Chapter 122: Huai River Night Talk, Cultivation Technique Breakthrough
In the early hours of the morning, the eastern sky had just begun to show a faint light, and milky white mist floated on the banks of the Huai River.
Yang Miaozhen and Qiu Qianchi rested.
Zhou Yan had little sleep and walked over to the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.” The horse whinnied, and he spoke softly, as if conversing with the Divine Condor.
A faint sound of footsteps approached. Zhou Yan turned his head, and a figure in red entered his sight.
“Miss Mu.”
“I have a confusion and wish to seek advice from the Head Escort.”
“Please, speak freely.”
“Mmm!” The two walked along the river, with the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” following behind. Mu Nianci said, “These past few days, I have met Sister Yang and Miss Qiu. One is heroic and spirited, a woman not inferior to men, and the other has exceptional martial arts. I suddenly feel my own talent is meager and I am quite useless.”
Mu Nianci’s words revealed her dejection.
Zhou Yan smiled, “That is not quite right.”
“Why?”
“Before Senior Yang settled at the escort bureau, she sought the son of an old friend for a martial arts competition to recruit a husband. You yourself were undefeated in martial arts throughout the north and south.”
Mu Nianci chuckled, “It’s different. For legitimate scions of noble families and experts from sects, who would engage in such competitions? The people I met were all ruffians and scoundrels.”
“But Cui Qingshan still lost to you.”
“That was thanks to the Chief Escort, Head Escort Huyan, and Head Escort Zhou imparting their skills and guidance.”
“If it were an ordinary runner, could they also grasp the essence of spear techniques in such a short time and win?”
“This!”
Zhou Yan said, “Look at the Huai River, its vast waves, no less than the Yangtze or Yellow River, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Mmm.”
“The Huai River originates from Tongbai Mountain, formed by the convergence of streams. It flows day and night, dripping through stubborn rocks in its path, carving deep gorges in mountains and rivers. This gentle flow, when gathered, creates its surging power. Learning martial arts is similar. Cultivating internal force is like a thousand streams forming a river, then refining the meridians and elevating one’s realm.”
“But what if one’s aptitude is dull?”
“Martial artists do indeed have differences in talent, but diligence can compensate for dullness. It’s still the principle of dripping water wearing through stone. Persistent practice can overcome the vast majority of martial arts barriers, allowing one to become a first-class expert in the Jianghu. The world is vast, and martial artists are as numerous as fish in a river, but how many have truly reached the Realm of Transformation? It’s still only the late True Master Chongyang and the Eastern Heretic, Western Venom, Southern Emperor, and Northern Beggar, the four of them.”
“Head Escort Zhou, after you say this, I feel like I can do it again.”
“It is good to have this thought.”
“Thank you, Head Escort.”
“Heaven rewards diligence.”
“Mmm.”
Mu Nianci’s eyes regained their spirit.
…
As dawn light faintly broke, the camp began to bustle.
The runners went about their tasks; some were cooking, others packing tents and herding mules and horses.
After a simple meal of fish soup and noodles, Yang Miaozhen and Qiu Qianchi bid farewell to Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and the others.
Yang Miaozhen said to Zhang Wangyue, “If the Chief Escort passes through Caizhou, please visit my mountain stronghold. I will host a banquet to apologize.”
“I will certainly visit.”
“It’s a deal.”
“Good.”
Qiu Qianchi said to Zhou Yan, “May your journey be smooth, Head Escort. We shall meet again.”
“Thank you, Miss Qiu.”
They parted ways by the Huai River, and Yang Miaozhen, Qiu Qianchi, Fan Yi Weng, and others departed.
Lu Beihe said, “Chief Escort, I also need to return to Kaifeng Prefecture. When you head north, please visit the escort bureau and speak with my adoptive father about Zhenwei and Fu’an supporting each other and standing together.”
“Thank you, Young Master, for your righteous assistance. I will not break my promise.”
“I await your arrival.”
Lu Beihe then turned to Zhou Yan and said, “Brother Zhou, we shall drink Du Kang wine then.”
“Alright.”
“Have a smooth journey.” Lu Beihe mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and rode away.
With the rumbling of carts and the whinnying of horses, the Fu’an escort team set off once more.
They continued south along the Huai River, entered Luzhou, crossed the Yangtze River from the Xiaoyao Ferry crossing, and traveled upstream to Jingzhou.
Zhang Wangyue needed to go to Lin’an Prefecture and was traveling with the escort team, but due to pressing matters, he would not accompany them.
The Fu’an Chief Escort’s mount became a yellow spotted horse. Zhou Yan took a spear from the escort team, mounted the “Night-Shining Jade Lion,” and the two of them left the escort team, riding fast through Jiangnan.
…
As the tree shadows flickered, the burning campfire flared up with a gust of wind sweeping across the ridge.
The orange light illuminated the figures of Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue.
The Fu’an Chief Escort sat cross-legged, meditating with his eyes closed, occasionally glancing at Zhou Yan, who was circulating his energy to refine his meridians.
The two had been traveling fast and had now reached the riverside in Luzhou. After resting for a night, they would find a boat to cross the river in the morning.
Along the way, they naturally discussed cultivation techniques. Zhou Yan’s current cultivation was catching up to Zhang Xian of the Yue Family Army. The Fu’an Chief Escort, possessing innate divine strength and profound internal and external skills, also had a considerable understanding now.
Therefore, their conversations were no longer like before, with Zhang Wangyue teaching and Zhou Yan listening.
Whether it was spear techniques or hand-to-hand combat, Zhou Yan could offer insightful opinions on some of the widely circulated cultivation techniques of the escort bureau. Some techniques, after being refined and distilled, revealed masterstrokes that even Zhang Wangyue marveled at.
The Fu’an Chief Escort did not presume to have taught or guided Zhou Yan in cultivation, and Zhou Yan was not constrained by status or seniority. They spoke freely, and this mode of interaction was like when he was in Zhongdu with the Two Immortals of Quanzhen, benefiting each other.
Zhou Yan was currently refining the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian.
He was connecting the Yinwei Meridian in Taihu Lake. This meridian has the function of storing pulse qi and maintaining the balance of all the body’s yin meridians.
With the Yinwei Meridian connected, he used the Quanzhen Cultivation Method to absorb the gentle qi of Jade Guanyin, transforming it into pure internal force, achieving twice the result with half the effort. As his internal force continuously accumulated, its effect on refining his meridians was naturally outstanding.
The reason he was refining the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian was that the subtlety of the “Storm of Pear Blossoms Spear” lay entirely in the circulation of internal qi within this main meridian. However, this main meridian distributed to 46 major acupoints, and its refinement and clearing were indeed not easy.
With Zhang Wangyue present, Zhou Yan was able to focus wholeheartedly, circulating his internal qi, repeatedly polishing and refining it like forging crude iron.
Zhou Yan was lost in his practice, unaware of the time.
Zhang Wangyue guarded him for nearly three hours.
The wilderness was vast, and the moon was close. Suddenly, he saw a sharp light flashing in Zhou Yan’s eyes. In an instant, a sound of bones and sinews resonating came from Zhou Yan’s body.
Brother Zhou had succeeded.
Zhang Wangyue was delighted.
At this moment, a stream of internal qi was stimulated from the “Guanchong Acupoint” on the ulnar side of the distal interphalangeal joint of Zhou Yan’s hand. Another stream of internal force originated from the “Yemeng Acupoint” behind the junction of red and white flesh at the edge of the webbing between his fingers. Zhongzhu Acupoint, Yangchi Acupoint, Waiguan Acupoint… Streams of internal qi gushed out like hot springs, connecting one after another.
Zhang Wangyue was quite surprised. The Quanzhen Internal School’s cultivation method was supposed to be upright and peaceful. Yet, he felt a pure yang heat emanating from Zhou Yan’s internal energy external influence.
Zhang Wangyue had this sensation because Zhou Yan had integrated the qi of Jade Guanyin into his internal force.
Guanchong, like peach and plum blossoms planted, Zhongzhu and Yangchi open in sequence. When flowers fall, fragrance fills the stream, and like a well, butterflies fly in.
This poem uses planting, opening, falling flowers, and butterflies to describe the circulation of qi and blood after the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian is refined and cleared, as active as dancing butterflies.
Zhou Yan let out a long cry and stood up.
A voice suddenly came, “Catch!”
With a “hum,” a spear with a wooden shaft and an iron spearhead flew from Zhang Wangyue’s hand.
Zhou Yan caught the spear. Qi emerged from the 46 acupoints, and his internal energy exerted external influence. The spear in his hand trembled, creating a large spear flower, like a pear blossom suddenly blooming. Before the spear flower dispersed, he stepped forward and thrust his spear. Six cold glints flashed and then retracted. As his body spun, he thrust forward like cold lightning. What Zhang Wangyue saw was a fan-shaped arc of twelve cold glints formed by the spear.
Yang Miaozhen used the killing move “Three Steps Eighteen Spears.” After thrusting eighteen spears, she would be exhausted. However, Zhou Yan’s internal force was immense. The momentum of “Three Steps Eighteen Spears” had not yet dissipated, and his powerful internal force surged from his dantian like a great river. His body paused slightly, then surged again, thrusting his spear, splitting one spear into seven.
Zhang Wangyue blinked. Brother Zhou’s spear style was still the same, but compared to last time, there was an extra spear, and the speed was so fast it seemed like an illusion.
Zhou Yan completed it in one go: Three Steps Twenty-One Spears.
He felt exhilarated, as if he had practiced the killing move of “Storm of Pear Blossoms Spear” to the level of Sword Seven.
Zhang Wangyue saw Zhou Yan retract his spear and was about to speak when he noticed Zhou Yan lost in thought again.
Could it be that he had another realization? he wondered in surprise.
The Fu’an Chief Escort’s guess was correct.
Zhou Yan, practicing amidst the waves of the Yangtze River in Jingzhou, had a sudden enlightenment about another layer of profound meaning in the “Fullness Cannot Last” move of “Kanglong Regret.” On the peak of Taihang Mountains, observing the Sea of Clouds, he comprehended the sword intent of Quanzhen Swordplay through the Taoist true words of Huainanzi. His greatest asset was his comprehension.
The Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian is distributed in areas such as the heart, liver, lungs, gallbladder, and kidneys of the human body, governing the entire body and coordinating various viscera. The exertion of his spear technique just now caused the qi of his five viscera to surge.
Zhou Yan thought of the martial art “Heart Crushing Palm” from the Nine Yin Manual he obtained from Mei Chaofeng.
In “Heart Crushing Palm,” all the viscera are shattered, but the bones do not break.
Zhou Yan vaguely felt that he had grasped the key to cultivating “Heart Crushing Palm.”
