Chapter 289: Huang Rong and Mo Chou’s First Meeting
Huo Gong Toutuo, in the wind of the black night, seemed to transform into an illusion. By the time his voice rang out, he was still over a li away. By the time Zhou Yan and Li Mochou exchanged a few words, his bright yellow figure had already magnified and approached directly.
Seen from afar, he was like an eagle soaring above the grass tips.
Li Mochou said, “This monk’s lightness skill is truly formidable.”
“Indeed.” Zhou Yan was full of admiration for Huo Gong Toutuo’s lightness skill. It was in no way inferior to Ouyang Feng’s “Instant Thousand Li,” surpassing the Quanzhen Sect’s “Golden Goose Skill.”
“Let’s get on the boat first,” Zhou Yan leaped onto the small boat, with Li Mochou following closely like a shadow.
In just a moment, Huo Gong Toutuo’s figure landed silently by the stream.
Zhou Yan looked closely and saw that the other party was still in the same state as before falling into the deep pool, clearly indicating that the crocodiles had not caused much harm to Huo Gong Toutuo.
Huo Gong Toutuo, with his vengeful nature, glanced at Li Mochou before turning his gaze to Zhou Yan, saying grimly, “Kid, ever since you laid hands on my disciple and humiliated this old monk, our enmity has deepened. It won’t be long before you understand how much compensation you must pay for what you have done.”
Huo Gong Toutuo could not comprehend that his fall into the deep pool was actually Zhou Yan’s deliberate scheme. The humiliation he spoke of referred to Zhou Yan’s earlier actions.
Zhou Yan chuckled lowly and said, “Since I did it, why would I be afraid?”
“You have guts. I hope you can maintain this courage after I capture you.”
“I’m afraid there won’t be such an opportunity.”
“Haha…” Huo Gong Toutuo laughed arrogantly, leaped onto the bow of the boat, and activated his internal energy to control his kasaya. With empty hands, his body sank heavily downwards. His palms separated, and the kasaya whistled, as if it had propped up the heavens and earth.
Zhou Yan knew this was the Shaolin Temple’s ultimate skill, the Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill. He had seen Master Ku Cheng use it at Shaoshi Mountain. The technique, combined with the Thousand Hands Arhat Palm, made it impossible to defend against. Not long ago, when he fought Huo Gong Toutuo, this technique, used in conjunction with the Great Strength Vajra Palm, was even more powerful than Master Ku Cheng’s two peerless skills.
If my internal force were another fifty to sixty percent stronger, and I used the Profound Iron Heavy Sword, I could cleave through this silken kasaya. Zhou Yan thought this, and drew his sword with his backhand.
Li Mochou, with a telepathic connection, drew her longsword.
One green and one white, two sword lights rose from the ground like graceful dragons. Zhou Yan’s Qingfeng Sword tip flipped upwards, as if raising a cup to drink. Li Mochou lifted her sword hilt, her sword tip pointing downwards, like lifting a pot to pour wine.
This was precisely the “Clear Drink, Small Sip” from the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra Sword.
Huo Gong Toutuo unleashed the Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill, his opening move like propping up the heavens and earth. Zhou Yan and Li Mochou combined their swords, one piercing the sky, the other destroying the earth.
Huo Gong Toutuo had never seen such swordplay. He felt that if his kasaya attacked, Li Mochou would precisely block the angle of attack for the Great Strength Vajra Palm. If he were to injure the woman first, Zhou Yan’s longsword would inevitably wound him.
He exclaimed “Yi!” and his body retreated a zhang, landing on another small boat.
Zhou Yan and Li Mochou’s figures were like water birds skimming over the clear waves. Their toes landed on Huo Gong Toutuo’s small boat. Zhou Yan used the move “Moonlight Before Flowers,” his longsword attacking from top to bottom. The Qingfeng Sword trembled, as if countless sword edges had arranged themselves impossibly within the Sumeru, forming an arc of sword light that resembled the bright moon hanging in the sky, filling the ground with clear radiance.
Li Mochou’s longsword vibrated, and a brilliant sword light condensed into a shimmering hue, like flowers swaying in the breeze.
Huo Gong Toutuo felt his vision blur, completely unsure where Zhou Yan and Li Mochou would attack from. He could only leap back and land on another small boat.
Zhou Yan poured all his strength into his legs for the Thousand Jin Drop. With a crack, the boat plank beneath his feet shattered, and the stream water gushed out. He and Li Mochou attacked together again.
A year had passed, and Zhou Yan was no longer the same. Li Mochou had cultivated using the Cold Jade Bed, her internal force greatly improved. Li Mochou had also developed feelings for Zhou Yan. Their combined swordplay now was far superior to when they faced Ouyang Feng and others at Zhongnan Mountain. One could see green and white lights intertwining, forming wondrous colors. Sword flowers scattered like countless stars falling down, possessing unparalleled power.
Huo Gong Toutuo roared, and simply abandoned the Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill, using the Great Strength Vajra Palm to counter. He unleashed powerful palm strikes from a distance, like mountains hanging in the air, occasionally using the Lion’s Roar to shake their souls.
Zhou Yan and Li Mochou weaved left and right, like dragonflies skimming water or butterflies flitting through flowers. Their swords danced, graceful as a startling swan, like a roaming dragon. Huo Gong Toutuo had several opportunities to kill Li Mochou with his palms, but every time Zhou Yan’s sword struck, it forced him to defend. He roared in fury, shouting repeatedly.
Three figures continuously rose and fell on the boats. In the fierce exchange, water splashed and wooden planks flew, with one small boat after another destroyed underfoot.
Huang Yaoshi’s figure rapidly approached. Hearing Huo Gong Toutuo’s shouts, he looked and saw the green and white sword lights rolling about, like mercury pouring onto the ground, penetrating everywhere.
Huang Yaoshi recognized Li Mochou and Zhou Yan’s Quanzhen Swordplay. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. He thought that this combined sword technique was truly peerless in the world. That woman was from the lineage of the female hero, a friend of Brother Chongyang. Could this sword technique be related to Brother Chongyang and the female hero?
Only Huang Yaoshi, who had entered the Ancient Tomb and was on intimate terms with Wang Chongyang, could recognize the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra Sword.
Dust swirled. Zhou Yan and Li Mochou had already exchanged over a hundred moves with Huo Gong Toutuo. The Jade Maiden Heart Sutra Sword was used repeatedly, but each time it was employed, it possessed a different, subtly altered intent, appearing similar yet different.
While the three were fighting fiercely at the mouth of the stream, from a slightly further distance, Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong’s figures rose and fell rapidly, approaching quickly. Following closely behind them were Qiu Qianren, Ouyang Feng, and the monk Bao Shu.
A bit further away were Ouyang Ke, Yin Kexi, Helian Chuncheng, Gongsun Zhi, and the disciples of the Valley of Unfeeling wielding fishing nets, who were in pursuit.
Ouyang Feng first checked Ouyang Ke’s injuries before continuing his pursuit, thus falling behind Huang Yaoshi, Zhou Botong, and Qiu Qianren.
Seeing several people rapidly approaching, Zhou Yan chuckled lowly and, with a backhand sword strike, drew an arc from left to right. Li Mochou drew an arc from right to left. Their swords combined, forming a circle of light that tightly constricted, enveloping Huo Gong Toutuo within.
Suddenly, the green and white sword light intertwined with the bright yellow. A sound of metal clashing was heard. Sparks silently flashed from Huo Gong Toutuo’s kasaya, and his monk’s sleeves transformed into thousands of butterflies, which were then swept away by the air currents, fluttering and whistling.
Huo Gong Toutuo cried out, flipped backward in mid-air, and with a splash, fell into the water again.
Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong’s figures appeared in an instant, one after the other, landing on the boats.
“Island Lord Huang, over here. Those boats are all damaged.”
Huang Yaoshi nodded slightly, crossed several zhang in a single step, and landed on Zhou Yan’s small boat. Zhou Botong also leaped over.
“Gang Leader Qiu, you are too polite. Behold my sword.” Zhou Yan stepped forward with a smile, his sword edge flickered, and with a sidewayslead, Li Mochou’s sword suddenly stabbed in from a direction Qiu Qianren absolutely did not expect.
Qiu Qianren saw the sword move was fantastical and difficult to parry. He retreated, landing on a small boat a zhang away. However, that small boat was already taking on water. As Qiu Qianren landed, with a splash, water erupted. The Head Escort of the Iron Palm Sect, caught off guard, was quite disheveled.
Zhou Yan grabbed an oar and rowed rapidly. The small boat drifted several zhang downstream in an instant.
“Zhou Yan… you little thief.”
Qiu Qianren, with his legs soaked, stood in the waterlogged boat and cursed angrily.
The Old Urchin laughed heartily, “The old man has become a drowned rat.”
“Zhou Botong, I will not rest until I have my revenge on you.”
“Alright, alright, let’s fight again.” Hearing this, Zhou Botong was about to leap towards the riverbank. Huang Yaoshi said, “Brother Botong, you’ve caused enough trouble. Let’s settle this another day.”
“That makes sense.” Zhou Botong suddenly turned and said to Zhou Yan, “How do you know Quanzhen Swordplay?”
“I will tell you slowly, Elder.”
“Speak quickly.” The Old Urchin sat cross-legged on the bow of the boat.
At the mouth of the stream, Ouyang Feng landed. He glanced at the soaked Huo Gong Toutuo and Qiu Qianren, his expression grim, and withdrew his gaze. He said to the departing Huang Yaoshi, “Brother Yao, we’ll have more ‘closeness’ another day.”
Huang Yaoshi replied coldly, “It’s a deal.”
“Hahaha…” The clang of metal echoed through the valley.
Zhou Yan let out a breath. The enmity between Ouyang Feng and Huang Yaoshi had now been forged.
The small boat drifted downstream. Zhou Yan, skilled in piloting boats, moved swiftly. Zhou Yan first told Huang Yaoshi about the general situation of Huang Rong, Yanbo Diaosou, and others. Then, he concisely explained to the Old Urchin how he met Sun Buer and Wang Chuyi and learned the Quanzhen Techniques.
The Old Urchin clicked his tongue in admiration, saying that Zhou Yan’s Quanzhen Techniques were far superior to Guo Jing’s.
He gave a wry smile.
Li Mochou, upon learning the Old Urchin’s identity, remained silent throughout. Her sect’s rules were strict, forbidding contact with people from the Quanzhen Sect, so she had nothing to say to Zhou Botong. She also recognized Huang Yaoshi and held a reverent awe for the renowned Eastern Heretic.
Zhou Yan found this scene quite amusing. In the world of the Divine Condor, Li Mochou had often mocked Peach Blossom Island, saying that her Empty Force Palm struck empty air with every blow.
The stars and moon were gradually obscured by dark clouds, indicating an impending storm. Fortunately, no rain fell during their journey. Half an hour later, the small boat exited the Valley of Unfeeling and docked at the water’s edge.
Huang Rong, who had already left the valley, leaped out from the darkness. “Father.”
“Rong’er.”
Huang Yaoshi leaped ashore. Huang Rong’s gaze fell upon the small boat. Upon seeing Li Mochou, she was slightly surprised. Another woman had appeared, and she was so beautiful. She wondered who she was.
Suddenly, seven or eight people, men and women, old and young, appeared. Li Mochou felt uncomfortable and stood by the stream, observing them. Her gaze fell upon Huang Rong, and she thought that a woman with such beauty, comparable to her junior sister, was the daughter of Island Lord Huang.
She didn’t think much of it; it was natural for Huang Yaoshi and his daughter to be together.
Huang Yaoshi came ashore and said to Zhou Yan, “Thank you, Head Escort, for the ride.”
“Island Lord Huang, you are too polite.” Huang Yaoshi nodded, then turned to Huang Rong and said, “Rong’er, let’s go.”
Huang Rong had already learned from the Hundred Herbs Immortal about everyone’s plans to go to Tongbai Mountain and the mountain strongholds of Funiu Mountain. She figured that if she needed to find Zhou Yan in the future, he would either be in Zhongdu or at the mountain stronghold, making him easy to find. Tongbai Mountain was not far from Kaifeng Prefecture. The Shi brothers of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor had escorted Little Leopard to Mei Ruohua. It was a perfect excuse to ask her father to visit the two strongholds.
“Okay!” she nodded with a smile.
“Brother Botong, we’ll meet again.”
“We won’t meet again.” The Old Urchin laughed heartily.
Huang Rong made a face at the Old Urchin, winked at Zhou Yan, then turned and took Huang Yaoshi’s hand to leave.
Huang Yaoshi’s figure was incredibly fast. After moving away from the valley, with a muffled sound, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
He had been struck by the initial force of Ouyang Feng’s Toad Stance, and his injuries were not light. After fighting with Ouyang Feng again, his condition had already worsened.
