Chapter 26 – The heavy sword of the condor, Part 5
The spectators felt in awe of her gaze, and all involuntarily turned their heads to see what was so strange about that rosebush. They noticed a human shadow fly out round the side of the pine lined field and sneak into the no-man’s land between Fawang and the Quanzhen Five Masters. That person, darting past everyone, grabbed hold of Xiao Longnü with his left arm and had already leaped out of the ring. Without wasting a moment, sat beside the rosebush, and rested her against his chest. This person was of course Yang Guo!
Xiao Longnü’s face lighted up, tears flowing from her eyes: “Guo’er, it’s you. This isn’t a dream?”
Yang Guo nodded, kissing her cheek, his voice soft: “Not a dream. Am I not holding you right now?”
But then he saw her clothes stained with blood spots, alarmed. He worriedly asked: “Are you seriously injured?”
Xiao Longnü earlier received two vicious attacks. Upon seeing Yang Guo, she didn’t feel her injury. Only now she felt the searing pain. She placed her arm around Yang Guo’s neck, saying: “I… I…” Her body hurt so much she couldn’t get the words out.
Yang Guo couldn’t bear to see her in pain, his voice broke: “Gu Gu I’ve come too late!”
Xiao Longnü said: “No, it’s good that you’ve come. In this life, I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you again.”
Suddenly she felt cold as if her soul was leaving the body. She hung on to Yang Guo’s arms yet her hold was slowly dropping. She said: “Guo’er, hold me.”
Yang Guo’s left arm slightly tightened, pulling her to his chest. He was overwhelmed by hundreds of feelings, his tears slowly falling down to Xiao Longnü’s face.
Xiao Longnü said: “Hold me, use both…both hands!” Suddenly she saw his right sleeve empty. Strange, she cried out: “Your right arm?”
Yang Guo forced a smile, his voice cracked: “I’ve worried you. Don’t worry about me right now, close your eyes quickly, don’t use up your energy.”
Xiao Longnü said: “No! Your right arm? How come it’s gone…how come?” Even though her own life was hanging by thread, she didn’t care the slightest about herself; she was determined to find out why Yang Guo was missing an arm. This was because in her heart, Yang Guo’s well-being was 100 times, 1000 times more important than hers.
It had been like this since the time they were together at Gu Mu [the Ancient Tomb]. Only then she didn’t know it was love, nor did Yang Guo. They only thought that their mutual concern for each other’s well-being was right between the master and the disciple. Since there were only two of them living at Gu Mu, if one didn’t care for the other, who else would they care for? Actually this was a feeling between a young man and woman; before they even knew it, they were in love with each other. One day they learned that one could not regard the other’s life as important as one’s own, let alone 100 times, 1000 times more important without being in love. Every couple who was in love could think like this. However, only these two people with truly deep feelings and innate passions who found each other and fell in love could treasure the other party more than they did themselves.
As far as Xiao Longnü was concerned, Yang Guo’s one arm was much more important than her own life or death and thus she persisted on asking. She stretched her hand and gently stroked his sleeve, not daring to touch it too hard. But really, there was no arm under the sleeve.
Suddenly, she no longer felt the severe pain in her body. This was because her mind was occupied by Yang Guo’s pain, making her forget her own suffering. She softly said: “Poor Guo’er. Has it been very long? You aren’t in pain now?”
Yang Guo shook his head, replying: “It doesn’t hurt anymore. As long as I get to see your face and never part with you again, what’s so important about missing an arm? My left arm can still hold you, can’t it?”
Xiao Longnü let out a soft smile, deciding that Yang Guo was right. She lay down in his embrace. Even though he had only his left arm, she was content. She was facing death just before seeing him again. Right now it was very good, really very good.
Jinlun Fawang, Xiaoxiang Zi, Yin Kexi, Quanzhen Five Masters, their numerous disciples, the numerous Mongolian soldiers … nobody made a sound but looked dumbfounded at the young lovers. At a time like this, they all were thinking about fighting with them, yet nobody dared to start it. The world waited. Yang Guo and Xiao Longnü no longer cared whether they lived or died. Having their love, what was so important about death?
Jinlun Fawang certainly was not afraid of the couple only astonished. He saw Xiao Longnü badly injured and Yang Guo having only one arm, and neither being able to withstand a fight again. However, the two people’s affection for each other had an awe-inspiring and fearless effect, and was not something to be taken lightly.
Eventually, Xiao Longnü couldn’t stay quiet, asking: “Your arm … How did you lose your arm? Tell me quickly.”
Yang Guo forced a bitter smile and said: “The arm was lost; naturally it got cut off by other people.”
Xiao Longnü sadly looked at him. She hadn’t thought that he wouldn’t tell her who did it. That meant it didn’t matter who. She again felt the rising pain in her chest. She knew her life wouldn’t last much longer, lowering her voice: “Guo’er, I beg you one thing.”
Yang Guo said: “Gu Gu, you’ve forgotten. At Gu Mu, I promised you, whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
Xiao Longnü sighed quietly, saying: “That was a long, long time ago!”
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