Chapter 166: Little Dragon Girl Bestows Opportunity, Obtaining the Nine Yin
The night wind was cool, and mist rose from the mountains.
Zhou Yan searched for nearly ten li in the direction Ouyang Ke and the others had fled, but found nothing. He arrived at the mountain forest where the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” was placed and followed a stream flowing from the direction of the Ancient Tomb.
Being in Zhongnan Mountain, one couldn’t help but think of the Nine Yin Manual. The manual was left by Wang Chongyang, and Zhou Yan had no moral qualms about infiltrating the Ancient Tomb to search for it.
Jiang Chao practiced his fists, developing excellent swimming skills. He could hold his breath underwater for the time it takes to eat a meal without any problems, possessing the necessary conditions for exploration.
He simply wanted to consider that the Mongol Army should be approaching Zhongdu. With the army attacking the city and the fighting being fierce, he wondered if Genghis Khan’s forces would cause slaughter within the city, and if the Jin soldiers, while defending, would drive strong civilians, escort agency escorts, and runners to participate in the city defense. These were all unpredictable matters, hence he dared not linger in Zhongnan Mountain for too long.
Zhou Yan weighed his options. After Lin Chaoying’s maid recovered from her injuries, he would return to Zhongdu. During this time, he would search for an underground river that led directly to the Ancient Tomb. If he truly couldn’t find it, it would mean he currently lacked that opportunity.
However, fortunately, he had some fragmented information about the Divine Condor and the Jianghu to draw upon. Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo emerged from the underground river of the Ancient Tomb, and that river led directly to a mountain cave. This was something he could pay attention to and utilize.
Zhou Yan traveled several li and saw a bag of rice, candied fruit, and other items on the ground. He surmised they were supplies purchased by Li Mochou from the market below the mountain. He placed the rice bag on his horse, took the candied fruit and pastries, and went to the forest outside the Ancient Tomb.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” was placed in the mountain forest to graze on its own. Zhou Yan cut branches and gathered some wormwood, building a simple thatched hut in the forest. Only then did he begin searching the areas where fighting had occurred.
He found a total of fourteen corpses and obtained over three hundred taels of silver from them.
After collecting the money, he kept a few long sabers and threw the corpses one by one into a nearby valley. Then, he scouted the terrain around the Ancient Tomb and began his search.
Zhongnan Mountain was majestic and stretched for miles. The area around the Ancient Tomb was also filled with secluded valleys and crisscrossing creeks. It was the height of winter, and many of the creeks were frozen, adding to the difficulty.
As the sun rose in the east and mist shrouded the mountain range, he returned to the forest with the wild rabbit and mountain chicken he had shot. After exploring all night, he found over twenty creeks and pools on the periphery. The next step was to trace each one upstream and investigate.
The campfire crackled, and the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the forest.
Li Mochou, dressed in a green skirt, emerged from the Ancient Tomb. She carried an earthen jar and, upon seeing the bag of rice placed at the tomb’s entrance, her face lit up with joy. Then, like a butterfly among flowers, she gracefully leaped into the forest.
Zhou Yan knew she would come and had already used his saber to cut wormwood and make a soft, thick grass mat.
“I think your meticulousness surpasses that of any woman,” Li Mochou said, sitting with her legs crossed, praising him. She was referring to Zhou Yan bringing the bag of rice and making the grass mat.
“The Jianghu is treacherous, so one must be as sharp as a needle and see through everything, guarding against all possibilities. Otherwise, how could there be the saying ‘capsizing in a ditch’?”
Li Mochou smiled sweetly. “I feel like we’re back at the Mountain God Temple outside Datong Prefecture, where you told me about Jianghu experience.” As she said this, she chuckled, “But last night, hearing the screams, you lost your composure and cried out. My junior sister told me you secretly killed many people. If I hadn’t interfered, perhaps those thieves would have all died by arrows and swords.”
“Worry makes one lose their head; it’s the same for anyone. Actually, killing those few people was difficult. Compared to my martial arts, the white-robed man named Ouyang Ke was not inferior to me. The other three were only slightly less skilled.”
Li Mochou placed the earthen jar beside Zhou Yan, drew her slender legs closer, tucking them in slightly, and hugged her knees. She smiled, “I even told my junior sister that you were no match for me, but last night you truly startled me. Your martial arts far surpassed mine, so the upcoming half-year appointment will be postponed.”
After saying this, fearing Zhou Yan might refuse, she immediately added, “The earthen jar contains honey I collected. I also raise bees. If those few thieves arrive again in a few months, I have ways to deal with them.”
“Bees sting.”
“Yes.”
“It’s a good method, but the most important thing is cultivation. There are many ways to counter bee stings, after all.”
“Yes, I’ll remember.”
“How are Senior’s injuries?”
“The enemy has retreated, so I can calm my breath and stabilize my injuries. I should recover in about ten days to half a month.”
“Good, I will leave after Senior has recovered.”
“Really?”
“Naturally.”
Li Mochou was delighted and quickly said, “Then we can spar! I never expected that by joining forces, we could defeat such a formidable enemy.”
Zhou Yan smiled and changed the subject. “The Changfeng Escort Agency and Fu’an have grudges. I scouted the Changfeng Escort Agency at night and learned that Ouyang Ke had arrived in Zhongnan Mountain, so I hurried over.”
“So that’s how it is. I thought long and hard but couldn’t figure out why you suddenly appeared. I was looking for Elder Hong outside Datong Prefecture and thought of hiring an escort to take you to Zhongnan Mountain to find my Master for treatment, which is how the people from the Changfeng Escort Agency and Ouyang Ke found out my location. Once Master recovers, I will descend the mountain and avenge this.”
“Seeking revenge is right, but you must act within your means. Ouyang Ke’s uncle is Western Venom Ouyang Feng, who is as famous as Elder Hong.”
“We can combine our swords!” Li Mochou said, her mind suddenly inspired.
“That also requires continuous improvement in martial arts. At our current level, we are still far from being able to deal with Ouyang Feng.”
“I’ll remember. My sect and the Quanzhen Sect have always had grudges; please don’t mind.”
“I am not a Quanzhen disciple, so why would I?”
“I am relieved,” Li Mochou said, straightening her back. “I’ll head back for now. Master needs care. I’ll come again when I have time.”
“Taking care of Senior is important.”
“Yes.”
Li Mochou stood up, and Zhou Yan escorted her out of the forest. The woman waved her hand, turned, and gracefully walked towards the Ancient Tomb. She picked up the bag of rice and other supplies, and her figure disappeared inside.
Zhou Yan returned to the forest. After roasting the chicken and rabbit, he ate to fill his stomach, then led the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” away from the Ancient Tomb and headed straight for the market.
Upon reaching the market, he purchased several jars of strong liquor, rope, and waterproof canvas. He arrived at the Ancient Tomb at noon and began searching the pools one by one according to his exploration of the creeks.
…
*Swish*
The setting sun cast its glow. The surface of the jade-green pool in the mountain stream suddenly parted. Zhou Yan emerged from the pool and leaped ashore. He opened a jar of liquor and drank heartily.
The water was as cold as needles. Even with Zhou Yan’s profound Internal Energy and the gentle qi emitted by the Jade Guanyin to relax his muscles and invigorate his blood, after holding his breath for half the time it takes to eat a meal and emerging from the water, he still felt his muscles stiff and his blood as if frozen.
The strong liquor burned his body, and the chill receded slightly. Zhou Yan put on his clothes and performed a set of “Free and Easy Journey” to thoroughly activate his muscles. Only then did he head into the forest.
“Big Brother is here.”
Zhou Yan had also cleaned the mountain chicken he shot along the way. Seeing Little Dragon Girl, he smiled, “Yes, where is your senior sister?”
“Taking care of Master.”
“Are you hungry? I’ll make you a beggar’s chicken.”
“I’m not hungry. I drank honey and ate pastries. But if Big Brother makes beggar’s chicken, I’ll still eat it.”
Zhou Yan chuckled; this was the nature of a child.
He took a water skin, mixed a lump of mud, wrapped the mountain chicken in it, and started a fire to roast it. When the wet mud dried, he peeled off the dry mud, and the chicken feathers came off with it. The chicken meat was tender and white, with a rich aroma.
He gave both chicken legs to Little Dragon Girl. Zhou Yan ate meat and drank wine. Little Dragon Girl, who was eating small pieces of chicken, praised its deliciousness and asked, “Where did Big Brother go during the day?”
“I walked around nearby, looking at strange mountains, clear streams, and jade pools.”
Little Dragon Girl said, “It’s deep winter now. If Big Brother comes to Zhongnan Mountain during the transition from spring to summer, the green pines and cypresses, the waterfalls and strange rocks here are all incredibly scenic. When my sister and I were catching bees, we even went to a place where the shade was dense, and the flowers shimmered. Reds were fiery red, whites were snow white, greens were jade green, blues were indigo, and it was a riot of color, like being in a sea of flowers.”
The speaker said it without thinking, but the listener took it to heart. Zhou Yan suddenly thought of the Divine Condor world, where Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo emerged from the underground river and walked out of a stone cave into a colorful land.
He asked, “Where is it?”
“Over there,” Little Dragon Girl said, standing up and pointing towards the foot of the mountain.
Zhou Yan looked. It was a seemingly remote valley at the foot of the mountain. He wasn’t sure if there was an entrance and thought he could explore it tonight.
As they ate, Zhou Yan recounted interesting stories from his time as an escort, or Jiang Chao practicing his fists and contemplating swordsmanship while observing the sea of clouds from the mountain peak. He never spoke of the dangers of the Jianghu or the wickedness of human nature.
Little Dragon Girl had never heard such stories before and was captivated. Even as night fell, she was reluctant to leave. Zhou Yan told her to return before sunset to avoid worrying her Master. Little Dragon Girl, being sensible, heeded his advice and left.
Like birds returning to their nests, night descended. Zhou Yan took oiled paper and a few fire starters, sealed them in an earthen jar, and, carrying the canvas, headed straight for the valley Little Dragon Girl had pointed out.
The cold wind whistled, and the valley was desolate. A stream flowed murmuring at the bottom of the valley. Zhou Yan followed the stream upstream for less than half a li. In the darkness, he suddenly saw a stone cave.
Zhou Yan felt as if he had stumbled upon a paradise.
He sighed. If not for Little Dragon Girl, and if he had relied on his previous survey of the creeks and pools, he would have returned empty-handed, and even then, he might not have found anything.
Zhou Yan stepped into the stone cave. After walking for a while, the cave grew deeper, and an underground river appeared. Without a doubt, this underground river led to the Ancient Tomb at one end and flowed through the rocks to become the stream in the valley at the other.
He turned out of the stone cave, found a wooden stick as thick as his wrist, returned, cut a strip of canvas, and placed the cloth, stick, earthen jar, and his discarded clothes all on the waterproof canvas. He wrapped them securely and dived into the water.
He was an expert swimmer. Although he couldn’t compare to Hou Tonghai or Huang Rong, he was no worse than a Yellow River water ghost. Moving against the current, he was like a swimming fish. As the water level rose, Zhou Yan took a breath and dived to the riverbed, walking with his steps.
In less than the time it takes to eat a meal, the terrain gradually rose, and the river channel ascended. Zhou Yan emerged, and his vision was met with a pitch-black, impenetrable corridor.
After completely leaving the water, he circulated his qi to dispel the cold, squatted down, untied the canvas, fumbled to put on his clothes, lit a fire starter, and made a simple torch with the canvas and stick. Only then did he walk forward.
The end of the corridor was a stone room.
Zhou Yan raised his torch high, looked around, and then looked up at the ceiling. He saw that the ceiling was covered with densely packed characters. In the far right, there were four large characters: “Nine Yin Manual.”
He examined them in detail and saw “Acupoint Sealing Secret Manual,” “Breath-Holding Secret,” “Acupoint Sealing Secret,” “Snake Movement Fox Flip,” “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter,” “Great Demon Subduing Fist,” and more.
Zhou Yan was overjoyed. He knew that the martial arts recorded in the stone room were only a small part of the Nine Yin Manual, but they were exactly what he urgently needed.
“Snake Movement Fox Flip,” “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter,” and “Acupoint Sealing Secret Manual” were cultivation techniques that came to Zhou Yan like charcoal in the snow.
