Chapter 7: Songhe Tower Encounters Two Quanzhen Daoists
As dusk approached, it was the time when esteemed guests would arrive. Songhe Tower was not far from the two escort bureaus, and there were several martial arts schools in the area, making it a place where all walks of life mingled.
Those holding a Feast of Heroes would widely invite heroes to the wine house. During such events, if a few words were exchanged amiss, faces would be lost, and people would pair off to fight in the courtyard or on the street. These were common occurrences.
People of the Jianghu enjoyed excitement. The escorts from the Four Seas Escort Agency offered sarcastic remarks, and the diners on the second floor all looked over.
Everyone knew the two escort bureaus had a mutual conflict. The young escort’s words were like adding fuel to a fire, bound to create some sparks.
At a private room by the north window, a young Taoist was preparing to stand up with his sword, but he was pulled back by his companion, who whispered, “Junior Brother Yin, it’s fine to just watch.”
“Senior Brother Zhao, Master said that when walking the Jianghu, we should not stir up trouble.”
The elder Taoist, Zhao, said, “We are merely watching the excitement, which does not violate our master’s teachings. As we travel the Jianghu, isn’t this a good opportunity to broaden our horizons and gain experience?”
“Senior Brother Zhao has a point.” Taoist Yin nodded and put down the longsword in his hand.
Their vantage point allowed them to see the scene involving Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei clearly. Senior Brother Zhao said, “That young man is much more handsome than you, Junior Brother Yin.”
“Senior Brother, please don’t tease me.” Taoist Yin said this, and couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Yan a few more times, thinking to himself what a fine appearance he had.
Taoist Yin meant no harm, but being stared at, the perceptive Zhou Yan glanced back. Taoist Yin quickly averted his gaze. Zhou Yan wondered in surprise, why is this Taoist looking at me? I wonder if he’s from the Quanzhen Sect.
Huyan Lei laughed, “It’s rare that Escort Lu, Escort Su, and Escort Lu can understand my crude words. You are truly kindred spirits.”
Escort Lu was the young escort who had praised Huyan Lei’s talent. He was inwardly annoyed, thinking to himself, “He’s subtly calling me a boor,” and asked Huyan Lei with a forced smile, “This brother looks unfamiliar.”
“The newly promoted Escort Zhou.”
“So that’s how it is.” Escort Lu stepped forward and extended his right hand, “Heroes have emerged from youth since ancient times. I am honored.”
Zhou Yan had integrated all of the original host’s memories and recognized the three escorts from the Four Seas Escort Agency. Moreover, he deeply detested their escort agency.
When merchants chose an escort agency, the Fu’an Escort Agency relied on its strength and solid reputation to secure business.
The Four Seas, on the other hand, tried every means to slander and defame the Fu’an Escort Agency.
They would spread rumors about what went wrong during an escort mission and how much silver was lost.
They claimed that Fu’an escorts, while on personal safety escorts, hooked up with young ladies and got them pregnant.
They alleged that during letter escorts, escorts peeked at the letters, exposing private information.
They fabricated baseless accusations and spun them into elaborate tales.
Yet, these slanderous words found believers, leading to situations where escorts that were originally a sure thing for the Fu’an Escort Agency were snatched away by the other side every few days.
However, these incidents were only discovered later, and without concrete evidence, there was nothing that could be done about them.
But the two escort agencies were irreconcilably at odds in secret; not just the runners, but even the laborers and grooms knew this clearly.
Escort Lu extended his hand to Zhou Yan. Huyan Lei inwardly sneered. In the martial world, when people met for the first time, they were often unconvinced of each other, but due to face-saving, they wouldn’t openly fight. Instead, they would extend their hands as if to greet each other warmly, but in reality, it was a test of strength. It was common for the weaker party to have their hand bones crushed, their palms swollen, or to cry out in pain and beg for mercy.
Although the other party was considerably older than Brother Yan, if they were to test their strength, he would be asking for trouble. Zhou Yan’s hands could draw a strong bow of a hundred jin.
Escort Lu extended his hand, and Zhou Yan smiled, “You are too polite!”
The young escort from the Four Seas Escort Agency’s expression immediately turned grim. He had said, “Heroes have emerged from youth since ancient times. I am honored.” Shouldn’t you have replied with “Please guide me”? Why did you say “You are too polite”?
Who gave you the courage?
“Kid, you deserve to be humiliated.”
Their hands clasped, Escort Lu suddenly exerted force, intending to crush Zhou Yan’s palm until it swelled.
In an instant, his expression changed drastically. He felt as if his strength was like a mud ox entering the sea; the other party was unmoved.
Suddenly, Escort Lu felt a force like a thousand jun emanating from Zhou Yan’s palm and fingers, pressing into his muscles and bones. He felt every channel in his body twitching with the pain spreading from his palm and fingers.
Escort Lu struggled to break free, but Zhou Yan’s fingers were like iron clamps.
“I’ve long admired your reputation.” Zhou Yan said with a smile, looking at the other man’s face, which had turned as purple as eggplant.
To Escort Lu, these words were more piercing than when he had praised Huyan Lei’s talent.
He knew that if this continued, he would be publicly humiliated on the spot.
He let out a fierce roar, and his fist, coming from under his armpit, chopped forward and upward, the back of his fist facing outward, attacking Zhou Yan’s face.
This move, “Reverse Chop Fist,” was quick and agile, demonstrating considerable skill.
Only then did Zhou Yan release his grip. He raised his right elbow to sweep away the punch and delivered a very subtle sweeping kick to Escort Lu’s leg, no higher than his knee.
The young escort lurched forward, suspended in mid-air.
Escort Lu and Escort Su shouted, “Stop this insolence!”
The two attacked Zhou Yan. Huyan Lei took a step forward, sidestepped, and delivered an “Iron Mountain Lean” that firmly struck Escort Lu’s side. With a “bang,” Escort Lu was forced to retreat, all the way to the private room where Taoist Yin and Taoist Zhao were.
Seeing that the other party was about to fall onto the table, Taoist Yin placed a palm on his lower back, intending to help him steady himself.
However, Huyan Lei’s “Iron Mountain Lean” was powerful and fierce. The chair of Taoist Yin creaked and groaned as the force of the impact pushed him towards the window. Nevertheless, Escort Lu managed to regain his balance.
Taoist Yin reacted quickly, drawing his sword with his left hand and lightly tapping the wall with the sheath, steadying the chair.
He thought to himself how strong Huyan Lei was and turned his gaze towards the private room on the south side.
Zhou Yan had already engaged Escort Su. They attacked each other fiercely from the outset. In the twilight, they dodged and weaved within a small area, their fight confined to a space of about ten feet, not spreading outwards. It didn’t seem very intense, but the “bang bang bang” of fists hitting flesh and the swirling dust and smoke, like the sound of drums, made one feel that the two were engaged in a life-or-death struggle.
Suddenly, Zhou Yan leaped forward, his right fist raised in the air.
With a “bang,” a move from Yanqing Fist called “Flying Swallow Pecking Mud” landed on Escort Su’s face. The opponent’s body lowered, and he swung an upward kick diagonally, hitting Zhou Yan’s chest.
Escort Su let out a low chuckle and lunged at Zhou Yan, intending to kill him.
Huyan Lei was greatly alarmed. He swayed, intending to go to his aid, but was once again blocked by Escort Lu.
Escort Lu, who had suffered a disadvantage in their previous exchange, said sinisterly:
“Escort Huyan, are you trying to interfere?”
As Huyan Lei gathered his stance, he saw Zhou Yan’s body uncoil the moment his back touched the ground.
In the next instant, he sprang up like a carp leaping out of water. Using the momentum of his forward roll, he was airborne, parallel to the ground, and unleashed two straight punches forward.
This was originally “Advancing Punch” from Taizu Long Fist, but Zhou Yan executed it in such an incredible manner. Before Escort Su could even form his guard, his chest was struck by the double fists. He stumbled back several steps, missed his footing, and tumbled down the stairs.
Huyan Lei was delighted and laughed, saying to Escort Lu, “No, let’s go see Escort Su.”
Zhou Yan flicked the dust off his chest with his right hand and walked to the top of the stairs. Escort Su, who had rolled to the first floor, got up, his face contorted with ferocity.
“Kid, if you have the guts, let’s fight with weapons.”
“You pick the place, you set the time, I will definitely keep the appointment.”
“We’ll see!”
At this point, how could Escort Su have the face to remain in Songhe Tower? He uttered a harsh threat and quickly departed.
The humiliated Escort Lu said no more, glared at Zhou Yan, and hurriedly left with Escort Lu.
