The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 301 Repaying others with their own methods
The autumn rain was continuous, not heavy, but annoying.

Zhou Yan and Huang Rong arrived at Kaifeng Prefecture, delivered the little leopard to Mei Chaofeng, and then headed straight for Zhenwei Escort Agency.

The lingering rain made the bluestone slabs on the street gleam with an oily sheen, and when the horses' hooves pounded the ground, they splashed up water droplets.

"I have a feeling something's not right," Huang Rong said.

Zhou Yan looked at the lifeless lanterns hanging on the gate tower and nodded, "Me too."

Before the two even approached Zhenwei Escort Agency, the guards on duty were already on high alert. Suddenly, a joyful voice rang out from the darkness, "It's Master Zhou!"

"Phew!" came a sigh of relief as he exhaled.

Zhou Yan dismounted and strode forward. The escort came to meet him. Zhou Yan recognized the man; he was an escort from Zhenwei Escort Agency who had participated in the Battle of Funiu Mountain.

"Brother, is something wrong?"

The escort didn't treat Zhou Yan as an outsider and said indignantly, "The Longmen Escort Agency has set up a branch in Kaifeng Prefecture. The agency and the other party had a dispute over a merchant, and the young master was seriously injured."

Zhou Yan was shocked. Lu Beihe's cultivation was above that of Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui and others, and comparable to Helian Chuncheng, yet he had been severely injured.

"Take me to see Brother Lu and tell me the details of the situation."

"Please, Mr. Zhou."

In the darkness, another escort came running, leading "Night-Shining Jade Lion," the yellow horse ridden by Huang Rong. The escort explained, "A merchant wanted to transport a batch of Western Region carpets, medicinal herbs, and furs to Wuxi. Our escort agency had already finalized the deal with the merchant and was just waiting for the goods to be delivered. However, the Longmen Escort Agency, upon hearing this, secretly contacted the merchant, lowered the delivery fee, and snatched the business. Several of our escorts went to the Longmen Escort Agency to demand an explanation, resulting in a fight. The young master of our agency led his men over, but the other side had many skilled fighters who drew their swords and spears without warning, ultimately leading to a full-scale conflict between Zhenwei and the Longmen Escort Agency. Our agency suffered over fifty injuries to our escorts and escorts."

"Who injured Brother Lu?" Zhou Yan asked.

"I heard he's the younger brother of the owner of the Longmen Escort Agency, named 'Divine Fist' Zhang Julu."

Zhou Yan had no recollection of the matter; he only knew that the owner of the Longmen Escort Agency was surnamed Zhang. When he went to Lin'an with Zhang Wangyue, he learned that the Longmen Escort Agency had changed owners. Therefore, Zhang Wangyue paid a visit to apologize for the conflict between Fu'an and the Longmen Escort Agency on the outskirts of Xiangyang. The two sides parted on bad terms, which led to the scene where Jiang Kui attacked him on Dongting Lake in Yuezhou.

"How's the injury?"

"Multiple fractures, especially in the arm. The doctor said he might not be able to hold a gun again."

Huang Rong quickened her pace and walked alongside Zhou Yan. She said, "This is a deliberate attempt to cripple Young Master Lu's hands, and it's obvious that this is a scheme by the other side."

Zhou Yan nodded, "Let's see Brother Lu first."

"I brought the 'Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment' with me. My father took a portion back to study the formula, and the rest is enough."

"Thank you very much." Zhou Yan actually had some ointment from Bao Xiang, but since Huang Rong said so, he didn't need to go through the trouble.

The two followed the escorts into the security company. Lanterns cast a dim glow in the misty rain, and an atmosphere of oppression, indignation, and sorrow filled the air.

The three walked through corridors and buildings until they arrived at a quiet courtyard of the security company, where people were coming and going in the brightly lit wooden buildings.

The escort quickly stepped forward and spoke to the several bodyguards standing outside the courtyard gate. One of Zhou Yan's bodyguards, who recognized him, hurried forward and said, "Master Zhou!"

The bodyguard's voice was filled with resentment. Zhou Yan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Take me to see Brother Lu first."

"Please, Mr. Zhou."

Led by the bodyguard, Zhou Yan and Huang Rong walked through the rain-soaked courtyard and arrived under the eaves. They removed their straw hats and raincoats and hung them on the pillars.

"Boss, young master, Master Zhou is here."

"Brother Zhou, cough cough," Lu Beihe's voice was quickly replaced by a continuous cough. A burly figure walked out of the hall. The man had bright eyes, eyebrows that were parted in the middle, and a dignified appearance.

Zhou Yan recognized the other person: Han Dang, the owner of Zhenwei Escort Agency, Lu Beihe's adoptive father, and a descendant of Han Shizhong.

"Zhou Yan greets Master Han."

"Young hero, you're too kind. Please come in." Knowing that Zhou Yan wasn't working as a bodyguard in Fu'an, Han Dang addressed him as "young hero" and led the two into the house.

"Brother Lu, you mustn't."

Lu Beihe, lying on the bed, struggled to get up with the help of a young boy. Zhou Yan took a step and leaped more than two zhang (about 6.6 meters) to land on the side of the bed.

"Heh, congratulations, Brother Zhou, on your further improvement in martial arts," praised Lu Beihe, who was seriously injured.

"It's nothing to worry about. How are your injuries, Brother Lu?"

"His arm was shattered in several places. He will train his legs instead of his gun, but he can still do escort work and punish evil and promote good."

"Nonsense." Zhou Yan lifted the blanket and gently stroked the other's arms. "If you don't carry two guns, you're not Lu Beihe." Lu Beihe took a deep breath, his eyes slightly moist.

"but I……"

"Do you still remember the Vajra Sect monk from Shaoshi Mountain whom I crippled?"

"Of course I remember."

“That monk’s injuries to his bones and muscles were more severe than Brother Lu’s, but he can still recover.”

Lu Beihe's eyes lit up.

"Miss Huang obtained a box of Black Jade Broken Heart Ointment from the head of the Vajra Sect. It is guaranteed to restore your former vigor in a hundred days."

Han Dang was overjoyed and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Miss Huang."

"Master Han, please don't be so polite." Huang Rong bowed in return and handed Zhou Yan the "Black Jade Broken Heart Ointment".

"I'll treat Brother Lu first."

"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Zhou. Miss Huang has come from afar, please have some tea to relieve your fatigue."

Han Dang personally entertained Huang Rong. The boy undressed Lu Beihe. Since it was a new injury, there was no need to break the bones. Zhou Yan set the bones, applied ointment to the broken bone, and then used his internal energy to draw on the warm and pure energy of the Jade Guanyin to relax his muscles and tendons.

After a course of treatment, Lu Beihe's complexion improved considerably.

Huang Rong and Han Dang went to the bedroom again and saw that the owner of Zhenwei Escort Agency was relieved to see that Lu Beihe's complexion had improved.

Zhou Yan asked, "How will Master Han handle this matter?"

Han Dang sat calmly in his chair, his face exuding authority without anger. He said, "Miss Huang is intelligent. Just now, after discussing it with me, we realized that this was a deliberate act by the Longmen Escort Agency. Our Zhenwei Escort Agency welcomes guests from all directions, acts uprightly, and believes in making money through harmony. However, we will never tolerate the underhanded schemes and bullying of petty people. We will repay them in kind."

"Longmen Escort Agency and Changfeng Escort Agency are on good terms. Such a thing happened when Longmen Escort Agency opened a branch in Kaifeng Prefecture. It is hard to say that Changfeng Escort Agency did not help behind the scenes. Helian Chuncheng and Yin Kexi are doing things for Wanyan Kang. With such behavior, Master Han will probably find it difficult to continue to make a living in Kaifeng in the future."

Han Dang said in a deep voice, "That's right, Miss Huang has enlightened me. I have also weighed and analyzed the situation. The purpose of Longmen Escort Agency's move is to cripple Zhenwei and force it to close down. If one plan fails, the consequences will be interconnected. Even if Zhenwei escapes this calamity, there will still be further troubles."

“Godfather, why don’t we go to Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain and make sure that the Longmen Escort Agency and Changfeng Escort Agency can’t cross the Yangtze River or travel along the Huai River? We should be like Brother Zhou, living life to the fullest and getting revenge.”

Han Dang looked at Lu Beihe: "If you've thought it through, your godfather will support you."

Lu Beihe was overjoyed: "I had this idea since returning from Shaoshi Mountain. Now that my son has recovered from his injuries, the Longmen Escort Agency will come up with another plan if one fails. My godfather is a man of integrity, how can he back down step by step and be humiliated by others?"

Zhou Yan said, "I do have a suggestion."

“Brother Lu, please speak frankly,” Lu Beihe said.

Zhou Yan said, "Firstly, Zhenwei can relocate to Zhongdu to continue its business. Secondly, it can settle in Funiu Mountain. Chief Yang has opened a Zhenyuan Escort Agency in Zhongdu, and the escorts and porters are all disciples of the mountain stronghold. I am going to Luoyang with the escort team. After Brother Lu recovers from his injuries, he can work in Zhenyuan. When the time is right, he can also fight against the Jin and the Mongols."

"Chief Yang actually opened a security escort agency?" Lu Beihe asked in surprise.

"The main reason is that mountain strongholds need to make a living and raise soldiers. Escort agencies can not only earn escort fees, but also transport food, weapons and other supplies for the strongholds."

"Good idea," Lu Beihe praised, then looked at Han Dang: "What does Godfather think?"

"What do you think, child?"

“A different way of life. The Zhenyuan Escort Agency is full of mountain bandits, no family to support, no scruples. They can do things without worry, both escorting goods and killing enemies. I can also go on escort missions with Brother Zhou. How wonderful!”

"Alright!" Han Dang nodded. "I will gather all the personnel of the escort agency right away. Those who stay will be rewarded handsomely, and those who follow will be settled in Funiu Mountain. Once you have recovered, my son, I will take the escorts and porters to Zhongdu."

Huang Rong suggested: "Master Han might as well tell the outside world that the escort agency is relocating, and then explain the final settlement plan to the remaining escorts and porters."

“Miss Huang, this is a good idea. I will make the arrangements right away.”

After Han Dang left, Huang Rong said to Zhou Yan, "We still need to be wary of them eliminating us completely."

“I will take this hurdle for Brother Lu.”

Huang Rong clapped her hands: "A clever substitution."

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "Well, let's see who will fall to my sword then."

(End of this chapter)