Chapter 47: Beyond Zhongnan Mountain, Little Dragon Girl’s Sorrows
The forest was dark, grass rustled in the wind, and the escort drew his bow at night.
In the vast sky, the bow was like thunder, its string twanging, and three consecutive arrows shot towards Qiu Qianchi.
She kicked away two arrows with her left and right feet, leaning back, her back not touching the dust. With a “whoosh,” the third arrow grazed her face, the strong wind scraping her skin, causing a dull ache.
By the time Qiu Qianchi leaped up again, the “Night-Shining Jade Lion,” having picked up speed, had already vanished into the distance.
She used her agility to gallop for several miles out of the valley. In the completely dark night, distant fireworks shot into the sky, bursting brilliantly. In just over ten breaths, fireworks appeared one after another in another direction of the mountains and fields, responding to each other.
Qiu Qianchi was brave due to her high skill, but at night, she was quite wary of Zhou Yan’s iron bow and long arrows. Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, she dared not pursue further and retreated resentfully into the mountain forest.
…
The sound of hooves was like thunder, and Huyan Lei’s voice rang out in the wilderness: “Is that Brother Zhou?”
“It’s me, Old Brother.”
After shaking off Qiu Qianchi and leaving the valley, Zhou Yan fired a signal flare with his flame tube. Huyan Lei was the first to arrive, followed by Wang Kui and Shi Baichuan.
He introduced Qingjing Sanren Sun Buer, and then, without delay, he and Huyan Lei rode the Wuzhui Horse together, while Sun Buer rode the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” alone. The four horses carried five people, heading straight for the escort team southwest of Xiangyang.
The night was deep, the forest quiet, and suddenly, human voices were heard.
In the valley lit by a campfire, a runner’s joyful voice rang out: “Escort Zhou and the others are back.”
The escort carts were arranged in a large circle, with the mules and horses in the center.
The head escort, Zhang Wangyue, heard the runner’s voice. As he looked over, in the sparse moonlight, the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” had become clear. He glanced at Sun Buer and let out a slight sigh of relief, knowing the person was safe.
Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, Sun Buer, and the others dismounted. Zhang Wangyue stepped forward and said, “I am Zhang Wangyue, head escort of Fu’an Escort Agency. Greetings, True Person Sun.”
Sun Buer quickly bowed and said, “It is I who should thank Fu’an Escort Agency for your righteous intervention.”
Zhang Wangyue, possessing excellent social skills, smiled and said, “It’s truly fate. Escort Zhou from our agency once had a fortunate encounter with True Person Wang. If not for that, we wouldn’t have known you, True Person.”
“Indeed. Escort Zhou mentioned this matter.”
Zhang Wangyue, seeing through things, noticed that Sun Buer’s breathing was unstable and said, “Brother Zhou, please take the True Person to rest first.”
“Alright!”
The escort team had tents. Zhou Yan led Sun Buer into one and said, “Junior will not disturb Senior’s healing. I will be outside. If you need anything, just call out.”
“Thank you!”
“You are too polite, Senior.”
Zhou Yan exited the tent and went over to Zhang Wangyue.
On the way back, he hadn’t spoken with Huyan Lei and the others. The group sat around the campfire, and Huyan Lei asked, “Brother Zhou, how did you rescue the True Person? That woman in green was very fierce.”
“How could I have the ability to rescue her directly from the opponent? I happened to encounter True Person Sun at a valley entrance and shot arrows to stop Qiu Qianchi, thus seizing the opportunity to escape.” After saying this, Zhou Yan turned to Zhang Wangyue and said, “That woman is Qiu Qianren’s sister, Qiu Qianchi, from the Iron Palm Sect. However, I don’t yet know why she attacked True Person Sun.”
Huyan Lei chuckled, “The Iron Palm Sect again, what a narrow encounter.”
Wang Kui quickly said, “This matter should have nothing to do with the Iron Palm Sect disciples we encountered at Fengling Ferry.”
“Naturally, otherwise, why would we have searched for so long without encountering any Iron Palm Sect members?” Shi Baichuan said, “After this incident, Fu’an has also formed a connection with the Quanzhen Sect. Even if the Iron Palm Sect moves north, why wouldn’t the Quanzhen Sect lend a hand? We have nothing to fear.”
Zhang Wangyue nodded slightly, “However, it’s not advisable to stay here for long. Once the True Person’s injuries have recovered somewhat, we will set off. Heading south will take us to Jingzhou. We must not let our efforts be in vain.”
Huyan Lei and the others nodded in agreement.
The runners served plain noodles. Zhou Yan brought a bowl to Sun Buer. After eating the noodles, Qingjing Sanren, who had already circulated her energy to heal, looked much better.
Only then did Zhou Yan ask, “Senior, how did you encounter Qiu Qianchi?”
Sun Buer said, “I was on my way to Baoying in Yangzhou when we met.”
Zhou Yan understood. The other party was heading south from the Quanzhen Sect to find the disciple Cheng Yaojia.
Qingjing Sanren recounted, “I happened to encounter someone swindling and deceiving outside Xiangyang. I intended to teach them a lesson, but then I discovered that person was colluding with Jin soldiers and inciting Jianghu heroes to respond and assist when the Jin forces moved south. I wanted to kill them, but Qiu Qianchi blocked me and we fought, which led to this situation.”
Zhou Yan finally understood.
Sun Buer had encountered Qiu Qianzhang, and the latter had a deep bond with Qiu Qianchi. Since Sun Buer wanted to kill the swindler from Legend of the Condor Heroes, Qiu Qianchi naturally had to step in.
He recalled that in Divine Condor, it was mentioned that Qiu Qianzhang repeatedly used Qiu Qianren’s name, causing the latter extreme dissatisfaction and anger. Qiu Qianchi, defending her brother, argued with Qiu Qianren and left the Iron Palm Sect. Thinking of this, Zhou Yan became even less worried about the escort team’s safety.
“Senior’s injuries have not yet healed. Why not travel with the escort team? Once we reach Jingzhou, you can take a boat south to Yangzhou.”
Sun Buer also felt this was a reasonable compromise.
“However, it may cause some inconvenience.”
“Senior, please don’t worry. Our head escort is a righteous and generous person.”
“I can see that.” Sun Buer smiled slightly, “You said my Senior Brother only taught me the Qi Guiding Method.”
“Yes, at that time, I had sustained internal injuries from a fight and happened to be encountered by Senior, who then taught me the cultivation technique.”
“Very well. Since you have a connection with my Senior Brother, I will add another. I will teach you the Quanzhen Swordplay, seven swords and seven styles, a total of forty-nine moves.”
“Is that appropriate?” Zhou Yan asked.
“Why not? You cultivate Quanzhen Internal School cultivation techniques, and practicing swordplay will yield twice the results with half the effort. Moreover, it will take me several days to fully recover. If Qiu Qianchi pursues us, I can also help you resist her.” Sun Buer smiled slightly, “This is also saving myself.”
Zhou Yan said, “Junior respectfully accepts.”
“Sit down, let me first slowly explain the incantations for the moves, and then I will demonstrate them to you.”
He sat cross-legged, and Qingjing Sanren began to speak.
…
Taiyi is near the heavens, mountains connect to the sea’s edge. White clouds turn and disappear, green mist enters and is gone.
Behind Zhongnan Mountain, mist and haze swirled.
Suddenly, a sword light shot up from the ground, like an ice wheel traversing the sky. In an instant, the sword style changed, the single sword trembled like flowers swaying in the wind, emitting dazzling and shimmering light.
The woman wielding the sword moved and dodged with elegant posture and light rhythm, as beautiful as if she were dancing. After completing a set of swordplay, the woman let out a clear cry. With a wave of her hand, a faint “chichichi” sound was heard in the air, and several Jade Bee Needles embedded themselves into an ancient tree about two zhang away from the woman.
However, compared to the more stunning swordplay, the woman’s hidden weapon technique seemed less proficient, with the needles falling unevenly on the tree trunk.
As the woman’s figure disappeared, what appeared in the morning light was a face as beautiful as peach blossoms, precisely Li Mochou.
She walked over, looked at the Jade Bee Needles, and said, “It’s still not satisfactory, but I have time. I will definitely master hidden weapon techniques that are not inferior to Zhou Yan’s divine archery skills. I must win against him.”
“Older Sister,” a childish voice rang out, and a young girl ran towards Li Mochou. The girl could be described with a poem: “Fair and fair, with a small name of Wansu, her speech is clear and articulate, her hair covers her broad forehead, her ears are like connected jade.”
“Older Sister, play with me to catch sparrows,” the girl said, her face like a white jade plate looking at Li Mochou.
“Junior Sister, don’t be naughty. Senior Sister needs to practice.”
“Is it still about the martial arts competition with that Zhou Yan?”
The girl spoke thus, naturally being Li Mochou’s Junior Sister, Little Dragon Girl. She had also told Little Dragon Girl about Zhou Yan.
“Yes, he is very smart. The Beggars’ Sect Gang Leader taught him a set of fist techniques, and before I could grasp the essence, he understood its true meaning, so I must practice diligently.”
“Older Sister, is he as smart as me?” Little Dragon Girl asked.
“That!” Li Mochou chuckled, “Go ask him!”
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