The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 253 Traitor
Spring rain falls like smoke, and the mist and haze of Diancang Mountain are dense and chaotic.

Huang Rong's rosy lips curled up slightly as she smiled faintly: "You know, it's very hard for a woman to dress as a man, especially the voice. You have to deliberately lower your voice when you speak."

"Why don't you just change back into women's clothes sooner?"

The little leopard was familiar with Huang Rong, and seeing her leave, it clung to the bow of the boat and kept calling out.

"and many more!"

Huang Rong glided across the lake like a dragonfly skimming the water, landing on the light boat. She picked up the leopard cub, about the size of a house cat, and returned to Zhou Yan's side.

"Because I brought wine to the old rascal and played with him, my father got angry and scolded me."

So he ran away from Peach Blossom Island.

"Ok!"

The two walked side by side, with the Jade Lion Under the Night following behind. Huang Rong's melodious voice rang out again, "Father's martial arts have reached the pinnacle, but I have only learned a fraction of his skills. Although I am new to the martial world, I understand the wickedness of people's hearts."

Zhou Yan immediately thought of Li Mochou. Both were newcomers to the world, but while Li Mochou was fearless, Huang Rong knew how to disguise herself and protect herself.

"So she disguised herself as a man, and even dressed up as a little beggar." Huang Rong chuckled.

"I think there's also an element of spite involved."

"You're really smart; you were able to guess all of this."

"Actually, Lord Huang dotes on you a lot."

"Of course, but it was my father who scolded me."

"Hehe, it's fine as it is now."

Huang Rong pouted, "Heh? Do you think I don't know what you mean? You must be saying how willful and capricious I am."

"The first time I met Lord Huang was on the banks of the Yangtze River in Jingzhou. His hair was as black as ink. The second time was on the shore of Taihu Lake. His temples were as white as snow."

Huang Rong nodded and said, "You are very observant. I saw Father's white hair at Guiyun Manor and knew that I had caused trouble. I also knew that Father had always admired General Yue, so after learning the secret of the 'Wumu Legacy,' I tricked you into going to Iron Palm Mountain. Now, no matter where I go, I dare not stay away from Peach Blossom Island for long. This time, I told Father that I would be back soon."

“Very good. Practice your martial arts diligently, and when you travel the world in the future, Master Huang will not have to worry so much.”

Huang Rong laughed: "Practicing martial arts is boring. It's not as interesting as cooking, animal taming, or medicine. Besides, you're not going to be a bodyguard anymore. I'll hire you from now on."

Zhou Yan didn't respond to that question, but changed the subject: "Did you learn almost everything about medicine from the Immortal Herbs in Hundred Herbs Valley?"

"It's about 50-60% likely."

Zhou Yan was overjoyed, "That should be enough."

“Of course, it’s just bone setting.” Huang Rong knew that Zhou Yan was referring to treating Ku Hui. “Are you going to escort Ku Hui to Shaolin Temple?”

"Yes, it will take several months to fully recover after the bones are set. Tianxiang and Zen Master Tianlong are both injured, and the remaining monks are either not skilled in martial arts or are of average ability, so we must escort them there."

It seems we can't go to Zhongnan Mountain, but visiting Shaolin Temple first will do. Huang Rong thought to herself, but asked, "Master Tianxiang? From the Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions?"

"Yes, the head of the Arhat Hall."

Huang Rong smiled and said, "I am reminded of Baoxiang of the Vajra Sect."

"In the Western Regions and Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, the generation below the 'Ku' (苦) should be the 'Tian' (天) generation. The Fire-Worker Monk shaved his head to become a monk and founded the Vajra School. His direct disciples are all of the 'Bao' (宝) generation."

"So that's how it is. How's your martial arts?"

"I have never seen him make a move, but I estimate that Master Ku Hui is still above Master Ku Cheng, and Zen Master Tianlong is not much worse than me. It's hard to say what the celestial phenomena are."

"If that's the case, how did the Western Regions Shaolin Temple get conquered by the Vajra Sect? There must be a traitor among them."

"Truly exceptionally intelligent."

Huang Rong's face lit up with joy upon hearing Zhou Yan's praise.

Do you know who the traitor is?

"No, the other side poisoned the vegetarian food. Most of the Shaolin monks in the Western Regions have been taken prisoner."

"In that case, the traitor is most likely among the prisoners, but it is also possible that he is still with Ku Hui."

Zhou Yan asked, "Why do you say that?"

Huang Rong stopped, her exquisitely beautiful face tilted upwards, her bright eyes fixed on her, "Have you thought of this too?"

"Thinked about it."

"Tell me, is it the same idea you were thinking?"

Zhou Yan's voice was clear and bright, "The ultimate goal of the Fire-Worker Monk is Shaolin Temple. Since he was able to take down Shaolin in the Western Regions by working together from the inside and outside, why not do it again?"

Huang Rong clapped her hands, "We're on the same page. Let's go, let's go save them."

Zhou Yan accompanied her, inwardly marveling at Huang Rong's intelligence. Knowing that she had already considered this point, she stopped there. Such wisdom at the age of sixteen or seventeen was rare in the world.

……

Houses stand like a forest, their eaves overlapping, and fine rain falls like silk threads.

Zhou Yan and Huang Rong walked toward Master Ku Hui's room. Behind them, Hu Yanlei clicked his tongue in admiration and said to Zhang Wangyue beside him, "I knew Miss Huang was a woman, but I never expected her to be so beautiful, like a fairy. How did she grow up like this?"

The escort team from Fu'an arrived at Wan Shou Manor in three batches. Liang Xiaowu, leading the injured镖师 (bodyguards) and 趟子手 (porters), arrived first with the three Shi brothers. While Zhou Yan was searching for Ku Hui and the others, Zhang Wangyue arrived later with his escort team. Hu Yanlei, Mu Nianci, and others were the last group. They were naturally surprised to see Hu Yanlei dressed as a woman again.

Zhang Wangyue laughed and said, "You must be someone who wouldn't dare introduce your niece to Brother Zhou."

Huyan Lei laughed heartily.

Zhang Wangyue wasn't joking; it was an amusing anecdote. When Zhou Yan became a bodyguard, Hu Yanlei had said that his niece was plain-looking, otherwise he would have insisted on introducing her to him. This remark later became a frequent source of amusement among the group during their drinking sessions.

Looking at Huang Rong, Mu Nianci couldn't help but think to herself, "There are such beautiful women in this world, like fairies. I can't even feel jealous."

The group entered the room.

Zen Masters Tianlong and Tianxiang rose to greet them.

When Zhou Yan took out the "Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment," Tianlong and Tianxiang's eyes lit up with joy, and they said, "Thank you for your help, Young Hero Zhou."

"You're too kind, Zen Master."

"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Zhou," Ku Hui replied.

“The master is going to suffer. He must first break his bones, then reassemble them and mend them.”

"Young hero, there's no need to worry. I will bear the pain myself."

"it is good!"

Bone setting and bone reshaping require the medical skills Huang Rong learned from the Herbalist, but bone breaking requires Zhou Yan. He escorted Ku Hui from the desert to the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, so he is very familiar with the abbot's injuries.

Zhou Yan used the "Crushing Divine Claw" technique to guide Qi. Pure and powerful internal energy flowed along the meridians and gushed out from five acupoints: the thumb "Shaoshang", the index finger "Shangyang", the middle finger "Zhongheng", the ring finger "Guangchong", and the little finger "Shaozhe". The internal energy shone outward, and a series of subtle and continuous cracking sounds were heard. Zhou Yan crushed the bones in Ku Hui's hand, arm, and shoulder, which had been broken by the Fire-Worker Monk, one by one.

"Amitabha!" Tianlong and Tianxiang clasped their hands together and chanted the mantra.

Ku Hui remained silent, his body as still as a cold, hard rock, but the pain of his shattered bones made him feel as if a thousand pounds of weight were suddenly pressing down from all directions, tearing his muscles and meridians apart.

The old abbot's wrinkled face was covered with fine beads of sweat, and upon closer inspection, his skin trembled and twitched.

Hu Yanlei, who was watching from the sidelines, felt a dull ache in his muscles and bones.

Fortunately, Zhou Yan moved extremely quickly, shattering all the bones in less than ten breaths.

He stepped back, and Huang Rong, who had learned excellent medical skills from Baicao Xian, first used the "Orchid Flicking Acupoint Hand" technique to comb through the tendons and veins of Ku Hui's injury, then set his bones, and then handed the "Black Jade Broken Bone Ointment" she had separated to Tianlong, "Please trouble the Zen Master to apply it to the bone injury and bandage it. Three times a day for seven consecutive days."

"Thank you, lady donor."

"Master, please don't be so polite."

When the Fire-Worker Monk gave Huang Rong the "Black Jade Bone-Repairing Ointment," he said it was enough to reconnect all the tendons and bones in her body. Therefore, Huang Rong still had more than half of it. Otherwise, she would have been heartbroken to give this priceless medicine to Tianlong, who was not related to her.

The rest was none of Zhou and Huang's concern. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group left the room without disturbing Ku Hui as she recovered from her injuries.

As Tianlong applied the ointment, Zen Master Tianxiang remarked, "I never imagined that Young Hero Zhou's finger skills were so remarkable."

"really."

"Senior brother, can you discern any cultivation technique?"

Tianlong said, "The martial arts of the world are as vast as the clouds and smoke. What I know is but a drop in the ocean. How can I possibly see the clues? However, in terms of the power of this finger technique, it should not be inferior to the 'Dragon Claw Hand' that I have learned."

"Young Master Zhou looks to be no more than twenty years old, yet his cultivation is so extraordinary that even Bao Xian is no match for him. He is truly admirable."

There are always people better than you, and mountains beyond mountains.

"That's right. Once we get to Mount Song, we must devote ourselves to rigorous training and seek revenge against the Vajra Sect."

"naturally!"

The rain was falling softly and indistinctly as Zhang Wangyue, Hu Yanlei, and Zhou Yan walked along the corridor and talked.

“Brother Zhou, Abbot Ku Hui needs to rest for at least seven days. We will return first. Once we reach Zhongdu, we will inform Elder Duan and use the caravan to deliver the armor, weapons, and horses to Chaya Mountain.”

"Alright, I'll head south in seven days."

Hu Yanlei said, "Brother Zhou, don't forget that you must make a name for yourself as the 'Central Divine Sword'."

"I will definitely try my best," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

Hu Yanlei sighed, "Traveling to the Western Regions has broadened my horizons. I never knew there was such a supernatural power as beast taming."

Zhou Yan remained calm. He had already witnessed the abilities of the Shi brothers from the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, as well as the Western Poison's ability to control snakes and Lin Chaoying's maid's skill in controlling bees.

Zhang Wangyue replied to Huyan Lei, "Indeed!"

“If people like the Shi brothers joined the army and fought against the enemy with beasts, wouldn’t they be invincible?” Huyan Lei said.

Zhou Yan laughed: "Winning by surprise is possible, but being invincible is difficult. First of all, ferocious beasts like lions, tigers, and leopards will intimidate both sides' warhorses. In the battle with 'Iron Hawk,' even 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' was frightened. Also, the Shi brothers controlled the beasts with extremely rhythmic howls. Those who have reached the pinnacle of internal strength can suppress the beasts with their voices and break through the beast horde. To be invincible, in the final analysis, you still need an iron-blooded army like Yue Fei's army."

Zhang Wangyue briefly recalled the battle against "Iron Falcon" and praised, "Brother Zhou's insight is profound and his words are absolutely correct. Surprise can lead to victory, but surprise can never prevail over orthodox tactics. This is true in any contest of martial arts between two armies."

"Brother, your words are insightful."

Zhang Wangyue smiled slightly: "When we meet again, Brother Zhou, we can speak freely."

“Okay!” Zhou Yan readily agreed.

(End of this chapter)