Chapter 240: Gold Escort
Wind swept across the mountains and fields, carrying waves of floral fragrance. The afternoon sun was tranquil, and in the air, the leaves seemed to rustle. Huang Rong emerged from beneath a peach tree in bloom.
She had patiently waited in the mountain forest for Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong, Ouyang Feng, Huo Gong Toutuo, and others to depart before descending the mountain. Huang Rong recognized Zhang Wangyue and watched Zhou Yan and the other person go down the mountain, surmising they were returning to the escort agency.
She strolled along, holding a peach branch, contemplating finding Mei Ruohua and then heading to Zhongdu to devise a plan to trick Zhou Yan into going to Zhongnan Mountain to explore its secrets.
“Young Master, please wait.”
Suddenly, a voice called out. Nearly ten figures emerged from the trees on both sides of the mountain path. Huang Rong looked and her heart sank. Before her stood a man in his thirties, burly, with a gleaming bald head. It was Huo Gong Toutuo’s disciple, followed by a Tou Tuo holding a copper rod, and six or seven other individuals from the Western Regions martial world.
Huang Rong turned and fled.
“Ah…” Monk Bao Yin slightly parted his lips, then chuckled to himself. Why had she run before he could even finish speaking? He called out, “Young Master, I am Monk Bao Yin of the Vajra Sect.”
Huang Rong’s lightness skill was excellent. With a few leaps, she disappeared into the depths of the forest.
“Master, if you don’t chase now, the Young Master will be gone.”
Monk Bao Yin’s robes billowed, and with a loud explosion of air, he shot out like an arrow, swiftly pursuing Huang Rong. The Tou Tuo and others followed closely, attempting to cut her off.
…
Monk Bao Yin’s burly physique seemed to swell with the sound of wind and thunder. Two figures, one in front and one behind, rapidly crossed a slope below Shaoshi Mountain.
The distance between them gradually shortened during this high-speed chase.
Huang Rong cried out in distress. How could these wicked monks of the Vajra Sect be so formidable, like shadows, preventing her from setting up any formations to escape? As she thought this, the sound of wind breaking behind her rushed towards her.
Monk Bao Yin laughed, “Young Master, my Master said to treat you well. Please don’t anger me.”
Huang Rong suddenly stopped.
Monk Bao Yin, who had been charging forward, swept past Huang Rong and blocked her path. Following the monk’s route, about ten zhang away in the forest, the Tou Tuo’s burly figure emerged, followed by several men from the Western Regions martial world.
“How do I know if what you say is true or false?” Huang Rong asked.
Monk Bao Yin said, “My Master said the Young Master has ‘Black Jade Continuing Bone Paste’ on him.”
Huang Rong’s eyes darted, and she smiled, “It seems it’s not false. You want to take me to see Master?”
“Master has arranged for me to escort the Young Master to the Vajra Sect.”
Huang Rong’s face turned pale: “I want to see Master.”
“Master is already on his way to the Western Regions. If you travel with me and quicken your pace, perhaps you can catch up before we reach Zhongdu.”
Huang Rong quickly regained her composure, assessing the situation. She knew escape was impossible for now. She decided to go along and see, planning to find a way when they reached a crowded market or Zhongdu.
“Is that so? Then I will follow Master’s instructions. However, I must state beforehand that I cannot eat coarse food.”
“Master instructed me to treat the Young Master well. Whatever you wish to eat, or how you wish to travel, it’s all up to you.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
Huang Rong walked forward, with Monk Bao Yin following, and the Tou Tuo and others behind. From a distance, if one didn’t know the truth, they might mistake Huang Rong for a noble young master like Yang Kang or Huo Du.
…
Singing songs and talking freely.
In the meeting hall of the Cuya Mountain stronghold, cups clinked and chopsticks crossed. Zhou Yan, Yang Miaozhen, Zhang Wangyue, Lu Beihe, Qiu Qianchi, and Yanbo Diaosou sat around a table.
Zhou Yan concisely recounted the events at Shaoshi Mountain, emphasizing the appearance and clashes of Qiu Qianren and Gongsun Zhi.
He did not conceal anything from Qiu Qianchi.
The atmosphere grew somber. Qiu Qianchi sighed, “It seems my second brother has wholeheartedly pledged allegiance to the Jin Dynasty.” She then looked at Zhou Yan, “Head Escort, do you think it’s possible for me to reason with my second brother?”
“Gang Leader Qiu’s concern for Miss Qiu is genuine, but your personalities and pursuits are also genuinely different.”
“That is true.”
Yang Miaozhen said, “If that’s the case, perhaps we can postpone this for now. In a few days, I will accompany Sister Qiu to find Gang Leader Qiu, and also see what kind of person Gongsun Zhi truly is – whether he is genuinely devoted to Sister Qiu or merely feigning affection.”
“That would be fine. Thank you, Sister Yang.”
Zhou Yan chuckled. Qiu Qianchi’s settling down at Cuya Mountain seemed unlikely to cause any issues. If Gongsun Zhi were only with Yang Kang, his disposition might change to an unpredictable extent. However, with Ouyang Ke around, it wouldn’t take long for his desires to be awakened, turning him into the kind of rake seen in the later stages of the Divine Condor.
As he thought this, he changed the subject and said to Lu Beihe, “When I went to Western Hunan, I passed through Kaifeng and spoke with you, Brother Lu. You mentioned having the idea of leading escort personnel and inviting some heroes to deal with the bandits of Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain.”
“That’s right, but those remnants of Great Qi are numerous and powerful.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “Leader Yang needs warhorses and weapons, and coincidentally also has the idea of dealing with the bandits. Brother Lu, perhaps you could pay more attention to these bandits, find out their specific locations and stronghold defenses. When the time is right, how about we join forces to suppress them?”
Yang Miaozhen and Lu Beihe were overjoyed.
“Really!”
“Brother Zhou will join us?”
“Naturally.”
Yang Miaozhen looked at Zhang Wangyue.
Fu’an’s Chief Escort smiled, “From now on, Fu’an will have one less pillar of support, and the Jianghu will have one more wandering hero in Brother Zhou.”
Yang Miaozhen was delighted, “Chief Escort should have let him go long ago.”
Lu Beihe nodded, “Having witnessed Brother Zhou’s battle at Shaoshi Mountain, I also have this cultivation technique. It’s not that I look down on Fu’an, but the Jianghu is more suited for him.”
Zhang Wangyue smiled and said, “Indeed.”
“Little sister eagerly awaits Brother Zhou to come to Cuya Mountain to help me suppress the bandits.”
“Good!” Zhou Yan readily agreed.
“Brother Zhou, when you intend to go to Tongbai Mountain, feel free to send word. This old man will also come to join the fun.”
Yang Miaozhen smiled, “Is Fishing Old Man leaving after not even a year and a half at Cuya Mountain?”
Yanbo Diaosou chuckled, “It’s not that I’m going back on my word, but I need to go to Hengshan to have a martial arts competition with that young man.”
Yang Miaozhen knew he was referring to Liu Qingzhou, so she said, “Alright. I’ll send someone to Dongting Lake to find Fishing Old Man then.”
“It’s a deal.”
“I will also help Sister Yang,” Qiu Qianchi said.
Yang Miaozhen replied, “How could a sister not help her sister?”
Qiu Qianchi smiled, and tears welled up in the eyes of the fiery-tempered woman.
With kindred spirits, the banquet was lively and enjoyable, only dispersing at midnight.
Because of Zhang Wangyue’s arrival, Zhou Yan and the Tianzhu Monk stayed an extra day at Cuya Mountain. During this time, Fu’an’s Chief Escort observed the troop drills and offered some suggestions, which Yang Miaozhen received with surprise and delight.
The next day, Yang Miaozhen saw them off. Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and the Tianzhu Monk set off directly for Zhongdu. Yanbo Diaosou and Lu Beihe surprisingly hit it off and decided to travel together to Kaifeng, after which Fishing Old Man would head southwest to Hengshan.
After a lively gathering, they would meet again on the Jianghu road.
…
The spring breeze blew gently across Zhongdu City, and the air was warm and pleasant.
The sound of horse hooves lightly tapped on the bluestone ground. Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue could clearly see the majestic and imposing gatehouse of the Fu’an Escort Agency within their sight.
About two li from the escort agency, they suddenly saw several fine horses galloping and stopping at the gatehouse. A richly dressed Mongolian man dismounted, tossed the reins to a attendant, and quickly entered the escort agency.
Zhou Yan said, “I thought Brother Guo had returned, but it seems not.”
“Judging by his attire, he seems to be of considerable importance. I wonder what he’s here for.”
“Let’s go take a look.”
“Okay!” Zhang Wangyue nodded, and his chestnut horse sped up, galloping towards the escort agency.
…
Bright spring sunlight fell on the wooden floor of the meeting hall through the open window. Duan Zhaoxi, who was now in charge of Fu’an, faced a burly Mongolian man.
The man, with a rough appearance and a beard bristling like needles, said, “The Golden Saber Consort has dealings with the Fu’an Escort Agency, which is why I’ve come to Manager Duan to hire an escort. There are thirty boxes of goods, primarily gold, with jewelry and rare treasures. Will you take this escort job or not? You can estimate the escort fee.”
Duan Zhaoxi calculated. With gold as the main cargo and thirty boxes, the profit from this escort job would likely be enough to cover the escort agency’s expenses for several years.
“Where is it to be delivered? The escort agency does not accept escorts of unknown origin or unclear destination.”
The man laughed heartily, “I respect the Golden Saber Consort, so I will be frank. The delivery is to Yumen Pass in the Western Regions. The Great Khan is sending an Imperial Envoy to Khwarazm. We have been ordered to collect jewels. Upon the escort’s arrival, the Great Khan’s envoy team will receive it. How about it?”
“Who is the Golden Saber Consort?” Duan Zhaoxi asked, confused.
“Interesting, the Manager doesn’t know the Golden Saber Consort? It’s Guo Jing, the Great Khan’s consort.”
The man’s voice boomed like thunder. Duan Zhaoxi’s mind buzzed. Guo Jing, who had visited the escort agency several times and called Zhou Yan his brother, was actually the Great Khan’s consort! No wonder he could prevent the Mongolian army from massacring civilians. Truly, a hidden dragon.
“What do you say?” the Mongolian man asked again.
“Good!” Duan Zhaoxi nodded.
“Excellent. There’s no time to delay. We’ll inspect the goods tomorrow. The escort agency will set the departure time, and the goods will arrive by the month’s end.”
“Agreed!”
“Farewell!”
The richly dressed Mongolian man stood up, cupped his fist in a salute, and turned to leave. Duan Zhaoxi saw him off. As they reached the courtyard, cheers erupted from various directions: “The Chief Escort, Head Escort Zhou, and the High Monk have returned.”
Duan Zhaoxi looked and saw Huyan Lei, Yang Tiexin, and Mu Nianci surrounding Zhou Yan and the others as they approached.
He let out a sigh of relief, his heart as steady as a rock.
