The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 66 The Intent of the Spear is Like a Dragon, Apologizing with Thorns on One's Back

"The Yue Family Spear Technique is a style where every move is designed to subdue the enemy, ensuring a fatal blow. It seamlessly integrates defense and offense, combining defense with offense and offense with defense..."

Three days before the New Year, it was already wondrous; after the New Year, the six flowers still bloom in clusters. Just as they settled, a sudden, slanted thought arose; they seemed to melt, yet the frost was unbearable.

The snow fell again, and Zhang Wangyue was steaming with heat. He held a large spear and used the Yue Family Spear Technique, teaching by example.

A shoveler in the distance stopped to watch, only to be kicked by Wang Kui as he walked by. "Go shovel the snow!"

"Alright!" Tangzi laughed and ran off, thinking to himself that the镖头's (镖头's) marksmanship was incredibly sharp. Tangzi, however, was unaware that his镖头's (镖头's) most proficient weapon was the spear.

However, in order to conceal his identity, Zhang Wangyue is now using a sword as his weapon.

In fact, as the head of one of the four great escort agencies in the world, Fu'an, the escorts and porters should be proficient in all eighteen weapons, have solid skills, and have a trump card. Therefore, even though Zhang Wangyue used the authentic Yue Family Spear Technique, in the eyes of those who did not have a true understanding of spear techniques, it was just one of the many martial arts skills of the head of the escort agency.

Only skilled spearmen like Huyan Lei, discerning bodyguards like Wang Kui, and Zhou Yan could discern the secrets.

Yang Tiexin, due to his own limited skill level, could not fully capture the essence of Yue Family Spear.

Zhou Yan could tell that, in addition to the improved eyesight brought about by his own martial arts level, it was also because he had seen too many people wielding spears.

Hu Yanlei, Lu An of Sihai, the young head镖师 of Longmen镖局, Zhang Sanqiang, etc.

With each thrust of the spear, Zhou Yan observed that Zhang Wangyue's iron spear swung left and right like a raging dragon's tail, conveying a fierce and chilling aura from the battlefield.

This is the essence of spear fighting.

Zhou Yan was able to comprehend swordsmanship atop the Taihang Mountains and grasp the sword intent of the Quanzhen Swordplay created by Wang Chongyang. Now, he can also discern the spear intent of Zhang Wangyue.

It is said that the Quanzhen sword technique is extraordinary, but if one does not personally experience Wang Chongyang's experience of resisting the Jin dynasty, how can one understand the sword intent of Quanzhen sword techniques such as "Singing a Sad Song and Striking the Zither", "Frosty Waves Rolling Snow" and "Continuing Sorrow and Hatred"? Without sword intent, how can the sword technique be perfected? This is probably one of the reasons why the disciples of the Quanzhen sect are not as good as the previous generation.

Similarly, if someone learns Yue Family Spear Technique but doesn't understand the lines "My hair stands on end in anger, I lean on the railing as the rain subsides. I raise my eyes, look up at the sky and roar with intense emotion," how can they unleash the power of moves like "Sunset over the long river" and "Lone smoke rising from the desert" in Yue Family Spear Technique?

Looking at Zhang Wangyue, Zhou Yan felt his blood slowly boiling and burning.

Snowflakes danced in the air as Zhang Wangyue withdrew his spear like a phantom. He looked at Hu Yanlei, Yang Tiexin, Mu Nianci, and Zhou Yan.

This was also the first time Hu Yanlei had ever seen a镖头 (bodyguard/escort) wield the Yue Family Spear. His mind was filled with only two words: "Magnificent!"

Yang Tiexin was shocked; he never imagined that a person's marksmanship could reach such a level.

Mu Nianci's breathing was rapid. She had a talent for martial arts and had already memorized most of the moves and some of the breathing techniques. At this moment, she had a strong urge to try them out.

Zhang Wangyue's gaze swept over the three of them one by one, finally landing on Zhou Yan.

"Brother Zhou, why don't you give it a try?"

“Okay!” Zhou Yan walked over and took the big gun, and Mu Nianci immediately focused.

However, the next moment, Mu Nianci did not see Zhou Yan pull up the gun rack and execute the spear technique with meticulous precision. The spearhead was hanging to the ground, and Zhou Yan seemed to be memorizing the moves.

He was actually circulating his internal energy, which flowed from his dantian, following the method of circulating energy in the spear technique described by Zhang Wangyue. It traveled upwards, entering the Sanjiao Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang, passing through the elbow between the two bones on the outside of the arm, and flowing like a dragon into the three acupoints of "Yangchi," "Yemen," and "Guangchong" on the hand and wrist. A wisp of internal energy lingered briefly in the acupoint of "Yangchi," then traveled back up along the main meridian, flowing into a hidden meridian in the center of the elbow.

Zhou Yan's right elbow, which was holding the gun, twitched for a moment. In an instant, the internal force between the "Yemen" and "Guangchong" acupoints roared out and poured into the gun.

Amidst the wind and snow, the low hum of a gun could be heard. The snowflakes falling on the gun seemed to be struck by something, suddenly swirling away. The spearhead leaped up abruptly, unleashing a move from the Yue Family Spear Technique, "Horses Crossing the River," like an angry dragon in a whirlwind.

Mu Nianci felt a buzzing in her head; Zhou Yan's shot felt like a stab to her heart.

Hu Yanlei opened his mouth.

Zhang Wangyue took a light breath. He didn't look at Zhou Yan; his gaze swept over the flying snowflakes and landed on the sky. He thought to himself:

"The Yue Family Spear technique has been passed down."

……

A heated verbal argument emanated from the council chamber of the Four Seas Escort Agency, merging into a fierce and noisy uproar.

The owner of Sihai walked through the courtyard and stopped under the eaves. He paused briefly, and the sound of arguing came from there.

Inside the hall were Lei Luo's head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and several trusted镖师 (bodyguards/escorts). The Four Seas Escort Agency had paid a hefty sum for a hitman, and these core members of the agency were all aware of this.
The argument stemmed from a series of events caused by hiring a hitman.

“I told you that Lu’s suggestion was not advisable. Now look what’s happened. He was killed in Su’s house, and Su and Lu have gone missing. This is definitely Fu’an’s revenge, and this is just the beginning.”

"Don't be a Monday morning quarterback; you didn't object at the time," one of the bodyguards retorted.

"Show some respect with your words."

"I despise your timid and submissive manner."

"Let's have a one-on-one fight and see who's always just all talk."

"Who is afraid of whom?"

"Bang!" The sound of slamming the table rang out, and the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Sihai roared angrily, "What time is it, and you still can't tell what's important?" The hall immediately fell silent.

Lei Luo felt extremely tightness in his chest. Not long ago, he received a message from a messenger who rushed over in a panic, saying that Lu the镖师 and others had not been seen that morning. The镖头 (head镖师) had arranged for people to search for them, and they found Lu the镖师's body at Su the镖师's house. There were signs of a struggle at the scene, and Su the镖师 and Lu the镖师 were missing.

At that moment, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

The Fu'an escort team entered the city. Just yesterday, I was discussing with the three of them the trends that the situation would take. And then this happened last night. It's clear that Fu'an already knew the inside story, and this is revenge.

He took a breath and strode into the council chamber.

"The boss is here."

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and his men all stood up. He said with a somber expression, "Please sit down."

Lei Luo sat down in the chair and said, "I already know what happened. Let's each share our thoughts."

"Master, let's fight Fu'an to the death!" said the arrogant bodyguard from before.

Lei Luo scoffed, "Fight? If we could win, would we have lost the escort mission? Back then, the escorts from Fu'an were only seventeen or eighteen years old. We were utterly defeated. Even the Yellow River Gang couldn't defeat Fu'an. What do we have to fight now? You want me to pick up a gun?"

With just one sentence from Lei Luo, the several bodyguards in the hall who had been shouting and fighting to the death fell silent.

He grabbed the teacup, gulped down several mouthfuls, as if using the tea to quell the fire in his heart. Only after finishing the cup did he ask the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), "What's your opinion?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Sihai said, "Zhang Wangyue returned, and then Lu the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) got into trouble. It must have been Zhang Wangyue who did it. If I'm not mistaken, Su the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and Lu the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) will definitely be arrested and interrogated."

Lei Luo said, "In other words, Duan Huai'an and Zhang Wangyue now know the whole story and are just waiting for me to make my statement."

The head镖师 nodded: "Yes!"

The owner of Sihai continued, "If Escort Su were to say that Sihai harbors intentions of instigating internal strife in Fu'an and annexing the other side, what would Duan Huai'an do?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) cautiously replied, "Use their own methods against them."

One of the bodyguards in the hall couldn't help but say, "This is outrageous! Master, we're reporting this to the authorities."

Lei Luo, unable to bear it any longer, grabbed a teacup and smashed it.

The bodyguard dared not dodge. With a bang, the teacup shattered, and tea flowed down the other man's face. Tea leaves stuck to his forehead, making it look like he had pockmarks.

"Everyone get out!"

The bodyguards stood up abruptly and left the council hall.

"Master, please calm down!" the head镖师 hurriedly said.

Lei Luo tried his best to calm himself down and said, "Since Fu'an knows the inside story and hasn't come with a large force, is Duan Huai'an just waiting for me to come to his door?"

"Yes!"

"You want me to withdraw from Zhongdu?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) opened his mouth, then said in a low voice, "That's how it should be."

Lei Luo fell silent, tapping his fingers on the table for a full hundred breaths before saying, word by word, "I will first apologize to Duan Huai'an. You should prepare a backup plan as I suggest."

The head镖师 hurriedly said, "Master, you can't, I'll go."

"You're not worthy enough."

Lei Luo's voice sounded like it was being squeezed out of his throat.

……

Fu'an Escort Agency Martial Arts Training Ground.

With a "whoosh!", the spear flew out of Mu Nianci's hand. Hu Yanlei flicked his wrist, and the gold-inlaid tiger-head spear blocked the wooden spear.

Hu Yan, the镖师 (bodyguard/escort), sparred with Mu Nianci using the Yue Family Spear Technique. However, due to her lack of skill and insufficient strength, her spear was easily knocked away.

"Come again."

Mu Nianci was a resilient person. She quickly took a few steps to pick up the gun, but the moment she bent down to pick it up, her teeth almost bit into her lips.

Zhou Yan watched from the rest area, moving his stool slightly away from Mu Nianci to avoid being hit by the spear.

At that moment, the bodyguard Wang Kui strode over:

"Brother Huyan, Brother Zhou, the Master of Sihai has arrived, carrying thorns to apologize."

(End of this chapter)