This was a completely believable lie; Guo Jing could tell that Ma Guangzuoâs martial arts were very ordinary when he attempted to smash down on him with his rod, so if Yang Guo said it was Ma Guangzuo who injured him, Guo Jing would be suspicious. But if he said that somethingâs wrong with his chi, Guo Jing would not be able to tell if he was lying or not from the outside. There was also the fact that Guo Jing mistook Yang Guo for fire deviating the previous night. The likelihood of this type of injury recurring again in the heat of battle is not uncommon.
Guo Jing saw that he was holding his abdomen with his left hand and his head was covered in sweat. It appeared that the injury was not light and he said quickly, âGet on my back; Iâll carry you out of here.â
Yang Guo said with a false pretence, âUncle Guo, quickly go, my life isnât worth anything but Xiangyangâs fate depends on you. The country, the army, the people, and all their hopes rest on you.â
Guo Jing said, âYou came here because of me; how can I leave you here? Quickly get on.â
Yang Guo dallied as Guo Jing lowered himself. Guo Jing pulled him onto his back. Just at this time, the horse that Guo Jing had snatched was killed by the Mongolian soldiersâ arrows.
Guo Jing had experienced countless dangerous situations in his life; the more dangerous the situation the greater his bravery. He pondered on how to get out of this situation and he said to Yang Guo, âGuoâer, donât be afraid, we are going to fight our way out of here.â He stood up and dashed north.
Fawang, Nimoxing and Xiaoxiang Zi were now attacking Guo Jing once again. Guo Jing looked around and saw that soldiers surrounded them; this situation was even direr than the previous time that they were surrounded.
Beneath the campâs banner stood Khubilai. He was holding a bowl of wine and was watching the battle with a monk by his side. There was an arrogant expression on his face as he watched on with victory assured.
Guo Jing gave a shout as he carried Yang Guo towards Khubilai. He arrived in front of Khubilai after just three leaps. Khubilaiâs bodyguards were alarmed and they pointed their spears at Guo Jing. Guo Jingâs palms overcame all obstacles as it sent one of the guards flying away. Just a few more feet forwards and Khubilai would be in range of Guo Jingâs palm. All Khubilaiâs guards defended him with their lives but how could they stop Guo Jing?
Fawang saw it was getting desperate and he threw his golden wheel towards Guo Jingâs head. Guo Jing lowered his head to avoid the wheel but did not stop and continued forward.
Yang Guo thought, âIf he holds Khubilai hostage, the Mongolians will have no choice but to let him go. If I donât make my move now, when am I going go make it?â He hesitated a little and eventually said, âUncle Guo was my father really a tyrant that left you with no choice but to kill him?â
Guo Jing was stunned with this question but he had no time to give it much thought in his reply in their present situation and immediately replied, âHe took a scoundrel as his father, he betrayed his country and plotted against his people, he deserved to die.â
Yang Guo said, âFine!â He hesitated no longer and raised his gentlemen sword and thrust it towards Guo Jingâs back.
Suddenly, a white blur appeared and a rod swept across and blocked his sword. Yang Guo followed the rod and dispersed the opponentâs force. He looked carefully and found out that it was Xiaoxiang Zi who had stopped his sword. He was surprised and thought, âMy sword was just about to go through Guo Jing, why are you stopping me?â But he immediately understood his reasons, âThatâs right; if I kill Guo Jing then the title of âMongoliaâs Greatest Warriorâ will be mine. Huh, this zombie doesnât know that Iâm just trying to avenge my father; I donât care about titles and whatnot.â He unleashed several stances and forced Xiaoxiang Ziâs rod away. He turned his sword back towards Guo Jing and thrust it towards him once again. Xiaoxiang Zi used his rod and blocked his sword.
At this moment, Guo Jing was fending off Fawangâs wheel and Nimoxingâs Iron Snake with his palms; he didnât know what Yang Guo was up to. He just thought that Yang Guo was trying to fight Xiaoxiang Zi with all his might and he said, âBe careful of the poison in his rod.â
Fawang and Nimoxing were in front of Guo Jing and could see what was going on clearly and both shouted, âXiaoxiang Zi, what are you doing?â
Xiaoxiang Zi cackled and suddenly swept his rod towards Guo Jing. Guo Jing moved out of the way. Yang Guo was about to send his sword through Guo Jing for the third time but once again, Xiaoxiang Zi blocked his sword.
Guo Jing was worried about Yang Guoâs injury and was afraid that he would not be able to cope with Xiaoxiang Ziâs rod so he sent out his left palm towards Xiaoxiang Ziâs chest. Xiaoxiang Zi quickly jumped out of the way.
Yang Guo had no one to stop him now and he sent out his sword towards Guo Jingâs back. However, Xiaoxiang Zi was worried that Yang Guo would succeed and he advanced immediately after his retreat and sent his rod towards the vital pressure points on Yang Guoâs back, forcing Yang Guo to save himself first.
Guo Jing was using his right palm to compete advanced internal energies with Fawang. Both he and Yang Guo were in great danger. He ignored his own safety and tried to save Yang Guo first. His left palm used a stance of âDivine Dragon Swinging its Tailâ and collided with Xiaoxiang Ziâs short rod. Xiaoxiang Ziâs arm burned and his ghastly white face turned red.
But at that exact time, Nimoxing had rolled towards him and extended his Iron Snake towards Guo Jingâs left side. Guo Jing was using seventy percent of his energy against Fawang and the remaining thirty percent in blocking Xiaoxiang Ziâs rod. He had nothing left to block this attack of Nimoxing and could only move his left side back half a foot. He was able to avoid the iron snakeâs main attack but the head of the iron snake still managed to embed itself inches into his side.
Guo Jing circulated his chi and his muscles flexed and stopped the head of the iron snake from going in any further. He immediately followed this by a flying left kick and sent Nimoxing tumbling. Nimoxing saw that his iron snake had struck one of his vital areas and thought that the title of the âMongoliaâs Greatest Warriorâ would be now be his. But he would never have dreamed that his enemy would have such incredible martial arts that would allow him to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat. This kick landed on Nimoxingâs chest and broke three of his ribs.
Xiaoxiang Zi and Nimoxing had both been defeated but Fawang took this opportunity to gain victory and quickly increased the strength in his palm. Guo Jingâs chi on his left side has now been disturbed and he could hold on no longer. He felt a mountain shattering and ocean turning force coming towards him. If he continued to take this head on, the result would be death. He could only disperse the power in his palm and rely on his twenty years worth of internal energy to take this stance. His body swayed continuously and he threw up a mouthful of blood. His life was in danger but his thoughts were still on Yang Guo. He called out, âGuoâer, go and get a horse, Iâll hold them off.â