The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 289 Huang Rong and Mo Chou's First Encounter

Fireworker Monk seemed to transform into a phantom in the night wind. When his voice rang out, he was still a mile away. By the time Zhou Yan and Li Mochou finished their few words, his bright yellow figure had already grown larger.

From a distance, it looks like a falcon flying on the tips of grass.

Li Mochou said, "This monk's lightness skill is truly amazing."

“Indeed.” Zhou Yan was truly impressed by Huo Gong Toutuo’s lightness skill, which was in no way inferior to Ouyang Feng’s “instantaneous travel of a thousand miles”, even surpassing the Quanzhen “Golden Goose Skill”.

"Get on the boat first!" Zhou Yan leaped onto the small boat, with Li Mochou following closely behind.

In the blink of an eye, the Fire-Worker Monk silently descended to the stream bank.

Looking around, Zhou Yan saw that the other party was still the same as before it fell into the deep pool, indicating that the crocodile had not had much of an effect on the Fire-Worker Monk.

The vengeful Fire-Worker Monk glanced at Li Mochou before turning to Zhou Yan, saying coldly, "Boy, ever since you attacked my disciple and humiliated this old monk, our enmity has only deepened. It won't be long before you understand how much you will have to pay for what you have done."

The Fire-Worker Monk couldn't understand why his fall into the deep pool was actually a deliberate scheme by Zhou Yan. The humiliation he spoke of referred to Zhou Yan's sudden attack on him.

Zhou Yan chuckled softly and said, "Now that I've done it, why should I be afraid?"

"You've got guts. I hope you'll still have that kind of courage after I capture you."

"I'm afraid there's not much of a chance."

"Haha..." Fireworker Monk laughed arrogantly, leaping onto the bow of the boat. He used his inner strength to activate his kasaya, holding it empty-handed, and his body sank heavily downwards. His palms split up and down, and the kasaya whistled as if it had opened up the heavens and the earth.

Zhou Yan knew this was the Shaolin Temple's ultimate technique, the "Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill." He had seen the assailant Ku Cheng emerge from Shaoshi Mountain that day, and the technique, combined with the "Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm," was incredibly difficult to defend against. Not long ago, he had fought with the Fire-Worker Monk, and this technique, when used in conjunction with the "Great Vajra Palm," was far more powerful than Ku Cheng's two ultimate skills.

"If I increase my internal strength by another 50 or 60%, I can use the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword to cleave through the golden and silver threads of the cassock," Zhou Yan thought, and drew his sword with a backhand.

Li Mochou, sensing the unspoken connection, drew her longsword.

One sword, green and one white, rose like dragons from the ground. Zhou Yan's Qingfeng sword tip turned upwards, as if he were raising a cup to drink. Li Mochou raised her sword hilt, the tip pointing downwards, as if she were pouring wine from a pot.

This is precisely the "light drinking" in "The Jade Maiden's Heart Sword".

The Fire-Worker Monk used the "Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill" and his opening move was as if he had opened up the heavens and the earth. Zhou Yan and Li Mochou combined their swords, one sword shattering the sky and the other destroying the earth.

Huo Gong Toutuo had never seen such swordsmanship before, but he felt that if the cassock were to attack, Li Mochou would just block the angle of attack of the "Great Vajra Palm". If he injured the woman first, Zhou Yan's long sword would inevitably injure him.

He exclaimed "Eh!" and his body floated back ten feet, landing on another small boat.

Zhou Yan and Li Mochou moved like water birds skimming across clear waves, their toes landing on the small boat where Huogong Toutuo was. Zhou Yan used a move called "Flowers Before the Moon" to strike from above with his longsword. The Qingfeng sword trembled, as if countless swords had made an incredible arrangement in the space between Sumeru. The arc-shaped sword curtain resembled the bright moon in the sky, with clear light covering the ground.

Li Mochou's longsword trembled, and its dazzling sword light condensed into a shimmering brilliance, like a flower in full bloom.

The Fire-Worker Monk felt dizzy and confused, completely unaware of where Zhou Yan and Li Mochou would attack from. He had no choice but to leap back and land on another light boat.

Zhou Yan exerted immense force on his legs, causing them to shatter with a crack, and the stream water gushed forth. He and Li Mochou launched another joint attack.

A year later, Zhou Yan is no longer the same as before. Li Mochou has improved her inner strength by using the Cold Jade Bed for cultivation. Li Mochou has also developed feelings for Zhou Yan. The two now combine their swords, and their power is far greater than when they fought against Ouyang Feng and others at Zhongnan Mountain. Blue and white lights intertwine and create a dazzling display. Sword flowers fall like stars, and their power is unparalleled.

The Fire-Worker Monk roared and abandoned the "Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill," instead using the "Great Vajra Palm" to counter. He unleashed powerful palm strikes from a distance, each as strong as a mountain, and occasionally let out a "Lion's Roar" to shake one's soul.

Zhou Yan and Li Mochou darted left and right, like dragonflies skimming the water or butterflies flitting among flowers. Their swords danced with breathtaking grace, like startled swans or swimming dragons. The Fire-Worker Monk had several opportunities to kill Li Mochou with his palm strike, but each time Zhou Yan thrust his sword, the enemy had to defend himself. He flew into a rage, shouting repeatedly.

Three figures rose and fell on the boats, engaging in fierce combat. Water splashed everywhere, planks flew, and light boats were destroyed underfoot.

Huang Yaoshi swiftly approached, and upon hearing Huo Gong Toutuo's shout, he looked around and saw blue and white sword lights rolling around like mercury spilling onto the ground, penetrating everywhere.

Huang Yaoshi recognized Li Mochou and Zhou Yan's Quanzhen Swordplay. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: this combined swordplay was truly unparalleled in the world. The woman was from the lineage of Lady Lin, an old friend of Brother Chongyang. Could it be that this swordplay was related to Brother Chongyang and Lady Lin?

The only person in the world who could discern the secrets of "Jade Maiden's Heart Sword" was Huang Yaoshi, who had entered the Ancient Tomb and had a close personal relationship with Wang Chongyang.

Amidst billowing smoke and dust, Zhou Yan and Li Mochou had exchanged over a hundred blows with the Fire-Worker Monk. They used the Jade Maiden Heart Sword repeatedly, but each move they unleashed evoked a different mood, seemingly the same yet not quite.

The three were locked in fierce combat at Xikou. A little further away, Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong moved rapidly, their figures rising and falling, quickly approaching. Closely following them were Qiu Qianren, Ouyang Feng, and the monk Bao Shu.

Further away were Ouyang Ke, Yin Kexi, Helian Chuncheng, Gongsun Zhi, and the disciples of Jueqing Valley wielding fishing nets who had caught up with them.

Ouyang Feng first checked Ouyang Ke's injuries before chasing after them again, thus falling behind Huang Yaoshi, Zhou Botong, and Qiu Qianren once more.

Seeing several people rapidly approaching, Zhou Yan chuckled softly, then with a backhand stroke, drew an arc from left to right with his sword. Li Mochou drew an arc from right to left, her two swords merging into a halo that tightly enveloped the Fire-Worker Monk.

Suddenly, the blue-white sword light and bright yellow light intertwined, and a sound of metal clashing was heard. Silent sparks burst from the monk's robe, and his sleeves transformed into thousands of butterflies, which were then swept up by the turbulent air and fluttered about.

With a shout, the Fire-Worker Monk flipped over in mid-air and fell back into the water with a splash.

In an instant, Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong landed on the boat, one after the other. "Island Master Huang, all the boats over here have been damaged."

Huang Yaoshi nodded slightly, took a step and leaped several feet, landing on Zhou Yan's light boat. Zhou Botong also jumped over.

"Island Master Huang, you are a guest from afar, why not stay a few more days?" Qiu Qianren's figure swept across the clear waves and landed on the bow of the boat.

"Chief Qiu, there's no need to be polite. Take this." Zhou Yan smiled and stepped forward. With a flick of his sword, he deflected the attack from the side, and Li Mochou's sword swiftly pierced in from a direction that Qiu Qianren could never have anticipated.

Seeing the sword moves were so strange and difficult to parry, Qiu Qianren swung backward and landed on a small boat a few feet away. However, the boat had already taken on water. When Qiu Qianren landed, there was a splash, and water sprayed everywhere. The Iron Palm Gang leader, caught off guard, was in a very sorry state.

Zhou Yan took the oar and rowed the boat at lightning speed, the light boat drifting downstream for several feet in an instant.

"Zhou Yan... you little thief."

Qiu Qianren, his legs soaking wet, stood in the water boat and cursed angrily.

The old rascal laughed heartily, "I've become a drowning dog."

"Zhou Botong, I swear I will never let you get away with this."

"Alright, alright, let's have another fight." Upon hearing this, Zhou Botong was about to leap towards the riverbank when Huang Yaoshi said, "Brother Botong, that's enough of the commotion. Let's come back another day."

“That makes sense.” Zhou Botong suddenly turned to Zhou Yan and asked, “How come you also know the Quanzhen Swordplay?”

"Tell the senior slowly."

"Speak quickly." The old rascal sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat.

On the other side of the stream, Ouyang Feng landed. He glanced at the soaking wet Huogong Toutuo and Qiu Qianren, then withdrew his gaze with a gloomy expression. He said to Huang Yaoshi, who was walking away, "Brother Yao, let's get to know each other better another day."

Huang Yaoshi replied coldly, "It's a deal."

"Hahaha..." The clanging metallic sound echoed through the valley.

With a shout from Zhou Yan, the feud between Ouyang Feng and Huang Yaoshi was officially established.

The small boat sailed downstream, and Zhou Yan, skilled in navigating, sped along. Zhou Yan first told Huang Yaoshi about the general situation of Huang Rong, the Fisherman of Misty Waves, and others, before briefly mentioning to the Old Urchin how he met Sun Bu'er and Wang Chuyi and learned the Quanzhen martial arts.

Upon hearing this, the old rascal clicked his tongue in admiration, saying that Zhou Yan's Quanzhen martial arts were far superior to Guo Jing's.

He smiled bitterly.

Upon learning Zhou Botong's true identity, Li Mochou remained silent throughout. Her sect's rules were strict, forbidding her from associating with members of the Quanzhen Sect, and she had nothing to say to Zhou Botong. She also knew Huang Yaoshi and held the renowned Eastern Heretic in awe.

Zhou Yan found this scene quite amusing. In the world of Condor Heroes, Li Mochou had often mocked Peach Blossom Island, saying that her "Splitting Palm" would always stab at nothing.

The stars and moon were gradually obscured by dark clouds, and there was a strong indication that a storm was coming. Fortunately, no rain fell along the way. Half an hour later, the small boat left the Valley of Heartbreak and moored on the shore.

Huang Rong, who had already left the valley, leaped out from the darkness, calling out, "Father!"

"Rong'er."

Huang Yaoshi leaped ashore, and Huang Rong looked towards the small boat. When she saw Li Mochou, she was slightly taken aback. How could there be another woman, and such a beautiful one at that? She wondered who she was.

Suddenly, seven or eight men, women, and children appeared. Li Mochou felt uncomfortable and stood by the stream, looking around. When her gaze landed on Huang Rong, she thought to herself that the woman whose appearance was comparable to her junior sister was actually Huang Island Master's daughter.

She didn't think much of it; it made sense that Master Huang Yao and his wife were both present.

Huang Yaoshi went ashore and said to Zhou Yan, "Thank you for the convenience of taking me by boat, Chief Escort."

"You're too kind, Master Huang." Huang Yaoshi nodded, then turned to Huang Rong and said, "Rong'er, let's go."

Huang Rong had already learned from the Immortal of Herbs that the group would be heading to the strongholds of Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain. She figured that if they were to search for Zhou Yan later, he would either be in Zhongdu or at one of the strongholds, so it wouldn't be difficult to find him. Tongbai Mountain wasn't far from Kaifeng Prefecture, and the Shi brothers from Wanshou Manor were seeing off Little Leopard at Mei Ruohua's place. This would be a good excuse for her to ask her father to take her to the two strongholds.

"Okay!" she nodded with a smile.

"Brother Botong, until we meet again."

"We'll never meet again," the old rascal laughed heartily.

Huang Rong made a face at the Old Urchin, winked at Zhou Yan, and then turned and left with Huang Yaoshi by the hand.

Huang Yaoshi moved with incredible speed. Once he was far away from the valley, he spat out a mouthful of blood with a "poof".

He was struck by Ouyang Feng's Toad Stance, sustaining serious injuries. His condition worsened after another fight with Ouyang Feng.

(End of this chapter)