Chapter - 211 Scriptures of the (3) (2/2)

”Fu Wang [Father King], it's me, Kang'er. Don't make a sound!” Yang Kang whispered urgently.

Guo Jing was still fighting, and Huang Rong's attention was occupied by the condors. The night was dark, so nobody saw him with Wanyan Honglie moved toward the rear courtyard of the temple.

Yang Kang quietly pushed open the door to the west wing, and equally quietly two people hid themselves there. Their ears could still hear the battle cry outside, then the noise of Jin soldiers scampered away; finally they heard the mumbling sound of the three Mongolians talking to Guo Jing.

Wanyan Honglie thought he was dreaming, ”Kang'er,” he whispered, ”What brought you here?”

”It was a fortunate coincidence,” Yang Kang replied. ”Ah … but that man surnamed Guo meant you harm.”

By that time Wanyan Honglie heard Guo Jing and Huang Rong were going separate ways to look for him. He also saw a moment ago how Guo Jing had defeated the Three Ghosts of the Yellow River; and how fiercely and swiftly Guo Jing had beaten and killed numerous Jin soldiers. If he were discovered by those two, what would happen? He shuddered involuntarily.

”Father King, if we exit now, I am afraid we'll run into them. Let's just hide in here, they will eventually leave. Wait till they are far away, then we can slowly come out,” Yang Kang said.

”That's not a bad idea,” Wanyan Honglie said. He paused, then said, ”Kang'er, why did you call me 'fu wang' [father king], and not father?”

Yang Kang was silent. He remembered his late mother's fate; his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

Wanyan Honglie slowly said, ”You were thinking of your mother, were you not?” He stretched his arm to hold Yang Kang's hand; that hand was icy cold, Yang Kang's cold sweat.

Yang Kang gently pulled his hand away. He changed the subject, ”This Guo Jing's martial art is high. He is seeking vengeance for his father; he is determined to find and kill you. He also has befriended many-many experts in martial art; it will be impossible for you to guard against him. I think it will be to your benefit that you do not go back to Beijing in the next six months or so.”

Wanyan Honglie recalled what happened at the Ox Village of Lin An nineteen years ago; he was saddened, yet there was a tinge of guilty feeling in him, so he was silent for a quite a while. ”Very well,” he finally said, ”I'll avoid Beijing for a while. Have you gone to Lin An yet? What did the Prime Minister Shi say?”

”I haven't been there,” Yang Kang coldly replied.

Wanyan Honglie heard the tone of his voice, he could guess that Yang Kang had probably found out about his own life story; but why did Yang Kang save him? Could he have another plan in mind?

Those two men had lived together for eighteen years as father and son; they loved each other dearly. But now that they were together in that small room, suddenly Yang Kang thought there was a deep hatred between them. There was a raging battle inside his heart: ”With just a whack of my palm I will avenge my father and mother, but how can I do that? That Yang Tiexin fellow was my biological father, but what did he give me? Normally Mama treated Father King well, if I kill him now, would Mama like it? Besides, if I really forsake being a prince, will I end up wandering around in the wilderness, destitute just like Guo Jing?”

He was still having these disquieting thoughts when Wanyan Honglie said, ”Kang'er, we have had father-son relationship. No matter what, you are my son and I love you. Within ten years our great Jin will conquer the Song. At that time I will have enormous power and authority in my hands; with unlimited riches and honor. This beautiful country, this mortal world, will eventually fall into your hands.”