Chapter 170: Escort Travels at Night, Rooting Out the Weeds
The roaring fight in the direction of Zhongdu’s West Gate had turned half the city into a clamorous ocean.
Fu’an Escort Agency was also in a state of noisy commotion.
All the runners skilled in fishing nets, hidden weapons, and archery were hidden in the shadows cast by buildings of all sizes. Dozens of people, primarily escorts, were gathered together.
Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei were leading the group.
Tang Zude walked through the corridor, and a Hu People’s escort from Changfeng Escort Agency, dressed as a Jin soldier, said to him, “General, the burly man in the center is Zhang Wangyue. Most of Fu’an Escort Agency’s escorts and main escorts in the city are here, but quite a few are still missing. The Boss, Duan Huai’an, is also absent.”
Tang Zude nodded, pressed his right hand on his saber, and stepped forward, asking, “Who is in charge?”
Lanterns were lit in the courtyard, illuminating the entire space. Zhang Wangyue’s gaze swept past Tang Zude, looking towards the escort Liang Xiaowu at the far end.
The large red lanterns under the eaves cast a warm yellow glow. The young escort standing in the light made a gesture, signaling for all the Jin soldiers to enter the escort agency.
Zhang Wangyue’s gaze returned, and he looked at Tang Zude, saying, “I am.”
Tang Zude looked him up and down and asked, “Are they all here?”
The answer to Tang Zude was an extremely simple fist.
All of Zhang Wangyue’s strength seemed to be concentrated on the tip of his fist. His punch made no sound until it landed on Tang Zude’s face, exploding with Peng Force, and along with it, half of Tang Zude’s face, who had once taught Yang Kang martial arts, was blown apart.
Huyan Lei had already adjusted himself to his peak state. As Zhang Wangyue threw out a punch, he stomped his right foot and, with an Iron Mountain Lean, his entire body moved like flowing water, charging forward. With a roar, his strength, like a mountain collapsing under snow, exploded without reservation onto the Changfeng Escort Agency escort in front of him. Caught off guard, the escort took the Iron Mountain Lean head-on, and his body was sent flying with a crash.
“Escort Leader, take your spear.”
A runner behind them threw the Tiger Head Hammered Gold Spear to Huyan Lei.
Huyan Lei caught the spear and, in the same motion, thrust it back with a Returning Spear. The broad spearhead shredded the abdomen of a Jin soldier who had charged forward.
Zhang Wangyue had already snatched a long saber and, like flowing water, brought it down in a slash. A “thud” sound rang out in front of him as a Jin military officer’s body was cleanly split in two and rolled onto the ground, the scent of blood filling the air.
The Fu’an escort leader charged forward with his saber, his bloodthirsty steel saber swirling like a roaring tornado. Amidst the grim saber marks, blood and flesh splattered into the air.
Dozens of people, mainly Fu’an escorts and elite runners, charged forward like a tide. Bags of lime burst in the air, and Bone Piercing Nails, flying knives, locust stones, and iron caltrops whistled.
More than ten runners, trained by Zhou Yan and hidden in the shadows, drew their bows and nocked arrows. Amidst the continuous “bang, bang” sounds, over ten Jin soldiers were shot dead on the ground in an instant.
Mu Nianci, a figure in red, leaped down from the rooftops in a few agile movements. She and Liang Xiaowu, along with four or five others, guarded the main gate. As the fierce assassination ensued, some Jin soldiers tried to block the path and escape.
There were plenty of Jin soldiers in the city who had fled from the West Gate, and it was no problem to gather over a hundred people as helpers.
With a “whizz” sound of a spear, a spear emerged from the dust and smoke, lifting a Jin soldier into the air. The corpse then crashed heavily down. Mu Nianci withdrew her spear, shook her hands, and the spear flowers she twirled caught another Jin soldier.
With a “thud,” the spear pierced the opponent’s chest, the tip emerging from his back.
“Kill!” Several Jin soldiers, their eyes bloodshot, surrounded Mu Nianci. From a guest room by the porch, a woman suddenly rushed out, and a saber light rose.
The saber edge and figures intertwined, and heads flew into the sky. Shagu, who had killed one person with the saberplay “Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber” taught by Zhou Yan, shouted, “Big Sister, I killed one!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a long, black werewolf club suddenly swung towards her.
Shagu was afraid of clubs. She cried out “Aiyo!” and turned to run, “Big Sister, I can’t beat this person.”
Liang Xiaowu lunged forward fiercely, his explosive saber light meeting the werewolf club. Shagu exchanged a few blows with two Jin soldiers. In a one-on-one fight, she could take on five, but with the joint attack of two Jin soldiers, Shagu, who lacked combat experience, became flustered. She instinctively threw her long saber at one Jin soldier, then used her most skilled “Azure Wave Palm Technique.” Her palm momentum was like waves, pushing forward heavily. With a “bang” sound, the Jin soldier who had been madly slashing at Shagu with his saber was struck by the palm and rolled away.
“Huh?”
On the courtyard wall of the escort agency, Huang Rong exclaimed in surprise.
Her curiosity satisfied, she had intended to check on the situation at Fu’an. If the Mongol army entered the city and there were no major incidents at the escort agency, she would leave Zhongdu and head south to Kaifeng Prefecture, then to Xiangyang. She never expected that as soon as she reached the courtyard wall, she would see Shagu using the Peach Blossom Island martial art, “Azure Wave Palm Technique.”
Although Huang Rong didn’t know the cause of the fierce fighting within Fu’an Escort Agency, she understood Zhang Wangyue’s deployment with a brief observation.
“Mei Ruohua, follow me. Block the escort agency’s main gate and don’t let anyone leave alive.” Huang Rong’s figure, like a young swallow, flitted through the air and silently appeared behind the Jin soldiers fighting with Shagu, pressing their acupoints.
She advanced agilely, her footwork propelling her forward, and the “Azure Wave Palm Technique” descended towards Shagu.
Shagu saw the familiar palm technique and giggled, “This is fun.”
Their figures spun, and after a few exchanges of palms, Huang Rong asked, “Where did you learn this palm technique? Who is your Master?”
Shagu smiled and said, “Again.”
“Who taught you?” Huang Rong asked in a different way.
Zhou Yan had taught Shagu saberplay and a few grappling techniques, so Shagu naturally replied, “Big Brother.”
“Who is Big Brother?”
“Big Brother is Big Brother.”
“Why are you such a fool? Kill the enemy first, then ask Zhang Wangyue.”
Huang Rong’s toes touched the ground, and a steel saber sprang up. She moved forward with the saber, its edge flowing like a painting, drawing countless bloodlines in the air. In a blink of an eye, she had cut down several Jin soldiers.
…
Fu’an escorts and runners advanced like a tide. A Changfeng Escort Agency escort, mixed in with the Jin soldiers, saw that the situation was unfavorable and disengaged from the fight, leaping onto the rooftop.
With a “thud!”, a long arrow that pierced through the air struck the escort’s neck, pinning him to the overhanging eaves.
Zhou Yan landed in the courtyard. He and his bow moved horizontally along the battle line. The continuous “bang, bang” sounds of the bowstring snapping reverberated through the air. Arrows flew like meteors, one after another, shooting down fourteen Jin soldiers.
Zhou Yan entered the city and headed straight for Fu’an Escort Agency, only to find a fierce battle upon arrival. Without a moment’s delay, he drew his bow and fought, shooting his last arrow. He inserted the Ox Horn Giant Bow into his quiver, drew his Qingfeng Sword, and charged forward. He ducked under the gaps between three weapons and thrust his sword out with “One Qi Transforms into Three Purities.” Three Jin soldiers felt a blur before their eyes and, in an instant, dropped their weapons, clutched their throats, staggered a few steps, and fell to the ground.
Zhou Yan’s body swayed left and right, flashing through the gaps between blades. His sword strikes to the throat caused blood to spurt.
Huang Rong in the distance saw Zhou Yan and chuckled twice. The escort leader’s martial arts seemed to have improved significantly. Had he been in seclusion?
Zhou Yan’s swift swordplay and Mei Chaofeng’s soft whip directly turned the tide in favor of Fu’an, leading to a one-sided slaughter. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, including the more than ten escorts and runners from Changfeng Escort Agency, all were killed on the ground.
Zhou Yan glanced at Huang Rong, then withdrew his gaze and leaped towards Zhang Wangyue.
As he landed, the head escort of Fu’an looked pleased and asked, “Is the matter settled?”
“Yes!”
“You’ve arrived at just the right time.”
“What’s going on?”
“These Jin soldiers came with a purpose, but their military officer is still alive, so we can interrogate him.”
Huyan Lei had already dragged the unrecognizable Tang Zude over.
Tang Zude had never experienced such a short, bloody, and fierce battle even when defending the city. Seeing no one alive within his sight and the stench of blood making him nauseous, he was already terrified.
Before Zhou Yan could interrogate him, he said, “It was Lei Luo, the owner of Changfeng, who came up with the idea. He told us to kill Fu’an escorts and runners and disguise ourselves as escort agency personnel to save our lives.”
“Lei Luo, I’ll stab him to death!” Huyan Lei was furious.
Huang Rong arrived at this moment with Mei Chaofeng.
“You’re back?”
“Yes, thank you for your help.”
“Reciprocity. No need to be polite. Where did Fu’an find such a silly girl?”
Zhou Yan inwardly scoffed. Huang Rong must have seen Shagu using the “Azure Wave Palm Technique,” which saved him trouble.
“It’s a long story. I need to take care of something first.”
“Let’s go together.”
“This is a feud between Fu’an and Changfeng.”
“Fu’an saved my life.”
Zhang Wangyue said, “Before the Mongol army surrounded the city, Helian Zhantai had already left the city. Changfeng has no experts. I’ll handle the bodies here, and Brother Zhou, you take your men.”
“Be back in half an hour.” He added, and then said to Huang Rong, “They’re all just cannon fodder. You wait for me at the escort agency.”
“That’s fine too!”
Zhou Yan left with over thirty people, including Huyan Lei and Liang Xiaowu.
In the dim night, Fu’an’s fierce tide surged from the streets of Zhongdu towards Changfeng Escort Agency.
As Huang Rong walked towards Shagu, she wondered, “Why is she listening to him?”
