The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 21 The White Horse Gallops in the West Wind, Fooling Ouyang Ke

Horse riding is a basic skill for镖人 (bodyguards/escorts).

Zhou Yan was proficient in riding and familiar with the nature of horses.

The closer he got to the "Jade Lion Under the Night," the more he felt that the horse was exceptionally magnificent.

Its eyes are bright and alert. It has a broad mouth and nose, long and powerful limbs with clearly defined joints. The muscles of its chest and buttocks are strong, and its spotless white hair is as smooth as silk.

"Good horse!"

Seeing Zhou Yan approach, the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" snorted crisply, sending out two long plumes of white steam, and slowly retreated.

With a "snap," the reins snapped, causing the horse stable to shake for a while.

Seeing this scene, the stablekeeper outside worriedly said, "Master Huyan, will something go wrong? This 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' has knocked down several grooms with its hooves. And when a groom holds the reins, the horse gets angry and can easily throw the groom to the ground like a rolling gourd with a flick of its neck."

Hu Yanlei laughed and said, "My brother Zhou is very strong and has iron arms, so don't worry."

The shopkeeper nodded, but his face still showed a worried expression, his eyes fixed on the young man.

Zhou Yan walked slowly but steadily.

Having consumed the blood of the precious snake and cultivated his inner strength, he now possessed nearly five years' worth of arduous training. His cultivation level was now no lower than that of the Three-Headed Flood Dragon Hou Tonghai, and he also possessed arm strength that Huyan Lei greatly admired. Knowing the nature of horses, he wondered how he could tame this steed.

As the man and horse locked eyes, Zhou Yan gripped the reins and untied them.

“Yu…”

With a neigh, the "Jade Lion Under the Night" suddenly slammed its neck.

Zhou Yan let out a low growl, his legs snapping outwards to the left and right, and he landed in a horse stance with a "thud," sending dust scattering across the ground.

With force poured into the legs, a thousand pounds fall; with strength raised in the arms, the pine tree is pulled down.

A surge of power exploded through the reins, and Zhou Yan's right arm muscles bulged as he forcefully pulled the horse's head back from its violent swing.

"Da da……"

The jade lion, illuminated by the night, began to retreat step by step, its hooves striking the ground.

The moment the reins were taut, Zhou Yan suddenly relaxed, using the pulling force of the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" to leap forward, combining his strength and power. At the same time, he delivered a "Iron Mountain Lean" to the horse, simultaneously hooking his right arm under its neck and executing a "Yan Qing Fist" move, "Embracing the Moon."

With the combined force of "Iron Mountain Lean" and the soft power of "Yan Qing Fist," "Night-Shining Jade Lion" was brought down to the ground by Zhou Yan like a wall with a "boom."

He swung his leg forward, executing a move from the "Yanqing Fist" style, "Yangbu Kuahu," and mounted the horse's neck.

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" has hooves the size of bowls, but they are stomping in vain, their strength useless.

Zhou Yan placed his palm against his neck, applying the "Regretful Dragon" technique of channeling internal energy outwards. The internal energy was contained within his palm, held but not released.

"Good skills, this beast should be put to rest now." Hu Yanlei cheered.

The shopkeeper felt his calves trembling. This way of training horses was unprecedented and an eye-opener.

Unable to break free, the "Jade Lion Under the Night" simply closed its eyes and remained motionless.

"What a beast, it can even play dead."

Zhou Yan withdrew his strength and then slashed back with a "dragon's tail" motion, striking the horse's back.

“Yu…”

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" neighed, its tail lashing the ground, and its erect ears drooped down.

"This is truly eye-opening." The shopkeeper hurriedly said, "I'm impressed, Brother Zhou, the horse is impressed."

Zhou Yan could tell.

He leaped into the air, wondering what Hong Qigong would think if he knew he had used the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms to tame the horse.

The "Night-Shining Jade Lion" rolled over and stood up, still retaining its wildness, but it was completely submissive to Zhou Yan, and even nuzzled against him with its head.

Zhou Yan knew that riding a horse at this moment would almost make him one with the horse.

"Shopkeeper, bring the saddle." "Yes, sir!"

The horse shopkeeper personally handed over the saddle. Zhou Yan put on the saddle, stepped into the stirrups, and mounted the horse. The "Night-Shining Jade Lion" neighed and galloped out through the open stable door.

As the horse galloped on the outskirts of the city, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed in the sight of Hu Yanlei and his companions, and the man and his horse disappeared into the distance.

"Shopkeeper, how much is it?"

Hu Yanlei watched Zhou Yan walk away and said this.

Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns. Hu Yanlei saw a reflection of his younger self in Zhou Yan, but the other man was even more spirited and ambitious.

……

The steed's hooves whirl in the wind, galloping a thousand miles in a swift motion.

Zhou Yan felt the sound of the wind entering his ears, and the trees on both sides of the road seemed to shift and change shape.

The journey from the city where a green horse would take half an hour to reach the Xishan Forest Farm was completed in half the time by "Night-Shining Jade Lion".

Zhou Yan cherished his horse. He gently pulled on the reins, and the horse, as if by telepathy, slowed down, trotting rhythmically for more than ten zhang before moving slowly.

"Traveling a thousand miles a day and eight hundred miles at night, that's what they mean by a magnificent steed," Zhou Yan exclaimed.

After traveling half a mile, Zhou Yan was about to turn his horse around and return the way he came when he suddenly heard a melodious camel bell sound. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw three snow-white camels galloping towards him from around the bend in the road. Each camel carried a man dressed in white.

Zhou Yan's pupils constricted slightly.

In the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, there is no one else who can ride a white camel: Ouyang Ke of White Camel Mountain and his concubines.

The two white camels on either side were men around twenty-two or twenty-three years old, with delicate features.

Ouyang Kemei, who is naturally a woman disguised as a man.
The man on the white camel in the middle was over thirty years old, with slanted eyes, a handsome face, and dressed like a wealthy prince.

Zhou Yan let out a slight breath.

My luck seems to be even worse than Guo Jing's.

When the Golden Knife Prince Consort went south, he only encountered Ouyang Ke's concubines who were heading to Daxing Prefecture in batches.

Then I met him.

He looked back, gently pulled the reins, and the "Night-Shining Jade Lion," as if by telepathy, turned around, shook its tail, and spurred its hooves, ready to gallop away.

The moment Ouyang Ke saw the "Jade Lion Illuminated at Night," his eyes lit up.

If it were any other color, Ouyang Ke might not have been tempted, but he preferred white, and how could the white camel he rode compare to the "Jade Lion Under the Night," which was rare even in the Western Regions?

Ouyang Ke had absolutely no intention of buying it from Zhou Yan. Firstly, it was unnecessary; the path to power was deserted, and stealing the steed and throwing the corpse into the forest would be the easiest thing to do. Secondly, Zhou Yan wouldn't sell it anyway. Famous swords and fine horses are like beautiful women; beautiful women are only meant to be received, not given away.

"Brother, please wait a moment, let me ask you a question."

Upon hearing Ouyang Ke's words, the concubines on either side covered their mouths and chuckled.

But the next moment, the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" in Ouyang Ke's line of sight began to gallop wildly.

"Heh, do you think you can leave?" The young master of White Camel Mountain was furious and embarrassed. He considered himself clever and shrewd, good at scheming and manipulating people, but how could this wild boy seem to have seen through his thoughts?

Ouyang Ke let out a cold laugh, his figure leaped up, his toes barely touching the camel's hump, and in a flash, he was already several feet away, landing and speeding away.

At this moment, the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" had not yet accelerated. Ouyang Ke's white robes fluttered in the wind, and his speed was incredibly fast. The power he carried stirred up the yellow leaves on the ground, leaving a straight line. In just a few breaths, he was behind Zhou Yan. He leaped into the air like an eagle swooping down on its prey, and struck Zhou Yan's back with his right palm.

Suddenly, the young man on horseback dodged into the stirrups, his body gliding smoothly to the side of the horse as he raised his right hand.

With a swish, lime dust filled the air, the wind carrying powder that enveloped Ouyang Ke.

Ouyang Ke was horrified. He couldn't continue to breathe and his body fell to the ground with a "thud". He held his breath and retreated frantically, a burning pain starting from his nose and eyes.

　Many thanks to Chen Jiahui for the generous donation and monthly pass support. Thank you to all the authors who supported me with monthly passes; there will be an extra chapter tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)