Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 24 An unexpected encounter with Mu Nianci, pursued by the Iron Palm Clan!

With a firebird perched on his shoulder, Ouyang Ke rode slowly on horseback, heading straight for Sheyang County.

It has been more than three months since I left Sheyang County.

My uncle rented that courtyard before he left, and now it's time to go back and take a look.

I just don't know if my uncle has found the Vajra Sect founded by the Fire-Worker Monk, or if he has obtained the Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment from that sect.

Thinking of this, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but glance at his own legs, which were still unable to walk independently.

It is true that his martial arts have greatly improved. He has completed the third volume of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and has also begun to understand the martial arts in the Nine Yin Manual. Looking around the world, there are not many people who can defeat him.

But without these legs, it's like an eagle with broken wings, ultimately unable to soar through the heavens.

He had just fought with Qiu Chuji, Ma Yu and others, and seemed to have won easily, but only he knew the dangers involved.

If it weren't for the protection of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, if it weren't for the help of the Bodhi Snake Gallbladder in the desolate valley of Xiangyang, if it weren't for Guo Jing's unreserved teaching of the Nine Yin Manual...

With his crippled body, how could he possibly move freely in front of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen?

But if both legs are intact, why risk your life to win?

His seemingly carefree departure was merely a way to take advantage of the situation while Ke Zhen'e and his six companions were standing up for him.

Otherwise, with his current strength alone, he would ultimately be no match for the combined forces of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

Even if he could kill one or two people first, preventing them from setting up the Big Dipper Formation, how long could his crippled body hold out against the rest of the crowd rushing in?

However, if his legs were intact, even if he was no match for the enemy, and he was determined to leave, Ma Yu and the others would not be able to stop him.

Ouyang Ke shook his head gently, deciding not to think about it anymore.

As for my uncle's safety...

He looked up at the setting sun on the western horizon, his eyes showing no sign of worry.

Among the Five Great Masters, my uncle is the one who is most flexible in his actions, unafraid of being besieged or plotted against.

In terms of using poison, he was the ancestor of all poison users in the world, far surpassing even the Eastern Heretic, the Southern Emperor, and the Northern Beggar.

In terms of cunning, how could those brutes of the Vajra Sect be a match for Uncle?

In terms of martial arts, although Huo Gong Toutuo received the true teachings of the Shaolin's fierce and powerful lineage, he was probably still a notch below his uncle's Toad Style, which he had cultivated for decades.

With his uncle still not back, Ouyang Ke was not without worry.

But he knew his uncle too well; he was obsessed with martial arts. If he saw Huo Gong Toutuo's disciples and followers, he might suddenly decide to pry all the secret martial arts techniques of the Vajra Sect out of them.

If so...

The Vajra Sect, which would later become a powerful force in the Western Regions, was likely to be wiped out.

A smile appeared on Ouyang Ke's lips. He stopped thinking about it and urged his horse to continue south.

……

Lin'an Prefecture is about five or six hundred li away from Sheyang County. Ouyang Ke was not in a hurry and leisurely headed south.

These past few days he's been meditating in Niujia Village, which has been tough on the firebird. The little guy is full of energy and has nowhere to vent it, so he's taken Guo Jing's pair of white eagles as playmates.

Or rather, they were treated as objects of ridicule.

Each time it flew over and pecked off a tuft of feathers, it would then triumphantly flee into the distance, infuriating the pair of white eagles who cried out incessantly, yet could not catch up with it.

After a few days, the pair of white eagles would avoid it whenever they saw it, and the distance between them grew further and further. Without its playmate, the firebird felt bored and would spend its days dozing on Ouyang Ke's shoulder.

Seeing Ouyang Ke finally set off today, the firebird was extremely excited, perching on his shoulder and chirping incessantly. Its calls were clear and cheerful, clearly as if it were celebrating.

Hearing the cheerful chirping, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but smile. He reached out and gently stroked the firebird's feathers, and the little creature squinted its eyes, looking completely content.

Throughout this journey, the firebird has been by his side and has long been regarded as a close friend.

He was naturally calm and reserved, but having this lively little guy by his side added a lot of fun to the journey.

After traveling for about half an hour, the sun gradually began to set. As Ouyang Ke continued on his way, he suddenly heard a familiar eagle's cry coming from afar.

He looked up and saw a pair of white eagles circling and flying above the bamboo forest several miles away, crying out incessantly, their calls urgent, as if giving a warning.

Ouyang Ke's heart stirred.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong are still in Niujia Village, so how did these two white eagles end up here?

And its cries were so urgent, it was clear that something had happened.

Before he could think further, the firebird on his shoulder had already spotted the pair of white eagles. It immediately became excited, let out a loud cry, and took flight.

The firebird had grown several sizes since their first encounter, but its flight speed had increased rather than decreased. A streak of red light shot into the sky, as fast as an arrow released from a bow, and in the blink of an eye, it had already pierced the sky above the bamboo forest.

Upon hearing the firebird's cry, the pair of white eagles, instead of their usual tendency to avoid it, turned back and cried out urgently at it, as if reminding it of something.

Ouyang Ke frowned slightly, spurred his green horse, and headed straight for the bamboo forest several miles away.

……

In about half a cup of tea's time, Ouyang Ke had arrived outside the bamboo grove.

Before even stepping into the forest, one could hear bursts of angry roars coming from within, mixed with the sound of swords slicing through the air.

He looked closely and saw a dozen or so men dressed in short shirts, wielding swords and knives, attacking a young girl.

The girl was dressed in coarse cloth, with a slender and delicate figure. Although she was unarmed, she moved freely amidst the flashing swords and shadows. Her movements were light and agile, and her fists moved like swallows and eagles leaping, weaving among the crowd, striking people down one after another.

Ouyang Ke had exceptional eyesight and recognized the origin of the fist technique at a glance; it was none other than "Xiaoyao You" created by Hong Qigong.

This set of boxing techniques is light and graceful, making it most suitable for women to practice. He had seen Huang Rong demonstrate it in Baoying years ago.

Although the girl was agile, her strength was clearly insufficient. Those who were hit and fell to the ground were able to get up quickly and fight again.

The men gradually figured out her fighting style and realized that although her punches and kicks were fast, they couldn't hurt anyone, so they became even more unscrupulous.

What made the girl even more hesitant was a donkey cart behind her. It carried two coffins, and the men, seeing her desperately protecting them, deliberately lashed out at them. The girl was forced to turn back repeatedly to rescue them, greatly diminishing her agility.

After several attempts, the girl was in grave danger, with several bloody welts on her clothes revealing her pale skin. But she gritted her teeth and refused to back down an inch.

Her left shoulder was noticeably stiff, indicating an old injury that hadn't healed and was hindering her power. Otherwise, given the exquisite nature of the Free and Unfettered Fist style, how could these people have managed to injure her in the slightest?

Fortunately, the pair of white eagles in the sky would occasionally swoop down, their sharp talons grabbing at the men's heads and faces, forcing them to be distracted and deal with the situation.

With the help of the two white eagles, the girl's situation improved slightly.

Looking into the distance, Ouyang Ke felt that the girl's figure looked somewhat familiar.

Just then, the girl looked up and, as she met the white eagle in the air, revealed a pale yet beautiful face.

She had bright eyes and white teeth, and a beautiful face, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes!

It was Mu Nianci.

Ouyang Ke frowned.

Isn't she recuperating in Jiaxing?

Without further hesitation, he patted the horse's back with his right hand and prepared to go forward.

But at that moment, a sudden change occurred in the air!

Seeing that the two white eagles were locked in a prolonged battle, the firebird could no longer contain itself. With a loud cry, it folded its wings and swooped down like a streak of red lightning!

The speed was astonishing; everyone only saw a flash of red light before their eyes and had no time to react.

"ah--!"

A burly man wielding a steel knife screamed in agony as a bloody hole was gouged out of his left eye! He dropped the knife, covered his face with his hands, and rolled on the ground, howling in pain.

Before anyone could react, the firebird took flight, circled in the air, and then swooped down again.

"Ah!" "My eyes!"

Two more people fell to the ground with screams of agony!

The Iron Palm gang members then came to their senses and brandished their swords, trying to shoot down the strange bird.

But the firebird flew like lightning, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes high, sometimes low, and those swords and blades couldn't even touch its feathers.

Someone pulled out throwing knives from their pocket, seized an opening, and with a flick of their wrist, three throwing knives shot out!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Three throwing knives, arranged in a triangular pattern, flew straight towards the firebird!

Upon seeing this, Mu Nianci couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

But the firebird was not afraid at all. With a nimble flip in the air, it barely dodged the first two throwing knives, and with a twist of its body, it narrowly missed the blade of the third throwing knife!

Immediately, it flapped its wings and a gust of wind knocked the third throwing knife down from mid-air.

"this……"

Mu Nianci's mouth was slightly open, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The Iron Palm gang members were terrified. What kind of bird was that?

The firebird returned victorious, landed on a bamboo branch, and proudly preened its feathers, cooing twice at the pair of white eagles as if showing off.

Although the white eagles couldn't understand human speech, they could still sense its ostentatious display and turned their heads away, too lazy to look at it.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

Without further delay, he patted the horse's back with his right hand, and his white robes fluttered as he instantly drifted into the bamboo forest.

"Who?"

A burly man wielding a nine-ringed broadsword heard the sound of wind behind him and instinctively turned around to strike!

The strike was powerful and heavy, sweeping across with a whistling sound, but it only managed to cut through empty air.

He only saw a white shadow flash past his eyes, as fast as a ghost. Just as he was wondering what was going on, the white shadow had already floated above his head, its right hand forming a claw, striking down from mid-air!

"Snap!"

With a sharp crack, the man bled from all seven orifices and collapsed dead.

"Friend, the Iron Palm Clan is on business here. I advise you not to meddle!"

The remaining people were both shocked and enraged when they saw someone suddenly intervene and kill one person with lightning speed. One of them shouted loudly, his tone full of threat.

"The Iron Palm Clan?"

Ouyang Ke, leaning on his crutches, gave a cold laugh.

No wonder these people have such solid external skills; they are actually disciples and grand-disciples of Qiu Qianren.

Seeing that Ouyang Ke stopped what he was doing upon hearing the name of the Iron Palm Clan, the man assumed he was intimidated and a smug look appeared on his face. He was about to speak again...

"You are not qualified to speak to me."

Ouyang Ke said coldly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits, and his figure floated away like a ghost!

The men only saw flashes of white before their eyes, unable to see how he made his move. Then, with a series of muffled thuds, seven or eight men were struck on pressure points by his cane and collapsed to the ground.

The remaining few were terrified and turned to flee.

But they were fast, and Ouyang Ke was even faster.

He used his crutches to lightly touch the ground, his figure moving swiftly back and forth. With each strike of his cane, a person would fall to the ground.

In just over ten breaths, all of the dozen or so Iron Palm Gang members had collapsed to the ground and were unable to get up.

Some bled from all seven orifices and were already dead; some had their acupoints pressed and were unable to move; some could struggle, but were also seriously injured. For a time, cries of agony rose and fell, echoing through the bamboo forest.

Mu Nianci stood there, stunned, staring at the white-clad figure, her expression extremely complex.

Months ago, this was the same man who captured her, imprisoned her in a coffin, and attempted to assault her. At that time, she wished she could devour his flesh alive.

But now, it is this same person who has come to her rescue in her time of crisis.

If you count carefully, this is the second time that the Jiaxing Prefecture has offered assistance!

The feelings she had were truly indescribable.

After much hesitation, Mu Nianci stepped forward, curtsied, and said in a low voice, "Thank you... for your help, Young Master Ouyang."

The voice was soft, yet carried a hint of aloofness.

Ouyang Ke waved his hand, his expression indifferent: "It was nothing, no need to thank me."

The firebird had already flown back and landed steadily on his shoulder, proudly raising its little head, clearly seeking praise and reward. The pair of white eagles circled twice and landed on a bamboo tree not far away, watching this side warily.

Ouyang Ke's gaze swept over Mu Nianci, noticing her pale face and cold sweat beading on her forehead, indicating that her old injury had relapsed.

He frowned slightly and said calmly, "Miss Mu, your injuries haven't healed yet, why are you in such a hurry to travel?"

Mu Nianci lowered her eyes and said softly, "Father and Mother's coffins have been kept in the temple for a long time... I want to send them to their final resting place as soon as possible."

Her voice was low and choked with sobs.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but sigh.

This girl has a tragic fate. After the tragic deaths of Yang Tiexin and his wife, she single-handedly escorted their coffins south, only to be harassed by villains along the way. Now, having finally reached the vicinity of Niujia Village, she has been targeted by the Iron Palm Gang.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke sighed softly, looking at the girl with a sorrowful expression in her eyes, and slowly said, "You don't need to be too sad. The Iron Palm Clan's pursuit of you must be from Qiu Qianchi..."

Before she could finish speaking, Mu Nianci shook her head.

She raised her head, her pale face still bearing the traces of sorrow, but her eyes were no longer filled with tears.

"Young master, there's no need to say more." Her voice was soft, yet it carried an indescribable resolve. "That person and I... are no longer connected. From now on, we will never meet again."

Her tone was resolute, as if Yang Kang had broken her heart.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Ke sighed, but a chill ran through him.

That Qiu Qianchi is truly vicious. Even though Mu Nianci and Yang Kang have no further contact, she still won't let it go. This kind of jealousy is truly rare in this world.

As for whether Yang Kang knew about this...

It no longer matters. From the moment he chose Qiu Qianchi, Mu Nianci's life and death had nothing to do with him anymore.

Ouyang Ke was standing on a man who, though badly injured, remained defiant, sneering, "Our leader will be attending the Junshan Gathering soon. If you have the guts, why don't you go and take a trip to Junshan yourself!"

"it is good."

Ouyang Ke responded with a faint "yes".

The cane slammed down, the force penetrating deep inside, and the man groaned, instantly dying.

Mu Nianci instinctively turned her head away, unable to bear the bloody scene. Although she knew these people deserved to die, her kind nature prevented her from seeing it.

Seeing her reaction, Ouyang Ke didn't take it to heart. He put away his cane and said calmly, "Miss Mu, although the situation is relatively stable now, it's best if you avoid going to the north. People like Qiu Qianchi are vindictive and will hold grudges. If you encounter them again in the future, you might be in mortal danger."

Mu Nianci was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

She raised her head and looked at Ouyang Ke, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

These words actually came out of this person's mouth?

She recalled the lewd and repulsive Ouyang Ke from a few months ago, and then looked at the person in front of her, dressed in white, with a calm expression and elegant demeanor. He was completely different from the person she remembered.

She opened her mouth, and after a long pause, she whispered, "Thank you for reminding me, young master."

Ouyang Ke nodded: "Farewell."

Having said that, he lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits and prepared to leave.

Mu Nianci stood there, watching the white-clad figure disappear into the bamboo forest, remaining motionless for a long time.

PS: I saw someone asking how The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Legend of the Condor Heroes are related -- it's a bit embarrassing. In general, it's from The Legend of the Condor Heroes to The Legend of the Condor Heroes. I personally feel that the world of The Legend of the Condor Heroes is too small, so I added a world in the first chapter.