Chapter 58: Zhang Sanqiang in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion
The evening breeze rustled, and the plants whispered, as if white mist permeated the mountains and fields. Zhou Yan’s words echoed in his ears. In the cool, water-like dusk, Qiu Qianchi, the Iron Palm Lotus, had a complex expression, and the bluebird of memory had returned.
Eldest brother Qiu Qianzhang, second brother Qiu Qianren. The two brothers were identical in build, appearance, and voice, but their personalities were vastly different. The second brother possessed exceptional martial arts, while the eldest brother’s martial arts were weak. She herself had been taught martial arts by her second brother, yet she felt closer to her eldest brother.
Few people knew of her eldest brother’s reputation. When traveling the Jianghu, he sometimes used his second brother’s name. Her second brother said her eldest brother was a swindler. Her eldest brother had a good temper and would always smile and apologize when scolded by his second brother. But that time, the scolding was so fierce that she couldn’t help but interject to defend her eldest brother, taking the blame upon herself. Thus, the siblings had a huge argument. In a fit of anger, she left Iron Palm Peak.
At that time, I thought I would make a name for myself, not inferior to my second brother, through my martial arts. So I wandered everywhere. Later, I encountered Sun Buer and she intended to harm my eldest brother. In anger, I attacked and pursued her. However, this brat thwarted me time and again. After much wandering, I met Gongsun Zhi.
In the Jianghu, one is often alone. Gongsun Zhi’s solicitous care was hard to resist, and my heart was moved. He then dispatched disciples to search for Sun Buer and the escorts, leading to the current scene. Is Gongsun Zhi truly a man of deep schemes as the escorts said? Have I abandoned my ambition to forge a name for myself, not inferior to my second brother, when I first ventured into the Jianghu?
The escorts said I was forceful, which is true. Otherwise, why would I have stood up for my eldest brother?
The more Qiu Qianchi thought about it, the more her mind became muddled.
Seeing this, Gongsun Zhi inwardly thought it was not good and quickly said, “Miss Qiu, do not listen to this brat’s nonsense and slander.”
Qiu Qianchi instantly recalled the scene from the previous night on the cliff where he had tricked the escorts. At the time, she hadn’t felt anything, but now, thinking back, it was indeed beneath her dignity.
She let out a slight sigh and said to Zhou Yan, “I will not make things difficult for you.”
“Miss Qiu, please wait a moment. The disciples from the valley will arrive soon. What can this brat do even with the help of a feathered beast?”
“We’ll talk about it later.” As Qiu Qianchi said this, she was inwardly startled. When she was in the Iron Palm Sect, she was accustomed to giving orders. Just like now, when making decisions, she didn’t consult Gongsun Zhi’s opinion at all. Could he truly tolerate my personality and temper? I will have to test him more in the future.
As Qiu Qianchi thought this, she softened her voice and said in a low tone, “This brat is cunning. If you and I don’t retreat, how can he wait for the valley disciples to arrive before making a move? Night is falling, and his archery is hard to guard against. This Ugly Eagle is strange; it’s best not to provoke it.”
Her words also gave Gongsun Zhi an out. The Valley Master of the Valley of Unfeeling pondered that it made sense. The visibility was poor, and the opponent’s arrows would be doubly effective. Thinking this, he said, “As Miss Qiu says.”
However, he was still filled with resentment towards Zhou Yan and shouted, “Brat, I’ll let you off today. If I encounter you again, I will surely kill you without mercy.”
Zhou Yan chuckled lowly. If we meet again, why should I fear you?
The Iron Palm Lotus and the Valley Master of the Valley of Unfeeling slowly retreated. After a bow’s length, they turned and used their agility to flee like lightning.
The Great Eagle let out a cry, as if a warning.
Zhou Yan looked at the Great Eagle again and felt a sense of turning an enemy into a friend.
“Thank you, Brother Eagle!”
The Great Eagle lightly flapped its wings.
Zhou Yan did not delay and said, “I have urgent matters to attend to. If I have free time another day, I will visit again.”
The Great Eagle’s expression seemed pleased, and its head nodded slightly, its red flesh tumor shaking for a while.
“That white-robed Gongsun Zhi is narrow-minded. With your divine majesty, Brother Eagle, you naturally have nothing to fear, but his disciples are skilled at using the Four Symbols and fishing nets to capture people. Brother Eagle, be more vigilant.”
The Great Eagle tilted its head back and cried out twice.
“Farewell.” Zhou Yan knew the Great Eagle understood his meaning. He cupped his hands in farewell and turned to leave. After walking several miles, he looked back. The Great Eagle was still in the distance. Seeing him look back, it responded with a cry.
Zhou Yan suddenly felt a sense of Yang Guo’s first meeting with the Divine Condor.
The next time I see the Great Eagle, perhaps it will even lead me to the Sword Tomb. He thought this, his mood greatly improved, and he used his agility to vanish into the night.
The vast, dark night descended.
Zhou Yan was unaffected. At midnight, he arrived at the mountain forest where the Yellow Spotted Horse was located. He whistled a few times, and the sound of hooves approached from the distance. The Yellow Spotted Horse trotted to his side, affectionately nuzzling him.
There was no need to travel through the night anymore.
He lit a campfire and ate snake meat for sustenance. The Yellow Spotted Horse also relaxed and lay down to rest.
As dawn broke, Zhou Yan rode his horse directly towards Xiangyang.
The escort team would travel upstream from Jingzhou, pass through the Han River to the Yellow River. He only needed to cross the river from Xiangyang and take a shortcut by land to wait ahead.
…
The Chu region connects the three Xiang rivers, and Jingmen is a gateway to the nine streams. The river flows beyond heaven and earth, with mountain scenery appearing and disappearing.
The escort team traveled south, passing Xiangyang without entering. Zhou Yan, however, headed north and truly enjoyed the scenery of Xiangyang.
There were some minor incidents, though. Upon entering the city, he saw several wanted posters at the city gate. The individuals being sought were Zhang Sanqiang and a group of bandits.
He surmised that when he was in Jingzhou, Zhang Wangyue mentioned the escort team being robbed. Merchant Lu reported it to the authorities, and the yamen were apprehending them in Jingxiang. However, without portraits, such wanted posters were as effective as searching for a needle in a haystack, yielding minimal results.
The “Drunken Immortal Pavilion” in the city was rumored to be where Li Bai left his Xiangyang Qu.
The sun was about to set behind Mount Xian, and I was lost in the flowers, wearing a garland.
The children of Xiangyang clapped their hands, blocking the street and singing the Bai Tongdi.
When others asked why they were laughing, they said, “We’re laughing at the old farmer, drunk as mud!”
…
Zhou Yan came as rumored, went upstairs, and sat at a private room by the south window. He ordered a steamed white fish, a plate of flower-cooked quail, and a pot of Chrysanthemum Wine.
Xiangyang’s Chrysanthemum Wine had long been famous.
Back in Songhe Tower in Zhongdu, Huyan Lei had asked Zhou Yan if he knew of “Green Ant Wine.” He had recited the well-known lines from Bai Juyi’s poem: “Green ant new wine, red clay small stove. Evening approaches snow, can you drink a cup?”
And this Xiangyang “Chrysanthemum Wine” was famous due to Meng Haoran’s poem: “Open the window, face the fields and gardens, chat about farming while holding wine. Wait until the Double Ninth Festival, and I will return to enjoy the chrysanthemums.”
With wine and food all present, Zhou Yan’s cultivation and state of mind were vastly different from when he first transmigrated. Therefore, he drank alone and enjoyed himself, quite leisurely.
At a nearby window-side private room, there was a middle-aged man. Because a spear in a cloth bag stood in the corner behind him, he couldn’t help but glance at it. After all, among the people he was now familiar with, many used spears, such as Huyan Lei and Yang Tiexin. Although Zhang Wangyue used a sword, it was to conceal his identity. Judging by the “Returning Spear” Zhang Wangyue used when facing Yang Tiexin, the Head Escort was undoubtedly a master of Spear Techniques.
Zhou Yan did not expect the man to be so alert. He merely glanced casually, but the man let out a cold snort and his returning gaze was like a piercing arrow. Zhou Yan smiled kindly and stopped looking.
Unexpectedly, the man’s palm landed on the table with a “snap.”
“Had enough looking? You cowards, come up and get me if you dare.”
With a “bang,” the table in front of the man suddenly split apart, sending wood chips flying. Sounds echoed from several private rooms on the third floor of “Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”
“Imperial City Guard apprehending a suspect, all idlers, clear out quickly.”
“Zhang Sanqiang, surrender now!”
“You’re finished, Zhang the Demon.”
Amidst the suddenly boiling atmosphere, sword light erupted, and someone threw a table.
The person sitting opposite me was actually Zhang Sanqiang? Zhou Yan was greatly surprised.
“My head is on my neck, who dares to take it!” Zhang Sanqiang roared. The Fine Iron Great Spear was freed from its cloth bag and, with a fierce sound of breaking wind, was swung out with a “boom.”
The spinning table shattered into pieces. Zhang Sanqiang’s great spear landed, smashing the solid floor. In an instant, the spear shaft bent like an iron bow. With a flick of the man’s wrist, the spearhead leaped upwards like a dragon emerging from the sea, lifting the entire wooden floor with it.
In Zhou Yan’s sight, a spinning long saber shattered the wooden floor and fiercely clashed with Zhang Sanqiang’s Fine Iron Great Spear. The great spear spun like a dragon, and the long saber slashed like a tiger, erupting with incessant sounds of metal clashing.
