The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 273 The Dog-Beating Stick Technique for Beating Vicious Dogs

Zhou Yan recited the text word by word, and Hong Qigong analyzed its meaning. He found each sentence profound and mysterious. When he came to the sixteen characters, “圆通定慧，体用双修，即动而静，虽撄而宁”, he suddenly fell into deep thought. He looked at Zhou Yan again and exclaimed in surprise, “This is a technique for treating internal injuries.”

"Ok!"

Hong Qigong was an extremely intelligent man. Upon hearing Zhou Yan's reply and recalling his words on the way that he could definitely cure him and surpass his past, he suddenly understood.

"You little rascal... cough cough, the old beggar has been fooled." Hong Qigong said with a smile.

Zhou Yan said sincerely, "Master Qi taught me martial arts and saved my life outside Datong Prefecture. Compared with what Master Qi did, what I have done is insignificant."

Zhou Yan didn't mention that the oral instructions on the martial arts technique originated from the "Nine Yin Manual," and Hong Qigong, being of such status, naturally wouldn't ask any further questions. He coughed a few times and said with admiration, "You've got a good idea, kid."

"You're too kind, Seventh Master," Zhou Yan said. "I've just devised a treatment method with remarkable effects. The Immortal Elder has a snow ginseng that can help Seventh Master heal the injuries to his internal organs. Once Seventh Master can circulate his qi on his own, I will assist in the treatment with my own internal energy. In just seven days, Seventh Master will be able to recover to normal. Then, with the Tendon Strengthening and Bone Forging, and the completion of the cultivation technique, Seventh Master will essentially have his tendons and bones reshaped, completely resolving the damage to his meridians caused by the 'Diamond Prajna Palm,' and his power will even surpass what it was before."

Hong Qigong was also a forthright man. Upon hearing Zhou Yan's words, and recalling the events that had transpired since the two met outside Datong Prefecture, he sighed inwardly, "Good, good. You are a man who is not bound by form or enslaved by mind. Even an old beggar like me doesn't dawdle. I will listen to you. It's just a pity about the Immortal's Snow Ginseng."

"The Immortal Elder is also a fellow practitioner, so there's no need for you to take it to heart, Seventh Master."

“Alright.” Hong Qigong nodded, but in his heart he was thinking that no matter what, he would repay him in the future.

Zhou Yan completely relaxed. Knowing that Hong Qigong had a good appetite, he specially went to the bamboo forest to use pebbles to catch a few bamboo rats and roasted them for Hong Qigong. He learned the skill of roasting bamboo rats from Huang Rong, and the result was a dish that was perfect in color, aroma and taste. Hong Qigong praised it highly and even drank a little bit of herbal wine in high spirits.

The medicinal wine brewed by the Immortal of Herbs now has a negligible effect on improving Zhou Yan's skills, but it is quite beneficial to the Fisherman of Misty Waves.

After dinner, Hong Qigong drank the snow ginseng soup brewed by the Immortal Herb Hundred Herbs.

Zhou Yan consulted the Immortal Elder and the Fisherman of Misty Waves, explaining that once Hong Qigong was able to circulate his internal energy on his own, he would use his own power to assist in the healing process. However, during the seven-day healing period, their hands must not be separated for even a moment, and their breaths must be connected. Although they could speak to each other, they absolutely could not utter a single word to a third person, nor could they stand up and take even half a step. If anyone came to disturb them excessively, there was a risk of them going into qi deviation.

The Herbalist Elder said that there were only a few children in the valley. When Zhou Yan and Hong Qigong were healing their injuries in the bamboo hut, they would not allow the children to come near them.

Zhou Yan and Yanbo Diaosou both thought it was appropriate.

The snow ginseng had miraculous effects. By midnight, Hong Qigong was radiating heat. After half an incense stick's time, fine oil mixed with sweat dripped down, forming layers of sticky, dirty stuff.

Hong Qigong can now circulate his internal energy on his own.

The Herbalist had his servant boil water, and Zhou Yan helped Hong Qigong bathe. Afterward, the two went to a quiet bamboo hut and sat cross-legged. They briefly discussed the True Scripture's Healing Chapter, each understanding its meaning. Zhou Yan extended his right palm and pressed it against Hong Qigong's left palm, circulating his energy and practicing accordingly.

As dawn broke, Hong Qigong gradually felt the tightness in his chest ease slightly. The pure internal energy transmitted from Zhou Yan's palm slowly spread throughout his body, and the pain lessened considerably. By noon, Hong Qigong felt much better, and Zhou Yan also felt refreshed.

The Immortal Herbalist personally delivered a bowl of hazelnut and ginseng soup, which Zhou Yan and Hong Qigong each drank before continuing their cultivation and healing.

……

Time flies, the sun rises and sets.

Zhou Yan and Hong Qigong have been healing and cultivating for seven days.

During this time, the Herb Immortal would only appear when delivering meals. The rest of the time, he would spend with the Fisherman of Misty Waves. Both were eccentric people, but they got along very well after a few words. The two played chess, fished, and drank, enjoying a carefree life.

……

A breeze swept across the mountains and fields, and the sunlight at the valley entrance shifted slightly. Figures emerged, followed by a second, a third, and a tenth...

Soon after, a total of seventy or eighty people appeared in Baicao Valley.

"Master, this is where that old man lives."

The man, referred to as the leader, was over forty years old, with a long mustache and a long, horse-like face.

Looking out from the valley entrance, he saw a beautiful and magnificent landscape inside.

The horse-faced cult leader snorted coldly, "I'd like to see what's so unusual about this valley that it has lost twenty or thirty people so far." The man's identity was obvious from his words; he was the leader of the Five Poisons Cult.

Followers led the way, followed by the leader of the Five Poisons Sect, and the group marched into the valley. After several miles, lush trees came into view.

The followers entered without any precautions and then wandered around the forest within the sight of the Five Poisons Sect leader. As more people entered the forest, the followers behind noticed something was wrong and stopped.

“Master, something’s fishy,” said one of the Five Poisons Sect protectors.

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect snorted coldly, "I thought that old man had some extraordinary abilities, but it turns out he only relied on the magic array."

"It seems that the disciples were trapped in the magic array and lost their lives. However, this magic array seems profound and not easy to break," the protector said.

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect observed intently. He himself was also familiar with some of the principles of the Five Elements and the Eight Trigrams, but no matter how he calculated and analyzed, he found it to be profound and difficult to understand, and he could not break it. He said, "Could that old man possibly have set up such a magic array throughout the valley? Let's go around him."

Huang Rong could not possibly deploy magic arrays everywhere.

The purpose of the magic array is to trap uninvited guests who recklessly intrude, and also to buy time for the Hundred Herbs Immortal to escape when he encounters a powerful enemy. Perhaps he can lure the enemy into the magic array and then kill or escape.

As the saying goes, a clumsy method can overcome a brilliant strategy. The leader of the Five Poisons Sect, who had many disciples, noticed the anomaly early on and proceeded around the woods.

After a short while, the group of dozens of people walked around the woods for several miles and finally saw a lush bamboo forest in the distance, where the Herb Immortal and the Fisherman of Misty Waves were playing chess.

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect, with a ferocious horse-like face, then burst into laughter. As he lunged forward, he shouted, "Old man, prepare to die!"

……

Under the bright sunshine, the sound surged like a tide, disturbing the fisherman who was engrossed in playing chess. He looked up angrily and saw a tall, thin figure rushing towards him in the distance, as if cutting through the waves.

The Herbalist was greatly alarmed. "It's the Five Poisons Sect. The one who came is probably the leader of the Five Poisons Sect."

"I'll stop him."

"Too many people, this is a big problem." Immortal Herbs hurriedly took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and poured out a scarlet pill. "From the followers to the leader and protectors, everyone in the Five Poisons Sect is poisonous. This pill can prevent and detoxify."

The old fisherman in the misty waters swallowed the pill, grabbed his fishing rod, and rushed forward.

The Herb Immortal ran towards the bamboo hut, secretly lamenting his predicament. Several disciples in the valley were gathering herbs and would be unable to return for some time. The enemy outnumbered him, and he was at a loss.

……

Hong Qigong and Zhou Yan both heard the sound of the Five Poisons Sect leader's internal energy.

Zhou Yan realized that the other party should be a member of the Five Poisons Sect. Judging from his voice, it was loud and clear, indicating that his internal strength was quite remarkable. If he had mastered the Five Poisons Divine Palm, Yanbo Fisherman would probably have difficulty resisting him.

Why did such a powerful enemy appear at this critical moment?

As he thought this, Hong Qigong suddenly said, "Boy, you're working hard to heal me, but you won't have much internal energy left to deal with your opponent. Even if you can't use the 'Finger Flicking Divine Skill,' your swordsmanship will lose its power."

"What can I do, Lord Qi?"

A smile appeared on Hong Qigong's face. "I will teach you the 'Four Ounces Deflect a Thousand Pounds' technique. It involves lifting, blocking, turning, tripping, leading, thrusting, entangling, and chopping. It's all about skillful force."

"The Dog-Beating Stick Technique?"

"The situation is urgent, so this is a temporary measure. I'll tell you now. As for the Beggar Clan leader, as long as I'm not dead, I won't make things difficult for you. Besides, you can't learn everything in a short time, so you can't be considered to have mastered the Beggar Clan leader's direct martial arts."

"Seventh Master, tell me quickly, just a few of the most practical moves will do, time is limited."

"Listen up, kid, you're going to beat these vicious dogs to a pulp later."

(End of this chapter)