Chapter 116: Iron Palm Water Floating
In the early morning of March, the air still carried a hint of coolness. More than ten thatched huts were set up in the forest along the Huai River. Before the sun had risen, cooking smoke drifted above the treetops.
Mu Nianci practiced her spear techniques for a while, but felt restless and found no effect. She then put away her iron spear and walked to Yang Tiexin’s side by the camp.
“Father, do you think this escort can still be salvaged?”
Mu Nianci followed Wang Kui and several other escorts to tail the Red-Clad Woman.
The group of them were quite skilled. If they were to fight individually, there were few among the bandits who could match them. Coupled with their extensive Jianghu experience, they could silently herd the convoy of hundreds of mules and horses without issue.
They followed all the way to Caizhou, where the opposing force of over a thousand people roared into Cuya Mountain.
Wang Kui and the escorts stayed to monitor, while Mu Nianci returned to deliver the report. Five days had passed by now.
Yang Tiexin said, “That female bandit is not one to kill indiscriminately. Perhaps there will be a turn of events when the Chief Escort arrives.”
“Mm!” Mu Nianci nodded, her mood quite low.
“What’s wrong?”
“That female bandit is only slightly older than me, yet she can lead over a thousand people to rob an escort. I could only watch helplessly, feeling utterly useless.”
“Silly girl, that’s not how you should think. You must know there’s always someone better and mountains beyond mountains. If you put it that way, isn’t Brother Zhou around your age too? But look at his martial arts, how much do you lag behind?”
If Yang Tiexin had compared her to anyone else, Mu Nianci might have been unconvinced, but when he brought up Zhou Yan, she was truly convinced.
“I wonder where Head Escort Zhou is now. If he were here, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened. On the escort from Jingzhou, he also faced bandits and turned the tide. Zhenwei Escort Agency encountered Great Qi remnants in Xinye, and it was also thanks to Head Escort Zhou that they escaped danger.”
“At least we wouldn’t be so helpless,” Yang Tiexin sighed.
As soon as he finished speaking, they suddenly heard the sound of hooves approaching rapidly from a distance.
The two of them looked in unison. They couldn’t see the people or horses, but the runners on guard duty outside had already shouted excitedly, “Head Escort Huyan and Head Escort Zhou are here.”
Mu Nianci was stunned. Why was Head Escort Zhou here?
…
The oppressive, heavy atmosphere that had shrouded the camp for days vanished with the arrival of Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei.
Zhou Yan briefly introduced Lu Beihe, the Young Master of Zhenwei Escort Agency, to Yang Tiexin and the other escorts. They all sat on the ground in the thatched huts, and Mu Nianci recounted the results of tailing the enemy.
During his time as a runner, the original owner had never been to Caizhou. However, Zhou Yan, with his knowledge from two lifetimes, was well aware of it.
South of Caizhou was the territory of Luzhou. Cuya Mountain was strategically important and had been a contested area for strategists throughout history. During the Spring and Autumn period, Wu and Chu fought here, and after the King of Wu died, he was buried beneath Tianmo Peak. During the Sui Dynasty, Dou Jiande was defeated at Cuya Mountain and buried in Fengming Valley after his death. In the late Tang Dynasty, Shang Rang, a general of the peasant uprising leader Wang Xianzhi, stationed troops at Cuya Mountain and later joined forces with Huang Chao to defend it. Later still, even Li Zicheng had stationed troops here.
Mu Nianci stated the facts concisely. One of the escorts asked, “Brother Zhou, what do you think we should do now?”
Lu Beihe had been observing throughout. After spending two days with Zhou Yan at Zhenwei Escort Agency in Kaifeng Prefecture, he admired Zhou Yan’s martial arts and character. Zhou Yan was unconcerned with minor principles and handled matters with measured composure. His martial arts were superior to Lu Beihe’s. However, after meeting in Xinye, he hadn’t seen Fu’an’s escort team and didn’t know how Zhou Yan managed his teams. Now, finding himself in this situation, he saw that the older head escorts and escorts of Fu’an showed respect and obedience towards Zhou Yan, implicitly following his lead. He sighed inwardly.
It was the same at Zhenwei, but Lu Beihe had the status of Young Master. Zhou Yan, on the other hand, earned respect through his genuine skill and virtue. Compared to him, Lu Beihe felt inferior.
In response to the escort’s question, Zhou Yan said, “Let’s proceed according to Head Escort Huyan’s arrangements. When the Chief Escort arrives, I will go to Head Escort Wang’s side to investigate further.”
When Zhou Yan said he would investigate further, Huyan Lei and the escorts, who knew his methods, understood that he intended to venture into the tiger’s den to thoroughly understand the enemy’s strength.
Mu Nianci quickly said, “I’ll lead the way with Head Escort Zhou.”
“Alright.”
“And me,” Lu Beihe added.
“Of course.”
Lu Beihe chuckled. Zhou Yan’s demeanor was truly comforting.
The three of them traveled day and night, their stomachs empty.
The runners quickly brought the morning meal.
The meal was served in porcelain bowls. Fish was also in the bowl, caught from the Huai River. It was a crucian carp about a foot long and less than a palm wide, considered a superior grade of crucian carp.
Zhou Yan and Lu Beihe dipped the fish in soup to fill their stomachs.
As daylight faded, Zhou Yan led Lu and Mu towards Cuya Mountain.
…
The sunset hung over the distant mountains, and the west wind brushed the green grass by the lake at the foot of the mountain. Zhou Yan looked out and saw the towering peaks, deep ravines, ancient trees reaching for the sky, and lush green vines. It was truly a place for hiding troops.
Wang Kui and several escorts were by Zhou Yan’s side.
The head escort said, “I explored inside a few times over the past few nights. There is a wide area within the mountain with a simple stronghold built. I suspect this group of bandits hasn’t been here long.”
Lu Beihe said upon hearing this, “It’s possible they retreated here after engaging with troops from Jingdong Road, Hebei Province, the Jin Soldiers, and the imperial army of Lin’an Prefecture.”
Zhou Yan agreed. He had to detour when he reached Jinan Prefecture due to regional warfare. Calculating the time, it was highly possible that some troops had retreated to Cuya Mountain within the past few days due to changes in the war. The escort team was traveling along the Huai River, and the enemy targeted their mules and horses, leading to the robbery.
“How many men are there?”
“Around three thousand. About an hour ago, dozens of people arrived; they seem to be another group of bandits.”
“I’ll go in and take a look.”
Wang Kui hesitated for a moment, then looked at the rugged strange rocks and the shaded mountain range. He said, “Alright, be careful.”
“Mm!”
Zhou Yan was actually not worried at all. The mountains and fields before them were easy to hide in, and sneaking in posed no difficulty.
“I’ll go with Head Escort Zhou,” Lu Beihe said.
“Okay!”
Mu Nianci had also wanted to follow, but she remembered that her martial arts were far inferior to Zhou Yan’s. She feared that if she went into the tiger’s den and something unexpected happened, she would become a burden. She suppressed the thought.
Zhou Yan’s fine steel spear was left at Taihu Lake. He held a Qinggang sword, while Lu Beihe carried twin spears. The two of them disappeared into the verdant forest shrouded in dusk, winding their way towards the valley that Wang Kui had scouted.
They traveled without incident. Zhou Yan observed that the enemy’s defenses were several notches below those of the escort team during their night encampment. The escort team losing their cargo on the Huai River was purely due to the enemy’s overwhelming numbers.
As night fell, Zhou Yan and Lu Beihe approached the wide valley stronghold.
More than ten dilapidated stronghold buildings were arranged in a scale-like pattern according to the terrain.
Taking advantage of the night’s cover, Zhou Yan and Lu Beihe moved stealthily, approaching a solitary stronghold building.
A gentle breeze blew, and a small window was half-open.
What entered Zhou Yan’s sight was an old man with a white beard wearing a yellow hemp shirt. He was sitting cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, and he was continuously exhaling wisps of smoke from his mouth.
Just as Zhou Yan was about to get a clear look, Lu Beihe tugged at his sleeve.
“Head Escort, this old man is clearly practicing an extremely profound martial art. His internal force is so deep, it’s likely far beyond yours or mine. We must not act rashly.”
“I understand.”
Lu Beihe let go. Zhou Yan looked again; the old man still maintained the demeanor of an expert, exhaling smoke.
Zhou Yan’s mind, however, stirred. He thought of someone.
The fake Iron Palm Water Floating.
That is to say, Qiu Qianzhang, the elder brother of the Iron Palm Lotus, Qiu Qianchi.
The light of a lantern shone from afar. Two underlings from the stronghold brought the meal, standing respectfully outside the door.
“Mr. Qiu, your dinner.”
“Bring it in.”
“Yes, sir.”
The soldiers brought the wine and dishes into the building. Seeing the old man exhaling smoke, their legs began to tremble, and they dared not look further. After placing the meal, they exited the room and, once they were a good distance away, turned and fled as if flying.
Zhou Yan chuckled softly. It was indeed the elder brother of the Qiu family, known for his fraudulent ways.
He thought of the man’s methods and a thought struck him: this escort might have a chance of being saved.
