Chapter 6 006 "Jiang Ling'er, without your father, there is no world..."
Yuan Zao stamped her foot in frustration: "This is too much! Sister Ling'er, why did you agree to him?!"
Jiang Ling'er could say that because she wasn't afraid of Zhao Xiao. She had never been afraid of anyone in her life, let alone a mere loser she had beaten to the ground every year. Jiang Ling'er glanced at him without answering, but the provocation in her eyes was unmistakable.
But soon, she stopped laughing.
The clouds dispersed and the rain finally stopped, but the gloom did not dissipate.
Especially when Jiang Ling'er was restrained by Zhao Xiao, her entire upper body was forced to the ground, and half of her face was immersed in the sewage on the blue bricks, with mud splashing all over her face and body.
The gloom enveloped her, as if a tight, airtight net had wrapped her up, and every breath she took was filled with the smell of mud and the metallic taste of blood churning in her throat.
She always loved wearing red, feeling that only fiery red and vermilion red were worthy of her, but today, it was all stained.
Her fiery red dress clung to her body, soaking wet and almost blending into the dirty water beneath her.
And her long whip.
It was torn into three pieces by Zhao Xiao's palm strike and fell to the ground.
Zhao Xiao pinned her wrists behind her back with both hands, pressing his right knee against her thin neck in a humiliating manner, and shouted:
"Are you convinced?!"
This was the sixth time she had been knocked down. It seemed to be a mockery or a way of venting her anger, a way of venting the humiliation of being knocked down by her at the annual martial arts tournament of the escort agency. Zhao Xiao knocked her down again and again, and when she struggled to get up, he knocked her down again.
He was still using the Thunder Palm, the Jiang family's secret technique, which was taught to him by the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort).
Since the death of Zhao Ji, the leader of the White Tiger Hall, six years ago, Old Escort Jiang, though he never said it, treated Zhao Xiao like his own son. He not only personally taught him his signature skill, the Thunder Palm, but also intended to marry Jiang Ling'er to him in his early years. However, the two were like needles clashing against wheat awns as soon as they met, and they couldn't stand each other, so Old Escort Jiang gave up the idea.
But today he actually used the Thunderclap Palm against her.
He defeated her with the Thunder Palm technique, which he had only practiced for six years, but which she had practiced for more than twenty years, almost half a lifetime, as easily as breathing.
"Do you really think I can't beat you, Jiang Ling'er?"
"We...we were just putting on a show for your father's sake, to save face for you, the young master of the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world. Do you know that making sure you win, yet deliberately losing in a way that isn't too obvious, is more tiring than practicing martial arts?"
"Jiang Ling'er, without your father, without the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world, you are nothing."
Perhaps he had finally vented his pent-up frustration, perhaps he had had enough fun, or perhaps he saw that Jiang Ling'er had finally lost the strength to fight back, and that her once arrogant and domineering face was now pale and her eyes were dull and lifeless. He finally stopped teasing her and wasting his time. Although his father had died early, he had taught him a lesson: to defeat someone is not only to be superior in skill, but also to destroy their will, so that they can no longer even muster the desire to fight back. That is what it means to win, to win completely and utterly.
This time, before she could struggle to her feet again, he went straight over, grabbed her by the back of his hand, and, giving her no chance to breathe or fight back, pressed down harder with his knee, asking again:
"Are you convinced?!"
Jiang Ling'er's face immediately turned even paler as she was forced to swallow a mouthful of dirty water.
Yuan Zao, standing to the side, had already turned red in the eyes and was trembling with anger. She tried to rush forward several times, but her father, Yuan Wenkang, the head of the Xuanwu Hall, the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world, had her pressure points sealed. She could only stand there, staring intently at Jiang Ling'er, who was being strangled to the ground by Zhao Xiao, with tears streaming down her face.
It is unclear when, but because everyone knew that she had returned, the brothers who had been searching for her all came back. A huge crowd filled the courtyard, surrounding them and watching the fight, which was almost a one-sided violence.
Tears blurred Yuan Zao's vision. Yuan Wenkang pressed her pressure points but not her speech-impairing point. She yelled and cursed at Zhao Xiao:
"Zhao Xiao, you bastard! You son of a bitch! Was it really necessary to... was it really necessary to hit her so hard?! Didn't you see that Sister Ling'er is already struggling to breathe?! You... get off me!"
The young man she was hurling insults at didn't even turn his head once, turning a deaf ear to her words.
Yuan Zao could only look at her father and plead with him in a tearful voice, "Father, I beg you, please release my pressure points, Father... Father!"
"Do you want to be branded as an accomplice to the evil cult?"
Beside him stood a refined middle-aged man in a long robe, who didn't look at Yuan Zao but stared intently at the two wrestling on the field, his eyes deep and his thick eyebrows furrowed. This was Yuan Wenkang, the head of the Xuanwu Hall and Yuan Zao's biological father.
"Father! How could you believe that nonsense! How could the old镖头 (bodyguard/chief escort)..."
"Or do you want all the brothers of Xuanwu Hall to be buried with them?" The middle-aged man finally turned his head to look at the girl beside him, gave her a cool glance, and interrupted her.
Yuan Zao's expression stiffened. After a moment, she stammered, her voice involuntarily lowering, "No...it's not that serious...maybe it's just a misunderstanding..."
Under Yuan Wenkang's silent gaze, Yuan Zao's voice grew softer and softer, until finally she bit her lower lip hard, her eyes turning even redder:
"Then...then are we just going to watch Sister Ling'er be...no! No matter what, Sister Ling'er is the young master of the镖局 (bodyguard agency)! How could Zhao Xiao treat her like this?!"
Yuan Wenkang said calmly, "From now on, there will be no more Young Master Escorts."
Yuan Zao was startled, her eyes widening suddenly. Just as she was about to say something, Yuan Wenkang raised his hand and pressed her speech-impairing pressure point. The lines between his brows deepened, and his voice was cold and deep, carrying obvious anger:
“I’ve spoiled you too much in the past, letting you and Jiang Ling’er run rampant. You’re still so childish! The position of the top镖师 (chief镖师, a type of bodyguard/escort) in the world has always been held by the capable, not by someone born with the surname Jiang! We’re both children of the Four Halls, but Zhao Xiao wants to seize supreme power, while you…” His chest heaved violently for a moment before he managed to suppress his anger. Finally, he threw down a sentence and turned to leave, “From now on, you will be in seclusion to practice your skills and are not allowed to step out of the house!”
Yuan Zao futilely opened and closed her mouth to say something to Yuan Wenkang's receding figure, but in the end she could only look in Jiang Ling'er's direction, her eyes wide open, her whole body trembling slightly, her throat emitting soft, indistinct syllables, but she couldn't utter a single word.
--
Jiang Ling'er is feeling very unwell right now.
Compared to the physical pain and the near-death pressure on her neck that made it almost impossible to breathe, the shock to her heart and soul was a thousand times more painful. All the knowledge she had accumulated over her twenty-four years of life was shattered.
It wasn't just the humiliation of being defeated in public. A few days ago, when Ji Yunshu easily took her whip, when she realized that the person who should have been at her beck and call had turned her into a fish on a chopping board, she had also been in pain. However, she attributed it more to Ji Yunshu's deep cunning and the evil methods he practiced. She had been tricked into this situation. But today, she had no excuse.
In full view of everyone, she not only lost to Zhao Xiao, but also to her own Thunder Palm technique.
What a humiliating disgrace!
Is it because she is dull-witted, having studied the Thunder Palm for twenty years yet still unable to defeat Zhao Xiao, who has only studied it for six years?
Is that so?
Amidst the torrential rain and fierce fighting, a corner of the cloth covering her calves peeked out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Zhao Xiao was just as disheveled as she was. The object bound to his knees during the struggle was also revealed—a solid, heavy, specially made sandbag. It was not to be removed except during escort missions or when engaging in brutal combat with the enemy.
From the very first day they began learning martial arts, every disciple of the "Number One Escort" sect would have sandbags personally wrapped around their ankles by their master. This was intended as self-encouragement and to encourage them to practice their legwork. Every disciple of the "Number One Escort" sect was taught that skill comes from practice, success comes from diligence, and daily refinement is achieved through hard work and is lost through idleness. They were required to study and practice diligently every day without fail.
She remembered that day. It was Uncle He Yong who personally tied the sandbags to her head. She remembered Uncle He Yong's kind hands gently patting the top of her head. She remembered Uncle He Yong's gentle voice and his solemn yet earnest eyes.
[Life depends on diligence; without striving, what can one gain? Ling'er, you are the future chief镖师 (chief镖师, a high-ranking镖师 in the world), and you should always keep this in mind, never forgetting it for a moment.]
She remembered her crisp, clear reply:
[Ling'er knows! Ling'er will practice diligently every day. Ling'er will never let Master He Yong, Father, or any of the uncles, aunts, brothers, or sisters in the镖门 (镖门 is a martial arts sect) down!]
She remembered the approving look in Uncle He Yong's eyes, and she remembered herself reflected in Uncle He Yong's pupils, her face solemn yet her eyes bright.
She clearly remembers everything... she clearly remembers everything.
But when did thin cloth strips replace heavy sandbags? And when did it start that the practice changed from getting up at dawn to practicing martial arts at midday, then mid-morning, and finally late morning, with a practice routine of three days on and two days off?
She can't remember.
At this moment, Zhao Xiao still had his knee pressed against her neck, and she could hear the whispers of her fellow disciples around her. Not only she, but everyone else noticed, including Zhao Xiao.
He even sneered: "You're lazy, playful, and spend all your time either sightseeing or hanging around pretty boys. You caused a huge uproar in the city by forcing Ji Yunshu to marry you. The old head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) has lost face, and you've trampled the reputation of the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world on the ground. How can someone like you be worthy of being the young head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world?"
Jiang Ling'er didn't answer. She couldn't speak anyway. The knee pressing on her neck felt like a thousand pounds, and she could barely breathe. She could only vaguely see the reflection of half of her face in the puddle beside her, pale and humiliated.
I feel so sad, I'm about to cry.
She rarely cried. Since she was conscious, the only time she shed a tear was over a bowl of wonton noodles for her father. Her mother died young, leaving her with no memory of her death and no sadness. Even after six years of marriage to Ji Yunshu, knowing he was two-faced and unfaithful, even knowing he was keeping a mistress, she felt no urge to cry, despite the heartache. She often mocked Yuan Zao for her constant crying, as if she were a water ghost reincarnated—how could one person hold so many tears? She didn't know before, but now she did.
It's not that she doesn't like to cry or can't cry; it's that she has no need to cry. She was born with everything, and there's really nothing extra that's worth her crying for or worthy of her crying over.
Now she could truly feel her eyes stinging. She knew perfectly well that the tears weren't forced up by the pressure on her neck; she genuinely wanted to cry, to have a good, cathartic cry.
She lived like she was in a bubble, until today that bubble burst.
She fell.
In the past, countless people would have rushed to catch her. Even without them, there would have been Uncle He Yong to catch her. And even without Uncle He Yong, there would have been Ji Yunshu. Of course, it's uncertain whether he could have caught her with his meager strength. He didn't need to catch her; he only needed to stand behind her. Even without Ji Yunshu, there was her husband and her father.
Even if everyone in the world dies, her father, the old hero Jiang Leilong, the chief镖头 (chief镖头, head镖师, of the number one镖师 in the world), will definitely catch her.
But now there is no one, no one appears, and she has fallen into the mud.
In the puddle, I witnessed the true nature of life.
Perhaps because the ashen look on her face was so obvious, Jiang Ling'er belatedly realized that the immense weight pressing on her neck had disappeared. Zhao Xiao no longer restrained her, nor did he ask her "whether you submit" anymore. There was no need; her answer was written all over her face.
Zhao Xiao stood up, looking down at her, and said, word by word, "You lost."
The scarce air and freedom were suddenly lost and regained. Jiang Ling'er propped herself up from the ground, one hand supporting herself in the puddle, the other hand on her neck, coughing violently, almost coughing up her lungs.
Then Zhao Xiao said, "Do you still remember the bet? You are no longer the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world. Now you should kneel down before me."
After saying that, he walked up to her, stopped, and even patted the water stains off the hem of his robe before standing in front of her.
Jiang Ling'er's long eyelashes fluttered suddenly, and her violent cough paused almost imperceptibly before gradually subsiding. Her hands, braced in the puddle, clenched into tight fists, her knuckles turning white with the force. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and from her angle, all that could be seen were the legs and ankles of someone clearly skilled in martial arts, bound with sandbags.
After a long while, Jiang Ling'er's slightly hoarse, low voice finally came through. Her eyes were still sore, but she didn't shed a tear; she had to save face.
Her voice was low but calm, unusually calm, calmer than Zhao Xiao had imagined, which surprised him and made him think more highly of her.
Jiang Ling'er heard herself say, "I will not go back on my word, but before that, I need to know what exactly happened and what your basis is for accusing my father of colluding with the Demonic Sect and even the Jurchens?"
Colluding with the evil cult is already despicable. The Jurchens are increasingly encroaching on the Song Dynasty and have invaded the Song Dynasty many times over the years. Colluding with the Jurchens and becoming their lackeys is something that would bring shame to our ancestors. Especially for a well-known and respected old hero like Jiang the镖头 (Old Escort), what a sinister and even humiliating accusation this is!
Jiang Ling'er was the first to deny it! Others might not know, but she knew how much her father hated the Jurchens, wishing he could drink their blood and eat their flesh! How could he possibly associate with the Jurchens and become their accomplice!
"On what grounds?" Zhao Xiao sneered. "Isn't it enough that your father's house is full of secret rooms filled with letters exchanged between him and the Demonic Sect and the Jurchens?"
Jiang Ling'er suddenly looked up: "Impossible! My father would never do such a thing!"
"Impossible?" Zhao Xiao seemed even angrier than her, his eyes bloodshot like spiderwebs, his gaze almost bursting, and he roared in fury, "Then how do you explain that six years ago, out of so many skilled镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), only your father returned alive, while my father? My father was covered in the sinister techniques only the Demonic Sect could use, and the most fatal blow to his heart was caused by your father's Thunder Palm! How can you expect me not to believe it?!"
Jiang Ling'er stood there stunned. Regarding the escort mission six years ago that nearly crippled half of the skilled members, everyone remained silent. Even after she begged her father countless times, the old head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) refused to utter a single word. She naturally didn't know, but she was certain that her father couldn't have colluded with the Demonic Sect, couldn't have colluded with the Jurchens, and certainly couldn't have murdered Uncle-Master Zhao Ji! They were sworn brothers, this was simply… simply unbelievable!
Jiang Ling'er rolled over and sat up. She was so shocked by what she heard that it took her a while to find her voice. Zhao Xiao didn't seem to be lying, which made her even more incredulous: "You...you're talking nonsense! How could my father kill Uncle Zhao Ji! They were sworn brothers, and Uncle Zhao Ji was also my fourth uncle. You...you tell me why my father would want to kill my fourth uncle?!"
"What else could it be?" Zhao Xiao stared at her and sneered, "Naturally, it's for the 'Peacock King Longevity Manual'."
As soon as the words were spoken, not only Jiang Ling'er was stunned, but all the disciples of the镖局 (bodyguard agency) who were watching in the courtyard were also stunned.
Six years ago, a Taoist priest named Xu Fu supposedly achieved immortality and ascended to heaven by practicing a scripture called "The Peacock King's Longevity Manual." While this rumor existed, no one had ever witnessed it, and it was uncertain whether Xu Fu even existed. All that was known was his name; his teacher, home, and even the number of his family members were completely unknown. The scripture's contents were so exaggerated and fantastical that Jiang Ling'er always dismissed it as a joke. And not only her, but everyone in Jinling City, from eighty-year-old elders to three-year-old children, thought the same thing—truly blatant lies, the more they talked, the more unbelievable they became!
Zhao Xiao, completely oblivious, stepped forward to provoke her further: "Three years ago, I already had evidence that Jiang Leilong was colluding with the Demonic Sect and the Golden Man. Why do you think I chose today to expose him? I want to reveal his true colors to the world at Jiang Leilong's birthday banquet! So that the world will know that this is no 'old hero' at all, but a treacherous dog deserving to be torn to pieces!"
"You! Shut up!" Jiang Ling'er shouted angrily, her eyes reddening. "No one is allowed to insult my father!"
He rushed over as soon as he finished speaking!
Having been knocked to the ground by Zhao Xiao and lost his fighting spirit, he was suddenly aroused with boundless indignation. His originally weak limbs suddenly burst forth with a surge of strength supported by anger. Zhao Xiao subconsciously stepped back and was slammed to the ground by her punch!
She was wrong, so why should she admit it?
She's a complete jerk!
The Thunderclap Palm emphasizes speed and, even more importantly, power. Its thunderous force shakes ten thousand miles, its might overwhelms the universe and moves the four seas. The courage of the benevolent is as unyielding as thunder. Its power can be blocked, but never killed. Better to die in battle than to surrender in weakness!
She may not become the young master of the world's number one escort, but as a member of the Jiang family and the rightful successor of the Jiang family's Thunder Palm technique, she will never admit defeat!
Jiang Ling'er never admits defeat!
Jiang Ling'er was furious, her eyes filled with a furious red mist. In her rage, she completely forgot about rules. Since her long whip had already been destroyed by this guy, she didn't care about anything and just kept punching Zhao Xiao's head like a street thug fighting!
If she had used the Thunderclap Palm, Zhao Xiao would have naturally seen the flaw. But she actually used this kind of rogue, unruly fighting style, like a haphazard punching method that could kill a master. He was caught off guard and took several heavy punches. Realizing that he had been intimidated by Jiang Ling'er, this fool, and had even taken several punches from her, all in front of everyone, the humiliation of being beaten to the ground by her in the annual martial arts tournaments resurfaced. His face turned ashen. While awkwardly dodging Jiang Ling'er's rogue punches that seemed to come from nowhere, he coldly said:
"Fine, I thought you'd finally gotten to the point, but it turns out you're still a stubborn mule! Fine, I'll beat you until you submit!"
He held his right hand in an eagle claw pose inside his sleeve, and he no longer used the Thunder Palm. This was the "White Eagle Claw," a technique unique to his Zhao family and taught to him by his father, Zhao Ji. With a gust of wind, he attacked Jiang Ling'er's eyes with unstoppable force and an extremely vicious angle!
Jiang Ling'er was blinded by rage and acted rashly. By the time she realized what was happening, Zhao Xiao's sharp fingers were already upon her. Her pupils constricted, and her wild punches faltered. She thought she was about to have her eyes gouged out and blood splattered on the spot, but suddenly a gray figure swept past like a wild goose, and Zhao Xiao stopped just half an inch away from her, unable to move.
A middle-aged man with half-gray hair grabbed Zhao Xiao's wrist, and all of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Ling'er was taken aback, then her eyes suddenly lit up: "Uncle-Master He Yong!"
The newcomer was dressed in a low-key gray robe, with a dignified and refined appearance. He didn't look like a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) traveling the world, but rather like a schoolteacher. This man was none other than He Yong, the head of the Azure Dragon Hall, the number one镖师 in the world, and also Jiang Ling'er's fifth uncle and mentor. The old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) Jiang was very busy with his daily affairs, so most of the time Jiang Ling'er followed behind her Uncle He Yong. Their relationship was not only that of master and disciple, but also more like that of father and daughter.
Therefore, Jiang Ling'er's eyes lit up when she first saw He Yong, and her voice contained not only surprise but also grievance.
He Yong glanced at her quickly, then his gaze settled on Zhao Xiao. He released his grip and said in a deep voice:
"You've caught her."
The unspoken meaning was that she was already his, and there was no need for him to do anything more.
"So what if she is? She's Jiang Leilong's only daughter. How could she not know the despicable things Jiang Leilong has done?" Zhao Xiao stood up with a sneer, shook off the dust, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. "Jiang Leilong is a traitor to the martial arts world and a lackey of the Jurchens. How can she escape responsibility for what he did? She wouldn't be spared even if she died ten thousand times!"
"You...!" Jiang Ling'er was furious, but she calmed down after He Yong gave her a cool glance, and only glared fiercely at Zhao Xiao.
Seeing that Zhao Xiao was unwilling to let him go, He Yong pondered for a moment, then suddenly said:
"With her here, there's no need to worry about Jiang Leilong not revealing the location of the 'Peacock King Longevity Manual.' What do you think, my dear nephew?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Xiao's gloomy expression softened: "Fifth Uncle is right, I was too hasty." After a moment's thought, he said to his subordinates, "Take her away and lock her up with the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort)."
Finally, he paused, stared at Jiang Ling'er with an ambiguous expression, and said, "Didn't you want to see your father? I'll send you to see him now."
Jiang Ling'er frowned, exchanged a glance with Uncle He Yong, and saw him nod at her chin, which calmed her unease. She then glanced at Yuan Zao not far away, who was stiff and unable to move. When Yuan Zao saw her, her eyes suddenly opened, but she could only stammer without being able to speak. Jiang Ling'er's unease resurfaced, but there was nothing she could do at the moment, so she could only follow the servant.
The number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world was her family's property, so she knew it like the back of her hand. She silently followed the servant further and further away. At first, she could endure it, but when they reached the secret basement of the number one镖师, a darker, damper, and even more dangerous environment than the Discipline Hall, and when she saw Old Master Jiang, disheveled, covered in blood and scars of torture, she finally couldn't hold back anymore. She rushed forward and burst into tears.
"Father...Father!"
A note from the author:
----------------------
①From Song Maocheng's "Jiuyue Bieji: Yu Cao Da"
②From Zhang Heng's "Biography of Zhang Heng" in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty
③From Fu Xuan's "Song of Thunder"
④ From Su Shi's "Memorial to My Nephew"
I thought I could get to the part about the synopsis today, but it'll have to wait until the next chapter.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com