The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 187 Returning to One's Roots, The Final Dart?
Clouds drifted across the sky, and the wind swirled in through the window, causing a corner of the gauze curtain, which was tied up, to sway gently. The white gauze looked like a kite, as if it would be carried away by the wind at any moment.

In Zhou Yan's line of sight, Duan Huai'an was so thin he was practically skin and bones.

Zhang Wangyue and the young master Duan Chaoxi were both present.

Zhou Yan entered the room. Duan Chaoxi, who was about the same age as him, usually spent her days riding horses, hunting, reciting poetry, and going on outings. She rarely appeared at the escort agency. She glanced at him with red eyes.

"Chief Escort Zhou is here?"

"Yes, young master, I hope you are well."

Zhou Yan greeted them, walked over to the bed, squatted down, and held Duan Huai'an's open eyes.

"You came?"

"Back to the employer, I'm back."

"Yes, it's good that you're back. I've always been waiting for you." Duan Huai'an smiled weakly and said to Duan Chaoxi, "Son, I have something to say to the chief镖头 (chief镖头, head镖头, and镖头, Zhou镖头) and镖头 (镖头, head镖头, Zhou镖头, respectively)."

"Mm," Duan Chaoxi replied softly, and walked out of the room.

"Chief Escort Zhou..."

"I'll take my master to seek medical help right away. On the way to Yueyang, I met a miraculous doctor who has the ability to bring the dead back to life." Zhou Yan looked at the emaciated Duan Huai'an and thought of the Immortal Herb Master of Baicao Valley.

Duan Huai'an said, "I know my physical condition, Chief Escort, listen to me."

“Listen up, boss.”

"Chief镖头, you come here too."

Zhang Wangyue went to Zhou Yan's side and squatted down next to him.

"From now on, we will be the owners of Fu'an."

Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue nodded, "We know, boss."

"He is not focused on the affairs of the escort agency, but he is a kind person. The chief escort should be more patient."

"Ah."

"If we do not strive for progress day and night, then let the chief镖头 (chief镖头) take charge of Fu'an. As long as my son can live a peaceful life, that will be enough."

"Young master is wise, I will do my best."

“Brother Zhang, listen to me. The bodyguards in Fu’an come from all over the country and have settled down in Zhongdu. There are hundreds of them, and they are all good men with loyalty and righteousness. Now that there is war and chaos, they cannot lose their livelihood.”

“Master, Fu’an will always be here.”

A grateful smile appeared on Duan Huai'an's face.

"Zhou, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort)."

"Yes, boss."

"When you were escorting goods through Jingzhou and Yueyang, I told you that you would transform from a dragon into a dragon on your journey and soar across the four seas upon your return. Brother Zhou is no ordinary man. Merchant Lü of Jingzhou appreciates you; he is a benefactor. If you are interested, you can go and seek refuge with Merchant Lü."

"Thank you, boss."

"There is one more thing I need to ask of you."

"We will do everything in our power."

“Last year on the Double Ninth Festival, I climbed West Mountain with other镖头 (bodyguards) and镖师 (bodyguards), and we said that our ancestors came from Wuwei.”

"I remember."

"The Duan family of Zhongdu all return to their roots. I would like to trouble Brother Zhou to help me with a caravan and escort me to Wuwei."

"I'll get ready right away."

"Thank you, Brother Zhou."

"Let Chaoxi in. I have something to say to her alone."

"Please wait a moment, sir."

Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue got up and left the room. The head镖师 of Fu'an said, "Young master, the master is waiting for you."

Duan Chaoxi nodded and strode inside.

The two walked side by side to the pavilion in the courtyard, and Zhou Yan asked, "What exactly happened?"

"The owner hosted a banquet at Songhelou Restaurant for the managers of several car and horse dealerships. Huo Du also happened to be at Songhelou. When the banquet ended, the managers and the owner politely declined to come downstairs, blocking the entrance. Huo Du's attendant forcibly cleared the way, and a verbal altercation ensued. The owner only knew some basic boxing moves and had no martial arts skills. He was slapped by Huo Du's attendant and tumbled down the stairs, hitting his head. Huo Du must have heard about the relationship between Fu'an and the Guo brothers, because he sent his attendant to apologize and bring a hundred taels of gold."

"That's it."

"The doctor couldn't save him. I've been giving him 'Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pills' these past few days, but it's only treating the symptoms, not the root cause, of a head injury. He probably won't last much longer. I'm fulfilling this wish for him."

"I'll have Xiao Wu go to the car dealership and hire a carved carriage right away."

Zhang Wangyue nodded and patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder: "We'll talk about other things when we get back."

"good!"

Zhou Yan turned and left. When he arrived at the martial arts arena, Liang Xiaowu was talking to several bodyguards. His face was somber, indicating that he had heard about Duan Huai'an.

"Xiao Wu."

"Head镖师 (镖师 is a term of endearment for a镖师, meaning镖头, meaning镖师)." Liang Xiao

"Hire three carved carriages from the carriage shop."

Liang Xiaowu said excitedly, "But we're going to Baicao Valley to treat the master's illness."

"Wuwei".

Liang Xiaowu was stunned for a moment.

"Go quickly."

"Got it."

After a few steps, Liang Xiaowu, who had also climbed West Mountain during the Double Ninth Festival, finally realized what was happening. He looked up at the clouds in the sky, let out a heavy sigh, and quickly went to the stable to get his horse.

Zhou Yan turned around and walked towards Zhang Wangyue. In the quiet little building behind the chief镖头 of Fu'an, Duan Chaoxi's crying sounded. Light fell in through the window, and dust swirled. Duan Huai'an said, "All matters, big and small, of the镖局 (镖局 is a security agency) will be arranged by Chief镖头 Zhang."

"I know dad."

"If Chief Escort Zhou wants to leave the escort agency, we will send him off with a large sum of money. If he stays, we can open a branch and make him the chief escort."

"Ah."

Duan Huai'an thought for a moment, then weakly asked, "Do you know why it's called 'morning and evening'?"

"If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening."

"Yes, the Duan family ancestor once served as the Protector-General of the Western Regions, serving the country and its people. Remember these words: 'Though my position is humble, I dare not forget my duty to the nation.'"

“I will remember it.”

"it is good."

"Go, get ready, and come with me to Wuwei."

"Ah."

Duan Chaoxi came out of the room and saw Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue in the courtyard. He walked over and bowed deeply.

Zhang Wangyue and Zhou Yan hurriedly said, "Master, you absolutely mustn't." Duan Chaoxi was helped up by the chief镖头 (chief镖头, a kind of bodyguard/escort) of Fu'an, and the young man said, "During my time in Wuwei, I've troubled the chief镖头 to take care of the镖局 (镖局, a kind of security agency)."

"Don't worry, boss."

"Hmm!" Duan Chaoxi looked at Zhou Yan, "Thank you for seeing me off, Chief Escort Zhou."

"It is obligatory."

When do we set off?

"The hour of Wei (1-3 PM) is auspicious."

"Okay, I'll go get ready."

After Duan Chaoxi left, Zhou Yan said to Zhang Wangyue, "I'll go back first."

"it is good."

Just as Zhou Yan was about to move, Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci hurriedly walked over from the other side of the corridor.

"The head镖师 is back?"

"Ah."

Yang Tiexin must have heard the news from the bodyguards at the martial arts arena. His expression was solemn as he cut straight to the point: "Is the master going to Wuwei?"

“Yes,” Zhou Yan said.

Yang Tiexin gazed at Zhang Wangyue: "The master is kind and took me and Nianci in, allowing Nianci to protect the master for a while."

"Madam will also be going, and I was planning to arrange for Escort Mu to accompany her."

"Thank you very much, Chief Escort. You've worked hard, Chief Escort Zhou."

"It's alright," Zhou Yan replied politely, exchanged a few pleasantries, and headed straight for the courtyard.

The heavens and the celestial order turn, and the镖人 (bodyguard/escort) walks the streets.

Zhou Yan returned to his own courtyard, jumped over the wall to enter, fetched water to bathe, changed his clothes, and then put the bundle on his shoulder before stuffing in a change of clothes and money before straddling his body.

Having traveled a long way from western Hunan, he would spend less than an hour before embarking on his journey to the western regions, a journey through vast deserts.

When Duan Huai'an had his accident, Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan were all out on escort missions, so the escort agency was deserted. When Zhou Yan arrived, Liang Xiaowu had already hired a caravan and was waiting. Mu Nianci, who had also gone back to the western suburbs to retrieve some clothes, also rushed back.

Zhou Yan bid farewell to Zhang Wangyue and Yang Tiexin, giving them two bottles of antidote pills he had obtained from the vice leader of the Five Poisons Sect.

Later, Madam Duan, Duan Chaoxi, and a maid arrived at the escort agency.

The brazier in the courtyard of the security escort agency burns pine resin, symbolizing good fortune.

Duan Huai'an was carried out by Zhang Wangyue and placed in the carved carriage parked in the courtyard.

Madam Duan and her maid rode in one carriage, while Duan Chaoxi rode in another.

Duan Chaoxi, now the owner of Fu'an's business, stood under the eaves of the council hall and took a deep breath.

"The...镖... (escort) has... departed."

Liang Xiaowu, who had once served as a flag bearer, carried the "Fu" (福, meaning good fortune) flag from the escort agency, walked out of the agency's gate, unfurled the flag, and shouted loudly: "Sincerity opens the way, and good fortune comes from the source."

Standing in the sunlight, Zhou Yan recalled how the original owner of this body had shouted the same thing when he was a slinger.

The world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, the world of镖人 (bodyguards/couriers).

Fu'an ushered in an era of rapid change.

……

The carriages rumbled, the horses neighed, and the bodyguards carried bows and arrows at their waists.

Three carved carts, carrying a total of twelve people including Zhou Yan, Mu Nianci, Liang Xiaowu, and the cart drivers.

The journey to Wuwei would take them past Datong Prefecture and into the territory of the Western Xia Kingdom. Zhou Yan never imagined that the first time his escort agency was venturing into the Western Regions, they would be protecting their former employer in Fu'an.

As the caravan departed from Zhongdu, Duan Huai'an, who had been unconscious, awoke with a painful groan.

As for the reason, it is because when the carriage is in the city, the roads are wide and flat, but when it leaves the city, the roads are dirt roads, and the carriage is bumpy.

Although Duan Huai'an tried his best to endure it, he was not a martial artist after all, and his willpower could not withstand the excruciating pain in his head.

Liang Xiaowu was at the front of the escort team, Mu Nianci was behind, and Zhou Yan rode the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" next to the carved carriage that Duan Huai'an was riding in. He dismounted and entered the carriage.

"My boss."

"Hel me up."

Zhou Yan helped Duan Huai'an up, and the man smiled weakly: "My ancestors were from a military family. The chief镖头 (bodyguard) was exceptionally skilled in martial arts. How come I didn't learn even a single move? Otherwise, my body wouldn't be in such a sorry state."

Zhou Yan placed his hands on the other person's spine at the "dumb gate" and said, "I will clear the meridians for my master."

"No need to waste your inner strength, just talk to me."

"The boss will listen to me."

Duan Huai'an scoffed, "I'm a merchant, you're the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort). Should I obey your every word?"

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "That's exactly right."

"Since you became a bodyguard and head bodyguard, you have spent very few days in Fu'an and have never had a heart-to-heart talk with him. You are a wonderful person. No wonder you are friends with the Taoist priests of the Quanzhen Sect despite the age difference."

"I kept my employer company and talked with him along the way."

"good."

Duan Huai'an nodded and remained silent for the time being. Zhou Yan used the Quanzhen Sect's internal energy cultivation method to extract the gentle energy of the Jade Guanyin and transmit it into the other party's body.

Zhou Yan was at a loss about the skull injury, but he thought that the skull contains the Du meridian, the Bladder meridian, the Gallbladder meridian, and the Triple Energizer meridian. The Qi of the Jade Guanyin has the effect of relaxing muscles and tendons, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, which might be able to alleviate Duan Huai'an's pain.

Just like when he treated Huang Rong, Zhou Yan continuously channeled the warm and pure energy of the Jade Guanyin into Duan Huai'an's body. After a short while, the pain on the former owner of Fu'an's face gradually disappeared, and he fell asleep in Zhou Yan's arms.

He carefully helped the other person onto the thick carpet, silently disembarked from the carriage, and leaped onto the "Night-Shining Jade Lion".

"How is my father?"

Duan Chaoxi, not in the carved carriage, rode forward and asked.

"I tried relaxing my muscles and tendons, and it helped a little."

"Thank you. I'll go to the car and stay with my father."

"Yes, the boss will call me if anything comes up."

"it is good."

The carriage driver stopped the carriage, and Duan Chaoxi entered. The carriage started moving again as dusk fell.

Zhou Yan reined in the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" to slow down, and Mu Nianci caught up from behind, finally giving him a chance to ask about Yang Tiexin and Bao Shi.

Mu Nianci recounted the story in detail, and as night fell, Zhou Yan learned the gist of it.

Yang Tiexin, grateful for the kindness shown to him, returned to the escort agency. Bao Xiruo followed suit, and Yang Tiexin never mentioned to her that Wanyan Honglie had used Duan Tiande to commit the Guo family massacre and deceive Bao Xiruo.

He lamented that Yang Tiexin endured the hatred of Wanyan Honglie for taking his wife and killing his sworn brother, without telling Bao Shi, because he was worried that Bao Shi would be too upset to bear it. In the end, it all came down to "love".

What is this thing in the world?

(End of this chapter)