Martial Arts Crossover: My master tricked Huang Rong into becoming my wife!

The silverfish from Dongting Lake have tender flesh that melts in your mouth. Especially when steamed with Junshan Yunwu Tea, the taste is so fresh that you'll want to swallow your tongue.

A pile of fish bones lay in front of Chen Yanzhou, his belly bulging, as he slumped unceremoniously in his chair, burping contentedly.

"That feels good." He squinted, like a lazy cat that had basked in the sun.

Lu Youjiao put down his wine cup, looked at the master and apprentice eating, shook his head with a smile, and then said seriously, "Chief, now that the conference has been decided and all the matters have been assigned, let's set off back to Xiangyang tomorrow. The Righteousness Agency is just starting out and can't be left without people."

Chen Yanzhou nodded, about to agree, when he saw Hong Qigong picking his teeth with a fishbone in his hand, and casually said, "Well, you guys go back."

"Huh?" Chen Yanzhou paused, then sat bolt upright. "Old man, aren't you going back?"

"Go back to what?" Hong Qigong glanced at him sideways, flicked the fishbone away, and said, "The old beggar has important business to attend to."

"Serious business?" Chen Yanzhou looked his master up and down suspiciously, his eyes like those of a thief. "What serious business could you possibly have? Could it be that you heard the lychees in Lingnan are ripe, or that the imperial chefs in the palace have invented some new dish?"

Caught off guard, Hong Qigong's face flushed almost imperceptibly, then he flew into a rage: "Nonsense! Do you think I'm the kind of person who only knows how to eat? I'm going... to scout out the Jurchens' movements! Yes, to scout out the enemy! With the border unstable, how can the Beggars' Sect leader sit idly by?"

"Oh—to scout out enemy positions, huh?" Chen Yanzhou drawled, his face saying, "See if I believe you or not." "So, on your way there, won't you also stop by Suzhou and Hangzhou to have a taste of West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce? And maybe detour to Guangdong to try some roast goose?"

"You brat, how dare you speak to your master like that!" Hong Qigong raised his chopsticks as if to hit him, but seeing Chen Yanzhou shrinking back and chuckling, he helplessly lowered his hand.

He sighed and lowered his voice, "Alright, stop with the sarcastic tone. This old beggar is used to a life of leisure and can't stand being restrained. If it weren't for supporting you, you little brat, I wouldn't have bothered to come to this lousy conference."

As he spoke, he took out the emerald green dog-beating stick from his pocket, twirled it in his hand twice, and his expression suddenly became somewhat serious.

"But don't worry, once you've fully mastered the 'Hun Tian Gong' and the 'Bai Na Gui Yuan Gong,' the old beggar will naturally come back."

Chen Yanzhou curled his lip: "Anyone can make empty promises. Once you leave, it might be another three or five years, and by then I'll be all grown up."

"Hey! You little rascal, you won't act until you see the profit, huh?" Hong Qigong chuckled in exasperation, his eyes darting around as he tempted, "Here's what we'll do: when I get back this time, I'll teach you some real skills."

"What skills?" Chen Yanzhou asked with little interest. "The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms? That stuff is too powerful. With my current small frame, it would be a waste of my time to practice it."

"It's not the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms." Hong Qigong smiled mysteriously, leaned forward, and said in a deliberately enigmatic manner, "It's the Free and Easy Wandering."

"A carefree journey?" Chen Yanzhou's eyes lit up instantly.

Having thoroughly read the original work, he naturally knew this skill.

This was created by Hong Qigong when he was young. It has 36 moves in total. It is not just a simple palm technique, but a superior martial art that integrates body movement, footwork and palm techniques.

Most importantly, this kung fu emphasizes lightness and agility, with unpredictable and elusive movements. If you can't win, you can still run away. It's practically tailor-made for someone like him who currently has shallow internal energy and prioritizes "survival first"!

"Real teaching?" Chen Yanzhou swallowed hard, his previous lazy demeanor vanishing instantly.

"Nonsense, an old beggar's word is his bond, how could it be false?" Hong Qigong raised his eyebrows smugly.

"Deal!" Chen Yanzhou slapped his thigh and immediately raised his wine glass. "Master, this glass is a toast to you! You can go and 'scout the enemy's situation' with peace of mind. Grandpa Lu and I are keeping an eye on things in Xiangyang, so there won't be any trouble. You can eat and drink well... oh no, I mean, you should scout well and come back as soon as possible!"

Hong Qigong chuckled and cursed, "You little rascal," then picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Chen Yanzhou woke up groggily, reached out and touched the bed beside him, only to find it was already cold.

"They ran away as expected," he muttered, not surprised at all.

My master is like the wind, appearing and disappearing without a trace. It's already rare that he's stayed here obediently for these few days.

After a quick wash, Chen Yanzhou shouldered his bag and followed Lu Youjiao on the return journey.

They came rushing from one event to another, and were covered in dust from the journey, but returned much more leisurely.

The carriage swayed along the official road, its wheels creaking and groaning as they rolled over the gravel.

Chen Yanzhou sat cross-legged in the carriage, holding the thick book "Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases" in his hands.

"In cases of Taiyang disease, characterized by fever, sweating, aversion to wind, and a slow pulse, it is called stroke..."

"Ephedra Decoction treats typhoid fever, Cinnamon Twig Decoction treats stroke..." Chen Yanzhou muttered to himself, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees in rhythm.

Lu Youjiao rode his horse alongside the carriage, listening to the sound of reciting lessons coming from inside, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

"This child is not only smart, but also so hardworking," Lu Youjiao remarked. "His future achievements will likely rival those of the gang leader."

Chen Yanzhou was oblivious to Lu Youjiao's praise; he was currently immersed in the world of pharmacology.

He knew very well that in this chaotic world, martial arts skills alone were not enough.

Martial arts can kill, medical skills can save lives, and more importantly, medical skills can help him better understand the structure of the human body, which has immeasurable benefits for cultivating internal strength and opening up the meridians.

Besides, who hasn't had a headache or fever at some point? Learning medicine is like having an extra life.

For several days in a row, Chen Yanzhou spent all his time reading medical books, except for eating, sleeping and necessary practice.

When the carriage finally entered Xiangyang territory, the thick book "Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases" along with the fragment of "The Classic of Materia Medica" given to him by Physician Liao had been memorized word for word.

……

The city of Xiangyang remains bustling.

As soon as you enter the city gate, a wave of heat, a mixture of smoke, sweat and the aroma of food, hits you.

"We're back!" Chen Yanzhou lifted the car curtain, looked at the bustling street, and took a deep breath. "It's still the human touch that makes me feel at ease."

He stayed in Junshan for a few days. Although the scenery was nice, it was nothing compared to the bustling city of Xiangyang that made him feel at ease.

"Grandpa Lu, you go back to the branch to arrange things first. I'll go for a stroll in the city and visit Grandpa Xu on the way." Chen Yanzhou jumped off the carriage and stretched out a big yawn.

Lu Youjiao knew the boy was getting restless in the carriage, so he didn't stop him. He just reminded him, "Don't stay out too late. Remember to come back to the branch for dinner tonight."

"Got it!" Chen Yanzhou waved and plunged into the crowd.

He first went straight to the familiar sesame seed cake shop, bought two freshly baked sesame seed cakes, and walked towards the south of the city while munching on them, crumbs falling all over his mouth.

When he passed by the main branch of the "Yiyunsi" in Xiangyang, he stopped to take a look.

The entrance was bustling with activity, with shop assistants coming and going so fast they barely had time to breathe. Beggars' gang members dressed in short blue jackets were loading goods onto carts, all working with great enthusiasm.

Chen Yanzhou nodded in satisfaction and continued south without lingering.

After passing through several narrow alleys, the familiar dilapidated courtyard came into view.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and suppressed coughing could be heard coming from inside.

Chen Yanzhou frowned slightly and pushed open the door to enter.

"Grandpa Xu!"

In the courtyard, Old Xu was sitting on a rattan chair with a broken leg, holding a book in his hands, and a bowl of dark, murky medicine soup on a small table beside him.

Upon hearing the sound, Old Xu's cloudy eyes lit up instantly, and he struggled to get up.

"Yanzhou? You're back?"

Chen Yanzhou quickly stepped forward and pressed down on the old man's shoulder: "Please sit still, sir. Why is your cough worse these past few days?"

Old Xu waved his hand and laughed, "It's an old problem; it always flares up when the seasons change. As for you, how was your trip to Junshan?"

"Everything went very smoothly." Chen Yanzhou pulled over a small stool to sit next to him, and handed him the last sesame seed cake in his hand. "Here, this is for you, it's still warm."

Old Xu took the sesame seed cake, but didn't eat it right away. Instead, he looked Chen Yanzhou up and down, his eyes full of affection: "When I left, Elder Lu sent someone to inform me. I've been keeping track of the days, and I thought you should be back by now."

"Of course, that's why I came to see you as soon as I got back." Chen Yanzhou chuckled.

"Stop being so glib." Old Xu smiled and gave him a light tap. "Let me ask you, how well have you memorized the 'Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases' that Physician Liao gave you before you left?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yanzhou straightened his back and a confident smile appeared on his face.

"Don't worry, sir." He pointed to his head, "I know it by heart, I can recite it backwards."

"Oh?" Old Xu was somewhat surprised. "Those are obscure and difficult ancient books. You've really memorized them all in just a few days?"

Although he knew Chen Yanzhou was intelligent, this medical book was different from ordinary articles. It was full of obscure drug names and complex pathologies. Without the guidance of a famous teacher, it would be difficult to even read it fluently.

"In that case, if you fail Doctor Liao's test tomorrow, don't beg me to plead for you!"

Chen Yanzhou smiled and waved his hand, then spoke.

"Grandpa Xu, you can rest assured, I guarantee that Doctor Liao will have his eyes opened."