The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 161 Mo Chouwei Travels a Thousand Miles Alone
Zhou Yan's figure meandered through the dark alleyways, arriving at Changfeng Escort Agency with practiced ease.

He listened briefly, leaped over the courtyard wall, and meandered along the rows of buildings, approaching the brightest spot.

Given the tense situation, Fu'an deployed additional bodyguards and escorts to the escort agency at night.

The same applies to Changfeng.

In the past, one or two bodyguards and a few escorts were enough.

Now there are a total of six bodyguards.

The group, including two Hu (non-Han) bodyguards, were drinking around the stove when Zhou Yan emerged from the shadows cast by the house and silently approached.

The voices then became clearer.

"The young prince is now the crown prince of the Jin Kingdom. I think it won't be long before we all rise to high positions."

"Exactly, exactly."

"If I could get an official position, I wouldn't have to work as a bodyguard, enduring hardships. But if I were to become a palace guard, I think it would be better to be a bodyguard. At least after a delivery, I could enjoy a few days of freedom."

"That makes sense. Spending all day in the palace is not as good as being a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who travels all over the country."

Zhou Yan gently poked open the window paper and looked out.

Six men were seen sitting around a stove, drinking from large bowls. Two of them were foreign bodyguards with high noses and deep-set eyes.

"What do you think the young master is going to Zhongnan Mountain for?"

The abrupt remark made Zhou Yan tremble slightly.

"Who knows? She was with Mr. Ouyang."

Zhou Yan felt as if struck by lightning, his mind buzzing.

Ouyang Ke went to Zhongnan Mountain, could it be because of Li Mochou? But how did she know where he was staying?

Upon arriving in this world, he encountered the Four Demons of the Yellow River pursuing Li Mochou. At that time, Shen Qinggang, the "Soul-Severing Blade," inquired about her sect, and the inexperienced Li Mochou did indeed mention Zhongnan Mountain. However, the Four Demons and over ten members of the Yellow River Gang were all killed, making a leak impossible. If the information had been leaked then, given Ouyang Ke's lustful nature, wouldn't he have already arrived at Zhongnan Mountain, instead of waiting a year?

The conversation in the hall only briefly touched on Helian Chuncheng's trip to Zhongnan Mountain before moving on. While Zhou Yan was deep in thought, he suddenly thought of the mountain god temple on the outskirts of Datong Prefecture.

Li Mo stayed for two days before rushing back to Zhongnan Mountain. Could it be from that time?

Zhou Yan's thoughts continued, recalling the scene of encountering Ouyang Feng at Huayan Temple.

Belatedly realizing the truth, he broke out in a cold sweat. It was highly likely that Ouyang Ke had accompanied the Western Poison when he appeared in Datong Prefecture. He must have encountered Li Mochou again during that time, and Ouyang Ke must have learned of his whereabouts.

Ouyang Feng and his nephew appeared in Datong Prefecture, accompanied by Yang Kangding. Their purpose was to establish a connection with the Western Regions Vajra Sect through the Changfeng Escort Agency.

Now that Wanyan Honglie has ascended the throne, Yang Kang has become the crown prince, the Jin Dynasty has moved its capital, and many major events that had been brewing have come to an end, it is not difficult to explain why Ouyang Ke, who is now at leisure, invited Helian Chuncheng to Zhongnan Mountain.

With subtle clues and hidden threads, Zhou Yan deduced the general outline. He moved silently, heading straight for the Fu'an Escort Agency.

Less than an hour later, Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, and Mu Nianci waited for them while drinking.

"How are you, Brother Zhou?" Hu Yanlei offered a bowl of wine to Zhou Yan, who had taken off his mask.

"Thank you, Brother Xie."

Zhou Yan took the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, sat upright in the chair, and said, "I'm afraid I have to go to Zhongnan Mountain."

Zhang Wangyue, Hu Yanlei, and Mu Nianci were all taken aback.

As the chief镖头 (body escort) of Fu'an, he suddenly thought of the body smuggling he had delivered years ago.

"What brings Brother Zhou to Zhongnan Mountain?" Huyan Lei asked.

Zhou Yan kept it brief: "The news I heard from Changfeng is that Helian Chuncheng and Ouyang Ke went to Zhongnan Mountain."

"Looking for Master Ma and the others?" Hu Yanlei asked.

"He is a friend of mine, and he has no personal grudge against Ouyang."

"I see." Zhang Wangyue thought for a moment and said, "The escort agency is not doing escort services now, so Brother Zhou should bring more people with him."

Mu Nianci was about to suggest going with Zhou Yan when she heard him say, "I don't know if Brother Wang and Brother Shi can arrive before the Mongol army besieges the city. If the Mongol army attacks the city, there will be chaos inside, and it will be difficult to spare manpower. Going alone is fine, but the situation is tense right now, and it is impossible to stay with the escort agency."

With Zhou Yan saying this, Mu Nianci, who had been teased by Yang Miaozhen for being thin-skinned, couldn't say anything more.

"What if the situation becomes dire on Brother Zhou's side?" Zhang Wangyue asked.

"We can seek help from the Quanzhen School."

Zhang Wangyue nodded: "Alright, there's me, Brother Huyan, Miss Mu, and others here at the escort agency, so there's no need to worry."

"Thank you, Chief Escort."

"I will inform the master. Go and prepare quickly. We will leave the city at dawn."

With the patron assassinated, the city gates of Zhongdu, which had been closed for two days, have been opened, and Zhou Yan riding the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" is a given.

He immediately left the escort agency, went to the courtyard, and packed his belongings.

Leaving the city would take until dawn, so there was no rush. Zhou Yan went to the backyard of Prince Zhao's mansion to find Huang Rong and said that he had to leave the escort agency for a while. If she stayed in the city during that time, she could contact Zhang Wangyue if anything happened. If she left the city, the two large treasure snakes would be taken by the medicine boy.

Huang Rong was clever; she knew Zhou Yan must have come at midnight for some unexpected reason, so she assured him. After a few brief pleasantries, he headed straight for the escort agency.

As dawn broke and the city gates opened wide, wealthy families who had been waiting to flee the capital swarmed out of the city under the protection of martial arts instructors. Zhou Yan followed the crowd out of the city and rode straight to Datong Prefecture.

……

The stars and moon moved across the sky, casting sparse shadows among the rows of buildings.

The Changfeng Escort Agency in Datong Prefecture was not as prepared as it was in Zhongdu.

After leaving Zhongdu, Zhou Yan arrived in Datong City. Besides taking the opportunity, he also needed to gather information.

When Ouyang Ke arrived at Zhongnan Mountain, Helian Chuncheng accompanied him. There was no reason for the other party not to stay at the escort agency in Datong Prefecture.

The chilly wind, like a rising tide, kept pounding against the oil-paper windows.

A drunken Hu (non-Han) bodyguard emerged from the house, his breath reeking of alcohol, and headed towards the latrine.

As the bodyguard passed through the dark shadow cast by the house, his body suddenly seemed to be entangled by something, and in the blink of an eye, he was hurled several meters away, as if being dragged along by a giant beast.

……

Zhou Yan carried the Hu escort, who was covered by a sack, on his back. His figure floated on the rooftops of the city. He used the "Golden Goose Skill" to make his figure sometimes rise and sometimes fall. In a short time, he reached the city wall.

As the former secondary capital of the Liao Dynasty, Datong Prefecture had towering city walls. He used ropes to descend out of the city and traveled several miles before the "Night-Shining Jade Lion," hearing the noise, snorted softly.

Zhou Yan entered the forest, removed the burlap sack, and massaged the area to improve blood circulation. The Hu escort, as if waking from a nightmare, opened his eyes.

The Hu man was fierce and still intoxicated. He roared, "You treacherous dog, how dare you ambush me!"

As soon as the bodyguard finished speaking, he reached out to grab Zhou Yan, his fingers and palms generating a strong wind. Zhou Yan stretched forward and grabbed two of the bodyguard's fingers. With a "crack," the bodyguard's tendons and bones were broken, and the Hu bodyguard groaned in pain.

Before the other party could react, Zhou Yan casually pressed the "Tian Tu" acupoint.

This acupoint belongs to the Yinwei Meridian among the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. It is located below the throat and is the meeting point of the Yinwei and Ren Meridians. Once it is pressed, it can make people feel as if thousands of insects and ants are crawling and biting under their skin, causing unbearable numbness and itching.

Zhou Yan had never studied acupressure techniques; he developed them by experimenting on himself, based on the diagrams of human meridians and acupoints that Zhang Wangyue included with "Taizu Boxing Method".

The Hu escort was first dislocated and then subjected to pressure point manipulation, causing him both pain and numbness. He cried out, "Ouch, ouch, ouch... You dog thief, I have a grudge against you."

"I'll ask you a few questions."

The Hu escort then realized that Zhou Yan, with his somber expression and cold demeanor, had not kidnapped him for revenge.

"You ask first."

"Has Ouyang Ke of White Camel Mountain ever visited Changfeng Escort Agency?"

Zhou Yan asked the question skillfully, and the Hu escort cursed inwardly. So he was looking for Ouyang Ke. He had been suffering for no reason. Thinking this, he mentally sent a message and cooperated.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Three days ago."

The timing was exactly after the Golden Emperor was beheaded by the Vajra Sect experts arranged by Yang Kang.

Where are we going?

Zhongnan Mountain.

How many people are traveling with you?

"More than ten people."

"Is Ouyang Ke going to see a girl?"

"Yes."

How did he know where they were?

The Hu escort thought to himself that this scoundrel was actually the lover of the woman Ouyang Ke had his eye on; no wonder he looked so fierce.

"Several months ago, the girl went to the escort agency to hire a bodyguard. He and Young Master Ouyang met at the entrance of the escort agency, and then she managed to escape."

Zhou Yan suddenly realized that it must have been because he had been unconscious that Li Mochou, unable to find Hong Qigong, wanted to take him to Zhongnan Mountain, and they had accidentally stumbled upon Changfeng Escort Agency, which led to the whole incident.

"Is Ouyang Feng here?"

"I did not see it."

Zhou Yan felt somewhat reassured. As long as the Western Poison wasn't around, with the help of Li Mochou and Lin Chaoying's maid, repelling the enemy wouldn't be difficult. Thinking this, he pointed his fingers like a sword and pressed on the "Shanzhong" acupoint on the opponent's chest.

Zhou Yan used a heavy hand, employing the "Crushing Divine Claw" technique. The bodyguard trembled violently and died instantly.

He flipped over and leaped onto the "Jade Lion Under the Night".

The snow has melted, and the horse's hooves are light; it moves swiftly like a shooting star.

Zhou Yan traveled a thousand miles alone.

(End of this chapter)