The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 120 Shared Brethren, BMW Seeks Its Master

The setting sun is dark and blue, and the green mountains flicker.

Two groups of people emerged from Mount Chaya.

One group was the Fu'an镖队 (bodyguard team), while the other group consisted of several hundred people led by Yang Miaozhen.

The caravan went to the Huai River, and the troops arrived in Xinyang.

"Fellow镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) and Miss Yang, when you pass through Chaya Mountain on your escort missions in the future, don't forget to come and visit us."

"must."

"See you later."

"Goodbye Jianghu."

Yang Miaozhen rode a chestnut horse, her hands clasped in a fist salute.

Zhou Yan saw them off with courtesy, and Hong Niangzi rode her horse and led the group straight to Xianshan in Xinyang.

Zhou Yan had no worries about Yang Miaozhen's trip, as the bandit leaders who had defected from the Ming Cult had all fallen victim to gunfire. A force of several hundred men arrived to encircle and annihilate them, sweeping away fallen leaves like an autumn wind.

As expected, the harvest was substantial. Feed and fodder for hundreds of mules and horses were readily available.

If Yang Miaozhen were to settle down in Chaya Mountain in the future, she could discuss with the chief镖头 (chief镖头, a person in charge of escorting goods) about deepening their relationship.

“Brother Zhou, how about we make another trip to Jingzhou?” Hu Yanlei’s words abruptly interrupted Zhou Yan’s thoughts.

"It depends on what the chief镖头 (chief镖头, the head镖师 ...) thinks," Zhou Yan said with

“I said to the chief镖头 (chief镖头 is a term used in Chinese martial arts to refer to a bodyguard or镖师).

"Row."

Hu Yanlei suggested, "These past few days, everyone has been on tenterhooks because of the robbery. Now that we can finally relax, let's rest for two days by the Huai River and wait for the chief镖头 (chief镖头 is a term used in Chinese to describe the head镖师, a key figure in the镖师).

Zhou Yan estimated that Zhang Wangyue would arrive in two or three days and said, "Brother, please make the arrangements."

“Good. When we get to the camp, let the porters catch a few fish in the Huai River and have a few drinks with Young Master Lu.”

The escort team rested and waited for Zhang Wangyue, enjoying a small drink to ease their minds; there was no problem with that.

……

As the sun rose, it illuminated the mountains and forests, dispelling the chill of the previous night. Because they were pushing the caravan and driving the mules and horses, and were not in a hurry to travel, the caravan arrived at the Huai River at dawn.

The escorts and porters who came to meet them were overjoyed.

Huyan Lei arranged for his men to set up a new camp using the escort wagons as a defense, and drove the mules and horses to the banks of the Huai River to graze and fatten up.

Zhou Yan told Liang Xiaowu to go to the nearest market to buy wine. He took the iron bow and headed towards the woods. Lu Beihe, unable to stay still, followed him.

As the two walked, the grass rustled, and Zhou Yan's eyes lit up.

"Where are you going, you beast?"

He drew his dagger, and in a few swift steps, with a flash of light, he chopped off the head of a large green snake.

Before Lu Beihe could react, Zhou Yan suddenly pulled the dagger in his hand, and with a tug of his left hand, the snakeskin came off.

The entire process was fluid and seamless, completed in one go.

Lu Beihe was dumbfounded.

Zhenwei's young master was at a loss for words, and after a long while he said, "Brother Zhou, your swordsmanship is excellent."

Zhou Yan chuckled. Back in Snake Valley in Xiangyang, he had skinned countless snakes.

"I'll shoot a pheasant later and make 'Dragon and Phoenix Soup' for Brother Lu to try."

"You're in for a treat," Lu Beihe said, though he was quite skeptical. He had eaten plenty of snake soup in Kaifeng; how could it possibly compare to a master chef's skill?

The young master of Zhenwei Escort Agency underestimated Huang Rong's method of making snake soup.

The two wandered around in the woods, where Zhou Yan shot two pheasants and picked mushrooms, chrysanthemums, and wild orange leaves.

……

Firewood swirls around a bonfire, wild vegetables are served on a plate.

Outside the camp, on the banks of the Huai River.

A bowl of snake soup has a wonderfully complex and endless flavor.

Hu Yanlei and Wang Kui ate and drank to their hearts' content, exclaiming that the taste surpassed the medicinal snake soup they had ever had before, and that his martial arts skills had improved and his culinary skills had also grown.

Lu Beihe truly felt that he was ignorant.

The caravan rarely had such a leisurely time while on their missions, so everyone gathered around the campfire to talk about art and literature, and naturally, the topic inevitably turned to Yang Miaozhen.

After praising women as "women are just as capable as men," when discussing the current state of affairs, it is inevitable to denounce the incompetence of the Lin'an Prefecture court.

Ordinary bodyguards would be afraid of making a fool of themselves and would not speak like that, but Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and Yang Tiexin would not care, and Lu Beihe would be even more so.

Wang Kui said, "During the chaos of war, merchants from both the north and south need to hire escorts. Escort agencies can easily accept escorts, but protecting them is becoming increasingly difficult."

“That’s right.” Lu Beihe sighed. “Leader Yang is a heroine among women, but even so, in order to expand her team and increase her strength, she still robbed the caravan from Fu’an, let alone other bandits and outlaws.”

"In times of peace, people rely on human relationships; in times of chaos, they rely on ability," Huyan Lei said.

“Indeed.” Lu Beihe thought of the near loss of the goods in Xinye and felt deeply moved.

“From now on, Fu’an and Zhenwei should help each other out,” Hu Yanlei said.

"Of course, Brother Zhou mentioned this matter a long time ago."

Zhou Yan said, "Actually, we can also bring along other escort agencies, big and small, from Kaifeng Prefecture and Daxing Prefecture."

"What do you mean?" Lu Beihe asked.

“Brother Huyan and I once drank at the ‘Songhelou’ restaurant in Zhongdu. He said that Longmen Escort Agency was the best among all the escort agencies in Jiangnan. In the Central Plains, and all the way north to Zhongdu, Fu’an and Zhenwei were the best.” “In terms of strength, that is indeed true,” Lu Beihe said.

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "I suddenly remembered what Qiu Qianzhang said, 'With unity of mind, even Mount Tai can be moved.' The reason why the two righteous armies and mountain strongholds along the Yellow River were defeated one by one by the Jin people was because of their lack of strength. If a person of high moral character had raised his arm and called on the righteous armies, large and small, to unite in their efforts, the Jin people would not have succeeded so easily. Taking this as a lesson, what if Fu'an, Zhenwei and those large and small escort agencies with mutual connections were to join forces?"

Lu Beihe, Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui, Yang Tiexin and others fell into deep thought.

A sudden voice rang out, "Well said!"

Looking up, Zhou Yan saw Zhang Wangyue and Mu Nianci walking towards him in the silvery moonlight.

Mu Nianci approached and said, "The chief镖头 (chief镖师) forbade any disturbance, so the night watchmen did not make a sound."

Everyone stood up to greet them.

Zhang Wangyue said, "I rushed here in a great hurry, only to find that the matter of the stolen goods had already been properly handled."

Zhou Yan said, "It was all a matter of chance."

"Master Mu has already given a rough outline, but if it weren't for your and Young Master Lu's secret raid on Chaya Mountain, we wouldn't have achieved this happy ending."

After Zhang Wangyue finished speaking, he clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your righteous help, young master."

Lu Beihe hurriedly replied, "Chief镖头 (Chief Escort) is too kind. Compared to what Brother Zhou has done, what I have done is nothing to mention."

"Young master, please have a seat. Let's talk this over slowly."

"it is good."

Zhang Wangyue then asked, "Brother Zhou, what do you think is that?"

Zhou Yan looked in the direction Zhang Wangyue pointed and saw a horse standing in the night, the moon appearing less white.

"The Jade Lion Illuminated at Night?"

"Indeed, the young master who borrowed the horse entrusted it to the 'Tongfu Inn.' The young master had not visited the inn for a long time, and the horse, being intelligent, broke free of its reins and found its way to the escort agency. The innkeeper and his staff came looking for it and, after inquiring, learned the reason. They then took the 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' back. If it weren't for this horse, we wouldn't have been able to reach the Huai River so quickly on this journey south."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yanlei exclaimed, "There is the ancient story of an old horse knowing the way, and now the Zhou brothers are searching for their master by 'the jade lion under the night sky.' It's truly an eye-opener."

Wang Kui, Yang Tiexin, and others sighed with regret.

Zhou Yan whistled, and the "Jade Lion Under the Night" neighed, its sound echoing across both banks of the Huai River. In the moonlight, the white horse raised its hooves and then landed heavily on its feet. With a shake of its tail, it spread its four hooves and its white body broke through the moonlight, quickly approaching Zhou Yan.

He leaped forward, and the horse slowed down as it approached. When it reached him, it lowered its head and kept rubbing against his clothes.

“I’m sorry you had to stay at the Tongfu Inn, but Miss Huang is safe and sound, so don’t worry too much.” He gently stroked the neck of the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” and said in a low voice.

The horse, as if sensing something, neighed.

Zhang Wangyue walked over and asked, "Brother Zhou, what exactly happened?"

Zhou Yan sighed, "The young master I met at Fenglingdu was actually a woman disguised as a man. She returned the horse in Zhongdu. On the Lantern Festival, the one wearing the mask of the Earth God was her. At that time, when Chief Hong and Ouyang Feng were fighting, he was hit by the sedan chair pole and seriously injured. The bodyguard I escorted at Taihu Lake was her."

The world is vast and full of wonders, but even so, Zhang Wangyue still found it unbelievable upon hearing this.

He was stunned for a long while before hurriedly asking, "How is the girl's injury now?"

"It's no longer serious."

"Excellent!" Zhang Wangyue exclaimed. "Of all the things I've ever heard in my life, the story of Brother Zhou and that girl is truly extraordinary. I believe you and that girl will have a future together."

"Ha ha……"

"Come on, let's go over there and talk."

"okay."

Zhou Yan gently patted the "Jade Lion Under the Night," and the horse nuzzled against his clothes before going to graze by the riverbank.

After sitting down again, Hu Yanlei said, "Chief镖头 (Chief Escort), how about letting Brother Zhou accompany the escort?"

"Chief Yang has returned the goods, and I have some free time to take care of some matters. I'll be going to Lin'an Prefecture. Brother Zhou, please come with me."

Hu Yanlei and Zhou Yan immediately realized what was happening.

The Imperial City Guard of Lin'an Prefecture had appeared in Zhongdu, looking for the chief镖头 (chief镖头, a high-ranking镖头 in Chinese folklore). At that time, the chief镖头 said he would go to Lin'an Prefecture when it was convenient. Suddenly, another thought popped into Zhou Yan's mind.

Since Wanyan Kang, Ouyang Ke, and their group were on their way to Lin'an Prefecture to steal the "Wumu's Legacy," wouldn't they possibly run into each other again?

Knowing the importance of Zhang Wangyue's mission, Hu Yanlei immediately said, "Alright, then Brother Zhou will accompany you."

After saying this, he joked, "Brother Zhou just returned from Taihu Lake, and now he's going to Jiangnan again."

“Excellent!” Zhou Yan said with a smile.

……

Though sharing the same breath and branches, putting it into practice is difficult, but the intention is lofty.

Zhang Wangyue is the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of Fu'an, Lu Beihe is the young master of Zhenwei, and Zhou Yan put forward this viewpoint.

As the embers of the long night burned, Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui, and others discussed the feasibility of this suggestion.

As the moon passed its zenith, the roar of a horse caravan approached from afar.

The night watchman from the security escort agency outside the camp issued an alarm.

Huyan Lei said, "Bandits have come again."

The cavalry stopped as they approached the camp, and shortly afterward, Zhou Yan saw the striking red clothes and red horses appear.

Why is Chief Yang here again? Judging by his pace, he should still be on his way to Xinyang. Zhou Yan wondered, glancing past Yang Miaozhen and then at the two riders accompanying him.

He blinked, as if it were his imagination.

The two people who rode with Yang Miaozhen were a man and a woman, one tall and one short. The woman was dressed in black, and the man had a long beard.

Qiu Qianchi and Fan Yiweng.

(End of this chapter)