Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Although Guo Jing only learned fifteen of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, he practiced each palm strike no less than a thousand times, making his palm power increasingly fierce and allowing for more control in both striking and releasing.

Hong Qigong stopped cursing and even nodded occasionally, which was a rare compliment to him.

Huang Rong prepared a variety of delicious dishes every day, including beggar's chicken, grilled fish, braised pork, and steamed sea bass, never repeating the same meal. Hong Qigong ate with a beaming smile, and when he was in a good mood, he would offer more pointers, not only to Guo Jing but also to Huang Rong on some martial arts techniques and to Mu Nianci on the Free and Easy Wandering.

Lin Qi sat to the side listening intently, memorizing every word. He practiced Iron Palm Kung Fu, which differed from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms in its method, but the principles of martial arts were the same.

Hong Qigong said, "The waist is the center," so he shifted the power of his Iron Palm technique from his shoulders to his waist; Hong Qigong said, "Leave room for maneuver," so he used seven-tenths of the power in each palm strike and left three-tenths unused; Hong Qigong said, "Keep your eyes open," so he intentionally used his peripheral vision to scan his surroundings while practicing.

He practiced his skills every day and gained new insights each day. He always felt that the last eight postures of the Iron Palm Technique were not quite there yet, but now, when he struck out with his palm, the wind from his palm was as sharp as a knife, and the fallen leaves on the ground were swept up and shattered into powder in the air.

He practiced the Yi Jin Duan Gu chapter of the Nine Yin Manual every night, and his internal strength became deeper day by day, and his meridians also widened considerably.

That evening, after Guo Jing finished practicing his palm techniques, Huang Rong made a pot of fish soup, and the group sat around the fire drinking it. Hong Qigong drank two bowls, wiped his mouth, and suddenly sighed.

Huang Rong asked, "Seventh Master, what's wrong?"

Hong Qigong said, "This old beggar is wondering, Ouyang Ke raises so many snakes, what should we do if we encounter him again?"

Lin Qi, holding his bowl, remained silent. He recalled that back at the Prince Zhao's residence, Ouyang Ke was always accompanied by several women in white, yet he had never seen him carry snakes. At the time, he had assumed Ouyang Ke was merely a womanizer, but now he realized those snakes were his uncle Ouyang Feng's trump card. White Camel Mountain was in the Western Regions; Ouyang Feng lacked the Beggars' Sect's numbers, Peach Blossom Island's unique formations, and the entire army of Dali. He could only rely on these snakes to compensate for his shortcomings.

Huang Rong said, "Snakes are afraid of fire, let's prepare more torches." Hong Qigong shook his head: "Those snakes are well-trained, not ordinary snakes. Torches can only hold them off for a while, not a whole swarm." Guo Jing said, "Qigong, let's have more people and kill the snakes together." Hong Qigong still shook his head: "There are too many snakes, we can't kill them all."

Lin Qi put down his bowl and pondered for a moment. He remembered that in the original story, Hong Qigong thought for a long time and finally came up with a solution—using steel needles.

Snakes have poor eyesight and rely on ground vibrations to sense their prey. A thin, light steel needle makes very little sound as it cuts through the air; fired from a distance, it can kill a snake before it has a chance to react. Hong Qigong would have thought of this method sooner or later, but he could reveal it beforehand.

He spoke up, "Seventh Master, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's right."

Hong Qigong glanced at him and said, "Speak."

Lin Qi said, "Snakes don't have good eyesight; they rely on their bellies to touch the ground and sense vibrations to detect prey. Since there are many of us and our footsteps are heavy, they can sense us from a great distance."

If you use small, lightweight concealed weapons, like steel needles, to strike from a distance, they'll be hit before they even realize what's happening. One needle per snake, without alerting the swarm, you can kill hundreds without them even knowing where you are.

Hong Qigong's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward: "Steel needles? Go on."

Lin Qi continued, "Experienced snake catchers don't use big knives and clubs to deal with venomous snakes; they use long, thin bamboo sticks. With a throw from a distance, before the snake even moves, the stick is already pinned to its head. If you replace the bamboo sticks with steel needles, and use more force, you can kill it with a single needle from three or five feet away. If each of us carries a pair of steel needles, Ouyang Ke's snake formation won't be so scary."

Hong Qigong slapped his thigh and laughed heartily, "Good lad! The old beggar has been thinking about this for days without success, but you've enlightened him with just one sentence!" Huang Rong clapped her hands and cheered, while Guo Jing smiled honestly and said sincerely, "Brother Lin, you're really amazing." Mu Nianci sat to the side, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Qi, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Hong Qigong stood up, paced a few steps, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible the method seemed. He turned to Lin Qi and said, "Young brother, you have brains. There are many people who practice martial arts, but few who are willing to use their brains. Your master Qiu Qianren had good judgment in accepting you as his disciple."

Lin Qi clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Seventh Master, you flatter me."

The noise around the campfire gradually subsided, and Lin Qi sat alone under a tree in the distance, watching the flickering flames, but his mind was on something else entirely.

These past few days he'd been pondering where to go next. Guo Jing and Huang Rong were going to Guiyun Manor, which was an important part of the original story. Lu Chengfeng was Huang Yaoshi's disciple, Yang Kang would be captured, Qiu Qianzhang would come to swindle people, and Huang Yaoshi would also make an appearance.

In the past, he would definitely have gone along to see what the commotion was like. But now, he doesn't plan to go.

He had already obtained the Nine Yin Manual. He copied the manual from the human skin on Mei Chaofeng's body, taking everything he was entitled to.

In the original story, Guo Jing accidentally obtains the scriptures from her; it is his destiny, and Lin Qi has no intention of taking it away from him.

As for Huang Yaoshi, he couldn't figure out this person's temperament. The Eastern Heretic acted entirely on a whim, disregarding rules, and even broke the legs of his own disciples and expelled them from the sect.

If he arrives at Guiyun Manor and Huang Yaoshi takes a dislike to him, and strikes him with a palm, what will he use to defend himself? Hong Qigong tested his skills and praised him, but that was a trial, not a real fight.

If Huang Yaoshi were to get serious, he probably wouldn't last more than a few moves. Mu Nianci was with him; he couldn't risk her life.

Having been away for so long, his martial arts skills have improved considerably since he left Iron Palm Peak. He has almost mastered the thirteen forms of Iron Palm Kung Fu, and has also laid a solid foundation in the Yi Jin Duan Gu chapter of the Nine Yin Manual.

As for Han Duanyue, he has been away for so long and doesn't know what the situation is like in the gang, whether Zhou Mingyuan, Qian Sihai, and Mei Ruolan can stabilize the situation, or whether Qiu Qianzhang has taken the opportunity to make any small moves.

It's time to go back. The Iron Palm Gang is his foundation; if the gang is unstable, no matter how much he does outside, it's all just castles in the air.

Mu Nianci walked over and sat down next to him. Seeing that he was lost in thought, she asked softly, "Brother Lin, what are you thinking about?"

Lin Qi snapped out of his reverie, glanced at her, and said, "I'm thinking I should go back."

Mu Nianci was taken aback: "Go back where?"

"Iron Palm Clan. I've been away for too long; I can't keep ignoring the clan's affairs forever."

Mu Nianci didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded and said softly, "I'll go back with you."

The next morning, Lin Qi found Hong Qigong and told him about his plan to leave. Hong Qigong did not try to stop him, but simply nodded.

He then bid farewell to Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Guo Jing looked reluctant to part, holding his hand and saying, "Brother Lin, take care on your journey. We'll meet again someday." Huang Rong's eyes were a little red, but she retorted, "Brother Lin, don't go back and never come back. We still have to adventure together in the martial world." Lin Qi smiled and said, "I won't."

Mu Nianci had already packed her bags, the gun still slung over her back. She stood quietly beside Lin Qi.

The two mounted their horses and headed south along the official road. After walking a few dozen steps, Lin Qi looked back. Hong Qigong leaned against a tree and waved to him. Huang Rong and Guo Jing stood on the hillside, sunlight shining on them.

Lin Qi turned around and urged his horse forward.

The hillside receded further and further behind, gradually disappearing into the morning mist.