The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 60 Understanding the Sword, Observing the Sword

A gentle breeze rustled through the grass and trees, creating a soft, rustling sound, while the sunlight shone warmly.

Zhang Sanqiang was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Why?"

Zhou Yan said, "Those who achieve great things throughout history not only possess extraordinary talent, but your martial arts are also capable of defeating the famous Eastern Heretic, Western Poison, Southern Emperor, and Northern Beggar of today?"

Zhang Sanqiang stood up and drew his spear.

Heroes have always emerged from among the young. Gan Luo became prime minister at the age of twelve, and Huo Qubing was ennobled at the age of eighteen. He wondered what insightful words Zhou Yan would utter, but instead, he said something quite different.

However, this aligns with the youthful spirit; having mastered martial arts, how could one not yearn to roam the martial world with a sword, amidst peach blossoms and spring breezes, enjoying a cup of wine, and admiring those four whose martial arts have reached the pinnacle of perfection? He enjoys comparing himself to others.

When I was young, I longed to be a chivalrous knight who could "kill one man in ten steps and leave no trace for a thousand miles." But as I grew older, I saw that the emperor was tyrannical, levied exorbitant taxes, and the people were suffering. This changed my mindset.

He said, "I thought you could say something original, but it turns out you only talk about martial arts. My ambition is to conquer the world, so why do I care about that title? But if we really compare, I may not be inferior."

Zhou Yan said, "Chief Hong's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is hailed as the most powerful and fierce palm technique in the world."

"The path of martial arts is vast and complex; one must know that there are always people more skilled than oneself, and mountains beyond mountains. Alright, if you do not wish to follow me, then I will not force you. I admire your courage as a young man, but everyone has their own ambitions, and I cannot force you. If you change your mind in the future, you may come to Jiangxi to join me. As for the matter of the bandits, I will investigate to see if it is due to the increasing prevalence of cult members or a gathering of wicked people who deceive the world and steal fame."

As soon as Zhang Sanqiang finished speaking, he casually tossed over an exquisitely crafted iron spearhead. "This is my token. Until we meet again."

The burly man said no more, took his gun and entered the mountains. He moved with incredible speed, disappearing into the vast forest in a few flashes.

Zhou Yan examined the small, dart-like spearhead in his hand. He had provoked Zhang Sanqiang by mentioning the Northern Beggar, hoping to glean information from him to determine if the man was indeed the leader of the Ming Cult and possessed the Qiankun Great Shift technique. Although he hadn't fully achieved his goal, Zhang Sanqiang's mention of the word "cult member" suggested he was likely right.

Zhang Sanqiang, Zhang the Master.

Zhou Yan chuckled softly, mounted his horse, and the yellow horse galloped off towards the Xinye-Nanyang line.

……

The carved bow reflects the bright moon, the steed seems like a flash of lightning. A startled wild goose falls from the empty bowstring, a mournful ape cries as the arrow flies swiftly.

Since arriving in Xiangyang, Zhou Yan rode swiftly, never stopping at inns, instead hunting and sleeping in the mountains and fields, practicing his martial arts. Of course, he would also punish evildoers and uphold justice whenever he encountered injustice along the way.

He had no intention of comparing himself to Hong Qigong; he would kill all those wicked thieves and womanizers who committed evil deeds.

Ten days later, the yellow horse appeared in Anyang.

Zhou Yan had already arrived ahead of the caravan. Anyang and Handan were the only places they could pass through, and he could meet up with the caravan at any point.

The original owner's martial arts were mainly external skills, tempering his muscles and bones and accumulating strength. He never had the awareness of integrating martial arts and Taoism. If Zhou Yan had not come into contact with Wang Chuyi and Sun Bu'er, he probably would not have thought about Taoism either.

In Zhou Yan's eyes, this was the realm of figures like the Eastern Heretic and the Western Poison—skills that approached the Dao and art that could reach the divine.

The true essence of Quanzhen martial arts lies in the fact that the Dao permeates the entire process from the moment one comes into contact with it. Perhaps this is the reason why Sun Bu'er said that Quanzhen martial arts are hailed as the orthodox school of martial arts in the world. Therefore, when Zhou Yan went north, he bought and read Daoist classics such as "Huainanzi" and "Benjing Yinfu Qishu" in order to understand Quanzhen martial arts in a more profound and thorough way.

Passing through Anyang, he camped at the foot of the Taihang Mountains, where he saw "the Milky Way seemingly turning as a thousand sails danced" at night and "the sky meeting the clouds and waves, merging with the morning mist" at dawn.

Suddenly, he thought of some of the moves from the forty-nine styles of the Quanzhen Swordplay taught by Sun Bu'er.

The moon shines brightly, sparse stars and pale moon, the Milky Way seems to turn, the moon is bright and frosty, egrets rise from the Milky Way, the bright river reflects the moon, and so on.

He recalled a saying by Sun Bu'er: "The swordsman senses nature and expresses it through meditation; this is the way to understand the sword. If one understands the true meaning, the sword technique comes alive; otherwise, it dies."

The words Sun Bu'er said to Zhou Yan actually came from Qiu Chuji. Wang Chongyang had personally instructed Qiu Chuji on these words, but due to differences in talent, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, and others had varying levels of understanding of these words. As for Qingjing Sanren, she was not even a beginner; she simply recited these words verbatim to Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan, however, had some insights at the foot of the Taihang Mountains in Anyang. The Quanzhen Swordplay has a unique and expansive style. When it is used, it is like splashing ink on a great river. Its meaning is similar to what is said in the Huainanzi: "Therefore, when planted, it fills the heaven and earth; when spread horizontally, it pervades the four seas; when applied, it is endless and has no morning or evening; when unfolded, it covers the six directions; when rolled up, it cannot be contained in a single hand."

Many of the sword techniques in the Quanzhen Swordplay are in line with the principles of nature.

If Zhou Yan hadn't been riding the waves of the Yangtze River, he might not have had such a profound experience. But it was in the Yangtze River near Jingzhou that he truly grasped the essence of the saying "the dragon that soars too high will regret it."

Only those who are in it can truly understand its meaning; those who are outside of it can only scratch the surface.

With this in mind, Zhou Yan released the yellow horse into the mountains and forests, and went alone to an unnamed peak of the Taihang Mountains. He sat on the summit to watch the sea of ​​clouds and contemplate the sword through nature.

Without being atop the mountain, how can one truly grasp the essence of Quanzhen swordplay techniques such as "Frosty Waves Rolling Snow," "Frosty Mountains Across a Thousand Miles," "Sealing the Throat Across Ten Thousand Miles," and "Broken Dreams of Passes and Rivers"? Swordplay without essence is merely rigid.

Sunrise and sunset, mountain mists and clouds.

While practicing the internal energy cultivation of the Quanzhen School, Zhou Yan integrated the Qi circulation method with sword techniques, creating a harmonious interplay between sword techniques and sword intent.

Completely oblivious to his surroundings, he instinctively sought out mountain springs to drink from when hunger struck, and ate the cooked meat he carried with him.

The starry sky is brilliant, as if emerging from within it.

Five days after Zhou Yan began practicing his swordsmanship, he opened his eyes. His gaze had lost some of its sharpness and gained more composure.

He took the steel sword he had obtained from killing the flower thief along the way, and silently practiced the Qi circulation method. His internal energy rose to his dantian, entered the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, and traveled along the anterior edge of the inner side of the upper arm to the "Tianfu" and "Xiabai" acupoints, then to the "Chize" acupoint in the middle of the elbow, and finally along the radial edge of the inner side of the forearm to the "Yuji" acupoint at the anterior edge of the thenar eminence of the palm.

Zhou Yan did not unblock the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, but by consuming snake gall, his robust and powerful internal energy circulated through the meridians, which was equivalent to tempering them. Moreover, the Jade Guanyin also had the effect of soothing the meridians and activating blood circulation. Therefore, the meridians that had not yet been tempered and opened were extremely resilient and could bear the abundant internal energy.

A powerful surge of internal energy originating from the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin instantly flowed from the "Yuji" acupoint in Zhou Yan's palm and into the longsword in his hand.

With a clear "hum," the sword's cry pierced the sky. He raised his hand and lowered his wrist, thrusting his longsword downwards and then upwards in an arc, unleashing the "Ten Thousand Mile Throat Sealing" move of the Quanzhen Swordplay. The sword light rose like a rainbow, the moves progressing, and the suddenly intensified sword light surged like starlight, like snow gathering in the Milky Way.

……

As dawn broke, the caravan's men began preparing breakfast at their camp, where they had camped the night before after arriving from the direction of Hebi.

As usual, Hu Yanlei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan got up at the crack of dawn and went to practice their martial arts near the foot of the mountain.

When they went south to escort goods, the three of them saw Zhou Yan practicing diligently and tirelessly, so they took the initiative to practice more on their own, and it has now become a habit.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Hu Yanlei was about to set up his gun when a clear sword cry suddenly echoed from the void. He looked up and saw a sword light rising from the mountaintop, like a rainbow piercing the sun, bright as lightning, as if hundreds of snakes were moving within it, or like a streak of meteors, moving with indescribable speed.

Wang Kui and Shi Baichuan also witnessed this scene. The bodyguard Wang Kui said, "Have we come to the wrong place and disturbed the swordsman's training?"

Hu Yanlei nodded: "Yes, there is some. Let's find another place."

The three turned and walked out, their voices still echoing in the cold morning wind.

“The most exquisite swordsmanship I have ever seen belongs to Master Sun of the Quanzhen Sect. I think this person’s swordsmanship is even better than Master Sun’s,” Shi Baichuan said.

Wang Kui agreed: "I think so too."

"There's always someone better. It's a pity Brother Zhou isn't here, otherwise I would have gained even a small piece of information," said the bodyguard Huyan Lei regretfully.

“Yes, if Brother Zhou saw this, he probably wouldn’t be able to move.” Wang Kui and Shi Baichuan said in unison.

(End of this chapter)