Chapter 16

Five days later.

In a pine forest outside a market, Zhuang Buran walked on his own, practicing his own internal energy.

And in the distance were Hong Qigong and Guo and Huang.

"You little girl, you've gone to great lengths for many days to make good wine and food, isn't it just because you want me to teach you some martial arts?"

"If you ask me, the martial arts of your family are completely enough for you to learn; why do you need me to teach you?"

"Seven, it's not like you don't know that my father passed all his bottom-of-the-box martial arts to someone else."

Huang Rong's face was miserable:

"No wonder he scolded me before; it turns out he didn't like me at all. So, I ran away secretly, and he hasn't come to look for me until now. He must never want me again."

"Sigh, as far as I know, the Eastern Heretic shouldn't be such a person; how could he hide his secrets?" Hong Qigong's expression was complex, and he couldn't help but scold:

"Could it be that the older this old monster gets, the more evil his temper becomes?"

"You are not allowed to scold my father." Although Huang Rong had all kinds of resentment toward her father, she still couldn't bear others insulting him.

Hong Qigong didn't care:

"It's just that people think this old beggar is poor, and no one is willing to marry me. Otherwise, if I had a daughter like you, how could I bear to abandon her?"

He glanced at the green-robed youth who was still practicing martial arts and said:

"Rong'er, don't tell me you really want to beat Zhuang Buran..."

"That's natural. I must beat him until he kneels and begs for mercy."

After Huang Rong finished speaking firmly, she stared at Hong Qigong with a pitiful little expression.

"Sigh, before the age of thirty-five, this old beggar's martial arts were very mixed, and I learned quite a lot of messy fist and palm techniques. But later, I specialized in the 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms,' and if we talk about defeating the enemy, this kung fu has the greatest power."

"But this set of palm techniques is clearly different from your family's learning. Since you were young, you have learned martial arts with complex and fantastic moves, with virtual moves many times more than real moves. And my kung fu changes are extremely simple; the essence lies entirely in the exertion of strength, and it is the most energy-consuming to use."

"Precisely because of this, the path Huang Laoxie learned is completely different from mine. I cannot learn his martial arts, and he cannot learn my palm techniques."

"The most critical thing is that through these few days of successive competitions, I have figured out the kid's foundation. Although he is young and his internal energy is not as thick as mine, the fist techniques he knows are both domineering and agile. Coupled with his hard-body skills, it is extraordinary. Counting the Jianghu, leaving aside the Five Greats, I really can't imagine who else would be his opponent."

"Besides that, regarding the persistence in practicing martial arts, this old beggar asks himself that I am not as good as him. I'm afraid that when he grows a few years older, I really won't be his opponent."

Huang Rong's expression was low:

"So, your meaning, old senior, is that I shouldn't even think about beating him in this life?"

"Cough, cough, no matter what, in this world, you are the closest people. How can there be talk of beating or not beating?" Hong Qigong coughed dryly.

Huang Rong's eyes suddenly lit up:

"Since my martial arts path doesn't match Seven's, Brother Jing can! Why don't we wait until he has learned something, and then help me give that Zhuang a sound beating? That way, I can vent my anger."

Hong Qigong looked at Guo Jing:

"Looking at his steady hands and feet, his internal energy foundation is not bad, but compared to that kid, it is ultimately far behind."

"Furthermore, this old beggar has never taken apprentices. Who would want such a silly kid? Only you treat him like a treasure."

"Rong'er, my aptitude has always been dull. You shouldn't make things difficult for Seven. Plus, Brother Zhuang's martial arts make me look up to him. No matter what, I can't beat him." Guo Jing agreed somewhat foolishly and advised Huang Rong.

"Hmph, Seven, you are actually this spineless?"

Huang Rong's eyes rolled, and she said:

"It's a pity I heard from my father before that if we talk about the current world, the only person whose martial arts can surpass him is the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar Hong Qigong. He also said that if it weren't for his unpredictable whereabouts, he would definitely often be with him to discuss martial arts."

"Huang Yaoshi has always been unwilling to admit defeat to me, but who knew he admired me so much in his heart." Hong Qigong felt secretly proud.

"My father also said that your 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms' is a peerless art unique in the world, ancient and modern."

Huang Rong looked incomprehensible:

"With such powerful kung fu, Seven, why do you think you can't beat Zhuang's fist technique? Could it be that my father exaggerated?"

Hong Qigong shook his head upon hearing this:

"You little girl, you haven't even learned one percent of your father's kung fu, but you have learned his ghost heart completely."

"Forget it, considering that your father is still willing to tell the truth, and I originally thought that after Wang Chongyang died, he thought he was the best in the world, and considering that I have eaten so many good things in the past few days, I will teach this silly kid a few moves."

Immediately, Hong Qigong let Huang Rong return to the inn, and Zhuang Buran also finished his practice and prepared to leave.

"Can't tell, you still understand some taboos."

"Hehe, Zhuang has always been upright and open in learning martial arts." Zhuang Buran smiled inexplicably and walked away, leaving Huang Rong behind.

More than a month later.

In the small pine forest, Zhuang Buran hugged his shoulders with both hands, leaning lazily against the tree, his eyebrows raised:

"Guo Jing, I shouldn't have heard wrong, right? You want to compete with me?"

"Zhuang, stop looking down on people. After three days of separation, one should look at each other with new eyes. Do you understand?" Huang Rong said first.

Guo Jing was afraid that the two would argue again, so he hurriedly spoke:

"Brother Zhuang, I know I am not your opponent, I just want to see how big the gap between us is."

"Seven, is this your meaning, or this girl's meaning?" Zhuang Buran looked sideways at Hong Qigong, who was gorging on food.

"Although Guo Jing's comprehension is not high, he wins in being diligent and focused. As long as he learns a little bit, he will study and practice day and night. His martial arts are already like two different people before and after. Why don't you exchange two moves with him?"

Hong Qigong reminded him:

"Kid, in the past month, this old beggar hasn't practiced with you less."

Zhuang Buran stood straight, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Guo Jing, and said:

"Alright, since you are sincerely asking for advice, then Zhuang will be merciful once. Make your move."

"Brother Jing, since he doesn't take you seriously, you must not hold back. Use ten percent of your strength and give him a sound beating for me." Huang Rong retreated to the side and cheered loudly.

Guo Jing nodded heavily and said:

"Brother Zhuang, be careful."

As he said this, his left leg bent slightly, his right arm bent inward, his right palm drew a circle, and with a 'whoosh,' he pushed outward.

Instantly, a slight sound of dragon roaring rang out, and a dragon-shaped Qi force struck Zhuang Buran directly.

"Bang!"

Guo Jing only felt that the palm he struck was like a clay ox entering the sea. Just as he was about to strike again, he was suddenly hit by a thick and rigid counter-shock force and was directly sent flying. Fortunately, he used a 'thousand-jin drop' halfway, and only then did he land steadily.

"Brother Jing, are you okay?" Huang Rong shouted hurriedly.

"Rong'er, I'm fine." Guo Jing, whose muscles and bones were softened by the shock and whose chest was stuffy, replied immediately.

Hong Qigong, not far away, shook his head and said:

"Silly kid, don't forget what this old beggar told you before. The most difficult part of the 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms' is that while attacking with force, you still have spare strength. But if you blindly hold back strength and don't exert it, that won't work either."

"Yes."

Guo Jing walked back to his original position, set up his stance, and struck palms repeatedly.

Zhuang Buran had a relaxed and comfortable smile on his face, still standing in place without dodging or avoiding. Relying solely on his hard-body skills, he resisted the dozen or so palms Guo Jing fired. Even until the end, his face was flushed and his palms were trembling; he was clearly not lightly shocked by the counter-shock.

Suddenly, the green-robed youth moved, pushing his palms forward horizontally. The sound of dragon roaring grew louder, instantly sending Guo Jing flying. When he hit the ground, he couldn't help but spit out a large mouthful of blood.

The field was silent, with only a light sentence:

"Today I'll teach you a lesson, to let you understand what..."

"If you don't practice martial arts, seeing me is like a frog in a well watching the moon in the sky."

"If you practice martial arts, seeing me is like an ant seeing the blue sky."

(End of chapter)