The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 193 The Final Kick, Prejudice in People's Hearts
The bright moon hangs on the eaves, its clear light falling on the willow tips.

Zhou Yan entered the city, left the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" at the escort agency, and walked back to his courtyard.

Upon entering the alley, one sees an old beggar standing in front of a door, peering through the crack in the door.

He was slightly surprised, then walked over silently.

The old beggar noticed that the houses in the courtyard were dark and was about to leave when he was suddenly lightly patted on the shoulder.

The old beggar was taken aback, but reacted quickly, kicking Zhou Yan's shin with his right foot like a venomous snake suddenly raising its head.

This back kick was incredibly fast and powerful.

With a "bang," Zhou Yan raised his knee and swung his lower leg outward to block the attack. The old beggar suddenly twisted his waist and turned around, unleashing a series of "Mandarin Duck Legs" with his feet moving in a flash.

Zhou Yan let out a shout and returned the attack with a "Whirlwind Sweep" move. In an instant, his leg shadow moved like the wind as he kicked through the air with fluid and swift movements.

The old beggar alternated between his legs, while Zhou Yan countered with one leg. In the blink of an eye, a thunderous roar erupted, dust swirled and billowed, and the old beggar groaned, staggering backward and leaning against the courtyard gate with a loud thud.

With a whoosh, Zhou Yan's foot stopped in front of the old beggar, his trousers flapping loudly like a whip, and a few strands of the beggar's greasy hair curled back.

The old beggar was deeply shocked. In the path of martial arts, there is always someone better, but when it comes to leg techniques, few can compare to him, let alone defeat him with a single move.

Looking at the other person's weathered and sorrowful face, and then thinking of the old beggar's actually quite skillful leg techniques, Zhou Yan suddenly remembered someone.

Lu Youjiao, an elder of the Beggars' Sect.

However, in the world of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Lu Youjiao is always in Yuezhou.

Zhou Yan read it aloud, then stopped and asked, "A disciple of the Beggars' Sect?"

"Who are you?"

"Zhou Yan".

The old beggar was overjoyed. "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! It's actually Chief Escort Zhou. This old beggar is Lu Youjiao, the Western Elder of the Beggars' Clan."

It really was them.

Lu Youjiao said, "Chief Hong mentioned镖头 (镖头 is a kind of镖头) at the Beggars' Gang meeting in Yuezhou. When the Jin Dynasty moved its capital, the old beggar went to Kaifeng Prefecture to handle affairs, and also took care of matters in Luoyang and Zhongdu. Chief Hong said that if you encounter any problems in Zhongdu, you can find镖头."

Zhou Yan was puzzled, "Didn't the senior mention what my appearance is like?"

Lu Youjiao smiled like an orange peel, "No, it was just that the head镖师 (镖师 is a kind of镖师) and his address were mentioned. When the gang leader talked about the head镖师, he was quite impressed. The old beggar must be a close friend. I didn't expect the head镖师 to be so young. It was all a misunderstanding."

"Seventh Master was careless," Zhou Yan thought to himself, and said, "Elder Lu, come inside for a drink and a chat."

"Excuse me, old beggar."

"I will not say that."

"it is good."

When Zhou Yan went on his escort missions or went to Xishan to cultivate, he would lock the door from the inside and climb over the wall to avoid thieves. This was actually one of the reasons for the misunderstanding.

If it were a fortified gate, Lu Youjiao wouldn't be able to peek through the crack in the door.

He leaped into the courtyard amidst Lu Youjiao's astonished gaze and opened the gate.

The old beggar sighed.

Like the gang leader, Chief Escort Zhou was a man of boundless imagination.

Under the moonlight, with lanterns lit, the two sat down on either side of the stone table.

Zhou Yan poured wine from a wine jar, while Lu Youjiao hurriedly took out a broken bowl with a chipped edge from his bosom.

"The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) can simply give a porcelain bowl as alms."

Zhou Yan smiled, and the wine flowed into the bowl like a ribbon.

Lu Youjiao secretly praised him again, saying that his unconventional behavior was no wonder he was appreciated by the old leader. Even the elders of the Beggars' Clan did not know that Hong Qigong had taught Zhou Yan the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms".

The two drank their respective drinks, and Zhou Yan asked, "Where is the senior now?"

"The old leader is elusive, appearing and disappearing like a dragon. He vanished after the Beggars' Sect meeting, but he did mention that he had an appointment with the head镖师 (bodyguard) in Zhongnan Mountain."

"The appointed time has not yet arrived," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Is the old beggar's arrival in Zhongdu somehow related to this matter?"

"How do you say this?"

"When the old beggar arrived in Zhongdu, one reason was that the Mongol prince was holding a grand banquet for heroes. The leader had heard from his hometown that the Mongols were going to raid the city, but later, Young Hero Guo advised against it, and the Khan withdrew his order."

"Indeed."

"Old Beggar just came to see what tricks the Mongols were up to this time. Also, when Old Beggar was in Kaifeng, some of his disciples saw a group of people boarding a ship at the dock, saying they were going to Zhongnan Mountain. Old Beggar couldn't find the gang leader, so he thought he'd tell the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) about it."

Zhou Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, "Who are they?"

There was a person whose voice sounded like the scraping of a broken cymbal.

Suffering, indeed, is Ouyang Feng's fate.

"how many people?"

More than thirty people.

"What happened a few days ago?"

"Three days ago."

Zhou Yan was extremely anxious. The distance from Kaifeng Prefecture to Zhongnan Mountain was only half that from Zhongdu. It was the height of summer. If it weren't for Ouyang Feng, Li Mochou and her disciples could still use Yufeng to hold out for a while, but with Ouyang Feng backing them up, it was dangerous.

He immediately said, "I am going to Zhongnan Mountain, so I will not accompany you, Elder."

Lu Youjiao, seeing Zhou Yan's expression, knew that something was amiss and said, "This old beggar is accompanying the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort)."

“Elder, you have Beggars’ Sect affairs to attend to in Zhongdu. It is inconvenient to disturb you. I must take my leave now.” As Zhou Yan finished speaking, his figure appeared on the rooftop and disappeared into the moonlight.

Lu Youjiao then thought that he should try his best to mobilize his disciples to find the old leader and inform him of this matter.

He picked up the wine bowl, drank the broken bowl of wine, sealed the wine jar, bolted the door from the inside, and climbed over the wall to leave.

Zhou Yan sped along the way and arrived at the escort agency. He instructed the guards on duty to tell Zhang Wangyue the next day that he was going to Zhongnan Mountain.

He carried a group of black iron spears, a bow on his left shoulder, and a green-edged sword on his right shoulder, riding the "Night-Shining Jade Lion," and galloped out of the city.

……

The flowers and grasses at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain were bent low by the wind stirred up by the "Jade Lion Under the Night," and the bees and butterflies on the flower stamens danced in the wind. A white horse galloped past.

Leaving Zhongdu, Zhou Yan traveled day and night, except for brief rests. The "Night-Shining Jade Lion" galloped at full speed, and three days later they arrived at the valley at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, where there was a hidden stream leading to an ancient tomb. He drove the horse into the forest and used his agility to head straight for the ancient tomb.

……

"Playing chess under the pine tree," "Teasing cranes by the pond," "Talking at night by the west window," "Twin dreams of butterflies"—the innocent voices of children echoed through the forest. Little Dragon Girl, holding a wooden sword, unleashed her final move, the wooden sword feinting to the left and striking downwards several times.

"Sigh!" Little Dragon Girl sheathed her wooden sword, took a few steps forward, squatted down in the flower bushes, looked at the butterflies among the flowers, and said, "Butterfly, butterfly, can you fly to Zhongdu and tell your big brother that something has happened to your sister?"

A figure approached silently, disappearing from Xiaolongnu's shadow on the ground. Xiaolongnu quickly covered her eyes with her right hand, then peeked through her fingers and exclaimed in surprise, "Big brother!"

Zhou Yan was taken aback. In his line of sight, Xiaolongnu turned around, her exquisitely beautiful face blooming like a white lotus.

He used his lightness skill to ascend the mountain without stopping, and when he reached the ancient tomb, he saw the Little Dragon Girl practicing her sword.

As relieved.

Ouyang Feng and his group were discovered by Beggars' Sect disciples after their whereabouts became unknown, and Lu Youjiao sent a message. He was in a great hurry and rushed forward.

Ouyang Feng and his companions, either sightseeing or on other important business, fell behind.

Zhou Yan felt relieved and floated up behind Xiaolongnu, only to find that she had guessed his intentions.

Little Dragon Girl beamed with joy and took Zhou Yan's hand. He squatted down and asked, "How did you know it was me?"

"There's a bow tip in the shadow."

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "You're really smart."

"That's what my sister said too."

Where is your senior sister?

"I've been confined by my master for quite some time now."

Zhou Yan understood; it must be because of him.

"Do me a favor."

"Mmm." Little Dragon Girl nodded emphatically.

Tell your master and sister that Ouyang Feng is coming. I want to see your master.

"How awesome."

"One of the four people with the most superb martial arts skills in the world."

"I'm not afraid because I have a big brother." Little Dragon Girl was fearless. "Big brother, wait for me."

"Ah."

The little dragon girl's white figure moved as lightly as a butterfly, passing through the forest and entering the ancient tomb.

Zhou Yan then lifted his shirt, sat down on the ground to rest, and his mind was already active, thinking about how to defend against the enemy.

We saw a lot of green bamboo along the way, which could be used to set up several mechanisms.

But the best solution is to combine your swords with Li Mochou's.

After more than half a year, the other party will have practiced the "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" and his skills will definitely improve. With the two swords combined, they may be able to guard the entrance of the ancient tomb and wait for Hong Qigong to arrive.

The worst course of action would be to put down the Dragon-Slaying Stone.

As Zhou Yan pondered, Lin Chaoying's maidservant came out.

His eyes and brows held a commanding presence, and his expression was cold and stern.

Zhou Yan stood up, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Senior."

"You're saying Ouyang Feng wants to go to the Ancient Tomb?"

"Senior, do you know about the Western Poison?"

Lin Chaoying's maidservant looked somewhat solemn: "I know."

Zhou Yan guessed that the other party must have learned about Ouyang Feng from Lin Chaoying.

Where did you learn of this news?

"The Beggars' Sect sent a message that, besides Ouyang Feng, there are still more than thirty others. Miss Li said that Yu Feng can injure the enemy, but this can only be used for surprise attacks and cannot defeat Ouyang Feng."

Lin Chaoying's maidservant thought to herself, "I have no choice but to put down the Dragon-Slaying Stone. But once it's down, there's no way to take it back. Mo Chou and Long'er will be trapped and die in the tomb. My lady's martial arts, the Ancient Tomb School, will be ruined in my hands."

Thinking this through, she asked, "Do you have a plan to defeat the enemy?"

"I am seeking Master Qiu's assistance in this martial arts competition."

"I would rather perish together with those villains, Ouyang Ke and the Western Poison."

"When Miss Li and I fought off the enemy that day, we accidentally combined our swords, which greatly increased our power. Senior, would you allow me to practice swordsmanship with Miss Li?"

It's just a psychological tactic.

Zhou Yan knew perfectly well that Lin Chaoying's maid would refuse to be an ally of the Quanzhen Sect, but if he had suggested practicing swordsmanship with Li Mochou from the beginning, she would have refused cleanly and decisively.

Taking a step back is a strategic move that at least leaves room for maneuver.

"No."

"What do you mean, senior?"

"let me think again."

"With a formidable enemy at hand, and the survival of the ancient tomb at stake, senior, please think carefully."

What are you plotting?

“Prejudice in people’s hearts is a mountain that our predecessors could not overcome, and the ancient tomb was destroyed. I will go down the mountain to buy ropes and set up some traps.”

Zhou finished speaking and did not linger. He used the "Golden Goose Skill" to fly out in the warm sunlight in the mountains. It was like a long dragon passing through the gaps, running faster and faster, and disappeared from Lin Chaoying's maid's sight in the blink of an eye.

"This kid's skill has improved so much since last time. How did he cultivate like this?" Lin Chaoying's maid said incredulously.

With more time to spare, Zhou Yan rode his horse to the market, bought ropes, drinks, and several days' worth of food, and then returned up the mountain via the same route.

As a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) with knowledge from two lifetimes, setting up simple traps was no challenge for him.

After filling his stomach, he found a long knife abandoned in the mountains and began to cut down bamboo and trees.

(End of this chapter)