Chapter 159: Subtle Clues, The Truth Revealed
The one who unleashed the stunning punch was none other than Fu’an’s Chief Escort, Zhang Wangyue.
Zhou Yan pursued the black-clothed big men, his movements winding like a snake as he headed towards Songhe Tower.
Zhang Wangyue, a descendant of the Yue Family Army, acted with a fervor unlike that of ordinary Jianghu heroes, drawing his saber and joining the fray without hesitation.
He observed the situation, concealed his presence, and waited for an opportunity to assist.
Seeing that everyone was about to escape, Ni Mo Xing attacked Zhou Yan. Zhang Wangyue suddenly appeared and, before the opponent could react, struck him with a punch, leaving him severely wounded.
“Many thanks, hero,” Qiu Chuji said as he was the last to escape. He glided to Zhang Wangyue’s side to express his gratitude.
“Go first. We know the way, so it won’t be difficult to cover your retreat and escape.”
Qiu Chuji paused for a moment. The voice sounded familiar, and upon looking at Zhang Wangyue’s features, he immediately realized it was Fu’an’s Chief Escort.
“We will be in the western suburbs after leaving the city,” Qiu Chuji quickly regained his composure, stated his lodging place, and leaped into an alley, reaching Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi, who were waiting, in a few bounds.
“It’s Chief Escort Zhang, Young Friend Zhou, and the others.”
Wang Chuyi sighed, “We were afraid of being a burden, so we didn’t tell you about the assassination attempt on Wanyan Honglie. Little did we know you would guess and offer your righteous assistance.”
“Indeed,” Ma Yu also remarked with emotion.
“Why don’t we let Hero Ke and the others go first? We’ll wait,” Wang Chuyi suggested.
“We cannot. The Chief Escort said to leave this place quickly. Young Friend Zhou and the others are familiar with the terrain and can escape easily, having a place to stay. The Jin Emperor has been assassinated; if they seal the city gates, our staying will only cause more trouble.”
“Agreed!”
The three conferred briefly, caught up with Ke Zhen’e and the others, and quickly disappeared among the densely packed houses.
…
“Go,” Zhang Wangyue said, his punch sending Ni Mo Xing flying, and he shouted to Zhou Yan and Huang Rong on the roof of Songhe Tower.
Zhou Yan swept his right leg, sending an entire section of tiles whistling through the air, falling towards the long street with a gust of wind.
Monk Lingzhi’s bronze cymbals smashed through the air, creating clouds of dust. The falling tiles scattered in all directions. When the visibility slightly cleared, Zhou Yan, Huang Rong, and Zhang Wangyue were nowhere to be seen.
“Don’t run if you have the guts.”
“Let’s duel.”
Hou Tonghai, his head bleeding profusely, shouted in anger.
“I curse you…”
*Swish*, a hand reached from behind and covered Hou Tonghai’s mouth.
Hou Tonghai made muffled sounds. After seeing that it was Sha Tongtian who had let go, he asked in confusion, “Senior Brother, what are you doing?”
Sha Tongtian said with a cold face, “Don’t curse like that again.”
“Why?”
“Just do as I say.”
Hou Tonghai, fearing Sha Tongtian, said dejectedly, “Understood.”
Imperial City guards and Zhao Wang Manor’s personal guards chased after them madly. Amidst the chaotic crowd, Wanyan Honglie’s majestic voice echoed through the long street: “Seal the city gates and search the entire city.”
The air was filled with a nauseating smell of blood. Yang Kang tilted his head slightly, snowflakes landing on his face and melting into water droplets, a chill spreading.
He exhaled softly, his tense, excited emotions gradually calming down. With Ouyang Feng’s assistance, his Father King’s ascension was all but certain.
As he thought this, the two lines of “ten characters” on the folding fan given to him by Wanyan Honglie surfaced in his mind.
“With great power in hand, a gentle breeze fills the world.”
Yang Kang’s emotions were once again ignited, little by little. From now on, he would be the Crown Prince of the Jin Dynasty.
…
Zhou Yan, Huang Rong, and Zhang Wangyue flickered in and out of the narrow alley, easily shaking off the pursuing Royal Residence Guards and Imperial City guards. After taking a few detours, the three entered Zhou Yan’s courtyard.
Huang Rong removed the Earth God mask she had been wearing since purchasing it in Lin’an.
Zhang Wangyue took off his face-covering scarf. Zhou Yan said to Huang Rong, “This is our Chief Escort.”
Huang Rong, already well-acquainted with Fu’an, cupped her hands and said, “Greetings, Chief Escort Zhang. Thank you for escorting our goods in Fu’an in the past.”
“You’re too kind,” Zhang Wangyue returned the bow and then asked Zhou Yan, “Did you manage to catch up with the hero who took the Jin Emperor’s head?”
“It’s a long story,” Zhou Yan sighed. After withdrawing from Songhe Tower, he had been piecing together fragments of information along the way, and by now, he had a complete picture.
The tea in the pot warming on the indoor stove still had heat. Zhou Yan poured tea, and the three sat around a square table. He said, “Chief Escort, do you find it too coincidental that the black-clothed man who assassinated the Jin Emperor appeared?”
His words struck a chord.
Zhang Wangyue frowned in thought. After a while, he said, “Indeed, it is.”
“I fought with that man. Initially, I didn’t recognize his martial arts style, but when he was in a hurry to escape, he used a palm technique that was exactly the same as the martial arts used by the bandit Monk Bao Neng, whom we encountered at the Yellow River wharf while escorting goods to Xianyang.”
“The man is from the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions?”
“Precisely.”
“Why would a monk from the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions assassinate the Jin Emperor?” This was something Huang Rong couldn’t understand, and she asked again.
Zhou Yan said, “Changfeng Escort Agency from Datong Prefecture set up a branch office in Zhongdu a year ago. Fu’an and Changfeng had some grudges, leading to many conflicts. Changfeng Escort Agency used to escort goods to the Western Regions.”
Huang Rong, intelligent and sharp-eyed, her gaze flickered, “Changfeng Escort Agency came into contact with the Vajra Sect.”
“Changfeng Escort Agency also allied with Zhao Wang Manor.”
Huang Rong instantly understood, “Changfeng Escort Agency introduced the monks from the Vajra Sect to Yang Kang of Zhao Wang Manor.”
“That should be the case.”
Zhang Wangyue listened to Huang Rong and Zhou Yan’s explanation and suddenly had a thought, “Could the Tong Pass incident be…?”
Zhou Yan gave a wry smile, “That’s right, it should be the work of Changfeng Escort Agency. They hired assassins and attacked the Fu’an escort team at the Tong Pass wharf. It was raining heavily then, and the escort team had set up camp in the mountain forest several miles from the wharf, while the Zhenwei Escort Agency from Kaifeng Prefecture, escorting goods to Taiyuan Prefecture, happened to be at the wharf.”
“Bao Neng and his gang mistook Zhenwei’s escort team for us.”
“Mm.”
Huang Rong, with her sharp wit, couldn’t help but sigh, “Could there really be such coincidences in the world?”
“Indeed, who would have thought?” Zhou Yan changed the subject and asked Zhang Wangyue, “After the crisis in Zhongdu is over, I will go to Kaifeng Prefecture to explain this matter.”
“That is only right.” Zhang Wangyue added, “So, the assassination of the Jin Emperor by the Vajra Sect monks was also a deliberate arrangement?”
“It was Yang Kang. He used the opportunity of Taoist Qiu and others assassinating Wanyan Honglie to lure the tiger away from its mountain, drawing out the Jin Emperor’s guards, and the Vajra Sect experts struck with a single blow.”
Zhang Wangyue’s mind was suddenly enlightened, “Wanyan Honglie is to become the Jin Emperor?”
“It’s likely that Yang Kang forced Wanyan Honglie onto the throne.”
“At such a young age, Yang Kang possesses such foresight and character; it is truly terrifying,” Zhang Wangyue remarked.
Huang Rong smiled, “But he didn’t expect to be seen through by Chief Escort Zhou at a glance.”
“It was pure luck,” Zhou Yan turned to Zhang Wangyue and said, “I think it’s best to leave the city and inform Taoist Qiu and the others about this matter.”
“Alright.”
The tea finished, the three parted ways. Huang Rong returned to Zhao Wang Manor, Zhang Wangyue hurried back to Fu’an. Zhou Yan changed his clothes and headed straight for the western suburbs.
…
The fine snow stopped, but the sky remained overcast, the low-hanging clouds like shackles binding the sky and earth.
Western suburbs of Zhongdu, a low wall and a wooden gate.
Ke Zhen’e’s voice rang out, “That was exhilarating!”
Qiu Chuji, Ma Yu, Wang Chuyi, and the others were all joyful. Although the assassination of Wanyan Honglie failed, the Jin Emperor being attacked was still a cause for great satisfaction.
“Taoist Qiu, shall we have a good drink?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“Disciple will fetch the wine.”
“Jing’er, go quickly and return soon,” Han Xiaoying instructed.
“Understood.”
Guo Jing left the courtyard and headed towards a nearby wine shop.
…
Zhou Yan had only traveled half a mile outside the city when he heard the heavy sound of the city gates closing behind him. He glanced at the towering city walls but paid it no mind.
With a height of over four zhang, it was difficult to use lightness skills to leap over. However, during his escorts to Jingzhou and driving mules and horses, he had long since mastered the skill of throwing a grappling hook. By throwing a rope to catch the battlements, he could enter and exit Zhongdu as if on level ground.
He turned back and traveled swiftly to the courtyard in the western suburbs.
Horses were tied to the willow trees, and laughter and the clinking of cups could be heard from within the houses in the courtyard.
He paused for a few breaths and then pushed the door open to enter.
“Taoist Master Ma.”
“It’s Brother Zhou.”
Zhou Yan’s voice was heard, and hearty laughter erupted from inside. The thick door curtain was then lifted.
Guo Jing, Wang Chuyi, and Han Xiaoying came out.
“Taoist Master, Heroine Han, Brother Guo.”
“Benefactor, please come in quickly,” Han Xiaoying warmly invited.
“Please!”
Zhou Yan entered and saw that several tables had been pushed together. The other members of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan were present, as well as Qiu Chuji and Ma Yu.
“Are Chief Escort Zhang and the others safe?” Qiu Chuji asked upon seeing Zhou Yan.
“Safe.”
“Good. Young Friend Zhou will stay here tonight. Let’s drink heartily. The Jin Emperor has been assassinated; it’s cause for great celebration.”
“The matter might be different from what you imagine, Taoist Master.”
“What do you mean?” Zhou Yan sat down, accepted the wine bowl handed to him by Zhu Cong, thanked him, and replied, “The black-clothed man who took the Jin Emperor’s head was not a Jianghu hero; there’s more to it.”
“Tell us slowly,” Ma Yu said.
“This matter dates back to the Yellow River wharf at Tong Pass,” Zhou Yan began, recounting his encounter with Bao Neng at the Tong Pass wharf, the conflict between Changfeng and Fu’an, his suspicion that the one who took the Jin Emperor’s head was from the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions, and all the events concerning Yang Kang’s regicide.
As the matter was of great importance, he knew the truth, but for Qiu Chuji, Guo Jing, and the others, it was all speculation. Therefore, Zhou Yan spoke in great detail.
The hall suddenly fell silent, amplifying every sound from outside. The north wind, sweeping past under the eaves, swirled like a soft sigh.
Guo Jing couldn’t comprehend it. He said, “Brother Yang helped me kill two Jin soldiers and said that as long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn. He should have been sincere.”
Yang Kang using everyone’s attempt to assassinate Wanyan Honglie as an opportunity to arrange for Vajra Sect experts to kill the Jin Emperor was unbelievable, not just for Guo Jing, but also for Qiu Chuji and Ke Zhen’e.
The good-natured Ma Yu felt the same.
He was too kind and too trusting. In the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, he was easily poisoned by Peng Lianhu. It was hard for him to believe that Yang Kang could commit such acts of betrayal, murder by proxy, and assist Wanyan Honglie in ascending the throne, all while being so calculating and ruthless.
Ma Yu said, “Young Friend, is there any possibility of misjudgment?”
Zhou Yan replied, “There is, of course. However, given the current situation in the Jin Dynasty, they would need to immediately establish a new emperor. If Wanyan Honglie were to become emperor, perhaps my deductions would be reasonable and correct.”
“That makes sense,” Ma Yu nodded.
“Crack!”
Qiu Chuji’s elbow, resting on the table, pressed down heavily. The wooden table made a creaking sound as if unable to bear the weight, and cracks spread like a spiderweb.
He said with anger:
“If what Young Friend says is true, I will surely slay that wicked wretch.”
