Chapter 75: Upside Down, the Wild Goose Landing Style
Snowflakes as large as mats fell. Danyangzi Ma Yu moved like a swimming fish, as light as a goose, and in a flash, he went from the front of the yellow spotted horse to its tail. He reached out and grabbed at the Hu people’s escort.
The escort was greatly alarmed. Before he could draw his saber, he whipped his whip towards Danyangzi.
Ma Yu’s right palm’s edge struck the escort’s wrist in an instant. The escort immediately felt his wrist go numb, his fingers losing all strength. Danyangzi snatched the whip from his grasp.
The Hu people’s escort’s face turned ashen with shock. He had misjudged; the Taoist was a master. The opponent treated him as if he were nothing. That move just now was clearly the legendary “empty hand snatching the blade” skill from the Jianghu.
As this thought crossed his mind, Danyangzi’s left hand shot out, grabbed the escort, and flung him away.
Just as Zhou Yan had flung Fu’an’s Boss Lei Luo not long before.
The Hu people’s escort was agile. He somersaulted in mid-air and landed steadily on the ground. However, Ma Yu had used a subtle force. As the escort landed, he suddenly felt his head heavy and his feet light, losing his balance. With a thud, he fell face-first onto the street.
The accumulated snow on the street was packed firm and slippery. The Hu people’s escort, with his rear end in the air, slid for several yards and then plunged into a snowdrift by the roadside with a crash.
Zhou Yan watched this scene unfold and couldn’t help but think of the “Falling Wild Goose” pose with his backside in the air. As this thought arose, he smiled slightly and swiftly moved towards the Two Immortals of Quanzhen.
Another escort from the Changfeng Escort Agency saw his comrade in trouble and, with a shout, was about to draw his saber to attack. Helian Chuncheng, who had watched the entire scene clearly from inside the horse carriage, shouted, “Stop!”
The Young Master of Changfeng did not think it was improper for his escorts to attack a Taoist who had not moved aside. The escort agency had many complex rules, and avoiding trouble was a way to ensure self-preservation. However, conversely, when one’s strength reached a certain level, all rules could be broken.
The Changfeng Escort Agency in Datong Prefecture often transported goods to the Western Regions and inland. Yin Kexi’s ancestors had done business with Persia and China. Their strength and reputation were renowned in the Western Regions. With the “Yin” family joining the Changfeng Escort Agency, the Helian family became even more formidable, enjoying success everywhere in the Western Regions and inland. It was not uncommon for the escorts of the Changfeng Escort Agency to be overbearing and repeatedly break the law with their martial arts.
The Changfeng Escort Agency in Datong Prefecture was, in essence, no different from gangs like the Yellow River Gang.
Helian Chuncheng had foresight. The moment Danyangzi made his move, he knew he was facing a master who hid in plain sight. Having suffered a silent loss at the Fu’an Escort Agency, it was indeed not the time to stir up more trouble.
He alighted from the horse carriage and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, “My subordinate was blind and has offended the Taoist. May I ask the Taoist’s esteemed name?”
As he spoke, he saw Wang Chuyi perform a Taoist salute, but it was not directed at him. Zhou Yan had already entered Helian Chuncheng’s peripheral vision. The young man respectfully clasped his hands in a salute: “Greetings, Taoist Master!”
Zhou Yan genuinely respected Yuyangzi. Without the Taoist Master’s transmission of skills and explanations of those Taoist classic texts, he would not have been able to purchase 《Huainanzi》 and 《Ben Jing Yin Fu Qi Shu》 when he returned to Zhongdu from Jingzhou, nor would he have achieved his swordplay advancements while comprehending swordsmanship in the Taihang Mountains. Furthermore, his breakthroughs in many cultivation techniques were also inseparable from the foundation laid by the Quanzhen Sect’s internal energy.
Wang Chuyi was also pleased to see Zhou Yan’s martial arts progress and said with a smile, “No need for formalities. Please don’t be polite.”
Yuyangzi changed the subject and said, “My Senior Brother Danyangzi and I were about to seek lodging at your place, but we happened to meet at the entrance of the escort agency.”
Zhou Yan suddenly understood. The one with white eyebrows and a white beard was Ma Yu, the kind old man who had taught Guo Jing cultivation techniques.
Among the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen, in terms of personality, these two were the ones who were gentle in speech, warm in demeanor, and peaceful and fair.
Qiu Chuji was righteous, of course, but he was also someone who hated evil as much as he hated his enemies, with a fiery temper.
“I am Zhou Yan. Greetings, Taoist Master Ma.”
“No need for ceremony!” Danyangzi lightly flicked his wide sleeve, about to lead Zhou Yan away.
He sank his inner qi and bowed steadily.
Ma Yu inwardly scoffed but no longer insisted. He accepted Zhou Yan’s bow.
Helian Chuncheng’s heart sank. He did not recognize the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen, but he had heard of their names. As the Young Master of the Changfeng Escort Agency, he was arrogant, but he was also skilled at fawning and adapting to circumstances. A look of apology appeared on his face, and he clasped his hands, saying, “So it is Taoist Master Ma of the Quanzhen Sect. My subordinate was reckless and has offended the Taoist. I hope you will forgive me. I am Helian Chuncheng of the Changfeng Escort Agency.”
If it were Qiu Chuji, he would likely have snorted coldly at this moment, but Danyangzi Ma Yu was good-natured. Seeing Helian Chuncheng apologize, he said, “It’s nothing. However, that escort was truly arrogant. I merely disciplined him. I hope Young Master Helian does not mind.”
“You are too kind, Taoist Master. My subordinate was blind and offended you. I will surely punish him severely later. I will not disturb you two Taoist Masters. Farewell.”
“It’s nothing.”
Helian Chuncheng clasped his hands, turned, and got into the horse carriage, heading straight for the Changfeng Escort Agency.
The Hu people’s escort was also helped onto the yellow spotted horse by his companions and left in a sorry state.
Zhou Yan heard Wang Chuyi say that the two of them wanted to stay at his courtyard. It was inconvenient to introduce the Two Immortals of Quanzhen to the escort agency. He was about to explain to Zhang Wangyue when he turned around and saw that a runner was already approaching with a horse carriage.
The heavy snow suddenly swirled. The Head Escort stood tall and gazed with a smile.
He felt a warmth in his heart and clasped his hands towards Zhang Wangyue, then said, “Taoist Master Ma, Taoist Master Wang, it is still several li to my courtyard. Why don’t we move into the horse carriage?”
Wang Chuyi thought to himself that Zhou Yan’s character was upright, and the Head Escort of this escort agency was also a person with whom one could share life and death. Comparing them to the group from the Changfeng Escort Agency earlier, it truly proved the saying, “One who walks with a righteous man will be righteous.”
Yuyangzi bowed to Zhang Wangyue from afar. Zhang Wangyue quickly returned the bow. Although they were far apart, this exchange of bows displayed their grace and cultivation.
“Senior Brother, young friend Zhou Yan’s suggestion is reasonable. Let’s get into the horse carriage and travel.” Yuyangzi even referred to Zhou Yan as a young friend.
Ma Yu smiled and said, “It saves us walking, which is excellent. Thank you, young friend, and thank you, esteemed Head Escort.”
“You are too kind, Taoist Master. Please!” Zhou Yan lifted the carriage curtain.
Wang Chuyi and Ma Yu got into the horse carriage, followed closely by Zhou Yan. The runner flicked the reins, and the wheels rolled over the wind and snow, heading towards Zhou Yan’s courtyard.
…
“Wonderful!” Huyan Lei exhaled two streams of white breath, watching the horse carriage depart, his face beaming with joy.
“It’s a shame that we’re drinking with Elder Yang tonight, and Brother Zhou will have to miss it,” Wang Kui said with regret.
“In this heavy snow, there won’t be any merchants coming to hire us for escorts. There will be plenty of opportunities for mischief.”
“Elder Brother truly has a broad mind,” Wang Kui said with a smile.
Mu Nianci initially felt quite regretful when she heard that Zhou Yan would be absent that evening. However, after hearing Huyan Lei’s words, she felt they made sense. After experiencing this incident, she suddenly felt that she truly liked Fu’an.
…
By the time Zhang Wangyue arrived at the meeting hall, Boss Duan Huai’an had already learned the details of the incident on the long street from other escorts.
The Head Escort entered and said, “Zhou Yan truly upheld the escort agency’s reputation today.”
“Indeed!” Zhang Wangyue said with a smile.
Duan Huai’an suddenly said, “The Changfeng Escort Agency came with malicious intent. They intend to do business and also to steal business.”
“That’s right!”
“Preparation ensures success. Therefore, the escort agency must also plan ahead. After Escort Shi’s team arrives and undergoes evaluation, we will invite Master Yang and his daughter to be escorts, and then we will publicly announce Zhou Yan’s promotion to Head Escort. Also, I think Fu’an should have a Chief Escort. Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan have been diligent since undertaking the escort from Jingzhou. According to the escorts and runners, the three have been practicing diligently, and their martial arts have made significant progress. I believe they can be promoted to Head Escort. What do you think, Chief Escort?”
Zhang Wangyue stood up and clasped his hands:
“Thank you, Boss!”
There will be another update tonight. Thank you, great readers, for your votes and recommendations. I am immensely grateful!
