Chapter 2: Heavy Rain and a Thousand Arrows
With a roar like a storm, Wu Qinglie smashed the wooden table with his spear, launching a fierce attack towards Li Mochou.
With a clear “clang,” Li Mochou drew her longsword. The sword light rose from bottom to top, like a bright moon hanging in the sky. This was the “Jade Maiden Swordplay’s” “Under the Moon Before Flowers.” The sword tip trembled, like flowers swaying in the wind. The moment the sword edge touched the spear shaft, it slashed towards the opponent’s spear-wielding fingers as she lunged forward.
Wu Qinglie shouted and hastily retreated, pulling his spear back.
Suddenly, a loud “boom” echoed from the restaurant. Li Mochou caught a glimpse of Zhou Yan crashing through the window and disappearing into the rain after a few leaps.
“What is he doing, leaving?” Li Mochou was confused.
…
The rain poured down. Zhou Yan swiftly removed his quiver, held the iron bow in his right hand, and drew an arrow from the quiver on his left hand. He bent his arm, drew the bowstring, and aimed. The sturdy bow was drawn as full as a moon.
Bang!
The bowstring flicked the raindrops into a straight line, shooting water about ten feet away. The first arrow pierced the air, pushing aside a distinct ripple, like a meteor directly pursuing Ma Qingxiong, who had been whipped out of the restaurant.
After shooting the first arrow, Zhou Yan’s left hand already held the second arrow between two fingers. His expression was stern and resolute. His rain-soaked sleeves outlined muscles like coiled pythons. The iron bow was drawn back again to a breathtaking arc.
Ma Qingxiong deflected the first arrow with his iron whip, but his tiger’s mouth went numb. The second arrow that followed “thwack” tore through his flesh and disappeared into his chest.
“Ah!”
The immense inertia of the long arrow sent Ma Qingxiong tumbling back into the restaurant.
Killing one person with two arrows, Zhou Yan retreated into the dark rain. The bow and his person moved with the black-clothed big men who charged forward. In a flash of lightning, the third arrow was shot.
The black-clothed big men following the Yellow River Four Ghosts had mediocre martial arts, only being robust and strong. In the dark night with heavy rain, how could they evade Zhou Yan’s arrows?
Hysterical screams instantly erupted from the one shot in the chest.
Zhou Yan’s arrows never missed. In less than a hundred breaths, he had shot eight big men to death in the rain.
The remaining men shouted and, disregarding the ongoing fight with Shen Qinggang of the Soul Severing Blade and Wu Qinglie of the Life Chasing Spear inside the restaurant, turned and fled into the forest like stray dogs.
Since Zhou Yan had made his move, he intended to finish them off to avoid future trouble for himself and the Escort Bureau.
The dense forest obstructed archery. He picked up a steel knife from the ground and, relying on the surging power in his feet, suddenly exerted force. His body broke through the dense, cold rain, and the accumulated water under his feet splashed out with a roar, blooming like lotuses, extending five to six zhang in an instant.
Zhou Yan, running at high speed in the darkness, was like a hunting leopard. In just a few breaths, he closed the distance. Hearing footsteps, the big men cried out in fear and turned back, only to be met by a thunderous downward slash of the saber.
A rain of blood exploded wildly like fireworks.
The intense fight had nearly drained Zhou Yan of all his strength. As he bent over, gasping for breath, he thought, “If only my Internal Force were a little deeper, I wouldn’t be so exhausted. How great it would be to cultivate the Nine Yang Manual.”
A gentle warmth instantly spread from below Zhou Yan’s neck, seeping into his muscles and bones, washing through his limbs and bones, dispelling his fatigue.
He was startled and reached out to pull out the Jade Guanyin hanging around his neck.
This was given to him by his mother for safety when he was a rider, brought from Jiuhua Mountain. He had worn it for so long that he had overlooked its existence. Who would have thought it had such an effect?
Zhou Yan clearly felt his stamina recovering, slowly but surely, along with a comfortable sensation of relaxing muscles and activating collaterals. He exclaimed in surprise, “Could this be my golden finger, capable of eliminating fatigue and nourishing muscles and bones?”
With no time to investigate if the Jade Guanyin had other functions, Zhou Yan ran towards the restaurant with his saber.
…
Shen Qinggang of the Soul Severing Blade and Wu Qinglie of the Life Chasing Spear had long been terrified and harbored thoughts of leaving. However, Li Mochou was now fighting two against one and had the upper hand. The Ancient Tomb’s Lightness Skill and Agility were elegant and swift. How could they escape now?
She unleashed her swordplay, which was crystal clear and dazzling. It was like a brilliant stream, thrusting east and west, leaving the eldest and second brothers of the Yellow River Four Ghosts in a frantic state.
Zhou Yan entered the restaurant with the intention of a quick victory. Within his sight, Li Mochou lightly raised her longsword and floated forward, her posture ethereal like a fairy. The sword tip pointed downwards several times, and suddenly the sword light gathered like a celestial river of snow, its form and reality indistinguishable. Shen Qinggang, unable to decipher the Sword Style, retreated ten feet.
Zhou Yan lunged forward, his long saber slashing towards the opponent.
His Saberplay was ordinary, relying entirely on brute force. This confused Shen Qinggang, who had many ways to counter. Was this a feint or something else? Suddenly, he saw an object rapidly approaching. The Soul Severing Blade was greatly alarmed and unleashed a saber strike as fluid as water. The long saber cut through the cowhide bag, and lime powder enveloped his entire body.
Shen Qinggang felt an intense burning in his eyes. Zhou Yan’s steel saber had already chopped into his shoulder, pushing him back until he crashed through the wall. The lime on the opponent’s face made sizzling sounds in the heavy rain.
Zhou Yan pulled out his saber, kicked him into the mud and water, and then stepped forward, raising his saber to end his life.
At this moment, Li Mochou inside the restaurant delivered a sword strike like ink and a great river, piercing Wu Qinglie’s throat.
She withdrew her sword and, with excitement, stepped forward, cupped her fists, and said, “Many thanks for your assistance, Young Hero. May I ask your esteemed surname?”
She had no experience in the Jianghu at all, yet she put on a mature demeanor.
“This place is not suitable for lingering.”
Zhou Yan exited the restaurant, his movements roaming. He individually pulled out the long arrows and put them into his quiver. He also searched for a few money pouches, threw one containing about three taels of silver onto a wooden table in the restaurant, took a conical hat, quickly went out, mounted his horse, and spurred it into the misty rain.
Li Mochou was no slower. Her conical hat covered her dark hair, and she leaped out of the window. Her body lightly rose, like a dancing swallow, landing on a fine horse and chasing after Zhou Yan.
…
The drizzling night rain, the neighing of horses.
Zhou Yan rode his horse onto a small path. He had already completely digested and absorbed the memories of the original owner and was familiar with the terrain and roads around Datong Prefecture.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I am Zhou Yan, not ‘hey.’ There’s a Mountain God Temple ahead, where I’ll stay for the night.”
“Why? Aren’t you going to reach Datong Prefecture soon?”
“Those four people are called the Yellow River Four Ghosts, and their Master is the Ghost Gate Dragon King Sha Tongtian. So many people died at the restaurant, and the news will spread quickly.”
“You’re worried Sha Tongtian will come to Datong Prefecture to investigate and search.”
“Naturally.”
“Are you always this cautious?”
“A stitch in time saves nine.”
As Zhou Yan spoke, his fine horse stopped on the side of the small path. He dismounted, led the rope into the woods, and walked towards the Mountain God Temple. Li Mochou followed him like a shadow.
…
The Mountain God Temple was situated on a low slope, its walls mottled and peeling mud.
Zhou Yan leaped onto the altar and broke off some bamboo strips from the roof to start a fire.
Orange light diffused from the dilapidated temple, and the air gained a warm aura.
After galloping all the way, both of their clothes were soaked. Zhou Yan was fine, but Li Mochou was actually quite disheveled.
Zhou Yan, without looking at her, squatted down and poked the campfire, saying, “Where is the Female Hero headed?”
Li Mochou naturally moved to his side. The light fell on her rosy cheeks, making her as beautiful as a peach blossom.
“My Master said I have completed my training and can go out to travel.”
“You’ve only reached here from Zhongnan Mountain?”
“Mm!”
Zhou Yan thought to himself that she was indeed new to the world.
“Where do you plan to go?”
“To entrust myself to sharp blades, to roam the mortal world with a sword. To uphold justice and travel in all directions.”
Zhou Yan laughed. The label of Red Practicing Fairy was too ingrained. Hearing such words suddenly, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Hey, what are you laughing at?”
The internal review has passed. Esteemed authors are welcome to invest.
