Chapter 109: A Smile Erases Grudges, Meeting the Six Eccentrics at Taihu Lake
Taihu Lake borders three prefectures, and all the waters to the southeast flow into it. It is five hundred li in circumference and was anciently called the Five Lakes.
During the third month of fireworks, the large boat Zhou Yan was on entered the waters of Taihu Lake.
Everyone boarded the boat in Xiangyang and sailed south along the Yangtze River. Nothing happened on the way.
Mei Chaofeng and Huang Rong rarely showed themselves, and Zhou Yan, apart from intercepting Qi for treatment, did not enter their room.
Everything returned to the normal routine of escorting goods.
Although he had given all the purple snake gallbladders to Huang Rong, with nothing happening on the boat, it was equivalent to stealing half a month of cultivation time. Using the Quanzhen Techniques to intercept the gentle Qi of the Jade Guanyin, he could now do so at will, constantly integrating this aura into his Inner Qi. He practiced diligently, and his Inner Qi became increasingly powerful and pure.
Zhou Yan pondered taking the boat northward to temper his meridians, which would at least open two.
The weather was clear and bright. Standing on the deck, he saw the vast sky and distant waves, all green. The seventy-two peaks were verdant, standing amidst thirty-six thousand qing of waves, making him feel open-hearted.
The sunset was orange-yellow, the evening clouds were peach-red, fishing boats came and went on the lake, and suddenly, a fishing song was sung in the evening.
“Setting sail a thousand li to glide over the waves, lingering briefly to gaze at the Wu mountains. Clouds gather in water palaces, waves follow the divine maiden, the nine rivers flow east. The northern traveler flies gracefully, his ambitious heart is deeply moved, his years are drawing to a close. Thinking of his humble hermitage, his old friend Chao You, the dream of Nanke, how could it be so.”
The song began with boldness, but as it progressed, the voice gradually turned sorrowful.
Zhou Yan’s thoughts stirred. Recalling some plot threads from Legend of the Condor Heroes, the singer should be Lu Chenfeng, who often sailed on Taihu Lake.
As expected, before the song could begin again, Mei Chaofeng appeared on the deck and said loudly, “Senior Brother Lu, it’s been a while. Are you well?”
As Mei Chaofeng spoke, Huang Rong also slowly walked onto the deck. As she walked, she now knew that the Manor Lord of Guiyun Manor was Lu Chenfeng. She also recognized that the song he sang was a Water Dragon Chant lyric, expressing the feelings of boating on the water. She used to hear her father sing it often. Having experienced life and death, hearing the lyrics and melody again, she suddenly missed Huang Yaoshi immensely.
A resonant voice was also transmitted from afar at this moment.
“It’s Junior Sister Mei, long time no see. I am very well.”
By the last word of the voice, it was already filled with indignation.
Liang Xiaowu came to Zhou Yan’s side and said in a low voice, “Head Escort, this merchant is also someone from a Jianghu sect.”
“Mm!” Zhou Yan nodded and casually said, “Everyone to the cabin. Other people’s affairs are not for us to see or judge. Turn a deaf ear.”
“Understood.” Liang Xiaowu led the runners into the cabin.
Mei Chaofeng’s voice rose again, “Senior Brother Lu, let’s put our grudges aside for now. Are you willing to come with me to Peach Blossom Island?”
A fishing boat sped towards them from the sunset’s afterglow. As the distance closed, Zhou Yan saw that the fisherman on the boat was about forty years old, with a gaunt face, seemingly suffering from a serious illness.
The fisherman was indeed Lu Chenfeng. He said angrily, “You caused me so much suffering, and now you have the audacity to ask me to go to Peach Blossom Island. You are truly shameless.”
“Senior Brother Lu, shall I tell you when I get on the boat?”
“Do you think I’m afraid of you?”
“How could Senior Brother Lu be afraid of me? If it weren’t for you back then, Junior Sister wouldn’t have been forced to flee to the desert.”
Both came from Peach Blossom Island, with affection and grudges. Now Mei Chaofeng had something to ask of Lu Chenfeng, but the old matters resurfaced in their minds, and naturally, there was verbal sparring.
Lu Chenfeng heard this and said angrily, “If it weren’t for back then…”
“Senior Brother Lu, I’m coming over.”
Mei Chaofeng did not know that Zhou Yan was fully aware of the grudges and affections of Peach Blossom Island. She thought that family matters should not be aired publicly. She interrupted Lu Chenfeng’s words, discerning the sound of the wind, and suddenly leaped about two zhang, landing on the fishing boat.
Lu Chenfeng did not take advantage of the situation to attack. Mei Chaofeng landed on the bow of the boat and spoke to him in a low voice, her words inaudible.
Huang Rong’s gaze returned. She glanced at Zhou Yan standing on the deck, then walked into the large boat’s room. She took a cultivation technique diagram to Zhou Yan’s side and asked, “I wonder how the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ is doing?”
Zhou Yan smiled and said, “There’s no need to worry about that. When running an inn, the shopkeeper has good judgment and wouldn’t sell the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ for money, thus inviting trouble out of nowhere.”
“That makes sense,” Huang Rong said. “Thank you for escorting us all the way.”
“You’re welcome.”
“When I go ashore, will you be returning to Zhongdu?”
“Yes, after signing the escort order, I will head north immediately.”
“I will never forget your life-saving grace. Here, take this.” Huang Rong handed the diagram to Zhou Yan.
“What is this?”
“During the fierce battle in the valley that day, I hid in a stone room by the bamboo forest and saw this cultivation technique called ‘Gold Knife Black Sword Yin-Yang Dual Blades,’ which uses both sword and knife. I thought you could also try using a spear and sword together, so I memorized and wrote it down. You can try cultivating it. If it really doesn’t work…” Huang Rong suddenly smiled, “Then you can carry another knife.”
“Then I’ll become an armory.”
“Pretty much. Take it.”
“I accept your kind offer.” Zhou Yan took the cultivation technique diagram and put it in his embrace. On the fishing boat, Mei Chaofeng had also briefly explained the situation to Lu Chenfeng. Lu Chenfeng’s expression changed several times before he looked towards the deck.
He saw that although Huang Rong was dressed as a man, he could vaguely see the resemblance to his master’s wife. He was delighted and shifted his gaze to Zhou Yan. The Manor Lord of Guiyun Manor said, “Thank you, Head Escort Zhou, for your righteous escort. Guiyun Manor is by the lake. Please stay for a few days.”
Zhou Yan cupped his hands. “I have urgent escort matters to attend to, so I cannot stay long. Please forgive me.”
Mei Chaofeng naturally could not explain everything that had happened along the way in a few words. Lu Chenfeng also knew some of the escort bureau’s rules. Thinking that the other party said this, it would be inappropriate to force him to stay. He decided to send someone with a generous reward later.
Thinking this, he said to the boy, “To the large boat.”
“Understood.”
The boy rowed the boat, and the two boats docked. Lu Chenfeng boarded the large boat. He took out a small triangular flag from his embrace and said, “Head Escort, your righteousness is immense, and I have no way to repay it. I have lived on Taihu Lake for many years, and I have some influence in the five hundred li of water and along the routes of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In the future, if Head Escort encounters trouble while escorting goods, just show this flag.”
Zhou Yan had no reason to doubt his words. The Taihu Lake Water Village was all under the jurisdiction of Guiyun Manor. Lu Chenfeng was someone who dared to rob Jin soldiers and escort them to the imperial court in Lin’an Prefecture.
“Your Manor Lord’s hospitality is too kind, I accept.” Zhou Yan took the flag with both hands, thinking that he still had the token, the Iron Spear Head, given by Zhang Sanqiang. In the future, when escorting goods to Fu’an, he would insert the spear head on the escort cart in Jiangxi, and in the routes of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he would insert the signal flag of the Taihu Lake Water Village, and he would likely travel unimpeded.
Thinking this, he thanked him again and handed the escort order to Lu Chenfeng.
The Manor Lord of Guiyun Manor signed the escort order, expressed his thanks, and took Huang Rong, Mei Chaofeng, and the medicine boy onto the fishing boat.
“Lord Zhou, take care on your journey.” The medicine boy waved.
Back on the banks of the Yellow River, the medicine boy had told him to put in a good word for him with Mei Chaofeng when he reached Guiyun Manor. Now, there was no need for that, as Mei Chaofeng had already instructed him in martial arts along the way.
Guiyun Manor was a good place, much better than following Liang Zi Weng.
He waved goodbye to the boy.
The large boat was hired by Zhou Yan from Xiangyang. The boatman said, “Head Escort, shall we return now?”
“Yes!”
The large boat set sail, gradually sailing into the mist and clouds of Taihu Lake.
Huang Rong recalled the twists and turns of the journey, the great eagle in Snake Valley, and felt as if it were a dream. She looked back, but the lone sail’s distant shadow was nowhere to be seen.
She did not feel melancholic. After her injuries healed, she would still go to the Yellow River Gang to cause trouble, wanting to see if the Head Escort had taken the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ from the inn. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t just go.
…
A full moon in the vast blue sky, the spring of Taihu Lake with waves in the third watch. If one were to experience this in daylight, one would not see ten thousand qing of newly melted silver.
In the evening, the waves of Taihu Lake were strong, hitting the large boat with a sound.
Liang Xiaowu and several other runners were relieved. Liang Xiaowu made a few small dishes, and everyone ate and chatted on the deck. Suddenly, a conch shell sound came from the night.
Zhou Yan looked out and saw that several li away, a boat followed the moon, and a small boat was rapidly approaching.
From more than a li away, a voice called out, “Head Escort Zhou, please wait a moment.”
The boatman heard this and had the large boat lower its sail. The small boat drew near, and a handsome young master in his early twenties, along with his attendant, leaped onto the deck.
The young master was polite and cupped his hands, saying, “I am here on behalf of my father to pay my respects to the Head Escort.”
“It’s Lu Guanying,” Zhou Yan thought.
He said, “Young Master, you are too polite.”
“My father is grateful for your escort all the way. He has prepared a small gift and hopes the Head Escort will accept it.”
“No, the merchant has already paid the escort fee in Zhongdu.”
“This is for you personally.” As Lu Guanying finished speaking, his attendant placed a brocade box from his embrace on the deck. He cupped his hands and said, “If Head Escort Zhou visits Taihu Lake in the future, please come to Guiyun Manor as a guest. We will entertain you with great hospitality.”
“I will!”
“Farewell.” Lu Guanying bowed and leaped back onto the small boat, departing.
Liang Xiaowu said, “Head Escort, the young master is a bit arrogant.”
Zhou Yan smiled and chided, “Don’t talk about people behind their backs.”
“I was wrong!”
Zhou Yan opened the brocade box and saw twenty ingots of gold inside, as well as a porcelain bottle.
He opened the porcelain bottle, which contained dozens of vermilion pills. A faint fragrance emanated from them, refreshing the mind.
Zhou Yan had seen Huang Rong take these pills. He thought that Lu Chenfeng was quite generous to give him ‘Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pills.’ The elixirs from Peach Blossom Island were worth a thousand gold. However, with the Jade Guanyin protecting him, he didn’t need to waste them. When he returned to the escort bureau, he would give them to Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Yang Tiexin, and others.
The large boat continued forward. Zhou Yan meditated on the deck. A boat sped past from behind at a distance of five or six zhang.
He looked and saw a scholar, a blind man, a woman in green, and a sturdy young man drinking and admiring the moon on the boat.
Zhou Yan was startled. It was the Six Freaks of Jiangnan, Guo Jing, and others.
