Chapter - 73 Decoy Deployment On the Cliff (3) (2/2)

”I've always heard,” Senggum exclaimed joyfully, ”that the south was a marvelous world, paved with gold, and where all women look like flowers. If the Sixth Prince takes us along, it would be perfect!”

”Nothing could be easier,” Wanyan Honglie said, smiling, ”I only fear that there might be too many beautiful women in the south and you won't see all of them!”

They exploded in laughter.

”Now,” pursued the prince, ”tell me how you intend to take care of Temujin… In fact, I already asked him to help us to destroy the Song, but he refused. He's a clever man; we can't give him any reasons to doubt us. That is why we need to double our precautions.”

At that moment, Guo Jing felt the Taoist pull him by the sleeve. He turned around, and saw Mei Chaofeng a little way off. She had caught someone and seemed to question him. ”Whatever this witch's intentions,” he thought, ”my Shifus aren't threatened for now. First I am going to find out more about the plot against the Khan and then decide what to do.” Then he turned again to the ger.

”He promised his daughter to my son,” Senggum said, while looking at the body on the floor, ”and I sent an emissary to agree to the date of the marriage. I'll ask him to come here to confer with my father. He will surely come without much of an escort. I will place some men in ambush along the way; even if he had three heads and six arms, he won't escape alive!” He exploded in laughter.

Jamuka said, ”As soon as Temujin is eliminated, our armies will invade his camp.”

Guo Jing was filled with anger and concern: ”How could the man's heart be so cruel, even to the point of plotting against his sworn brother!” He was about to listen again, but the Taoist pulled him out by his waist. He moved back and was lightly touched by Mei Chaofeng, who was leaving very quickly, holding someone by the neck.

The Taoist took Guo Jing by the hand and the two moved away from the gers.

”She's trying to find out where your Shifus are.” the Taoist said in a low voice. ”We must go there immediately; otherwise it will be too late!”

The two used their lightless technique and ran briskly. When they arrived at the ger of the 'Six Freaks', it was already close to noon.

The Taoist said, ”I didn't want to be seen, that is why I ordered you not say anything about me to your Shifus. But now there is an emergency, and I cannot worry about such details any longer. Go to them and say that Ma Yu, of the Quanzhen [Absolute Perfection] Sect, asks to see the 'Six Valiant Heroes of Jiangnan'.

For two years, Guo Jing had seen him every evening, but it was only at this moment that he learned his name. Without knowing who precisely this character 'Ma Yu, of the Quanzhen Sect was, he obeyed and ran in the ger shouting, ”Eldest Shifu!”

As soon as he entered, his wrists were clutched brutally, and he felt a sharp pain in his knees that made him fall to the floor. He saw that it was his Eldest Shifu, Ke Zhen'E, who had knocked him down with his heavy iron staff. Completely terrified, he didn't even try to struggle or defend himself. He closed his eyes and waited for death. He heard the clank of two weapons clashing, and then felt someone throw themself over him. He opened his eyes and saw his Seventh Shifu, Han Xiaoying, protecting him with her body, while shouting, ”Older Brother, one moment please!” Her sword, with which she had blocked the stroke, had flown away.

Ke Zhen'E sighed, and thrust his staff down heavily on the floor, ”Seventh Sister has always had too tender a heart!”