Myths Begin From Boys' Gong

That night, Zhou Zhihan, Hong Minghui, and the little girl stayed overnight in the small house that Meng Zhao had purchased in the county town.

After days of enduring wind and rain, hiding and constantly traveling, they finally felt confident and had a strong backer. They relaxed and soon fell asleep.

Meng Zhao then quietly went to Yan Congke's house.

Upon meeting, Meng Zhao didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.
"There's something I need you to do. You know the Hongmen in Longxiang County, right?"

It was already late at night, but Yan Congke was a night owl and had just returned from the casino, so he was still relatively sober.

He poured himself a cup of hot tea, blew on the rising steam, and nodded.
"Of course, I still have the token given to me by the Hongmen. However, I used this token to return the favor later. What, is the thing you want me to do related to the Hongmen?"

Then I must give you a piece of advice: the Hongmen has a great deal of influence and a wide reach, and it is by no means limited to just one county. In Hebei Province, it is definitely a hidden behemoth.

Especially Hong Chengtong, the leader of the Hongmen, possessed extremely domineering and fierce martial arts skills, and had immense strength; he was not someone to be trifled with.

Although Yan Congke would do things for Meng Zhao, he was not a cold machine. He would still make judgments based on his own understanding and advise Meng Zhao to walk on the right path.

Meng Zhao shook his head.
"What you're talking about is from the past. I just received news that there's trouble in the Hongmen. Hong Chengtong has been killed. The person who did it is likely one of his sworn brothers, or someone in the Hongmen, or even a few high-ranking members."

Not only that, his son-in-law was also murdered, and only his daughter managed to escape.

I want to know what exactly happened in between, what the current situation is at the Hongmen headquarters after Hong Chengtong's death, who is in charge, who benefits the most, and whether he was the one who murdered Hong Chengtong!

Yan Congke's expression changed drastically, filled with surprise and even a hint of doubt.

"Impossible. Hong Chengtong is a master of martial arts, a top expert in Hebei Province, and has the Hongmen forces by his side. Who could kill him?"
Given Hung Shing Tong's status and prestige within the Hung Society, anyone who dared to defy the world, betray the Hung Society leader, and kill him would surely be regarded as an enemy by countless Hung Society disciples, the kind who would be torn to pieces.

I don't believe anyone would be that bold!

Yan Congke's resistance was actually related to his past experiences.

He had some connections with the Hongmen and knew a bit about this powerful organization.

He knew very well how capable Hong Chengtong was; how could anyone possibly kill someone like him?
Even if it's someone close to you, that would be too strange.

Those sworn brothers and high-ranking members of the Hongmen had a friendship with Hong Chengtong for at least twenty years, and some even for more than thirty years.

Thirty years of ups and downs, we've all been through thick and thin together. Now the Hongmen is growing stronger and stronger. With such prosperity, how could they possibly turn on each other?
Meng Zhao didn't care about Yan Congke's reaction, and simply said,

"Believe it or not, that's what the message I received says. As for whether it's true or not, you can go to Longxiang County and find out for yourself, won't you?" Yan Congke had recovered from his emotional shock, his eyes bright as he looked at Meng Zhao and said.

"You know so much about this, and even deliberately asked me to investigate it. Could it be that you also have some connection with the Hongmen?"

To date, Yan Congke's understanding of Meng Zhao remains very limited.

All that is known is that he was born in Xiaohan Village and was originally an ordinary villager, but he possessed extraordinary martial arts skills.

As for the origin of his martial arts skills, no one knows anything about them.

All that is known is that his internal strength is incredibly powerful, and his swordsmanship is divine. He is simply a genius, an eccentric genius, who has already transcended the category of ordinary geniuses.

However, if Meng Zhao is from the Hongmen or has some connection with someone within the Hongmen, then it would not be surprising.

The Hongmen is a large and powerful family with a deep foundation. Given its own good talent and aptitude, it is quite possible that it could cultivate such a person.

Meng Zhao's expression remained unchanged as he shook his head and said,
"You don't need to know these things. Just do as I say, and I will give you appropriate compensation. The exact amount will depend on the value of the information you bring back."

Oh, by the way, I'm paying close attention to this matter. You'd better leave as soon as possible.

Yan Congke thought for a moment and said,

"Alright, if we've never dealt with each other before, it's probably not an easy task for me to investigate this matter."

However, I have some connections with a prominent figure in the Hongmen, so perhaps I can approach this matter through him and uncover the truth.

But you can't expect me to do things for you empty-handed; even oxen and horses need grass to eat!

Undoubtedly, Yan Congke's gambling tonight did not go smoothly, and he lost a lot of money. At this point, he was not exactly penniless, but he was not much rich either. Therefore, he set his sights on Meng Zhao.

Meng Zhao remained silent, then pulled out several silver notes from his pocket and tossed them in front of Yan Congke, saying,

"I will not comment on your personal hobbies, but I still want to give you a word of advice."

Gambling never ends well. It's fine in ordinary times, but it's best to avoid it when you're doing other things. It easily distracts you and exposes your weaknesses to others.

After a pause, Meng Zhao continued,

"I've modified that Soaring Sword Technique a bit. You can keep it; how much you learn is up to you."

As he spoke, Meng Zhao tossed the sword manual he had prepared in advance to Yan Congke.

This person is a lone wolf, and cannot be simply restricted by gambling. It is also necessary to show appropriate closeness and importance. Sword manuals are a more reliable way to bring the two people closer.

Yan Congke prioritized swordsmanship above all else, gambling second, and murder third. Swordsmanship and sword manuals were the things he valued and cherished most.

In yesterday's bet, Meng Zhao defeated him with a single sword strike. Using the same swordsmanship and the same moves, Meng Zhao displayed overwhelming strength.

It would be absolutely impossible for Yan Congke not to admire or want to explore the realm and mysteries within it.

Therefore, obtaining this sword manual was a source of immense joy.

After agreeing to Meng Zhao's request, he devoted himself entirely to the sword manual.

By the dim light of the oil lamp in the room, Yan Congke slowly turned the pages of the sword manual.

The Chongxiao Sword Technique, drawn and handwritten by Meng Zhao, is largely based on the sword marks left by Yan Congke on that thick wall.

However, this sword manual removed all the sword moves that he had added, which seemed superfluous, and added several variations, making it an upgraded version of the Soaring Sky Sword Technique, more powerful and more perfect. His original sword moves had seven flaws, which he later improved, leaving six. This sword manual filled in three of those flaws, leaving only three.

In addition, the sword manual also contains three secret sword techniques, separate from the Soaring Sky Sword Technique. These were probably specially marked by Meng Zhao and given to Yan Congke.

Yan Congke was overjoyed at this moment, and eagerly devoured the three sword techniques. He had never encountered them before, but now he suddenly understood them and found them extremely incredible.

The first sword technique is an internal martial arts method. It involves condensing the internal energy into extremely sharp sword energy and protecting the sword energy as it flows through the meridians without harming the user. Meng Zhao named it Sword Startling Wind.

This very first sword skill greatly broadened Yan Congke's horizons and may even have led to a small improvement.

Sword energy techniques have existed since ancient times, but similar secret martial arts are all closely guarded secrets of each school and family, and have always been extremely powerful, leaning towards combat techniques of killing and fighting.

Although sword energy is powerful, it can harm both the user and the attacker. The stronger the sword energy, the greater the damage to the human body, unless it is a special technique, a special physique, a special secret medicine, or a special treasure, etc.

Yan Congke was so obsessed with swordsmanship that he had naturally acquired the art of sword qi. However, the method of cultivating that sword qi was not only extremely demanding, but also had great hidden dangers. It was far inferior to the Sword Wind created by Meng Zhao.

At the very least, mastering this sword qi secret technique will give you a trump card, allowing you to turn the tide in crucial moments and even against stronger opponents or enemies.

In addition to the secret methods, there are also corresponding simple prescriptions. By using these prescriptions to obtain the medicine, brewing it into a medicinal soup, and consuming it, one can strengthen and improve the resilience of one's meridians, and it can even be considered a method to enhance one's physical qualities.

This single sword energy technique is more valuable than the entire Soaring Sky Sword Technique.

The second sword technique is simply the skill of wielding a sword, which Meng Zhao calls "Sword Flowing Clouds".

Clouds come and go, gathering and dispersing unpredictably. By wielding a sword to create clouds, one can unleash the secret technique of Sword Flowing Clouds, continuously reducing and absorbing external forces. It is a secret technique that allows the weak to overcome the strong.

Sword technique is not important, internal strength is not important; what is important is the method of combining sword movement and internal strength, so that the two are integrated into one, which is the essence of Sword Flowing Cloud.

The art of sword qi can be mastered in a short time through medicinal soup and existing internal cultivation. However, sword flowing clouds cannot be mastered with just internal cultivation; one must also be a skilled swordsman, or even a master, to be qualified to begin cultivation.

With rigorous and demanding standards, practicing Sword Wind might yield some results within eight to ten days, equivalent to condensing existing internal energy into sword energy, nurturing it within the dantian, and preparing to unleash its power.

As for Jian Liuyun, it would take him at least three to five months of practice to successfully master it, which is itself a method of sword training.

However, it focuses on the technique of combining qi and sword.

The third sword technique, which is also quite rare, is called Sword Toe, and it is a sword technique that involves movement.

Through swordsmanship, sword energy, and sword flow, a sword shape is condensed on the surface of one's body, which greatly reduces air resistance. When advancing or retreating, it is as if sword energy is crisscrossing. Not only is the movement extremely fast, but it is also easy to move around freely, dodging and weaving.

This is a movement technique, a light-footed skill, and also a secret art for saving one's life.

As the saying goes, if you can't beat someone, you have to run. How fast you run is closely related to how skillful you are at moving.

Sword Toe is the most profound and complex of the three secret techniques created by Meng Zhao.

Sword Startling Wind is the foundation, Sword Flowing Cloud is the entry level, and Sword Toe is the ultimate achievement after the fusion of the two.

Even the lightness skill and movement technique of Sword Toe are only at the entry level. Once truly mastered, the toes can generate sword energy, and every part of the body can kill. It is a truly peerless divine skill.

Of course, Yan Congke was not a novice, but a master of swordsmanship who could see things clearly. This advanced stage of sword toe was just a concept or idea of ​​Meng Zhao, and no real framework had been built yet.

Even so, its value is immeasurable.

Because these three sword techniques are a progressive, step-by-step system of martial arts, essentially developing a new set of linked martial arts on top of Yan Congke's existing swordsmanship system. Their help and value to him are immeasurable.

In short, Sword Startling Wind, Sword Flowing Clouds, and Sword Toes, if these three are compiled into separate books, constitute a supreme classic of swordsmanship.

A blockhead like me can only follow the instructions rigidly and mechanically, and even if I achieve something, I will stop there.

Those with talent can draw wisdom from it, build systems, and embark on their own path of swordsmanship.

At this moment, countless thoughts and inspirations collided in Yan Congke's mind, and he experienced a burst of inspiration unlike anything he had ever seen in his life.

He has practiced swordsmanship and cultivated for decades, accumulating a wealth of knowledge and skills. He is actually quite talented, a genius.

Now, Meng Zhao's three sword techniques have become a treasure trove that he has accumulated over the decades, plunging him into a state of sudden inspiration.

According to Meng Zhao's plan, the sword's energy is nurtured by the wind, the sword's shape is shaped by the clouds, and the sword's energy and sword technique are harmonized. The sword's toe integrates the two. As a beginner, one can achieve a swordsmanship and movement technique that is superior to others, moving as fast as lightning and as swift as a sword.

Not only is it skilled in speed and agility, but it can also continuously accumulate momentum and nurture sword energy through the movement of its sword toes, eventually unleashing tremendous power in a single burst.

If one can master the sword toe technique, one can cultivate countless sword apertures around the body, and within these apertures, sword energy will be generated. The sword energy and the physical body will intertwine and merge perfectly.

In the blink of an eye, boundless sword energy can burst forth from his entire body, spreading outwards like a lotus flower, covering the sky and the earth, like a god or a demon.

Sword energy can also be emitted from the toes.

At that time, a single kick could kill a person; nothing, not even metal, could stop it.

The idea was good, but putting it into practice was extremely difficult.

Meng Zhao certainly had enough wisdom and resources to complete this construction and setup, but it would have been almost impossible for others to do so.

Yan Congke, although considered a swordsmanship genius, is still far from being a true master.

However, he drew inspiration from this, incorporating his own life experiences, martial arts wisdom, and swordsmanship essence into the framework envisioned by Meng Zhao. Ultimately, this formed a method that, while not as grand as Meng Zhao had envisioned, could still be considered extremely powerful.

He focused his energy throughout his body, storing sword energy in his acupoints. With a single thought, sword energy would be generated, and he dared not even imagine reaching the realm of "ten thousand swords paying homage to the ancestor."

However, Yan Congke, through his life experience, wisdom, and martial arts expertise, came up with a clever way to cheat.

That is, to condense ten sword veins on each of the ten fingers. Each sword vein, through Sword Wind and Sword Cloud, stores sword energy and transforms it into an unparalleled sword finger technique. (End of this chapter)