The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 182 The Young Prince of Zhongdu, The Camellia Girl of Dali

Fisherman, young girl, woman.

Just like when Zhou Yan first met Li Mochou, he said that there were three types of people you shouldn't mess with: "monks, nuns, and beggars."

The fisherman overheard the conversation between the girl and the woman perfectly.

Zhou Yan, however, clearly heard the fisherman's furious shouts.

He felt the voice was very familiar, and when the fishing rod was suddenly swung, the bluebird of memory flew back.

The old fisherman on the misty waves of Hengshan City was looking for trouble with Liu Qingzhou.

Liu Qingzhou said that the other party had a strange temper, and it was indeed so. If it were an ordinary person from the martial arts world, a few harmless words would not have caused such a big fuss as this person.

In a flash, the woman drew her sword and thrust it forward. A clang rang out, sparks flew everywhere, the fishhook swung away, and swirled rapidly in the air, wrapping itself around the longsword.

It was unclear what the fishing line was made of, but the longsword could not cut it. The white lever snapped like a bow in an instant, and with a "whoosh," the woman's longsword flew out of her hand. She lost her balance and was about to fall into the river.

The young girl, quick-witted and agile, grabbed the woman.

As the fisherman swayed his rod, the fishing hook suddenly swung over and snagged the girl's palm-width, colorful sash.

"come on."

At that moment, Zhou Yan's figure darted across the misty waves like a swallow, landing behind the old fisherman's light boat.

He planted his feet firmly on the heavy weight, and the light boat suddenly swayed.

With a strange cry, the old fisherman abandoned the girl. His hands trembled rapidly, and the fishing hook attached to the fishing line moved as nimbly as a snake, emerging from the girl's belt with a "whoosh," swinging in the air in an arc before falling toward Zhou Yan.

Without turning around, one can hear the sound of the wind; this skill is truly masterful.

Back in Hengyang, when night had fallen and the streets were long, Zhou Yan hadn't been able to clearly see the fishing hooks and lines. Now, with the first light of dawn, and the distance between them less than ten feet, he could see them clearly.

The fishing line was as thin as silk, almost transparent, and the hook was the color of bright silver, gleaming with a cold light.

Zhou Yan thrust his longsword diagonally, and a move from the Quanzhen Sword Technique, "Dingyang Needle," landed squarely on the fishhook.

With a clang, sparks flew from the sword's edge, extinguished by the slanting wind and drizzle. The old fisherman suddenly turned around and looked at Zhou Yan.

In Hengyang City, Zhou Yan was in the shadows while Yanbo Fisherman was in the light. He repelled the enemy with three arrows in quick succession, and the enemy never saw his face. Now, he also does not recognize Zhou Yan wearing a straw hat.

"Not bad swordsmanship," said the Fisherman of Misty Waves, squinting his eyes.

Zhou Yan sheathed his Qingfeng sword, its clear light swirling around it, the tip touching the ground. "Senior, let's talk this out."

"It's fine if you can beat him. If you can't, who's going to listen to your nonsense?" The old fisherman rolled his eyes, let out a strange laugh, and his hands suddenly trembled. In an instant, the white wax fishing rod transformed into a strange snake that could change shape at any time. It straightened and coiled, twisted and turned, sometimes stretching and soaring, sometimes snapping and bending, and a storm of attacks fell on Zhou Yan.

"Once you're in the martial world, you're not in control of your own destiny"—this saying captures a glimpse into the true nature of survival in this world. The martial world isn't necessarily a place for reason. More often, it's about strength; subduing others with force is more effective than subduing them with virtue.

Zhou Yan sighed, and his Qingfeng sword pierced through the rain. The rainwater in front of the sword tip formed a straight line, and the gushing water fell towards the Fisherman in the Misty Waves before the sword. The Quanzhen sword techniques "Peach Blossom Flowing Water", "Gathering Ten Thousand Falling Thousand", "Apricot Blossom Sparse Shadow", "Wild Geese Arrive and Book is Completed", and "Cold Smoke and Withered Grass" were connected one after another, and the sword intent fell towards the Fisherman in the Misty Waves.

The Qingfeng sword was shimmering with a cold, flame-like light, its brilliance reflecting both illusion and reality as it shot, flowed, and bounced in all directions, accompanied by the incessant clanging of fishhooks and sword blades colliding in the air.

The girl, the woman, and Huang Rong and Liang Xiaowu, who came out of the room upon hearing the noise, could not see the fishing hook. In everyone's sight, a bluish halo was swirling around Zhou Yan, and clusters of sparks, like fishing lights, suddenly exploded and then went out.

It was clearly a life-or-death struggle, yet it was dazzling and mesmerizing.

Huang Rong recognized the Fisherman of Misty Waves as someone whose martial arts were superior to Liu Qingzhou's, but not necessarily a match for Zhou Yan. With her and Liang Xiaowu by her side, they were in an unbeatable situation.

Standing at the bow of the boat, she showed no concern for Zhou Yan. Her gaze drifted to the other end, where a young woman and a woman stood nervously watching the battle with swords drawn. When her eyes lingered briefly on the young woman's face, she secretly admired her. What a charming girl! However, judging from her attire, she seemed to be from the Central Plains. Her origins were unknown.

Zhou Yan and the Fisherman of Misty Waves had exchanged dozens of blows, and Zhou Yan was gradually getting a feel for the White Wax Rod fishing technique. Suddenly, his swordsmanship changed, and the "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones" sword technique was mixed with the "Jade Maiden Sword Technique" that he had comprehended after watching Li Mochou's cultivation.

With this change in sword style, Zhou Yan's movements became truly elegant and graceful, exuding a refined and unrestrained spirit, reminiscent of the dashing young men of the Jin Dynasty. Against the backdrop of the fisherman's fierce demeanor, he appeared even more poised and elegant, handsome and refined.

The girl exclaimed in amazement and said to the woman, "Mother, I never imagined that such exquisite swordsmanship existed in this world."

"Now you know there are always people better than you and mountains beyond mountains. You should really study martial arts properly."

"Okay, I understand." The girl replied crisply, her gaze returning to Zhou Yan and the Fisherman of the Misty Waves.

A burst of icy blue light exploded from in front of Zhou Yan like a pearl of light, and seven sword lights, indistinguishable in sequence, shot towards Yanbo Fisherman like staggered flames and arrows.

The old fisherman's hair stood on end. The sword light flashed and moved faster and faster than the "Returning Wind and Falling Goose Sword" of the Hengshan School. He felt that he could not withstand the simultaneous thrust of seven swords no matter what. The old fisherman made a firm decision. A white light flashed and the white wax fishing rod suddenly shot towards Zhou Yan like a streak of light. He used a spear-style technique.

Zhou Yan let out a "ha!"

To abandon one's strengths and choose the weak, to gain an advantage by sacrificing even the smallest advantage, is a mistake, given how familiar one is with marksmanship.

Zhou Yan used the Quanzhen Sword Technique's "Frosty Thousand Miles," his Qingfeng sword flashing like fan-shaped streaks of light in the drizzle, or like ink splashed on a great river. In the blink of an eye, he broke through the Yanbo Fisherman's advantage of being an inch longer and stronger. With his left hand, he used a free-hand grappling technique to grab the white waxwood pole, his body advancing swiftly, while his right hand thrust the sword horizontally.

"Admit defeat."

Zhou Yan was about to sheathe his sword when the Fisherman of Misty Waves suddenly cried out and tumbled into the Yuan River. "Senior, please forgive me."

The old fisherman on the misty water surfaced, shouting, "Give me back my fishing rod!"

Zhou Yan tossed it over.

The old fisherman in the misty waters caught the white waxwood rod and said, "Where do you live? I was slightly outmatched today, but I will definitely come back another day to learn from you."

Zhou Yan was about to say that revenge only leads to more revenge, but then he thought about how the other party had a strange temper and was completely convinced of his worth.

Thinking this through, he said, "Zhongdu Bronze Drum Workshop."

Zhou Yu gave her address but did not mention the Fu'an Escort Agency.

"A year from now, we'll settle in Zhongdu." The old fisherman finished speaking, then looked at the young woman and the young married woman. "Who is Yuyin?"

Seeing that the Fisherman of Misty Waves was relentless, the lady realized that although she had temporarily escaped danger, she was powerless to deal with him if he continued to follow her. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I am a disciple of Master Yideng."

The old fisherman was startled, then suddenly disappeared into the river, disappearing like a white ribbon.

Zhou Yan's shock even surpassed that of the old fisherman on the misty waters.

Disciples of Master Yideng, from the Dali lineage?
As he was thinking this, he suddenly saw the young girl bow gracefully: "Junior He Yuanjun, thank you for saving my life, senior. May I ask your esteemed surname?"

He Yuanjun's voice was clear and melodious, but to Zhou Yan it sounded like thunder.

Li Mochou's rival in love.

He Yuanjun of Dali. The adopted daughter of Wu Santong; the woman in question was Wu Santong's wife.

As he thought about it, a flash of inspiration struck him.

Master Yideng is currently living in seclusion within the area of ​​Iron Palm Mountain. The "Fisherman's Hermit" mentioned by the Fisherman of Misty Waves is one of Master Yideng's four disciples, "Fisherman of Diancang".

Lady Wu and Lady He Yuan came from Dali to visit Master Yideng at his residence to see Wu Santong.

Before he could recover his thoughts, he heard Huang Rong say, "It's nothing to mention to help those in need when you see injustice on the road."

The Wu family's wife had far more experience in the martial arts world than He Yuanjun. Judging from the voice, she guessed that Zhou Yan was not very old. She asked the boatman to row over and pleaded, "A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude, let alone a life-saving grace. Young hero, please leave your name."

Amidst the vast expanse of misty waters and a light drizzle, a bodyguard wearing a straw hat bowed and said, "I dare not accept the title of chivalrous; my name is Zhou Yan."

"So it's Young Master Zhou. Thank you for your help."

"The crisis has been resolved, and that old fisherman of the misty waves is unlikely to cause any more trouble. Farewell." Zhou Yan didn't mind the other party's insistence on addressing him as "young hero." He turned around and, like a flying goose, landed lightly on the large ship.

"The boatman is setting sail," Liang Xiaowu said.

The large boat drifted downstream and passed the small boat. He Yuanjun said, "Thank you, young hero."

"Don't be so polite."

As the two boats parted, He Yuanjun said to Madam Wu, "So the young hero is a handsome young prince."

The woman from the Wu family smiled. "You saw it?"

“Young hero, your boat is high and ours is low, it’s obvious. Mother, how do you think young master Zhou has mastered such superb swordsmanship?”

"Go ask him," said Madam Wu, perhaps overwhelmed by the joy of seeing Wu Santong again after such a great calamity.

Little did He Yuanjun know that the young prince was in Tongluofang in Zhongdu, and she could find him there.

A man of the martial arts world, born in Dali, with a cheerful personality and passionate emotions. He Yuanjun is eager to try.

……

Zhou Yan returned to his room, thinking to himself that his trip to Iron Palm Mountain had truly involved encountering many of the martial arts figures from The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes.

Xiao Xiangzi, the human chef, and the upcoming visit of the Hundred Herbs Fairy are all within reason, but the Wu family lady and He Yuanjun are truly unexpected.

He was naturally curious as to why Lu Zhanyuan had started a relationship with him only to abandon him in the end.

Upon meeting He Yuanjun, comparing their personalities, Li Mochou was reserved while the latter was passionate, which explains the tragedy of "What is love in this world?"

One died for love, pledging their lives to each other; the other harbored hatred and became the Red Serpent Fairy.

Zhou Yan sighed, regaining his senses. He took out his sword and cut his arm, then took another bowl of blood to Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng's residence, poured it into their mouths, and returned to his room to recuperate.

Around noon, the large ship arrived in the territory of Tongfeng Mountain.

After everyone disembarked, Liang Xiaowu hired a carriage, Huang Rong dismounted and boarded the carriage, and the group headed straight for Baicao Valley.

(End of this chapter)