Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

On the eighteenth day after departing from Taiyuan Prefecture, we finally arrived at Hezhong Prefecture.

At dusk, the wind at the Yellow River ferry crossing carried mud and sand, stinging the face. The turbid river water pounded against the broken stone steps on the bank, churning up layers of yellow waves, as if trying to sweep all the suffering of this chaotic world to the bottom of the river.

Most of the mud-brick houses next to the ferry had collapsed, and a few thatched huts stood among the broken walls and ruins. Several ragged boatmen huddled under the huts, staring blankly at the river.

This is the only passage from Hezhong Prefecture to the south bank. Although the canal transport has declined due to war, it is still a coveted prize for various forces. As soon as Su Yan carried Xiao Nianba to the bank, he heard a sound of clashing weapons and shouts coming from the middle of the river.

A cargo ship bearing the Yellow River Gang's banner was surrounded by three small fast boats. On the fast boats, twenty or thirty men dressed in black with fierce expressions were wielding curved knives and clubs, frantically climbing onto the cargo ship. These were none other than the Black Sand Gang, feared by everyone in Hezhong Prefecture.

"Hand over the cargo if you know what's good for you! Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

A burly henchman from the Black Sand Gang roared and slammed his club against the gunwale of the cargo ship, sending splinters flying.

Although the Yellow River Gang members on the cargo ship fought valiantly, they were no match for the Black Sand Gang's superior numbers. Covered in wounds, they were gradually forced to the stern. At the bow, a burly man with a scarred face was desperately parrying with his oars; he was none other than Chen Scarface, the Yellow River Gang's ferry branch leader.

His left arm was slashed open with a deep, bone-revealing wound by a curved blade. Blood flowed down his arm, dripping onto the ship's deck and spreading out in patches of dark red. He was still roaring and directing his disciples to resist.

"You son of a bitch, if you want something, you'll have to step over me first!"

Su Yan squinted and saw the sacks piled up on the deck of the cargo ship.

Inside were grains and a small amount of medicinal herbs. I overheard the whispers of the refugees who had gathered to watch the commotion. It turned out that the Yellow River Gang had brought these life-saving supplies from upstream to distribute to their members and the nearby refugees.

"Yan-ge'er..."

Little Nianba clung to Su Yan's back, trembling with fear, her little hands tightly wrapped around his neck.

Su Yan gripped the iron sword at his waist tightly. He didn't want to meddle in other people's business; he just wanted to cross the river and get to Zhongnan Mountain as soon as possible.

"Let's go, this is none of our business."

Su Yan muttered a few words in a low voice and then moved away from the Yellow River. He had only wanted to see how to cross the river, but he didn't expect to encounter such a thing.

Upon entering Hezhong Prefecture, it became clear that the city was far better than Jiaocheng County, and even better than Taiyuan Prefecture. Although there were some refugees on the road, they were visibly few, scattered in twos and threes, with beggars mixed among them. It seemed that there was a branch of the Beggars' Sect there.

Despite the constant warfare and strife, some people were still able to survive by relying on the power of the Grand Canal and family protection, and the streets were relatively more lively.

Not far into the town, a shop with a wooden plaque that read "Yuelai Inn" came into view. Although the plaque was a bit old, it was clean. The storefront was made of blue bricks, much more tidy than the dilapidated mud houses in Jiaocheng County.

Seeing that there were quite a few guests coming and going at the inn, and that it seemed relatively safe, Su Yan turned to the little wilted baby on his back and said...

"Let's settle down and rest first, then we can inquire about crossing the river."

"Waiter, a private room, please."

Su Yan stepped into the room, his voice steady.

"Alright, please come in, sir!"

The waiter, wearing a faded short jacket and a fawning smile, saw Su Yan carrying a child and quickly led her upstairs.

"The private rooms are upstairs, very quiet, perfect for the two of you."

There were seven or eight square tables in the lobby, most of which were occupied.

At a table near the door sat several burly men, their shirts open, chatting about the Yellow River canal transport market, occasionally uttering terms like "Master Lei," "canal boats," and "Black Sand Gang." At a table in the corner sat two scholars who spoke in hushed tones, their eyes darting around warily.

A few people dressed in coarse cloth were eating their mixed grain pancakes, occasionally whispering about what was happening in town. The air was filled with the aroma of food, wine, and a faint dampness, a stark contrast to the pervasive stench of decay in Jiaocheng County.

Upon reaching the second floor, the waiter opened a door to a room.

"Sir, you see, this room may be small, but it's clean. The bed is newly made, there's a teapot on the table, and the window faces the back street—it's quiet and peaceful."

The room was simply furnished with a wooden bed that could be laid sideways for two people, a wooden table with a chipped corner placed in front of the window, and two wooden stools beside it. Everything was neatly arranged and there was no musty smell.

Su Yan nodded, paid forty coins, dismissed the waiter, and closed the door behind him. He gently placed the little girl on the wooden stool, untied the burlap from her feet, and checked her wounds.

"Does it still hurt?"

Little Nianba shook his head, his eyes full of curiosity as he looked around at the furnishings in the room.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, Yan-ge'er. This place is much better than the inn in Jiaocheng County."

"You rest first, I'll go downstairs to order some food and ask about the ferry crossing."

Su Yan patted her head, placed the iron sword on the bedside table where she could easily reach it, and gave her some instructions.

"Don't open the door until I get back."

Little Nian'erba nodded obediently, clutched the hem of his clothes, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked out the window.

Several children were playing in the backstreet; although their clothes were patched upon patched, they exuded a rare vitality.

When Su Yan came downstairs, the conversation in the lobby became clearer. He found a table in the corner and sat down, and a waiter quickly came over.

"What would you like to order, sir? Our restaurant offers Yellow River boiled fish, wild fowl stewed with mixed grains, braised river shrimp, steamed meat with mixed grains, and wild vegetable and tofu soup—all very fresh!"

"Give me one of each, I have a big appetite, just bring them to the second floor later."

Su Yan announced the names of the dishes, then asked casually.

"Waiter, when will the grain transport boats to the south bank depart?"

"The total is 130 coins, you need to pay first, sir."

The waiter quickly memorized the names of the dishes and lowered his voice upon hearing this.

"Sir, are you crossing the river? You'll need to find the Yellow River Gang; they manage all the ferry boats. But things haven't been peaceful lately. The Black Sand Gang is always robbing people on the river, so the boats only dare to depart every two or three days, and they only dare to leave when they have enough men."

"The Black Sand Gang?"

Su Yan counted out 130 copper coins, feigning doubt.

"Hey, that's the vicious dog that Master Qin keeps!"

The waiter curled his lip, his eyes filled with apprehension.

"Relying on the power of the Qin family and the Mongols, they act like they own the place, robbing cargo boats and extorting protection money. Even our inn has to pay them money."

He paused, then added.

"But there are also those who aren't afraid of them. Someone even said today that last night 'River Maiden' took care of a few Black Sand Gang scum again, and it was very satisfying!"

"River maiden?"

Su Yan's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh, He Gu is a chivalrous woman here. Although we don't know her name, she often helps refugees and civilians. Sometimes she will even kill a few of the scum from the Black Sand Gang. The people she saves only know that she is a very young girl who is skilled with a long sword."

The waiter explained in a low voice.

"There are rumors that this river maiden is the eldest daughter of the Liu family, but that's just hearsay and shouldn't be taken seriously."

The Liu family, the Qin family, the Black Sand Gang, and the Yellow River Gang.

It's likely that this is a local force from Hezhong Prefecture. The "Master Qin" mentioned by the waiter is probably the Qin family, who are affiliated with the Mongols.

Just as he was about to ask another question, several members of the Yellow River Gang at the next table suddenly raised their voices.

"Chief Lei said that next time the cargo ships set sail, we'll bring more men. I don't believe we can't deal with those Black Sand Gang scum!"

"That's right! Last time they stole half a boatload of grain, ruining our brothers' life-saving rations. We can't let this go!"

"I heard Qin Wanshan wants us to submit? Dream on! We, the Yellow River Gang, live off the river; why should we listen to a traitor like him!"

The group became increasingly excited as they spoke, but then, mindful of something, they quickly lowered their voices.

Su Yan listened silently, already understanding the situation: the Yellow River Gang had deep-seated grudges with the Qin family and the Black Sand Gang, and he would inevitably have to deal with these forces if he wanted to cross the river.

Back in the room, Xiao Nianba was sitting obediently. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw him return.

Before long, the food was served. The Yellow River boiled fish, though without much seasoning, had a fresh, sweet flavor from the river. The mixed grain stew with meat was much more delicate than that from Jiaocheng County, and the wild vegetable and tofu soup was also cooked until soft and tender.

The two devoured five or six dishes in a flash, most of which ended up in Su Yan's stomach. Touching his slightly bloated belly, he didn't waste any time; his "Smashing Stele Hand" technique was only four repetitions away from reaching mastery.

They immediately began practicing in the room.

Once, twice...

After practicing for the fourth time, a strange feeling welled up in my heart, and all sorts of insights into the "Smashing Tablet Hand" technique came rushing in.

Su Yan assumed a stance again, and as he lowered his waist and shoulders, his blood and qi spontaneously surged towards his fists. It was no longer the scattered warm current of the past, but rather a cluster of qi the size of a needle tip, flowing along the meridians of his arms.

His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. The stiffness he used to feel when he was skilled had completely disappeared. Each punch was like a thunderclap, no longer a brute force, but a perfect blend of skill and power. The wind from his punches was no longer a scattered whistling sound, but a concentrated, sharp force.

After practicing the entire set of boxing techniques, Su Yan's breathing, though heavy, remained rhythmic. His internal energy consumption was 30% less than when he was more proficient. In the past, his blood and qi would surge after practicing four times, but now he only felt comfortable all over, his fists warm and comfortable, as if he had inexhaustible strength. He could clearly feel that the force of each punch mobilized the blood and qi throughout his body to resonate, and the power of the punch was more than double that of before.

Su Yan withdrew his fists and stood still, his blood and qi gradually calming down, the white mist dissipating. He felt his fists were filled with explosive power, and he knew every move and every point of force of the Stone-Smashing Hand technique by heart, as if this rudimentary external skill had been integrated into his bones. He couldn't wait to open the panel, and a new line of information appeared:

Host: Su Yan

Age: 16

Martial arts:

Rank E - Su Family Sword Technique (Mastery, 196/400) [Consumable -25%, Armor Penetration +25%, Pressure +30%]

Rank E - Leap Technique (Mastery, 347/400) [Consumable -25%, Agility +30%, Evasion +30%]

Rank E - Monument Slayer (Mastery, 1/200) [Critical Strike +10%]

Realm: Third-rate martial artist

Since acquiring the Stone-Smashing Hand technique, although he only practices it in his spare time, his progress is much faster than that of ordinary people.

Having traveled and cultivated along the way, the proficiency of all three martial arts had increased slightly, especially swordsmanship and lightness skills, which were not far from reaching perfection. Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief; all the hard work along the way had finally paid off.

He walked to the window and pushed it open a crack to look outside. Night was falling, and the streetlights in Hezhong Prefecture were gradually lighting up. Although they were just dim oil lamps, they were much better than the pitch blackness of Jiaocheng County. In the distance, he could faintly hear the roar of the Yellow River, mixed with the hustle and bustle of the city, carrying a sense of impending storm.

"Yan-ge'er, will we be able to cross the river tomorrow?"

After finishing the last bite of fish, Xiao Nianba asked in a low voice.

I'll go and inquire about it first thing tomorrow morning.

Su Yan turned around and patted her head.

Little Nianba nodded emphatically, curled up in a corner of the bed, and quickly fell asleep. The journey these past few days had left her exhausted. Although she hadn't walked many steps in total, riding on Yan'er's back and being jostled along the way had still taken a toll on her energy.

Although the beds in the inn were simple, they were a relatively safe place to stay.

Su Yan was also lying on the bed, with the iron sword on the bedside table. He was sleeping lightly, constantly listening to the sounds outside.

Until midnight, the sound of light footsteps came from the rooftop in the distance, and it wasn't just one person's voice. Su Yan suddenly opened his eyes, sat up, and gripped the long sword by the bedside.

The sound of footsteps on the rooftops gradually faded into the distance, occasionally punctuated by the clash of weapons. Judging from the noise, they were chasing someone, but that was none of Su Yan's business.

After confirming that the group had left, he breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down on the bed fully clothed. Sure enough, the larger the city, the more likely these kinds of things are to happen, and the more powerful the martial artists there are. He needed to be on guard at all times.