Chapter 90: A Night of Fish and Dragons Dancing
After the year-end, Huang Rong spent most of her time in the abandoned hut in the backyard of the Zhao Wang Manor.
She lived on the ground, and Mei Chaofeng lived underground.
The Iron Corpse Mei Chaofeng desperately wanted Huang Yaoshi’s forgiveness, hoping Huang Rong would put in a good word for her. By offering the stolen 《Nine Yin Manual》, she could return to Peach Blossom Island, thus she was completely obedient to Huang Rong, answering every question and complying with every request.
During this time, Huang Rong visited the Fu’an Escort Agency once. The agency was not open for business, so she decided to wait until after the Lantern Festival to deliver the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
The Lantern Festival was a night of brilliant fireworks, and she certainly wouldn’t miss the opportunity for fun. She started strolling from dusk, her greatest interest lying in riddles, but most of them were not difficult, which was quite disappointing.
As she walked, she gradually approached the street stall where Zhou Yan was eating tangyuan.
At the other end of the long street, Wanyan Honglie and several members of the imperial clan sat in embroidered sedan chairs, admiring the lanterns together. Behind them, Ouyang Ke, Wanyan Kang, and several concubines dressed as men followed.
After Ouyang Ke brought Ouyang Feng to the Prince’s Manor, Wanyan Kang completely shed his identity as a little prince and served him diligently. In private, Ouyang Ke also mentioned Wanyan Kang’s desire to become a disciple. He also mentioned that Wanyan Kang practiced Quanzhen Sect martial arts.
With the Western Venom’s discerning eye, even without Ouyang Ke’s explanation, he could see the other party’s intentions.
White Camel Mountain’s martial arts were passed down within the sect, not to outsiders. The Western Venom did not take the little prince Wanyan Kang seriously. However, Ouyang Ke wanted to leverage the Prince’s Manor to make a name for himself. Ouyang Feng had also suffered losses at the hands of Wang Chongyang, so under the guise of guidance, he made Wanyan Kang reveal the Quanzhen Sect’s cultivation technique.
Wanyan Kang was overjoyed and revealed everything Qiu Chuji had taught him about the cultivation technique without reservation. The Western Venom then taught the Great Jin little prince a martial art that could quickly improve his internal force.
His casual guidance far surpassed that of Monk Lingzhi, Liang Zi Weng, and others. Wanyan Kang was intelligent, but his martial arts were mixed, and he was not someone who could endure hardship. Ouyang Feng prescribed the right medicine, teaching him an internal energy cultivation technique he had coincidentally obtained from a sect in the Western Regions. It could rapidly increase internal force but was prone to causing hidden ailments in the meridians and viscera.
After practicing for several days, Wanyan Kang mastered the basics of the cultivation technique and felt his inner qi increase. He was ecstatic and served him even more attentively. Wanyan Kang’s intelligence lay in his early realization that Ouyang Feng was extremely doting on Ouyang Ke. He ingratiated himself with Ouyang Feng, praising Ouyang Ke without reservation, saying things like his Father King valued the Young Master of White Camel Mountain.
Even though the Western Venom knew Wanyan Kang’s intentions, he felt quite pleased hearing these words. He then proceeded to offer a few more pointers. During this period, Wanyan Kang’s martial arts improved considerably.
Ouyang Feng was not with the Prince’s Manor’s entourage. What interest would he have in admiring lanterns or watching dragon and lion dances?
Wanyan Kang was also tired of watching the lantern festival, but Ouyang Ke liked it. Of course, the Young Master of White Camel Mountain’s intentions were not solely on the lanterns. He preferred looking at people, finding a few beautiful and charming women for his concubines to abduct; that was his true intention.
The three walked among the bustling crowds in the market, where the lights shone as brightly as day. Ke Zhen’e, Zhu Cong, Han Baoju, Han Xiaoying, and others were steadily approaching Wanyan Honglie’s sedan chair.
…
The east wind tonight scatters flowers like a thousand trees. It blows down stars like rain, with fine horses and carved carriages filling the road with fragrance. The sound of phoenix flutes rises, the jade pot’s light turns, and a night of fish and dragons dances.
After eating tangyuan, Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and others got up and continued forward. The carriages and sedan chairs of Zhongdu’s nobles and wealthy families moved with difficulty towards Kaifu Temple, following the dragon and lion dance troupes.
Looking at the scene before him, Zhou Yan recalled 《Qing Yu An. Yuan Xi》.
Mu Nianci followed from behind and came to Zhou Yan’s side, asking, “One point, then another point; one point, then another point; one point, then another point; one point, then another point; it’s a riddle. Head Escort Zhou, what do you think the character is?”
“Gun,” Huyan Lei said immediately, having heard clearly.
Mu Nianci was stunned for a moment. The words “four-character riddle” that she was about to say got stuck in her throat.
Zhou Yan turned his head and looked at Huyan Lei in surprise, not understanding why he guessed “gun.” However, he suddenly saw in the distance a masked man leap from the crowd. With both hands flying, from a distance of over three hundred paces, he couldn’t see what hidden weapon was thrown. In the bustling crowd, a man carrying a sedan chair fell, and a golden-topped sedan chair crashed to the ground.
In an instant, a masked man holding a steel staff appeared within Zhou Yan’s line of sight. The steel staff in his hand seemed to writhe like a dragon or snake as he continuously knocked away the Great Jin soldiers blocking his path, forcefully and aggressively charging towards where the sedan chair had fallen.
Under the shops lining the long street were water vats for fire prevention. A short, stout man grabbed a water vat, spun around, and threw it. The large vat whistled through the air and smashed into the center of the long street. Suddenly, masked men and women leaped up, using the water vat as a springboard. Their figures, like swallows darting through the forest, soared over the heads of the panicked crowd. Sword light rose like a rainbow, moved like a meteor, and fell like thunder, heading straight for the sedan chair.
Zhou Yan’s mind buzzed: the Six Freaks of Jiangnan, the Golden Saber Consort.
He had expected the Six Freaks of Jiangnan and the Golden Saber Consort to assassinate Wanyan Honglie, but to do so in such an open and grand manner, with such a heroic momentum, was beyond his expectations.
Guo Jing’s archery was outstanding. Couldn’t he have hidden on the roof of a building along the street and used consecutive arrows to take Wanyan Honglie’s life?
In the panicked crowd, Zhou Yan saw bronze cymbals whistling into the sky, smashing the water vat. Not far from the assassination scene, one figure leaped from the ground. A second figure leaped up, stepping on the shoulders and heads of the Zhao Wang Manor’s personal guards as they moved, closely pursuing the man in front.
Zhou Yan recognized them: Ouyang Ke and Wanyan Kang.
…
The boiling fight instantly turned the entire area into a roaring ocean.
The revelers desperately swarmed outwards, but more than a dozen people stopped at this moment to look at the place where the fierce battle was occurring. The light from the lanterns illuminated their faces.
They were all people Zhou Yan was familiar with.
Helian Chuncheng, Yin Kexi, the Hu People’s escort, and Shi Xiangui, Cui Qingshan, and Cui Changshun, who had joined the Changfeng Escort Agency, as well as Lei Luo, the former Boss of the Four Seas.
The Lantern Festival in Datong Prefecture was not as lively as in Zhongdu. Helian Chuncheng was leading his group on a tour when they coincidentally encountered the assassination of Wanyan Honglie.
Lei Luo, with his sharp eyes, said, “It seems the one being assassinated is Zhao Wangye.”
Helian Chuncheng suddenly laughed, “I was just worrying about how to connect with the Zhao Wang Manor. These assassins are truly sending charcoal in the snow.”
The Young Master of the Changfeng Escort Agency finished speaking, leaped forward more than two zhang, and as he descended, he stepped on the shoulders of the revelers below, heading directly towards Wanyan Honglie and the others. Behind him were Yin Kexi, Shi Xiangui, Cui Qingshan, and others.
…
Zhou Yan withdrew his gaze and said to Zhang Wangyue, “Chief Escort, it’s a Great Jin King being assassinated. Helian Chuncheng and others from the Changfeng Escort Agency have rushed over; they will surely help the Prince’s Manor.”
Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, Shi Baichuan, and Yang Tiexin all looked at Zhang Wangyue.
The descendant of Yue Family Army’s Zhang Xian, the Chief Escort of Fu’an, glanced at Zhou Yan and then at the shops behind him.
Zhou Yan turned and looked. What met his eyes were various masks for sale.
The Kitchen God, the Yellow Spirit Official, the Earth God…
He understood Zhang Wangyue’s intention and quickly walked towards the vendor.
From behind everyone, Huang Rong curiously watched Zhou Yan put on the Kitchen God mask and move like a nimble fish through the crowd towards the place where the Great Jin King was being assassinated.
She turned her head, quickened her steps, bought an Earth God mask, and squeezed into the chaotic crowd.
Two chapters are being released together; there will be no update in the evening. The author is busy writing. I will try to update more tomorrow when the book goes on shelves. Thank you to all the readers for your monthly passes and recommendation support. Thank you!
