The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 191 A Grand Feast for Heroes, Shaolin Temple on Mount Song

In July, the Taihu Lake is bathed in sunshine for thousands of miles, with a thousand sails sailing lightly in the breeze.

A small boat was moored in the lake. Lu Chengfeng, dressed as a fisherman, sat at the bow fishing. Huang Rong held a fishing rod, but she was not very patient, unlike Lu Chengfeng who was calm and composed.

After Zhou Yan left Baicao Valley, Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng recovered. They first went to Luxi to meet the cook and discuss Taoism, then traveled to Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake, and finally arrived at Guiyun Manor by waterway along the Yangtze River. They then took Sha Gu to Peach Blossom Island.

Mei Chaofeng still has descendants of Peach Blossom Island to search for, and she dares not see her master because she has not yet completed Huang Yaoshi's instructions.

When she arrived on the island, Huang Yaoshi happened to be there. She handed over the "Wumu Legacy" and Yue Fei's poems and belongings to her father.

Huang Yaoshi admired Yue Fei and treasured him greatly, so he studied the art of formation in the book with great care, while Huang Rong sought out the Old Urchin.

She secretly left Peach Blossom Island because she was delivering wine and meat to the Old Urchin, which angered Huang Yaoshi. However, since Huang Rong had survived nine near-death experiences, Huang Yaoshi's mindset had changed, and he no longer stopped her.

After chatting with the Old Urchin for a few days, Huang Rong grew bored. Unable to bear the boredom, she took advantage of the time when Huang Yaoshi was studying the formation to secretly leave Peach Blossom Island and head straight to Guiyun Manor to find Mei Ruohua.

She figured Yang Kang and the others should have returned to Kaifeng from Iron Palm Mountain to cause trouble for Hou Tonghai, and while they were at it, they should ask Lu Chengfeng where in the world was fun to go.

Lu Chengfeng had practiced the "Whirlwind Sweeping Leaf Leg" technique, and his leg injury had been largely healed. Now he could walk with a cane. When he saw Huang Rong arrive, he was in a great mood. Hearing Huang Rong say that she had encountered a strange man in western Hunan who used a fishing rod as a weapon, he had an idea and took her boating and fishing on Taihu Lake.

Not long after, Huang Rong took her fishing rod and slammed it into the water, splashing up a huge spray of water.

"In the past, Doctor Fan carried Xi Shi on a boat trip on the Five Lakes. He was really clever. Wouldn't it be better to die here than to be that damned official? What's so great about being a bodyguard? Why can't we follow Doctor Fan's example and find solace in nature?"

"Junior Sister, are you referring to Escort Zhou?"

"It's natural."

"Young and ambitious, I am determined to make something of myself."

"He's very clever. He traveled the martial world, reached the peak of martial arts, and accomplished something."

"It just goes to show that everyone has their own ambitions."

"I think he's stupid."

Lu Chengfeng smiled slightly; his junior sister seemed to care a lot about Chief Escort Zhou.

He was about to sound him out when a large ship approached, and several men dressed as江湖人士 (jianghu figures) were talking loudly at the bow.

"The Little Prince is hosting a grand banquet for heroes, inviting heroes from all over the world. If we can gain the Little Prince's favor during our visit to Zhongdu, we can really put our skills to good use."

"Indeed, the Mongols attacked the Jin dynasty and dealt a heavy blow to the Jin dogs."

Upon hearing this, Huang Rong stood up and said, "My esteemed heroes, what is the purpose of this grand banquet?"

A small boat, with Huang Rong dressed as a boy, standing gracefully at the bow, looking handsome and outstanding.

The characters in the martial arts world include both cunning and generous individuals.

The man on the large ship, with a carefree air, called out loudly, "Prince Huodu of Mongolia has widely issued invitations to heroes, hosting a grand banquet to make acquaintances with heroes from all directions. We have heard of this and are here to attend. Would you like to join us, young brother?"

"Ah, little Mongolian prince, 'knives, chisels, axes, and saws are sold in the market,' my abilities are shallow, thank you for your kindness."

"Easy to say."

The burly man replied and then ignored Huang Rong. After the boat had sailed for a while, someone in the group suddenly said, "That young man seems to be giving us a hint."

"What do you mean?"

"This phrase seemed familiar, and after racking my brains, I finally remembered it: the next line is 'demons and monsters act as henchmen.'"

"That makes no sense."

The burly man who had spoken with Huang Rong stood up and looked back, but there was no sign of the fishing boat. Lu Chengfeng had already left with Huang Rong.

After returning to Guiyun Manor, Huang Rong went to find Mei Chaofeng.

Dressed in black and white, she left Taihu Lake and decided to travel north along the river to Kaifeng and Zhongdu.

……

"A grand feast for heroes?"

In July, Zhongdu was shrouded in the blazing summer sun. In the sweltering heat, the bright sunlight shone on the square courtyard of the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency), and cicadas chirped incessantly from the sycamore trees.

Zhou Yan placed the refreshing plum juice she was holding back on the table.

After escorting the Indian monks from the Western Regions to Zhongdu and settling them in for rest, Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and Hu Yanlei and Wang Kui, who had returned from their escort mission, gathered together.

He had already told the story of Duan Huai'an's miraculous recovery.

Everyone was overjoyed, saying that the host was kind-hearted and that good people are blessed by heaven.

Zhou Yan recounted in detail the ambush of Master Tiancong of Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions by the Vajra Sect, and the story of how the other party entrusted him with a sacrificial offering.

Huyan Lei and Wang Kui shouted that they had a great time killing, especially Huyan Lei, who beat his chest and stamped his feet, lamenting that he had taken the Luzhou Escort and had not gone to Wuwei.

For Zhang Wangyue and others, the Vajra Sect's ambush and killing of the Shaolin monks from the Western Regions was a shocking event, but what shocked Zhou Yan was Huo Du's grand banquet for heroes.

Zhang Wangyue said, "Brother Yang inquired with Brother Guo and learned that Huodu is a descendant of Jamukha, the sworn brother of the Great Khan. Jamukha and the Great Khan fell out and fought, and Jamukha was captured by the Great Khan. Genghis Khan, mindful of their sworn brotherhood, wanted to spare Jamukha's life. However, Jamukha willingly chose death. Later, the Great Khan decreed that Jamukha's descendants would be granted the title of prince for generations. This is how Huodu got its title of prince." (Refer to the revised version's setting)
"I see." Zhou Yan only knew that Huo Du was a Mongolian prince who was a disciple of the Golden Wheel Monk and was similar to Yang Guo in the Condor Heroes world, but he did not know his specific identity.

Zhang Wangyue said, "I have heard about Huo Du's identity and have done some research on it."

"Chief镖头, stop keeping me in suspense."

Zhang Wangyue laughed and said, "Is it possible that Huo Du knew he had no future in the Mongol military and political circles because of his background, which is why he set his sights on the martial world?" Zhou Yan admired inwardly, the chief镖头's analysis was insightful.

The Mongol prince Huodu and the Jin crown prince Yang Kang have come to blows.

Now, Guo Jing, a prince consort under Genghis Khan commanding a force of ten thousand, also harbors a blood feud with the Jin emperor Wanyan Honglie for killing his father. Referring to classic novels like *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* and *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, the world is undergoing a complete transformation.

"What do you think of this, Brother Zhou?" Zhang Wangyue asked.

“When I passed through Kaifeng on my way to Yueyang, I chatted with Lu Beihe, who mentioned that Yang Kang was also recruiting skilled fighters. I also saw Yang Kang visiting Qiu Qianren in western Hunan. I guess Huo Du also knows something about Yang Kang.”

Zhang Wangyue understood immediately.

"Huo Du is imitating Yang Kang."

“That’s possible,” Zhou Yan said with a smile. “Then let Huo Du and Yang Kang fight to the death.”

"But the fact that the boss was injured is inextricably linked to Huo."

Zhou Yan said, "When the time comes, we will settle accounts."

"happy."

"When will Brother Zhou set off for Shaolin?" Zhang Wangyue asked.

"Time is of the essence. We shall depart tonight. We entrust the chief镖头 (chief镖头 is a person's name or title) to make the arrangements for the Indian monk."

"No need to worry, let Xiao Wu lead a group to escort them."

"Ah."

"Brother Zhou, hurry back! If you don't have to deliver the goods, you might even get a glimpse of that so-called 'Heroes' Feast'."

Zhou Yan chuckled. He was also curious. Nimo Xing and Yin Kexi, two of the "Three Heroes of Mongolia" in The Return of the Condor Heroes, had already joined Yang Kang. How could Huo Qigang recruit those people?

The sun sets in the west, and horses trample the setting sun.

Zhou Yan rode the "Jade Lion Under the Night" out of the city and headed straight for Mount Song.

……

After the Mongols captured Zhongdu, their army marched south, and the flames of war spread to Hebei and Shanxi, but Shaoshi Mountain in Henan remained unaffected.

Shaoshi Mountain has a steep slope, but the mountain path is a long and wide stone staircase. It is a magnificent project and was built by Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty for his visit to Shaolin Temple. It is eight miles long.

Zhou Yan rode the "Jade Lion Under the Night" up the winding road, where he saw strange peaks rising with the glow of the sunset and green cypress trees shading the peaks. As he went forward, five waterfalls suddenly appeared, splashing like pearls and jade, rushing down. Looking down at the mountains, they looked like ants and leeches.

Turning a bend along the mountain path, one can see in the distance a large temple with yellow walls and green tiles.

Zhou Yan dismounted, placed the "Jade Lion Under the Night" into the forest, and slowly walked towards the temple. He saw a dense forest of trees, shaded by a stele forest. He glanced at the inscriptions and saw the imperial edicts bestowed by Emperor Taizong of Tang upon the monks of Shaolin Temple.

The thirteen monks saved the Tang Emperor. Zhou Yan sighed with emotion and stepped forward.

In the past, when Huo Tou Tuo left Shaolin, the monk Ku Hui, in a fit of anger, went to the Western Regions and founded the Western Regions Shaolin School. Since then, Shaolin has never participated in the affairs of the martial arts world.

However, as the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism, it continues to receive pilgrims as usual.

Zhou Yan approached an elderly monk who was in charge of receiving guests and explained that he had been entrusted by a high-ranking monk from Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions to deliver a message.

Upon hearing this, the monk's expression changed drastically. He led Zhou Yan into the reception courtyard, then hurriedly left with the letter. After a short while, the monk returned, saying, "The abbot requests your presence."

"May I ask who the abbot is?"

"Master Ku Cheng".

Zhou Yan understood that the current abbot of Shaolin Temple was Zen Master Fei Tianming.

Master Ku Hui and Master Huo Gong were in charge of the Shaolin and Vajra Sects in the Western Regions.

When Huo Toutuo defected from Shaolin Temple, Ku Cheng was the abbot, and he still is.

Entering the ancient temple at dawn, the rising sun shines on the tall trees. A winding path leads to a secluded spot, where the meditation room is surrounded by flowers and trees. All sounds are silent here, except for the sound of bells and chimes.

Zhou Yan followed the guest monk through the corridors, through several Zen courtyards, and into the meditation room.

After reporting, the guest monk left the meditation room.

Zhou Yan looked at the old monk in his line of sight.

His face was withered, and his sparse, long beard had turned completely white; he was probably at least seventy years old.

"I am Zhou Yan, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Fu'an镖局 (escort agency). Greetings, Abbot."

"Head镖师 Zhou, there's no need to be so polite."

A young novice monk served tea, which Zhou Yan thanked. After the monk left the meditation room, Master Kucheng asked, "May I ask how this letter ended up in your hands, Chief Escort Zhou?"

Zhou Yan was not surprised by Ku Cheng's question.

The person who wrote the letter from the Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions must have mentioned Master Tiancong.

What he's curious about now is the contents of the letter.

(End of this chapter)