The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 88 Peach Blossom Shadows Fall, Flying Divine Sword

In the dimly lit, narrow alley, a man's voice rang out: "What brings the Chief Escort here?"

"Brother Huyan has also arrived."

Zhang Wangyue and Hu Yanlei looked at the courtyard gate guarded by General Tie and smiled at each other.

Hu Yanlei, concerned that Zhou Yan was all alone, went to Zhou Yan's place hoping to invite him to his home for the New Year. Zhang Wangyue had the same idea, and as a result, the two bumped into each other.

Hu Yanlei recalled the scene of Zhou Yan practicing asceticism, eating dew in the morning and drowsiness at night, when he was escorting goods in Jingzhou. He sighed and said, "Brother Zhou must have gone to the mountains to hunt and cultivate in seclusion. After the New Year, when everyone gathers together, his martial arts will have improved again, making people look at him with new eyes. Wearing a blue robe and a hundred patches, he was studying the Dharma until the third watch of the night. Brother Zhou is like an ascetic monk on the path of martial arts."

Zhang Wangyue shared the sentiment: "Where my heart leads, I will follow; where the Way resides, though there be thousands, I will go! Brother Zhou, given time, you will surely achieve great things."

"really!"

The two traveled together, and Hu Yanlei said, "Chief镖头, do you think it's a waste of Brother Zhou's talent to stay in the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency)? I am sincerely happy that he was promoted to镖师 (镖师 is a type of security escort). He is young and promising, and becoming镖头 (镖头 is a type of security escort agency) is a certainty in the future. He can travel the world and become famous. This is the long-cherished wish of countless镖师. In the past six months, he has really been transformed. He also has a relationship with the Quanzhen Sect. People should strive for higher goals. He can build a hermitage in Zhongnan Mountain to cultivate his martial arts, and then travel the world to make a name for himself as a chivalrous hero. Wouldn't that be better?"

Zhang Wangyue smiled and said, "Cherish every moment."

"What does the chief镖头 (chief镖头) mean?"

"A dragon is no ordinary creature confined to a pond; it cannot be contained without the raging winds and rain."

Hu Yanlei pondered his meaning, "I understand. When the mood strikes, one can leap into the clouds."

"Haha!" Zhang Wangyue laughed twice and strode forward.

As the two reached the alley entrance, a red figure entered. The figure exclaimed "Ah!" and hurriedly said, "Greetings, Chief Escort, Chief Escort Huyan."

Mu Nianci wondered what Zhou Yan was doing—resting, drinking, practicing martial arts, burning incense. Based on her understanding of the镖头 (bodyguard/escort), she figured practicing martial arts was the most likely possibility. She was even speculating whether he was practicing with weapons or fists and feet. However, she didn't expect to see Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei at the alley entrance.

Surprised, Mu Nianci asked a question, and before the two could speak, she explained, "My father bought some wine and told me to come over here to find Chief Escort Zhou and have a drink with him."

Hu Yanlei laughed and said, "Your father's thoughts are the same as the chief镖头's, but Chief镖头 Zhou is not at home."

"He went out to visit relatives?"

"He has no relatives; he must have gone to the mountains where he used to hunt to cultivate in seclusion."

Mu Nianci felt slightly disappointed. She guessed that Zhou Biaotou was cultivating, but she didn't expect him to be in seclusion in the mountains. At the end of the year, when all the lights in the houses were on, although she had also lost her parents, her adoptive father's kindness was as heavy as a mountain. They depended on each other for survival, so at least she had someone to rely on. Zhou Biaotou, on the other hand, was like a duckweed with no one to rely on.

Zhang Wangyue said, "Zhou Biaotou is immersed in the world of martial arts and is enjoying himself. Miss Mu doesn't need to worry."

"Hmm!" Mu Nianci said, "Why don't the chief镖头 (bodyguard) and 虎延镖头 (bodyguard) go to Father's place for a drink?"

“Good!” Zhang Wangyue said.

Huyan Lei said, "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Mu Nianci immediately led the way, and as the three of them walked, various fireworks exploded overhead, creating a dazzling display.

……

Lanterns hung high in Songhe Tower, and the tower was bustling with noise.

Huang Rong, dressed in white, stood on the high rooftop, watching the dazzling display of lights. When the wind blew, her clothes fluttered in the wind, making her look like a fairy looking down on the world.

A splash of red caught her eye. She lowered her gaze and saw a woman hurrying along the street, followed by two handsome men.

"They must be rushing back to reunite with their families," Huang Rong muttered to herself. "I miss my father a little."

She leaped and landed on the eaves of the third floor, her figure gliding diagonally a few feet away. She entered the private room through the open window, where the antique-style round table was laden with delicacies such as braised quail, stir-fried duck feet, chicken tongue soup, scallops stuffed in deer stomach, and fried beef tendon with mandarin duck sauce.

She sat down, picked at her food with her chopsticks, but found it tasteless.

"It's better to find something fun to do."

Zhou Yan's "Night-Shining Jade Lion" was at the inn where Huang Rong was staying. After checking out of Songhelou, she walked along the street and arrived at the back alley of Zhao Wangfu. She saw fireworks rising continuously and the mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. She jumped into the courtyard.

They had only taken a few steps when a figure darted out from among the jagged rocks, grabbing at their shoulders with both hands. Huang Rong saw that the newcomer had long, flowing hair and a face as white as paper, and exclaimed in surprise, "What the hell?"

Seeing that she couldn't retreat in time, she swung out her right hand, her thumb and forefinger hooked together, the remaining three fingers slightly spread, her fingers brushing towards her opponent's wrist like an orchid, the posture extremely beautiful. This was one of the unique skills of Peach Blossom Island, "Orchid Brushing Acupoint Hand".

The person Huang Rong encountered in the backyard of the Prince's mansion was none other than the Iron Corpse Mei Chaofeng.

Ma Yu and Wang Chu visited the Prince's mansion one night, and Mei Chaofeng received guidance from Ma Yu.

Apart from Wanyan Kang, few people from the Prince's Mansion came to this desolate backyard, where she diligently practiced the martial arts of the Nine Yin Manual.

When Huang Rong arrived at the courtyard, Mei Chaofeng, who had exceptional hearing, was worried that her identity would be exposed and wanted to capture and interrogate her. However, Huang Rong counterattacked, and some long-buried memories suddenly surfaced.

"what!"

She gasped in surprise and stopped in her tracks.

Huang Rong didn't recognize Mei Chaofeng, so how could she miss the opportunity when the other party was distracted? She leaped more than ten feet into the air, spun twice in mid-air, and then swung her palm down at Mei Chaofeng's head. It was a move called "Flying Flowers of Jiangcheng" from the "Falling Flowers Divine Sword Palm".

Mei Chaofeng was shocked and retreated quickly, landing under a tree several feet away. She said, "Peach Blossom Shadow Flying Divine Sword, you are... Master Huang... Master Huang's disciple."

Huang Rong was also surprised. How could the other party have seen through her martial arts? But she was clever. The woman in front of her, who looked like a ghost, mentioned the Peach Blossom Shadow Flying Divine Sword. She must have a deep connection with her sect. After listening to the other party's vivid questioning, a flash of inspiration struck her.

"You are Mei Ruohua."

This was Mei Chaofeng's real name before she became an investor, and no one in the martial arts world knew it. When someone suddenly called it out, Mei Chaofeng's voice trembled.

How do you know? Who are you?

"My last name is Huang."

Mei Chaofeng asked tremblingly, "Huang...you're my junior sister?"

"Why are you here?"

"Has my master captured me?"

The atmosphere became tense for a moment, and Huang Rong said, "Tell me what happened and why you are working in the Jin royal palace."

Huang Rong glanced at Mei Chaofeng's anxious expression and said, "Don't worry, I'm not here to see you."

Mei Chaofeng let out a light breath: "To die at Master's hands is also a wish fulfilled. What do I have to be uneasy about? It's just that I miss Master very much. Junior Sister, come here, let me tell you. Also, after I finish speaking, leave the palace immediately."

Huang Rong observed Mei Chaofeng's expression and knew it wasn't feigned. She smiled bitterly and said, "It seems I'll be spending the New Year with Mei Ruohua, who was banished from the island by my father."

She walked over and sat on a rock not far from Mei Chaofeng.

"Tell me why you want to leave the palace so quickly."

Mei Chaofeng knew that her junior sister was still wary of her, but she didn't take it to heart. She sat on another rock a few feet away and began to recount how the Prince's mansion was now full of hidden talents and how the Quanzhen Sect's Ma Yu and others had gotten into a fight during their nighttime incursion into the mansion.

Huang Rong found it increasingly interesting as she listened. She loved excitement and had nowhere else to go, so she thought she might as well stay with Mei Ruohua for a few days and see what exciting things would happen.

……

There is no calendar day in the mountains, and the year is unknown in the cold weather.

A sound like spring thunder suddenly rang out from the thatched hut in the mountains. Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief, his face beaming with joy. After all the hardships, he had finally achieved success, and the Yangming Biejing (a special meridian in traditional Chinese medicine) had been successfully refined.

With a resounding clang, Zhou Yan burst out of the thatched hut and landed in the woods. He guided his qi with his mind and felt his increasingly powerful internal energy flowing between the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin and the Yangming Meridian of Hand-Yangming, like mercury spilling onto the ground, or like the Yanjin Sword.

He thrust out his sword, which, like a shooting star, split into seven. The seven swords flashed at different angles, resembling the Big Dipper from a distance.

As dusk fell and the distant mountains loomed in the distance, Zhou Yan sheathed his sword and whistled.

The yellow horse galloped in, and he mounted it and headed straight for Zhongdu.

(End of this chapter)