Chapter 46: Jianghu Emergency, Sharing a Horse
Zhou Yan confirmed that the ancient, majestic great eagle he saw was the Divine Condor that Yang Guo had encountered.
He had crossed the Yellow River from Fengling Ferry and traveled southward. As he got closer to Xiangyang, he had imagined countless times on his return journey to search for opportunities in the Xiangyang mountains, hoping to see the Divine Condor and enter Dugu Qiubai’s “Sword Tomb.”
In fact, compared to the “Sword Tomb,” Zhou Yan was more interested in the Pusi Snake, which could enhance his internal force. Having consumed the Big Treasure Snake’s blood and knowing the method to stimulate internal force, he figured the effects of snake gallbladders and treasure snake blood would be similar, thus consuming the gallbladder would yield quick results.
Snakes generally hibernate from November to April of the following year, but some start hibernating in early December and emerge in early March. It was currently the beginning of winter. Zhou Yan was unsure what category the Pusi Snake belonged to, but Xiangyang was in the south, and with clear weather and pleasant temperatures, it was possible he might encounter one.
As for the “Sword Tomb,” he currently adopted a go-with-the-flow attitude. He didn’t know any swordplay, and the “Sword Tomb” had no cultivation techniques or secret manuals. At best, he would obtain a sharp sword or a heavy sword.
“A heavy sword has no edge, great skill is unadorned.” This was a realm of swordsmanship that one could understand without going to the “Sword Tomb,” but could he comprehend it? No.
Zhou Yan also wondered if he had immunity to snake venom, having consumed Liang Zi Weng’s Big Treasure Snake blood.
In short, he had thought of many wild and imaginative things, but he never expected this kind of beginning. He had come to this valley while searching for Qingjing Sanren Sun Buer. However, the fine horse and the strange eagle had already started fighting each other.
However, from the perspective of the natural food chain, there seemed to be a natural animosity between hoofed animals and birds of prey.
Zhou Yan sprinted rapidly towards the eagle and horse.
The fight between the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” and the Divine Condor had taken a turn.
The great eagle suddenly extended its curved beak and lunged towards the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.” The horse neighed and violently raised its front hooves to stomp on the eagle.
Suddenly, an eagle’s cry rang out, piercing and desolate, with a powerful momentum. The great eagle retreated sharply, then advanced again.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” neighed with a whistling sound, its snorted white breath resembling snakes. It retreated a few steps with a clatter and raised its hooves to stomp again.
The great eagle, however, abruptly changed its attack method. It ran swiftly, like a fine horse, circling rapidly around the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
In Zhou Yan’s line of sight as he sprinted, the great eagle continuously flapped its wings, kicking up dust and grass from the ground. In an instant, it seemed poised to engulf the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
Suddenly, the horse kicked its hind legs, and with a bang, eagle feathers flew everywhere.
The great eagle’s wings instantly landed on the horse’s hindquarters. The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” yelped in pain and leaped several zhang away. The great eagle, like a shadow, pecked with its iron-hook beak at the “Night-Shining Jade Lion’s” round hindquarters like lightning.
Zhou Yan was still more than thirty zhang away from the horse and eagle. Seeing the horse in imminent danger, he drew his bow.
With a “bang,” the empty string vibrated, sounding like a thunderclap.
He then nocked an arrow and drew the bow, as round as a full moon.
The great eagle suddenly leaped several zhang away from behind the horse, its blood-red eyes looking at Zhou Yan.
He slowed his steps, the long arrow on the iron bow touching the ground.
Zhou Yan knew the great eagle was intelligent, but he hoped it could understand the misunderstanding and his current display of goodwill.
“Caw…”
The great eagle let out a long cry.
It spread its strong, powerful legs and charged directly at Zhou Yan, exuding a strong aura of hostility.
The bow and the person moved with the eagle’s charge. He darted into the mountain forest, and the great eagle pursued relentlessly. With a “bang,” the long arrow left the string, flying like a meteor.
Zhou Yan did not unleash his full power when shooting. The great eagle responded with ease, flapping its wings to swat away the arrow. The person and the eagle, however, instantly switched positions: the eagle was now inside the valley, and Zhou Yan was at the valley entrance.
Still about ten zhang apart, the great eagle flapped its wings, the wild grass under its feet rippling like water. But this time, it did not attack.
Zhou Yan roughly guessed the other party’s intention.
He was unwelcome.
The urgent matter was to find Sun Buer, not to investigate if this was Snake Valley. Dugu Qiubai’s “Sword Tomb” might be nearby. Fortunately, he had seen the great eagle. If he prepared more thoroughly when returning from Jingzhou, coming back to explore would save a lot of effort.
Thinking this, Zhou Yan retreated to the side of the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” to check its condition. Fortunately, the great eagle’s wings had landed on its hindquarters, so the injury was not severe.
He gently stroked the horse’s neck and mounted its back. The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” seemed unwilling to stay in the valley for another moment, its four hooves flying as it galloped away.
As they were about to exit the valley, bathed in the setting sun’s afterglow, a figure suddenly walked towards them.
Zhou Yan’s pupils contracted.
The person approaching was none other than Qingjing Sanren Sun Buer.
He dismounted and quickly stepped forward.
Sun Buer held her longsword aloft, in a defensive posture.
“Elder, I saw you fighting with a woman in green in the canyon. Because I recognized the ‘Golden Goose Skill,’ I searched and found my way here. I was fortunate enough to be guided in martial arts by Master Yuyangzi.”
As Zhou Yan spoke, Sun Buer recalled, and the bluebird of her memory flew over.
Not long ago, in the canyon, she had encountered an escort team, and three escorts had attacked that wicked woman. It seemed the young escort before her was one of them.
“Where did you recognize my Senior Brother from?”
“Zhongdu.”
Sun Buer nodded, her doubts dispelled.
She sheathed her longsword and said, “I heard the cries of an eagle and a horse, and thought there must be an expert here. I came seeking help.”
Zhou Yan felt a bit ashamed.
Sun Buer quickly said, “Thank you for your kindness, but that woman is formidable, and I am injured from a palm strike, so I am not fit to fight again. We should leave this place of trouble quickly.”
Zhou Yan hurriedly asked, “Who is that woman?”
“She is the sister of Qiu Qianren, the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Sect, Qiu Qianchi.”
Zhou Yan was stunned. Qiu Qianchi?
In the world of the Divine Condor, she was the one in the underground cave of the Valley of Unfeeling.
It was a place of trouble and not suitable for lingering, nor was it the time to ask why Qingjing Sanren and Iron Palm Lotus were fighting so fiercely. Zhou Yan quickly said, “Elder, please get on the horse. I will take you away.”
Sun Buer was a discerning person. Seeing the “Night-Shining Jade Lion,” she knew it was exceptionally spirited. Even with two people on it, Qiu Qianchi would surely not be able to catch up.
The young man had received guidance in martial arts from his Senior Brother and had quite an origin with the Quanzhen Sect. There was no need to worry about the propriety of two people riding the same horse.
To be more realistic, she was nearing the point of exhaustion.
“Thank you!”
“You are too polite, Elder.”
As soon as Zhou Yan finished speaking, a voice rang out from the mountainside near the valley entrance:
“Damn Taoist nun, where do you think you can escape to.”
Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound. About seven or eight zhang diagonally above him, Qiu Qianchi, clad in green, emerged. She moved with the swiftness of a flying duck.
Sun Buer said urgently, “If we use the Quanzhen Swordplay, we might be able to hold on for a while longer. We can use the darkness to escape.”
“I do not know Quanzhen Swordplay.”
“Didn’t you say your Senior Brother guided you in cultivation techniques?”
“It was mainly breathing exercises and qi cultivation. There’s no time to waste, fleeing is the best strategy. Elder, please get on the horse quickly.”
Sun Buer mounted the horse, and Zhou Yan leaped on right behind her.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” kicked its four hooves and galloped away.
His back to Sun Buer, the bowstring, following Qiu Qianchi’s movements, began to draw, like a bloodthirsty dragon’s maw.
There will be another update tonight.
