Chapter 33: The Bandit’s Knife Not Yet Raised, the Family’s Knife Falls
The night wind whispered as Wanyan Kang entered the exquisitely built residence from the crimson light cast by the lantern under the eaves.
“Master Ouyang, how is your injury?”
Ouyang Ke had a scare. He was skilled in detoxification himself. The poison on Escort Su’s iron finger ring was actually made from Gelsemium elegans and Strychnos nux-vomica, with the toxic juice applied to the stinger, not a potent poison like aconite or other rare snake venom. Ouyang Ke could expel it by circulating his energy.
However, he was not adept at removing plant-based toxins, hence his apprehension. As it turned out, Liang Zi Weng extracted the toxic blood, tested it on a medicine boy, and easily identified it.
With a medicinal formula, the poison was removed.
Yet, his hatred for Zhou Yan only grew, and he urged Wanyan Kang to search for Zhou Yan.
Wanyan Kang harbored fear towards Qiu Chuji, who had taught him martial arts. Before understanding the relationship between Zhou Yan and the Quanzhen Sect, how could he put his full effort into it?
He entered the room, and as Ouyang Ke asked, he comforted him, saying, “Master Ouyang, do not worry. As long as that person is in Zhongdu, he cannot escape. By the way, how did you incur the enmity of that brat?”
Ouyang Ke looked around evasively. “I remember the scoundrel’s appearance. If we find a painter to draw a portrait, won’t finding him be simple?”
Wanyan Kang said, “But even so, it will take time. Zhongdu is, after all, a prosperous city with a large population, isn’t it? Also, the one who blocked me was Yuyangzi Wang Chuyi, one of the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen. To be frank, I have some connection with the Quanzhen Sect, but compared to my friendship with Master Ouyang, it’s not worth mentioning. However, to avoid conflict with the Quanzhen Sect, I ask Master Ouyang to tell me the full story.”
Ouyang Ke scoffed, “I don’t fear the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen.”
That’s because your uncle is the Western Venom Ouyang Feng, Wanyan Kang thought to himself. He put on a smiling face and said, “But after all, I don’t possess Master Ouyang’s martial arts.”
Ouyang Ke was quite pleased and said, “Since that’s the case, I’ll tell you. When I first entered the capital, I happened to see that person riding the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion.’ I fancied the horse and wanted to seize it, but I fell into that brat’s scheme.”
Wanyan Kang inwardly grumbled, so it was over such a trivial matter. If I helped you, my Master would scold me to death. I’ll stall for time. By the time he heads south to Lin’an Prefecture with Peng Lianhu, Sha Tongtian, and others, this matter will be dropped.
He changed the subject, “My Jin Dynasty produces fine steeds. I will find a ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ for Master Ouyang later. I will definitely help you find that brat.”
“Thank you, Little Prince.”
“When Master Ouyang sparred with that brat, his ‘Spirit Snake Fist’ was exquisite and opened my eyes.”
Ouyang Ke thought to himself, he wants to learn the ‘Spirit Snake Fist.’ How could I teach him? But now I need his help and rely on the Prince to achieve something. Directly refusing would damage our relationship. After a moment’s thought, Ouyang Ke said, “I have a set of martial arts called ‘Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm.’ My movements are elusive, and my palm strikes are like falling snowflakes, difficult to grasp. It’s even better than ‘Spirit Snake Fist.’ If you are interested, Little Prince, you can learn a bit.”
Wanyan Kang was overjoyed and bowed, “Thank you, Master Ouyang.”
“You are too polite, Little Prince.”
The lights were as bright as day as Ouyang Ke began to teach Wanyan Kang the simplified moves of the ‘Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm.’
…
In a daze, Cui Changshun felt the surrounding chatter. His consciousness had not fully returned, so he couldn’t immediately discern the true meaning of these words.
“This beast is truly such a person.”
“Punish him severely.”
“I don’t know if this was his personal act or if Escort Cui instructed him, or if someone else arranged and directed him.”
“Boss, we must not harbor evil.”
The words “Boss” sent a shiver down Cui Changshun’s spine. He tried to gather his thoughts, and many things became clear. Escort Su and Escort Lu from the Four Seas had told him that he and his uncle could find employment there, and they also mentioned that Zhou Yan’s martial arts had greatly increased, wondering if he had encountered some opportunity. Afterward, unable to suppress his inner impulse, he took advantage of Zhou Yan’s night watch duty to search his home, and a fist struck him.
Cui Changshun was startled and sat up abruptly. The moment he opened his eyes, light flooded in. What met his gaze was Fu’an’s Boss Duan Huai’an, Head Escort Zhang Wangyue, and Escort Shi Baichuan.
Zhou Yan arrived at the escort bureau in the evening and noticed Cui Changshun’s evasive gaze. He was cautious, but after thinking it over, he felt that with Cui Qingshan away on an escort mission, the other party wouldn’t scheme against him in secret. Therefore, he thought of the cultivation technique. Would the other party steal the Yue Family Scattered Hands while he was away? This was because his requests for lightness skill from Wang Kui and others, and his subsequent summoning by Zhang Wangyue after being lectured by him, were known to everyone at the escort bureau.
Cui Changshun was a runner on this escort mission. If he missed this opportunity tonight, it would be lost forever.
Zhou Yan was a decisive person. After practicing his energy at the escort bureau and giving Shi Baichuan some instructions, he headed straight for the small courtyard.
When Cui Changshun crept in, Zhou Yan had been waiting in ambush for a long time. Only when the other party pushed open the door and rummaged through the cabinets did he reveal himself and knock him unconscious with a single punch.
He did not interrogate Cui Changshun privately. The other party was someone from the escort bureau, and his uncle was an escort. Private interrogation was inappropriate, so he was directly brought to the escort bureau.
Shi Baichuan was one of Zhang Wangyue’s men. He arranged for a reliable runner to deliver a message, but Zhang Wangyue brought Duan Huai’an with him.
“Speak,” Zhang Wangyue said, his gaze hardening with intimidation, as he saw Cui Changshun wake up. “What was your intention?”
From waking up to being interrogated, there was no time for recovery. Zhang Wangyue held considerable authority at the escort bureau, and Duan Huai’an was also present. However, Cui Changshun, a minor figure, averted his gaze and dared not speak.
“Still not talking!” With a bang, Boss Duan Huai’an placed the teacup in his hand heavily on the table.
Cui Changshun trembled and said, “This humble one saw Zhou Yan’s martial arts improve by leaps and bounds. I also thought that the Head Escort had summoned him privately, perhaps giving him a cultivation technique. So, I thought I would take advantage of Zhou Yan’s night watch duty to search.”
“Anything else?”
“That’s all.”
“Who instructed you?” Zhou Yan suddenly asked.
Cui Changshun immediately said, “It has nothing to do with my uncle.”
The runner’s words were actually not wrong. He was expressing the sentiment of “a man’s actions, a man’s responsibility.” At least, that’s how Shi Baichuan heard it. Zhou Yan, however, seized the opportunity and asked, “Who does it have to do with?”
Cui Changshun thought to himself, how could I possibly say?
“It has nothing to do with anyone.”
After a moment of thought, Zhang Wangyue felt something was amiss and glanced at Shi Baichuan.
The escort understood.
Shi Baichuan’s weapon was an iron fan. He unfurled the fan, which spun in the air like a parasol descending towards Cui Changshun, exuding a chilling aura. “Let’s cut off your fingers first. See if you’ll talk?”
Cui Changshun was terrified. “Boss, it’s an escort from the Four Seas.”
With a swish, the iron fan retracted. A few strands of Cui Changshun’s long hair in front of his forehead were blown by the gust and then slowly fell.
“Speak,” Duan Huai’an said, his face like ice.
Cui Changshun knelt on the ground. “Escort Su and Escort Lu approached me, saying that I could work as an escort there, and so could my uncle, with much better treatment than Fu’an.”
“Anything else?”
“They said that Escort Zhou’s martial arts had advanced rapidly, implying he had encountered some opportunity. Head Escort and Escort Shi have had grudges for a long time and would surely eliminate rivals. They told me to pay more attention and gather information.”
“Continue!”
“That’s all, Boss. That’s all,” Cui Changshun kowtowed.
“Ungrateful wretch.”
Shi Baichuan was furious and stepped forward, unleashing a kick.
With a “bang,” Cui Changshun curled up and slid backward along the wooden floor, crashing into the wall and stopping.
“Boss, this scoundrel cannot be spared. I will take men to the Four Seas now.”
Killing intent flashed in Shi Baichuan’s eyes.
I wrote two chapters this morning, so the update is delayed. Apologies. There will be another update tonight.
