Chapter 67

“You say all of us came from the pen of a man named Jin Yong, that we are all fictional characters he created.”

Zhu Cong stared at the two in disbelief, and the other six of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan fixed their gazes tightly on Guo Jing.

“No, some people actually existed in history—like Master Qiu Chuji; historically, he was even more formidable than Wang Chongyang. But my seven masters and I are entirely his fictional creations.”

Guo Jing paused, then spoke solemnly. Upon hearing his definitive answer, the seven fell silent for a long while before bursting into a chorus of questions.

“By the way, you just told us you went to the future—how do people live there?”

“Did the Great Song eventually recover its lost territories and avenge the Jingkang Humiliation?”

“Do the Han people still suffer under nomadic tribes in the future?”

So Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang patiently explained future history to them; the Southern Song’s history was undeniably shameful.

When Guo Jing recounted the Battle of Yashan, the defeat, Lu Xiufu carrying the emperor into the sea, and the mass suicide of one hundred thousand soldiers and civilians, all seven wept uncontrollably.

So humiliating—the emperor’s skull was turned into a wine vessel; Mongols only had to pay the price of a single donkey to kill a Southern man; commoners weren’t even allowed names, only birth-order designations.

When Guo Jing told them how decades later a commoner from Huaiyou drove out the Tartars and restored China, all seven slammed their fists on the table in cheers.

“Zhu Yuanzhang, rising from beggar to restore China—truly extraordinary! His strategic genius even surpasses Emperor Taizu of Great Song.”

Ke Zhen’e couldn’t help but sigh.

But when Guo Jing spoke of the Battle of Sarhū, the crisis at the Forbidden City, Emperor Chongzhen hanging himself on Coal Hill, the Manchus seizing the Central Plains, the Yangzhou Ten Days, the Jiading Three Massacres, “Cut your hair or lose your head, keep your hair and lose your head,” and the loss of Huaxia’s robes and headgear…

“China is called ‘Xia’ because it has great rites and ceremonies; it is called ‘Hua’ because of its splendid attire. Shaving the hair and changing clothes—what was lost was not merely ceremonial dress, but the very root of Huaxia…”

Zhu Cong, the second of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, the Marvelous Hand Scholar, burst into tears at these words.

But what saddened them was not only this—when Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang spoke of the Qing Dynasty’s gates being forced open by foreign warships and cannons…

The series of unequal treaties and the corruption of Qing rulers pierced their hearts.

The Treaty of Nanjing ceded Hong Kong Island; compensation to Britain totaled twenty-one million silver dollars for opium, commercial debts, and military expenses.

The Boxer Protocol demanded reparations totaling 980 million taels of silver (details: 450 million taels in principal, paid over 39 years, with interest totaling approximately 980 million taels).

The Treaty of Shimonoseki ceded the Liaodong Peninsula (later reclaimed due to the Triple Intervention), Taiwan and its affiliated islands, and the Penghu Islands to Japan, along with a war indemnity of 200 million taels of silver.

But when Guo Jing spoke of the Qing Dynasty’s collapse and the founding of the Republic, the seven immediately felt somewhat better.

Yet when Guo Jing described how, at the time, warlords divided Huaxia and waged constant civil wars, while foreign powers circled like vultures…

All were filled with dread; when he recounted the outbreak of the War of Resistance, the Nanjing Massacre, Unit 731, and other human atrocities, all seven were enraged beyond control.

Ke Zhen’e leapt to his feet, slamming his fist on the table and roaring: “Our Huaxia, with five thousand years of history, reduced to this torment by these island devils!”

When he spoke of the founding of the New China, the people taking charge of their own destiny, the victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea over the world’s strongest nation, and the eradication of banditry since ancient times, all seven broke into joyful smiles.

“I never imagined the future would be a society where the people rule themselves—good, truly good.”

Ke Zhen’e, listening to Guo Jing’s description of the future, felt a deep yearning stir within him.

At this moment, Nie Huaishang stepped forward and spoke solemnly to the seven: “Seven elders, everything we’ve done these past days is to bring forward the glorious era of future Huaxia.”

“To bring a world without exploitation, oppression, where all are free and equal—may you elders lend us your strength.”

In Nie Huaishang’s view, these seven were resolute, unwavering once they committed to a cause—they would surely become invaluable allies.

The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan would undoubtedly be their future allies. Though their performance in the original novel was lackluster, seeming unable to defeat anyone…

But remember—they couldn’t defeat the Five Greats, Mei Chaofeng, Chen Xuanfeng, and others.

Mei Chaofeng practiced the Nine Yin White Bone Claw from the Nine Yin Manual; it’s natural the Seven Freaks couldn’t match her.

Even Qiu Chuji, Wang Chongyang’s disciple, could only fight the Seven Freaks to a standstill—and Qiu Chuji was trained by Wang Chongyang, the greatest martial artist of the realm!

Moreover, in Nie Huaishang’s view, beyond martial skill, some of the Seven Freaks possessed abilities highly useful to them.

For instance, the third of the Seven Freaks, the Horse God Han Baoju, had peerless horsemanship and an unmatched eye for selecting horses—Guo Jing’s little red horse was chosen by him.

Besides, Guo Jing will personally teach them the Xiao Wu Xiang Gong; he believes it will quickly remedy their weakness in internal strength.

Guo Jing has so far only taught the Xiao Wu Xiang Gong to his personal guards and his father, Guo Xiaotian.

The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan readily accepted Nie Huaishang’s proposal, for they deeply yearned for the glorious Huaxia and the society of the people ruling themselves that Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang described.

“To contribute to such a great cause is an honor for the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan.”

Zhu Cong exclaimed excitedly; the other six nodded in agreement.

“By the way, seven masters, this is the Xiao Wu Xiang Gong, a unique internal cultivation method of the Xiaoyao Sect—immensely powerful. Once mastered, knowing any other martial technique allows one to imitate it, even surpassing the original.”

At this moment, Guo Jing also pulled out his Xiao Wu Xiang Gong and handed it to them. The seven immediately refused.

“How can we accept this? We came here to teach you martial arts—we’ve done nothing for you. How can we take your internal cultivation method?”

Ke Zhen’e pleaded anxiously; the other six quickly nodded.

Internal cultivation methods are the very foundation of a sect—especially this one, which, once you know another martial technique’s forms, lets you imitate and even surpass it.

In that case, this internal method is no inferior to the Nine Yin Manual, the supreme martial art of the current martial world.

“Seven masters, you traveled ten thousand miles to reach my mother and me—how can you say you’ve done nothing? Moreover, the path ahead is perilous beyond measure. I’ve already taught this Xiao Wu Xiang Gong to hundreds of my personal guards.”

Guo Jing spoke sincerely to them; strengthening the Seven Freaks would strengthen their own forces.

Hearing Guo Jing had already taught the internal method to his guards, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan no longer refused.

Yet they silently swore to dedicate the rest of their lives to building the great cause of a nation ruled by the people.