The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 181 The Herb Immortal of the Hundred Herbs Sect, an Old Man in a Straw Hat and Raincoat on the Misty River

Xiao Xiangzi is like a zombie.

Mei Chaofeng was known as the Iron Corpse.

The two corpses from The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes actually fought each other on the banks of the Yuanjiang River, resulting in both of them being severely injured.

In terms of martial arts skills, Xiao Xiangzi was inferior to his opponent, but he suddenly used poisonous smoke, which Mei Chaofeng could not defend against and was poisoned.

The fight between the two was over in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yan arrived, but Xiao Xiangzi had already fled into the water. Mei Chaofeng lay unconscious in Huang Rong's arms.

“That dead zombie is riding my green horse. You chase after it from behind. I’ll have Mei Ruohua take action. Not only is there a hidden mechanism in the zombie’s mourning staff that sprays out poisonous smoke.”

Zhou Yan belatedly realized that Xiao Xiangzi's iron rod contained poison and had been used to ambush Guo Jing during the Battle of Xiangyang in The Return of the Condor Heroes.

Huang Rong said anxiously, "I have already given Mei Ruohua the 'Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill,' but it seems to have no effect."

Looking at Mei Chaofeng, whose face was originally as white as paper, she was now covered with a layer of black mist.

"Go back first."

"it is good."

Huang Rong's green horse was struck by Mei Chaofeng's soft whip and crashed into a large tree by the roadside, groaning in pain.

Zhou Yan went over to check.

He must have a fracture and is unable to ride a bicycle.

He thought to himself that the green horse was strong and healthy, and that if he found a veterinarian, it could recover. He then told Liang Xiaowu to leave it to the owner of the courtyard.

Zhou Yan snapped out of his daze, patted the horse's neck twice, stood up, turned back to pick up Mei Chaofeng, and said to Huang Rong, "You ride the horse."

The two, along with the unconscious Mei Chaofeng, were unable to ride the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" together.

"it is good!"

Zhou Yan, carrying Mei Chaofeng, used the "Golden Goose Skill," and his speed surpassed that of an ordinary galloping horse. Huang Rong rode behind him on horseback.

When they arrived at the farmhouse where Huang Rong had borrowed the property, it was already dusk, and the sunlight was scarce on the horizon.

The three guards had already woken up. They were all trained in martial arts and had broad shoulders and strong bodies. Xiao Xiangzi's goal was to seize the horse. After stunning the guards, he did not kill them, so there was no major problem.

On the contrary, Liang Xiaowu suffered some internal injuries and needed to use his internal energy to recuperate, but compared to Mei Chaofeng's poison injuries, they were insignificant.

Zhou Yan and Huang Rong were both laymen when it came to detoxification. By the time they arrived at the farm from the main road, the black aura on Mei Chaofeng's face had already spread to her shoulders and neck.

The owner of the farmhouse was short and stout, and Huang Rong was able to borrow writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from him, so he must be a learned person with many connections. Huang Rong then inquired whether there were any famous doctors nearby.

The land of western Hunan is full of snakes and insects. The host also had some insight. After looking at Mei Chaofeng's face, he said, "There are some well-established clinics in the county town that can treat common poisonous bites, but for this kind of injury, I'm afraid there's nothing that can be done."

"Chief镖师, I'm going to the county town to fetch a doctor."

"Send the messenger over."

"Got it!"

The messenger rode straight to the county town. At dusk, the doctor arrived, but after only glancing at Mei Chaofeng, he shook his head and said that he would seek a better doctor, as the condition was untreatable.

Huang Rong was extremely anxious, and she almost threatened the other party with a knife.

Zhou Yan dismissed the doctor, then cut his forearm with his Qingfeng sword and collected a bowl of blood.

Huang Rong, not understanding what was going on, asked, "What's going on?"

"I had a strange encounter where I was not afraid of snake venom. Perhaps fresh blood has an antidote. Whether I live or die depends on Mei Ruohua's fate."

Huang Rong sighed, "Thank you. Even if she can't be saved, she will be grateful to you. You are the first person outside of Peach Blossom Island to be kind to her."

Zhou Yan nodded, saying nothing more.

He helped Mei Chaofeng up and placed her on his lap, pried open her teeth with his left hand, and poured the bloody water from the bowl into his mouth.

After draining so much blood, even with his robust physique and profound internal strength, Zhou Yan felt weak and sore. After administering the blood to Mei Chaofeng, he went to the courtyard and sat down to rest.

Huang Rong ran out in surprise: "The poison has stopped spreading."

"That means it's having some effect. We'll feed it blood again later."

Huang Rong took a slight breath and said softly, "Thank you."

"You and she are business partners, and I will do my best to ensure your safety."

"Why don't we just be friends?" Huang Rong pouted.

She felt much better afterward.

Huang Rong brought back all the purchased seasonings and other items. She told the owner of the courtyard about the green horse and asked Liang Xiaowu to bring the horse over so she could give it to him.

The owner of the courtyard thanked him, but showed no great joy.

Huang Rong, however, did not notice the other party's expression. She went into the kitchen to busy herself, cooking dishes to nourish Zhou Yan's blood and qi.

As Zhou Yan closed his eyes to rest, a fragrant aroma wafted from the farmhouse kitchen.

The owner of the courtyard entered the kitchen and asked Huang Rong, "This meat has a unique flavor; would you like to try it?"

Huang Rong was easygoing and pleased to receive praise for her cooking skills, replying, "Of course."

The owner of the courtyard picked up a strip of meat cooked by Huang Rong with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. He felt his mouth was full of deliciousness. With each chew, he experienced a different taste, sometimes rich and tender, sometimes sweet and crisp. The flavors were varied and ever-changing.

His eyes lit up, and he praised it highly: "Lamb rump meat."

Huang Rong said, "Impressive skill. Try again."

The owner of the courtyard continued to sample the dishes, one by one: "Pig ears, veal kidneys, venison leg meat, and rabbit meat. This dish has the number five of a plum blossom, and because the meat strips are shaped like flutes, it's called 'Jade Flute, Who Hears the Falling Plum Blossoms?'"

Huang Rong looked at the other person with a smile, but said, "To be able to name this dish, you are no ordinary person."

The owner of the courtyard bowed and said, "Since we are kindred spirits, I will not hide anything. I am obsessed with cooking and have a nickname: 'Human Chef'."

Upon hearing their conversation, Zhou Yan's eyes widened, a sharp glint in them. They had both realized that Huang Rong, disguised as a man, was someone of considerable importance.

Huang Rong was quite surprised to hear that there was a "human cook".

The man said, “I’m not a human flesh chef, so don’t be afraid, young lady. I’ll eat your dish ‘Jade Flute, Who Hears the Falling Plum Blossoms’ and, in return, I’ll tell you a message.”

"How so?" "Three hundred miles south of Luxi, there is a mountain called Tongfeng Mountain. In the mountain, there is a valley called Baicao Valley. In the valley, there is a sect called Baiyao Sect. The sect leader is Baicao Xian. If he cannot cure the poison of your friend, young lady, then probably no one in the world can."

Zhou Yan overheard the conversation between the two people in the kitchen. Because Xiao Xiangzi appeared first, he suddenly thought of the two people in The Return of the Condor Heroes.

Herbalist, Human Chef.

He had the memory because the two of them, along with a group of heroes, had gone to Xiangyang to celebrate Guo Xiang's birthday.

The Hundred Herbs Immortal gifted a thousand-year-old snow ginseng.

The cook, entrusted by Zen Master Wuse, gave Guo Xiang a pair of iron Arhats with hidden mechanisms for fighting. Rotating the mechanisms would allow her to unleash the "Shaolin Arhat Fist".

Later, Guo Xiang gave the "Iron Arhat" to Zhang Junbao, who is Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang in the world of Yitian.

Therefore, Zhou Yan's memory of this part of the story is exceptionally clear.

Huang Rong was overjoyed upon hearing this and expressed her gratitude repeatedly. The cook said, "If your relatives or friends recover from their injuries, you may come here again to discuss the arts and techniques."

The chef was referring to culinary skills, not the swordsmanship of Zhou Yan and Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan.

"Okay!" Huang Rong replied without hesitation; it was something she was interested in and liked.

"I will not disturb you for now."

The cook came out of the kitchen and smiled at Zhou Yan, saying, "The镖头 (bodyguard/escort) has excellent martial arts skills, I admire you."

“‘We share the same clouds and rain over the green mountains,’ so why not share a cup of wine with peach blossoms and spring breezes?” Zhou Yan said.

The cook was overjoyed: "I couldn't be happier! Let me bring you the treasured herbal wine that the Herbal Immortal gave me. This wine can help the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) nourish his qi and blood."

"It would be impolite to refuse," Zhou Yan replied.

……

Spring tides bring rain, rushing in late; a lone sail drifts up the river.

The large ship sailed along the Yuan River, with Zhou Yan, Huang Rong, and Liang Xiaowu all on board.

Mei Chaofeng was unconscious, so he dared not delay.

After a hearty meal and drinks, Zhou Yan and Huang Rong asked to leave the cook.

The green horse stayed with the cook, who helped them find a large boat. The group sailed down the river, heading straight for Tongfeng Mountain's Hundred Herbs Valley.

The herbal wine is the essence of pharmacology. When Zhou Yan boarded the ship, he felt the medicinal properties in his lower abdomen, causing his blood vessels to throb as if he were embracing a furnace.

He sat cross-legged in his room, using his mind to guide his qi and circulate his blood qi. Soon after, the abundant qi and blood nourished by the herbal wine were guided, which in turn circulated the pulse qi. As the pulse qi moved, it stimulated the blood qi and aroused internal strength.

About half an hour later, Zhou Yan's dantian suddenly stirred, and a wisp of internal energy emerged, flowing smoothly through his meridians. This internal energy was light and delicate, like a clear stream flowing through the mountains, extremely pure.

Zhou Yan's face lit up with joy as he continued his cultivation, constantly refining his blood and qi through the method of moving qi through the meridians.

Two hours later, the boiling blood and qi gradually calmed down, and Zhou Yan was full of energy. Not only did he no longer feel the fatigue from drawing blood for Mei Chaofeng, but he also gained about 100 days' worth of internal strength from his arduous training.

He got up and left the room, where a porter wearing a straw hat came to greet him.

"The head镖师 (镖头, a term referring to a镖师 who is skilled in escorting goods)."

"Go take a nap."

"He's in good spirits."

"Aren't you going yet?"

"okay."

The guards walked towards the room where Liang Xiaowu and the others were resting.

Zhou Yan first went to Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng's side. Listening from outside the window, he could hear two breathing sounds from each of them, one even and the other varying in length.

He thought that if he took another night's blood at dawn and gave it to Mei Chaofeng, it should stabilize the poison and delay their journey to Baicao Valley. With that thought in mind, he took a bamboo hat and inspected the area from all sides.

The镖局's horses were used to traveling by water. The large ship sailed smoothly downstream, and the horses were quiet. As he passed by, "Night-Shining Jade Lion" snorted and leaned its head towards him.

He comforted her and then went to the bow of the boat.

Fishing lights flicker in the clear breeze and fading wind, a light boat sways on the rippling waves.

The Yuan River flows less swiftly than the Yangtze, and even in the misty, early morning, fishing boats can still be seen on its surface. Further afield, the Pingjiang River rises in a hazy mist, resembling a dragon-shaped sword.

As Zhou Yan observed the ever-changing mist over the Yuanjiang River, his mind drifted to the Hengshan Five Divine Swords and the Returning Wind and Falling Goose Sword of Liu Qingzhou of the Hengshan Sect, and he felt a surge of emotion.

In this moment of enlightenment, he completely forgot about the passage of time.

……

The morning light peeked through the light drizzle like a curtain being lifted.

A small boat appeared ahead of the large ship. An old man in a straw hat and raincoat leisurely fished in the lone boat.

Another speedboat went upstream.

A young girl emerged from the cabin. She appeared to be about the same age as Huang Rong, with bright, sparkling eyes, long eyebrows that reached her temples, and a captivating beauty that surpassed all others.

The girl looked at the old man in a straw hat and raincoat on the lone boat and asked in surprise, "Mother, how can you catch fish in this windy and rainy weather?"

The cabin curtain was lifted, and a woman with a sword in hand stepped out, bending low. She looked at the fisherman on the river and said, "A man of independent character, or an extraordinary person like your Uncle Fisherman, should not be spoken of lightly."

The girl smiled sweetly, "I understand."

The angler overheard every word the two exchanged and became furious.

"With shallow knowledge, like a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the bright moon, or a mayfly yearning for the blue sky. Who is the recluse fisherman?"

The woman was secretly surprised when she heard the fisherman's words.

Despite being several feet apart, the mother and daughter spoke softly, yet they were overheard. This was the work of a reclusive martial arts master with exceptional cultivation.

She immediately said, "My words were unintentional, please forgive me, senior."

"I asked who Yu Yin is, why don't you answer?" The fisherman's white wax fishing rod fell diagonally from the air, and with a flick, the fishhook suddenly fell towards the girl.

(End of this chapter)