Chapter 59: Attending the Meeting Alone
Thunderous blade light struck Zhang Sanqiang’s fine iron great spear, sending sparks flying.
Within Zhou Yan’s sight, two men, presumably Imperial City Guard swift runners, surrounded him from left and right. The man on the left held dual sabers, while the burly swift runner on the right wielded a rarely seen weapon since Zhou Yan’s transmigration: a shuttle dart. The dart spun in the man’s right hand with a “swish-swish,” forming a crystalline fan shape.
However, the swift runner waited without attacking.
Even for weapons Zhou Yan had never seen, with the improvement of his own martial arts and the resulting change in his perception, he could now roughly guess the purpose before the wielder even revealed their intent.
The shuttle dart in the Imperial City Guard swift runner’s hand was not meant to injure, but to entangle Zhang Sanqiang’s iron spear.
The first man to engage Zhang Sanqiang used a serrated great saber. With two partners, one using dual sabers, it was clear they specialized in lower body techniques, perhaps masters of ground-fighting sabers. The other using a flying shuttle dart, this combination was aimed directly at Zhang Sanqiang’s weapon.
The opponents were prepared. As for why they hadn’t attacked, perhaps they were waiting for reinforcements, or perhaps they were probing Zhang Sanqiang’s purpose for appearing at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and whether he had companions.
Zhou Yan was curious if Zhang Sanqiang truly had a connection to the Ming Cult, and if he knew the Qiankun Great Shift. After all, in the Jianghu of the Legend of the Condor Heroes, Heaven Sword, and Dragon Saber trilogy, it was mentioned that besides Yang Dingtian, a Cult Leader surnamed Zhong had also practiced this technique, possibly to the third level. He wasn’t sure if he remembered correctly. But one thing was certain: Cult Leader Zhong predated Yang Dingtian.
In other words, the Qiankun Great Shift technique had existed long before.
He carried a bow and saber, and his attire wasn’t that of a dart player, but his identity as a martial artist was evident. Therefore, as the Imperial City Guard swift runner with the flying shuttle dart approached, Zhou Yan immediately stood up and followed the fleeing diners towards the stairs.
He was curious about Zhang Sanqiang, but he didn’t want to get involved in such a situation, so he merely observed with his peripheral vision as he moved.
The swift runner holding the dual sabers had already moved. His body lunged forward in an instant, like a swallow skimming over ripples, sliding rapidly across the wooden floor. His dual sabers spun silently, slicing through the air, their light rolling towards Zhang Sanqiang’s legs. The ferocity of the saber stance was such that even the floating dust was pressed into a curved white line.
In a flash of lightning, Zhou Yan put himself in Zhang Sanqiang’s shoes, wondering how he would break the enemy’s attack. Before he could finish his thought, Zhang Sanqiang’s right foot flicked up, striking the spear with a “snap.”
Amidst the dust, the great spear emitted a violent trembling sound, forcefully deflecting the serrated great saber. The spear immediately followed with a horizontal thrust. Zhang Sanqiang’s body propelled the long spear, thrusting straight into the completely exposed center of the swift runner wielding the serrated great saber.
Zhang Sanqiang took a single step forward, not only breaking the offensive of the swift runner with dual sabers but also seizing the initiative in an instant.
Zhou Yan’s eyes lit up. Brilliant! Hong Qigong said that techniques are rigid, but people are alive. Superior martial arts should bring dead techniques to life. Zhang Sanqiang had reached that realm.
Just as he thought this, seeing his companion in danger, the swift runner holding the shuttle dart flicked his dart, which coiled towards the great spear. But in an instant, Zhang Sanqiang’s iron spear changed its move to “Sweeping the Thousand Armies,” its tip drawing a magnificent arc towards the swift runner with the flying shuttle dart.
Earlier, the swift runner had called Zhang Sanqiang “Zhang the Demon.” The demon’s true target was him.
The swift runner’s shuttle dart grazed the iron spear. The sweeping great spear landed on the opponent with a “bang.” The flying swift runner didn’t even have time to scream before crashing through the window and falling towards the long street.
Zhang Sanqiang retracted his spear, his palm sliding to the mid-section of the great spear. The spear style spun in a large circle, and he and the spear rotated together. The spear tip swept across the neck of the swift runner holding the serrated saber, and with a *thud*, it severed the opponent’s head.
In Zhou Yan’s sight, Zhang Sanqiang executed a simple returning spear thrust, retracted it, and it landed behind him. The head of the swift runner wielding dual sabers was pierced, and with a “bang,” he fell to the ground.
Three spears, three kills.
“Your turn!” Zhang Sanqiang slowly retracted his spear, his gaze falling on Zhou Yan.
“I’m just a diner.” Zhou Yan looked at Zhang Sanqiang’s beard, which was as sharp as a halberd, and appeared innocent.
“Sneaking around!”
How am I sneaking around? Is the Jianghu this unreasonable? Zhou Yan secretly became wary and said, “I just happened to see your fine iron great spear and couldn’t help but look a bit longer. Is that considered sneaking around? You people are all so unreasonable. Taking what you want.”
Zhang Sanqiang snorted coldly, and the great spear resting on the ground emitted a series of hums. His leopard-like eyes flashed like lightning: “What do you mean by that?”
“If you must ask, I’ll tell you. However, this is not a safe place, and it’s not suitable to linger. We should leave here first.”
“Fine, meet me at White Water Temple outside Xiangyang City. We’ll talk things through then. Don’t play any tricks; I’ll be watching you.” With that, Zhang Sanqiang no longer delayed. With a few quick steps, he leaped out through the broken window, his figure crossing the long street and landing on the opposite rooftop. His silhouette flickered and disappeared from Zhou Yan’s sight.
I’m going to face him alone. Zhou Yan thought this as he quickly went downstairs.
…
Li Taibai left quite a bit of calligraphy in Xiangyang. The Drunken Immortal Pavilion, where Zhou Yan came on recommendation, is rumored to be where the Blue Lotus Master left his Xiangyang Qu. The fact that he visited White Water Temple and penned the poem “Early morning wading in White Water, temporarily distant from the common folk; island scenery, the river and sky hold clear emptiness” shows the scenery is exceptionally beautiful.
White Water Temple also holds many legends about Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Therefore, Zhou Yan felt Zhang Sanqiang’s invitation to this place had some symbolic meaning.
For example, the other party might see himself as Emperor Guangwu, who was in desperate straits in Xiangyang, resurrected, and ultimately established his empire.
The wind blew through the mountains and fields, the afternoon sun was peaceful. Alone, on horseback, Zhou Yan slowly arrived at the foot of White Water Temple.
Zhang Sanqiang sat on a large rock, his fine iron great spear half-inserted into the ground beside him. The man the Imperial City Guard swift runners called a demon had fierce eyes and a bushy beard, and his appearance was burly. Apart from his height, Zhou Yan felt the man strongly resembled Qiao Feng, the Beggars’ Sect Gang Leader from the 1997 TVB series.
When Zhang Sanqiang saw Zhou Yan, he didn’t have the murderous aura from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, but his words were not friendly either. He snorted, “A bit of courage.”
Zhou Yan said, “Since I promised you, I cannot break my word.”
“Speak, what did you mean by that?”
With about two zhang between them, Zhou Yan asked, “Can you recruit soldiers and buy horses?”
Zhang Sanqiang suddenly laughed, “You’re an interesting kid. What, do you want to join me?”
“I just want to know how you recruit people.”
Zhang Sanqiang had killed three Imperial City Guard members right before Zhou Yan’s eyes, so he didn’t need to hide his words. He said, “Heroes of the world, those with shared aspirations, are naturally welcome.”
“Energy is divided into yin and yang, people have good and evil, and you accept all?”
“Petty clowns would not enter my sight.”
“And how do you restrain the behavior of your subordinates?”
Zhang Sanqiang laughed, “Beating around the bush, speak your mind.”
Zhou Yan roughly guessed some of the other party’s personality traits: brave and heroic, not concerned with minor details.
“I have experienced situations where your subordinates killed and looted indiscriminately.”
“Who?” Zhang Sanqiang’s gaze shot out like lightning.
“There is a wanted poster outside Xiangyang City. The person being sought is you and a group of bandits. Those bandits are them.”
“Since you experienced it personally, are you willing to come forward and identify them?”
Zhou Yan smiled, “If you value your reputation, investigating such matters is as easy as pie. Why would I need to identify them? Moreover, I have important matters to attend to.”
“At such a young age, you act with such maturity and caution. However, you suit my taste. You witnessed me kill Imperial City Guard members and dared to come alone. You are a young hero. Are you willing to follow? Regarding the matter of those bandits, I will investigate and uphold justice for you.”
“I do not wish to.”
“Why?”
“I am not optimistic about you achieving great things.”
I’ll give you an extra update for monthly votes tomorrow or the day after. My typing speed slows down whenever there’s a fight scene.
