The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 149 Mu Nianci and Yang Kang's First Encounter

Yang Kang first invited Bao Xiang to the hermitage alone.

The maidservant served tea and left. Yang Kang bowed and said, "My guests are all well-established. Please forgive my disrespectful words just now, Master."

Bao Xiang laughed and said, "Young Prince, there's no need to be so polite. It's normal for people in the martial arts world to be proud and arrogant."

"Master, what excellent finger strength!"

"This is the work of the 'Vajra Finger' master of our sect. Please excuse my poor performance."

"It's an eye-opener."

“This humble monk’s skill is mediocre; my senior brother Baoshu’s finger technique is unparalleled.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Kang thought to himself, "Master Baoxiang's words have a hidden meaning."

After exchanging pleasantries and sitting down to drink tea, Baoxiang said, "This humble monk has something to say, if I may be so bold."

"The master speaks frankly."

"Your Highness is so kind and respectful, so I will do my best to support you as instructed by my master. To be honest, my master had a feud with Shaolin Temple, and now that I have arrived in Zhongdu, I can't help but want to seek justice for him."

Yang Kang was incredibly clever. He realized that the reason the Vajra Sect came from the Western Regions was not because of Helian Zhantai's favor, but because they wanted to use the support of the Prince's Mansion to deal with the Shaolin Temple.

“Very well, I will inform my father that revenge is the best policy and righteousness.”

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Yang Kang probed, "However, Shaolin Temple has a long history and many skilled practitioners. Master, it would be best to be cautious."

Bao Xiang chuckled softly, "Young Prince, there's no need to worry. Your fellow disciples will arrive."

Yang Kang was overjoyed, thinking to himself that with Ouyang Feng and the assistance of the Vajra Sect masters, what was there to fear from Hong Qigong, the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, and others?

……

The moon is obscured by clouds, its brilliance hidden, making it impossible to appreciate the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

However, the people in the courtyard on the western outskirts of Zhongdu were drinking and chatting, completely forgetting to raise their cups to invite the bright moon and ask the blue sky for guidance.

At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), the wine flowed freely and the guests dispersed.

Yang Tiexin's courtyard was not spacious, and Zhou Yan was on good terms with Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi.

After a brief discussion, Qiu Chuji and Guo Jing stayed at the Yang family's residence to reminisce and plead their case, while Mu Nianci accompanied Yang Miaozhen to an inn in the city. Ma and Wang went to the Zhou family's residence.

The wine doesn't intoxicate people, but people intoxicate themselves. When the group parted, Qiu Chuji, Yang Tiexin, Huyan Lei and others were already slightly drunk, while Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue were sober.

Hu Yanlei once said that Zhang Wangyue mentioned the matter of the swaddled baby girl being stabbed while drunk. When Zhang Wangyue asked him after he woke up if he had said anything inappropriate, Hu Yanlei said no.

Therefore, Zhou Yan guessed that since then, his head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) had never been drunk, just in case. From New Year's Eve and Lantern Festival to the Mid-Autumn Festival, he had restrained himself at banquets. The head镖师 was a very rational person who could reflect on his actions.

This also indirectly suggests that the baby girl's identity was very special.

A gentle evening breeze caressed my face, carrying a slight chill.

Yang Miaozhen pulled on the reins, causing the chestnut horse to catch up with the "Night-Shining Jade Lion," and she came to Zhou Yan's side.

"Brother Zhou."

"Is it about the Mongol Khan overseeing the campaign against the Jin dynasty?"

"Brother Zhou understands me best."

Zhou Yan smiled.

"If Mongolia is really as Chief Escort and Brother Zhou say, how will the world change?"

"Chief镖头, what do you think?" Zhou Yan asked.

Zhang Wangyue sighed and said, "If the Mongols can destroy the Jin, their military might will be far beyond what the Lin'an court can withstand. I hope I am overthinking it."

Zhou Yan said, "So, it was not the best strategy for the Yang family sister to coordinate an attack when the Mongols were attacking the Jin. Taking advantage of the Jin-Mongol conflict, when the Jin army was unable to encircle and suppress them, and developing their own forces was the better strategy."

Zhang Wangyue nodded: "Brother Zhou is right."

Yang Miaozhen suddenly smiled and said, "I think it's necessary to have another in-depth talk with Chief Escort Zhang and Brother Zhou."

Hu Yanlei laughed and said, "We are all family. When Chief Yang has free time, he often visits Fu'an. When we are on a mission, we always visit him whenever we pass through the Huai River. We have had the opportunity to have heart-to-heart talks with him."

"What Chief Huyan said makes sense. I will definitely bother you more in the future."

“No problem!” Zhang Wangyue said.

Mu Nianci somewhat envied Yang Miaozhen's personality; she dared to speak her mind and express herself, unlike herself.

Ma Yu remained silent. The air was slightly chilly, and he became more alert. Hearing Zhou Yan, Yang Miaozhen, and others talking, he recalled the skilled and valiant Mongolian soldiers he had seen in the desert years ago, and his expression became solemn.

After exchanging pleasantries along the way, the group headed straight for the Fu'an Escort Agency upon arriving in the city. Yang Miaozhen's chestnut horse and Zhou Yan's "Night-Shining Jade Lion" would be settled in the agency's stables and fed by the night-duty grooms.

As long as you don't take a detour, Changfeng Escort Agency is a must-pass place when entering Fu'an from the west of the city.

Just as Hu Yanlei was about to ask Zhou Yan why he wanted to settle accounts with Helian Chuncheng, he saw two carriages and several riders coming from the long street.

The carriage stopped, and the group of people who dismounted began to talk in front of the security company.

Zhou Yan's pupils contracted slightly; he recognized some of them.

Yang Kang, Helian Chuncheng, and Yin Kexi.

He glanced at Mu Nianci out of the corner of his eye.

The young woman who works as a bodyguard at the Fu'an Escort Agency looks preoccupied with worries.

"Master Mu." "Ah!" Mu Nianci snapped out of her daze and hurriedly asked, "The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) is calling me?"

"Yes, the eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy in front of Changfeng Escort Agency is Wanyan Kang, also known as Yang Kang."

Mu Nianci trembled and looked around.

The distance had been reduced considerably. The lanterns hanging on the gate tower of Changfeng Escort Agency illuminated the entire space brightly. What came into Mu Nianci's view was a handsome young man in a brocade robe, with rich attire, red lips, and white teeth.

It turns out he was my sworn brother who had recognized a thief as his father.

Yang Miaozhen also heard Zhou Yan's words. After examining him for a moment, she sneered, "He's obviously a manipulative person."

Zhou Yan asked curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

"A young prince of the Jin Kingdom, driving his carriage to a security escort agency, is he perhaps showing courtesy to a scholar?"

"That makes sense," Zhou Yan praised.

Yang Miaozhen smiled slightly.

The clatter of hooves naturally caught the attention of Yang Kang and the others.

Helian Chuncheng glanced at it, first stunned, then delighted.

A good opportunity to humiliate Fu'an.

Yang Kang was also taken aback. His gaze swept over Zhou Yan and the others and landed on Wang Chuyi and Ma Yu. He thought to himself, how unlucky he was. After the banquet, in order to thank He Zhantai for his matchmaking and to win people's hearts, he specially arranged to escort them to Changfeng Escort Agency. How could he have run into his enemies?

Helian Chuncheng, the young master of Changfeng, now sees Zhou Yan as a dead man.

The Vajra Sect has sent Baoxiang, and more will follow. Their copper heads and iron arms are about to be crushed to pieces. He was in a good mood and said to the approaching horse team, "It's Chief Escort Zhang and Chief Escort Zhou. What a coincidence, the two Taoist priests are here too?"

Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi visited Zhou Yan in Zhongdu. They fought with Changfeng's bodyguards at the entrance of Fu'an and also had a conversation with Helian Chuncheng, thus becoming acquainted.

Zhang Wangyue laughed and said, "So it's Young Master Helian. What a coincidence."

Ma Yuli nodded slightly as a greeting.

Yin Kexi winked at the two bodyguards beside him. The two bodyguards understood and shouted, "How dare you! You see the young prince and you don't even dismount!"

Knowing they were no match for Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue, the two bodyguards reached out to snatch the reins from Yang Miaozhen and Mu Nianci's horses.

Yang Miaozhen had been planning to storm the Prince Zhao's mansion that night, and now seeing Yang Kang with the镖师 (bodyguards) from Changfeng镖局 (escort agency), and the镖师 being so arrogant and domineering, she was furious.

She leaned forward, grabbed the wrist of the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) from Changfeng镖局 (Changfeng Escort Agency) who was reaching for the reins, and dragged and twisted him up. Her arm swung very little, but the镖师's body suddenly spun around, facing Wanyan Kang, and one of his hands was twisted behind his back.

"Snob."

Yang Miaozhen unleashed her inner strength, and the bodyguard suddenly flew towards Yang Kang.

Yang Kang remained unmoved. He stepped forward from the platform beside Helian Zhan, reached out and grabbed the flying bodyguard, placing him on the ground.

Yang Miaozhen became wary, thinking to herself that this burly old man should not be underestimated.

Mu Nianci had similar thoughts, and also harbored a deep-seated hatred for the conflict between Fu'an and Changfeng, but she lacked Yang Miaozhen's exquisite grappling skills.

Mu Nianci reached out and pressed down on the horse's back, her body spinning up and her legs flying. The bodyguard was taken aback and threw two punches at her. With a series of thuds, the bodyguard staggered backward.

Mu Nianci's red figure landed on the ground, took a step and arrived in front of her opponent. She feinted with her left palm and then struck her opponent's jaw from below with her right fist, using the "Free and Easy Wandering" boxing technique taught by Hong Qigong.

The bodyguard heard a loud "bang," his vision spun, and he was sent flying backward toward Helian Chuncheng.

"Bold."

Yin Kexi lunged at Mu Nianci.

Zhou Yan's body suddenly leaped up and landed like an eagle, striking Yin Kexi with a palm strike called "Flying Dragon in the Sky".

Seeing the fierce palm strike, Yin Kexi mustered all his strength to meet it with a palm strike. Then, his body retreated like a wave. As his tiger's mouth went numb from the shock, he was greatly alarmed. Compared to his fight with Zhou Yan in Zhongdu, Zhou Yan's skill had improved far too much.

Helian Chuncheng used his left and right hands to stop the retreating bodyguards and Yin Kexi.

Before he could speak, Zhou Yan's voice came, "Young Master Helian, the bodyguards of Changfeng are getting increasingly hot-tempered."

Helian Chuncheng laughed and said, "Actually, it's much better now. After all, harmony brings wealth. It's just that we made the镖头 (bodyguard) and others dismount because they offended the young prince."

Helian Zhantai will not interfere; he will wait and see how Helian Chuncheng, who created the dispute, handles the matter.

"I can't hear you, young prince, dismount and greet me." Nemo Xing had a grudge against Zhou Yan, and had only recently joined the prince's mansion, so he wanted to make a name for himself.

He spoke provocatively, gave a sinister laugh, and lunged at Zhou Yan.

"Mr. Nemo, no."

Yang Kang stopped them and stepped forward, saying, "Greetings, my two senior uncles."

After saying this, he turned to Mu Nianci and Yang Miaozhen and said, "I apologize for my rudeness earlier, ladies."

Zhou Yan was shocked to hear this. This person was clearly the masked man who had been chasing him from Nanping Mountain in West Lake. Yang Kang called him Brother Nemo. Could he be Nemo Star? Ha, all that's missing is Xiao Xiangzi.

He then thought that Yang Kang's attitude towards Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi was completely different in the Legend of the Condor Heroes, and there was something mysterious about it.

Yang Kang apologized, and Mu Nianci thought to herself, he clearly had time to stop the Changfeng Escort Agency's bodyguards from taking action, but he only intervened now. Just as Chief Yang said, he was indeed cunning.

She said in a cool tone, "So it's the young prince. How dare I presume?"

"Is this woman out of her mind?" Yang Kang thought to himself, annoyed. But he smiled slightly and stopped paying attention to Mu Nianci and Yang Miaozhen. Instead, he turned to Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi and said, "Where are you two senior uncles staying? I'll arrange for someone to come and meet you at the Wang residence."

Yang Kang's words left Helian Chuncheng bewildered. He looked at Helian Zhantai, whose father's expression was quite grave. He thought to himself that the young prince actually addressed the two Quanzhen Sect members who had dealings with Zhou Yan as his senior uncles.

He's just shooting himself in the foot.

(End of this chapter)