The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 87 The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and the Two Masters of Quanzhen Plot a Grand Plan

A silvery world stretches for three thousand realms, a myriad of jade forests lie in its depths. The newly cleared sky reveals tender green, the setting sun casts a light red glow on the snow.

When the wind blows, the air in the mountains and fields seems to be filled with the smell of gunpowder after firecrackers have exploded.

The sun had already set, and a soft red light flowed across the unmelted snow, while Zhou Yan was immersed in the wondrous realm of Qi cultivation.

He opened up the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, and "one sword transforms into five clears." However, the power of this exquisite sword technique of the Quanzhen School lies in the circulation of internal energy between this main meridian and other meridians, forming a unique method of circulating energy and using force. When facing an enemy in battle, the internal energy circulates, and its momentum is like a mountain collapsing.

To understand the main principles while neglecting the alternative ones is like a lame person walking, losing their balance.

Therefore, Zhou Yan persevered and relentlessly refined the Hand Yangming Separate Classic.

As the sun set, Zhou Yan was still far from opening this special meridian. However, because this special meridian connected the exterior and interior and contained the internal organs, he used his intention to guide his qi. He felt the power of his blood and qi flowing like an endless tide, his blood vessels surging. With each movement of his qi, he transported blood and qi, generating power. Every time he circulated his qi between the main meridian and the special meridian, a pure internal force was generated. At the same time, he could feel his heart pumping blood powerfully, and his lungs were absorbing qi like a whale swallowing its prey. After a day of cultivation, he not only did not feel tired, but instead became even more energetic and full of vitality.

"Whoosh!" A wisp of white vapor shot out from his mouth, rising two feet high, where it condensed and did not dissipate.

Zhou Yan emerged from the profound state of Qi cultivation and meridian tempering, got up and stretched his limbs. It was time for his body to replenish its energy. Holding the iron bow, he took a few steps forward, focused his Qi, and leaped up to a height of ten feet, landing on the branches of the ancient tree.

The wind whistled through the forest, the branches swayed and the remaining snow fell. Zhou Yan's figure seemed to fly and soar. He looked into the distance to search for prey, and locked his gaze on a few pheasants foraging in the snow. He lowered his legs slightly, and his body sprang up, as graceful as a dragon, flying straight up thirteen feet into the air and landing on another big tree.

From a distance, Zhou Yan appeared as light as a flying goose, demonstrating a profound mastery of the Quanzhen Sect's "Golden Goose Skill" of lightness.

"Today is the end of the year. I wonder how Li Mochou and Xiaolongnu spent the New Year in Zhongnan Mountain? Did Huang Yaoshi and Huang Rong have a reunion in Lin'an Prefecture?"

Zhou Yan's voice, as he spoke to himself, drifted away on the wind.

……

A long wind drives the pines and cypresses, its sound clearing through ten thousand valleys.

Behind Zhongnan Mountain, in front of the ancient tomb.

"Squeak..."

"Oh dear, sister, this ox-horn bow is so heavy!" In a childish voice, Little Dragon Girl pulled on the enormous ox-horn bow, which was visually striking. The bowstring, drawn into a crescent shape by Little Dragon Girl, came to a complete stop. Instead, Little Dragon Girl's exquisitely beautiful face turned bright red.

Li Mochou walked up to Xiaolongnu, squatted down, and said, "How old are you? You're already thinking about drawing the ox horn bow."

Her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom. She tilted her head and looked at Xiaolongnu for a long time before bursting into laughter, "She's not even as tall as a bow."

"Let's go, it's New Year's, I'll make you some honey cake." Li Mochou walked towards the ancient tomb, with Xiaolongnu following closely behind, carrying the giant ox-horn bow. She was actually quite strong and moved swiftly through the snow, but her height was limited, and the bow dangled on the ground, drawing a white line like an earthworm crawling in the snow.

"Sister, how do you think Zhou Yan got through the New Year?"

"Go ask him." Li Mochou was in a good mood. With the New Year approaching and spring approaching, there were only six months left until her duel with Zhou Yan at the mountain temple outside Datong Prefecture.

“I am definitely better than him. After all, he is a bodyguard and cannot be as free as me to cultivate diligently all day long. Moreover, apart from the ‘Free and Easy Wandering’ taught by Chief Hong, he does not have any profound skills.”

Little did Li Mochou know that Zhou Yan now possessed the Quanzhen Sect martial arts of Wang Chongyang's lineage, as well as two moves of the Northern Beggar's "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms," the Eastern Heretic's Peach Blossom Island martial arts "Whirlwind Sweeping Leaf Leg," and the complete set of Yue family techniques.

"Sister, take me with you when you fight Zhou Yan."

"what are you going to do?"

"Didn't my sister tell me to ask Zhou Yan?"

"Too young and precocious, that won't do."

Li Mochou laughed and scolded, then waited for Xiaolongnu to approach. She took the ox-horn bow, grabbed her junior sister, and used her movement technique to head straight for the Ancient Tomb. Xiaolongnu's bright eyes darted around, trying to figure out how to get her sister to agree to take her along.

……

At dusk, wealthy families in Zhongdu City set off fireworks, creating a scene resembling "fire trees and silver flowers merging, star bridges and iron locks opening" when viewed from afar.

In the kitchen of the small courtyard on the outskirts of the city, the firewood burned brightly in the stove.

The wooden gate outside the courtyard creaked open, and Yang Tiexin entered the courtyard carrying a wine gourd.

"Nianci!"

"Dad, I'm in the kitchen."

“I’ve prepared a pot of wine. When you go into town, go to Chief Zhou’s house. He’s an orphan and all alone. Come along and have some fun.”

"Okay!"

Mu Nianci came out of the kitchen, washed her face with water, tidied herself up a bit, stretched her body outside the courtyard, and sped towards the city.

……

The lanterns under the eaves of the Yuelai Inn emitted a warm yellow glow. Inside the inn's room, two square tables were pushed together.

Ma Yu, Wang Chuyi, Ke Zhen'e, Zhu Cong, Han Baoju, Nan Xiren, and others sat around.

Qiu Chuji had not yet arrived in Zhongdu. The two disciples of Quanzhen had left Zhou Yan's residence and gone to an inn, where they had been staying for the past few days.

Ma Yu had taught Guo Jing martial arts, and they had also joined forces with the Six Freaks in the desert to defeat Mei Chaofeng, so they were naturally familiar with each other.

Over the course of several days, through conversations, the two Quanzhen disciples learned that when Guo Jing went south, the Great Khan had ordered him to take the life of Wanyan Honglie. The Six Heroes of Jiangnan and the Golden Knife Prince Consort also learned that Wanyan Kang was the same Yang Kang who was to compete in martial arts in Jiaxing.

With Qiu Chuji absent, finding a solution that satisfies both the martial arts contest and the assassination of Wanyan Honglie became the focus of discussion at the banquet.

When Wang Chuyi first met Guo Jing, he spent several days with him and greatly admired Guo Jing's noble character. He originally had the idea of ​​introducing Guo Jing to Zhou Yan, but after learning that the Six Heroes of Jiangnan were going to assassinate Wanyan Honglie, he put aside the idea.

Whether it succeeds or not, the Six Heroes of Jiangnan and Guo Jing will leave Zhongdu, and the Prince's forces will be powerless against them. However, young friend Zhou lives in the city and works for a security escort agency, so he should not invite any unexpected disasters because of this.

Ma Yu had the same thought, which is why she didn't mention Zhou Yan at all.

Zhu Cong, quick-witted, took the wine pot, poured some wine, and said, "My seventh sister and I spies on the Prince's mansion and found a Tantric monk, an old monster from beyond the Great Wall, and the young master of White Camel Mountain in the Western Regions in the study. These people gathered together must be plotting something detrimental to the Song Dynasty and harming the people. In my opinion, taking Wanyan Honglie's life is the best course of action, and a martial arts contest is a minor matter."

Ke Zhen'e said, "That's right. We wander the martial world, and we should prioritize righteousness and integrity. As long as we can take Wanyan Honglie's life, what does it matter if we lose to Daoist Qiu? Jing'er, what do you think?"

Guo Jing had heard his mother tell stories of the past since he was a child, and he had always hated the Jin Dynasty. He had also promised the Mongol Khan to take Wanyan Honglie's head. He was an honest and trustworthy person. When Ke Zhen'e asked him, he said, "Jing'er will listen to Master. Compared with the greater good, personal honor and disgrace are not worth mentioning."

"What a sincere heart!" Wang Chuyi exclaimed.

Zhu Cong said, "I think we should take a two-pronged approach. After the New Year comes the temple fair and the Lantern Festival. Wanyan Honglie will have to leave the mansion eventually. When Master Qiu arrives, he can reason with Wanyan Kang, appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him, getting him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the Zhao Princess. We can then assassinate her and head south to Jiaxing for a martial arts contest."

Ma Yu pondered for a moment and nodded: "Alright, I will say so when Junior Brother Qiu arrives."

"Thank you, Taoist priest. Please have some wine."

Inside the guesthouse, people clinked glasses and chatted, creating a lively atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)