Martial Arts Exchange

Wang Ming and Hong Qigong found a spot to sit and began exchanging martial arts knowledge.

"Your swordplay is quite good, the techniques are extremely exquisite, but it seems to lack a matching inner energy cultivation method," Hong Qigong said while drinking wine, offering pointers to Wang Ming.

"This Humble One's sword technique was obtained from a stone wall in a cave; it indeed has no mental cultivation method or matching inner energy," Wang Ming replied.

"That explains it. Also, that sword technique of yours is quite complex. I suggest you simplify it to raise its ceiling. But that move of yours with the phantom afterimages, the ghostly footwork, and the sunlight dazzling the eyes—that's a good sword technique. Practice it more."

Wang Ming and Hong Qigong's conversation deepened, and Wang Ming began correcting some misconceptions he had held.

Time unknowingly reached mealtime again. Wang Ming looked at the delicious dishes on the table with anticipation. Since arriving in ancient times, he had been eating only to fill his stomach, with nothing truly tasty.

Wang Ming and Hong Qigong ate and drank at the table, finishing quickly.

"Sir, Brother Jing is your disciple. Why not teach him some martial arts too? Old Man Qigong has already taught him; you should show your support as well!" Huang Rong seized the moment after they finished eating to ask for benefits for Guo Jing. If anyone else had said this, it would have grated on the nerves, but coming from the clever and mischievous Huang Rong, it was hard to dislike.

"Yes! I teach Jing'er one move of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms for each dish I eat. Jing'er is also your disciple. It wouldn't be right if you didn't teach him some martial arts!" Hong Qigong chimed in, unwilling to let Wang Ming freeload. He acknowledged Wang Ming's skill and regarded him as an equal.

"What I've learned in my life is quite mixed. The martial arts I can truly offer are few, and even fewer that Jing'er can learn."

"If you don't want to, just say so. No need for excuses," Hong Qigong taunted.

"Sigh. That extremely complex 'Five Peaks Swordplay' of mine is too cumbersome and has no matching inner energy. I imagine Rong'er wouldn't think much of it. 'Ice True Qi' and 'Purple Mist True Qi'—these two inner energy techniques have low ceilings; there's no need to learn them."

"Rong'er, his words are fair, but you have more than just these martial arts! Teach something else."

Wang Ming glanced at Hong Qigong. It seemed he wouldn't be leaving without leaving something behind today. Eating at someone's table meant being short-tongued.

"How about this? Most of my martial arts emphasize change and comprehension. Jing'er! Come here, I'll teach you a Lightness Skill—'Ladder Cloud Vertical.'"

Wang Ming leaped upward before them. As the upward momentum faded, he immediately stepped on his left foot with his right, borrowing force midair to rise another zhang. Then he stepped on his right foot with his left, rising two more zhang. Wang Ming could chain this five times in the air, but no more.

This 'Ladder Cloud Vertical' was the lightness skill among lightness skills. Don't call it unscientific—this world was never scientific to begin with.

The three onlookers were amazed. This was the first time they had seen such a lightness skill.

Guo Jing had the 'Golden Goose Skill,' which allowed him to walk horizontally in the air for a few steps, but 'Ladder Cloud Vertical' let him ascend vertically.

"Thousand Flowers Scatter Money!"

In an instant, hundreds of copper coins shot from his hand. Before them, a century-old tree a meter in diameter was riddled with coin-sized holes, turning it into a honeycomb.

The middle section of the tree was hollowed out, and the base could no longer support its weight. It slowly toppled to one side, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Hong Qigong reacted fastest, quickly shielding the snacks before him with his hand, afraid they'd be ruined by the flying dust.

The three then contributed their own expressions of shock. Wang Ming didn't continue his display; after the demonstration, he returned to his seat.

Huang Rong's eyes sparkled. She loved this move—it was both beautiful and powerful.

Wang Ming saw her expression and knew she was tempted. How could this move not be beautiful? It was the signature technique of that flashy Traceless Gentleman. Beautiful as it was, Wang Ming wouldn't tell Huang Rong that the Purple Mist True Qi in his lower dantian was completely empty.

Mm, he had to maintain his image.

"Jing'er's memory... I don't have Old Man Qigong's patience to recite it word by word for him. I'd be furious. Girl, remember it carefully. Later, you can teach him how to practice slowly."

Right then, Wang Ming didn't care that Hong Qigong was present and began reciting the oral formulas.

Huang Rong's memory was formidable, inheriting her mother Feng Heng's gift of never forgetting what she saw. Wang Ming recited it once, and Huang Rong memorized the manual.

This time, Wang Ming was quite generous, offering 'Thousand Flowers Scatter Money,' 'Ladder Cloud Vertical,' and even reciting 'Illusion Sword.'

In truth, Wang Ming had long wanted to teach Guo Jing martial arts. After all, when he arrived in this world, Guo Jing had saved him from dying of thirst. But he had always feared disrupting Guo Jing's opportunities, so he held back.

Of course, that wasn't the only reason. Guo Jing's poor comprehension also risked driving Wang Ming mad.

Most importantly, Wang Ming had few martial arts suitable for Guo Jing—simple, straightforward, and brutal techniques. He had them, but he couldn't set him up for failure.

For example, teaching him 'Hegemon Under Heaven'—would that require him to kill his master to prove his dao?

Or 'Evil Warding Swordplay'—would that turn Guo Jing into a 'Miss Guo'? The thought of the burly Guo Jing pinching a lotus finger sent chills down his spine.

'Thousand Flowers Scatter Money' consumed too much inner energy. He only taught it now because Guo Jing had drunk the Treasure Snake's blood, greatly boosting his inner energy. Before, it would have just been throwing money away.

'Indestructible Vajra Body' was very suitable for Guo Jing, and Wang Ming wanted to teach it. But considering he would be in this world for a long time, he feared the apprentice surpassing the master. Protagonists were unreasonable; who knew if Guo Jing might somehow max out 'Indestructible Vajra Body' before Wang Ming did?

It wasn't that Wang Ming didn't trust Guo Jing's character—he didn't trust his own. He feared that his future actions might put him at odds with Guo Jing, leading to a righteous punishment.

"This 'Illusion Sword' is my gift to you, Rong'er. Learn it yourself; don't teach it to Jing'er. This technique doesn't suit him. Jing'er's temperament matches 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' well. He can't handle too much scheming and change."

Hong Qigong took a sip of wine, glanced at the three before him, and knew he had gotten the better of the exchange.

"Foolish boy, come over and perform the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Let me see how well you've learned it."

"Oh, alright, Old Man Qigong." Guo Jing came over with a simple-minded look and began demonstrating the palm techniques.

"Recite the oral formulas. Let me hear if you've made any mistakes."

Wang Ming and Hong Qigong exchanged martial arts with unspoken understanding, but Guo Jing only knew fifteen of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, so Wang Ming only learned fifteen as well. Wang Ming didn't mind, though—the last three palms were Hong Qigong's own creations, and by the time they reached him, they were already incomplete.

Wang Ming's initial decision to teach Guo Jing martial arts without avoiding Hong Qigong's presence was precisely for this purpose—to trade techniques with Hong Qigong. Fortunately, the two had an unspoken rapport, and each got what they wanted.

"Your martial arts are quite impressive," Hong Qigong suddenly remarked. "My Beggar's Sect disciples are spread across the land, yet I've never heard of your reputation."

"This Humble One has little interest in fighting and killing, and fame is nothing but trouble. I practice martial arts casually, mainly to keep fit and to avoid being harmed by bandits or wild beasts when traveling through famous mountains and great rivers."

Hong Qigong's heart twitched. Casually practiced, and he's only a hair behind us Five Greats. How are the rest of the martial world supposed to live with themselves? This kid isn't exactly honest either.

"Rare indeed," Hong Qigong said with a sarcastic edge. "To be so indifferent to fame and fortune, you'd make a fine Taoist in the Quanzhen Sect."

"Heh! If I could learn the Innate Skill, joining the Quanzhen Sect wouldn't be out of the question," Wang Ming replied, ignoring Hong Qigong's tone.

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. That old ox-nose doesn't seem to have passed down the Innate Skill."

"Then forget it. This way, I'm even more free and unfettered."

After chatting with Hong Qigong about martial arts theory for a while and eating dinner, Wang Ming ignored Guo Jing and Huang Rong's attempts to keep him and took his leave.