Chapter 290: A Frank Encounter in the Stormy Mountain God Temple
The wind drove the torrential rain, and thunder rumbled from behind the clouds.
Heavy rain fell on the blue tiles of the Mountain God Temple. Flashes of lightning flickered in the dilapidated windows. When Zhou Yan walked in, Huang Yaoshi, who was unconscious, had a face like golden paper.
With Eastern Heretic’s cultivation, he should not have fallen unconscious from the initial force of Western Venom’s Toad Stance striking his body. However, he was a proud man who could not stand provocation and did not wish to reveal his injuries in front of Huang Rong, thus he endured it forcefully.
How could Ouyang Feng not know the extent of Huang Yaoshi’s injuries after taking a palm strike, given their comparable cultivation? He provoked him with words, saying that the sneak attack was merely a friendly exchange between brothers.
Provoked, Huang Yaoshi replied to Ouyang Feng in the Valley of Unfeeling, suggesting they see how each other’s cultivation had improved. The two then fought again. Western Venom continuously used his Toad Stance, forcing Huang Yaoshi to contend with him in terms of internal force.
This fighting style was actually very similar to how Zhou Yan in Jingzhou City used his spear to strike Ouyang Feng, and Zhang Sanqiang’s tiger-like assault, a direct and forceful confrontation, which triggered Ouyang Feng’s injuries.
It was just that Huang Yaoshi suffered internal injuries, while Ouyang Feng in Jingzhou sustained external injuries. In the fierce exchange, his viscera, qi, blood, and meridians were all damaged, directly leading to the outbreak of his injuries, loss of consciousness, and falling into a coma.
Huang Rong found a Mountain God Temple, settled Huang Yaoshi down, and hurried to find Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan was taking the route from the Valley of Unfeeling to Xiangyang, which Huang Rong was familiar with, so they met by chance.
Zhou Yan told Li Mochou to proceed with Yanbo Diaosou and the others, and not to wait. If there was a delay, he would go directly to Funiu Mountain.
The two entered the Mountain God Temple. Huang Rong, who had learned medical principles from the Hundred Herbs Immortal, helped Huang Yaoshi and said, “Father’s main issue is internal injuries followed by a fierce battle with Ouyang Feng, which aggravated his visceral injuries and damaged his meridians, causing qi and blood stagnation. You only need to use your internal force to relax his muscles and activate his collaterals, and nourish his viscera. Father will be able to circulate energy and heal himself once he wakes up.”
“No problem.”
“Thank you.”
“What is there to thank each other for? Besides, Island Lord Huang has saved me many times.”
“Father is different. I only have Father as my closest relative.”
Zhou Yan nodded, understanding Huang Rong’s feelings.
“I will begin treating Island Lord Huang now.”
In fact, Zhou Yan also suffered no light internal injuries from his fight with Huo Gong Toutuo. The fierce battle had also worsened his injuries, though not as severely as Huang Yaoshi’s.
Zhou Yan sat cross-legged, placing his right palm on the “Mingmen” major acupoint on Huang Yaoshi’s back. He used the Quanzhen Sect’s internal energy cultivation technique, channeling the gentle qi of Jade Guanyin, combined with his own internal force, to continuously transmit it into Huang Yaoshi’s body, relaxing his muscles and activating his collaterals, and nourishing his viscera.
Huang Yaoshi was worried about Huang Rong, and his consciousness was constantly trying to revive itself. When he regained a little consciousness, he suddenly felt as if a force of immense weight was pressing down on him from all directions. His viscera burned as if on fire, making his breathing rapid, and every meridian twitched with pain.
He didn’t know how long he remained in this state. Suddenly, Huang Yaoshi felt a gentle, vibrant, and warm current enter his body. This current circulated through his body, and the pain in his back instantly lessened considerably, and his chest felt much more comfortable.
Subconsciously, Huang Yaoshi gathered his consciousness, guiding energy with his intent. Strands of inner qi continuously warmed from his dantian, merging with this internal current and circulating throughout his body.
Zhou Yan had been treating Huang Yaoshi for less than half an hour when he suddenly felt the latter’s internal force begin to circulate on its own with the rhythm of his breathing. After only a few cycles, Huang Yaoshi in front of him let out a muffled groan.
Huang Rong was overjoyed, “Father!”
Huang Yaoshi slowly opened his eyes.
“It’s Head Escort Zhou who is helping you heal,” Huang Rong said.
Huang Yaoshi mobilized his internal force, and a weak but pure as mercury internal force suddenly rebounded against the internal force Zhou Yan was transmitting.
Zhou Yan immediately stopped his technique and got up to sit in front of Huang Yaoshi.
“Thank you, Head Escort Zhou. I can already guide energy myself and no longer need your assistance.”
“Island Lord Huang is too polite.”
Huang Yaoshi took out a porcelain bottle from his robes, poured out a Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill, and took it.
With Huang Yaoshi awake, Huang Rong’s mood also brightened.
She casually asked Zhou Yan, “When you were in the Western Regions, you said you were going to deliver the Iron Hawks armor to Cuya Mountain. Was it the Cuya Mountain team that took down Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain?”
“Yes, Miss Yang is the leader of Cuya Mountain.”
Huang Rong laughed, “Women are not inferior to men.”
“Indeed. Originally, Miss Yang’s team was a righteous army. The Jin Dynasty and the Lin’an Court were trying to suppress them, so they took refuge in Cuya Mountain. The bandits of Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain are remnants of Great Qi, who plundered and killed indiscriminately. They controlled the trade route from Jingxiang to Zhongdu. Fu’an and Zhenwei Escort Agency joined forces with Miss Yang to encircle and suppress these bandits.”
“Well done. It’s a pity I couldn’t participate in this battle,” Huang Rong said, clapping her hands. “Is Qiu Qianchi now in Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain?”
“Qiu Qianren defected to the Jin Dynasty. He and his sister had a conflict. After this incident, they should join Miss Yang’s team.”
Huang Yaoshi suddenly asked, “Rong’er mentioned that she once transcribed a copy of Wumu’s Military Writings and gave it to Head Escort Zhou. Now, the Cuya Mountain team has five hundred elite armors, and fine horses from Hexi. The forces in Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain far exceed those of ordinary mountain bandits. Funiu Mountain could even house a hundred thousand soldiers. Head Escort Zhou risked his life to rescue people in the Valley of Unfeeling and deliver the Iron Hawks armor, which shows a deep relationship with Leader Yang. You must have some plan.”
Zhou Yan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. If Huang Yaoshi didn’t have his extreme personality and was easily provoked, with this intelligence, he would be a perfect person.
This was the first time since Zhou Yan’s transmigration that someone had asked him a question that touched upon his deepest inner thoughts.
Zhou Yan carefully considered his words. Huang Yaoshi suddenly changed the subject and said, “The news of the encirclement and suppression of the Great Qi remnants will surely attract the attention of the Jin Dynasty and the Lin’an Court. What if they are granted amnesty?”
Zhou Yan thought of something. In the Legend of the Condor Heroes, Huang Yaoshi’s background was mentioned. His ancestors had made great contributions during the reign of Emperor Taizu, and had always been enfeoffed as marquises and dukes, holding high office in every dynasty. His grandfather served as a Censor during Emperor Gaozong’s Shaoxing era. When Qin Hui unjustly persecuted Yue Fei, his grandfather repeatedly petitioned for Yue Fei’s exoneration. The Emperor and Qin Hui were furious, not only refusing but also demoting him. Huang Yaoshi was born rebellious. Because of his grandfather’s affairs, he cursed the emperor from a young age and vowed to overthrow the Song Dynasty, kill the emperor and the corrupt officials to avenge his grandfather and Yue Fei. Therefore, Huang Yaoshi’s lifelong regret was not being born a few decades earlier to meet Yue Fei.
Zhou Yan had never associated Huang Yaoshi with Yang Miaozhen and Guo Jing. Now that Huang Yaoshi suddenly asked this question, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if Huang Yaoshi, who was learned and proficient in formations, could assist the two mountain strongholds.
He smiled, “Miss Yang and I can be considered like-minded. If the Lin’an Court offers amnesty, I will oppose it.”
“Why?”
“‘Ten years to sharpen a sword, its frosty edge untested. Today I show it to you, for whom does it strike injustice?’ When there are too many things in this world that go against people’s wishes, and some rules are old and no longer suitable, as martial artists, we should cut down injustice and innovate.”
Huang Yaoshi burst into laughter, “Seventh Brother, they say you have the ruthlessness of Western Venom and the wildness of Eastern Heretic. Now it seems you are indeed a bit similar.”
Zhou Yan smiled slightly, not taking the bait.
“After parting at Yueyang Tower, do you know where Seventh Brother went?” Huang Yaoshi suddenly asked.
Since Huang Yaoshi asked, Zhou Yan did not mind revealing that Ouyang Feng had sneak attacked Hong Qigong.
“That day at Yueyang Tower, Seventh Master was ambushed by Ouyang Feng and Huo Gong Toutuo and was severely injured. He went to Hundred Herbs Valley for treatment. After recovering, he went to Yuezhou. I couldn’t find him in Yuezhou. Later, I met Zhang the Cult Leader in Jingzhou, and only then did I learn that the Beggars’ Sect and Manichaeism had a conflict. The cause was the Dog Beating Stick that Seventh Master lost at Yueyang Tower. I suspect the Beggars’ Sect had internal strife during Seventh Master’s recovery period. Seventh Master is dealing with this matter, and I plan to go to Zhongdu to look for him.”
“Ouyang Feng and his nephew are truly ruthless smiling tigers. Next time Father encounters them, he will surely use their own methods against them.”
Huang Yaoshi chuckled lowly. When he looked up, he said to Zhou Yan, “Huo Du is holding a Heroes’ Banquet. I met you in the suburbs and told you two methods of the Finger Flicking Divine Skill’s Qi Guiding Method. Now I will tell you the remaining methods.”
Huang Yaoshi, with his usual temperament, did not wait for Zhou Yan’s reply and immediately detailed the remaining four Qi Guiding Methods. Huang Rong busily helped Zhou Yan memorize them.
After one round, Huang Yaoshi asked Zhou Yan, “Have you remembered it?”
“Yes, I remember. Thank you, Island Lord Huang.”
“No need for such politeness. I dislike owing favors.”
After speaking, Huang Yaoshi closed his eyes, performed breathing exercises, and regulated his breath, remaining silent.
The heavy rain poured down, making travel impossible. Huang Yaoshi needed protection while regulating his breath.
Zhou Yan used bamboo strips and thatch from the temple roof to build a simple bed for Huang Rong to rest. He went to a corner by the temple door, sat cross-legged, and regulated his breath to heal his internal injuries.
Huang Rong, with her innocent heart, lay on her side on the bed, resting her cheek on her hand. Watching Zhou Yan and Huang Yaoshi illuminated by the campfire, Huang Rong felt her body and mind relax and soothe. Unknowingly, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
