Chapter 143: Meeting on Zhongnan Mountain
Li Mochou, concerned about Zhou Yan’s injuries, wasted no time. With a flick of her left hand, over ten Jade Bee Needles shot towards Ouyang Ke, targeting his upper, middle, and lower body.
The distance was so close, and the Jade Bee Needles were shot silently. How could Ouyang Ke completely dodge them?
He spun his fan, and his body executed the “Instant Thousand Li” lightness skill, dodging to the side.
Only a few “clanging” sounds were heard. Five or six Jade Bee Needles were swept away by the fan, and he dodged several more. At the same time, a pain spread through his leg and abdomen.
“Master Ouyang,” Yang Kang rushed over. Li Mochou had already leaped onto her horse, waving her hand and firing another volley of Jade Bee Needles.
Yang Kang’s martial arts had greatly improved. He was further from Li Mochou, and his body leaped ten feet high as the fine needles flew past his feet.
The Qingcong Horse, carrying Li Mochou, galloped away.
Ouyang Ke felt the pain, but his body was unharmed. He knew the fine needles had not been poisoned. He sent out his internal force, saying, “Young Lady, I accept these golden and silver needles. I will visit Zhongnan Mountain another day.”
How could Li Mochou reply? She was only thinking with annoyance, that scoundrel was hit by the Jade Bee Needles, it’s a shame the needles weren’t poisoned, otherwise it would have been easier. What if this thief really brings people to Zhongnan Mountain? Master is old, and my junior sister is young.
She thought this, feeling extremely distressed.
The dawn light was faint, and there were few pedestrians on the long street. The Qingcong Horse galloped wildly past the street where the Changfeng Escort Agency was located, heading straight for Copper Gong Lane. Before the horse and rider reached the cart shop, a person suddenly appeared on the street beside Li Mochou.
“How did the girl get into the city?”
Li Mochou saw Hong Qigong and said urgently, “Elder, please save him.”
Hong Qigong was stunned.
He had come to Changfeng and fought with Ouyang Feng. From the latter, he learned that Zhou Yan had escaped from Huayan Temple. He had been searching the city everywhere, but unexpectedly encountered Li Mochou again.
Hong Qigong heard Li Mochou’s words and quickly asked, “Is it that boy?”
“Yes, he’s at the Mountain God Temple, severely injured.”
Hong Qigong’s heart tightened. “This old beggar will go ahead, you follow slowly.”
Within Li Mochou’s line of sight, Hong Qigong suddenly floated several dozen feet, his gray-white figure ascending to the houses by the roadside, and in a blink of an eye, he roared like thunder and wind, disappearing into the distance.
…
The early sun shone on the tall forest, and the mountain light delighted the birds.
The gray-white figure whistled and flew at high speed, scattering the forest birds. Hong Qigong landed on the ground.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” guarded outside the Mountain God Temple, snorting restlessly.
“Kid.”
Hong Qigong leaped into the temple.
The dawn light slanted in through the hole in the roof, falling on Zhou Yan’s pale and weak face.
Hong Qigong helped him up.
This time, no stagnant blood emerged as it had when Li Mochou helped Zhou Yan. Although he had fainted, the gentle qi of the Jade Guanyin continuously flowed into his body, relaxing his muscles and activating his collaterals, showing its effect over time.
Hong Qigong placed his right palm on Zhou Yan’s back at the “Mingmen” acupoint, transmitting an extremely powerful internal force into Zhou Yan’s body, quickly suppressing the chaotic and uncontrolled inner qi.
Hong Qigong began to massage and stroke Zhou Yan’s major acupoints with his left hand.
Zhou Yan’s subconscious was constantly urging him to wake up. Hong Qigong circulated his energy to calm his qi and blood, and relax his meridians and activate his acupoints for nearly half an hour. In his daze, he suddenly felt the stuffiness pressing on his chest slightly loosen. The warmth from behind slowly spread through his hundred bones, and the pain also began to lessen.
Zhou Yan’s consciousness gradually recovered. He silently circulated the Quanzhen Sect’s breathing method taught by Wang Chuyi, the technique of calming thoughts, concentrating his spirit, so his soul would not wander inward or outward, and slowly gathered the scattered inner qi towards his dantian.
Hong Qigong exclaimed, “Eh.”
The inner qi in Zhou Yan’s body, which was originally out of control but had been suppressed by him, was now slowly circulating.
“This is the Quanzhen Sect’s internal energy cultivation technique.”
At the Huashan Sword Discussion, Hong Qigong had sparred with Wang Chongyang and was naturally familiar with the Quanzhen internal school’s cultivation techniques.
Hong Qigong’s worried heart finally settled.
Zhou Yan’s consciousness had completely cleared. He gathered the inner qi, strand by strand, like a hundred streams entering a river, all into his dantian. A warmth suddenly arose from his dantian, and he knew he could heal himself.
Zhou Yan’s martial arts realm was now catching up to Zhang Wangyue, the Chief Escort of the Fu’an Escort Agency. In the battle during the Lantern Festival, Zhang Wangyue had taken three moves from Ouyang Feng and suffered internal injuries, but he quickly stabilized his breathing.
Zhou Yan had taken two moves from Ouyang Feng at Huayan Temple, but the Western Venom’s final move used the internal force of “Toad Stance.” Therefore, after taking the blow head-on, Zhou Yan’s injuries were comparable to Huang Rong’s previous ones.
Fortunately, he had the protective Jade Guanyin, his internal force was profound, and he had Hong Qigong’s assistance, which allowed him to regain consciousness in such a short time.
Zhou Yan stopped his cultivation technique and spoke weakly, “Is it Elder?”
“What do you think?” Hong Qigong removed his hand from the major acupoint on his back and said irritably, “You brat, you actually provoked the Old Venomous One. And you even threw lime at him.”
“If it weren’t for the lime, I would have been doomed.”
Hong Qigong was amused and angered. “The Old Venomous One has been arrogant his whole life, yet he suffered a loss from lime at your hands. It’s satisfying, but remember to retreat when you encounter him in the future.”
“This junior understands,” Zhou Yan said with a low chuckle, and asked, “Where is Miss Li?”
“She’s behind, she should be here soon.”
“I must have scared her.”
“What do you mean?” Hong Qigong took out his wine gourd and drank.
“This junior escaped the city and fainted in the forest. After waking up, I oriented myself and rushed to the Mountain God Temple. She said she thought I had broken my promise. As I was about to explain, I choked and spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.”
“Cough…”
Hong Qigong choked, and after realizing what Zhou Yan said, he exclaimed, “Never mind that girl, even this old beggar would have been scared half to death.”
Zhou Yan smiled helplessly.
Hong Qigong moved to his side. “That bow was brought to you by the girl.”
Zhou Yan looked over. In a corner of the dilapidated temple lay an ox horn giant bow.
His cultivation had been increasing, and the snake gallbladders he had consumed had the effect of strengthening his bones and increasing his power. His iron-cast bow was no longer suitable. Looking at the giant bow, he estimated it was at least several piculs stronger than his iron bow.
Zhou Yan sighed. The wife of Wu Santong in the Divine Condor world was right; Li Mochou was indeed a good woman when she first started out.
Hong Qigong’s voice suddenly rang out, “The girl is here.”
Zhou Yan listened carefully. The sound of the wind and birds entered his ears, but he heard no horse hooves. After a few breaths, the sound of hooves arrived, followed by footsteps landing, and his robes fluttered. Li Mochou, dressed in a green long skirt, appeared at the entrance of the Mountain God Temple.
“Thank heavens, thank you, Elder. You’re awake.”
Li Mochou was relieved. She stared at Zhou Yan for a moment, then chuckled, “You scared me to death last night.”
“I imagine so.”
“Fortunately, you’re awake. Who injured you? You helped me, so I’ll go settle the score with them.”
Hong Qigong pulled out the stopper of his wine gourd and took a big gulp.
“How can I trouble you? I have my own plans.” Zhou Yan changed the subject, “How was your trip down the mountain this time?”
Li Mochou took a grass mat, sat down with her legs crossed, and smiled, “I followed your advice, so it was smooth sailing.”
“That’s good. What about the competition?”
Li Mochou was about to say they would wait until Zhou Yan recovered, but then she remembered Ouyang Ke’s mention of going to Zhongnan Mountain. She said, “Then let’s pick a date, but not here.”
“Where?”
“Zhongdu, or Zhongnan Mountain is also fine.”
“How about Zhongnan Mountain?” Zhou Yan asked.
Li Mochou was overjoyed. “It’s a deal.”
“I won’t go back on my word.”
Li Mochou looked at Hong Qigong. “Elder, please be a witness.”
Hong Qigong thought of Wang Chongyang. It would be good to visit his old friend’s place, so he said, “This old beggar will join in the fun.”
“Thank you, Elder.” Li Mochou then asked Zhou Yan, “The half-year deadline?”
“Okay.”
“Mm.” Li Mochou stood up. “Elder, please wait a moment. I’ll go find some food.”
“You know how to cook?”
“Please don’t underestimate me, Elder.”
Li Mochou smiled and left the Mountain God Temple. With a few leaps, she disappeared into the mountain forest.
Zhou Yan felt that although Li Mochou’s cooking skills might not be as good as Huang Rong’s, they wouldn’t be too bad, after all, in the Ancient Tomb of Zhongnan Mountain, there were the young and the old.
Li Mochou’s master was Lin Chaoying’s maid. In the Divine Condor world, she had already passed away, so she should have been old. Granny Sun might have changed her temperament after her experiences in the Jianghu and encountering Lu Zhanyuan, and arrived at Zhongnan Mountain before returning to the Ancient Tomb.
Zhou Yan speculated this.
