Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 32 The General Trend

At the summit of Junshan Mountain, in a pavilion, a gentle lake breeze carries the low calls of waterbirds from the distant reeds, mingling with the crisp tinkling of wind chimes on the eaves.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the three people's clothes and onto the leftover crab shells on the table.

Firebird had already drunk several cups of rice wine. Now, with hazy eyes, he squatted on the corner of the table, his head nodding off, occasionally letting out a muffled "gurgle," as if he was still savoring the aroma of the wine in his dream.

The relationship between Guo Jing and Temujin was far more complex than others imagined.

Even in his youth, he defied humiliation and saved General Jebe's life. Temujin admired his loyalty and bravery, and took him and his mother back to the Mongol tribe. Later, because of his merit in saving the emperor, Temujin bestowed upon him the title of Golden Knife Prince Consort, and upon his return to Mongolia, he intended to let him marry his beloved daughter, Huazheng.

The sharpshooters Jebe and Anda Torei were both deeply loyal to him.

For Guo Jing, Mongolia was not only the grassland where he grew up, where his master and sworn brothers lived, but also his other home.

But Ouyang Ke's words, "The Mongols and the Song Dynasty are bound to fight," were like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, stirring up ripples in Guo Jing's heart.

He had never thought about this question.

Guo Jing remained silent for a long time. The moonlight shone on his honest face, and his brows showed an unprecedented solemnity. He gazed at the shimmering lake in the distance, but his gaze seemed to have crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, landing on the boundless grassland.

He thought of Tolui, his archery teacher Jebe, Huazheng's laughter, and the Khan who had taken them in.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse: "The Great Khan personally promised me that he would only attack the Jin Kingdom. He never said he would attack the Song Dynasty."

Ouyang Ke shook his head, picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and said, "That's because the Mongols haven't destroyed the Jurchens yet. Once the Jurchens are destroyed, the Mongols and the Song Dynasty will have no buffer zone. At that time, the day when the two countries clash will not be far off."

He put down his wine cup and looked directly at Guo Jing: "Besides, the Mongols didn't know the true strength of the Song Dynasty back then. By the time they did, it would be too late."

Guo Jing's brows furrowed even more deeply. He opened his mouth, wanting to say that the Khan would not betray his promise, but the words stuck in his throat.

He recalled the methods the Great Khan had used to eliminate the enemy in the desert.

He had seen the conquered tribes on the grasslands, and the tribal leaders who had once allied with the Great Khan but were ultimately annexed. He believed the Great Khan had no intention of marching south at the moment, but what about the future?

"I don't know." He lowered his head, his voice filled with an unprecedented sense of bewilderment.

Huang Rong gently took his hand. Those hands were warm and soft, like a fire in winter, pulling him back from his boundless thoughts.

She didn't say anything, just looked at him quietly, her eyes filled with worry and heartache.

Ouyang Ke didn't press the matter. He simply sighed, downed his drink, and slowly said, "Brother Guo, perhaps the Mongols currently have no intention of conquering the south. But once they perceive the weakness of the Song Dynasty, the day their iron cavalry marches south won't be far off. Even if the Great Khan considers your kindness, what about after his death? Will the next Great Khan still care about your feelings?"

As he said this, the firebird groggily raised its head, looked at him with hazy eyes, then at Guo Jing. Seemingly sensing the heavy atmosphere, it let out a soft "coo," jumped onto Ouyang Ke's shoulder, buried its head in its wing, and continued to sleep.

Guo Jing frowned even more deeply. He had never thought that far ahead. He only wanted to kill Wanyan Honglie with his own hands, avenge his father, then return to the grasslands to explain to the Khan, and take his mother and Rong'er to find a beautiful place to live.

But Ouyang Ke's words were like a knife, slicing through the thin shell in his heart and revealing the bloody reality he had never faced before.

Huang Rong called him softly, "Brother Jing."

Guo Jing looked up at her. In the moonlight, her face was gentle yet resolute. She didn't offer any words of comfort, but simply held his hand, a grip stronger than any words could express.

"Brother Jing," her voice was soft, yet it was like a pillar of strength, "no matter what choice you make, I will stand with you."

Guo Jing felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He wanted to say something; his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word.

Ouyang Ke suddenly spoke, breaking the brief moment of tenderness: "Actually, there is a way to avoid bloodshed."

Guo Jing suddenly looked up: "What method?"

Ouyang Ke glanced at Huang Rong, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and said, "If you take the initiative to marry the Mongol princess and ask Temujin to bestow upon you the title of King of Song, allowing you to govern the Jiangnan region, then the Mongols will not need to march south, and the people of Jiangnan will not have to suffer the Mongol hordes."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing froze completely.

Huang Rong's expression changed slightly, and she glared fiercely at Ouyang Ke.

It turns out that in Niujia Village, not long after Ouyang Ke left, she and Guo Jing encountered Tuolei and Huazheng, and learned once again that Guo Jing had become engaged to Huazheng in the desert.

Huang Rong was heartbroken, but Guo Jing firmly told her that he would not marry Hua Zheng. He would return to the desert to explain to the Khan after he personally killed Wanyan Honglie.

Ouyang Ke simply smiled indifferently, picked up his wine glass, and acted as if he hadn't said anything at all.

The firebird turned over in its dream, seemingly sensing its master's mischievous smile, and mumbled a "coo" before falling back into a deep sleep.

Guo Jing remained silent for a long time. A lake breeze blew, ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.

His expression shifted in the moonlight, as if he were making a difficult decision.

Finally, he shook his head. The movement was slow, but it took all his strength.

"This is something," his voice was low, yet carried an undeniable firmness, "that I cannot do."

Huang Rong gripped his hand even tighter. Her eyes held no disappointment, only pride.

Ouyang Ke put down his wine cup and said, "In that case, you should make preparations."

Guo Jing looked at him blankly.

Ouyang Ke's gaze sharpened: "With your current martial arts skills, few in the world can threaten you. But what about your aunt? She is still waiting for your return alone in the Mongol camp. If Temujin uses her life to threaten you one day, what will you do?"

Guo Jing's body shuddered violently, and the color drained from his face instantly.

He had never thought about this question.

His mother, the woman who raised him in the wind and snow, the woman who taught him that "a man should stand tall and upright," is still on the grassland thousands of miles away, waiting for her son to return.

She didn't know what her son had gone through, nor did she know that someone in this Jiangnan region was already thinking about her son.

All she knew was that her Jing'er would come back.

If he refused the Great Khan, if he was unwilling to attack his own homeland, what would the Great Khan do to his mother?

Guo Jing dared not even think about it.

Cold sweat beaded on his temples, and his breathing became rapid.

Huang Rong reached out and gently took his large hand in hers. Her fingers were slightly cool, but they gradually calmed his heart, which was pounding in his chest.

"Brother Jing," her voice was soft, yet it sounded like the most solid support in the world, "I'll go with you to the desert and bring Auntie back."

Guo Jing looked at her, his eyes stinging with tears. He nodded forcefully, but couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing their expressions, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. He reached out and flicked the firebird's head, waking the little creature from its deep sleep. The firebird cooed in dissatisfaction, pecked at his finger with its beak, and then tilted its head to look at Guo Jing and Huang Rong, seemingly curious.

"In my opinion," Ouyang Ke said, "if you decide to return south, you might as well join forces with the masters of the Beggars' Sect and the Quanzhen Sect to escort your aunt along the way. Although you two are skilled in martial arts, you will ultimately be outnumbered and outmatched if you encounter the Mongol army. If you have the help of fellow martial artists, you will have a better chance of success."

Guo Jing's eyes suddenly lit up. He abruptly stood up, bowed deeply to Ouyang Ke, his voice trembling slightly, "Thank you so much, Brother Ouyang, for your guidance!"

Ouyang Ke quickly helped him up, laughing, "Brother Guo, what are you doing? There's no need for such formalities between us."

Guo Jing straightened up, his face still full of gratitude: "If it weren't for Brother Ouyang, I'm afraid I wouldn't have thought of these things even after returning to the desert."

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "Back then, you generously shared the Nine Yin Manual with me without reservation, which is why I have the good fortune I have today. What's the big deal about a few words now?"

He glanced at Huang Rong, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and said, "If I don't tell you, I'm afraid that in Miss Huang's eyes, I'll become someone you can't stand."

Huang Rong playfully retorted, "Brother Ouyang, do you think I'm that kind of person?"

Ouyang Ke looked at her seriously and said earnestly, "Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't. But who knows?"

The firebird perched on his shoulder, tilting its head to look at this and that, and also made a "coo" sound, as if to chime in.

Huang Rong was speechless, glared at him angrily, but couldn't help but laugh out loud.

That smile dispelled most of the somber atmosphere that had been hanging in the pavilion.

Ouyang Ke's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. He said, "Brother Guo, the Nine Yin Manual you have learned is merely a superficial understanding that Huang Chang gleaned from his opponent's martial arts. The true essence lies in the general principles."

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were both startled: "The General Outline of Sanskrit?"

Ouyang Ke nodded and said, "That's right. When Huang Shang finished writing this book, he was worried that it would fall into the hands of villains and cause harm to the region, so he wrote the general outline in Sanskrit and hid it in the book. Without a Sanskrit translation, it would be difficult to understand its profound meaning."

He paused, then said, "If you are going north to fetch your mother, you might as well go to Taoyuan County in western Hunan and visit Master Yideng. As far as I know, Master Yideng's junior brother is fluent in Sanskrit and may be able to answer your questions."

Guo Jing rose again and bowed solemnly, saying, "Thank you, Brother Ouyang!"

Ouyang Ke waved his hand and said, "I told you, there's no need to thank me. Looking across the world, among my peers who will be able to discuss martial arts with me in the future, I'm afraid only Brother Guo is popular. I'm just doing this so that I won't be lonely on my future martial arts journey."

Huang Rong also stood up and gave a graceful bow: "Thank you, Brother Ouyang."

Ouyang Ke glanced at her sideways, a half-smile playing on his lips: "This time, you don't suspect I have ill intentions?"

Huang Rong blushed and bit her lip, protesting, "Brother Ouyang is so boring, he keeps teasing me!"

The firebird perched on Ouyang Ke's shoulder, and seeing her like this, it also cooed twice, as if mocking her.

Ouyang Ke laughed heartily, his laughter carrying far on the night breeze. He poured himself a full cup of yellow wine, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "If fate allows, I'd like to compete with Brother Guo again at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament next year!"

Guo Jing clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "If I can bring my mother back then, I will definitely go to Mount Hua in person to learn from Brother Ouyang's unparalleled skills!"

Ouyang Ke's eyes gleamed: "Alright! It's a deal!"

"It's a deal!"

The two wine glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

The firebird poked its head out, wanting to join in the fun. Ouyang Ke smiled and poured it a cup as well. The little guy immediately perched on the rim of the cup, pecking at it with great relish.

Ouyang Ke put down his wine glass, then suddenly remembered something and frowned, saying, "Brother Guo, there's something I need to remind you of."

Guo Jing said, "Brother Ouyang, please speak."

Ouyang Ke said, "This Nine Yin Manual has incredible effects and can help people restore their internal energy. After you obtain the Sanskrit version of the manual, I hope you will personally pass it on to Chief Hong."

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were both startled.

Ouyang Ke sighed and said, "Elder Hong has lost all his skills because of my uncle. I don't want him to be unable to attend the Mount Hua Sword Tournament next year."

"Is that really true?" Guo Jing was both surprised and delighted, his voice changing tone.

Huang Rong couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ouyang, is this really true?"

Ouyang Ke nodded and said, "That's absolutely true. If Chief Hong gets the help of the General Principles, he'll be able to recover his strength in no time."

Huang Rong's eyes reddened slightly as she recalled the suffering her master had endured after losing all his martial arts skills, feeling both sorrow and joy. She took Guo Jing's hand, her voice trembling slightly, "Brother Jing, Master..."

Guo Jing nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming.

Huang Rong's eyes darted around, and she suddenly leaned closer to Ouyang Ke, asking with a grin, "Brother Ouyang, where did you learn these secrets?"

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly and said, "This is naturally related to the inheritance of the martial arts I have learned, but it's not the right time to tell you yet. However, you can pass on the message to Elder Hong."

He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "What my uncle and I have gained these past few days is no less than a copy of the Nine Yin Manual. If they fail to glean anything new from it, I fear the title of champion next year will truly be snatched away by my uncle."

He looked westward, the moonlight reflecting on his face, his eyes showing a mixture of emotion and longing.

"The reason why the way of martial arts has declined from generation to generation is because each school cherishes its own secrets and is too prejudiced." His voice became distant. "My uncle, along with Master Qi and Master Huang, sparred with each other during the Sword Tournament at Mount Hua, which is why they have made progress in the past twenty years. If each school guards its own path and works in isolation, it will not only close its eyes but also make the road ahead narrower and narrower."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing was filled with respect. He rose, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and solemnly said, "Brother Ouyang, I will remember your words. I will definitely help Master Qi recover his strength and convey your words to him!"

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, picked up his wine glass, and drank the remaining wine in one gulp.

Firebird was already quite drunk, and now it was perched on his shoulder, nodding its head and occasionally letting out a muffled "coo," as if it were agreeing with something.

The moonlight, like water, gently bathed the three of them.

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