Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

Lin Qi and Mu Nianci settled down in Baoying County.

Baoying is a small town on the Grand Canal, bustling with merchants from both the north and south. Lin Qi found an inn to settle in, and Mu Nianci took the iron spear out of her cloth bag and leaned it against the bed.

The next morning, Lin Qi went out to gather information. Mu Nianci stayed at the inn.

Lin Qi walked down the street, his gaze sweeping over the shops and pedestrians on both sides. As he passed a teahouse, he heard someone call out from upstairs, "Brother Lin!"

Looking up, he saw Guo Jing peeking out of a second-floor window, his face full of surprise. Huang Rong stood beside him, waving and smiling at him.

Lin Qi went upstairs. Guo Jing pulled him to sit down and asked him repeatedly why he had come to Baoying and whether Miss Mu had arrived. Huang Rong poured him a cup of tea and said with a smile that he had come at the perfect time, as they were just worried about not having enough manpower.

"What's wrong, we're short-handed?" Lin Qi asked, picking up his teacup.

Huang Rong lowered her voice and recounted the events in Baoying. She said that Baoying had been quite unsettled lately; three young women had gone missing in the west of the city, their bodies never found. Master Li Sheng of the Beggars' Sect had discovered that Ouyang Keqian was responsible. The womanizer had also set his sights on Cheng Yaojia, the eldest daughter of the Cheng family in the east of the city, and Master Li Sheng planned to ambush the Cheng family that night, asking for their help.

Guo Jing interjected, "Brother Lin, your martial arts are superb, could you help us?"

Lynch nodded. He did not refuse.

That evening, Lin Qi, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong arrived at the Cheng family's residence.

The Cheng family lived in the east of Baoying City, their house made of blue bricks and gray tiles. Old Master Cheng was a plump old man in his sixties. Upon seeing everyone, he repeatedly bowed, expressing his deepest gratitude. His daughter, Cheng Yaojia, stood behind him, wearing a light red jacket, her head bowed, her face flushed red to the roots of her ears.

Li Sheng, a member of the Beggars' Sect, was directing the defenses in the courtyard. He was in his forties, burly, and wore a patched gray cloth jacket with a bamboo stick at his waist. He was an eight-bag disciple of the Beggars' Sect, known as the "Snake King of Jiangdong." Hong Qigong had once made an exception and taught him a move called "Divine Dragon Tail Swing," indicating that he held a high position in the Beggars' Sect.

Upon seeing Lin Qi, Li Sheng clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute. Guo Jing stepped forward and introduced him: "Master Li, this is Brother Lin Qi, the leader of the Iron Palm Clan, and a good friend of mine."

Li Sheng's hand paused for a moment.

The leader of the Iron Palm Clan. This young man in his early twenties before me—is he the infamous new leader of the Iron Palm Clan, the one whose palm strikes shake northern Hubei, shattering bluestone with a single blow, the young man whose reputation is currently unparalleled in the martial world?

When Li Sheng was in Zhongdu, he heard from the elders of the Iron Palm Clan that the Iron Palm Clan had a new leader, who was young but whose martial arts skills were unfathomable. Many people in the martial arts world compared him to Qiu Qianren in his prime. Some said he was no less than his master, while others said his future achievements might even surpass Qiu Qianren's.

Li Sheng took another look at Lin Qi. His hands were broad and thick, his knuckles large, and the area between his thumb and forefinger calloused. He stood there calm and composed, his breathing deep and even—clearly a master of both internal and external strength. Li Sheng couldn't help but be secretly astonished—he had seen many famous figures in the Jianghuai region, but Lin Qi was the first to possess such bearing at such a young age. The rumors in the martial arts world might not be entirely unfounded; this man's martial arts skills were probably already on par with the Five Greats.

"I have long admired Chief Lin's name." Li Sheng clasped his hands in a fist salute, his tone more respectful than before.

Lin Qi returned the greeting without saying anything more.

Li Sheng explained the plan: he would pretend to be Cheng Yaojia and sit in the embroidered building, while Guo Jing and Huang Rong would guard outside the building, and Lin Qi would guard the courtyard, waiting for Ouyang Ke to take the bait.

As night fell, the entire Cheng family was on edge, like a taut bowstring. Old Master Cheng trembled in the cellar, while Cheng Yaojia was taken to the next room. The whole house fell silent.

At midnight, Ouyang Ke scaled the wall and entered the Cheng family's backyard.

Clad in white as snow, he gently waved a folding fan. He landed lightly in the courtyard, glanced around, a faint smile on his lips, and headed straight for the embroidered tower.

Lin Qi emerged from behind the artificial hill.

He stood in the very center of the courtyard, blocking Ouyang Ke's path.

Ouyang Ke stopped, his smile gradually fading. "Brother Lin, it's been a long time."

Lin Qi did not return the greeting. "Brother Ouyang, isn't it inappropriate to climb over the wall into someone else's yard in the middle of the night?"

Ouyang Ke laughed and said, "Brother Lin, you may not know this, but I am already engaged to the eldest daughter of the Cheng family." His gaze passed over Lin Qi and swept over the red-clad figure behind the window of the embroidered tower.

"A marriage agreement? Does Old Master Cheng know about it?" Lin Qi said casually.

Ouyang Ke's smile froze for a moment. He closed his folding fan, and his tone became more tentative: "Brother Lin, since we parted in Zhongdu, I've been thinking about your Iron Palm skill. Today is a good day to make up for it."

He made the first move. The folding fan, sharp as a knife, sliced ​​towards Lynch's neck.

Lin Qi did not back down. He extended his right palm and struck the folding fan. The two forces collided, and Ouyang Ke staggered back three steps, his arm going numb. His expression changed—in Zhongdu, Lin Qi's internal strength was only on par with his own, but now the force of this palm strike was more than twice as strong.

Ouyang Ke took a deep breath, flicked his folding fan, and it transformed into a white light that enveloped Lin Qi's vital acupoints. This move was called "Snowflakes in Flight," one of his most treasured skills.

Lin Qi advanced instead of retreating, unleashing both palms to deflect all the fan shadows. Ouyang Ke was forced back again, this time five steps, his hands numb, and he almost dropped the folding fan.

Guo Jing, hiding in the tree, was both surprised and delighted to see this. Huang Rong tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother Jing, how come Brother Lin's martial arts have improved so quickly?"

Ouyang Ke channeled his inner strength to its limit, and his folding fan transformed into a beam of white light, piercing straight into Lin Qi's heart.

Lin Qi faced the white light and struck out with his palm, using the first move of the Iron Palm Kung Fu, "Pushing Mountain Stance".

He used 80% of his strength in that palm strike.

The air whistled sharply as the palm struck. Ouyang Ke's folding fan was sent flying by the force of the palm, tumbling several times in the air before landing on the ground. Ouyang Ke himself felt as if he had been struck in the chest with a hammer; he was sent flying into the air and crashed heavily into a flower bed three zhang away, smashing several potted plants. He struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his hands gripping the edge of the flower bed, his whole body trembling.

"You—" He looked up at Lin Qi, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Lin Qi withdrew his hand and stood still. His breathing was steady, and his expression was normal. "Brother Ouyang, you've lost."

Ouyang Ke didn't speak. He stood up, leaning on the flower bed, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, bent down to pick up the folding fan, snapped it open, fanned himself, nodded to Lin Qi, and then turned and climbed over the wall.

Li Sheng emerged from the embroidered tower, still wearing Cheng Yaojia's clothes, his wig askew. He stared at Lin Qi, speechless for a long time. He had witnessed the entire exchange between Lin Qi and Ouyang Ke. The young master of White Camel Mountain, who had run rampant in the Zhao Prince's mansion in Zhongdu, hadn't even lasted ten moves against Lin Qi. This young man's martial arts were far beyond his reach.

"Chief Lin, your skills are truly impressive." Li Sheng clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice slightly hoarse. "In my twenty years of wandering the martial world, I have never seen another young master like you."

Lin Qi waved his hand without replying.

Old Master Cheng climbed out of the cellar, took Lin Qi's hand, and thanked him repeatedly. Lin Qi said that Ouyang Ke would not be coming again and took his leave.

Back at the inn, Mu Nianci was still awake. A pot of tea sat on the table, already cold. She sat by the window, holding the half-mended garment, the needle and thread suspended in mid-air. Hearing Lin Qi's footsteps, she put down the garment and stood up.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

"Did Ouyang Ke drive him away?"

"They drove them away."

Mu Nianci didn't ask any more questions. She went to the kitchen, boiled another kettle of water, made a cup of tea, and brought it to Lin Qi. Lin Qi took the teacup, took a sip, and briefly recounted the Cheng family's affairs.

"Was Master Li startled when he heard that you were the leader of the Iron Palm Clan?" Mu Nianci asked, a rare question.

Lynch thought for a moment: "Maybe. He didn't show it."

Mu Nianci's lips curled up slightly, but she didn't ask any more questions.

As the two were talking, a hearty laugh suddenly came from the courtyard. Lin Qi put down his teacup and walked to the window. In the moonlight, an old man dressed in tattered clothes strode into the inn's courtyard, a large vermilion lacquered gourd hanging from his waist and a green bamboo cane in his hand.

Hong Qigong.

Lin Qi hurried downstairs to greet them. Guo Jing and Huang Rong followed behind Hong Qigong into the courtyard. Huang Rong held onto Hong Qigong's sleeve with one hand and waved to Lin Qi with the other, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile.

"Seventh Master, what brings you here?" Lin Qi greeted him with clasped hands.

Hong Qigong waved his hand, sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard, took a swig from his wine gourd, and wiped his mouth. "This old beggar was wandering around Jiangbei when he heard that that little brat Ouyang Ke was causing trouble in Baoying, so he came to check it out. When he got to Baoying, he heard that you had driven him away, so he came looking for him." He glanced at Lin Qi, his eyes filled with approval. "Young brother, not bad, your martial arts have improved again. When I was in Zhongdu, I said that you had good talent, and if you practiced hard, your future would be limitless. In less than a year, you were able to make Ouyang Ke flee over the wall. I didn't believe those rumors in the martial arts world before, but after seeing them with my own eyes today, I believe them."

Lin Qi said a few words of modesty.

Huang Rong squatted down in front of Hong Qigong, placing her hands on his knees, tilting her head back, her eyes sparkling. "Qigong, you've come at just the right time. You have no idea how wicked that Ouyang Ke is. He's ruined several girls in Baoying, and he almost kidnapped Miss Cheng. If it weren't for Brother Lin's intervention, tonight would have been a disaster."

Hong Qigong snorted: "That little brat is just like his uncle."

Huang Rong continued, "That's right. Seventh Master, you said Ouyang Ke's martial arts are so high, but Brother Jing only learned fifteen of your moves and doesn't know the remaining three. What if Brother Jing can't beat Ouyang Ke if they meet again in the future?"

Hong Qigong glanced at her and said, "If you can't beat them, just run away."

"Run?" Huang Rong pouted. "That scoundrel Ouyang Ke is such a bully. If he finds out that Brother Jing can't beat him, he'll be even more lawless. Seventh Master, please have mercy and teach Brother Jing the remaining three blows. I beg you." As she spoke, she tugged at Hong Qigong's sleeve and shook it back and forth, her voice soft and sweet.

Hong Qigong was dizzy from her shaking. He pulled his sleeve back and said irritably, "This old beggar once said, one slap for one chicken. You still owe this old beggar three chickens."

Huang Rong counted on her fingers: "One, two, three... Seventh Master, I owe you more than three chickens. How about this, you give me the remaining three, and I'll cook you thirty chickens, plus twenty roast ducks and ten jars of fine wine, how about that?"

Hong Qigong snorted but didn't reply.

Huang Rong sidled up to him again, tugging at his sleeve, her voice trembling with tears: "Seventh Master, please take Jing-gege in. He's slow-witted; he needs to be taught. If you don't teach him, who will I turn to if Ouyang Ke beats him to death?"

Unable to resist her persistent pestering, Hong Qigong sighed and looked at Guo Jing: "Silly boy, tell me yourself, do you want to learn?"

Guo Jing immediately knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times: "Seventh Master, this junior wishes to learn. This junior will definitely practice diligently and live up to your teachings."

Hong Qigong glared at him: "Get up, get up. This old beggar hates this kind of thing the most."

He didn't agree immediately, but instead picked up the gourd and took another swig, squinting at the moon in the sky.

Seeing that he wouldn't budge, Huang Rong leaned closer and whispered, "Seventh Master, please accept us as your disciples. If Brother Jing learns the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, he won't tarnish your reputation when he travels the martial world."

Hong Qigong finally sighed, put the wine gourd on the stone table, and looked at Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

"This old beggar has never taken on any disciples in his life. It's not that I didn't want to, it's that I haven't met the right ones. Those who wanted to become my disciples were either after the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms or the title of Beggar Clan leader. I didn't think much of them." He paused, "You two, you silly boy are slow-witted, but you're willing to work hard. You little girl are cunning, but you're genuinely good to me. Today, I'll make an exception and take you as my disciples."

Huang Rong jumped up with joy, grabbed Guo Jing's arm, and said, "Brother Jing, Master has agreed!" Guo Jing's eyes reddened, and he knelt down and kowtowed three times, stammering, "Master." Huang Rong also knelt down and called out "Master" in a clear voice.

Hong Qigong helped the two up and patted Guo Jing on the shoulder.

"Starting tomorrow, the old beggar will teach you the remaining three moves one by one. There's no secret manual for the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. The old beggar will demonstrate it once, and you'll learn by following along. If you don't learn it, I'll demonstrate it until you do."

Guo Jing nodded vigorously and smiled憨厚ly.

Huang Rong tugged at Hong Qigong's arm and asked with a grin, "Qigong, what about me? I want to learn too."

Hong Qigong glared at her: "Go learn your Falling Flower Sword Palm. The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms are too powerful and domineering for your small frame. But this old beggar can teach you a few other moves as a bonus."

"That would be wonderful!" Huang Rong patted her chest and assured him, "Seventh Master, whatever you'd like to eat, I'll make it for you. Beggar's chicken, roast duck, steamed sea bass, Dongpo pork—you name it!"

Hong Qigong was amused by her and jokingly cursed, "You brat!"

Lin Qi stood to the side, watching this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips. Mu Nianci walked over to him and gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Brother Lin, Senior Hong has really been persuaded by Miss Huang," Mu Nianci said in a low voice.

Lynch nodded.

That night, Hong Qigong drank quite a bit of wine at the inn, being repeatedly poured cup after cup by Huang Rong. He muttered "You brat!" but his face was all smiles. Huang Rong busied herself serving him food, pouring him wine, and massaging his back, being incredibly attentive. Guo Jing sat to the side, smiling憨厚ly, occasionally refilling Hong Qigong's cup.

Lin Qi sat on the stone steps in the courtyard when Mu Nianci came over with a bowl of mung bean soup and handed it to him.

"Brother Lin, what are you thinking about?" Mu Nianci sat down next to him.

"I was wondering when I'd meet such a clingy girl," Lin Qi said casually, taking a sip of his mung bean soup.

After saying that, he realized his words were inappropriate and didn't look at Mu Nianci. Mu Nianci also remained silent, her head lowered, her fingers lightly tracing circles on her knees.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves of the osmanthus tree, scattering golden light across the ground. In the distance, the sound of a night watchman's gong drifted in, one slow beat followed by three fast ones—it was the third watch of the night.

Mu Nianci suddenly spoke, her voice very soft: "Brother Lin, you don't need to look for me. I'm already by your side."

Lin Qi paused for a moment, holding the bowl. He didn't turn his head, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

The wind rustled through the leaves of the osmanthus tree. A few tiny petals drifted down, landing on Mu Nianci's shoulder and Lin Qi's knees.