The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 152 The Poison of the Western Venom, Cooperative Snake Farming

The Prince's Mansion has a building every five steps and a pavilion every ten steps, with winding corridors and soaring eaves, each embracing its own terrain.

Yang Kang had no hope of capturing the assassin who had already fled.

He raised his voice to warn the assassin, quickly guessing his identity. The figure was unfamiliar, neither one of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen nor any of the Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan that he had ever met, which made him feel slightly more at ease.

Yang Kang turned and entered the hermitage. There he saw that Bao Xiang's right palm was swollen and completely black.

Yang Kang was shocked. He knew that Bao Xiang had profound internal strength and could use his internal force to block the poison from rising, but in just a moment, his injury had deteriorated to this extent, which showed that the poison was very strong.

The first to arrive was Master Lingzhi, who, despite his dissatisfaction with Yang Kang's favoritism, remained utterly loyal.

Yang Kang shouted, "Quickly invite Mr. Ouyang!"

"Young Prince, please wait a moment." Master Lingzhi turned and left as if flying.

……

When Uncle Ouyang Feng arrived, Hou Tonghai, Sha Tongtian, and Lingzhi Shangren were all there.

Yang Kang bowed deeply and said, "Please, Senior Ouyang, save Master Baoxiang."

Ouyang Feng had given Yang Kang martial arts instruction on several occasions, and Wanyan Honglie respected him greatly, always granting his requests, thus showing Yang Kang face.

"Let me take a look."

Ouyang Feng walked up to Bao Xiang and examined the wound carefully. After a while, he clicked his tongue in amazement, "This toxin is clearly named after a poisonous snake, yet I don't even know what kind it is."

Ouyang Feng was filled with curiosity, his mind preoccupied with finding a venomous snake to study. The venom of this snake was no less potent than the spirit snake on his walking stick. If he could use this kind of venomous snake to form a snake formation, it would be perfect. He wouldn't even be afraid of the old beggar and Huang Yaoshi working together.

When Yang Kang heard that Ouyang Feng was unaware of the poison, he felt as if cold water had been poured over his heart. Bao Xiang had been hired with great difficulty and had not even served him yet. How could he die like this?

"Senior Ouyang, is it possible to save them?"

Ouyang Feng said, "Although it's troublesome, it's not difficult for me."

"Please, Mr. Ouyang, save people."

Bao Xiang, who came from the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions, was naturally familiar with the name of the Western Poison. Upon hearing Ouyang Feng's words, he immediately said, "I beg Senior Ouyang to save my life. I will be eternally grateful. In the future, if you ever need my help, I will do my utmost."

Ouyang Feng thought to himself that the monk's internal and external skills were both quite good. Saving his life and having another person to serve him was not bad.

He nodded, "I'll take a look at it for you now."

"Thump!" Hou Tonghai suddenly knelt down in front of Ouyang Feng.

"Please, senior, save my life too."

The poison from the bone-penetrating needles that Huang Yaoshi had implanted in Hou Tonghai had already taken effect. The medicine was administered six times a day, circulating through his blood vessels, causing Hou Tonghai excruciating pain that was difficult to describe. He repeatedly scratched open the tumor on his head. Hearing that Ouyang Feng could cure the rare and deadly poison, he couldn't afford to miss this chance to save his life.

Ouyang Feng also learned from Ouyang Ke about Hou Tonghai's apparent poisoning, but Hou Tonghai was not someone he cared about, so he didn't bother to inquire further.

Now that Hou Tonghai is asking for help, Sha Tongtian was about to find an excuse to refuse when Sha Tongtian knelt down on the ground with a thud. "Please, senior, save my junior brother. From now on, the Yellow River Gang will be at your disposal."

Ouyang Feng said, "First, tell me what the situation is."

Hou Tonghai cursed, "Back then at Taihu Lake, Huang Yaoshi patted me on the back; that must have been when he tampered with my things."

Ouyang Feng asked in surprise, "Given the Eastern Heretic's personality, killing you would be a piece of cake for him. Why would he poison you?"

"Yes, Mr. Hou, why is that?" Yang Kang was also puzzled.

Hou Tonghai said, "He threw a stone at me and pretended to be a ghost. I didn't know his identity, so I cursed at him."

"How did you curse?"

"If you hate his ancestors, come and fight him one-on-one if you dare, that's pretty much it."

Ouyang Feng burst into laughter, while Yang Kang's face turned pale. He thought to himself, "Ignorance is bliss. Of all people to provoke, he has to offend the Eastern Heretic."

Sha Tongtian even considered slapping Hou Tonghai, but ultimately he cared about the other party and hurriedly said, "Senior Ouyang, my junior brother is speaking recklessly, please be lenient."

Ouyang Feng stopped laughing and said, "Since Old Master Huang has poisoned me, I must save him. Otherwise, wouldn't it make it seem like the Eastern Heretic is better at using poison than me?"

Hou Tonghai and Sha Tongtian were overjoyed, "Thank you so much, seniors!"

"I'll make my move later; I'll treat the monk first."

"Of course, of course."

Ouyang Feng ignored Hou Tonghai, but in his heart he was thinking that if Huang Yaoshi knew that he had cured Hou Tonghai, he would definitely still try to kill him. So he decided to use this kid to see what other poisons Hou Tonghai could use.

The poison of the Western Poison lies not only in its use of poison, but also in its poisonous intent.

His true intention in rescuing Hou Tonghai was merely to test Huang Yaoshi's abilities. As for the Yellow River Gang's lowly soldiers, he had no interest in them.

……

The Milky Way flows across the night sky.

Under the cover of night, there is a square courtyard house.

Huang Rong and Zhou Yan landed in the courtyard one after the other.

She looked around and chuckled: "Plum blossom stakes, weapon racks, this furnishing looks like the residence of a bodyguard or a martial arts instructor."

Zhou Yan removed his mask and exhaled, "You're in the Prince's residence?" "Yes."

“Ouyang Feng and his nephew might still be in the Prince’s mansion. That monk’s cultivation is superb, so it’s best to be careful.”

"They won't come to Mei Ruohua's place. By the way, why did you eavesdrop on Wanyan Kang and her daughter's conversation?"

"It's a long story, and it all started with what happened at Fenglingdu, Taihu Lake, and Lin'an."

"Then let's talk slowly. I can't go to the Prince's Mansion right now."

“Alright!” Zhou Yan lit the stove to brew tea, and the two sat on the stone bench under the old tree in the courtyard. Zhou Yan first talked about his encounter with Yang Tiexin at Fenglingdu, their chance acquaintance, and how he learned that Yang had been searching for his old friend for more than ten years. Then he went to Taihu Lake, captured Duan Tiande, and the Six Heroes of Jiangnan interrogated the corrupt official, revealing the truth about the Niujia Village massacre eighteen years ago. Finally, he mentioned that he was ambushed in Lin'an, met Qiu Chuji, coincidentally learned the whereabouts of Guo Jing, kept his appointment for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Yang Kang recognized his relatives.

Zhou Yan's words were illogical and flawless, so Huang Rong naturally believed them.

She cursed, "Wanyan Honglie deserves to die, and Yang Kang is a scoundrel. The words he said to Bao Shi were clearly a ruse, and he was actually just after wealth and status."

"You are really smart."

Huang Rong chuckled and asked, "You went to the Prince's mansion just to find out Yang Kang's intentions?"

"Hmm." Zhou Yan nodded, then asked, "Is the medicine boy in the Prince's residence?"

"It's already here?"

"How about borrowing it for a few days?"

"What?"

"I killed Liang Ziweng in the Lin'an Imperial Palace and obtained a snake-raising manual. On my way north, I caught two large snakes, intending to raise them, but I couldn't figure out the method."

"It's the kind of snake whose gallbladder you gave me."

"Ah."

Huang Rong had already been thinking of giving snake gallbladders to Huang Yaoshi, so when Zhou Yan said this, she immediately replied, "No problem, I'll bring my apprentice over and give me one, how about that?"

"Of course you can."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome"

Huang Rong guessed that things should have calmed down at the Prince's mansion, so she said, "Let's go back. Bring the medicine boy over tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow night at 10 PM."

"It's settled then." Huang Rong stood up. "Let's go."

Under the moonlight, a white figure, resembling a flying duck, leaped over the courtyard wall and disappeared into the night.

Zhou Yan drank tea, pondering whether he should bring the silly girl over the next day and try to make Huang Rong recognize her as Qu Lingfeng's daughter.

After some deliberation, he abandoned the idea. The purpose was too obvious. It might be fine for others, but Huang Rong was too clever. He would choose a different opportunity later.

With this in mind, Zhou Yan went through the trouble of taking off his night clothes, washing up, practicing until midnight, and then turning off the lights and going to sleep.

……

As the cool night fades, the city comes back to life, with the sounds of cars and vendors mingling on the streets.

Zhou Yan got up early, ate something on the street, and then walked to the Fu'an Escort Agency. After practicing boxing with the guards at the martial arts field, he called out to Zhang Wangyue and rode out of the city straight to the Yang family.

The sunlight shone brightly, and the two iron spears clanged together in the air, scattering countless sparks.

Zhou Yan saw Mu Nianci and Yang Miaozhen practicing from horseback.

Mu Nianci used the Yue Family Spear Technique, thrusting the spear horizontally with both hands, the iron spear swinging left and right like a raging dragon's tail. Yang Miaozhen did not use her full strength, fighting against her opponent with equal skill, wielding the iron spear as the "Rain of Pear Blossoms Spear," the long spear flashing out a sky full of spear flowers in a single swing, a pleasing sight from afar.

Suddenly, Yang Miaozhen changed her spear stance, unleashing eighteen spear thrusts in three steps, creating a series of afterimages. Mu Nianci was unable to defend herself and had to retreat continuously.

"Practicing shooting."

Zhou Yan dismounted and pushed open the wooden gate.

With a whoosh, both of them simultaneously sheathed their spears.

Mu Nianci, panting, said, "The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) has arrived."

"Yes, where is the senior?"

"Zhou, the镖头 (bodyguard/escort), come inside quickly." Before Mu Nianci could speak, Yang Tiexin lifted the curtain and came out. "The three Taoist priests are all here."

"Brother Guo isn't here?"

“My dear nephew, your masters are arriving today. Go and meet them.”

"Is that so?" Zhou Yan said with a smile. "It's good that you Taoist priests are here. I have something to say to you, seniors."

"Please come in."

"Yang Meizi, Mu Biaoshi, let's go in and listen to what's going on, let's discuss it together."

"Alright." Yang Miaozhen guessed that Zhou Yan was going to talk about the Zhao Prince's Mansion, so she fired her spear and walked over quickly.

(End of this chapter)