The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 43 A Sun Bu'er Fell From the Sky
In the courtyard of Zhongdu, Wang Chuyi, known as "Iron-Legged Immortal," taught Zhou Yan the "Golden Goose Skill" and the internal cultivation method for the Quanzhen School. He also explained the key cultivation methods of the Taoist school, detailing "Five Hearts Returning to the Origin" and "Harmony of the Four Symbols," and used obscure terms and concepts such as "One Yang" and "Six Times."

Zhou Yan is currently following the method taught by Yu Yangzi to cultivate and refine the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

At the end of the Yin hour, the Yang energy is just beginning to rise, full of vitality. The internal energy that rises from the Dantian circulates within the body, then travels to the area below the little toe, diagonally to the sole of the foot, emerges below the Rangu point, follows behind the inner ankle, separates into the heel, ascends to the inner side of the calf, emerges from the inner side of the popliteal fossa, ascends to the inner posterior side of the thigh, penetrates the spine, connects to the kidneys, and links to the bladder.

This internal energy flows like spring rain into a stream, meandering across an uneven riverbed, repeatedly combing and nourishing, strengthening the meridians, and irrigating 27 acupoints. This cycle repeats itself until the internal energy finally emerges from the Zilu acupoint at the outer corner of the eye and flows into the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang. It rises to the temple, descends to behind the ear, turns outward and rises again, passing through the forehead to above the eyebrow, then returns to behind the ear, cleanses the Fengchi acupoint, and then descends along the side of the neck into the Quepen area.

In the annotations of the Quanzhen Internal Kung Fu manual, the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian belongs to the Wood element, and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian belongs to the Water element.

When water combines with wood, wood flourishes. Zhou Yan's cultivation in this way naturally yielded twice the results with half the effort. His two meridians were tempered by the purest and most refined internal energy, making his courage stronger and his kidney energy more abundant. He felt as if his body was bathed in warm sunshine, and he felt indescribably comfortable.

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), as the sun rises and Yang energy is abundant, Zhou Yan faces east to greet the morning glow. His Qi flows through the Shao Yang meridian, making him agile and light, and he focuses on tempering the Shao Yang gallbladder meridian of his foot.

When he inhales, he feels like a tiger crouching in the mountains and forests; when he exhales, he feels like a dragon soaring through the wind and clouds. With each inhale and exhale, his pelvis expands, and his hips, sacrum, and coccyx all move. Suddenly, he feels as if he is being lifted up and flying away.

This is a sign that the "Golden Goose Skill" is improving slowly but in a real way.

Hu Yanlei returned from his arduous training in the Yue Family Spear Technique, his body still steaming hot. He glanced at Zhou Yan, puzzled, and asked, "Brother Zhou, you weren't training in this direction before. Are you absorbing the essence of the moon and the sun?" Goodness!

Hu Yanlei tiptoed over to Zhang Wangyue.

"Head镖师, what kind of martial arts does Brother Zhou practice? I feel it's a bit like the technique of inhaling and exhaling the essence of the sun and moon that storytellers talk about."

This is the limitation. Hu Yanlei's martial arts skills are quite good among the镖人 (bodyguards/escorts). In the world of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, he could fight against people like Hou Tonghai. However, he practiced external martial arts and knew nothing about internal martial arts.

Mei Chaofeng obtained the Nine Yin Manual, which contained phrases like "Five Hearts Converging to the Origin" and "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top." She didn't understand their meaning and ultimately suffered from qi deviation. If it weren't for Guo Jing, she would have starved to death in the Prince Zhao's mansion.

If Zhou Yan didn't have these foundational qualities, even if he had the opportunity to obtain the true scriptures, he would find it difficult to cultivate himself.

When Hu Yanlei asked this question, the knowledgeable Zhang Wangyue replied, "Brother Zhou practices Taoist techniques."

"How does he know Taoist techniques?"

Zhang Wangyue smiled slightly, “People have opportunities. Looking at the present, those young martial arts prodigies who can dominate the world, besides their own talent, who doesn’t have opportunities? But since it is an opportunity, what is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not destined to be yours, you cannot force.”

Hu Yanlei quickly replied, "That's right, I understand this principle."

Zhang Wangyue nodded and said, "You should rest for a while too. We'll set off in an hour."

"okay!"

Zhou Yan overheard their conversation clearly. He felt a warmth in his heart, for it was a blessing to have met such mentors and friends as head镖师 (bodyguards) and镖师 (bodyguards) in his life.

The caravan was about to depart. His thoughts returned, he withdrew his cultivation technique, lay down on his side, his mind clear and empty, devoid of any worries. His breathing was gentle and even, his soul undisturbed, his spirit undisturbed, and he drifted off to sleep.

The jade Guanyin pendant on his body began to exude a warm and gentle aura, soothing his muscles and tendons.

Huyan Lei looked again, then turned to Zhang Wangyue and said, "I've seen Brother Zhou's method of sleeping many times during my rest stops along the way, and it always reminds me of the 'Sleeping Arhat'."

Zhang Wangyue couldn't help but chuckle.

When Zhou Yan woke up, the birds chirped melodiously in the mountains and fields, creating a misty and ethereal scene where "the mountains and streams are shrouded in mist."

The porters lit a campfire, set up an iron pot, and started boiling water to make noodles.

When the caravan traveled, they mostly ate and slept outdoors, with noodles for breakfast and dinner, and some flatbread to eat during rest stops. But as long as Zhou Yan was there, he could always improve their meals. The caravan would camp by the river, and after washing up, he would carry his bow and go into the mountains. He would return in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, carrying four wild rabbits and two pheasants.

The porters, who had been eagerly waiting since he entered the mountains, happily ran over, took the chickens and rabbits, plucked and skinned them, cleaned them, cooked them, and used the broth to make noodles.

During the meal, Zhou Yan's bowl had the most meat.

Actually, many of the cooks didn't get any meat shreds, but they still had meat soup noodles to eat, so what more could they ask for?

Zhou Yan sometimes quite likes this kind of life. Coming from modern society, he cultivates in an ancient tomb day after day for ten years. At least for now, he feels he can't do it.

"Embracing the blades, wielding a sword in the mortal world," he still preferred the words Li Mochou had once said.

The caravan set off again, traveling from Shangluo to Nanyang, passing through Xinye, and steadily approaching Xiangyang. Though the journey was long and arduous, it was safe and sound. Zhou Yan continued his diligent practice, and relying on his senses when guiding his qi with his mind, he felt it was almost time to thoroughly refine and clear a proper meridian.

The caravan did not enter Xiangyang, but traveled from the southwest. Around noon, the endless, undulating mountains came into Zhou Yan's view, and his thoughts began to wander.

Dugu Qiubai's sword tomb should be located in these mountains.

The clouds were in the blue sky, and the sky above the mountain gorge was cut into a strip, lying across Zhou Yan's head. At this moment, the caravan was behind, and suddenly the caravan in front stopped, and the noise of mules and horses rang out.

A messenger from ahead reported that the group had encountered a caravan from the Longmen Escort Agency in Lin'an Prefecture, and the two caravans had collided.

Zhou Yan recalled that when he was drinking with Hu Yanlei at Songhelou, Hu Yanlei mentioned that the four great escort agencies in the world included Longmen Escort Agency, and that the head of the escort agency had delivered personal escorts for Longmen Escort Agency before going to Fu'an Escort Agency.

He and Huyan Lei dismounted and walked forward.

After traveling two miles, Zhou Yan came into view a large, embroidered banner with the bold, powerful characters "Zhang" on it.

Zhou Yan had not known that the owner of Longmen Escort Agency was surnamed Zhang. When he saw the large characters, he was stunned for a moment and thought that this should have nothing to do with the lineage of Zhang Xian of Yue Family Army. It was just a coincidence.

Shi Baichuan, who was ahead, saw Zhou Yan and Hu Yanlei and quickly walked over.

"Brother Shi, what's going on?"

Shi Baichuan said, "They're escorting goods from Guanzhong, and they're stuck here. We're less than three miles from here, but they just won't let us through."

Hu Yanlei said, "The Longmen Escort Agency shouldn't be so unreasonable."

"There are all kinds of birds in a big forest. The escort is a young head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), who is arrogant and domineering." Shi Baichuan spat. "There are also镖师 who called us lackeys of the Jurchens. Damn it, I wanted to slap them. The head镖师 is negotiating."

“I had the same thought.” As soon as Zhou Yan finished speaking, the trees above the cliff swayed and the forest birds took flight in fright.

Both were experienced men. Hu Yanlei and Shi Baichuan shouted in unison, "Protect the escort!"

Zhou Yan tore off the bow scabbard, took out the iron bow, and drew a long arrow. Above his field of vision, a Taoist nun fell swiftly like a wild goose. The sunlight above the steep cliff was suddenly pierced through, and the woman, whose figure was magnified, was filled with murderous intent, tearing through the wind and stirring up dust as she pounced on the Taoist nun.

Zhou Yan's pupils shrank suddenly. He practiced the "Golden Goose Skill" and recognized that the Taoist nun had used this movement technique. Judging from her skill level, she seemed to be inferior to Yu Yangzi Wang Chuyi, but she was definitely not comparable to him.

The name "Sun Bu'er, the Recluse of Tranquility" suddenly popped into my head.

(End of this chapter)