Chapter 16: The Ruthlessness of Western Venom, The Madness of Eastern Heretic
The crescent moon was like an eyebrow, the stars like beans.
Hong Qigong said, “The essence of the ‘Kanglong Regret’ palm technique lies not in ‘Kang’ but in ‘Hui’. If one only seeks fierceness, ferocity, and power, anyone with a few hundred pounds of brute strength can use it. ‘Kanglong regret, fullness cannot last,’ so there must be a retraction after the extension. Do you understand, kid?
“It means there’s always something left over.”
“You’re smart, kid.”
“‘Shenlong Tail Whip’ was originally named ‘Stepping on a Tiger’s Tail,’ like attacking the back of a tiger. You step on its tail, and the tiger turns to bite you, naturally making it fierce and formidable.”
“Is the essence of this move in ‘whip’? He is fierce, he is cruel, but I have a breath of true energy.”
Hong Qigong paused his action of drinking from his gourd and exclaimed, “Your mind is truly agile, kid. That explanation is unusual, but it does capture the true meaning.”
The Nine-Fingered Beggar originally intended to have Zhou Yan practice, and then offer some guidance. But hearing him say this, he felt it was unnecessary and asked, “Have you memorized the techniques?”
“I have.”
“Good.” Hong Qigong began to explain the method of internal energy external influence, and the way of launching and retracting moves. Zhou Yan memorized the essence of both techniques without missing a single word and grasped their meaning in less than half an hour.
Hong Qigong muttered to himself, this kid has a one-in-ten-thousand comprehension ability; he is indeed good material for martial arts.
He wanted to remind Zhou Yan not to pass on the cultivation technique when he walked the Jianghu in the future, but considering the other’s cautious nature, he felt it was overthinking. He urged, “Practice on your own later. Perhaps we will meet again a year from now at the Mountain God Temple outside Datong Prefecture, during the sword-testing appointment with the girl. We’ll see the skill in these two palms then.”
“Okay!” Zhou Yan smiled and nodded, tidied the table, returned to the kitchen, and placed the snake soup, rabbit brains, and other dishes into the steamer. He lit the fire to steam them until they were hot, then arranged them all.
Lanterns glowed under the eaves. As Zhou Yan poured the Green Ant Wine, Hong Qigong said, “Have a drink of this beggar’s strong liquor.
“Alright!”
Hong Qigong took his wine gourd and poured a full porcelain bowl with gulps.
“I toast you, Elder.”
“Kid, do you know who this beggar is?”
Zhou Yan nodded, “I’ve guessed.”
Hong Qigong thought to himself that among the heroes of this world, anyone who knew the beggar’s name would either be terrified, fawning, or overly respectful. Only this kid was calm and composed, and even asked why he didn’t kill Liang Zi Weng. This disposition was beyond that of ordinary people.
Hong Qigong didn’t ask how Zhou Yan guessed, and the two drank together.
Zhou Yan felt a line of fire burn from his throat to his belly as the strong liquor went down.
He couldn’t help but cough twice.
Hong Qigong laughed heartily. He ate without any pretense, placing his wine gourd on the table, holding a rabbit head in his left hand and a bowl of snake soup in his right. While eating heartily, he asked, “You think Liang Zi Weng deserved to die?”
Bringing up the old topic, Zhou Yan said, “Elder, when you punished him, you also protected those victimized women, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. I had the Old Monster send those women back. And left them some money.”
“This arrangement seems like a good outcome, but for those women, the shame is indelible. Those with strong personalities might take their own lives, which is also predictable,” Zhou Yan said, holding his wine bowl with both hands and taking a sip. He continued, “I just feel that a martial artist’s mindset is like a knife. If this knife is too sharp, it will transgress the law with martial arts, lose itself, and indulge in the pleasure of killing. But this knife cannot be too dull, otherwise, it will make one hesitant and lose the spirit of a commoner’s rage that spills three feet of blood.”
Zhou Yan smiled sincerely, “My status in the Jianghu is low, not comparable to Elder, nor do I have Elder’s reputation to consider. If I encountered such a situation, I would make Liang Zi Weng submit, not out of my virtue, but because he is incapable and knows better than to offend me. Even if he restrains himself from practicing Yin Yang Cultivation on women, with such character, he would still bully men and women, act arrogantly, and commit evil in other ways. If I let him live, how many innocents would suffer under a single act of benevolence? It would be better to kill him.”
Hong Qigong felt touched, but he cursed with a laugh, “What do you know about chivalry and benevolence, kid?”
Zhou Yan smiled, “I admire the White Deer Mountain Dweller’s ‘Kill One in Ten Steps, Thousand Li Without Staying. After the deed, I brush off my clothes and hide my name.’ as the principle of a Knight-Errant. ‘Even if I die, my chivalrous bones will be fragrant, I will not be ashamed among the heroes of the world.’ I don’t care what others say.”
Hong Qigong laughed heartily, “You kid have the arrogance of the Eastern Heretic and the ruthlessness of the Old Venomous.”
“Elder, do you mean Eastern Heretic and Western Venom?”
“Yes, I think you and Huang Yaoshi could be sworn brothers.”
Zhou Yan smiled slightly, not taking the bait.
Hong Qigong ate and drank to his heart’s content, talking volubly, “Those escort guys mentioned blade and spear techniques, conveying the intent but not the form. This beggar is interested. I’ll talk about my insights on fist and palm techniques, and you can gradually comprehend and integrate them later.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
“No need for formalities. For fist and palm techniques, besides using force, the key to practicing the true flavor of the three fires lies in the lower body and eyesight. The soles of the feet may seem to run like the wind, but in reality, the center of gravity is rooted.”
Zhou Yan thought to himself, isn’t this the saying, “Hands are two doors, the feet are one root.”
Hong Qigong continued, “The footwork is not for show. No matter how fancy your hands are, you’ll still get beaten, which is embarrassing. So, the more agile your hands are, the more stable your lower body must be.”
“Stable as a pine tree, agile as a gust of wind.”
“No wonder those escort guys praised you for speaking well and having a quick mind. Your summaries are brilliant.” Hong Qigong, completely unaware that he had overheard Zhou Yan’s conversation with Huyan Lei and others, and showing no sign of losing his gentlemanly demeanor, said excitedly, “If your body movements are unpredictable, then the next step is hand techniques. Where the eye sees, the hand strikes, and the fists and palms are like two doors. Also, don’t be bound by forms. Just like you use the ‘Begging for Food’ move from Xiaoyao Fist to attack the opponent’s lower body, others might use a common ‘Pigua Quan’ or even…”
Hong Qigong flicked his fingers, striking the air like lightning a few times, the finger wind whistling, “…even moves like gouging out eyes, locking throats, or stabbing the kidneys can be easily countered. But if your eyes are quick and you understand the variables, if you are three beats slower after executing ‘Begging for Food,’ the opponent’s move will miss.”
“Anyone can practice martial arts, but only a few can reach the pinnacle. These people are geniuses who have early on comprehended the truth of not being bound by forms. Comprehend this well.”
“Thank you for your teachings, Elder.”
From Huyan Lei and Wang Kui to Hong Qigong, Zhou Yan felt a heartfelt gratitude.
A mediocre teacher teaches the form, a good teacher imparts the meaning.
Hong Qigong and the others’ words, without form, were breaking through his own perceptual barriers. Every word was worth a thousand pieces of gold, golden advice.
A gentle breeze carries the bright moon; the night is deep and lonely.
Only leftover food remained on the table.
Hong Qigong burped, content, and said, “Kid, thanks for the hospitality. I’m drunk and full, this beggar is off.”
“Elder, please visit again when you have free time.”
“It depends on fate!”
As Hong Qigong uttered the word “fate,” he was still in the courtyard. When he finished the word “fate,” he was already in the Zhongdu night. The Nine-Fingered Beggar, carrying his vermilion lacquered wine gourd, walked under the moon, muttering to himself, “Not killing Liang Zi Weng, was I really wrong?”
“Alas, with an empty mind and an empty heart for a bowl of wine, drifting along, it’s hard to turn back.”
“Thirty years as commoners like cattle and horses, sixty years as Buddhas and dragons. That kid will surely become a great man in the future.”
