Chapter 1036: The Moon Full Then Wanes (Part 1)

A sudden gust of wind sounded above his head; Hu Xiaotian hastily shifted his footwork, naturally employing the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps to evade the attacking object, yet his lower back was pressed against something hard and unyielding. Hu Xiaotian was terrified—he hadn't even seen his assailant before being seized at a vital point. Who is this person? How could they break through my Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps? Even Bu Wu the monk doesn't possess such skill?

Hu Xiaotian didn't let fear cloud his mind; he suddenly recalled someone. In the world, only a handful can crack my Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps—solve the bell only by the one who tied it. Unless one knows the steps intimately, they can't anticipate my movements. Moreover, I sense no breath or heartbeat from my opponent; they are clearly concealing themselves. I could also feign death like a dog. Hu Xiaotian glanced down by moonlight and saw the object that had just attacked him lying on the ground—a cleanly gnawed chicken leg bone. He already knew who it was. He chuckled: "Senior Xu, is it you?"

A sigh came from behind: "Not fun at all, utterly boring, no face, completely faceless—I never expected you'd guess so quickly!" The opponent withdrew whatever had been pressing against Hu Xiaotian's back.

Hu Xiaotian turned and saw an old beggar with white hair and beard standing behind him—the very old beggar who had taught him martial arts.

The old beggar tossed the object he had just pressed against Hu Xiaotian over: "Here's your greeting gift."

Hu Xiaotian reached out and caught it; it felt slick and elastic in his hand. Looking closely, it was a pickled pig's trotter—truly laughable and lamentable.

The old beggar, as if performing magic, also produced a pig's trotter, took a big bite, and said: "Old Liu No. 3's pickled pig's trotter from Xiezhou is a local delicacy; I painstakingly bought it. If you don't eat it, you're denying me face." After chewing a mouthful, he lifted a large wine gourd and gulped down a sip, then handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian didn't stand on ceremony; he imitated him, gulping a large mouthful of wine and also biting into the trotter. Eating unclean food brought no illness, yet the trotter's flavor was truly excellent.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Senior, why have you come to such a place?"

The old beggar gave him a sideways glance: "You can come here, so why can't I? When I first opened shop, I was penniless and dared not enter. Now the place is empty, these many rooms sit idle—idle, so I might as well enjoy myself. I can stay in any room, sleep on any bed. There's even a hint of women's cosmetics up there."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Senior truly knows how to enjoy life."

The old beggar said: "I've spent my life pursuing pleasure; otherwise, why would I have fallen to begging on the streets?"

Hu Xiaotian didn't believe he was just an ordinary beggar; this old man must be a top-tier master. Initially, he taught me the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps and the Feigning Death Dog technique—just these two skills have let me escape death many times. Back at the Eunuch Tomb, the old beggar passed these two secret arts to me. Now, recalling it, it shouldn't be coincidental; no one would lavish such favor on a lowly eunuch for no reason. Today's reunion at the Ring-Color Pavilion surely isn't accidental—perhaps I had already caught his eye while strolling outside the pavilion.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Senior, since our parting at the Eunuch Tomb, I've constantly been thinking of you."

The old beggar, feeling a bit embarrassed, shivered: "I'm not a woman. What do you want from me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't know why, but I always feel you're like family to me."

The old beggar seized the wine gourd, took another gulp, and said: "Kid, you still have some conscience."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Senior has shown me kindness in teaching; as the saying goes, one day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father. In my heart, I truly regard you as my own father."

Upon hearing this, the old beggar spat out a mouthful of wine with a puff! —some splashed onto Hu Xiaotian's face, but he didn't mind, still smiling faintly.

The old beggar wiped his mouth, pointed at Hu Xiaotian's nose, and cursed: "You brat, you dare take advantage of me? At my age, I could be your grandfather—you treat me as your father? Utter nonsense! Do you think I'm an old fool? Can't you hear you're taking advantage of me?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Senior, don't be angry—I'm just expressing my feelings, nothing else?" In fact, he said this deliberately; seeing the old beggar's strong reaction to his words, he sensed there must be something deeper. In this world, nothing happens without cause; the old beggar wouldn't have taught me martial arts for no reason—there must be a reason for his kindness. His surname is Xu, and so is mine? I regard him as my father, yet he refuses—could he truly be my elder? Thinking of my mysterious missing maternal grandfather, Xu Lingkong, as Ji Feihua said, he too is a top master. Top masters are few; among them, those who help without seeking reward are rarer still. Could this old man be my grandfather? The more Hu Xiaotian thought, the more plausible it seemed; he decided to probe indirectly and, no matter what, uncover the truth today.

The old beggar asked: "Where are you headed?"

Hu Xiaotian replied: "I've been sent by the Emperor on a mission to Xizhou; I'm now returning to Kangdu."

The old beggar nodded: "Will this trip go smoothly?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "The Emperor ordered me to confer the title of Prince upon Li Tianheng, but Li Tianheng refuses. Had it not been for the principle that envoys are not harmed during wartime between states, my head might not be safe."

The old beggar said: "You fool, what kind of master could catch you with just the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps? Even if pursued, you could still feign death like a dog! How did I end up with such a dull-witted disciple? Idiot! Pure idiot!"

Hu Xiaotian, scolded, didn't get angry but laughed: "Actually, the skills Senior taught me aren't that extraordinary!"

Hearing this, the old beggar's eyes widened round: "Nonsense! Utter nonsense! You've eaten your fill and now scold the cook, you turn against your benefactor! Having learned my abilities, you now slander my skills—I spit! Do you believe I'll abolish your martial arts? Make you return everything you've learned to me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Leaving aside other matters, when I went to Tianlong Temple, I encountered several masters—at least three could keep up with your Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps."

Upon hearing Tianlong Temple, the old beggar unconsciously scratched his head: "Those monks indeed have a few with such ability…" His expression turned awkward.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you could abolish my martial arts, I'd welcome it—my greatest worry now is that my internal energy is too strong; sooner or later it will burst my body!"

The old beggar blinked slightly: "What's happening?"

Hu Xiaotian certainly wouldn't miss this chance to seek help; he explained how Li Yuncong had harmed him, causing him to mistakenly cultivate the Void Great Law, then, by fortunate coincidence, absorbed the internal energy of several masters one after another. He mentioned that Yuan Kong also practiced the Void Great Law, and when he drained Yuan Kong's internal energy completely, the old beggar's expression changed as he reached out to grab Hu Xiaotian's pulse.

Hu Xiaotian warned: "You'd better not probe my meridians with internal energy, or I might drain your lifelong cultivation completely dry."

The old beggar felt somewhat moved, sighed: "You still have some conscience."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm not concerned about you—I'm concerned about myself. My Dantian Qi Sea's capacity has reached its limit; adding yours would likely cause me to explode right now."

The old beggar's oily fingers rested on his pulse for a while before withdrawing: "You really haven't lied to me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've come to this pass—what point would there be in deceiving you?"

The old beggar said: "Your internal energy is rare in the world, but your body can't withstand such strength. If we compare a person's body to a small ship and internal energy to cargo on board, you're already overloaded. If more internal energy is poured in, or if unexpected storms hit, you'll suffer a capsizing disaster."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The high monks of Tianlong Temple once declared my life has only half a year left." Actually, Hu Xiaotian knew well; it's been over three months since Bu Wu said that, so according to him I have at most two months left. However, Hu Xiaotian learned the Bodhi No-Mind Zen Method from Li Yuncong, which can strengthen his meridians and fortify his Dantian Qi Sea, and together with Huo Shengnan he discovered the secret of the Sun-Shooting True Classic, allowing internal energy to be drawn out like silk and transferred into another's body—so Hu Xiaotian has already found a solution; even if not fully cured, he won't face mortal danger in the short term. He said this to prompt the old beggar to act and gain some benefits from him.

The old beggar said: "In my view, if you stop absorbing others' internal energy, you'll have no problems for three years."

Hu Xiaotian heard this and rejoiced; it seems the Sun-Shooting True Classic truly works. Once I return, I must practice it together with Huo Shengnan—no, if I transferred all this immense internal energy to her, her meridians couldn't bear it. Looks like I need to take several more wives to share the burden. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on that fellow's face.

The old beggar didn't know why he laughed, assuming he was happy hearing he could live three years, gazing at Hu Xiaotian's youthful face, recalling his unfortunate fate, he couldn't help but feel pity and said softly: "The moon full then wanes, water full then overflows—if you could keep your body perpetually in a deficient state, perhaps you could solve this problem."

Hu Xiaotian deliberately said: "What? Kidney deficiency?"

The old beggar truly laughed and cried: "Nonsense about kidney deficiency—I mean the moon full then wanes, water full then overflows…"

"Moon full then wanes, essence full then overflows! I get that!"

The old beggar was rendered speechless by this fellow's antics, his white beard bristling: "Bah! You lecher, rogue, petty rascal—what filth fills your head?"

Second update delivered, please vote for monthly tickets! (To be continued~^~)