Chapter 202: Punching Ouyang Ke
Monk Lingzhi was thrown into the campfire by Huang Yaoshi. He had no hair, but his kasaya caught fire. After discarding the kasaya, he was fine.
The campfire burned fiercely with the addition of a kasaya. Helian Chuncheng, Yin Kexi, and others moved aside, clearing the area.
Ouyang Ke walked over. He wanted to show off in front of Li Mochou and said to Zhou Yan, “Head Escort, will you use a spear or a sword?”
Zhou Yan chuckled, “Young Master Ouyang is unarmed, so I will spar with you using my fist and foot techniques.”
Ouyang Ke was overjoyed, thinking, “This is truly courting death. If you were wielding a spear or sword, I would be somewhat wary, but why would I fear your fist and foot techniques?”
“You have courage,” Ouyang Ke said with a smile. “Head Escort, please make your move.”
“Alright!”
As Zhou Yan uttered “Alright!”, he lowered his hands in front of him, bent his knees, and spread them slightly.
Fanzi Fist.
“Hmph,” came a sound of surprise mixed with mockery. The remaining Changfeng escorts and the martial world ruffians all dismissed it with disdain. They had expected Zhou Yan to display some earth-shattering fist technique, but this was a martial art even street performers knew.
Ouyang Ke let out a laugh.
Ouyang Feng said in a deep voice, “Ke’er, do not underestimate him.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the earth beneath Zhou Yan’s feet exploded. With rapid footsteps, he approached Ouyang Ke. Zhou Yan’s footwork propelled his body forward, his punch stirring up a fierce sound of breaking wind. In a short moment, the ferocity and power of “Fanzi Fist” reached its peak, fueled by this momentum. His punches were heavy and swift, followed by a change in his posture as he swept his elbow towards Ouyang Ke.
Ouyang Ke’s body sank and then suddenly rose, using his Seize and Capture technique to grab Zhou Yan’s elbow at the “Qu Chi” acupoint. Zhou Yan changed his elbow strike to a chop. With a “bang,” the White Camel Mountain Young Master’s arm was forced downwards.
Zhou Yan agilely advanced, delivering a fierce “Iron Mountain Lean” as Ouyang Ke only had time to shield himself with his arms.
With a thunderous impact, like a mountain collapsing under snow, Ouyang Ke, who bore the brunt of the “Iron Mountain Lean,” was forced back several large steps. In an instant, Zhou Yan’s feet pounded the ground like thunder. Before Ouyang Ke could stabilize himself, the “Fanzi Fist” techniques of punch, elbow, chop, and strike rained down upon him.
Zhou Yan’s punches were like a torrential downpour, sharp as a cracking whip. Those escorts and martial world ruffians who had looked down on this fist technique had never seen anyone execute “Fanzi Fist” with such ferocity, speed like a downpour, and a seamless integration of fist techniques, agility, and footwork.
Only then did their expressions turn solemn.
Ouyang Ke felt punches and elbow sweeps coming from all directions, a chill rising within him. He used all his might to parry with the “Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm.” This palm technique was characterized by its elusive movements and a dense flurry of palm strikes like falling snow.
In this exchange, amidst the smoke, sounds like thunder and a torrential downpour erupted in an instant.
After only a few dozen exchanges, Ouyang Ke felt the force of Zhou Yan’s fist techniques becoming increasingly ferocious. With every clash of hard fists and palms, his arms went numb from the explosive “bursting” force that struck upon contact.
Ouyang Ke combined his “Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm” with the “Instant Thousand Li” lightness skill, moving forward, backward, left, and right in a hit-and-run tactic. His agility was elegant and swift, but to the onlookers, it appeared as if Zhou Yan was simply chasing him.
Ouyang Ke grew more alarmed with each exchange. He hardened his resolve and saw Zhou Yan’s fist and arm align like a spear thrusting forward. He sidestepped and punched towards Zhou Yan’s chest.
Zhou Yan countered with a downward chop. Suddenly, Ouyang Ke’s fist seemed to lose its bone-like structure and changed direction strangely, striking towards Zhou Yan’s shoulder.
Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi both exclaimed in surprise. They said in unison that this fist technique was as agile and flexible as a snake, making it difficult to defend against. Could this be a cultivation technique developed by the Old Venomous?
Ouyang Feng’s expression turned somewhat grim. He thought that his painstakingly created cultivation technique, which he intended to use to surprise and win at the Huashan Sword Discussion, had been seen by the Old Beggar and Huang Laoxie.
In a flash of thought, he then considered that now that he had the Nine Yin Manual, let them see. What could the Old Beggar do to him? The only one in the world who could compare to him was Huang Yaoshi.
Suddenly, a “bang” sounded in the arena. Zhou Yan had lowered his arm and raised his elbow, blocking Ouyang Ke’s “Spirit Snake Fist.” In an instant, Zhou Yan’s “Fanzi Fist” transformed into one of the elbow techniques from the Yue Family Fist Manual, the “Mandarin Duck Elbow.”
The Mandarin Duck Elbow is the most difficult to comprehend; the hands move like a monkey playing with fruit. Zhou Yan’s elbows moved like wind wheels, his attacks raining down like a storm.
Alas! A chill shot up Ouyang Ke’s spine. While he could strike Zhou Yan with his fist, he would inevitably be hit by his powerful elbow strikes.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ouyang Ke was forced to retreat repeatedly by the continuous “Mandarin Duck Elbow” strikes from both sides.
Hong Qigong laughed heartily, “Brother Feng, your nephew’s snake fist cannot hold on.”
This old flower-picker has sharp eyes and even saw that my martial art was inspired by snakes. Ouyang Feng thought this, his expression darkening as he said, “Brother Qi, the elbow techniques you taught the Head Escort are truly exquisite.”
Hong Qigong drank, saying with great satisfaction, “This is not the Old Beggar’s martial art; I don’t even know it myself.”
Huang Yaoshi was surprised upon hearing this. He considered himself knowledgeable and familiar with all martial arts in the world, yet this elbow technique was unprecedented. Initially, he assumed it was taught by Hong Qigong and was not surprised, but upon hearing this, he was quite astonished.
Ouyang Ke’s momentum was suppressed by Zhou Yan, and he became increasingly flustered. Suddenly, Zhou Yan’s cultivation technique changed. As he threw punches and kicks, his movements became elegant and graceful.
What fist technique is this now?
With Ouyang Ke on guard, Zhou Yan used the move “Scarlet Jade Beating the Drum,” striking rapidly with alternating arms. Ouyang Ke crossed his hands to block. Zhou Yan’s move then changed to “Red Brocade’s Night Run,” unexpectedly breaking through defenses. Ouyang Ke’s arm moved like a spirit snake, striking towards Zhou Yan’s wrist bone. Suddenly, he changed his fist technique to “Green Pearl Falling from the Tower” from the Beauty Fist Technique, lunging to attack the opponent’s lower body.
Li Mochou’s eyes lit up. This was the Ancient Tomb’s “Beauty Fist Technique,” and he executed it with true elegance and grace.
Zhou Yan’s attack spanned from head to toe. No matter how long Ouyang Ke’s arms were, they were too short to reach.
He stumbled backward. In an instant, Zhou Yan pulled himself up and struck Ouyang Ke with “Wenji Returns to Han.”
“Wenji Returns to Han” originated from “Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute,” and this move also had eighteen palm strikes.
Ouyang Ke only managed to block twelve of the palm strikes; the remaining six all landed on his body. In an instant, his shoulders, chest, and abdomen were struck as if by a raging dragon. For a moment, he seemed to float in the air, his entire body appearing to expand.
“Ke’er!”
Ouyang Feng roared and lunged at Zhou Yan.
“Kid, that’s enough!”
Hong Qigong quickly shouted and suddenly blocked Ouyang Feng. Their fists and palms collided, sending waves of energy rolling, earth and stones scattering, and flames bending. The air within a small radius almost turned into a vortex.
With a “bang,” Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng retreated.
Zhou Yan and Ouyang Ke also shifted positions in an instant. Zhou Yan landed beside Li Mochou, while Ouyang Ke staggered back a few steps, spitting out blood with a “puff.” He gritted his teeth and said, “I will repay this humiliation today in the future.”
Zhou Yan’s expression turned grim as he said, “I’ll be waiting!”
“Ke’er,” Ouyang Feng said, supporting Ouyang Ke.
“Unc… Uncle, I can endure it.”
“Old Venomous, we agreed that you wouldn’t interfere in the affairs of the younger generation.”
Ouyang Feng smiled sinisterly, “Ke’er, let’s go!”
Huang Yaoshi took out a jade box from his robes, opened the lid, and took out three pills as scarlet as blood. He said, “Brother Feng, I believe there are no better medicinal pills for injuries in the world than my Peach Blossom Island’s Wuchang Pills. Give these three pills to your nephew. Take one every seven days, and his internal injuries should heal.”
“Thank you, Brother Yao.”
Li Mochou glanced at Huang Yaoshi, quite displeased, thinking, “Why is this person so meddlesome?”
Zhou Yan found it normal. The interactions between the Eastern Heretic, Western Venom, and Northern Beggar were hard to judge by ordinary standards. They could fight fiercely and then drink together. This scene was quite normal.
“Thank you, Brother Yao,” Ouyang Feng said, accepting the pills.
Ouyang Ke said weakly, “Thank you, Uncle Huang.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Brother Qi, Brother Yao, we shall meet again.”
Ouyang Feng cupped his hands towards the two, turned, and left with Ouyang Ke. Helian Chuncheng, Ni Mo Xing, and the others followed closely with grim expressions.
After the uncle and nephew had walked a distance, Ouyang Ke said, “Uncle, I am not reconciled.”
Ouyang Feng smiled sinisterly, “From the start, you lost in momentum and became flustered. In reality, you weren’t much worse. Don’t worry, once I pass on my skills to you, you will surely be able to kill that kid. Uncle will also have the Snake Slave bring more poisonous snakes. Then, why should we fear the Old Beggar or Huang Yaoshi?”
Ouyang Ke’s spirits lifted, “Thank you, Uncle.”
…
After Ouyang Feng left, Huang Yaoshi, seeing that Huang Rong was not on Zhongnan Mountain, had no reason to linger.
“Brother Qi, we part ways here. We shall meet again another day.”
“There is a Little Prince in Mongolia named Huo Du who is holding a Heroes’ Banquet in Zhongdu. Perhaps we can meet in Zhongdu.”
Huang Yaoshi’s heart stirred, thinking that his daughter might have heard this news and gone to Zhongdu. He said, “Good. We shall have a good drink together then.”
“Certainly.”
Huang Yaoshi cupped his hands, and his figure flew away like a crane, disappearing in an instant.
Li Mochou smiled charmingly, “Elder Hong, I have the honey I collected for you.”
Zhou Yan said, “I will make snake soup for the Elder.”
“Splendid!”
The three spoke, their voices reaching the hiding place of Lin Chaoying’s maid, though faint, they could still be heard.
Her expression was complex; sorrow was hard to bear.
