Chapter - 504 Secret Order In an Embroidered Pouch (11) (2/2)

He saw the cavalry was getting very close; suddenly amidst the rising dust came a swishing noise, an arrow flew in and hit his spear. The arrow was very strong, Guo Jing's hand was shaken and the spearhead was broken. While he was still in shock, another arrow flew toward his chest. Guo Jing tossed the broken spear sideways and held out his hand in front of his body to catch the arrow. To his surprise, the arrowhead was already broken. He lifted his head only to see a general holding his rein and stopped in front of Guo Jing. It was the man who taught him archery; the Divine Archer Jebeh.

”Shifu!” Guo Jing called out, ”Are you going to take me back?”

”Absolutely,” Jebeh said.

Guo Jing thought, ”In any way it will be difficult for me to escape this tight siege today. Rather than let others capture me, why don't I let Shifu have this merit?” Therefore, he said, ”Very well, just let me bury my mother first.”

Looking at four directions he saw toward his left a small mound. He carried his mother's body to that mound; dug the earth with his broken spear and lowered his mother gently into the hole. He saw the dagger in her chest, but he could not bear to take it out. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed several times before finally pouring the sandy soil on top of her body. He remembered his mother's bitter suffering in raising him since he was a baby until he became an adult; and in the end he had to bury her just like this. He was overwhelmed with grief that he was unable to cry anymore.

Jebeh dismounted his horse and kowtowed four times in front of Li Ping's grave. He stood up, then took his quiver, his bow, and his spear; and gave everything to Guo Jing. He also led his horse by the reins, and placed the reins in Guo Jing's hand, he said, ”Go. I am afraid we are not going to see each other anymore.”

Guo Jing was taken aback, ”Shifu!” he called out.

”You dared to risk your life for me in the past; am I not a real man that I don't dare to risk my life for you?” Jebeh said.

”Shifu, you are defying the Great Khan's order,” Guo Jing said, ”You will be in great danger.”

”I have followed him attacking to the east and going to war in the west, my contribution is not small,” Jebeh said, ”At most the Great Khan will beat me to half dead, he won't behead me. Just go, quick!”

Guo Jing was still hesitating; Jebeh continued, ”I am afraid my own troops would not want to listen to me, so I took the troops you led in the expedition to the west. Go ahead and asked them, whether they are greedy of riches and honor to turn you in?”

Leading his horse Guo Jing stepped forward; the cavalry dismounted their horses at once, and then knelt down on the ground, shouted, ”Xiao Ren respectfully send General home to the south.” Guo Jing raised his eyes to see, and they were indeed the officers and soldiers who faced death with him in the west. Guo Jing's heart was so moved. He said, ”I have offended the Great Khan, deserving a capital punishment. You let me go; if the Great Khan finds out, all of you will be in big trouble.”