used the techniques of the Empty Fist, combined with the dagger that could cut through iron like mud, to start chopping wood again.
This time, it was as if divine intervention had helped.
He wielded his dagger, making a light slash that left a deep mark on the tree trunk; then, with a skillful strike of his empty fist, the tree fell to the ground with a thud, effortless and harmless. In less than half an hour, the necessary timber was ready.
The sun finally sank into the sea, leaving only the last rays of light on the horizon.
Guo Jing's forehead was covered in sweat, but his face was full of joy. He turned around, about to speak to Huang Rong, when he saw the young girl already standing in front of him, extending her slender fingers to gently wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Her movements were so natural, so gentle, as if she had done it a thousand times. Her clear, bright eyes were filled with undisguised concern and heartache. As she wiped them, she whispered, "You must be exhausted. I told you to push yourself, chopping so much in one go..."
Her tone carried a hint of reproach, a touch of heartache, and an undeniable sweetness.
Guo Jing chuckled sheepishly, letting her wipe him, his eyes filled with tenderness and joy. He said awkwardly, "I'm not tired, really not tired. Rong'er, with you watching over me, I don't feel tired at all."
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong blushed slightly and scolded, "Silly boy, all you know how to say is this..." but her hands became even gentler.
The setting sun cast its last rays upon them, elongating their shadows. The girl stood on tiptoe, intently wiping the boy's sweat; the boy, head bowed, never took his eyes off her face. A gentle sea breeze blew, ruffling her clothes and tousling his hair.
At that moment, it seemed as if only the two of them remained in the world.
Ouyang Ke sat under a tree not far away, quietly watching this scene.
His gaze fell on Huang Rong's face, which was slightly flushed with concern, then on Guo Jing's eyes, which were full of tenderness, and finally on the moment when the two smiled at each other.
He suddenly sighed softly.
In that sigh, there was relief, emotion, and a faint, hazy sense of melancholy.
He spoke, his voice calm and sincere, carried by the wind to the two men's ears:
"Miss Huang, Brother Guo, you two are truly a match made in heaven. Ouyang Ke wishes you a speedy marriage and a long and happy life together."
Huang Rong was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. She looked up at Ouyang Ke and saw that he was calm and clear-eyed, without the slightest hint of sarcasm or strangeness. Her vigilance finally dissipated completely.
She smiled sweetly, a smile as radiant and captivating as a spring flower in full bloom: "Thank you for your kind words, Young Master Ouyang."
Guo Jing also cupped his hands in a simple and honest manner, and said sincerely, "Thank you very much, Young Master Ouyang!"
Ouyang Ke nodded slightly and said no more.
As dusk settles and a gentle sea breeze blows, everything on the deserted island seems to be quietly brewing a new beginning in this rare moment of peace.