Chapter 94: Flying Dragon in the Sky, Shocking a Hundred Miles
The Nine-Fingered Beggar Hong Qigong still preferred “three cups of strong liquor, four windows of dreamless sleep,” disliking the sweetness of “Green Ant Wine” and favoring liquor that burned the throat.
Yellowish lights illuminated the courtyard, and ancient trees with twisted branches obscured half the moonlight.
Due to the year-end, Zhou Yan had also prepared some food at home, so the stone table was soon laden with melon seeds, candied fruit, and beef.
While eating, Hong Qigong asked, “What was that all about the night before last? It was so chaotic.”
“I was strolling with the escort bureau’s head escorts, admiring the lanterns, when we happened to encounter some heroes assassinating Wanyan Honglie. Those fighting us were escort agents from the Changfeng Escort Agency of Datong Prefecture. They wanted to curry favor with Zhao Wang Manor, so they attacked to capture the heroes, and we intercepted them.”
After Zhou Yan finished speaking, he asked, “Did Senior recognize me?”
Hong Qigong laughed and cursed, “You used ‘Free and Easy Journey’ to break their muscles and bones. But you, kid, are truly talented; that fist technique has a unique artistic conception.”
“Senior saw it all.”
“What do you think?”
Zhou Yan smiled, “The head escorts and escort agents from the two escort bureaus are familiar with each other. Using ordinary fist techniques makes it easy to identify them, so I used ‘Free and Easy Journey’.”
“That makes sense,” Hong Qigong gulped down his wine, placing the wine gourd on the stone table. The smell of alcohol mixed with the cold air, and his voice was a little low. “The last time we met was here too. You, kid, were sitting opposite me, saying, ‘Kill one in ten steps, Thousand Li without Staying.’ If Liang Zi Weng had fallen into your hands, you wouldn’t have shown any mercy. The old beggar also said you have the arrogance of the Eastern Heretic and the ruthlessness of the Western Venom.”
“The night before last, I encountered the Western Venom. If it weren’t for Senior, I fear I would have been beheaded.”
Hong Qigong laughed heartily. He had intended to mention seeing Liang Zi Weng serving the Jin soldiers the night before and regretting not killing the Ginseng Immortal Old Freak back then. But Zhou Yan’s jest made him feel it was unnecessary to reveal his thoughts.
However, Hong Qigong heard Zhou Yan’s unexpected words the next moment.
“I will kill Liang Zi Weng for Senior.”
“Why?”
“Since Senior mentioned Liang Zi Weng, you must have regrets. Senior said that Liang Zi Weng practiced Yin Yang Cultivation, and you taught him a lesson, warning the old freak that if he offended again, you would kill him without mercy. But if Old Freak Liang had heeded Senior’s warning, it would have been difficult for you to act without appearing untrustworthy and causing gossip. Senior taught me cultivation techniques, so it is reasonable for me to act on your behalf and take his life.”
“Interesting. Can you defeat Old Freak Liang?”
“If not this year, then next.”
“Promising.” Hong Qigong wasn’t mocking; he was purely admiring.
“What level has ‘Kanglong Regret’ reached?”
“Before the year-end, I went on an escort mission to Jingzhou. While practicing in the river tide, when the waves were fierce, they receded like drawing silk. I comprehended another meaning of ‘Fullness Cannot Last.’ During the year-end, I used half a month to gain enlightenment in my cultivation technique. My palm techniques have improved significantly, and when I fight, I can add two layers of force.”
“Come and try.”
“Alright!”
Hong Qigong stood in the courtyard. As Zhou Yan approached, he lightly flicked out a palm. Zhou Yan bent his left leg, drew a circle with his right palm, and pushed forward.
With a “bang,” the two palms met. Hong Qigong deflected and absorbed Zhou Yan’s palm force. Suddenly, two palm forces surged from Zhou Yan’s palm like a rising tide, their after-force stronger than the initial force, rushing forward.
Hong Qigong withdrew his palm and laughed, “I said back then that the force of ‘Kanglong Regret’ was ten parts, but the force retained within myself was twenty parts. Yours is more than twenty parts, even thirty. Well done, practicing palm techniques with river waves and comprehending fullness cannot last.”
“Kid, watch closely.”
The moonlight seemed to shift suddenly. Hong Qigong leaped into the air, striking from above. His palm momentum was like sharp claws churning the clouds and sky, surging and roaring. Ripples appeared on the ground, shaking the surroundings.
Hong Qigong landed and pushed his palms forward. Zhou Yan clearly saw the dust in his vision suddenly concave inward, followed by a rolling surge, like a dragon in motion, shocking a hundred miles.
“Kid, these two moves are called ‘Flying Dragon in the Sky’ and ‘Shocking a Hundred Miles.’ Learn them well. When you fight Old Freak Liang in the future, use them to take his life.”
Zhou Yan truly hadn’t expected Hong Qigong to teach him the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms. He immediately said, “Good!”
Hong Qigong began explaining the force application techniques and Qi Guiding Method for the two moves.
As the iron-gray of the firmament gradually faded, a faint white mist permeated the air. Hong Qigong sat on a stone stool, drinking and eating meat. Zhou Yan leaped up, and a palm strike like thunder descended. He then landed on the bluestone ground that had been swept by the palm force moments before, pushing his palms forward.
The palm force of “Flying Dragon in the Sky” had not dissipated when the palm momentum of “Shocking a Hundred Miles” rose again. A few dry leaves happened to fall, were caught by the air current, whirled and fluttered, and were then torn into wisps.
The Nine-Fingered Beggar paused his drinking and thought, Has he already grasped the basics?
…
A wisp of cooking smoke rose, and chickens and dogs roamed the alley.
Zhou Yan stewed some meat porridge, and the old and young ate their fill. Hong Qigong asked, “Is your martial arts competition with that girl still scheduled?”
“Yes, I keep my word. A promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.”
“In the Jianghu, one is not always in control of oneself, especially when you have to escort goods. What if you are a thousand li away then?”
Zhou Yan thought that if he broke his promise, Li Mochou would probably say that men are not good things and that seemingly loyal men are untrustworthy. Wouldn’t he then become like Lu Zhan Yuan?
He asked, “Is Senior still going to the Mountain God Temple outside Datong Prefecture?”
“Does that even need asking? The old beggar values trust and keeps his promises.”
“Then Senior will be able to see me.”
“Good, I’ll be waiting.”
“Six months from now, we’ll meet again at the Mountain God Temple outside Datong Prefecture.”
“Haha!” Hong Qigong took two large gulps from his wine gourd. “Kid, I’m leaving.”
Zhou Yan saw Hong Qigong out of the house. The Nine-Fingered Beggar laughed heartily, “Outside Datong Prefecture, we’ll meet without fail.”
As the word “not” sounded, he was in the courtyard; as the word “fail” fell, his voice was already outside the alley.
Zhou Yan muttered to himself, “I’ve learned four of the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms. Flying Dragon in the Sky, Shocking a Hundred Miles. Good omens.”
Several alleys away, Hong Qigong said as he walked, “The last time I saw this kid, I thought, ‘Thirty years of common folk, sixty years of Buddhas and dragons.’ This kid will surely become an outstanding person in the future. Now, with ‘Free and Easy Journey’ forming its own realm and his comprehension in practicing with river waves, he won’t need thirty years. Twenty years will be enough to roam the world and shock a hundred miles.”
…
The air seemed to exude a vibrant vitality. After the Lantern Festival, it was time for the escort bureau to open for business. Zhou Yan drew water to bathe, changed into clean casual clothes, slung his quiver over his shoulder, and headed straight for the escort bureau.
“When the steps strike the ground, thunder roars; one or two sounds startle a hundred ghosts, three or four sounds topple ghost nests. Ten sounds bring peace to a hundred divine paths, and harmony prevails in all directions.”
As the escort bureau opened for business, according to custom, Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan, the four head escorts who would be leading escort teams from now on, lit a long string of firecrackers. The crackling sound was deafening.
After Zhou Yan and the others lit the firecrackers, they announced that the runners could follow the escort agents and head escorts to practice from now on.
The runners were full of spirit, ready for the first escort mission of the year.
Mu Nianci was also full of anticipation. In the future, she would travel north and south of the Great River, not for a martial arts competition to recruit a husband, but for escorting goods along rivers and roads.
…
“Where is my medicine?”
A voice, half-mad, half-insane, came from Liang Zi Weng, who was among the houses in Zhao Wang Manor.
After Wanyan Honglie was poisoned by the venomous dart, Liang Zi Weng felt it was a good time for him to showcase his skills. He had a residence in the prince’s manor, filled with various medicinal herbs and refined pills.
However, when he went to sort the medicinal herbs and prepare medicinal cuisine that morning, the residence was in disarray. Not only had a large quantity of wild ginseng gone missing, but even the medicine boy guarding the herbs had vanished.
“What on earth happened?”
“My wild ginseng!”
As Liang Zi Weng lamented his loss, he remembered his Treasure Snake.
“My Treasure Snake,” he gritted his teeth, vowing to find whoever harmed his Treasure Snake and stole the wild ginseng, and to drain their blood dry.
Four chapters for now; there will be more tonight.
