Chapter 4, Bamboo Branch Gang, Flower Drum Hall, Three Mountains Sect

The Supreme Transformation Dragon Secret is not lengthy, consisting of only a few hundred words, yet its meaning is profoundly intricate. Chen Qi could not fully comprehend it, but he understood that once a martial artist cultivates a certain amount of true energy, they must nurture and strengthen it, beginning to open up the acupoints throughout their body. Each time an acupoint is successfully opened, there is an additional storage space for true energy, allowing one to draw upon it more swiftly during combat, rather than relying solely on the energy from the dantian.

Chen Qi pondered for a moment, becoming somewhat more vigilant, yet he went along with the conversation, calling out "Second Brother" with great familiarity, as if he were completely unaware of any schemes that Lu Hao might have.

At this moment, in order to curry favor with Chen Qi, Lu Haozhi did not hold back. After practicing a set of palm techniques, he even expressed a desire to impart this technique. Had he not obtained those three pages of golden text beforehand, Chen Qi would have certainly been overjoyed, likely rushing over immediately, calling him his dear master and himself a dutiful disciple. However, at this time, he did not think much of this set of palm techniques. Moreover, the Seven Steps of Yin Wind Palm was quite difficult to practice, requiring a significant amount of effort. Chen Qi believed that with that effort, it would be far more advantageous to cultivate the incantations on those three pages of golden text.

Chen Qi, having emerged from a den of bandits, would naturally be reluctant to trust others easily. No matter how well Lu Hao treated him, Chen Qi would not feel grateful or moved to tears. After all, he was quite familiar with this second-in-command and knew him to be ruthless and devoid of compassion. This time, he first incited him to speak to the chief bandit, then gifted him a precious sword, all of which seemed to carry an air of conspiracy. After pondering for a long time, Chen Qi suddenly thought, "Could it be that I have revealed some flaw?"

The chief of Tianma Mountain, Black Whirlwind, when he set out, had only reached the fifth level of Iron Bone Skill. It was only through years of dedicated martial arts practice that he broke through to the sixth level a few years ago and cultivated a genuine qi. Chen Qi possessed similar skills. Lu Haizhi thought to himself, "Fortunately, I didn't act rashly just now; otherwise, with Chen Qi's martial arts being on par with the chief's, wouldn't he have easily killed me?"

When Chen Qi struck with his knife, he felt quite smooth and thought to himself: "It seems that these days of practicing the Supreme Transformation Dragon Technique have also improved my knife skills, making my strikes much faster than before." Lu Haozhi, standing nearby, was astonished. He was an old hand in the field, and just now, when Chen Qi casually swung his knife, there was a subtle flow of energy along the blade, which was a sign of having cultivated true energy. Chen Qi was unaware that his unintentional strike had revealed his foundation, causing Lu Haozhi's heart to tremble slightly.

Chen Qi was unaware that this second-in-command had already changed his perception of him. After performing a few flourishes with the knife, he slapped the Burmese knife against his waist, which instantly transformed into a belt wrapped around his waist.

He clasped his arms and expressed his gratitude to the second leader, saying: "Thanks to the second leader's generous favor, this knife is truly excellent. I do not know how to repay the second leader."

Chen Qi merely pondered slightly, internally muttering: "Lu Haozhi, do you really think that I, Chen Qi, am an illiterate fool without any brains? The Bamboo Branch Gang and the Three Mountains Sect have clashed many times in the past, and there are indeed grievances between them. How can the affection of two young people resolve these old hatreds? Although it is not impossible for the two families to unite, it is certainly not that simple. He wants me to speak recklessly with the Black Whirlwind's chief, but if I am not careful, I might be seen as a spy with ulterior motives, or even suspected of being bought off by some faction, and my head could be chopped off in an instant. The identity of this disciple is not very useful and should not be used so recklessly."

Chen Qi has been in the den of thieves for many years and has encountered numerous characters through books and illustrations. He understands that playing the fool is far more advantageous than pretending to be clever.

Chen Qi suspected Lu Haozhi's intentions and pretended to decline, unwilling to comply. Seeing that Chen Qi was not taking the bait, Lu Haozhi realized that he could not rush this matter. When one plan failed, he devised another. After persuading for a while, he smiled and said: "Since you, Old Seven, are hesitant to persuade the chief, it is better for us to deliberate over this matter. I know you have been diligently practicing your swordsmanship, yet you lack a suitable sword. My second brother, during his travels in the martial world, once came across a fine Mian knife forged from high-quality steel. When not in use, it can be coiled up, but when drawn against an opponent, with just a flick, it becomes an excellent steel blade, particularly sharp enough to sever ordinary weapons with a single strike. I have always relied on my palm techniques in combat, and this fine Mian knife is of no use to me, so I will gift it to you for your use."

Lu Hao's mind was in turmoil, filled with conflicting thoughts, and he suddenly felt embarrassed. He looked at Chen Qi several times, only to realize that this young man was as shrewd as himself, making him a formidable opponent.

Around Tianma Mountain, there are three major gangs: the Bamboo Branch Gang, the Flower Drum Hall, and the Three Mountains Sect. The Three Mountains Sect is a sect of the martial world, with a master-disciple inheritance, which need not be elaborated upon. However, the Bamboo Branch Gang and the Flower Drum Hall have fiercely fought several battles over territorial disputes. The main stronghold at Tianma Mountain is situated between the three gangs, enjoying a somewhat advantageous position, and since none of the three gangs are intent on coveting this area, it appears to be quite carefree.

Lu Haozhi first let out a sneer, then pretended to say: "To call him 'Second Brother', what 'Second Master', sounds too distant."

Seeing that Chen Qi had no intention of seeking guidance, Lu Haozhi became increasingly concerned, constantly speculating: "Could it be that I have underestimated the rough talent of the Black Whirlwind? Besides his Iron Bone skill, does he possess other extraordinary martial arts techniques, which is why Chen Qi cannot see through my Seven Steps of Yin Wind Palm as depicted in the book?"

Lu Hao slapped his thigh and exclaimed that indeed, Chen Qi was a clever person. However, he secretly mocked him and felt fortunate for having successfully lured Chen Qi into a trap. Lu Hao feigned sincerity and said to Chen Qi: "The leader is enjoying himself freely on Tianma Mountain; how could he be willing to bow down to others? This matter requires someone to analyze the pros and cons for him, so that the leader can come to his senses. If I were to speak to him, he might suspect that I have some ulterior motive. Only you, as his disciple, can speak to him and gain his trust. This matter is crucial to whether we can preserve Tianma Mountain, which is why I found an excuse to bring you out here to discuss it."

Chen Qi pretended to sleep, secretly practicing the Supreme Transformation Dragon Technique. After two or three hours, as the sky brightened, he felt that the energy in his dantian had strengthened a few more points.

Chen Qi was deep in thought when Lu Haozhi also got up. This scholar, known for his dual talents, would usually rise early to practice martial arts, adhering to the adage that one should not part with their fists or their melodies. For a mountain bandit, mastering martial skills is fundamental; neglecting them is akin to willingly walking down the path to one's own demise. Lu Haozhi hailed from the Yinshan Sect, which traditionally possessed martial arts far superior to those of the Iron Bone Sect. However, due to his lack of aptitude, he spent many years in the Yinshan Sect without acquiring any true skills. He could only pass down a set of techniques known as the Seven Steps of Yin Wind Palm, which had always been regarded as a secret art, treasured and rarely shown to others.

Chen Qi casually waved his hand, and the blade of the Burmese knife emitted a fierce aura, instantly severing a small tree beside him

Lu Haozhi brought Chen Qi and after three days, they finally arrived at Poyang Prefecture

Chen Qi also did not know that Lu Haozhi had made it clear to him that the excuse for coming out to gather information was merely a pretext, yet he wondered why he had to go such a long distance.

Lu Haozhi truly lives up to the title of "Double Shadow Scholar". Although he does not possess the eloquence of a silver-tongued orator, he wields a tongue that is sharp and incisive. With just a few words, he has thoroughly analyzed the situation of Tianma Mountain.

Originally, Chen Qi felt quite pleased to be the leader of thieves on Tianma Mountain. However, after hearing the second-in-command's detailed explanation, he began to feel a sense of caution. Yet, he still asked with some confusion, "Second Chief, what use is it for you to tell me these things? We must have the consent of our chief before we can take any action"

Our Tianma Mountain is situated between the three families. If these three families were to maintain a balance among themselves, it would be acceptable, as they would not have the time to disturb us at Tianma Mountain, and we could focus on building good relations. However, the direct disciple of the Bamboo Branch Gang's leader, Luo Feng, has recently encountered some unexpected fortune and has surprisingly become involved with the female disciple of the Grand Elder of the Three Mountain Sect, Feng Linzi. The two families are about to form a marital alliance. If these two families unite, the Flower Drum Hall will soon face great misfortune. While their misfortune is one matter, it will be difficult for our Tianma Mountain to navigate the situation, and we may also be subjected to pressure from their combined forces. We must now seek to ally with the Bamboo Branch Gang and become their people ahead of time, so that we can gain the trust of both families in the upcoming situation. This way, not only will we avoid the danger of annihilation, but we can also take advantage of the situation to grow and strengthen ourselves.

It was merely a thought; to not take advantage of a benefit is to be a scoundrel. At that moment, he chuckled and took the machete in hand, channeling his strength in the palm, causing the finely forged steel blade to become perfectly straight with a shake.

Lu Haozhi indeed has a plan. He spoke calmly, saying: "Although Tianma Mountain is a strategic location with many merchants passing through, and business has always been good, the terrain is perilous, making it difficult for the authorities to encircle us. However, this is ultimately not a long-term solution. I wish to persuade your master to join a major gang, but he refuses to listen."

Although Lu Haozhi could not fathom Chen Qi's thoughts, he was pleased to see Chen Qi willing to accept his goodwill, and thus he cheerfully exchanged many affectionate words with him. The two chatted until midnight, and it seemed their relationship suddenly grew much closer, only dozing off slightly when they became weary. Having been accustomed to being mountain bandits, they fundamentally did not trust others, and even while sleeping, they kept one eye half-open, rendering the need for a night watch unnecessary

Upon hearing Lu Haozhi's remarks, Chen Qi felt a surge of energy.

The Black Whirlwind, the leader of the stronghold, imparted to him the Iron Bone Skill, having pointed out all three hundred sixty-five acupoints throughout his body. Chen Qi secretly pondered, thinking: "For martial artists, the first acupoints to be opened should be those in the arms, as this allows for a more forceful strike. I shall first attempt to open these acupoints."

Lu Haozhi wanted to incite Chen Qi to advise the Great Chief Black Whirlwind but, failing that, he deliberately sought to win him over. As long as he could draw closer to Chen Qi, even if Chen Qi's martial arts skills improved significantly, he would still have to show him some favor. Although Chen Qi was clever, he was still just a child of about ten years old; how could he possibly fathom the intricate schemes in Lu Haozhi's mind?

Both individuals harbored their own thoughts. After finishing breakfast, Lu Haozhi had to continue his journey. Chen Qi recalled what Lu Haozhi had just said, realizing that this outing was not intended for investigating any business, which made him somewhat suspicious. However, after asking a few questions, Lu Haozhi merely stated that he had other arrangements, leaving Chen Qi with no choice but to accept it.

Chen Qi secretly grumbled: "Since when did Tianma Mountain have such rules? It turns out that up on the mountain, you treat the other small village leaders merely as cattle and horses, so how could you expect us to call each other brothers? This cunning scholar with a double face suddenly becomes attentive to me; it can't be a good omen. I must be on guard against him."

The Iron Bone Skill must be cultivated to at least the sixth level before one can generate true energy. This external martial art is significantly inferior to the internal martial arts in terms of cultivating true energy through meditation. Lu Haozhi was unaware that Chen Qi had experienced a fortuitous encounter; he merely thought that Chen Qi had already reached such a level in the Iron Bone Skill, which naturally filled him with apprehension.