Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Brother Jing, let's get a divorce.

When Yang Guo emerged from Li Mochou's cave, it was already broad daylight.

After straightening his Taoist robe, he inhaled the cold mountain air, allowing his innate true energy to circulate within him, sweeping away the fatigue of the night.

Yang Guo used his feet to exert force and unleash the Golden Goose Skill, his body rising from the ground and weaving through the forest. Each time his toes touched a branch, he would leap several feet away.

After running for more than ten miles, there was a cliff ahead.

Just as he was about to leap over, he heard a strange gust of wind beside him, mixed with a smacking sound. Yang Guo stopped and landed on a horizontal branch of a large tree, staring intently at the sound.

An old beggar sat cross-legged on a huge rock at the edge of the cliff. His hair was gray and disheveled, and he wore a tattered coat covered with patches.

He was gnawing on a large, fat roast chicken, his mouth dripping with oil. Beside him was a green bamboo cane, and a vermilion wine gourd hung from his waist.

Yang Guo's gaze fell on the old beggar's right hand holding the chicken. That hand only had four fingers, missing one index finger.

Hong Qigong, the Nine-Fingered Beggar!

Yang Guo was greatly shocked. This man was a grandmaster of martial arts, one of the Five Greats who was on par with his adoptive father Ouyang Feng. How could he have come to Zhongnan Mountain?

After swallowing the chicken meat in his mouth, Hong Qigong let out a loud burp, casually threw the chicken bones down the cliff, grabbed his wine gourd, and took two gulps of wine.

He raised his head, his eyes fixed on the tree where Yang Guo was hiding.

"Hey kid in the tree, have you had enough? Come down here and talk to me." Hong Qigong's voice was extremely loud and full of energy.

Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Yang Guo leaped down and landed steadily two zhang in front of the boulder. He clasped his hands in a junior's salute and said, "Junior Yang Guo, the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, greets Senior Hong."

Hong Qigong sized Yang Guo up and down a few times and then let out a cold snort: "You recognize the old beggar?"

"Who in the world doesn't know the fame of the Nine-Fingered Beggar?" Yang Guo flattered.

Hong Qigong was unimpressed and slammed his wine gourd heavily onto the boulder: "Don't flatter this old beggar. I've been wandering around Zhongnan Mountain these past few days and have seen quite a few good shows. You little brat, you've got quite the ability, sitting in the position of leader of the Quanzhen Sect before you've even grown your hair out."

Yang Guo straightened up without changing his expression: "Senior is too kind. I was only appointed to take on this mission in a time of crisis to share the burden of the sect."

Hong Qigong spat and wiped the grease from his mouth: "Share the burden? I think you're here to cause trouble! Wang Chongyang was such a heroic figure back then, and the Quanzhen Sect he founded emphasized purity of mind, few desires, and chivalry. And you, you've turned this place of Taoist cultivation into a mess!"

Hong Qigong stood up, grabbed his green bamboo staff, and pointed it at Yang Guo's nose: "You give gold bars to those old Taoist priests, using gold and silver to buy their hearts. You condone your subordinates using torture to break a fellow disciple's leg in the main hall, and you even have a delicate maidservant in the courtyard, cuddling and embracing her in broad daylight. Is this how a Taoist practitioner behaves? This old beggar has a close relationship with Wang Chongyang, and is also a good brother to Zhou Botong. I absolutely cannot watch the Quanzhen Sect be destroyed in the hands of you, you little beast!"

After hearing these words, Yang Guo understood. This old beggar must have been hiding in the shadows these past few days, spying on most of what was happening at the Quanzhen Sect. However, he only saw the surface and was unaware of the inside story.

Yang Guo lowered his hands, abandoning his respectful demeanor: "Senior, your words are biased. You only saw me handing out gold bars and breaking the steward's leg, but do you know what that Steward Sun did?"

Hong Qigong said sternly, "No matter what you did, it should be handed over to the Discipline Hall for trial and dealt with according to the rules. Your use of private punishment is a violation of the rules."

Yang Guo burst into laughter, the sound echoing along the edge of the cliff: "Rules? The head of the Discipline Hall has long been in cahoots with them. That Steward Sun not only embezzled funds from the sect but also secretly colluded with the Mongols! He even drew up the Quanzhen Sect's defense map and sold it to the Mongol spy camp. Should I break his legs instead of feeding him good wine and meat?"

Hong Qigong paused, his brow furrowing. He hated the Jurchens and Mongols more than anything in his life, and deeply despised traitors who colluded with the enemy: "Are you telling the truth?"

"The evidence is conclusive. However, I suppressed this matter for the sake of the Quanzhen Sect's reputation." Yang Guo took a step forward. "Senior, the Quanzhen Sect is no longer the same as it was when Wang Chongyang was alive. Zhao Zhijing and his gang have used any underhanded means to fight for power and profit. If I hadn't taken drastic measures, this sect would have been ruined long ago. I'm doing this to destroy and then rebuild. Besides, Wang Chongyang left behind such a vast legacy, but his disciples and grand-disciples are all useless. They can't even master martial arts; all they do is scheme and fight. I'm taking this position as sect leader to save face for them. If it were anyone else, they would have torn this dilapidated temple down long ago."

Hong Qigong was so angry that he glared and puffed out his beard when he heard that this man dared to criticize even Wang Chongyang: "Arrogant! How dare you criticize Master Wang?"

"I am speaking the truth. The facts are right in front of them, and they have no choice but to admit it." Yang Guo raised his head and did not back down.

Hong Qigong retorted, "Stop with your sweet talk. Giving gold bars to the old Taoist priest is supposed to win people over, but what kind of Taoist behavior is it to be seen as flirting with a maid in broad daylight, even putting your hand on her waist and kneading her?"

Yang Guo, with his thick skin, not only didn't blush but straightened his back: "Senior, you've wronged me. That girl is a pitiful person; her whole family was killed by her enemies, and she was left with a disability in her left leg. I took pity on her and kept her by my side, using Taoist internal energy to help her clear her meridians. I had absolutely no selfish motives; I was healing and saving lives. A doctor's heart is like a parent's; there's no distinction between men and women. If you, senior, are certain I've done something wrong, then I can only say that you're bound by worldly views and don't understand my compassionate heart."

Enraged by his shameless words, Hong Qigong's mustache bristled: "You sharp-tongued little beast! Treating the sick and saving lives requires sticking your hands inside someone's clothes? Do you think this old beggar is blind?"

Yang Guo, without blushing or skipping a beat, said, "Senior, you're mistaken. That's a massage technique; the force can't penetrate through clothing. My mind is only focused on the Pure Truth Dao, a state of purity and detachment from desires. How could I possibly be tempted by women? This is all for the sake of saving lives."

Hong Qigong was so angry that he laughed instead. He couldn't be bothered to listen to this kid's nonsense anymore.

This kid has the best tongue in the world; he can make black seem white.

He stared into Yang Guo's eyes for a long time; the boy's eyes were extremely clear and showed no sign of guilt.

Having spent his entire life navigating the world of martial arts, Hong Qigong would never trust someone based on just a few words.

"You little brat, you're so quick-witted, this old beggar can't argue with you. You say you've risen from the ashes, but this old beggar wants to see if your martial arts as the sect leader are worthy of Wang Chongyang's legacy. If you've practiced some unorthodox or evil arts, this old beggar will cleanse the sect of Wang Chongyang today!"

Before Hong Qigong finished speaking, he had already moved. His movements were so fast that he didn't seem like an old man at all. He reached out with his right hand and grabbed Yang Guo's shoulder.

This move looks ordinary, but the palm wind is fierce, blocking all of Yang Guo's escape routes. It is the "Divine Dragon Swings its Tail" from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Yang Guo was prepared. He had just broken through to the Innate Realm and his internal energy was abundant. He wanted to find a top expert to test his skills.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, firmly planting his feet in a horse stance, and struck out with his right hand in a palm strike to meet Hong Qigong's palm. He used the Heart-Shattering Palm, the palm force infused with pure Nine Yin True Qi.

The two palms collided with a deep thud, and the shockwave spread out from the two of them, swirling the fallen leaves into the air.

Hong Qigong felt an extremely long and pure internal force surge through his arm. This internal force had no evil energy whatsoever; on the contrary, it exuded the orthodox Taoist principles of moderation and peace, and even carried a profound and subtle yin energy.

He swayed and took half a step back.

Yang Guo retreated three steps, each step leaving a shallow pit in the bluestone ground.

High judgment.

However, Hong Qigong's actions caused a huge uproar. His Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms were incredibly powerful, and few in the world could withstand them head-on. This little boy, barely twenty years old, actually took one of his palms, only suffering a disadvantage but not being injured.

"Good lad! Your internal strength isn't weak. Take another move from this old beggar!"

Hong Qigong shouted and pushed his palms out, unleashing a move called "Shocking the Hundred Miles".

This palm strike was extremely powerful, its force enveloping Yang Guo's major acupoints, with a faint dragon's roar emanating from it.

The leaves around the tree were shaken by the force of the palm strike and fell off, swirling in the air.

Yang Guo gathered his inner energy, and his innate inner energy surged through his eight extraordinary meridians.

His feet moved with a serpentine, elusive gait, his movements becoming extremely unpredictable, like a slippery eel, as he slipped straight through the gaps in Hong Qigong's palm strikes.

This kind of superior Taoist body technique emphasizes going with the flow and not confronting force head-on.

He circled around to Hong Qigong's side and pointed with his right index finger, unleashing the inner force of the One Yang Finger technique. A pale golden aura shot from his fingertip, targeting Hong Qigong's two major acupoints, Jianjing and Quchi. The aura pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound.

Hong Qigong caught a glimpse of the energy beam out of the corner of his eye and was startled: "One-Finger Divine Skill? You've actually mastered the art of projecting internal energy outwards!" He reacted swiftly, raising his right hand and unleashing the "Dragon Appears in the Field" move, creating a wall of energy in front of him. The combined energy of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms clashed with the finger force of the One-Finger Divine Skill, producing a piercing friction sound.

The aura was dispersed, and a white mark appeared on Hong Qigong's palm. He put away his contempt, tucked the green bamboo staff into his belt, and clenched his fists: "You also know the Southern Emperor's ultimate technique. It seems you've had quite a few fortuitous encounters. Today, this old beggar will test your mettle."

Hong Qigong changed his fighting style, no longer using wide, sweeping movements, but instead incorporating the exquisite techniques from the Dog-Beating Stick Technique into his fists and palms.

Yang Guo dared not be presumptuous and drew the long sword from his back.

This sword is the Gentleman's Sword, a token of his marriage to Xiaolongnu.

He unleashed the Chongyang Sword Technique. The sword flashed, its momentum fierce; Yang Guo poured all the pure internal energy he had accumulated over sixteen years into the blade, each thrust possessing immense penetrating power. The two clashed fiercely at the edge of the cliff.

Hong Qigong grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. This young man's internal energy was inexhaustible and continuous, and his swordsmanship was clearly a direct descendant of Wang Chongyang.

After exchanging more than sixty blows, Yang Guo's forehead was covered in sweat. His early-stage Innate Realm cultivation was still somewhat of a challenge against veteran masters like the Five Greats.

Hong Qigong's fist and foot techniques were exquisite and varied, sometimes as nimble as a snake emerging from its hole, sometimes as powerful as Mount Tai crashing down. Yang Guo's Chongyang Sword Technique was extremely powerful, but it was inferior in terms of the exquisiteness of its moves.

Hong Qigong seized the opportunity and struck Yang Guo's sword spine with a palm.

The longsword let out a mournful cry and flew straight out of my hand.

Using this force, Yang Guo floated back two zhang and landed steadily: "Senior, your martial arts are unparalleled, and I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to you."

Hong Qigong did not pursue, but stood there watching Yang Guo. The martial arts that this kid had just used, whether it was the Nine Yin Manual, the One-Finger Divine Skill, or the Double Yang Sword Technique, were all orthodox and legitimate martial arts, without a trace of the evil or unorthodox methods.

What surprised Hong Qigong the most was that this kid's internal energy had already opened up the eight extraordinary meridians and entered the innate realm.

Such talent is truly rare throughout history.