PDLP Chapter 4 Returning South, Xia Ke Island.
Chapter 4 Returning South, Xia Ke Island.
While Guo Jing and Huang Rong were working together to cut down trees and build a raft, Ouyang Feng sat alone in the cave, pondering the scroll of the Nine Yin Manual that Guo Jing had transcribed from memory, forgetting to eat and sleep.
Ouyang Ke naturally knew the origin of this scripture. Back on the return ship, his uncle had set up a snake formation, trapping Hong Qigong and Guo Jing on the mast, threatening their lives to force the simple-minded boy to agree to memorize the scripture. However, his uncle always doubted the authenticity of the scripture—who, forced to memorize such unparalleled martial arts, would not hold back?
But the allure of the four words "Nine Yin Manual" was simply too great. So great that even knowing there was a trap involved, Ouyang Feng couldn't help but scrutinize every word, hoping to find some clues between the lines and glimpse the legendary martial arts principles.
Ouyang Ke saw all of this, but surprisingly did not say anything to stop him.
He knew his uncle all too well. Ouyang Feng was obsessed with martial arts his entire life, his fixation on being "the best in the world" reaching an incomprehensible level. Even knowing that the scriptures Guo Jing had copied might have been altered, he couldn't suppress his desire to find out. This obsession was beyond persuasion.
Moreover, he had carefully read those scriptures.
Although he had never seen the real "Nine Yin Manual," judging from the perspective of a time traveler, he believed that the text must have been deliberately rearranged by Guo Jing, containing both truth and falsehood within falsehood. Given Guo Jing's character, when forced to memorize the text, he would most likely have only made minor alterations to the details—such as the number of breaths, the range of motion, and the direction of energy flow.
He may not know how to tamper with the true core meaning, nor will he necessarily fabricate it entirely.
Because Guo Jing is honest and kind, he couldn't bring himself to harm others.
Huang Rong, however, was different. In the original story, in order to escape her predicament, she not only altered the breathing techniques in the scriptures but also completely reversed the flow of qi through her meridians, determined to drive Ouyang Feng mad. But she never expected that Ouyang Feng, with his profound martial arts skills, would turn misfortune into fortune, successfully practicing the Nine Yin Manual in reverse and becoming the big winner of the second Mount Hua Sword Tournament.
Although his uncle was currently focused on the scripture, given his martial arts skills, it would only take him some time and wouldn't cause him much harm. Ouyang Ke didn't say anything more and let him study it.
Moreover, his mind is no longer on this mere "Nine Yin Manual".
With both legs broken, he must find another extraordinary opportunity to rise from the ashes.
The Nine Yang Manual in the Shaolin Temple's Sutra Repository is one such example. That manual is extremely yang and pure; if one can learn it, not only will one's internal strength greatly increase, but one will also have miraculous self-healing effects. After Zhang Wuji mastered it, he was pushed off a precipice by Zhu Changling, but he only broke his legs. After Yin Li helped set his bones, he was able to walk normally again not long afterward.
And then there's the "Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment," a holy grail for healing. Yu Daiyan had his limbs severed by someone with a powerful Vajra Finger, leaving him paralyzed for over twenty years. After receiving this ointment, he was able to walk with a cane, as swift as the wind. If either of these two could be found, there might still be hope for his legs to recover.
Of course, he wasn't entirely dismissive of the Nine Yin Manual. However, aside from the Huang Rong and Guo Jing route, he had other options. For example, there might be the Old Urchin Zhou Botong, or perhaps the ancient tomb at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain where the manual might still exist. Furthermore, if he could be honest with Guo Jing in the future, given Guo Jing's character, he would certainly not deceive him.
There is more than one road.
……
Over the next few days, Guo Jing neatly piled the hundred felled logs on the riverbank, waiting to tie them together with bark ropes to form a raft.
Huang Rong helped out from the side, offering pointers from time to time. The two worked together seamlessly, making rapid progress. After several attempts, a simple yet sturdy wooden raft was finally completed.
Seeing that they were about to escape, Guo Jing and Huang Rong couldn't help but smile at each other. Even Hong Qigong, who had been perched on the treehouse, couldn't help but stick his head out and laugh heartily.
This old beggar was extremely greedy. He had been trapped on this deserted island for more than half a month. Although Huang Rong had tried various methods to bring him wild game, even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice—there was no wine, no seasoning, and the roasted meat was bland and tasteless, which was almost killing him. In addition, having lost all his martial arts skills, he felt even more that his mouth was tasteless, and these past few days had been like years.
Now that he can finally leave the island, he was the first to clap and cheer.
On this day, as the sun set, the sky was filled with a magnificent sunset.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong sat side by side on the shore, gazing at the nearly completed raft, their hearts filled with anticipation. A sea breeze blew, causing Huang Rong's hair to flutter gently, brushing against Guo Jing's cheek. He clumsily reached out to smooth her hair, but his awkward movements only caused her pain.
"Ouch, Brother Jing, be gentle!" Huang Rong said playfully, but her eyes crinkled with laughter.
Guo Jing blushed and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I... I'm so stupid..."
Huang Rong couldn't help but laugh at his憨态可掬 (simple and honest) appearance. She turned to the side, gently leaning on Guo Jing's shoulder, gazing at the sunset glow, and whispered, "Brother Jing, after we leave here, no matter where we are, we will never be separated!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jing froze, then his face lit up with wild joy, and he nodded vigorously, "Good! Good! Whatever Rong'er says is good!"
Huang Rong looked up at his silly expression, her heart filled with sweetness. She reached out and gently brushed away a blade of grass stuck to his forehead, her movements as gentle as a spring breeze caressing the surface of water.
The setting sun cast its last rays upon them, elongating their shadows. The girl nestled against the boy's shoulder, while he gazed down at her, his eyes brimming with undisguised joy and tenderness. A gentle sea breeze caressed them, and the waves lapped softly against the shore; it seemed as if only this perfect couple remained in the world, serene and beautiful.
Not far away, Ouyang Ke sat alone on a rock, quietly watching this scene.
His expression was calm and composed, with even a faint, relieved smile on his lips.
The sunset cast a warm glow on his pale face. He sat there, like an observer admiring a beautiful painting.
Hong Qigong, perched atop the treehouse, observed everything, his gaze lingering on Ouyang Ke for a long time. He noticed the young man's calm demeanor, which seemed genuine, and couldn't help but marvel at it.
He couldn't help but speak, his voice coming from the treehouse: "Ouyang Ke, you've really changed."
Ouyang Ke raised his head, looked at the old man in the treehouse, and said calmly, "Seventh Master is curious as to why I was able to suddenly let go of Miss Huang, isn't he?"
Before Hong Qigong could answer, he suddenly looked up at the sky, which was brilliantly colored by the sunset, and slowly said, "I just want to live a different life. The old me was too annoying. Looking back now, I even find myself disgusting."
These words were spoken calmly, yet they came from the bottom of his heart.
Hong Qigong was taken aback upon hearing this, then sighed, his tone full of emotion: "Your aptitude is not bad; you were able to realize this ahead of time. Ouyang Feng certainly has a worthy successor. As for matters of the heart..."
Ouyang Ke suddenly laughed and shook his head: "Seventh Master, there's no need to comfort me now. A forced relationship is never sweet. If I had understood this a few years earlier, I wouldn't be in this predicament today."
Looking at his carefree smile, Hong Qigong's last trace of doubt vanished. He nodded and praised, "It's excellent that you were able to see through this calamity."
Ouyang Ke suddenly said seriously, "Seventh Master, there is something I would like to say to you in person."
Hong Qigong raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Go ahead."
Ouyang Ke bowed respectfully, his expression solemn: "Thank you, Seventh Master, for not regarding me solely as a villain."
He spoke with utmost sincerity.
Given his past conduct—murder, arson, rape, and plunder—what hadn't he done? Enough to make anyone avoid him and hate him to the core. Yet, although Hong Qigong had his doubts, he never completely shut him out; instead, he encouraged him even more.
He sincerely admired this magnanimity.
To be honest, his admiration for this "Northern Beggar" came from the bottom of his heart.
Of the Five Great Masters, only Hong Qigong truly embodies the spirit of chivalry, helping the needy and eliminating evil. Though gluttonous and lazy, he is never ambiguous when it comes to important matters, always concerned for his country and prioritizing chivalry. Ouyang Ke recalled an incident from the original story: On that deserted island, his uncle stole the raft that Huang Rong and the others had built under cover of night and left the island first. However, the raft broke into pieces at sea when Huang Rong cut the ropes. Huang Rong was indignant at her uncle's actions and initially intended to watch him drown, but Hong Qigong overruled everyone's objections and insisted that she rescue him.
Such a magnanimous attitude of repaying evil with good might seem too old-fashioned to outsiders.
But Ouyang Ke now admired them wholeheartedly. There were some things he couldn't do, so he admired even more those who could stick to their principles.
Hong Qigong waved his hand and laughed, "Although I despise your uncle's character, I greatly admire his martial arts. As his successor, you have been able to wake up in time, absorb his essence and correct his shortcomings. How can I look at you with outdated eyes?"
Ouyang Ke listened quietly without responding.
After all, Ouyang Feng was his uncle, and there were some things he couldn't say too much.
Hong Qigong wasn't surprised. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "How are the injuries to your legs?"
Ouyang Ke looked down at the legs that were fixed in place by the wooden planks and said in a flat tone, "Not too bad."
Hong Qigong's gaze swept over his legs, and after a long silence, he suddenly said, "I will pass on a martial arts technique to you. This technique may not be enough to fully restore your legs, but it will be enough to ensure that your martial arts skills will not decline in the future."
Ouyang Ke was taken aback upon hearing this and looked up at him.
Hong Qigong continued, "However, you must keep this from your uncle—"
Before he could finish speaking, Ouyang Ke shook his head and interrupted, "In that case, there's no need."
Meeting Hong Qigong's surprised gaze, he slowly said, "My uncle treats me like his own son, and I will never do anything to hide anything from him in my life."
Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light. He stared at Ouyang Ke for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Good! It seems that my magnanimity is not as good as yours, a junior!"
After laughing, he waved his hand and said, "You don't need to hide it from your uncle. I won't hide it from you either. The martial art I'm going to pass on to you originates from the Nine Yin Manual and is called the 'Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening Chapter.' This technique emphasizes the combination of movement and stillness, as well as the cultivation of both internal and external strength, making it most suitable for someone in your situation. Right now, both your legs are broken, and you've been lying down for a long time, so your skills will inevitably decline. If you practice this technique, you can not only avoid this, but also strengthen your foundation, which will greatly benefit your future cultivation."
He paused, then added, "As for your uncle, with his martial arts skills, even without this skill, he's not far off."
Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your merit, Seventh Master!"
As a person from later generations, how could he not know the renowned reputation of the "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" (Muscle/Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening Technique)? In the original story, Guo Jing practiced this skill for half a year, and combined it with the Quanzhen Martial Arts and the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, enabling him to contend with masters like Qiu Qianren without being at a disadvantage. It can be said that Guo Jing's later acquisition of the title "Northern Hero" was inextricably linked to this skill.
Hong Qigong waved his hand: "You don't need to be so polite. This old beggar only hopes that you will not forget what you said today. If there is one more hero of White Camel Mountain in the future, that will be enough."
At that moment, Hong Qigong recited the "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" (a text on tendon and bone strengthening) word by word. Ouyang Ke listened attentively and memorized it silently until the night deepened.
……
Inside the cave, the oil lamp flickered dimly.
Ouyang Feng was deep in thought, staring at the scroll of scriptures, when he suddenly saw Ouyang Ke being helped in. He looked up and saw that although his nephew's face was pale, there was an unusual light in his eyes. He asked curiously, "Ke'er, what's wrong?"
Ouyang Ke sat down beside him and slowly recounted the events of the day, finally reciting the text of the "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" word by word.
"...People only know that sitting still and refraining from thinking is the way to cultivate virtue, but they do not know that those who reach the highest level are well-rounded in both meditation and wisdom, cultivating both the essence and the application, so that they can be still even in motion, and find peace even in turmoil."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng's eyes suddenly shone brightly, as if he had been enlightened. He murmured, "So... so there are not only static cultivation techniques like meditation, but also dynamic techniques that work from the outside in! Combining stillness and movement, cultivating both body and function... this Nine Yin Manual is truly wondrous!"
He abruptly stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the cave, his pace quickening. Suddenly, he stopped abruptly, turned to look at Ouyang Ke, his eyes filled with wild joy: "Ke'er! If you cultivate this skill, not only will your martial arts not decline, but you will also turn misfortune into blessing, establishing a solid foundation! In the future, when you cultivate the Toad Skill, you will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort!"
As he said this, his tone was full of satisfaction and admiration.
Toad Style was his unique martial art, incredibly powerful, but it was most vulnerable to the practitioner's impetuousness and agitation. If one went astray and suffered a qi deviation, the consequences could range from minor damage to the meridians to death. The reason he had hesitated to pass this skill on to Ouyang Ke was because Ouyang Ke had been infatuated with women in his youth, lacking a strong will and unable to control such a fierce and domineering technique.
But now... now this nephew has given him hope.
Ouyang Feng paced around in place several times, then suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly. The laughter echoed through the cave, making the stone walls hum. He gathered his strength and declared in a clear voice, "Old beggar! You truly deserve to be called a hero of your generation! In this respect, I, Ouyang Feng, am inferior to you!"
The sound pierced through the night and carried far.
A moment later, from the treehouse in the distance came Hong Qigong's booming laughter: "It's rare to see an old poisoner like you submit to someone!"
The two laughed at each other across the distance, creating a rare harmony on this deserted island.
……
The next morning, as dawn broke.
After a hearty meal, the group raised the bark-woven sail and boarded the simple raft, heading west from the island.
Ouyang Feng helped Ouyang Ke to sit on one corner of the raft, while Huang Rong, Guo Jing, and Hong Qigong sat opposite them. Five people, five different thoughts, yet all carrying a hint of anticipation, watched the island gradually recede into the distance.
A sea breeze blew, and the raft moved slowly forward. Huang Rong gazed at the island receding into the distance, a sudden pang of reluctance rising in her heart. She sighed, "We almost died stranded on this island, but leaving today is a little hard to bear."
Guo Jing said in a simple voice, "How about we come back again sometime when we have nothing else to do?"
Huang Rong clapped her hands and laughed, "Okay, I'll definitely come! But you can't go back on your word then. Master, let's name this island first. What do you think should we call it?"
Hong Qigong scratched his head, thought for a long time, and suddenly said, "There's plenty of wild game on this island, and the meat is quite delicious, but there's no wine or salt, making this old beggar's mouth feel bland. In my opinion, let's call it 'Beggar's Suffering Island'!"
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong couldn't help but chuckle: "Master! That sounds awful!"
Hong Qigong rolled his eyes: "If you want elegance, then don't ask the old beggar in the first place. You old poisoner, why don't you think of an elegant name?"
Ouyang Feng gazed at the small island with a deep look in his eyes and slowly said, "This island shall be called 'Sharpening Island'."
He paused, then continued, "After this ordeal, Ke'er's mind has been completely transformed, like a sword drawn from its sheath, which must be tempered. This island is where he will be reborn."
Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong and the other two remained silent. They all understood the deeper meaning behind Ouyang Feng's words.
Huang Rong shook her head, turning her head to gaze at the magnificent sunset glow on the horizon, which was enveloping the small island in a dazzling, radiant light. Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Let's call it 'Bright Sunset Island'!"
Hong Qigong shook his head and said, "No, no, that's too elegant. The old beggar will get tongue-tied trying to pronounce it."
He suddenly looked at Ouyang Ke and asked, "Ouyang Ke, what do you think?"
Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment, gazing at the small island and then at the people around him, before suddenly smiling and saying, "This island is home to two martial arts masters, as well as two outstanding young talents, Brother Guo and Miss Huang. In my opinion, we might as well call it—"
He paused, then slowly uttered three words: "Xia Ke Island".
"Xia Ke Island?" Hong Qigong's eyes lit up.
Ouyang Ke nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and slowly said, "The 'heroes' are truly chivalrous. Elder Hong, the leader of the gang, upholds justice and helps those in distress; he is a true hero of our time. Brother Guo is honest and kind-hearted, destined to become a great hero. Miss Huang is intelligent and quick-witted, possessing the spirit of a chivalrous woman, a woman who is no less than a man. Even I, a junior, am unwilling to lag behind. As for Uncle…"
He looked at Ouyang Feng and smiled slightly: "My uncle is a peerless martial arts master, a grandmaster of his generation. Although he acts eccentrically, he would never stoop to petty deeds. This island has gathered the five of us, each with a chivalrous spirit, so let's call it 'Hero Island,' what do you say?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Qigong clapped his hands and laughed loudly, praising, "Excellent! What a wonderful 'Knight-errant Island'! It's much more elegant than that old beggar's 'Beggar's Suffering Island'!"
Although Ouyang Feng remained silent, his eyes were full of approval, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, clearly indicating that he was very satisfied with the name.
Guo Jing chuckled sheepishly, scratched his head, and said, "Xia Ke Island...that's a really good name."
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong glared at him and said reproachfully, "Brother Jing, what do you mean by that?!"
Guo Jing quickly waved his hand: "No, it didn't mean anything! Rong'er's name is good, it's all good!"
Upon seeing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
The raft moved slowly forward on the sea, and the small island behind it grew farther and farther away, gradually turning into a blurry dot, and finally disappearing where the sea and sky met.
P.S.: Why do some people say the protagonist is licking Huang Rong's boots? Where does this licking come from?
I'm a bit confused about this person's twist of fate. Ouyang Ke's original body harassed Huang Rong and had both legs broken. Coincidentally, the protagonist took over the body and didn't deliberately try to please or get close to Huang Rong. Does that count as licking her boots?
Everything should be done according to basic logic and reason. I don't understand how this person can tell. Is it because they didn't kill Guo Jing and Huang Rong to avenge them immediately?
Regardless of whether Ouyang Ke's original form deserved it, if you write it like this, what's the point of writing the Condor Heroes Scroll?
Furthermore, since the protagonist and Ouyang Feng killed Guo Jing and the other two, who was in charge of navigating the boat away from Mingxia Island?
Relying on two landlubbers who have never seen the sea?