The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 26 Origin: A Laugh from the Heart, A Man's Unbridled Spirit
The wind stopped on the treetops, and the autumn light was serene.

Su, the bodyguard, strode forward. His hands, hanging down, were hidden by his sleeves, so Zhou Yan could not see the iron rings on the index fingers of his hands.

On the other side of the square table, Duan Huai'an glanced at Zhang Wangyue.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Five Officials smiled slightly.

The owner of Fu'an felt at ease. Duan Huai'an didn't know what level Zhou Yan's cultivation had reached, but he trusted the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort).

Lei Luo's gaze also fell on his own bodyguard, and the burly man nodded.

Within roughly the same timeframe, the owners of both escort agencies seemed to have gained confidence and turned their attention to the martial arts arena.

Zhou Yan cupped his hands in greeting, "Please enlighten me."

The bodyguard nodded. "No problem."

Zhou Yan's gentle expression suddenly turned focused. He stepped back with his left foot, sank forward with his right foot, and split his fists apart, left hand up and right hand down, as if he were opening up the heavens and the earth.

This move is precisely the "double circle hand" of the "Yanqing Fist," which covers the opponent's attacks no matter which direction they come from.

Most of the bodyguards on both sides recognized this move, and many knew the "Yan Qing Fist," but they thought it was impossible for them to achieve the same level of solemnity as Zhou Yan. It was clear that they had worked hard to practice this set of boxing techniques for many years.

"Great!" Hu Yanlei cheered loudly.

In the conflict at Songhelou, Su, the bodyguard, suffered losses from Zhou Yan's "Yanqing Fist" and "Taizu Long Fist". He snorted and thought to himself, "I'll use my legs to attack and see how you manage to entangle me and make me flustered. I'll take the opportunity to exchange a few punches. You'll be poisoned by the ring and won't be able to humiliate me."

"Okay."

With a soft whistle, Su the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) traced a clear path in the autumn light. As the distance closed, his feet moved in a coordinated, unleashing six kicks in quick succession, one from the left and one from the right.

After Zhou Yan consumed Liang Ziweng's precious snake blood, he was able to refine and open the two Qiao meridians in his legs.

He lowered his internal energy and then forcefully released it outwards.

With a "snap," the horse stance was adopted, and dust rose from the ground.

With strength poured into his legs, he felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, his body as steady as an old pine tree and as stable as a bell.

Su the镖师 (bodyguard/courier) unleashed a barrage of kicks on Zhou Yan's legs, making loud "thump thump" sounds. Zhou Yan's trouser legs rippled like water, but he remained completely still.

Su, the bodyguard, felt a burning pain in his calf as if he had kicked a stone slab. He was horrified; this was not the arrogant bodyguard he had been at Songhelou.

Zhou Yan had already advanced with his right leg and retreated with his left leg, accompanied by a low step to the groin in the "Yue Family Sanshou" style. He raised his hand like the wind, his right fist striking Su Biaoshi's face, while his left hand flicked up and grabbed the "Yanglao" acupoint behind the opponent's wrist.

Su, the bodyguard, clenched his fist and struck Zhou Yan's fist that was aimed at his face.

In a mere instant, Zhou Yan's right hand, which had been aimed directly at the opponent's face, transformed from a fist into a hook, his arm suddenly sinking and then rising again, resembling the "wind nodding" technique in spear fighting.

His unpredictable shift from "Yanqing Fist" to "Yue Family Freehand Technique" was abrupt, followed by a fluid display of the "Pulling Grass into the Cave" left and right stances from the upper body's three "Snake Forms." It was truly unexpected and pleasing to the eye.

Zhang Wangyue's eyes lit up, and he was shocked. How long had it been since he gave Zhou Yan the Yue Family Boxing Manual, and he had already reached such a level?

Hu Yanlei blinked, feeling incredibly unreal. Brother Zhou had said ten moves, but he had already gained the upper hand in just one move.

This was the perception of a skilled bodyguard among the onlookers. The two exchanged blows in the arena for only a moment before the bodyguards from the Sihai Escort Agency cheered when they saw Su kick Zhou Yan. With two sharp "slaps," Zhou Yan had already grabbed the opponent's left wrist and right elbow.

His gaze then turned cold as he saw the iron ring on Su's index finger.

Su, the bodyguard, changed his expression drastically. He roared and, squeezing out all his internal and external strength, suddenly lowered his arm, his muscles bulging, and used a grappling technique to counterattack.

Two figures suddenly intersected in the sunlight. Zhou Yan's steps spun rapidly, and his freehand "snake form" transformed into a "tiger form." He unleashed a series of attacks, including "Black Tiger Cuts Tail" and "Full Tiger Climbs the Mountain." Su's bodyguard's sleeves were suddenly torn to shreds and swept up by the force of the energy, whistling and flying about.

Everyone then noticed the dark iron ring on Su's finger.

"How shameless! Using a ring to secretly injure people!" Hu Yanlei cursed angrily.

“I think the ring was also poisoned,” Wang Kui said.

With a "boom," Su, the bodyguard, was lifted up by Zhou Yan, spun half a circle like a wheel, and thrown out to smash on the ground.

Su, the bodyguard, rolled on the ground, half-kneeling to his feet. His face was as red as a pig's liver. He suddenly slashed his bare arm across his wide belt.

"Watch out for hidden weapons," Hu Yanlei warned. Three bone-piercing nails rapidly enlarged, and Su, the bodyguard, raised his hands again, followed by two throwing knives carrying a chilling killing intent.

As Su the镖师 (bodyguard) pulled out his hidden weapon, Zhou Yan was already retreating rapidly. When he reached the side of the field, he hooked a long bench with his right foot and charged forward like a ferocious beast.

"Clang, clang..." Several times, the bone-piercing nails and throwing knives were all blocked by the bench. Suddenly, Zhou Yan, who had been closing in, slammed the bench in his hand onto the opponent's shoulder.

The wooden planks shattered and flew everywhere. Zhou Yan stretched out his right hand, grabbed two of Su the镖师's fingers, pressed down hard, and snapped his fingers with a crack.

Su, the bodyguard, screamed as Zhou Yan slammed his left hand into his jaw, causing the man to clench his teeth and spurt blood from the corner of his lips.

"stop."

"it is good!"

Several people, including Lu, the镖师 (bodyguard) of the Sihai Escort Agency, who were watching the battle, suddenly stood up. Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan stretched and stood up at the same time, while Zhou Yan, who was in the middle of the arena, had already retreated.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the Four Seas Master's side: "I don't mind that Master Su is wearing a poisoned ring, but just now, even though I was clearly defeated, he still tried to take my life with a hidden weapon. I was in a fit of anger and offended him."

His words immediately silenced everyone at the Four Seas Escort Agency.

Duan Huai'an was inwardly delighted, but said aloud, "Zhou, the bodyguard, needs to control your emotions more."

The owner of Sihai cursed inwardly, but said aloud, "Escort Su was indeed at a disadvantage. Escort Zhou showed mercy, but still refused to admit defeat and injured someone, which was truly inexcusable. Now step back."

Mr. Lü praised Zhou Yan highly and nodded slightly at him.

With resentment and malice in his eyes, Su, the bodyguard, left the martial arts arena, clutching his severed finger with his left hand.

Merchant Lü asked Zhou Yan, "According to the rules, Escort Zhou can either continue the fight or win a round and leave. What is your choice?"

Zhou Yan looked at Zhang Wangyue.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) had a smile in his eyes.

"I am not very talented, but I would like to accept the challenge."

"Good, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger." Merchant Lü praised, then looked at the list. He raised his eyes and said to the owner of Sihai, "How about the appearance of Escort Lu?"

"I couldn't be happier!" Before the owner of Sihai could speak, Lu, the bodyguard who had fought with Huyan Lei in Songhelou, walked to the weapon rack and picked up a large spear.

"Master Zhou, please choose your weapon."

Lu, the bodyguard, was already skilled with a gun. Seeing Zhou Yan's exquisite boxing skills, why would he fight him bare-handed?

Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan immediately tensed up.

Zhou Yan is not good with weapons. Although he has learned some moves of the Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Saber and the Hu Family Spear, he is facing a famous镖师 (bodyguard/escort) from the Sihai镖局 (escort agency) who is proficient in spear fighting.

Zhou Yan knew this principle all too well. He had ambushed the Imperial City Guard with a knife, but at that time he had the advantage of terrain and launched a surprise attack. To fight a renowned镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who had spent more than ten years immersing himself in spear fighting in broad daylight was to tie his own hands.

With that thought in mind, he looked around and walked over to pick up two stone weights that he used daily to exercise his arm and shoulder muscles.

The autumn wind rustled, and the young man, holding a stone lock, fearlessly approached.

Lu, the bodyguard from all corners of the world, turned green with rage.

"Good, good. I was blind and did not know that Master Zhou had also mastered the Stone Lock Technique. I will come and learn from him."

Lu the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) flicked his wrist, his iron spear flashing with enormous brilliance, his attack like a long snake spitting its tongue as it fell towards Zhou Yan.

"Boom!" Zhou Yan smashed the stone lock with his right hand and thrust the spear horizontally. A thunderous explosion exploded in the air, and the spear hummed loudly.

Lu, the bodyguard, felt a tingling sensation in his hand, and his eyebrows instantly rose.

What is this...?

That brat is taking advantage of my old age and weakness! I'm so angry!

(End of this chapter)