Chapter 231: First Steps Out of the Wilderness Lead to a Beating
Spring breezes swept the land, and the peach blossoms of the mountain temple began to bloom. It was a scene of vibrant, fragrant mountain flowers, yet an ominous aura permeated the air.
Zhou Yan advanced slowly, holding his spear. With every step he took, though he showed no hint of killing intent, Gongsun Zhi inexplicably felt a prickling sensation on his scalp.
Zhou Yan’s intrusion into the Valley of Unfeeling had occurred a year ago. At that time, his martial arts were slightly inferior to Ni Mo Xing’s. Now, he had long since undergone a transformation, experienced countless battles, and had even crossed blades with Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren. His accumulated victories had forged an inner strength that Gongsun Zhi could not possibly compare to at this moment.
His momentum instantly overshadowed that of the Valley Master of Unfeeling by a large margin.
Helian Chuncheng advanced with his spear, standing shoulder to shoulder with Gongsun Zhi on his left.
“Attack!” Helian Chuncheng said.
Before Zhou Yan could even utter a word of assent, amidst a clamor of shouts, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed. Two figures, like a whirlwind, charged up the mountain. The man on the horse wore a dark felt cloak over dark cloth attire. He appeared as fierce as a tiger, and his horse as majestic as a dragon; both man and steed were agile and powerful.
“Brother Zhou!”
“Brother Zhou.”
Zhou Yan looked towards the voices. The Wuzhui Horse and the chestnut horse neighed and steadied their four hooves. Lu Beihe and Zhang Wangyue, both carrying twin spears on their backs, landed on the field after a few leaps.
“Brother Lu? Chief Escort?” Zhou Yan, stepping forward, was greatly surprised. “What brings you here?”
Lu Beihe said in a low voice, “In Kaifeng Prefecture, I saw Helian Chuncheng and his entourage of over a hundred monks and laity leaving the city. Fearing it might be disadvantageous for you, Brother Zhou, I urged my horse to the capital. Coincidentally, the runners you dispatched had also arrived at the escort bureau. The Chief Escort said those people were heading to Shaoshi Mountain, so we rushed here.”
Zhang Wangyue said with a smile, “It’s been a long time, Brother Zhou.”
Zhou Yan’s eyes moistened slightly, and he smiled, “Indeed.”
Lu Beihe’s appearance greatly surprised Helian Chuncheng. He said, “Young Master Lu, are you also getting involved in this mess?”
“I am merely here as a close friend of Brother Zhou. Do you have an objection, Young Master Helian?”
“Haha, excellent, why would I?” Helian Chuncheng chuckled deeply. “Then, Young Master Lu, are you here to lend your strength?”
“Brother Lu and the Chief Escort will watch the battle for me,” Zhou Yan said.
“Alright!” Zhang Wangyue nodded. “Young Master Lu, let us watch the battle first.”
“Fine!” Lu Beihe was not a reckless individual. He retreated backward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Wangyue.
Helian Chuncheng unfurled a huge spear flower with his great spear. “Zhou Yan, please make your move.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the sound of galloping horses suddenly came from the mountainside. The hooves grew louder and louder. Zhou Yan exclaimed, “Who is this army now?”
Dozens of riders approached in an instant. The extremely conspicuous kasaya entered Zhou Yan’s field of vision.
“Golden Wheel Law King? Huo Du.”
The thunderous hooves rolled closer. Huo Du leaped from his fine horse. Following him were Ma Xiuping, the “Spring Leg” from Western Xia, and Ran Tianshi, the “Wind and Thunder Hand” from the Shu Region, recruited at the Heroes’ Banquet. The Guanzhong swordsman Han Wugou and Xiaoxiangzi from Western Hunan, among others, dismounted and surrounded Huo Du as they walked forward.
How Huo Du knew that the Vajra Sect was heading south to Shaolin Temple was peculiar. Zhou Yan was familiar with the worlds of Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes, but the trajectory of many stories in this Jianghu had long deviated from its original course. Xiaoxiangzi becoming Yang Kang’s mole was beyond Zhou Yan’s comprehension.
Huo Du accurately found Yang Kang amidst the crowd. He lightly fanned himself and said, “Crown Prince Wanyan, I held a Heroes’ Banquet in the capital, and you sent people to cause trouble. This time, I am here to observe at Shaoshi Mountain. Surely the Crown Prince will not deploy troops to besiege me?”
Yang Kang cupped his hands in greeting from afar and said, “How could that be? Jianghu matters are settled in the Jianghu.”
“The Crown Prince is magnanimous. I admire you.”
“You are too kind!”
Huo Du’s gaze fell upon Zhou Yan. He found the face unfamiliar and smiled, “It seems I haven’t missed the chance to watch a good show.”
“Indeed,” Ni Mo Xing said sinisterly.
Huo Du laughed heartily and then turned towards the Shaolin Temple group. “Junior Huo Du, may I ask who is the Abbot of Shaolin Temple?”
“Amitabha, Amitabha. I am he.”
Buddhism was widely believed in Mongolia and the Jin Dynasty. Huo Du was respectful and bowed courteously. “Greetings, Master Abbot.”
“The Buddha’s dharma is boundless, and all beings are one. I am Ku Cheng. Benefactor Huo need not be so formal.”
“Master’s demeanor is as clear as the spring breeze. I admire you. I will come to the temple later to burn incense and pay respects to the Buddha.”
“Amitabha, Amitabha!”
“This humble monk greets Master Abbot.” The Golden Wheel Law King stepped forward, clasping his hands together. He spoke kindly and humbly, with great politeness. “Suffering is the root of enlightenment. Seeking enlightenment is to escape the suffering of being trapped in the six realms, to benefit all beings, to contemplate the impurity of the body, the suffering of sensation, the impermanence of the mind, and the non-self of phenomena. Know suffering, contemplate suffering, and leave suffering.”
Ku Cheng was surprised, thinking to himself that the other party could actually interpret the meaning of the name “Ku Cheng.”
“Law King, you are learned and profound. You have traveled from afar, and I, this humble monk, did not go to greet you.”
The Golden Wheel Law King said, “The reputation of Shaolin Temple is something I have long admired. Today, I am greatly pleased to witness its solemn and magnificent appearance. When the Abbot has leisure, I would like to seek your guidance on Buddhist dharma.”
“I too would listen to the Law King expound the scriptures.”
One was a Law King of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, and the other was an Abbot of Central Plains Chan Buddhism. They treated each other with respect and harmony.
The more Zhou Yan observed, the more he felt that after this event, the Jianghu of Legend of the Condor Heroes would likely undergo earth-shattering changes.
Huang Yaoshi, watching from the forest, felt that the trip was worthwhile. Judging by the Golden Wheel Law King’s attire, he must be from Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism. Shaolin Temple was the Chan Buddhism of the Central Plains, and the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions was clearly an offshoot of Shaolin Temple that had established its own sect. To some extent, it was likely influenced by the Buddhist dharma of Tibet and India. These ordinary Jianghu grudges could very well turn into a conflict between three sects, a spectacle no less exciting than the Huashan Sword Discussion. If Brother Seven delayed any longer, he would miss such a grand event.
As Huang Yaoshi pondered this, he suddenly heard a faint rustling of clothes passing through the branches in the forest. His heart stirred, and without turning his head, he said, “Brother Seven, you’ve arrived!”
Hong Qigong was inwardly quite surprised. He thought to himself that Old Xie’s cultivation seemed to have improved. Could it be that the old beggar was too fond of drinking and had neglected his practice, thus being surpassed?
“Brother Yao, your hearing is excellent.”
As the voice spoke, the person arrived. Hong Qigong landed beside Huang Yaoshi, took a few gulps from his wine gourd, and said, “Did the old beggar arrive on time?”
“Just in time. Both the Western Regions Vajra Sect and Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism have sent representatives. The young man who refused to be my disciple is about to take on four opponents.”
Hong Qigong laughed. “When I first met this young man, he was still wet behind the ears, yet he spoke with maturity and composure. The old beggar said he has the arrogance of the Eastern Heretic and the ruthlessness of the Western Venom. Look at him, taking on four opponents. How arrogant!”
“Martial prowess is a person’s courage. It’s normal.”
“This old man is channeling his youthful ardor.”
Huang Yaoshi smiled slightly, his gaze falling upon Zhou Yan.
Yin Kexi had long been impatient. Seeing the Golden Wheel Law King and Ku Cheng talking endlessly, he said, “Zhou Yan, the masters and the Law King are discussing the dharma. This has nothing to do with you and me. Attack.”
As he spoke, Master Ku Cheng and the Golden Wheel Law King both turned their gazes towards them. Zhou Yan smiled and said, “Alright, I shall guide you.”
“Presumptuous!”
Yin Kexi roared. His long whip, like a stationary python, coiled towards Zhou Yan’s legs at a height of three feet from the ground.
Helian Chuncheng coordinated with Yin Kexi’s offensive, charging forward with his spear. His body was like an arrow, closing the distance in an instant. The iron spear in his hand was like a spirit snake, its tip trembling erratically, like a spirit snake flicking its tongue. He swung it in an arc before Zhou Yan, enveloping his upper body.
One attacked the lower body, the other focused on the middle.
A buzzing sound, clear and resonant, echoed for a long time. It was Gongsun Zhi’s black sword clashing with his gold knife. He flicked his wrist, and the sword and knife struck towards Zhou Yan’s head, with one sword aimed at his left neck.
This attack targeted the upper body.
The attacks covered the upper, middle, and lower sections.
Ni Mo Xing’s figure flickered and appeared behind Zhou Yan. His spirit snake short whip pointed towards the Tiantu acupoint on his back.
The four attacked simultaneously, their coordination seamless. Huang Rong, putting herself in Zhou Yan’s shoes, thought that if it were her, she would surely die in this joint attack.
Zhang Wangyue had the same thought as Huang Rong. If he were to face this joint attack, the result would likely be a mutual destruction.
Zhou Yan employed the “Tomb Lightness Skill.” His body suddenly retreated. He seemed to charge directly towards Ni Mo Xing’s spirit snake short whip. The distance between him and the whip seemed to shrink as if an illusion. He held his spear in his left hand, swung his right arm, and chopped horizontally with the back of his hand. A move called “Shenlong Tail Whip” was unleashed behind him.
Ni Mo Xing knew Zhou Yan’s strength and dared not meet it head-on. He leaped into the air and flipped backward. While in mid-air, fearing that Zhou Yan would pursue and attack, his short whip trembled like a strange snake, twisting and whipping out a curtain of cold light and crystalline rain to protect his lower body with fierce force.
Zhou Yan’s body stirred up a piercing, sizzling sound, like a red-hot iron rod dropped into ice water. The Profound Iron Heavy Spear in his hand vibrated wildly like a raging dragon. With “Three Steps Eighteen Spears,” each strike was faster than the last, falling upon Gongsun Zhi.
His retreat had broken the attacks of Gongsun Zhi, Yin Kexi, and Helian Chuncheng, and also resolved the danger from his back.
Among the four, Gongsun Zhi was undoubtedly the weakest in martial arts. However, Zhou Yan had practiced this cultivation technique and knew the flaws of “Gold Knife Black Sword Yin-Yang Dual Blades.”
The knife is a knife, the sword is a sword. The knife as swordplay and the sword as saberplay were ultimately feints.
Therefore, I apologize, Valley Master Gongsun, you will have to take a beating as a novice.”
Huang Yaoshi, watching from the forest, said to Hong Qigong, “Saberplay primarily emphasizes ferocity, while swordplay prioritizes agility. The natures of the two weapons are diametrically opposed. Therefore, it is almost impossible for one person to wield both saber and sword skillfully. This person can do so with such proficiency, which is quite peculiar. Zhou Yan is in a bit of trouble.”
Hong Qigong also worried about Zhou Yan and said, “Let’s watch first!”
“Alright!”
The two looked towards the arena.
