Chapter 180: Xiaoxiangzi Steals a Horse
Leaning on the sandbank at dusk, eating river delicacies and wild vegetables with peach blossom rice. A long song echoes in the deep mist, returning to the green waves of the Cang River.
This scene in the poem describes the Yuan River in Luxi.
Misty spring water floats on the river, willows hang like curtains on both banks, and on the road, silver saddles reflect white horses, swift as shooting stars.
Zhou Yan emerged from the valley in the Middle Peak of Iron Palm Mountain. At this moment, the entire Iron Palm Sect, from the Gang Leader Qiu Qianren down to the ordinary disciples, were drawn to the inferno on the Middle Peak’s summit. He retreated completely, winding like a snake, and reached the pine forest where his horse was hidden.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” awaited him in the forest.
He spurred his horse, heading directly for Luxi, where he had arranged to meet Huang Rong and the others.
Traveling along the river, the water was clear and fresh, egrets gathered in flocks, and monkeys cried out. Zhou Yan couldn’t help but think of Li Mochou.
It wasn’t out of affection, but rather a thought of the Divine Condor’s Jianghu.
Lu Zhanyuan betrayed Li Mochou and married He Yuanjun. Li Mochou swore a heavy oath: anyone who mentioned the word “Yuan” in her presence would either die or she would die.
The Red Practicing Fairy had previously destroyed sixty-three merchant shops and boat companies along the Yuan River simply because their signs bore the character “Yuan.”
As Zhou Yan thought this, he smiled faintly, “There is a fairy in Zhongnan, but no Red Practicing Fairy in Yuan River.”
At dusk, the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” leaped out of the twilight, and the Luxi county town came into Zhou Yan’s sight.
“Head Escort!” a voice filled with near-joyful tears rang out from the willow forest outside the city. Liang Xiaowu and the runners rushed over. Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound. Behind them, Mei Chaofeng and Huang Rong, in black clothes and white robes respectively, walked slowly.
“We’ve been waiting.”
Liang Xiaowu was relieved, his anxious heart finally at ease. He said, “We saw the great fire at Iron Palm Mountain from afar and worried about the Head Escort. We thought that even if we died, we would be with you. It was Merchant Huang who stopped us, saying the Head Escort would surely fake his death to escape. I’m ashamed to say, we lost our composure. It was Merchant Huang and Merchant Mei who remained calm.”
Zhou Yan inwardly scoffed. Faking his death to escape; Huang Rong truly thought along the same lines as him.
“Worry makes people act irrationally; it’s understandable. But remember, if you encounter such a situation again, you must not lose your reason.”
“Understood.”
The runners led the horses, and Zhou Yan walked towards Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng.
“Quickly tell us, how did you escape?”
“It’s a long story.”
“There are people here. While waiting for you, we borrowed writing materials. We’ve become familiar with them. Let me borrow the kitchen to prepare a few dishes, and I’ll tell you slowly.”
“Borrowing writing materials… to transcribe the Wumu’s Military Writings?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, I wouldn’t refuse.”
“Let’s go.”
Zhou Yan followed Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng through the willow forest and saw a vast expanse of flat land ahead, with well-arranged houses, intersecting paths, and the sounds of chickens and dogs. It was a scene like a paradise.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” was released into the willow forest to graze on its own, while Huang Rong and Mei Chaofeng walked to the county town to buy ingredients.
Zhou Yan opened the Wumu’s Military Writings transcribed by Huang Rong.
He saw that the handwriting was natural and elegant, the lines smooth, beautiful yet strong. He praised the calligraphy and focused on the military strategy, reading it word by word.
…
A ray of setting sun spreads across the water, half the river shimmering, half the river red.
Zhou Yan closed the Wumu’s Military Writings, stood up, and a feeling of “drunkenly lighting a lamp to gaze at my sword, and in dreams hearing the horns of the camp” arose within him.
The book elaborated on strategic planning, assessment of situations, offense, defense, troop training, deployment of generals, formation setting, field battles, and the dynamics of movement and stillness, safety and danger, as well as the art of using the conventional to achieve the extraordinary.
Zhou Yan recalled the Jianghu of the Legend of the Condor Heroes, when Guo Jing, accompanying Genghis Khan on his Western Expedition, trained his Ten-Thousand Man Squad into eight formations as described in the military writings: Heaven’s Cover, Earth’s Support, Wind’s Rise, Cloud’s Descent, Dragon’s Flight, Tiger’s Wing, Bird’s Soar, and Snake’s Coil.
Zhou Yan sighed with emotion, “Loyal ministers are rewarded by the king and country; the twelve gold plaques are truly sorrowful. What a pity for Yue Pengju.”
He then thought that this military strategy would be of great use to Yang Miaozhen. When Mu Nianci went to Cuya Mountain, she would surely mention how the Khan wanted to massacre Zhongdu, but was stopped by Guo Jing.
Yang Miaozhen, in this way, would inevitably oppose Mongolia. This would create an opportunity to drill troops and feed horses, and build up strength by taking advantage of the conflict between the Jin Dynasty and Mongolia.
If the Chief Escort could raise the banner of righteousness like Yang Miaozhen, he could recreate the Beiwei Army.
“Neigh!” A sudden horse’s whinny pulled Zhou Yan back from his thoughts.
Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw the three runners resting in the forest being flung away. Liang Xiaowu unleashed his Fanzi Fist, his punches, elbows, chops, and collisions attacking a tall, thin man in rapid succession.
The man’s movements were strange and incredibly swift. His punches were like lightning, heavy and fierce. After a few clashes with Liang Xiaowu, the young escort, who ranked among the best in the Fu’an Escort Agency, was instantly sent to the ground, rolling continuously.
The tall man leaped onto the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
The horse, intelligent and spirited, reared up like a full moon and neighed angrily. Its four hooves flailed, jumping and spinning, trying to throw the rider off. The man, however, clung to the horse’s back as if glued, no matter how much the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” bucked.
“What a horse thief.”
The Profound Iron Heavy Spear and the Ox Horn Giant Bow were in the courtyard. Zhou Yan moved like lightning, grabbing the bow and arrows.
The bow was like a full moon, the arrows like shooting stars, each arrow faster than the last.
Zhou Yan held nothing back. The horse thief had set his sights on the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” to steal it, but hadn’t expected Liang Xiaowu and the others to be in the forest. He had even resorted to injuring them, showing his ruthless hand.
He loosed five arrows in rapid succession, then, holding the Qingfeng Sword, he darted out like a flash, leaning forward slightly, charging towards the willow forest like a shot arrow.
The man on the horse suddenly pulled out a short club from his person. White ropes were wrapped around the club, and a hemp rope dangled from its head, resembling the mourning stick held by a filial son.
The man swung the club twice, like the hanging horns of a sheep, leaving no trace. With two “clanging” sounds, the first two long arrows were knocked away. His body flattened to the ground like an iron plate, using the “iron plate bridge” technique to dodge another arrow. He then used the “stirrup-hidden body” maneuver, and the last two arrows missed.
At this moment, the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” suddenly spun rapidly, and the man was flung off.
“What a beast!”
The man’s tiger’s mouth went numb from deflecting Zhou Yan’s two arrows with his “mourning stick”-like weapon. Knowing the horse’s owner was not inferior to him, he dared not delay. His landing form was like a kite soaring into the sky, and he leaped up, landing on Huang Rong’s mount.
The man turned his head and grinned sinisterly at Zhou Yan.
Within Zhou Yan’s sight, the man’s face was as bloodless as Mei Chaofeng’s, making his age difficult to discern. However, that zombie-like face and the mourning stick in his hand suddenly sparked a realization, reminding him of someone.
Xiaoxiangzi, the renowned figure from Western Hunan in the Divine Condor Jianghu.
Zhou Yan’s guess was not wrong at all.
It was indeed Xiaoxiangzi from Western Hunan.
He was passing through Luxi when he suddenly saw the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.” Admiring its extraordinary spirit, he conceived the idea of stealing it. Little did he know that he would startle the horse and Liang Xiaowu.
Xiaoxiangzi attacked to injure them, turning theft into robbery. Who would have thought that the spirited “Night-Shining Jade Lion” would throw him to the ground?
Seeing Zhou Yan approaching, Xiaoxiangzi decided retreat was the best course of action.
He let out a ferocious and sinister smile, turned his horse, and galloped away.
Zhou Yan arrived like a gust of wind.
“Xiaowu!”
“Head Escort, I can hold on.”
Blood seeped from Liang Xiaowu’s lips as he struggled to get up. Zhou Yan checked the runners; they had all been knocked unconscious but were not in mortal danger.
Zhou Yan took out the porcelain bottle containing the “Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pills” from his bosom.
“One pill for each person.”
“Understood.”
Liang Xiaowu caught the porcelain bottle, and Zhou Yan leaped onto the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
The horse’s four hooves churned as it pursued relentlessly.
The scenery blurred as the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” continuously closed in on Xiaoxiangzi. On the main road leading from the county town, figures in black and white walked shoulder to shoulder. The white-robed figure glanced quickly at Xiaoxiangzi and Zhou Yan in the distance, then said a few words to the black-skirted woman.
The two made way, and the Qingcong Horse instantly closed the distance. In the instant they crossed paths, Mei Chaofeng, in black, suddenly flashed white light in her hand, and her soft whip lashed out at Xiaoxiangzi.
Xiaoxiangzi let out a strange cry, kicked off the stirrup with his right foot, and rolled to the ground. With a “bang,” the soft whip struck the horse’s back, and the Qingcong Horse cried out and crashed into a large tree by the roadside.
Mei Chaofeng advanced agilely, her grip aimed at Xiaoxiangzi’s crown.
Xiaoxiangzi’s mourning stick suddenly spewed out a puff of black smoke. The intertwined figures separated with a boom, and Mei Chaofeng was knocked to the ground by the mourning stick.
Xiaoxiangzi, his head bleeding, rolled a few times and fell into the Yuan River.
“Bitch, I will have my revenge!”
As Xiaoxiangzi’s figure disappeared into the waves, he uttered a harsh threat.
