Chapter 69: Wind and Rain from All Directions Converge on Zhongdu
As the long whip struck, the snowflakes in the air were shaken away, and they rolled back to both sides with a swish.
Zhou Yan truly hadn’t expected Four Seas to have such a person, and that they would attack without hesitation.
Before he could even grab his spear, he pressed his right hand against the horse’s back and his body floated to the flank. The long whip bent in mid-air and followed like a shadow, like a persistent leech, its fierce energy spreading.
Zhou Yan held his breath, activating the “Golden Goose Skill.” His body narrowly deflected two feet in the air, and the whip flew past his side.
A surprised “Eh?” came from Yin Kexi, who had landed below the escort agency’s gatehouse, his nose high and eyes deep-set. But before he could retract his whip, the moment Zhou Yan landed, he had already grabbed the tip of the soft whip.
He landed on the ground with a “snap,” his feet seemingly rooted. The soft whip, pulled by Yin Kexi’s force, suddenly straightened, emitting a humming vibration.
Both Zhou Yan and Yin Kexi felt their tiger mouths heat up, secretly acknowledging the other’s formidable cultivation.
Yin Kexi let out a loud shout, his internal energy radiating outwards.
“Let go.”
Since the other party had attacked with malice, Zhou Yan naturally intended to retaliate.
“Not necessarily!”
He moved his feet in unison, wrapping the long whip around his elbow, and his body charged rapidly towards Yin Kexi.
Yin Kexi was truly greatly surprised; he had never encountered someone with such swift changes in technique.
The closing distance felt like an illusion. Within his line of sight, the Fu’an escort agency’s escorts’ elbows were already ferociously smashing down. Yin Kexi, though startled, was not afraid. He made a decisive move, abandoning the whip and employing the “Separate Tendons and Dislocate Bones” technique, his hands flying, dislocating joints and targeting Zhou Yan’s elbows.
The Mandarin Duck Elbow from Zhou Yan’s “Yue Family Boxing” technique also instantly transformed into “Sanshou” grappling. He advanced closely, finding openings, and hooked and captured with his backhand.
Both of them were using grappling techniques. Zhou Yan’s offense was fierce, while Yin Kexi’s was strange and ever-changing. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over ten moves, grappling and counter-grappling unfolding, like dragons and snakes dancing in the falling snow.
Helian Chuncheng and Lei Luo also emerged from the escort agency at this moment, standing at the gatehouse.
Helian Chuncheng, the Young Master of Changfeng Escort Agency, said, “He has true skill, and at such a young age, his attainment is truly extraordinary. It’s no wonder Four Seas cannot compete with Fu’an.”
Lei Luo gave a wry smile.
The Head Escort of Four Seas said, “This kid is like he’s been practicing martial arts since he was in the womb. Every time he spars with us, his cultivation visibly improves.”
As they spoke, a “bang” echoed through the air. Zhou Yan and Yin Kexi’s hands were entangled. Zhou Yan’s arm suddenly shifted from grappling to the hammer technique from the “Yue Family Eight Methods,” chopping downwards.
“Bang!”
Yin Kexi’s body sank, his left hand blocking and his right arm pressing down. With a loud sound, they each retreated several steps, and the long whip fell to the ground with a “snap.”
Yin Kexi was enraged. Just as he was about to charge forward again, Helian Chuncheng said, “Yin Kexi, it’s a misunderstanding.”
The Hu man youth stopped. Lei Luo smiled, “Escort Zhou, how have you been?”
Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment, his mind filled with the name Yin Kexi.
In the Divine Condor Jianghu, Yin Kexi, originally a Hu merchant, had stolen the Nine Yang Manual along with Xiaoxiangzi.
Helian Chuncheng flickered and appeared beside Yin Kexi. Zhou Yan looked over and immediately recognized the man as the leader of the horse convoy he had encountered that morning.
Lei Luo also descended the steps at this moment and said, “Allow me to introduce the Young Master Helian Chuncheng and Second Young Master Yin Kexi of Changfeng Escort Agency. We didn’t realize it was Escort Zhou just now; it was a misunderstanding. Please convey our apologies to your Boss and Head Escort Zhang. From today onwards, there will be no Four Seas Escort Agency in Zhongdu, only a branch office of Changfeng Escort Agency.”
Helian Chuncheng smiled, “Once things are settled with Four Seas Escort Agency, we will definitely visit Fu’an.”
Hearing these words, Zhou Yan understood what this scene implied. That day, Lei Luo had come to apologize with thorns, and the Boss intended to swallow Four Seas. After leaving the escort agency, they had colluded with Changfeng Escort Agency, and in a flash, Four Seas had become a branch of Changfeng Escort Agency in Datong Prefecture. Changing banners and allegiance, this was a sinister move.
Changfeng daring to take over Four Seas Escort Agency meant they wanted to compete with Fu’an Escort Agency in Zhongdu. Yin Kexi attacking him was merely to shed the label of “peeping,” to gain the moral high ground first, and then to humiliate him, to vent Lei Luo’s anger, and to make Fu’an lose face.
His thoughts returned. He briefly lingered on Yin Kexi’s face before looking away and said to Helian Chuncheng, “I will relay the Young Master’s words truthfully. We shall meet again.”
Helian Chuncheng smiled, “Farewell!”
Zhou Yan mounted his horse and rode away, flicking his whip.
Yin Kexi picked up the long whip that had fallen to the ground and said incredulously, “This kid’s techniques are very unfamiliar; did you recognize them?”
Helian Chuncheng’s smile faded, and he said seriously, “I haven’t seen the lightness skill he used to evade, but the grappling and elbow strikes you exchanged with him resemble Yue Family techniques.”
Lei Luo and the Head Escort of Four Seas were greatly shocked. The former Boss of Four Seas asked in disbelief, “Does the Young Master confirm?”
Yin Kexi said, “How could the Young Master be mistaken?”
Lei Luo said with a smile, “You are right.”
Helian Chuncheng smiled at Yin Kexi and said, “It’s not entirely unfair to suffer a small loss in front of Yue Family Boxing.”
“It won’t be like this next time.”
Helian Chuncheng patted his shoulder:
“Let’s go back, get ready, and go to Fu’an to visit Manager Duan together.”
“Okay, I’ve got that kid’s number.”
Helian Chuncheng smiled slightly. His brother always avenged his grievances. Having his weapon snatched in front of everyone, the young escort of Fu’an would have trouble in the future.
…
The snowfall stopped after a while. Zhou Yan rode his horse straight towards Fu’an Escort Agency.
The long street was empty, with few pedestrians.
As the Yellow Spotted Horse passed an inn, an elderly blind man holding an iron staff and a woman in green emerged from within. Zhou Yan guided his horse to the side of the street to make way for them.
The woman smiled slightly at him in thanks.
As people and horses passed each other, Zhou Yan’s Yellow Spotted Horse slowed down, eventually stopping altogether. He looked back at the blind man, who, without needing the woman’s support, walked with surprising speed. He muttered to himself, “At over fifty years old, holding an iron staff, with a sharp mouth and a gaunt face, could it be the Flying Bat Ke Zhen’e? The Six Freaks of Jiangnan have entered Zhongdu.”
Thinking this, he glanced at the inn and rode away.
The Yellow Spotted Horse arrived at Fu’an Escort Agency. Zhou Yan dismounted, tossed the reins to a runner who came forward, and asked, “Have the Head Escort and Escort Huyan arrived?”
“They arrived a while ago.”
“Good!”
He entered the escort agency and headed straight for the Martial Field, where he saw Huyan Lei instructing the runners in spear practice from afar.
“Old Brother Huyan.”
“Brother Zhou is here,” Huyan Lei said, stepping forward.
“Yes, see if this fur coat fits.”
Huyan Lei was a bit confused. Zhou Yan explained, “On my way back to Zhongdu, I passed through the Taihang Mountains and hunted a few leopards. I had their skins made into this fur coat by a leather goods shop.”
“Why is that?”
“You gave me a horse, so I’m giving you a coat.”
“Heh, you still remember that.” Huyan Lei knew that if he didn’t accept it, Zhou Yan would find another way to compensate him with money. Being a generous person, he smiled and said, “The weather is severe, and a leopard fur coat will keep me warm. I won’t refuse.”
“Excellent!”
Huyan Lei took the fur coat. Zhou Yan said, “I got the fur coat this morning and happened to pass by Four Seas Escort Agency. Guess who I saw?”
“Someone from the Yellow River Gang?”
“Changfeng Escort Agency. Their Young Master Helian Chuncheng arrived at Four Seas, and Four Seas has changed its banner, becoming a branch of Changfeng.”
Huyan Lei’s eyes widened in anger. “Lei Luo played dirty. I should have taken his head that night. Let’s go see the Head Escort.”
“Alright!”
Huyan Lei handed his spear to a runner, and Zhou Yan placed his steel spear on the weapon rack. They walked side by side towards the Meeting Hall.
On this morning when the heavy snow had stopped, Zhou Yan, walking through the escort agency’s corridors and courtyards, had his mind full of matters.
Helian Chuncheng, Yin Kexi, Changfeng Escort Agency wanting to compete with Fu’an.
The woman seen outside the “Yuelai” Inn was definitely Yue Maiden Sword Han Xiaoying. With their appearance, the other four must also be in the city. The Six Freaks of Jiangnan’s target was undoubtedly Zhao Wang Manor, to assist Guo Jing in taking Wanyan Honglie’s head.
The winds and rains from all directions are converging on Zhongdu.
