Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 69 A Small Test

At the summit of Mount Hua, dusk settled. A gentle evening breeze swept up from the sheer cliffs below, causing their clothes to flutter in the wind. Ouyang Ke and Guo Jing, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, chatted amiably upon their reunion. They stood side-by-side at the edge of the precipice, the clouds swirling below them, the distant mountains appearing like dark eyebrows.

A short while later, Ouyang Ke suddenly said, "Brother Guo, I see your brow is relaxed. Could it be that you have brought your aunt back to the Central Plains from the desert?"

Guo Jing was taken aback at first, then stood up and respectfully bowed to Ouyang Ke. This time, Huang Rong did not stop him; instead, a smile appeared on her lips, and her eyes were full of delight.

Guo Jing straightened up, his tone sincere: "If it weren't for Brother Ouyang's reminder, my mother would probably have been held hostage by the Khan in the desert!"

Ouyang Ke smiled calmly, his gaze deep: "It seems that Temujin already has the intention to march south and attack the Southern Song Dynasty."

Guo Jing's face darkened upon hearing this, his fists clenching slightly, but he remained silent. He gazed at the setting sun gradually sinking into the sea of ​​clouds, a flicker of pain in his eyes. Back at Dongting Lake, he had confidently declared that the Great Khan would never attack the Song Dynasty, but reality had pierced his heart like a sharp knife. The grassland overlord who had once sheltered him and his mother, and bestowed upon him the title of Golden Knife Prince Consort, was no longer his benefactor, but an enemy marching south.

Seeing Guo Jing's somber expression, Huang Rong quickly interjected, "It was thanks to Brother Ouyang's reminder that I set off with Brother Jing and arranged for the Beggars' Sect brothers to meet us along the way. Fortunately, with the help of the Six Heroes, we arrived in Jiangnan without any major incidents. Now, Auntie is living peacefully in Niujia Village with Sister Mu."

When Ouyang Ke heard that Guo's mother and Mu Nianci were living in Niujia Village, his heart stirred slightly, and he nodded gently, saying, "That's very good."

"Our mother spent her life wandering far from home, raising the Guo brothers with great hardship. Now that they are finally able to return to their hometown, it is truly a cause for celebration."

His words were sincere, and his respect for Guo Jing's mother, Li Ping, came from the bottom of his heart. In the original novel, Guo Jing's ability to become a great hero was not only due to the guidance of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan, but also largely due to the exemplary conduct of his mother, Li Ping. Compared to the weak-willed Bao Xiruo, Li Ping's resilience and integrity are even more admirable. Just like the fate of Guo Jing and Yang Kang, their future destinies were actually predetermined from the very beginning by the personalities of their two mothers.

Seeing the confusion still lingering in Guo Jing's eyes, Ouyang Ke said calmly, "Brother Guo, a hundred years of life passes in the blink of an eye. You don't need to feel confused about this matter. Just act with a clear conscience."

Guo Jing murmured to himself, "I have a clear conscience—" A glimmer of light gradually appeared in his eyes, clearly indicating that Ouyang Ke's words had touched the depths of his heart.

Ouyang Ke nodded and said, "That's right, as long as you have a clear conscience."

He understood Guo Jing's inner conflict. He and his mother had been stranded in the desert, fortunately taken in by Temujin. If not forced to, Guo Jing would not have wanted to be Temujin's enemy. But some things cannot be avoided simply by being unwilling.

Then Ouyang Ke turned his gaze to Huang Rong and smiled slightly, saying, "I just heard you mention Master Qi and the Six Heroes. They should arrive at Mount Hua soon, right?"

Huang Rong smiled and said, "That's right. Seventh Master has always been a glutton. He heard that there was a chef in Jiaxing who made the Wenhu braised duck, which was said to be the best in the area, so he stayed there just to enjoy it. As for Sixth Hero—let Brother Jing talk about it." At this point, she turned her gaze to Guo Jing.

Guo Jing shook his head and smiled憨厚ly: "My master was having a reunion with old friends and drank a bit too much. Before Rong'er and I set off, he was still hungover."

Ouyang Ke was not surprised to hear this. It was true that "Flying Bat" Ke Zhen'e was a man who hated evil, but he had grown up in the streets and had some of the air of the common people about him.

For example, during the time of The Return of the Condor Heroes, Ke Zhen'e was nearly a hundred years old, but he was obsessed with gambling and had accumulated a lot of gambling debts in Jiaxing, forcing him to hide on Peach Blossom Island to avoid his creditors.

In the end, it was Huang Rong who stepped in and paid off his gambling debts one by one.

It's understandable that he was unable to wake up due to a hangover from excessive drinking.

After recounting what had happened in recent days, Huang Rong's gaze returned to Ouyang Ke, and she asked curiously, "Brother Ouyang, how did your legs recover?"

Ouyang Ke didn't hide anything, frankly saying, "In the Western Regions, there's a Vajra Sect, originally founded by a traitor from Shaolin Temple. They possess a miraculous medicine for treating external injuries called Black Jade Bone-Regenerating Ointment," capable of regenerating broken bones. After learning of this, I entrusted my uncle to make a trip there."

Upon hearing this, Huang Rong thought of Ouyang Feng's methods and immediately shook her head and laughed, "The Vajra Sect is definitely in big trouble."

Ouyang Ke smiled but remained silent.

Guo Jing nodded and said sincerely, "Brother Ouyang's recovery is naturally a great joy."

Huang Rong then bowed solemnly to Ouyang Ke, her tone tinged with guilt: "Earlier, I led Brother Ouyang into a trap, causing your legs to be broken by a boulder. Now that your legs have healed, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

Ouyang Ke smiled calmly, waved his hand, and said indifferently, "It's better not to mention these past events."

The three chatted from sunset until the stars began to rise. The mountain breeze grew cooler, but they did not feel tired.

As they were talking, Ouyang Ke's brow twitched slightly, and he looked behind him towards the path leading to the mountaintop. He saw five figures appearing in the distance. This group was dressed unusually; from a distance, they appeared to be a fisherman, a woodcutter, a farmer, and a scholar, each with their own distinct style.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong also saw them. Guo Jing exclaimed with delight, "It's the four seniors: Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer, and Scholar!"

Huang Rong smiled and said, "Master Yideng must have arrived as well." She gazed down into the distance, but couldn't see Master Yideng, and couldn't help but wonder. The four of them were clearly here, so why wasn't Master Yideng here?

It turns out that after Ouyang Ke revealed the secret of the Nine Yin Manual's general outline, the two of them specifically visited Master Yideng to help Hong Qigong recover his martial arts skills. Just as Ouyang Ke had said, Master Yideng immediately recognized that the general outline was written in Sanskrit and promptly summoned his junior brother to translate it. With the help of the Sanskrit outline, Hong Qigong was able to fully recover his martial arts skills within just six months. Because of this connection, Huang Rong and the others naturally held Master Yideng in high esteem.

Leading the way was Diancang Yuyin. He was burly, with a dark complexion and large, fan-like hands, clearly possessing profound external martial arts skills. Behind him followed a strong man dressed as a woodcutter, then Wu Santong, dressed as a farmer, carrying an iron hoe on his shoulder, with a full beard, piercing eyes, and a steady gait. Following them was Zhu Ziliu, a scholar-like figure, fair-skinned and refined, carrying a scroll, resembling a schoolteacher, with a long sword at his waist, walking with composure. These four men each possessed unique skills, their martial arts prowess far from ordinary, and they were renowned throughout the Dali Kingdom.

However, Huang Rong's gaze swept over the four people, but she did not see Master Yideng. Just as she was about to ask, she suddenly heard a gentle voice from behind her: "Amitabha."

Everyone turned around and saw an old monk standing not far behind them. He wore a coarse robe, and long white eyebrows drooped from the corners of his eyes. He had a kind and benevolent face, and although there was a hint of sorrow in his brows, he could not hide his dignified and noble demeanor. It was none other than Emperor Duan Zhixing of the Southern Dynasty, now Master Yideng. It turned out that he possessed extraordinary lightness skills and had already gone up the mountain alone, but he did not want to attract attention, so he sent his disciples ahead.

Ouyang Ke's eyes flickered, and he immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Junior Ouyang Ke pays respects to Master Yideng."

Master Yideng's gaze shifted slightly as he looked Ouyang Ke up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. The young man before him was dressed in black, his posture upright like a pine tree, his face like jade, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. Most peculiar were his eyes—not only were they crystal clear and unfathomable, but they also faintly shimmered with a layer of purple light, as if they contained an indescribable magic that made people dare not look directly at them.

Master Yideng was secretly amazed and exclaimed, "I never imagined that in just a few years, Young Master Ouyang has already mastered such profound skills. I am truly impressed."

Ouyang Ke bowed in return, saying, "You flatter me, senior."

Master Yideng turned his gaze to Wu Santong, about to speak, but Wu Santong could no longer contain himself. He had already been burning with rage upon seeing Ouyang Ke, and seeing his master praising this man so highly only fueled his indignation. He roared, "You scoundrel, do you still remember me, Wu Santong?"

Several years ago, the two had met in the snowy mountains of Dali. Ouyang Ke provoked Wu Santong first, and the two fought to a draw. However, Ouyang Feng suddenly attacked and injured Wu Santong. Master Yideng suffered a severe blow while trying to heal him, and therefore temporarily avoided Ouyang Feng.

The sharp edge of his power forced Master Yideng to lead his four disciples away from the Dali Kingdom. Now that the two sides have met, and thinking of the old grudges, Wu Santong is naturally furious.

Before the words were even finished, he had already moved.

Wu Santong pressed his left palm down towards Ouyang Ke. This palm strike was powerful and heavy, with a whistling wind.

Ouyang Ke remained calm, and with a light flick of his right sleeve, a muffled thud was heard. Wu Santong's face turned red, and his burly figure involuntarily staggered back several steps, each step sending shards of rock flying.

Wu Santong's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with horror. Back then, when the two fought on the border of Dali, they were evenly matched. Now, after years of hard training, not only had he failed to gain the upper hand, but he had been easily defeated by his opponent. He was both shocked and furious, but he refused to give up.

As he retreated rapidly, Wu Santong's right index finger trembled, and he struck Ouyang Ke's chest at two major acupoints: the Tanzhong and Jiuwei points.

The wind was fierce and sharp, piercing the air with a clear sound; it was the "One-Finger Divine Skill" passed down in the Duan family of Dali. Although it was far inferior to the skill of Master Yideng, it was still unpredictable and difficult to dodge or block.

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, his figure as light and agile as a swallow. Without any apparent movement, he suddenly leaped more than ten feet away, and the two finger strikes missed their mark.

Wu Santong was even more furious when his attack missed. He drew the cast iron hoe from behind his back, gripped it tightly with both hands, and swung it around with a whooshing sound. This "Mighty Pestle Technique" had no fancy variations, only eight horizontal swings and eight straight strikes, a total of sixteen moves, but each move was powerful and heavy, unmatched in its ferocity. Wherever the hoe passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a piercing shriek.

He possessed superhuman strength, no less than his senior brother Diancang Yuyin. He once used his physical body to save a yellow ox stuck in the mud.

The fact that he could lift a boulder weighing thousands of pounds shows his immense strength. Now, wielding it in anger, he went all out, even using his waist strength, making the sound of the hoe twice as loud as before.

However, Ouyang Ke's movements were elusive, shifting left and right, forward and backward. No matter how fiercely Wu Santong attacked with his hoe, he couldn't even touch the hem of Ouyang Ke's clothes. Under the cover of countless hoe shadows, Ouyang Ke was like a fallen leaf, drifting in the wind, always remaining at ease.

Everyone nodded slightly in agreement. Ouyang Ke's agility and the purity of his inner strength were truly remarkable.

Wu Santong fought with increasing frantic pace, veins bulging on his forehead, his clothes soaked with sweat. He gritted his teeth, swung the hoe in a wide arc, and swept it horizontally towards Ouyang Ke. This strike was delivered with all his might, the hoe carrying a whistling wind, as if it wanted to sweep everything in its path.

Ouyang Ke neither dodged nor evaded, but suddenly leaped up and gracefully landed on the hoe in Wu Santong's hand. He lightly touched the hoe with his toes, flicked his sleeve, and struck down from mid-air, aiming straight for Wu Santong's face.

Wu Santong was shocked and quickly reversed the hoe, slamming the handle hard against the ground to shake Ouyang Ke off. Ouyang Ke swayed slightly, then slid down the handle and landed firmly on the hoe, as if glued to it, without moving an inch.

In the dozens of moves that followed, no matter how Wu Santong shook and swept, Ouyang Ke remained as if glued to the hoe, rising and falling like a small boat on the waves, but never falling off.

Wu Santong was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. Despite his innate superhuman strength, he was still only flesh and blood, and such vigorous movements were extremely taxing on his stamina. Seeing Ouyang Ke so relaxed and carefree, his anger intensified, yet he felt powerless to do anything about it. Everyone present could see that his defeat was only a matter of time.

One strolled leisurely, the other fought like a cornered beast; the difference in their abilities was clear.

Seeing this, Zhu Ziliu frowned slightly and wanted to step forward to help, but was stopped by Diancang Yuyin. Yuyin shook his head and whispered, "Master has not yet spoken, we must not act rashly."

"Amitabha, please stop, young master." Master Yideng's gentle voice rang out, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke gracefully descended from the hoe, took a few steps back, and stood there with a smile.

Wu Santong felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He put down his hoe, panting heavily, and hurriedly retreated behind Master Yideng, bowing respectfully. Although he was unwilling, he knew he was no match for this man. At this moment, he felt both ashamed and guilty, but if he continued to argue, it would probably further damage the prestige of his master, the "Southern Emperor."

Master Yideng's gaze shifted slightly, his voice grave: "Santong, Young Master Ouyang is no longer the same person he once was. Let your grudges with him end here."

Despite his resentment, Wu Santong could only respectfully reply, "Disciple obeys," when his master spoke. After saying this, he picked up his weapon from the ground, stepped aside, and never looked at Ouyang Ke again.

At this moment, Guo Jing and Huang Rong also hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects. Master Yideng smiled and said, "This old monk met Brother Hong at the foot of the mountain, and he will arrive in a moment."

"My master has come too!"

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were overjoyed upon hearing this.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a loud voice came from afar: "Your Majesty, the moment you mention me, this old beggar can no longer..."

"I slacked off!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man in tattered clothes, holding a green bamboo stick, striding up the mountain. It was none other than Hong Qigong, the Northern Beggar.

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