The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 83 Mu Nianci's Martial Arts Competition, Huang Rong's Journey to Zhongdu

In winter, dense snow falls, creating the sound of shattering jade.

As Zhou Yan walked through the alley, the snow hanging on the wall could no longer bear the weight and slid down with a whoosh, splashing and scattering on the ground like white lotuses blooming.

"squeak"

The door opened, and he entered the corridor, where he saw messy footprints in the courtyard, with several thick wooden stakes broken in the middle.

He was alarmed. Had someone entered the courtyard? The two Taoists were fighting with their enemies.

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi emerged from the east wing.

The two men wore neat Taoist robes, but faint bruises were visible on their necks and cheeks.

Wang Chuyi was a straightforward and generous man. He laughed and said, "My senior brother and I observed your elbow strike technique and memorized many exquisite moves. Now that you've left, we'll have some free time to exchange techniques."

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "I see. It must be that someone with ill intentions came to the courtyard and disturbed the two Taoist priests."

Ma Yu smiled slightly, "It's all a misunderstanding."

“Indeed!” Zhou Yan said before the two could ask any questions. “The person the Daoist was looking for has been located and is staying at the Yuelai Inn in Tongmafang.”

Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi were very pleased.

"Thank you for your trouble, young friend."

"You're too kind, Taoist priest."

The two were not in a hurry to get to the "Yuelai" Inn. Although they did not know why Zhu Cong and Han Xiaoying had gone to the Prince Zhao's mansion, they figured they would not venture out when the mansion was under strict guard.

Ma Yu then said, "Tonight I will have another long talk with you by candlelight, but tomorrow morning my junior brother and I will have to say goodbye."

“Very well, the east wing of my humble abode will be prepared for you, Daoist. Please come and stay as you please.”

"Young friend, you are truly admirable."

Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi didn't consider themselves guests. They had already brewed tea in the house and were waiting for Zhou Yan. The three of them went inside to drink tea and discuss philosophy, but the topic focused on martial arts techniques.

Danyangzi and Yuyangzi practiced the "Elbow Technique" of the Yue Family Boxing Method. Zhou Yan then demonstrated and explained the "Five Peaks" in addition to the "Elbow Technique" without reservation. The "Five Peaks" are short-range boxing techniques used in close combat, targeting the head, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.

"Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me." The Quanzhen School of Kung Fu primarily focuses on internal martial arts, while Zhou Yan practices the "Yue Family Boxing Method." The deeper his understanding, the more he feels this method is a superior martial art that cultivates both internal and external skills. "Six Harmonies Return to One" has echoes of Xingyi Quan, while "Elbow Techniques," "Five Peaks," and "Freehand Shots" are either powerful or exquisite, incorporating external techniques. Upon mastery, with internal and external skills unified, it is quite similar to the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms." He practices diligently and has now achieved profound mastery of this method. When he shares his insights, Wang Chuyi and Ma Yu frequently nod in agreement, indicating he has gained considerable knowledge.

Both Zhou Yan and Guo Jing were not ashamed to ask questions of those less knowledgeable. Zhou Yan acted without restraint, speaking his mind freely within reasonable bounds. This was the biggest difference between him and Guo Jing. Those who liked him could be his close friends, but in the eyes of those who valued reason and law, he was undoubtedly unorthodox and heretical.

Fortunately, Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi were kindred spirits.

Completely unaware of the passage of time, they even forgot to eat and drink.

During the conversation, the two also shared their cultivation experiences, which was of great benefit to Zhou Yan as he filled in the gaps in his practice of Quanzhen internal energy.

The sound of the clapper at dawn echoed through the long street, and the conversation finally subsided. Ma Yu and Wang Chu sat down to meditate, while Zhou Yan went to the courtyard to fetch water and prepare a meal. As dawn broke, the clouds that had been accumulating over Zhongdu for half a month gradually dispersed.

After eating the Eight Treasure Rice, the two Quanzhen disciples bid farewell to Zhou Yan and disappeared into the streets and alleys.

It was too early, so Zhou Yan swept the snow off the courtyard and sat on a stone bench under an ancient tree. He silently practiced the Quanzhen internal energy cultivation method, guiding the gentle energy emanating from the jade Guanyin to his meridians to strengthen his internal energy. Then, he used the "One Sword Transforms into Three Pure Ones" method to temper the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand Yangming Meridian.

Half an hour later, Zhou Yan got up and went to the weapon rack in the west wing to take the Qinggang sword. He guided his internal energy with his mind, and the internal energy circulated through the two meridians and acupoints, forming a cycle. Then, it gushed out from the "Yuji" and "Shaoshang" points and the "Chize" point in his elbow.

Under the bright sunlight, the sword rang out crisply. Zhou Yan thrust out his sword, and the sword move was like three plum blossoms blooming in the cold, thrusting in three directions. With a "snap", three inch-deep sword marks appeared on the wooden stake in front of him.

He consumed the blood of the Great Treasure Serpent and the Bodhi Serpent, and used the Quanzhen Internal Martial Arts to extract the warm and pure energy of the Jade Guanyin, transforming it into refined internal force. He diligently practiced his skills, and his internal force surpassed that of the Qingjing Sanren. When he unleashed the move "One Sword Transforms into Three Pure Ones," its level and power were incomparable to those of Sun Bu'er, who was passing on his skills in Xiangyang.

……

A white horse gallops westward across the frontier, amidst apricot blossoms and misty rain in Jiangnan. A cloak of mist and rain shrouds Taihu Lake, and amidst the rapid hoofbeats, the "Jade Lion Under the Night" breaks through the hazy drizzle and speeds northward.

Clad in white as snow, the "Jade Lion Under the Night" moved like a shooting star; the one on horseback was none other than Huang Rong.

She chased after Hou Tonghai from Fenglingdu, extracting information along the way until she learned that he was going to Lin'an Prefecture. She encountered Zhou Yan on the banks of the Jingzhou River, borrowed a horse to go south, and arrived in Lin'an City, but could not find the Three-Headed Dragon.

The reason was simple: Hou Haitong met up with Xiang Shatongtian and Peng Lianhu's group, but did not enter the city directly.

Huang Rong wandered around Lin'an City for several days. She was a person who had no patience for anything, and suddenly felt bored. Then she met a merchant from Daxing Prefecture at an inn, who said that it was snowing heavily in Zhongdu.

Firstly, she was concerned about returning the horse; secondly, she had never seen a snow-covered landscape before; and thirdly, the Yellow River Gang's stronghold was in the north, so Huang Rong was still thinking of causing trouble.

After much deliberation, he decided to ride north.

"I wonder if that镖师 (bodyguard/escort) is still in Zhongdu. He's going on a delivery trip, so this 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' will have to keep me company for a while longer."

As Huang Rong drank from Taihu Lake, she thought to herself, "This is what I thought."

……

As the year draws to a close, a lively and festive atmosphere envelops the security escort agency.

Ordinary players are unaware of the brewing struggle and undercurrents between Fu'an and Changfeng.

Now, all I hope for is a reward for a year's hard work, and a promotion for the bodyguard.

Because of Mu Nianci's female identity, and her bright eyes, white teeth, and beautiful appearance, this examination became much more interesting.

Several days had passed since Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi left.

During that time, the two never went back to the courtyard.

Zhou Yan would sometimes send clever spies to check on the "Yuelai" Inn. The messages that came back indicated that all six heroes of Jiangnan were there, which made him even more certain that the other party and Guo Jing's group were planning to attack Wanyan Honglie.

Zhu Cong and Han Xiaoying suffered a loss after sneaking into the Prince's mansion at night, so Zhou Yan wondered if the other party would take advantage of the New Year period, such as when Wanyan Honglie went to the temple to burn incense or visit the temple fair to see the lanterns, to carry out an assassination.

He traveled and observed, while at the escort agency, the examination of Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci was put on the agenda after the Little New Year.

Yang Tiexin and his daughter were acquainted with the bodyguards on Zhang Wangyue's side, so to ensure fairness, they had a bodyguard who had returned from Sichuan conduct the examination.

Mu Nianci was facing off against Cui Qingshan.

When Zhou Yan arrived at the training ground, the boss, Zhang Wangyue, and others had not yet arrived. The trainers were busy arranging benches, while Mu Nianci was wiping her iron spear.

He walked over and asked, "Are you nervous?"

"A little."

"Just play your normal game and you'll win," Zhou Yan instructed. "Cui Qingshan won't hold back, so don't have any reservations."

"Is he going to kill us?" Mu Nianci asked nervously.

"Take his own medicine upon him. Beware of him using the beads of his abacus as a hidden weapon."

Mu Nianci took a light breath and said firmly, "I want to be a bodyguard, so I must win the test."

"Then beat Cui Qingshan until he's black and blue, so badly that even his nephew won't recognize him."

Mu Nianci was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

The tension vanished completely.

(End of this chapter)