The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 25 Dart Competition, Underhanded Tactics

A breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves. Some half-yellow leaves detached from the branches, drifted leisurely to the ground, tumbled a few times, and then fell still.

Autumn sunlight streamed through the carved window with its square frame and round shape, casting shadows on the floor, while dust swirled in the air.

The owner of Sihai is surnamed Lei, and his given name is Luo.

Lei Luo was not at the escort agency, and the escorts were already frantically searching for him. The people who received Mr. Lü were Zhou Yan, Hu Yanlei, and the escorts Lu and Su, whom they had encountered at Songhelou before, along with the manager.

Su, the bodyguard, and his men already knew about the goods and the other party's intentions. All they cared about was the profit from the shipment. They were determined to win this lucrative business no matter what.

Su, the bodyguard, showed no gratitude whatsoever for being rescued by Hu Yanlei, Zhou Yan, and others not long ago.

His mind was filled with the anger of losing a move to Zhou Yan when he fought at Songhelou, as well as the malice of his rivals who slandered each other.

He spoke eloquently, saying, "In terms of the strength of escort agencies in Daxing Prefecture, Sihai and Fu'an are the best. Logically speaking, I shouldn't be making irresponsible remarks."

Merchant Lü immediately recalled Zhou Yan's words. He put down his teacup and said, "Master Su, please speak frankly?"

"Since you have stated your position, I will tell you the truth."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Not only are the bodyguards of Fu'an Escort Agency negligent in their duties, but they also frequently steal from their own posts. Some bodyguards even flirted with the beautiful young ladies they were escorting while on a personal escort mission, and got them pregnant."

"They've brought shame to their peers," said Lu, the bodyguard, picking up the conversation with a tone of disapproval.

"Is that so?" Merchant Lü feigned shock.

The镖师 (bodyguard/escort) Su said with certainty: "Yes, we often lose our goods. But it's not that Fu'an is not strong enough. It's because the bandits we encounter are too fierce. If we are targeted by such bandits, no镖局 (escort agency) can do business."

“Is that so?” Merchant Lü nodded slightly. “Why don’t you two, Mr. Steward and the two bodyguards, tell me about the advantages of Sihai?”

Su, the bodyguard, spoke eloquently, describing his master's deep connections with high-ranking officials and nobles in Zhongdu, how he knew famous figures in the martial arts world, and his interactions with chivalrous gangs. His words flowed like a silver lotus, his eloquence was dazzling.

Merchant Lü listened more and spoke less, and time passed in this way. The patron from all over the world had not yet arrived, but the merchant's entourage was led into the courtyard by the porters.

Merchant Lü stood up and said, "Excuse me for a moment."

“No problem!” Escort Lu and Escort Su bowed.

Mr. Lü left the hall and went into the courtyard, where he and his entourage went to the octagonal pavilion.

"How about it?"

The attendant said, "I spent some money to inquire, and most of the guards in Fu'an are said to be highly skilled. I haven't heard of any Fu'an guards seducing young ladies they were escorting or losing their goods. However, I did hear something interesting."

"Tell me quickly."

"Half a month ago, the bodyguards from Sihai and Fu'an clashed at Songhelou. The bodyguards from Fu'an were Huyan and Zhou, the young bodyguards who led the way. He defeated two bodyguards from Sihai, surnamed Su and Lu."

"Heh, I didn't realize that Escort Zhou was so skilled."

"really."

What caused it?

"Verbal disputes are provocations from all sides."

Merchant Lü nodded: "Understood."

"How is it here?" the attendant asked.

"That's pretty much what Zhou the镖师 (bodyguard) said."

"What will you choose, sir?"

"Then let's go with Fu'an."

"Has the master told the people from Sihai about the bidding?"

"Of course I've said that."

The attendant looked distressed. "Isn't there still a chance of things changing?"

"Who said that? Let Zhou the镖师 (bodyguard) fight two more times with the镖师 who have been to Songhelou, then there will be nothing more to say," said Lu the merchant.

"Master is wise."

Mr. Lü smiled and turned to enter the living room.

Soon after, Lei Luo, the owner of Sihai, arrived. The merchant Lü spoke amiably about the valuable goods and the idea of ​​a bidding war for the best goods.

Lei Luo had nothing to say, and some plans, such as giving some benefits to his followers and inviting Mr. Lü to the brothel to listen to music, could not be implemented.

Sihai and Fu'an competed in three rounds, and Sihai won the dart battle.

The choice of which镖师 (bodyguard/escort) to participate rests with Mr. Lü. Both镖局 (escort agencies) list all their镖师, and Mr. Lü randomly selects his opponents. The winner can stay and continue the competition. In other words, whoever wins two consecutive battles gets the镖 (bodyguard/escort).

Mr. Lü felt that this was a sure thing for Fu'an.

If I draw Zhou Yan myself, and then draw Su and Lu, the bodyguards from Sihai, Sihai will have nothing to say. Zhou Yan is a smart man; he'll know he's doing them a favor and will report it. I can also see for myself Fu'an's strength, which will facilitate future cooperation.

A win-win situation, the best arrangement imaginable.

The time was set for the next morning, and the location was Sihai Escort Agency.

Merchant Lü and his entourage left and headed straight for the inn where they were staying.

Lei Luo, the steward, Lu the镖师, Su the镖师, and the head镖师 who had rushed over discussed the matter.

Under the bright daylight, the owner asked, "What do you think our chances of winning are, Chief Escort?"

The head of the Sihai Escort Agency confidently stated, "Master, there's no need to worry. It's just a competition between escorts. Most of the best ones from Fu'an have gone to Sichuan. The only one we can boast about now is Huyan Lei."

Lu, the bodyguard, said, "I was caught off guard by Huyan Lei's sneak attack at Songhelou that day. I am not afraid of him."

"The problem is that the outcome will be decided by drawing lots."

Su, the bodyguard, laughed: "Easy. Send out some weaker bodyguards and say they're not with the agency when they go on a delivery."

The landlord clapped his hands: "Great idea!"

……

A crescent moon hung in the western sky; night had not yet fallen.

The detailed information about the bidding was reported to the Fu'an Escort Agency by the escorts of the Sihai Escort Agency.

Zhang Wangyue smiled after learning the rules.

Many bodyguards have left Fu'an.

However, Hu Yanlei, Zhou Yan, Wang Kui and others are no longer what they used to be.

Nothing to worry about.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) didn't even give any instructions or warnings to the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts).

Zhou Yan felt no pressure and continued his cultivation as usual. He took a bath and rested at midnight. After a night of shifting stars, he got up early to practice "Free and Easy Fist," then went out to eat at a breakfast stall before heading to the escort agency.

After daybreak, the owner, Duan Huai'an, led thirteen bodyguards, including the head镖师 (bodyguard leader), Hu Yanlei, and Zhou Yan, to Xiang Sihai Escort Agency.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Four Seas, where things had already started to get lively, the镖师 Lu and 镖师 Su, who were on the list, were wiping their weapons and checking their hidden weapons over and over again.

Lu, whose cultivation level was not high, was excluded and was not at the escort agency.

A gust of wind swept by, and many long benches were set up on the martial arts field, where warriors and bodyguards from all over the world sat to watch the battle and cheer.

Seated around several square tables were Duan Huai'an, the owner of Fu'an, Lei Luo, the owner of Sihai, and Lu Keshang, among others.

Both sets of bodyguards were eager to get started.

After a few pleasantries among the three parties, the list was handed to Mr. Lü.

Unaware that Sihai had cheated by excluding less capable镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), he assumed Lu镖师 (bodyguard/escort) wasn't with the镖局 (bodyguard/escort agency) since he didn't see him. Merchant Lü selected Su镖师 (bodyguard/escort), then glanced at the list from Fu'an, and announced, "Sihai Su镖师, Fu'an Zhou镖师, first match."

Upon hearing this, the bodyguard Su sneered, thinking to himself, "What a small world! I'll make you look bad today."

Zhou Yan smiled inwardly.

What a coincidence! It's obvious that the other party had already taken a liking to Fu'an and had even done some scouting at Songhelou. Knowing that he had knocked Su the bodyguard downstairs, that's why they made this choice.

Hu Yanlei and Wang Kui were still a little uneasy. Hu Yan, the bodyguard sitting next to Zhou Yan, asked, "Are you sure you can handle this?"

Ten moves

Hu Yanlei grinned: "I'll believe you if you say so."

"Watch out for hidden weapons," Wang Kui leaned over and warned.

"okay!"

Zhou Yan nodded, stood up, tightened his belt, and went to the martial arts arena.

Su, the bodyguard, then put two iron rings with small spikes on one side, which were highly poisonous, on the index fingers of his left and right hands.

In the center of the arena, a member of the Sihai team beat a gong and drum, and said in a loud voice: "According to the rules of the escort competition, no one may be killed. There are no restrictions on the means of combat."

The implication was clear: An Qingzi could use whatever he wanted. He could unleash any underhanded tricks he wanted.

(End of this chapter)