The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 300 If you never forget it, there will be repercussions

The crowing of a rooster is auspicious, and being in the middle of the night is auspicious.

Inside the courtyard of Zhenyuan Escort Agency, the escorts, porters, and grooms were busy preparing for their missions.

Firecrackers hung on the magnificent gate tower, and pine firewood, believed to ward off evil and disaster, burned in a black basin.

Zhou Yan, along with his men, fastened anti-theft locks to each of the cargo boxes and inserted triangular dart flags.

Thirty escort wagons, over a hundred mules and horses, and more than 160 escorts and guards. Although they did not have masters like Mu Nianci, Wang Kui, or Huyan Lei, their overall strength was not bad. They were all leaders and soldiers who had been strictly trained in the mountain strongholds of Chaya Mountain, Funiu Mountain, and Tongbai Mountain according to the "Wumu Legacy".

In terms of overall strength, Zhou Yan felt that the only ones who could be compared were the escorts from the Fu'an Escort Agency, who were trained by Zhang Wangyue.

Zhou Yan will only escort him to Luoyang. Afterwards, he will visit Lu Beihe at Zhenwei Escort Agency. His schedule is flexible now.

Once the caravan arrives in Nanyang, it will be within the sphere of influence of the Funiu and Tongbai Mountains, allowing it to travel freely. Crossing the river to Jingzhou should also be safe, so there's no need to worry.

Zhou Yan prepared a farewell feast and said to Qiu Qianren, "Say a few words."

"What did they say when they were escorting goods in Fu'an?" Qiu Qianchi asked hurriedly.
"It's just a custom of the escort agency; they can say anything that brings good fortune and encouragement."

"good!'

Qiu Qianchi had his servants serve the departing镖师 (bodyguards) and 趟子手 (escorts) a farewell toast, and said, "With carts and wheels, you'll travel north and south, earning gold and silver to strengthen your mountain stronghold."

Zhou Yan chuckled.

"it is good!"

The bodyguards and escorts cheered in unison, downed a bowl of farewell wine, and the bodyguard in charge shouted: "Raise the escort flag!"

With a whoosh, the flag of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency unfurled in the autumn wind, fluttering loudly.

Firecrackers boomed from the gate tower, and carriages and horses rumbled in all directions.

The caravan left the escort agency and headed straight for Jingzhou.

No sooner had the Zhenyuan escort team left the city than the Fu'an escort team, led by Hu Yanlei and Mu Nianci, followed closely behind and left Zhongdu.

Both escort teams were under the same employer, and the procession of hundreds of people was impressive and imposing.

Zhou Yan spent most of his time with the group, teaching them by example along the way, explaining the thirty-six rules of the escort business, the camping and defense measures during the escort mission, and some simple methods for identifying and preventing poisoning. Occasionally, he would take some time to go to the rear of the Fu'an escort team to talk and chat with Hu Yanlei and Mu Nianci.

Six days later, the caravan traveling along the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains arrived at the Yellow River wharf.

The dockworker was an old acquaintance of Zhou Yan's, and Zhou Yan had dealt with him more than once. He brought the Zhenyuan bodyguards to the dockworker and introduced them to the manager.

The shopkeeper was extremely grateful, considering it a business opportunity that had come to him by chance.

Zhou Yan laughed and said that there was still the Fu'an Escort Team coming up, which would keep them busy for a day or two.

The shopkeeper beamed and summoned the boatmen to arrange for the boatmen to ferry Zhou Yan day and night, and in the meantime, they treated Zhou Yan very well.

After the two escort teams from Fu'an and Zhenyuan crossed the Yellow River, Zhou Yan bid farewell to Hu Yanlei and Mu Nianci, and gave some instructions to the escorts from Zhenyuan Escort Agency, saying that when they arrived at the Yangtze River dock, he would go with Hu Yanlei to meet the manager of the shipping company.

After Zhou Yan gave detailed instructions and made all the necessary arrangements, he left the escort team and headed to Jiuquangou, south of Luoyang, intending to buy several jars of Dukang wine and then visit Lu Beihe at the Zhenwei Escort Agency in Kaifeng.

……

Surrounded by three mountains, a stream flows beside it. The water murmurs and is crystal clear. This is Jiuquan Valley. Within Jiuquan Valley, a section gushes forth with a hundred springs, their waters clear and blue. Dukang wine is produced here.

Even in late autumn, the trees lining both banks remain lush and green.

A young leopard, not yet fully grown, silently made its way along the path, occasionally darting into the woods, startling the noisy forest birds and scattering wild animals.

Huang Rong's clear, pearly voice rang out: "The river mist is so flat it doesn't reach the shore, the duck egg yolk is as red as fresh blood, and the shrimp hug each other and crawl sideways. These are the three wonders of the Dukang River, but it's a pity you can't see them, Mei Ruohua."

The sun was high in the sky, and autumn mist floated on the river. Huang Rong looked at the scene where the mist did not reach the shore and said to Mei Ruohua, who was wearing a black dress beside her.

“We shouldn’t be looking for Ouyang Feng and his nephew,” Mei Chaofeng asked.

"Let's go to Zhongdu first, find Zhou Yan, and then settle accounts with Ouyang Feng and his nephew," Huang Rong said with a smile.

In the past, at the mountain temple outside the Valley of Heartbreak, Zhou Yan had helped Huang Yaoshi heal his injuries by stretching his muscles and tendons. The Eastern Heretic also taught Zhou Yan four ways of the "Finger Flicking Divine Skill". After he left, Huang Rong told Huang Yaoshi that she missed the little leopard that Mei Chaofeng had taken care of.

Knowing her thoughts, Huang Yaoshi suggested they go to Kaifeng Prefecture. During this time, Huang Rong accompanied the recovered Huang Yaoshi to the Valley of Heartbreak again, bringing out a Love Flower Tree. The father and daughter then went to Snake Valley.

Huang Yaoshi caught a snake and used some of its gallbladders to feed Huang Rong to enhance her internal strength. Huang Rong, in turn, applied the venom of the Bodhi snake to her silver needles to plot against Ouyang Feng and his nephew.

The father and daughter first went to Guiyun Manor, and then Lu Chengfeng arranged for a large ship to take Huang Yaoshi to Peach Blossom Island, while Huang Rong went north to Kaifeng Prefecture to find Mei Chaofeng.

Huang Rong recounted Ouyang Feng's scheme against Huang Yaoshi. Mei Chaofeng, deeply respecting her master and determined to return to Peach Blossom Island, was not about to let it go. Besides searching for her former sect members, she devoted the rest of her time to rigorous training, and now her skills were truly formidable. She immediately set off to find Ouyang Feng and his nephew. Huang Rong, meanwhile, considered enlisting Zhou Yan's help, and thus took Mei Chaofeng to Jiuquangou in Luoyang to buy Dukang wine, which they then brought to Zhongdu.

"What is Zhou Biaotou's current cultivation level?" Mei Chaofeng asked after hearing Huang Rong's words.

"He stopped being a bodyguard a long time ago. His cultivation is profound. Even two Mei Ruohuas couldn't defeat him."

Mei Chaofeng was quite unconvinced, "I don't believe it."

"It's simple, we'll compare them later."

"I will," Mei Chaofeng said earnestly.

Suddenly, the little leopard playing in front of them pricked up its ears and turned around sharply to look behind Huang Rong.

"Is someone coming?" Huang Rong turned around to look.

In just over ten breaths, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and the "Jade Lion Under the Night," whose whiteness paled in comparison to the snow, came into Huang Rong's view.

She smiled sweetly: "Oh, it's Zhou Yan."

The little leopard darted away in a flash.

……

The sudden appearance of the leopard at lightning speed truly surprised Zhou Yan. In the blink of an eye, the leopard leaped up, its bright eyes widening.

The "Jade Lion Under the Night" retreated, perhaps because it had spent so much time with the eagle and was familiar with animal emotions, because Zhou Yan saw joy in the leopard's eyes. A thought struck him, and he reined in his horse, reaching out to hug the leopard.

The soft fur suddenly spread across its chest, and the leopard's head rubbed against Zhou Yan. He laughed and leaped onto his horse, kneading the back of its neck a few times with his right hand before placing the little leopard on the ground.

The autumn light shone on the striking spots of the leopard, which circled around Zhou Yan. In the distance, Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng had already ridden over.

"I thought you didn't recognize Little Leopard." Huang Rong jumped off her horse and said, "Mei Ruohua and I went to Jiuquangou to get some jars of Dukang wine to take to Zhongdu. Why are you here to get wine? This place is not far from Kaifeng. Could it be for Lu Beihe of Zhenwei Escort Agency?"

Huang Rong was clever and guessed Zhou Yan's purpose in one sentence.

"Of course, what brings you to Zhongdu?" Zhou Yan asked.

"Of course, it's to find you to deal with Ouyang Feng and his nephew. My father was tricked by Ouyang Feng, so I naturally want to take revenge."

"Even you, me, and Mei Ruohua might not be a match for Ouyang Feng."

Huang Rong said with a smile, "Going to Ouyang Ke is fine too, we have to get revenge."

"Let's go to Kaifeng Prefecture first. We'll see Lu Beihe first, then we can talk, shall we?"

"it is good."

The three mounted their horses and traveled to a time-honored hotel in Jiuquangou. Zhou Yan bought several jars of aged wine and then headed straight for Kaifeng Prefecture.

……

An autumn rain came suddenly, and the misty rain enveloped Kaifeng Prefecture.

Two groups of figures were locked in combat as they rushed across the long street.

Lu Beihe moved swiftly through the crowd, wielding two pistols. His movements were rapid, and his pistols were repeatedly swung out, creating sprays of mist on the bodies of the镖师 (bodyguards) and 趟子手 (escorts) of the Longmen镖局 (escort agency).

Suddenly, someone let out a "humph," a sound almost inaudible amidst the rain and the sounds of fighting. But in an instant, the massive figure that had been inside the Longmen Escort Agency courtyard just moments before, uttering the cold hum, was on the main street. Wherever this figure passed, the raindrops splashed and scattered.

As the man moved forward, he swung his iron arm, and the escorts from Zhenwei Escort Agency fell out one after another with screams.

"You scoundrel, stop being so arrogant!" A bodyguard from Zhenwei Escort Agency drew his long sword and slashed down like lightning. The burly figure slammed into him, and with a "clang," the long sword broke in two. The next moment, with a bang, the bodyguard was sent flying, crashing through a brick wall and rolling into the courtyard.

The burly man's sleeve was ripped apart by a long knife, revealing iron bars bound to his forearm.

Seeing this, Lu Beihe brandished his two pistols, smashing the bodyguards from the Longmen Escort Agency in front of him. As he moved forward, he thrust his pistol forward, the tip leaping up and falling towards the big man.

The man grinned menacingly, his hands slamming down on Lu Beihe like mountains. The moment the two clashed, a thunderous roar, like a torrential downpour, erupted in the rain and mist, the rain churning and surging.

The man, whose arms were bound with iron bars and wore iron wrist guards, swung his arms in a series of powerful and heavy blows. His moves incorporated the essence of various boxing styles, such as "Flipping Fist," "Arhat Fist," "Tiger Subduing Fist," and "Taizu Long Fist." The two men turned into a narrow alley during the storm-like fight. After a long while, the sound of punches cutting through the air suddenly slowed down. With a loud "bang," Lu Beihe flew out of the alley and crashed to the ground.

Rain splashed and scattered, and Lu Beihe slid several feet before staggering to his feet. His gaze was fixed on the chainmail exposed beneath the man's tattered clothes, and he fell to the ground with resentment.

"Young master!"

The bodyguards from Zhenwei Escort Agency, their eyes red, lunged at the man. The man's hands moved wildly in circles, sending some flying and others falling, blood spreading across the long street.

(End of this chapter)