Chapter 144: Beauty Fist Technique, Mochou Gifts a Bow
As the morning light fell, it swept across the sky like petals scattered by the wind, and the thin mist floating in the forest was soon dispersed.
Zhou Yan woke up in the Mountain God Temple. He still felt pain, but his spirits were much improved.
Yesterday, apart from occasional chats with Li Mochou and Hong Qigong, he had been using the Quanzhen Internal Energy cultivation technique to absorb the gentle qi of Jade Guanyin into his internal force to heal his injuries.
He tempered many extraordinary and main meridians throughout his body, making his internal force circulation highly efficient. His recovery was naturally swift, a performance that could not help but surprise Hong Qigong.
The Nine-Fingered Beggar sighed, recalling the first time he taught the Subduing Dragon Palm Technique to Zhou Yan. Seeing his comprehension, he thought Zhou Yan would become famous in twenty years. The second time he taught him the two moves, “Flying Dragon in the Sky” and “Shocking a Hundred Miles,” he knew Zhou Yan had cultivated two levels of force in ‘Kanglong Regret’ and said he would be renowned in the Jianghu in ten years. Now, it seemed, ten years were not even needed.
Li Mochou went into the forest and caught a wild chicken. She cleaned its innards, mixed mud with water to cover the chicken, and roasted it over a fire. When she ate it, she peeled off the dried mud, and the feathers came off with it. The chicken meat was tender and white, with a rich aroma.
Her cooking skills were indeed as Zhou Yan had guessed, not lacking at all, and Hong Qigong praised her. By noon, Li Mochou had explored the vicinity and returned with a lot of honey.
In the evening, it was roasted wild chicken again, but sprinkled with some honey. Zhou Yan found it tasted like sweet and sour pork. With such care, after circulating his energy and resting at night, he felt much better in the morning.
He estimated that he would fully recover in ten to fifteen days.
There was the sound of clothing rustling as someone stretched in the forest. Zhou Yan walked out of the Mountain God Temple and, not seeing Hong Qigong, saw Li Mochou practicing her fist techniques.
In the morning light, her sleeves fluttered. As she struck with her palms and kicked with her legs, she was graceful and charming, elegant and free-spirited. Sometimes she moved like a dancer, sometimes she stood still and composed, her expressions changing, extremely mysterious.
Suddenly, Li Mochou’s arms struck out rapidly and alternately. This move was like a beauty beating a drum, truly magnificent.
Zhou Yan could now be considered well-traveled and experienced in combat. It would not be an exaggeration to say he had seen a hundred schools of fist techniques, yet he had never witnessed such a pleasing and beautiful cultivation technique.
He tried his best to recall the records of Ancient Tomb martial arts in the Divine Condor world. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of a martial art.
“Beauty Fist Technique.”
Zhou Yan’s guess was not wrong at all. Li Mochou was indeed practicing the “Beauty Fist Technique.” Due to the martial arts competition agreement for one year, she had formed the habit of diligently practicing cultivation techniques in Zhongnan Mountain, burning the midnight oil. Thus, as a morning habit, she practiced this set of fist techniques. The moves “Red Thread Steals the Box,” “Mulan Draws Her Bow,” “Ban Ji Composes Poetry,” and “Chang’e Steals the Elixir” flowed continuously, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes carrying a heroic aura, sometimes as beautiful as blooming flowers.
Zhou Yan thought to himself that only the current Li Mochou could truly display the essence of this fist technique. Little Dragon Girl in the Divine Condor world, when practicing this set of cultivation techniques, lacked the same effect because, at that time, she had forgotten her emotions while practicing Ancient Tomb martial arts and lacked the emotional color contained in these moves. Yang Guo also seemed to know this set of cultivation techniques, but how could he compare to the current Li Mochou?
“Mochou, this girl’s martial arts are truly peculiar,” Hong Qigong’s voice suddenly rang out.
Zhou Yan naturally knew the reason. After Lin Chaoying’s death, her maidservant had never even left Zhongnan Mountain, let alone entered the Jianghu. In the Divine Condor world, Ancient Tomb martial arts were only known to Jianghu people after Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl emerged from the mountain.
No matter how sharp Hong Qigong’s eyesight was now, it was normal for him not to see the clues.
As he thought this, he suddenly realized that for the Huashan Sword Discussion, Ouyang Feng had meticulously planned. Besides perfecting his “Toad Stance,” he had also created new cultivation techniques to achieve victory through surprise. The “Spirit Snake Fist” was a technique that Western Venom painstakingly comprehended for competitions. With Hong Qigong’s level of attainment, it was not difficult for him to remember Li Mochou’s martial arts after a glance. If he were to spar with Ouyang Feng again and suddenly used a move from the “Beauty Fist Technique,” Western Venom should be greatly astonished.
Zhou Yan was lost in thought. Hong Qigong was curious and watched intently. The Gang Leader’s current state was akin to Zhou Botong looking at the Nine Yin Manual, observing but not practicing. However, with their levels of attainment, after a glance, they could comprehend and master it without practice.
Suddenly, Li Mochou let out a soft cry and executed a move, “Flying Swallow Returns to Snow.” Her green long skirt, after passing her waist, flowed down, making her figure appear slender and tall. As she bent, the hem of her skirt swirled, like a blooming blue lotus.
Several Jade Peak Needles shot out, pinning several startled grasshoppers to the ground.
Li Mochou glided lightly through the forest, her gaze fixed on the ground, and sighed softly. Her hidden weapon technique with the Jade Peak Needles was already quite good, but it was still far from reaching perfection, as several grasshoppers had escaped.
Hong Qigong saw Li Mochou’s expression and pondered for a moment before saying, “Girl, give me those needles.”
“Elder, you’re here?”
Li Mochou called out from afar, picked up the Jade Peak Needles, and walked over. She looked at Zhou Yan’s complexion and asked, “How are you feeling now?”
“Much better. In a few days, I’ll be able to move normally.”
Li Mochou was delighted and gave the Jade Peak Needles to Hong Qigong.
The Nine-Fingered Beggar took the needles. With a wave of his right hand, a faint light flashed, and several Jade Peak Needles shot out, pinning the grasshoppers in the grass to the ground.
“That’s how it’s done,” Hong Qigong muttered to himself.
Li Mochou marveled. Her hidden weapon technique was worlds apart from Hong Qigong’s. When she threw needles, the grasshoppers were only within a few yards, but the elder could hit them from dozens of yards away.
Hong Qigong said, “You child and I are fated. This old beggar has eaten and drunk for free and watched you practice your fist techniques. I’ve remembered a few moves, so I’ll teach you a technique that can strike multiple people at once, the ‘Scattering Flowers and Throwing Golden Needles’ technique.”
Li Mochou looked troubled. “But if I do that, I won’t be able to use hidden weapons when I compete with Escort Zhou.”
Zhou Yan was taken aback. Li Mochou practiced Jade Peak Needles specifically to win the competition. Her desire to win was perhaps a bit too strong.
“Why?” Hong Qigong asked.
“Escort Zhou has also learned your martial arts. If I also learn and use them, won’t it be like comparing your martial arts with Escort Zhou?”
Hong Qigong laughed. “Then you and that boy don’t have to use beggar martial arts, can’t you?”
“That’s right. Elder, that’s a good idea. I’ll listen to you.”
“Don’t be polite,” Hong Qigong said, changing the subject. He turned to Zhou Yan and said, “Boy, heal yourself.”
“Okay.”
Hong Qigong immediately took Li Mochou to an open space and began to explain the principles of circulating energy and the techniques for exerting force.
Zhou Yan returned to the Mountain God Temple and circulated his energy to recover from his injuries.
Li Mochou spent the morning practicing her hidden weapon techniques with Hong Qigong. After lunch, she came to Zhou Yan and took the Ox Horn Giant Bow.
“Last year, you helped me by drawing your bow and shooting down thieves in the heavy rain. When I was in Zhongnan Mountain, I thought about how the rain would damage the bowstring, and I had the idea of giving you a bow. There are wild oxen in the mountains, so I got ox horns and took them to the city to find craftsmen to make the bow,” Li Mochou said with a smile. “It was Junior Sister’s idea to use a rope as a horse-tripping snare, otherwise, it would be difficult to control the wild oxen. Junior Sister also asked who was smarter between her and you.”
“Naturally, she is smarter. She could come up with such a brilliant idea.”
“I’ll tell her when I get back, and Junior Sister will be very happy. Here’s the bow for you.”
“I can’t refuse.”
“It was meant for you, so of course, you should take it. By the way, I’m going back to Zhongnan Mountain.”
“Great!”
“I’ll inform Elder.” Li Mochou turned and walked out of the Mountain God Temple.
The wind blew through the forest, rustling the leaves, and a woman’s voice sounded.
“Elder, I’m leaving. When you come to Zhongnan Mountain, I’ll gather honey for you.”
“This old beggar will have good fortune.”
Zhou Yan walked out of the Mountain God Temple. Li Mochou turned back and smiled, “Take care!”
“Have a safe journey.”
“Mm!”
Li Mochou mounted her Qingcong Horse, and with the clatter of hooves, she and the horse entered the small path. She let out a slight sigh, ready to whip the horse and gallop away.
“Thank you for the bow,” Zhou Yan’s voice suddenly came.
A smile bloomed on Li Mochou’s face like mountain flowers. Her complexion was delicate and radiant. She glanced back at Zhou Yan and waved, “It’s just a small matter, nothing to mention.”
“I’m leaving!”
The fine horse raised its hooves and galloped like lightning. Li Mochou no longer hesitated, worried about Ouyang Ke, and headed straight for Zhongnan Mountain.
