RETURN OF THE CONDOR HEROES

Great War Of Xiangyang Part 3

Xiao Longnü was slightly older than Yang Guo by a few years but she lived in the Ancient Tomb since young and learned internal strength techniques from her master, which required her to purge her emotions. Yang Guo however more readily expressed his emotions, so at their wedding the two already looked about the same age.

The "Jade Maiden Skill's" cultivating techniques from the Ancient Tomb sect concentrates on the essential rules of the "Twelve Nothingness and Twelve Plentifulness" which support each other. The 'Twelve Nothingness' refers to the restrictions regarding thought, love, desires, matters, words, laughter, worries, fun, happiness, anger, good and evil. The 'Twelve Nothingness' will inevitably become part of one's life. The 'Twelve Plentifulness' states: that if one thinks too much, the concentration will be disrupted. If one loves too much, the energy will break down. If one desires too much, one will lose one's knowledge. If one has too many matters at hand, one will look weary in appearance. If one talks too much, it will affect one's breathing. If one laughs too much, one will strain one's organs. If one worries too much, it will affect one's nerves. If one plays too much, it will affect one's ideas. If one is too happy, it will result in complacency and trouble. If one is too angry, it will affect one's pulse. If one experiences too much good, one will despair. If one experiences too much evil, one will invite chaos. If one does not rid the 'Twelve Plentifulness', one would not reach enlightenment.

Xiao Longnü had practiced this skill since young and had no happiness or worries, so she was even more emotionless than the founder Lin Chaoying. Once Yang Guo entered the Ancient Tomb things changed and as they got closer she found it harder to follow the 'less speech', 'less action', 'less happiness' and 'less worries' rules. After their marriage they were separated for sixteen years. Yang Guo traveled around and roamed Jianghu and missed her terribly. Xiao Longnü, on the other hand, was forced to live in this deserted valley and could not totally avoid thinking of him. She found herself practicing these principles again to combat her boredom. When they finally met again it appeared as though Yang Guo was older than her.

Xiao Longnü had not spoken for the past sixteen years and now when she started speaking again she was not very fluent. So they did not speak and just stared at each other smiling. Yang Guo could not contain his excitement any longer and took her hand and ran out of the hut, saying, "Long'er, I'm extremely happy." He jumped up into a big tree and somersaulted several times.

In his excitement he forgot everything and somersaulted just like he did when he was young in the Ancient Tomb. He never thought about this before and never expected to do something like this as a middle-aged man. The only difference was that his qing gong (lightness skill) was excellent and he could somersault effortlessly. Xiao Longnü laughed heartily and cast all the 'less laughter' and 'less happiness' into the wind.

Xiao Longnü took out a handkerchief. Yang Guo finished somersaulting and walked to her grinning. Xiao Longnü would always wipe his sweat with a handkerchief; but now his face was not flushed and he was not breathless, of course he was not sweating. But she wiped his forehead all the same.

Yang Guo took the handkerchief and saw that it was made of tree bark and was rather rough and thought she'd had an uncomfortable life here and was very regretful. He stroked her hair gently and said, "Long'er, you have suffered much these past sixteen years."

Xiao Longnü sighed and said, "If I hadn't grown up in the Ancient Tomb, the past sixteen years would not have been easy for me."

They sat shoulder to shoulder beside a stone and talked about past events. Yang Guo asked her every single detail. As Xiao Longnü talked for a while, her speech became more fluent; then she slowly narrated her story of the past sixteen years.