The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 109 A Smile Resolves Enmity, Encountering Six Strange Figures at Taihu Lake

Taihu Lake encompasses three states, and all water from the southeast flows into it, with a circumference of 500 miles. It was called the Five Lakes in ancient times.

In the third month of spring, Zhou Yan's large boat entered the waters of Taihu Lake.

The group boarded a ship in Xiangyang and sailed south along the Yangtze River without incident.

Mei Chaofeng and Huang Rong rarely appeared in public, and Zhou Yan, apart from performing Qi-blocking treatment, never set foot in the room where the two were.

Everything returned to normal, just like the escort missions.

Although he gave all the purple snake gallbladders to Huang Rong, there was nothing happening on the ship, which was equivalent to stealing half a month of cultivation time. He used the Quanzhen Kung Fu to intercept the warm and pure energy of the Jade Guanyin. He could do it at will, constantly integrating this energy into his internal energy. He practiced diligently and tirelessly, and his internal energy became more and more powerful and pure.

Zhou Yan pondered taking a boat north to temper his meridians, hoping to open at least two of them.

On a clear, sunny day, he stood on the deck and saw the vast sky and distant waves, all of which were blue. The seventy-two peaks stood tall amidst the 36,000 hectares of waves, and he felt his heart and mind expand.

The setting sun casts an orange-yellow glow, the evening glow a peach-red hue, fishing boats come and go on the lake, and suddenly a fisherman's song is sung at dusk.

"Setting sail a thousand miles across the waves, I briefly glance at Wu Mountain. Clouds gather in the water palace, waves follow the goddess, the Nine Rivers flow eastward. The northern traveler is fluttering about, his heart filled with ambition, for his youth is drawing to a close. He thinks of his old hermitage, of his friends, and of the dream of Nanke, which has suddenly vanished."

The song started boldly, but gradually turned mournful as it progressed.

Zhou Yan's mind suddenly stirred as he recalled some plot clues from The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The singer should be Lu Chengfeng, who often sailed on Taihu Lake.

As expected, before the singing could resume, Mei Chaofeng appeared on the deck and said loudly, "Senior Brother Lu, how have you been?"

As Mei Chaofeng spoke, Huang Rong slowly walked onto the deck. Having traveled this far, she now knew that the master of Guiyun Manor was Lu Chengfeng. She could also tell that the song being sung was "Shui Long Yin," which expressed the feelings of boating on the water. She had often heard her father sing it before. Having experienced life and death, hearing the lyrics and music again, she suddenly missed Huang Yaoshi terribly.

A loud voice then traveled over from afar.

"It's Junior Sister Mei. Long time no see. I'm doing very well."

The last word of that voice was filled with indignation.

When Liang Xiaowu reached Zhou Yan's side, he whispered, "Head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), this merchant is also from a martial arts sect."

"Hmm!" Zhou Yan nodded and casually added, "Once we're in the cabin, we shouldn't look at or comment on other people's business. We should turn a deaf ear to it."

"Alright." Liang Xiaowu led the crew into the cabin.

Mei Chaofeng spoke again: "Senior Brother Lu, let's put aside our grudges for now. Would you be willing to come with me to Peach Blossom Island?"

A fishing boat sped towards them in the afterglow of the setting sun. As it drew closer, Zhou Yan saw that the fisherman on board was about forty years old, with a gaunt face, and seemed to be seriously ill.

The fisherman was none other than Lu Chengfeng. He angrily said, "You've caused me so much suffering, and now you still have the nerve to say you want to go to Peach Blossom Island? You're truly shameless."

"Senior Brother Lu, shall I tell you this after I board the ship?"

"Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

“How could Senior Brother Lu be afraid of me? If it weren’t for you back then, I wouldn’t have been forced to leave for the desert.”

The two came from Peach Blossom Island together, and their relationship is complicated by both affection and resentment. Now, Mei Chaofeng needs Lu Chengfeng's help, but old memories resurface, and a verbal battle is inevitable.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chengfeng angrily retorted, "If it weren't for back then..."

"Senior Brother Lu, I'm here."

Mei Chaofeng was unaware that Zhou Yan knew all about the grudges and feuds on Peach Blossom Island. Knowing that family scandals should not be aired in public, she interrupted Lu Chengfeng's words, listened to the wind and discerned the sound, and suddenly leaped about two zhang away, landing on the fishing boat.

Lu Chengfeng did not take advantage of the situation to make a move. Mei Chaofeng landed at the bow of the boat and spoke to the other party in a low voice, so that her words could not be heard.

Huang Rong looked back at Zhou Yan, who was standing on the deck, then moved into a room on the large ship and took the martial arts manual to Zhou Yan's side. "I wonder how 'Night-Illuminated Jade Lion' is doing?"

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "There's no need to worry about that. The innkeepers are all discerning and wouldn't sell the 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' for profit, thus creating trouble out of thin air."

“That makes sense,” Huang Rong said. “Thank you for escorting me all the way.”

"You're welcome."

"Will you return to Zhongdu after I reach the shore?"

"Yes, the escort contract has been signed, and we'll head north immediately."

"I will never forget your life-saving grace. Here, take this." Huang Rong handed the map to Zhou Yan.

"This is?"

“During the fierce battle in the valley that day, I hid in a stone chamber on the side of the bamboo forest. There I saw this technique called ‘Golden Knife, Black Sword, Yin-Yang Dual Blades,’ which allows you to use both a sword and a spear. I thought you could try using both, so I wrote it down in ink. You can try practicing it. If it doesn’t work out…” Huang Rong suddenly laughed, “You can also take a knife with you.”

"I became a weapons rack."

"Alright, take it."

"It would be impolite to refuse." Zhou Yan took the cultivation manual and put it in his pocket. On the fishing boat, Mei Chaofeng also briefly explained the situation to Lu Chengfeng. Lu Chengfeng's expression changed several times before he turned to look at the deck.

Seeing that Huang Rong was dressed as a man, he could vaguely see the resemblance to his master's wife, and he was delighted. He then turned his gaze to Zhou Yan, the head of Guiyun Manor, and said, "Thank you for your righteous protection, Chief Escort Zhou. Guiyun Manor is located by the lake. Please stay for a few days." Zhou Yan cupped his hands in greeting, "I am busy with matters of the escort agency and cannot stay any longer. Please forgive me."

Mei Chaofeng was naturally unable to explain everything that had happened along the way in just a few words. Lu Chengfeng also knew some of the rules of the escort agency, and thinking that since the other party had said so, it was not appropriate to force her to stay. He would send someone to give her a large sum of money as a thank you later.

Thinking this through, he said to the boy, "Go to the big ship."

"Got it."

The boy rowed the boat, and the two boats came to a stop. Lu Chengfeng boarded the large boat and took out a small triangular flag from his pocket. He said, "I have no way to repay your kindness. I have been making a living in Taihu Lake for many years and have some influence in the five hundred li of waterways in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. If you encounter any trouble while escorting goods in the future, just show this flag."

How could Zhou Yan doubt these words? The Taihu Lake strongholds were all under the control of Guiyun Manor, and Lu Chengfeng was the kind of person who dared to abduct the Jurchen envoys heading to Lin'an Prefecture.

"It would be impolite to refuse the manor lord's hospitality." Zhou Yan accepted the flag with both hands, thinking to himself that he still had the iron spearhead given to him by Zhang Sanqiang. In the future, when he was escorting goods in Fu'an, he could insert the spearhead into the caravan in Jiangxi, and then insert the flag of the Taihu Lake stronghold in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. He would be able to travel smoothly.

Thinking this through, he thanked him again and handed the escort manifest to Lu Chengfeng.

The master of Guiyun Manor signed the escort contract, expressed his gratitude, and then boarded the fishing boat with Huang Rong, Mei Chaofeng, and the medicine boy.

"Master Zhou, take care on your journey." The young apprentice waved his hand.

Back on the banks of the Yellow River, the medicine boy mentioned Guiyun Manor and asked Zhou Yan to say a few good words to Mei Chaofeng. Now there's no need for that, since Mei Chaofeng has already given him pointers on martial arts along the way.

Guiyun Manor is a good place, much better than following Liang Ziweng.

He waved goodbye to the boy.

The large ship was hired by Zhou Yan from Xiangyang. The boatman asked, "Head镖师 (镖头 -镖师 is a person who escorts goods), shall we return now?"

"Yes!"

The large ship hoisted its sails and gradually sailed into the misty clouds of Taihu Lake.

Huang Rong recalled the many twists and turns she had gone through, including the giant eagle in Snake Valley, and felt as if it were all a dream. She looked back and saw only a lone sail in the distance, with no one in sight.

She wasn't upset at all. Once she recovered from her injuries, she would definitely go to the Yellow River Gang to cause trouble again, to see if the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) had taken the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" from the inn. It was just a matter of time.

……

A bright moon hangs over a vast blue sky; at midnight, snow-covered waves ripple across the spring-like Taihu Lake. If one were to pass by in broad daylight, one would not see the newly melted silver covering ten thousand acres.

The waves on Taihu Lake were turbulent at night, making a sound as they lapped against the large boats.

Liang Xiaowu and the other crew members breathed a sigh of relief. Liang Xiaowu cooked a few dishes, and the group ate and chatted on the deck. Suddenly, the sound of a conch shell came from the night.

Zhou Yan looked around and saw boats following the moon for miles, and a small boat quickly approached.

A voice came from a distance of more than a mile: "Chief Escort Zhou, please wait a moment."

Upon hearing this, the boatman ordered the large boat to lower its sails, and the light boat came alongside. A handsome young man in his twenties and his entourage jumped onto the deck.

The young master was very polite and cupped his hands, saying, "I have come to pay my respects to the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) on behalf of my father."

It's Lu Guanying, Zhou Yan thought.

He said, "You're too kind, young master."

"My father is grateful to the镖头 (镖头 is a kind of镖头 is a person who escorts you all the way) and hereby presents this small gift. I hope the镖头 will accept it with a smile."

"No, the merchant has already paid the escort fee in Zhongdu."

"This is for the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) personally." As soon as Lu Guanying finished speaking, his attendant placed the brocade box he was carrying on the deck. He cupped his hands and said, "When the head镖师 comes to Taihu Lake in the future, he must visit Guiyun Manor as a guest, and we will treat him with the utmost hospitality."

"Easy to say!"

"Farewell." Lu Guanying bowed and turned to leap onto the light boat and depart.

Liang Xiaowu said, "Head镖师, the young master is a bit arrogant."

Zhou Yan laughed and scolded, "Don't talk about people behind their backs."

"I know I was wrong!"

Zhou Yan opened the brocade box and saw that there were twenty ingots of gold and a porcelain bottle inside.

He opened the porcelain bottle, inside which were dozens of vermilion pills, which had a refreshing fragrance.

Zhou Yan had seen Huang Rong take this pill and thought to himself that Lu Chengfeng was quite generous to give him the "Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill." The elixirs from Peach Blossom Island were worth a fortune, but since he had the Jade Guanyin protecting him, there was no need to waste them. He would give them to Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Yang Tiexin, and others when he returned to the escort agency.

The large ship continued forward. Zhou Yan sat cross-legged on the deck. A ship was passing by quickly behind them, about five or six zhang away.

He looked around and saw a group of people on the boat drinking and admiring the moon: a scholar, a blind man, a woman in blue, and a robust young man.

Zhou Yan was taken aback; it was the Six Heroes of Jiangnan, Guo Jing, and others.

(End of this chapter)