Chapter 27: Enemies on a Narrow Path, Meeting Ouyang in Zhongdu
Practicing the sanshou from the Yue Family Fist Manual, the essentials mention strong shoulders, a healthy body, and sharp eyes.
Zhou Yan possessed all three elements.
Therefore, when facing Escort Lu, his gaze could always accurately capture the changes in the spear styles of the opponent’s iron spear, and the two stone locks in his hands felt as if they weighed nothing as he wielded them, flying up and down.
At first glance, they resembled hammers; upon closer inspection, they looked like cymbals.
Zhou Yan didn’t know any stone lock techniques; he simply aimed for the spearhead. You strike with all your might, and I will swing my locks to smash your spearhead.
In the fierce exchange of blows for a moment, the sound of hammers clashing against iron in a blacksmith’s shop seemed to fill the arena.
Escort Lu, being struck, felt fire in his liver and anger in his heart.
He had never seen such a shameless fighting style, yet it was precisely what countered him.
Huyan Lei, also an expert spearman among escorts, was dumbfounded, thinking that if he were Escort Lu, he would also be flustered and overwhelmed by Zhou Yan’s chaotic smashing.
In truth, it sounds simple but is difficult to execute.
Zhou Yan was skilled at archery and possessed excellent dynamic vision. For others, it would be incredibly difficult to track the unpredictable trajectory of Escort Lu’s masterful spear techniques with his great spear. Furthermore, the stone locks needed to be wielded as if they were extensions of his own arms; otherwise, if he reacted too slowly, he would be impaled.
In just a few dozen breaths, the great spear and the pair of stone locks had collided more than ten times. The immense force transmitted from the stone locks left Escort Lu’s arms numb. Zhou Yan let out a roar and advanced, his feet landing on the ground, leaving several clear footprints in the dust. The stone locks swung left and right, quickly breaking through Escort Lu’s advantage of “an inch longer, an inch stronger.”
Escort Lu retreated rapidly, and Zhou Yan followed like a shadow. The great spear, pulled back, fell to the ground, then sprang up with a crack, thrusting towards Zhou Yan’s abdomen.
“Well done, ‘Phoenix Nodding’!” The cheers from the escorts of the Four Seas Escort Agency were like thunder.
However, in the next moment, Zhou Yan blocked with the stone lock in his right hand in front of him. He leaned his upper body forward, his waist coiling like a bow. From a distance, his posture resembled a flying crane. In a flash of lightning and sparks, the great spear pierced into the handle of the stone lock.
Zhou Yan chuckled.
Escort Lu’s face turned ashen.
The stone lock had a handle, and the spearhead had pierced into it, getting perfectly locked.
If Escort Cui Qingshan from the Shu Region had been present for the Fu’an Escort Agency, he would have recognized that Zhou Yan’s move was extremely similar to his own iron abacus lock-and-buckle weapon technique.
Huyan Lei saw it clearly and quickly asked Wang Kui beside him, “Do you think Brother Zhou’s move is similar to Cui Qingshan’s iron abacus technique?”
Wang Kui replied, “It’s more than similar; it’s simply that the student has surpassed the master.”
As the two spoke, the situation in the arena suddenly changed. Zhou Yan had locked Escort Lu’s great spear, and the stone lock was then swept horizontally along the spear shaft.
Escort Lu had no choice but to abandon his great spear, otherwise, he would be struck in the chest by the stone lock weighing over ten pounds.
The escorts from Four Seas decisively abandoned their spears and leaped backward.
Zhou Yan pushed the stone lock to the end with his hand, then flung it towards Escort Lu, picking up the great spear with his right hand.
The spear shaft was behind him. With a sudden twist of Zhou Yan’s body, he held the spear with both hands. This action made his body upright and his spear aligned. He twisted his body again, and the tip of the iron spear thrust out.
Returning Spear!
Escort Lu had just managed to dodge the stone lock in a flurry, and the broad spear edge silently swept across a distance of ten feet, appearing at his chest.
Huyan Lei was extremely excited. This was the Returning Spear technique he had demonstrated on a whim while drinking snake soup in the Zhou family courtyard.
Brilliant! Disarming the spear with the stone lock, then striking back with the Returning Spear, using the opponent’s own method against him.
“Brother Zhou has excellent spear techniques.”
“Excellent!” The escorts from the Fu’an Escort Agency watching the battle cheered like thunder.
Even Zhang Wangyue couldn’t help but say, “Adapting to circumstances, rare and commendable. Not bad, very good.”
The Boss, Duan Huai’an, felt a sense of relief and satisfaction. This escort mission had been secured by a young man who had only recently been promoted to escort.
Zhou Yan was the future of the escort agency.
Escort Lu looked at the great spear flashing with a cold glint at his chest, his face ashen.
Merchant Lu was mesmerized, “What excellent spear techniques.”
He didn’t know that Zhou Yan had only practiced this one move.
After Merchant Lu finished speaking, he looked at the boss of Four Seas and asked, “Manager Lei, do you still wish to compare in this third round?”
Lei Luo said with annoyance, “The outcome is decided; there’s no need for further comparison.”
“Good, there will be plenty of time in the future. We’ll cooperate if the opportunity arises.”
“Certainly!”
Duan Huai’an cupped his hands and said to Lei Luo, “Thank you for your concession!”
The boss of Four Seas spoke with a hint of melancholy, “Fu’an has a phoenix chick.”
Duan Huai’an smiled slightly, but inwardly he was vigilant, thinking, “Does he have his eye on Zhou Yan and want to recruit him? I’ll give Escort Zhou a raise when I get back.” With this thought, he changed the subject, “We’re hosting a banquet at Songhe Tower for lunch. Manager Lei, Mr. Lu, would you honor us with your presence?”
“Absolutely!” Merchant Lu replied.
The escorts from the two escort agencies had exchanged blows after a disagreement, but as the leaders of their respective agencies, Lei Luo was not one to leave in a huff over a lost escort. He was unwilling, but said, “We would be honored.”
The two bosses, Merchant Lu, and others rose and left first. Zhou Yan walked towards the area where the Fu’an Escort Agency escorts were watching. After a few steps, he stopped, crouched down, and picked up the iron finger ring that had fallen on the ground.
The ring had fallen when he broke Escort Su’s finger.
He wrapped the ring in a handkerchief, put it in his embrace, and then walked towards Huyan Lei and the others who were already approaching.
…
Zhou Yan was escorted back to the escort agency as if he were the center of attention.
He fetched water to wash his face when a runner ran over to say the steward was looking for him.
Zhou Yan wiped his face with a towel and walked through corridors and buildings into the hall.
Besides the steward, Zhang Wangyue was also present.
The Boss said, “You have done very well in upholding the prestige of the escort agency.”
“It is thanks to the guidance of the Head Escort and the escorts that I possess such skills.”
“Not arrogant, not impatient.” The steward praised him and then said, “The Boss has decreed that your monthly pay will be increased to eight taels from now on.”
“Thank you, Boss, Steward.”
“Good, go back and prepare well. You’ll be going on an escort mission in a few days.”
“Understood.”
Zhou Yan bowed and left the hall.
News of his consecutive victories and successful competition for the escort agency had already spread. As he walked, he was met with continuous congratulations from runners and laborers. These were all sincere; the agency’s profitability meant generous year-end bonuses, which were related to their livelihoods, and they were grateful to Zhou Yan.
Cui Changshun, who was in the martial field listening to the escorts’ vivid descriptions, saw Zhou Yan approaching and was filled with envy, cursing inwardly:
“The little man has achieved success. We’ll see.”
…
After the banquet at Songhe Tower, Merchant Lu busied himself with procurement. The mules and horses had already been reserved, and they could depart from the horse market in the suburbs when Fu’an went on their escort mission.
By dusk, various trading companies in Zhongdu sent their shop assistants to deliver goods, mainly medicinal herbs and leather goods, with a small amount of spices originating from the Western Regions.
There were more than ten carts in total.
Shortly after, Merchant Lu also arrived. The procurement would continue for another day or two. The goods that arrived first were reconciled and inspected by the other party, the Boss, and Zhang Wangyue. After these procedures, Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei, along with the runners, loaded the goods into the escort chests and sealed them.
In the evening, it was customary to assign people to guard the escort cargo. Since most of the escort agency’s escorts and runners were out on missions, the night watch duty fell to Zhou Yan and others.
However, Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and others insisted that Zhou Yan, having fought two intense battles at Four Seas that morning and then busied himself with loading the escort cargo, should not be on night watch.
Zhou Yan accepted their kind offer and rested for the night. He would take over the night watch duty the following night, replacing Huyan Lei and Wang Kui.
He changed into his casual clothes, bid farewell to everyone, and left the escort agency, walking along the street towards home.
Night had fallen, and the myriad of lights outlined the city’s unique luminous scene. The long street was bustling, with a constant flow of people.
As Zhou Yan walked forward, his pupils suddenly contracted. He saw two handsome young men walking together on the street ahead. The one on the left was none other than Ouyang Ke.
Enemies meet on a narrow road.
He turned and left.
Ouyang Ke felt the retreating figure ahead was familiar. After a moment of thought, he recognized the young man who had ambushed him.
He laughed heartily, and with a snap of his folding fan against his left palm, he said, “Little Prince, please wait a moment. I’m going to see an acquaintance.”
Zhou Yan was unsure if the other party had seen him. To be safe, he took out the iron finger ring he had obtained from Escort Su from his embrace and put it on his middle finger.
