Chapter 4

When Yuan Chengzhi learned that Feng Xiaoxiao had achieved great success with the Feng Xiao Xiao's Hunyuan Gong, he called him a genius.

Yuan Chengzhi then passed on the complete Po Yu Quan to Feng Xiaoxiao, and in less than a month, he was already able to use it skillfully. However, there was no enhancement effect, which puzzled him greatly.

It was now confirmed that the Ban Bu Beng Quan originated from Huashan's Po Yu Quan, but Wang Sanpao never mentioned the source of the body-strengthening method of the Wing Chun Inch Punch.

Feng Xiaoxiao never expected that the combination of the two techniques, "Wing Chun Ban Bu Beng," would have such an effect. He wondered if Wang Sanpao had combined them by chance or on purpose. However, due to frequent wars and the lack of spiritual energy in modern times, almost all internal martial arts manuals had been lost. Therefore, although Wang Sanpao created such a unique technique, he had not learned internal martial arts, so it was more likely that the combination was by chance.

The internal energy of the Hunyuan Gong was incredibly powerful, with a strong explosive force. The Po Yu Quan, with its powerful and forceful moves, was like a hammer striking a rock or an axe splitting a mountain. After being enhanced by 50% through "Wing Chun Ban Bu Beng," it became unstoppable, truly capable of breaking stones and shattering jade.

The combination of great power and incredible speed made even Yuan Chengzhi have to use all his strength to avoid injury. However, due to the immense energy consumption of the technique itself, the unique way of generating force in "Wing Chun Ban Bu Beng" doubled the consumption of internal energy and physical strength. With the slow recovery of the Hunyuan Gong, Feng Xiaoxiao could only use ten consecutive moves at full power before his internal energy was depleted. As for increasing his internal energy, it could only be achieved through time and practice.

Although Feng Xiaoxiao's fist technique was powerful, it was straightforward. Yuan Chengzhi then taught him a palm technique, the Golden Snake Palm. This palm technique, written by Xia Xueyi in the Golden Snake Manual, was as agile as a water snake, inspired by the movements of a water snake in the water. The palm technique was highly venomous, making Feng Xiaoxiao's punches more cunning and unpredictable, and his attacks more fluid and hard to predict.

After Feng Xiaoxiao mastered the fist technique, he began to learn swordsmanship from his master. The Huashan Sword Technique was grand and profound, but Feng Xiaoxiao felt it lacked power and only practiced it to become proficient. However, he particularly enjoyed the Golden Snake Sword Technique, borrowing the Golden Snake Sword from his master and practicing diligently every day. The Golden Snake Sword Technique was bizarre and deadly, always drawing blood. Unlike fist and foot techniques, it did not consume internal energy, temporarily alleviating the problem of insufficient internal energy.

Seeing Feng Xiaoxiao's progress, Yuan Chengzhi taught him two lightness techniques, the first being Shen Xing Bai Bian.

The principle of Shen Xing Bai Bian was to rotate and vibrate the internal energy throughout the body, allowing one to deflect external forces. However, when attacking, one's own force would also dissipate. Therefore, mastering this technique meant one could neither defeat others nor be defeated by them.

Feng Xiaoxiao would not learn a lightness technique that weakened his attacks. So he learned another lightness technique, the Yue Wang Shen Jian. After mastering it, his body moved like an arrow leaving the bow, shooting out rapidly. Yuan Chengzhi told him that this technique, the Yue Wang Shen Jian, was a secret lightness skill passed down by Daoist Mu Sang, faster than any other martial arts technique. However, it could only accelerate in a straight line and was ineffective for lateral movements.

By the third year, Yuan Chengzhi began to seclude himself daily, rarely appearing. When he did come out, it was always in a hurry.

Feng Xiaoxiao once asked Wen Qingqing, who said that Yuan Chengzhi would frequently seclude himself every few years, and she had gotten used to it.

Feng Xiaoxiao secretly thought, "No matter how high Yuan Chengzhi's martial arts are, he never leaves the island. What's the point of practicing every day?"

Feeling that his internal energy was still not deep enough, Feng Xiaoxiao also began to seclude himself to practice internal energy. He discovered a great secret. Since coming to this world, he had never practiced the Tranquil Heart Sutra for a long time. After meditating for a day, he found that the frequency of the spiritual energy here was different from that in the modern world. The current frequency was slightly lower than before. Could it be that this was not the same world? Could it be that the higher the concentration of spiritual energy, the lower the frequency?

Feng Xiaoxiao made many assumptions, but none of them had answers, leaving him puzzled. However, there was a benefit. By adjusting his body's frequency to match the current one through the Tranquil Heart Sutra, his internal energy increased much faster than before. Even without actively cultivating, the spiritual energy continuously flowed into his body, and he only needed to use the Hunyuan Gong to convert it into internal energy through the dantian, which was more than twice as efficient as directly cultivating internal energy.

Since he no longer needed to work hard to cultivate, his internal energy grew rapidly, and Feng Xiaoxiao had more free time. Sometimes he would chat with Wen Qingqing, sometimes he would accompany He Tishou to the island's market, or go to the seaside to experience the vastness of the sea. When he was extremely bored, he would go and study why the natives here were so dark.

One day, Feng Xiaoxiao accompanied He Tishou to the market. By noon, the two of them were laughing and talking as they walked into the courtyard.

Yuan Chengzhi sat in the hall, looking worried and troubled.

Wen Qingqing, sitting beside him, tried to cheer him up. Seeing them come in, she teased, "Feng Daidai, didn't you used to be afraid of Tishou? Why are you sticking together now?"

Feng Xiaoxiao touched his earlobe and smiled bitterly. He Tishou, however, smiled seductively and said, "I find my junior brother very charming. His phoenix eyes, silkworm eyebrows, and cherry lips, paired with Buddha's ears. Doesn't my sister-in-law think Feng Daidai is very charming?"

Feng Xiaoxiao thought to himself, "Is she complimenting me? I can't let my senior sister get too smug." He bowed and said respectfully to He Tishou, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your praise. You are also very manly." He then stood aside, smiling faintly.

Wen Qingqing laughed continuously, and Yuan Chengzhi couldn't help but smile.

He Tishou's face turned red, trying to laugh but not quite managing it, which was quite amusing.

Yuan Chengzhi coughed and, once everyone had quieted down, said, "For many years, I have diligently cultivated my internal energy, but for the past ten years, it has not improved at all. I have tried every method, but none have been effective. However, I remember that our Huashan Sect originally had some alchemy techniques that might help me."

He then turned to He Tishou and instructed, "The herbs you brought from the Central Plains are used up. Go and buy more for me. This time, you also need to get ginseng and polygonum that are over a hundred years old, which will be difficult to obtain. Even if someone sells them, they will be very expensive. You might as well go to Changbai Mountain to collect them. Remember, do not cause trouble and strictly adhere to the sect's rules. Once the task is done, return immediately and do not delay."

He Tishou nodded repeatedly, smiling. She was eager to return to the Central Plains, as she was already bored on the island. When Yuan Chengzhi took Feng Xiaoxiao as a disciple, she had intervened mainly to have a playmate.

Yuan Chengzhi took out two letters and said, "These are letters for your two senior masters. First, go to Huashan to find your senior master, who is the head of Huashan. Ask him to take you as a disciple and copy some formulas for cultivating qi and enhancing power." He then pointed to the Golden Snake Sword and said, "Take the Golden Snake Sword. Many people in the martial world still recognize it and will give you some face."

Feng Xiaoxiao took the letters and nodded with a smile. He found the Golden Snake Sword very suitable and did not want to return it to Yuan Chengzhi.

Wen Qingqing suddenly said, "If you two see Miss Ajiu, ask her if she would like to come here to keep me and Brother Yuan company."

Although this was Wen Qingqing's suggestion, Yuan Chengzhi was still worried she might be jealous, so he quickly added, "You don't need to deliberately look for her. Let everything happen naturally." His manner clearly showed he was trying to cover up his true feelings.

Wen Qingqing smiled slyly, tapping the armrest.

Feng Xiaoxiao struggled to hold back his laughter, thinking, "Master hasn't learned his lesson after all these years. He's in for trouble. I wonder how Sister-in-law will teach him a lesson."

He Tishou, however, smiled broadly, resting her chin on her hand, waiting to see the show.

Yuan Chengzhi shivered and quickly stood up, scolding, "What are you still doing here? Go back to your rooms and prepare. Leave early tomorrow morning."

Feng Xiaoxiao quickly walked out, while He Tishou said with a mischievous smile, "Master, we're leaving now. Take care of yourself." She then left the hall, closing the door behind her.

After several months of sailing, Feng Xiaoxiao and He Tishou arrived in Guangzhou.

Feng Xiaoxiao did not want to shave his head, so he dressed as a Taoist, wearing a blue Taoist robe and a cow nose on his head.

The two traveled north, enjoying the mountains and rivers. Over time, Feng Xiaoxiao and He Tishou became closer. Perhaps due to her years of seclusion, He Tishou was not hard to get along with, and at most, they just argued a bit.

Although Feng Xiaoxiao found her charming, she was actually older than his mother, so he did not have any romantic thoughts. He Tishou, however, found her junior brother to be polite and witty, and although he always won their arguments, he would always back down to avoid embarrassing her, so they got along well.

After reaching Wuchang, the two parted ways. Feng Xiaoxiao headed northwest to Huashan, while He Tishou went northeast.

Upon arriving at Huashan, Feng Xiaoxiao found the mountain deserted, with no signs of anyone living there. He learned from the locals that the government had posted a notice ten years ago, accusing the Huashan Sect of colluding with rebels and banning it.

Feng Xiaoxiao felt helpless but remembered that in "The Deer and the Cauldron," when Wei Xiaobao attended the Turtle Killing Assembly, Ajiu and Feng Nandi of the Huashan Sect were there. If he had gone there then, he could have completed his master's task.

So he turned north and headed for Beijing to find Wei Xiaobao.

After riding for over a month, he saw a small town ahead and entered to find a restaurant for a meal. He ordered two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a pot of wine, eating slowly. Although Feng Xiaoxiao had never drunk alcohol before, He Tishou liked it and insisted on drinking with him. After a few times, he also developed a taste for it. His special constitution allowed him to break down alcohol quickly, making him immune to drunkenness. He also admired the heroic life of a martial artist, eating and drinking heartily. From then on, he would always have a few drinks whenever he stopped for a rest.

While eating, two people entered the restaurant. One was a middle-aged man, rugged and carrying a large saber, with injured legs that made walking difficult.

The other was a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy, with clear features and particularly lively eyes. They ordered a few bowls of noodles and a plate of scrambled eggs. As they were eating, a group of about eighteen people rushed in, causing a commotion.

Feng Xiaoxiao looked up and heard the boy whisper, "They're soldiers, probably here to catch you. Let's run!"

The rugged man grunted, put down his chopsticks, and reached for his saber.

The group ignored the others and ordered the waiter to prepare food quickly.

After listening to their conversation, Feng Xiaoxiao realized they were from the Pingxi King Wu Sangui, and the scene seemed familiar.

At that moment, the rugged man shouted, "Hey... Xiao Bao, do you know who the most shameless person in the world is?"

Feng Xiaoxiao was stunned. What a coincidence! Could these two be Mao Shiba and Wei Xiaobao?

Suddenly, a "clang" sound was heard, and seven or eight people wielding weapons rushed at Mao Shiba.

Wei Xiaobao quickly hid under the table.

Mao Shiba, unable to move easily, fought from the bench, cursing Wu Sangui and other traitors.

Feng Xiaoxiao watched for a moment and found their martial arts skills to be laughable. They had no strength, moved slowly, and were like minor henchmen. He shook his head, preparing to intervene.

At another table, a man picked up a pair of chopsticks and threw them one by one. The henchmen were knocked down, scrambling to escape.

Mao Shiba, limping, approached the man and thanked him.

Feng Xiaoxiao knew this was a member of the Mu Wang House, but he had a poor impression of the Mu Wang House and did not want to deal with them.

After Mao Shiba and Wei Xiaobao left, Feng Xiaoxiao followed them.

To avoid the authorities, they did not take the main road but chose more secluded paths. Along the way, Wei Xiaobao's witty remarks and jokes often mocked Mao Shiba indirectly.

Feng Xiaoxiao found it amusing and thought about how to befriend them.

When he heard Wei Xiaobao recount a version of the "Mu Wang House Legend" using animal chess, he deliberately laughed loudly.

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