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

Chen Yanzhou forced a smile, his voice hoarse but tinged with a smug smugness: "Master, that's not nice of you. If you want to praise me, just say so. Why do you have to stare at me like that? Aren't you afraid your eyes will pop out?"

Hong Qigong blushed, quickly composed himself, hung the wine gourd in his hand on his waist, and snorted, "Stop trying to flatter yourself. This old beggar has been wandering the martial world for decades, what kind of geniuses haven't I seen? Yours is just... just passable."

Chen Yanzhou didn't expose him, but turned over and sat up, rubbing his sore shoulders: "Alright, alright, you're so knowledgeable. So tell me, is my 'mediocre' skill enough to get by in this world?"

"Walk sideways?" Hong Qigong scoffed, casually folding a bamboo branch and toying with it in his hand. "With your current meager skills, you'd be nothing more than a slap to a master. Don't think you're invincible just because you've learned a few palm techniques. Remember, there are always people stronger than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."

Chen Yanzhou pursed his lips, about to retort, but Hong Qigong changed the subject.

"However..."

Hong Qigong stuck the bamboo branch into the ground, his eyes sharpening: "Since you're not entirely stupid, you old beggar, you can stay in Xiangyang for another half a month. During this time, whatever methods you use, as long as you can withstand even one or two moves from me and aren't beaten down..."

He paused, then untied the emerald green dog-beating stick from his waist and weighed it in his hand.

"I will teach you this Dog-Beating Stick Technique."

Chen Yanzhou's pupils suddenly contracted.

The Dog-Beating Stick Technique!

That was the token of the Beggars' Sect leader, and it was always passed down to the leader, not to his disciples.

While the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms could be considered a transmission of ultimate skills, the Dog-Beating Staff Technique takes on a completely different meaning...

"Are you serious?" Chen Yanzhou's playful smile vanished.

"When has this old beggar ever lied?" Hong Qigong glanced at him sideways. "What, scared? Scared that this stick is too heavy for your little body to handle?"

Chen Yanzhou stared at the bamboo stick for two seconds, then suddenly grinned, a smile that revealed the arrogance of a young man.

"make a deal."

After saying that, he patted the dirt off his backside, picked up his coat that was lying to the side, and put it on.

Hong Qigong was taken aback: "Where are you going?"

"Let's go into town." Chen Yanzhou fastened his belt and straightened his collar. "We've been up all night, I'm starving. If I don't eat my fill, how will I have the strength to spar with you, sir? Besides, I need to save my life to learn this Dog-Beating Stick Technique, don't I?"

After saying that, he walked out of the bamboo forest without looking back.

Hong Qigong stared at his retreating figure for a long while, then followed after him, cursing under his breath.

"Hey kid, wait for me! I'm starving too! Let's go to Juxianlou Restaurant, I want to eat their crystal-clear braised pork and crab meat lion's head meatballs!"

……

The mornings in Xiangyang are always filled with the warmth and life of everyday life.

The breakfast stalls on the street had just been set up, and the white steam mixed with the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks filled the alley.

Chen Yanzhou and Hong Qigong entered Juxianlou one after the other.

There weren't many customers in the building yet. The innkeeper was dozing off against the counter when he heard the noise. He looked up and, seeing the two gentlemen, immediately came out to greet them with great enthusiasm.

"Oh, Young Master Chen, Senior Hong! So early?"

"Same as always." Chen Yanzhou waved his hand and walked straight to the private room on the second floor. "Bring me all the hearty dishes you have that can fill your stomachs, one after another. Remember, be quick."

"Alright!"

Before long, the table in the private room was filled with all kinds of breakfast.

Golden and crispy fried dough sticks, thin-skinned and generously filled crab roe soup dumplings, thick and simmered boat congee, and the crystal-clear braised pork and a large bowl of braised beef that Hong Qigong specifically requested.

Neither the master nor the apprentice spoke; they simply buried themselves in their food.

Chen Yanzhou was really starving.

Practicing the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is extremely physically demanding. That night, he sweated profusely, which completely drained his body of sugar and energy.

He held a fried dough stick in his left hand and used chopsticks to pick up beef with his right. Although his eating manners were not as rude as Hong Qigong's, they were by no means refined.

"call……"

After downing three bowls of porridge and half a pound of beef in one go, Chen Yanzhou finally felt alive again.

Meanwhile, Hong Qigong was in a frenzy, with bones piled up like a small mountain in front of him. He wiped the grease from his mouth and let out a satisfied burp.

"Cool!"

Hong Qigong picked up his teacup, rinsed his mouth, and glanced at Chen Yanzhou, who was still slowly finishing his meal, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Kid, were you still thinking about that 'Flying Dragon in the Sky' move while we were eating?"

Chen Yanzhou paused, swallowing the soup dumpling in his mouth: "How did you know?"

"Nonsense." Hong Qigong pointed at his chopsticks. "When you pick up beef, your wrist sinks down, and the force is contained and not released. That's the power of 'a hidden dragon not to be used.' When you drink porridge, your breath is long and even. That's coordinating with internal energy breathing. What you're doing isn't eating; it's clearly practicing martial arts."

Chen Yanzhou chuckled: "I just want to get that stick as soon as possible."

"A lie?" Hong Qigong sneered. "That Dog-Beating Stick Technique is exquisite, consisting of eight techniques: tripping, chopping, entangling, stabbing, picking, leading, sealing, and turning, with countless variations. Don't even mention half a month, even if you were given half a year, you might not be able to grasp its essence."

"We'll see about that."

Chen Yanzhou put down his chopsticks, and the drowsiness that followed his extreme exhaustion instantly surged over him like a tidal wave.

This night was not only physically exhausting, but also mentally agonizing. While the gift of photographic memory is useful, it's also extremely taxing on the mind. Now, the moment I relax, my eyelids start to droop.

"I can't take it anymore, Master." Chen Yanzhou yawned, tears welling up in his eyes. "I need to go back and catch up on some sleep."

Seeing his tired appearance, Hong Qigong didn't tease him anymore and waved his hand: "Go on, go on. It's just what I was thinking, the old beggar is going to the city to see if there's any good wine."

Chen Yanzhou got up and staggered out.

He had just reached the door when he stopped and looked back at Hong Qigong, who was picking his teeth.

"Master."

"What's wrong now?"

"Put the bill on your tab."

After saying this, without waiting for Hong Qigong's reaction, Chen Yanzhou slipped away and made a hasty retreat.

"Hey! You little brat!"

Hong Qigong chuckled and cursed, looking at the empty doorway, but he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes.

He touched the dog-beating stick beside him and muttered to himself, "This martial world is about to get lively."

……

Chen Yanzhou returned to the branch headquarters and collapsed onto the bed without even taking off his clothes.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already noon.

Chen Yanzhou sat up abruptly, his joints cracking and popping.

Although I only slept for a few hours, the feeling of being completely drained from the inside out had dissipated by more than half, and in its place was an unprecedented feeling of fullness.