Chapter 93: Save Me
Amidst the floating lantern light, Zhou Yan saw the Hu People’s escorts from Changfeng Escort Agency swiftly enter the courtyard where Zhang Wangyue had fallen.
He recognized the man; he had exchanged a couple of moves with him under the gatehouse of Fu’an Escort Agency earlier that year. The man’s saberplay was not bad, and his personality was fierce.
Zhou Yan used the “Golden Goose Skill,” and amidst the noise, he silently landed behind the Hu man, grabbing the opponent’s shoulders and arms with both hands.
The Hu escort’s arms flashed like lightning, twisting and entangling, and he thrust out with a dagger. Zhou Yan pressed down with his elbow, and the dagger that was thrust out was instead guided to cut an opening on the opponent’s neck.
He seized the Hu escort’s right hand and with a sudden movement, sliced at the opponent’s neck. With his left hand, he gave a gentle push, and the Hu escort’s head turned in the opposite direction. His body fell to the ground like soft mud.
As Zhou Yan killed the opponent and moved forward, Mu Nianci, wearing a matching Kitchen God Mask, said urgently, “Father and the others have gone in.”
“I know, let’s go in too.”
“Mm!”
Mu Nianci turned and took a few steps, leaping towards the courtyard. Her red dress bloomed like a lotus in the moonlight, then closed again, her figure disappearing on the other side of the courtyard.
Zhou Yan turned and looked around. Due to the fight, most of the tourists on the long street had already fled. Among the sparse crowd, Huang Rong was nowhere to be seen. He mused that Huang Rong should have escaped; with her intelligence and alertness, she would be safe if she blended into the crowd.
Zhou Yan looked again at the long street dozens of feet away. The fighting there had long since stopped, and the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan and the Golden Saber Consort were nowhere to be seen. He withdrew his gaze and leaped into the courtyard.
“Brother Zhou is back.”
“How is the Chief Escort?”
“He’s fine!” Zhang Wangyue changed the subject, “What about the heroes who assassinated Wanyan Honglie?”
“The one who came was Hong Bangzhu of the Beggars’ Sect. I already helped them out when I arrived.”
Zhang Wangyue was relieved. He hated the Jin Soldiers and the Lin’an Prefecture court to the bone and did not want to see any harm come to the heroes who assassinated Wanyan Honglie.
“That’s good. Leave this place quickly.”
“Chief Escort, Old Brother Huyan, you go first.”
“Alright, be careful.”
Zhang Wangyue led the way, with Huyan Lei covering the rear. The group climbed over walls and through courtyards, disappearing into the narrow alleyways.
Zhou Yan, however, took a detour through several streets and alleys, removed the Kitchen God Mask, and arrived at the long street.
In the distance, Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng, two figures like night owls fluttering in the moonlight, rose and fell among the scale-like houses. The sound of their internal force breaking through the air was like rolling thunder.
“Old Venomous, you’ve been lying low in the Western Regions for a long time, but your martial arts haven’t improved.”
“Likewise.”
The two spoke back and forth, quickly disappearing into the distance.
Zhou Yan cautiously weaved through the crowd, confirming that the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and the others had all escaped before heading to the street where the fight had taken place.
In the night, he saw Cui Qingshan holding Cui Changshun and weeping uncontrollably.
Could Cui Changshun be Cui Qingshan’s illegitimate son? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so grief-stricken. His gaze swept past Cui Qingshan and landed on Helian Chuncheng.
The young master of Changfeng Escort Agency looked at the seven or eight corpses on the ground, his expression grim.
Zhou Yan let out a low chuckle and turned to leave.
…
The force contained within the sedan chair poles, which were propelled outwards by the internal energy of the Northern Beggar and the Western Venom fighting at full strength, was immense, nearly causing Huang Rong’s viscera to shift.
She staggered forward, blood flowing in thin streams from beneath the Earth God mask, draining her strength and obscuring her vision.
Huang Rong did not go to find Zhou Yan. Although their meeting was quite peculiar, she believed in Zhou Yan’s character, but it had not reached the point where she would entrust her life to him. Moreover, she was a woman.
The only person Huang Rong could think of who could help her was the Iron Corpse Mei Chaofeng, who lived in the dilapidated houses in the backyard of Zhao Wang Manor.
Her white robe was already dotted with bloodstains. Due to the physical exertion from walking for a long time, Huang Rong’s mind began to wander. The only belief that sustained her was the thought, “Father cannot be without me.”
As her vision began to spin, the courtyard wall of the back alley of Zhao Wang Manor gradually enlarged in her sight. She stopped, leaned against the wall, and with great effort, took out a porcelain bottle from her embrace, retrieving a pill as scarlet as blood.
The pill was called “Wuchang Dan” and had the effect of restoring life and internal force. Huang Rong took the pill, leaned against the white wall to rest for a while, shifted her position, and continued forward.
The short distance of a hundred paces felt as long as over a decade to Huang Rong. When she reached the bottom of the courtyard wall, she tried to gather her internal force but then dejectedly gave up the idea of leaping over the wall.
“Mei Ruohua.”
“Mei Ruohua, save me.”
She used her internal force to project her voice, which carried quite far. Huang Rong knew that Mei Chaofeng had excellent hearing, and if she was practicing martial arts on the ground, she would surely sense it.
In just over ten breaths, a black figure floated down from above the courtyard wall. Mei Chaofeng landed beside Huang Rong.
The Iron Corpse could not see, but she could hear Huang Rong’s ragged breathing and unstable pulse. She exclaimed in alarm, “What happened to Junior Sister? Who injured you? I will go and take the killer’s head.”
“Save me!”
Huang Rong’s body swayed, and as she fell towards the ground, Mei Chaofeng caught her and leaped, landing in the backyard of the Prince’s Manor.
…
Fire trees and silver flowers bloom together, iron locks on the star bridge open. Dark dust follows the horse, bright moon chases the person.
A figure traveling at night leaped over the clear moonlight. Zhou Yan landed on a house in Jiqingfang Alley. He observed his surroundings, confirmed he was not being followed, and leaped into the alley. As he moved forward, he had already arrived at Zhang Wangyue’s residence.
The bean lamp flickered like a firefly. Inside the room, Wang Kui clicked his tongue, “Today I truly saw Brother Zhou’s strength. Shi Xiangui’s Crushing Monument Hand had skill, but Brother Zhou broke it with his fists, shattering his muscles and bones.”
Huyan Lei sighed, “Brother Zhou pushed forward with a bamboo rod, using that move ‘Desert Solitude Smoke.’ It truly had the aura of swallowing ten thousand miles like a tiger, with the killing intent of clashing armies and whistling winds. It’s easy to practice moves to perfection, but to cultivate Spear Intent requires more than just intelligence and talent.”
“Indeed!” Zhang Wangyue nodded. He had taken three moves from Ouyang Feng and spat out a mouthful of blood. After taking medicine and resting briefly, his injuries had stabilized. He then fought Helian Chuncheng and gained the upper hand, thus having the energy to observe Zhou Yan’s situation. Recalling the scene, the lion head used as a hammer, the bamboo rod as a spear, the round and fluid Free and Easy wielding of fist techniques, and the leg techniques like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves – these were all skills he had never seen before. They transformed with ease, their momentum formidable. Among the talented rising stars in this world, Brother Zhou certainly deserves a place.
Wang Kui’s voice rang out again, “Helian Chuncheng wanted to capture several heroes to curry favor with Zhao Wang Manor, but now he has ‘lost the lady and the soldiers,’ which is truly deserved.”
“Splendid!” Huyan Lei said.
Mu Nianci stood under the eaves, the scene of Zhou Yan using the “Free and Easy Journey” fist techniques replaying in her mind. Some destinies in life are truly marvelous. In a daze, she heard the sound of wind breaking through the night. She looked, and Zhou Yan seemed to descend from the moon, his feet landing on the clear moonlight.
“Head Escort Zhou is here,” she called out softly.
“Creak!” The window was pushed open, and Huyan Lei, with his leopard-like head and ringed eyes, poked out, “Brother Zhou, we were just talking about you. Hurry and come in.”
“Alright,”
Zhou Yan strode forward, lifted the curtain, and entered the room with Mu Nianci.
The candlelight flickered gently. Upon entering and taking his seat, Zhou Yan recounted what he had seen after circling back. Everyone confirmed that the heroes who assassinated Wanyan Honglie were safe, and Changfeng Escort Agency’s scheme had failed, leaving them with nothing. Everyone cheered.
Zhou Yan saw that Zhang Wangyue’s injuries were not serious, and he was relieved. Taking three moves from the Western Venom, his martial arts were indeed not inferior to those of Sha Tongtian and his ilk.
He also inwardly marveled at the martial arts realm of the Four Greats. The Martial Dao is difficult; one must strive diligently and forge ahead.
…
After the midnight drum sounded along the long street, Zhang Wangyue urged everyone to return. Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci lived in the suburbs and it was inconvenient to leave the city, so they stayed overnight in the courtyard, making it easier to care for the Chief Escort, whose injuries had not yet healed.
Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, and the others dispersed.
He made his way through streets and alleys to his own courtyard. As soon as he opened the door and entered, he heard a voice say, “Kid, you’re back?”
He looked towards the sound and saw Hong Qigong sitting on the roof, drinking.
