Chapter 87: The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan and The Two Immortals of Quanzhen Plan a Grand Strategy
Silver three thousand realms, jade forest ten thousand layers. New clear sky tender green, setting sun snow light red.
When the wind blows, the mountain air seems filled with the smell of gunpowder after firecrackers explode.
The sun has set, and the unmelted snow reflects a soft red light. Zhou Yan is immersed in the wondrous realm of qi cultivation.
He has opened the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. “One sword transforms into five purities.” However, the power of the Quanzhen Sect’s exquisite swordplay lies in the circulation of internal force between this main meridian and its secondary meridians, forming a unique method of energy flow and force application. When facing an enemy, the internal force circulates with the momentum of a mountain collapsing.
Opening the main meridians and clearing the secondary ones is like a lame person walking, unbalanced left and right.
Therefore, Zhou Yan redoubles his efforts, relentlessly tempering the Hand Yangming Meridian.
As the sun sets behind the mountains, Zhou Yan is still far from opening this secondary meridian. However, because secondary meridians connect the exterior and interior and are related to the viscera, he guides his energy with his intent. He feels the power of his qi and blood surging like a tide, his blood vessels expanding. As his pulse qi moves, it transports qi and blood, generating strength. Each circulation of qi and blood between the main and secondary meridians produces a surge of pure internal force. Simultaneously, he can feel the powerful pumping ability of his heart and his lungs inhaling air like a whale. After a day of cultivation, he not only feels no fatigue but becomes more vigorous, like a dragon soaring, full of vitality.
“Hoo!” A stream of white breath shoots out from his mouth, extending two feet, solidifying without dispersing.
Zhou Yan emerges from the profound state of qi cultivation and meridian tempering. He stands up to stretch his muscles and bones. It is time to replenish his body’s energy. He holds his iron bow, walks a few steps forward, gathers energy with his intent, leaps up, and lands on the branches of an ancient tree, ten feet high.
The wind whistles through the forest, shaking branches and causing snow to fall. Zhou Yan’s figure is like flying and soaring. He scans the distance for prey, spotting several mountain chickens foraging in the snow. His legs bend slightly, and he springs up, graceful as a roaming dragon, flying thirteen feet through the air to land on another large tree.
From afar, Zhou Yan appears as light as a flying goose. His mastery of the Quanzhen Sect’s lightness skill, “Golden Goose Skill,” is already profound.
“Today is the year-end. I wonder how Li Mochou and Little Dragon Girl are spending the New Year on Zhongnan Mountain? Have Huang Yaoshi and Huang Rong reunited with their daughter in Lin’an Prefecture?”
Zhou Yan’s self-muttering voice drifts in the wind.
…
The long wind drives the pines and cypresses, its sound clearing the myriad ravines.
Behind Zhongnan Mountain, before the Ancient Tomb.
“Creak…”
“Oh dear, Sister, this ox horn bow is so heavy.” In a tender child’s voice, Little Dragon Girl pulls at the visually striking, enormous ox horn bow. The bowstring is pulled into a crescent shape by Little Dragon Girl before becoming completely still. Instead, Little Dragon Girl’s rosy, exquisitely carved face turns red.
Li Mochou walks up to Little Dragon Girl and squats down. “How old are you to be trying to draw an ox horn bow?”
Her face is like a peach blossom. She tilts her head and looks at Little Dragon Girl for a while, then laughs, “Pfft,” “You’re not even as tall as the bow yet.”
“Let’s go, it’s New Year’s. I’ll make you honey cakes,” Li Mochou walks towards the Ancient Tomb, with Little Dragon Girl carrying the ox horn giant bow closely behind. She is actually quite strong and walks swiftly through the snow, but her height is limited, so the bow’s tail drags on the ground, leaving a white line like a wriggling earthworm in the snow.
“Sister, how do you think Zhou Yan is spending the year-end?”
“Go ask him.” Li Mochou is in a good mood. The year-end is approaching, and spring is coming. There are only six months left until the martial arts competition with Zhou Yan outside Datong Prefecture’s Mountain God Temple.
“I will definitely defeat him. After all, he’s an escort and can’t cultivate diligently all day like me. Besides, he doesn’t have any profound cultivation techniques other than the ‘Free and Easy Journey’ taught by Gang Leader Hong.”
Thinking this, Li Mochou has no idea that Zhou Yan now possesses the martial arts of the Quanzhen Sect from Wang Chongyang’s lineage, practices two moves of the Northern Beggar’s “Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms,” the Eastern Heretic’s Peach Blossom Island martial arts “Whirlwind Sweeping Leaves Leg,” and the complete set of cultivation techniques from the Yue family lineage.
“Sister, bring me with you when you compete with Zhou Yan.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Didn’t Sister say to let me go ask Zhou Yan?”
“You’re too clever for your age. No.”
Li Mochou scolds her with a laugh. As Little Dragon Girl approaches, she takes the ox horn bow, grabs her junior sister, and uses her agility to head straight for the Ancient Tomb.
Little Dragon Girl’s bright eyes dart around, thinking of how to get her sister to agree to take her.
…
At dusk, wealthy families in Zhongdu City set off fireworks, appearing from afar like a scene of “fire trees and silver flowers merging, star bridges and iron locks opening.”
In a small courtyard on the outskirts of the city, the kitchen stove burns brightly with firewood.
The wooden gate outside the courtyard creaks, and Yang Tiexin enters the courtyard carrying a wine gourd.
“Nianci!”
“Father, I’m in the kitchen.”
“I’ve bought a pot of wine. Go into the city to Head Escort Zhou’s place. He has no parents and is all alone. Invite him over to liven things up.”
“Okay!”
Mu Nianci comes out of the kitchen, washes her face with clean water, tidies herself up a bit, and leaves the small courtyard, stretching her body as she sprints towards the city.
…
Lanterns hang under the eaves of the Yuelai Inn, emitting a warm yellow glow. Two square tables are pushed together in a room of the inn.
Ma Yu, Wang Chuyi, Ke Zhen’e, Zhu Cong, Han Baoju, Nan Xiren, and others are seated around them.
Qiu Chuji has not yet arrived in Zhongdu. The Two Immortals of Quanzhen, after leaving Zhou Yan’s residence, have been staying at the “Yuelai” Inn for the past few days.
Ma Yu has a teaching debt to Guo Jing and, moreover, they previously teamed up with the Six Freaks in the desert to repel Mei Chaofeng, so they are naturally familiar with each other.
Over several days of conversation, the Two Immortals of Quanzhen learned that the Great Khan had ordered Guo Jing to kill Wanyan Honglie when he went south. The Six Freaks of Jiangnan and the Golden Saber Consort also learned that Wanyan Kang was Yang Kang, who was to compete in Jiaxing.
With Qiu Chuji absent, how to find a plan that achieves both the martial arts competition and the assassination of Wanyan Honglie has become the focus of discussion at the table.
Wang Chuyi is meeting Guo Jing for the first time. After several days together, he greatly admires the young man’s virtuous character. He had originally thought of introducing Guo Jing to Zhou Yan, but upon learning that the Six Freaks of Jiangnan intended to assassinate Wanyan Honglie, he suppressed the idea.
Whether it succeeds or fails, the Six Freaks of Jiangnan and Guo Jing will leave Zhongdu, and the Prince’s Manor’s men will be unable to do anything. However, Young Friend Zhou lives in the city and works at an escort bureau. We must not bring unexpected disaster upon him because of this.
Ma Yu has the same thought, and therefore does not mention Zhou Yan at all.
Zhu Cong, with his sharp mind, picks up the wine pot and pours wine. “My seventh sister and I are investigating the Prince’s Manor. We saw Esoteric Buddhist monks, an old monster from beyond the pass, and the Young Master of White Camel Mountain from the Western Regions gathered in the study. Their assembly must be for plotting something detrimental to the Great Song Dynasty and harming the common people. In my opinion, killing Wanyan Honglie is paramount, and the martial arts competition is secondary.”
Ke Zhen’e says, “Exactly. We roam the Jianghu, and we must prioritize righteousness and major principles. As long as we can take the life of that dog Wanyan Honglie, what does it matter if Jing’er and we lose to Taoist Priest Qiu? What do you think, Jing’er?”
Guo Jing, having heard his mother recount past events since childhood, has always harbored great hatred for the Jin Dynasty. He also promised the Mongol Great Khan to take Wanyan Honglie’s head. He is an honest and trustworthy person. Upon hearing Ke Zhen’e’s question, he says, “Jing’er listens to Senior Master. Personal honor and disgrace are insignificant compared to righteousness and major principles.”
“A truly sincere heart,” Wang Chuyi praises.
Zhu Cong says, “I think we can pursue both paths. After the year-end comes the temple fair and the Lantern Festival. Wanyan Honglie will have to leave the manor. When Taoist Priest Qiu arrives, he can reason with Wanyan Kang, appeal to his emotions, and persuade him to acknowledge his ancestors and reunite with Zhao Wangfei. We can then carry out the assassination and head south to Jiaxing for the martial arts competition.”
Ma Yu ponders for a moment and nods. “Good. When Junior Brother Qiu arrives, I will say this.”
“Thank you, Taoist Priest. Let’s drink.”
The inn is filled with the clinking of cups and the exchange of toasts, the atmosphere is fervent.
