Chapter 36 Broken Betrothal

　　—Affinity is ordained by Heaven; some are affinities, others are calamities.

　　Under the escort of more than two hundred personal troops led by Gong Hui, lord of the Western Pass, Gongdian’s party returned to Wangqiu City on the afternoon of the day after Kong Xiaotian’s arrival.

　　After separating from Gongdian, Gong Wei had first dispatched a skilled rider on a camelhorse to race to the Bear Tribe for reinforcements. Passing the Western Pass he also requested his second elder brother Gong Hui to send troops at once to meet Gongdian and escort him back to Wangqiu.

　　Only after all these arrangements were complete did Gong Wei calmly transport the phoenix eggs back to Wangqiu City.

　　The moment Gongdian reached Wangqiu he learned from Lady Yu Jiao the purpose of the Kong family’s visit. His brows knit tightly; after a moment’s thought he immediately ordered someone to summon Gong Kang.

　　“Father, what matter have you for me?” Ever since he and Lian Xiang had appeared together at the rescue scene, Gong Kang had been uneasy, feeling it was time to tell his father about himself and Lian Xiang. He had been looking for an opportunity to confess when, unexpectedly, his father summoned him first.

　　The instant Gongdian saw Gong Kang he demanded without preamble: “You have come at the right moment. The other day there were many people on the road and I did not ask you. Now that we two are alone, tell me—what exactly was going on that day when you were with that little girl from the FireWorship Clan?”

　　Gongdian had long heard the rumors about Gong Kang and Lian Xiang, yet he had always halfbelieved them. This time, having seen with his own eyes, he could no longer doubt the fact that his eldest son had truly become involved with the daughter of Lian Kui of the FireWorship Clan.

　　The childhood betrothal was an agreement long established between the two tribes. As Great Chieftain of the Gongyou Clan, Gongdian especially ought to set an example by keeping the promise.

　　“Father, I have long wished to speak to you of this matter. I wish to marry Lian Xiang with proper ceremony; she is already carrying my child.”

　　“What?” Gong Kang’s words struck like a bolt from the blue. Gongdian was so enraged that his vision darkened; the world spun and he nearly collapsed. Gong Kang, quickeyed and quickhanded, hurriedly supported him.

　　This time Gongdian was truly furious. Only after a long while did he recover his strength; then he thrust Gong Kang away and delivered a heavy slap that left a clear palmprint upon Gong Kang’s face.

　　Pointing at Gong Kang’s nose he cursed: “You… you unfilial son, you will be the death of me!” Tears streamed down his aged face. “You little bastard, remember this well! From ancient times no one of our clan has ever married a woman of another race with proper ceremony.

　　“You are my son, the future heir to the Great Chieftainship, yet you take the lead in breaking the ancestral laws. Get out! From this day forth you are forbidden to set foot across my threshold again!”

　　“If I am to go, then I go!” Gong Kang covered his face; his stubborn temper flared. He stamped his foot and was about to leave.

　　At that moment Yu Jiao, who had been listening outside the door, pushed it open and cried sharply: “Stop!”

　　She first helped Gongdian sit upon a chair and stroked his chest: “Great Chieftain, calm your anger; do not let this unfilial son provoke you further.”

　　Then she turned to Gong Kang: “Is what you said true—that Lian Xiang is already carrying your child?”

　　“Mother, it is indeed so.”

　　“Then three paths lie before you. The first is that our clan has a tradition of taking foreign captives as concubines. You make it clear to Lian Xiang that the child may be born in secret but must never be publicly acknowledged. You take her as a concubine; there can be no wedding ceremony.”

　　“Take her as a concubine?”

　　“Correct. Publicly declare that she is your captive and that you have taken her as a concubine; then the two of you may remain together without violating clan regulations. But before that you must first formally marry Kong Ting, daughter of Chieftain Kong Xiaotian of the Tiger Tribe; Kong Ting alone will be your official wife.”

　　“And the second path?”

　　“The second is that you sever all ties with her completely. Lian Xiang secretly aborts the child and no one speaks of it. In this matter our Gongyou Clan has wronged her; we may compensate the FireWorship Clan. Whatever money or goods they demand, so long as our Gongyou Clan can provide it, we shall give.”

　　“And the third path?”

　　Seeing that her son actually wished to hear what the third path was, Yu Jiao said slowly: “The third path is that you may formally and openly marry Lian Xiang—at the cost of losing the succession to the Great Chieftainship of the Gongyou Clan.

　　“Moreover, from that day forth the entire Gongyou Clan will have no place for you; you must leave the clan. Presumably the FireWorship Clan will likewise have no place for Lian Xiang. Thereafter the two of you can only wander the ends of the earth, taking the four seas as your home. I believe neither of you wishes to see that outcome.”

　　“Lian Xiang has told me she is willing, for my sake, to elope with me and wander the ends of the earth.”

　　“My son is confused! Think carefully!”

　　“Mother, I have already decided. If in this life I cannot be with Lian Xiang, living will have no meaning.”

　　“If you take the first path the two of you can still be together.”

　　“That path is too unfair to Lian Xiang. I have made up my mind; I am willing to take the third path for her sake.”

　　“Consider it again carefully.”

　　“There is no need for further consideration; I have decided.”

　　“You… ah!”

　　On the evening of the day Gongdian returned to Wangqiu City he again held a family banquet, inviting Kong Xiaotian’s family of the Tiger Tribe. Apart from the eldest son Gong Kang and the adoptive son Gongkong, all other members of the Great Chieftain’s household were present.

　　Kong Xiaotian had already learned that Great Chieftain Gongdian and Gong Kang had returned together, yet upon the banquet he saw no sign of Gong Kang; his face immediately fell.

　　Great Chieftain Gongdian first uttered a series of polite remarks. Kong Xiaotian listened with a gloomy expression, made no reply of thanks, and simply poured bowl after bowl of wine down his throat in silence.

　　Freshly cooked StabbingTiger meat steamed upon the table, filling the air with fragrance; yet in contrast a cold atmosphere pervaded the banquet.

　　Yu Jiao was the first to break the awkward silence and came straight to the point: “Chieftain Kong, I have already discussed with the Great Chieftain the matter of the childhood betrothal between our two families. Would it be acceptable if we hold the wedding ceremony of the two children within this year?”

　　“Is that so? Excellent!” At these words Kong Xiaotian’s face at once cleared as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

　　“Only… there is a small change. I do not know whether Chieftain Kong, the Lady, and the young lady are willing.”

　　“What do you mean?”

　　Yu Jiao, while observing the expressions of the Kong family, tentatively put forward the plan: “It will not be the wedding of Gong Kang and Kong Ting, but the wedding of Gong Yi and Kong Ting.”

　　It turned out that after Gong Kang had stormed out, Yu Jiao had conferred with Gongdian and the two had finally reached agreement: since Gong Kang was unwilling, in order not to break the covenant they could only have Gong Yi take Gong Kang’s place, marry Kong Ting, and become the heir to the Great Chieftainship.

　　Yu Jiao had hurriedly summoned Gong Yi and put forward the plan. Gong Yi was dumbfounded, thinking that marriage was not a matter to be treated so lightly, and for a long time refused to consent.

　　Yu Jiao reasoned and pleaded; in the end, in a tone almost of supplication, she hoped Gong Yi would consider the overall interests of the clan and agree.

　　Seeing that further refusal was impossible, Gong Yi was forced to consent to his mother’s request and agree to marry Kong Ting.

　　After hearing Yu Jiao’s words, Xin Qiuping’s anger surged upward; she slapped the table and rose: “What? Do you intend to break the covenant?”

　　Yu Jiao looked at Xin Qiuping’s agitated appearance and explained in a calm tone: “Lady, please calm yourself and listen. Because of various reasons my eldest son Gong Kang is willing to renounce the succession to the Great Chieftainship; that is to say, the future Great Chieftain will be Gong Yi. Having my son who possesses the right of succession marry Miss Kong Ting of the Tiger Tribe does not violate the agreement between the two tribes.”

　　These words astonished everyone present.

　　Even Gong Yi thought he must have misheard. When his parents had asked him to take Gong Kang’s place in marrying Kong Ting they had said nothing about his later replacing Gong Kang as heir to the Great Chieftainship.

　　“Well, old man, what do you think?” Xin Qiuping turned and asked Kong Xiaotian.

　　“If my daughter Kong Ting is willing, I have no objection. Kong Ting, are you willing?”

　　Kong Xiaotian’s open question before the company made Kong Ting lower her head in embarrassment and remain silent.

　　“Old man, is this the occasion to ask such a question?” Xin Qiuping glared at Kong Xiaotian. “Lady Yu Jiao, let us do this: after we have privately asked our daughter we shall reply to you.”

　　After the banquet dispersed Gong Yi was unwilling to leave. He sought out Gongdian alone and said: “Father, do you truly intend to cancel Elder Brother’s right of succession? I have heard that when Elder Brother was born there were auspicious signs; the Yellow Clan Celestial Gods once predicted that he is the chosen of the gods and will in future accomplish great deeds.”

　　“Gong Yi, this is a last resort. It is not that I wish to strip your elder brother Gong Kang of the succession; it is that he has willingly degraded himself and is rejected by our clan.”

　　“Father, marrying Kong Ting is no problem for me, but seizing Elder Brother’s right of succession is something I can never agree to. The Gongyou Clan can do without Gong Yi, yet it absolutely cannot do without Gong Kang.”

　　Gongdian patted Gong Yi’s shoulder and said with earnest gravity: “Gong Yi, your father also originally hoped that the eldest son Gong Kang would succeed to the Great Chieftainship. But your elder brother has now set his heart upon walking a single road to the end; I still hope he can calm down and reconsider carefully. Yet if he truly commits an act of great rebellion, the heavy responsibility of future Great Chieftain can only be borne by you.”

　　“Father, both our clan and the FireWorship Clan are human. In former times our two clans once formed an allied army and fought side by side. I simply cannot understand why the two clans cannot intermarry. Elder Brother and Lian Xiang’s mutual affection is in itself nothing reprehensible; why strip him of the succession for this alone?”

　　“Gong Yi, there are some things in this world that cannot be controlled by human power. Even though I am Great Chieftain I cannot do as I please. The clan rule is that we may not intermarry with foreign races; foreign women may only be treated as playthings—this no one can change.”

　　“What outdated custom is this? After the War of the Gods the Green Clan made our two clans decide sacrifices and labor by combat—that was a stratagem of division. If the two great human clans lived in harmony and even intermarried, the Green Clan would certainly no longer dare to slight us.”

　　“Gong Yi, do not be presumptuous! The clan rules were established by the celestial gods; no one may violate them. Even when our clan allied with the FireWorship Clan in those days the two clans never intermarried.

　　“Moreover these past years the two clans have fought each other and are almost as incompatible as fire and water. At such a time your elder brother Gong Kang has committed this shameful act that brings disgrace upon the clan—how can I allow him, after I am gone, to lead the Gongyou Clan?

　　“Remember this well! Although the chieftain of our Dragon Tribe has always been the Great Chieftain of the Gongyou Clan, the Bear Tribe and the Tiger Tribe have always eyed our Dragon Tribe’s leading position with predatory interest. Your elder brother having committed such a shameful act—how can he become Great Chieftain in future? How can he command the respect of the people?”

　　Seeing his father angry, Gong Yi could only leave with the regret of having failed to persuade him.

　　Not long after Gong Yi left, a guard entered and reported to Gongdian that Gongkong had returned and requested an audience with the Great Chieftain.

　　“Let him enter at once.” Gongdian ordered.

　　Gongkong pushed the door open, knelt on one knee: “Your son greets Father.”

　　“Gongkong, have I not told you that when we two are alone there is no need for such formality?” Gongdian hurriedly raised him. “I heard from the gathering party that you and Yao Gang did not return to the city that day; I was very worried that something had befallen you.”

　　“Father, Uncle Yao Gang and I went to the Tianyou Clan.” Gongkong replied respectfully. Although he was in fact Gongdian’s nephew, Gongdian had adopted him as a son; in public he always addressed Gongdian as “Father.”

　　“What? You went to the Tianyou Clan? What is in that leather sheath upon your back?”

　　Gongkong began to recount what he had seen and heard among the Tianyou Clan, naturally omitting the episode of being bound and taken there.

　　After listening, Gongdian nodded: “The inside story of how the Yellow Clan Celestial Gods expelled the Tianyou Clan from the Gongyou Clan is known only to successive Great Chieftains of the clan; I too learned it from my father Gong Chang.”

　　When Gongkong spoke of meeting Tianyouzi in the Immortal Valley of Qiongling, Gongdian was rather astonished: “I met Great Master Tianyouzi once twenty years ago. I heard that even then she was already about a hundred years old; I never expected she is still alive in this world—truly an immortal.”

　　Finally Gongkong said: “Great Master Tianyouzi has asked me to bring her disciple Jiang Er back to the clan and keep him at my side.”

　　Gongdian said: “Every member of the Tianyou Clan possesses unique skills. That the Great Master wishes Jiang Er to remain at your side must have her reasons.”

　　Gongkong turned toward the doorway and said: “Jiang Er, come in and pay your respects to the Great Chieftain.”

　　No sooner had the words left his mouth than a youth pushed the door open. The youth appeared about fifteen or sixteen, with a sturdy, honest face that made him especially likable.

　　“Greetings to the Great Chieftain.” Jiang Er knelt and saluted.

　　“Rise.”