Chapter 123: Wind and Rain from All Directions Converge on Lin’an
The lake water in front of Green Ripple Hall was green, with mist and clouds as companions and grass as a carpet.
The study was by the lake, with green willows hanging all around.
Morning light pierced through the treetops and fell into the hall from the carved window. Huang Yaoshi’s thumb and index finger were clasped together, with the remaining three fingers slightly spread. His fingers extended like an orchid, in a posture of utmost beauty. He placed his finger on the “Fengfu Acupoint” of Huang Rong’s Du Meridian, and in an instant, he transformed his finger into the “Falling Ying Divine Sword Palm,” continuously striking down along the direction of Huang Rong’s Du Meridian.
The “Orchid Buddha Acupoint Hand” and “Falling Ying Divine Sword Palm” of Peach Blossom Island were used in conjunction. When the palm struck, it was like falling flowers in a riot of color; where the finger brushed, it was like spring orchids in full bloom. Each time Huang Yaoshi’s palm or finger struck, Huang Rong felt a surge of heat enter her body. This inner qi moved like a spirit snake, flowing out from the major acupoints, converging together like a great river, relaxing muscles and activating collaterals.
The meridians were active, and qi and blood circulated in the channels, connecting the viscera within the body and the facial features, nine orifices, skin, muscles, and bones on the surface. Blood and qi carried meridian qi, and meridian qi stimulated internal force.
Huang Rong’s dantian suddenly warmed, and a wisp of pure internal force was generated.
For nearly a month, Huang Yaoshi had used this method to fully stimulate the efficacy of the snake gallbladder settled in Huang Rong’s blood. Not only did Huang Rong’s injuries heal, but her internal force also improved considerably.
Zhou Yan swallowed the snake gallbladder and used his intent to guide qi, stimulating internal force with his blood and qi. Huang Rong’s injuries were severe, and it was difficult for her to heal herself, so she could not use the snake gallbladder to improve her cultivation like Zhou Yan.
With his cultivation reaching the Realm of Transformation, and his knowledge vast, Huang Yaoshi completed this step for Huang Rong.
During the battle at Taihu Lake that day, Zhou Yan witnessed the Eastern Heretic’s small boat disappear into the storm. The actions of figures like Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong were unpredictable and difficult to fathom by ordinary means, and he was unsure if they had returned to Guiyun Manor.
By chance, the Eastern Heretic had arrived at Lu Chenfeng’s place.
Huang Yaoshi had originally just wanted to see the condition of the disciple he had expelled from the sect, but unexpectedly, he saw Mei Chaofeng and Huang Rong in the manor.
Upon inquiry, he learned the cause and effect of Huang Rong suffering severe injuries in Zhongdu, and Mei Chaofeng hiring an escort, with Zhou Yan escorting her to Guiyun Manor.
Huang Rong had walked through the gates of hell and back. She cried and laughed while hugging Huang Yaoshi, her emotions running high. Her inner qi, which had been circulating in an orderly fashion, became chaotic and turbulent again, aggravating her injuries, and she immediately fainted.
Huang Yaoshi, who doted on his daughter excessively, paid no mind to Mei Chaofeng and had Lu Chenfeng arrange a study and circulate energy to heal her.
For an entire month, Huang Yaoshi did not leave the courtyard. In the end, he not only treated Huang Rong’s internal illness to full recovery but also used the snake gallbladder to significantly improve her internal force.
The father and daughter also had conversations during this time.
Huang Rong recounted all the events that had occurred since Fengling Ferry to Zhongdu, naturally exaggerating how Ouyang Feng had injured her.
In reality, Huang Rong’s severe injuries were purely accidental. The Western Venom and Northern Beggar’s fists and kicks had caused the sedan chair poles to be struck and hit her body, but Huang Rong would not concern herself with such details.
Hong Qigong appeared on the long street and helped Zhou Yan out of trouble. Huang Rong considered him a good person, and the main culprit for her severe injuries became the Western Venom, Ouyang Feng.
Huang Yaoshi, being an intelligent man, after examining the injury on Huang Rong’s back and understanding the situation, and based on some speculation about the scene at the time, concluded that his daughter had suffered a random misfortune. However, he felt sorry for Huang Rong and was quite displeased with Ouyang Feng.
Huang Yaoshi thought of the scene at Taihu Lake where he had helped Zhou Yan, and he felt a sense of emotion. The young man he encountered by the riverside in Jingzhou was actually his daughter’s benefactor.
However, he had saved his life, so he owed him no favor.
Huang Yaoshi finished circulating his energy, and Huang Rong leaped up. She shook her body and felt her muscles and bones were strong and her qi and blood were abundant. Feeling the improvement in her internal force, she secretly thought, “Three-Headed Ghost, Three-Headed Ghost’s Senior Brother, the big and small ghosts of the Yellow River Gang, you are in trouble.”
“How is Rong’er feeling now?”
“Better than ever.” Huang Rong was in a good mood. When she looked at Huang Yaoshi, she saw that her father looked haggard and tired. This was naturally due to healing her.
Huang Rong hugged Huang Yaoshi’s arm: “Father, I will go to Xiangyang to catch snakes and get snake gallbladders for you.”
Huang Yaoshi had already learned about the divine condor and snake gallbladders from Huang Rong.
“Am I so useless that you have to travel a thousand li to Xiangyang to get snake gallbladders to dispel fatigue?”
“Rong’er is worried about Father.”
Huang Yaoshi was touched by this. He felt gratified and said, “I will be fine after a few days of recuperation; there’s no need for such a great effort.”
“Rong’er will listen to Father.”
“However, that young man was quite generous. This snake gallbladder not only has the effect of relaxing muscles and activating collaterals but can also enhance vitality and nourish qi and blood. For a martial artist, it is like a divine elixir. He actually gave this opportunity to you.”
“He is indeed a bit unusual. Back then, by the river, I asked him for a horse, and he lent me the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ without even asking who I was.”
Huang Yaoshi recalled the scene by the Jingzhou river where he encountered Zhou Yan and smiled slightly. Perhaps it was because of this character that the old beggar taught him the “Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms.”
Huang Yaoshi’s thoughts returned, and he said to Huang Rong, “Call them over.”
“Mm.” Huang Rong did not plead for Mei Chaofeng. She knew the outcome. If her father still wanted to kill Mei Chaofeng, her own life would not be precious in her father’s eyes.
She walked out of the study to find Lu Chenfeng and Mei Chaofeng.
The rocks in the garden were ancient and rugged, the streams and ponds were clear, and a hundred flowers bloomed in competition.
However, all the exquisite beauty paled in comparison to the beautiful face of Huang Rong, who had regained her feminine form. Walking through the bamboo forest and flower hedges, Huang Rong’s long hair cascaded down her shoulders, she was dressed in white, her skin was fairer than snow, and her beauty was unparalleled, like a celestial maiden.
Head Escort Zhou should have arrived in Zhongdu. I wonder if he has found the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion.’ She thought to herself.
Huang Rong returned and brought Lu Chenfeng and Mei Chaofeng over. She did not listen to the conversation between Huang Yaoshi and Lu and Mei. Since she was injured, she had not stretched her muscles and bones or exercised. She wanted to move around.
Huang Rong left the courtyard and, as she walked, saw the medicine boy and smiled as she approached him.
In the study behind her, Mei Chaofeng trembled and knelt on the ground. Life or death was a matter of moments.
Huang Yaoshi said coldly, “Chaofeng, you have committed great evils and suffered greatly. Considering that you know your mistakes and saved Rong’er, I will spare you for now.”
“Thank you, Master, for your forgiveness.”
“Let me ask you, you stole the Nine Yin Manual and fled. Has anyone seen the cultivation technique?”
Mei Chaofeng’s body trembled.
“Then the answer is yes.”
“Please forgive me, Master.”
Huang Yaoshi said grimly, “Whoever has seen it, kill them. Kill them all. After completing this task, do another. Your four fellow disciples, Qu, Lu, Wu, and Feng, have all suffered because of you. Go and find Ling Feng and Mo Feng, and then investigate the descendants of Mian Feng’s family and bring them to Guiyun Manor to live.”
“Your disciple obeys.”
Huang Yaoshi said no more. Mei Chaofeng kowtowed, rose, and withdrew. Seeing a chance to return to Peach Blossom Island, she thought she must find someone, no matter what, to bring back.
Huang Yaoshi asked if anyone had seen the Nine Yin Manual. Mei Chaofeng’s mind recalled that Wanyan Kang and Zhou Yan had learned the martial arts from the manual, which was equivalent to having seen it.
Mei Chaofeng dared not explain in the hall. When she reached the courtyard, she thought about how she could kill the escort of Fu’an Escort Agency. The other party had saved her junior sister’s life. Perhaps she could capture him and bring him to Peach Blossom Island for her Master to deal with.
Mei Chaofeng thought this was a plan that would satisfy both parties.
As she walked out quickly, she seemed to hear Huang Yaoshi in the hall behind her talking to Lu Chenfeng about a leg technique.
…
“You’re saying the Three-Headed Ghost and the Little Prince of the Jin Dynasty arrived at Taihu Lake?”
The courtyard was full of fragrance, with butterflies fluttering. Huang Rong and the medicine boy walked together. When the medicine boy spoke of the battle at Taihu Lake, she was surprised.
During her recovery at Guiyun Manor, Huang Rong had not left the study courtyard. Now, being with the medicine boy, she learned about the events that had transpired at Taihu Lake that day from him.
“Confirmed,” the medicine boy said. “I heard the Young Manor Lord mention the person with a flesh tumor on his head who is good at swimming. Isn’t that Hou Haitong?”
Huang Rong, with her sharp intellect, pondered that the Three-Headed Ghost had gone to Lin’an Prefecture, and she couldn’t find him, but he had actually gone to Taihu Lake. Wanyan Kang had first arranged for the Three-Headed Ghost to go to Lin’an, hiding a hidden mystery.
Perhaps she should go to Lin’an for a visit? As Huang Rong thought this, Mei Chaofeng approached from the study.
“Mei Ruohua, did Father forgive you?”
Mei Chaofeng’s face showed joy. “Master has asked me to do two things. If I complete them, I will likely be forgiven.”
“Where are you going now?”
“To find Wanyan Kang.”
Huang Rong’s eyes sparkled. “I know where Wanyan Kang has gone. I’ll take you.”
“Thank you, Junior Sister.”
…
Qiantang was prosperous, with painted bridges and willows, curtains of gauze, and the sounds of singing, dancing, and stringed instruments echoing in the warm breeze of West Lake. Zhang Wangyue and Zhou Yan, who had come from Caizhou, entered the city and proceeded forward. The Fu’an Chief Escort purchased heavy gifts.
Zhou Yan could roughly guess the reason for his Chief Escort’s actions.
Previously, during the Jingzhou escort, Fu’an Escort Agency and Dragon Gate Escort Agency had encountered each other in a valley in the suburbs of Xiangyang, leading to a conflict. He had shot down the Dragon Gate Escort Agency’s escort flag with consecutive arrows, and the young escort of Dragon Gate Escort Agency had vowed to seek an explanation. Zhang Wangyue was going to Dragon Gate Escort Agency to resolve the conflict. He just didn’t know if the Imperial City Guard’s swift journey to Zhongdu had any connection to Dragon Gate Escort Agency.
Zhou Yan speculated as they found an inn and handed over the Yellow Spotted Horse and the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ to the shop assistant, instructing him to feed them well. Upon reaching the guest room, Zhang Wangyue said, “Brother Zhou, wait at the inn. I will go to Dragon Gate Escort Agency.”
Zhou Yan said, “The Chief Escort is worried that I will cause trouble if I go.”
“You shot down the Dragon Gate Escort Agency’s flag. Do you expect them to greet you with a smile?”
Zhou Yan said, “The escort of Dragon Gate Escort Agency is arrogant and domineering. They seized Fu’an Escort Agency’s flag earlier. The logic is not on their side.”
“If everything were based on logic, how many disputes would there be in the Jianghu?”
“But the matter started with me.”
“I am the Chief Escort of Fu’an,” Zhang Wangyue said, smiling, “The scenery of West Lake is beautiful. You can go and enjoy it.”
Zhou Yan no longer insisted. “Thank you, Chief Escort.”
“What is there to thank between us?” Zhang Wangyue said, smiling, and departed.
Zhou Yan sighed, thinking that the Chief Escort was too talented for Fu’an. He would wait and see if the Chief Escort shared the same ideals as Yang Miaozhen’s Righteous Army.
After Zhang Wangyue left, Zhou Yan asked the shop assistant to bring a pot of tea. He drank the tea to quench his thirst, then went to bed and sat cross-legged, cultivating the “Heart Crushing Palm” from the Nine Yin Manual.
At dusk, the setting sun melted like gold.
After cultivating for half a day, Zhou Yan left the inn and walked along the street, looking for a restaurant. He ordered two small dishes and a bowl of rice. After filling his stomach, he strolled towards West Lake.
