[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t":3,"chapter-living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-7":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Living Among All Heavens, Achieving Immortality Through Merit",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2323575,4545,"Chapter 7: The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, Hong Qigong","living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>“You usually stay around here, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good, good! Let’s visit each other more often from now on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m very happy to have made friends with all of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jing’an Settlement, Gu Qing bid farewell to Ding Qi and the others; after confirming Ding Qi’s residence, he returned to the inn. The day’s fighting had left him physically exhausted, so he ordered meat, flatbread, and drinks, ate his fill, lay on the bed, told himself he’d rise in the second watch, and then fell into a deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second watch, Gu Qing opened his eyes on the bed, flicked his body, and left the inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dense forest behind Jing’an Settlement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing tossed Ding Qi, whose acupoints had been sealed, onto the ground. Seeing it was Gu Qing, Ding Qi exhaled in relief, sat up, and said: “Stone Brother, why did you bring me here in the middle of the night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After thinking it over, I feel your thanks to me was too perfunctory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing casually sat on a rock, looked at Ding Qi, and said: “I want to hear you say thank you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi was truly baffled, but seeing Gu Qing’s seriousness, he thought for a moment and then spoke earnestly: “Brother Shi Hao, you helped our Beggar’s Sect eliminate the Tartars in Yanghuzhuang—I’m deeply grateful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……Still no good karma registered for Ding Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say it again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing gave Ding Qi another chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi stood up, frowned at Gu Qing, and said: “Stone Brother, you can’t just mock me for no reason!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing, seeing Ding Qi rise, said: “Given that I’ve done so much for your Beggar’s Sect by clearing out Yanghuzhuang, if we fought now, even if I were in the wrong, your sect wouldn’t blame me, would it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi studied Gu Qing’s expression and sensed he was utterly serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Shi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi swallowed hard and asked: “Is there some misunderstanding between us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There truly was a misunderstanding…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing nodded. His failure to trigger any good karma from Ding Qi made him suspect something was off. In an instant, he struck—using the Beauty Fist of the Ancient Tomb Sect, aimed straight at Ding Qi’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Beauty Fist of the Ancient Tomb Sect was the most flamboyant martial art, blending centuries of women’s frowns, sighs, and sorrows into its movements. When used by a woman, it was graceful and elegant, each gesture rich with meaning; when used by a man, it should feel awkward—but Gu Qing had removed the affected, emotional flourishes, leaving only a touch of mystic flair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi instinctively blocked, but from their daytime battle, Gu Qing had memorized most of the Beggar’s Sect’s techniques. The Beauty Fist was entirely unfamiliar to him. Gu Qing, confident in his advantage, knew within five moves he’d win: he spun, executed “Chang’e Stealing the Herb,” swept upward under Ding Qi’s groin, seized his wrist, dragged it behind his back, then pressed forward with his other hand, pinning Ding Qi down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stone Brother, don’t joke around…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still pinned, Ding Qi forced a smile and said: “If I’ve wronged you in any way, just say it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ding Qi’s ingratiating smile, Gu Qing hardened his heart and prepared to use the Tendon-Dislocating Bone-Adjusting Hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swoosh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pebble shot through the air, striking toward Gu Qing’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing had seen too many movies—he never caught flying projectiles with bare hands. Seeing the pebble, he shifted slightly, letting it pass harmlessly by his body; it struck a nearby tree with a “thud,” piercing clean through the trunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Gu Qing tried to catch it, his arm would have gone numb from the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were a real man when killing Tartars—why are you so timid about asking for thanks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from the forest: “Chivalry comes from your own heart, not someone else’s!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing turned toward the voice and saw an old beggar lying beneath a tree—his beard snow-white, face glowing with health, eyes sharp and bright, yet only four fingers on one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi saw the old beggar and frowned in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing recognized him at once, released his grip, bowed, and asked: “Are you the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, Hong Qigong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong nodded. In his old age, his temper had grown mild: “Boy, what’s this misunderstanding between you two? Tell me—I’ll mediate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That afternoon, Liu Er’s sudden attack order had come from Hong Qigong; Liu Er’s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms had been taught by Hong Qigong. Hong Qigong had watched everything in Yanghuzhuang—even cleared out some Tartar ambushes himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong had observed every move Gu Qing made—he recognized Gu Qing’s use of the Nine Yin Manual and partial Quanzhen techniques. Curious, he’d followed Gu Qing to probe his true nature, only to find him about to beat a Beggar’s Sect disciple. Hong Qigong intervened to prevent Gu Qing from becoming narrow-minded and descending into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, there’s no real misunderstanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing said: “I merely suspected he might be a Tartar spy—I wanted to test him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong frowned slightly. Many of Yanghuzhuang’s arrangements and the ambushes along the way had seemed like a trap—but Hong Qigong had spotted them and ordered his men to dismantle them. He knew the Beggar’s Sect was full of snakes and dragons; a few traitors among them were inevitable. He’d planned to let Liu Er investigate further, but hadn’t expected Gu Qing to uncover one himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t thank me sincerely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing spoke earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Hong Qigong and Ding Qi fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wanted to try mind-reading on him, but feared his spirit was too stubborn—so I thought I’d beat him first. If he’s innocent, I’ll apologize. If he’s guilty, I’ll hand him over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Hong Qigong’s eyes, Gu Qing gave the same explanation again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his suspicion of Ding Qi as a spy was genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong’s gaze settled on Ding Qi, scrutinizing him with piercing intensity. That weighty gaze made Ding Qi tremble, his face pale, his legs weakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong’s reputation was immense—the entire Beggar’s Sect revered him like a god. Ding Qi, already guilty at heart, buckled under that gaze and sank to his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Master, I was foolish…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Qi begged for mercy, bowing his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had confessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong sighed and said: “You can be foolish about other things—but how can you be foolish about matters of country and family?” As he spoke, he stepped forward, laid a hand on Ding Qi—and Ding Qi collapsed, dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong looked at Gu Qing, approvingly saying: “You’re excellent. You’ve done great service to the Beggar’s Sect. Whatever you want, just ask me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong intended to guide Gu Qing, to shape him into a pillar of the Jianghu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want the summary of the Nine Yin Manual!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing said quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Qigong turned to look at Gu Qing… You really dare ask for that!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1174,"2026-06-20T17:04:26.501Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c649cf56d46440e6261d5e2dc51edf4b4f19e479dd8dd5d8b0613a178a15e6f2","living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-8","living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-6",449,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliving-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-cover.jpg"]