FVN Chapter 19 Niujia Village
Chapter 19 Niujia Village
Jiaxing Prefecture is only a little over a hundred miles away from Lin'an Prefecture. With Ouyang Ke's group's speed, they can arrive within half a day.
Around late afternoon, the group arrived at the outskirts of Lin'an Prefecture. Looking up, they saw the Qiantang River flowing eastward and merging into the sea. The river was wide, the waves were surging, and the scene was magnificent.
Han Baoju, riding on his yellow horse, was looking around when he suddenly pointed to the distant sky and shouted, "Brother, look! It's Jing'er's white eagle!"
Upon hearing this, everyone reined in their horses and looked up.
In the distance, above a village, two white eagles were circling and soaring, calling out incessantly. Bathed in sunlight, their pure white feathers stood out vividly against the blue sky.
Zhu Cong squinted for a closer look, then exclaimed with delight, "That's right! It's Jing'er's pair of white eagles! Since they're here, Jing'er must be nearby!"
Upon hearing this, Han Xiaoying's spirits lifted, and the fatigue from days of travel seemed to vanish instantly. Today, she wore a light blue dress, which, though slightly dusty from her journey, could not conceal the heroic spirit between her brows.
However, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes and a few strands of faded black hair at her temples ultimately revealed the marks of the desert winds and frosts she had endured over the years.
She urged her horse forward, saying urgently, "Then let's split up and search quickly!"
Ke Zhen'e slammed his iron staff down and said in a deep voice, "Wait! Everyone, spread out and search for Jing'er's whereabouts, but be careful—those villains might still be hiding nearby!"
The group nodded in agreement and then dispersed to inquire about the situation in the surrounding populated areas.
As Ouyang Ke rode his green steed, his gaze was fixed on the distance. Not far from the riverbank, a stream meandered around seventeen or eighteen houses; the village looked quiet and dilapidated. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he turned his horse around, heading straight for the village.
The firebird, perched on his shoulder, was bored when it suddenly saw two white eagles circling high in the distance and perked up. It flapped its wings as if to fly, but Ouyang Ke gently flicked its head.
"Little one, this time won't work."
The firebird tilted its head, let out a dissatisfied "coo," and its small eyes were full of grievance. It gently pecked Ouyang Ke's cheek with its beak, as if in protest.
Ouyang Ke chuckled, reached out and stroked its feathers, and said gently, "Next time I'll definitely let you have a good time."
The firebird then ceased its activity, flapping its wings to leave his shoulder and circling low above his head, letting out a clear, long cry. The cry was high-pitched and resonant, as if announcing its presence to the pair of white eagles in the distance.
Ouyang Ke shook his head and smiled, urging his horse to gallop towards the small village.
……
Not long after entering the village, they saw an old farmer carrying a hoe beside an orchard. Ouyang Kele stopped and bowed, saying, "Old man, may I ask if this is Niujia Village?"
The old farmer looked up and saw a young man in white sitting on the horse. He had a face like jade, lips like cinnabar, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and was exceptionally handsome. His demeanor was gentle and refined, like that of a scholar who had come to study.
He felt a surge of goodwill and nodded, saying, "That's right, this is Niujia Village."
Ouyang Ke's gaze swept across the village, finding it unusually quiet, as if no outsiders had been there. He then asked, "Old man, have any outsiders visited the village recently?"
The old farmer sighed and shook his head, saying, "Of course there are! A few days ago, a group of thugs came, and they were incredibly fierce! Even the village head didn't dare to mess with them. They stayed in the village and wouldn't leave, eating all the villagers' chickens and ducks. Everyone was angry but dared not speak out, and could only let them be. Who knew that yesterday, that group of people must have run into some adversary, because they all ran away overnight!"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke's heart stirred slightly, but he remained expressionless and smiled faintly: "Thank you, sir."
Having said that, he urged his horse to continue towards the village.
The village was mostly ruins, utterly dilapidated. Only a few houses at the western end of the village still had wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, indicating that people still lived there. Ouyang Ke shook his head and continued on his way. After walking for about ten paces, he suddenly saw a tattered wine banner hanging at the eastern end of the village, swaying precariously, seemingly an abandoned tavern.
A thought struck him. He looked up at the direction the pair of white eagles were circling, still some distance away. Could he have guessed wrong?
This shabby shop must be the one run by Qu Lingfeng in the original story. Qu Lingfeng, a disciple of Huang Yaoshi, lived in seclusion here, leaving the simple-minded girl to guard the shop after his death. In the original story, Guo Jing and Huang Rong stayed here for several days; if they encountered danger, this would be the most likely place to hide.
Ouyang Ke dismounted, grabbed his crutches, and gracefully landed inside the shop.
The firebird followed closely behind and flew in nimbly.
The shop was dilapidated, with two wooden tables under the eaves, covered in a thick layer of dust. Random footprints were scattered around, indicating someone had been there recently. Ouyang Ke frowned slightly—someone had been here, but it couldn't necessarily have been Guo Jing and his companion. Moreover, the surroundings were completely silent, suggesting no one was present.
He leaned on his cane and went into the inner room. It was dusty and covered in cobwebs. There was half a pot of cold rice on the stove and a tattered mat on the bed. It looked like someone had been living there for a long time.
Ouyang Ke understood immediately—this must be the silly girl's residence. But the silly girl had lived here for over ten years without leaving; where had she gone now?
His gaze fell on the bed, where a layer of fine dust had settled on the tattered mat, indicating that no one had lived there for a day or two.
Ouyang Ke walked slowly through the shop, carefully examining the footprints on the ground. The footprints were messy, indicating that at least a dozen people had come and gone, but there was no blood. He felt slightly relieved—if there had been blood, it meant that Silly Girl was probably in grave danger, and Guo Jing and Huang Rong would likely not have escaped their clutches either. Now that she was simply nowhere to be found, perhaps she had been taken away.
Would Yang Kang and his ilk take a mentally challenged girl as a burden? Given their nature, they would definitely not.
Then there is only one possibility—someone forced them to leave, and that person's martial arts skills were extremely high, making Yang Kang and the others dare not linger.
A name suddenly popped into Ouyang Ke's mind.
Huang Yaoshi, also known as "Eastern Heretic".
Earlier, when he and his uncle went to sea, the Old Urchin Zhou Botong seized the opportunity to steal Huang Yaoshi's pleasure boat. That boat was originally intended for Huang Yaoshi to perish at sea. Huang Rong, upon learning this, was frantic and risked her life to rescue Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Worried about his beloved daughter's safety, Huang Yaoshi personally traveled to the Central Plains to search for her. Perhaps, just as in the original story, he encountered the simple-minded girl here, and even found Guo Jing and Huang Rong.
Yang Kang and his men were naturally scared off by Huang Yaoshi. Having laid a hand on Huang Rong, how could they not worry about Huang Yaoshi seeking revenge later?
Before he could finish his thought, he heard footsteps outside the shop. Ouyang Ke turned around and saw Han Xiaoying holding a long sword, walking quickly inside.
"Young Master Ouyang!" Han Xiaoying exclaimed anxiously, "Is there any trace of Jing'er and the others?"
She had traveled a long way, her clothes were covered in dust, her forehead was beaded with sweat, and her brows were full of worry.
Even so, her eyes remained bright, and her every move exuded a heroic spirit that rivaled any man's. However, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes and the gray hair at her temples ultimately betrayed the marks of the desert's hardships over the years—eighteen years had transformed a woman in the prime of her youth into what she was now.
Ouyang Ke shook his head: "No trace yet."
Just then, his ears twitched slightly.
From a corner of the east wall, came an extremely faint and subtle breathing sound. The breathing was heavy and suppressed, as if trying desperately to hide something.
Ouyang Ke remained calm and deliberately raised his voice, saying, "Miss Han, there's no need to worry too much. Young Master Guo and Miss Huang are blessed with good fortune and will surely be able to turn misfortune into good luck."
As soon as he finished speaking, the breathing became heavier again, then disappeared once more.
Ouyang Ke and Han Xiaoying's eyes met. Han Xiaoying was taken aback at first, then realized—there was someone behind the wall.
The two exchanged glances for a moment, then Ouyang Ke, leaning on his cane, went into the kitchen. He opened the cupboard door, and a whiff of dust rushed out. He swept the dust away with a flick of his sleeve. Inside the cupboard were several broken bowls, and he reached out to feel around on the cupboard wall.
Han Xiaoying followed behind him, watching his actions. Although she didn't understand his meaning, she didn't say anything.
Suddenly, Ouyang Ke's right hand stopped on a round iron bowl. He nodded to Han Xiaoying, then exerted force to spin it.
With a "crackling" sound, the cabinet wall split open to the sides, revealing a dark hole.
A strong medicinal smell mixed with the stench of blood wafted out of the cave.
Ouyang Ke frowned, but Han Xiaoying's expression changed drastically.
Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Young Master Guo, Miss Huang, if you are inside, please answer. If you don't trust me, you can let Miss Han go in first."
The firebird perched on his shoulder, tilting its head and gazing curiously at the black hole.
Han Xiaoying understood, stepped forward, and said softly, "Jing'er, is that you? Seventh Master is here."
After a moment of silence in the cave, a woman's voice, weak and urgent, trembled with sobs: "Heroine Han... Brother Jing's injuries are too severe; he cannot speak right now..."
"Jing'er!"
Han Xiaoying disregarded everything else and rushed inside.
Inside the cave was a small, cramped chamber. A dim oil lamp cast a faint light, illuminating two figures on the bed. At the foot of the bed lay two skeletons, their stark white bones appearing particularly terrifying in the dim light.
But Han Xiaoying's gaze was completely drawn to the person on the bed.
Guo Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, his face ashen white, his eyes tightly closed, and a large patch of dried, blackened blood on his chest, indicating he had suffered a severe injury. His breathing was weak, almost inaudible, and he seemed as if he might die at any moment.
Opposite him, a young girl was pressing her palms against his, using her internal energy to heal his injuries.
The girl was none other than Huang Rong.
Where was even a trace of her former liveliness and playfulness now?
His face was so pale it was almost transparent, his once rosy lips were bloodless, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and a few strands of hair were soaked with sweat and clung to his cheeks. His eyes, which were usually bright, lively and cunning, were now full of fatigue and haggardness, with slightly sunken eye sockets, showing that he had not slept for days.
Her clothes were disheveled, and there were faint traces of blood on her shoulder, indicating that she was also injured. But she gritted her teeth and refused to fall, just to give Guo Jing a little more chance to live.
Han Xiaoying saw this and felt a pang of sadness, almost bringing tears to her eyes.
"Heroine Han..."
Upon seeing that it was indeed Han Xiaoying, Huang Rong's tense body relaxed slightly, and a hint of relief flashed in her eyes. However, she still dared not stop practicing, and could only force a smile.
Hearing the sound, Guo Jing barely opened his eyes. His usually honest and bright eyes were now dull and lifeless, but he still tried to look in Han Xiaoying's direction. His lips moved, and he uttered a weak sound: "Seven... Master..."
"Jing'er, don't speak!" Han Xiaoying rushed forward, reaching out to help but then hesitating. "Your master and I are here, and..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ouyang Ke walked in, leaning on his cane.
The dim light illuminated his face, making his handsome features appear even more serene and composed. His gaze swept over the two people on the bed, and his brows furrowed slightly.
With his current eyesight, he could tell at a glance that Guo Jing's injuries were extremely serious, and he was on the verge of death. The knife in his chest had almost pierced his heart meridian; the palm strike under his ribs had further damaged his internal organs.
If Huang Rong hadn't risked her life to extend his life using the healing techniques from the Nine Yin Manual, he probably would already be...
Huang Rong herself was already at her limit.
"Ouyang Ke?!"
Upon recognizing the newcomer, Huang Rong's weary eyes instantly flashed with alertness. Her body stiffened slightly, and she instinctively shielded Guo Jing behind her.
Looking at her wary expression, Ouyang Ke felt no anger, but rather amusement. He shook his head, his tone indifferent: "Miss Huang, how have you been?"
Huang Rong didn't reply, but stared intently at him. Turning her gaze to Han Xiaoying, she feigned composure and asked, "Heroine Han, are Hero Ke and the others nearby?"
Han Xiaoying paused, seemingly puzzled, but nodded nonetheless and said, "Brother Ke and the others are nearby!"
Hearing this, Huang Rong felt a little relieved. In the past, she regarded Jing-gege's five masters as villains who prevented them from getting close to him. Unexpectedly, today she needed them to protect Jing-gege, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.
Ouyang Ke could easily see through Huang Rong's wariness of him, and said calmly, "It seems Miss Huang is on guard against me?"
Seeing that her thoughts had been seen through by Ouyang Ke, Huang Rong stopped pretending and stared intently at Ouyang Ke without moving.
Upon hearing this, Han Xiaoying hurriedly said, "Miss Huang! Young Master Ouyang is indeed not the same person he used to be. It was he who saved Miss Mu from danger earlier!"
"Mu Shimei?"
Guo Jing struggled to open his eyes, his voice weak but full of concern, "What...what happened to her?"
Han Xiaoying said, "She was struck by the Iron Palm and was in critical condition. It was Young Master Ouyang who saved her."
Upon hearing this, Guo Jing turned his head with difficulty to look at Ouyang Ke, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you... Young Master Ouyang..."
Ouyang Ke said calmly, "No need to thank me."
As Huang Rong listened to this conversation, the wariness in her eyes gradually turned into doubt. She looked at Ouyang Ke, trying to find any trace of pretense on his face—but his eyes were clear as water, calm and fearless, completely different from the lewd and repulsive Ouyang Ke of the past.
She suddenly recalled those days on Mingxia Island. After Ouyang Ke broke his leg, he seemed like a completely different person, no longer bothering her. She had thought it was just a temporary restraint after his injury, but now it seemed…
Ouyang Ke saw through her thoughts and said calmly, "Miss Huang, there's no need for suspicion. I am no longer the Ouyang Ke I once was. Your stone was well thrown; it woke up a confused person."
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong blushed slightly, but didn't know what to say.
Han Xiaoying was frantic with worry seeing Guo Jing on the verge of death. She turned to Ouyang Ke, solemnly cupping her hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Young Master Ouyang, Jing'er is in imminent danger. Please, I beg you, save him!"
Ouyang Ke glanced at Guo Jing, pondered for a moment, and said, "I can save him. But I have one condition."
Huang Rong's eyes brightened with wariness again: "What are the conditions?"
Ouyang Ke said, "These legs of mine were given to me by Miss Huang. Although it is my own fault, they are currently broken and difficult to heal. I need to use the methods in the Nine Yin Manual to restore them."
He paused, noticing Huang Rong's changing expression, and then said, "Miss Huang, rest assured, this condition will not make things difficult for you. If I were still the same person as before, I could easily take advantage of your vulnerability and force you to hand over the scriptures, but I am unwilling to do so!"
"I only ask that after Young Hero Guo recovers from his injuries, he will pass on to me the methods of healing and internal energy cultivation from the Nine Yin Manual. You two have already learned this manual, so passing on a bit or two to me shouldn't be too difficult. Besides—"
He glanced at Guo Jing and said earnestly, "Young Master Guo, you are so badly injured, yet you have managed to hold on until today, all thanks to the miraculous effects of the Nine Yin Manual. I want to learn this skill only to see if it can help heal my legs; I have no other use for it."
Huang Rong remained silent.
As she watched Guo Jing's increasingly faint breath and his pale, paper-white face, her heart was filled with a thousand conflicting emotions.
She certainly wouldn't easily believe Ouyang Ke's few words.
But right now, Jing-gege's matter can't be delayed any longer.
After a long silence, she finally nodded and said, "Okay... I promise you."
P.S.: The protagonist doesn't apologize a lot; it's just that there are too many victims of the Legend of the Condor Heroes!
You can't exactly summon a Da Yun truck to run over Mu Nianci, can you?
The Ouyang Ke I depicted was never a gentleman, nor did he ever claim to be one; he was simply a man who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment!
The original owner did something wrong, but the protagonist doesn't run away from it and takes the initiative to resolve the past grievances. This is just a personal attitude or perspective!
There were no victims afterward, and there was no apology involved!