The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 131 A knife hidden in the heart
Master Lingzhi went into the cupboard, but found no one there. Instead, he saw the cupboard walls part to the sides, revealing a dark hole.

"what"

He exclaimed in surprise, "There's a hole inside."

"Damn it, another hole." Hou Tonghai cursed as he walked over.

Zhou Yan suddenly lunged out from within, his long sword flashing with a sharp edge, hurtling through the sky.

After masking himself, he originally intended to hide in a room to ambush Master Lingzhi. However, he did not expect the scene in the Water Curtain Cave in the palace. After Hong Qigong rushed out from inside, Master Lingzhi and the others became extremely cautious when they saw the cave.

Zhou Yan adapted to the situation and charged out.

Master Lingzhi was shocked and almost instinctively used the "Little Ghost Knocking on the Door" move, his two cymbals clashing as they caught Zhou Yan's long sword as it slashed down.

In an instant, Zhou Yan guided his Qi with his mind, and his internal force flowed along the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin and the Separate Meridian of Hand-Yangming, gushing out from the "Shaoshang," "Yuji," and "Chize" points on the blade he was holding. The sword technique of "Five Tigers Breaking the Gate" transformed into the Quanzhen Sect's "One Sword Transforms into Three Pure Ones" sword technique. With a flick of his wrist, Zhou Yan's long sword scraped along the two copper cymbals and pierced into them.

Master Lingzhi had not expected Zhou Yan to make such a change of tactics. Sparks flew everywhere in his vision. He hurriedly retreated and heard a soft "poof" sound. A large part of his vision went dark.

"what!"

"Masked ghost."

The screams of Lingzhi Shangren, who had lost sight in one eye, and Hou Tonghai's roar rang out at the same time.

Three steel forks suddenly thrust forward, but Zhou Yan's long sword slashed out like water. He seemed to become one with the sword, and in the blink of an eye, the sword and forks clashed several times in the air, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds.

Hou Tonghai kept retreating. Ouyang Ke, who was inside the hall, was skilled in light-footed kung fu and his figure darted into the cabinet. Suddenly, the young master of White Camel Mountain saw Zhou Yan, who seemed to be about to rush out the door.

"Playing tricks." The moment Ouyang Ke unfolded his fan, it spun in the air like a half-blade arc, drawing a streak of light as it sliced ​​towards Zhou Yan's throat.

Zhou Yan swung the iron box with his left hand, smashing it over Zhou Yan's head.

Ouyang Ke was terrified and quickly retreated, while Zhou Yan rose up from the ground.

The dilapidated roof of the tavern exploded with a loud bang.

Zhou Yan burst out of the house and floated down to the ground along the blue tiles.

"Silly girl, take this and run."

The silly girl obeyed Zhou Yan's every word, finding the scene before her incredibly amusing, like a game. She caught the iron box Zhou Yan threw to her and ran off into the woods.

Zhou Yan slightly bent his left leg, bent his right arm inward, drew a circle with his right palm, and with a whoosh, pushed it outward, his palm landing on the wall.

The tavern was dilapidated. He pushed out with one palm, and it teetered on the brink of collapse. Amidst the billowing dust, Zhou Yan once again unleashed the "Shocking Hundred Miles" technique with both palms.

With a loud crash, the tavern collapsed, and Zhou Yan turned and ran, whistling as he did so.

"Yu Yu" and "Night-Shining Jade Lion" galloped in from the forest, and Zhou Yan mounted the horse. "Silly girl, give me your hand."

"Oh!"

Zhou Yan grabbed the silly girl's wrist with his side and flung her behind him.

"drive!"

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" galloped forward, kicking up dust and sand from the muddy road.

In the collapsed tavern, mud and rocks flew everywhere, wooden beams were torn apart, and cymbals rang out.

Ouyang Ke, Hou Tonghai, Sha Tongtian, and Lingzhi Shangren emerged one after another.

Blood was gushing from one of Lingzhi Shangren's eyes. He couldn't understand how he could have encountered a madman after being chased by palace guards and imperial soldiers in Lin'an City for half the night and finally escaping the city. He had only found a random village and a random tavern.

"my eyes!"

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" has long since disappeared, but the abbot's sorrowful voice still echoes in the air above Niujia Village.

……

Zhou Yan escaped with the simple-minded girl, while Ouyang Ke, covered in dust and dirt, hurriedly left Niujia Village with Sha Tongtian (one simple-minded and two disabled), Hou Tonghai, and Lingzhi Shangren to find Ouyang Feng.

Not long after the group left, eight people gradually approached under the daylight.

As they drew closer, they saw a man wielding an iron staff with a fierce expression. It was none other than Ke Zhen'e, the Flying Bat, accompanied by Zhu Cong, Han Xiaoying, Guo Jing, and others. Also in the group was the emaciated Duan Tiande.

When the group arrived at the village entrance, they saw the collapsed tavern and footprints in the dust. Han Xiaoying said, "There was a fight here not long ago. I wonder if it has anything to do with Master Ma and the others."

Zhu Cong laughed and said, "There are only four or five footprints, not Master Ma and his group."

"Second Brother is right." Han Xiaoying smiled slightly, then turned to Guo Jing and said, "Jing'er, according to Master Qiu's words, we'll be home soon. Let's go over there and wait for Master Qiu."

Guo Jing's eyes reddened as he murmured, "Father, your son has returned."

The scene in Niujia Village was exactly the same as what Zhou Yan had guessed after encountering the Seven Masters of Quanzhen at West Lake.

The martial arts competition in Jiaxing did indeed change due to Ouyang Feng's appearance in Zhongdu.

Ma Yu, Wang Chuyi, Ke Zhen'e, and others had all conspired to have the Six Heroes of Jiangnan and the Golden Knife Prince Consort assassinate Wanyan Honglie. Ma and Wang then joined forces with Qiu Chuji to persuade Wanyan Kang with reason and emotion, urging him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to his clan, and then to bring Bao Shi out.

However, Ouyang Feng's sudden appearance and Ke Zhen'e's failed assassination attempt disrupted the plan.

The Western Poison and the Quanzhen Sect were enemies.

The two disciples of Quanzhen met Qiu Chuji. Knowing that going to the Prince's mansion again would be too dangerous, the three decided to gather their four fellow disciples and then proceed with their plan.

Qiu Chuji had a fiery temper, but he knew that he could not be careless in the face of Ouyang Feng. He agreed with his senior and junior brothers' plan, and the three of them consulted with the Six Heroes of Jiangnan.

Wanyan Kang then headed south. The Three Masters of Quanzhen and the Six Heroes of Jiangnan followed him all the way.

Along the way, Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Sun Bu'er, Hao Datong, and others met up. Upon arriving in Lin'an, the two sides split up. The Seven Masters of Quanzhen sought an opportunity to bring Wanyan Kang away, while the Six Heroes of Jiangnan followed Ouyang Ke and his group to see if they were plotting anything detrimental to the Song Dynasty. They later reunited at Niujia Village.

Allowing Wanyan Kang to recognize his ancestors in Niujia Village is of great significance, but how to bring him out remains a tricky issue.

Zhou Yan, Hong Qigong, and Huang Rong appeared by chance, and Ouyang Feng chased after Hong Qigong after he took the "Martial Arts Manual of Yue Fei," just in time.

Duan Tiande led the way, and in no time at all, the Guo and Yang families appeared before Guo Jing.

The Guo family's house was long gone, and the Yang family's house was now bare.

Things are people and nothing is done, and tears shed first.

Guo Jing knelt down in front of the ruins with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly. He couldn't utter any more words, only repeating over and over that his child had returned.

Han Xiaoying felt heartbroken and secretly wiped away her tears.

Ke Zhen'e and the others also sighed with regret.

The village of Niujia was in a state of utter desolation at one end, while the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, along with Wanyan Kang, rushed over from the other end of the village.

Qiu Chuji, with his black beard and radiant spirit, said to Ma Yu when they arrived at the tavern, "This tavern used to be run by someone, but now it's just ruins."

"The world changes like white clouds and grey dogs," Ma Yu said.

"Master, why are you taking your disciple around?" Wanyan Kang suddenly asked.

"We'll know when the time comes," Qiu Chuji said.

Wanyan Kang was afraid of Qiu Chuji and secretly lamented to himself, thinking that at this critical moment, his master had to come and interfere, bringing him to a desolate place.

He thought this through, but with a forced smile on his face, he said, "I'll listen to Master."

As Qiu Chuji approached the Guo and Yang families, he walked faster and faster, with Wanyan Kang following closely behind. After passing through the village, he saw several people looking at him from ahead, and someone said, "Master Qiu."

"Master Ke," Qiu Chuji replied, stepping forward in a few leaps.

Wanyan Kang slowed his pace, his eyes fixed on Ke Zhen'e. Images of his father's assassination during the Lantern Festival flashed through his mind: a masked man, a steel staff, seven people...

Calm down. Wanyan Kang let out a soft breath.

When the two groups met, Duan Tiande saw Wanyan Kang and exclaimed, "Ah!" He stammered, "Young...Prince, you've come too."

"Master, what exactly is going on?"

Qiu Chuji said, "Come with me."

"it is good."

Qiu Chuji strode forward, followed by Wanyan Kang, and the two entered the Yang family residence.

"Tell me, what do you see?"

Wanyan Kang looked around carefully and said cautiously, "My home is bare and my dwelling is a humble abode."

“Listen carefully.” Qiu Chuji paced back and forth in the room and said, “Eighteen years ago, there were tables and chairs here, the display window was over there, and an iron spear hung on the wall. The words ‘Iron-Hearted Yang Clan’ were engraved six inches from the tip of the spear. And here…”

Qiu Chuji walked to the corner of the wall and said, "The iron plow is still here."

Wanyan Kang's mind went blank, as if struck by lightning.

“Master, these are my mother’s furnishings in the Prince’s mansion.”

“Your mother lived here eighteen years ago. The reason why the house was so poor was that your mother moved all the items inside to the Prince’s Mansion. Your original surname was Yang and your given name was Yang Kang. Your father was Yang Tiexin.”

"Master, this is impossible."

The Six Heroes of Jiangnan brought Duan Tiande from Taihu Lake to Lin'an and interrogated him thoroughly about what had happened over the past eighteen years. When the Seven Masters of Quanzhen and the Six Heroes of Jiangnan met in Lin'an, Qiu Chuji also learned the truth.

Qiu Chuji angrily said, "Your father has a sworn brother named Guo Xiaotian. I met them in Niujia Village eighteen years ago and took your mother's pulse, knowing that she was pregnant. Back then, Wanyan Honglie took a fancy to your mother and colluded with the government to send Duan Tiande to lead soldiers to Niujia Village to kill Yang and Guo. He pretended to be a hero and broke out to rescue your mother and take her to Zhongdu."

Wanyan Kang's voice trembled: "Master, is this... really true?"

“That boy is the son of your father’s sworn brother. Duan Tiande is here, so go and ask him.”

"Master, this is of great importance, I'll go ask about it."

Wanyan Kang tried his best to calm his emotions and slowly walked out of the house, which was covered with cobwebs and dust. As he went out, he glanced back at Qiu Chuji standing under the eaves, then looked back at Guo Jing not far away.

Wanyan Kang's gaze lingered briefly on Guo Jing before settling on the ruins behind him. He knew Qiu Chuji had a fiery temper and a straightforward personality, and recalling the furnishings of his mother's room in the backyard of the Prince's mansion, he believed him to be 80% certain.

Wanyan Kang's gaze gradually became vacant. In a daze, the magnificent and luxurious palace with its white jade halls and golden horses, and the arrogant and respectful officials of the Lin'an court by West Lake, unfolded like a scroll painting.

He then thought of the folding fan and cross on his body.

"If you hold the reins of power, you can bring peace and prosperity to the world."

Suddenly, he realized that the blind men were the murderers who assassinated his father during the Lantern Festival. Their actions were surely related to something that happened eighteen years ago. His master had brought him here to trace his lineage, which was definitely not good for his father. What should he do?

What if Ouyang Feng kills them?

A sudden thought arose in Wanyan Kang's mind.

(End of this chapter)