Chapter 73: The Two Immortals of Quanzhen Arrive in the Wind and Snow
The moment Zhou Yan seized Lei Luo and rushed out, Helian Chuncheng’s handsome and stern face darkened. He had brought Lei Luo to the Fu’an Escort Agency precisely to gauge their reaction and bottom line.
And the other side had retaliated with the strongest stance.
A local snake that even a powerful dragon can’t suppress?
It’s only just begun.
In an instant, Zhou Yan was already at the door.
Yin Kexi glanced at Helian Chuncheng, saw his somber expression, and quickly averted his gaze, coldly snorting, “Manager Lei is, after all, one of the Changfeng Escort Agency’s people. If he’s to leave, we’ll take him.”
As he spoke, he lunged forward, drawing a soft whip from his right hand. The whip vibrated with a hum, striking towards Zhou Yan from the air like a poisonous snake flicking its tongue.
Zhou Yan heard the wind whistling behind him, and with a counter-circle of his left hand, he had already grasped the soft whip five inches from its tip.
He had learned spear techniques from Yang Tiexin. The Yang Family Spear Technique was invincible in battle formations, and the move “Returning Spear” was a particularly legendary skill passed down through generations. Its subtlety surpassed the move he learned from Huyan Lei. By holding the soft whip with his left hand, it was half of the third variation of “Returning Spear.” If he were wielding a spear against an enemy, before the enemy could reclaim it, his right hand would thrust forward with the spear, instantly taking the opponent’s life.
Zhou Yan held Lei Luo in his right hand, not intending to attack Yin Kexi. His body had already unfurled, his strength pushed to its optimal state. With his right hand lifting the person and his left hand gripping the whip, he dashed out like lightning and thunder.
Yin Kexi never expected that during his earlier encounter with Zhou Yan, his soft whip had been snatched away, and in this confrontation, it was again seized by the tip with a strange empty-handed disarming technique.
He circulated his inner qi to his legs, employing the Thousand Jin Drop, and exerted force to reclaim the whip.
However, in an instant, a powerful force came from the taut, straight soft whip, its momentum far exceeding that of the previous encounter when the whip was taken.
In truth, their cultivation levels were currently evenly matched. Yin Kexi’s disadvantage now lay in Zhou Yan’s momentum being at its peak, coupled with his exceptional arm strength. Thus, when he forcefully tried to reclaim the whip, not only did he fail, but Zhou Yan, pulling him, slid him across the wooden floor, leaving a clear imprint of his soles for everyone to see.
Yin Kexi, enraged and humiliated, used Zhou Yan’s pulling force to propel himself forward like a strong wind whipping through grass. With a swish, he brought up a whistling sound, and in a flash of lightning, he pounced upwards, swinging his fist straight towards Zhou Yan’s spine at the “Zhongshu” acupoint.
Zhou Yan abandoned the whip and, with another backhand horizontal slash, used the same move from the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms: “Shenlong Tail Whip.”
With a dull “bang,” ripples spread through the air, and dust and smoke billowed. Yin Kexi retreated continuously, collapsing onto a chair. The chair, unable to withstand the force, shattered with a crack. He leaped up, looking quite disheveled.
Two escorts from the Changfeng Escort Agency shouted in unison and pursued. Zhou Yan, however, used the momentum to reach the courtyard and, employing the Golden Goose Skill, disappeared into the corridor courtyard after a few leaps.
Helian Chuncheng reacted swiftly, rising and cupping his hands, saying, “Manager Duan, regarding Manager Lei’s matter, there are some internal details that I am truly unaware of. I will go and clarify them.”
“Young Master Helian, please go slowly.”
“Certainly!” Helian Chuncheng stood up and strode out of the meeting hall. Yin Kexi picked up his soft whip and quickly followed.
…
“Let me go.”
“Escort Zhou, let’s talk this through.”
“Ah, help!”
Lei Luo felt the whistling wind by his ears, snowflakes hitting his face like a thousand needles. Houses and courtyards on both sides seemed to shift and recede. He was merely a cunning and calculating merchant. Having lost his position of power in the escort agency, facing life and death, he could no longer care about his reputation. He begged for mercy and help.
Mu Nianci was still immersed in her understanding of spear techniques after Zhou Yan’s hint. Suddenly, she heard cries for help. She looked and saw Zhou Yan’s body unfurled, carrying a fat man and rushing away rapidly.
What was going on?
Before Mu Nianci could react, thunderous cheers erupted from the martial field.
“Lei Luo, the manager of Four Seas, is about to be thrown out of the escort agency by Brother Zhou. Wonderful, wonderful.”
Shi Baichuan tapped his palm with his iron fan and laughed heartily, “That’s satisfying. Brother Zhou is truly magnificent.”
Yang Tiexin was reserved, but the smile in his eyes was undeniable.
Mu Nianci snapped back to reality and cursed, “Serves him right!”
Then she saw two escorts from the Changfeng Escort Agency chasing after Zhou Yan.
With two “swish” sounds, Wang Kui darted out. Mu Nianci, without a second thought, drew her spear and pursued.
Yang Tiexin was not slow to react, but his agility was not his strong suit. In just a moment, he saw his daughter and several escorts flashing a few times in the distant corridor before disappearing.
…
Celestial maidens, jade, and precious stones, scattered like blossoms, falling like goose feathers.
The snow was falling heavily.
On the long street where the Fu’an Escort Agency was located, two Taoist priests walked briskly.
The Taoist priest on the left had a white beard and white eyebrows, with a kind expression.
The Taoist priest on the right had long eyebrows and bright eyes, with sparse black whiskers on his chin, wearing white socks and grey shoes.
Both appeared to be exceptionally dignified, like refined recluses.
“Senior Brother, that escort Zhou is truly an interesting person. The day he fought Ouyang Ke and was injured, I saw him use Hong Bangzhu’s Subduing Dragon Palm Technique, so I followed him. When I arrived at the courtyard, he was in the process of healing his injuries. Since he wasn’t using the correct method, I couldn’t help but remind him that he could use the ‘Five Hearts Towards Heaven’ method to circulate energy for healing. Guess how he replied?” said the Taoist priest on the right.
When the Taoist priest mentioned Zhou Yan and his injury from fighting Ouyang Ke, the other person was naturally Wang Chuyi, Yuyangzi of the Quanzhen Sect.
Yuyangzi said this, and the Taoist priest with white beard and white eyebrows said, “Escort Zhou naturally said, ‘Thank you, Daoist Priest.'”
“Incorrect. He said, ‘Five Hearts Towards Heaven.'”
The Taoist priest was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
“After crossing this street, we’ll travel a few more miles to Escort Zhou’s residence.”
“Is it appropriate for you to take me there?”
“It is appropriate. If there is a connection, act as your heart desires. If you think of it, you can pay a visit.”
“My Junior Brother’s words also make sense.”
“Also, the Eight Treasure Rice that Escort Zhou makes is truly delicious. I still can’t forget it.”
“What my Junior Brother says makes me crave it.”
As the two spoke, a young man rushed out from under the gatehouse of the escort agency ahead, and with a heavy thud, threw the person he was carrying to the ground.
With a “bang,” snow scattered. The person, with a hysterical scream, slid ten feet and disappeared into the snow piled at the base of the wall, becoming motionless.
Wang Chuyi was startled and muttered to himself, “That person is Escort Zhou.”
The accompanying Taoist priest smiled slightly, “His temper seems quite fierce.”
“There must be a reason for it.”
Suddenly, Wang Chuyi and Danyangzi saw escorts rush out, drawing their sabers and slashing down with the force of thunder. Zhou Yan’s figure flickered and retreated ten feet. The runner at the door threw a straight saber towards him.
Zhou Yan caught the saber, took a step forward, and thrust the straight saber upwards diagonally.
“Oh?” The Taoist priest with white eyebrows and white beard exclaimed, “This is ‘Dingyang Needle.’ Did Junior Brother teach him Quanzhen Swordplay?”
Wang Chuyi was confused, “No!”
After Yuyangzi finished speaking, he added:
“Indeed not, Senior Brother. I swear.”
My sincerest apologies, please allow the author to add an update tomorrow. I am simply unable to write it. I slept at 5:30 AM and woke up at 8 AM to work. I keep dozing off while writing.
