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

When we came out of Old Xu's dilapidated courtyard, the sun was already setting.

Chen Yanzhou stopped wandering around and went straight back to the Beggars' Sect branch.

The journey had been arduous, and his bones were almost falling apart. As soon as he entered the door, a sharp-eyed disciple came to greet him. Without Chen Yanzhou having to give any instructions, hot water had already been prepared.

Immersing his entire body in the steaming wooden tub, Chen Yanzhou let out a long, comfortable sigh.

"This is the kind of life a human being should live."

He splashed around in the water a couple of times, but his mind was still going over the passages from the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases.

The old man, Liao Langzhong, looks easygoing, but he's actually quite arrogant. If he can't get past this hurdle tomorrow, it will be incredibly difficult for him to study medicine in the future.

After washing away the dust of his journey, Chen Yanzhou threw himself onto the bed, rolled up the blanket, and soon began snoring loudly.

……

The next morning, the thin fog had not yet dissipated.

Carrying two bags of pastries, Chen Yanzhou followed behind Old Man Xu and knocked on the door of Baicaotang.

The door was opened by a young apprentice. Seeing that it was Old Man Xu, he did not stop them and stepped aside to let the two of them in.

The courtyard was filled with the aroma of herbs. Doctor Liao was squatting on the ground drying herbs when he heard footsteps, but he didn't turn around.

"You memorized it?"

Chen Yanzhou stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Reporting to Mr. Liao, I have memorized it."

Doctor Liao patted the dregs of medicine off his hands, stood up, and his shrewd eyes swept over Chen Yanzhou, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You've got quite the nerve. The Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases is obscure and difficult to understand; an ordinary apprentice might not be able to finish reading it in three years, yet you dare to say you've memorized it in just a few days?"

"If you don't believe me, sir, you can test me," Chen Yanzhou said calmly.

"Alright." Doctor Liao didn't waste any words, casually pointing to the medicine shelf behind him. "I won't test your memorization, and don't recite the original text to me. I'll just ask you, 'In cases of Taiyang disease, with fever, sweating, aversion to wind, and a slow pulse, what is the explanation?'"

Old Xu was sweating bullets; this wasn't just memorizing facts, it was a test of medical knowledge!

Without hesitation, Chen Yanzhou said, "This is a stroke, with strong defensive qi and weak ying qi. Guizhi Tang should be the main treatment to relieve muscle tension, release exterior pathogens, and harmonize the defensive qi and ying qi."

Doctor Liao raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before pressing, "What if the pulse is floating and tight, there's no sweating, body aches, and nausea?"

"This is typhoid fever, caused by wind-cold binding the exterior. Ephedra Decoction should be used to induce sweating, relieve the exterior, and promote lung function and relieve asthma."

"In cases of Shaoyin disease, the pulse is weak and thready, and the patient is drowsy?"

"It should be warmed up immediately, and Si Ni Tang should be administered."

They spoke very quickly, back and forth.

The questions asked by Liao Langzhong became increasingly tricky, ranging from the Six Classics of Diagnosis to the addition and subtraction of prescriptions. Although Chen Yanzhou paused occasionally, he could answer fluently after a little thought.

He not only memorized the book, but also used modern logic to categorize and imprint these articles in his mind.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is over.

Liao Langzhong finally stopped, and his gaze towards Chen Yanzhou completely changed, from initial indifference to undisguised shock and admiration for his talent.

"Good lad..." Doctor Liao let out a long breath, stroking his beard. "It's a pity he's not studying medicine with that kind of brain."

Old Xu, who had been anxiously waiting, finally breathed a sigh of relief, his face crinkling with a broad smile: "How about it? I didn't lie to you, did I? This child is a promising talent."

Liao Langzhong snorted, turned around and went into the house. When he came out again, he was carrying a dusty gray apron and a stone pestle for pounding medicine.

"Now that you've entered Baicaotang, you must abide by its rules." Doctor Liao tossed the things into Chen Yanzhou's arms. "Come at dawn and leave at dusk every day. Start by identifying and cutting herbs. Don't think that just because you've memorized a few books you can cure diseases and save lives. In the path of medicine, a slight error can lead to a huge mistake."

Chen Yanzhou took the apron, tied it around his waist, and grinned, "Don't worry, Master, I understand."

"Who's your master?" Doctor Liao glared. "That's a title only for disciples who have entered the inner circle. You're just a medicine apprentice at best. Go and chop up that pile of astragalus in the backyard. The slices must be as thin as cicada wings. You won't get to eat if you don't do it right."

"Alright!" Chen Yanzhou wasn't annoyed. He picked up the stone pestle and ran to the backyard.

Watching Chen Yanzhou's carefree figure disappear into the distance, Physician Liao couldn't help but smile, muttering under his breath, "Little rascal."

……

Time flies, and several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

The winter snow in Xiangyang City has melted, and the willow branches are sprouting new green leaves.

In the past few months, the Beggars' Sect has undergone tremendous changes.

The "Yiyunsi" brand has firmly established itself in Xiangyang, and has even spread to the surrounding Suizhou and Yingzhou from there.

Just as Chen Yanzhou had predicted, once their interests were intertwined, the Dirty Clothes Faction and the Clean Clothes Faction, who originally disliked each other, cooperated surprisingly well for the sake of that pile of silver.

In order to secure their year-end bonuses, the elders of the Clean Clothes Faction used all their connections to pull strings with the government and obtain official clearance documents.

The Dirty Clothes Faction disciples changed into uniform uniforms and, relying on their extensive network of informants and their fearless ruthlessness, managed to clear several trade routes that were originally plagued by bandits.

Nowadays, when people in the martial arts world mention the Beggars' Clan, they no longer look at them with disdain, but rather with a sense of awe.

Who doesn't know that the Beggars' Sect is not only numerous and powerful, but also holds mountains of gold and seas of silver?

……

The early spring morning was chilly.

In the backyard of the Beggars' Sect branch, a small, thin figure was moving about.

"Whoosh—ha!"

Chen Yanzhou was shirtless, revealing a lean yet well-defined physique. He was firmly planted on his feet, and each punch he threw created a muffled whistling sound.

After several months of recuperation, coupled with his diligent practice of the "Hun Tian Gong" and "Bai Na Gui Yuan Gong" left by Hong Qigong, he has been completely transformed.

At this moment, he was performing a set of long fist techniques. Although the moves were simple, they were based on solid fundamentals.

The internal energy flows with the force of the punch, and a warm feeling protects the whole body as it passes through each meridian.

Just then, a cleanly gnawed chicken bone, with a whooshing sound, struck him squarely on the back of the head.

"Ouch!"

Chen Yanzhou covered his head and suddenly turned around.

On the courtyard wall, a ragged old beggar was perched on top, holding a shiny roast chicken in his hand, and looking at him with a smile.

"Who taught you to train like this? You're throwing punches without holding back. If someone grabs your wrist, you won't even have a chance to change your move."

"Master?!"

Chen Yanzhou's eyes lit up. Ignoring his headache, he rushed to the wall in a few strides. "You actually came back, old man? I thought you were having so much fun out there that you'd forgotten all about your apprentice!"

Hong Qigong flipped over and jumped down, landing silently.

He tore off half of the roast chicken in his hand and handed it to Chen Yanzhou: "How could I? Didn't I bring you something delicious? Try it, this is how it's made in Lingnan, it's called... poached chicken, it's incredibly delicious!"

Chen Yanzhou didn't stand on ceremony, took the chicken, took a big bite, and said indistinctly, "At least you still have some conscience."

Hong Qigong circled Chen Yanzhou twice, pinched him, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad. You've grown taller and stronger." Hong Qigong patted Chen Yanzhou on the shoulder. "Looks like you haven't been slacking off while I was away."

"That's right." Chen Yanzhou swallowed the chicken and wiped the grease from his mouth. "Although you're not here, I haven't missed a single day of my training. During the day, I'm cutting and identifying herbs at the Hundred Herbs Hall, and at night I come back to practice my internal energy. In the morning, I practice my fist and foot techniques. I'm practically spinning like a top."

"Stop acting all innocent," Hong Qigong said with a laugh, then turned serious and said, "Come on, give your master a couple of punches. If you've practiced it wrong, I'll correct you as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yanzhou's expression turned serious.

He took two steps back, took a deep breath, and slightly parted his feet to assume a starting stance.

This time, he held nothing back.

The powerful true energy within his dantian was instantly mobilized, flowing along his meridians to his limbs and bones.

"drink!"

Chen Yanzhou let out a low shout and his right fist shot out like a cannonball.

boom!

The force of the punch was so strong that it produced a crisp sound in the air.

Immediately afterwards, he turned his body and swept his left leg horizontally, leaving a trail of afterimages.

A set of boxing techniques was executed with fluid movements and powerful force.

While it may not be considered to have any profound artistic conception, its spirit and energy are genuine.

Especially the rhythm of his breathing, which was long and deep, clearly showed that he had established a solid foundation in internal strength.

Once he had come to a complete stop, Chen Yanzhou was neither flushed nor out of breath, only slightly sweaty on his forehead.

"Master, how is it?"

The admiration in Hong Qigong's eyes deepened.

"Good lad, this 'Hundredfold Return to Origin Technique' is indeed suitable for you." Hong Qigong took a swig of wine and clicked his tongue in amazement. "If an ordinary person were your age, no matter how hard they practiced, their internal energy would only be a trickle. But you are quite something; the depth of your true energy is almost comparable to that of a martial arts master who has practiced for ten years."

He knew in his heart that this was not just a talent, but also because this technique could accumulate true qi through eating and sleeping, which was simply tailor-made for this gluttonous and sleepy disciple.

"Now that your foundation is solid, it's time to fulfill the promise I made to you." Hong Qigong hung the wine gourd on his waist, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

Chen Yanzhou's eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs: "A carefree journey?!"

"That's right."

Hong Qigong walked to the center of the courtyard and casually folded a willow branch.

"This set of kung fu is what I learned when I was young." Hong Qigong gently waved the willow branch, which seemed to come alive in his hands, light and graceful, leaving no trace.

"The carefree wandering emphasizes intention over strength, and technique over power."

"Remember, there are many people in this world stronger than you. To confront them head-on is the act of a reckless fool. What we need to do is use their strength against them, avoiding their strengths and attacking their weaknesses."

Swish!

A willow branch gently touched Chen Yanzhou's shoulder.

Chen Yanzhou instinctively tried to dodge, but the willow branch seemed to have eyes. No matter which way he dodged, it always landed steadily on him. It didn't hurt, but it gave him a cold sweat.

"If this move were a sword, you would already be dead." Hong Qigong retracted the willow branch and looked at him with a smile.

Chen Yanzhou swallowed hard, not frightened at all, but instead his face turned red with excitement.

That's simply amazing skill!

With this movement technique, if you encounter a powerful enemy you can't defeat in the future, your escape skills will be top-notch!

"Master, teach me quickly! This kung fu is just what I like!" Chen Yanzhou rubbed his hands impatiently.

Seeing his apprentice's impatient look, Hong Qigong couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Don't rush, this Free and Easy Wandering has thirty-six moves, each of which contains variations in movement techniques and palm techniques. Watch carefully, this first move is called 'Kunpeng Spreads Its Wings'..."

In the morning light, an old man and a young man began practicing this amazing martial arts technique, which was enough to amaze the martial arts world, under the dilapidated courtyard wall.

Chen Yanzhou was naturally intelligent, and he could often grasp the essence of Hong Qigong's demonstrations after only one time.

Although the movements were still a bit clumsy, the graceful charm was already beginning to take shape.

Chen Yanzhou practiced until the sun was high in the sky before finally stopping, panting heavily.

"Alright, don't bite off more than you can chew." Hong Qigong tossed the willow branch aside. "Let's practice this one move for today. Although your body has become much stronger, you're still growing. Too much of a good thing can be bad."

Chen Yanzhou plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, but his face was full of satisfied smiles.

"Master, how long will you be staying this time?"

Hong Qigong stretched and leaned against the tree trunk: "I'll probably stay for at least a month. By the way, I heard your 'Righteous Transport Bureau' is doing quite well; even this old beggar in Lingnan has heard about it?"

"That's right, don't you even know who my disciple is?" Chen Yanzhou proudly raised his chin. "Now our Beggars' Sect is incredibly wealthy. Whatever delicacies you want to eat in the future, just say the word, and I'll provide them all!"

Hong Qigong chuckled: "You said it yourself. Coincidentally, on my way back, I heard that Juxianlou Restaurant in the city has a new head chef who makes an excellent 'Eight Treasure Duck'..."

"Let's go!" Chen Yanzhou sprang to his feet, dusted himself off, and said, "Today, I'm hosting a welcome dinner for our master!"

The master and apprentice, arm in arm, strolled leisurely out of the courtyard gate.