Chapter 131: Hearts are Hidden Daggers
Monk Lingzhi entered the cabinet and found no one, but saw the cabinet walls part to reveal a dark hole.
“Huh?”
He exclaimed in surprise, “There’s a hole inside.”
“Damn it, another hole,” Hou Tonghai grumbled as he walked over.
Zhou Yan suddenly lunged out from within, his long saber raising a glint of sharpness, coming through the sky.
He had intended to hide in the room and ambush Monk Lingzhi after putting on his mask, but he never expected that after the Water Curtain Cave incident in the palace, where Hong Qigong emerged from within, Monk Lingzhi and the others would become extremely cautious upon seeing the cave.
Zhou Yan adapted to the situation and charged out.
Monk Lingzhi was greatly alarmed and, almost instinctively, used the “Little Ghost Patting Door” technique. With a “clang,” his two bronze cymbals clamped onto Zhou Yan’s descending saber.
In an instant, Zhou Yan guided energy with his intent, his internal force surging along the Lung Meridian of Taiyin and the Hand Yangming Meridian, erupting from his “Shaoshang,” “Yuji,” and “Chize” points where he held the saber. The “Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber” technique transformed into the Quanzhen Sect’s “One Sword, Three Purities” swordplay. Zhou Yan’s wrist shook, and the saber scraped along the two bronze cymbals and pierced through.
Monk Lingzhi truly did not expect Zhou Yan to change his tactics so drastically. A stream of sparks flew in his line of sight. He hastily retreated, hearing a faint “puff” sound near his ear, and a large portion of his vision went dark.
“Ah!”
“Masked ghost.”
The screams of the one-eyed Monk Lingzhi and the angry roars of Hou Tonghai sounded simultaneously.
Three steel forks thrust forward. Zhou Yan’s long saber slashed out like water, his entire body seeming to merge with the blade. The saber light flashed and clashed with the steel forks several times in the air, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds.
Hou Tonghai continuously retreated. Ouyang Ke, with his superior Lightness Skill, flickered into the cabinet. Suddenly, the Young Master of White Camel Mountain saw Zhou Yan, who seemed to be trying to escape through the door.
“Playing tricks.” The moment Ouyang Ke unfurled his fan, it spun in the air like half a saber arc, slicing a stream of light towards Zhou Yan’s throat.
Zhou Yan smashed his iron box down from his left hand.
Ouyang Ke was greatly alarmed and retreated rapidly. Zhou Yan leaped into the air.
The roof of the dilapidated tavern exploded.
Zhou Yan burst out of the ruined building and, following the blue tiles, fell to the ground.
“Shagu, take this and run.”
Shagu obeyed Zhou Yan’s words implicitly. The scene before her still felt incredibly fun, like playing a game. She caught the iron box Zhou Yan threw and sprinted towards the forest.
Zhou Yan bent his left leg slightly, curved his right arm inward, drew a circle with his right palm, and pushed outward with a whoosh, his palm hitting the wall.
The tavern was in disrepair. With a push of his palm, it swayed precariously. Amidst the falling dust and smoke, Zhou Yan pushed again with both palms using “Shocking a Hundred Miles.”
With a “boom,” the tavern collapsed. Zhou Yan turned and sprinted away, letting out a whistle.
“Neigh!” “Night-Shining Jade Lion” galloped out from the forest on its four hooves. Zhou Yan mounted the horse. “Shagu, give me your hand.”
“Okay!”
Zhou Yan grabbed Shagu’s wrist at his waist and flung her behind him.
“Giddy up!”
“Night-Shining Jade Lion” exerted its four hooves, kicking up dust and sand from the dirt road as it galloped away at full speed.
From the collapsed tavern, mud and stones flew, wooden beams soared, and bronze cymbals boomed.
Ouyang Ke, Hou Tonghai, Sha Tongtian, and Monk Lingzhi leaped out one after another.
Monk Lingzhi’s one eye was bleeding profusely. He couldn’t understand how, after being chased by Palace Guards and Imperial Guards for half the night in Lin’an City and finally escaping, he had stumbled into a madman in a random village tavern.
“My eye!”
“Night-Shining Jade Lion” was long gone. The monk’s mournful voice echoed over Niu Family Village.
…
Zhou Yan escaped with Shagu. Ouyang Ke, covered in dust, led the crippled Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai, and Monk Lingzhi away from Niu Family Village in a hurry to find Ouyang Feng.
Shortly after the group departed, eight figures gradually approached in the daylight.
As the distance closed, the person in front, holding an iron staff and with a fierce expression, was none other than Flying Bat Ke Zhen’e, accompanied by Zhu Cong, Han Xiaoying, Guo Jing, and others. Duan Tiande, gaunt and emaciated, was also in the group.
The group arrived at the village entrance and saw the collapsed tavern and footprints in the dust. Han Xiaoying said, “There was a fight here not long ago. I wonder if it’s related to Taoist Master Ma and the others.”
Zhu Cong chuckled, “There are only four or five sets of footprints; it’s not Taoist Master Ma and them.”
“Second Brother is right,” Han Xiaoying smiled slightly and then said to Guo Jing, “Jing’er, according to Taoist Qiu’s words, home is just ahead. Let’s wait for Taoist Qiu over there.”
Guo Jing’s eyes reddened, and he murmured, “Father, your son has returned.”
The events in Niu Family Village were exactly as Zhou Yan had speculated after encountering the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen at West Lake.
The martial arts competition in Jiaxing had indeed taken a turn due to Ouyang Feng’s appearance in Zhongdu.
Ma Yu, Wang Chuyi, and Ke Zhen’e had conspired in Zhongdu: the Six Heroes of Jiangnan and the Golden Saber Consort would assassinate Wanyan Honglie. Ma and Wang joined forces with Qiu Chuji, who persuaded Wanyan Kang with reason and emotion to acknowledge his ancestors and then rescue Bao Shi.
However, Ouyang Feng’s sudden appearance and Ke Zhen’e’s group’s failed assassination attempt disrupted the plan.
Western Venom and the Quanzhen Sect had a feud.
The Two Immortals of Quanzhen met up with Qiu Chuji. The three of them knew it was too dangerous to go to the Prince’s Manor again, so they decided to gather the other four senior and junior brothers and then proceed slowly.
Qiu Chuji, though hot-tempered, knew he couldn’t be careless when facing Ouyang Feng. He agreed with his senior and junior brothers’ plan, and the three of them also informed the Six Heroes of Jiangnan.
Wanyan Kang then headed south.
The Quanzhen Three Masters and the Six Heroes of Jiangnan followed.
Along the way, Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Sun Buer, Hao Datong, and others joined them. Upon arriving in Lin’an, the two groups split up. The Seven Immortals of Quanzhen would seize the opportunity to escort Wanyan Kang out, while the Six Heroes of Jiangnan would tail Ouyang Ke and his group to see if they were plotting against the Great Song Dynasty. They were to rendezvous later in Niu Family Village.
Having Wanyan Kang acknowledge his ancestors in Niu Family Village was of great significance, but how to get him out remained a tricky matter.
Zhou Yan, Hong Qigong, and Huang Rong appeared by chance. Ouyang Feng chased after Hong Qigong, who had taken the 《 Wumu’s Military Writings 》, and left. The timing was perfect.
Duan Tiande led the way, and in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Guo and Yang families appeared before Guo Jing.
The Guo family’s residence was already a ruin, and the Yang family’s was bare.
Things have changed, and all has passed; tears flow before words can be spoken.
Guo Jing fell to his knees before the ruins with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly. He couldn’t utter any extra words, just repeating, “Your son has returned.”
Han Xiaoying felt a pang of sadness and secretly wiped away tears.
Ke Zhen’e and the others also sighed.
The Niu Family Village was desolate at the tail end, while at the head of the village, the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen were rushing over with Wanyan Kang.
Qiu Chuji’s long beard was like ink, and his spirit was high. Upon reaching the tavern, he said to Ma Yu, “This tavern was run by someone back then, but now it’s a ruin.”
“The world changes like clouds and dogs,” Ma Yu replied.
“Master, why have you brought me here?” Wanyan Kang suddenly asked.
“You’ll know when the time comes,” Qiu Chuji said.
Wanyan Kang feared Qiu Chuji and secretly lamented, thinking that at such a critical juncture, why had his master interfered and brought him to such a desolate place.
He thought this, but his face showed a fawning smile, “I’ll listen to you, Master.”
Qiu Chuji saw that they were approaching the Guo and Yang families and walked faster. Wanyan Kang followed closely. As they passed through the village, he saw several people looking at them from ahead. Someone said, “Taoist Qiu.”
“Hero Ke,” Qiu Chuji replied, and with a few leaps, he went to meet them.
Wanyan Kang, however, slowed down, his eyes fixed on Ke Zhen’e. Images of the Lantern Festival, when his father was assassinated, surfaced in his mind: a masked man, a steel staff, seven people…
Calm down. Wanyan Kang exhaled softly.
The two groups converged. Duan Tiande saw Wanyan Kang and exclaimed, “Young… Young Master, you’re here too.”
“Master, what is going on?”
Qiu Chuji said, “Follow me.”
“Alright.”
Qiu Chuji strode forward, Wanyan Kang followed, and the two entered the Yang family residence.
“Let me ask you, did you see anything?”
Wanyan Kang looked around and said cautiously, “A humble dwelling with bare walls.”
“Listen carefully,” Qiu Chuji paced back and forth in the room. “Eighteen years ago, there was a table and stools here, a cabinet over there, a spear hanging on the wall, with the words ‘Tie Xin Yang Shi’ carved six inches from the tip. Here…”
Qiu Chuji walked to the corner. “There was also a plowshare here.”
Wanyan Kang’s mind buzzed as if struck by lightning.
“Master, this is the furnishings from my mother’s room in the Prince’s Manor.”
“Your mother lived here eighteen years ago. The reason it’s bare is that she moved all the belongings to the Prince’s Manor. Your surname is Yang, and your name is Yang Kang. Your father is Yang Tiexin.”
“Master, this is impossible.”
The Six Heroes of Jiangnan had interrogated Duan Tiande thoroughly from Taihu Lake to Lin’an, learning everything that had happened in the past eighteen years. Qiu Chuji also knew the truth when the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen and the Six Heroes of Jiangnan met in Lin’an.
Qiu Chuji angrily said, “Your father had a sworn brother named Guo Xiaotian. I met them in Niu Family Village eighteen years ago and took your mother’s pulse, knowing she was pregnant. Wanyan Honglie coveted your mother and colluded with the authorities, having Duan Tiande lead soldiers to Niu Family Village to kill Yang and Guo. He pretended to be a hero, fought his way out, rescued your mother, and took her to Zhongdu.”
Wanyan Kang’s voice trembled, “Master, is this… true?”
“That young man is the son of your father’s sworn brother. Duan Tiande is here; you can ask him.”
“Master, this is of great importance, I will go and ask.”
Wanyan Kang tried his best to calm his emotions and slowly walked out of the cobweb-covered, dust-covered houses. As he exited, he glanced back at Qiu Chuji standing under the eaves, then turned his gaze towards Guo Jing not far away.
Wanyan Kang’s gaze lingered briefly on Guo Jing before falling on the ruins behind him. He knew Qiu Chuji’s hot temper and straightforward nature. Recalling the furnishings in his mother’s room in the Prince’s Manor, he believed it with eight parts certainty.
Wanyan Kang’s eyes gradually became vacant. In a daze, the opulent and magnificent Prince’s Manor, with its jade halls and golden horses, and the officials of the Lin’an Court before and after him like a scroll unfolding.
He then thought of the cross on his folding fan.
“If the great handle is in hand, a gentle breeze fills the world.”
Suddenly, he was jolted. These blind men were the assassins who attacked his father on the Lantern Festival. Their actions were undoubtedly related to the events of eighteen years ago. His master bringing him here must be for him to acknowledge his ancestors, which would be detrimental to his father. What should he do?
What if Ouyang Feng killed them?
A sudden thought flashed through Wanyan Kang’s mind.
