The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 212: It’s Better to Provoke the General

The lake is wide and its waters ripple with blue waves.

Bamboo rafts drift with the current, a life-or-death struggle ensues.

The fishing rod suddenly sprang out, its sharpness like a whistling sound. The rod, fishing line, and hook drew various arcs and starlight in the last rays of the setting sun, as if encompassing heaven and earth, falling towards the man wielding the sword.

With each thrust of the swordsman, the tip of the sword flashed, one sword strike becoming three, the sword techniques flowing continuously. Before the previous move had even subsided, the next move would begin, the sword light overlapping layer upon layer, the brilliant light bursting forth, and then enveloping the net that was closing in on him.

A dense clang of metal clashing rang out, a rapid chorus like pearls falling onto a jade plate. Simultaneously, sprays of blood flew and scattered, and the two figures separated in an instant.

The man with the fishing rod had bright red blood seeping from his left shoulder, right ribs, and other areas, revealing milky white skin and shockingly forked meridians.

The swordsman's body was covered in wet, bloody scratches from fishhooks, making his white shirt appear like a vibrant, blooming plum blossom.
Fishing rod, Hengshan "Returning Wind and Falling Goose Sword"

It was none other than the sworn enemies, the Old Fisherman of Dongting Lake and Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan.

On the day Zhou Yan and Liu Qingzhou discussed swordsmanship at Hengshan, Zhou Yan and Huang Rong memorized the Five Divine Swords of Hengshan. Zhou Yan repeatedly tried the Qi-guiding methods of "Quanzhen Swordplay," "Jade Maiden Swordplay," and "One Sword Transforms into Three Pure Ones," eventually mastering the Hengshan School's swordplay. Liu Qingzhou, however, gained some insights into Zhou Yan's methods of using force, particularly the use of "entangling force" and "twisting force" to propel sword techniques. After Zhou Yan left, he considered secluded cultivation for a period of time, determined to surpass the old fisherman of Dongting Lake.

More than half a year has passed since Zhou Yan and Huang Rong went to Hengshan and he went to Poyang Lake. Liu Qingzhou has emerged from seclusion and feels that his swordsmanship has improved and his internal strength has also increased. He should be able to defeat Yanbo Diaosou.

In the past, it was always the old fishermen who would come to Hengshan to cause trouble. This time, Liu Qingzhou used their own methods against them and went directly to Dongting Lake. After a bloody battle, the two sides were evenly matched.

Ignoring his injuries, the old fisherman smiled coldly, "Liu Qingzhou, you've really impressed people. Who gave you some pointers?"

"I admit defeat." Liu Qingzhou was overjoyed. In the past, he had always been at a disadvantage in their fights and could only escape by relying on the power of his sect. Now, even in a one-on-one battle, he could make his opponent wary.

"Pah!" The old fisherman with a strange temper retorted angrily, "I'll make you go down to Dongting Lake to feed the fish!"

"You old fool, how arrogant!" Liu Qingzhou laughed loudly and attacked again with his sword. This time, he used the "Heavenly Pillar Cloud Qi" of the Five Divine Swords of Hengshan. The sword moves were unpredictable and elusive, like thousands of lightning bolts bursting out, twisting and turning, with sword light shooting out, making it impossible for anyone to defend against.

The old fisherman, however, held the fishing rod with both hands, thrusting it out like a spear in a swift arc.

Suddenly, the sword light that Liu Qingzhou's narrow sword flashed out was like a snake coiling around a fishing rod that looked like a spear, rapidly twisting and turning. This was the coiling and twisting force that he had suddenly comprehended from Zhou Yan.

The old fisherman felt a swirling force constantly shifting his fishing rod. Seeing the long sword, like a snake spitting its tongue, about to stab the rod, he cried out and suddenly flicked his wrist. The transparent fishing line, woven from some unknown material, swung rapidly and wrapped around the narrow sword in Liu Qingzhou's hand.

"Good bastard." Liu Qingzhou's right-hand sword was bound, so he abandoned the sword and lunged forward, striking the old fisherman in the chest with a palm. The other man returned the blow with a palm, and the two figures clashed together, exchanging internal strength.

A large boat sailed out from the twilight and approached the bamboo rafts by the lake. Zhou Yan stood at the bow of the boat.

He saw the sword light rising from the river and recognized it as the Hengshan sword technique. He then asked the boatman to enter Dongting Lake, and as the distance closed, he could see clearly that the people competing in internal strength on the bamboo raft were Yanbo Fisherman and Liu Qingzhou.

After a brief analysis, Zhou Yan concluded that Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan must have gone into seclusion to cultivate after discussing Taoism with him, and had come to Dongting Lake to seek revenge.

In fact, compared to the blood feud between Wanyan Honglie, Guo Jing, and Yang Tiexin, the conflict between these two is hardly a matter of hatred.

They simply had incompatible personalities; one was eccentric, the other was spirited and ambitious. They couldn't stand each other and ended up fighting.

In a contest of internal strength, one careless move could result in a lose-lose situation.

Zhou Yan leaped up and landed on a bamboo raft on the lakeshore. He used a pole to propel the raft and quickly moved closer.

The internal strength of Liu Qingzhou and Yanbo Diaosou was also evenly matched. A faint mist of water vapor gradually appeared on the tops of their heads. This was the sweat on their foreheads and crowns of their heads being forced into steam by their internal strength. This situation also meant that they were on the verge of life and death.

The two were locked in a stalemate, both regretting their rashness. However, they knew that if they showed any weakness, their opponent could unleash their full internal energy, potentially leading to their immediate death. Therefore, they could only continuously channel their internal energy, exhausting themselves completely. During this moment of reflection, they were as if in a trance, oblivious to everything around them.

Zhou Yan steered the bamboo raft rapidly closer. From a distance of several meters, he could tell from their condition that they were on the brink of death.

The bamboo raft advanced another two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and Zhou Yan swayed, landing beside Liu Qingzhou and the Fisherman of Misty Waves like a waterbird flying over the misty waves.

He guided his Qi with his mind, sending it from his Dantian along the Yinqiao and Yinwei meridians, exiting through the Neiguan acupoint, and preparing to unleash a move called "Double Dragons Taking Water".

This move of the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms" can be divided into two, Yin and Yang without limit, which is quite similar to Zhou Botong's self-created ambidextrous fighting style, with "collapse force" and "intercept force" as the main elements.

Two dragons draw water, striking each other from left and right. Yin and Yang, boundless and limitless.
Zhou Yan used his "collapsed force" to strike Liu Qingzhou and Yanbo Diaosou's wrists with both palms, "slap, slap." Immediately afterward, the force transformed into "intercepting force." Intercepting force is used to intercept or strike the opponent's attack with a force perpendicular to the direction of the opponent's force at the instant before the attack arrives, causing the opponent's attack to miss.

Both "Fanziquan" and "Yuejiaquan" have explosive moves with this kind of power, but "Jianglong Shibazhang" is more exquisite.

Liu Qingzhou and Yanbo Diaosou were struck on the wrist at the same time. As soon as their palms separated, the force of their palms collapsed toward the bamboo raft. Immediately afterward, with two loud "bangs," Zhou Yan suddenly pushed out with his left and right palms, exchanging blows with each of the two men.

This clash sent Liu Qingzhou and the Fisherman of Misty Waves flying towards opposite ends of the bamboo raft.

The bamboo raft was first subjected to two collapsing forces, and when Zhou Yan struck out with his palm, his body was also gathering strength and sinking down, so how could it possibly hold on?

With a "crack," the bamboo raft broke in the middle, and as Liu Qingzhou and Yanbo Fisherman retreated to either side, it suddenly bounced up from the break.

Zhou Yan landed on each side with his left and right feet, and was suddenly lifted up, about ten feet off the ground.

"Fall!" Zhou Yan let out a soft shout, channeling his strength into his legs, making them feel like they were weighed down by a thousand pounds.

The bamboo rafts that had been raised high on both sides crashed down with a thud as Zhou Yan's body fell like a stone.

With a loud crash and splashing water, the bamboo raft, broken in two, was pieced back together at Zhou Yan's feet.

He said, "Brother Liu, it's been a long time."

After saying this, Zhou Yan looked at the old fisherman on the misty waves and said, "If I have offended you, please forgive me, senior."

Liu Qingzhou was first surprised, then delighted: "Brother Zhou, how did you get to Dongting Lake?"

Zhou Yan stood like a pine tree, steadily stabilizing the bamboo raft beneath his feet, and said, "On my way to Poyang Lake, I happened to see someone using the Hengshan sword technique on the river, so I rushed over. Little did I know it was Brother Liu."

"What a coincidence."

Seeing that Liu Qingzhou and Zhou Yan seemed quite familiar with each other, the old fisherman rolled his eyes and said, "Kid, I suffered a small loss at your hands in Yuanjiang. What, are you and that little thief teaming up against me?"

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "How could that be? When you were in Yuanjiang, you said you would come to Zhongdu in a year. I will be waiting for you in Zhongdu."

Liu Qingzhou asked, puzzled, "What's going on here?"

"It's a long story, let's talk on the boat," Zhou Yan replied to Liu Qingzhou, then turned to the old fisherman on the misty waves, "Senior, would you dare to board the boat?"

As the saying goes, it's better to provoke than to persuade; this method is especially effective for eccentric people like the Fisherman of Misty Waves.

"Haha, there are still things on Dongting Lake that I dare not do."

"please!"

The boatman had already sailed over in his large boat. Yanbo Fisherman leaped onto the bow, followed closely by Liu Qingzhou. Zhou Yan suddenly took flight, using the Ancient Tomb Lightness Skill, his body like a flying duck, landing as light as a feather.

"What superb lightness of foot!" The old fisherman couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"You flatter me, senior," Zhou Yan replied politely, then said to the porter, "Bring the wine and prepare the dishes."

Alright!

The three of them arrived at the room and sat around the table. The waiter brought over the drinks first.

Zhou Yan briefly explained the origins of the Indian monk's journey to western Hunan, his subsequent abduction by the demonic cult, and his own experience traveling to Poyang Lake. He then briefly recounted to Liu Qing his encounter with the Fisherman of Misty Waves on the Yuan River and the ensuing battle.

Upon hearing that the eminent Indian monk had traveled thousands of miles to western Hunan to find the Golden Baby to cure the people of India suffering from poisonous insects, the two were filled with admiration. Then the old fisherman said, "Golden Babies are not only rare, but they are also intelligent and appear in pairs. It is truly wishful thinking for a monk who does not know how to fish to try to catch them."

Zhou Yan raised his wine bowl and said, "Please enlighten me, senior."

The old fisherman raised his bowl, and the two drank together. He said, "Golden goby fish can be found in the valleys and waterways around Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, but catching one by fishing for it is not an easy task."

"This is certainly not difficult for you, senior."

The old fisherman on the misty waters was quite pleased with himself: "Of course."

Liu Qingzhou was a reasonable person and wanted to help Zhou Yan, so he said, "Anyone can brag."

"Hey Liu, let's fight three hundred more times."

"If you're so good, try catching a few golden babies first. Let's see if you're the best angler in the world or just a name without substance."

"Let's fish then."

Zhou Yan smiled to himself. "The one who truly understands me is Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan."

He then turned to Liu Qingzhou and Yanbo Diaosou and said, "Please calm down. We still need to rescue the high monk. Do you two know anything about the Demonic Cult?"

The old fisherman scoffed: "They're just a bunch of dirty bandits who kill and rob, and they often hang around in western Hunan."

Liu Qingzhou said, "I have also heard that they act in secret and kill wealthy and powerful people. But if you say they are acting on behalf of Heaven, they are doing shady things."

The old fisherman on the misty waves scoffed: "Killing the wealthy and powerful is nothing more than robbing grain, guns, and money; it's just robbery and looting."

Zhou Yan had met Zhang Sanqiang. Zhang Sanqiang had the intention to reform the Ming Cult, but the cult was a mixed bag, with many outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant individuals, and corruption was rampant. Perhaps this was a common problem within the Ming Cult, which explained their repeated rebellions, all of which ended in failure.

He was unpopular, especially among the local gentry, who feared him like a tiger.

(End of this chapter)