The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 103 Snake Gallbladder Calamity, Dragon, Tiger, and Phoenix

Springtime warmth fills the fields, and the pale moon shines across the sky.

A Bodhi snake, as thick as a newborn baby's wrist, shot towards Zhou Yan like an arrow.

With a "crack," the steel sword struck the snake's vital spot, and the large snake immediately fell into the grass, writhing and twisting. The scabbard struck the snake's head again, and the snake, which seemed to possess some intelligence, was killed.

As the moonlight fell, Zhou Yan had already traveled nearly six miles into Snake Valley. The facts confirmed his initial conjecture: after taking Liang Ziweng's Great Treasure Snake Blood, he did indeed have a restraining effect on snakes. Along the way, even venomous snakes as thick as a thumb could not avoid him, and only the robust Bosqu Snake was in slightly better condition.

Interestingly, these large snakes are fearful yet will attack on their own initiative, which saves him trouble. His current cultivation level is vastly different from when he traveled north from Jingzhou to Snake Valley. Attacking one or two large venomous snakes is hardly a danger; he can easily subdue them with a swift sword strike.

Zhou Yan attributed the snake's attack to the aura emanating from his body after consuming the Great Treasure Snake, which the Bosqu Snake perceived as a threat to its species.

Like the Condor Heroes and the Great Serpent, once they encounter each other, it's a fight to the death.

In reality, Zhou Yan would never be so ruthless as to exhaust all resources and deplete resources for personal gain.

The deeper they ventured into the Snake Valley, the more robust Bodhi snakes they encountered. As dusk fell, Zhou Yan had already caught more than ten snakes of various sizes, so there was no need to continue catching them.

……

The moon shines brightly, and the Milky Way reflects its image; both are clear and pure.

He was familiar with the terrain, and after shooting two pheasants along the way, he arrived at a lake where streams converged. He took out the snake gallbladders one by one with a dagger, cleaned the snakes and chickens, and returned to the mountain forest where Huang Rong, Mei Chaofeng and others were camping.

Liang Xiaowu has already returned with water and has carefully prepared the campsite.

Two eagle-drawn carts and a horse-drawn carriage divided the forest into two areas like walls. Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng set up tents on their side. The three pack animals had cut some branches during their hunt in Zhou Yan and used ropes, branches, bamboo strips, and broad leaves of ferns to build a shelter that was well-ventilated but could keep out the rain.

With a carpet laid on the ground and the gentle breeze and bright moonlight embracing you, it's quite a nice place to stay.

Liang Xiaowu was overjoyed to see the snake and chicken that Zhou Yan had brought, as he could finally satisfy his appetite.

"Head镖师, what should we do with this snake? Roast it over a fire or make snake soup?"

"Of course, we'll make snake soup." Huang Rong's voice rang out in the moonlight.

When Zhou Yan turned around, Mei Chaofeng was helping Huang Rong walk over.

Looking at the dozen or so Bosichthys snakes of various sizes laid out on the oiled paper, Huang Rong spoke eloquently: "To make snake soup, first soak the snakes until cooked, then shred the snake meat into fine strips. If you have shredded chicken or civet meat as side ingredients, that would be best. Hmm, I see pheasant. Mushrooms and chrysanthemums should also be added to the snake soup to maximize the release of the snake meat's umami flavor. A bowl of snake soup is a fusion of various ingredients, each with its own distinct character. The soup is full of countless strands, flowing continuously when scooped, and swirling endlessly in the mouth. Adding chrysanthemums to the snake soup is quite particular. On the way, I saw some spring chrysanthemums in the mountains, white with a hint of pale purple. They are rare and exquisite edible chrysanthemums. We can pick some."

Liang Xiaowu was dumbfounded, and Mei Chaofeng was also a little stunned.

Huang Rong looked at Zhou Yan and smiled, "Since we're setting up camp, there's no rush to get going. We can eat whatever we like."

"Xiao Wu, go pick some chrysanthemums."

"Got it."

Huang Rong seemed to be talking to herself: "It seems that wild oranges also grow here. Oranges are the finishing touch to snake soup, and the bitterness of the leaves can remove the fishy smell."

Liang Xiaowu looked at Zhou Yan.

"Pick more, we'll be eating snake soup soon."

"Alright." Xiao Wu was about to leave with one of the men when the young apprentice volunteered, "Master Zhou, how about I go?"

"You're the one who told me that."

The young apprentice chuckled, "I know I was wrong."

"Go quickly."

"it is good!"

Those who are close to Zhu are close to those who are black.

The young apprentice was originally fierce, but as he got to know Zhou Yan and the others along the way, his fierceness gradually faded, and he showed more of the natural instincts of a teenager.

Zhou Yan said to Huang Rong, "You should rest for now and heal your injuries later."

"Thanks." Huang Rong turned around and slowly walked to the other side of the carriage.

Zhou Yan arrived at the thatched hut, sat down on the ground, and used his Quanzhen Heart Sutra to intercept the warm and pure energy of the Jade Guanyin. After a short while, he brought a pottery jar containing the gall bladder of a large purple snake to Huang Rong's side.

Huang Rong wasn't in the tent; she was resting against a tree on a soft blanket. Mei Chaofeng didn't come over either; she was cultivating in a place a little further away.

Zhou Yan opened the earthenware jar and took out the purple snake gall.

"You must bite down on this snake gall."

Huang Rong then realized that Zhou Yan had brought her to this remote mountain area to catch snakes and extract their gallbladders to treat her injuries.

She sniffed the foul-smelling purple snake gall and quickly said, "Snake gall only has the effects of dispelling wind and calming the nerves, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, cooling the liver and improving eyesight. Are you sure you want to give it to me?"

"That's right." "You still want to bite it down?"

"If you can swallow it, then you can too."

Zhou Yan handed the snake gall to Huang Rong and turned away.

"Are you really going to take it?"

"Yes."

Huang Rong's face immediately turned distressed. Zhou Yan said nothing and waited with his back turned.

Under the moonlight, Huang Rong, dressed in a white gentleman's robe, struggled with a complex mix of emotions. She even turned around and, with trembling hands, put the snake gall into her mouth.

With a light bite, the round outer skin cracked open, instantly filling her mouth with bitter juice. The juice was extremely fishy and bitter, utterly unpalatable. Huang Rong just wanted to spit it out.

She quickly took a silk handkerchief from her bosom and covered her mouth.

The rejection from her stomach and the resistance from within caused Huang Rong to feel her whole body convulsing.

"Water, water."

Zhou Yan remained unmoved.

Mei Chaofeng hurriedly stopped her cultivation and took out her water bag.

Zhou Yan's voice rang out: "No!"

Mei Chaofeng paused for a moment, then finally put the water bag back.

Unbeknownst to Zhou Yan and Mei Chaofeng, Huang Rong's bright eyes were brimming with tears. She kept sticking out her tongue and fanning herself with her hands. After a long while, the foul smell in her mouth subsided slightly, but then Huang Rong felt her whole body begin to stink again.

"Alright." I'll heal your wounds now.

"Will we have to eat snake gallbladders from now on?"

"Ok!"

"Why am I so unlucky?" Huang Rong lamented.

The two sat down, and Zhou Yan placed his right palm on the other person's "Fengmen" acupoint on the spine, channeling the warm and pure Qi of the Jade Guanyin stored in the acupoint into the other person's body.

After a short while, Huang Rong clearly noticed something different. Compared to Zhou Yan's previous treatments, she felt her breathing was smooth, her spirits were high, and the dull pain in her muscles and bones had been greatly reduced.

Huang Rong was quite surprised. She was very knowledgeable, but she had never heard of any kind of snake gall that could have such an effect.

Thinking about it this way, I am very grateful to Zhou Yan.

The镖头 (bodyguard/escort) could have simply delivered himself to Guiyun Manor in Taihu Lake as a last resort, but instead, he gave himself this unexpected opportunity.

After Zhou Yan finished speaking, he asked, "How did you feel?"

"It's much better than before."

Zhou Yan felt relieved; it was working. He handed the pottery jar to Huang Rong: "There are still a few pills inside, but the effect is weaker. Take them at intervals. If you feel you can circulate your qi, try using qi to heal your injuries."

This is the key to Huang Rong's recovery: moving her qi and blood, stimulating her internal strength, and relaxing her muscles and tendons.

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

"My surname is Huang, and my given name is Rong."

Zhou Yan nodded, "Young Master Huang."

Huang Rong felt that with Zhou Yan's intelligence, he must have known that she was a woman long ago, but she didn't say anything and that's why they addressed each other like that.

The moon was high in the sky, and the aroma of snake soup filled the air.

As Huang Rong said, a bowl of snake soup has countless strands, which can be scooped up continuously and turn around in the mouth. Zhou Yan ate three bowls in a row.

Mei Chaofeng always had a great appetite.

Liang Xiaowu and the others had never tasted such a delicious and flavorful snake soup before. While everyone was praising it, Huang Rong said in a good mood, "The snake is the 'dragon,' the raccoon is the 'tiger,' and the chicken is the 'phoenix.' With all three ingredients in the dish, their shape resembles a dragon coiled, a tiger leaping, and a phoenix dancing. This is the 'Dragon, Tiger, and Phoenix,' and its taste is even better."

The next day, Zhou Yan hunted a civet cat.

Huang Rong pinched her nose and swallowed the snake gall.

(End of this chapter)