Chapter 277: Good Fortune Aids the Virtuous
The pleasant midday sun was quickly obscured by dark clouds, and the heavy rain descended like a broken string of pearls, colliding in the air and splashing into a misty white fog.
“With this weather, no need to stand guard. Come inside for a cup of hot tea,” Zhang Wangyue appeared under the gatehouse of the Fu’an Escort Agency and said to two runners.
“Yes, thank you, Head Escort.”
As the three were about to enter the escort agency, the sound of rapid horse hooves approached. Zhang Wangyue instinctively turned.
He saw a Qingcong horse charging through the curtain of rain. As it drew closer, it slowed down, and he saw a woman on its back, wearing a conical hat and a straw cape.
“May I ask if Head Escort Zhou is here?” the woman’s voice rang out as the horse’s hooves fell silent.
The two runners simultaneously felt that the woman in green spoke in a sweet, soft voice that could melt a person’s bones.
“Are you looking for Head Escort Zhou Yan, Miss?” Zhang Wangyue asked.
“Mm!”
“This rain is coming down hard. Let’s go to the guest room first.”
“Thank you.”
The woman dismounted, and a runner stepped forward, saying, “Miss, I’ll take care of this horse.”
“Alright, thank you, young man.”
The runner inwardly chuckled, thinking that the young lady looking for Head Escort Zhou had a pleasant voice and a kind, generous disposition, making her very easy to get along with.
“Please, Miss.”
Zhang Wangyue led the way, and the woman followed. They entered the escort agency and arrived at a guest room, with the runners close behind, bringing steaming hot tea.
The woman thanked them, removed her conical hat, revealing a delicate face with bright eyes, white teeth, fair and smooth skin, and charming eyes with a blush on her cheeks, which appeared before the Chief Escort of the Fu’an Escort Agency.
Zhang Wangyue inwardly remarked on her good looks and asked, “What is your name, Miss, and where are you from?”
“Li Mochou, from Zhongnan Mountain.”
Zhang Wangyue suddenly recalled Zhou Yan’s two solo rides of a thousand li to Zhongnan Mountain, thinking, “Could it be that he was looking for this woman? If so, their relationship must be quite close.”
“So it’s Miss Li. Is there something urgent you need from Head Escort Zhou?”
Li Mochou became instantly vigilant. “Is this the Fu’an Escort Agency?”
Zhang Wangyue, with his extensive experience in the Jianghu, said kindly, “Miss Li, there’s no need to be on guard. The reason I ask is that Head Escort Zhou has resigned from his position and is no longer with the escort agency.”
“Ah!” Li Mochou was greatly surprised. “Where does he live?”
“He is not in Zhongdu at the moment either.”
“Do you know where he went?” Li Mochou asked urgently.
“Western Hunan.”
“Do you know when he will return?”
“Uncertain.”
Li Mochou immediately began to calculate. When she left the mountain, she told her Master she would be back in a few months. Waiting was not an option, so she decided to go to Western Hunan. The round trip would take just the right amount of time.
“If you have something important, Miss, the escort agency can try to find Head Escort Zhou for you.”
Li Mochou smiled faintly. “Thank you, no need to trouble yourselves. I will go to Western Hunan.”
“How will you find him without any clues?”
“You can tell me, and I’ll find him.”
“That might not be enough to find him. The escort agency can arrange for people to inquire. It would be safer for you to wait in Zhongdu.”
“It’s alright,” Li Mochou insisted.
“Like Miss Huang, she’s also a person of strong opinions,” Zhang Wangyue concluded.
“The southward journey is not peaceful. There are bandits and gang conflicts. You are traveling alone. Even if Head Escort Zhou knew, he would not approve of you doing this.”
“Why do you care so much?”
“Head Escort Zhou is my brother. I am Zhang Wangyue.”
“So you are Brother Zhang. My apologies,” Li Mochou lowered her guard, her voice becoming gentle and respectful, without any pretense. “Don’t worry about me. Although my martial arts are not as good as Head Escort Zhou’s, ordinary Jianghu experts are no match for me.”
Zhang Wangyue pondered for a moment and said, “That’s fine. Brother Zhou should be around the Yuezhou and Hengyang area. When you reach Western Hunan, you can look for Yanbo Diaosou of Dongting Lake or Liu Qingzhou of the Hengshan Sect. If you need anything along the way, you can also go to the stronghold of Tongbai Mountain, Funiu Mountain, or the Beggars’ Sect and mention Brother Zhou’s name.”
“Alright,” Li Mochou stood up and picked up her conical hat.
“Miss, don’t rush. Stay at the escort agency’s inn. You can leave when the rain stops.”
“Better to rush than to wait.”
“I’ll escort you.”
Zhang Wangyue saw her off. When Li Mochou reached the gatehouse of the escort agency, the runners had already brought her horse over.
“After I find Head Escort Zhou, when I come to Zhongdu, I will thank you again for your kindness, Brother Zhang.”
“Miss Li, you’re too polite.”
“Goodbye!”
“Take care on your journey.”
Li Mochou mounted her horse, and with the sound of hooves, she rode into the rain and mist. She thought, “Brother Zhang is truly warm-hearted. When I get to Western Hunan, if I can’t find Head Escort Zhou, I’ll ask the Beggars’ Sect for information.”
Western Hunan, Zhongdu; the ends of the earth, Li Mochou rode her horse through Jiangnan.
…
Zhongdu was shrouded in misty rain, while Western Hunan had a clear blue sky.
“Qigong, after I head north from Hengyang, I’ll come to see you again.”
The sunlight was warm as Zhou Yan saw him off.
Hong Qigong shook his wine gourd, which contained Hundred Herbs Wine brewed by the Hundred Herbs Immortal. Although it wasn’t strong liquor, it had the effect of nourishing his viscera and qi and blood.
“No need,” Hong Qigong slung the vermilion lacquered gourd over his shoulder. “This old beggar’s whereabouts are unpredictable. When you head north from Hengyang, I might be craving Du Kang in Luoyang, or I might go to Zhongdu to see Lu Youjiao. Don’t change your plans because of this old beggar.”
“That’s fine too.”
“Give this manuscript to the Immortal. This old beggar doesn’t want to owe anyone a favor, otherwise, I’ll have attachments and can’t be free and easy,” Hong Qigong handed a handwritten booklet to Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan knew it contained a cultivation technique, but he didn’t look at it. That was Qigong’s personality. Zhou Yan, having lived two lives, found it difficult to understand how someone who had a life-and-death feud with Ouyang Feng in the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes and Divine Condor would not seek revenge, yet could eventually let go of grudges with a smile at Huashan. Because of his gluttony, he couldn’t abide by the rules of the Beggars’ Sect’s Dirty Clothes Faction of begging for a living, and there was always conflict between the two factions, suppressed only by Hong Qigong’s prestige.
However, Hong Qigong’s free and easy nature, his chivalrous deeds, his upright conduct, his graceful and free spirit like a wild goose, and his powerful and majestic demeanor like a divine dragon, were all admirable.
“I’m leaving, kid,” Hong Qigong waved his hand and rode away. It was not like their previous encounters in Zhongdu. As he left, he used his agility, moving like a dragon across the sky.
“Perhaps this change alone will bring about a significant shift in Qigong’s state of mind,” Zhou Yan thought.
Zhou Yan returned to his bamboo hut and saw the Hundred Herbs Immortal sorting medicinal herbs.
All the medicine boys in the valley had died in a disaster, and Yanbo Diaosou still needed to consume medicinal cuisine for nourishment. These matters could only be handled by the Immortal himself.
“Hong Bangzhu gave this to the Immortal.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal was startled. He took the thin booklet and, upon looking at it, exclaimed in surprise, “It’s a set of cultivation techniques from ‘Free and Easy Journey’!”
Zhou Yan smiled. This set of cultivation techniques truly suited the immortal-like appearance of the Hundred Herbs Immortal.
“That’s just how Qigong is. I once got some imperial delicacies for Qigong at the Lin’an Imperial Palace, and he also taught me some cultivation techniques.”
“But I still feel undeserving. Qigong’s recovery was actually all thanks to your circulating energy to heal him, young friend.”
Zhou Yan did not mention the life-extending effects of the Snow Ginseng and said, “When interacting with Qigong, you just need to be yourself.”
“Alright then.”
“Why don’t we go to Hengyang together? Liu Qingzhou is also an interesting person.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal said joyfully, “Yes, all my disciples have passed away. Staying here would only bring back sad memories. It would be good to go out for a while. If you are in a hurry to get to Hengyang, we can leave tomorrow. I will make medicinal cuisine along the way to take care of Diaosou, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Agreed!”
For the entire day, Zhou Yan helped the Hundred Herbs Immortal sort medicinal herbs and prepare some food for the journey. As dusk approached, he caught a roe deer from the valley and brought it back.
Yanbo Diaosou could already walk on his own, but he was still extremely weak. He sat on a bamboo chair, watching Zhou Yan busy skinning and roasting the deer, his hands itching to help.
“Why don’t you come and try? I know you have a discerning palate,” Zhou Yan suddenly said.
“You know me well, Brother Zhou,” Yanbo Diaosou laughed heartily and got up to walk over.
“Is the Hundred Herbs Immortal here? Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan is here to visit.” The voice from the valley entrance was so unreal that Zhou Yan was stunned. Yanbo Diaosou shook his head, feeling as if it were an illusion.
Perhaps because he didn’t receive an immediate reply, the voice continued, “Is the Hundred Herbs Immortal here? I am Liu Qingzhou of Hengshan, a friend of Head Escort Zhou Yan from the Fu’an Escort Agency in Zhongdu.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal, who was boiling medicine, walked out of the bamboo hut. He looked at the still-astonished Zhou Yan and Yanbo Diaosou, then gathered his internal force and said, “This old man is here, and Head Escort Zhou Yan from Zhongdu is also here.”
The voice from the valley entrance fell completely silent. After a long pause, it said, “Immortal, you are quite humorous.”
Zhou Yan and Yanbo Diaosou burst into laughter. After a while, Zhou Yan finally spoke with his internal force, like a thunderbolt: “Brother Liu, go around the woods at the valley entrance and enter the valley on your own. I’ll pour you some wine and wait.”
Zhou Yan completely silenced Liu Qingzhou.
…
The campfire crackled and popped in the afterglow of the sun, kicking up dust and smoke.
The four of them sat around the fire pit.
Liu Qingzhou ate meat and drank wine, saying, “I was idle in Hengshan and heard that the Manichaeism and White Lotus Sect were in fierce conflict in the Yuezhou area, and even the Beggars’ Sect was involved. I thought I’d go and watch the excitement.”
Zhou Yan smiled, knowing he was clearly worried about the eccentric Yanbo Diaosou.
“Unfortunately, I walked too slowly and missed the good show,” Yanbo Diaosou knew the other’s intentions but couldn’t resist a bit of banter.
Liu Qingzhou would not retort to Yanbo Diaosou while he was injured. “I passed through a county town here and happened to meet a group of people. In our conversation, they mentioned Hundred Herbs Valley, the Immortal, and Hong Bangzhu. Upon listening closely, I realized they were from the Five Venoms Sect. I remembered that Brother Zhou had mentioned the Immortal, so I came to take a look.”
Zhou Yan and Yanbo Diaosou then suddenly understood. The Hengshan Sect was safe, and Liu Qingzhou, on his way to Yuezhou, passed by a county town where Hundred Herbs Valley was located. He happened to encounter some escaped disciples of the Five Venoms Sect. Hearing that they had been to Hundred Herbs Valley, he came to investigate out of concern for the Immortal.
“Thank you, young friend Liu,” the Hundred Herbs Immortal said, thanking Liu Qingzhou. He then turned to Zhou Yan and said, “Since the Hengshan Sect is safe, why don’t we go to Dongting Lake? This old man is still a bit worried about Hong Bangzhu.”
“That’s exactly what I want,” Zhou Yan said with satisfaction.
“Agreed,” Yanbo Diaosou chimed in.
During the meal, Zhou Yan concisely recounted his encounters with Hong Qigong, Huo Gong Toutuo, and Qiu Qianren in Yuezhou, the fierce battle at Yueyang Tower, the Five Venoms Sect’s intrusion into the valley, and their defeated retreat. Liu Qingzhou listened with great excitement and regretted missing the opportunity to draw his sword and help.
After eating and drinking their fill, and not wanting to delay, the Hundred Herbs Immortal brought more than ten doses of medicinal cuisine, and Zhou Yan carried Yanbo Diaosou to the valley entrance and placed him in the carriage.
With a Returning Spear strike, they charged out, heading straight for Yuezhou.
