Gathering and Scattering Have Their Time

Deep within the dense bamboo grove stood a pavilion built from bamboo branches, its horizontal plaque inscribed with three characters: "Jicui Pavilion." Flanking it hung a couplet:

"Peach Blossom Shadow Falling Divine Sword, Blue Sea Tide Song Played on Jade Flute."

Inside the pavilion sat bamboo chairs and stools, all well-worn antiques with a visible patina, faintly gleaming from a distance.

Beside the bamboo pavilion grew two towering pine trees, their branches twisted and gnarled—likely centuries old. The verdant pines and emerald bamboo created an atmosphere of serene seclusion.

Among the people within the pavilion, the atmosphere was delicate.

First, there were three of the Five Greats who knew each other well, plus a stranger whose skill was not far below their own.

All were veterans of the martial world; no one truly trusted anyone else. Those who did were long dead, never reaching this level. So the current silence was merely mutual wariness and assessment.

"Seventh Brother, who is this beside you?" Huang Yaoshi asked.

"Oh! Medicine Brother, this is someone I met recently. His name is Wang Ming, and his martial arts are solid." Hong Qigong introduced him to Huang Yaoshi.

Then he turned to Wang Ming and said, "This is the Eastern Heretic, Huang Yaoshi, also Huang Rong's father."

"That one over there is Old Poison. Keep your distance."

Wang Ming was the first to bow to them both. Courtesy cost nothing; refusing it was just foolishness. Besides, at this moment, their martial arts were indeed superior to his—they deserved the gesture.

Huang Yaoshi returned the bow with grace, but Ouyang Feng showed Wang Ming little respect, mainly because his nephew's injuries were largely Wang Ming's doing.

"Master, you're finally here!" Huang Rong suddenly jumped out, grabbing Hong Qigong's arm and acting spoiled.

Hearing this, Huang Yaoshi was startled: Why was Rong'er calling Old Beggar her master?

Suppressing his confusion, Huang Yaoshi exchanged a few words with Hong Qigong before asking, "Rong'er, why do you call Seventh Brother your master?"

Huang Rong said, "I've taken Old Man Qigong as my master."

Huang Yaoshi was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Hong Qigong. "Seventh Brother, your favor is immense. I am deeply grateful. But my daughter is mischievous and willful; I hope you'll discipline her well."

Hong Qigong laughed. "Medicine Brother, your family's martial arts are vast and profound. This little girl couldn't learn them all in a lifetime—why would I need to meddle? To be honest, I took her as my disciple just to freeload, tricking her into cooking me good food now and then. No need to thank me." The two laughed heartily together.

Wang Ming stood nearby, watching them exchange pleasantries. Strictly speaking, he had taught Huang Rong martial arts too, but there was no formal apprenticeship. And while Wang Ming was only a hair's breadth away from the Five Greats, that gap was hard to cross—he didn't want to leave only to get slapped down.

Better to lie low, wait for the betrothal to end, then ask Huang Laoxie for a small boat and leave.

Guo Jing was sensible enough to stand in Wang Ming's subordinate position, making Wang Ming feel less invisible.

"By the way, Father, that hidden weapon technique from earlier was taught to me by Mr. Wang, and he's also Brother Jing's teacher," Huang Rong said.

Huang Yaoshi's gaze toward Wang Ming softened. He had already tested him and knew the man's martial arts were solid—worthy of being his daughter's teacher.

But Wang Ming didn't want Huang Rong speaking for him. A glance at Ouyang Feng and his son told him why—Huang Rong had just used Wang Ming's technique to wound Ouyang Ke. The look in Ouyang Feng's eyes clearly said he was looking for a chance to give Wang Ming a big surprise.

Being targeted by Ouyang Feng made Wang Ming's heart tremble. Ouyang Feng had the lowest moral bottom line among the Five Greats. Wang Ming remembered how he'd lost a bet to Zhou Botong, and when Zhou told him to fart in public, he did it without hesitation.

That said it all—the man had no scruples. Wang Ming was already weaker in martial arts; if Ouyang Feng added sneak attacks, poison, or ganging up...

That made Wang Ming even more afraid.

After that, things went much like the original story. Huang Laoxie set three tests for them.

During the exam, Guo Jing recited parts that exceeded what was in Huang Laoxie's manual. Huang Laoxie thought his late wife's spirit had made Guo Jing remember the extra content.

He began to accept Guo Jing as a son-in-law, even changing his address from "that Guo kid" to "Jing'er."

Seeing the atmosphere was harmonious, Wang Ming stepped forward to propose trading his "Seven String Formless Sword" for Huang Laoxie's "Blue Sea Tide Song."

Huang Yaoshi didn't hesitate long before agreeing. Both wanted to fuse the other's sonic power traits into their own martial arts. But Huang Laoxie, as one of the Five Greats, couldn't bring himself to ask. Though "Blue Sea Tide Song" was famous, it wasn't his signature skill—try trading for "Finger Flicking Divine Skill" and see if he didn't slap you silly.

Plus, he'd seen the value of his daughter's hidden weapon technique—it was no less than his own "Finger Flicking Divine Skill." His daughter was just too weak to fully unleash its power. Since Wang Ming was so generous, he couldn't be stingy.

This Wang Ming was just too young; in a few years, he'd reach his level.

Wang Ming was also interested in Ouyang Feng's martial arts, but one look at that sinister glare told him it was a lost cause. He decisively abandoned the unrealistic idea.

The two who had just exchanged techniques turned back to see Ouyang Feng pressing Guo Jing for the "Nine Yin Manual."

That fool gave away everything in just a few sentences.

So the group followed Huang Yaoshi to where Zhou Botong was imprisoned.

Wang Ming had already milked Zhou Botong's value dry, so he stayed far back, coasting and watching the show.

Good thing he had no interest and kept his distance.

He watched Huang Yaoshi and Ouyang Feng get pranked by Zhou Botong, their clothes stained with filth.

Mm, the smell was quite pungent.

This was also Wang Ming's first real look at Zhou Botong. He'd eavesdropped outside the cave before but never seen him. His personality was indeed erratic, like a child—true to the saying that only names are wrong, not nicknames.

It was also then, prompted by Guo Jing, that Zhou Botong realized the value of his "Twin-Handed Combat Technique," vaulting him into the ranks of the Five Greats, no longer afraid of Huang Yaoshi.

At this point, the only one who could beat Zhou Botong was probably Lin Chaoying's maid in the Living Dead Tomb behind Zhongnan Mountain.

Zhou Botong had originally been just a hair behind Huang Yaoshi and the others. Now, having learned the "Nine Yin Manual" and created "Empty Clarity Fist" and "Twin-Handed Combat Technique," he'd overtaken them on a curve.

But when Zhou Botong taught Guo Jing the Nine Yin Manual, he inadvertently learned it himself, breaking his vow to Wang Chongyang. Even if Huang Yaoshi beat him to death, he refused to use both hands in combat—and was defeated.

Zhou Botong slowly stood up and said, "Old Impulsive has tricked himself. I accidentally learned the Nine Yin Divine Skill, betraying my senior brother's teachings. If I used both hands, Huang Laoxie, you couldn't beat me."

Huang Yaoshi knew he wasn't lying. Thinking back, he had wronged him first—imprisoned him for fifteen years, and now injured him again today. It truly was indefensible. So he took out his Secret Pill, the Nine Flower Jade Dew Pill, and gave it to Zhou Botong to treat his wounds.

Zhou Botong said, "Huang Laoxie, I'm leaving. Are you going to keep me or not?"

Huang Yaoshi replied, "I wouldn't dare. Come and go as you please. If Brother Botong ever takes an interest in visiting again, I'll roll out the welcome mat. I'll have a boat sent to take you off the island right away."

Guo Jing helped Zhou Botong along toward the dock where the boats were moored.

Ouyang Feng invited everyone to take his boat, but Zhou Botong refused because of the snakes. Just like in the original story, he insisted on taking the large ship Huang Yaoshi had prepared for his own suicide.

"We're guests, so whatever Island Master Huang says goes! This little boat isn't bad either." Wang Ming also stepped in to persuade.

Knowing full well it was a trap, Wang Ming didn't want to take the risk. He couldn't openly say the boat was faulty—that would only make Huang Yaoshi suspicious. So he could only gently urge Zhou Botong.

But Zhou Botong was stubborn as a mule. No matter how Wang Ming and Huang Yaoshi tried to talk him out of it, he insisted on taking the new ship.

Seeing Huang Yaoshi repeatedly trying to stop him, Hong Qigong figured the boat was no ordinary vessel. Unable to dissuade Zhou Botong, and seeing that he was injured, he worried the man couldn't handle things alone. So he decided to go with him.

Wang Ming deeply admired Hong Qigong's courage, but he didn't dare join them on that adventure.

If they were going to assassinate the Jin emperor, Wang Ming would have dared to tag along. But getting on that boat? He really didn't have the guts.

Guo Jing and the others were the main characters, blessed with incredible luck. Even if they ran into trouble, they'd come out unscathed. But if he went, he'd probably end up dead for sure.

When he first arrived in this world, Wang Ming had witnessed the terror of nature firsthand—he'd nearly died in the desert.

Falling into the boundless ocean, with no island in sight, even the best martial arts wouldn't save you. He trained in martial arts, not immortality.

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Wang Ming gave up and boarded the small boat Huang Yaoshi had prepared.

Standing at the bow, he turned back to watch Zhou Botong and the others sail away on the large ship. All he could do was sigh helplessly.

In truth, stopping them might not have been a good thing either.

Without this shipwreck, Hong Qigong wouldn't have taught Huang Rong the Dog Beating Staff, Guo Jing wouldn't have learned the complete Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, and Hong Qigong wouldn't have had the nerve to ask for the Nine Yin Manual.