Chapter 201: Deciding Victory, Deciding Life and Death
The bright moon shone among the pines, and a beggar arrived, treading on the moonlight.
Hong Qigong landed gracefully, ignoring Hou Tonghai on the ground, and said to Huang Yaoshi, “Brother Yao, long time no see.”
Huang Yaoshi, who had struck two bone-attaching needles into Hou Tonghai’s back, had not expected Hong Qigong to appear at Zhongnan Mountain. He replied, “Indeed, why has Seventh Brother come here?”
“It’s all because of that kid.”
Hong Qigong said this and called out into the forest, “Kid, have you killed enough?”
Zhou Yan was not surprised at all. Hong Qigong had not only arrived early but had been in the forest where Ouyang Ke and the others were, so it was normal for him to discover himself.
He sheathed his Qingfeng Sword and was about to reveal himself when a figure, like an eagle, swooped down from the distant tree crowns and suddenly landed on the ground.
Hong Qigong laughed heartily, “Old Venomous, we meet again.”
“Seventh Brother, I hope you are well.”
Ouyang Feng emerged from the mountain cave that led directly to the Ancient Tomb. Not seeing Huang Yaoshi, he wasted no time and sped up the mountain. Arriving slightly after the Eastern Heretic, he saw that Ouyang Ke was unharmed and felt relieved. However, he was surprised that the old beggar had also come to Zhongnan Mountain. He truly was a persistent shadow, appearing everywhere.
Zhou Yan paused slightly when Ouyang Feng appeared. He sheathed his Qingfeng Sword and, with a few leaps, arrived in the arena.
Ouyang Feng saw Zhou Yan and said sinisterly, “Seventh Brother has a good disciple.”
Hong Qigong took a few gulps from his wine gourd before saying, “This kid is not my disciple. I wanted him to become my disciple, but he refused, saying the old beggar has too many rules.”
Ouyang Feng looked at Hong Qigong suspiciously.
“What is it, you don’t believe me?”
Ouyang Feng laughed heartily, “Seventh Brother’s word is his bond, why wouldn’t I believe you.”
“The old beggar and this kid have a connection. I’ve guided him through a few moves, but Brother Feng, don’t think about suppressing the young and bullying this kid. If your nephew has the ability to seek revenge, let them resolve it themselves.”
Ouyang Feng thought to himself, Huang Yaoshi and I made a solemn vow not to reveal the Chongyang’s Inscription to any third party. But I didn’t say I couldn’t teach Ouyang Ke martial arts. Without mentioning the name of the cultivation technique, letting Ke’er practice the Nine Yin Manual wouldn’t be a breach of contract. In time, it would be as easy as flipping a hand for Ke’er to take his life.
Thinking this, he smiled and said, “Of course, it was just a misunderstanding in the past.”
Huang Yaoshi thought, so this kid only received guidance from the old beggar, and I thought he was his disciple. However, to be able to refuse the old beggar, this state of mind is unmatched. The Beggars’ Sect indeed has too many damn rules.
When the others finished speaking, Zhou Yan cupped his hands and said, “This junior greets Gang Leader Hong and Island Lord Huang.”
This kid calls the old beggar “Gang Leader Hong,” so he truly isn’t his disciple, Ouyang Feng thought.
“No need to be polite,” Hong Qigong waved his hand.
Huang Yaoshi had already learned from Huang Rong that Zhou Yan had encountered Shagu in Niu Family Village, brought her to Zhongdu, and retrieved the Wumu’s Military Writings from Iron Palm Peak. He felt he owed Zhou Yan another favor. His expression was gentle, and he nodded, “Head Escort Zhou, you don’t need to be polite.”
Helian Chuncheng, upon hearing Zhou Yan’s voice, had already been suspicious. When Huang Yaoshi addressed Zhou Yan as “Head Escort,” he exclaimed, “Zhou Yan.”
Zhou Yan had clashed with Ouyang Ke, Helian Chuncheng, Ni Mo Xing, and others multiple times in Zhongdu, Lin’an, and Zhongnan Mountain. In Zhongdu, he had not displayed his archery skills. In the battles at Zhongnan Mountain, he had been masked both times.
Hou Tonghai and Sha Tongtian had seen Zhou Yan at the Mountain God Temple outside Datong Prefecture but had not seen his true appearance on other occasions, so they had not thought that Zhou Yan was the Head Escort of Fu’an.
Zhou Yan finally revealed his true appearance. He took off his conical hat and said, “Young Master Helian, we meet again.”
“It’s this scoundrel, I should have realized it long ago,” Yin Kexi muttered to himself.
Ni Mo Xing, with his shoulder socket pierced, had a ferocious look in his eyes.
Helian Chuncheng was so surprised and shocked. A year ago, he had clashed with this person and had even had a slight advantage. How could his martial arts have improved so much in just a few hundred days?
Ouyang Ke glared angrily, “Uncle, this is the kid who threw lime at me and then ambushed me with a poisoned iron finger ring.”
Hong Qigong laughed heartily, “Kid, you’ve stirred up quite a lot of trouble.”
“If a disciple of the Beggars’ Sect is begging and encounters an evil dog biting someone, what should they do?”
Hong Qigong’s eyes widened, “Naturally, you should beat the dog.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “This junior does the same.”
With Ouyang Feng’s arrival, Hou Tonghai regained some spirit. As Zhou Yan finished speaking, he glared and said, “Kid, what do you mean by that? Aren’t you saying we are…” Sha Tongtian’s arm suddenly emerged from behind him, covering his mouth tightly. He pressed a few points with his left hand, sealing his acupoints, and then glared at him fiercely. The meaning in his eyes was clear: trouble comes from the mouth, and you’ve caused more trouble than that kid.
Huang Yaoshi, hearing these words, had a slight smile beneath his mask. He looked at Hong Qigong and asked, “Seventh Brother, what exactly is going on?”
“It’s a long story. A young girl was harassed by some scoundrels from the Yellow River Gang, and this kid rescued her. The old beggar happened to be there too. They had an appointment at Zhongnan Mountain, and the old beggar was a witness, which is why I came here.”
“So that’s how it is, Seventh Brother has a refined taste.”
“Fortunately, I arrived in advance, otherwise this kid and that girl would have been bullied.”
Ouyang Feng gave a dry laugh, “Seventh Brother’s young friend’s martial arts are very impressive.”
Ouyang Ke said, “Uncle Hong, you’re mistaken, we were all tricked by him.”
“Brother Feng, I only taught him a few palm techniques. This kid’s other martial arts have nothing to do with the old beggar,” Hong Qigong replied to Ouyang Feng. Then he said to Ouyang Ke, “Then go and fight him.”
Ouyang Ke thought to himself, in a one-on-one fight, why would I fear him?
“That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
Helian Chuncheng immediately said, “Head Escort Zhou, you killed my Changfeng Escorts. How do we settle this account? Aren’t you worried that Changfeng will come to Fu’an to seek justice?”
Zhou Yan chuckled lowly. Changfeng hired assassins to kill me and Fu’an. That account hasn’t been settled yet.
“Young Master Helian brought people to attack Zhongnan Mountain, what about that? Is that the action of the Changfeng Escort Agency, or purely personal will?” Zhou Yan retorted.
Seeing that Zhou Yan had Hong Qigong’s backing, and although Huang Yaoshi’s stance was unclear, Hou Tonghai and the others had indeed provoked the opponent. Helian Chuncheng, fearing that the Changfeng Escort Agency would be implicated, quickly said, “It was personal.”
“I am the same. For me, what matters is personal conscience, and I uphold the way of righteousness. I only judge what I believe should be judged. The Ancient Tomb has a connection with me, so I cannot stand by idly. My connection with Fu’an has ended, and anything I am involved in has nothing to do with Fu’an. If Fu’an is implicated because of this, as long as I have a breath left, I will fight to the death.”
This kid’s character suits me, Huang Yaoshi secretly praised Zhou Yan’s words, “I only judge what I believe should be judged.”
Helian Chuncheng calculated, Zhou Yan has left Fu’an. Can Zhang Wangyue alone contend with Changfeng? This is good. What’s not good is that he is ruthless and attacks with hidden arrows, making him impossible to guard against. However, he doesn’t know that I arranged for the Vajra Sect to intercept and kill Fu’an at the Tong Pass wharf on the Yellow River. He probably won’t act recklessly.
“Good, since that’s the case, from now on, our grudges will be settled according to the rules of the Jianghu. Life and death depend on our own abilities.”
Zhou Yan chuckled lowly, “Good!”
The noisy commotion in the forest spread, and Li Mochou and Lin Chaoying’s maid emerged from the Ancient Tomb.
Li Mochou took a glance and saw the large red wine gourd in Hong Qigong’s hand. She immediately exclaimed with joy and quickly said something to her master before darting over with her agility. Lin Chaoying’s maid followed closely behind. The two approached one after the other. Li Mochou’s speed did not decrease. Lin Chaoying’s maid leaped onto a large tree and stopped moving forward, watching from afar.
“Elder Hong.”
“Heh, the girl is here.”
“Yes, I’ve missed you, Elder.”
Seeing Hong Qigong, Li Mochou felt relieved. She spoke softly and gently, her eyes lingering on Zhou Yan. Illuminated by the firelight, her cheeks were flushed.
Ouyang Ke saw this and was extremely annoyed.
All his anger was directed at Zhou Yan.
“Head Escort Zhou, how do we settle our feud?”
“Name your terms, and I shall oblige.”
Ouyang Ke looked at Hong Qigong.
“You sly kid, trying to test me. The old beggar has already said, I don’t bully the young. If you have the ability, go settle the score with him.” Hong Qigong had tested Zhou Yan’s martial arts when the Mongol Army was about to besiege Zhongdu. Although he didn’t know Ouyang Ke’s specific skill level, he guessed that Zhou Yan, using the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms, could at least hold his ground.
Ouyang Ke was overjoyed upon hearing this and looked at Zhou Yan, “Our duel will decide victory and death, do you dare?”
“If I win, I will not kill you. But you must not harass the Ancient Tomb again.”
Ouyang Ke hesitated.
“Ke’er, you may,” Ouyang Feng suddenly said.
Ouyang Feng had obtained the Nine Yin Manual and wanted to transcribe it quickly to practice. Although Ouyang Ke liked Li Mochou, in Ouyang Feng’s eyes, beauty could not compare to martial arts.
If he wins, my nephew can visit Zhongnan Mountain again another day.
If he loses, he can just follow me to practice the Nine Yin Manual. Once his skills are perfected, he can kill that kid, and what is rightfully his will not escape him.
With my nephew’s martial arts, even if he is not an equal match, he can at least last hundreds of moves, and he can also observe Zhou Yan’s martial arts.
Ouyang Feng was full of calculations.
