The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 318 You don't want your identity to be exposed, do you?

"Clang!" After the sound of metal clashing, the longswords in Zhou Yan and Li Taiping's hands suddenly emitted a continuous series of clanging sounds. The ear-piercing sharp sound was like a torrential rain hitting the tiles, sparks flew everywhere, and the wind and snow were swirled around the two of them, forming a huge vortex that rolled on the ground.

Zhou Yan and Li Taiping probed each other, exchanging over a hundred blows without ever clashing their swords, before finally unleashing their most dangerous killing intent. Zhou Yan, utilizing the Ancient Tomb Lightness Skill, moved like lightning, while Li Taiping was as swift as a wisp of smoke.

Li Taiping's swordplay was swift and fierce, with almost no gap between each strike. At first glance, it resembled a swirling, ever-flowing, transparent, and crystalline curtain of light.

Zhou Yan moved swiftly within a three-foot radius of Li Taiping's sword tip, his longsword flashing with streaks of light and shadow, which intertwined and connected in a dense pattern.

Because of the high speed, each collision was like dozens of swords striking at the same time.

Zhou Yan encountered two great swordsmen in succession: Jiang Kui, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of the Longmen镖局 (escort agency), and the current驸知 (chief clerk) of the Imperial City Guard. The former displayed the power of the sword to the fullest, while the latter had perfected speed to the extreme, to the point that he often could not use the eight secrets of the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" that were incorporated into his swordsmanship.

The moment the longswords made contact, before anyone could even "lead," "entangle," "turn," or "strangle," Li Taiping's longsword was swiftly withdrawn, and the second and third swords surged forth with murderous intent.

In the world of martial arts, speed is the only way to break through defenses, and Zhou Yan has truly come to understand this deeply.

Li Taiping was also suffering. Although Zhou Yan could not use the Eight Secret Techniques, the impact of their swords contacting each other was everywhere. Li Taiping felt that Zhou Yan's longsword was like a thin vine, wrapping around his own sword and making his sword style more heavy. He had no choice but to use all his internal energy to drive his sword, one sword after another. His profound internal energy was constantly being consumed in this extreme way.

The shock of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan was profound. After two years apart, their benefactor's swordsmanship had become so superb that they could not accurately capture the sword's traces.

Five people watched while one listened. Suddenly, more than ten experts from the Imperial City Guard, without saying a word, seemed to be of one mind and used their movement techniques to surround and attack in the blink of an eye.

"Watch out for the fishing nets, and prepare your hidden weapons!" Zhu Cong shouted. The six men took their positions, forming a circular fighting formation in the blink of an eye.

After Zhang Asheng died, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan knew that they would not be able to win against Mei Chaofeng through pure combat. So they racked their brains and came up with a set of combined attack formations to cover each other and coordinate their attacks.

Han Baoju dodged quickly, his long whip suddenly shooting out with great force and sharpness, meeting a flying shuttle that was attacking Han Xiaoying and specifically designed to entangle swords and knives. In an instant, the brother and sister switched positions, and the whip and the flying shuttle quickly twisted and intertwined together.

With a stable lower body and outstanding arm strength, Han Baoju roared and pulled hard, causing the Master of Skills Scholar to dodge a hook-and-sickle spear that was thrusting towards him. He then swung his hand and threw three bone-piercing nails at the Imperial City Guard expert who was wielding a flying shuttle.

The man yelled, dropped his weapon, and fell to the ground, rolling away to avoid it.

However, this was only a flash in the pan. More experts from the Imperial City Guard rushed over, and flying stones, darts, and iron caltrops rained down on the Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan.

In a one-on-one fight, none of the six monsters had an advantage, but when more than ten people joined forces to attack, the situation instantly became precarious.

……

The cook's ghost-head knife became more and more ferocious with each strike, a violent slash; Yang Miaozhen's spear thrusts became more and more rapid. The two cooperated quite well, yet Li Yan remained calm and composed. His flying figure was graceful and fluid, like an eagle flapping its wings or a wild goose riding the wind. His long sword trembled as it unleashed a torrent of sword light that forced Yang Miaozhen and the cook to dodge.

The cook, who had been forced back several feet, suddenly ducked and lunged to the ground. The blade flashed out almost skimming the ground, engulfing Li Yan's feet.

He unleashed his ground-lying sword technique, forming an attack from above and below with Yang Miaozhen, which slightly turned the tide. The three of them spun around, and suddenly Yang Miaozhen's spear pierced the cook on the ground.

Yang Miaozhen was horrified and twisted her wrist. The spearhead slashed across the cook's face, drawing a line of blood, before plunging into the ground with a thud, splashing up a large patch of dirt and snow.

The cook rolled several feet away, angrily shouting, "Why did you stab me?"

"This person's technique is flawed. I'm sorry."

The cook gave a low groan and attacked again with his knife. Soon after, the ghost-head knife slashed eerily at Yang Miaozhen, leaving a trail of blood on her waist.

"I didn't mean to! Ah, I'll fight you to the death!" The cook roared as he charged at Li Yan fearlessly.

At this moment, Huang Rong placed Mei Chaofeng, whose bleeding had gradually stopped, on the ground. She then flashed behind Li Yan, raised her right hand, and more than a dozen "Ice Soul Silver Needles" fell towards Li Yan with a hissing sound.

Li Yan forced Yang Miaozhen back with two swift sword strikes, leaving a trail of blood on the cook's body. She then touched the ground with her left foot, leaped more than two zhang high, and somersaulted twice in the air before landing behind Huang Rong.

Huang Rong turned around abruptly.

Li Yan laughed and said, "You girl are really ruthless." Huang Rong, who had completely calmed down, was like a fairy riding the wind. When she got close to Li Yan, she waved her right hand, her thumb and forefinger clenched together, and the remaining three fingers were slightly spread. Her fingers stretched out like an orchid and brushed towards Li Yan's "Quchi" acupoint. The posture was extremely beautiful.

"Huh!" Li Yan exclaimed in surprise. He hadn't expected Huang Rong to have such a high level of acupoint striking skills.

Huang Rong suddenly said quickly, "You don't want your identity to be exposed, do you?"

Huang Rong's question struck Li Yan like a thunderbolt, causing his pupils to shrink.

"The Murong Clan of Gusu," Huang Rong said again, trying to win your heart. "Listen to me, and I will protect your identity. Don't even think about killing me to silence you. I know your identity, and others do too."

"What do you want?" Li Yan thrust out her sword, the sword technique was fierce, but like Lin Chaoying's Jade Maiden Heart Sword Technique, it did not carry any killing intent.

"leave here."

"What should we do?"

Huang Rong let out a slight breath; she had taken a risky gamble, but fortunately, it had succeeded.

She was in high spirits, a smile on her face, "You'll be taken aback by my silver needles."

"You can't hide it from Lord Li."

"Centipede venom on a needle."

"it is good!"

As the two were talking, Yang Miaozhen and the cook attacked again.

Yang Miaozhen's spear trembled wildly, like a dragon devouring Li Yan. The cook exerted his strength, charging out violently, his ghost-head saber slashing down with thunderous force.

Huang Rong used the "Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm," her palm strikes resembling a flurry of falling petals, her movements graceful and unrestrained, leaving shadows of her palms in all directions. After the three exchanged blows for more than ten rounds, Huang Rong threw out a handful of "Ice Soul Silver Needles." With a "clanging" sound, tiny sparks exploded around Li Yan, who suddenly let out a muffled groan.

"What a wicked witch."

Li Yan was threatened by Huang Rong, and her insults were genuinely heartfelt.

Huang Rong didn't mind at all and just chuckled.

Li Yan swiftly thrust her sword several times, forcing the three men back. She then leaped backward, landing on a house several feet away. Hastily, she took a porcelain bottle from her bosom and swallowed a pill. She then shouted to Li Taiping:
"My lord, save me!"

Yang Miaozhen and the cook were overjoyed and turned to rush to the aid of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan, with Huang Rong following behind.

Li Taiping, who was fiercely fighting with Zhou Yan, suddenly heard Li Yan's cry for help. His mind wavered, and his swordplay became slightly disordered.

The fleeting opportunity was keenly seized by Zhou Yan. With a soft "clang" sound, he deflected the longsword that Li Taiping was thrusting at him. Without changing his sword stance, he charged straight in. The Qingfeng sword hummed, and a foot of sword energy exploded in Li Taiping's chest.

Li Taiping's chest was shattered, and he retreated rapidly. In an instant, Zhou Yan used his "Finger Flicking Divine Skill" to flick his long sword.

"laugh"

The Qingfeng sword grazed past Li Taiping's left rib and disappeared into the snow. A wound more than half a foot long appeared on Li Taiping's body, revealing the bare ribs through the bloody flesh.

Li Taiping dared not fight again and turned to run away.

More than ten experts from the Imperial City Guards launched hidden weapons, deciding that retreat was the best course of action.

(End of this chapter)