Chapter 17: It is merely that one should die when it is time to die

"Jing-gege!"

Huang Rong ran over anxiously, then took a jade bottle from her bosom, poured out a vermilion-colored pill, and fed it into Guo Jing's mouth.

"Rong'er, what is this?"

Although Guo Jing had suffered a not-insignificant internal injury, it was not fatal, so he asked.

"It is a miraculous medicine uniquely refined by my father, called the Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill. It can nourish the spirit, strengthen the body, and prolong life, allowing your injuries to heal better."

Not far away, Hong Qigong's expression froze. He stood up abruptly and walked over quickly:

"Kid, why do you know my 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms'? When I was teaching martial arts earlier, you were clearly not present."

Before Zhuang Buran could reply, Huang Rong, who was helping Guo Jing up, said loudly:

"You surnamed Zhuang, I should have guessed it earlier. Why you were lingering and refusing to leave—it turns out you had those filthy thoughts of stealing martial arts again."

Seeing Hong Qigong looking over in confusion, she explained:

"Daoist Ma Yu of the Quanzhen Sect once taught Jing-gege Quanzhen internal energy for two years. A few days ago, by observing Jing-gege's breathing, sitting, walking, and sleeping, he learned the essence of Quanzhen internal energy."

Hong Qigong's pupils shook as he listened. Even if he had known Zhuang Buran was a martial arts genius—otherwise, how could he have such martial arts now—as one of the Five Greats of the Jianghu, who wasn't a genius when they were young? There was no need to make such a fuss.

But now, witnessing this kid's shocking comprehension, his emotions inevitably fluctuated. The 'Dragon Regrets its Pride' he had just seen him strike possessed the very essence of the palm technique.

"Qigong, for so many days, this technique of yours has been performed before my eyes again and again. During our exchanges, all the methods of exerting and channeling force were revealed completely."

Zhuang Buran appeared troubled:

"With it being like this, it is truly very difficult for me not to learn this set of palm techniques!"

"You have learned the entire 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms'?" Hong Qigong's expression was indescribable.

"This technique should be derived from the principles of the Zhou Yi Eight Trigrams, which happens to be Zhuang's specialty."

Zhuang Buran said unhurriedly:

"The first stance, 'Dragon Regrets its Pride', is the foundation of the entire palm set. I presume it is derived from the 'Pre-Heaven and Heaven do not violate, Post-Heaven and follow Heaven's time' of the Zhou Yi."

"The key point is to anticipate the enemy's moves, striking at the flaws they are about to reveal. If a flaw has already appeared, do not miss the opportunity; attack the weak point quickly, achieving firmness when one should be firm and softness when one should be soft."

"Furthermore, 'Dragon Regrets its Pride'—fullness cannot last long. The essence lies in the word 'regret'. Thus, this move must have a release and a retraction. If you strike with ten parts of force, you must reserve twenty parts of force."

"That is to say, it is the opposite of a wild bull hitting a wall. The main theme is having surplus that is never exhausted. Once a palm is struck, one must reserve surplus strength. No matter how fierce or thunderous the opponent's incoming fists or palms are, one should always act with 'having surplus strength'."

"Thus, this move 'Dragon Regrets its Pride' is also the foundation of the 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms'. As long as one understands this move, the remaining seventeen moves are as easy as using one's hands."

Hong Qigong's gaze was piercing:

"Even if you have grasped the essence of this technique of mine, how can you have practiced it to such perfection in such a short time, possessing the level of twenty or thirty years of my experience?"

"The mind understands, but the body does not—that only applies to ordinary people like you."

Zhuang Buran seemed somewhat helpless:

"Besides my extraordinary comprehension, Zhuang's opportunities are even more profound. The secret manual I happened to obtain has key points of accumulating strength and power that are surprisingly similar to the 'surplus that is never exhausted' of the Dragon Subduing Palms."

"The whole body contains force and stores power without releasing it. As soon as the enemy attacks, it immediately flows continuously, wave after wave of force, striking back like a mountain-toppling sea. The essence lies in the method of retaining force."

"And how is 'surplus that is never exhausted' not also about the word 'retain'? Only in this way can the palm force always remain endless and leakless, and thus one will forever stand in an invincible position."

"The more I think about it, the more transparent it feels. Without realizing it, I have become increasingly proficient in these two techniques. With a little practice, it is worth decades of hard work for ordinary people."

Just as Hong Qigong felt that the technique Zhuang Buran spoke of was very familiar, Huang Rong blurted out:

"It is the Western Poison's 'Toad Technique'!"

"Haha, thanks to learning the 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms', Zhuang has also corrected the erroneous 'Toad Technique' and understood its method of releasing force to counterattack," Zhuang Buran said happily.

"Rong'er, how does this kid even know Ouyang Feng's 'Toad Technique'?" Hong Qigong was completely baffled.

"The Western Poison's nephew, Ouyang Ke, became an honored guest at the Jin Dynasty's Zhao Wangfu. He coerced that person to obtain the secret manual for the 'Toad Technique'."

"However, Ouyang Ke was unwilling to comply and intentionally wrote the manual incorrectly. As a result, he was discovered by him, and his life was taken."

Hong Qigong frowned deeply, staring at Zhuang Buran:

"Wantonly seizing people's martial arts and then killing them afterward—do you know that you have committed a great taboo in martial arts? If you continue to act without restraint, I fear that before Ouyang Feng comes to settle accounts with you, the entire Jianghu will be calling for your head."

"A lecherous and lustful person—killing him is just killing him. How is that wanton?" Zhuang Buran looked puzzled:

"I wanted to kill him anyway. Making use of his waste before he died—what is wrong with that?"

He suddenly acted as if he had realized something:

"Could it be that because his elder is named Ouyang Feng, he cannot be killed?"

Zhuang Buran paused and curled his lips:

"As long as one is human, one will die. Who in this world cannot be killed? I am no exception."

"Therefore, if I really provoke the Jianghu to call for my head, then let them come. It is merely that one should die when it is time to die."

"This matter is not about whether his elder is Ouyang Feng, but that you act without any avoidance, and even less, without any bottom line. If you really provoke public anger in the future, are you not afraid of death?" Hong Qigong asked suspiciously.

"The so-called Zhuang Zhou dreams of a butterfly, and the butterfly dreams of Zhuang Zhou; life is like a dream. If one cannot enjoy oneself while alive, then death is just death. What is there to fear?"

Zhuang Buran's gaze fell on Huang Rong:

"You now know that the martial arts style of Peach Blossom Island is diametrically opposed to the martial arts style of the Northern Beggar. So, from now on, don't mistake people again."

Having said that, he stepped on the Eight Trigrams, his figure appearing like an ethereal immortal, and he departed.

"Qigong, do you think he is really my father's offspring from outside?" Huang Rong asked with a frown.

Hong Qigong pondered for a long time:

"This child's perversity, arrogance, and ruthlessness are indeed quite similar to Huang Yaoshi when he was young. But after our duel on the peak of Mount Hua back then, I know he is a person who despises rituals, is unrestrained, true to his feelings, and wild and open-minded."

"Although the title of 'Eastern Heretic' sounds like a great demon who kills without blinking, it is mainly because he has a solitary personality, acts strangely, dislikes explaining, and dislikes interacting with others, doing things entirely according to his own preferences, not caring about others' opinions."

"Like when he appears in the Jianghu, he often cuts people dumb and deaf, then makes them live without seeing people and die without seeing corpses, making people in the Jianghu look on with fear."

"But the old beggar knows that those he deals with are all evil people who act recklessly, which is why he takes them back to serve him. Besides, he appears carefree, but in fact, he values his reputation the most, considers himself a grandmaster, and respects his status."

"Therefore, his actions only appear evil; he would definitely not do low-class things like bullying the weak or seizing people's martial arts."

"And that kid is truly a madman who acts according to his own preferences. If he is provoked, I fear that... there is no one in the world he would not kill."

When Hong Qigong said this, he analyzed seriously:

"As a grandmaster figure who is both righteous and evil, the children Huang Yaoshi raises should be like you."

"He is rebellious, and you have a willful side; he is arrogant and conceited, and you are clever and smart. Both have the bottom line that a person should have."

"If this deduction holds, this child probably has nothing to do with you. After all, the world is vast and full of wonders; there are naturally many people who look alike."

"Forget it, I won't think too much about it. When I meet my father one day, everything will be clear." Huang Rong seemed to remember something and asked:

"Qigong, was Zhuang Buran just feeling guilty because he stole your 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms', and that's why he ran away?"

"If he were really feeling guilty, would he use it so openly?" Hong Qigong sighed lightly:

"He just doesn't care, thinking that the old beggar cannot do anything to him. The most important point is, how is this technique different from me teaching him hand-in-hand? He doesn't have any reason to be in the wrong, to the point that he thinks I won't settle accounts with him."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 18 =====