Chapter 155: Meeting of the Three Masters, A Grand Jianghu Ceremony
Hong Qigong said that Zhongdu faced disaster from war and worried about the Beggars’ Sect disciples.
Zhou Yan had actually guessed the other party’s deeper purpose.
It was a fear that the Beggars’ Sect disciples would use martial arts to break the law. Given the scale of Zhongdu City, if the Beggars’ Sect disciples were not thousands or tens of thousands, hundreds were more than enough. In the past, with the sect rules as a restraint, there would be no need to worry.
But now, with the Mongol army about to arrive at the city gates, Zhongdu officials and wealthy households were fleeing in panic. Zhou Yan himself had the idea of using the opportunity to make a move against Changfeng.
In the past, when the Beggars’ Sect disciples acted, they naturally accumulated some minor grudges, whether among fellow disciples or outsiders. Once order collapsed, it was inevitable that such things as settling personal scores would occur. It might even amplify the desires suppressed by the sect rules, desires for power, killing, and money.
In Zhou Yan’s eyes, Hong Qigong’s management of the Beggars’ Sect was not successful. The conflict between the Clean Clothes Faction and the Dirty Clothes Faction had already given the Nine-Fingered Beggar a headache. However, to say that the man was unaware of the mixed nature of the Beggars’ Sect, Zhou Yan felt that was unlikely. Therefore, Hong Qigong’s appearance in Zhongdu was essentially out of concern that some disciples with ulterior motives might ruin the reputation of the Beggars’ Sect and also harm the innocent.
Perhaps in the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, Hong Qigong had long ago passed down the Dog Beating Stick Method to Huang Rong, inheriting his mantle. This was related to Huang Rong’s intelligence, her endless stratagems, her disregard for minor principles while upholding major ones, and her ability to manage the Beggars’ Sect well.
As Zhou Yan’s thoughts returned, Hong Qigong said, “When you entered the city, a little beggar informed me, and I, an old beggar, rushed over. I didn’t expect your pace to be as slow as a snail.”
“Elder, you have waited a long time. I will go get you some wine.”
“This old beggar’s wine gourd is full.”
“This junior’s stomach is empty.”
Zhou Yan took off his Ox Horn Giant Bow and untied his Qingfeng Sword.
“Elder, please wait a moment. I will bring more wine. After all, you will be in Zhongdu for some time. You came on a whim, and it’s only joyful with wine.”
“You understand me, kid.” Hong Qigong laughed heartily.
Zhou Yan opened the door and walked swiftly straight towards “Songhe Tower.”
Zhongdu’s top restaurant was still open, but it had hired several Martial Arts School instructors as a precaution.
The shopkeeper recognized Zhou Yan. He ordered more than ten jars of strong liquor and a few meat and vegetable dishes, paid the silver, and had the shop assistants deliver them to the courtyard.
…
The winter sun, passing through the branches of the old trees, was divided into myriad threads.
Zhou Yan and Hong Qigong sat on stone stools, raising their cups and drinking.
“What is the current state of your Subduing Dragon Palm Technique?”
“Shall Elder test me?”
“Haha, let’s see how many moves you can take from Old Venomous.”
Hong Qigong finished the chicken leg in his hand in a few bites and drained the wine bowl in one gulp.
Zhou Yan also downed the strong liquor, letting a fiery line burn in his belly.
He stood up, his palm technique fierce and his liquor strong. As Hong Qigong approached, he struck with “Kanglong Regret,” hitting the opponent with the force of a mountain collapsing.
“Further progress, good.” Hong Qigong did not use his full strength and countered with “Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms.”
The two palms collided with a “bang,” sending dust and smoke scattering. In an instant, Hong Qigong felt four streams of internal force surge like overlapping waves of the Yangtze River, each higher than the last.
“Your internal force has become much purer and more profound, and your application of strength has also improved, but it’s not as good as the amplification from your internal energy cultivation.”
Zhou Yan was not surprised by Hong Qigong’s words. After the battle on the long street during the Lantern Festival, Hong Qigong had arrived at the courtyard and tested this move. Compared to then, the method of using force in the single move “Kanglong Regret” had indeed not improved much.
“Thank you for your guidance, Elder.”
Zhou Yan’s posture shifted, and his palm technique changed to “Double Dragons Taking Water” from “Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms.” His right palm retracted from front to back, drawing Hong Qigong’s palm force, while his left palm struck out from his ribs towards the opponent’s chest.
This move, named “Double Dragons Taking Water,” could divide its offensive power into two. However, in Zhou Yan’s hands, it became both offensive and defensive.
Hong Qigong suddenly felt Zhou Yan’s right palm force like “rapid rain and light thunder clearing the path, the Milky Way and the Big Dipper turning,” and his palm force was suddenly transferred away.
“Kid, this force is marvelous, how did you learn it?”
“I gained enlightenment after several days of battling the torrent in the valley, using borrowed force to strike, using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds.”
“Marvelous!” Hong Qigong’s interest instantly intensified like wine.
“What else?”
“First accumulate, then unleash, with the momentum of a mountain collapsing.” As Zhou Yan spoke, his limbs converged their force from outside to inside, pushing out “Riding the Six Dragons,” the most kingly technique in the Subduing Dragon Palm, with “Combining Force.”
Zhou Yan returned from his escort duty, and the courtyard was covered in dust, not even cleaned.
As the two fought, dust billowed in the air. The dust, whipped up by the palm wind, gathered together, like a roaming dragon roaring towards Hong Qigong.
Hong Qigong’s eyes lit up. After two moves, he had a clear understanding of Zhou Yan’s internal force. He could completely withstand several moves from Ouyang Feng. If he had the same cultivation level and had practiced the Subduing Dragon Palm Technique for the same amount of time, he would be at a disadvantage compared to Zhou Yan in this move.
The student surpasses the master.
Hong Qigong immediately applied his understanding of the external influence method of internal energy for “Riding the Six Dragons” and sparred with Zhou Yan.
“Bang!”
The two figures separated and then collided again. Zhou Yan continuously unleashed moves such as “Shocking a Hundred Miles,” “Flying Dragon in the Sky,” and “Dense Clouds Without Rain.”
“Collapse Force swallows wolves and devours tigers, each step like plowing.”
“Peng Force is like drawing a bow, bouncing off anything it touches.”
…
Suddenly, Hong Qigong’s palm momentum became extremely fast. Zhou Yan turned his back and walked away, then counter-attacked with a horizontal chop.
“Twisting Force coils and entangles, with the momentum of a spiral.”
“Bang.”
The ground beneath Zhou Yan’s feet cracked in the dust. His hip and waist took a palm strike from Hong Qigong, while the latter was pulled by the “Twisting Force” of “Shenlong Tail Whip,” his body spinning like a top for half a circle.
“Exhilarating, exhilarating!” Hong Qigong laughed heartily three times, picked up his wine gourd, and drank it down in gulps.
A breath of wine dispersed into the air. Hong Qigong said, “That day in the Lin’an Imperial Palace, I taught you the fourteen palms. I, an old beggar, only gave you the incantations, methods, and techniques. I never expected that in just half a year, you kid would grasp the various ways of using force, such as ‘Collapse Force.’ I only understood that in middle age. You kid have potential. Come here, listen to me explain this old beggar’s understanding of how to use force in each palm strike.”
This was true guidance from an expert. He did not deny Zhou Yan’s existing understanding of “Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms” but instead guided him, shaping Zhou Yan’s unique martial arts.
Zhou Yan was overjoyed. “Thank you, Elder.”
“Exhilarating! Life is meant for enjoyment. The Subduing Dragon Palm has a successor.” Hong Qigong picked up his gourd and drank again.
“Ching.”
Suddenly, a ripple in the air appeared straight ahead. Hong Qigong’s figure shot up like a flying dragon in the sky, rising two zhang, and stood on the branches of the old tree.
Zhou Yan followed the sound and saw a scholar in green robes standing on a high rooftop, with his hands behind his back. He had a lean appearance, a handsome and refined demeanor, and a graceful bearing, looking like a divine being.
Eastern Heretic? Zhou Yan had seen him twice before, but Huang Yaoshi had always worn a mask. Now, seeing his true face, he couldn’t help but exclaim at his noble bearing and handsome features.
“Seventh Brother, long time no see. How about we find a place to have a few drinks?”
“Excellent, excellent.”
The branch beneath Hong Qigong’s feet swayed slightly. His figure, like a dragon soaring through the sky, suddenly followed Huang Yaoshi and flew away.
How could Zhou Yan be angry that Huang Yaoshi’s appearance had interrupted Hong Qigong’s explanation of the understanding of force in the Subduing Dragon Palm?
He sat down on the stone stool, picked up his wine bowl, and while drinking, he pondered. Huang Yaoshi must be looking for Huang Rong. With the Eastern Heretic’s intelligence, he knew that by simply waiting for Hou Tonghai, he would surely encounter Huang Rong, which was why he had come to Zhongdu.
Wang Chongyang had died early, and now three of the four supreme experts in the martial world were present.
A grand event in the Jianghu.
Zhou Yan drained the wine in his bowl, leaped onto the weapon rack, and, fueled by the alcohol, practiced the Quanzhen Swordplay. When the sun began to set, he sheathed his longsword and then cleaned the courtyard inside and out.
Cooking smoke curled up from the stove. Zhou Yan heated his food to fill his stomach, then regulated his breath and circulated his internal energy to temper his Yangwei Meridian.
The evening clouds dispersed, revealing the clear, cold sky. The Milky Way silently turned its jade disk.
Zhou Yan finished his practice. He prepared lime, iron finger rings, and iron wristbands, and intended to sneak into the Zhao Wang Manor that night.
