Chapter 5: Great Trees Attract Wind, Popularity Breeds Envy
Zhou Yan silently memorized it. By the time Hong Qigong finished his set of fist techniques, he had learned more than half of it. The Beggars’ Sect Leader continued to instruct and guide him, and in less than three hours, he had learned all thirty-six forms of “Free and Easy Journey” and the breathing exercises.
He wasn’t greedy for the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms at all. This set of fist techniques perfectly compensated for his lack of agility and weak internal energy, making it suitable for laying the foundation for his own cultivation of Internal School techniques.
Hong Qigong praised Zhou Yan’s comprehension and said, “Kid, let’s spar a bit.”
“Alright!”
He and Hong Qigong attacked simultaneously. One started from the left, the other from the right. They circled and moved back and forth, truly like two butterflies among flowers, fluttering and unstable, bringing the essence of “Free and Easy” to its fullest.
Li Mochou watched, her heart stirred. She secretly marveled at Zhou Yan’s memory and comprehension. She knew she couldn’t reach such a level of skill with this martial art in three hours. Thinking this, she suddenly felt a sense of urgency and thought that upon returning to the Ancient Tomb, she would humbly seek guidance from her Master and practice diligently without stopping.
The “Free and Easy Journey” cultivation technique concluded with “Four Seas Roaming.” As they sparred, reaching the final move, Hong Qigong laughed heartily, “Splendid! I’m off.”
He used his Lightness Skill, like a long dragon traversing the sky, splitting the wind and stirring up dust, disappearing into the night.
From beginning to end, Hong Qigong never asked Zhou Yan or Li Mochou their names.
Zhou Yan murmured to himself, “This is what it means to be a true divine dragon that shows its head but not its tail, finishing the deed and leaving with a flick of the sleeve, taking neither cultivation technique nor fame.”
Only then did Li Mochou realize that the beggar’s martial arts cultivation was actually so high.
“Hey, why is he missing a finger?”
“You saw that.”
“Mm.”
“You are quite observant,” Zhou Yan said. “The Elder was greedy and, due to his gluttony, missed an important matter. He then cut off a finger as a warning.”
“Ah!” Li Mochou exclaimed, “You know the Elder?”
“I’ve only heard of his deeds. The Elder is the Gang Leader of the Beggars’ Sect.”
“I’ve also heard of the Beggars’ Sect Leader Hong Qigong. I didn’t expect him to be like this.”
“What did you expect? Burly and imposing even without anger.”
“Close enough. By the way, what if I win against you a year from now?”
“I’ll take you to Zhongdu for a tour.”
“Don’t you dare lie to me.”
“The premise is winning against me.”
“We’ll see!”
Li Mochou stood with her hands behind her back, gazing at the Firmament. The floating clouds dispersed, and moonlight spilled through the gaps, revealing a breathtaking beauty. She thought that Zhou Yan’s archery was superb, and she would have to cultivate a hidden weapon technique upon her return to counter it.
Li Mochou smiled.
…
The dawn light was faint, and the air still carried the coolness of the previous night. Zhou Yan and Li Mochou bid each other farewell and went their separate ways at the fork in the road. One headed straight for Zhongnan Mountain, while the other rode alone towards Zhongdu.
Zhou Yan urged his horse onward, and three days later, he arrived at Daxing Prefecture.
He saw dense populations and prosperous markets. Red buildings and painted pavilions, embroidered doors and vermilion gates. Carved carriages stopped in competition, fine horses galloped in haste. Gold and jade shone in the sun, and silk and brocade wafted fragrance. It was a scene of great prosperity.
He went straight to the Escort Bureau, familiar with the route.
…
The Fu’an Escort Agency was a large mansion with five courtyards in a row. The entrance was a tall and neat Gatehouse, built with bricks, with exquisite ridge decorations on its hard-shell roof. A pair of white stone lions squatted at the entrance, exuding an imposing aura.
The main personnel, including the Head Escort, Escorts, and Runners, numbered over seventy. If the laborers and drivers were included, there were hundreds.
With the world in chaos, the Escort Bureau’s business was actually booming. Zhou Yan was the youngest Escort in the bureau. His martial arts cultivation was secondary; his archery was unmatched, thus he was highly valued. The bureau did not support idlers; one ate by skill.
He dismounted, and a Runner stepped forward to greet him enthusiastically, “Brother Zhou is back.”
“Mm!”
“We’ll treat you to tea and stories tonight. A welcome feast.”
“I’m tired, I’ll rest for a night. I’ll treat you later.”
“How can we accept that? Then let’s make another appointment. I’ll treat, it’s settled.”
“Alright!”
Regardless of status or rank, everyone was striving to climb. In the eyes of the Runners, Zhou Yan had a promising future in the Escort Bureau, making him someone worth befriending.
The Runner led the horse through a side gate directly to the stable.
Zhou Yan walked through corridors and buildings, and along the way, enthusiastic greetings rang out.
“Brother Zhou is back.”
“Haven’t seen Brother Zhou for several days, it feels like years.”
“I envy your skin that doesn’t tan. Every time I come back from an escort, my wife complains that my face looks like it’s been smeared with soot, and she won’t let me on the kang.”
Whether it was warmth or harmless jokes, the Escorts and Runners he met were all expressing goodwill.
Zhou Yan responded to each one and went directly to the accountant’s office to submit the Escort Order.
He had undertaken a Letter Escort. The employer had already paid the escort fee, so submitting the Escort Order to the accountant’s office marked the completion of this escort mission.
“Congratulations, Brother Zhou, on a successful escort. Keep up the good work.” This was Zhou Yan’s first solo escort mission, and the accountant offered words of encouragement.
“Thank you, sir. Are there any escort missions available recently?”
The accountant kept his lips sealed and smiled, “Rest well for two days. You are young and promising, a key protégé of the Chief Escort, so you won’t be short of opportunities.”
“Great, I’m satisfied with your words. I’m off!”
“Go ahead.” The accountant waved his hand.
Zhou Yan wanted to take on escort missions, hoping to find ones going to Xiangyang or the northern parts of Hunan, so he could observe the local situation and gather information, which would be convenient for his future visits to Dugu Qiubai’s Sword Tomb and Iron Palm Peak.
He had already fully integrated the original host’s memories, but adapting to the life of an escort and the environment required time. Therefore, he spoke less and observed more. After returning from the escort, he could rest for two days, and he didn’t want to linger at the Escort Bureau. He returned the way he came and passed by the martial arts field, where he heard a voice with a peculiar accent.
“Our Escort Zhou is back.”
Zhou Yan heard the clearly unfriendly tone and frowned slightly as he looked over.
There were six or seven people in the martial field. The speaker was a well-fed man in his thirties, holding an iron abacus.
He smoothly retrieved the other party’s information from the original host’s memories.
Like himself, the man was an Escort named Cui Qingshan, nicknamed “Full Sky Stars,” and his weapon was the iron abacus.
The iron abacus was an unconventional weapon, but if one truly mastered it, it could shatter bones and crush skulls when swung and smashed. It could also be used as a shield to block attacks or to disarm opponents.
Cui Qingshan could also use the abacus beads as hidden weapons. When scattered, they were like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, possessing immense power, hence his nickname “Full Sky Stars.”
The original host had only recently been promoted to Escort and had no prior dealings with the man. Zhou Yan greeted him from afar, “Mm, I’m back. Escort Cui is practicing martial arts!”
“That’s right, this body can’t afford to be idle. Escort Zhou achieved mastery at a young age, let’s spar together.”
“Alright!” Several Runners cheered loudly.
Another Escort, who was familiar with the original host, named Huyan Lei, who wielded a spear, said, “Sparring also requires the right time. Brother Zhou just returned and is tired. Why isn’t anyone inviting him for tea and entertainment?”
“Brother Lei, we haven’t received our monthly pay yet,” said a Runner.
“I think the monthly pay has been spent on the girls at the Red Sleeve Pavilion,” Huyan Lei cursed with a laugh, tossed his iron spear to a Runner, and walked directly to Zhou Yan’s side. “Let’s go for a drink.”
“Are you really treating?”
“Nonsense.”
As they walked, Huyan Lei said, “Escort Cui has been working hard to get his nephew promoted to Escort, but only you were promoted. He’s a bit resentful.”
“So that’s why. No wonder his tone was unfriendly.”
“A tall tree catches the wind, and a popular person breeds jealousy. Who told you to be so capable at such a young age?” Huyan Lei chuckled, “Don’t mind him. With us backing you, if you want to establish yourself in the Escort Bureau and become a renowned escort, you must have ‘a fierce tiger in your heart.'”
Zhou Yan said:
“Golden words of wisdom.”
