Chapter 139: Shangguan Jin Hong Without a Horse

The sun turned westward; the clouds grew clear and open.

Gu Qing had begun his routine martial cultivation; having obtained the Lianhua Treasure Mirror and relying on Wang Lianhua's medical knowledge, he now had a comprehensive understanding of the meridian points, and as he circulated his Qi, the points in his legs began to resonate.

Many acupoints in the human body overlap with meridians, known as Jing-Xue; these can all be unblocked during internal cultivation, while others are Extraordinary Acupoints outside the meridians—Gu Qing's Two-Stage Jump relies on the internal art of these Extraordinary Acupoints.

Now, with the Extraordinary Acupoint Huan Tiao, as Gu Qing channeled Qi, over a dozen points in his legs pulsed like warm currents, gradually converging into one, greatly strengthening the internal power in both legs.

Suddenly, Gu Qing leapt upward like an arrow, reaching nine zhang—his strength then waned; yet he stepped on empty air with his left foot, generating fresh internal power and launching himself another four zhang higher. Just as gravity began to pull him down, he stamped with his right foot, triggering the Third-Stage Jump—and rose another four zhang.

The three-stage leap reached a total of seventeen zhang; in modern terms, Gu Qing could now leap onto a seventeen- or eighteen-story building.

Zhang Wuji's famous rescue at the Wanan Temple tower was barely over ten zhang high.

Gu Qing's current lightness skill was already sufficient to launch from flat ground and skim over city walls; if he could further enhance his speed, achieving both height and velocity, he might even emulate Xu Zhen and carry two people over the ramparts, leaving guards utterly baffled.

Gu Qing adjusted his posture, spiraling down gracefully, landing lightly.

"It is said the human body contains nearly sixteen hundred Extraordinary Acupoints."

After landing from his three-stage leap, Gu Qing suppressed his joy, feeling that connecting all these sixteen hundred Extraordinary Acupoints into a single flow would bring him to the pinnacle of Metal-style martial arts.

But Shi Po Tian possessed the Tai Xuan Classic—Gu Qing could only rely on his own exploration.

"Very impressive lightness skill."

Sun Xiaohong's cold voice came: "With just these three-stage ascents, your lightness skill may rival the late Chu Xiangshuai."

"Rival?"

Gu Qing glanced at Sun Xiaohong, then extended his right hand: "Think again before you speak."

Sun Xiaohong was good at flattery—but faced with Gu Qing, she refused to flatter.

Chu Liuxiang never performed a three-stage leap; in lightness skill, Gu Qing did not rival—he surpassed.

"Hmph."

Sun Xiaohong's face flushed red. This man was a demon's hand—she had no desire to invite trouble, so she changed the subject: "I want to take you somewhere."

The Heaven's Mechanism Old Man was blocking Shangguan Jin Hong.

Originally, Sun Xiaohong intended to bring Li Xunhuan—but after Long Xiaoyun's Lianhua Treasure Mirror was exposed, it was no longer safe; Li Xunhuan needed protection, so Sun Xiaohong thought of Gu Qing.

"I'm idle anyway."

Gu Qing said indifferently.

A pavilion outside the city.

When Gu Qing arrived, the Heaven's Mechanism Old Man, holding his long-stemmed pipe, had already waited long; seeing Sun Xiaohong bring Gu Qing, he looked slightly surprised.

"Li Tanhua can't break away."

Sun Xiaohong said: "It's said the Blue Scorpion is coming for him."

The Blue Scorpion was Qing Mo Shou Yi Ku's lover; since Bai Xiaosheng's Weapon List excluded women, she was never ranked—but her martial skill surpassed Yi Ku's.

The Heaven's Mechanism Old Man nodded to Gu Qing, then spontaneously began discussing martial arts with him.

As the top-ranked name on the Weapon List, the Heaven's Mechanism Old Man naturally had unique insights; yet Gu Qing, having once studied under the Old Man in the Lu Xiaofeng world and mastered all his arts, now only lacked accumulated experience—occasionally offering a few remarks that startled the Old Man.

Unaware, night fell.

Outside the pavilion at night, several lanterns lit up; Shangguan Jin Hong and Jing Wuming approached, one behind the other. After passing the pavilion, Shangguan Jin Hong's gaze turned toward it.

Beneath his wide-brimmed hat, most of Shangguan Jin Hong's face was hidden—but his piercing eyes pierced through the shadow.

Shangguan Jin Hong walked toward the pavilion, Jing Wuming close behind; their steps were terrifyingly synchronized.

"You're here!"

Gu Qing spoke first.

"I'm here."

Shangguan Jin Hong spoke calmly; this "calm" defined his martial art and his character.

"You're late."

Gu Qing chuckled.

Shangguan Jin Hong was indeed cautious—he never struck without twelve-tenths certainty; even against Li Xunhuan, he first employed tricks. Yet he was also reckless, insisting on seeing Li Xunhuan's Little Li Flying Dagger. This blend of caution and recklessness made Gu Qing study him closely.

"Gu Qing?"

Shangguan Jin Hong spoke coldly.

"It's me."

Gu Qing nodded.

"You used his own method against him—why did you hold back on Shangguan Fei?"

Shangguan Jin Hong asked coldly; holding back on Shangguan Fei proved Gu Qing feared him.

Gu Qing was puzzled: "Who said I held back?"

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

"The Ruyi Orchid Palm severs tendons and dislocates joints—striking unseen."

Gu Qing said calmly: "I already struck. You just didn't notice."

The stories of The Affectionate Swordsman and The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng were parallel worlds, sharing background but never interfering; titles like the Ruyi Immortal and the Bone-Melting Immortal were known to Shangguan Jin Hong—but he never expected such legendary arts to appear in Gu Qing.

Shangguan Jin Hong's expression darkened. His head, hands, and feet were intact—what had been severed was obvious to him.

Gu Qing had cut Shangguan Fei's kidney meridian—leaving his genitals intact, but rendering them useless.

Gu Qing watched Shangguan Jin Hong's rage, yet remained utterly calm, for he knew Shangguan Jin Hong would never strike—he lacked twelve-tenths certainty. He continued: "I hear you don't ride horses, don't take sedan chairs—you prefer walking the Jianghu?"

This was Shangguan Jin Hong's persona—and it was true.

Gu Qing had struck Shangguan Fei last night, crippled him this morning, then killed members of the Money Gang—yet Shangguan Jin Hong only now arrived at the city pavilion, because… he had been traveling!

Shangguan Jin Hong had walked here on foot!

Shangguan Jin Hong nodded indifferently.

"Then when you go after Li Xunhuan, if Li Xunhuan rides a horse—how will you win?"

Gu Qing asked curiously.

If Li Xunhuan rode a horse and kept distance, using mounted archery, Shangguan Jin Hong—who didn't ride—would exhaust himself trying to catch up with lightness skill.

"Will you shout to Li Xunhuan, 'Front, Tanhua! Dismount and fight!'?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

Shangguan Jin Hong's face darkened—he said nothing. Li Xunhuan was a man of the Jianghu—he'd never think of such underhanded tricks.

"I know you want to kill me now."

Gu Qing added: "But suppose—just suppose—I'm not your match, and you're chasing me, yet I mount a horse and kill your Money Gang men wherever I find them—how would you respond?"

Gu Qing's combat strength had already been tested against Zhu Ge Gang, Gao Xingkong, Tang Du—killing other Money Gang members posed him no problem whatsoever!

Shangguan Jin Hong's killing aura intensified.

Gu Qing smiled. Angering Shangguan Jin Hong? No fear—just ride away!

Shangguan Jin Hong has no horse!

(End of Chapter)