Chapter 68: My Daughter is Just Coming of Age
Low clouds gathered in the twilight, and a fierce snow danced in the returning wind.
In the mountains and fields outside the city, spears clashed faster than the wind and snow.
Zhou Yan’s long spear whirled and spun like a gale, the circles growing larger and faster. Snowflakes were caught by the force of the spear tip and tossed about. From afar, it looked like a giant white python.
Suddenly, the spear tip shot out from the swirling circle of snow. The tip was not steady, but flickered like a spirit snake’s tongue. In an instant, Zhou Yan pushed the spear forward several large strides. Where he passed, snow on the ground exploded.
This was a Middle Flat Spear technique common to all spear arts in the world. The name Middle Flat implied stability and steadiness. The move traveled in a straight line, and all its lethality was concentrated on that line. When practiced to its peak, a single thrust could target the chest, abdomen, shoulders, and neck.
Zhou Yan’s internal energy had reached a considerable level, and his arm strength was formidable. Following the method of guiding energy for spear techniques, his internal force was infused into the spear, and his external force was unleashed. This made the seemingly ordinary Middle Flat Spear thrust incredibly potent. The spearhead, utilizing the elasticity of the steel, flickered unpredictably. Not only the chest, abdomen, shoulders, and neck, but the entire area covered by the spear’s momentum was within its striking range, making its killing power astonishing.
Suddenly, Zhou Yan gripped the spear, his hands sliding to the middle section of the shaft. His footwork propelled his body, and the steel spear spun with him. In his swings, it was like a staff, like a whip, creating countless afterimages in the wind and snow, accompanied by popping sounds in the air.
His spear technique had completely departed from the Yue Family Spear Technique, the Huyan Spear Technique, and the Yang Family Spear Technique. It bore more resemblance to the unpredictable and varied spear techniques of Cult Leader Zhang, Zhang Sanqiang of the Ming Cult.
In the battle at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Xiangyang, Zhang Sanqiang only used three spears, but each was a victory of surprise. Especially the killing move where he held the middle section of the long spear with both hands, and the spear tip swung out with immense power, capable of beheading an opponent, had deeply influenced Zhou Yan.
Since he began practicing spear techniques, he had continuously tried to integrate that style of spear striking, and now he had gained considerable insight.
In a flash, all the spear afterimages vanished. Zhou Yan turned, his spear thrusting forward. With a Returning Spear strike, the spearhead, as wide as his palm, plunged into a tree as thick as his leg. The branches and leaves instantly vibrated, and accumulated snow rained down.
Zhou Yan’s internal energy radiated outwards. With a flick and a twist of his wrist, the spearhead rolled, and with a crack, the tree split in two from the point where the spear had pierced it.
He pulled out the spear, walked back a few steps, and looked at the surrounding trees. Dozens of poplar trees of varying thickness bore marks of the spearhead’s passage.
The Yue Family Spear Technique did not have such moves; they were from his earlier practice of Zhang Sanqiang’s spear techniques.
Zhou Yan exclaimed with surprise, “If this spear were to strike a person’s waist or abdomen, it would be no different from a sword cut, and the viscera would likely be ground to powder.”
With this thought, he plunged the long spear into the snow and walked towards a nearby cliff.
The cliff was five or six zhang high. Although not as sheer and precipitous as if cut by a knife, in such weather, it was impossible to climb it using both hands and feet.
Zhou Yan used the Golden Goose Skill’s Qi Guiding Method. Pure internal energy formed a unique circulation between the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. With each breath, his pelvis expanded, and his hips, sacrum, and coccyx all moved. He felt as if he were lifting off and soaring, light as a feather. He rose straight up a zhang, then descended, his toes lightly stepping on the cliff face, rising a few more feet. Then, like a goose in the clouds, he moved horizontally several feet before descending with a Swift Wind Returning Snow motion.
Zhou Yan’s face showed a look of joy. The Golden Goose Skill was progressing daily, especially the aerial maneuvering techniques, which were life-saving arts in combat.
Daybreak was approaching, around the time for breakfast. He stopped his practice, picked up his steel spear and quiver, and the four wild rabbits and three mountain chickens from the ground, and walked towards the Yellow Spotted Horse.
After Zhang Wangyue taught him the Yue Family Spear Technique, Huyan Lei and Yang Tiexin, who had broken through their inner barriers, successively taught him the Huyan and Yang family spear techniques. Practicing spear techniques was different from practicing fist techniques; it was difficult to do in one’s own courtyard. Every day at Mao hour, he would go to the escort agency to get his horse and ride out of the city to the mountains and fields outside the city to hunt, practice spear and sword, and cultivate the Golden Goose Skill. His resolve was as strong as iron, his comprehension outstanding, and his diligent practice led to rapid progress in all his skills.
“Giddy up!”
A light shout echoed, and the Yellow Spotted Horse galloped away, its four hooves kicking up the snow.
Traveling swiftly, as he neared the city, the horse entered the official road. As they proceeded, Zhou Yan heard the thunderous sound of hooves behind him. He reined in his horse to make way, and the Yellow Spotted Horse slowed down, moving along the side of the official road.
Dozens of fine horses charged through the wind and snow, their hooves roaring. The cavalcade galloped past him. Zhou Yan saw the man on the leading tall horse was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. His features were as sharp and hard as if chiseled by a knife. His cloak billowed like clouds in the wind and snow, exuding great majesty.
Following behind was a Hu youth. His waist was bulging, suggesting he carried a weapon like a soft whip. Behind him were several men with curly hair and yellow beards.
Was this a group from the Western Regions? Zhou Yan wondered, confused, as the horse troop rode away.
…
Green wisps of cooking smoke rose straight like trees, and green-patterned stream water flowed by the bridge bend.
Zhou Yan, alone on his horse, appeared outside the small courtyard on the outskirts of the city.
He dismounted, took two wild rabbits and one mountain chicken, pushed open the wooden gate, and entered the courtyard. As the gate creaked, Yang Tiexin emerged from the hall.
“Elder Yang, I’ve left the rabbits and chickens in the courtyard.”
Every morning, he practiced martial arts and hunted. When he returned, he would bring one or two prey for Yang Tiexin and Huyan Lei.
Yang Tiexin and his daughter initially declined, but it had become a habit.
“Thank you, Brother Zhou.”
Yang Tiexin replied with a smile. Mu Nianci came out from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of hot tea.
“Escort Zhou, have some tea to quench your thirst.”
“Thanks!” Zhou Yan picked up the brick tea and drank it down in gulps. He then handed the porcelain bowl back. “I’m leaving. See you at the escort agency.”
“Let’s eat together!” Yang Tiexin said.
“No, I still need to go to the leather goods shop.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll see you later.”
Everything was a natural and honest conversation, stemming from the heart. Zhou Yan left the courtyard and mounted his horse. Mu Nianci took the wild rabbits and mountain chicken and began to prepare them.
“Father, Escort Zhou has brought so much game. Why don’t we invite the Head Escort, Escort Huyan, Escort Wang, and Escort Shi over for a gathering later?”
“Excellent!”
“I’ll go and get a few more jars of wine tonight, daughter.”
“Excellent.”
Yang Tiexin said “Excellent” twice. Mu Nianci was already plucking and washing the mountain chicken. Hot water steamed in the wooden basin. Snowflakes swirled and occasionally landed on her face, turning into water droplets. The girl, with her sleeves rolled up, wiped the moisture from her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes were gentle, and her expression was joyful.
“My daughter has just come of age.”
Yang Tiexin stood in the courtyard, watching the scene before him, and thought this.
“Father, you should go inside to avoid the cold.”
“Alright, alright!”
A smile played on Yang Tiexin’s weather-beaten face as he turned and entered the house.
…
Zhou Yan entered the city and rode his horse to the leather goods shop.
He had traveled north from Xiangyang and cultivated in the Taihang Mountains. He hunted a leopard, took its hide, and brought it back to Zhongdu, where he sent it to the leather goods shop to have the shopkeeper make it into a fur coat. This was a gift for Huyan Lei, to thank him for paying for the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
The craftsmanship of the old brand leather goods shop was beyond question. Zhou Yan took the fur coat, paid the shopkeeper the labor fee, and rode his horse straight to his residence. Because he had the fur coat, he happened to take a detour through the Four Seas Escort Agency.
Passing the gatehouse, Zhou Yan saw the escort agency’s main gate was wide open, and it was bustling inside.
It shouldn’t be so lively? He wondered, confused.
Lei Luo, Helian Chuncheng, and the Hu youth Yin Kexi stood under the eaves of the corridor courtyard. The Boss of Four Seas’ gaze swept across the space of several zhang and saw Zhou Yan outside the escort agency.
“Young Master, the person outside the escort agency is Escort Zhou Yan of Fu’an. The disaster of Four Seas began with the competing escort, and he was the one who seized the escort.”
Yin Kexi heard this and said:
“My father praised this person after returning from Fengling Ferry. I will go and meet him.”
…
Zhou Yan, on the long street, frowned in thought. Just as he was about to leave, a shout suddenly came from the escort agency’s corridor:
“Snooping around, who is spying?”
The voice was followed by the whip. In Zhou Yan’s line of sight, a soft whip shot out like a dragon from beyond the heavens.
Originally, the young master of “Changfeng Escort Agency” was Helian Chunshui, but after a significant reminder, I felt it was better to change the name. Because there is a character named Helian Chunshui in Mr. Wen’s 《 “Against the Water” 》, and he has a significant role, so Helian Chunshui was changed to Helian Chuncheng. This is to prevent readers from mistaking the novel for a general martial arts story.
Thank you to all the readers who voted and supported. The author will work hard to write more and prepare for an additional update.
