Chapter 62: Heavy Snow and Drawn Bows, Dark Night for Killing
“Boss, Escort Huyan, are you back?”
“Elder Yang, hello.”
Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Yang Tiexin lifted the curtain and walked out from inside. Seeing Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei, he was naturally delighted. Upon seeing Zhou Yan, who was killing a chicken, he quickly said, “Escort Zhou, why are you doing this? That girl Nianci.”
Mu Nianci felt quite flustered. Zhou Yan’s decisiveness in picking up and putting down the knife was so swift. Her hands were still covered in chicken feathers, and she didn’t know how to explain to her father.
Zhou Yan smiled, “Elder Yang, please don’t mind. My hands are skilled.”
Huyan Lei explained, “Elder Yang, don’t consider Brother Zhou an outsider. He is indeed skilled. He often goes hunting in the suburbs, and he’s excellent at butchering. When we go to Brother Zhou’s home, he handles all the slaughtering and cooking.”
“That still won’t do,” Yang Tiexin insisted.
Mu Nianci finally came to her senses and said to Escort Zhou, “Escort Zhou, please go inside quickly. I will handle the rest.”
He smiled, “That works too!”
“I’ll get you water to wash your hands.”
“Thank you!”
Zhang Wangyue and the others entered the house first. Mu Nianci brought over clean water. As Zhou Yan took the wooden basin, he glanced at the Neiguan acupoint on her wrist and casually said, “Are you practicing spear techniques?”
“You can tell?”
“The skin on your Neiguan area is worn; it’s from the spear shaft rubbing against it.”
“Mm!” Mu Nianci nodded, “But Father doesn’t allow me to practice.”
“Why?”
“The Yang Family Spear Technique is passed down to males, not females.”
Zhou Yan had not witnessed Mu Nianci’s martial arts, but he knew she had learned Hong Qigong’s “Free and Easy Journey” Fist Techniques. When he saw her use a saber in Fengling Ferry, her saberplay was sharp, but her saber techniques were ordinary. If she were to cultivate spear techniques, Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei from the Escort Bureau could guide her in the future. The Yang Family Spear Technique, Huyan Spear Technique, and Yue Family Spear Technique were all excellent resources.
“Shall we mention it to Elder Yang later?”
“Can we?” Mu Nianci was surprised.
“One cannot achieve without breaking. We can’t let the authentic Yang Family Spear Technique be lost.”
“Thank you, Escort Zhou.”
“You’re welcome.” He washed his hands and, before Mu Nianci could get a towel, flicked his hands in the air. “We brought wine with us, so you don’t need to go get any.”
“Understood.”
The wind whirled and moaned under the eaves. Zhou Yan walked past under the eaves with the wine. Mu Nianci began to get busy. She felt that life should be like this: a place to settle, the warmth of home, and guests coming and going.
Thinking this, she felt her body become lighter. As the saying goes, a peaceful heart is home.
Zhou Yan entered the house and saw Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei already on the kang. He casually sat at the kang head and said with a smile, “When we were at the Escort Bureau, I heard the Boss say that you refused the offer to be directly hired as an escort and wanted to undergo the assessment according to the rules.”
Yang Tiexin was honest and said, “I’ve already troubled the Boss and the others. If they make an exception, wouldn’t it cause gossip and put the Boss in a difficult position?”
“I see Miss Mu’s wrists have worn skin; is she practicing spear techniques for the assessment?”
“The girl likes spears.”
Huyan Lei immediately said, “It’s simple. If it were swordplay or fist techniques, Brother Zhou could offer some guidance. For spear techniques, both the Boss and I can teach you through instruction and practice.”
Zhang Wangyue nodded, “That’s indeed the case.”
Yang Tiexin’s face showed a hint of difficulty.
Zhou Yan said, “What’s wrong, Elder? Is there something you can’t speak of?”
“There’s nothing that can’t be said. The ancestral instruction is that the Yang Family Spear Technique is passed down to males, not females.”
Huyan Lei thought it was a minor issue. Upon hearing Yang Tiexin say this, he advised, “Let me say a few words, Elder Brother. Please don’t find me nagging.”
“How could I,” Yang Tiexin said quickly.
Huyan Lei said, “Isn’t the Huyan Spear Technique the same? Passed down to males, not females; passed down within the family, not to outsiders. But over time, it became clinging to old ways and failed to improve. When I settled at the Escort Bureau and sparred with escorts, my spear skills actually improved. The reason is nothing more than learning from each other’s strengths. So my mindset became clearer. At the Escort Bureau, on impulse, I would teach a few moves to the runners. Elder Brother is a descendant of General Yang. We are family, so there’s no need to hide anything. I am currently practicing the authentic Yue Family Spear Technique, which was bestowed by the Boss. Brother Zhou practices Quanzhen martial arts, but he is not a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect. In practicing martial arts and teaching, all are welcome.”
Yang Tiexin was a little surprised. He had traveled extensively and knew of the Quanzhen Sect. He hadn’t expected Zhou Yan to practice Quanzhen martial arts.
Zhang Wangyue said, “The Yang Family has such an ancestral instruction, perhaps it was more to consider the ferocity of the spear techniques. Once they fell into the hands of ill-intentioned people, they could cause harm and commit evil deeds. But now, Elder Brother only has Miss Mu’s filial piety. Considering these ancestral instructions further is not appropriate. We can’t let the inheritance be lost because of them. If that happens, wouldn’t that be a sin? Not to mention far away, take the Yue Family Spear Technique as an example. The ancestral Yue Family Spear Technique originated from General Yue. The General was magnanimous. The Yue Family Spear Technique protected the country. Anyone with aspirations, regardless of gender, could learn it. The General’s daughter was a master of spear techniques. I passed down the Yue Family Spear Technique to Escort Huyan, which is in line with the General’s wishes. Practicing martial arts is like tailoring clothes. Since Miss Mu likes spears, she should be guided. I think it’s better this way: Elder Brother, don’t hesitate. You teach the Yang Family Spear Technique, and I will also teach the Yue Family Spear Technique to Miss Mu. If the spear technique can be further developed and made famous by Miss Mu one day, the General, if he knew, would also be pleased.”
Huyan Lei said, “The Huyan Family Spear Technique is also fine.”
Yang Tiexin quickly said, “With the Boss saying this, how could I dare to be ungrateful.”
Huyan Lei said, “General Yang was also under Grandpa Yue. With Elder Brother’s decision, General Yang would smile in the netherworld.”
“It was my narrow-mindedness. I am ashamed.”
Zhou Yan had spoken little from beginning to end, yet everything had started because of him. He had resolved this matter subtly.
Then he heard Huyan Lei say, “I think Brother Zhou might as well learn the Yue Family Spear Technique together with Miss Mu. Your talent is astonishing, far surpassing mine. If you achieve great mastery in spear techniques, perhaps when you use them, it will be as if Grandpa Yue himself has arrived.”
Huyan Lei’s words made even Zhang Wangyue’s heart stir. “Brother Zhou, what do you say?”
Zhou Yan said, “With the Boss teaching, why wouldn’t I learn? Skill is secondary to self-preservation. If I can gain enlightenment and carry forward the Yue Family Spear Technique, it is indeed an undeniable responsibility.”
“Well said! The inheritance of the Huyan Family Spear Technique also relies on Brother Zhou.” Huyan Lei was overjoyed. “Come, let’s drink to celebrate.”
Yang Tiexin let out a sigh, feeling a sense of relief he hadn’t felt before.
Mu Nianci was efficient. In a short while, she brought over several dishes to accompany the wine, such as stir-fried wild vegetables with eggs and steamed stuffed tofu. The wine Zhou Yan brought was “Chrysanthemum White.” The four of them clinked glasses, and the atmosphere was lively.
Zhou Yan found the “Chrysanthemum White” to be pure and mellow, with a gentle potency, truly not inferior to Xiangyang’s “Chrysanthemum Wine.” If he had known that the wine mentioned in Yuan Haowen’s poem, “What is love in this world, that it makes life and death inseparable? … For all eternity, to be remembered by poets, singing wildly and drinking heartily, visiting the place of the goose’s heart,”
was this “Chrysanthemum White,” he would have been deeply moved.
Mu Nianci served a stewed, tender old hen soup. Yang Tiexin said, “The Boss and Escort Huyan will teach you the Yue Family Spear Technique and the Huyan Family Spear Technique in the future, and I will also teach you the Yang Family Spear Technique. Aren’t you going to thank them?”
Surprise flooded Mu Nianci’s heart. She had never expected that not long ago Zhou Yan had said he would help her persuade her father, and now not only would her father teach her spear techniques, but she could also practice the Yue Family Spear Technique and the Huyan Family Spear Technique.
She felt immense gratitude towards Zhou Yan.
“Thank you, two Elders.”
……
The cold wind howled, and heavy snow began to fall.
Mu Nianci lifted the curtain. Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Zhou Yan, and Yang Tiexin walked out one by one.
Their footprints extended out of the courtyard and past the gate. The Boss said, “Elder Brother, please return. I’ll see you at the Escort Bureau tomorrow.”
“Alright!” Yang Tiexin cupped his hands.
The three turned and mounted their horses in the wind and snow. Mu Nianci wondered in surprise where Zhou Yan’s “Night-Shining Jade Lion” was.
The horses’ hooves clattered, breaking through the snow.
Zhou Yan took his quiver from the hook, brushed off the snowflakes, and slung it over his shoulder.
Zhang Wangyue glanced at Brother Zhou and suddenly said, “Brother Zhou, you guessed what I was going to do?”
“The Boss wants to settle the score with Lei Luo. The escorts and runners can’t all go at once for a brawl. Four Seas attacked Fu’an, and the main culprits were Escort Lu, Escort Su, and Escort Lu. The drinking tonight wasn’t as satisfying as the time at the Fengling Ferry inn. So I guessed you wanted to use their own methods against them. Heavy snow calls for saber and bow; a dark night is good for killing.”
Zhang Wangyue smiled without speaking.
Huyan Lei suddenly had an epiphany:
“A gentleman does not hold a grudge overnight. Excellent!”
