Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

When Lin Qi returned to the inn, it was almost dawn.

He carefully hid the copy of the Nine Yin Manual, lay on his bed, but couldn't fall asleep. His mind kept replaying Mei Chaofeng's furious face at the end, and the way she stood up. He knew he'd gotten himself into big trouble, but getting the manual was worth it.

At daybreak, Guo Jing knocked on the door. Wang Chuyi had already left. Guo Jing said he was going to the city to find the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, and Huang Rong went with him. Lin Qi did not go with him; he needed to be alone.

In the afternoon, he was drinking tea in the inn when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from the street. He pushed open the door and saw Mu Nianci stumbling towards him, her face pale and her eyes red.

"Brother Lin! Brother Lin!" Her voice trembled.

"Miss Mu? What's wrong?"

"Father...Father went to Prince Zhao's residence..." Mu Nianci almost couldn't stand. "He said he was going to see the Princess, and I couldn't stop him...He went alone..."

Lin Qi's heart sank. Yang Tiexin couldn't hold back any longer.

"When did you leave?"

"Half an hour ago. Brother Lin, please... please save him..." Mu Nianci's tears fell.

Without hesitation, Lin Qi turned and went back to his room to retrieve his dagger. He then said to Mu Nianci, "You stay here and don't wander off. I'm going to find him."

He hurried out of the inn and ran towards the Zhao Prince's residence. The streets of Zhongdu were bustling with people. He passed through several alleys and climbed over the east wall.

The back garden of Prince Zhao's mansion was very quiet. Lin Qi crouched down and quickly made his way towards the backyard.

A light was on in one of the rooms in the backyard. Lin Qi reached for the window and peeked inside. Yang Tiexin stood in the room, facing a middle-aged woman—Bao Xiruo. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Bao Xiruo's face. She was dressed in a simple dress, her face haggard, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried.

"Tie Xin... are you really still alive?" Bao Xiruo's voice was soft and trembling.

Yang Tiexin stretched out his arm and rolled up his sleeve. In the moonlight, the old scar on his arm was clearly visible. Bao Xiruo reached out her hand, trembling, and touched the scar, tears welling up instantly.

"It's you...it really is you..."

The two embraced, their tears soaking their clothes.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps and shouts came from afar. Wanyan Kang's voice rang out: "Mother! Mother!"

Bao Xiruo's expression changed, and she grabbed Yang Tiexin, saying, "It's Kang'er! Tiexin, you have to go!"

"I'm not leaving!" Yang Tiexin grasped her hand. "Xiruo, come with me. Let's go together."

Bao Xiruo gritted her teeth and finally nodded.

The two ran towards the back door. Lin Qi rushed out from the shadows and protected them as they retreated. Just as they reached the back door, Wanyan Kang and a group of guards caught up with them.

"Mother! Where are you going?" Wanyan Kang's voice was sharp and piercing.

Bao Xiruo stopped and turned around, tears blurring her vision: "Kang'er, you...you listen to your mother..."

"What did you say?" Wanyan Kang's face turned ashen. "This man is an assassin! Men, seize him!"

The guards rushed forward. Lin Qi knocked two of them away with a single palm strike, protecting Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo as they rushed out. Wanyan Honglie also arrived. He stood on the steps, his face grim, looking at Bao Xiruo and Yang Tiexin with eyes full of pain and anger.

"Xiruo, are you really going to go with him?"

Bao Xiruo looked at him, tears streaming down her face: "Your Highness, I know you're good to me. But... he's my husband. I've never forgotten him."

Wanyan Honglie's expression changed several times before he finally waved his hand and said, "Take him down."

Peng Lianhu, Lingzhi Shangren, Liang Ziweng, Sha Tongtian, and Hou Tonghai all attacked simultaneously. Lin Qi, outnumbered, was on the verge of collapse. He forced Peng Lianhu back with a single palm strike and shouted to Yang Tiexin, "Uncle Yang, run!"

Yang Tiexin protected Bao Xiruo, fighting and retreating. The three of them rushed out of the back gate of the Prince's Mansion and ran wildly along the alley. The pursuers were in hot pursuit, and the torchlight flickered in the night.

Just as he ran out of the alley, two Taoist priests approached. The one in front had a white beard and eyebrows, and a kind expression; he was none other than Danyangzi Ma Yu. The one behind him had a long, black beard, a spirited demeanor, and carried a long sword on his back; he was Changchunzi Qiu Chuji.

Yang Tiexin was startled when he saw Qiu Chuji. He recognized the Taoist priest as the old friend with whom he had drunk wine and fought enemies in Niujia Village eighteen years ago, but eighteen years of weathering had ravaged his appearance, and Qiu Chuji did not recognize him at first.

In a moment of quick thinking, Yang Tie raised his iron spear and unleashed a "Phoenix Nods" move. The red tassel trembled, and the spear tip gleamed as he aimed directly at Qiu Chuji's chest. The spear tip stopped about a foot away from his chest, halting its advance.

Upon seeing that this spear technique was indeed the authentic lineage of the Yang family spear, Qiu Chuji immediately recalled the time when he tested the spear in the snow. Suddenly seeing an old friend, he was overwhelmed with both sorrow and joy, and shouted loudly, "Ah ha! Brother Yang, it's you! You're still alive!"

Yang Tiexin sheathed his gun and knelt down, tears streaming down his face: "Master Qiu, save me!"

Qiu Chuji quickly stepped forward to support him, his gaze falling on Bao Xiruo, then looking at the Zhao Prince's Mansion crowd chasing after them, his face darkening.

Wanyan Honglie led his men to the alley entrance, where Peng Lianhu, Lingzhi Shangren, Liang Ziweng, Sha Tongtian, and Hou Tonghai stood in a line. But when they saw Qiu Chuji standing there, they were all taken aback.

Peng Lianhu whispered to Wanyan Honglie, "Your Highness, this Taoist priest is Qiu Chuji, the Changchunzi of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. His martial arts are extremely high, so we must be careful." Lingzhi Shangren also put away his usual arrogance and put his palms together, saying, "I have long heard of Master Qiu's reputation. Today I have the pleasure of meeting him, and he is indeed extraordinary." Liang Ziweng stroked his beard and did not speak, but there was a clear sense of apprehension in his eyes.

Sha Tongtian snorted: "Qiu Chuji, this is a family matter of the Prince Zhao's residence, why are you meddling in it?"

Qiu Chuji sneered, drew his longsword, its blade gleaming like water, and held it horizontally in front of him: "Yang Tiexin is an old friend of mine. Eighteen years ago, I became sworn brothers with him. Anyone who wants to harm him today will have to get past me first."

Wanyan Honglie's face was ashen, but he knew that Qiu Chuji held an extremely high position in the Quanzhen Sect, possessed unfathomable martial arts skills, and had the entire sect backing him. Even though the Zhao Prince's mansion outnumbered them, they might not fare well in a fight. He gritted his teeth and waved his hand, saying, "Attack together! There aren't many of them; a generous reward awaits those who capture them!"

Peng Lianhu and the others exchanged glances. Although they were wary of Qiu Chuji, the prince had given the order, so they had no choice but to bite the bullet and charge forward.

Qiu Chuji brandished his longsword, its sword energy crisscrossing, engaging Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian in a two-on-one battle. Ma Yu's palms flew, their power immense, exchanging a blow with Lingzhi Shangren, each retreating three steps. Lin Qi protected Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo, fighting and retreating, but Hou Tonghai and Liang Ziweng relentlessly pursued, making it impossible for him to break free.

The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, along with Guo Jing and Huang Rong, arrived. Ke Zhen'e swept his iron staff and joined the battle. Zhu Cong, Han Baoju, Nan Xiren, Quan Jinfa, and Han Xiaoying all joined the fray, fighting against the guards of the Zhao Prince's mansion. Guo Jing sent a guard flying with a single palm strike, while Huang Rong moved nimbly through the crowd.

But there were simply too many people from the Zhao Prince's mansion. Guards poured in continuously, and torches illuminated the entire alley as bright as day. Peng Lianhu and his five companions were already quite skilled in martial arts, and with their numerical advantage, they gradually gained the upper hand. Ke Zhen'e's iron staff was deflected by Peng Lianhu, forcing him to take two steps back, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth. Zhu Cong's fan was knocked away by Lingzhi Shangren's palm strike, leaving his arm numb and sore. Han Baoju's riding whip was seized by Liang Ziweng, and the two were locked in a stalemate, Han Baoju's forehead veins bulging.

Lin Qi was also entangled with Hou Tonghai and unable to break free. He swung his iron palm repeatedly, forcing Hou Tonghai back several times, but Hou Tonghai pounced on him like a mad dog and he couldn't shake him off at all. Although Qiu Chuji was highly skilled in martial arts, he was fighting two against one and was surrounded by layers of guards, so he gradually began to struggle.

Yang Tiexin trembled as he watched the scene. He knew these people were fighting so hard to save him. Peng Lianhu, Lingzhi Shangren, Liang Ziweng, Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai—weren't they all renowned masters of the martial world? And with Wanyan Honglie constantly sending in guards, if the fight continued, not only would they fail to save him, but Qiu Chuji, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, Lin Qi, Guo Jing, and others would also die here.

His gaze fell on the iron spear in his hand. The spearhead was rusted, but the blade was still sharp.

Yang Tiexin gripped the gun barrel tightly and said to Bao Xiruo, "Xiruo, step back."

Bao Xiruo was taken aback: "Tie Xin, you..."

Yang Tiexin did not answer. He picked up his iron spear and strode towards the battle.

"Master Qiu!" Yang Tiexin shouted, "Stop!"

Qiu Chuji turned around and saw that Yang Tiexin had already walked up to him. Just as he was about to speak, Yang Tiexin suddenly raised his iron spear, the tip pointing at his own chest.

Everyone stopped.

Qiu Chuji's expression changed drastically: "Brother Yang, what are you doing!"

Yang Tiexin looked at Qiu Chuji, his eyes red-rimmed, but his voice was unusually calm: "Master Qiu, please stop fighting. You came here for me, and I can't let you all die here."

"Brother Yang, listen to me—"

"Master Qiu," Yang Tiexin interrupted him, his voice trembling slightly, but his gaze resolute, "Eighteen years ago, you saved me. Eighteen years later, you've come to save me again. I, Yang Tiexin, will remember this kindness forever. But today, I cannot let you risk your lives here for me."

He turned around and looked at Bao Xiruo. Bao Xiruo was already in tears, shaking her head desperately, "Tiexin, no...no..."

Yang Tiexin looked at her and smiled: "Xiruo, I would die happy if I could see you again in this life."

He looked at Lin Qi with pleading eyes: "Young Master Lin, Nianci... I entrust Nianci to you."

Lin Qi's heart skipped a beat. He wanted to step forward, but Qiu Chuji grabbed him. Qiu Chuji's hands were trembling, and his lips were trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Yang Tiexin gripped the gun barrel tightly and thrust the gun tip into his chest.

"Tie Xin!" Bao Xiruo cried out in anguish and rushed over.

Yang Tiexin swayed and fell into Bao Xiruo's arms. He reached out, wanting to touch Bao Xiruo's face, but his hand fell limply halfway down.

Bao Xiruo hugged Yang Tiexin and burst into tears. Her tears dripped onto Yang Tiexin's face and onto the gunshot wound in his chest, mingling with the blood.

The pursuers had closed in, but everyone stopped. Wanyan Kang, mounted on his horse, was deathly pale, his lips trembling. Wanyan Honglie stood at a distance, his face ashen, saying nothing.

Bao Xiruo raised her head, looking at Wanyan Honglie, then at Wanyan Kang. Her face was covered in tears, but there was no hatred in her eyes, only an indescribable despair.

She lowered her head, gently kissed Yang Tiexin's forehead, and then suddenly pulled the spearhead out of Yang Tiexin's chest and plunged it into her own heart.

"Mother!" Wanyan Kang let out a heart-wrenching cry, dismounted, and rushed over.

Bao Xiruo collapsed onto Yang Tiexin, a slight smile on her lips, and slowly closed her eyes.

Wanyan Kang knelt on the ground, holding Bao Xiruo, trembling all over. He raised his head, looking at Wanyan Honglie, his voice hoarse: "Why...why did you force my mother to her death?"

Wanyan Honglie didn't speak, turned and left. Peng Lianhu and the others exchanged glances and followed. The guards gradually dispersed.

Qiu Chuji stood to the side, his face pale and his eyes red. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end only let out a long sigh. He looked at Wanyan Kang's back, his eyes filled with disappointment and heartache, but he didn't say a word.

The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan fell silent. Ke Zhen'e's iron staff struck the ground for a moment, his voice low and deep: "Bury them."

The group dug a pit and buried Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo together. Qiu Chuji stood before the grave, silent for a long time. Wanyan Kang did not leave; he knelt beside the grave, head bowed, lost in thought.

Lin Qi stood to the side, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. Yang Tiexin's dying words still echoed in his ears—"I entrust Nianci to you."

Guo Jing walked up to Lin Qi and whispered, "Brother Lin, Miss Mu is still waiting for you at the inn."

Lin Qi nodded and turned to walk back. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Qiu Chuji. Qiu Chuji was still standing there, the moonlight shining on him, his back looking lonely and heavy.

Lin Qi didn't say anything and turned to leave.

Back at the inn, Mu Nianci was still waiting in the courtyard. When she saw Lin Qi return alone, her face turned pale.

"Brother Lin...where is Godfather?"

Lin Qi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Uncle Yang... he left with the princess."

Mu Nianci swayed and grabbed the doorframe for support. She didn't cry, but her eyes were red and her lips were trembling.

"Did he...did he say anything?"

Lin Qi recalled Yang Tiexin's dying words, looked at Mu Nianci, and said, "Uncle Yang said he entrusted you to me."

Mu Nianci lowered her head, and tears finally fell.

Lin Qi didn't know what to say, so he just stood there and kept her company.

After a long while, Mu Nianci raised her head and wiped away her tears.

"Brother Lin, I will never forget the revenge for my godfather."

Lin Qi nodded: "I don't know either."