Chapter 267: Testing Swords in Jiangnan
“Young brother, you carry a heavy killing aura.”
A gentle voice fell, and Jiang Kui appeared at the bow of the boat at some unknown time. He held an ancient-looking longsword, flicked it forward, and the sword light shone brightly like lightning, forming a crystalline fan shape.
Suddenly, the sword light vanished. Zhou Yan saw that the old man at the bow held his longsword level. The three long arrows he had shot out using the “Finger Flicking Divine Skill” landed neatly on the sword.
His pupils contracted slightly; this technique of using the sword to dissolve force was truly masterful.
Hong Qigong clicked his tongue in admiration, “Not bad.”
“Hong Bangzhu, you jest.”
“You recognize the old beggar?”
“Hong Bangzhu’s name is thunderous, how could I not recognize him.” As Jiang Kui spoke, figures appeared one after another at the bow of the boat: Qiu Qianren, Helian Chuncheng, Ni Mo Xing, Yin Kexi, and others.
Helian Chuncheng chuckled in a low voice, “Zhou Yan, we meet again.”
Yanbo Diaosou smiled grimly and whispered to Zhou Yan, “What did you say just now?”
“Enemies often cross paths.”
“More than just crossing paths, it’s become a single-plank bridge.”
Zhou Yan chuckled. The conflict between the Iron Palm Sect, the White Lotus Sect, and the Ming Cult, Hong Qigong’s presence in Yuezhou, and Qiu Qianren’s appearance were all reasonable. Perhaps Zhang Sanqiang and Yu Huacheng were also here.
Thinking this, he said to Helian Chuncheng, “Yes, we meet again.”
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the young escort at the bow of the boat, whose face was still pale.
The other person was wearing casual clothes. After a long time, Zhou Yan found him unfamiliar.
Before he could ask, the young escort, having regained his senses, his face contorted with ferocity, “Do you remember shooting an arrow at my Dragon Gate Escort Agency’s banner in the Xiangyang suburbs back then?”
Zhou Yan remembered.
So it was that arrogant escort.
Thinking this, he felt no great surprise.
After returning from Lin’an, he had told Zhang Wangyue that the Changfeng Escort Agency would likely be allied with the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, and that Fu’an and Zhenwei would support each other. Now, it seemed his words had come true.
“Young brother, you are no longer in Fu’an?” Jiang Kui suddenly asked.
“Who are you?”
“Jiang Kui, Chief Escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency.”
“So it’s Chief Escort Jiang. My apologies. I am Zhou Yan.”
Jiang Kui smiled, “You’re too kind!”
The young escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency gritted his teeth, “You insulted the escort agency’s honor, how will this debt be settled?”
Zhou Yan did not mention that Zhang Wangyue had gone to Lin’an and visited the Dragon Gate Escort Agency to apologize for shooting the escort flag in the Xiangyang suburbs, but Jiang Kui was absent, and the matter ended unhappily.
He said, “You speak, I will listen.”
Jiang Kui said, “Young Hero Zhou is straightforward. You shot down the escort flag with three arrows. As the Chief Escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, I must seek an explanation. How about this? If you can withstand my three sword strikes, this matter will be settled.”
“Agreed!”
“Kid, have you thought this through? After you fight this Escort Jiang, those who are watching with covetous eyes will still be relentless.”
“First, let’s resolve the enmity between Fu’an and the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, and then we’ll deal with the rest.” Zhou Yan said this, but in his heart he thought, once I kill them all, it will be over.
Zhou Yan agreed readily, and appreciation showed on Jiang Kui’s face. “Good. As long as you can withstand my three sword strikes, the conflict between the Dragon Gate, Fu’an, and Young Hero Zhou will be settled.”
The large boat and small boats approached the lakeshore. The lake water sparkled, and not far away was the Yueyang Tower, with the bright moon hanging over its overhanging eaves.
Jiang Kui took a step sideways, as if crossing the air, and landed on a bamboo raft by the lake.
“Please!”
“Qigong, I’m going.”
“Go ahead. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve fought more battles than this old beggar has in his entire life.”
Zhou Yan chuckled, held his Qingfeng Sword, and leaped onto the bamboo raft.
“Chief Escort Jiang, please make your move.”
…
On the small bamboo raft, swords were drawn, while inside the Yueyang Tower, guests were in full attendance.
In a private room by the window on the upper floor sat a man and a woman. The man was older, gaunt, and possessed a refined demeanor; it was Huang Yaoshi. The woman was sixteen or seventeen, with skin as white as snow and unparalleled beauty; she was naturally Huang Rong.
Every guest who entered the building, the waiters delivering drinks couldn’t help but glance at them, primarily at Huang Rong.
Huang Rong, however, was gazing at the scenery of Dongting Lake. The vast expanse of water stretched out, a magnificent spectacle, presenting a different scene from the misty waves of Taihu Lake.
After admiring the view for a while, the food and wine arrived. The Hunan cuisine was very spicy, and Huang Rong stuck out her tongue, “Does this food suit Father’s taste?”
Huang Yaoshi smiled slightly, “Naturally.”
“When we were on Peach Blossom Island, Father’s meals were also light.”
“Back then, your mother and I traveled north and south of the Great River, seeing the mountains and rivers and tasting all the delicacies wherever we went.”
“Why don’t Father accompany me to Luxi again? Rong’er knows a remarkable person whose culinary skills have reached the Realm of Transformation. I guarantee Father will have a good fortune.”
That day in Zhongdu, Huang Yaoshi found Huang Rong and left. Zhou Yan, along with Master Ku Hui and others, went to Shaolin Temple and then to Tongbai Mountain to suppress bandits.
Huang Yaoshi and Huang Rong traveled leisurely, heading south from Xiangyang. For Huang Yaoshi, who was full of knowledge, how could he miss visiting Yueyang Tower to admire the moon and the inscriptions on its walls?
Although Peach Blossom Island was a Peach Paradise, it was ultimately just an island. Huang Rong had seen the changing seasons for over ten years; what attraction could it still hold? She desperately wanted Huang Yaoshi to accompany her to see more of the Jianghu.
As Huang Rong spoke, Huang Yaoshi said, “You still don’t want to return to the island?”
“Rong’er just likes to see mountains and rivers with Father. If Father doesn’t accompany me, who will?”
Huang Yaoshi’s heart softened. “Alright. When we reach Luxi, you can see your remarkable person, and I will go visit Iron Palm Peak.”
Huang Rong pouted, “How boring!”
At this moment, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs. Huang Rong looked up and gasped.
A monk and two laymen ascended the stairs.
The monk had a white beard and wrinkled skin; he was Huo Gong Toutuo.
The two laymen were Ouyang Ke and his father.
Ouyang Feng had not expected to see Huang Yaoshi at Yueyang Tower.
He smiled, “Brother Yao, what a coincidence.”
Huo Gong Toutuo did not understand matters of men and women. Unlike Ouyang Ke, whose gaze was sharp, he did not recognize Huang Rong, who had changed back into women’s clothing. His gaze did not even linger on Huang Rong for a moment as he directly addressed Huang Yaoshi, “Island Lord Huang, we meet again.”
Ouyang Feng explained, “Master is going to Peach Blossom Island to visit Brother Yao, and so am I. We happened to meet and are traveling together.”
That day at Shaoshi Mountain, Huo Gong Toutuo was beaten by Huang Yaoshi until he vomited blood. The sect leader of the Vajra Sect left a harsh threat, saying he would definitely seek revenge. Huang Yaoshi, thinking the other party was seeking revenge, snorted coldly.
Ouyang Ke looked at Huang Rong’s beautiful face and felt his heart flutter, unable to tear his gaze away.
“Ke’er, haven’t you paid your respects to your Uncle Huang?”
Ouyang Ke snapped back to attention, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Uncle Huang.”
“Nephew, there’s no need for such formality.”
Ouyang Feng and Huo Gong Toutuo took their seats and ordered tea and food. The sound of footsteps echoed again as four or five people ascended the stairs. Their eyes scanned the room and headed directly for a table not far from Huang Yaoshi and Ouyang Feng.
Several people were eating at that table. Upon seeing the men ascend, the person in the center’s expression suddenly changed. He waved his hand, sending the hot tea on the table flying, and cursed, “The Ming Cult is truly persistent.”
With a flash, sword light erupted from the crowd, and someone rushed to the window, firing a signal flare into the night sky.
At the same time, bright sword light also appeared from the bamboo raft on the lake in front of Yueyang Tower, like the bright moon rising into the sky.
…
Zhou Yan was unaware that Huang Yaoshi and his daughter, Ouyang Feng and his nephew, and Huo Gong Toutuo were inside Yueyang Tower, nor did he know that the conflict between the Ming Cult and the White Lotus Sect in Western Hunan would erupt from Yueyang Tower.
He landed on the bamboo raft, and Jiang Kui drew his sword.
The bright moon was high in the sky, the breeze was gentle, and the Chief Escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency recited:
“Geese are afraid of the heavy clouds and refuse to cry, a painted boat sadly passes west of Shishang, the wind and waves at the head are fierce and difficult to bear…”
In just a moment, Jiang Kui’s ancient-looking longsword had thrust out more than ten times. The sharp energy whistled, and the sword light crisscrossed, as if encompassing heaven and earth, falling towards Zhou Yan.
“Old man, this is more than three swords, it’s even thirty swords,” Yanbo Diaosou taunted.
Jiang Kui said, “My sword styles are in poetry. This is 《Huanxi Sha》, but this single move contains the essence of more than ten styles.”
Zhou Yan heard clearly and thought, isn’t this similar to 《Hengshan Five Gods Sword》? It’s a single move, yet it contains an entire set of sword techniques.
“Well met!” Zhou Yan let out a light cry and unleashed “Heavenly Pillar Cloud Qi.”
The Hengshan 《Hengshan Five Gods Sword》 move primarily changes from clouds and mist, employing extreme trickery and unpredictability, its movements uncertain and elusive.
A sword light, as clear and green as ice, erupted from Zhou Yan’s body, like shattered light beads, scattering with uneven flames and flying arrows.
In the blink of an eye, the dense, firework-like clanging of metal spread like a storm.
“Spring reeds gradually grow, welcoming the green of the oars; small plum blossoms should grow, adorning the gate branches; a year of lamplight calls for people to return.” As Jiang Kui finished the last word of the 《Huanxi Sha》 poem, the two figures suddenly separated.
Zhou Yan and Jiang Kui stood at opposite ends of the bamboo raft.
“Good swordplay!”
Jiang Kui praised.
Zhou Yan was secretly amazed. He thought of Zhu Ziliu, a disciple of Master Yideng in the Condor Heroes’ Jianghu. When Zhu Ziliu attacked, his brush would write horizontally and diagonally, as if drawing characters, yet the tip of the brush pointed to vital acupoints on the human body.
Zhu Ziliu integrated martial arts into calligraphy, while Jiang Kui used poetry as his sword style, which was truly eye-opening.
“Chief Escort Jiang flatters me. There are two more moves.”
“This move comes from 《Spring River Flower Moon Night》,” Jiang Kui said gently. “The spring river tide connects to the sea, the moon over the sea rises with the tide. It sparkles and follows the waves for thousands of miles; where is there a spring river without moonlight…”
As Jiang Kui recited the poem, he flicked his longsword. Like ink splashed on a great river, the sword light surged towards Zhou Yan in waves.
…
On the Yueyang Tower side, a Ming Cult disciple and a White Lotus Sect disciple exchanged a palm strike, then retreated to Huo Gong Toutuo’s side. The Vajra Sect leader’s monk’s sleeve fluttered, his left palm flew, and the disciple, carried by the powerful palm force, spun towards Huang Yaoshi.
Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly and pushed the disciple back with a palm strike.
Huo Gong Toutuo struck again, sending the opponent towards Huang Yaoshi. The disciple, like a small boat in a stormy sea, swayed left and right.
Huang Rong’s gaze, however, was fixed on the lake outside the tower. Suddenly, her face lit up with joy, and she flickered and leaped out.
Ouyang Feng said grimly, “I will provide some entertainment for Brother Yao and Master. Ke’er, fetch the zither.”
“Yes, Uncle!” Ouyang Ke’s gaze shifted from the flying Huang Rong. He went downstairs and took a zither from the beautiful concubine, handing it to Ouyang Feng.
Ouyang Feng closed his eyes and gathered his energy for a moment. His right hand moved his five fingers, and he began to play with a clanging sound.
