The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 330 Visitors from Mount Song, Huang Rong in Danger

The floating clouds disperse, and the bright moon shines upon us.

A black carriage stopped in front of the Fu'an Escort Agency. Duan Huai'an and his son Duan Chaoxi got out of the carriage, walked through the gatehouse, corridors and buildings, and appeared in the council hall.

Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, Hu Yanlei, and Qiu Qianchi were all present. Duan Huai'an, who entered the hall, was not surprised and smiled, saying, "Brother Zhou, it's been a long time."

"It has been some time," Zhou Yan said with a smile, getting up to pour tea.

After everyone was seated, Zhang Wangyue said, "This evening, people from the Western Xia First-Class Hall, the Imperial City Guard of Lin'an, and the Crown Prince's Residence of the Jin Kingdom will be coming."

"What about the casualties?" Duan Huai'an asked hurriedly.

"Two bodyguards were injured, the rest are fine."

Duan Huai'an felt relieved, not because he was distressed about the compensation money. Since the Mongols occupied Zhongdu, Fu'an's business had been booming, and now they had opened up routes outside the Great Wall, making a fortune. He genuinely cared about the safety of the bodyguards and porters.

Upon hearing Zhang Wangyue's words, Duan Huai'an felt relieved and said, "Thank you for your help, Chief Escort, Brother Zhou, Manager Qiu, and Escort Huyan."

Zhang Wangyue's gaze swept across the room, taking in every table, chair, and piece of furniture. When his eyes returned to the room, he spoke: "The First-Rank Hall is here because of their failed mission to the Western Regions. They probably won't cause trouble anytime soon. The Imperial City Guard of Lin'an is here for me, acting on orders, and they will fight to the death. Furthermore, once the Mongols achieve a great victory in their western campaign, the Lin'an court and the Mongols will join forces against the Jin Dynasty, making it easy for them to come and arrest us."

Duan Chaoxi still didn't understand Zhang Wangyue's implied meaning. Duan Huai'an sighed and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled Brother Zhang."

Zhang Wangyue said, "My lord is very kind and righteous. I have never opened a branch for him, and I am ashamed to have failed him."

"You're being too polite. Fu'an is thriving, which is obvious to all, and it's all thanks to your hard work."

Zhang Wangyue said solemnly and in a deep voice: "Given the matter of the Imperial City Guard arresting people, it is time to say goodbye to Fu'an. Brother Huyan and Brother Yang will both come with me to fight the Jurchens, but Brother Huyan and Brother Yang will first go to work at the Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

Duan Huai'an knew that Zhenyuan Escort Agency was established by the Funiu Mountain stronghold, so he nodded, "Good!"

“With Chief Escort Wang and Chief Escort Shi still here, the boss need not worry about business. Once we leave, with the reputation and prestige that Fu’an has accumulated, we can travel freely within Mongolia and beyond the Great Wall.”

Duan Huai'an smiled, then became serious and said, "Back in the day, when Lu, a merchant from Jingzhou, was escorting goods, his cargo consisted of mules and horses. I once said something like that."

"Though my position is humble, I dare not forget my duty to the nation," Zhou Yan said.

Duan Huai'an laughed, "Brother Zhou has a good memory. Since Brother Zhang is fighting the Jin people, I won't stop him. As long as any of the镖局's镖师 (bodyguards) or 趟子手 (couriers) are willing to follow Brother Zhang, they can be taken along. That's quite righteous. The matter of opening a branch in Fu'an is not worth mentioning."

"Thank you, boss."

"We won't leave until we're drunk tonight," Duan Huai'an said.
"it is good!"

The cook from the Fu'an Escort Agency prepared a table full of dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables. Liang Xiaowu brought over some drinks, and everyone toasted and drank, creating a lively atmosphere without any trace of sadness or worry about gains or losses.

Duan Chaoxi, unable to hold his liquor, was the first to get drunk and pass out, while Duan Huai'an became more and more sober the more he drank. In his conversation, he mentioned old stories such as his ancestors guarding the Western Regions, and how the Duan family of Wuwei later split into two branches, one going to Yunnan and becoming the current Duan family of Dali. He also mentioned that Emperor Xuanren of the Dali branch had fought against the Liao Dynasty.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by Zhou Yan. He sighed inwardly. The intricate connection between the Legend of the Condor Heroes and the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world was all his own speculation, but now his former employer's words had confirmed it.

Emperor Xuanren of Dali was Duan Yu.

From the world of Tianlong to the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, from the Northern Song Dynasty to the Southern Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty perished, the Jin Dynasty weakened, and the Mongols rose. Over a hundred years of great upheaval, many sects lost their lineage, which is why Ouyang Feng and Huang Yaoshi were unaware of the Xiaoyao Sect and the Murong Clan of Gusu.

However, Dali has complete historical records.

Who knows what other unsung heroes, born during this century, have remained hidden from the world on this vast land?

They talked late into the night by candlelight, and as dawn broke, Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Yang Tiexin, Mu Nianci, and others bid farewell to Duan Huai'an and Duan Chaoxi, with their former employer in Fu'an giving them a large sum of money as a parting gift.

Zhang Wangyue did not take a single penny, nor did he bring a single bodyguard or porter.

Yang Tiexin, Huyan Lei, and Mu Nianci transformed themselves into the head镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) of Zhenyuan镖局 (escort agency).

Zhang Wangyue returned to his lodgings, packed his bags, and prepared to accompany Zhou Yan to Dazhai in the Funiu Mountains.

……

New buds on the poplar trees in the courtyard are like curtains, their tender yellow color radiating vitality in the morning light.

Back at his residence, Zhou Yan placed the Xuan Tie Heavy Spear, the Ox Horn Giant Bow, and the Qingfeng Sword on the weapon rack under the eaves of the west wing. He then drew water from the ancient well to wash his face and rinse his mouth.

After changing his clothes, as he went out to buy breakfast, he heard hurried footsteps approaching, "Master Zhou."

"Xiao Wu!" Zhou Yan replied from inside the courtyard upon hearing the voice.

"it's me."

With a creak, the door was pushed open, and Liang Xiaowu rushed in first. A travel-worn monk hesitated for a moment before following him.

Zhou Yan was taken aback. The monk quickly stepped forward, put his hands together, and said, "This humble monk, Tianci, greets Benefactor Zhou."

"Master, please don't be so polite." The monk said that he was Tianci, and Zhou Yan guessed that he was probably a monk from Shaolin Temple.

“You’ve only just left the escort agency when the master came to visit, saying he has important business to discuss.” Liang Xiaowu explained briefly, “Master Zhou, please continue your conversation with the master. I’m going to buy some breakfast.”

"it is good!"

After Liang Xiaowu left, Zhou Yan led Master Tianci into the hall. The monk took out a letter from his bag and presented it with both hands, saying, "This is a letter from the abbot to Benefactor Zhou."

Zhou Yan received the letter, opened it, and understood the reason behind it word by word.

Originally, Shaolin Temple was about to travel to the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions to rescue the Shaolin monks who had been captured by the Fire-Worker Monk. Since Ku Hui's return, Shaolin Temple had been paying close attention to the dynamics of the martial arts world. They learned that Zhou Yan had fought with people from the Vajra Sect in Yuezhou, Xiangyang and other places on several occasions, and wanted to inquire about it.

Zhou Yan said to Monk Tianci, "Master, please wait a moment. We will go to Shaolin Temple together later."

"Thank you for your help, Benefactor Zhou." Tianci was delighted.

Zhou Yan happened to be going to Funiu Mountain, and would also visit Songshan Mountain along the way, making the trip convenient and avoiding any detours.

Liang Xiaowu returned with breakfast, and the three ate together. Zhou Yan packed his bags, took some silver, and set off with his gun, bow, and sword. When they arrived at the escort agency, Zhang Wangyue was already waiting. Zhou Yan succinctly explained why Tianci had come to the agency.

Not long after, Zhou Yan rode the "Night-Shining Jade Lion," and Zhang Wangyue brought a yellow horse from the escort agency for Master Tianci. He rode the dragon steed, and the three of them left Zhongdu City and headed straight for Shaoshi Mountain.

……

The sun rises in the east, then falls to the west, a figure leaps through the air and lands in the courtyard.

The two people in white dresses and black clothes are Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng.

After recovering from her injuries, Mei Chaofeng spent some time practicing the Peach Blossom Island martial arts, "Little Vajra Fist," in the Funiu Mountains. Huang Rong then headed straight to Zhou Yan's courtyard in Zhongdu.

Her gaze first fell on the weapon rack under the eaves, but there were no spears or bows in sight. Huang Rong pouted, "Zhou Yan isn't here."

"Why don't we ask at the escort agency?" Mei Chaofeng suggested.

"That's all we can do. You wait here."

"it is good!"

Huang Rong leaped over the courtyard wall and rushed to Xiang Fu'an Escort Agency.

Half an hour later, she returned and said to Mei Chaofeng, who was sitting under the old tree in the courtyard, "Zhou Yan went to Shaoshi Mountain and left at noon. We are a little late."

"Pity!"

Huang Rong smiled and said, "That's wonderful! If he really stays in Zhongdu, we'll be bored with nothing to do. We can take a trip to Mount Song instead. Let's go!"

Without lingering, the two left Zhongdu and headed towards Shaoshi Mountain.

……

The evening breeze carried the warmth of a spring night, and the stars twinkled. Mount Song was enveloped in a warm night.

Shaoshi Mountain is quite steep, surrounded by green hills and water, with lush forests. The wide stone steps are faintly visible in the moonlight. The sound of hooves echoes as two yellow horses wind their way up the stone path. After turning a bend in the mountain path, a temple with yellow walls and green tiles comes into view in the distance.

"Mei Ruohua, how about we spend the night in the woods outside the temple?" Huang Rong's melodious voice rang out.

"Being with my junior sister, even in the wilderness, is a joyful experience, with plenty of good food and drink, much more so than when I was in the Prince Zhao's mansion."

"Then it's decided."

The two approached the woods outside the temple, dismounted, and Huang Rong said, "It's chilly tonight, let me find some firewood to start a fire."

"Thank you for your trouble, junior sister."

"no thanks."

Huang Rong was in a good mood and walked lightly into the forest, heading deeper into the woods, searching here and there.

After taking only a hundred or so big steps, the sound of wind and thunder stirred up by the night traveler's figure suddenly drew closer, and a burly figure burst out from the darkness in front of Huang Rong, striking with a palm.

Huang Rong felt the palm shadows of the newcomer descend rapidly, so dense that they almost covered the sky and the earth, leaving no place to hide.

She was shocked; it was the "Mighty Vajra Palm".

(End of this chapter)