Chapter 245: Returning to Roots, Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Condor
The night was tinged with a leaden blue glow, the stars dim, and a tattered bright yellow kasaya stirred.
Flames and slaughter were left behind, leaving only exhaustion and severe pain throughout his body, and a body about to fall apart. Ku Hui’s hands, arms, and shoulders were broken in multiple places during his encounter with Huo Gong Toutuo, and he also suffered knife wounds during the breakout. Blood was still flowing, draining his strength and obscuring his vision.
The pain, to a certain extent, concentrated his consciousness, preventing his mind from scattering due to exhaustion during the long journey.
Recalling what happened during this disastrous night, poison was administered in the vegetarian meal, incapacitating most of the martial monks. He himself was also affected by a paralyzing poison. While circulating his internal force to suppress it, he fought Huo Gong Toutuo. Otherwise, it would not have been easy for Huo Gong Toutuo to defeat him.
There was a traitor in the temple.
“Pfft.”
Ku Hui’s chest tightened, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. He passed through a forest and skirted a clear lake, running towards a hill. In the distance, figures seemed to be moving indistinctly.
A voice came from the night: “Abbot? It’s the Abbot.”
The breath of true energy that Ku Hui had forced up suddenly dissipated.
The moon was like an arched eyebrow, and the person was like a silhouette. Ku Hui fell and rolled down. Chan Master Tianlong and Chan Master Tianxiang, covered in blood, along with more than ten martial monks, leaped over swiftly.
Chan Master Tianlong held Ku Hui and took a “Minor Reviving Pill” from his embrace, placing it in his mouth.
The medicinal properties of the “Minor Reviving Pill” were not as potent as the “Great Reviving Pill” that Master Ku Cheng had once given to Zhou Yan, but compared to ordinary pills, it had excellent effects in detoxification, pain relief, and strengthening the body.
After taking the pill and circulating his internal force for a while, Ku Hui’s spirits slightly recovered. He said, “How many people managed to escape? How many scriptures were brought out?”
“Reporting to the Abbot, seventy-six junior brothers, but most only know some basic martial arts for strengthening the body. Most of the scriptures were brought out. Junior Brother Baoxiang was also poisoned, but only slightly, and is not in serious danger.” As Chan Master Tianlong said this, his voice suddenly deepened. “Several Junior Uncles were poisoned and, at the risk of dissipating their cultivation, covered our escape and remained in the temple.”
“Amitabha.”
“Abbot, there was a traitor in the temple,” Chan Master Tianlong said.
“Indeed! If it weren’t for the inside job of being poisoned, how could the Vajra Sect have dared to offend us?” Ku Hui’s expression was bitter.
“We will find a place to settle down with the Abbot, and once the Abbot has recovered, we will seek revenge against the Vajra Sect.”
“Yes.” The Head of the Arhat Hall, Chan Master Tianxiang, looked like an angry Vajra.
“I am now like a useless person.”
“Abbot,” the monks cried out sadly.
“Life is like a sea of suffering, and the body is a raft. There is no need for sorrow.” After speaking, Ku Hui continued, “Tianlong, Tianxiang, lead the disciples southward to Songshan.”
The two were stunned for a moment, then respectfully said, “We obey the Abbot’s decree.”
Chan Master Tianlong got up and arranged for several disciples to cut down trees in the nearby mountain forest to make simple stretchers. Two martial monks placed Chan Master Ku Hui on a stretcher.
The color of the sky, after the darkest moment, turned dim. A faint, pale white appeared on the eastern horizon. Dozens of monks, carrying scripture boxes, moved forward with difficulty in the emerging morning light.
…
About a hundred li northwest of Ganzhou city, spring mist floated on the river surface. Willows by the bank had new shoots like curtains, their tender goose-yellow color like sparrow’s tongues in the mist.
Zhou Yan exhaled with a “whoosh,” his spirits lifted, and even “Night-Shining Jade Lion” beneath him neighed excitedly.
Huang Rong cheered and ran towards the creek.
“Head Escort, we’ve left the desert,” Liang Xiaowu said excitedly.
“Yes, we’ve left.”
For seven days, the escort team, led by a guide, traveled day and night, resting only for a few hours when the sun was high in the sky.
The extreme weather of the sun veiled in light gauze and the night embracing the stove, the dryness, the sandstorms, and the monotonous, unchanging colors all tested everyone’s will. Fortunately, they did not encounter sandstorms or bandits. With a favorable wind, they successfully exited the desert. The escort team appeared in the northwestern territory of Ganzhou. Traveling another seven or eight days westward would bring them to Yumen Pass, completing this escort mission.
Zhang Wangyue also let out a long sigh of relief. He said to Zhou Yan, “Set up camp and rest for half a day.”
“Alright.”
Zhou Yan instructed Liang Xiaowu to relay the order and gave a piece of silver to the guide. The thin Hui-hu man’s face broke into a smile, and after repeated thanks, he rode away on his camel.
Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and Huyan Lei went to the river to wash. Zhou Yan called out, and holding his ox horn giant bow, he entered the mountain forest.
The team was at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, where the grass and water were abundant. In such a place, it wouldn’t be difficult to find a few large prey.
…
The morning sun descended from the sky. Amidst the brown mountain rocks, a gray figure slowly stood up. Within Zhou Yan’s sight were more than ten yellow sheep foraging.
He held his breath, and the ox horn giant bow drew a breathtaking arc. The moment he finished aiming, he gently released his finger.
“Bang!”
The bowstring emitted a dull yet powerful vibration. The long arrow, carrying a chilling killing intent, shot out like a black lightning bolt, precisely targeting its mark over sixty paces away.
The instant the arrow left the string, the yellow sheep erupted with astonishing intuition and agility, leaping up and darting forward a zhang. However, a clear thud of the arrowhead piercing flesh and blood also sounded simultaneously.
The yellow sheep’s well-formed body fell from the air, crashing onto the ground with a thud.
Zhou Yan moved parallel to the startled flock of yellow sheep. With the “bang, bang, bang” of the bowstring vibrating, the arrows flew like meteors. Three plump yellow sheep successively plunged headfirst into the grass, rolling several times before lying still.
Zhou Yan stopped, no longer hunting. Four yellow sheep were enough for the escort team to eat.
As he walked towards the yellow sheep, his steps suddenly halted. He squinted at the low sky. Under the sky-blue expanse, a Sea Eastern Green was circling.
“Is this feathered beast still trying to compete with me for food?” He smiled, withdrew his gaze, gathered his internal force, and spoke. After several dozen breaths, the sound of horse hooves like thunder approached, and Liang Xiaowu galloped over.
The two brought the yellow sheep and headed straight for the camp.
…
The camp was filled with the fragrant aroma of lamb soup. Zhou Yan glanced again at the Sea Eastern Green circling in the low sky.
Zhang Wangyue also looked up.
“Chief Escort, I feel something is not right with this beast.”
“What do you mean?” Fu’an Chief Escort’s gaze remained in the sky as he asked Zhou Yan.
“I saw it when I was hunting, and it’s still here now. It’s not a wolf pack hunting; why is it circling for so long?”
Zhang Wangyue pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “The Jurchens are skilled at taming large eagles. I once heard my father say that when General Yue fought against the Jin Dynasty, the enemy often used raptors like the Sea Eastern Green for reconnaissance.”
Huyan Lei’s expression sharpened. “Could it be that we’ve been targeted by that kid Yang Kang?”
“It might not be Yang Kang, but as Brother Zhou said, this matter is indeed strange,” Zhang Wangyue said.
“I’ll go take a look around,” Zhou Yan said.
“Take a few more people.”
“I’ll go with Brother Zhou,” Huyan Lei also stood up.
“Alright.”
Unexpectedly, the information had not spread. Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, Mu Nianci, and Huang Rong, under the guise of looking for firewood, disappeared from the camp. After circling for several li, they spread out in a fan shape, advancing towards the mountain forest below where the Sea Eastern Green was circling.
…
On the ridge covered with sparse poplar trees, several scouts from the “Iron Hawks” were observing the Fu’an escort team from a high vantage point.
“Screech!”
Suddenly, a cry from the Sea Eastern Green came from the low sky. The raptor abruptly swooped towards the forest.
“Not good, something’s happening.” A scout’s expression changed drastically. He reached behind his back for his ox horn bow, drew an arrow with his left hand, and looked towards where the Sea Eastern Green had landed.
The four scouts leaped up, drawing their sabers.
…
“Good beast, it really is problematic.”
Zhou Yan, in the forest, let out a cold laugh. He bent his arm, drew his bow, and aimed. His movements were seamless, flowing like water. Under the dim light of the forest, his bow was drawn like a full moon.
“Bang.”
The arrow left the string. The second, exceptionally thick and long arrow was already held between his fingers. Zhou Yan drew his bow and nocked the arrow, waiting but not releasing.
The arrow, pushing through the air, emitted a sharp whistling sound as it flew towards the raptor. The Sea Eastern Green let out a “screech,” and its body pulled up in a flash. The arrow grazed past, and gray-white feathers fluttered and fell.
“Bang, bang.”
Zhou Yan shot the last two arrows of his rapid volley.
The gray-white body, as if hunting in the air, made a sharp turn to avoid one arrow. The third arrow’s sharp penetrating force directly tore open the Sea Eastern Green’s abdomen. In Zhou Yan’s sight, a mass of blood exploded in the air like fireworks.
Huang Rong, whose lightness skill was second only to his and Zhang Wangyue’s, had already spotted the “Iron Hawks” scouts.
Huang Rong flew out like a fluttering butterfly.
“Bang!” The bowstring snapped. The scout, with a sturdy body like a leopard, shot an arrow, firing two more arrows at a speed not much slower than Zhou Yan’s.
Huang Rong leaped up in response, dodging the first long arrow. As she landed, she kicked away the second. The moment her feet touched the ground, her soft waist leaned back sharply, employing the “iron bridge” technique. Her body was parallel to the ground, her back untouched by dust. As the third long arrow grazed her cheek, Huang Rong reached out, grabbed the arrow, and used the momentum to leap up.
The scout who shot the three arrows changed his expression again and turned to flee. After a few steps, a whistling long arrow pierced his back with a “puff” sound. The scout was carried forward by the arrow for several large strides before crashing to the ground.
“I was going to kill him,” Huang Rong smiled at Zhou Yan in the distance and turned to chase another scout.
Huyan Lei’s burly figure then burst out from the forest on the flank. As the distance closed, the fleeing “Iron Hawks” scout cried out “wa,” and unleashed a thunderous saber strike. However, in the next moment, he was enveloped by the arc of the spear wielded by the Tiger Head Hammered Gold Spear.
After several rapid clashes of metal, the gleaming spearhead suddenly pierced the scout’s chest. Huyan Lei pushed the opponent forward, pinning the scout to a poplar tree.
In the forest on the hill, Mu Nianci’s spear suddenly thrust out, blocking a scout.
Huang Rong, after continuously shortening the distance, caught up to the last scout who had already crossed the ridge. Using both the “Orchid Finger Flicking Hand” and the “Falling Ying Divine Sword Palm,” her palms struck like falling flowers in a riot of color, and her fingers flicked like blooming orchids. Each move was fierce, her demeanor elegant. After more than ten exchanges, Huang Rong pointed at the scout’s acupoint, capturing him alive.
When Zhou Yan arrived at the scene of the fight, Mu Nianci had already killed the scout. Huyan Lei searched the body and said, “There is no identification.”
As he was about to speak, Huang Rong appeared on the hill.
“Head Escort Zhou, I’ve acupointed someone over here.”
