The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 69 The Gathering of Wind and Rain in the Central Capital

When the long whip struck, the snowflakes in the air were shaken apart and swirled to both sides.

Zhou Yan truly did not expect that there would be such a person in the world, and that he would take action so readily.

Before he could even grab his gun, he pressed his right hand against the horse's back, his body darting to the side. The long whip curved around from halfway, following him like a shadow, like a persistent thorn, its sharp force spreading outwards.

Zhou Yan exhaled sharply, unleashing the "Golden Goose Skill," his body twisting two feet in mid-air as the whip flew past him.

A surprised exclamation came from Yin Kexi, who had a high nose and deep-set eyes, as he landed below the gate of the escort agency. However, before he could draw his whip, Zhou Yan had already reached out and grabbed the end of the soft whip the moment he landed.

He landed with a "thud," his feet seemingly rooted to the ground. The soft whip, pulled back by Yin Kexi's strength, suddenly taut and emitted a buzzing sound.

Zhou Yan and Yin Kexi both felt a burning sensation in their hands, secretly thinking that their opponent had great skill.

Yin Kexi shouted loudly, his inner strength radiating outwards.

"Let go."

Since the other party made a malicious move, Zhou Yan was determined to retaliate.

"not necessarily!"

He moved with both hands, his long whip circling his elbows, and charged towards Yin Kexi.

Yin Kexi was truly astonished; he had never seen someone change tactics so quickly.

The closing distance felt like an illusion; Fu'an's bodyguard's elbows were already viciously coming at him within sight. Yin Kexi was startled but not frightened. He acted decisively, abandoning his whip and using the "Dislocating Tendons and Bones Hand" technique. His hands flew, seizing tendons and joints, aiming for Zhou Yan's elbows.

The Mandarin Duck Elbow technique used by Zhou Yan in the "Yue Family Boxing" instantly transformed into a "freehand" grappling technique, advancing close to the target, seizing every opportunity, and hooking with a backhand.

Both men used grappling techniques. Zhou Yan's attacks were fierce, while Yin Kexi's were unpredictable. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged more than ten moves, their grappling and counter-grappling techniques unfolding like dragons and snakes dancing in the snow.

At this moment, Helian Chuncheng and Lei Luo also came out of the escort agency and stood under the gate tower.

Helian Chuncheng, the young master of Changfeng Escort Agency, said, "He has real talent and learning, and at such a young age, his achievements are truly extraordinary. It is no wonder that no one in the world can compete with Fu'an."

Lei Luo gave an awkward smile.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Sihai said, "This kid seems to have practiced martial arts since he was born. Every time he fights with us, his skill improves visibly."

As they were talking, a loud "bang" was heard in the air. Zhou Yan and Yin Kexi's hands were entangled together. Zhou Yan's arm suddenly changed from a grappling technique to a hammer technique from the "Yue Family Eight Methods", and he chopped down from above.

"bang"

Yin Kexi lowered his body, raised his left hand and pressed down with his right arm, making a loud noise. The two of them each took several steps back, and the long whip fell to the ground with a "crack".

Yin Kexi was furious and was about to rush forward again when Helian Chuncheng said, "Yin Kexi, it's a misunderstanding."

The young man from Hu stopped, and Lei Luo smiled and said, "Master Zhou, how have you been?"

Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment, his mind filled with the three words "Yin Kexi".

In The Return of the Condor Heroes, Yin Kexi was originally a merchant from the Hu region, who stole the Nine Yang Manual with Xiao Xiangzi.

Helian Chuncheng moved swiftly and landed beside Yin Kexi. Zhou Yan looked over and immediately recognized him as the leader of the horse team they had encountered that morning.

Lei Luo then stepped down from the steps and said, "Let me introduce you. You two are Helian Chuncheng, the young master of Changfeng Escort Agency, and Yin Kexi, the second young master. We didn't know you were Escort Master Zhou earlier, so we made a misunderstanding. Please pass on a message to your master and head escort Zhang: from today onwards, there is no longer Sihai Escort Agency in Zhongdu, only a branch of Changfeng Escort Agency."

Helian Chuncheng smiled and said, "Once things are settled at the Sihai Escort Agency, I will definitely pay a visit to Fu'an."

Hearing these words, Zhou Yan immediately understood what the scene before him meant. When Lei Luo apologized with a bundle of thorns on his back, the master wanted to devour Sihai. After leaving the escort agency, the other party colluded with Changfeng Escort Agency, transforming Sihai into a branch of Changfeng Escort Agency in Datong Prefecture. Changing flags and allies—this was a treacherous move.

Changfeng dared to take over Sihai Escort Agency, which meant he wanted to compete with Fu'an Escort Agency in Zhongdu. Yin Kexi's attack on him was nothing more than throwing the "spying" label at him, first gaining the upper hand, and then making him lose face, venting Lei Luo's anger, and embarrassing Fu'an.

His thoughts returned, his gaze lingered briefly on Yin Kexi's face before returning to Helian Chuncheng, saying, "I will convey what the young master said to you truthfully. Farewell."

Helian Chuncheng smiled and said, "Take care!"

Zhou Yan mounted his horse, cracked his whip, and rode away.

Yin Kexi picked up the long whip that had fallen to the ground and said incredulously, "This kid's techniques are quite unfamiliar. Did you even notice them?"

Helian Chuncheng's smile vanished, and he said seriously, "I've never seen a light-body technique for dodging before, but the grappling and elbow strikes you used in our fight seem to be from the Yue family's martial arts."

Lei Luo and the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Sihai were taken aback. The former boss of Sihai asked incredulously, "Is the young master sure?"

Yin Kexi said, "How could the young master be wrong?" Lei Luo smiled obsequiously, "You're right."

Helian Chuncheng smiled and said to Yin Kexi, "It's not so unfair to suffer a little loss in front of the Yue family's boxing style."

"It won't happen next time."

Helian Chuncheng patted the other person on the shoulder:

"We're back now. Let's get ready and go to Fu'an to pay our respects to Manager Duan."

"Alright, I'll remember that kid."

Helian Chuncheng smiled slightly. His brother always sought revenge, and having his weapon taken away in front of everyone meant that the young bodyguard from Fu'an was in for trouble.

……

After the snowflakes stopped falling, Zhou Yan rode his horse straight to the Fu'an Escort Agency.

The long street was deserted, with few pedestrians.

As the yellow horse passed by an inn, an elderly blind man holding an iron cane and a woman in blue came out. Zhou Yan spurred his horse to the side of the street to make way for the two.

The woman smiled slightly at him in gratitude.

Horses and men mingled, and Zhou Yan's yellow horse slowed down more and more until it finally stopped. He looked back at the blind man who needed no woman's help and moved with incredible agility, and muttered to himself: "Over fifty years old, wielding an iron staff, with a sharp mouth and thin cheeks... could it be Ke Zhen'e, the Flying Bat, one of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan who has entered the capital?"

With that thought in mind, he glanced at the inn, then spurred his horse and rode away.

When the yellow horse arrived at the Fu'an Escort Agency, Zhou Yan dismounted, tossed the reins to the approaching escort, and asked, "Have the head escort and Master Huyan arrived yet?"

"I've been here for a while."

"it is good!"

He entered the escort agency and headed straight for the martial arts field, where he saw Huyan Lei instructing the guards on how to practice their spears.

"Brother Huyan."

"Brother Zhou is here," Hu Yanlei said as he stepped forward.

"Hmm, does this fur coat fit you?"

Hu Yanlei was a little confused. Zhou Yan said, "On the way back to Zhongdu, we passed through the Taihang Mountains and killed a few leopards. We skinned them and brought them back to the city to have a fur shop sew this fur coat for us."

"Why?"

"You give me a horse, I'll give you clothes."

"Heh, still thinking about this." Hu Yanlei knew that even if he didn't take it, Zhou Yan would find a way to compensate him with money. He was also a generous person, so he laughed and said, "The weather is freezing cold, and the leopard fur coat will keep you warm. I won't be polite."

"Very good!"

Hu Yanlei took the fur coat, and Zhou Yan said, "I took the fur coat this morning and happened to pass by the Sihai Escort Agency. Guess who you saw?"

"The Yellow River Gang?"

"The young master of Changfeng Escort Agency, Helian Chuncheng, has moved to Sihai, and Sihai has changed hands and become a branch of Changfeng."

Huyan glared angrily, "Lei Luo is a sly one. We should have just taken his head that night. Let's go find the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort)."

"it is good!"

Hu Yanlei tossed his rifle to the scouts, and Zhou Yan placed his own steel spear on the weapon rack. The two walked side by side toward the council hall.

On this clear morning when the heavy snow had stopped, Zhou Yan, walking through the corridors and courtyards of the镖局 (bodyguard agency), had a lot on his mind.

Helian Chuncheng, Yin Kexi, and the Changfeng Escort Agency are vying for supremacy with Fu'an.

The woman seen outside the "Yuelai" Inn must be Han Xiaoying, the Yue Maiden Swordswoman. With the two of them appearing, the other four are naturally also in the city. The target of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan is the Prince Zhao's Mansion, to assist Guo Jing in taking Wanyan Honglie's head.

The winds and rains from all directions converge in the capital.

(End of this chapter)