met free Chapter 29 Qiu Ren
Chapter 29 Qiu Ren
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the torches along the mountain path snaked like dragons, flickering in the night wind. The group had proudly ascended to the summit of Junshan Mountain, their footsteps resounding in unison, exuding an aura of seasoned warriors.
The leader was an old man with a white beard, wearing a yellow linen short shirt, waving a palm-leaf fan, walking with ease and having an elegant demeanor.
Under the moonlight, his face was as round as the full moon, with smiling eyes and a dignified and otherworldly appearance. If he were not currently on Junshan Mountain, he would look like a highly accomplished Taoist master cultivating on some famous mountain.
Huang Rong and Guo Jing exchanged a glance, and both felt a chill run down their spines.
This person was none other than Qiu Qianren.
Earlier at Guiyun Manor, they had met an old man who called himself "Qiu Qianren". They quickly saw through his disguise and found him to be nothing more than a silver-plated imposter.
After witnessing the battle at Niujia Village and seeing Qiu Qianchi's exquisite and ruthless Iron Palm skills, they were convinced that the Qiu Qianren they knew was a fake.
Even though Qiu Qianren was right in front of her, Huang Rong couldn't help but feel a little shaken.
But the old man in front of me looked kind and gentle, and he didn't look like the legendary Iron Palm Gang Leader at all.
Ouyang Ke, however, was different.
From the moment Qiu Qianren stepped onto the mountaintop, his gaze was fixed on this person, and for the first time, a look of solemnity appeared in his eyes.
Since mastering the Nine Yang Divine Skill, he had encountered countless enemies, but for the first time, he felt a faint pressure emanating from one person.
It's like being in a deep mountain forest, being watched from afar by a fierce tiger poised to pounce.
He had only ever experienced this feeling with his uncle, Ouyang Feng.
Qiu Qianren held a palm-leaf fan, his eyes smiling, seemingly kind and approachable, but deep within those eyes gleamed a sharp light, his edge concealed.
If one's internal energy cultivation hadn't reached Ouyang Ke's level, one would never have sensed the extent of this person's power. To an ordinary martial artist, he would simply appear to be a kind and approachable old man.
Huang Rong, Lu Youjiao, and the others were slightly inferior in skill, but they could only sense that the old man had an extraordinary demeanor, though they could not discern his true strength.
Only Guo Jing frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on Qiu Qianren. He vaguely felt an indescribable sense of oppression emanating from this man, which was completely different from the imposter he had encountered at Guiyun Manor that day.
Qiu Qianren slowly ascended the high platform, his peripheral vision sweeping over Qiu Qianchi and his group, who were surrounded by beggars. He frowned slightly, then smiled, feigning surprise, and said, "What is your esteemed gang doing now? With such a display, are you perhaps not welcoming this old man?"
His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly, demonstrating the depth of his internal strength.
Huang Rong composed herself and replied with a smile, "Chief Qiu is joking. This is merely to guard against some people secretly causing trouble and plotting treason."
When Qiu Qianren saw this delicate young girl step forward to answer, his brows furrowed again, and his tone became more scrutinizing: "And this is...?"
Elder Jian hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to introduce them: "This is Elder Qiu, the Iron Palm Water-Walking Chief, whose divine palm is invincible and whose prestige shakes the world. This is our gang's newly appointed Chief Huang."
His words were clever, both flattering Qiu Qianren and highlighting Huang Rong's identity.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's gaze swept over Huang Rong, and he said with a forced smile, "Your gang's selection of talent is truly unique. In all my years, this is the first time I've seen such a young girl as the gang leader; it's truly a wonder of the world."
This statement is ostensibly a compliment but actually a criticism, with the contempt in the tone being made undisguised.
Huang Rong remained calm and smiled slightly. Just as she was about to retort, she suddenly saw Qiu Qianren's gaze shift and fall on the white-clad man beside her.
The man leaned on crutches under his arm, dressed in pristine white, exuding an elegant and refined air. But what caught Qiu Qianren's attention was not his appearance, but rather his barely audible breathing and restrained demeanor, clearly signs that his internal energy was about to reach its peak.
Qiu Qianren let out a soft exclamation, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and asked, "May I ask who this young master is...?"
Qiu Qianchi snorted coldly and interjected, "Brother, this person is no ordinary individual; he is a descendant of the 'Western Poison' lineage!"
Qiu Qianren's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive as he calmly asked, "Oh? Who is Brother Ouyang to you?"
Ouyang Ke bowed respectfully, neither servile nor arrogant: "It is indeed my uncle."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's smile deepened, as if recalling some past event. He slowly said, "Back then, during the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, I was preoccupied with important matters and was unable to attend, thus missing the chance to meet your uncle, Yuan Keng. But I have long admired your uncle's name."
Ouyang Ke smiled slightly and said, "Chief Qiu's iron palms caused many of the Hengshan Sect's martial arts masters, who were once renowned throughout the south, to die or be injured. The Hengshan Sect never recovered and could no longer hold a place in the martial arts world. My uncle also mentioned this matter and sighed that Chief Qiu's divine palms were invincible and lived up to their reputation."
His words were cleverly chosen, and sure enough, when Qiu Qianren heard them, although he tried his best to maintain a calm expression, a hint of smugness inevitably showed in the corners of his eyes and brows.
Seeing her elder brother chatting so happily with Ouyang Ke, Qiu Qianchi grew secretly anxious and whispered, "Second brother, there's more important business!"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's expression turned serious. He turned his gaze to Huang Rong and slowly said, "I have come to visit today to ask your esteemed gang about something, and I also have a generous gift to offer."
Huang Rong and Guo Jing exchanged a glance, neither able to fathom what the old fox was up to. Huang Rong could only smile and say, "Please speak, Elder Chief Qiu."
Qiu Qianren raised an eyebrow, his tone turning cold: "A few days ago, some brothers from my gang were sent out on business by my orders, but somehow they angered two friends from your gang and were severely injured. My brothers' skills are not up to par, so there's nothing to say. However, if this matter gets out, the Iron Palm Gang can't afford to lose face. I'm not very capable, but I'd like to see the skills of your two friends."
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze swept across the beggars below the stage with lightning speed.
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong already had a plan in mind. Her gaze flickered, and she still smiled as she looked at the group of beggars below, asking, "Is this true?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Li Sheng and his nephew Yu Zhaoxing stepped out from the crowd. Li Sheng clasped his hands in a salute and said loudly, "Reporting to the Chief, this is indeed true. On that day, we saw our Iron Palm Clan members bullying innocent people and even trying to abduct women, so we intervened. Article 4 of the Clan Rules clearly states that all members of our Clan must act chivalrously and help those in distress. What we did was in accordance with the Clan Rules."
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong's brows relaxed, and she nodded, saying, "I see. It was clearly your sect's disciples who committed wrongdoing first, and our Beggars' Sect disciples intervened to stop them. This was an act of chivalry and righteousness; what wrong have we done?"
She turned to Qiu Qianren and said with a smile, "Elder Qiu, the matter has been investigated. It was your sect's disciples who abducted the women first. Although my Beggars' Sect disciples acted rashly, it was understandable. Don't you agree?"
Qiu Qianren's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he coldly said, "So, your gang is determined to protect these two?"
He had been famous for decades, and when he was calm and collected, he was usually kind and gentle. But now, he suddenly erupted, his gaze sharp as knives, his imposing presence radiating an invisible pressure.
Huang Rong felt a chill run down her spine and involuntarily took a half-step back, but still smiled and said, "Chief Qiu's reputation is so illustrious, he surely wouldn't be unreasonable!"
"What a quick-witted little girl!"
Qiu Qianren laughed loudly, and before his laughter had even faded, he had already moved.
With a flick of his palm-leaf fan, his left palm silently struck Huang Rong in the chest.
This palm strike came extremely suddenly, without any prior warning, yet its power was unparalleled. Before it even reached her, the wind from the palm strike made Huang Rong's clothes flutter loudly!
"Rong'er, be careful!"
Guo Jing was prepared. As soon as he saw Qiu Qianren move, he stepped forward! He slightly bent his left leg, bent his right arm inward, drew a circle with his right palm, and unleashed the full power of the move "Regretful Dragon Soaring"!
"Bang!"
The two palms collided, producing a dull, loud thud.
Guo Jing staggered, taking a half-step back. The wooden planks of the platform beneath his feet cracked, leaving two deep footprints. Qiu Qianren, however, remained motionless, his robes fluttering slightly.
"Good lad!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Qiu Qianren's eyes. "To be able to withstand half of my power in a palm strike is quite remarkable!"
Although he didn't use his full strength in that palm strike, it was still quite formidable. The fact that this young man could withstand such a blow and only take a half-step back was truly beyond his expectations.
The beggars below the stage were all visibly shocked. Although they knew Qiu Qianren was formidable, they hadn't expected him to be this powerful.
They had just witnessed Guo Jing's martial arts skills firsthand; he had defeated several eight-bag disciples in a short time, proving himself to be a master. Yet, he was clearly at a disadvantage against Qiu Qianren.
"Again!"
Qiu Qianren's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his right palm struck out with lightning speed.
This palm strike was faster and more ruthless than the previous one, with a howling wind and unparalleled sharpness. Huang Rong, standing behind Guo Jing, felt her breath catch in her throat and almost lost her balance.
Guo Jing recognized the danger and dared not be careless. He immediately met the attack with his right hand, using the "Divine Dragon Swings its Tail" move. This was a life-saving move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. In his desperation to protect Huang Rong, he used it with all his might, making its power even greater.
"Bang!"
Another loud bang!
This time, Qiu Qianren swayed slightly, but Guo Jing staggered back several steps, each step shattering the wooden planks of the platform, until he was more than ten feet away before he could barely regain his footing. His face was flushed and his breathing was rapid; he was clearly at a disadvantage.
"Brother Jing!"
Huang Rong was shocked. In her haste, she swung her green bamboo staff horizontally with a strong wind, aiming straight for Qiu Qianren's waist and ribs.
This move is a brilliant technique from the Dog-Beating Stick Method, swift, sharp, and unexpected.
Qiu Qianren merely snorted coldly, and with a swift movement of his right hand, he actually grabbed the staff in mid-air.
Huang Rong was shocked and instinctively tried to snatch the bamboo stick back, but it seemed to be rooted to the spot in Qiu Qianren's hand, remaining completely still. Only then did she realize that what Ouyang Ke had said earlier was true.
Qiu Qianren's skills are truly unfathomable!
But the Dog-Beating Stick is the symbol of the Beggars' Sect leader; how could it fall into the hands of outsiders?
A sudden inspiration struck Huang Rong, and she swiftly unleashed a move called "Stealing the Staff from the Mastiff's Mouth".
She aimed her right index and middle fingers straight at Qiu Qianren's eyes, while simultaneously flipping her left foot up and pressing down hard on the staff. This move was unpredictable and always hit the mark when disarming someone. Even an enemy whose martial arts were several times superior could hardly keep his weapon.
Seeing her strange attack, Qiu Qianren was slightly startled and instinctively turned his head to avoid the two fingers. But Huang Rong pressed down and deflected with her left foot, seemingly about to snatch back the bamboo stick!
Qiu Qianren snorted coldly and struck the bamboo stick horizontally with his left palm, making a clang!
Huang Rong felt an overwhelming force surge towards her, her hand trembled violently, and half of her body went numb. She groaned, her pretty face flushed, and she was forced to let go, staggering backward.
Seeing this, Guo Jing suppressed the surging blood and qi within his body and leaped forward to rush forward.
Seeing how much they valued the bamboo stick, Qiu Qianren guessed that it was no ordinary object.
He exchanged a palm strike with Guo Jing with his right hand, and then swung his left hand out, striking the staff heavily.
How powerful is his palm strike?
Even an ordinary iron bar would be broken by his palm strike.
But this bamboo stick, made of some unknown material, did not break after being struck. Instead, it suddenly flew into the air, turning into a green shadow and shooting straight at the opposite mountain rocks!
"Zheng—!"
With a loud clang of metal striking metal, the bamboo staff plunged straight into the rock, sinking more than a foot deep! The sound of bamboo striking rock lingered for a long time before finally subsiding, carrying far into the night sky.
Upon seeing this, the beggars were all horrified!
Lu Youjiao gasped in shock, while the two elders, Jian and Liang, exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with dread. Such palm force, such skill, was truly unbelievable!
Guo Jing and Huang Rong were secretly shocked, and only now did they truly understand that "Iron Palm Water-Walking" was indeed renowned.
Not far away, Qiu Qianchi saw her elder brother displaying great power and couldn't help but smile smugly. Yang Kang stood beside her, a hint of gloating in his eyes, hoping that Qiu Qianren would kill Guo Jing and Huang Rong with a single palm strike to quell his hatred.
Guo Jing took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and charged forward again!
He struck out with his palm, engaging in another fierce clash with Qiu Qianren.
This time, his face flushed red, he retreated rapidly, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
A fierce glint flashed in Qiu Qianren's eyes, and a layer of black energy faintly rose from his palms, making his palm force suddenly several times more ferocious.
He had been famous for decades, and was ruthless. Years ago, in order to weaken the inner strength of "Southern Emperor" Duan Zhixing, he didn't hesitate to raid the palace at night and kill his beloved concubine and her young son. Now that he had already made his move, he had no more scruples!
"Kid, take this!"
He struck with both palms, aiming straight for Guo Jing's vital points.
Guo Jing had already exchanged four blows, his inner strength almost exhausted. Now, seeing the fierce force of this final strike, he had nowhere to retreat. He gritted his teeth and stood in front of Huang Rong, raising his arms, hoping to protect her with his own flesh and blood.
"Brother Jing!"
Huang Rong was in a state of great distress, watching helplessly as those iron palms, shrouded in black energy, struck towards Guo Jing, yet she was powerless to save him.
At this critical moment...
A soft sigh echoed in the night breeze.
Ouyang Ke made a move.
He lightly tapped the ground with his crutches under his armpits, and his whole body floated up, like a white crane soaring through the air.
At the same time, he whispered, "Little one, step back."
The firebird on his shoulder seemed to understand his thoughts. Upon hearing this, it flapped its wings and flew up, circling above his head and letting out a clear, melodious cry.
Ouyang Ke held the crutch in his left hand and swung his right hand with great force, striking out with a graceful palm.
This palm strike, seemingly slow and silent, exuded an indescribable eeriness—it was none other than the "Heart-Shattering Palm" from the Nine Yin Manual.
This palm strike is subtle yet ruthless, specifically designed to destroy the heart and soul.
At this moment, it was unleashed by Ouyang Ke, its gentleness concealing the supreme Yang energy of the Nine Yang Divine Skill. The two forces intertwined and entangled, making it extremely difficult to defend against.
Qiu Qianren was a master of martial arts, and upon seeing the force of this palm strike, he knew how powerful it was.
He let out a soft exclamation, a glint of predatory delight flashing in his eyes, and immediately changed his move, meeting the attack with both palms!
"Bang!"
The two palms clashed together, producing a dull, loud thud!
Qiu Qianren felt a soft, yin-like palm force penetrating into his internal organs, while at the same time, a strong yang energy was hidden within it. The two forces collided alternately, creating an extremely strange situation.
He was startled. If it weren't for his own profound skill, anyone else would have suffered a great loss from this palm strike!
But he was, after all, a grandmaster. With a glance, black energy surged from his iron palm, and his inner strength burst forth!
"boom!"
Another loud bang!
Ouyang Ke's face flushed slightly as he retreated swiftly, his crutches leaving deep marks on the wooden platform beneath his arms. He retreated more than ten feet before regaining his footing.
Qiu Qianren swayed slightly, but in a flash, he completely neutralized the strange palm strike. His eyes gleamed, and he exclaimed, "Excellent! I, Qiu, have been in seclusion for many years, and I never knew such young masters had emerged in the martial world!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already moved!
With his palms flying, each move faster than the last, he unleashed his full power in his incomparably fierce Iron Palm technique, aiming straight for Ouyang Ke.
He could tell that the young man in white before him was far more skilled in martial arts than the boy from before, and that the two of them clearly still had some strength left to spare. At such a young age, with such cultivation, even he, with his vast experience, couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ke neither dodged nor evaded. He made a heavy left turn, the force of which shook the bluestone ground, and then unleashed a powerful punch with his right hand!
This punch was upright, powerful, and full of overwhelming masculine strength—it was the "Great Subduing Demon Fist" from the Nine Yin Manual!
"Boom!"
A deafening roar shook the heavens, and a powerful wind swept through the air!
The Beggars' Sect disciples who were nearby felt a powerful force rushing towards them, and they all staggered backward. Some of them with weaker skills were even knocked to the ground!
Ouyang Ke, dressed in flowing white robes, had a fleeting flush on his face. He involuntarily slid back another ten feet, leaving two deep, shocking marks on the platform beneath his armpits from his crutches.
Qiu Qianren's body swayed violently, and he unusually took a step back.
This move made everyone present gasp in shock!
Lu Youjiao's eyes widened in disbelief, while the two elders, Jian and Liang, exchanged bewildered glances. Guo Jing and Huang Rong were utterly shocked, never expecting that Ouyang Ke could actually confront Qiu Qianren head-on and even force him to take a step back!
Qiu Qianchi's beautiful eyes widened in shock, her mind in turmoil.
She had just fought with Ouyang Ke. Although she knew that he was highly skilled in martial arts, she did not expect him to be so skilled that he could cause her elder brother to suffer a hidden loss. Such skill was among the best in the martial arts world.
Yang Kang's face was so gloomy it could drip water, his eyes filled with disappointment and resentment. He had thought that Qiu Qianren would surely kill Ouyang Ke, but he hadn't expected this man to be so troublesome.
Qiu Qianren steadied himself, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and said in a deep voice, "Excellent fist technique! I wonder if this fist technique was created by your uncle in recent years?"
Ouyang Ke's face flushed red and then paled, and it took him a long time to calm down. He took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "Chief Qiu, you flatter me. This style of boxing was learned from elsewhere and was not taught by my uncle."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's eyes flickered, clearly indicating his disbelief.
After calming his breathing, Ouyang Ke suddenly spoke up: "Chief Qiu, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Qiu Qianren raised an eyebrow: "Nephew, please speak."
Ouyang Ke turned his gaze to Huang Rong and said calmly, "This Chief Huang is the only daughter of 'Eastern Heretic' Huang Yaoshi, and has been pampered since childhood. And this young hero Guo is a disciple of Hong Qigong, and has mastered the true teachings of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's expression changed slightly: "The daughter of the Eastern Heretic? The disciple of the Northern Beggar?"
Ouyang Ke nodded, his tone calm: "Indeed. I hope that Gang Qiu will think twice before taking action."
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly upon hearing this.
Qiu Qianren appeared calm on the surface, but his brows furrowed slightly. Although he believed his martial arts were no less than any of the Five Greats, he was well aware that if he offended both the Eastern Heretic and the Northern Beggar at the same time, even if the Iron Palm Clan came out in full force, they might not come out unscathed.
What's more, behind this young man in white stands a "Western Poison".
A moment later, Qiu Qianren suddenly looked up and laughed loudly. His laughter echoed across the mountaintop, startling countless night birds.
"Hahaha! So you're all descendants of famous families, young talents! In that case, today's events must be a misunderstanding!"
He smiled broadly, as if the life-or-death struggle just moments before had never happened. He turned to Huang Rong and said with a smile, "Chief Huang, the reason I've come today is to present a very important gift to your esteemed gang."
With that, he waved his left hand.
The group of men in black behind him responded and carried more than a dozen large boxes to the front of the stage, where they lined up in a row.
Huang Rong and Guo Jing exchanged a glance, still shaken, unable to fathom what the old fox was up to.
The two exchanged a glance and decided to wait and see what he was up to.