Chapter 151: It’s Me, Huang Rong!
The autumn wind rustled, sweeping across the alleys of the city.
Zhou Yan’s figure flickered in and out of sight along different paths in the dark wind. Upon reaching an alley entrance, he descended silently into the darkness.
His “Golden Goose Skill” was inferior to the White Camel Mountain peerless skill “Instant Thousand Li” that Ouyang Ke excelled at in terms of maneuvering in confined spaces, but when it came to running speed, it was second to none.
Now, with the continuous improvement of his realm and internal force, it became more refined. As his internal energy circulated through the Qiao Meridian, his agility unfolded, resembling the flight of geese.
Having learned that Yang Kang had acknowledged his father during the day, Zhou Yan conceived the idea of investigating the Prince’s Manor at night.
Wary of Ouyang Feng’s presence, he had also made thorough preparations, wearing a night-walking suit and carrying a bag of lime.
Far more than that, he had also borrowed iron wristbands from the escort agency escorts. He had previously obtained iron finger rings from an escort of the Four Seas Escort Agency, and Ouyang Ke had suffered losses from these rings, which he also carried with him. Furthermore, he had extracted snake venom from the Pusi snakes he raised and applied it to the pointers of the finger rings.
Only then did he confidently head towards the Prince’s Manor.
Familiar with the route, he arrived at the back street of the Prince’s Manor. Zhou Yan leaped into the backyard and, winding his way through, headed straight for the brightest area.
As he moved forward, Zhou Yan saw a bamboo fence, and before him were three small houses with black tiles and white walls.
This should be Bao Xiruo’s residence.
Zhou Yan thought this, and as he was about to leap over the fence, a youth in a white robe walked towards him from the other side.
Was it Yang Kang?
Zhou Yan saw clearly, retreated his figure, and disappeared into the shadows beside him.
Yang Kang approached at this moment. He looked at the simple cottage and the dim light, his thoughts returning to the West Mountain suburbs that afternoon.
He was not the Prince’s biological son, and Qiu Chuji had now found his biological father.
Thinking of Yang Tiexin’s weather-beaten, rustic appearance, and then imagining his Father’s brocade-clad, elegant demeanor, Yang Kang felt a deep-seated disdain.
But the situation forced him to call the other man father.
Yang Tiexin’s appearance was unexpected. The other party wanted to kill his Father and rescue his Mother, so some plans had to be changed.
Yang Kang let out a slight sigh, quickened his steps, and pushed the door open.
Zhou Yan, hidden in the darkness, saw Yang Kang enter the cottage and quietly moved closer.
In the moonlight, something crawled through the forest, approaching silently and slowly. Suddenly, a white figure leaped through the clear moonlight.
The figure behind Zhou Yan extended a finger like an orchid, its posture exquisitely beautiful, aiming for the major acupoints on his back.
He suddenly countered with “Yue Family Scattered Hands” to seize and capture. The figure retreated several feet and whispered, “It’s me, Huang Rong.”
Zhou Yan turned around. Before him was Huang Rong, looking like a young master from the fields.
Huang Rong’s voice was crisp and quick: “Mei Ruohua and I were together. She said there was a night walker, so I came to take a look. You recognized me with your attack. How could it be you?”
Zhou Yan understood.
Huang Rong had returned after playing pranks on the Yellow River Gang with Mei Chaofeng and was hiding in an underground cave in the Prince’s Manor’s backyard. Mei Chaofeng had excellent hearing and detected him. The lively Huang Rong couldn’t resist and sneaked over.
However, compared to when they teamed up to deal with the Vajra Sect’s Bao Neng Monk at Tong Pass on the Yellow River, her cultivation had improved considerably in the past few months, especially her lightness skill, which had truly reached the realm of being light as a swallow.
“It’s a long story, I’ll tell you slowly,” Zhou Yan replied, stealthily moving towards the cottage. Huang Rong followed closely.
The window was half open, and the interior furnishings were clearly visible.
Zhou Yan saw a woman over forty years old, with a clear appearance and a kind-faced and kind-hearted demeanor, sitting at an old desk. Yang Kang was beside her.
This woman was Bao Xiruo. He thought so and listened intently.
…
Bao Xiruo doted on Yang Kang. First, she poured tea, then held his hand and said, “Kang’er, what have you thought about?”
“Mother, I have something else to tell you.”
“Kang’er, speak.”
Yang Kang began with the excuse he had long prepared: “Mother, what would you do if my biological father were still alive?”
Bao Xiruo said melancholily, “Kang’er, don’t talk nonsense.”
“Mother, hypothetically, tell me.”
Bao Xiruo mused for a moment and then said, “Naturally, I would seek out your biological father. Whether he is alive or dead, we would be together.”
“What about Father? Is there no affection at all?”
“Kang’er, when you marry and have children in the future, you will understand this principle.”
“Mother, the Taoist priest has visited me.”
“What did he say?” Bao Xiruo asked urgently.
“Kang’er’s biological father is still alive.”
“What did you say?” Bao Xiruo’s voice trembled.
“Kang’er’s biological father is still alive.”
With a gulp, Bao Xiruo leaned back. Yang Kang quickly supported her, relaxing her muscles and activating her collaterals.
Zhou Yan, outside the window, sighed inwardly. Yang Tiexin had reacted similarly upon learning of Bao Xiruo’s whereabouts. He continued to watch.
After a long while, Bao Xiruo finally woke up. She immediately took Yang Kang’s hand and said, “Kang’er, where is the Taoist priest? Take me to see him.”
Yang Kang knelt down with a thud.
“Kang’er, what’s wrong now?”
“Mother, let Kang’er tell you slowly.”
“Get up and speak.”
“Your son dares not.”
Zhou Yan, who saw all this clearly, sneered inwardly. Yang Kang was using Bao Xiruo’s kindness to feign a bitter strategy.
“Then speak,” Bao Xiruo said, her voice hurried upon hearing that Yang Tiexin was still alive.
Yang Kang said with tears streaming down his face: “Mother, I am also happy to learn that my biological father is alive. Hearing you say you want to be with Father, I feel a mix of emotions. Even if you dislike Father, he has cared for me for eighteen years and doted on me. How can I choose? Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety are hard to balance. How about this: I will fulfill your wish, Mother, and send you to the Prince’s Manor. You and Father can elope, and I will handle some matters at the Prince’s Manor before coming to find you.”
Bao Xiruo did not know that Wanyan Honglie had ordered Duan Tiande to create the tragedy of the Guo and Yang families back then. She thought only of Yang Tiexin and wanted to stay away from the Zhao Wang Manor, so she said, “As you wish.”
“I have something else, Mother. My biological father said I am recognizing a thief as my father and wants me to kill Father. The kindness of upbringing is greater than heaven. How can I do something that will bring divine retribution? I hope Mother can persuade Father then.”
“As long as the family is reunited, I will listen to Kang’er.”
“Good, Mother, rest. Kang’er will go back and prepare.”
“Kang’er, you say it’s all true.”
Yang Kang held Bao Xiruo’s hand. “On such an important matter, how could Kang’er deceive Mother?”
“Good, good. Mother, be careful. You go and prepare quickly.”
Zhou Yan turned to look at Huang Rong. She understood and went around to the back of the cottage.
…
When Zhou Yan saw Huang Rong again, she seemed to be in a bad mood.
He knew the reason. She had overheard the conversation between Bao Xiruo and her son and was thinking of Feng Heng.
“Why were you eavesdropping on a mother and son’s conversation?”
“I have something to do. Why don’t you go back first?”
Huang Rong’s bright eyes darted, and she suddenly said, “You’re going to eavesdrop again. Forget it. Since I’ve already heard it, it doesn’t hurt to hear more. Let’s go. Together.”
Zhou Yan turned and followed Yang Kang.
…
Yang Kang passed through corridors and buildings, and soon arrived at a study.
He stopped and said, “Master, are you at peace?”
“It is the Little Prince. I am not.”
Yang Kang pushed the door open and entered.
With a “creak,” the door of the study closed. Zhou Yan and Huang Rong, moving swiftly, landed outside the study.
Huang Rong extended a finger and lightly poked a hole in the window paper to look inside.
Zhou Yan did not expect that the people in the study were from the Vajra Sect. Although Huang Rong’s movements were subtle, to Baoxiang, the monk in the study, they were no less than a thunderclap.
The monk’s raised eyebrows twitched, and he grabbed a teacup from the table, throwing it towards the window.
Huang Rong’s reaction was not slow. Seeing Baoxiang throw the teacup, she was greatly alarmed and leaped backward, saying urgently to Zhou Yan, “We’ve been discovered! Run!”
As soon as she spoke, the porcelain cup spun and, at the moment it touched the window paper, exploded with a roar. The entire window shattered into pieces in an instant. Baoxiang lunged forward like a fierce tiger.
When Huang Rong told him to run, Zhou Yan had already taken out the iron finger ring and put it on his middle finger.
Within his sight, the monk’s figure suddenly enlarged. He filled his palm with force and punched out with a whoosh. In this situation, if the opponent were to be struck, Zhou Yan would have immediately used the “Heart Crushing Palm” from the Nine Yin Manual, and the opponent would have no escape. However, he thought that Yang Kang had also practiced this palm technique, and Mei Chaofeng was currently living in the underground cave of the Prince’s Manor’s backyard. Fearing that Yang Kang might recognize it and find someone, he changed his mind and used the move “Charge the Formation and Cut the Generals” from “Taizu Long Fist.”
As Zhou Yan’s cultivation realm improved, this move was performed with a graceful and generous posture. The strength was both hard and soft, and soft within hard, reaching a very high level of boxing skill.
With a “bang,” the dust from the broken window suddenly caved inward. Baoxiang felt pain in his palm and, greatly alarmed, flipped backward with a swish.
As Zhou Yan slid out, he also used the force to flip backward, landing on his feet. His body low, he ran wildly.
Baoxiang looked in the lamplight and saw a small hole in his palm, deep into the muscle, with a black line extending into it. Daring not to pursue Zhou Yan, he immediately took out a porcelain bottle from his embrace, took a pill, sat cross-legged, and circulated his energy to expel the poison.
Yang Kang chased after them. In the darkness, two figures, one black and one white, had already gone far away.
He was enraged and shouted, “Catch the assassin!”
