The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 180 Xiao Xiangzi Steals the Horse

As the sun sets on the sandy islet, I savor river delicacies, wild vegetables, and peach blossom rice. A long song fades into the deep mist, and I return to the distant green waves of the vast river.

The scene described in the poem refers to the Yuanjiang River in Luxi.

Spring mist floats on the river, willows droop like curtains on both banks, and silver saddles shine on white horses on the road, swift as shooting stars.

Zhou Yan emerged from the valley of the central peak of Iron Palm Mountain. At this time, everyone in the Iron Palm Clan, from the leader Qiu Qianren to ordinary disciples, was attracted by the raging flames on the summit of the central peak. He escaped unscathed, meandering through the mountains until he reached the pine forest where the horse was hidden.

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" awaits in the forest.

He spurred his horse straight to Luxi, where he had arranged to meet Huang Rong and the others.

Traveling along the river, the air and water were crystal clear, flocks of egrets soared, and monkeys howled. Zhou Yan couldn't help but think of Li Mochou.

It wasn't because of any romantic feelings, but rather because I was reminded of the world of Condor Heroes.

Lu Zhanyuan betrayed Li Mochou and married He Yuanjun. Li Mochou made a solemn vow: whoever mentions the name "Yuan" in front of her will either die or she will perish.

The Red Serpent Fairy once destroyed sixty-three cargo warehouses and shipping companies on the Yuan River, simply because their signs contained the character "Yuan".

As Zhou Yan read this aloud, he smiled gently: "There are fairies in Zhongnan Mountain, but no red ribbons on the Yuan River."

At dusk, the "Jade Lion Illuminated by the Night" leaps out from the twilight, and Luxi County comes into view in Zhou Yan's sight.

"Head镖师!" A voice, almost weeping with joy, rang out from the willow grove outside the city. Liang Xiaowu and the镖师 rushed over. Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the voice and saw Mei Chaofeng and Huang Rong, dressed in black and white, walking slowly behind them.

"Awaited."

Liang Xiaowu breathed a sigh of relief, his heart finally at ease. He said, "We saw the fire burning on Iron Palm Mountain from afar and were worried about the镖头 (bodyguard/escort leader). We thought that even if it meant death, we would stay with you. It was Merchant Huang who stopped us, saying that the镖头 would definitely fake his death to escape. I'm ashamed to admit that I lost my composure; it was Merchant Huang and Merchant Mei who remained calm."

Zhou Yan scoffed inwardly. Huang Rong had really thought of the same thing as him – faking her death to escape.

"It's understandable that concern can lead to confusion, but remember that if you encounter such a situation again, you must not lose your composure."

"Got it."

With Tangzi leading the horse, Zhou Yan greeted Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng.

"Tell me quickly, how did you escape?"

"It's a long story."

"There are people living here. I borrowed your writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone while I was waiting for you. We got to know each other well. Let me borrow your kitchen to cook a few dishes, and then I will tell you my story."

"Borrowing pen and ink...to copy the 'Military Treatise of Yue Fei'?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, but it would be impolite to refuse."

"Walk"

Zhou Yan followed Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng through the willow grove and saw that the land ahead was flat and spacious, with neat houses, crisscrossing paths, and the sounds of chickens and dogs—a scene of idyllic paradise.

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" was released into the willow grove to graze on its own, while Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng walked to the county town to buy seasonings.

Zhou Yan opened Huang Rong's transcribed copy of "The Legacy of Yue Fei".

The handwriting was natural and elegant, the lines smooth and flowing, beautiful yet vigorous. He exclaimed in admiration at the calligraphy and focused intently on the military strategy, reading it word by word.

……

A residual sun spreads in the water, half of the river is half red.

Zhou Yan closed "The Military Manual of Yue Fei," stood up, and was suddenly filled with the feeling of "in my drunken stupor, I pick up my sword by lamplight; in my dreams, bugles sound across the camps."

The book elaborates on everything from planning, judging matters, attacking, defending, training soldiers, commanding generals, deploying troops, and field battles, as well as the dynamics of movement, stillness, safety, and danger, and the use of orthodox and unorthodox methods.

Zhou Yan recalled the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, when Guo Jing accompanied Genghis Khan on his western expedition, he trained his 10,000-strong army into eight formations as described in military strategy: Heaven Covers, Earth Supports, Wind Rises, Clouds Hang Down, Dragon Flies, Tiger Wings, Bird Soars, and Snake Coils.

Zhou Yan lamented, "A loyal minister repays his country with precious gifts, and the twelve gold medals are all a cause for sorrow. What a pity for Yue Pengju."

He thought again that this military strategy would be of great use to Yang Miaozhen. When Mu Nianci went to Chaya Mountain, she would definitely mention that the Great Khan wanted to cleanse Tu Zhong, but Guo Jing had stopped him.

If Yang Miaozhen does this, she will inevitably become an enemy of the Mongols, and can take advantage of the war between the Jin and the Mongols to strengthen her army and conserve her strength.

If the chief镖头 (chief镖师) could raise the banner of righteousness like Yang Miaozhen, he could rebuild the Beiwei Army.

"Neigh!" The sudden neighing of a horse pulled Zhou Yan back to reality.

Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw three bodyguards resting in the woods fly out at once. Liang Xiaowu unleashed his "Flipping Fist," launching a series of punches, elbows, chops, and strikes at a tall, thin man. The man's movements were strange and incredibly swift; his punches were like lightning, heavy and fierce, colliding with Liang Xiaowu several times. In an instant, the young bodyguard from the Fu'an Escort Agency, whose martial arts skills were now among the best, was blasted to the ground, rolling repeatedly.

A tall man leaps onto the "Jade Lion Illuminated by Night".

The horse seemed to possess a spirit, its shape resembling a full moon as it reared up and neighed angrily, its four hooves flying, leaping and circling, trying to throw its opponent to the ground. No matter how the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" leaped and bounded, the man was as if glued to the horse's back.

"What a horse thief!"

The heavy iron spear and the giant ox-horn bow were both in the courtyard. Zhou Yan moved swiftly and grabbed the bow and arrows.

The bow is as taut as a full moon, the arrows as swift as shooting stars, each of the five arrows swifter than the last.

Zhou Yan didn't hold back. The horse thieves had their eyes on the "Jade Lion of the Night" to steal the horse, but they didn't expect Liang Xiaowu and his gang to be in the forest. So they simply attacked and injured people, showing their ruthlessness.

He fired five arrows in quick succession, wielding his Qingfeng sword, and swiftly charged forward, his body slightly leaning forward as if an arrow had been unleashed in a fit of rage, hurtling towards the willow grove.

The man on horseback suddenly pulled a short stick from his body. The stick was wrapped with white rope and had a hemp rope trailing from its head, just like the mourning stick held by a filial son.

The man swung his staff backhand twice, like a gazelle leaping up its horns, leaving no trace. With two clangs, the two long arrows in front were knocked away. His body was level with the ground like an iron plate, using his "Iron Bridge" skill to dodge another arrow. He then cleverly hid in the stirrup, and the next two arrows missed their mark.

Suddenly, the "Jade Lion Under the Night" spun around rapidly, and the man was thrown out.

"What a beast!"

The man used a weapon resembling a "mourning stick" to deflect two arrows from Zhou Yan. His hand went numb, and knowing that the horse's master was no less skilled than himself, he dared not delay. He landed like a hawk soaring into the sky, leaping off the ground and landing on Huang Rong's mount.

The man turned around and gave Zhou Yan a sinister smile.

The man in Zhou Yan's line of sight was as pale as Mei Chaofeng, making it difficult to determine his age. However, his zombie-like face and the mourning stick in his hand reminded him of someone.

Xiao Xiangzi, a renowned figure from western Hunan in the world of Condor Heroes.

Zhou Yan's guess was absolutely correct.

It is Xiangxi Xiaoxiangzi.

He was passing through Luxi when he suddenly saw the "Jade Lion Under the Night," which looked magnificent and extraordinary. He then had the idea of ​​stealing the horse, but he ended up startling the horse and Liang Xiaowu instead.

Xiao Xiangzi attacked and injured someone, turning theft into robbery, but unexpectedly, the magnificent "Night-Shining Jade Lion" threw him to the ground.

Seeing Zhou Yan chasing after him, Xiao Xiangzi knew that running away was the best course of action.

He gave a fierce and sinister smile, then turned and spurred his horse to gallop away.

Zhou Yan arrived at breakneck speed.

"Xiao Wu!"

"Captain, I can hold on."

Blood trickled from Liang Xiaowu's mouth as he struggled to his feet. Zhou Yan checked on the other men, who were all unconscious but not in mortal danger.

Zhou Yan took out a porcelain bottle containing "Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pills" from his bosom.

One pill per person

"Got it."

Liang Xiaowu caught the porcelain bottle, and Zhou Yan leaped onto the "Jade Lion Under the Night".

The horse scrambled forward, its hooves pounding the ground as it relentlessly pursued the enemy.

The scenery flew by, and the "Jade Lion Under the Night" kept approaching Xiao Xiangzi. On the main road from the county town, a man in black and a woman in white walked side by side. The man in white glanced quickly at Xiao Xiangzi and Zhou Yan in the distance, and then quickly said a few words to the woman in black.

The two men made way, and the green horse instantly closed the distance. In the instant they passed each other, a white light suddenly flashed in Mei Chaofeng's hand, and she lashed out at Xiao Xiangzi with her soft whip.

Xiao Xiangzi let out a strange cry, touched the stirrup with his right foot, rolled to the ground, and with a "bang," the whip lashed the horse's back, and the green horse neighed and crashed into a tree on the side of the road.

Mei Chaofeng swung forward, her powerful grab aimed at Xiao Xiangzi's crown.

Suddenly, a plume of black smoke shot out from the mourning staff in Xiao Xiangzi's hand, and the intertwined figures were separated with a bang. Mei Chaofeng was knocked to the ground by the mourning staff.

Xiao Xiangzi's head was broken and bleeding; he tumbled several times and fell into the Yuan River.

"You shrew, I will definitely avenge this!"

The moment Xiao Xiangzi's figure disappeared into the waves, he uttered a harsh word.

(End of this chapter)