Chapter 575: Significantly Reduced Point Loss

(PS: I will continue to release extra chapters tomorrow. My writing state these past two days has been simply excellent.)

The old beggar was none other than the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, Hong Qigong, a major supporting character in both *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* and *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, and the person Wu Pifu admired most in this story.

Hong Qigong was a man who upheld justice, possessed formidable Wu Gong, and was unconstrained by minor details. He was not pedantic, and he possessed a certain optimistic sense of knowing one's fate. This made him not just a person, but a good man.

Wu Pifu was naturally happy to associate with such a person. As he followed Hong Qigong onto the boat, he treated him with courtesy.

Although Hong Qigong was wary of Wu Pifu’s terrifyingly powerful Wu Gong, his personality was direct and forthright. Seeing that Wu Pifu, despite his tall stature, lacked any aura of bloodlust or tyranny, and that Huang Rong was as youthful and beautiful as a fairy—and that he hadn't even killed the water bandits who had offended them—he let go of his misgivings and truly boarded the boat.

Once on board and after exchanging greetings with Wu Pifu, he hurriedly ran to look at the large white-gold fish. After observing it for a long while, he exclaimed, "This is a white fish! It’s rare to see one grow this large. The larger they are, the more tender the meat becomes. It seems this old beggar is in for a treat today."

While speaking, he carefully sized up Wu Pifu, then looked at Huang Rong.

Wu Pifu was still wearing his Gaia uniform, which had no distinct features and looked like strange clothing to people of this era. Huang Rong, however, had retrieved her belongings from where she had hidden them after returning, changing back into the attire of a young lady of a noble house from this era. She had tied her hair with gold cords, and with her white and gold outfit, she looked very cute.

Hong Qigong had traveled far and wide and was very experienced. He saw at a glance that Huang Rong was a woman from the south of the Yangtze River, certainly not a local of the Jin capital. Wu Pifu was incredibly tall—two meters—but his features were those of a Han Chinese. However... he had short hair. Could this young man with peerless Wu Gong actually be a monk who had returned to secular life?

Although Huang Rong was busy preparing the white fish, five parts of her attention were on Wu Pifu, and three parts were on Hong Qigong. Seeing Hong Qigong secretly sizing her and Wu Pifu up, she smiled and said, "If you are curious, Qigong, why not just ask?"

Hong Qigong was slightly taken aback, then laughed, "You little girl actually recognize me? It seems this meal won't be easy to eat."

Huang Rong giggled, "It’s delicious, very delicious. My father is well-acquainted with you, Qigong; he is certainly not your enemy."

Because the people she needed to help were different, Huang Rong naturally used different approaches. Moreover, Wu Pifu’s personality was simple and direct, and he disliked beating around the bush. So, Huang Rong didn't speak in riddles. She simply reached out and made a slight motion in the air, as if a sword had swept past, and said in a voice as clear as silver bells, "Peach blossom shadows fall, the divine sword flies; the blue sea tide rises, the jade flute plays. Qigong, care to guess who my father is?"

Hong Qigong was stunned. He looked closely at Huang Rong, and after a long while, he laughed, "So it really is the daughter of an old friend. Then I truly must eat this meal. But I wonder who this..."

Huang Rong looked at Wu Pifu with a questioning gaze. Wu Pifu was indifferent and simply nodded straightforwardly, "Just say it."

Seeing this, Hong Qigong smiled inwardly and felt a sense of relief.

This was clearly a young couple, and the type where the girl was chasing the boy. With his vast experience, how could Hong Qigong not see Huang Rong’s little intentions?

But since they were a couple, this man was not an enemy. Although the "Evil of the East" was known for his extremely stubborn nature, he was an upright person, and his daughter was certainly not a villain. The man who could be with his daughter was unlikely to be a villain either.

This was what Hong Qigong had been most worried about since discovering that god-like, demon-like martial power. If this man were to commit evil, it would be a catastrophe for the Wu Lin and even the world. But since he was the son-in-law of the "Evil of the East," the possibility of him committing evil was not very high.

Hong Qigong relaxed, opened a wine gourd, and began to take a few comfortable sips.

"This is my brother, Wu Pifu. He is a Heavenly Being. He just brought me back from the Great Thousand Worlds and is currently taking me home," Huang Rong said with a grin.

"Pfft!"

Hong Qigong choked on his wine, spraying a mouthful onto the cabin wall. He coughed several times, took a sharp breath to steady himself, and looked at Huang Rong, shaking his head repeatedly. "You little girl, not a word of truth. You're just teasing this old beggar."

Huang Rong continued to giggle. While preparing the fish, she said, "Whoever lies will swallow a thousand needles. Qigong, I’m really not lying to you." As she spoke, she reached into her bosom and took out a thumb-sized metal ball. She pressed her jade finger against it, and immediately, a fully armed general appeared beside Hong Qigong.

Hong Qigong was shocked, his hair and beard standing on end. Unsure of the situation, he blocked with one hand while reaching for his jade-green bamboo staff with the other. He pulled himself back like a marionette, reaching the bow of the boat in the blink of an eye.

His martial arts were top-tier—after all, he was one of the Five Greats of this world—but Huang Rong had already witnessed Wu Pifu’s god-like, demon-like strength. She just laughed and said to Hong Qigong, "Don't panic, Qigong. This is an object from the Great Thousand Worlds, unique to this world. I went to the Great Thousand Worlds with Brother Pifu, and this was a gift given to me by someone there."

Hong Qigong’s expression was serious as he stared at the fully armed general. He noticed some clues: the person was somewhat illusory, and one could vaguely see objects behind him through his body. This made Hong Qigong mutter to himself; it looked like a legendary ghost or spirit.

Huang Rong laughed happily and swept her hand through the general’s figure. Wherever her palm passed, his body disappeared, but when she pulled her hand away, his body healed again. However, he just stood there blankly, looking completely dull.

Hong Qigong was dumbfounded. Huang Rong explained, "This thing is made of light and shadow; it’s a projection. This gift from the Great Thousand Worlds is a 3D image game console. Besides this general, there are many other things."

As she spoke, Huang Rong pressed the ball again, and indeed, all sorts of strange things appeared. Hong Qigong recognized some—cows, sheep, horses, chickens, ducks, and geese—but there were others, furry and strange, that were definitely not of this world.

A moment later, Huang Rong put away the metal ball. Seeing a look of displeasure on Wu Pifu’s face, she made a playful face at him and then buried her head back into preparing the fish.

Only then did Hong Qigong enter the cabin. He still felt as if he were in a dream. He looked left and right for a long time, then at Wu Pifu, then at Huang Rong, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Is there really a Heaven beyond Heaven? Is there really a Great Thousand World? Are there really Heavenly Beings?"

Seeing Hong Qigong like this, Huang Rong knew her plan had succeeded by more than half. "There really is, Qigong. There is a Heaven beyond Heaven, there is a Great Thousand World. Brother Pifu is a Heavenly Being, and a great general and prime minister among them at that—someone who can speak on equal terms with the Heavenly Emperor."

Hong Qigong immediately felt a sense of reverence for Wu Pifu, and he also gained an understanding of Wu Pifu’s god-like and demon-like Wu Gong. Although he still harbored some slight doubts in his heart, everything he had just witnessed was definitely not fake, nor was it some sort of street performer’s trick, so he truly believed in the Celestial Beings and the Heaven Beyond Heaven by seventy percent.

Wu Pifu frowned and said, "Qigong, don't listen to this girl’s nonsense. Prime Minister? Great General? Emperor? What is she babbling about? Human civilization no longer has those things. I am merely a member of human civilization..."

At this point, Wu Pifu couldn't continue. Although there were no emperors, prime ministers, or great generals, there were Grand Presidents and the three Great Super-Brains, and his status was certainly not that of an ordinary person.

Huang Rong just smiled without a word, humming a little tune as she sliced the prepared white fish into thin fillets.

Hong Qigong was a bit inquisitive, feeling as if a cat were scratching at his heart. He was extremely curious about that Heaven beyond Heaven. But firstly, he wasn't familiar with Wu Pifu, and he was deeply wary of his martial power. Meanwhile, Huang Rong was clearly dangling his curiosity, singing and saying nothing, which made Hong Qigong feel quite restless.

Wu Pifu also saw through Huang Rong’s intentions. He shook his head slightly and took a bottle of yellow wine from his personal space, tossing it to Hong Qigong.

Hong Qigong caught it and saw a crystal-clear glass bottle, the size of a palm. It seemed to contain wine, but the glass bottle had not a single impurity or bubble; it was as clear as divine jade. If nothing else, this bottle alone was worth a fortune.

Hong Qigong’s expression turned solemn, and he immediately moved to return the bottle, saying, "This old beggar, wealth... wealth..."

He then saw more than ten identical bottles appear out of thin air in Wu Pifu’s hand. These things, which could be called rare treasures, were being wholesaled by Wu Pifu; it was clear they weren't worth much to him.

Huang Rong giggled, "Keep it, Qigong. This thing is just a disposable item... you use it and throw it away. It has no value."

Hong Qigong silently looked at the dozen bottles in Wu Pifu’s hand, then at the one in his own hand. He then mimicked Wu Pifu, unscrewed the cap, took a gulp, and exclaimed loudly, "Good wine! Truly good wine!"

After a gulp of yellow wine, Hong Qigong was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed heartily, "To be able to tell this old beggar such secrets, to let this old beggar know of such treasures, and even give this old beggar this priceless, peerless treasure... the little girl wants a lot, doesn't she? Tell me. If it’s feasible, this old beggar will agree without a second word. If it’s not, then let this Heavenly Being slap this old beggar to death."

He said this righteously, with a sense of heroism and determination. It was clear Hong Qigong had truly made up his mind.

Huang Rong immediately stood up solemnly and bowed to Hong Qigong, "Please, Qigong, teach Brother Pifu your peerless martial art, the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!"

Hong Qigong did not agree or refuse. He opened his mouth wide, pointed at himself, then at Wu Pifu, and said, "Who? Me? Teach martial arts? Him? A Heavenly Being?"

At the same time, a voice from the Main Brain echoed in Wu Pifu’s ears.

"Judgment in progress... Judgment complete. Do you wish to consume 100,000 points to learn the top-tier external martial art of this dream world, the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?"

Wu Pifu was also filled with astonishment.

What?

The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms costs 100,000 points!?

Then what was the introductory mental cultivation method Huang Rong taught him before?

Could it be that Huang Rong made a mistake and didn't teach him an introductory method, but the legendary *Tai Xuan Jing*, the only immortal cultivation technique in the Jin Yong series of novels!?