All the gods began by cultivating the Iron Shirt technique.

"Beggar Clan disciple...Young Yang, I've been in Jinzhou for a few days now, and I've basically checked everyone from the branch leader to the hall master, but I haven't heard of anyone named you. You're not trying to fool this old beggar, are you?"

Hong Qigong jumped down from the altar and walked a few steps to the fire that Lao He and the others had started earlier. At this time, there were still embers in the fire. Hong Qigong stirred it a few times to make the embers brighter, and then added some dry firewood to make the flames rise again.

Yang Pan sat down opposite Hong Qigong, his gaze sweeping over the flames and landing on the man's aged face.

He had imagined what it would be like to meet the Five Greats. Perhaps he would feel a kind of inexplicable joy, like when he first met Guo Jing and Huang Rong in Xiangyang, or perhaps he would feel the same reverence as when he met a legend.

But now that he had actually met Hong Qigong and, in Hong Qigong's presence, killed Lao He and the others, Yang Pan felt surprisingly calm in the face of this master of the Five Greats. There was no tension, no restraint; it was more like facing a like-minded fellow martial artist.

"This disciple settled in Jiaxing and joined the Beggars' Sect. After going to Xiangyang, he accepted a mission from Chief Huang to come to Jiuyuan County, Jinzhou to deal with... a hall master."

Yang Pan made no attempt to conceal anything, revealing his origins and the purpose of his trip. In his view, there was no need to hide anything; as the former leader of the Beggars' Clan, Hong Qigong, though he had always roamed the martial world, was likely aware of what had happened within the clan.

Even though Huang Rong is the current leader of the Beggars' Sect, in terms of prestige, ten Huang Rongs cannot compare to Hong Qigong's image and status in the hearts of the Beggars' Sect disciples. He has even become a belief and a legend in the hearts of the Beggars' Sect disciples.

Therefore, if the other party wanted to know about the Beggars' Sect, they only needed to say a word, and the Beggars' Sect disciples would probably mobilize all their resources to pass the information to the other party's ears. Just as Hong Qigong had mentioned earlier when he listed the crimes of Lao He and the others, he mobilized the Beggars' Sect disciples to help with the search.

Now that the other party has come to this Jinzhou territory, they probably do know about the affairs of Jiuyuan County.

Sure enough, when Hong Qigong heard that Yang Pan had come to clean house on Huang Rong's orders, his hand, which was poking at the fire, paused for a moment, and then he let out a barely perceptible sigh:

"Old Beggar roams the land, eliminating evil and upholding justice. Over the years, many of the scoundrels I've killed have been my own disciples. Now, with so many people in the largest gang in the Central Plains, their minds are all mixed up, and even Old Beggar sometimes feels helpless."

Listening to Hong Qigong's words, which sounded like a soliloquy and a sigh, Yang Pan remained silent, for this was something that no Jianghu gang could avoid.

On a grander scale, it's like the cycle of dynasties. The founders may have initially been genuinely eager to change the world and improve people's lives, but as their territories expanded and more and more people came to power, their minds naturally drifted away from their original goals, and it became almost inevitable that they would use public office for private gain and harm others for personal benefit.

The Beggars' Sect was no exception, and perhaps that's why it fell to the margins of the martial arts world during the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber era, unable to even join the Eight Great Sects. Of course, this may also be related to the suppression by the Yuan Dynasty in the future.

"Let's not talk about that anymore. Since you're here to clean up the gang of parasites, young Yang, this old beggar won't steal your credit." After a moment of silence, Hong Qigong's tone suddenly became lighthearted again, and he teased Yang Pan:

"Speaking of Rong'er, ever since he and Guo Jing went into seclusion on Peach Blossom Island, this old beggar hasn't tasted her cooking for a long time. I wonder if her skills have declined. Young Yang, it seems Rong'er values ​​you highly by sending you to Jiuyuan County. Have you tried her cooking yet?"

When it comes to food, Hong Qigong's demeanor changed dramatically. He abandoned his previous heavy and guilty expression and instead showed the enjoyment of a seasoned gourmet savoring delicious food.

Yang Pan silently shook his head. He had only met Huang Rong twice. As for Hong Qigong's statement about valuing her, in his opinion, Huang Rong probably wanted to repay the favor of discovering the Bodhi Snake. He had no personal relationship with her, let alone eat the food she cooked, which was a delicacy that only Guo Jing and Hong Qigong could enjoy.

However, when it came to cooking, Yang Pan's heart stirred, and he reached into his robes and took out a porcelain bottle about half the size of his palm. Inside were the pills that Huang Rong had made with the gallbladder of the Bodhi snake, and now only one remained.

Although it wasn't exactly gourmet food, it was still made by Huang Rong herself. And perhaps Huang Rong really was extremely picky about the food she made; the pill tasted quite good after tasting it.

Hong Qigong, seeing Yang Pan take out a porcelain bottle, also looked puzzled: "Young Yang, what is this?"

"Didn't you miss Chief Huang's cooking? This bottle contains the contents of Chief Huang's cooking, and it tastes pretty good." Yang Pan opened the bottle and poured out the pills inside.

These pills are precious, and for Yang Pan they are naturally treasures for improving his internal strength cultivation, but compared to Hong Qigong's favor, they are insignificant.

Yang Pan knew Hong Qigong's character well; the man was a typical example of someone who would be indebted to someone for their generosity. Huang Rong had once used a delicious meal to persuade Hong Qigong to teach Guo Jing the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. Keep in mind that at that time, Hong Qigong had only met the two of them for the first time, and they didn't really know each other.

However, Hong Qigong taught Guo Jing martial arts for this reason. While Huang Rong's superb cooking skills were certainly a factor, it was more likely because she didn't want to owe anyone a favor.

Yang Pan didn't expect to exchange the pill for the other party teaching him martial arts, but if he could get guidance from such a master of the Five Greats, it would still greatly benefit his cultivation progress.

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"Oh? Rong girl made this. What strange and wonderful thing has she come up with this time? Young man Yang, would you mind if I, the old beggar, had a taste?" Hong Qigong's eyes gleamed as he looked at the pill in Yang Pan's hand and subconsciously swallowed, looking quite tempted.

Seeing this, Yang Pan was secretly delighted and handed over the pill.

Hong Qigong did not hesitate and took the thumb-sized pill and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Mmm~ Mmm! The taste is really good. It's a bit sweet, with a hint of bitterness, and a tangy flavor that makes this old man's mouth water. The flavors are diverse yet blend together perfectly. It's truly Rong's cooking. Delicious, delicious."

Hong Qigong's cheeks bulged as he tasted and commented on the food, perfectly embodying the image of a seasoned gourmand.

"By the way, young Yang, do you have any more of these pills? Give me another one." Hong Qigong, after tasting them for a moment, seemed to still have some left and continued to ask Yang Pan.

Yang Pan's expression was serious, and he said solemnly, "So that the old leader may know, this pill is truly a rare treasure. Not only does it have a unique taste, but it is also beneficial to internal energy cultivation. It can be said to be priceless. I only have this one here, and I have already given it to you, old leader."

"So precious? And it even benefits internal energy cultivation? Hmm, it does seem to have some medicinal effect, but for an old beggar like me, it's better than nothing, which is a bit of a pity."

"It's a pity, but it's not really. The boy originally planned to rely on this pill for cultivation, but now his cultivation speed will have to slow down." Yang Pan said in a low voice, as if he were just stating a fact.

Hong Qigong: ......

Flames flickered inside the temple. Yang Pan looked at Hong Qigong without speaking, and Hong Qigong's throat-throbbing sounds ceased. He looked at Yang Pan with equal confusion. For a moment, neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere in the temple became somewhat quiet.

After a moment, Hong Qigong finally couldn't stand Yang Pan's gaze any longer and said, "You brat, what exactly do you want to say? We agreed beforehand that I would compensate you, but this old beggar can't afford to. However, if you don't mind, I can return the little bit I have left in my mouth, hehe."

Yang Pan stared speechlessly at the pill that Hong Qigong had spat out—a pill the size of a soybean, still covered in saliva. He hadn't expected the mighty Five Greats to resort to such a helpless act; he couldn't afford to lose the favor he was about to gain.

He immediately replied, "Old Master, you flatter me. How can I take back what I've given away? But I have a favor to ask, and I wonder if you would be willing to grant it?"

"Hmph! You little brat, you've been planning this all along, haven't you? You deliberately made this pill sound so delicious that I, an old beggar, couldn't resist trying it so I'd owe you a favor." Hong Qigong, a shrewd old man, put the pill back in his mouth and saw through Yang Pan's scheme in one sentence.

Yang Pan did not deny this, because it was the truth.

"You look like a big shot with thick eyebrows, but you're actually quite cunning! Even an old beggar would find these pills too hot to eat."

"However, considering your forbearance towards this old beggar, I'll let you tell me what your request is. But first, let's agree that I won't become your apprentice. Teaching Guo Jing is already a headache enough; I don't want to teach a second one."

Hong Qigong waved his hand and spoke first. Seeing his troubled expression, it was clear that he had been asked to become someone's disciple many times during his years of wandering the martial arts world.

Seeing that Hong Qigong did not immediately reject the idea, Yang Pan was even more delighted.

As for becoming Hong Qigong's disciple, Yang Pan hadn't considered it. A single pill wasn't enough to convince Hong Qigong to accept him as a disciple, and if he begged and pleaded, it would probably only make Hong Qigong dislike him. For him, it was enough to have Hong Qigong guide him for a period of time.

"I have mostly learned martial arts on my own or by seeking guidance from my senior brothers in the gang. I have been struggling because I have not had a master to guide me, so my progress in martial arts has been slow. Therefore, I would like to ask the old gang leader to give me some pointers."

There are many disciples in the martial arts world, but not every disciple can receive guidance from the sect's masters. Only direct disciples can enjoy one-on-one instruction. As for ordinary disciples, they can only learn by sparring with each other or seek guidance from senior brothers with higher cultivation levels.

Yang Pan is only a fifth-bag disciple now, and that's how he was during his cultivation. Only the three months after arriving in Xiangyang, under the guidance of Yu Dongshan, did he make rapid progress in swordsmanship and combat, but compared to Hong Qigong, he is still far inferior.

"Oh, to give you pointers on martial arts?" Hong Qigong stroked his chin, looked Yang Pan up and down, and continued:

"Young Yang, what aspect of martial arts would you like me to instruct you on? I saw earlier that your swordsmanship was quite good, and you also seem to have some decent external strength training. Your skills are quite diverse."

Upon hearing this, Yang Pan fell silent, pondering which aspect of martial arts Hong Qigong should instruct him on.