The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 132 Colluding with each other, passing by each other
The chirping of insects was faint, and emerald green ivy clung to half of the earthen wall. Wildflowers and grasses grew luxuriantly among the ruins, grasshoppers leaped out and then disappeared, and even more insects rustled beneath the bricks and stones. The home was in ruins, but spring had brought a touch of life to it.

When Qiu Chuji left with Wanyan Kang, Zhu Cong and the others were not left out either.

When the Six Heroes of Jiangnan and Guo Jing arrived, they brought writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, incense, candles, and memorial tablets.

Guo Jing, Han Xiaoying, and others cleared a space from the ruins. Han Baoju bought a wooden table from the village, and Zhu Cong wrote the eight characters "Memorial Tablet of Guo Yishi Xiaotian".

The memorial tablet is placed on the table, and incense and candles are lit.

At this moment, Wanyan Kang slowly walked over from the Yang family and arrived in front of Duan Tiande.

"Tell me, were you the one who did what happened in Niujia Village that day?"

"Your Highness, I was just a minor official back then, and I had no choice in what I did. It was all arranged by Your Highness."

Wanyan Kang realized that if he didn't compromise today, he would have no chance of escaping, so he immediately shouted angrily, "You corrupt official!"

He used the "Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm" taught by Ouyang Ke, and with a thud, struck down with his right palm, shattering Duan Tiande's skull and killing him instantly.

Qiu Chuji was pleased to see Wanyan Kang kill Duan Tiande with his palm from a distance, but he frowned inwardly, realizing that Kang'er's palm technique was not taught to him by him.

There are many skilled individuals in the Prince's mansion, and it's normal for them to offer some guidance. However, the level of internal strength he possessed far surpassed that of the time when he was passing on his skills.

When Guo Jing saw Duan Tiande being killed by a palm strike, he thought of his father's tragic death and his mother's hard work and suffering. His facial muscles tightened and tears streamed down his face.

Han Xiaoying wiped away her tears and walked to his side. "Jing'er, let's pay our respects."

"Jing'er understands."

Guo Jing knelt before the memorial tablet and kowtowed repeatedly.

Wanyan Kang walked over, knelt on the ground, kowtowed several times, stood up, and said, "Brother Guo, I was kept in the dark about this matter the whole time, and I hope you will forgive me."

Bao doted on Wanyan Kang. Although he often used some tricks to please Bao Xiruo when he was in the Prince's Mansion, the bond between mother and son could not be faked. Thinking of his mother's depressed appearance in the Prince's Mansion, his eyes also reddened.

Wang Chuyi, Ma Yu, the Six Heroes of Jiangnan, and others were all about Wanyan Kang's repentance. Ma Yu said, "To know one's mistakes and be able to correct them is of utmost importance. From now on, you will be Yang Kang."

“That’s right!” Qiu Chuji stepped forward and said.

Wanyan Honglie was assassinated on the Lantern Festival by Zhu Cong, who poisoned him with a hidden weapon. Wanyan Kang then took charge of some affairs of the Prince's Mansion, and his lust for power increased dramatically. Since spending time with Ouyang Feng and his nephew, his ability to read people's expressions and not show his emotions had greatly improved. Upon hearing Qiu Chuji's words, he quickly regained his composure, bowed, and said, "Master, there are still many things I don't understand. Please enlighten me."

"Alright, I'll tell you later."

Qiu Chuji paid his respects at Guo Xiaotian's memorial tablet and then recounted his search for the Guo and Yang families years ago, which yielded no results. He then went to Niujia Village in Lin'an Prefecture to investigate and happened to see officials moving things from the Yang family's old residence. Overhearing their conversation, he learned that they were guards from the Prince of Zhao's mansion, sent specifically to retrieve all the family's belongings from the Yang family's former residence. Out of curiosity, he followed them to Zhongdu and found Bao Xiruo living in a small brick house, weeping and stroking an iron railing. Seeing that Bao Xiruo had not forgotten her late husband and was not heartless, he kept his promise to teach Wanyan Kang martial arts and other skills.

When Wanyan Kang learned the whole story, he suddenly remembered that Qiu Chuji had been harsh and strict when teaching him martial arts, and that it was because of his father.

After Qiu Chuji finished speaking, he asked, "Now that you know your background, what are your thoughts?"

Wanyan Kang hurriedly said, "I only learned today that my surname is indeed Yang. I must acknowledge my ancestry and return to my clan. From now on, I will be Yang Kang."

"Good, that's a true hero who doesn't forget his roots," Guo Jing said.

"Brother Guo, please excuse my rudeness." Wanyan Kang bowed and then turned to Qiu Chuji, saying, "Master, this matter is very serious. I will return to Zhongdu to explain today's events to my mother and find a way to send her out of the palace."

"You recognize a thief as your father, but what about Wanyan Honglie?" Ke Zhen'e asked.

"Mother's safety is paramount. Should we send her out of the Prince's residence and then discuss it with Brother Guo?"

Guo Jing was filial, and he thought the plan was excellent, so he said, "As Brother Yang wishes."

"Thank you for your help, Brother Guo."

Yang Kang looked at Qiu Chuji: "Master, how about we call off the duel? How can I possibly argue with Brother Guo about who won?"

Back then, when the agreement was made in Jiaxing, how could Ke Zhen'e and the others have foreseen that Yang Kang would recognize a traitor as his father eighteen years later? Therefore, Yang Kang's words made him feel that the other party was sensible.

Ke Zhen'e immediately laughed and said, "Master Qiu, Yang Kang's words are reasonable. Rather than having Jing'er and Yang Kang compete in the 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion' in Jiaxing, why don't you and the others revisit your hometown with the Seven Freaks and have a good drink?"

"Alright, we'll do as Master Ke says."

Guo Jing said, "Jing'er also thinks it's very good."

Yang Kang hurriedly said to Qiu Chuji, "Master, something happened in the imperial city of Lin'an last night. I can use this as an excuse to leave the city. I'll go back first."

"Go."

"Thank you, Master."

Wanyan Kang bowed to Qiu Chuji a few times, then turned and left.

"Master Qiu, shall we head to Jiaxing now?"

Qiu Chuji said, "I will go, but I have lost the 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion' agreement."

"What do you mean?" Ke Zhen'e asked, puzzled.

Qiu Chuji said absentmindedly, "I have taught him martial arts for several years and know his character. He is greedy for wealth and not a man of true feelings. I have taught him the principles of conduct several times, but this kid just flattered me. Getting him to send the Bao family away seems easy, but getting him to kill Wanyan Honglie is difficult."

Ke Zhen'e said, "This matter is not difficult to resolve. We will go to Zhongdu with Jing'er to keep an eye on that kid."

Qiu Chuji said, "Very well, I also need to go to Zhongdu to see my second brother Yang, and we can discuss it further then."

……

As Yang Kang traveled, he pondered how to properly handle the matter and use Ouyang Feng to kill someone. However, he couldn't predict how to persuade the other party, or whether the Western Poison could defeat more than ten people.

He racked his brains all the way, but still couldn't come up with a good solution after entering Lin'an City. Suddenly, he heard a sound.

"Young Prince." Yang Kang looked up and saw more than a dozen tall horses in front of him, with riders who all looked heroic, and some even dressed in strange clothes and with unusual appearances.

He asked in surprise, "What is this?"

One of the men dismounted and bowed deeply, saying, "I am Helian Chuncheng, the young master of the Changfeng Escort Agency in Zhongdu. During the Lantern Festival, I saw the prince being assassinated and led a group of escorts to his aid. However, we were intercepted by the bandits and I have not been able to see the prince or the young prince."

Yang Kang remembered that there was indeed a fight at the other end of the long street.

"Have a heart."

Yin Kexi, Nimo Xing, and others dismounted and bowed to Yang Kang.

Helian Chuncheng said, "I admire the young prince, but it is a pity that I have no chance to meet him. Who would have thought that we would meet in Lin'an? It is truly a coincidence."

Yang Kang could easily understand Helian Chuncheng's meaning.

He laughed and said, "Your bodyguards are quite peculiar, are they from the Western Regions?"

Helian Chuncheng understood Yang Kang's intentions; he wanted to curry favor with the Prince of Zhao's family, but without power, how could he possibly gain such a position?

He then smiled and introduced, "Young Prince, you may not know this, but Changfeng Escort Agency is located in Datong Prefecture. Zhongdu is just a branch. The agency often travels to the Western Regions and beyond the Great Wall, so most of the escorts are from the Western Regions. My two brothers are experts from the Western Regions and India."

"Nemo Star greets the young prince."

But after Nemo took two steps, his footsteps left several inches deep imprints on the blue bricks of the ground.

Yang Kang's eyes lit up. He thought to himself that his martial arts skills were no less than Wang Chuyi's. He Lianchuncheng called the two brothers, so his cultivation level should be no weaker. He was in need of manpower right now, so he could recruit him.

Thinking this through, he laughed and said, "Mr. Nemo, you have great skill. I admire you. Thank you for your help, Young Master Helian. Since we are destined to meet, please have a drink with me."

"I am deeply grateful for the young prince's appreciation." Helian Chuncheng was overjoyed; he had finally secured a high position with the Prince Zhao's household.

……

Zhou Yan entered the city and found a restaurant where he ordered dishes featuring chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

The silly girl was overjoyed and ate heartily.

After the two finished eating, on their way back to the inn, Zhou Yan bought clothes from a clothing shop. When they arrived at the inn, he gave the waiter extra money to prepare a bathtub full of water. He let the silly girl bathe and change clothes by herself, while he went to the inn's main hall to drink.

Halfway through a pot of "Pear Blossom White" liquor, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the inn: "Waiter, could you tell me if there is a guest named Zhou staying here?"

Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a handsome Taoist priest standing under the eaves; it was Yin Zhiping.

He happened to meet the Seven Masters of Quanzhen at West Lake and naturally told them he would stay at an inn.

"Master Yin."

"Chief Escort Zhou." Yin Zhiping's face lit up with joy as he walked into the hall and took out a letter: "My master wants me to give this letter to the chief escort."

"Thank you for your trouble." Zhou Yan took the letter and asked, "Where are Daoist Qiu and the others?"

"Master and Uncle are heading to Jiaxing. I must take my leave."

"Thank you."

After Yin Zhiping left, Zhou Yan opened and read the letter. Qiu Chuji thanked Fu'an for providing Yang Tiexin and his daughter with shelter, and said that he had enjoyed discussing Taoism at West Lake. They agreed to meet in the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Qiu Chuji would go to the escort agency to see Yang Tiexin at that time.

Zhou Yan calculated that there were still over a hundred days left.

Before Zhang Wangyue went to Huzhou, he instructed Zhou Yan and Qiu Chuji to go north together. Changchunzi also sent such a letter, so he did not stay in Lin'an for long. He searched for Huang Rong for two days. If he could not see her, he would take Shagu north.

Huang Rong will definitely cause trouble for the Yellow River Gang again, and will naturally go to Zhongdu.

When Zhou Yan returned to the guest room, Sha Gu had already finished washing and dressing, giving him a refreshing feeling.

While she wouldn't be considered a stunning beauty, she had delicate features and outstanding bone structure.

He thought of the simple-minded girl's spirit and felt sorry for her.

Over the course of two days, Zhou Yan explored the bustling streets and alleys of Lin'an, where Huang Rong might visit the antique and cultural artifacts district and restaurants, while also ensuring that Sha Gu had a good meal.

He never met Huang Rong, so he bought a yellow horse and took the silly girl with him, leaving Lin'an and heading straight for Jingxiang.

Firstly, to see if Hu Yanlei and the others could head north, and secondly, to catch a few large snakes in Snake Valley and raise them using Liang Ziweng's snake-raising secrets.

……

"Has Chief Escort Zhou returned to Zhongdu?"

As Zhou Yan left the city, Huang Rong, who was inside, stood in front of a security escort agency in Lin'an Prefecture and thought to herself.

Huang Rong is also looking for Zhou Yan.

Both of them were intelligent people.

Zhou Yan thought Huang Rong was fun, so he followed this line of thought and searched for her in bustling areas.

Huang Rong figured that Zhou Yan's trip to Lin'an was ultimately related to matters concerning the escort agency, so she inquired about the various escort agencies in Lin'an Prefecture.

As a result, they missed each other.

"Forget it, Mei Ruohua didn't find a chance to get close to Wanyan Kang at West Lake and is determined to go to Zhongdu. I'll go to Guiyun Manor to see my father, then go and cause trouble for the Yellow River Gang. I'll also go to Zhongdu for some fun while I'm at it."

(End of this chapter)