The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 154 Yang Kang Sighs, Seventh Master Reappears

As the setting sun spread across the horizon, Zhou Yan saw a Jin soldier's steel blade slash into a man's neck, the bursting blood staining the afterglow red.

A martial arts master swung his long staff and shattered the knee of a Jin soldier. The fierce Jin soldier fell to the ground, and the swordsman swung his sword horizontally, severing the Jin soldier's lower leg.

The martial artist screamed in agony and fell to the ground, as the Jin soldier's steel blade swiftly slashed into his neck.

The bloody scene sent chills down Mu Nianci's spine.

The martial arts master's skills were clearly superior to those of the Jin soldiers, yet he was killed instead.

This is the biggest difference between ordinary martial arts practitioners and soldiers who survived the battlefield. The former's martial arts emphasize feints and real attacks. If they are inferior in skill compared to others, they can choose to avoid them and run away.

Soldiers who survive the battlefield often know how to fight to the death: if you kill me, I'll take you down with me.

The three were still several dozen feet away from the chaotic and bloody scene. Hu Yanlei said, "I have never seen Jin soldiers looting so brazenly and on such a large scale near Zhongdu. Could it be that the Mongol army has attacked and these are defeated soldiers?"

"almost."

"Damn it!" Huyan Lei pulled on the reins, and the black horse galloped off.

Zhou Yan took the giant ox-horn bow in his hand and said to Mu Nianci, "Da Yanxun, have Xiao Wu and the others come over. Capture one alive, and leave the rest alive."

"it is good!"

Mu Nianci took out a flaming tube from the cloth bag slung over her shoulder. The moment the flaming tube lit the fuse, she heard a "bang" sound. A long arrow pushed through the air, making a sharp whistling sound as it disappeared into the distance.

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yan drew the giant bow open in an astonishing arc once more, and the second arrow shot through the air and flew far away.

A Jin soldier grinned and swung his sword at a woman holding a child. In the woman's desperate eyes, a loud "bang" rang out, and the face of the Jin soldier who was right next to her exploded. A long arrow, dripping with blood, flew out and pierced the neck of another Jin soldier.

In an instant, the woman saw several Jin soldiers on either side fall one after another.

Fireworks burst in the sky as she realized someone was rescuing her.

Zhou Yan's giant ox-horn bow produced rhythmic "thump-thump" sounds, and his arrows, like shooting stars, never missed their mark. The fifteen long arrows in the quiver killed an equal number of Jin soldiers.

He carried a bow and a heavy iron spear, and his "Jade Lion Under the Night" charged towards the Jin army like a bolt of lightning across the twilight.

The sound of horses' hooves came rushing in, and the Jin soldiers' officers swung their spiked clubs with a sharp whistling sound as they swung them at Zhou Yan's thrusting spear.

With a clang, the spiked club swung high into the air, and in the instant the two warhorses passed each other, the Jin officer was sent flying by the spear that had pierced his chest.

In the dim twilight, the corpse, like a human shield, crashed into the Jin soldier behind it. The man and his horse slammed to the ground like a wall.

With a flick of his wrist, Zhou Yan's spearhead pierced the chest of the Jin soldier who was acting as a human shield. He drew his spear and, as the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" charged forward, the spearhead sliced ​​through the body of an infantryman, whose blood exploded like fireworks.

Zhou Yan moved with the ferocity of a tiger, unstoppable. Following the path of his galloping horse, a chilling line of blood stretched out. Seeing reinforcements arrive, the martial artist freed himself to gather the elderly, women, and children among the carriages. Then, wielding his sword, he joined the battle.

Mu Nianci and Liang Xiaowu led more than twenty people to come and give chase.

Having already lost a third of their troops, the Jin soldiers, seeing the situation was dire, began to flee.

……

A bloody and chilling atmosphere filled the air. "Night-Shining Jade Lion" caught up with the last fleeing Jin soldier. Hearing the approaching hoofbeats, the man turned around, yelled "Ah!" and swung his sword.

Zhou Yan's spear crashed down with the force of thunder.

With a loud bang, the helmet shattered into pieces and flew out of his field of vision.

The corpse, its head split open, fell to the ground like a wooden stake.

Zhou Yan let out a heavy sigh.

They've fought countless times, both on horseback and on foot, but this time, driven by a sense of catharsis, he used all his strength.

Rejoice!

He turned his horse around and galloped toward the caravan.

As the distance closed, Mu Nianci rode over and said, "Escort Liang captured prisoners and interrogated them. They found out that these Jin soldiers were remnants who retreated from the direction of the Great Wall, burning, killing, and looting along the way."

"What about the team?"

"I also asked the wealthy households who evacuated from Zhongdu, and they said that the city might be locked down in the next few days."

"If we can make it, let's go."

The two rode their horses to the wealthy family's caravan, where the martial arts masters had already collected the corpses.

The wealthy man brought over a brocade box, knelt down with a thud, and said, "Thank you so much for saving my life, sir. I have no way to express my gratitude but to offer you gold and silver. I hope you will accept them."

The wealthy man was oblivious and didn't notice the bodyguard attire of Liang Xiaowu and his companions, but the martial arts master following behind him had sharp eyes but pretended not to know.

"Where is the old man going?" Zhou Yan asked.

"I went to Luoyang to visit relatives."

"The road ahead is safe, set off immediately."

As soon as Zhou Yan finished speaking, he turned his horse around and headed straight for his own escort vehicle.

Mu Nianci, Hu Yanlei, Liang Xiaowu, and others followed suit and withdrew.

"What a good person!" The wealthy man, who had just escaped death, burst into tears.

Zhou Yan and his group arrived at the caravan. The guards on the caravan sheathed their swords and put away their arrows, and the caravan sped up, heading straight for Daxing Prefecture...

The Prince Zhao's Mansion in Zhongdu.

The hustle and bustle of the city drifted in from afar as Yang Kang gazed at the night sky, where faint starlight had fallen.

Time waits for no one.

The fact that his mother was sent away also stabilized Qiu Chuji, Guo Jing, and the others. This was the best outcome he hadn't expected. He was just about to make his move when the Jin Dynasty was declining and its military strength was insufficient, which affected the entire plan.

Yang Kang withdrew his gaze and walked towards the brightly lit main hall.

As he entered the hall, he saw Wanyan Honglie standing with his hands behind his back in front of the carved window.

"Father."

"Kang'er is here."

"Ah."

"Father, have we been defeated?"

"Nonsense. As long as Zhongdu can be defended, we will have plenty of time to reorganize our troops. We can also unite with Khwarazm and destroy the Song Dynasty. My child, you are intelligent and wise, unmatched by anyone. Once I have power in my hands, with your assistance, we will surely turn defeat into victory. At that time, Kang'er, your wealth and honor will be immeasurable."

Yang Kang felt a surge of warmth in his heart and said, "Father, I will do my utmost to assist you."

"Good boy, go back and pack your things, then come with me out of the capital."

"Very well. I'll take my leave now."

Yang Kang walked out of the main hall, through the corridors and buildings, and headed towards the hermitage where Bao Xiang was located.

……

As the seasons changed and the first rays of dawn appeared.

The guards at the entrance of the Fu'an Escort Agency shouted joyfully, "Head Escort Zhou, Head Escort Huyan, and Escort Master Mu are back!"

Zhou Yan and his group actually arrived in Zhongdu at midnight, rested for two hours, and entered the city when it got light.

Additional escorts were stationed outside the Fu'an Escort Agency. Everyone dismounted, and the escorts led their horses to the stables.

As he, Hu Yanlei, and Mu Nianci entered the escort agency, they saw Zhang Wangyue walking towards them.

"came back?"

"Well, Chief Escort, how's the situation?" Hu Yanlei asked.

"Speak in the council chamber."

The group walked through the corridors and across the buildings until they reached the hall.

The servant poured the tea and then left.

While Zhou Yan was drinking tea, Zhang Wangyue said, "The escort agency has stopped escorting goods. The city will probably be locked down for the next few days. I wonder if Chief Escort Wang and Chief Escort Shi will be able to make it back in time."

"It's good that it's stopped." Zhou Yan changed the subject. "What about Changfeng?"

"Like us, they have stopped escorting goods. I went to investigate a few nights ago and overheard the guards chatting. They said that Changfeng is planning to set up a branch in Kaifeng Prefecture, and Helian Chuncheng will probably go there."

"What about Zhongdu?" Huyan Lei asked.

"Self-operated".

Zhou Yan pondered: "Changfeng has climbed up to the Zhao Prince's Mansion. In that case, Wanyan Honglie will also leave Zhongdu for Kaifeng Prefecture."

"As it should be."

"Brother Zhou, what's your plan to deal with Helian Chuncheng and Nimo Xing?" Huyan Lei asked.

"Let's go to Prince Zhao's residence tonight to investigate."

"Okay, but be careful," Zhang Wangyue instructed.

"okay."

Time was of the essence, so without much pleasantries, Zhou Yan accompanied Mu Nianci and Sha Gu away from the escort agency to the western suburbs courtyard to pack some belongings. From then on, the two of them would stay at the escort agency.

After lunch at the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency), Zhou Yan went straight to his own courtyard.

Wander through the streets and alleys, and once you arrive, climb over the wall to enter.

When he went out on missions, he rarely locked the door from the outside to avoid being robbed.

"Kid, you've arrived."

Zhou Yan landed on his feet, and a familiar voice came from behind him.

He chuckled, "It's Hong Qigong."

The leader of the Beggars' Sect sat under an old tree in the courtyard, drinking.

"What brings you here, senior?" Zhou Yan asked with delight.
“Zhongdu is facing war, so the old beggar came to check on the young beggars in the city.”

(End of this chapter)