Chapter 139

The sunlight turned west, and the clouds were clear.

Gu Qing had already begun his routine martial arts practice. Having obtained the Lianhua Lianhua Baojian and relying on Wang Lianhua's medical skills, Gu Qing had an overall outline in his mind regarding the operation of acupoints. During his circulation, the acupoints on his legs also began to resonate.

Many acupoints and meridians in the human body overlap, known as meridian acupoints; these acupoints can be opened when cultivating internal energy. There are other acupoints that are extraordinary extra-meridian acupoints, and Gu Qing's two-stage jump utilized internal energy from these extra-meridian acupoints.

Now, as Gu Qing utilized the extra-meridian acupoint "Huantiao," the internal energy in a dozen or so acupoints on his legs gathered like a warm current, gradually converging into one place, which also made the internal energy in his legs much more powerful.

In a flash, Gu Qing leaped up, straight upward, about nine zhang, before his strength began to wane. Then, Gu Qing stepped into the void with his left foot, generating internal energy, and his entire body surged upward another four zhang. Just as the downward momentum was about to appear, he stepped with his right foot, and a third-stage jump appeared, actually rising another four zhang.

A three-stage jump, a full seventeen zhang high; in the modern world, Gu Qing could already leap onto a seventeen or eighteen-story high-rise.

In the famous scene where Zhang Wuji catches people at the Wan'an Temple, that high tower was only a little over ten zhang.

Gu Qing's lightness skill now allowed him to start from flat ground and leap over city walls. If he could further improve his speed, leaping both high and fast, perhaps he could be like Xuzhu, carrying two people over a city wall without the guards even seeing what had happened.

Gu Qing adjusted his posture, spiraled down, and landed lightly.

"It is said that there are nearly sixteen hundred extra-meridian acupoints in the human body."

After landing from his three-stage jump, Gu Qing collected the joy in his heart, feeling that if he could connect all these sixteen hundred-plus extra-meridian acupoints into one, he should be able to reach the absolute peak of Jin-style martial arts.

It's just that Shi Potian had the Taixuan Scripture, while Gu Qing could only rely on his own exploration.

"A very powerful lightness skill."

Sun Xiaohong's cold voice came, saying, "With just this three-stage leap, your lightness skill could probably rival that of the Chu Xiangshuai of the past."

"Rival?"

Gu Qing looked at Sun Xiaohong, then extended his right hand and said, "Think before you speak."

Sun Xiaohong was quite good at flattering people, but having met Gu Qing, she refused to flatter him anymore.

Chu Liuxiang had never done a three-stage jump; in terms of lightness skill, Gu Qing was not rivaling him, but surpassing him.

"Hmph."

Sun Xiaohong's face turned red instantly. This was a demonic hand, and Sun Xiaohong didn't want to suffer for no reason, so she changed the subject and said, "I want to take you somewhere."

The Heavenly Secret Old Man was blocking Shangguan Jin Hong.

Originally, Sun Xiaohong wanted to take Li Xunhuan, but after Long Xiaoyun's Lianhua Lianhua Baojian was leaked, it was no longer safe, and Li Xunhuan had to be protected, so Sun Xiaohong thought of Gu Qing.

"Idle is idle."

Gu Qing said indifferently.

A pavilion outside the city.

When Gu Qing arrived here, the Heavenly Secret Old Man was holding his dry pipe, having waited for a long time. Seeing that Sun Xiaohong had brought Gu Qing, he was somewhat surprised.

"Li Tanhua cannot get away."

Sun Xiaohong said, "It is said that the Blue Lan Lan Xiezi is already looking for him."

The Blue Lan Lan Xiezi was the lover of the Green Demon Hand, Yi Ku. Because Bai Xiaosheng did not rank women when he compiled the Weapon Manual, she was not listed, but the Blue Lan Lan Xiezi's martial arts were above Yi Ku's.

The Heavenly Secret Old Man nodded at Gu Qing and then took the initiative to chat with Gu Qing about martial arts.

In the Weapon Manual, the Heavenly Secret Old Man was able to rank first, naturally for a reason. At this moment, his explanation of martial arts was indeed unique. However, Gu Qing had once apprenticed under the Little Old Man in the Lu Xiaofeng world and had learned all of the Little Old Man's martial arts. At this stage, he only lacked some accumulation, and occasionally he would speak a few words that made the Heavenly Secret Old Man tremble.

Before they knew it, the sky had turned dark.

Outside the pavilion at night, several lanterns lit up. Shangguan Jin Hong and Jing Master Wu Ming walked one after the other toward this place. After passing the pavilion, Shangguan Jin Hong's gaze turned toward this spot.

Under the bamboo hat, most of Shangguan Jin Hong's face was covered, but that sharp gaze pierced through the hat and was transmitted out.

Shangguan Jin Hong headed toward the pavilion, with Jing Master Wu Ming following closely behind; the two men's paces were terrifyingly consistent.

"You've come!"

Gu Qing took the initiative to speak.

"I have come."

Shangguan Jin Hong said steadily. This "steadiness" permeated Shangguan Jin Hong's martial arts and also permeated Shangguan Jin Hong's character.

"You've come too slowly."

Gu Qing said with a laugh.

Shangguan Jin Hong was indeed very steady, unwilling to make a move without twelve-tenths certainty. Even when fighting Li Xunhuan to the death, he had to play some tricks first. But while being steady, Shangguan Jin Hong was also reckless, insisting on seeing Li Xunhuan's Little Li Flying Dagger. This kind of person who was both steady and reckless made Gu Qing study him intently.

"Gu Qing?"

Shangguan Jin Hong spoke coldly.

"It is I."

Gu Qing nodded.

"Returning a person's own methods to them—why did you show mercy when it came to Fei'er?"

Shangguan Jin Hong asked coldly. Showing mercy to Shangguan Fei proved that Gu Qing feared him.

Gu Qing was very puzzled and asked, "Who said I showed mercy?"

Now it was Shangguan Jin Hong's turn to be puzzled.

"The Ruyi Orchid Hand divides tendons and misplaces meridians, harming people invisibly."

Gu Qing said indifferently, "I had already made my move; you just didn't notice it."

The Sentimental Swordsman Ruthless Sword and the Legend of Lu Xiaofeng were like parallel planes, sharing background stories but not interfering with each other. Shangguan Jin Hong had heard of names like the Ruyi Fairy and the Bone-Melting Immortal, but he hadn't expected these legendary martial arts to appear in Gu Qing.

Shangguan Jin Hong's expression darkened. His head, hands, and feet were all intact, so what head he had lost was self-evident to him.

Gu Qing had pinched off Shangguan Fei's kidney meridian, leaving Shangguan Fei's "thing" intact, but it had become a mere decoration.

Gu Qing watched Shangguan Jin Hong get angry, yet he remained calm and indifferent, because Gu Qing knew Shangguan Jin Hong would definitely not make a move, as he lacked twelve-tenths certainty. Thus, he continued, "I heard that you are a person who doesn't ride horses, doesn't take sedan chairs, and likes to walk the Wu Lin?"

This was Shangguan Jin Hong's persona, but it was also true.

Gu Qing had beaten Shangguan Fei last night, crippled Shangguan Fei this morning, and then killed the people of the Money Gang. Yet until now, Shangguan Jin Hong had only just arrived at the pavilion outside the city, all because... Shangguan Jin Hong was traveling on foot!

Shangguan Jin Hong wanted to walk over on his own two legs!

Shangguan Jin Hong nodded indifferently.

"Then when you go to find Li Xunhuan, if Li Xunhuan is riding a horse, how should you win?"

Gu Qing asked curiously.

Li Xunhuan would be riding a horse, keeping a certain distance from Shangguan Jin Hong to use mounted archery. Shangguan Jin Hong did not ride a horse; if he used lightness skill, his stamina would be drained by Li Xunhuan's kiting.

"Will you shout at Li Xunhuan, 'Tanhua ahead, dismount and fight'?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

Shangguan Jin Hong's face turned black, and he did not answer. Li Xunhuan was a man of the Wu Lin and couldn't think of such crooked ways.

"I know you really want to kill me right now."

Gu Qing said again, "But suppose, just suppose, suppose I am not your match, and in the situation where you are chasing me, I mount a horse, and then I kill anyone from the Money Gang I encounter—in this situation, how would you respond?"

Gu Qing's combat power had already been verified by people like Zhuge Gang, Gao Xingkong, and Tang Du. Letting Gu Qing go kill other members of the Money Gang really wouldn't be a problem at all!

The killing intent on Shangguan Jin Hong grew even thicker.

Gu Qing smiled. Don't be afraid of angering Shangguan Jin Hong; just ride a horse and shake him off!

Shangguan Jin Hong had no horse!

(End of chapter)