Chapter 221: To Not Avenge Humiliation Under the Crotch is Not the Act of a Gentleman
The river wind roared like a tiger, and an ominous aura permeated the air.
Zhou Yan whispered to Qiu Qianchi, “Have Wanyan Kang and Ouyang Feng arrived?”
“No, I ran out after an argument with my second brother on the way to the Valley of Unfeeling.”
“Let’s go, I’ll cover your retreat. We’ll discuss everything once we reach Youngest Sister Yang.”
Qiu Qianchi hesitated, unaware that Zhou Yan’s strength had long surpassed its previous level, and worried he couldn’t handle the situation.
“I’ll be fine. You staying here won’t help the situation. You can either leave or go back.”
“Take Care.”
Qiu Qianchi, with a personality similar to Zhou Yan’s, rarely procrastinated. She turned and followed Liang Xiaowu.
Zhou Yan was some distance away from Liu Qingzhou, Yanbo Diaosou, and others. Qiu Qianren didn’t notice them. On the other side of the long street, a runner with extensive Jianghu experience led horses with the Tianzhu Monk and Mu Tong, separating from Liu Qingzhou and Diaosou, entering an alley to take a detour and rendezvous with Liang Xiaowu.
Zhou Yan watched the High Monk depart, with no further worries.
Under the sparse moonlight, he saw Qiu Qianren, who was heading towards the wharf, and the Iron Palm Water Floating, Qiu Qianren, had already moved. His Lightness Skill was unparalleled in the world. The moment his body shifted from stillness to motion, it unleashed a roar like wind and thunder. In an instant, his Iron Palm Skill, propelled by an incomparable momentum, reached its peak. Then, his entire body, like flowing clouds and water, suddenly loomed before Zhou Yan.
Qiu Qianren’s left arm shot out like a snake’s tongue, striking Zhou Yan’s “Zhongfu” acupoint on the Lung Meridian of Taiyin, while his right palm flashed like lightning towards his throat. The speed of his attacks was like a rainbow flying across the sky, with two moves executed almost simultaneously.
Zhou Yan let out a low roar, gathering his Strength from his limbs inward, his external form and internal Qi converging simultaneously. He pushed “Riding the Six Dragons” from the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms towards his opponent.
“Boom!”
Like a huge air sac exploding, a low popping sound echoed in the air, ripples spread, and dust and smoke vibrated in all directions.
Qiu Qianren felt as if his palms had struck hard, cold rock. His arms went numb, and his body involuntarily swayed, retreating half a step.
Zhou Yan felt as if he had collided with a colossal tide that could shatter the earth, its endless, ever-increasing force pushing him backward.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, he retreated three full steps.
Two completely different expressions suddenly appeared on their faces.
Qiu Qianren was shocked and incredulous. Compared to their previous encounter at Iron Palm Mountain, how had this brat’s Cultivation improved so much?
Zhou Yan, on the other hand, was inwardly delighted.
Ouyang Ke and Qiu Qianren were his touchstones.
If he could defeat the Young Master of White Camel Mountain, his Cultivation would reach the ranks of first-class experts in the Legend of the Condor Heroes world.
To overcome Qiu Qianren’s pair of Iron Palms would mean reaching the realm of a quasi-Five Greats.
Although his solid Palm Force was still inferior to Qiu Qianren’s, it was no longer possible for the latter to force him to retreat step by step as he had at Iron Palm Mountain, compelling him to escape with lime.
“Snap!” Zhou Yan poured Strength into his legs, stabilizing himself with the Thousand Jin Drop. He exhaled a turbid breath, feeling refreshed, the discomfort of his surging Qi and Blood completely gone.
“Again!” Zhou Yan Agilely Advanced, “Kanglong Regret,” “Shocking a Hundred Miles,” “Sudden Arrival,” “Flying Dragon in the Sky”… he unleashed palm strike after palm strike.
Attacked by Zhou Yan, who was not yet twenty, Qiu Qianren was enraged. The Iron Palm’s Palm Momentum descended like a heavenly river, its dense Strength like a tide, suddenly engulfing him.
Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan was trembling. Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Sect were mortal enemies of the Hengshan Sect.
Over a hundred people outside Snake Valley in the Xiangyang suburbs were pursuing Qiu Qianchi, naturally dispersing. Only seven or eight followed Qiu Qianren. Liu Qingzhou’s eyes, sharp as cold lightning, withdrew from the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Sect and fell upon an Iron Palm Sect Hall Master holding Hidden Weapons, watching Zhou Yan.
A clear sword-drawing sound instantly rang out. A hazy Sword Light bloomed at his waist like moonlight. Liu Qingzhou’s hand did not appear to move, nor did his sword, yet it was as if it were still in its sheath. The narrow sword, however, had already attacked the Iron Palm Sect Hall Master with the killing move of the Returning Wind and Falling Geese Sword.
As he unleashed his sword strike, Yanbo Diaosou suddenly planted his fishing rod on the ground. The rod bent, and using its elasticity, he leaped over twenty feet into the air. He swung the fishing rod diagonally, his attack completely enveloping an Iron Palm Sect Hall Master.
The Hall Master had no way to evade and tumbled with the rod’s momentum. Yanbo Diaosou flicked his fishing rod, striking the opponent with the tip, sending the Hall Master somersaulting backward.
Amidst the thunderous explosions on the long street, Zhou Yan and Qiu Qianren had exchanged over twenty moves.
Qiu Qianren’s Iron Palm was exquisite, and he used the lightness skill of Water Floating. His steps swayed, resembling leaves in the wind, appearing chaotic but with each palm strike being exceptionally precise. In terms of Strength, technique, and footwork, it was Seamless and perfectly balanced.
Zhou Yan’s profound Internal Force flowed smoothly along the Qi Guiding Method of the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms through his Channels. Palm strike after palm strike was continuous, each move seamlessly following the last. His powerful Qi, like a storm, surged and receded, parrying Qiu Qianren’s ever-changing and exquisite palm techniques.
Qiu Qianchi had reached the wharf. While Liang Xiaowu was hiring a boat, she looked back. In her field of vision, lanterns on the long street were shattering one by one. Zhou Yan and Qiu Qianren, like grinding wheels, crashed into an Inn on the side of the street.
“Miss Qiu, the boat is hired,” Liang Xiaowu ran over and said.
She recognized Liang Xiaowu and asked in a shocked tone, “When did your Head Escort become so formidable?”
Liang Xiaowu said with admiration, “After not seeing the Head Escort for more than ten days, his Cultivation has improved by a fraction. I’ve never seen anyone train as diligently as the Head Escort.”
Qiu Qianchi nodded, “Heaven rewards diligence, and he has exceptional talent. He should indeed have such attainments. I underestimated him before.”
Liang Xiaowu listened, pleased, and chuckled.
“Escort Liang,” came a shout. Several runners arrived with the Tianzhu Monk, “What should we do?”
Liang Xiaowu said, “The Head Escort mentioned he would meet Miss Qiu at Cuya Mountain. You should all go with Miss Qiu. I will wait for the Head Escort.”
“Alright!”
Liang Xiaowu made the most correct decision. The runners led the horses onto the boat, the Tianzhu Monk accompanied them, and the Large Boat quickly departed from the shore. The young Escort took Zhou Yan’s Profound Iron Heavy Spear and approached the long street, then he heard thunderous roars coming from inside the Inn.
…
Zhou Yan and Qiu Qianren’s palms collided. Each palm contained distinct Qi Energy such as Coiling Force, Peng Force, and Collapse Force. The two figures spun within the Inn. Tables and Chairs they touched would suddenly spin away or be directly shattered into pieces. In a moment, benches, plates, and bowls flew everywhere, exploding against the walls with continuous thuds.
“Ah!” After dozens of moves, he still couldn’t subdue Zhou Yan. Qiu Qianren let out a furious roar, slightly shifting his body. He slapped his right palm with his left, and his right palm shot out diagonally, striking Zhou Yan’s lower abdomen. This was one of his Iron Palm Skill’s ultimate moves, “Yin Yang Guiyi,” which was extremely fierce.
Zhou Yan countered with “Kanglong Regret.” With a “bang,” he slid backward, crashing into the wall. The violent impact caused the wall to crack and deform, and the wall against his back bloomed with spiderweb-like cracks.
Qiu Qianren exhaled a turbid breath. This brat, not yet twenty, possessed such Cultivation. In time, how formidable would he become? How could he then contend for the title of number one under heaven? While he was not his match now, he had to kill him.
Thinking this, he said ferociously, “Brat, you escaped last time, but today I will take your life.”
Zhou Yan let out a low laugh, his gums covered in blood foam, “Come on.”
“Good!” Qiu Qianren’s body was like a ferocious beast. His palm strikes and kicks enveloped Zhou Yan like a net. Amidst the swirling dust, the Escort smiled grimly. The martial arts of the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms transformed into the Yue Family Boxing, suitable for close combat. In his fierce exchanges, he supplemented with Seize and Capture, elbow strikes, and kicks.
The Inn’s main hall was filled with dust and smoke. Suddenly, Qiu Qianren’s Iron Palms changed into several feints like a flower-dancing butterfly, and his palms suddenly struck towards Zhou Yan’s shoulders. This move was truly exquisite and unavoidable.
Zhou Yan rolled onto the ground, tumbling and spinning rapidly. Qiu Qianren sneered. Where his palm edge passed, it was like an axe chopping or a knife slicing. His kicks could shatter rocks, but Zhou Yan rolled and spun on the ground with extreme agility, making it impossible for Qiu Qianren to touch him.
What Zhou Yan used was precisely the “Snake Movement Fox Flip” from the true scripture.
In a flash of lightning, Zhou Yan, while rolling, endured a kick to his calf and wrapped his legs around Qiu Qianren. With a twist and a lock, the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Sect lost his balance and crashed to the ground with a “boom.”
Qiu Qianren’s left palm swung rapidly as Zhou Yan rolled behind him. Qiu Qianren suddenly leaped up, performing a “Kite Turns Over” maneuver. Zhou Yan was already close to the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Sect. His left hand passed under the latter’s left armpit and wrapped around his nape, pulling down forcefully.
Qiu Qianren’s soul was terrified. His right hand hooked Zhou Yan’s left hand.
Zhou Yan’s right hand then passed under his right ribcage and hooked his nape. His hands interlocked, pressing down with equal force.
Qiu Qianren suddenly felt his breath suffocate. He could even hear the cracking of joints at the back of his neck. He had never encountered such a fighting style, like a street brawl, yet he was unable to effectively counter it.
This move by Zhou Yan was precisely a technique he had observed and remembered from Shi Bowei’s match against Xiaoxiangzi at the Heroes’ Banquet in Zhongdu.
Qiu Qianren’s counter-grip was useless. In a moment of desperation, he pushed his arms outward, his not-so-burly body suddenly shrinking. He suddenly wriggled like a snake from beneath Zhou Yan’s crotch.
Zhou Yan planted his left foot on the ground and swept his right leg, executing the Peach Blossom Island peerless skill “Whirlwind Sweeps Leaves Retreat.”
“Bang!” Qiu Qianren flew out horizontally, smashing through a window and landing on the long street. After several rolls, he used the ground for leverage and half-knelt.
Zhou Yan leaped out of the Inn from the opposite direction, his body rising from the ground to land on the roof, two stories high.
While in mid-air, he gripped a Feathered Arrow from his Quiver with his left hand, flipped his right elbow to retrieve his bow, and the Ox Horn Giant Bow appeared before him in a circular motion.
In the foreground of his vision, several Black-Clothed Big Men lay on the ground. Liu Qingzhou, Yanbo Diaosou, and a few others were locked in a fierce struggle.
The bright moon shone upon the great river. Under the moonlight, Zhou Yan drew his bow and nocked an arrow. Eight Long Arrows flashed like lightning towards Qiu Qianren and the others.
“Go!”
Taking advantage of the opening as Qiu Qianren and several Hall Masters of the Iron Palm Sect dodged the arrows, Liu Qingzhou and Yanbo Diaosou leaped onto the roof. The three figures disappeared into the night behind the Inn.
Qiu Qianren smashed the incoming Long Arrows with his iron sleeves. He first recalled if anyone had seen him when he wriggled under his opponent’s legs to save himself, then gritted his teeth. The humiliation of his crotch, if this grudge was not avenged, he would not be a Gentleman.
